#❛ LUNA AND MASON ❋ ◤ HE KNOWS JUST WHAT IT DOES WHEN HE’S HOLDING ME TIGHT ◢

[drarrily-we-row-along]

Day 66: Bond

There was a certain bond that formed between two people when all of your friends were paired off and dating someone. When the two of you were the only single people so you got paired off to share food, and be partners in games, and all other manner of things.

Harry supposed that tonight would be just one more of those nights as he arrived at Ginny and Luna's. And he wasn't complaining (not anymore, at least) it had taken a couple of years but he and Draco had warmed up to each other. They had compatible styles for partner games, Draco always gave Harry any treats with nuts and Harry gave him any treats with mint, and Harry genuinely enjoyed his dry sense of humor.

If he was being honest, he'd started looking forward to all of the time that he got to spend with Draco on Friday nights.

But things felt different the moment he entered the house, even though he couldn't quite put his finger on why. He spotted Ginny first, standing against the counter, pouring a couple glasses of wine, "Hey," he called.

She looked up and bit her lip.

"What?" he asked with no small amount of dread. He knew that look; it was the look she'd given him right before she'd told him she might be gay and in love with Luna, a look that said she was afraid of breaking his heart.

Ginny opened her mouth but no words came out.

"Ginny, what?" he said, taking several steps toward her.

"I don't know how to say thi-"

"Oh, good," he heard Draco say from behind him, "You're here."

His mouth stretched into a grin even before he turned around "He-" he broke off when he saw that Draco was standing with his arm around some bloke who Harry had never met before. "Hey," he finished.

"This is Matt," Draco offered.

And frankly, Harry would rather die (again) than shake his hand but before he could have any say in the matter Matt had stepped forward into his space and was gripping his hand. Hard. "The Harry Potter," he drawled. "My, my."

(Read more below the cut)

Harry glanced over at Draco who looked vaguely uncomfortable.

"Draco has told me so much about you. I could hardly believe that he was telling the truth." He leaned toward Harry conspiratorially, "He's known for embellishing the truth, you know?"

Harry wrenched his hand from Matt's grip, "Actually, I've found Draco to be honest to a fault. Hardly anyone else will tell me when my outfit doesn't match or I've got something stuck in my teeth."

Matt's eyes flashed and Harry's proverbial hackles stood on end he didn't like that look, "I-" Matt started

"Hey," Draco said, taking Matt's hand and drawing his attention, "Let me introduce you to everyone else."

"Nice meeting you, Mark," Harry called.

Draco narrowed his eyes at him, "Matt," he corrected, before mouthing, 'behave' at Harry.

"My mistake," Harry said, maintaining eye contact with the other man until he turned away and followed Draco into the other room.

"Okay," Ginny said, drawing his attention away from them, "First. Men are disgusting; I can't believe I thought I was attracted to them for so long."

"What?" he asked, slumping over to the counter and sliding onto a stool across from where Ginny was still mixing up drinks. He was feeling a little nauseous, fire rushing under his skin.

"That," she said, gesturing to where Harry had been standing talking to Matt and Draco, "The little pissing match to decide who's dominant."

"What?" Harry asked, "that guy is just an asshole."

She rolled her eyes, "Second, you're still an idiot."

"Wow. I'm just going to go home," he said. "Between you and the dude who was trying to break my fingers, I don't think it's going to be a great night."

Ginny leaned across the counter and instinctively Harry leaned toward her, "How long are you going to continue denying you have feelings for Draco?"

His brow furrowed, "I don't. We're just mates," he added.

"I rest my case. You're still an idiot," she said as she leaned back and started mixing drinks again.

Harry slouched on his stool turning that thought over in his mind, "That actually would make sense," he admitted.

"Harry, I love you, you know I do," she said. "But honestly, I can't believe you're just figuring this out. The rest of us have known for ages. We were all shocked when he walked through the door with Matt; he told us he was bringing someone but we thought the two of you were just making a joke."

"Well now what am I supposed to do?" he asked. "Why couldn't anyone have said something sooner?"

"Because we thought it was obvious," she hissed.

"Let's just get through the night," he sighed. "Then we'll deal with the rest. We'll need to come up with a plan."

-----------

He spent the rest of the night calling Matt the wrong name (Miles, Maurice, Mike, Max, Moses, Mitch, Mason) to the point that Ron either caught on and decided to help or got confused enough that he started calling him the wrong name, too. Harry also couldn't help but rub it in Matt's face how much better he knew Draco; telling inside jokes, asking Draco specific questions about his work and his parents, and reminiscing about fond memories.

Draco seemed a bit exasperated by it but Harry couldn't help himself. Once he started, he just couldn't seem to stop.

Eventually as everyone was getting ready to leave and Luna was saying good bye to Matt, Draco cornered him, "Do not move a fucking muscle," he hissed, "I am not done with you."

"Dra-"

"I mean it, Potter. Stay right here," he said, jabbing him in the chest with his finger before he turned and made his way over to his date.

"Hey," Matt said, smiling at him much the way Harry imagined an alligator might smile at his prey.

"Hi," Draco replied softly. "I'll floo you tomorrow, yeah? There are a few things I need to take care of."

Matt frowned, "I thought we were going back to my place."

"No," Draco replied steadily. "I have a five date rule." He stepped back, "I'll floo you," he repeated.

And Matt looked pretty pissed about it, but he seemed to take the hint and disapparated on the spot without so much as a goodbye to anyone.

"You're all the literal worst," Draco fumed. "Except you, Luna," he added. "You're a goddess."

Luna gave a little curtsy.

"Seriously," Draco said, glaring at the room even though none of them looked especially repentant. "And you," he spat, spinning to glare at Harry, "You're the worst of all."

"Does that make me special?" Harry quipped, arms folded across his chest.

Draco groaned, "Bloody fucking Griffyndors. I hope you're all happy," he grabbed Harry's arm. "Come on we are going back to mine to have a chat."

"I thought you had a five date rule," Ginny called.

Draco flipped her the two finger salute before apparating them to his house.

Harry always liked being in Draco's house; it was small and cozy, and it always smelled vaguely like chamomile. Just being here made his soul feel lighter, calmer.

"Alright," Draco growled, "Spill. What the hell was that?"

"What?" Harry asked innocently.

"Potter," he warned.

Harry sighed, "He's an asshole."

"And you know that how? You didn't even give him a chance".

"Draco his handshake was like a vice!"

Draco stared at him, "You've got to be kidding me. Are you that much of a child? He hurt your hand so you thought you should bully him?"

"I didn't bully him!" Harry exclaimed.

"No?" Draco asked. "You didn't use his given name even once." Harry winced, maybe that was overkill. "You spent the entire night trying to make him feel stupid and inferior to you. Which, let's face it, everyone does anyway because you're Harry fucking Potter!" Draco exploded.

"That's not fair," Harry said, betrayal slicing hot through his gut. Draco knew that he hated being famous, hated the preconceived notions attached to his name.

"Yeah well, neither was what you did."

"Draco, I-"

"No," he said, holding out a hand, "That was such bullshit, Harry."

"But he's awful."

"You didn't even give him a cha-"

"I didn't have to!" he exploded. "The first words he said to me were to disrespect you. He's an asshole and I will chase a million of them away from you."

"That's not your job."

Harry threw his hands up in the air, "I'm your best friend! Whose job is it, if it's not mine?"

"You don't just get to decide things for me!" Draco cried.

"Fine," Harry spat. "You want to date that wanker, go ahead. But I have seen his type before. Don't come crying to me when he's beaten you to a bloody pulp for looking at someone the wrong way." He pushed past Draco and made his way to the door, walking out and slamming it behind him.

He started down the sidewalk, debating trying to figure out where Matt lived and have a chat or maybe go over to Ron and Hermione's to get some advice and regroup.

But the further he walked, the more the anger faded from his veins, and the guilt settled in.

There was no choice really, he turned around and headed back to Draco's house once more. When he arrived he knocked on the door even though he normally would have just let himself in.

"Go away!" Draco shouted.

He knocked again, "Draco, please."

"No! Go away. You're the worst."

"I know," he called back. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. Please."

After a few seconds, during which fear settled heaving in Harry's gut, the door opened and Harry slipped inside, Draco was curled up on the couch, hugging a pillow to his chest.

Seeing him looking so small and sad made Harry ache. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have said that."

"Which part?" Draco asked bitterly.

He sighed and came over to sit on the couch beside Draco, "I'm not sorry for chasing him away. But I will always be here for you, no matter what. You can always come to me."

Draco leaned over and put his head on Harry's shoulder, "I know," he whispered.

"Forgive me?"

He nodded and they sat together in silence for a few minutes, both trying to collect their thoughts. Eventually Harry said, "I really wish you wouldn't date him."

Draco sat up, "Harry look at me."

Harry turned on the couch to look at him and raised his eyebrows.

"I won't ever floo call him, we'll never go on another date, and I'll never see him again." Something eased in Harry's chest. "But it's not because of what you said or did. It's because I, too, have had shitty relationships. I have also lived through trauma and I have had to learn from it just like you."

Harry looked down at his hands.

"And if you have concerns about someone, there is a better way to tell me than what you did tonight."

He nodded, suitably chastised, "You're right."

"I appreciate your concern, though," he added and Harry looked up to see that Draco's mouth was quirked up, he really must be forgiven, apparently. "And I genuinely forgot how petty you can be."

He shook his head and reached out for Draco's hand, "Draco, I want you to be so, so happy," he said. Then he added, "I'm an idiot."

Draco raised an eyebrow.

"And everyone knows it, you included, so you can't really hold it against me," he said.

"I'm pretty sure I can."

He huffed, "Just hear me out. I'm an idiot and I didn't realize until tonight that I'm a little bit in love with you. And it's fine if you don't feel the same but you are my best friend and I had high standards for you even before I knew I had feelings for you. It hurt me to see you with someone who treated you so poorly."

"Sorry," Draco said, "I need you to repeat that."

"I said, I'm an idiot," Harry started.

"Not that part."

"It hurt me to see you with someone who treated y-"

"Not that part either," Draco said.

Harry swallowed, "It's fine if you don't fee-"

"Harry," he grumbled. "Say the other part."

He rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm in love with you," he whispered.

Draco blinked at him, a smile blooming at the corner of his mouth, "Say it again."

A grin tipped up the corners of his mouth as well, "I'm in love with you."

Draco launched himself into Harry's arms and covered Harry's lips with his own, "say it again," he mumbled into the kiss.

"I love you," Harry repeated, murmuring the words into Draco's mouth.

Draco pulled back slightly, "I love you, too."

"I hoped that was the case," Harry replied.

After he kissed him again, Draco said, "Alright, fine. Now you get a say in who I date."

Harry grinned, "Is that so?"

He nodded.

"Will you date me, Draco Malfoy?" he asked, brushing his nose along Draco's.

"Yes," he whispered. Then with a smirk he added, "But we'll have to get my best friend's approval and rumor has it that he has very high standards."

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Day 65: Question | Day 67: Soulmate (Take 1)- Your traditional soulmate trope or Day 67: Soulmate (Take 2)- just using the word 'soulmate' as a prompt, not the trope.

[jess-the-vampire]

Sky And The Forces Of The Multiverse, Chapter 46

Previous / Next

-

"There!"

Sunny wiped at her brow, happy with their final designs for their costumes, it had taken a lot of brainstorming and they weren't even close to being actually finished but they had made a lot of progress. Actually it was kinda nice to have both lexi and sunny here, they were both creative types like her and that made them perfect to bounce ideas off of when it came to stuff like this.

Sunny even helped her with adjustments for nora's hat.Sunny had made her own costumes back home, not that they were well made ones or anything, but she wasn't unfamiliar to the process even if it wasn't very good. Plus she liked sharing her own ideas, especially since she knew what she was going for, to be performers they needed an idea in mind and well...better sunny then anyone else, she liked to perform back home.

"Maybe this time you'll get to see me actually perform!", she said cheerfully.

"Yeah...can't wait to watch you run around with a mustache", sky joked, smirking, but she was a little bit serious after hearing how sunny's last performance went.

"Thank you!", she was all too cute, She was a light spot in a lot of this, always trying to make others feel good as best as she could. It didn't shock sky at all she and mason became friends, they had a lot in common. Though since their shared father was a demon with a fond love of soft small animals, sky had a feeling he was the main culprit for this similarity.

"So...how'd you get into acting and singing and whatever exactly?", sky cleaned up some of their mess as sunny hummed to herself, trying to clean sky's extremely messy room to the best of her ability, though with a little demon magic help on her side. "Oh? Well, When i was stuck in our castle all the time i was lacking in many things to do...so i wanted to find new ways to entertain my little brother...so...i started writing stories for him...then starting acting them out with puppets...then costumes...it just...sorta...became fun for me".

"Locked up like...how nora was?", she felt a bit of concern considering nora's situation beforehand.

"Well...not exactly...more freedom...but the only reason we stayed inside as often as we did is cause people tried to attack us all the time when we went out...so they felt it better we were protected a lot...not to say we never went out a bit regardless...but i have a bodyguard, trust me when i say it's weird walking around without a knight following me to protect me...i mean it's happening now but when i first arrived-", something about that seemed to surprised sky, maybe with how tough sunny was, but the mention of it all made sky remember something.

"So...the knife-?".

"Protection purposes...i learned self defense young".

"Huh".

Somehow that made sky even more terrified of sunny then before, but also safer as well, sunny seemed too innocent to be just as scary as she actually was but boy did it make you want to be on her good side all the more. Otherwise you might quickly meet a bad fate by underestimating her and her strength and power. Gee and all sky usually did was taze people and might occasionally get a blast at them if he wand was working properly that day.

A 14 year old prodigy with bodyguards, self defense skills, a knife, and who loves musicals and plays.

Behold princess Sunny, one strange young girl.

She still seemed a bit sheepish about the whole thing with her dagger, her shoulders tightning, "I never meant to hurt judas...it's just a part of my training, usually when a giant tentacle comes and grabs you like that you're not expecting it from a friend, I know he doesn't hold it against me but when you're so worried about being attacked that you end up hurting a friend, it does get to you...sometimes this stuff affects making friends...they think you're too scary".

"Eh...friends who hate you for that probably aren't worth being friends with anyway", sky simply grumbled, "We're all pretty bad socially...none of us had the best environments to grow up in and make friends in...i'm lucky just to have judas as my friend, otherwise i might've just been by myself for years without any friends...and...yeah, that'd be kinda depressing".

"A life without any friends is a sad life...", the small princess finished cleaning up, helping her sister Galexia get her drawings together. "We're only alive so long, better we enjoy that life as much as we can...when i get home i hope to make more friends then i ever could before...perform more, just get to enjoy myself a bit more instead of being stressed or scared".

"That...sounds nice".

"What about you sky?".

"Eh?".

She turned to face her directly.

"When we're back home and everything is back to normal...what will you do first?".

She blinked at her, waiting for an answer, but sky had to just respond with a shrug.

"Honestly? Not sure...i actually think i'll just...rest...i think there's no need to rush into anything and well...rest is something i need before i could do much of anything anyway.

Sometimes you gotta take the time to like...breathe right? Can't spend every moment busy or you might not like...get to enjoy everything, i might wanna slow down for a little after this...i think".

"Planning on getting some therapy?".

"Yeah, definitely.".

That got her to laugh, sharp teeth being exposed upon her laugh.

"Yeah...i think i might need rest when i get home too...", she seemed to be lost in thought, probably thinking about her family back home. It had honestly sounded overall like her parents were rather nice, maybe protective but overall rather great to be around. Maybe in truth the first thing sunny would do was hug them tightly and never let them go after this.

Sounded like something sunny would do.

"Thanks for being a big help sky, you're super talented! I'm really glad to have you as our kinda sorta leader...", Sky was being pessimistic but it was coming from sunny, so she probably most certainly meant it. And considering Sunny was considered such an important and brilliant person back home that probably meant a lot coming from her, even if sky didn't know the full weight of it.

"Y'know sunny?".

"Hmm?".

"Whether it's my fault you're here or not...i'm...happy you guys are here...i mean i'm not happy you're separated from your families and friends or anything of course, i just mean i'm happy i got to like...meet you all...even luna...it's just kinda been nice...having sisters. I've seen judas deal with his brothers for years and sometimes i wondered about if i had an older or younger sibling so...i guess this turned out to be a weird blessing for me...though i hate that it hurt you all".

"Well i never would've gotten to meet you and judas and angel, mason, landon...galexia...any of you without this happening either, it's going to make one heck of a play when i get back home i tell ya!", sky was just imagining sunny pretending to be all of them on a stage, acting out all the stuff they went through and found herself snorting with laughter.

Oh what a sight that would be.

She could just see sunny wearing fake spider legs for angel and stilts with a fake tentacle arm for jude.

"Wanna get some food...?", she perked up, her stomach growling and ready to head out for a break.

Sky was more then happy with that idea, maybe they could run into angel or nora on the way, though maybe they'd also run into Meteora if they weren't careful. Sky also wanted to check up on judas, after all he was getting his arm looked at more and sky wanted to hear what they found. Judas probably needed this check up, even if they didn't find anything.

Plus judas would probably like having company, even if sky and the others weren't there for very long.

Though they were being very closely watched on, reminding sky of the first time they had bodyguards, except this time they were so close sky could smell their breath. But this time, sky didn't mind them so much, in fact she liked having them there then she used to, it added just a bit more safety to their situation even if the guards probably wouldn't last long in a fight against Her.

The more meat shields the merrier at this point.

They hadn't even gotten far however when exactly what sky was worried about was standing nearby. Meteora writing something down in her little notebook, interviewing some other guards and knights in training that knew luna as well, she took her job pretty seriously it seemed. She was pretty good at getting people to talk, though it seemed the knights were MORE then eager to spill dirt on luna.

Geez, so much for nobility and loyalty.

Sunny was baffled at seeing her, and that's when sky remembered meteora knew sunny in her home, Sunny had been pretty open about that part. Sky wondered just how different the two meteora's were, guess if meteora was a spy for sunny she might've been able to figure that whole thing out way before though. Judging by her expression it seemed this meteora was quite a bit different.

If even in just appearance.

Though as much as sunny wanted to talk to her, she had to keep her mouth shut, she didn't want to draw attention to themselves and come off even more suspicious then they looked before. They were just going to have to walk past her and let her do whatever she was doing, sky taking the lead with the girls behind her, but even though sunny knew the drill.

Galexia clearly didn't.

She waved to meteora as they walked past, making sky and sunny both panic for a moment as meteroa glanced up and looked at them walking past her. She didn't react much however, though she did give lexi a smile and sunny a curious look before getting back to her interviewing. The girls heading past, trying to seem as normal as possible as they headed out of her sight.

"Meteora looks very pretty...", the demon noted, keeping her head forward to sky.

"Yeah...pretty...but also...intimidating...".

That's when sky thought of something, but the guards being there made it hard to really ask.

She waited till they headed to the kitchens, were the noises were as loud as ever to pull sunny aside, lexi looming over the freshly baked cupcakes. "Hey...question, meteora exists in your world so uh...why are you next in line for the throne? Why isn't she and eclipsa in charge?".

Sunny eyes for anyone who might be listening in and answered the curious girl, "Well, it wouldn't hurt to say but...she didn't like being in charge so she thought my parents outta do it instead since they were more interested...meteora and me just grew up kinda like sisters...it was something that just kinda worked out for everyone, plus eclipsa likes not having that pressure anymore.".

So it was almost like what eclipsa said happened in this universe, except with a lot more secrets and sadness attached that felt like it screwed some people in the process.

Gee if it weren't for the constantly being attacked and constantly put under pressure thing, sky would argue the world sunny comes from is next to perfect, having a happy family unit with no secrets between them. It really was no wonder sunny was the person she was, and it was no wonder sky had the problems she had. It was nearly like night and day, nearly.

She had a lot more in common with her siblings then she had actually thought, more then just being princesses and just sharing a single parent. No they had situations and issues that repeated between them, it was almost eerier in that regard, that sky ended up meeting girls who knew how she felt in several ways. She easily could've have gotten several sisters who were just...normal people.

Or killers.

If this wasn't somehow on purpose she had gotten seriously lucky with the girls who had shown up.

Hmm

Something about that got her thinking.

But she wasn't able to ponder on that too much longer as sunny helped lexi pick out some snacks for the three of them, grabbing something bonus for judas just in case he was hungry. The servants were staring at them as they grabbed stuff, to them these girls were just helping themselves to their treats without a care in the world, and the only reason they didn't tell them off was because sky was here.

Imagine living your life as a princess and then going into a world that just saw you as a peasant.

That had to be a weird shift.

Then again, not having that pressure must've been super relaxing for once. Sunny could honestly just chill if she wanted to, though if sky asked it was clear sunny would rather be with her family again and take the pressure then be away without it. If Sky had been transported to one of their dimensions without judas she knew she'd have a straight up heart attack.

She'd rather be queen with him around then not be queen without, that was for sure.

And that led her to pick out a treat for him as well, something she knew he liked the best.

Thanking the servers and staff before leading the girls out, munching on some fresh cookies and laughing together, she liked the vibes these two had, hey were just so...positive. They were the opposite of luna and celeste, positive, friendly, and easy to talk to and hang out with.

Hanging out with them as so nice, sky felt bad she had never really done it much before. She had been so stressed hanging out with her sisters felt like it would just waste time, but she really liked spending time with them, she didn't have that many friends who were female when she thought about it, nora not even counting much because they had only truly become friends recently.

Even though they were being followed by guards and barely allowed to properly talk it still invoked a nice feeling. Sunny and Galexia had clicked since day one and barely left the other's side since, hanging out more with each other then anyone else. Even now they were laughing among themselves, having a good ole time, and before sky could feel left out sunny was inviting her in to talk.

it was a nice break from the stress.

Judas was being checked up in the butterfly kingdom hospital wing, though thankfully in a room away from where they usually seemed to go when stuff happened, clearly his parents wanted to give him some more privacy and sky and judas both couldn't protest against that.

Last thing they needed was the press to get out about jude's arm acting funny when they already spread lies about his arm for years.

He was waiting on the bed when they were allowed in, his face lighting up at the guests coming to see him. He looked tired, but a long few hours of checkups will do that to ya, so much so he seemed happy when sky sheepishly handed him a snack. "You got me peanut butter chocolate chip cookies? Thanks so much sky! I've been hungry waiting in here", he beamed as he took a bite from her tray.

"They haven't brought you any snacks in here?", that sounded out of characters for either of his parents though judas finished swallowing as he made things a bit more clear. "No, i had a bit to eat, but i couldn't have much, they were worried it'd affect the tests...but thankfully i'm about finished so i can finally eat properly, i'm super happy you guys got me some stuff besides water and stale crackers...".

He was quick to chow down, taking some of the treats sunny got him as well with a pat to her head.

"So...what exactly did they do to you?".

She was making it sound like they experimented on judas like mad scientists or something but but clearly that wouldn't happen on the Lucitor's watch. Judas laughing and feeling his arm, "They uh well...may if gave me a few shots...and uh...my arm may of reacted a little...swatting at the needles and uh...everyone in the room for a bit". That's when sky noticed the floor looked like it had just been cleaned and the counters nearby weren't as neat as they usually were.

"Oh, ouch, i'm really sorry to hear...".

"No sky, it's ok, they eventually got it to hold still enough and turns out...it actually did seem to put it to sleep...though i'm kinda drowsy...but at least they were finally able to get more dna on it...i mean none of this is new to me, they did stuff like this since i was made but...maybe this time we can get somewhere with it since things have changed since then...".

"Don't you wanna control it rather then cure it? Like how are the these tests supposed to help with that?".

"Well, yeah, i've been considering that maybe the best thing i can do is stop trying to remove something i can't and learn to take it over but well...knowing more about how it works is not a bad thing...might be able to really help me deal with it and everything...though i have to admit...it does scare me a little, it's years of trauma I'm attempting to battle. The tests are just here to well...discover new things about my body, might help me with future choices i make...whether i cure it or not".

"Well, it's noble you even want to do it...no one would blame you for just wanting it gone, but i think it's cool that you wanna like...conquer it of all things".

"I guess to some extent it feels like i'm trying to fix something i can't really fix...if i can't remove it...the next best thing i can do...is not let it take me over...if that's really what's going on...sky i just don't want to keep being afraid of myself anymore...even if you trust me not everyone does and i don't want to be scared of myself...or...have you be scared of me...so...maybe...maybe this can work".

"You really think it's possible?"

"It's worth a shot...i've never really tried before...i mean maybe a little when i desperately tried to will it away as a child but i was too scared at the time...so i'm not sure what'll happen this time...it could work really well or really fail and i wouldn't be surprised either way...i just...it's something i've been thinking about, so..." he rubbed at his arm, sighing.

"Judas...you shouldn't pressure yourself into-".

"I'm not...sky i just...i'm going to be king and...i don't want to be king...with this lingering over me...", he nearly almost cried but pulled himself together last minute, "I'm running out of time before i'm coronated...the sooner i do this the better...i can't wait for a cure...i know nora did what she could...and she can still help...but i have to try something else right now".

"Then maybe you shouldn't be king...".

The two turned to see Sunny, who had been patiently watching and listening to the conversation, her words making judas pause. Sunny must've realized she came off a little harsh when she said it, quick to explain herself before judas and sky said anything else. "I don't mean it in that way judas, i promise...sorry if that came out the wrong way or anything-".

"I can't not be king sunny", he mumbled.

"I don't mean never or anything, i just mean...maybe your parents should push back your date to be king...until you're ready and aren't having all these breakdowns and everything...sometimes you just have to admit you're not ready and have to wait until you are...and if you're so worried...i...i just think your health should come first...before being the next king of the underworld...it's enough pressure without issues...".

Judas seemed to be actually considering what she said, though he shook his head, "This coronation plan has already been set up, i'm not backing out on it if it can really finish all of this...I care more about solving this right now...saving the kingdom, ". Though sunny and sky seemed to both share a concerned look, maybe sunny had a point, though sky rarely heard of many royals who didn't take the crown at least at 18.

Though granted, some had taken it younger, so maybe allowing for some to take it older wasn't a bad idea. Judas could have some time for himself to sort out his problems and come into the position more prepared, he had barely even gotten to focus on the responsibilities of being king, the situation had taken up all his attention, did he really want to put someone like him on the throne like this?

But that didn't only depend on judas, but also his parents, their family, and most of the other kingdoms who had been ready to adjust to his rule. It was no simple task and they needed more time to really work it out, but now that sunny said it and brought it out there, sky couldn't help but put it in the back of her mind for later. Judas was her best friend, and if she needed to, she'd help anyway she could.

She didn't like seeing her best friend dealing with so much pain throughout all of this, she just needed to be there for him.

But for now, her presence seemed to be just enough, judas looking delighted again, even if he was going through a lot in his own mind. Galexia already back to drawing before handing judas one of her drawings, which caught him off guard. He was scared at first knowing what he knew about lexi and her seemingly strange abilities, but he was quickly soothed seeing a drawing him himself.

Happy.

His brothers and parents at his side, with his grandparents as well.

He didn't even know for sure if this were a normal drawing or a premonition , but it was still something rather nice of lexi to give him. She might not have been his sister, but she was a welcoming presence here all things considered. He sent her a soft smile and nodded, "Thanks lexi, this is very sweet of you...you really know how to draw...that's for sure".

He folded the drawing up and put it in his pocket, "I'll hang it in my room...when the castle is finally back together".

"It's nearly done?".

"Yeah i think so...it wasn't nearly as bad as what your castle has been through after all, just a lot of damaged rooms and hallways...but i think we're nearly back and ready...with uh...a few changed just in case that happens again". He didn't seem so sure about the ideas they had in mind, but if it prevented THAT from happening again, it was better then nothing.

"Well maybe it'll be way better then our system...".

"I mean, i'm not too confident...at this point i just assume nothing works on her, she's just too smart for us...well...maybe they are...luna thinks otherwise and i guess it's a real thing to consider", sunny blinking at them both curiously, and sky remembered she never updated sunny on what they spoke about with luna yet, having been distracted with their work.

"Luna thinks what?".

"Ehhh...long story...but she had a few theories that maybe we're being bamboozled by someone whose making things up as they go along? Not that we're sure or anything like that it's only a theory...but we did have her say that to us when we were there, we're honestly on the fence mostly about the whole idea but she just wonders if maybe we think this person is smarter then they are".

The demon girl responding with a bite to her lip and a tap on her chin, clearly thinking more about this idea herself.

"Anways...we're close to getting everything fixed...of course not that i'm sure how much we'll be staying there...but at the very least we'll have a castle that doesn't have holes in it anymore...which is better then before. It's in part thanks to your moms and my grandmother, having a larger demon help with construction makes the progress go a lot faster then it would without".

"You helped too", she pointed out.

"Eh...not as much...", he looked off to the side, though sky clearly was telling him with her eyes not to ignore his own efforts he put into all of this. He smiled but went back to his point,

"But i guess we'll be bunking for a good while before i'm allowed to sleep alone again, so i guess we have a lot of sleepovers ahead of us, whether we like it or not".

"Is it really a sleepover if your parents, my parents, other kingdoms, and even your grandparents are also staying in the same room? At that point it's not so much of a party and more like a one room hotel...", she could hear sunny giggling at that nearby as judas shrugged, "I mean, we got no choice, but your safe room is rather cozy...even if there isn't as much to do in there".

"Don't brag, not my fault my granny was so picky about things".

But she knew judas meant no real harm,if her moms had been given their way the room would probably have a large pool in there, but having a grandmother like queen moon meant dealing with a grandma who lectured everyone on proper queen ways and the best use of their resources and time. Naturally, games and toys aren't really as important and others things in a safe house, at least according to her.

Though sky would argue boredom and preventing it was a major need that of course needed fixing in a place like a safe room.

"Not your fault sky, at least we have each other in there, how's the plan coming along by the way?", he glanced to his half sister nearby and sunny looked like she had just been WAITING to go on about their ideas for this mission. Though they'd have to cut it short, hearing noises nearby, and for now they couldn't tell whether the person speaking was even friend or foe.

Then quickly enough, the voices dropped and judas's ears twitched.

"It might be my parents, they'd around talking with the specialist who checked me over", he listened out to see if they were coming in, but it seems they had merely passed by the room instead, allowing everyone to relax. "Alright i think we're ok, sorry, sometimes i get caught up talking i forget there's still a ton of people around, we should really talk more quietly just in case", his voice getting a bit softer in response.

"It's ok, we can talk later...i'm just happy to see you", and sky felt judas tug her into a hug, making sure not to hold her too tightly, sky snuggling into his chest as she wrapped her arms around her best friend. They had only been separated for a short time and she still felt overdue for a hug right now, even judas felt pretty happy to have a hug to ease some tension, kissing his friends forehead affectionately as they parted.

"I needed that".

"I could tell", she crossed her arms, smirking.

"I really just...appreciate your support sky, i might not say that enough, but i'm really glad to have you by my side...throughout all of my issues these last few months and everything, i know i might be acting a little crazy sometimes and changing my mind all the time and not keeping myself focused and being tired...and you get it, but you still stuck around with me through it...and it means a lot", the princess patting his shoulder playfully.

"Dude, look at what you put up with by being MY friend?! I nearly blasted my mom in the face and got send to frozen prison, seems like you can't catch a break by being my best friend, of course i'm sticking with you throughout all of this...we said we'd be best friends no matter what went down in the future, we're ride or die for each other...and that ain't ending for any reason".

"What about if i killed someone?".

"I'd probably help you hide a body to be honest...hey at least we'd end up in prison together", she stuck her tongue out at him and sunny giggled nearby.

"You guys are cute".

They both stuck their tongues out at her.

Sunny only stuck her tongue out back, "The sweetest best friends i've ever met, don't try to hide it". Sky just rolled her eyes, hearing jude's parents coming back down the hall, but this time it seemed they were actually heading into the room itself, the doorknob turning and everyone getting into position, he king and queen of the underworld heading in so fast they nearly didn't notice the other guests.

They did, however, notice the food right away.

"You know a doctor's room is really not a good place to be leaving crumbs everywhere...right?".

"Oh um...sorry mom", judas quickly covered his mouth and tried to clean up the mess around him as the girls moved the treats aside for later, tom and marco greeting the girls with a wave, "guess that explains the additional guards outside...though maybe you girls could've given us a bit more of a heads up, you could've walked in on important shots or something".

"Sorry about that!", sunny was quick to apologize, lighting up at seeing the adults. They were quick to forgive though, honestly if one of them had been in a similar position the other probably would've done something very close. Both parents walking over to their oldest child to give him news of the tests, judas shaking a little in his seat as if expecting to be told something horrible.

Though their faces were trying to be more reassuring.

It had been a long while since they had really tested it to the extent they were doing, so what may come of it could go in many directions, it had time to grow and change with jude's body, it could be so many things at this point that his parents weren't sure how to tell him. Judas's mind had been running through every possibility they could give him, even ones where nothing had changed.

Whatever it was, he needed to trust them on it and keep himself together, it couldn't get really any worse...hopefully.

His parents seemed to be reassuring each other with looks as they looked for the best words they could say to explain whatever it was they needed to say to their eldest son.

"Alright jude...so we knew going in there was no guarantee these tests would change much, we've done this kinda thing before to get more info on a cure and it never worked...but with your arm acting more funny then before we felt better taking you in to get it more looked at then doing nothing just to be safe...and we'll break the news...we still haven't found much about a cure...", marco was trying to be ggentle, as if expecting this news to hurt the teenager but judas didn't react much at all, it wasn't that shocking to him.

"But what's the catch?".

The adults looks to each other, a little surprised at jude's reaction.

"Well..um...the catch is...there might be an answer as to why your arm reacted how it did...to the magic flowing through it so much...". Tom eyeing his partner as marco put their hands together, "So you see...the monster arm spell...is kinda a dark magic spell...i got infected with it when star somehow thought it would fix my broken arm...and as tom has told you...the spell that still lingered in my dna latched on to you...though it did transform".

The demon nodded.

"Point being, you may of... whether intentional or not...purged the dark magic cells in your arm...from the curse...and that clearly really hurt your arm...burning your arm and purging out the dark cells...even if it did take a bit of time to fully do so...even now, it's apparently still doing it", judas rotated his arm, of course he couldn't see what was happening but he had felt it for sure.

"Guessing it didn't take it well?".

"It?".

"My arm was supposed to be alive...remember? Everyone thought it would take over my body and kill us all? With how it kept swelling up i guess it really didn't like being purged from dark magic how it was ", but his parents had more to say, marco especially, rubbing their neck nervously. "Judas...so...with this test...we uh...about the arm situation...".

"hmm what's going on here that you guys are acting so funny about?".

"What your mom wants to say is...if that your arm was never alive...really".

Judas's face twisted to confusion, as if not understanding what his parents just said at all, looking between the two of them with all three of his bright red eyes.

"What are you talking about?".

"It's just been you".

Judas still seemed utterly confused, searching his parent's faces for answers as they both attempted to try and explain. "Judas...what we're trying to tell you...is we always thought this curse...was exactly like your mom's...but after these tests we were told there's actually no trace of another lifeform outside of yourself...yeah it was filled with dark magic...but no other lifeform was in your arm".

"Judas...", marco started, "It appears...through the years of having your arm the arm never showed up upon it's own will...but more that perhaps you triggered it through emotional response...whether intentional or not." Though it didn't seem like judas was fully taking it all in, at the very least he wasn't having a strong negative reaction either to this news.

He seemed...unsure what to respond with, which was expected.

He spent 17 years with this idea his arm was a bloodthirsty killed out to destroy him and everyone around him, how was he really supposed to process this information and take it like normal? Was he even supposed to believe this anymore? This wasn't a thing the last time he got tested! How could he trust this kinda word, for all he knew his parents were lying to him to make him relax.

Everyone in the room seemed to notice judas was struggling in his mind a little, all rushing to help him.

But instead he stood up, "I need a minute".

And he didn't even wait for a response before leaving the room, everyone standing dead silent as he shut the door behind him.

Sky quickly turning to the Lucitors with mixed emotions, "Wait...is that true? Is his arm really-?".

The two nodded, "We were so anxious for years because we never fully understood much about what happened when the curse was transferred but...if there's really no trace of another living being inside of his arm, then that means judas can be the only culprit as to it moving how it did...and well...we still don't fully understand how it all works but...it seems like the most likely candidate is judas was somehow doing it".

"He once reached out to grab me with it".

They all glanced to sunny.

"I ran away, he tried to stop me and it turned into that thing to grab me, it obeyed him completely...reacted to how he was acting. I never questioned it really beforehand in the moment considering i kinda maybe reacted by stabbing judas...but um...i guess when you really think about it...that was kinda a little strange. It seemed in the moment judas had control over it".

"But shouldn't it happen more often then?", sky mumbled, "i mean, if it reacts to stress and stuff if should happen often enough for us to tell...right?".

"Maybe, we need a little more information on it...but what we do know is there isn't any monster hiding in his dna, that's the best thing we can tell you from this whole thing".

Sky turned to where judas left, "We should follow him, before he...gets hurt...". Not to say judas would do anything stupid but the way he had stomped out like that had sky very worried for him, this clearly had really gotten to him, it was one of those things that had flipped over his entire life that he had known up to this point. There must have been a lot of thoughts swarming in his mind, he couldn't catch a break.

"Wait...maybe we outta give him space", marco held out their hand, preventing sky from following the young demon, gazing off at the door themsleves with a sigh. "You care a lot about our son and it means a lot to us he has you for a great best friend...but this is his own fight, he might need some time to really think about it...if he needs to talk...we should be the ones to do it...as well...we're more responsible for it".

Sky couldn't argue with that logic, even if she wanted to.

"You know a lot about curses?", sunny asked suddenly, getting their attention quickly with her innocent voice. The adults sadly only replying with a shrug and nervous expression, "I mean outside of the arm...well of course there's the blood moon curse...but those two curses are very different from each other and we don't know much outside of that".

"What about the blood moon curse?".

The adults looked to each other and back to sunny before sky butted in, "Uh...sunny? I'm sorry but that's kinda off topic...why do you want to know about any of that? That whole thing is long gone in the past...". Sunny bit at her lips, her fangs pricking out as she thought about what she wanted to ask a bit more, "Nothing important...just um...i had questions about it and magic and stuff...

Tom leaned down and got onto her eye level, putting a hand on her shoulder in reassurance.

"We'll talk later if you want about that, in private...sound good? After we get out of the hospital wing?".

Sunny nodded, thankful, even if sky was left in curiosity.

"Let's get cleaned up, save these treats for judas...we can put them in the safe room for him later when he's hungry", marco quickly started grabbed snacks, encouraging help from lexi, who was collecting her doodles, "Boy...you really do draw a lot don't you?". Lexi didn't respond much outside of a thumbs up, grabbing a plate of snacks to head out on, everyone heading out.

"Hey...uh...Mr Lucitor?".

Tom turned around to sky, who was right behind him as the others went forward, stopping in his tracks.

"If judas has really been in control this entire time, we're not actually in danger from his arm...are we?".

He seemed to pause a moment, his eyes turning to the side, "Well...theoretically no, judas would never want to hurt any of us...but on the other hand that's not to say the arm couldn't hurt any of us if judas either didn't know what he was doing or his body was under someone else's control...it's still something we should be very wary about...but the nice thing we can say is the demon that once lived inside marco's arm is gone".

"Yeah i guess that's good...though yeah i know as much as anyone about being not in control of your magic and nearly hurting someone...and with everything jude is going through...i mean i trust him but at the same time...i'm just...worried", the king patted her head gently and moved her forward to follow the others. "Yeah, i understand...maybe just in case keep that zapper for his arm...better safe then sorry.".

"I'd hate to zap jude if he's just...himself though, it was easier to imagine he was under control and i was zapping something possessing him...but if it's just him...then i'm hurting him...", she felt the zapper and it's button inside her pocket, she always somehow seemed to remember it, at least as much as she could. But what originally felt like judas trusting her to save him now felt much more uncomfortable.

Even tom seemed to understand her concerns, truthfully not sure what the best advice he could give her would be. Most teenagers didn't usually have to go through a dilemma like this, then again most teenagers didn't have to go through any of the wild stuff that they were dealing with in the first place. The best he could do was try and comfort her, "Hey...my advice? If judas were to ever almost hurt you...i'd think he'd be ok with you protecting yourself and us...much rather that then him actually landing a tentacle on you".

"Even if i feel bad about it?".

"You gotta make hard choices to protect your friends, i know that feeling...but i trust you'll make the best choice if it ever comes to that, and i trust judas to try and avoid it ever coming to that if possible...and if we have to, we'll make sure to come in and help ourselves...we won't let anything bad happen to all of you...we'll figure out all of this...it's just as freaky to us as well", he ran his fingers through his pink hair, "To think after all that...the arm...was just judas...".

"Does...it make you feel better or worse considering-", she hated to ask, but she had to know.

"Well...i...i think it makes me feel a little better...though it is still my fault this happened at all...i just wish i'd known sooner to avoid the years of fear we had". though it wasn't just that, had they known sooner, maybe judas wouldn't be how he was these days. They could've saved him before he had to deal with years of trauma and fear, and tom didn't even need to say it for sky to know he was thinking about it.

"Hey uh...sunny brought this up earlier...but...maybe judas needs more time...before he should be on the throne", she hadn't planned to bring this up right away but with his father next to her, worried about his son it just sorta came out. The demon king glancing at her and not saying much in return, "I know it's tradition and everything but...she has a point, i don't wanna watch judas suffer on the throne with this either...".

"I'll talk about it with my parents and marco...thanks for the suggestion, i'll thank sunny later...", it still depended on if judas wanted it, but at least his parents could consider the idea of it. They headed on their way to catch up with the others before tom and sunny branched off to talk, leaving sky with marco and galexia, who ushered them to come with.

"We'll drop these snacks off and since you girls are here i want your help, the more hands the merrier, plus i prefer at least one of us keeps an eye on you as much as possible.".

"Wait...with what?".

"Angel's father is arriving tonight...with everything happening i could use the help to welcome him in and make him feel comfortable, star would've been in charge but she's dealing with her mom instead and janna sure isn't doing it, in fact i think she's currently dealing with fae actually...even though fae was returned to her family she kinda keeps coming in for further questions and help and well uh...janna and mason were the only ones brave enough to deal with her right now...janna seems to find the fact she seems cursed to be rather cool, because of course she does.".

"Wait...mason? What's that about? I though mason already interrogated her? I'm not sure how much he could get out of her at this point, it's not like she spent a whole lot of time with the person or anything... ".

"Well it's not exactly that, it's more...fae is going to be the one actually doing the asking...long story, it's janna suggested having her there might actually be helpful...she has knowledge on rumors spread by the kingdoms and well...actually it might just be because the other stable servants just wanted her to do a job away from them".

"Hold up a minute...fae is going to interrogate someone? She's like...i dunno...twelve or something?".

"We were against it for the same reason, but apparently jackie is going with them too so it made me and tom feel a little better about mason handling it, they're actually not doing a regular interrogation, this time they're trying something new...basically going through the evidence we found and having fae there because apparently they think just her presence might scare the guy into talking...".

Who? Like you obviously didn't capture the real masked person so...", sky suddenly felt extremely clueless to what the queen was talking about, who got arrested recently?

"The guy who was letting masky keep a child and a evil lair under his bar...that's who, they took him into custody...he didn't really get very far, something about him running right into a giant plant who likes stuffed animals...", sky's expression was enough to tell him that no one had really been talking about that capture in comparison to the luna one. "Eclipsa wanted to go but she and globgor need to deal with angel's kingdom, so they decided if janna herself wasn't scary enough...well...fae seems to have an off knack for things falling off the ceiling when she's in a room".

"Wait...why's mason there?".

"Fae asked for him, it seems they're actually friends, and she wouldn't help unless he was there.".

"You guys brought in a CHILD to interrogate a criminal?", marco snickering to themselves at the way she asked that, "Well, we were against it obviously...but having her there was better then not, she does have some additional knowledge after all...that and...i'm worried if i said no in her presence we might have an...unfortunate accident...after mason told me about her bad luck...i'll admit...she makes me nervous...and well...i also might not have wanted her left in a room alone...our castle is damaged enough as is".

"Well...actually if you put her in a room with anyone there tends to be the lingering worry the room might collapse so maybe you have a point.", the idea her mom would take a child to use as a threatening weapon actually sounded really in character for her somehow. At least then maybe they might get a reaction from the guy if janna wasn't enough, though she usually was.

"Me and Tom are not exactly happy about having you involved in this danger but at the same time we know we need your help if we're going to get anywhere...and thankfully with jackie there that guy won't be getting into any funny business, she tends to always be armed...it's actually rather scary when you think about it, but more for him then it is us".

"Well, thanks for trusting us...even if it's a little...it means a lot to us".

"Don't think this means we want you fighting anything dangerous directly, fae is only allowed to help because she has info that is helpful to us...we would neve have allowed her to help otherwise...but having a citizen give us info from a citizen point of view is just kinda helpful...can't get much as that as a ruler...not unless the servants gossip like crazy".

"Well for our sakes, let's hope the guy spills everything in a few minutes...any longer with fae and he might combust".

Marco laughed but somehow they didn't actually doubt that and it slowly became a more concerned and nervous chuckle.

"Anyways...they're taking care of that...we just have to focus on the king's arrival...angel's still in the safe room to my knowledge so we'll get him when we drop these off, though he seems to be a bit uneasy so be careful around him". Guess with his dad coming to visit he was going to be sick in the stomach for awhile, like how he had been when he was about to be on trial.

His father being forced to deal with the kingdom after him, their prince, started working with an enemy to mewni, made him scared...he was disappointed in him and he knew it.

He was going to be forced to talk to him about what had happened directly and everything going on and that was something hard to be fully prepared for, no matter how much he was expecting it. Sure, he could bring good news in terms of his mother but even he was worried about what his mom would say about everything he had done since she had been sick.

So yeah, he was in quite a mood when they arrived passed the guards, angel was by himself, not interacting with any of the others, in fact he seemed to be talking to himself. Judas or sky was usually there to reassure him or calm him down but with the both of them having been out for most of the day he had been left to his own person. Sky noticing nora was also out, otherwise she would've expected her to be here with him.

She didn't hesitate to approach him after the others sat down the snacks, angel actually startled as she approached, as if he hadn't seen her even enter the room because of how distracted he had been. Though he was relieved, probably expecting someone way worse to have come for him, the monster prince trying to pull himself together and make himself look less of a mess.

"Hey...how you doing?".

She probably knew the answer to that already but she still felt she should ask.

Angel sweating in his seat as he tried to pull his hair back into a ponytail, having a hard time making eye contact with sky, "My dad's coming...he can't see me like this, i'm a mess...i never used to look like a mess...what if he sees me like this and thinks i've gone off the deep end or i'm no longer much of a prince?! Sky i don't know if i can do this...things went so bad last time i saw him...".

"You didn't get much of a goodbye after the trial...did you?".

He shook his head.

"I didn't want to show my face to him and he left without a word to me...probably for similar reasons...i haven't seen him since then, he just...let me here...in the care of your families...i'm terrified of what he might think of what the other arachs have been telling him...they all already hated me and i can't think anything got better after you saved me...i...he'll probably tell me i'm dethroned...".

"You don't know that, your dad seems mostly nice...i mean he's never been THAT bad".

"Maybe not...but i'm not taking any chances...i probably deserve it though...he's had enough time to really consider it as an option, even after what happened at the trial...plus no one wants me as king back there anyway".

"Angel, c'mon, that's not true, we've talked about this...you want to be king and you can do it too! Who cares what your dad thinks!".

"I care!", he said that a little too aggressive then he had been intending, suddenly sheepish.

"Sorry sky...didn't mean to lash out at you...it's just...being king means nothing if the current king doesn't think i should...even if i really want it, he does have the power to transfer the crown if he wants to...even if it's to the farther out cousin i have somewhere...i wasn't a good prince...even if i want to do things right now...that doesn't change much if they say no".

Sky couldn't argue that no matter how much she wanted to, angel was the rightful heir but that didn't stop plenty of other kingdoms from giving the crown to more distant relatives before. Gee, now she was thinking about what meteora said before when she had trashed on the guy, she, judas, and him seemed to be favorites to hate in mewni for reasons...some much more fair then others but still.

"Well...maybe your dad will be happy to see you...a lot has changed since then after all right?

You can't be completely sure of how he feels, since you've been helping us out maybe he understands you have really learned and want to do better...i mean, you screwed me over a lot...but i'm a but better about it then i was at the time."

"I want to think that...but after what i did...i keep doubting myself sky...i don't know why i'm like this...i just can't be as positive as you and judas...even though i want to...I...", he thought back to the advice nora gave him, taking a breath and trying to remember what he did was all in the past, and there was nothing he could do about it now but work to do better.

"You really think my dad will forgive me? He's not like you, he's been away from me all this time...I'm scare to face him.".

"I mean if he doesn't forgive you i'm sure eclipsa will have no trouble signing adoption papers for you", she was joking to lighten the mood but in actuality that was a likely outcome if things were really to get worse. Angel standing up and streching his legs, "Hey...can you at least help me get ready to meet him?...i think i looks like a mess...i don't want to look like one when i see him...and your way better with clothes then i am".

"Well...how do you wanna dress? More princely? Or more like..."

She motioned to his borrowed clothes from judas, because judas was taller then them his clothes, while looking nice on the prince, were a bit more oversized. It wasn't the most ideal prince look.

"Why ask...you know what the better option is?".

"Just saying angel, maybe you outta see your dad as yourself...not trying to be something your not, better way to judge you then to pretend to be perfect after everything...i mean if formal is what you feel like wearing i ain't stopping you but i'm just saying you should dress as who you are now and not what your dad wants you to be". Angel shuffled in his place before taking out the hairband, his hair free again, "We can figure it out while you show me some options...if that's ok?", she nodded and followed him back to the group, marco happy to see him.

"Angel! Hey, i hope you're doing ok...if you need anything just ask us...we'll be happy to help you in any way we can...but just always stick with one of us, for your safety and ours...at this point we have a buddy system, as well as way too many guards...but it's better then you or any of us getting in any sort of danger...so just stick by and find help if you need it".

"Don't worry, i don't plan to leave anyone's side...not yours, sky's...anyone's...if i can help it...at this point i get anxious from being alone...", that was when sky awkwardly held out her hand, "Look, don't take this the wrong way, but if you need to hold me to feel comfortable...judas tends to do it with me when he really needs it so...just in case you might have some kinda panic attack about the masked guy or whatever".

Angel's small grin was very appreciative.

"Thank you, i'll keep that in mind...".

"You ready?", marco started waving to everyone still inside the room as they made their way towards the door, the kids following suit, lexi trotting along in the back. She looked happy to have angel with them as well, patting him on the back as if welcoming him. Galexia did have a way of making people feel rather welcome around her, whether she knew them or not.

"Were we headed first?".

"Marco looked back at the others, leading the way.

"The kitchens...we have a lot to do, he's going to be having dinner with us tonight...with former queen moon, the sooner we prepare for tonight, the better".-

Landon felt he was starting to get somewhere, if even it was just a little.

At the very least his marks were slightly more consistent then they were before, which was an improvement to an extent. He'd been training for hours, barely leaving the room. It was nice to get away from the others, for now this was mostly private and something he wanted to keep mostly private until he figured out his best course of action. Maybe after figuring out how to activate his marks he could then really work on magic with some help.

He'd considered looking at sky's spellbook but no way would he ever get permission to be in her room without asking her first, and she'd be suspicious of his actions for sure.

She had already been before, she'd probably assume he wanted to look into some of the darker magic.

But he also couldn't claim she wasn't completely wrong about that last bit, he did feel a bit curious about some more of the magic of the butterflies. It was forbidden for most people to see it unless a butterfly showed them so even getting a chance to see what was inside would be interesting, landon was a special case after all, he wasn't even a butterfly.

He should be allowed more permission then anyone out there, otherwise this was a missed opportunity.

Not many queens could ever claim to something like being able to train those who weren't apart of the butterfly family with their magic, though at the same time the queens ,were so picky with who got to use it maybe at the time it wasn't even considered an option.

Regardless that wasn't the point, the point was landon had powers, and if he wasn't trained to use them now he might never get to.

He was the forgotten brother after all.So forgive him if he had his doubts that anyone would train him in magic after things may of gotten slightly better. He hadn't exactly had a lot of attention like his own brothers had had, there was no reason to him this would make a huge difference. But if everyone was distracted, it only meant more time for him to learn more alone, not judged, not controlled.

So maybe there was benefit to being ignored.

He wasn't going to be a powerful magic user anytime soon, but this was bringing him some confidence he never had before without either bernard, or his mom cheering him on. He never thought his music was capable of magic before, it was like making his own spell, even if he hadn't been doing it on purpose. If he could figure it out just a little more maybe he could make something happen.

Hopefully a good something.

He was taking notes, testing what worked and what didn't, it was like a strange musical puzzle. Maybe if he knew more about magic he could figure this out a lot easier, but his wand was catered to him right? So it should paly by his rules, his music rules. On the other hand, he wasn't using his wand, he was using a normal violin, having a wand would make this process so much faster.

He might as well have been trying to dip down.

No queen had been able to do this without some practice, so yeah, no wonder he was making little progress.

He put down his instrument, sighing, maybe he really would have to approach celeste for help, cause boy he wasn't going to be using sky's wand in it's condition, and he doubted sunny would just hand it to him. Granted, maybe if he tried to convince lexi he might have better chances if she didn't think about it too hard, otherwise he might not finish any spell till sky was queen.

But that was enough progress for today, he outta take a break and eat something before everyone did start wondering where he was and found him trying to do magic, he didn't want to have to make up a fake excuse so he didn't look suspicious. Everyone was already on edge enough, they might assume he was mind-controlled or something if he started acting weird around here.

Violin strapped to his back, he started heading his way out of the guarded room.

Mason promised to meet him later, something about a hangout with fae he had to do first?

Either way if he was going to finally talk to his crush he was going to need help, he'd tried doing it by himself and he chickened out, so maybe it was about time he had a bit of help...even if it was from his younger brother of all people. It was a strange priority to have right now of course, but if he didn't do it now, he might not get to again.

He was being tailed of course, by guards who needed to watch him, which made him only more anxious, but he found them easier to ignore when his mind was more distracted with other thoughts. He was thankful he had been allowed to practice in private at all, he half expected them to sit and watch him, which would not have worked with his magic practice at all.

Until mason came to help he already knew what he wanted to do first.

Talk to celeste.

Celeste was still not in the greatest of moods, but when was she ever in a good mood in the first place? Seeing luna again seemed to have made her grumpier then she was before and that was saying something, she went right to bed and never spoke once in the morning, she clearly had wanted to be left alone to deal with her feelings towards luna after how rude she had been to everyone.

Yeah, celeste herself hadn't been the peak of niceness, but luna was...oof.

How she made everyone feel, how she hurt everyone, how she treated everyone who had been helping her. Something about her really seemed to annoy celeste, and in ways that didn't seem to suit to anyone else. It didn't start that way, luna came to her first for help when they wanted to go home more desperately, seeing her as an ally, but it seemed anyone who worked with luna for more then a few minutes were quick to get annoyed.

Landon could relate.

But he had to check on her, he'd feel like an awful technical brother if he didn't.

Once he had made it to the safe room he saw her on a nearby couch, she wasn't even doing anything, no reading, no music, nothing, instead she just seemed to be thinking to herself.

Everyone who really did talk to her wasn't here, leaving her all by her lonesome, and landon's shoulders sunk as he knew this feeling more then he wanted to remember.

He approached her, a small wave as he tried to her her attention.

"Hola".

She glanced up at him, speaking a small bit of spanish in return.

"Hola...".

Was it just him or did she seem to be...sad actually? Like she was in some sort of a slump? She was moody often but right now she seemed more...sad...less mad...and just odd for celeste overall. She seemed to mostly be huddled up on the couch, lost in thought as she looked landon over, noticing he had his violin on him, "Hey...i didn't say it before but...nice job on the spell".

A compliment?

"Thanks cele...i know me using your wand sorta felt...mixed for you...but thanks for letting me use it, really".

"Don't mention it, though don't assume i'm going to let you have it again right now...cause i'm not, i just...y'know...it's a hard spell for anyone to do...", she turned her head away, landon taking a seat next to her, "Hey uh...maybe this sounds like a bad idea, like a really bad idea, but maybe the two of us should see if we can head out and pay luna a visit or something...".His words quickly earned him a confused scowl from the girl, though he had been expecting it.

"What?".

She said it with a tone that felt rather nasty and that quickly got landon to change the way he talked about this idea, he didn't want to make a scene and get celeste more upset. She was clearly upset enough as is, and of course so was he, but he had at least kept himself distracted enough to not fall into a slump about it. Celeste in this state was someone to be cautious about.

"I'm thinking well...maybe we need some closure...with luna...you and me seem to be...torn up about her and mad with her and everyone can tell we both dislike her in particular...so i dunno...maybe we should talk to her...or something, maybe help us feel better...so we might work better with the others...so we can move on from all of this...y'know?", he didn't like the idea any better then she did but the idea might work.

Angel and Sky became friends despite not liking each other like this.

So did his own parents.

It had to have crossed his mind, and it was what his mom would suggest them doing if he had asked. If he was going to confront his crush, confronting luna was at least a good way to help landon progress with confronting his problems rather then letting them weltch up inside of him for long periods of time before bursting randomly in a fit of rage.

Granted, this was luna, so it might not even work, but maybe it would be better then them both being bitter as they were all the time about her. At the very least they might have an ending to all of this mess and be able to move on without falling into anger the moment the blonde was even so much as mentioned by anyone. "Hey...you don't have to if you don't want to...i was just making a suggestion if you were interested", he tapped his foot on the floor, shrugging.

She didn't respond.

"I just wanted to check on you ok? So sorry if i'm bothering you...i just wanted to make sure you were ok...i get it if you want me to leave".

"No.".

He paused, standing in place, worried if he had said something wrong as celeste seemed to cool down some more, though she wasn't looking at him. "Thanks for...checking up on me, i'd thought you were too busy to really care...but...it's nice, i've...i've been kinda alone all day...the others have been out mostly so...i haven't had anyone to talk to.".

"It's not a big deal, we're friends...kinda...right?".

Her brows furrowed, and landon could tell she wanted to say "Yes", but wanted to avoid the cheesyness of having to admit to it. Instead he rubbed his boots into the carpet, sighing, "Well, i'm glad we're friends...even if it's kinda complicated...and um...thanks for the compliment, it really does kinda mean a lot to me". She still didn't look at him, her eyes elsewhere as he took a step back, "Well, if you aren't coming i still want to go, it's important to me, if you want you can wait for me here and we can hang out for a bit after i'm done since i'm waiting for mason-".

"Wait.".

He turned to look at her, the girl getting up and off the couch, "Let's go talk to her...i have some things i actually would like to say to her...", she glared at nothing in particular, fists clenched. Landon suddenly wishing he hadn't said anything at all, as he might of just accidentally set up a fight between two sisters instead of actually making things better.

"What exactly do you want to tell her ? Not assuming anything celeste, it's just-".

She turned to look at him, still stern, and not looking to waste any more time, "Let's go, before someone else gets there before we do".

[petriichvrs]

DAY SIX   :   one final word   /   a letter to noxtms.

dear :  alyssa, amanda, atlas, bee, beth, birdie, blo, cherry, chris, daisy, dew, gabi, gia, hunter, j, la, lex, lucy, maeve, mozzie, nancy, plume, r, rosie, sam and last but never  least, vicky.

here’s the thing. i try as much as possible to say how much i appreciate all of you having joined nox as often as i can, because i think as a person i have a tendency not to be entirely present of all the time, even while i seem it, and it’s important to me - as both admin and as someone who’s befriended what feels like everyone here - that you all know. the thing is, i’ve admined a lot of roleplays over the time i’ve been writing, some of them for longer than others, and i’ve met a bunch of you both in those groups and outside of them. i have a lot of experience, but i had never broken into the harry potter fandom ( in spite of it having formed such a key part of my childhood ) and i hadn’t realized that when i opened nox, i was going to discover such a community. 

it’s really not me just saying it when i say that nox wouldn’t be NOXTMS without each and every one of you. i’m proud of the work i’ve put into the group and i accept however much i’m allowed to of the praise for it, but i’ve put maybe more into other groups and never had them feel the way that nox does. we’re all aware, obviously, it takes every writer in a group to make it something special, and i think that it’s every single one of you who has turned this group into my absolute favorite. there’s things in nox right now - like the marauders verse, but even just movie nights and a successful points system and little ic meetings - that i never could have done in another group because they just wouldn’t have worked, the combination wasn’t there, but i feel like... i struck gold with each of you, as members ? i feel like i got beyond LUCKY, and i have a tendency to over worry about nox, but you guys always make me feel a little bit safer in the knowledge that the group is okay, it’s doing good, and it’s everything i could have ever wanted.

i tried to find praise in other places for you all over the course of this meme, but i’m just going to go for one quick fire round. alyssa, you really are so fucking funny, and you created something really special with avalon and the king arthur myth thing she’s got going on. amanda, mary is the most thought out oc i’ve maybe ever seen and we might’ve had to wait a while for a ron, but he’s brilliant. atlas, you have a tendency to not see yourself the way you ought to, but heather and jo are two showstopping characters that we’re so lucky to have, and you yourself are a wonderful member who i’m so glad came back. bee, i’ve seen what you can do with harry elsewhere and i have you to thank for the fact nox even exists, really : you reminded me through your writing how much i love the world, and your takes on marietta and charlie are perfect. beth, lavender is such an unfairly hated character in canon, and she deserved someone like you picking her up and breathing fresh life into her, which you’re doing amazingly. birdie, for someone who likes to admit they haven’t done much in groups, you’ve really slotted yourself right in here, and i can’t pluck one character from your lineup - you do something admirable with all of them, and i really do hope you’ll RECONSIDER your stance on a fifth. blo... i love everything you do, i really always have, and your writing is a testament to just how talented you are, but i don’t know one person who puts as much continuous thought into their characters as you do, and it really shows.

cherry, i made a joke once about how if you could do something special with jughead jones i shouldn’t be shocked about what you can do with better source characters, but it’s not even a joke anymore... what you started with hermione you’re continuing with lucius and percy, and i love everything about them. chris, this is the second time you’ve joined nox as someone who doesn’t know much about it, but i’m so grateful you did it as my characters kid - i love when we get to play family dynamics most of all, and oriana is an absolute gem. daisy, chatting with you is a dream, and your mind is just... amazing - you do something with george that plays into my favorite sort of character tropes, and zephyrine is something so different and fun that i can’t wait to write with them too. dew, not just anyone would pick up gregory goyle and try and do something amazing with him, so i’ve been not-so-patiently waiting to toss everyone i’ve got at him since your intro. gabi, knox is one of my favorite ocs and for someone who only brought in an oc, to start with, you’ve managed to slot her in brilliantly. gia, what can i even say for you... as always you bring everything you have to the table, and i get to write not just connections that are genuinely FUN ( damien and niko, anybody? ) but also my favorite sort, which comprise of... family and friendships like molly / ginny & tonks / ginny with one of my favorite writers, yet again. hunter, i’m so glad i borderline peer pressured you into picking up pansy, because she’s been a joy to see in action, and a pretty great addition to your roster of characters - that already includes angelina and mason, two characters i love reading the replies of. 

j, most astoria’s i’ve seen have gotten lost on the ‘draco’s dead wife’ thing and have forgotten to turn her into her own, unique character - the same can’t be said here, and astoria has fast become one of my favorite individual characters because you’re at her heart. la, i haven’t gotten to see enough of beatrix yet, but i think anyone who wants to play into an umbridge family is so brave and so talented, so i can’t wait to see and do more. lex... absolute love of my fuckin life ? not many people would join a group even though they don’t know much of the source material and absolutely immerse themself in it, but you’ve done this now... more than once- and each and every time, you manage to craft characters i really do ROOT for and love so much. please be fuckin nicer to yourself always, you’re so talented and i love you so much. lucy, gabrielle deserves to be given a character arc beyond ‘damsel in distress’, and so far, i’ve loved everything you’ve done with her. she’s a breath of fresh air on the dash and i think we’re lucky to have you ! maeve, LISTEN. LISTEN TO ME. I’M HOLDING YOUR FACE BETWEEN MY HANDS RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THIS IS SO UNBELIEVABLY EMBARRASSING: YOU ARE SO TALENTED, YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT TO THE FUNDAMENTAL SOMETHING THAT MAKES UP WHAT NOX IS, YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME CHARACTERS I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW I NEEDED SO BADLY ( HELLO THEO N OLIVER ) AND I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, YOU’VE DONE SOMETHING SO WONDERFUL WITH EVERY PORTRAYAL AND YOUR AESTHETICS FOR DENNIS MADE ME CRY.  mozzie, you are ALSO so fucking funny, and you are yet another writer that i feel.. so lucky has been drawn to nox - blaise and luna are fascinating characters in canon, sure, but you have done something so much BETTER with them here and i cannot stress that enough to you. nancy, selene is such a fun oc, and i really, really mean that. she’s something different to the status quo, and i feel blessed that i get to have as close a connection as i do with her. 

plume, you yourself have been nothing short of the most lovely ooc presence, and i’m so glad that it’s someone like you who’s bringing parvati patil ( the noxtms variant ) to life, and so happy whenever i see her on the dash. r, i could go on for paragraphs on you alone - you were always one of my favorite writers in eq, and i was always so HOPEFUL you would finally cave and join nox. thank you for being here, and thank you for my daughter, thank you for my sister, thank you for these characters i love. rosie, you haven’t gotten a chance to even settle in yet, but that isn’t going to stop me from expressing how excited i am to have a bill weasley, finally, and to see what you do with him ! sam, the other love of my life... you don’t get enough CREDIT for just how brilliantly you’ve characterized viktor krum, especially, but you also don’t get enough for how you gave us the loveliest child of severus snape we could have ever asked for, and the hottest dowson i ever did see. you go through it far more than you should have to, but you’re such a talented writer and such a staunch friend who i feel lucky to have made. and vicky, once again : last in alphabetical order, but certainly not in my heart. did i expect in 2020 to bond with someone over buffy ? not even a little. but i really was so fuckin’ DELIGHTED to have something i could talk to you about cause you’re just... cool, vicky, you’re so so cool, and you’re so talented at seemingly... everything ? making gifs, being a pal, writing characters like dudley dursley but also somehow making alicia and penelope equally different and fascinating and cool ? have i said cool ? have i said it ENOUGH ? 

i don’t want to be done, here, but i didn’t expect for this to take so many words, so i should probably wrap it up fairly snappily : thank you all so much for joining this group i love so much, and please know regardless of all else, i love everything you’re all DOING, and everything i see. i don’t say that enough, for certain, but i’m going to try and be better about it. beep beep, bitches : it’s my undying love and affection. 

not to sound like severus snape but like. always,

rachel.

[safehavens-archive]

tag drop pt 2 im too lazy to use tag replacer so y’all are just gonna have to deal with the awkward & empty new tags lmao

[magicinthestory]

A long story

Searing heat and bitter cold clashed both fighting for dominance over the ground and air, had this been earth it surely would have brought forth terrible storms.

In every reality, she had ever seen or been a part of she never expected to be here, a scene so familiar yet still so different… Her eldest brother had obviously miscalculated but his pride would never let him admit to that. But she was getting ahead of herself to fully understand what was going on you would need to go back to the night pryer.

It was no secret that Kol and Claire were shadowhunters despite being three-quarters angel and Lucifer’s grandchildren. It was how they were raised so every night they would go on patrol to dispatch any demons that threatened to expose the supernatural world and keep a balance between the two. What they didn’t know however was that their mission from the Clave was sending them directly into an ambush, not of demons but loyalist angels to Michael. The Clave had been convinced that it would be a good test of the twin’s skills but instead played directly into the eldest archangel’s hands. At first, the two were actually able to hold their own against the underling angels thanks both to their training and the weapons their grandfather had made for them. Their advantage didn’t last long though...Claire got hurt badly when one slipped past her guard and Kol’s arrow missed. From that moment it was a fight for Kol to get to his sister then using her swords to keep them back long enough to open a portal to get them back home. He only managed to get her through before the portal suddenly closed and the archangel was there….needless to say Kol stood little chance and soon found himself unconscious.

Michael’s plan was simple, he knew that family was important to his brother so he was going to use his family to bring him to him. He had every intention of taking both the twins but he hadn’t counted on them knowing enough of their grace to actually have a means of escape. No matter he was confident that even just one of them would bring his brother to him.

Kol’s means of opening portals was never as precise as it should have been so instead of Claire ending up in the house the portal dropped her in the hammock outside. She groaned softly at the landing and she tried to move, thinking her brother would be right behind her but she looked up in time to watch it slam shut. “KOL!” She cried out, trying to get up but both searing pain and blood loss made it difficult and she barely got up before she collapsed, though luckily before she hit the ground someone caught her but she didn’t see who before she was out.

Plague frowned at the state of their sister but wasted no time in getting her inside, dividing to lay her on the table to make it easier. “Mason! Dad!” They recognized the type of injury and knew the other needed immediate attention. They were holding back both tears and panic when the two men ran into the room. They back up to give them room, jumping when they felt a hand on their shoulder. They turned their head, purple eyes meeting the forest green of the angel they called mother.

“She will be okay…. She has pulled through worse…” Layla tried to assure the other but she still saw the tears in their eyes so she pulled them into a hug.

Eventually, Mason had his brother go get Samuel and between the two of their medical experience, they got his niece stabilized and moved to her room. He left Sam and Plague to watch over her and headed downstairs where Layla was cleaning up the blood. “Where is Elijah?...”

“Still sitting against the wall. He hasn’t really moved or said anything past asking Luna to go see if Kol is at the institute...and Amaya to look for anywhere else….” She sighed softly, she had a bad feeling that something was way off but she couldn’t place it.

Mason nodded to his aunt and moved over to his brother, carefully of course. “Elijah?...”

“Please tell me Claire is okay….” He spoke softly, not even looking up to his younger brother.

“She will be. The wounds were definitely from angel blades so they will take her some time to recover from…..” He answered. The nephilim was tempted to try to read the other’s mind to see where his thoughts were but he knew his own grace wasn’t strong enough anymore and even if it was Elijah was much more skilled in mind tricks and blocks than he was. “Have you heard any news about Kol?”

Elijah shook his head before running his hand through his hair. “I know they are both incredibly skilled and well trained….So why does it feel like I failed them somehow?...”

“If Makoto was here she would smack you for saying things like that.” Mason sighed and sat down next to him. “You didn’t fail them, they are shadowhunters they get hurt but Claire is strong and will pull through, and Kol….Well, he is so much like you at his age it is scary he won’t let himself fall without a fight.”

He cracked a faint ghost of a smile but it was gone just as fast as it appeared. “You are probably right… I just wish I knew where he was and that he was okay….” He trailed off, leaning back against the wall behind him. He closed his eyes, lost in thought for a moment but was soon brought back to the real world when he felt Amaya and Luna return and they weren’t alone. He got up and moved outside to meet the two women and the male, who looked worse for wear, with them. “Where is Kol? And who is this?”

Amaya looked to the crown prince of hell before the angel next to her. “Go ahead tell him what you told us.”

“Go back to the deepest pits of hell you pathetic excuse for a demon mutt.”

Luna snapped her fingers and watched the angel scream as he was engulfed in flames then she waved them off. “Wrong answer, try again.” While Amaya was growling the mage’s voice had fallen to a deadly calm. “And I would pick your words very carefully or next time it will be holy fire.”

The angel glared at her but something told him it wasn’t an empty threat. “Fucking Witch….” The last word barely left his mouth before he started to feel the searing heat. “Okay Okay! Michael Has The Boy! We Set Up A Trap To Capture Both Of Them But The Girl Got Away!”

“Now tell him why?” Luna spoke in a sing-song voice. Anyone that didn’t know her would think she was in a good mood but for those that did, they could see the anger in her ocean blue eyes.

“He Wants To Use Him To Lure Your Father Up To Face Him!”

“Now was that so hard?” The mage asked, letting the heat die off.

“Fuck you..”

“No thank you.” She hummed as stepped back letting the demoness next to her slaughter the male. “There you go, Eli...So what do we do?”

“That is a dumb question, Lu. I’m not just going to leave Kol there and we can’t involve Lucifer unless we want to bring about the end of the world.”

The mage frowned at her best friend. “I know...But you can’t go alone….and Amaya and me can’t follow you there to help you…”

“I know but I have to try.” Before his friend could argue further he turned to go inside to get his things.

Amaya looked to the mage. “He doesn’t even notice it does he?”

“No…” She sighed, her breath coming out in a small white puff. What the other didn’t notice was that his grace was reacting without him controlling it, dropping the temperature around him and ice forming at his feet.

“I’ll go with him…. I know my way around Heaven and if push came to shove….”

Luna blinked, she hadn’t noticed the angel join them. She looked to Layla. “No, You Better Come Back Alive With Both Of Them. Zack and Plague need you….We all do Layla and I don’t want to see Plague and Omisha use Necromancy on an angel..”

Layla gave her a half-hearted smile but nodded. “Okay Okay then let me go get my nephew then we will all see you later..”

“Be safe, Lay…”

“I will Lu.” She then moved to go find Elijah. She found him talking to Mason and giving him a rundown on what was going on.

Mason frowned. “You are not going alone.”

“No, he isn’t going alone.” the angel cut in to soothe her younger nephew’s worries, though she could tell it just brought more. She sighed softly. “I promise to personally deliver them both home.”

Mason took a deep breath but nodded. “Okay….I will keep Claire stable…You Better All Come Back Alive.”

“Thank you.” Elijah let out a breath of relief. “And we will have some faith in us.” He waited until his brother nodded before turning to head out.

“Hey Elijah!...” Mason called after him.

“Yeah?”

“Put in a few extra rounds for me.” He knew his brother’s gun had bullets made from melted down angel blades.

Elijah laughed softly. “Sure thing.”

Layla gave a small smile. “Mason if you need anything…”

“Me, Sam, Zack, Plague, and I’m sure so many more have it covered.”

“Right.” She nodded and darted to catch up with her nephew and once they were out of the house’s protective barrier she took his arm and teleported them up. --------------------------------------------------- Heaven really wasn’t much to see unless your soul belonged there, to those deemed ‘pure enough’ it looked different to each of them, something personal. To angels and outsiders, it looked like a series of hallways and doors branching off of large rooms. Elijah knew he would have found himself lost quickly so he let Layla lead him through. Soon though the rooms started to look older and almost like well-kept ruins. Layla shivered as they kept forward, of course, he would bring him to this area and field.

Elijah looked to his aunt. “Are you okay?...”

“Yeah...This is just where it all happened, even your father’s grace lingers here…” She answered, just wanting to get out of here but she knew they were getting close. She was proven right at the next thing spoken.

“Laylah? Well, I wasn’t expecting you….perhaps I should have...And Elijah too….You would make better bait.” The archangel appeared before them.

Layla suppressed a flinch at her name, her wings opening to shield Elijah on instinct. “Lucifer isn’t coming. Your little plan failed, so Where is Kol?”

“He isn’t coming?.... That is a shame...Guess he will just have to live knowing he could have saved the poor excuse of a grandson but I do think he will come for his favorite son… Perhaps a trade then?.”

“No.” She narrowed her eyes. “We aren’t here to make a deal just to save a child that has nothing to do with your little match with our brother. Now, Where Is He?” She knew Elijah was getting annoyed as she could feel the frost creeping up over her feathers and ice forming on their tips but she needed him to stay level-headed about this. If this broke into a fight she wasn’t sure she was keeping her promise.

Unfortunately the cold and ice didn’t go unnoticed. Michael tipped his head, if he couldn’t talk her into giving him what he wanted then he could just take it. “You want the boy? Fine catch.” He snapped his fingers making Kol appear but then dropping him through a hole that any fallen angel would recognize.

“Layla!”

Before Elijah got her name out she darted after the shadowhunter, closing her wings to catch up to him then snapping them open to stop their fall. She bit back tears from the pain of the stop but moved to fly back up before the hole closed, only just making it.

Elijah let out a breath seeing them both make it through. “You really are an asshole.”

Michael frowned slightly. “She is faster than I remember...No matter.” His grace allowed him the use of holy fire freely so it was a simple act of snapping and a ring of it surrounded the two.

Layla curled her wings around the boy in her arms to protect him from the blaze.

“Let them go, Michael.”

“I’ll let them go if you stay. See I’m tired of this world and it’s time it ends as well as to finish my father’s final order.”

“I don’t care, It doesn’t concern any of us.”

“Oh but it does, you and your little family shouldn’t exist. I just was going to take care of that next but if you want to go first I can do that for you.” He hummed then in the blink of an eye he was behind Elijah then sent the nephilim flying.

Layla’s wings twitched slightly. “Fucking idiot…”

“Yes sister, he does seem to lack intelligence.”

“Not him, you.” She snapped.

The archangel growled and the fire ring closed in on the angel’s wings.

Layla bit back a cry of pain, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. The burning stopped with the sound of gunfire. It was at that sound that the shadowhunter in her arms started to stir. “Shhh…..it’s going to be okay….I hope….

Elijah knew the bullets weren’t enough to kill the archangel but they would hurt like hell and slow him down, especially aimed at the three pairs of wings. “Hey, I thought you were dealing with me first? Or did you realize you were out-matched?”

“You cocky arrogant-” He started but got cut off with a shot between the eyes.

“What was that?” He loaded another clip. “Didn’t quite catch that….Did you say you were letting us all go?”

Michael definitely took a moment to recover but that was all he needed before he was before the nephilim a blade appearing in hand. He knocked the gun out of the other’s hand then took him by the throat. “You wanted death, right? Then let me give it to you..” He buried the blade in the other male’s gut.

“DAD!” Kol cried out, now on his feet despite his own injuries.

The archangel’s head snapped to the noise. “Oh look who is awake…And just in time for the grand finale...”

Layla curled her wing around Kol. “Leave him be…you win, let us go….”

Michael laughed. “I still need live bait key work LIVE. You aren’t going anywhere until....” He trailed off as a blast of bitter icy cold overtook the field. “Oh good, he is finally here.” He turned his head expecting to see Lucifer, and honestly if he didn’t know better her still would have mistaken him, but instead just saw the nephilim he could have sworn he just killed. “How the hell….”

“Your guess is as good as mine, but I think something about a nephilim born of an archangel, even a fallen one has something to do with it.” Elijah shrugged. In all honesty, he had no clue but he was thankful.

He narrowed his eyes. “I see….Well, let’s test that theory.”

So here we are searing heat and bitter cold clashing with the two graces and as Layla thought before she was fairly sure her eldest brother had obviously miscalculated but his pride would never allow him to admit to that but this was clearly almost over. She didn’t know how many shots Michael took or how many wounds Elijah now had but she started to notice the archangel was getting desperate when the heat started to give way to cold and ice. She knew that he had been trying to summon his archangel blade for a little while now but Plague had it locked up in the basement where they stole the sword months ago.

Elijah noticed this too so in a final push the ice grip of his grace overtook and held the archangel in place. “Just Fucking Yield Already.”

“Not To An Abomination Like You!” He growled. “And Don’t Think You Have Won. This Would Be Over If It Fucking Answered.”

“Your sword? You lost the favor of your own blade, that is funny.” He laughed softly.

“Shut The Fuck Up!” Michael growled. He still had one more ace in his sleeve, if he could just distract him… He snapped his fingers and the last bit of his flames leapt to life and engulfed the two onlookers.

Layla pulled Kol into her arms and covered him in her wings to protect him, ignoring her own pain.

All humor left the crowned prince of hell as the blade in question appeared in his hand and he leveled it at Michael’s throat. “Let them go.” His voice was deadlier than the ice around them and as he said those three words the holy fire that engulfed the sword seemed to freeze in place making it jagged and sharp.

Michael’s eyes widened. “How…..”

“Wrong answer.” In one swift movement, the Archangel was down three wings. “Try again.”

He suppressed the yelp of pain. “What?..... Are you going to kill me?....”

“No my job to do that, though you so deserve it.” Another movement and there went the last three.

Yeah, Michael’s grace was sent into shock and the flames were gone nor could he make a sound or move.

“Don’t come after me or my family ever again.” Elijah growled but let go of the obvious overload of grace, the ice melting. His body started to give out but he soon found his son at his side helping him stay upright. “Kol?... Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine….are you?”

“I don’t know…” He answered honestly, his vision was quickly going black.

“Layla? What happened to him.”

“The angelic version of an adrenaline rush...” Layla frowned. “We need to get him and you home…” She moved over to Elijah’s other side, picking up Michael’s sword and using what grace was left in it to open the portal home, dropping them in the living room.

“Elijah?!” A Female voice sounded as the blonde rushed over. “MASON GET IN HERE!”

“Hello to you as well Aunt Makato….” Kol sighed softly.

The woman looked at her nephew to start fussing over him while her youngest brother moved to deal with the middle one. Makoto turned to their aunt. “What The Fuck Happened?!”

Layla hummed softly and sat down. “It’s a long story….”

[magicinthestory-past]

~Always by your side~

It had been almost three weeks since Aiden had brought Darren to the hospital for collapsing. When they got there Zackary was quickly to find out it was poison and few hours later just what it was. The good news was that there is a treatment to keep the hell hound alive but the bad news was there was no definite cure and even though he was alive Darren rarely woke up for more then a couple of minutes at a time.

Of course Aiden never left his mate’s side unless someone forced him to. That someone normally being Bree, Luna, Mason, Nekoda, one of his siblings, his aunt Sofia, or sometimes even his familiar, Kida, herself would grab his sleeve and pull him out of the building for fresh air. Nekoda came to visit every day bringing her daughter with her and even though Jackson was there too he didn’t often step in past the doorway of the room. Mason had called his brother to help them engineer a cure and even called his father to see if he could help but it seemed even the fallen archangel was stumped.

The day started off just as any other. Aiden had gotten used to the rhythm of the hospital around them by now, letting the doctors and nurses make their rounds without so much as a word to them. Kida had curled herself up on Aiden’s lap and was dozing off and on as he stroked her fur. Something then caught her attention and she jumped up and off his lap before darting out the door. “Kida where are you going?..It’s a hospital you can’t just run around..” Aiden sighed softly and moved to get up just as the door opened up fully. The hybrid froze seeing the man standing there holding the nine-tailed fox kit. “Dad?…”

Samuel offered a small smile before nodding. He put the fox kit down before looking to his son. “Hello Aid…” What happened next the fanged angel didn’t expect but very much accepted, hugging his son in return.

Aiden then pulled back. “Wait how long before..?”

“I don’t know but does it really matter at the moment? How is Darren?”

The hybrid looked back to his mate and all the monitors. “Stable….he isn’t getting better..”

“But he isn’t getting worse either.” He offered softly.

@breannavolturi

[horrible-writer-rain]

I’ll Save You{10}

Warnings~ NON-CON

A/N~ Sorry for the chapter being 4 days late. Also gif not mine.

He sighs setting the bowl of something and some bread in front of me not crossing into my nesting area. He then sits down with his back against the dresser. He grabs his own bowl and starts eating. I eye the bowl skeptically even though my mouth waters and stomach growls. "It's beef stew. Elena made it so it’s good." he says noticing my hesitance. I nod before grabbing the bowl and take a tentative bite. I moan at the taste. It's amazing almost like my grandma used to make when she visited. "We're safe here." he says after he finishes the stew. "We can have our week." he says hesitantly, and I stiffen but relax.

"Not if you don't want too. I'll only make love to you with your consent, never without. I'm your mate and mates don't force themselves onto each other. I'll never hurt you. I'll never talk down to you. You’re my equal, my Luna." he tells me as I set my bowl. I can feel the truth in his words and how guilty he feels for what he did. My heat wasn't nowhere near sated but just his scent and his skin against mine cooled the fire in my veins. I tentatively crawl out of my nest and to him. He shifts before opening his arms for me to crawl into his lap.

I have my legs on either side of his sitting on his lap and my arms are wound around his neck. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me tightly to his chest. I nuzzle my face into his neck inhaling his scent. Its gone back to providing me comfort and security instead of fear. I feel him relax as I do. He kisses my head and starts to purr. "I can't tell you how sorry I am, Corrina. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if I have too." He tells me and I can feel the sounds reverberate through his chest. "Shh, I know." I tell him softly holding him tighter. "Will you let me get you through your heat?" he asks me.

"Maybe but I need time. This is still too fresh. Your scent and touch seem to calm it since were mated but I know it won't last long." I mumble into his neck. He doesn't say anything and maneuvers us so he can stand. I wrap my legs around his waist my head still in his neck. I stiffen as he walks near the bed further from my nest. "Relax, Corrina. I'm just moving this to the bed. I couldn't feel my ass. Plus, this way we can cuddle better." he tells me before pulling back the covers. He sets me down before turning off the lights again. He shuts the window before slipping into the bed with me. He pulls me to him and kisses my forehead.

{This is how they cuddle}

Mason’s Pov~

I pull up to the main villa of the territory. I park and get out walking up to Thomas. We pull each other into a hug. "Good to see you Mason." he tells me. "You too Tom." I reply looking back to the truck. "Now, whose so important that you couldn't come earlier?" he asks pulling away from me. I chuckle at his raised eyebrow. I pull down the collar of my shirt to expose the mark on my neck more. His eyes widen when he spots it. "You found your mate! Holy Shit!" he exclaims excitedly before clasping me on the shoulder. I smile nodding. "Well..." he says impatiently. I chuckle before walking to the passenger side of the truck and open the door. She had moved off of me and into the passenger seat. I pick her up and she stirs slightly mumbling a soft protest. I tell her to wrap her arms and legs around me. She does and hangs off me like a koala. I chuckle walking back to Thomas. "Thomas, this sleepy Luna is my mate." I tell him and he chuckles. "Meric's been spotted near the Bluemoon's border with yours. I think you finding your mate has made him bolder." he says on a more serious note.

I growl baring my teeth at the news. "Mason, I can sense your rut. The last room on the second floor of the south wing is yours." he says stepping closer slightly and I growl. Corrina coos into my neck. "We'll talk once your rut and her heat is over. You'll get your week alone with her." he says before walking away most likely to a council meeting. Corrina stirs in my arms whimpering. I could feel the heat of her skin through the fabric of my flannel. "Your still in heat baby." I tell her. She whimpers with almost every harsh step I take. The bastard was taunting me. He would come for Corrina to get to me. He would take her from me. Make her his instead of mine. A growl leaves me as the rage builds. My rut making it worse. Suddenly, it’s like a haze falls over me. Like I'm not there but I am. I barely register what’s happening. I've roughly thrown Corrina on the bed in our room. When did we get here?

I feel my hands tear off her clothing than my own. This is wrong! I think to myself fleetingly as I roughly flip her onto her stomach and yank her hips up. So, she's presenting for me. She tries to get away from me and a growl leaves me. I shove her into the bed. A whimper leaves her lips at the action before turning into a scream when I roughly plunge into her. I set a brutal pace feeling her warm slick coating my cock and balls. I grip her hips tightly and she turns her head to look at me. Her eyes are filled with fear and her face is tear stained. THIS ISN'T RIGHT! STOP! I try to scream willing my body to stop, but my body doesn't obey, and I still continue to pound her into her.

"Mason! Stop your hurting me!" she screams and suddenly control is mine again. My hips falter and I take in her form really take in her form. I see the already forming bruises on her hips. I look lower and my eyes widen. She hadn't been prepped properly before I took her. It wasn't slick coating my cock and balls or even her thighs but rather her blood. I quickly pull out of her before throwing my body away from her falling off the bed onto the floor. I roll onto my back as she sobs out. What had I just done? Her name leaves my lips in a choked cry. Suddenly her hand comes into my vision as it flops over the side of the bed.

She's reaching towards me, but I don't take her hand. I want to take her hand so bad. To reassure her and show her I'm sorry but I stay my hand. I cave when a choked plea leaves her. I grab her hand and pull her onto my chest. I murmur into her hair how sorry I am. I don't notice I'm crying until the tears drip off my chin. "Shh, you didn't mean too." she coos at me while running her hands through my hair. We lay like this for a few moments before she get up. She makes her way to the bathroom on shaky legs.

Now that I had calmed down the scent of the room has me gaging. Blood, terror and sex. I swiftly get up and pull on my pants. I storm out of the room slamming the door behind me. I needed to get out, but I knew that I couldn't leave her in the state she's in, even if I'm the cause. I needed to take care of her.

With that I take off for the truck. I grab her bags only 6 in total and head up to the room. I open the door and place the bags down by the dresser. I look up and the top blanket is torn off and lies in the corner near the closet. She's wrapped herself in a white blanket. I leave heading to the kitchens looking for some food for us. "Mason?" I hear my name called and a smile is immediately brought to my face. "Elena." I say bringing the older woman into a hug.

"I made beef stew. I figured you would need it." she says pulling away before producing a tray with two bowls of stew and 2 pieces of bread. "Thank you, Elena." I tell her taking the tray before she waves me off telling me to go back to my mate. I sigh before walking in. "I brought food." I tell her walking towards her before stopping. I had almost crossed into her safe space. She had created a nest. My heart breaks more when I notice that she had left my scent out of her nest. Shit, I had really fucked up.

I sigh setting a bowl and piece of bread in front of her nest careful not to cross the invisible barrier. I sit down with my back against the dresser and start eating. "It's beef stew. Elena made it so it’s good." I tell her after seeing her reluctance to touch the food. She takes a tentative bite and moans at the taste. I smile slightly at her before I continue to eat. “We’re safe here.” I tell her after I have finished. I placed the bowl down before hesitantly continuing "We can have our week." and I watch as she stiffens.

"Not if you don't want too. I'll only make love to you with your consent, never without. I'm your mate and mates don't force themselves onto each other. I'll never hurt you. I'll never talk down to you. You’re my equal, my Luna." I ramble off quickly trying to put her at ease. She sets her bowl down before crawling out of her nest and to me. I shift my body and open my arms for her. She crawls into my lap her legs on either side of my and wraps her arms around my neck. In turn I wrap my arms around her pulling her to my chest. She nuzzles into my neck inhaling and I relax. I place a kiss to her hair and start purring trying to convey how sorry I am. "I can't tell you how sorry I am, Corrina. I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you if I have too." I tell her not expecting a reply.

"Shh, I know." she coos holding me tighter and I ask the question I was dreading on knowing the answer. "Will you let me get you through your heat?" I ask waiting for the answer with bated breath. "Maybe but I need time. This is still too fresh. Your scent and touch seem to calm it since were mated but I know it won't last long." she mumbles into my neck.  I don’t reply but move so I can stand.  I feel her tense as I move closer to the bed. "Relax, Corrina. I'm just moving this to the bed. I couldn't feel my ass. Plus, this way we can cuddle better." I tell her pulling back the covers and setting her down to go turn off the lights again before shutting the open window. I crawl into bed beside her pulling her body to mine pacing a kiss onto her forehead.

Story Masterlist~

[josiejordynwritings]

August 26th, 2019.

I don't know how to help them. 

Her husband is dead. Her fiance is gone. The love of her life when to prison. Her father was murdered. He killed someone. He's alone.

It's all too much, they're all so broken, and I can feel it infecting me. I'm taking it all on. Their pain, their suffering, their anxiety. I can feel it all. I can hardly differentiate between their energy and my own and for what? I can't fix it.

Elsie. I can't go to her side, I can't ask her if she's okay or she'll snap. She hates being coddled and treated like a fragile bird but who wouldn't be on the verge of breaking after seeing their husband's brains blown out? What do I do? How can I be there for her? For her kids?

Jade. I can't bring him back and I can't fill that void for her, so what do I do? Just wait until she falls apart and hope I can be there to pick up the pieces?

Luna. She... seems fine? But how can she be? She's a single mother now and her father's child was a monster. How do you come to terms with knowing that one day you will have to explain to your child who her father is and what he's done? She's moving on but is this guy much better? What do I do? Pretend it isn't happening? Hold my tongue? 

Sapphire. She's one of the only real pieces of family I have left but we don't even /really/ know each other, so I can help her through one of the greatest losses anyone can experience? She has the, so does she really need me?

Damien. He's breaking and I see it happening faster than I can pull the pieces back together. I see it happening, right in front of me, but there's nothing I can do. What am I supposed to do?

Mason. He's trying to fill a void with anyone he can sink his teeth into but at what cost? I know he's still in pain, I know he feels abandoned but what can I do other than show him I'm not going anywhere? 

[ultralifehackerguru-blog]

New Post has been published on http://www.lifehacker.guru/18-famous-moms-love/

18 famous moms that we love

When it comes down to it, celebrity moms are just like any other mother: they love their kids, they balance a lot of different jobs, and they just want their offspring to call more often.

As Mother’s Day nears, we took a look at famous matriarchs that have inspired us over the years.

In celebration of this special holiday, we bring you 18 famous moms that we love.

Serena Williams had her first child with husband Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit.

Serena Williams and daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr.

Serena Williams/Instagram

The tennis champ (who is outspoken about body positivity), won the 7th Australian Open— while pregnant with daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian, Jr.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend welcomed their first daughter, Luna Simone, just last year.

Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, and Luna.

Instagram/John Legend

We love Teigen for her no-holds-barred social media activity — especially when she deals with trolls on Twitter — but she also doesn’t hold back when it comes to posting photos of daughter Luna. On the weekend of Luna’s first birthday, the model and cookbook author shared a series of sweet photos from a special family photo shoot, as well as of the birthday cake that she and husband John Legend designed themselves. The couple is expecting their second child, a boy, this June.

British songbird Adele had her first child with husband Simon Konecki in 2012, and is currently expecting baby number two.

Adele accepting an award at the 2017 Grammys.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

The singer has always been brazenly outspoken, which is why we love her. On a recent trip to Disney, she was bashed for letting her son dress as Anna from “Frozen,” but didn’t give in to the haters. We love how she let him wear whatever he wanted.

Sheryl Sandberg became a single mother to her two children when her husband unexpectedly passed away.

Sheryl Sandberg.

Laura Cavanaugh / Getty

Sheryl Sandberg taught women to lean in, becoming a role model for females across the globe.

The author and “First Lady of Facebook” tragically became a single mother when her husband unexpectedly passed away, but channeled her grief into another book that she co-wrote, called “Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy.”

Ali Wong has one daughter, Mari,

Ali Wong, on stage.

Mike Windle / Getty

Comedian Ali Wong filmed her first televised comedy special when she was 7 1/2 months pregnant with her daughter, Mari, and killed it. She did not let pregnancy slow her — or her career — down.

She told NPR that she had anxiety about how having a baby would affect her career, but “I wanted to associate her with changing it for the better, and she absolutely has.”

Michelle and Barack Obama have two daughters.

The Obamas.

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The former FLOTUS has two Ivy-League degrees (Princeton University and Harvard Law School), and a multitude of good causes that are close to her heart, like her Let Girls Learn charity, which aims to get 62 million girls into school.

Despite growing up under a microscope, Sasha and Malia have become exemplary young women, which is a testament to Obama’s parenting.

Angelina Jolie shares six children with Brad Pitt.

Angelina Jolie with two of her children (Shiloh and Zahara) at the 28th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards in 2015.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images Entertainment

Of the six children that the exes share, three — Maddox, 15, Zahara, 11, and Pax, 12 — are adopted. Jolie has strived to make sure her children have a wholesome upbringing, and that they remain connected to the place of their birth. In an interview with Voguein 2015, the actress said that she sees her children as global citizens, discussing how often they travel to Africa, Asia, and Europe as a family to learn about each other’s roots.

Kris Jenner is mostly known for being the famous momager of Kim Kardashian.

Kris Jenner with Khloe Kardashian and Kylie Jenner at the 2015 NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Upfront.

Robin Marchant/Getty Images Entertainment

Jenner is a momager extraordinaire, balancing the lucrative careers of her five daughters.

From running a production company called Jenner Communications, to having a starring role on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” and hosting a short-lived talk show on FOX back in 2014, Jenner wears many hats, and does so with humor, all the while making sure that there’s plenty of family time to be had.

Victoria Beckham has four children with her longtime husband David Beckham.

Victoria Beckham with her five-year-old daughter Harper.

victoriabeckham/Instagram

The former Spice Girl and her children — Brooklyn, 18, Romeo, 14, Cruz, 12, and Harper, 5 — recently celebrated a casual Mother’s Day in the UK by taking a trip to her Dover Street store in London.

While the fashion designer is married to soccer star David Beckham, making for a pretty famous duo, son Brooklyn told Wonderland Magazine “I didn’t actually know that they were big until I was about 13.” He said that the first time he realized they were famous was when he went to a soccer game and “people were shouting my dad’s name and I was like, ‘What?! Oh my God. I don’t look at them like that.'” Now that’s grounded parenting.

Jada Pinkett Smith has two children, Willow and Jaden, with husband Will Smith.

Jada Pinkett Smith with Will Smith and their children Jaden and Willow at the “Men in Black 3” premiere in New York in May 2012.

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Entertainment

Will and Jada are known for their unconventional parenting techniques, which include nixing punishments and giving both of their teenage children creative control over their lives and bodies. So far, it seems to have worked out.

The eldest Kardashian sister, Kourtney, has three children with ex-boyfriend Scott Disick.

Kourtney Kardashian with her son Mason Disick at Disney on Ice in December 2013.

Ari Perilstein/Getty Images Entertainment

The reality star frequently shares some sweet moments of herself with her three children (some of which have recently come under fire) on social media. Though she and Disick ended their relationship back in 2015, the two are still able to co-parent smoothly, as he discussed in an interview with People, saying “We never had any negativity between us and we made a very smooth transition into the way we live, and luckily, thank God, we’re able to see one another and still be with our children and, knock on wood, that we have that.”

Kim Kardashian shares three children with rapper Kanye West.

The Kardashian-West clan celebrated Easter in April 2018.

Kim Kardashian/Instagram

Love her or hate her, but Kim Kardashian West is a down-to-earth mother to kids North, Saint, and Chicago. The model, reality star, and businesswoman knows all about hard work, and told ES magazine that she expects her children to work for what they want, just like she had to.

Tina Knowles-Lawson is the famous mother of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles.

Beyoncé and Tina Knowles at the launch of House Of Dereon By Beyonce And Tina Knowles in London in 2011.

Eamonn McCormack/Getty Images Entertainment

Besides being the mother of two superstars, Tina Knowles also has a thing for social media. Knowles was recently crowned the Queen of Instagram thanks to her candid and often hilarious videos, including a series in which she shared a few corny jokeswith her one million followers.

Beyoncé is mother to Blue Ivy and gave birth to twins Sir and Rumi in June 2017.

Beyoncé, Jay Z, and their daughter Blue Ivy attend the 66th NBA All-Star Game in February 2017.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images Entertainment

Queen B — who’s the most nominated woman in Grammy’s history — is a relentlessly hard worker, and didn’t even take a break from touring the world or recording secret songs and entire albums while pregnant with Blue Ivy. The singer broke the internet (again) back in February, when she announced that she and husband Jay Z were expecting again – this time with twins.

She often shares adorable snaps of the entire family on Instagram.

Beyoncé’s sister, Solange, has a 12-year-old son named Daniel Julez Smith, Jr.

Solange Knowles and Tina Knowles at the 2016 ESSENCE Festival in New Orleans.

Paras Griffin/Getty Images Entertainment

The “A Seat at the Table” singer gave birth to Julez in October of 2004, when she was only 18. While she’s expressed regret about having a child so young, she’s also called her son “the greatest unplanned blessing,” and wrote a song about him called “An Ode to Julez.”

“Big Little Lies” star Reese Witherspoon has three children that may as well just be clones of her.

Reese Witherspoon with her daughter Ava Phillippe at the “Big Little Lies” premiere in February 2017.

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images Entertainment

Witherspoon’s 17-year-old daughter Ava and 12-year-old son Deacon are from a previous marriage with her “Cruel Intentions” co-star, Ryan Phillippe. She shares her third and youngest child, Tennessee, with husband Jim Roth. After lending her voice to a character in the animated film “Sing,” the actress spoke to Entertainment Tonightat the Toronto International Film Festival in September about embarrassing her kids whenever she tries to sing at home. “I think I embarrass them terribly when I try to sing Drake songs,” she said. “I don’t stop singing. I enjoy it.”

Britney Spears is a proud mother of two boys, Sean and Jayden Federline.

Britney Spears with her niece and two sons at Planet Hollywood Disney Springs in March 2017.

Gerardo Mora/Getty Images Entertainment

Spears gave birth to the now pre-teen boys while she was married to ex-husband Kevin Federline. The “Slumber Party” singer frequently shares photos of the boys’ milestones on her Instagram, including a collage of the two posing together in the grass, and a more recent photo of the boys meeting Nick Jonas at the Radio Disney Music Awards.

After tying the knot with Seattle Seahawks player Russell Wilson in July 2016, singer Ciara announced that they were expecting back in September.

Ciara and her son Future Zahir Wilburn at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards in 2015.

Jason Merritt/Getty Images Entertainment

Wilson and Ciara welcomed their first child, Sienna Princess, in late April, and the two celebrated by posting a sweet photo of Ciara cradling her baby bump on the beach alongside a caption dedicated to the newborn. It read, “Dear Sienna Princess Wilson, No matter how big the wave, we will always be your calm in the storm. We Love You. Love, Mommy & Daddy. 7:03 pm 7 lbs 13 oz. 4.28.2017.”

Ciara also has a son, Future Zahir, from a previous relationship with rapper and ex-fiancé Future.

(C)

[jess-the-vampire]

Sky and the Forces of the Multiverse, Chapter 39

Previous / Next

-

A lot happened within the next few days.

Which was expected during a time like this, and in combination with everything that had just happened, but no day provided them a break, things seemed to always been happening now even if they weren't a direct attack. It put everyone on edge because who knew what they would be in for today at this point. No one held it past anything anymore.

Jackie for one, was gone, most likely sent out to search for luna, only after star confronted eclipsa on the matter.

She hadn't been seen for days, even when speaking to Kelly the Woolette mentioned Jackie had disclosed she was about to go on a mission for the queen and Kelly had to hold the fort with the rest of the knights. Sky didn't even see most of the squires in training anymore because she had little reason to visit them, but she could always hear them whispering about luna.

Maybe luna was kidnapped?

Maybe luna was a spy this whole time for an enemy of theirs? It'd explain why she was as skilled as she was.

Maybe she just plain died and the queen was covering it up?

Maybe nothing happened and jackie kicked her out or gave her to another knight to have as his or her squire?

Sky was quick to avoid all the rumors, and just avoid luna's fellow knights in general, she only was running into them so much because with jackie gone some of them were getting more unruly and more suspicious. Luna didn't really share much about her being a knight though it was plainly obvious she became a favorite of jackie's and a top knight quickly, seeing jackie's pupil disappear and jackie soon after was bound to cause issues.

And sky hoped jackie came back soon so the rumors died down before her mom got put on trial for a murder she didn't do.

Judas had been more tired then usual, sky first assuming it was due to stress but he mentioned to her he'd been having nightmares, which was never reassuring for his best friend.

Landon had been busy mostly to himself, but considering how he usually was judas had to assume he was mostly trying to get in contact with Bernard, though he didn't know for sure if it was normal friend stuff or landon was working up his courage to confess to him or not.

Meanwhile the Spiderbites had approved of eclipsa's charm after testing it, it was ready to be used on the queen before the charm wore off. Though it had annoyed angel just a little they took so much time testing it when he clearly just wanted them to focus on helping his mom as soon as possible before she was lost. There was no telling how time they would have left after all even if star set it back a little more.

Especially since his mom was getting a little weaker, he couldn't have expected star's temporary fix to last forever.

She was being tube fed and taken care of well but it was clear her body was still fighting itself and she barely moved.

His hope had been draining fast, even if people had been reassuring him they had a chance and it wasn't over yet.

He really just hoped the charm helped and they came up with the best way to fix this whole thing, as soon as possible.

Though he sat by her side as the charm was placed around her neck and the spiderbites sent him away promising they were almost finished with a solution to guarantee the removal of the parasite. This sent him to find sky, who was in the middle of talking to melaine, mostly to help her have a better understanding of mewni, but also to hear her updates on her theories and info.

It was her thing after all.

Though sky wasn't alone, judas, nora, sunny, galexia and celeste were with her, though they all mostly were doing different things.

Judas was mostly trying to get a hold of mason, who failed to pick up or speak to him the last few days, getting embarrassed and running off. Celeste was resting in the corner with her large rainmaker wand, forming little clouds to keep herself busy though she still seemed a little sad, nora was looking around at some of sky's things, mostly admiring her clothes and hats, and sunny and galexia were whispering among each other.

Angel's appearance was welcomed by all of them, it was so pleasant, entering a room and everyone being happy to see him. Though maybe they were laughing at how judas's clothes were kinda a little big for angel despite how nice he looked in them. Either way at least they were smiling instead of scowling and that was something he'd never get used to honestly.

And Angel took his seat next to judas and sky.

Sky was busy but judas was not as he put down his compact and rubbed at his face, "Mason isn't getting in contact with me...i've tried to speak to him but he ignores me, and there's no sign of the truth potion.". He was left with the impression mason didn't get the potion and was too embarrassed to admit this to him after telling him he could be responsible and do it.

Mason didn't normally ignore anyone, he liked seeing his brothers, having him try and avoid judas like the plague was a bad sign. He was rather social most of the time and he loved spending time with his family, if angel was avoiding people he loved he must've had a serious reason for it. Though for what reason wouldn't be clear without his presense.

Clearly distressed, Angel reached out to comfort the boy with a pat on the shoulder, an awkward one. It didn't seem to entirely make judas feel better but it did get a laugh from him out of seeing the other prince awkwardly try to be more affectionate. Angel kinda still had some stuff to learn with proper social interaction and how to talk with friends but he was getting better.

Though with his own lack of siblings, it was probably harder to give judas any good advice on what to say or do, being siblings probably added an extra layer to any conflict or non-conflict they had with each other.

In fact the only one in this room who had siblings from their own dimension, was Sunny.

And Sunny seemed to have a better relationship with her own brother back home then judas seemed to with his own siblings.

Though as Sky focused on whatever mel was going on about angel tried to give him the best advice he could, "Um well...maybe focus on something else and let him figure it out?". Angel might not know if that was the best thing for judas to do but judas actually seemed to agree with him, the demon prince was nodding and angel removed his hand from his shoulder.

"I just hope everything's ok.".

"With your brother? Well...your younger brother i'm sure will come back soon and explain himself...I mean...he's...not really shy or anything, he probably has reasons...", well, it was about as good as anything angel could give to help judas out. Though that clearly wasn't the only thing on judas's mind, he turned to look at angel and then to his cursed arm.

"It...seemed to act up...last night...I had nightmares...I had a hard time sleeping and it's skyrocketing my anxiety.".

Oh...

"Are you...in any pain?", he didn't want to ask but he had to, it was almost in his nature at this point.

He received a sigh, and thankfully judas shook his head no on that, "No pain...but a lot of panic...I've been having nightmares more often recently...I was just trying to rest and relax and enjoy the good news but i'm starting to freak out and I'm not sure it's helping...nora offered to give me something to help me sleep better but I should be alert in case...y'know...Her shows up.".

Nightmares? Every night? One nightmare was bad enough but having multiple every night?

"Does sky-?".

"Yeah, no duh I know angel, best friend here...he called me in the middle of the night after it happened.", Sky closed her compact, showing she and mel finished speaking, "Judas maybe you should take nora's offer, you need to relax and rest and I think all of this is just making it worse...maybe you could start by taking a nap here if you want to?".

She motioned to her messy room and bed, which wasn't the most unpleasant place for the demon to take a rest even if it was rather messy due to it's owner.

"Maybe you're right...but...what If i have another nightmare?", sky was quickly to lean past angel and push Judas onto the surface, "Then we'll see when we get to it, but you should rest...ok?". Judas grumbled but didn't protest much further, lying down, "Ok...i'll give it a shot...just...if anything happens...". Sky seemed to know and she patted his back as he tried to lie down on the bed and close his eyes.

And sky threw a blanket over her friend before leading angel away from the bed to give judas some space, judas was going to need some peace and quiet if he was going to get any sleep back.

And having them surrounding him would do nothing good for his nightmares for sure.

"Judas has put me in charge angel so...if you got anything, let me know...judas needs rest...he's so used to being the leader and taking care of everyone and being well...judas...he really needs a break. So you, me, sunny and galexia are going to go talk to mason and sort this whole mission out for him and Celeste and nora can watch him while we're out and alert us.".

"We're going to speak to his brother?".

"Yep, getting our potion back just in case...I mean the thing ain't always helpful but we might as well get it back. If i hadn't gotten myself worked up we wouldn't have lost it in the first place so i should get it back if i can...if mason doesn't have it already.". Sunny and lexi were already heading over to them, "So yeah, you know sunny, i don't think you know lexi super well.".

Galexia waved, and angel waved back slowly.

This girl was TALL.

Well, so was judas, judas was taller then her, but still.

Galexia must've been a little bit able to tell angel was intimidated by her size so she followed it up with a big smile and a big hug, welcoming angel to working on their team but also crushing him a little. Sky was already letting nora and celeste know where they'd be before they all left sky's room. The door shutting behind them as the four roamed the halls.

"So um...anything from your human friend?".

"Huh? You mean mel?"

"Well yes...you were talking when I arrived right?".

"Right right...well...i dunno she went off how maybe luna is responsible and maybe my mom is and like...it's just not a lot of really good ones right now, i don't think any of them are probably real...yet...". She seemed embarrassed, maybe asking a conspiracy theorist really wasn't the best person to help her figure out this incredibly serious issue.

Judas didn't like mel doing this stuff and he warned sky on multiple occasions since they met.

But it was less she thought mel was embarrassing and more she felt embarrassed for screwing up on her skills as a leader and not getting the best results. Granted, she should not have expected mel to just solve all her issues at the drop of a hat anyway, mel was mostly doing the best she can, even if her best was yet to give sky the answers she wanted.

"Oh...uh...sorry?".

"No need to say sorry...it's just kinda how things are going...they take time..." she still seemed to be a bit upset though, she probably hadn't expected being leader to go as super easy but judas clearly made way more progress in charge then her so far, they had plans but what they needed were full on results. If they knew what this person wanted they could trap them...but even if they found luna...she probably wouldn't know.".

They'd need something inciting, something they would want.

But what?

"Sky?", sunny tugged on her arm, "What's our plan for mason? Do we just talk to him? What if he doesn't wasn't to say anything to us?". Mason and Sunny were friends and did get along but she was right to be worried, if the boy was avoiding his own brother and even sunny herself during their dinners then talking to him probably wouldn't do a lot.

In fact, they didn't even know where he'd be.

"Well...we'll ask around and I guess we'll figure it out as we go?".

It was honestly the best advice she could give under the circumstances.

But as they teleported back to the underworld to get started on their search, they were greeted almost instantly by the former king of the underworld himself, Dave Lucitor. The man was surprised as one would if you popped out in front of them like that, but he quickly composed himself, probably used to something like this happening down here when demons regularly did that.

"Kids! Hey there! Hello sunny!", he smiled at the small girl as sky got to the point on why there were here.

"Where's mason?", that was a pretty sudden thing to be asked after being spooked at the man's appearance but they had o get right to the point if they wanted to get anywhere today. Thankfully they were in the presence of someone who might be able to give them some answers, instead of being froced to check the palace from top to bottom for the prince.

The former king, impressed with her boldness, crossed his arms and leaned his head, "Mason? Well he's been trying to help me out a lot for the last few days, so right now he's in my office, i was just going out to get us some snacks. What about it? He's not in trouble is he?". They were quick to tell him something, they really didn't need the guy with ears everywhere getting suspicious right now.

"No no...we just need to talk to him, uh...where's your office?".

"Just head down the hallway, take a left and he'll be at the end of the hallway in my office...though I could go with you all if you need-"

"No no...that's fine, get your snacks...we...won't be long anyway.", sky was quick to try and get away but dave stopped them, "Hold up, I wanted to ask...hows judas? We haven't gotten to talk much recently because he's been away...". With judas currently taking a hopefully calm nap in her room, the last thing he needed were his family members bursting in to worry him.

"He's...ok...", sky simply responded, "Just...busy...".

"He's sleeping", galexia piped in, before anyone could really stop her.

Though the man didn't say much further on where the boy was, "Well next time you see him, tell him to call me...I want to speak to him on his coronation and well...everything going on with it". There would be a lot to say it seemed, no one was sure if it would even go on anymore, at this rate it might be set back for a few more years in fact.

A place like that? an event like that? Perfect for someone like her to hide herself in...well if she had a reason to attend in the first place.

Then it hit sky like a brick, and it must've been right on her face because everyone was looking at her funny.

But she needed to get moving, "Uh...yeah we'll let him know, thanks Mr Lucitor!", and ushered the rest of her group to follow, leaving the man behind who shrugged and went on his way to grab some donuts. Everyone noticed sky's face but angel was the first to ask, "Sky...um...beg my pardon but...is something wrong? You now seem a little...more upset.".

"I'm not upset angel...in fact...thanks to him, I might have an idea...an idea about how we might be able to lure that...person".

"An idea?".

"We'll talk later...let's just finish this mission.".

The door the man had mentioned was quickly opened, and right there in front of them, going through several draws on the left, was mason. His wings were basically a dead giveaway as even as small as he was those things were too big to hide him away from what he was doing. The boy was so spooked, probably assuming it was his grandfather back already from his snack hunt.

But he wasn't anymore relieved to see who had actually found him.

"Mason!", galexia waved excitably to the boy, who suddenly became red with embarrassment.

Though he sent her a meek wave back.

"You could've just told judas y'know?", sky said to the boy, helping him go through another shelf, "We were gonna find out eventually, so might as well have told us and let us help you out...saved you some touble.".

"I was undercover!", mason argued back, "Judas said i could do it and i wanted to do it!".

"Well I asked judas to do it", sky told him back, "But he's been so busy he asked you...and still...after the first attempt, you could ask us?".

Lucifer, how many of the Lucitor kids had problems trying to prove themselves to others?

"I almost did it...".

"Well no, but only because of being unlucky...maybe the fact you went to a confrontation with fae might of already sorta made sure you wouldn't get what you came looking for...".

Mason's ears flickered on the mention of the demon girl.

"Anyways, let's just find it and go before he gets back."

The others were already helping them out, sunny cleaning and fixing each drawer they went in so it looked the same as when they left it. Granted, considering the strength and danger of a potion like this maybe the guy wouldn't just sit it somewhere a 13 year old could easily find it. Heck, maybe tom has it as he apparently held the investigation and interrogation of fae afterwards.

It wasn't unreasonable to consider.

"Grandpa seemed super happy when we passed him by ",Sunny mentioned, "I miss him so much, he loved my performances back home, but he's super happy here...so that makes me feel a little better.". Mason's wings flickered a little, "Yeah, i've been hanging out him...I hoped he would show me where to find the potion but...I couldn't find it at all.".

"You still have fun?".

"Maybe...a little...", the boy huffed, "But I want to help judas out and I couldn't do what he wanted because i'm too young, just like I can't help out anyone because my parent's think i'm too young.". He went through a few books before putting them back and shutting the door of the desk, "I'm tough...I can help out...i'm not like...a little kid right?".

"Just because you're not a little kid doesn't mean you can't get in trouble...", Sunny said, rummaging around, "I'm 14 and back home everyone says i'm a prodigy and i'm super mature and all that but I uh...I get myself into trouble sometimes...I uh...I made judas upset at one point. Cause I tried to sorta convince something of loki and he didn't think it was ok to do...".

"Really?", Mason seemed surprised, Sunny always came off as if she never made anyone mad and rarely got into fights.

"Yeah...and I stabbed judas once...and celeste got mad with me...and angel saw through my kinda lies...", angel nearby pricked up his ears, "Uh...for the record I mostly guessed...I think me trying to lie and practice to avoid tells made it easier to spot other's tells but I still mostly guessed.". He was sheepish before coughing and getting back to work.

"Yeah, your family is just being protective of you...not that they don't trust you...they just love you.".

Mason sighed before his hand found something, moving aside a hidden panel under the desk he almost hit his head as he pulled out the truth potion. It was still blue and partially used up, but it was definitely the same potion he had helped landon make. He almost screamed before the others quickly cleaned up the room and mason's victory was short lived as sunny reached out her hand to take it.

"Good, thanks mason, we better go before he gets back...", sky was relieved, she was so worried she had practically been watching the door more then searching.

Mason seemed to have his victory sucked away as he handed it over to sunny, who winked at him, "We'll tell judas you found it, we promise. But we have to fast before he spots us...ok?". But that victory was short lived as the door opened up and the former king walked in, with a box of donuts and a smirky smile on his face as he saw the embarrassed teens.

He leaned against the wall, chomping down on a donut. Everyone was left wondering how long he'd been standing there, he could've been for minutes, maybe an hour outisde of that door considering how distracted they all were trying to find what they needed considering how quiet he was being. But everyone seemed to have had their heart completely stopped at the sight of him.

They were so dead,

"What part of "Eyes everywhere" do you guys not get? You should know better then to think breaking into my office would simply be a cakewalk."

-

Judas quickly awoke from his nap, in a sweat, the girls only slightly scared at his sudden wake and quick to run to his aid to check up on him.

He was breathing heavily and nora was quick to check his temperature, demons were already naturally warmer then most creatures but judas did seem a little more above the line then usual. The Boy clearly just getting out from another nightmare and almost on instinct a rain cloud formed above him, raining onto his sweating head and all over the sheets.

Nora quickly looked to Celeste who shrugged.

"He probably wanted a cold shower right? That's something that's supposed to help wake someone fully up?".

Nora sent her a look that told her that sky would probably not be pleased to know they soaked her sheets whole she was gone and celetste grumpily turned ger head away from the princess.

The storm was quickly turned off, judas spitting out some water and rubbed his face, "I've had nightmares before, but not so...frequent before...not since I was a kid. I don't...I don't know if it's me or...it's...I'm seeing green and...". Nora quickly removed some of her cold slimy hair to place against judas's forehead, "What happened? Did..you...see anything?".

"I...I saw...something...a door? But I also saw...my arm...I think it...attacked me...".

"Was this the same one as last time?".

"Yeah...I think so...at least it's similar more then anything.".

She quickly removed the wet sheets to let them out to dry, judas laying back on the bed once more, "I'm not sure what's wrong with me nora...it seems to have started and it won't stop...maybe the stress really is getting to me.". Though celeste seemed more suspicious then anything, her arms crossed, "Look, green dreams sound weird if you ask me, especially with the door thing".

"How can you be sure?".

"Look, one dream in all green? Fine? Several though in a row? You don't find that weird at all?", she leaned on the bed, looking judas directly in the eyes, "Look, i'm not an expert on dreams, that seems to be lexi's weird thing if any of us know. But You haven't started having these nightmares until very recently, and they're all super similar, it's weird and not normal at all...something is wrong.".

"So what should I do then? I have to sleep at some point...", he held himself, shivering, "I can only keep myself awake for so long...I mean... I guess there's an old spell in the book of sleeps to help me stay well rested but...even sky can't do that for me forever...what should I do?", nora was the first to suggest, forcing her reply out of her before she could make herself stay quiet.

"Tell someone...get an expert...um...I mean...there have to be people who can help and look into it right?".

She got rather flustered, but coughed and got herself to cool down to explain her point better, "M-my family are mostly doctors and um...eclipsa is good at mind magic and uh...well your parents could do something, just tell them and maybe one of them can help...maybe". Dreams were a little hard considering there were many ways to interrupt a dream, one could claim his dream was a bad omen another could claim he would visit a green dimension in the future.

It was probably why he hadn't said anything before.

He told anyone and they might not think it's as important as celeste thinks it is.

He'd have just held up everyone with it and it might not even matter.

Though nora seemed to be reading his mind, quick to touch his shoulder and mumble, "Don't think your problems aren't important, they are...if something is wrong you should say something about it so we can help you...it's ok to ask for help...right? Like how you...helped me and you...wanted my help.". Judas rubbed his shoulder though, granted he must've felt a little bad about spending his time trying to have nora help him during a serious event and putting her in danger.

And it seemed he was taking a backseat since, with all of his problems.

And nora only seemed to get more worried, how did they go from judas wanting to help nora to nora wanting to help judas? Judas when he wanted to approach her wanted to help because he cared and wanted to make a connection with her, now that they did, nora just wanted to see him smile like he did before but was unsure how to do it. Judas just wanted to make her feel like she wasn't alone and she had power to stand up against her parents, nora was asking to fix judas's mental health that traumatized him since he was a baby.

That was not going to just go away, and it probably never would.

But she still wanted to do something, even though everything had been hindering her from properly focusing on helping her friend. Though for the time being the demon seemed to have appreciated the shower and cool slime even if sky would probably be upset later on that her bed was now covered in sweat and rainwater from out of nowhere.

"I know nora...but they're not as important as what's going on with you guys, i've been putting up with this for years without error...it's different then the pain everyone else is dealing with. I need to figure out how to fix myself but It can't come before helping you or angel or the girls...you've all been waiting long enough...I can wait a little longer if i have to...".

"Judas...this is important now, you can't just have nightmares like this for the rest of your life...I mean, we need you...you can't help us if you're distressed", celeste had to agree even if she wasn't saying much. "Dude, you really need to stop with your nonsense, the more you keep denying help the worse it's gonna get...I mean sky is in charge but we still need you."

"But...".

"But nothing, you can't help us if you're panicking and tired!".

She was right, he couldn't deny it.

As guilty as he felt about getting help during all this, help prevented him from causing more mistakes in the future.

Mistakes that could easily make things worse for the people he was trying to actually help, and cause so much worse in the long run.

"Ok...fine...but who should I go to? If you really think my dreams are bad and we need to find someone to help with all my...issues...who? I...I'm not sure who can really spare their time to help me.", the spiderbites would most likely not of anyone considering how much they had to deal with as is. His parents? Well they might just send him to someone...

"Eclipsa, she has all the time in the world anyway...", celeste grumbled, "Plus she probably knows dreams a lot better then anyone, might pick up on something the others wouldn't".

Guess she had a point, eclipsa didn't exactly have a lot to do with her time and mind stuff was something she was all too familiar with, though judas was worried eclipsa would give him nothing but bad news on something like this. There was no way he could go there and not feel worried, what if his nightmares were finally about to come true? What if it was going to take control?

Having something take over his body in his sleep was far from preferable for the young demon.

Far from.

"Fine...I'll go see eclipsa...right now, you girls can assist me...just in case I need help...", he got out of bed, before drying himself up in a blast of fire around his body, "Just...stay close by...I could use company right now.". He was followed out of sky's room and moved on his way to the tower, it felt too soon to see eclipsa honestly, and sky might get upset.

But even sky couldn't argue against this if it meant helping him.

However, as the demon knocked on the door, he was surprised to not get an answer, the door didn't open and no one called from inside. He knocked again, but he was still given no answer from inside. Was eclipsa sleeping? Or maybe she wasn't here at all and they came at a bad time? Maybe she was in her private home with globgor? Judas pushed the door opened and headed inside, the girls following.

"Eclipsa?".

As they entered her tower, they found no trace of her or globgor, the room looked tidy and empty.

They weren't here.

Darn.

"Gee, a time where you want her she ain't here", celeste kicked at the floor, "Figures...guess we gotta wait or...I dunno...find someone else.". But Nora disagreed, "We could just look around for her first? We don't know she's left the castle right? You know about eclipsa's secret home, let's go there and see if she's there. It wouldn't hurt right? The sooner we look at this the better.".

"Fine...whatever...I guess...".

It couldn't hurt, the worst is they go there and don't find her and just have to wait till she gets back. Though celeste was clearly not eager to go for some reason or another, and before anyone could ask she responded, fixing her hair clips. "Look, the place is gross and a pain to get to...i'd rather we just teleported there instead to save us the trouble...and then I don't have to row us forever and then come back if she's not there".

Well, at least she was honest about it.

"Maybe, but it's also rude to just...pop in, not to mention eclipsa probably has spells just to keep people from doing so to avoid ambush...it's ok though...i'll-", but nora stepped in front of him, "I'll row us! Judas you can just...relax, and celestte can-". But the other girl shook her head, "Actually, him rowing would probably keep him more awake, he'd more prone to fall asleep if he's just lying down, even if i'm there...besides...we'll all probably row...it might get us there faster...".

Then her bracelet glowed, "Plus...since we'll be alone down there...I can probably help out...just...for now...the commission probably won't think that much of it...mom could cover for us...". Celeste was offering to help out and put their needs before hers, she was warming up to them, and judas smiled at her knowingly despite her huffing and ushering them to go.

"C'mon...the sooner we fix this the better...".

Whatever storm powers Celeste seemed to be good at, did come quite in handy.

They all were rowing of course, but a gust of wind from a small cloud creature moving them through the gross looking water was also helpful. They were practically cruising that as they hit their mark they almost crashed into it with their boat, the ride seemed to get a smile out of celeste though. She actually seemed to have had a bit of a good time hanging out with them.

It was kinda nice.

Celeste wasn't great but she was still a person and they seemed to have tapped into her softer side in some places. Celeste might not want to admit it but she was having a good time and was feeling less angry for once. Though as they made it to their destination she was going back to being grumpy, guess they'd see more of her softer side another day.

As they made it inside they noticed quickly it was dark, judas lighting up some of the lamps around them to light up the room. It didn't look like eclipsa was here either actually, the place looked empty and clean and well...if anyone was in here they were being quiet as heck. It seemed most likely eclipsa was out and just hadn't gotten back yet and judas felt a little dissapointed.

"Maybe we could try queen butterfly?", nora offered weakly, trying to just figure out some kinda solution they could work up off of. The queen did go into someone's mind recently, maybe she could do something like that for judas? Then again, maybe not, nora lack of knowledge on magic just made this whole situation a lot harder for her to help out on.

Celeste didn't seem too surprised though, tapping her foot and grumbling, "Well, this was a wasted trip, let's get out of this dumpy place and find someone else to handle this." She was already on her way out when something sopped her in her tracks. She was quick to walk over to the nearest bookshelf and pull out a purple book that was sitting on the shelf.

It looked old and was covered in stickers, tape, and crayon, but something about it must've caught the girl's eyes in particular otherwise she wouldn't have bothered with it.

"Celeste?", she jolted at them, looking between them and the book, there was no way she couldn't show them what she found.

She showed them the cover.

"Meteora?", the name still seemed to affect judas, he never had met her before and yet he felt like he knew her. Everyone spoke on her and what she was like before her rampage and it was summed up as her being evil but also pitiful because of why she became that way, before this point he had been sure she was well...dead. Hearing about it made him afraid he'd end up the same way, but now he imagined what it was like for her growing up, not knowing what she did.

She probably grew up here, under their noses this entire time, completely ignorant with a fresh start in life to make friends and thrive on mewni without pressure to be anything other then herself. He wondered if they'd meet her eventually, face to face, as far as they knew she was still on mewni . His thought process was distracing them from the reason they were here but he couldn't help it.

Judas was quick to go over and look at the book, "Y'know...I still can't process the fact she's still alive...I grew up knowing nothing about her but that she rampaged and ended up killed before they rebuilt the entire kingdom back up. Knowing she's out there...I wonder how it feels...to have your mind erased and not have to feel terrified of the damage you can do anymore...".

"Judas...".

He carefully flipped through the pages, seeing a young half-monster with purple hair, horns, and cheekmarks throughout. "She's probably out there living her best life without having to worry about stuff like this happening, making friends and having relationships...there aren't even pressures anymore for her to be the next in line and be everything everyone wants her to be...".

"Jude...hey...it's ok...".

Celeste seemed to instantly regret her choice to give judas the book, ripping it from him, "Hey look, I only pointed it out because...meteora was...a bit of a friend to me back home...". She hugged the book to her chest, "I don't have a lot of friends back home but when I was ditching mom, meteora was there to spend time with me...she...babysat me a lot and I just missed her...".

"You never mentioned her before this point-".

"Well i'm mentioning her now ok?! I wasn't trying to get you upset...".

Judas sank, "It's not your fault...It just gets me emotional thinking about this kinda stuff...I know you didn't mean anything...". He stood back up, "Well...I guess there's nothing for us here anymore...we...better go...". Though he couldn't even take another step at hearing a crash in another room, spooking the three teens and making them jump.

Someone was here, and whoever it was hadn't said a word to them since they showed up.

Judas set a flame upon his hand in order to better light up their location, "We better check that out...c'mon...".

He took the lead, the girls following him behind as he opened a door and went further into eclipsa's mini home, finding his way into her kitchen. Though there was no sign of anyone in here, the kitchen being pitch black. Whatever made that noise had to have been in another room, and judas was already on the move to find whoever was sneaking around.

The next door found them in a bathroom, but nothing was there either.

The bedroom? Nah

Meteora's old room? Also nothing though the sight of it seemed to still leave judas conflicted.

Though the lack of progress was getting to celeste especially, stomping her foot and growling. "Where is that stupid sound coming from!? We've checked just about every room in this place!". Not that they knew much about this old home but they had been through every door and checked all the rooms inside and there was no telling where the source was.

Nora was even puzzled, having checked the same rooms, armed with a book, and finding nothing.

"It's as if...the sound is coming from nowhere...but it has to be coming from somewhere! Sound just doesn't come from nothing!".

And then it hit judas whose home they were in.

"Wait a second...celeste, check any of the portraits around here!", he looked determine and if his hunch was correct-

Celeste turned to him, "Wait...what? You think one of the paintings came to- OH!", she quickly ran off to the kitchen first and nora tapped judas on the back. The smaller girl clearly puzzled, "Judas...what if it's someone dangerous? Maybe we should call for help...just to be safe...I really don't want to run face to face with whoever is under that mask.".

But the demon stood in front of her, "Well, if they are...i'm here to help protect you...whatever it is if it's hiding then we'll have the drop on it before it knows what hit em, alright?".

"Alright."

And they quickly heard a whistle from the princess and followed suit, finding celeste back in eclipsa and globgor's shared bedroom, pointing to a portrait of meteora on the wall. "This one's funky...c'mon...let's see what's going on in here..." with judas helping they moved the hidden doorway open, showing a secret hidden passage, they honestly should've guessed eclipsa had some here just like in the castle...it was her favorite way to travel next to her wand.

And judas went first, the girls following him from behind, celeste in the back with her wand at the ready. Honestly they could be exaggerating, they could just find a rat in here, maybe even some old storage that fell over. They couldn't prove anyone was inside of here, thought if there was a chance it was an enemy or eclipsa herself they had to take it.

It smelled, that was for sure, eclipsa probably didn't clean in here very much.

In fact as they crawled around judas stumbled across candy wrappers and cans for soda, maybe this place was a secret room for eclipsa to store her snacks? If it was that would explain why it might have rats inside. They crawled for a little longer before judas hit the end of the road, pushing the wall in front of them and stumbling into a secret room, the girls following.

Only for them to almost be blasted, as food fell from shelves next to them.

Judas panicked and he almost struck the figure before he gapped, looking up at the person who shot at him he was surprised to find-

"Luna?", celeste grumbled, putting down her own wand.

And sure enough, panting in front of them, was the blonde teenager herself, putting down her own wand. Her eyes just as cold as the last time everyone saw all of them, which at this point had been far too long for them that they all couldn't help but stare. The tall princess gripped her wand tighter then before, looking at judas directly in the eyes, her red against her blue.

This was no warm welcome, for either side as luna pointed her finger towards the teenager intruders who stumbled upon her small hideout for the time being.

"You shouldn't be here...".

"So...how long has this been going on...", the former kind munched on a donut and sipped his brew in front of the pile of embarrassed teenagers. Honestly Sky should've seen this coming a mile away, judas always told her his grandfather had ears everywhere he could, if only to keep an eye out for the most unsavory of people. His office of all things would be bugged.

And yet-

Boy, jude was going to love hearing about this one when he woke up, they were about as stealthy as an elephant in an office building. Well, that's what judas would say when he found out.

It wasn't even as if no one could trust him, it was a matter of getting little as involved as possible, otherwise news may spread and news digging too deep about the situation would cause utter chaos. Plus this guy would probably not be happy his own son left him out of this for the most part, this was kinda a family matter after all even if sunny and celeste were...family in another world.

Yet no one wanted to say anything.

Maybe they could come up with a clever lie? Maybe?

His eyes were mainly on his grandson holding the truth potion, and rightfully so.

That was in a safe place last he checked and now it was being held by his youngest grandchild.

The more quiet they were the more suspicious they seemed to be, and the more suspicious they were the more the man would prod at them to find the truth of the matter. Just how much had he heard of them speaking? Did he know more then he was letting on? Or did he just think this was an average heist over a truth potion. Either way anyone knew better then to mess with any king of the underworld.

And sky felt all eyes on her, looking for guidance.

Or maybe just someone to lie them out of this, though she really should not have been their first option on THAT front.

Though Mason was the one to speak first, sensing that maybe as he was the one who started this, he was the one to take the fall for it. " I um...I made this potion awhile back and lost it and I...I just wanted it back...because If mom and dad found out...they'd know-". He seemed rather red-faced about it but his grandpa knew where this was going.

"You went into your garden against their wishes didn't you?", he actually wasn't even mad, in fact he seemed impressed, "I know you have the ingredients for one in your garden, if you were able to get your hands on one it would be through your own means. Eclipsa gave it to me to help, but sounds to me it wasn't originally her own potion, was it?".

He nodded, "I uh...they were just helping me out...I just didn't think you'd give it to me if I asked.".

"I understand, though I feel like I should be concerned for what reason you even made a truth potion. No one just causally makes a potion unless they intend to use it after all, so that's something worth asking. Not that i;m accusing you of doing anything in particular, but you do know you all are the most suspicious people in all of mewni doing stuff like this right?".

"Maybe, but like...we never intended to use it for anything bad...we're not...y'know, evil or anything?".

"Well, perhaps you have a point...but-", and that "But" seemed to make everyone's hearts in the room stop, "I heard something about sunny here stabbing judas? And the fact you're working with judas...I also seemed to have heard something about sunny passing by her grandfather...which is rather strange because as far as i'm aware, you said your family wasn't around here when we allowed you to stay at this castle right?".

Oops

Wow, they really should've been more careful in his office, who knows what other people have heard from them just rambling about everything going on when they thought no one was listening. If people didn't think of it as all lies or a bunch of kids playing pretend who knows if they also might be spreading rumors on what they were doing? God, they completely forgot about bugs, that should've been one of the first things they looked out for!

They were all looking between each other now and the man leaned on his desk, "Listen, i'm going to talk to my son very soon about this regardless, at the very least you should be honest about what's really happening around here so I can better help you.". Sky leaned back in her seat, not looking at him directly in the face, "Look...it's...I'm not sure it's a good idea to tell you...it's not simple to explain.".

"Try me."

But instead of sky explained, sunny stepped forward and wiped the makeup off her face, her sharp blood moon cheekmarks in full view, and the demon king actually seemed rather stunned. Then galexia did the same, revealing her green saint markings, they barely got to show them since they're been there and even angel seemed surprised to finally see them.

She really wasn't going to have much of a choice was she? He sure wouldn't believe her lies and if he approached his son about this there was no way he could lie them out of it either with this guy's bugging and spying. If they didn't tell him now, at this rate he'd find out eventually on his own, sky felt herself give in and lean back in her chair, annoyed but at this point just accepting her fate.

"it's...a long story.".

"Luna...".

"Judas?".

Judas seemed on the verge of crying in the moment, even if he knew luna was safe and he trusted her seeing her in person was incredible. Well, she wasn't perfect, she looked like she'd been living in the woods for weeks but still, she was alive and ok and...well, her normal self. Though hugs were out of the question as she was quick to grab what seemed to be a backpack of snacks to leave.

"Pretend you didn't see me.", she was almost demanding, she sounded so cold, and she was speaking to people who had kinda been basically friends to her before this point as well.

But judas stepped in front of her before she could go anywhere, luna was a rather tall girl but judas was taller. "Not until you explain yourself...we haven't seen you in awhile luna...you...you stepped out on us...". But the girl wasn't much for conversation, sending him a look and a wand raise, "Judas...I don't have time for this...someone is on my tail and you being here does nothing but blow my cover...".

So luna was aware she was being followed by a spy, figured, she was much to smart to think no one would be out looking for her and keeping a close eye on her. Queen Butterfly wouldn't have just let her go without any fight after all, even if she was given a bit of a head start to begin running so no one could have followed her and she'd have time to cover her tracks before anyone could.

She was sneaky, but the queens had been sneakier, and luna did not like that at all.

''You can't just leave! You've mostly cut all communication with us! Where have you been?! So much has happened and...", he was starting to get emotional and for a second it seemed to have gotten to luna's cold heart before she tired to dismiss it entirely. "Look judas, i'm not good at goodbyes and you would not have let me leave if you knew...but regardless I have say in what I want to do...".

"Luna...".

"I'm here to get some food and hide, and you're not making it easy for me...".

"Oh, should we be?", celeste pulled out her own wand, "You want us to just move to the side so you can walk past us and go back to dumping us on the side huh? Figures as much, we finally find you and it's not ' oh hello guys!' or ' How are you?" it's ' get out of my way, i don't want you around!". Celeste was not afraid of spitting back, that was for certain.

"Celeste...this is-".

"This ain't anything, you asked for my help on some ideal that we cared to get home and for the benefit of helping each other we'd do some investigating yourself. But then you decided to dump us as soon as you get a chance to run and cut out from us and don't even care enough to say a word to us...would it really kill you to stay here with us at all?".

"I'm not even supposed to be here, I tracked it down myself and because eclipsa was out i stepped in, figured she wouldn't miss a few candy bars. If she comes in and finds me, i'm busted and done for. I went out there alone to help, and any contact with you or bringing one of you along puts you at risk. I know my strengths and this is for my strengths.".

"So your strengths consist of constantly pushing people down who care about you?".

"

...don't pretend like you didn't push people down yourself".

"Yeah but at least I stayed with them...".

Luna's expression suddenly got angrier.

Nora herself had not exactly been apart of this drama, her relationship with luna herself was rather minimal in fact, thought she could tell whatever happened seriously had affected judas and celeste and luna pointing a wand at them wasn't doing her any favors either. Luna was powerful and she was scary, and luna could blast her way out if she wanted to.

But she didn't seem to want to lay a hand on anyone here despite all of this.

Though someone had to do something, before things escalated or they were caught and she suddenly found herself in a burst of protectiveness for her friends, standing in front of luna directly, arms outstretched. This seemed to have caught luna off guard a little since most of her encounters with the slimely girl rarely showed signs of this much courage.

But she did it anyway.

"Please...put the wand down...let's just...talk...for a bit...if you want to leave you can leave after...", she glanced back to her companions who didn't seem entirely satisfied with that call but it was better then the alternative. Luna considered it, and lowered her wand, celeste following despite clearly not wanting to. Though luna still obviously didn't like being here.

Answering their questions at least avoided them from getting caught by eclipsa or anyone else who might of been out there and would notice any destruction or noise coming from inside of these walls. Celeste was still sending luna a dirty look her way and the blonde knew better then to try anything with her watching, celeste was not as powerful but she wouldn't hold back

"Fine...but i won't be here long..."., she simply muttered in a tone that expressed her displeasure.

"Fine...".

Judas plopped down on the floor, clearly still rather sad and upset.

And for a moment luna seemed actually guilty? Or at least that seemed to be the emotion on her face at seeing her friend in this state.

But she didn't say a word, staying trapped in her own silence and almost waiting it out for the situation to be over. She wasn't even sitting close to the others, keeping her distance as if worried they'd attack her or something. She folded her arms and folded her legs, the stuffy room wasn't exactly comfortable but it was all they had for now till further notice.

Hopefully whatever eclipsa was up to, she'd be busy for awhile.

"I heard about the trail...", she mumbled, "I heard form people...saw...papers...". She didn't seem happy nor sad when mentioning the event, it was probably hard to get too emotional over something she had little involvement with though she was probably happy no one got hurt or arrested. One could simply imagine how crazy the situation would've been with her there.

"We saved ourselves...however we could.", judas wasn't really looking at luna, but he still wanted to speak to her, even if he was hurt. "It wasn't easy though, angel and sky really could've been in a cell by now if things had gone any worse. I was panicking that day, it was...scary seeing everything play out. I was worried i'd lose sky and angel and...maybe even more.".

"Judas...you don't seem...well...".

"Well why should he be feeling peachy!?", celeste almost shouted, "It's not like we're the only ones being affected by what's been happening since we ended up here...everything's...been...a mess.". Judas shuddered at celeste's words, she was...defending him? She was straight up getting in luna's face to help him? It was all just...surreal.

Even luna was quite unused to celeste acting like...well, whatever this was.

"Well, i didn't imply that well...nothing bad was going on with any of you, I just noticed judas seemed to not be doing so well, am I not allowed to be concerned? ". One look at Celeste's face told her everything she needed to know, she knew leaving would have an effect on the group but not to this extent, was she completely cut out from everyone? It seemed like it.

Being away with little communication had it's disadvantages.

She lacked knowledge on the group, their plans, if anything bad may of happened in somewhere secluded, this was all unnerving. Though she didn't bow down to celeste's rude remarks, eyeing the demon. "I think judas himself is allowed to tell me anything he wants, I don't think you can exactly speak for him? He wanted to speak to me so...he can speak to me.".

Though judas was silent still, he did want to speak but didn't seem to know what to say.

Should he ask why she told him nothing? Ask about her strange markings? Ask why she felt leaving was the best outcome for everyone? Ask if she was up to anything...bad since the last time they saw each other? There was too much to talk about and he didn't even know if luna would answer any of it! She did like to keep so much to herself after all and some of this might never come out.

But sitting here in silence didn't help either.

In fact it was only making things worse for everyone in the room and if silence was not broken soon they'd miss their chance to do anything with this time they had to speak to luna.

"Luna...I...i've been having weird dreams, they're new, they started up a few days ago and i'm getting worried. We're here because we wanted to talk to eclipsa to see if she could help me. I don't know what's been happening but I've been seeing green and doors and whispers and-". He was quickly shushed by the blonde, who seemed startled, "Judas...repeat that...".

"I was in a dark room, and...I saw green, I heard noises, and I saw a door...and then my arm-", he didn't seem very eager to finish the rest though lucky for him luna didn't need it , the wheels in her head turning as celeste continued to glare at her. "Judas...I...had a dream very similar to yours...in fact that dream is why eclipsa made me...my charm...".

She pulled a very similar looking charm from under her shirt, "It's weaker now but...I remember passing out on the floor and waking up to find eclipsa making me this, saying it would protect me or something...". Something about that line seemed to run a chill down the boy's spine, eclipsa reacted to a dream by giving luna a magical charm that wards off dark magic?

That didn't bode well for him.

Luna looked at his face, and sighed, taking off the charm and handing it over to him without hesitation. "Here...you might need it more then me, it's not as strong as it was though i've been trying to increase it for as long as I could...using that much magic in a spot would blow my cover and it's been hard to try and get it to maximum strength again but maybe eclipsa can do it...".

"Don't you...need this? You're out in the woods luna! You need this charm!".

"I can protect myself if needed, i can make a new charm if i have to...but...i got this from one nightmare, you're having several in a row, you need this more then me.", luna seemed to insist, and judas placed it around his neck, his head feeling slightly lighter then before. "Keep that entirely safe, and wear it when you go to bed, if you want you can keep it under your clothes if that helps.".

Judas snuck it under his shirt, adjusting is jacket to hide it entirely for now. He didn't want anyone to know for now in case

"Thanks...luna...".

"It's fine, just be careful with it and don't lose it, the charm is useless if you break it or lose it...then again you may ask eclipsa for another, if you find her anytime soon.", celeste was still scoffing at the girl and nora was being rather quiet but neither were attacking her for the time being. Judas trying to get back into a conversation before luna was able to get out of it.

"Look, luna...I know you felt you had to leave us but...you should've said something to us, we're still your friends and...abandoning us like that, without telling anyone? It just made us feel...like you didn't actually care about any of us", he was clutching his jacket and he still couldn't look at her directly in the eyes, but he was sure she was avoiding his gaze as well.

She didn't answer, guess it was hard to make an excuse here, or maybe admitting she did care was harder for her then it was for him. Luna instead seemed to almost ignore what he said, trying to explain herself, "Look, I had to leave...someone needed to be on the outside, and I...i couldn't stay there with them all knowing who i was, or what i was...it...was bad news and I knew better then to put myself in that position."

"Oh, so it's ok for us to be there, but not you?", celeste grumbled, her side comment clearly insulting luna though she made a good point. The girls were also just as vulnerable if not more then luna was, but she didn't think they should've left as well? Luna couldn't even see to come up with any way of going against her, she was technically completely right about that.

"Listen...I...It was better I go then anyone else...I've been out there before, I can survive out there...I wouldn't wish that on anyone else. Back home i'd...well..I camped out for hours to weeks to catch criminals hiding in the woods. This is right up my ally, someone still needs to stay behind and we can't all just live in the woods! Someone had to leave and I was best fit to leave...".

"Yeah? And how's that working out for ya? Don't see a masked lady tied up anywhere?".

This was not going well.

"Um...luna? Will you come back anytime soon?", nora's voice sounded so innocent, so sweet despite everything going on around her. "We could really use your help, if you want to come back, not that you need to it's just...being here might be a lot better...for everyone. Maybe you could talk to the queens and they could give you some assistance and help you out and-".

"No...I...I can't face my mom knowing she knows who I am, neither of them...I'm not someone who can really handle that kind of thing"., she seemed to trail off on that note, leaving the others to wonder exactly what was up between her and her moms. Luna didn't seem to run much from anything but something about her moms she couldn't stand to still be in the room with no matter how much she tried to be brave.

"Luna...why not? Did you moms back home-?".

Luna seemed to know where this was going before shaking her head, "No, not that...but...I just can't face them, I barely like facing them back home, doing it here only makes it more...unfun.". She glared at the others, her voice cold, "I do not know the weight of how you all feel about your own parents, but I know my own, and I know i cannot face them right now...".

"Well you might be facing the rather soon...", the brunette mumbled, "Jackie's out looking for you...on your other mom's orders funny enough".

Luna's face twisted into one of horror, the mere mention of her mom coming after her sending shivers down her spine, she almost seemed nervous her mom would burst through the room and capture her right this second. Luna rarely showed much fear on her part, so when she did it stood out completely. She could clearly fight her mom off with magic if she wanted to and yet-

"She's...WHAT?!".

She quickly stood up, "Oh that's bad, I need to go...NOW! I had to train under her here and she's...she's not someone I want tracking me down...how long has she been after me!?" She was quickly starting to pack up her stuff, "Spy or no spy, i'd much rather run into a spy then my own mother whose hunting me down...I need to get out of here fast...".

"It's only been a few days, luna, don't-", judas was quick to stand up, "Luna...we just got here, I have so much to talk about with you! You can't just-". But the blonde was quick to pull out her wand, pointing it at him. "I'm sorry judas...but I need to move on, I can't be here right now and I need to get a head start on my mom before she tracks me down here...finding you all with me will only make it worse.".

Her wand being pointed at judas seemed to startle nora, who wasn't sure how to react but was quick to stand up to help, celeste was already drawing her wand. They both might've done something if judas hadn't motioned for them to stand down, there clearly was no point in using magic, they'd only get caught sooner and waste time, not to mention energy considering luna would put up one heck of a fight.

"Fine...get out of here...", the demon didn't seem too happy about this but like he had much choice.

Luna put down her wand, walking past the boy without even looking at him.

She stopped, he didn't even turn around to face her but he knew she had something to say.

"Judas...?".

"Yeah?".

"Good luck...", there was a pause but despite th snarling coming from ceelste she left the room, the door of the painting slamming behind her, leaving the teens behind.

And judas closed his eyes, his ears flickering at the door shutting.

"You too...".

The king took a LONG sip of coffee, in fact sky was sure he was almost about to spit it out, as he tried to process what he just heard. Honestly with how many people figured out what was going on due to them screwing up they might as well just tell the entire kingdom at this rate, Sky could practically hear luna complaining to her about revealing their secret once again on accident.

God, hopefully she never had to having being sneaky as a major part of her job as queen.

Actually, knowing what her mom got up to, it would probably be a major part of the job for the unfortunate young girl.

Ugh.

The rest of the room was mostly silent, though if luna were here she'd have most certainty wiped the mind of the man. For once though, sky would've actually been just fine wiping his mind out of anyone else's. But this was what they were stuck with, and this is what they had to live with. Dave was especially looking at sunny, as if now looking for the features she had inherited from their family.

He wasn't exactly dying on the inside, he had probably known about multiverses just as much as his son did. It was almost mandatory at this point to at least mention them to the leaders of the kingdoms in case Omni needed to but his head in about a timeline being broken so the multiverse doesn't collapse. It was one of those concepts that some people just kinda had to be given at least a mention of.

But that didn't mean this wasn't well...shocking considering the context.

This was one of those things that made you see other things in a whole new light then ever before, and he was clearly still processing everything sky had told him in rapid succession. He had probably expected to hear something was going on behind the scenes, this was not quite what he had been expecting though. No one expects this to happen normally.

However, what came next only added to the surprise.

He simply placed his cup down, and sighed, his lips parting before he pulled himself together in front of the kids as the respectful normal king he was.

"Alright, so how do you want me to help?", he said in the most calming voice he could possibly make considering the situation itself.

And everyone sat in awkward silence, the king folding his hands together, looking as clam and serious as ever. He was quick to notice their expressions and elaborate, "You need help, i'm here to help...I'll still be processing everything for days but well...I'll provide you help where I can.". He had his arms folded on the desk as he offered the kids donuts from nearby.

"I won't sell you out...and you don't have to tell me everything, but...I'll help if It means helping judas and his friends...not to mention...more of my own to an extent.", he motioned to sunny. "This conversation will not leave this room and...for now I won't mention anything to Thomas...we'll keep this between us until I think we're ready to say something. Don't look at me like that, like i don't get into stuff behind thomas's back on occasion with wrath".

He almost seemed to be daydreaming, thinking about his wife before his compact rang.

"Pardon me, stay right here...", he stood up, heading into a corner to speak with whoever was on the other line, he paused, before hanging up and facing the kids. "So...that was Marco, Landon's looking for you sky..".

The princess raised an eyebrow, staying cautious.

"What for?".

The look on his face didn't show promise though and sky gripped at her chair as he broke the news.

"Well um...it appears...his crush is missing, and you're the only other one who can really get in contact with him".

[safehavens-archive]

tag drop pt 3

[safehavens-archive]

✧ — ⋆ tag drop.