SIXTH REBELLION ❅ VIDEO

[glaciates]

[The video opens to a rather tranquil shot of the Ice Path. There's plenty of snow and that slippery ice everyone absolutely hates. There's only the background music for a moment, and then suddenly a Darmanitan goes sliding by, spinning out of control. She slams into a wall and lies there for a moment, clearly dazed.]

[The camera slowly pans, revealing a few other Pokémon: there's a Shiftry half-buried in the snow, a Krookodile passed out on the ice in the background, an Abomasnow nursing a few bruises, and finally, a Kabutops who's currently in the middle of a fierce battle.]

[...With Isaac. The Kabutops seems to be doing all the attacking - she's swinging those scythe-arms around with repeatedly Slash attacks - while Isaac manages to avoid each swipe. His speed certainly hasn't suffered any here in Johto. Did you really think he'd be training like a normal person though?]

Faster! That's not going to cut it!

[He doesn't exactly sound pleased and the Kabutops picks up her pace immediately. She's certainly speedy, but that's nothing in comparison to Isaac's ridiculous dodging skills. One particular swing of her scythes nearly lops off his ponytail, and Isaac laughs.]

That's better! Don't back down now--

[And that's about when the Kabutops manages a hit; she slices downwards and catches Isaac's forearm with the tip of her scythe, leaving behind a rather thin, bleeding scratch. She immediately stops, bringing her arms in front of her and cowering slightly. It's obvious that she didn't expect to actually hit him.]

[Isaac stares at the scratch for a moment, eyes wide. It's not too bad and he's certainly had worse, but it's been awhile since he was actually injured while training. Then suddenly he's laughing and it's not exactly the most sane sound in the world. That causes the Kabutops to shrink even further away.]

[The video turns to focus on a Charizard who looks mildly concerned at best. He's looking a little worn too, but apparently Isaac didn't wear him out completely with insane training. The Charizard shakes his head before turning off the feed. Several minutes later, a text hits the network.]

What's the best Pokemon to spar with?

[He's pretty sure it's not a Kabutops. Just saying.]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

Well, Archer does tend to be a bit...

[...of a dick tbh]

...abrasive, yes. And I tend to be abrasive to him in return, especially if he's acting out of line. It's just how we talk to each other, I suppose.

[glaciates]

...Yeah, so I've seen...

[He can't count the times he thought he walked in on an argument. Good job, guys.]

I guess that's where the worry comes from; you guys are interacting differently than what I'm used to, so it looks like you guys are always about to start fighting.

[explosivecombat]

[...head...tilt.]

...believe me, Isaac, everything is fine. You would know if it wasn't; there's a difference.

[Even if his words are straightforward, Kimblee is suddenly rather aware that he can't be sure that Isaac would be able to tell the difference, at least not right away; Isaac's understanding of people and how they interact has always been strange, stunted - just look at this conversation so far, after all.

He's reasonably sure he'll be able to explain the situation, should it come up; at least at this point, it...shouldn't.]

[glaciates]

...You're sure?

[That's a bit hesitant and it's obvious he really doesn't want to put it out there. Isaac certainly doesn't mind acknowledging his faults, but this is different. Social cues are something he should be able to pick up on. It's something he should understand, but it's rather obvious that he doesn't. Kimblee understands him better than everyone else and knows when to explain things when Isaac is particularly lost. It's been incredibly helpful, but it hasn't really helped him understand any.]

[explosivecombat]

Of course.

[Kimblee's tone is neutral when he says it; there's nothing amiss in terms of what his voice is actually doing, really. But it's said a bit too soon, it comes a bit too quickly for it to be entirely natural; were Kimblee a better man, he might have felt at least some semblance of guilt for hoping those same social deficiencies that they're skirting around discussing now will prevent Isaac from picking up on it.

But as it stands, he isn't, and he doesn't. It's just how things go.]

Either way, you can always talk to me about it if my...interactions with Archer are bothering you; there isn't anything for you to be so worked up about.

[glaciates]

[And of course, Isaac doesn't pick up on it. He relaxes again; it's good to be reassured about all this.]

Thanks. I guess I'm a bit paranoid.

[A bit being the biggest understatement in the history of forever...]

[explosivecombat]

You don't have to be paranoid here.

[His words are light, rather than chiding; just a statement, really, and a rather casual one at that.]

After everything we've been through in Amestris, I'm not afraid of anything this world can throw at us; believe me, Archer isn't anywhere near a threat. And, really, if Archer is the most of our worries for the time being, I'd say we're doing rather well.

[glaciates]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Isaac glances away. He knows there's one thing he can definitely worry about, but he really doesn't want to bring it up. He's sure Kimblee knows anyway.]

I don't know him all that well, so I guess I'm overestimating him?

[But! Let's try to move on with this conversation and not get bogged down by paranoia!]

[explosivecombat]

I would say so, yes.

[...okay, this isn't going to fly and you know it. If we're moving on, why is this so awkward?]

Something else on your mind, Isaac?

[glaciates]

[Oh dammit. You know him way too well...]

Ah, yeah well. I was just thinking about... what you said. About how there really isn't anything to worry about in Johto.

[...Don't mind him playing with that hairtenna a bit. This is so awkward.]

We could... get sent home. No one knows how it works and it seems to choose people at random.

[explosivecombat]

...that's very true.

[Despite his words, however, Kimblee doesn't seem terribly worried about it.]

It's something I've been prepared for. There's a chance we'll be here for years; there's a chance that one of us will be gone tomorrow. Because it's random, I honestly see less of a reason to worry about it. I don't want to regret anything, Isaac. Wasting time worrying is something that I would have cause to regret.

[glaciates]

[...................................what]

How is that less of a reason to worry about it?

[NOPE HANG ON WE'RE STUCK, HELP KIMBLEE]

[explosivecombat]

[...okay hang on

he understands what happened but what are we snagged on]

Because there's nothing that can be done about it either way.

[glaciates]

Well... yeah, but... that doesn't seem like it would be less of a reason to worry about it...?

[HIS WHOLE BRAIN, KIMBLEE...]

[explosivecombat]

...perhaps "less of a reason" is inaccurate; it's more that there's less of a point, I suppose?

[IS

IS THAT BETTER]

[glaciates]

...I guess I could see that.

[YES GOOD WE CAN WORK WITH THIS!!]

It's something I'm still going to worry about because... well, we don't know what will happen when we return.

[Is it like dying all over again? HE REALLY HOPES NOT THAT WASN'T COOL pun not intended goddammit.]

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee pauses for a moment at that; he shifts a bit, burying his hands deep in his pockets.]

Do you fear death, Isaac?

[The question is a simple one, revealing none of his opinions on the matter either way; if anything, he's being incredibly casual about it.]

[glaciates]

[Isaac tips his head a bit at that.]

No. I knew there was a possibility that I could die in Ishval. I've been okay with my own death since then. I knew I'd probably die trying to take down Bradley, and I was fine with that.

But it's something different when you're actually dying, I guess. I wasn't afraid - it happened too quickly for me to really realize it - but I don't want to go through that again.

[explosivecombat]

From what I understand, we don't remember anything from our time here; things just resume exactly where we left off in Amestris. So I would imagine you wouldn't have to experience it again...

...of course, that leaves us with the thought that we'll simply cease to exist. I don't know whether you find that better or worse.

[glaciates]

We simply cease to exist...?

[OH GOD THAT MAKES IT SO MUCH WORSE OH GOD OH MAN HIS WHOLE BRAIN]

That's... horrifying...

[explosivecombat]

Well, I suppose. I mean, there's always any afterlife that may happen to exist for us, but...

[glaciates]

We're both going to Hell anyway, so that's not exactly a good thing.

[explosivecombat]

Well, I've never been one to believe in Heaven or Hell, per se, but I suppose that's one possibility.

[glaciates]

...You don't believe in any sort of afterlife, then?

[explosivecombat]

Not in any traditional sense, no; I have my own beliefs regarding what happens to us after we die, based on the ideas presented in the alchemic principle of "all is one, and one is all."

I've always been incredibly aware of the energy flowing within substances and matter, and within living beings as well. Energy is infinite, and can be neither destroyed nor created from nothing; obviously it won't remain within the human body once the body dies, but the energy - one's life-force, if you will - has to go somewhere. I believe that it rejoins the flow of energy within the world itself - perhaps inhabiting and creating other living beings, perhaps being used for another individual's alchemy.

I believe we're a combination of the energy flows from our surroundings and those who have come before us - "all is one" - and when we die, we return to being such - "one is all." Our souls are a natural combination of that energy; since this isn't reincarnation, but redistributing, "we" as we were cease to exist, but whatever we were composed of does not.

It's a bit convoluted to explain, but bluntly put, no, that sort of belief system doesn't exactly allow for an afterlife.