#AND NOW THE MISTS ARE AGAIN TARGETING THE NEW HERO BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO STOP ELEND BEFORE HE DESTROYS GHEM

[titsthedamnseason]

so lowkey obviously vin must not be the hero right? or she’s going to take the power for herself? you see something is not adding up because her and sazed think she could be the hero because all of the signs she’s experiencing she has in common with alendi. the issue with that theory of course being the alendi was not the hero….or he was “the hero” but only presumably because no one ever got the chance to prove otherwise but kwaan did not think so ultimately…..🤔

[scary-grace]

Enough to Go By (Chapter 4) - a Shigaraki x f!Reader fic

Your best friend vanished on the same night his family was murdered, and even though the world forgot about him, you never did. When a chance encounter brings you back into contact with Shimura Tenko, you'll do anything to make sure you don't lose him again. Keep his secrets? Sure. Aid the League of Villains? Of course. Sacrifice everything? You would - but as the battle between the League of Villains and hero society unfolds, it becomes clear that everything is far more than you or anyone else imagined it would be. (cross-posted to Ao3)

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

Chapter 4

You think about Tenko more now, but you’re allowed to – he’s your patient, and if he was your patient at the clinic, you’d expect to see him for a follow-up on the four gunshot wounds you cleaned and dressed. You’re allowed to think about him, so you think about him. You think about him a lot.

The thoughts take two directions. One is just wondering about him – how he’s feeling, how he spends his days, what he’s thinking about, what he thinks of you, whether he’s thought about you at all. The other is thinking about the situation he’s in. His parents and grandparents and his sister are dead. He’s been missing for fifteen years. He’s got a quirk and he’s a villain, ambitious and strategic enough to target UA High and escape alive, albeit badly injured. His guardian is a cloud of mist in a suit with some kind of split personality. And there’s someone else in his world – two someone elses. The doctor he referenced, who wouldn’t help him, and the one he calls Sensei, who gave him his new name and a hand to wear over his face and set him up to fail.

You think about Tenko a lot, but you can’t think about him all the time, because now that you’re a nurse, you’re twice as busy as you were before. The doctors expect more of you, and so do the other nurses – and so do the MAs and CNAs and high school students who are starting their apprenticeships, since you now have three years’ experience to go with your reputation for smoothing things over with difficult patients. Your friends keep you busy, too. They might call Kazuo to find out if something’s wrong with them, but they call you to find out what to do about it.

“You need to get a scan,” you say to Yoshimi for probably the fifth time. “I know you don’t want to –”

“It’s weird!”

“Not any weirder than whatever Yoji does when the two of you are at second base,” you say, and in the background of the call, someone snickers. If you had to guess, you’d say it’s Mitsuko – she has the guts to bully Yoshimi into making the call, combined with the brass balls to feel comfortable eavesdropping. “It’s called a mammogram. You’d have to start getting them at some point anyway, just like we all do. It’s just to make sure there’s nothing weird going on.”

“Stop it. You’re freaking her out for no reason.” Yoji’s there, too. “It’s probably just an STD.”

You’re stunned into silence for a second by the sheer classlessness of saying that about one’s own girlfriend, but you bounce back fast. “First of all, they’re called STIs, genius. Secondly, there’s not an STI on the planet that gives you nipple discharge. Yoshimi, get the scan. I’ll go with you if you want. Just get it done.”

“Can I do it at your clinic?”

“Uh –” You glance at the Imaging queue. Things look quiet, but you can’t count on that to last – but if you report Yoshimi’s symptoms, which include soreness, nipple discharge, and what she describes as a weird rash, you’re pretty sure the doctor on call will bump her to the head of the line. “Yeah, come in now. I can’t stick around after my shift, though. I have stuff to do tonight.”

“Ooh, stuff. Let me see –” There’s some rustling, which you can only assume is Mitsuko grabbing the phone. “Is stuff tall, dark, handsome, way too serious, and currently working as a sidekick?”

“That would be stuff,” you admit. “It’s not a big deal. We’re just grabbing a drink after our shifts.”

For the first time since you and Kazuo broke up, you have a date, and it’s Kazuo’s fault. Or maybe it’s you and your friends’ fault, because you decided to throw Kazuo a twentieth birthday party and invited a few of his friends from UA. One of those friends is Sugimura Hiroki, who fits perfectly with your type of dark-haired boys who want to be heroes and who’s so painfully shy that it took him six beers and the entire party to talk to you. You were sort of weirded out by that. You’re not very intimidating, and you spent the first half of the conversation trying to figure out if he knew you were quirkless, since you learned the hard way that it’s something you need to disclose up front. But the two of you eventually worked your way around to the point, which was that Sugimura wants to get to know you better, and he tripped over his tongue so badly that you finally just asked him out to end the suspense.

It’s taken you a while to actually schedule the date, but tonight’s the night, and you’re sort of anxious about it. Luckily, work is busy enough to keep you distracted. Your lunch break ends while Mitsuko is still going into increasingly nasty speculations about Sugimura’s physical attributes, and you hang up the phone without saying goodbye.

There’s a message waiting for you on your computer, from the front desk. FOF. Can you take him?

It’s not Tenko. You know Tenko wouldn’t come here again. You send the same message you did when it was him. How F are we talking?

Jumpy, talking to himself, chainsmoking. He’s in costume.

“In costume” could literally mean that the patient’s wearing a costume, but it’s also code for when the front desk thinks the patient’s a villain. You’re used to dealing with villains by now. Send him back.

When the knock on the door comes, you’re ready and waiting, and the CNA ushers in a tall man in a black-and-grey bodysuit – so “in costume” was literal this time around – and a paper bag over his head. You’re momentarily transfixed by the paper bag, and more so when you realize that he’s bringing a lighted cigarette to his mouth while wearing something highly flammable on his face. The CNA shuts the door and bolts. You face your patient and introduce yourself. “Have a seat if you feel comfortable doing so. What brings you in today?”

“I’m not – whole.”

That’s concerning. “Are you injured?” Your concern grows when he gestures at his face. “It would really help if I could see the injury. Can you take the bag off?”

He shakes his head. Instead he reaches into his pocket and produces a torn full-face mask. You look at him, then at him, putting the pieces together. “How do you feel right now?”

He doesn’t answer – maybe can’t answer – so you default to the face chart you use when little kids aren’t able to express how they feel in words. Your patient points to scared, stressed, anxious, angry. Then he throws in happy, possibly to mess with you, or to distract you from the fact that the first four emotions indicate that he’s ready to snap at any second. “How about this?” you ask, after thinking it over. “I can ask the doctor to give you something that will help you calm down –”

“Please!” The patient bursts out. Drug-seeking? “No, I don’t need it, sister! I’m so calm it’s hard to believe.”

“Okay, then we’ll just have it here in case you decide you want it. As an option,” you say, keeping your voice smooth and calm. “Either way, this is a quiet place to wait. You’re safe in here with me. And if you want, I can sew up your mask for you. Would that help?”

“You can do that?”

“Easily,” you say. “Can I see it for a second? I need to make sure I grab the right thread.”

The patient hands the mask over, which is a good sign. You’ve established at least a little bit of trust. You examine the mask and decide that you’ll need the thinnest-gauge needle and thread you have. “I can definitely fix this,” you tell the patient. “It might look a little rough, but it’ll cover you up like it did before. And it should last until you get where you’re going.”

The patient nods. You stand up. “I’m going to get some supplies, and a little anxiety medication if you decide you want it. I’ll be right back, okay? Just wait here.”

The patient nods again. Given how labile his mood is, you need to be fast about this, and get back before he gets upset or decides to leave. You step out the door and shut it behind you, heading for the supply closet, but you’re waylaid on the way there by one of the doctors. “We need you up front. Now.”

“I can’t. I have a patient, and he’s –”

“I don’t care. We’ve got a hero coming to visit, and we need somebody to keep things calm,” the doctor says. Shit. “Figure out what they want, get them as little of it as you can get away with, and get them out of here.”

“Which hero?”

The doctor shakes his head. Great. “Just hurry.”

You can’t go just yet. “My patient’s got a lot of anxiety and he’s in costume. I need him to stay calm. Can you –”

“2mg diazepam. I’ll put it in the chart.” The doctor unlocks one of the medicine cabinets, extracts a prefilled dosage cup, and hands it to you. “Go.”

Diazepam is long-acting. Hopefully long-acting enough to keep your patient quiet while you get rid of the hero. You skitter back down the hall with the dosage cup and hand it over to the patient, along with a tiny bottle of water to wash it down. “I’ll be right back. Just finding the right thread.”

The patient downs the pill dry, which is both good and bad for you. You shut the door again and head for the lobby. You don’t make it there. A cloud of black mist boils up around you, swallowing you whole.

By the time your feet hit the familiar wooden floor of the bar, you’re already out of patience. “No. Send me back right now.”

“Shigaraki Tomura has need of you. You will assist him.”

“Not right now I won’t. You snatched me from work,” you say. You’re facing the wall and the All Might poster again, and you don’t want to turn around. If you see Tenko, it’ll make it harder to say no. “If I go missing, people will notice. Is he dying?”

“No,” Kurogiri says.

“Is he in imminent danger of dying?”

“No.”

“Then send me back,” you say. If Tenko’s asked Kurogiri to get you, it means he needs medical assistance – or follow-up. You’ve needed to follow up anyway. “I can come back later.”

“No, I need you right now!”

“How much later?” Kurogiri asks, ignoring Tenko’s protest.

You think it over. You can dispense with the hero situation quickly, stitch your patient’s mask, and sneak out of work early. They’ll have to give you the emergency time off. You’ve never asked before in three years of working there. “Ninety minutes.”

“That’s too long. Kurogiri, don’t let her leave!”

“Ninety minutes. I’ll be in the alley behind the clinic.” You ignore Tenko, too, in favor of focusing on Kurogiri. He’s the one who decides if you leave or not. “All right?”

The mist wells up around you again, which counts as a yes. You land on your feet in the hallway, reorient yourself, and head for the lobby again. Tenko wants you again – needs you, your stupid brain corrects – but he’s going to have to wait for you to sort this out.

The hero in the lobby is Uwabami, the Snake Hero, and she’s got two sidekicks with her. No, students. You recognize one of them from your limited viewing of the UA Sports Festival and feel a spike of guilt run through you. She’s from Class 1-A. The same class Tenko tried to kill.

You don’t need to think about that, and you don’t need to feel guilty, because you didn’t do anything to her. You force yourself to focus. Uwabami wouldn’t have brought high school students here if she was doing any kind of investigating, which means your patient and any others who might be nervous around law enforcement are probably safe. The question of why she’s here still remains. You step forward. “Welcome to Yokohama Free Clinic South. What can we help you with today?”

“We’re on patrol,” Uwabami says. “My interns gave some feedback that our patrol involved a little too much publicity –”

The students look unrepentant. Good for them. “So we’re engaging in some down-to-earth patrolling,” Uwabami continues. “Tell us about how heroes support your clinic.”

Heroes don’t support your clinic. Most heroes strongly dislike the free clinic network, and the feeling is mutual, for a bunch of reasons you’re more than willing to articulate. Then you think better of it. Picking a fight with a hero in front of hero students is a bad move if you want to get out of here any time soon, and if you’re going to keep helping Tenko, you need to stay completely off the heroic radar. You focus on the students instead. “You’re on internships, right? They’re supposed to show you what life will be like as a hero.”

“Yes,” the girl who’s not from 1-A says. “They’re supposed to.”

“We have a program like that here, too,” you say. You gesture for them to come forward, and they desert their supervising hero at high speed. “A lot of our nurses and techs started working here in high school. Let me introduce you.”

You’re on much more solid ground talking about this. This clinic and this program saved your ass – without their sponsorship, you’d never have been able to get around your quirklessness as a barrier to nursing school, and you started getting on-the-job clinical training while most other nursing students were stuck in the classroom. You catch yourself evangelizing a little bit, but you don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world to do. You’re proud of the work you do as part of the clinic. It’s nice to get to talk about it.

You clear the hero students out in half an hour, hoping you’ve impressed them even a little bit, then hurry back to your patient. The diazepam’s kicked in nicely, and he chatters away to you while you stitch the tear in his mask. You learn that his name is Jin, or Bubaigawara, or Twice, which you’d guess are his first name, his family name, and his villain name, in that order. He doesn’t say how his mask got torn and you don’t ask, but you send him on his way in a better mood than before. “Thanks, sister,” he says on his way out the door. “You could be worse. You’re a saint!”

Different tone, different pitch, completely different meaning between the first sentence and the second. It reminds you of Kurogiri. You know enough villains now that you can compare them to one another. You shake your head, bemused, then head back inside. Time to guilt-trip your boss into letting you leave two hours early.

Your guilt-trip is successful, mostly because of how you handled the hero situation, but as you’re trying to sneak out, Yoshimi arrives for her scan. After you cajoled her into the office, you can’t abandon her to some random tech. You do abandon Mitsuko in the waiting room, though – she says the words “nipple discharge” as loudly as possible, then starts picking on the scant amount of makeup you did for your date. You don’t feel bad at all for leaving her behind.

Yoshimi’s scan goes quickly, and just like you feared, it nets her a follow-up appointment at the main branch of the free clinic tomorrow. Tomorrow’s your day off. You promise her you’ll go with her – you, and not Mitsuko or Yoji – then talk the doctor into sending her home with a dose of a different anti-anxiety medication than the one you got for Twice. Then you check your phone for the time. Almost ninety minutes exactly. You race out to the alley.

The mist engulfs you almost the instant you set foot in the alley, and you’re in the bar a moment later, facing Kurogiri. Tenko’s nowhere to be found, and before you can ask the question, Kurogiri turns and sets off through a doorway, deeper into the recesses of the building. You follow him, wondering if this counts as being taken to a secondary location. Or maybe the bar counts as the secondary location, even though you’ve been here before. Either way, you’ve listened to way too many of Mitsuru’s true-crime podcasts.

Kurogiri leads you into an absolutely filthy room. The floor is covered – empty wrappers, empty cans, old newspapers and magazines, plastic cases for game disks and chips. You have a bad feeling about who lives here, and when Kurogiri clears his throat and speaks up, you’re proven right. “Shigaraki Tomura. I have brought the girl.”

The only semi-organized spot in the room is a desk with two monitors on it, a keyboard in front of it, and Tenko slumped down with his head pillowed on one arm. He looks up, and for a split second, you can see that he’s happy even behind the hand. Then his face turns bright red and his expression twists into a snarl. “I told you not to bring her in here! Get out!”

You don’t need to be told twice. You duck out the door and retreat about twenty feet down the hallway, listening as Kurogiri tries to placate Tenko. “You asked for her to be brought to you immediately, not for me to summon you when she arrived. I followed your orders to the letter.”

“I didn’t want –” Tenko breaks off, swears. Then he mumbles something, and Kurogiri chuckles. “Don’t laugh at me!”

You check your phone. You aren’t supposed to meet Sugimura until eight, but you’ve got no idea how long this particular encounter is going to run. You might need to tell him you’re running late. You’ve just sent the text and tucked your phone away when Kurogiri reappears. “We will return to the bar,” he says. “Shigaraki Tomura awaits you there.”

So Kurogiri warped him to the bar. You wonder what that was all about. Was Tenko embarrassed that you saw how filthy his room was, or just embarrassed that you saw his room at all? Or did he change his mind about wanting you here? The last thought upsets you. You follow Kurogiri back into the bar and find Tenko sitting at the counter. It’s an improvement from the last time you saw him, when he was sprawled out and bleeding from four gunshot wounds, but this time he’s got his arms crossed, clearly pissed about something. His face is still red behind the hand. There’s a bloodstained bandage taped to his right shoulder.

A pile of supplies appears on the bar as you come closer. “What happened this time?”

“It wouldn’t stop bleeding.” Tenko uncrosses his left arm to gesture at the wound. “This is the fourth one I’ve used.”

If he’s gone through four bandages, it must be pretty deep. “How long ago did it happen?”

“Two hours,” Kurogiri says. “Shigaraki Tomura sent me to retrieve you immediately.”

“Can you fix it or not?” Tenko snaps.

“I need to see it first,” you say. You come a few steps closer, sit down facing Tenko on the barstool next to his, and reach for the bandage. He doesn’t stop you from unwrapping it, and you detour to glove up before you start peeling the fabric of his shirt back from the wound. It’s oozing blood rapidly. It’s jagged at the edges, and deep – if you suctioned the blood away, you’d be looking at exposed muscle, and you’re so horrified by the fact that Tenko’s been badly hurt again that you ask a question you shouldn’t. “How did this happen?”

“Hero Killer,” Tenko says, and your stomach lurches. “I thought he might be useful, but he’s just like the rest of them. Obsessed with the precious Symbol of Peace.”

You don’t know very much about the Hero Killer, except that he kills or cripples heroes and he’s not in Yokohama any longer. Tenko’s still ranting. “Why can’t anybody shut up about All Might? Don’t they know –”

“That he’s not gonna fuck them?” you interrupt, and Tenko nearly chokes. “I guess they can dream.”

Tenko’s expression is contorting behind the hand. You’re pretty sure it’s not the result of your explorations of the wound, because you’re not touching it. You watch, concerned, as his shoulders shake and his mouth twitches, until awkward, rusty laughter finally issues from his mouth.

You always try to make people laugh. You’ve been in the habit since you were little. It’s an effective strategy for defusing tension, whether the joke is funny or not, and your jokes are usually at least kind of funny. But you always liked making Tenko laugh when you were kids. You were always just a little prouder of that than you were with other people. Tenko made people smile all the time. He deserved for somebody to make him laugh, too.

Tenko’s laughter is brief and uneven, because he’s trying to get it under control. “Stop it,” he finally snaps at you. His mouth is still twitching. “It’s serious.”

“Right,” you agree. But you can’t resist another joke. “It would be a novel strategy. If you can’t beat the Symbol of Peace, make him unfuckable instead.”

“I can beat him,” Tenko says, but his voice is strained to the point of snapping, and his shoulders are shaking again. “Can you fix my arm or not?”

“I can fix it,” you say, “but I’ll need a suture kit. And I’ll either need to cut your sleeve or you’ll need to take your shirt off.”

“I’m not taking my shirt off.” Tenko’s face is red again. “It’s ruined anyway. Just cut it.”

You cut his sleeve open from the neckline and peel it back, then go looking through the medical supplies. Kurogiri took your advice about additions to their supplies, and nothing turned up missing at work, which means they honored your request to steal from someone else. You’ve got local anesthetic this time, which is good, because you need it. You start numbing the edges of the wound, asking every so often if Tenko can feel what you’re doing. When he stops saying yes, you open the suture kit.

It’s a bit weird, but putting stitches in is one of your favorite parts of the job. You can get in the zone with it, even when the patient wants to talk. Tenko wants to talk. “People talk about the League of Villains out there. Don’t they?” he asks. You nod. “What do they say?”

“Um –” You’re not sure this is an answer Tenko wants to hear. “They’re wondering why the attack on UA happened.”

“What do you mean, why?”

“Like, if there was a message behind it,” you elaborate. You need to be careful, with the stitches and with this line of thought. “More than just killing All Might, because lots of villains want to do that. If there was a message, it didn’t get out. The police and UA haven’t shared much information – not even how the breach happened in the first place.”

Tenko scoffs. “They don’t have a clue. They won’t see it coming the next time we hit them, either.”

He’s planning something else. Your blood runs cold, and for a moment you’re torn about whether or not to ask. Tenko makes the decision for you. “What else do they say about the League?”

“Not very much, otherwise,” you say, and Tenko swears. “There are a lot of villains, just like there are a lot of heroes. People talk about the ones they see the most of.”

“Which heroes do you talk about?”

“I don’t really talk about heroes.” You tie off a stitch, trim the thread to the appropriate length, and take another. “One of my friends has this nasty crush on Endeavor, so we talk about him sometimes, but otherwise – no.”

“Your friend has a crush on Endeavor,” Tenko repeats.

“Like I said. Nasty.”

You’re conscious of Tenko staring at you, and you will your face not to heat up under his gaze. You don’t even know why he’s staring, and you’ve got stitches to do, so it doesn’t matter. Your phone buzzes in your pocket – probably Sugimura, probably confirming your date. A date you’re not sure you want to go on anymore. Did you ever really want to go on it? Or did you just say yes because –

“You look weird.”

You look up from the stitches, startled. “Huh?”

“You look weird,” Tenko repeats. “Your clothes are different and you’ve got stuff on your face.”

Tenko and Mitsuko feel the same about your makeup skills, apparently. “Sorry.”

“Why do you look like that?” Tenko presses. You tie off his next stitch. “Are you going on a date or something?”

You answer without thinking about whether it’s the smart thing to do. “Yes.”

It’s quiet for a long stretch of seconds. “Go on your date, then,” Tenko says. His voice is flat. “I don’t need you.”

It stings. You don’t want it to, but it does, and you look down at the cut on his shoulder so he won’t see it on your face. “You still need a few more stitches. At least let me finish them.”

“No. Get out.” Tenko jerks out of your grip. You barely have enough time to cut the hanging thread on your last stitch. “I don’t want you here. Kurogiri –”

“Shigaraki Tomura, I’m not sure that’s wise.”

“I didn’t ask you!” Tenko swats at you open-handed and you leap backwards. “Get out! I don’t –”

You don’t hear the end of that sentence. Kurogiri warps you away too fast, and possibly saves your life. He drops you back in the alley behind the clinic, holding half a suture kit and still wearing bloodstained gloves. You peel them off and dump them into the garbage, furious with yourself. You shouldn’t have said that. You shouldn’t have talked about your life at all, and above all else, you should have remembered that you were talking to a villain, not your best friend – that whatever’s left of your best friend isn’t enough. He’s angry with you, and he’s been having you followed. Just how angry is he? Angry enough to hurt you? Or angry enough to never talk to you again?

You’re sickened and more than a little scared to realize that you’re more frightened of the latter possibility than the former. It’s entirely possible that you’ve never been in less of a mood to go on a date.

But you do go on the date, because you said you would, and it’s – fine. There’s nothing to complain about, but there’s nothing to be excited about, either. You and Sugimura hug to say goodbye, and you promise to text each other about setting up another one, and then you walk home. Mitsuko texts you, wanting details, or DETAILS, but you’ve got nothing to share. It was just a date, and no matter how many times you try to tell yourself otherwise, you’re angry about it.

Not because of Sugimura asking you out, not because you agreed, not because you went. Because you told Tenko and gave him a reason to get rid of you. Why does this keep happening? Why do you keep finding him and losing him, over and over again? What is it going to take for you to hold on?

“So how was the date?”

The voice emanates from the alleyway on your right and you nearly jump out of your skin. Tenko’s there, hand down from over his face, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He hasn’t changed his shirt. “I didn’t think heroes were your type.”

“They aren’t.”

“Then why were you on a date with one?”

“He asked.”

“And you just go with whoever asks?” Tenko looks half-incredulous, half-disgusted. You shake your head. “Forget it. Come with me.”

You shake your head again and take a step back – away from the alley, closer to the street. Tenko looks frustrated. “Come with me,” he repeats.

“What, so you can kill me?” You take another step back, well into the glow of a streetlight. You see shock flicker across Tenko’s face. “I don’t have a death wish.”

“Well, I don’t want to kill you,” Tenko fires back. He looks surprised at himself for saying it, but only for a moment – then he repeats himself, with more conviction. “I don’t want to kill you. You’re supposed to be my sidekick.”

Your jaw drops. “You remember?”

“I don’t remember everything.” Tenko takes the hand called Father out of the back pocket of his pants and studies it for a moment. Then he puts it away. “I remember that.”

Some kids played a different game every day. You and Tenko always played the same one, with a rotating cast of classmates at your side. All the heroes in the world were working together to fight one big villain, the worst villain the world had ever seen, and Tenko could never decide which hero he liked best, so he played a different one every day. But no matter which hero he played, no matter who else was playing with the two of you, you were always his sidekick. You reminded him every day that you didn’t have a quirk, and he always said the same thing in response, no matter which hero he was pretending to be that day, even though he didn’t have a quirk, either: You don’t need a quirk to be on my side. My quirk’s enough for both of us.

“Come on,” Tenko says again. He holds out his hand, three fingers and his thumb folded down, his pinky finger extended towards you. “Are you coming or what?”

You’ve never seen the world in black and white, but some things are unmistakable: There’s a line here, not visible to others but clear as day to you. On one side of it is Tenko and the darkness that’s swallowed him, the evil that surrounds him, the terrible things he’s done and is planning to do. On the other side is everything else – your dreams, your friends, your family that’s always loved you but used you anyway, a world that’s punished you time and time again for being born without a quirk, the knowledge that the world is so much crueler to so many others. You don’t think Tenko’s planning to kidnap you, to never let you leave. You’ll come back here, physically. You’ll go home and go to sleep and wake up early on your day off to take Yoshimi to her appointment at the main clinic, but you know instinctively that if you cross this line within yourself, there’s no coming back. Tenko was your best friend when you were five years old. Is he worth it?

You hate yourself for asking the question. You leave the light behind and link your finger with Tenko’s. “Where are we going?”

The black mist rises and wells up around you both. “You’ll see,” Tenko says, and for the first time since you found him again, he smiles.

[sarahjtv]

BNHA Chapter 321 Spoiler Analysis: Teamwork Makes The Dream Work

Good god almighty it’s been 2 weeks already!  A lot of MHA stuff was released today: the Shonen Jump Cover, the 7th Anniversary cover page, Volume 31 Cover, and of course, Chapter 321!  My hand’s getting better, but I’m liking these shorter analysis's so let’s go:

First we got the Volume 31 Cover and it’s really good!  It’s basically All Might passing down the power of OFA to Deku.  You can see their various clothes in the mist like their UA uniforms, their Hero costumes, and even Deku’s middle school uniform (which took me a while to see).  It’s a really beautiful Volume cover, but god it’s weird to see All Might not smile in his buff form.  Like it’s so odd.  

Next is the Shonen Jump cover page featuring Deku in his Stealth Suit with Rody Soul and his bird, Pino, looking from the sidelines.  Deku looks so freaking badass in this suit!  I really hope he wears it for a while in the film.  I’m gonna guess he’s gonna wear it at the film’s climax, but we don’t know yet.  Hell, we barely know what WHM’s about AND THE MOVIE COMES OUT NEXT WEEK!  God, I want to see this movie why can't I live in Japan and speak Japanese 😭

The last color page we get is this awesome double page spread of all the 1-A kids + Aizawa building this massive All Might Mecha!  They’re all wearing green suits, goggles, and various pieces of tech on them.  Really, it’s just a super cool spread that looks like it’s colored the same way as the 5th anniversary one was.  I think you need to see it yourself to know what everyone’s doing because there’s a lot going on.

Now onto the chapter!  Endeavor has made it to the scene, but he’s still trusting the kids to bring Deku back as he should.  They can definitely handle themselves.  I do feel bad for Kirishima though.  He wants to say things to Deku (as everyone does), but his Quirk can’t do much to stop Deku so long as Deku’s fighting long range and in the air.  I’d like to see my rock son in action again.

So, SHOTO’S FREAKING PISSED!!!  I don’t think I’ve seen him this mad at Izuku since the Sports Fest.  He’s being logical here by thinking how AFO could be planning to target UA now since Deku isn’t there to protect it and that Deku should have a choice to come back to UA and fight along his friends.  Shoto REALLY wants Deku to come to his senses.  Probably more than most of the class.  This is what happens when your best friend goes rouge and doesn’t think the rest of you are strong enough to catch up to him.  I was honestly hoping Shoto’s and Deku’s conversation would go further than this, but this is still really good.  Maybe we’ll get more later 👀

A lot of this chapter is mainly the rest of 1-A teaming up to catch Deku with all their Quirks.  Even Mineta is out here spitting facts for once.  Like, ok Grape boy go off. 

Then the kids pull off this insane plan that’s kind of hard to explain, but I’ll do my best:

Shoto created a more refined ice ramp like what he did back in the All Might VS. AFO fight except it actually looks like a ramp this time and covers a good block of the city.

There are some rails put down to ready the kids for launch and I bet Momo created that b/c who else?

Shoto stands behind Bakugo who is preparing to get launched in the air with this 0.1% Solubility Acidman created my Mina.  I honestly thought this Acidman was created to help the kids slide easier on Shoto’s ice at first, but I finally understood what it actually was after going through the leaks a few more times.  

The more physically stronger kids push Shoto and Bakugo to slide on the ice and Shoto blasts both of them on through the ramp using his Flashfreeze Heatwave like a speeding rocket!

Shoto pushes Bakugo up in the air with the propulsion of his Super Move and Bakugo goes flying.  Ochako uses her Zero Gravity on the Acidman for reasons we’ll see later.  Also, Shoto sounds insulted by Deku’s “Won’t be able to keep up” when CLEARLY THEY CAN!

Bakugo uses his new explosions to use Explosive Speed Turbo Cluster to increase his speed to what looks like mach speed levels!  Seriously, this dude is like a sonic jet at this point and his new explosions look sooooo cool!

Finally, it’s revealed that Iida was covered in Mina’s Acidman and Bakugo uses his Explosions + Ochako’s Zero Gravity to FREAKING LAUNCH IIDA TOWARDS DEKU BECAUSE HE’S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN WITHSTAND THIS SPEED!!!

Iida manages to catch up with Deku and grabs his hand I WAS A FOOL FOR THINKING IT WOULD BE BAKUGO OF COURSE IIDA MAKES SENSE HE WAS ONE OF DEKU’S FIRST REAL FRIENDS😭💙💚

I told you guys that plan was insane!  But it did work!  They grabbed Deku!  Now all they need to do is bring him back.  

Throughout this team-up, there are some interesting things that happen here:

Ochako establishes how all of them want to fight alongside Deku.  They don’t want to push him away or need to be protected by Deku.  They just want to be by his side again.  

Shoto looks extra pissed and determined in one panel to the point where his left eye is set aflame.  That rarely happens outside of him being in battle unless Shoto’s feeling some strong sense of emotion like he did when Endeavor fought High-End.  I guess this counts as him battling, but you get my point.  

Bakugo calls Iida “Class Prez” instead of something like “Glasses” for once!  Maybe he’s slowly gaining more respect for the rest of his friends.  Not 100% close to real names yet, but he’s getting there.

Bakugo thinks how there are things he needs to say to Deku!  He’s letting Iida do his part first, but looks like that conversation is going to happen soon.  Man, I’m REALLY hoping we get Deku Vs. Kacchan soon!  Bakugo needs to apologize to Deku or at least have a good heart-to-heart with him, but we know how these two work.  Their going to fight their feeling out and it’s going to be amazing.  I can feel a Part 3 in my bones.  Please, Horikoshi!

Now we hear the rest of what the 2nd OFA Holder said a few chapters ago.  It was addressing Bakugo, but more like Class A as a whole.  The thing that can bolster Deku are the people who share the same will and the people who run beside him at the same pace.  Isn’t that 1-A for ya?

So, Iida finally grabs Deku’s hand (hey, IidaDekus, how ya feeling?), his glasses are broken and his suit is breaking from the power of the speed he was going at, and he says the words that Deku said to back in the Stain Arc: “Giving help when it’s not asked for is the essence of being a hero”.  AND BOTH DEKU AND IIDA ARE CRYING IN THE AIR WHILE ALL THIS IS HAPPENING MY HEART I’M SOBBING 😭

Really, this whole thing is a big callback to the Stain Arc and how Deku let Kirishima grab Bakugo’s hand back at the Kamino Rescue because Kirishima was the only one who could do it.  Now it’s Iida’s turn to grab Deku’s hand who, btw, even refers to Deku as a “lost child” 😭💔.  AND THE CHAPTER IS EVEN CALLED “FROM CLASS A TO OFA” WHY HORIKOSHI WHY???

Honestly fantastic chapter all around!  We’ve seem to have reached the climax of Deku Vs. Class 1-A, so now comes the resolution.  The SFX on the last panel of Deku says “Fall” so maybe he’s run out of fuel and his finally passing out from exhaustion.  But, I don’t know guys...  Deku Vs. Kacchan still NEEDS to happen.  I don’t know about now, but definitely soon.  Also we still don’t know what the 2nd Holder’s Quirk is yet.  I want to say that they’re going to finally bring Deku home next chapter, but I’m not certain.  So, we’ll just have to wait and see.

ME THIS ENTIRE FREAKING ARC AND PROBABLY TILL THE END OF THE SERIES:

[chayacat]

Devil’s Sweet Star (45)

Fandom: Dead by Daylight

Ghostface x Female Reader  

Rated M for Violence, Language and Smut  

***

That feeling... you thought it would be gone forever. But it’s still there. And it’s much heavier than before. The question is: why? Why is this feeling of insecurity, this feeling that something dangerous is going to happen to you, still there? You know everything. You know that Danny won't do anything to you, that he will always make sure that the police don't know anything. But you have a hunch that the thing that wants to hurt you... is foreign to the city. to the country itself. You've been hearing for a few days something... unusual. Like voices.

But these voices are inaudible from others. Only you seem to hear them. At least that's what you think. They are strange, impossible to distinguish whether it is men or women who talk to you. or maybe both? Just as it is impossible to know what they are telling you. These are whispers. The only words you managed to understand once were: "Sorrow" and "Suffering". But nothing more. Could it be ghosts? spirits wandering aimlessly and trying to get in touch with you? From memory, you don't remember having a gift for communicating with spirits. But you've always believed in it. And you have always respected the dead, whether they were people you knew or complete strangers. Perhaps this respect has earned you a gift from the gods, allowing you to contact the afterlife? Maybe.

“Have you seen the latest news? In the end Hoggins was not McKellan's murderer. It was Ghostface!” said one the customer.  

“Yeah, I saw. But hey, is it surprising? No. Does this change anything? neither. And I want to tell you: so much the better. At least we are sure of who we should thank.” said his friend.  

“Excuse me? You wanna thank that freaking psycho for killing people? He’s a twisted man! Not a hero!” Replied the first one.

“Yeah, and he killed two others monsters, who stole money from the poorest and even the richest for their personal accounts! Moreover, it seems that Hoggins was involved in a more horrific scandal in Florida. They only got what they deserved.” Responds the second one.  

“I have heard of this story. What a bastard, to let sick people die when they could be saved. You have to be inhuman to do that. Fortunately, we have journalists like Jed Olsen to shed light on this kind of horror. Imagine how much longer Hoggins could have remained free if guys like Olsen didn't risk their lives and careers for it.” said another man before drink his coffee. “We need a guy like him to rule this damn country.”  

If only you knew sir what we know about "Jed Olsen". If only you knew... you would quickly change your point of view. But he and the second man in the trio were right, if Danny hadn't put his life and career on the line, Hoggins would still be free with impunity. And so does McKellan. They deserved to die it's true, and Danny made sure of it. He is both a completely twisted murderer, but also a hero to the inhabitants of this city. A murderous hero... you would have a hard time knowing how he would have reacted, if he ever heard it.

He would be both flattered and annoyed perhaps. Because that's not how he wants to be remembered, he doesn't want to be remembered that way. But simply as the greatest murderer in history who has never been arrested, and whose identity will forever remain a mystery. Like Jack the Ripper in itself. You wonder inwardly if Danny was inspired by it. It’s quite possible.  

“I find it hard to believe what I just heard. Ghostface who goes from murderer to hero of the little people. It looks like the end of the movie "Joker".” said suddenly a woman voice. When you turned your head, you could see Melina, smiling at you like always, coming to the table next to the counter. “Same as usual Amy!”  

“Alright! Right away!” responds Amy with a smile.  

“Hey... you look like you have your head in the clouds. Everything's fine? Jed made you live another wild night? Be careful, you will end up with a little baby at home very quickly if it continues.” replied Melina laughing by looking at you.  

“Really funny Melina.” you start before laughing too. “Even though Jed is... wild, he knows how to be careful. We are not yet ready to have a baby. But let's say that for a few days... I have trouble sleeping well.”

“Oh. Tell me maybe I can give you two or three advices.”

You tell Melina about your bad nights. If at first, she listened attentively and without expressing emotion, once your story was finished, the young woman looked at you with big eyes, as if you had just told her your most shameful secret of your life.

“Shit, so they're after you too...” she said worried.

“What do you mean?” you ask worried.  

“Jed told me the same thing the other day. He said he heard the same whispers and even had nightmares about them. Nightmares where you were there. I thought it was just a fear not to be able to take care of you but... I have to believe that my mystical side was right.”

Hold on. Danny went through the same things you did and he didn't tell you anything? It's not very friendly. But in a sense... you can't really blame him. He certainly had good reasons not to tell you about it. Surely, he didn't want to worry you, or that you would think he was crazy. Even if he is a little bit crazy in a sense. And again, the word is weak.

“You and Jed are related. And I feel like you've attracted... negative entities. Spirits, ghosts who want to hurt you. They may be trying to reach you through dreams first, but who knows how this can evolve. And who can be these spirits.” said Melina worried.  

“You starting to scare me. Why us? Jed and I didn't do anything except ... live our lives and do our work.” you said scared.

“Evil spirits have no particular criteria for attacking someone. If they find a target they like, or someone provokes them, then they go after that person. In your case, I think it's related to Jed. Because I think the mcKellan and Hoggins' souls are not... Left. They are surely stuck here because of their hatred and anger. And since you're in a relationship with Jed, they're attacking you too. Or, it's a much more powerful entity than those two. But in any case, it wants to hurt you. You're going to have to be very careful.”

“There's no way to get them to leave?”

“I could use the objects my grandmother used to purify a house but... I'm not sure I'm as good as she was. It's really very meticulous as a practice.” replied Melina.  

“I'll talk about it with Jed tonight. Thank you very much Melina.” you respond.  

You went back to work and the rest of your day was all about anxiety. If Melina is telling the truth, then you are in danger. Maybe that's why you have this strange feeling of not being safe when, all those who could have hurt you are dead, under Danny's sharp blade. And he, too, had the same experience. There is not much you can do about evil spirits except to drive them out. And you will deeply hope that Melina will be your salvation. Otherwise... you will have to think about leaving the city. Or start praying to God.

The last customers of the day ended up leaving your café, greeting you warmly. Then it was Amy and Corey’s turn who for a few days, got very close to each other. They were so lovely together. You clean the last tables before you take care of the back shop. Danny shouldn't be long in coming, so you'll both be able to discuss these nightmares you're both experiencing. Hoping he isn't too tired or in a hurry to kill someone tonight.

While you were cleaning your kitchen tools, you suddenly hear a noise coming from the room. You put down your equipment and take a weapon in case it’s a thief. You move carefully through the room until you reach the switch to turn on the light. But nothing. not the shadow of a thief, or an object that fell to the ground. You may have dreamed... Then suddenly, whispers. The same whispers you've been hearing for days and days. But this time it looks like it's coming from the back shop you just left.  

When you return to the back shop, you find that the door leading to the outside is... strange. A dark aura emanated from it and mist escaped from the lock and the bottom of the door. The whispers became clearer as you approached.

“(Y/N) …(Y/N) ...It’s time. Come with us. Join us. Feed my hunger. Give us all your suffering and sorrow. For all eternity.” said the voices.

“Who are you? And what do you want from me?” you ask.

“Who we are doesn’t matter. The most important is that you’ll feed us. With your screams, your pain, your sorrow, your blood. Now come with us. It’s time for you to meet your fate.”

Suddenly the door opened on a thick black mist. Giant spider legs came out and tried to catch you. You step back several steps but visibly, they are much longer than you hoped. As it was about to take you away, you feel something pulling you back. Under the effect of fear, you try to struggle when a familiar voice was heard.

“Hey! Hey Honey It’s me! Calm down!” said Danny by blocking yourself by the shoulders, forcing you to look at him. “It’s me...stay calm.”

“Danny...” you start as you feel tears in the corner of your eyes.  

The voices were heard again, and the paws moved towards the two of you. Danny pushed you, one of the spider legs injuring his arm in the process. He took a weapon in his hands and pushed it back to the door before getting against it and locking it. The door began to move, as if we wanted to open it from the outside and then after a few minutes... a silence set in. Everything had stopped. Danny stepped back before looking at you making sure you were still there. Then he joins you, taking you in his arms.

“What the f**k was that thing?? And what did it want??” you said crying.

“I don’t know. But for now...we’re safe.” said Danny.  

“You’re...you’re hurt. I have a first care kit. I will take care of your injury.”

You take the first care kit and ask Danny to come and sit next to you so you can treat him. He winced when you applied the disinfectant but remained motionless until you applied the bandages to him. You then put away the equipment and both of you leave the café to go home. Once at the apartment, you both sit on the sofa sighing, still in shock from what had just happened.

“Melina was right. We have attracted evil spirits. And they're not going to let us go now.” You said.  

“Honey please... Don't tell me you believe in this bullshit...” responds Danny, passing a hand on his face.  

“Danny, you saw what I saw! And you were hurt! How can you not believe in these things?? You suffered the same thing as me! Melina told me everything.”

“Okay, okay, stay calm. If they're really hitting spirits, there's not much we can do but chase them away, hoping it works.”

“Melina proposed it to me... it doesn't cost anything to try. But if it doesn't work... either we will have to leave the city, or we will have to pray to God.” you replied.

“Leaving the city would not be of much use and I have not believed in God for years. So don't count on me to pray to him. Anyway, knowing that I am a murderer I am not sure that he does much for me.” Responds Danny before getting up.  

You watch Danny walk to his office and walk out a few minutes later with his bag. He's not going to go out and kill someone tonight, is he? And even less leave you alone?? This thing, whatever it is, could come back! As he was about to leave, you take his hand before sticking yourself against him.

“Don't leave me alone... Not tonight. Please...” you said sadly.

“We no longer risk anything. I don't think this thing is attacking the two of us again.” Danny responds.  

“How do you know? If it happens, maybe it will only go after you and I will never see you again! Danny please... Stay with me.”

“...Fine Honey. I’ll stay. Tomorrow I'll call Melina. If her magic shits works...we’ll be safe again. Let’s eat something and go to sleep.”  

Despite his words, you do not let him go. On the contrary, you will tighten more and more against him. And he gave it back to you. Whatever that thing is, it will surely come back. Danny is maybe a murderer, but he is the one you love. And if this thing has to take Danny, it will have to take you too.

And that's what it intends to do. One way or another.

***

(My second dose of vaccine is finally done! but the effects were quick to manifest, I think my body wanted to do a speed run X) Don't worry it was nothing very bad, arm pain after the injection and the next day, headache in the morning and some dizziness in the evening. But now I'm feeling better! and above all, I will finally be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life! And go see Dune at the cinema! I hope you’ll like this chapter like the other ones! Well, it's time for my brain to rest! Have a great weekend to you all!  See ya! )

[sohotthateveryonedied]

I Trust Him

Summary:  Unlike the others who are so eager to please that they practically beam when he gives them a hello, Jim hasn’t met this one face to face yet. As far as he knows, Hood is on the side of the heroes these days, but just barely. It’s been a confusing couple of years. There’s a duffle bag with eight heads stuffed into it that he just can’t sweep under the rug.

Read on AO3!

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

Jim checks his watch. The signal has been on for ten minutes now, its trademark bat silhouette shining against the backdrop of Gotham’s smog and pollution like a holy beacon. He’s running late tonight. Jim pulls his jacket tighter around himself and it takes everything he has not to shiver as his breaths turn to mist in front of his mustache. If Batman got a paycheck, Jim would dock him a hundred bucks for making him wait in the cold like this. He should have brought a heavier jacket. “Need a smoke?” he hears, which just about gives him a goddamn heart attack. He wheels around, hand flying instinctively to his gun holster, only to find the Red Hood leaning against the door to the roof. And he thought the Bat was good at sneaking up on him. Hood’s holding out a pack of cigarettes.

Unlike the others who are so eager to please that they practically beam when he gives them a hello, Jim hasn’t met this one face to face yet. As far as he knows, Hood is on the side of the heroes these days, but just barely. It’s been a confusing couple of years. There’s a duffle bag with eight heads stuffed into it that he just can’t sweep under the rug. “No thanks,” he says after a moment, pulling his hand back from his firearm. “I’m trying to cut back.” Hood tucks the cigs into his jacket pocket. “Good choice. These things’ll kill you.” Then he snickers, like he’s sharing an inside joke with himself. “So where’s the fire?” Is...Is this it? Batman really sent the Red Hood ahead instead of meeting Gordon himself? Jim hopes he’s not mad at him; he’s been waiting three days to show Batman the pictures he took of his latest kitchen remodel. “Uh. There have been rumors of a robbery happening tonight at the Gotham Museum of Antiquities. A team job, at least four men. I don’t know what they’re looking for, but my intel is pretty sure the target is in the art exhibit.” Hood nods. “Gotcha. I’ll head over there.” Is it weird that Jim is so accustomed to the Bat vanishing on him that he doesn’t entirely know how to end a conversation? Not this kind, anyway. Jim rubs his hands together, trying to coax warmth back into the frozen appendages. “If you don’t mind me asking, where is he? Batman, I mean.” “Had a date. I was unlucky enough to be serving backup tonight.” “Batman dates?” “I know, right?” Another snicker. It’s so creepy hearing him laugh from inside the helmet, echoing faintly like a threat. “I keep telling the others how fucking weird it is but they just get all ‘it’s about time he settled down’ and ‘they’re both old so who cares’ and ‘so what if she’s a criminal, she makes good sangrias’. Fuckin’ kissups.” Jim doesn’t know what surprises him more: that the Batman and Catwoman rumors are true, or that Hood is friendly with the other bats. Since he first started showing up in Gotham, the Hood has always been a wild card. Only kills the worst of the worst, but in such brutal ways that he can’t be trusted not to escalate. And yet, he’s been spotted on multiple occasions giving food to the homeless kids in Crime Alley and escorting the working girls home at night. Then he goes and reveals that not only is he on friendly terms with Batman, but that he’s practically one of the family now? If Jim had a death sentence, he’d ask if Hood’s doing this all just to torment him. “So when’s the robbery supposed to go down?” Hood asks. “I’m a busy guy so I gotta arrange my manicure appointments accordingly.” Jim is pretty sure that’s a joke. Then again, who knows? Jim makes a point of never missing his monthly spa days. His cuticles are grateful for it. “Sometime between eleven and two. I already have some of my men watching the place, but these guys have nabbed priceless objects from right under security guards’ noses.” “Got it,” Hood says. “Do the bat thing. And for your sake, I promise to stick with rubber bullets this time.” Thank the lord. Jim isn’t in the mood for the extra paperwork any deaths would entail. Hood pushes off the door and heads for the edge of the rooftop, taking out a grapple gun. “Now get back inside, commish. You look fucking freezing.” Hood raises his arm to shoot off a line, but Jim stops him. “Wait. Can I ask...is it true?” “Is what true?” “That you’re him. The one he lost.” Hood turns to face him and crosses his arms. “Does it matter?” “To me? I like to think so. It near broke my heart when the kid stopped showing up.” Understatement. When Batman lost his second one, Jim didn’t see the big guy for weeks. The best he got were glimpses in newspaper articles, detailing the Bat’s new form of violence as if the world had personally wronged him. He’d truly gone off the deep end, and Jim knew in his gut that it wasn’t just vengeance for himself. Then, when Jim was sure there was nothing to be done, a new one showed up. The third kid. He wasn’t like his predecessor, who was the brightest firecracker Jim had ever met. He liked chocolate bars and doing cartwheels along the roof’s edge while the adults talked, chiming in with a quip every once in a while. Sometimes Jim would make a trip to the vending machine right before their meetings and buy the kid a Snickers bar, just to see him light up. Robin would repay him by sneaking into his office and planting a bag of Swedish Fish somewhere he knew he’d find it. It became a game for the two of them. “He died,” Hood says. Jim can’t see his face, but he imagines a scowl hiding beneath the helmet. Just like his mentor. “And now?” A shrug. “He got better.” Jim shoves his hands into his pockets. “Well, if you happen to see him, give him my best. I’ve missed him. He’s a good kid.” “Was a good kid, you mean. People change.” “Maybe. Maybe not. Whatever the case, he was always my favorite one.” Hood’s expression doesn’t change because...well, it’s a hood. But Jim likes to think that he’s smiling under there. “I should go.” Jim nods. “Good luck. And go easy on my guys, will you? It’s not easy getting them to trust a gun-wielding maniac. No offense.” This time when Hood snickers, it’s not as threatening as it was before. “None taken. But what about you? Do you trust a gun-wielding maniac?” Now there’s a complicated question. After a moment, Jim settles on, “I can’t say that I agree with everything you do. And as far as the GCPD is concerned, you’re on real thin ice.” Hood nods, like he expected that much. “But that kid who used to hide candy in my office? I trust him.” Red Hood raises his grapple again and gives a quick two-fingered salute. “Cool. See ya, Gordon.” And then he’s gone, leaping off into the shadows. Even though there’s no one left to see, Jim smiles and salutes back. “See you, kiddo.”

[toku-explained]

The Swordswoman of Mist

Heroes' Odyssey: After mentioning his own persistent enemy, Belial, Zero talks about Z's enemies the Barossa Seijin, and Tiga's enemy the Kyrieloid.

Saber: Well, Tassel's back, wonder what he was up to. Touma has a dream of Primitive Dragon standing over the bodies of the other Swordsmen, he's awoken right before killing Mei by Luna, who asks him to help "him" before Touma awakens for real, both Tassel and Master Logos appear to be aware of Luna contacting Touma, which tells Master Logos that she's still alive. Rintaro, in front of Ren, Reika and the Southern Swordsmen, asks Master Logos if it can be true there's a traitor, while still not wanting to believe it, but is told Touma is the cause of the discord. Ren doesn't know what to do. In private, Master Logos calls Reika "Sabela". The Northern Swordsmen discuss the new Caliber, Yuri leaving, they still have Rintaro's books. Reika interrogates Sophia about a book, she doesn't get an answer. Without telling anyone Mei takes Rintaro his books back, he's really stuck. Reika enters Northern Base, where Ogami and Daishinji are, intending to eliminate all of them, revealing Noroshi, and using Konchu Daihyakka to become Kamen Rider Sabela. As she fights Buster demands to know if she's thinking for herself in all this, she says her and Master Logos share a will, and everything is to achieve his ambition, as she wins Sora runs away. Mei and Rintaro talk, Touma listening in. Luna and Sora have both lead Touma to realise he needs to help the boy he's seen, who may be Primitive Dragon. Rintaro and Touma start arguing while talking about how much they care for each other, they come to some kind of understanding right before Sora appears. The victorious Sabela claims Bremen no Rock Band when Touma jumps in, after a look at Rintaro, decides to transform. Tassel tells Yuri Primitive Dragon was sealed because no one could control it, says he can't tell him anything about Caliber, and leaves for another appointment. The moment Touma tries to transform Primitive Dragon takes over, leaving Rintaro to think about using King Lion Daisenki. Saikou arrives, and then when Primitive Dragon targets Rintaro Caliber appears again to protect him. Touma sees the boy again right before both of them are de henshined, revealing Caliber to be the returning Fukamiya Kento. I mean we all knew this was coming, just a matter of when.

Zenkaiger: The worlds of the Past 44 Super Sentai have all been sealed in gears, apparently in the middle of their battles, the last world targeted it Kaito's. As it merges with Kikaitopia, the Kikainoids suddenly appear, Gaon among them, confused, but Kaito knows them from his father's research. It's been a month, and society has merged, but the Kikainoids don't know how they got here, as Magine tells interviewers. Kaito's parents are missing, Secchan sits in the shop which Kaito's grandmother, Yatsude runs. Zyuran hangs with some humans, thinking of the Kikainoids at the too of the chain, the Tojitendo leaders, King Bokkowaus, to whom Ijirude explains they are working to seal the last world into a Tojiru Gear. With no progress made thanks to part of Kikaitopia merging into Kaito's world, Gege suggests invading it directly, which Barashitara is assigned to. Vroon, a cleaner, overhears some of this. The invasion begins, with Barashitara, the Kudaks and Kudaiters attacking humans and Kikainoids alike, Zyuran's friends run on fear from him as well. Kaito is saddened by what's going on, holding Secchan and contemplating his parents, when he decides he'll save the world, activating Secchan, who sends them to his parents lab, revealing his parents found other worlds and, inspired by those worlds Super Sentai, created the Sentai Gears and Geartlingers, so they can fight. Kaito rushed out and witnesses Zyuran, despite everything, risk his life to protect a boy, shooting the Kudak and recognising Zyuran's heroism, offers him to fight together. They become Zenkaiser and ZenkaiZyuran. Zenkaiser is in the vein of the "Himitsu" Sentai, essentially looking like if Akaranger was designed after Varidorin, while if Zyuran is based on Geki, ZenkaiZyuran is in the vein of the "Kyoryu" Sentai, looking like Daizyujin. Using the Zyuohger gear grant Zenkaiser ZyuohEagle's wings, Zyuran uses the Ninninger gear to use Nin Retsuzan. Barashitara summons a giant Kudaitest, alongside the existing Kudaiter, to wreak havoc, but Secchan teaches Zyuran to grow big, he then converts to Zyuran Tyranno to fight, and both defeat their opponents. The heroic exploits of the Zenkaigers are just beginning, but why are their mushrooms on everyone's heads? Zyuran Tyranno, while obviously referencing Zyuranger's Tyrannosaurus, to me also serves a a reference to all 4 Kyoryu Sentai, which each had a Red T-Rex ranger.

Dogengers: Rookie tries to protect I-Doll, but is being beaten by Yabai Kamen. Shaberryman takes Yuki hostage, stopping the others from acting. Yabai Kamen defeats Rookie and uses the Golden Seal to return I-Doll to Insurgent Mode, the 3 AHK members abscond, along with Yuki. Kitaqman, realising Tanaka knew about I-Doll and said nothing, is upset that Tanaka didn't trust him and leaves for Kitakyushu, Fukuokaliber recommends splitting up for the moment, El Brave going to cool his head, leaving Yamashiron depressed. Alone and missing Aoiron and Daidairon, Yamashiron manages to unknowingly unmute them, having accidentally done so before, and they demonstrate they can appear to him as holograms from the grills in his arms, giving some much needed encouragement. The chief gives El Brave some advice on recognising his allies' weaknesses as well as his own. Fukuokaliber tells Tanaka that Ohgaman and them all saw he had something they don't, and want to see what he can do. Kitaqman stands on a rooftop. Yabai Kamen at the office stews over the fact that only himself, Shaberryman and I-Doll still have their Golden Seal power, but with Yuki he has an advantage in negotiation, and intends to win. Yabai Kamen calls the heroes out, to meet in Shikadoshima at 10 am, when Kitaqman appears behind him, saying it's 10 pm now.

[wesker20]

Fallen Hero 1.5 Episode 14 Revenge: The Voice

Episode 13 Revenge: One Month Later

           Ranger’s Humvee – en route to the press conference

           You don’t know what exactly drove you to do this. Maybe it’s genuine worry, maybe you are pretending to care, maybe you want to see what Zeta tried here, or maybe a combination of all of the above. No matter the reason, you are here now, seated in the passenger seat next to Julia, who’s driving like the maniac that she has always been. Only this time you do not blame her because she is not running for a shot of adrenaline, she’s running because of worry for her rookie teammate, Herald.

           Steel and Argent remained behind to keep things under control back at HQ. And although officially you are a civilian, and an injured one at that, you have helped enough to get in here. That and the fact that they have no idea what is happening caused Steel to bite back any objections he might have had. For all of his apprehensions regarding you, he has always put them aside when he knew the situation called for it. And in this case, when at least two rangers were needed to keep order and help people in HQ and two were needed to go to the press conference and check on his subordinate and teammate, he had to.

           You arrive at a pretty similar scene to the one back in rangers’ HQ. Debris mist everywhere and dozens hurt and being attended to. Your instant reaction is to scan for Herald. His thoughts you have felt dozens of time by now so he would be easy to pinpoint. And there he was, helping some people up and flying them to the nearest ambulance. He was a bit bloodied in the head and his suit tattered. You let Julia know.

           “Herald!” she yells as you run behind her.

           “Oh hey Charge.” A couple of seconds pass before he notices you. “Sides- I mean Jeremy. You came too?”

           “I was in the neighborhood.”

           “You don’t look so good.”

           You nod to him. “Catching an explosion to the face will do that to you.” He tenses when you say that.

           “Headquarters too?” You nod again.

           “Wei and Angie are taking care of that front. What’s the situation here?” Julia says, a bit of her old marshal tone slipping in.

           “Everything just… sort of happened. One minute the mayor was making a speech, the next there was smoke and people screaming and…” Julia grabs him by the shoulders before his panic sets in.

           “Herald, it’s ok. Just breath.” He does as ordered and eases up.

           “I’ve been trying to help as much as possible but… there’s too many…” he gets cut off by another voice chiming in. Much to both your and her chagrin.

           “Charge. Ranger Charge.” The mayor steps in, yelling at Julia. “Ranger Charge, I would like to know what is going on here. Who caused this?”

           “We don’t know yet Mr. Mayor, our headquarters were attacked too.”

           “What! What do you mean by that? Aren’t your headquarters supposed to be more secure?”

           Julia breathes in. Seems she has learned to keep her calm. Back in the day she would have ignored him or pushed him away. “It was in the front entrance, nothing major as far as we know.”

           “Good, then you can focus on here. This is the sort of things you are supposed to prevent. What good are you if you-” he does not get to finish as you hear a voice. A very familiar distorted voice. The same distorted voice Zeta used before.

           “Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the city of Los Diablos. The city that houses some of the most vile, and disgusting people the world has ever known. This image right now should be the post card of Los Diablos, because it’s the most accurate representation of what you can expect living in this sickening place. A place that houses villains like the Psychopathor, Hollow Ground, and The Mastermind.” You don’t know if him putting you in the same sentence with those two is supposed to be an insult or a compliment. Either way it does not matter. What matters is what is he after? What’s this display about? His grudge is with you, so what is all this posturing and villain speech about? “So from here on out I will remind you all of the hell you live in. The Voice of your past made flesh to haunt you for the rest of your lives.”

           As soon as he finishes, the mayor wastes no time to talk. “What the hell is this? Another villain? How many more villains are we going to have? This is your fault…” he turns and points to Julia and you just have enough of it.

           “Villains will appear with or without rangers Mr. Mayor. You should know that by now,” you tell him without even looking at him. He turns and glares at you.

           “And who the hell are you?”

           “No one of importance,” you shrug.

           “Then you should keep your mouth shut.”

           “Ok that’s enough,” Julia interjects. “Mr. Mayor as you have seen the rangers have a job to do and the more you berates us the less time we have to investigate and find the person responsible for this.” He glares at her while you smirk. Getting the cue, he leaves with a snort. Julia turns back to you and Herald.

           “So who is that new villain?” Herald asks.

           “Someone who’s been causing a lot of trouble in the underworld lately,” you answer. Julia gives you a look.

           “How much trouble?” she asks.

           “Enough that everybody wants them to leave. Even Hollow Ground.” She smirks at you.

           “I thought you were retired.”

           “Being well informed helps with that retirement. Knowing when something like this might happen helps me avoid it.”

She nods. “So what have you heard?” You look around and bring them both closer to you.

           “I don’t know the why,” you lie. “But I’ve heard that they and Mastermind have been battling it out in the last couple of months. Bloodmoon was the result of one of those fights.”

           “That guy, the Voice, was responsible for Bloodmoon?” Herald asks.

           You shake your head. “Not exactly. Mastermind was the one who caused the deaths. The Army was apparently a mock to Mastermind, a way to smear their name. And, well, you saw how Mastermind reacted to that. After that the Voice just disappeared for a month.”

           “So what are they after now?” Julia asks, the same way she used to do when she was marshal and you two worked together. It really does feel like old times. But it’s not. You hate to do this, but Zeta has stepped up his game and now you have to step up yours. Involving the rangers is how you do that. Not that they are not already involved, considering the bomb at their headquarters, but you are planning to bring them in even more.

           You turn back and stare at the disaster, the same way you used to do when you were Sidestep. Stare at the crime scene and put the pieces together. You hear Herald talk but Julia stops him. She had been present at those moments many times and knows what you are up to by now.

           This sudden display is too much in your opinion. Zeta never showed much interest in getting attention. All he wants is to make you suffer so towards what end does this works to? The attack on rangers HQ makes sense as a personal attack, but the press conference is a weak target. A target filled with reporters and innocent civilians that have nothing to do with his vendetta and would affect you very little. So what is his goal, what does he hope to accomplish by hurting so many people? The only thing it would show is how far he is willing to go to-

           “They are recruiting…” you say as the answer hits you in the head. You turn back to Julia and Herald. She smirking and he confused. “They are recruiting,” you repeat. “They are out of goons and they need more.”

           “But why hurt all of these people?” Herald asks.

           “Fear factor. Mastermind eliminated most of the Army of Mastermind in one fell swoop. And that terrified the rest of the underworld. No one not currently working for another big villain will go up against Mastermind. So the Voice needed to show how far THEY are willing to go. Make the criminals fear them more than they fear Mastermind.”

           “By hurting innocent people?” he asks in disbelief, more to himself than to you.

           You nod. “You’ll be surprised how far some will go to get what they want.”

           “So what would you suggest?” Julia asks. Now it was the time for the final nail. You prepare mentally to say it. And you can tell she is well aware of what you are about to say.

           “As the old adage goes; the enemy of my enemy,” you say. Herald stares in disbelief. Julia simply nods in acceptance.

           “Who’s the friend?” she asks, knowing full well your answer.

           You turn back to the disaster. “The one who has yet to harm any civilians.”

           Herald tenses up again, turning between you and Julia as if trying to wrap his head around what you mean. “What! No! We can’t just-” he begins but Julia interrupts him. You know what she will say. It’s the same speech she gave Steel whenever you had to do it. Back in the day you and the rangers would sometimes have to team up with one or more villains to take out another. It was not pretty and no one was comfortable. But it had to be done. Because it’s always better to be fighting one villain instead of two, and there is such a thing as the lesser of two evils. Not that Julia was not quick to go back to the hunt. So you will have to watch out for that.

           After a few minutes Herald comes around. Not completely comfortable with the idea, as his thoughts are painfully quick to remind you, but on board.

           “Can you get one of your contacts to send a message?” Julia says, sounding a lot more like marshal Charge than anything else now. You nod. You already have. “Good. Get to it then. Herald and I will remain here.” You nod again and turn. And then you feel a hand on your shoulder, her hand. “Be careful, ok?”

           You chuckle a bit. “That’s my middle name, remember?”

           “It is.” She smiles and lets you go.

           Hideout – 6:00pm

           “But boss, they are-” you raise your hand to cut Nehal off. You knew it was going to be hard to convince them of this.

           “We don’t have time for arguments Nehal. The Voice is preparing for a war and I’m unwilling to let them finish it.”

           “By working with the Rangers?” she says. “My ribs still hurt from fighting that silver bitch.”

           “I agree with Nehal here, boss. How do you know the rangers wouldn’t just try to take you down immediately after?” Pelayo asks, taking charge and speaking for the rest of the team.

           “It’s a risk we are going to have to take Pelayo. The Voice is far more dangerous than the Rangers, trust me.” He stares at you straight in the eyes, as if trying to figure you out. He seems to find what he was looking for because he nods. You nod back and look at all of them. “Every worry you have about this I already have myself, trust me. But we have very little choice. Our window of time is small. With the bombing of the press conference and rangers HQ there will no doubt be a line of thugs in front of the Voice’s hideout, waiting to be recruited. We have to act fast.” Pelayo and Ward nod obediently. Nehal nods begrudgingly and Zaza nods sheepishly. You sigh.

           “I know what I did,” you begin. “I know you are scared.” you look at every single one of them. One by one your eyes fix on theirs, lowering yourself to their level, not being their boss, but someone closer. “If you want to leave you can do it. I will not hold it against you nor will I chase you. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to…” none of them answer. They stare and wonder, their thoughts jumping from one thing to the other. Pelayo stands up first, followed by Ward, then Nehal, then Rosie, and finally Zaza. In their thoughts you can tell; they are not one hundred percent sure of this, but they are certain enough. They are here for the long haul. You have not lost them yet, nor will you lose them so easily. You can’t help but smirk a bit. You stand up too and give them the order to prepare.

           Your room is cold and dark; it has not been opened all day. It’s funny. This room has become more of your room than your apartment. You feel safer here than you ever did back there. You will miss it. In the last month you have purchased a new building to use as hideout with the money you have stolen. All that’s left is to hire a receptionist to turn people away. Something to worry about later. Right now reminiscing has to be put at the back of your mind. It’s time for Jeremy to give way for Mastermind once again.

           “And for Mastermind to do what must be done,” you hear her voice behind you once again. Jane.

           “And what is that?” you ask her, not even turning to see her.

           “Will you kill him?” You don’t answer. Instead you open the closet. The armor stands over you like a shadow towering over your small pathetic frame. A shadow, clad in black, with a long flowing cape and a hood that covers its bladed reflective head. The shadow that is the Mastermind. On one side the Rat King squeals in happiness. You rub your thoughts with theirs, like a soft hand petting them. “Will you?”

           “I don’t know,” you answer. The truth is you do not know what you will do when you find him. When you beat him and have him at your mercy.

           “He’s a threat. One that you can’t allow to keep going.” You fall silent again. You can’t argue with her reasoning. But you still don’t know if you can do it. Alpha is gone, Kappa is gone… Beta is gone. All that’s left of that past is Zeta. Once he is gone it will all be gone. Nothing to connect you back. Is that what you want? Is that what you need?

           Right now it does not matter. What matters is that you have to get ready. Before you got here you spoke to your contacts. And apparently there is a big recruitment camp going on in the middle of the city. That’s no doubt where Zeta is, and where you and the Rangers will attack.

           “Fine. But when the time comes,” her voice is now closer to your ear. And then it changes to that of Mastermind. “You better make the right choice.” She disappears. Finally alone, you stare back at your suit. It’s time get ready, you have a war to win…

Episode 15 Revenge: Collision Course

[toastscraps]

Daystar

              I blame @linkeduniverse  by @jojo56830 ; It made me get a tumblr (and discord) account and write a fanfiction for it. I don’t own the characters, (Nintendo created them, jojo perfected them, I just play with them.) Based on the discord writing prompt, “Hope, even in the worst of times.”

I was stupid and did the bonuses, too:

- 3k+ words (turned into 12k +)

- Link-centric with a Link you’re unfamiliar with (I’ve never played any of Wind’s games, and avoided his character on Smash because I didn’t like the design. I have done my research and now understand the error of my ways.)

- Prompt incorporated (near the end of the fic)

- Fight scenes incorporated (yes, but not very good ones)

Warnings: Blood, gore(mostly minor), angst, injuries, major character death(s)

Other Warnings: poor writing and pacing, characters may be OOC, author is not good at writing emotions

Summary: Wind wishes to prove himself- he makes a mistake and tries to fix it. It only gets worse from there.

I apologize ahead of time for this monster.

               They were in Time’s Hyrule, surrounded by Peahats and Stalchildren.  Time was not happy because Wild, Hyrule, and Warriors had been fooling around and had awakened the Peahats. To make matters worse, due to the Shadow’s interference, Stalchildren (which hadn’t been around for years) had risen again and had been enhanced to the point of only being affected by fire and bombs (which Wild had discovered by accident). At most they could use their swords to push them back and gain a little room to blow them up. It was very… loud and explosive. Twilight was the only exception to the rule, his strength cracking bone on impact as he pushed with his shield and kicked with his iron-toed boots. He would shoot a bomb arrow occasionally, but he mostly stuck to brute force tactics. The others had their own ways of dealing with their enemies. Time was on the other side of the fight, using Din’s fire to roast the Stalchildren around him.  Sky was taking down Peahats with precise movements, Four getting under the blades and stabbing upwards into the soft flesh without somehow getting decapitated. Hyrule had enflamed his sword with magic (or something) and was using it to take down enemies left and right. Legend was, of course, fighting with an efficiency that would be sure to make even the greatest veteran fighter jealous. He somehow knew exactly where his enemy was going to be, and was able to place bombs right where multiple Stalchildren were about to appear. Warriors was taking out waves of the skeletons just by swinging the fire staff.

               And here Wind was, rolling and ducking to get to a place where he could hit a plant with a sword to kill it. Sure, it had deadly blades, but he was a hero. He should be better than this. Wind had run out of bombs earlier, forgetting to pace himself, and was now relegated to fighting the Peahats, which weren’t the ones he was familiar with, which Four had discovered could be killed by slicing at the roots multiple times. They never rested or went back into the ground, and seemed strangely sentient. Wind ducked the sharp leaves, wishing he either had more bombs, or had more brute force. Either would be preferable to this dodging and moving to get into a good position to target the roots.

               Wind was finally able to down his monster, and looked up to see Twilight knock the head off of one of the Stalchildren with a well-placed blow to its jaw with his shield. It walked around aimlessly, as if looking for its skull, before Twilight knocked it over with a kick to its shins and it retreated underground. The charred bones of the other skeletons disappeared into the ground with shadow rising up in a mist and blowing away on the wind. Soon all that was left were the vegetable remains of the Peahats.

               Time sighed and allowed Wild to harvest what he wanted, looking around in disapproval with his patented “dad” face. Wind couldn’t help but feel as if it were directed to him. Sure, he took out a lot of creatures, but not nearly as many as the others, and it had taken him a long while to figure out how to get around the defenses of his own enemy and stab at the core.

               “And you guys thought it would be a good idea to awaken the Peahats, why?” Time asked a guilty Wild and nonchalant Warriors. Hyrule was trying hard to look ashamed, but mostly Wind thought he looked pleased with himself.

               “Never mind,” Time held up a hand, closing his one eye, “I don’t want to know.”

               “What should we do now?” Twilight asked. Wind wiped sweat from his brow. He didn’t know how the others made it look so easy. Sky seemed tired, too, but he was the only one.

               “Maybe we can make camp?” Sky asked hopefully. “It’s night already, and there’s no sense in travelling in the dark.”

               “All those for staying the night?” Legend asked, holding up a hand as if he were taking a vote.

               “No,” Time said. “I don’t think that would be wise. At least not here. We need to get out of Hyrule Field; if Stalchildren are rising again, we’re going to be fighting them all night.” The entire group groaned. “I know we all want to rest, especially after such a big battle, but we need to prioritize our safety above all else.”

               Four recovered first. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” He stalked over to where Time was already turning toward the Forest, which was only about an hour’s walk away. The others shuffled over, ready to leave as well. Wind, finally catching his breath, moved to catch up.

               “You holding in there okay, kid?” Warriors asked from beside him. Wind glanced over and huffed.

               “Yeah, I’m fine.”

               “It was a long fight,” Warriors reminded.

               “It’s okay. I’m good.”

               Warriors seemed to search him with his eyes, and then nodded. “Okay, but I’m gonna walk back here with you.” Quiet filled the night air as the earth cooled. The breeze felt good on Wind’s face, and he was glad that there was at least a little reprieve from their fighting. Time’s Hyrule had fresh air, a different kind from the great sea, and even a removed kind from New Hyrule’s. It was different, but good. Hyrule Field had once belonged to many farmers, Time had said, a long time ago, before most of Hyrule could remember, and before Time was born.  Then there had been a war. Then there had been burning and fear, and nations warring against nations, and Hyrule field was in the middle of it all. There men and women of various races fought and bled and died. It was a dark time, full of anger and terror. Fields of wheat that once grew and flourished under the sun were trampled and torn up and watered with sapient blood. Fences that had been raised under the care of farmers were torn through by heavily armored horses and knights. Homes were broken into and burned, and everything became tinder for the flames of conflict.

               Those who didn’t live behind the protective walls of cities and towns were the first to die.

               By the time the Hylian kingdom had won and united the country, the field had become a graveyard and a reminder of the sins of the land. But seasons passed, and vegetation grew; weeds flourishing in the baking sun and crisp-cool night. Shafts of grain, legacies of an ancient past, grew there too. At night the dead, long forgotten, were again remembered, and reenacted their ends in horrific mimicry. But the land was beginning to heal, and on the breeze came the scent of barley and wheat and the pollen of wildflowers flirting with the air. And somehow, even if it wasn’t his Hyrule, it felt like home.

               Wind released a breath and opened his eyes. It really was nice just to calm down, especially after a battle; even if he was practically worthless during it. “C’mon,” he told Warriors. “Let’s catch up with the others.” Warriors gave an amused huff and jogged with him until they were walking behind Twilight and Wild. Wild turned and grinned at them, and Twilight gave his hair a quick ruffle.

               There was a shift in the wind, and suddenly it didn’t smell like Time’s Hyrule. It smelled like a sunny day and salty droplets spraying from below. Time must have noticed as well as half the party, because they suddenly stopped. “Something’s about to–” Legend started. He didn’t have time to finish, because suddenly they were all standing on wooden boards, rocking to a perpetual motion. They all got sprayed with brine, and Sky nearly toppled over at one of the large waves.

               “Oi! What are you rats doing on my ship?” a rough voice called out. Lightning flashed, revealing a tall, thin-ish Hylian with dark bags under his eyes and a little lip fuzz. Wind recognized him immediately, and pushed himself in front of the rest of the group.

               “Hey Linebeck!” Wind cheered, gaining his attention.

               “Ki- Link! How fare you? How’d you get on my ship?” Lightning crashed and the ship tossed violently. Hyrule and Four were thrown off their feet. Warriors was visiting the side of the ship, and even Time was looking a little green. Sky was still trying to stay balanced.

               “It’s a long story. Mind if we take this down below?”

               “Sure- Hey, you! No vomiting on my ship! I mean it!”

               “Why are you up here in this storm? You’re not even at the wheel!”

               “What do you mean? I love untamed nature! The chaos! The grit it takes to be a man and to go toe to toe with the elements!”

               “…There’s a monster in the hold, isn’t there?”

               “I’ll go!” Wild offered quickly, and darted down the hatch. Even he was looking a little peaked.

               Wind sighed. “C’mon Linebeck. It’ll probably be dead by the time we get down there, anyway.”

               The rest of the Links began to follow, Warriors practically running.

               “Hey, you’re not going to empty your guts on my floor, are you?” Linebeck challenged.

               “There’s nothing left in there anyway,” Warriors muttered, ducking down below.

               “I’ll help up here,” Legend said. “Make sure we don’t crash into anything,” he said under his breath. He grabbed the wheel and held it firmly.

               “Don’t worry about crashing,” Linebeck called out. “There’s no land here for miles!”

               Legend frowned, and then returned it back to the way it was before. “Whatever; it’s your boat.”

               Soon they were all down below. Wild was gathering blue chuchu jelly into some jars, and Warriors was already looking relieved. Legend just looked nervous.

               “Ahh, this is much better,” Linebeck said. “So, now that we can hear one another, how did you get to this ship?”

               Wind explained why they were there, and who the other Links were. Time and Sky both spoke a bit, too, but Sky looked like he was about to sleep where he was sitting.

               “Hmm. I’m not sure I believe you, but you are all here anyway. Welcome to SS Linebeck! Don’t touch any of my stuff, and I’ll let you sleep next to the crates.”

               “How generous,” Legend said dryly. He shuddered at some invisible chill. “Are you sure you don’t want help in this storm?”

               Linebeck waved him off. “These storms don’t usually last long. Besides, the sails are down; there’s not much else I can do.”

               Wind was surprised Linebeck was allowing them to sleep down here at all, though, he reflected, it probably would have been in poor taste for him to start throwing the others overboard. “Good night, Linebeck!” he called.

               “Night, kid,” Linebeck replied and headed out of the hold to his cabin.

               “Well, that was interesting,” Hyrule said.

               “Let’s all get some sleep.” Time stood and began to unpack his bedroll. “We’re lucky we got teleported to an ally; let’s take advantage of the peace while we can.”

               Thunder crashed and boomed. The ship dipped back and forth like a child’s rocking horse. No one slept much that night.

               Morning came bright and early. Wind was already up on the deck looking out over the ocean. He took a deep breath of the fresh air and exhaled. This is what he’d missed most about his world; the freedom, the saline wind in his hair and the blue expanse of the sea. The sun had risen on a clear blue sky, and the visibility was amazing. Wind could see for miles.

               Then he noticed something out on the horizon. It looked like an island, but it seemed a lot larger. It cast a great shadow where the sea met the sky. Linebeck was standing at the bow, looking in the same direction. Wind ran up to him.

               “Do you see it?” the captain asked. “That, right there, is a new discovery! Think of the treasure one might find on an island like that! Why, who knows? Maybe we’ve discovered a new land! We could call it… Linebeckia! Or something. I’ll think about it.”

               The others trickled onto the deck throughout the morning, and by lunch they were almost at the shore. Linebeck didn’t have any means of cooking, and practically had a heart attack when Wild attempted to build a fire in the hold, so they had to either eat some of his jerky stores (which weren’t bad, Wind had practically consisted off of them for an entire pseudo-year) or wait ‘till they landed to have lunch.

               Sky was, as usual, the last one up, and by that time they were anchoring. The land was huge, larger than any island Wind had ever seen. Legend was eying it critically, and Wind thought he saw a good mixture of relief and something else when he found (or didn’t find) what he was looking for.

               They all got out and looked around. It seemed dead silent, not a soul or sign of habitation to be seen for miles around. “Not many landmarks around here for a treasure chest, are there?” Linebeck frowned. They found some driftwood drying in the sun and built a large fire there on the beach. Wild cooked up some fish they caught. Wind watched the flames while he ate, licking off his greasy fingers when he was done. He wished he could show the others his home; where Aryll and Grandma lived, and where the hibiscus bloomed on the beach in the light of the setting sun. But, he supposed, this was kind of nice, too. Seagulls cried well above them, coming close to the strangers that had food. Wild was trying to shoo them away from the cooking pot, which by now was cooling on the sand. Four was, uncharacteristically, lounging on the sand and soaking in the sun. Twilight and Sky had left to go scout the area in case there were enemies or settlements nearby. Linebeck wanted to go search for treasure, and Hyrule and Legend had offered to join, so they were out milling around somewhere, too.

               Wind wondered, suddenly, what it would be like for them if they left him behind. It was a strange thought, one he wasn’t used to contemplating. He was a hero, like the rest of them, and he knew it, but sometimes he just felt so…outclassed by all of them. He wanted to be more than just another one of them. He wanted to show them, to prove to them that he wasn’t the weakest of their group; that he wouldn’t hold them back.

               “Hey, kid, what’s wrong?” Warriors sat down next to Wind, having been in the middle of a conversation with Time moments prior.

               “Nothing. Why?”

               “You’ve been quieter than normal.” The young man picked up a stick from by the fire and used it to stir the dying coals back to life. “Did something happen last night that we don’t know about?” Suddenly he shot an appraising gaze up and down Wind’s body. “Did you get wounded?”

               “No,” Wind said quietly. “Just thinking.”

               “Well, that’s dangerous,” Warriors said, joking. He lifted his hand to ruffle Wind’s hair. “Don’t sit thinking too long, we like having you with us.” He dropped his hand from Wind’s head. “Do you need to talk about anything?”

               Wind shrugged. “I dunno. Nothing important, just thinking. Warriors, what do you think sets you apart from the others?”

               Warriors appeared momentarily surprised by this question, but recovered quickly. “Why, my devilishly handsome good looks, of course,” he smirked. “And I have more training and skill fighting multiple monsters at the same time, I suppose.” Wind nodded quietly.

               “And what do you think sets me apart from the others?” Warriors seemed very concerned about this question and was opening his mouth to answer when loud shouts came from the land above them.

               “Hey, guess what we found?” Hyrule asked excitedly, running down to the fire where they were sitting. He kicked up sand as he ran, getting some in the cooking pot, which Wild had just finished cleaning. Wild made a noise in his throat and reached in to try to clean it out again.

               “Let me guess,” Time said wryly as Linebeck came into sight empty-handed. “Not treasure.”

               “No, even better!” he exclaimed. “Come see!”

               Hyrule’s excitement was persuasive, and soon they were all following him back up the hill. Sky and Twilight were just returning from their scouting, and joined the party as well. Hyrule led the way forward, as Linebeck had excused himself, saying he had an errand that needed running and would be back in a few days. He’d hugged Wind and told him that if he found any treasure to let him know. Wind didn’t like goodbyes, but Linebeck had promised to return, so he didn’t complain much- he would see him in a couple of days.

               Legend was waiting for them at the top of a rocky cliff overlooking the beach further down. There was a rope ladder bolted into the ground that had obviously been there before they had. “Now, before we go down there,” he started without any preamble, “they may look different, but don’t attack them. They are really quite peaceful.”

               “Why would we want to attack them?” Sky frowned.

               “Someone startles easily and likes to swing first and ask questions later,” Legend said pointedly. Hyrule blushed.

               “No one got hurt,” he quickly clarified. “And they’re really cool, too!”

               “Alright, let’s get down there,” Time said, following Legend as he descended. Wind followed after, much to the protest of Twilight, who thought he should be next. He went ignored.

               When they reached the bottom of the ladder they followed the cliff to a cave entrance. It was dark inside, and it took Wind’s eyes a couple of moments to adjust. When they did, he heard a gasp behind him as Twilight entered. The people here were black and white skinned, with grey tones between, and teal symbols marking their chests. They were slender and towered over them on thin legs, their orange eyes observing every move. In one corner of the cave there was what appeared to be a strange mirror with runes running its circumference. The other corner was much more elaborate, appearing to have been carved out of stone by an ancient race. There was a stone door with carvings and ancient symbols with the image of a woman in the middle, holding up what appeared to be a stone with lines drawn outward from it. The rest of the party piled in, and the tallest of the group stepped forward to greet them.

               “Hello, I am Hambar, of the Twili. I have been delegated as Keeper of this sacred cave, and these are chosen ambassadors of the Light world. When the little one attacked, we knew that your party must be made of brave warriors.”

               “We do apologize for that, by the way,” Time said, stepping forward. “Is there anything we can do to make up for it?”

               The ambassadors shared a glance with the Keeper, and they nodded to him as he turned back to the group. “There is one thing you could do for us,” he admitted, “though we understand if you refuse.

               “You see, after the goddesses sank Hyrule, they approached us and offered us a chance at redemption. We were trapped millennia ago in the Twilight Realm due to our greed. Over the years we have adapted to our environment, and lost most of our magic. Some of us still have it, but we have all but forgotten the skills our sorcerer ancestors possessed. As such, we cannot enter the Light Realm without threat of death. The goddesses have given us this land, but it is impossible to leave this cave except at night. We don’t want to risk building when we might not get back below before the sun rises, and there is no cover for miles around.

               “But the goddesses have given us a way out. This is the Cave of Naeovi, and herein lays the Daystar, which can transform our people so that we may step into the light once more. Only one who is worthy can complete the Trials of Sorrow, which will unlock the Daystar and allow our people to live in the land we’ve been given. We’ve been waiting hundreds of years for our freedom.”

               “Why haven’t one of the Twili completed the trials?” Time asked from the sidelines. He was tense, and appeared suspicious.

               “All of us who wish to have tried, at one point or another. Young men and women, looking to prove themselves, place their hands on the Moonstone and try to gain entrance to the trials. Some are rejected; some make it into the trials but fail. No one has passed, and once failed the Stone no longer accepts them. No one who has been rejected has ever been accepted at another attempt, either. I myself tried every day for years when I was first made Keeper of the Cave. We are losing heart. But here we have fierce and brave combatants from the Light world. Perhaps we have a chance at redemption, now.”

               “And what exactly do these trials consist of?” Legend’s arms, like Time’s, were stiff and straight, like he was either preparing to grab his sword or turn and run.

               “We cannot say,” Hambar replied. “No one who has made it to the trials has spoken of them. We assume the Stone keeps them from sharing any information.”

               “I’ll do it,” Twilight offered quickly, stepping forward. “I’ll try the trials.”

               Hambar eyed Twilight critically. “Very well, I suppose you may. Just be aware that only one attempt can be made per day. And the challenger must have a light in them to rival the surrounding darkness.”

               Wind didn’t know what made him do it, but he walked up and stood next to Twilight. “No, I want to try first,” he said, heart pounding in his throat. Twilight turned and looked at him, surprised, as if he hadn’t been expecting him to appear next to him. “This is my Hyrule,” he looked Twilight in the eye. “If I can’t, then you can try tomorrow.” He turned back to the Keeper. “But I want to try first.”

               The Twili tilted his head and examined Wind for a moment. Wind felt as if he were staring into his very soul. “Is that okay with you, Dark One?” he asked. It took Wind a moment to realize that he was talking to Twilight.

               “I suppose so,” Twilight said, looking at him. His gaze weighed heavily on Wind. “This is his era.”

               “Very well,” Hambar consented, finally breaking eye contact. “Follow me.” The Keeper went to the carved door and placed his hand on a panel near it. It gave off a teal glow and the wall slid open to reveal a smooth, domed room beyond. The walls were a dark blue, specks of light shining like stars, repeated endlessly into a crystalline darkness. The image shimmered and moved as they walked, giving a soft glow to the floor below. A door was set into the wall on the far side, only the smallest hint of a seam indicating its presence. In the middle of the room was a beautiful, smooth white stone that shone at different points as if the stars were repeated inside it as well. The Moonstone, Wind realized. An obsidian statue of a Hylian woman knelt on the ground, her fingers seeming to caress it. Drops of water trickled from her empty stone eyes and fell off of petrified cheeks to be absorbed by the gem below. Wind suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

               “You sure about this?” Warriors asked. “You don’t have to prove anything to us, you know.”

               “I want to,” Wind replied quietly. “Besides, this is my Hyrule. I want to save these people, too.”

               Warriors took a deep breath and released it before nodding once and removing his hand. “Okay. I trust you.”

               The Twili didn’t protest as the others entered the room, but motioned Wind forward and instructed him to kneel on the ground as the woman was.

               “Place your hand here on the Moonstone,” he instructed. “It will decide whether you are worthy or not. Good luck.”

               Wind placed his hand on the mineral and slammed his eyes shut as light flashed suddenly from its core. He heard exclamations from the others as they, too, had to hide their eyes from the glare. There was a loud noise, like the pounding of a thousand thunderstorms, and then all was quiet.

               He slowly blinked his eyes only to see, disappointed, his hand still on the stone, which had returned to its normal state. He looked around the room. The others were still rubbing their eyes, and the door had yet to open. He felt a large hand on his shoulder and felt himself being lifted up off the floor. Hambar was quiet as he led him and the rest of the group out and back into the main cave.

               “Do not feel disappointed,” he said quietly. “Many have tried and many have failed.” He looked up from Wind. “There is always tomorrow, if any of you others wish to try,” he said as the Twili ambassadors slowly took their leave. “I will still be here.” There were little flashes of light as the Twili disappeared back to their Realm, and the others began to ascend the rope ladder once again. Wind was the only one left.

               “What are you still doing here, Little Light?” the Keeper asked. He didn’t sound nearly as welcoming as before.

               “I would still like to help,” Wind knew he wasn’t worthy, but there had to be something he could do. The Twili man seemed to consider his offer, and then nodded.

               “Very well,” he said. “It is said there is a rare lily that only blooms under the light of the moon. The Moon’s Pail grows on a slender stem, with many tiny flowers. You can smell its fragrance easily on a warm night; it has a honey scent. It is many leagues from here, in the Brineback Swamp to the east. None of us dares to retrieve it, but it is a great medicine to our kind, and can even cure those of us who have been fatally burned by the sun. If you retrieve a couple for us, as well as a bulb or two to plant in the soil above, we may be able to hold up until this curse is lifted.”

               Wind smiled brightly. He still had a chance. “Thank you so much!” he waved as he left, backing toward the entrance. “You won’t regret it!” And then he was following his companions to where they were congregated at the top of the cliff.

               “We’ll head back to where we built our fire earlier. That way we’re still close and Linebeck will know where to find us when he returns,” Time was saying. The others looked his way when he came in view, quickly looking away when his eyes caught theirs. Wind’s heart sunk. They were ashamed of him. Warriors was the only one who kept eye contact. He moved to walk beside Wind as they made their way to camp.

               “Hey, you aren’t feeling bad, are you?” he asked. “You did your best. We know it. They know it, too.”

               Wind remained quiet. He didn’t know what to say. He swallowed the tight feeling in his throat and continued to walk forward.

               “They’ve been trying for hundreds of years, and none of them were able to complete the trials.”

               But at least some got admitted to them. Wind hadn’t even gotten that far.

               “This is my Hyrule,” he said instead, “I’m supposed to be able to help them. What kind of a hero am I if I can’t?”

               “You help in any way you can,” Warriors replied. “You aren’t a hero because you can lift a sword out of a stone. You’re a hero because your heart is in the right place and you want to help others. You put their needs before your own.”

               Wind nodded, feeling the light inside him ignite anew. Warriors was right. He hadn’t been accepted into the trials, but he could still help the Twili. The others needed to stay close to see if they were worthy, but Wind didn’t. He already knew the decision of the stone, and now he had something better: he had something he could do other than sit around and see if a rock would think he was worthy of it. He could still help these people.

               But he didn’t know how long he was going to be gone for, and the others needed to be nearby in case the stone chose them. When they got back to camp, he told Time that he was heading out to go exploring a bit. Time wanted someone to go with him, but Wind refused.

               “Do you see anything out here?” It was a rhetorical question. “I know you’re worried, but I’m a hero, too, and I can take care of myself. If I’m not back by tomorrow morning, go ahead and try the trials without me. There’s something I need to do.”

               “You should still take someone with you. It’s not like you’re planning on being gone more than eight days, are you?” Wind wasn’t planning on it, but it was entirely probable.

               Wind shook his head anyway. “I want everyone here that can be. The stone might speak to one of you, and you may be their hope,” he said. “This is my era. These people are my responsibility, and the sooner they can get out of that cave, the better.” He hefted his pack over his shoulder and made eye contact with as many of them as possible. “Do this for me?”

               Warriors looked troubled, but he said nothing. Time didn’t look like he approved, either, but nodded. “Fine. But I want you back within three days, or we’re going looking for you.”

               That wasn’t as good as Wind had hoped, but it was better than nothing. “Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.” Twilight’s blue eyes stared unnervingly at him as he turned around. He could feel them weighing heavily on his back. His own hubris had caused him to go before the elder teen, and may have made the Twili wait longer. But he would be back, and he wouldn’t disappoint them. He would amend his mistake, and help the people he’d failed.

               He had to.

                 Wind travelled all day and stopped to rest only when night was falling. Thanks to journeying with the other Links for so long, he’d gotten used to walking long distances, and he was able to get a lot farther than he would have before. He ate some of the jerky stored away in his pack. Something he used to enjoy now just tasted like cardboard, but he didn’t know if it was because he’d been spoilt with Wild’s cooking, or if his earlier failure had taken the taste out. Either way, he couldn’t lose this opportunity. The Twili were counting on him, and he would do something to help them, even if he couldn’t free them completely.

               Wind took a brief nap before continuing on in his easterly path. The moon had crested the horizon, and he thought he heard a wolf howl in the distance, but it could have been the wind. There was nothing but sparse grass and rock for miles. He wished for Wolfie, but it was unlikely that Wild’s companion was nearby. He would have to do this alone.

               Wind tried to hum a jaunty pirate tune to get his mind off of his loneliness, but it ended up sounding more haunting than uplifting. His attempt died out quickly. He’d never really been alone during his travels, and it was odd to be so now. He wished there was someone to talk to. The heath stretched on for miles, becoming its own ocean as gusts caused the grasses to bend in waves. The smell of salt blew in from the ocean, even though it was a half an hour’s walk away. Everything here- it was so desolate. Wind wondered if this land was really better than the Twilight realm, but quickly brushed it off. If Hambar and his people were so desperate to get here, then it must be better. And the land wasn’t entirely untamable. Wind had seen the people of New Hyrule turn infertile tracts into lush gardens of vegetables and fields of grain. There was hope for the Twili yet.

               He spotted a dark stain on the horizon, and squinted as if it would help him to better make out its shape. The moon was above it now, and its brightness was making it difficult to see.

               It took thirty more minutes before he realized they were trees. Was this the swamp? Wind felt excitement race through him and broke into a run.

               In eight minutes he was panting hard and his legs burned, but he was at the dark copse of trees. Anticipation rose in him as he entered. He would find the flowers here, he would bring them back, and he would help the people he’d failed. It was the least he could do.

               Everything was noticeably darker after entering the woods. Wind had difficulty seeing his hand in front of his face, much less if there were any flowers around. He could no longer hear the howling gales, the sound being replaced by the hoots of owls in the branches and the groans and creaks of ancient trees. His heart pounded in his chest and his feet ached, but the Twili’s hope was ahead. He would find it, and he would bring it back to them.

               The air here was stale and stunk of rotting vegetation. Mud appeared beneath his feet and began to suck at his boots. At one point he stepped in a particularly soft patch and ended up almost thigh-deep in it. He’d reached out and found a vine, which he used as leverage to pull himself out. After almost losing a boot, he was more careful to feel out his steps first.

               Suddenly there was a snap of a twig behind him, and Wind turned quickly just in time to see a Lizalfos jump at him with a spear. Barely dodging, he slung his shield onto his arm and quickly retrieved his sword. It hissed and growled at him, coming back for another lunge.  Wind had never seen one in his own world, and yet it distinctly was one of his, and not one of the others’. He didn’t know how he knew, and tried not to think too hard about it.

               It hissed and jumped toward him. Wind blocked its blow and thrust his weapon toward its exposed belly, but it retreated quickly and he missed. Cursing under his breath, he readjusted his footing and readied himself for another attack. It came bounding toward him once more, and he struck just as it lifted its sword arm. It screamed in pain and he quickly pulled his blade out of its belly. There was a strangled roar behind him, and Wind turned in time to see another monster lunge for him.

               Sweat began to dampen his hair as Wind fought, feinting and spinning to get a good angle on his attacker. As soon as he dispatched the one he was fighting, another materialized from the woods.

               Luckily he was accustomed to their movements by now, and was able to finish the great lizard off much more quickly than he had the other two. Still, he stood there trying to catch his breath after the last one was downed. Wind was exhausted; the fight had taken a lot more out of him than he’d thought. He would need to rest soon, but not yet.

               The breeze in the leaves above him rustled, and Wind turned his gaze to a glow he could now make out further in. Wearily, he trod forward through the soggy ground to see what it was revealing.

               There, bathed in the soft light of the heavens, was the Moon’s Pail. The dainty flowers were facing up towards the great light, where it appeared that they were gathering the beams like a pail would collect water. Delicate petals were black on the outside and white on the inside, and they trembled as Wind ran a wondering hand over them. He picked one, and then another, and then another; until he had a handful of the sweet-smelling blooms. He left plenty in the clearing to repopulate, and dug up a few bulbs as well. Satisfied with his findings, he quickly put them back in his bag and began to head back west.

               Getting out of the forest was much easier than going in had been, and once he was out on the heath Wind finally began to relax. There was nothing for miles around, and he decided to take another nap.

               The nap ended up being more than a nap, as Wind awoke to light glaring in his face and a cool gust to his hair. Immediately he jumped up. He had to get to the others, and quickly!

               Wind ran most of the way there, and began to shout as he neared the location of their camp. “Guys, I’m back! And I’ve got something for the Twili, too!” Wind gasped at the sight that greeted him when he crested the hill.

               “No.” No. It couldn’t be. It wasn’t.

               “Guys?” Wind hated the way his voice sounded. It was tiny and hurt, and nothing like the way he wanted to sound.

               But his friends, his family…Wind ran down to the beach where they’d peacefully had lunch the day before. “Guys?” It was a slaughter. Red stained the sand below and bodies were twisted in painful positions. “Please,” he whispered. No one moved. His eyes roved desperately, trying to find a survivor. Time, Legend, Hyrule. Sky…. He hesitantly moved forward, his eyes filling with tears that blurred everything. Twilight, Four, Wild… No, someone had to live! Someone had to have escaped! Eight figures lay unmoving on the ground. What happened? Who could have done this, why didn’t they –

               “Warriors?” His friend, his older brother was… Wind choked back a sob as he knelt in the sand beside the body. “Warriors?” He began to shake him by the shoulders, even though he knew it wouldn’t do anything. His bright blue eyes stared up into nothing. “C’mon, wake up. Please.” His voice cracked at the end, but he didn’t care. Hot tears spilled down his face, the ocean breeze doing little to calm him. His friends were gone.

               “Link! Link!” Wind picked his head up at the call, and noticed Linebeck running on the beach toward him. The man stumbled slightly and his eyes widened at the sight in front of him. “What in Din’s name…?”

               “They’re gone,” Wind choked. “I f-failed them, Linebeck. I shouldn’t have - have le-left.”

               The sailor appeared horrified before he whispered, “I’m so sorry, Link.” Wind closed his eyes and shook his head, ducking it low to curl over his older brother figure. “But there’s trouble on Outset.” Wind felt his heart sink even lower than it had been before.

               “What do yo-you mean?”

               “A group of raiders has invaded, and the whole island is under siege. Tetra and the pirates are doing what they can, but Outset isn’t prepared to fight a veritable army.”

               “I’ll go.” The Twili could get their flowers at any time.

               “What about them?” Linebeck asked quietly, gesturing to-.

               Wind closed his eyes and turned his head. “I might be able to save Grandma and Aryll,” he said. “I’m too late for –.” The last part came out as barely even a whisper. He was too much of a coward to even finish the sentence. He stood swiftly, brushing the tears from his eyes. There would be time to mourn later. For now, he tried to think of the family he was going to save, and not the one he was too late for. Not the one that he was leaving to bake in the sun.

               Wind gently closed Warriors’s eyes, and turned to go with Linebeck.

               It was evening by the time they got to Outset. Wind saw the smoke before he saw the land, great billows of it rising into the air and blackening out the sky above. If there were any flames there before, they were already gone. The skeletons of houses stood eerily above a beach littered with bodies. Linebeck cursed as Wind dove overboard, forgetting his pack aboard the ship. He wasn’t an amazing swimmer, but he was semi-decent. The need to see his family overrode any concern about his own wellbeing.

               Wind had no idea how he got to the shore before Linebeck, but he did. Soaked and shivering, he searched for any sign of his sister or grandmother. “Grandma! Aryll?” he cried, panting as he looked for any signs of life among the wreckage. Cannonballs left troughs from where they plowed into the sand. Limbs and weapons and gore littered the ground, but Wind ignored all of it. “Aryll? Little sister?” he called desperately. “Grandma!” Then he saw it: a little sandal under some collapsed roofing where there house had once been. Wind grunted as he pushed the boards up and heaved them to the side. “Aryll?” Her face was turned upwards toward the sky with a peaceful expression. Blood puddled underneath her head, and in the moonlight her skin appeared as veined marble. When Wind’s tentative fingers brushed her cheek, it was as soft as the Moon’s Pail’s petals and as cold as ice. He used the back of his hand to gently wipe away the trickle of blood that had crept from the corner of her mouth. No breath left her lips. His grandmother lay nearby, her neck twisted as if she was looking out to the open sea.

               “At least they died together,” a voice came from behind him. Wind spun to see her, covered in sweat and blood that wasn’t her own, her face wet with tears. “But you were gone. You weren’t here.”

               “Tetra?” He hated the tremor that came out with the word.

               “You failed them, Link.” Her voice was hard as the tempered edge of a cutlass. “Where were you?”

               “I was…” he trailed off.

               “You were nowhere to be found,” she snapped, her lower lip trembling and her voice breaking like fine china dashed against the surf. “I sent messages by bird, by ship, by train, but you were nowhere.”

               “I…I didn’t know,” he said pathetically.

               “Do you know?” Tetra rubbed hard at her eyes, hiding them behind her forearm. “Do you know that they were hoping for you? They were looking for you to come out of the ocean and rescue them, even when the raiders began to fire at the houses with their cannons.”

               “No,” Wind said, shaking his head, but not in answer to her question. He closed his eyes. This couldn’t be real. This can’t have happened. Tears were soaking his cheeks and dripping from his chin, turning the ashes to mud below him.

               “Even when the raiders came into the houses, murdering and looting, they said, ‘Link will come. He won’t forget us. He’s our big brother, our grandson. He won’t leave us to die!’”

               “Please, stop,” he whispered. He didn’t want to hear anymore.

               “And where did their hope in you get them?” He looked up as she stayed quiet. She shuddered and turned to look Wind in the eye.

               “Please-se, Tetra,” he sobbed.

               “They begged, too.” It came out dead. “And they locked them in the house and set it on fire. If it weren’t for a misfire on the part of one of the raiders’ ships, they would have burned alive.”

               “Don’t,” he choked, “don’t. Please.”

               “I can’t even bear to look at you,” she said, turning her face from him. The sound of footsteps in the sand broke up the sound of waves lapping at the beach below them. “Linebeck,” she said, her voice leaving her mouth as cold and hard as coffin nails. “Take him with you.”

               “Tetra, please.” He didn’t have much left. At least let him bury his dead, see to it that they were cared for and loved.

               “Your Majesty?”

               The pirate captain shuddered. “I never want to see him again. Take him back to that island, to whatever was more important than his own people, and leave him there.”

               “Zelda, please.” The words came out tiny and broken, just like him. She turned slightly toward him, and Wind thought for a moment she might change her mind.

               “Goodbye, Link.” And then she was walking down the beach toward the hull of her broken ship.

               “C’mon, kid,” Linebeck said gently, guiding him by the elbow. Wind felt numb as he was led back toward the ocean and onto the deck of the steamship. Linebeck left him to himself, busying himself across the ship and guiding it out into open waters.

               It was noon by the time they reached the dead island. Linebeck was quiet as he anchored the ship, and some distant part of Wind was glad he’d landed further down the beach instead of where his friends had been slaughtered. He moved robotically, grabbing his things and walking off the gangplank and onto the sand. Salt had crusted in his hair; muddy ashes had caked on his shins. His lashes were frosted with minerals from the swim and his own tears. His eyes were itchy and swollen as Linebeck came beside him and enveloped him in a warm hug. Wind didn’t have the energy to lift his arms to return it.

               “It’ll be okay, kid,” Linebeck pressed his lips to the top of Wind’s head. “It’ll be okay.”

               Wind was unable to process much as Linebeck released his shoulders and, giving a final pat, turned to his ship. The almost fourteen year old watched as the vessel got smaller and smaller until it disappeared over the horizon.

               The pack hadn’t been on his back when he’d dived into the water. Wind took it out, not sure what he was going to do; maybe look for the telescope Aryll had given him (he needed something to-), when he noticed the Moon’s Pail inside, somehow still as fresh as they had been when he picked them. Tears prickled at his eyes and he sniffed. Was this what he got for helping others? For being a hero? If it was, he didn’t want any part of it.

               “You might not be able to help them, but you can still help someone,” a calm voice spoke in front of him. Wind looked up, just to see Four’s figure fading from view, his face looking over his shoulder at the cliffs behind him.

               “Wait, Four!” but the smaller hero was gone. Wind wiped his face for what felt like the thousandth time that day. Four, or his memory of Four, or that illusion, or whatever-it-was was right. The Twili were still relying on him. The people he loved were gone or had left him, but the Twili could still have happiness. They could still have hope. Something good had to come out of this.

               Steadying his breath, Wind picked himself up off the ground. A breeze blew through his stiff hair and rustled his crusty clothing. He could do this. He could help the Twili, even if it was with this. He could still have hope for them. And then…

               Stumbling up the hill, Wind somehow made it to the top of the cliff. The rope ladder was exactly as he’d remembered it, and he descended it carefully, making sure not to lose the precious cargo on his back.

               Entering the cave, he once more blinked his eyes to try to get them to adjust. “You look terrible.” Wind was just able to recognize the voice as that of the Keeper’s.

               He didn’t have any words for him in response.

               Instead, Wind took out the flowers in his pack as well as the bulbs that could potentially save so many lives.

               “The Moon’s Pail!” the Twili exclaimed. “Where did you find it? Never mind, never mind. I’ll put them in a cool dry place and we can plant them tomorrow.” The Guardian of the cave held out a long, pale hand. Wind normally would have felt some sort of accomplishment, but now he only felt exhaustion. He wanted to curl up in a corner of the cave and sleep until everything made sense, or everyone was back as they should be. But he couldn’t.

               Instead, he reached forward and handed the plants to Hambar. He knew, somehow, that what he’d done was incredibly important to these people. It could bring them light.

               As soon as the flowers touched the Keeper’s hands there was a loud crack, and the carved stone door slid open to reveal the room beyond. And beyond that…

               “The door is opened!” Hambar exclaimed. “Well, that’s certainly never happened before. No one has bypassed the Moonstone.”

               Wind should have felt excitement, but he didn’t feel anything except relief. There was still hope yet. He could save the Twili still. He looked at the Keeper expectantly, wondering if he was going to protest him beginning the trials. Hambar’s eyes bored into his own.

               “It’s up to you, Little Light,” he said. “Retrieve our Daystar.” Wind just nodded, and Hambar offered to him the natural spring in the back of the cave to refill his water bottle at. Wind did so, washing his face and hands in the refreshing flow, as well as refilling his flask after drinking water from it several times over. Feeling a little bit more human and a lot more refreshed, he approached the entrance to the Trials.

               He entered the dark room, and the door slammed shut behind him. Suddenly he wasn’t so sure if he could do this. “You can do this, little brother,” Warriors was suddenly in front of him, as bright and fresh as he had been when he was alive. “I believe in you.” He reached a hand forward as if to ruffle his hair, but faded away before he made contact. Wind’s eyes filled, but he nodded. He would complete the Trials. He may not have hope for himself, but he still had some for the Twili.

               He walked forward hesitantly, gripping his blade tightly as he saw a strange blue glow down the dark hallway. The light took shape as he came into a large chamber, and before him was the huffing steaming creature he had fought most recently.  “Malladus,” he whispered, horror warring with anger. How was this demon alive again? He didn’t care. He would kill it and make sure it left this earth for good.

               Wind charged forward with a yell, keeping his shield in front of him and his sword ready to swing. Malladus sped forward as well, intent on skewering the boy on his horns.

               The young teen leapt at the last second, vaulting up and over the beast’s head and driving his sword into the weak spot on the creature’s back; or, at least, he tried to. Instead of going through like he wanted, the sword bounced harmlessly off of scaled skin. Wind gasped. The last time he’d fought it, he’d had Tetra’s help. Now he was on his own. The demon reached a large, clawed hand over him and tore him from its back, throwing him into the cave wall. Wind shook his head, trying to keep the room from spinning and quickly jumped out of the way before it got to him, causing it to ram into the wall. While it was down, Wind lifted his sword and again aimed for the jewel between its horns. He prepared to strike down with all his might, but the beast recovered more quickly than he was expecting and swung one of its horns at Wind’s side. Wind was just a bit too slow, and didn’t get his shield up fast enough. He screamed in agony and shoved the Phantom Sword into Malladus’s eye. It was a small target, and it was a dirty move, but it did the trick. The demon jerked back with a roar, Wind’s screams joining him as blood began to flow more freely. He was barely standing, holding the hole in his side with his shield arm while raising his bloody sword in a tremulous grasp. He stood at the ready, waiting for the beast to notice him and charge again, but it didn’t. It pawed at its face, and Wind realized it must still think the sword was in its eye. He himself was feeling weak and exhausted from the fight and lack of sleep, but he would finish this. He would finish this and retrieve the Daystar for the Twili.

               The beast began to ram its face blindly into the walls, and Wind approached it slowly, trying to keep his insides in. He shivered as he watched it bash its skull into the sides over and over again. It stumbled and fell to the ground, its head lying low as it tried to catch its breath. Wind felt a flash of pity as he lifted his weapon and shoved it as hard as he could through its ruby-encrusted forehead. The demon shuddered once and then stilled, stiffening and crumbling into dust. Wind sighed and collapsed to his knees.

               A door banged in the distance and Wind flinched. Peeling open his eyes, he saw a tall, dark, robed figure walk through. He struggled to rise, but didn’t make it halfway before he was knocked to the floor again.

               “I would stay down, if I were you.” Wind froze. He recognized that voice. The fine tremble in his arms intensified tenfold. “I have plenty of malice for the one that entombed me in stone at the bottom of the sea.” No. No. How? How could this monster still be alive? He’d killed him. He’d shoved a sword through his skull and covered him with water and left his corpse leagues below the surface. How was he here?

               “Bow like the insect you are,” the false king growled, “and I will spare your life.”

               “No,” he said, choking around a glob of blood. He managed to make it unsteadily to his feet, and spit at Ganondorf’s boots. “I will never bow to you.”

               “Very well,” Ganondorf said, “then perish.”

               Wind had every intention of fighting that monster then and there, but his body had other ideas. The Gerudo swung a meaty fist at his face, and all went black.

                 When Wind next blinked open his eyes, he was in a prison cell. He didn’t move. He didn’t even twitch. Rather, he just allowed himself to breathe, to hear the rush of air in and out of his lungs. He was so tired. He just wanted to sleep and wake up again with everyone alive and well. Wind’s eyes pricked with tears. So much had been taken from him, so quickly; he hadn’t had time to process it. It wasn’t fair.

               “So what, you just gonna lie there and give up?” a voice snarked. Wind lifted his eyes to see a transparent Legend looking at him from where he was leaning on the wall. “Doesn’t sound like a hero to me.”

               “I don’t know if I want to be a hero.” His voice was scratchy, like it had been overused.

               Legend rolled his eyes. “No one wants to be a hero kid. At least, no one that’s been doing it for a long time does. Heroism is selflessness. It’s putting others first. It’s hard, and you can bet your bucket that it’s gonna drag you down and feed on you ‘till there’s nothing left. But you know what?” Wind shook his head. This was the longest that any of the “ghosts” had spoken to him. “It’s worth it. It’s worth every bit of pain that comes to you, to save someone, to protect a life and give them a future. Don’t give up, Wind.” And then he was gone.

               He was right, Wind realized belatedly. People’s lives alone were worth the fight. Lying here, feeling sorry for himself, wasn’t going to help anyone. He tried to push himself up to his knees, but he couldn’t; he still had a gaping wound in his side, and if he didn’t get help soon, he would die.

               “Hey, Wind,” a voice quietly came from right next to him. “Hold still, I might be able to help.”

               “H-Hyrule?”

               “Yeah,” he said quietly, slender fingers moving to the gouge in Wind’s side. “You’re one tough kid, you know that?”

               “I- what are you doing?” Sparks danced from Hyrule’s fingers, and he moved them gently over the wound. It slowly closed up, until an angry scab was all that was left.

               “I’m sorry I can’t do more,” Hyrule said, smiling at him. “But this should hold ‘till you finish the rest of the trial.”

               Wind felt tears prickle at the corners of his eyes. Again. He was so weak.

               “Hey, hey, hey; you’re strong, Wind. Just remember, where there’s life, there’s hope.” He shot Wind a smile.

               The younger teen huffed out a laugh. “That’s so lame.” Hyrule just smiled and stood up. Wind got to his legs shakily.

               “Door’s unlocked,” Hyrule informed him. “Good luck.” And then he was gone.

               Wind cautiously opened the door to his cell, cringing as it creaked loudly. But no one came to investigate the noise, so he went ahead and stepped out.

               The corridor was eerily quiet, his shuffling echoing off the stone walls. He followed it until he came to a large, open room. He quickly swallowed his fear and drew his sword. The dark king was there, his back turned to the door, his face set toward a shining bright stone sitting upon a pedestal. Wind felt anger rise up inside him at the sight. No. Ganondorf had ruined enough lives. Wind was going to stop him where he was.

               As silently as possible, Wind came up behind the monster and stabbed at his unsuspecting back. Cape parted and steel met steel in a clash as the Gerudo matched Wind’s sword thrust with a block of his own. “Thought you could sneak up on me, little ship rat?” he growled. “I will show you what true revenge looks like.” And with that he shoved the young teen backward with his sword.

               Wind blocked and parried as he was forced back to the wall. He gritted his teeth. He had to fight; he had to win. If he didn’t… well, he wouldn’t think about that. He would make sure he won. The Twili were counting on him.

               Suddenly Ganondorf moved. Wind went to block the strike, but it was a trick. Instead he was on the receiving end of a great fist to the stomach. His air whooshed out of his lungs, and he was thrown back several yards. Hyrule’s healing had covered his wound, but it hadn’t replenished the lost blood. The exhaustion was catching up with him and making him sloppy. That sloppiness had cost him.

               Wind moved to get up, but the monster placed a heavily-booted foot on his chest, forcing him down. He gasped for air, but the dark king just pressed harder.

               “Pathetic,” he growled. “I expected more of a threat, but you are just a puppy. You’ve lost your touch.” Desperate, Wind swung his sword and pierced Ganondorf’s leg through. He roared, jerking his limb back and freeing it from the blade.

               Wind sat up and took a deep breath, forcing himself to stand on two feet. “I’ve already beaten you once. I can do it again.” The man snarled in rage and rushed forward. Wind had no time to dodge before his large hand was wrapped around his throat, squeezing the life out of him. Suddenly Ganondorf swung downward, bashing his head against the hard stone floor, and Wind’s sword clanged as it bounced away. Then he was slammed hard again. Again. Again.

               Wind was dazed. Where was he? What was he doing? Where was his sword? Why was his side warm and sticky? He gasped as a knee pressed into his sternum and the sound of metal being dragged menacingly across the stone floor got louder and louder until the source came to rest by his ear. A giant face moved down to whisper in the other one.

               “There is something you should know, before I kill you,” Ganondorf whispered. “Darkness always wins. It wins in the hearts of everyone. No one dies with hope.” Wind grasped with his hand, and felt something hard and smooth under his palm. His sword! Ganondorf kept his head low as he positioned his blade for a final blow. “Goodbye, little hero.” Steel cleaved flesh, and with a strangled gurgle, a heart stopped. All was heavy and silent...

…

…

               Wind’s eyes opened. Something hot and viscous was flowing down the back of his hands. With a sigh, the giant body fell toward him, and Wind barely had the strength to push the knee off and shove the corpse away as he rolled from it.

               And he promptly threw up.

               There wasn’t much in his stomach but water and blood. The past … day? Day and a half?... had been so harrowing that he couldn’t stop the tears from pouring out. It felt like a lifetime. He was so tired, so weak; blood loss and exhaustion had overtaken him. He supported himself on shaking limbs, the Phantom Sword still lodged in the Gerudo king’s jaw. He left it there.

               Suddenly his arms gave out beneath him, and he landed in the puddle of bile and blood that had left his body. The sound of footsteps drew near, and he tried to track the sound with his eyes.

               “C’mon, Wind. Get up;” it was Sky, his soft voice echoing through the chamber. He knelt down and peered into Wind’s face. “Wake up. Complete your journey.”

               “You’re almost done, kid.” That was Twilight. What was he doing here? “You’re so close to finishing.” Wait? Where had Sky gone? No, he was dead. So was Twilight.

               “I can’t,” he cried. “Not- not as good as you…” It was hard to catch his breath, and he felt himself slipping. “’M not as s-strong as you or Time, not as sm-mart as Four or Hyrule…hhuuhh… I don’t have Leg-en’s ‘sperience… or Sky’s, Warriors’s, and Wild’s…skills…. ’M a failure…. Failed you. You’re dead because of me. Can’t do it.” Everything hurt so badly.

               “Sure you can,” Wild’s voice sounded as deerskin shoes came into view. Wind turned his head, just to try to catch a glimpse of his face. “You have to. You have to remember. We can’t do this, only you can. You have to fight for us. Live for us.”

               Wind struggled to get to his knees again. The pedestal was still there, holding the Daystar which pulsed with life. It was the last beacon in the dark- the last hope of the Twili.

               But he didn’t know if he could get to it.

               He managed to prop himself up on his hands and knees, his shirt hanging heavily with bile and blood. He had failed the others. It only made sense that he would fail the Twili just as easily. He wasn’t even crying, now. He was out of tears.

               “Wind,” a voice gently spoke. It was Time. He waited to continue until Wind met his eye. “You, Wind, are our hope, even in the worst of times. You are our light. Shine for us.” Wind tried to draw in a deep breath, but it came out sounding more like a hiccough. He tried again, and somehow, miraculously, got to his feet. He was shaking so badly he wondered how he hadn’t toppled over. But it was nothing in relation to the light ahead of him. His skull was throbbing behind his eyes, its cacophony drowning out all but the music of the gem. The pain in his side was just a scratch in the face of the Hope ahead. Sounds of his own blood “plip”-ing against the stone floor went ignored; he was concerned with something greater than himself. He stepped forward. Once, twice, thrice, until he came to the altar of the Daystar.

               He prayed that this would bring hope to the Twili. He prayed that, when it was over, he might be with his friends and family again.

               It wasn’t the most graceful of movements. In fact, it was a sloppy thing, a jerky motion that even a toddler would be ashamed of. His left arm flailed out, and his fingers brushed its corona.

               The world exploded into light, a high pitched ringing sounding through his ears and consuming his very being.

               Then, it was just light.

…

               Then, there were fingers running through his hair, and a familiar voice in his ear.

…

               Then, the light faded, and he realized his eyes were closed, a warm breeze blowing in his face.

               Then, he opened his eyes to Warriors’s concerned face and a canopy of eternal stars. A quiet glow was coming from nearby, adding softness to his features.

               “Hey, little bro. Nice to see your baby blues again.” His smile was white and brilliant, perfect as always.

               “Warriors?” The elder’s hand came into view as he withdrew it, and Wind realized it had been his fingers that had been playing with his hair. “Y’re dead.”

               Warriors’s expression twisted into confusion. “No I’m not.”

               “Yes, y’are. Saw it. Were… all bloody. I clos’d y’r eyes.”

               “What?”

               “How’ryu – alive?”

               Warriors looked at him, flabbergasted. Wind was too tired for this. He slowly shut his eyes. And then opened them again.

               “’M I dead?” he whispered. “Sorry,” he apologized as Warriors seemed to grow more agitated. “Just wished to be with you guys. But where’s Aryll? Grandma?”

               “I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about,” Warriors replied.

               Something was off here. Wind wasn’t sure what it was, but it suddenly occurred to him that perhaps Warriors wasn’t a ghost. And maybe this wasn’t the afterlife, either.

               Wind squinted, and tried to sit up. Warriors gently pressed down on his chest. “Whoa, easy there. You just finished the Trials; you shouldn’t try to get up too fast.”

               Wind glanced over. Under his left hand was the Moonstone, smooth and unblemished and bright. And holding it was the statue of the Hylian lady, but she was no longer crying.

               “What? I don’t understand.”

               “You finished the Trials of Sorrow.” Wind turned his head towards the other voice, which happened to belong to Four, who was walking over with Wind’s blanket. He had a pleased smile on his face. He draped it over the younger’s body, and Wind removed his hand from the oblong orb. “Congratulations!”

               “I –” Wind’s voice was shaking, “I don’t understand. You guys were killed. I wasn’t there to be with you.”

               “Wind,” Four said slowly, his brow furrowing, “we’ve been here this whole time. You never left the cave.”

               “What?” he asked. “But what about my failure to activate the Trial? And the Moon’s Pail? Remember, I told you guys I would be gone for a couple of days?”

               The other two shook their heads.

               “You – you’re not dead,” he murmured, realization slowly sinking in. Then a giant grin spread across his face. “You’re not dead!” He repeated, and flung his arms around Warriors’s shoulders. Warriors’s breath came out in a whoof, but he quickly reciprocated the hug. Four placed a hand on his shoulder.

               “No, we’re not dead,” he said, humor lacing his words. “And you were amazing! You pushed through to the end, even when it got tough! Once you completed the Trials, that door over there opened and the Daystar ignited. It flew to where the Twili were waiting and immediately transformed the ones here to be able to live in the Light world! Now they can live on this land without fear of dying from exposure to the sun!”

               “Alright, Four, I think Wind’s been overwhelmed enough,” Time said, amused. “Let’s get back to the others.”

               “Can you walk?” Warriors asked, helping Wind to his feet. Time went ahead with Four to tell their companions.

               “I-I think so,” he said. “How long was I out?”

               “Oh, it took you pretty much an entire day to complete the trials, if not longer. I dunno, it’s kind of hard to tell, time passes strangely in here,” Warriors looked around the room as if it made him feel a little lost. “But, after about…mmm…two thirds of the way through, we were allowed to help you.”

               “Help me?”

               “Yeah. We could see a little bit of what was happening in that moment, and sort of ‘coach’ you, but our time was limited and we usually couldn’t do much. You were allowed more and more help as time passed, but we could only help you once.”

               “I…didn’t know that. Now it all makes sense,” Wind muttered.

               “After you finished the trials, you slept for another six hours. And, well, here you are!”

               “I finished the trials?” Wind asked.

               “Yeah, kid.”

               “And the Twili, they…they got their promised land?”

               “Uh huh.”

               “Oh,” a small grin began to break out on Wind’s face. “I guess things really worked out pretty well then, huh?”

               “I guess so.”

               When they left the cave, Twilight was chatting with some of the Twili, whose appearances had changed slightly, but not drastically. He was asking if they knew a “Midi,” or something, and the ambassadors were starting to look at him suspiciously.

               Hambar noticed him, and approached with a wide grin and welcoming arms. “Our hero!” he exclaimed. “Link, of the Wind, you have brought light back into our hearts.” He clasped hands with Wind, and shook them vigorously. “Now we can claim the land the goddesses gave us, and build a better future!”

               “I – it was my honor,” Wind said warmly.

               There was a large celebration that day, with Wind named their Hero and the excitement over the new land. The Daystar had risen to rest high above the party, and they all got to rest as the festivities ensued. Linebeck came sometime during the day, and it seemed he got into some sort of argument with the Twili, because they were soon watching wrestling matches and other good-natured competitions between the Hylians and the Twili. It was only after day had become night and then day again that they said their good-byes to the Twilit race and found themselves back on Linebeck’s ship.

               “Where are we headed now?” Linebeck was covered with necklaces of smoky quartz and obsidian, gifts the Twili had bestowed on him from their realm. In return, he’d given them a variety of rupees. They seemed fascinated with the colored jewels.

               “Let’s go home. I’m missing Aryll and Grandma,” Wind replied.

               “Very well then,” Linebeck answered. “To Outset!”

               They arrived at nightfall, and the entire group was welcomed kindly and lovingly. Wild got Grandma’s soup recipe, and Four showed Aryll where the Picori liked to hide. Everyone enjoyed themselves, but were exhausted.

               Tetra had heard Wind was back, for now, and had come to visit as well. He inquired about setting up a defense for the island, in case they were ever invaded. She’d given him a funny look, but when he’d asked again, voice quivering, she’d relented and promised him she’d get something together.

               They stayed busy enough that Wind’s sleep was dreamless.

               Eventually the time came for them to leave. Wind was incredibly anxious the whole time. He’d hugged his grandmother and sister and had made them promise to stay safe.

               “You do the same, Link,” Grandma had said. “Take care of yourself.”

               He tried to stall as long as possible, but eventually goodbyes were said and the group moved on to their next adventure.

               Then came the nightmares. Wind often found himself jolting awake in a cold sweat, the names of his family on his lips. Many nights he never slept at all, leaving him dead on his feet and sloppy in the field. Warriors and Wolfie had begun to lay down next to him in an attempt to get him to drift off. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.

               One of those nights he was tired of tossing and turning and got up to sit by the fire. Legend was on watch at the time and noticed. The older teen sat down next to him and examined him for a very long time. Then he looked away. “Do you remember,” his fingers darted to his head and then back to his lap as if he didn’t know where they belonged, “what I told you? When you were sitting in the Trial’s cell, waiting for Ganondorf to return?”

               Wind turned to look at him curiously.

               Legend turned his eyes toward him. Wind, for the first time noticed the bags. He wondered what had happened to Legend that he still was unable to rest. “When you decide to become a hero; and I don’t mean that ‘chosen by Hylia’ or ‘the goddesses’ crud, because that isn’t what a hero is; when you decide to become a hero, you decide to give up your own happiness for the wellbeing of others. Terrible things happen to you, like they happen to everybody, but you paint a bigger target on your back than anyone else, because you’re blocking most of their blows. Ugh, I’m not good at this.” Legend took a deep breath and looked somewhere above Wind’s eye-line. “I guess what I’m saying is, is that misfortune is what we get for being heroes. But you gotta believe it’s worth something, that it has…meaning, if it means saving people, y’know?”

               “Yeah, I guess,” Wind said.  He didn’t know if this was supposed to make him feel better or not.

        ��      “I’m sorry, kid. I’m not good at this comforting stuff. It doesn’t get better, but it does get easier. And as you grow older, the scar won’t fade or get any smaller, but you’ll grow bigger and bigger until you’re bigger than it.” Legend raised his arms as if to demonstrate, and Wind giggled. Legend rolled his eyes. “Never mind. Get some rest, kid. We’ll be lookin’ out for ya.” He got up and began to walk back to his watch post.

               “Wait, Legend?” Wind called. Legend stopped. “Thanks. And you know, you can enjoy things, too. Just ‘cause you put others first, doesn’t mean you can’t be happy.”

               Legend’s face softened. “Alright kid. I’ll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Wind.”

               “Goodnight.”

               The next morning Wind woke up to Warriors sprawled out beside him, drooling into his pillow. Despite his anxiety the night before, a smile grew on his face. His family was alive, his friends were alive, and an entire people had been saved. He could rest easy knowing that.

               … And so he shut his eyes again, and did.

[inkribbon796]

Barrier to Entry

EGOTOBER  2019: DAY 7

Prompt: Barrier

Word Count: 1038

Summary: Roman wants to not only be a good superhero, he wants to be the best. So he takes on one of the most dangerous villains in town. He may have bitten off a bit more than he could chew with that one.

    Anti would find the whole thing funnier if it wasn’t so annoying. He was even humoring the kid because he figured it couldn’t get old.

    For a guy who claimed he was creativity itself, he tended to reach for the same stuff over and over again.

    “Hey Princey, get new tricks,” Anti hissed, distorting the air around them.

    “Surrender, evil-doer,” Roman exclaimed, using his powers to summon anything he could think of, as fast as he could think of it. Prince Creativity, as he’d chosen to call himself, looked worse for wear. His right shoulder ripped up from when Anti had gotten too close and scored his nails down his arm before Roman could have brought his shield up in time.

    “You must have a death wish,” Anti decides and something akin to a pulse wave ripples out from him, distorting the very air around the two combatants.

    Roman was barely able to throw up a shield in time. It was almost like a rose-looking barrier around him. Once the wave passed by Roman used his barrier to break it apart and turn the barrier into dozens of glass-sharp flower petals.

    A couple of them were fast enough to hit Anti and lodge in his body, glitching like he was, before he turned into static-like mist. “Nice try, flower boy.”

    “I only needed to hit you,” Roman pulled out a detonator and pressed it. The handful of petals buried into the chaotic villain exploded, but not nearly strong enough to knock him out.

    “Not quite enough,” Anti’s black eye almost had lighting sparking out of it.

    That moment of angry distraction, is when a circular device dropped in front of him, it beeped twice before it exploded, letting out an almost imperceptible, shrill sound. Roman felt something in his bones tingle when it passed through him, but Anti screamed and held his head in pain. His form fragmenting and stuttering.

    “Where are you?!” Anti screeched, looking around wildly, as if Roman had suddenly disappeared.

    Smiling, Roman summoned one of his sabers, “I’m right here, villainous scum.”

    Anti had a wild look in his eyes. “No, but you’ll do.”

    Before Anti could move an inch, a shrill whistle pierced the air.

    “Anti,” Logic called out, he was in his full costume which included the visor and mask covering his entire face and altering the sound of his normal voice. He was holding an exact replica of the device that had exploded early. “You ought to retreat, before I have to use another one. It will disperse your form and I will have to make more. Something neither of us appreciates.

    “Yer bluffing,” Anti challenged.

    Roman knew Logic well enough to know he probably had an eyebrow raised and an unimpressed flat look on his face. He pressed a button on the side and it started to hum and Anti recoiled almost instinctively.

    “You’re dead,” Anti threatened before dispersing into a staticy, angry mist.

    Once he was gone, Logic looked around before he pressed the button twice and then turned to Roman. Before even talking to Roman he spoke into his earpiece. “Jackieboy Man, this is Logic, is Anti gone?”

    Roman didn’t hear the response but at the fact he was being so blatantly ignored he frowned and glared at his old friend. “Oh how are you doing, Princey?” Roman complained, his voice mockingly copying Logic’s voice, picking himself off the ground, he’d lost his balance when the blast went off. “Wow, thanks Lo, you’re so thoughtful!”

    Roman spat that last word loudly at the other hero.

    Logic just kept listening to whatever response he was receiving, glancing at Roman when he began talking but only holding up a finger to tell Roman to wait. It only got the other masked hero even angrier.

    “Yes,” Logic answered into his earpiece. “Thank you, we’ll meet you back at the Doctors’. I believe Princey will need medical attention.”

    “I’m fine,” Roman huffed proudly.

    “We’ll be on standby,” Logic still ignored Roman, but once he hung up, he looked over at Roman. “I hope you’ve satisfied whatever pointless curiosity you had.”

    “Pointless!” Roman all but screeched.

    “You were told to wait for Jackie, you knew that you couldn’t take him on alone and now I’d spent an EMP bomb on someone who didn’t even know I had them,” Logic sounded upset, and Roman knew that once he was back at the base he was going to get his ears talked off.

    “Ugh, I get it,” Roman groaned as Jackie brought the group’s three-seater plane in to pick them up. Jackieboy Man looked at them, asking how Roman was doing which made the newer hero feel better.

    “Here,” Logic passed Roman the still-unused EMP bomb. It had stopped humming a while ago.

    Roman almost dropped it in surprise. “Don’t these take out electronics too?” Roman reminded.

��   Logic took it back and shook it, the thing began to whirl and Jackie looked back at them in alarm.

    “Hey! Wait!” Jackie called back but the thing exploded into a flash of light and Roman braced for the plane to stall and drop them out of the sky but it never came.

    After the initial shock, Jackie and Roman just stared at him, Jackie forcibly looking away so he could fly correctly.

    “How?” Roman asked, looking at the broken fake EMP-blast. “You did something to him.”

    “Indeed,” Logic held up his right arm. “Controlled electro-magnetic bursts, all I had to do was find where Anti was actually projecting from and target that location. Unfortunately for us, I doubt I can keep pulling these tricks for much longer. Particularly if Anti is with someone like Deceit or Dark who could easily see through it. So, yes, Roman. You wasted one of my chances, these are to be used in an emergency.”

    “Sorry,” Roman had the decency to at least look repentant.

    “I’ll just need to find other avenues to use the blast until they figure us out,” Logic decided. “Next time, wait for back-up.”

    “Fine,” Roman grumbled. “But maybe the rest of you should keep up.”

    “Duly noted,” Logan promised and the mood in the plane seemed to lift a little as they flew back to the base.

[pokeshippingflashfic]

one word prompt: Hug (I don't recall a single episode those 2 have ever hugged each other in).

Meditation. What you need most now is meditation.

Most of the time, your travels with Ash and Brock were entertaining, even somewhat pacifying. You were overwhelmed with blissful pleasantries between helping passersby or traveling to new regions and (more specifically) cities, to meeting and potentially catching new Pokemon, introducing yourself to people who reminded you of yourself…

Every once in awhile, your adventures turned irritating, maybe even swerving all the way over to infuriating on the annoyance meter. What with Team Rocket’s near daily attempts to steal your Pokemon, your arguments with one highly immature Ash Ketchum (seldom though they’d come to be after three or so years of traveling together, replaced instead by almost enjoyable banter), and there was always the occasional closed-minded stranger you might run into…

And, farthest and fewest in between, were the instances your adventures with your friends turned agonizingly life-threatening. There were the times you were suspended from frail bridges or hanging from the edges of cliffs, times when particularly violent Pokemon species chased you down in the wild… And how could you forget that one terrible period where you’d been left for dead on a sinking cruise ship, followed immediately by being stranded on a raft at sea with your sworn enemies, and then ended up swept up in a twister only to wash ashore on an island seemingly completely uninhabited except for colossal Pokemon a hundred times their normal size?

Your next drawn breath comes abruptly, a chill running up and down your spine before you try once more to relax in your seat, wringing your hands against the fabric of your red shoulder bag sitting in your lap.

And yet… and yet all your thought process does is send you spiraling further down the dark path to morbid fear, a memory coming to mind unbidden and resistant to your attempts to hold it at bay.

Ash, trapped under a chandelier in a dark and musty tower, not moving, not breathing…

Ash so sick in bed, flushed with fever, he can barely form the words to ask for assistance…

Ash, clothes torn askew and flesh burning in spots after trying to save a Pokemon or fend off Team Rocket…

Ash, looking heartbroken over a wounded and unconscious Pikachu after he’d lost a battle against some powerful foe (human or Pokemon; it didn’t matter)…

Ash… lost in the abyss of a subzero degree sea and barely kept alive by Pikachu’s best efforts to prevent him from sinking below the frigid waves doing their best to crash over him while the creatures behind his near demise continued to clash against one another in the skies above him…

The words come to your lips and demand to be heard before you have enough sense to realize they’re better left buried deep down inside.

“What the heck were you thinking, you idiot…?” 

Thankfully, they’re no louder than a whisper, yet you blink warily, wrenching around and hoping nobody’s around to hear you. Unfortunately, while you’re looking furtively for any potential eavesdropper, you’re not paying attention to the teenage boy in the hospital bed.

“Pikachu… All of our Pokemon were in trouble, Misty…” comes a grunt, causing you to swing back around and face straight ahead, “Someone had to do something, didn’t they?”

“Ash!” you nearly shriek but your voice is still hoarse from restraining tears and shouts all afternoon so it comes out sounding more like a dry croak as you scooch your chair closer to his bedside. “When did you wake up?!”

“Just now, I guess…” he groans, inching himself gingerly into a sitting position and flinching for good measure here and there. “How long have I been out?”

“Probably not long enough to teach you a lesson,” you admonish darkly, turning your nose up just enough at him to get him to scowl at you in reply. “Honestly, Ash, you’re such a glutton! Brock had gone to get help! Team Rocket’s stolen our Pokemon a hundred times before and we always get them back within twenty-four hours! You just can’t help playing the hero, huh?”

You know you’re overstepping but your shot and buried nerves have given you a downright terrible case of foot-in-mouth syndrome.

Ash seems somewhat reflective however seeing as he doesn’t immediately offer up a harsh rebuttal.

“Well… I’m already so used to it, I guess. Why not let it be me who helps? Besides, the reason we generally get our Pokemon back so quick usually has to do with one of us immediately running after Team Rocket to stop ‘em, doesn’t it?”

You’re grateful to whatever all-powerful force that keeps him from looking you in the eye after that. You can’t help seething, steeped in his unequivocal candor. You figure he must have hit his head harder than anyone thought if he’s making this much sense…

“So where’s Brock now anyway? I don’t really… remember what happened.”

“Well, you’ve been out cold since this morning. Brock came back with Officer Jenny and, since you were distracting Team Rocket pretty good, she was able to sneak up and catch them off-guard with her Pokemon. Unfortunately, those idiots directed their Pokemon to attack without informing them about changing targets so they ended up knocking you out…” you inform him, watching warily as he tries to adjust himself to a position that would somehow not aggravate the bruised ribs he doesn’t even know he has. “We’ve been here all day waiting for you to wake up but Brock finally decided a little while ago that we should eat. He’s at the cafeteria.”

“I’m… in the hospital.”

“Yeah you are, you dummy.”

“I guess,” he begins with a sharp wince you relish a little too much, “I really was hurt pretty bad.”

“A concussion, some bruising. I guess nothing you’re not already very used to, like you said.”

“I sense you’re upset, Mist,” he deadpans, finally daring to face you.

“Of course I am, Mr. Pokemon Master!” you nearly screech in response, and at least your voice has mostly returned to normal so he can hear you mean business. “I’m sick and tired of this! I’m tired of you getting hurt this often! It’s not normal to risk yourself so much!”

At some point, you’ve leaped out of your chair and are towering down at him in the bed, arms flailing wide in a broad gesture. His brows furrow in response, his lips (one of which is just barely split) mashed somehow thoughtfully together, however he doesn’t look like he wants to fight you. Perhaps there really is a first time for everything.

“I’ve seen you jump into danger to help others lotsa times,” he murmurs just loud enough to hear. “And I know… if I hadn’t’ve been there, you woulda taken care of things pretty much the same way.”

That’s twice he’s got you now and you’re so overwhelmed with a complicated jumble of emotion that you collapse back into your seat, glaring daggers into the scuffed linoleum floor underneath.

Meditate. You need to meditate. Take your space and…

“That doesn’t make it okay.”

Once again, your mouth flies open and tries to cause problems. Your eyes are shut tight because you’re not sure you can handle a stare-off right now.

“But it’s what I like about you.”

The worn wire wound restrictively around your muscles loosens all in one go, and you unwind and slouch in your chair. He’s never said he likes much of anything about you before. You’re flattered and furious all rolled into one. A sight to behold.

“Listen, Misty, if you’re worried about me…”

But before he can continue, you’ve flown once more, upright, forward, arms around him tight enough to make him grimace from the pain (which reminds you to loosen your grip just a little even though you refuse to let go).

It’s the first time he’s ever accused you of being worried. In most other situations, on most other days, you’d deny it in a heartbeat. And something in the back of your mind is reminded once more of those other times his life has been at risk.

“So Misty, you’re really worried about me!” a distant child guffaws softly in your ear, and a younger version of yourself whips around in confusion. You could have sworn that was Ash…

“I am! I’m worried! You scare me to death, you… you idiot!” you cry fiercely, your cheeks tinging a bashful pink at such a confession. “I’m tired of worrying about you, I’m tired of seeing you get seriously beat up or knocked out! I know… I know when we started traveling together… I know sometimes… it was - could - be funny… maybe but…”

You taper off into a sniffle, rubbing your damp eyes roughly against his black tee shirt.

Ash is silent and stiff wedged awkwardly in your embrace, you’re not sure from the new form of contact or the pain he’s probably in. Eventually you do let go, falling back once more into your chair and staring intensely at one of his ears because you can’t look him in the eyes just yet.

You don’t know what to say about the sting of hurt that courses through you in response to his lack of reciprocation. Sure, the hug was entirely new, a foreign means of intimate, unspoken communication… but still…

You feel a slight pressure and notice that he’s grasped your hand in his. Now it’s his turn to be too embarrassed to face you evenly, his turn to blush a mildly alarming scarlet.

“I… I don’t know what… to say, what you expect…” he stumbles and stammers in reply. “But I like that you worry about me. Can you keep doing that?”

It’s not remotely close to what you wanted to hear, the type of compromise you were hoping for, but there’s something raw and very Ash-and-Misty about such a request…

Still, you refuse to let him walk away with your heart so freely.

“Fine but only if you promise t - to care - ah, I mean - worry about me too!”

The warmth between you crosses from his palm to your fingertips, from his thumb to your wrist, slowly consuming every limb and inch of skin before he finds the nerve to beam at you through his pain. His response, somewhat delayed, is at the least brutally, blissfully honest…

“Of course, Misty!”

… And you think to yourself that, hey, this is far more than what you had from him before.

(Sheesh, I struggled so much with this! I adored the prompt - thanks, anon, for sending it in, I totally agree about the travesty in Ash and Misty’s lack of hugs - but I was working 17 hours on 3 hours of sleep… Then my first draft vanished so I started over… Overall, I really like the finished product though…)

[vgckwb]

ML: Are They Worthy? Chapter 27: Whatever You Want!

Judgement Wolf found his way to Chloe’s balcony. He looked into Chloe’s room. “I don’t see anything.” He turned and saw Chloe sleeping on her balcony, wrapped up in a Ladybug blanket. “Well that’s convenient.” He drew his sword. “Wolf Mist!”

Chloe walked out of her limo at school, Sabrina already there to meet her. “Good morning Chloe. I did your homework last night.”

Chloe scoffed. “Of course you did.”

“I mean, it’s not like you’d get a bad grade either way” Sabrina said. “I just like doing it.”

“Uh, yeah, and- wait what?” Chloe said. “What do you mean?”

“Oh Chloe. It’s not like the teachers are going to flunk you out at all” Sabrina said.

“Right. Of course not” Chloe said. The two walked into school. Chloe thought Sabrina was being weird. Maybe she’s just over enthusiastic. After all, I did buy her a new dress. She looks so cute in it too. Alix bumped into Chloe. “Hey! Watch where you’re going!”

“OK” Alix said. She stared confidently at where she wanted to walk and started walking.

Chloe was stunned. “Sabrina! Did you just see that?”

“Of course I did” Sabrina said.

Chloe was confused. “And that didn’t bother you at all?”

“Why would it? You told her to do something, and she did it” Sabrina said.

“Bu…” Chloe could not find the words to express her disbelief.

“Hey Chloe. Wanna go out with me?” Kim asked from behind.

Chloe turned around and shouted “NO! Now just go away!”

“Alright then,” Kim said. He started to leave school.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?!” Chloe said.

Kim looked back at her, confused. “You told me to go away.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d listen” Chloe said.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Kim asked.

“Just...get to class” Chloe said.

“OK” Kim said. He started walking to class.

“Chloe, are you alright?” Sabrina asked.

“Yeah. No. Maybe. I don’t know” Chloe said.

“But you’re Chloe” Sabrina said. “You know everything.”

“Then what’s going on?” Chloe asked.

“Chloe? Are you alright?” Marinette asked, walking by. “Do you want a free croissant?”

“Ugh. Go away Dupain-Cheng. I don’t need you pity” Chloe said.

Marinette looked sad. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know what I was thinking.” She started to leave.

“Wait” Chloe said. “You’re still Dupain-Cheng, aren’t you?”

“I am” Marinette said, turning around to meet her gaze. “Unless you don’t want me to be.”

“What?” Chloe said. She shook her head. “Look. How can you be Dupain-Cheng and apologize when I got nasty and still listen to me in the process?”

“Are you sure you’re alright Chloe?” Marinette asked.

“She’s been like this all morning” Sabrina said.

“Chloe, surely you haven’t forgotten, right?” Marinette said.

“Uhhhh...Forgotten what?” Chloe said.

“That everyone listens to you” Marinette said.

Chloe stared at Marinette. She then busted out laughing. “Yeah, good one. Had me fooled there for a second.”

“She’s not joking” Sabrina said.

“Puh-lease. The day Dupain-Cheng actually listened to me is the it rains chocolate pudding.” Chocolate pudding started raining from the skies. “What’s going on?” Chloe asked.

“You wanted it to rain chocolate pudding Chloe” Sabrina said.

“What-I did NOT!” Chloe said. It suddenly stopped. Chloe was scared.

“Chloe? What’s wrong?” Sabrina said.

Chloe ran away to the locker rooms. Once she was inside, she was breathing heavy. “Chloe? What’s the matter?” Adrien asked.

“Oh Adrikins!” Chloe said. “It’s awful. Something bad must have happened. We need to call Ladybug and Cat Noir.”

“Slow down Chloe. Tell me what happened while I give them a call” Adrien said.

“Well, I-” Chloe began. “Wait, give them a call?”

“Of course. Anything for my girlfriend” Adrien continued to call.

“GIRLFRIEND?!” Chloe said.

“Yeah. Remember? You asked me out at your birthday party last year. I immediately said yes. Of course, everyone does, but I meant it” Adrien said. “Hello? Ladybug?”

Adrien told Ladybug what was happening. Meanwhile, Chloe was panicking. “This can’t be happening,” she said.

“They’re on their way” Adrien said. “Now, why don’t you tell me what’s wrong.”

“Hello” said Ladybug, appearing with Cat Noir.

“Oh good, you’re here” Adrien said. “Now Chloe doesn’t have to repeat herself.”

“Well, we wouldn’t want that” Cat Noir said.

“Chloe? Where are you?” Sabrina called out. She saw Chloe. “I found her everyone!” The rest of the school gathered around Chloe. When Marinette walked in, she turned translucent and so did Ladybug.

Everyone gathered around Chloe and they all asked her what was wrong. She could take it anymore. “Everyone STOP!” Chloe screamed. Everyone else stood still. The clocks didn’t move. Everything turned silent. Chloe was confused by this. But she left the locker room, walked into the middle of the courtyard, curled up into a ball, and then cried her eyes out.

“Well, this is clearly not going well” Judgement Wolf said, watching the events unfold. He snapped his fingers and the dream was over.

Chloe was now in a blank white area. “Oh great. Did I wish for this too?”

“Not exactly” Judgement Wolf said.

“AH!” Chloe said. “Wait. You’re that new hero. Judgement Wolf!”

“That I am” Judgement Wolf said.

“Wha-What do you want?” Chloe asked, fearful that the answer was going to be “Whatever you want.”

“That’s kind of a long story” Judgement Wolf said. Chloe sighed. “See, the wolf miraculous is the miraculous of doubt. I have the responsibility to test other miraculous users to make sure they are worthy to wield the miraculous.”

“Oh. So, why test me?” Chloe said. “After all, Ladybug said I’d never get to use the bee miraculous again.”

“Well, that’s the thing” Judgement Wolf said. “See, Ladybug was talking with the person who gives out the miraculous, and they figured that Hawk Moth is trying to strengthen his hand, and that those who oppose him should do the same. So they decided to give Rena Rouge and Carapace their miraculous full time. Which leads this story back to you.

See, Ladybug thinks you could benefit from having a miraculous. Not only is Hawk Moth targeting you, and you having a miraculous would be a solid defense, but she’s also taking note of how you’re slowly changing. Here’s where I come in. The Master agreed to give you miraculous privileges only if Beyyo and I deem you worthy. Any questions?”

Chloe was trying to process everything. “Who’s Beyyo?”

“Beyyo is my kwami” Judgement Wolf said.

“Did I pass?” Chloe asked.

Judgement Wolf looked at her. She then looked down at the floor. “It’s hard to say” Judgement Wolf said. Chloe looked up. “On the one hand, you understood that what was happening was wrong, but you broke under the pressure of it all.”

“Well that’s understandable, isn’t it?” Chloe said.

“Yes, and admittedly, it was partially my fault” Judgement Wolf said. “The way my power works is I give you a prompt, and your dream gives me an honest answer to that question. What I asked is ‘What if everyone actually listened to you?’”

“Well, that makes sense” Chloe said. “But look here, if I wanted that, I wouldn’t act the way I do, OK!” Chloe then shrunk into herself. “For a little while now, I’ve felt like I couldn’t be myself in front of people. So I created this persona. I like things that are real. Real diamonds. Real gold. Real friends. So, when I thought people wouldn’t actually like me, and only pretend to be kind because I was the mayor’s daughter, I thought that I could get people to hate me for real. At least that way, I’d have to deal with real emotions.”

Judgement Wolf saw Chloe at her most vulnerable. “Chloe. What made you think people wouldn’t actually like you?”

Chloe stood silent for a minute. “I can’t tell you.”

Judgement Wolf sighed. “Well then. It doesn’t seem like you’re ready.”

“I guess I’m not” Chloe said.

“Well, this is a surprise” Judgement Wolf said.

“Don’t get me wrong, I want to be Queen Bee again more than anything” Chloe said. “I know I need to change. I’m just not ready to tell everyone yet. I need time to work up the courage. I hope that’s alright.”

“Hm. I think so” Judgement Wolf said. “But just between us heroes, a hero’s bravery doesn’t come from not being afraid. It comes from being afraid, but doing it anyway.”

Chloe smiled. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“One more thing before I go. Why are you out on the balcony?”

“Oh. That. Well, I felt like my room was a little too hot. So I came out here to enjoy this nice breeze” Chloe said.

“I see. Well, thank you, Queen Bee, and good night” Judgement Wolf said. He jumped out and Chloe fell back asleep. Judgement Wolf left the balcony and started walking home. “Fangs dull!” He transformed back into Vlad. “So, what did you think? Should we give her another chance?”

“I’d say that’s a fair assessment” Beyyo said. “You can see she’s trying, but like she said, she isn’t ready yet.”

“By the way, good call” Vlad said.

“On what?” Beyyo asked.

“On Chloe being genuine” Vlad replied.

Beyyo smirked. “Well that kind of keen perception is what you get when you’ve been around for millennia.”

“Can’t argue with that” Vlad said. They walked home.

Chloe woke up the next morning. “Man, that was weird,” she said. She noticed that her Ladybug blanket was wrapped around her. “Jean-Pierre” she said, lovingly.

At school, Vlad was talking to Marinette. “Inconclusive?” she said.

“Yeah” Vlad said. “There was some complications that arose. Mainly she started crying in her dream. I put a stop to it though and explained what was going on.” Marinette looked worried. “Don’t you trust Chloe?”

“I don’t trust Hawk Moth” Marinette said. “Every night she’s alone is another night he could try preying on her.”

“I understand how you feel. But even Chloe herself said she wasn’t ready” Vlad said.

“Yeah, you’re right” Marinette said.

“Tell you what” Vlad said. “I’ll talk to Adrien about this. He knows Chloe the best out of anyone. He might have an answer.”

“But how will you avoid telling him you’re Judgement Wolf?” Marinette asked.

Vlad put his hands on her shoulders. “You just leave that to me.”

“Marinette!” Chloe called out.

Vlad and Marientte turned to face Chloe. “Yes Chloe?” Marinette said.

Chloe stood there, her face turning red. “Nothing.” She said, walking off.

“What was that about?” Marinette said.

“I’ll tell you one thing, that wasn’t nothing” Vlad said. “Tell me, what was different from any other interaction with Chloe?”

“Well, it was short” Marinette said. “She just said my name and-” Marinette realized what Vlad was getting at. “She...She called me Marinette.”

“Yup, and I gotta say, that seems like a big step for her,” Vlad said.

Meanwhile, Chloe was standing by herself. “I can’t believe I said her name finally! It felt good!” Chloe was on cloud nine. She knew she was going to be Queen Bee again. She just had to give it time.

[hgihrepaeryster]

Reaper High: Mist-takes Aplenty

“Tired, Jen? Here; I’ll give you a free shot.”

Jenny’s systems had been so overloaded from the fight that she couldn’t even see her opponent mocking her, much less respond to her taunts. 

“No? What’s that? You want to give me a free shot? Gosh, it seems so unfair...but since it is your last request...”

The impact of the fist sent her careening through the air, impacting a wall  upside down next to her previous impact point. She collapsed to the ground with a loud clang.

Focus. Her thoughts pleaded. At least try to do something to save yourself.

Her power drained severely, all she could do was reroute her power to her sensory units and catch a glimpse of her foe grabbing her by the collar and raising a superpowered fist.

“This is where it ends, robot girl,” Misty snarled, not even willing to call her victim by her name anymore.

There has to be some weakness I can exploit, Jenny continued to wonder. In a last ditch effort to find out, she sifted through the memories she had of the alien ninja. It took her precious milliseconds, but all she could come up with were the times they had spent together as part of the Teen Team, feeling like the top of the school social hierarchy with her for a brief moment, and the pain of watching her leave her life not once, but twice. All she wanted was a return of the old Misty, but she was gone for good, replaced by a spiteful, greedy mercenary in her guise.

Or at least, that’s how it seemed...

It was a long shot, but it was the only thing she had left.

“Why are you doing this?” Jenny finally asked. “I thought we were friends...”

Misty froze, her face paling slightly. The clenched fingers against Jenny’s top released suddenly, letting the helpless hero fall back to the ground. Taking a deep, heavy sigh, she turned and started to walk away, her anger pulsing through every part of her being as she ignored the devastation she had caused not just to her old friend, but to the city around them. Stopping again, she turned around one last time, her words suddenly choked up with both tears and denial.

“The only reason I’m not destroying you...is because no one is paying me to do it.”

And with a mighty leap, Misty was gone.

Jenny shuddered as she opened her locker, visions of the last time she remembered seeing her assailant playing out in her head for the 21st time that day, according to her internal counter.

She had faced armies of killer robots, hordes of aliens, and some of the most conniving criminal masterminds that she had ever known. Now she was surrounded by people who were willing to protect her, some of which had faced hazards far greater than this.

This was still the most frightened Jenny had ever been in her life.

They didn’t know Misty, but she did. More importantly , Misty knew her. Very well. Even when they were friends, it was hard to cope with Misty’s abilities; when they became enemies, it was an absolute curb-stomp battle. And now, she was going to expose them to a being capable of reading their very fears and using them.

She looked around at her new protectors. A small group of clones from the Galactic Republic stood watch with weapons hand-picked to give them the best shot at defeating Misty, headed by one they referred to as “Dreamer.” In his hands, he gripped a baton that crackled with fuchsia energy, oddly reminiscent of Misty herself; she hoped that this would be of some help to him, but only because deep down she knew he’d need it.

And, at either side of her, were probably the most unlikely people she expected to join her in this situation. On one side, Buzzkill: an aspiring villain who tended to annoy her on a constant basis (if he asked her if she “liked jazz” one more time...). Now, however, he was willingly working alongside his archenemy, Mantis Shrimp, who flanked Jenny’s other side in constant watch. She wouldn’t have figured it possible, were it not for the extraordinary circumstances that led to this encounter. Like everyone else, she hoped that Beekeeper’s guarded location would remain undisturbed.

But if what Buzzkill had told her was true, that would likely be Misty’s next target if she succeeded, along with his hive. As much as she disliked Buzzkill, she had a vague understanding of the kind of sincere devotion he was capable of, and a fuller understanding that Beekeeper was not worthy of being a target.

So who in their right mind would do such a thing? And why did it have to be the father of one of her own friends?

Placing her books away, she took a deep breath and continued down the hallway toward Brawl Hall. It was their best shot of holding off Misty, but they all knew time was running out. Kurtis Perringer had threatened the robot’s demise within 24 hours. Something had to give.

But when it did, Jenny already resolved herself that she was not going to go down without a fight.

[nebula-starlight]

Virus (Part 6 - Heartache)

She tossed in her restless sleep, twitching every so often as the glitch fought for control. Nothing else mattered besides making sure that parasite was unable to pilot her body for its twisted desires. Forget all the pain she’d endured in the past. Ignore the unwanted offspring growing inside her even. She would fight with everything she had to survive and keep her mind solely her own.

Growing up on the streets hadn’t been easy for her as an offspring of an absent father and lustful mother who cared little if she lived or died. So she took it upon herself to survive, steeling herself against the cruelty of dragons and nature alike. Over time, however, she found herself fighting more of an internal fight than a physical one. Society’s rules dictated a lowerborn such as her would only be useful in the most seedy professions and unable to become great. Her goal had always been to help heal the injured, particularly younglings due to her own rocky start in life. So with nothing to lose she threw herself into studying whenever she could, only to eventually meet the one drake who cost her nearly everything.

He’d been pleasant enough at first, a true gentledrake really, but she was too eager to learn all she could. Beautiful red scales and piercing dark eyes with an impressive physique - there was honestly nothing she could find wrong with Magnus. When he offered her private lessons, she was quick to accept, unaware then of his other intentions. The first few months worth of meetings in his lavishly styled apartment went well and he seemed impressed by her knowledge already. She remembered he had opened the door for her to leave after they finished up early one evening before gently catching her paw on the way out. Confused, she had glanced up and asked what was wrong in fear she’d said or done something wrong. He smiled politely and remarked that she would make a great healer in a few years before touching the tip of his snout against her own.

Narssia should have smacked him then but was caught up in the moment, knowing she’d seen other couples out on the streets doing the same thing. To think a drake thought that she was lovely made her feel so light, so giddy even. She barely remembered going back to her little back alley hiding spot that night, certainly overwhelmed with feelings of acceptance and mutual respect. Oh how naive she’d once been.

Several weeks later she noticed he was in a terrible mood, lashing out at her when she got something wrong or didn’t answer quick enough. Hours stretched on with no change until the last of the sunlight faded away. With a huff, he stood, glaring at her in disapproval as she struggled to memorize a list of common medicine. After several attempts, it was obvious his patience was all but gone as he grabbed her from behind. Using one of his forepaws to keep her jaw shut, he growled low in her ear that it was best she keep quiet or else he’d ruin far more than just her dignity.

It was the only warning she got before he violated her, hurting her in ways she never knew before. Every moment of the torture made her want to scream but all she had to do was feel his claws squishing her nostrils down and she kept silent, only allowing tears to roll down her cheeks. It was only right that she receive just punishment for trying to better herself...

With each bone-jarring thrust she felt warmth radiate from her lower region but never put two and two together. It was all too much too fast, shock nullifying the fact that she had often witnessed drakes doing this after getting plastered from overindulging on mead late most evenings. Most of the time the females they selected seemed to be just as into it, moaning in pleasure as they moved along with the almost rhythmic motions. She however was not, nor was her body used to such harsh treatment. By the time she could get away she could barely stand, pain coursing through her whole body as she was roughly shoved towards the door and told to leave. The cold night air had dried her tears as she limped back to her isolated alcove in silence.

‘Too late for self-pity,’ the glitch snickered softly, its sudden appearance startling Narssia in her otherwise blank mindscape. ‘You knew the risks he presented but kept coming back after that dreadful evening. Was it the stubborn pursuit of knowledge or were you just that gullible? No creature had ever loved you after all.’

She turned with a sigh, seeing the familiar mist lurking just at the corner of her vision. ‘Go away, parasite. I don’t need you to make things worse!’

‘Oh come now. I just want to help you accept the truth. Is that so hard to ask for a little cooperation?’

She snorted, stomping the floor as her wings flared out defensively beside her. ‘I said I don’t want you here. This is my mind and it will stay solely mine until I say otherwise.’

‘You poor child. So lost and rejected by the world...’

The mist started to swirl, flickers of green sparkling like stars as it expanded all around Narssia. Afraid of what was to come she shrunk back, crouching slightly as her wings rose up behind her body in preparation for a quick takeoff if needed. What horror would await her now? What else could that monster corrupt from her already twisted past?

‘I think you’ll enjoy this, my puppet.’

Darkness enfolded her, bright green tendrils of magic wrapping around her legs and lifting her up into the air. Her captor chuckled, the noise of its static filling the now silent space as Narssia’s head hung lifelessly with closed eyes. Much fun would be had now that she was no longer able to resist. A certain soul was at last on the way after all and it wouldn’t do to be ill-prepared for his arrival.

An alarm blared to life, breaking the silence as several dragons rushed toward the source of the noise. They all knew who occupied the room’s bed was once a colleague of theirs before her own mental health broke under the strain. That was the story going around at least...

Entering the small space, three drakes stopped at the foot of her bed as the dragoness chained to it moaned and started to thrash around. They barely caught a low whimper from her before she seemed to wake, eyes opening wide in terror as a shrill shriek tore from her maw. Her wings, once pressed tight against her back, now unfurled and hung limply as she held herself up by the chains restricting each of her taloned limbs before exhaustion came crashing back down and she crumpled, her scales slick with a sheen of moisture.

One of the medical students leaned forward, curiosity getting the better of him as his gaze traveled first over her half-lidded eyes before going down further towards her visibly swollen abdomen. This wasn’t anything like they’d ever seen before. She wasn’t on any active medication so why had she...?

‘Oh I wouldn’t worry about her,’ a darker voice hissed as the sudden crackle of static pounded through their heads, the light above flickering wildly. ‘After all, you fools may prove to be rather useful... Months to a flame so to speak. Try to appease my curiosity here, won’t you? Because, trust me, you don’t want to be here when my intended target arrives.’

High pitched laughter echoed throughout the room as the trio of drakes dropped to the floor, going unnoticed by the now visible glitchy being who stared down her desired host. Her appearance had changed to an almost perfect replica of Naris, except with her identifiable green serpentine-slitted eyes. She would get what she wanted, no matter how much damage she had to cause. For now though, there was one thing she wanted to make sure survived the impending carnage...

Pain coursed through her body, pins stabbing into her skin as she slowly returned to consciousness. Where was she? The dark area around her held no clues...

‘Calm, little one. We will keep you safe. Your mother refuse you but not us, no we want to nurture you as we were unable to do to ours....’

The voice was unfamiliar but inviting, a far cry from the raspy hiss that seemed to crawl along her spine. How long had she been out? She tried to move, only to hiss as the attempted but failed effort sent waves of fresh agony crashing into her. It was a struggle to keep her eyes open, although she wondered if her eyes were even open in the oppressive darkness.

Hold on. She had to hold on but why? Nothing made any sense and her head was starting to pound... Wait, no, that was only the approaching crackle of static. The glitch’s calling card rather.

‘I gave you chance after chance. Wiped your memory more times than I care to admit and still... Even after all of that you still refuse me!’ The enraged shriek was her only warning before she saw the new form her captor had taken as it appeared before her and smacked her hard across the snout.

The chains held fast, swinging slightly as she tried to recover from the blow. Her breaths came uneasy, fear making her even more submissive than she had originally been. Not again. She couldn’t go through the same thing the drake had put her through.

‘Oh I certainly can and I will,’ the glitch hissed as it grabbed her bleeding snout and jerked her forward until she thought both her shoulders would be dislocated. ‘You will be mine whether you like it or not. No amount of tears or pleading will change my decision.’

She was shoved back again roughly, tears springing to her eyes. Why her? What good was she to anyone? All she continued to be was a nuisance...

‘Just... Just take me. I can’t- I don’t deserve to be given second chances. It’s my fault... All my fault!’

The glitch purred, slinking around her back to hiss in her ear with that low, possessive rasp. ‘And why do you say that? Come now, where is that ever annoying spark of determination you carry like a flame? Surely you won’t crumble after I’ve barely begun this time...’ She chuckled, lifting up Narssia’s snout to stare her straight in the eyes. ‘Stop trying to play the hero here and just let me have it. Scream at me all you want. You won’t remember it afterwards anyway.’

She could barely stand to look at the glitch, noticing how the narrowed irises flickered over her snout almost possessively. Jerking her head back, a bitter snarl rumbled from the back of her throat before she could help herself. Who knew how long it truly had been since her uninvited visitor arrived...

‘You want a fight,’ she realized after several moments of tensed silence, jaw tight as she tried to think of something, anything other than rebelling as the glitch expected. ‘Expect one really. I won’t indulge that desire. No, I stand by my-‘

‘I have had enough!’

Moist breath washed over her, saliva flickering across her snout as the glitch grabbed her by the neck and pulled her forward until they were snout-to-snout. Naris could only see the sharp, vivid green irises that burned holes into her very soul as wisps of smoke curled up behind the unstable entity.

‘Just let me in, it’s rather simple my dear. All you need to do is give up. You can’t win and the longer this game of back and forth goes on the shorter my patience becomes. Do what is right... or do I need to pay a visit to Geer? I’m sure I could royalty screw over his mind and likely make it so he never recognizes you ever again. How sad, the only friend you truly had left would be gone forever. Tragic, is it not?’ The glow from her eyes brightened eagerly, a wicked smile curling up the edges of her jaw. ‘So what do you say?’

‘I...’

[jacqthehermit]

Why Do I Ship BoruSara

WARNING: Pro-BoruSara, if you are an anti/hater and you still read this then don’t blame me if you get triggered. I already warned you, not my fault. Learn to stay in your lane, mofos.

Agree or disagree, this is my opinion IDGAF

First of all I want to say sorry anon. I know you’ve been like “WTH Jacq! I’ve seen you online and posting some shit why the fuck are you not answering my question!?!” I know okay? I’m sorry.

The reason why I keep on delaying my answer to this is because I cannot decide whether I’m gonna answer this short or if I’m gonna make a detailed blog about it. Finally, after contemplating for days, I decided to just make it short. I think if I make a detailed blog, it will be long as fuck and never ending since I love the ship so much lmao. No one reads my long ass boring af blogs and try hard short stories anyway (which I make to accompany my drawings sometimes) FeelsBadMan

So what made me ship BoruSara in the first place? I think my answer can be found in most of my previous blogs about them and I will say it again here. The reason I started shipping BoruSara is because I wanted a different approach in romance in the story.

The main ships in first gen was basically: Girl finds the boy cool, falls for him and girl saved by the boy, eventually develops deeper feelings for him. I know they were puppy love at first which grew into real love at the end. I mean I ain’t complaining about that especially my first OTP was one of them, SS. It’s just that I want to move on with this kind of romantic development. We’re in the next generation now! Time for something new!!!

That’s why when I first saw Boruto and Sarada in Chapter 700, I fell in love and shipped them right away. The chemistry was so overflowing I just can’t. I know antis and haters are just blind to see that or just in denial lmao. 

“Why Boruto?! You shipped SS in the first gen. Sasuke was the stoic, mysterious, silent, bad boy type. Boruto is the opposite!!! You should’ve ship Sarada with someone else!!! Our princess doesn’t deserve this annoying loud piece of shit” 

Yes I like those type of anime guys but sometimes I also like those loud, aggressive and playful ones. Like when I read shoujo mangas before, sometimes I’m all in for the jerk male lead but there will also be times when I fall for the second male lead who is a nice guy. Same goes for here. Again, we’re in the next gen, time for change mofos!

What I also like about him is that he aint some dumb shit. Boruto is smart, he studies well (thanks to his mother) and he is a prodigy. Yeah he was rebellious at first but after the Momoshiki fight, he stopped being a whiny bitch about his dad which I really appreciate a lot. I mean he was just a kid and his dad rarely goes home what do you fucking expect? He’ll understand right away? Even in real life we all know how kids act rebelliously and go emotional whenever they don’t receive enough attention from their parents so I don’t get why people can’t understand that? I mean are we all living in the same planet or what seriously.

The hate about Boruto being super strong and a prodigy is weird as well. First he is the fucking protagonist whether you or I like it or not. Of course he will be the OP one just like in other shounen anime/manga. Second, Boruto is the fucking son of Naruto and Hinata, nephew of Neji, grand son of Minato and Kushina. WHAT DO YOU FUCKING EXPECT FROM THEIR GENES?! WHY ON EARTH WILL THEY PRODUCE A WEAKLING!?! OF COURSE HE’S GONNA BE FUCKING OP. It’s not like it’s Boruto’s fault that he came from a super strong family. He is born this way smh.

“Why Sarada?! She’s mean to Boruto!!! She doesn’t care about him! She hurts him! She only cares about being hokage! Boruto deserves better than this arrogant bitch!!!”

I don’t really get this “Sarada is mean to Boruto”. As far as I know, she’s always concern about him. Even from the beginning when Boruto was fighting with Iwabe, it was clear that she was worried, Chou Chou even noticed it. Whenever Boruto gets hurt, Sarada is always the one tending his wounds (ex: during their Mist village field trip and during their first mission as team 7 where she pulled the bandages tighter because she knew Boruto was lying that he was not hurt.) 

Sarada always checks on Boruto, not only because she doesn’t want their team to encounter some trouble but because she doesn’t want Boruto to do something reckless (remember when she nominated him as class field trip leader so she can keep an eye on him). If she’s fucking mean to him and doesn’t give a shit about him, I don’t think she will give a damn to do these things. If this is what being mean is to you then I don’t know what kind of comprehension you guys have lmao.

Alright about Sarada’s words and action towards Boruto. Sarada scolds Boruto obviously because we all know that Boruto is hard headed (still we also know that even if she scolds him or whoever it is, he will still go on his way just like his dad lol) And it’s not like she’s insulting him or saying hurtful words. Most of the time they’re just arguing and I don’t think there is something wrong with that. It’s normal to argue specially when your ideas clash with each other.

How about when she hits Boruto? I don’t know but in real life when we play fight or tease with our friends, we tend to punch or slap each other. BUT of course not as hard as shown in anime because bruh of course in anime it will be super exaggerated for the comedy. Same when for example our friend is about to do something stupid or has done something wrong, sometimes we be like “Bruh why you did that!” then we hit them on the head (again not as hard as shown in the anime cuz we irl) Therefore I just think it’s nothing serious.

Don’t start me with “No Sarada is violent with Boruto!!” Again, this is anime, and that “hitting” is just part of the comedy. If you still gonna go with this stupid reason then what about Temari? She hits both of Shikamaru and Shikadai even with her fucking weapon. Does she SERIOUSLY wanted to hurt or kill them? Of course not, why would she do that to his husband and child. This is all just fucking exaggeration to show how pissed the character is. All animes/mangas do this ffs. 

“Pfft! But if BoruSara go canon it’ll be so cliche!”

You wanna know what’s more cliche? The fucking male protagonist of the shounen manga/anime falls for that female character who is

Usually weak at the beginning, then will just grow stronger at the end.

The ideal type for most men: The girly girl, shy type with big tits. If you act rough, or you’re boyish with a flat chest, you’re out.

In love with him or already has feelings for him right from the start because he is the coolest guy she ever met or she regards him as her hero.

Sounds familiar? Sounds like Na-ru-to *cough* Fai-ry-Ta-il *cough* Ble-ach *cough* <insert other shounen anime/manga with same shit> 

Hold up your horses! Before you flame and send me hate, I just want to be fucking clear. I am not saying that this kind of romance structure in shounen anime/manga is wrong. I understand that shounen animes/mangas target the male audience that’s why anime/manga creators tend to choose this path most of the time. If you guys like it too that way (in every shounen) it’s fine, we’re cool. It’s just that for me, it gets boring once in a while. Also I am not hating on this type of characters. That’s how the author/creator wanted them to be, I can’t do anything about it.

Why can’t the male protagonist of the shounen manga/anime fall for the female character who is:

Already strong right from the beginning. I don’t get why their female love interests have to be this meek character at the beginning who usually will encounter some kind of trouble where the male lead will save her then only from that time she will realize or be inspired that she needs to be strong to not burden the male lead.

Bold, brave and has a strong personality. I am not saying she has to be necessarily boyish. What I am trying to say is that why is the love interest would always be that shy and timid type? Can’t it be the confident type this time? The one who can fight for herself and what she believes in. The one who is tough, can be rough sometimes but still ladylike all throughout.

Worthy to be called as his rival, on par on his skills and strength. Damsel in distress is so old fashioned! Princess being saved by a prince is nice but come on guys, ain’t it cooler to have a princess who can also fight beside you right from the start?!?!

These are the reasons why I ship BoruSara and why I want them to happen, they just complement each other so perfectly. In addition, I am also a huge sucker for rivals turned into lovers type of love story. I strongly believe that it is waaaaaaaaay better than the plain old love at first sight and boy saves girl shit.

 “B-but BoruSara won’t go canon because of this and that...”

I already made a blog about that. You guys can read it here if you haven’t yet.

There you go anon! I hope I was able to answer you. And yes this is the shortest that I can make it. I can still make it longer to be honest lol.

Later guys! I still got a drawing to finish.

Jacq out!  (*ゝω・)ﾉ

[justatadmystic]

tfw @xnohrianxscumx decides to talk about possessed takumi and robin and I go off because im desperate for more and honestly possession is fun to write and I have no shame in writing this.

Have some possessed boys, flirty genocidal dragons, and honestly my lack of shame on full display.

[Posted as usual on AO3 as well for ease of comments and such. Thank you as well for all the lovely comments on the last fic !]

Darios stood proudly before them, even as the forts around them fell to their army, as his people were chopped down and captured. He seemed barely fazed by them coming for him, laughing as he launched attacks that didn't hit their marks, using his powers to push them back and keep them there if only for a moment. Arrows of wind and steel buzzed through the air charged by dark spells, blades cut through muscle and bone as if made of paper. Darios didn't seem to mind it at all as their party flooded his throne room, eyes set on the Shield of Flames that wait for them just beyond Darios.

The prince eyes them in amusement, keeping his sword drawn, almost lazily sauntering around. He had stalled for quite some time to prepare for the main event, and now it was finally upon him. The drumming in his head quieted, a signal for all he needed to do. The sounds of his 'friends' begging him to return, pleading to fight back, did nothing to him. Darios was long gone, the boy prince that those siblings knew. All that remained was the darkness and power of Velezark, and the husk of Darios.

"Your words fall on uninterested ears." he said plainly, grinning at them, "There's nothing here to bring back. You've all but failed now, and what an amusing sight it is to see. Crestfallen, devastated by this loss of yours. You just won't accept that what you knew was lies, that this peace you lived was nothing but wrong."

Darios' eyes turned then to a surprising pair in the small group. Takumi, and Marth. Heroes of two vastly different realms. He hadn't imagined such a thing could happen, and Velezark was equally amused and impressed. Marth was posturing himself alongside Takumi, almost ready to jump in front of him if an attack came for him. What an amusing sight, and what a delicious one! It would be perfect now. The other he looked at was Robin, and his ever precious prince Chrom at his side. They had been inseparable, never away from eachother's side. It was honestly a tad disgusting.

A low chuckle left his lips, and he watched in glee at the shudders that flowed through Takumi and Robin.

It was time at last.

Shadows clung to the walls of the throne room, crawling down like bugs through the light dimly lit around the room. Lianna noticed it first, launching an attack at the clustered shadows before they disappeared. Lucina strikes at one that launched off from the walls, slicing it in two and destroying it. Azura washed one of the walls crowded with shadows, slashing them as they fall into puddles at her feet. Darios dodges a slash from Rowan as he tries, oh so desperately, to break 'Darios' free. He pushes Rowan away, and launches an attack, Chrom coming to Rowan's defense.

Takumi was struggling to act against the shadows, still firing arrows but coming back from a shot out of breath. He was more on the defense then the offense, bringing a more wicked smile to Darios' face. Robin was struggling all the same, Chrom keeping close to him now that Rowan was safe. There was a strain in Robin's neck, he could practically here the thoughts running through his head.

"The Outrealms are very useful, aren't they?" Darios teased, stepping back from the fight, his voice fading into the screams of fiends running in and the shadows coming for them, "My monsters may come forth whenever I can summon them."

"Bastard...!" Takumi shouted at him, aiming his drawn arrow at him. Darios chuckled and reached out to the archer.

"They are also useful for other things as well. For example, if I could bring out your world's worst enemies in my campaign to take over mine..."

Takumi froze, the enemies going for him dodging away and aiming at the others. Slowly, the archer seemed to react to what was happening to him, and Darios almost missed the beautiful moment as Takumi's expression warped from confusion to absolute terror. He cackled happily as from both ends of the room, his victims let out terrified shrieks of fear. The armies stood still as Takumi and Robin were wrapped in purple mist, kicking any who tried to interfere. As it parts, leaving them standing catatonic, the room goes stagnant. All that's left is Darios' crazed laughter before Lucina runs for Robin, and after a moment Azura runs for Takumi.

"ROBIN!"

"TAKUMI!"

They run pointlessly for their intended targets. Takumi turns frighteningly quick to Azura as eyes of amber turn to eyes of blood red, an unearthly scream leaving the archer's lips as purple magic collects at his swung hand. Grinning maniacally, he slaps Azura out of the way, sending her flying across the room. Robin looks up innocently at Lucina as she runs, purple tears falling down his cheeks to form shapes in its paths. Eyes open from the shapes formed, and a grin curls his lips, lifting a hand to flick Lucina away, getting her to scream out once again the true enemy now taking control.

"GRIMA!!!"

His grin grows at the sound of his name on Lucina's lips. Oh how long he had desired to see that look on the young princess' face.

"It has been a long time... but you have failed once again."

Grima taunted Lucina without remorse, laughing as he effortlessly blasted her away. In the process, the blowback rippled up through Robin's arm, tearing a cut through to the bone. His sleeve ripped away and allowed the wound to fester in the air. The possessed Robin didn't even flinch at such a wound, looking more annoyed that such force resulted in such wounds. Takumi turned from Azura as she collected herself, his siblings asking what was happening with Takumi. Without an answer, Ryoma charged forward with Raijinto crackling in lightning, swinging at him believing his brother now to be a puppet of the Chaos Dragon. Azura couldn't cry out to have him stop before Takumi charged forward to meet the hit, grabbing the blade and letting the lighting burn marks into Takumi's skin, the smell of burning flesh immediate.

"What?!"

Takumi chuckled, hiding his expression for a moment before lifting his head. His grip on the blade tightened, Takumi's hands beginning to bleed and burn worse.

"These weapons did not work on me before, and they will not now. Humans like you... always the same, and deserving of the same punishment."

His grip tightened harder, a soft cracking sound heard. Ryoma, snapped out of his disbelief, roared as he pulled the blade from Takumi's grip and slashed at him, only hitting the air where Takumi had been seconds ago. Moved just behind him, Takumi didn't hesitate to kick Ryoma back over to the others, reveling as Ryoma skidded against the ground, and the Raijinto went flying after him.

"How pathetic." Takumi drawled.

Azura glared 'Takumi' down, wanting to shout out the name on her tongue, but Darios beat her to it as he sauntered up to Takumi.

"Anankos... it's a pleasure to meet you-"

"Don't touch me."

Takumi growled as he stepped away from Darios, looking disgusted that the possessed prince attempted to touch him. Obviously, Anankos wasn't pleased or amused by Velezark thinking they were all buddy-buddy. Grima chuckled from behind them, approaching them as Chrom and the others tried to console Lucina. The monsters had returned, taking everyone's attention back as the possessed princes gathered around one another.

"To be called out like this... at least I will get my chance here and now to destroy Naga's blessed bloodline." Grima said aloud, looking with growing interest at Anankos, "And to think there was another that would be called... how interesting."

It was Anankos' turn to seemingly admire the possessed body Grima settled into, rounding it with interest as the purple aura surrounding Anankos' body flowed over him in waves. He reached out and grabbed the torn open arm of Grima's body, healing the wound without a second's thought, licking up some of the spilling blood as it healed away.

"Take better care of that body... but I must agree with in the intrigue, Grima."

Darios looked between the other two, annoyed that the summoned dragons were... fucking around in their new bodies, flirting even! This wasn't the plan, nor was it anything Velezark had planned on letting happen. He glanced at the throne room around them, and the toiling army. They were slowly being brought down into exhaustion, though the cracking over the ceiling of the room brought a cry of retreat even though none wished to leave their possessed loved ones behind.

"Takumi!!"

The archer turned suddenly at the voice breaking the chaos, Anankos snarling as Takumi nearly slipped out of his fingers with the shout from Marth. The blue lord struggled against Caeda and Lissa as he pleaded to try and get Takumi back. Even Azura was fighting to get Marth to run for now. Takumi gave a shuddering breath, grabbing his chest as pain surged through his entire being.

"TAKUMI! PLEASE!"

"Now is the time for our own retreat." Darios ordered, looking coldly at Grima before leveling his gaze to Takumi and Anankos. "Now."

Marth was slowly dragged out of the room, shouting for Takumi before painfully swallowing his heart and leaving with the others as the fort around them gave way slowly. Takumi fell to his knees as Anankos sought a stronger hold on the archer. Bones and muscles horrifyingly squirmed and moved under the skin of his shoulders, bones snapping momentarily. Grima watched him for a moment before hissing as his wings unfolded behind him, glancing at Darios before the prince disappeared through a summoned Outrealm portal. For a moment, Grima worried that Anankos had lost the archer prince, until ripped wings burst out from the knelt prince's back in an ugly display of ripping skin and splattering blood. Slowly, Takumi stood, eyes now a firmer red, tears cascading down his face until Anankos wiped them away. The wings disappeared into thin air, leaving the exit wounds form the wings, bleeding through the boy's shirt even as it healed.

"Don't ruin that body so soon, Anankos." Grima's voice was teasing as Anankos stood with a shaky gasp.

"It has been a while since I was in this body." Anankos admits, groaning as he stretches out, looking to Grima with a teasing smile, "You know what this means though, Grima."

The amused look on Grima's face disappeared, looking to the crumbling castle castle around them.

"I know. We'll sort it out later. Let's get out here."

"You're letting them go?!"

The news had been bewildering and honestly disgusting to Velezark, snarling at the two dragons as they rest on the ground of their current base, Anankos idly letting his eyes split out of Takumi's skin to survery the surrounding area. While quite odd seeing four more eyes on a human body, two more on his face in odd positions and one on each shoulder, it would aid them in ensuring they were hidden for now. It would give their enemy more time to prepare but he could only imagine the pain of losing not just Darios but Robin and Takumi as well. It was amusing to think of all the pain it caused. It would also give Velezark more time to summon his minions, split this world into pieces, and find a way to truly destroy them all.

However, learning that Grima and Anankos would allow their human toys free was infuriating.

"And what if they escape?"

Grima scoffs. "You must realize that we are embedded in them, we're practically now parts of their soul. We will always be here, but we will allow them to breathe."

"They already know now that they can't escape." Anankos notes, standing up, "Besides... unlike yourself, Velezark, we require sacrifice to keep ourselves moving, at least in this world of yours. You sacrificed hundreds of soldiers, of innocent lives, just to bring us out from our worlds and into yours to further your plans. It is these human's jobs now to feed us."

"And why can't I sacrifice more to keep you sustained?" Velezark asked, his annoyance growing, "It would be easier then letting these humans run amok."

"It would be more fun." Anankos said joyfully, spinning around as his additional eyes seal themselves and fade, "Torturing humans in such a way is so satisfying! Destroying themselves, ruining their bodies, crushing their bones and rotting them alive..."

"Doing so to the mind as well is as equally enjoyable," Grima added, "Knowing they'll have to all about wreck themselves is quite a toll on them mentally. Knowing there's no escape, and that at any moment they'll lose control of everything... bleeding them of their conscious will to live and fight, watching them drive themselves into insanity, its a reward unto itself."

Anankos cackled, pointing a finger and a sharp smile at Velezark. "And you call yourself a Chaos Dragon... what a pathetic joke! You may have control of the world in ways humans don't think of, but you have little motivation to do so. Is it jealousy perhaps?"

Velezark kept himself quiet as Anankos sneered, baiting and insulting him with painful reminders of the past. Grima picked up on his annoyance, grinning now as he faces Velezark.

"You grew jealous of the Divine Dragons, and wished to end the light you saw growing," Grima said plainly, holding not a drop of joy from his voice, "A fair goal, though you've just poorly executed yours. Compared to you, we've had more success even if our success were in different continuities of our own universes. Meanwhile you've never succeeded. You have come close, but never got what you wanted."

"Shut up."

Velezark was annoyed at the arrogance they exuded. Perhaps he had yet to achieve his goals, but he was so close now. He had the seal, he would soon have his destruction and chaos.

"Fate cannot change, and I believe your fate is to fail." Grima grinned, amused by the anger Velezark showed, "Though... bringing us may just stall it long enough for something new to happen."

"It would give me a better chance to have fun, after all," Anankos chuckled, briefly looking down at his hands and realizing that they were still burnt and bleeding from when he grabbed the Raijinto. "...ah, give me a moment. Forgot some wounds. Grima~ Come over here and help, I know you want to."

"I am your only help. Calm yourself."

Grima turns from the fuming Velezark, offering his hand and wrist to Anankos. Without hesitation, Anankos digs his canines into Grima's wrist, biting down twice to make sure he had a good grip before consuming the blood that flowed into his mouth. Grima hissed softly, mostly a reaction from the human he possessed, as Anankos greedily drank from him. For a moment, it felt like Anankos was going to drink his human gone, but he pulled away a minute later, licking at the puncture marks he left, the imprints of his teeth left behind.

He was gentle in handling Grima's wrist, his hands now smooth with fresh skin. Any mark left behind by the Raijinto had all but disappeared. Velezark was... surprisingly caught off guard by that little revelation.

"Thank you kindly, Grima." Anankos thumbed a line of blood off of Grima's arm, licking it off his thumb. It earned a satisfied smile from the fell dragon, "I'll pay you back a little later."

"Much appreciated."

"I have some things to attend to. I'll leave you two alone, but under no circumstances are you to leave."

Both dragons looked to Velezark as he left with his command, using an Outrealm portal to leave them. Anankos kept a grip on Grima's wrist, watching the last bits of the portal disappear before letting Grima go. Anankos sighed dramatically before letting himself fall into one of the cushier chairs in the room, draping himself over it.

"How boring. Does he really think having us sit here and do nothing will better his chances?"

Grima shook his head, looking around the room. "He's an incompetent fool. A child playing with toys smarter then him. It's no wonder he's had to resort to pulling us out to combat his foes."

"It gave us the chance to play with our own toys though!" Anankos argued, toying with a lock of his hair, "It's been so long since I got to have him, and it feels so good. Wouldn't you agree, Grima? How long has it been since you got your fun in that body?"

"Quite a while," Grima admits, looking over Anankos, curious as to how the dragon could be so nonchalant about it all. "You're rather relaxed about this, being stuck in this place."

"Hoping universes is nothing new to me."

"Care to explain?" Grima asks, his voice tightening.

Anankos doesn't miss it. He stands and casually walks to Grima before taking him by the waist and pulling him flush to his chest, leaning up to whisper in his ear. Grima didn't fight or struggle him, seeming to lean into him to hear him better, to feel him better. It brought a proud smile to his face.

"Your universe was quite beautiful, for the brief moment a part of myself was there to beg for help. I was saddened to know that I missed you destroying it. I would have killed to see it."

Grima can't help but shudder, smiling to himself as he leans to Anankos, who happily holds him close. He should have suspected such a thing, but it was amusing at least to hear it. He had no knowledge of people from his universe disappearing, though if they were that unnoticeable, then perhaps it was fun. They were in the hands of Anankos, after all. Though perhaps what was more fun was the fact that Anankos seemed greatly interested in him. Perhaps it was the appeal of another dragon, one with a similar call for disaster and genocide. Perhaps it was the body he took hold of, even though it seemed Takumi had attached himself to Marth, of all heroes.

"Are you coming onto me, Anankos?"

"And if I am?"

Grima grinned.

"Keep going then. I see no need to stop you now."

Being possessed by a demented dragon god with a sadistic streak was horrendous and horrific. Being electrocuted by Raijinto was painful. Beating up his own siblings was a blade to his heart.

Waking up in a puddle of blood wearing what looked to be cloths not his own in a room he had never seen next to a nearly naked Robin was an entirely different fucking feeling and it terrified him.

Trying not to scream his lungs out slipping in blood, hoping to god that Robin wasn't dead, left him in pieces, gasping to fill lungs that felt like they were burning. There was no sign of wounds that would have allowed him to bleed so much, and spare for bite marks along Robin's neck and shoulder, the mage was clear of wounds of well. The blood made no sense, the change of clothing made no sense. He panicked and shook Robin, hoping that the mage wasn't really hurt, and that he was just as fucked up and confused as he was.

"Robin... Robin, gods please wake up."

"Mmmhr..."

"Robin!"

The mage was slow to wake, confusingly mumbling as he opened his eyes. It was then that he realized that he was laying in blood as well, catapulting up and screaming for a moment before swiveling around to look at Takumi, realizing the same things he had done earlier. Without a word, however, Robin launched himself at Takumi, holding him tightly as his breath sped up. Takumi on instinct wrapped his arms around Robin to reciprocate, listening to Robin's rapid heartbeat and his gasping breaths. He could ever hear the quiver in each one as if near tears.

The quiet broken by Robin's breath continued on for who knows how long, unsure of how much time passed, and it was only broken by Robin asking him quietly if he was alright.

"...I'm not sure."

"Were you... did you know that you would be... possessed like that?" Robin asked, leaning back out of Takumi's embrace, but keeping close to him.

Takumi shook his head. "No... but it felt like I had known. We... I didn't even know that dragon existed until now. We had no idea... maybe this was who Azura and Corrin was talking about but..."

Robin gently patted his head, drawing Takumi's eyes in confusion as the mage gently moved his fingers through his bangs. He watched Robin's expression shift from worried to relaxed, then to something wholly tender and caring. Takumi hesitated to close his eyes, astonished by the emotion swarming in Robin's eyes as he moved Takumi's bangs, just gazing at his face as if it were a treasure.

"I'm glad you're alright, at least." Robin told him as his hand pulled away.

"Robin..."

"We're stuck here." Robin told him, looking to one of the windows in the room, his tender expression bleeding into something sober. "Let's just take stock of what's here, see what's around. And find some clothes."

"You are almost naked," Takumi commented, looking at the clothing he himself was wearing, "I don't even know where these came from."

Robin's cheeks colored a little, pointing to Takumi. "Those... are mine."

"S-Seriously?!"

Robin nodded, chuckling for a moment. Takumi was dumbstruck, unsure of what that meant for a moment. Robin was near naked, and he was wearing Robin's clothes, sans his coat. Now that he looked closer to the pants Robin was wearing...

"Those are... my pants you're wearing." Takumi said, growing red as puzzle pieces fit into place. Robin tugged at the pants he wore, coming to the same realization.

Just what happened while they were possessed by those dragons?! Considering the blood all over the floor, the swapped clothing, there only a few answers, and most of those small handful of answers pointed to their dragons using their bodies for purposes Takumi didn't want to think about. Robin was looking around, trying to figure out the same thing. The only conclusion they seemed to agree on silently was the most obvious seeing as one of them was nearly naked, both were curled up against one another on the floor covered in blood without a mark on them.

"...for now, we don't speak of what happened. F-for sanity's sake."

Robin nodded enthusiastically. "Agreed. Let's... let's get back into our own clothes and see what's here. Then maybe we can tackle this."

Neither moved from their spots sat on the floor just beside their blood puddle. Takumi swallowed nervously, looking to Robin as the silence stretched on between them. Robin looked to Takumi soon after, both of them glancing away before looking again.

"...let's get it out of the way so we can do something." Takumi said, breaking the silence. Robin heaved a heavy sigh.

"On three. One, two, three-"

Both inhaled, letting their breath out slowly.

"They used our bodies to have sex."

"They used our bodies to pleasure themselves."

Takumi stood up immediately after admitting it, tugging off the shirt he wore. Robin watched Takumi's face go red before he took another breath, groaning loudly before kicking at the air. His fingers slotted through his hair as he gave an annoyed groan. Robin stood up and took the shirt Takumi shrugged off. He wondered where Takumi's clothes were since he was only wearing Takumi's pants. Just what the hell had those dragons done to them?

"What the hell is going on anymore... why can't any of this be simple?"

"From the start, I don't think it would have been simple... but this makes it even more confusing."

Takumi let his shoulders sag, looking to Robin for a moment as the mage held his shirt. For a moment, Takumi wondered if their shirts were needed at this point. Robin thought the same, setting his shirt down for a moment on the floor before moving for one of the windows, looking out of it with wide and curious eyes. Takumi joined him a moment later, looking out to the castle courtyard covered in fresh snow. It stretched on for miles over the peaks of mountains around the castle they were in. He hadn't figured this world had such a climate, but it seemed possible now since he was locked up in one.

"...we should find your clothes, Takumi. All you have right now are your pants."

"Good idea. I hope that dragon didn't ruin it by ripping it or something just as awful."

[ohgoddard]

Fist of Fire: Omega.  1.3.

“Now then, Ms. Kiara”

“Please, call me Omega man.”

The exasperated sigh she gave filled me with a small glee I don’t get often due to my incarceration.  “Ms. Kiara, I will refer to you by your full name and nothing more. Now then, will we be getting to the murders today?”

Oh she wishes.

“You know I met The Query? Strange man, I say. Why, it was a cold day in Mobile..”

The frustrated noise in her throat almost made me stop due to laughter, but I was too committed  (heh, committed) to stop telling the story.

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Alabama wasn’t a very forgiving place for someone like me. You know, someone with powers. Thought I was going somewhere else with that, didn’t ya? Ha, no. I don’t have to state the obvious. Alabama was still the only state in the country that forbid use of superpowers. Hence, it was a hotbed of amazing hide-outs and vigilantes who were really good at not getting caught. I’m not gonna go into my political views on it, but I really think they should open the state up. Would kick the likes of Pharaoh and The Anti-American out of the country, y’know? Really, just the entire state is a -

Excuse me. Sorry I didn’t mean to go off like that. I'm sounding like a member of the Powers Committee, heh. Anyways, I was in Alabama hiding after the warehouse incident. During the night, some heroes almost saw me and it nearly blew my cover. I was still trying to be Omegaman, remember. They couldn’t see the ‘man of justice’ throwing fire hydrants into kidnappers, can they? Nor can they see me, er, him punch a drug dealer into mist. It would really ruin my image, y’know?

I don’t know why you’re giving me that look. I can hear your heartbeat too, doc. Yeah, I killed them. I killed a couple dozen that night. A few every other night. The criminals just keep coming, the voices got to me, I couldn’t stop it anymore. Being a hero in the day didn’t make them stop. Only getting rid of what caused them did. So yeah, I killed them. The drug deals who delt to kids who OD’s then died in their crying mother’s hands. The kidnappers who’d ransom their prized woman into sex-slavery and the whole ring of sickos who bid on em. The pimps, the movers, the shakers. If they made a voice, I stopped it. Not like there was lost to society anyways. If they had families, they’re better off without the likes of them.  Now please slow your heartbeat, its annoying me.

Anyways, where was I? Right, so after I went on a justice spree throughout the city I had to leave. See I… I awoke from that face I slid into. The one that killed the White-whatisitname and all those others. And I felt all that I did. I went into the bathroom of my shitty apartment and just threw up. The entire time I still heard the voices. Different voices now, caused by different people. It didn’t matter what I did, which I think only made me sicker. After going to those lengths, again not my first time doing this mind you, and still not hearing a even the smallest dip in terror? Why I went ballistic on my poor apartment after I was done in the bathroom. I even destroyed that. Kinda wish I didn’t, really wanted that 

Which led me to my escape to Alabama. Yeah, it wasn’t really because of the warehouse or what I did that night, but it was related. So I was Alabama. Mobile, to be specific. I don’t why I went to a big city, i’ll be completely honest. Well, I do. See, the voices were awful in any city. But in any Alabama city? Thirty times worse. But I stuck it out. 

There was never a quiet moment in the city. Constant gun fire, laser fire, explosions. I would question why anyone would ever live in the city, but then my rent was $200 a month so I shut my mouth. You would see, well I guess not  you, but you would see people flying then helicopters that follow them then a loud explosion shortly after. Heroes were fighting a double front war down there. Alabama is home to the real heroes. They do it for the right reasons down there. They fight the government and, ugh I hate using this word but, evil too. Sometimes they’re the same. What am I kidding? Most of the time.

I met The Query during my fourth night there. And coincidentally, my first time being Omega Man in Alabama. I tried to keep that… that itch from being scratched for so long. But the voices got to me. Most nights I didn’t even need superhearing, they screamed right outside my window. I tried for so long to keep my head down, but it got bad. I would rock myself to sleep, clawing at my ears. I tore the drywall down in fits of panic, the noises in my head never stopping. I screamed, joining them in an immaculate chorus of suffering. The fourth night I couldn’t take it anymore. I wanted to feel secure, I wanted to feel safe. When I am Kiara, I am nothing but a target for those disgusting hyenas that roam the streets. When I am Kiara, I am at my weakest, despite not really being. 

The voices don’t hurt me when I wear the helmet. The stares from the predators are averted when I wear his shirt. My shirt. Omega Man protects people like Kiara. 

Like my dad did.

I jumped out my window and flew high into the sky, where the voices almost drowned out. I could see the entire city, and a good bit of it was on fire. Like usual. The entire state was an economic drain, I don’t know why they keep the power ban. See like, the federal government doesn’t even ban the use of them its like -

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“Ms.Kiara.”

She cut me off? Wow, she’s feeling brave today. Especially after the whole terror thing she experienced.

I turned my restrained head to look at her, being sure to flex my neck muscle to do it. I broke one of the straps and she jumped, but quickly tried to regain her composure in that way people who are not composed do. She cleared her throat in a very panicked and lady-like manner.

“Please keep on topic.”

I flash her a smile. 

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I met The Query at the end of the night. I stopped several robberies, thew some cops and their cars into the water, and tusseled with The Anti-American. He can throw a good punch, especially given the current political climate. I was sitting on the roof of a building, holding my ribs because damn The AA can hurt, when I heard his footsteps approach from behind.

“Well well, I haven’t seen your shiny bronze head in this part in a while. What brings the law into the realm of the lawless?”

I turned to see a..normal man. He was by all accounts completely passable. He wore a long yellow trenchcoat adorned with a silver question mark on his shoulder, a scarf that obscured his face up to his nose, and a curious george man in the yellow hat...hat. I could tell he had a gun in his pocket, but it wasn’t pointed at me. But his eyes definitely were. And they were looking me over. Hard. I felt like Kiara and not Omega Man in that moment, underneath those bright yellow spotlights of eyes. I wondered if my collar was dipping, if my padding was too form fitting, if my hair was sticking out from underneath my helmet. 

“Why, you haven’t changed a single bit!”

I breathed a sigh of relief. His voice was  a ‘high class’ southern one, sounding like someone’s grandpa. And with the salt and pepper hair I saw under his hat, he probably was. 

I said, “Who are you again? My memory evades me.”

The man smiled underneath his scarf and chuckled. “Why, then I must be doing my job well. I’m The Query, hero of the streets and the common man. When the police cannot, and often can’t, find out who killed your husband or stole your car, I am there. I investigate big gang bosses, snoop in on the Lords of the Underground, and even deliver justice of my own. Of course I don’t expect you to remember me, It's a trick I use. No one ever does.”

I just nodded my head in the way you do when you think the other person is spouting nonsense.

“But, I cannot say the same for you, Omega Man. The entire city knows you’re here. And if I can find you, others are not too far behind. But its good I’m here, I have something to tell you.”

I need to add that he was mere inches away from my face the entire time. I was glad that my mask obscured my face, and his breath. I don’t imagine it smelled nice. I was happy when he stepped away and struck a dramatic pose on the edge of the building, with a sudden wind coming over the city.

“There are murmurs in the underground. Someone close to you is out to get you. Be safe.”

With that he jumped off the side of the building. I rushed to the side, but he was gone! I all but thought he disappeared into nothingness until I saw a bright yellow coat walking briskly the following day. But by then, I was Kiara again. Doesn’t matter what he said though. He was too late.

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The doors shut behind me to my room and I tore off my bounds once again. Another day of them thinking they’re getting somewhere in my psyche, and another day of me completely fuckign with them. I have to change it up a bit every day. Throw in a new personality, be sad one day then be quirky and quick to violence the next. I have to keep my crazy persona for just a bit longer. 

I listen for the TV. For the news station down the hall, past the screams of the deranged.

They’re talking about a parade for the local town here, planned for next month.

Whirlwind’s parade.