[open] do you like starfruit?

[oathkeeper]

Sender: Sora
To: Everyone
Subject: Paopu Fruit

hey, did you guys notice the huge fruit tree that showed up near the new ocean? it's got big giant yellow star-shaped fruits growing from it that are called paopu fruit. they taste like a pineapple mixed with a pear. sounds pretty tasty, right?

there's also a legend back home about these fruits. i thought you might wanna know.

"If two people share one, their destinies become intertwined. They'll remain a part of each other's lives no matter what."

i've always liked that legend a lot. i don't know if it's true for sure but it's nice to think that if you share one with someone really special to you that you can always be a part of each other's lives. if that doesn't sound like love, i don't know what is. it might be nice to try it with someone sometime, huh? go for it!

Comments

Sender: Zelda

[multidisciplinary]

How extraordinary! It must be a very powerful plant.

Does its effectiveness diminish if you divide it into more than two portions?

[oathkeeper]

uh, you know what? i've never really thought about what would happen if you did that.

do you have two people you wanna share one with?

[multidisciplinary]

A few, actually.

Or would it be better to use multiple fruits and simply split one with each person?

[oathkeeper]

i've never shared one with multiple people at the same time before so i don't really know.

i don't see why it wouldn't work? if you all ate from the same fruit it should make the legend work? i hope.

[multidisciplinary]

Really? No one has thought to test that before? I would have expected such an incredible plant to be subject to robust scientific study.

[oathkeeper]

hahah! well, i come from a pretty small island! there wasn't a whole lot of scientists there or anything. just a small town, you know? not a lot of opportunity to do something like test powerful destiny tying fruit!

but you should try it if you have friends that are important to you. real or not, it could be really special.

[multidisciplinary]

[ No one is studying your island's local flora? What's wrong with your town, Sora?

Still, it is tempting to try this with some of the friends she has made here in Reverein. ]

What exactly does "always being a part of each other's lives" mean? Have you tried this before?

[oathkeeper]

[When you're from a backwater town it's like- REALLY backwater.]

yeah! i have, with two people at different times, actually! the first time was with my best friend kairi. the second time was with my boyfriend vanitas just a few weeks ago.

i like to think that it means that no matter how far apart we are that we'll still be a a part of each other's lives. that somehow someday we'll all be together again because that magic will make sure it works out. that's how destiny works, right?

[multidisciplinary]

[ She feels sad for you, Sora. Zelda can't imagine growing up somewhere without a robust scientific community. ]

I cannot say I know much about how destiny works. In my experience, it tends to be vague and unpredictable. I must admit, if I had not experienced its power myself, I would not believe in such a thing.

There is no dreamwalker in Reverein by the name of Kairi. How has the fruit kept you in each other's lives if you are apart?

[oathkeeper]

[It would fly over his head, anyway. He's not a cool nerd. :C]

you've experiences it yourself? what happened?

we shared it back home. and i guess it hasn't really kept us together here but i always feel like she's in my heart. like she's not that far away from me even if she is. it helps me miss her less? does that count?

[multidisciplinary]

It's a long story. [ Which isn't to say she won't share it if he really wants to know... ]

That does sound nice. [ There's a momentary pause before Zelda continues. ] I wish I could have shared these fruits with the... friends I knew in my kingdom. I would like not to miss them as strongly as I do.

[oathkeeper]

[Oh, he knows that line. Message received! He's not fussed, he wouldn't push anyone like that.]

i know all about long stories. yeah.

i know it's not going to be able to change how much that hurts when you don't have your best friends around. but maybe you could try one while thinking about them anyway. like a big tribute, you know?

[multidisciplinary]

A big tribute? What would that do?

[ Her words might sounds skeptical, but they're far from it. Could this fruit give her a connection to the dear friends she lost in the Calamity? ]

[oathkeeper]

you know how people do toasts or write letters to people even if you can't give them to the person? i think it's a little like that. giving special thoughts for those people even if they're gone or far away... i really think it helps the heart.

[multidisciplinary]

[ Oh, that's a really good idea, actually. Sora doesn't usually strike Zelda as being particularly intuitive, but this interaction is making her think she doesn't give him enough credit. ]

I think I would like to try that.

I [ A pause. ] lost my father and most of my friends before I awoke here.

[oathkeeper]

[He might seem like a simple boy a lot of the time but he is very heartfelt about a lot of things.]

i'm really sorry.

i think it would be nice to think about them when you try a paopu fruit.

[multidisciplinary]

That does sound nice.

Can you [ Zelda scratches that out, then pauses, hesitating. His idea is great and it sounds really special... but she has no clue how she should do it. ]

You seem to be very good at making heartfelt gestures and I am [ Another pause. ] not. Can you tell me how you would make a memorial like that?

[oathkeeper]

[His heart goes out for her, it really does. He knows what this feels like to a tee.]

maybe pick a day that feels special for you. maybe a birthday or an anniversary where you're thinking of them a lot. then go to the paopu tree at sunset, i always felt like that was the best time to do it. take the fruit and tell them what you would tell them if you could say anything to them right then and there. then take a bite of the fruit.

i bet somewhere somehow they'll hear your heart's wish.

🎀

[multidisciplinary]

[ A birthday or an anniversary... In this case, when she thinks of her father and the Champions, those dates are one in the same: the day of the Calamity. Last year, Zelda tried to ignore that day as much as possible, but found herself plagued by nightmares instead. Maybe she should try Sora's suggestion this year.

Zelda copies Sora's suggestion, word for word, into her diary so that she doesn't risk forgetting it. ]

That is a very lovely idea. I know exactly what day it should be. I have written down your idea so that I will not forget.

Thank you, Sora.