shirleyhopeful | Inbox/Mailbox Post

[She looks it over, smiling to herself. Zelos had come so far, having opened up to someone like this...]

...thank you for showing me, Shirley.

[She couldn't let him lose this. He might not have realized it, but he'd grown as much as she had over the past year.]

[Shirley didn't know how to respond. Instead, she just sadly smiled at her.]

It's not a problem...

I suppose it is a bit selfish but I'm a little happy to see that there is another person like me out there.

[But at the same time, he had to suffer just like she did.]

It's natural to seek out understanding. I wouldn't wish my circumstances on anyone either, but I was still relieved to find someone that understood.

[Zelda folds the note carefully, being overly meticulous in making sure the edges match up. Focusing on the task is one of the only things keeping her from starting to cry a little, and she definitely doesn't want to push that on Shirley.]

[Now Shirley couldn't help but wonder. Was she someone who was familiar with the chosen system as well?]

Um...what do you mean?

[Despite her question, she wasn't going to push Zelda if she didn't want to. She'll tell her if she's comfortable with it.]

That is a bit of a complicated story.

[One she doesn't really want to tell, but she imagines Shirley will feel more secure if she knows Zelda's secret, too.]

I am, essentially, the goddess of my world reborn.

[Oh.

.....OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.]

That's...pretty similar to what being a Merines is. I am an agent of Nerfies so I'm viewed as a God in someways to the Ferines...

[That finally explains it - why Walter watches over her with that unique blend of reverence and over protectiveness. Zelda smiles to herself.]

...Walter is your guardian, isn't he?

[Shirley gave her a small nod. So now Zelda finally knows.]

Yes, that's correct. He has watched over me for quite sometime and continues to do his job even here in Vatheon.

[~~And apparently when they were little kids too.~~ She wasn't going to say much else since her relationship with Walter is a bit....complex.]

[Other than the one time he'd paid close attention to her hands while she was casting (at that time Zelda was still very defensive over the presence of the Triforce), Walter's never made Zelda uncomfortable. Something about him reminds her of a Sheikah, and now she knows why.]

You know, he reminds me of my guardian. Quiet, dedicated, secretive, efficient, a little abrasive... I miss her dearly. It almost feels strange to not have someone at my back all the time, even now.

[Shirley couldn't help but be curious. Zelda had a guardian too? First Zelos and now Zelda? The idea that there were so many chosens in different worlds made her both happy...and a little sad as well.]

She seems to be a lot like Walter. I think if she were here, she would miss you too!

[Pause]

...I'm pretty sure Walter did too.

[In Zelda's case it's a little different, but her destiny is no less consuming.]

Yes, she truly is. He's very dedicated. You are fortunate to have him here.

[It's said with a little envy. If Impa were to show up along with her father and Link... the temptation to leave behind her fate and stay with them would be very strong.]

Certain that Walter did what?

[Shirley never really thought about it that way but it was the idea that she wanted her own freedom too.

She knew that Walter was trying to protect her in his own way but... they were just too different.]

When he was here before I arrived, I wonder if that was how he felt. And if I were to go back home, he would feel the same thing again.

[It wasn't a pleasant thought to know that she was able to go back but for Walter, he couldn't. That was something she was keeping to herself.]

...I do believe that he missed you. Before you arrived, it seemed as if he was drifting aimlessly. He seems more focused now.

[Oh, Walter made sure he survived before Shirley arrived, but he didn't seem to really care about much. It was only after her arrival that he bothered to show any interest in the rest of the city around him and how it functioned.]

Really? Can I ask what he did before I arrived?

[Had their relationship between so estranged that she never bothered to ask what his life was like before she arrived? Hm...]

We did not see each other often, understand. Walter is not one for extended socialization, but circumstances pushed us together every now and then. He seemed... like he was simply waiting, like he lacked purpose or motivation. Even when Vatheon merged temporarily with another location and we had to fight for our lives, he was perfectly relaxed. It seemed as if he had nothing to lose.

[The Walter now acts like he does have something to lose. The difference is subtle, but one she can see with clarity.]

[Based on what Zelda had said, Shirley was coming to the conclusion that Walter was still waiting for her despite everything she had done. If they didn't have such different beliefs, perhaps they wouldn't be in this predicament. However, just like Walter, she was stubborn on her ideals.]

...It sounds Walter is doing everything for me. [...] I know why he's doing this and he's done so much for me. I don't want him to do anything more!

I don't want people doing things for my sake! I want people to just stop hurting themselves for me!

[There was a small gasp. That was the first time, Shirley was able to talk to someone else about this wasn't she?]

...it's frightening, isn't it. To have someone devote their entire existence to you. I never realized just how frightening it was until Impa - until all the Sages...

[So many people gave their lives for Zelda. Her whole family, the Sages, all the guards in the castle. They all laid down for her sake, because they trusted her to be their hope.]

It is a lot of pressure to be the sole hope for an entire people. I did not realize just how wrong it was for everyone to depend on one person until arriving here, until seeing what it had done to others. It is a burden of unimaginable weight. And yet...

[She smiles a little hopelessly.]

I wouldn't abandon it for anything.

...It is. They trust you to give them salvation and then when you fail, it's makes it more difficult when you disappoint them.

[During her time when she was helpless, she couldn't stand to see Fenimore's face. She was clearly disgusted and disappointed in her.]

...I knew it was wrong but I didn't listen, I just had to help my people no matter what.

[There was another pause]

And yet...I wouldn't do anything to drop my title of the Merines either.

It does not have to be that way, though. You don't have to simply suffer in silence. Know that your people look to your for leadership - know that they are looking to you, not the title. You can lead them without ignoring who you are. You can ask for their help, ask for them to look to you as a friend and leader instead of an idol. It is... not quite as heavy of a burden, that way.

[She learned that far too late for her people. Hopefully Shirley has some people left.]

Yes, it is something that I had to learn the hard way. It wasn't until too late that I learned how to use my title as the Merines. I learned how to talk to both races and find a way for peace.

[Pause]

I know a lot of my friends want to help out too and that's all that matters right?

[So it was too late for Shirley, as well. Though...]

I don't think it can truly be too late. You can still help adjust the way people perceive things so that whatever occurred does not have to happen again.

[She nods in response to the second statement, smiling.]

Yes.

[She lets out a nod]

That's what I've been trying to do. My friends and I have been trying to change what has been a horrible situtation into a positive one... [Pause]

I know I can't erase 4000 years of hate but the least I can do is to let others open up to each other a bit more...

Hate cannot be erased with hate. It takes a kind heart to heal those wounds. You have that much just as Shirley, without any sort of title attached.

[Zelda is less sure about her own heart, but she can see the goodness in Shirley clearly.]

[For a moment, Shirley didn’t say anything. It’s been a long time since she had been able to talk about something like this to someone else. After spending almost a year here, it was nice to hear to be reminded that she was doing something right.]

You think so? [Pause] ...Thank you, Zelda...it’s been so long since I heard someone say that to me.

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