bravenewworld | [Video]

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[The focus of the video looks like a small sculpture of a Honedge sitting on top of cloth. Looking closer shows that the sculpture is made of ice and…there's a slight tinge of frost around the picture as well.

The camera shifts as it's picked up and the sculpture too. Maka holds the Warp Band in one hand and sets down the miniature with another.]

Aria, I asked you not to put those on my projects.

[She's speaking to someone off-camera, but right after she does the camera is panned over to a Froslass that seems to be forming another sculpture with…her ice?

This time it's a Gengar, appearing to be leering right at the girl.]

She's been doing this since the solstice…I mean, I appreciate her trying to keep the house cool, but--[She doesn't like that Aria is set on creating creepy sculptures of Ghost types to tease her trainer.] It's freaking Hades out.

[To explain that, Maka pans the camera again over to a Houndoom that seems to be…freaking out just a little at all the ice and chill.]

…And it's getting my projects wet. [Not to mention the ice sculpture of the Gengar is creeping up on her as she's speaking. Once it's close enough, it begins to rub itself against her face.] --Ah! Cut it out, Aria!

[The feed ends there with a ghostly giggle.]

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[Thank you Stella dear. Remind Rei to give you extra poffins next time she sees you.

She takes in all that information silently, letting her little sister go on and the Pokemon do her usual interjections. Stella was a wonderful and spectacularly loyal little Pokemon, and in a way Rei's often reminded of Deimos, who's already appeared at her side to listen.]

I...see. That is extremely unfortunate.

[Rei looks to Deimos, and the Gardevoir nods, closing her eyes. A whisper of power from the Psychic type follows, and in a flash Maka is not alone. Teleport can accomplish a great many things, with the Warp Band on.

Without a word, Rei steps close and grabs the younger girl into a tight hug. Like it or not, little sister, you are getting it. She teleported just to do that.]

Maka-chan. I don't want you to think that way about yourself. You can do a great many things right, and I don't understand why you think you can't.

[Rei's appearance is a surprise, the hug is not, she's used to getting hugs from Rei even if it still feels strange. Regardless of how Maka feels about it, she can acknowledge that right now she needs it, and she melts into the embrace--unmistakable sounds of weeping starting up.

She hates doing that. She hates crying and she hates doing it in front of other people. But it just won't stop, the tears just come pouring out and she's shaking and trying to speak, yet all that comes out is sobs.

Stella, of course, looks totally distressed at her trainer's distress but helpless to do anything about it.]

[It's not that Maka can't, it's not that she thinks she can't either, it's just an unfortunate coincidence of disastrous things happening with her in proximity. Maka has always felt like she needs to take responsibility onto herself in order to justify something that went wrong and figure out how it can be fixed. She has also not learned yet that there are different types of strength and they all have their uses, ironic given that she holds the Savior's story so devoutly to her heart--a woman who had no means of defending herself but still went forward anyway.]

I--I want to be strong! I want to be strong so I can protect people! But even when I try, I still need help to accomplish something. Even with that thing in Sanctuary...I thought going to keep the peace would help, but even Stella had to help me with calming everyone down!

[Stella's ears twitch at this. What does she mean, when they went through the citizens? That's not true, I didn't do anything.]

[Rei crushes Maka into the hug, leaning forward and covering her protectively with her body. She sags and just takes a breath, planting a kiss on the top of her head and resting it there just like a real blood relative would. Her arms are firm, unshakable, and her eyes focus on the little cat. It was hard to see anyone like this, especially Maka, and she knew Stella was internally freaking out.

Her words don't quibble, her tone remains steady.]

Maka. Everyone needs help. Everyone needs people they can rely on.

[She squeezes tighter, still holding the pig-tailed girl close, unyielding and firm in her strength.]

I rely on Ami, and on Usagi-chan, and Eiji relies on Ankh. Maya and Pearl-chan rely on one another too. It's not right to think you have to do everything alone. Without my friends? And without my Pokemon, I'd be useless. I have power, and so do you, but that doesn't make someone strong. The ability to be a part of a team...to have a partner? Like Stella there. Or like what I have with Deimos. That's strength, dear. Teamwork, with humans and Pokmeon. That's what makes our home strong, and it's why we're so different from Sanctuary or Caldera, or Citadel, Refuge and Gigas. We know how to rely on others...

[Just a few months ago, they were all standing down a charging god--unified. They showed their strength together, they showed the meaning of Union, even if they were all afraid and powerless.

Stella touches her paws to Maka's arm, ears lowered and looking close to crying herself. Don't think about him, Maka, it just hurts you! she tries to warn.

There are two people in this world that Maka relied on and ended up being left behind by. She cannot rely on those people, but still she wants to be as strong as they are. Her father's physical strength and her mother's strength of heart, both are things she wants to emulate--to surpass.]

You know before Mom left Papa, she knew what he was doing. And I felt her pain--she'd try to hide it from me, but I felt it deep down in her soul. It was so painful that sometimes I'd just cry out of nowhere, and I felt too ashamed to tell anyone why it was happening. I think...maybe, that's why ghosts started coming to me, they never bothered me until I started feeling Mom's pain. I don't know if Mom was aware it was happening, but I hope not.

[Maybe that's why she left, she thinks. Maybe she left so I wouldn't feel her pain anymore.

No, her mother wouldn't do that, and she shouldn't voice such a terrible thought aloud. Maka doesn't want Rei to get a bad impression of her mother as some kind of abandoner. She shifts so she can move her hands up to wipe at her eyes, mindful to not disturb Rei's position.]

In Sanctuary, I felt a lot of fear and anger. I hated it, I didn't want anyone to feel that way. Yeah, fear's an important part of having courage, but when you put it with anger...[it makes a sick and tarry sort of feeling that weighs on your soul.]

[And you helped them, Stella insists on this. I saw you do it, you talked to them and instructed me how to do the same, I couldn't have done it without you.]

[Rei doesn't relent on that hug, and if anything she pulls Maka in tighter. One hand gestures to Stella before scooping up the Meowstik with a tendril of psychic power and setting her down on Maka's shoulder so she can give the cat some affection too. Maka's had, by her estimation, never had people quite like Maya and Jinxie in her life. And she didn't have a group of friends like herself, either, but that didn't mean she was beyond help. Punishingly low self esteem was not unfamiliar to Rei Hino, and it calls back her own memories of a time several years ago, when she'd been alone save for a few Pokemon and the other inhabitants of Ninetales Vale.

And she grieves for Maka, for what she's going through. It was hard enough growing up five years ago, but with all the changes? With the gods returning, other civilizations cropping up, and the gods themselves interfering in affairs? She can't imagine what this is like for Maka.]

People who've been hurt feel fear...and anger.

[She knows that feeling well. She'd been the target of suspicion and fear when her abilities had manifested. Nobody liked a small child who could read your emotions or tell you when you were going to get sick next. And they liked it even less when Rei was really honest.]

The people in Sanctuary had every right to feel angry with the people in Gigas. Anger...is sometimes a good thing.

[Anger is the source of misery and destruction, but also of passion, an outlet for healthy people she remembers her grandfather saying when he'd found her trying to bottle up her fury at her father.]

Anger can drive people to do all sorts of bad things, yes. Like war, and violence and verbal abuse, and it comes from fear too. But sometimes, Maka? Anger is a good thing. It can be the spark that causes a revolution, to remove an oppressive regime, or to end a cruel experimental program. Union...at least as I see it? Is full of anger. Righteous anger, and not that misguided sort of rage and avarice that guides Gigas.

Those people you and Stella helped? Had grown up not knowing what life was like without fear, and when they got a taste of it, I'm sure they got angry. I know I would, if I saw what I was missing just by meeting people like you.

[Rei takes a deep, ragged breath, and chuffs out a heavy sigh. This wasn't something she liked thinking about at all. But Maka did need it.]

Maka, do you want to help those people? The normal people in Sanctuary?

Yes.

[She says that without hesitance, without comment on Rei's words on anger--frankly, she's right, and Maka would be a hypocrite if she said anger didn't fuel her in some way--this is something Maka has always determined.]

I want to help the ordinary people of Sanctuary, I want to help the Homunculi. I want to help everyone that feels afraid, not so they'll never feel fear again, but so they can find their courage and be prosperous. Healthy...happy. Mom gave me my courage, I want to give everyone else theirs.

[The tears have stopped, at least, Maka is trembling all the less and her stomach no longer feels twisted and cold.]

I'm not looking to save the world, I just want to help people.

[And now Rei breaks the hug and pulls back just enough to nod. Her hand runs through Maka's pigtails as she smiles solemnly.]

Good. I know your mother would be proud.

[She knows that, as surely as she knows that her own mother is smiling down on her from Heaven for reaching out to take power and using it to help people. For doing the right thing. All parents want that, she's certain.]

And I'm proud of you too. Because I know just how strong you are, dear. And so does Stella. Right, girl?

[Stella nods affirmative, of course. She herself feels like she can't appropriately help Maka sometimes--even though she's a Psychic type she can't learn the technique of eating dreams or aiding sleep, not even predicting the future, but she's still here with Maka.]

[Maka, however, is surprised by the statement. It's so simple, but at the same time it sends her into this whole new world of thinking, almost like she was set free from a long self-imposed prison.

Her mother would be proud? Rei is proud? Of course, Rei is her friend, and they're more similar in circumstances than even she can gather sometimes, yet still it surprises the girl that her own strong sense of loyalty is mirrored.]

You...really think Mama would...?

[Mistakenly using the title she used as a younger child--Mama and Papa. She hasn't called the missing woman "Mama" in years, too childish for a 15 year old girl to be using. Or at least that's what she's been told.]

[Rei flashes a little smile to Stella but her focus remains on Maka. Remind her sometime to point Maka towards a Ralts, as they can learn Dream Eater.

Of course the emotional surge inside Maka hits the empath like a hammerblow and she can't help but close her eyes and focus to shut out that upswing. It's a lot to take in, even from someone she cares a lot about.]

I do. I absolutely do. You put yourself in danger for other people. What mother wouldn't be proud?

[Well. Her father certainly isn't.

Or maybe he is, she can't tell between his blubbering and excuses.]

...Uh-huh. I think I understand now.

[A pause.]

Err, thanks Rei, sorry you had to come over when the house was all...like this.

[Rei reaches down and flicks one of Maka's ears with a fingernail.]

Don't apologize. Just accept that I'm going to be here for you because I care about you, and give me a hug.

[She huffs, reaching up to hug the older girl again.]

All right, all right, yeesh--so bossy, oneesan.

[Bossiness yields results, as usual, Maka has to admit and Stella crawls in between the girls to give equal affectionate headbutts.]

[Stella, why headbutts...you have arms.]

I'm used to getting my way.

[But she laughs and runs a hand along Maka's head.]

Cheeky thing.

[Because she is a cat, that's how they express affection.]

Hey, somehow you love me anyway, even if I am cheeky.

[She'd call it honesty, really, but ticking off the fiery priestess is not on her agenda. The thought of it sends a tingle of dread up her spine.

Or maybe that's the ice still lingering, who knows.]

[That spike of dread is enough to make Rei wonder just how damaged Maka really is. Her answer though, is another kiss on the top of the head.]

I do love you dear. You're practically family. Keep it up and I'll have to just adopt you.

[How damaged, really, is something she might never come to terms with. Early in life she saw her parents screaming at each other, she got the "not now, I'm busy" until it became expected, she knew exactly when her mother was crying and where her father was--who he was with at the time.

It's simple, it's not exactly the tragedy someone would write plays about, but it culminates into Maka--a young teen with a very damaged view of the world.

What is important, however, is her reaction to it. Maka does not like this damaged world that's been built up around her, and she wouldn't wish it on any other person. So while she's not looking to save the world, as said, she'd like to help people and hope they'll have a better life.

There are people like her out there, she knows, people who have had the world betray them and so felt they also had to be alone. But, as Rei said, though an individual can be considered "strong" no one is truly strong unless they are unified with people they care for with all of their heart and soul. That is the meaning of Union.]

Heh? I thought you already did, or was the volunteering at the Shrine and meeting your girlfriend for nothing.

[The tingling hasn't stopped. Actually, it intensifies at the press of Rei's lips into a burning sensation--Maka reaches up to rub at her shoulder as if that would help, but before either of them can assess that there's a sudden burst of energy from her.

It's not forward, or around, so it doesn't harm Rei or Stella, it's actually concentrated on her back at the shoulder blades...they're wings. Incandescent wings made of pure light have burst from Maka's back. The energy doesn't feel like it burns or that it's harmful, it's...calming, almost like the concentrated feeling of comfort. They spread out and fold around the three into a protective cocoon, then burst open back to their original position--all of the ice Aria had conjured up seems to have dispersed at that action.

Maka is, of course, in shock but...calmer somehow. She doesn't feel that this evolution was as untimely or painful as the first.]

...Nnn...oneesan? Are you okay?

Well, I mean more officially...

[She would go on, she would very much like to go on. But she's cut off by the sudden shift in Maka. The way she seems startled, the way her posture changes, and the sudden, sharp buildup of pressure that indicates something important is about to happen.

Rei steps clear, folding her arms around Stella protectively, letting the evolution take it's course. She cannot interfere, and wouldn't even if she felt it she could. Maka had seemed to take quite ill after the first time, and the second in Rei's case...and Ami's...had been a doozy. But when all is said and done, and those wings appear? She can feel the other girl's calm.

And that helps, a lot.]

I'm perfectly fine, dear. How are you?

Okay...

[That's all, simply "okay." She's not scared or surprised, though she is shifting her shoulders to give a critical eye to the "wings" that have grown.]

Oh, come on, don't show off like that.

[Maka seemed to be addressing the wings directly as their light fades and the form changes to a simpler, seemingly more frame-like one.]

That's better. [She stretches then, geez that was tiring--even if it wasn't as painful as the last one.] Sorry, I didn't plan for that to happen.

Show...off?

[Rei looks from the wings to Maka and shakes her head.]

I know you didn't, dear. But how do you feel? Evolution can be an exhausting experience. Are you feeling light-headed or anything?

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