#I've finally found it! A Chaos Emerald!

[s0und-of-snow]

Got the idea from @scribz-ag24

[sexsylexi]

Confession under the stars.

Wally West x reader

Summary-Under the starry night sky, Wally West and Y/N share a tender moment that leads to a heartfelt confession and a series of sweet kisses. They realize their feelings for each other and embrace the promise of a future together, basking in the magic of the moment.

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The night sky was clear, the stars twinkling brightly overhead as you and Wally West lay on a soft blanket spread out on the grassy hill. The two of you had found this secluded spot a few weeks ago and had been coming back regularly since. It was a peaceful escape from the chaos of your everyday lives, and tonight was no different.

You turned your head slightly to glance at Wally, who seemed completely engrossed in the starry expanse above. His usual energetic demeanour was tempered by a rare tranquillity. You could see the faint glow of the stars reflected in his emerald eyes, giving him an almost ethereal appearance.

"This is really nice, Wally," you said softly, not wanting to break the serene atmosphere.

He smiled, a gentle curve of his lips that made your heart skip a beat. "Yeah, it is. Sometimes, it's good to just slow down and take it all in."

You nodded in agreement, letting your gaze drift back to the stars. The two of you fell into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's presence and the beauty of the night sky.

After a while, you felt Wally's eyes on you. You tried to ignore it at first, thinking it was just your imagination, but the sensation persisted. Turning your head, you found him staring at you intently, his green eyes studying your face as if trying to memorize every detail.

You felt a blush creep up your cheeks. "What?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Wally's smile widened, and he reached out to gently brush a strand of hair away from your face. "I was just thinking about how lucky I am."

Your heart fluttered at his words, and you found yourself at a loss for what to say. "Lucky? Why?"

He chuckled softly, his hand lingering on your cheek. "To have you in my life. To share moments like this with you." His voice was warm, sincere, and it made your heart swell with emotion.

You felt your blush deepen, your eyes searching his for any sign of teasing or insincerity, but all you saw was genuine affection. "Wally..." you started, but the words caught in your throat.

Before you could say anything else, Wally leaned in, his lips brushing gently against yours. The kiss was soft, tender, and it sent a wave of warmth through your entire body. You closed your eyes, melting into the moment, feeling the world around you disappear until it was just the two of you and the stars above.

When he finally pulled away, you opened your eyes to find him still close, his forehead resting against yours. "I meant it," he whispered, his breath mingling with yours. "I'm really lucky to have you."

You smiled, feeling a tear of happiness slip down your cheek. "I'm lucky to have you too, Wally."

He wiped the tear away with his thumb, his smile mirroring your own. "Then let's keep making memories like this, okay?"

You nodded, knowing that this was just the beginning of many more nights spent under the stars with Wally by your side.

As you both lay there, the cool night air wrapped around you like a comforting embrace, you couldn't help but replay the moment in your mind—the softness of his lips against yours, the warmth of his touch, and the sincerity in his voice. It was a moment you wanted to savor forever.

Wally shifted beside you, breaking the silence that had settled between you. "You know," he began, his voice a gentle whisper, "I've wanted to do that for a long time."

Your heart skipped a beat at his admission, and you turned to look at him, searching his eyes for any hint of uncertainty. Instead, all you found was a depth of emotion that mirrored your own feelings.

"I've... I've wanted that too," you confessed, your voice barely audible above the rustling of the leaves in the breeze.

He smiled softly, reaching out to intertwine his fingers with yours. "I'm glad I finally worked up the courage."

You chuckled softly, squeezing his hand. "Me too."

The two of you lay there for a while longer, fingers intertwined, bodies close but not touching. It felt like the entire universe had slowed down just for the two of you, granting you this moment of peace and intimacy under the vast expanse of stars.

"I never want this night to end," Wally murmured, breaking the silence once more.

"Me neither," you replied honestly, your gaze fixed on the twinkling stars above.

He shifted again, this time turning to face you fully. His eyes searched yours, filled with an intensity that made your breath catch in your throat. "Y/N," he said softly, his voice tinged with a hint of nervousness, "can I... can I kiss you again?"

Your heart leaped in your chest at his question, and you nodded slowly, feeling the warmth of a blush spread across your cheeks. Without another word, Wally closed the distance between you, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that spoke of longing, of tenderness, of a promise for more to come.

This time, the kiss lingered, a silent exchange of unspoken words and emotions that seemed to bind you together even more tightly than before. When you finally pulled away, you rested your forehead against his, relishing the feeling of his breath mingling with yours.

"I think," Wally whispered, his voice barely audible, "I'm falling for you, Y/N."

You smiled, feeling a surge of happiness that threatened to overwhelm you. "I think I'm falling for you too, Wally."

He chuckled softly, brushing his thumb across your cheek. "Good. Because I don't think I ever want to let you go."

You leaned into his touch, closing your eyes and committing this moment to memory—the stars above, the warmth of his hand in yours, and the promise of a future filled with more moments like this.

And as you lay there together, watching the stars, you knew that this was only the beginning of a love story that would span galaxies.

[skaruresonic]

I've always found the way Sonic and Shadow's rivalry in SA2 develops one of its strongest points

When Shadow first meets Sonic he's just a blip on his radar, just some rando he gets to humiliate with Chaos Control for the lols. But during their fight on Prison Island Sonic shows himself to be capable of putting Shadow on his toes. Before the whole Emerl thing recently that must've been the very first time Shadow had ever found himself struggling against an opponent

However instead of doing the usual anime rival trope of getting pissy about it, Shadow seems to....almost grow interested in Sonic?

When he thinks Sonic got blown up in the capsule he sounds almost disappointed by the fact, and when he finds out that Sonic actually saved himself he's visibly smirking and even asks him his name before they battle

Of course Shadow doesn't like Sonic in any way and he's still gonna kill him...but I find it interesting how his behavior towards him seems to go from wanting to humiliate him like he does to all his foes to seemingly coming to enjoy this rivalry of theirs

Shadow was literally created to be the very best, he's lived all his life knowing that nobody could ever even remotely reach him, yet suddenly this weird guy comes out and manages to pose a genuine challenge, surprising him at every turn. In a weird way, when I see that cutscene before their last battle, it feels to me like Shadow is, in a small way, almost glad to have met Sonic. The two of then could not be more opposed to each other, yet when fighting they're on the exact same wavelength.

Or maybe I'm just reading too much into it

(And no I'm not trying to imply any Sonadow bullshit here don't worry)

SA2 portrays Sonic and Shadow's dichotomy masterfully. Good and evil. Light and shadow. Earth and space. Past and present. Yin and yang. Mirror and reflection.

Shadow is the first and perhaps only character who has really gotten Sonic's goat, by framing him for something he didn't do. And it's extra hilarious considering it seems to be almost accidental on Shadow's part---he takes a certain Schadenfreude in having circumstance pin the blame on Sonic.

Yes, I realize there might have been a deleted scene where Eggman tells Shadow about Sonic, but because the final game lacks it, it doesn't come off that way. Especially since Eggman seemed shocked to see Shadow on the news; he wasn't expecting him to have robbed a bank.

Likewise, Sonic is amazed by Shadow's speed. It really goes to show the difference between his pride (confidence) and his pride (ego) when he straight-up admits "Wow! He's fast!" He's not like "grr this bitch is faster than me," he is genuinely amazed. This scene will later be mirrored by Shadow's surprise that Sonic managed to perform Chaos Control with a fake Emerald. These two have a genuine admiration for each other's skill.

---

When he thinks Sonic got blown up in the capsule he sounds almost disappointed by the fact, and when he finds out that Sonic actually saved himself he's visibly smirking and even asks him his name before they battle

Yeah, Shadow specifically says "I guess he was just a regular hedgehog after all."

I'm guessing as well that at this point in the story, he has become cognizant that the end is near and is mentally checking out in preparation. That's why I'm of the belief that an unredeemed Shadow would be dead, not a tyrant.

Notice the shift in his demeanor from the beginning of the game to about the 3/4ths mark. He becomes far quieter and less theatrical. He stares off into space the closer they come to colony drop. It's eerie.

---

Of course Shadow doesn't like Sonic in any way and he's still gonna kill him...but I find it interesting how his behavior towards him seems to go from wanting to humiliate him like he does to all his foes to seemingly coming to enjoy this rivalry of theirs

Well, as Eggman's eulogy proves, a foe's admiration and the desire to kill them aren't always mutually exclusive. Shadow definitely does come to respect Sonic over the course of the game, if only because Sonic dies hard.

Likewise, Sonic accepts Shadow's change of heart and, if Battle is any indication, comes to think highly of him for it.

Hardcore recognizes hardcore. xP

---

Shadow was literally created to be the very best, he's lived all his life knowing that nobody could ever even remotely reach him, yet suddenly this weird guy comes out and manages to pose a genuine challenge, surprising him at every turn. In a weird way, when I see that cutscene before their last battle, it feels to me like Shadow is, in a small way, almost glad to have met Sonic. The two of then could not be more opposed to each other, yet when fighting they're on the exact same wavelength.

>>has flashbacks to discourse over whether Sonic is the real ULF based on Shadow's line during Finalhazard

>>suddenly understands why Iizuka made That Face(tm)

[pawsometoons]

Wishes...

TIME FOR MORE AUTISTIC RAMBLESS!!

So not too long ago, me and a friend were brainstorming on an idea that spouted from his thoughts on evening out the number of chaos emeralds and ideya. I decided to mention how I was trying to figure out the possibility of a purple ideya! Which that spouted from the idea palace having a purple emblem in the place of where the white ideya is supposed to go on the palace pedestals

There's no given explanation for this and so I've been making up my own since it seems to be a detail that barely anyone notices!

So upon some further brainstorming on this, we began thinking what other aspects of dreams are there that could become culminations of dream energy?

That's when my friend thought of wishes! Wishes are a very big factor in dreaming! Because when you're dreaming, your wildest wishes come to life! The word dream also comes hand in hand to have the same meaning as wish! (Ex. I've wished to become a singer/I've dreamed of becoming a singer) both words holding the same weight of this meaning!

Now comes to the point of why we may never see it in game. (besides the fact that it isn't canon but shush) What we decided was because of the lack of faith in wishes dreamers have been experiencing. Nowadays even in real life, people rarely have much faith in wishes anymore. Wishes or prayers are becoming less and less reliable. Which has caused this specific ideya to dwindle in numbers until it was rarely ever seen anymore. So the ideya of Purity was put in its place for the ideya capture! It's design was just never changed.

Now for the context of the drawing. What does Reala have to do with the purple ideya of wishes? Well this idea originated from some artwork that one of my partners @toneinaflat had done of Reala several months back after I talked about the purple ideya idea for the first time.

Which brings to now where we had the idea that Reala would quite possibly have the last existing remanance to exist of this Ideya. The reason being that, while still under Wizeman's control, Reala had found this ideya within a visitor he had just stolen it from. It would've been the first time he's seen this type of Ideya in years. And with that, as a very rare act if defiance against Wizeman, he'd keep that Ideya hidden within himself for years to come. Little did he know that he'd end up forgetting it was ever there, but the more it stayed within him, the more his own dream energy would begin to give it power. Now only his dream energy, but his own wishes. Wishes to see his sibling again. Wishes for Wizeman's downfall. Wishes to be free. Even at his very worst under Wizeman's control, where Reala was beginning to lose almost all sense of self and what little compassion he had left in him, that Ideya would continue to scratch at the back of his mind, reminding him of what he's truly been yearning for. No matter how much Reala tries to deny or ignore it.

All up until Wizeman's downfall, the back of Reala's mind still itched from those wishes that kept getting louder and louder all up until NiGHTS came back for him and they finally reconciled. Those wishes we're finally coming true and they'd no longer be screaming in the crevices of his mind. But that doesn't mean new wishes can't be wished for either. Because there would still be a lot more to come into Reala's life that keeps him wishing. And at some point, having to make a move to make his own wishes come true.

[froottalks]

Elegance Unveiled - Lena Luthor x fem!reader

[summary: where reader is lena's assistant and has a huge crush on lena, reader later sees lena in a beautiful dress at a gala and panics, they later share a moment together and lena kisses the reader.]

Masterlist

The halls of L-Corp were a constant buzz of activity, but amidst the chaos, you found solace in the presence of Lena Luthor. As her dedicated assistant, you admired her brilliance, her grace, and the way she navigated the complexities of her family's legacy. What others saw as coldness, you perceived as a shield that protected her from the world.

The more time you spent with Lena, the deeper your feelings grew. A simple smile from her could brighten your day, and every interaction left you longing for more. You kept your emotions hidden, fearing that your affection would jeopardize the professional relationship you treasured.

The annual L-Corp gala was the talk of the city, and you found yourself in the midst of its preparation. As Lena's assistant, you were tasked with ensuring the event went off without a hitch. The night of the gala arrived, and you watched from the sidelines as Lena greeted guests with effortless charm.

But when Lena emerged in a stunning dress that accentuated her elegance, your heart raced, and panic clawed at your chest. The sight of her beauty was overwhelming, and you realized that your feelings for her had deepened beyond your control.

Amidst the glamour and the glittering lights, you stole a moment of respite in a quiet corner. But as Lena's gaze found yours across the room, your heart skipped a beat. She approached with a smile that held a hint of familiarity.

"(Y/n), you've been working tirelessly," she said, her voice soft but warm.

You managed a nervous smile, attempting to conceal your racing heart. "It's all worth it to see the success of the gala."

Lena's gaze lingered, and you felt an unspoken connection between you. "You look exquisite tonight," she commented, her eyes tracing your form.

A blush tinged your cheeks as you looked away from her captivating emerald eyes and stammered a thank you, your heart pounding in your ears. Was it just you or was it suddenly too hot in there?

As the night continued, you found yourself drawn to Lena's side, your conversations becoming more intimate. The connection you had tried to suppress was undeniable, and it seemed that Lena was equally drawn to you.

As the gala reached its peak, Lena took your hand, leading you to a quieter spot away from the crowd. The moon's soft glow bathed you both in an ethereal light, and Lena's gaze held a mixture of vulnerability and longing.

"(Y/n), there's something I've been wanting to say," Lena began, her voice tinged with sincerity. "I've noticed the way you look at me, the way your presence brings me comfort."

Your heart raced as Lena's words hung in the air, hope and uncertainty warring within you.

Lena's fingers gently lifted your chin, her touch sending shivers down your spine. "And I want you to know that the feelings are mutual."

Before you could respond, Lena leaned in, her lips meeting yours in a kiss that was both tender and passionate. Time seemed to stand still as you shared a moment of unspoken connection, the weight of your emotions finally acknowledged.

The gala came to an end, and you found yourselves on the rooftop, the city's lights twinkling below. Lena's hand was entwined with yours, and the silence between you was comfortable, filled with unspoken promises.

"Is this real?" you whispered, your gaze never leaving Lena's.

She smiled, her expression a mixture of contentment and certainty. "It's as real as the stars above us."

THE END

[moderator-monnie]

The First Days... (A COTH Story)

It was a night like any other in a small town known as Aislinn in the southern part of Mobius. Everything was quiet and Plutonium The Mongoose was sitting up in her bed, unable to sleep because of a mild case of insomnia.

Her husband, Copper, was asleep next to her, but he moved in a strange way. Plutonium didn't notice, of course, as she was too absorbed in the book she was reading. That was until he made a strange, almost eerie gurgling noise. She quickly turned to her husband, worried, and as soon as she did, he grabbed her.

With a broad smile on his face, his eyes were pure white, his mouth a gape and tears rolling down his face, he spoke in a slightly echoed voice. "You should go to sleep, join me in the world of dreams... Everything will be better, everything will be perfect, we can live better lives... You just need to sleep like I am. Go to sleep Plutonium The Mongoose."

Plutonium herself pushed him away from her, screaming at the top of her lungs. The sight before her frightened her beyond anything she could understand. She quickly ran out of her bedroom door and blocked it off with a chair, huffing and puffing, "C-Coppy hun, you just stay in there. I'll figure out what's going on. Don't worry!" She was determined to find out what had happened to her husband.

Copper began to slowly hit the door. Although he wasn't that strong, he spoke in that echoing quiet voice once more, "You needn't run... He will find you soon and we'll be joined together in our eternal sleep, where all our needs will be met."

Plutonium found the words coming out of her husband's mouth. Clearly, he wasn't in control of himself. All she needed to do was to find help, so she went to go open her door hoping someone, anyone even would be at the hospital.

But as soon as she opened the door, she looked up in horror, her hand still on the doorknob as she looked up at the sky. It wasn't black and full of stars, as one would expect at 3 am. Everything was a dark crimson. And the sun still seemed to be out, being a blinding white. Most of the grass on her front lawn even seemed to be a shade of purple.

So many thoughts ran thru the woman's head as she saw all that had changed in a matter of hours, but she didn't have long to process this as she heard a loud crash with some screaming and saw a few of her through running in fear while others slowly and calmly walked after them. 

All the ones who were walking calmly all had the same looks as her husband did, their eyes white as snow, tears leaking down their faces.

And something she didn't notice before was a strange symbol on their chests, a sort of marking perhaps.

She didn't have long to react properly though, as a shadow soon loomed over her and all the mobians with the symbols on their chests turned to face her, staring blankly with wide smiles on broad faces. The looming shadow couldn't be seen, not at first just covering her and her entire house in a thick shadow.

The eyes of the affected mobians lighted the darkness slightly, before a small eye with a black pupil appeared where the shadow was being cast from and it grew larger within moments, and finally, the one behind the shadow could be seen. 

It looked like Sonic The Hedgehog but his face seemed to be a black void, with an eye in the middle of it that stared right down at her, his arms were also skeletal with rings around them and a sort of cape around his neck attached to which he could be seen as like chaos emeralds.

The towering hedgehog was 75 feet tall and as Plutonium looked up in terror, the figure spoke in a rough, deep, echo-laced voice, one almost in a similar manner to her husband's voice.

"Little Mongoose, you needn't threaten, you needn't worry... Rest your weary head for its time for bed, time to rest and help others like yourself rest, for I am the one they call Zepperaith and I've come to your town to help you and everyone here sleep... And dream sweetly into the forever night. I mean no harm, no anger, all I want to do is help... The question I ask is simple... Do you accept me?"

There Plutonium stood and shook in fear for a few minutes, the voices of her neighbors all saying at once, "Accept Our Lord, Accept Our Lord, Accept Our Lord, sleep like us, we're all happy, don't you want to be happy too?"

Plutonium shook her head before she screamed out of fear and anger, "I'LL NEVER JOIN YOU! I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DID TO MY NEIGHBOURS, MY FRIENDS OR MY HUSBAND. BUT I WILL FIND OUT AND I WILL STOP YOU, YOU MONSTER!"

The Mongoose then ran away as fast as her legs could carry her out of town, while everyone else was gathered up and put into a sleep by Zepperaith. Of course, with his power and speed, he could easily find the mongoose. But he proceeded to giggle and put his hand to his face, finding her attempt to run from him quite entertaining.

He just wanted to help her and everyone in Mobius, but he'd let her run for now, wanting to see what she did for the sake of his own entertainment. In just a few days, he'd track her down again, but for now, he turned his sights on the town.

"Sheep, Sheep, Sheep... It's time for sleep. Rest your heads. It's time for bed... You need not worry about me for I'm your friend till the very end and all I want to do is help you all : )"

He spoke out loud to anyone in the town who could hear him he had not been put into a slumber. Plutonium herself just kept on running. She had to find help. She would save her husband ... right?

ONLY TIME WOULD TELL.

[awriterliveshere]

Act 1: An Introduction

Halsin x f!Reader

I'm normally a reader, and after reading some GREAT stories out there, I wanted to write my own. I've never done this before so I'm open to feedback, and would love to make this a series.

fluff, yearning, suggestive

Wordcount: 2.3k

After making your way through the entire hoard of goblins, you finally reach a door that leads you down a stairway, the chamber echoes as you hear the goblins, “Maybe I should go check on ‘em, yeah? She said she’d be back in a jiff but it’s been 45 minutes,” You, Astarion, Karlach, and Shadowheart quietly make your way down the stairs, you hear the large growl of a bear, it’s claws clanging against the metal bars. All directions pointed to here for the druid…where is he? Descending down the stairs, you see four goblins, and a bear, caged behind them. No sign of the druid anywhere…before you know it, the goblin catches a glimmer of your armor…chaos ensues.

Amidst the battle, the bear breaks free from its cage - immediately jumping at the goblin in front of you. You’re taken aback, did this bear just help you? Why…strange. You make eye contact with the bear, an understanding exchanged. You fight alongside eachother to exterminate the remaining goblins. Suddenly…you see a burst of golden energy erupt and behold, the bear you once saw in front of you is no more - instead this being – this large man stands before you, you can almost feel the heat coming from him even though you are five feet away from him, and you catch his scent - an earthy, scent mixed with the sweet scent of berries and eucalyptus.

“Oh –” You pause as you realize the druid’s large figure in front of you, losing any and all thought you had just momentarily held in your mind. Your eyes look through the man’s face, his large shoulders - so round and big, his chest wide, his brown hair falling gracefully at his shoulders. Astarion gently touches your elbow as to snap you out of it, “My sweet? …Are you alright?” 

“The man pauses for a moment, his eyes locked into yours, trying to read your body language before he begins and you find yourselves talking at the same time, 

“I’m Halsi-” 

“Are you-” you stop mid sentence, still captivating by the man.

“Sorry, go ahead” You internally scream, your choice of words echoing in your head ‘‘go ahead??? My god, I don’t get nervous, there’s no need to get nervous’ 

You can feel Astarion’s crimson eyes on you, reading you, noticing your rapid heart beat, ‘hmph’ he lets out.

“I am Halsin, Archdruid of the Emerald Grove, I did not mean to startle you but I sensed you were here to help and well, please…you are?” His voice almost feels like a rumbling of thunder, powerful yet soft and kind in his tone.

“y/n, I’m relieved to have found you…our group, we encountered the grove and set out to find you, the grove is in quite the state without you, we should get you back”

“Honorable of you to seek out a man you have never met. It seems you’ve cleared out the place,” titling his head to the others, you had forgotten yourself -  the state you were in, sweat dried on your face, dirt and grime stuck to you, blood scattered on you, in your hair. You finally felt the weight of the fighting you and the others had just gone through…your shoulders aching from the repeated swift and hard swinging of your sword, manuevering against your enemies.

“Yes, I…we…are glad you’re safe, and indeed - this place has been cleared out, how about we escort you back to the grove? It’s the least we can do” 

“Very well…” 

You sit back while Halsin and the others introduce themselves properly, discussing the ailment of the tadpole and your adventures so far. Astarion slows his stride to walk beside you and whispers, “Something on your mind?

“Hm? Oh - uh - no, why? Something on yours?” You’re quick to reply, wanting to avoid any interaction that could reveal your scattered brain.

“Only wondering - will I see you tonight?”

In the last week, while you and the group have been trying to stock up on camp resources, and find any leads to a healer you and Astarion have been meeting eachother at night, indulging one another, breathing eachother in.

“Yes, of course - I’ll come find you” You can’t help but stare at the druid walking ahead of you, you want to talk to him - alone, you can’t help but crave his presence, to hear his voice upclose and feel the deep rumbling in your chest when he speaks. You quickly break your glance to avoid entertaining the thoughts any further. You just met this man, control yourself.

~~ LATER THAT EVENING ~~

Upon your arrival to the grove, the entire party is welcomed - the tiefling refugees packing for their journey to Baldur’s Gate, Halsin’s fellow druids welcoming him and lavishing praise upon the party for his safe rescue. Once everything settled at the grove, you stayed behind to gather additional resources for the camp while the rest of the group headed back - they insisted…afterall, unbeknownst to you, the group was preparing a fine celebration.

The sun had settled when you finally left the grove, you took the opportunity to shower, and change into some more comfortable clothes. You wore a cropped linen shirt that sway above your belly button - , sheer enough so that the outline of your breasts were visible to any who glanced, and linen pants, the night’s have been humid by the ocean, your only respite loose linen clothing and Astarion’s icey skin.

As you get closer to camp, you can hear the loud carousing, lively music being played - a party? I wonder if Halsin will be there… you try to shake the thought from your mind, you remember your commitment to Astarion, hopeful seeing him tonight will quell any desires held in your body.

“Soldier! You finally made it, took ya long enough, come - drink” Karlach hands you a glass of red wine, you can smell the alcohol on her breath, Shadowheart snuggled up to Karlach as close as she can - the two have been smitten for days now. You accept the glass of wine, putting down your belongings and scanning the camp for Halsin as you slam down the glass of wine.

“Erm…another?” Karlach offers you another glass and then turns her attention back to Shadowheart. 

 You finally see him, he’s hard to miss…his large figure towering over everyone, it seems - he’s in the middle of explaining the cycle of hibernation  to Lae’zel - who seems to be half-listening, stuffing her face with a turkey leg once of the tiefling’s prepared. You turn to find Astarion, you can feel the druid’s eyes on you. You ignore all desires to glance at the druid, instead locking onto Astarion, who watches you approach, his focus on the swaying and jiggling of your chest. “Gods, you’re beautiful, I can hardly wait to see you later…we are still meeting together, yes?”

“Yes, we are…” You brush one of his small white curls out of his face, letting a smile run across your face and leaning in to kiss him on the nose, caressing his cheek in your hand before you turn away again. You felt restless, you cannot get the druid of out mind, and can hardly contain the urge to look at him every five seconds…

Your legs having a mind of their own and before you realize it, you’re headed toward the druid, making eye contact with him as you approach.

Halsin’s face flushed as he can’t help but notice your figure outside of your armor, the way he can notice the slight jiggling of your breasts, your curved thighs. He lets out a stifled exhale through his nose as to avoid his slightly obvious…member awoken, beginning to bulge through his pants. 

“The grove is saved, their noble leader returned to them…I hope you’ll consider joining us? I heard you earlier with the group…this Moonrise Towers, the shadow-cursed lands…”

“I am eternally grateful for your help in rescuing me, and ensuring the safety of the grove as well. Indeed, I have been studying these tadpoles for some time, I believe Moonrise Towers holds some answers, not only for your condition but also as the key to restoring the shadowcursed lands…if you’ll have me in your group”

“We would be most grateful for your knowledge and help…”Gods his lips are perfect. You watched them as he spoke – soft, slightly pink…waiting to be kissed.

“It is the least I could do, there is more to discuss - in the morning. You should go, enjoy yourself”

You’re confused, and suddenly feel smaller than you already were beside the druid…you’re so stupid - of course he isn’t interested, he is a dutiful man, respectable and not interested in insignificant affairs of lust.

“Well, I was hoping we could share a drink, together…later? I know a place nearby…” Your voice now low, tinged with insecurity. The confidence you initially felt has all but disappeared. Your eyes flitting around him, never looking into his eyes, the vulnerability could almost kill you.

The druid’s eyes stay on you, “Perhaps another time, you should celebrate with your group, I should not wish to keep you to myself…” Halsin looks away,  pursing his lips as if trying to not say another word.

You nod and slowly turn, your ears, face, chest is on fire. You continue feeling embarrassment as you walk away from him, your back to him, slamming down another glass of wine, and another, and another… until you can no longer feel the embarrassment on your body. The world is spinning, the music louder than ever, you walk into the woods to get some quiet, to hear the crickets sing, to feel the leaves against your skin. You find a small creak nearby, and sit by it – letting your feet soak in the cool water as it runs down. You lay back, your shirt now hardly covering your chest at all…staring up at the stars, why me? You think to yourself.

Suddenly, you hear a crack of a twig, someone’s approaching. Before you can sit up, you see the druid standing over you.

“hi…” you let out a swirl of giggles, and raise your hands above as to touch the out-of-reach druid.

“I apologize, I did not mean to intrude, I was only…trying to find something” The druid keeps glancing away, as to avoid staring at your exposed breasts, your blushed nipples hard.

You finally sit up and turn to face the druid, “No, no I’m sorry…for being here!” You stumble as you try to stand, eventually tripping over a branch,  before you can hit the ground, Halsin quickly grabs you, cupping your waist in his arms, now holding you upright.

You are weightless in his arms, you let out a deep exhale…man, you’re wasted. And he looks soo beautiful, his hazel eyes glisten  in the moonlight, looking up at him, you feel safe.  You don’t even realize you’re smiling until it’s too late…you’re obvious.

Halsin quickly props you over his shoulder, holding your legs steady with one arm, his hand groping your outerhigh.

“I’m fine…I can walk myself, y’know? …You smell really good, by the way”

“We will get you some water, and you will rest…druid’s orders.”

The rhythm of his pace lulls you to a sleep, you wake to the druid setting you down in your tent, his hand cupping the back of your head, pulling your shirt down to avoid any slips, and tucks you under a blanket. Worried you may become sick in your sleep, he finds a chair in your tent and sits, diligently working on one of his wooden sculptures while watching you rest.

Quickly, Astarion enters the tent- expecting to find y/n waiting, “I’ve been waiting for 20 minutes, what are you - “ He stops once he realizes Halsin’s presence “ Oh? Did something happen? Is she alright?”

“She’s fine - I could not leave her in the woods, she is in a vulnerable state - perhaps come back in the morning? Once her head is clear” Halsin lowers his gaze, exuding a sense of authority. He is not asking. He is directing. 

Astarion cocks his head slightly back, who the hell did this druid think he was? He knew y/n longer than he had, he had bed her, he had shared his past with her…”I’m only leaving because she is sleeping,” Astarion nearly hisses and turns back, letting out a growl.

There the druid continued to sit, watching over y/n…working steadfast on his sculpture

~~ A NEW MORNING ~~

In the morning, you awaken alone in your tent – your head throbbing, throat dry, aching for water. Once you lean over to drink some, you try to recall the events that lead you to the tent. The last thing you remember is seeing the druid by the water, his beautiful brown hair, it smelled like a mix of eucalyptus and sandalwood, his warm skin...the touch of those big, heavy hands felt so gentle wrapped around her. You can still feel his touch if you think hard enough. CRAP…Astarion, he’s going to be upset. 

You change into your armor, and step outside your tent, trying to avoid eye contact with the group as they sit together enjoying breakfast and coffee. 

You see Shadowheart approach from the corner of your eye, “Okay…what happened?” She takes you by your hand before anyone can notice and drags you back inside your tent. She practically forces you to sit down as she begins brushing your knotted hair, a common occurrence with your long, thick hair. She begins sectioning your hair, as if to begin braiding. “I saw you with that druid last night, I also see how you look at him…do tell”

“Nothing, nothing happened. Beside’s he’s not interested. Not to mention I’m seeing Astarion…most importantly.” You almost sound sad that nothing happened, but you quickly stiffen your body as to ensure you are fine.

“Hm..shame…I did not think you the…self-limiting type.” Shadowheart takes her leave, joining the others to wrap up breakfast.

You roll your eyes, “whatever…” you whisper under breath. “Thanks for the braid, it’s lovely”

Before you step back outside, you glance and see a wooden flower sculpture, small enough to clasp in your fist. You thumb runs through the etchings of the sculpture, smooth against your fingers. On the underside, you see a small “H” inscribed…you place it in your backpack.

.

To be continued…

[the-sinful-voice-witch]

HOW I IMAGINE AMY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE MOVIE

(Since the first trailer of Sonic 3 has a devastating lack of Amy, I'm going to repost this big text I wrote back in 2022, honestly if she actually shows up I doubt it will be any close to this theory but it's ok I just want to see her)

Ok so now to finish already with my theory about Amy I'm going to write the things i imagine happening in the movie (for better understanding scroll down to read the other parts). And then I'll start talking about Rouge, well before the hypothetical movie Amy scenes I'll explain my version of her abilities:

It's Canon that in the movies there's something called Chaos power and it's been manifested in Sonic as superspeed decorated with a great visual of blue electric light in all his body in his case he was born with it, then knuckles also has a representation of Chaos power in strength and also a bit of speed but not even close to Sonic's basically as everybody knows is strength equal to Sonic's speed and is decorated with electric light as well but Red. Then we have Tails who has the ability to fly but that has nothing to do with chaos powers but he is decorated too with yellow light but in his case we only see it electric when he is using his gadgets, so electric energy or not... It comes from his high technology gadgets and not any powers... We also already know that Shadow's chaos powers are the chaos control, he can teleport and creat energy spears.

So for Amy i though a mix between Tails non chaos gadgets and the chaos power in the other furro guys bodies, her abilities physically speaking aren't chaos powered, she knows boxing, she is flexible and can make pretty acrobatic movements but her signature is her hammer she can summon out of air so to explain this skill in the movie i took another characteristic of her: her ability to read fortune cards and as i explained in my other post turned the Fortune cards in a Chaos relic/item I'm not sure how to name it so basically Amy found the cards someday and the cards chose her as rightful owner and gave her a weapon, one of the cards with a hammer drawing on it became a real hammer and since then Amy can summon both the cards and the hammer whenever she wants though sometimes the cards manifest by themselves if they need Amy to know something and of course everytime she summon them they are decorated with with pink electric light, and only Amy's eyes and hands have this light as well but not her entire body like sonic and knuckles. So her Chaos abilities come from chaos objects she is connected with and not from inside her body. (Important: in other media I've seen people being able to hold Amy's hammer like it weighs nothing but at least In this movie i don't want that i want it to be it like Thor hammer also if it's taken far away from her it will just go poof and be back at her hands but if she exhausts too much herself or if she gets knock out it will poof too)

And now the movie points:

1. I don't know if doing this at the beginning of the movie or in some flashback but we need a scene with Amy tripping and finding a chaos emerald and the cards reacting to it's chaos energy and she reading the disaster that will happen if she doesn't brings it back to the hedgehog hero.

2. After finally reaching earth guided by the fortune cards and not knowing the hero hedgehog, she will cross paths with Shadow and first she'll think he is the hero she is looking for but before trying to give the emerald to him she feels something off as she feels the cards reacting to his chaos energy but in a dark way so she hesitates and it's ambushed by Rouge who steals the gem and comments that because she is a good spy she knows Amy can detect the chaos energy therefore she could track the rest of the emeralds, Amy refuses seeing those 2 are up to no good and gets kidnapped (by eggman robots, G.U.N staff, or even the Aliens from Shadow's game i don't know) she tries to reason saying that the planet will be in danger if she doesn't give the emeralds to the hedgehog hero who obviously she will remark that can't be Shadow (and I was hoping these 2 could have a conversation where Amy will be confused and in fact Shadow will get a tiny bit memory trigged) but Rouge laughs and doesn't believes her and not that she cares.

3. But the moment she is Alone she realizes she still has a portal ring left and asks the cards to guide her somewhere close to the real hero and is teleported in green heel... Where she will meet Wade who comments she looks like a pink girl version of Sonic and Amy concludes that he must be real hedgehog hero and Wade offers to take her to Sonic's house but Amy starts having a crisis because she doesn't have the emerald anymore, she failed and made things difficult to the hero she was supposed to help save the world and now she is too ashamed to face him... Then Wade opens up to her and tells her that he has someone who admires, the sheriff and that he sometimes feels like he gets in his way and that he is useless but the sheriff (you know who is he xD) has always treated him as friend and always appreciated his help and that that sheriff is Sonic's dad and for sure he taught him well and he is sure Sonic won't be mad at her. With this Amy gets encouraged enough to face him, she tanks Wade and when they were about to go to Sonic's place... Green heels is under attack, Amy looks at Wade smiles determined while summoning her hammer and says: I'll never forget your kindness Wade and don't worry i promise I'll protect your home and then she rushes into action while Wade goes to help the people.

3. Sonic and his bros are struggling with the menace( eggman robots, aliens... Don't know) and then he sees a pink electric shape smashing the enemy and then slow motion happens and their eyes meet.... Then she finishes the enemy and the hammer poofs away while she gasps for the effort and side looks sonic shyly then sonic glups thinking about Tom teasing about this situation happening (scroll down to read the headcanon) and tries to say something but before any of the hedgehogs could say anything Tails or knuckles or both start thanking and praising Amy for helping them with her cool hammer and Amy thanks them overwhelmed and then Sonic wanting attention finally speaks, thanks her and ask her to introduce herself... Amy does and when she starts to explain what is she doing there she starts to apologize crying (fans of spy x family remember Anya's face while she apologized to Damian? THAT FACE), she is so sorry because she came from the other side of the Galaxy just to do a simple task and she couldn't help him and on top of that she made things harder for him and maybe because of her the earth is doomed... Sonic tries to calm her and she ashamedly asks if he would give her a chance to redeem her mistake even though she messed it up big and Sonic moved by her honest tears gives her a motivational speech about how awesome and brave she is for traveling the Galaxy just to help save a world that isn't hers knowing so little about the situation and that of course she wants a Thor in his group XD (she doesn't get the reference but the other two do and she takes it as a compliment) Amy blushes at his speech (completely obviously to us viewers she falls in love with him) and comments that now she is sure she found the true hero with how cool, bright and handsome sonic is and Sonic gets an ego boost at the same time he gets a crushing hard crisis while Tails and knuckles laughs.

4. The trio asks Amy about her abilities and there's a flashback with a classic Amy explaining the moment she found the cards and got the hammer. Then after this let's say we'll get more action scenes and trying to collect the emeralds and the master emerald ECT ECT more likely they'll separate in groups more fighting...

5. So at some point Sonic team and rouge are trying to save the planet and Amy is feeling powerless because now is the moment to do something and she can't and the cards are not helping her and then she sees shadow, then we get the famous SA2 conversation, (i would make it a bit longer like Amy commenting about the first time she saw him mistaking him for the hero). Then Shadow finally remembers, he turns his head looking at Amy, she sees a tear dropping from his determined sad eyes and Shadow said the famous Shadamy sentence I'll fulfill my promise for Maria and for YOU. And goes to help then Amy will be watching wondering.... "Maybe i DID GIVE the EMERALD to a HEDGEHOG HERO after all"

6. After Shadow's disappeared and Sonic gives his ring to Rouge saying Shadow was a hero too he looks at Amy and she smiles sadly, rushes to hug him and she says "I'm so glad you saved the world... Together" and Sonic (nervous 💗) says "WE saved the world together". Rouge goes her way (don't worry i will write her movie scenes as well) and the other four go back to green heels where Amy sadly starts to say goodbye but Sonic stops her saying she should stay and that earth has a lot of things she would love and the wachowskis offer her to stay with them (something that makes Sonic nervous 💗) but Amy looks at the family and comments that they have way too many people in the house and that she'll feel bad like is imposing and then Dad Wade steps in and offers her to live with him, that his Wade cave could use a female touch other than his mom when she visits and Amy is delighted and Tom comments to Sonic oh look that means she is going to be your cute neighbor next door 😏 and Sonic is like ( nervously ) "stop it don't you dare go there" 😖 but then he looks at Amy and she looks at him and they smile to each other

7. Last scene: they are playing baseball and this Time is Amy the one hitting the ball while this time is knuckles throwing it (everyone is worried because of knuckles force but Amy uses her hammer and no problem xD) after she hits it Wade is there cheering: YEEEESSS THAT'S MY GIRL! HAVE YOU SEEN HER???WOOOO !! Everyone is laughing and rolling their eyes and Sonic goes to Amy to congratulate her and tells her they are going to get Ice cream and asks her if she tried it yet and she is like: ice cream?? Yeah! I love ice cream!! Wade bought me one the other day, i think is definitely my favorite food!! So... What were you saying about an ice cream date? 🥰 And Sonic is like... Date? What? I didn't mean it like a Date i mean... Like all of us...😳 And then Wade comes: oh Ice cream! Yeah let's get some for everyone jaja then he whispers to sonic : hey you macho blue you better not try get all flirty with my pinky little girl I'm watching you...�� And Sonic like:🙄😑 Amy: come on Wade! Sonic! Let's go!!😁 Sonic: come on Wade i race you! Wade: that is not fair....

You get the idea.

So this is how i imagine Amy being introduced in the movies what do you think?

[gcthvile]

The Dance of Mischief

Couple: Gavin Hyde (OC) x Loki Laufeyson

Warnings: Suggestive content.

Fandom: Marvel

Summary: Gavin finds himself drawn under the spell of the God of Mischief, Loki. Despite vowing vengeance, he cannot resist the chaos and darkened passions only the trickster can provide.

The chaos of battle raged around them, but Loki's gaze was fixed solely on the lone figure amidst the fray. Gavin moved with a lethal grace, his every strike calculated and efficient as he dispatched one adversary after another. The former Hydra assassin's steely composure intrigued the god of mischief.

Loki materialized in a flash of green, suddenly blocking Gavin's path. "Well, well, what do we have here?" he purred, eyes gleaming with unveiled interest. "A most impressive display of skill."

Gavin's jaw tightened, his grip tightening on the combat knife in his hand. "Get out of my way, you crazy bastard," he growled, the words laced with disdain.

Loki tsked, seemingly unperturbed by the mortal's hostility. "Now, now, is that any way to speak to a god?" He leaned in, a devious smirk playing on his lips. "I couldn't help but notice your...talents. Perhaps we could come to some sort of arrangement."

"Go fuck yourself." Gavin made to sidestep the Asgardian, but Loki's hand shot out, grabbing his arm in a vice-like grip.

"Ah, ah, ah. I think you'll find I have a most...compelling proposition." Loki's gaze swept over Gavin, lingering a beat too long. "One that could benefit us both."

Gavin's brow furrowed, his free hand itching to put a knife through the bastard's eye. "I'm not interested in anything you have to say," he spat.

"Is that so?" Loki purred, his grip tightening. "Well, I'm quite persuasive when I want to be." He pulled Gavin closer, their faces mere inches apart. "And I have a feeling you're precisely the sort of...ally I've been searching for."

Loki's emerald eyes bore into Gavin's with an intensity that set his nerves ablaze. Against his better judgement, the assassin found himself listening. "You have one minute to explain why I shouldn't put a knife through your heart," he growled through clenched teeth.

A slow, wicked smirk spread across Loki's face, as if he had anticipated this reaction. "So fiery," he purred, his thumb brushing along Gavin's wrist in a way that made his grip falter ever so slightly. "I've been watching you, mortal. Your skills are wasted on this meaningless fracas. Join me, and I can offer you so much more - power, glory, vengeance upon those who wronged you."

His fingers traced idle patterns against Gavin's skin, daringly intimate. "Think of what we could achieve together. You provide your...talents. I offer magic, resources, whatever dark desires fuel that passionate soul of yours. No more taking orders or following the rules of petty men." Leaning in until his lips brushed Gavin's ear, he breathed: "You'd be free."

Gavin shuddered, cursing the traitorous reaction his body betrayed. As much as he longed to refuse, a far darker part of him was captivated by the God of Mischief's silken promises. Freedom was a drug, and this man - this creature - dangled it before him like a siren luring him to wreck upon the rocks.

"One chance," he rasped finally, pulling back to search Loki's mossy eyes for deceit. "But if you cross me even once, I'll finish the job."

Loki threw his head back and laughed, a melody as rich as intoxicating wine. "Oh, this is the start of a most glorious partnership, my mortal." His grin turned wicked once more. "I look forward to seeing all that fire and rage you keep bottled up indeed..."

An indignant scowl crossed Gavin's face at Loki's laughter, though inwardly the god's joyous mirth threatened to shake something loose within his hardened soul. "Don't get cocky just yet, princess," he growled, wrenching himself from Loki's grip.

Yet for all his bluster, Gavin found himself following as Loki turned on his heel, melting back into the shadows of Central Park with nary a whisper. The trickster moved with a predatory grace, glancing back over his shoulder with an amused quirk of his brow - a silent challenge.

Gavin swallowed thickly, pulse quickening as unwelcome thoughts crept into his mind. What was he doing, trailing after this madman like a beaten dog responding to its master's call? Loki was dangerous, volatile... everything Gavin had spent years training himself to despise.

As if sensing his hesitation, Loki paused at the treeline, backlit by the amber glow of flames rising in the distance. "Do enlighten me, mortal - do you truly believe any of this rabble cares what becomes of you once their petty war is done?" he purred.

Gavin scowled, ill at ease under that piercing emerald stare. But damn it all, the trickster spoke truth - he was but a tool to be used and cast aside, just as Hydra had done before discarding their broken weapon.

With a weary sigh, Gavin squared his shoulders and strode forward, coming to a stop before the smirking god. "Like I said, one chance," he repeated stiffly. "Now get on with it before I change my mind, reindeer games."

A satisfied smirk curled Loki's lips. "Wise choice, mortal." His hand rising to brush Gavin's cheek in a mockery of gentleness. "You won't regret this, I assure you..."

Gavin stiffened at Loki's touch, every inch of him screaming to pull away from the maddening trickster before him. And yet...there was no denying the spark that ignited low in his stomach at the rasp of calloused fingertips against his skin.

When was the last time anyone had looked at him as Loki did in that moment - with unveiled interest, yes, but something deeper, as if seeing into the fractured soul Gavin himself had long given up hope of mending? It called to the starved creature of want and longing he'd kept caged for so long.

"Enough games, you tricky bastard," he growled, grasping Loki's wrist in an iron grip. But where he meant to shove the god away, his traitorous fingers curled possessively instead.

Loki arched a brow, gaze darkening with intrigue. "And here I thought you enjoyed our...little games, mortal." His free hand rose to trace the rigid line of Gavin's jaw, eyes gleaming. "But have no fear. I'll show you wonders beyond your wildest dreams."

With that, he leaned in to breathe hot against Gavin's ear. "After you, of course, prove yourself worthy." Mystic words in a language long forgotten ghosted across Gavin's skin, followed by a calculated nip to his earlobe that sent fire coursing through his veins.

Before he could react, the world dissolved into emerald smoke. When it cleared, they stood atop a gleaming citadel spires under an alien sky, and Gavin knew in that moment that whether for good or ill, his fate was forever intertwined with that of the enigmatic God of Mischief.

Gavin stumbled as his feet found purchase on the gleaming floor of the golden citadel. He whirled to face Loki, fists clenching as rage and astonishment warred within him.

"What game is this?!" he snarled. "Where in hell have you taken me, you bastard?"

Loki merely watched him with that infuriating half-smile, as calm and collected as when last they spoke in Central Park just moments ago. Though now they stood under an alien sky, in a realm beyond Gavin's imagining.

"Asgard, darling," Loki finally answered, green eyes glittering with amusement. "I thought it only fitting to begin our...partnership somewhere more private than that pathetic Midgardian warzone."

He took a step closer, grin widening as Gavin held his ground, chest heaving. "But fear not. No harm will come to you here while you're by my side." The trickster's fingers came up to trace the line of Gavin's clenched jaw, feather-light. "Relax. You're safe."

Gavin trembled with barely contained rage, every instinct screaming to lash out. And yet...he found himself leaning ever so slightly into Loki's maddening touch despite it all.

"I'll never be safe with you," he ground out through gritted teeth. But something in his eyes betrayed that, dangerous as this game might be, a small, starved part of him craved it nonetheless.

Loki's answering laugh was low, intimate. "No," he breathed, leaning close to steal the word from Gavin's lips in a bittersweet brush that tasted of domination and promise. "You'll never be safe, my mortal... But you'll be free."

And with that vow, Gavin knew he had passed beyond the point of no return. For better or worse, he was ensnared in the God of Mischief's silken web. Now all that remained was to see how deeply the trap had sunk its teeth.

The golden halls of Asgard had become more familiar to Gavin in recent weeks, yet he'd never feel at ease amongst the gilded splendor of gods. Each ornate corridor and towering spire seemed to sneer at the mere mortal in their midst.

All except one.

Loki had proven a capable mentor, teacher, and more - guiding Gavin's unrestrained talents towards goals even a nonbeliever like himself could appreciate. Vengeance against those who wronged them. Chaos sown where order once reigned. Each victorious gesture chipping away at the walls around his heart.

Yet now those walls lay in ruins, betrayed by the one person he'd foolishly let close. Gavin growled, replaying Loki's latest trick - how the duplicitous god had abandoned him as bait, leaving him at Odin's none-too-gentle mercy. Blood still caked his nails from where he'd ripped himself free.

Rage boiled in his veins, each stride echoing like thunder through the citadel. Loki would pay for this treachery, magic be damned. Gavin would plunge a dagger in his smirking face and be done with this maddening dance forever.

The ornate doors swung open before his rage could find fruition. Silver tongue at the ready, Loki purred by way of greeting. "Now, now, is that any way to treat an old friend?"

His lips curled in a calculated smirk, eyes gleaming with unspoken challenge. Daring Gavin to act on his fury, to end this madness once and for all, free himself from the spell that bound them.

They both knew he never would. For beneath the rage and betrayal, a far darker truth remained - Gavin was in too deep, hooked on the thrill and freedom Loki offered more than any magic ever could.

With a growl, Gavin slammed the doors behind him, stalking towards the waiting trickster with dark intent. "You and I? We were never friends," he spat. The rest remained unsaid, looming between them like a promise.

Gavin loomed over Loki, fist clenched so tight his nails bit crescents into his palm. Betrayal burned fiercer than the fires of Muspelheim in his gaze as it bore into the trickster's triumphant smirk.

"You thought this was funny, didn't you?" he hissed. "Leaving me for the Allfather's dogs, like some cheap pawn in one of your games."

Loki merely arched a sly brow, infuriating maddening calm radiating off him in waves. "Come now, you were in no real danger. A bit of theater to rattle Odin's cage, naught else."

"Theater?!" Gavin roared, hands shooting out to grasp Loki by the throat. For once, smug assurance cracked, emerald eyes widening in surprise and something like...fear?

Good. He wanted the bastard afraid.

"I am not your plaything," Gavin spat, fingers curling tighter with each word. Sweet as it would be to feel that slender neck snap, he forced himself to relax his grip just enough to let Loki rasp a response.

"No?" The trickster croaked, recovering some of that silken composure even as bruises bloomed on his skin. "And yet here you are, far from your pathetic Midgard, playing the fool for my amusement."

Gavin saw red. With a wordless snarl he slammed Loki against the wall, forearm braced across his collar. "I am no one's fool. Not Hydra's, and sure as hell not yours. You think this is a game? Well I'm done playing, trickster."

He leaned in until they were nose to nose, letting all his rage and regret pour into that glacial stare. "Consider this your one warning. Cross me again and next time I won't stop until that silver tongue is choking on its own blood. Understand?"

For once, Loki held his tongue. But the hunger in his eyes as they flitted to Gavin's lips and back told another story entirely. One that, despite his fury, the assassin wasn't quite ready to close just yet.

A mirthless smirk curled Loki's bruised lips, though for once that infuriating arrogance dimmed in his emerald gaze. "It would seem I have...overestimated your resilience, darling," he rasped, prolonging each syllable in a futile bid to reclaim some mockery of grandeur.

"Do not take me for a fool. I am well aware you crave far more than violence and retribution." His eyes bored into Gavin's, searching. "There is an emptiness in you, one my tricks and schemes alone can never fill."

Gavin only snorted, grip ratcheting tighter against Loki's throat. "Save your fancy for someone who gives a shit."

But beneath the rage, traitorous threads of doubt and longing took root. As loathe as he was to admit, part of him knew the damnable god spoke truth. Vengeance had lost its savor long ago, leaving only a hollow ache no amount of spilled blood could ever slake.

Loki seemed to sense this weakness, chuckling hoarsely despite his compromised position. "Stay if you must, darling. Wallow in victimhood as your kind is want to do." His free hand rose to rest against Gavin's cheek, thumb tracing the sharp line of his cheekbone in a mockery of tenderness.

"Or choose a grander fate. Lay aside this trifling anger and let me show you the heights to which a partnership with a god could elevate one such as yourself." Emerald eyes gleamed, brimming with dark promises.

"The choice, as always, is yours."

With a snarl, Gavin released Loki and spun on his heel, storming several paces away. Fists clenching and unclenching as he battled an inner turmoil far murkier than any adversary he'd yet faced. Vengeance so long his sole companion now felt stale and empty...

And damn the silver-tongued trickster to Hel for awakening hungers long thought dead and buried.

The silence between them writhed with all the words left unspoken, fraying what little remained of Gavin's tattered resolve. He paced like a caged predators, restless energy begging release through violence.

But violence alone could not sate the maelstrom within.

Loki watched in smug silence, raking talons across Gavin's frayed nerves with his mere presence. As if he knew precisely how to lever chaos from order, crack the most stalwart of souls.

Gavin whirled on him with a snarl. "What more do you want from me, Loki?" he spat. "My allegiance? My soul?"

Loki tilted his head, considering. "All things in time, darling." His fingers danced in an idle gesture, summoning twin goblets that glided through the air to float before them.

Gavin eyed the proffered drink warily. No doubt it hid some insidious poison or spell.

Loki took a long draught from his own cup before answering his unspoken question. "Consider it a gesture of...good faith. I simply wish to indulge in cordial conversation before we continue our arrangement." His lips curled around the rim, tongue darting out to capture wandering droplets in a display far more provocative than necessary.

Gavin's grip tightened around the stemmed chalice until he heard the metal creak in protest. Every part of him screamed this was folly - to lower his guard even an inch in the trickster's presence.

And yet...what more did he have to lose, that Loki had not already claimed?

With a snarl, he brought the wine to his lips and drank deep, dark eyes never leaving the god's triumphant smile. Whatever game Loki played, he would not be taken so easily again.

The wine was headier than Gavin anticipated, each heady sip further stripping away inhibitions. By the time his goblet lay emptied, the room spun in a blur of colors and shadows, all coalescing into the razor-sharp focus of Loki watching with calculating eyes.

"Your Asgardian wines have more kick than I'm used to," Gavin growled, fighting to keep control as the floor tilted treacherously beneath his boots.

Loki chuckled; a soft, slippery sound that wormed its way past Gavin's hazy defenses. "Careful, darling. Wouldn't want you getting...ideas above your station."

A growl rumbled low in Gavin's throat. He staggered towards Loki, snatching the collar of his embroidered coat with drunken ferocity. "Back to the threats so soon? I thought we were having a cordial chat." He spat the words like venom, baring teeth inches from Loki's beguiling smirk.

"Indeed." Amusement danced in those unfathomable emerald eyes, goading and daring all at once. “Pray tell, what else is it you desire of me?”

"I desire..." Gavin fought to form a snarl through liquor-thick lips. But Loki's scent filled his senses; exotic spices and ozone that spoke of power and taboo. His traitorous fingers curled tighter, pulling that svelte form flush against the hard lines of his own.

"You shutting the fuck up," he rasped, and crushed their mouths together in a drunken, bruising kiss meant to inflict pain. Instead only madness answered as Loki melted into it with a moan, tongue delving deep to dominate where lips could not.

Gavin was drowning, senses awash in raw sensation as his inhibitions disintegrated one by one. This creature was devil and angel in one, master of hearts as well as hellfire, and gods damn him for it. For in that moment nothing else mattered - only the maddening dance of tongues and the maddening god in his arms.

Weak morning light pried Gavin's eyes open with sluggish reluctance. His head throbbed in time with each pulse, memories of the previous night scattered in fractured snippets.

Wine-soaked lips and searching hands, tangled limbs clawing for solace if only for a moment. Raw sensation drowning out thought as he took and took from the lithe form in his arms.

Gavin sat up with a groan, gazing around the sumptuous bedchamber with blurry incredulity. Had he truly bedded the God of Mischief in a drunken stupor? And where, by all the realms, was Loki now?

As if summoned, velvet footsteps approached, slipping from shadow with all his namesake's poise. "Awake at last, I see." Loki's eyes danced with private mirth as they raked Gavin's nude form, lingering where paint laced skin with bruising perfection.

Gavin growled, torn between throwing the smug trickster from the balcony or yanking him back to continue their prior activities with dark sincerity once liquor loosened tongue had fled.

"Don't look so dour, darling." Loki purred, settling at the foot of the furs with predatory grace. "It seems our...arrangement bears unforeseen potential, does it not?" His smile curled sharp as knives, yet for once Gavin sensed no deception lurking between each carefully chosen syllable.

Rubbing his temples, Gavin sighed. What tangle of chaos had he been ensnared in now? And why, despite every instinct screaming this was madness, did some dark ember within crave to see how far down this twisted path led..?

Gavin's scowl could curdle milk as he slid from the furs, joints protesting each grudging movement. Gods, who knew what poisons Loki had plied him with to leave him in such a state.

"Whatever foolish notions have taken root in that devious brain of yours, bastard, think again," he growled, casting about for his discarded leathers with unsteady hands.

Loki merely grinned from his lounging perch, infuriatingly untouched by cares. "Oh? And here I'd thought last night's passions made our...understanding abundantly clear."

Heat crawled up Gavin's neck at the memory: fingers digging bruisingly into flesh, dragging pleasured cries from lips parted in ecstasy. His, all his to take and use as he saw fit under cover of darkness.

"There was no understanding," Gavin snapped, snatching up his breeches with more force than strictly necessary. "I was drunk. You talked and I...acted rashly. It changes nothing between us."

For once, a glimmer of frustration shone through Loki's smug veneer. His fingers tapped an arrhythmic pattern against his thigh as he studied Gavin with hooded eyes.

"Deny it all you wish, darling. But we both know the truth." Rising in a singular motion, he advanced until they stood nose to nose, breath mingling in a mockery of intimacy.

"You crave the chaos only I can provide. The power, the pleasures of the flesh..." long fingers drifted to trace the fluttering pulse in Gavin's neck, barely breath away from parting lips.

"All yours for the taking. If only you would cease this petulant charade and embrace what lies between us, as you did so...eagerly last night."

Gavin shuddered, curse his traitor flesh yearning to recapture those bittersweet inflictions. But he'd be no man's plaything a second time.

With a snarl, he shoved Loki away. "In your dreams, trickster. I answer to no one." And swept from the chamber with as much dignity as his unsteady legs could muster.

For days Gavin stalked Asgard's gleaming Citadel like a caged panther, taking meals in his chamber and traversing seldom-used balconies to avoid crossing paths with a certain silver-tongued god.

Each hour wound his nerves tighter, half expecting Loki to materialize from the shadows with that infuriating smirk and honeyed words meant to ensnare. But the Trickster remained conspicuously absent, and Gavin told himself it was for the best.

His traitor heart knew different. That dark night had left an ache not so easily banished, no matter how fiercely he channeled frustration into training. Each move, each ragged breath, Loki's phantom touched blossomed anew - searing, damning, undeniable.

When at last their paths were destined to cross once more, it was in solitude's last refuge. Gavin strode to the high balcony overlooking the glittering city, craving solace amongst uncaring stars. Yet leaning against carved stone, gazing into the endless void...was he.

Loki spared him a sidelong glance, swirling wine between elegant fingers. "Have you been avoiding me, darling?" Like silk his words caressed, belied by the glint in his eyes - hunger, impatience, a challenge.

Gavin's fingers curled tight around stone, clinging to crumbling resolve. The past week's tension breathed as a word: "No." But his eyes betrayed all, drinking in that familiar visage like a parched wanderer finding oasis.

Loki chuckled softly, setting aside his goblet to advance with feline grace. A single finger curled beneath Gavin's clenched jaw, tilting defiant chin up to meet his predatory gaze.

"Do not lie to me. It does not suit you." Gavin could barely repress a shudder as that voice slid through him, honeyed venom finding every crack in crumbling defenses.

"What do you want from me, Loki?" he forced through clenched teeth, fighting the pull like drowning man to tossed lifeline. A lethal bargain, any exchange with this creature. And yet...

Loki smiled, slow and dangerous. "I want what was so freely offered before fear and doubt took root in that curious mortal mind of yours." Velvet claws slid to encircle Gavin's nape, drawing their mouths a hairsbreadth apart.

"Surrender to me fully, as you did that night. Let chaos be your master for once..."

Gavin knew then, resistance was futile. With a low growl he closed those final fractions, claiming Loki's smirk in a punishing kiss meant to inflict - and consume them both in wildfire.

Gavin had always kept people at arm's length, walls built tall and thick around his battered heart. But with one maddening god, all those defenses came crumbling down.

He awoke slowly in the pale light of dawn, Loki curled beside him still in sated slumber. For once that sharp visage held no cunning malice, merely utter tranquility. An unlikely sight, and yet...

Reaching out, Gavin brushed an inky strand from Loki's face, marveling how such deceptive beauty could incite chaos with a single word. How this creature had burrowed past every façade to claim a place in his shattered soul, for good or ill.

Loki stirred, cracking one sleepy emerald eye to peer up at him through dark lashes. "Admiring the view?" His voice held none of its usual razor-honed barbs, resembling something almost...fond.

"Thinking," Gavin murmured, tracing the curve of Loki's lips with calloused thumb. Lips that parted to place a whisper-soft kiss to his skin, promising untold delights if he'd only continue surrendering piece by piece.

Though doors long locked now swung open, remnants of long-held caution lingered. Loki was, after all, a creature notorious for twisting meanings to selfish ends. Gavin had tasted too much bitter fruit not to watch for worm-riddled cores.

Yet...he sensed something more writ between them now, fragile as dawn's first light. A connection, however chaotic its nature, that soothed primal hungers in a way no other ever could.

Time would tell if such bonds withstood reality's weight. But for now, Gavin let his walls stand watch while he savored the solace of new-forged intimacy, come what chaos the morrow wrought.

-------------------------------------------------

Welp, hope you guys like this one!

here's the information about Gavin if you're interested in his backstory and character more:

https://www.tumblr.com/gcthvile/738761880067342336/gavin-hyde?source=share

@missstrawbs2001 @jackiequick @blueboirick @cherrys @meiramel @purpleprincessonfyre @ask-missparker @askstevella @therealdaydreamstark @rickb-chaos @luna-d-marsh @gaminggirlsstuff @eddysocs

[midnightshard06]

STH Rarepair Week Day 1: First Kiss / First Encounter

You can check it out on ao3 here if you prefer.

Summary: Knuckles finally learns the odd truth behind Sonic's weird behaviors after all these years. He didn't expect it to be a whole other person, and neither of them expected they'd fall for each other. They've made it work though, even if it can be rough sometimes.

Pairing: Knuckles/Fleetway Super Sonic

Warnings: A tiiiiiny smidge of violence in one part? Not really much but warning just in case.

Word Count: ~2800 words

AN: Just so people who are familiar with my stuff are aware, this is unrelated to my Chaos Uncontrolled AU. It's actually related to a fic I never finished, got 8k words deep in it too, but I felt the urge to do something for it.

Knuckles had known Sonic for a long time. He’d been dragged into the hedgehog’s small circle of friends, consisting of just Tails at the time so he thought, pretty much immediately in the wake of everything that happened on Angel Island. Part of him thought that Sonic wouldn’t forgive him for being tricked by Eggman, but that hadn’t been the case. Once the Death Egg had been dealt with Sonic and Tails had come back to make sure he was ok, and also to ask if it would be ok if they visited every once in a while. It didn’t take long for him to say yes, not that he made it look like he was desperate for company or anything. Sonic and Tails were just… decent company is all. Plus he still felt bad for going against them.

As time passed the duo would visit him when they could, even drag him into adventures from time to time. Those adventures got more frequent the longer they knew each other. It was on those adventures that he started to realize there was something Sonic wasn’t telling him about.

It started off easy enough to ignore, especially when he was being distracted by whatever was going on. Though the more time he spent around Sonic the harder it was to ignore. The hedgehog would seemingly… talk to himself sometimes. Even odder was that when he did it with Tails nearby the fox didn’t seem to even care. Knuckles really wanted to ask what that was all about but any time he tried Sonic found some way to change the topic. Frankly it was getting frustrating.

It would be some time, and many failed attempts, before he managed to figure out what was going on. For all his attempted plans though, he would end up finding out completely by accident. Sonic and Tails were on Angel Island for the day, making sure Knuckles wasn't lonely even if he assured them he was fine. Sonic had gone off to run around for a bit and Tails had been tinkering with something nearby as Knuckles watched the Master Emerald. 

"I've been trying to work on some stuff that would help keep the Master Emerald safe while you were away." Tails paused in his work to glance over at Knuckles. "If you'd actually consider using it anyway…" The fox looked slightly nervous.

Knuckles hummed. It would be nice to have some more peace of mind when he couldn't watch it. "Would it be… easy to use?" He asked. Technology for the most part eluded him. Most of the time when Tails tried to explain something he was working on he couldn't keep up at all.

"Yeah!" Tails perked up. "I made it my top priority to make it easy to use. I've even had Sonic and Fleet test it out to make sure."

Knuckles blinked. "Fleet?" His brow furrowed in confusion. That wasn't a name he'd ever heard before.

Instead of possibly just explaining that it was some new friend they'd met, Tails froze. "Oh uh… I must have misspoke. Heh heh." He looked away and rubbed the back of his head.

Now this was odd behavior. Plus Tails was an awful liar. "What did you mean to say then?" Knuckles tilted his head. He'd give the fox the benefit of the doubt for now.

"I… uh…" Tails' eyes darted around. "Froggy..?" He winced.

Knuckles huffed. "Nice try. Wanna give me the truth?" He crossed his arms.

Tails' ears drooped. "I do…"

"But?" Knuckles pressed. This honestly didn't seem like too much of a deal to him. Why was Tails so hesitant to tell him?

"I'm not sure I should…" Tails sighed.

Before Knuckles could say anything else another voice cut it. "Don't worry about it kid. I can explain myself." There was suddenly a golden hedgehog there. One that looked remarkably like Sonic in his super form. As he walked over he ruffled the fur on Tails' head, an action that looked almost automatic. "Good to properly meet you Knux. I was wondering when this was gonna slip." Despite the hedgehog's casual demeanor Knuckles could tell he was nervous.

"... you're Fleet then?" Knuckles cautiously approached. It was hard to ignore the sheer amount of chaos energy he could feel coming off the hedgehog.

"The one and only." Fleet eyed him, shuffling his feet. "I assume you have questions."

"Several." Knuckles nodded. "First, who are you and why have I never seen you before?"

Fleet seemed to hesitate before sighing. "Well… if we're just gonna rip the bandaid off here. I'm a being made up of chaos energy who's been with Sonic his whole life. Like I came into existence when he was born. Something to do with the emeralds taking a shine to him." He waved a hand. "We're not too sure." He crossed his arms. "Reason you've never seen me before is cause typically only Sonic can, but I can 'pilot' for a bit I guess. That let's me interact with the world and be seen." He shrugged.

"So you're just… sentient chaos energy?" Knuckles didn't quite relax at the explanation, but at least Fleet seemed to be telling the truth. It would be a rather unbelievable lie if it was one. Plus it would explain the chaos energy he could feel.

"I guess?" Fleet hummed. "Kinda a simple way to put it though." He mumbled.

This had certainly not been what Knuckles had guessed was going on, but it did put some things into perspective for him. Especially Sonic seemingly talking to himself. He glanced at Tails. "How long have you known about him?" He gestured to Fleet.

Tails looked away. "Uuuuh since before we met you. I accidentally met him at the end of the first adventure me and Sonic had."

"I'd gotten all the emeralds." Fleet hoped in. "Turns out if I'm not careful that much chaos energy can cause me to go a bit… wild." He looked at the floor. "Didn't know that at the time though. Tails ended up seeing me before me and Sonic could figure it out." He cracked a small smile and looked over at Tails. "It worked out though." The fox smiled back. Knuckles opened his mouth to ask something else but Fleet rose a hand. "Sonic didn't want to say anything because people haven't exactly taken kindly to my existence in the past." He frowned deeply.

"If it makes you feel better." Tails jumped in. "Only me and Shadow know, and Shadow only knows because he could tell that Fleet was there. Sort of."

Knuckles hummed as he watched Fleet. It was clear the hedgehog was still nervous. “Alright. Fine.” He sighed and held out his hands. “At least I know now.”

Fleet blinked. Knuckles crossed his arms. “That’s it?” Fleet looked dumbfounded.

“Were you expecting something else?” Knuckles tilted his head.

“Well… I mean…” Fleet seemed to be struggling to get his words straight. “It was just a whole thing with Shadow and… I don’t know, it's almost always been a big deal…” Suddenly his head whipped to the right to glare at empty space. “Stop laughing! You’d be acting the same way in my position!” Based on his eyes narrowing further Knuckles was willing to bet the laughing had only gotten harder. Fleet turned back to Knuckles, his arms now crossed and ears flat against his head.

“Well so long as you don’t pose a threat to the Master Emerald I’m fine to trust you for now.” Knuckles nodded, and Fleet perked up a little bit.

“I see.” Fleet cleared his throat. “Well uh. Good I guess. Yeah…” He tapped his claws together nervously. “Good… talk.” With that he was gone and Sonic was there on the ground, still laughing.

Fleet collapsed wordlessly against Knuckles. The echidna didn’t even flinch. “What happened?” Knuckles eventually asked once Fleet had settled himself. Fleet didn’t really have the emotional energy to even try and describe the day he’d just had. All he knew is he wanted to calm down and hang out with his partner. Not that he even knew how he’d managed that. Ever since he’d revealed himself to Knuckles the two had gotten closer, and things had just… evolved from there. It helped that him and Sonic were able to be separate finally. That had been a pain while they’d tested different things. He’d had far too many close calls than he was comfortable with… both for himself and others.

Knuckles hummed and put an arm around Fleet. It was nice, not needing to articulate his feelings just yet, but still getting the comfort he’d been seeking out. The two stayed there for a while, Fleet wasn’t really trying to keep track of the time. Which was still odd to him. Before sitting still this long would have been torture, but now he was content to just stay at Knuckles’ side.

“Something with the emeralds?” Knuckles spoke up again, keeping his gaze aimed forward. 

With a sigh Fleet extracted himself from the comfortable position and balanced his head on his hands. “Yeah.” He pinned his ears down. It was still fresh and he didn’t really want to talk about it, but keeping it to himself might only make things worse. “Tails was messing with one, I wasn’t really paying attention to what he was doing. Then out of nowhere… boom!” He waved a hand aggressively. “I couldn’t think straight. Made a mess of Tails’ lab and… and…” He sucked in a sharp breath. “And hurt people.”

There was a moment of silence and then a hand on his shoulder, he tried to shy away from the touch but it was firm. “I get why you came here then.” Knuckles didn’t look sympathetic, but Fleet much preferred that. He didn’t want to be pitied. “You know that if something goes wrong here, I could probably use the Master Emerald to help.”

“S’part of it I guess.” Fleet admitted. Of course that was a pretty natural conclusion to make. “I think just being around you helps too.” He added, much quieter. Knuckles just slowly pulled him closer, giving him plenty of time to pull away if he wanted. Fleet didn’t fight him. Hopefully some quiet time spent here would help clear his mind.

“Where is he!?” Knuckles shouted as he approached an injured looking Sonic.

The blue hedgehog grimaced as he pushed himself to his feet. “He’s up ahead. Shadow is keeping him busy for now.” He went to rub the back of his head but winced. “Not sure how long he’ll last though… Fleet was exposed to a lot of chaos energy…”

Knuckles grit his teeth. As much as he wanted to rush in there right now and help Fleet he needed more information. “What happened?”

“Was fighting Eggman, I used the emeralds. Fleet was there too but I thought it would be fine. He was trying to stay out of the fight.” There was clear regret on Sonic’s face. “Somehow he managed to pick up on it. He’s been extra sensitive to it lately.” He shook his head. “We have no idea why.”

Well that wasn’t a lot to work with, but Knuckles would have to make due. “I’ll see what I can do.” He grunted, just seeing the grateful look that Sonic gave him as he ran off. True to Sonic’s word Fleet was just ahead. The golden hedgehog had a hand gripped around Shadow’s throat and a crazed look in his eyes. Around them were the ruins of what must have been one of Eggman’s bases. Knuckles would be willing to bet destroying the structure had at least distracted Fleet long enough for him to get here. Thankfully he'd already been off of Angel Island when he’d been contacted. “Hey!” He shouted and one of Fleet’s ears swung towards him. “Put him down.” Knuckles growled.

Fleet turned to look at him. An excited smile crept across his face, one that was still disturbing. “Knuckles.” He sounded genuinely happy to see him, but yet he still held Shadow aloft. “So nice to see you here.” He closed his eyes briefly as he exposed his teeth with his smile.

It was definitely disturbing to see such pleasant expressions aimed at him while Fleet still gripped tightly at Shadow’s throat. Said black hedgehog was still struggling. “Put. Him. Down.” Knuckles narrowed his eyes, keeping his tone firm.

Fleet’s pleasant expression faded as he frowned, ears drooping. “Awe, but I was having fun. A few more minutes can’t hurt right?”

“Now, Fleet.” Knuckles took a step forward. He knew he didn’t stand much of a chance in a fight, but he also knew he was one of the people least likely to be attacked. Of course that list consisted of Sonic and Tails too, but he tried to ignore how injured Sonic had looked when he saw him.

The golden hedgehog pouted but did drop Shadow. The other hedgehog fell to the ground gasping for air. Knuckles cautiously approached as Fleet floated down to the ground. Fleet’s grin still looked feral, but at least he didn’t seem inclined to attack Knuckles. For now. Though of course Knuckles didn’t come unprepared. As much as it would be nice if his presence alone could calm Fleet down he knew that wouldn’t work. Tails had sounded rather frantic in his distress call after all.

Before Fleet could move away Knuckles threw his arms around him. Something in between a hug and a grapple. Thankfully Fleet went rigid as he no doubt tried to figure out what was going on. In those precious few moments Knuckles called upon the power of the Master Emerald to neutralize the excess chaos energy in Fleet’s body. He could feel when it started to work as the golden hedgehog collapsed more and more heavily against him. If there was another way Knuckles would much prefer to use it, Fleet always looked so tired and out of it after. Though he also knew that Fleet would much prefer that to hurting anyone else.

Finally Fleet slumped against Knuckles completely, his breathing evening out as he fell asleep. Knuckles mentally sighed in relief, though he did wish he was able to get here sooner. A glance over at where Shadow had been revealed the hedgehog had left at some point, probably to tend to whatever injuries he had. No doubt Sonic would check up on his rival later. Speaking of the blue hedgehog, Knuckles watched him carefully approach. He was limping slightly, but was doing his best to hide it. What he didn’t hide was the relief on his face when he spotted Fleet in Knuckles’ arms.

“I assume everything’s good now?” Sonic was still looking at Fleet, some sort of expression Knuckles couldn’t place on his face now.

“For now. You should go rest. I’ll take care of him.” Knuckles adjusted Fleet so he was holding him more comfortably.

Sonic opened his mouth to say something but closed it. Perhaps thinking better of whatever he was about to say. "I'll leave him to you." He shuffled his feet and winced. "Just let me know how he's doing once he wakes up ok?" Knuckles simply nodded before going off to collect the Master Emerald from where he'd left it.

Fleet woke with a start, but didn’t try to move. He was utterly exhausted, a feeling he knew well. Though he wished it wasn’t so familiar. Just as he suspected he spotted the Master Emerald after a moment of visually searching for it, so that also meant…”Good to see you up.” Knuckles was sitting down next to him, close but not touching. “How are you feeling?”

“About how you’d expect…” Fleet curled in on himself, not quite making a proper ball. “I feel like I could sleep for a whole year…”

“I’m sorry.” Knuckles, as he always did after something like this happened, sounded genuinely apologetic.

“I know.” Fleet reached his hand out blindly, Knuckles thankfully took it. “And I keep telling you it’s ok.”

“Doesn’t mean I won’t feel bad about it.” Knuckles huffed. “Even with your permission.”

Fleet felt like he could continue this conversation, but nothing new would be said. They’d had this same back and forth so many times. Honestly Fleet hated to think about how common of a conversation this was becoming. He hated that it was brought on because of his inability to control himself around chaos energy. "Fine." Was all Fleet could manage. He was tired anyway. The two stayed in silence for a while. It was comfortable, like it usually was between them. "Thank you." Fleet's voice was soft even to his own ears.

Knuckles pulled Fleet closer. "I just wish I could stop it from happening."

"You do your best." Fleet squeezed his hand.

There was more silence and Fleet figured it would be safe to slip back into sleep now. What he wasn't expecting though was for Knuckles to press his muzzle to Fleet's head, careful to avoid pricking himself. Fleet's exhaustion riddled mind barely registered it as a kiss. A sort of tentative one, but one all the same. As he drifted off the sleep he couldn't help but realize that was the first time that had ever happened.

[egg-emperor]

Hello! I hope you're doing well! I wanted to pick your brain over Eggman in Frontiers to hear your perspective.

I honestly found Eggman lacklustre in Frontiers. I was disappointed. I have a few questions to see if I'm missing anything and if you can put my mind at ease.

What were Eggman's motives for booting up the Ancients' technology? He mentions secrets but what for? Any other game story is a motive for world domination. How will the Ancients enable this?

I saw the relationship he and Sage had as uwu and sappy. I can't visualise Eggman as a father. I certainly saw him act paternal towards Sage. It's not to my liking haha. I preferred the original ending where he had to fight for his personal victory and bring Sage back online.

Why was Eggman laughing at Sonic being corrupted? I assumed he personally wants to finish Sonic off. I think of Sonic 2 8 bit in Underground Zone where he saves Sonic to finish him off.

Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing your analysis.

Hello! I'm doing pretty good thanks, much more positive now I'm no longer struggling with the difficulty of the update XD Feels like I've been needing to recover though because I've been tired af! Hope you're doing well too ^^

He definitely deserved to do a lot more. Final Horizon improved by giving him a bit of action but he was still sidelined hard. I still feel so teased by the MC texture pack of Eggman and Sage in Wyvern, that would've been so metal in game lol. Even having even just a side boss is always better than none. The more action the better! It's not boring for him to be a boss and the villain he is and get some action. Especially since they easily could've incorporated the Titans by having Eggman take control, or he could've at least been a mini boss.

But I actually like everything we did get and I'll be getting into a lot of why here! And I appreciate the interest and you asking me for my take on it. I hope I can possibly offer a new perspective but either way, thanks for hearing me out. ^^ But buckle up because it's gonna be a big one lol, I decided to really dig in!

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"What were Eggman's motives for booting up the Ancients' technology? He mentions secrets but what for? Any other game story is a motive for world domination. How will the Ancients enable this?"

His interest in The Ancients is just the classic story finding about an ancient power and checking it out to see what he can do with it. He knew there was a civilization with impressive and valuable technology that was attracting the emeralds, and understandably went to check it out. The prequel comic sets it up like this:

While his initial discovery wasn't revealed, he learned about the islands where an ancient civilization possessed advanced technology and it started attracting the emeralds. So he goes on a trip there, looks around and sets stuff up as we see traces of his presence left behind with ships on each one and Death Egg robot on Chaos Island where he was farming geothermal energy from the volcano.

He came across the Cyber Space structure as a piece of that tech that intrigues him so he wants to override their cyber security to access and take control of it for himself, so he had Sage downloaded to the data pad thingy and uploaded her to it to do so. He was then was supposed to get tech like their soldiers and Titans under control and use them in his plans, then he could discover more of their secrets and find a way to use all of their advanced tech he finds as a tool for world domination.

Immediately upon merging Sage with Cyber Space to try to get past that security, it summons the soldiers and the Giganto is seen in the back, so there you already have potential new power for him to take control of so he was correct. If he did succeed in harnessing and utilizing it and uncovered all their secrets in his surveying of it, he could have total control of the islands, get himself new minions, and discover more about their technology with Cyber Space and all and use their power for his selfish gain.

But of course it didn't go quite as planned as it seems that Sage sensed the danger and decided to seal Eggman in Cyber Space as a protective measure, so he gets trapped in there instead.

When trapped in Cyber Space he's fascinated by how advanced it is to the point he admits it's more than what he's dabbled in before. He continues his analysis of what he sees and throughout the memos, he finds out he was right to be curious and with all the research he gathers about the capabilities of Cyber Space and begins questioning how he can use this power and knowledge to his selfish benefit. Classic Eggman 💜

Sage was also able to somewhat control the Titans, it's just something was blocking her from taking full control but she was able to use them against Sonic and Eggman was very pleased. I'm assuming this was part of his initial plan, to take control of their power and use it against Sonic, then explore the capabilities of the rest of the tech on the islands to utilize for his bigger plan in world domination.

He was always planning on taking control of their creations and using them against Sonic and exploring the islands, uncovering their secrets and analyzing and learning about them like the scientist he is, then using that knowledge to figure out how he can use it in his schemes.

He finds out there's even more about their tech that could be useful with the capabilities of Cyber Space throughout. And he starts taking interest in The End when he learns about it being an even greater more powerful force for being able to wipe them out despite their own impressive power and creations. Which had even more potential if could've found a way to handle it, like he displayed a willingness and confidence in being able to do because of his genius and skill.

( Gotta love how he spits in the face of The Ancients' being wiped out by thinking he can do better. Sure is super sympathetic towards them huh ;D )

So had he not been trapped in Cyber Space, he could've used The Ancients' soldiers, Titans, and The End and if had utilized them successfully, I'm sure he would've had a lot of power that could help him take over the world with some plan. He clearly believes they could've done so themselves, to him it's just a question of why they didn't go ahead beyond a few "piddly" islands because of course he'd do so in a heartbeat.

It's funny because it's also another example of how he's incapable of considering that they might not have that same greed and desire for world domination like him, he can't fathom it lol

So he already knew enough to be aware that they possessed power that he could use in his plans, so he went there to check it out and take control of their tech. Then he was going to find out what else he could do to use their tech to his advantage to achieve world domination. While a lot of this unfortunately fell apart, he still spends his time uncovering more and analyzing everything he finds out while trapped inside Cyber Space too, as we learn about in the memos.

It really shows how during the entire main game and even in the update with the island conversations, he was thinking about what he could do with their power. People saying he's morally gray in this game confuse me because of his obvious villainy and desire to scheme with the only things stopping him being trapped in Cyber Space and then in danger of The End. The intent and desire is still there from beginning to end!

And the potential was there too. Eggman had a reason to be interested in The Ancients' secrets and I would've loved to see him actually put all this knowledge to use. It feels like they teased it waaay too much to never have him actually do anything with everything he learned... so I wonder if there's a chance he'll actually do so in the future?

------------------------------------

"I saw the relationship he and Sage had as uwu and sappy. I can't visualise Eggman as a father. I certainly saw him act paternal towards Sage. It's not to my liking haha. I preferred the original ending where he had to fight for his personal victory and bring Sage back online."

I don't think the game did too bad of a job at showing what the real true dynamic of Eggman and Sage really is, ever since I paid closer attention in my second playthrough. I regret letting fandom influence how I thought and felt during my first because it ruined my first experience and made me believe things that weren't true. But now I love it because it's way different to fanon!

The most important thing to consider is the entire basis of Eggman's side of the dynamic and the specific reasons he comes to value and praise her at all, all said in his own words in the memos:

What kind of normal good wholesome caring parent brags that their child would be "loyal" and "perfectly effective"? Exactly. Those aren't things selfless, good hearted, good intentioned, genuinely caring parents expect of their child and that's the point. Eggman is already fucked up for that alone. Then to hammer it home, BOOM there it is:

The reason he recognizes, praises, and values these things in Sage as much as he does besides all the ways he benefits from them- is that he can take pride in being the one that made it all possible as she's a reflection of his genius- praising her is praising himself as her creator. And this is why Flynn said it was unsettling and that he warmed up to her for all the wrong reasons.

It's important to remember and consider this when analyzing absolutely every interaction between the two in this story.

In the prequel comic we see he specifically built Sage to protect him and he wishes aloud for a creation that will just once make him proud:

Upon hearing this, it may have prompted Sage to try extra hard to please him on top of her programming. And he was already calling her his "latest and greatest" like he does all his creations lol. So she also may have felt the need to try extra hard to live up to that high standard and expectation too.

Anyway, whether that's Sage's intention or if she's going purely by her stated programming, she does live up to fulfilling her programmed function and Eggman's wishes for a creation that will fill him with pride. She's loyal, efficient, and protects him multiple times throughout main story and Final Horizon.

Eggman takes note of her efficiency and her being crucial in his survival in the memos.

She shows true loyalty, efficiency in serving and protecting him as created, and prioritizes his safety and desires. She talks about saving him and the world for him to rule specifically, which he smiles smugly at like "finally somebody here understands it's all about me >:D"

All the times he praises her highly throughout the entire game are for doing exactly as she was created and asked to do, or surpassing those expectations in pleasant ways. But then every time she does something he doesn't want her to, even in cases where his best interests are still in mind, he snaps at her for it not being exactly what he wants: (Click through for better view/open in new tab on desktop, I don't wanna make the post even longer)

Also there's also him suddenly switching to being appalled, jealous, and pissed at her just for admiring Sonic

This all shows how conditional it is. He'll snap and yell at her and thump the Egg Mobile when she doesn't do what he wants in the exact way he wants one second, and praises her highly when she does the next. It's really represented best by these scenes:

First he was yelling at her for daring to suggest something he doesn't want to do, smashing his fist against the Egg Mobile in anger, and flying off. Then he was in danger of the G.U.N helicopters, she jumped in and saved him, and then he immediately switched to praising her highly and saying he was proud of her. What makes this especially significant is that you can get the second scene to play immediately after the other, if you trigger them right with the unlocking of the emeralds. Literally changes like the weather between her doing something he hates to something he wants.

I also want to bring up the flashback montage:

It shows Eggman doesn't actually do anything selflessly nice. All he does praise her for what she was created to do and she just applied love that she learned from watching Sonic and friends to those initiatives of loyalty and protection she was programmed with, the way Eggman praised her for fulfilling them, and to any likeness to family like him as her creator and Orbot and Cubot as his too, the idea of having a home, etc.

Eggman's side really is shown to be shallow, self-centered, and with his own interests and benefits in mind all along, while Sage's is more professional at first but becomes much deeper and more meaningful over time, as she witnesses what it means to be a family born of love from Sonic and co interacting. She looks to Eggman as her creator for that dynamic and applies the feelings of love she learned from them to it, even though their master creator and servant creation dynamic is much different to that. She doesn't have that but wishes she did.

Sage also clearly has doubts about him caring for her when she has to ask Sonic if he really thinks Eggman does, and it shows in her songs as she questions whether he'll be mad at her, or if she's asking for too much just to be with him, as I talked about here. This also shows that Eggman hasn't given her enough to convince her and we can really see that in the scenes. Even Sonic mumbles that Eggman "cares" for her "in his own way" because even he knows he isn't capable of loving and caring about people in the traditional conventional expected way.

They played some moments for the cuteness factor as they knew it'd appeal to a wider audience and it sure did but that part has no appeal to me. I instead like how the unsettling undertones are still there and make it interesting to analyze. And with the specific ways he praised her in the memos and the specific circumstances in mind, it makes sense as they're always the reasons that Eggman's side of the dynamic is built on.

It makes sense for Eggman not to trash her, he said she was crucial to his survival. Sure she pissed him off but so do Orbot and Cubot all the time and he keeps them around because ultimately they're useful and do their jobs (plus I also think he enjoys getting to boss them around and discipline them harshly as he does because it gives him a sense of power and control over others). And so does Sage, but with genuine enthusiasm, loyalty, and much more efficiency, and has his best interests in mind and a genuine desire to protect him. So why would he get rid of her and then not want to bring her back after her sacrifice? That would make no sense.

And it makes sense for him to praise her and be proud of her too. It's just like him being proud of Gamma. In fact, the way the scene of him yelling at her comes right before the one where he's saved and praises her highly and says he's proud of her, is a parallel to this scene where he was yelling at all the E Series calling them all dummies but then immediately changing his tune when he saw Gamma and saying he's proud of him for doing exactly what he wanted. I did a whole comparison here.

And it makes sense for him to take pride in her as an impressive life like creation, which he finds superior to organic natural life for it, and the ways he can benefit from her loyalty and efficiency. He can also take pride in her for being her creator/father, as she's a reflection of his genius and scientific skill and is useful to him. And by calling himself her father, it's also appealing to her desires for a familial bond which will also give her even more enthusiasm to serve him.

Eggman doesn't do any of this in ways that don't suit his character. He's valuing, praising her, and acting paternal on these conditions specifically, which is the only way it can work with his narcissism, ego, and selfishness intact. It's great that they didn't change him and instead found a way to further develop and solidify his already existing traits, by showing how a father daughter dynamic can work with these things in mind. It serves an an example rather than an exception to them, and this is what a lot of people are missing.

I also like The Final Horizon's ending as Eggman isn't the overly physically affectionate gushing and throwing arms around people type, it doesn't suit his demeanor and behavior and I'm glad to see that hasn't been suddenly forced with Sage. This isn't over the top and uncomfortable OOC like fanon.

It's a subtle and small gesture, extending his arm with hand out to her but looking away and forward. He's quiet, solemn, and reserved. His demeanor and body language is important. He takes a breath that seems like a "sigh well, here goes" kind of way then mumbles it, not much, just small words of praise towards her doing the very things he created and praised her for before- doing what he wants her to and serving her purpose as his protector like she protected him in the fight, and calling her his daughter also has the same effect in encouraging her and he knows it, as well as how it's appealing to him for his pride as he said in the memo.

It's very important to acknowledge he's not shy at all, that's the last word to describe him. He has the highest self esteem, self love, and confidence and it's all genuine. It's just that hyper affectionate super warm and mushy gushy-ness, be it through feelings, words, or actions isn't his thing. The most he's ever going to hype someone up close to it is in a performative manipulative way to urge them to continue doing what pleases him, and he forces it in some cases more than others, you get varying degrees.

But I like how it's on the more subtle side here a lot because it's even more telling of his true character. When he's acting like this it aligns with that reasoning again but with a new look at his style of showing it in a physical subtle manner, with his behavior being similar to the scene where she saved him in Cyber Space and said he was proud of her for it- only it was only through words then. We've now seen how he can show this verbally and physically and I like it a lot, it's the only way this can work and they did it.

I truly believe he doesn't feel the typical conventional idea of "love" for anyone but himself because he is the biggest egotist and narcissist in all of existence and is extremely selfish and people seem to be forgetting what that entails for his behavior and personality feelings, and mindset with his self absorption and low empathy. There are no sudden exceptions to this, Sage is literally just another perfect example of it, nothing has changed with him.

Also, think about the terms of which he's praising her in all of their "cutest" moments together:

Eggman is delighted that Sage has succeeded in getting Sonic's ass beat and hearing the battle reports. She's proving herself to be very useful and efficient, so he decides to take full advantage of that by properly giving her control of the Eggnet which is a huge promotion. So he uses it to butter her up to make it all the more inviting.

(again click/open in new tab for full view)

She is indeed a good change of pace from Orbot and Cubot as they're often less efficient and don't have the same enthusiasm. Sage brings everything they do but better in appealing to Eggman's interests and serving him well. And at first he takes a dig at them as he hates them immensely without an ounce of fondness but when Sage displays interest in them as being like family, he decides to play along with it and it pleases her, which is also going to make it even more inviting.

But when he first praises her most highly to her face beyond the offhand mumbling of her actions being "commendable" by saying he's proud of her, it's right after he was saved by her from the G.U.N helicopters. Then in The Final Horizon ending where he says she did good and held her hand, it's because he's saying she did a good job in protecting him from the line of fire in the final boss, helping him in destroying The End, and saving the world for him to conquer. Same goes for the original ending for the latter half, for him to revive her and say "that's my girl"

She's done exactly as asked, and he's praising her for it because it genuinely is a job well done and is exactly what he wanted and him reacting with praise encourages that. It's always because he got something out of it. It's not selfless, it's not sweet for the sake of it because he's just feeling sweet and fatherly and kind-hearted. There's always a reason in it where he has benefitted from it. It can be considered emotionally manipulative for that and very conditional too. She goes to great lengths with her actions and he rewards her with mere words- except for when it comes to her biggest accomplishment in The Final Horizon, he takes it a bit further. And what does he offer then? Just a small simple hand hold, while he looks away, seeming quiet and reserved. But it's enough for Sage and it works. It keeps her loyal and loving, he'll need to encourage it to keep her useful and enthusiastic in it.

These are all the specific reasons he praises and warms up to her, also for how calling himself her father is another way to take pride in her as her genius creator, as he said in the Egg Memos. It's all for selfish, self serving, self praising reasons. I like that a lot, it's very in character that way and how it's possible for such a dynamic to exist with his narcissism. Sage is the one giving things to him, protecting him, serving him, and showing loyalty, support, and respect for his desires while Eggman just takes. She does exactly what he wants as she’s created for and is willing and enthusiastic unlike a lot of creations of his. Eggman still hasn’t done shit for Sage, except praise her when she does what he wants but then becomes grumpy and snaps at her every time she does something he doesn’t.

So that's why, while I don't care for the cutesy way they're framed, I can see why Eggman would act that way to appeal to her desire for the family dynamic and encourage her to stay loyal and efficient. So now when it comes to the dynamic, I realized that I shouldn't just write off the entire concept as OOC. The question doesn't lie in "would this situation make sense for Eggman to do at all?", instead it's in "does this have in character reasons and basis for this to happen?" and in my opinion, it absolutely does, so it works.

------------------------

"Why was Eggman laughing at Sonic being corrupted? I assumed he personally wants to finish Sonic off. I think of Sonic 2 8 bit in Underground Zone where he saves Sonic to finish him off."

He does really want to be the one personally finish Sonic off. XD He does say this in the English version and in the Japanese version he says he wishes he could've been the one who bury him.

I absolutely love this scene because it really emphasizes that he does hate Sonic as he says, despite any respect he also has and any credit he gives where it's due for him being a formidable adversary. And it's the funniest moment in the game hehe 💕

I think he'll be happy about Sonic dying in any way, as long as it's not being stolen from him from someone else like the Deadly Six for example, so he saved him at Lava Mountain so he could destroy him with his Eggrobo instead. In the Sonic 2 8 bit, I imagine it's because him simply falling into lava also would've been an unsatisfying demise.

In cases where he wasn't the one to directly finish him off, if he still has some hand in it, he can accept it. This doesn't apply when just almost falling into lava like Sonic 2 8 bit or when lackeys of his almost succeed in killing him when they're no longer on his side, like the Zeti breaking the bridge and Sonic almost falling into the lava, so he saved him both times so he could try to kill him himself after.

But in this game, since he helped kick off everything, he's partially responsible for the corruption and can at least settle for that. While he celebrates his supposed demise, he voices that his only regret is that he couldn't finish him off with his own hands for the ultimate satisfaction. Still, it's good to have him out of the way either way, a victory is a victory.

Exactly when and how he wants him to die tends to change a lot though, it's like it depends on his mood lol. Like how sometimes he will very clearly try to kill him during battles as he threatens his life and yells at him to die, how he tried to shoot the capsule out into space, and how he even wants creations or lackeys to actually try to kill him. I guess as long as it's by his orders he can settle for that but again, I think he'd be slightly disappointed that he couldn't do it by his own hands after the fact.

It's kind of like how we know that Eggman would prefer to show him his completed empire before "banishing" him (definitely meant killing) in Forces, which is why he actually kept him alive and imprisoned for six months. Yet he'll always very clearly be out for blood during battles and want him dead there and then. So I feel it depends on how desperate he's feeling to get rid of him in the moment and maybe in the case of Frontiers, for at least one good thing to come out of it. But ultimately, he'll always celebrate his demise if he has some hand in it at all and gets to finally succeed in his goal!

----------------

I love Frontiers Eggman so much. 🥰💜 I love his characterization and what he did actually get to do and I'm really glad I gave him another chance after my initial disappointment. The only things I'd change are a couple of English lines because they didn't make sense or would've been more in character rephrased but in most of those cases JP fixed it- and I'd give him more action, though the update improved on it a bit and gave him a chance to go up against the boss. But I really enjoy the new directions they took him in as new interesting ways to further explore and solidify his already existing character. It made it a lot of fun for me to analyze too!

[novankenn]

Jaune 1/2 (v1-15)

The remainder of that day, and the next went by rather peacefully, though Pyrrha lay awake each of those nights, long after Jaune had fallen asleep. Her mind reumerating over Jaune's comments from that first night. She was loath to admit it, but she felt touched. Jaune showed no interest in her for her fame... in fact he should a complete lack of interest in her.

Which if she was honest was a refreshing change from how things usually went between her and other people. It was with those thought rolling about in her mind that she fell asleep.

It was the day of initiation. Jaune and Pyrrha had spent the night in their accommodations while everyone else suffered through a night in the amphitheatre. Assembling at the chosen time, at the cliffs above the Emerald Forest the assembled hopefuls listen to the Headmaster's final instructions.

Pyrrha was barely listening. She was in a bad mood again, and it wasn't because of Jaune this time. No this time it was the other initiates trying to recruit her... due to her status, and public displayed skills... not to mention Weiss Schnee. Why that pompous, self entitled little... bitch thought she could...

Pyrrha: HEY!

Jaune: What the... !

Pyrrha caught in her thoughts was taken completely by surprise when the platform she was standing on flung her into the air. Only to instantly collide with Jaune midair. The pair tumbled through the air, barrelling towards the treetops below as the remainder of the applicants were launched one after another.

Jaune instinctively grabbed Pyrrha about the waist while snapping his free hand out, releasing his ribbon. With a grunt and a yank he stopped their tumble, and instead pulled them into a much more direct downward trajectory.

It was Pyrrha's time to react. Deploying her shield, she braced and took the hits of the onrushing branches, snapping them off with her and Jaune's combined weight. Seeing the ground quickly closing Pyrrha activated Milo and using the blade cut into the trunk of the nearest tree, corkscrewing the final distance.

Pyrrha's moved caught Jaune by surprise, and suddenly he found himself twisted about, the centrifugal force causing his grip on Pyrrha's was it to slip.

Jaune: AHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Pyrrha lightly touched down on the ground seconds later, and heard a large splash. It took her a moment to understand what that sound signified. As much as she disliked Jaune, as much as she wanted to punch his face in, she really didn't want to see him seriously hurt.

Pyrrha: Shit! He has no Aura!

Pyrrha rushed in the direction of the splash sound, and after a couple of metres, she burst through the undergrowth to find Jaune sulking on the shore of a stagnant pond... in his female form.

Glynda gave Ozpin a sideways look as the pair of instructors watched the video feeds from the forest.

Glynda: You did that on purpose.

Ozpin: (Smirking while sipping from his mug) What ever could you be referring to Glynda? I've done nothing... it was a simple malfunction of the launch pads.

==\ Episode List /==

(A/N : Well that's the end of Volume One. I'm going to watch more of "Ranma 1/2" before starting Volume 2. Hope you all enjoyed and if you have any suggestions on who the other characters should end up being like... feel free to share, and as always feed back is always welcome. Hope you enjoyed this taste of chaos. Later. 😁)

[totaleclipse573]

I've talked about there needing to be some changes in Terios' lore post to match the more current ideas before, yall want to hear about one of them? (Bit of a rant warning bc ofc, its oc universe)

So for a while I was thinking about how to make sense of Terios also being around during the events of Sth2005 in this au, since here both technically happen together. What I came up with to have this work is kind of simple (to me, at least,) but I think it works well

In the actual game, Doom wants Shadow to collect the Chaos Emeralds, right? In the au, Doleon uses Terios to help him find the Shards of Chaos. Doleon may not seem like it sometimes but he's smart as shit. He KNOWS about the Chaos Emeralds. Sure, they could never come CLOSE to the power he knows the Shards of Chaos possess, but its still A LOT, especially ADDED to what he already had planned! Two little hedgehog puppets, two sets of all-powerful gems at his disposal, to use as he pleased, if all goes as planned (which it WILL, he's 100% sure of that.) How perfect would that be?!

So, he basically just plays gaslighter on both of them, simultaneously (keeping with his manipulation of Shadow in the actual game.) After sending Terios out on a task, he'll check in on Shadow. And Shadow? He's PERFECT for this. He doesn't go astray…usually. Doleon has found him to be rather stubborn. But, at least its better than Terios, always getting sidetracked, failing, he raised him better than that! There IS that possible risk of them accidentally meeting too early…but Doleon is sure to be cautious of that. Keep their directed locations far apart, and the chances of that decrease significantly.

THEN SOON ENOUGH, after both have made a good amount of progress, Doleon sends them out to fight one another. First he goes with Terios, he's easier to manipulate and control. This is it, this is all he's been training for. Go and show no mercy! But haha, you know, just in case you need a reminder!! You know what happens if you fail me again.

Then he goes to Shadow. Oh, you're doing well with the Chaos Emeralds, yeah, but we have a problem lol. This hedgehog? Black and white? Long tail? He wants to stop us. And I need YOU to stop him first, got it? SO GO DO THAT. And he goes to do that.

And I've had this random scene in my head when they face one another where Shadow finally gets a good look at the "hedgehog" he's fighting and is like you look like me??? A lot??? The thing is that Terios has kind of never seen himself? Ever? Is this supposed to be a distraction? Because it won't work! He'll just fight back harder, what an insult!

A bit after that, the whole experience was FOR SURE strange to Shadow. And when Doleon goes to face him again? Well, Shadow's strong will and stubbornness really shines here. After that, and a lot of stuff before, he remembers THINGS. So bro is going to rebel against Doleon now. He'll get him back, soon enough. For now, he still has Terios, he can still get the most important set of gems he needs. He could get the Chaos Emeralds at a later time, be it through Shadow, or on his own.

(Bonus bc after Terios decides to join the heroes, at one point, he's finally able to see his own reflection. He's not really concerned about the blood or the bruises or any of that...that was kind of normal with Doleon. But what catches his interest? His general look. The black fur, the stripes, the fur on his chest, the quills...he does look like Shadow. In a lot of ways. And it scares him.)

[pico-digital-studios]

Into, Across and Beyond!: The Game!

Hey, all! As part of an effort to further potential with my Tumblr project, I have a huge announcement to make for you all. Introducing...

An official game adaptation of Sonic: Into, Across and Beyond!, and boy, will it be a treat to behold, huh?

The game has started development today, and you'll be able to look forward to:

Each of the stories in gameplay form

Over 20 playable characters

Plenty of cutscenes to enjoy

Interactive environments to explore

Epic boss encounters with many rogues from the Sonic multiverse

And so much more!

I really hope you're all looking forward to-!

OMT!Tails: Woah woah woah! Hang on a moment.

Huh?

OMT!Tails walks into frame.

OMT!Tails: The story's barely 6 months old yet, and you're seriously pitching a game for it?

Ah, right. I forgot.

CR!Sonic and CR!Sally show up.

CR!Sonic: You okay, Tails?

OMT!Tails: You guys might want to look at this.

CR!Sally: A video game of all our endeavours? Seriously?

CR!Sonic: Looks like it. How would it even work out, though?

OMT!Tails: I doubt it'd ever see completion, though. I mean, over 6 quests to fill out into gameplay form? That'd take AGES, and it's likely going to risk cancellation partway through the process.

CR!Sonic: Yeah, you got a good point there, kid. I mean, can't people just enjoy the stories as they are? They're not meant to be "played".

OMT!Tails: Yeah, exactly. Especially after what I've been through...

CR!Sally: I get you, Tails...

CR!Sonic: Into, Across and Beyond! is meant to be a story project for free and for fun! Pico doesn't have the time or energy to dedicate part of his life to making a game. I bet those children and hate band-wagoners on Twitter would just jump at any opportunity to hate on it for petty reasons. And that's why they have so much-!

D-Sides Mighty enters.

D-Sides Mighty: What's going on here?

OMT!Tails: Oh! Hey, Mighty.

D-Sides Mighty: A game, huh? Don't people have enough Sonic fan-games to play?

CR!Sonic: That's what I've been trying to get at, bud. I mean, the story here on Tumblr's satisfactory enough.

OMT!Tails: Wait, "Tumblr"?

CR!Sonic: Hmm?

OMT!Tails: I thought it was called "Tumblelogs".

CR!Sonic: It was! Well, used to, anyway. I'm guessing it's still called that in your dimension?

OMT!Tails: Mhm.

D-Sides Mighty: Yeah, we don't need to go for a game of this, considering the Spider-Verse IP is copyrighted.

OMT!Tails: Hmm... Give me just a moment!

OMT!Tails spins around the lower text, tweaking it a bit.

OMT!Tails: There! Better?

CR!Sally: Much better! Well done, Tails!

D-Sides Mighty: Well, that's one situation we can finally close the book on, wouldn't you say?

CR!Sonic: Yep. Come on, Sal. Let's head back now.

CR!Sally: Good idea, Sonic.

The couple headed off.

D-Sides Mighty: Wanna go grab a bite at Burger Monarchy, Tails?

OMT!Tails: Sure thing!

They left too.

Well, that's that, then. You're NOT getting that game. In the end, it was a cleverly-veiled April Fools' gag!

Happy April Fools' Day, folks! You've got all there is so far of the story to enjoy here from the comfort of Tumblr. Plus, I've been generous enough with each post to compile links to every post for this project on a Master Post that you're more than welcome to view on my profile. Well, see you around in the next post!

...

...

...

...

???: It's all the same for your heroic delusions. That is, until you finally meet ME. I already won because I was two steps ahead and found a way to tap into what I desire most. You think a hero of Mobius, let alone a type of Sonic, always has a chance against Dr. Eggman? HA! Don't make me laugh. I ripped that hope to pieces for my Sonic long ago. And soon, with the power of MY Chaos Emeralds, all other universes will follow... Now, you'll all see how big a man I can be. It's time to say goodbye to humanity, heroes...

???: And hello... to the NEW NORM! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

The reveal of the final main antagonist... coming soon.

[bonewaryreblogs]

Silver Boom

Feeling in a Sonic mood, let's see how long it lasts :p

So I've had my main hedgehogs done for a while, finally finished Tails, and I'm halfway done with Knuckles and don't feel motivated enough to finish him -.- but this is more or less what he'll look like

I have an older version of the 'hogs and a lot of info on Reddit

Anyways

Silver the Hedgehog is my favorite Sonic character and the initial idea for this was to add Silver to the Sonic Boom franchise, rewriting the mess that was Rise of Lyric. Then I could add him into the show's timeline and fix some things that bugged me there. Like Sticks' whole existence.

But we'll get to that!

I realized at some point that I can basically do whatever I want with this universe, so I decided to utilize elements of most of the Sonic games/media I was familiar with, researching what I was less familiar with, and throwing it all together to create a mostly coherent story. I'll try to use (or at least touch on) as much as I can but forgive me if I leave out your favorite thing. If I do, please tell me about it! I can always be persuaded to add more and this universe is hardly set in stone :p

Basic History of Mobius

While the planet mobius was mostly formed like any other, its molten core contained magic mixed with magma. From the tumult, some of the magic magma crystalized and found its way to the surface, forming eight crystals directly linked to the eight quadrants of the spherical molten magic core. Lesser crystals filled with magic power grew in caves near the magic magma but their powers were finite while the connected eight, eventually called Chaos Crystals, were seemingly limitless as they drew from the core directly.

The Ancients, as they would come to be known, used the “clean” energy of the Chaos Crystals to fuel their hi-tech society but removing the Crystals from their proper places and using their energy with such reckless abandon unbalanced the planet’s magic and the society crumbled under its own weight. Many of the Chaos Crystals were taken and jealously guarded by what would become a magic fueled ruling class, generally influenced by the crystals’ instinctual will to return to their rightful places in the world.

Such was the fate of the Sun Stone of Soleanna, Spagonia; The Radiant Opal in the Kingdom of Acorn, Northammer; the Sky Garnet of the Babylonian Gardens, Shamar, until its cataclysmic demise and subsequent withdrawal into a desert storm; the Verdant Emerald of Angel Island, guarded by the near extinct Knuckles Clan of echidnas; and, in a way, the Twilight Amethyst of the Moonlit Mountains, Holoska, whose protectors are “recruited” from across the globe for their powerful potential. Of the remaining Chaos Crystals, the Shock Zircon powers a prison holding a mage and mechanist from the Ancient War; the Tidal Sapphire is protected by a powerful water elemental in the depths of the sea; and the Flame Ruby is sealed and resealed within a host, the latest of which is the heir to Soleanna’s throne. Having two Chaos Crystals in such close proximity to each other, and Angel Island traveling overhead, unbalanced the magic enough for Lyric to escape his prison and begin to plan his takeover.

~

In more recent history, humans arrived in the Space Colony Arc about 150 years ago, enough time for the first generation (Gerald Robotnik) to have died off, the second generation (Professor Pickle) to be old and retired, the third generation (Ivo Robotnik/"Eggman") to have been at least raised on the planet if not born there, and the fourth generation (Chris Thorndyke) to be in school, having known nothing else.

Mobius was in a medieval type of era when they arrived and relied heavily on a magic-wielding ruling class with various magic artifacts. The humans, only about a thousand strong when they arrived, bribed their way to peace by selling their tech and knowledge, allowing the average citizen to be able to stand toe-to-toe with magic-wielders. This lead to rapid advances and an odd mix of extremely advanced technology right next to medieval magic, as well as a combined magi-tech emerging in prominence, as they begin to understand the mechanisms behind their magic.

The Arc is in approximate geosynchronous orbit over Spagonia and is considered the capital “city” for humans, though they’ve been allowed to make several colonies on the planet itself. Eggman is essentially kicked out of the human civilization for being too reckless and unpredictable to fit into the box most humans set up for themselves. He’s mostly harmless, unable to take over a single island due to Sonic and friends stopping him.

~

Our story begins as Silver wakes up from another nightmare, the same one he always has; the blue hedgehog, surrounded by flame and rubble, turning to look at Silver with a cocky smile. The details would change, of course, but the hedgehog and the dread was always the same. Silver goes about his day (possibly several days, depending) before Mephiles contacts Silver to come see him. Mephiles is the personification of the Twilight Amethyst and leader of the Twilight Clan; he knows of Silver’s constant nightmares and wants to hear about this latest one. Eventually the discussion turns to Silver’s increasing desire to leave, find the blue Hedgehog, and prevent the destruction he always sees in his dreams. Mephiles eventually relents; Silver is banished from the Clan, as is their custom with anyone who leaves, but he does so with Mephiles’ blessing.

Led by instinct, Silver finds himself at Bygone Isle and immediately recognizes Sonic from his dreams. Having heard horror stories about outsiders all his life, Silver decides to hide and observe for now; it’s against his nature to hurt the innocent but he isn’t sure Sonic is innocent of the impending doom. Some stories were confirmed to be true, like everyone living separately, but some seemed to be false, like nobody helping each other. Of course, it doesn’t take long for Silver to be found out; he was well trained but still young and inexperienced. In a panic, Silver spouts off about the inevitable doom of the planet and Sonic’s connection to it, leading to misunderstandings and general caution between them. Silver still watches but doesn’t bother hiding as much.

Thus begins the main storyline of Rise of Lyric. Race around the globe with Sonic and friends to see who can get to the Chaos Crystals first; can our heroes keep them long enough to keep the world from falling apart?

[salami-dono]

Kandy Bee 🐝

Kandy's ref is done! I've included another collage of old art from 2007-2009 featuring Dr. Jester and Kandy. Out of all the baddies, Kandy was the only one that had any colored art... He's the starting point. They all have to complement Kandy.

Now, I will leave a summary of Kandy for you. There's not much to go off of, so a lot of it is new info.

Kandy the Robo-Bee was built by Dr. Jester. One day, he became self-aware and developed a personality, to Dr. Jester’s horror. Kandy had chosen his own name as well. Why? Because he’s a sweet little boy!

What was his original name? I know what it was, but Dr. Jester would agree that the name is dead.

Kandy is playful and gets on Dr. Jester’s nerves, but he hasn’t been banned from the lab… yet. Kandy delights in distracting him from his work. He laughs when Dr. Jester shoos him away.

Dr. Jester, exasperated with the child's antics, once admitted that he didn’t know why he made Kandy. Obviously, he knew what his purpose was, but he couldn’t predict what Kandy would become. He became sentient. He was alive. 

Why was he cursed with such genius?

So, what is this robot’s job? He loves doing simple tasks around the lab, like bringing Dr. Jester his coffee. It's very important work.

Kandy enjoys missions that allow him to spy on his creator’s enemies. He may also be tasked with locating precious gems, which are used to power Dr. Jester’s machines. Kandy is a happy little scout. He gets candy as a reward.

Silly boy! He doesn’t know he is on the side of Evil. 

Kandy’s naive and jovial nature has been fortuitous for Dr. Jester. The heroes lower their guard around him, believing him to be a helpless child. And they’re right, of course! Yes! Dr. Jester planned this all along! Haha! (He did not.) They have helped Kandy when he found himself lost and confused, fully-knowing that he reported directly to Dr. Jester.

He really isn’t that different from any other child. Why wouldn’t they help him?

The last time I saw Kandy and Dr. Jester in action, they discovered the final Chaos Emerald that would take them home—a purple one. Kandy suggested they borrow the rest from Sonic and his friends. Dr. Jester grinned and said, “That’s a good idea!” 

It was the first and only time Dr. Jester praised Kandy for his ideas.

Kandy's cheerfulness is unworldly...