thisavrou_log | [open] "training montage" has failed

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[open] "training montage" has failed

Who: Link (

dancingblade), and YOU
When: April 8th through the 12th
Where: The Training Simulation Room
What: After being reunited with the Master Sword and meeting the spirit within it, Link is trying to learn how to fight with it… when it's sized for an adult, not a ten-year-old kid. There are options for threading with Link and Fi individually, as well as one for threading with both at the same time! If you want, solo threads can also come to include both of them eventually.
Warnings: tba

[Exposition]
There's a part of Link that doesn't know how he feels about… this. The Master Sword, back in his hands again. Learning how to use it, this time, as an over-sized weapon. The thought that, if he had had the chance to do this before --

But it doesn't matter how he feels about it, except that these feelings are getting in the way. He needs to focus. He's fought with a sword that wasn't sized for him before, but he can't treat the Master Sword like he treated the Biggoron Sword. Their blades are very different makes, and the Master Sword feels… heavier. So he has to figure out how to adjust for that, how to best make use of it.

"Reset," he calls out to the simulation room. He's very grateful for its presence on the ship. It makes it easier to train by himself.

… well. "By himself" is the wrong term to use.

Fi, on the other hand, is waiting patiently inside the Master Sword. She isn't aware of the circumstances behind the last time Link picked up the Blade of Evil's Bane and she didn't feel like she needed to press him for details. He fulfilled whatever destiny the Spirit Maiden had laid out for him. That was what mattered.

It's unfortunately lead to this situation with Fi wrongly assuming that Link had managed to use the Master Sword as it was while he was still a child. Already, she can spot how uncertain he seemed but…

"Link," she appears with a musical chime, leaving the sword in Link's hands. Hovering a little to the right, she considers their surroundings. Or lack thereof? "Is something amiss?"

"No." Link lets the Master Sword hang low, almost resting on the ground. In all honesty, he should probably take a break. He can feel that his body is tired, which is only going to make his focus worse. But he doesn't want to stop now. He wants to stop on a note where he feels more confident. He shakes his head. "I want to run a different program."

[Option A: thread with Link]
When the door opens, Link doesn't even pause in his training. He's finally found his focus, it feels like, and it doesn't break with the arrival of someone else. The program running is set in a forest meadow. The leaves of the tall deciduous trees are lush enough to form a canopy, making the air gloomy and still. His chosen enemies are Stalfos -- skeletal soldiers near seven feet tall, with swords bigger than he is. They're very agile, leaping back and forth across the meadow, making low grunt-like noises all the while that echo off of the trees. Link needs to be light on his feet while fighting them, if he's going to duck under and around their swings. If he wants to land a hit, he has to move fast and decisively to take advantage of the brief openings in their defenses. It's a challenge on a good day, with a weapon light and familiar in his hand. But he has to use the Master Sword with both hands, hold it low and swing up, unlike with any sword he's used before.

So, anyone who comes into the simulation room today will have the timing to see Link trying and failing to dodge out of the way of one of those massive swords. It comes down on his hip, disrupting his roll and sending him sprawling and the Master Sword skittering a short distance away.

[Option B: thread with Fi]

It was only a matter of time before Link ran out of stamina and needed to take a break. Fi didn't need to rest - or eat or… Do just about anything human really - and so decided to stay behind in the simulation room, going over the data she's collected to try and help Link better use the Master Sword. There was something she's missing, something that had been overlooked…

Link had fulfilled his destiny. Surely he must have known how to wield the Master Sword more efficiently than how he was currently performing.

To anyone who looked into the simulation room while Link is away, they'll see the Master Sword resting silently against the wall. It seems a little strange to find such a weapon on it's own in such a high tech environment. Does it belong to someone? Maybe someone should hand it in to the captains to be returned to it's rightful owner… One ought to be careful around unknown weapons.

Especially ones with a spirit inside.

[OOC: If your character tries to pick up the Master Sword, things will get tricky. It's canonically stated that evil cannot touch it, since it's the Blade of Evil's Bane. But, since morality isn't as clear-cut for all canons, we've written up a list of how the sword will react to different spectrums of morality, to give everyone an idea of what to expect. If you have any questions, PM either of us or contact Mala on plurk at

Malathyne!]

[Option C: thread with both!]
Link is slowing down again. He doesn't know if it's because he's exhausted, or if he's having trouble focusing again, or both, or neither. But he's making basic mistakes now. He knows better, he was even compensating for these earlier, but… It's happening anyway. It seems that the final straw, though, is when his grip slips. He doesn't drop the Master Sword, but it's bad enough that he fumbles his swing.

Fi pops out, almost on cue, when the blade narrowly misses the floor. The musical chime of her appearance is thrown off by the sound of the door opening but that doesn't concern Fi at the moment. She looks between the Master Sword - too long for Link as he is - and the tired hero for a few seconds before speaking.

"It seems we are witnessing a 60% decrease in efficiency," she starts and before Link could speak up or attempt to argue for continuing continues; "It would be in our best interests to end training for the day. To continue on as we are carries a high probability of causing you damage."

She's right. Link knows she's right. He knows he's been pushing himself harder than he strictly needs to. He doesn't know if he wants to stop, though. But, if he doesn't… Link takes a deep breath, then sighs.

Before he decides how to answer, he realizes that, a moment ago, he heard the door open. So, he turns his head to look and see who it is. "I'm sorry," he says, apologizing for not noticing them sooner, as well as for being in the way. "We're done now. You can have the room."

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☄ Option C: thread with both

"No, it's fine. I just came in to watch."

Miller tried to make a point of watching, of seeing what everyone did in this room. He was its master, after all. The person that kept it running.

"Most of the environments pale in comparison to the real thing. All I can do is apply some variance, some escalating conflict, ever changing scenarios and settings."

He looked from Link to Fi. Had to admit, there was something intimidating about her. Beautiful, too. Mostly intimidating. But Kaz, intimidated himself? Nah. He'd seen the worst. Felt the worst. He could admire what she was, though.

"Who's your friend?"

What Link hears from Kazuhira's initial words is if you're struggling here, it'll be even harder in a real fight. He can't entirely help the way his shoulders hunch. It makes him want to go back to training. He knows he can do better, he knows --

He takes a deep breath. It's okay to take a break and come back later. Maybe he'll have figured something out between now and then. It's just like finding an obstacle in a dungeon he can't get past because he doesn't have the right tool. It's okay. It's okay.

"This is Fi. She's the spirit of the Master Sword." He shifts said sword so he's holding it point-up, instead of angled towards the ground, to show that he means this one.

Floating serenely next to the small boy, the parallels between Fi's appearance and the Master Sword are much more apparent when the sword is held up. Both in colour and design, though the appearance of a young girl doesn't match up to her actual age.

Without eyes though, it's hard to tell if Fi was paying attention to the conversation. She only looks up at the older man when Link introduces her.

"You are the one in charge of this location's upkeep?" She starts, "While it doesn't match up to the real world, it is nonetheless a useful facsimile. I have been able to collect 45% more data here than I might have if we were to practice alone.

"But based on the same data, there is no further need to continue as we were today."

She noticed Link's mood, it seems. Whether that comment was meant to be directed at Link or Kaz is left up in the air.

"I'm in charge of arranging environments and scenarios, yes."

Now that he looked, she did match the sword. Which was eerie as well as impressive. Maybe that was why she was beautiful, in a very ethereal, statuesque way rather than something even remotely crass. Something courtly about her, couldn't figure it out exactly though. She was a lady and a weapon and like any good sword demanded honor and chivalry. Still intimidating, though. He didn't approach for his own good.

Also she could deal in data.

"That's a hell of a sword there, Link. Want to tell me more about it? Where it comes from?"

Miller cared a lot about history. He walked over to the console, fiddling with settings to change environments to something urban. He needed his own practice, but he was going to wait until they were done before he started anything.

Edited 2016-04-18 11:11 (UTC)

Link doesn't reply straightaway. He tries to cover it up by starting to sheathe the Master Sword. What does he even say? It's okay to tell Kazuhira, Link thinks. He doesn't seem like a bad person. And even if he was, there wouldn't be anything he could do with the Master Sword. He doesn't think there's any harm in talking about it, unlike the Triforce. So maybe he'll try to explain it without bringing that up.

"It's the Blade of Evil's Bane," he says slowly. But, the thing is... He has to admit something, now: "I don't know much about it." The Master Sword has just... been there. He was never told much about its history. Link glances up at Fi questioningly. She's got to know, right?

The only indication that Fi was paying attention to either of them was her turning her head subtly towards whoever was speaking. She takes her cue from Link, who felt it was safe to talk to this man about the Master Sword... Though it appeared that whatever oral history had remained with the denizens of Skyloft had been completely lost by Link's time. Still, she nods in answer to Link's unspoken question before turning herself to face Miller... 's back? Fi doesn't seem too concerned about it.

"That is the most pertinent information," Fi confirms. "If it is history you desire, then this blade-" she raises a sleeve to gesture towards the sword strapped across Link's back. "- was once known as the 'Goddess Blade', one created by the Guardian Goddess of the world. It was only after the blade was tempered by the Sacred Flames of the Golden Goddesses and received the blessing of my creator did it truly become the Blade of Evil's Bane as you see it now."

Lowering her sleeve, she turns back to Miller.

"It seems that a great deal of time has passed since I fulfilled the task I was given by my Creator and entered my eternal sleep. That I may speak as I am now is likely due to the influence of the device aboard this vessel."

With two weapons hanging from Fiora's hips - white, curved blades, with ornamentation matching that on Fiora's body - she'd sneaked off to the simulation room for some exercise. Well, "exercise" is not exactly the right word to use; her body doesn't need strength of agility training to maintain its functionality. Rather, she wanted exercise in the more psychological sense - turning out the rest of the world, speaking to no one, and focusing on something physical and methodical.

But she's never been to the simulation room before, and she doesn't realize it's occupied. The door opens to a beautiful forest scene, catching her off guard for a fraction of a second. Oh, right. Simulation. That would also explain the... skeletons.

And there's a boy. That boy, Link - the one who'd saved her, who could turn into that ape creature. Suddenly, she realizes she hasn't spoken to him since that day, and feels a pang of guilt.

After the door shuts behind her, Fiora stays back and watches. To her, Link looks like an overeager kid trying to use a weapon that clearly doesn't suit his current skill level or athletic ability. D'awww, he's got high aspirations.

Then he takes that blow to the hip, though, and she snaps into action. Seconds later, she's at his side.

"Are you alright?!" she gasps, looking over his body. This "simulation" room wouldn't actually hurt people, would it?!

((ooc: I'd be perfectly ok with also tagging Fi here, if the mun feels like threadjacking or getting involved somehow! o/))

It seems the room absolutely can and will hurt people. It's clear in the way that Link is moving, not trying to get back to his feet, necessarily, but trying to sit up without putting much weight on his injured side. His eyes are wide, because the program is still running and she's close enough that the Stalfos will focus on her, next.

"Stop program!" he yelps, even as he tries to raise the Master Sword as if he has every intention of trying to fend them off from the ground if it doesn't work.

It does, of course. The Stalfos freeze, and, slowly, they, as well as the forest, begin to fade away. Link exhales heavily (and shakily) in relief (and pain).

"I'm okay," he says, belatedly answering Fiora's question. He's lowering the Master Sword again, now that the danger has passed. He's still not trying to stand up, though. Given the tightness in his face, he probably isn't as okay as he's trying to act.

Fiora's attention is focused on the boy when he suddenly yelps the command, and she swivels her head just in time to watch the skeleton and forest fade away. It's a pretty unbelievable and breathtaking sight - the illusion is so realistic that watching it dissipate is like a hallucination itself.

Eventually, her attention is brought back to Link when he speaks. She frowns and leans over him, inspecting his side for any blood.

"You don't look or sound okay," she says sternly. "That thing got you pretty bad. Just lay down and take it easy."

She's right, he knows she is. Still... He's suffered worse than this in countless dungeons before. He knows that he'll be able to walk this off. But... He can tell that if he tried right now, Fiora would only be more upset. So, Link lowers his head -- almost hanging it, even -- and stays put.

"Okay." He wonders... what she's going to do. If she's going to want to take him to the medbay, or if she has any healing items with her. None of his glass bottles have red potions in them, or else he'd be reaching for one of them already.

No blood that she can see, at least not yet. Cradling his back with one hand, she gently pushes on his shoulder, trying to get him to lay down like she said.

"What were you doing, training?" she asked, still sounding a little too motherly. "With that huge sword? Your determination is great, but... it's far too big for your size."

The commotion in the simulation room is easy to overhear, and Papyrus immediately recognizes the shouting. That's definitely Link, the cool not-a-human who showed him the basics of using a bow! And he's a big fan of the simulator, all the excitement of fighting with none of the risks of hurting anyone, so he can't help poking his head in and admiring the scenery.

"Hello, Link! Would you like some company for... your..."

His voice started out bombastic as ever, confident and booming, but as the Master Sword crashed down onto the skull of a beefy-looking skeleton, it trailed off into a confused, inaudible murmur. That was... he was seeing things, right? His friend wasn't really practicing taking down monsters, was he?

"...is this... are you... what does... p-perhaps I caught you at a bad time?"

It's impossible not to hear Papyrus when he calls out. Link doesn't immediately look his way, because it'd be too dangerous to in this moment. If he's right, the Stalfos is about to come forward -- Yes, here it comes. Link is coiled and ready, and he rolls to the side to dodge the huge blood-red blade. In the split second that it's hunched over from the swing, he spins to swing the Master Sword down on its head. The Stalfos makes a loud, low grunting noise, then leaps back. There's a sizable crack in its skull, but it springs back to attention all the same, eyes glinting with malice.

And then it sinks in.

Papyrus. The Stalfos friend.

And he sounds like his confidence is shaken.

Oh.

"Pause program!" Everything, from the pacing of the Stalfos to the slow sway of the tree branches and the faint glimmer of tiny fairies in the air, freezes in place. Even so, Link doesn't turn to look at Papyrus just yet. He squeezes his eyes shut, taking a couple of deep breaths, his grip on the Master Sword's hilt even tighter than it had been just moments ago in combat.

When he does turn, the sword is held low, in an unthreatening pose. Link is... He's afraid. He doesn't want -- He doesn't want to scare Papyrus. He doesn't want Papyrus to think he's going to hurt him. He... He swallows, hard, then shakes his head. He forces himself to answer aloud. "No. It's okay. This isn't... It isn't a bad time."

"Oh, good! I'm... glad to hear that!" His voice is still boisterous, still cheerful, but there's an edge of desperation in it now. Th program is paused but still remains, wounded Stalfos and all.

And Papyrus can't help staring. It's a skeleton, but it's a nasty image of one. Glowing red eyes, a crooked jaw, clanking armor that doesn't look very practical and leaves little to the imagination.... he's trying very hard to remember Link is his friend and he shouldn't have hurt feelings about someone who's simply training to get stronger, but this is a lot to take in.

He remembers a conversation Sans had with him recently, explaining that some people had a strange, skewed view of monsters sometimes, but this is his first real look at what that really means.

"B-but I hope you understand that skeletons aren't really mean creatures! This... this isn't what monsters really are!"

Link tries to steady himself with a deep breath through his nose. It doesn't actually help. He decides to actually put the Master Sword down. He doesn't sheathe it, he just lowers it entirely to the ground and lets go of the hilt.

"I know," he says haltingly. "You're nice." It's hard for Link to keep looking at him, but he feels like it's important to do so. Still, his shoulders are hunched, like he's bracing himself for something. "But..." Another deep breath. "These are... called Stalfos. They're what happens when grown-ups get lost in the Lost Woods. It's a place near where I grew up." His eyes start to falter again, but he forces them back to Papyrus. "I... I've fought them before. They... aren't nice. Not like you."

"Stalfos?" That seemed like an odd word for them when skeleton was readily available, but each to their own, right? After all, Link definitely looked human to him but he'd called himself something else altogether.

"Well, maybe they acted that way because... they're scared?" He perks up a bit, looking proud. "Sans told me that sometimes, people do violences because they're afraid! Maybe that's what they were doing?"

Link... Link is fairly sure that Stalfos are violent because they're mean. But... He isn't sure if he wants to say that. Besides... There's -- nothing saying for certain he's right. Papyrus may be the one who's right. Without a real Stalfos, it's... too hard to say.

"Maybe," Link answers, still hesitant, but it's more because of his guilt than anything else. He hasn't ever tried talking to Stalfos, either. So he can't even say he really had no choice, can he? Link's shoulders hunch even more, his eyes falling. He thought he had done good. He...

... not all the Stalfos he fought were in the Lost Woods. He fought Stalfos in Ganondorf's Castle, too. When he looks up at Papyrus, he's moving just his eyes to do so, all but peering out from behind his bangs. "I think... I think that, sometimes... They were being controlled. There was an evil man with dark magic. He could do things like that."

"It seems we are witnessing a 60% decrease in efficiency," she starts and before Link could speak up or attempt to argue for continuing continues; "It would be in our best interests to end training for the day. To continue on as we are carries a high probability of causing you damage."

She's right. Link knows she's right. He knows he's been pushing himself harder than he strictly needs to. He doesn't know if he wants to stop, though. But, if he doesn't… Link takes a deep breath, then sighs.

"You're right," he finally says, shoulders sagging, eyes low. After a moment, he starts to go through the movements of sheathing the Master Sword. He doesn't know why, but he feels the urge to say it, and he doesn't have the strength to resist it at the moment. "I'm sorry."

He isn't sure if the apology is going to make sense to her, not without him explaining it. He isn't entirely sure if he wants to explain it. It's... hard for him to put words to. But she's probably going to ask, so he starts trying to thread the sentences together in his head in preparation.

There's a moment's pause before she tilts her head to one side gently in question. As he'd expected, she doesn't understand the apology. Things were progressing slower than either of them had hoped or anticipated but based on the data she'd collected, there was improvement in Link's movements. She was re-learning how he had to fight as well...

Though it's still strange. If this was the extent of how he could wield this sword, then how had he fought against the man named Ganondorf? How had he achieved victory with such an obvious handicap?

"I do not understand." Simple enough... Fi sees Link struggling and is puzzled by that as well. "You have shown marked improvement since we began. There is no need for an apology nor should you feel disheartened. Based on what we have learned here and with my current state of awareness, there may be an alternative available to us now."

Link isn't sure how to answer. He doesn't know how to explain this heavy feeling in his chest. But, luckily, that last sentence means he doesn't have to. His brow knits together. Now it's his turn not to understand what the other is talking about.

"An alternative?" he echoes, uncertainty and confusion clear in his voice. "To what?"

The uncertainty in his features remain the same as it was when she first stopped him but she watches as it shifts to something lighter. Confusion. He's confused about what she said. More than that though, the heaviness in his frame lightens and for that Fi believes that the results were more than satisfactory.

"The blade was forged and tempered by the Goddess' Sacred Flames for a man older than you. As a result, it does not suit your size or fighting style."

Fi has no expression, but if she did, perhaps her brows would also be furrowed. It is strange, after all, that Link would claim that he defeated someone using this sword. But Fi knows Link and trusts him implicitly; he would not lie about something so important.

"When you swing, I can assist you from within the sword. Previously, this has only been a means for the Hero to dowse for items and people; he did not require my help to swing the blade. Now though, it might be possible for me to assist your swings as well. There is a 63% probability of it being a viable tactic, though I would not advise this strategy against enemies faster than you or for more than three enemies.

For the time being, it would be best for you to rest and recover."

She hovers forward then crouches so that she is eye level with him. Considering she has been 'standing' perfectly straight thus far, such a gesture seems out of place for her. Fi wouldn't be able to explain it herself, though others might have labeled it as a comforting gesture.

"I will do what I can to assist you in any way. You are not alone, Link. Even if you are not carrying the blade with you, do not hesitate to call upon me for aid."

Link can't help but shift his weight from one foot to the other in discomfort as she mentions that the Master Sword was intended for an adult. His guilt rises as she says that the Heroes in the past didn't need the extra help. He hadn't needed the extra help when he was an adult, too. He knows she's right, that it isn't exactly his fault, but... That feeling that he should be doing better doesn't go away. It just gets worse.

But... She can assist his swings. He isn't the kind of person who resents someone for offering to help because he thinks he shouldn't need it. Instead, he's... simply grateful. And relieved. They can still make this work. If there is ever a time when he needs to use the Master Sword, there's a chance he'll be able to.

When she kneels, though, he's... surprised. But he meets her eyes, a frayed child's hope wavering behind his own, wanting so much to believe, but almost afraid to. It makes his voice a little thicker when he replies. "Thank you."

Fi nods before standing once more.

"You need not express words of gratitude. I was created to guide the Hero in his quest... And though this scenario falls far out of anything that the Goddess had ever envisioned, I will continue to fulfill my duty as the Goddess Sword.

Part of which appears to include reminding you that rest is necessary," her tone remains the same as it always does, but there's something about it... She almost sounds fond. The Hero she knew had a tendency to sleep just about anywhere, but when he got himself swept up in his search for the spirit maiden or in the middle of battle it seemed all too easy for him to lose track of his own well-being. Fi can only say with 30% accuracy that this youth shared that trait but for now it was enough.

Edited 2016-06-21 04:42 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[open] "training montage" has failed

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A

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rolls in hella late for A

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alternate ending to C, on the 12th or 13th, closed to fi

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