#I am happy for the cast and crew of rings of power they deserved this after all the hell those bigots put them through

[avocadotoast0]

Seeing s2 of The Rings of Power succeed with the targeted hate and harassment it faced during its first season is painful because The Acolyte could have had the same success if Disney and Lucasfilm had actually believed in it.

[rings-of-power-realm]

The Rings Of Power: A Fellowship of Fans Project Because Middle Earth is for everybody🧝🏿🧝‍♀️🧝🏽‍♂️🧝🏿‍♀️✋✋🏿✋🏽

We have built an awesome community here and I wanna invite you all to take part in a positivity project for The Rings Of Power.  I want to compile one huge video which will be made up of messages, art, writing, cosplay, fan videos etc made by all of YOU. We would then tag the cast and Amazon on social media so hopefully they would see this project that would be full of positivity and appreciation for them  ♡

This cast and crew deserve to see some love for this amazing show and the sheer effort they have put into it and their characters.

If you would like to join here are the guidelines!

1.) Everything submitted to me must be positive eg something you love about the show or character/actor and focused on The Rings Of Power

2.) You can either submit a message (which will be included as a text slide), Art, Writing, a video, a graphic, photo, cosplay anything you can come up with even if you bake some Arondir cookies!! You can choose to add your name and location if you wish

3.) Whatever you want to say/make should be sent to me through here either by replying to this post, messaging me here or contacting me on my twitter I can also take entries via Google Drive or OneDrive and am happy to also accept them at a dedicated email: ringsofpowerfanproject@outlook.com

The project will begin as soon as episode 1x08 has been released on the 14th October 2022

The deadline will be left open for now (or until there are enough messages/contributions) 

Any questions please ask :) Thank you all for helping in creating this safe space and I look forward to seeing what everyone contributes!  ♡

[c-atm]

G-squared: The genin exam

Hello!" Steven cheered at the five in front of him. Connie, Daniel, Patricia, Peedee, and Jeff sat in a wilderness-like area created by the C.A.R ( Customizable Alternative Reality) orb.

"This magitech is amazing," Jeff started, amazed,

"It is a portable gem room..along with other things," Connie declared proudly before turning to Steven," Nice hat and robes, Mister."

"Thank you," Steven smirked, giving a small puff of his pipe, blowing a bubble.

"Yeah, you are looking kind of important there, Steve," Danny smirked.

"That's because I am the Kage of the village hidden in the Diamond! Hidden in the land of gems; The DaiyamondoKage."

"Oh my God, we're doing Boruto!" Tricia exclaimed

"That or Boruto's dad Shippuden." Peedee quipped. "So, which number are you?"

"The fifth, all nepotism." Steven nodded coolly.

"So you're the one percent!" Jeff pointed, "time to pull a coup."

That got a laugh out of everyone before Steven spoke again.

"So, you guys are-"

"Anbu, black ops." Connie interrupted with a smile.

"Freshly made child-labor…." Steven counted, "also known as Genin...You're about 12-13 in this."

"13…" Jeff answered, "That Anbu age in the leaf."

"This isn't the leaf village. ANBU: Crystal gems gotta be at least 15 here."

"Where our headbands?" Danny inquired.

"They ain't made yet." Steven shrugged," anywho, you guys are team 265.2"

"Wait, what? How many people graduated this year?!" Jeff screamed," and why is there a point two?"

"Enough, and you and Peedee are the point two."

"What the hell?"

"Stop pausing the scenario!" Steven ordered.

"Ok, so what are we going to do here, Daikage?" Connie chuckled.

"Right. You five are gonna be tasked with meeting your sensei at the entrance of the wilderness of the lost."

"Wait?" Trica exclaimed.

"What?" Peedee added.

"Guessing we are currently in the wilderness of the lost?" Connie joked.

"As expected from the heiress of the Maheswaran family, carrier of the Maheswarigan."

"Hell yeah! Kekkei Genkai!" Connie raised her gust with a laugh, "So what do my eyes do?!"

"Now, what makes you think it's an eye Jutsu?"

"Sharingan, Rinnegan, Tenseigan, Byakugan…"

"Her sight is 'gan,' all 'gan!'" Tricia yelled in jest as she and Connie laughed.

"W-what the fuck?" Peedee laughed.

"Calm down; all will be revealed In time.." Steven smiled, "So as we stated, we have Connie Maheswaran of the Maheswarigan. Next, puppet user Jeff of the sand."

"Ey! Puppet master on deck!" Jeff cheered, "What my puppet looks like, Dai-kage?!"

Steven grinned, tossing Jeff a doll.

"OH, Screw you, Universe." Peedee kissed his teeth, holding back a laugh, looking at the Frybo plush in Jeff's hand.

"Horrifying power!" Jeff roared out, chuckling.

"Speaking of Peedee, we have Peedee Frymichi."

"FRYMICHI!?" Peedee shook his head, "let me guess, soldier pills?"

"Soldier fries, but you also have body temperature Jutsu, which allows you to increase or decrease your body temperature to superhuman degrees."

"I…" Peedee shrugged. "I have no retort; that's actually pretty cool."

"See... Next, we have Patricia of the sound."

"So we have both a sound and sand on the same team. Where do you get these kids from?" Danny laughed.

"You don't need to know what a Kage does." Steven retorted, "above your pay grade."

"Daikage, what can I do?" Patricia inquired with a smirk. "What, my Jutsu?"

"You play the triangle."

"A~and?"

"Umm." Steven shrugged, " I don't know. I leave it to you."

"Oh, that bull." The bespectacled woman turned her lips, "Everyone else got an explanation of their special Jutsu, and all I get is ' triangle. '"

"Still don't know what my eyes can do," Connie muttered.

"You have a bloodline limit! You don't get to complain."

"I gave you free rein to make your own ability, be happy." Steven countered, "last we have D of the Cloud."

"Is anybody literally from this village!?." Danny questioned.

"Not a single one of you, anywho..." Steven answered smugly, "You guys make up Team 265.2."

"265.2!?" Connie laughed.

"The further this scenario goes, the more questions it raises." Jeff exclaimed, "Why is the number so high, and why isn't a full number?"

"...You guys are tasked," Steven started ignoring the question, getting howls and laughter of opposition from the group, "Your kage is talking!"

"I was stolen from my village. I refute your leadership!" Jeff yelled.

"Never asked to be a ninja; I wanted to be a fry cook." Peedee wailed, "my parents wanted me to be a nin!"

"I got a triangle. Diii~iing!" Tricia taunted.

"I was told this was a student exchange program," Danny complained.

"I was told money was involved." Connie started, "plus tragic anime backstory shit."

"I will send you all back to the academy!" Steven challenged.

"Go ahead, do it!" Peedee challenged, starting a chorus of disobedience from the rest towards Steven, who rubbed his head to keep from laughing.

"All right, Alright, Steven...Daikage-Sama." Connie batted her eyes in flirtatious teasing, "how does this work?"

"See, at least one of you is grateful."

"I'm happy to be out of the dungeon."

The rest looked at her, a bit horrified.

"I am going for tragic anime character; stop judging me."

“I...Don’t have a dungeon.” Steven stated, chuckling, “But that is neither here nor there. Now ninjas need to be both smart and strong. The lost shall test that, for you are tasked with getting out of the wilderness and back to the village within nine hours or turns. Actions also cost hours, as do hints... If you fail, you will not be recognized as ninjas and…." He let it hang.

"What?"

"You'll find out…."

"Ohhh!..I'm not too fond of that...I don't like that at all." Jeff snorted while chuckling.

"Just don't fail. Hehe. Now to begin, you guys need to make a decision. North. south, east, or west.”

“Where do each lead?” Danny inquired.

“Where indeed?”

“We’re going west,” Connie stated.

“Hold on, why do you get to make the decision?”

“Because I'm from this place, Cloudie.”

“I say we go north,” Patricia stated.

“Naw, let’s go south.” Jeff challenged.

“My nose says we go east..” Peedee offered,” Where’s there’s food, there are people.”

“Frybo and I say south.”

“My Maheswarigan is showing me the way, and it’s west.”

“My triangle rings to the northern border.”

Steven just laughed at their arguing.

���It doesn't matter, does it?” Daniel scratched his chin, looking at Steven, who just shrugged,

"Choose wrong, and you waste an hour."

''...We're going north."

"That two for north, two for the south."

"Two for sou~? YOU'RE COUNTING THE PUPPET VOTE!?" Peedee yelled.

"Hey, Frybo is a part of the 265.2." Jeffed defended the doll

"Frybo is a puppet from hell, deserving to be cast into the deepest fryer in the nine hells!" Peedee pointed. "I'm saying north just out of spite."

Steven stood looking at Connie to see if she changed her vote. "Well...You go north, moving deeper into the Lost ." Steven announced as the area scene shifted and darkened.

"See!? We should have gone south! Now we lost an hour." Jeff yelled, "Follow Frybo. For he knows the way."

- riiiing-riiiing-

"The hell is that?" Connie asked, a bit annoyed at the ringing.

"Doesn't matter; we're heading south," Jeff stated.

"You guys heading south?" Steven questioned, getting nods all around. "You head south...and find yourself back here."

- riiiing-riiiing-

"Now we are down to eight hours!" Danny yelled.

"Just saying if we went south, we would be halfway home."

"I'm pressing X to doubt." Peedee poked Jeff's cheek.

- Riiiing-Riiiing-

"What the hell is that ringing?!" Danny yelled,

"Wanna hint?" Steven asked,

"Can we get hints?" Jeff inquired,

"Did you not pay attention...Yes, hints cost an hour as Jutsu." Steven sighed

"Please, hint us!"

"You suuure…? It Costs an hour."

- Riiiiiiiing-Riiiiiiiing-

"Oh, God. It's getting more piercing...Give us a hint!"

"What are the three types of Jutsu?" Steven grinned.

"Nin, Tai, and…" Connie turned to Tricia, " Play with your triangle."

"Wow, beautiful phrasing, "  Tricia laughed.

"Oh my Shiva! Get your head out of the gutter and dispel the Genjutsu."

"So demanding too." Tricia chuckled more before ringing her instrument with a -Diiingg-diinnng!- The area lit up three paths were shown to the crew.

" North, West, or East?" Steven grinned, "since you used a hint and dispelled the Genjutsu, you lost two hours...Soo six hours left."

"OH my God, we blew through nearly half our time already!" Connie rubbed her temples. " Can I use my special eyes, Mister Daikage?" Connie batted her eyes.

"You wanna use the Heartful glance." Steve chuckled, " Ok, so for this game, you can use your eyes twice since you have two."

"Ingenious." Peedee taunted.

"That's why your parents' food shop failed to feed the Akimichi appetite," Steven noted nonchalantly.

"Wow, Daikage is petty,' Peedee blinked before the group started to laugh.

"Anyway, two times for your special eyes, your right eye grants your guys an auto turn. No hour lost. Right answer only."

" Oh shit, that..that's a bit OP for this." Jeff  stated, "What does the right eye do?"

"Best to save that for later, hehe."

"Shit, I'm using the left Maheswarigan," Connie announced with pride.

"You go east." The area shifted again as Steve spoke, this time displaying a creek and two paths. One of wood, and the other wildflowers in bloom. "So you guys can take a chance with the creek. Drink the water, try to fish...Set up camp..replenish yourself before moving on."

"Wait, wait...Why do you say chance , as if something horrible can happen? "

"Because everything can lead to death in the ninja world."

"If you don't have Talk-no-Jutsu," Danny interjected.

"I mean, yeah, that is the most powerful skill in Naruto." Tricia nodded, "allows him to hold the world hostage."

"Wait, what?" Peedee questioned.

"Thank you, I know I couldn't be the only one thinking that." Danny exclaimed, "that's the only reason I can see Orochimaru not getting fucked up every day."

"Cause of Naruto? How does that work? "

"Discuss the fucking loophole that is the sound and leaf shadow relationship on your own time!" Steven clapped, getting their attention.

"Ok, so how is this gonna work?" Peedee inquired.

"Depends, what you're going to do...Going to rest, or going to move on? If you stay..you have a chance to stock another free turn, via Connie getting to use her left eye again if...and I'll even throw in the chance of making this a free turn, if things go your way."

"Yo, camping out. Risk it for the biscuit." Danny offered.

"Hold on...Steven, what if we fuck up." Tricia narrowed her eyes.

"If it is bad, you lose two hours. If it is not so bad, it's a normal turn."

Connie pursed her lips and turned to the others, "risk it?"

The group nodded.

"So you're resting. Ok, So, are you going to drink...or are you gonna try to fish? If you try to fish, that's a chance for a free turn and Connie's left eye."

"Which also can lead us to lose two hours if we mess up."

"Yup. Just drinking can grant Connie her eye...If you don't mess up."

"And how do we mess up drinking at a creek?" Jeff taunted.

"Coin flip." Steven grinned, showing a coin app on his phone " fishing is a bit more complicated; you have to choose the right teammates to get fish and prepare the fish, plus a coin flip, but two free hours."

"We're fishing." Connie challenged, "Ninjas need to be fearless." The group nodded in agreement.

"OK, Who's fishing?"

The group stood before looking at each other.

"I would like to remind you that previously used Jutsu can't be used for at least three hours unless replenished. So Tricia's triangle is currently unavailable until the next turn."

"Well, thought she could Genjutsu the fish." Jeff stated, "What does Connie's right eye do?"

"...Sure you wanna use the right Maheswarigan, now?"

"...Not anymore," Peedee stated, seeing Steven's evil grin. "We're gonna pocket that."

"Jeff, use Frybo to get us some fish, puppet man." Connie smacked her friend back.

"Yeah! Puppeteer, that bitch." Peedee added.

"Puppeteer, that bitch." Jeff shook his head, chuckling, "Steven, I puppeteer the bitch to get the fish."

"That's gonna stick." Steven smirked, "that being said...Good choice. Frybo enters the creek and gets a fish for each member of the team. A.K.A Jeff puppeteered the bitch and got ya some fish."

"Steven swear! Not a G-Squared ep without one." Tricia laughed, pumping her fist.

"Ok, so who gonna-"

"Peedee." The group stated.

"Me, food is my specialty." Peedee  smirked, "and I use my body temperature Jutsu for cooking the fish."

"Fair enough...I was hoping you messed up." Steven shrugged, "but naw, you got your free turn, and Connie got her Jutsu."

"My special eyes!" Connie roared, "Full power!"

Ok, so you guys ate, you're replenished." Steven grinned, "Wildflowers or Woodlands?  Where we going?

The group looked at each other.

" Woodlands," Connie stated.

"Why would you choose Woodlands over wildflowers? Look at them dark, horrifying woods…." Peedee argued.

"The wildflowers could be a lie...LIE, I SAY!"

"This is some tragic anime story shit. We're going through wildflowers." Tricia stated.

"I'm with Connie on this one; it's definitely  woodlands." Danny nodded her a high-five, "what you say, Jeff, flowers or woods."

" I sayyy…"

_________________________

Steven: And that is where we end this episode. What happened next, do they become genin of my village...SSSHHH~HMMM. That will be seen, but until you next time, G-squared Breakout. Oh, and remember, in life you sometimes have to puppeteer the bitch and get ya some fish.

[dappercritter]

Random She-Ra Season 4 Thoughts:

After much thinking and suffering, here are some random thoughts I had about season 4 inbetween feel episodes.

Going into S4 be like.

Coming out of S4 be like.

Grief and failure to communicate. This season is off to a great start!

You know, I still like Swift Wind but I’m starting to see why most people, uh… don’t.

If you told me before I started the show that I would hate a sexy catgirl and feel sorry for a creepy-looking cyborg conqueror, I would have called you a liar, paused, then said, “No, wait. Yeah, that sounds like me.”

Queen Glimmer looks nice, but I’m definitely going miss her old Cutie Honey-esque hairstyle.

Shame that Huntara didn’t join the Rebellion full-time but it’s for the best. Not just so she can liberate the Crimson Wastes, but let’s face it, nobody in the Rebellion would be able to think straight with a butch Amazonian warrior goddess hanging around.

I really can’t give Double Trouble enough praise: they have so much personality, a fantastic design combining reptilian and theatre-kid traits (two of my favourite kind of characters!), are morally ambiguous but likeable, and help alleviate all the dramatic stress that this season is packed with.

Flutterina and her village has thoroughly convinced me we need more moth people in fantasy.

Why? Simple. THEY’RE SO FLUFFY

I have some minor issues with the Flutterina controversy: yes, Adora and the Rebellion recruited a young girl to fight in a war and took her from her home and all that, which is a valid concern to have and indeed just a little hypocritical given that was how she was forced to grow up, but I feel like the fact that Flutterina is actually Double Trouble, a young adult spy with what I assume is a fair amount of combat and espionage training, makes it ring hollow for me.

Also, do we know if there’s a real Flutterine that Double Trouble impersonated or is she just a persona they made up?

Either way, it’s funny to imagine the Elberon locals trying to make sense of this little girl that just showed up out of nowhere, went off to war, and then the real one shows up right after and everyone just has to go along with it otherwise people will think they can’t keep track of their own kids.

Okay, so I’m not happy about Shadow Weaver slowly being treated as just another member of the cast, but I’m also sort of glad that it’s being implied that we’re still not supposed to trust her either.

That said, leave it to Shadow Weaver to go and potentially destroy Glimmadora on us.

Rogelio confirmed for best boyfriend.

Watching Kyle’s near sacrifice gave me some Chaos Vortex PTSD. (Pit-Truama Stress Disorder)

(If you understood that reference, you have earned my respect for life.)

Light Hope, you’re scaring the adults now, too.

Emily has a holographic projector and was at one point wanted by a ruthless conqueror of worlds. So I guess she qualifies as an astromech droid now?

Speaking of holograms, seeing Catra, Scorpia, and Entrapta when they were all friends was the worst kind of bittersweet.

(After watching Scorpia leave her toxic friendship to embark with Emily on an adventure to save Entrapta) *on the verse of tears* Fricking superb you funky little lesbian! *sniff* Fricking superb…

That’s right, Catra. You reflect on the consequences of your actions like a good kitty-cat.

Sea Hawk surprisingly looks the part for a good noir protagonist.

In his own head, of course.

Is it just me, or is Frosta acting mature again? Hyperactive Little Sister Frosta is fun, but The Only Sane Person in the Room is a Literal Child Frosta would be a missed opportunity.

Oh no, Adora and Glimmer are fighting!

Yay, they were just pretending to catch Double Trouble!

Oh no…

“Boy’s Night Out” or, “How to Delight and Emotionally Destroy Your Audience At The Same Time”

Believe it or not, Sea Hawk possesses special abilities like the Princesses. Those being:

Great singing

Superhuman positivity

Nigh-invulnerability

I’m not sure if Madame Razz is a time-traveller, a Doctor, or just has some sort of Alzheimer’s, but regardless, I’m proud of how the crew handled it.

Swift Wind might be annoying at times but if showing concern for the elderly doesn’t make him a likeable character, I don’t what does.

Looks like I can add “Hero” to the list of She-Ra episodes that deserve an Emmy or Annie.

Words cannot describe how happy I was to see Scorpia pop-up in Bright Moon amid all the drama.

Glimmer is tip-toing the line between “pure-hearted character forced into morally grey responsibilities” and “grey-area wet wipe” and I am not loving it.

So between She-Ra, Huntara, and Scorpia, we all agree Perfuma has a type now, right?

I know it’s just Double Trouble making fun of her (and my love of Elvis Presley, Johnny Bravo, and Kishidan showing) but I think Adora looks pretty dang cool with a pompadour.

Beast Island: It’s Annihilation for Kids!

Yay, King Micha really is alive!

However, he still doesn’t have a wife to come back to and his daughter is making some poor life choices. Bummer.

Nice to see Bow’s still on the Hates Shadow Weaver bandwagon.

Entrapta’s got a Kamen Rider mask now and no one call me otherwise.

And she’s got a mecha that used Godzilla’s roar.

Well, even if my She-Ra-fan-heart is dying, my tokusatsu-geek-brain is happy.

How Entrapta adjusted to life on Beast Island is both nothing and everything I expected from her at the same time.

Well what do you know, Glimmadora saves lives!

BREAKING NEWS: Non-binary reptilian theatre-kid makes breakthrough with angry lesbian cat!

Light Hope, you’re breaking our hearts…

I’m glad that the show is hopping on the anti-power-up bandwagon as well. As someone who grew up with shows like Power Rangers where everything was immediately solved by new merchandise or powers, I get a sort of twisted satisfaction seeing that the shiny merchandisable new toy is more trouble than its worth.

Oh, and of course, it makes a for a good lesson on the danger of absolute power.

Before I started S4, I hated Horde Prime because he wasn’t a giant eldritch cyborg monster anymore, but I’ve actually gotten quite accustomed to his new design. Now I hate him for being a callous perfectionist world conqueror with no sense of personal space that may or may not be into selfcest.

(*praying intensely*) Please let Adora turn into She-ra through sheer-will power next season, please let Adora turn into She-ra through sheer-will power next season, please let

Yup, I was right! This season didn’t fix damn thing the last one broke!

[captainoftherollyjoger]

The Eye of the Storm: Chapter Six

Emma and Hook learn something they did not expect about the Eye of the Storm, how far will Emma go to see her family again?

I’m really enjoying writing this! It has surprised me with the turns it has taken!

Prologue : Chapter One : Chapter Two : Chapter Three : Chapter Four : Chapter Five

Ao3

 Emma continued scrubbing hard at the boards, the blood was starting to fade, but she feared there would always be a mark. It would have to be painted. Crew members started to stir and got on with their tasks for the day, some gave her kind looks and made sure she was okay. A few helped her paint the boards, no one on the ship wanted the memory.

 “Swan.” Her and the pirates all stood to attention when he approached. “At ease.” They all relaxed and got back to work, apart from Emma. “Swan, may I have a word?” It wasn’t a question really. She followed him to his cabin. His desk was back to normal, maps and charts scattered about, he sat at his desk whilst she stood opposite him. “Your wounds look better.”

 “All thanks to you. Is there anything you need me for, sir?”

 “Aye. I think it’s time we start planning to get the Eye. I’ve had enough now.” He sighed.

 “Of course, sir. The sooner we get it, the sooner I get to go home.” Her words stung him, she seemed so desperate to get away. Though he wasn’t surprised, she hadn’t seen her family in months.

 “So, you said it’s sitting on an island. Do you know which one?” She nodded but looked cautious.

 “Sir. The thing is, I told you it’s there for the protection of all, I just don’t think this is something you should be messing with.” She warned.

 “I need it Emma, I’m the one who got the damn thing is the first place. I have to get it back. You know the power is possesses.”

 “Yes, it can bring back the dead. But at what price? There’s a curse, Hook.” He actually didn’t know of the curse, he knew there was one, but never paid attention to the details. “In order to enact it’s necromancing powers, you have to give up the thing you love most.”

 “Then we have no worries, princess.” She rolled her eyes at his name. “It’s hard to give up something you don’t have. Plus, I don’t believe it silly superstition. Everyone was worried about having a blonde on board, we haven’t had too much bad luck.”

 “Your first mate is dead.” Had he forgotten already?

 “No, my first mate is standing right in front of me. Smee let her feelings cloud her judgement. Now I don’t want to hear no more. Which island, Swan?”

 Emma sighed and came around to his side, she leant over the table and surveyed his maps. He had way too many, she found one with King Eric’s kingdom mapped out in great detail, as well as the surrounding islands. She skimmed her hand along the map.

 “Here. This one.” She tapped it, he stood up beside her and leaned over.

 “Are you certain?”

 “Of course, it’s the most dangerous. Full of wild plants and animals. No one travels there lightly, and if they do, it’s only around the borders.

 “I wouldn’t expect anything less. It won’t be easy getting to those waters, they’re relatively close to the kingdom, and there will be people on high alert for my ship.”

 “I thought this ship could turn invisible whenever you wanted?”

 “You’ve been listening to the wrong stories.” He laughed. “Alas, my ship cannot. We’ll have to hide around another island, and row in. I intend on leaving my crew for a few weeks, whilst we get this sorted.”

 “They won’t be happy with that, Captain.” She warned him.

 “They can all come back, I just can’t have them asking questions. You need to make an audience, tell them they have a couple of weeks off, which port would they like to go to. They will have all gold they require. This is too important, Emma.”

 “I don’t like it when you call me Emma.”

 “Why?”

 “It reminds me of being a princess.”

 “Isn’t that what you want?”

 “Of course it is, but for now, I just want to focus on being a pirate.” She smirked. He nodded. They continued perusing the maps and made a plan.

 “Attention, mates!” Shouted Emma. They all turned to look at her. “Our dear Captain has asked me for your opinions. He has some very urgent, private business he needs to attend to. Unfortunately, that means dropping you at the next port.” Unhappy shouts came. “Quiet!” They all shut up quickly. “Our Captain wants you to see this as an absence of leave, he wants his dear crew mates back. However, he wants to treat you all. Each man and woman will be given twenty gold coins to do what they will. It’s your job to decide exactly where you want to go. The Captain will take you to the majority’s favourite port, he will return three weeks later for you all. You can pillage, plunder, bed who you desire! Doesn’t that sound good?” They all cheered, a break would be good for them. “Decide amongst you where you wish to go.” They all huddled around each other. “Master Lewis!” She called.

 “Aye, ma’am?” A tall, thin man peered over the crowd.

 “You will find the Captain in his quarters and inform him of your decision, got that?”

 “Aye, ma’am!”

 Half an hour later, Hook and Emma heard a knock at the door. They were studying the maps and books hard, hoping for anymore information, they would need to be fully prepared for what lay ahead. The amount of books he had was astounding.

“Enter.”

“Sir, it’s about the port.”

“Ah, yes. Where would you like to go?” He smiled, looking up.

“The crew decided on Port Downton.”

“Certainly. Tell them to set sail.” He nodded at the man, then looked back down at the books. Master Lewis left the room as quickly as he had entered. “We’ll go into port for a day, fetch some supplies we may need.”

 “That’s a good idea. When will we arrive?” She asked.

 “In about two days time, the port is a good one for people sharing secrets. For a price, we may be able to find out anymore information we need.”

 The days passed smoothly, the crew were all excited for a few weeks of rest, Hook had give them enough money to survive quite happily. They deserved a treat, he had said. When they arrived at the port, Hook and Emma went in search of their supplies. They ensured they had enough medical supplies, most had been used on Emma's wounds. They acquired enough food that stayed fresh for a few weeks, no doubt they would have to rummage about the forest though. An old man was selling books on a cart, Emma approached him whilst Hook was searching for more recent maps.

 “Hello, dear. How can I help you?” He smiled, he had very few teeth, but his eyes were friendly.

 “I was wondering if you had anything about the legends of the Eye of the Storm? I find it so fascinating.” She smiled, batting her eyelashes.

 “Oh dear, I daren’t keep books on that. Nasty work, miss. I hope you’re not after it.”

 “What can I say, I like a little adventure.”

 “I hope you’re married, and willing to give your husband up.” He warned.

 “Married?”

 “Aye, the royals who placed it on that godforsaken island, cast a spell to ensure that only married couples could retrieve the stone together. You see, the Eye has a curse on it. To use it, you must destroy the heart of the thing you love most, so surely that would be one’s partner, why would anyone kill the love of their life? Difficult business, no need to worry yourself.”

 “Swan!” Called Hook, he was striding towards them. “Have you found anything?” She immediately grabbed his sleeve, thanked the man, and dragged him away. “Swan, what is this about?”

 “You have to be married, Hook. To get the stone, it’s protected by a spell so only married couples can use it. No one would kill their partner to bring back the dead. Why the hell is that not in any of the hundreds of books you possess? What are we going to do?” He seemed to ponder her words for a few minutes. Then a smile grew on his face.

 “Marry me, Swan?”

 “Are you crazy?” She huffed, she turned on her heel and walked away. He chased her and grabbed her arm.

 “If all we need is to be married, then what’s the problem. We can barely stand each other, we certainly don’t love each other. I wouldn’t need to crush your heart, I don't love anything, the loophole still stands. If all we need is the title of a marriage, surely it's worth it!”

 “Hook! Do you know how crazy you sound? I’m not marrying you for the sake of some jewel.”

 “Then looks like you’re never getting home, princess.” He spat.

 “I bloody well am. You try and stop me.”

 “What’s your problem? You said you would help me.”

 “Help you! Not marry you. I want to marry someone because I love them, Hook! Not so you can get some stupid jewel. Why do you want it so desperately anyway?”

 “To bring back Liam!”

 “That’s what this has all been about? All these years?”

 “Of course it is! He’s my brother and my captain, I promised I’d follow him to the end of the earth, I won’t let him down.” A rawness she didn’t expect came from him. “Emma, I know it’s a lot to ask of you. I just really, really want my brother back.”

 “Fine.”

 “Fine?”

 “I’ll marry you. It’s not like anyone else ever impressed me.” She sighed. A big grin spread across his face.

 “Swan! Thank you so much! I can’t believe it.” A boyish excitement came out in him, was this how he used to be? Before all the darkness consumed him?

 Hook and Emma found a suitable pair of rings from an old woman, they paid a nice price for them. It was her wedding ring after all. She insisted. They found a ship’s captain who was more than happy to wed the couple on the open sea, they claimed they were eloping because neither of their families agreed. Add a sob story to something and people will do almost anything. Hell, she was marrying him because of his sad story. They exchanged some quick, made up vows. The generic kind, no way was she making up pleasant, loving vows for him.

 “Do you, Killian Jones take this woman to be your wife?”

 “I do.” A large grin appeared on his face.

 “Do you, Emma Swan, take this man to be your husband?”

 “I do.” She tried to say it with as much as conviction as possible, she really did.

 “Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Kiss? How had she forgot? It was too late, Hook was moving in closer. His hands went to her hips, his breath was on her lips, before she knew it she was leaning into him, her eyes closed. He kissed her tenderly, it was not what she had been expecting. It was over before it even began. She let out a flustered sigh, and she saw him smirking. Bastard.

 Slowly, they walked back to where his ship was docked. They didn’t say a word to each other. The rings on their fingers meant nothing, just part of the adventure she had been roped into. He decided he wanted to set sail that night and she wasn’t going to stop him. The sooner this was over with, the better. Together, they worked to get the Jolly Roger out of port, the lights from the town were bright and it was a full moon. They let the anchor down when they had sailed a fair way from the port.

 Emma stared out to sea, she kept twisting the ring on her finger. This is not what she planned. What would her parents even say? Would she tell them? Her father would kill him, then her, then him again. She was pulled from her thoughts when arms wrapped around her waist and a nose snuggled into her neck.

 “I think you’re forgetting something about what married couples usually do.” He smirked. She turned quickly and shoved him.

 “Get off me.”

 “I’m teasing, love.” He put his arms up in surrender. “I’m sorry.” She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m grateful, honestly. Thank you for doing this, I understand I have taken something precious away from you.”

 “You realise that you’re going to be a prince consort, right? When the kingdom becomes mine.”

 “Prince? Well, I hadn’t thought about that. Not my kind of life, love. Looks like we’ll be an estranged couple.”

 “Best news I’ve heard all day.” She smiled at him sarcastically. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”