#How horrifying yet as I grow hauntingly beautiful

[fun-twisted-tales]

I remember when I first read the 12th book and read George and Harold saying they can go back in time and have fun adventures. Sure I knew what the author meant, they would have fun exploring time while their time doubles (long story) were the ones to grow up in their place. And that’s where it would have ended if they stopped talking.

But George had say one more thing.

“Let’s go rescue Sulu and Crackers!”

Rescue them.

Because in the last book, they disappeared by going back in time. They went to before the universe because a villain was holding a bomb.

A bomb that, when exploded, killed them and became the universe.

And George and Harold went back to “save” them.

That’s right, I thought George and Harold canonically died in the Big Bang.

Sure, looking back, it’s obvious that it was supposed to be they went in, save them and all went and skipped in a flower field, holding hands and singing “Peace on earth” for all of eternity but it still feels too much like a Deus ex Machina to me.

It just felt like it all happened way too fast for the two to swoop in, get the animals and swoop out. There’s no way they didn’t get caught in the time travel and were caught in the explosion themselves.

And before you say “this was just Dav trying to put the kids head in ease, why you are overthinking some recon?”

I HAVE THOUGHT THIS SINCE 2014!

THIS HAS BEEN BOTHERING ME FOR 10 YEARS!

I was really morbid kid..

(I am 18 and therefore an adult. I post darker things for shows meant for kids. If you are a kid, be careful as will I.)

[zeoumren]

The skeletons, the swamp and the song bird(undertale  drabble)

I am not gonna post this to Ao3 (probably) but I wanted to  write something about the boys™ ( y’know San’s Red and Skull because they spark joy) and I ended up making...a swamp monster Au? hey, you know what sure. I'm chill. 

So please enjoy this little drabble 

Sans is half blue spotted salamander 

Red is half Marine  iguana

And our boy skull is an unholy amalgam of  giant leeches  that makes him look  like he has tentacles. c: 

It had been another indescribably shitty day.

You were not a pessimist but the dark circles under your eyes had something to say about your lifestyle. 

It was shit, plain and simple. You had a hard time separating your real life from your work life and that lead to more stress, less sleep and a pissy boss telling you to get your act together before coming back to the venue.

A sigh left you as you sat hunched over on a stump in the forest clearing. 

This was your quiet place, you came here to sing and practice routines.

You were an entertainer and it was hard not to keep your mask on, you pretended all the time to be someone...something you were not it was hard when someone asked you about yourself because you didn't know who you were off the stage anymore.

So yeah, life was kinda shit right now so you threw yourself into what you normally did when you hiked up here, into the humid underbrush of a forest no one wanted to come to, legends of creatures eating full-grown men whole and actual real dangers surrounded this place, but you didn’t much care anymore.

After all, the ones who were more dangerous were outside the forest.

Taking off a ball cap and letting your hair tumble free you wipe your brow free of sweat and kick your legs as you sit.

Most of the forest was loud, full if chattering and nattering of birds and other creatures, but this space that just dropped off into a bog, was quiet.

You liked to come here in the wee hours of the morning and watch the fog roll off the algae-green water, it made for the perfect ambience to a forlorn song or a crooning that let all your own heartbreak loose.

But today, in the evening after being told your routine was shit and you were one slip up from being let go and replaced by someone new, who you had no grievance with, but it was the principal of the matter, you had worked so hard to get to sing and perform for crowds and now….you were having it dangled above your head.

You grit your teeth and for the first time since you ever came here you let out a cry of pure frustration and rage.

The quiet never broke, even through all your angered screaming, then looking between your knees as you sat and into the murky water you buried your head in your hands and wept.

You did not know what to do! It was all too much all at once.

Still, you came back to a familiar song, even with a tearful voice.

"Green finch and linnet bird, nightingale, blackbird teach me how to sing."

You were able to get a few verses in before the sun began to Dip down below the horizon and you got up from your perch.

No point trying to navigate this quagmire in the gloom.

You took careful steps, keeping to the path you always did when something caught your attention. A pale bluish light hovering in the air, soon being joined by more close by of other colours…you spotted red as well, and a strange, almost grey-blue light. You hummed to yourself, reminded of the fact that this was a bog, and swamp gas igniting was a thing. Still, you stopped and stared, a smile playing at your lips.

"Wow, this is the most beautiful light show I have ever seen! And people say the Fen is haunted. More like hauntingly beautiful!"

You giggle to yourself and don't even notice the lights flare brighter at your statement.

You always loved the Gloom, you just never knew the gloom loved you back.

---

Well….you never thought it could get worse, but even after giving it your all you still ended up being fired. 

So you came to the bog to say your goodbyes. You probably would have to move back into your parent’s town.

"I'm gonna miss this place, not the shitty managers, or the fights...but I always thought the locals were silly to be afraid. This place is so magical and I'm really gonna miss it…" 

It was weird, saying goodbye to a place. But you somehow still ended up crying a little.

And for the first time ever in this clearing, you heard a sound.

A mournful wailing, deep like a foghorn that rattled into your very bones.

It looked like the Bog itself had seemed to shift, the top layer of Jenny green teeth giving way to the sound of mud slurping and water gushing.

You couldn't move, frozen to the spot as you watched in awed terror.

Writhing tentacles that moved like leeches and were just as black moved towards you, you figured this was it, you were dead. You sucked in a breath and screwed your eyes up tight.

You were startled as the wet appendages slowly ran over your cheek. Delicately.

You cracked open an eye and saw there in the water a skull, a giant gaping hole that looked painful gushing water as it rose, one of its eyes was devoid of light and the other…

Was a deep crimson, the colour of blood.

Yet it smiled softly, even with so many teeth.

The tentacles seemed to be coming from it and it made you cock your head to the side as it almost shyly drew closer, hauling more of its body out of the water.

Its torso was also skeletal, and it was gigantic, at least eight feet tall without including its lower half.

You thought of story's of swamp hags dragging people under and looked at this...it seemed to fit some sort of description...it definitely looked like a drowned corpse.

But as it hauled itself out of the water and you saw how it slid over to you in one fluid motion, how its bones melded into strange dark tentacles, how it's eye lit up when it reached a skeletal hand over to pat your hair.

This was surreal, strange in every sense of the word. Your voice caught in your throat as  two other skulls, smaller than the first bobbed in the water, one had white pinpricks of light for eyes like the stars in the sky, the other had sharper teeth and predatory red slits for eye lights.

They shared a look and dipped under the surface, leaving you with the behemoth.

It was so strange having something so giant hold your face and look you over, play with your hair.

You finally found your voice, it wobbled despite your best efforts.

"S-sorry to bother you...I didn't know anyone lived here. Don't worry I will go."

The touching and playing stopped and it said one word that made your stomach drop and your bones freeze.

"N o."

It was soft, but full of a strange emotion you could not understand and you felt your eyes widen in shock as millions of tentacles surrounded you, even if you were to scream it would come out muffled as the world was blotted out by the writhing darkness.

---

The moment you were spat out from the inky prison you were on a shore...a tiny island with a cave in the center.

You were surrounded by the bog and your heart sped up when you saw the water froth and churn.

Out of the murk popped the small skeletal creature...white eyes.

He watched you curiously before sliding up onto the island. His lower body made you actually smile, he looked like some sort of blue newt from the waist down. That was it. You had to have bumped your head and were slowly bleeding out. None of this was possible.

So, since this is probably a weird dream induced by bloodless, you may as well be nice. You smile and wave to the creature who looks shocked and  his skeletal face flushes a bright blue as little wisps of blue light curl around him.

He Pat's his face roughly and scampers off into the cave.

"Bye lil guy." 

The next thing you know you are being tackled and you are staring up at a grinning maw full of sharp teeth and slit red eyes.

"Um...are you going to eat me?"

If you are already dying you may as well just get that question out of the way. The newt skeleton seemed harmless...but this one…

It looked more like one of those lizards that catches fish, it had sharp claws on both its skeletal and reptilian appendages. This was a predator and it could rip you apart...yet you were suprised when it laughed and started ...purring?

It was a gravely sound that you felt in your bones, but it was strangely warm.

"Heh, cute but I'm not gonna even try songbird. Skull would kill me...oh speak of the devil. Goodluck sweetness.~"

He scrambled off of you, but not before licking your cheek with a forked red tongue.

He too wandered off to the cave...it struck you that these creatures could talk, which sent your mind reeling, even as you were picked up by curling black tentacles.

You crossed your arms and looked at the creature holding you.

Skull...right?

"So...are you going to eat me?"

Skull...looked horrified. His one eye light got impossibly small and he surged out of the water, reaching out to hold you...your clothing was no doubt ruined by now and everything felt so surreal. He scooped you up and you were shocked by how warm he was.

"No. Wont. Keep you safe."

You blinked softly.

Huh.

"Can I go home?"

You were squeezed a little tighter and you realized he was bringing you to the cave.

"Keep you safe."

You were placed up high on a rocky shelf that was covered with sweet smelling moss and animal skins. tentacles retreating after softly patting your head. You blinked in the low light.

It...was a little home? The cave had three rocky pools of water and some different shelves and outcroppings. You held in your grasp of wonder as all around you little jars filled with bioluminescent blue mushrooms blinked to life in the growing gloom. 

You may be dead...but you guessed there were worse places to be dead. You looked down and waved at the little newtiton and received a wink from the skelezard.

Skull was winding himself into a ball of tentacles inside the biggest pool while the other two were resting on old animal skins and warming up by a fire that crackled with the smell of roasting fish.

You sighed softly and laid down on the surprisingly soft moss.

You guessed this was fine for now.

It is not like you had anywhere to be and you were safe, unless you were already dead...plus you probably were in shock, nothing felt real right now.

Closing your eyes you heard three separate voices call out to say the same thing.

" Good night songbird" 

---

"How long do you think she will sleep for?"

Sans stifled a yawn as he had stayed up to chat with the others.

It was no fair, he had found you first, someone singing in the early morning just for him. He had hoped to lure you with the will-o-the-wisp's into the water at first but in the end he had let you go. You were just...your song was so sad.

Mournful.

He couldn't bring himself to hurt you, and you came back. A new song each day that felt like it was just for him.

Then Red had to show up and decide he liked your singing too.

And you came once or twice at night so, skull found out too. Skull was dangerous, sans thought for sure you were dead but the behemoth seemed smitten. He liked your happy songs filled with love, your sad songs filled with loss...you sounded like you had lived all these songs.

Then you came to the fen not with a song, but with tears, with frustration and heartbreak.

And yet you had still called their home beautiful...their lights that they put up to cheer you...you called them beautiful too.

And of course it was hard to hold skull back from wanting to take you then.

"I dunno squirt. But Hell. I know she deserves some sleep...she always looks so tired. But she still hikes out here everyday."

Red growled and looked up at your sleeping form.

Their songbird was suffering all this time and they never noticed until now.

It made his instincts flare up. He had to protect you...he had to, you were too fragile to keep out of sight for long.

If he did someone else might hurt you.

You were better off here.

He may be adverse to skulls method of getting you here, but now that you were…

"So, we all agree we are keeping her?"

Sans thought it over and nodded, he may not want to share, but he was stuck in this situation now.

"...I mean...I don't want her to leave, and she is so tiny and thin. We should probably take care of her."

"Protect little bird. Needs to eat more."

Skull was already in full nesting mode with you here. It was weird to see someone so...feral become a purring kitten in your presence.

They all stopped and stared all three skulls snapping up to the shelf when you cooed out a little yawn before rolling over in your sleep. 

"...too cute."

Skull was holding his face and twirling his tentacles into tight knots. He probably wanted to hold you.

"Stars, yeah we gotta keep her. I'll get her more furs for her nest tomorrow."

And now Red was gone too. His mind working on instinct to protect, provide and comfort.

Though sans was not much better. He was already trying to figure out where to catch more humans and extort them for favours so they would give him things for you.

Yes. They all looked at each other and nodded.

The songbird was theirs. The world would never harm them again.

[qhostqizmo]

A Wish

[insert my ugly, blubbering crying as you read this]

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A storm rumbled menacingly outside. Lightning flashed, thunder echoed off hills and valleys, and the dark stormclouds rolled and frothed as the sky boiled in a cauldron of black. Rainwater surged and swelled rivers. Tt poured from the heavens like tears, pounding at the door just behind the traveling adventures in a mute threat.

Unlike the omen of disaster waiting just outside, Essätha shivered beneath her damp attire, mouth agape at the interior. From the exterior, the basilica they now resided in had appeared forgotten. The stonework masonry had lost its luster; with dull gray pillars and hauntingly aged architecture towering high above. The only illusion of value the chapel still held appeared to have been its windows. Stained glass images still retaining jaw-dropping depictions of golden suns, strange yet beautiful falcons, and shimmering sunflowers.

Inside however, it was like stepping into a different realm. Red topaz encrusted much of the decorations, and elaborate textiles decorated the halls. Unlike the weather outside, the windows of the church showed shafts of sunlight falling down radiantly. Essie dared to step out of the shadows of the doorway into one of these columns of light, astonished that it felt exactly like the warmth of sunshine on her skin.

“I don’t think we’re in Etheron anymore,” the sorceress breathed. She took another step, and as she did the white-light seemed to blind her, growing in intensity. It did not hurt, but her hand flew up to cover her eyes as her clothes became unnaturally warm; as if they had been flapping out on a clothesline all day.

The brightness dimmed and she removed her hand, marveling at suddenly dry clothes. She looked around, taking in the astonishing size of the building itself. There were tapestry hung to the walls; a few showing creatures of various kinds, some she knew and some she didn’t. Battle scenes were depicted in horrifying detail, with rubies tied into fringe to appear like dripping blood. As empty and lifeless as the building had appeared outside; without communion in decades, there were fresh plants filled with thriving lilies and daisies, perfuming the air like someone had just come in earlier.

“This place is stunning.”

She looked back, seeing Sulhadur’s jaw hanging openly unhinged. He swept his gaze from left to right, trying to absorb as much of the artifacts as he could. His claw reached out, not quite touching one of the antique-looking vases with meticulously detailed designs hand-painted on to it.

“Don’t touch anything,” Penimra warned, crossing his arms. He met the eyes of his fellow adventurers uneasily. “What? It just. It feels like a trap. Like everything could be cursed.”

“This coming from the man who is actually cursed,” Rava stated, earning a scowl from the warlock. She fluffed a hand through her puffy tight curls, gazing towards the jeweler close by. “You’re usually the one who senses all the weird things, what do you think?”

Essie turned back to examining the hanging wall art, listening to the jingle of chains and personal ornaments on the pink Tiefling. She squinted up at one of the more innocent of the massive images, this one displaying a canine of some sort, almost as white as snow. It was weaving, almost to the point of appearing to be caught in a playful frolic game of chase with a cat; creamy off-white in color, with golden eyes. The two appeared to be looking at each other, but the longer she stared, it almost appeared as though their eyes were moving around the room to stare at them.

But that didn’t make any sense. This wasn’t a painting where the eye-holes could be cut out, and it was hung much too high and separated from the wall behind it to be able to see anyone peering too.

“I’m not getting anything funky from this place,” Adela’s voice trailed, reverberating off the large chamber. “It’s unusual for sure, but nothing that screams ‘danger’.”

“Nhis is a holy place,” Pri’cha agreed, the light absorbing in their carapace. “We’re in no danger here.”

Essie was glad for the little cleric’s confidence, because it was unnatural how the eyes of some of the portraits moved to train on them. She kept the knowledge to herself though, hoping it was a mixture of her imagination and mirage of perspective that made it seem like they were keeping their gaze on you.

The sorceress glanced to her side, hearing the clack of hooves and rattle of trinkets. Face tilted their head her way in acknowledgment, adjusting a cloak to reveal the hand crossbow at their side. “Maybe let the muscle go first,” he teased.

She snorted laughter and allowed her shoulders to relax. It reignited memories of the first few days of knowing them, making her feel a bit more at ease. “Thank you for your chivalry, but I’ve got this.”

They nodded, moving closer to her. “Ya notice that these things seem to be looking at us funny, or is it just me?”

Her eyes rounded. She gave a short nod in response, too nervous to alert the others.

Although their mask hid some reactions, the tightening focus on their heterochromia eyes sharpened. Brow knit, the blue-hued Tiefling nodded and began to saunter to the other side of the room, inspecting what appeared to be some sort of basin.

Essätha shrugged it off, looking ahead into the larger area shaped like a dome. At the far side of it was the biggest of the tapestry yet, with the image of a man’s face. They had a depiction of a halo surrounding their head, and a long silvery-white mane of hair falling over their shoulders. Their eyes almost matched the white-gold of their halo, standing out against a stoic expression. Everything about the man’s posture screamed of regal strength. The details were extraordinary; from the stray strands of hair falling over their forehead to the thread colors used to add highlights over the amber tones against their cheekbones and collarbone.

Honesty, it was a very attractive depiction of someone. They looked torn between being tired; of some age that had grown to see a great deal, and powerful. The sorceress dropped her gaze lower, spotting the almost unnoticeable door hidden in the darkness behind the huge image. Small, relatively swallowed up by the shadow cast by the tapestry, it was unimpressive and made of a dark wood that disappeared easily in the darkness outside the window’s light.

She advanced forward, interest peaked.

Approaching the archway, the door made a most peculiar noise; almost as though it was unlocking itself. Mostly Essie was aware of was the sound of her shoes echoing against the tiled floors and her breathing, which seemed much too loud for the silence of his place.

Her hand took the handle, and pressed on the lever to unlatch it. The door swung open with ease; quiet, and almost invitingly light for such appeared to be sturdy wood.

There wasn’t even the distant sound of the storm raging outside in this room. It was bright but simple; lacking all the extravagant and elegant novelties of the other space. The appearance of sunlight in this area came from straight ahead, a single circular window up high which washed through the room. A few pillars set on either side of a long carpet lead up to three stairs, which stopped into a stage. The platform had a single, empty display stand.

Gasping, Essie pulled her bag of holding around to rummage around. Her hand fumbled, finally pulling out a rather simple golden staff from her contents. It had seen better days; the gold tarnished and discolored. At the very top, an image of the sun that looked as though it matched the one set in the window’s design.

She hurried forward, clutching the item to her chest. The sound of the door shutting behind her caused pause as her foot hit the first step of the dais.

“There you are, Essie. Blast this door-”

Her heartbeat picked up, looking behind her.

She watched as Amon tried feebly to yank the door open again, to no success. His hair looked frazzled, like someone had been ruffling a hand through it the shades black.. A smile touched her face as she lowered the staff, shaking her head.

“Sorry, I should have waited for the rest of you to follow,” she admitted. “Do you need help with that door?”

The nobleman released the doorknob and carded a hand through his hair. Ah, that explained the mused look. “No,” he uttered defensively, looking back up at her. “Where’s Face, anyway? I saw them come in here, and went to follow.”

Her brow knit. “Face? I didn’t hear them come in. You’re the first person I’ve seen, or heard; and trust me, Face isn’t that quiet.”

A tense silence lingered in the air. Something was certainly off-putting here. The pictures hadn’t made sense, and now a Tiefling was supposed to have entered this room, to be no where to be found. If the sorceress wasn’t so sure, even from this distance, that the dark eyes upon here were not Amon’s, she may have questioned the reality of the situation. But she knew those eyes, and the worry-creases on his forehead, and the mannerisms of his gestures as he nervously licked his lips.

She swallowed, turning back towards the lonely display. It felt incomplete. Her sweaty hands clutched and relaxed against the metal in her hand. “Maybe you were seeing things, or maybe there was another door?”

“There was no other door, Essie.”

Essätha grimaced, ignoring the compelling softness of his tone, and the worry. She advanced the final few steps, holding the rod out horizontally towards the display.

“Essie?” Amon uttered, shocked. “Essie, what are you doing? Don’t; you don’t know what that will do-”

The staff fit perfectly into the length of the stand, balanced on either side. She tilted her head, finding the whole thing curious. They’d found the staff had been stolen when they’d recovered it from a balor and they’re weaker minions. It had emitted a strong aura of magic, and a sense of ‘good’, according to Pri’cha. It wasn’t something that would ever belong with satanic being such as that. They’d had no way of knowing where it belonged, but this…

Abruptly, a tremor rocked through the room, and dust cascaded from the ceiling. Essie stepped back, taking the stairs down to base level uneasily as Amon darted forward.

“What was tha-”

A flash of illuminating light emerged from the window, dazzling the space in sunshine. The Yuan-Ti woman yelped, turning to hide her face into the nobleman’s as he brought his around them.

“I see you have returned my scepter,” a voice echoed, gravelly and firm.

Blinking the tears out of her eyes, Essätha stared up into Amon’s face. He looked just as bewildered as she did.

“Your scepter?”

There was no reply. She whirled around, facing the staff now.

It resided in the hand of a man. The likeness of his face was the same as the one in the tapestry just outside the room; down to the holy glow that radiated around their head like a wreath on a door. They flicked their robes out, extending a hand and placing the other with their rod against their chest. His gown was a deep royal purple, with golden trim along its edges, appearing to be spun as though from lustrous gold.

The scepter in his hand appeared as though it had been thrown backwards in time. It shone as though it had just been forged; bright and glistening like a newborn sun.

“Thank you for returning my weapon,” the man stated a bit more warmly. “The scepter of the eternal sun is a very powerful weapon; I had been trying to track down its whereabouts for decades now.”

“We… Found it on a fiend, and his followers,” Essie murmured softly. She was aware of her ogling stare, but couldn’t seem to break it. Admittedly, the man was not as enchanting in person, but the presence they gave off was intimidating as much as it was captivating.

Amon took hold of her hand, squeezing her fingers. She couldn’t take her eyes off the stranger to know if he was trying to get her attention, or comfort her, or convince her to go, but she squeezed his hand back. His touch grounded her a bit; reminding her that this was really happening.

“That is… disturbing news,” the strange divine man remarked, turning his staff over in his hands as he examined it “It is safe though, and untainted. Thank you.”

“You’re… welcome?”

The figure’s eyes glowed; a white-gold light that felt as though it seared through her very soul. Essie shuddered, wondering if they were some sort of Aasimar. They had appeared from seeming nothing and no where though; perhaps there was a hidden teleportation circle, or they had the ability to move through light like some could shadows?

The man smiled at her, almost as though he could read the clueless expression on her face. “You remind me of someone,” they remarked, studying her with an intense gaze. “I think it is in the shape of your face and the texture of your hair alone, though. That is where the similarities stop. You feel… different.”

The hand in hers tightened almost painfully. Essie flinched.

“We’re glad to have helped return your scepter, sir. Unfortunately, we should see to our allies-”

“Your friends are fine,” the man stated confidently, his smile falling to a more neutral expression. “Forgive me for the confusion, I had meant to speak with you all separately. It seemed this one was able to escape me, somehow.”

Out of the corner of her eye, the sorceress watched her nobleman raise his chin. His face was defiant, and he moved closer to her side. She hadn’t realized she’d been clenching her teeth tightly together, nervous, until his proximity allowed her to exhale, and slacken.

The scepter struck the ground, causing Essätha to jolt as a sweeping gust of magic swirled through the room. “I go by many names, but you may call me Amaunator; God of Law and Time, Keeper of the Eternal Sun, Light of the Law, and Bearer of the Sun.” He grimaced. “I was once a powerful deity, but have lost some of my congregation to that of Pelor, the new Ruler of the Sun. I’m sure you’ve heard of them.” Their gaze dragged towards her nobleman blankly.

“I have not been given the pleasure to know either of you, however.”

Lowering his gaze, her nobleman was the first to speak through gritted teeth: “Amon, your Holiness.”

The piercing bright eyes shifted back towards her as the sorceress looked between the two gentleman. Her cheeks warmed beneath the deity’s gaze.

“Uhhh- Essätha Meduza, sir- your Holiness?- Your light-” she floundered awkwardly.

“A great pleasure to meet you, Essätha; Champion of the Light…” The golden hues of his eyes flickered; a look of concern tugging at his brow. “… It seems you are destined for a great many colors, however. I can feel the Shadowplane in your blood, and the touch of a forgotten Goddess lingering in your step. She watches over you.”

Amaunator’s eyes fell on Amon, and his brow raised. “And you as well, Amon. She watches you, too. The pair of you must be tangled in a unique destiny for a Goddess; even one who has sadly lost so much power, to be looking after you.”

“You know of Jubaeta?” Essätha gasped eagerly, taking a step forward.

The God laughed, and flickers of light danced around him. “Not well, I am afraid. Most Gods and Goddess are at least aware of each other. What a pity Her Radiance has laid a claim upon you, I would be all too eager to accept such a beautiful, witty pupil into my clergy.”

Clearing his throat, the Amaunator carried himself down the stairs. As he moved, the light from the window struck beams upon him, following his angle and movements. It was almost as though he was the sun itself, shining the light.

“I should owe you my thanks; but I will start with madam Meduza,” they stated, catching her eye with a smile. “For being the one to return my scepter to its rightful place at my alter, I offer you a gift only a true God can bestow. You may be aware of a spell known as the Wish spell, and perhaps are aware of its limitations. I offer you a single Wish, miss Meduza. Just, one.”

“I can alter time. I can change the world and the reality of your fragile mortal lives. I can raise the dead, or see that the lives of your enemies end. But even with my magic, there can be consequences. For example: if you wished for a God to disappear, then they would perhaps only be wiped from your memory, and you may be unable to see or hear their holy texts, their symbols, or the word of their followers. If you wished for the love of another, know that it is likely you will only earn their obsession; giving them half a mind, and destroying your freedom in the process.”

“The choice is yours, miss Meduza,” the Bearer of the Sun stated, their gaze glittering as they stopped a few feet from her. “What is your Wish going to be?”

Essätha gaped at the deity, her mouth hanging wide open.

Did he say… Wish?

As in, practically anything?

Her gaze raked down to the floor, the possibilities buzzing in her brain. She could have her family back. Her mom always there for her; spirited and quirky and fun and just the way she remembered. Just as warm, and understanding, and patient as she remembered. The thought made her shiver, remembering vague memories of falling asleep in her mother’s embrace, whispering in her ear, fingers combing through her wild untamed mess of hair even as a child.

She could remove the Raven Lord from power. That one was trickier; she’d need to think of how to play with her words. How could you abolish an entire cult, and destroy a council with a single Wish? Still, it was a tempting idea. With no supporters, his influence would be diminished and so would his threat. He might still a force, but what one god-like figure against an army standing against them? The consequences though if she got it wrong; if instead it backfired into a catastrophe made her fearful. What if instead it was as Amauntor warned, and instead all it did was erase something vital from her instead?

And what would her mother say if she was brought back from the dead? Years had gone by, would she return old, or at the age she had died? They would be the same age, and so much had changed. What if her mom came back, but emerged back in Miamoorgyate? What if she was still ill?

Even tossing all those away, what if she simply didn’t want to be back? The afterlife was a place of rest and peace, and perhaps her mom had made her own. It was the spell of a lifetime, from a being who could probably warp it more into her favor than she could ever hope or dream to do. Her mom would probably be furious she wasted something so important on her, no matter how much she wanted to see her again.

And then there was the now: how it had changed, how she had changed. She never forgot the love and lessons of her mother, but she had learned to let it go, and move on. She still was taking the teachings on to others, and offering her own advice.

And day by day, she was learning to love and let love in, too.

Her breathing accelerated, and her eyes moved up to Amon who had been standing silently at her side; watching her expressions shift with worry.

She knew what she wanted to do.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The nobleman exhaled, finally finding the ability to breathe again as Essätha looked at him. The information dropped on them had been a bomb; and he’d hardly wanted to believe a word of it, but his gut couldn’t find anything definitive to fight the stranger with. His body shape, his clothes, his abilities; they appeared much like the God he had heard of vaguely.

But maybe part of his desire to doubt the Keeper of the Eternal Sun was the streak of jealous he felt watching the way he’d looked at Essie. The way he spoke to her. The look of admiration as he took her in, and spoke to her as though she was someone he knew.

The audacity he had to compare her to someone else, pretending as though it was a compliment.

Amon swallowed, feeling the flex of her hand against his. He was losing the ability to drag in air again, looking at her. She was surrounded by the light; colors grazing her skin like a rainbow, a nimbus slowly emerging and dancing around her head and illuminating her features. She had a halo around her hair. The power of the God held nothing to the solar flare of her eyes shining against the darkness.

She stole the oxygen straight from his lungs. Essätha Meduza, the brave most gentle-hearted soul that she was, the strength she carried, lighting up his world in ways nothing ever could. No friend or fair lady, no sunlight or candle, no treat or victory brought the serenity and stillness in him then she did. The angelic glow surrounding her now was something he saw even without the help of some divine being, or without the sun itself.

He licked his lips, holding her hand close to his chest. “Essie? Are you okay?”

“Yes,” she whispered. She looked eager, and then shaken, and then overjoyed, and then nervous. He watched her emotions play out; the haunting in her eyes, the shape of her lips changing, her eyebrows raising and lowering.

He squeezed her hand again in encouragement. In his heart he wanted to say something, but the words were buried in his chest, beneath his ribcage.

She had a decision to make. He didn’t want to influence that in any way.

His sorceress ignored the intrigued God staring at her from behind, and turned to grab his other hand. The nobleman grinned at her, perplexed by the gesture. He wanted so badly to curl the stray ringlets hanging above her eyes, diminishing her glow, but refrained.

“What do you want most in the world?” she breathed, “what do you want more than anything else?”

Amauntor made a ragged wheeze, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Amon’s smile tightened with confusion, truly baffled. “I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“You could have Marie back,” Essie exclaimed brightly, her face lighting up with wonder and glee. “You could wish to have your mother back during your childhood, or for Arthur to never have rewed, or for no one to have ever discovered about Fontane. You can change history; you could ask to have had the ability to open the crypt and let Fontane out, or you could make the Raven Lord change his targets so you would never have been under his radar-”

“Essätha,” he gasped painfully, “what are you doing?”

“I want to give the Wish to you,” she choked, tears springing up in her eyes. “I want you to have it.”

“Why? Why would you give up something like this? It could change your life-”

“It would change yours, too.”

Beneath his feet, it felt like the entire dimension of the world shifted. He could still see the outline of the deity looming, now walking at an angle. He watched them as though a predator; stalking, tearing them apart with his eyes. He was trying to decipher something, needling them.

The light shifted with him around the room, basking them in different shades and streaming, cascading waves of bouncing hues and glowing slanting rays and beams. It never stole away from fire burning in her eyes.

This was a rare gift. She was willing to give up having anything; her heart’s content, the world on the platter at her feet, barely without limitations no matter how mad or wild or impossible, and she was offering it to him? For what?

His lungs grasped for something; anything. Amon staggered, his ears ringing, hearing the distant muffled sound of Essätha’s voice as she grabbed at his shoulder, and pressed a hand over his chest. Checking for a heart attack, maybe? Was that a thing? He could probably be having one right now.

There wasn’t enough air in the world to recover the panic and alarm he was experiencing. She was throwing away a guaranteed success, for what? For him?

What would give her the drive to do something so selfless? How could she sacrifice having that sort of power at her hands, and offer it to him? Whatever had he done to deserve something so important, so life-altering? How could she be willing to offer him so important; so precious?

“I can’t breathe,” he whimpered, his knees beginning to buckle.

“Easy, easy- I’ve got you m’lord,” Essie soothed, guiding him to kneel on the floor. “You’re alright. I’m right here.”

Reacting purely out of instinct, he sought the light. He felt a cold abyss swallowing him from below; dragging him down. He grabbed her arm tightly, shaking as he pulled her in.

She dropped down before him, wrapping her arms around him.

Choking, Amon hide his face in her hair, breathing in gardenias and honey. His hands shook as they rested on her waist, and slid around to pull her close. She was pleasantly soft and warm; curling into his frame snuggly. He could feel the heat of her magic running along his spine; rising the temperature of his clothes and adding a layer of comfort to her touch. His pulse fluttered, and his heart jumped into his throat as his chest turned to molten fire.

He couldn’t believe she’d give him so much. She was always putting so much of her fire and effort and belief into him; into his aches, his life, his desires. She cared about his sacrifices, his successes, and his failures. She listened to him gripe, and cheered silently when he expressed his opinions and views. Now she was putting him first yet again. Whatever he asked for, whatever he needed. His past, present, and future were all lined up before him, and he could say anything he wanted.

“I’m not taking this away from you,” he mumbled, his voice husky and broken as he clung to her. “You deserve this. You should have this.”

“I want you to have it,” Essätha urged, rocking him gently from side to side. “You should take the Wish.”

Amon pried his fingers free from the back of her shirt and pulled back, looking up into the artistic wonder of her face. Tears were shimmering in the corner of her eyes as she smiled back at him. She pulled an arm from his back to wipe at her nose in a gesture shy and awkward. Gods, it shouldn’t look so adorable.

“I don’t want the spell. I don’t want it-”

“Why not?”

“It’s meant for you. Have you thought of what you could do with it? What about your mother, or what- what happened to you in Miamoorgyate, or your own entanglement with the Raven Lord? You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to be the one always giving things up for other people.”

“I’m not giving up anything,” she cooed, cupping his face in her hands. The tears spilled out, following the curve of her cheek down to her chin. “I’m okay. I’m really okay. I don’t need to change anything.” Her palms caressed his cheeks, rubbing beneath his eyes as moisture began to collect beneath them. Essie hiccuped around a sob, her throat moving reflexively as she whimpered softly: “What I want more than anything is for you to be happy, and for you to live the life you always should have had. I want you to take this opportunity, and give yourself whatever your heart yearns for most. There is no one else I would rather give this to; no one else I want to see complete and living out their dreams, than you.”

This, Amon realized, was much more than a gift. This was more than a sign of humility, or compassion, or generosity. With this sort of magic, whatever he choose, it could make the entire universe different. Whatever someone said, it could make it so that they never met. She was okay with whatever he wanted, whatever the cost, as long as he believed it would benefit him; make him feel whole, make him feel okay.

This was love.

He placed his hands on either side of her face, still trembling as he brushed her tears away. Essätha smiled just for him; tender, sweet, rearranging the axis of the world and throwing the planets out of alignment. His heart went soaring, flying; all it took was a glance into her eyes and he never rose higher in his life. Sitting on his knees in a church, a literal God hovering nearby, and nothing; no one, ever looked as perfect or sacred.

“I want you,” he whispered; chest aching. “More than anything.”

Slowly, Essie’s mouth fell open. Her eyes darted from his, to his mouth. She breathed out slowly; deeply; her lips trembling.

Amon licked his lips, trying to find his voice again. Her fingers brushed along his cheekbones. His thumb stroked the corner of her mouth, mentally grabbing at words he could not reach.

She leaned in closer; barely enough to be noticed. Her lashes lowered.

He pulled her in as she tilted her head, and kissed her softly.

He never felt more. The empty, wanting feeling that had been strangling him all his life was replaced by such a fulfilling sensation, his head felt dizzy. He kissed her between gasps, along tears, despite the fact a deity was standing nearby, awkwardly clearing through throat at the scene they were making. He didn’t care if the Overlord of All Ao themself came to demand he stop, or if the Raven Lord appeared and threatened a fate beyond measure if he did not cease; nothing, nothing was going to keep him from Essätha Meduza. Come Heaven or Hell, she was what he longed for. She was everything he needed, and then some.

“The spell?” Essie mumbled, half-dazed. She kissed him back as he drew her in; a faint surprised squeak in the back of her throat. A snivel escaped her as they tore apart. He gave her an open-mouth kiss. She sighed as he pulled away, kissing her cheeks, her nose, her forehead, her hairline; anywhere, everywhere. Worshiping her, pinging for her, hardly believing this was all real.

“Take it,” he half groaned, half sang. “Take it. I have everything I’ve ever been looking for here, in my hands.”

[jellidile]

The Way of The Fan (Barris Fic)

So, as you may, or may not know, my love for Barris exploded when I did his 3rd favour quest, so I wrote a whole story. Hopefully in the future I will do Grand Duke Bavlenka, and possibly some girls! Although I’m a creator, nothing is set in stone. Anywho Enjoy!

Barris groaned letting his head fall onto his desk. The ever increasing pile of work on his desk, gnawed at his mind. What didn’t help was Juven’s insistence to throw another ball tonight. He hissed rubbing his temples walking over to his vanity. He sighed looking at his own reflection. His hair was messy, eyes tired, and he felt lonely. As much as he cared about his nephew and niece, they weren’t the best company. They cared more about life’s pleasure’s than, well, anything. Sure, Juven was somewhat responsible, but the boy was known as “The Shame of Finsel.” Slipping his coat on and fixing his hair so he looked presentable, Barris wished he could just talk honestly to a certain someone.

The ball wasn’t helping him. He was constantly worrying about his work and staying off to the side. That headache that had started in his room had only worsened. As the music swelled and some attention seeking nobles began to migrate towards him, he made no effort to hide himself going to the balcony. The night air cool on his skin, finally peace. He heard footsteps from behind him. Glancing over his shoulder he was surprised to see Magda. She looked radiant, and Barris felt his heartbeat quicken. He hummed as turned around,

“Hello Lady Ellenstein.” She smiled slightly, before her face contorted into worry,

“Mr. Barris, are you alright? You didn’t look well when you left the room.” Barris chuckled nervously,

“Well, I guess I could’ve been more subtle. Sorry to worry you, it’s nothing more than a little stress.” Barris could see she didn’t believe him. But when she smiled, Barris had to keep the heat from his face. There was Magda, once again speaking to Barris honestly. Most other lady’s would laugh annoyingly in an attempt to distract him. But Magda, she faced it head on, daring him to speak further to her. Turning back to the garden view as Magda left Barris felt his warm cheeks. He felt like a boy again, chuckling to himself, he thought out loud,

“Perhaps I’ll chase my loneliness away with her sunshine.”

It was a few days later when Barris had to go to a Senate party. He’d pretty much forgotten the ball. All he remembered were Magda’s hauntingly beautiful eyes. Filled to the brim with worry. As of late he’d been using that memory to get him out of his stress induced misery. Now as he milled about he overheard an unexpected conversation. Duchess Jorcastle was usually never seen at these events, yet here she was talking to Magda,

“Young lady, if you hold your fan like this the message will be conveyed.” Barris leaned a little closer, interested in hearing this message. But Tilla promptly shuffled Magda away before Barris could hear. He knew better then to eavesdrop, but he was a Sakan. Information was their forte. When he found Magda again she was busy talking to Juven. Jealousy panged Barris’ heart. While rejection slammed into him like a carriage as he watched her flip and wave her fan. He knew the message, and he hated that Juven was receiving it. He felt like an idiot, making his way outside the ball he sat himself upon the steps to the venue. He didn’t even know why he was so upset, what would Magda want with him? Besides it wasn’t like he wanted to spend time with her, or talk to her about absolutely meaningless things. Give her his jacket when it was cold, maybe even have tea together or a rainy afternoon. Barris grumbled into his hands. He couldn’t even lie to himself.

Weeks past and Barris couldn’t seem to get out of his depressed mood. Juven, Barbara, and even Asteria had no luck. Now Barris had holed himself into his room. He’d been reading, and rereading a single document now for an hour when there was a gentle knock at his door. He sighed, getting up to answer. Peeking his head out the door he slammed it again, Magda was there. Why was she there? Did she want to tell him she knew how he felt, and wanted to apologize because her feelings weren’t returned? Barris stared at the door. He couldn’t decide what to do; to open the door, or to keep it closed. A gentle knock bounced through his head, he knew it was her. Why was she being so patient? Barris groaned wobbling over to his vanity. The noble in him demanded he look at least halfway presentable. He sighed dragging his hands down his face. Looking in the mirror he saw the circles beneath his eyes, he saw how his hair fell unkempt over his eyes, and every other direction. Stubble covered his chin. Exhaustion poured off of him. Sighing he called to door,

“Lady Ellenstein, what is it you need?”

“It’s not very polite to speak through a door sir.” He huffed amusedly. That witty sense of humour, not afraid to call out when someone was wrong. All with the delicate figure, and those haunting eyes. Misery crept beneath his skin remembering the way she had fluttered her fan,

“I’m afraid I’m not decent.”

“Liar.” He groaned. Indeed, she was quick to point out lies,

“Lady Ellenstein, please. I’m perfectly fine. Why don’t you go see Juven?” The silence outside the door almost brought Barris peace. But that voice barely above a whisper still rang in his ears,

“Why would I go see Juven?” Barris could feel his heart snap in two. Was she toying with him? Letting hope set fire to his soul, while reality poured water, what was her goal? His circumstances finally crushed his protective barrier, he was unmarried. Had never expressed interest in a woman, no one thought he could ever be interested in a woman. Here was the first woman to catch his eye, to maybe even love him back. Yet she had chosen his nephew. Barris fell to his knees, tears spilled from his eyes,

“I’m fine. You love Juven don’t you?” His voice cracked and sounded everything but. He covered his mouth in an attempt to hide his emotions,

“Me? Love Juven?” her horrified whisper and gasp fell on deaf ears, as Barris sobbed to himself. Barris recoiled to the corner of his room when he heard the door open. Realization hit him as Magda rushed in. He’d forgotten to lock the door. Looking to Magda he didn’t know what he was expecting but it certainly wasn’t tears. She looked at Barris tears pouring from her eyes. A fan in her hand,

“Barris, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I’ve never been able to find the words so I asked Duchess Jorcastle and Juven for help.” Barris’ eyes widened, she couldn’t mean. He stood up wiping his face,

“Lady- Magda you can’t mean what I think you mean? Right?!” Magda blushed and flipped open her fan. Barris watched each movement carefully, his joy growing with each moment. Magda drew her fan across her cheek, then presented closed. Barris smiled tears slipping down his cheeks. He rushed forward lips connecting with Magda’s. His arms slid around her waist, spinning her around. When the kiss was broken Magda placed her hands on Barris’ cheeks. Her joyous laughter seemed to brighten the room around them. Barris could only smile,

“I do love you my dear. More than anything.” Magda frowned,

“Look at what I did to you. I’m sorry Barris. I just couldn’t-” Barris silenced her with another kiss. As that kiss ended as well, Barris could only hold Magda close to him. Afraid to let go,

“Magda promise me you’ll stay with me?” Magda cupped Barris’ face, a smile planted on her lips,

“Of course Barris. Why would I ever say anything else?” She wiped away his remaining tears,

“I only have one condition.” Barris went cold,

“What is it?” Magda toyed with some of his hair,

“You must clean yourself up first. You’re an absolute mess.” Barris laughed kissing her cheek. Magda laughed trying to push him away,

“Why, I might keep the beard. What say you, love?”

“Oh for the love of the Sky Goddess don’t! It’s so scratchy! Barris!” Barris hummed to himself. Finally, he had found the person he could love without worry.

[grither55]

The Princess and the Peasant - (An Azula Epic) - Chapter 87 - Silah the Pale

Clang!

The captain flew backwards with her teeth clenched together in her rage while she glared furiously down into the puppeteer's sadistic blue eyes.

In between them was a once living Fire Nation soldier that had intercepted her blade!

All the while as Team Azula's forces gazed on shell-shocked as the puppets charged towards them in all directions.

Lightning crackled into the air as Azula stood with her left hand held out while electricity churned from her fingertips.

While she stared up at the face of the lifeless puppet that she had impaled upon her fist.

She pursed her lips into a tight scowl before she swiftly kicked another away with a flaming boot.

"Is this all that your toys are capable of Silah!" The princess sneered in a pompous voice only for her golden eyes to gaze up in surprise when the puppet began to move once more.

And not even a second later the puppet swung at a horrific angle that not even Ty Lee would be capable of.

Just before Azula's burning blade pierced straight through the once living man's skull.

Before an explosion of blue fire consumed the lifeless rebel.

The pieces of the destroyed puppet rained down upon the cavern floor just as the princess spun around when she heard frantic shouts behind her.

Explosions shook the cavern while grotesque puppets jumped after their targets.

The acrobat swung her boot into the air as she kicked a puppet away before she dropped to the ground in a crouch.

Just as she grimaced when she landed on her still injured foot.

While she gazed out with widened eyes at the advancing horde in disbelief while her adopted sister remained slumped over her back.

"Ty Lee! Get back!" Mai shouted as she threw her knives into the air while the acrobat speedily nodded in understanding.

The knives cut through the air before they landed embedded into the chests of the puppets while they stared on in unhidden disgust as they watched blood trickle to the floor below.

And yet the newly created puppets simply stood back up while their horrified eyes gaped on in bewilderment.

Just before the noblewoman fired off her stilettos from her spring-loaded holster.

The puppets fell backwards with their lifeless eyes gazing on hauntingly in the two noblewomen's repulsed eyes.

Before they shakily lunged forward once more while the two nobles increased the intensity of their attacks.

And soon enough the puppets were sent soaring to the ground while the two backed up with their little sister still slumbering between them.

While the captain slid back upon the ground with great anger in her eyes as she furiously clutched her katana in hand.

All the while as Silah's mocking chuckles split into the air that only served as further fuel for her rage.

"They were once your soldiers Zoe. But now…in death they belong to me." Silah stated in a cruel voice as she flicked her fingers while her puppets leaped at the enraged warrior.

All the while as Zoe stood her ground with her widened hazel eyes watching as her fallen troops descended above her with their bending sparking alight.

The mere sight of the puppets firebending had all in the cavern staring on in horror.

Even Azula herself.

The princess gazed on with her beautiful lips agape in a stunned thin line while she watched her former soldiers spray fire all around the cavern.

‘How? How is she controlling them!’ Azula thought with fire snorting from her nostrils before her sword lit up with blue fire once more.

Before she plunged her blade through another puppet while she watched with cold eyes as another rebel burst into azure flames.

While bombs continued to echo off throughout the cavern as the pilot quickly jumped backwards with her panicked golden eyes gazing around her at the attacking puppets.

Before she turned to gaze at Silah from the other side of the cavern through the corner of her eye.

‘There has to be something linking them to her…but what?” Nako thought as she audibly gulped as she jumped back once more.

And then she clutched her blade in her clammy hand while she fearfully gazed up at the puppets leaping above her.

Before she quickly steeled herself.

And then the pilot swiped at an attacking puppet while dead eyes gazed back at her while a shiver ran down her spine.

Just as she pushed back on the puppet with a shout while the fallen rebel staggered backwards.

While her eyes widened when she saw that they were jumping at her from all sides!

“I-I don’t want to become a puppet!” The royal pilot cried out as she spun around gazing frantically all around her.

Only to find herself gazing on in shock when a massive wall of blue fire surged to life in front of her and the just like that the puppets were all set alight.

While she found herself gazing up at her monarch’s tall armored back with endless gratitude flashing in her devoted golden eyes.

Just as the statuesque princess turned to gaze back at her with her arms folded over her breasts.

“Your combat skills leave much to be desired Nako.” The princess commented in her usual arrogant voice with her fire burning behind her while her pilot swiftly bowed at the hip.

“Forgive me princess! I will strive to do better!” Nako exclaimed with a hand over her chest while Azula stared at her with approving golden eyes.

Before she heard the mighty woman sigh as the princess shook her head.

“Just try to stay close to me.” Azula commanded with a haughty snort before she turned away while Nako gratefully sprung to her feet.

“I will Your Highness! Thank you!” The royal pilot answered in a voice of boundless loyalty while her princess rolled her eyes at her from over her shoulder.

But it didn’t matter to her.

Because she knew that was her princess’s way of telling her that she would protect her.

And that is why she follows Princess Azula with pride.

Because she knows that Azula looks after the loyal!

Jiao gazed around with her intelligent blue eyes expressing her fear before she quickly moved forward once more.

While her frightened eyes spied the tunnels in the distance in hopes of making it through now that the puppeteer’s attentions were divided.

All the while as explosions of red and blue fire lit the massive cavern as she crept long with her back pressed against the wall.

‘I am not going to die at the hands of some twisted killer!’ The seductress thought as she rounded the corner with a determined expression in her eyes.

Only for her blue eyes to grow wide when she found herself face to face with a puppeteer soldier once more!

The puppet took an emotionless step forward while she backed away with her hands trembling at her sides.

“Stay…stay away from me!” Jiao shouted in a defiant voice as she stepped backward while she gazed frightfully up at the man’s lifeless face.

And just before the puppet could strike her.

She watched with surprised eyes as it was sent hurtling away with a blast of Saro’s orange flames.

“Jiao! Now isn’t the time to get separated. We need to stick together!” Saro stated as he grasped onto the woman’s hand while she quickly nodded her head.

“I…suppose you do have a point.” The seductress muttered as she ran behind the soldier while he skillfully firebent his way through the puppet horde.

Just as a rumbling explosion shook the entire cavern.

All eyes turned to gaze in the center of the flurry of puppets only for their eyes to widen when they saw the captain dropping to the ground in a crouch.  

With even more embers burning off her body.

While she stared furiously past the horde of deceased Fire Nation soldiers with her hazel eyes forming a truly monstrous glare.

A stare so frightening that it even gave Azula pause.

Meanwhile Silah gazed back from beneath her mask with her lips curled into a deranged smile.

“You are a fool if you think that my fallen comrades will keep you safe from me Silah.” Zoe spoke in an utterly callous voice with her body taking on a burning aura.

All the while as the rest of the group came to a stop beside one another as they gazed on at the enraged warrior in awe.

“The captain’s using it…that freak must have really pissed her off.” The lieutenant commented with his golden eyes gazing on in fascination while the others gazed at him in curiosity.

Only to flinch when his princess seized him by his collar while she stared icily at the woman standing beside him.

Before she turned her cold eyes to gaze back into his own.

“Soldier! I demand that you tell me about this technique of Zoe’s!” The princess barked in a commanding voice with her childhood friends gazing at her in exasperation.

“With…all due respect princess! I…can’t just spill the captain’s secrets in front of someone that tried to stab her in the back!” Saro exclaimed in a hastened voice while Azula’s lips pursed into an imposing scowl as she glared back into his intimated eyes.

Just before the princess turned to stare frigidly over her shoulder at Mai’s remorseful face while her eyes burned through the other woman’s forehead.

“Then just give me the abbreviated version!” Azula snarled as she released her soldier while Saro gazed at her in hesitation.

Only for the man to sweat under her glare before he nodded in agreement.

“The captain created a technique called retroactive firebending. It’s a passive bending technique that she never turns off.” The lieutenant replied with a small grin on his lips while the others stared at him in shock.

“She…never turns it off?” Mai pondered in disbelief while she gazed on with widened tawny eyes.

“And here I thought that she regarded firebending as secondary.” The princess snorted as she still gazed on with intrigued golden eyes while she observed her captain unleash her chi.

“That’s just it princess. It is secondary. It’s an innovative technique that converts her firebending into a vast tank of fuel. Instead of using firebending as her primary means of attack like other firebenders…the captain uses her firebending as a pool of energy for physical combat.” Saro explained with unmistakable admiration in his voice while the princess’s golden eyes grew agape in astonishment.

The monarch’s forces could only gape on in awe with their mouths ajar in amazement.

“That’s…that’s ingenious. So…that’s why she can fight for such an extended period of time!” Nako spoke with awe in her golden eyes.

“That would certain explain her monstrous battle stamina.” The markswoman stated in her usual monotone while she gazed out into the flame lit cavern in shock.

And the princess soon found herself unable to resist allowing her lips to curve into a pleased smile.

“I see. That is impressive. But I would expect nothing less from my captain.” Azula remarked with just a sliver of recognition in her cold voice while she stared on with stony golden eyes.

Yes, indeed.

There was no doubt in her mind that there was no one worthier of being addressed as her captain.

“And I’ve never seen anything like it from any other firebender. Not even the high generals. Only Captain Zoe can do it.” The lieutenant complimented with pride in his voice while he grinned at his captain’s back.

Only for all of them to be torn from their musings not a moment later as the earth began to quake once more.

They all gazed on with narrowed eyes at the artist’s masked visage while she turned to gaze out them one by one.

“Can you feel that indescribable sensation in the air?” The puppeteer inquired in a twisted voice as she tipped her head back while she smiled beneath her mask.

Team Azula’s forces could only stare on in an unnerved silence as all but the princess shivered over the woman’s almost perverted manner of speaking.

“You mean the annoying sound of your voice?” The princess mocked in a snide voice while her lifelong friends stared at the puppeteer in noticeable fear.

“This is the bond shared between a murderer and their victims. And we all now share that special bond.” Silah purred with a knife slipping out from under her sleeve while the others listened in a stunned silence.

Even Zoe and Azula were utterly taken aback by the killer’s demented words.

The two mighty firebenders could only stare on with widened eyes as the woman took a casual step forward.

“B-bond?” Ty Lee asked in a shaken voice while she held Elle close under her arm as the masked woman gazed back at them.

“That’s right Ty Lee. The bond between a murderer and her victims is simply ineffable. I am going to rape your spirits and tear them asunder from your mortal bodies in a symphony of despair. And then you will wander the Spirit World for all eternity in a state of perpetual torment. And the shells that you leave behind…will become my dolls.” The puppeteer announced in a horrific voice as she walked with her blue eyes gazing back at their speechless faces.

A sense of unspeakable trepidation and dread now consumed the air.

As the group gazed on wide eyed over the unbelievable depth of their enemy’s depravity!

“By…Agni you really are a monster!” Mai exclaimed as she stepped backwards with her knives in hand.

While Azula glowered with her lips bared into a malicious snarl once more just before she shared another look with her captain.

“Of course, I am Mai. I am the greatest monster there is. Even Azula pales in comparison to me.” Silah spoke as the ground ruptured beneath her feet while Azula sneered back at her.

“Please. There is no grander terror than me!” The princess scoffed in a supremely egotistical voice while her childhood friends groaned behind her.

“You will find out soon enough Azula.” The puppeteer answered in a dark voice as her tongue ran along the rim of her mask while her audience shivered in disgust.

And Azula could not help but glare on with a marginal spark of paranoia in her proud eyes as she spewed fire from her lips.

‘She has some gall! To think that she is worthy of touching the Princess of the Fire Nation!’ Azula thought with her fists burning in blue fire as she slid into a bending stance.

Only for her gaze to turn to her strongest soldier when her captain took a wrathful step in front of her.

“No, you will not Silah. You won’t be laying a single hand on another one of my comrades ever again…much less playing your filthy tongue anywhere near my princess. Because I am going to tear it out.” The captain stated in a chilling voice with her merciless eyes staring back at the artist’s masked countenance.

While her princess stood behind her soldier with her beautiful lips in a surprised expression as she regarded her warrior in approval.

“Well done soldier. Your Crown Princess recognizes your loyalty.” The princess remarked in a refined voice with her lips closing once more while she gazed at her subordinate in recognition.

“Leave the rest of the puppets to me Your Highness. I’ll take care of it.” Zoe declared as she glanced back at Azula before she resumed walking forward.

“Oh, very well. I suppose I could allow it.” Azula sighed with a lazy hand resting upon her womanly hip while a smile formed on her lips once more.

While as she gazed down at her slumbering handmaiden’s lovely face through the corner of her cold eye.

She’ll be damned if she lets that woman lay a finger on her mousy little servant.

All the while as they watched the powerful captain stride forward with her heavy boots crunching upon the wet cavern floor.

While her enraged eyes never left the masked puppeteer’s face.

Just as she turned to glare about at the faces of the lifeless faces of her slain comrades.

And then she gazed at the faces of the deceased rebels.

Before she hardened her eyes in a stony stare with her chi soaring off her body while her boots skidded along the damp ground.

While a bright aura consumed her body while her companions gazed on in fascination.

And then not a second later a roar split through the air.

Before the captain broke out into a rapid sprint across the enormous cavern towards her opponent.

“Those are bold words from someone who sent their own troops to the slaughter. You should have been there to hear their screams! It was positively exquisite!” Silah taunted in a cruel voice as she slid back along the floor while her puppets leaped about in unison.

All but the princess stared on with their eyes full of horror and disgust over the artist’s sadistic personality.

Saro clenched his fists as he gritted his teeth so hard that his jaw began to shake.

While the two noblewomen gazed on with a disturbed look in their eyes as they shuddered in revulsion.

And the princess could only glare across the battlefield as she watched with narrowed eyes as the horde fought as one.

‘She’s a beast! She’s even more sadistic than Azula!’ The brown-haired woman thought with her brown-gray eyes trembling in fear.

“You’re right! I should have been there!” The captain hollered in an infuriated voice as she fired her line high into the air.

And then she swung towards the puppeteer with her murderous hazel eyes focusing on her target.

And just like that the firebender dropped in a meteoric dive bomb above the artist.

Only for the warrior to gaze on with furious hazel eyes when two slain soldiers took hold of her by the arms.

While she turned to gaze at each of their faces with faintly widened eyes.

The group stared on in a shellshocked quiet as they watched in a horrified disbelief.

“Are you really going to hurt them Zoe? Did they not do their jobs well? And this is how you thank them?” The puppeteer spoke in a voice of boundless cruelty while her enemies stared at her with in nauseated horror.

“You shut your mouth!” Zoe bellowed in her rage as her former soldiers surrounded her on all sides while Azula stared on with furious golden eyes.

And then the mighty warrior stumbled backwards with her hazel eyes conveying her conflict while the puppets jumped on her one after another.

“Just burn them Zoe!” The princess yelled in an aggravated voice as she glared on with angered golden eyes.

Only for her eyes to widen when the captain continued to stagger backwards with the flurry of puppets piling on the surrounded woman.

The two nobles, the pilot, the soldier and the seductress gazed on with widened eyes as they watched the woman become overwhelmed by her own slain comrades.

“Captain!” The lieutenant called out in worry as he stared on in concern.

Just as Silah turned to walk away while Azula glared after her with lightning churning at her fingertips once more.

Only for the puppeteer to stop as she turned to gaze over her shoulder with delighted blue eyes while Zoe vanished beneath the horde of puppets.

Her heartless gaze briefly passed over the princess’s frozen countenance before she turned back to the pile of slain soldiers.

Before the captain came face to face with a burnt figure that had her eyes widening in horror.

While the others also gazed on in a horrified repugnance when they too saw the man’s charred face.

“That’s…that’s Togan!” Saro blurted out in a beyond furious voice with his companions standing beside him a speechless silence.

“S-she went through the trouble of collecting a corpse that was nearly burned beyond recognition?” Nako asked in a terrified voice as she trembled in her tracks.

There were literally no words to describe the horror that stood before them.

And for once even Azula was stunned by another person’s cruelty.

Only for all of them to turn towards their enemy in shock when they heard the woman’s silken voice flow into the air.

“Did we do good captain? Did we serve the Fire Nation well?” Silah mimicked in a sickeningly sweet voice while her enemies stared at her in a stupefied silence.

While Zoe fell back under the horde of puppets with her hazel eyes widening in eruption emotion.

She gazed back into their lifeless faces with her mouth ajar in shock.

And then not even seconds after that an inferno of fire was sprayed in her stunned face at point blank range.

The princess’s forces observed in a conflicted quiet with their eyes full of horror as they watched the flames consume the captain whole.

All the while as Silah watched with intent blue eyes as she smiled underneath her mask.

Before she turned away once more while she strode with her back turned to the seething princess.

“I have no more patience for this nonsense! Die Silah!” Azula bellowed with lightning sparking upon her fingertips just before she threw the powerful bolt into the air.

Only for her eyes to widen in unison with her subordinates when a large wall of rock sprang from the cavern ground.

And then the lightning exploded into the air with its bright light illuminating the dark walls of the grotto while the group stared on in disbelief.

While the princess stared on with shock in her eyes with her teeth crushed together in frustration.

“She…blocked lightning with earthbending!” Mai exclaimed in a stunned voice as she gazed with awestruck tawny eyes.

“For such an intelligent woman…you certainly know how to act like quite the fool Azula.” The puppeteer commented in a cold voice while the princess glared on with trembling rage in her golden eyes.

All the while as fires still burned across the floor of the vast cavern.

Only for all of Team Azula to spin around as the mass of puppets were sent soaring into the air by an explosion of red fire.

And then they all watched in a mixture of surprise and relief to see Zoe standing there in the flames with her dark bangs shadowing her eyes.

And not even a second later the captain raised her eyes to stare back at the artist with a boiling hazel gaze.

Just as Silah turned to face her with her blue eyes studying her closely.

“You I am going to slaughter you!” The captain spoke in a truly frigid voice before she leaped into the air with her katana in hand.

And then without saying another word she soared through the air with her widened hazel eyes honing in on her target.

“You…actually burned them.” Silah stated in a taken aback voice as she slid along the ground while Zoe descended in the air above her.

Only for a puppet to obstruct the enraged warrior’s blade before it could get any closer to her enemy.

The noblewoman regarded the slain man for a fleeting moment before he was set alight in smoldering red flames.

“I’ve been seeing my soldiers off with mercy kills for years. Just over two weeks ago I suffocated seventeen Fire Nation citizens by hand. And you think me incapable of burning their corpses?” Zoe remarked in a callously cool-headed voice while her line fired off into the air.

While all but the princess shuddered over the captain’s frigid words.

“Hm. That’s more like it, Zoe.” The princess commented in approval as she gazed on with dominant golden eyes.

While the artist gazed up with her blue eyes widened ever so slightly as she jumped away.

“I don’t care if you turn everyone here into a puppet. I’ll set them all alight. Including the princess. And then I’ll still kill you all the same!” The captain declared as she sped down like a bullet with steam burning off her muscular body.

And then not a second after that another puppet was savagely smashed aside while it erupted into flames.

It rolled upon the floor until it came to a stop while the princess’s forces shivered over the brutal declaration.

While Zoe soared down towards Silah with her shouts splitting into the air.

Only for a massive wall of stone to spring from the earth not a moment later.

And then slam!

Zoe barreled into the wall with a thunderous rumble while she gazed up with focused hazel eyes as Silah hastily leaped to the other side of the cavern.

“You won’t be able to outrun me forever.” Zoe said in a chilling voice with her vengeful eyes watching her foe land on in a crouch at the other end of the cave.

“Yes! You show her captain!” Saro cheered with a fist clenched before him while Azula rolled her haughty eyes beside him.

While the modified rebel puppets dropped to the ground before their master.

Before they opened their mouths at a horrific angle once more with bombs protruding from their mouths while the others gazed at them with disturbed look in their eyes.

Just as the captain swung into the air once again with her torn cloak flowing in the winds behind her.

“It’s just a damn shame that you let all of those people die for nothing!” The puppeteer called out in an uncaring voice as she flicked her fingers in the air.

While she smiled underneath her mask as she watched Zoe propel herself into the air with a blast of red flames.

All the while as the warrior’s battle cries echoed throughout the walls of the grotto while her comrades watched in a fascinated silence.

And then with rapid speed the remainder of the firebenders intercepted the noblewoman’s warpath.

They fell down above Zoe while she gazed back at them with furious hazel eyes as she swung through the air.

‘Rest in peace my brothers and sisters…’ The captain thought with steam surging into the air from her toned muscles while she flew forward with fire bursting forth from her boots.

And then not a moment after that the sound of a rumbling explosion shook the air as the puppets unleashed their barrage of bombs.

Every member of Team Azula covered their eyes as they stood in the exploding winds while they gazed out from underneath their elbows.

Just as they watched with grim eyes as the remains of their soldiers scattered to the ground below.

Only for Zoe’s silhouette to soon appear in the smoke-filled cavern while they stared on with widened eyes as steam continued to pour from her body.

While Zoe clutched her katana in hand as she turned to glare in the direction of her enemy just as the artist’s masked face soon became visible.

“Amazing…so it’s true what the rebels say.” Jiao commented to herself with her arms folded over her breasts while the others turned to her in uncertainty.

“What…do the rebels say?” Nako asked in a fidgety voice as she gazed at the other woman’s face.

“The rebels say that Zoe has the power to end the Royal Family anytime that she wants. They whisper that if Zoe were to side with the rebels that she could end this war with but a swing of her sword. And all she would but have to do is but speak and the troops would rally to her call.” The seductress announced with a slight smile on her lips while the others now stared at her in horror.

Sweat now dripped down their taken aback faces while Azula’s callous golden eyes now stared imposingly at the shorter woman with maddened paranoia.

And within mere seconds the princess seized the smaller female by the collar of her shirt while the others observed them warily.

“Filthy peasant! I have had it with your mouth! First you openly attempt to abandon your Crown Princess and now you slander not just me but your Fire Lord as well! I should burn you to ashes on the spot!” Azula hissed with fire exuding from her pursed lips while she glared down into the commoner’s recoiling eyes.

“My apologies Your Highness. Burn me to ashes if you feel that you must.” Jiao replied as she hung from Azula’s fist while the statuesque woman stared down at her with intimidating golden eyes.

“Azula…now’s not the time for this. We’re dealing with a crazed killer remember?” Ty Lee spoke up as she gazed at the two with what she hoped was a calming presence.

“And now you lie directly to my face. Mistake number three.” The princess snarled as she breathed fire in the smaller woman’s sweating face while her childhood friends sighed behind her.

“Jiao you really need to learn to keep your mouth shut!” The lieutenant advised while the markswoman snorted dryly beside him.

“Ugh! Consider yourself fortunate that I have more important business to attend to. But worry not…peasant. We’ll speak afterward.” Azula stated in a tone of absolute authority before she carelessly threw the woman over her shoulder.

The two noblewomen and the pilot cringed as they watched the seductress fly into the air with a startled yelp.

While the princess turned to gaze over her shoulder with her full lips now adorning a cruel smirk as she observed the young woman drop like a rock.

Only for her golden eyes to tremble in renewed anger when the male soldier quickly caught the seductress in his arms.

To which the rest of the group could only stare on in puzzlement over how the man cared to catch her in the first place!

“Just cut it out Jiao before you get me killed!” Saro complained with Jiao in his arms while he set her back down upon the floor.

All the while as the seductress turned to smile back in their astounded eyes.

While the princess’s callous eyes renewed in yet another malicious glare that had her friends shivering in fear beside her.

“I’ll be waiting for you Your Highness…and whatever whips, chains and toys that you bring with you. I’m game with all kinks…and I’m ready to give you oral at any location of your choosing.” The seductress purred in a sensual voice as the others nearly fell over in surprise while the princess still glared back at her.

“Please! Don’t flatter yourself. There’s only one peasant worthy of servicing my divine body and it isn’t you!” The princess scoffed as she turned away with her muscular arms folded over her breasts while her cold golden eyes gazed down at her unconscious pet.

All the while as she found herself struggling to resist the urge to allow her lips to curve into a slight smile.

While squashing the tiny blush that almost formed on her regal cheeks.

All while the acrobat sighed as she allowed herself to crack a small smile over the princess’s unmistakable affection for their young friend.

Just as they all turned back to the battlefield once more when the smoke finally dispersed.

Before Azula narrowed her eyes in a glacial stare once more as she glared hard at her enemy’s masked visage while many rebel puppets still stood shielding the morbid artist.

While Zoe straightened her body as she stood tall with her hazel eyes never leaving the other woman’s shrouded face.

Just before the puppeteer casually wiped the dust from her armor while she smirked underneath her mask.

“Well…it would seem that I was taking the both of you too lightly. Initially I didn’t take either one of you to be much of a threat. But it would seem that I was wrong.” Silah stated in a dismissive voice with her predatory eyes staring out from underneath her mask at the two firebenders furious faces.

While everyone else in the group couldn’t help but gaze on with fear in their eyes over the casual way that the woman spoke to Azula and Zoe of all people!

“By the time we are through I will teach you what happens to those that underestimate me.” Azula snapped in a frigid voice as she stomped forward with her sword in hand while her teeth smashed together in her fury.

“You’ve been holding back on us?” Zoe questioned in a frighteningly focused voice with her murderous eyes lingering on her masked enemy.

Just as she turned to glance around the grotto with narrowed eyes when she heard the ground rumble once more.

While the others fearfully gazed about with renewed alarm in their eyes.

“I have. As I said…we are not equals. But…even so…perhaps it’s time we kicked it up a notch.” The puppeteer boasted with her hands at her sides while the ground ruptured behind her.

While the two firebenders glared back at her with their eyes agape in hatred.

“Really? Well, I can only hope you have more durable toys than what you’ve shown us so far.” The princess sneered with a haughty wave of her hand while her friends stared at her back in disbelief.

“Azula!” The brown-haired woman cried out in an uneasy voice while her companions shivered beside her.

“Poor Azula. You are so naïve. But fear not. I will enlighten you. What you were seeing up until now…was just my unfinished work.” Silah remarked as she tipped her head back while the princess’s forces gazed on in disbelief.

“U-unfinished work?” Nako stammered in a rightfully terrified voice as she shook once more while Azula still stared at the artist with callous golden eyes.

“It takes weeks of time to construct puppets to completion…time that I haven’t had with these ones. You see…these ones here…are just disposable toys.” The puppeteer explained in a monstrous voice as she gestured to the corpses of the burned Fire Nation men and women.

While the princess’s forces now stared back at her with unbridled disgust and horror in their eyes.

And the captain’s hazel eyes were now trembling in boiling rage once more as she clenched her jaw with her fist shaking over the hilt of her katana.

“That’s right Zoe. I massacred an entire platoon just to fuck with you.” Silah declared in an utterly heartless voice while Zoe’s eyes shook in unfathomable rage.

“What…an abomination.” Mai stated in a repulsed voice as she crushed her knives in hand.

“You will pay for trifling with Fire Nation lives!” The captain roared as she took a menacing step forward while her princess turned to meet her gaze.

The two powerful women shared a momentary look before they turned their vengeful eyes back to their masked opponent.

“And these rebels…. are my drones. They are some of my completed artwork. They weren’t anything remarkable when they were alive…but I have them in abundance. And that brings me to my finer pieces…” The puppeteer trailed off in a terrifying voice with two pillars of earth arising behind her while the group gazed on in an unnerved silence.

All the while finding themselves unable to resist shuddering over how the artist referred to preserved human bodies as her ‘finer’ pieces.

“It doesn’t matter what you have Silah. Zoe and I will crush it all the same.” Azula stated in a beyond callous voice with a proud fist held up before her sneering face.

While Zoe nodded her head in furious agreement as they watched the domes of rock split open with a thunderous rumble.

All the while as Team Azula’s forces gazed on in an eerily spellbound quiet as they watched two shadowed figures emerge into the flame lit lighting.

Just as they all found themselves face to face with two flawlessly preserved puppets.

One a young Fire Nation man and the other a woman clad in elegant military garb as if they still drew breath!

The two noblewomen, the pilot and the seductress could only stare on in unnerved confusion.

Only for their eyes to take note of the way that the three firebenders were now staring on in complete incredulity!

“Where did she…obtain those two!” The princess demanded in a now outraged voice as she spewed fire from her lips.

“Impossible! She…has…the Fire Twins!” The lieutenant exclaimed in shock as he stood there with his mouth agape in rage.

At the mere mention of the two twins the rest of the group gazed on with their eyes widened in shock as they watched the two twins calmly take positions beside their master.

“T-the famous Fire Twins?” The royal pilot repeated in an increasingly fearful voice as she trembled where she stood.

Mai and Ty Lee could only swallow with sweat dripping down their forehead as they took a frightened step backward.

There wasn’t a single person in the Fire Nation that hadn’t heard of the Fire Twins Toro and Yoa!

Toro the brother and Yoa the sister!

They were a powerful brother and sister duo that had gained much renown under Ozai and Azula.

The two had gained great fame for their unrivaled teamwork in battle and they hadn’t been seen since they vanished in battle nearly six years ago!

And just like that each and every one of them began to finally come to understand just how depraved their opponent really was.

“You vile…desecrator of the dead!” Zoe hissed with blood dripping down her enraged chin while she trembled in her rage.

Just as Silah stood between her two puppets with her lips pulling into a proud smile beneath her mask.

“I am especially proud of these two…they are my soldiers! Now do you see? The power of my eternal artwork!” Silah called out in a victorious voice as she swung her hands to the sides while her enemies still gazed on in horror.

Just before the two twins sunk into a bending stance while her laughter echoed high into the air.

While Azula and Zoe now both stared back at her with even colder eyes than before.

“M-monster….” Ty Lee breathed in a stunned voice with a tear in her eye as she watched in shock as the twins adopted their famous bending stance.

“You will suffer for your crimes against the Fire Nation. I can assure you that much.” Azula spoke in an unbelievably seething voice with her katana in hand while her cold eyes glared ahead.

While her infuriated captain stepped up beside her with her callous eyes staring back into the twin’s lifeless eyes.

“Let’s do this princess.” The captain commented in a wrathful voice as she turned to gaze into her monarch’s eyes while her leader nodded in agreement.

Only for their eyes to narrow in even greater fury when the artist let out a raucous chuckle while rocks began to fall down all around them.

"What is the Fire Nation but a primitive pile of shit with a fool for a Fire Lord incapable of ruling over his own lands with an equally delusional heir.” The puppeteer taunted with another pillar of rock arising behind her while the princess’s golden eyes now trembled in indescribable rage.

The princess’s forces gazed on with trepidation in their eyes as they watched in a shellshocked silence as the third dome emerged from the earth.

While the monarch and her captain seethed in their anger with fire burning off their enraged bodies.

“Silence! You are nothing but an insane peasant with a fetish for corpses!” The princess snapped in a livid voice with fire spewing from her beautiful lips as she bared her teeth in her fury.

“The Fire Nation is but an uninspiring land nearly devoid of artwork and innovation. Full of insignificant people whose only purpose is to die slaving in the fields for their fat noble masters.” Silah ranted with her cruel blue eyes staring out from underneath her mask while the dome of rock ruptured behind her.

All the while as Azula now fumed in outrage with her sword bursting into flames once more as proof of the power of her bending.

While Mai and Ty Lee’s flashed with renewed guilt over the constant reminder that a great many people suffered under their own rule.

Not that there was much that they could do about it given that Azula and her father had the final say in all matters.

But even still…

It was a provoking thought all the same.

Only for the sound of the captain smashing her fist into the cavern wall to echo into the air as she glared back at her enemy with icy hazel eyes.

“Enough of this Silah. The Fire Nation has its share of flaws. That I will ensure will be rectified in time regardless of what the Fire Lord has to say about it. But you won’t be living to see that.” Zoe declared with steam exuding from her mighty body while Azula now cast her a cold glare through the corner of her eye.

“Given the circumstances Zoe I am going to pretend that I didn’t hear you just say that.” Azula snorted as she held a hand to her womanly hip while her soldier pointed her sword at their enemy.

Before they all suddenly gazed on with alarmed eyes as they watched large chunks of rock plummet to the ground below.

Just as the dome split open to reveal a tall cloaked figure that now stood behind the puppeteer with his arms extended at his sides.

While the captain now stared on with her hazel eyes widening once more as she turned to gaze into her monarch’s stony golden eyes.

“Be careful princess. That one is not like the others.” The captain advised as she slid back on the ground while her princess scoffed as she sunk into a bending stance.

“Please! These puppets are no match for us Zoe.” The princess huffed with her boots taking position on the cave floor while her eyes narrowed as she gazed between the three puppets.

All the while as the cavern shook under the tremendous force of the unnatural earthbending.

While the two twins took up their positions beside their master with their trademark firebending spiraling beautifully before them.

“Behold the true power of my art!” The puppeteer stated in a voice of endless pride as she slid between her puppets with a sadistic smile on her lips.

While the princess’s forces spun around with unnerved eyes as they watched the cave start to crumble at a terrifying rate.

“Azula! We need to hurry up and get out of here! This is too dangerous!” The markswoman shouted as she pulled the acrobat back with their little sister leaning on the other woman’s shoulder.

Just as a boulder nearly smashed them while the princess gazed around with a deep snarl on her crimson lips.

“House Lin is right. We need to make this short.” Zoe spoke in a razor-sharp voice as she took a step forward while Azula scowled in agreement.

“There is nowhere that you can run from me Azula. You will never be safe from me. Not even in your own palace.” Silah purred with her tongue trailing along her lips while Azula’s lips shook in a malicious snarl.

Only for another frightened shout to split into the air while the others turned to gaze at the pilot’s increasingly terrified face.

“I…do not want to die this way! I just want to bring gold back to my village! I’m not cut out for these life or death battles!” The royal pilot cried out with her hands in her hair while her highborn friends gazed at her in sympathy.

“Nako…I’m sorry. I promise that we’ll help your village when we get out of this.” The brown-haired woman assured as she placed a hand on the other woman’s trembling shoulder while the pilot swallowed in terror.

While the proud princess tried her hardest to squash the newfound emotion for her commoner friend in her cold golden eyes.

“Then leave Nako. Turn around and run away once more.” The puppeteer announced to the shock of all while the pilot turned to gaze back at her with shaken golden eyes.

“W-what?” Nako blurted out with sweat dripping down her cheek while Silah’s monstrous blue eyes almost seemed to smile back at her.

While she gulped when she sensed her princess’s imposing eyes staring back at her with her eyes narrowed in a glare.

“I said leave. Flee like the craven that you are. I have no use for a weakling like you. Abandon Azula and you may yet live. Remain with her and you will die a horrific death.” Silah spoke in a cruel voice as she gazed back at the pilot while Nako gazed on with widened eyes.

The group stood in silence in the crumbling cavern uncertain if it was just another one of the artist’s twisted games.

All the while as Azula’s eyes shone with paranoia as she gazed about at the fearful faces of her friends.

Before she settled on gazing into Nako’s intimidated eyes while the poor woman cowered under her stare.

While the two noblewomen stared at the girl in pity.

‘Some offer.’ The markswoman thought with a grimace on her lips while the pilot swallowed once more.

Only for the pilot to take them all by surprise when she abruptly shouted with her eyes squeezed shut in fright.

“I…I refuse! I will not betray my Crown Princess! She’s my friend! While I may be weak! And while I may be craven! I will remain by her side no matter the outcome!” The royal pilot yelped as she shook in her tracks with a blade in her clammy hand while the others gazed at her in astonishment.

The princess could only stare on with her domineering golden eyes agape in uncharacteristic emotion while her beautiful lips were ajar in shock.

Before she hardened her callous eyes with her fist crushing the hilt of her burning katana while she turned to glare imposingly back at the chuckling puppeteer.

‘My pilot is loyal…and these peasants are my friends. I will not let my subjects die.’ Azula thought with fire snorting from her furious nostrils.

While Zoe also sunk into a bending stance with her sword in hand as they both stared coldly back at their enemy.

All the while as Jiao watched from the back of the shaking cavern with her blue eyes gazing back at the killer’s masked face.

‘So…she doesn’t need the nonbenders? Perhaps…if things go south…I can still talk my way out of this…’ Jiao thought with her arms shuffling over her breasts.

And then not even seconds later they all stared on in horror as the hooded puppet held out his hands.

And then the cavern began to shake with even greater ferocity than before.

While enormous boulders plummeted down from far above them as their eyes grew wide in fear.

“So be it. Let the symphony of terror begin.” The puppeteer stated in a delighted voice as she slid back upon the floor with her prized puppet standing over her.

Just as the two powerful firebenders broke out into a blinding sprint towards her while she licked her lips.

And then just like that the princess’s forces stared on in unhidden anxiety as the two twins sprinted in battle with astonishing grace.

All the while as they now ran towards the princess and the captain with orange flames circling around their fists.

Just before a flurry of smoke bombs were thrown into the air as they gazed on with rising fright.

While they coughed as they covered their mouths with their elbows.

Only for their eyes to grow wide in pure terror when they the artist’s silhouette quickly vanished from the cloud of smoke!

“She’s…she gone!” Saro called out as he spun around with his golden eyes searching about while Jiao shook in fear behind him.

“Stay close to each other!” Mai yelled with her back pressed up against the acrobat’s while their paranoid eyes darted about the smoke-filled cavern.

All the while as they listened to the sound of the eerie scuttling of the monstrous puppets with a chill traveling down their spines.

And then suddenly it all went quiet.

Before they all jumped back in fright when a blade-wielding puppet sprang forth from the smoke!

Only for Saro to grasp hold of its blade before he slammed it into the ground and smashed its face with a burning fist.

While he gazed around him with alert eyes with the smoke blowing ominously through the cavern air.

And not a second later a handful of drones sprung forth from the mist while the five stood back to back.

Just before Mai threw her knives into the air while Saro launched a stream of defensive fire at the attacking horde.

While the markswoman glared out with narrowed tawny eyes just as her blades tore through a puppet’s head.

All the while as Ty Lee knocked a puppet to the ground with her pink boot as she slid back with Elle over her shoulder.

“Mai! It’s Elle that they’re after!” Ty Lee exclaimed in a combat stance while the other woman scowled in understanding.

“I know!” Mai answered as she fired her stilettos from her spring-loaded holster while her boots slid along the cave floor.

While the puppets pierced the attacking puppets with meticulous precision.

All the while as the group watched as the destroyed drones dropped to the ground one after another.

And soon enough the puppet army began to diminish to much smaller numbers while the panting fighters stared about in a still noticeable panic.

Just as the sound of great explosions of firebending illuminated the shaking cavern as they all quickly turned to gaze out of the corner of their eyes.

The princess’s sword sparked with azure fire as Yoa descended above her with her orange flames blazing at her fingertips.

While the monarch roared as she swung her blade with great force just as the spiritless puppet clashed against her sword.

Azula glared imposingly back into Yoa’s dead amber eyes with her beautiful lips pursed into a displeased snarl.

Before her katana rapidly transitioned to lightningbending as she kicked the lifeless woman backwards.

“Your supply of toys is dwindling Silah! Soon you will have no one left to fight for you!” The princess bellowed in a violent voice as she expertly thrust her crackling katana forward.

Just as it connected with the rigid puppet while the deceased woman fell backward.

Before Azula skillfully caught a punch from the rebounding puppet while she reeled the departed woman with her fist ablaze in blue fire.

“Coward! Come out and face us Silah! That is if you even have any combat skill of your own!” The captain hollered with her hazel eyes glaring furiously above her while her line fired high into the air.

While her battle cried echoed throughout the eroding cavern with her line rapidly coiling around the Toro’s arm.

All the while as she pulled the deceased man in with a mighty grunt as she slid back along the damp cavern ground.

Just before her back pressed up against her monarch’s own as they fought side by side against the two lethal twins.

And not a moment later the sound of Zoe and Azula’s joined roars split into the air while they simultaneously struck the lifeless siblings in the chest.

Only for the two powerful women to turn their heads when they heard a distressed shout from the other end of the cavern.

Crack!

The ground shattered beneath the feet of the group as they gazed down in shock with fear in their widened eyes.

“They tunneled underground!” Nako shouted in a startled voice just as she was brutally kicked in the stomach by a mighty fist.

“Nako!” Ty Lee cried out in an angered voice as the pilot rolled in a wounded heap upon the hard ground.

Just as they gazed on with their eyes agape in fear as the hooded puppet from before sprang from the hole in the earth.

“Bastard!” The lieutenant howled as he leaped at the puppet with his fist aflame while lifeless green eyes stared back from underneath the hood.

Before he shot his line into the air as it soared towards the tall puppet only for his eyes to grow wide in surprise when it caught his rope in its fist.

And then the two noblewomen shouted in alarm as they watched the formidable soldier get thrown into the wall like a rag doll!

Saro hit the rock as he held his shoulder with his left hand while he quickly pushed himself off the cavern wall.

While the two noblewomen watched with fright in their eyes as the deceased man jumped at them with terrifying agility.

Neither one of them barely having any time to register that the seductress had long since run away.

Just as Mai threw her knives into the air as she crouched with her tawny eyes narrowing into slits.

Only for her eyes to widen once more when she watched the puppet bend rock to swat her blades aside.

‘That one…is the one that is trying to collapse the cavern!’ The markswoman thought as she withdrew her sai from under her sleeve.

Before she jumped at the puppet with her shouts echoing into the tunnels above.

And not a second after that…

The weapons expert was also thrown into the wall.

The noblewomen groaned in pain as she fought the urge to black out with blood dripping down her cheek only to spin around when she heard the acrobat scream in terror.

“Ty Lee!” Mai called out in a frenzy just as she stood up as fast as she was capable.

“You stay away from her!” The brown-haired woman screamed as she stood on her injured foot while she glared up at the looming hooded figure.

Only for a powerful fist to slam into her gut mere seconds later while she gasped with spit dribbling down her chin.

And just like that the injured acrobat dropped to the ground holding her gut while she moaned in pain.

Just as Ty Lee gazed up with terror in her brown-gray eyes to see the puppet now towering over her with an earthen spear in hand.

And before she could react the man swung down at her while she knelt trembling in horror of the coming blow.

Only to find herself gazing up with stunned eyes when the blow never came.

While she now found herself staring up with emotion eyes into the pilot’s frantic golden gaze.

All the while as the pilot now hung from the puppet’s mighty arm as she fought to hold back his fist with every fiber of her being.

“H-hurry! I can’t hold him back for too much-“ The royal pilot yelled only to be silenced by a fist pounding into her gut.

Before she crumpled to the ground in a heap moaning in pain.

“No! Nako!” Ty Lee shouted as she pulled Elle back in her arms just as Mai grasped ahold of her hand.

“Come on Ty Lee!” Mai yelled as she pulled her two friends back with her tawny eyes agape in fear as the puppet charged them once more.

Only for the two noblewomen to be thrown aside by a wave of earthbending while they now rolled in pain upon the hard ground.

Just as the two firebenders sent the two twins soaring aside with a blast of their flames.

While they sprinted through the smoking cavern to save their comrades.

And then one moment later…

The injured group gazed on with relief and amazement in their eyes when both firebenders boots connected with the puppets hooded face.

While the man staggered backwards with his limbs hanging at his sides while the two women stood side by side glaring at the puppet’s shrouded face.

‘There’s…something familiar about this one…’ Zoe thought with her hazel eyes narrowing in contemplation.

Just as Azula possessively scooped Elle’s petite body under her muscular arm while she now glared at the puppet with enraged golden eyes.

“I am her master and I will not relinquish her to you! To anyone!” Azula bellowed in a malicious voice as she stood her ground with her handmaiden tucked under her arm.

Just as her lips creased into a furiously protective glower as she watched the puppet leap at her with astounding agility.

Before she let out a roar at the top of her lungs as she jumped into battle with her girlfriend crushed under her toned bicep.

All the while as the princess’s forced stared on in awe as they watched the royal woman collide with the earthbending puppet.

While her childhood friends gazed on with astonishment in their eyes to witness just how much strong their friend has become.

‘Azula really has become so much stronger!’ The brown-haired woman thought with her brown-gray eyes agape in marvelment.

What’s more it was frightening to watch the puppet move as if he was truly alive in the flesh.

While Zoe stared on with her hazel eyes beginning to widen as she studied the movements of the puppet in growing fascination.

Just as the princess’s burning katana intercepted the swing of the puppet’s spear while she glared at the shrouded face with enraged golden eyes.

Only for the two to exchange a series of rapid blows before the monarch received a foot to the belly that sent her stumbling backwards.

Her lips were in a ferocious snarl as she jumped several paces back with her companion clutched against her hip.

All the while as the earthbending puppet slammed his fists together before a pillar of earth rapidly slammed down above the princess’s head.

The group gazed on with concern in their eyes only for their eyes to widen in awe when the earthbending was incinerated by an explosion of azure fire.

And then Azula leaped away with her ebony hair now hanging above her sweating brow while her hair now hung freely down her armored back.

Just as her crown fell to the cavern floor with a clang while the princess glared back at the puppet with her lips still adorning a dominant glower.

“The Great Princess Azula will not fall to a corpse!” The princess hissed as she stomped forward with her pointed boot pressing into the cave floor while her icy eyes glared ahead.

Before the puppet sprang into the air once more with his cloak fluttering ominously behind him.

While Fire Nation forces watched in unhidden trepidation as the deceased man rushed towards their leader.

Only for Azula to stare on with slightly narrowed eyes when her captain held out her arm to halt her.

“I’ll handle it.” The captain stated with a strange gleam in her hazel eyes while red steam arose from her body while her princess glared at her back.

“It isn't your place to give me orders Zoe!” Azula snarled as she held Elle under her arm as she gazed at the other woman’s back.

All the while as she found herself becoming increasingly more curious of the mechanics behind her captain’s unheard-of technique.

Just as the noblewoman began to walk forward with her katana in hand while her stony eyes stared back at the leaping puppet.

And just like that the others watched in a fascinated silence from their positions on the cavern floor when the warrior impacted with the earthbender in battle.

Zoe’s sword now pushed back against the puppet’s spear while her cold eyes gazed back into the shrouded hood.

Just as she shoved back on her blade with all of her weight before, she sent the puppet sliding backwards along the cave floor.

All along as rocks continued to fall down all around them as the earthbender slammed his palm into the stone ground.

While she continued to stride forward with her hazel gaze never leaving the cloaked puppet’s shadowed face.

“I haven’t seen such earthbending since Earth King Jaran.” Zoe commented with her katana held out on her right while her emotionless face gazed ahead.

The statement had the princess staring on with her golden eyes flashing in growing intrigue.

As the rest of her group listened with bewilderment in their eyes while they watched the warrior spring forward once more.

Just as the captain dodged a pillar of earth that slammed into the cavern ground while her line shot into the air.

All the while as she swung forward with her battle hungry eyes honing in on her target.

Before her blade struck the puppet’s spear once again.

And then just like that the firebender and the lifeless earthbender began to exchange in blow after blow.

While enormous boulders continued to crash into the grotto ground throughout the entire cavern system.

Just as mist poured into the air once more while the paranoid group gazed about in fright as they coughed beneath their elbows.

All the while as the princess turned to gaze around with murderous golden eyes as she slid back upon the ground.

“Princess look out!” Saro shouted through the mist as Azula turned her head with her teeth bared like a wrathful dragon.

Just as the two twins burst at her from both sides while a massive wall of fire erupted around her on all sides.

“It is time that you two are put to rest!” The princess declared in a livid voice with her imposing eyes glaring at both charging puppets.

Before she released a powerful stream of flames on both sides that sent the two twins staggering backwards.

Only for the ground to suddenly rupture beneath her boots as she spun around to gaze behind her with her golden eyes widening in surprise.

And then not a second later…

Slash!

Azula took a step back with her crimson lips in a seething thin line while her companions gazed on wide eyed when Silah sprung from the rock below.

The puppeteer’s arm slashed in an arc across the princess’s robed sleeve just as droplets of blood stained her wooden mask.

Just as Azula’s flame coated fist smashed into Silah’s cheek while the artist slid backwards along the cavern grounds.

“Azula!” Ty Lee yelled out in a frenzy with her brown-gray eyes gazing on in terror as Azula skidded backwards.

All the while as they all stared on with widened eyes as bits of the puppeteer’s mask fell to the ground below.

Just as the two twins jumped back down beside their master.

While the deranged woman now stared back at them with a small portion of pale lips exposed for their view.

With traces of otherworldly silver hair now protruded from her cracked mask.

“Just you wait…I am going to brutalize you.” Azula spoke in a frozen voice as she wiped the blood from her lip while she held her pet’s unconscious body under her arm.

Only for her eyes to widen in uncharacteristic shock when she watched the woman hold up her knife provocatively before her revealed lips.

And then the princess’s forces gaped on in a shellshocked silence when Silah erotically ran her tongue along the bloodstained knife.

Just before they heard Silah gulp down the princess’s blood with a monstrous smile adorning pale features.

All along as each and every one of them shuddered in disgust as they watched the woman swallow the blood from her stained blade.

While the princess stared back at the artist with her golden eyes now agape in a mixture of boiling rage and repugnance.

“You are going to make for a beautiful doll Azula.” Silah remarked in a psychotic voice with her tongue now licking the rest of the blood from her lips.

And just like that she leaped into battle with the two twins alongside her.

While the princess gazed back at her foe with hateful golden eyes.

Before she roared at the top of her lungs with a vast wall of fire forming all around her.

‘I promise that this woman will die by my hand! Even if it is the last thing I do!’ The princess thought with her callous eyes hardening into a beyond merciless death stare.

And that was a promise that she intended to see brought to fruition!

[mirkwoodshewolf]

You are my world pt. 2

Here is the second part of the latest Jefferson fic. BE WARNED of mentions of Kidnapping, drugged drinks, minor violence and gun threats. This is the intense part of the chapter so I hope these warnings were helpful to you and if you give me hate by saying “you didn’t put a warning for this part” just look up and allow me to introduce you to my fist. Anyways I hope you guys enjoy this and keep looking out for more of my fics in the next couple of days :)

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*Storybrooke (during the curse think of episode 1x17)*

         The Evil Queen had cursed everyone to live in a world without magic in a little town called Storybrooke.  She was the mayor and lived a powerful life making sure everyone didn’t have their happy endings and making sure that no one remembered who they were back in the Enchanted Forest.

         Everyone was cursed to not remember who they were once before and were given new lives and new names.  Time stood still for 28 years with nothing changing and the Queen enjoying everyone living miserably in this town she had created.

         That was until a yellow bug pulled into town and the clock tower began to tick.

The Savior had come to Storybrooke.

         To put an end to the Queen’s curse.

         Now when I said the Queen had given everyone new identities and new names, I of course was no exception.

         My name here is Sarah Jones.  I’ve been put under suicide watch because of my many attempts to end my life for the past 28 years.  I don’t know why I’m so depressed or so messed up in the head but that’s what I am.

         Mad as a March Hare at times to the hospital sometimes calls me.

         One night though I managed to escape that asylum because I couldn’t take the medication, the fake sympathy the doctors give me, nor could I take living isolated in a cell forgotten by the world.  As I was being chased by the asylum’s doctors and police, I ran as fast and as far as I could and for this one reason I did not know why, my heart was telling me to run into the forest to find a mansion that was apparently there.

I took my chance and took off running into the woods trying not to let anyone especially the police see me.

I kept running until I was for sure they would lose me because I refused to be caught and dragged back to that hellhole and live the rest of my life in a cell.

As I ran I didn’t notice that I had rammed into someone and the two of us rolled down a small ditch.

“Sorry, I-I-I-I didn’t see you there I was just—”

“No, no it’s fine I was just—” When we looked at each other his eyes suddenly went wide. Like whenever you see that one special friend that you haven’t seen in a long time.  His eyes were like that but only more shocked and horrified.

“Umm, hello?”

“(Y/n)?” He whispered faintly as his face remained in that shocked state.

“Who is (y/n)?” It was then he snapped out of his current state and said.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that—you….remind me of someone I once knew”.

“Was she special to you?”

“Yes—yes she was” there was pain in his eyes as he answered and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy.  Due to the amount of adrenaline I had from escaping, now that I was calm I cried out in pain as I grabbed my right foot in pain.  “Oh no, you’re hurt”.

“No, no I’m fine, I’m fine”.

“Don’t lie to me, let me see”.  He then gently took my right foot and my head started to hurt a little as I could’ve swear this had happened before.  “Hmm, well luckily it isn’t broken or twisted, but it’s got a pretty bad sprain, I can take you over to my place to rest until morning then you can head back into town”.

“No!” I begged. He looked at me shocked but then trying not to raise suspicion on why I had said it like that I calmed down and said. “No I uhh—I’m trying to get away from all the pressure of the town, you know how Regina is on the new Sherriff lately, I’d rather not get on the mayor’s bad side”.

“I know the feeling, well if that’s the case, you’re welcome to stay with me as long as you want”.

“Oh no I couldn’t impose”.

“I insist,” he then surprised me by picking me up bridal style holding me close to his chest. “Now let’s go, my house isn’t to far from here”.

As we walked in silence, I could’ve swear this was familiar to me but my head always ached everytime I tried to think about it.

When we had arrived at his house, well I should say more of a mansion, he took me into his large living room and set me on the cushioned white couch and left to grab his first aid kit and some ice.  He kneeled down and began to doctor my ankle.

“I’ve just realized I rammed into my crasher and yet I don’t know who to thank and to apologize to”.

He softly chuckled and said as he looked up at me.

“Jefferson”.

“Sarah”. I introduced myself.  He and I took hands but instead of a handshake, he lifted my hand towards his lips and kissed my knuckles.  I shyly giggled and turned away from him.  Finally he was done wrapping up my ankle and gently placed the ice on top of the right spot of my ankle.  I took a deep breath then sighed in relief.

“Better?”

“Yeah, a bit”. I answered solemnly.

“Here, I’ll make you some tea to help warm you up, you’re practically chilled to the bone”. He wrapped a blanket around me and then he stood up to make me some tea.

“You really don’t have to do this much for a total stranger”.

“I know, but I want to, especially for a beautiful woman like yourself”.  He grinned and flirted a wink at me as he set down a beautiful tea set for me.  I blushed lightly then said.

“How do you know that I couldn’t just be an escaped criminal and then by morning you’d wake up to see half of your stuff missing?”

“Well I’m a pretty good judge of character, and you definitely don’t seem like an escaped criminal, but you do seem lost everytime I look in your eyes, care to share with me what you’ve been through?”

I remained silent and my face went solemnly sad.  Jefferson then said again.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked, if it’s too personal I understand”.

“Thank you, I uhh—don’t really like to talk about my problems, nor do I want to bore you with my story”.

“I wouldn’t be bored. I’d like to know why a beautiful girl like you seems so sad, but if you don’t want to share I completely understand and I wont force you to tell me”.

“Thank you Jefferson”.

“No problem, here” he held out a white teacup for me filled with tea and I took it from him and took a sip of it.  After I took another sip, I suddenly began to feel a little dizzy.

My head swirled and my vision was going in and out.

“Something wrong?” Jefferson asked.

“I uh—I just feel like I….” I slowly stood up but half way up I began to fall forward when I felt Jefferson catch me as my head was leaning against his chest.

“Whoa easy Sarah, easy”.  He gently cooed as he set me back down on the couch making me comfortable.  “There you go,”

“I feel so dizzy”.

“Just try to sleep (y/n), sleep~” he cooed.  But the way he said it made my skin crawl even in my dazed and confused mind.  And the way he didn’t seem to panic, it began to make me feel like he wanted this to happen.

I slowly turned up to look at him to see him stroking the hair out of my face and his face seemed more dark and sinister looking.

“Who are you?” I whispered before my vision finally went black and my head hit against the pillows of the couch.

Jefferson smirking wickedly as he finally had me.

When I woke up, my mind was still a bit hazy as I tried to make sense about what had happened before I passed out.  I began to deduce that I was drugged because I recognize the feeling when drugs want to knock you out, I’ve been given the same drug whatever Jefferson use by the asylum to calm me down whenever I have my ‘moments’.

I then felt that I was tied up and a soft piece of cloth was wrapped around my mouth like a gag. I tried to stand up but I was tied good and tight spread eagle style on a bed.  My heart began to race as I looked back and forth to see that I was in a dark bedroom.  But the worst part of it was when I looked down at myself, I wasn’t in my mental suicide white dress, but an expensive looking nightdress.

Someone had changed me while I was knocked out.

The door to the bedroom opened revealing Jefferson himself leaning against the doorframe.  His eyes were hauntingly possessive as his friendly demeanor completely flipped into this menacing man that stood before me.  He then began to slowly approach me and all I could do was struggle in the binds that seemed to grow tighter the more I struggled.

He slowly leaned against the bed and crawled up towards me like a wolf stalking a cornered sheep until his face came up above mine.

I was scared.

I didn’t know whether he was going to kill me, rape me, psychological torture me until the police came to drag me back to that horrible place.

Tears filled my eyes as I began to sob out of fear from my gag.  Jefferson removed my gag and gently shushed me lovingly.

“Shhhh, shhh, shh. There’s no need to be afraid my love”.

“If you’re going to kill me, please—just kill me already” I begged him as tears continued to flow down my face.

“How could I ever hurt the woman I love?” I looked at him beyond confusion.

The woman he loves? What the hell was he talking about.

“You’re bloody insane, I don’t even know who you are! I’ve never seen you before until tonight”.

“Because of Regina.” His voice sneered venomously as he spoke of the mayor’s name.  “She cursed you to be on suicide watch, and our Grace with a new family. (Y/n) please, try to remember who you are. Who I am”.  He roughly cupped my face with one of his hands forcing me to look deeply into his dilated blue eyes. 

“You are a mad man. I don’t know what the hell you are talking about!”

“Please—I’ve lived for 28 years thinking you were dead. To finally see you now, you have to remember”.  His eyes teared up in such deep sorrow trying to make me remember as he claimed.  Then he did something that was both uncalled for and shocking. 

He kissed me.

My eyes widened and for some reason I had the strength to break my wrists free of the bounds and pushed him off of me as hard as I could knocking him against the other side of the room.

I quickly untied my legs and tried to run but with my sprained ankle, I could only limp.  I limped down the stairs when I was tackled onto the floor.  I screamed and tried to claw my way out from Jefferson’s grasp but he grabbed my legs and pulled me back and got on top of me pinning my wrists down.

His entire body weight on top of mine as I tried to thrash and scream, begging him to let me go.

“Please (y/n) come back to me!”

“Stop calling me that!” I screamed at him.  I then managed the break one of my legs free from his grasp and nailed him where the sun don’t shine and limped as fast as I could out the door and down the road hoping I could reach town before that psycho could drag me back to his house.

But as I heard him crying out that name and seeming to get closer and closer, my heart raced and I knew I was going to die, but God must’ve heard my prayers for as I came along the road, car lights came up the street.

I ran in the middle of the road and screamed and cried waving my arms frantically to get it’s attention.

The car stopped and there Sherriff Swan came out of her yellow bug.

“Please! Please there’s a man! He kidnapped me! Tried to attack me!”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa miss, miss, miss calm down!” She tried to assure me but I heard Jefferson’s voice crying out my name louder.  I screamed as he finally appeared by the side of the road.

I hide behind Emma and begged her to not let him near me again while she stood there in pure horror.

“Jefferson”.

“Emma, been awhile hasn’t it?”  What the hell they knew each other?

“Why did you take this woman?”

“Because she’s my wife!”

“Look Jefferson, I know our last encounter was a bit—unnerving, but that doesn’t give you the right to take in a defenseless woman and hold her up against her will because you can’t get a hat to work”.

“YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND!! THAT IS MY WIFE!! She just doesn’t remember! And I won’t lose her again!” It was then Jefferson went off the deep end as he drew out a gun and fired a warning shot next to Emma’s bug. I cried out as I gripped Emma’s arms tighter in fear as I literally was shaking in fear.

“Jefferson…..put the gun down”.

“Give me my wife and I’ll let you go free”.

“I can’t do that Jefferson, not with you holding that gun. Besides if this really is your wife, then I don’t think she’d want you to be acting like this, look at her right now and see if she looks happy at what you’re doing”.  Jefferson looked at me to see me with the most horrified expression I could muster.

Tears ran down my face, I tried to hold in my sobs but they came out as hiccups and choked out whimpers.

I had never been so scared in my life.

Jefferson’s eyes burned with tears as his hand that held the gun shook violently then he dropped the gun and let out a sob.

“I just want her back in my arms”.  Emma looked back at me and I begged her not to listen to him with my eyes then she looked back at Jefferson.  Emma then took off her jacket and put it around my shoulders and guided me into her buggie and got in herself as Jefferson begged Emma to not drive away and he cried out that name in agony as it pierced the night sky as we drove away.

Emma took me to her place and examined my ankle and any other injuries I might’ve had.  

She had been assigned to bring me back to the hospital since they had called her in to track me down.

But the Sheriff made a different call.

She and I made a deal that if I didn’t have any suicidal episodes for a week, she’d allow me to stay with her in her apartment.  A week later with no suicidal episode, Emma allowed me to stay and she helped me find a job over at Granny’s diner for where I could help her pay the rent of our apartment.

She helped me start off fresh and I would always be grateful to her for not only saving me from that whack-job. But for helping me get a fresh start in life and make me think of something other than killing myself.

*FF time skip*

         A month later after the whole incident with Jefferson.  I had been trying to forget about that night and try and live a normal life but at night I’m haunted by nightmares of what could’ve happened plus some strange dreams of me and him together with a blonde haired girl.

         I didn’t know what to make of the dreams so I chose to ignore them and try and move on from the past.

         But every now and then I feel like he’s watching me.  That he knows where I live, where I work, and truthfully it begun to scare me.

         I had confide to Emma about it and she allowed me security and issued me a taser gun because she thought that with my paranoia and how freaked out I was when it came to Jefferson that I could really hurt someone with a real gun, so I had to go with a taser, it’d be enough to stun a person and not murder them.

         One night after getting off my shift from Granny’s, Ruby offered to walk me home and since she and I had become good friends in my month of working there, I couldn’t say no to her.  Once we reached my apartment I suddenly received a text, I took out my phone to see it was from Emma.  I opened the text and read it and became shocked.

         “What is it? Sarah?”

         “Henry’s in the hospital in a coma”.  She and I stared at each other in shock then without another word I took off towards the hospital to see every doctor, Regina, and Emma gathered around a very pale and still Henry Mills.  I walked up to Emma and placed my hand on her back and rubbed it gingerly trying to comfort her.

“How did this happen?”

“Regina did this. She gave me apple slices for the road just before I was about to leave town, Henry tried to warn me and took a bite of it, next thing I knew he was on the ground barely breathing”.  I couldn’t help but glare at the mayor for doing this to Emma’s son but Regina looked like she had been crying all night.  I rubbed Emma’s back and said.

“Can I get you anything?”

“No, no thank you I’m good Sarah, why don’t you go home? I’ll be fine”.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah”.  I hugged her and she hesitated but hugged me back then I left the hospital and went back to our apartment.  I walked up the stairs towards our room and unlocked the door and entered inside.

I dropped all my stuff and went to the fridge to get myself some ice cream.  I ate my double fudge brownie ice cream right out of the carton as I took a deep breath and sighed heavily. 

Lately things have gotten so stressful lately and now Henry’s in a coma-like state I don’t know what anyone can do.  Just thinking about all this sudden stress is making me want to go back to cutting my wrists but I had been 30 days clean, I’d rather not go back to that life.

Ever.

“About time you got back here”. A voice said.  My eyes shot open as I recognized that voice.  The voice that has haunted me in my dreams, the voice that I wished I had never heard of, the voice I wished to have forgotten. 

Jefferson’s voice.

I quickly sat up and grabbed my taser gun and pointed at him to see him standing by the staircase just a few feet away from my guest bedroom just underneath it.

“How the hell did you get in here?”

“Spare key”. He said.  I took notice that he was now dressed up in disguise in a male nurses outfit.  Probably was just at the hospital a new moments ago before coming here to hide. “(Y/n) just let me—”

“No! Stop calling me that! That is not my name! I am not your wife! Now get out before I shoot you!”

“I mean you no harm, I just wanted to see you,”

“LEAVE!!!!” I fired the taser but nothing happened.  I pulled the trigger again but nothing happened.  “It should fire, what did you do?!”

“I wanted to make sure nothing interrupts us from trying to talk. (Y/n) please,”

“STOP CALLING ME THAT!!” I threw the taser at him and ran for my life.

He tailed behind me as I tried to grab a sharp kitchen knife to defend myself but he grabbed me around the waist and pulled me away from the kitchen into the living room. I screamed and thrashed when he set me on the couch and pinned me down with all his might and said.

“(Y/n). You’ve known me all your life. Your name is (y/f/n) (y/m/n) (y/l/n). We grew up together, you helped me raise Grace when she was born, you then became my wife and we almost had another child together. Regina came into our lives and asked me to do a job for her but she betrayed me and left me in Wonderland where I’ve tried to get back to you and Grace”.

“SHUT UP!!!!!” I tried to push him off of me but he pinned my hands above my head, my legs were trapped by his then he kissed me once again.

This time a felt a wave over me and everything came at me like a wave rolling against the coast.

When he separated from me, I looked up at him with a blank stare.

“Jefferson?” I whispered.

“Yeah?” It was then my heart broke and tears formed in my eyes at the sight of my husband before me.

He was alive.

“Y-you…..you’re alive! You-you-you came back” Jefferson’s face broke as he smiled down at me with tears in his eyes.

“Yes (y/n)”. He gently placed his hand against my cheek as I whimpered and looked up at him after all these years.  I had been through torment ever since I had found out he was trapped in Wonderland by the Queen, I had thought I’d never seen my husband again and thought he had died at the hands of the Queen of Hearts.

“Has it been so long? So long” I whimpered as I pressed my hand against his cheek.  He took my hand and kissed the palm of it as I continued to cry.

“Well I couldn’t leave my little Hare, not when I vowed to her my heart”.  He leaned towards me and we kissed each other passionately after so many years.

*Epilogue*

A couple of days later as everyone was trying to find their loved ones, Jefferson hesitated to wanting to get our little Grace back even after I had seen her.  He feared that since he left us to do the Queen’s work, that she’ll hate him for leaving even though he was on his way back when the Queen tricked him.

I assured him that our little Grace didn’t hate him nor will she once she saw him so I ordered him to go and pick her up after school to see for himself.  Once they got back, I saw Jefferson carrying Grace like he always did back home in the enchanted forest and Grace promised us that tea party that she would hold for us once Jefferson had returned.

After 28 years, Jefferson, Grace and I were once again a family and we had gotten what we had longed for the most.

A Happy Ending.

[terranoctis]

Stories of 2019

I would like to say this piece is about the best pieces of media and literature that came out in 2019, but it isn’t. I know there’s a myriad of stories I consumed this year that originally came out in years prior. This post, really, is about the most memorable stories I consumed and experienced for different reasons. I’m mostly writing it as a retrospect of a year where I made it my goal to experience more stories to become a better writer.

Literature

- His Dark Materials, Books 1 & 2 (The Golden Compass & The Subtle Knife), by Phillip Pullman

I have long been curious about these books by Phillip Pullman. It was popular in my childhood, though not as much as other books my childhood companions read. Someone told me the premise of the series in a comical manner about how it wrote religion into the world, and that dialogue sold me long ago on reading the series. I didn’t get the chance, however, to read it until rather recently, at the tail-end of 2019. I rather value the fact that I read it as I was older. I would’ve loved it as a child, I’m certain of it, but there’s definitely a darker tone to it that I appreciate more as an adult. It makes me nostalgic for the story I’m writing in all the good ways. I admire Pullman’s writing as well. It should be noted the TV series adaptation of the books is rather solid, and one I’m enjoying currently. 

- The Poppy War, by R.F. Kuang

Surprise, surprise, another fantasy novel makes my list. I think however, that it is a rather amazing one in where it went with its main character. It is a long novel, but one that thoroughly develops the world it’s in and the path a protagonist can take to become both the hero and the enemy, for better or worse. By the end of the novel, I’m not certain that I can find that her actions are acceptable, though I understand her mindset into it all. And that’s what makes the story fascinating to me. I like to write about people, even the most troubled ones. War can be a horrifying monster to everyone it touches, combined with the obsessions of our own ambitions.

- The Priory of the Orange Tree, by Samantha Shannon

Well-written, and honestly a joy to read at times, my first novel from Samantha Shannon pleasantly surprised me when I learned that it tastefully wrote about a same-sex relationship between two women. That isn’t the main focus of the novel, however. Across the board, the protagonists of the stories consist of two strong women and two men who have much to do to keep order in their own lives and the world around them. It’s about differences in beliefs coming together in order to be a better good. There are so many threads and yet they tie together rather beautifully by the end. It’s a wonderfully crafted tale of high fantasy that I’d honestly love to see more of someday. 

Comics & Manga

- Monstress, by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

At the tail-end of 2018, I was starting to pick up some western comics, as I previously had only largely consumed Eastern-style manga and manhwas. One of the ones that grabbed me and kept me was Monstress, first for its beautiful, gorgeous artwork, and second for the fact of how it writes its main character. It’s dark, yet hauntingly beautiful, the world the comic takes place in. The story has some pacing issues, but even so, it was by far my favorite western comic I read this year.

- Paper Girls, by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang

Saga was the series that kind of introduced me to the kind of brand of Western comics that I thought I would like, that stretched beyond superheroes. It was my favorite comic of 2018, and still arguably one of my favorites now. It made sense then, that I would read other comics by one of its creators. Paper Girls is a fun read, and also deals with time travel and the fates that we follow and create for ourselves. And I am a sucker for anything time travel.

- Yagate Kimi Ni Naru by Nakatani Nio

I’ll be honest. I read chapters of this prior to 2019, but as the series ended recently and I re-read the entire series from the beginning, this manga sincerely stole my heart again. As someone who has never been in touch with her feelings as much, to see someone understand how they felt about another and figure it out, especially in the context of friendship and between two girls, was a quiet experience that I loved and enjoyed. 

TV Shows

- Euphoria, from HBO

It honestly was the first show that came to mind for me about this year. It’s not my typical genre as an adult now, as it is a show about teenagers and their experiences. However, I think this is a show that definitely is for adults as well, more so than teenagers perhaps. Because, after all, we remember what it’s like to be that age. It’s about the mess people at that age in high school can be, as products of their environment and the upbringing they had. I watched it on a whim between episodes of the last season of Game of Thrones and enjoyed it far more. It’s a show about addiction, about desire, about abuse, about everything good and bad. It wrote so well the experiences of people from across the spectrum.

- The End of the F***ing World, from Netflix

I surprisingly liked this second season more than the last one. I think I liked it more because it goes more into depth about the mentality of each person. More than just diving into it, it went into how they are trying to mend it and address it. It’s still as charmingly amazing as it was the first season, with its sort of absurd dry humor.

- She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, from Netflix (and Dreamworks Animation)

I never really expected how much I actually would enjoy this show when I first watched it on a whim in 2018. Even though I already knew back then how much I admired the characterization of Adora and Catra, it was just a small admiration. This admiration only grew and grew as the series progressed and started extending to the show’s writing in general. The series is written to be enjoyed by all ages, but there’s an underlying tonality to it that definitely calls to me as an adult, particularly in the case of Catra’s story. It’s not perfect, by any means, but it’s exactly that quirky nature and well-written dialogue that makes me think this will be a series that will be on my mind for a long time. 

- The Good Place, from NBC

This show is permanently on my list until it stops airing. It’s still just as good.

Movies

- The Theory of Everything (2014)

I went through a lot this year in my personal life, one of the situations being someone returning to my life that I never expected to speak to again. It brought me much perspective to see a film about persevering, understanding how time can be strange in its own ways, and how we make so much in this world for ourselves by just being with one another. I admire Stephen Hawking, for one, but the film brought a fictionalized story to life between him and Jane Hawking that I thought was honestly beautiful. And the heart of what made this film great was that relationship and bond through time. It was hopeful. The film made me remember why it was okay, that even after all these years, I still had something to be hopeful and grateful in all those years past. ...It’s also just a really beautifully shot film. That ending sequence had me near tears. 

- Parasite (2019)

I think if I had to choose one film to be my favorite of the entire year, it would be this film. There’s so much packed into it, but it’s beautifully, wonderfully done. It was personal on a bizarre level about social class and how the way we’re raised and the amount of money we have growing up affects who we become. It’s about inequality, about family, and so much. I can’t even find the right words to describe it because I think it’s a film everyone should watch.

- Marriage Story (2019) 

I can’t say that I’ve been through a divorce, but I’ve been through an emotional disconnect with someone that meant much to me. It’s why watching this film made me go through a rollercoaster that I could relate to. Even when relationships, friendships, or something in between end on a sour note, it doesn’t take away all your affections for them. Even if it doesn’t make sense, you still love them, no matter how much you bitterly want to hate them. And sometimes, relationships don’t just end because of some horrible end-all thing. Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out--and you have to live with that. And sometimes, you have to live with one another still, even if maybe you’d be better off being out of each other’s lives. The movie hit me on a personal note on many levels, and I think anyone who’s been in any sort of situation like that will feel the same watching the movie. 

- Knives Out (2019)

I would like to simply present Daniel Craig’s character talking about donut holes to explain why this is one of my favorite films this year. But really, it’s witty, it’s fun, and it feels relevant to the atmosphere we have in American society in modern times. It’s a whodunit mystery with a twist that in the end, and truthfully really isn’t about a murder at all, but rather about the people that make up a little of entitled society and the people who have to live with them. 

- Little Women (2019)

I sincerely loved Louisa May Alcott’s novel growing up, and had a wild amount of excitement for Greta Gerwig’s adaptation. I was not let down. It’s not a traditional take on the story, and yet it is. It changes up the timeline in a brilliant way, and moreover, does so much justice to Amy’s character and the way women have to live in that time period. It brings out more of Jo’s joy in writing and telling stories. It does a brilliant job of portraying Laurie’s relationship with Jo, as well as Amy. It’s a strong adaptation of a largely female tale that is also made relevant for modern times. I can also say that Florence Pugh did a phenomenal job as Amy.

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There are a number of other stories I consumed this year that I loved, such as Frozen II or Naomi Novik’s novels, but I can’t list them all. I hope 2020 continues to be a year of great stories for me. And I hope it is a year for me to better expand on my own stories.