#Is Phoenix psychic in this Anime? Who knows

[dragonidpyrus12]

Something something how the anime made Phoenix and Edgeworth be soulmates who feel each other's presence sometimes, but now Phoenix makes sure not to stumble on a doodle of his FUTURE DAUGHTER AND LOOKS BACK AT IT AND SMILES BECAUSE TRUCY WILL ALWAYS BE HIS LIGHT AAAAAAAAAAA-

[newx-menfan]

“X-Force # 1 Review”

*Spoilers*

The issue starts with Sage monologuing about the “complexity” of Forge...

We then see Forge, running simulations on his estate (his house was cooler in the 80’s guys…); where he’s questioning his own mutation and using science to heighten it (and apparently using BEAST as his analogy…not the BEST choice considering recent events…OR ANY EVENTS with HANK…but whatevs Forge….)

Sage…isn’t doing well…and Forge collects her from a mental health facility by showing her a new device he created that apparently “targets crisis points”… (aka Deus Ex plot Machina)

They both head to Japan and Betsy and Rachel show up (with the STRICT RULE that Deadpool isn’t invited!)

A new version of “X-Force” is formed.

The city is a dead zone when they arrive at the place Forge’s “eight ball” drew them to. No psychic readings. No animals, insects, signs of life; and some weird biomass goo everywhere.

Something killed the main grid of the building…

And then….

SURGE ZAPS THEM ALL! (Not as cool as the panels of Krakellion’s reveal…sorry, Surge!)

We find out (after a touching reunion with Surge and Forge) that Noriko returned to Japan after Krakoa fell apart to stay with some cousins (Oooohhh! Are we finally going to get a resolution to Noriko’s family drama????) and some weird sludge started attacking the city (“The Blob…Indescribable…Indestructible…Nothing Can Stop It!) 

The goo attacks one of the humans Surge saved and the group tries to fight off the goo while calling in Tank and Deadpool (SORRY Betsy!).

Forge hired Wade for this mission; they fight the goo and get the people away using telepathy…where suddenly a giant goo monster appears (soooo….we really are just ripping off “the Blob” movie…huh?)

Betsy passes out Jean Grey XTAS style after sensing its “hunger” and Rachel shoots Phoenix psychic rays at it. 

We find out the Fujikawa research facility they’re located at is actually owned by Mr. Sinister (Huh- he really is a global entrepreneur! You gotta GIVE HIM that!)  

We learn that the blob is an alien-mutant hybrid bioweapon.

Tank literally throws Wade at the blob (hope the money was worth it Wade 🤣), to use Deadpool as some sort of pill because of Wade’s cancer and regeneration … literally starving the poor Goo Monster to death(Poor goo monster 🥺)

They head to Wakanda (apparently NO closure on Surge’s family then…boo!😐) to stop the next danger.

I CAN’T ever get these QR codes to work on Kindle…so…I don’t know what the “extra” panel was 😒.  (really HATE this idea Marvel)

Review:

People have criticized this issue for being slow,  a generic “by the numbers” x-story, and with little characterization…and I am kind of inclined to agree.

While reading- I found myself tuning out, listening to music while I read, kind of wondering when it would be over, and finding the plot kind of..unbelievable….and going against a lot of previous established canon…

I would compare it to Bishop’s Krakoa mini a year or so back (ironically Surge was in that book too!)- it was a “okay” book… but nothing particularly special or exciting about it. 

There was a POSSIBLY for it to be good…it had great ideas… but ultimately the execution was just mediocre.

I am going to be honest …Forge and Surge are the major reasons I have for continuing to read this series, after a pretty lackluster start.

I never really cared for Sage or the Tessa retcon- she was fine in “X-treme X-Men”…but she’s never been a character I cared much for…

I don’t particularly like Betsy or Rachel together- I hated the recent “Excalibur” book and found their relationship really poorly developed. 

Truthfully- Claremont is the only one who can, in my opinion, write a compelling Rachel. Other authors have always fallen flat.

While I am fine with her being LGBTQIA+ (Rachel’s chemistry with Kitty or even Magma was always better than the forced hetero-relationships they put her in…); I am just not really sold on this couple.

Surge’s moments with Forge were nice- I always really liked their connection and am glad we are seeing more done with it.

I am disappointed we didn’t get Noriko’s past explored more (fans have desperately WANTED a story of Noriko in Japan for a while now!); also I felt like the “cousin” angle didn’t really work since Noriko was homeless initially in NYC and following the dissolution of the X-Men, went to Colorado to find Dani…instead of just returning to Japan to “extended family”…

Overall I just wasn’t impressed.

It’s too bad because there was a time when “X-Force” had some of the best runs on the “X-line”….now it is consistently the X-books worst series and the one people immediately drop 😬.

Theories/Predictions:

Is Forge gonna go “Beast” levels of batshit crazy/jumping the shark??? Only time will tell 😜🤣

[vicky82gargoylesfan]

My Thoughts on X-Men 97 Episode 10 Tolerance is Extinction part 3

The whole season has been absolutely fantastic, brilliantly well written and it hasn't even been predictable, I wouldn't never has guessed of what happened in Episode 5 and killing a major character off. They did so well not revealing spoilers.

Episode 5 - Remember it, is my favourite episode.

The voice cast were absolutely fantastic, especially Lenore Zann, she was amazing and deserves an award.

Rogue was my favourite in the original series and she's still is now, I just love her and she has been through so much.

This was a fantastic final, it was really intense and I was at the edge of my seat throughout the episode. The score was amazing, it gave me goosebumps a lot.

Spoilers

The episode started off with a flashback, I assume this is Vietnam. I noticed they used the song Turn, Turn, Turn by The Byrds in this.

Oh so this is not a flashback, Charles is in his head.

The power comes back on and there are so many cameo's, Silver Samurai again, Iron Man, Captain America again and he got his shield back. Also Daredevil and Dr Strange, who's using his power to perform surgery.

With the power back on, the Prime Sentinels are back on and they are now turning on humans.

More new cameos, they show Wakanda, Black Panther and Okoye. Cloak and Dagger, don't know much about them but I recognised them straight away. Omega Red, out of his containment tube and Dark Star, don't know who the other guy is. Finally we have Alpha Flight and Psylocke.

Oh damn, Cable admitted he tried to stop the Genosha Massacre 200 times and he's in tears, that's heart-breaking.

EEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!!! The Phoenix!!!! Hmm, I wonder if this means that Jean and Madelyne were swapped after season 3.

Love Storm's little laugh.

Oh wow beautiful animation, love the imagery of the Phoenix.

The Phoenix stopped Bastion and the Prime Sentinels have been deactivated, hopefully they will be turned back to normal.

Oh wow!!!, she's stopped Sinister too by ripping out all the DNA he stole.

LOL at Morph mocking him.

Oh damn, Bastion is not stopped and has ripped out Cable's arm and uses it to change himself.

Oh wow, I love the design of Bastion new form.

Oh, so this is Bastion's Second Coming form, I haven't read the comic book story (which I will at some point) but I sort of know what happens.

Oh damn, so he's going to Asteroid M and use it to destroy earth.

Oh damn, Wolverine is poor shape, hopefully he will able to heal himself. Cyclops knows he likes Jean.

Charles has to repair Magneto's mind from his psychic attack, at least he doesn't leave him, like he did in the comics.

LOL, looks like a psychic zoom meeting here.

Aww Rogue, she's repeating the line that Gambit would of said if he was there.

"Odds may be bad, but the cards are always in the X-Men's favour"

Also

"His name was Gambit, Remember it"

Rogue's in tears while she says it, while beating the shit out of Bastion. this was awesome fight scene, love her doing the Thunderclap.

Oh no!! Bastion has the upper had and tries to strangle her. He seems to like strangling women, first Storm and now Rogue.

Oh thank goodness, Sunspot saves her, was really worried for Rogue.

Oh, so Black Panther is T'Chaka, not T'Challa.

In Magneto's mind we see Rogue, Scarlett Witch, Quicksilver and Polaris in a boat, So Magneto cares for Rogue a lot and be part of his family.

I was really worried that Bastion was going to kill Kurt.

Great fight scene, Nightcrawler, Jubilee and Cyclops fighting Bastion. Cyclops using his Optic blast at full power was amazing.

Oh wow, love the character development with Jubilee using her powers as a Catherine wheel (I think) that she was taught by Abscissa.

Oh wow, she really messed Bastion up, ewww he looks gross.

Awesome, Beast, Jean, Storm and Morph, arrive inside a Sentinel.

Cool, Morph turned into Sauron.

Oh damn!!!, President Kelly agreed to launch missals at Asteroid M, that's not good.

I doubt Bastion is dead, I bet he will appear again.

Oh Morph, you are Fantastic.

Oh no Jubilee falls out of the falling Asteroid but luckily Roberto saves her, erm I assume there in the atmosphere, otherwise they wouldn't be breathing.

Oh well done President Kelly, you basically destroyed the world.

Oh no!!! they going to sacrifice themselves to stop the Asteroid from hitting earth.

Scott saying goodbye to Cable was really emotional, I just love Jean using her powers to stop Scott's Optic blasts and let Cable see his eyes.

Oh my gosh!!! when Cyclops took his visor off to use his full optic blast at the asteroid, he was crying.

Oh my gosh!!!! this music, giving me chills.

ahh, Peter Parker and Mary Jane!!!!! He got her back then.

Awww, Morph admits he love's Logan.

Yesssssss, Magneto is fine and helps stop the asteroid.

look at Rogue's smile, she hasn't smiled like that for a long time, she deserved it.

Wait!!!! where did the asteroid go!!!!! it just disappeared. I'm so confused right now.

Oh wow 6 months later!!!! Graydon Creed is back and running for President!!!! I guess that means we will see him in season 2.

Oh wow!!! pictures of other characters.

Hmm Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver are off world??? does being in live action MCU movies and FOX Movies count as being off world, lol.

Archangel is missing presumed dead, did he secretly get on asteroid m and got zapped to the past too, to finally kill Apocalypse, lol.

Jubilee, Sunspot and Cable are all AWOL, I wonder where they went

So we left with Colossus, Magik, Iceman, Havok, Kitty, Emma, Exodus and Dust (which I don't know much about them both). Will they appear next season and have a bigger role.

Bishops back!!!!

Oh wow!!! the X-Men have through gone through time.

Rogue, Nightcrawler, Beast, Professor X and Magneto are in Egjpt 3000 b.c. and encounter Apocalypse.

Jean and Cyclops are in the future 3960 and encounter Mother Askani (Rachel) and young Cable, so there doing the the Adventures of Phoenix and Cyclops comics where they help bring up Cable in the future.

I wonder where Storm, Logan and Morph are.

Love Beast's "Oh dear" at the end.

Ahh!!! Mid credit scene!!! Apocalypse is here in the present and he's holding Gambit's card, which means he's going to be resurrected as the Horseman of Death (still need to read the comic story)

Oh man season 2 is going to be nuts and possibly more emotional trauma for Rogue.

[wqintraining]

NEW X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES - SEASON 2, EPISODE 9

We open in the past, to a time we've glimpsed before. In the time that immediately preceded the original rise of Dark Phoenix, the classic X-Men have been defeated and captured by the Hellfire Club. Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Storm are stripped down and trapped in hanging cages, with only the latter still conscious. 

Storm screams in agony as Emma, the heartless White Queen, psychically tortures her. She tells Storm to stop resisting and that she just wants them to be friends, while speaking in a sickeningly sweet tone and visibly is having the time of her life doing this. 

Emma pauses her attack and gives Storm the chance to speak. Panting, but still determined, Storm tells her that she will not get away with whatever she's planning and that she will face the wrath of a goddess for this insult. 

Emma reaches her hand through the bars and slaps her. 

A goddess? She thinks far too much of herself. But that's okay. The White Queen is here to teach her her proper place in the world. 

Emma resumes torturing Ororo, laughing maniacally as she does so. 

In the present, Emma is seated at Scott's desk, laughing more casually as she twirls her finger in her hair. She's on the phone, but it isn't clear who she's talking to, as they simply make small talk. 

Outside in the hall, Storm is looking to speak with Cyclops, but hears Emma's voice inside. She takes a deep breath and steels herself before heading into the office. 

Storm demands to know why Emma is in here on her own and where Scott is, but Emma just raises a finger, telling her to wait a minute.

Storm gets impatient as Emma obnoxiously draws out the call. Before she finally hangs up, she tells the person on the other end of the call "the plan will not fail."

Once Emma is off the phone, Storm asks her what that was about. Emma tells her not to worry; it's actual business, not X-Men business. She wouldn't understand. 

Storm sneers at her, but refuses to take the bait, and just asks where Scott is. Emma informs her that he's prepping the Blackbird. They have matters in France to attend to. 

Storm asks if Emma found a new Mutant, but Emma only hums that it's something like that. Increasingly frustrated, Storm notes that ever since Scott and Emma began "SIGH…dating" the X-Men haven't gone on any missions as a team. The two of them dealt with Sublime on their own, they've been hunting the remaining U-Men cells on their own, and they've been retrieving new Mutants on their own. 

Emma says that yes, they have, and things are going well. But Storm shouldn't feel redundant. She knows she's doing her best. 

Storm slams her hands down on the desk. Perhaps if she delegated more, she could focus more time on addressing the telepaths she brought here who terrorized the rest of their students. Emma tries to assure her she's handling the Cuckoos, but Storm doesn't care. Too little, too late. 

STORM: "I am through putting up with your rank arrogance. Test me again, and I'll test how durable your diamond form truly is."

Storm marches off, while Emma just kicks her legs up on the table and smirks. She's looking forward to it. 

Elsewhere in the school, Iceman is teaching sex ed. While he is properly demonstrating how to put on a condom, he cannot stop making horny sex jokes as he does so. 

Seated in this class are Brian and Quentin. The two of them aren't paying any attention, with Brian having already gotten this talk from his dad when he came out as gay, while Quentin figures he won't be getting any until he's rich, famous, and beloved.

BRIAN: "Aren't you already rich?"

QUENTIN: "Yes, but not famous or beloved."

Brian tells him, if nothing else, he likes him, and thanks Quentin for still talking to him after all the "Hellions" crap. Quentin appreciates it, with him mentioning that Brian is the only one who directly apologized to him, but he really never even blamed him. 

QUENTIN: "You're a sheep who lives among a pack of wolves. You did what you had to do to survive. I believed Cessily to be a sheep as well, but she's shown her true colors." 

BRIAN, weirded out: "Riiiiight." 

Brian turns his attention away from his new sorta-friend, and toward Iceman, just in time to hear…

ICEMAN: "...but listen, it may be my job to teach you all how to do this yourself, but for all you studs, I'm rooting for you to have someone else doing it." 

Among a mix of awkward laughter and a single enthusiastic cheer from Specter, Brian raises an eyebrow. 

The bell rings and everyone starts clearing out. As Brian stands, Quentin's face lights up as he checks to make sure Brian is still free to come with him to Jumbo Carnation's fashion show that weekend. 

BRIAN: "I still can't believe you're into fashion."

QUENTIN: *Snapping his suspenders*: "I don’t see how."

Brian laughs. 

BRIAN: "Yeah, man. I'm there."

As Brian walks off, Quentin eagerly turns to Glob, who was sitting on the opposite side of him, and raises his hand for a high five. 

QUENTIN: "Wooh! A second friend! Gonna be great."

Glob taps Quentin's hand. 

In the hangar bag, Scott is prepping the Blackbird and…is also telling it what a good girl it is. With the new engine he had Beast install, she's gonna fly better than ever. 

"Eh hem". 

Scott, embarrassed, turns around to find Ororo behind him, an amused smile on her face. 

Scott: "Ororo, I was just…um…"

Storm laughs and tells him to be calm. She likes the rare moments he allows himself to be at ease. 

Scott asks if this means they're talking again…again. Ororo confesses that she'll never be able to stay mad at him forever.

STORM: "Although Kitty may be a different story."

Scott: "She learned a lot from Logan. Including how to hold a grudge."

Scott follows up and asks if this also means she's willing to give Emma a chance. Storm confirms that, no, actually, she's more suspicious than ever. 

Scott sighs and rubs his forehead, but Ororo tells him to listen to her. No, obviously, she has not been fond of Emma's presence since she arrived, nor has she supported…whatever is going on between her and Scott…but this is different. She spoke to Emma just now and she seemed different. And yet also familiar. 

Scott asks her to stop, but Ororo refuses. She knows she sensed a darkness around her earlier, and she fears she knows why. She came here on his invitation, broke up his marriage, and has had him largely isolated recently - the latter a strategy they both know she's used to control people before. 

SCOTT: "Get to the point."

STORM: "The point is that I believe she's tired of denying her true nature. And she desires to drag you into darkness with her."

Scott stares down at the floor in thought. 

SCOTT: "Ok."

STORM: "Okay?"

Cyclops tells her he's hearing her, and assures her he does get why she's concerned. There are no telepaths stronger than Emma left on Earth, but Betsy and Rachel, together, should still be able to get in her mind, no problem. She can call them and have them investigate as soon as he and Emma get home. In the meantime, she's in charge. 

Storm concedes that that's fair. It doesn't happen often, but she hopes that she's wrong. 

Storm wishes him luck and flies off, passing Emma on her way out.  The two exchange one more glare. 

Ororo immediately flies to the teacher's lounge, where Kitty, Beto, and Bobby are having lunch together. She tells Kitty that she's decided to accompany Cyclops and Emma on their France mission for the next several days; she's in charge while they're all gone. 

KITTY: "Wait, I'm fourth in command?!"

BETO AND BOBBY, mouths full: "She's fourth in command???"

Storm knows she'll do well, offering brief encouragement before departing in a rush. 

Kitty's stomach rumbles, and she doesn't think it was the tuna. 

In the cafeteria, the friend group, sans Brian, is having lunch. With Noriko having evidently decided to share with everyone else what she shared with Julian, Cessily wants to know more about the "Old Noriko". 

CESSILY: "Were you boy crazy? Were you super excited about school festivals and stuff?!"

NORIKO: "One, please learn about Japan from something other than anime. Two, yes. Yes, I was."

Everyone laughs. 

JULIAN: "She also mentioned while we were in the med bay that she was on the volleyball team."

The laughter continues as Noriko buries her face in her hands. 

ROXY: "So you DO have a hobby!"

NORIKO, embarrassed and growling: "Screw you, Keller."

JULIAN: "Not in your wildest dreams."

Sofia rolls her eyes. After what the two of them went through together, she'd hoped they'd be a little kinder toward one another. 

Noriko and Julian both bristle at that, but underneath the table, we see that they're playfully kicking at each other's feet. 

CESSILY: "Wait, Nori! If we could get a volleyball team started here, I could cheer for you!"

Even more laughter. Nori wants to die. 

NORIKO, to Laura: "I don't suppose you can distract everyone by telling us about the time you killed some pro volleyball player?"

Laura tilts her head and thinks. 

LAURA: "I don't think I ever killed a VOLLEYball player."

Sooraya pats her on the back. 

Brian arrives, taking his seat and asking everyone if they've noticed anything "off" about Mr. Drake. 

JULIAN: "You mean besides the fact he's dumber than Ashida?" 

Nori adds a little shock to their game of footsie, making him fall out of his seat.

While everyone now laughs at Julian, instead, Brian explains what he's talking about. Namely, he seems unnaturally horny. And in contrast to how sexless the rest of the teachers are around them, besides Ms. Frost, he can't help but wonder if he's maybe over-performing. 

CESSILY: "You think Iceman might be gay?"

ROXY: "I dunno. Seems pretty straight to me. Guy's gotten to sleep with Polaris. You'd be horny too if you lost that."

BRIAN: "I really wouldn't be." 

Brian sighs. He can't just ask him something like this, you don't just drag someone out of the closet…but maybe he could find out if he's right and ease him out at the same time. 

NORIKO: "This sounds like a terrible plan that could only have even worse consequences and I support you 100%."

LAURA: "I'm bored. I'll help." 

NORIKO: "Oh even better! 

In a dialogue-free montage, Scott and Emma are yucking it up in the Blackbird as they fly to France, with Storm trailing right behind them, staying just far away enough for her to not be picked up by the plane’s sensors. 

In France, Storm, in disguise, follows Scott and Emma and is deeply annoyed when she discovers the two are just on a getaway, having fun, and not actually doing any work. Still, she keeps watching just in case that changes. It does not. She’s simply left annoyed as she watches Emma drag Scott around Paris, the two getting lunch in a fancy restaurant, catching the opera, and, clearly, Scott’s favorite part, taking a helicopter tour. 

Storm looks like she’s two seconds away from killing herself in frustration by the end of this. 

Back in the teacher’s lounge, Iceman is watching TV.  There’s a knock on the door, and Bobby laughs that they don’t need to knock. Brian and Laura enter. 

ICEMAN: “Oh. Kids. I guess you did need to knock.” He continues to talk as they approach him. “You know it’s weird they let you be an X-Man but treat you like another one of the students, right?” 

LAURA: “Believe me, I know.” 

Brian re-introduces himself since he and Iceman haven’t really talked, but Bobby does know him. After all, he’s one of their “X-Men in Training”. 

ICEMAN: “You’re the Alpha-level telekinetic, right?” 

TAG: “No. I just said I’m Tag. I tag myself and make people run away.” 

ICEMAN: “Right, right, right.” Iceman mumbles to himself that that doesn’t seem like much of an X-Man power. Brian hears this and sneers. “So, what do you need?” 

Brian says that he’s pretty open about it, but he’s gay. Bobby thinks he should be talking to Northstar then. He seems to be getting along with that other gay kid. Well, about as well as Jean-Paul gets along with anyone. 

ICEMAN: “Wait, does this have to do with sex ed? Oh god please tell me it doesn’t have to do with me.” 

Brian takes a breath, trying to stay focused and keep his cool. He gets that this can be hard. He asks Bobby if he’s into anyone right now. Bobby says not really, but, well, he wouldn’t say no to a night with Dazzler. 

BRIAN: “Dazzler. Interesting choice. And what about–?” 

LAURA: “Are you gay?” 

BOBBY: “WHAT?!” 

BRIAN: “LAURA!” 

LAURA, shrugging: “I came because I was bored. I was getting bored again.” 

Bobby is frustrated, annoyed and confused, but makes clear that, no, no he is very much not gay. There’s nothing wrong with living like that, but it’s not his speed. He tells them both to get out. Now. 

BRIAN: “I just thought–” 

ICEMAN: “Now!” 

Dejected, Brian exits, Laura following along. 

LAURA: “We did our best.” 

Brian glares at her. 

LAURA: “What?” 

In Scott’s office, Kitty is at his desk being forced to pick up his and Emm’s workload. After less than a day, she already seems to be losing her mind. She’s struggling to juggle all of the phone calls, emails, reports, and scheduling required of her. 

Eventually, she finds herself with a moment to breathe…only for Dazzler to stomp in, pissed off. Apparently, Kitty sent her a notice that she’s to go out of her to spend some time with the Cuckoos. 

DAZZLER: “I’m not dealing with those little terrors! They’re Emma’s problem!” 

Kitty rubs her forehead and softly asks Allison not to shout. For one, this was Scott’s idea, not hers. They may be Emma’s squad, but they’ve expressed that they’re fans of, and want to be like, Dazzler. So, they need her to be a good rolemodel for them. They’re not asking. 

DAZZLER: “Gross. This is going to be worse than all of those, “Win a Chance to Spend a Day with Dazzler” sweepstakes.” 

Allison agrees, but mumbles about finding a new agent as she exits. 

Kitty sighs as she leans back in her chair, but she is once again denied a moment of peace. A stepping disc opens behind her, and Magik puts her hands over her eyes. 

MAGIK: “Guess who!” 

KITTY: “Ugggh. Selene Gallio?” 

MAGIK: “Ha! She wishes!” 

Magik teleports in front of Kitty and asks why she’s such a mess. Kitty explains that she never quite realized WHY they needed multiple headmasters, and she’s now terrified that this is going to be all on her one day. 

Yana thinks she’s looking at this the wrong way though. Instead of freaking out about having to do all this work, she should use her minions. 

KITTY: “My minions?”

MAGIK: “The teachers! They’re all here because they want to be. And if they want to work so bad, they may as well be working as hard as those in gulags.” 

Kitty doesn’t like the “gulag” part…but maybe she could get some help from them. Magik tells her not to worry about it. She can just stay focused on what she’s doing now. Just give her the authority, and she’ll whip them all into shape. 

Kitty takes a moment to consider if she should really do this. 

KITTY: “Fine. You know what, it’s either this or I drink, and I’m not 21 for another month! Let’s give it a try!” 

Magik laughs maniacally. 

KITTY: “Not helping, Yana.” 

In Paris, Scott and Emma get checked into a hotel. Storm is completely fed up and is frustrated in disbelief that this is what they left the school for. She’s about to head home, but before she flies off, she notices someone exiting the same hotel. Someone who’s been referenced, but never seen before. 

STORM: “Fabian Cortez.” 

On his phone, Fabian tells someone that he’s on his way, and that their final participants have arrived. It’s time for the new hunt to begin. Storm is left to ponder as Fabian gets into his car and is driven off. 

Storm shuts her eyes and softly vocalizes everything she knows. Cortez was one of Magneto’s followers during his darker days, but he also worked alongside Trevor Fitzroy as one of the Upstarts, a group of rich and powerful Mutants who “hunted” other Mutants for their own sick amusement. The Upstarts fell apart after Fitzroy was killed…by Emma, after the Upstarts murdered the Hellions. If they’ve reassembled, their new hunt needs to be nipped in the bud before anyone gets hurt, but she has no idea who she could be facing. 

Ororo turns back to the hotel, thinking about looking to Cyclops and Emma for backup. 

STORM: “Their final participants have arrived. No…no, it couldn’t be. Scott would never. Even Emma would never work with THEM.”  

Storm thinks about it for a minute more…before deciding she cannot risk it, and flies after Cortez to face the new Upstarts alone. 

In the gymnasium, Laura is running Brian through his hand-to-hand combat drills, since the Danger Room was taken offline once again after it almost took Emma’s head off. Notably, unlike Sofia’s training sessions with her, this does not involve sparring with Wolverine. 

Brian complains to Laura that she was supposed to help with Iceman, not do exactly what he said not to. Laura counters that his strategy wasn’t getting anywhere. She could read from his body language and how he reacted to what she said that Brian was right if that’s any consolation. 

BRIAN: “Barely.” 

Brian sighs that there has to be something they can do to help him, but Laura has a question. 

LAURA: “So many cultures seem to take issue with attraction to one’s own sex. Why?” 

BRIAN: “Why do people hate Mutants?” 

Laura pauses. 

LAURA: “Hate and fear. Weaknesses of the mind.” She pops out her claws. “People should be afraid of me for this. But why fear who I want to kiss?” 

BRIAN: “You mean why fear you for wanting to kiss Sofia?” 

Laura, unamused, flips Brian off with a single claw. 

Brian wishes he got it himself, but he’s not exactly a history scholar. All he knows is that religion has “something” to do with it, the hate has been passed down for thousands of years, and people are always just looking for something to get angry at. 

BRIAN: “Not like they can’t just read comics if that’s what they want.” 

Laura asks if that’s why he and Cessily got so into the whole “Hellions” thing. 

LAURA: “You’re both angry. At the whole world. And that what your way of getting back at it. Right?” 

BRIAN: “...something like that.” 

Brian admits that he knows it was wrong, and he knew it was wrong at the time, but it still felt so good. He felt like he was powerful and had no reason to be afraid at all. 

Inside a warehouse, a platinum haired woman in red and yellow looks up at a blank scoreboard as she sips a glass of wine,  excitedly moaning over how good it is. Really, it’s the perks like these that she missed most about running with the Upstarts. 

Brian asks if Laura will spar with him like she spars with Sofia. He wants to get stronger. Laura warns him he'll get hurt, but he's up to the challenge.

As she stuffs horderves in her face, a young man in a suit approaches her, questioning what she HAS been doing. She’s as powerful as any Mutant, but she’s been, what, robbing banks? 

“Really, Sienna, I’d have thought you’d do more.” 

SIENNA BLAZE: “Ah, shut it, Shaw. You don’t know my story.” 

 “Nor do I particularly care about it. And please, it’s Shinobi.” 

Cortez enters with a wide, fake grin on his face, telling his old accomplices how lovely they both look tonight and how happy he is they could make it for this little reunion. Shinobi tells him to drop the bit. He’s only here because Cortez promised this hunt would conclude with a group assault on the Xavier Institute, and he wants to wring his hands around the necks of the children who humiliated his father. Sienna is more of the spirit of things and is excited to get started, questioning if the only ones yet to arrive are the newbies. 

SHINOBI: “I certainly hope so. Otherwise, that would mean our dear host invited…” 

“Greetings, old friends!” 

Shinobi and Sienna both cringe as Andreas and Andrea Von Strucker enter the scene. Fabian happily greets them both, blowing air kisses at the two, delighted that Baron Von Strucker’s wonderful children could rejoin them for this. 

Shinobi and Sienna both glare at Cortez. 

CORTEZ: “What? They’re good at what they do?” 

Sienna groans while Shinobi pinches his nose and moans, “Damn nazis.” 

Andreas mocks that they’re clearly intimidated by them, while Sienna clarifies that, no, they just don’t want them kissing in front of them. 

ANDREA: “For someone so promiscuous, you sure are a prude.” 

SIENNA: “Who are you calling a prune?! Oh I am ready to start this hunt right now!” 

Before Sienna can start something, Fabian tells everyone to calm down and not be so hasty. Their final players should be arriving any moment now. 

An explosion occurs, blowing a hole in one of the warehouse’s walls, with two men, recognized by comic fans as John Greycrow and Riptide, flying through it, unconscious. Everyone turns their attention to the attack, as Storm enters, lit up with electricity and floating above the Upstarts. 

STORM: “Whatever any of you are considering doing next…I recommend surrendering instead.” 

Naturally, the Upstarts aren’t going to back down that easily, and ready themselves for battle. 

Back in America, Bobby has come to visit Chrisitan Frost. Christian eagerly greets him, referring to him as “my hero”, and it’s established they’ve seen each other a couple of other times since Iceman saved Christian from the U-Men. 

BOBBY: “I’m sure you’re just happy to have ANYONE besides your sister visiting you.” 

CHRISTIAN: “Are you implying that nearly all my social interaction for a decade and a half involving social gossip and hearing about the latest lives Emma’s destroyed would get tiring? Because you don’t know the half of it.” 

Christian obviously doesn’t have any news himself, but he likes hearing about the newest going ons with the X-Men from him; he’s more honest about the embarrassing parts than Emma is. 

BOBBY: “Uh, well, Emma’s with Cyclops in France right now. To be determined what that’s about. We just took in a demon? I guess? We’re still trying to–” 

Christian cuts him off. 

CHRISTIAN: “Stop. A demon? Demons are real?” 

BOBBY: “Wow, you’re as out of the loop as the dumb kids I teach.” 

Bobby laughs, before spinning that out into a tangent about his earlier encounter with Brian and Laura. He couldn’t believe these kids! Why the Hell would they think he’s gay?! Christian raises an eyebrow and reminds him that HE’S gay. 

BOBBY, gesturing to their surroundings: “Obviously! And obviously, I have nothing against gay people!” 

CHRISTIAN: “Then why do you sound so offended?” 

BOBBY: “I’m not offended!” 

The two stare each other down until Christian laughs. Bobby asks what’s so funny. 

CHRISTIAN: “Nothing, nothing. I’d just forgotten how those words sounded.” 

Christian reminds Bobby that he’s quite a bit older than him, and tells him that what he’s saying is normal. He acted this way too. A lot of them have. It’s what they’re taught to say. 

CHRISTIAN: “To be honest, you aren’t hard to peg. At least in that way. I saw it the day we met. I’m sorry those brats brought this up to you before you were ready.” 

BOBBY: “Are you calling me gay too?” 

CHRISTIAN: “You’re something. If you need to deny it more, go ahead. That’s your choice. But think about all the thoughts you’ve had. Think about your life. And make that choice with everything in mind.” 

BOBBY, hanging his head: “I…I don’t…you’re not trying to seduce me, are you? Cause I know you Frosts like younger men.” 

CHRISTIAN: “Keep making jokes if you have to. Whatever makes you comfortable.” Christian smirks at him flirtatiously. “And I’m only trying to seduce you if you want me to be.” 

Bobby stares off into space as he wraps a sheet of ice around his face. 

In Sunspot’s bedroom, he’s on the phone with Monet, who’s screaming at him in French. Roberto, also speaking in French, asks her to please stop shouting. No, Cyclops and Emma haven’t figured out what they’re doing. Frankly, he’d be embarrassed if they already had. No, they’re just in France doing…something. 

MONET, over the phone: “I am not going down helping you, Da Costa. Especially not to Ms. Frost.” 

There’s a knock on the door. 

ROBERTO: “We haven’t done anything wrong. Yet. Try to have some faith in me, hmm? I have to go.” 

Roberto takes off his headphones, hangs up, and answers the door. 

KITTY, disheveled, but less than before, grinning: “Hi!” She dumps a stack of papers in his hands. “Bye!” 

Kitty starts walking away, but Beto follows and asks what this is. Kitty explains that she’s in charge, and she’s decided to delegate some of her duties as temporary headmistress. 

KITTY: “Have fun!” 

Magik appears beside Kitty as she gets away from Sunspot and the two giggle together. The look on his face just now was priceless! The most nostalgic thing she’s seen since she got here. 

KITTY: “Yeah…wake up the others.” 

In their bedrooms, Beast, Nightcrawler, Dazzler, Northstar, and Warpath are all woken up from their peaceful slumber as airhorns mystically emerge next to their heads and blow out their eardrums, before Yana’s voice comes out of them, shouting at them to get up NOW; there’s work to be done. 

HANK, rubbing his head: “As if I needed another reason to leave.” 

In France, while the rest of the Upstarts are ready to tear Storm to shreds, Cortez approaches her with open arms and asks if she’s here to join them on their hunt. They may disagree about whether or not Mutants are a higher form of life than humans, but she is Storm, the so-called goddess - she thinks herself a higher form of life than everyone. 

Storm threatens him not to presume to understand her, but the Fenris twins believe he has her pegged. For someone so insufferably arrogant, it’s peculiar that she doesn’t flex more. Not that they’d expect someone like her to know what she was doing. 

Storm calls down a bolt of lightning from the heavens and blasts Fenris away. 

CORTEZ: “So much for the open hand of friendship!” 

Charged up with electromagnetic energy, Sienna flies at Storm. She kicked her ass once, and this time she’s putting her in the ground for good. 

SIENNA: “Assuming there’s enough left of you for that.” 

As Storm flies and deflects her attacks, mocking that she’s deluding herself if she believes she’s the same Mutant she was when they first fought years ago, increased pressure is put on her as a still conscious Fenris hold hands and attempt to shoot her down with energy blasts. 

Andreas reminds her that Blaze isn’t the only one to have nearly taken her out, with Andrea following that if she hadn’t been so annoying and survived, shooting her in her ugly little face would have been the happiest of memories. 

Storm summons a fierce wind and sends all three of them flying back into a wall. Staying alert, she scans with her eyes for Cortez and Shinobi. Shinobi attempts to get the drop on her, literally, as he phases through the ceiling, and attempts to skewer her with a katana from above. Ororo dodges, and continues to dance around his blade swipes, as he continues to say that the X-Men, and especially her, are nothing but hypocrites. They all know they’re above humanity, but they’re too weak to act on that and have the nerve to judge and get in the way of those attempting to take their rightful place. Especially in Storm’s case, if there was ever a spine behind that ego, she’d make a fearsome queen. 

Storm’s eyes widen with rage, as her memory flashes through Emma torturing her years ago, as well as Cyclops and Emma kissing, and the image of the Phoenix. 

STORM: “I AM NO QUEEN!” 

Reaching out her hand, Storm engulfs Shinobi in a localized snowstorm, freezing him instantly; phasing won’t save him. 

STORM: “I am nothing like her.” 

Storm is ready to deal with the others next, but she suddenly feels extremely weak. Fabian laughs as he approaches from behind. Whatever she’d like to deny, she absolutely is as arrogant as himself. She was in such a rush to be the big hero, she clearly forgot about what he could do. 

CORTEZ: “I cannot shut off the powers of an Omega such as yourself entirely, but I can damn sure make you weak enough for a strengthened Blaze to obliterate you.” 

ANDREA: “You’re boosting us as well, yes?” 

ANDREAS: “We deserve to–!” 

Before the nazi twins can say anything else, Blaze screams as Cortez increases her power level, and the uncontrolled electromagnetic forces she manipulates rip Fenris apart, killing them both. 

Storm looks on in horror, unsure of what she can do. 

At the Institute, it’s the dead of night, and while Kitty and Magik are asleep peacefully in their beds, most of the other teachers are passed out in the teacher’s lounge or in their classrooms while working. Only Beast is still awake, as he kvetches and mocks Kitty’s order. 

BEAST: “I want the Danger Room fixed already!, she says. As if I haven’t been working on it for months. There is nothing wrong with it!” 

Hanging upside down in the Danger Room, Hank finishes eating a banana. He’s still hungry though. A peanut butter and banana sandwich before returning to this impossible task sounds good. 

Hank heads down the hall but hears strange sounds and banging coming from somewhere. He follows the noise to a closet. He’s hesitant to open it, but when the magnitude of the rumbling increases and it sounds like things are breaking, he feels he has no choice. 

Hank screams as he sees Julian and Noriko forcefully making out in the closet, their powers going wild and breaking everything else inside. The two teens of course scream in response to Hank screaming. 

JULIAN: “We were just kissing!” 

NORIKO: “We are NOT dating!” 

JULIAN: “I would never date this loser.” 

NORIKO: “And I would never date this jerk.” 

JULIAN: “Do NOT tell Sofia!” 

NORIKO: “Or anyone! 

Hank composes and gives them both a blank stare. If they promise to use protection if this goes further, he’ll forget he saw anything. Noriko and Julian instantly nod. Hank sighs as he walks off, shutting the door behind him. Julian and Noriko immediately resume making out. 

In France, the raging Sienna screams in agony as she brings down the building around them, shaking the world. Storm does her best to dodge her attacks, all while keeping an eye on Cortez. She knows that if she can just land a hit on him and knock him out, Blaze will pass out from exhaustion. This becomes more difficult as Cortez pulls out a gun, attempting to aid Blaze in shooting Storm out of the sky. 

CORTEZ: “Isn’t this so much more fun than a bank robbery, Sienna?! The hunt may be spoiled, but when we’re done here, we can still go and kill every last X-Man, and all their little–” 

Storm, spotting a split-second opportunity, shoots a lightning blast at Cortez. He’s sent flying into rubble. However, he gets up just a moment later, remarking that the collision hurt more than that little taze. 

As things get worse and worse, and we see various parts of France throughout the episode being affected by Blaze’s attacks, Storm changes tactics, pleading with Blaze to try and control herself. They agree on nothing, but if mass destruction was what she longed for, she could have achieved that long ago. She must stop, for everyone else, and for herself. 

Blaze tries to fight it, slowing down her attacks as her own body cracks, but Cortez won’t be having that, and further boosts her. What follows is overwhelming. 

The warehouse is completely destroyed, Shinobi seemingly killed, and Blaze’s blast all but knocks Storm out, with her severely injured and barely clinging to consciousness. 

Cortez laughs maniacally as he tells Blaze to finish it. Kill Storm, and wipe out this entire Flatscan civilization! 

Blaze screams, Cortez laughs, and Storm struggles to stand…until the former two simply fall over unconscious. The Earth ceases to shake and Storm breathes a sigh of relief. 

STORM: “What just…?” 

“Not to speak down to you as if you were a student, but I must ask: what were you thinking coming here alone?” 

Storm cringes as she pushes herself to stand up. Emma has arrived on the scene. 

The next morning at the Institute, the friend group is having breakfast in the cafeteria. Cessily is excitedly telling everyone how she just got the call from the Washingtons, and she’s going to be a background dancer in their next video. 

While this is going on, Sofia, who’s still sitting as far away from Julian as she can, lapses into old feelings and sends a small wind over his way to put his stray hair back in place. Julian smiles at her and she smiles back, but when Julian looks back in front of him at Noriko, she shoots him a look that says, “Dude, what the Hell are you doing?”. From the look on Julian’s face, he has no idea either. Laura watches all three of them intently. 

Iceman approaches the kids and asks Brian if he can talk to him alone for a minute. Brian says sure, and the two end up in Bobby’s classroom. 

Brian starts apologizing to Mr. Drake for yesterday, but Bobby tells him to stop. He can’t deny what Brian and Laura said touched a nerve and, after talking about it with someone else and making him think, maybe he was onto something. He’s still not sure. But he’s sorry he snapped at the kids, “I don’t think Wolverine cares about hearing an apology”, and he’s grateful to Brian for at least reaching out to try and help; he’s a good kid. 

Brian thanks him and tells him there’s no need to be sorry. He gets it. And he’s happy to have at least helped Mr. Drake start questioning. 

BOBBY: “About that…what made you think that anyway?” 

Brian explains to him how his pretty extreme outward heterosexuality is a pretty common sign. Some other little things he picks up too. And also...he may have been projecting a little. 

BRIAN: “Real talk? I’ve been a fan since before I even knew I was a Mutant. I love my dad, I wouldn’t trade him for anyone, but…he’s kind of a dork. Didn’t really have anyone immediately around who was “big and tough” to emulate like I wanted, you know? But then, I’d see clips of you online. Strongest guy in the world. Wanted to be just like you.” 

BOBBY, laughing to himself, pretending to be humble: “Strongest guy in the world? I don’t know about that, I haven’t fought Magneto or Exodus since I got this powerful, but…sorry, continue.” 

Brian goes on to say that part of why he tries to help his friends as much as he can, tried to help Mr. Drake…part of why he went with the Hellions thing…was because he knows he’ll never be strong on his own. End of the day, he’s only an X-Man in Training because he made the right friends. End of the day, they’ll all be X-Men, he won’t be. 

BRIAN: “You said it yourself. Tagging isn’t much of an X-Man power.” 

Bobby shakes his head. He thinks Brian misunderstands a few things. He wasn’t ALWAYS an Omega. Back when he was Brian’s age, he was considered the weakling of the original 5 X-Men. The dumb little brother who everyone needed to protect. How was throwing snowballs and tripping people on slippery roads supposed to make a real difference? 

BOBBY: “There may be a lot more power inside you than you realize. And even if there isn’t? There are all kinds of ways the X-Men could use someone with a power like yours. You’ve got potential. And if the rest of the X-Men didn’t think so, they would have swapped you out for someone else.” 

Brian thanks him. He’ll keep all that in mind. He should get back to his friends now though. But hey, maybe if he wants to start exploring his potential queerness for real, he’d want to come with him and Quentin to Jumbo Carnation’s upcoming fashion show? 

BOBBY: “HA! No. Nope. Appreciate the offer, but I am definitely not ready for something like that.” 

Brian gets it and the two fist bump. 

In the office, several of the teachers haven’t shown up for their classes, and she can’t reach them on their phones or communicators. She has no idea what’s going on. 

In the corner, Magik laughs. Really? Does the girl genius have no idea? 

MAGIK: “KItty, you overworked your minions all night! They’re probably all exhausted and passed out!” 

KITTY: “They’re all superheroes, I thought they could handle it! Wait, if you knew this would happen, why did you tell me to do this?!” 

MAGIK: “Duh, because I’m a queen with years of experience, and when you end up taking this place over for real, you should know what you’re doing. Lessons like this are necessary.” Illyana boops Kitty’s nose. “You’re welcome.” 

As Magik shuts her eyes and smugly waits for an apology, Kitty growls and jumps at her, phasing them both through the floor. Magik just laughs. 

In the rubble of the destroyed warehouse, Storm demands Emma not to take one step closer and explain what’s going on here. Emma sighs that Ororo never can just thank her. Not long ago, they received a report from SHIELD that Domino had been apprehended after being caught working for Fabian. Hating to see a former X-Man in human custody, she arranged a deal for her. She’d pull strings to get her out, in exchange for information that would result in Cortez’s capture. She convinced her to go along with it, and so she came out here to apprehend him, dragging Scott along for a bit of fun. She didn’t want his help though.  

EMMA: “For me, facing the Upstarts alone was personal. Why would you not seek out our aid? And why did you follow us at all?” 

Storm cools off and sighs before explaining that she didn’t trust them. She hasn’t ever trusted Emma, of course, but she sensed something especially off with her earlier. She was concerned with what she was planning on doing, both WHILE here, and TO Scott. 

Emma rolls her neck and concedes she can’t entirely blame her. For any of it. She can see how her relationship with Scott may seem suspicious in light of everything, but all it is is that she’s never had someone she cared for in such a way. She’s not sure she likes how that feels, but she knows she wants to keep him close. And what she sensed earlier was likely her murderous intent. She freely admits she was not planning on allowing any of the Upstarts to survive. 

EMMA: “I was a monster in the past. Towards you, especially. I understand your hate. And I cannot deny, that treatment of you…came from jealousy.” 

Storm doesn’t buy THAT at all, an amused smirk on her face. Emma knows how ridiculous and embarrassing it sounds, but it’s true. After Jean’s death, they were the two most powerful women in the world. But no matter her bluster, Emma knew she was a distant second to Ororo. That was why she hated her so much. 

Ororo smiles and questions what has Emma opening up like this, saying all these pretty words she’d never say. Emma answers that, frankly, this feud between them had become exhausting. And it’s reaching a point where it’s putting their lives in danger. She just wants it put to bed. 

Storm looks at Emma for a few moments. 

STORM: “Once again, the opportunity to betray us was open to you. And once again, you prove yourself an ally. So long as we’re sharing things we never would, and you are humbling yourself, perhaps I have been too harsh with you. You will always be a monster in my eyes. That cannot be changed. But I can try and understand that that isn’t who you really are. Not anymore.” 

EMMA: “I’m certainly not asking for us to be friends so that sounds like a nice start.” 

Emma reaches out a hand, and Ororo shakes it. 

STORM: “You may be a distant #2, but we should still be able to achieve a great deal cooperating with one another.” 

EMMA: “Oh, don’t make this a whole thing, goddess.” 

Emma asks if Ororo would care for a room in the hotel, but Storm thinks she’ll just be heading up. She left Kitty in charge and she’s not sure she thought that one through. Emma tells her it’s probably fine; Ororo raised her well. 

With smiles on their faces, Ororo starts flying away from Emma, as the usual episode wrapup music kicks in…

…only for it to be cut off, as, on a close-up of an evil smirk on Emma’s face, she whispers, “Finally”. 

With a psychic blast, Emma shoots Ororo out of the sky. Storm is still conscious, but she’s completely paralyzed. Emma snickers as she floats over to her. 

EMMA: “Oh Storm. Always so arrogant. Of course “humbling” myself before the goddess was what would finally make you drop your guard. I should have seen it sooner.” She bends down and whispers in Storm’s ear. “You thought I was planning to betray the X-Men? You thought I was trying to corrupt Cyclops? You didn’t believe that I’d ever truly changed? Congratulations wind witch: you were right.” 

Emma laughs manically as Ororo’s eyes fill with fear and rage. 

[lordkingsmith]

What ranger do you think is far stronger than what was shown on PR? Or like if you had any headcanons based on their powers👀

Mystic Rangers and Bridge. Straight up. Bridge was acknowledged to just keep getting mentally stronger, which is good for him. I feel sorry for him because he’s picking up psychic powers like Pokémon but hey. We love the god level psychics around here. Jean Grey is my girl in x-men ok. Bridge isn’t that different and I love him for it.

Also; we saw Mystics before the mystic rangers. Rita, Rito, Vile. We KNOW these guys are power houses. The only thing I can say for them is that they were smart and had those kids in the middle of training. We see and saw how powerful Clair was when she mastered her powers. Koragg is never NOT a threat. They can survive becoming undead with no real problem other than light magic keeps sounding alarms when they’re around. They can shapeshift. Survive 20 years being turned into toads. And then the space ones? Rito’s preferred mode of space transport was turning himself into a comet. The thing is we don’t know what the mystic’s actual hard stop limits are. Self imposed limits? Or meeting more powerful beings? Yea we know that but what CAN’T they do???

Headcanon wise, for the mystics, the rangers exhibit qualities and personality traits of the beasts their suits are. Not colors. Nick keeps reinventing himself and running when he burns bridges because he’s a Phoenix; that’s what phoenix’s DO. Vida is quirky and into music and a little Cursed in the way she behaves because she’s a fairy. We are operating on Fae rules with her. She’s Tinkerbell with a weapon. I don’t think it’s a coincidence vampires operate on similar rules, either, by the way.

Minotaur animal suit? Guy attached to it is a hothead and also loyal and a bit bumbling. And single minded. I headcanon that ties into who they are as mystics and their powers and thus why they got the suits. They’re Fae Mystic, Phoenix Mystic, Mermaid Mystic et cet.

[helluvascribe]

Zoophobia

Chapter One: “Cameron’s Early Years”

“Greetings. My name is Salvia, a human staff member at Zoo Phoenix Academy. Don’t mind my thick red hair, it often covers my face. I love romance films and novels and I play violin. I also have extensive knowledge of psychic powers and prophecy. Me having existed since ancient times could explain it.”

“Let me tell you an incredible, albeit bizarre story about the world I’m from. It is what mortals call ’Zoophobia.’ First, a provenance about said world…”

“Safe Haven…it is a sanctuary, an oasis for animals, anthropomorphic beings and other creatures. The Zoo Phoenix Academy is part of it. We sustain ourselves here…and serve as a utopia and protected escape for all kinds of creatures that are ostracized by the human-dominated world beyond the Oceania Forest. That is why there are so few humans here.”

“Safe Haven is split into seven districts and each district has an important purpose and contributes to the society as a whole. The Animal District, Capital City, the wealthy E! District, Marine District, Avian District, the Farming District and the District of Magic. (Do not go to Xirxine Labs, they do horrible experiments on beings deemed ‘troublesome.’) Pacts were made and spells were cast to prohibit malevolent forces from entering the boundaries of Safe Haven. But to maintain the peace and tranquility of this thriving culture, very specific rules were put into effect by the original peacekeepers who founded Safe Haven.”

“Evil forces include evil spirits, rogue vampires, true demons, and blood hunters. (And don’t forget many of the entitled angels in Heaven, they can be deceiving.) The laws here are strict and they keep the dangers out, while keeping the citizens inside and safe. But this is why no living being is permitted to leave for good. It goes against the pacts that protect us. And breaking those pacts could lead to the corruption of the magic that shields us. Without magic, we would be at the mercy of not only dark monsters, but also outside humans who have wanted to hunt us all down. We would be overcome with the dark forces that have been wanting to enter Safe Haven for centuries.”

“Safe Haven has not had a violent crime or a dangerous predator in years, and we do everything we can to keep it that way. But one circumstance changed all that we knew.”

“This story first begins in the human world…and follows an ordinary female by the name of Cameron Walden…”

0 0 0

“Are you ready to go, sweetheart?”

“Coming, mommy!”

A jubilant fair-haired girl jumped for joy before dragging her small suitcase behind her down the hall. She was around six years old and her hair was slightly messy. Her golden-brown-haired mother looked at her with loving eyes.

“What will we do on our camping trip today?” little Cameron asked eagerly.

“Hmm,” she said. “Last year we went canoeing at the lake and made crafts out of sticks. Remember when we roasted marshmallows under the stars?”

“Oh yes!” Cameron said. “Those snores were delicious!”

“I think you mean s’mores,” her mother chuckled. “Your face and hands were so sticky afterwards. You looked like a goopy little monster.” She playfully pinched her cheeks and made a funny face as Cameron giggled.

“But I’m thinking this year, we’ll do some of your favorite activities. I know how much you enjoy fishing.”

“Oh yay!” Cameron cheered. “I remember daddy catching at least two. And I got to feel their smooth scaly skin. Glad he let them go at the end.”

“He might teach you this time. But you’ll have to be patient.”

“Don’t worry, I will…maybe.”

Her mother chuckled again. “Let’s go, your dad is waiting for us.”

Cameron’s father also had white skin and golden brown hair, except he had a scruffy beard that he often let Cameron feel. His eyes were kind and thoughtful and a Christian cross necklace hung around his neck. All of them wore casual jeans, brown hiking shoes and shirts of gray.

Soon, Cameron and her family piled into their car and Cameron’s father drove them through the city streets. The city was dull and gray, reminiscent of New York City but without the splendor. But even the smoggy city didn’t deter Cameron’s excitement. During the long drive to the woods, Cameron and her family sang some songs, played I Spy and that game where you call out a word and then have to call another word that starts with the end letter.

“Salad,” said Cameron’s father.

“Diver,” said her mother.

“River,” Cameron said.

“Ratable,” said her father.

“Uh, lion!” said her mother.

“Ha! You lose!” said her father.

“No fair! Ratable has a silent ‘e.’ You cheated!”

Her father just shrugged playfully and winked at Cameron before focusing back on the road.

“Why’d I space out like that?” her mother mumbled.

They entered through the woods, trees surrounding either side as they rushed by. The dullness of the city faded behind them as greenery whizzed to life as they drove.

“Have you ever thought about what you want to be when you grow up?” her mother asked.

“I don’t know,” Cameron answered. “But I do want to help people and make the world a better place!”

“Great spirit you have there,” her father remarked. “Anything in particular?”

“Maybe…a counselor! Or a zookeeper! Or maybe a marine biologist! Surely it can’t be that hard comforting animals and humans the same!”

“Well,” her mother began. “I know how much you love animals, especially fish. But humans are more…complex creatures. You need to have good listening skills in order to start. And…” she said in a singsong voice, “That means making friends!”

Cameron groaned. She was quite shy, even in her youth.

“I know it can be hard,” said her mother. “But you can’t expect to be alone forever. There are so many different individuals out there. And it’s true some of them may be...strange at first glance."

“What if they…don’t like me or hurt me?”

“No one would hurt you,” she said. “If they did, I’d make them run for the hills. Plus no one could possibly dislike such a sweet angel like yourself. Just take it one step at a time. You’ll find someone special to love. And I know you will be confident and successful one day, whatever you decide to do.”

Cameron smiled at the thought as they continued down a dirt path. Her mother had always wanted her to be happy above all else. The car swayed and bounced as they went deeper in. At last, they found their favorite camping spot and parked. It was a pleasant area with a few pine trees, a wooden bench and a small ledge overlooking a nearby lake. As Cameron’s father pitched the tent and gathered wood, Cameron and her mother gazed at the nearby lake. Sunlight shimmered and sparkled on the water, mesmerizing Cameron. A few ducks quacked off to the side and horsetail reeds swayed in the cool breeze. A dragonfly zoomed in and out among the reeds, occasionally touching the liquid surface. It was a relief to get away from the city and into the much cleaner fresh air.

After a fun day of hiking (Cameron identified several types of leaves and tracks), hide and seek (Cameron climbed a small tree but was found anyway) and fishing (Cameron caught one small fish), they had an early evening dinner over the fire. Cameron inhaled the scent of sizzling bratwurst and hamburgers as the meat cooked. A few stars had already appeared as the sun painted the sky orange and gold. The meat was delicious and slightly overcooked. Then they had s’mores for dessert.

“Aw man,” groaned her father as he stared at his blackened marshmallow on a stick, “I overdid mine.” Then he grinned playfully and proceeded to eat it.

“Gross!” Cameron remarked with a face. “How can you eat that?”

“A marshmallow is a marshmallow,” he said with a shrug.

Cameron’s marshmallow was a perfect golden brown in between the chocolate pieces and graham crackers. Cameron’s mother had her marshmallow plain white.

After the satisfying meal, Cameron was eager to explore some more. “Can we go on a quick hike, Dad?” she asked. “It’s not as hot now.” A refreshing breeze caressed her skin.

Her dad nodded. “There’s still some light out. We can look around and gaze at the stars too.”

“Just don’t go too far,” added her mother. “And take a flashlight with you.”

“See you shortly,” called her father as he took Cameron’s hand and began their nightly hike. Cameron’s mother waved with a smile while sitting on a log and finishing her dinner. The fire crackled brightly.

By now, the sky has turned a dark indigo. The moonlight lit the path in front of them but they were still careful not to trip over any stray sticks, holes or rocks. Along the way, they spotted a rabbit, several squirrels, and even a stag hidden among the trees. The natural world was a wondrous place for Cameron. She and her father eventually relaxed on a cool boulder, naming the various constellations above them.

“This is the best camping trip ever, Dad!” Cameron smiled.

“It sure has been lots of fun, kiddo,” her father smiled. For a while, they let themselves be mesmerized by the twinkling stars and the comforting sound of the still night air. Then all too soon, he sat up and said, “We should head on back. After all, an overnight sleepover never gets old.”

“Yeah, let’s go!” said Cameron. She let out a yawn and was looking forward to being warm in her cozy sleeping bag. They got off the rock and walked back hand in hand.

As they wondered the trails back toward camp, the forest was quiet. Eerily quiet. There were no bird songs or bugs or even the swaying of the wind. Even with the flashlight and moonlight, it grew much darker than before. Cameron grew silent and scooted closer to her father as they walked. A prickling feeling crept up to her neck…she felt like something was watching her. With every snap of a twig or rustle of leaves, she flinched slightly.

“Are there m-monsters out here?” she asked, almost in a whisper.

“Don’t be concerned. Other than the devil and wild animals, monsters don’t exist. Everything is fine,” her father assured her.

Cameron grew less and less convinced as they continued their trek. Shadows flickered and warped this way and that, a trick of the eyes. Cameron whimpered softly. Something tall loomed up ahead. A large tree was in front of them, larger than the other trees around. It looked like an ancient oak tree with hanging branches and a worn down trunk. Cyan fog surrounded the tree and the area, giving it an enigmatic and ominous feel.

A low hooting sound came from nearby. Cameron glanced at a black hole in the tree, at her eye-level. A smaller branch stuck off to the side of it. She peered inside and didn’t see anything.

But then…a pair of glowing yellow eyes blinked from inside. And a white owl emerged onto the branch! She shined her flashlight at it and it didn’t flinch. Just stared intently.

Cameron had never seen such a majestic creature before. It had white feathers, tiny black spots on its coat and a sharp hooked beak. But there was something peculiar about this owl. Looking closely, Cameron could make out zig-zag yellow stripes down the front of its body. And its eyes…they were big and yellow like an owl’s but seemed…older. Instead of being a single color, the large orbs glowed yellow with dark stripes like a bumblebee. It almost appeared as if the lines in the eyes were moving. Strange small jagged eyelashes jutted out from the sides of the orbs. The owl eyed Cameron like she was an innocent mouse; she did not like the look at all.

Cameron blinked and for a millisecond, she saw a bizarre being; what looked like a bird but with the head of a woman with white blonde hair and pale skin. Before she could comprehend what it was (a harpy), it had turned back into an owl in the blink of an eye. After letting out an ominous hoot, it vanished into the hole as Cameron’s father called her name. She hurried off to catch up to him.

Cameron shook her head, convinced it was just her fearful imagination. No owl would come out and look through her like that.

A strange sense of foreboding flowed through Cameron. She and her father quickened their pace.

 Back at camp, a low growling sound grew steadily louder.

Growl. Crunch. Crunch. Tap. Tap. Tap.

The sounds of steps and shuffling grew closer. Cameron’s mother looked around, holding a bratwurst in one hand.

Grooooowwwlll….snort, snort.

Hot breath on neck. Snapping of twigs.

Cameron’s mother slowly turned around, meeting large dark eyes…

A scream echoed out into the night, almost paralyzing Cameron in her tracks.

“Dad?”

 It was shrill and pleading…and then it rang out again.

Longer lasting screams and roars seemed to be coming from everywhere. The world seemed to be spinning.

“What was that?!” Cameron cried.

“I don’t know, but I have a feeling we need to get back,” said her father with concern. For the first time, he appeared sacred as well.

Without hesitation, her father grabbed hold of her hand and raced as fast as his legs could carry him. Cameron briefly tripped over a log but her father picked her up. A sudden gust of biting wind pushed against them, but they still ran. They flinched from the sudden cold and the dust that flew in their faces. It drowned out the screams until they faded away. The wind came to a howling peak and then halted as they reached the clearing.

Her father suddenly gasped and froze to a stop, Cameron almost bumping into him. His flashlight fell to the ground. There was the tangy smell of…Cameron figured it wasn’t the cooked dinner they had.

“Stay back, Cameron!” her father ordered sharply, pushing her behind him. “And don’t watch!”

But of course she did…then wished she hadn’t.

Standing over a figure in the dirt was a monstrous brown bear. The bear bared his sharp teeth, paw on its food, mouth caked with blood. Tearing and squelching was heard. Crimson splotches looked jarring in the limited light. And underneath the bear was…

“M-mom?!”

In one swift motion, her father retrieved a gun he had safely secured behind him and took aim.

Bang! Bang!

Several shots rang out, deafening like bombs. Cameron covered her ears and yelped. A primal bellow of protest followed. The bear roared one last time before bounding and stomping away. Bush leaves rustled as a few more shots rang out. Her father yelled curses and raced toward where the bear had left.

Creeping closer, Cameron sank to her knees and stared in disbelief. It was her mother…or what was left of her. Her face was ashen, dirty and pale, scratches all along her body. Her back and belly had disastrous bites, thick dark red blood oozing onto the grassy ground. Muscle and viscera were visible from the gashes.

Cameron turned her mother’s face around and was met with guttural heaving breaths. The unnatural agonizing kind right before death.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god…” Cameron muttered, voice cracking, eyes wide. “Somebody help! Help!” The smell made her gag, but she still stayed.

Her mother’s eyes fluttered. She slowly reached a pale shaking hand toward Cameron. Cameron moved closer as both their hands met. The cold clammy hand squeezed her little fingers.

“S-safe Haven…” she wheezed, staring long and hard into Cameron’s eyes. “You’ll do…g-great things. Unite them all. Stay safe, safe…”

“Mom, w-what do you mean? Safe Haven, what?”

“My a-angel…”

Her mother wheezed and croaked again before her hand went limp, letting go of Cameron’s fingers. Her mother gave her one last kind look before her eyes glazed over. She had stopped moving. Nothing but cold flesh, blood and a lifeless form.  

“Mom? Mom! Mooooom!!!”

Cameron’s father pulled her back a bit. Without a word, Cameron’s father cradled his wife’s body as Cameron buried her face in her bloodstained clothes.

Her father pulled her back a bit after gently lowing her mother to the ground. He closed her eyes with his fingers. She looked like she was asleep, even though she wasn’t. (Or if she was, it was eternal and dreamless. Or maybe she was already in Heaven; Cameron didn’t know). Cameron and her father stood silently still, embracing each other. Tears rolled down their faces, Cameron’s primal sobs echoing through the night. Her hands were stained with leftover blood. After about ten minutes of utter grief, her father looked at her.

“Cameron, get in the car.”

“W-why?”

“Just do it.”

A sternness and aloofness look appeared on his face, a look Cameron had never seen him make in front of her. The bright color and spark in his eyes had been snuffed out. Without waiting for another answer, her father picked her up, carried her over to the car and placed her in the back seat. The door closed. From outside, the fire was put out, leaving only dying embers and sad orange sparks. The light gray smoke curled into spirals, doing somber dances in the breeze before vanishing.

Cameron waited in the back seat, curled up into a ball. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Her mother had been mauled by a bear before her eyes…and she could’ve been next! The ruthless face of the bear would haunt her memories for many years. Not long after, she saw flashes of red and blue light through the dirt-spotted windows. Her mother’s body was covered by a white sheet and taken on a stretcher by medics who had driven by. Fortunately, they still had decent cell phone service. Without another word, her father packed up the tent and all their belongings, tossing them in the back. He got in the driver’s seat and took them home on a long solemn drive.

0 0 0

The funeral went as well as one would expect. Prayers and condolences were spoken and family members talked in hushed tones, all wearing black. Cameron glanced around passively at the stained glass church windows, sad and bored at the proceedings. Her mother’s coffin was gently lowered into the ground afterwards. Vivid flowers were placed everywhere; red, pink, white, yellow and purple. Being so young, Cameron later didn’t remember the funeral at all. All she knew was that an important part of her life had vanished.

She and her father were never the same afterwards. As Cameron grew up and went to the dismal public school, he became preoccupied with his work. She hardly saw him much anymore. They grew distant, not in a bad way but similar to how different friends grow apart when their interests take them down new paths.

Cameron went to therapy for a while, with Mrs. Winkler, a kind old lady. But the sessions didn’t seem to help. For one thing, Cameron’s fear of animals grew worse each passing year. The fact that she had taken a trip to the zoo with her father only deepened it.

Her father had hoped that a new trip would cheer her up. But the animals would scare her as they roared and pawed at her through the glass when she watched. No one noticed a glowing golden apple which appeared in the exhibits…it let out light and made strange humming noises. The animals all threw themselves menacingly at Cameron with roars, hisses, and growls: Lions, tigers, bears, cheetahs…But it wasn’t just the predatory animals that somehow grew agitated at her. The flamingos squawked nosily, the gators snapped their jaws, and the monkeys would laugh and throw food at her which bounced off the cage wall. The sharks and birds, and oh goodness, the snakes too. The only animals that didn’t appear to pay her any attention were the fish. They just swam around and around as if nothing happened.

Strangely enough, her father didn’t notice.

“What has gotten into you, Cam?” he asked in disbelief after she screamed and sobbed. “Those animals aren’t attacking you.”

“Y-yes they are!” she cried. “Didn’t you see?”

But no one else seemed to notice either. They were just smiling and observing the animals like regular visitors. And the animals were doing their normal routines. A few people gave Cameron looks and raised their eyebrows.

Her father pulled her close. “You’re almost a teenager. Stop acting like a sacred child.”

“I-I know what I saw!” she sobbed. “I know it!”

Her father sighed and merely said, “Let’s go home.”

Cameron lowered her head. She used to enjoy the zoo more than anything…now she had an unbreakable fear of animals. (It had gotten bad to the point where she didn’t even want any pets.)

Cameron didn’t see a grinning yellow face with matching eyes blending within the trees when she left the zoo. Nor did she hear its high pitched cackle. A slender hand held up a golden apple and the illusions replayed.

Another thing that didn’t help was school. Cameron was smart enough in class (especially in literature) but was often bullied for her meekness. Many of the bullies would make animal sounds and jump at her from behind corners.

“Look how sacred she is!” they would mock. “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? And everything else in existence? Lamb Cam!”

“Don’t call me that!” she spat. “It’s Cameron!”

“Scram, Cam! Scaredy cat! Scaredy cat! Mrrow!”

And the creepers too as she became a teen.

“Ride me like an animal, Cam! Damn!”

“Are you a turtle, dearie? Cause I’d love to fly through your tender shell…”

“You must be a kitty cat, ‘cause you’ve got some fine pus…”

“Don’t you finish that sentence!”

After finally graduating high school hell, Cameron went to college. After hard work, she got her degree in Guidance Counseling. She figured she’d stray away from animals and gear more toward helping members of her own species. Helping others was her purpose…and getting her degree was a great accomplishment. Friends and boyfriends came and went. She soon lived on her own.  

Getting a job, however…much easier said than done. No matter where Cameron looked or how many interviews she went to, they all seemed to dismiss her.

“I’m sorry, you don’t have the right qualifications we’re looking for.”

“We are currently reaching out to other applicants at this time. Thank you for your interest.”

“No social skills…no experience…hmm…not quite fit for this position.”

They always changed their minds at the last minute. Cameron never understood why.

Cameron buried her face in her hands in her room. The fear and sorrow would never go away. The gray skies and the pattering of rain over the glum city matched her mood. She was now twenty-five years old, unemployed, and utterly alone.

Her last hope was a new job position offered to her by a lady with white blonde hair. She had given Cameron her business card and office address: “KayCee: guidance counselor position interview, 12:00 sharp tomorrow.”

Another failed interview, but she figured she’d give it a try.

And then her nightmares. The nightmares that always seemed to come back. They were always the same. Cameron racing through the forest, being chased by every animal and mythical creature in existence. The gnashing of teeth, swipes of paws, being chewed on and swallowed into darkness. Then, thinking it was all over, she’d wake up…

…only to see her mother’s dead body on the floor in front of her.

“Monster! Monster!” a shadowy crowd chanted, surrounding her. But they were pointing their fingers at her, their glowing white eyes accusing.

“No! No, I’m not a monster!” Cameron cried, looking down. Her mother’s head snapped up and her eyes were yellow and black stripes, eyelashes curling out on all sides. “Monster!” She let out a crazed laugh, white teeth sharp, tongue out, eyes rolling back.

Cameron felt herself falling, falling, being watched by dozens of eyes. Eyes, eyes everywhere. Staring into her reflection, she gasped and screamed in horror. She saw her frightened blonde face, but her body consisted of white feathers, talon feet, a thin neck and bat-like wings. She was a harpy. An abomination…becoming what she feared itself.

More screams as she fell down, down, her black pupils growing wider…

0 0 0

Cameron’s pupils shrank back as she lay on her back on a couch. She wore a business casual light gray shirt and a dark skirt. A back headband sat on her golden brown hair, while a few strands hung from either side of her freckled face. The walls were stark gray on all sides. A lone palm frond plant sat in a pot to the side. A grandfather clock ticked quietly in the room, the pendulum swinging from side to side in rhythm.

“I had that dream again…it was so vivid this time,” Cameron told Mrs. Winkler.

“Perhaps your upcoming job assignment played a part in that?” The elder Mrs. Winkler suggested. The therapist wore a gray dress and took notes on a clipboard.

“Maybe,” said Cameron. “But why that dream? I haven’t had it in so long. It was just…so unexpected.”

Cameron sat up. “It was like reliving the whole thing. And bringing back all those memories.” She shuddered slightly, glancing off to the side. “I mean, I’ve been stressed out lately but…I’ve never had that dream so suddenly…”

“Well, dear…” the therapist began, looking at her clipboard. “It sounds to me like…”

Cameron glanced up at the clock, which chimed 12:00.

“Oh! Oh my god, I’m late!” she cried. She leaned in, hands clasped. “Thank you so, so much for listening, Mrs. Winkler! Wish me luck!”

Cameron grabbed her handbag, turned the doorknob and hurried out of the room. “Taxi!” she yelled as she bounded out of the building and down the steps. The rain poured down as she got in. She soon arrived at the other building. 

Inside the office, a voice came over through the PA with a bzzt.

“Ms. KayCee. The 12 0’ clock is here…late.”

“Send her in,” replied the woman. She had a tan face, long white hair and narrowed eyes that appeared to glow. She wore a gray business suit and a green pendant around her neck. She sat at her desk with an apple and a pencil holder off to the side. She glanced down at some paperwork in front of her, pen in hand. Rain pattered from outside the window.

Cameron appeared in the doorway. “I’m so sorry I’m late!”

“Come in,” said the woman.

Cameron caught her breath and hustled over to the desk. “I uh…lost track of time.”

“It’s quite…alright…”

The woman glanced up in surprise, noticing Cameron’s wet hair.

“It’s, heh…r-raining outside…” Cameron stuttered nervously, making a gesture.

“Take a seat please,” said KayCee. “So we can begin to discuss your placement with this program.”

Cameron lowered herself into a chair.

“Again, so sorry for being late,” Cameron said.

“It’s alright,” KayCee replied.

Cameron nervously glanced off to the side. KayCee stared intently at Cameron, a faint yellow glow around her eyes. She rested her chin on her hands.

Cameron raised an eyebrow, a faint chill racing through her body. “Do…I know you from some…”

“Yes,” KayCee cut her off.

Cameron knew that KayCee didn’t want to get into the déjà vu moments. After a brief moment of staring, KayCee cleared her throat and looked at the forms in front of her.

“Well looking at your report and resume, I wasn’t able to find a suitable position for you. We don’t seem to have a vacant job here with need of your skills…”

‘Oh no. Not again,’ Cameron thought with dread.

“I’m afraid there is not much I could do…”

Cameron leaned forward and put her arms and elbows on the desk in a begging position. “Please! I really need this job! I have been waiting for an assignment for so long, there has to be something!”

Lightning flashed and thunder cracked from outside as KayCee looked over the form again.

KayCee observed the form. It read “Classified” in bold letters at the top. “Needed positions” “Possible applicants” were shown. “Guidance Counselor” was heavily circled underneath it. Off to the side read: “Agreement to transfer required.” “Must be informed of where.” Below was a “job applicants” list.

“Well…” KayCee began. “You do have a degree in counseling, do you not?”

“Yes! I do!” Cameron said. She didn’t even question how this lady knew that fact. “I’ll take it! Please!”

“It’s a transfer position, it would require relocation,” KayCee mentioned.

Cameron stood up and leaned into her face. “I’ll take it! Wherever it is, I’ll take it!”

“Very well then,” said KayCee. “A private jet will take you from this building on Thursday, 9:00. I suggest you pack all your things.”

Cameron raced over and hugged her. “Yes! Oh yes! Thank you!” KayCee’s eyes briefly turned white with glowing yellow stripes. She narrowed her normal eyes and deadpanned, “Don’t be late.”

“Oh I won’t!” Cameron declared, stepping back. She put her hands together. “Thank you so much!”

“You are quite welcome, Ms. Walden,” KayCee said, reaching for the red apple.

“Oh! Call me Cameron!” Cameron took her bag and opened the door. “Thanks again!” she called before shutting the door with a click.

“Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm,” KayCee chuckled lowly. Her fingers grew crooked and her black nails grew sharp. The apple in her hand vibrated and a golden spiral emerged from the center. Soon the apple was golden and glowing in her hand. KayCee lounged on her desk, knocking over the pencils in the holder off the desk with a foot.

“No Ms. Cameron…” She then spoke in a high pitched echoing shrill, “Thank you!”

In a flash of magic, KayCee had turned into her true form. A being with wild white poufy hair that sizzled with white electricity strands. She wore a white dress with holes in them. She grinned a sinister grin of sharp golden teeth. Her black and yellow striped eyes and long jagged eyelashes made her appearance all the more untamed. She let out an evil maniacal laugh.

0 0 0

“Salvia here again. As you probably have figured out, KayCee is no ordinary human. She is Eris, the Greek Goddess of Strife and Chaos. For she was the one who tossed the Golden Apple of Discord to provoke arguments between Aphrodite, Athena and Hera over who was the fairest goddess. Paris of Troy chose Aphrodite, igniting the Trojan War. Eris, along with Jestine and some other deities, exist to cause discord, nightmares and all sorts of trouble. KayCee/Eris indeed, sent Cameron to Safe Haven, knowing full well that she had no knowledge about the denizens of the destination. Her plan is thus: with Cameron fearing the animal residents and Safe Haven having been discovered by an outsider, the magic protecting it weakens over time. Eris hopes the barriers will eventually break, resulting in war and mass murders from the dark forces…and the humans. For the more chaos there is, the more her power grows. And she won’t stop until every world becomes her chaotic playground.”

“None of us knows what Eris truly wants, but one thing is for sure. Cameron and all of us have to keep our guard up. Eris thrives on manipulation, deceit and black sorcery. To her, the apocalypse is an entertaining musical.”

“For now, we continue our story of Cameron, who soon departs her hometown and embarks on her journey toward Safe Haven…”

Chapter Two: “Cameron’s Arrival to Safe Haven” (5,000 words per chapter)

It wasn’t long before Cameron arrived outside the building where she had her meeting with KayCee. The sky was clear but smoggy with tan pollution. The city silhouette stood in the background. She soon spotted the jet…which looked more like a dull forest green plane. The plane was old-fashioned with a propeller in the front and two wings on either side of the craft. It was dull green in color and decorated with black stripes. Cameron wore her usual gray clothes and carried her suitcase. At the ramp of steps, a figure stood waiting for her.

“I’ve never been on a private j…plane, before. Are you the pilot, Miss…?”

“Snake.” The woman answered in a low voice.

“Snake?” Cameron asked in confusion.

The woman had light green skin and strangled forest green hair decorated with dark specks. A pair of sunglasses rested on her head. She wore a green tank top, an emerald green scarf and a green-gray skirt. Long elbow-length gloves covered her hands and a white cigarette was in her mouth.

“Interesting name,” said Cameron. “Does it mean anything?”

Snake did not answer.

Cameron continued, “Because I have never heard of someone naming a child something like that.”

Had Cameron been anyone else, she would’ve gotten a harsh slap for the insult. Instead, Snake crossed her arms, holding her cigarette between two fingers. “Save the jaw-flappin’ fer later, hunny. I don’t wanna fly with a headache.” She dropped her cigarette and crushed it with her green high heel on the ground.

Cameron flinched. “Oh! I-I’m sorry! I’m just a bit anxious…”

Cameron walked up the steps and into the aircraft. “Going to new places and everything, ya know?”

“Sure,” Snake answered with disinterest. “Just put a sock in it ‘till we get there.”

Snake sat down and pulled various levers and pressed buttons. The plane was soon off the ground and flying over the city. The propeller spun fast and they zoomed away. Cameron sat nervously in her seat. ‘I hope this was a good idea,’ she thought to herself. ‘There’s no turning back now…’

As the plane swooped over a vast forest, a spectral form of KayCee/Eris grinned mischievously against a large boulder, watching the plane. The sun rose over the hill in front of them, a promise of a new life and adventure.

Snake piloted the plane, sunglasses over her eyes, lost in thought. She briefly cleaned her teeth with a toothpick in one hand, going around her two white fangs.

Snake was in fact, a loner and shapeshifter, who could transform into a green snake at will. One of her friends was Taxi, a yellow werewolf who worked as a cab driver, mechanic…and merrymaker. She would drive monster trucks around while Snake would fly and fix various planes. The two of them bonded over their love of machines, smoking and drinking. Snake was also a secret agent in Safe Haven, skilled with guns and weapons. Her skills in stealth were so great, that she was soon hired by the Zoo Phoenix Academy staff to travel to the human world to retrieve recruits. 

Snake, Taxi and Taxi’s werewolf friends would often party, drink and get into trouble. Although Snake had enjoyed it, she also was not proud that she had killed other people on the streets. So in a way, this job was fine with her.

But then Cameron broke the tranquil silence.

“Wow! I didn’t know the forest was this big,” she exclaimed. “We’ve been flying over it for hours…it’s like, endless!”

Snake scoffed. “Yeah…why ya think it’s called the f*ckin’ “Oceania” Forest, hm? ‘Cause it’s big. What’d I say about talkin’?”

Honk!

Honk!

Cameron looked out the window with a loud gasp. “Oh my…” A giant sky blue bird was honking outside her window. It was larger than any regular bird she had seen.

“Snake!” Cameron wailed out loud, making Snake flinch. “T-there’s a giant bird outside the window!” Cameron grabbed onto her.

“What?” Snake asked.

“G-giant bird! It was huge…giant…! What if it attacks the plane?!”

“Get back to yer seat!” Snake yelled, baring her fangs.

‘Snakes on a plane!’ Cameron thought in fear, after spotting her fangs.

Cameron obliged and looked out the window. The bird was gone.

‘Great, now I’m seeing things…’ she thought.

The sun set outside, turning the sky pink and yellow. Cameron sat, bored. She fell asleep as night fell. The next day, Cameron woke up, sunlight shining through the window.

Snake was nowhere to be seen.

“Hello?”

She stood up and walked down the dark empty aisle.

“Uh…what’s going on?”

No answer.

“S-Snake?!”

Cameron looked out the window and saw a bunch of shadowy creatures outside.

“Oh god.”

Trying to be brave, she peered out the window.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god…”

“Surprise!” hollered the bizarre creatures.

Cameron walked down the steps, stunned. There were so many strange new faces, she couldn’t keep track. Fabian the fox, Perci and Malcom the red and green dragons, Carrie the blonde demon, Zechariah the cheetah, Principal Winston the one with the yellow squid head, a teal eel with a monocle, a person with orange and yellow hair, a midnight blue stag, a yellow fox, and Salvia too. All the Zoo Phoenix Academy staff were there to welcome her.

Cameron stared off into space, seeing the creatures. Was this some kind of prank? Were these just people in costumes trying to bully her again?

Just then, Perci the dragon got into her face and said, “Welcome to the zoo, Cameron Walden! Well—hah! Of course it isn’t really a zoo! Sorta ironic that I just called it that, really! Hahahaha!”

Cameron gulped. She felt like it was a zoo…a dangerous wacky one with escaped mythical creatures. Perci put an arm around her. The eel shook her hand. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, my dear!”

Were these really talking animals?

A strong hand lifted up Cameron’s arm as a tough light gray face with blonde hair inspected her.

“She sure is a scrawny-gangly-shaky li’ thing, ain’t she?” Carrie remarked in a gruff voice.

“Oh nonsense Carrie,” said Fabian the red fox. “I think Ms. Cameron looks perfectly fine.” He gave her a wink and a sultry look, Cameron cringing in disgust. Was that fox hitting on her?

“I’ll take your word on that, Fabian!” called the blind green dragon teacher Malcom. His hair was black, skin light green. He walked up to her. “Good evening? Morning? Day!”

There was a brief silence.

“How about a kiss, pretty lady?” Fabian cooed, getting close to her with his tongue.

“Eeeeiiiiahhhhhhee!”

Cameron screamed at the top of her lungs. “S-stay back! A-all of you! Don’t come any closer!”

The animals glared at her, teeth showing. Any moment, they would pounce on her. For several moments, Cameron could only hear growls, slurps, mutters and hisses.

The cheetah rumbled in thought as the squid principal slurped his tea loudly beside him.

Cameron took more steps back. “I-I mean it! Stay away from me! Stay away! D-don’t come any closer!”

“Calm down, dearie,” Perci reassured. But Cameron only heard a strange growl from him that sounded like “Raaalmm, rrowwn, geeerrek!” She was too scared to properly comprehend the human speech.

Cameron suddenly pointed behind them. “Look! What’s that over there?” She promptly dashed away with a zip while only Perci glanced behind him. The others narrowed their eyes in confusion.

Cameron screamed some more before skidding to a halt. She gasped. “Oh my! What on Earth?”

Before her lay a vibrant magical world beyond her greatest imagination. It was a cross between Jurassic Park, Zootopia and a child’s version of New York. A blue sea creature eel with three eyes slithered across a teal street with dark stones on it. A slender red bird appeared to be pulling a covered wagon in the distance. A yellow cab drove by a golden dragon and a yellow bird with long feathers. The buildings were curved, concaved and had glass coverings around them. There was a small pond, several sidewalks and lamps illuminating the small park below. Birds of many colors flapped and fluttered freely in the air, some of them looking like pterodactyls. A large red spotted wall had several archways of different sizes, green vines going up it and a large golden eye in the center. Several birds were perching on the top of the wall. A few waterfalls flowed through the arches of the wall. There were several dinosaurs too; a two headed blue longneck, a golden dinosaur with multiple eyes and a flap of skin on its head, and a violet triceratops that looked like a pincher beetle. Nearby buildings of blue, yellow and pink read “Gym,” “Liquor,” and “Le Crumbles” respectively. 

Cameron shook her head. “This is not happening…I’m dreaming this.”

Cameron felt something soft and furry press against her back. Without a word, her eyes darted upwards and met the gaze of a cheetah.

“Is there something wrong, Miss?” asked the cheetah.

But of course, Cameron only heard hungry growls. She saw the cheetah’s teeth and maw and felt lightheaded.

“Uhhh…”

This was it…she was now cat food. Her eyes rolled back and she fainted onto the ground. The cheetah rolled his eyes and sighed in concern.

“Somebody get our new visitor to the infirmary.”

“I can do it,” Fabian purred.

“No. I got it,” barked Carrie, lifting up Cameron’s form easily.

0 0 0

“Wuuuhh?”

Cameron groaned and slowly opened her eyes. Her vision cleared and she saw a man with tan skin and blonde hair with bangs jutting off to one side. He wore a sky blue shirt, a torn white tie and dark pants. Cameron was lying on a table. In the dark room, a sky blue poster with a yellow smiley face read “Smile! It’s almost over!”

“You okay, hun?” the man asked. He was Chastopher the nurse.

“W-what’s going on?” Cameron asked, sitting up.

“You are in the nurse’s office, my dear!”

Cameron rubbed her head. “Oh thank god…I just had the worst dream ev…what is that?” Her face turned pale.

The man held a red power drill in one hand. As he turned around, Cameron swore she heard the screeching music from “Psycho.”

“Willis said you needed a checkup!” he babbled, leaning close to her face. “Willis is very smart, you know!”

He hugged a stuffed lime-colored unicorn with a black button eye and flicked on the drill. The drill buzzed loudly, mixing with his crazed giggles.

“Help!” Cameron screamed. She dove under his legs off the table and scrambled away. Cameron flung open the door and gulped with a pause. The cheetah was back, blocking her way.

“Are you feeling better, Miss Walden?”

“No.” Cameron replied, eye twitching. Why was she talking to a cheetah? Animals didn’t talk, yet here they were. She turned around, clutching her head. There had to be a way to escape.

“Okay! O-kay! T-This is just a big crazy dream! Wake up! Wake up Cameron! Wake up!”

“Wake up,” the nurse sang with a dopey expression, holding his toy. After closing her eyes, she opened them again. To her disappointment, she was still in the same place.

“Are you finished?” the cheetah deadpanned, an annoyed look on his furry face.

Cameron sighed. “Okay…I give up…w-what’s going on?”

“Were you not informed about…”

“About what? Informed about what?!”

The cheetah stared at her in confusion. “You were not informed about this place before being sent here?”

“Sent where? Where am I?!”

Oh dear, this was going to be hard to explain. They needed a better place to talk.

“Follow me, Miss...” said the cheetah, moving on four legs.

Feeling like she had no choice, Cameron awkwardly obliged. Cameron peeked back toward the room and saw the nurse sleeping against his toy.

“S-So…” Cameron began as she raced to catch up to the cheetah. “Y-you’re a giant cheetah?”

“Yes.”

“Just checking…”

They walked past green lockers and into an office.

“Have a seat, Miss,” said the cheetah. He mentioned to a large purple desk chair as Cameron slowly sat down.

Sluurrrrppp!

The principal with a yellow and red squid head with three lip-like designs on his forehead was slurping loudly from a pink teacup. He wore a dark business suit with buttons. A matching pink teapot sat at his desk and slobber dribbled onto the desk surface. Cameron darted her eyes toward him in bewilderment.

The cheetah smiled. “Oh this is Principal Winston. He is quite harmless.”

“Right…” Cameron breathed, pulling her knees closer together.

The cheetah stared at Cameron with concern. He felt bad for this newcomer who had been so traumatized on her first visit. He remembered when he himself first arrived to Safe Haven, formerly being a regular cheetah and accidentally falling through a portal. He had magically gained the ability to talk thanks to Salvia and became one of the staff members at the school. Although he missed his original family, he had found other creatures like himself…a new family.

Perhaps he could help Cameron be a part of it…quirkiness and all. But the hard truth had to come first.

The cheetah straightened his spine and cleared his throat.

“Well my dear Miss Cameron. I have some news for you. My name is Zechariah, and I regret to inform you that there seems to have been some sort of mistake with the company that employed you. You were hired to be a guidance counselor, correct?”

“Y-yes.”

“Well, all humans employed or chosen to be sent here are given strict details about this world, and it is their choice to be transferred.”

Zechariah’s eyes glowed yellow and narrowed in suspicion. “Whoever sent you, did an incredibly dishonest thing…for once here, you cannot return to the outside world you once knew…”

Cameron could hardly breathe. “S-So I’m stuck in the crazy magical world of oversized talking animals?”

“I am afraid so, Miss.” Then he added in a more professional tone, “Also, this is an interspecies society. There are many different creatures. Not just ‘animals.’”

Cameron shuddered with renewed terror. “Like what? Other scary things? Vampires?”

“Yes.”

“Mermaids? Demons? Ghosts?”

“Yes.”

“Aliens?”

“Aliens do not exist, Miss Cameron.”

“Where am I right now?” Cameron wondered out loud.

“You are in the Zoo Phoenix Academy,” said Zechariah. “This is where you were employed. So we brought you right here. Would you like a tour?”

“Okay?” Cameron hesitated.

Zechariah held up his tail which had a watch on it. He spoke into the device. “Jackie, can you come to my office please?”

“Absolutely!” a voice replied.

Cameron grabbed onto Zechariah’s tail. “Who’s Jackie?”

Cameron soon got her answer when a woman strolled into the room. “Hey, hey hey!” she trilled in a sing-song voice. Jackie wore a long dress in different shades of blue; navy blue at the top to sky blue at the bottom. Her dress had yellow trim around it and she wore matching yellow shoes. Her skin was light brown and her hair was in vibrant shades of blue, with yellow tufts toward the back and a green tip that served as a bang. Her hair was reminiscent of parrot feathers.

She was a parrot shapeshifter…and she chatted like one too.

She walked over to Cameron and eagerly shook her hand.

“Hello, hello, hello! I’m Jackie! Drama instructor. So you are the new girl everyone’s talking about? What’s your name?”

“Cameron,” she replied nervously.

“You caused quite a scene huh, Cam?”

“It’s Cameron.”

Zechariah leaned over.

“She is in need of a tour, Jackie.”

Jackie put an arm around a stunned Cameron and guided her through the door.

“Not another word, Zech! I got this!”

0 0 0

Jackie eagerly showed Cameron around the vast campus. Despite being inhabited by strange beings, Cameron couldn’t help but admire the buildings and scenery. The grass was bright green and fresh and the trees provided ample shade for hot days. The building exteriors were made of smooth glass and round in globe shapes. They walked through a cobblestone courtyard, where a fountain trickled in the center. On either side of the entrance, there were statues of phoenixes made of bloodstone, garnet and rubies. The phoenix was the mascot, symbolizing rebirth and new hope. “Rise from the ashes, soar into success!” was the academy motto.

“I love our mascot, don’t you?” Jackie asked Cameron. Cameron mostly zoned out as Jackie chatted on and on. “Though I’d much prefer parrots! They’re so beautiful and lively. The school would do good to spread some more musical cheer. And parrots would be perfect! Just notice how well they can talk and sing. The Zoo Parrot Academy, wouldn’t have to worry about changing the acronym.”

They soon walked through some double doors and into a vast chamber made up of the red spotted wall.

“I really think you will love working here, Cam! This is the main lobby. All the subject wings branch off from here.”

Reflected watery light of an aquarium danced around the floor and walls. Jackie guided Cameron through a large room with an elevator and long tan chairs off to the side. A winding green staircase swirled up to an upper level with glass panes and a marvelous view of the outside. Several archways branched off to different sections. They passed under an arch, which was against a light blue wall, leading to the aquarium. Inside, Cameron could see a friendly-looking fish, a hammerhead shark, a swordfish and a bottlenose dolphin gliding playfully through the water.

 “Have I gone insane?” Cameron breathed as she looked up at the aquarium ceiling in wonder.

“No, not really!” Jackie replied.

One archway had a grandfather clock beside it, another was adorned with red curtains and another was supported by Greek pillars.

Cameron stopped for a moment as Jackie turned around.

“You ready?” she asked.

Cameron stood there puzzled as Jackie wandered off toward the stairs. Jackie looked at her and laughed sheepishly.

“What? Did you think I was gonna be like ‘Come, I’ll show you my wing first?!’”

Cameron nodded.

“Oh, that would be kinda silly. I mean, why not save the best for last?! There are so many great places to explore here, wouldn’t want to deprive you of the diverse experience, ya know?”

Cameron let out a small understanding smile. “Thank you.”

“Alrighty! Let’s flutter on up! Heh…or walk, rather…”

Cameron rolled her eyes as she followed Jackie up the stairs.

They walked into the first wing supported by Greek pillars, and Cameron could smell the scent of dusty books.

“This is the library!” said Jackie. Then she covered her mouth, speaking softer. “I forgot I’m supposed to whisper in here!”

Going inside, there were rows and rows of books on shelves all around them. Some were leather bond with yellowed pages while others looked brand new. There were also magazines and modern computers on round desks where students were doing their work. Several winged birds were busy organizing the books on the higher shelves, which arched toward the high stained-glass ceiling. The ceiling had glass designs of owls, phoenixes and trees. At the front desk, a camel lady with thin glasses was busy exchanging books with passerby.

“Here you’ll find everything you need to study on counseling techniques, textbooks or just reading for fun. It’s the go-to place for research of all kinds. The students here are teenagers but we have majors and college-like courses in this high school!”

“Quiet!” whispered a nearby gray owl with a monocle at Jackie.

“Sorry!” she whispered.

“Well…that’s quite something,” said Cameron.

“I know, right? Trying to combine different curriculums, school systems and diverse races and species of students can be a lot of work. But thankfully the founders of Safe Haven helped out tremendously.”

“And they are?” Cameron asked.

But Jackie instead got distracted and waved at a red-haired woman in the distance.

Toward the back of the library was a shadowed section labeled “Restricted Section,” which housed books on dark magic. Sitting at the edge of that section on a chair was Salvia with a book in hand. Jackie guided Cameron over to the red-haired woman. They stopped just short of her.

Salvia lifted up her face slightly from a book labeled “Romeo and Juliet 2: Love and Lies.” She wore a black dress with red etched patterns.

“Can I help you?”

 “This is Salvia, one of the staff members,” said Jackie in an excited whisper. Jackie gestured for Cameron to introduce herself.

“Uh…hi,” Cameron said with a nervous grin and wave. Salvia peered at her closely, her eyes hidden behind her hair. “You’re the newcomer, right?”

Cameron nodded.

“Welcome to Z.P.A.,” she said.

“Huh?”

“Zoo Phoenix Academy, the place you’ll be staying at briefly until we can get you a new home nearby.”

Cameron paced back and forth, anxious again. “No one has explained exactly what is going on here, what this place is, what’s it called?” Cameron asked. “I know you guys are trying to keep me from getting scared but I’ve had it with being confused! Explain things to me.”

“Shhh!” several voices shushed Cameron when she raised her voice.

“Oh of course,” said Salvia, putting the book down and conjuring magical images and sigils in front of her. “Might as well explain it to you now rather than wait three whole weeks later after witnessing a vampire attack to do it.”

“W-What?” Cameron asked before she was shushed again.

“I can see glimpses of the future,” Salvia mentioned. “Anyway, Cameron, you’ve only been exposed to the Zoo Phoenix Academy and its grounds…we were gonna wait until you felt more comfortable with the school but, if you insist on knowing this place…”

“Yes, I’m still a capable adult,” Cameron added.

“This place is much bigger than what you have experienced. It is called…Safe Haven.”

(“Salvia here. For the next few minutes, I described the magical protection and the origins of Safe Haven that I had already verbalized in the introduction narration. Feel free to go back if needed but let’s skip and continue on.”)

Cameron stood, jaw dropping. “Oh my God! There really are monsters out there?!”

“Do not worry,” said Salvia. “As long as you’re here, you should be safe. I’m hoping you’ll get more used to this place and not cause the magical barrier to eventually collapse.”

“I’d never do that!”

“Not intentionally. But someone else wants to make sure that happens.”

“Who is it?” Cameron asked, but Jackie stood in the way, much to the annoyance of Cameron and Salvia. 

“Thank you Salvia,” said Jackie with a nervous chuckle, pushing Cameron along, “But we better get going! Heh, heh! So many things to see.”

Salvia gave Cameron a knowing apologetic look before going back to her book.

Moe shushes followed them out of the library. “Whew, I can speak again!” Jackie boomed as they entered a hall with brass walls. Jackie’s voice echoed off the walls. “Echo! Echo!” Cameron flinched and grit her teeth.

“On with the tour!” They passed through another archway flanked by torches and five golden rings overhead. “This is the Sports Wing!” said Jackie as they walked down the hall. “Here you’ll find our gymnasium, our pool, outdoor courts and dance studios.”

Cameron looked through a glass window at an indoor basketball court. The court walls were decorated with vines. A monkey was busy swinging from the vines with his tail, dribbling a basketball in his hands. A bear, a bull, a ram, a goat and a chipmunk were stomping around, trying to get the basketball. The monkey dunked it into a nearby hoop as a zebra coach blew his whistle.

Outside in the courtyard, a few lions were practicing fencing while a fox and a hare did gymnastic tricks on bars. Several cheetahs raced each other along a round track and a black bearded centaur hopped over hurdles along the way. A dog and a cat were busy playing hand ball. A few hyena hybrids snickered as they taped a “kick me” sign on the back of a student with peacock feathers.

In a swimming pool, a boy with shark features and a girl with blue scaly skin laughed as they raced each other down the lanes. A woman with swan feathers was preening herself in a hot tub as several male ducks peered for a closer look. A mermaid relaxed beside her, staring at her reflection.

Several brightly colored werewolves were listening to blaring electronic music in the weight room as they lifted barbells and rapidly punched hanging bags. A lone black-wearing vampire stood in the corner drinking dark red liquid from a bottle. The boxing ring was currently being used by bi-pedal boxer dogs.

“Too much sweat and exertion for me,” Jackie mentioned. “I’m more for the grace and beauty of the theater! Onward!”

 They soon left the Sports Wing and headed through the arch with the grandfather clock.

“Here is the History Wing!”

They walked around what looked like a museum, with a variety of items on display. There were ceramic pots from ancient civilizations within glass boxes all around. Various paintings were hung from the walls, with signatures. Several weapons were on display further back. Among the weapons were a few that glowed white with swirls and crosses.

“Oh, those are angelic weapons. They are highly valuable and rare. It is said that they can kill any demon in Hell.”

“Why not use them to fight off the monsters?” asked Cameron.

“Good question. Some demons gather the weapons and sell them on the black market for later use. They kill each other off, causing lots of chaos. Heaven’s been using the Exorcists who wield these weapons to eliminate demons each year for centuries. Archangel Adina’s idea to insure ‘purity’ up there.”

“How do you know all this?”

“A friend of a friend of an ex told me. Horrible stuff, I’m telling you. Best to lay low and stay safe.”

 They continued onward past treasure chests, antique clothing and various art of mythical creatures in battle or passionate embraces. Exiting that wing, they turned toward another wing made of metal.

“Ah, the Science and Engineering Wing! Perhaps the most confusing and loud section there is. Try not to touch anything!”

 It was indeed very loud. Clanks, hisses, bangs and booms permeated through the rooms. Cameron had to cover her ears as she followed Jackie. In one area, raccoons, cats and a few dwarves were working on a metal machine that bellowed smoke and sparks. It had wheels, engines, pipes and canvas wings on either side of it. “Primitive flying car” was labeled next to it. A gopher was working on a computer as green 0s and 1s blinked down a screen. A few other students were taking notes on a steampunk blimp made by a snake inventor of the Industrial Revolution.

There were also several dimmed laboratories illuminated with teal blue fluorescent lights. Blue flames flickered under Bunsen burners while students peered through microscopes at their ant friends. A blue anglerfish man was pouring colorful contents from different vials together, snickering. A mad scientist in a lab coat was instructing one class on how to make a serum that could strengthen the DNA of animal hybrids.

“Let’s move on,” Jackie coughed, swiping away the nearby smoke.

They exited the wing and had arrived at the vast bustling cafeteria.

“The heart…erm, stomach of the campus!” Jackie joked.

 Rows of white tables hosted hungry students and staff. Several birds were slurping up bowls of worms. Werewolves were munching on raw meat while horses chewed casually on hay blades. There was also regular food for the more human-like beings as well: salads, sandwiches, soups, potatoes, tacos, casseroles, stews, banquet style meals, fruit desserts and ice cream. There was even a stand giving out spectral food for ghosts. Like many college eating areas, there were various sections serving different kinds of dishes like a miniature food mall. It was an all-you-can-eat paradise.

Cameron’s stomach grumbled as she inhaled the scents of exotic foods. But Cameron soon led her out and back to the main lobby.

“And now, for the best and last part of the tour…” she led Cameron through the wing with red curtains. Rusty and another spotted animal watched them go from the top of the stairs.

“This is the Arts Wing!”

Jackie held her arms in the air as they walked down a hall. The walls were red and decorated with spirals. A poster with a comedy and tragedy theater mask shone within a frame of lights. There was a red “Just Dance” poster and a green movie posted with a clawed black hand labeled “Now showing: The Ded.” There was a painting of a waterfall and a nearby forest.

Cameron looked around. “Oh my, never woulda guessed…”

Jackie laughed. “Hahaha! Sarcasm! I like you Cam!”

They stopped by the dance room and pushed open the double red doors.

 “Baby! I got someone for you to meet!” Jackie trilled.

A man with the same colored skin as Jackie, clapped his hands. A group of girls, Mia and Ava, Penelope and Camilla were in pink tutus and ballet slippers doing practice.

“Okay girls! Once you’re warmed up…Jackie!”

The man turned around and beamed.

 “Oh god…” Cameron looked in disgust.

The man wore a vibrant red pinstriped suit with blue vertical stripes on it. His bow tie was yellow with red and blue dots on it. His hair was mostly red with a white spot to the left side and blue tips toward the bottom back. His hair also resembled parrot feathers. He currently wore dark blue pants, pointed black shoes and a pink tutu. He also had a gold tooth.

He leaned into Cameron, his eyes golden yellow.

 “Salutations senorita! Name?”

“C-Cameron.”

“Soopity, doopity to meetcha! My name is Alanzo but call me Al! It’s shorter!”

He also eagerly shook Cameron’s hand before hugging his wife.

 “Heh, nice to meet you,” Cameron began. “So what subject do you…”

 “Dance!” Alanzo explained with a flourish.

Jackie chuckled nervously, guiding Cameron out of the room. “Well honey, we gotta run. Got a lot of school to show!”

 “You do yer thang, gal!” Alanzo said with a snap of his fingers.

 “So he was…” Cameron began as they walked out of the room and down the hall.

Jackie smiled. “That was my husband. We both work in this wing!”

Jackie showed Cameron more rooms.

“And here is…the Art Room!”

Addison and his adoptive Indian snake mother Latika were busy painting on a canvas. A vivid painting of a flying phoenix hung in the background.

 “The Music Room!”

Calvin, a yellow crocodile with a black and yellow back with squares on it, played a tuba, which matched his color scheme. A smiling brown fox named Christopher played a white saxophone with blue swirls on it. A black porcupine named Priscilla played a black cello.

Dodododo do-do-do-do…they played a cheerful tune that sounded like Gooseworx’s two Zoophobia themes. (Look it up on YouTube!)

 “The Film Room!”

A white and gray wolf twin (Leonardo or Vincent) held onto a fire hydrant with a joyful expression as a fan blew him back. A green screen was in the background. A cheetah, a gray-haired student and the other wolf twin looked at a screen in bewilderment. Another guy with a black hat, flinched from the force of air.

 “Why do the animals have giant fans?” asked Cameron.

 “Guess they got a bigger budget!” Jackie exclaimed.

“But why?”

 “Their last film almost did win at the festival,” Jackie pondered.

At last, they entered a vast auditorium.

Jackie spread out her arms. “And here is my domain! The Theater!”

Cameron glanced down at a group of figures sitting on the stage.

“A-are those your students?”

Jackie wiped a tear from her eye. “Yep! They are my little prodigies!”

Then she trilled in a sing-song voice: “Good afternoon my sparkling little turtle doves!”

“Hey Jackie!” the students harmonized in song.

To Cameron’s bewilderment, an orange fox named Spam, peered at her from atop her head…then licked her face randomly before scampering off.

Spam, Penelope, Jack, Makenzie, Zillion, Kayla, Sahara, Daimon, Taylor and Vanexa were all there.

Penelope wore a stylish white dress and a teal headband with two peacock feathers on it. She was currently admiring herself in a small hand mirror. Mackenzie the cat girl had messy red hair, pale skin and a lavender shirt with a cat on it. She saw herself as a cat after being raised by her equally cat-loving mother Margo.

Jack was a light brown jackal with a worn down body and droopy ears. Zillion was a mix up of creatures and had yellow skin, purple eyes, purple antennae-like ears and a small green snake for a tail. Taylor was a guy with red sclera eyes, light brown hair with purple sides, and he wore brown clothing. He and Zillion were currently locked in an arm wrestling match.

Kayla the beautiful kangaroo was Zillion’s girlfriend; she was happily perched on top of the black grand piano. Sahara was a dark skinned woman wearing a pink head scarf over her dark hair. She had an affinity for magic. Behind her was a darker colored jackal Damion, with red pupils, black sclera and wearing tattered clothes of red and black. Finally, Vanexa was a purple bi-pedal cat, reading a book with a disinterested look on her face. She viewed those around her in a detached annoyance.

‘These are her students?! Just more magical freaky animals?! How crazy can this world get?!’ thought Cameron.

Zillion pinned down Taylor’s arm, much to the latter’s annoyance. “Who’s your friend, cracker jacks?” he asked Jackie.

Jackie put an arm around Cameron. “This here is your new guidance counselor fellas!” Cameron awkwardly looked off to the side.

“Oh good!” Jack and Damion called at the same time.

Damion smirked sarcastically, “I need a lot of ‘guidance!’”

Cameron walked over and pointed at Zillion. “Um sorry, I hate to ask but…what exactly are you? I want to know how scared I should be…”

 “Well I…” Zillion began to explain but Jack snickered with a “Kekekeke!” from beside him. Zillion glared at Jack.

“Pass,” Zillion deadpanned. “Not even I know what I am.”

McKenzie sniffed Cameron for a moment, then let out a “Hiss!” It was her habit among strangers. Cameron flinched in confusion.

Damion chuckled and leaned toward Cameron. “You really got your work cut out for you, lady! Just sayin’.”

Cameron stared at him. “H-how are you floating like that?”

Damion grinned. “Oh well it’s because…” He turned on a flashlight under his face and bared his fangs wide, his eyes swirled stripes of red against black. “I’m the Antichrist! Hahahahaha!”

Cameron almost felt like fainting again.

Jack inched closer to Cameron with an apologetic look. “I’m really sorry about my cousin!” He smiled and clutched her hand. “Hello! My name is Jack! And I would like to schedule with you as soon as possible!”

Cameron raised an eyebrow. “Uh, okay?”

Jack let go. “Sorry! It’s been a while since I had someone to talk about my problems…”

Clang!

A stage light fell down and collapsed on top of Jack. He fell to the floor in a heap. A pool of dark blood was visible on the floor around his head. One of his paws had an exposed bone. Cameron covered her mouth in fear and shock.

“Aw man! Not again! You okay dude?” Zillion asked in concern.

Zillion turned to Cameron. “Yeah, this happens a lot. He’ll be alright.”

“Hey, Jackie! Another light fell!” Taylor called.

“I saw it!” she answered.

“So Cam!” said Jackie. “Do you wanna stick around for the class?”

“I’m sorry to say…I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed,” Cameron breathed in almost a whisper.

“Understandable, hun! Vanexa, would you mind escorting Cam to her office?”

The purple cat nodded and led the way, book in hand.

Jackie turned back to the class and clapped her hands. “Alright guys! Showtime!”

They soon reached a pair of wooden doors underneath a sign that read “Guidance.”

 “T-thank you. V-Vanexa was it?” Cameron asked nervously. Vanexa did not answer. There was an awkward silence as they looked each other in the eyes. They each seemed to be trying to decipher the other’s thoughts. Cameron coughed.

“W-well…yeah…good evening to you, talking cat…” Cameron stuttered.

“Enjoy your stay,” said Vanexa before she walked back down the hall.

0 0 0

Cameron slammed the door shut behind her, catching her breath. Her office was small and dimly lit with a few books on one shelf to the left. A palm plant was off to one side and blinds were in the center of a yellow wall. In the center was a desk with a couple chairs and “C. Walden” on a label. A pink gift bag lay on her desk with a bunch of strange items inside; a pink flower with yellow tips, a green dragon figure, and what appeared to be cosmetics. Cameron read the tag on the gift: “Dear Cameron, Welcome to the Family! Z.P.A. Staff.”

Cameron smiled slightly at the thoughtful gift.

Cameron was reminded of Mrs. Winkler’s office…and then was reminded of home. This small space didn’t feel much like home.

“How are you coping with things thus far, Cameron?”

Cameron whirled behind her and spotted Zechariah the cheetah.

“Holy mother of…please d-don’t do that…”

“My apologies,” he said.

Cameron sighed. “Yeah…well all things considered…” She slide down onto the floor, overwhelmed.

“I’m sure this is a lot to handle,” said Zechariah.

“Yeah…”

“This place will take some getting used to, Miss. Miss?”

To Zechariah’s surprise, Cameron was sniffing and sobbing, burying her face in her knees. This was not how Zechariah imagined the newcomer would feel.

 “I am truly sorry this has happened to you, Miss,” Zechariah said empathetically. “I wish there was more I could do…”

Although stern on the outside, Zechariah had a sweet and protective heart. Being a staff member had gotten him exposed to more human emotions. As the ZPA staff had welcomed him during his arrival to Safe Haven, it was no wonder that he went out of his way to try and do the same for others.

Zechariah nuzzled his furry face into Cameron’s like a comforting cat. Cameron didn’t flinch this time. In fact, she cried and wrapped her arms around the cheetah. She didn’t care that he wasn’t a regular human. She just needed something…someone to give her comfort. Someone to let her know she wasn’t alone in this strange new world. Zechariah’s warm soft chest felt good to Cameron…like a comforting blanket or a pet. Zechariah stared in brief surprise, before closing his eyes and embracing the gesture. Cameron reminded him of when he had been a young cub, trying to find his place. 

Cameron’s animal-loving side from her childhood briefly came back…before it faded with the moment of their separation.

“There is…something you may like to see,” mentioned Zechariah in a soft voice. He had an idea. “This way, Miss.”

Cameron followed Zechariah up the stairs and into the observatory.

“W-what’s up here?” Cameron asked.

Then she looked skyward and gasped.

 “Oh my god…”

Shimmering in the starry night sky were glowing yellow koi fish floating in the air. They had yellow skin, glowing white eyes, white lines and spot designs across their bodies. One large fish had a yin-yang symbol on its forehead and was as big as an airplane. Their fins were transparent and flowing gracefully like they were angel wings underwater.

“These are guardian fish spirits,” said Zechariah. “The Fish of Peace. They appear when everything is safe. Similar to the butterfly orcas, used to calm anxiety.”

 “How…how’d you know I like fish?” Cameron breathed. “This is…beautiful!”

‘Salvia’s magic of course,’ Zechariah thought.

Zechariah purred. “Welcome home, Miss Cameron.”

A magnificent ocean-colored whale swam by among the fish, decorated with bioluminescent spots along its back.

For several minutes, the two of them stared in wonder at the ethereal spirits. Cameron felt like maybe this place wouldn’t be so bad after all. Especially with her new furry friend and mentor.

Then a question spilled out of her mouth.

 “So…where am I going to live anyway?”

One of the fish in the sky turned a deathly white and took on yellow and black stripped eyes. She peered closely at Cameron. “And so it begins…”

0 0 0

One day later, an earth-colored griffin-like creature named Skoni pulled a cart of packages around the street. He sang the “Mail Time” song out loud:

“Here’s the mail

It never fails

It makes me want to wag my tail

When it comes, I wanna wail

Mail!”

He stopped and knocked on Cameron’s door.

Cameron cracked open the door of her new small home. “Y-yes?”

“Package, ma’am!”

Cameron took the package and stared at Skoni. He suddenly appeared to be sprouting eyes all over his body…

 “Get away monster!” Cameron cried, waving a bat at him.

Skoni looked taken aback. “You just arrived yesterday, lady! I’m here to deliver your mail! Gaah!”

“Demon!” Cameron yelled, squirting hose water in his face.

 “Fine!” Skoni scoffed. “Have a nice day!”

Cameron blinked a few times and saw a regular pouting Skoni trot away. “Oh you were just delivering the mail again... Sorry!”

Eris (or “KayCee”) laughed as the Skoni illusion replayed from her golden apple. She ate a sub sandwich in the darkness. “So let’s get this party started then, shall we?”

Chapter Three: “Jack’s Counseling Session” (5,000 words per chapter)

Cameron’s first test of her new career began several days later. Jack had mentioned that he wanted to get an appointment with her as soon as possible. And by sheer luck, his desire was granted. (However, he had to deal with several shoves from Rusty, slipping on a banana peel and tripping on the sidewalk several times on his way there.)

Cameron glanced at a long list of confidential session notes provided to her by Salvia for the week:

Client One: Jackson Wells. Concern: Daily bad luck.

Client Two: Addison Woods. Concern: Trauma from experimentation in Xirxine labs.

Client Three: McKenzie Payoray. Concern: Daily bullying and coping with feline lifestyle.

Client Four: Damion Beelzly. Concern: Proper educational environment.

Clients Five and Six: Zillion Martinez and Kayla Christling. Concern: Anniversary troubles.

Client Seven: Vanexa Pierce. Concern: Solitude and fitting in.

Client Eight: Camilla Jimenez. Concern: Dancer, hopeless romantic, doesn’t like her rep.

Client Nine: Autumn. Concern: Increase self-worth.

Client Ten: Tom. Concern: Break up with Addison and stealing souls.

Client Eleven: Daphne Dafadellia. Concern: Being less judgmental toward men.

Client Twelve: Rusty (Call him by his real name Reuben, he hates it). Concern: Bullying issues.

(Don’t mind my mind reading.)

Cameron smiled as she stood on a chair and hung up a sign on her office door that read “Ms. Walden. ZPA Guidance.”

She placed a small green tree in a pot on a side table, hung up a blue poster of two fish that read “Just keep swimming,” and placed a golden dragon statue on a side table as well. Her desk was polished and had a label on it with her name. She stepped back and observed her handiwork.

“Mhm! Much better!”

She glanced at her watch and sat down at her desk, arms folded in front of her.

‘Okay, you can do this,’ she encouraged to herself. Her heart jolted when she heard a knocking at the door.

Jack peered into the room.

“Um Ms. Walden? I’m uh, here for my session…”

“Oh yes! Jackson, good morning to you,” greeted Cameron. She mentioned to a purple beanbag chair on the floor. “Please take a seat and we can get started! Hope you don’t mind bean-bags…”

Jack settled onto the bean-bag, enjoying the comfort. “Naw, they are actually really nice, heh…Also I, um, like what you did with the new room! It’s very humble!”

“Thank you!”

Cameron placed a hand under her chin with a sheepish grin. “Yes I’m…very thankful to Zechariah for letting me change rooms. I kinda have a weird connection with my surroundings. The old room was just a little too intimidating on first arrival…”

“Yeah, I understand what you mean…” mentioned Jack.

Cameron cleared her throat. “So! You are my first official counseling session here at Z.P.A.! Is there um, anything bothering you at all that you would like to talk about? Anything!”

Jack stuttered, already beginning to feel a sort of crush for her. Cameron had appeared so nice on her first day and he figured maybe she could ease his current situation a bit. “Umm…well…I think for things I tell you to make sense…I have to kinda fill you in a bit about...myself...and my “condition,” or well…my curse…”

Jack then explained his origins.

 “You see…my parents were extremely close…according to my mother. And when she got pregnant with me, they were very excited. But…before I was born, my father was killed in a very freak accident. My mother was devastated by it. In desperation, she turned to her sister. My aunt Narissa, who…well is married to the devil…as creepy as that sounds. She begged him to make a deal but as a gift to his wife, he granted my mother her wish. To give her unborn child the gift of eternal life…But the devil’s magic works in very odd ways…so his gift was really a curse. When I was born, he cursed me with immortality…along with a supernatural affinity for bad luck…and, heh…thing is…I still feel pain…”

He barely remembered himself as a pup, flinching in a grass bed as Lucifer’s long dark finger shot a bolt of hot magic through him…burning him to his very core.

His mother was grateful she didn’t have to worry about him dying, but was concerned about the bad luck.

Jack glanced off to the side. “So, um, yeah. Not being able to die on top of the very crazy, often violent things that happen to me…with the pain…it um…yeah…not fun.”

Jack looked at Cameron in concern.

“You okay, Miss. Walden? I’m sorry if my story is a little strange…”

“No…” Cameron replied. “I’m just…still getting used to hearing about the…supernatural things…and the devil being real…”

Cameron continued. “Phewww…I am very sorry for your situation, Jackson. It sounds…simply dreadful. What else would you like to share about your hardships? I can tell there is a lot you have to tell…”

Jack twiddled his thumbs. “I really hope you don’t mind me talking a lot about myself. I just think it’s a good idea to fill things in.”

“No Jack, it’s fine,” Cameron encouraged. “It helps to know these things!”

“Yeah, I’m sorry, it’s just…been a while since I explained this stuff. I don’t often tell people about the curse anymore.”

“Why is that?”

Jack buried his face in his hands as he explained.

“Well because…It just gets hard explaining it over and over to people…why so much crazy stuff happens to me, around me. And the moment I mention that it is an actual “curse,” people immediately get sacred to be around me. I can’t really blame them; they don’t want to get hurt. But…sometimes I don’t really like it. I don’t like people avoiding me out of fear. And I don’t like people thinking I’m making it up for attention!”

Cameron was reminded of how many people with disabilities felt similarly about having to explain their conditions to other people who didn’t experience them. Some had trouble walking or controlling their bodies. Others felt chronic pain or experienced constant negative thoughts in their heads. Their disabilities were things they were born with and had no control over. Similar to Jack’s bad luck.

Jack continued. “It just gets a little stressful sometimes, plus some people think I’m pretty…well, weird ‘cause the whole curse thing and my luck has made me pretty superstitious. It really doesn’t help how people see me with all my behaviors and, um, customs. Heh. (You’d feel the same if you noticed me with four ladybugs on my ears, four leaf clovers and a dreamcatcher around my neck, a rabbit’s foot and dice hanging from my legs and me holding a cricket in a cage. Trying every good luck charm imaginable to counteract the bad. Of course, nothing works.) Most people here kinda avoid me for the most part just seeing what kind of stuff happens and finding me odd.”

“Do you have any real or close friends, Jack?” Cameron asked.

Jack brightened. “Oh yes! I have a few. And honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without my best friend Zill…”

“I think I know him…in Jackie’s class, right?” Cameron asked. “What creature is he anyway?”

“I have no idea! I’m not sure he knows either. In fact, he always seems confused about it.”

“He doesn’t know?”

“I don’t think so!”

“So how long have you known Zill?”

“Since I found him! About thirteen years now,” said Jack.

Cameron appeared confused. “I…I’m sorry, you ‘found’ him?”

“Yeah!”

“What do you mean by that?”

Jack chuckled a bit. “Oh heh-yeah sorry, let me explain!”

Jack then explained the next part of his origins.

 “I was born in Safe Haven’s animal district. It’s a kind and more natural environment, so my upbringing was more ‘traditional,’ I guess. My mom never really explained my curse to me when I was younger. I just thought the world was against me and that she didn’t even care. So I ran away from home a lot back then. I just felt I had to escape somehow.”

“It was never much help, but I seemed to kinda enjoy the time away from her. I remember the last time I ran away, I was like five, and during a really foggy rainy night, I took shelter in a tree. I heard some growling in the forest. It was really scary at the time, cause most animals in the district respect private boundaries, plus I was young too…heh. I heard this creature emerge from the bushes. He approached the entrance to where I was hiding. His eyes were glowing green. I had never seen anything like him before and I was extremely scared. He was just really curious of me I think, but he behaved much more…well bestial than what I was used to. He was like…well, an ‘animal,’ which was new for me. Most animals in the district can still speak universally! Especially upon first meeting.”

“Zill was extremely wary of me and I was just terrified! But really he was just extremely curious of me. Unlike me, Zill was just unafraid and bold! Also surprisingly unfazed by my curse. (He put back my broken arm like it was nothing.) In fact, for the first time, I had met someone who not only was unfazed by it, but he actually…intervened! (After water poured on my head from a leaf, he used his wing to keep me dry.) So really, Zill meant a lot to me, almost right off the bat.”

“We actually kinda lived together in the forest for like a full month, getting to know each other as friends. He didn’t talk to me at first, but when he started to talk, he only spoke Spanish! Which was like jibberish to be…heh. So the language barrier was still there, yet we still understood each other somehow. After a while I decided to actually bring Zill home with me! My mom was beyond happy I was back. But she actually didn’t take very warmly to Zill.”

He remembered going along with Zill, with his mother being worried that Zill might harm him. He then told his mother that he didn’t need constant protection all the time.     

“How did Zill get his name?” Cameron asked.

“Oh! Well, he spelled his name for me in the dirt while we were in the forest.”

Cameron listened with intent curiosity. “It’s interesting he was so intelligent, despite living in the forest!”

“Well I mean lots of intelligent animals live in the wild! But I understand what you mean. Zill did come off as pretty primitive at first.”

“So did you two live together?”

Jack nodded. “Actually we did! For a little while before we officially started school! Zill was with us through the move to the city district. During those first years, I taught him how to speak English. (Notecards with pictures and words on it were helpful for us. He’d read words like “apple” and lots of food terms to start off with.) By the time we did first start school, he was already decently bi-lingual! A lot of other kids would call Zill names and stuff cause of how he looked. But he never let it get to him though.”

 “But when I was picked on…”

Jack remembered Zill admiring a butterfly before he was knocked to the ground by a hard dodgeball to the face. Rusty the bully dog laughed after Jack had fallen.

“Haha! Take that you wimpy loser!”

Zill growled and his eyes flashed green. He shot a flaming dodgeball back at Rusty which hit him in the face with a “wham!” Green energy glowed around his hand.

“Zill didn’t take kindly to that. Neither of us ever really found out how exactly his ‘powers’ seemed to work, but he had a lot less control back then.”

A young Kayla rushed over to Rusty. “Oh gosh! Are you okay?”

But Rusty just elbowed her away, causing her to fall with an “oof!”

 “Get off me you dumb girl!”

Zill growled in anger again.

“Zill has always had issues with people who bully or attack.”

Kayla stood up, furious. She separated the two boys. “Stop! No more! I’m fine,” she told Zill. “Both of you! No fighting! This is a playground!”

Rusty scoffed at her. “Get out of my way or I’ll beat you up too! I’m not afraid to hit a dumb girl…”

Kayla then smacked him hard in the face with a “pow!” before he landed flat on his back. Kayla let out a “hmpth” and strolled away. Zill instantly admired her courage and feistiness.

“Zill met his girlfriend Kayla on the first day of grade school,” said Jack.

Cameron gasped. “Oh my! They have been dating for that long? Oh how sweet.”

Jack shook his head. “Oh, no, heh. Zill didn’t get with Kay for a while. Through most of school he was…well, um ‘loose’ with girls. Flirting with them, showing off his strength and dazzling them with his charm. Many teen boys are like that. He always had genuine feelings for Kayla, but he never had the guts to go for her. He just didn’t think she’d be interested.  Which I guess was understandable. He didn’t have the best rep with the ladies, growing up. He was a party animal…heh, sorry.”

“But! He used to love to sing! And had a knack for it! So I suggested he try out for the school musical once we entered Z.P.A.! He scored the lead alongside Kayla in the show! (I remember them getting a standing ovation at the end. Zill wore a purple suit and hat while Kayla wore a cross necklace and a blue and white dress.) And that was when they really got to know each other! Once they really got together, Zill really slowed down on his party lifestyle. It was interesting how much of a change there was. But! I was really happy that he had found such a stable relationship. Plus Kayla was a wonderful girl honestly!”

Jack faltered. “But once he started dating…like I said, our relationship kinda, I dunno, changed…”

‘”Our relationship changed?’ How so?” Cameron asked. “Was he just less close as a friend?”

Jack stuttered slightly. “Um, well! I mean, maybe I said that the wrong way. It was just…so hard to explain! He just suddenly had so many friends and attention once he changed with Kayla. I guess I just missed a little of the constant we had before he had such a serious relationship. I’m just a little worried that the way things might progress…”

Tears came to Jack’s eyes, his face glum. “That maybe he…eventually won’t need me as a friend…I’m sorry, it’s a dumb worry…”

“No Jack,” said Cameron. “When a friend starts to change, or befriends other people, it’s normal to feel worried about where you stand. But I’m sure if the two of you are as close as you say, you will never grow apart!”

“Yeah?”

“Ya know, we talked a lot about Zill. Why don’t you tell me more about yourself! Do you have many other friends?”

Jack pondered in thought. “I think that’s why I have this insecurity. Like I said before, I only have a few friends because people are scared to be around me, understandably.” He remembered getting his head sawn off, a beehive landing on his head and getting attacked by a green sewer monster.

“I have one other really close friend but I rarely see her.”

“What about your family?” asked Cameron.

“My family?”

Jack thought of Damion the troublemaker teen jackal, Lucifer and his jackal wife Narissa, Tentradora the succubus pink cyborg nanny and a blue demon guard named Major Styx. (Grumpy Major Styx wanted Damion to be his submissive love servant and Tentradora was very “touchy-feely” and overprotective. Narissa kept to herself and Lucifer was very prideful as a goat-like demon.)  

Jack explained, “It’s complicated. I think deep down I love my family, but they do just remind me directly of my curse. My mom Mindy used to take me to visit my uncle and aunt a lot.”

“Your uncle? The devil?”

 Jack sighed. “Yeah…”

“I felt very alone when I went there. To Hell. That side of my family has nothing in common with me. Plus when Damian came along he just became a constant pain. Sorry if that’s mean to say. My family makes me look out for him a lot, so I tend to get frustrated with him often. Anyways, even though it was pretty stupid, I decided one day to sneak out of the palace just to clear my head. Hell outside of the protection of the palace gets pretty dangerous. But I kinda stopped worrying about my own physical well-being. So my carelessness caught up with me, and a demon attacked me!”

“A one-eyed, stripped giant monstrosity! It had two slender legs and a tail…and a large maw under its red glowing eye. Yeah, I guess it was pretty freaky. Dangerous situations tend to shock me more than actually scare me. But then Jill showed up.”

Jack remembered a purple cat demon leaping into the air and stabbing the monster with a triangular bladed scythe. After several deep stabs and Jill slicing off its hand, the monster tumbled down to the ground. Jack watched with fear and awe against a rock wall.

“Jill?” asked Cameron. ‘Jack and Jill…’

“Yeah!” said Jack. “I figured I was on the subject of my only close friends. Jill is definitely one of the most important people in my life…heh. She saved me. Besides Zill, she was the only one who ever protected me. Jill and I started spending time with each other after that. She was a stray demon who spent a lot of time fending for herself against other demons.”

Jack added, “Sorry if it seems I’m jumping around too much. I get carried away.”

“It’s fine, Jack,” said Cameron.

Jack continued. “Anyway, I loved spending time with Jill. She was rough with everyone but with me, she was so soft. Her hugs were the best! I snuck out to hang with her during every Hell visit, and as we got older…”

Jack let out a forlorn sigh. “I guess nothing really stays the same.”

“I encouraged her to test herself to be a member of the royal guard. She passed the test with flying colors and was accepted to live in the palace! Lucifer gave her a black collar with a red diamond gem on it to mark her new status. I was so proud of her! She ended up head of the royal guard. I was so happy because we would be able to see each other more often. But then she met this guy she worked with. And kinda…ended up spending more time with him than with me. Which hurt a bit. I had always hoped we would stay close…maybe even get closer.”

“So you had a crush on her?” Cameron asked.

“Well, I crush easily,” Jack answered. “I’m happy she found someone though. She deserves that. So does Zill. I just get lonely...”

 After a few sad moments he muttered, “I’m sorry this took a turn. I don’t want it to seem like I’m complaining about the fact they are happy. I hope that’s not what it sounds like.”

Cameron stared with empathy at Jack. “Jack, it’s fine. I can tell you are a very emotional person, and it’s normal to get lonely in your situation. But I really think you’ll be able to find someone for you in time. And talking about these feelings are the point of counseling. So no need to apologize. You seem to talk very highly of others. What about yourself?”

“This event was…not a highly moment...I…there was one time Damion locked me in a locker for a whole week. All because he didn’t want me to tell Zill that he had missed Kayla’s anniversary. S-since I couldn’t die, I was just trapped inside my head…starving, deteriorating, not knowing what time it was. It felt like I was dying again and again in a nightmare. By the time someone found me and unchained me, it had been one week later. Took me a full day of fluids to recover, even though my body regenerated itself. It may sound strange to you but…I wanted desperately to die in those moments.”

A chilling silence permeated the space.

“Sometimes…I wish I hadn’t been born. I wish that dad hadn’t died. Then my mom wouldn’t have been so obsessed with keeping me alive. It feels like Hell much of the time. Sometimes I blame her, wishing she could experience the curse through my eyes. Other times I blame myself; what did I ever do to deserve…”

A few books randomly toppled from a shelf and hit Jack in the head. “…this?” He groaned and rubbed his head.

Cameron looked at Jack with a somber expression. “I’m…sorry you had to go through that. And regarding your curse…no one should have to go through anything like that. I guess death isn’t the worst thing in the world…”

As Jack sobbed and sniffled for several minutes, Cameron walked over and gave him a comforting embrace. Jack breathed deeply, face blushing. Even after Cameron let go, he still felt her warmth and kindness. He wiped more tears away.

“S-sorry…”

“It’s okay,  Jack.”

 “Besides the curse and all the negatives. Tell me about Jackson,” said Cameron.  

“Me?”

 “Yes! Your interests? Goals? Hobbies? Things that make you happy. Anything!”

Jack thought hard about it. “Um…well let’s see. I play the drums! I play the drums while Spam does guitar and lyrics. Kayla and Zill sing and play piano and Vanexa helps too. I also, um, work part time at the Safe Haven observatory. I really love space. Just everything about the universe and its infinite vastness fascinates me! It’s inspiring. I love studying astronomy and science.”

 “Oh!” Cameron exclaimed with joy.

“I also love to cook! That’s my favorite hobby! I don’t have many people to cook for, so I usually take food to the foster home, the same one that took Zill in for a while. I’m still deciding which path I’d like to take for a career, being like a real chef or going into astronomy.”

Jack continued. “Next year is my final year at the academy so I need to decide soon what my final major will be. I’m still able to take plenty of classes for both, though!”

Cameron was very pleased. “Well! Well working at the observatory and being able to exercise your culinary skills gives you a good way to sample your career options. I’m sure you will make the right choice and have a successful career, Jack!”

Jack smiled warmly. “Thank you, Ms. Walden. Thank you for listening! You’re more attentive than the last counselor.”

 “Well that’s what I’m here for!”

 “So…are you still scared living here after the past few days?” Jack asked.

Cameron glanced off to the side. “Well, uh, ya…I mean…I’m getting used to things. Talking to you wasn’t scary. You are very kind and not frightening at all, past the fur. Which alone is surprising but there are a few people here who don’t scare me as much. So thank you! For not being scary. Is there anything else you’d like to talk about in this session?”

Jack stood up. “I think that’s enough for this time. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

He opened the door and looked at her one last time with a smile. “Thanks again, Ms. Walden. Welcome to Safe Haven!”

Cameron waved. “Take care, Jackson!”

As Jack was walking down the hall…

Slam!

Rusy slammed him into a locker and he slid to the floor. Rusty barked in laughter, leering over Jack.

“Watch where yer goin’ wimp! Heh heh! You gonna cry or what?”

“No?” Jack whimpered.

“Yeah you are! P*ssy! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

Rusty laughed as he strutted away. Jack made his way to the observatory as the setting sun turned the sky a salmon pink. He spotted a blonde man wearing glasses and a blue suit with a tight white collar.

“Hey Dan!”

The man smiled. “Jack! You’re early! It’s barely dark out!”

 “Yeah. I feel like coming in before my shift to relax a bit. Can I go up?”

 “Of course! Nobody is up there right now.”

 “Thanks Dan!”

Jack slipped on a blue uniform and climbed up the stars. He made it to the top and his eyes grew wide in wonder. Yellow ethereal koi fish swam and glided across the starry night sky. The spotted bioluminescent midnight blue whale traveled beside the fish as well. The city lights and the greenhouse globe buildings illuminated the night in their spectacular vivid glows. One building was pink, the other a faded golden yellow. Jack became transfixed by the spirits. For the first time in a while, he felt hopeful and positive.

Jack smiled and sighed contently as he gazed dreamily up at the Fish of Peace. “It’s never lonely at night.”

Despite the bad luck, Jack knew he wasn’t alone. He had Zill, Spam, Vanexa, Jill, Kayla…all those who cared for him. His bandmates were the ones who helped save him from a monster, and it led to him being more tolerant of his curse. Zill had tried to “save” him multiple times by deflecting the bad luck events but Jack didn’t want him to get hurt. Instead of exhausting themselves to try and stop the curse, Jack’s friends helped pull himself together (literally and figuratively) and were simply there to support him after the bad moments. Although some of them were often preoccupied with lovers, they would always come back for Jack. For he was the silent supporting stone of their bonds.

And now he had Cameron…a loving mentor…and perhaps a new mother-like figure in his life. Although he had a crush on her, it was not solely romantic. It was mixed with feelings of appreciation and friendship.

Jack felt at home with himself for the first time in years. Because he realized an enlightening truth: not even a curse could keep his friends away.

0 0 0

Zechariah was busy jotting down notes at his desk when Cameron entered the room.

“Z-Zechariah?” Cameron asked.

“Miss Cameron!” Zechariah greeted. “Did your first session go well?”

Cameron smiled, pleased to have helped out Jack. Helping others made her feel truly at home for the first time. “Actually, it really did!”

[fierykitten2]

I have the desperate need to write a fanfic about at least two (is this my desperate need for shipping? It is, isn’t it?) characters end up travelling through time (and possibly space) in the Pokémon Universe (can you tell I’ve been watching Doctor Who? Yesterday I watched the episode where Rose fucks up trying to stop her father from dying and Nine is just like “you fucked up”) which compared to my current fanfics (two bounty hunters and a mercenary-for-hire go to every Pokémon region basically in order, two Paradox Pokémon and a turtle meet a bunch of futuristic racers and then discover there are more Paradox Pokémon than they thought there were, two bounty hunters and a mercenary-for-hire discover the universe that got sidelined in favour of at least one of the bounty hunters, the most powerful starter Pokémon in existence go up again… an electric rat and a dragon and possibly a genetically mutated cat and an AU where at least the ACNH newcomers (1.0 and 2.0) are actually human adults living in the Pokémon Universe - yeah I haven’t got a name for that one yet I’ve just been calling it The Pokémon AU and chapter 1 isn’t finished yet) seems like a fairly different story idea but my problem is I don’t know who I want as the main characters but I know who to rule out:

Falcon, Samus, Fox and one other are excluded because of AitPU. The first three are also excluded because of Mach Speed

Terapagos, Phoenix, QQQ, Raging Bolt, Iron Crown, Dino Entei and Robo Terrakion are excluded because of Temporal Boost

Spire, Noxus, Miyu and Fay are excluded because of my eventual sequels to TB (as much as I’d love to focus this on Miyu and Fay)

^ since Spire and Noxus are excluded, I’m also excluding the rest of the MPH Hunters

Walking Wake and Iron Leaves aren’t excluded because I’m not sure how to do this if there aren’t any Psychic-types related to time and I don't like Sinnoh. Alternatively I could go for Roaring Moon and Iron Valiant. This is inspired by Doctor Who and I have thought about those two being the Doctor bc of that trailer for Paradox Rift

Draq and Roger or Jody and Kate would be cool. Maybe the reason I’m unsure about them is because I seem to have thought it would be nice to have a male/female pair or multiple male/female pairs

There are many Animal Crossing characters I’ve considered but I’ve said no bc of the Pokémon AU. That said, I wouldn’t mind writing about either Meow and Bow or Fang and Freya (I think I’d prefer Fang and Freya but I don’t think they’d work well for whatever it is I clearly haven’t thought out. That said, if it’s detectives I want, they might not be a bad choice)

For some reason I’ve thought of Robert and Pico. I don’t think I’ll go with that option. Pico and Goroh was also an idea and I don’t think I’ll go with that either

I think my favourite idea is strangely to go with the maidens from Zelda but I think I’d have to give them actual names (Blue could be Skyla, Purple could be Rosa, White could be Bianca (none of those were intentionally named after characters from Gen 5)… the only thing stopping me from going with Stella and Pyramid for Yellow and Red is how samey they sound (and that was before I came up with Bianca). Maybe Mint for Green

I could potentially do characters from the Wii series *thinks about the CPU Miis*… *Wii Fit Plus failure jingle plays*

Maybe some characters from Ring Fit Adventure? Idk

I could do a pair of Pokémon characters but I want it to be a crossover. That said I wouldn’t mind having a male character called Scarlet and a female character called Violet and just match their colour schemes (including hair) to their names from there

Maybe all I should do is just make a fanfic where the 9th/12th Doctor meets a Walking Wake and an Iron Leaves and they become companions - given I’m currently rewatching 9 I think I would prefer 9 but I feel like with the way I see Walking Wake and Iron Leaves 12 would be a better choice (maybe because 12 has had that kind of quirky companion or something while 9 hasn’t)

[twinflamesandtarot]

Your true purpose will choose you

On the healing journey, we experience a spiritual death each time we ascend. The old version of you gives way to a higher self. It doesn't mean who you were was bad, it just means you have learned to see the world with new eyes and cannot un-see it. This is particularly true when we heal from trauma.

When you move past the denial, the anger, the rage, the depression and sadness, the next step is acceptance. This is a state of surrender where we say: yes that happened, yes that hurt, no I didn't deserve it, yes I am stronger now. From this vantage point we can see how we contributed, reacted and grew. We can no longer be a victim, we now become a survivor. The energy is different.

When I recorded this video, I didn't know I was watching my own funeral. Years have passed. I no longer have that beloved bike that saved my life; transporting me further than ever when I couldn't walk. I am no longer the naive girl who believed I would never be attacked or assaulted again because it already happened once before. I no longer hide the truth of who I am. I cannot. My power and purpose are bigger than that. People can see and feel my aura. I vibrate at a high frequency; people and animals are drawn to me. I am a magnet for love, abundance and joy. I am an inspiration to others! Now, I have become the catalyst for change.

A spiritual death is letting go of the past with respect and gratitude. I love the person who took a big risk and moved to another country with her pink bike. I honor her legacy each time I go for long walks in my pink hiking boots. Now I let my inner child lead the way to a new life filled with joy and happiness!

The new moon in Scorpio is about personal transformation, death and rebirth. It is the season of the Phoenix. Burn away old thoughts, perceptions, habits, friendships and comforts. Step into a new timeline that affords the space for your new wings to take flight. Each new moon is a chance for a reset!

For clarity in your next steps forward and how to get there, book a tarot card reading on my website. For $225 USD you will get an indepth intuitive reading with psychic insights, channeled messages, predictions, possible mediumship, and Sage advice. Each reading comes with a 4 week follow up including energy forecasts and a personal horoscope for your sun sign.

Discover your life purpose by aligning with astrology! The aura alignment service is an energy healing modality that connects your higher self and purpose. Currently listed at $1555 USD, this 1:1 program offers 12 weeks of spiritual life coaching, 6 chakra balancing sessions with crystals and a healing kit hand picked just for you!

Reach me at hellokiki@kellykimberly.com for questions

[caljordan]

I joked about how the Ace attorney Universe has like 11 tokusatsu shows while most franchises have 1, but to be honest, it’s one of my favorite things about the AA universe. It adds so much depth to the world but also the characters. (spoilers across the mainline games + the investigation games + anime)

Like originally, the Steel Samurai case was supposed to be just a filler game in between 2 very important cases.

But then Suekane made that comic where Edgeworth was secretly a Steel Samurai fan and that gave Takumi the idea to completely reinvent the character of Edgeworth and make him sympathetic and give him a redemption arc. 

Edgeworth then became someone who was forced to grow up quickly, whose childhood was ripped away from him. And despite his cold exterior, he allowed himself one childish thing, the Steel Samurai.  Someone, who despite taking his job very seriously and having a reputation, has a statue of the Steel Samurai in his office.

And that’s a parallel to Maya, who is forced to grow up quickly so that she can become the Master of Kurain. But with her Steel Samura obsession, we are reminded that she is still a teenager.

And that leads us to the events of Farewell, my Tournabout, where they introduced not only an annual contest of tokusatsu shows, but six new tokusatsu shows, two of which were the Jammin’ Ninja and the Nickel Samurai. They showed a rivalry between the two shows and the actors which in my opinion adds so much more depth to the AA universe, to know that people in that world have options of shows they can watch and that there’s a rivalry similar to DC vs Marvel (without the murder).

And then in Investigations, they added to that by making Kay a Jammin’ Ninja fan and making her contrast with Edgeworth and by making Edgeworth’s love for the Steel Samurai so important, that he solved a big case with it.

And Investigations 2 (spoilers!!) added even more to it because they took one of the characters from the Heroes of Heroes Grand Prix, the  Global Hero Onyankopon and they gave him a sworn enemy called Zurvan. They gave Simon Keyes a tshirt with the Onyankopon logo on it, and they gave Blaise Debeste a Zurvan mask, which foreshadowed their relationship.

And even if Simon Keyes himself is not a Global Hero Onyankopon fan himself, it’s still interesting that Onyankopon is popular enough that people wear his iconography on shirts, the same way people in our world wear Batman, Superman or Spider-Man t-shirts without necessarily being fans of the comics or the movies.

In Spirit of Justice, they introduce the Plumed Punisher, a hero beloved by the people of Khura’in but hate by Miles Edgeworth. Was it really a rip-off of the Steel Samurai or was it more like an international remake, where a show is made for a different audience and adapted for the local culture? Who is the say. The clash of culture is very interesting tho. It reminds me of when they made a Spider-Man live-action in Japan but made it a mecha show instead.

Then the adaptations added to it.

The anime created the Signal Samurai. A show that Miles, Phoenix and Larry bonded over when they were. The were the Signal Samurai Trio and they got matching key rings. Miles and Phoenix kept their keyrings even in adulthood, symbolizing their everlasting bond.

It also created the Rainbow samurai. A show that Phoenix watched in middle school after Miles had left while Larry had grown over samurai shows. It symbolized how Phoenix still felt connected to Miles while Larry viewed their friendship as something from the past

And the stage plays used it as the setting of the plot of 2 different plays.  Turnabout Spotlight, the first stage play, was set at a Steel Samurai stage play. Talk about meta. And Turnabout Teleportation, the Investigations stage play, was set on the film set of a tokusatsu show called Psychic Academy Σ.

Idk, as someone who interacts a lot with geeky media, I love to see how characters interact with the geeky media that exist in the world, and how that world is shaped by said geeky media.

[justanotherteentitansblog]

Bbrae Week 21 Day 6 Fantasy

The sky had turned twilight orange and blue and the air was cool and crisp. The brave knight known only as Mavis the Formidable had just taken off her armor after a long battle with the dreaded 3 headed tiger, Cereberus. The knight needed rest for tomorrow was another day of full of many battles to be fought and only she was strong enough to keep her kingdom safe- 

“Mavis!” the girl’s emerald-skinned older sister had popped her head into her room, “Mom says she wants you to…. What are you doing?” 

The purple-haired 4 year old was balanced precariously on the top of her headboard facing the window. A blue towel was tied around her shoulders and her fists were confidently placed at her hips. 

Mavis narrowed her eyes at her older sister, “I’m playing knights,Phoenix. Duh!” she said, sticking her tongue out at her. 

The 10 year old nodded her head at her sister’s antics “Right...anyway mom wanted me to come get you to see--” 

Mavis jumped off the bed and ran towards her sister, arms waving in excitement as she interrupted her, “Wait, wait, you can be the wizard who helps me fight Cereberus the 3 headed Tiger! Come on, put this on,'' She shouted running to grab one of her mother’s old cloaks she let her use to play pretend. 

“OK, A, I’m telling mom you’re fighting the cat again.” 

“NNNOOOo!” Mavis whined. 

“And B, why would I be the wizard when you’re the one with psychic powers?” 

“BeCAUSE, Phoenix! I have the magical sword!” Mavis spit, pulling a stick she found from the backyard behind her back. In a flash, Phoenix’s hand whipped out towards the stick and snatched it from her younger sister. “Now ya don’t,”  she teased, morphing into a puppy and running down the stairs with the stick in her mouth. 

Mavis screeched and launched herself down the stairs after her sister. “Giveitbackgiveitbackgiveitback!” 

When Phoenix reached the bottom of the stairs, a tall green man snatched up the green puppy from the ground mid-run and ripped the stick from her mouth. The guilty changeling morphed back into a 10 year old in her father's arms and gave him a look that would melt anyone else’s heart on contact. Garfield rolled his eyes at his daughter. 

“You can’t get me with the puppy dog eyes, Phoenix. I invented them.” 

At that moment, Mavis had arrived at the bottom of the stairs where her father stood holding her older sister by the waist in one arm and the stick in his left hand. The impatient girl started jumping up and down at the stick just slightly out of her reach. 

“Dad! Dad! My Sword!” 

Gar looked at this hand and then at his child and a slow smile crept over his face. 

“Ah Mavis the Formidable, I believe this belongs to you,” he said, handing her the stick. 

“Thank you, kind sir,” turning to stick her tongue out at Phoenix. 

Just then, the girls’ mother came up from the stairs to the basement with a sour look on her face as she approached her children. 

“Mavis, would you like to explain why I just had to untie the cat from the radiator in the basement?” 

She turned to Phoenix, “Or would you like to explain why I asked you to see if your sister wanted to go to the tower with you and Dad, and I instead hear her screaming at the top of her lungs? Should I even mention the fact that I specifically told you no morphing in the house, and you, no sticks longer than your arm in the house.” She scolded both of her children with equal intensity. 

Gar looked at his wife, “You told her no sticks?” 

“Only her arm’s length-long, after what happened this morning.” Raven said, pulling her hair up to show her husband the welt on the back of her neck. Mavis had been practicing wielding her “Sword” while Raven was trying to fold laundry that morning. 

“Well that’s an easy fix” he said, pulling the stick back out of Mavis’s hand and snapping it in half, making it an arms length. 

“MY SWORD!” the girl wailed. 

Gar stared at Mavis in the eyes and warned, “You could have no sword at all. Now the both of you need to apologize to your mother!” 

Both girls sighed, and rolled their eyes, “Sorry Mom,” they said in unison. 

Raven sighed and recollected herself. Other than poor Cerberus getting tortured, most of what they were doing was not a big deal, but Raven would have to have ANOTHER talk with Mavis about including live animals into her pretend games. 

Raven looked at her girls. Phoenix who was green and lanky like her father but otherwise had her mother’s face. She had thick green hair that was always pulled into a ponytail with a heavy bang that covered the matching chakra she shared with her mother. While Mavis had her pale skin and wild purple hair that stuck out all over the place complete with her father’s smile and ears. They were going to be the absolute death of her. 

Raven pinched the bridge of her nose and looked at her younger daughter. “Phoenix is going to the tower to train with Dad. Do you want to come with them or stay at home?”  

Mavis wrinkled her nose in thought, “Will Mar’i be at the tower?” 

“ I don’t know, I can find out and if not we can see about going to Aunt Kori’s if you don’t want to go to the tower.”

“OK! I just want to play with Mar’i” 

Raven went to make the phone call, while Gar rushed Phoenix upstairs to get dressed for training exercises. Mavis the Formidable, however, had decided it was time to visit the Witches' Den. It was time to make potions. 

Mavis the Formidable had visited the Witches’ Den many a time to create potions to take on her amazing quests, but everytime she had gotten found herself caught and placed onto the chair of eternity. The witch in charge of the den had warned Mavis that the items in this room were not to be trifled with, but Mavis knew she was a strong warrior and wise enough to correctly use any potion within these ancient walls all on her own. Mavis reached up to grab a glass bottle with pink sand and--

“If you touch that, you can forget about going to see Aunt Kori and Mar’i.” 

Mavis wilted as her mother approached her. She never let her play in the meditation room and everything in there looked so cool! 

“But MOM, I need to make potions or I can’t fight the dragons!” 

Raven sighed but then smirked at her daughter's active imagination. 

“Oh well why didn’t you just say so, Mavis the Formidable.” 

Raven grabbed an empty orb shaped bottle and poured a clear liquid from another bottle inside, the pink sand Mavis had originally reached for, three small black stones and a powder that made it shimmer when it was shaken.

“There, one dragon slaying potion. Don’t drop it”  she said with a wink. 

“Thank you, kind witch” she said, giving her mom a hug. 

Raven narrowed her eyes at her daughter, “You’re pushing it.” 

Mavis quickly corrected herself, “Thank you, Mommy.” 

“Mmhhmm, you wanna go to Aunt Kori’s then?” 

“Can we teleport there?” Mavis begged. 

“Mavis, the last time we teleported anywhere you wouldn’t stop crying for half an hour and wouldn’t sleep in your own bed for a week.” 

Mavis crossed her arms and began pouting “Well you wouldn’t turn on the light inside the portal” 

“Mavis, for the last time, there is no light inside mommy’s magic, it’s all--I’m not having this argument again. If you want to go, get your shoes on, we’re driving there.” 

Mavis pouted for a moment and then looked up at her mother through her eyelashes. 

“Can I wear my rain boots?” 

“If you dress yourself, you are welcome to wear whatever you want.” 

“OK!” Mavis shouted, bolting up the stairs, dragon potion in hand. 

Upon arriving at Kori’s, Mavis impatiently unbuckled herself from the carseat and began whining as her mother was taking too long to help her out of the seat. 

“Hold on, Mavis, let me get my bearings,” she said as she helped the girl out of the car. 

Kori was standing by the front door waving them in when Mavis went racing past her into the house, “HiAuntKoribyeAuntKori!” she shouted behind her. 

Kori chuckled at the sight while Raven rolled her eyes in exasperation. 

“Awesome manners, kid. You’d think nobody taught you them.” She deadpanned in the direction her child ran. 

Kori shook her head in bemusement, “How do you keep up with that one?” 

Raven scoffed, “You think I keep up with her?” 

Mavis tore through the house looking for her friend, finally she spotted Mar’i through the sliding glass door to the backyard, swinging on a rope swing. Mavis attempted to move the door but it was locked. She pushed and pulled and scrambled up hanging on the handle, but it wouldn’t budge. Slowly, Raven came walking behind her child and quietly unlocked the door while Mavis was still hanging onto the handle. At the first sign of her new found freedom, Mavis threw open the glass door and raced across the patio to her friend. 

Upon seeing Mavis, Mar’i jumped off the swing and ran to meet her. They two girls embraced each other tightly until Mar’i tackled them both to the ground, causing both girls to start giggling. 

Raven and Kori walked out to the patio to halfway supervise the girls but mostly to catch up and chat. 

Before the girls could get up and start playing, Raven called out a warning, “If you get hurt doing something stupid or something you’re not supposed to do, I’m not using any healing powers on either of you.” 

Mavis rolled her eyes at her mother while Mar’i simply nodded in agreement. “OK!” 

Mavis turned to Mar’i excitement coloring her face, “Mar’i guess what I have?” she asked, holding the bottle her mother gave her behind her back. 

“What? What is it?” 

Mavis proudly showed off the potion her mother made, “It’s dragon slaying poison, do you wanna fight the dragon with me?” 

Mar’i looked into the bottle's contents and swirled it around. “Are you sure, this is dragon poison? It looks like water and pink sand.” 

“Of course it’s dragon poison! My mom made it and my mom makes all kinds of stuff like this!” 

Mar’i shrugged her shoulders, “OK, can I be the princess this time?” 

“Sure!” Mavis shrugged back and went to find a new sword stick. 

After finding a stick much longer than her arm, getting scolded by her mother, and then finding a much smaller stick, the heroes set off on their adventure. 

The two adventurers had set off on a most gruesome task. A great dragon had taken over the nearby village and stolen all their resources. The village's only hope was now Mavis the Formidable and Princess Mar’i. Mavis only armed with her sword and her dragon slaying potion, and Mar’i with her flight and starbo--

“Hey wait a minute, why do you get to use your powers?! Mom, why does Mar’i get to use her powers?” She shouted running towards her mother. 

“Mar’i’s powers work differently than yours do, she can use hers without hurting anyone, which is something you can’t quite do yet.” 

Mavis stomped her foot and tears formed in her eyes,”That’s not fair, I want these off.” She shoved the silver cuffs that contained her power in Raven’s face.

Raven put a calm hand to her daughter’s hands and lowered them away from her face, “Your sister had to wear them until she was 6, and even then she only had them off for a few hours at a time. I’m sorry Mavis, but they’re there to keep you and everyone else safe.” This was a very rehearsed and familiar conversation Raven had practiced from years of dealing with the subject with Phoenix, who beforehand would turn into any animal she thought of with no control over it at all. 

It was very clear to everyone that Mavis was about to have a meltdown before Mar’i interrupted, “That’s ok! I just won’t use my powers!” 

Mavis sniffed, “Really?” 

“Yeah of course! I might fly on accident though, cause when I’m really happy, I fly.” 

Mavis rubbed her eyes, “That’s OK, you can fly us to the dragon!” Mavis was already picking the game back up where they had left off. 

“Oooh Yeah!” Mar’i agreed, floating a few feet in the air and reaching for Mavis’s hands. 

Raven stiffened, and Kori gave a warning, “No higher than the bottom of the tree branches, Mar’i and don’t drop her.” Mar’i nodded in agreement and Raven relaxed a little, since Mavis could definitely survive that fall if Mar’i did drop her. 

As the two young warriors flew off on their great quest, they came to a great mountain, complete with a rickety bridge that led to a separate deeply sloping mountain. Mavis the Formidable, was first to climb the great mountain with ease as she held within her tiny body the strength of a thousand suns, but as Mar’i attempted to climb the mountain she had lost her footing and the warrior princess began to slip. “Mavis!” She yelled to the knight in front of her. Mavis had reached the top of the mountain and turned to her companion. “Mar’i!” the brave warrior shouted from several miles above her. 

“I’m slipping, I can’t hold on!” 

“Don’t worry, I’ll save you!” Mavis yelled from the top of the mountain throwing the princess a long rope to help her climb to the top. 

Mavis’s blue towel that was previously wrapped around her shoulders smacked Mar’i in the face and she fell backwards off the playset. Mar’i lay flat on the ground looking up at Mavis with rage in her eyes, “Ow! Mavis!” 

Mavis started waving her arms around excitedly, “I'm so sorry, are you ok?” 

Just then Kori and Raven ran over to see if Mar’i was ok. After a quick but thorough inspection, it was deemed that Mar’i was ok, just irritated. Raven shot Mavis an irritated look, “Mavis what possessed you throw the towel on Mar’i’s face?” 

“No, mom, listen, I didn’t throw it at her, she was slipping off the mountain and I was trying to save her!” 

Raven smacked a hand to her face, she was getting really sick of the knights game. “Ok new rule, you’re not climbing anything together!” 

Mavis and Mar’i sighed knowing this part of their game was now over. The two mothers walked away leaving the girls to play together once again. 

Mavis approached Mar’i but the other girl pouted and crossed her arms at her friend. 

Mavis pleaded at her raven haired friend, “I really didn’t mean to, I promise!” 

“Hmpf!” Mar’i huffed and turned away from the mini empath, “I don’t want to play with you anymore!” 

Mavis’s eyes started to well up with tears at the rejection of her best friend until suddenly inspiration struck her.

“WAIT!” she shouted, taking the towel off her shoulders, “You can have my cape if you’ll be my best friend again.” 

Mar’i straightened up in shock, “Really?” 

“Uh-huh! Will you still be my friend?” Mavis implored her friend. 

“Of course!” Mar’i said, standing up and putting the towel over her own shoulders. 

Mavis breathed a sigh of relief as she stood with her friend and continued their game. 

Beneath the mountain where the heroes had fallen they discovered a vast cave ripe for exploring. The cave was cold and dark, they had made an attempt at a fire to warm themselves up, but the cold winds within the cave kept blowing it out like a birthday candle. Mavis could make out ancient runes inscribed in the cave’s walls that quickly lead the two to the innermost part of the cave. 

It wasn’t too long until the adventurers heard heavy breathing in the darkness that didn’t belong to either of the pair. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness, the girls screeched in terror. 

Looking at them were several jackalopes, with their teeth bared and ready to attack the young girls. Mar’i attempted to run to the safety of the queen but Mavis the Formidable, knew exactly what to… 

Kori looked up from the conversation she was having with Raven when she heard Mavis scream what could only be described as a warrior cry. “Raven...I don’t mean to alarm you but, your daughter is running and screaming manically with 3 baby bunnies in her arms.” 

Raven took a deep shaky breath and closed her eyes, trying to find a state of calm. After several attempts to find a meditative state, a nearby bird's nest exploded as Raven finally lost her patience, “MAVIS ANGELA LOGAN! DROP THE BUNNIES!” 

Mavis, the formidable once again found herself caught within the grasp of the evil witch and her chair of eternity. Days stretched into years and years stretched into decades as the adventurer found herself bound to the evil throne. 

No amount of pleading and bargaining with the cruel witch would change her mind as the warrior was only met with hushes and dark glares that she learned in witch language meant “shut up”. Just when Mavis thought she would be left to perish cold and alone in the chair of eternity a glorious sound parted the clouds and rang through the heavens. 

Beep, Beep, Beep. The timer on Raven’s phone went off signaling to Mavis that her timeout was over. Mavis eagerly lept from the chair but Raven stopped her before she could run back into the backyard. “Uh-uh, you’re not getting away that easily!” 

Mavis wilted and shuffled back over to her mother to get a talking to. Just as Raven was about to start scolding Mavis, the sliding glass door opened and out stepped Phoenix, Garfield and Dick. 

Garfield knew his youngest daughter like the back of his hand and knew what the look on her face meant. “Oh no, what did you do this time?” he asked Mavis casually. 

Raven narrowed her eyes at Mavis while speaking to her husband, “Your daughter is trying to catch wild animals to play with them again.” 

“How come she’s always my daughter when she’s in trouble?” The changeling asked. 

“Because Phoenix is my daughter when she’s in trouble, this was our agreement, I get the mean one and you get the feral one.” 

“Right, I forgot about that. You want me to handle this one?” 

“I would love nothing more.” 

With that, Raven turned to her older daughter to get the details of how her training went, while Garfield crouched down to his youngest daughter. 

“Are you out here driving your mother crazy?” 

Mavis cracked a small smile. 

“It’s not funny, Mavis,” he warned. 

“Well I was just trying to play with Mari and we were playing knights and we wanted to go on a quest to find the dragon but mom won’t let me use my powers or a sword or chase jackalopes and then I accidently hurt Mar’i with a towel but I was just trying to save her from falling off a mountain and-” 

Gar threw up his hand to silence his child’s rambling. “What’s this about a dragon?” 

Raven side eyed her husband and smirked knowing where he was going with this by the tone of his voice. 

Mavis continued on, “There’s a dragon, and it’s attacking the whole village and-” 

Gar cut her off again and began inching towards Raven. “I see, Mavis, does the dragon look anything like this?” he questioned as he threw his wife over his shoulder, morphed into a pterodactyl and flew several feet in the air with Raven on his back. 

Raven no longer found her husband's antics amusing as she desperately clung to his neck to avoid a sudden drop. “GARFIELD MARK LOGAN YOU BETTER NOT DROP ME I SWEAR TO GOD!” 

Mavis the Formidable was finally face to face with her enemy the dragon and he had captured the witch. Normally this would’ve been something to celebrate, but the witch was sometimes nice. She was the best at reading bedtime stories and always had really good snacks, so Mavis couldn’t let her get eaten by the dragon yet. 

Mavis wielded her arm-sized sword and began to swing at the dreaded dragon. The dragon flew close to the ground but continued to dodge Mavis’s attacks with ease. All seemed hopeless until Mavis remembered the dragon slaying potion the witch had made for her. Mavis pulled the bottle out of her back pocket, popped the cork, tilted her head back and chugged the potion. 

Raven’s eyes went wide as she watched her child attempt to chug what was essentially salt water and fall to her hands and knees, gagging. Raven stifled a chuckle until she burst out into a fit of giggles. 

“You’re not supposed to drink it you dork, you’re supposed to throw it at the dragon!” she said through fits of laughter. 

Gar quickly morphed back into his human form also laughing and let Raven get down off of his back. 

“Are you going to be ok?” he asked, trying to stifle his own laughter. 

“That was so yucky” she managed to cough out and dramatically pretended to die. 

By this point, she had everyone in the backyard laughing including herself. Gar went over to pick the child up, when suddenly her eyes shot open and she shoved the stick between his arm and chest. Gar immediately went along with the game. “AAHHHHH YOU KILLED ME” He screamed, falling to the ground next to Mavis. 

Raven walked over to the two impressed, “That was pretty clever Mavis the Formidable. You wanna go get some water to wash out that potion taste?” 

“And a snack?” 

“Sure Mavis, and a snack” 

THE END. 

[thefloatingstone]

C-Puff’s list of “I’m not sure if this show was real or a dream” shows I watched as a child

Please note; These are literally NOT the shows I would watch over and over again or have rewatched as an adult or which made heavy impressions on me. These are shows are on the edges of my memories which is why the entire list of them.... looks like this.

They’re not exactly Moomin or Heidi.

Also if you’re wondering why a lot of these are from the 70s and such it’s because my country was poor and would buy cartoons and anime from other countries DECADES after they’d finished airing. (actually we’remore poor now that ever before but now the internet exists so I have access to the same cartoons and anime as everyone else)

1: Taotao

(I like the backgrounds draw to resemble classic Japanese art)

2: Noozles

(I actually really like the character designs)

3: Rascal Raccoon

(I think I saw exactly 2 episodes of this but for some reason I remember them)

4: The Little Flying Bears

(Sonic looking ass)

5: Adventures of Pinocchio

(My mom hated this show because she says it was really loud, annoying, and she found the characters super unlikeable and just mean spirited)

6: Lassie’s Rescue Rangers

(You know how a lot of shows had a small PSA at the end to teach you something or warn you about things? I remember Lassie Rescue Rangers had one specifically about identifying black widows and that not all spiders were venomous.

....

they also had a completely serious, not even trying to be funny at all, PSA at the end of one episode warning you against people with ESP and psychics who can read your mind.

I am NOT joking.)

7:  Willy the Sparrow

(I thought this was a show but apparently it was a movie. I guess it just played a lot on TV)

8: The Bears’ Island

So apparently this show barely exists on the internet AT ALL. I’m wondering if it counts as Lost Media or if some weird pirate cartoon website is hosting the episodes. But GOOD LUCK googling it

9:  The Free Willy Animated Series

(Hey did you know Free Willy had an animated series?)

One of those weird cartoons where I only remember ONE episode but I retain the memory of the intro theme song’s lyrics for the rest of my life for some reason.

btw the Neverending Story ALSO had an animated series but I remember watching maybe one episode and then not bothering with it. Even as a kid I thought it was pretty bad.

10: Conan the Adventurer

I actually remember loving the shit out of this show and I’d watch it a LOT. But it’s one of those shows I really really liked as a kid aged 5 or 6 and when it stopped airing I completely forgot about it for like 20 years.

It has a phoenix as a main character though which is cool. He was my favourite although thinking back as an adult... I think he was kind of the Jar Jar Binx of the show so....

also This show always makes me think of Pirates of Dark Water. I remember Pirates of Dark Water a lot less clearly than the canon show because I Dark Water was just a little too much for 5 year old me and I remember not liking it, but Dark Water has since become better remembered than the Conan cartoon.

I think I didn’t like Dark Water because the weird animal companion which is usually the character I would automatically like the most wasn’t cute and scrappy but was this weird unappealing monkey bird thing. So child me had no character to project onto and so I didn’t like it.

anyway I’m going to bed.

[darkesthourrpg]

Not sure where to start when writing your supernatural New Yorker? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are some character seedlings, feel free to adopt one and make it your own. Just add water and give it some TLC and we’re sure you’ll have a character ready to apply in no time.

🌱  Siren who uses their weather abilities as a meteorologist

🌱  Werewolf stunt person because of their increased durability

🌱 You’ve heard of siren meteorologist, now get ready for siren news anchor who fights with the station meteorologist because they’re always wrong OR when they’re right the siren changes the weather to fuck them over

🌱 Witch that’s a pet psychic, they can have animal telepathy, but it would be funny if they didn’t and were just liars, even funnier if they’re a completely different species

🌱 A succubus feeds off of emotions, so they’d probably do well at a hotel or even a seedy motel, a dating blogger, or

🌱 A succubus who takes the emotions they've absorbed from other people to ghost write songs

🌱 A Banshee who owns a thrift shop or antiques shop and sells the items based on the visions they have of the people who owned the items

🌱 A vampire magician who uses compulsion and pretends they’re a hypnotist.

🌱 A vampire landscaper who forgets their daylight ring at home a lot and always has some sort of sunburn or rash.

🌱 An administrative assistant to The Clan who arranged everyone’s red cards and informational pamphlets on those who are New To The Undead Life

🌱 An apothecary owner witch who is notoriously bad at potions, but excellent at securing potion ingredients for more skilled witches.

🌱 A seraph who was adopted into a supernatural family.

🌱 A seraph who wants to be turned into a supernatural creature after being a superior agent and seeing how much more powerful the other species can be.

🌱 A Dryad botanist that takes care of other dryads’ saplings in a magically protected greenhouse.

🌱 A firefighting phoenix that uses their immunity to flames for more dangerous jobs

🌱 A siren that sings in struggling clubs and dives to attract crowds, for a hefty price.

🌱 A phoenix chef that manages to never burn their food, always cooking their dishes to the perfect temperature

🌱 A fae that somehow always ends up with the same job in every reincarnation and once they regain some of their past memories is upset they had to go through the whole process to relearn that specific skill again.

🌱 Baseball player that tries to control their heightened strength and speed as a vampire (or werewolf) to play fairly

🌱 A member of the fae that gets frustrated by the snippets of their past lives and is on a mission to get all of them back, no matter how fruitless that mission may be.

If you want something a bit more fleshed out, be sure to check out our Wanted Connections! 

If you DO end up using one of these, please let us know in your app so we can cross it off the list!

[lucille-grim]

**METAPHYSICAL BEASTS EXPLAINED**

When it comes to THE FIVE METAPHYSICAL BEASTS of Buddhism/Taoism and THE (MEDIA) TROPE that goes along with it...

I COMPARE AND CONFLATE THE MAIN FOUR WITH ACCORDING TO THE TROPE:

Yusuke with The Vermilion Bird (Phoenix) [Red Oni Type]

Hiei with The White Tiger [Red Oni Type]

Kurama with The Azure Dragon [Blue Oni Type to Hiei's Red Oni]

Kuwabara with The Black Warrior (Snake Chimera, is also known as "The Dragon Turtle") [Blue Oni to Yusuke's Red Oni]

Note: Red Oni are passionate and wild. Blue Oni are more friendly and even tempered, usually seen as the "laid-back" types.

And as a BONUS...

Koenma with The Yellow Dragon (The Emperor).

Yu Yu Hakusho features "The Four Saint Beasts", a Quirky Miniboss Squad of demons based on the Four Gods. In sequence, they were:

(Color-Coded for your convenience.)

Genbu, defeated by Kurama

Byakko, defeated by Kuwabara

Seiryū, defeated rather quickly by Hiei (17 slashes in a split second!)

Suzaku, defeated by Yusuke.

...Yusuke defeated a Phoenix as being a Phoenix himself.

Dragon defeats Snake, Snake defeats Tiger, Tiger defeats Dragon, and Phoenix defeats other Phoenix. Wood/Air vs Water, Water vs Metal, Metal vs Wood/Air, and Fire vs Fire.

Looks like they'd all get along if they had reconciled their differences. The Four Saint Beasts weren't exactly in the wrong...

You can also see why Kuwabara is considered to be and comes off as being the weakest. Metal contains Water, that is, it HOLDS and CONTROLS Water, which is probably why it was not Kuwabara who ended up killing Byakko who was instead killed by his partner, Seiryu (The Dragon)...ironically. The Dragon Character Role is by far one of the most lethal.

Water is such a flexible element. Fire does not always have to be extinguished by Water, Fire can boil Water and even turn it into STEAM. Wood absorbs water and Metal carries Water. Water can be at everyone else's mercry! However, water is fluid and water is patient and water will inevitably win in the end anyway. Think of a hurricane, a tidal wave, a flood, and endless rain. Think of how water shapes the earth and the entire planet. Along with Earth (represented by The Yellow Dragon), Water is the substance of ALL LIFE.

Water is the most Psychic of The Five Elements and Water is a HEALING Element as well.

We can see Yoshihiro Togashi well intended for Kuwabara to be of the Water Element Archetype...to be the Turtle-Snake and the Dragon Turtle of the Team.

"A dragon turtle (Lóngguī) is a legendary Chinese creature that combines two of the four celestial animals of Chinese mythology: the body of a turtle with a dragon's head is promoted as a positive ornament in Feng Shui, symbolizing courage, determination, fertility, longevity, power, success, and support."

-- Wikipedia

Moreover, The Turtle-Snake deals with the Occult and the Occult associates with Magick. Magick contains ALL EXISTING ELEMENTS. In Magick, one must learn to YIELD and CONTROL these Elements.

When it comes to The Phoenix Birds, Kuwabara is The Dark Phoenix. When it comes to Dragons, Kuwabara is The Turtle Dragon. When it comes to Big Cats, Kuwabara is The Lion to Hiei's Tiger:

Lions can defeat Tigers rather than the other way around:

Lions are very noble and are the symbol of Royalty. LIONS also represent majesty, strength, courage, justice, and military might.

* LINK: PROOF OF HAVING MENTIONED THAT KUWABARA WOULD HAVE BEEN A LION DEMON IF A CAT DEMON BACK IN JUNE OF 2021.

In YYH, Kuwabara is both Darkness and Light, mostly Darkness. He is the Sun and the Moon. He is THE ECLIPSE.

Yeah, Kuwabara is The Avatar in the story.

The Five Heavenly Beasts

January 5, 2019 Thoth Adan

Chinese, Taoist cosmology knows five elements and five cardinal directions (including center), represented by the five heavenly beasts, also called the five celestial animals. This fundamental, fivefold conceptual scheme is described as Wu Xing and used by many Asian traditions, such as Feng Shui or TCM, to explain a wide array of phenomena. 

Wu Xing, Giclée Print

The Diagram of interactions: The “generative” cycle is illustrated by arrows running clockwise on the outside of the circle, while the “destructive” cycle is represented by the star shaped arrows on the inside, also running clockwise.

五行  – Wu Xing 

Wu Xing litterally means moving star and describes the five types of Qi (all the vital substances) cycles through various stages of transformation. As yin and yang continuously adjust to one another and transform into one another in a never-ending dance of harmonization, they tend to do so in a predictable pattern.

It is widely translated as five elements. This translation arose by false analogy with the Western system of the four elements. The classical Greek elements are concerned with substances and qualities, whereas the Chinese elements are describing processes and changes. Other common translations talk about the five phases of transformation or the cycle of the elements. 

The five elements are described as followed:

Water (水 shui) is associated with the potential of new life hidden in the dark ground beneath the snows of winter.

Wood (木 mu) is associated with the exuberance of new growth as it shoots up from the earth in the spring. 

Fire (火 ho) is associated with the process of maturation that takes place under the warmth of the summer sun.

Earth (土 tu) is associated with ripening of grains in the yellow fields of late summer.

Metal (金 jin) is associated with the harvest of autumn and the storage of seed for next years planting and a new cycle.

The lists of correlations for the five elements are endless, but there are two cycles explaining the major interaction. By increasing or decreasing the qualities and functions associated with a particular phase, a practitioner may either nourish a phase that is in deficiency or drain a phase that is in excess or restrain a phase that is exerting too much influence.

The Creation Cycle:

Wood feeds Fire

Fire creates Earth (ash)

Earth bears Metal

Metal collects Water

Water nourishes Wood

The Destruction Cycle:

Wood parts Earth 

Earth dams (or absorbs) Water

Water extinguishes Fire

Fire melts Metal

Metal chops Wood

五象 – Wu Xiang 

Chinese astronomy knows five mythical figures, called the five heavenly beasts or the five celestial animals. They’re symbolizing the overarching principles of energy in Taoist cosmology: the five elements.

Each beast represents an element, a season and a cardinal direction – and each beast is associated with specific colors, shapes, temperaments, virtues and many other traits.

Xiang means symbol or image and some writers talk about four symbols, neglecting the yellow dragon of the center. For the sake of completeness I’m going to present all five of them here. They are: Black warrior of the North, azure dragon of the East, vermilion bird of the South, white tiger of the West and yellow dragon of the Center. 

The five animals are fundamental, particularly in the form school, the environmental Feng Shui. However, from the very large to the very small: the principles of the five elements pervade every level. Some times even a carefully selected Feng Shui tool cannot work optimally, because the entire energy system of a house or an apartment is out of balance. In this case it is important to strengthen and improve the five cardinal points (or a single weakened element) and bring the Qi back into the flow. Hereby, the five celestial animals can be of great use.

Black Warrior Of The North, Giclée Print

北方玄武 – Black Warrior Of The North

The Chinese character 武 (wǔ) means warrior and turtle at the same time, no wonder the constellation of the North is also often called the black tortoise. The compound term xuan-wu (black warrior) can also translate as snake. Three meanings slumbering in one term – and in fact the warrior of the North is traditionally depicted as a turtle fighting with a snake. 

The Northern constellation of the black warrior is also known in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

One of the most famous legends around this constellation is about a young prince named Xuanwu. He showed no interest in ascending the throne of his father, the Chinese Emperor. He left his parents at the age of sixteen, to study Taoism instead. As a master of this philosophy, he later attained enlightenment and was worshiped as a godlike constellation.

In Chinese thinking, the turtle is connected directly with the North, the element water, the winter and the night. The turtle was always considered as a mysterious and very symbolic creature. Its shell is compared with the celestial vault, the underside with the flat disc of the earth. It symbolizes happiness, stability, longevity, help in difficult phases of life, endurance and mental agility.

"The tortoise, as old as the other three but incorporated into the group a tad later, is a well-revered entity in China. Ancient mythology has it that all tortoises are female and to reproduce they take snakes as mates and this divine union is considered a symbol of good fortune. For this reason, the tortoise commonly gets depicted as being a two-headed tortoise/snake hybrid, a tortoise with a snake coiled around it, or straight-up a tortoise and a snake having sex. The alternative name and identity of the Occult Martial is a conceptual fusion between the tortoise and the Warrior of the North from the Four Heavenly Kings, another group of four associated with the cardinal directions. Why this happened specifically to the tortoise is unclear, but might have been influenced by the similarity of a tortoise's shell and a warrior's shield as well as the fact that there are several turtle-based insults in Chinese that you should definitely not call someone if you so much as remotely doubt you could take them in a fight. Hence why "Xuánwǔ" omits a regular word for "turtle" and uses "martial" instead. Other instances might refer to the said tortoise as a chimera of some sorts instead."

-- TV Tropes

* SOURCE LINK: GO HERE.

Azure Dragon Of The East, Giclée Print

東方青龍 – Azure Dragon of the East

In some languages one rather talks about the green dragon, in English it is known as the azure dragon. Well – both interpretations are correct. The Chinese color 青 (qīng) refers to a whole range of colors from green, turquoise to blue. The symbolism of the azure dragon is equally ‘iridescent’ and colorful.

The dragon is one of the most complex symbols in China and the most important symbol in feng shui. The oldest portrayals of dragons are about 5000 years old, 2000 years ago their importance grew significantly.

Chinese dragons were considered to be divine beings, creating order out of the chaos. As one of the five celestial beasts the azure dragon of the East symbolizes the element wood, life, sunrise, spring and health. He embodies strength, luck, fertility, vitality and power like no other being.

At the same time the dragon stands for spirituality, wisdom and the energy of transformation. He represents the forces of the yang, the positive, creative, masculine, virile principle.

Vermilion Bird Of The South, Giclée Print

南方朱雀 – Vermilion Bird of the South

The constellation of the South represents summer, the element fire and vigor –  it embodies a strong yang energy.

According to the legend, the vermilion bird was born in a vermilion cave at the South pole, before he was worshiped as a constellation and as the king of the feathered.

The vermilion bird of the South is often compared with the phoenix (fènghuáng) or even equated – however their relation is more  vicariously. As one of the five celestial animals the vermilion bird stands for the cosmic principle, the phoenix represents rather an earthly variant of this idea. Their symbolic meaning is nevertheless (or just therefore) very similar. Like the phoenix, the vermilion bird is full of elegance and beauty and represents the five human qualities: virtue, duty, ritually correct behavior, humanity and reliability. It is regarded as a guarantee for favorable opportunities and financial success.

Simultaneously it stands for energy, fire, zest for action and public reputation. The bird evokes the feelings of joy and confidence. Like any winged creature it embodies freedom, overview, self-confidence, ease and spontaneity.

Yellow Dragon Of The Center, Giclée Print

中心黃龍 – Yellow Dragon of the Center

Among all the different, Chinese dragons this guy plays the first fiddle in the Taoist cosmology.

The yellow dragon (sometimes referred to as yellow snake) is considered god and guardian of the element earth, the center, heaven and the sun. He’s the most powerful creature, master of all dragons and as such he is invincible – depending on his goodwill there will be a rich harvest or a poor crop, life or death. 

4000 years ago, this celestial creature gave a ride to heaven to a brave emperor and donated wind and rain to the people.

Similar to that myth it is said, that the legendary emperor Huang Di attended immortality at the end of his reign and transformed into a yellow dragon, ascending to heaven. Since then, Chinese emperors are considered as the earthly representative of the Huànglóng (yellow dragon). The use of the figure was reserved to them alone.

Often the appearance of the yellow dragon is accompanied with lotus flowers: The concentric petals of the lotus symbolize perfectly the qualities of the element earth: Everything revolves around a center, expands and carries the power of transformation. 

White Tiger Of The West, Giclée Print

西方白虎 – White Tiger of the West

The white tiger embodies the West, the fall, the harvest, the evening and the element metal.

Other than its powerful appearance may suggest at the first sight, the tiger represents a feminine energy (yin) and embodies the polar opposite to the male dragon in the East. The king of animals, or should we rather say, the queen of animals is worshiped since the Han dynasty.

According to the legend the tiger gets its impressive, white fur only at the proud age of 500 and she only shows up when a kind and just ruler sits on the throne and there is peace in the world.

The white Tiger is headstrong, maverick and proud and she is rather a loner. Her wild nature is difficult to control, therefore you should always make sure that his opponent, the green dragon, retains the upper hand – together they are unbeatable.

In China you often find images of tigers on doorjambs and graves – protecting the house or the resting place. It is said that the tiger repulses demons, and he is therefore considered a symbol for bravery.

In Feng Shui the symbol of the tiger is also used to promote intuition, vision, clairaudience, motherhood and unconditional love. Even so our tigress is powerful, self-willed and dangerous, everyone knows that it is gentle and caring to its babies. On the hunt she is very prudent, calm and focused. Her sixth sense may help us to recognize and take advantage of business opportunities others may easily overlook or miss.

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[phoenixyfriend]

I am seized by a fatal need for courtroom ninja drama fic

But not serious courtroom drama. I'm talking Phoenix Wright style Nonsense.

(Some of this was provided by the folks over in @sloaners​‘ server, but the bulk of it was me spitballing nonsense at people who actually know the games, which I do not. I do paraphrase a few times to make it more feasible as a tumblr post/fic concept, rather than a rapidfire text conversation.)

Or one of those like. Reality TV paternity test things? But specifically in my mind the people involved in the actual paternity are a married couple and someone that joined them to be their third, and Clan Elders are throwing a fit about how the baby might not be the heir by blood! while the actual parents are like "I could not care less, this is our child, all three of us, please stop getting involved."

HashiMitoMada would be a VERY good option for the paternity nonsense, mostly because I can see Madara screeching at his own elders about how he already said Izuna would be his heir and he's not changing his mind!

Tobirama is just begging the paternity test to work faster off-screen because he's the only person with the machines to make it happen.

(Hashirama is just. Moping in a corner.)

"I just had to INVENT a paternity test that works before the birth! I had to figure out how to test amniotic fluid! If you assholes make me do something this stupid on such short notice again, I will be digging some shallow graves!" "...for who?" "I haven't decided yet."

Anyway, jumping back to like a Phoenix Wright-style murder investigation.

The victim was Danzo. Even the prosecution isn't actually that interested in making sure someone gets arrested, but they're legally obligated to do at least try. A bunch of people all acting really suspicious about who killed him. There is at least one shitty fake mustache-on-glasses disguise to provide a paper-thin alibi.

WAIT The other thing this gives us is ninjas in three-piece-suits but half of them wear the suits wrong. I’m talking mismatched buttons. The wrong way of tying their tie. Sewn-on-cufflinks. This is Naruto, for instance.

Tobirama would wear it properly, except he's rushing about in a lab coat, screaming at everyone to get out of his way because he's The Entire Forensics Team.

(This is the part where I have to confess that I have only seen the live-action movie of Phoenix Wright, as I don't game, so I just have the live action and tumblr osmosis.)

At this point, of course, we gotta ask: Who is the most Belligerent Witness And who is the Helpful™️ Witness that's super enthusiastic but entirely useless

I can see, say, Mito being a solid witness that both defense and prosecution are really thankful for.

Modern gen you have like... Sasuke and Neji are both incredibly belligerent witnesses. Neji at least is polite about it but pulls the "only answers with the absolute minimum of information."

Lee and Gai would have the over enthusiasm but forget to say actual vital testimony until pressed, and Naruto would love to help but might not be entirely sure what the case even is.

Shikamaru falls asleep when the lawyers consult their partners. Prosecution A consults Prosecution B for thirty-seven seconds, then turns around and the witness is asleep at the stand.

Tobi (as in Obito with mask) is an incredibly frustrating witness. They have to declare a recess just so all the lawyers can recover their blood pressure. "Can we please get someone up on the stand with this guy as a handler? I'm--I'm going to explode."

Gaara: Helpful. Polite. Answers with detail. Answers the spirit of the question as well as the letter. Includes more detail. That's too much detail. Gaara please stop telling us about the sounds that bones make.

His testimony just drags on forever.

Ninken can and will take the stand! Pakkun even enjoys it! Some ninken require translators.

ABURAME TRANSLATING FOR A RANDOM GIANT CENTIPEDE THAT WITNESSED A MURDER IN THE FOREST OF DEATH

There are arguments about whether or not the testimony can count since nobody else can confirm the translation except Other Aburame so how do they know the Aburame aren't part of the coverup.

"Okay, so this Danzo guy had like fifty shell companies but I think I found the route that leads back to him?" "Nah, that one goes to a guy that died eighty years ago that's still collecting pensions: his family lied and said he was still alive for the money." "Fuck!"

Also I just. I love the idea of Sasuke and Madara being the exact opposite kind of belligerent witness.

Also, Orochimaru answers with pretty much the exact kind of wording as Gaara, but where Gaara is trying to be helpful and provide detail for the sake of the case, and failing to see that it's maybe not necessary, Orochimaru just wants to see people squirm. ...similar thing happens with Sakura and Kabuto. Similar phrasing, very different energy.

I keep picturing all of Team Taka as part of Forensics and Evidence Collecting ajshakshjd

Juugo, holding up a rabbit: I found a witness.

Karin joins forensics and Tobirama nearly weeps from joy until he finds her criminal record "Shit, that was supposed to get thrown out when I turned eighteen."

Tobirama: I asked for an assistant, not a criminal. Karin: I'm on parole. Tobirama: That makes things worse. Karin: I know how to use a [concerningly advanced machine that I, a business major, cannot name]. Tobirama: ...never mind, I'm keeping you.

Karin: I know how to DNA sequence AND use LA-ICP-MS Tobirama: [weeps with joy]

Suigetsu would be great at blood splatter analysis. ...I think I read somewhere that blood spatter analysis is actually over in 'fake science that's pushed by cops and media but actually doesn't work' BUT apparently it’s in the Ace Attorney games so we’re going to ignore reality a bit. We’ve already got dogs and rabbits and centipedes as witnesses, what’s a bit of blood spatter?

He's also probably really good at cause of death stuff? Like looking at corpse and figuring out how long it took the victim to die, which blow did it, whether any damage was inflicted post-mortem, etc.

Sasuke is usually too busy playing Belligerent Witness but sometimes goes to join Taka for... uh... reasons.

Juugo: [takes the stand] Lawyer: Hey, uh, why's that Uchiha guy with him? The witness-- Judge: No, no, we need Uchiha Sasuke on hand when questioning Expert Animal Handler Juugo. Lawyer: ...why? Judge: Property damage.

(Sasuke as a work partner with Juugo, also moonlighting as a witness/suspect in Danzo's murder.)

One time they need Juugo but can't find him even though court is already in session and he said he'd be here, turns out he was lured away by Kakashi's army of dogs. Kakashi didn't notice until he turned to ask Pakkun if he could help find the missing expert.

Juugo is a decent lab assistant, I think?

Anyway.

Tobirama taking on Team Taka as his forensics team while Orochimaru is... hm... traveling the country to promote his new autobiography, which is outselling the newest Icha Icha to Jiraiya's ire.

Sloane suggested “a case where it's all the Sannin as suspects in a murder. They would be THE WORST, say... the murder of Hanzo.”

To which I suggested “The Sannin are all suspects but the people on trial are the Ame trio, maybe?”

Which garnered the response of “It could be a surprise upset IN COURT that the trio should be on trial.”

We love a court upset.

Suigetsu finds out that the cause of death was actually an entirely natural heart attack, but while he was determining this, the rest of the team and the lawyers found like eight conspiracies by Zetsu, three by Danzo, four by Orochimaru, and an entire network of nonsense by Sasori.

INO IS THE PSYCHIC. I know her thing in canon is reading minds but pls. Ino is Maya. The Spirit Medium.

Is the judge: 1. Hiruzen 2. Hashirama 3. Hagoromo 4. Mifune 5. The Daimyou

(Old dude with authority, optionally easily distracted/questionably competent. I'd have gone for impressive facial hair but only Mifune and Hagoromo have more than like... Hiruzen's weird soul patch.)

It's not a soul patch but I don't know what facial hair is called and I can't just call it a goat beard

Response commentary was as follows: The Daimyou would unfortunately be closer to the personality of the ace attorney judge, more blindly agreeing with things that sound good :joy: Hiruzen could be fun if only for the competing facial hair for a beard, yes xD Hagoromo would possibly be most buckwild tho WELCOME TO MOON COURT

I managed to get this far with like... NO idea who the judges were except “IDK maybe Kakashi?” but consider:

...HashiMada rival lawyers

Dropping over to Izuna vs. Touka for when Hashirama and Madara inevitably become suspects of something or other themselves and have to be witnesses.

(Tobirama's too busy running blood tests, Anija, let Touka handle it, she's better at people anyway.)

...Hashirama is like. Marginally more put-together than Madara, right? So that... makes him Edgeworth... somehow... That feels wrong but Madara as Edgeworth feels even more wrong.

Madara is very into screaming OBJECTION

ALSO consider: Friction when a doctor from a nearby hospital gets called in to provide expert testimony on something because Karin is like "no hey I should be the one doing this" and then she sees how cute Sakura is.

But also at some point Kakashi vs. Gai for a nonsense case. Their personalities are both VERY FUN for this sort of thing.

[ladder-discourse]

Tell me more about the twewy Au, I know twewy is an anime but I wanna know more on what and how this au would work

An anime for TWEWY did come out earlier this year, but it's actually a video game first and foremost! The original version that came out for the NDS is one of my favorite video games of all time. Like, it and AA were both SUPER important and influential for me back in my high school days 'v'

I'd love to give more info about the AU but, I really truly don't have much nailed down lkamdflksdlf I'm sorry. I can try and summarize the premise of the canon it's crossing over with tho, to give you an idea of what I'm working with?

So, "The World Ends With You" is a JRPG which is set in modern day Shibuya. People who die in the city get brought to the "Underground" which is like, a parallel kind of... Afterlife dimension? When you're there, no one in the living world (which is called the "Realground") can see or hear you, but the city and all its structures still exist all around you. You're basically a ghost.

People brought to the UG are given a chance to play in the "Reaper's Game" and complete a series of missions over the course of 7 days which will determine if they have the right to come back to life. But the game is of course FRAUGHT WITH PERILS, and if you fuck up you can wind up "erased"; ie your soul gets destroyed and you're basically Dead for Real.

Despite the way the setup might sound, the narrative of the game is actually really wholesome. Players in the Reaper's Game have to form "pacts" with each other and form a psychic partnership in order to be able to use the supernatural powers you need in order to fight the monsters there (which are called "Noise"). No partner, no psychs, and you're pretty much doomed to fail. And the narrative of the game built around this mechanic is all about like. Learning to open up so you can trust and understand other people, and growing as a person through your interactions with others. (At least, that's what the first game is about. Worth noting that a sequel just came out that focuses on some very different themes.)

Anyway that's kind of the gist, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS OR MAKES IT MORE CONFUSING lkdfmslksdf sorry Anon.

For further context on Larry: If you win the game, you can choose to become a Reaper and help assist in maintaining the Underground instead of just simply coming back to life. Reapers have this whole complicated hierarchy, and there are a bunch of low-level dudes who mostly stand around and help manage these barriers that separate different parts of the city and provide obstacles for the players to overcome. Larry's supposed to be one of those guys.

Reapers are allowed to live a dual life of both serving the UG and keeping on in the RG, so the idea of like. Phoenix dying and entering this terrifying situation, only to find out that Larry has secretly had this double life all along, where he's actually a low ranking-death god who stands on street corners all day and makes Players do asinine shit like bringing him sandwiches and stuff? That is VERY funny to me. Plus he would fit right in with the other support reapers you see in the game. They're a WEIRD bunch.

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Michael in the Mainstream: The Dark Knight Trilogy & Its Negative Impact on the Superhero Genre

Superhero movies have come a very long way in the past couple of decades, cementing themselves as a genre unto themselves rather than the odd action movie here or there. Almost every year a few new ones of varying quality pop up that incite equal parts excitement and derision. It’s definitely a genre people feel very strongly about, but even people who tend to not love superhero films will admit that Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy is fantastic.

From 2005 until 2012, Nolan reinvisioned Batman in a way that grounded the character in reality. There’s no fantastical elements, there’s no insane science, there’s no superpowers… Everything in these films could happen in the real world. In a post-Batman & Robin world, this was seen as a breath of fresh air, and the critics loved it. In particular, The Dark Knight helped to usher in the modern age of superhero films, releasing the same year the MCU kicked off and widely being hailed as one of the greatest films of all time. That’s right, not even superhero films, films period. These films were impressive, groundbreaking, and… they fundamentally ruined superhero movies for quite a while.

Look, I don’t particularly hate these films. I think all of them are pretty good, in their own ways. But they have a lot of glaring issues that really hamper them a fair bit and yet, somehow, they became the blueprint that studios decided to look at for what they thought a successful superhero movie should be. Nolan’s films are serious, brooding, dark, and lack the whimsy and creative insanity that makes comics such a fun and engaging medium, and I think this right here is what has hurt comic book movies the most over the past decade. These are films that feel absolutely ashamed to be comic book movies, and they desperately want to seem like they’re “mature” and for “adults.” And, unfortunately for the rest of us, this shame translated over into a lot of other films, something we’re only just now recovering from.

Looking at the greatest strength of the trilogy shows this issue pretty well, that being the villains. Nolan’s films gave us truly iconic portrayals of characters like Bane, Joker, and Scarecrow, and you’re not gonna hear me say much bad about them. Cillian Murphy, Liam Neeson, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Aaron Eckhart, and Heath Ledger all do fantastic jobs as the insidious rogues of Batman. But the issue I have is that by grounding these characters in a realistic setting like this, it kind of misses the point. Joker isn’t using exploding cakes and laughing gas, Ra’s al Ghul isn’t an immortal warrior, Bane isn’t a drugged-up super soldier… They’re all just Guys. They’re Guys With Gimmicks, yes, but at the end of the day they aren’t what should be looked at as the be-all, end-all of the character’s portrayals.

And yet everyone acts like no one should ever play Joker again, because Heath Ledger’s Joker was just so good, guys! And he was good, but I don’t think Ledger’s Joker should be the absolute final Joker ever. Quite frankly, I prefer Phoenix’s Joker, because even if that version is also in a rather grounded film missing the overt weirdness of comics for the most part, he still dresses in a colorful costume, acts weird, tells jokes, and is in general more Jokery. Out of all of these villains, I think Bane and Scarecrow at least come within the ballpark of being close to how they should be, but Scarecrow is horribly underutilized and Bane is given a rather undignified sendoff.

Then there are the bigger issues. Batman himself is really downplayed throughout the trilogy, getting fairly little screentime compared to villains and side characters. This was a huge point of contention when The Dark Knight Rises came out, with most of the film featuring Bruce Wayne, and in hindsight it highlights how unwilling Nolan was to engage with the comic book trappings of what he was adapting. I like Christian Bale a lot, he’s a great actor, but I don’t think he really carries any of the films; in fact, it’s usually the villains carrying the movies. Bale is certainly not as bad as Val Kilmer in the role of Wayne/Batman, but he’s no Keaton, he’s no Clooney, he’s not even an Affleck. A lot of the time, he also just feels like… a Guy. And Batman should not ever, ever just be a Guy.

But perhaps the most egregious fault of the films is what it did to Gotham City itself. In Burton’s films, you really get a feel for the Gothic atmosphere of the city with how it’s designed, and this goes for Batman: The Animated Series too. And even the more cartoonish, colorful Gotham of Schumacher’s films pops and leaves an impact. But Nolan’s Gotham? It’s very much just a City. There is nothing distinct about Nolan’s Gotham, it’s literally just a generic city, and if you even have the faintest knowledge of Batman you will know that Gotham is not just a city. Gotham is pretty much a character itself, a dark, imposing landscape in which Batman does battle with his costumed foes. Every other adaptation I can think of knows to make Gotham feel unique and distinct, but this one just absolutely drops the ball. You might as well just have the city be New York if you’re going to put no effort into giving it personality.

And that all brings me to this: every reviled superhero movie of the past decade, from F4ntastic to The Amazing Spider-Man to Dawn of Justice, all have their genesis in Nolan’s trilogy. He laid the groundwork for these films to exist, and a large majority of the blame needs to be put on Nolan for sapping the fun out of comic book movies. Now, to be totally fair to Nolan, he’s not entirely responsible for what happened to the comic book film landscape; prior to him, the X-Men film series was giving all of the heroes dark costumes and being a bit more serious. But despite those films playing a bit of a part, there’s one major reason I don’t fault them nearly as much: The X-Men films never once felt ashamed to be comic book movies.

You have to understand, people loved grit and edginess in the 90s and had just violently rejected Batman & Robin a few years prior to the original X-Men film, so it’s hard to really fault it for wanting to avoid being too campy. But much like Blade, the films never tried to act like they weren’t still crazy comic book films. Scott still has eye lasers, Mystique is still blue, Nightcrawler looks like a demon, there are Sentinels and Apocalypse and even Dazzler shows up at one point! The X-Men franchise wasn’t always good, but it managed to balance between being silly and taking itself seriously pretty well for the most part. Magneto is still a Holocaust survivor, his relationship with Xavier still has impact, there are still emotional moments here and there, but then you also have Deadpool movies and the multiple comic book style retcons to the timeline that leave the continuity a mess, and something about that just feels right. And all that makes Logan less egregious despite being the sort of brooding, angsty superhero drama Nolan would make, because even if it is those things, it still centers around a dude with metal claws coming out of his hands trying to stop his best friend from wiping out everyone with psychic seizures. Nolan could never make this superhero film.

Nolan’s films, on the other hand, did. These films did not feel like they wanted to be comic book movies, they felt like they wanted to be serious crime films but Nolan was stuck with Batman so he just mashed the two together. And honestly, I’d probably be more forgiving if it weren’t for the hugely negative impact these films and their critical success had on the superhero genre even until this day. The first decade of superhero films as a major contender in cinema were colored by these films. People outright balked at silliness in superhero movies for quite some time, with a lot of criticism levied at the early phases of the MCU for being too goofy; in fact, at times it seemed as if the MCU was going a bit too far in the goofy direction without striking the proper balance, with films like Age of Ultron having most of its tension defused by constant wisecracks. And on the DC side, Nolan’s grounded approach lead to Zack Snyder’s flaccid filmmaking with dark coloration, moody atmosphere, and not a shred of joy to be found. Nolan is essentially the peak of dark, grounded superhero films, and Snyder is the nadir, but Snyder’s awful DC films wouldn’t exist if not for Nolan.

It was a slow crawl getting to what superhero movies should be. Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man were films tossed out only when Marvel was certain they could take risks, because absurd concepts like those would just not have been able to survive if not for years of good will beforehand. That’s not even getting into some of the more bonkers elements of later films, such as Ego the Living Planet and basically everything about Doctor Strange. In fact, Doctor Strange, for all its issues, is still a massive step forward for a genre that outright rejected magic for a long time, instead for a time turning Thor and his costars into a cast of hyper-advanced aliens, with later films having to clarify that there is magic and zombies and so on. The recent WandaVision was able to further clarify this by making Wanda unambiguously magic and not an evil Nazi science experiment.

Superhero animation didn’t suffer quite so much, but that’s mostly because, much like comics, animation is still seen as “kid’s stuff” by way too many people. And even then, they didn’t escape the shadow of Nolan totally unscathed; one need only look into the infamous Bat Embargo, which limited Batman villains so there could only be one given incarnation of said character in media. For instance, the Scarecrow being in Batman Begins meant he could not appear in the animated series The Batman. This lead to such things as no Batman characters appearing in Justice League Unlimited. It was truly a stupidly frustrating time to be a Batman fan when some of his most iconic foes were relegated to only certain appearances because it “might confuse kids.”

Let me again clarify this: I mostly like the Nolan films. I usually like Nolan, though he has become unbearably, obnoxiously pretentious these days. I think a lot of elements of them are great, I feel like they mostly have strong villains, and I don’t disagree that The Dark Knight is a fantastic film. But the thing is these are only good as AU stories, as their own thing; they should not be the template every superhero movie should follow, or any superhero movie for that matter, because they lack the ability to engage with the things that make people love comics in the first place. People love wacky, off-the-wall concepts, superpowered aliens, magic, talking animals, evil living planets, alcoholic ducks, and all that fun stuff.

People desperately want the fun, camp, and wacky stuff back in comic book films, as the success of the goofier DC films like Aquaman, Shazam, and Birds of Prey as well as the success of shows like Doom Patrol in comparison to the critical and audience revulsion of Snyder’s films, with Shazam in particular giving us such bonkers concepts as an entire family of superpowered children and Mr. Mind, the evil alien caterpillar. Thor: Ragnarok and the Guardians of the Galaxy films have become some of the most beloved MCU movies despite being weird, wacky, and wholly embracing the joy of comics to the point the latter films feature Howard the Duck and the aforementioned Ego alongside bizarre characters like Rocket Raccoon, Groot, and Taserface. And the thing with all of these films is that they’re able to balance the weirdness and wackiness of comics without losing sight of human emotion, moving storytelling, and drama. They’re both fun and deep, goofy and yet meaningful. This is what comics are, and what they should be, and anyone who thinks comics should be grim and gritty really needs to think about why they think an entire genre needs to be colored in with only the dullest colors.

I think what I’m trying to say here is this: Make a Detective Chimp movie, you cowards.