#Gonna update the pet archive in a second

[somegrumpynerd]

The new cat is here! Try refreshing if you don't spot him right away c:

Time for a new toy!

Helmet won this week! So tomorrow there will be a helmet left in the garden!

And, since it's getting cold out, you have some new options for things to leave out!

[crazedlunatic]

Daddy Is Pretty Now (Repost)

Going through my writing stuff and organizing and updating stuff.

Found this gem today for 4-15-30-2013. Wonder what else I'll find in my 'archives' by trying to spring cleaning my computer and life?

....

“Paint Daddy’s nails next.” Four year old Sophie chirped, sitting across from Blaine with her hands flat on the table as he painted her nails a pretty pale purple. She kicked out her feet excitedly.

“Sophie, nail polish is for girls.” Blaine laughed. “Daddy’s usually don’t wear nail polish.”

“But Daddy, I has the perfect color for your comdection.” Sophie protested.

“You have the perfect color or my complexion.” Blaine corrected. “And you also are spending entirely too much time with Kurt.”

Sophie giggled.

“Do you even know what a complexion is?” Blaine asked her, moving onto her right hand.

“Uh huh.”

“What? Huh? What?” Blaine grinned.

“I dunno.” Sophie giggled, pulling her hand away and covering her face.

Blaine leaned over the little TV dinner table they were using, tickling her sides. “I thought you said you knew what it was!”

“I dunno! I dunno!” She shrieked, flailing in her chair. “I dunno!”

Blaine cackled and then quit tickling her. “That’s why we don’t lie, Monkey.”

“Cause Daddy’s a big haired meany face?” Sophie pouted.

“Oh, Daddy isn’t mean.” Blaine kissed the top of her hair. “And you need to come up with your own insults. I hear Kurt’s enough as it is.”

Sophie giggled and pet his face. “Pretty hand.” She then raised her right hand. “Not pretty.”

“Impatient.” Blaine laughed, putting her hand flat on the table and beginning to paint the rest of her finger nails.

“Daddy next.” Sophie said, legs beginning to swing again excitedly.

“No, I don’t think so.” Blaine sang.

“I dooo.” Sophie sang back.

“Well I’m older.” Blaine tapped her nose.

“I’m prettier!”

“Well you’ve got that right. You can’t be prettier than the most prettiest person on the whole wide world!” Blaine dramatically sighed. “I guess you win. What color?”

“It’s gonna be a surprise, Daddy.” Sophie said before pursing her lips together.

Oh boy, Blaine thought to himself as he put the cap back on the purple nail polish. “Give it a few minutes to dry and then we can begin the torture.”

“Timer please!” Sophie chirped.

Blaine set his cell phone timer to three minutes, watching her rock back and forth impatiently until it went off. After that, she ran back and hauled in a box holding all of her nail polishes.

“I see you and Daddy have added to the collection.” Blaine noted.

“I get a new color every Tuesday.” Sophie informed him. “Don’t look!”

“Well what am I supposed to look at?”

“Dunno.” Sophie giggled again and pulled herself up on the chair across from him, several bottles in her hands. He could only see the tops, though, so he had no idea what colors they were.

“Are you sure Daddy has to do this?” Blaine asked.

“Yep!”

Kurt better have bought more finger nail polish remover... Blaine thought to himself.

“No looking!” Sophie scolded as Blaine’s eyes wandered to the bottles she was placing on the table.

“Sorry! Sorry!” Blaine looked at the TV across the room, happy to find out that UK was still winning the basketball game he’d been watching before Sophie demanded her fingernails be painted—and no, Blaine could not root for any college team that was UK. He’d tried back when the team had had a really bad run three years in a row, but even then he couldn’t move on.

It seemed like only seconds before Sophie pulled his attention back.  “All done and so pretty!”

Blaine looked at his nails, which were each about a million colors swirled together. The art of a four year old, for sure. “Oh… wow.”

“Daddy is pretty now.” Sophie smiled sweetly. “But not as pretty as me.”

Blaine rolled his eyes and then kissed her cheek. “Thank you. I hope you remember I let you do this when you’re fourteen and hate me. Kurt would never let you paint his nails.”

Sophie kissed his cheek back.

“Now put your stuff up.”

“Okay, Daddy.” Sophie ran off with her box of nail polish.

Blaine rushed into the bathroom, pulling the nail polish remover out so he wouldn’t forget to take it off before going to bed. He would probably not enjoy going into work tomorrow looking like a pastel rainbow had thrown up on his fingernails.

…

“Blaine.” Bob hissed.

“Yeah?” Blaine asked.

Bob pointed down at his nails and then glanced over at the clients they were seeing, a couple who were in their forties. No way to get it off.

“I forgot. Fuck.” Blaine muttered. “Maybe they won’t notice.”

“Right.” Bob snorted ahead into the office, but Blaine saw him laughing when he thought Blaine wasn’t looking.

Blaine introduced himself as usual to the clients, smiling cheerfully as ever. His smile wavered a bit when the woman glanced down at his hand and then back up at him.

“I have a little girl.” Blaine said apologetically. “And I forgot to take it off before I went to bed apparently.”

“How old is she?” The woman laughed.

“Old enough to know better but young enough that I can’t say no.” Blaine sighed. “She’s mastered the pout.”

“She must be a toddler.” The woman said.

“Four.” Blaine nodded.

“And she’s already mastered the pout? You’re in trouble.” Her husband said.

“Big trouble. She’s Daddy’s girl and has me wrapped around her finger.” Blaine raised his hand and then pushed open the door to their meeting room. “Apparently. But we can go on in, Bob’s getting the papers set up for you.”

The people walked in, sitting at the table. Bob came over, looked at Blaine, and just laughed silently.

Blaine was really going to have to learn how to say no to Sophie.

[toothpastecanyon]

Mizar the Mediocre, Chapter 2

Alcor gets a summons from a strange Mizar. Maybe there's still something to recognise, here.

See most updated version on Archive of Our Own.

______________________________________________________________

 There were no rolling green fields to speak of at this golf course. A grey, squat building lounged across the side of a parking lot here. It had a flickering open light, a man smoking by the entrance, and a strangely-painted sign that might’ve indicated it was the place to go for mini golfing if the background and text hadn’t been neon green and neon yellow, respectively.

 “We’re here,” Ashley said, and then: “Or maybe not. It looks like it closed ten years ago.”

 “Closed? Nah, the open sign’s on!” Mart hopped out of the car. “Race you to the doors, sweetie!”

 “What? Dad, I’m not-” She watched him take off running for the building. “Gonna race you…? Okay, cool. Good talk.”

 Alcor snorted. She shot him a slight grin.

 “My dad’s ridiculous, seriously.”

 “Aww, he’s trying.” He watched Mart stumble up to the smoking man, pant a few times, then try and offer a high five. The man walked away fast. “We’d better go get him.”

 “Yeah, before he- oh, stars, he’s dancing now. Come on, demon guy.”

 A cloud of scratch cards billowed out as Alcor opened the car door. He took a moment to check his face in the mirror before following Ashley - brown eyes? Check. Rounded ears? Yep. Was he missing anything else… Oh, wings! Better stash those away for now.

 “Alcor, you coming?”

 “Yeah!” He quickly caught up with Ashley as she reached her dad. “Hey, uh, maybe you guys shouldn’t be calling me Alcor, um, in the course. That’s a demon name, might freak people out.”

 “I mean, it’s not exclusively a demon name,” Mart said. “I knew a dude called Alcor once. Cool guy. Said his parents were Twin Souls fans - wait, were you in that weird movie about-”

 “No!” He snapped. “Okay, we’re doing a fake name-”

 “Martin!”

 “That’s your name.”

 “Yeah buddy, we can be name twins!”

 “How about Dee?” Ashley gave him a sly grin. “Last name Mon.”

 “Heh, very funny, but-”

 “Sam Onion! No, no, how about… I. P. Freely! Hehe, no, seriously…” Mart scratched his goatee as he stared at Alcor’s suit. Then he snapped his fingers and said: “I got it, I got it!      Mr Monopoly!”  

 “No. I’m not going in there as Mr Monopoly.”

 “Aww.”

 “I’ll just stick with Tyrone, okay?” Alcor hesitated. “Or… Dipper. Dipper Pines.”

 Ashley raised an eyebrow. “Pines? That sounds kinda familiar-”

 “Dipper Pines it is!” Mart reached over and gave him a clap on the back. “Nice to meetcha, my absolutely totally human friend! Now, would you perchance care to ye olde join us in the game of thy most miniature of golfs, good sir?”

 “I can ditch the suit if you’re gonna talk like that.”

 “Aww, Al- I mean Dipper!” He chuckled. “Caught myself there. Anyway, team, let’s play some mini golf!”

 With that, he threw an arm around Dipper and led him in through the front door, and… Dipper couldn’t help but smile at that. The comfort this Mizar already had hanging out with him, the warmth in his voice calling him Dipper… It was nice. Really, really nice.

 “Hey, this is a party! What you think of the tunes, Dipper?”

 “Oh, my stars, Dad. Don’t dance. Don’t-      Dipper!”  

 “Huh?” Dipper blinked, and suddenly registered the raging techno music inside the building. “Oh, this is-”

 “This is what the kids listen to, right!” Mart bumped Ashley with his hip. “Come on, Ash, let’s raise the roof!”

 “Ohhhh, my stars, I’m not associated with you.” She let out a startled giggle as she hid her face. “Dipper, help. Make him stop.”

 “Can’t stop, never gonna- ow, my shoulder.” Mart rubbed it. “Right, not supposed to raise you over my head… what were we doing again? Oh, yeah, mini golf! Where do we start putting?”

 “Probably over there.”

 Alcor pointed at a desk just off to the side from the entrance. It was a little hard to see but for the neon lights striped across the front. A few sections were flickering, making the whole thing an annoying distraction; it was hard to tear your eyes away and see the lady behind the darkened counter, or the unlit pricing sign above her head. Even Dipper had to squint as they walked over.

 “Looks like… seven dollars a head.”

 Mart jumped. “Seven dollars? That’s… uh… three and seven…”

 “Twenty-one dollars for all of us.”

 “Twenty-one dollars!”

 “Uh, you okay paying that?” Dipper reached into his own pocket. “I can probably-”

     “No! No no no, I got it! Twenty-one dollars is, uh, nothing to me, seriously!” He popped his dressing gown’s collar and strode on over to the desk. “Let me do the talking. Hi! Hello? Ma’am?”

 “Huh?” The lady looked up. “Oh, a customer! Hello, sir, would you like, uh, a day pass?”

 “Yes! I’ll have three, thank you!”

 “Okay, that’ll be twenty-one dollars.”

 “Wow, that’s a real good price! A steal!” With a grin, Mart reached into his wallet and slid a couple bills across the counter. “I can do you one better, though. How about… three dollars?”

 The woman just stared at him for a second. Somehow, the pumping music in the background made the silence even more awkward.

 “Um… sir, are you trying to haggle with me?”

 “Mmmmaybe?”

 Uh, well, I’m just here to work the register. So… that’ll be twenty-one dollars?”

 Ashley groaned. “Dad, just pay the money.”

 “Okay, okay! You drive a hard bargain, ma’am. You’re a strong, independent - I respect you! I respect you so much, I got the money… rrrriiiight…”

 Dipper could feel a hand pushing its way into his back pocket. With an eyeroll, he materialised a wallet.

 “...ooooooverrrrr- here!” Mart brandished it with a triumphant grin, and popped it open. “There’s - only twenty-one dollars in here?” He looked over to Dipper with an expression of genuine concern, and put a hand on his shoulder. “Dipper… you doing okay, buddy?”

 “No, I’m fine, Mart. I’m-” He shot a look at the cashier. “I don’t need money, okay? It’s on me-”

 “No, no, I’ll get this-”

 “Mart-”

 “I insist! I’ll put it on… this card - here you go, ma’am. It’s fine.” He gave Dipper a one-armed hug as he handed his wallet back. “You don’t need to thank me.”

 Dipper watched the cashier hesitate for a long moment before swiping Mart’s card. It went through, and she slid it across the counter.

 “Uh, alright, then… you’re all good, I guess.” She backed away. “I’ll get your clubs.”

 While she disappeared into a store room, Mart turned back to Dipper. “You know, if you ever need a place to stay-”

 “Dad, he was trying to tell you. He’s a demon.” Ashley pressed her face into the counter. “You didn’t have to go and make a scene, he probably could have just paid.”

 “Oh.”

 “It’s okay,” Alcor tried for a smile. “It’s, uh, very nice of you to offer, but I have my own place.”

 “Really? Where?” Mart’s grin came snaking back. “Does it have a couch someone could theoretically sleep on?”

 “Um, sorry Mart, it’s just a field in the Mindscape. It’s got a bunch of sheep in it, that’s kinda it-”

 “SHEEP!”

 Mart yelled that loud enough to startle the cashier as she came within earshot again. Alcor cocked his head.

 “Do you… not like sheep or something?”

 “No! I mean, I like ‘em, I wish ‘em well, but they scare me a little, I’ll be honest!” He rubbed his shoulder. “Maybe it was just the ones at that petting zoo I worked at, but they’re mean little fluffballs, I tell you! With sharp hooves, and, well, they’re weighty under all that wool, and- oh, you’re back! Hi, ma’am!”

 “Um,” the cashier blinked several times. “I have… your clubs?”

 “Ooh! Are you ready, team?” Mart clapped his hands together. “We’re going golfing!”

[triscribe]

/peeks out from behind the curtain

Hello new followers! And old ones as well!

So, since my post last night about mama goat briefly interrupting my shower seems to have gone and exploded (4,500 notes and counting!! O.O), and brought the attentions of quite a few people onto my humble little corner of the internet, I decided to put together a short, hopefully helpful explanation of Just Who Is This Weirdo.

To start, I’m Tri, and I live in the Heart of Texas through no fault of my own. My dad’s a classic computer geek who got me into such things as World of Warcraft, DnD, comicbook superheroes and storytelling in general (my stepmother rolls her eyes at us a lot). My mom is the farmer who owns such animals as the above-mentioned goat and runs a mobile petting zoo business that I’ve been helping out with since I was a kid (it was fun then. It became less fun once I got a driver’s license and found my workload increased). I attend college in Colorado, though am currently taking the year off due to financial difficulties, and fondly remember my early childhood living on Long Island, New York.

I admit, I don’t often post pictures or tell stories about the farm critters on here often, by simple dint of the fact that I had pretty low self-esteem, and didn’t think anyone outside of the nutty folks I’m IRL friends with would find them funny/interesting/etc. And, while I’m certainly willing to now share updates about the triplets in the bathroom and other assorted fauna, that’s not really gonna be the main thing this blog focuses on. (Totally okay if you decide to unfollow because you were expecting more of the same like my shower post.)

What I do post, when I’m not reblogging stuff I find important, is a mix of assorted fan arts, snippets from the literal hundreds of fan fiction stories I haphazardly rotate between working on, and the occasional piece of original art or something from one of the novels I hope to someday publish.

(Sidenote on that: I am literally only two and a bit chapters away from completing the second draft of my very first book, the first draft of which I wrote back as a 9th grader. Within the week, I’ll be working on the illustrations and sending cover letters to potential literary agents - whoop!)

I think that about covers it- oh, wait! Gotta give credit where credit is due: big thanks to my friend @yogurtbear242 for being the one to politely request an explanation of just wtf I was talking about with goats and showers. Not sure yet if I want to thank or throw things at @gallusrostromegalus for reblogging said explanation and subsequently dragging me into the public eye.

Alrighty then! Last thing, I plan to spend the next couple weeks reblogging my favorite/best old posts for you all to see, so as to spare someone the pain of digging through my archives if I happen to reference one of them.

Thanks again for coming! Especially if you read all the way down to here!

[wandering-chronicler-blog]

The Wolf of Farore - Chapter 28

An Ongoing Zelda/Witcher Fusion Fic - Updates Wednesdays/Thursdays

War has come to The Kingdom of Hyrule.  The people cry for a savior as monsters and spirits stalk the once green fields of the provinces.  Famine grips the populace as the Gerudo Tribes and their blin allies strike along the borders.  Hope for peace begins to drown in the blood spilled in No Man’s Land.  But Hyrule doesn’t need another hero.  It needs a professional.

[First] [Previous] [Next] [Archive]

CHAPTER 28:  STAKEOUT

The goat pen was a simple fenced area with a small pair of weathered barns against the stone wall. At the moment it was empty, the goats in the nearby area to be milked and tended by the farm hands. Link pushed the gate open carefully with Epona right behind him.

“Try not to disturb the scene too much,” she said.

“I know what I’m doing,”

“I do too y’know. Seen you do this enough to know some things we’re looking for too.”

“Alright then.” He looked over his shoulder at her, smirking slightly. “How should we start here?”

“Well, we know the creature consumes blood. It might not be a very clean eater and any blood we find might give us an idea where the goat was standing. And the window might give us a good idea of which way they go when they come in and leave.”

“And?”

“You can use the charm Midna gave you. See if you sense any of the magic the goat was talking about. If it’s been around enough times, there has to be a trace of energy.”

“Which can give us an idea of how to handle it. Smart.” Link was nodding. “I’ve already got an idea too here to catch it in the act.” He walked to the entrance and pulled the gate open. Inside it looked like to have over two dozen goats in the pen would be a bit cramped, but there was enough room for them to move around, especially for livestock. Lending a careful eye to the room, he saw the open window at the top was facing the East.

“Link, over here!” He turned around to see Epona motioning to one of the corners. She was motioning with her head against the wall. “Couple dead birds! Swallows I think. And it smells kind of funny over here too! Not like a dead thing should smell!”

He knelt down and inspected the two dead swallows. They were huddled in a corner together, as if they were trying to hide from something. Link reached for the wolf charm around his neck and clenched it. A small pulse of magic from his fingers and the dirt blew ever so slightly around him. “Magic,” he said, feeling it. “Plenty powerful too.”

“I’m not seeing any other insects or small animals around this place either. And I think I remember Cia saying once that a powerful enough dark curse would drain the life out of things around the cursed individual.”

“She did say that.” He carefully picked up one of the birds and inspected it. As he did, it turned black and crumbled into ash and smoke in his gloved hand. “Completely consumed by the energies. Any insects or field mice probably burst into smoke when the spell was cast that paralyzed the goats.”

“So, this could be a cursed mage maybe?”

“Likely.” Link got to his feet again, adjusting his scabbard strap slightly. “You’d need a great deal of magic to curse a mage. Or else he’s worse with magic than I am.” He stroked his chin for a moment and looked to the window again. It looked like it could be knocked closed from the inside and latched.

“You said you had an idea how to catch this thing?”

He nodded. “We borrow a carpenter’s sawhorse from the workshop and cover it with an old goat pelt or two. Make it look like one of the goats that’s sleeping. I’ll hide under it. Move most of the goats in with the horses tonight, but leave a couple in here as bait.”

“I don’t think the goats are going to like that part of it.”

“I wouldn’t either. But we know at least it doesn’t kill them. And if it’s a wild animal, rather than kill, it might try and flee as it has lost an easy meal. Giving me the opportunity to take it down or a way to keep it from getting back in.” He looked to the gate out of the pen. “If it’s dangerous and does get out though I’m going to need you.”

“You can count on me, Link. If it can fly, might I suggest the obsidian bolts?”

“Yeah.” He looked around the pens a little more before starting for the exit.

“Once it’s down though, what’d you do about it?”

“If it’s a mindless beast or some magic entity, kill it. It’s been a threat to the people here. If it’s someone who is cursed though… Maybe we can break it.”

“And what if they’re the only thing that’s been keeping the livestock safe from human criminals?” Epona cocked her head and her left ear flicked a little.

“Mmm?” He stopped to look at the mare.

“We’ve seen people bearing curses before trying to help people and not breaking their curses. Like that priest you and Groose ran into a year back? Gave him some powers at the cost of an incredible pain. Was only that it drove him mad you two had to put him down and thought you were a pair of murderous moblins! And he did a lot of good before that happened.”

“In the end though, he became what he fought so hard to protect the village against. A raging monstrosity driven mad by the hate that caused the curse in the first place.” He looked out on the ranch. Malon was running over, followed by from a distance it looked like a woman with large feathery sleeves. “We’ll have to cross that bridge when we get to it though.”

“Link!” Malon said, catching her breath a little. “There’s a rito here looking for you!”

“I can see that…” As they approached, he instantly recognized the rito woman as a Handmaiden of Valoo. Her arms were folded over her dark grey robe and her wings hung down from her arms like giant sleeves. A red sash over her shoulder held a harp on her back and there was a red and white messenger bag on her hip. Her deep dark auburn hair was back in a long ponytail. She smiled warmly the second she saw Link. “Medli! What’re you doing here?”

  “Looking for you!” she said. “I got your letter and with things that have been happening, I knew I needed to find you.”

“You know her?” Malon asked.

“Yeah. She helped me on my first big assignment and some others too!” He smiled a little. “What’s going on, Medli?”

“Uh, can we talk a little more privately?” The rito looked at Malon. “No offense, but it’s a bit of a serious matter. Chief Komali said it’s need-to-know.”

“I can, but I’m in the middle of a contract,” Link said. He looked at Epona for a moment as the horse let out a whinny. “Malon, do you have any goat pelts?”

“We have a couple,” she replied.

“Good. I need them and a sawhorse. We need to make a fake goat I can hide under.”

“I can do that.” She smiled a bit. “Figured things out then?”

“Yeah. We’re going to try and catch it in the act.”

“Just tell me what else needs to be done.”

“Anything that makes it look and smell like a goat. We need to ensure it’s as realistic as possible. Gross as it might be, it’s really important it smells right too.”

“So it doesn’t suspect anything. Could be identifying them by the smell.” Malon was nodding as he spoke. “Okay. I’ll grab a couple hands and we’ll have it ready by sundown.”

“Thanks.” He watched her walk off and then felt Epona nudge him from behind. Link looked back at the mare. “What?”

“You’re gonna have to fill her in,” the mare said.

The rito smiled. “Good to see you too, Epona.” She walked over and petted her.

“Now, here’s someone who knows how to actually say hi! Not just appear out of thin air and magic with a laugh.” She shuddered. “Sometimes I still close my eyes and see my shadow with glowing red eyes!” Epona shuddered and shook her head, pushing her snout into the rito. Medli was more than happy to keep petting her.

“So, what’s going on?” Link asked. “You came yourself meaning it’s really important as opposed to just sending a courier.”

“That’s because someone is targeting our couriers,” Medli said, her voice clearly concerned. “Most of my trip has been on boats. A fishing ship to Windfall then the ferry to Aboda.” She let go of Epona and looked back at him, feathers fluffing up a little as she did. “We have lost seven in the past month. Four the one before. Link, I’m worried this is an attempt to pull us into the war. Or they think we’re feeding information to someone. Things that could change the course of the war.”

“That’s not good.”

She shook her head. “Nope. And you know how tough some of our couriers are.” Medli then stroked Epona’s snout once and turned back to face Link. “I know there’s a lot going on and with what you said in the letter… I can’t imagine how hard it was for you to do that. To just turn away from The Crown.”

“It was.” He looked down at his boots. “I keep telling myself that I’m doing what I was trained for.” Link looked back at her then. “Do you think I’m doing the right thing here? Trying to end this war by going against The Kingdom and The Tribes?”

“I don’t know, Link. We’ve always tried to stay out of politics like that. All I know is my tribe is in trouble right now. But with what you’ve done, I’m sure you are going to need help. And I can do some of that.”

“Your information network has never let me down. Having that at my disposal would help a lot. Especially for movements.”

“That’s easy for us.”

He looked back up at her. “Let me finish this job first. I’m on a bit of a time limit because I needed a special potion.”

“Hey! Tell her hi!” Epona said. “Like actually I’m talking to you because of it!”

Link stopped to glance at the horse and then back to Medli. “I can understand Epona right now. She wants to say ���hi’.”

“Oh! Jabber nut extract.”

“You know it?”

She nodded. “Old minish recipe. Nearly impossible to find though. Must have a really good brewer then. Are you okay though? That sort of potion was only used by people who would regularly interact with the minish and their magic. And the last time someone did that was over a thousand years ago. And your body might be reacting to it in ways we don’t even know.”

“Yeah. I’m okay.” He stopped for a moment. “…I don’t look toxic, do I?”

“No. Perfectly normal. If you’re worried though, I can take a blood sample.”

“Might be for the best…” He folded his arms then. “If I have to go up against this creature I’m looking at, I’d prefer not to come back from it looking like a gibdo or using the only Nayru’s Tears I have to purge my system.”

“Yeah, and he spent all his rupees on getting the jabber nut one!” Epona added.

“It was a very specialized potion, Epona. And they didn’t charge me for it. Irene’s grandmother insisted I take it with me along with the others.” When he looked back at Medli, her brows were raised and mouth slightly open in surprise. He could read her face and what she was thinking. “…Yeah, it’s been a weird day so far.”

“So, what exactly are you two doing?” She put a hand on her hip and gripped the red sash across her body.

“Goat-vampire,” Epona said.

“It appears to be some sort of monster feeding off the goats,” Link said.

“That’s what I said.”

He looked over his shoulder. “How about you go talk to the other goats and let them know the plan so they don’t completely freak out while I fill Medli In?”

“Well, that would be a good use of our time… Hey! Could also figure ways we could maybe make you even sound like a goat! Really fool that monster.”

“And how would we do that?”

“Uh, Link?” Medli asked.

He looked back at her. “Sorry. As I was saying, we’ve got some monster. We’re pretty sure it comes in through the window in the goat pen at night.” Link watched Epona walk past him and head for the goats. “Thinking it might actually be a cursed man too.”

“So if it is, you think you can break it.”

“Hopefully.”

“Well, count me in.” She beamed. “I won’t be much use in a fight as I’m exhausted from flying all day, but I can still do a few things around here. I also have my grappling hook. Can ground it with that.”

“Perfect.”

It was evening. Link looked to see Epona standing in the open stable door for the horses, just waiting for when he’d whistle if the creature they were after would get away. He watched as the fake goat that had been put together by Malon and a couple ranch hands was placed near the window. Medli had perched herself on the roof of the pen and pulled a large cloak over herself to make it look like she was a massive brown owl. In her hands was the grappling hook on a long rope. She watched carefully around with a yawn and looked down to see Link walk into the pen.

Malon was already waiting for him. On her hip was a large quiver and she wore a heavy leather cloak, the hood back at the moment. Only about nine other goats were in the pen and many had looked to have fallen asleep already. “All ready?”

“Just about,” Link said. He pulled a vial from one of the pouches on his belt. It was a bright lime green and the small label wrapped around it named it Kaepora’s Vigil. “Go wait with Epona. Have your bow handy?”

“Just in case… I also have a couple of the guards with me who wanted to help.”

“If it starts to use any magic, get back. Me and Medli know how to handle it. And with the bird I showed you, last thing we need is that energy twisting someone.”

“I know.” Her eyes looked down for a moment. “What about you? Will you be okay if it uses magic?”

“I will. I’ve dealt with actual mages too. I know what to expect.”

“Okay.” Malon took a deep breath. “Be careful then.”

Link gave her a nod and watched her walk out of the pen. Once she was gone, he pulled the cork on the vial and drank the potion. He gagged as he felt flecks of burning pulp cling to his throat, but forced himself to finish it. His eyes dilated beyond the capability of a normal human and he felt his heart beginning to beat far quicker. Things became clearer as he was now able to see far better in the dark. The bit of exhaustion that he’d experienced earlier that evening had vanished. He shook his head a bit and forced his eyes to go wide. The darkness seemed to fade a little more from his sight even more. Link ran a hand over his face, feeling sweat collecting on his glove. Each bead had a tiny lime green tint to it. Prepared, Link pulled the crossbow from his belt and loaded one of the obsidian shard bolts. Cocking the weapon he then pulled the goat pelt back and hid under the sawhorse. All he needed now was to wait.

  The hours passed and a waxing moon hung in the sky. Link watched the goats and stayed as still as he could as he saw, at last, the creature appear. The charm around his neck danced on its chain. He grabbed it to keep it from causing too much noise. Peeking out from the goat pelts, he saw the figure of a man in a tattered robe with bare clawed feet. He had a great pair of yellow bat wings. He looked around carefully and if the feeling from the charm he was clutching was any indication, there was magic already flowing between the man’s hands. The window above closed, making him spin around. Link saw a great pair of horns on their head and the wings spread wider. The goats bleated in a panic, but to Link’s ears it was a jumble of accented ays and ohs. The creature beat its wings and went for the window once more. Link took the opportunity then to push the sawhorse off its base and leapt for them.

The surprise caused the creature to snarl and throw a clawed hand at him. Dark bolts of energy struck Link’s chest, sending him flying through the wall and into the pen. He rolled as best he could and was on his feet among the shattered wooden boards in moments. The creature stepped out, snarling. In the moonlight and thanks to the enhanced vision the elixir gave him, Link was able to clearly see the individual was human, or had been at one time. He pulled the crossbow from his belt and took aim. As he did, Link saw Medli throw her grappling hook from the roof as the creature took to the skies. The hook snagged his right wing. She pulled hard back. In spite of her efforts, the cursed man took to the skies, with the rito holding onto the rope and letting out a long shriek. They both went over the wall.

Link whistled for Epona. The mare bolted from the stables and Link ran to meet her. “That thing is way stronger than it looks!” she said. “C’mon, Link! Hop in the saddle already!”

“Slow down a little!” he said. The mare obeyed, but did not stop. Soon as he was in the saddle, Epona broke into a gallop and leaped the fence after their quarry. The wolf around his neck continued to shake violently from the magic it sensed.

[snaurus]

UPDATE: Prescription (1/2)

Pairings: None Ratings: T  Categories: Angst/Friendship/Humor Warnings: Blood, Illness, Violence

Maybe getting sick was just the thing Noctis needed.

I’m doing something a little different this time around. Since this story turned into an absolute beast and spanned over twenty pages, I split it in half to make it a tad easier for @glyphenthusiast to edit. That said, I want to archive it when it’s completed, so until then I’ll be posting the parts here on my writing blog and posting the finished version on my AO3 account later! Lucky for my Tumblr followers, right?

Also, sick!Noct anon from awhile ago, if you’re still following this blog here’s that story I was foreshadowing for you! Although, this fic turned into an excuse to write my chocobo!headcanons for the bros and to explore certain aspects of Noctis’ character that weren’t really touched on in the game. Still, I hope this will appease the whump lovers in each of us. :’)

"Do you see anything?" Noctis shouted. He'd cupped both hands around his mouth so Prompto could hear him better. His friend was balanced on top of Ignis' shoulders, who in turn stood on Gladiolus' shoulders. The three of them had formed a human ladder to reach a potential opening in the cave ceiling, after Noctis failed to warp onto the too soft roof.

"I can't tell; there's no sunlight!" Prompto yelled back.

"We've been here for going on thirty-seven hours. No doubt it's merely nighttime," Ignis said. He gripped Prompto by his calves when the other man almost overbalanced them by standing on his tippy-toes to better access the ceiling. "Keep checking!"

"Wait. I feel a breeze! And it smells like…pine trees? I think I've found us an exit!" There were the sounds of shuffling, and then clods of mud toppled down as Prompto presumably dug a bigger hole.

Gladiolus sputtered as some of the dirt ended up on his face. "Hey! Next time warn a guy."

"Oh, right. Look out below," Prompto said, seconds after he knocked another large portion of the roof loose. Gladiolus stumbled as he tried to avoid the clutter raining down on him, which caused Ignis to grunt and attempt to offset the movement. "Gladio, could you not?"

"Could you not mess around up there?" he snapped in return. "What are you even doing?"

"Almost…got it…ahah!" Prompto must have grabbed onto something because his feet left Ignis' shoulders completely. His boots wriggled and then disappeared into the ceiling. More debris fell before a tree root poked out of the opening.

Ignis motioned Noctis to climb up, but Gladiolus shook his head. "Specs, you next. Scope out the other side and then I'll boost him up after you."

For once there wasn't an argument; the prospect of the unknown had Ignis convinced. He waved his hands around until he caught the root on the third pass and pulled himself through. They waited until the advisor's faint affirmative carried down to them.

Gladiolus clasped both hands together and bent at the knees. "Alley-oop, Noct. Just like we've practiced."

Noctis planted his foot in the center of the other man's palms and rested a hand on his broad shoulder. With all his strength, Gladiolus tossed him upwards, with Noctis also pushing off to gain a little more air. He latched onto the lead with one hand, dangling precariously. He was able to take hold with his other hand at the last minute. It was difficult to shimmy the rest of the way, but just when Noctis thought he was losing his grip again he crawled inside the muddy tunnel. Two sets of hands took him by the wrists and tugged him the rest of the way out.

With their combined efforts, they ripped the root off the tree and lowered it far enough for Gladiolus to grab on his own. At one point Noctis worried Gladiolus may become stuck, but after several heave-hos and a threat from the man himself, he popped free.

"Do you guys know what this means? We're finally liberated!" Prompto cheered, once the group was all gathered together. He dramatically fell to his knees. "I never thought we'd escape that soggy dungeon! Just look at these bushes, and flowers, and…nature! I could kiss it and the sky for being so dry— Ack!"

Just as Prompto was about to finish singing praises, a raindrop decided to fall into his eye. He brought a hand up a little too hard to blot his face and smacked himself in the nose by mistake.

"Tch. Yeah, real 'dry'," Gladiolus deadpanned. He tugged the sullied neckline of his tank top up to wipe off his face, although it was pointless with the incoming storm. Nevermind he smeared the dirt worse, rather than removed any.

"Betrayer," Prompto seethed. He shook a fist at the clouds and it poured harder on him. "Aw, man."

Noctis laughed at his friend's antics. Maybe he did so too hard since the tail end of his chuckle turned into coughing. No one else seemed to take notice except Ignis, whose head inclined in Noctis' direction. He asked, "Noct, are you all right?"

"M'fine," he said quickly. Noctis walked over to Prompto and grabbed him by the angry-fist to pull him to his feet. "Come on, let's return to camp."

"Where even is camp? After those creeps—"

"Goblins," Ignis corrected.

"After those assholes caused that rockslide and blocked us in I've been turned around." Sensing Ignis’ confusion, Prompto pointed to a yellow mystery patch on his cheek and said, "Look it, I swear one of'em spit on me, okay? So I'm not calling them by their proper name for as long as I hold a grudge, which is forever. From now on they are anything except Goblins to me."

"You just said their name," Gladiolus indicated.

"No, I said their names are 'anything except Goblins'—"

Noctis sighed and said, "This is stupid" and reached inside his pants pocket for the chocobo whistle. They'd been stuck searching that ancestral tomb lead (which they could now confirm was false) for less than the five allotted days they'd rented birds from Wiz. Their rides should be roving somewhere waiting for them.

After one use of the whistle, a white blur dropped from a stony ridge and landed heavily at Noctis' back. His chocobo kicked up twigs and leaves as she flapped her wings. She squawked impatiently, so Noctis gave her a big hug and several deep neck rubs in apology.

"Sorry for keeping you, Bon Bon," he said. He'd tested a lot of other nicknames, but she'd refused to respond to anything else but the candy he'd offered her on the sly the first time they met. And ever since he greeted her with the gesture, the bird seemed to expect a hug every time, like it was her just reward. The one instance Noctis forgot, she pecked him on top of his head and taken a couple hairs as payment.

Ignis' chocobo arrived right after, only second to Noctis' own ride in speed. The pastel blue fowl was exceptionally limber and would make a large profit in racing competitions, if Ignis were ever so inclined as to participate regularly. For now, he tended to limit his sessions to scouting ahead during excursions and not much else.

Last were Prompto's and Gladiolus' chocobos. Both were temperamental beasts, which might be why they were a suited mated pair. Gladiolus' more so than Prompto's, although the bodyguard had a ritual to settle matters.

He took the bird by the reins now and looked him dead in one eye, asking, "We gonna have a problem this time or what?" Gladiolus waited for the chocobo to blink, once, and then nodded. He gave the crown of feathers a quick ruffle. "Attaboy."

As they mounted their rides, Prompto cooed and pet his bird's front. "You coming along, girl? You coming along? Yeah, I can tell—" He stumbled as her wings flapped in his face. "Sorry, sorry! I forgot how sensitive you are on the chest, sorry. You're still beautiful and precious and I love you. Hey Gladio, do you think the chicks will look like Silky? If they do, I hope they're just as bright a yellow as she is."

Gladiolus hummed. "Maybe. Nothing wrong with another red Drumstick, though."

Prompto made a face as he settled onto the saddle and ushered his chocobo along, keeping pace with Bon Bon’s idle gait. "Well if they do, then they're definitely not sharing his namesake! Why couldn't you stick with something like…Vlad the Impaler or William the Conqueror?"

"Where do you come up with this stuff? William? Nobody has a name like that."

"I'm an expert, okay? I put effort and consideration into them. See, I've already got Silky's and Drumstick's baby names picked out. A girl should be Meryl and a boy should be Irons; they're foolproof and the same ones I'm gonna use when I have kids," he boasted.

"You're naming your offspring after chocobos?" Gladiolus asked incredulously.

"What? No! My future children are inspiring the present— It doesn't matter," Prompto said, sulking. "If you're so smart, then what have you decided for yours? Come on, out with it! I bet a stud like you has the next generation of Amicitia's all figured out."

Gladiolus snorted. "Not me. I'll be awhile yet, although the way my sister tells it she's got that all covered. Iris is convinced she won't stop until she has a starter set."

Noctis and Ignis hadn't been involved with the exchange, but they joined Prompto in giving him peculiar looks. They knew the other man's disposition on having children until the future of Lucis was settled, but this tidbit was new. Gladiolus shrugged. "My mother's side of the family is predisposed to having one after the other. My uncle had a boy and a girl, too."

"Huh. What about you, Noct?" The prince tensed at Prompto's question, trying not to appear alarmed at the change of focus in the conversation. He stayed quiet, as if he hadn't heard the inquiry, but his friend was persistent. The gunner sidled his chocobo closer and elbowed Noctis in the arm. "Noooct? You still plan to marry Lady Lunafreya, right? I'm sure you must be set to have tons of heirs."

"Perish the thought," Ignis jested in his place. "It is said the child reflects the parent, magnified. I'm not certain the world is ready for all that increased mischief."

"Whatever," he mumbled, torn on the matter. Noctis was relieved not to talk about his future, especially in terms of matrimony and the responsibilities therein, but he could have done without the teasing. "Sometimes kids are the opposite. Maybe yours will be way more rebellious than you, ya know."

"All the more reason for me to adopt," Ignis said matter-of-factly. It was his turn to earn a couple surprised stares. The scrutiny must have gotten to him because Ignis turned in his saddle to catch their ogling. "Surely it does not seem so farfetched? The war has made no shortages of orphans. It would be a privilege to take in one or more such children and provide them a stable upbringing."

In a softened tone, Prompto is surprisingly the first to say, "That'd be really super awesome of you to do."

"Someday, yes, I suppose it would be 'really super awesome'," Ignis said. Despite the straight-laced way he repeated Prompto’s words, the edges of his smile were apparent.

Talk thankfully shifted to more idle subjects, allowing Noctis to fade into the background. The longer they traveled the wetter and colder he became, which lessened his willingness to want to participate in conversation. Soon he was soaked through, his uniform giving up the ghost after almost two days of abuse. Noctis' shaking would have loosened his grasp of the reins were it not for the fact his fingers had frozen in place.

It was also fortunate that Gladiolus was an expert trekker. During the downpour, it became impossible to see the lingering smoke trails from the campfire, but the guardsman's sense of direction was impeccable no matter the conditions. Eventually the telltale glow of the Oracle's wards shined through a thicket of trees.

The rain gave way to drizzle as they ascended the outcropping where the group made their campsite, then tapered off completely. Everything was still soaked. They'd left the chairs out, never intending to be gone this long. The weather report hadn't predicted a storm when they headed toward the supposed royal crypt.

While Noctis dismounted, a wave of dizziness struck him and he leaned into his chocobo for support. He'd assumed the exertion from the trip through the dungeon was temporary, but it'd been wishful thinking. Noctis startled as a gloved hand took the reins from his slackening grip.

The prince pushed away from Bon Bon to see Ignis standing there. His own blue chocobo hovered behind him, its reins in Ignis' other hand. Noctis stared his advisor in the eye, keeping his expression as neutral as possible.

"Go get changed, if you'd like. I can take care of Bon Bon in your stead," Ignis offered.

Gladiolus had no qualms stripping right there, and while he had the right idea, Noctis was less of an exhibitionist. He accepted Ignis' proposal, but opted to duck inside the tent to retrieve a new set of clothes. Noctis found the least offensive smelling towel shoved into a corner and used that to rub off the sweat and grime. He still felt grungy afterwards, however, it was too chilly to risk washing off in a nearby lake. He'd have to settle for the haphazard wipe down until they were ready to resume their journey and find a motel or caravan with a shower.

Noctis searched his duffel bag and wore whatever he found first. There was no reason for being fashionable. A pair of jeans, long-sleeve shirt, and pillow vest were thrown over a fresh set of undergarments. He'd worn the different attire earlier in the week, but they were an improvement compared to the alternative.

"You almost done?" Prompto asked. His shadow shown through the material of the tent.

Noctis rumbled his assent and crawled out to give his friend a turn. In the time he'd been inside, Ignis had dressed down. He'd stripped his jacket to reveal his arms in a gray undershirt. He was hard at work stewing something in a cast iron pot over the portable grill. Noctis left him to it.

By the campfire, Gladiolus had settled in while just wearing his boxers. He was talking into his cell phone. Now that they were outside with a reliable signal and at the safety of camp, it sounded like he was updating his sibling on their return status. Noctis joined him by the warm fire, sidestepping Drumstick and Silky. They had cuddled together behind Gladiolus' folding chair, the red chocobo preening the crest feathers on top of his mate's head.

Someone had draped a towel over his seat, similarly to Gladiolus', so he flopped into his own chair. He slumped to access the device in the deep recesses of his pants pocket. He'd transferred all his personal effects after he'd switched clothes. There were no messages, so while Noctis waited for dinner he played some games on his phone.

Noctis didn't realize how drowsy he was until a couple insistent prods from Bon Bon's beak roused him. He turned and she was just there, when a moment ago he could have sworn she was wandering the region below. She tended to scour their resting places, like a protective mother guarding her nest, but she was more demanding of his attention today.

He gave his chocobo some extra loving strokes to her neck in hopes of appeasing her. She lowered her giant head, it taking up most of his torso, and gave Noctis a mouthful of feathers with her forced closeness.

"What is with you?" he asked, more bemused than anything else. His throat felt prickly, but he laughed at Bon Bon's behavior.

"Chocobos have an innate ability to sense certain changes in their masters. They're akin to some pets, in that respect," Ignis said. He'd come up behind him, carrying plastic mugs with thick handles. One he passed to Gladiolus. The other he held with both hands, cupping the container until Noctis could accept the meal.

Noctis clenched his jaw tight, not wanting to give his advisor an opening to comment further on his condition. Ignis was just worrying worse than usual. There was nothing going on.

A handful of gysahl greens materialized in Noctis' fingers, summoned from the armiger. He tossed them off the side of the campsite to distract Bon Bon. She chirped loudly, her tail quivering, and chased after the treat.

Ignis took the opportunity to hand him his food – some kind of warm, broth-y soup. Mixed in were a few chunks of carrots and celery. He set the mug in his lap and ate without a word, concentrating on picking around the vegetables. The vitamins were in the liquid, anyway, so no need to eat the mushy, nasty parts. It soothed his throat going down.

Bon Bon returned. Her feathers were puffed up, giving Noctis the impression she may be a tad peeved at his trickery. She hunkered down and leaned heavily against his chair; her much larger body threatened to topple him over. She kweh-ed incessantly. In apology, Noctis fed her his extra carrots and stroked her with an absent free hand.

"D'aw! Isn't that adorable?" Prompto said with sugary sweetness. After exiting the tent, he'd decided to shoot some pictures of Silky. He was documenting her progress when he noticed the prince with Bon Bon. Noctis flipped him off before Prompto could take a photo, ruining the shot he tried to take. "Hey! That's not very cute."

"I'm going to bed," Noctis announced. He was already full, despite the small amount he'd managed to eat. The remainder of his meal went to his chocobo.

He returned to the tent, ignoring everyone's stares. He shut the flap in their faces. With no one there as a witness, Noctis let the exhaustion take over. He collapsed on his front, toeing off his shoes, and wasn't awake long enough to do much else. The next morning came and went. Noctis knew this because he noticed when Prompto clambered awake, and his friend was always the last to get up after Gladiolus and Ignis. He turned over and lazed in his sleeping bag. Eventually, a coughing fit demanded his attention more. After hacking into a fist for five minutes, there was no way Noctis was comfortable enough to return to sleep.

He reluctantly went outside and hissed as the sun blinded him. Noctis hadn't expected the sun to be so high in the sky; it was much later in the day then even he was usually permitted to sleep in. He raised a hand to shield his eyes, then decided better of it. There was a beat up old hat stuffed in his luggage that Navyth had gifted him after his first successful catch at Neeglyss Pond, and Noctis hunted for it now. Setting the headgear in place, he attempted to leave the tent again.

It was stifling and humid outside, when yesterday it was freezing. The effort to remove his extra layers of clothes was more than Noctis was willing to expel. He left them as-is.

Gladiolus was the sole person in sight, along with three of the four chocobos. Drumstick and Silky were still nestled together behind his chair. As soon as Noctis made a reappearance, Bon Bon waddled back from the edge of the woods.

He mumbled a "good morning" and crumpled into a chair. The walk from the tent to the campfire couldn't have been more than a couple steps, but Noctis felt like he'd run a marathon. His body ached everywhere.

"Good afternoon," Gladiolus stated. He was honing a sword and didn't look up from the task. At least he’d opted to wear some pants today.

Noctis scowled and closed his eyes. "Where's Prompto and Iggy?"

"Ignis wanted to scavenge for some herbs, since you're sick and all. Prompto went with to expedite the gathering process," he informed him. The offhand way he said it grated on Noctis' last nerve, but that explained why Gladiolus was here. Even if it was for a stupid reason.

"I'm not sick," Noctis grouched. His throat betrayed him then, his voice cracking on the last word. It stung to talk. A cooler was by his feet and he reached inside for a bottle of water. Noctis was just parched from oversleeping or he hadn't hydrated himself enough during the previous trip. Whatever. He was fine.

Just then, the rest of their group happened to return. They'd doubled up on Ignis' chocobo, his advisor behind the reins. He slowed their ride to a stop. Noctis rounded on him before Ignis even stepped foot on the ground. "Did you tell them I was sick?"

Ignis came up short, maybe at the sharp tone or at the accusation. Prompto leaned around him and answered, instead. "Huh, you're sick? I mean, I kind of figured, since you were boiling hot all night. And you're sort of pale…"

"No. I'm not," he snapped.

Gladiolus said, "Get off'em. I determined that you're unwell on my own."

"I said I'm not sick!"

That's when Noctis passed out. The sounds of Bon Bon squawking in distress followed him into darkness. There was a faint beeping sound. It was enough that Noctis couldn't ignore the disturbance. His eyelids clenched tighter together against the intrusion. He rolled over and hid under the covers more to try and block out the electronic noises.

The sounds cutoff, to be replaced with the rustling of bed sheets. "Noct? Psst, Noct!"

He buried deeper into the blankets, but the person was adamant.

"Hey, you awake?"

"No," Noctis mumbled.

"Dude!" It had to be Prompto making that racket. Nobody else was this excitable. Noctis frowned and refused to budge. He hoped his friend would take the hint and leave him alone, but a hand on his shoulder gave his body a couple shakes. He asked, "How're you feeling?"

"Tired," he stressed, wanting to spur him into silence.

"You passed out! How can you still be tired?"

That didn't seem right. Noctis remembered… Well. Musing on it, he didn't recollect much of anything. Had he already woken up? He vaguely recalled that he might have met up with Gladiolus, but afterwards was such a hazy blur.

"I don't…" Noctis tried to sit up, but his arms shook too much as he pushed himself upright. Prompto hurried to steady him, both palms flat on his back. If it were anyone else Noctis would have brushed off the contact, the area being sensitive, but the sensation of comfort broke through his revere.

In a somber tone, Prompto said, "Hey. Hey, hey, hey. Take it easy."

"What happened?" He dropped to an elbow and watched Prompto over his shoulder, the blanket covering the lower portion of his face.

"I'm not really sure? This morning Ignis randomly wanted to go plant picking, and when we got back you weren't talking sense. Then you collapsed."

Some of what Prompto recited came back to him in stages. Noctis ducked his head in shame as he recalled the way he lashed out at Gladiolus and the allegations he flung at Ignis. To Prompto, who'd sparingly been exposed to Noctis at his lowest, the severe lapse in his mood would appear confusing.

"You had us all kinds of worried," Prompto said, almost hushed. It garnered Noctis' attention, regardless. He adjusted his shoulders in nervous habit, and his friend removed his hands like he was burned. Noctis couldn't have felt guiltier.

"This just happens sometimes. It's no big deal."

"Um, this never happened when we were in school! I'd remember if you passed out in the middle of math class. The only time you were gone was when your dad summoned you to the Citadel for those top secret—" Prompto's expression went blank. The gunner was so expressive, animated even when idle, so he knew Prompto was serious when he went still in contemplation.

"You weren't in council meetings all those times you had to skip school, were you?" he asked directly.

The words wouldn't form; all he could do was nod in confirmation. His friend moved beside him, and in a panic Noctis scrambled to halt Prompto from leaving. His worrying was unfounded. Prompto was reaching out to him again. Noctis met him halfway, his fingertips catching on the other man's bracelets. He was relieved Prompto wasn't angry enough to flounce off, but Noctis wanted to make sure he didn't.

"Ever since—" the Marilith attack, but he couldn't put a name to his childhood misery, even after the creature's demise at his hands. The monster haunted his nightmares for years and would continue to haunt him for the near future. "—my accident as a kid, the doctors said my immune system was weakened."

Saying 'weakened' made his stomach churn worse. Admitting that to anyone, most of all Prompto, hurt worse than the illness wracking his body. He owed it to his friend, though. Noctis had kept this hidden from him long enough.

"Back then, I'd get sick all the time. It was like I had no natural defenses left in me. We tried everything: gut therapy, boosters, remedies. Shit like that."

"When you were in Tenebrea?" Prompto asked. He whispered, as if afraid Noctis would stop if he interrupted.

"Luna's mom… Her magic was all that helped," Noctis confirmed. At least, until the queen couldn't anymore. Her treatments ended with the invasion of Niflheim. That was another painful reminder, one which he wasn't equipped to delve into, even with Prompto.

"As I got older I didn't get sick as often, but when I did… It was better if the public didn't know." Better if his best and only friend outside the palace didn't know how pathetic he was, but what Noctis actually confessed was, "That's what my dad and his staff concluded, anyway. It'd be risky if anyone found out how easy a target I was during those times."

"I'm sorry," he said, surprising the prince. Prompto shifted on his knees, but kept his hand firmly in place, under Noctis'. "That totally sucks. It must have been miserable and lonely for you. I know you said it was dangerous to tell me, but I am sorry that I didn’t do more for you."

"No, I should have told you," Noctis said in his own apologetic way.

"Nah, no biggie. I'll just have to make up for all the lost opportunities!" Prompto pulled away, but only enough to lie against the prince's side. He stayed on top of the layers of blankets and sleeping bags, but shared Noctis' pillow. Noctis should have protested – he was feverish and resembled a swamp. Nevermind Prompto could catch his illness, too, by such close proximity.

Instead, Noctis transferred onto his opposite side and watched as Prompto resumed playing games on his phone. It'd been what was generating the strange noises earlier. He watched for awhile, offering idle commentary in the forms of suggestions or jibes. He felt fatigued from his prior confession, however, and without his noticing he dozed off.

[comicteaparty]

December 4th-December 10th, 2019 Reader Favorites Archive

The archive for the Reader Favorites chat that occurred from December 4th, 2019 to December 10th, 2019.  The chat focused on the following question: 

What comic ended or went on indefinite hiatus that you miss?  What about that comic do you like?

AntiBunny

An old one I enjoyed was Mindmistress. It was very interesting to see the combination of futurism and superheroes. It not only looked at what superhero tropes would and would not work in reality it took those tropes and looked for a way to make them work when they seem impossible. It wasn't exactly realistic, but it was believable and consistent within its self. The comic stopped very suddenly in the middle of a story arc.

carcarchu

Pao Ge Huang Taizi - https://www.kuaikanmanhua.com/web/topic/840/ i loved the funny and lighthearted tone of this series and really wish i could know how was supposed to end

Phin (Heirs of the Veil)

My mind immediately jumps to Hannah is not a Boy's Name, which was one of the first webcomics I've ever read (that were not on the German site I was mostly reading where everything was manga inspired). Especially what Tess Stone did with typography in the comic pages was just...top notch (also one of the first comics I've seen that made used of vertical scrolling. It's pretty sad bc it ending had nothing to do with the creator, tho I'm glad Tess went on to create other really cool comics.

Q @CecilieQMT making WAYFINDERS

Oohhh seconding Hannah is not a Boy's Name. That story inspired me to no end, and then it just disappeared :8(edited)

Cronaj

For me it is almost always Grand Spirit. (https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/grand-spirit/list?title_no=6608) I fell in love with it back in 2015, and then it disappeared for 3 years until it returned unexpectedly in 2018. Aaaand then it disappeared again this past July without a word. So who knows, it could be another 3 years before they return... Or it could be forever. I mainly loved it because the idea was really something. When this comic was originally published, it was for the Webtoon sci-fi contest back in 2015 (which I didn't participate in because I didn't have a solid idea to work with). But naturally, the story is about... fairies. XD Robot fairies created by the humans with one program in mind: protect the grand spirit of nature that humans have destroyed. The main character, Wang Min, is one of these programmed fairies, but he realizes when he is injured and taken by a human to be repaired that he is a machine created by humans for their own purposes. I mean, beyond the amazing concept, I thought the whole comic was excellently done: good character designs, excellent pacing, beautiful artwork. All this things falling into place for the author. They actually got past the first round of the contest, which is pretty amazing, but they didn't go any further past that, even though I was rooting for them. And then after that... They went on their hiatus. It makes me wonder if maybe the creator wanted to make money from the comic, and once they discovered they weren't going to in the immediate future, they gave up. Very disheartening. There are plenty of other comics that I love that have either gone on indefinite hiatus or that have ended that I still think about, but Grand Spirit is the one I think about the most.

Erin Ptah (BICP 🎄 Leif & Thorn)

I still miss No Rest For The Wicked

Not to mention What Happens in Carpediem, which was on Smackjeeves, so I bet even if the artist wanted to come back they'd decide it was more trouble than it's worth.

Eightfish

It makes me sad how quickly people responded to this question ): I too know of several comics I wish would be continued. Such is the world of webcomics though. Also, you guys, stop with the descriptions. They're too good! You guys are tempting me into reading these comics but I know if I do it will only end in disappointment edit: what is that thing below this vvv(edited)

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

Oh gosh, where do I start? So many over the years. One that stuck with me the most was an old, old comic from the early '00s called Fallen about a fallen angel of death. The humour was so quirky and good, but it also hit the drama and emotional beats really well. It's long since vanished after going on perma-hiatus, but 10+ years later, I still miss it. Another was Off-White. The art in that one was incredibly gorgeous. I'd link the site as it's technically still 'there' but the archives are either broken or missing. And finally, one that hasn't been officially announced as dead, but probably is, is White Noise. This comic has such great writing and atmosphere. Like Fallen, it really hit all the emotional beats so well and the build-up to big reveals was always pulled off superbly. Fortunately, the website for this one is still up and functional, and you can read what there is of it here: http://whitenoisecomic.com/(edited)

Erin Ptah (BICP 🎄 Leif & Thorn)

@Eightfish: the server has levels for every user based on how active you are -- the more you post, the more you level up! There's not a whole lot to it tbh, but there's a list of ranks and what comes with them in #rules

SAWHAND

Oh shoot! I remember Fallen @Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios) ! And I don't have a great memory for stuff like that, but that one really stayed with me.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Oh man, White Noise was one of the first webcomics I ever read, but I still have never made it through the whole archive. I lost it for a few years when I switched computers and I think when I remembered it again it had gone in that hiatus. I think that made it to hard to try and reread again :(

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

For sure. I never start a comic that’s already on hiatus. It’s too sad to get invested in something that might never continue.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

So for me I guess my White Whale of indefinite hiatus comics is this one called Scarecrow Lullaby. It was also one of my really early first webcomics and it wasn't like, the best comic in the world but it hit a lot of the spooky but cute notes that I like in a story. There was also something about the art and character tropes that really resonated with me and my own comics I was making at the time. So I felt kind of a kindred spirit connection with the comic in some ways. I've felt that for other comics too over the years, I figure that's probably not uncommon for folks but I don't really know? But anyway, the hiatus for this one just really haunted me almost because the creator just kind of disappear. Like there wasn't any goodbye post or anything. The comment section got wild on the last page with people speculating that she had died or something. There were people saying they were real life friends confirming that the artist was dead and then others saying no, she was still alive but wasn't planning to continue. I still go check in on it every few years just to see if there's any news. I think what makes me most sad about it isn't that the story didn't finish but just that the artist vanished. Like I wish I could follow her on Twitter or Instagram and see how she's been doing the past 10 years but if she has accounts they aren't under the same name. Just a big weird mystery! https://www.theduckwebcomics.com/ScareCrow_Lullaby/

RebelVampire

The comic I miss the most is Chronicles of Oro http://www.chroniclesoforo.com/ . I really loved how languages were handled in the comic, the character designs, the interesting world, etc. It was a really great start to a good fantasy story that really just hit all the right notes with me. It's only been 2 years since the last page was posted, but its been agony. However, unlike some of the other depressing tales, the creator does occasionally pop in to give a "It's not forgotten" status update, so maybe it will return one day.

mathtans

I'm gonna show my age here. "Elf Only Inn". http://www.elfonlyinn.net/ It started as a comic about internet chatrooms in 2002. After a few years it went on hiatus and rebooted itself as a comic about an MMORPG. As if the same users were using a new medium. Brilliant. It's been on indefinite hiatus since 2008. I still get a kick out of the "Nimoy" character being mistaken for an elf.

keii4ii

I too remember the comic Fallen @Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios) though I don't remember much of its humor, so not 100% sure if we're talking about the same Fallen? Is it the one where the human MC has a pet snake? I don't quite miss this comic, at least not in the sense of longing for its unlikely return. But it left an impression on me. Taught me an important lesson in writing character-driven stories. See, at the time I was chest deep in Chosen One stories and the likes, so I thought central twists had to be about what a character was. But Fallen showed me that a story could revolve around who a character is. It's such a basic lesson, and sometimes I feel dumb for not having learned it at an earlier age, but better a little late than super late!

It was a good comic, and I super appreciate what it did for the Younger Me.

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

@keii4ii It must be the same Fallen, because I def remember the MC having a pet snake.

keii4ii

Woo!

Cap’n Lee (Flowerlark Studios)

The humour wasn’t terribly prevalent, but I remember when it surfaced, it always made me laugh out loud. The author also left snarky and often hilarious comments under the pages.

Erin Ptah (BICP 🎄 Leif & Thorn)

Oh, man, Elf Only Inn takes me back. Such a perfect distillation of free-for-all tween chatroom roleplaying. She's a princess mermaid elf who is also a vampyre(half)!! I'd love to see someone do a sequel/homage with present-day kids. Same kinds of jokes, but it's on a Discord server with 2019-style memes.

"Not everyone uses a 1024x768 screen size, so we're shrinking the comic." #just2002things http://www.elfonlyinn.net/d/20020705.html

Kabocha

Comics I miss... So, it's not even online now, because the author pulled all mirrors and was going to redo the site back in 2012, but I really miss Picatrix. It was kind of fundamental to getting me into webcomics at all, and I became friends with the author. It was kind of an isekai sorta deal - Main character ends up in another world with magic and stuff, finds out there's a prophecy that she's gotta fulfill. Only she wasn't reincarnated or anything. But also the whole, "oh crap arranged marriage to a king?!" plot? I was kinda into it. Especially with how Az and Winnie started off hating each other.

AntiBunny

I'd forgotten about Elf Only Inn. Really takes me back to those late nights of chatting on IRC.

€heshire777

Dr. McNinja is my first thought

Q @CecilieQMT making WAYFINDERS

Did that die?

AntiBunny

Dr. McNinja finished. The creator works as a pro in comics now, but he occasionally does a short. Like "Never Enough the Wario Diaries" that he's posting on Twitter right now.

Kelsey (Kurio)

What sorts of comics does he work with nowadays?

[wandering-chronicler-blog]

The Wolf of Farore - Chapter 26

An Ongoing Zelda/Witcher Fusion Fic - Updates Wednesdays/Thursdays

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AUTHOR NOTE:  11-1-2017:  So here it is, the end of the first season!  I want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who has left likes or reblooged in the weeks I’ve been posting.  It’s been a helluva an adventure and I am thankful to everyone who has enjoyed it. 

Special thanks to @mittensmcedgelord and @ladykuro for their support and @rapididous for their repeated likes of the series.

We’re not finished though!  I’ll be doing a Q&A for the next couple weeks and taking a few requests for writing related to the setting!  So if there’s something you want to learn more about or an idea you want to see, now’s your chance!  The ask box is open and though I can’t promise I’ll do ALL the requests I get or answer ALL the questions, I’ll do my very best to get the big ones.

And without further ado, the end of the first season of The Wolf of Farore...

Summary:

War has come to The Kingdom of Hyrule.  The people cry for a savior as monsters and spirits stalk the once green fields of the provinces.  Famine grips the populace as the Gerudo Tribes and their blin allies strike along the borders.  Hope for peace begins to drown in the blood spilled in No Man’s Land.  But Hyrule doesn’t need another hero.  It needs a professional.

The Story So Far:

Vaati proved cagey as always, but gave Link and Midna the vital piece of information they needed to get The Ocarina of Time and break the curse.  Getting out however proved more problematic, but not impossible...

CHAPTER 26:  SEE YOU LATER

Getting out was simpler than he had thought. It was something he wasn’t sure he was happy about, but thankful at least it hadn’t been as chaotic as he had expected it to be. The guards hadn’t heard what had happened and by the time they likely did, he’d already put a great deal of distance between himself and the castle. The illusion Midna had put around him had been released as soon as they were a mile from the castle. They did slow, but didn’t stop until the moon had started to rise and the clouds started to open with rain. Link was thankful his companion hadn’t insisted they stop so they could get her spellwork prepared so she could go home. He was afraid that if they had, it would give their pursuers a chance to catch up.

Their camp was in a dried riverbed with an old stone bridge across it, concealing them from most possible attacks. Epona grazed nearby as Link set a fire. His eyelids were heavy and he kept going through his head the events of the day. It had been long and he knew he’d have to continue on the run again once this was done. A plan had already started to form in his head, but he would need to make sure Epona was safe. He inspected some of the supplies he had along with a couple rabbits he’d caught and skinned that were now over a spit on a fire. He heard a yawn from his shadow then and glanced in its direction. Against the wall under the bridge Midna sat, huddled a bit as a cloak formed around her. She pulled it around herself and rubbed an eye once done.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” she said, sounding exhausted still. “Promise me you’re not gonna need me to do that much magic again anytime soon.”

“Shouldn’t. But we missed our window for you to go home.” He pulled some rations from one of Epona’s saddlebags and walked back to the fire.

“Always the morning. I need to set up my circle to warp me back anyways.” She rolled her head on her shoulders a little before getting to her feet. “What’s for dinner?”

“Rabbits and some apples I found. We have some water too.”

“Well, really know what a girl likes.” She flicked a hand and with a snap of her fingers one of the dark crystals appeared. It floated down into the dirt and began to draw an intricate pattern on the ground. Teal light flickered from it as did so.

“Heh.” He glanced over for a minute to watch her work before tending to the rabbits and skewering the apples he’d found on a couple sticks. “How’re you feeling?”

“Exhausted, but glad to be myself again.” While the crystal did its work she reformed the mask they’d gained from the curse. “Glad that song worked. Wonder if it’d break other ones too.”

He nodded a little as he sat and watched the flickering flames. “We got lucky.”

“You’re telling me…” She made the mask turn so she could face it. “Ugh, we should throw this on the fire. The curse is contained in this thing now.”

“So if someone were to put it on again…”

“They’d turn into an imp.” Her eyes sparkled for a moment. Link regretted his question when he caught it. “Although… This did have its uses. And if it’s contained in a mask, it should be safe to use and the wearer would just have to take their face off again to return to normal…”

He sighed as he shook his head and turned back to the fire and the other end of the bridge. “Mid…”

She snapped her fingers and the mask vanished. “I’m not gonna be putting it on any time soon if that’s what you’re worried about.” There was a smirk on her lips. “I spent way too much time stuck like that. I can still sense the magic in there. Dark but contained. I’ll take it back to look at closer with the book you want translated. And if it’s really as dangerous as the magic that made it, I’ll destroy it myself.”

“Okay.” He inspected one of the rabbits and carefully removed it before cutting the meat off it into a small bowl with a fork. He offered it to her then. “So, looking forward to going home?”

She sat down next to him and took the bowl. “Yeah. My own bed. Not having to hear long-winded gorons on sky tribes… But then there’s the politics and some days I feel like I’m just banging my damn head against a wall with some of the nobles and other clans.” Midna shook her head as he offered the ration. She snatched it quickly. “Like this entire mess with Majora’s Mask. We could’ve handled it if we were working together. And I’m already thinking of the aftermath of this.”

“Not going to go over well?”

“Probably not…” She took a bite of her meal. “First it’s going to be who let that bastard get the mask out of there in the first place. Then it’s going to boil into a debate about if we should even be keeping these sort of things or just destroy them. Then there’s going to be talk about if he was right to act against the Light World or we should have intervened anyways to keep him from doing something to give your people a reason to try and attack us…” Midna let out a groan. “And then there’s gonna be talk about why the king’s only daughter hasn’t been married off to some sorcerer prince yet to keep her from doing something ‘dangerous and reckless’ like this all over again…”

Link grabbed a bowl for himself and stripped the meat off the other rabbit into it. “I’m getting a distinct feeling of repeating the aftermath of The Conjunction.” He picked a piece out and slipped it in his mouth.

“At least there it was all just a natural disaster. No one party causing the problems so once all the evidence came to light the finger pointing stopped.” She shook her head. “Not gonna happen this time though.” She took another bite and swallowed quickly. It was quiet for a minute then. The sounds of rain pattering and crackle of firewood the only things they heard. “There’s going to…”

“MId.”

She looked over as she stopped to finish her meal.

He looked her in the eye, resting his arms on his knees. “Do you really want to spend the next couple hours before we start taking turns on watch talking about politics?”

The twili let out a sigh. “No. Not really…” She looked back to the fire. “I live for my people, you know that. But I’m just so sick of putting up with some of the crap that goes on. And wearing that stupid mask. The whole regal ruler one and… And it makes me want to scream sometimes. You’ve probably seen a lot of that here. When you were working for The Crown anyways.”

He interrupted her. It earned him an annoyed glare, but it vanished when he’d finished talking. “Then we’re changing topics.” Link moved slightly on the ground to get a little more comfortable.

The wood crackled on the fire. “Got one?”

He nodded. “When you showed me the sign. The snare. I saw others in there. Was that you learning how to do it?”

“Yeah. It was. You saw exactly what it took me months to learn in a few seconds.” She finished her dinner then and licked her fingers. “Really glad you picked it up as quick as you did too. Must be that hylian blood in you. A regular human would have a harder time.”

“Could be the mutations too,” he said while chewing. “I’ve had them since I was ten.”

She looked at him with surprise then. He glanced up to see her mouth open. “Ten years old?”

“Mmhmm.” He swallowed. “You didn’t know?”

“I thought you were a little older at least. Still a child, but…”

He grabbed his canteen from his belt and took the top off. “Nope. They needed it done earlier on. Before puberty so my body could properly adapt to the potions I use and increase the other physical aspects.” He began to hear the screams and the feelings of The Change in his muscles and lungs. There had also been the pain as the tower mages worked their magic to ensure he survived the process. Link winced a little and looked at the canteen in his hand. He took a swig from it and offered it to her. “I… I didn’t know you danced.”

Her lips curled into a smirk as she made the canteen float into her right hand. “Yep. Everyone needs a hobby. My wolves just are something that works with my magic too.” Midna moved to have her arms around her legs and huddled a little closer to the fire. Dark magic flowed out of her fingers and in moments one of her wolves appeared. It stalked out of the darkness, illuminated by the teal markings and glowing eyes. It came over and nudged her with its nose. She began to pet it as it lay down. “I’ll have them watch as I’m exhausted. Besides, they don’t’ need sleep.”

“Clever.”

“They’ve done it before too.” She took a sip of water from the canteen.

“I know.”

She scratched the twilit wolf behind one of its ears and passed the canteen back to him. “Well, I didn’t know you had any musical talent.”

“My ocarina got taken when Hilda’s guards locked me and Ravio in the dungeon you found us in.” He took another drink from his canteen. “One of them dropped it with my other belongings and it shattered. I’m a bit out of practice with it though.” He began to chuckle.

The wolf looked up at him. One ear lowered itself slightly while the other remained upright. Midna began to scratch behind its lowered ear and the wolf began to cock its head to that side. “What?” she asked.

“Vaati.” He laughed a little more. “Vaati is in the room I was in before I got thrown in the cell you found me in. He probably has the replacement I got when I got my payment for The Conjunction.” The humor left his face with a groan. “He probably has my sketchbook too…”

“Actually…” She held up her hand. Small black squares formed around it and a worn green leather book. The pages were yellowing and had gotten wet a couple times, but it was otherwise intact. He got up the second he saw it finish forming and took it out of her palm. On the cover of it was a circular design. Twelve runic symbols arranged around it like a clock. Inside the circle was an ornate pattern of three circles, each bearing one of the marks of the Goddess and in their place. At the center was the Triforce. He ran his fingers over it. Once the entire pattern had been inlaid with gold, but that had been several years ago. Only the triangles at the center remained. “He was using it as a coaster.”

“Damn him…” Link sat back down again. He saw the wolf was now resting its head on Midna’s leg, looking far more like a content pet than a fearsome beast of war.

“So, what’s your history with him?”

“Was responsible for a mess in the South Seas. Ended up destroying one of the navy’s freighters with how he had put together some work to direct the winds. I was dispatched to investigate and eventually it lead me to him...” He shook his head.

“And you let him live, clearly…”

“It was complicated.” Link looked into the fire and closed his eyes. “A noble of Hyrule was involved as was a Labrynnan nationalist who was the head of a mercenary company.” He looked back at Midna then. “He gave them things as part of some twisted experiment. It could’ve sparked a war between Hyrule and Labrynna again. Zelda sent me to investigate what had happened to a freighter that had gone missing and was carrying some old relics.”

“Guessing Vaati was responsible.”

“He was the one who set it all in motion. And his magic had blown the freighter off course, right into a pack of gerudo pirates.” He shook his head and watched as the wolf nudged Midna as she stopped petting it. “The relics were actually containers for hexer mutagens when I tracked down the pirates who had sunk the freighter. And the Labrynnan was using them to turn volunteers into… Into these monsters. Me, Medli and Linebeck found dozens of bodies like what we saw in the well.”

“Ugh, great. Now I have that to bring up back home… So, Ateren was making hexers.”

He shook his head. “It looked more like he was trying to create the false darknuts I’d run into during that assignment and from time to time. Big brutes. They aren’t even completely mentally sound either. Just hulking masses of muscle with no reason in their eyes. Tough to face in combat too. But a bit slow. Can break my Nayru’s Love in a couple hits with ease.”

“All the more reason to find a way to end this war then.” She gave him a grin. “Get him out of your room!”

He did have to chuckle a little at that, even if in the back of his mind he wasn’t sure if he’d be allowed back. Link smiled a little and waved a hand at her to give him the canteen back. “Yeah. Any sort of a bed is a luxury for me. While I was on the front. In the Castor Wilds, it was dreadful. We lost a lot of people to disease.” He took a sip from the canteen when she handed it to him. “Some people would sink into the bog while they slept. Always had to find a good rock or something to use because that was on solid enough ground I was lucky if I even got a blanket. Least I had a tent most of the time because I was a Chosen. Pillows were another thing.” He capped the canteen. “Speaking of which, did you happen to see where my hat went?”

“Yes?”

“Did you pick it up?”

Her hand slowed as it stroked the wolf’s head. The giant dark beast had its eyes closed. “…Yes.”

“Can I have it back?”

“You’re not gonna swaddle me in it again are you?”

“I thought we agreed to not bring that up.”

She chuckled a little then. “Well, it should probably get a good cleaning before you use it again though. I’ll get it back to you.”

He smiled a little in return. “Alright.” There was a minute of quiet then as they watched the fires. Midna’s wolf got to his feet and sauntered away, out from under their bridge. Link closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the sounds of the light rain and crackling fire.

“They still haven't figured out the ways between worlds aren't completely sealed?” Midna asked. “Have they?”

He shook his head. “Nope,” he replied. “Only ones who'd go looking are The Sheikah and The Tower. Don't know about the former but soon as I got back to the tower from The Conjunction, nearly every day we spent preparing for the war we all hoped wouldn't come.”

“Can only imagine what kind of mess will happen when they realize the doors aren't closed...” She let out a long yawn then and stretched her arms out.

“I did say in my report though that we had closed all the ways we could safely we could find to the best of my knowledge, like we discussed.” Link sighed then as he looked down at his feet. “I hated doing that. Felt like lying though it was wording it in a vague enough way it answered their fears but prevented further questioning...”

“Did they suspect anything?”

“Of course they did.” He looked to her then. She was sitting slightly on her side, using a hand to help keep herself balanced. “No one had encountered an interloper in three hundred years. They ran me through a lot of tests when I got back to the tower. Thought I could've been possessed or you'd have put some spell on me.” As he recalled the testing he chuckled a little at something Lana had said. “Or that I'd brought some twilit disease back with me that could have wiped out all the chickens...”

“Hah!”

“What?”

“My brothers and cadre did kinda the same thing!”

His brows raised. To hear someone in her position was treated as such was a little bit of a surprise to him. “Really?”

“Yep. Imren was really worried that some light world hexer had turned me against my people... That the doors hadn't been closed.”

“That why you started looking? When you got back and found me and Epona on my way back to civilization?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I wanted to get ahead of it. Find out more of the why before someone else did. Sols only know what would've happened if someone like Zant found out before the royal family did.”

“You never did give me a straight answer about how you found out.”

There was that familiar smirk on her lips and a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. “It was... deceptively simple actually.”

“Oh?”

“Flow of magic in the world.”

He began to smile, recalling their adventures during that trying time. “Like how you found the portals.”

“Exactly. And also why closing them would be disastrous.”

“So you got really lucky.”

Midna shook her head as she looked back to the fire for a moment. “You have no idea.”

“Mmm?”

“Lady Veran found out about three days after I got back from letting Hilda and Ravio know the ways between worlds weren't quite as closed as we thought.”

“Who?”

“One of the sorceresses who wanted us to pretty much return to the light world and, get exact words if I recall were ‘completely cleanse their filth from our history.’“

He cringed a little hearing it. “...charming.”

“Well, you know, before we met...” She looked away from him, into the dark, Link catching her expression change to a remorseful look. She shook her head a little before slowly looking back to him as she spoke. “I kinda agreed with her. But, getting out there, here,” she continued, a small smile appearing on her lips, “seeing the world every day and how alike we all are? Learning just how covered in blood everyone's hands were during The Inquisition?” She shook her head. “There's no point. All it'd do is continue a cycle of hatred that serves no purpose other than to perpetuate itself.”

“Yeah...” He chuckled a little. “A lot of my beliefs were challenged during that whole thing.”

“Me too. But none more than natural selection!”

Link groaned and shook his head as he looked back at her, fighting a smile. “Oh, bringing up the twilit lynel again, Mid?”

She began counting on her fingers. “And the griffin. And the Ikanans, and the witch who you just had to jump in front of even though I could have just flicked my fingers and had her get hit by that curse!”

“You're missing the basilisk.”

Midna shook her head and pointed a finger at him. “That one doesn't count. I had it completely under control before you and Ravio came rushing in. You especially.”

“Heh. Okay. But I had good reason to believe that witch had you. You were on the ground after your barriers collapsed.”

“Just needed her to drop her defenses just for an instant. And I had a shadow I could get to if it failed.'

“Don't recall seeing it. “

“Yes, but by your own admission one time, light worlders don't think about their shadows too often.”

“Yeah. Alright.”

“Heh.” She shook her head and moved a little closer to him. “You gave me a heart attack doing that. Just took the hit and then seeing your body get broken and reshaped.” Midna slowly looked back to the fire then. “Lucky it only reshaped your body and not your mind...”

“Yeah...”

She was smirking again. “And that the counter curse didn't leave you with a tail and wolf ears!”

“Maybe because I was a mutant to begin with?”

“Maybe!”

His eyes went wide a little in mock annoyance. “Maybe?!”

“Curses are funny things. Even after they're broken, there's little pieces of it left. Done right it's not even noticeable. Sometimes it's a tick or a physical change. Or even a mentality.”

“Huh.”

She repositioned a little and looked to him. “What? You didn't know that?”

He nodded. “I did. Uncle Alfonzo told me about how he and Impa had to break the curse on a striga one time and the poor girl after. Or one time Eagus and Swiftblade broke one on a nobleman and the only side effect he got was occasionally forgetting he was corporeal again and walking into walls.”

“Hah!”

“Yeah. I met him once actually. Man was quite the character even before getting cursed apparently.” He glanced back to the fire then for a moment and grabbed one of the roasted apples before offering it to her. She took it and blew on it before taking a small bite. “But I guess I just don't know what part of MY curse stuck with me.”

“Aaah...”

He took a bite of his own apple then, savoring the taste. Epona had moved to the other side of the bridge and settled down, looking ready to sleep. As he took another bite, he felt the wolf charm on its chain rattle slightly and heard the hum of magic. A teal and orange glow floated near his face, causing him to back away a little. Midna merely moved her hand a little closer. “...hey, what are you doing?”

“Trying something.”

“I get nervous when you start doing magic so close to my head.”

The glow changed to pure teal then. “Relax. Not like this is an offensive spell. This is more like dowsing. Finding the tiny traces of foreign magic in your body...”

“Heh... easy for you to say.” He started to control his breathing, the instincts his mutations had enhanced readying him to strike or flee, even though every other part of him knew she wouldn’t do anything to hurt him intentionally.

“What? Don't-”

“I trust you Mid. Just get nervous still,” he admitted.

“Heh.” She ran it slowly down to the back of his head and stopped. With a flick of her fingers the magic vanished. “Well... I wonder...”

“Wonder what?” The only response she gave him was an impish grin. “Midna, what are you plot-“ he started, but found his eyes close as he felt her fingers rub behind his ear. It was a light touch but enough to provoke a reaction. As she continued a little more, he found his head cocking in that direction, just like the wolf had earlier.

She began to laugh and removed her hand. Her eyes were wide and she was smiling. “Oh gods. Seriously?!”

“...what was…” He righted his head and reached up behind his ear.

“Eeheheeheehee. Are you gonna fail over again if you tilt your head anymore?”

“...probably.”

“Well look on the plus side, wolf boy! Least your leg doesn't twitch when you get scratched!” Any humor vanished from his face, even though he was sure he had a bit of a red hue on his cheeks from the embarrassment. “Aww, don't be like that.”

“Heh.”

“Mmm, probably for the best though that it's just that. I mean, you could've gotten the tail and ears.”

“Yeah, that’d have been hard to explain away when I got back to The Tower.” He stifled a small laugh at the absurdity of the situation and yawned.

He heard a growling as the sun began to peek over the horizon. His eyes slowly opened as he heard it grow a little closer. The sun was peeking through the clouds, creating an orange glow that bathed the fields of Hyrule. He was sure some of it was smoke from the fighting further west. Here though, it didn’t look like there had been much fighting and he hoped it stayed that way.

The growling grew louder and link looked to his right, seeing Midna’s largest wolf. He was glaring right at him and standing about five feet away. The wolf was almost as big as Epona and had a thick black mane, while he had similar teal markings along his legs and a disc-like object above his eyes and a harness. He remembered seeing how they had gotten the massive scar over their right eye during The Conjunction. There were several more grey hairs too than he’d last seen them. His glowing teal eyes were focused right on him and growled again.

He heard grumbling to his left then in twilise and then realized why the wolf might’ve been upset with him. With her head on his chest was Midna. Her eyes were still closed and she had a hand across him. She began to sit up when he growled again. “Fenris,” she said clearly as she looked at the wolf. The growling stopped in an instant and moved to a sitting position.

“Morning,” he mumbled as she sat up. He felt his arm fall off her side and into the dirt as he realized what must’ve happened.

“Morning to you too,” she yawned. Midna moved to a sitting position next to him.

“Got time for breakfast?”

She glanced over at the circle she’d prepared the previous night. “Probably not… Should get back soon as I can. Or else we risk some people coming looking for me.”

“Mm.” Link began to sit up then as well.

“Besides, I think Fenris didn’t like that I put him on guard duty last night.”

“Heh.” He ran a hand over his face and slowly got to his feet. “You were cold I’m guessing too.”

“Yeah, a little.” She took his hand when he offered it and was pulled to her feet. “So, where are you off to?”

“Lon Lon Ranch. Get Epona boarded and a safe place in case something happens. Then to Dragon Roost. Probably will have to go through Aboda which is gonna be risky but I have no other option. Only place the ferry goes to Windfall and what I can afford.”

“Missing that Royal Treasury, huh?”

He chuckled a little. “Yeah, a little.” Link sighed as he looked at the great twilit wolf. It had moved to behind his master and gently pushed his nose against her arm, eyes still focused clearly on him. “I don’t think Fenris liked us huddling for warmth last night.”

“He’s just jealous.” She looked at the wolf with a grin. “Aren’t you?” Midna glanced back at Link for a moment before with a snap of her fingers the massive wolf dissolved into shadows and squares. Each particle of magic flew into her hand and vanished. “Well, know how I hate long goodbyes.”

“All too well.” He smiled a little recalling the very first time they’d went their separate ways. “Hope it’s not gonna be too bad when you get back home.”

“Yeah, well, hope springs eternal…” She sighed and looked to the circle before walking towards it.

“Mid?”

She turned on her heel to look to him. “Yeah?”

He glanced to his left and down for a moment before looking back to her. “Thanks for the help. It was good to work together again.”

“It really was.” She smirked at him. “You need something, you have that charm I gave you now. Dawn or dusk we can talk. Can’t promise I’ll be available all the time but if it’s really pressing I’m sure I could manage.”

“Thanks.”

“Well, time to get going for both of us. Unless you’re gonna get breakfast first.”

“Probably shouldn’t. Put a little more distance between me and any possible pursuers. Just gotta wake Epona up and saddle her.”

“Alright.” Midna opened her palms as she stepped into the center of the circle. Energies began to crackle between her fingers and teal light flickered in her palms. “Don’t get yourself killed out there. Or captured again.”

He had to chuckle a little. “No promises, but I’ll try.”

She laughed. “Well then!”

“Yep.” He took a deep breath that turned into a yawn. “See you later?”

Across her lips was that familiar smirk. The one that gave him such comfort and caused him such worry at the same time during The Conjunction. The lines of the circle began to glow, revealing a angular pattern on the ground. “See you later,” she said.

A moment later, her form turned to shadow and broke into squares. They rose skyward and out from under the bridge. Link stepped out to the side in time to see a portal in the sky, comprised of similar design to the circle she’d been standing. A moment later it vanished and he stood there with Epona under the bridge. He looked to the mare as she grazed at some of the grass near the dried riverbed and then at the saddle and blanket he’d removed the night before. “Just you and me now girl,” he said as he grabbed them and went to attach them. As he slipped it on, he felt the wolf on its chain shake a little. He didn’t need to know what it meant as he finished and mounted Epona, but smiled feeling it.

“C’mon, girl,” he said, gently directing her to the other side of the bridge. “We’ve got a lot still to do.”

[comicteaparty]

August 21st-August 27th, 2019 Reader Favorites Archive

The archive for the Reader Favorites chat that occurred from August 21st, 2019 to August 27th, 2019.  The chat focused on the following question:

What is a villain-less webcomic you would recommend?  Why do you think the lack of villain works in the comic?

authorloremipsum

http://www.smackjeeves.com/comicprofile.php?id=139455 A comic I can think of off the top of my head with no villain is Dead City on smackjeeves. It's slice of life in a zombie apocalypse so I guess you could call the zombies villains, but for the past months they haven't been an issue really. As for how effective villain-less comics are, it depends on how they're written and what the conflict is. Dead City has survival and exploration of self instead of a big bad, which is effective.

ErinPtah (Leif & Thorn | BICP)

cracks knuckles Okay, let's do this! Ongoing: http://forwardcomic.com/index.php Forward - it's just a depressed human hanging out with a robot. https://www.tamberlanecomic.com/ Tamberlane - human baby gets adopted by a community of furries who can't figure out what her species is. Runs on the mystery, plus intercommunity shenanigans. http://ruuandwaltercomic.com/sample-page/ Ruu and Walter - adorable cinnamon roll and cranky goth drow, stuck on a roadtrip together. Might be a villain revealed down the line, but so far they're mostly dealing with natural hazards + mismatched personalities. http://sssscomic.com/ Stand Still Stay Silent - adventure in a post-apocalyptic landscape. No evil mastermind running things, just lots of plague beasts and other hazards outside the safe zones. https://www.gocomics.com/breaking-cat-news Breaking Cat News - very important news as reported by cats!

Complete: https://www.webtoons.com/en/romance/always-human/list?title_no=557 Always Human - sweet futuristic romance with lovely VR settings. http://drop-out.thecomicseries.com/comics/1 drop out - depressed girlfriends go on a roadtrip. https://ozyandmillie.org/ Ozy and Millie - adorable misadventures with cute fox kids. https://pizzawitchcbsp.tumblr.com/ Pizza Witch - she's a witch who loves pizza! http://teadragonsociety.com/ Tea Dragon Society - adorable fantasy friendship bwith a bunch of pet-size dragons.

ErinPtah (Leif & Thorn | BICP)

Haven't updated in a while, but I live in hope: https://kochab-comic.tumblr.com/ Kochab - a lost skier and a lonely fire spirit, helping each other in the snowy woods (and some lovely ruins). http://forlovecomic.tumblr.com/ for love - partly-sweet, partly-eldritch romance between an angel and a demon. http://ellieonplanetx.com/ Ellie on Planet X - adorable cat-shaped robot explores a weird alien landscape, makes friends with Seussian critters. http://occasionalcomics.com/ Max Overacts - extremely enthusiastic kid with big ambitions about being an actor. https://sundaze.co.vu/#_=_ Sundaze - romance in a sleepy seaside town with a woman who is definitely a mermaid.

AntiBunny

Drop Out http://drop-out.webcomic.ws/ has no villain. Just two characters dealing with depression, and taking a road trip. WARNING: Features occasional nudity, and themes of mental illness, and suicide.

RebelVampire

Gonna go with two. First one, Radio Silence. http://www.radiosilencecomic.com/ It has antagonists for sure, but they aren't really villains. They're just like average people that would actually exist to make your life suck, and that probably is what makes them scarier to be honest. Nothing like that touch of reality. Second, Princess Pups. You could argue the cats are villains, but they aren't serious villains. They're the comedic back drop kind. Otherwise, this comic is just about happy puppy adventures of happiness. That you should read cause no sadness. https://tapas.io/series/Princess-Pups

NeilKapit

Here I Lie Awake, by melaredblu . No bad guys per se, just insomnia, hallucination, and abstract horror. http://hereilieawake.webcomic.ws/