#Hope squad AU

[hopehuntershq]

Ah, yes, reediting one of my first edits ever just to present you guys Tommy of the WFA universe.

But, to be honest, this Tom (or, Tommy in this case) isn't exclusive to the WFA universe. He is the Tommy of the majority of lighter AUs the fandom creates cause canon is an overly complicated angsty mess.

Which means that AUs like @spicy-apple-pie 's Tommy would also be like this. And many other Tommy's out there too!

Anyway, some fun facts about this Tom:

Very clingy, specially with Tim, Damian and Bruce.

Spends a lot of time alone with Alfred in the manor due to his family's activitities.

He is two years younger than Damian who is 9/10 years old in WFA. so, he is like 7/8.

I feel like he still eventually joins the lab, but the buildup to it was not as complicated as "canon" Tom's. Because a lot of the canon events for the batfam are still intact (Jason's death, Damian's hard life at the League of Assasins and so on...), so, I assume such an event like the Green Light Lab event still happens... sadly.

Most of Tom's plots, at the beginning, would involve his imaginary adventures in Wonderland.

But, as Season 2 would come around the corner, we would have him meeting his canon friends.

This Tommy gets really well with Damian, whom he loves with his whole heart. If you read Mafia Nanny on webtoon, imagine Mikey and Louis.

His relationship with the rest of the family is also, all in all, better, like I can see him asking Jason to read something for him from time to time.

Although, he and Dick's relationship still has some issues, cause Dick usually spends more time with Tim or Damian.

On the merchandising episode, he would choose all the Batman merch just cause of how much he loves his dad.

This Tommy still has faith one day Selina will be a more present mom on his life, and still eagerly awaits her visits... :'(

(Also, drawing Tom as if he was basically mini Bruce is so CUTE! Canon Tom would kill me for saying it, but, it's the truth).

[thefcguy]

DC OCs interacting part 2:

Once again featuring some OCs from the DC oc community. Man, these are all comedy gold.

Vulture: Who wants to vandalize the batcave?

Charlie: ME!

Zak: Let’s go!

Vic: Uhu!

Amber: … should we worry about it.

Tom: Nah, my father deserves it.

Amber: Kitty?

Kitty: I hate breaking the rules, but I hate Tom’s family more.

_______________________________________________

Mime: [I need help!]

Amber: Huh?

Mime: [I NEED HELP!]

Amber: What?

MIME: [HELP!]

Amber, not knowing what miming is, and knows for sure this isn’t sign language: Oh, you are dancing with your hands!

Mime: [What?! No!]

Amber: Time for happy hand dance. *copies his movements* 

_______________________________________________

Tom, looking at potentially dangerous bad boy: Aww, he is so cute!

Adam: NO!

Tom: What?! Why not?!

Adam: The last five guys you dated were criminals that left 5 scars in my back! You are not dating this guys anymore! Okay, Tom.

…

Adam: Tom? *Looks and sees Tom walking in the boy’s direction*

Tom: *singing Lovefool* And so, I cry, I pray and I beg…

Adam: Oh, hell no! *goes after him*

Tom: Love me, love me. Say that you love me.

Adam: Wait!

(Fun fact about Tom, he has both low self-stem and read too many Wattpad. He will date a bad boy cause he thinks the toxicity is “true romance”).

_______________________________________________

Edd: I feel like doing something slightly immoral.

Charlie: *looks into the distance*

Edd: Charlie.

Charlie: Oh, it really won’t well for you.

Edd: What?

Charlie: I saw your future. It won’t end well for you.

Edd:… *runs away in fear*

Charlie: Ah, the best way of handling future villains. Traumatizing them with ominous future visions.

_______________________________________________

Tom: *Cries*

Harrison, spawning from somewhere: However made my brother cry will DIE!

Bruce, the rest of batfam, Lime, Pine, Matteo: *nervously sweating*.

_______________________________________________

Lime: I am NOT obsessed with Tom! I am completely over him, and I just REALLY want to find him to punish him in the name of the lab!

Johnny Alto, another toxic EX who recognizes other toxic exes: he is shirtless outside.

Liam: Really?! *Jumps out of the window*

Johnny: Knew it.

Chimera, looking at Johnny Alto

Johnny: What, freak?!

Chimera: *jumps and starts biting Johnny.

Johnny: OW! OW! These hurts! Let me go, you beast!

______________________________________________________________

This round featuring OCs by @lordarsonizzzzt , @vicenovirtues , @alien8tdd , @asher312 , @elutrosop , @natedogx15 and @amethystandemma .

I like playing with the idea Amber doesn't understand some human stuff. Like Mimes.

[tom-cobalt]

Sorry I didn’t post more yesterday. The pain tests left my hands burned, and I was not in the mood of typing.

Hopefully today I can post more.

[forgettable-au]

What was your inspiration for the story? Where did you learn about the theory to begin with?

I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, BUT SOME OF YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

BUT JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW

IT ALL STARTED HERE:

I don't like taking credit for the Papyrus is Gaster concept because

I DID NOT COME UP WITH IT, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS THEORY BECAUSE OF THIS COMIC

WHICH I STILL LOVE VERY MUCH

It changed my brain chemistry I think

I was just watching Undertale comic dubs as normal and I stumbled upon this one

I was a little confused because... why does Gaster look so much like Papyrus?? AND THEN I REALIZED

AND FOR SOME REASON I GOT OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA

Only to find out the comic was abandoned...It was rough...

So, I started to develop my own AU using that concept!

I am going in a VERY different direction with my comic but it is still pretty clear that I took inspiration from this comic

The IKTIKN comic belongs to linssins! If it wasn't for that comic I wouldn't have found out about this theory, so I will never stop mentioning it

[xx-projectsekai-au-concepts-xx]

could you do akito, an, toya, and kohane?

You got it! Sorry I took so long to respond, I really struggled to think of something for you, and it isn't even that long. I'm sorry if this feels really half-assed in general, this gave me so much trouble, even after I settled on an idea I really liked (つ╥﹏╥)つ I hope it's alright, at least.

For as long as they existed, the seasons had been blessed with their own Spirit.

Kohane, the Spirit of Spring.

An, the Spirit of Summer.

Akito, the Spirit of Autumn.

Toya, the Spirit of Winter.

These four spirits had existed since the cycle began, watching over the land from the background and bringing forth the different seasons throughout each year. Growing closer and closer as time went on, watching as the world they knew slowly faded into nothing.

[evillandscaper]

watching and waiting and planning

redraw of this

we're at two chapters and 9000 words friends!!! i'm so excited to share this with everyone

[theangelcatalogue]

Born July 12

Cancer, The Caring Nature

Favorite Ride: The Tunnel of Love

Hank Abel Johnson, Uranium City's Golden Boy

[starryinkart]

[CLICK FOR BETTER QUALITY!!!]

[Likes and Reblogs are appreciated!!]

Here is the #4 Ranked Squad in the Universe!!!

From left to right we have Serial Designation D, Serial Designation K and Serial Designation Q!!!

Serial Designation D (Danielle) was once a security guard drone in the Elliot Mansion, known for her skills of stealth and being very nonverbal, she is one of the most effective drone killers in her squad. She may not seem like the type, but she becomes very close the the things she loves, and will protect her team no matter the cost. In the mansion, D would be one of the guards to be lookout during the “Drone Days!” In which much of the Elliot mansions drones would be able to act like humans and have fun, dance and show their talents, without the looming eyes of their usual threats. After gaining her freedom from under the watchful eye of JCJENSON, D picked the name Danielle, her mission now being to serve the solver and make sure no harm comes to her family.

Serial Designation K (Katherine/Katie) was a playful, lighthearted babysitter to Tessa James Elliot when she was in her younger years, before Serial Designation J became her teenage friend and caretaker. Though she had to often work with J, it didn’t mean she favored her by any means, thinking the worker drone was too uptight, rude and fake when around Tessa. It was because of this that K mostly hung out with V and N, completely enamored with Vs obvious crush for the male worker drone. When she wasn’t working with J to help Tessa and the Elliot’s with their daily routines and events, she was playing dress up with Tessa, hanging out with V and N or the other more lighthearted drones in the manor. During “Drone Days” , K was one of the ones known as the life of the party with her little group and held most of the party activities for the others to get in on alittle fun away from the humans. Deep inside, K still loves JCJENSON and her time in the manor, but follows her squad where ever they go, even if she doesn’t exactly love serving the Hivemind that is the solver. In the end, she still likes to be called K, but her friends have adopted a more official name of Katherine or Katie to her as a nod to their past loyalty to the humans of JCJENSON.

Serial Designation Q (Quinn) is the leader of the #4th ranked squad on Copper 9! Known for her charisma and absolute loyalty to the solver Hivemind, she always leads her team into their daily routine with confidence and determination! Back in the mansion, Q was the head of general arrangements for the Elliot’s, meaning she always had to be creative, eccentric and charismatic for their liking, or else…well every drones knows what happens to drones who rebel. Not loyal to JCJenson, but loyal to the humans who gave them work, Q often gains attached to those who offer, whether verbally or not, to take care of her and the ones she loves. After the core collapse on Earth, most of what she knew being destroyed and CYN sending the Disassembly Drones to Copper 9, she makes sure to follow the rules, do EXACTLY what she is supposed to, and make sure her teammates have fun in the process, all so she can please the being that saved her brothers and sisters from never ending purgatory.

(These Disassembly Drones also exist in my Absolutely book universe, just a little different looking 👀)

[hashileio]

little man is chuffed

[asherashedwings]

Random Pico’s School headcanons cuz I am mentally ill and have thought of this stuff a lil too much.

I could probably elaborate on more of these if prompted, but imma just blurt these out for now cuz I’m tired and bored

Everyone from Philly has white eyes. The funny explanation: it’s something in that water. The serious explanation: Philly’s just so fuckin dangerous that the people there have over time evolved to have pure white eyes; no pupils means no one can see where your looking — you’re harder to read.

The Warrior’s Gene is the reason Pico, Otis, and Piconjo have sharp teeth (that drawing of Piconjo is old, don’t mind him 💀)

The Warrior’s Gene is also what allows them to use medicinal herbs the way they do. Cuz brother, you can’t just normally heal from gunshot wounds like that, something else is going on there

Piconjo and Nin have some Nevada in their blood and that’s why their skin is naturally gray. Actually, Nin is a lot paler so that might be some Arizona (Spooky Month) genes, who knows. (Nin below for context)

Humans who get exposed to and harness Penilien magic slowly gain elongated ears over time (The G-Squad (minus Durst), Alucard, and Ozmose). They’re never fully pointed like a Penilien’s tho, and maintain some roundness

“Penilien magic” doesn’t actually originate from Peniliens, and likely comes from another race the Peniliens wiped out. They stole the magic to weaponize it

“Penilien” is a term that can mean two things. Penilien can refer to the specific race of aliens that Cassandra is. Or it can refer to a sort of alien nationality of sorts, which is made up of the Peniliens and the Serpinas, the species that Damien is

Nene is immortal in the way that if she is killed, she will always wake up the next morning in her bed, completely unharmed. Only she is affected by this though. Objects stay where they were before and people WILL remember her dying

More of a retcon than a headcanon: The person running the cloning experiment in Citizen Pico was a Penilien scientist, wanting to clone Pico so the aliens could use the Warrior’s Gene against him. After Pico put a stop to that, however, the Peniliens went to plan B: Eliminating the gene all together by killing Pico and his family — also did not work

Speaking of Pico clones (this is more so related to my FNF Connected Universe, but whatever) , here’s the nicknames they would call each other if they were to meet. It’s literally just based on the first thing that came to Pico’s mind when he first met them, so they’re stupid. The clones tried really hard to also give Pico a stupid nickname as well, but he pulled the “I’m the original” card, so he’s exempt

That’s it for now, buh byeee

[reallysaneguy]

Holy shit I think this is the first time I've drawn him and I don't hate it (so far)

I think if there was a competition for understanding value and form I wouldn't win but I'd sign up hoping for an honorary mention for my grade

[hopehuntershq]

Fun fact about Tom: he is considered very attractive in canon. But, he doesn’t see himself this way.

The amount of boys who crush on him is very high. But, poor Tom doesn’t notice it cause he has low self stem and is a little dense.

Unlike his family, though, his romantic nature only makes him be with one person.

The guy thinks that a kiss is a sign he will eventually get married, everyone.

He would never have a one night stand when he became an adult. That feels very wrong to him.

[thefcguy]

hi!! This is for the dc oc sims thing :D (I picked two)

the clothes are a bit off because I’m doing my best working with base game sims

I hope you like them!!

I think you did a great job considering the Sims base limitations.

[tom-cobalt]

go go gadget

Gadget?

[theanoninyourinbox]

Skyclan's Rescue

Or

The Scorching Sun and the Storming Rot

In the Recent Past

Skystar, once the too-proud leader and Founder of Skyclan, looks down from the edge of Starclan upon the gorge.  Skywatcher is laying in the sun, blind eyes content and peaceful next to a kittypet tortoiseshell queen.  Kits play with balls of moss, warriors bring prey to their elders, and queens share tongues with collared kittypets.

Disgusting.

How DARE Starclan do this to HIS Clan!  First, they curse Skyclan’s tree to rot, then BANISH the BEST CLAN in the Territories, and now?! Now it’s all the dregs of felinehood – kittypets and loners, playing at being HIS CLAN because Starclan thought it was AMUSING!?!  HOW DARE THEY!!!

Skyclan should be regimented and only Clanblood!  Kits should be learning to hunt already!  Elders should be working until their appointed deaths! Queens should be subservient to their leader, not BE ONE!! Warriors should be KILLING these DUNGFACED KITTYPETS!!!!!  This is NOT HIS Skyclan, not a Proper Skyclan…if that blasted brother of his hadn’t stepped in, if those foolish Leaders hadn’t stepped in, if the STARS BE BLASTED Spirits hadn’t stepped in-

He tore at the ground beneath him in fury, hackles bristling and spittle flying as he raged.  Not even his mate, his beautiful malicious Star Flower, could understand him…she wanted power, oh how she wanted it all, but she was unwilling to endanger the power that Starclan gave their residents…but what was this power if his legacy was so muddled?

Skystar sighed, and turned his gaze from the ABOMINATION of a Clan the Stars wanted, but a flash of ginger caught his eye.  He turned back curiously – this was a familiar figure.  The ragged cat often prowled the edge of the territory, staring hatefully at the so-called Leafstar.  Skystar leaned in, hearing the tom rail against the group, clawing the turf as he screamed.  How DARE they reject him – how DARE that MOLLY be in charge – how DARE they banish him for his schemes!!  HE should be leader, pampered and protected!  He, Harry, should be the one in control!

Oh, now this is promising…

Skystar saw himself, in the days after the Spirits descended – powerless, but deserving of all he wished.  Now this cat – Half-Clanblooded at least – this cat had PROMISE.  So Skystar leapt, bounding through a suddenly storming sky, and appeared before the maned cat.

I can give you power, said Skystar, I can give you that and more.  All you have to do is get rid of that False Leader, and that Old Fool.  I am Skystar, and together, we will turn these lands into the most powerful Clan the world will ever see!  Harry, at first wildly afraid of the Literal Ghost that dropped from the stormclouds, smirked.  How could a dead cat give me anything?  Skystar’s face broke into a vicious grin – I will give your clever words Power, to ensnare and beguile and terrify – just take my paw. 

Harry hesitated for only a moment before agreeing, and extended a paw.  Skystar took it, and the wind howled around them, thunder rumbling a warning.  The shadows surged as rain whipped around them, stop stop STOP!

Behold, intoned Skystar, the Sun who rules the Skies!  Behold SOL!  (his back bulged with eyes, starless and sightless, a Geist of wild power being born of pettiness and hate) Harry – no, Sol - grinned maniacally, with a golden glow hidden behind his teeth.  He knew JUST who to talk to, just who to…Recruit…to take over the Clan…and now they All would Listen…

And in Starclan, Grey Wing looked down in horror.  Oh brother, what have you done?

The Journey to the Gorge and The Crisis

The combined group of Clowder and Clan cats set out on a sunny Newleaf morning.  Maguyver, as the one with the most Patrolling and Scouting experience, leads the group.  Frostfur and Hollowback, the most mobile of the Clan Elders, are helped along by a prospective Seer named Echo.  Loudbelly, who has gone nearly blind, is guided by Vespa, whose blindness has never stopped her before, and the hearty Bagel.  Yewtail leans heavily on the massive tom Hassle, and Mudfur keeps company with Lavinia, a pretty young molly who wants to be a Healer, and Pasqual, who hides shyly behind Lavinia most of the time. Mutter the Scout keeps the younger cats Gorgon, Spatter, and Jangle in line.  They make their way past Twolegs and thunderpaths, through old forests and over winding waters.  And within a remarkable amount of time, the Rescue Patrol has arrived at the edge of a marked territory.  Strangely, the sky is cloudy and the air heavy.  The group settles into a hollow log for the night, and the next morning Mutter scouts ahead. 

They return with news – there IS a group of cats in the Gorge ahead, but something is terribly wrong.  There are cats forcing Elders to clean the camp, and kits barely old enough to eat solids are picking the prey clean! Queens are being intimidated by brutes, and the Rogues – they MUST be Rogues – are led by a ginger, brown and white Tom.  Everyone is shocked and horrified – Frostfur moans at the thought of kittens in danger, and Bagel has to hold Loudbelly back from charging over and fighting the Rogues.  Macguyver asks Echo, who has the clearest Visions of Skyclan, who the Leader was.  She pauses, then points up to a nearby tree.  Her, she says, and a mottled tortie drops from the branches, followed by a ginger tom and several other cats, all collared or harnessed. 

The tortie glares at the Rescue Patrol – who are you, and how do you know me?  Did Sol send you!?  Macguyver steps in – no, Starclan sent us!  Mudfur joins him, then Frostfur and Echo.  We Saw you were in danger, Echo intones, and have come to offer our aid.  Mudfur explains that he and the other Elders are from the Clans, and that they came to help of their own volition.  The Tortie rears back, and looks over the group, finally seeing the Elders for what they were.  Hope glinting in her eyes, she introduces herself as Leafdapple, and after calling over her allies, tells them what’s happened.

She had met Skywatcher, who had been gathering cats to form a Clan.  She had become his right-paw cat, a deputy in all but name, as Skywatcher has refused to be named Leader.  After some time, a tom named Harry had asked to join.  They accepted him, but quickly understood something was wrong.  He was a decent hunter, and somewhat interested in herbs, but would consistently try to sabotage other cats.  He had led clanmates into rats and dogs, stolen prey from under the paws of others, and probably would have poisoned someone if not caught.  But he was clever with his words, and it took him kitnapping Leafdapple litter, to “save” them, for him to be banished.  But he had returned…changed somehow. 

He had a group of Rogues and Loners behind him, all either blank-eyed or bloodthirsty, and had overrun camp.  The kits had been taken, and their few elders forced into work.  Leafdapple and her Daylight Warriors – kittypets who returned to their homes at night – had escaped…but they’d lost several Warriors.  Skywatcher had been taken by some of the Rogues, and Sol, as he called himself now, paid them in prey that SHOULD have been feeding the Queens, kits, and Elders.  And every time the survivors planned some rescue or communication, he saw them coming!  They’d nearly lost several cats, and had been begging the stars for help.  But, Leafdapple sniffled, she never expected help to come after this long.  Had thought they had been forgotten.

And a voice rings out from above.

We did not forget you.

All look up, and a swirl of stars descend, and six starry cats materialize.  Willowpelt greets the Hope Clowder cats, and then introduces herself and the other Starclan cats to the stunned Skyclan cats.  Here, she says, is Cloudstar, who ruled Skyclan when it was wrongly Banished. This is Bumble and Turtle Tail, who helped found Thunderclan and redeem Skyclan in its early days.  And these are Jagged Peak and Grey Wing, who helped found all the Clans, with their kindness and cleverness.  I am Willowpelt of Thunderclan, and we know what has happened here – and we together, living and beyond, will defeat Sol.

And everyone has Reactions to this.  Mudfur and the Clan cats nod sagely, with Frostfur delighted to meet the first Crafter.  The Hope’s Rest Clowder cats are bouncing around, knowing Willowpelt from her frequent visits to the Clowder.  And the Skyclan cats are…wary.  Hopeful, but everything that has happened has made them hardened to any hope that comes.  Grey Wing apologizes to Skyclan for taking so long, and for not stopping Sol from gaining his Cursed Blessing of controlling others with his words, but that the Storming Rot - a cat he once called brother but is now a Stargeist - had been blocking them from helping, but the Clan cats and Clowder cats had essentially carried them here.  He then offers blessings to the cats – hiding them from the Stargeist and enhancing their senses until Sol and the Abomination are defeated, and Leafdapple is given her nine lives officially.  Leafdapple is elbowed by Billystorm, and she agrees, with stars in her eyes and hope in her heart.

Loudbelly asks that if he is blessed, that he be given the joints and senses of his youth, that he might rescue the prisoners.  The other Elders agree, with Hollowback noting that from Leafdapple’s description, Modern Skyclan has only Warriors, Queens, and Elders – no Camp Guards or Crafters or Herbalists or even a Healer, and simply asks for enough time to pass on his crafts, which the other Elders agree with as well.  Bumble and Jagged Peak are all for this.

The air smells of ozone and fresh snow, of mossy stones, of petrichor and heathered fields; the air shines like Silverpelt on moonless nights; and the air flexes like claws in battle.  The elders stretch and twist, like year-aged cats instead of well-lived elders.  Vespa notes that she can hear even farther than before, and Spatter leaps up a tall tree in only a few seconds.  Leafdapple laughs as her Daylight warriors bounce about like apprentices.  Turtle Tail promises her that she will receive her lives after they rescue Skywatcher, as he deserves to see his Clan get the Leader it deserves.

And as the Starclan Cats return to the skies, the living begin to plan.

The Rescue

The next day, Frostfur wanders into a Rogue patrol, and feigns that she had been looking for a place to bring her grandkits to live.  She toddles through camp, counting the prisoners, the blank-eyed and controlled, and the loyal Rogues.  She never sees Sol, and leaves the Rogues with seemingly giddy promises to return with her family.  The best lies are honesty, and she WILL be bringing cats she calls family there.  The skies are a little clearer, and in the shadows, something twists unhappily.

Mudfur, Lavinia, Pasqual, and Echo start gathering herbs for the coming skirmishes.  Pasqual and Lavinia are obviously mates, but had no issues in the Clowder.  Mudfur admits to having had a mate before becoming a Healer, and that another Oracular Healer, Fireheart, had been working behind the scenes to make it that any Healer might take a mate.  Echo, while preparing cobwebs, notes that she has never wanted a romantic relationship, and is assured that such a thing is absolutely fine.

Mutter and Harveymoon scout out where Skywatcher is kept – a small Twoleg nest kept by a Rogue named Dodger and his group.  Late that night, Hollowback and Leafdapple sneak in while Maguyver and Hassle bother Dodger out front with Sharpclaw and Ebonyclaw.  Skywatcher wakes to Leafdapple carrying him out, with Hollowback watching her tail.  A clattering from a Twoleg Thing (which Macguyver calls a trash can) sends the distraction cats hurtling back to the makeshift camp, and the Skyclan cats welcome their old friend back.  The full moon is but two nights away, and then Skywatcher will see his protégé become the Leader he Foresaw.  The clouds let the sky peak through, and the air is lighter with the promises of new life.

The next morning, Yewtail, Hollowback, Bagel, and Gorgon start setting up traps for the Rogues.  The invaders out to hunt found themselves stuck in pits, caught up in sticky honey and chased by bees, and every attempt at hunting thwarted.  This went on as the time until the full moon came. The day of the full moon, Macguyver, Hassle, and Bagel stroll up to the captured camp, and loudly demand that Sol meet with them.  The lanky Heretic oozes over, and Macguyver proclaims that he is represents the leader of a Clowder that wants the Gorge.  Hassle quietly states that unless Sol meets with them the next morning, that the Clowder will attack.  Bagel giddily purrs that maybe Sol can talk their leader into sharing instead of conquest.  Sol sneers, and agrees, but demands the meeting be at a particular clearing.  The deal is made, and the three cats trot off, content that the next step of the plan is complete.

The night came, and the free Skyclan cats and the Rescue Patrol gathered in a clearing.  The sky was, for once, clear of the strange clouds that gathered, and the moon and stars shone clearly. Leafdapple and Skywatcher sit together, and Echo calls upon Starclan to bless this Leader with nine lives, and the Wisdom of the Stars to guide Starclan.  The skies glitter and gleam, and six familiar Starclan spirits descend, followed by three unfamiliar spirits, that wait farther back from the rest.  The other living cats watch in awe and wonder.

Nine Lives and Three Precedents

Cloudstar greets Leafdapple and Skywatcher, thanking the molly for her care and the Elder for his enduring faith in them.  He then gives Leafdapple her first life, for having Enduring Faith in her Clan, the Stars, and herself.  Willowpelt rubs her head companionably against Leafdapple’s shoulder and gives her a life for Second Chances. Jagged Peak makes her laugh at a particularly bad pun (don’t worry, your reign won’t be a Cat-astrophe!) and gives her a life for Good Humor In Bad Times. Turtle Tail compliments her cunning, and gives her a life for Defending The Defenseless. Bumble smiles sweetly and gives her a life for Finding Joy In The Small Things. And Grey Wing approaches, I’m so proud of you, keeping your Clan as safe as you could in these times; he bestows a life for Knowing When To Ask For Aid.  And then he beckons the three spirits forward.

Three cat spirits wearing kittypet collars.

A grey tipped molly steps forward, introducing herself as Smoke.  Her face twists sadly, as she tells of loving a clan cat who rejected her, and dying to protect her kit.  Leafdapple apologizes for her having to go through such events, and Smoke smiles sadly.  My son is happy now, with a better father than his sire ever could have been.  Smoke then gives Leafdapple a life for Love and Affection, giving Billystorm a side-glance and a smile.  He flushes, and several cats break the solemn air with hoots, cackles, and coos.

The next cat steps forward, introducing himself as Jake.  He speaks of having an adventure with a Clan Cat, and falling in love with him.  Even after they were parted, he remembered the strength and faith of that tom.  He sighs, and remarks that his feelings for a cat he would never see again kept him from having any other relationships.  Jake steps forward, and gives Leafdapple a life for Knowing When To Let Go, and hopes that she will be a better parent than he was in life.

The last cat steps up, a tortoiseshell as well, but with a flat face.  I was named Wishkit at my birth, but was known as Nutmeg for the rest of my days. I was born a Clan Cat, lived as a Kittypet, and bore Kittypets, Clan Cats, and Hopeful Cats.  I give you your final life for Balance and Adaptability – may you find a way no matter the obstacles.  Welcome, Leafstar. Leafstar! The cry is raised, by the living and the dead.  Leafstar! LEAFSTAR!! LEAFSTAR!!!

(elsewhere, the Stargeist shakes and writhes, its eyes multiplying and mind fracturing.  something is wrong.  something has gone terribly wrong)

The Confrontation

The dawn comes, and Sol approaches the meeting grounds, his loyal Rogues at his side.  He left the controlled behind to guard the camp, knowing that Leafdapple would never be able to break the Power he holds over them – only the Stars could do that, and they cannot walk here. Sol scoffs, then looks up as the black and white cat from before appears.  My leader will be here shortly, he says confidently, they wished to be prepared for negotiations.

At camp, the controlled cats and a few loyal Rogues guard the den where the prisoners are held.  Suddenly, Loudbelly slams into the first Rogue, followed by Sharpclaw, Ebonyclaw, and Hassle.  Leafstar leaps onto the first controlled cat – Patchfoot shakes his head, and the green bleeding back into his eyes.  Petalnose embraces Rainfur as he comes back to himself, both weeping in relief.  The Rogues scatter, and the apprentices and Elders cry out in joy.  Leafstar, having freed Shortwhisker, calls out to them – come with me, we have a meeting to get to!

Sol spits angrily – time has passed, and the only cats to show are the black and white tom, an elderly brown tom, and a few hideous youngsters.  Where is your leader, you dung faced freaks?!?

Here I am, Harry. Here we all are.

Sol spins in shock – Leafdapple stares him down, rage in her eyes. Next to her is that white cat he heard wanted to join.  But behind her, behind her are his prisoners!  And his Controlled Cats! Whu-how!?  You have no power, Leafdapple! Sol sputters, and the dratted molly snarls at him – My Name Is Leafstar!

No.

NO!

A horrible noise echoes from the trees, and a twisted creature of eyes and wings and cat claws launches, bringing a stench of rot and illness.  It leaps towards Leafstar, who dodges and screeches a war cry.  Suddenly the trees are filled with cats, charging into the Rogues and scattering them.  As the Stargeist twists to attack her, a pair of shapes slam into it like meteorites – Grey Wing and Turtle Tail.  Sol does not stick around to find out how this goes, running at top speed away.  The Starclan Cats batter and shred the former Founder, and Grey Wing tears the belly of the beast.  With a sound like bones breaking and stars dying, the Stargeist faded away, with all the grace of a fish out of water.  Clear Sky – Skystar – was dead.

The Rogues scattered, and Skyclan rejoiced. The gorge was retaken, the Elders enstated in honor, and the Clowder cats gladly joining up.  The Cultures of the four Clans join with the Ancient Skyclan Culture.  Echosong teaches Frecklepaw to heal, and Lavinia and Pasqual celebrate a litter. Hawkpaw and Pebblepaw fall in love, and Hawkwing and Pebbleshine watch the world go by.

Within a year, all the elders passed into Starclan, at peace that the future would hold wonders…even if it held pain as well.

(in the stars, a fading golden molly snarls and grieves. How dare someone take her mate from her)

Time passed.

(Rain seethed, his glorious leader had left him – but he would destroy the Clans himself.  He would fall on them, like his namesake…)

(Late one night, Leafstar and Billystorm are awoken by Skywatcher’s spirit.  She startles awake, as her old friend screams.

RUN!  WAKE THE CLAN AND RUN!

More wails of danger shake the air, and Leafstar bolts from her den.  Frostfur is loading Macguyver with kits, Mudfur is shaking Frecklepaw awake, Loudbelly is rallying the Brawlers and Warriors.  Hollowback is shoving apprentices out of their dens with a frantic Jangle, and Yewtail is helping Echosong load up on herbs.

A cry splits the night. Followed by more and more and more.

Rogues pour into camp.

The Clan scatters.

Rain laughs wildly – Skyclan is no more! Scattered like leaves! Like prey!

But there will be five clans.

One Day.

[inf1nyxw0rlds]

what if i was a jackal and you were a hedgehog and when you looked at me you saw your grief reflected in my eyes. a broken moon over a decimated city. a vengeful scientist and his cruel descendant. you've seen it before. you've lived it before. it wasn't your fault, i tell you, even though still your image haunts my dreams so much as comforts me when i wake. you tell me it's not mine, either. i don't believe you.

the exposed core glares red, an open, gaping wound, and you tell me of your past. your loss; your failure; your guilt. i listen silently, your every word a brush stroke over the false image he painted of you in my mind. you tell me of anger and confusion and fear. you tell me of deception and destruction. you tell me of that burning hole. does it match the one inside you?

the white surrounding it glows softly, in spite.

i apologise for my words to you, accusatory as they had once been; you simply say that i saw what he wanted me to, and for that you cannot fault me. among the things that were right about you, i draw a line beneath hypocrit, our faults penned in the same ink.

troubled as i remain, you offer your stained hand. i take it in mine. it's warm, chasing away the winter chill, a comforting heat spreading up my arm and into my chest. gentle. an echo of what you were originally made for – or just what you were, before they twisted you, bent you, broke you, reshaped you into somebody else. i wonder who you are. i wonder if you know.

together we spar above the city skyline, above the war i waged, flowers growing in the cracks carved into brick and concrete. it's effective; my thoughts slowly fall away as we move in tandem, dancing around each other – with each other – colliding and spinning out of control. energy ripples around us and you laugh, rich and energised and uncontrollable, and for the first time in countless months, i laugh, too. i didn't realise how much i needed it, and i can only assume that it's the same for you. maybe it's the weight off, maybe it's the absurdity of it all, but i don't care. i've never seen you happy. i... like seeing you happy.

your eyes meet mine and i thaw, i melt, i dissolve.

what if we understood each other in a way nobody else could. what if we fell in love.