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]

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.

[glaciates]

Yeah, I guess I can see that.

[It does kind of make sense, at least?]

Obviously it's not my own belief system, but I can see where you're coming from with it. That wouldn't be so bad to return to, I guess. But it's still nonexistence, and frankly, I'd prefer to be alive.

[explosivecombat]

I don't disagree with you, and I think most feel that way; at the same time, I don't fear my own death. I'm prepared for it, whenever I'm sent away from this place; I accepted it a long time ago.

I'm also aware that this place is just allowing me a temporary reprieve; it isn't anything I dwell on or worry about, but eventually my time here will be over. And if we really do return to the exact place we left off, I can't say I'm displeased with the knowledge that my last real experiences will have been in this place.

[glaciates]

...Yeah, I understand. I'm really glad to be here.

[Even if it is boring sometimes and he doesn't really have anything to fight for. This place is still a second change and it's something he genuinely does appreciate having.]

I'm not afraid of death, but I'm so glad I've had time here. Things have been great here.

[explosivecombat]

They really have.

[Kimblee moves toward Isaac a bit, closing some of the distance between them; he twitches a little, as though he's considering reaching out to touch, but he ultimately seems to decide against it.]

...I do appreciate the opportunity this place has given me to see you again, you know.

[And that much is...actually rather genuine. Awkward, but genuine.]

[glaciates]

[Isaac notices that twitch, and he certainly recognizes the awkward. He hesitates a moment before moving closer to pull Kimblee into a hug.]

...I'm really glad. You mean so much to me, Kimblee. I... really would have hated for our meeting in Amestris to have been our last.

[explosivecombat]

[Kimblee freezes up as Isaac pulls him forward; he's likely never going to be fully used to this sort of thing, but he relaxes quickly enough, sliding his hands out of his pockets again and resting them lightly against Isaac's lower back as he returns that embrace somewhat.]

You're too good to me, you know.