Natalia raised her head to look at Yuri, her brow furrowed. Love someone so much she hated them? Initially she didn't understand, but as he continued, clarity slowly erased the confusion from her face. Her gaze fell to the floor as she stood in quiet thought.
"I suppose...you're right. If two people were to call you an insulting name, it would hurt more coming from someone you love and trust, rather than a stranger who doesn't know you. I always wished Father would recognize me, and what I could do. And to be offered poison...so I would not suffer..." Her lip trembled, and she stilled it with a tightening of her jaw. "Of course it hurt me!" She balled her hands into fists as her head jerked up, her gaze fierce as it fell on her shadow.
"But that doesn't mean I hate my father. I hate what he did. I hate that he had no confidence in me. But he changed. He accepted me, and because of what happened, we're closer than we ever were before. We may not share royal blood, but our bonds go far beyond that."
She strode forward, shoulders working with each forceful step. For a moment it looked as if she intended to slap the insolence right out of her shadow. But she didn't.
"Even so...you're right."
Calamity Natalia tipped her head back, regarding Natalia suspiciously, but listened.
"There's a lot about myself I don't understand. The nature of my birth...the role I was raised to play...the changes that are sure to come. Reconciling all of that is not going to be easy, and we don't have the luxury of time right now for me to sort everything out at my own pace."
Her shadow narrowed her purple eyes, but allowed the princess to continue.
Natalia took a breath, forcing her shoulders to relax, and unclenched her hands. "But I promise, when it's over, I'll do what I can. I want to find out what happened to my mother and father, and why they did...what they felt was necessary. I'm not fit to rule if I can't even decide who I am. The people of Kimlasca need someone with strength, and confidence. I will reconcile with my father, and we will build a stronger kingdom together."
Slowly, Natalia went to one knee, and put a fist over her heart. "I swear it. If you really are a part of me, then surely it's the same for you, isn't it? Our people must come first."
"...Please. You're embarrassing us, stop kneeling like that." She folded her arms and turned her head away...but smiled.
"Meryl and Natalia...we're the same. Thank you." Natalia rose to her feet, taking a quick, shallow breath. "I hope to reconcile with my true self as well."
The shadow inclined her head, once, before her image blurred into a bright flash of light that quickly faded, surrounding Natalia and becoming one with her again.
Her legs lacked strength, and she put her palm against one of the consoles to keep herself from sagging to the floor. She was drained, emotionally and physically, but she couldn't show weakness now. Instead she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
"Thank you." She turned her head to offer a weary but warm smile to the others. "I truly thank you. All of you."
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Natalia raised her head to look at Yuri, her brow furrowed. Love someone so much she hated them? Initially she didn't understand, but as he continued, clarity slowly erased the confusion from her face. Her gaze fell to the floor as she stood in quiet thought.
"I suppose...you're right. If two people were to call you an insulting name, it would hurt more coming from someone you love and trust, rather than a stranger who doesn't know you. I always wished Father would recognize me, and what I could do. And to be offered poison...so I would not suffer..." Her lip trembled, and she stilled it with a tightening of her jaw. "Of course it hurt me!" She balled her hands into fists as her head jerked up, her gaze fierce as it fell on her shadow.
"But that doesn't mean I hate my father. I hate what he did. I hate that he had no confidence in me. But he changed. He accepted me, and because of what happened, we're closer than we ever were before. We may not share royal blood, but our bonds go far beyond that."
She strode forward, shoulders working with each forceful step. For a moment it looked as if she intended to slap the insolence right out of her shadow. But she didn't.
"Even so...you're right."
Calamity Natalia tipped her head back, regarding Natalia suspiciously, but listened.
"There's a lot about myself I don't understand. The nature of my birth...the role I was raised to play...the changes that are sure to come. Reconciling all of that is not going to be easy, and we don't have the luxury of time right now for me to sort everything out at my own pace."
Her shadow narrowed her purple eyes, but allowed the princess to continue.
Natalia took a breath, forcing her shoulders to relax, and unclenched her hands. "But I promise, when it's over, I'll do what I can. I want to find out what happened to my mother and father, and why they did...what they felt was necessary. I'm not fit to rule if I can't even decide who I am. The people of Kimlasca need someone with strength, and confidence. I will reconcile with my father, and we will build a stronger kingdom together."
Slowly, Natalia went to one knee, and put a fist over her heart. "I swear it. If you really are a part of me, then surely it's the same for you, isn't it? Our people must come first."
"...Please. You're embarrassing us, stop kneeling like that." She folded her arms and turned her head away...but smiled.
"Meryl and Natalia...we're the same. Thank you." Natalia rose to her feet, taking a quick, shallow breath. "I hope to reconcile with my true self as well."
The shadow inclined her head, once, before her image blurred into a bright flash of light that quickly faded, surrounding Natalia and becoming one with her again.
Her legs lacked strength, and she put her palm against one of the consoles to keep herself from sagging to the floor. She was drained, emotionally and physically, but she couldn't show weakness now. Instead she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
"Thank you." She turned her head to offer a weary but warm smile to the others. "I truly thank you. All of you."