#FORBIDDEN SOULMATES

[hot-astrology]

Souls on Fire

(Soul Ties)

As we traverse the pages of life, we cross paths with a multitude of souls. Yet, some among them ignite a flame within us, a primal force that beckons us towards them. At a deeper level, our essence recognizes them and whispers that there is more to our story together - a contract to fulfill or unfinished tales to unravel. In this physical realm, it can be hard to remember this due to the barriers that are placed on us. We weren't even given a chance to understand what our soul is, let alone soul ties.

These particular souls we meet bring with them an energy of karma, passion, or pure love. There are numerous types of karmic ties that fall under these titles, but we are focusing on the 3 most prominent ones to further give you an understanding of how you may encounter them throughout our life. There are karmic, twin flames, and soulmates. There’s a saying that you have 3 loves in a lifetime.

KARMICS

The 1st is usually when you're younger or in a stage of immaturity. This is where you guys may idealize each other, and most time's it may start off as friends or having no title to the relationship. This one teaches you boundaries. This karmic relationship will be very interesting, intense, emotionally draining & passionate. You will crave this person sexually. They will be co-dependent for each other's energy as well presence knowing that they are kryptonite. These relationships can bring alcoholism, abuse in all forms, narcissism, and jealousy. They will have you on an emotional roller-coaster, mind lost, soul gone, and reaching out for help consciously but subconsciously yearning for more pain, not even knowing why. The way you meet can be a fated meet like no other and will seem like you would never meet anyone with their deep sexual energy intense hold on your soul. Yet, at the same time, you would never want to run into someone like that person again. They remind you of all the hurt & lessons, and mind fuck games they had you in, you had to learn these lessons, even through all the difficult, murky, lustful waters of sexuality and deceit. I like to say this one is the karmic relationship. This karmic debt is to help change you, and mold you into a more conscious individual who can know when lust and sexual craves can put you in a bad situation that can destroy you mentally, physicall, as well as soulfully. You may look back at this one later on, like, "What was i thinking & why did i stay so long?" Karmic relationships can happen at any time in your life but are more prone to happen when you're younger, and soul is less evolved. As you get older, these relationships tend to be very sexual and harder to get away from. It seems like each karmic relationship gets more and more intense when your soul is still yearning for the old karmic thrills. You can encounter numerous karmic partners in one lifetime, depending on how many karmic lessons you need for your soul to evolve and ascend to the next journey.

Twinflames

The 2nd can be very skeptical and alluring at the same time, which brings a sense of familiarity & similarity between the two partners. These two can be so alike that they trigger each other without knowing it. The meeting; one can be more attracted to the other. This brings your class dynamic of the twin flame. The runner & the chaser dynamic is what usually results in this duo, which can look crazy to others while you both are playing tag in your relationship. It can feel like an obsessive connection, and the more you talk to each other, the more your souls intertwine without consent. The more you get to know each other you feel like you don't want to leave, yet something keeps exploding between you two, causing separation. The twin flame is a mirror showing you flaws within yourself. Many times, the karmic energy is confused with this because they hold similar traits. Both can end up obsessive, but you'll realize that with the karmic partner, you'll stay in the same place for years with no progression. With a karmic, you two could make plans together that usually won't come true. With a twin flame, there is a chance for it to last but with great challenge and change. This energy is similar to Uranus with a touch of Neptune & Pluto, giving you shocking changes and turning you into a new person. Even through separation, you still feel a psychic connection with the other. It's hard to let go because, inevitably, you're leaving a piece of yourself behind for the better. They show you your flaws that you didn't know you had. This is probably one of the hardest to break. Even if one does try to break it off, the other is likely to keep coming back and be filled with regret. Usually when they both part ways on agreement or one tends to escape then both take time apart and let their soul mature, heal, process and overstand the lesson. Only then, may they reunite and can be a more prolific couple or just be best friends. People tend to have numerous twinflames throughout their lives, and they can be family, friends, neighbors, etc. Today, we are mostly focusing on sexual companionship.

Soulmates

Lastly, the 3rd.... I was going to say that this is a partner you find you truly mesh with and have a lot in common with. Which is true but not entirely. This is the one that comes very unexpectedly, and possibly even when you’ve given up on love or when your soul knows you have evolved and deserve more. When you first lay eyes on them, you can feel that they will cause a huge shift in your life for the better. It's the feeling you get when you've known you met the one. You two complement one another, and think of opposition in astrology. Cancer/Capricorn, Aries/Libra, Pisces/Virgo. It's the merging of the divinity inside each person, masculine & feminine. You can lose all standards and traditional mindsets you have been conditioned with and conformed by when it comes to this partner. You suddenly just flow like the water down a creek, and everything else falls into line as it's supposed to. You two may find many similarities yet differences, but nothing is ever perfect. You teach each other for a higher calling and purpose usually this is the time when your soul is ready and has been through so much turmoil and pain or yet you could be a blessed soul that went straight for the goal and gained this emaculate relationship without the the other intense relationships. The soulmate is the one your soul has been yearning for. This is someone you may have known last lifetime or multiple past lifetimes. You feel at home with them because they are from your soul family. People usually only meet 1 soulmate, or they never get a chance to meet them due to so much time and lessons dealing with the lustful and chaotic side of the less fortunate relationships. The world can distance or distract you away from one another, but it's only so long that this pull and connection can be restricted and restrained.

In some cases, we may try to avoid these karmic debts, but it's important to recognize that evolved souls deal with them in a positive approach. In fact, these experiences can be seen as a spiritual mindset for growth and transformation. By facing these challenges head-on, we can develop a stronger sense of resilience and inner strength that can help us navigate future obstacles with greater ease. By taking this information in, we want you to dive deep. Deeper than you have ever gone to your souls core. Listen to its stir of echoes that ripple against your soft internal essence that talks to you from within and guides you through the dark shadow nights and unfamiliar relationships with other entities. They are also here to experience the unexpected and unfamiliar mentally and, also, familiar spiritually. Every experience is not to be great and cherished. Many are to wake you, shake you, and break you into your new souls enlightened path. This creates a new perspective on life, people, relationships, boundaries, accountability, acceptance, desires, self-love, self-worth, and knowing you deserve your soulmate.

If anyone has these type of experiences, and would like to share your experiences, we would love to hear about them in our Ask Box! If you want to know if you're currently dealing with these energies or if you were previously involved with these energies. We are open for readings. Please feel free to email us at Hotastrology444@gmail.com for a composite, synastry, or natal chart reading!

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔: 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐳 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐳 || 𝐌𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐢

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬...

Fire Divider By graphics-cafe

[crimsonlovebartylus]

bartylus nation, i present to you a mafia bartylus one shot written by my amazing bestfriend. <3

[seaofadventure-a]

Its just the way that Roger found Rayleigh and immediately called their meeting fate and the way they were captian and first mate for over thirty years and the way they were Gol D and Silvers and the way they called each other partners and the way Roger told Rayleigh he would never die and the way Rayleigh was crying but let his captain go because he knew that was what Roger wanted and needed and the way Roger lived his last year without his partner and the way Rayleigh didn't go to Roger's execution and how it was the day he laughed and cried the most and the way Rayleigh lived!! For so long!! Without Roger and just waiting for Joyboy's prophecy to pass and the way—

[lestatdelivncvurt]

Imagine:

As the heir of Viserys, your love for Daemon blossomed in secrecy, veiled from all suspicion. Yet, when fate bound you to another in matrimony, Daemon unfurled your clandestine bond, casting it into the realm's gaze, where your love danced openly for all to behold.

As the cherished and esteemed son of Otto, the noble lord, you were ensnared in a gradual embrace of corruption by the Rogue Prince, a scheme designed to stoke the ire of your beloved father's heart.

FCs: Daemon Targaryen, played by Matt Smith. Geralt of Rivia, played by Henry Cavill.

Might delete it later...

[kendelias]

katie’s neverending ocs 🦇   ↳ gage gothel (✗)

Gage Gothel never had any dreams of getting off the Isle. If we're honest, Gage barely had dreams of getting out of his tower. He's not like his older sister. He's not the one who got away. He's only read about her in storybooks, but he knows enough to know that he's a disappointment in comparison. She had dreams, ambitions, places to go and a prince to see. What did Gage have? An island full of villains? A mother who would make him feel like crap for abandoning her? No, thanks. He'll stick to sneaking in and out, hanging with his two best friends, and avoiding thinking about the sister he never got to have and the kingdom she calls home. But fate has a sick sense of humor - as it has it, Gage is one of the kids hand-picked by the crown prince to attend Auradon Prep. And sure, he never dreamed about leaving the Isle... but a free pass is too tempting to ignore. His mother says no, of course - she already lost one prized possession, and she won't lose another. But maybe Gage is more like his sister than he thought: he packs a bag and goes, anyway. Out from under his mother's iron rule, Gage is finally free. And sure, some things are lame here - the royal family has a collection of sticks up their asses, and he can't sneak out of a tower anymore without getting detention because he's 'a danger to himself and others.' Whatever. At least he's here, and not there. His mother can't control him anymore. He finally got away, too. (And there are some cute princes to stare at, so. Added bonus.) But then Mal does what Mal does best - starts trouble. Gage, of course, gets dragged into it headfirst, whether he wants it or not. And he really, really doesn't want it. The worst part is that Mal doesn't even know what she's doing. She's excited when she tells him about their plan to break down the barrier; she doesn't feel the chill that goes down his spine, or the bile that creeps up his throat. She doesn't know the lingering terror when he thinks of facing his mother again, of getting locked in that tower again. She doesn't know that Auradon is the only place he's ever felt alive. The Isle is where he was born. But he doesn't know if he could have ever called it his home. Now he has to decide what's more important: his people, or himself. It's a more difficult choice than it has any right to be.

[small-z24]

One-Shot: A Prophecy

Summary: 

In "Shadows of Destiny," Y/N, a warrior from the Spring Court, and Azriel, the Night Court's spymaster, find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other despite an ancient prophecy that fates them to kill one another. As their love grows amidst political turmoil and war, they defy fate's cruel design. When Y/N's sacrifice breaks the cycle, her soul finds refuge in Azriel's shadows, allowing their love to transcend even death

Word Count: 1709

Warnings: This story includes themes of prophecy and destiny, character death, intense emotional scenes, and battle violence. Readers should be aware of these elements as they navigate the narrative.

The ancient prophecy had haunted Y/N for as long as she could remember. It spoke of soulmates destined to find each other, only to be torn apart by fate. The twist was that these soulmates were fated to kill each other, their love doomed to end in bloodshed. As a warrior of the Spring Court, Y/N had always dismissed such tales as myth, until she met Azriel.

Their paths first crossed on a battlefield, amidst the chaos of a skirmish between the Spring and Night Courts. Y/N had fought fiercely, her skills unmatched, until she found herself face-to-face with Azriel. His shadows swirled around him, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Their eyes locked, and she felt a jolt of recognition, a pull that went beyond the physical.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the turmoil around them.

Azriel's gaze was intense, his voice low and compelling. "Azriel of the Night Court. And you?"

"Y/N of the Spring Court," she replied, her grip tightening on her weapon.

They circled each other warily, the sounds of battle fading into the background. It was as if the world had narrowed to just the two of them. Despite the tension, there was an undeniable connection, a strange familiarity that neither could ignore.

"You're strong," Azriel observed, his tone almost admiring.

"So are you," Y/N countered, her heart pounding.

Before they could engage, a sudden surge of reinforcements from both sides forced them apart. Y/N lost sight of Azriel in the chaos, but the memory of their encounter lingered, haunting her thoughts.

Months passed, and Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that fate had more in store for her and Azriel. She found herself thinking of him often, wondering if he felt the same pull, the same inexplicable bond.

Their next encounter came during a diplomatic mission to Velaris. Y/N had been chosen to accompany Tamlin, a rare gesture of goodwill between the courts. As they arrived at the House of Wind, her heart raced with anticipation. She knew Azriel would be there, and she was both excited and terrified to see him again.

Sure enough, Azriel was there to greet them, his expression neutral but his eyes betraying a flicker of recognition. Y/N felt the same jolt as before, the same undeniable pull.

"Welcome to Velaris," Azriel said, his voice calm but his gaze intense.

"Thank you," Y/N replied, forcing herself to remain composed.

The days that followed were filled with tense negotiations and formal gatherings. Yet, despite the political tension, Y/N and Azriel found themselves drawn to each other. They exchanged glances across crowded rooms, their connection growing stronger with each passing day.

One night, unable to sleep, Y/N wandered through the gardens of the House of Wind. She wasn't surprised to find Azriel there, his shadows a dark contrast to the moonlit flowers.

"Couldn't sleep either?" he asked, his voice soft.

"No," she admitted, joining him. "Too much on my mind."

They stood in silence for a while, the night air cool and soothing. Finally, Y/N spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you ever think about the prophecy?"

Azriel's gaze darkened. "Every day. It's a curse, knowing you're destined to destroy the one you love."

Y/N's heart ached at his words. "What if we could change it? Defy fate?"

He looked at her, his expression a mix of hope and sorrow. "I've thought about it. But fate is a powerful force."

She reached out, taking his hand in hers. "So is love."

Their eyes met, and in that moment, Y/N felt a surge of determination. She refused to accept that they were doomed to kill each other. They had to find another way.

As the days turned into weeks, Y/N and Azriel grew closer, their bond deepening despite the looming shadow of the prophecy. They trained together, fought side by side, and shared their hopes and fears. Their love grew, a beacon of light amidst the darkness.

But fate was relentless.

During a crucial battle against Hybern, Y/N found herself facing Azriel once again. This time, it wasn't a skirmish but a full-blown war. As they fought their enemies, the prophecy's shadow loomed over them, a cruel reminder of their destiny.

Amidst the chaos, they were forced to fight each other, the prophecy driving them apart even as their love tried to hold them together. Y/N's heart shattered with every clash of their weapons, every strike that brought them closer to the inevitable.

"Y/N, stop!" Azriel pleaded, his voice raw with emotion. "We don't have to do this!"

Tears streamed down her face as she fought back. "I don't want to, Azriel! But the prophecy..."

"To hell with the prophecy!" he shouted, his shadows swirling around him in a frenzy. "We can fight it, together!"

In that moment, Y/N made a choice. She dropped her weapon, stepping back and lowering her defenses. "I won't fight you, Azriel. I love you too much."

Azriel's eyes filled with anguish as he lowered his own weapon. "Y/N..."

But fate was cruel. A stray arrow, aimed at Azriel, found its mark in Y/N instead. She gasped, pain searing through her as she collapsed to the ground.

"NO!" Azriel cried, rushing to her side. He cradled her in his arms, his shadows desperately trying to heal her.

Y/N looked up at him, her vision blurring. "We... we defied fate, Azriel. We proved... that love is stronger."

Tears streamed down his face as he held her close. "Stay with me, Y/N. Please, stay with me."

With her last breath, she smiled. "I'll always be with you... in the shadows."

As her life faded, Azriel felt a piece of his soul die with her. The prophecy had been fulfilled, but in a way he had never expected. Y/N's sacrifice had broken the cycle, proving that love could indeed defy fate, even if it came at the ultimate cost.

In the days that followed, Velaris mourned the loss of a hero. Y/N's bravery and sacrifice were honored, her name spoken with reverence. Azriel, however, was inconsolable. He withdrew into himself, his shadows dark and restless, a constant reminder of the love he had lost.

Rhysand, Feyre, and the rest of the Inner Circle did their best to support him, but they knew there was no comfort for the kind of pain he was enduring. Rhysand found him one night on a rooftop, staring out over the city.

"Azriel," Rhysand began, his voice gentle. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

Azriel didn't look at him, his gaze fixed on the stars. "She was my mate, Rhys. My soulmate. And I lost her because of a damn prophecy."

Rhysand placed a hand on his shoulder. "She loved you, Azriel. And she sacrificed herself to save you. That's a testament to her strength and her love for you."

Azriel's voice broke. "I didn't even get to tell her... how much I loved her. How much she meant to me."

"You showed her," Rhysand said softly. "Every day, you showed her. And she knew."

Azriel finally looked at him, his eyes filled with anguish. "What do I do now, Rhys? How do I go on without her?"

Rhysand's eyes were filled with empathy. "You honor her memory. You live the life she wanted for you. And you remember that her love is still with you, even in the shadows."

Azriel nodded, tears streaming down his face. "I'll try. For her."

As the weeks turned into months, Azriel tried to find solace in his duties, but the pain of losing Y/N never truly faded. One evening, as he sat alone in his room, his shadows swirling around him restlessly, he felt a strange sensation. It was as if one of his shadows was speaking to him, whispering words he couldn't quite make out.

He focused, trying to understand the message. And then, clear as day, he heard her voice.

"Azriel."

His heart stopped. "Y/N?"

The shadow seemed to shimmer, taking on a more defined shape. "I'm here, Azriel. I've always been here."

Tears filled his eyes as he reached out, his hand trembling. "How is this possible?"

Her voice was soft and soothing. "When I died, my soul didn't move on. It found a new home, in your shadows. I couldn't leave you."

Azriel's tears flowed freely. "I've missed you so much."

"I know," she whispered. "I've missed you too. But I'm still with you, Azriel. Always."

He took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace he hadn't known since her death. "I don't know how to go on without you."

"You don't have to," she replied. "We'll face this together. Just like we always have."

From that day forward, Azriel found strength in knowing that Y/N was still with him, her presence a constant comfort. He could hear her voice in the quiet moments, feel her guidance in the darkest of times.

When he needed advice, she was there. When he felt lost, she helped him find his way. And in the moments of deepest sorrow, she reminded him of the love they shared, a love that could never be broken.

One night, as Azriel stood on a rooftop, looking out over Velaris, he felt her presence stronger than ever.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked, her voice like a gentle caress.

"About us," he replied. "About the future."

"And what do you see?" she asked.

He smiled, feeling her warmth. "I see a world where our love shines brighter than any prophecy. Where we defy fate, together."

Y/N's laughter filled the air, a beautiful sound that made his heart soar. "I like that vision."

"So do I," he said softly. "And we'll make it a reality. No matter what."

As the stars sparkled above, Azriel knew that their love would guide him through the shadows, a beacon of hope and strength. And with Y/N by his side, he was ready to face whatever the future held.

Together, they would defy fate, proving that love was the most powerful force of all.

[blusnowflakes]

its you, its you, its you

A: "i want you"

B: "you're drunk"

A: "i am. but that doesn't change anything"

B: "you're crazy"

A: "maybe im just crazy for you"

B: “i’m really not worth it"

A: “i get to decide that, stupid.”

B: “are you ready to fight the world with me, then?”

A: “now you’re just being dramatic.”

[greatheartsworld]

Indoor love

Locked door,

No air,

Big windows,

I’m in despair.

Locked love,

No way out,

Every time you leave

I wanna shout.

Three simple words,

Love you baby,

Every time you say it

Day is less shady.

Locked eyes,

for moment or two,

All thoughts I have

Lead me to

Y o u.

[mechazushi]

Long story short on the video, it's just a breakdown about mummies in history as it correlates to the history of its media as well. It's still a good and informative break down (Definitely check it out and support the channel), but as it got to the point of breaking down the tropes seen in movies about mummies and how many of them were seen in previous novelizations, I got to thinking about a story idea of my own.

It kinda revolves around the whole distinction between mummies that are powerful sorcerers that get the benefit of looking like a human and less powerful mummies that are forced to shamble around and be stuck in their bandages. It also dips into the "The mummy is looking to brink back their dead lover who just so happens to be reincarnated." trope as well as "bandage mummies only exist as servants/violent body guards".

So it takes place in the height of England's Egypt Craze where tomb "Unboxing" was still a thing and some British f*cks as well as their ✨gorgeous female assistant✨start poking around in a tomb. It's a lesser known tomb and everyone makes it clear that this was dedicated to some high ranking guard that made a noble sacrifice or something so they decided to make the guy's funeral a little more special. The British guys write it off and go see if there's a bigger tomb to plunder investigate (I feel like I should also mention one of these guys is supposed to be the female's betrothed love interest that immediately gets ntr'ed once the actual green flag walks, or should I say shambles, into the picture.)

Female Assistant sticks around to explore the first chamber more deeply and shenanigans happen. She reads some passages on the wall that has foreshadowing bits into it, maybe translates a scroll or two by candle light because she can't sleep due to the ✨visions✨ or some shit, and ends up accidentally resurrecting the noble guard from earlier. It's initially the lower tier type of mummy, the type that's somewhat mindless and still wrapped in bandages. Shit goes down, maybe it tries to kill the other tomb raiders explorers but it doesn't pan out (personally, I see it as a loony-toons type moment with the Mummy trying to kill them, the Assistant foiling every attempt, and the British guys none-the-wiser) Eventually it's discovered that the mummy seems to recognize the Assistant as someone he once knew and now only obeys her commands.

The Assistant uses that to her advantage and manages to drag it/him back to their lodgings. I have nothing specific for this part, other than that the next third and over of the movie (I see this as a movie. Or a webcomic if you wanna torture yourself.) is just Tarzan and Jane antics where they fall in love with each other. It's also happening alongside a side plot where the mummy is slowly gaining memories/intelligence/the ability to speak as it/he slowly sheds his bandages in the process. (I don't picture him losing all of the bandages. I still like a little bit of monster left to f*ck with. And yes, it's handsome.) Basically he slowly starts reverting back to the noble guard he once was as he remembers why he sacrificed himself in the first place and why the Female Assistant looks so familiar to him.

The last third cuts back to the British guys and them getting to meet the monkey's paw consequence of their hubris. They do the same thing that the Assistant did, only they end up resurrecting an ancient and powerful sorcerer that was sealed away for humanity's greater good. Maybe they strike a deal with the guy, maybe they run like the little b*tches that they are, who knows. Anyway, the mummy guard's spider sense pings and he realizes who ended up getting reawakened. Come to find out, the sorcerer also thinks the Female Assistant looks pretty familiar and does some wibbly-wobbly magic to confirm that, yes, she is some reincarnation of a long dead princess(/competing sorcerer maybe? It would be a nice double twist if you're into that sh*t)

Big fight ensues, the good guys win, and the Female assistant rides off into the sunset on an Excelsior Model 19 with the Mummy boyfriend.

The End.

[oceansssblue]

100 CELEBRATION — PROMPT 17. PRINCE&SERVANT AU

REX/F READER 💖💔

WARNINGS: servant/slavery themes, social gap, mentions of war, soulbonds, first crush, fantasy aspects.

Note: Here we have a really fluffy timid sweet one for a servant!rex and princess!femalereader !! It will start in their childhood and skip through time. Switches between 1st pov and 3rd pov. Hope you like it! Xx, Blue.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The citizens of Bahr were also known as "water spirits" because of their surprising affinity with water creatures. The humanoid species could survive both underwater and in land; which made Bahr's cities beautifully diverse. Some towns were completely built under the ocean; others were constructed besides lakes and rivers. The Outer Rim planet had joined the Republic Alliance not so long ago; also enthraced by the idea of bidirectional protection and the reputation of the GAR. The Kaminoans had created clones of a mandalorian warrior that they later trained for different purposes; sold in batches all around the Republic for both servitude and personal army.

For the birth of Bahr's princess –the first descendant of King Fraland and Queen Altea– a new order of clones was sent to Kamino; and the kaminoans produced new batches of CT's and CC's and trained them for their new life. Some would end up serving in the palace or any of the Crown's properties; others would add to Bahr's already impressive army.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

You had grown up with all the commodities of the world; from endless food on the table to the prettiest of dresses. As the only princess of Bahr, your education had been impecable as well; closely monitored by the planet's best academics and literates. You had a small flock of servants personally encharged of you; from nannies that looked after you during the day or night, to other female bahrises who were tasked to help you dress or join you in any of your multiple hobbies. Not all servants in the palace were natives; but yours were.

You had always been curious about the others, the humans; the clones. They were young too –almost as young as yourself– and from a different species; and they were boys. It was inevitable to want to find more about them. However, both the Queen and your nanies had always scolded you whenever you had tried to interact with one; so you had eventually given up on being friends with them. You still curiously observed them in the distance.

It was only at eight years old when you had your first conversation with a clone. With three clones, to be precise. They were arguing about going out on an adventure; and that had instantly caught your attention. Life in palace was –though you knew you were incredibly lucky– often boring. The oportunity of going outside was too tempting to ignore.

You remained hidden behind one of the numerous statues that were placed on both sides of the corridors –old Kings and Queens of Bahr, your ancestors���; attention tunned in in the conversation between the three boys. They weren't speaking in your native language; but your teachers had already taught you a handful of others, mando'a being one of them.

"We're not going to be able to see them properly, Fives" one of the boys said, voice a mix of exasperation and resignation. "They only come up to the surface when two true soulmates are on their own there".

Your curiosity deepens; they're talking about the Lake of the Soulmates; were small water dragons live in harmony until a couple of soulmates call them. Only in pairs they will respond; only when genuine, sincere emotions came into play. It was a sacred tradition on Bahr; though some often used it as a proof of a partner's intentions or honesty. It was a beautiful idea, the fact that soulmates existed, that someone was made specifically for you; you had always dreamed of visiting it.

"Yeah, I know" the boy named Fives whispered. "But won't seing them even under the surface be worth it? Please, Echo. I'm so tired of being trapped in here".

Something softened in Echo's face; the boy glancing at the third clone of the group with reluctant acceptance. This last one had short blond hair; a trait you hadn't seen in the rest of his brothers. It was a beautiful contrast with the bronze of his skin.

"If we get caught we could be punished or even decomissioned" he wasn't fully convinced either, though it was clear he wanted to go as well. "I don't know if we should risk it".

This was the perfect chance for you to step in.

You left the secrecy of your hideout; quietly walking towards them.

"You wouldn't be if you kindly allowed me to join you".

The three clones showed various levels of surprise and fear; jumping at the unexpected sound of your voice. Their eyes widenned.

"P-princess!" Fives stuttered, back in your native language.

Echo and the clone with the blond hair straightened inmediately.

"I desire to visit the Soulmate Lake as well" you continued, undisturbed. "I've always felt curious about them. If you allow me to tag along, and the guards find us, you may even tell them I asked you to follow me there; since I wasn't keen on going on my own. Do we have an agreement?"

Fives grinned; the other two looked unsure. Upon the first's incesant pleadings, they finally gave in, nodding in silence. The blond one turned towards you, speaking to you with a timid politeness.

"Your majesty, you may want to change to a less delicate shoe choice" he pointed out, carefully, and your eyes travelled down to your cristal sparkling sandals.

"Oh!" You blushed softly. "You are right, of course. I'll retire and switch to a more comfortable pair. I will see the three of you in the North Door in ten".

You gave them a firm nod and walked away. You were going to see the water dragons for the first time ever.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

At first, Fives, Echo and Rex were incredibly wary and tense around the princess. They had grown up learning about her; about how important she was and the responsabilities she was destined to carry. They were taught how to behave around royals; how they were not the same. It was shocking, the fact that she had even talked to them. The way she phrased things was a bit unusual, and perhaps so were some of her gestures and manerisms; but in all honestly, for a princess, she looked pretty normal.

The small trip to the Lake of the Soulmates was filled with Fives animated story-telling; Rex and Echo having long learnt how to filter him out, while the princess looked almost engrossed in his tale. All words extinguished when they finally arrived, though; the beauty of the scene that powerfull. The water looked almost like a mirror of the sky above; the trees painted in vibrant greens and oranges. There was a sort of magical peace that could almost be breathed in.

"Woah" Fives looked and wandered around almost in a trance.

Echo grabbed his shoulder and tugged him back before his brother could accidentally dip a feet on the lake's water.

The three clones and the princess made their way to the edge of it and kneeled on the grass, carefully pushing their bodies forward to inspect it; trying to get a peak of the creatures swimming beneath. But the creatures stayed hidden –as Echo had predicted–; and soon the adrenaline and excitement of the adventure extinguished.

Rex discovered himself observing the princess instead. Her hair was pinned up in an intricate updo; and a small sparkly tiara was perfectly positioned on top of her head. She had what looked like diamond earings too; and she was wearing a –expensive, he was sure– violet dress with some more accesories around her wrists and neck. Under all of that, Rex noticed her big expressive eyes and the warmth of her smile. He had always thought royalty as cold and distant –no matter how well they governed–; but perhaps he had been wrong all along. The princess chuckled at something Fives said; and Rex's eyes couldn't stop staring at her.

A splash and a gasp finally called his attention; wonder and excitement shining again in all of their faces. There was a water dragon close to the surface; it was a blurred mix of blues, cyan on it's head and turning progressively darker towards the blue indigo of the tail. The creature seemed to be curious about them as well; as it swam close to the four kids for a few minutes before dissapearing into the depths of the lake again.

They all glanced at each other in shock before chuckling and smiling happily. They stayed for what felt like another hour there, with mainly Fives and Echo bickering and Rex and the princess quietly observing. It was peaceful; freeing. Rex tenderly saved the memory in his mind.

The grins were still painted on their faces with their return to the palace.

"I had a wonderful time" the princess aknowledged them before they had to part ways. "Thank you for your company".

Fives grinned, showing a silly thumbs up.

"Yeah, cool shit, princess".

Echo rolled his eyes at his brother's choice of words and lack of proper decorum; and smacked the back of his head.

Fives shot a glance at him, pouting and catching up on Echo's silent complaint inmediately.

"Hey! I said princess!"

Luckily for all of them, the royal only watched them in amusement.

"We enjoyed your company as well, your majesty" Rex tried to spare them, nodding politely, golden brown eyes making contact with the princess's. "We wish you a good rest of your evening".

She smiled genuineningly; then courtsied in a last goodbye, walking away timidly, a small happy skip to her step.

Fives and Echo bickered at his back. Rex only wished their escapade to remain a secret –for their safety–; and to have shown the princess –she'd be their queen, someday– that clones weren't that bad.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Weeks pass after that evening with the clone boys; but thoughts about them haven't yet left your mind. You don't have much contact with people your age –or any at all, for that fact–; and you somehow find yourself yearning for more. You had enjoyed the afternoon with them; void of responsabilities and the pressure of being a princess. A royal. There was no-one to watch you with a critic at the tip of their tongue; no one to tell you how to talk or move, to punish you for things that weren't considered lady like. The memory of that tiny bit of freedom, of life, had stayed roaming around in your mind.

You had carefully asked around; tried to find more information about them. They worked in the kitchens; and though there were a few complaints about them being a bit of trouble, you generally only heard good things about the three clones. They were only two years –one, in Rex's case– younger than you; though a maid had –tried to– explain to you that with the clone's accelerated aging they'd look progressively older very soon.

Temptatively, you had tried to interact with them in the few months that followed the first escapade. They reacted exactly the same way as the first time; first with cautious wariness, and then slowly easing into a quiet, gentle friendship. Fives was the main source of trouble; Echo being the one to often reel him in and cut his crazyness short. He still joined him in few ocassions, though, and then it was Rex's turn to be the voice of reason. He was not boring by any chance –in fact, you find him very intriguing–; he just seemed more mature. Rex was observant, and surprisingly firm for someone as young as him; but he knew how to relax too. You felt warm each time you caught sight of his gentle smile.

You're on a quest to personally ask the palace's main cook to bake your favorite pie when you caught sight of them again; though not in a pleasant situation. Fives, Echo and Rex are all standing up in front of a –very obviously– angry chef; heads lowered down in a sign of repentance while the man screams inches away of their face. A quick glance around is enough to know what this is all about. The kitchen is a mess; almost as if there had been a fight –or an explosion– of flour all around. You understand the need to reprimand them if this has been the case; but the way the cook is spitting ill-words so close to their faces rubs you the wrong way.

"Useless clones, genetically engineered for what? You can't even behave in a kitchen! It's a relief you can't roam around through Bahr!"

Different degrees of hurt and anger crosses the boys faces. It grows like a flame inside of you as well.

"We understand your point, sir" Rex grits out, eyes still on the floor but posture firm. "It won't happen again".

"Of course it won't!" The cook suddenly invades his personal space and takes a violent hold of his face, nails digging into the skin of both cheeks to obligue Rex to look at him. "Because if you do, i'll make sure you're all sent back to Kamino and never see a ray of sunglight ever again!"

Something inside of you fiercely wakes up and shakes. A wave of ire and an overwhelming need to protect spreads through your veins; and you take a step into the kitchen and clear your throat, eyes settling on the cook in a heated stare.

"Princess!" The man exclaims, releasing the boy's face and taking a step back in utter surprise.

The three clones inmediately look at you. You want to comfort them, but it is a priority to get them away from this man first.

"Let this be the last time you dare to treat anyone this way" your voice holds an authority that doesn't really come from being a royal, but of a fierce heart that won't let any other option exist. "You will request a transfer to any other of the Crown's properties and leave inmediately".

The man is so shocked he almost sputters in his place.

"B-but princess..." his eyes flicker over your smaller form in a desperate way to find something to convince you with. "I'm the only one who knows how to bake your favorite Jhogan pie!"

Your expresion turns to one of disgust. The fact that this man...

"My favorite dessert can't be more irrelevant as opposed to the safety of other's lifes. I have given you the option to continue working elsewhere as a courtsey for all the years you've been working for us; but if you insist, I can make sure you won't find a job anywhere in Bahr".

The clear warning is enough to shut all of the cook's complaints down; and he turns around to send a hatefull glance to the three clones as if they have been the ones to dig his way out.

"Leave" you almost hiss then, years of trained patience coming to an end.

The man nods tersely, huffs, and walks away.

You breathe a sigh of relief when you're left alone in the kitchen with the other three boys. Their posture relax too; inmediately aproaching each other and mutually making sure they are all safe and good. The need extends to you.

"Are you alright?" You ask them, slowly aproaching them.

Fives and Echo look at you. Rex, for some reason, keeps staring at the floor.

"Yeah" Echo eventually answers. "Thank you for the save, princess. It was a kind gesture of you".

To your surprise, Fives steps forward and envelops you in a big, sudden hug.

"It was awesome! Did you see his face?" He laughs, and you chuckle as he releases you and takes a step back.

"It looked like his head was going to explode from holding all his anger back" you confirm with a tiny smile.

Your eyes travel back to Rex; who is still painfully silent, expresion closed off as if he were thinking of something deeply emotional and delicate.

"Hey" you carefully squeeze his shoulder and he breaks off of his trance, golden eyes locking on yours. "Are you okay?"

His eyes flicker over your face. He nods without saying a thing.

Your hand moves up and your fingertips carefully graze the skin of his redenned cheek. They won't be hurt like that ever again.

"You should get that checked by the doctor" you advise gently, lowering your traitorous hand to it's rightfull place. "Some marks have managed to break the skin and they might scar if you don't tend to them".

His golden eyes continue staring at you; creating a mess of contradicting and confusing emotions and thoughts you're too young to descipher yet.

"I will" Rex finally says.

When you leave the kitchen two minutes later, you murmur a soft and quiet "keep an eye on him" to Fives. The clone nods and grins.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It has been a long day for Rex and his brothers. Their working conditions are vastly different from those of two years ago; from when the princess had faced off the main palace cook and sent the monster away. When she had protected them. The memory is still vivid and clear in Rex's memory. She had been so small, so young; and yet her voice had held such a fierce authority. She clearly cared for them; and in a world where clones –where he– meant nothing, that had touched Rex's heart.

Not having a dickhead for a boss doesn't make the hours and hours of baking any less demanding, though; and Rex can feel the ache on his muscles begging for a rest. He's on his way to the servant's floor when he hears music floating down the stairs; it's such a beautiful melody that the curious clone is already following it with quiet steps. He recognises the sound of the clarinas; small air instruments native from Bahr. But there's someone singing as well; and Rex's instincts are pushing him towards it, for some misterious reason he has no time –or desire– to analise.

He comes to a stop in front of the music salon; and takes a quiet peak inside to scan the room. At first, his eyes widen in surprise; then, he's left staring enthraced, hipnotized. He didn't know she could sing like that. The princess's voice is sweet and delicate; her range gently dancing over the notes in a peaceful melody. The song has a hint of melancholy; like a bird who sees the beauty of the outside world and feels awed and warmed by it, but can't quite hold enough strength on his wings to fly in it.

Rex golden eyes are absort on her face for the few minutes he stays listening; until a maid passing by the corridor softly reprimands him and he flushes in silence, straigthening back up guiltily.

"Don't just stand there all day, young boy. Go on" the woman tuts with a knowing smile on her face, and Rex fights down his blush and walks away.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

When you almost run into Rex in one of your late afternoon walks through the gardens, you can't help but gasp and stare at him in surprise. And not just because of the unexpected, clumsy encounter; but because of how different he looks. His growth has sprinted in this last four years. While you're looking your age –fourteen, now–, Rex –his brothers too– appear to be seventeen or so; the physical signs and changes of their teenage years dissapearing in a blink and quickly transitioning into his current appearence. He's tall, really tall now; slightly towering above you when you had once been of the same height. His facial features have changed too; shaped into firm, sharp lines. Gone is the kid Rex once was; he's certainly turning into a young man.

"Your majesty" he gives you a small courtsey and you smile at him with warmth. No matter how many little interactions you've both had over the years, Rex has never dropped certain formalities around you. It's endearing, really. "Enjoying a bit of fresh air before dinner is served?"

You nod without dropping your smile.

"Yes, indeed. The gardens are beautiful this time of the year, and a break from the noise of the palace is always welcomed" you pause and study him briefly. "Would you like to join me?"

Surprise fills his expresion; an sort of timid hesitance following.

"If you're sure, princess. I wouldn't want to disturb your moment of peace...".

You chuckle and tilt your head in a carefree grin.

"I wouldn't have offered if I found your presence disturbing, Rex" you tease him in good humour, gently linking your hand around his arm and tugging forward carefully. "It will be a short stroll, don't worry".

He doesn't say a thing. His golden eyes travel down to your hand anchored on his –surprisingly defined– bycep; then back to your face. It almost looks like he's thinking what the kriff you're doing with him. Ah, you suppose this tiptoes the line of being a royal, taking a walk with a –male– servant; but you can't help yourself. You enjoy his presence; always have, and right now a relaxing stroll between friends sounds nice.

Trying not to dwell on the fact that your bodies are touching –and the tingling sensation derived from it– you fill the –perhaps initially akward– silence with curiosities and stories about the plants you pass by; wether it's just their medical use or a particularity of a flower, or some other tradition that is rumoured in Bahr. He listens attentively, quietly; only intervening here and there. It's only after a while when you grow self-conscious; realising you're perhaps talking a bit too much.

"Forgive me" you smile guiltily, hand dropping from where you had been pointing at the petals of yet another flower. "You probably don't find all of this rants about flora interesting. You might not even like flowers for all I know..."

To your honest surprise, Rex carefully tugs said hand forward and holds it in his, gently squeezing.

"I do" he replies calmly, soothing your worries, voice deeper than it had been just a year ago. He glances at the green jade flowers and back at you. "It's the colour of your eyes, princess".

It's such an unexpected comment –and more so coming from him– that you can't control the flustered blush that inmediatelly spreads through your cheeks and down your neck. You shyly tuck a strand of hair behind your ear with your other hand; warmth spreading from where you hold him with the other one –as if some sort of energy were flowing between the two of you–.

Rex doesn't retract his comment; temptitavely caressing the dorso of your hand with his thumb, and a peacefull, almost pensive expresion on his face. You fall equally enthraced by him; gaze lost in the tenderness of his warm, golden eyes, on this new feeling sparkling between the two of you.

You had just started to see boys in another way; and Rex... Rex is beautiful. The sunset does wonders on his bronze skin, brings the gold out of his gentle brown eyes, he is undeniably handsome and his physicall appearence has nothing to envy the...

"Princess! Your majesty!" the urgent voice of your maid breaks the moment rather abruptly, tearing you out of your trance cruelly. "The King and Queen have been waiting for you in the Grand Comedor for almost ten minutes now!"

The woman continues to rant from far away, and you turn to look back at Rex with an amused chuckle –cheeks still redenned and already missing the warmth of his hand in yours–.

"I shall better go before they send a flock of angry maids to find me" you joke, still a hint of shyness on your voice and face.

Rex nods and takes a polite step back. You ignore how much your heart complains about that.

"Of course" he agrees, eyes still fixed on yours. "Have a good night, princess".

Your smile is as soft as melting butter.

"You as well, Rex".

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The next day, upon numerous innapropiate whispers of maids and servants all around the palace that reaches the rulers ears, three clones are sent away to be trained in Bahrs army. When a week later the princess's personal maids finally ask the royal sucessor the reason for her late melancholy, she brushes it aside and conjures an empty smile. She's a bird; but she has no wings.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Seven years later, life has not changed much. At least for you. At 21, you have more responsabilities as the Crown's succesor, and take a participant role in Bahr's important decisions; but that aside, life around you moves like it always has. Slow and boring; though comfortable and coveted. Diplomatic travels have become part of your favorite rutine At least that way you're able to explore Bahr's diverse cities, though you're not completely free to roam around as you'd like, but tied to long dinners and debates.

Your father has subtly questioned you about wether if you feel connected to any of Bahr's important houses heirs. Your answer has always been short and clipped. It's not that you hate all of them; some are not pretentious and fairly good company –hadsome, even–, but none make your heart skip a bit. You'll settle for someone eventually; but for now, you'll still hold onto the hope that someone who can will appear.

You're lost in thoughts when the sound of someone arriving at the Lake of the Soulmates –you had taken to visit it sort of regularly lately– pulls you out of your mind. You glance back at the new comer; a gasp inmediately abandoning your lips, face shifting with shock and surprise.

"R-rex?"

You stand up from the blanket you've placed on the grass, carefully making your way towards him. He looks just as shocked; stunned. It has been seven years since you last saw each other. He's so... He's a man, now. His eyes, though... His golden eyes hold the same gentleness.

"Princess..." he takes two slow steps towards you as well –until you're both standing in front of each other, your chin tilting up so you can see his face–. "Long time no see".

You shoot him a fond smile.

"Yes" your eyes flicker over every inch of his face. His brow is more pronounced, his jaw sharper. His lips... pouty. "You've changed".

Age has done nothing but make him look more atractive. The white and blue armour he's currently wearing –clinging to his strong muscles– only make the picture prettier.

"You as well, princess. You look..." he stops himself, cheeks tinged in red.

You can feel your heart trying to beat it's way out of your chest. You're nervous, but excited; you encourage him to finish the sentence with bright eyes and a tempting smile.

"I look?"

At first, Rex seems to hesitate; then, the soldier squares his shoulders and fixes his eyes on yours.

"You look more beautiful than ever, princess".

He tells you this tenderly but firmly; like there's no option to disagree, like it's an universal truth. The quiet passion swirling in his golden eyes makes your heart clench; tugging the corner of your lips into a radiant smile.

You close the small distance between each other with another tiny step; your body almost grazing his.

Years and years of lessons on politeness and decency, on how a royal should behave, sprints through your mind; though they are quickly shut down in favor of the fire that burns bright in your heart. Rex... Rex makes your heart skip a bit. Perhaps he always has –even when in your young age you couldn't see it as clearly as now–.

"You do too, Rex" you whisper fervently, looking up at him. "Beautiful".

Rex releases a deep breath; almost as if he had been afraid of you reacting badly to his compliment. He closes the eyes for a few seconds; as if saving the moment in his memory.

You gather your courage and swallow your own insecurities down; temptitavely caressing his hand with the very tip of your fingers –a sort of cautious invitation to do more about it–.

Rex opens his eyes and glances at you in surprise.

"Is this... okay?" you ask him timidly, hand almost trembling with your nervousness.

Rex looks to be lost in your eyes; he barely reacts, not moving a single inch.

"Y-yes, yes. If you want to, princess..."

The carefull caress turns into proper holding hands. You smile at how right such a simple thing feels.

"Will you ever call me by my name?" You tease him in good humour, a little amused chuckle escaping your lips.

Rex's eyes travel around as if you have put him in a four way crossroad.

"I shouldn't..."

Perhaps years and years of lessons on how not to behave around and with royals are flickering through his mind too.

The fire inside of you burns stronger. You end the distance between your bodies, softly anchoring yourself to him and gently wrapping your hands around his shoulders. He freezes, eyes fixed on your face, now so close to his.

"But I want you too" you reply, fervently.

Rex swallows; and you can almost feel his throat move.

"It might take some time for me to get used to it. But I can try... meshla".

You release all your tension and nervousness with a long, happy sigh; closing your eyes and pressing your forehead against his plated chest, breathing the warmth feeling he provoques in you in. Rex hands tentatively takes place in your back and caresses you gently. His tension deflates as well in the tender embrace.

Splashing water sounds force you to break apart; you both glance at the lake, but upon finding everything as usual, quickly return to search into each other's gaze. You already miss his arms around you –yours around him–; though there's still minimum space between you.

"How have you been all this time, Rex?" You ask him fondly. "You've been working for the army, have you not?"

"Just got promoted to Captain, yes" he confirms, and your eyes fly down to quickly study the pauldron on his shoulder and his blue kama, armour touches and upgrades you know well. "It has been..."

He hesitates, and you encourage him to continue with a soft smile.

"Go on. You can be frank with me".

Rex sighs and confesses.

"It's better than staying in the palace all day, every day. It makes me feel more usefull, valuable. I'm protecting people. Doing good things" he takes a breath in and quietly admits, a troubled expresion on his face. "It's not an easy task, though. I've seen... Men and woman die, lost friends. I never realised just how many brothers I had in Bahr until I started to feel like I was losing them".

His words and emotions are so honest and raw it brings tears to your eyes; though you don't allow a single one to fall.

You hold his hands in yours.

"I'm sorry, Rex. That Fives, Echo and you all felt trapped in the palace and then forced to walk away. Every native servant has decided to be there; but you clones never had the oportunity to choose. I'm sorry you've lost family as well. I hope one day you'd be able to forgive me, Rex..."

He shows you a fond smile and gentle squeezes your hand with one hand; the other coming up to cup your face.

"It's not like you had any say in our creation, meshla, or what we came to be. You were just a child as well. And honestly, the King treats us much better than other clones in other parts of the galaxy. I'm happy with where I am now; Fives and Echo as well".

"How are they, Echo and Fives?" You curiously ask him, wanting to know about the other two boys –now men– as well.

Rex smile can only be defined as proud.

"They're doing well. Both got promoted to ARC's at the same time, which is why we're all in the Capital now. There's going to be a small ceremony in the palace for all new ARC's, Commanders and Captains".

You blink in surprise.

"Oh, I wasn't aware of this".

Rex shrugs.

"I don't believe the royal family attends this" he explains "just some other high ranks from the army and the war council. It's a small thing".

You tilt up your chin and make up a quick decision.

"It's a big thing for you. I'll be there"

"You don't have to, prin... meshla..."

You smile and squeeze his hand.

"I know. I'll still try".

Rex nods, innerly touched and gratefull; and you're both left in silence for a few seconds, studying each other's hands and eyes.

"I thought of doing this a lot when we were kids" you confess, voice quiet.

Rex shoots you a surprised look.

"Holding hands?" He asks, a timid expresion on his face too.

"Among other things" you admit with a blush.

Rex is shocked by your confession; but his eyes only fill with tenderness and warmth.

"Why didn't you?"

You shrug.

"I was reprimanded a lot, told to not interact with the three of you. I was also afraid of you only accepting because you'd be afraid to say no and... And I was shy and just a child. I didn't truly understand what I was feeling and what to do about it" you glance to the say and chuckle, cheeks painted in an embarassed red. "You were my first boy crush".

Rex can't believe at first the words that are coming out of your mouth. But he sees the honesty in your eyes, the vulnerability, the tenderness and the desire; and he knows it's the beautiful truth.

He smiles and caresses your cheek with his thumb. He decides to confess as well.

"I would have accepted anything from you, princess, and not out of obligation".

Warmth spreads inside of you; this time the title sounding more of a sweet, personal pet name on his lips than a polite status reference.

Rex decides to risk it all. His other hand also travels up to cup your face in his palms; softly tilting it up towards him so he can study and caress every inch of your skin with his golden eyes.

"And now, meshla? Now that we aren't kids?"

"I..." you want him. You love him. He's the one. "I want the same things".

Rex's relieved breath flickers over your face; and barely a second later, he dips down to catch your lips in a tender, heartfelt kiss. You make a small, pleased sound in your throat and surrender to him; body melting in his embrace and kissing him back with the same softness and hunger, both mixed into perfect bliss.

When you're forced to breathe, Rex rests his forehead against you in what you know is a Keldabe kiss; taking each other in.

"I've told myself a million times iver the years that this couldn't be. That you were just a dream, an illusion I would never reach".

Your heart aches. Perhaps true, honest love is just like that; so raw and powerfull it heals as much as it aches.

You nuzzle your nose against his and answer him softly.

"I know there's responsabilities to both and that we'll face more than one public judgement. We will need to be carefull. But I've always felt curious about you, Rex. We're both older now. Perhaps things won't work out, and that's okay; but I feel very strongly towards you and I'd like to have the chance to see where this goes now".

Rex smiles and pecks your lips again. Oh, you'll soon grow addicted to it.

"Like I said, princess, I'll take whatever you're willing to give" he grins, and you're so happy you can't help but laugh against his lips.

There's a louder splash coming from the water again; and this time, a quick, initially uninterested glance turns to be an overwhelming shock. You both watch, stunned, how two blue water dragons repetitively jump up and down the surface of the lake, clearly playing with each other and having fun, oblivious to the two of you.

You stare at Rex in shock.

"Are those... Did we... Are we..." you can't seem to form the words, too overwhelmed and nervous about the possible implications of this.

Rex stares back at the small creatures.

"If we were... We should be able to call them towards us, right?" He cautiously asks.

You nod, heart pounding. The two water dragons stop playing and hover over the surface of the lake, as if suddenly realising they were being watched and looking back at you curiously.

You take a deep, centering breath and close your eyes; focusing on trying to conect with any of them. To tug at some sort of invisible connection.

You gasp at the feeling of something wet and slippery pressing against the skin of your neck; opening your eyes in wonder, staring at the almost magical female water dragon that is nuzzling against you and chirping happily.

"T-try it" you tell Rex, hands shaking to caress the legendary creature, the animal playfully nipping at your fingertips.

Rex imitates you; closing his eyes and trying to find his own connection with the other water dragon. He frowns, and nothing happens at first; but then, the creature –darker in colour but with also more white streaks in it's tail– shyly aproaches him and spins around his forearm, then moving to hover in front of him.

Rex looks at his dragon in awe and then turns towards you.

"We're soulmates" he voices, love and wonder shining in his golden eyes.

You smile and close the distance to kiss him.

"I guess that explains why I have always felt drawn to you. Yes, we are".

Rex swallows your happy chuckles and you smile against his lips. The two water dragons play around your entwinned shape, chirping happily.

THE END.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Author note:

I love Rex so much godddddd...

Ps. With this one we only have one more prompt left for the 100blueceleb. It's a short story of a demon!echo / angel!ofc ; I have already planned it through and am in the process of writing it. It's gonna be a blast, mark my words! I'm so excited to share it with y'all. Stay tunned!

Xx, Blue.

Check out the 100blueceleb masterlist:

Check out my general masterlist:

[kelbies-fandom-locker]

Sabine fought to find her soulmate and get him home and you can’t tell me otherwise

[xoxo-suki]

Comment if you have specific BTS members in mind for your particular preference of the trope. Alternatively, send me anonymous asks if you'd rather not comment!

[my-adorable-fox]

Evajacks Art using Artbreeder

“I don't know if I can fix your broken heart, but you can take mine because it's already yours.” - Luk Navarro

📚: Once Upon a Broken Heart trilogy <3 ----- ------------ -------- ------------ -------

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[just-a-few-prompts]

An idea that’s been in my head;

In the werewolf fics I’ve been reading, there tends to be a “fated mate”, a goddess-given connection between you and your soulmate. The second you lay eyes on them, you’re in love. They’re perfect. The union is usually completed with a bite to the shoulder or neck, ‘marking’ each other so that other wolves know that they’re taken.

Another option, if you never find your fated mate, is to take a chosen mate. You pick somebody, and you two mark each other, creating a mate bond. It isn’t as strong as if you’d done it with your real mate, but it’s an option.

So I had an idea when exploring this concept.

The character is one of the leaders of a pack, a pair of chosen mates. They’re known for their strong bond and loyalty to each other despite their bond not being fated or goddess-given. Their pack is strong and well-known, a powerhouse.

One day, they’re fighting another pack, or maybe a small band of rogues.

The character stops an assassination attempt on their partner, tackling the assailant out of the way. They roll to a stop, pinning the assailant down…

And they realize that this assailant is their fated mate.

[lemariee]

Chapter 26

The sounds of enthusiastic cheers shook Gerda out of her pondering thoughts. She glanced around noticing a group of fey and humans drinking out of a large horned cup. It was obvious the crowd would soon be drunk, something she wasn't fond of.

She peeked over to Borra when she noticed movement in the corner of her eye.

Maleficent's hands slithered down his chest towards his abdomen in a suggestive motion. Borra appeared to be enchanted by her seductive behavior. His attention flickered down to the witch with darkened amber eyes, a color he often would have when he was near Gerda. It was strange seeing him eye Maleficent with that precise pigment in his gaze. Maleficent then softly grabbed his hands and lured him towards the crowd who was starting to dance.

Gerda let her guard drop feeling the tension in her body release. Shortly after, Percival and Shrike headed off towards the middle of the hall where other fey creatures swayed around. The tribal movements reminded Gerda of wildlife. Her observation was interrupted by Celtra handing her a mug of water. She eagerly sipped out the mug ignoring the aching hunger that tugged at her stomach. Celtra stood aside misplaced in her thoughts.

"Are you going to join them or did Borra once again leave you with the burden of monitoring me?" Gerda boredly asked, yearning to have a taste of the meats, cheeses, and fresh bread that remained out.

"Just like you, I find myself somewhat uncomfortable around our special guests. Maleficent and Percival aren't too fond of me at the moment." Celtra admitted with her gaze focused on the dancing fey who drunkenly bounced around.

"Why the discomfort? You seemed to be on decent terms with Maleficent the last time you spoke to her." Gerda replied eager for Celtra's response.

"Let's just say that they question my suggestions when it comes to finding archers even though we are facing new threats on our people. They ignore the fact that we are desperate and cannot chance any more loss. We need to consider all options...even ones that are a risk." Celtra admitted with dismay shading her voice.

Gerda set her mug on the floor, growing more interested in their conversation. She wondered just how bad things were and why Celtra was letting her in on such information. Being Borra's slave meant that Gerda was to have no part in their affairs. It had to be forbidden for anyone to speak to her about matters that did not concern her. Celtra was putting far too much trust in her.

"Threats? I was under the impression that Borra had everything under control. From my perspective, it appeared that life in both the Moors and Ulstead was prospering." Gerda said taking pride in knowing that both kingdoms were undergoing their inconveniences.

"Just like any other kingdom, there will always be those who oppose change. Some will resort to uprisings against those who threaten what they believe is right. Until recently, that was only one concern we faced. Now there is a much more worrying danger that requires immediate action." Celtra stressed with genuine concern in her eyes.

Celtra took in Gerda's confusion with hesitation almost as if she was having a debate within her mind. She carefully glanced around making sure no one was within earshot before sighing and continuing with her words.

"There is so much you don't know due to your position among our people. It's quite a shame that one with your talents be wasted away. If your loyalties were with us you most certainly would make a treasured addition to our people, if not the most valuable asset needed." Celtra said with a relaxed demeanor causing Gerda to shockingly stare at her in disbelief.

"If Borra heard what you had told me he would be very displeased. You must be mindful of your words if you value your position in his court. I hunted and killed your people. Have you gone mad?" Gerda said with a shaky voice due to the shock flashing through her.

"And Percival is also responsible for such crimes yet they are overlooked even though he too did the queen's bidding. Everyone chooses to ignore how he remains unpunished and is freely allowed to roam our land and palace. Yet here you are being reminded every day of your wrongdoings." Celtra explained with a vexed voice.

"Yes...I suppose you are correct though none of it matters. I am what I am now. I serve no actual purpose other than mild entertainment for Borra." Gerda whispered brooding over the fact that Celtra was right when it came to Percival.

"I am correct and it bothers both Maleficent and Percival that I am the only one who sees it. You don't know how much I yearn to point that out to Borra but I worry about overstepping my place. Perhaps if he hears it from someone else...someone like you." Celtra quietly remarked, causing Gerda to scoff at her unrealistic request.

"You can't be serious. Borra could care less about what I have to say let alone take any opinion of mine to thought. I'm the last person he would listen to when it comes to such matters." Gerda answered feeling flabbergasted by Celtra's absurd suggestion.

"You have nothing to lose other than a wound to your pride if he chooses to ignore your words. I on the other hand have a lot to lose if he thinks I am questioning his judgment. Primarily since I am not a leader. I say it's worth a try on your end." Celtra conceded with a pressing gaze on Gerda.

Gerda returned her gaze with a guarded expression knowing that Celtra was correct. She despised that there was truth to her words. The thought of Percival remaining unpunished ate away at her brain. It felt like a veil was pulled off her face. It was indeed unfair how he held his position while she lost hers. How Borra and everyone else didn't see the hypocrisy in their ways baffled her.

The evening quickly faded into night with the fey continuing their festivities. Gerda couldn't cease the immense hunger that plagued her empty stomach. Celtra would occasionally sneak over pieces of food from her platter which aided in keeping Gerda from feeling faint. Borra had completely forgotten about her along with the rest of the fey who didn't spare a single glance her way. They were far too lost with their drinking which wasn't exactly a bad concept.

Gerda quietly stood waiting for Celtra to return with a fresh cup of water. However, it was clear that perhaps she had been distracted with conversation after time passed. Her assumptions were verified when she caught a glimpse of Celtra speaking to one of the human guards. It somewhat made her suspicious as to why one would choose Celtra to speak to out of all the other fey.

"Wishing you were free like them I see. However, it appears that you are treated quite fine here despite your new status. Tell me, why does he keep you in pristine condition?" A suave voice uttered beside her, belonging to Percival.

She didn't bother sparing a single glance his way only due to the need of upholding her calm composure. Her body stiffened already feeling his taunting expression lingering upon her. Instead, Gerda blankly stared at the busy crowd ahead of her. She concentrated on masking the sprout of hostility inside her.

"What do you want Percival? That question has already been answered by both Borra and Celtra, there's not much to add." Gerda sharply replied wondering what he could want.

"Just curious about your purpose to being his slave...perhaps he does enjoy breaking you. It's evident that he harbors so much hate towards you. I wonder how much longer he'll keep you alive." Percival declared causing Gerda to turn to him with a loathing glare.

"I am not 'broken'...now if you don't seal your lips it will be your jaw that's  broken." Gerda said with her voice rising inwardly boiling from his words.

"You've changed so much since we last spoke. The Gerda I knew would never allow her emotions to be so poorly displayed nor would words impact her. You are no longer in control of yourself whether you admit it or not. One look in your eyes and I could see that a part of you is indeed broken." Percival pointed out with his eyes observing her.

She stood quiet feeling shame course through her frame. His observation of her was concerning. Gerda knew that parts of her had slowly chipped away during her time with the fey but was it that obvious? She noticed how hard it now was to keep her outbursts contained but never pondered on it. The person she had once been no longer existed.

"The Gerda you knew is gone but do not for a moment mistake it for weakness. Perhaps my time among these creatures made me untamed just like them." Gerda bluntly hissed, only scowling when he in turn chuckled at her.

"I suppose living among them has indeed changed you into one of them. It's interesting to see what you have become. As I have said, it won't be long before he rids himself of you." Percival once again pointed out which baffled Gerda.

She wondered why his treatment towards her was so cold because she never recalled offending him back in Ulstead. She had assumed that they were both on decent terms since they had gotten along so well. It was all so bizarre to her.

"Why do you carry so much resentment towards me? We have never crossed each other in Ulstead, if anything I thought of us to be well acquainted." Gerda asked furrowing her brows in confusion.

"You went behind my back and conspired with the Queen to slaughter these creatures on the prince's wedding day. You both kept me in the dark because had I known you were going to massacre them, I would have never allowed it to happen. You have also secretly given out orders to hunt and steal fey to experiment on them." Percival curtly said with accusation in his narrowed eyes.

"You hated them all just as much as I did so don't stand here acting righteous with me. You too played a role in the queen's plans and have fey blood stained on your hands. My crimes are no different than yours." Gerda coldly replied feeling her cheeks heat up from sizzling anger.

"Is that what you tell yourself to feel somewhat justified with what you did? The difference between us is that I don't kill unless in an active battle. You relentlessly slaughtered innocent lives without an ounce of remorse. Those fey were unarmed and had no intention of causing harm to you or anyone. They simply came to celebrate what they assumed was to be a wedding but in return ended in bloodshed." Percival hotly answered with a stern, harsh glare.

Gerda felt her body numb up with his words hitting her at full force. He made her mind collapse with a brew of emotions and thoughts. She muddled over his perspective. Was what she had done to these creatures justified? It was true that they were unarmed but at the time it didn't matter to her. She had never considered the creatures to be of significance. However, after spending time living with them she noticed they were sentient beings.

Celtra had shown her that they were capable of being more than just empty vessels. Borra had shown that they were capable of feeling emotion even though all she received from him was hate and anger. She had experienced both kindness and cruelty from them. It only meant that they were somewhat no different than humans. Gerda quickly shook such a thought out of her mind not wanting to view them like her kind. She then cleared her mind and stared at Percival with a blank expression.

"Every war has its casualties...you of all people should know that Percival." Gerda replied, attempting to hide the quivering sensation of guilt that filled her.

"And you of all people should know that it's a cowardly move to kill without reason especially if your opponent is unarmed. You had gone too far Gerda and now you are paying the price for it. Maleficent tells us how much Borra hates every fiber of your being. He wished to slowly torture you but the agreement he has with Ulstead currently prevents it." Percival replied in a condescending tone allowing his words to soak into Gerda before continuing.

"He was relatively gruesome when it came to the methods of torture he desired to inflict on you. One of them was skinning you alive section by section." Percival said with his eyes now studying the crowd of fey.

"You're merely attempting to cast fear into me just like Rayne." Gerda scoffed, rolling her eyes at Percival's lies.

"Whether you choose to believe me or not doesn't matter. I know he has the desire to kill you along with making it slow and excruciating. Borra admitted that he intends to request you into his chambers and skin you alive then toss your carcass off the balcony for the animals to feast upon. Why else do you think he has been ordering you into his chambers?" Percival whispered, causing Gerda to pale and stiffen at his words.

She immediately glanced up at him with panicked eyes wondering how he knew about her being in Borra's chambers. Even if someone within the castle had told him, it was still eerie to hear Percival describe a major detail about Borra's room. Could that be why Borra studied her in great detail when they were on his balcony? Perhaps he was truly imagining how he would carve the skin from her face. It would explain why his eyes lingered on her body whenever she was in his presence. Was he fantasizing about which section of her body he would start with?

[gaylenightingale]

And Now my main contribution to @inusessweek

Little did commercial pilot Captain Inuyasha Takahashi know, but this flight from Japan to Europe would forever change his life. AU, OOC, fusion fiction for InuSess week 2024. COMPLETE in 15 chapters. Two chapters every day this week. Prompts from TMBLR @inusessweek

@snowinjuly-creator