The current Queen of Dalaam stood on the large mass of land beside the palace, watching the sky as a morning breeze swept her hair in the other direction. Behind her, she overheard two nobles as they passed, talking again about something she'd heard a lot of lately -- this trade meeting at the upcoming Multi-National Assembly. Lauren ignored the topic, since she'd decided that she wasn't going; all that political crap was Poo's business.
A sound caught her attention, and when she turned, looking down a nearby road, she witnessed an argument playing out. It appeared to be a mother and a teenage daughter, the former standing on the inside of a doorway, the latter right outside with packed bags.
Another breeze blew the long hair that sat under her crown, and Lauren's lips parted as she stared. The pair had quieted, and she wasn't close enough to make out what they said. She watched as the daughter's mouth moved.
"So that's just it then?" said a younger Lauren. "You're just gonna choose him over me?"
She saw the older woman speaking now.
"I'm not choosing anyone; what I'm choosing is to give you the chance to do some much-needed growing up."
As she wore a defiant look, the daughter's lips moved again.
"Oh this I can't believe. You're chastising me about what I did, but it's okay for you to mess around on Dad."
Lauren heard what the mother said next...or at least thought she did.
"I...I never said that what I did was 'okay,' but what you tried to do definitely isn't."
And the daughter replied...
"So your reaction is to push me away? To send me down to Onett? Why don't you just admit it: This isn't for my benefit; you're just trying to punish me for punishing you."
The mother said...
"You need this as a growing experience, Lauren."
The girl retorted...
"...I need my family...or at least, what used to be such a thing."
Lauren saw the mother close the door. The girl shouted back something very audible and distinct...but all Lauren heard was...
"Oh no...you don't shut the door on me. You don't just turn your back on me...like he did. I will not just go away. I will NOT just be rejected. Not by you people...not by anyone."
Lauren saw the young woman walking away from the home. Snapping out of her trance, the queen took quick strides towards the building. Maybe what she'd just witnessed would be allowed to happen to a girl elsewhere, but not here -- not in her kingdom.
Moments later, the mother opened the door, and quickly bowed upon seeing Lauren standing beside her daughter. The order was simple: the girl was to remain home.
As Lauren was walking away, she turned back briefly as the other young woman waved and expressed gratitude.
* * * *
She stood on the royal balcony again; it was becoming her favorite place to be alone -- something she always was.
Lauren looked Dalaam over, left to right.
A voice came from behind. "I hear you made a decision earlier, regarding that house right there."
Still clinging to the railing, she glanced back, seeing Poo approaching in a regal white robe.
He continued. "It wasn't really the best one to make."
"This girl was being kicked out by her mother... I couldn't just stand and watch that happen."
"What you can't do is let your own personal matters influence your judgments here."
Lauren was surprised for a moment at what it seemed Poo knew. "What's the problem?"
He looked down toward the balcony's floor, arms calmly behind his back.
Lauren was looking forward again at her favorite sights.
"Feel like a walk?" asked Poo.
* * * *
"I want to show you something..." he said as they moved among the many homes around a lower mass of the floating island.
Not having viewed too many of them up-close before, Lauren found something peculiar: many of the buildings were actually smaller than her old apartment. "People are living in these things?"
"Yes, they are," Poo replied, looking around.
"Why hasn't... Wait, I don't get it. Why hasn't the kingdom expanded these buildings, made them bigger?"
"Because we're in the middle of an economic stump right now. We've been long cut off from trade and commerce with the world below. Dalaam has been self-reliant too long."
All this sudden news was making Lauren uncomfortable. "Well, why aren't you doing something about it?"
"We've tried. We've been trying for a while, long before I'd left and all during the time since. Right now, the royal family is pretty much the only part of Dalaam that can afford much in the way of extravagance. Times are tough. That's why almost every member of the normal families has to help out -- including that girl you defended."
Lauren wasn't sure what to say.
"You don't know the details behind that, do you? That girl wasn't pulling enough of her own weight, so her mother was sending her out on her own -- probably to one of these rooms right here. She really had some growing up to do."
She looked away, hiding her face.
"But you prevented that."
"Look, I...I shouldn't have bothered. Just undo what I did," said an exasperated Lauren. "I don't want anything to do with any of this political crap anyway." She stormed off.
Poo stood, watching her.
* * * *
"Highness!" A reporter had something to say. "Four of our soldiers were just captured in Eagleland. Radicals."
The only highness present, who wasn't up on current events, didn't know how to reply. "...What?" said Lauren, rather quietly.
"The radicals..."
"What radicals?"
A bit confused himself by her reaction, the man explained that certain soldiers from the kingdom, especially ones with PSI, had begun independent schemes to pressure the Eagleland government into trade agreements with Dalaam. Most had been discovered and stopped before they could depart, with a kingdom-wide warning against such actions then put in effect.
The reporter continued. "This could only make things worse. Eagleland is going to think that our government sanctioned this."
Lauren stared, not saying anything.
"What should we do, Highness?"
She drew back a little. "Why are you coming to me with this?"
The man was now more confused than ever.
Lauren looked around, a defensive feeling creeping up as it seemed that every eye present was on her -- which was actually the case.
An advisor stepped forth. "Highness..."
Lauren was beginning to realize that it was only fun being called that when she needed something, not the other way around.
"This may seem like a rather elementary solution, but perhaps if you spoke to the Eagleland government--"
"Why me?" she frowned.
"...They haven't yet learned of your coronation."
"Look, just take this matter to the king," she replied.
Another noble mentioned something. "I've heard that the radicals were particularly violent. No casualties, but blood was shed on both sides of the fight. Real blood, and that means there will be real consequences, Highness."
Now it felt to Lauren like she was being accused of something. "I..."
Just then Poo walked in, now informed. "How many?"
A noble answered. "Four."
Poo sighed, lifting a hand to his head.
Everyone was quiet.
"Okay," said Poo, eyes still hidden, "there's not much we can do right now. Have the Foreign Minister contact Eagleland and tell them that these people were acting independently, and that we'd like to begin negotiations to bring them home for punishment."
The group around the king began parting.
Seconds later Poo lifted his head again. Lauren was gone too.
* * * *
Poo needed to get the frustration out of his system, and this was just the place to do that. It was the closest thing the royal family had to a gym; a square, shady room with no light except a little from the sun. A large blue training mat covered almost the whole floor.
Poo wielded the sword...and the sword wielded Poo. He grunted every time he swung, taking random swipes, or leaping into semi-horizontal twirls and coming down with a slash. This kind of angry session was nowhere near his best. This wasn't the beautiful fluidity it could've been, but it was still moving enough to impress his secret onlooker.
"Ooh, can I play?" Lauren finally announced herself.
Poo came down from a leap and took a brief glance at her, deciding to just dismiss her current demeanor. "I'm not in the mood." He went back to what he'd been doing.
"What else is new?" She took a few steps forward. "You're not the only one looking to blow off some steam."
Poo kept swinging, facing away from her.
She watched him a bit longer, waiting for a response. "...If I'm a Queen of Dalaam...shouldn't I know something of this sort of thing?"
He took another hard swing...then paused, still facing away as he caught his breath.
15 minutes later, Lauren was wearing a white karate gi similar to the one Poo had on, along with matching gloves and protective headgear just like his. They were each unarmed.
"Easiest way to learn: Just repeat what I do. Throw a punch at me."
Lauren swung; Poo lifted his left arm. He then took his turn, and she managed to imitate him.
They continued for several minutes, silent the whole time. "...Not much for conversation, are you?" she spoke between breaths.
"I'd bring up a topic...but we don't really have too many of them in common."
"...Family, maybe?" She paused. "We both seem to have similar feelings about our fathers."
"But not our mothers, right?" ...Poo began to feel like he should've found a different response.
"...Guess not." Lauren blocked a kick. "...Tell me about her."
"What?"
"Tell me about your mom."
Poo frowned a little. "Why?"
"Maybe I'm just looking for a role model."
He sidestepped. "...It's harder than you thought it'd be, isn't it?"
She followed his example, not answering.
"You don't like the reality of it, do you?"
"What I don't like...is being humiliated...such as with condescending tones like the one you're using now."
"No one's been humiliating you. You're not being humiliated, you're just feeling that way."
"Well it doesn't seem that way to me."
"I know. I know because I had to learn the difference myself once."
She went quiet for a moment over that. "Let's talk about something else."
"Let's not. Let's face the issue instead of dodging it."
"Let's talk about your mother."
"Let's talk about yours."
"Let's toughen this little session. Starting now." Lauren leapt straight up and threw her right leg forward.
"Fine." Poo quickly caught her ankle, keeping her leg elevated, and swept her other leg out from under her.
Lauren landed on her back -- rather hard.
Poo felt guilty almost right away, right from the moment he caught the surprised look on her face...especially since he could tell she was still trying to be tough during it. "...Hey...you all right?"
"Yeah." She immediately rolled away from him, trying to stand.
"No seriously--"
"Whatever. I'm fine." She got up, facing away from him.
Poo let his outstretched hands fall by his waist as he watched her walk away. "Lauren. I'm sorry."
"I got what I had coming. I'm the one who got carried away." She kept moving, resisting the urge to touch her back. "I'm fine."
Poo sighed, looking at her. He concentrated...
Lauren suddenly felt an odd, yet comforting sensation. The ache and pain began to go away. She held still, too comforted to move, slowly letting her eyes close. It didn't take too long for her to figure out what was going on; her mind spoke it out. This must be what PSI feels like.
The effect faded, and Lauren calmly opened her eyes again. After a brief moment, she turned. Poo was gone, a swinging door being the only sign of him.
* * * *
"It's not what I'd call 'terrible' just yet, but it's getting there."
Lauren overheard the passing nobles speak to each other about the situation with the captured radicals. They weren't the only people in the throne room who had her attention. Several young children were sitting on the carpet before her, their teacher, upon Lauren's request, having brought the class to the temple today so she could observe and occasionally offer input.
Out of both boredom and curiosity, Lauren had done some studying on what the most recent queen had done for the community during her reign. This activity seemed to be the easiest to imitate.
One of the youngsters began complaining about how his father had punished him for hiding homework.
"At least your dad's still here," said another student in a sullen tone.
Lauren looked up.
"I may never see mine again."
A classmate spoke. "Why not?"
"He left the kingdom..."
"Can't he just come back?"
"No." He was looking at the carpet. "My mom doesn't want to tell me about it, but I heard her tell one of her friends that my dad was in that thing...that trouble with Eagleland."
Lauren was staring at the kids.
The boy continued. "I just want him to--"
"Come, home," she spoke the words quietly, but loudly enough to get the group of students to turn her way. Lauren seemed to be in a daze...until her eyes reacted to all of the ones on her. She rose, excusing herself as she stepped away quickly.
Upstairs, she entered the room that was all her own now, as Poo chose to stay in another. She cuddled up in her favorite chair, which was positioned right on the balcony. One of her hands shook a little, the one that was holding the picture. She stared at a younger version of herself. Standing not too far away in this picture was an older girl who looked sort of like her. Behind them were two adults -- a mother...and a father.
Lauren lowered the picture, throwing her gaze at the sky. If any of the birds perched nearby could look closely enough, they'd see a sight that was quite rare: two small streams of water rolling down her face. And if those birds could sense what was beneath those eyes, they'd realize that matters of sympathy, underachievement, and empathy were combining to create in Lauren a confusing feeling that seemed vaguely familiar. It had been quite a while before coming here since she'd felt an emotion called compassion.
* * * *
The day of the Multi-National Assembly had come, and a dressed-up Poo was talking with an advisor in the palace.
"The problem isn't that they don't want to assist us," said Poo, "it's that these stupid negotiations have been tied up for too long, stagnant. I..." He saw the man's attention move elsewhere. Poo turned around.
Lauren, quite simply, looked stunning, perhaps more charming and eye-catching than ever in the regal garment she now wore -- yet not in an overly provocative way. With the straightened hair coming down over her shoulders, crown in place, and a dress that was both distinctly royal and Eastern, she actually looked quite mature.
All of the others in the room naturally had their eyes on her. Everyone watched as she walked up to Poo.
"I want to go with you."
* * * *
A considerably higher number of people were staring at Lauren now, but how she looked was only half the reason.
Poo watched as she took the stage, allowing her the time she'd requested.
You can do this, she thought to herself. Just like back at school.
Her comparison may have been worlds apart, but in the end, it all came down to a matter of confidence. Even if she only had a little, this moment was all about the display -- and putting confidence on display was something she did quite well.
"My name...is Lauren Mishinta." Camera flashes were all over her. "I am a native of Eagleland, and I am the Queen of Dalaam."
Poo was impressed -- his expression showed it -- because that very point was exactly the one that needed to be made first, since it was exactly what had been on people's minds from the moment she was announced and had revealed her face.
As Lauren thought back to what an advisor had tried to tell her previously -- as she'd really taken the time to focus on it -- she'd also become well aware of this. "I stand here today, as a testament to the bond between our two lands -- a testament to what that bond is and what it can become, where it is and where it's going. As I stand here, I represent two distant powers..." she glanced down at Poo, seeing him watching her very attentively, "that must become closer.
"...And that is why today we come offering our aid; that is why today we come requesting yours.
"Our lands have wasted much time in the past, and they can waste much more time in the future, letting the hindrances of paperwork, red tape, and apprehension bring delays to our trade agreement. We can do this and continue to let both entities keep facing the same problems that arise as a result.
"Or, we can take hold of the present before it escapes us, we can seize the day...and take a step toward strengthening a bond that has been long overdue for such a thing.
"...If it is not my words that reach you today, but my appearance, then so be it. If the fact that Dalaam has an Eaglelandian Queen is what truly helps to sway some hearts, then so be it. If you must look at me and see not a genuine ruler, but an ideal, then so be it.
"I have been judged by what I've made of myself on the surface several times before, and will likely be judged as such several times again. But if for once, that can help to bring about something that's a lot bigger than just me, something that benefits the people of Dalaam, Eagleland, and those who love both in this very room...then so be it."
Lauren collected her papers, and quietly walked off the stage.
It was Poo's turn to speak now, but for reasons not expressed, except maybe in the rather collected, smitten look he wore...he declined.
* * * *
--Dalaam
That noise keeping everyone awake at the moment was the sound of rampant cheers ringing through the kingdom, for as the evening came, news of the Assembly's results did as well: trade and general commerce between Dalaam and Eagleland would soon be put back in effect.
Dalaam's primary offer was Lifenoodles, a special medicinal food that would help health care in Eagleland tremendously. The Dalaam radicals were also turned over to their kingdom for due punishment.
Then came Lauren's delayed reaction, once it had sunk in just what she'd managed to get up on-stage and say: "Whew."
* * * *
On the anniversary of his parents' wedding, Poo stepped out of his room, about to make his way downstairs for the day, when two things caught his attention. The first could be noticed simply by looking straight down -- a set of roses had been left at his door. The second came in the form of a quiet voice in the large room just below.
"Hey, Poo."
He looked over the long golden railing, and saw a lone Paula down there.
Poo was, to say the least, surprised. "...Hi."
Minutes later, they were sitting alone at the bottom of the stairway.
"I saw Lauren on the news that day," she said, looking at the floor. "I'm really happy that this has happened for Dalaam."
He was looking down as well. "Mm hm."
"I mean it'll be real beneficial all around."
"Mm, hm."
"...You're not ready to forgive me yet, are you?"
Poo didn't reply, or know quite how to. Naturally, with what had been accomplished, it wasn't really the end result that bothered him right now...just the means -- especially when those means came from someone he called friend.
"My whole life," said Paula, "it's felt like I've just been waiting...waiting for..."
He remained quiet.
Her eyes looked up, but not at him. "There was this day once when it felt like that wait came to an end." She paused. "I can't even begin to describe to you how that felt." Paula's gaze was fixed ahead. "And then suddenly, the wait began again..."
Poo thought he understood what she was referring to.
"And it's just...there's a part of me that's been privately punishing myself since," her expression grew more sullen, "because that part of me blames myself."
Poo again didn't really know what to say.
Elsewhere, far away in Onett, where Ness had teleported after dropping Paula off in Dalaam, there was a light knock on a door.
"My main mistake..." said Paula's voice.
Ness opened it. His look of surprise was soon followed by a smile he couldn't manage to contain.
"...Was in involving someone else in that punishment."
Michelle stood before him, wearing a calm look that hinted at some restraint.
"Especially a friend."
Ness' smile slowly changed; it contained less joy and a bit more sorrow.
"If nothing else, I want you to remember what I said, Poo."
Ness extended his hand.
"Even if you aren't a friend to me...I'll always be one to you."
Michelle placed hers in his.
"Always."
She walked inside, and soon, the sight of the couple hugging was gone as the door closed.
Paula stood. "Hope you enjoy the anniversary."
Poo got up as well, ready to teleport her back as they walked outside. "Thanks for the flowers."
"What flowers?" asked Paula.
Poo looked a tad confused.
* * * *
While Poo was gone, Lauren was once again overseeing a class, only outdoors this time, and they were a group of elementary school students. She raised an eyebrow as one kid, a girl wearing a black leather dress, arrived for school. She spoke rather loudly. "I didn't know Venus was in this class."
All the kids laughed. "I'm not Venus," said the girl.
"Then I don't think you should be dressing like her," replied Lauren. "Take it from me...this isn't the right look for you right now."
The teacher nodded quietly.
* * * *
They were in the training room again, both resting on the floor after another sparring session.
Both remained quiet for a short period.
Her voice was light. "Do you know I heard from my father?"
"Really? That's nice," said Poo.
Lauren removed her headgear. "For a while now, there's been this question I've kept asking myself."
Poo pulled his off as well.
"And that's whether or not there's really anything left beneath what I've shown on the surface."
Poo took off a glove, briefly dwelling on how his Chosen Four duties would have to be balanced with residing in Dalaam once again.
"...I never expected to get the real answer by coming here." She took one of hers off as well. "But I think I have."
Another tug was made, and both of Poo's gloves dropped.
She took a few seconds to continue. "That's why I'm leaving now."
Poo's head turned.
"I know the way I went about it wasn't all right, but I ended up finding something I'd been looking for."
He calmly looked forward, facing a wall with a stare of gentleness.
Her gloves were off now too. Lauren had said all she wanted to say.
"Thank you, for what you did for Dalaam at the Assembly."
She glanced at him. Gratitude wasn't something Lauren was very used to receiving.
"But do me another favor," said Poo. "Before you go through with this decision you're talking about, ask yourself that question you mentioned one more time."
Her eyes slowly went to the mat.
"And..." Poo began getting up, "thanks for the flowers, Lauren." And then Poo leaned over, took her head in one of his hands, and placed a kiss on it.
Lauren kept her calm gaze elsewhere the whole time, looking as though she was lost in thought during the moment, though this was hardly the case.
Collecting his gear, Poo exited. Lauren glanced up, her blonde locks swinging, watching him walk away.
Then her mind moved somewhere else, following Poo's suggestion. In deciding whether or not she should stay with Dalaam at this point or leave it, once again she had to ask herself the aforementioned question. Once again, it came down to choosing between the harder answer and the easier one. And once again, Lauren seemed for a second or two as though she was really giving it some thought...and this time, decided to do something she'd failed to do so many times before: think things through. And while she was at it, she began to realize it actually wasn't Poo she was doing this "favor" for...not Poo at all.
It wasn't that Lauren considered herself completely changed. It wasn't that she could quite believe that what she'd done to get here would truly be the last bad thing she'd ever do. It was just that now...now she believed that what she'd done since coming here didn't have to be the last good thing either.
Did she or did she not, for now at least, think she was capable of carrying on in her position in Dalaam?
A touch of sunlight entered the room, passing over the spot where Lauren sat...and then the young queen said two words: "I do."
WRITTEN BY
James
BASED ON A FANFIC BY
Michael DePalma
EARTHBOUND: THE PERPETUAL ADVENTURES
INTERLUDE 2
EB: Perpetual -- Copyright Michael DePalma
Thanks for reading
The events in this story take place outside continuity