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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

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Hidden in Darkness Chapter 4

Hello hello!

Thank you for taking a look at my writing! :D

Just a small heads up: I am by no means a professional writer, I just enjoy creative writing as a hobby and a fun pass time. I don’t do a lot of proof-reading and don’t usually plan my chapters either, I just write whatever I’m feeling on a given day. I apologize if my writing may be a bit messy, sloppy, choppy, not flow-y, etc., but I hope that you can enjoy reading regardless! I am still actively working on this series and will be posting new content as I finish (which may be on the slow end, so please be patient). Thank you again for your interest!

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Word Count: 4,730

Chapter IV: Fey and Whimsy

Mimi was faintly aware of a voice calling her name, but couldn’t be bothered to do anything about it. It was only when she felt something grab her shoulders and give her a little shake that she snapped to attention, fully awake.

“Who’s there? What’s wrong?” Mimi asked quickly, sitting up to see Aki kneeling at her side.

“Morning, sleepyhead. It’s nice to see you’re finally awake,” Aki giggled, giving Mimi some space. “Geez, you and Ares both are heavy sleepers. If the two of you sleep in like this every morning, we’re never gonna get anywhere.”

“Well it’s not my fault I had a crazy day yesterday and then stayed up later than usual on top of that,” Mimi huffed, taking a slight offense.

“I know. That’s why I let you sleep in as late as you did,” Aki said, glancing up into the blue sky. Now that Mimi was more awake, she began to take in the scenery around her. Unlike the night before, the forest was no longer pitch dark, illuminated by bright sunlight falling through the trees. A blue sky could be seen through the tangle of green leaves and brown branches, puffy white clouds hovering lazily in thin sheets. The ground was coated in grass and leaves and small flowers that were able to bloom in the shady parts of the forest. Even the scent of the forest was different from that of Mistvale Peak, the smell being more earthen and floral. The trees loomed tall and large all around her, creating a canopy all their own that allowed only little streams of sunlight here and there to break through. It was every bit as magical as Mimi had always dreamed it would be.

“What time even is it?” Mimi asked, standing up to stretch.

“About noon,” Aki answered calmly.

“Noon?! How long have you been up, then?” Mimi exclaimed, noticing the sun sat almost directly overhead.

“I’ve been up since what I’d judge to be nine based on sun position,” Aki replied with amusement. “Don’t worry, though, I got myself some breakfast, so I’m not starved. You can have some if you’d like.”

At the mention of food, Mimi could suddenly smell the warm scent of bacon and her stomach grumbled. “I smell bacon,” she mumbled longingly.

Aki gestured over to some strips of cooked meat by the fire pit, laying out on some rocks off the ground. “I suppose you could think of it as bacon. I’ve also got some fresh fruits and berries that I know aren’t poisonous.”

Mimi was skeptical. “What do you mean you suppose I could call it bacon?”

“Well, it’s not traditional bacon from a pig, but it tastes pretty close,” Aki answered.

“What is it?” Mimi asked flatly.

“Mountain goat,” Aki finally replied after a moment’s hesitation.

“Aki!” Mimi admonished, feeling a little repulsed.

“Look, you gotta take what you can get out here to survive. It’s not like I could just walk to the nearest marketplace and buy this stuff. And even if I could, I don’t have the money to buy anything. We can’t just live off of fruits and berries because those aren’t filling. So, I improvised and cooked some meat. You don’t have to be a part of the killing because I know what that does to angels and angelites like you, but understand that I’m not cruel about it. I hunt to survive,” Aki defended. Mimi was still skeptical. “Just try it. I swear it tastes like bacon,” Aki emphasized.

“Fine. One piece,” Mimi replied, picking up one of the strips. She took a tentative bite and was pleasantly surprised to find it tasted like bacon. There was almost no difference! Delighted, Mimi began to wolf down the rest, savoring each delicious piece.

“Mmm… you should make this every morning,” Mimi remarked pleasantly.

“No way! I’m not some kind of maid that makes breakfast for you every morning while you sleep in,” Aki snapped. Then she paused. “Unless you make lunch and dinner every day. That seems fair, right? I make one meal every single day on the condition that I don’t have to make any of the others.”

“Okay, that can be arranged,” Mimi answered, lost in a daze.

“Oh yeah, what’s on the menu?” Aki asked in an almost prying manner.

Mimi stopped short. “U-um, you know, stuff,” she responded, trying to think fast. What can I cook? Can I make anything at all? Heck, I barely know what’s safe to eat out here, let alone know how to cook a decent meal. Crap, she’s got me cornered.

“You should save some for Ares,” Aki pointed out, stifling a laugh. Mimi had nearly eaten what was left of the bacon. Only three or four strips remained.

“He doesn’t need it. Besides, we have fruits and berries,” Mimi answered, preparing to pick up another strip.

“He needs the protein just as much as you do,” Aki argued. “You could have some fruits and berries.”

Mimi sighed. “Fine. I’ll save some for him. But I’m not doing it because I like him or anything,” Mimi growled, examining a small pear before taking a bite. It was surprisingly rich and juicy.

Aki chuckled in response. “Are you sure about that?” She teased.

Mimi’s cheeks grew hot as she realized she’d said that last part out loud. “S-shut up,” she snapped, blocking out her friend’s taunt. She doesn’t know I like him and she has no way to prove it!

“Speaking of which, could you help me wake Ares up? I’ve been trying for the past hour, but none of my tactics seem to be working…” Aki trailed off with a faint laugh.

Mimi snickered. “Aw, you’re afraid of him, aren’t you? You don’t wanna see what happens when you wake up a demon,” she teased.

“You gonna help me, or what?” Aki grumbled, ignoring the taunt as Mimi had done moments ago.

“Fine. I’ll prove that I’m braver than you. Watch me. I’ll get him to wake up,” Mimi stated confidently, striding under the branch where Ares lay, sound asleep. “ARES, WAKE UP!!” Mimi screamed at the top of her lungs. She instantly regretted letting out that shout because her voice hurt moments later. And still, Ares didn’t budge. Not even a twitch of the tail. The tail! The way Ares was resting, his tail dangled down from the tree branch just within Mimi’s reach. He was going to regret that decision in a minute. Mimi gave it a quick tug, not hard, but certainly enough to ensure he felt it.

Ares was awake in an instant, letting out a small shriek as he tried to regain his balance on the branch. He couldn’t save himself in time, however, as he crash-landed on his stomach on the grass below with a soft thud. Mimi couldn’t help herself, she broke into uncontrollable laughter as Ares began to sit up, rubbing the places where he hit the ground hardest.

“Ow, what the heck! Geez, what was that for?” He growled, checking his tail.

“You didn’t hear me when I shouted at you at full volume, so I resorted to other means to wake you up,” Mimi replied in a casual tone, regaining her composure.

“Well, I did hear you, I just didn’t feel like moving. So I guess I kind of deserved that,” Ares chuckled, no more malice in his tone.

Mimi huffed. “In that case, yes, you did deserve that!”

“Can I have some of the food that’s out?” He asked, pointing to the fruit and goat bacon.

“Yeah, help yourself,” Aki replied happily. Ares tried a piece of the bacon first, and gave a very puzzled expression as he chewed.

“Mountain goat…?” He asked warily.

“Hey, not bad! You’ve got a good sense of taste. Yeah, it’s a mountain goat. Cooked it myself,” Aki answered. Ares grabbed another piece, this time eating it without hesitation.

“It’s really good for mountain goat. Tastes almost like bacon. You’d never know,” Ares complimented, finishing the rest. “You should make this every morning.”

Aki laughed, shooting a glance at Mimi. “ You know, Mimi said the same thing to me earlier. And I agreed, but only on the condition that she’d make the other meals.”

“You can cook?” Ares asked, his gaze falling on Mimi.

“N-no… not really. Not well, at least,” Mimi replied.

“That’s okay, I was only curious,” Ares responded politely.

“Oh, Mimi’s just being modest,” Aki stepped in suddenly. “She may not be able to cook very complex dishes, but she can make a few simple ones!”

Mimi shot a fierce look at Aki. What is she doing?! She knows I can’t cook to save my life! Is she trying to set me up for failure?

“Really? Well in that case, I’d be happy to try anything you offer,” Ares grinned, taking an apple to eat. Mimi froze and glanced away, feeling her cheeks grow hot and her heart skip a beat, suddenly not sure what to do. Crap, it’s that smile again! How does he do that?!

“Everything okay?” Ares asked, concerned.

“Fine,” she replied sharply. “Aki, can I talk to you for a second?” She huffed, grabbing Aki’s wrist and dragging her out of earshot. “What was that all about?! You know I can’t cook!”

Aki just gave a sly grin in response. “I’m getting you in good with your boyfriend.”

“My wha-?” Mimi broke off mid-sentence, fury taking over her initial panic.

“You heard me right. I know you like him. It’s really obvious; you can’t hide something like that from me. You’re just lucky he’s too oblivious to have caught on yet,” Aki explained, a devilish grin still on her face.

“Even so, that doesn’t change the fact that I can’t make anything nice for him to eat,” Mimi mumbled sadly. He really did seem excited to try something of hers, but she knew for a fact that none of the foods she could produce would be any good.

“What if I showed you how to make a few simple things? I’ll walk you through step by step and you copy exactly as I do. It can’t be that hard, right?” Aki offered with sincerity. Mimi gave an uncertain frown. “I’m sure it’ll make him really happy,” Aki encouraged.

“Alright, I guess it’s worth a shot,” Mimi finally decided.

“That’s the spirit!” Aki cheered, giving her friend a hug.

“Also, screw you, I can’t believe you figured it out!” Mimi snarled playfully, giving Aki a gentle shove.

“You made it too easy for me,” Aki retorted, sticking out her tongue. The two laughed alongside each other for a moment before Mimi let out a long sigh.

“And thank you for helping me out with this, Aki,” Mimi added with a smile.

“Of course, Mimi. You know I’ve always got your back,” Aki replied, messing up Mimi’s hair before walking back into the clearing where Ares was waiting. Mimi took a minute to fix her hair before following Aki back.

“Alright, now that that’s taken care of, and since we’ve successfully escaped the Squadron, uh… now what?” Aki asked, looking for suggestions.

“What do you mean, “now what”?” Mimi answered immediately. “Now we explore the world! See what kinds of cities there are and what kind of creatures we can meet! Hasn’t that always been your dream? We’re free to go wherever we please!”

“That sounds incredible. I really do want to explore, so that works for me!” Aki declared happily.

“Ares, are you coming with us?” Mimi asked hesitantly, worried the answer would be no. After all, he didn’t have to come and she wasn’t going to force him if he didn’t want to, but still, she didn’t want to part ways.

“I would love to! That is, if you’ll have me,” he replied with a hopeful tone.

“Absolutely! It wouldn’t be the same without you,” Mimi answered all too happily.

“Then it’s settled. All we need is a destination,” Aki confirmed, beginning to clean up the camp.

“I don’t know much about the geography of the Isles, or even what cities exist, so I’m not gonna be of much help,” Mimi admitted, looking up through the trees to the sky above.

“I might not know much either, but I do know that there’s a small port town not far from here called Dewlyn. We could probably walk there,” Ares suggested.

“Dewlyn it is! Which way do we go?” Mimi asked with renewed enthusiasm. Traveling with my best friend and this cute demon to a new city where I can get the opportunity to earn my wings, I can’t wait!!

“Well, the Blue Mountains are that way since that’s where we just came from. Geographically speaking, they’re due north of here. Dewlyn is off to the east a little ways, which would imply we walk that way,” Ares figured, pointing off through the trees. He didn’t have to say it twice as Mimi was already off and striding through the forest, straight along the direction she was told.

“Hey, wait a minute! Mimi, wait up!” Ares shouted from behind.

“Don’t be such a slowpoke!” Mimi jeered without slowing her pace. She only began to slow down once she started noticing the scene around her. Beautiful flowers bloomed under the foliage of the giant trees as tangled vines of ivy clung to low brunches and bushes. Little butterflies and bees hovered about, taking their turn to land on each blossom to gather nectar and pollen. Mimi stopped and crouched to watch one bee in particular as it took off from one flower, legs coated in yellow pollen, and landed on the next, little legs working within the large petals. The flower itself seemed very unusual to Mimi. Its petals were quite large, each a bright cerulean with red zigzag stripes. The colors didn’t seem to mesh with the surrounding forestry, nor with the other flowers nearby. She noticed another few flowers with the same strange phenomenon; one was orange with pink spots, another yellow that blended to orange at the tips, a third magenta with flecks of blue, and a fourth bright red with violet rings.

Mimi noticed Ares approaching her side and she leaned a little closer to him.

“Do you know what kinds of flowers these are?” Mimi asked with curiosity.

“They’re called everblooms,” Ares replied. “A rare kind of flower that can be found naturally pretty much anywhere in the world. They close in their petals every night, and when they open them in the morning, they have a completely different set of colors and patterns. It’s always fun to watch them and see what new colors they’ll have the next day. They’re able to take hold in even the harshest of climates and they live for virtually forever unless they’re uprooted or harmed in any way, hence why they’re called everblooms. They can bloom forever.”

“Ooh… when I start my own garden, I’m definitely planting some of these so I can watch them change every single day!” Mimi decided, making a mental note to remember the name everbloom.

“Just don’t let Aki eat them and you’ll be fine. They’re lethally poisonous to dragons,” Ares explained, glancing at Aki who was coming up from behind.

“What? You think I just go around tasting every plant I see?” Aki huffed.

“I didn’t think so. I just wanted to give you fair warning,” Ares replied.

“Don’t eat the crazy flowers. Got it,” Aki clarified, observing them for a moment longer before walking ahead. Mimi began to move on as well, giving them one last look before spotting something else that caught her eye.

“Aw, who’s this cute little guy?” Mimi asked without waiting for a reply. Before her was a small rabbit that appeared to be pushing something with its nose. It stopped and turned to face Mimi as soon as it heard her voice, frozen with fright. Once Mimi had a clear view of the creature, she could see that it had two large antlers growing from just in front of its ears. Aside from the antlers, it appeared in every way like a rabbit.

“Mimi, that’s a jackalope, be careful!” Ares warned, suddenly noticing the creature himself.

“He looks harmless,” Mimi replied, ignoring Ares’s warning. She crouched down and reached a hand slowly towards the frightened creature, trying to soothe it. All of a sudden, the little rabbit bared its sharp teeth, almost like that of a feline, in a feral snarl. The fear in its big, cute eyes, was replaced with dark hostility that caused Mimi to scream and fall backwards onto the ground.

“Okay, I take that back, he is not friendly,” Mimi corrected, backing away.

“They attack without warning if they feel threatened,” Ares elaborated.

“I see that,” Mimi confirmed, still shaken by its sudden burst of ferocity. The little bunny looked so cute and fluffy. “Hey, what’s that thing it’s pushing?” Mimi asked, taking a closer look at the object. It was shaped like an egg colored a bright orange and couldn’t have been much bigger than her hand. “Do jackalopes lay eggs?”

“That’s a phoenix egg,” Aki gasped with worry.

“That crafty rabbit must’ve stolen it from its nest and is probably moving it to someplace safe to eat,” Ares growled with disgust.

“Wait what? Well, we can’t just sit here and do nothing! Let’s help it!” Mimi exclaimed, preparing to charge the horned bunny.

“Leave that to me,” Ares stated, walking right in front of the jackalope’s path. The jackalope gave a ferocious snarl as it had before, looking like it might actually try to bite Ares to make him move. Ares stood his ground, however, and snarled right back, giving a low growl and spreading his wings out wide. That was all it took for the little jackalope to flee at full speed through the trees, abandoning the egg in its fright. Ares crouched low and picked the egg up carefully to examine it.

“It doesn’t appear as though it’s been harmed in any way,” he commented, scanning the surface and turning it around in his hands.

“That’s great! Now we have a phoenix egg!” Mimi cheered, bounding over to Ares’s side to get a closer look at it.

“Okay, we have a phoenix egg now. What are we going to do with it?” Aki asked, approaching with curiosity as well.

“We should return it to its parents. The nest shouldn’t be far from here since I don’t think the jackalope could’ve rolled it very far without getting caught,” Ares replied.

“Aw, that’s the boring way,” Mimi pouted. “Can’t we keep it and hatch it ourselves?”

“Do you know anything about how to hatch and take care of a baby phoenix?” Aki asked with skepticism.

“Well, no, but…” Mimi trailed off, knowing that there was no point in arguing further. Aki was right, anyway.

“Let’s search for the parents, and if we don’t find the parents in two hours, then we’ll consider keeping it, okay?” Aki suggested. “I’m sure we can figure out how to take care of it. Can’t be that hard, right?”

Mimi beamed. “Really? You mean it?”

“That doesn’t mean that you can search for the parents half-heartedly. You’ve gotta actually put some effort into it for it to count,” Aki clarified.

“Okay fine. Ares, does that sound good to you?” Mimi asked, turning to the demon. She jolted when she saw that Ares was holding the egg with a small flame underneath that he had created with his fire magic.

“Are you crazy?! Don’t cook it!!” Mimi exclaimed, just about to lunge and take it from him.

“I’m not cooking it! Do you really think I’d do such a thing?” Ares snarled, defending the egg.

“I would hope not…” Mimi faltered softly. Come to think of it, I don’t know him all that well. I only just met him yesterday. Would he do such a thing?

“Phoenix eggs are very susceptible to cold. Usually if it was in a nest, its parents would sit on it to keep it warm. A phoenix’s outer body temperature is probably as hot as this small flame, so I’m just trying to keep it comfortable and mimic the warmth it would receive from its parents,” Ares explained with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” Mimi apologized, noticing his hostility.

“Let’s get to searching, then, before we lose too much daylight,” Ares stated, starting off on his own. “Meet back here in two hours.”

Mimi was just about to chase after him when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“You should search with me. I think Ares wants to be alone,” Aki suggested with a tone of sympathy.

“Was it something I said?” Mimi mumbled, at a loss.

“If I had to guess, I’d say he’s really sensitive right now. Doesn’t seem like he has many friends, so he really wants to be friendly toward us so we trust him. He’s been trying to earn our trust, and I think hearing you accuse him of cooking the egg upset him and made him think you didn’t trust him as much as he thought you did,” Aki explained in a faraway voice. “Just like how I was when you found me for the first time. I had trouble trusting and opening up to anyone because I was afraid of letting others in. I even lashed out at you a few times to try and chase you off,” Aki chuckled, lost in memories. “But you wouldn’t leave me be and you continued to give me second chances and now we’re best friends. I can’t imagine what my life was like before I met you. You changed my whole world. Don’t lose hope in him yet. Just keep being you, give him another chance, and don’t let this wipe the smile off your face.”

Mimi gave a genuine smile, a little embarrassed, and gave her friend a hug. “Thanks Aki! You always know just what to say to cheer me up.”

“Now, let’s try and find a phoenix’s nest. I’ve heard they’re beautiful up close and that their feathers feel like downy flames. Maybe we can pet one if we return their egg?” Aki grinned, striding into the forest. Mimi followed close behind, keeping an eye out for anything that looked to be a nest or a bright orange bird. So far as she could tell, though, it looked to be tall trees all around without a nest in sight.

~~~~

Two hours passed quickly chatting pleasantly with Aki. Mimi was a little dismayed by the fact that they hadn’t found any nests or phoenixes. She knew deep down that returning the egg was the right thing to do and was probably best for the egg. She didn’t know how to keep a phoenix no matter how much she wanted otherwise.

With Aki’s help, the two found Ares in the clearing where they had first found the jackalope. He was sitting against a tree, the phoenix egg held carefully against his chest. Aki silently motioned for Mimi to go over and talk to him, and then hid behind a nearby tree. She’s right. I should make sure he knows I didn’t mean any offense.

Ares glanced up as soon as he heard Mimi approach and grinned wide.

“Mimi! You’re back!” He stated with obvious delight. “Listen, I’m really sorry about the way I spoke to you earlier. I shouldn’t have gotten so defensive.”

“You thought my comment meant I didn’t trust you, huh?” Mimi asked, sitting down next to him.

Ares gave a surprised jolt. “How did you-”

“Just a hunch,” Mimi replied, glancing over at the tree where she knew Aki was hiding.

“You see, I’m really bad at trusting others which is why it’s hard for me to make friends. I’ve given my trust to all the wrong people growing up, and it’s caused me to be very distant from anyone I meet. Because they all took my trust and broke it. I really like you and I want things to be different. I can tell you aren’t the type who’d deliberately break my trust. That’s why it stung when I thought you didn’t trust me, but I realized that I was really just overthinking it and being too defensive myself. You do trust me, don’t you? I know Aki doesn’t, yet, but she also reminds me of myself. She’s more reserved and defensive and it takes longer to earn her trust,” Ares said, looking down at the egg.

Mimi paused to think for a moment. Do I trust him? I mean, I want to, but do I really? She glanced over at him and watched him carefully wipe a fleck of dirt off the eggshell like a parent wiping crumbs off their child’s face. And she grinned, feeling her heartbeat race a little faster. Of course I trust him! Why wouldn’t I when he does things like that.

“I do trust you. I trust you fully,” Mimi finally replied. The grin on Ares’s face was priceless and caused her to blush more than she already was.

“Then I’ll give my trust to you, as well,” he said, standing up slowly. Mimi didn’t stand up right away, but lifted her gaze to follow him. “Here. There’s one thing that I’ve been hesitant to show you because I was afraid of how you’d respond. But I’ll show you if you’re curious.”

“What is it?” Mimi asked, intrigued. Ares stretched both of his wings out long and closed his eyes in concentration. A soft light began to glow at the tips of his leathery wings, gradually making its way all across his wings to where they started just below his shoulders, replacing all color in his wings with a yellow glow. They almost appeared to be made of light itself, like if Mimi were to reach out and touch them, her hand would simply go through. Then Ares shook out his wings and the light disappeared suddenly, replaced with two large feathered white wings. Each feather had a soft orange tone to the tips, the same color that his demon wings transitioned to on the inside.

“Whoa. Angel wings,” Mimi noted with awe.

“I’ve always been self-conscious about this ability because people think it’s even more weird for me to be a hybrid. It’s easier to simply pretend that I’m a demon,” Ares admitted.

“I think they’re so cool! They look really cozy and warm,” Mimi stated.

“Cozy?” Ares repeated.

“Yeah, like if you wrapped yourself in them, it’d be really soft,” Mimi explained quickly, glancing away, flustered.

“I bet yours would be, too, Angel Wings,” Ares said with a grin.

“Wouldn’t you like to know!” Mimi snapped, trying to think of a way to change the subject. She glanced back at him and the first thing she noticed was that the white of his feathers made his skin look like it had been badly sunburned. She snickered.

“It looks like you have a really bad sunburn,” she said, trying to contain her laughter.

He snorted, a little embarrassed. “Sure, maybe.”

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing, Sunburn,” Mimi mocked.

“Hey!”

“You call me Angel Wings, so I can give you a nickname too, right?” She snickered.

Ares gave a low growl and then started to laugh, too. “Sure, Angel Wings. Whatever you want.”

Mimi’s cheeks grew hot and she smiled softly. That idiot has no idea what kind of a spell he’s put on me.

“Hey guys, so I had no luck finding the phoenix nest. Looks like it’ll be up to us to take care of the egg,” Aki announced, stepping into view from the tree where Mimi knew she had stayed hidden. Aki did a double take upon noticing Ares, almost in disbelief. “Whoa that’s quite a transformation. I like it, though. I think the feathers suit you.”

Ares subconsciously folded his wings back to try and hide them, but relaxed when he heard Aki’s remark. “Thanks,” he mumbled.

“So, let’s keep going! We don’t have much more daylight, let’s try to get closer to Dewlyn,” Aki declared, a spring in her step as she began to lead the way east. This adventure has made her so happy. I can’t wait to see where it’ll take us!

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I hope you enjoyed!! <3

Thank you again for reading and have an awesome day!

-- Lucky

First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter Masterlist

#fantasy #world building #oc #romcom #magic #homebrew

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

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Isles of Aloré Master List

It’s a master list! Because everyone needs a master list, right? Well, at least, I do, because everything is going to get lost in my account if I don’t haha. Hopefully it helps you to navigate my blog as well!

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Past mistakes left uncorrected always have a way of coming back to haunt those foolish enough to forget…

In the Isles of Aloré, a land filled with magics of all kinds, lies a hidden darkness at its very heart. Corrupted and evil magic fills the Foreboding Forest from a source yet unknown. It has been contained by ancient sorcerers who have long since departed this world, however the magic that holds the darkness captive is fading quickly. The time has come for a new band of heroes to rise and save the world from being shrouded forever in darkness…

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Hidden in Darkness Story Chapters

Chapter I: Something Fun to Receive

Chapter II: The View from the Other Side

Chapter III: Into the Hall of the Mountain King

Chapter IV: Fey and Whimsy

Character Art

Mimizuko Mininozuka (Mimi)

Ares Stellarflare

Akëla Stellarí (Aki)

Character Introductions

Mimizuko Mininozuka (Mimi)

Ares Stellarflare

Akëla Stellarí (Aki)

Other Stuff

Map of the Isles

#writeblr #writers on tumblr #writerscommunity #fantasy #worldbuilding

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

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Hidden in Darkness Chapter 3

Hello hello!

Thank you for taking a look at my writing! :D

First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter Masterlist

Word Count: 3,423

Chapter III: Into the Hall of the Mountain King

Aki grinned as she watched Mimi and Ares step through with expressions of total confusion. The illusion of the rock wall wavered while each passed through and then solidified once more to appear as though a solid rock face stood before them. Inside it was dark and rather muggy, torches lining the walls at irregular intervals providing enough light to be able to see that the passage wound and twisted far ahead and deep into the mountain’s heart. The tunnels weren’t big and were lined with stone on the floor, ceiling, and walls. She was just barely able to stand at full height without smacking her head on the ceiling. Aki herself was quite tall thanks to the influence of draconic magic that ran through her veins. She was just slightly taller than even Ares. Mimi stood about a full head shorter than her, but she never cared, Mimi was still her best friend. Aki recognized every tunnel before her and was already planning their escape route so that the Squadron would never be able to follow them.

“What is this place?” Mimi breathed, taking it in.

“And how did you know about it?” Ares added, folding his wings in since they wouldn’t fit if he spread them out long. “Mom has taken me here on multiple occasions. They’re dwarven tunnels. It’s like a maze in here if you don’t know where you’re going, so be sure to follow me closely,” Aki said, slowly striding ahead, careful to watch every corner for guards.

“Wait, Celeste actually fit in here?” Mimi asked incredulously, looking around with wonder and a hint of fear.

“No, no, of course not. A fully grown dragon would never fit in these tunnels,” Aki chuckled, trying to picture her mother entering into this place. She’d probably only be able to squeeze a claw in if she was lucky.

“So then why did you…?” Mimi asked with more concern than Aki would’ve liked.

“She… had her reasons,” Aki mumbled, ashamed of admitting the full truth to her best friend.

“What do you mean “she had her reasons”? I don’t like how secretive you’re being! We’re best friends, aren’t we? What aren’t you telling me?” Mimi growled suddenly.

“Shhh!” Aki hissed, cupping her hand over Mimi’s mouth. “We’re not supposed to be in here. We’ll be imprisoned by the guards if we’re caught, so keep your voice down. Also, they know my face, and they know what I’ve done. I’m likely never to be released from here if I get caught. So keep moving and stay as silent as possible.”

Mimi was speechless for a few seconds and then her face went pale. She looked as though she was about to cry. ““They know what you’ve done”? What have you done? Aki, this isn’t like you. What’s wrong with you?”

“Let’s just say that I’m not as much of a goody-two-shoes as you think I am. The Aki that you’ve gotten to know on the Peaks is the Aki that lives in my heart. We’re still friends, I promise. I’d never lie to you. I just haven’t told you the whole truth because I didn’t want you to have to worry about me. I’ve had to face some harsh realities that you never needed to since you always stayed in the Peaks with your mom and dad,” Aki answered softly, unable to meet Mimi’s eye. I never wanted her to be mad at me…

“Like what, huh? Why don’t you tell me?” Mimi huffed.

“We need to get out of here quickly! I’ll explain everything once we’re out of the dwarven tunnels, okay?” Aki asked, trying to calm Mimi down.

“No! How do I know you’re not lying about this, too?” Mimi shot back, clearly choking back a sob.

Aki thought for a moment and then an idea came to her. “Butterfly, butterfly, sends you a kiss. It holds the seal of this promise,” she chanted sweetly, linking both of her thumbs together and fluttering her hands like a butterfly’s wings. She allowed them to land on Mimi’s right hand, and then pulled them back. Guilt flooded Aki’s thoughts. Everything that she’d kept hidden was because she never thought there’d be a reason to tell Mimi. But her secrets only seemed to serve to push them apart. And for that, she could never forgive herself. When Mimi didn’t reply right away, Aki let out a long sigh. “Mimi, please…” she whispered, trying her best not to cry as well.

“Fine. But when we get out of here, I want you to explain everything,” Mimi answered in a tone that wasn’t as harsh as before. Aki smiled softly. Maybe she could still make this right.

“Keep quiet and follow behind me,” Aki directed, dashing down a nearby passage. She kept an eye out for guards the whole time, twisting and turning until she came to a hallway that was carpeted and seemed to have a lot more light than the others. The carpet was red lined with gold and in good condition, too, unlike some of the torches and beat up passages they weaved through earlier. Aki halted just around the corner from the carpeted passage, peering carefully around the corner. She spotted exactly what she thought she’d see. A pair of guards standing watch over the King’s Passage. She turned back to the others quickly, hoping with all her might that she hadn’t been spotted. She placed a finger over her lips, directing Mimi and Ares to keep absolutely silent. Then with her hands, she created a rune in midair. The rune was a circle within a circle within a circle. In between the three circles in the two rows of empty space were many foreign characters, most of which she was unable to read. They were from an old and forgotten language known as the Lost Tongue. Long ago, this language was used to formulate all kinds of powerful spells and sorcery, but its use was becoming less and less prominent over the years. Most use the runes with the characters from the Lost Tongue in order to control the flow of magic, however few, if any, actually know how to read any of the Lost Tongue.

Aki held the rune out before her so she could stabilize the spell that she poured within its rings. The outermost rings began to glow a silvery purple, tracing every line of the rune and its characters until it reached the center and colored the entire rune, causing it to emanate a soft purple glow. Then, in a quick burst of light, the rune vanished and in its place was the completed spell. Two small fairies, illusions that Aki had created, hovered before her. Mimi and Ares both watched, awestruck, as Aki sent her illusions down the carpeted hallway. She heard the dwarven guards mumble something to one another in a language she couldn’t comprehend, and then heard their heavy footsteps as they presumably started following her illusions down the hall.

Aki quickly motioned for Mimi and Ares to follow behind her while they had an opportunity to run through the King’s Passage.

“How did you know that would work?” Mimi whispered softly.

“Dwarves have a soft spot for anything that is fey and whimsical. Butterflies might’ve worked, but there’s a chance they wouldn’t have been enough to catch the guards’ attention. So I went with the slightly more difficult, but more effective fairies to distract them for a little. I don’t know how long we have, though, so we’ve gotta move quickly,” Aki whispered back with slight urgency. “Now keep as quiet as possible. Any little sound will echo off these walls and get us in trouble.”

With that warning, Aki began running swiftly down the passage the guards were watching. The cave wall to the right opened up to a railing that looked down upon a massive hall in the cave. In total, it was probably one hundred feet from floor to ceiling, a daunting chandelier hanging precariously from the very top illuminated by small torches. Sitting in a large throne, apparently asleep, was a large giant no more than sixty feet tall, with pale skin and a bald head save for a few wispy pieces of hair that weren’t well kept. The giant was dressed in robes of the finest red velvet, his head adorned with a crown of thousands of sparkling gems. Aki didn’t spend any more time than she needed in that dreadful chamber, luring the guards on the other side away with another illusion. Mimi and Ares caught up moments later, and Aki started leading them through the last of the winding tunnels. The tunnels after the King’s Passage were back to the same, dark, beat up halls that they hand meandered through upon first entering the dwarves’ lair. And finally, still keeping as silent as possible, Aki ducked through another stone wall that led out into a large forest, tall trees spreading around on all sides out from the cliff face. The sun had already begun to set, painting the horizon a deep red orange and giving the leaves of the trees brilliant golden highlights. Underneath the trees, it was already starting to get quite dark.

Mimi and Ares took in the scenery for a few moments, watching the beautiful sunset with Aki.

“Look at all the trees. And the sunset is so pretty! Aki, how far did you take us?” Mimi asked with curiosity.

“Far enough that the Squadron will never be able to catch up to us,” Aki replied with pride. They had escaped the single most powerful force in all of Mistvale Peak thanks to her friend’s need for escape and her cunning.

“Now, I’m not going to be distracted by the pretty scenery. You still owe me an explanation!” Mimi growled at Aki suddenly, reminding her that things weren’t all settled just yet.

“We should really find a place to set up camp for the night and get a small fire started to keep warm before it really gets dark,” Ares suggested, gesturing to the sun that had almost moved out of sight below the horizon.

“Fine,” Mimi muttered. “I guess it’ll make for a pretty good campfire story anyway.”

“If we split up to find firewood, it’ll be faster,” Aki pointed out. “Since you’ve never been in the woods before, Mimi, you can come find firewood with me. Or you can go with Ares if he’ll let you.”

Mimi glanced over at Ares, her expression asking if she could come along.

“Sure, you can come with me, I don’t mind,” Ares chuckled.

“Yay!” Mimi responded, beginning to head deeper into the woods before Ares. Aki chuckled and rolled her eyes. I should’ve figured. It’s really cute to see Mimi this affectionate towards him. I wonder if Ares has figured it out yet, Aki laughed to herself.

“We’ll meet back here once we gather enough wood and then we’ll find a good spot to set up camp,” Ares called over to Aki, preparing to follow Mimi into the woods.

“Sounds good! Catch up with you shortly,” Aki agreed, going in the opposite direction to find firewood. After going almost ten steps, she found some nice big branches that would make perfect fire material. She grabbed them and kept searching. I just hope Mimi can forgive me for keeping this part of my past from her for all these years. I didn’t mean for it to hurt her that I kept it a secret. It just… it would’ve hurt me to tell it to her. Now I know I have no choice if she’s to trust me again, so I’ll tell her everything she wants to know. All of it. No more secrets. She is my best friend after all, Aki thought to herself, slowly making her way between some more trees. She spotted another big log and picked it up, carrying on her way.

~~~~

A small fire pit had been set up with rocks around the perimeter so the flames couldn’t escape and burn the surrounding forestry. Aki picked up two smaller stones and began to strike them against one another, attempting to get a good spark to start a flame. Just as she thought she had gotten the motion down, the fire pit suddenly lit up before her without warning. With a startled shriek, Aki moved back away from the blaze to keep from harming herself.

“Are you okay? Did you forget I could use fire magic?” Ares asked with concern. Aki just gave a grumble of displeasure, rolling her eyes. Right. Of course I forgot the demon could use fire magic.

“I’m fine. I appreciate your concern, though,” Aki replied kindly.

“Alright, now that we’re all set, it’s story time!” Mimi called, settling down on a log they had grabbed earlier as a place to sit. Ares followed suit as Aki got up to do the same.

“So, where would you like me to begin?” Aki asked, allowing Mimi and Ares to start the conversation.

“Um, earlier you said that your mom had her reasons for sending you into the tunnels. What were they?” Mimi asked, sitting herself like a child about to hear a ghost story told by firelight.

“My mother - well, the one who raised me, at least - is a dragon. And like any dragon, she’s greedy and loves treasure. She is always trying to get her claws on any new gems she can. She knew the dwarves are masters of finding gems and precious metals deep within their caves, however she could never access them due to her size. And so, when she found me, she sent me within the dwarven tunnels to retrieve those gems for her. After all, stolen gems don’t need to be paid for. At least, that was her philosophy,” Aki explained, a hint of resentment in her tone.

“What? But your mom is so nice and she cares for you so much! Why would she steal anything from anyone?” Mimi asked innocently.

“The mist that encompasses Mistvale Peak is a mist that purifies the minds and hearts of those within. It prevents anyone from wanting to steal, cheat, attack, or otherwise harm anyone else. It was put in place as a protection for the angels who dwell within so they would never have the urge to kill another and evoke their curse. The mist’s magic has a stronger effect on minds that have been fully developed which is why children, like the ones we saw throwing rocks earlier, can still cause mischief. My mother, however, being an adult dragon, feels the full effects of the mist whenever we are within the borders of Mistvale Peak. As do I, to some extent, though I am still very young, relatively speaking, so I feel its influence less strongly. The moon dragon that you know on Mistvale Peak is very different from the one I am forced to live with outside that spell. Outside the purifying influence of the Peaks, my mother is a tyrant who forces me to obey her will no matter what she tells me to do,” Aki answered honestly, glancing away from Mimi to disguise the hurt that could be seen on her face.

“And if you don’t do as she asks…?” Mimi replied softly, almost afraid to hear the answer.

“I never wanted to become a thief or a pickpocket. Yes, there is a certain thrill that I get out of it, but the act of stealing itself was never something I cared for. I tried defying her. Once or twice. But I was never strong enough to defend myself against her attacks. Being a moon dragon, she is able to utilize healing magic. Kind of ironic if you ask me, because she would always claw me within an inch of my life, make me feel that pain until I complied, and would only heal me once she knew I would do as she asked. I never had a choice. It was either steal from the dwarves, or death itself,” Aki muttered, on the verge of tears just thinking about it.

Mimi and Ares sat frozen in silence for a few moments, the only sound the crackling of the fire before them, embers dancing in a smoky haze as darkness descended heavily upon the forest.

“So then, why didn’t you ever tell me? I would’ve tried to help…” Mimi began, her voice constricted with pain and sympathy.

“I never told you for exactly that reason. I never wanted you to get tied up in my problems. As long as I kept quiet, you wouldn’t have tried to help and would therefore never get hurt in the process,” Aki replied softly. “If you ever wondered why I’d never talk about the times I left the Peaks with my mom, then here is your reason. It hurt too much to talk about and I didn’t want you to have to worry.”

By this point Aki couldn’t keep a few tears from falling gently, not trying to hold it in anymore. There was no point, anyway. She had told Mimi everything she’d kept hidden for so long. In between a choked sob, Aki managed to ask in little more than a whisper, “Could you ever forgive me for keeping this from you?”

Mimi came over at that moment, embracing her friend in a tight hug. “Of course I can, Aki! You’re my best friend, and nothing can change that. Not even a dramatic backstory,” Mimi joked lightly. Aki replied with a soft laugh and a grin, hugging her friend back.

“Now that that’s settled, I think it’s about time we get some sleep. If we’re gonna get anywhere tomorrow, we’re gonna need our rest,” Aki stated, wiping the last of her tears from her cheeks. Mimi and Ares nodded in agreement. Ares stood up and swiftly flew to a low tree branch, resting his head by the trunk and allowing his tail to drape over the edge.

“That looks comfy, can I join you?” Mimi asked up the tree.

“Probably best if you slept on the ground. It’s not safe when you don’t have wings to catch yourself if you fall,” Ares replied.

“I’ll be careful,” Mimi whined.

“How about this? You can sleep up here with me once you earn your wings, alright?” Ares responded with a gentle grin.

“Fine,” Mimi answered begrudgingly. “And I won’t let you forget that offer.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Ares chuckled. “Night Aki, night Angel Wings.”

“What was that?” Mimi asked suddenly, turning to face Ares. Even in the glow of the fire, Aki could see her cheeks had turned a little pink.

“I called you Angel Wings. Is that a problem?” He asked in a tone that almost expected the answer to be no.

“N-no, it’s not a problem,” Mimi answered slowly, almost not sure what to say.

“Good,” Ares grinned, a bit of a playful gleam in his eye. With that, Mimi stalked off, flustered, standing beside Aki.

“So where do we sleep?” She muttered softly.

“Wherever you want, it’s really your choice. I find that gathering a few leaves makes for a nice pillow, but that’s just me,” Aki replied, putting out the flame before settling in. Mimi found a spot next to her and did the same.

“Who was that in the cave?” Mimi asked drowsily just before Aki drifted off.

“Are you referring to the mountain giant?” Aki replied.

Mimi gave a feeble nod in response.

“That’s the King of the Dwarves,” Aki explained.

“Really? I would’ve thought the King of the Dwarves would be a dwarf,” Mimi mumbled.

“I would’ve thought so, too, but it turns out that the mountain giant has lived in the Blue Mountains for far longer than the dwarves have. The dwarves came to the Blue Mountains seeking shelter and the mountain giant allowed them to stay. In gratitude for his hospitality, they’ve come to worship the mountain giant almost like a deity and have crowned him their king. They hold all kinds of banquets and celebrations in his honor, and in return the mountain giant still allows them to stay and live and mine within his mountains,” Aki described.

“Whoa, that’s cool,” Mimi answered with a slight bit more enthusiasm. Before promptly dropping off to sleep the next moment. Aki chuckled and allowed herself to settle in as well. All’s well that ends well, I suppose, she thought as she drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

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I hope you enjoyed!! <3

Thank you again for reading and have an awesome day!

-- Lucky

First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter Masterlist

#fantasy #world building #oc #romcom #magic #homebrew

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

Text

Character Introduction 02: Ares Stellarflare

Gender: Male

Species: Half Angel / Half Demon

Age: 902 years (approx 18)

Height: 6′3″

Place of Birth: ??

Currently Resides: ??

Skin Tone: Red

Eye Color: Orange

Hair Color: Black

Oh, u-uh were you talking to me? S-sorry, I didn’t realize. Most people don’t exactly choose to have conversations with a demon. You... just wanted to know my name? It’s Ares, hi. I’ve never really talked to anyone who doesn’t mind that I’m a demon before. Well, except for Mimi, she was the first one to give me a chance. What’s your name? Can we be friends?

Okay, yeah, I know it’s weird that I’m half angel and half demon. What’s it like? Well, uh, how do I put this...? Do you ever feel like you’re trying to do the right thing but nobody believes you? Yeah, that’s my existence every single day. No matter how hard I try, all anyone ever sees is a demon. There are only a select few people who’ve even given me a chance to prove myself. I want to be nice and help people like an angel would, but my appearance is so starkly demonic that even talking to others is a struggle, let alone being kind to them...

Mimi and Aki? They’re both very nice, I like spending time with them a lot! Especially Mimi, something about her makes me want to spend more time with her. But then when I do, I get all flustered and nervous. What’s up with that? You’d think that if I wanted to spend time with her, I wouldn’t get so scared being with her. It’s the weirdest feeling. I also enjoy talking with Aki, though she seems rather closed off to me. I haven’t felt like I’ve truly connected with her yet. Maybe someday soon I’ll feel a sense of connection with her.

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

I hope you enjoyed!! <3

Thank you again for reading and have an awesome day!

-- Lucky

Masterlist

#fantasy #oc #world building #character creation #ares just wants a friend

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

Photo

This is my art of Mimi. I think she came out really well! I really hope you like her!

Masterlist

#fantasy #oc #mimizuko mininozuka #character art #clip studio paint

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

Text

Hidden in Darkness Chapter 2

Hello hello!

Thank you for taking a look at my writing! :D

First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter Masterlist

Word Count: 3,887

Chapter II: The View from the Other Side

Ares’s favorite thing about Hallow’s Eve so far were the ornately decorated pumpkins, lanterns, and leaves that were strung and placed all throughout the village. Even though this was his first, and likely only, Hallow’s Eve, it created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that he felt drawn to. He could almost consider living here if things weren’t so bland otherwise. All the angels, angelites, dragonlings, and elves that he’d met alongside Mimi and Aki seemed to him to be one-dimensional. They all behaved the same way, said the same things, never picked a fight, all seemed to be subdued in some sense. It was unnerving to say the least. Yes, they were all nice, but overly so. Like they weren’t thinking straight or hardly even thought at all. He had kept an eye on Mimi and Aki to see how they’d respond, and neither seemed to bat an eye. He should’ve known they wouldn’t think anything was suspicious, after all, they’d spent their entire lives growing up here. They probably didn’t know anything else. The only people who didn’t act like zombies were children like Mimi and Aki and people that were younger than them. It seemed to him that around the human equivalent of twenty or so was where they started to stop thinking straight. Given that Mimi and Aki seemed close to his age, and he was roughly eighteen in human years, he didn’t like what that implied about his new companions.

If it was any consolation, the items he received while visiting door to door were neat. He had received homemade chocolates that were the best chocolates he’d ever tasted by far. Velvety and sweet and creamy in the middle. He also had been given a hand-painted maple leaf imbued with spells so it wouldn’t dry or tear. He was intrigued by its delicate beauty.

A sudden gasp from Aki and Mimi stopped him in his tracks and snapped him out of his thoughts. He followed their gaze to three young children, two elves and an angelite, who were hurling stones into the windows and at the door of the elder angel he had spoken with earlier.

“Hey! They’re throwing rocks at Mr. Stellarwings’s home!” Aki whispered quickly to Mimi. Mr… Stellarwings? Ares thought for a moment, feeling like he’d heard the name from somewhere.

“Tell me something I don’t know. What do you think we should do?” Mimi whispered back.

“I don’t know. Do you have any ideas?” Aki asked, sounding more frantic.

Mimi paused as a wide smirk crossed her face. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do have an idea.”

“And that is?”

“We scare them out of their wits,” Mimi replied.

“Great, how?” Aki asked.

Mimi’s grin grew wider as she looked over directly at Ares. “We’ve got a demon on our side.”

~~~~

Ares crouched low, cautiously watching the children from behind a rock that jutted out from the side of the house. After Mimi asked him with an excited grin to scare the kids, he couldn’t find it in himself to turn her down. He never would have agreed to something like this otherwise. He was waiting for just the right moment, the perfect opportunity to catch them off guard. He never liked scaring people using his appearance. Sure, he was a demon, and demons are to be feared and all that, but Ares really wanted to make new friends. And it is ridiculously hard to do that when everyone he meets simply screams and runs away. Well, except for Mimi. He was grateful that she didn’t turn him away because of his appearance and really wanted to get to know her better, too.

A rock whizzed right over his head, nearly smacking his right wing had he not been paying attention. He seized his opportunity and jumped up onto the rock, crouching on all fours to keep his balance, a feral snarl on his lips.

“What makes you think it’s okay to throw rocks at someone else’s home? Didn’t anyone teach you to respect your elders?” Ares growled sharply, extending both wings out long for emphasis. The two elves cowered before him, one male one female, both hiding behind their angelite companion. Who showed no fear whatsoever.

“Get out of here now, all of you, before something more terrible comes your way!” Ares threatened, bearing his fangs. The angelite rolled his eyes and sighed.

“That’s a pretty lame demon illusion. Who do you think you are? The Squadron or something? You’re not the boss of us, so get lost!” The snarky angelite retorted with confidence. When Ares didn’t budge, he threw a rock straight at Ares’s head with only moments for Ares to react and dodge.

“Did you just throw a rock at me?!” Ares snarled, more with shock and disbelief than true anger.

“Yeah and I’ll do it again! Now leave us alone!” The angelite shouted back, launching another rock at Ares. This time Ares saw it coming and caught it with one hand, furious. He was normally pretty patient, but outright insolence infuriated him more than anything else. He was used to being kicked around, but to be disrespected by a kid no more than twelve in appearance pushed him over the edge.

“Oh you did not just throw another one. That was your biggest mistake yet,” Ares growled, clenching his fist with the rock inside, reducing it to molten liquid that oozed from between his fingers. This scared the bratty angelite enough to make him scream and run away. The other two followed him, crossing a nearby bridge in their escape. One of the elves lost sight of where they were going, however, and crashed into a large torch that marked the end of the bridge.

Ares saw everything happen in sudden slow motion. The torch started plummeting toward the wooden bridge where the two elf children were, inching its way closer to the wood until the bridge was suddenly a blaze of orange. Smoke and heat were everywhere and flames rose up all around, eating away at the fibers of the bridge. Without hesitation, Ares dove into the flames, grabbing the two children by their shirts and setting them down on the other side. He used magic to extinguish the flames clinging to their clothes, leaving them unscathed. Then he turned to the bridge. Using a great amount of magic energy, he motioned with his hands for the flames to condense inward and lift into the air. He created a large fireball hovering just above the bridge. Then, in one swift motion, he clapped his hands together and spread them out wide, causing the fireball to implode suddenly and disperse into the air without a trace. The bridge was no longer on fire and looked to be intact.

Everything was silent for the next few seconds. It appeared as though nothing had happened at all except that the wooden pole for the torch was broken and lying on the bridge, completely extinguished. The children looked on in awe, stunned into silence and unsure whether or not to be afraid or overjoyed.

It was only then that Ares noticed the crowd of people that had formed around the bridge, curious about all the commotion. Their only expression was complete fear.

An angel shouted from not far away. “I’d know that magic anywhere! That’s hellfire magic! Only a demon can use it in such a powerful way! That’s no demon illusion, that really is a demon!” Silence. And then a scream. And then total chaos broke out.

Ares hovered, frozen in place, with no idea what to do next. He looked down at Mimi and Aki for advice. All he needed to see was Mimi mouthing the word run with a panicked expression and he was off, following Aki who had already made a run for it. He paused to make sure Mimi was keeping up behind him, and she grabbed his wrist as she passed, dragging him along behind one of the nearby homes.

Ares leaned his back against the stone wall, gasping for breath as Mimi and Aki breathed heavily beside him. Ares took a moment to observe Mimi more closely while he gathered his thoughts. Her mousy brown hair was done up in two long pigtails that fell down to her thighs. She had fair skin, cocoa brown eyes, and a kind smile. It was this kindness that he could sense when they first met. Meeting new people wasn’t something Ares was good at, but with a sense of kindness, it became easier for him to try.

“What now?” Mimi finally whispered, breaking the silence and snapping Ares out of his thoughts.

“I don’t know. They probably called the Squadron by now which means we’re in trouble. I think our best bet is to get out of here. And fast,” Aki replied.

Ares couldn’t help but feel a wave of guilt. “I’m so sorry, this is all my fault. This never would’ve happened if I hadn’t been so careless,” he muttered.

“What are you talking about? You saved those kids back there and fixed the bridge. The villagers are just stupid if they can’t see how cool you are,” Mimi assured him. He grinned a little. She called me cool.

“It still doesn’t change the fact that if I had never shown up here in the first place, none of this would’ve happened to you two. And now you’re in danger because of my dumb mistake,” Ares sighed, knowing full well this was his fault.

“I won’t let you take the blame for this! If anything, blame Mistvale Peak and how all the people here are so dead set in their ways that they can’t recognize a nice demon when they see one,” Mimi argued, raising her voice enough to elicit a shh from Aki.

A door slammed open suddenly, causing the stone to vibrate as it collided with the rocky surface. “Mimizuko Mininozuka, what is the meaning of all this commotion?!”

“M-Mom… I can explain everything, I swear,” Mimi stammered as her mother approached from the back door. She had the same eyes as Mimi’s, dark brown hair done up in a bun, but a face that appeared cold and distant, unlike Mimi’s. She came closer with a menacing stride, disappointment on her face as she regarded her daughter.

“Wait! Don’t punish her, please, this isn’t her fault!” Ares jumped in, putting himself between Mimi and her mother. He could hear Mimi whisper faintly behind him, “Ares, don’t…”, but he wouldn’t move. The least he could do was spare her from whatever punishment she was about to receive. To his surprise, however, Mimi’s mother’s jaw dropped and she observed Ares with a hint of shock and recognition.

“You can’t be…” she muttered, almost to herself. “Quickly, come in, all three of you. It’ll be safer inside.” Mimi did as she was told, Aki following behind, Ares trailing in last. Once inside, Mimi’s mother darted quickly around the room, shutting doors and closing blinds until almost no light filtered in from outside. The only light was a small torch glowing just above the door in which they entered.

Mimi, Aki, and Ares remained dead silent as Mimi’s mother returned to face them. “Young man, your face is unmistakable. Is your mother, by any chance, Serenity Stellarwings?”

The name hit like a ton of bricks. Serenity Stellarwings. It had been so long since he’d heard his mother’s true name that he’d almost forgotten it.

“Yes, Serenity Stellarwings is my mother,” Ares replied with slight reluctance.

“Wait, Mom, you know Ares’s mother?” Mimi asked in disbelief.

“She and I were friends growing up. I haven’t seen her in a long time…” Mimi’s mother answered, seeming lost in a trance.

“Hold on. This makes no sense. Is this Serenity Stellarwings related to the Mr. Stellarwings here in Mistvale? Because Mr. Stellarwings is an angel, which likely means Serenity Stellarwings is an angel, so then how is Ares…?” Aki questioned slowly.

“Serenity is an angel. I’m a half-breed. Half demon half angel,” Ares replied stiffly. He never liked sharing this because he always got weird looks as a result. That and it dug up more of his past than he cared to remember.

“Mr. Stellarwings is Serenity’s father,” Mimi’s mother elaborated, filling in the gaps. So that’s why he was trying to talk to me like he knew me earlier, Ares realized.

“But then why do you look so much like a demon and not like an angel at all?” Aki asked.

“That’s something I’ve always wondered about myself. I never got horns, and my tail tip is significantly more blunt than most pure demons, but aside from that…” Ares trailed off, wondering whether to tell them about his wings.

A sudden loud knock came from what must’ve been the front of the house. “Nitanya Mininozuka, this is Nero of the Squadron of Mistvale Peak. I just wanted to inform you that there have been reports of a demon on the loose in this village. We are on the lookout for the creature as we speak. If you see anything, please report it to us immediately,” a thundering masculine voice rang out.

“Of course, Nero, thank you for your service. I will keep an eye out,” Nitanya replied nonchalantly. She paused for a few moments, listening for fading footsteps or wingbeats, and once she was sure he was gone, turned and looked Ares dead in the eye.

“Listen, Ares, you must get out of here immediately. Get as far away from this place as you can. The Squadron is a group of elite, highly-trained angels that will hunt you down day or night. They won’t follow you beyond the mist border, however, because they can’t. You do not want to get caught by them. Angels are unable to kill other living beings without tainting their minds. While they will not resort to killing you, they will torture you and make your life a living hell,” Nitanya explained, pointing at the back door. “If you go out that door and follow the path that leads to the right, you’ll be at the mist border in no time.”

“Why are you helping me?” Ares asked, still in disbelief as he made his way toward the door.

“Because I don’t want to see anything happen to my best friend’s son. Now go!” Nitanya replied with more care and kindness than he had seen from her the whole time.

“Wait! If he’s going, then I’m going with him,” Mimi declared, beating Ares to the door. Ares froze. He knew a conflict was coming and didn’t want to be in the middle of it.

“Are you insane? Mimizuko Mininozuka, absolutely not! You will stay here where it’s safe while I clear all this up. Am I understood?”

“No!! I will not just sit here and stay caged in this house forever! I’m tired of you telling me what I can and can’t do, where I can and can’t go. I just met Ares, but if he leaves, I’ll likely never see him again. I want to get to know him better and that’s why I’m going with him whether you like it or not!!” Mimi exploded suddenly, throwing the door open and bolting down the rocky path to the right.

“Young lady, you get back here this instant! You are grounded until further notice!!” Mimi’s mother shouted after her, stopping a little ways down the path. Ares waited in utter shock, but Mimi didn’t come back. Eventually Mimi’s mother returned to the doorway and looked at Ares. “It seems she’s serious this time. She’s tried to run away before, but she usually comes back by now. I suppose her father and I haven’t been the most lenient with her. It’s only fair that she go and see the world, perhaps earn her own wings as an angelite should.”

“I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean for-”

“Don’t blame yourself. I had it coming. What’s the phrase? If you cling to something too tightly… ah never mind, that’s not important. You need to leave now if you’re going to make it out. So please, all I ask is that you take care of my little girl. Make sure she doesn’t get herself into too much trouble,” Nitanya cut him off lightly.

She must have seen the dumbfounded look on Ares’s face and continued. “Serenity was always a reliable friend, I trust her son will be the same for my daughter. No need to worry about me. I’ll be fine knowing she has a companion out there with her. Now go, I mean it,” she finished, shoving Ares out the door and shutting it behind her. Ares winced at the sound of the door slamming into place and, without any more hesitation, ran along the path where Mimi had gone. It just occurred to him that Aki was missing and hadn’t come back out along with him and Mimi. Where’d she go? He shook off the thought quickly, only thinking about escape for his own survival. The pathway narrowed as it wound down the side of one of the peaks, a smooth cliff face to his right and an extreme dropoff to his left. He finally saw Mimi down where a pink mist formed a thick barrier that he couldn’t see through. She had cast off the cardboard wings, but still wore her bright, ribbony outfit.

“There you are. I was waiting for you. I would think you’d want to not get caught,” Mimi snapped at him.

“Sorry, I was a little hung up,” Ares replied, pausing to catch his breath. “What’d you do with your wings?”

“I threw them over. The passage is too narrow for them. And besides, I’ll earn my own wings once I cross this barrier soon enough,” Mimi declared.

“Alright, then let’s go,” Ares stated, taking a step through the mist.

“Wait!” Mimi called suddenly. She stared at the barrier with a look of fright, suddenly hesitant.

“What’s wrong?” Ares asked, starting to worry he was taking too long. He began to feel worried about her, however, when he noticed that her eyes were starting to glaze over like the rest of the villagers he’d met. A reflection of the pink mist danced in her eyes while she seemed to consider turning back.

“Mimi! It’s too late to turn back now! Come on, we’ve gotta get a move on!” A shout came from afar. Aki finally came into view dressed in a simple turquoise skirt and grass green top. She must’ve gone to change out of her costume.

“But…” Mimi mumbled, any dimension to her voice gone. This scared Ares the most out of all that had happened so far.

“Mimi, it’s the spell of the mist. You know this! If you stay in its grasp for too long, it takes control of your mind until you never want to leave its borders. But it’s just a silly spell! It doesn’t mean anything! You have to fight it!” Aki shouted, grabbing her friend’s hands. “I’m gonna count to five. One. Two. Five!”

Aki pulled Mimi out beyond the pink mist suddenly, giving Mimi no time to react. Ares followed, crossing the magical border to see the forest beyond that spread out along the base of the mountain. A desert of sand extended almost endlessly to the left, while the trees and forestry extended almost endlessly to the right. In the line where the two biomes met, a few sparse trees dotted the sandy landscape, appearing to barely be holding on. Ares turned to Mimi and Aki, making sure they were okay. It had really scared him to see Mimi suddenly become what he had hoped would never come to pass.

Mimi blinked slowly, clearing her eyes and gazing around. Aki had stepped back to give her room once she was beyond the mist. When Mimi met Ares’s gaze, the hazy pink that swirled in her eyes vanished and she glanced about, almost unsure of what was going on.

“Is this it? Did I actually cross the border?” She asked almost in shock.

“Welcome to the other side. The view is great, isn’t it?” Aki replied calmly, a knowing grin on her face.

“Whoa look at all the trees!! Is that what a forest really looks like? And the sand. It’s absolutely incredible,” Mimi gasped, taking it all in. Ares sighed with relief. She was back to normal.

“Thank you both for risking so much and helping me get away. I really owe you big time,” Ares said appreciatively.

“Of course! You don’t owe us a thing, we’re happy to help out a friend!” Mimi grinned, giving a bright smile. Ares jolted and his heart skipped a beat. Startled by the feeling, he shook his head and tried to brush it off. “Something wrong?” Mimi asked.

“You consider me… a friend?” Ares replied in shock.

“Well yeah, why wouldn’t we be? We spent the whole day together and you’re really a lot of fun to be around! I’d absolutely consider you a friend,” Mimi said delightedly. Ares was stunned but overjoyed. A friend? Finally a friend? I’m not dreaming, right? He thought.

“The same goes for me. I’d like to be friends. You know, I definitely misjudged you before. You’re not so bad for a demon,” Aki added.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ares asked, offended.

“It means she likes you. She just doesn’t want to say it,” Mimi teased.

“It’s not that I don’t want to say it, it’s just that I’m really bad at saying it. There’s a difference,” Aki huffed defensively. Hearing that, Ares just laughed. “What’s so funny?” Aki growled.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had people I could call friends, I’d almost forgotten how nice it is. Thank you again. I really mean it,” he replied honestly, letting his feelings show just a little. He wouldn’t let himself get too attached just yet, but he finally allowed himself to call them friends. When he glanced over at Mimi, she suddenly averted her gaze, her cheeks bright red. Curious by this, Ares looked a little closer to confirm what he saw, but once Mimi had turned away he couldn’t tell. Weird. I’m not seeing things am I?

“We should still try to get away from the border, just in case the Squadron manages to follow us through,” Aki said warily. “Come on, follow me.”

She began to lead the way down the path that narrowed until it was barely able to be walked upon. Ares took to the air at that point, keeping an eye on Aki and Mimi in case either slipped and fell. From the sky, he could see just how steep the cliff really was, and while heights never bothered him, he feared for Aki and Mimi. Aki finally stopped at a little cutout in the rock face that allowed for more room to stand.

“In here,” she directed, pointing at the rock face.

“You’re kidding, right? Aki you know that’s just a wall of rock?” Mimi asked critically.

“No it’s not,” Aki chanted playfully, taking a step forward and walking right through the rock face. Ares and Mimi exchanged glances in disbelief and followed behind, taking a step into the darkness.

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I hope you enjoyed!! <3

Thank you again for reading and have an awesome day!

-- Lucky

First Chapter Previous Chapter Next Chapter Masterlist

#fantasy #world building #oc #romcom #magic #homebrew

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

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Also Here is a Map

Just for reference, this is the map wherein my story takes place!

Masterlist

#world building #fantasy #fantasy maps #lol it has biomes like Minecraft #was originally a dnd map but was never used as such #tbh it looks like it could be a Minecraft map #the last thing I did with MS Paint

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

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Character Introduction 01: Mimizuko Mininozuka

Gender: Female

Species: Angelite

Age: 896 years (approx 18)

Height: 4’7”

Place of Birth: Mistvale Peak

Currently Resides: Mistvale Peak

Skin Tone: Fair

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color: Brown

Hey there, my name is Mimizuko Mininozuka, but all my friends just call me Mimi! Huh? Mini? Nononono you must’ve misheard. The third letter is an M. Mi. Mi. H-hey! You’re not just calling me Mini because I’m short, are you?! That’s mean! You’re mean! Meanie! Hmph. Just so you know, I might be small, but I can absolutely kick your butt if I want to. Yes! I can! I-I definitely can! I just... don’t feel like showing you right now that’s all. So stop asking!

Yes, I am an angel. Well, technically I’m an angelite. How come I don’t have wings? Because I haven’t earned them yet, that’s all. But I’m sure to get them soon, I just know it! I just need to keep trying! Surely there’s just something that I haven’t thought to try yet... That’s what Aki helps me with! Together, we’re going to try anything and everything until my wings appear! There’s nothing we can’t do if Aki and I do it together! And then when I finally do get my wings, I’ll finally get to show those stupid bullies that they were wrong for picking on me for not getting my wings as soon as they did...

Aki is an amazing friend, we do everything together! Go for walks, try new things to get my wings, tend to the garden... Oh! Have you been to the garden yet? It’s so cool! Aki’s dragon mom made this neat magic air region that allows all kinds of plants to grow like we’re all the way at the bottom of the mountain where the air is more plentiful. I love growing all kinds of plants there! It’s so fun to get new seeds from the traveling elves and dwarves and just see what grows. They’re all very pretty, I promise!

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I hope you enjoyed!! <3

Thank you again for reading and have an awesome day!

-- Lucky

Masterlist

#fantasy #oc #world building #character creation #mimi will fight you if you call her short

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luckydreams218 · 2 years ago

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Hidden in Darkness Chapter 1

Hello hello!

Thank you for taking a look at my writing! :D

Next Chapter Masterlist

Word Count: 4,859

Chapter I: Something Fun to Receive

Feathers lay strewn across the ground in a chaotic mess. Discarded scraps and lost bits and pieces had been separated beyond any hope of being put back together. The destruction was on an unimaginable scale. Yet this was where Mimi was at her best. This was where Mimi thrived. This was what Mimi lived for.

Her masterpiece was almost complete. Just a few more feathers and another coating of glue so they’d stay put. Mimi was always methodical, always careful with meticulous precision when it came to projects like these. First, she gathered more than enough long, white feathers that fell from the birds that visited the mountaintops on occasion. Then, she dyed the ends of each one a deep royal blue that could almost be considered purple. She could never explain why, but that was always the color she saw when she pictured her own feathers. Once each feather had been properly colored and had time to dry, it was time to glue them to the cardboard frames that would serve as the backbone for her hand-crafted wings. Of course, during the process of gluing, since it was long and boring, Mimi had, on multiple occasions, gotten up to get snacks, more supplies, and whatever else she needed. However, as she did, she tripped over the bucket of feathers, spilling them on the floor, stepped on the bottle of glue, causing it to explode, and left crumbs of the cookies she had been nibbling on. Needless to say, it was a mess. A place of disaster that only Mimi could appreciate because it demonstrated to her just how hard she had been working on this project that was now nearly complete.

Once the last feather had been placed, Mimi stepped back to view her handiwork. Two long, graceful angel wings, white except for the deep indigo tips to each feather, sat on the ground in front of her, extending longer than she could stretch both her arms.

“It’s finally done,” she whispered to herself, almost in disbelief. After a long, hard year of collecting feather after feather, the wings she had always dreamed of finally sat before her in all their glory. And just days before Hallow’s Eve when she’d show them off to everyone else for the first time.

“I hope you plan to clean up the mess you’ve made of your room, young lady, because I’m certainly not going to do it for you.”

“Yes, Mom, don’t worry I’ll fix it,” Mimi called back over her shoulder as she started gathering the unused feathers on the floor. Then she set about to cleaning the glue and the crumbs as best she knew how: with a mop and a dustpan. It didn’t take long for her to clean up the mess, but still, it was time she could’ve spent doing anything else.

The next few days passed quite quickly filled with decorating and excitement for the upcoming holiday. Her parents rarely celebrated anything, most of the time it felt like they just sat around the house doing lifelessly boring tasks day in and day out. Mimi couldn’t even imagine what kind of an existence that was. Yet, when it came to Hallow’s Eve, all of the decorations were placed around her home and the village came to life at night with lights and pumpkins and everything that signified the coming of winter. According to legend, as the crisp autumn wind blows the leaves off the trees, each leaf carries the soul of a creature, living and dead alike. Those souls are blown to a place far away where the sun always shines. In passing, however, by paying respects to the spirits, they will grant a safe winter and a bountiful harvest come spring. Respects include decorating the home with lights and all things autumn like pumpkins and gourds, as well as dressing up in a costume of any kind, symbolic of taking on another life or spirit for one day. The entire holiday celebrates light and life and good fortunes to come. And Mimi knew she could certainly use a lot of that right about now.

~~~~

Mimi took care of the finishing touches, making sure the straps for her wings weren’t too tight, that her ribbons sat nicely, and that her shoes were tied properly. Hallow’s Eve had finally arrived, and Mimi was more than ready.

“You aren’t seriously going outside in that, are you?” Her mother asked with that disapproving tone.

“Dad already said that I can, so long as I stay with Aki the whole time,” Mimi said, not at all willing to back down.

“Don’t come crying to me when your legs freeze in that skirt of yours,” her mother replied, stalking back toward the kitchen. “Oh and mind the sunset and be back before dark. You know the rules. Just because it’s Hallow’s Eve doesn’t mean they’ve changed.”

“Yeah yeah I’ll be grounded if I don’t,” Mimi muttered under her breath. “Why’s everything gotta be so strict with her?”

The sound of a knock echoed through the entry and Mimi turned to answer the door with excitement. Before her was her best friend in the whole world, Akëla Stellarí, though Mimi just called her Aki. She was a full head taller than Mimi, with silvery skin and violet hair pulled back in a loose ponytail. Her eyes were a deep blue green which contrasted the bright gold dress she wore laced with lighter yellow ribbons. The skirt fluffed out as though being rounded by some invisible force and her short sleeves each had a bow at the shoulders. She wore a ruffled yellow collar and a golden witch’s hat, just as ornately decorated as the dress, with a brim long enough to serve as an umbrella. Mimi gawked at the sight and stifled a laugh.

“Hallow’s Eve, Hallow’s Eve, give me something fun to receive!” Aki chanted playfully.

“I told you magical girl, not insane witch,” Mimi chuckled, glancing at the ridiculous outfit once more.

“I’m sorry, you said the theme for our costumes would be a magical girl with ribbons. And honestly, what’s more magical than this?” Aki twirled around, allowing the skirt to billow up a little, and laughed. “I know it’s absurd, but it’s so much fun. Plus, I made you laugh, didn’t I?”

“That’s the last thing I ever expected to see you wearing, but you know what? It suits you rather well,” Mimi admitted, looking at her own costume critically. It was very plain by comparison; just a long dress with a rounded skirt that transitioned from indigo at the top to magenta at the bottom. A baby blue belt encircled her waist along with a matching baby blue ribbon at the collar. The sleeves were short, cut in a feathery fashion, and the skirt was pleated gently. Her shoes were pink with long kite ribbons lacing her legs up to the knee where they tied into small ribbons on both sides. Matching pink ribbons were tied around two very long pigtails that came down to just below her waist.

“You look adorable, too, ya know!” Aki replied, giving Mimi a playful elbow. “So no fretful glances.”

“Alright, thanks Aki,” Mimi said, happy to have her friend cheering her up.

“I just can’t believe your parents are actually going to let you wear this out,” Aki said with a hint of curiosity.

“On the expectation that I’m to stay by your side the entire time,” Mimi answered.

“You know, you’re being rather rude,” Aki stated bluntly.

“I’m what?” Mimi repeated, offended.

“I said the chant and you haven’t given me anything yet,” Aki explained, a childish grin on her face.

Mimi stood in a moment of shock. She didn’t have anything prepared for her friend. “But I thought we were just gonna meet up and go out. I didn’t know I had to give you something. Besides, I don’t even have anything ready to give!”

“Lame-o then make up a story or tell a joke. It doesn’t have to be a physical object,” Aki protested playfully.

Mimi let out an excited gasp. “I’ve got it! Wait here!” She ran off inside her room and picked up a small pot that had been sitting on her windowsill. In it were the beginnings of a few snapdragons sprouting from seed. She held it out to Aki.

“The snapdragons! You actually got them to bloom! Mimi you’re amazing!” She gasped.

“You should plant them in your garden soon, before the roots get too big,” Mimi said, a bright smile on her face. It always made her happy to make her friend happy.

“You mean our garden. You know just as well as I that it’s just as much yours as it is mine,” Aki teased, handing the pot back. “You should keep it here until after we finish exploring for the day.”

Mimi nodded and set the pot back on the windowsill inside. “Mom! I’m headed out!” Mimi called over her shoulder.

“Just make sure to be-”

“Back before sunset, I know. And also stay safe and don’t cause trouble. I’ll see you soon!” Mimi finished, not wanting to delay the process any further. With that, she shut her front door and left with Aki to go and greet the neighbors for Hallow’s Eve.

“I assume you’re still not allowed to go into town, huh?” Aki asked.

“Not unless my parents miraculously decide to change their minds about the situation,” Mimi replied bitterly.

“That’s alright. There are still plenty of people to greet here in the village. Why don’t we say hi to Mr. Stellarwings?” Aki suggested. Mimi nodded and followed along behind her friend, shaking off the wave of resentment she had felt for her parents. How is it fair that she isn’t allowed to do any of the things other kids her age can?

Aki stopped short and stared ahead, an expression of shock on her face. Mimi looked in the same direction. Mr. Stellarwings stood in front of his home talking to someone Mimi had never seen before. A young man, probably no older than she, with red skin, leathery demon wings, and black hair.

“Do you know who Mr. Stellarwings is talking to?” Aki asked in a hushed tone.

“Never seen him before. You don’t think he’s…”

“There’s no way. It must be an illusion spell. It’s Hallow’s Eve after all. For some, costumes aren’t physical outfits, but powerful illusions,” Aki replied.

“He must be a really good illusionist, then,” Mimi remarked, squinting to try and spot any breaks in the demonic image before her. So far as she could tell, the demon was as real as she was. His image didn’t waver or fade, even as he flew away from Mr. Stellarwings’s home.

Aki was the first to shake it off and approached Mr. Stellarwings with a friendly wave. “Mr. Stellarwings, hello! How are you?”

“Ah, hello girls. I’m fine. Say, you wouldn’t happen to know the young man who passed by just now, would you?” Mr. Stellarwings asked in a voice raspy with age. He was rather pale with wrinkled skin and kind eyes. His long feathered wings were beginning to lose their original luster, grey instead of what used to be pure white.

“Unfortunately, no. We don’t know him, sorry. Do you?” Mimi replied.

“I could swear I’ve seen that boy’s face before. Reminds me of my baby girl. Bless her, I haven’t seen her in ages. I hope she’s still well. A pity things had to go the way they did. A real shame,” the old angel went on, his voice drifting into a melancholy memory.

Mimi and Aki exchanged glances with one another, each thinking the same thing: he’s crazy. He did see that the young man was a demon, right? Or at least looked like one.

“I’m sorry to hear about your daughter, Mr. Stellarwings. I hope she’s doing well, too,” Aki remarked with sympathy, looking to Mimi for advice. Mimi just gave a shrug.

“Ah, I won’t bore you with stories of my past. You two are probably here for something for Hallow’s Eve. But you haven’t said the magic phrase,” Mr. Stellarwings grinned.

“Hallow’s Eve, Hallow’s Eve, give us something fun to receive!” Aki and Mimi chanted in unison, giggling at one another once they finished.

“I have just the thing, give me one moment,” Mr. Stellarwings replied, stepping inside his home. He returned a minute later holding a small brown pouch, a smile on his face.

“I’ve been trying to think of what to do with these for the longest time, and I’ve finally decided that holding onto them like this won’t allow you to experience their full glory. I’ll give them to you to plant and nurture since you girls have that beautiful garden of yours,” he explained, opening the pouch to reveal countless little seeds of all shapes and sizes. “They’re plants from what used to be my home. Most are flowers, I believe, though a few may be bushes or trees even. It’s been so long, I can’t even recall. Ah, but I bet you girls will enjoy planting them and watching them flourish, seeing what they become.”

Mimi’s eyes sparkled with immeasurable delight. “Wow, thank you so much, Mr. Stellarwings! We’ll take good care of them, I promise,” Mimi exclaimed, gladly taking the pouch and digging around inside.

“That’s a really generous gift, Mr. Stellarwings. Thank you. We’d be glad to have you visit them any time,” Aki added. She paused before leaving the elder angel by himself once more. “Do you have any plans for Hallow’s Eve? Are you going to go into town?”

“Ah, these old wings can’t take me very far. That’s kind of you to ask, though. Don’t worry about me. Please, enjoy yourselves before Hallow’s Eve comes to an end,” Mr. Stellarwings answered, shooing Mimi and Aki away.

“Okay. Thank you again! See you soon!” Aki called out over her shoulder, giving a wave as she and Mimi left. Mimi let out a long sigh. She couldn’t wait to see what secret plants these little seeds would sprout into one day!

Mimi gazed out at the landscape before her. It looked nearly the same as it always did. Jagged mountain peaks shot up in the distance, shrouded by mist and clouds. To the left was an extreme dropoff, the rocky platform on which they walked lined with wooden fences decorated with strings of lights for Hallow’s Eve. To the right was a continuation of the mountain itself, rising steadily up, the rocks appearing to be slate grey at some points and pale lavender at others. Every now and then, the sound of small rocks tumbling down the cliffside could be heard. But they were never anything to worry about. Where there was a rift in the rocky passage in crossing from one peak to the next, a bridge of rope and wood was constructed, allowing one to stand in the middle and peer down into the murky misty depths of the mountains themselves. The bridges were enhanced with magic so they wouldn’t break or wear. Mimi always found it entertaining to jump on them and watch everyone else wince in fright. Mimi knew that she herself was a testament to the safety of the bridges since she hadn’t yet fallen into the depths.

Aki stopped short suddenly while the two made their way to the garden, looking down one of the cliff sides over the edge of a bridge.

“What’s up?” Mimi asked, curiously following her friend’s gaze.

Aki gave a silent point downward to a short platform a little ways down where the demon from earlier was sitting quietly, gazing into the distance.

“The demon from earlier?” Mimi asked in a hushed voice.

“Looks like it. Wonder what he’s doing down there,” Aki replied softly.

“I’ll find out,” Mimi answered.

“Mimi, wait a minute, you’re not going to-”

“Hey Mr. Demon! What’re you doing down there? Do you need anything?” Mimi called out abruptly.

Aki simply gave a long sigh. “You’re kidding me, right?” She muttered.

The demon suddenly fixed his attention on Mimi and Aki, looking startled and a bit frightened. He hesitated for a moment as though studying the two before curiously standing up and flying over to the edge of the bridge. He landed just before Mimi, forcing her to angle her head sharply since it only came up to about his shoulders. He wore a simple black t-shirt and grey pants. Up close Mimi could see his eyes were a bright red-orange, his skin pale red, and his wings a deep red that transitioned to orange on the leathery parts. His hair was jet black except at the very tips that were a bright flame red.

“Don’t worry, I was just passing through. I don’t mean to cause any trouble. If you’ll let me, I’ll just be on my way.” He spread his wings wide, preparing to take off for someplace else.

“Wait wait wait where are you going?!” Mimi shouted, trying to stop him from fleeing.

“You called out to me to ask me to leave, right? I don’t want to start a fight and I don’t want anyone to get hurt. If you’ll just let me go, I promise I won’t come back here-”

“What are you talking about?” Mimi questioned. “I just wanted to talk. Why in Aloré would I kick you out?”

The demon landed back on the ground, appearing bewildered and confused. “Because I’m a demon. I knew coming here was a risk and I was prepared to leave the moment I was told…”

“Wait a minute. You mean to say you’re actually a demon?” Aki chimed in, concern all over her face. “Mimi, can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Aki, it’s fine, trust me. He’s not gonna hurt anyone,” Mimi said.

“You don’t know that,” Aki growled, eyeing the demon with more suspicion.

“You can do what you want, I’m going to talk to him some more,” Mimi replied, turning back to the demon. Though she hated to admit it, he was actually quite cute. She didn’t want to see him go just yet. Maybe she could get a new friend out of the deal.

Aki let out a long sigh. “Alright fine, suit yourself. If something goes wrong, don’t come crying to me. I’m staying out of this.” With that, she turned and left.

Mimi chuckled softly. “Ah, sorry about her. She really doesn’t like talking to strangers. She’s really nice once she warms up to you, but…”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m used to it. I’ve never come by anyone who’ll trust a demon,” he replied.

“So you’re saying this really isn’t an illusion? Ha, I don’t buy it. You’ve gotta be using some super cool illusion, there’s no way a demon found their way into Mistvale Peak. This place is miles away from the Demon Realm, and no demon would ever come to an angel residence by choice. Lemme see what you’re hiding,” Mimi smirked. Without giving the demon a moment to respond, she took a finger and traced it down his chest, hoping to dispel the illusion at her touch. Any weak illusion breaks when it comes into contact with a physical object. However nothing happened when she tried to break the demon’s illusion.

“H-hey! What’d you do that for?!” The demon shouted, recoiling a few paces away. Even though his skin was red, she could see he was blushing and flustered, though she couldn’t figure out why.

“No illusion spell… so you’re actually a demon?” She asked absently. And then froze as it hit her. Not only is he a demon, but I just… wait don’t tell me I just did that, did I?

“Yeah, like I’ve been saying, I’m actually a demon. I know it won’t be long before I’m caught anyway, so I’ll be taking my leave now,” he said, turning and spreading his wings once more.

“Wait! Don’t go! I wasn’t going to ask you to leave, anyway,” Mimi called out.

“You mean, you don’t mind that I’m a demon?”

“Nope.”

“And you don’t want to force me out?”

“Absolutely not. You seem cool!” Mimi replied, trying to play as innocent as possible.

“W-well in that case, I guess there’s no harm in sticking around for a little while longer. Thank you for trusting me. I’m Ares, by the way,” he answered in a much more gentle tone, avoiding eye contact.

“Aww, a little shy, are we?” Mimi mocked.

“I am not shy!” Ares snapped, turning quickly. “I’m just not used to being treated nicely, so I’m a little unsure how to respond.”

“Just be yourself. Act naturally. No worries, you won’t scare me away! I’m Mimizuko, but you can just call me Mimi,” Mimi introduced.

“Mimi, thank you again for this. It’s been awhile since I’ve talked to anyone as nice as you are,” he replied before taking a few steps along the bridge, back the way Mimi had come. He stopped at the end to turn and see if she was following him. Mimi didn’t miss a beat and skipped over to his side, walking along with him.

“You really don’t need to be thanking me. My kindness isn’t anything all that special,” Mimi said honestly.

“Listen, I’m a demon. Hardly anyone ever trusts me. Fewer still will even talk to me. And if they do, it’s a whole lot of hostility and sarcasm. I can always hear it in their voices. It’s a miracle you haven’t even run away from me in fright. And I can’t hear any hint of mistrust in your voice at all. That fact is special to me,” Ares replied kindly. He gave Mimi a gentle smile which made her jolt and she glanced to the side, trying to cover up how red she could feel her cheeks turn. What in Aloré is this feeling? I can’t even look at him.

“Mimi? Did I say something?” Ares asked with concern.

“N-no! It’s not anything that you said! I-I just remembered something is all,” she replied, trying to shake it off.

“Well, can I ask what it is that you remembered?”

“I just remembered that I promised Aki I’d go meet her at the garden later. I’m sure that’s where she went,” Mimi answered.

“Well, then I don’t want to hold you up. Thank you again for talking to me. I hope I see you around sometime,” Ares said, turning to take off.

“Wait, I never said you had to leave! You’re coming with me!” Mimi declared, taking Ares’s hand and starting to sprint toward the garden, dragging him behind her.

“Hey wait a minute! Didn’t she not want to have anything to do with me?” Ares asked with concern.

“Don’t worry, once she learns how nice you are, she’ll change her mind. I can be very persuasive,” Mimi chuckled. “Just trust me!”

It didn’t take her long to follow the paths she knew by heart all the way to the enclosed garden where she and Aki visited almost every day. Mimi pushed the door open gently, exposing an expansive greenhouse within. Giant trees grew tall, branches intertwining with one another to form a roof of their own. Beneath the foliage of the trees were flowers of all varieties blooming everywhere. From red to gold to purple, tulips to roses to lilies, the assortment of flowers was always a sight to behold.

Mimi saw Aki just ahead in one of the far nooks, tending to a few bushes and flowers while humming a soft tune. Mimi paused and turned around to face Ares, grinning. He had a look of wonder on his face as he took a look around the greenhouse, awestruck.

“Aki, there you are,” Mimi said casually, striding over to her side while Ares continued to take in the scene.

“Mimi, you made it. I take it that means you didn’t get yourself in trouble with the demon?” Aki teased, taking a break from her watering.

“Nope. He’s really nice. His name is Ares. We should invite him to hang out with us for Hallow’s Eve,” Mimi replied nonchalantly.

“I’m sorry, what? Mimi, you just met him. You hardly know him. Demons are powerful and dangerous and cunning. What makes you think this is a good idea?” Aki admonished, concern written all over her face.

“Hey, you can’t go assuming he’s no good simply because he’s a demon. That’s not fair,” Mimi defended.

“Oh? Can’t I?” Aki replied with sarcasm.

“What if I judged you based on the fact that you’re a dragonling, huh? One might think that a half dragon creature would be vicious, greedy, and territorial just like a true dragon. I’d never want to hang out with you if that was the case. But you’re not that. You’re really nice and cool to be around. What if Ares is one of the nice ones?” Mimi asked with defiance.

“Alright, little miss diplomat. I have no counter for that argument, so I’ll give it a try, okay. He can stick around for a little so I can get to know him better. This does not, however, mean I trust him. It simply means I’m willing to give him a chance,” Aki stated.

“I wouldn’t ask for anything more from you,” Mimi answered, pleased she convinced her friend to let Ares stay.

Mimi turned around to speak to Ares and see where in the greenhouse he had gone when she spotted something that caught her attention. Up until that moment, she hadn’t noticed that Ares had a tail. But now that she’d seen the tail, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. He moved it gently back and forth in a very feline manner, the end shaped like a small spearhead.

Aki stepped forward, approaching Ares casually and cleared her throat. “Ares, right? I’m Akëla, but I go by Aki. Listen, I’m sorry about earlier. I really don’t like introducing myself to new people. In fact, I try to avoid it at all costs. If it weren’t for Mimi pushing me outside my comfort zone every now and then, I probably wouldn’t have any friends. I hope that you can forgive me and we can still get along.”

Ares looked stunned by Aki’s words and it took him a second to reply. “I’d be glad to hang out with you if you’d let me. Please don’t worry about earlier, I’m used to it. I’m more surprised when someone wants to approach me. And yes, my name is Ares,” he replied shyly without any hint of malice. Aki gave a wide grin, appearing pleasantly shocked that Ares had accepted so quickly.

“Did you make this garden yourselves?” Ares asked, still gazing about. “It’s incredible.”

“Thank you very much,” Aki replied. “With a little help from my mom supplying the magic energy to keep the temperature warm and the air thick, Mimi and I were able to make this place what it is. Everything that you see growing in here was planted by Mimi and I. Well, Mimi deserves most of the credit. I can take care of plants by watering them, pruning them, and whatever else, but I simply can’t get seeds to sprout. Mimi is magical because she can get any seed to sprout under her care. It always seems like she knows exactly what to do with them to get them to grow.”

“I can’t take all the credit, though. Aki does a great job maintaining this place by watering everything every day even when I can’t,” Mimi added, scanning the garden herself. Her eyes fell on the largest tree in the center, a huge oak thick with age. “This tree here is my favorite. It’s the first thing Aki and I ever planted in this place. It nearly died when it was little, infested by some sort of creature that wouldn’t normally live where these trees grow. But with a little bit of Aki’s healing magic and some time, it made a full recovery. The tree is just about as old as our friendship and its roots spread all across the greenhouse, supporting the other little flowers that grow in here alongside it.”

Ares observed the tree with wonder, tracing some of its branches that wound above his head.

“Hey, come on. We can give a more thorough tour of the greenhouse later, but for now we should keep wandering around the village before the sun sets. Hallow’s Eve won’t last for much longer!” Aki called from the entrance, waving for Mimi and Ares to follow.

“She’s right. Let’s go,” Mimi replied, extending a hand out to Ares.

He hesitated at first, and then tentatively took Mimi’s hand, walking out of the garden. Mimi nearly froze in her tracks when Ares actually began pulling her along beside him to go see the rest of the village. She vowed she would never tell him that she secretly hoped he would put a wing around her and lead her out of this place to a world all their own.

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I hope you enjoyed!! <3

Thank you again for reading and have an awesome day!

-- Lucky

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#fantasy #world building #oc #romcom #magic #homebrew

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