first petal.

[readitinabook]

[ video ]

[A young woman appears in the mirror, as per the usual. She's new, but doesn't look particularly bewildered or frightened. Instead, she looks determined, if a little nervous.]This is a message...from Princess Estellise Sidos Heurassein to the Queen of Hearts. I would like to o-open diplomatic talks between the Empire and the Gardens! I

Comments

[video]

[quarkleader]

Good luck trying to negotiate with the Queen of this place, Estelle. Believe me, there's a good chance that you'll need it.

[Still, Maria's interested in seeing how things go for this girl, given that she's asking to go home so directly...]

[video]

[readitinabook]

She isn't responding...did I do something wrong?

[video]

[quarkleader]

No, she's the one who never bothers to answer our questions - not the important ones, anyway. The only time she's spoken with us so far is when she or one of what I'm assuming to be her subordinates makes an announcement - and none of those have been terribly informative.

[video]

[readitinabook]

"Duties of queens vary greatly depending on the nature of the kingdom or queendom. In a kingdom, a queen may be expected only to provide an heir, or she may be required to tend to all matters of business while the king is away. In a queendom, a queen must handle foreign affairs and military campaigns while assigning domestic tasks to lesser officials."

She must be a very busy queen.

[video]

[quarkleader]

Busy keeping secrets from us, it seems. A week ago, she got a little busy filling the night sky with stars - completely - and then all of us had to get busy cleaning up her mess.

I can't speak for what she does otherwise, but I never got the impression it was very much. In any case, she's hardly a trustworthy queen.

[video]

[readitinabook]

But she has such a beautiful realm!

[video]

[quarkleader]

Maybe so, but I'm in no position to appreciate it. I need to get back to my own world as soon as possible, otherwise I may not have a world to go back to. [Unhappy Maria is unhappy.]

[video]

[readitinabook]

You have to save the world...?

Like in stories.

Um, I just have to answer some questions about myself. I guess that doesn't sound like very much to you...

[video]

[quarkleader]

Saving the universe has become a big reality for myself and my comrades back in my world. What I learned about the circumstances did sound like something out of a clichéd scifi novel, but... [This is making her think too much of what had been done to her for the "sake of the universe", so she decides to shift the subject for her own comfort; she still has a frownyface about it, though.] If I end up failing my mission because of all this, then the Queen's gonna have so much to answer for.

Questions about yourself? [Perhaps surprisingly, her expression shows some interest here...]

[video]

[readitinabook]

I'm sure she won't let you fail in a mission like that. If she does...

[She falters a little bit, then comes back.]

I'll employ Brave Vesperia to make sure she answers for her crimes!

[The moment was brief; now she's suddenly shy again.]

I don't really know who I am, or what it is I'm meant to do. And there are things...

[She trails off, pensive, troubled.]

[video]

[quarkleader]

[Maria cracks a brief smile at Estelle's moment of bravado.] I'd appreciate that kind of support if it did come down to that. [Then it's back to serious mode.] Though I'd rather it never comes to that in the first place. [A slight narrowing of the eyes.] I won't be forced to fail if I can help it at all.

[She notices how troubled Estelle looks and sounds.] You don't have to discuss the details with me. [With sympathy not being Maria's strong point, that's the best she can say.]

I still haven't introduced myself, have I? I'm Maria Traydor; I lead a rebel group called Quark back in my own world.

[video]

[readitinabook]

No--no, of course not. I want your world to be saved, too.

[She pauses to look awkward at that introduction.]

A rebel group? I...

[A moment of hesitation.]

I can't condemn you. I've learned...a lot about how rulers can fail people, in my recent travels.

[video]

[quarkleader]

[Hmm. Maria wonders if she might've said the wrong thing. Time for a little explanation, then.]

The Federation we oppose has failed people in a lot of ways; it's quite an oppressive government, for one thing. [And that's as much as she's saying about that for now.] We're not terrorists, though; we mainly act as mediators to assist those who want independence from the Federation.

By the way, what does the Brave Vesperia guild do?

[video]

[readitinabook]

Oh...that sounds a little like the guilds!

[She looks relieved; Estelle's not sure how she'd deal with actual honest-to-goodness rebels right now, even if she knows they might be justified.]

Brave Vesperia upholds justice.