#OC: Gaia | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

s1nn0hh · 8 days

Text

'From my heart to your hands.'

Erida falls apart, and Gaia puts back the pieces.

(this one sucks because it didnt come out the way i wanted it to but god forbid i waste all the time i spent on this)

It all had happened way too fast, if Gaia had anything to say in the matter. One moment, she's filling out for Erida, who was sick and couldn't be in the condition to do the usual day-to-day chores, and in the other she returns home to find Erida sitting against the wall, tears streaming down her face and one fist clenched with indescribable rage and the mirror on the wall completely broken and tattered.

Gaia, quite frankly, had every reason in the world to be absolutely worried out of her mind. After grabbing a few bandages to wrap her hand around, she tried to do everything in her ability to get Erida to tell just what had happened during her absence.

But oh, Erida was but a steel fortress when it came to her emotions. None shall step in, and none shall step out. It did not matter what she tried to do to at least get a word or a sound, she will not be getting that answer anytime soon. Erida's health had only declined further as the days passed by, with her barely eating or even drinking anything and looking only worser as time went by.

It toyed with Gaia's heart strings in every way imaginable. The love of her life slowly extinguishing as she set foot down a path of self destruction that she did not know the reason of her traversing down it. She could only watch as the brightest star in her life undergoes the supernova state; and she will be alone when that happens.

.. Or so she believed.

Perhaps trying to get an answer out of Erida right off the bat was a hopeless chase, but an idea as to try and approach the situation differently came to mind. And all she has to do was try and mend the wound first.

---------------------------------------

Erida woke up, a bit surprised to not see Gaia sleeping right beside her. As she tirelessly stepped into the kitchen, she caught sight of Gaia putting an assortment of breads, fruits and berries to savor into what seemed like a picnic basket.

Gaia took notice of Erida's awakening and presence, and turned to her as she spoke to her in her usual chipper tone just as she finished loading the last few delicacies into the basket.

"Ah, morning, Eri! I figured that we could go out on a picnic today, I heard the weather outside is lovely and I figured that getting some fresh air would be nice! I have the perfect place in mind, don't you worry. Just sit back, I'll be with you in a minute."

Erida didn't reply to that, simply shrugging her shoulders as a response as she simply returned to the other room in a vain attempt to regain a few last seconds of sleep. Gaia just sighed at her response, at least feeling some relief that she wouldn't have to physically force her out of the house just to get her to talk about what she feels. Erida may be stubborn but at least not THAT stubborn.

The two set out, the morning sun blessing them with its rays as they began their walk towards their destination. The breeze felt nice, and there was some beauty in seeing the peaks and valleys painted in the shades of orange, yellow and red. Even in her dejected mood, Erida at least took a few seconds to look the scenery and grasp it in. Gaia felt relieved that at least she could be somewhat brought out the stage of despair she resided in, even if it was but for mere moments.

While Erida didn't ask as to where they were heading for the occasion, that didn't stop Gaia from excitingly announcing where they'll be heading towards, just to at least get some word of semblance out of Erida.

"I've been wanting to do our picnic on Sky Peak Summit. It's been ages since we've last visited Shaymin Village, and I don't think our view will be dampened again by that group of Grimer and their leader again! What do you say, Erida?"

No comment. What Gaia COULD sense was a slight eyebrow furrow at the mention of Shaymin Village, but that was mainly because of the length of the way it takes to get there. No protests on her end, with the first (and only) sound she made till now being a very soft 'hm'. It didn't seem like she was completely against the idea, which was good at the very least.

The way there took a surprising less amount of time than it took when they first got there; the only occasional roadblocks being wild Pokemon who, frankly, should have taken the hint and scram. But other than that, they made it safe and sound, just around the afternoon hours.

After heading up the mountain and it's 9 station passes, they made it to the top. Luckily, it wasn't completely overshadowed with toxins and grime, now showing a mesmerizing grassy view to the sprawling mountains in the distance, and clouds that peacefully hid the ground away.

Gaia sat down with Erida following suit, and began unloading the contents of the basket on a stand she packed to not get any of the Gracidea flowers dirty by accident if such one were to happen. Erida merely gazed off into the vast distance, almost lost in thought before Gaia gently poked her in the back to offer her an Oran Berry, to which she simply held in the palm of her hand before looking down at the floor in a.. slight sadness.

"Gaia."

The first word she said until now, and it was said in a tone that was almost akin to that of someone feeling disappointed with themselves. Gaia turned her attention to her, and seeing her look so defeated made her a bit concerned; but she held onto that feeling as she listened closely and patiently.

"All of this. It's.. because of the mirror, is it not?"

Gaia simply looked at her for a minute before choosing to nod in agreement. She knew Erida would be skeptical over the time period that this outing took after, and hoped that it would at least give her some semblance and tell her that she's worried about her.

".. Yes, dear. After what had happened back then, I was constantly worried about you. You barely ate or drank, and after you just.. went blank whenever I asked you about the mirror, I decided to try a different approach. I heard that going outside and generally spending more time in nature helps with overall depression, so I chose one of the places that just.. really mean a lot to me, because we got to see it together. I don't know how much it will help, but.. I just want to help you, Eri'."

Erida took her words in and thought over them carefully. For as much as 'out of the way' this location was, she did actually feel some calmness by just being here. with Gaia. It already motivated her to talk, so perhaps it will be enough to finally give her some motivation to tell Gaia all that ills her.

With at least some willpower and patience with herself acquired, she took a deep breath, in and out, and looked back at Gaia.

".. Honestly, I feel a *bit* more calm now. I know I kept you really on edge during the last few days, and.. I want to make it up to you. I'll tell you everything, if you want."

"Just.. the mirror part, if you can."

Ah, right. Starting off strong.

Erida rubbed the temples of her face as she recollected all that had happened on that day, hoping that what she had saw won't immediately put Gaia on high alert. Only one way to find out.

"It happened when I went to get some food from one of the cabinets. I figured that eating something might help with the sickness, but then I heard a voice. His voice. It was like he was there, right at home with me. And I was.. genuinely afraid. He told me to go to the mirror, and it's like I saw him in the reflection. Everything else beyond that felt like a blur, but I remember him saying stuff about my problems, the fear I have of myself, and my problems. The next thing I knew, my fist met the mirror, and I just.. broke."

Gaia was completely shocked at what had befallen on her ears, but she completely understood who it was that Erida felt so afraid of as soon as the emphasis on 'him' was marked and highlighted so harshly.

".. I see."

Erida simply looked down as a final act of defeat, no longer wishing to meet Gaia's worried gaze as she continued belittling herself more. She felt so lost with herself. How she wasn't even able to move past a traumatic experience that had happened over 30 years ago. It mattered not to her what Gaia would even think of her at this point.

"33 years. 33 years that I fed into my own fears to my demons, be it turning into Dusknoir as a final act of declaration from how much I allowed him to mold me into what he had wanted, or me just being a burden to those that I love. And I simply allowed those feelings to.. persist and continue. I hid them from you. I hid them from Grovyle. I hid them from everyone, and this was the result."

She was tired. She was tired of it all. Gaia could understand what she said, and it pained her so much of just how little she thought of herself, and how she saw it all happen in real time. But this time, she was not gonna let that happen again. Not again.

Gaia reached out to Erida, caressing her chin as she gestured her to look at her. Erida did as prompted, to which Gaia looked at her with such warmth but with visible sadness as she told her what she thought of.. everything.

"Erida, I am going to say it, and I will say it over and over until you understand. You were never a burden. Not to me, and not to anyone else. What had happened with Dusknoir.. should not have happened. But you are not him. You will never be like him. You're smart, kind, and compassionate. You are you, and that is what I love about you."

She reached out again, and stretched her arms as she hugged Erida, the latter taking it all slowly before wrapping her arms around Gaia. The height difference made it a bit awkward, but it did not matter at this point.

"And I'm not sure how much this will mean to you, but I am proud of you. For willing to talk about what had hurt you for so long. I hope you know that."

Gaia felt a few stray water drops hit the top of her head. Looking up, she saw that what had once remained of Erida's stoic-and-defeated facade has long faded away, now reduced to weeping mess as she held onto one of Gaia's hands. She did not know why she deserved such kindness. The waterworks went on for quite some time, not long before Erida finally grew exhausted and laid down on the soft grass, Gaia joining suit as she laid alongside her. The wind blew, and Erida took deep breaths one after the other as she finally gained the courage to ask what was on her mind at that very moment.

"Why are you so nice to me?"

It was a sudden question, one that certainly caught Gaia off guard. It was a bit hard to think about, in all honesty. She can always just let Erida stew in the depths of self hatred she buried herself in, and let her die in them. But Gaia cares. More than people let on. She was kind, because she cares. For those that she loves and otherwise.

Gaia turned to her and ruffled with her neck plumage as she told her all she wanted to say to her.

"Because I love you, you big ol' dingus. Much more than you'd imagine. And seeing you think so low of yourself hurts me just as much as it hurts you. I want you to love yourself the same way I love you. Do you think you can do that?"

Erida contemplated her words for a moment, wiping a few stray tears from her eye as she looked up at the sky.

"It'll take a long time. Much more than I'd hope for."

"Then I'll stay with you for every inch of the way, even after you do learn that."

And with that, silence. Not because they did not know what to say, but because this was all that was needed to say.

Hours passed and the sun descended down to the horizon's shore, the moon taking its place in the sky. Erida and Gaia stayed where they rested, slowly but surely holding and embracing the warmth of one another as they fell asleep the endless blanket of stars.

Even in a world in which they feel alone, they will still be there for each other. And that is all that mattered to them.

#oc: erida #oc: gaia #pmd sky #writing #terrageistshipping

15 notes · View notes