#Giant Canyon Passage

[s-soulwriter]

Fantasy place (which you can use for your story)

Some fantasy places you can use for your next story .

Luminoth Hollow: A subterranean cavern filled with glowing crystals that emit soothing light. Luminoth Hollow is home to a race of peaceful, bioluminescent creatures who communicate through light patterns.

Zephyria: A floating archipelago of lush, skyborne islands, tethered together by colossal, living vines. Each island has its unique ecosystem and is inhabited by winged creatures who navigate the skies between them.

Aurora Glade: A tranquil meadow hidden within a giant, sentient tree. The glade is bathed in eternal twilight and inhabited by gentle, dreamweaving creatures who protect the dreams of those who visit.

The Obsidian Spire: A towering, black monolith that pierces the heavens. It's said that at its peak lies a portal to another realm, guarded by enigmatic sentinels who test the worth of those who seek passage.

Eldertide Marsh: A mystical swamp where ancient, sentient trees rise from the waters, and luminous fireflies lead travelers along phosphorescent pathways. It's rumored that the marsh holds the key to unlocking forgotten knowledge.

Clockwork Citadel: A colossal, mechanical fortress powered by intricate gears and steam. Clockwork automatons serve as both guardians and caretakers, and the citadel houses a library containing the accumulated wisdom of the ages.

Whispering Sands: A desert where the dunes are constantly shifting, and the winds carry the whispers of long-forgotten spirits. At its heart stands an oasis of liquid crystal that reveals glimpses of the past and future.

The Eternal Library: A massive, floating island covered in towering bookshelves. Each book contains the life story of an individual, and the library is said to grant the power to rewrite destinies.

Gloomwood Thicket: A dense, enchanted forest perpetually cloaked in twilight. Within its shadows reside shadowy creatures that can manipulate time, making it a place of both wonder and danger.

Abyssal Abyss: An underwater realm where bioluminescent flora and fauna thrive. Merfolk and other aquatic beings have built stunning, glowing cities within deep-sea caves.

Sylvan Skylines: An archipelago of floating islands inhabited by tree-dwelling, bird-like beings who harness the power of wind and weather. They craft intricate bridges and pathways connecting their aerial homes.

Whispering Peaks: Towering, mist-shrouded mountains said to hold the knowledge of the cosmos. Monasteries and meditation chambers dot the landscape, where monks seek enlightenment through quiet contemplation.

The Emberforge: An underground forge where skilled blacksmiths craft legendary weapons and armor imbued with the essence of fallen stars. The air is filled with the sound of hammers on metal and the crackling of celestial flames.

The Crystal Canyons: A network of canyons adorned with enormous, glowing crystals that resonate with hauntingly beautiful melodies when touched. Nomadic crystal herders roam the canyons, taming the living crystals.

The Dreamer's Archipelago: A series of islands, each representing different dreams and nightmares. Travelers can enter these dreamscapes and interact with the inhabitants, who are manifestations of dreams themselves.

[nizar-dreams]

As amazing as Fantastic Beast is with all of the interesting creatures and additional lore, I loathe the take on the American Magical World. And not because American pride (‘Merica🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅) but because that might work in New York, but that social structure sure as fuck don’t work the farther west you get.

Each state is different, it gives them their charms, and each state also has… drumroll please 🥁🥁🥁🥁

NATIVE AMERICANS!!! Yes the people who’ve been on these lands since before the first of the 13 colonies even existed!!!

Can you imagine Magical America? The creatures who lived alongside tribes? The giant forests? Hell, the other sentient beings like the centaurs, goblins, elves, etc.? Imagine:

The great Rivers and Lakes guarded by the merfolk and swimming with the great salmons, occasionally assisting the tribes along their borders so they all may share what the waters have to offer them

The great Plains and Forests with centaur tribes being mighty and powerful, guardians of the lands and occasionally allying with the human tribes

Elves that are still short but mighty and healthy and who get mistaken for native children when they live alongside human tribes

Goblins living deep in the caves of mountains, living happily with little human interaction besides for trading for safe passages and materials.

Imagine the werewolves loving their inner wolves and having their own tribes and living peacefully in their homes.

Imagine that, for thousands, and hundreds of years they lived in peace, occasionally waring against themselves but things happen of course but they way the magic and earth had never been so healthy as it was. Gods imagine Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon? Or the Mojave Desert? The great basins, the plateaus…

And then, when the Europeans started claiming the land that the magical beings fought to protect the lands they have lived on for centuries, the creatures of the forest hiding the remnants of their great lands from human eyes and hands, protecting the magic that slowly dies as the land gets destroyed and the magical beings who called those lands home started to die and could no longer protect the land.

That they tried to cling and hide and fight for their homes with whatever they could, but when the magical Europeans got involved it just went to hell for the magical beings.

The Native Reservations, National Parks/Lands, and deep into the mountains, are some of the few places that magical creatures can live in relative peace. The centaurs are not as many, and the elves either live on the reservations or the forests. The goblins are not like their European kin, but they are not the same as they were, now instead of trade for safe passage it is trade for protection of human materials or trading for goblin creations. The merfolk have perished in most lakes and rivers where humans have polluted or hunted their food to extinction. The magical creatures who once lived on the land are either hunted down for sport or for being declared born of hell.

Now imagine Ilvermorny, created by a mother who wanted her children to learn magic, and turned into a way for tribes to take shelter and teach their ways as well as learn other ways for magic. The school cropping up in the midst of Magical Americas downfall becomes a place that the few tribes not driven out of their home learn different form of magic while creating a foundation for Native American magic to survive and be taught in the school. Imagine multiple sister schools (because America is too big for there ti be only one school) to the original Ilvermorny being created to teach, to embrace and preserve a culture they refuse to let be erased.

Years later and it is a core course that gets taught, and keeps a part of a culture alive that was on the bring of complete erasure.

Imagine that when African slaves started appearing and become enslave, those who escaped and found themselves at Ilvermorny schools, they started teaching their magics as well. Then as more minorities started to appear in America, so did the lessons in certain Ilvermorny schools where these minorities were prevalent.

America is a cauldron full of magical cultures being mixed, and Ilvermorny is the first to openly teach different magical cultures. The southern schools involve more Mexican, Spaniard, some French, and African magical courses, while the north is more French. The east coast is more influenced by British magics, while the west coast is influenced by the Spaniard, Chinese, and Russian.

They all had their own mix and all have the main course shared by the people who lived their first, but magical america is sooo much more more fascinating and so young still! There is still so much that I can’t possibly cover without a month of research! And we haven’t even reached the southern hemisphere!

Fantastic Beast is great, but it’s missing the uniqueness and complexity of America. And I can only dip a finger into the endless possibilities of the magical American world.

[afanofmanyhats]

The air was suffocatingly thick with despair. Lesovikk tightened his grip on the cliffside as he slowly shimmied across the stone. Below him a group of Manas rumbled as they swung fierce blows at each other. Whether it was a genuine fight to the death or simply a way to pass the time, Lesovikk couldn't tell. He simply thanked Mata Nui that his Faxon gave him the lizard-like camouflage and climbing ability to make it past them. The last time he had tried to infiltrate Karzahni had ended with several bruises and a crushed pauldron due to bad tactics on his part.

What else is new, he thought darkly. It wouldn't be the first time my plans got someone killed.

His foot caught onto a loose stone. His weight shifted, and he managed to grab a better foothold just as the shale fell down to the roiling mass of Rahi below. He held his breath as the rocks pattered against a monster's shell. It didn't bother to look up as a different Manas had just slammed a claw into its treads. Lesovikk let out his breath and continued, even more careful this time.

It was slow going. The mountains that ringed Karzahni were blackened from soot, and the ash-choked wind made it hard to breathe. At the same time he was chilled to the bone; no warmth would be found here. Yet he kept climbing, his mind burning as he made further progress into the domain of the damned.

When the Manas were beyond hearing, he finally lowered himself to the canyon floor. He sat for a moment and caught his breath. The air was colder, but clearer. The pain in his throat somehow revived him, and he soon stood back up.

I won't turn back this time. Sarda, Idris, Piruk- everyone, I won't leave without you.

He kept his camouflage, his armor blending into the rough grey and cold black of the rocks. He followed the canyon's passage until he finally saw an opening into a wider space. At the edges of the wall he spotted two figures on either side. He moved to duck out of sight until he realized they were too small to be Manas. Matoran, maybe?

He crept forward, cautious of any traps Karzahni or his minions may have set down. He detected nothing. As he drew closer, his caution turned to curiosity, then to confusion. They were statues. Rather than depicting guards, as he would have expected, they were Matoran. Bizarrely shaped, gangly Matoran, but Matoran all the same. They sat on rocks, one holding a pickaxe and the other a chisel. Their expressions seemed weary beyond all belief.

They must be a warning to what awaits the Matoran who come here. Toil without reward.

As he passed, Lesovikk got the uncanny feeling they were watching him.

Lesovikk felt his heartlight dim as he surveyed the land before him. The sky was black with soot, illuminated only by the red glows of flames scattered throughout the region. Far in the distance he could see a twisted black metal citadel. Smoke billowed from countless chimneys, and the light glowing from the windows made it seem like a many-eyed monster was staring back at him. A giant gate opened its maw, and he could see tiny figures scurrying in and out of it.

Closer to him, the land was dry with pale sand, only broken up by rock spires, more statues resembling the ones he had just encountered, and twisted plants that didn't seem living. Further away, a collection of huts haphazardly grouped together were centered on a gloomy lake. They were Matoran-sized.

Could it be...? They look like the huts back home!

His pulse rising, Lesovikk began to hurry. If his hunch was right, then his journey would soon be over. Maybe he would be able to start his redemption properly. Even if he couldn't bring his team back, surely he could rescue his Matoran from the bowels of this hell.

One of the statues suddenly jerked up. Lesovikk stumbled in surprise and drew his blade. He leveled it as the figure creaked its joints, its mask turning to face him.

Lesovikk felt his blood freeze.

"Turaga Vrikol?"

He could hardly believe what he was seeing. The Turaga's limbs were crooked and thin, their movements jagged from lack of muscles. His hands were curled in, weakly grasping at air. His purple armor was pitted and rusted. What was most horrifying to the Toa of Air were the dull black pits where his eyes and heartlight were supposed to be.

"You... what are you doing here?" Lesovikk felt anger replacing his horror. The last he had seen this corpse, Turaga Vrikol had been babbling about how all the Matoran under his guidance - under Lesovikk's protection - had been flawed. Had been lazy, wasting their time with music and talking. Lesovikk had left him alone to wallow in an empty village.

The Turaga's head jerked up at Lesovikk's words. Lesovikk swallowed his disgust. He had never seen a Mask of Undeath working before. He never wanted to see it again.

The Turaga's voice was a husky, flat whisper, grating from an empty throat like a dull dagger drawn from its sheath. It was miles away from the soothing rich tones Lesovikk had once loved and respected.

"Gone. Sent away... I sent them away. And they were gone..."

"The Matoran? I'm getting them out of here. Do you know where they are?"

"Gone... I was gone. I was lost. I was sent away to seek the lost... I was lost... I was gone..."

"Turaga!" Lesovikk snapped. "Don't waste my time. What time you have is borrowed as it is. Tell me where they are!"

"Gone... Lost... Sent away... Gone... Lost... Sent away... Gone. Lost. Sent away."

Turaga Vrikol's voice began to change. It grew louder and deeper with each repetition. Lesovikk wanted to walk away, but he felt rooted in place like one of the statues. The Turaga began slowly stepping towards him, the pick that had once been his badge of office trailing in the sand behind him.

"Gone. Lost. Sent away. Gone! Lost! Sent away! Gone! Lost! Sent away! GONE! LOST! SENT AWAY!"

Vrikol's broken hand grabbed Lesovikk's arm as the sightless eyes turned up. Lesovikk saw a flare of green light in them as the Turaga screeched, "THEY'RE GONE! THEY'RE LOST TO ME! I CAN'T SEND THEM BACK!"

The words echoed into the cavernous valley. The flash faded from Vrikol's eyes and heartlight. The pick fell from his hand, and with a long, guttural sigh, the Turaga rolled onto his back.

Lesovikk stood there for a long while, dread gripping him in a vice.

Did he come here looking for them? Did... did he mean they're gone from here, or gone like he was? What did Karzahni do to my people?

He looked back at the citadel. Somehow he knew he would find no answers there. He looked back at the Turaga's body only to startle. There was a grey pallor creeping over the armor. The same shade of grey as the statues.

Those aren't statues.

Lesovikk choked back a scream. He took the pick and placed it into the Turaga's hand. He wouldn't be coming back here. There was nothing here for the Toa. He certainly wouldn't find the Matoran in these statues. But if there was a chance they were elsewhere in the universe, he would scour every last island for them.

We've failed you, my friends. But I won't stop searching.

He turned back to the canyon and walked away.

Behind him, Turaga Vrikol's eyes turned grey.

[writernopal]

🔎Warm Ups🔍

Just two little vignettes I wrote as warm ups today before diving into AASOAF. These come courtesy of my close good friends who provided four words of their choice for me to write whatever I saw fit. Their words are bolded in each passage. Enjoy or don't, do whatever you want! CW: None

People speak of bird’s eye views and sweeping vistas as though they are the most meaningful, oftentimes only way, to search for something beyond one’s grasp. But its so perfect, the view from earth. To see how the world pulls away and becomes mighty. To let the mind roam its unseen corners, and wonder how far it goes, where it ends, and who else, if anyone, has ever spied this point of endlessness. It’s religion for the godless man, to crane one’s eyes skyward—a genuflection of the mind from within the canyon of the soul. We are so lucky, to repent while standing, to repent from a place that is our own, and receive the crystalline will and word of a force unseen but felt all around us. One does not need to search far or wide. It is here. It is everywhere. It is nature, it is the vibrating connection which draws us together and shows us the outer limits of what we are and where our place is. Pay them no mind. The view is best from right where we stand.

Song inspo: In Fantasia - Kishi Bashi Prompt provided by: @illjustpretend

I looked into the eyes of fate. It showed me equal parts joy and pain, as we moved en masse, trailing the edge of a giant wheel and walking along its great spokes. Each was a tower, housing an aspect as yet unseen to the individual Us. Within the tower was a gauntlet. It tested Us, pulling the fibers of our being to see which we were stubborn to keep and which we were glad to see go. It showed me what we thought of the wheel, too. Many called it greedy, jealous, even evil. But what evil? What evil?! It was an old wheel, well traveled and worn, its surface pocked and splintered. Its tests outdated and predictable, if only we paid attention to them! Instead, millions of our human family kicked and screamed, damaging it under their feet. How could we, then, be so shocked the path had become dangerous when our turn came to cross it? It, too, lives as we do—divorced from its natural flora, confused at why it aches.

Song inspo: Ezio's Family - Jesper Kyd Prompt provided by: an IRL mutual

[dreamdepot]

Dreams of the Kingdom - Chapter 23: Skyward and Homeward

Previous < First > Next

AO3 Wattpad or below!

The dense forests of this ancient world were a far cry from the one you knew. Trees of all types seemed to grow like magic in the humid groves. There didn’t seem to be any signs of civilization, beyond the forlorn temple on a pond deep in a canyon. With night falling quickly, the three of you set up camp on the cliffside overlooking the temple.

The campfire crackled as you tossed some more wood on. Link beckoned you to his side as Kass tried his best to play an ocarina with one hand. His other wing was in a sling, thankfully only sprained. Fireflies danced around Link’s glowing form.

“I think they’ve made you their king,” you joked.

Link muttered something that sounded like “Not how I want to become royalty,” but it was too quiet to catch as Kass attempted to play. Link instead leaned into you. His light form still gave you the sensation of being close, even if it was with none of the weight of his actual body.

Kass said your thoughts aloud. “This just isn’t the same,” he muttered after his attempt at the Wind God’s Lyric.

“I thought it sounded pretty good,” Link said. “Livens things up a bit.” The sounds of the forest seemed to agree. Even in the darkness, the forest was alive with insects chirping and the warbling cries of birds as they settled into their nests. Occasionally, you’d even catch a deer walking through the underbrush.

Kass sighed. “No matter, I should be lucky to be alive. If you didn’t come to save me, Prince [Y/n], I don’t want to think about what could have happened.”

“Kass, we’ve been over this a million times, you can drop the ‘prince’ part.”

“Old habits, your majesty,” he laughed, putting the ocarina away. “Now, I think you mentioned you had a music question for me?”

“That’s right! I don’t have the sheets with me right now, but I need to know what Sharpe was working on. He said there was a song I needed to know that had five parts. I know three so far: the Song of Time, the Song of Healing, and the Requiem of Spirit. Any idea what the other two are, or why he wanted me to find them?”

“I’m afraid I’m not sure what Master was planning for you with these songs.” Kass clicked his beak. “Wait, I think I remember something. In his notes, he had another song he often referenced with those three… I believe it’s known as the Oath to Order. It’s said to be an ancient song that summoned the giants to hold up the sky.”

“The Oath to Order? That seems odd… the other songs have to do with the passage of time and passing of spirits.”

Kass shrugged, or at least as best he could with the sling. “Master knew the ancient songs and musical history of Hyrule better than anyone. The only similarities I can see are that the songs all come from the same era of Hyrule’s history, likely all known by the Hero of Time.”

Your face fell. “I hope he’s okay.”  

“I’m sure he will be. The heroes of the past are heroes for a reason after all.”

“True,” you said. You leaned back into Link, thinking about everything you had seen while traveling through Hyrule’s past. Kass attempted to play another song as you stared at the sky.

Just as you were finally relaxing, the hair on the back of your neck stood on end. Your hand instinctively wrapped around your Royal Claymore. You were thankful that Zelda let you keep the weapons from fighting the false Calamity. “Wait, wait, wait, shh!” you hissed. “Do you hear that?”

Kass blinked, lowering the ocarina. “What’s wrong? I don’t hear anything.”

“Exactly,” Link said, hunkering down and scanning the tree line. The forest had gone dead silent. Suddenly, an eerie sound, almost like a giggle, echoed through the trees before falling to silence again. “It came from the temple,” he hissed.

You crept to the canyon edge on your stomach, peeking over the side. Dark clouds of gloom spewed from the temple. “We need to get down there. Kass, since your wing is healing, you can stay here.”

By the time you looked back, Kass had already doused the fire and was grabbing a rope. “With all due respect, your majesty, you’re crazy if you think I’m going to miss exploring more of the past.”

==============================

Of all the things you expected to see, a beautiful fountain spring filled with the most pure, crystalline water was not it. The temple surrounded a massive statue which served as both the central support and the central access shaft for the temple’s upper floors. “I never imagined there was anything like this,” Kass muttered as the three of you climbed the central shaft. “Nor something so… gilded.”

“Even in our past Hyrule, nothing was like this. This is almost divine,” you muttered. Everything seemed to glow with energy, and even minor sculpture details in the walls seemed to be lined with gold.

Soon you reached the top floor. A massive door must have blocked it off, but someone had unlocked it recently. You had barely entered the top room when you were nearly knocked off your feet. “Make way! He-e-elp!” You’d never seen a Goron run so fast. Scrolls and camping supplies fell out of his pack as he ran out of the next room.

“What the hell?” You turned to poke your head in and see what had him so frightened when a scimitar narrowly missed your head. “Eeep!”

“Get back!” Link shouted.

Suddenly, the temple began to shake as the wall cracked. The wall collapsed, revealing a golden automaton – and the source of that eerie laugh. Its empty eyeholes wept tears of gloom. It wielded six scimitars, each as long as you were tall and deadly sharp. It took a staggering step forward, shaking the temple. “Run!” you shouted.

The three of you scrambled after the Goron as the monster lumbered after you. With each step, the temple floor started to crack. “Over here!” The Goron shouted from an alcove. Suddenly, the floor gave way. You leaped for the alcove, just barely catching the Goron’s hand as the automaton plummeted to the bottom of the temple, crashing through the bottom of the shaft and into a bone-filled pit.

“I got ya!” He heaved you up to the edge.

Once you finally caught your breath, you gave him a nod. “Thanks, I owe you.”

“Nothin’ to worry about brother, such is the way of exploring these old temples.” He wiped his brow with an old rag. “Name’s Gorko, I’m an archaeologist.”

“[Y/n],” you said. “This is my boyfriend Link and my friend Kass. You could say we’re archaeologists too.”

Gorko studied the two. “Well, you’re the strangest bunch I’ve ever seen. No offense of course, a guy like me fits right in, eh?” He let out a hearty laugh.

“What brings you here?”

“Ah, yeah, the Ancient Cistern here was supposedly built back in the time of Hylia herself. I had to take a look, even to get a glimpse of the past civilization, and wow! Never expected to find all of this!”

“You could say that again,” Kass muttered.

“Hey, is anyone up there?” You looked down to see two people looking up the shaft. One appeared to be another Link but the other was far more interesting to you.

“Lady Fi,” you muttered under your breath. “Well, that makes it easy on what time we’re in.”

“Heeey!” Gorko shouted down. “Long time no see!”

Suddenly you remembered. “Look out! The monster’s below you!”

This Link cocked his head to the side. The whole temple trembled. You could see the automaton slowly climbing its way up using its swords as climbing anchors. Wasting not a second, you jumped out into the open air and drew your bow, firing several arrows – just enough to destabilize the automaton and send it crashing back down into the pit. You popped open your paraglider to slow your descent. “You make me a lot more nervous when I can’t fight,” Link complained as he materialized by your side.

“Not made of glass, babe.”

“I know,” he said with a soft look. “But I’m still gonna worry.”

The other Link was soon descending next to you, holding a sailcloth. Fi floated by his side, watching the monster. “Hi, uh… who are you?”

“We’ll explain later, first we need to take care of that thing.”

Fi’s eyes flashed. “Koloktos, the Ancient Automaton. It was designed to defend the Ancient Cistern and eliminate intruders. I am unsure of what cursed energy now powers it, but the red, orb-shaped cores embedded in its body provide it limited stability. Master, it is highly probably ejecting the cores would cause the unit to lose structural integrity.”

“Thanks Fi,” the other Link, who you decided to call Sky for now, said. “Ready?”

“Race ya,” you said, closing your paraglider. You fell and landed with a roll on a gruesome pile of bones. Koloktos wasted no time in turning its eerie fixed smile towards you. Deep in its chest behind a metal grate, you could see a pulsing red core. It was too difficult a target with your bow and bombs didn’t look effective, but perhaps you could use something else. For now, you pulled out your claymore.

Koloktos swung its terrible arms, narrowly missing you. The swords stuck in the bones, just long enough for you to cleave one of the weak spots with your claymore. The arm fell to the ground with a clang. “Nice!” Sky cheered, undoing another with his whip.

Koloktos recovered quicker than expected, pushing you back with successful swings. Suddenly, your foot got stuck in the bone pile. Your claymore fell out of your hands, too far to reach. Koloktos raised its arms high.

“[Y/N]!!” Link shouted. Time seemed to slow as he dove in front of you. The scimitar came down, closer and closer to his torso. Dread filled your chest.

For the briefest of moments, Link’s body became solid, a silver cuirass pure as moonlight materialized over him. His eyes seemed different; his face briefly covered in the bloody war paint you saw as he had fought Ganondorf. The scimitar shattered as it made contact. Light blasted up Koloktos’ arm, dispelling the darkness, and the arm fell to the ground in useless scrap.

Then, as quick as it was there, the light was gone, and Link fell into your arms back to normal – or at least the new normal light form. “Are you okay?” you both asked each other at the same time.

“Guys, later!” Sky shouted, pulling Koloktos back with his whip.

“Right,” you said, grabbing one of the fallen scimitars. It was weighty, but nothing to you. With Koloktos distracted, you charged in and swung, taking out the automaton’s legs in a single swipe. Koloktos slammed into the ground, the grate on its chest shaking. You wasted no time smashing it open with the scimitar, revealing the pulsating core. Before trying again, you stopped for a split second, realizing corruption would probably need something a bit more powerful. “Hey swordsman! All yours!”

Koloktos squealed, trying to move, but you quickly cleaved off its remaining arms. The Goddess’ Chosen raised his holy sword high as the power of Hylia filled the blade. “Hyaaah!” A beam of light shot from the sword, piercing the gloom and shattering the core.

Koloktos trembled, filling up with gloom, leaning forward towards you before freezing. With one final giggle, it shattered, falling to the ground as scrap metal as the gloom was purged for good. “Thank goodness for that,” your Link said, floating to your side.

You, meanwhile, were distracted. “Oh, hello beautiful,” you cooed, stroking the massive scimitar. “Don’t you wanna come home with me?” The image of Ganondorf running from your massive new friend was beautiful.

“Ahem,” your boyfriend muttered.

“Right, sorry.”

Sky walked over, Heart Container in hand. “Wow, thanks for the help. Kinda did things out of order, but it sure is nice having someone else to fight with for a change.”

Fi emerged from the sword. “Master, perhaps we could convince Groose to help us?”

Sky scratched the back of his head. “That’s… certainly an idea.”

“Lady Fi! It’s good to see you again!” You bowed to the sword spirit, though both Links and Fi looked at you in confusion. “Oh… right. I guess we haven’t met yet?”

Fi studied you. “Master, I have detected an anomaly of time. Parameters for the margin of error have been exceeded. Please allow me a moment to recalibrate to the fluctuation in spacetime.” Fi’s eyes lit up for a brief second as she touched your forehead. Her body began to glow as one of her legs became etched with Zonai runes. “Synchronization complete. My apologies. Greetings Master Link and Master [Y/n]. It is good to see you again, or perhaps it is more appropriate to say for the first time.”

Sky looked at you in confusion. “What?”

Her eyes flashed again. “Yes, Master Link of Skyloft, this is Master Link of Hyrule. This is his partner, Prince [Y/n] Daltus Hyrule, current regent of the kingdom while Princess Zelda is absent and future-”

“Wait!” You shouted. “We should be careful about giving away too much.”

“A wise decision, Prince [Y/n],” Fi said.

“High-rule?” Sky asked.

“It’s a long story,” you said, “but basically we’re from your distant future.”

“Your majesty?” Kass’ voice echoed down the shaft. “It’s gotten rather quiet down there, are you okay?”

“We’re fine, Kass!” You turned back to Sky and Fi. “How about we explain on the way back up?”

==============================

Soon, you were reunited with Kass and Gorko at the top of the temple. “Wow, I can’t believe you managed to take that thing down!” Gorko said, clapping you on the back. Sure enough, the familiar burst of light – this time red – flowed from his chest and floated into the sky. “I would’ve been a goner, good thing I have friends looking out for me!”

“We would advise caution in the future,” Fi muttered. “Perhaps it would be best to not explore dangerous places alone.”

Gorko laughed. “Perhaps so!”

You gave a sly smile to Kass, whose feathers fluffed up. “Yes, message received. I will be careful in the future as well.”

“Good.”

Gorko said his farewells and wandered off, likely to continue exploring regardless of the warning. Meanwhile, you and your friends followed Sky and Fi. “Oh, you’re hurt,” Sky said to Kass. “Here, one second.” He reached into his pouch and pulled out a bottle with a fairy. He popped the cork, and the little pink fairy zipped around the room before flying over to Kass’ wing. With a little burst of magic, the fairy zoomed away.

“Oh wow, it’s back to normal! Thank you ever so much!” Kass said.

“It’s no trouble at all,” Sky smiled. “I hate seeing anyone get hurt.”

The five of you made your way into the temple’s deepest sanctum. Here, an altar stood with a floating emblem of Hylia. Sky struck it again with his glowing skyward strike and the emblem began to glow, as did a crest on the wall. A beautiful green flame burst from the altar. Fi floated towards the flames, and the fire engulfed her, causing her body to glow. The flames then leaped from her to Sky’s sword. In a burst of light, the blade changed shape, refining into a longsword.  

“Wait, what was that?!” you blurted out. “How did you reforge the sword like that? We need to do that in our time!”

“Reforge?” Fi asked. Her eyes flashed for a moment. “Ah yes, based off of your story, I have come to a conclusion. What you seek is properly known by several names, the True Master Sword, the Golden Sword, or most well-known, the Blade of Evil’s Bane. To do this, power must be gathered from the goddesses. Master Link of Skyloft and I are in progress towards completing this task now by seeking the Sacred Flames as you have seen.” Sky looked lost, and understandably so, but Fi was not going to wait.

“Any chance we can borrow some of that sacred flame?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“My apologies, Master [Y/n], but the flame of this time would still be a part of me in the future. What you would need is a different flame of Farore.”

“I see,” You frowned. “What if the direct power from the goddesses isn’t an option?”

Fi thought for a moment. “Conjecture. There is a possibility the future sword could be repowered with a ‘jump-start’ through infusing the sword with power from other holy objects. Normally this would be impossible, but if you have gathered energy from other heroes, I calculate a likelihood of 87.5% success.”

“Any way we can increase those odds?”

Fi looked you over. “You have come in contact with these, haven’t you? Din’s Flame and Nayru’s Flame. If you were to perhaps find a piece of the Triforce, likelihood increases to 99.9%.”

That did explain the flames from before. “I don’t suppose you could help dowse for those?”

Fi didn’t understand your joke and met you with a blank stare. “I’m afraid my dowsing capabilities would not help across such a vast expanse of time.”

You groaned. Sky was still lost but patted your back. “Hey, it’s alright, I’m sure you’ll find something.”

“Yeah, we will,” your Link said, placing his arm around you.

“Thanks guys, guess we just need to keep trying, right?”

Suddenly a blue portal opened in front of you, and out stumbled a familiar face. Time groaned. “Finally! Can’t you stay in one place?”

“You’re okay!”

Time laughed. “Those things are nothing compared to Dead Hands. Quit stalling though, you need to get going. Longer you stay this far back in the timeline… well, let’s not think what that could cause.” You winced. Time’s gaze fell on your Link. “I’m not even gonna ask.”

Fi flew before you. “Master [Y/n], I wish you the best of luck. And thank you,” she said with a bow, “for looking after Master Link and I in the future.”

You bowed back. “Of course, Lady Fi.”

“Don’t forget to change the batteries on your Wii Remote,” she said, before disappearing back into the sword. Some quirks never change.

Sky smiled. “Good luck. I don’t understand it all, but I hope we can meet again sometime.”

Your Link gave him a look. “Of course, just practice your racing skills in the meantime.”

“What?”

With that, Time ushered the three of you into the portal. The portal had barely closed before he hurried you on your way. “Come on, you three have a long trip home… though we might do a rest stop on the way.”

You gave Time a look as he hurried you down the corridor. “What do you mean?”

Time gave you a wry smile, but he kept looking around – likely on the lookout for more Gloom Hands. “Keeping my promise. I’ll give you an hour – long enough for me to call in a favor before taking you home. Just don’t talk to the Link or Zelda of this time, whatever you do.”

“A favor? Wait, you’re not making sense-”

“Have fun, Prince.” Time said, gently nudging you through the portal.

==============================

You and Kass landed with a thump on something soft for once – a bed! A cloud of dust billowed around you – clearly it hadn’t been used in some time. Link materialized out of his hairband. “Where are we now?” Kass coughed.

“Oh shit… [Y/n]?” Link murmured.

You looked up and your heart stopped. The giant bed, the beautiful view of Castle Town, the row of weapons hung on the wall. “It’s my room.”

Kass’ eyes grew wide. “Does that mean…?”

“Yeah, Link and I are home.” You took a hesitant step out. Like Zelda’s room, your bedroom was two floors, a bedroom and study on the top floor and a small reception area on the bottom. For a moment, you let your eyes wander around your room before turning to the balcony, cracking open the door. It protested a bit as you broke the heavy layer of dust. You looked out on the courtyard, watching the Sheikah test a Guardian. Despite looking so close to the alternate Hyrule you were just at, everything felt… right. This was your home, no matter where in time and space you were.

Or at least it was.

Out of the corner of your eye, you caught a glimpse of your father, lecturing Zelda while Link remained stoic by her side. You ducked behind a stone column. They were too far away to hear, but you didn’t want to chance them seeing you. As King Rhoam left, Zelda retreated to her laboratory, slamming the door behind her. You heaved a sigh and returned to your room, shutting the doors behind you.

“You okay?” Link asked.

“I will be.”

Just then, the main door squeaked. A young Sheikah man with messy hair stood in the doorway, frozen in shock as he stared at you. Your heart soared, seeing him alive and well. “Hey Sharpe,” you said with a lopsided smile. “So… I know this is gonna take a bit to explain, but I need you to stay calm and…” Sharpe was already starting to hyperventilate, his eyes darting around the room as he started to slide back. “Yeah, that’s fair. Kass, grab him!” The young maestro shuffled to try to run, but Kass held him in place. You slapped your hand over his mouth just in time to muffle his scream as Kass drug him inside, kicking the door shut behind him.

The two of you let him go and he flattened himself against the floor, wide-eyed. “What the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck…”

“Sharpe, it’s okay, breathe. I’m not a ghost. See?” You patted his chest. “See, solid.”

“Y-Y-Yiga!” He squeaked.

You rolled your eyes. “Category three, Wildberry Crepe.” He still trembled, though now trying to look a little braver, and you groaned. “Okay, if you wanna be difficult… your diary is hidden in a secret catch inside your piano. You have a birthmark shaped like Necluda on your ass, complete with a mole where Hateno Village is. You have a huuuuge crush on my sister, but that’s no secret. One night when you drank a little too much wine, you tried to make out with me on the bal-”

Link was suddenly by your side. “He did what now?”

“OKAY STOP!” He was no longer frozen in fear, but rather with embarrassment. He looked at you through his fingers. “Asshole.”

You just gave him a smile. “Hey Sharpe. Missed you.”

He glared at you but pulled you into a bonecrushing hug. He sniffled. “I come to you room every day, hoping you’d be back, like it’s all some dumb joke. You… you… you can’t just disappear like that!”

“I didn’t have a choice.”

He pulled back, eyes puffy with tears. “You’re old.”

“Fuck you too.”

“No, like, you’re older?”

“I know,” you laughed. “Believe me I’ve got a lot to explain.”

He looked warily over your shoulder. “Does it include why you’ve got a buff bird buddy and a ghost that looks like Link following you?”

“It’s a long story, but we don’t have a ton of time here. Short version, didn’t die, woke up in a century, embodiment of evil attacking Hyrule, looking for ways to stop him. Link is… a bit out of body right now, and this is Kass, a musician who can probably give you a run for your money.”

Sharpe stared at you. “I have… many questions.”

==============================

Kass and Link agreed to give you and Sharpe some time alone, moving to the bottom floor. After explaining everything, you finished with future Sharpe’s message to you. The present Sharpe flopped down on your bed and stared at the ceiling. “So, future me told you there’s five parts, but you only know four…”

“Any idea?”

Sharpe frowned. “None. It’s a combination of a bunch of songs… but I’m not sure why. It’s gotta have some meaning though.”

You nodded. “That’s what we were thinking until Kass suggested the Oath to Order. I thought it all had to do with time and death but that one throws off the guess.”

“Does sound like something I’d do. Without the last piece though, I can’t say what it’s meant for. Maybe, I composed the last bit later? I mean, according to you, I’m around for about ninety more years anyway.”

“You’re taking your future death pretty well.”

“Eh, I clearly lived a full life, and if your friend Kass is half as excited about music as I am, then I think I did a good job.” He then shot you a smug look. “So, did you and Link finally get together?”

“Five years now, I’m getting ready to propose to him.”

“Aww, I’m so happy for you! It’s about time, but I guess it only makes sense it’d take a century for you two to finally confess. How’d you do it by the way?”

“I mean, technically by a letter, but I did kiss him right before he went to fight the Calamity.”

Sharpe stared at you. “Really? It took the damn Calamity to get you to confess?”

“He lost his memory! What was I supposed to do, tell him off the bat – ‘Hey, you don’t know me, but I’ve been crushing on you my whole life?!’”

“YES!”

“This is why you are single.”

Sharpe gasped. “Low blow, man.”

Link called up from below. “Everything alright?”

“Yes,” Sharpe said, rolling his eyes. “Your boyfriend just told me how he confessed to you.”

Link’s body suddenly took a pinker tinge. “It… it was a nice kiss…”

Sharpe shrugged. “See, you would’ve been fine.”

Just then, the portal opened again. You groaned, wishing it could have been longer. “Guys, time to go!” As you waited for them to come upstairs, your eyes wandered outside to Zelda’s laboratory tower again. You wanted to tell Zelda, to warn her or to try to help her, to do anything that might make the next century easier, but what could you do?

“She’s doing well, you know,” Sharpe said.

“Well as she can be,” you muttered. “She told me about this in the future. I wish I was here. I could’ve helped or something.”

Sharpe sighed. “Believe me, I’ll be the first to say I wish you were here, but I think it works out for the best that you end up in the future, right?”

You thought about everyone you had met in future Hyrule and all of the good you had done. “Yeah, I guess so. I guess this is what Time meant about Ganondorf being too stuck in the past.”

“We can learn from the past, but we have to keep moving forward,” Sharpe agreed. “Which… I guess is a way of saying, you have to go back now, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, sorry…”

Sharpe looked at the ground, clenching his fists. He took a deep breath then looked up at you with a determined look. “Then it’s not farewell. It’s until next time, right? We’ll meet again.”

“Right,” you said, pulling him into a hug. Kass and Link waited for you at the portal. You let go, reluctantly. “Good luck, Sharpe.”

“I’m the one who should be wishing you good luck,” he laughed. “Maybe I’ll write a song about you in the meantime. Though you may be alone, one day you’ll come home. Hmm, that might be something.”

“I think so,” Kass said with a smile. “It was good seeing you.”

“And I look forward to getting to know you, Kass,” Sharpe said with a grin. “Better practice, I’m gonna find some way to play with you after I die. It’ll be the best concert of all time!”

==============================

Upon entering the portal, you realized Time was not alone. This time, he had another warrior, clearly another Link. This Link was also older and clearly had lots of experience in his adventures. Unlike Time’s blond hair or your Link’s wheat hair, this Link’s hair was tinged with red that – in the right light – looked almost pink. “The pit stop was another Link?” You asked.

“I decided we needed a little extra help,” Time said with a grin. “This guy knows Ganon better than any of us.”

“Nice to meet you,” you said, holding out your hand for a handshake.

The new Link took your hand and instead pulled you into a bear hug. “So, you’re the prince; heard a lot about you! My name’s Link, but you know that. And don’t listen to Time, he’s blowing it out of proportion.”

“He’s being modest, he’s fought Ganon twice – three times if you ask me though,” Time said. “Your majesty, I’d like to introduce the Hero of Legend.”

“Hero of… HERO OF LEGEND?” Kass blurted out. “The hero who saved Hyrule, Holodrum, and Labrynna?!”

“And Koholint,” you added quietly.

“Guilty,” Legend said. “Sorry I didn’t get to meet you when you were visiting my era. Glad Time dropped by to pick me up.”

Your Link crossed his arms. “You said we needed extra help. Why?”

Time’s face fell. “I don’t believe in taking chances if Ganondorf’s involved. An extra security detail never hurts.”

Time led the way down the corridor. Despite Legend’s more jovial appearance, he already had his sword drawn as you walked across a century back home. “This is certainly more comfortable than using the Harp of Ages,” Kass muttered.

“Oh, you found Nayru’s harp?” Legend said, though his eyes never stopped scanning the area ahead. “I never really played with it to go to other eras beyond what I needed to. Unlike someone…”

“I can’t help it if I’m better at time travel,” Time joked.

Link sighed. “I’ve had enough time travel for a lifetime. Sooner we get home the better.”

“Agreed,” you muttered. “Wait… what’s that?”

With the edge of the corridor just a few feet away, you hoped you would be returning to the Great Sky Island, but instead you found a ghostly image of Ganondorf. “Ah, I’ve finally found you, little blossom,” Ganondorf sneered. “Quite the hiding place.” With a wave of his hand, three Phantom Ganons rose from the ground, blocking your exit. They were more powerful than before, now emulating Ganondorf’s stronger, revitalized form instead of the desiccated corpse. “You’ve been quite busy, undoing my plans. I see you’ve made some friends…a few brats I hoped I’d never see again.”

Time and Legend both glared at Ganondorf’s image. “You really don’t know when to quit, you old geezer,” Time muttered.

“Be happy to kill you again,” Legend spat.

Your own Link looked ready to combust. “If I had my sword right now…”

The Links and Ganondorf stared each other down. The portal back to the Temple of Time was just on the other side of the Phantoms. Priority one was to get Kass to safety, followed by Link. You had to keep Ganondorf distracted until you could think of a plan. “I see you’re still chained below the castle.”

Ganondorf snorted. “It doesn’t change anything. My influence still reaches across all of Hyrule and beyond. I’ve almost achieved my dreams. The final piece is you.”

“Like hell it is,” Link growled, standing in front of you.

Ganondorf snorted. “Begone, pest.” A burst of gloom blasted forward, smashing into Link. In an instant, his light form disappeared into thin air.

“LINK!”

Time held you back. “He’ll be fine. The real Link will be safe back home in your time.”

You shook. “Right… but that doesn’t mean he won’t pay for that. RAAAGH!” You charged with your claymore, only to be stopped in place. Your body locked up.

“Foolish boy,” Ganondorf growled. “Haven’t you learned that you’re powerless to fight against me? What part of ‘bound to me’ do you fail to understand? You are mine for eternity!”

“He might not be able to fight you, but we can!” Time and Legend shouted, flanking you.

The Phantoms swarmed them as you were pushed back, both heroes blocking them from you. “Kass, go!” you shouted. You wracked your brain for what to do, the portal was still too far away for you to make a break for it. At least Kass could now fly over the Phantoms to safety.

This way, please.

You searched for the voice, finding a disembodied hand rise up from the corridor floor.

Quickly. Ganondorf won’t be able to follow us, I promise to get you home, [Y/n].

You hesitated, looking back at Time and Legend. Thankfully, Kass was safely through the portal.

Those two are far more experienced than you think. They will be fine.

You took a deep breath. Out of options, you took the hand and plunged through the stream of time once more.

==============================

You now stood in an endless void surrounded by fog and mist. At first it reminded you of the vision of the Sage of Wind, but instead of a rock garden, you were at the edge of a jungle temple. As the mists began to clear, you realized you were at the Dracozu River, once home to a dragon cult. The temple was frozen in time, looking ancient yet brand new. You walked through the shallow, pure water of the river towards the temple.

From the mists emerged someone you knew well. He stood tall and proud in his traditional robes, minus the usual headdress. Instead, he opted to tie his long white hair into a topknot. You weren’t sure if it was narcissistic to say, but your previous life was a beautiful man. It was no wonder Ganondorf was smitten. He welcomed you with a warm smile.

“Hello, [Y/n]. It’s good to finally have a proper conversation with you.”

==============================

A/N: Sorry for the delay, was sick most of this week, so chapter slipped a bit.

Ancient Cistern and Koloktos, my beloved. Even though I’m not the biggest fan of Skyward Sword as a whole, Ancient Cistern is one of my favorite dungeons in the entire series.

This chapter had a small deleted line I was so tempted to include, but couldn’t make it work:

Gorko (holding an artifact): “This must be back from ancient times!”

Prince: “We’re in ancient times!”

Next week, Sheik and home at last! We’re heading into the final story arc.

[atalkosys]

The Tower by Loren Atalko

She opens her eyes to the amber light of the furnace. It feels like it's been an eternity here. The other girls are still here too, their bodies laid strewn about the flat stone floor. Each of them, a perfect ceramic cast of one another. Their souls still dance it would seem, reflecting dully through those slow-blinking glass eyes of theirs. She could see her own fate there and in that moment something changed. The warm light of the furnace burned uncomfortably. The bent bars near the ceiling inspired something new in these fervent circumstances.

+++

Through the dark hallway and up the stone steps she strode softly. Each step feels cool compared to the amber furnace she had just retreated from. Caustics bounce on the wall beside her, a memory of the lukewarm pool just down the steps. Her only thoughts were of seeing the moonlight from the top of the tower and of guilt for not going back to save them. Maybe there was nothing there to save. She would not be warden of their lingering grace any longer. With liquid distorted vision she paced each new step against the far and few torches.

The winding passageway kept stretching in front of her. The mismatched stonework was markedly blue gray vs the dull saffron light of the sconces. Everything seems dull here. Curving and curving and curving and curving and then a clock ticking could be heard. Finally something new, anything new. As she rounded what seemed like the thousandth bend she saw it there. A gilded walnut clock with a clicking pendulum. As she approached she remarked at how odd it was that the ticking was all she could hear. Where had the soft flickering of the sconces gone? Her lifting gaze abruptly yanked back by a single loud ring, warping and bouncing. Her footing slickened like mud. The upward path called even harder than before.

Each bend gradually presented more and more mismatched ticking. The sound, asynchronous and distorted. This cluttered passage was now flooded with beautiful ornate wooden machines. Floor to ceiling was plastered hardly even leaving room for the ever swinging pendulums. The racket occluded even her own mind. A sea of saturated woodgrain and gilded pendulums so vast it nearly smothered the already weak light. Mud to oil as she peered at a clock face trying to make sense of what lay in front of her and witnessed a dripping slurry where numbers had once been. Long slender ceramic legs pronounced a question, and found an answer in the amber furnace from which they came. The sound of a deep crackling fire burned away the ticking if but for a moment.

The sprint would not end. Steps became unceasing. Only one gilded terror now. A new bend and a new clock. A new bend and the same clock? Her sprint unbothered by the query, the amber light was almost at her fingertips. A small knot in the wood grain. Ceramic skin, a kiln hearth, and the dull glean of their eyes. A small knot in the wood grain. *A soaring crane's flight fractured like glass and fell to earth. Palm collided and splintered working its way up her right forearm. Small movements of silver light under a ceramic skin canyon. Her stained eyes looked up as the never ending descent looked back. Charcoal darkness was only stayed by the feeble torch and now the girl, glacial. Her indecision vanishes as a flickering light gleaned off the black beaded eye of the giant crow silently gliding up the steps. Shrouded in night the haunting crow approached. A panoramic bath of stars. The girl remembered her legs and the light of the moon.

+++

A few bends up have come to an abrupt halt. Less than before, the pathway rejected advancement, only a pivot. There was no light where she would venture but the alternative: an endless night brought about by a curtain of wings. Only the soft glow of her mercurian light aided her here. A wall became a forked path. Whatever the choice it seemed meaningless in comparison to an unanswerable question. Which way? Each choice broached a new decision. This hall had become a hydra. Direction guided by a midnight sundial. The soft pulsing glow from her arms fissure the only constant.

Through the oppressive fog bound darkness an onyx feather appeared. Her gentle hands gingerly lifted the feather from the cold stone floor. *A wheat field under a harvest sunset. Down the path another feather. *An isolated candle nearly melted. And another. *A bundle of blooming tiger lilies. A trail of memories lay before her. The feathers warmed her cool skin and the pulsing silver light strengthened ever so slightly. Her gravel-like step became bedrock. The walls almost seemed see-through, her destination clear.

+++

As she entered the large square the feathers began gradually lifting from her flawless grasp. The crow was waiting, softly tacking as it stuttered about. Feathers softly floating to the winged impression, the planetarium dome began to recede from a pinpoint opening. A flood of light extinguished the pervasive fog and darkness alike. As the two lifted their eyes from their interlocked gaze their forms became basked in an ocean of indigo and silver starlight. A panoramic bath of stars. A flash of amber light broke from the crows beak and the room became engulfed in pearlescent ruby fire. Chrome wings exploded out of her slender torso and with swift grace the carrion and the crane lifted into an opulent glittering twilight. In their close dance a dull silver light flickered out of the crows' abyssal eyes. The world moved at nearly a standstill as a glistening array of ceramic faces and slow-blinking eyes shifted through the carrions head. A sirening chord the backdrop of bliss as a curtain of wings vignetted her. Closed eyes. Moonlit night.

[favoritemtgcard-supplemental]

Every Nomination In Alphabetical Order

Aether Vial

Aetherflux Reservoir

Agatha's Soul Cauldron

Akroma, Vision of Ixidor

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death

Altered Ego

Aragorn, Company Leader

Arcades, the Strategist

Arcane Denial

Arcbond

Arcbound Crusher

Archangel Avacyn

Archive Trap

Arclight Phoenix

Armored Armadillo

Ashiok, Dream Render

Ashling the Pilgrim

Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist

Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar

Astarion's Thirst

Athreos, God of Passage

Atraxa, Grand Unifier

Augur of Autumn

Auramancer

Avatar of Me

Bakersbane Duo

Baleful Strix

Ball Lightning

Bane Alley Broker

Baylen, the Haymaker

Bearscape

Bioshift

Biovisionary

Bitterblossom

Black Lotus

Blasphemous Act

Blazing Archon

Boldwyr Intimidator

Bonecrusher Giant

Bovine Intervention

Brainstorm

Brash Taunter

Breach the Multiverse

Breaker of Armies

Brilliant Restoration

Brute Suit

Cadira, Caller of the Small

Canyon Minotaur

Capashen Knight

Captain N'ghathrod

Captivating Crew

Carnivorous Plant

Chainsaw

Chandra, Dressed to Kill

Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh

Chandra, Torch of Defiance

Chandra's Regulator

Chaos Warp

Chatter of the Squirrel

Chatterfang, Squirrel General

Cheatyface

Chub Toad

Collected Company

Colossal Dreadmaw

Colossification

Colossus Hammer

Comet, Stellar Pup

Conjurer's Closet

Conqueror's Galleon

Consecrated Sphinx

Consuming Aberration

Corpsejack Menace

Counterspell

Crackle with Power

Craterhoof Behemoth

Cruel Ultimatum

Cryptic Command

Cryptid Inspector

Cut Your Losses

Damnation

Dance of the Manse

Dapper Shieldmate

Daretti, Scrap Savant

Dark Depths

Dark Ritual

Darksteel Colossus

Darksteel Myr

Darksteel Relic

Dawnfluke

Daze

Death's Shadow

Deathbonnet Sprout

Delver of Secrets

Demand Answers

Diplomatic Escort

Dollmaker's Shop/Porcelain Gallery

Doom Blade

Doomsday

Doubling Season

Dragon's Rage Channeler

Drakuseth, Maw of Flames

Dryad of the Ilysian Grove

Dueling Rapier

Dutiful Thrull

Earl of Squirrel

Earthbind

Ebon Praetor

Echo of Eons

Edge of Autumn

Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim

Elderscale Wurm

Electrickery

Elesh Norn

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines

Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Elvish Visionary

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

Emrakul, the Promised End

Enchanted Evening

Enormous Baloth

Enter the Dungeon

Enthralling Victor

Etali, Primal Conqueror

Etali, Primal Storm

Eternal Dominion

Exterminatus

Extremely Slow Zombie

Ezuri, Claw of Progress

Faithless Looting

Fiery Emancipation

Firestorm

Flameborn Viron

Flickerwisp

Floral Spuzzem

Flubs, the Fool

Fog Bank

Forest

Fortress Crab

Fumiko the Lowblood

Gallia of the Endless Dance

Galvanic Blast

Generous Gift

Ghalta, Primal Hunger

Ghired, Conclave Exile

Ghoulcaller Gisa

Giant Growth

Gift of Orzhova

Gifts Ungiven

Gigantosaurus

Gisa, Glorious Resurrector

Gisela, the Broken Blade

Gitaxian Probe

Glimmerpost

Gnat Miser

Goblin Chainwhirler

God-Pharaoh's Statue

Godo's Irregulars

Goldberry, River-Daughter

Golgothian Sylex

Gonti, Lord of Luxury

Grand Arbiter Augustin IV

Greasefang, Okiba Boss

Greta, Sweettooth Scourge

Grindclock

Grist, the Hunger Tide

Grusilda, Monster Masher

Gush

Gut Shot

Halana and Alena, Partners

Halcyon Glaze

Half-Kitten, Half-

Hamlet Glutton

Heartbeat of Spring

Heliod, Sun-Crowned

Hellkite Tyrant

Hero of Goma Fada

Hexdrinker

Hibernation's End

Holy Cow

Homicidal Seclusion

Hot Soup

How To Keep An Izzet Mage Busy

Ilharg, the Raze-Boar

Indestructible Aura

Inflation Station

Inkmoth Nexus

Introduction to Prophecy

Invoke the Firemind

Irencrag Pyromancer

Island

It That Betrays

Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Jeska's Will

Jetmir, Nexus of Revels

Jhoira of the Ghitu

Jon Irenicus, Shattered One

Kangee, Aerie Keeper

Karn, Silver Golem

Karn, the Great Creator

Karn's Temporal Sundering

Killer Bees

Kiln Fiend

Kodama of the East Tree

Kor Skyfisher

Koth of the Hammer

Krenko, Mob Boss

Kruphix, God of Horizons

Kuldotha Phoenix

Lich's Mastery

Lightning Bolt

Liliana Vess

Liliana, Heretical Healer

Llanowar Elves

Loam Larva

Long-Term Plans

Looter il-Kor

Lord of the Void

Lord of Tresserhorn

Lotleth Troll

Loxodon Warhammer

Luminous Broodmoth

Lux Cannon

Lyra Dawnbringer

Maarika, Brutal Gladiator

Mabel, Heir to Cragflame

Madcap Skills

Magus of the Moon

Mana Tithe

Mantis Rider

March of the Multitudes

Massacre Girl

Master Biomancer

Maze of Ith

Maze's End

Mechanized Production

Megatog

Mindbreak Trap

Mishra, Lost to Phyrexia

Mishra's War Machine

Mogg Sentry

Moltensteel Dragon

Monastery Swiftspear

Mother of Goons

Mountain

Mulldrifter

Murder

Murmuring Mystic

Mycoloth

Myr Superion

Myrel, Shield of Argive

Mysterious Egg

Nahiri, the Harbinger

Narset, Enlightened Master

Nethroi, Apex of Death

Nimbus Swimmer

Niv-Mizzet, Parun

Nyx-Fleece Ram

Obeka, Splitter of Seconds

Obsidian Fireheart

Okiba Reckoner Raid

Oko, Thief of Crowns

Olivia Voldaren

Omnath, Locus of All

Omnath, Locus of Creation

Omnath, Locus of Mana

Omnath, Locus of Rage

Omnath, Locus of the Roil

Omnivorous Flytrap

Oni-Cult Anvil

Oona, Queen of the Fae

Oracle of the Alpha

Panglacial Wurm

Panharmonicon

Perplexing Chimera

Phage the Untouchable

Phalanx Leader

Phyrexian Dreadnought

Phyrexian Gargantua

Phyrexian Unlife

Plague Myr

Plague Rats

Plains

Planar Portal

Ponder

Pontiff of Blight

Possibility Storm

Pouncing Shoreshark

Price of Progress

Prime Speaker Vannifar

Primeval Titan

Primordial Hydra

Prismari Command

Prodigal Sorcerer

Progenitus

Pyromancer Ascension

Queza, Augur of Agonies

Rage Forger

Raging Goblin

Ral, Crackling Wit

Rancor

Raugrin Triome

Renegade Rallier

Reprisal

Repudiate/Replicate

Rhys the Redeemed

Riku of Two Reflections

Rin and Seri, Inseparable

Rise of the Hobgoblins

Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh

Rona, Herald of Invasion

Rowan, Scion of War

Run Away Together

Ruthless Negotiation

Ruthless Technomancer

Ryusei, the Falling Star

Sakura-Tribe Elder

Satoru Umezawa

Savor the Moment

Scragnoth

Scute Mob

Secret Rendezvous

Seedtime

Selesnya Evangel

Shabraz, the Skyshark

Shadow of Doubt

Sharktocrab

Shock

Slickshot Show-Off

Slime Against Humanity

Sliver Legion

Smothering Tithe

Snapcaster Mage

Sol Ring

Solemn Simulacrum

Soraya the Falconer

Soul-Guide Lantern

Soulmates

Spike Breeder

Spined Fluke

Spy Kit

Star of Extinction

Stasis

Stifle

Stoneforge Mystic

Storm Crow

Stormtide Leviathan

Storybook Ride

Stuffy Doll

Sun Titan

Supreme Verdict

Surgical Extraction

Swamp

Swirling Sandstorm

Swords to Plowshares

Takklemaggot

Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student

Tamiyo, the Moon Sage

Tarmogoyf

Tempt with Bunnies

Tendershoot Dryad

Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

Thalia, Heretic Cathar

Thallid

Thassa, Deep-Dwelling

Thassa's Oracle

The Cheese Stands Alone

The Gitrog Monster

The Infamous Cruelclaw

The One Ring

Thoughtseize

Thragtusk

Thrashing Brontodon

Thrill of Possibility

Throes of Chaos

Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded

Time Stop

Titanic Ultimatum

Toby, Beastie Befriender

Topplegeist

Tormented Soul

Totally Lost

Tough Cookie

Trading Post

Tragic Slip

Triumph of the Hordes

Trueheart Duelist

Typhoid Rats

Unable to Scream

Underrealm Lich

Unexpected Results

Unlicensed Disintegration

Unsummon

Urabrask

Urza, Academy Headmaster

Urza, Lord High Artificer

Urza's Ruinous Blast

Utopia Mycon

Vengeful Dead

Vexing Devil

Veyran, Voice of Duality

Vile Aggregate

Village Rites

Vizzerdrix

Vorinclex

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting

Vraska, Relic Seeker

Vraska, Scheming Gorgon

Warleader's Call

Waste Not

Wedding Announcement

Wedding Invitation

Weight Advantage

Westvale Abbey

Whirler Rogue

Will-o'-the-Wisp

Witness Protection

Wood Elves

Wordmail

Wurmcoil Engine

Xira, the Golden Sting

Yargle, Glutton of Urborg

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign

Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful

Zhur-Taa Goblin

Zoetic Cavern

[shatteredvioletnuzlocke]

Chapter 17: Dust Devil (Kapheria)

The ravines grew wider with trickling streams flowing more thin. Kapheria new Patch, Flumpfy, and the others where far behind her. No matter how much they meant to her she would not look back.

The source! It was here the whole time! I knew sticking with Human Patch was a good idea!

The moment that strange Pokemon created that sandstorm, Kapheria knew she found what she was looking for. Although she was so caught off guard that she had lost track of the very thing she was sent to find.

This would be much easier if I had control of my powers. I could just climb these rocks and find them with no issue! But I just had to be hasty! 

A week had past and Kapheria’s electricity was still haywire. As long as her casque was cracked, her static would short circuit. 

Why can’t just be like other Pokemon and heal organically? Why can I just be normal?! No! That won’t do me any good! What matters is the source is here! As soon as I cancel it out… somehow… Turo and I can live happily in the Greenworld! 

I hope I can still visit Patch and Flumpfy… They’re so welcoming…  I must focus if I want any of that to happen!

Kapheria took a quick pause to scan the area. The ground was open and vast, with rocks farther apart. The stream was but a mere drizzling string. She felt the course graininess of sand beneath her. It was the ideal territory for the creatures of sand. 

I don’t have much, I need to be precise. That thing nearly took out my friends. Keep my distance and I can come up with a solution. 

Gazing at the horizon intently, the Iron Serpent spotted a particular rock. It could’ve been a blur of the heatwave, but the rock seemed to drag itself across like a tumbleweed drifting in the wind. 

Could it be? She took a few steppes closer, No doubt its one of them! Could they see me? She quickly realized how her violet shell stuck out in the warm, red stones. 

Kapheria leapt toward the side of a basin. The farther I go there will be less hiding spots. If just stay put maybe it’ll crawl over the ravine. 

The creature’s figure was fuzzier from that angle, unfortunately, they where straying farther from the canyon.  

It’s just too risky, there must be another Dust Devil nearby that I can track. 

Shifting into her driving mode, Kapheria drove around the basin. There was no water babbling. The sand was thicker between her wheels, crunching loudly as they turned.  

 She uncoiled her tail and throat to keep herself hidden. She stepped gently with very little weight, foot tracks would only worsen it.

But just when she thought the was alone she noticed an out of place stone clinging of the cliffside. Knowing time was of the essence she shuffled into a shady fissure to blend in.

Their tiny bulgy eyes rotated around from it’s stalks. 

I’m not here! She pleaded to the Dust Devil, You didn’t hear footsteps! It was just the wind! All in your mind!

The Dust Devil clicked and scuttled down from it’s rocky perch. Their stony shell was a dusty brown, their claws the same size. All the better to crush her with.

But the creature of sand crawled over the cliff and left.

Ha I am undectable! But were are they going? 

Kapheria noticed a passage way that wrapped around the the cliff. But the sun glared down upon it like a giant spotlight. If she followed she would gain the risk of being uncovered. The hiding spot she was already in nearly caught her. 

She was putting herself up for failure more than ever. But what else could she do? Sitting behind wouldn’t stop the Sands of Time.

When I shift into drive mode I resemble a human vehicle… If I just act unnatural and look as inorganic as possible they won’t think I’m a Pokemon… 

No that wouldn’t work, what if a human vehicle makes them more suspicious?

The Iron Serpent pondered hard and desperate for a better solution, but there wasn’t anything else she could think of. Human Vehicle it is! 

Kapheria shifted back into driving mode, keeping her neck low. She turned her wheels very slowly and went down the path.

 I am a vehicle, don’t mind me! She purred her engine like throat softly to stay in character.

The dragon drove past several Dust Devils basking on cliffs, undetected. Somehow her ridiculous plan was working. They did not call upon the blustering dust of the earth. 

The real question was why. Why would these Pokemon unleash the Sands of Time? Did they not know they devastation it carried? The lives that would be lost?

They already seem to show little concern for other Pokemon. Perhaps they want to suffocate the Greenworld, and devour what’s left of it, Kapheria thought remembering the encounter. Overtime they could grow in numbers.

But if there are no Pokemon left in the future why is my species still alive? Do I taste-

Clunk! Kapheria skidded her wheels against the sandy blanket. The shadow of a Dust Devil loomed right in front of her. 

A Dust Devil with a red oil stain on its claw.  It was him…the one who Flumpfy fought last night. He recognized her too!

“Glawrr!” It roared, ready to crush the Miraidon into scrap metal.

Than all of a sudden in the distance, a yelp echoed, “RUCK, ROOOO!”

It was Venture’s bark. Kapheria’s friends weren’t far behind. Fools, of course would follow! What else can go wrong?!

The Dust Devil immediately scuttled toward the source of the yelping. He knew well that an organic body was much easier to kill than a heap of metal.

“Oh no, you don’t!” Kapheria cried.

The race was on, but the Iron Serpent knew if she won there would be much she could do to protect her friends. The least and only thing she could do was sacrifice herself even if it meant being more cracked. 

The two came to a large area where the sand was plentiful and the cliffs were spread far apart. The opposing Pokemon pattered through the thick ground with more room for his legs to scurry. Now he was catching up.

No, you can take them! You can’t! 

Like a swift breeze, she whipped around The Dust Devil and tripped him. The great creature collapsed on his topside.

“Did you hear that?!” A familiar voice alerted her.

Human Patch?! What are they doing out here?!

Kapheria wasn’t sure if she should hide or protect then. Protecting a human was the more obvious and noble choice, but not when her only solution was to sacrifice herself.

As dust clouds parted, the silhouette of a human appear along with another. The lighthouse caretaker?! What are they doing here? 

“Kapheria!” He hollared, “What are you waiting for, Patch?! return her!”

“No!” Kapheria begged “I must not be recalled so soon!”

Patch pointed the lock of the Pokeball directly at the Serpent’s head. She darted away from the faint red beam of her Pokeball, determined as ever to be the savior of the Greenworld. 

“What’s the matter with you?!” The lighthouse keeper complained, “She’s going to run away again!” 

Kapheria pleaded with her eyes, Please Human, Patch. Its the only way to protect you and everyone else!

Patch only stared back, “Something’s wrong…” 

Arven swiped the Pokeball out of Patch, “Let me do it!”

Before the Lighthouse Human could recall her, something bellowed, “GLAAAAAWWWWFFFFF!”

First pebbles tumbled down the cliff, then stones, followed by boulders. Another Dust Devil!

One came but only one, and they were huge. 

A hulking orange-brown carapace, with giant claws banded like agate. Its eyes kept turning clockwise, as if it was a bomb about to go off. They seemed infuriated that Kapheria tipped over their smaller spawn.  

A dust devil that big must be the prime source of the Sands of Time! Kapheria felt her insides turning cold, How will I ever take on something that big?!

“The Stoney Cliff Titan!” Arven murmured. 

Patch hollered, “THE WHAT?!” they clutched the collar of his shirt, “You knew that thing was here?!”

Venture berated the large creature in his language, “RUCK RUCK RUCK!” he howled for a flurry of stone to strike them down. But the creature was too high up to be pelted. 

The giant Dust Devil hastened down the ragged cliff, and Kapheria was running out of time to think of a better plan.  

The Lighthouse Keeper took a handful of strange blue orbs, “This is why I come prepared!” He chucked all of them at once at the Dust Devil. 

Suddenly the orb released a smokey gray mist that spread throughout the area. Kapheria could only smell the heavy, smog-filled scent. But Venture hacked and coughed until he collapsed.

Patch ran to him in distress, “VENTURE!”

Human! Kapheria gave him a dead stare, Why would you do that?!

“GLAWWWWFFFFFF!” the giant Dust Devil roared.

“Hurry theirs a cave over there!” The Lighthouse Human hurried the group.

The so called Titan, slammed its banded claws and crushed its smaller companion into entrails. It’s red oil splattered all over the ground as the mist cleared up. 

Kapheria all felt the sandwiches churn back up her throat as she saw The Dust Devil devour her own kind. 

These creatures have to go! They care for no one! The Iron Serpent’s static energy flailed down their neck. Lashing about like the helpless creature Kapheria was. She hadn’t the strength to put her feeble power to use.

She was already letting Turo down, what good was she if didn’t come back to him at all. If she wasn’t going to prevent the source than who would? 

At her most vunerable Kapheria found a pokeball marked in black. Kombucha, please do what I couldn’t…

<-Chapter 16

[natural-marvels-meghalaya]

Here's how the nature shows its creativity especially in Meghalaya

Meghalaya, a place where clouds come down to play and landscapes look like it is straight out of a painting. Tucked away in the northeastern corner of India, this state is a natural wonderland, filled with unique sights and sounds that’ll have you questioning whether you’ve stumbled into a fantasy novel. Let’s dive into some of the most spectacular and quirky natural marvels of Meghalaya that will leave you in awe.

See how Nature works its creativity...

The Living Root Bridges: Nature’s Architecture

Forget about your regular old bridges. Meghalaya boasts living root bridges that put modern architecture to shame. These bridges are crafted by the Khasi and Jaintia tribes using the aerial roots of rubber fig trees. Over decades, these roots are guided and woven together until they form sturdy, natural bridges capable of supporting the weight of people.

The double-decker living root bridge in Nongriat is a prime example of this ingenuity. It’s like nature’s very own treehouse bridge, spanning across a stream with two levels of interconnected roots. Walking on these bridges feels like you’ve stepped into an enchanted forest where trees whisper secrets to each other.

The Mawsmai Cave: A Subterranean Wonderland

Caves might sound dark and creepy, but the Mawsmai Cave is anything but. Located near Cherrapunji, this limestone cave is a geological masterpiece. Inside, you’ll find a world of stalactites and stalagmites that look like the work of a mad sculptor. The cave is well-lit, so you can see every nook and cranny of this underground marvel.

Navigating through the Mawsmai Cave is an adventure in itself. Some passages are so narrow you might think you’ve been turned into a human spaghetti noodle. But it’s all worth it when you emerge from the other side, feeling like you’ve just been on an epic subterranean quest.

Dawki River: The Crystal Clear Waterway

If you ever wanted to feel like you’re floating on air, Dawki River is the place to be. This river, located near the India-Bangladesh border, is so clear that boats seem to hover above the water. On a sunny day, the river turns into a giant emerald gemstone, sparkling and inviting.

Hop onto a boat and glide across the glassy surface, peering down at the riverbed as if you’re looking through a window. Dawki River isn’t just a visual treat; it’s a serene escape where you can leave the hustle and bustle of life behind and drift into tranquility.

The Laitlum Canyons: The End of the World View

Meghalaya isn’t just about lush greenery and rain-soaked valleys. The Laitlum Canyons offer a dramatic contrast with their rugged cliffs and expansive views. The name "Laitlum" literally means "end of the hills," and standing at the edge of these canyons feels like you’re at the edge of the world.

The panoramic vistas from Laitlum Canyons are breathtaking. You can see rolling hills, deep gorges, and winding rivers far below. It’s a perfect spot for a picnic, a photo session, or just some quiet contemplation. The trek down to the canyon floor is steep and challenging, but the reward is worth every step.

Nohkalikai Falls: The Tale of Tragic Beauty

Nohkalikai Falls is not just a waterfall; it’s a cascade with a tragic backstory. Flowing from a height of 1,115 feet, it’s the tallest plunge waterfall in India. The sight of water roaring down the cliffs into the pool below is awe-inspiring, but the legend behind its name adds a touch of melancholy.

According to local lore, a woman named Likai jumped off the cliff after discovering a terrible family tragedy. Hence, the name Nohkalikai translates to “Leap of Likai.” Despite the somber story, the waterfall itself is a powerful reminder of nature’s relentless beauty and the stories that weave through it.

Mawlynnong: The Cleanest Village in Asia

Who says cleanliness isn’t next to godliness? Mawlynnong, often dubbed the cleanest village in Asia, is a testament to the fact that cleanliness can be enchanting. This tiny village is a green utopia where bamboo dustbins line the streets, and every corner is spotless.

The villagers here take immense pride in their surroundings. Flowering plants adorn the pathways, and the air feels fresher than anywhere else. Mawlynnong isn’t just clean; it’s a living example of sustainable living, where humanity and nature coexist harmoniously.

The Sacred Forest of Mawphlang: Nature’s Sanctuary

Meghalaya’s sacred groves are like nature’s very own temples, and the Mawphlang Sacred Forest is one of the most revered. These ancient forests are protected by local Khasi tribes, who believe they are inhabited by deities and spirits. No one is allowed to take anything out of the forest, not even a fallen leaf.

Walking through Mawphlang feels like entering another realm. Giant trees with twisted roots and thick canopies create a mystical atmosphere. It’s a place where time seems to stand still, and every rustle of leaves feels like a whisper from the past.

Umiam Lake: The Serene Reservoir

Amidst the rolling hills lies Umiam Lake. It is a vast reservoir that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale. Known locally as Barapani, meaning "big water," this man-made lake is a popular spot for picnics, water sports, and simply soaking in the beauty of nature.

The calm waters of Umiam Lake reflect the surrounding hills and skies, creating picture-perfect scenes. Rent a boat or kayak and paddle your way through the lake, or just sit by the shore and let the serene ambiance wash over you. It’s a place where you can lose yourself in the tranquility of nature.

I Recommend to read the in depth article of Backpackers United Blog of Meghalaya is a treasure trove of natural marvels that go beyond the ordinary. From living root bridges and subterranean caves to crystal-clear rivers and sacred forests, every corner of this state offers something unique and awe-inspiring. So pack your bags, lace up your boots, and get ready to explore the enchanting landscapes of Meghalaya. This isn’t just a trip; it’s an adventure through nature’s finest creations, where every turn brings a new wonder and every step leaves you more amazed than before.

For more travel related info visit Backpackers United

[chronicles-of-arcadian]

The Last Time I Saw the Memory Palace

Ten years had passed since I stood at the edge of the Whispering Canyons, staring down at the entrance to the legendary Memory Palace. Ten years since I gave it the only piece of Elara I had left – a fragment of a memory, a single fleeting moment frozen in time.

"Why her?" I shouted into the howling wind, the question echoing off the towering canyon walls. Memories flickered at the edges of my mind, taunting me with glimpses of the past. Elara's fiery hair cascading down her back, the warmth of her hand in mine, the melody of her laughter that used to chase away any shadows. The Blight hadn't just stolen her memories; it had ripped a hole right through my heart.

The climb down was treacherous, each loose rock a curse word escaping my lips. Reaching the canyon floor, a heavy silence settled around me, broken only by my ragged breaths. It was like a suffocating blanket.

(Image credit to DALL-E)

Then, I saw it. A shimmering archway woven from mist, nestled between the giant rocks – the Gateway. My heart pounded in my chest like a drum solo as I stepped through, a whisper tugging at the corners of my mind.

"Elara," I murmured, a desperate plea swallowed by the swirling mist.

The world dissolved into a jumble of broken memories – snippets of laughter from strangers, forgotten faces fading into smoke, a melody that danced just out of reach. Each piece a bittersweet echo of a life lived, a life lost.

"Is this all there is?" I roared, frustration and despair gnawing at me. I stumbled through the winding path, its twists and turns mirroring the turmoil inside me. But just as hope dwindled to a flicker, a warmth bloomed on my skin. A memory materialized – a sun-drenched meadow, Elara perched on a rock, her fiery hair flowing over her shoulders, her laughter ringing out through the clear air.

"Elara!" I cried out, the sound raw with longing.

I sprinted towards the image, the ground blurring beneath my feet. Then, a dead end. A sheer rock face blocked my way, a cruel twist of fate. A sob escaped my lips, choked with despair. So close, yet so incredibly far.

"This is it, then," I whispered, slumping against the cold stone. "I'll never see her again."

But as despair threatened to swallow me whole, a faint glow emanated from a crack in the wall. It pulsed with a familiar rhythm – the rhythm of Elara's laughter. With trembling hands, I cleared away the debris, revealing a hidden passage. Hope, a fragile ember, flickered back to life within me.

Stepping into the passage, I found myself in a vast chamber. In the center stood a shimmering crystal, pulsing with an otherworldly light. Suspended within it, a single memory – our last adventure, exploring a hidden waterfall, the joy on Elara's face a perfect snapshot of her spirit.

(Image credit to DALL-E)

Reaching out, I pressed my hand against the crystal. A wave of warmth washed over me, and the memory flooded my mind, vivid and real. The touch of her hand in mine, the spray of the waterfall cooling our faces, the echo of her laughter like music to my ears. It wasn't enough to bring her back, but it was everything.

Tears streamed down my face, this time not of despair, but of gratitude. "Thank you," I whispered, the words a silent promise to carry this memory, this piece of Elara, with me always. As I turned away from the Memory Palace, a single tear glistened on the rock face, a testament to the love and loss that echoed within the Whispering Canyons.

[malwaredykes]

To: LUCKY 38 PRESIDENTIAL SUITE TERMINAL

From: Leigh Stasik

Subject: I GOT RAINED ON!

Hi, everyone!

It's only my second day here in the Zion Valley, but a lot has happened, too much for me to describe right now. I've been doing a whole lotta walking up and down slopes, so expect me to return with absolutely ridiculous calf muscles. And because of the amount of waddling through water that I have to do, I've finally embraced wearing shorts. Short shorts, even. Do you think I'd get away with wearing those in the Mojave, or would every resentful tearabout with a lead pipe descend upon me at an unnatural speed to hit me in the shins, sensing my newly exposed weakness?

As the subject line has already stated: I got rained on, big time. Follows-Chalk and I were walking along one of the passages up north, when I saw the dark clouds gathering in the sky, and it got real windy... You should have heard the sound that the wind was making against the sides of the canyon, passing through its ridges and meanders. It's as though the whole place became one giant instrument. And then... It started raining. Chalk was very amused by my reaction--which is to say, I set my stuff on the ground under a tarp, and started frolicking. Then I sat down and let the rain fall on me. I was soaked. He asked if I was enjoying myself, and I said, obviously, yes! We had to move on very soon, but... That was so nice. I hadn't seen the rain in so long, and it was *clean* rain, too. Not acidic, not full of rads, not tinted by a dust storm. Just rain. I'm about to sound very corny, but it made me think about how, despite everything, the planet we inhabit has so many ways of facilitating life, even with all the ways it is still hostile to it. How strange it is, to live on the knife-sharp balance of Because and Despite.

And speaking of: Arcade, my darling dear, I have been continuously collecting seeds and spores, as well as making a TON of notes that I know you'll be elated to even just look through; for that reason, I've been grinning and giggling to myself devilishly. I'm going to start my own little test garden, to see if there are any quirks to cultivating the specimens outside of their natural environment that I had missed. I still can't exactly account for how accurately we can replicate the soil compositions based on my samples, but I choose to trust that you'll impress me as always.

Cass, I know you're still mad at me, but I do hope that even if you don't use the opportunity to reconsider things while I'm away, you've been having a good time on the Strip. If not, well, I guess that doesn't help either of us, but... Hm.

I miss all of you so much. I've got some gifts for you, though. You'll see. Oh, but, I promise they're nice gifts, not anything evil and irradiated; just saying, because I feel like I may have sounded a little ominous there otherwise. I'm not going to firebomb you upon seeing you, as I love you all dearly.

Write you again soon! Take care!

Love, kisses, hugs, friendly headbutts, and so on and so forth.

Leigh

ohh... its raining in mukuntuweap... leigh just got to sit in the rain :) she got rained on, peacefully.... she hasnt seen rain in a LONG time so...

[thorsenmark]

A Cave Ceiling Towering Above (Mammoth Cave National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: With this image I wanted to capture the sheer immenseness of the cave around me at this point of the Mammoth Passage Tour.

[iamthescalesofjustice]

me, a lifelong lucid dreamer, explaining the connections you can use to travel between my various dream zones vs my mother who just thought she would inquire whether ive had any astral visitations from my late father recently: 

[chipper-smol]

planet concept, feel free to build on top of it

its a deceased giant celestial creature curled around an egg, but the egg is long dead too and has become the core of a planet, providing a magnetic field around everything n creating a shield from solar rays so life can begin

the giant body of the creature is still curled around the shell of the egg, which is now the surface of a planet, and even though the giant creature is slowly being eroded away due to the forces of gravity from the planet’s core and any moons it may have, its still recognizable as a really goddamn big creature

i jus like the thought of an entire continent being under a ribcage and then a city underneath a gargantuan mossy claw

entire navigation systems built around recognizable landmarks of the creature. ‘Scar canyon’ ‘The Desert of Scales’ ‘Maw’ etc

myths, legends, and fables based around the giant horn on its head that reaches into space where no person can travel. Larger than life characters ascending to the top of it and either reaching enlightenment/godhood or meeting a grizzly end caused by their hubris.

much of the creature is well preserved since it existed long before bacteria on this planet (assuming this creature didn’t carry bacteria with it before it diedshhh let me have cool imagery and lore). there are parts of its circulatory system that are fully intact and have even been used as safe passage highways between continents. the eyes of this creature are valued and treasured more than anything on this planet

this creature also having a profound effect on the weather and land formation of the planet. one limb being the mountain range between a desert and a dense rain forest, another limb wedged between two tectonic plates and causing the ground to ripple and twist in unpredictable ways

like idk i think it’d be real cool

[hermitcraftheadcanons]

(Noticed a trend, had to write something about it)

Cubfan's bases over the seasons have been increasingly alienating and hostile towards other hermits, as if the land itself warps to keep other people away...

Season 4 - His volcano biome is impressive to look at, but why is it spreading further and further? Why is the lava spluttering so much, and why does the volcano like to erupt whenever other hermits fly by, when Cub himself never seems to get singed? Luckily, his base is near the edge of the biome, so most people never have to pass through the black mass below.

Season 5 - It was a cheerfully colourful mushroom island, located far away enough that people won't pass through unless they're looking for something. It was also a completely safe and normal base (ignoring the Vex HQ), until Mumbo decided to visit while on a world tour to examine the details, staying for just a little too long - suddenly, a giant mycelium comet appears from the heavens, about to crash into the island. At that point, Cub had took off to the next season, and completely missed the collision.

Season 6 - When he chose a fairly ordinary plains biome and made plans to build an industrial park, the other hermits sighed in relief, assuming that after the narrow escape of S5, Cub's base would finally be Normal. They were wrong: Even before Demise was a thing and the traps could be blamed, mountains seem to pop up and surround the entire area, vindicators and crossbow-wielding pillagers set up watchtowers around the peaks, yet they show no interest in the villagers within the complex. Grian's attempt to get a elytra course set up through the back was met with a sudden abundance of bamboo growing far taller than they should, making elytra travel hazardous until Cub had to intervene with a lot of string. And the less is said about the underground maze-like passages, the better... there is a reason why Scar never lived in Concorp.

Season 7 - Everything goes to Xibalba, and it is too easy to get swallowed up by the Pyramid itself. Cub finds the structure very straightforward to navigate, but other Hermits seem to get stuck in rooms or secret tunnels that don't even exist. On the other hand, during the HCBBS, Doc could not make his way into the pyramid at all - walking through any of the entrances somehow leads him outside again, mining in through the outside gets him a faceful of lava, and he ultimately concludes that the Pyramid is cursed as hell. He ends up living with Ren for the rest of the season, as he was pretty sure Cub might have somehow cursed the GOAT château as well.

Season 8 - The thought process and consensus of the other hermits searching for the Tegg at Cub's base: "Does he know what he's doing? Surely he knows what he's doing." The dripstone speaks for itself, the area is a death trap with the amount of mob spawns at night, all the rooms are hidden, and there is a very concerning lichen-like substance slowly eating its way across the land. Pearl's mountain serves as a very strategic geographic barrier to keep it from reaching the rest of Boatem, but the canyon seems to be expanding faster and faster by the day, far beyond what Cub could feasibly do by himself...

Now, this is very interesting to me. Because here's the thing: it would be easy to write this off as the land protecting Cub somehow, but that's not what it's doing. His bases are most hostile when he isn't even there - in the case of the Mumbo incident, he wasn't even in the same world. So...Is Cub a thing to protect to his bases, or simply a thing to be tolerated?

What did he do, what did he give up, in order to become tolerable?

- Mod Shade

[nightingaelic]

One I've always been infuriated by: you can't take a companion to Honest Hearts because the caravan is at capacity, but you can get Ricky kicked out. So New Vegas companions follow the Courier to Zion: what hilarity ensues?

Arcade Gannon: While Arcade is absolutely not a fan of Caesar's Legion, he's reserved enough not to shoot the Burned Man as soon as he appears, and he may even test the former Malpais Legate's philosophy and convictions in some sparring of wits once he feels comfortable enough [Speech 75]. Arcade thinks that Graham has replaced Caesar in his life with God, switching out a human tyrant for a nebulous deity: Graham argues that Arcade's desire for a wishfully-thought, balanced world springs out of an unsatisfied need for internal harmony, one he might find through spirituality. The courier can only stand an hour or so of this back-and forth before giving up and leaving Angel Cave to go find some geckos to hunt. Follows-Chalk amuses Arcade, and he encourages the young scout's desire to explore pre-war ruins: After all, there's always something to be learned by studying who and what came before you. Waking Cloud earns Arcade's utmost respect with her knowledge of medicine and of the canyon's natural order, but he would likely be disappointed with Daniel's and Graham's encroaching influence on the Sorrows' faith.

Craig Boone: Fight on sight with Joshua Graham, which leaves the Burned Man's bandages a little bloodier than normal but is ultimately broken up by the courier before any real harm is done. A shouting match ensues in the middle of the Dead Horses' camp, with Boone airing all of Graham's atrocities at maximum volume and the courier admitting skepticism of the man's change of heart, but still wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe Boone wins and the Dead Horses must be convinced of Graham's crimes in the wider world [Speech 100], or the New Vegas visitors beat a hasty retreat from Zion [Speech 85/100]. Maybe the courier wins and Boone realizes that the Burned Man already lives a life wreathed in the pain he inflicted during his decades of Legion service and the eternal mark of Caesar's fury. Either way, Boone is on edge for the remainder of the time in Zion Canyon, and doesn't make too many friends. Follows-Chalk takes a shine to him though, and Boone admits that the scout makes for a decent spotter. I don't think Boone would form a strong connection with Zion until encountering the diaries of Randall Dean Clark, and realizing that the people the courier was trying to save were the chosen loved ones of a man not unlike himself.

Lily Bowen: Having Lily along on the trip to Zion might give some of the other caravan members a chance of surviving, as I don't think the White Legs are used to encountering super mutants and would probably falter anyway at a courier backed up by a giant nightkin grandmother swinging around a vertibird blade [Terrifying Presence]. The Burned Man's appearance in the canyon doesn't bother or even interest her, but she loudly laments the Dead Horses' practice of hunting bighorners rather than taming them. In contrast, Lily loves the Sorrows' treatment of Zion's wildlife, particularly their domestication of geckos. The tame geckos are terrified of her. Of all the inhabitants of Zion, Lily would best relate to Waking Cloud, finding common ground with the tribal midwife on topics like motherhood, the uprooting of a happy life and respect for nature. I think the courier would recognize this bond and even give Lily the chance to complete White Bird's rite of passage herself, defeating the Ghost of She with the courier and Waking Cloud's help. Lily would be most likely to leave Zion with more friends and family than when she entered it.

Raul Alfonso Tejada: Apart from being somewhat of a living ghost himself, I don't think Raul would have much in common with Joshua Graham. While they're both trying to atone for mistakes they've made, their respective mistakes are in completely different time zones. Plus, I don't think Graham talks to ghouls much, thanks to his history with the Legion. Maybe Raul would share a tip with the Burned Man about .45 maintenance, maybe some helpful info about caring for damaged skin if he's feeling generous, but their relationship wouldn't go far beyond that. Like Boone, the story of the Father in the Cave strikes a chord with the old ghoul, and he might seek out Clark's final resting place with the courier to give the man a proper send-off and burial. Similarly, I think he would sympathize with Daniel and his attempts to help the Sorrows, and what bond he might have built with Graham would instead grow with the Mormon missionary. On the side, though, I think he might teach some Sorrows a few phrases in Spanish to heckle the man with, just for fun [Wild Wasteland].

Rose of Sharon Cassidy: Convincing Cass to accompany the courier to Zion in the first place would probably be a feat in and of itself [Barter 62], and once the White Legs appear over the horizon and start assaulting the caravan, Cass might just admit out loud that she and any crew she travels with are cursed. From there, every new piece of the story would entertain her to no end. The most wanted man in Caesar's Legion is just hiding out in a canyon in Utah. The remnants of Vault 22's inhabitants are scattered all over the landscape, meaning Ricky would've eventually been caught in his lie if he'd actually made it to Zion. The Mormons are here, and they're arguably more enthusiastic about proselytizing the tribes than they are about helping them escape and defend themselves. I think Cass would be the most angry and vocal about that last part, and might even wind up arguing with Graham and Daniel about how the only part of their faith they should be spreading right now is the belief in making amends for their actions: Namely, leading the White Legs to Zion in the first place. She would probably be the only one of the companions to propose going to Salt-Upon-Wounds and discovering the tribe's motivations and the manipulations of Ulysses and Caesar, and maybe convincing the war chief that he is being used [Speech 100].

Veronica Santangelo: The Brotherhood Scribe finds a kindred spirit in Follows-Chalk, and the two quickly become fast friends. The young scout happily shares the history and practices of the Dead Horses with her, and in return, Veronica tells stories about the wonders of New Vegas that she has seen while traveling the Mojave with the courier. Joshua Graham creeps Veronica out though, but her own curiosity leads her to prod the courier into interrogating the Malpais Legate by proxy. Like Cass, Veronica would be annoyed with the Mormons' roles among the tribes, but unlike Cass, she lacks the knowledge and context needed to convince them to take some steps back. She is, however, good at tracking down evidence to back up her suspicions, and she and the courier might be able to find evidence of the Legion's influence on the White Legs by poking around their camps [Sneak 73]. Veronica is also in awe of Waking Cloud, particularly of her skill with the yao guai gauntlet. Once she's picked her jaw up off the floor, the Scribe asks the midwife to show her some techniques and help her affix some yao guai claws to her own power fist [Unstoppable Force].

ED-E: The little robot is a huge novelty in the Zion Canyon, and ED-E hams it up for every curious individual that approaches it in the Dead Horses camp and the Narrows. The courier can't help but smile with every quizzical beep, bounce and zoom around the members of the tribes, but they keep the robot closer in Zion to protect against White Legs storm drums and tomahawks. ED-E enjoys spotting trail markings for Follows-Chalk and tracking animals with Waking Cloud. The robot doesn't understand who Daniel is, but knows from reading his body language that he is sad. Not as sad as the man in Angel Cave, though.

Rex: As soon as Rex sets foot in the Zion Canyon, he hears danger on the wind and warns the courier. The caravan is therefore on edge before the inevitable attack, and less likely to perish in the ensuing battle. Like ED-E, Rex doesn't know who Joshua Graham is, but he knows he doesn't trust him: He smells like a wildfire, inside and out. Neither the Dead Horses nor the Sorrows keep dogs, and some members of the tribe are actively afraid of Rex, associating him with the mongrels that run ahead of White Legs raiding parties. The Sorrows are more forgiving, and Rex shows them their trust is well-placed by allowing them to pet him and inspect his mechanical parts when he lies before the campfires to rest at the courier's feet.