mythmaking | Once upon a time...

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

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For much longer? ( Dread. She can feel it. Dread. ) What do you mean?

Simply that your title is who you are now.

[ Even less apologetic than before. ]

You understand, don't you? You are familiar with the story?

( There's only one Kaguya that she knows of and she's pretty sure that's not her. )

Yes, the girl who was found in a bamboo and soon went back to the moon. But Princess Kaguya is - ( an alien ) - a myth where I come from.

Where do you suppose myths come from?

[ It's an honest question, if abrupt. ]

( Good question. She stares at him for a moment, unsure as to how she should answer that. If anything, she should be more open-minded about this, given that she's been in school with a number of gods from the Greek, Japanese and Norse pantheons.

But still!! )

... So she's real. ( Okay, that's easily accepted. ) But you say I'm her. I can't be her!

Why ever not? I think you're a fine choice in filling those shoes, so to speak.

[ He should know. ]

Because I'm - ( Filling those shoes ...

That's a weird phrase to use. She considers that for a moment, looking down at the name on her journal again. ) Am I ... replacing her? What happened to the real Kaguya?

In a way, yes, you are. I prefer not to think of it as replacements.

[ Even though that's probably the best word for them. ]

The original Kaguya is gone, along with many other tales.

( Gone.

Somehow, that's a little bit more difficult to imagine than her being real and all. After all, the myth is still widely known across Japan (and probably the world). So the thought of Kaguya - or other stories, for that matter - being gone ... )

Is this what you wanted us to help you with?

[ His tone and phrasing must make it clear that for a fairy tale, gone is just the simplest way of saying dead. ]

Yes. You and many others. There will be more, eventually. There are very few of us truly left.

( Yui didn't think stories (or people in them) could disappear or die or whatever "gone" implies. But she's trying to keep an open mind to this. )

I don't mind helping out as much as I can. ( She's already conscripted into tutoring gods. How worse can it get?

Probably much worse than them going bananas. ) But replacing Kaguya, is it going to be permanent? Will I still be able to go back to the garden?

We'll come back to that in the future. It's not to be ruled out, but we are in desperate need of your help. I'm afraid it may take some time.

[ Not likely the answer she was looking for, and not much of an answer at all, really. ]

( Yeah, definitely not the answer she was looking for. She can only hope that despite this going take long, they can do what Zeus had promised to do: which is bring her back to the same point in time she disappeared.

She gives him a slight nod. )

I understand. What is it exactly that I need to do? ( ... ) And do I need to go back to the moon, if ever?

[ He is Father Time. ]

Eventually. But not just yet. That isn't until the end of the story, if you remember.

( Good point. She doesn't know this yet though. )

W, will I be going through all of the events of her story then?

That's the idea.

[ Good thing there are a few libraries scattered throughout the world. ]

( She has one more concern before she really, wholeheartedly agrees to this. )

I'm not going to be forced back in a bamboo, am I?

No, I think you're a bit too tall to pass as an infant.

[ Especially one so small. ]

I see. ( That earns him a genuine sigh of relief. She wasn't sure how to react if he had said otherwise. )

When do I start then? Or rather, where do I start?

At your age, I imagine you'll start gathering suitors soon enough. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable.

That's inevitable, I guess. ( She's already gathering them by the handful, much to her dismay. She sighs again then forces a smile. )

Is it possible to speak to you again if I need to, mister?

Oh yes, I'll be around. There are several others who would be willing to answer any questions you might have, but I'll make a point to check the books as well.

( Yui gives him a slight nod. So far, most of her questions have been answered. There's still a few that she'd like to ask but she supposes that looking around might answer them too. )

I understand. I'll look forward to speaking with you again, er ... ( She pauses. ) I don't think I caught your name.

Oh, that was rude of me.

[ What a horrible thought! ]

I'm sorry, my dear. It's Father Time.

( Father Time ... all right then. How do you address him though? )

Mm, no need to apologize. It's very nice to meet you either way.

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timefather - 2013-12-13 19:52 (UTC) - Expand