Did I mention that I've started re-playing Oracle of Ages? And actually once I finish this file (because I'm already in that Jabu-Jabu's belly... though I stopped once I got in. Man, I HATE water-level dungeons. But I know now that that's a common thing), I'll be re-re-playing because I just found where I'd written an old Seasons secret. (Went looking before I started but couldn't find it. DX)
Douse.
Today I... walked, played OoA, um... played more OoA... read manga... nothing productive. As normal. Went to C&T's soccer game, then to Zizzort's... good pizza. Yum.
Yup.
Though right now I AM being rather productive. For College English, I have to write an essay due the first day of school about a "Significant Event" in my life. So I chose finishing translating LABB. We'll see how it works. If it doesn't I may have to find something a little more... active. You know? Something with more distinct emotion rather than just plain exhaustion. Well and triumph but mostly exhaustion. (Twas 11:46 after all.)
8.30.2007
8.29.2007
Qenp. >3<
What the heck is QENP?!
Ugh. I noticed long ago that there was text on the Mirror of Twilight, so naturally I was like, "LET'S READ IT!" (Ding dun-dun. Yomimasho-u...) But it spins so I thought, "I should find a picture of it online." Couldn't find any clear ones. SO I gave up and went on BLAH, used the Hawk Mask, endured incredible dizziness to try to read it... and it says QENP. Or the same order of letters but starting in a different place. THAT IS NOT A WORD. Honestly, that's worse than Signboard of Hyrule.
And other than that... I walked this morning, cleaned my room, cleaned downstairs, re-fixed that silly bed of mine because it broke again, and watched Clue and some Azu with R.G. :D
Sorry, not in the mood to blog really. D: Gomen gomen. It's another Yanda entry.
Ugh. I noticed long ago that there was text on the Mirror of Twilight, so naturally I was like, "LET'S READ IT!" (Ding dun-dun. Yomimasho-u...) But it spins so I thought, "I should find a picture of it online." Couldn't find any clear ones. SO I gave up and went on BLAH, used the Hawk Mask, endured incredible dizziness to try to read it... and it says QENP. Or the same order of letters but starting in a different place. THAT IS NOT A WORD. Honestly, that's worse than Signboard of Hyrule.
And other than that... I walked this morning, cleaned my room, cleaned downstairs, re-fixed that silly bed of mine because it broke again, and watched Clue and some Azu with R.G. :D
Sorry, not in the mood to blog really. D: Gomen gomen. It's another Yanda entry.
8.27.2007
Legend of Zelda: Blood-Red Sun
I caught a Hylian loach to-day. And I... worked on a fanfiction which involves... well... to put it very simply... [/Hyrule]. o_O Aheheheh. -_-; It will have no Twilight Princess spoilers! yet. But after the end I'll put a spoiler explaining how this awful sadistic idea came about. If I remember.
I also beat Ganondorf again, for the fun of distracting him via fishing rod.
Anyway, as soon as my computer finds it, I'll paste it into a Notepad doc because to get rid of all the formatting, and then into here.
Here, I found it. Oh, dang, that took out the enters. -sigh-
--
The sun rose red over Hyrule.
The land was in the grip of a great drought. For almost five months, not a single drop of rain had fallen. Few crops had even managed to break the soil this year; there would be no harvest to speak of. And now, as summer drew to its high point with no sign of any cooling rain, people suffered from the searing heat of the red sun.
The sun had been an eerie red ever since the beginning of the drought.
In the small village of Kolha, a young man of about seventeen was on his way to sword training. He had blond hair and eyes the color of the deep sea. On the back of his left hand, there was a strange birthmark, three dark triangles that made a larger triangle.
“Good morning, Jolan,” he said as he saw his trainer.
Jolan smiled back. “Good morning, Link,” he said. “’Fraid I’m going to have to cut practice a little short today, if that’s all right. The mayor was wondering if you could go down and fetch some more water from the spring. The village is running low again.”
“Sure.”
“Sorry. I know it’s hardly fun to spend your day going back and forth from the spring with buckets that are full of water half the time.”
“It’s all right,” Link answered, waving away his trainer’s apology. “Everyone’s doing their part to help the village through the drought. Hauling water is how I help out.”
Jolan gave a laugh. “All right, if you say so. Then for today, I just want to make sure you remember everything I’ve taught you, and then I’ll send you on your way.”
So Link picked up a wooden practice sword, demonstrated the basic sword techniques Jolan had taught him, and sparred for a bit. Finally Jolan nodded in approval. “Nice work,” he said. “You know everything I can teach you. Now, before you—”
“Wait,” Link interrupted. “There’s something I want to show you. Stand back.”
Jolan obligingly took a few steps backwards.
“I’ve been working on this attack for a few months now,” Link told him. “I must have read about it at some point or something, because when I thought about it, it seemed like the idea had always been in my head. But anyway…”
He held out his sword behind him, took a deep breath, and then spun in a quick, controlled circle.
The grass at his feet was suddenly shorter.
“Wow,” Jolan said.
“I call it the spin attack,” Link explained. “The force of the spin gives more strength to the attack, and it also covers all fronts.” He grinned. “It is also, as you see, very nice for cutting grass.”
“So I see,” Jolan agreed. “It’s a great attack, Link. If I’d had any doubts before, you would have just assuaged them.”
“Doubts? About what?”
“About giving you this.” Jolan reached into his bag and brought out a sword and scabbard. “This is for you, Link. Use it well.”
Link took the sword and drew it. “Thank you, Jolan,” he said, touched.“You’re very welcome,” Jolan replied. “And here’s my advice: take it with you when you go to get the water. The drought may be bleeding us dry, but it doesn’t seem to bother monsters and strange creatures at all. They’re more plentiful than ever, and the path to the spring could get dangerous.”
Link nodded, thanked Jolan once again, and then set off for the spring with a pole over his shoulders and two buckets hanging off of it.
Despite Jolan's grave warning, Link found himself walking with an unusual spring in his step. His pride that Jolan had given him the sword completely overpowered any worry he might have felt over the man's advice.
But that changed very quickly when a screech ripped through the air.
Suddenly Link was surrounded by monsters. Misshapen humanoids swarmed towards him from the bushes, swinging crude clubs. He heard wingbeats behind him and turned to see a gigantic vulture swooping down on him. The vulture opened its beak and began to screech again--but Link dropped the buckets, whipped out his new sword, and sliced the creature's neck. It fell to the ground, and Link turned back to the humanoids.
"Damn!" he swore under his breath, his heart pounding. There were so many of them--too many. It quickly became clear that beating them individually wasn't going to get him anywhere. He'd have to use the yet un-tested spin attack.
He held his blade out, focused, let the monsters draw closer. And then he released the attack.
The monsters fell dead at his feet.
Link sheathed the sword and waited for his heart-rate to slow back to normal. He gave a slow sigh of relief.
Then, just as he shouldered the buckets again, he heard hoofbeats. A white horse came into view, ridden by a person in a long gray cloak and a masquerade mask with a cloth over his or her hair, so that only his or her mouth was visible. The horse stopped in front of Link.
"Is your name Link?" the rider asked. It was a female voice.
"Yeah," Link answered, bewildered.
The mouth curved slightly in a smile. "I've been searching for you," she said. "I need to speak with you. Hyrule is in grave danger."
~
So, the inspiration for this depressing little idea. It's got spoiler-ish-ness for the appearance of the eighth dungeon:
I was thinking about Twilight at night a while ago, thinking about how strange it is that if you look out from the Palace you see these floating buildings (which obviously they have to warp to). The bottoms kind of... taper off. Kind as if they used to be part of something else.
I made a decision about what that world was: it was the goddesses' world once. But it ended, and they, once princesses in that world, go and create a new world--Hyrule--and become its goddesses.
So yeah, that's what inspired it. Not much of a story, is it?
I also beat Ganondorf again, for the fun of distracting him via fishing rod.
Anyway, as soon as my computer finds it, I'll paste it into a Notepad doc because to get rid of all the formatting, and then into here.
Here, I found it. Oh, dang, that took out the enters. -sigh-
--
The sun rose red over Hyrule.
The land was in the grip of a great drought. For almost five months, not a single drop of rain had fallen. Few crops had even managed to break the soil this year; there would be no harvest to speak of. And now, as summer drew to its high point with no sign of any cooling rain, people suffered from the searing heat of the red sun.
The sun had been an eerie red ever since the beginning of the drought.
In the small village of Kolha, a young man of about seventeen was on his way to sword training. He had blond hair and eyes the color of the deep sea. On the back of his left hand, there was a strange birthmark, three dark triangles that made a larger triangle.
“Good morning, Jolan,” he said as he saw his trainer.
Jolan smiled back. “Good morning, Link,” he said. “’Fraid I’m going to have to cut practice a little short today, if that’s all right. The mayor was wondering if you could go down and fetch some more water from the spring. The village is running low again.”
“Sure.”
“Sorry. I know it’s hardly fun to spend your day going back and forth from the spring with buckets that are full of water half the time.”
“It’s all right,” Link answered, waving away his trainer’s apology. “Everyone’s doing their part to help the village through the drought. Hauling water is how I help out.”
Jolan gave a laugh. “All right, if you say so. Then for today, I just want to make sure you remember everything I’ve taught you, and then I’ll send you on your way.”
So Link picked up a wooden practice sword, demonstrated the basic sword techniques Jolan had taught him, and sparred for a bit. Finally Jolan nodded in approval. “Nice work,” he said. “You know everything I can teach you. Now, before you—”
“Wait,” Link interrupted. “There’s something I want to show you. Stand back.”
Jolan obligingly took a few steps backwards.
“I’ve been working on this attack for a few months now,” Link told him. “I must have read about it at some point or something, because when I thought about it, it seemed like the idea had always been in my head. But anyway…”
He held out his sword behind him, took a deep breath, and then spun in a quick, controlled circle.
The grass at his feet was suddenly shorter.
“Wow,” Jolan said.
“I call it the spin attack,” Link explained. “The force of the spin gives more strength to the attack, and it also covers all fronts.” He grinned. “It is also, as you see, very nice for cutting grass.”
“So I see,” Jolan agreed. “It’s a great attack, Link. If I’d had any doubts before, you would have just assuaged them.”
“Doubts? About what?”
“About giving you this.” Jolan reached into his bag and brought out a sword and scabbard. “This is for you, Link. Use it well.”
Link took the sword and drew it. “Thank you, Jolan,” he said, touched.“You’re very welcome,” Jolan replied. “And here’s my advice: take it with you when you go to get the water. The drought may be bleeding us dry, but it doesn’t seem to bother monsters and strange creatures at all. They’re more plentiful than ever, and the path to the spring could get dangerous.”
Link nodded, thanked Jolan once again, and then set off for the spring with a pole over his shoulders and two buckets hanging off of it.
Despite Jolan's grave warning, Link found himself walking with an unusual spring in his step. His pride that Jolan had given him the sword completely overpowered any worry he might have felt over the man's advice.
But that changed very quickly when a screech ripped through the air.
Suddenly Link was surrounded by monsters. Misshapen humanoids swarmed towards him from the bushes, swinging crude clubs. He heard wingbeats behind him and turned to see a gigantic vulture swooping down on him. The vulture opened its beak and began to screech again--but Link dropped the buckets, whipped out his new sword, and sliced the creature's neck. It fell to the ground, and Link turned back to the humanoids.
"Damn!" he swore under his breath, his heart pounding. There were so many of them--too many. It quickly became clear that beating them individually wasn't going to get him anywhere. He'd have to use the yet un-tested spin attack.
He held his blade out, focused, let the monsters draw closer. And then he released the attack.
The monsters fell dead at his feet.
Link sheathed the sword and waited for his heart-rate to slow back to normal. He gave a slow sigh of relief.
Then, just as he shouldered the buckets again, he heard hoofbeats. A white horse came into view, ridden by a person in a long gray cloak and a masquerade mask with a cloth over his or her hair, so that only his or her mouth was visible. The horse stopped in front of Link.
"Is your name Link?" the rider asked. It was a female voice.
"Yeah," Link answered, bewildered.
The mouth curved slightly in a smile. "I've been searching for you," she said. "I need to speak with you. Hyrule is in grave danger."
~
So, the inspiration for this depressing little idea. It's got spoiler-ish-ness for the appearance of the eighth dungeon:
I was thinking about Twilight at night a while ago, thinking about how strange it is that if you look out from the Palace you see these floating buildings (which obviously they have to warp to). The bottoms kind of... taper off. Kind as if they used to be part of something else.
I made a decision about what that world was: it was the goddesses' world once. But it ended, and they, once princesses in that world, go and create a new world--Hyrule--and become its goddesses.
So yeah, that's what inspired it. Not much of a story, is it?
8.25.2007
Isn't it pretty?
Wheeee! I messed with the layout. Details:
->Based on the basic "Minima" layout
->Picture by my sisters... I think? Taken at the Del Mar Fair several years ago. It was almost deleted, but I saw this and a few like it and was like, "PRETTY. I KEEP. Sooner or later I'll find a use for them." And I did!
->+background image and +opacity were learned from layouts found at pyzam.com
->I've still got more to do.
Other than that... Well, I went to my sisters' soccer game today. They're on varsity now, and T.'s the starting keeper! *oozes pride* And they won, 4-2, against the team that took second place in the state last year~ *oozes more pride*
My parents finally got furniture into the front room of our house. It looks really pretty!
Lots of Neopets time today, mostly spent stuffing things into my Safety Deposit Box for the packrat avatar (1000 unique items in SDB DX). Then someone's shop had a link to lookup help ->looking at Neopets lookups -> wondering how to edit my blogger -> looking at blog layouts ->editing!
So anyway guess what.
Twilight Princess time. Man, this thing needs a name...
Spoilers as always. And lots of speculation in this one... though I could very easily argue in support of my speculation. But really this is just so much elaborate nonsense.
~
The goddesses were silent for a moment. Farore was the first to speak.
"You are still fairly young. Where does your level of sentience fall, compared to your people?"
Midna blinked. "I--"
"She is an outlier," Jindal interrupted smoothly, "and I can explain that. For generations, I have watched with dismay as the Twili degenerate. I knew there had to be something I could do--but with my power, all I could do was bless one person each generation with greater potential
than the others had and hope that that helped. Midna was my choice this time."
"And Zant before me?" There was a hint of accusation to Midna's voice.
Jindal gave a rueful smile. "I granted him intelligence when you were born, hoping that he would be a good tutor for you. Apparently the sudden change did not agree with him, though. It was a bad choice on my part. I owe apologies to everyone here."
~
Mmmrf. I'm having trouble.
->Based on the basic "Minima" layout
->Picture by my sisters... I think? Taken at the Del Mar Fair several years ago. It was almost deleted, but I saw this and a few like it and was like, "PRETTY. I KEEP. Sooner or later I'll find a use for them." And I did!
->+background image and +opacity were learned from layouts found at pyzam.com
->I've still got more to do.
Other than that... Well, I went to my sisters' soccer game today. They're on varsity now, and T.'s the starting keeper! *oozes pride* And they won, 4-2, against the team that took second place in the state last year~ *oozes more pride*
My parents finally got furniture into the front room of our house. It looks really pretty!
Lots of Neopets time today, mostly spent stuffing things into my Safety Deposit Box for the packrat avatar (1000 unique items in SDB DX). Then someone's shop had a link to lookup help ->looking at Neopets lookups -> wondering how to edit my blogger -> looking at blog layouts ->editing!
So anyway guess what.
Twilight Princess time. Man, this thing needs a name...
Spoilers as always. And lots of speculation in this one... though I could very easily argue in support of my speculation. But really this is just so much elaborate nonsense.
~
The goddesses were silent for a moment. Farore was the first to speak.
"You are still fairly young. Where does your level of sentience fall, compared to your people?"
Midna blinked. "I--"
"She is an outlier," Jindal interrupted smoothly, "and I can explain that. For generations, I have watched with dismay as the Twili degenerate. I knew there had to be something I could do--but with my power, all I could do was bless one person each generation with greater potential
than the others had and hope that that helped. Midna was my choice this time."
"And Zant before me?" There was a hint of accusation to Midna's voice.
Jindal gave a rueful smile. "I granted him intelligence when you were born, hoping that he would be a good tutor for you. Apparently the sudden change did not agree with him, though. It was a bad choice on my part. I owe apologies to everyone here."
~
Mmmrf. I'm having trouble.
8.24.2007
It is Near's birthday!
And as such I am attempting to draw him a picture.
Mello: Hey, I didn't get anything on my birthday!
Me: *cowers slightly* I sang to you...
Mello: YOU STOPPED AFTER THE FIRST LINE OF THE CHORUS!
Me: I-it was a school day. That makes it a lot harder. And besides, I wrote something for you on the 26th!
Mello: Wha--how does that make up for it?
Me: Idunnoitdoesn'tI'lldrawyousomethingthisyearIpromisereally.
In any case there's no guarantee that this'll come out properly, anyway.
I forgot to mention, yesterday Dad and I made a birdhouse.
I expect I was rather reminiscient of Cody. Quiet, questioning eyes, trailing after him whatever he did... Psh. XD
I'll be working on the fanfiction in my head before I go to sleep. For now, I'm looking for inspiration!
Edit on the morning of 8/25: Instead I wrote Near a fanfiction.
Inspired by seikatsuryoku: 1/10.
--
Slowly, it occurred to Near that he was conscious again. The realization was mainly brought about by the sensation of two fingers against his right wrist—taking his pulse. Someone was taking care of him.
Near opened his eyes.
“…Doctor,” he said with a smile.
It would have seemed a strange thing indeed to see the skinny old man—a piece of his old life—here, of all places, if Near would have thought about it. In his current faintness, though, it was much easier to simply be comforted by the familiar face that returned his smile.
“Hello, N—” A conspicuous pause, and then an apologetic shrug. “Near. They said you were to be called that.”
Near nodded and sat up. They must have brought him back to his own room after he’d collapsed, he noted. He hoped it hadn’t stood out too much.
“Doctor, am I… am I fine?” he asked.
“Yes,” the doctor replied. “You’re fine, Near. It was another false alarm. You still have many years left to live.”
Near sighed deeply in relief. “Thank goodness,” he said. His voice suddenly seemed smaller. “I was scared, Doctor.”
Mild surprise showed in the doctor’s caring face. “I don’t blame you, Near,” he sympathized. “But that’s the first time you’ve ever admitted that to me.”
“It’s the first time I’ve ever been scared by it,” Near replied. His voice was back to normal. “Well, except for the first time. The first time I didn’t know what was going on. But since then I’ve never forgotten—my body is flawed, and I’ll probably die young. It’s resignation.”
“But you’re not resigned anymore?” Near shook his head. The doctor placed his hand on Near’s and asked softly, “Is it because of what happened to your mother?”
“Oh—no. It’s not about Mom’s death,” Near responded, shaking his head again, with quicker movements this time. “Or only in a very roundabout way, I suppose. There’s just something I’m looking forward to now. A reason I want to keep living.”
“And that reason is?”
Suddenly those emotions bubbled into Near’s chest again, hope and delight and pride, just as they had when L had shown Near his face and asked him to be his apprentice; his hands trembled in excitement. But he hid that joy and made his face apologetic.
“I can’t tell you, Doctor. I’m sorry.”
The doctor sighed. “I expected as much,” he admitted. “…Near, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but from what I’ve seen, this is a strange place you’re living in. Are they treating you all right?”
“Oh, yes,” Near answered readily. And he hesitated, and his eyes fell on the clock next to his bed, confirming his suspicions. “I think I could ask you the same question, Doctor.”
“What do you mean?” the man replied, not faking confusion very well.
“The fastest plane in the world couldn’t have gotten you here this quickly, not from your hospital.”
“I-I was transferred.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Near said quietly. “But I’m sure we had a hand in it, didn’t we?”
The doctor pursed his lips and didn’t respond.
“You’re trying to hide it for my sake. There’s no need to do so; I already know that the House can be very… straight-forward. Compelling, if the need arises.” His mouth gave a wry twitch that was not quite a grimace. “All for this weak body of mine. I’m sorry. I hope it didn’t inconvenience you too much.”
“It’s a very lucrative position,” the doctor reassured him. “Much more so than my previous employment.”
“Of course it is,” Near agreed, “but money isn’t everything.< You had friends back there. And other patients.”
The doctor looked sad for a moment, but then ruffled Near’s hair. “I don’t want you to worry about those things, Near. You’re a child still.”
“I’m not as innocent as you think, Doctor.”
“No, I suppose not,” the doctor smiled, “but will you pretend for me?”
Near shrugged in appeasement. “I guess I can try.”
Mello: Hey, I didn't get anything on my birthday!
Me: *cowers slightly* I sang to you...
Mello: YOU STOPPED AFTER THE FIRST LINE OF THE CHORUS!
Me: I-it was a school day. That makes it a lot harder. And besides, I wrote something for you on the 26th!
Mello: Wha--how does that make up for it?
Me: Idunnoitdoesn'tI'lldrawyousomethingthisyearIpromisereally.
In any case there's no guarantee that this'll come out properly, anyway.
I forgot to mention, yesterday Dad and I made a birdhouse.
I expect I was rather reminiscient of Cody. Quiet, questioning eyes, trailing after him whatever he did... Psh. XD
I'll be working on the fanfiction in my head before I go to sleep. For now, I'm looking for inspiration!
Edit on the morning of 8/25: Instead I wrote Near a fanfiction.
Inspired by seikatsuryoku: 1/10.
--
Slowly, it occurred to Near that he was conscious again. The realization was mainly brought about by the sensation of two fingers against his right wrist—taking his pulse. Someone was taking care of him.
Near opened his eyes.
“…Doctor,” he said with a smile.
It would have seemed a strange thing indeed to see the skinny old man—a piece of his old life—here, of all places, if Near would have thought about it. In his current faintness, though, it was much easier to simply be comforted by the familiar face that returned his smile.
“Hello, N—” A conspicuous pause, and then an apologetic shrug. “Near. They said you were to be called that.”
Near nodded and sat up. They must have brought him back to his own room after he’d collapsed, he noted. He hoped it hadn’t stood out too much.
“Doctor, am I… am I fine?” he asked.
“Yes,” the doctor replied. “You’re fine, Near. It was another false alarm. You still have many years left to live.”
Near sighed deeply in relief. “Thank goodness,” he said. His voice suddenly seemed smaller. “I was scared, Doctor.”
Mild surprise showed in the doctor’s caring face. “I don’t blame you, Near,” he sympathized. “But that’s the first time you’ve ever admitted that to me.”
“It’s the first time I’ve ever been scared by it,” Near replied. His voice was back to normal. “Well, except for the first time. The first time I didn’t know what was going on. But since then I’ve never forgotten—my body is flawed, and I’ll probably die young. It’s resignation.”
“But you’re not resigned anymore?” Near shook his head. The doctor placed his hand on Near’s and asked softly, “Is it because of what happened to your mother?”
“Oh—no. It’s not about Mom’s death,” Near responded, shaking his head again, with quicker movements this time. “Or only in a very roundabout way, I suppose. There’s just something I’m looking forward to now. A reason I want to keep living.”
“And that reason is?”
Suddenly those emotions bubbled into Near’s chest again, hope and delight and pride, just as they had when L had shown Near his face and asked him to be his apprentice; his hands trembled in excitement. But he hid that joy and made his face apologetic.
“I can’t tell you, Doctor. I’m sorry.”
The doctor sighed. “I expected as much,” he admitted. “…Near, I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but from what I’ve seen, this is a strange place you’re living in. Are they treating you all right?”
“Oh, yes,” Near answered readily. And he hesitated, and his eyes fell on the clock next to his bed, confirming his suspicions. “I think I could ask you the same question, Doctor.”
“What do you mean?” the man replied, not faking confusion very well.
“The fastest plane in the world couldn’t have gotten you here this quickly, not from your hospital.”
“I-I was transferred.”
“I don’t doubt that,” Near said quietly. “But I’m sure we had a hand in it, didn’t we?”
The doctor pursed his lips and didn’t respond.
“You’re trying to hide it for my sake. There’s no need to do so; I already know that the House can be very… straight-forward. Compelling, if the need arises.” His mouth gave a wry twitch that was not quite a grimace. “All for this weak body of mine. I’m sorry. I hope it didn’t inconvenience you too much.”
“It’s a very lucrative position,” the doctor reassured him. “Much more so than my previous employment.”
“Of course it is,” Near agreed, “but money isn’t everything.< You had friends back there. And other patients.”
The doctor looked sad for a moment, but then ruffled Near’s hair. “I don’t want you to worry about those things, Near. You’re a child still.”
“I’m not as innocent as you think, Doctor.”
“No, I suppose not,” the doctor smiled, “but will you pretend for me?”
Near shrugged in appeasement. “I guess I can try.”
8.23.2007
I have great faith in Midna's hair.
No, that doesn't have anything to do with the fanfiction. It has to do with wrestling Cody. (And if you can make that connection, then you get a medal. *gives medal*)
The font is different. *distressed* The pretty pretty writing font that I always loved... Where has it gone?
In other news, apparently I do not got it memorized. Though I did think it was funny. ("Inquiring fangirl minds want to know: where can they find an AXLETREE?" I do not believe you when you say that is a word, O clockwork grundo boss. In fact I think you stop using real words around level three.)
So anyway.
We went walking this morning, and I finished 1984, and I really hate their HTML formatting and since the text isn't pretty any more I might as well just type in here. Worked on flute today... I can play things again. My octave control is seriously lacking, but I can play things again. But really my octave control is awful. - 3-; And I wasn't paying as much attention to jaw position as I should have. But... I was playing things! Like the Kino opening and ending and the harp from Don't want you no More and the beautiful Hyrule Castle music.[/gush] And mother is going to ask the band director for flute tutor recommendations... That should be nice.
OMGPRETTYTEXTCAMEBACK. I must have somehow... sou. I was in html for no reason.XD Silly girl.
Anyway.
Spooooooooilerrrrrrrrs.
~
"My side?" Midna turned her face towards the goddesses, but it seemed to Anachron that she didn't meet any of their eyes. "Honestly, I guess it started with something that Zant said. That we, the Twili, had regressed over the generations and knew no desire... Before he said that, I had accepted my people as they were, naively calling their lack of will 'peace.' But now... it's like my eyes have been opened. I see evidence of the regression. I look at the elders of my people and compare them to the young... it's clear that the elders have more mental potential. But even the oldest don't have the intelligence and self-awareness it would have taken to reorganize the tribe and create the Twili's lore. We are not what we once were."
Midna paused; then she folded her arms and turned her gaze downward. "There was a Twili child born only a few days ago," she said softly. "I went to see her; it's customary for the royal family to pray over newborns. And when I looked into her eyes... I saw nothing. It was like looking into glass marbles. I don't know why, but with that single glance I felt certain that that child will never be able to speak or have any complex thoughts. She's not a person, she's something less... something empty..."
Anachron touched her shoulder sympathetically. That touch seemed to strengthen her; she raised her eyes to look at each goddess in turn. "Please," she said. "If I have any right at all to make a request of the world of Light's goddesses... help my people."
~
T-B-C~
The font is different. *distressed* The pretty pretty writing font that I always loved... Where has it gone?
In other news, apparently I do not got it memorized. Though I did think it was funny. ("Inquiring fangirl minds want to know: where can they find an AXLETREE?" I do not believe you when you say that is a word, O clockwork grundo boss. In fact I think you stop using real words around level three.)
So anyway.
We went walking this morning, and I finished 1984, and I really hate their HTML formatting and since the text isn't pretty any more I might as well just type in here. Worked on flute today... I can play things again. My octave control is seriously lacking, but I can play things again. But really my octave control is awful. - 3-; And I wasn't paying as much attention to jaw position as I should have. But... I was playing things! Like the Kino opening and ending and the harp from Don't want you no More and the beautiful Hyrule Castle music.[/gush] And mother is going to ask the band director for flute tutor recommendations... That should be nice.
OMGPRETTYTEXTCAMEBACK. I must have somehow... sou. I was in html for no reason.XD Silly girl.
Anyway.
Spooooooooilerrrrrrrrs.
~
"My side?" Midna turned her face towards the goddesses, but it seemed to Anachron that she didn't meet any of their eyes. "Honestly, I guess it started with something that Zant said. That we, the Twili, had regressed over the generations and knew no desire... Before he said that, I had accepted my people as they were, naively calling their lack of will 'peace.' But now... it's like my eyes have been opened. I see evidence of the regression. I look at the elders of my people and compare them to the young... it's clear that the elders have more mental potential. But even the oldest don't have the intelligence and self-awareness it would have taken to reorganize the tribe and create the Twili's lore. We are not what we once were."
Midna paused; then she folded her arms and turned her gaze downward. "There was a Twili child born only a few days ago," she said softly. "I went to see her; it's customary for the royal family to pray over newborns. And when I looked into her eyes... I saw nothing. It was like looking into glass marbles. I don't know why, but with that single glance I felt certain that that child will never be able to speak or have any complex thoughts. She's not a person, she's something less... something empty..."
Anachron touched her shoulder sympathetically. That touch seemed to strengthen her; she raised her eyes to look at each goddess in turn. "Please," she said. "If I have any right at all to make a request of the world of Light's goddesses... help my people."
~
T-B-C~
8.22.2007
How about a new entry rather than that abominable system?
...That's the second time I've said "abominable system" today. The other time referred to the Shop Wizard. Grar.
Nothing has really been happening, so I haven't really be writing entries. On Sunday I started a blog for Mel, and I think I'll try to update that once per week, though more time than that will pass in her "world." Snuffles has come home! Yay! Cody has gotten louder. We are reading twelve books in College English. Today I worked on lace_and_gears's pet page a lot. (http://neopets.com/~lace_and_gears) The newspaper article (generated by the same place that produces that ridiculous ninja text and other annoyings on Gaia XD) and the paragraph above the marquee are what I wrote. More to come. Hey, maybe if I learn enough of that html stuff I can customize this more!
Oh yeah, and Target turned down my app. :C See if I buy Twilight Princess from you again! *snub*
Also we have been walking nearly every day. It's lovely, but this morning I was tired and had a headache. D:
More TP. Spoilers for... I don't even know. If you haven't finished the game, don't read it.
~
"Incidentally, elder sisters," Jindal said, addressing the goddesses, "which plight would that be?"
Din gave a rather sarcastic smile and replied, "I have a strange feeling that you already know which plight, Jindal."
Before Anachron could figure out what Din meant, Midna gasped suddenly in realization and turned towards him. "Wait, Anachron, did you...?"
Anachron answered with a soft smile. "Your heart was breaking for your people, Midna. I had to see if there was something I could do."
"But to ask the goddesses directly..." Midna's eyes shone with admiration and gratitude. "You didn't have to do that."
"Well, nothing else he could do would really have an effect," Din pointed out. "In any case, I would like to hear your side of the story before any decisions are made, Twilight Princess. It concerns you more than him, after all."
~
That wasn't very much, was it? More tomorrow.
Nothing has really been happening, so I haven't really be writing entries. On Sunday I started a blog for Mel, and I think I'll try to update that once per week, though more time than that will pass in her "world." Snuffles has come home! Yay! Cody has gotten louder. We are reading twelve books in College English. Today I worked on lace_and_gears's pet page a lot. (http://neopets.com/~lace_and_gears) The newspaper article (generated by the same place that produces that ridiculous ninja text and other annoyings on Gaia XD) and the paragraph above the marquee are what I wrote. More to come. Hey, maybe if I learn enough of that html stuff I can customize this more!
Oh yeah, and Target turned down my app. :C See if I buy Twilight Princess from you again! *snub*
Also we have been walking nearly every day. It's lovely, but this morning I was tired and had a headache. D:
More TP. Spoilers for... I don't even know. If you haven't finished the game, don't read it.
~
"Incidentally, elder sisters," Jindal said, addressing the goddesses, "which plight would that be?"
Din gave a rather sarcastic smile and replied, "I have a strange feeling that you already know which plight, Jindal."
Before Anachron could figure out what Din meant, Midna gasped suddenly in realization and turned towards him. "Wait, Anachron, did you...?"
Anachron answered with a soft smile. "Your heart was breaking for your people, Midna. I had to see if there was something I could do."
"But to ask the goddesses directly..." Midna's eyes shone with admiration and gratitude. "You didn't have to do that."
"Well, nothing else he could do would really have an effect," Din pointed out. "In any case, I would like to hear your side of the story before any decisions are made, Twilight Princess. It concerns you more than him, after all."
~
That wasn't very much, was it? More tomorrow.
8.17.2007
Oh, goodness. Where to start.
I suppose with yesterday morning.
Yesterday morning I had my senior pictures. They were pretty fun. I even got to wear my Boogiepop (Wow. I DEFINITELY just typed "Boogiepope.") costume for a few of them. Buut I had to smile. >3< style="font-style: italic;">Silver on the Tree that reminded me of it. Forcibly. By forcibly, I mean, "enough that I had an uncontrollable urge to go downstairs and get Anachron out of Upper Zora's River and over to said area." Oh. But before all that I checked my mail on my full-name account.
SCSU is not offering 200-level Japanese this year.
Clearly this is a problem.
I shall probably wind up independent studying. Or something. Or possibly something else all together.
And now for something completely different.
My dreams last night were really strange too. ;_; First I had a really hard time getting comfortable and falling asleep. Then the first dream I remember, it was CHRISTMAS! YAY! >_> And we got another puppy. A girlfriend for Cody. But not at all the same breed. Also I posted a hundred-question thing in PG, but so did Kyle Riley (I'm pretty sure it was him...), so I felt left out and... sad, and strange. So I tried to make up my own. Then I woke up.
The next dream was just strange and scary and unpleasant. It was the Empire State Building, but not actually looking anything like that, just that my brain labeled it "Empire State Building." C.G. and AnL were there, possibly more of the lunch group as well, but I remember AnL because we were trying to get to the top and she got in the elevator with me and she turned this knob that made the elevator swing back and forth, so I screamed, we went back down, I kept her from touching the knob and all was normal. Dream-normal. So we went to the top and I remember that C.G. was there. And it wasn't like the top of the EBS at all, but flat and sort of dirt and thin green grass and pebbles. Oh, and a dinosaur, of course. Which tried to attack us. So we went back to the "elevators" which were now just flat areas on the roof-ground, kind of like a magic carpet except without the carpet. So the other elevator pressed--no. I pressed the button for floor one, and the other elevator for floor ninety, for some reason, and then I wound up in the ninety "elevator" which went around the roof and went in through a window. There was a businessman at a reception-type counter staring at me, so I got away real quick, down a floor. On that floor, there was a woman with... a hat, I seem to remember, and a shaved head and really large, pretty, darkly-lined eyes. I'm pretty sure I got her face from a movie somewhere but I don't remember which. (She might be the girl in the Barbie Museum in Rat Race.) I was talking to her and I helped her with something, and as I talked to her I noticed that she had these REALLY LONG teeth that made me think "vampire!" except they weren't actually like vampire teeth at all... but then she and her friends tried to suck my blood so I ran away. Down exactly one floor which, naturally, since I was on floor ninety at all, brought me to ground floor. And at that point I became a black girl whose older brother, Barry (...Bonds?!), had died. So I went around telling family friends and neighbors that I was going to college soon. Then I woke up. THANK GOODNESS.
And that was all yesterday.
Well technically I woke from that last dream around 5 this morning, so that was today, but it was part of yesterday's stress, I'm sure.
To-day started with another walk.
Followed that with more reading of Silver on the Tree and a trip to the mall to apply at Target (*crosses fingers for luck*) and buy the new FMA and Furuba. Unfortunately only the new Furuba was there...
OMG. IT'S THAT ONE.
IT'S A GIRL.
IT'S A GIRL, IT'S A GIRL, IT'S A GIRL. I HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR LIKE TWO YEARS NOW BUT IT'S A GIRL. XD
It was a good volume. The next one comes out in November.
And for dinner we went to a soccer picnic. And now here I am.
I have not given you writing for some days, have I?
Would you like some of the Twilight Princess fanfiction? I'm getting ahead of myself, but whatever. Spoilers, of course, for even earlier than normal.
--
Anachron found that he was tense as he pushed the stone doors open and stepped into the past. His intent was neither dishonorable nor rash, but still he could not help feeling wary. He had a direct request to ask of the goddesses, and perhaps it was... impertinent.
But the image of Midna's face, discouraged, rose unbidden in his mind, and he swallowed his uncertainty and walked down the suddenly flawless steps. He came to the Master Sword. Light from the domed window above shone down in beatific beams, illuminating the blessed Sword. Taking a deep breath, Anachron grasped the hilt; this time, though, instead of pulling it out, he knelt in front of it in an attitude of reverence.
"O great goddesses," he began in a murmur, "O all-knowing, all-powerful, indomitable goddesses. In thy gooodness, receive the prayer of thy faithful servant..." And he stopped, his mouth dry, as he tried to phrase his request.
And in that pause, a strong, cool female voice spoke in front of him.
"You have done well to offer your supplication here, blessed hero."
Anachron jerked his head up in shock to look at the source of the voice.
In front of him stood a tall woman with pale green hair and a green dress. She was beautiful, but it was not a delicate beauty; it was a strong, confident, well-muscled beauty. Her eyes were serious and just, and--as they gazed at Anachron, they filled with the adoring love of a mother for her child.
The goddess Farore.
Anachron found himself shaking with awe.
As if she did not see his trembling, or as if she forgave it, Farore continued. "This temple, more than anywhere else in Hyrule, is close to the magic of the ancients, the magic that my sisters and I harnessed to create this land. Stand, hero, and speak your request; the goddesses smile upon and would hear your desire."
Anachron stood, and once more he swallowed; then, with much more surety than he felt, he said, "My prayer is for the people of the Twilight. I understand their crime, and their punishment was just; I do not question the goddesses' judgment in their banishment. But--"
Suddenly he could not go on. The fear that perhaps the Twili's degeneration had been the goddesses' will seized him, paralyzed him.
Farore's face was gentle. "Be not afraid, hero. Your heart is pure; I do not believe any desire held in earnest there could be one that would incur our wrath."
~
Of course there is more to it. But I'm sleepy. Good night. [[Edited, and continued below as I wait for a Vaeolus to heal.]]
~
And, very suddenly, he was not afraid.
"In the ages since the Twili's banishment, they have lived in the half-light of that realm. This has made their minds purer and more gentle; indeed, it has changed the very nature of their being. The Twili are truly a separate race from the humans of Hyrule, guided in their transformation by the light of the Sols.But they... they were once human; they were once beings who drew their life from the Sun. Without that nourishment, they have also become... simpler. They have lost not only dangerous characteristics as hubris and ambition, but also
~
Continuing again on 8/20. Don't feel like talking about my day(s), though.
~
But in softening their ambition, the Sol light has also been depleting their intelligence and self-awareness with every generation. Before long, they will be little more than animals. Please, goddess, I beg you to prevent this."
Farore's expression was unreadable. "That is a very bold claim to make, hero," she said softly, "especially from one who lives in Hyrule and whose contact with the Twili is minimal at best."
"It is true that I have not spent much time in Twilight," Anachron aquiesced. "And I have no way of judging what has happened over many generations. But I have seen the faces of Twili commoners. I have looked into their eyes. They..." Anachron's brow furrowed as he remembered. "There was something missing in them. Their expressions reminded me of the mindless hope of a dog when it sees you have a stick. And Midna, their Princess, tells me that a newborn of her tribe does not seem to have the potential to even learn to speak."
"You trust their princess?" It was a mere question, curious rather than accusatory or skeptical.
"With my life, goddess."
Farore seemed to be thinking; there was a slight, puzzled frown on her face. "If what you say is true, hero, then it was indeed an unintended consequence of their banishment, and you were right to question it." She paused, and then, indecipherably, said, "Yes, but this is not the place for such."
And then Anachron's surroundings fell away.
He was suddenly standing in darkness; but it could not be darkness, for colors still stood out, lurid in contrast. It was simply blackness. Farore still stood before him, but next to her stood a gentle, almost sad-looking woman in blue and a bright-eyed woman in red and gold--Nayru and Din. Anachron shivered and bowed deeply; to see the three goddesses stand before him, together, made him tremble. Power radiated from them.
And they were not the only ones to suddenly appear. A young man, slim, gray-skinned and gold-haired, stood slightly apart from the goddesses. He wore an ankle-length cape and could have passed for Midna's brother; he had her eyes, the yellow and maroon eyes that held so much more cleverness than other Twili's. For a moment, Anachron thought he saw something like a spark of triumph light the young man's boyish face; then it dissolved into an expression that strangely mirrored Anachron's own confusion.
And--next to Anachron--
Midna was there.
~
XP. I want to write more but it's after ten and I don't know exactly how this next tiny piece plays out. I'll write more tomorrow.
~
He could tell she was bewildered; her eyes, astonished, lingered on him for a moment. Then she looked forward and gave a soft gasp.
"Goddesses..." she whispered, dropping into a graceful bow. She turned slightly and gave another bow. "And my lord..."
"Rise, Twilight Princess," Nayru said, "and be at peace. It is for the sake of your people that we are met here today."
"Yes, goddess," Midna demurred, straightening.
The young man cocked his head and looked at the goddesses. "This is about the Twili?" he asked. "Then why is my Beast here? I did think his role was over."
Anachron stared at the young man, baffled and a little indignant. The "Beast" he referred to could only be Anachron, and it made sense coming from a Twili, but why the possessive...?
"My hero is here," Farore responded, placing the slightest hint of emphasis on her my, "because it was he who brought your people's plight to our attention, Jindal."
"Oh, I see," the young man said, and he looked to Anachron. "Then I have another thing to thank you for, my Beast." And he flourished his cape in a little bow.
Jindal? So this was the guardian deity of the Twili that Midna had spoken of, their first Prince. Strangely, the deity seemed short, shorter even than Anachron, and he lacked the presence that the Hylian goddesses had. Considering his background, though, Anachron supposed that that wasn't surprising.
"Incidentally, elder sisters," Jindal said, addressing the goddesses, "which plight would that be?"
~
Good night. Will probably write more tomorrow~
~
Yesterday morning I had my senior pictures. They were pretty fun. I even got to wear my Boogiepop (Wow. I DEFINITELY just typed "Boogiepope.") costume for a few of them. Buut I had to smile. >3< style="font-style: italic;">Silver on the Tree that reminded me of it. Forcibly. By forcibly, I mean, "enough that I had an uncontrollable urge to go downstairs and get Anachron out of Upper Zora's River and over to said area." Oh. But before all that I checked my mail on my full-name account.
SCSU is not offering 200-level Japanese this year.
Clearly this is a problem.
I shall probably wind up independent studying. Or something. Or possibly something else all together.
And now for something completely different.
My dreams last night were really strange too. ;_; First I had a really hard time getting comfortable and falling asleep. Then the first dream I remember, it was CHRISTMAS! YAY! >_> And we got another puppy. A girlfriend for Cody. But not at all the same breed. Also I posted a hundred-question thing in PG, but so did Kyle Riley (I'm pretty sure it was him...), so I felt left out and... sad, and strange. So I tried to make up my own. Then I woke up.
The next dream was just strange and scary and unpleasant. It was the Empire State Building, but not actually looking anything like that, just that my brain labeled it "Empire State Building." C.G. and AnL were there, possibly more of the lunch group as well, but I remember AnL because we were trying to get to the top and she got in the elevator with me and she turned this knob that made the elevator swing back and forth, so I screamed, we went back down, I kept her from touching the knob and all was normal. Dream-normal. So we went to the top and I remember that C.G. was there. And it wasn't like the top of the EBS at all, but flat and sort of dirt and thin green grass and pebbles. Oh, and a dinosaur, of course. Which tried to attack us. So we went back to the "elevators" which were now just flat areas on the roof-ground, kind of like a magic carpet except without the carpet. So the other elevator pressed--no. I pressed the button for floor one, and the other elevator for floor ninety, for some reason, and then I wound up in the ninety "elevator" which went around the roof and went in through a window. There was a businessman at a reception-type counter staring at me, so I got away real quick, down a floor. On that floor, there was a woman with... a hat, I seem to remember, and a shaved head and really large, pretty, darkly-lined eyes. I'm pretty sure I got her face from a movie somewhere but I don't remember which. (She might be the girl in the Barbie Museum in Rat Race.) I was talking to her and I helped her with something, and as I talked to her I noticed that she had these REALLY LONG teeth that made me think "vampire!" except they weren't actually like vampire teeth at all... but then she and her friends tried to suck my blood so I ran away. Down exactly one floor which, naturally, since I was on floor ninety at all, brought me to ground floor. And at that point I became a black girl whose older brother, Barry (...Bonds?!), had died. So I went around telling family friends and neighbors that I was going to college soon. Then I woke up. THANK GOODNESS.
And that was all yesterday.
Well technically I woke from that last dream around 5 this morning, so that was today, but it was part of yesterday's stress, I'm sure.
To-day started with another walk.
Followed that with more reading of Silver on the Tree and a trip to the mall to apply at Target (*crosses fingers for luck*) and buy the new FMA and Furuba. Unfortunately only the new Furuba was there...
OMG. IT'S THAT ONE.
IT'S A GIRL.
IT'S A GIRL, IT'S A GIRL, IT'S A GIRL. I HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR LIKE TWO YEARS NOW BUT IT'S A GIRL. XD
It was a good volume. The next one comes out in November.
And for dinner we went to a soccer picnic. And now here I am.
I have not given you writing for some days, have I?
Would you like some of the Twilight Princess fanfiction? I'm getting ahead of myself, but whatever. Spoilers, of course, for even earlier than normal.
--
Anachron found that he was tense as he pushed the stone doors open and stepped into the past. His intent was neither dishonorable nor rash, but still he could not help feeling wary. He had a direct request to ask of the goddesses, and perhaps it was... impertinent.
But the image of Midna's face, discouraged, rose unbidden in his mind, and he swallowed his uncertainty and walked down the suddenly flawless steps. He came to the Master Sword. Light from the domed window above shone down in beatific beams, illuminating the blessed Sword. Taking a deep breath, Anachron grasped the hilt; this time, though, instead of pulling it out, he knelt in front of it in an attitude of reverence.
"O great goddesses," he began in a murmur, "O all-knowing, all-powerful, indomitable goddesses. In thy gooodness, receive the prayer of thy faithful servant..." And he stopped, his mouth dry, as he tried to phrase his request.
And in that pause, a strong, cool female voice spoke in front of him.
"You have done well to offer your supplication here, blessed hero."
Anachron jerked his head up in shock to look at the source of the voice.
In front of him stood a tall woman with pale green hair and a green dress. She was beautiful, but it was not a delicate beauty; it was a strong, confident, well-muscled beauty. Her eyes were serious and just, and--as they gazed at Anachron, they filled with the adoring love of a mother for her child.
The goddess Farore.
Anachron found himself shaking with awe.
As if she did not see his trembling, or as if she forgave it, Farore continued. "This temple, more than anywhere else in Hyrule, is close to the magic of the ancients, the magic that my sisters and I harnessed to create this land. Stand, hero, and speak your request; the goddesses smile upon and would hear your desire."
Anachron stood, and once more he swallowed; then, with much more surety than he felt, he said, "My prayer is for the people of the Twilight. I understand their crime, and their punishment was just; I do not question the goddesses' judgment in their banishment. But--"
Suddenly he could not go on. The fear that perhaps the Twili's degeneration had been the goddesses' will seized him, paralyzed him.
Farore's face was gentle. "Be not afraid, hero. Your heart is pure; I do not believe any desire held in earnest there could be one that would incur our wrath."
~
Of course there is more to it. But I'm sleepy. Good night. [[Edited, and continued below as I wait for a Vaeolus to heal.]]
~
And, very suddenly, he was not afraid.
"In the ages since the Twili's banishment, they have lived in the half-light of that realm. This has made their minds purer and more gentle; indeed, it has changed the very nature of their being. The Twili are truly a separate race from the humans of Hyrule, guided in their transformation by the light of the Sols.
~
Continuing again on 8/20. Don't feel like talking about my day(s), though.
~
But in softening their ambition, the Sol light has also been depleting their intelligence and self-awareness with every generation. Before long, they will be little more than animals. Please, goddess, I beg you to prevent this."
Farore's expression was unreadable. "That is a very bold claim to make, hero," she said softly, "especially from one who lives in Hyrule and whose contact with the Twili is minimal at best."
"It is true that I have not spent much time in Twilight," Anachron aquiesced. "And I have no way of judging what has happened over many generations. But I have seen the faces of Twili commoners. I have looked into their eyes. They..." Anachron's brow furrowed as he remembered. "There was something missing in them. Their expressions reminded me of the mindless hope of a dog when it sees you have a stick. And Midna, their Princess, tells me that a newborn of her tribe does not seem to have the potential to even learn to speak."
"You trust their princess?" It was a mere question, curious rather than accusatory or skeptical.
"With my life, goddess."
Farore seemed to be thinking; there was a slight, puzzled frown on her face. "If what you say is true, hero, then it was indeed an unintended consequence of their banishment, and you were right to question it." She paused, and then, indecipherably, said, "Yes, but this is not the place for such."
And then Anachron's surroundings fell away.
He was suddenly standing in darkness; but it could not be darkness, for colors still stood out, lurid in contrast. It was simply blackness. Farore still stood before him, but next to her stood a gentle, almost sad-looking woman in blue and a bright-eyed woman in red and gold--Nayru and Din. Anachron shivered and bowed deeply; to see the three goddesses stand before him, together, made him tremble. Power radiated from them.
And they were not the only ones to suddenly appear. A young man, slim, gray-skinned and gold-haired, stood slightly apart from the goddesses. He wore an ankle-length cape and could have passed for Midna's brother; he had her eyes, the yellow and maroon eyes that held so much more cleverness than other Twili's. For a moment, Anachron thought he saw something like a spark of triumph light the young man's boyish face; then it dissolved into an expression that strangely mirrored Anachron's own confusion.
And--next to Anachron--
Midna was there.
~
XP. I want to write more but it's after ten and I don't know exactly how this next tiny piece plays out. I'll write more tomorrow.
~
He could tell she was bewildered; her eyes, astonished, lingered on him for a moment. Then she looked forward and gave a soft gasp.
"Goddesses..." she whispered, dropping into a graceful bow. She turned slightly and gave another bow. "And my lord..."
"Rise, Twilight Princess," Nayru said, "and be at peace. It is for the sake of your people that we are met here today."
"Yes, goddess," Midna demurred, straightening.
The young man cocked his head and looked at the goddesses. "This is about the Twili?" he asked. "Then why is my Beast here? I did think his role was over."
Anachron stared at the young man, baffled and a little indignant. The "Beast" he referred to could only be Anachron, and it made sense coming from a Twili, but why the possessive...?
"My hero is here," Farore responded, placing the slightest hint of emphasis on her my, "because it was he who brought your people's plight to our attention, Jindal."
"Oh, I see," the young man said, and he looked to Anachron. "Then I have another thing to thank you for, my Beast." And he flourished his cape in a little bow.
Jindal? So this was the guardian deity of the Twili that Midna had spoken of, their first Prince. Strangely, the deity seemed short, shorter even than Anachron, and he lacked the presence that the Hylian goddesses had. Considering his background, though, Anachron supposed that that wasn't surprising.
"Incidentally, elder sisters," Jindal said, addressing the goddesses, "which plight would that be?"
~
Good night. Will probably write more tomorrow~
~
8.15.2007
That's what tapestries are for.
Today again I went for a walk with MDC. Then I came home and chilled for a bit. Then I spent an inordinate amount of time online in the Writers' Forum for Gaia. (Writing nothing.) Then I had lunch, then I went clothes shopping for senior pictures some more. This time it went better. We've decided that DEB is the store for me. Finally some clothes I actually rather like for this deal. Though this exchange did happen between Mother and me before we left:
Me: Where should I shop? [in the mall]
Mom: I don't know, where do you like?
Me: I'm not shopping for what I like, I'm shopping for senior pictures!
For someone who spends so much time looking at fashion photography, dressing myself to be photographed but NOT having clothes as the point is a little confuzzling.
Anyway.
A Lion in Winter is a strange movie. And it was slightly awkward. ...Buuut he was pretty, he really was, the French king. >> << *cough* And he's sixty-something now, so MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
Me: Where should I shop? [in the mall]
Mom: I don't know, where do you like?
Me: I'm not shopping for what I like, I'm shopping for senior pictures!
For someone who spends so much time looking at fashion photography, dressing myself to be photographed but NOT having clothes as the point is a little confuzzling.
Anyway.
A Lion in Winter is a strange movie. And it was slightly awkward. ...Buuut he was pretty, he really was, the French king. >> << *cough* And he's sixty-something now, so MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
8.14.2007
Serious practice of flute = good.
Sorry for the lack of entry yesterday. There was a storm that started right around nine, so we turned off the computers. (I don't know why those things are connected, but they are.) The storm was fantastic. Didn't really do much yesterday, anyway. Oh wait! Yes I did! I looked at college stuff! Not that that got me anywhere. But I did look at it.
Today when I awoke I got dressed and had breakfast pretty much right away so I could go walking with Mom&Dad&Cody. We are doing it again tomorrow.
Then I watched some Azu; then I got my hair trimmed for my senior pictures which are on Thursday; then we went clothing shopping--most of the clothes I got were senior-picture clothes, and therefore not really me, which is a pity, but I may be able to work with some of them, and I got this super-cute Cheshire Cat tee--then the rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing. I played DDR--played yesterday too--due to a brief thought of creating an advice thread in the F&S on Gaia, which naturally would have required my picture, I have suddenly become paranoid about my stomach region. Expect a sudden increase in exercise. I wanna be SKINNY! Not average, skinny.
Other than that, I have FINALLY taken some real initiative on the whole flute deal. I found a video by James Galway--he's a famous flute player; I actually received a CD of his for Christmas a year or two ago, though I haven't actually listened to it much--in which he's teaching a bunch of people good embouchure. So I'm watching that obsessively. I've also decided that when I'm doing nothing, I'll practice! Hmm... what if I were to practice embouchure while watching anime? Ooou, ii ka mo! (This is a quote from Kagura in Azu, but I don't know what episode. I just hear her voice.) *is motivated*
That's about it.
Except.
I think I've probably mentioned this before, but TWILIGHT PRINCESS IS FREAKING BEAUTIFUL.
I'm not talking like just the people are beautiful. Sometimes the scenery absolutely takes my breath away.
Sled-racing on Snowpeak as it changes from night to morning.
The fishing hole in general.
The Sacred Grove, once you get that freaking Skull Kid out of the way, is also beautiful.
Yeah. That's my shpiel for the day. I don't feel like tagging this entry, but I guess I'll type in "flute" at least.
--
EDIT: How on earth could I forget?
God answers prayers. He absolutely does.
Yesterday night I was mourning the fact that I had yet to seriously apply myself to flute practice despite a desire to play and praying about it, though I will willingly admit that I was being just a bit whiny to God. The whole discouragement thing has made me whiny. Then I prayed something like this,
"Please, God, give me the ability tomorrow. Or if not the ability, a sign that everything will be all right."
Today I was thinking about it, and both requests are selfish; they depend too much on God and don't leave any responsibility with me. So I revised my prayer into one that God would give me the motivation.
He has done so.
He has given me patience and motivation and--hope. Not my cynical idea of hope, but God-hope, the one that can't possibly be a demon because if God gives you hope then He will never betray that.
Thank you, God.
Today when I awoke I got dressed and had breakfast pretty much right away so I could go walking with Mom&Dad&Cody. We are doing it again tomorrow.
Then I watched some Azu; then I got my hair trimmed for my senior pictures which are on Thursday; then we went clothing shopping--most of the clothes I got were senior-picture clothes, and therefore not really me, which is a pity, but I may be able to work with some of them, and I got this super-cute Cheshire Cat tee--then the rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing. I played DDR--played yesterday too--due to a brief thought of creating an advice thread in the F&S on Gaia, which naturally would have required my picture, I have suddenly become paranoid about my stomach region. Expect a sudden increase in exercise. I wanna be SKINNY! Not average, skinny.
Other than that, I have FINALLY taken some real initiative on the whole flute deal. I found a video by James Galway--he's a famous flute player; I actually received a CD of his for Christmas a year or two ago, though I haven't actually listened to it much--in which he's teaching a bunch of people good embouchure. So I'm watching that obsessively. I've also decided that when I'm doing nothing, I'll practice! Hmm... what if I were to practice embouchure while watching anime? Ooou, ii ka mo! (This is a quote from Kagura in Azu, but I don't know what episode. I just hear her voice.) *is motivated*
That's about it.
Except.
I think I've probably mentioned this before, but TWILIGHT PRINCESS IS FREAKING BEAUTIFUL.
I'm not talking like just the people are beautiful. Sometimes the scenery absolutely takes my breath away.
Sled-racing on Snowpeak as it changes from night to morning.
The fishing hole in general.
The Sacred Grove, once you get that freaking Skull Kid out of the way, is also beautiful.
Yeah. That's my shpiel for the day. I don't feel like tagging this entry, but I guess I'll type in "flute" at least.
--
EDIT: How on earth could I forget?
God answers prayers. He absolutely does.
Yesterday night I was mourning the fact that I had yet to seriously apply myself to flute practice despite a desire to play and praying about it, though I will willingly admit that I was being just a bit whiny to God. The whole discouragement thing has made me whiny. Then I prayed something like this,
"Please, God, give me the ability tomorrow. Or if not the ability, a sign that everything will be all right."
Today I was thinking about it, and both requests are selfish; they depend too much on God and don't leave any responsibility with me. So I revised my prayer into one that God would give me the motivation.
He has done so.
He has given me patience and motivation and--hope. Not my cynical idea of hope, but God-hope, the one that can't possibly be a demon because if God gives you hope then He will never betray that.
Thank you, God.
8.12.2007
Lakes are slimy. D:
Double entry to-day. Double, not really delayed, because yesterday we went to Aunt J.'s cabin at the lake (they all say the lake despite the fact that there are proverbially ten thousand of them) and did not return home 'till 'round (I don't know. I really don't know. Feeling random) ten. So there was no entry yesterday.
On the way to the lake, I drew Jindal and started to write something starring Mel. At the lake, I went innertubing (intertubing? it was a big round thing) and I believe I stayed in the tube only through sheer force of will. At one point Uncle D. intentionally made a very sharp turn to throw Z. and me off, and he only succeeded with Z. Ha! But I nearly fell out. Goodness the water was deep though. The thought of falling into water in the center of the lake, even with a life jacket on, terrified me. Hence the force of will.
To-day... what did I do in the morning? Comics, shower, Piece of Heart search, cleaned room, decided to deal with the unfortunate fact that that un-wise hero put the Master Sword back by bringing that obnoxious Skull Kid back into it, drew a card for my grandfather whose birthday party it was today, tried to avoid dealing with relatives (I'm sorry, but I'm not big with outer-family), etc. When they had gone, I took a walk and came back to find the final two Pieces of Heart, but then something really alarming happened. Fanadi is telling me that I can't reach the last P.o.H. Ridiculous! I have all items! I obtained it in Anachron! Where on earth... -mumbles-
So which do you want, the Mel thing or the revised opening to the TP fanfiction? Not that it matters asking you, since by the time you read this I have decided. In fact, by the time I wrote that I had decided. It was a very simple decision to make. You see, the new intro is already on the computer.
Spoilers, naturally.
--
Her hands trembling with eagerness, Midna delicately took the Sol and gazed into it, just as she had in the dreams she’d been having all week. Normally she didn’t really believe in dreams; however, normally she didn’t remember them either, and she remembered every last detail of these dreams, and they felt so real. Solid, almost.
And—she wanted them to be true.
Would it work? Midna held her breath in anticipation.
Just as she was about to turn away—while not as potent as the sunlight, Sol light still could be damaging if one spent too much time staring into it—when an image began to form inside the orb. Midna found herself gazing at the ruins of a once-graceful building, arches and columns and worn-away stone.
But where was…? Midna turned her head back and forth slightly, and obediently the scene shifted accordingly, allowing her to look around. He wasn’t there? But that didn’t make sense—this was his—
And then suddenly Midna recognized the place she was seeing. She groaned.
“He... he put it back!”
~
Anachron’s pleasant sleep was shattered by a scream.
Alarmed, he leapt out of bed, grabbed his sword and shield, and dashed outside. He gasped as he saw the source of the scream. It was Ilia—and she was surrounded by four of the Skull Kid’s puppets!
No time to wonder why they were here. “Ilia, duck!” Anachron shouted, and he flew at the puppets with a hasty jump strike. They halted, as if surprised, and then collapsed to the ground. Anachron sighed with relief, but he kept his sword out in case more should materialize. “Are you all right, Ilia?”
Ilia nodded, looking shaking. “Anachron, what were those things?” she asked in a small voice.
“Puppets,” Anachron replied, looking grimly at them. “They’re controlled by a Skull Kid from afar, and generally they come back until the Skull Kid is defeated. Maybe you should—”
Ilia gave a shuddering gasp. One of the puppets had gotten back up!
“Ilia, get inside my house!” Anachron commanded, leaping between her and the puppet. “I’ll take care of these!” He crouched, ready to strike the puppet if it tried to attack Ilia as she scrambled up his ladder. But it didn’t try to go after her—nor did it advance towards him. It just floated there, twitching-creaking-clicking at him expectantly.
There was something very strange going on. Usually the puppets came in groups of four, but this one’s companions had not risen… And it shouldn’t have risen in the first place… And why wasn’t it attacking him?
Experimentally, Anachron thrust his sword at the puppet—and it calmly floated backwards, away from the attack. He tried again with the same result. This didn’t make any sense. The puppets had never been intelligent enough to avoid his attacks, nor had he ever seen one retreat. Now it was cocking its head at him again, hovering near the path to the Ordon Woods as if waiting for him. Holding his sword at the ready, Anachron cautiously walked towards the puppet; it floated away from him at a pace that matched his own.
It wanted him to follow it.
He could ignore it, of course, but there was a chance that the Skull Kid would send more puppets after Ilia or someone else in the village. And it had never caused him real harm before, only irritation. So with a feeling of resignation, Anachron followed the puppet.
On the way to the lake, I drew Jindal and started to write something starring Mel. At the lake, I went innertubing (intertubing? it was a big round thing) and I believe I stayed in the tube only through sheer force of will. At one point Uncle D. intentionally made a very sharp turn to throw Z. and me off, and he only succeeded with Z. Ha! But I nearly fell out. Goodness the water was deep though. The thought of falling into water in the center of the lake, even with a life jacket on, terrified me. Hence the force of will.
To-day... what did I do in the morning? Comics, shower, Piece of Heart search, cleaned room, decided to deal with the unfortunate fact that that un-wise hero put the Master Sword back by bringing that obnoxious Skull Kid back into it, drew a card for my grandfather whose birthday party it was today, tried to avoid dealing with relatives (I'm sorry, but I'm not big with outer-family), etc. When they had gone, I took a walk and came back to find the final two Pieces of Heart, but then something really alarming happened. Fanadi is telling me that I can't reach the last P.o.H. Ridiculous! I have all items! I obtained it in Anachron! Where on earth... -mumbles-
So which do you want, the Mel thing or the revised opening to the TP fanfiction? Not that it matters asking you, since by the time you read this I have decided. In fact, by the time I wrote that I had decided. It was a very simple decision to make. You see, the new intro is already on the computer.
Spoilers, naturally.
--
Her hands trembling with eagerness, Midna delicately took the Sol and gazed into it, just as she had in the dreams she’d been having all week. Normally she didn’t really believe in dreams; however, normally she didn’t remember them either, and she remembered every last detail of these dreams, and they felt so real. Solid, almost.
And—she wanted them to be true.
Would it work? Midna held her breath in anticipation.
Just as she was about to turn away—while not as potent as the sunlight, Sol light still could be damaging if one spent too much time staring into it—when an image began to form inside the orb. Midna found herself gazing at the ruins of a once-graceful building, arches and columns and worn-away stone.
But where was…? Midna turned her head back and forth slightly, and obediently the scene shifted accordingly, allowing her to look around. He wasn’t there? But that didn’t make sense—this was his—
And then suddenly Midna recognized the place she was seeing. She groaned.
“He... he put it back!”
~
Anachron’s pleasant sleep was shattered by a scream.
Alarmed, he leapt out of bed, grabbed his sword and shield, and dashed outside. He gasped as he saw the source of the scream. It was Ilia—and she was surrounded by four of the Skull Kid’s puppets!
No time to wonder why they were here. “Ilia, duck!” Anachron shouted, and he flew at the puppets with a hasty jump strike. They halted, as if surprised, and then collapsed to the ground. Anachron sighed with relief, but he kept his sword out in case more should materialize. “Are you all right, Ilia?”
Ilia nodded, looking shaking. “Anachron, what were those things?” she asked in a small voice.
“Puppets,” Anachron replied, looking grimly at them. “They’re controlled by a Skull Kid from afar, and generally they come back until the Skull Kid is defeated. Maybe you should—”
Ilia gave a shuddering gasp. One of the puppets had gotten back up!
“Ilia, get inside my house!” Anachron commanded, leaping between her and the puppet. “I’ll take care of these!” He crouched, ready to strike the puppet if it tried to attack Ilia as she scrambled up his ladder. But it didn’t try to go after her—nor did it advance towards him. It just floated there, twitching-creaking-clicking at him expectantly.
There was something very strange going on. Usually the puppets came in groups of four, but this one’s companions had not risen… And it shouldn’t have risen in the first place… And why wasn’t it attacking him?
Experimentally, Anachron thrust his sword at the puppet—and it calmly floated backwards, away from the attack. He tried again with the same result. This didn’t make any sense. The puppets had never been intelligent enough to avoid his attacks, nor had he ever seen one retreat. Now it was cocking its head at him again, hovering near the path to the Ordon Woods as if waiting for him. Holding his sword at the ready, Anachron cautiously walked towards the puppet; it floated away from him at a pace that matched his own.
It wanted him to follow it.
He could ignore it, of course, but there was a chance that the Skull Kid would send more puppets after Ilia or someone else in the village. And it had never caused him real harm before, only irritation. So with a feeling of resignation, Anachron followed the puppet.
8.10.2007
Lack of motivation.
First of all, Cheese, if you're reading this, I really really appreciated your return call and I'm so sorry I missed it. D: Stupid pieces of heart! I should have at least thought to bring my phone downstairs.
Anyway. Today I was most thoroughly lacking in motivation. I mean it. It was bad.
Went for a short walk with Mom&Dad&Cody in the morning, but then Mom's shoe threatened to give her a blister and hold her hostage (but mostly the blister), so we went home. Then I... spent the rest of the day re-reading the Xanth books I own. The first two. Then I took a shower. Then I tried to find something to make myself feel better for wasting my whole day, came online, found no one, called Cheese, and then missed her return call because I didn't think to bring my phone down on my quest for Pieces of Heart for BLAH. I am missing five, now... they are... Let's think... One still in Lakebed Temple. One in the Goron Mines. ...But I guess that's all I remember. Pity. Oh wait... one in the ranch, I think, and THAT's all I can remember.
At least, I really hope it was the lack of motivation that was depressing me earlier. Otherwise it was Twilight Princess withdrawal. That would be really bad.
I am now going to attempt to draw human-form Jindal.
*is yelled at*
ALL RIGHT, all right. After I think about the gun thing from Kino.
But I feel silly. In half of the stories, it's only one or two sentences long. I've been blowing it out of proportion the whole time, just because I've foolishly only been looking at the first chapter. Of course it would be longer there! All I need to write is:
Okay. NOW I'm going to draw Jindal. If I can figure out a pose for him.
Anyway. Today I was most thoroughly lacking in motivation. I mean it. It was bad.
Went for a short walk with Mom&Dad&Cody in the morning, but then Mom's shoe threatened to give her a blister and hold her hostage (but mostly the blister), so we went home. Then I... spent the rest of the day re-reading the Xanth books I own. The first two. Then I took a shower. Then I tried to find something to make myself feel better for wasting my whole day, came online, found no one, called Cheese, and then missed her return call because I didn't think to bring my phone down on my quest for Pieces of Heart for BLAH. I am missing five, now... they are... Let's think... One still in Lakebed Temple. One in the Goron Mines. ...But I guess that's all I remember. Pity. Oh wait... one in the ranch, I think, and THAT's all I can remember.
At least, I really hope it was the lack of motivation that was depressing me earlier. Otherwise it was Twilight Princess withdrawal. That would be really bad.
I am now going to attempt to draw human-form Jindal.
*is yelled at*
ALL RIGHT, all right. After I think about the gun thing from Kino.
But I feel silly. In half of the stories, it's only one or two sentences long. I've been blowing it out of proportion the whole time, just because I've foolishly only been looking at the first chapter. Of course it would be longer there! All I need to write is:
She did her habitual cleaning and practice with her Persuaders, and then she had a light breakfast.And then adjust the following sentence.
Okay. NOW I'm going to draw Jindal. If I can figure out a pose for him.
8.09.2007
I'm actually kinda sleepy right now.
Today... what on earth did I do today? Well I woke up. I finished rereading the first three Claidi Journals (the three-volume book, to be precise, which R.S. gave me for my birthday several years ago). I... found kitties in the Hidden Village. That was just for the music, though, which I had in my head all day. *whistles it* It's very nice music. Rather ghost-town-y. I like it. I also... ... lazed around a lot. D: Fail. And Gaia put up its new layout, which is spiffy, and I created a new gmail address using my real name so colleges think I look more official. (But there are too many people with my name!) And of course I instantly used that to hold a gtalk/gmail conversation with myself. This is copied/pasted from my WOI chat logs.
I see that you are backing away slowly. Oh, my mistake. You were actually fetching a nice mental health professional. Hello, Mr. Nice Mental Health Professional. I was always told that people like you wore white coats. In any case, どうもはじめまして。
The tektek is これ: http://www.tektek.org/avatar/3096098
That insanity aside, today I remembered the existence of my Kino's Journey fanfiction. So I typed up the description bit finally, but now I need to work on the guns. Have I mentioned that I hate translating things about guns? *checks* Why yes, yes I did. Well, it is equally true now. And I apologize sincerely. I said then that you'd be able to meet Koshakk soon, and you haven't been able to meet Koshakk yet. -blinks tiredly- Just for that, I'll try the gun bit.
...No, I won't. I'm sorry. I hate translating about guns. I don't know anything about guns. But I'll give you everything else. I'm sorry.
--
4:02 PM me: Hello, me.
R: This is hilarious. XD Cheers to needing a snazzy official-sounding email for college stuff.
4:03 PM me: It's pretty funny, yep.
But it's so like me to make the first thing I do with it talking to myself.
Silly girl.
R: You are silly
me: Well, so are you.
4:04 PM R: (Pathetic pathetic pathetic. XD)
4:06 PM me: So, what do you want to talk about?
You need an icon.
R: I don't know what to use. D:
4:07 PM me: What about the bubble icon?
R: XP
Don't really feel like it.
4:08 PM I think something classy like an actual photograph would work better.
me: A photograph? Of _you_? And where are you going to find such a thing?
R: On other people's facebooks, of course.
4:10 PM Should I make a new mule?
me: What, and call him/her "Signboard of Hyrule"?
R: Ideally.
4:11 PM Dunno what I'd do with his/her clothes, though.
4:15 PM me: Hurray for tektek!
R: Tektek to the rescue. <3
| 7 minutes |
4:22 PM R: I found a picture!
me: Really? Omg, I had no idea!
R: Oh yes. I'm submitting it right now. XD
4:23 PM Submitted it. I hope it'll show up soon.
4:24 PM me: You need to save it first.
R: Fine, I did. XP
4:25 PM me: It hasn't shown up yet.
R: Patience. >:P
4:26 PM me: So, have you started tekteking yet>
*?
R: As if you don't know. Maniac.
4:27 PM me: It'd be best to get one less than 20k.
Actually, I was just about to look through my thread for old tekteks. :0
R: DO IT! Find me one. :D
me: ...XD We're freaks.
4:28 PM R: What's freaky is that you're saying "we." Freak.
Oh. Dang.
I may have to sign out for a second so that you can search your chatlogs.
4:29 PM Yup.
bee are bee.
| 10 minutes |
4:39 PM R: Hello again.
Did you miss me?
me: Never make me spend that long without you again! DX I thought I was going to asplode.
Your picture still isn't showing up.
4:40 PM R: It should be. D:
me: Oh wait, there it is.
4:41 PM Dang. D:
R: What?
4:42 PM me: I used the Striped Stockings in that one steampunk tektek.
Last time I checked, those were 40k.
R: D: -has not 40k-
| 5 minutes |
4:48 PM me: They're definitely more than that now, too.
4:52 PM Oh, wow!
4:53 PM R: ?
me: I've got something adorable for the Signboard, if I create it, and it's only 9k!
-adds more- XD
| 7 minutes |
5:00 PM R: Actually, I'm not sure I want a new mule...
What would I use it for? D:
me: But but... SIGNBOARD OF HYRULE!
R: Well, yes, and that's funny and all, but still.
| 7 minutes |
5:07 PM R: Well, goodbye. I'm over talking to myself at the moment.
5:08 PM me: I feel hurt. :emo:
R: Don't worry, we can still talk. Just not on here. XD
I see that you are backing away slowly. Oh, my mistake. You were actually fetching a nice mental health professional. Hello, Mr. Nice Mental Health Professional. I was always told that people like you wore white coats. In any case, どうもはじめまして。
The tektek is これ: http://www.tektek.org/avatar/3096098
That insanity aside, today I remembered the existence of my Kino's Journey fanfiction. So I typed up the description bit finally, but now I need to work on the guns. Have I mentioned that I hate translating things about guns? *checks* Why yes, yes I did. Well, it is equally true now. And I apologize sincerely. I said then that you'd be able to meet Koshakk soon, and you haven't been able to meet Koshakk yet. -blinks tiredly- Just for that, I'll try the gun bit.
...No, I won't. I'm sorry. I hate translating about guns. I don't know anything about guns. But I'll give you everything else. I'm sorry.
--
世界の崖っぷちの国
-End of the World-
It was a desert.
It was flat in all directions, and there was sand. Once in a while, there was a rugged, stubbly plant on the landscape, but even those were rare.
A single person was riding through the desert on a motorrad. (Note: a motorrad is a bicycle. The term refers only to non-flying vehicles.)
The motorrad was traveling at a fairly high speed, kicking up sand as it went. Its rear seat had been replaced with a luggage carrier, which currently held a large, somewhat dirty bag.
The person riding the motorrad was a young adult. She was fairly thin, and she wore a black coat that billowed around her as she rode. She also wore a thick belt that had a holster at her right thigh. Inside the holster was a hand persuader. (Note: a persuader is a gun, in this case a pistol.) Thick goggles covered her eyes to protect them from the grit that the motorrad stirred up.
The motorrad sputtered and spoke.
“If a sandstorm comes, we’re done for, Kino.”
The rider shrugged her narrow shoulders, keeping her gaze straight ahead. “I know, Hermes. There’s a country nearby. I’m aiming for that.”
“Well, hurry. All this sand is bad for my engine.”
After they rode through the sand a little longer, the motorrad that the rider had called “Hermes” spoke.
“Look! There’s a sign.”
“Yeah,” replied the rider that the motorrad had called “Kino.” She rode up to it to read it.
“The End of the World”
said the sign.
Kino and Hermes stared at the sign for a moment.
“Are we going there, Kino?” asked Hermes.
“Yes,” the young woman replied. She gazed at the sign without expression.
“Kino, I don’t want to go where the world’s about to end,” Hermes pouted. “I want to keep riding like this.”
“I know. I don’t think that’s what it means.”
“Then what does it mean?”
“Let’s go see.” Kino took a final glance at the sign. Then she started Hermes back up, and they rode through the sand a little longer.
They came to city walls.
Outside was a kiosk that said Traveler Information. Kino turned Hermes’ engine off, got off, put the kickstand down, and went up to the kiosk. She knocked.
A young man opened the door for her. “Ah! A traveler!” he exclaimed. “We haven’t had any travelers for a while, not since the news of the silver bird got out. Welcome, welcome, welcome! Would you like to stay in our country?”
“Yes, please. Here’s my passport,” said Kino.
The young man looked over her passport, nodded in approval, and stamped it. “Very good,” he said. “How long will you be staying?”
“Three days, please. I’ll leave the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, that’s perfect!” the young man said cheerfully. “In three days, the great bridge will be finished! By all means, you should attend the festivities.” He handed Kino’s passport back. “Enjoy your stay.”
Kino thanked him and wheeled Hermes inside the city walls.
She rode Hermes through the land slowly, stopping at grocery stores to restock her supplies. Several houses were decorated in patriotic banners.
After they’d walked for a while, it became evening. Kino stopped and asked one of the locals where she could find somewhere to eat and stay the night. The woman recommended an inn, and Kino thanked her.
“Have you been to the edge yet?” the woman asked.
Kino and Hermes looked at her, puzzled.
“The edge?” Hermes questioned.
“Go straight down Main Street until it turns into Edge Road, and that’ll take you there.”
“I see,” Kino said. “Thank you. By all means, we will check that out tomorrow.”
She gave the woman a smile and drove off.
“Kino!” Hermes protested. “What was she talking about?”
Kino stared straight ahead. “The end of the world,” she answered.
At the inn, the first thing Kino did was to wash the sand off Hermes. Then she had supper, took a shower, and laid down in bed.
“Hey, Kino.”
Just before Kino could fall asleep, Hermes spoke.
“Hm?” the sleepy traveler responded.
“I remember you said something once,” said the motorrad thoughtfully. “You said you would only stop traveling if you reached the end of the world.”
“Mhm.”
Kino offered no extra comment.
“So what are you going to do now?” pressed Hermes.
“Hmm.”
There was silence for a few seconds.
“Kino? Kino!”
Kino had gone to sleep.
The next morning, Kino awoke with the dawn. [&etc.]
After a light breakfast, Kino wheeled Hermes outside. “Shall we go?”
The motorrad yawned conspicuously. “Sure,” he replied.
Kino got on Hermes. She put down her goggles and started Hermes’ engine. They rode down Main Street at a leisurely pace, nodding to residents as they passed.
After about fifteen minutes, a sign indicated that Main Street became Edge Road.
“Almost there,” said Hermes. Kino nodded.
They rode for a few minutes more, and then they came to a sign.
Kino stopped Hermes’ engine and got off to walk the motorrad closer.
“You have reached the End of the World,”
Kino read from the sign.
A few feet behind it, there was a giant metal wall. It was twenty-five feet tall, and very solid-looking. About thirty yards away, there was a small door and what appeared to be a hut built into the wall.
“Let’s go,” said Kino, nodding towards the hut.
She wheeled Hermes over and knocked on the door. In a moment, the door opened.
A little old man stood in the doorway. He wore a simple gray tunic with an unusual insignia across the chest. He was very thin, with wiry limbs. His face, too, was narrow, and his eyes held a certain weathered look. “May I help you?” he asked softly.
“I am a traveler named Kino,” Kino introduced herself, “and this is my partner Hermes. We would like to see the end of the world.”
The man looked them over, and then he said, “Come in.”
Kino and Hermes went inside, and the man indicated that Kino should sit at the table in the center of the small room. She put Hermes’ kickstand down and did so. Then she looked around as the old man made tea.
The room he had invited them into was small and slightly cluttered, but cozy. It seemed to serve as a kitchen and general living room. There was a door on each wall of the room. And hung up along the wall were harnesses, as one might expect to see when rock climbing. Kino puzzled over these harnesses until the man served her some tea and sat down across from her.
“Since I was a young man,” he began, “I have been one of the Endkeepers. This wall was erected when I was a young boy—I’ll explain why in a moment—and shortly thereafter, just as I came of age, the huts that you see every hundred yards along the wall were built. It was at this hut that I earned my first job, and I have been employed here ever since.
As Kino and Hermes listened, the old man continued.
“Allow me to offer some background on the history of this land. It was first settled over two hundred years ago, by a people who disagreed with their native government. They settled here because, they discovered, they could go no further. They had reached, they believed, the end of the world—the place where the world simply drops into inexistence. They soon spread the news of their discovery, and this became known as the Land at the Edge of the World. Hundreds of travelers came each year to see the inimitable sight.” He looked wearily into Kino’s eyes. “I believe it is that sight you came to see.”
“Yes,” replied Kino. “By all means, I would love to see it.”
The man and went to the harnesses hanging on the walls. “First I must ask you to wear one of these, Miss Kino. Anyone who wishes to see the Edge is, by law, required to wear a harness.”
“Of course.” Kino allowed the old man to buckle the harness around her chest and legs and check it for snugness. He did the same for himself; then he attached a thick metal cable to each harness. He turned to Hermes. “I don’t have a harness suitable for a motorrad, Mr. Hermes, so I’ll have to ask you to exercise extreme caution at the edge.”
“Got it,” the motorrad replied.
The old man smiled at them both, holding the ends of the metal cables. “Let’s go, then.” He opened the back door, and Kino pushed Hermes outside. The man clipped the other ends of the metal cables to a long, solid bar that trailed along the wall, but Kino and Hermes didn’t see that.
They gasped as they stared forward.
Just yards from the wall, the earth stopped. There was no gradual fading, no gentle slope away. Just an abrupt inexistence of earth.
As they stared into the air beyond the edge, Kino and Hermes found themselves staring into an impenetrable fog that made it impossible to judge how far they were seeing.
It was the end of the world.
Kino and Hermes felt very small.
“Awesome,” Hermes muttered.
“You are standing,” the man said, his eyes looking lovingly over the expanse of nothingness, “where thousands of travelers have stood before you, looking at the same awe-inspiring sight.
“For two hundred years, people have come to see the end of the world. This wall wasn’t even built until fairly recently, and before that, anyone could come and see it. And people didn’t just come here to look—they came here to be free.” He gestured towards the empty air. “You can feel it, can’t you? When you look over the end of the world, you feel like your problems mean nothing.”
Kino didn’t reply, a strange emotion congealing in her chest.
“There were people who came here to throw things, too. To let something that was troubling them just fall off the world. I once saw someone—a very rich man—throw his entire fortune off the edge. Then he threw away everything that identified him and started a new life. He looked so free after that.
“However, before the wall was erected, occasionally people would have too much to drink and stumble off the edge by accident—and once in a while, there would be a suicide. This happened once when I was very young, and the relatives of the tragic soul, who also happened to be a very influential family, demanded that a wall be put up around the edge so that people couldn’t access it for such purposes.
“So, as I grew, the edge was inaccessible, but some people began to petition that it be reopened to the public. We were losing revenue from travelers, first of all—and besides that, the edge was part of our identity.
“Finally, they decided to build huts like mine into the wall and fit everyone who came to see the edge with a harness like the ones we’re wearing. That way, people could still experience the edge without the dangers of before.”
“I see,” said Hermes. “That’s good.”
“Yes, the man agreed. “For many years it has worked well. I joined the Endkeepers when I left school, and as I said, I’ve been working here ever since. Guarding the edge has been my entire life. However…” The old man gave a deep sigh and was silent for a moment.
“However?” Kino prompted.
“However,” the man continued wearily, “almost two months ago, a strange, giant, silver bird flew in through the fog and over the wall, landing almost right in front of my hut. And—a person came out. The bird was actually made of metal… the person called the bird an ‘aeroplane’ and himself a ‘pilot.’ Excitedly, he asked me a few questions about what kind of country he’d landed in, and then he asked to see our king, so I brought him there.
“He told the king that he was from a city on the other side of the ravine.
“‘The ravine?’ the king questioned. ‘You mean you’re from beyond the end of the world?’
“‘Beyond the…? No, no,’ said the pilot with a laugh. ‘This is… that’s not the end of the world. It’s just a canyon. It’s huge, I know—believe me, I know—but it’s still just a canyon. My country is on the other side of it.’
“He explained that his country had been working to build a bridge across the ravine for many years, and after a few hours of diplomatic talk, the king decided to allow them to complete the bridge onto our land. It will be finished tomorrow, and there will be a grand ceremony to mark its opening.”
The old man was then silent, staring across the ravine.
“May I ask you something?” Kino said.
“Of course.”
“How does the rest of the land feel about not being at the end of the world?”
The old man shrugged. “Some people are sad,” he admitted, “but mostly, the land is fascinated with the bridge and the foreigner and his silver bird. And everyone who lost someone to the edge now wants to scale the canyon’s walls to find the remains of his or her beloved.”
“I see,” said Kino. “Thank you very much for your time. Even if it’s not the end of the world, the edge is amazing. We will certainly come to see the ceremony tomorrow.”
For a moment, the man looked worried, almost as if he were about to tell them not to come, but then that look vanished, giving way to an incomplete smile. “Of course,” the man said. “Please enjoy it.”
“Thanks,” said Hermes.
The man unhooked the cables from the bar and led them back inside to undo Kino’s harness. Then, thanking him once more, Kino and Hermes rode back into town.
On their way back to the hotel, they stopped.
Walking down the side of the road, there was a young man whose skin tone was darker and whose clothes were different from those of the rest of the inhabitants of the land.
“Excuse me,” Kino said to the man, “but are you the man from the country across the ravine?”
The man smiled widely. “I am,” he replied. “You’re a traveler, then?”
“Yes. I am Kino, and this is my partner, Hermes.”
“Hello,” Hermes piped up.
“It’s nice to meet the two of you,” the man said.
“Would you mind telling me about why your country wanted to build a bridge across the ravine?” Kino requested.
“Not at all,” the man replied. “You see, our land was founded with the idea of defense from another country, so it was founded between the ravine and a mountain range. However, now that we’re a peaceful land, the location is more of a bother. We don’t have very much farmland or many natural resources, so the land can’t support the rate at which our population should be growing. Without the bridge, we had to trade over the mountains. With the bridge, however, we can ride across a set route to trade with this land.”
“But this land is between the edge and a desert,” Kino pointed out. “They probably have few resources to spare.”
“If it’s a desert, all they need to learn to do is irrigate!” the young man enthused. “They can get the water from the river that formed the canyon. It’ll be perfect!”
“I see,” Kino said. There was the faintest trace of coldness in her voice, but the young man didn’t hear it.
“So will I see you at the ceremony tomorrow?” the young man asked eagerly.
“I’ll be there,” Kino replied. “See you then.” She started Hermes again, and they returned to the hotel.
Kino was silent for a long time that afternoon. Finally, as she was eating supper, Hermes ventured, “Kino, you didn’t like that pilot very much, did you?”
Kino stared into her food, her eyes cold with anger. “There is nothing worse than a traveler who visits a country with the sole purport of changing something about that country.”
“You’re right, that’s pretty awful,” Hermes agreed. “But the people here don’t seem to mind so much.”
Kino took a bite and held her food to her mouth thoughtfully. “I wonder…”
“Wonder what?”
“If you’re right.”
And no matter how much Hermes pressed her, Kino would say no more.
The ceremony the next day started at noon, so Kino had time to check to make sure she had everything they’d need once they left. Then, at about eleven, she ate a light lunch and rode Hermes towards the edge.
The road was much more crowded today.
“Seems like the whole town is on their way to the ceremony,” Hermes commented.
“That’s probably true, Hermes.”
When they reached the wall, Kino and Hermes found that the crowd had formed orderly lines at the Endkeepers’ huts.
“Of course,” Kino said. “It’s beyond the wall, so everyone needs a harness.”
Kino got fitted up, and then a junior Endkeeper, not much older than Kino herself, accompanied her to the area where the bridge was, detaching and reattaching the cable to the bar as needed. He took care of his own harness as well, each time carefully tugging both to make sure they were secured. When they arrived at the bridge area, Kino thanked the Endkeeper, and then she and Hermes looked at the bridge.
It was a fine bridge. Made of gleaming metal, it shone even as it trailed through the distant fog. Though its thickness seemed most suited to pedestrian traffic, a small vehicle about Hermes’ size could probably ride along it comfortably.
However.
“Kino…” Hermes said, his voice a little sad.
“I know,” Kino responded.
The silver bridge sliced away the feeling of awe-inspiring infinity. The edge before them now was merely a steep precipice, more dangerous that amazing.
Kino sighed heavily, and the ceremony began.
It was difficult for Kino and Hermes to see the podium set up in front of the bridge, because they were fairly far back, but speakers allowed them to hear as the land’s king announced why they were here. Then he introduced the foreign pilot. Kino stood with pursed lips as the pilot talked about his land and spoke of the building of the bridge and international friendship. He didn’t mention the irrigation plot just yet.
Then the king took the podium again. “This bridge is, of course, a beautiful and strong bridge, but the same dangers that existed at the edge will exist over the ravine. Therefore, we need to exercise just as much caution on this bridge as we have at the edge of the ravine. For that purpose, our neighbors across the canyon have made the bridge out of the strongest metal in the world, and they promise to soon install two bars, much like the ones we are all connected to now. This means, of course, that we will need Bridgekeepers at each end to regulate traffic over the bridge and attach anyone who wishes to traverse it to a harness. Allow me to introduce the new Head Bridgekeeper. He has served the Endkeepers faithfully for over fifty years and performs his duty to perfection. Ladies and gentlemen, your new Head Bridgekeeper, Koshakk!”
The crowd cheered, and Kino clapped along. Then Hermes said, “Kino, look!”
Kino had already seen, and she had stopped clapping in surprise. The Head Bridgekeeper was none other than the old man they’d spoken with yesterday.
“Thank you,” Koshakk said to calm the applause. “As His Majesty said, I have been working with the Endkeepers for fifty years, ever since I was old enough to have a job. I have loved this job. I have brought many people to the edge and treasured the looks on their faces as they beheld infinity. This place was beautiful as the End of the World. It was a national treasure, a worldwide treasure. But now we know better, don’t we? We have been foolish children, believing that this could be the End of the World. But now we have grown up, grown wiser. This is simply a cliff. A canyon. It is not beautiful—it is an inconvenience. Something to be overcome. And that disgusts me.”
The sudden change in the old man’s tone sent whispers through the crowd. Indistinctly, Kino and Hermes heard the voice of the young man make a laughing protest.
Koshakk spoke right over all of that. “This will always be the End of the World to me,” he said, “and that is why I cannot accept the position of Bridgekeeper, as generous as the over is, Your Majesty. Even if this cliff is not the end of the world, it will be the end of mine.”
Kino’s eyes widened.
The old man tugged on his cable—but not to make sure it was secure. He pulled and pulled, and he gathered in the cable until finally he held the end in his hand.
He had not attached it to the bar.
The onlookers stood, holding their breaths or muttering amongst themselves, not comprehending. But Kino understood; leaving Hermes, she dashed through the crowd towards Koshakk, until suddenly she felt a sharp tug on her upper body. Her own harness kept her back.
“Mr. Koshakk!” she shouted, but her voice was lost among shocked screams. Koshakk had already leapt off the Edge.
Later that afternoon, a young woman drove a motorrad through the desert.
They were going at a fairly slow pace, as if the driver had a lot on her mind.
“Kino…” said the motorrad. “Were you expecting Mr. Koshakk to do that?”
“I wouldn’t say I was expecting it,” Kino replied over the sound of the engine, “but as horrible as it was, it didn’t surprise me. I can almost understand how he felt.”
“You can?”
“If that had really been the end of the world, I don’t know what I would have done. My journey is as important to me as the edge was to him.”
“Then you shouldn’t have gone there in the first place!” Hermes exclaimed. “Then you wouldn’t reach the end of the world.”
Kino was silent for a moment. “Somehow, I feel like that would have been just as dishonest as what that pilot did.”
“Hmmm,” said Hermes. And in a moment he added, “I don’t get it.”
“The world is what it is, Hermes. So…”
“So?”
“So I’ll keep journeying.”
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