Archive of Our Own ^beta

ARCHIVIST: Martin, you wouldn’t happen to know where Statement 9230410 is would you? I want to—hello.

WATER: *ripples*

ARCHIVIST: Uh… I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand what’s going on here. Are you…looking for me?

WATER: *bubbles*

ARCHIVIST: I see. You…want to give a statement… And, you’re an embodiment of the element water?

WATER: *gurgles*

ARCHIVIST: Right, well, uh… Shall we begin?

WATER: *boils*

ARCHIVIST: Oh, right, the tape recorder can’t understand you. [ARCHIVIST sighs] I suppose I’ll translate then. Statement of Water concerning their creation and the Sun’s trickery, translated by Jonathan Sims, Archivist. Statement Begins:

I was created by the Moon, you know. Back when this planet didn’t even exist, I was made. I had the forms of entire planets then, still do but I don’t generally pay much attention to those parts of myself. I know everything about me, you see. I am everywhere, even in you.

Gosh that’s disturbing.

WATER: *bubbles angrily*

ARCHIVIST: Sorry, Statement resumes.

I have the capability to extend my consciousness to every part of me. When that happens, I get what you humans would call a migraine and I can’t concentrate on what I need to do. I have a lot of duties. I work with Air to keep you lot going, and all the other beings that need to breathe. I have to look after my pets—what you would call fish and the like.

When I was created I didn’t have all these duties. I merely did what I wanted. I would wear down Earth until xe obeyed me, I’d play with Air and create storms, I’d even merge with Fire to make some marvellous things.

All I really cared about was getting closer to the Moon. I love the Moon, the Moon is what you would call my god. Even in my planetary forms, I wasn’t as close to the Moon as I wanted. The Sun saw my wish and offered me a deal. If I gave him the basics of my makeup, he would give me the power to change my properties in such a way that would allow me to get closer to the Moon than I ever had before.

I leaped at the chance, not even thinking about any consequences. The Sun had offered me a way to get my greatest desires, that was all I cared about. But the Sun tricked me. He was jealous of all the attention the Moon gave me, her own creation and devotee. He used the knowledge I gave him about myself to tear apart my atoms so that they couldn’t join together ever again. He tore me completely apart.

This was millennia ago, far before you humans were around. I have spent my hours since then attempting to regather myself. In the time you would call a century, I had managed to bring one set of atoms back together. Eventually, I will be whole once more and then I will take on the wretched Sun.

I tell you this so that you and your people will be prepared.

There will be a great battle. I do not expect any of the lives that exist now will survive. Only us Elements would be able to survive an Elemental battle, and even then, we may be torn apart into parts even smaller than what Sun has turned me into.

I have lost sight of those parts of me that are so far away. I can’t spread my being throughout the universe because of the Sun. I wanted to be close to the Moon and I only succeeded in getting farther from her. You humans love the Sun, spending your days outside basking in his horrid rays. Why do you think you lose so much of me when you do that? I detest your enjoyment of the Sun when you have no idea what he’s done. I will kill you all before I let the Sun bask in your admiration and neediness.

The Moon deserves your love but what do you do when she comes out? You hide away in your buildings and ignore her light. You sleep and see none of her brilliance. You turn away because you fear when Sun is helping your Eye and Seeing everything. You cower because you’ve heard tales of those Moon has blessed and think them monsters .

All the time you hide from monsters that roam under the Moon, waiting for Sun to rise. Never once do you realise that what you are waiting for is the real monster. Soon you will see. I will show you how quickly the Sun turns, how he lies and tricks . How he lures you into thinking he’s on your side before tearing you apart molecule by molecule, atom by atom. Beware the Sun. Love the Moon.

WATER: *flows away*

ARCHIVIST: Statement ends, I guess.

MARTIN: Did you call me, Jon?

ARCHIVIST: What? Oh, yes. I was looking for the volcano statement, do you know where its got to?

MARTIN: I think Basira’s got it, she was talking about double checking something earlier. Jon…did you spill your cup of tea again? The chair’s all wet.

ARCHIVIST: No, no that wasn’t me. That was…something else.