thenearshore | and I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem

Who: Princess Zelda + YOU
What: Zelda accidentally goes dreamwalking. Shenanigans ensue.
When: September 1st, night
Where: ~the land of dreams~
Warnings: Please put any content warnings in your subject lines!

[Gods and shinki, strictly speaking, do not need to sleep. The biological need simply does not exist in the spiritual beings of the far shore, and if the old gods, beings with no experience in being bound by the physical needs of the body, were still around, perhaps we wouldn't be having this discussion.

But it is said old habits are hard to break, and sleep can still offer some benefits to the denizens of the heavens besides, even if it is no longer truly necessary for survival. So it is a quiet night, and though the air is warm, the rising of the moon brings with it a breeze that keeps it from being nearly unbearable as it is during the light of day. You drift off, as you have likely done a thousand times before, but something is different now--

Your dreams are not your own tonight.]

_{[ooc; dreamwalking log! set up the kind of dream your character is having in your starter and zelda will appear in the middle of it, mildly befuddled. and again, please make sure to put any content warnings that might come up in your subject lines. thank you!]}

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Princess Zelda...

(In the memories of her dreams, it doesn't sound familiar. It doesn't sound like anyone from the nearby lands and this woman's dress is more like that of Nohr and its surrounding nations... maybe that's why? Even her mannerisms-- the curtsying to show her dress-- reminds her of them.

But Sakura bows in greeting, carefully practiced but natural all the same, the way it should be for a princess.)

Welcome to Hoshido. I'm Sakura. (There's something in the back of her mind, nagging and telling her something isn't quite right but she can't reflect on it now,) You've... come from far away, haven't you? (An assumption.) What brings you here?

I have. Farther than I imagined, honestly.

[Hyrule is impossibly far away, yet the pleasantness of the dream keeps her from dwelling on that fact. Instead, she thinks of why she's here, and... she doesn't know. But admitting as much would be shameful, so she improvises.]

... Your country is beautiful, Sakura, and its people are happy. That I can tell even from the brief glimpses I have gotten before meeting you. It is my wish to learn how I can bring that kind of happiness to my own people, if you would allow it.

[It's an improvisation, but not entirely a lie.]

( She's a humble person, one quick to put herself down and turn away any compliment but at the praise for her kingdom, she can't help but swell with pride. Hoshido is a beautiful country and she's proud of her people for all of their strength and warmth. )

Thank you.

( Oh, but is she really the best person to be teaching anyone the proper way to run a kingdom? )

If you want to know about how to lead then you should really ask mother-- ( But when she turns back, the woman from earlier is no where to be seen. ) W-well, that's all right... Besides, big brother is... the king... now?

( That's right? Ryoma is king now because Mikoto was... dead? There's a look in her eye as she begins to realize something isn't quite right. Why would Mikoto be here if Ryoma was king? She's certain she remembers this now and she glances at the dragon statue in the center of the square only to see it replaced with a statue of a woman instead.

Her hand reaches up to her forehead to check for fever to explain the confusion she's beginning to feel but she feels fine. )

P-pardon me, I must have... been mistaken... ( Only she doesn't sound so certain. ) Please, allow me to show you around.

[... Illusions? She remembers Impa's words about such things, how the Sheikah learned to create eyes that could pierce them to reveal the truth within, and, conversely, how they used them to their advantage. She can do neither in this situation, but something in her gaze sharpens, watchful and wary, like the gleam of a knife waiting on one's hip.]]

Please do not fret overmuch about it, Princess Sakura. [Even though she watches their surroundings much more carefully now, her voice at least remains even and courteous. Sakura seems like a kind girl, and she doesn't want to worry her even more than she is already.] Perhaps I could ask you to tell me of your older brother, instead. I presume he was raised knowing he was to be next in line to the throne?

( More like her dreamworld beginning to clash with the world in her memories. As her memory begins to catch up with the dream-- along with a vague sense of awareness that something isn't quite right-- small things begin to change. )

Y-yes, he's the first son and the oldest s-so it's only natural. But he didn't accept the crown until after the war. You'll... have to forgive him for not being here he's b-been very busy with reconstruction a-and everything. We've all been busy actually...

( Herself included. What was she doing? Establishing a clinic. Yes, that sounds right but where...?
)

I understand. My own country has recently been ravaged by war, and reconstruction after such is a daunting task. I will not think ill of him for not meeting with me.

[But Sakura's uncertainty is feeding her own. There are definitely pieces not lining up with her story, but Zelda doesn't dare try to correct her outright. It would be terribly rude of her to question the princess hosting her, wouldn't it? But perhaps a bit of open concern would be acceptable.

Gently, she places a hand on the girl's shoulder.]

... And I will not think ill of you should you need to rest, your highness. I am eager to see your country, but not to the point that I wish you to endanger your health...

Was it? ( Her mind immediately goes to the same war that's ravaged her own country. But surely she would know of a Princes Zelda. But she's more concerned about this mysterious Kingdom of Hyrule and it's people. She's immediately sympathetic, expression softening and her heart aching for a people she's never met.

She jumps when she's suddenly touched but recovers quickly enough, )

N-no, it's not any trouble at all. I was just thinking.. if there's anything we can do-- anything at all-- please, let me know.

Please, this way. ( And she steps off, beckoning for Zelda to follow, ) Let me show you around.

[She removes her hand when Sakura jumps, but smiles at her offer, small but genuine, her worries and suspicions temporarily forgotten. A tear burns at the corner of her eye, but she wipes it away before it can have the chance to fall, and she follows along Sakura's lead.]

... That you would offer such so quickly means more to me than you could ever know. I can understand part of why Hoshido's people are so content, if they are blessed with such a kind and generous princess.

( Her cheeks turn a bright pink and she shakes her head, )

That's... that's not it at all. ( Surely. ) It's all because of mother a-and Ryoma because they're such strong leaders a-and Hinoka and Takumi who protect the kingdom too!

( She doesn't do much of anything. She stays behind and takes care of everything else when she isn't waiting for her siblings to return. )

I-I only offered because I'm certain big brother would have done the same. ( She wouldn't do anything her brother wouldn't approve of... Maybe. ) But uhm...

This is the castle town and... at the center is Castle Shirasagi. ( And she points off to the distance over the roofs of all of the buildings to a tall castle on what appears to be a mountain. ) Most people come here to trade a-and shop.

[She dearly wants to correct Sakura, to pile on the praise until she understands just how deeply the kindness she considers insignificant has touched her, but she refrains, for now. She has already breached protocol more than enough for one visit; she doesn't dare risk embarrassing the Hoshidan princess even more.

Zelda follows her gesture instead, and for a moment, she can only stare at the grandeur of Castle Shirasagi in open awe. It's certainly a different kind of castle than she's used to seeing, but no less magnificent because of it.

Briefly, she wonders if she will live to see such a castle rebuilt in Hyrule, but she shakes her head to clear herself of those doubts before she can drown in them.]

I can see it is a bustling marketplace - your Hinoka and Takumi must do well in protecting the people, if so many feel so safe to make the trip to do business here. [Praising Sakura directly may be out, but perhaps some comments towards her family will be appreciated.] May I ask what kinds of wares and produce Hoshido is best known for?

and I know it's true that visions are seldom all they seem

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