7th confession: This I believe.

[kuukai]

visual

[ A red bear sits on of the Agency’s roof. She’s never really gotten out of the habit of hanging out on rooftops. Even turning into a bear and getting a real place to sleep can’t break it. ]

So, Equestria. Got a question I’ve been meanin’ ta ask ya. What do ya believe in?

[ She’s got a stick of Pocky half-hanging out of her mouth, and she chews it idly. There’s a gorgeous sunset which is reflecting off of her fur. The image is filled with oranges and yellows. ]

Now, tha’s diff’rnt from what ya believe, see. I believe gravity exists, an’ tha’ everythin’ balances, an yadda yadda. Whatever else.

No… when yer losin’ hope, I wanna know what ya turn to. Who ya trust. What ya know’s right.

[ She shrugs and pulls out another stick of Pocky, the previous one chewed away. ] S’just a good thing ta remind yerself of sometimes, I think. Ya always gotta know why yer doin’ whatcher doin’. Otherwise ya might as well not do it.

I usedta believe in God. I mean, I still do, but I got ta thinkin’ he din’t have time fer magical girls like me. We struck out on our own, we got powerful an’ we paid the consequences. I still believe in Him.

But I also believed in my dad. I think I believed in him just as much. He’s how I knew God. Tha’s why it was bad when…

[ She chokes up and shakes her head. ] Well… never mind, tha’s private.

But tha’s not what drives me anymore. Not th’only thing, anyway. I still remember my dad, and I still pray ta God, but… things change. I’m not fightin’ fer them anymore. I think I’m fightin’ fer you.

[ A weak smile. ] One o’ you more than the rest. But still. … Heh, I dunno if this even makes much sense. But… I was talkin’ with Jappleack, an’ I don’ even think mosta what I want ta do is fightin’ anymore. Damn place… but… whether I’m fightin’ or not, s’still because there’s somethin’ I believe in. Somethin’ here.

[ She thinks for a moment, trying to figure out if there’s a better way to end it. She reaches out to turn off the recording. ]

Oh! Wait. One more thing. We got the shrine an’ tha’s good, but I was thinkin’ about creatin’ a meditative space out by th’forest. Let me know if ya’d have any interest in that.

An’, yeah, answer my question. What ya believe in. I really do want ta know.

Comments

[ponycure_dream]

I believe in my friends. No matter who they are or where they are. I believe in them.

And, hopefully, they believe in me.

[kuukai]

Yeah. ... Yeah. I do too.

Not sure they have cause ta, all th'time. But yeah.

[visual]

[polyturtle]

[...Oh.]

Where around the forest? I...wouldn't mind changing my meditating spot.

[visual]

[kuukai]

[ Oops. ]

Wait, ya've got one?

[Visual]

[kingofthetvworld]

[This calls for bear number two, this time with a turtle on his head. By the sound of things, whatever Kyouko is saying is pretty important.]

...Huh?

[And...maybe be a little too complex for more simple bears to understand.]

[Visual]

[kuukai]

Hey.

[ Oh look, it's the bear she fights for more than the rest. Lives for. Whatever. ]

Ya busy?

[needlefingers]

[Chromedome puts some thought into the question before he answers. Unfortunately for him, his answer is both simple and complicated at the same time.]

And what if you don't believe in anything? What then?

[kuukai]

Do ya?

[ She's not sure she believes him. ]

[Text]

[ceasetoexist]

I believe in some of the people in the last place I was.

[Text]

[kuukai]

thats a good policy

so do i, i guess

[visual]

[everydays_great]

I...I believe in my mom...watching over me from Heaven.

...Does that count?

[visual]

[kuukai]

[ ... Oh, Nanako. ]

Yeah. O'course.

What was she like?

[hattrickery]

Hm. This...might be complicated.

"I believe in...the inevitability of celestial judgement, that all beings are children of God, and in the unlimited potential of mortals to become creatures of heavenly splendor."

Pause.

"But I don't think it's the same as the kind of faith you're talking about - I'm an angel, and those are just...y'know. Facts."

[kuukai]

Well... just cause yer more sure about it doesn' mean it can't be somethin' ya believe in. Ya know? I know Teddie exists, and my dad did. I believe in 'em.

[ Interesting that Hayate's world is like that, though. ]

(Visual)

[aheroofjustice]

...You haven't changed that much, huh?

(Except for not wanting to fight. She's a little surprised by that.)

Visual

[kuukai]

Nah. This place has changed me some but not much. S'like... my core's the same. Ya know?

... Well, ya'll know if ya stay here a while, anyway.

[vis]

[stormbroken]

Used t'be Celestia. Her judgement is unfailing, Her will absolute.

I grew out of that, though. Now? I believe in improvement.

That anyone and everyone can change, for the better.

[vis]

[kuukai]

Man. That pony? Seems like she messes up a lot ta me.

[Visual]

[thefreedomreign]

I'd definitely be interested in a meditative space.

[He's just going to...not address the other thing. Mostly because he doesn't know that he has an answer to that question.]

[Visual]

[kuukai]

Good. I'll start lookin'. Any ideas?

[Visual]

[caneattheseapples]

So I thought about giving you this big ass run down on what I believe in and why, but you know what? I'll just cut to the heart of that shit.

In the end, what I believe in? I think the best way to put it?

Is that I believe in you and me and everyone here.

[Visual]

[kuukai]

...

Yeah. Me too. I guess.

I dunno everyone so I can't... like, say that entirely. But... I have faith in this place, I think. An' that extends ta everyone here.

But... I'd be interested in the rundown.

[sailorlaughter]

I believe in my friends! And in parties and cake! And balloons and chocolate and singing and making fun of bad books and Keyblades!

[sailorlaughter]

[And then, in a voice so low as to possibly be barely audible, she adds:] And in the Interdimensional Council of Pinkie Piiiiiiiiiies.

[visual]

[discorderly]

I believe in this!

[Discord holds this up.]

[visual]

[kuukai]

Okay, uh...

[ ??? ]

[wastelandkindness]

...In the end, I must beleive in the ability for honesty and kindness to change the world. Heal the world. In the power of our better nature.

And that if we can't overcome our worst nature, that we can channel it into good works.

[kuukai]

Honesty an' kindness sounds like some o'th'Elements here.

[visual]

[like_a_dragon]

Wow, Kyouko. That's some pretty heavy stuff.

Is... everything okay?

[visual]

[kuukai]

Yeah. Jus' thinkin', is all.

Somethin' wrong with a bear sittin' around thinkin'? Tha's what bears do, ya know. [ Yes, she is sure of it. Emphasis on the sitting around. ]

[namedforcat]

I used to only really believe in my brothers, and myself, but that has slowly been expanding over the years.

[kuukai]

Yeah. Starts small, I think. Any of 'em come with ya?

[nvcr]

I used to believe in a lot of things, I think. Now...I'm not sure. What can I believe? Do I believe in things anymore? Would any philosophical musings even matter after my all-too-swift, all-too-inevitable death?

[kuukai]

Yeah, but yer human, ya get ta thinkin' about things sometime. Ya don' have anythin' that ya... not necessarily believe in, but place yer trust inta? Yer heart?