DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Metal Gear is created by Hideo Kojima and owned by Konami. Genshin Impact is owned by miHoYo.
METAL GEAR SHOGUN
Episode 20
RAINBOW IN THE DARK
She stared at the lifeless body in her arms, mourning the loss of yet another ally. She cried and cried for the corpse she cradled.
Why did it always have to end this way? Why couldn't she have been given a happy end, for once in her life?
"Leave him, Jacqueline." The all-too-familiar voice ordered her. "He's dead now."
She remembered what had happened: that man killed her friend. She looked up and shouted at the one responsible for all her misery.
"You're the one who killed him! You don't care what happens to us at all! The only thing you care about is yourself! This is all your fault!"
The voice paused for a moment. Then, it spoke again.
"That's right… Don't blame yourself…"
Coming out of the shadows was the source of everything she had suffered through. The man – no, the devil – who did all this to her brought his face to meet hers and stared her dead in the eyes.
"Blame me."
/-\ Fort Hamilton, FOXHOUND Headquarters /-\
Ei awoke from a nightmare. It was too frustrating having to experience them almost every night. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. It didn't help very much. She got herself dressed and left her quarters.
Moving down to the front room, she saw Maxine and Doc Wilson conversing at the front desk.
"Good morning." Ei spoke, somewhat unenthusiastically.
"Good morning, Snake." Doc replied.
"Snake, are you alright?" Max asked her.
"I'm… fine." Ei said, trying to dismiss their concerns. "Just a little worked up."
"Are you having nightmares again?" Max asked, causing Ei to tense up. "You are, aren't you?"
"Your psych folder did mention you sometimes had nightmares." Doc spoke up.
"It's… not something I'm comfortable talking about." Ei responded.
"Well, if they go on long enough, your performance might be hampered by them." Doc stated. "Why don't you take a few days off, Snake?"
Ei listened to Doc's suggestion, but didn't seem to pay it much attention. She was training to be an agent of FOXHOUND. She was supposed to be learning how to undertake covert operations and stealth missions, not taking time off with some R&R. She opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted.
"Hey, that's a good idea!" Max spoke up. "I'll message LTC Quinn and see if I can get you some days off, Snake."
"But I'm fine." Ei tried to say. "These leisure days would only be wasted on someone like me."
"No they won't, Snake." Max replied. "Our dreams affect our daily lives, and a bit of rest and relaxation can do the mind wonders. As Shakespeare said, 'We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.'"
"Don't worry, Snake." Doc reassured her. "You're going to be just fine. Take a break, you deserve it."
Ei didn't respond. Apparently she had been outvoted. All she could do now was wait for her days off.
"Thank you, I suppose." She answered.
"No problem!" Max said cheerily.
/-\ New York City, April 30th, 2007 /-\
BGM:
Deus Ex – NYC Streets
By Alexander Brandon
A multitude of people were walking on the Brooklyn Bridge. Among them were a woman with braided violet hair. Ei walked along the bridge, dressed in some casual attire. She wore a long-sleeved black shirt with a small hole in the front that slightly exposed her cleavage. She also wore a slim white skirt with black stockings and shoes, and a lilac jacket with the left sleeve rolled up.
Ei was somewhat unsure about taking some time off from her FOXHOUND training, but she had been approved by LTC Quinn for some time to relax. She decided she would make the most of it, since she was being given the opportunity. New York City was very famous, being known as The City That Never Sleeps. It was filled with a variety of tourist attractions and historic landmarks, some of which were prominently featured in famous movies. Ei figured she could take some time to visit a few.
As Ei walked down the Brooklyn Bridge, she thought back to the time she had been shown a Godzilla movie. This very bridge had been featured in that movie, and to be now walking atop it felt like a dream. But then again, even being accepted by FOXHOUND was like a dream, too. She took a moment to look out to the water, a view that left her amazed. She felt confused by her present situation. She didn't have much time to think about it, as she quickly continued to her walk through the city.
Ei walked through the streets of New York City, taking in the many sights and sounds of the famous city. Looking at her, one might be able to call the route she took as aimless, but the destination she had in mind was deliberate. Eventually, after a long time walking, she came across Federal Hall, the statue of George Washington standing tall in front of the landmark. She read the writing on the base of the statue.
"On this site, in Federal Hall, April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath as the first President of the United States of America."
George Washington was immortalized here, as the very first President of the US. Ei though about the implications of that. Makoto was the first Shogun of Inazuma, yet she had taken her place as the Raiden Shogun. As far as the history of Inazuma was aware, there had only been one Raiden Shogun – her. To think that the first ruler of Inazuma – her beloved older sister – had been forgotten by time in favor of herself was upsetting. No statue in remembrance of her life, no stories told of her achievements – only memories of her, carried by the select few who knew the truth of her existence. Ei's vision of Eternity was to make sure that Inazuma stayed as it was, with the legacy of her sister never fading. To her, that would be how Makoto would be immortalized.
BGM end
"Excuse me, do you know what building King Kong was climbing in the movie?" Ei heard someone ask. She turned to the source of the voice to see a group of tourists, two of whom were a pair of middle-aged Japanese ladies. They appeared to be asking something to another woman, who Ei couldn't get a clear look at. She decided to move closer.
"Um, I don't really remember." The woman said in a calm voice. "I think it might have been the World Trade Center?"
"No, we mean the black-and-white movie." One of the Japanese ladies spoke.
"The original?" The other woman asked. "I, uh, haven't seen that one, I only kind of remember the pictures from it. It's probably… the Chrysler Building?"
"No, it's the Empire State." Ei said, stepping into the conversation. "The Chrysler Building was destroyed in Godzilla."
"Gojira?" One of the Japanese ladies questioned. "What does that have to do with King Kong?"
"I'm just correcting this lady by telling you that King Kong was climbing up the Empire State Building." Ei clarified. "I hope you're satisfied by my answer."
"Are you kidding?" She heard the woman who was asked the question speak. "I'm almost certain that it was the Chrysler Building!"
Ei looked at the woman. She had long, ash pink hair and purple eyes, somewhat similar to Yae Miko. She wore a white jacket with red cuffs over a red blouse, which was revealingly unbuttoned. She also wore a red dress skirt and white heels, and a pair of gold and amethyst earrings and traces of makeup completed the somewhat unreal effect. Ei was slightly taken aback, as she didn't expect to see someone who looked so similar to her friend on Earth.
"Hey!" The woman spoke to her, breaking Ei out of her trance. "Are you even listening to me?"
"What?"
"How do you know what building King Kong was climbing? Have you even seen the movie?"
"No, but you said you haven't seen the movie either." Ei reasoned. "Besides, I saw Godzilla, and the Chrysler Building was in that movie."
"Isn't Godzilla supposed to be destroying Tokyo?" The woman questioned Ei.
"I'm talking about the 1998 movie, the American one." Ei responded.
"Well, just because the Chrysler Building was in that movie doesn't mean it can't also be in King Kong." The woman argued.
"Are you sure?" Ei argued back. "I remember someone telling me that King Kong climbed up the Empire State Building."
"Really? When?"
"Well… two and a half years ago."
"So you still remember something from over two years ago? That's pretty convincing."
"Listen, I know that it sounds hard to believe, but it's the truth." Ei tried to explain. "What do you think?" She turned to ask the Japanese ladies.
They had disappeared. Not only them, but all of the tourists had gone away, leaving Ei and the woman behind. Ei was somewhat flabbergasted.
"Well then." She spoke. "So now what?"
"I think I have an idea." The woman said to her. "We go to the Skyscraper Museum and see who's right. How does that sound?"
"I suppose that would work." Ei responded. "That way, we can put this childish debate behind us."
"Childish?" The woman spoke, somewhat offended. "Don't call me childish!"
"I wasn't, but the way you're acting is making me reconsider." Ei teased her.
Ei and the woman started making their way towards the Skyscraper Museum. The whole time, they had been continuously debating about which argument was right. They were now in Battery Park, still going back and forth between each other.
"Listen, I know you're saying it was the Chrysler Building," Ei spoke. "But I already told you it was in Godzilla."
"And I already told you that it could've been in both movies." The woman argued back.
"I understand what you're saying." Ei reasoned. "But consider this: The Empire State was probably the most famous skyscraper at the time King Kong was made."
"And what makes you think they wouldn't have gone with another building?" The woman questioned. "It would have been just as memorable."
"I don't think the Chrysler Building was even built at the time." Ei explained.
"You don't know that!" The woman retorted.
"Alright, be quiet." Ei said. "We're almost there. The Skyscraper Museum should be right around this corner."
"About time." The woman sighed. "Now we can stop fighting like this."
Ei and the woman then continued down the sidewalk, looking over to the right to see the entrance to the Skyscraper Museum. They approached the door to open, but it didn't budge.
"What…?" Ei gasped. She then looked at a nearby sign that listed the daily hours, but was shocked to see what the schedule for today was. "Closed…!?"
"Well…" The woman sighed. "I guess this whole trip was for nothing. I'll see you around."
"Wait…!" Ei spoke, trying to speak to the woman more. But she was gone. Ei now stood on the street by herself, not even having learned the woman's name. She felt somewhat disappointed, as she thought that even though the two were arguing, they were still connecting with one another. Ei sighed, beginning the return trip to the base.
/-\ Fort Hamilton, FOXHOUND Headquarters /-\
About a week had passed since that day. Ei was back at the base, somewhat reinvigorated from her walk through New York City. Though, all she could think about all week was that woman she met. Who was she? Why did she look like Yae Miko so much? Where did she go after she left?
She kept wondering about these questions, not bothering to pay attention to where she was walking. Ei bumped into someone in the corridor she was walking through. She was slightly disoriented, but quickly came back to her senses.
"Oh, I'm sorry about that." Ei apologized. "I wasn't looking where I–"
She looked at the person she had just ran into – it was the same woman she had encountered in front of Federal Hall.
"You're…!" Ei spoke.
"From a week ago…!" The woman responded.
"What are you doing here?" Ei asked her.
"I'm an intelligence analyst for FOXHOUND." The woman answered. "What about you?"
"I'm training to be a FOXHOUND agent." Ei spoke. "My name is Snake."
"No, it isn't." The woman said. "I want to know what your real name is. Mine is Rosemary Ann."
Ei looked at the woman, Rosemary, and thought to herself. She had been thinking about her all week, and it turned out that they were actually working at the same place. If this was a coincidence, it was an amazing coincidence.
"Jacqueline." Ei answered. "My name is Jacqueline."
Rosemary paused for a moment. "Jacqueline…" She said to herself. "It sounds wonderful."
"So does Rosemary." Ei replied.
"Oh, you don't have to be so formal with me." Rosemary said. "Just call me Rose."
"I see."
"By the way, we never did get to find out which of us was right." Rose said. "I think I know what we can do today."
About an hour later, Ei and Rose were standing in an elevator together. They stood side by side as the elevator slowly ascended.
"So, what do you think so far?" Rose asked Ei.
"I'm not sure on what to think so far." Ei answered. "It's not as exciting as one would make it out to be."
"Well, just wait until you see the view from up top." Rose replied.
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and Rose and Ei stepped out to the top floor of the Empire State Building. Ei walked over to the balcony, looking down on the burgeoning city.
"My goodness…" Ei said breathlessly. She walked around the balcony, with Rose following behind her. "I think I can see all of New York City up here…!"
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Rose spoke. "This view?" Rose then pointed off to the distance. "There's the Chrysler Building over there! It's both of our skyscrapers!"
Ei didn't speak for a few seconds. "You know…" She began. "I don't even care about which of us was right anymore."
"Yeah, me neither…" Rose replied. The two of them just smiled together, looking down at the Chrysler Building. "Why don't we take a photo, Jacqueline?" Rose asked.
"'Take a photo'…?" Ei spoke, confused. "This combination of words makes absolutely no sense to me."
"It's okay." Rose said. "Just stand right here with me and I'll get someone to help us."
With that, Rose went and asked someone else on the top of the Empire State to take a photo of them. After about a minute, a man used some sort of device in front of Ei and Rose, and gave them a slip of paper afterwards. Ei took a look at it, seeing what appeared to be an image of her and Rose standing together with the Chrysler Building off to the side in the distance.
BGM:
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty – Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday (Piano Version)
By Rika Muranaka & Carla White
"Wow… this is astonishing." Ei spoke. "Is it some kind of magic? It seems to be… another copy of me?" She thought back to the Shogun. "But she doesn't seem to be able to move or talk…"
"Well, it isn't the real you, Jacqueline." Rose spoke.
"Hang on, I'm still struggling to understand this." Ei said. "I need you to explain it again… So, the one in this photo… are you sure it isn't me? If it's not me, then why does she look exactly like me? A-and if she is me, then… who am I?"
Rose simply let out a giggle. "Don't worry, Jacqueline…!" She chuckled. "You're the only you in the entire world. This is just a picture of you." She explained, pointing at her in the photo. "Just like how the Chrysler Building in the background is only a picture of the real one. Just think of it like a single instant, frozen in time."
"Frozen in time…?" Ei pondered. "So… this photo will never change? Even after years pass?"
"Yeah." Rose answered. "That way, we can remember this moment whenever we want to, no matter how much time passes. That's what makes it so special."
Ei began to understand what Rose was saying, and smiled. This photo, it was a form of Eternity. Preserving the world as it was, for all time. Unmoving, unchanging, uninterrupted. Rose put her arm around Ei's shoulder, and she returned the gesture.
Hours later, Rose opened a door for Ei, letting her inside her home. She stepped inside, looking around at the foyer and into the dining room. Rose led Ei upstairs to a room with a couch, some chairs, and a television set.
"I guess we could end the day off by watching King Kong." Rose said. "I won't get mad if you start talking about me being wrong."
"I already told you," Ei replied. "I don't even care about who's right or wrong anymore."
"Alright then." Rose spoke. "Then let's begin."
Rose then turned the TV on and set it up to watch King Kong. Only, they didn't just watch it once. They kept watching it over and over again, all the way through the night. After many hours and countless re-watchings of King Kong, they lied together on the couch, slumped over.
"Jacqueline…?" Rose mumbled. "Want to watch it one more time…?"
"That's what you said last time, Rose…" Ei yawned.
"Well… this is the last time… for real this time…" Rose said.
"We've seen it enough times, Rose…" Ei spoke tiredly. "Why don't we call it a night here…?"
But Rose didn't respond. She lay there on the couch, her eyes fully closed, quietly snoring as she slept. Ei then grabbed a blanket and gently laid it over her body. A glare from the window hit her eye. The sun had come up. Ei went over to the windows and drew the curtains. They would face the new day later. Now, they slept. Ei sat next to Rose and slowly drifted to sleep. She had no nightmares that night.
BGM end
And that is the end of this chapter! It's been a long time, but Ei has finally met Rose! If you're wondering why Rose's hair is pink here, just know that it isn't her real hair color. Those who know why already know. Now, for the reviews.
KnightlyNight (1): I've got my own music planned, but thanks for your input. And yes, the world of Metal Gear is a very cruel world. But then again, so is our own.
KnightlyNight (2): Yeah, it's always hard to find the truth for oneself. For your question, I'm only going to say that she will be trying her hardest to achieve the best outcome.
KnightlyNight (3): I don't think anyone is their first time around.
And there we go! I'll be touching on some more parts of Ei and Rose's relationship in future chapters! Until then, make sure to keep in touch!
-Azzy Asbourne
Music:
NYC Streets: watch?v=6aPX8nqJ1zY
Can't Say Goodbye to Yesterday: watch?v=9_PcDH2A0aU