Welcome to the Program

[airlockedmods]

Good Morning, Champions. In the interest of maintaining healthy sleep patterns, a day/night cycle is in effect. Your presence is expected in the cafeteria in exactly one hour.

[The voice comes through not a large speaker, but through the device that's attached to each Champion's arm. Further investigation of the features of the device will reveal a list of profiles, a mini-map, and a list of rules. The hallways are shiny white and silver, with running lights along the floor and lights on the ceiling, and at the junction of the hallways is a sign with a knife and fork icon and an arrow pointing down the hall.

Welcome to the Excellence Program, Champions. Time to get to know your teammates.]

Comments

[keepmeinyourheart]

[Look, at least her world doesn't share the name with a chapstick egg.]

... As do I. My disappearance will not be taken lightly, and I fear for how it will affect things...

[newcycle]

[that... that's true.

rip.]

What... was happening back home for you?

[keepmeinyourheart]

A peace treaty between a kingdom and an empire that have been at war for a very long time.

[newcycle]

Wow.

That's not exactly what I'm working on, but it's really important.

[are you the Avatar for your world...]

What are you, exactly, that all of that falls on your shoulders?

[keepmeinyourheart]

[Since it is common information in her world...]

I am the Oracle. I keep the darkness that threatens Eos at bay, and heal those afflicted with Starscourge. Another task of mine is to commune with the gods of our world. My duty at the treaty was to cement the bonds between our two countries by marrying the crown prince of Lucis.

[Little did she know the real reason for being taken there...]

[newcycle]

The Oracle...

[well, she places a fist against her flat palm, and offers a little bow]

Pleasure to meet you. I'm the Avatar. And it sounds like we both had something important to take care of.

[keepmeinyourheart]

[The Avatar... with a title like that, seems that Lunafreya has found a kindred spirit here. She returns the bow with one of her own.]

Likewise... I hope whatever brought us here returns us to our homes quickly. I do not wish to imagine what would befall our respective worlds if we are kept from them for too long.

[In her case? The world will be forever bathed in literal darkness. Unless Noctis does something about it.]

[newcycle]

[she can sympathize-- she had that fight a couple of months ago. It's... not a fun one.]

Right-- it was kind of time sensitive. I only had one day... or else risk losing all of the new airbenders.

[she pauses. maybe she should actually explain that? She's picked up rather quick that, well, bending isn't common.]

[keepmeinyourheart]

[The burdens of being the lights of their worlds.]

Airbender... is that a form of magic in your world?

[She's going to assume so, though she would be more than happy to listen to any explanation she's given.]

[newcycle]

[it's such a hard burden and honestly? Korra wants to just talk to Luna about it forever. She's never had someone who could understand. Especially not after she lost the connection to her previous lives.]

It's... Yeah, I guess you could call it that. It's part of what keeps the world in balance. After the 100 years war, airbending was almost completely destroyed. It's so important that all the elements are there and present, for the sake of the world.

[a pause]

... I bet we have a lot of similar worries, huh.

[keepmeinyourheart]

[The only person Luna could have ever talked to about this died many years ago, and she doesn't know how much her mother would have told her about being an Oracle. Korra seems like such earnest young woman, and it does manage to put Lunafreya at more ease than she'd hope for at the moment.]

So in your world it seems to be much more abundant than in my own. [Seeing as only the King could really use magic, and in turn those bound to the King.]

I believe we do... It is a strange feeling. I am the only Oracle left in my world, and from the title you gave... you are the only Avatar?

[newcycle]

Yeah, bending is not common... but it's not rare, either. So many people want to see it gone, after some of the things that have happened in the past but... It's important, and part of the world, same as anything else.

[she pauses, and then nods]

I am. I used to be able to communicate with my past lives but... not anymore. I lost that connection pretty recently. So now I have to figure out how I want to be the Avatar on my own.

By the way... I'm Korra, too. Not just the Avatar.

[keepmeinyourheart]

Magic is tied to the Crystal, which the kingdom of Lucis guards. Only the royal line is able to tap into the power, and they can grant the ability to those bound to them. King Regis commands many who are able to use magic through his gift. Your bending sounds as if it does not have that limitation.

[She gives Korra a reassuring smile.]

From how you speak, I am sure you'll find your way. As long as you keep your faith strong, and believe in your people, anything can be possible.

[Korra... that's so close to the name Cor. So she wouldn't stand out too much in Eos.] My name is Lunafreya Nox Fleuret. [...] Though I wouldn't mind being called Luna.

[newcycle]

[the crystal... it sort of sounds like the lion turtles but also, it doesn't sound like it at all. Maybe there were true differences between their worlds?

But man, Luna, huh. There wasn't a lot to be glad about, but... Korra was glad to have met her, at least. She could already tell that.]

Okay, Luna.

So, what's it like being the Oracle? It sounds like your home is so different, but even... a little similar, somehow?

[keepmeinyourheart]

[Scary thing is that the crystal is both... organic but not. It certainly had a mind of its own.

Luna nods, trying to think of an easy way to explain it. Though easy might not be what Korra wants to hear.]

It is difficult. I am the youngest ever in the history of the Oracles, having gained the power to commune with the Astrals, our gods, at the age of sixteen. If King Regis were to fall, it would be up to me to convince them to accept their new king, though they may challenge him to prove his worth. In a way, the king cannot become king without the Oracle. I am a bridge between them. This is among one of my chief duties other than the ones I spoke about.

[newcycle]

The Astrals...

[her eyes are a little wide, as she tries to parse that. Okay, that was definitely not similar. She couldn't control who was a leader, as much as it frustrated her at time.]

So you're literally all that's standing between no government and war?

[keepmeinyourheart]

The Astrals, or as some have called them, the Six, reign over our world from another realm. [She goes quiet for a moment.]

Titan, the Archaean, steadfast as stone.
Ramuh, the Fulgurian, sharp as lightning.
Shiva, the Glacian, gentle as snow.
Leviathan, the Hydraean, relentless as tides.
Bahamut, the Draconian, unbending as iron.
Ifrit, the Infernian, fickle as fire.
Since time immemorial, they have watched over Eos.... This is as written in the Cosmogony.

[She shakes her head, then stops, looking a bit troubled.] ... that I cannot be sure about. Not with the state that Niflheim is in.

[newcycle]

Because of the war?

[Korra asks softly, sympathetically. She's trying to understand, but she's starting to realize that, just like her, sometimes the situation is more complicated than it really, really needs to be.]

[keepmeinyourheart]

[Luna remains quiet for a few moments, folding her hands in front of herself again and squeezing them hard.]

I fear that the Empire has plans for me that do not include my surviving the treaty signing.

[newcycle]

[she frowns-- she doesn't even know this empire, and the whole story, and she already wants to try and help somehow.]

That's awful-- but you've got a plan for that, right? Or someone you can ask for help?

[keepmeinyourheart]

[Well, you see...]

No. But I will not let myself die as a pawn of the Empire. I am sure I can find a way to escape the situation so I may be reunited with Prince Noctis.