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Long Distance Comfort

Summary:

Three-hundred days until the Intersection. Melia is nervous, anxious for what the future holds.
Fortunately, her inter-dimensional partner, and fellow queen, is there to support her.

Notes:

This fic contains contextual and lore spoilers for CH6 of Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
Please do not read unless you have - ideally - finished the game's story.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Evening light filtered through the window of the highest chamber in Alcamoth. The Queen’s Chambers. Sizable and elegant, opulent and sensual.

Melia still wasn’t used to it, sleeping in this room, the room belonging to the rightful ruler of the High Entia. Now, she had become so much more than just that. The peoples of this new world – the Homs, Machina and Nopon – were united with her own people under one banner, and at its helm was Queen Melia Antiqua.

On this lonely evening in her lonely tower, she sat upon the silken sheets of her grandiose double-bed, staring through the window at the lazily setting sun. She watched the sky, painted bold and brilliant, rich in colour, slowly fade into the glittering, ethereal beauty of the night. One by one the stars began to show themselves, each one twinkling as it took its place among the heavens.

Each one, she thought, a whole other world. It made her feel small, but it was a comfortable feeling. One that reminded her of home…

Melia looked to the painting on her bedroom wall. It had been preserved from a time that seemed like an age ago. A time when she was still ‘Crown Princess Melia’, a time before she had even met those who would change her life forever.

Eryth Sea… she missed it dearly. Upon the body of the Bionis it may have rested, it was home all the same. A home she could never return to. This was how her evenings oft were spent… in reflection.

All too routinely, she found herself falling into a spiral of memories. Memories of a less lonely time. Such was her mood these days. Melancholic, wistful. She stood and took gentle steps toward the balcony, pulling the curtains back and opening the door as she took in the evening air.

The Queen set her gaze upon the vast city before her. She watched the children play in the streets as their parents called to them for supper. She watched the birds bathing in the city-square’s fountain. This was home now, and just as she was getting used to it, she learned she would have to give it up.

Less than three-hundred days remained to the Intersection, by the estimations and projections of the star-scholars at least. What world would come after that? None could know. Would she even survive the event? Impossible to say. Her mind was so wracked with these thoughts, that not even the gentle breeze and night sky that gave her such comfort were helping.

She couldn’t stand being alone with it all, being alone with her thoughts. Not right now at least. An idea struck her, perhaps she wouldn’t have to be… Melia stepped back inside and fastened the latch on the balcony door. She looked to her desk, a fine piece of High Entia craftsmanship, and then to the small device that rested atop it. 

Perhaps it was a little selfish, she knew first-hand how busy the role of Queen was, her long-distance companion mightn’t even the time to answer a call at this hour. She wrestled with her own thoughts back and forth for a time, before finally reaching a decision.

Melia sat at her desk and powered up the device. After a brief and gentle whirring, the machine began to emit a cerulean blue light before projecting a rectangular, holographic image in the air above it. Written in its centre in a greener light was the word… CONNECTING

 

* * *

 

Very, very carefully, Nia lined up her third shot. She held the small wooden hoop like a frisbee, standing in the corner of the room, her eyes transfixed on her target. A large, metal finger, pointed upward toward the ceiling. Two hoops were already perched perfectly around it.

“Arrgh… Poppi couldya stop moving and just stand still? You’re makin’ this really difficult.”

The artificial blade standing at the other end of the room tilted her head in confusion. “But Poppi is not moving. Poppi is one-hundred percent stationary. Nia is one who is shaking.”

“Of course I’m nervous, I’ve never gotten this close before ‘ave I?”  Her royal majesty, Queen Nia, was as a volff ready to pounce at its prey.

“Nia just need relax and deep breathing! Calm body and mind!”

“Alright alright, I get it… I got this”

With a deep and steady breath in, Nia narrowed her vision, focusing on her target. She prepared the perfect angle, calculated exactly the required strength, and counted herself down. Three… two… one…

 INCOMING CALL

“Wh wh wha?!”

Her majesty lost her balance, and tumbled onto her royal arse, sending the hoop flying straight into poor Poppi’s face. Blue light lit up Nia’s desk as the words appeared on the holographic screen. A call… from Queen Melia? At this hour? She wondered if something had happened, if something was wrong.

“Ah, so sorry Poppi dear. Would you mind giving me the room?”

“Of course Nia!”  The artificial blade saluted her energetically before picking up the hoops from the floor and leaving the room. “Nia let Poppi know if need anything!”

“I will, thanks kindly Poppi.”

Once the door had been closed, Nia quickly scurried over and turned the lock before rushing back to her desk. Turning to the mirror next to her, the Queen quickly fixed her hair, checked for food between her teeth, and spritzed a nice perfume across her neck (not that her friend would be able to smell it).

Nia cleared her throat, did one speedy runthrough of her vowel exercises, and tapped the button on her receiver.

“Ahem… Greetings Lady Melia, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?”  Nia spoke with elocution that sounded entirely unlike her.

Melia had been sitting so patiently at her desk, waiting for Nia to answer, that she was almost caught off-guard when she finally saw her face upon the projection.

“Wonderful to see you this fine evening, Nia. Thank you for answering my call, I understand the hour is late.”

“Don’t fret about it Melia, it is wonderful to hear from you as always. Is something the matter?”

Melia’s smile faded ever so slightly. “Nothing alarming or pressing I assure you. Everything is functioning correctly on this end.”

“Ah, well that’s most reassuring to hear.”  Nia had picked up on the subtle changes in her fellow Queen’s voice. “Then, perhaps you’ve called for another matter?”

Melia was embarrassed, and slightly uncomfortable. She worried about wasting Nia’s time with such trivial, selfish matters as her mental state and loneliness when there was so much more at stake here. A small part of her regretted even disturbing Nia at all now. Yet, before she could voice any of these thoughts, Nia spoke again.

“If you simply desire some company, it so happens I’ve nothing scheduled for the evening. I’d be more than happy to spend some time with you, Melia.”

The High Entia’s wings perked up at those words, she spoke with firmness. “Yes, please. That was in fact the reason for my call.”  Melia let her heart do the talking. “Truth be told, I have found myself under a large amount of stress in recent weeks. I can imagine you must be feeling similarly.”

Nia looked over her room, at the mess she and Poppi had made earlier, just out of frame of the projector.

“Ahh, yes. Certainly. It has indeed been rather taxing on all of us as of late. All the more reason why it’s important to keep one’s mental hygiene appropriately… uhh… appropriately- ehh… ”

Nia’s eyes darted about in search for the right word, the right phrase. A proper-sounding one, something eloquent and refined, something… oh screw this.

“Look you gotta make sure yer ‘ead’s screwed on right okay? It’s proper important!”

Melia giggled, the first time in recent memory she had laughed so genuinely. She loved how Nia tried so hard to put on the regal act. Early in their relationship, Melia had no idea of Nia’s true personality, but it didn’t take very long for it to shine through. Quite frankly, she adored it. She found it ever so endearing.

“Nia, dear. What have I told you a thousand times?”

The Gormotti sighed as her ears drooped. “...Don’t hide my stripes, I know.”

“Then you would do well to remember. After all, we are friends. You need only be yourself in my company.”

Melia was already in a much better mood than before. She was very glad that she had decided to call her long-distance partner in royalty. 

The two Queens sat chit-chatting the night away, for hours and hours until one of them realized how time had somehow slipped far away from them. It was always difficult for them to say goodbye to each other. To hit that button on the transmitter, knowing they were worlds apart… so very far from each other’s reach. But both Melia and Nia knew, that would not last forever. In less than three-hundred days from now, their worlds would intersect. When that time came, perhaps they’d be able to see each other for real.

Melia had thought about it many times. How she would go about inviting Queen Nia to her castle. How she would arrange tea and biscuits for the two of them, so that they might sit among the royal gardens and enjoy talking the days away. Such a wonderful and exciting union would be not just for the two of them, but for the people of their worlds too.

Melia never forgot the last words spoken to her on that fateful day…

A new, boundless world. Home not only to her people, but many forms of life. A world where all life can walk towards the future, hand in hand.

She would do everything in her power to create that future, and she would do it with Queen Nia at her side.

Notes:

I am so incredibly excited for the XC3 Expansion Pass Story Content and really hope its a sequel/epilogue.
But if its as good quality as Torna I really won't mind what it is tbh.