From the Waters of the West I Come

[RedPiggy]

Some fan vids that might help get the feel:

Holy moley I think someone posted it on youtube ...

That's volume 1 chapter 1, but I'm not gonna spam this post up with whatever else the user on youtube posted.

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 4

Mizumi marched into the throne room, where glistening silver drapes hung from the high ceiling.

The king, sitting on his throne of smooth pearl, looked up from a stack of cups resting on a nearby table. “My dearest daughter,” he began solemnly, “have you returned from your pursuit of the toads?”

Mizumi quickened her pace and keeled in front of him. “Your Majesty, I had come to tell you of --.”

“—Of the obvious, no doubt: that toads are disgusting creatures fouling the waters of Moraine?”

Mizumi stared at the polished marble floor to avoid glaring at her father, for she had no wish to be chided today about her self-righteousness. She grit her teeth. “My father is, as always, wise and intelligent enough to discover the workings of his kingdom so easily.”

The king smiled and leaned back. “True, my precious heir. You are ignorant only because you lack the skill. Fortunately, skills can be taught.” He snapped his fingers and the boot-licking servant approached from a far door. “Esker, what of the toads?”

Esker, the boot-licking servant not fit to steam laundry, bowed, avoiding even the briefest glance in Mizumi’s direction. “Your Majesty, the McMooch family name appears in all accounts.”

The king rubbed his chin in thought. “The McMooch family? Slimy creatures of the night waters, but of no real concern to me. The Cup of Moraine must not be quick to confuse the reflection for the person staring at the lake. What evidence is presented?”

Esker sighed. “There appears to be an economic element, though those sickened deny doing business with toads.”

The king frowned and stood. Glancing at Mizumi, he beckoned them to come forth. As they kneeled at his feet, he placed a hand on Mizumi’s head. “The future Cup of Moraine cannot yet hold her water.” He turned to Esker. “She shall be in charge of stopping the suffering of Moraine when she has been properly taught how to express the waters within her.”

Esker bowed his head. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

When they left the throne room, Mizumi stretched out her arm, stopping him. Glaring at him with piercing eyes, she hissed, “I am the future Cup of Moraine, Beloved Lady of the Lake, Sister to the Society of Rivers, and your superior in all ways. Why am I not being tutored by the king himself?”

Esker smirked. “A busy king cannot be trifled with teaching remedial classes in magic, Milady.”

“I shall have you drowned,” Mizumi growled.

Esker caressed Mizumi’s cheek, frosting it and making her jerk back in pain. “Milady, legal rank is of little concern to me. Only those with an intimate knowledge of the Heart of Moraine may govern me.”

Mizumi rubbed her cheek hard to warm it again, and looked away. “Give me this heart so that I may consume it for myself.”

He chuckled and bade her to leave the castle, for its walls could never hold back the entire lake.

After an hour of walking, Mizumi and Esker reached a small pool beset in black rock, overflowing with bright green ivy. “Take the water in your hand, Milady,” Esker stated calmly.

Mizumi sat by the pool and dipped her hand, watching the water therein glisten and tremble with every movement.

“What does the water say to you?” Esker asked.

Mizumi exhaled slowly and closed her eyes. After a few moments she threw down the water in shock.

Esker smiled.

Mizumi growled at him, “What is the meaning of this?”

“You tell me, Princess.”

Mizumi glared at the pool, her features softening. “It was as though I was being scraped with obsidian crystals all throughout my body.”

“The pain of Moraine,” Esker replied, nodding. “Did it tell you anything else?”

Mizumi stood, hugging herself, a look of worry upon her face. “I … I saw … I,” she stammered, glancing away. “I cannot bring myself to say it.” Finally, she turned toward Esker. “What has it told you?”

Esker approached her and caressed her hair tenderly. “I am instructed to govern my words, Princess, or risk losing them altogether.” He sighed and patted her on the shoulder. “Now that you hold water, Milady, we must ensure you can command it.”

 

[The Count]

*Always glad to find something of yours Kelly. Esker... About time he was made known for whom he was. The line about Mizumi wanting the heart so she could devour it, do I detect a small hint of KH there? Maybe why she'll become obsessed with another heart later?

The fact that the McMooch dealings are "complicated" by an economic factor and the Morainians denying it, that's part of the shady black market desperate people and unscrupulous merchants contract between each other. Hope more gets posted when possible.

BTW: Have you seen the Silent Hill trailers up on Filmforce?

 

[RedPiggy]

LOL, well, it occurred to me that Mizumi in RTL could technically qualify as a Nobody, what with the icy personality and the all-white accessories.

I stopped the chapter here because I've been busy at work and haven't had a lot of time to muse on the exact nature of things regarding the problems experienced by Moraine. I kinda know who I want to be behind the curtain, as it were, but I haven't quite decided yet the motivations of the one involved. I have to make sure it explains some of Mizumi's personality. We already see her as proud, though more caring than she usually is in RTL. She has a strong sense of morality even if she can be haughty, especially with Esker. I think she genuinely cares for the people of Moraine but treats Esker badly because she feels he assumes too much and in her mind she is only worth the heart of the most powerful being in existence ....

Of COURSE I've seen the trailer, LOL! They have clearly changed a lot, but I don't really mind the changes I've seen so far. I only really care about the movie keeping Vincent's mindscrew statement to Heather, but I'm not going to fanrant about how Heather discovers Detective Douglas at a high school instead of the mall or how Vincent is trapped by Nurses instead of taunting Heather in a run-down library or office. There are a lot of quiet moments in the third game. If they were doing the plot of Silent Hill 2, I would want them to be less action-oriented and more pensive, but this is based off Silent Hill 3 (and a bit of Origins, I think), and Heather fancies herself an action girl. I realize the symbolism of Pyramid Head, but since he seems to be related to the cult of Valtiel, I won't cry foul over them apparently using PH instead of Valtiel. As long as the gist is similar I don't whine over details, especially if the changes can be justified.

Finding out there is going to be a live action Ruroni Kenshin, however, nearly made me faint with joy....

 

[The Count]

Good, as long as the edits are minor compared to your enjoyment and you come out of it satisfied, that's the important thing. That's how I felt with the movie versions of Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows Part 1, mostly satisfied and giving both an A- grade in my fannish appreciation, even if I think they overhyped the "burning of the Burrow", skimped on the Battle of the Lightning-Scarred Tower in HBP, and then the whole wedding in DH1 when there's been no presence of the married couple's involvement in prior films. Unfortunately, Deathly Hallows Part 2 left me feeling just kind of okay, giving it a B- grade.

My only anime fandom is Onepiece, though I have to go to their Wiki and read up on what's happened from Punk Hazard onwards.
As far as movies, I rully hope BJ2 does get made, I'd be interested in what new scenes of the Neitherworld and its denizens we could get, maybe cause I'm digging what newsmanfan has been creating with her MMN TV station in her current fic.
Hope to read more when you've gotten the path decided.

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 5

Mizumi could not let go of her impressions after communing with the water. If that was the pain of the kingdom she felt, how could her parents even live with such agony?

And of course, there was the shadow of a wildly flapping bird looming over her head.

Esker glanced at her as they rode a carriage down a waterfall. “Did you recognize the bird?”

Mizumi turned away from him, her lips quivering. “I … I … it was dark, this vision,” she replied softly. “It was so frantic I could not even dream of identifying the bird I saw.”

Esker smirked and nodded. “I see.”

Mizumi willed her tears to stop before they could run down her cheek. “Do you ever regret seeing what is in the water?” she whispered.

Esker held out his hand, freezing the waterfall, suspending the carriage halfway down. He turned toward the princess, his eyes filled with concern and tenderness. “Milady, regrets are for fools.”

Mizumi shook her head. “Have we no hope?”

Esker laughed. “For what does hope really accomplish, Princess?” He turned her head toward the lowest of the boulders. “Down there, in the depths of the kingdom, a poison is spreading. I’m a doer, not a dreamer. While dreamers sleep through their creative solutions, those of us awake must actually work to accomplish something.” He dried her tears with his hand. “Are you going to continue sleeping, Princess, or are you going to wake and take charge of the problems staring at you over your bed?”

Mizumi shuddered and nodded. “I shall never sleep again.”

He smiled and melted the frozen pillar of ice so they could continue. “As you wish, Milady.”

It seemed an eternity before Esker reached the lake itself. He stopped Mizumi from approaching the lake’s shore. “It has reached even here, Milady,” he told her sullenly. “Better keep your distance.”

Mizumi frowned and headed towards the shore anyway.

A flying shard of ice burst from the surface of the lake, heading straight for Mizumi, who shrieked and clenched shut her eyes. It was far too fast, she thought to herself.

And the pain never came.

Slowly opening her eyes, a beaming Esker had his arm outstretched. She, meanwhile, returned her gaze to the frozen shard, hovering inches from her nose.

Esker grunted. “Can you solve the problems of the kingdom without any defenses?”

Mizumi frowned. “You risk your princess’ life?”

Esker threw down his arm, leaving the ice shard to shatter on the rocks. “Do you consider me cruel, Princess?” he taunted. “Am I the heir to the Cup, so willing to place myself in danger, so thoughtless, so impulsive, that I risk the health of the kingdom?”

Mizumi crossed her arms, glaring, and slowly kneeled before Esker. “Shall I pray?” she asked mockingly, her lips forming a sarcastic sneer. “Shall I beg the lake for communion?”

Esker growled. “Have you learned nothing in your royal studies?” He waved his arms around. “This lake is expansive, the reservoir of magic for the entire kingdom! Even then, Milady, it is just part of it, not all of it! Is not the air you breathe humid?”

Mizumi considered his reply, her eyes brightening as she stood. “The air has water in it.”

Esker smiled. “Yes, Milady.” He beckoned her. “Here, where the air is thick with moisture, you are enveloped in its grace. The question is, how shall you exploit it?”

“A defensive shield, perhaps?”

Esker nodded and shrugged. “Indeed, Princess, but to form that much water from the air takes too long. My ice shards shall impale you before you can form a shield the size of a brooch.”

Mizumi scowled.

Esker shook his head in pity. “You are no fighter. At least, not yet. Still, perhaps your hope can help you. After all, you fought me to obtain recognition of the moisture in the air.”

She clenched her jaw. “Hardly. I merely thought it.”

Esker grinned.

Soon Esker was tumbling to the ground, screaming as his head started to peel and flake as his skin dried. When the pain stopped, he looked up and saw a smiling Mizumi, playfully watching a wisp play around her fingers. “And now your thoughts are mine,” she told him.

 

[The Count]

Sorry, didn't know there was a new chappy waiting. Interesting talk and tactics between Mizumi and Esker. So he slipped from earlier when he said he shouldn't say too much as his words would betray him, and here they have.
For those keeping score at home, that's Mizumi: 1, Esker: 0.

So this would be the first ice battle he loses to a princess of Moraine. Intereschting, hope to read more if you gots it.
*Hovers above on bat-goblin glider cobbled from Wayne and Oscorp tech, flying off to other fics.

 

[RedPiggy]

Chapter 6

Mizumi stopped the next day in the hallway leading to the Room of the River of Time, cradling her stomach as though she were going to be sick.

She saw herself from afar, bathing in a crystal clear pool, attended by mermaids. The hard panting she heard was a male’s voice.

She shook her head, trying to dispel the vision, culled from Esker’s mind last night. It kept showing itself despite her attempts to ignore it, this awful sensation that she was merely prey for some unwanted predator.

How dare Esker have such thoughts? she wondered to herself. How could her father spare such an insolent creature as this? She was but a small child in that vision, having no clear signs of anything other than the blandness of the immature form.

Esker had to be punished.

She finally entered the Room of the River of Time, desperate to speak to the head hydromancer. The hydromancer was charged with drawing the River of Time, a swirling flow of history encompassing past, present, and future.

The hydromancer was a tall, thin, dishevelled elderly woman with long pointed ears and gnarled knuckles. The being looked up from her paintings and grunted.

“I am far too old to keep redrawing this River, Mizumi,” she scowled.

Mizumi kneeled in front of her, sobbing. “I … I must know … the source of such cruel visions. You must tell me.” She paused, realizing what the hydromancer had said. “Ydro, benevolent and generous keeper of time, why do you say such a thing to me?”

Ydro put down her brush, slapping the table and standing angrily, her knees wobbling. “Every time you quest for something, I have to draw and redraw the River of Time. Even the king grows weary of my constant attempts to keep the stories straight! Aside from the ancient King of the Universe, no one has altered time as often as you!” She sat back down and sighed wearily. “I grow fatigued, Milady Mizumi, of chronicling your misadventures so often.” She groaned. “I am old and frail, Heir to the Cup of Moraine. You must do your time keeper some favor and let go of your wishes before the River ceases to be at all.”

Mizumi stood, wiping away her tears, sniffling. “Am I destined, then, to destroy our kingdom?”

Ydro sighed and rubbed her temples. “You are guilty, Mizumi, quite frankly, of being discontented with the path your river takes. You flood its banks frequently because you search for things that shall never be, and in the meantime, your riverbed is left unguarded and dried up.”

“Is there nothing I can do?”

“Your father certainly hopes so,” Ydro replied, crossing her arms. “Your father is a powerful ruler, trying to help you become everything you are to be.” Smirking, she continued, “However, that’s the problem, isn’t it?” She sighed and stared at the glowing river floating in the air behind her, swirling and changing and glistening as static scenes occasionally displayed themselves in the currents. “He cannot stay the hand of destiny, Daughter of Moraine.” Glancing back at Mizumi, she smiled warmly. “Neither can you, no matter how hard you try.”

Mizumi glanced at a small red book with curved engravings on the cover. “What is that?”

“It’s a book. They’re rare here in Moraine,” Ydro replied sullenly. “Keep it if you wish. I was merely curious about its contents, but I suppose there is a reason we do not stoop to using mere sheets of paper to record our histories.”

Mizumi picked up the book, titled A History of Missed Opportunities. She glanced up at Ydro. “A false timeline?” When Ydro nodded, Mizumi caressed the cover. “Your gift is accepted. May it bring me wisdom.”

Ydro raised an eyebrow. “Will it?” she asked in sincere surprise.

Mizumi smiled. “You say I cannot stay the hand of destiny, so I shall chart my course using these false alarms as guides.”

Ydro sighed. “I suppose that could work.”

Mizumi turned her back on the hydromancer. “Perhaps I can learn how to solve the threat against the kingdom. I must prove my worth as future ruler of Moraine. I must put my father’s mind at ease.”

After Mizumi left the Room of the River of Time, Ydro sighed and began to draw again, shaking her head. “A mind at ease is quite often the tease. Only shattered hearts will bring light to the dark. For when the Universe is revealed, you’ll see you’d have been happier had the secrets remained sealed.”

 

[The Count]

Another excellent addition.

River of Time, now where have I heard that one before? Some international-cultured theme park? With the large rodent?
Six Flags! No, that's not it.

So that's where what becomes Moulin's book came from.

*Nods at Idro's sage prophetic final words. Going through some creative issues myself, I understand what the time-keeper feels.
Thanks for this. If you'll hexcuse me, there are a couple of things I gotsta check online.

 

[RedPiggy]

I made it up. It may be based off something, but I don't remember, LOL.

Part of this is inspired by my realization that Mizumi has really screwed with continuity in my ficverse. She goes back in time and messes with prehistory, she contributes to a parallel universe, etc. Anyone keeping track must be awfully confused by now, LOL.