A New Arrival

[covermyback]

Who: Zelgius and YOU!
What: Zelgius arrives in Prospero and needs a little help learning about the place.
When: December 6th, in the afternoon
Where: The hotel
Rating: PG, most likely.

Zelgius awoke with a start. He had just fought Ike, lost, and been left to die... but suddenly, he was awake, and in an unfamiliar room. Had he been rescued? Slowly, he got up and saw the cell phone by his bedside. He gazed at it for a moment, touched it, and accidentally turned it on. He was more than a little surprised when it lit up and showed the display, then turned back off after he just stared at it. Figuring that the device might be useful despite having no idea what it was, he took it with him as he went downstairs to the lobby. There, he watched for people who might be able to help him. People going through the lobby might be greeted as follows:

"Excuse me... This may seem like a strange question, but what is this place?"

Comments

[trueempress]

"Zelgius?" Sanaki had spotted him looking around, and immediately made her way toward him. "General Zelgius, is that you?"

Aside from her and Leanne, she hadn't seen anyone she knew here during her whole stay.

[covermyback]

Ah, a familiar face! Zelgius bowed out of respect to the empress. "Yes, Empress, I am here. Where in Tellius are we? All I remember is losing consciousness after the duel with Ike."

[trueempress]

"We are no longer in Tellius, it seems." Sanaki let out a heavy sigh. "This city is called Prospero, on a continent and world quite different from our own. There are great mysteries at work here, the least being how to return home. But I am comforted to see you."

[covermyback]

"We're... no longer in Tellius? How is that possible? Did I die after all, or is the Goddess responsible for this?" Zelgius stared Sanaki down quizzically. "Nonetheless, I am glad to see you as well. How long have you been here?"

[trueempress]

"It has been about one year by this place's calendar since I arrived - hold." Sanaki furrowed her brow. "You say you were dueling with Ike, and that you may have died from it? When did such a thing occur and how?"

[covermyback]

"A year? How is that possible? You were among the forces fighting on the other side of the barrier while I was dueling..." Wait. What? If Sanaki was on the other side of the barrier, how could she not have been aware of his duel? "I'm not sure how long I was unconscious. It could have been for a few minutes, or a few days. But to me, it feels as though the duel just happened. This duel occurred in the Tower of Guidance as Ike was leading the charge to confront the Goddess." It felt very odd, explaining what should have been obvious. Something wasn't right here.

[trueempress]

"Confront the... Goddess...?"

Sanaki shook her head. "General, please tell me exactly what year it was when you left Tellius."

[covermyback]

"Three years after the Mad King's War," Zelgius replied, increasingly puzzled. "You were there, in the tower... what is confusing you, Empress?"

[trueempress]

"...I see. For me, and for Leanne - the only other person to arrive from Tellius besides you and I - it has only been one year," Sanaki explained.

[covermyback]

"Only one year..." Zelgius trailed off, musing over the implications. "So you know nothing of the events that I have recently been through, much less the battle I saw you be a part of."

[trueempress]

"I am afraid not. If you would speak of them more, perhaps I would understand what you mean, but for now I cannot fathom why anyone would attack the goddess's tower."

Really, the idea was laughable.

[covermyback]

"I..." Zelgius hesistated. Was it really okay to "spoil" the future? "I am not sure whether I should tell you what happened, Empress. You might try to change the circumstances when you come home, and that might cause problems." What would happen if the past Sanaki meddled with the future? It might become a mess.

[trueempress]

"You would withhold it from your empress?" Sanaki folds her arms across her chest. "Though I understand your reasoning, I am not pleased. You're lucky that your arrival here balances that out."

[covermyback]

Zelgius frowned. Sanaki had a point, but the dilemma still stood. "If you truly wish to know, I will tell you what happened. However, I still worry about the possible consequences of such an action."

[trueempress]

She shook her head. "I will allow you to keep it to yourself for the time being. Come. I will show you the workings of this city."

[covermyback]

"Thank you, my empress," Zelgius said with a small bow of his head. "Please show me around. Do you know if there is anywhere to train here?"

[trueempress]

"There is no specific place, but many of those brought here are warriors," she answered. "If you ask them, I'm certain that you will be able to spar against them. First, of course, you'll need to find a weapon."

[covermyback]

"Are there any weapon shops around?" Zelgius asked. It seemed like there would be from Sanaki's response, but it was worth asking about. "I assume these warriors are from other worlds as well. I look forward to sparring with them as well."

[trueempress]

"There is one. Though its origins are dubious, the weapons sold are of good quality."

Sanaki nodded. "There is quite a variety of worlds that we hail from."

[covermyback]

"'Its origins are dubious?' What is that supposed to mean? Does it come from another world, as well?" Zelgius found himself wishing he was at least in a familiar place now. What kind of place was this, being cobbled together from pieces and people from other worlds?

[trueempress]

"There was another weapons shop here, but overnight it was replaced and the current owners do not remember the first ever being there, nor have ever heard of the first owner."

Very dubious.

[covermyback]

Very dubious indeed! "It might not be too much to conjecture that these new owners might be from another worlds as well." Now Zelgius had an idea. "Would you mind taking me to this shop? I think it would be best if I was armed as soon as possible."

[trueempress]

"Certainly. Follow me." She pauses, then asks, "Would it be all right if I did something foolish and unbefitting of my station...?

[covermyback]

"And what would that be?" Zelgius asked in turn. Sanaki rarely did such things, so the fact that she wanted to break her rigid standards came as a bit of a surprise. "I would have no problem with it if you have no problems with it.

[trueempress]

Sanaki carefully approaches him and hugs him tightly.

It's foolish, and unbecoming. But she was lonely here, and even Leanne's appearance didn't make up for missing those she lived with and cared for.

[covermyback]

Zelgius reflexively stiffened in the hold, not used to such contact. But he understood the gesture, and he couldn't help but smile. "I am glad that you're here too, Empress. It is a relief to see that you have been well here."

[trueempress]

"Tell me, at least, one thing about your future." She's quiet. "Lord Sephiran. Does he yet live?"

That is the most important thing.

[covermyback]

Zelgius nodded. "To my knowledge, yes. Sephiran is still alive." Whether he would be for much longer, though, was up for debate.

[trueempress]

Sanaki let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Good. ...Forgive me for my display."

[covermyback]

"You don't need to be forgiven. There was nothing wrong with what you did." Zelgius realized that Sanaki must have been awfully lonely here, having been here for quite some time without anyone else. Her reaction to a familiar face was natural.

[trueempress]

Sanaki ducks her face before nodding. "Let us go."

[cosmicsoul]

A girl with her big hair tied back rollerskated into the lobby, followed by a small dog and four kittens. She braked at the new arrival and waved.

"Yo, how's it going?"

[covermyback]

Well, that certainly wasn't something Zelgius was used to. Cautiously, he waved back. "I fell unconscious in the Tower of Guidance and woke up here. Do you know if I was rescued?"

[cosmicsoul]

"Whoaaaa." She thought for a moment. "The universe works in mysterious ways, man. Welcome to Prospero. We're stuck here, but it's not that bad, y'know?"

[covermyback]

"We're... stuck here?" Zelgius cocked his head, unsure as to what that meant. "What does that mean? And what kind of place is this Prospero? Please tell me about this place."

[needsteaplz]

Saori finished work at the tea house early and gave her Aussie Shepherd dog Sirius a walk. Today was one of the rare days she wasn't going to deal with the Dark Hour. Since her room was on the first floor, it would be natural for her to meet the newest arrival in the lobby.

"This place? This is the island Prospero. Somehow this place brings people from different times and worlds, you see. My name is Saori. What's yours?"

[covermyback]

"Different times and worlds...? How is such a thing possible?" That puzzled Zelgius, alright. He had never heard of such a phenomena occurring, much less ever considered that there might be other worlds out there. "I am Zelgius. Pleased to meet you."

[needsteaplz]

"I'm afraid no one really knows. They've managed to pull people from even death after all," she sighed and gave her dog a pat on the head. "Nice to meet you too. Well, Zelgius, I might be able to answer most of your questions about this place. Sadly, I don't know a way out of here or why were brought here."

[covermyback]

"I suppose it makes sense that they've pulled people from death. It would explain why I am here in one piece." Zelgius's hand went to his chest; there had been quite a wound there before that was now gone. "My first question would be... what kind of place is this? Give me a general explanation to start."