01. Text

[hopefanatic]

There's something I've been thinking about for a while so I hope all of you will be patient enough to indulge me.

A good deal of fantastic and seemingly-impossible things happen in this place, ranging from all of us raising dragons to encountering killer plants like ones out of an old horror movie. I know that I don't just speak for myself when I say that a lot of the things we encounter here simply don't happen where I'm from... In fact one could even call all of it downright impossible and against the laws of nature and physics! I mean, the moons changing us into animals? Some mysterious space society that we've "mysteriously" encountered right when they need our help? It almost sounds like a video game!

Which brings me to the question I'd like to pose to all of you...

How do you know that any of this is reality?

Comments

[hopefanatic]

As long as I get to see the brightest hope possible that's all I need.

[princessascended]

That sounds... almost religious.

[Or cultish. Either or really.]

[hopefanatic]

[Neither is really too far from the mark.]

I guess that's one way to put it, but my devotion runs even deeper than that! Hope is a force of ultimate good and I'll do absolutely anything to see that it triumphs, including killing or being killed.

But no matter what happens I always believe that there's a bright hope just over the horizon, that's why I'm fine with whatever the reality of our situation here is!

[... All right "cultish" is probably a little more accurate.]

[princessascended]

[Oooookay she's kind of regretting getting on this subject, or possibly talking to this guy at all now. Even she's not this enthusiastic about the Light, and she's a princess of it!]

Maybe... try to avoid killing people or dying? I tend to think those aren't very hopeful things to do.

[Xehanort notwithstanding.]

[hopefanatic]

[Komaeda tends to have that effect on most people who make the mistake of talking to him, especially once he gets set off on a Hope Rant like this.]

If someone is trying to spread despair or needs help in letting their hope shine then I think dying is the very least I could do.

[princessascended]

Who have you met that tries to spread despair of all things? Is your world that full of darkness?

[hopefanatic]

There are plenty of people who spread despair, not just in my world. But the worst culprit of it that I've encountered is actually here right now.

[... Not counting the fact that he might or might not have helped her at one point. But he's better now.]

[princessascended]

Seriously? I know there are a few unpleasant people who came here with us, but that sounds... really bad.

[Though she's not certain whoever he's talking about can actually be worse than Xemnas, much less Xehanort himself.]

[hopefanatic]

I wouldn't exaggerate anything involving the battle between hope and despair.

[princessascended]

I guess I'd feel the same when it comes to light and darkness.

[hopefanatic]

So you understand! And the light of hope exists to cut through despair so is there really such a big difference?

[princessascended]

I guess, but we mostly fight to stay alive. And keep other people alive.

And protect the worlds.

Really there's just a lot of not wanting anyone to die involved.

[Ironic.]

[hopefanatic]

"Worlds"? That definitely sounds admirable. I imagine that you'd have to be pretty skilled to be able to manage such a lofty burden like that.

[princessascended]

Well, I'm still just an apprentice, really. You want someone skilled, you should talk to Sora or Riku. Or someone like Master Invi.

[hopefanatic]

You shouldn't sell yourself so short! If you're fighting against the forces of darkness and despair you should have a lot more self-esteem!

[Like he's one to talk.]

[princessascended]

I could say the same about you.

[Yeah, she's not letting that go unmentioned.]

[hopefanatic]

Well we're not the same.

[princessascended]

We're similar, at least.

[hopefanatic]

Now you're really doing yourself a disservice. If you were at all like me, even a little, you'd definitely be unlucky.

[Or extremely lucky, since he's essentially both.]

[princessascended]

Yeah, well... I think we've all had our unlucky spots.

[And after a few things that have happened back home recently, she doesn't exactly think much of her own luck.]

[hopefanatic]

Oh there's far more than that involved, but it's a little off-topic and I'm not going to unload my burdens onto you!

[As if they've stayed on topic in the first place.]

[princessascended]

I kinda think we left the original topic in the dust a while ago, but... alright. Just try not to beat yourself up so much, okay?

[She gets a feeling that last line was in vain, but at least she can try.]