towerofanimus | [01] || [A Hilda Between Worlds] || [Open]

Entry tags:

[01] || [A Hilda Between Worlds] || [Open]

Characters: Princess Hilda and you.
Setting: Dormitories, Art Gallery, Library, the Meadow and the Observatory.
Format: Prose or action, I will follow.
Summary: Hilda wakes up in the tower, promptly chooses to deny that her world is dead and goes off to explore. The prompts include the princess (unsuccessfully) trying to get a terminal to work and encountering a shadow child, amongst other happy things.
Warning: Nothing; will edit if something comes up. The post obviously contains spoilers for A Link Between Worlds.

• Dormitory Floor 1 / Room 1-03
Room 1-03: 'Your world has been destroyed. I saved you. Let's all be happy here.'

Hilda read over and over again the letter she'd found upon sitting up. Moments ago she had been standing in the Sacred Realm. The next thing she remembered, she was waking up paralyzed in this forsaken place. This of course was more than enough to unsettle her, but this was nothing compared to the story this letter was telling her. Lorule, destroyed? Impossible. Yes, the demise of her kingdom had been set in stone long before her birth and she had herself let go of the only hope her kingdom had. Ultimately, the destruction of her world was something she knew was meant to happen.

But not so soon. With her waking up in this strange place, something was obviously wrong-- Maybe her kingdom was even more endangered than before, but destroyed? She couldn't believe it, she refused to. Fighting the nagging feeling that there may be some ounce of truth to the letter's content, she crushed the letter in her hand and got up from the bed in an instant.

Her eyes then settled to the trunk at the end of her bed. She knelt next to it and opened it, looking for its content. Her dismantled staff, clothes and nothing of much use. She grabbed the pieces of the staff and worked on putting them back together as she looked around, giving a look to the other beds in the room. Were there other peoples living here? She would find out soon enough, she figured.

Dormitory Floor 1: Now equipped with her staff, a purple and golden stick mounted with an inverted tetrahedron Triforce, Hilda left her room. Her priority was to find out more about this place; more than she had so far. This place was even more strange than she had expected. The very texture of the walls was nothing like the constructions in Lorule.

Slowly she walked through the corridor, looking from times to times at the various doors and the names written next to them. She frowned, what little she saw was unfamiliar to her. Odds were that she wouldn't find anything familiar here. Yet she decided to try and open some of the doors on her way-- Only to find them locked and frustratingly letting go of the handle. But hey, this may just have been the door to your room.

• Art Gallery (Floor 22)
The numerous figures and events depicted on these walls meant little to her-- This place would probably have been a paradise for Yuga. A particular set of painting caught her attention, however. A series of paintings depicting the history of Hyrule from the distant past. She looked at the paintings with interest; albeit their content was nothing new to her. While she had never seen these paintings before, Yuga had told her all of Hylian history, or at least all about what he had been able to learn.

Another set of painting soon caught her attention. The paintings on the opposite wall depicted a seemingly similar story, but this one had a noticeably less positive outcome. Her expression darkened upon seeing them. She set her staff against the wall and raised a hand, to touch the middle painting. Why did they have these here? Yet it was the only depicting of Lorule she had found in the entire tower. So she remained there, staring at the painting for a long while.

• Terminals (Library - Floor 03)
Now this was intriguing. Not the books, no. The books were nothing new. She had plenty of them back home, and while she would be more than happy to read some of these, something else caught her attention. Namely, that weird thing embedded into the wall that had started displaying things right as she had passed by. She had seen these things in the dormitory floor as well. Surely they held some significance, but in what way?

The best way to determinate that was to try and interact with the strange device, she figured. The thought of using the keyboard didn't cross her mind for even a second though, and she pointed at the terminal with her staff-- Obviously this object was magical in nature, maybe casting magic over it would reveal its secrets?

If the fumes elevating from the terminal as a result were anything to go by, this experiment didn't go well.

• Meadow (Floor 25)
After the sad spectacle the tower had offered to her up until now, the sight of the meadow came as a shock. Not only hadn't she expected to see such a place within this horrid tower, but she had never seen such a place at all before. Lorule was a world shrouded in darkness that prevented the simplest of flowers from existing. A land covered with dark clouds that forbade the light of the sun to ever reach it.

She walked in and looked around, having a hard time hiding her amazement at what she was seeing. So this was what a normal world looked like? She couldn't figure how or why this place existed within the tower, but at the moment it didn't matter. Of all the things she had seen in the tower, this one was of nature to appease her. She slowly kept moving in, kneeling down at times to look at flower-- She would probably stay here for a long while.

• Shadow Children (Observatory - Floor 45)
After quite a while spent exploring the tower, she decided to take a rest at the observatory, looking through the glass to see if she could perceive anything through the thick fog. Obviously she couldn't, but the sight was somewhat similar to that of Lorule. Empty and without hope. In fact, much of the tower reminded her of her Kingdom; the monsters roaming around, the feeling of oppression, the destruction. And one more thing was about to remind her of her lost Kingdom:

"Why did you survive?"

She turned as soon as she heard the familiar voice, there was no mistaking who it was and yet— This couldn't be.

"Ravi-?"

But upon seeing where the voice came from, she backed down in disgust. A black creature, pale imitation of a human being with only its white teeth as distinct feature. This creature certainly not who she thought it had been, and the words he further uttered only confirmed this to her. She scowled at the being and tightened her grip on her staff.

"Why do you use this voice?!"

She brandished her staff to cast a spell on the creature, to trap him in a barrier and leave him here-- But the spell failed. And even though she decided to leave rather than face the creature one more second; it followed her of course.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

After the last day or so, full of ups and downs, Grainne needed a moment to herself to sit and process everything she's been told and heard. It's been mostly downs since the moment she arrived here, and something told her that she could only expect more of them. She still hadn't explored much, so headed to the one floor that seemed most comforting.

Walking into the meadow, she spotted the other woman and paused, uncertain if she should apologize for intruding or just go find another place to sit.

Hilda was scrutinizing a purple flower when she felt the other presence-- In fact she spent an abnormal time simply looking at the flowers without touching them, as if she was afraid to see them ruined. She quickly turned around, expecting to see yet another of these monsters-- Only to see the other woman.

"Who's there?"

Grainne almost jumped at the sudden question, but shook her head and replied, "Grainne. I'm sorry if I disturbed you. I came here to think and didn't expect another."

Maybe... Grainne wouldn't mind having company after all, especially since she doesn't feel that this woman is a Servant. She is a bit tired of running into other Servants by now.

Enoch spent a bit of his time on each floor, lately. He couldn't decide if he was giving the tower a farewell or looking for answers he'd missed. Faceless creatures or no, any floor with windows or open air drew him to it, and it was because of this he found a dark-haired lady - noble lady, even royal, reacting to a shadow child, well...as if she had never encountered them before.

Shadow child. Psychelysis phantom. The twisted remains of those caught up in the pull between worlds.

"Ah...I...I'm sorry, but...that's..." And the truth, already so hard to tell, dies on his lips as he gets a good look at her at last. She looks strikingly familiar...

Hilda wouldn't even know what a servant was, besides the literal meaning of the word. She shook her head when Graine replied. She had seeked-- And to an extent found peace in this meadow, but the presence of that person did not disturb her.

"You did not." she replied and turned back to the flower "I have just arrived in this tower. I did not expect to find such a place here."

Hilda turned immediately as she heard the other, hesitating voice-- He may not realize it, but at this moment Enoch was a welcome distraction for her to ignore the insults and profanity that this thing was telling her. This creature may have been able to imitate the voice of someone she knew; but nothing more. None of these words belonged to that voice.

She saw his surprise as he looked at her, but all she wanted right now was a clear answer.

"That is what?"

There is one thing Hilda will find familiar in this strange new world: the name of Hyrule's Princess on a plate a few doors down from the room she herself awoke in. However, the woman who answers the door after Hilda's insistent jiggling of its handle is not quite the same as the one the Princess of Lorule knows. There is a clear family resemblance, of course; this woman has the same blonde hair and blue eyes, but she is also older, taller, and in possession of a far more world weary look in her eyes.

Hilda's appearance seems to surprise her as well, as she is left silently staring at the other woman for a few moments after answering the door. The images of Lorule's Triforce in particular are gawked at for longer than what may be considered polite.

This... is not what she expected to see when she woke up this morning. So many questions and thoughts swim wildly in Zelda's head that eventually she decides only to give voice to the simplest one.

"... Can I help you?"

"It was a surprise to me when I found it. I've only just arrived myself." Grainne relaxed slightly, stepping closer to see what she was looking at. A flower? "There are other floors like this... I've heard there is over a hundred and some are dangerous. The flowers are safe to pick though."

After a couple of failed tries, her attempts to open the doors were done with little conviction. The name on this particular plate had caught her attention though— One of the first familiar sight to greet her in this accursed tower. A surprising one at that. Zelda should have been safe in Hyrule with Link by now, right? Surely whatever had happened to her, and maybe to her world, couldn't have reached Hyrule.

However, the name didn't catch her attention nearly as much as the person who ended up opening the door. She had expected never to see again the Princess of Hyrule, and after what she had done to her, this was probably for the better. But was it really her? The resemblances between the princess she remembered and the woman standing before her were striking— But the differences maybe much more so. The age of course was the most obvious difference, but not the most worrying one. That look in Zelda's eyes was. She recognized it, for she had come to bear it herself after all these years worrying and fighting for Lorule. It was something that belonged to the realm of shadows, not to that of light.

Yet if the name written on the plate was anything to go by, this had to be her. Why or how, she couldn't say. But maybe she could help indeed, with providing an answer to the most basic question.

"... Princess Zelda?"

"More? I have yet to find them."

Finding these floors would probably be what she would do next. For now, Hilda picked up the flower and looked at it more closely. There were flowers in Lorule, but they were little more than pale, twisted imitations of what flowers should be. She turned back to Grainne however— Thinking to it, being that captivated by a mere flower probably looked silly from an outsider's point of view. Not to mention it was quite impolite.

"This... This is the first flower of this type I've ever seen." she explained before quickly changing of topic "But please forgive my manners. I am Princess Hilda of Lorule Kingdom."

Edited 2014-03-14 22:06 (UTC)

Lorule is not any kingdom Grainne's heard of, and even with Grail knowledge she can't bring up any connections. Probably more Second Magic...

But Grainne is not so old as to forget her own manners. She nods in acknowledgement, "Grainne of Ireland." A title didn't seem appropriate anymore. "They don't have flowers like that in Lorule?"

She nodded back, albeit she couldn't pretend have ever heard of Ireland. Possibly another prosperous Kingdom much like Hyrule. She hesitated before giving her answer— She hadn't wanted to speak much about her kingdom right now, or about herself.

"We very likely had them." she finally replied "However, much of what Lorule once had is gone. And now they say, even my kingdom's life has been taken away..."

With that said, she let go of the flower, slowly falling back to the ground. True or not, this was a no less depressive thought.

So this woman knows of the Royal Family of Hyrule. Really, that should help her narrow things down (not from the era of Skyloft, and not from Tetra's time), but this time the recognition only brings more questions. She looks like a royal herself, but no member of the Royal Family would adorn themselves with inverted Triforces like that. At least, she doesn't think anyone would.

Bewilderment remains clear in her expression, but she does manage to get herself to answer Hilda's own question.

"Yes, that is correct. Though, I fear you have me at a disadvantage..." A hesitation, signaling her assumption. "... Your Highness?"

Definitely not a Zelda that knows of Hilda, that much is certain.

"Have you forgotten me...?"

If so then, that was for the better. She had expected— Hoped even hoped that Zelda would remember her and the events that had transpired. But if she had forgotten what crimes she had committed, this would be one less burden for her to carry. That loss of memories was probably related to her change in appearance, though she couldn't begin to guess how or why.

Yet again, maybe this was just a matter of parallel universes and time paradoxes. Not that she even suspected such things existed. She nodded as an answer to Zelda.

"My apologizes. I am Princess Hilda of Lorule." she stated, as if this was the most natural thing in the world, before marking a pause "Could I please come in?"

"I'm sorry..." In a way, Grainne could understand. The vague passages of Irish history given to her by the Grail told of constant strain with the neighboring countries.

The current mood didn't sit will with her, though, and she considered for a moment what new topic would help lift it. Looking at the fallen flower, an idea came to her, and she started plucking flowers. "I used to make flower wreaths every spring for the young girls. I'm sure I could remember how to make one... shall I show you?"

Hilda didn't reply anything to the apology. This wasn't her fault, she shouldn't be apologizing— It was her own fault to have spoken about her kingdom and all she had lost. It had somewhat killed the mood indeed. Even the flowers looked less beautiful now.

"Flower wreaths?" she replied with surprise, wondering what it could sure "... It would be a pleasure. Is it something you do in Ireland?"

Zelda is a proud name, with a strong history... but there are times like this where naming every female child in the family the same thing complicates things far more than is needed.

"You may have known another Zelda," she answers quietly, though the explanation dies on her lips as she hears the name of the country this princess hails from. 'Lorule'...? She's grown accustomed to hearing of people from various points in Hyrule's history and future, but this... The worlds are so very clearly related, and yet so very different. It's unlike any situation she's heard of before.

Though her continued confusion delays her response, she doesn't forget her manners. Zelda steps aside, holding the door open for the other princess and beckoning her inside.

"Of course. Though I must ask your forgiveness - the room is not precisely in the best state to welcome guests." These are the things that happen when you put four teenage girls together in one room. "My bed is the second on the right, if you would like to take a seat."

As if the relative neatness and the large, framed map of Hyrule hanging above the headboard didn't make that obvious.

[Rick isn't in his room right now, but he does catch Hilda fiddling with the handle to it and is a little curious about her motives. Well, the cat part of him is more curious about her strange scent--she's yet to be claimed, which he interprets as her being new. So she's probably just trying to find someone to help her, of course!]

[As the orange tabby cat that spots her from down the hall will probably not be too helpful at guiding her in the right direction, Rick shifts into the human form that will be. Maybe. Okay, it's kind of hit-or-miss for him (particularly if she saw him shift, that tends to throw people off), but he tries.]

S-Sorry...a-are you, ah...l-looking f-for s-s-someone?

[Sephiroth is lain down somewhere in the grass quite far from the staircase. His consciousness drifts somewhere between lightly napping, and deeply appreciating the summertime meadow. The light breeze, the fresh smells - all things that he may well be soon leaving behind forever.

All grey-training clothes and silver hair lost within the blades of grass.

He has to blink back a wave of receding lethargy as someone wanders close, almost too close; he has to quickly bend a leg up and out of the way before Hilda might have tripped over it.]

Hm.

"Another Zelda...?" she repeated slowly, not understanding. The naming tradition existed where she came from as well, but like many things in her world, it was getting lost as Lorule decayed. She was probably the first Hilda in quite some times. Yet this would make sense in explaining the differences she could see. That and she couldn't imagine any reasons Zelda why would lie. If there had been another such world outside her own, then there could have been two, maybe more. "This would explain many things."

She nodded and stepped into the room, quickly looking around ~~for any hidden triforces and heroes to steal~~. She then stopped before the bed— She didn't sit down however and stared at the map. Hyrule. Not quite the same Hyrule that Yuga had depicted her, but close enough. So she may really be another Zelda from another world. After a while contemplating the map, she turned back to the other princess.

"Forgive my rudeness. If you truly are not the Zelda I remember, then I imagine my words— No, my mere existence must be quite confusing. When I first heard of Hyrule I hardly could believe it myself." she said "But I awakened here recently and in my quest of answers your name is the first familiar sight upon which I laid my eyes."

[ Hilda had noticed the cat, but hadn't been paying much attention to it. She was looking for answers and a cat couldn't really help her with that at the moment. That is, until the cat suddenly shifted into a human being. Which left her understandably surprised, even though she had only seen the transformation from the corner of her eye.

She knew a man who could turn himself and others into paintings, so such magic wasn't unheard of. Yet this was no less surprising and his offer for help was lost on her. ]

Did you just... [ She paused, how to say that politely? ] Were you— That cat...?

[ After having met Grainne, Hilda had decided to stay for some more time in the meadow. The flowers, the sun, the breeze— All these things that didn't exist back in her homeworld, or at least not under this form. She wanted to experience them for some more time. Goddesses knew when she would be able to see such wonders again.

Hilda hadn't actually noticed Sephiroth's presence until he bent his leg out of the way. She looked down and finally spotted the silver-haired man. Well, this floor was definitely more frequented than she had originally thought. Yet it wasn't surprising that many people would enjoy such a place.

She nodded at him in acknowledgment before speaking on a formal tone. ]

My apologies. I had not noticed your presence.

[Oops, she saw him. The blonde man turns bright red and keeps his distance, not wanting to unnerve her any more than he already has.]

A-Ah...yes. I...I d-didn't m-mean to...s-s-sorry.

[Awkward silence while Rick stares at his shuffling feet, wondering if there are any better ways to explain himself and finding none. Maybe, if he asks if she needs help again, she'll just...ignore it? Or forget? But that would be so rude!...]

"Yes, but I think it is something many girls everywhere did in my world." Grainne lowered herself to the grass and continued gathering, getting quite a large number collected on her lap. "The longer stems work best. I'll show you how to braid them together."

~~Contrary to popular perception, she does not, in fact, keep her knight collection in her bedroom.~~

Zelda closes the door quietly behind Hilda as she enters, watches as she stares at the painting Aria had given her. She can see the recognition there, same as when Hilda looked upon her face. How curious...

"It is all right," she reassures as Hilda begins to explain herself. "It is hardly the first time something of this sort has happened, as unbelievable as that may sound. This place has the ability to bring in people from any point in time, including the past and future."

Her words may seem absurd, but Hyrule's Princess speaks with a frankness that leaves no doubt that she believes what she's saying. She tilts her head then, some of that initial confusion making its way back into her expression.

"Though this is the first I have heard of Lorule. It is quite clearly connected to Hyrule--" The similar sounding names, the inverted Triforces - even Hilda herself looks similar to her. "--but I cannot say I know how."

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 7

[01] || [A Hilda Between Worlds] || [Open]

no subject

no subject

no subject

Observatory! ...Does this count as fourthwalling? If you don't like it, I can edit it out!

no subject

Naah, it's fine!

Dormitories

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Dorm Floors

Fl 25 - Meadow

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject