#{ Seija's new weapon }

[thedrag0nking]

Somewhere in the outskirts...

Seija and Yoshika right after they both made up and become the most inseparable yet the most unlikely allies in all of gensokyo the two venture through gensokyo to explore a bit while traversing the harsh environments the land could throw at them but the two of the kings will prevail. Through the woods all covered in the growing bio mass there lies a blade sticking out of the primordial hearth biomass. The blade itself was once just a pair of scissors that is missing the other piece of the scissors now twisted into a contorted blade. A weapon the king Seija takes interest in.

Seija walked over towards the blade and climbed up towards the large mountain of flesh and blood. Each step she takes she hears the screaming of agony as if many organisms are trapped and absorbed by the said bio mass. Those screams Seija choose to ignore but couldn't bare listening to these screams. Once she made it up on the top of the blobby mountain of flesh and blood the amanojaku grabbed the blade' s hilt and she forcibly ripped the blade off the flesh floor examining the blade closely.

" ....This is the creepiest shit I ever seen. Yet it looked beautiful I guess. "

The skeleton king looked up and tilted her head confused as to why she risked her life over an odd trinket.

" What...Are you doing...? "

" Got myself the coolest yet the creepiest fucking sword I got my zombie friend! "

" Its like it was solely made for me! Cheek out the hilt and that physic! Pretty badass right? "

" Hnn...does it kill..? "

" From the look of it, I sure hope it does. Alright time to get down from here. "

Sliding down from the mountain of blood and flesh and onto the ground she goes the amanojaku twirls her new weapon and she day dreams of how much blood shed gonna spill from killing her enemies. The Jiangshi at this rate is curious of the weapon and it's potential since the primordial hearth has a thing of contaminating and changing any object or organism into a monstrosity or in this case...a powerful weapon.

[anueutsuhos-touhou-profiles]

Okina Matara:

The third and most recent of Gensokyo's founders to appear, is Okina Matara, the Secret God. She is a god of many things. A mother god. A god of the disabled and ostracized. A god of Noh theater. A god of silkworm breeding and insect metamorphosis. Perhaps most notably, she's the god of backdoors.

Okina Matara is a god of immense power, on par with if not more powerful than Yukari Yakumo. She boasts that she could snap Gensokyo out of existence and then back into existence without breaking a sweat. Essentially, the only reason why anyone in this series is still alive is because Okina Matara sees no reason to kill them.

While ZUN has implied Hecatia is more powerful, there hasn't been any real comparison between them to show this. Especially since Hecatia doesn't really throw her weight around the way Okina does.

As far as her actual powers, they primarily revolve around creating backdoors on anything. In this way she is able to open portals to and from anywhere in almost the same way Yukari can. Her backdoors can also be opened up on anyone's behind and transfer immense power to them.

Okina Matara first appeared as the main villain and final boss of Touhou 16: Hidden Star in Four Seasons. She used her backdoors, along with her backup dancers, to draw out the latent powers of people in Gensokyo. Allegedly, her plan was to find powerful people to hire as replacement minions for Satono and Mai. However, her real plan was simply to announce herself to Gensokyo, and remind everyone of her and her vast powers. Her reactions to the player character depend on who you're playing as.

• She rejects Reimu on the spot, saying that she's already Yukari's servant, she doesn't want the Hakurei Shrine maiden.

• She also rejects Aya on the spot, as warding off Tengu is another of her many domains.

• She doesn't even consider Cirno as a potential servant and reprimands her dancers for letting some stupid fairy inside.

• With Marisa, however, she actually asks the ordinary witch to become her new servant. However, Marisa refuses, not wanting to replace her life of freedom with being a mindless pawn.

During the initial fight, she turned the protagonist's season energy against them, since the power came from her putting a door on their back in the first place. She was seemingly invincible.

However, the protagonists challenged her to a rematch for the Extra Stage, where the protagonist used the power of Doryu (the Chinese concept of the border between seasons) to defeat her properly. It was here she revealed her true form... which pretty much looks the same as normal except she's not on her chair.

Since then, she's manipulated events in Gensokyo from the shadows. While she doesn't seem to outright want to replace her backup dancers, she has a pattern of finding one person in Gensokyo she really likes, and slowly manipulating events to their advantage, seemingly to gain their support. Maybe she really does want new minions?

She quickly appeared again in Touhou 16.5: Violet Detector. Or rather, her Dream World counterpart did. Here, she gave a power boost to the Dream World Sumireko because she admired her determination to escape the Dream World into reality.

She appeared in The Grimoire of Usami, showing up alongside Shinmyoumaru and Seija when they hijacked Reimu's fireworks festival. She was quickly revealed to have acted as an anonymous benefactor for Shinmyoumaru, subtly leading her to people who would agree with her view that spellcards are a weapon first and foremost. It seems that she was trying to play "catch up" on all the powerful women she missed out on during her long absence. She especially loved Junko's appearance, and was impressed when it turned out Junko's murder-frenzy was just an act.

She then appeared as the main antagonist of the finale of the manga Visionary Fairies in Shrine. She used her vast powers to turn almost all the fairies of Gensokyo into red crystals called Soul Cherries, which in turn reduced Gensokyo to a barren wasteland. The remaining fairies (which of course consisted of all the named ones) figured out she was behind it and challenged her to a fight to save their friends.

It was a one-sided slaughter and Okina wasn't even trying very hard. Okina grabbed Clownpiece by the neck, and told her to tell her superiors about the power of Gensokyo's Hidden God. She then immediately changed mood and turned all the fairies back to normal! It turns out the entire reason for her plan, was that she had heard that the forces of Hell were intruding into Gensokyo, and she wanted to test if they were actually planning on taking over. Hecatia actually told Clownpiece to collect all the Soul Cherries and take them to Hell, but Clownpiece defied her master/mother figure, and Okina figured they really weren't a threat.

Her most recent appearance was in Touhou 17.5: Sunken Fossil World. Here, she lured people down into the deepest levels of Old Hell in order to fight the main villain, but her real target was Flandre Scarlet, returning in a game for the first time in 20 years! More about that later.

ZUN has said Okina Matara is loosely based on him wanting to show that disabled people weren't useless or weak, but were actually stronger for it. I say loosely, because Okina isn't actually handicapped, as ZUN was scared of portraying her offensively or making her disability an informed attribute. She is often seen in a wheelchair, but apparently this is not because she's disabled, but because she represents disability as a concept. She's perfectly capable of walking around if she wants. Personally I think it'd be easier if she just was wheelchair bound rather than that roundabout symbolism explanation but that's me.

Okina Matara is based on two different dieties: Matara-jin, and Okuninushi. If she really is both gods, then she's connected even further to the people of Gensokyo than you could ever know. She saved the White Hare of Inaba (Tewi Inaba) from being skinned alive. She adopted the human guise of Hata no Kawakatsu and knew Shoutoku Taishi (Miko) personally. Shoutoku comissioned her to make 66 masks, effectively making her the mother of Kokoro. She was even the father of Takeminakata, and thus should technically be Kanako's mom or mother-in-law! And yes, you heard me right, he was a dude in the original mythology.

Okina has a fairly... incomprehensible morality. Generally she acts callous towards Gensokyo, perfectly content with turning it into a barren wasteland to get what she wants. Yet, she also has a soft side. She allowed dozens of servant youkai to "work from home" in her pocket dimension for seemingly no reason other than the goodness of her heart. In general, whenever she appears, it's because she's found someone neglected by Gensokyo (not necessarily the fans), she becomes obsessed with them, and manipulates events to show the true potential of this person, often directly assisting them.

Furthermore, while she is god of the ostracized, she respects anyone who shows impressive power and doesn't hold back. In general, ZUN describes her as "one of the old gods", a woman beyond human concepts of morality. But with absolute certainty, she is an immense boon as an ally and a nightmare as an enemy.

Her relationship with the other Sages is bittersweet. She seems to enjoy Kasen's company, but Kasen hates her as much as Yukari. Her interactions with Yukari in the Grimoire of Usami show them as something of... frenemies. Yukari insults her and calls her a casual fan of Gensokyo, but they seem to respect each other's power.

Her relationship with her backup dancers is a bit mixed as well. She considers them incompetent and sometimes wants to replace them, but it seems that bumbling is also just endearing enough to her that she keeps them around.

Each of those flames on her represents a different season: orange for autumn, blue for winter, pink for spring, and green for summer.

In her first fight, she shoots kunai according to this four-color pattern. In her second fight, however, she fires kunai in reverse-rainbow order, beginning with purple and moving back to red and then magenta.

In her first fight, her spellcards are based on the four seasons, with the last attack being the season of the player character. In this last attack, she sucks out the seasonal powers of the player character, weakening them. She also takes you out of the World of Backdoors and all around Gensokyo!

In her Extra boss fight, her spellcards are based on all her various domains, like silkworm breeding, burning rituals to scare away Tengu, or theatre performers. They mostly emphasize her nature as god of backdoors, with many of them involving her attacking you from behind. She also has an attack where laser beams fire at you from the shape of the Big Dipper. Her final attack has her shooting a bunch of magenta laser rings at you while she moves around in circles, called "Anarchy Bullet Hell". This is a pun on "anaaki", meaning "holed" in Japanese.

In Sunken Fossil World, her attacks create portals to throw all kinds of liquid at you: water, petroleum, and blood.

[kingdomofstonetreebrodcasting]

KSTB REWIND:Ad Set #1

Warning: This is Just Fake Advertisements

https://kstb-kingdom-of-stonetree-broadcasting.castos.com/episodes/kingdom-of-stonetree-broadcasting-ads-1

(If you want to start with the Radio shows the Debut radio show is Forsight with Finola Vance 1!!!  https://kstb-kingdom-of-stonetree-broadcasting.castos.com/episodes/foresight-with-finola-vance-1 )

This is the Kingdom of Stone Trees Very First Episode and debut on the internet

The writer of the show worked at a Radio station. He loved to make Advertisements and service announcements.  The Ads he worked with would not let him spread his creative wings. After a while you get tired of recording the same dry adds. So he decides to make his own creative adds thus The Kingdom of Stone Tree Broadcasting was born!

This is the Kingdom of Stone Tree Broadcasting’s Very first Episode and Debut on the internet. It is also the Debut of the returning Characters Sejia, Ranulf Ironsleeves,Faustian D’Azoral Warlock at law and Finola Vance Meteorastrologer. In this episode Finola uses the sun moon ans stars to predict the weather. Faustian debut case is a botched trade with a Witch. Sejia prescribes a potion that helps a man with many problems.

Add set one

A typical commercial break on a radio station in a Fantasy Kingdom called Stonetree. You'll find out which carpet to buy, where to get swords, potions, or a job, and who to call if you get into legal trouble. Direct any questions or comments to arenthaergald@gmail.com.

Ad #1 Magic carpet Advertisement: Introducing the all new 1319 Alatar Gryphon

Ad #2 Potion Shop- Seija's Alchemical Emporium

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55857864

Ad #3 Weapon Forge – Ironsleeves Forge- Proprietor Ranulf Ironsleeves

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/55855619

Ad #4 Job offers – Questboard

Ad #5 The Offices of Faustiaun D'Azoral- Warlock at Law

 https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/129330057

#6 station ID

#7 Weather with Finola Vance

in this episode Finola uses the sun moon and stars to predict the weather

https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/129329043

Our podcast page:

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You can find us on most major podcast/music service platforms

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This episode IS available on YouTube or Sound Cloud

New episodes are NOT available on YouTube or Sound Cloud

We had cast members and family members watching on YouTube but it was not recording plays so we have not updated/new posts in some time.

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Our alloted space on sound cloud is full you can listen to what’s there but nothing new will be added everywhere else updates regularly.

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[mrneighbourlove]

Scarlet Contract: Part 3

"So Volcania. You get a job yet?"

"No Revy. I have been helping mama bear hunting though. I want to learn how to swing an axe soon."

Dinner was going well with the family so far. Scarlet passed the mashed potatoes around, smiling to Seija. "Wonderful cooking dear."

"Thank you!" Seija chirped, the owl Direnor happy that everyone was enjoying her cooking. "I hope you like the braised turkey---"

A loud crash was heard from upstairs and the head of the orphanage groaned. "Excuse me, for one moment." She rose from the dinner table gracefully and walked to the bottom of the stairs on the other side of the house. "If I come up there and you've made another mess, there will be no dessert for an entire month!" Seija's screech was so loud that everyone's ears rang. "If I told you once, I told you a million times, this dinner is not to be disturbed, we've had it planned for weeks!" Once she was done with her threat of no sweets, she returned to dinner with the same old smile. She had grown more of a backbone with Revy around the house.

Revy smirked as she patted Seija on the back. "Good job."

"Hey Revy. Why didn't you cut Adda's head off?"

Scarlet frowned, but Revy shrugged. "Eye for an eye was good enough. I'm more about justice rather than revenge."

"The newest additions are a little wild." Seija still poofed a couple of feathers when the 'taboo name' was mentioned. Clearing her throat, she patted down the feathers in her wild hair.

"Why would you even want to talk about her. I'm a much better topic of discussion. Hero of Uskar. Slayer of Evil Dragons. Destroyer of the Undead. Hunter of Pirates. Savior of Orphans." Revy put a foot on her chair and stood dramatically. With age she had really come into form.

"That you are, my sweetie, but if you put your dirty shoes on my chair again, I am going to be Seija, Swatter of Sweethearts without manners." Seija tapped her foot under the table, pointing at Revy's foot.

"Oh come on, they aren't that dirty. And its a step down from being on the table." She chuckled back. "So ma. You been at the palace lately?"

"No."

"Well, Liz and Lex say they still have invitations to go out to Hyrule from the Lord of the Gerudo's second in command."

"Interesting. You know, your father want's you to have children." Revy laughed allowed. "Well, Seija can't provide that. And no man can beat me in a fight for the right!"

"You could always turn into a man like that adopted sister of the late king." Volcania took a sip of her drink.

“Well, too bad she’s dead from what I hear. So, can’t learn her voodoo changing magic.” Revy dug her canines into a piece of fresh ham.

"Have a dick that way”, Volcania quickly said under her breath.

Seija blushed so darkly and feathers instantly poofed, going everywhere all over the table.

At the feathers going everywhere, Revy shot her younger sister a look. “Feather duster is under the left pantry.”

"Your bird, your mess." Volcania shot back.

"Sorry." Seija cheeped to Revy. "The... um... dick comment, caught me off guard." That, and fantasizing about a man who looked like Revy was... appealing. Being bisexual was certainly challenging when presented with sexual escapades that could possibly come true due to magic.

Revy locked her eye with Volcania. “I know you think you’re old enough to be rude to me, but you’re not. Be respectful to your sister in law, or I’ll put you in your place.”

"Oooh, scary. What are you going to do? Sit on me again?" Volcania stood from her chair with a huff. "Make one dick comment, I swear..." She went to look for the bin.

Scarlet shook her head. “Don’t tempt her Volcania.”

Revy tilted her head, looking at the weariness on her mother. “You look tired mom.”

“I feel tired Revy.”

"You aren't feeling ill, are you?" Seija asked Scarlet with concern. "We could take you to see Naira. I'm sure she'd make time for you even though she's retired now. She still does consultations."

“Not sick dear. Just tired. Thank you for dinner. It was scrumptious.”

The family shared a night of catch up, with Revy meeting her mom at the door. “You know mom, you should take a job working for Liz. Get out on the sea more if it makes you happy, you know?”

“I can’t do that to Borghild or your father.”

“Alright. You just let Seija know if you need anything from us.”

~

It happened over a series of days. The tattoo was getting darker. A warm pulse was felt upon Scarlet's skin. The magic was calling to her. Then came the soft whisperings, instructing her to go to Hyrule. Scarlet was to speak to the second born prince. He would show her what she seeked.

Scarlet ignored it at first, but when she did, it started to burn her. Finally, she knew she could no longer keep it out of mind.

Grabbing a letter, she did her best to fake it. No one was going to believe she was hearing voices in her head. Once that was done, she gathered her family together. “I need to tell you all that I will be traveling to Hyrule on business.”

"Business?" Borghild looked sullen. "This is such little notice."

"Must be another one of those Gerudo meetings, lovie," Rat did not look too happy either, but understood that when duty called, it must be answered. "Or is this about Queen Luimaya?"

"I don't want you to go." Borghild squished her face into Scarlet's boobies, pouting. "Stay here. Let them send someone else."

"Borgie, there's not another Iron Knuckle here."

"I'mma Iron Knuckle someone's head if they keep sending her on these long work trips."

“I should explain myself further. Prince Ralnor of Hyrule wishes to speak with me in person. I imagine with the trip there and back will take a while.”

Revy patted Borghild’s back for extra comfort. “You can ask Liz for transportation. She has the fastest ship I know.”

"What does blondie want to talk about that's so important that it couldn't be expressed in a letter?" Borghild grumbled, holding tight to Scarlet. "Tell his royal prissiness to come here instead." "Now, now, Borgie, we all know that Missy Orana's brother is a little---" Rat earned himself an annoyed look from his bear wife. "... okay, he is a little pompous, but he wouldn't ask her to come if it wasn't important."

“I won’t be gone forever. And if anyone would like to join me, they can.”

Revy glanced to Seija, squeezing her hand. “Think the kids would like the experience to travel to new lands?”

~

The long ride to Hyrule gave Rat time to think. Scarlet had always avoided the topic of mortality. Borghild, on the other paw, she knew that days were limited for everyone. Seeing that Borghild grew up with the threat of the Frost King, it was important for families to have all their affairs in order. There were times when one did not return from a battle. While Rat was no longer worried about perishing in a fight, he was concerned about old age. He was battle worn with old aches and pains that haunted him. Sometimes, it was harder to breathe on colder nights. The ex-pirate worried for his family. So, before the trip to Hyrule, he had visited Naira one afternoon while Borghild hunted and Scarlet prepped the ship with the girls. It seemed he was still in decent health, but he had to lessen his load. In other words, Naira advised him to do less manual labor and to be careful with his lungs. He supposed the smoking during his gladiator days did not do him any good.

As the ship docked, Rat was greeted by Corsaire.

"Rennigan!" Corsaire hugged his brother-in-arms tightly, absolutely delighted to see him. "You're turning into a silver fox!"

"Hey, now!" Rat chuckled as he returned the hug. "You's gots some silver in your hair too."

"Yeah, yeah, but my Orana likes it, says it makes me look sophisticated."

"Does she like the gray on your ass too?"

"Now you're just being smart!" The two men exchanged a hearty laugh at the teasing. It was good to see each other.

Commodore Elizabeth checked her notes for cargo. Of course, she wanted to help Scarlet, but she wasn’t going to leave without business to do as well. “Get those weapons on my ship. And watch that gunpowder.”

Scarlet got off the ship, smiling faintly at Corsaire. All these years and she still felt guilty around the man.

"... still can't believe Mojo and Juju combined have eleven grandchildren already!" Corsaire was rambling on about the rest of the crew. "They visited a few months ago and I have never seen such a rowdy bunch at the dinner table. I thought my own were bad, but they managed to start a food fight... twice!"

"Seer would have made such a fuss, you a-know that man doesn't like to waste food." Rat snickered at the tale. "He and Ocax are very doting grandpas to the girls."

"You'll have to stop by and see Pockets at the animal sanctuary! He's doing very well." Corsaire then remarked, "And Acrobat still runs all the ropes for the ships in the port."

"I'll be sure to a-stop by and say hello to 'em." Rat then asked, "And is Faris here? Me'd like to see him too."

"As far as I know, he is. I think Teb's wanderlust has settled down ever since Skyla graduated vet school."

"Aw, he's proud, isn't he?"

"... everyone is getting old as balls."

"Aye, too true!" The men once again shared a loud laugh.

"Well, you haven't changed too much, Scarlet." Corsaire told the woman. "No gray yet."

“Gerudo genetics. I guess.”

Liz came down to greet her uncle in arms. She had grown into a frightening woman with age, but always gave family the curtesy of a smile. “Admiral Corsaire. Thank you for welcoming my ship into bay personally.”

"Tis 'bout time you came to see me." Corsaire got her in a head-lock, pulling her in close for a hug. "Where's my hug? Uncles get hugs, don't they?"

"Goodness, Cap'n, don't choke her."

"Rat, it's just Corsaire now."

"Eh, old habits die hard."

When Corsaire loosened up, Liz squeezed him in a tight bear hug, crushing the air out of him. With an evil, evil smile she set him down. “Only reason I don’t kick your ass is because you outrank me by one level. Good to see you Uncle!”

"OOF!" Corsaire grunted at the tight hug and coughed once. "Gracious, lassie, me's older now, be easy on your uncle. Don't damage aged goods." He then reminded her in a teasing tone, "I will always outrank you, you're younger than me, missy."

"You's both being silly, come on, Scarlet has business at the castle."

Scarlet had never been to Hyrule castle. Whenever she traveled to Hyrule it was to see Corsaire, which they usually stayed at Orana’s zoo of exotic critters. Entering the castle walls, she felt like she didn’t belong. Half way through, she felt anxiety fill her. Before entering the throne room, she snapped her fingers, and magically placed her Iron Knuckle armour on her. Its shell kept her protected from the outside world. Physically and emotionally.

"I know you stated in your letter notifying us of your arrival that you had business with Prince Ralnor?" Corsaire inquired of Scarlet. "I'll escort you to his office after I show your family to their rooms. I'm sure Orana will be so excited to see you all. She'll be here later, she's overseeing the delivery of a few new Molagani tiger cubs."

"Ah, she loves 'em critters." Rat knew it was true, Orana would never lose her love of animals. "I'll help the girls unload, so just take your time, Scarlet." He noticed the armor and deemed she was nervous. "You'll do a-just fine."

“Thanks.” Scarlet took a few breaths and continued to walk forward to her destination. She had no idea what to expect.

Once Corsaire showed the family to their rooms, he took Scarlet to Ralnor's office door. "I already told him to be nice, so don't sweat it too much." Corsaire assured Scarlet. "He's not as bad as everyone says."

Scarlet did so. With a deep breath, she walked into the room. Not wanting to be rude, she took her helmet off with both hands then stood to attention. “Prince Ralnor. I’m Scarlet of Uskar. I’m here at your request your highness.”

Ralnor, in his older age, had only become more terrifying with time. It appeared that a permanent scowl was itched into his face now. He seemed to be glaring almost always. As usual, he was buried in his work, making sure the kingdom ran smoothly.

When Scarlet entered his office, he glanced up from placing his signature on a few documents. "I've been expecting you." Ralnor placed the feather back into the vial of ink. "I trust your journey here was well?"

"Yes. My god daughter has an excellent ship for travel."

"Commodore Elizabeth is exceptional at her work. I'm sure my sister's husband is very proud." Ralnor still had slight distaste for Corsaire but the man had proven himself trustworthy and loyal over the years. Standing from his desk, the prince made sure the door to his office was locked. Then, he examined his bookshelf and carefully selected what appeared to be a novel. It was actually a secret lever, which opened a hidden pathway down to the catacombs. He was getting old and could not climb up and down the damn ladder in the hole in his office closet anymore. So, he had this constructed by the monsters themselves. "Follow me."

Scarlet was incredibly weary, but went ahead in following the old prince.

"I don't suppose those rumours about you having torture dungeons are false are they?"

Ralnor actually chuckled at her inquiry.

"I am extremely talented in the area of extracting information and being persuasive." The prince used insinuations to make Scarlet understand that the rumors were definitely true. He was highly cruel, manipulative without notice, and fiercely protective of his family. The one to fear most in the Dragmire family was not Covarog, but Ralnor. The second born prince was willing to do whatever it took to keep everyone safe and happy, regardless of the fallout. "There are several colorful rumors surrounding my name. Believe what you will, though I do promise you, the one regarding me making a deal with the devil is false. I did, however, made a deal as you did."

"Oh." Scarlet wasn't sure that made her better.

"I suppose if you think about it, he could be called a devil, a fiend, a monster... many names." Ralnor led Scarlet into an open dome with several tunnels connecting it to their original path. "Though he prefers the horrid title of... Bonegrinder."

"Ah, did someone call for this old snake?" Bonegrinder was in his usual spot, hanging from the ceiling. From the last time Scarlet had seen him, he had grown significantly larger. And more intimidating. "You have brought him a guest, he sees!"

"You've met this one before, you old coot, you know her, you called her here." Ralnor rolled his eyes, annoyed at the Anagari's antics. "I brought her here, now, what do you want?"

"Now, now, his dealing is with the lady, not you."

"And you honestly think I'm going to leave her alone with you?"

"You wound this old Bonegrinder so!" The Anagari pretended to be hurt. "He doesn't eat those he makes deals with."

"Maybe he should stay? For reassurance?" She didn't say her own, but that was what she was implying. The monster was gigantic. She didn't like the idea he ate anyone.

"If it pleases the little child, he can stay." Bonegrinder then corrected. "Well, the little child is no more. More of a little lady."

"... little? She's taller than me."

"Compared to him, she is little."

"Good goddesses, give me patience..." Ralnor muttered under his breath.

Scarlet nodded. Looking around, she didn't know if she was supposed to sit or stand. "What is it that you summoned me for?"

"This old snake has summoned you for what he told you all those years ago, little lady." Bonegrinder snapped his fingers and a whoosh of fire appeared in his palm. There was a figure of Luimaya and on either side, a benevolent force and a malevolent one. "It is time for you to take your place among your sisters and fight for the cause of your queen."

"Oh... Adda? That doesn't make any sense." Scarlet sounded confused from head to toe. Looked it too.

"HAHAHAHA!" Bonegrinder started to laugh and Ralnor stood there, still looking as irritated as ever.

"Great, you made him laugh." Ralnor grumbled. "That means he likes you."

"Oh, no, no, she was never and will never be a queen, her heart is too black! No, little lady, the queen you will serve is none other that Queen Luimaya, and yourself." Bonegrinder explained to her. "The time of Gerudo Kings are over. The time of Gerudo queens has arrived... and you shall lead the Gerudo of Termina and those of Taiyo Town into the last battle for peace on this world for the sake of Luimaya."

"Me?" Scarlet's face grew pale. "I can't possibly do that."

"Of course, you can. You are a descent of the original twin sister who founded your tribe, Gerudo Yashuranda." Bonegrinder told Scarlet. "Just as Ganondorf is. You, my dear, if he has to explain it in greater detail, are a direct descendant of the first sister of Ganondorf. The ever vibrant and tender-hearted Amala."

"No way. Even if that was true, I haven't done anything good with my blood." Scarlet looked excited by something. "You must have me mistaken for my girl Revy! She's a hero through and through. She'd make a better leader, let alone queen, then me."

"Your little girl is not the one this snake seeks, little lady. If she was the one he needed, then he would have made a deal with her. No, Scarlet, you," Bonegrinder gestured to her. "Are the one who shall lead. Your little child desires to be a hero for good reasons, yes, but is too prideful by the accomplishments. You are the one who is humbled, despite past mistakes, and strives for a better tomorrow. A true leader can admit their faults. This is you."

"Rather have her there than that bastard anyhow." Ralnor remarked, thinking of Malik. Even after all this time, he still held contempt for the man. Especially since Covarog's heart attack. He was furious when he heard of what happened and even more so that Malik refused to believe Zarazu about the Tri-Force being an object of darkness now. Or becoming one. "He's always looking for the next power grab."

"Forgive me, but its not humbleness. It's meekness. Always has been." Scarlet looked down. What was she doing here?

"Call it what you wish, but it is what has been foreseen and what will come to fruition." Bonegrinder asked Scarlet. "You think of your family and those who you care for, but you also think of your people. Adda will desert them in a heartbeat. You will not."

"No! She didn't. As I recall Hyrule was the one who bombed them to hell. Adda was able to cull the chaos that was tearing us apart before... before she was betrayed." Scarlet stopped speaking when she saw his head tilt. It unnerved her.

"Are you sure... she didn't strike first?" Bonegrinder knew exactly what Adda's motives were and how all the Gerudo women had suffered for it. "Defending her without knowing all her wrongs. What a friend she lost."

"I committed those wrongs too."

"Did you? Or were you ordered?" Bonegrinder loved to play mind games. "Stop tormenting her." Ralnor growled at the snake. "Say your peace and get on with it."

Scarlet didn't like being here. She didn't like explaining herself. She didn't like being treated better than Adda when she did just as many wrongs as her.

"You made the deal, little lady, and thus is what will become." Bonegrinder stole a glance at the prince. "Even pretty prince here won't deny the fact that a war is coming." "... unfortunately, that is true." Ralnor glared at the Anagari before giving Scarlet a defeated sigh. "Are you familiar with the tale of the Maker and Destroyer brothers?"

"No." Scarlet sounded sad. Was she stupid for not knowing? "Should I?"

Bonegrinder took the time to tell Scarlet the ancient tale of the two brothers fighting. He even told her of Luimaya's role, knowing she could be trusted. Chaos was hot on their tails and would one day challenge the Mother Goddess for the right to this world. The fateful day of prophecy had chosen warriors on each side. She was one of the selected few to join Mother Goddesses' ranks. "You are the one who shall lead the Gerudo into a new age, Scarlet." Bonegrinder assured the woman's doubts. "Regardless of what you think of yourself, there are those who look up to you. If you do not fight, then the Gerudo will fall. Every kingdom will fall. One by one. Until nothing is left."

“I... why me? Honestly. Why me.”

"Because despite your mistakes, Scarlet," He used her name to grab her attention. "You still try for the better. Live for the better. Not for yourself, but for others. That... is a rarity to find in this world. Regardless of your past attentions, you still have a good heart."

Scarlet frowned, barely able to make eye contact. “I’ll try.”

"If not for yourself... perhaps for your daughters? If you fight, they will have a better chance of survival." Bonegrinder left her with that inquiry to think upon while she was here in Hyrule. "Now, you must travel to Taiyo Town to speak with that hardheaded commander of the reagent queen's." The Anagari sounded rather annoyed at the idea, but knew it was necessary.

Scarlet felt something tugging at the back of her mind. As if she might not return to Hyrule. A thought crawled in her head. “Prince Ralnor. Is Adda still alive? Where do you keep her?”

"Unfortunately, she is still alive." Ralnor did not look too enthused about Scarlet's question. "Why do you wish to know her location?"

“I wish to speak to her.”

"No." Ralnor frowned, crossing his arms. "She is not allowed visitors."

“Please. I don’t know if I’d have a chance to have proper closure with her.”

"She is not allowed visitors." Ralnor repeated this time more sternly. "She is a dangerous, criminal who has a way of getting into the minds of others. I said no."

"Do you not think it would be a good form of revenge to see her 'sister' living life so wondrously?" Bonegrinder asked the blondie prince. "Definitely make her sick."

Scarlet frowned. “Can’t you do this my one request for helping you?”

"Forgive me for sounding crass, but you were once part of her unruly band." Ralnor stated, the distrust clear in his voice. The second born prince trusted very few around the castle. He preferred to stay guarded that way. "Give me a reason why this isn't a little escape ploy of yours? Or even worse, a game of his."

"Now, now, you wound this old snake so, why would he ever free that 'better-than-thou' bitch?"

"Because you like to see me squirm."

"That he will not deny. But no, pretty prince, you should not be alarmed. This is no game. Merely a bitter taste of medicine."

"..." Ralnor glanced at Scarlet and then to the Anagari. "Fine. But you go with her. And my spies will be watching."

"Even pretty faces can tell lies." Ralnor started working his way back up the hidden staircase the two of them descended. "I'd advise you not to listen to Adda. No matter what she says."

“I understand.”

As Bonegrinder showed her the correct way through the tunnels to the prison cells, it was a maze underneath the castle. It was built that way in case of a prisoner escape. One would be hard pressed to find an exit. "He will remain back here, little lady, to spare your friend a fright. But heed the pretty prince's words," Bonegrinder warned her. "Don't let her get into your head. Keep it short. If you do not return within 5 minutes, he will come get you."

The door creaked behind Scarlet, and she felt her shoulders dropped.

________________________________________________________________

Crossover with @ridersoftheapocalypse

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[newstfionline]

Venezuela may be sliding into a civil war

By Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, June 29, 2017

It was like a scene from a movie. On late Tuesday afternoon, residents in Caracas saw a blue police helicopter circling the capital, carrying a banner that read “Libertad,” or “freedom,” and the number “350”--a reference, my colleagues explained, “to the article in the Venezuelan constitution that allows people to ‘disown’ their government if it acts in an undemocratic way.”

Government officials said the chopper then dropped a number of grenades on Venezuela’s Supreme Court buildings and strafed the Interior Ministry. On Wednesday, authorities were on the hunt for the alleged ringleader of the attack, Oscar Perez, an actor who also served in the country’s special forces.

In a country wracked by political turmoil and economic collapse, the helicopter incident--framed as a coup attempt by embattled President Nicolás Maduro and his supporters--happened to be just one explosive episode in yet another a day of chaos. Protests and counter-protests continued in several Venezuelan cities; pro-government supporters stormed the National Assembly, which is dominated by opposition legislators; Maduro made an incendiary televised speech, warning darkly of further violence.

“If Venezuela was plunged into chaos and violence and the Bolivarian Revolution destroyed, we would go to combat,” Maduro said to a crowd of supporters, referring to the socialist, populist platform that transformed Venezuela under his charismatic predecessor, Hugo Chávez. “We would never give up, and what couldn’t be done with votes, we would do with weapons. We would liberate the fatherland with weapons.”

Since the onset of the crisis three months ago, at least 76 people have died in clashes between protesters, armed counter-protesters and security forces. The majority of those killed have been civilians. Experts worry that Venezuela could drift into outright civil war without outside diplomatic intervention.

“Maduro and the top officials who surround him appear determined to remain in power at any cost, despite increasing regional isolation and growing signs of division within the government and the military,” my colleague Nick Miroff wrote earlier this month. “A more dramatic rupture within Venezuela’s armed forces could be a worst-case scenario if it sparks internecine fighting.”

That’s why Perez’s helicopter mission seemed so alarming. Maduro and his allies wasted no time describing the incident as right-wing terrorism abetted by outside powers. In a video uploaded to social media, Perez said his group was a nonpartisan military alliance of soldiers and police that sought no conflict with the country’s security forces.

“It’s against the impunity imposed by this government,” Perez said in the video, which shows him flanked by masked men with guns. “It’s against tyranny. It’s against the deaths of young people who are fighting for their legitimate rights. It’s against hunger.”

But by Wednesday, many in Venezuela had started to question whether the attack, which fitted so conveniently into the government’s narrative, was a false flag. The conspicuousness of Perez’s own showbiz career--he starred in an action film called “Death Suspended”--raised eyebrows and confusion.

“Right now, I only see two possibilities: Either the pilot was tricked or it was staged,” Félix Seijas Rodríguez, a political analyst in Caracas, said to my colleagues Rachelle Krygier and Joshua Partlow. “It makes no sense.”

“Some people say it is a setup, some that it is real,” said Julio Borges, leader of the opposition-controlled legislature. “Yesterday was full of contradictions ... A thousand things are happening, but I summarize it like this: A government is decaying and rotting, while a nation is fighting for dignity.”

Francisco Toro, the editor of the website Caracas Chronicles, summed up the moment: “The ‘Chopper Coupster’ episode, in all its glorious surrealism, comes just as the regime needed to draw attention away from its latest power grabs: a decision hollowing out the Prosecutor General’s office of most of its powers, and a straight-up assault on parliament. Lots and lots of crazy things happening out there, folks. And guys like Oscar Pérez will only sprinkle on more crazy.”

Meanwhile, the country is spiraling deeper into crisis. Although he is profoundly unpopular, Maduro is clinging on to what levers of state power he still controls. He has called a July 30 election for a new special assembly that could amend the country’s constitution--changes that may only add more fuel to the fire. The opposition intends to boycott the vote, and it is likely that the days around the balloting will see even more clashes erupt on the streets.

Under Chávez, Venezuela saw the dramatic uplift of millions of poor people, boosted by new social programs that were funded by the oil-rich state’s coffers. But years of corruption, mismanagement and a drop in oil prices have devastated the country, sparking perennial food shortages and a range of dizzying public health crises.

“There has been terrible economic and social destruction,” wrote Enrique Krauze, a historian and commentator on Latin American affairs. “Across 15 years, a trillion dollars’ worth of oil income has been squandered and 80 percent of Venezuelans have fallen into poverty. The estimated inflation rate for 2017 is 720 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund.”

Maduro’s government has desperately sought to secure emergency cash loans on such unfavorable terms that, as Miroff wrote, it resembles “the kind of financing typically available to people with trembling hands trying to negotiate through bulletproof glass.” The country’s neighbors are struggling to find a common strategy to help resolve the crisis. And the division between Maduro’s camp and his opponents is so entrenched and heated that reconciliation looks to be a distant prospect.

“Marches and countermarches are usually a signal that history is on the move--that change, of some kind, is coming,” wrote historian Greg Grandin. “But Venezuela is in stasis.”

[thedrag0nking]

1:26 P.M. The Lunarian city

The lunarisn city, the only place that is safe from Gensokyo's newest threats it's the third largest city in all of the land and it's home to the clan called the new moon. The lunarians here lived peacefully all the while they all still suffer from the guilt of gensokyo's dark past but unfortunately the horrific past will never go away, in fact right now it's once more rear it's ugly head from the darkness, thus whole city will face a horrifying grim reminder of what they have brought upon. Their cheery smiles, their families, activities, everything else will soon ceases.

From the walls of the lunar city an explosion appeared powerful enough to break a large hole into city walls, as every moon rabbit in sight began to panic. Through the whole out came a whole swarm of Koishisaurs and the hulking cannibalistic dinosaur NCOs appear into the city killing everything in sight from the gnashers, hulking monstrosities that are a cross between a raptor and the great apes gigantopithecus who moved around the city crushing and killing every moon rabbit in their way.

However the gnashers aren't the only beasts the lunarians should be worried about as the koishisaur appeared alongside with them in the city armed and ready with chop chop shotguns, butcher assault rifles, and their bone snatcher sniper rifles. Ranging from the abyss mermaids, Koishi hobgoblins, the Yukarijiras, Mrs. Sunshines, and the most odd of the koishisaurs species that are the blood bulls, rebellious nightmares that are a cross between Seija Kijin, carnotaurus, the velociraptor, and a honey badger. And their distinctive cousins the shinmyoumarusaur a creature that is an amalgamation of sukuna shinmyoumaru, carnotaurus, and the feather dinosaur archaeopteryx and are the size of a small child and they and the rest of these koishisaur species carry blood canons, chop chop muskets, and their swords made from the bones of dinosaurs and steel.

These groups of Koishisaurs are the pirates of gensokyo called the black hand and are here in the lunarian city to take lunarian tech and other riches they can find all the while they cause mayham and destruction into the city of moon rabbits. One of the black hand crew members shouted at the distance and raised her sword calling for her captain to arrivale into the scene.

" OI CAP'N WE'S GIRLS TAKEN' DA' CITY WE GOT'S TO LOOT ! ! ! "

" Alright den' Mista' woodchipper send the wee lads an' provide dem with' support! "

" Alright boss' give'em hell. "

" Das' wha' I'm doin' ya git! "

And so Mister woodchipper send in thr shinmyoumarusaurusses with the rest of her crew as the captain marched into the chaos with her large greatsword made and forged by her hands, Captain Toothpick the bane of the lunarians and the monster of revolution has finally appeared to tear the city apart and fight along side her crew. New moon troops and the Maquis corporation's soldiers appeared into the scene and will use lethal force to deal with Captain Toothpick and her crew.

" WE GOTTA HOLD THEM BACK WE HAVE TO SAVE THE CITY ! ! ! "

" Ahh shut ye' trap an' fight me' ya' git ! We haven' come'ere ta talk less' talk' mo' fightin' ! ! "

It's now the black hand against both new moon lumar corp and Maquis corporation. The black hand charge towards them at full fury, swarming both factions with strength in numbers, and their sheer ferocity. They had gave them everything they have from their powerful weapons, their own combat machines, and assault vijokas but they kept coming no matter how many of the crew had die, Mrs. Sunshines charging head fist into the group, using their strength and their lust for blood, killing both new moon and Maauis soldiers with their bare hands all the while they consume their flesh, shrugging off the damage they can take and they now swing their ankylosaurus tails at the large groups of their enemies crushing them and send them flying with broken bones.

The blood bulls now join in on the action alongside them and kill as many as they can, using their scorching flamethrowers burning alive their enemies into a crisp as screaming from their constant agony is music to their ears.

The Koishi hobgoblins leap across buildings at an incredible 20 feet, remain in station and fire from the distance picking on every target they can spot and kill through their sights with their bone snatcher sniper rifles solely made to destroy heavy armor while the few others destroy both assault vijokas and Maquis war robots, only for them to tampered with their wires making them fight for their side while also piggy back riding on them as they fire their butcher rifles around screaming and laughing.

" WEEEEEEEE ! ! ! ! ! "

As the battle continues forward the mutated Yukarisaurs marched in with the hobgoblins and fight along side their spawn, killing the ones that got near them despite them being pirates they still have their tooth and claw ideals as they would rather die to keep their children safe, the Yukarijiras unleashed their atomic beams from their mouths decimating the entire army of both the lunar and Maquis corp soldiers, and even killing the civilians who're trying to escape the city now turned bloody warzone. Captain Toothpick is having the time of her life swinging her long sword around at her enemies swing their bodies now torn in half and organs flying out from their bodies. One of the lunar snipers got their sights on the captain but are suddenly overwhelmed by the Shinmyoumarusaurs who stabbed and bite into the snipers body all the while being taken down by the koishi hobgoblins as well. The battle of the lunarian city had been a colossal disaster and these pirates are winning, the Maquis change of orders are evacuate the clan and the rest of the civillians off the city. That's all they can do. That's all they can hope for and they had hope for the best. As the smoke is cleared the civillians and the new moon clan are out of the city, leaving it behind into nothing but a mass grave of dead bodies. Everyone had died a billion lives were losts, unfortunately billions more are alive and evacuated from the city. The blach hand had won and their enemy had lost, they raised their weapons and let out loud roaring cheering for their victory. Now they began to loot and taking every lunarian tech and other things from them. It was the happiest day for Captain Toothpick and her crew, the looting is indeed glorious.

[thedrag0nking]

As the two stared at the sky in the middle of the forest around the dead Gensokyo they had realized that it's getting dark and they rather not stick around at night as that's when the true horrors come out and play. They both decided to hurry back before it gets dark, but then suddenly beezel stopped and rushes towards Koishi and pushed her out of the way.

" Move... "

" H-Huh?! "

As the hound pushed the No One's Rose out of the way, an unknown entity emerge out of the bushes slashing her pet across her face even though she can't feel pain due to being a creature made from a portion of Yukari and Koishi's gap and bodies. She turned and see that her familiar is attacked.

" BEEZEL..! "

Koishi rushes towards her and check if she's alright, the hound seem to regenerate her wounds almost immediately and stares at her mistress.

" I'm fine Madam, but I can't say the same for our new guest... "

Loud cackling is let out from their assailant as Koishi turned around to the source of the cackling. What she saw was another one of the space kaiju, this time she reveals herself to be a reverse type Kaiju Seija Kijin AKA screwtape halo who's body is twitching and giggling maniacally at their struggle and worse yet she's eager to kill and piss off the No One's Rose.

" What's wrong, meat sack? Can't handle the fucking program? Shake this square world and blast off to kicksville ! ! ! "

Koishi gritted her teeth as she remove her mask and pulls off her robe revealing herself as she sets them both on the ground as sge prepares for another fight this time with only her fists and spells. The sound of her heart beating and racing as the energy within her fuels her body. Seija already taking a head start dashes towards the No One's Rose and stretched her arms towards her delivering vicious jabs but Koishi bends down dodging her attack, then grabbing her stretched out arm, pulling her towards her as she delivers a swift punch in the gut. The monster let out a loud screech from the damage she's given which made the reverse type Kaiju all the more violent as she jumps back away from her and unleashes a whole flurry of attacks from her dark blue halo splitting itself apart flying towards Koishi. Koishi dodged the first one oy for her to be scratched by the bladed piece of her halo on her shoulder.

Koishi covers her shoulder gritting her teeth as she begins to heal but Seija wasn't quite finished. Not by a long shot as she twirls her fingers controlling both parts of her halo as they fly around more lile boomerangs ready to hit their target once again. With supurb reflexes Koishi grabs both parts of the halo which made Seija squints her large frog like beady eyes in shock.

" AWW FUCK... "

" God you're a massive pain in my ass even as a monster ! ! ! "

Koishi with both of her weapons in both hands she charged towards the space kaiju as she prepares to beat the creature to a pulp with it, seija too charges towards her as she wants to see where this is going. She loves to see her enemies get enraged, which it'll be her downfall.

With the two collided Koishi swung a piece of Seija's halo, smacking her across her face which Seija then retaliated and struck her directly at her face with her own fist, Koishi moved her head back slamming her head across her face, which breaks her nose and knocked her back by her sheer force and raw strength. Seija regaining herself her charges towards her, and proceeded grabbing her by the throat but Koishi stopped her from the strangulation as the two with all their might and strength struggled to hold eachother back but then she had a grab idea.

" FETCH ! ! "

Koishi shouted, signalling the hound to attack and provide assistance for her mistress as Beezel's body twisted itself transforming herself back into the black hound and lunged towards the kaiju bitting her on the shoulder viciously. Seija let out a screech moving away from Koishi as she struggle to get her hound off of her shoulder as she moves around screaming and clawing Beezel, this give her enough time to strike back as she bites her wrist again drawing a pentagram on the ground just like what she did with yamame and Yoshika. Seija finally grabs the hound by the neck forcibly remove her from her body and tosses her away as she instead of attacking is pointing at her angrily yelling.

" NO FAIR! NO FAIR! NO FAUR! YOU CHEATER, YOU LET A DOG TO HELP YOU YA PUSSY!!! "

" Isn't what dogs do for their owners...? "

" PUSSY ! ! ! "