#Lean Walhalla

[snowboyclarkov]

Beyblade Burst - Main Antagonist Introductions

Beyblade Burst has a series called Meet The Bladers, which goes through certain people in the series and describes them. It often includes scenes of the people themselves from episodes. This post is a collection of all the introductions of the main antagonist bladers who have been part of the Meet The Bladers series. Before that, a list of who I consider to be the main antagonists, listed per season.

Disc 1 refers to someone who takes the role until the true main antagonist comes along, whether as a rival, a minor villain, or any other role. An antagonist is not a villain and can even be an ally/friend of the protagonist that they battle.

As it is for bladers only, there was nothing of this kind for Theodore Glass. Weirdly, Arthur Peregrine doesn't have one despite being the overarching main antagonist of Rise/GT. Shu and Spryzen are listed on the same line as Spryzen possessed Shu and became the main blading antagonist alongside its blader.

Shu Kurenai (Burst - Disc 1)

Lui Shirosagi (Burst)

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Free de la Hoya (Evolution - Disc 1)

Joshua Burns (Evolution - Disc 1)

Shu Kurenai (Evolution) | Spryzen (Evolution)

Kurt Baratier (Evolution)

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Valt Aoi (Turbo - Disc 1)

Hyde (Turbo - Disc 1)

Phi (Turbo)

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Delta Zakuro (Rise - Disc 1)

Arthur Peregrine (Rise)

Gwyn Reynolds (Rise)

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Lain Valhalla (Surge)

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Rashad Goodman (QuadDrive)

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Pax Forsythe (QuadStrike)

The lines in which there is no name attributed, and are in italic, are those said by the narrator of the Meet The Bladers series.

Lui Shirosagi | Lost Lúinor Nine Spiral (The Spear of Ruin - Christian mythology - Basis: St. Longinus and his Holy Spear)

Hanami: He's won 4 National Tournaments in a row, and he's one terrifying force of nature. Please welcome Lui Shirosagi!

Crowd: *Cheering*

Nika: He's the one who beat Shu?

Right, and their rivalry's intense. See, Lui's frighteningly powerful and he knows it.

Lui: I only accept an opponent's challenge if they seem like they'd be worth the effort.

To him, other bladers are just waiting to be beaten.

Lui: You're a terrible blader.

Valt: Huh?!

Totally reckless, (Lui: Heh heeeh.) Lui couldn't care less what happens to anyone (Valt: Aah!) as long as HE wins.

Valt: You almost hit me, dude.

Lui: Ha, whatever.

Lui/Valt: Let it rip!

Lui's bey is an incredibly unique attack type. Lost Lúinor spins counter-clockwise. It's most trusted move?

Lui: Lost Spiral!

Lúinor: *Roars*

Watch Lui and let it rip on Beyblade Burst.

Lui: I'm gonna smash your dreams into bits!

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Joshua Burns | Blast Jinnius 5Glaive Guard (The Wind Genie - Islamic mythology - Basis: The Jinn/Djinn/Genie)

Today, we're taking a look at one of the strongest teams in the world, America's Raging Bulls. Their owner, Theodore Glass, is always 5 steps ahead of the curve. (Free/Shu: Rip!) He cherry-picks (Fafnir: *Roars*) top talents to beef up (Spryzen: *Roars*) the Bulls roster. For instance, Japan's wonderkid, Shu Kurenai.

Raging Bulls Staff Member: He's won more matches than the two of you combined.

Then, Glass poached the world champion of Beyblade, Free de la Hoya.

Theodore: I've got very high hopes for your performance.

These days Glass has tapped up blockbuster movie star and Beyblade supernova to be the captain of the Bulls, the inimitable...

Joshua: Joshua. Heh. Joshua Burns.

Joshua: We're ready!

Word is, Joshua joined the Raging Bulls just to prove himself to Free. Free's kind of his idol.

Joshua: Wait! Free! I'm coming! We'll grab lunch! Do you eat lunch?!

And Joshua definitely has a reputation to uphold. He's one of the Big 5, the top bladers in the world. His bey, Blast Jinnius, is a defence type featuring two techniques loaded with star power. Cyclone Wall raises Jinnius during battle to keep it free from harm.

Joshua: Time to end this thing!

Then, it's curtains with Cyclone Counter. Jinnius' layer slams down on its opponent with a powerful show-stopping strike. Can Joshua take the Raging Bulls to the top of the box office?

Joshua: I smell a best actor nod!

Watch Joshua and the Raging Bulls and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Free de la Hoya | Drain Fafnir 8 Nothing (The Golden Dragon - Norse mythology - Basis: The cursed dwarf-turned-dragon/worm Fáfnir)

Check it out! It's Free de la Hoya.

Valt: You recognise that guy?

Rantaro: The world's top blader? Of course I do.

Not only is he the captain and secret weapon of BC Sol, Free is a blader of seemingly superhuman abilities. I know, I know. He's not what you'd expect.

Free: *Yawns*

Valt: He seems so... bored.

Rantaro: Uh, dude? You look like you've been hypnotised or something.

Lots of people think Free's a bit of a space case. Not so! He just, uh, marches to the beat of his own drum. As BC Sol's owner, Kris is one of few who truly understands Free.

Trad: Hey, Free! Pay attention!

Kristina: No, never mind. Just leave him.

At first glance, Free may seem lazy, but he trains harder than anyone else. He's unique in every way. Even Free's bey launch is one of a kind.

Valt: Where's your launcher?

Free: Not using one.

Valt: Huh?

Speaking of his bey, Drain Fafnir, it may look shaky, but it gets stronger each time its hit by a clockwise-spinning bey.

Free: I'm absorbing your power.

Silas: No bey can do that!

Free: Well, mine can.

Free: Rip!

Because of his out-of-this-world skill, plenty of teams have their eyes on Free.

Theodore: What a shame he's on the wrong side. He'll come to us.

Free loves BC Sol more than anyone, and he'll do whatever it takes to help his team, even... leave?

Valt: *Gasp*

Shasa/Rantaro: *Gasp*

Kit/Honey: *Gasp*

Free: See ya around.

Watch to find out just what Free is up to next on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Shu Kurenai | Legend Spryzen 7 Merge (The Protector Giant - Cornish mythology - Basis: The Spriggan)

Spryzen (possessing Shu Kurenai) | Spryzen Requiem 0 Zeta (The Protector Giant - Cornish mythology - Basis: The Spriggan)

Version 1:

Introducing Shu Kurenai.

Reporter: Many are calling him the most talented blader to emerge in over a decade.

A member of the Supreme 4, the greatest bladers in the country, he gets the game inside and out.

Toko: Awesome!

Nika: He's so cool!

(Fangirls: *Fangirling*) Beloved by fans the world over...

Nika: Shu, we love you!

...Shu Kurenai is a Beyblade superstar. But fame hasn't changed him. Shu remains humble, hard-working and trains all the time. With his bey Storm Spryzen and their amazing signature move Counter Break, (Spryzen: *Roars*) Shu's putting a new spin on the game that's all his own. But above all, Shu is cool, cool, cool!

Valt: What do you say?

Shu: I'm not really a club-joining kind of guy.

Valt: Aaah?

That's a classic cool guy move.

Valt (muffled due to mouth being full): What do you call this stuff?

Shu: It's called spaghetti carbonara.

(Valt: Mmm! Oh!) And he can cook too?!

Watch Shu and let it rip on Beyblade Burst!

Shu: Hmm.

Version 2:

Shu Kurenai is missing.

Valt/Rantaro: Huh?!/Ah!

Wakiya: I know where to start our search!

Wakiya: I've found it.

Deep in the dangerous jungles of Mexico...

Daigo/Rantaro: Hm?

Snake: *Hiss*

Valt: Aaaaaaaaah!

...Rumours tell of a secret Beyblade society. Their single-minded objective to train the strongest, most savage bladers (Two snakes: *Hiss*) of all time. This is the (Snake: *Hiss*) Snake Pit.

Security: Enter if you dare.

(Snake Pit bladers: Ah!) Here, only the strong survive.

Snake Pit bladers: *Sounds of hard training.*

Theodore/Black Eye: Failures must leave./*Gasp* Aa!

Black Eye: Aaaah!

No underground society would be complete without a shady ruler.

Theodore: You may call me Ashtem.

And his shadier disciples. Hey, those beys look familiar.

Daigo: They're just like ours.

They've got shadow versions of everyone's beys?! Who ARE these copycat bladers? Ashtem's most powerful disciple is...

Shu: Red Eye, and my bey is... Legend Spryzen.

Valt: Huh?!

Hey! That's Shu Kurenai's bey! What's going on here?!

Shu: I know how to harness its true strength.

Legend Spryzen is a balance-type bey that can spin both clockwise AND counter-clockwise.

Shu: Axe Launch!

Spryzen: *Roars*

Valt: Aa- aa.

Is there any stopping Red Eye (Spryzen: *Roars*) and the rest of the Snake Pit? Find out on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Kurt Baratier | Boom Khalzar 7Under Hunter (The Hurricane Bird God - Mayan mythology - Basis: The war serpent deity Kukulkan)

Bisuke: Hooligans, punks and goons, draw near! Time for you to cheer as your dear Emperor is here.

Kurt's gang: *Cheering*

Introducing the one and only Kurt Baratier. Before Free became (Free: Rip!) number one, Kurt Baratier, (Kurt: Heh heh heh) a.k.a. The Emperor, (Kurt: Let it rip!) was the world's top blader.

Kurt: I rule the blading world.

He reigned over the rankings without a single loss to his name. Having risen to the top of his game, Kurt grew bored with the official tournaments, then one day, he left the blading world altogether. He began battling in an underground blading ring with seriously high stakes.

Kurt: If Valt loses, I take his bey. It's that simple.

This is where Kurt holds court over his motley crew of loyal subjects.

Bisuke: Coming through, out of the way! Didn't anyone ever teach you to make way for royalty?

Bladers: Nnh?

Bisuke: Ngeeheheheheheeh.

His bey, Boom Khalzar, is a high-speed attack type.

Kurt: Arise, Khalzar!

Khalzar: *Roars*

It commands 2 regal techniques, Thunder Attack and...

Kurt: Bolt Attack!

Now, Kurt's returned to official Beyblade competition (Crowd: *Cheering*) as a (Kurt: Hnn hnn) wild card in the (Bisuke: Yeah!) International Bladers Cup. (Gang member: Show no mercy!) But why? Has The Emperor set his royal sights on reclaiming his crown? (Khalzar: *Roars*)

Kurt: Be very afraid. Things are only going to get worse from here on in.

Watch Kurt and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Evolution!

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Valt Aoi | Wonder Valtryek 12 Volcanic + Turbo Valtryek Zenith Evolution (The Battle Goddess - Norse mythology - Basis: The Valkyrie)

Valt: *Gasp*

Valt: Let's do this thing!

This is (Valt: Yeeeaaaah!) Valt Aoi.

Valt: I'm gonna crush this!

Yeah, (Valt: *Gasp*) Valt's enthusiasm and energy are way off the charts.

Valt: Alright!

Sometimes, it makes up for the fact he (Valt: Aaaaaagh!) tends to lose his cool. Valt's heart's in the right place, and he's a great communicator.

Valt: *Imitating a bey battle*

He makes friends wherever he goes. Even with his toughest Beyblade rivals. Beyblade is everything to Valt, (Valt: Let it rip!) and with his bey, Victory Valtryek, (Valt: Let's go!) and their awesome signature moves...

Valt: It's time for a Rush Launch!

...They may be headed... to the top of their game.

Valt: Together we're gonna become the best Beyblade team in the world!

Join Valt and let it rip on Beyblade Burst!

Valt: Time for my happy dance.

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Hyde | Dread Hades 11Turn Zephyr' (The Underworld God - Greek mythology - Basis: The underworld deity Hades)

Phi | Revive Phoenix 10 Friction + Dread Phoenix 10 Friction (The Immortal Bird - Greek mythology - Basis: The Phoenix)

They say he appeared from a fallen meteor.

Naru: Wait, do you think he's an alien?

No matter what the rumours say, the facts are, Phi is one terrifying opponent.

Phi: It seems your eyes have seen something they never should have stumbled upon.

His bey, Revive Phoenix, is a defence-type bey with a mind-blowing secret.

Aiger: We did it! Nngh. It didn't burst.

That's right. The first time Phoenix bursts it only loses its outer armour. It can even use its armour as a weapon.

Phi: Revive Crush!

Phi draws his power as a blader from his intense resonance with Phoenix. He senses a similar connection between Aiger & Achilles and it fascinates him.

Phi: Seems Achilles wants to battle as much as we do.

But Phi's not the only one who's noticed there's something about Aiger.

Hyde: Ah, so this is why Phi wanted to toy with him.

Phi's twin brother Hyde and his bey Dread Hades have also taken an interest in Aiger's power. A balance-type, Hades is one of the heaviest beys in existence. But its strength is never more obvious than when Hyde's using...

Hyde: Dread Gravity!

Hades encircles its opponent, smashing them around like a bey-shaped pinball. These techniques are driven by Hyde's own warped resonance with Hades.

Hyde: What magnificent power! Now this is true resonance!

With that kind of intensity, it's no surprise that these brothers have taken sibling rivalry to a whole new level. As children, they fought over who would get (Hyde: Ah, I want this one!) Hades... and Phi lost. That resentment fuels the tension between them to this day.

Phi: You shall lose everything!

Tempers are boiling over as Phi finally exacts his revenge and takes back what's his. Keep watching to find out how far Phi & Phoenix will go on Beyblade Burst Turbo!

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Delta Zakuro | Venom/Erase Devolos Vanguard Bullet + Master Devolos Generate (The Devil Dragon - Christian mythology - Basis: Satan)

Endless style and talent, burning passion, Delta Zakuro's got it all.

Delta: Nnh!

But what he doesn't have is patience for bladers who aren't on his level.

Delta: You're a nuisance.

Delta puts in hours of hard work to be the best, and the fruits of his labour shine through when he battles.

Delta: Go, Devolos!

Devolos is a balance-type that can alternate between two modes, the clockwise-spinning Venom Devolos and the counter-clockwise-spinning Erase Devolos. So no one has any idea how he'll attack... unless he tells them.

Delta: I'm going with Erase Devolos.

Kinda like that. When they unleash their signature move...

Delta: Dual Phantom!

Devolos' tip splits in two! The small clone then attacks their opponent while Devolos focuses on spinning.

Delta: Devolos is going to swallow up all of your light!

Devolos: I'm starving!

The blading world better watch out 'cause these two are a force to be reckoned with.

Watch Delta & Devolos and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Rise!

Delta: Only one star in the sky can shine the brightest.

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Arthur Peregrine | Prime Apocalypse 0Dagger Ultimate Reboot' (The Sword of the End - Christian mythology - Basis: The dragon that bestowed power upon The Beast and caused the Apocalypse in the Book of Revelation)

ERROR 404 - Meet The Bladers episode not found.

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Gwyn Reynolds | Royal Genesis Hybrid + Eclipse Genesis Hybrid (The Beginning Shield - Judeo-Christian mythology - Basis: The origin of life detailed in the Book of Genesis)

Mystery + intelligence + a mastery of hyperphysics = Gwyn Reynolds, an enigmatic math whiz with a knack for solving the toughest of equations. As a newcomer to the blading world, Gwyn's inspiration to battle was brought to life when he witnessed Dante and Delta's face-off with Arthur Peregrine.

Gwyn: You know, Beyblade... might just be fun.

Even with his Royal Genesis undefeated, Gwyn never stopped reaching for something more.

Gwyn: It's complete. Eclipse Genesis.

Eclipse Genesis is a defence-type with a Burst Prevention System, making its super high defences that much tougher to crack, and nothing says defence like blowing your opponents away!

Gwyn: Eclipse Pulse!

Gwyn thinks he's got it all figured out, but can Dante inspire him one more time?

Watch Gwyn & Genesis and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Rise!

Gwyn: Finally... I found the answer.

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Lain Valhalla | Vex Lucius Mobius 2D + Lucius Endbringer Kou Drift (The Fallen Angel - Judaic mythology - Basis: The light-bringer Lucifer as in Jesus Christ)

A rookie blader is out to topple the blading legends and he's got one name.

Shu: Lain.

Hyuga: Lain!

Hikaru: Lain...

Senor: Lain Valhalla!

Lain: Nnnrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Lain's a powerhouse who came out of nowhere and he's trained by Shu Kurenai himself, so you know he's got skills.

Lain: There's nothing in this world I can't do.

Now, the blading legends are in his sights and he's not backing down.

Lain: Who needs legends? They're nothing but a waste of space!

But if he's going to take on the world's top bladers, he'll need a bey unlike any other.

Lain: The most powerful bey ever, Vex Lucius!

Vex Lucius is an indestructible defence-type. That's right. In-de-structible. When it unleashes Vexing Wall, nothing can even touch it. Powered by a raw energy he calls Flare, Lain continues to grow beyond his limits. But if no one can touch Lucius or Lain, who will stop his Flare from devouring him completely?

Watch Lain & Lucius and let it rip on Beyblade Burst Surge!

Lain: I'm gonna need you to up your game to fuel my Flare.

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Rashad Goodman | Glory Regnar Over High Xtend+' (The Archangel of Light - Christian mythology - Basis: The archangel/angel Raphael)

Make way! Make way! Beyblade's knight in shining armour has arrived. Rashad Goodman's always wanted to be just like his idol, Valt Aoi.

Rashad: I know everything about you and Valtryek. I mean it! I know more than anyone else.

And Valtryek made Rashad the blader he is today. Ernest, good-hearted and true, Rashad is a prime example of what a blader should be.

Rashad: Us bladers got to stick together, right?

But its his skill that earned Rashad the title of High Prince, and his partner Glory Regnar is the perfect crown.

Rashad: I'd like you to meet Glory Regnar.

Regnar is a balance-type bey. When it armours up with Glory Crown, it keeps its weak points out of harms way, making it nearly impossible to damage.

Rashad: I summon the brightest light, with Glory Crown!

The High Prince is a gallant blader who can do no wrong. He's a shining light to guide the way, a role model through and through.

Watch Rashad & Regnar and let it rip on Beyblade Burst QuadDrive.

Rashad: This is one step closer to my TRUE goal.

[oldsalempost-blog]

The Old Salem Post

Our  Local Tamassee-Salem SC Area News each Monday except holidays                                          Contact: theoldsalempost@gmail.com                              Distributed to local businesses, town hall, library.                            Volume 7 Issue 6                                                                                                  Week of January 15, 2024                https://www.tumblr.com/settings/blog/oldsalempost-blog                                                         Lynne Martin Publishing

EDITOR:  Church and friends can challenge us for new year changes.  I knew a lady who lived by the word “Joy” for a whole year.  She had pictures, plaques, and scriptures around her home that included the word “Joy.”  A sweet message at church yesterday challenged me to pick a word to help me through life’s changes, challenges, and the insane ways of this world.  “Trust” is the word.    Proverbs 3:5 ( KJV) says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”  LMartin                                

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday is a federal holiday recognized the third Monday in January. Born January 15, 1929, the 2024 observance falls on what would have been his 95th birthday.  King is remembered for his nonviolent activism for civil rights.  His most famous speech was delivered at the Lincoln Memorial, August 28th,1963 in hopes to end racism:  “I have a dream...that we hold these truths to be self-evident that  all men are created equal…”                                

TOWN of SALEM:  * Visit the Downtown Market every Sat 8am-12pm. *   Next Town Council Meeting Jan. 16th  at 5pm.  We will be  swearing in Leigh Roach, new member on Town Council.

SALEM LIBRARY:  January is National Blood Donor Month. Oconee County Public Libraries will be hosting blood drives at each of our locations in January, per the following schedule:    Tuesday    1/16/24      10:00a-2:00p      Walhalla                    Monday     1/22/24      10:00a-2:00p      Seneca                                 Monday     1/29/24      10:00a-2:00p      Westminster           Please give, if you are able.    Sign up for an appointment.        You may call the Blood Connection  864-751-1168.

JOCASSEE VALLEY BREWING COMPANY,(JVBC) & COFFEE SHOP* 13412 N Hwy 11 Open Wed–Sat 9am-9pm and Sunday 2pm-7pm. Events this week:  Wed:  BLUE GRASS JAM at 6:30pm. Thurs: Palmetto Trail Talks return at 6:30pm.  Fri: Food: unconfirmed Music: Matt Phillips at 6:30pm  Sat–Food: Lobster Dogs  Music: Neil Conway  at 6:30pm    *Featuring Pisgah Coffee Roasters

Jottings from Miz Jeannie  by Jeannie Barnwell                Harvard and Plagiarism I am not one to brag, but did you know that I taught English at HARVARD for 18 years! (That's Harvard on the Highway-- or what we called Greenville Technical College, situated on HWY 291!) Here is the LEAST that a student needs to know about NOT COMMITTING PLAGIARISM. 1) If you use another person's exact words, you need to put quotes around the words.  Then in parenthesis, list the name of your source referring your reader to your Works Cited page for complete information. 2) If you are paraphrasing the words of another person, then follow this example: Jesse Watters said that Claudia Gay's dismissal as Harvard's president was Not Racism; it WAS racism when Harvard hired her.      Happy  2024!!!! Miz Jeannie 

ASHTON RECALLS:  by Ashton Hester  

SALEM SCHOOL NEWS, OCTOBER 23, 1963 - (The following items were in the "Salem School News" column in the October 23, 1963 Keowee Courier). . .The Salem Chapter of Future Farmers of America met and organized October 9 for the 1963-64 school term. Officers elected were: president, Lynn Smith; vice president, Leland Talley; secretary, Roddy Smith; treasurer, Jackie Rankin; sentinel, Walter Hines; reporter, Kenneth Porter, adviser, John J. Rankin. The Salem chapter consists of 34 members. . .Linda Barker of the fifth grade and Harry Strickland of the third grade were crowned queen and king of the Halloween Carnival Saturday night. . .Our first grade children are working toward 100 per cent participation in the polio immunization program to be held at Salem School on Sunday afternoon, October 27. Old people and young people, we ask you to come get your Sabin oral polio vaccine. There are 37 boys and girls in our grade and each of us has a normal body. We ask you to help us keep it that way--help stop polio. . .The sixth grade has completed the annual "Progressive Farmer" magazine subscription sale. Over $100 was collected, which is the most of any of the past three years. . .Leon Patterson of the sixth grade had the misfortune to get an arm broken on the playground, but he hasn't allowed this to keep him out of school a single day. Maybe all of us need some of Leon's perseverance. . .Barbara Burgess of the second grade broke her leg Tuesday while playing at recess. . .Accidents seem to plague us. One of our teachers has a broken arm. . .Report cards were given out Thursday, and one little boy in the second grade went home crying because he made a "C." His family finally managed to calm him down, and he said, "I guess I'll have to study harder."

EAGLES NEST ART CENTER 2024 UPCOMING EVENTS            Tea Party in Winter? Sure! You are Invited to a Cinderella Tea Party at Eagles Nest Art Center January 18th, 12pm-2pm.  Hosted by Freda Tobias and friends.    Call 864-280-1258                                                                                   

January, 20th, 7pm Oconee Mountain Opry  Join us for Roots music on tap with a dose of cornball comedy as Dave Donor brings a set of Cajun music, Singer Songwriter Laura Jones plays some original tunes, and Ageless Acoustic brings a mix of timeless hits from the sixties and beyond.  Enjoy old fashioned comedy skits between the rotating sets. This is our own hometown variety show of local and regional artists like no other. Doors open at 6 show at 7pm. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at eaglesnestartcenter.org or at the door the day of the show.                                              Feb 3rd, 1pm-4pm   Women Encouraging Women. 2nd annual Afternoon Retreat for women to refresh and encourage your faith.                                            Feb.  10, 7pm  Trial by Fire,  A Journey Tribute,   $20 advance tickets  $25 day of  show                                                           March 2nd, 2pm-5pm Second Annual Alumni Gathering 2pm-5pm                                                                                                   March 16th, 7pm   Oconee Mountain Opry $10

ENAC will host the House of Raeford Farms Chicken Sale: You must preorder online in order to pick up your fresh chicken on Saturday, March 2nd between 9am and 12pm.  Type in House of Raeford Farms, Greenville, SC and scroll down to the preorder section.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

*Visit our website at Eaglesnestartcenter.org for more 2024 events and ticket information.                                                               

 The Eagles Nest Treasure Store be open every Saturday morning 9am-12pm.  We are accepting donations during that time or call 864-557-2462.  Information on sponsorships, events, volunteering, donations, or rentals call 864-280-1258.      

                                         CHURCH NEWS                      Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), 580 Bethel Church Rd Walhalla, 29691, worships at 10:30 a.m. . Like us on Facebook:  Bethelpresbyterianchurchwalhalla  Love to sing?  Love to be in charge? Come lead! All worshipers are welcome.                                                                                                                                                          Boones Creek Baptist Church, 264 Boones Creek Road, Salem invites you to join us for regular worship service on Sunday morning with Sunday School at 10am and followed by worship at 11am.                                                         Salem Methodist Church: 520 Church Street, Salem.  9am for breakfast, 9:30am for Sunday School, and 10:30am for Worship.  You may tune in to our live service on Facebook or view it later on our website.

11th Annual BELLFEST 2024:   FRIENDS OF LAKE JOCASSEE will host BellFest 2024 at Devils Fork State Park on Saturday, March 16 from 10am-3pm.  Celebrate the rare Oconee Bell, Shortia galacifolia, local harbinger of spring.  Learn about its  history and view it blooming in the park.   Interpretive Bell Trail walks* Oconee Bell story presentation* Music each hour* Exhibits* Local vendors* Food Trucks* Kid and Family activities* Silent Auction to benefit FOJ * Park entry fees apply $8 Adult, $5 SC Senior, $4 Children age 6–15, 5 and under free.  Find us www.friendsof jocassee.org  or email us at friendsofjocassee@gmail.com                                                                      Happy Birthday Freda! LRM                                                                       

[rantalksalot]

NAURRRR honestly i just finished Sparking and the dynamic between Shu and Lean was the best thing ever like mmm that teacher and student dynamic slurping i love it so so much sorry Hyuga and Hikaru honestly I did not find them that interesting, but Sparking had really awesome moments and the consistent plot with Lean as somewhat of the antagonist was really good. Not to mention the return of so many past fan favourite characters was so so hype. Wish some of the characters that were in the manga (Delta , Phi, Zac, Daigo, Xander) also appeared in the anime though it's understandable

If anyone knows where i can read a translated version of the Beyblade Burst Manga do tell me thanks :D

[crystalkleure]

*Wheeze*...Ohh I’m so sorry I complained about the difficulty level of Fumiya’s design. Lean’s was so much worse. So, so many belts.

See if you can spot Harry in there, he is a microorganism. Barely visible to the naked eye.

[crystal-sakura]

Beyblade Burst - Lui and Drum Pert 1

[g0reoz]

fun fact!

lain valhalla/lean walhalla/whatever we’re calling him at this point canonically owns this notepad. what does he write in it? nobody knows

[redskull199987]

The End of Everything

Baji keisuke x female!reader

Word count:1.2k

Warnings:none, it's fluffy, just some mentions of getting beat up

Summary: Takemichi and Chifuyu want to talk to Baji. As his girlfriend, you accompany him...

Masterlist

I watched intently, as Baji was talking to Takemichi and Chifuyu. I knew what they were trying to do. They wanted to convince him to come back to Toman, but I knew he wouldn't budge. I had tried that often enough myself. Kazutora simply mattered too much to Baji. and to be honest, I couldn't blame him. He had known him since we were children, he was his closest friend.

Speaking of the devil, I turned away from the boys, as my Phone started to chime. I looked at the caller ID and saw that it was Kazutora.

"Where the hell are you guys?", he asked, anger laced his voice.

"Why do you care?", I scoffed, "It's not like Baji is your pet, that you can call anytime you need him"

There was a short silence before I heard Kazutora laugh:"You're as feisty, as ever Y/N."

I couldn't help but to smile myself now. I had known Kazutora for years now too and I couldn't remember a time where we didn't fight each other. Baji often had to pull us apart.

"What do you want Kazutora?", I finally asked with a sigh.

"Tell Baji to call me as soon, as he has time.", he paused for a second,"It's about tomorrow"

My eyes wandered back to Baji and the other boys. Tomorrow was Halloween and the fight between Walhalla and Toman would take place. Baji and me would be there as members of Walhalla, much to my and Mikey's dismay.

"Y/N?", Kazutora asked. I looked back at my phone and realized that I hadn't answered him yet.

"I will tell him.", I finally said, before I hung up.

I looked back at Baji, he was talking to Takemichi alone now. I watched, as Chifuyu slowly walked over to me. I winced slightly, as I saw the bandage around his head.

"Hey.", he smiled softly.

I only returned his smile and pulled him in for a hug:"Hey 'fuyu. How are you doing?"

"you know.", he mumbled, slightly rubbing his neck,"Hanging on"

I nodded before stepping closer:"Sorry about that"

I pointed at his bandage, but he only smiled again:"It's alright. I know that you had no choice but to beat me up, if you wanted to join Walhalla."

"I'm still sorry", I said and playfully punched his shoulder. Chifuyu wanted to say something, but just in this moment, Baji and Takemichi returned. I inspected my boyfriends face with mixed feelings. He looked as stoic, as ever. But something had changed, since he left Toman. He just didn't seem as happy anymore.

"Can we go?", he asked and carefully put his arm around my waist to pull me closer.

"We were just catching up.", I explained and pointd at Chifuyu. The boy in front of us didn't say anything, he just eyed Baji with the biggest curiosity in his eyes.

"Until tomorrow", Baji said and turned around to leave.

"See you, Chifuyu", I mumbled and waved at him before quickly following Baji to his bike. 

"Baji, wait!", I yelled at the tall boy. He had already made it to his bike and was leaning against it now, waiting for me to join him.

"What is it, pretty girl?", he smirked as I finally reached him, "Am I too fast for you?"

"What did Takemichi tell you?", I asked, immideately changing the topic. Promptly, the smile fell from Baji's face and he looked down instead.

"He told me to be careful tomorrow", he mumbled. I slowly steppped closer to him, so that only inches seperated us now. I gingerly raised my hands to rest them on Bajis face. The black-haired boy looked up at me with a pained smile.

"It's all gonna end tomorrow", he mumbled and put his hands on my waist, pulling me inbetween his legs.

"Don't talk like that, Baji", I said scoldingly and slightly squished his cheeks.

"Oh don't worry, darling. Nothing's going to end between us.", Baji grinned now, resting his forehead aginst mine," I love you to much for that."

I felt how my cheeks started to warm, as he softly kissed my forehead.

"I love you too", I mumbled and looked up at him. A cheeky smiled adorned his face now. That was him, that was the Baji Keisuke, I fell in love with so many years ago. Back when Toman didn't even exist, when we didn't even know what Love really meant.

"What are you thinking about, my Love?", Baji asked and nudged his nose aginst mine.

I softly giggled at his antics:"I was just thinking about the first time, I had to patch you up. Back then, when you got jumped by the Black Dragons."

"Oh, I certainly remember", Baji mumbled, softly touching the little scar on his lower lip.

"Thank God, we had you back then, you were a lifesaver when it came to patching us up", he smiled.

"Yeah sure", I grinned before pecking his lips, "I've had my fair share of fights too."

"You certainly did, Y/N", Baji laughed,"Remember when I had to patch you up for the first time?"

"Yeah", I smiled,"I had fought the Black Dragon swine, who gave you that bruise."

I softly tapped the tip of my finger against Bajis lip:"And boy, did I got beaten up."

Baji chuckled:"Yeah that was when Mikey decided to show you how to defend yourself. I didn't have to patch you up since then"

I proudly smiled at him,full on knowing that I had to patch him up a lot more times than just once since then.

"Show-off", Baji groaned and started to tickle my sides, a devilish grin on his face.

"Baji, stop!?", I begged and tried to push him away, but it was useless.

"Calm down, pretty girl", Baji laughed as he stopped tickling me but instead pulled me against his chest.

I gulped at our close proximity. We had been together for 3 years now, we had known each other even longer, but he still made my heart flutter like it was the first day of knowing him.

"Do I make you nervous?", Baji mumbled into my ear. I slowly closed my eyes, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart, but it was of no use, as Baji leaned in even closer and softly placed his lips on mine. I kissed him back, just as tenderly, before pulling away.

"Kazutora told me to call you", I whispered, suddenly remembering my promise, "He wants to talk to you about tomorrow"

"I don't wanna hear it", Baji sighed,"He should know by now that I have my own plans. Come on, let's get home"

Baji brushed the topic away and climbed onto his bike. I only shurgged and got on behind him, sliding my arms around his waist, holding on tightly.

"Don't worry, pretty girl. Everything is gonna turn out just fine"

[redrcs]

Heaven

.... the blacktop twisted like a broken backed snake... the camber all wrong ... gum tree debris on the center of the road from the overhanging cliffs... the thunder of the bike exhaust rebounding from the walls.. leaned over.. the boot toes scuffing against the bitumen..

shift down.. touch the brakes.. line up on the guide posts and leeeeeeeean it a little further...

sulphur crested cockatoos burst from the trees like an explosion of giant dandruff... screaming their terror at the thunder invading their domain ..

the line of bikes twisting and turning as though they're linked by an invisible umbilical cord...

fierce grins inside the visors as each vies for lead...

overtaking ..

slipping around the outside

rev counter straining to the stop as the engine slips over the redline....

red mist... strange shapes... white vague outlines... soft beep.. beep ... beep ... impinge on the ride... the thunder fades.... and pain begins to invade, rising through as the ride recedes ... trying desperately to hang on to that reality ....

and a strangely compassionate voices says... "doctor, He's coming round... what do we do?".....

a deeper voice.. "He's not going to survive... give him 150mg nurse... no need for him to wake...."

And the thunder roars in My ears as I twist the throttle trying once again to catch the leader on the Walhalla road...

Heaven...

[snowboyclarkov]

Tragic Burst Antagonists

The results changed hands a few times. Gwyn took an early lead for his growing subconscious friend-based obsession with Dante and his descent into full mental breakdown, but then Pax with his arm injury and the mental trauma of having to give up everything that he held onto for years held command for the majority of the poll time. In the last hour, Shu it seems edged the most recent of antagonists out. No wonder. The guy even got possessed by his own bey and put through unethical mad science. Lain and his Flare-fuelled identity crisis also got a vote in. As usual, my vote doesn't matter. I went for Pax.

Results:

Shu Kurenai - 5 votes

Pax Forsythe - 3 votes

Gwyn Reynolds - 2 votes

Lain Valhalla - 1 vote

[melody-dramatic]

Children of War and Bitter History

I wrote and published on 07.17.2019 for a prompt on the madmaxkinkmeme forum on dreamwidth. Since that forum is pretty much dead, I've decided to also publish it here, and on Ao3, and on ff.n.

From the age of seventeen, she had born three children for that snake of a man. All boys. He had been pleased.

The first one, strong and hale and nearly eight pounds, looked to be the heir Joe wanted. He grew up to be lean, energetic, and not a lick like Joe. No matter what Joe did to the boy, there was just no meanness in his spirit. He wouldn't even hurt a bug. But he was happy to drive cars, and so Joe told him to drive cars, thinking maybe guzzoline and the thrill of speed alone would put some fire in the boy's blood. One day, her boy (a man, at that point, old enough and smart enough to be the next Immortan of the Citadel if he so pleased) rolled his car and broke his spine. Looking back, Miss Giddy wonders if he did it on purpose. (She named him Crow, for one of the only birds she knew. Clever and dark and quick were crows, and so was her son.) She's almost sure that he did. ("Appropriate," Joe said of their son's death. "He always did have a weak spine." And that's when Giddy truly started to hate the man.) The second boy (and this one, she named Walker, after the legend of an old Captain of the Old Days, one destined to lead her brothers and sisters to Tomorrow-morrow Land), who was much like the first except with a touch more bite in him, rode into the desert to help gather salvage (to look at the place where his brother died, as he often did, Giddy knew). He never came back. Miss Giddy still hopes for him, but it's a cold, heavy hope that sits at the bottom of her heart and reminds her that there may be a chance that he lived, but she'll never know, unless he comes back to her. The third is Rictus. And, well... she had been just a tad too old for bearing children, and Joe had started showing the signs of sickness, so she understands how Rictus came to be. Too large, with a heart that wouldn't be able to support his body beyond the age of thirty, and... his mind was something else. She thinks his normal-sized heart couldn't get enough air through his very large body when he was a young'un, and so his mind's slow now. Like a child. He will always be a child. A massive, foolish child. She cries for him. She cries for all her boys. If it weren't for Joe, she would never have had them, but if it weren't for Joe, she would still have them. Her good boys. The eldest could have made the Citadel a paradise, but they hadn't been able to bear the world, and Rictus only services because he is too absentminded to understand the truth of the world around him. She shoots and misses. She's relieved, for a moment (because he gave her the boys, he did, in a sick way, and she hadn't realized the sickness of that when she was younger), and then horrifically angry at herself for not taking the easy shot when she had the chance. Because he is angry, and he doesn't give a damn about her anymore (did he ever?). He just wants his young, beautiful, healthy Wives and their precious cargo. More healthy boys like Crow and Walker. He drags her along. It hurts. Her bones are brittle and her breath is short and she's used to the comfort of the Vault. She can't take this, can't, and Rictus looms only a little while away. She wonders if he even remembers that she is his mother. Probably not. She's cut, she's bruised, she's broken. She's choked on too much blood and sand. She is too old and too tired to resist. Organic's vicious, sawtoothed tools can rend her papery skin open and she is not sure if that can be healed. Not that it matters. They abandon her with Angharad's ripped, ruined body, and she is going to die today. This is all on Joe's orders. She cannot believe that she ever felt anything but hatred for the man, this wretched father of her beautiful, broken sons. She hates him, hates him, hates him. She screams, a sound full of all that hate, and it breaks her throat and her heart open. It is over. There shall be no more Joe, not for her, and all the better. She cries for the crows to kill her quickly. She cries for her dead sons, and the living one with his brutish, hurtful ignorance. She cries for Angharad. But then. But then someone comes walking through the dust, under the scorching sun, and she recognizes a War Boy. Or, in this case, a War Man. He is forty, at the very least, practically shameful for a War Boy, but far more than is expected from a Half Life. He pauses, standing before her with blood and paint smeared across his face. His nose is broken. She waits for him to decide to kill her. "I'm Ace," he says after a moment. Blood dribbles and drips. "Kill me and be done with it," she rasps. Her throat and lips are dry, cracked; peeling. From the hate and the heat. He doesn't move. "Have you seen me before?" "No... Yes." Several times. She's seen the Ace. He's been around for longer than any of the Imperators. He's Furiosa's favorite. He's been up in the tower plenty of times at Furiosa's heels, and he's always been... not unkind. It's a surprise, then, that he's still alive. She never thought about the unlikelihood of the Ace before. "I hoped so," says the Ace. He kneels down before her and carefully, carefully, takes Angharad's linens and uses them to cover the worst of Giddy's wounds. She does not have the strength to claw his eyes out when he gently hefts her up from the bloody sand, leaving behind Angharad's naked, shattered corpse. It will burn and shrivel in this heat in no time. Giddy wants to gag at the thought as she watches and watches until Angharad disappears behind the curve of a sand dune. They are silent for awhile, until she realizes that he is taking her back in the direction of the Citadel. "No more," she whispers to him, recognizing his mercy in Angharad's clothes wrapped around her. "Please, no more." "No one's gonna hurt you," he assures her. She hears the promise. "Never again. Furiosa will kill the old man, and the Citadel won't belong to him ever again. We'll be free." Hearing a War Boy talk like that is beyond madness, but so is Joe. So is she, perhaps. Maybe this isn't real. Maybe she is still with Angharad, and this manifestation of the Ace is just the crows carrying her spirit away. The Citadel is within sight when they stop to rest for awhile. The Ace finds a shady stop and does his best to keep the sand away from Giddy's wounds. His fingers are too calloused to be feathers, but she still thinks that he may be a murder of crows. "I think I loved him, once," she tells him, because if she's dead and he's here to carry her to the next life, then she might as well. "I've had three sons by him. I didn't realize how wrong it was in the beginning. I was just a girl, and he didn't seem so bad back then." The Ace nods. "He used you. He lied. It's alright." Such kind crows. "It's not." "... No. But you're alright. We're alright." She doesn't feel alright. She feels cut open and empty and over (is that death? Could be worse). But the worst of the dizziness has passed and the Ace cradles her away from the sun and the sand with utmost care. That's the closest she's been to alright in a long time. After a very long silence, she thinks that the Ace is going to pick her up and take her the rest of the way (to the Citadel, to the glittering Heaven, anywhere but Walhalla), but he does not. "You're not Ace," she finally decides. "But you are very nice crows." Not-The-Ace makes a raw, croaking sound that she realizes is laughter. "Now, Mum," he says, the laughter still pulling his lips and brightening his eyes, "if you can't tell the difference between me and Crow, who can?"

[crystalkleure]

I know nothing about beyburst but I request that red haired guy that has a hedgehog for the pixel thing

{One Lean Walhalla, coming right up!}

That is quite possibly the most complex character design I have managed to squash into such a limited amount of space. I feel like I could challenge God to a chess match and win.

[toughguywithbossygirlfriend]

Batman #40 - Writing mistake  ?.. or not ?..

I have to say that I was half angry, half pleased with Tom King’s Batman Issue #40 ... because of some bad story telling... maybe(?) bad story telling ? 

There is a lot of good stuff in this one, for the BatCat of course but for WonderBat as well and more than you could have expected... all in all a good Issue except for the “Mistake”.. (if it is one)

Pretty much like with Batman #39 Tom King treated neither of the three character with disrespect, Bruce and Diana could show their exceptional chemistry and Selina could be pictured as an intelligent and compassionate hero.

This is quite long, as often with me and focuses mainly WonderBat but on Selina as well... it may be more wonderbat but it definitively isn’t anti-batcat. There is an interesting point I didn’t really explore but who will surely have some incidences in later Issues : the exchange between Selina and the GM about “Hope, Love and Marriage” ... it could contains some clues about the wedding, but I didn’t check it out.

Anyway, If you read this, read it till the end, don’t go ballistic if you are only half way through, … and If you did go through to the end but you still feel the need, then  … as Liam Sharp said “so be it”… It is not my purpose to hurt any character fan or ship with this and I don’t think I’ll do it … anyway remember I did not write the Story, Tom King did ! so if you feel the need to blame someone about anything you know who to blame.

Everything starts with the one big important question that I mentioned in my previous post “Batman #39: ...WonderBatCat ...” :

(DC Rebirth’s Batman #40) Selina and the “Gentle Man”

here we go ..

“WonderBatCat” when I wrote that one ... I wasn’t really thinking Tom King would even play with that idea ... but we’ll see at the end of this post the little wink ;) he made about it.

And, as expected, the answer to the question was : “No” ... otherwise both Diana and Bruce would have refrained their temptation for as long as needed - so far, it’s OK, no mistake and in line with the outcome of Batman #39. 

In the very similar “Action comic” story with Supes and Wondy fighting in the realm of Walhalla, both Clark and Diana knew about the differences between the speeds of the timeflows, and they expected either to Die in the realm or to return to the normal world (and to Lois for Clark ... I think Diana was single) once the battle ended. It may have lasted nearly 1000 years but it was not supposed to be endless, unlike the battle against the hordes of Gehenna.  Knowing that, Wonder Woman and Superman had all the reasons to refrain any temptation and they succeeded.

But Tom King didn’t choose that path, ... on purpose ... he wanted them to hook up ... or at least to look like they did ... it was all part of the teasing plan : Trapped in a realm with no escape, no way to get help or even ask for it, fighting an endless and hopeless war that could only have one end: their own deaths. And on top of that, the desperation of having been abandoned and forgotten from all the people they cared about ... quite a Nightmare !

Selina’s POV

Selina understood the consequences, the moment she learned about the Time flow speed differences ... even if some BatCat and WonderBat fans have a hard time to accept it ... Selina knew in that moment that Bruce and Diana where trapped in that realm for over a decade or two, maybe three, and that both had necessarily come to the conclusion that they have been abandoned by herself and the GM forever ... she knew, even if he was still alive, that he had to hate her for that, ... she already had lost him and if they were both still alive they would have had to comfort each other, ... by now they would be together ... of course she gets angry at the GM, the guy just destroyed her relationship with Bruce for selfish reasons ...

But then (again like I already suggested in my post about Batman #39) Selina shows she is a real hero, with a compassion that can compete with Diana’s, ... Selina allows him to see his wife ... even after he just destroyed her future with Bruce, she lets him meet his loved one, ... I have to say Selina is admirable of selflessness ... Her own life is yet broken again but what would be the point of punishing him because he did that for love, his love ... and the guy sacrifices himself endlessly for all other people, all other lovers ...

Selina gives him some more time knowing that in the realm, at least one of them is still alive and fights with no hope only to prevent the hordes from coming ... it may be Bruce alone, it may be Diana alone or both and if they are together , then they only had each other’s arms to comfort them... only a few hours passed but she knows that she’d lost him ... and that is the reason why Selina cries the moment they return even if they didn’t exchange a single word...She doesn’t smile ... this isn’t are not tears of happiness..  She must think that is the moment where her nightmare is gonna come true and Bruce is going to say her that it is over.

But against all odds ... Bruce still wants to marry her !!  ... ??

That would be related to the “Writing mistake” that we will look at later ...

This Selina has not much to do with the one I used to read about when I was a young boy ... this one is really adorable ... I can just feel the claws of BatCat trying to catch me and drag me into their world of bliss ... but, enough with the love for Selina and lets check out ...

Diana and Bruce’s POV

(Edit of DC Rebirth’s Batman #40)

The main difference between BatCat and WonderBat is that Catwoman will drag him into Darkness, to the Night, to the Batman, while Wonder Woman will push him into the Light, the Day, to Bruce Wayne. 

Someone said Tom King used a puzzle metaphor to explain the BatCat relationship ... After reading Batman #39 and Batman #40 it is pretty obvious that even for Tom King (a puzzle piece has more than one side), if Selina is the perfect fit to Bruce “Batman” Wayne’s puzzle pieces “dark side”,  than Diana is the perfect fit to his “bright side” ... not even the BatCat master denies that ...

That is visible even in the way they call each other in their intimate and tender moments... for BatCat it will be “Bat” and “Cat” while for WonderBat it is “Bruce” and “Diana”.

When BatCat are together the passion and sex takes over, on roof tops, in the bedroom, in the love boat, when WonderBat plays out, the hearts and souls take over, sitting at the fire place, her hand on his knee, comfortable and safe with each other, they are like a settled married couple who made love countless of times and where Tenderness, Love and Care replaced the Passion and Excitement of the discovery.

No matter how much the BatCat are cheering and sending trash posts because of the wedding ... WonderBat still got the most beautiful artwork  ... and the deepest feelings ... so it is hard to be really angry with Tom King ... he could have played out Diana with a totally platonic friendship ... but he didn’t ... and I think DC doesn’t want it either. A relationship with Bruce and Diana has too much to offer on so many levels, and I think they know it very well. But so far Batman and Wonder Woman don’t need each other to sell comics ... other characters on the other hand need some strong boost ... and what better publicity than to share a comic with one of these two ? ...

(Edit of DC Rebirth’s Batman #40)

So far Tom King’s story was solid and coherent ... having been trapped in the Realm for over 10 years they were convinced that this was all they had left for the rest of Eternity (as clearly explained in Batman #39) ... for them there was no more BatCat and no more WonderTrev to consider and because of that, they could do nothing wrong, giving into their feelings for each other... 

So why stop this intimate foreplay ? ... it didn’t make any sense... 

An Anon asked @fyeahwonderbat​ why Diana mentioned “ever” ? 

“No, we can’t.” you could imagine this is about Selina and Trevor but “ever” ? ... what if Selina and Trevor, both Die ? “ever” ?

the reason suggested by the Anon is a valid one imo : there could be some kind  of reason, a powerful spell, idk forbidding them to get together. doomed to stay apart no matter how much they love each other. That could explain why they stopped even if there were no more over valid reasons ... In the JL#90:Revelation Diana had to ask her Gods the permission to carry Bruce’s children and it was refused ... The “Batman who laughts” said that in the worlds where Bruce and Diana where together they had Kids that where so Fierce creatures that he did write down all their names to remember them like some kind of trophy list - could the Gods be afraid of WonderBat ?... 

It wouldn’t be the first time DC hints to the fact that there may be some deeper relationship between these two even if they have other loved ones with them ... during the New52 era, Trevor was supposed, because of his bond with Diana, to be able to use the Lasso of truth to save them all, but he wasn’t there and J’onn told Batman that he could use the Lasso as well and that “he knew why” ... the reason remained a mystery but Bruce actually used the Lasso without any problem... Catwoman was quite jealous that Batman had obviously the same “bond” with Diana than Trevor ... (so you had a bit BatCat, a bit WonderTrev, but a mysterious underlying WonderBat ) ...

The other reason that comes up to mind is much like in JL#90 that : “they just don’t want to risk their incredible friendship”... but that was already the wrong reason in JL#90..

(DC Rebirth’s Batman #40)

He leans into her more than the reverse and rubs his face and nose with hers, But she doesn’t back off, and on the contrary, makes sure for good skin contact, grazing her lips over his nose, half kissing it ...

This doesn’t feel like a “Oh My God !! what are we doing ?? this cannot be !! Back off !!” but rather like a “Dammit! ,why can’t we be happy .. I need you so much ...”.

Be sure Tom King was fully aware of the content of the Issue ... He is responsible of the Batman serie and wrote this after all ... 

And That is were Tom Kings writing gets out of track and becomes incoherent ... the Writing mistake !! : why would they suddenly talk about Selina and Trevor ? why should they suddenly think that they would go back when they were so convinced earlier that they would not ?? ... that doesn’t make sense ...

Tom King literally created the perfect conditions to push them together, and then he forgets some of these same conditions just to pull them apart again !!

Or ... and that would mean it wasn’t a Writing mistake after all ...

They both secretly knew from the beginning about the time flow differences ... even if the “Gentle Man” didn’t tell them ... (like Clark and Diana in the “Action Comic” story)

Why and How could that have been possible ? ... easy

for Diana: How ? She is a supernatural creature and has connections to creatures that could have surely given her all the “need to know” informations about the Realm, the GM, the Hordes ... Why ? She’s intelligent : wouldn’t you want to know everything you can if you are supposed to take such risks ??

for Bruce: Hell, the guy is a Paranoid Detective , so the question not Why but only How ... Zatanna, Constantine, Dr Fate, Etrigan, Deadman, ... he has countless very competent allies who could have made some research for him ..

And they surely talked about it together ...

So maybe it isn’t a Writing mistake after all !! ... but then why wouldn’t Tom King explain that reason until the end of the Issue ? After their return ? ... unless they are rooting for each other, hard, but something keeps them from acting on it, and that information is a DC internal “need to know” information until it gets exposed. And we return to the little word “ever” from earlier. Dammit, could there be something real about that idea?

Some of you may think “No, you’re wrong there is no writing mistake, they wouldn’t have hooked up anyway because after 10 years there was still hope ...”, well OK !!, why not ... but then let me ask another question : What about 35 years ?... 

If they didn’t knew about the time-flow speed differences, but still wanted to stay true ... that means that they were consciously hoping to return to their loved ones and resume their previous relationship. right ? ... Bruce Wayne would actually hope to marry a Selina Kyle who is 37 years older then she was when he left her ? ... and Trevor would surely be around 70 years old ... ? ... is that the theory ? ... I am not that cheesy ...

I think Tom King knew what he did with this two Issues ... I am pretty sure the durations (10 years, 37 years) were thought through as well as the rest.

(Edit of DC Rebirth’s Batman #40 and from a JLA comic of 1960, I think )

It is somehow disturbing to read that speech about how Selina and Trevor are “good” and thus they “deserve to have good people” as well ... so now it isn’t anymore “about what you believe” but “about what you deserve” ... Dammit, I am so confused... Joking ! XD 

You just get the feeling she meant : “Bruce, Love, ... we are not allowed to be happy together, ... so lets at least do our best to make other good people happy ...”

Did you notice : Diana uses Selina’s first name (as with Bruce, or Clark/Kal, or the other leaguers ... ) but still uses Trevor’s full name, the same way she did a long time ago when she wasn’t really in a hurry to marry him. want to keep some distance here ?

Of course there is always the less “pure and innocent” solution ... maybe Tom King choose the 10 th year just to show us that they did resist ... they tried... as long as they could ... but ... 2 weeks later ... they had to get it out of their system ... it happened ...and again, and again ... until year 37... They just never talked about it again ... 

Not good enough ... Yeah you could say that ...

So where is the truth ?

Did Tom King make a ridiculous mistake in his story ?? is there a well hidden secret that keeps two lovers apart ? or wasn’t it that “pure and innocent” ?

Your choice ...

after their return from the realm, Batman’s sentences may give you a hint thou... much like the wrong comparison between Lois as a reporter and Cat as a thief in Batman #35 ... another mistake... TK seems to be better in psychology then in logic ...

At least it seems that with all the BatCat promotion there is an obvious will from DC to keep WonderBat strong and alive with all that teasing, in Batman #39 and #40 but in Dark nights metal as well ... maybe to capitalize on it with the next reboot ?

And for the fun ... Last but not least ... I made a “Gasp !” when I read that one after posting “WonderBatCat” in the title of my Batman #39 post :

Diana thinks about Selina and herself, when she means “Us” and its possible consequences, because Selina suggested they go all three the next time ... Now, let me just resume : two very attractive and supposedly Bi-Sexual women, both very compassionate and obviously very very close to the same Guy, trapped for much longer (more like 300 years, to give the GM at least a few days with his Love) with only each other to comfort .... and much more time to spare because the Hordes may not be so everlasting...

Hmm ... temperature is gonna rise in the realm ...

[crystal-sakura]

Beyblade Burst - Lui and Drum Pert 2 End

[talabib]

Leadership Journey: Germany

 When we think of Germany, we often associate it with black-and-white footage from horrific conflicts: Hitler delivering impassioned speeches from behind a podium; bombs raining down on European cities; half-starved people, freshly liberated from concentration camps. But Germany’s history is much richer than this.

Let’s dive into German history and explore some of the facts that lie beyond common knowledge.

Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, the most famous monument in Germany, has a bittersweet history.

On July 13, 2014, a sea of wild soccer fans stood before the Brandenburg Gate in Germany’s capital city, Berlin. It was the day of the FIFA World Cup finals, and, on a screen as tall as the gate itself, Germany went head to head with one of the federation’s most formidable teams, Argentina.

Why did Germany screen this historic game here?

Well, the Brandenburg Gate, according to professor and politician Monika Grütters, is a locus of symbolic power for Germans, a sort of centerpiece to all national celebrations. Indeed, this austere monument, which is considered a masterwork of neoclassical architecture, is the most famous landmark in modern-day Germany.

Commissioned by the Prussian king Frederick William II and intended as a symbol of peace, the Brandenburg Gate was constructed between 1788 and 1791. It was modeled after the gate to the Acropolis in Athens, and it served as a sort of capstone to Frederick II’s project of cultural improvement in Berlin. He’d already had a series of new and fashionable streets built, as well as an opera house and a palatial library.

Though born in triumph and optimism, the gate soon saw darker days. In 1806, Napoleon Bonaparte led the French army past the gate’s Doric columns and into Berlin. The French had prevailed at the battles of Jena and Auerstädt, defeating the Prussian army. Napoleon was now ruler of Prussia’s capital city.

Nor did Napoleon hesitate to demonstrate his dominance. He had the bronze sculpture that crowns the gate removed, carted all the way to Paris and put on display in the Louvre. This was a symbolic slap in the face, for the sculpture in question was the Quadriga of Victory – a horse-drawn chariot driven by the female figure Victory.

The Prussians got the last laugh. Seven years later, with the assistance of the Russians, they defeated Napoleon and marched to Paris, where they reclaimed the stolen Quadriga. In 1814, it was returned to its rightful place atop the Brandenburg Gate.

It’s still there to this day. On that July day in 2014, it overlooked the crowd of joyful soccer fans as Germany scored one goal against Argentina and won the country its fourth World Cup.

The Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961, physically divided an already ideologically divided country.

If you were to walk along the Spree river past the Reichstag building where the German Parliament meets, you wouldn’t think that Berlin was a city with a grim history. In fact, it looks like any other affluent metropolis – except that, along the waterfront stand white crosses commemorating those who died while attempting to scale the Berlin Wall, which divided East and West Germany for almost 30 years.

The Berlin Wall, constructed in 1961, was the result of years of political disunity.

In 1945, directly after World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the four principal military powers: the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Russia. Berlin was divided along the same lines.

In the eastern, Soviet-controlled zone, the leadership instituted a communist system of government. The other three zones were democratic and promoted more capitalistic values. This led to an economic and ideological imbalance. By 1952, citizens in West Germany were enjoying much more wealth and freedom than their East German counterparts – and, from that year forward, roughly 200,000 East Germans emigrated to the West every year.

By 1961, more than 3.5 million East Germans had defected. And so, on August 12, 1961, the West German border was closed. At 2:00 a.m. on August 13, the East German government began building a wall.

The Berlin Wall created a no-man’s land between East and West Germany. On the eastern side, anyone who approached the wall was shot, no questions asked.

Furthermore, since the wall’s construction was unannounced and took place in the dead of night, many Germans were separated from their families. If you lived in East Germany and your spouse, parent or child was residing in the West on that fateful night – well, you wouldn’t see them again until reunification and the demolition of the wall in 1989.

Though the physical wall came down almost 30 years ago, there is still an ideological wall of sorts; East Germany has palpably communist leanings, while West Germany is as capitalistic as ever.

And the wall is undeniably present in the country’s collective memory. Cobblestones delineate where the wall once stood, and tourists and locals alike walk along it daily and remember.

German influence once extended much further, making the country’s borders difficult to trace.

Like the Seine in France and the Thames in England, the Rhine river in Germany is as much a cultural symbol as a geographical feature.

Indeed, some of Germany’s most famous artists have incorporated it into their work. In his poem Die Lorelei, the nineteenth-century German poet Heinrich Heine situates the siren-like Lorelei on a cliff overlooking the Rhine, where she combs her long, blonde hair and sings bewitching songs that distract sailors on passing ships, causing them to wreck on the rocks. And composer Richard Wagner’s cycle of epic musical dramas, The Ring of the Nibelung, uses the Rhine as a backdrop.

Now, it’s hard to get more German than Wagner and Heine, but, if you were to look at a map, the Rhine might not seem that German; for a good stretch, it runs along and even crosses over the French-German border. So why is it considered so fundamentally German?

Well, current European borders were drawn relatively recently, and Germany once encompassed far more than it does today. So, historically and culturally speaking, the Rhine is decidedly German.

The city of Strasbourg, renowned for its massive cathedral, is a similar case. Though located in a French city, the cathedral’s architecture is patently German. Indeed, in 1770, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany’s most famous poet, said that the cathedral, which was completed in 1439, was a perfect symbol of German identity.

Furthermore, inside the cathedral is a large astronomical clock housed within a fine-wrought, three-tiered construction – an excellent specimen from the German clock-making industry that had its heyday near the tail end of the Renaissance. The clock truly is marvelous. Every hour, as the bells begin to toll, small, carved figurines act out scenes important to Christianity.

So the cathedral and the clock within it, though in France, are examples of German ingenuity. And it’s not hard to find other examples of German technology and architecture beyond the borders of modern-day Germany. Indeed, German culture and influence once extended far and wide into many different kingdoms and principalities.

German identity is constructed around the German language, standardized by Martin Luther.

During World War II, Thomas Mann, the German novelist and Nobel Laureate, went into exile. It would be more than a decade before he returned to his native land. However, when he did return in the summer of 1949, he told journalists that he’d never ceased to feel like a German author. For Mann, his language, in which he’d never stopped writing, was a truer home than his country.

Indeed, German identity is constructed around the German language.

As previously mentioned, modern-day Germany was formed relatively recently. For hundreds of years, the Germanic kingdoms within the Holy Roman Empire – Prussia, Bavaria, Austria and Saxony – were connected by nothing but language.But that’s not to say this connection wasn’t powerful and important.

Back in 1806, when Napoleon invaded Prussia, the Bavarian King Ludwig I sought to strengthen German identity and unify his people against the French threat by building a massive hall. Called the Walhalla, it contained statues of famous individuals who spoke the German language – such as Erasmus of Rotterdam, Albrecht Dürer and Ludwig van Beethoven, among many others.

The language-based identity that King Ludwig I memorialized remains strong today, because, though there are many regional dialects, all Germans are united by a standardized written language – the legacy of a sixteenth-century Augustinian monk named Martin Luther.

Luther, a professor of theology at the University of Wittenberg, was a zealous reformer, and in 1517, he began to take issue with the dogmas and restrictions imposed by the Catholic church. He believed that laymen should have direct contact with God, unmediated by priests, and so he translated the Bible – hitherto only available in Latin – into German.

The printing press invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the previous century made possible the wide dissemination of the Luther Bible, and soon it was being used as a standard reference book for written German, selling more than 500,000 copies before Luther’s death in 1546. Its unifying influence can be felt to this day.

Beer is about as German as it gets, and consuming it is a national pastime with a rich history.

France is the nation of wine, Russia, the nation of vodka. Indeed, some countries are so closely linked to a particular beverage that you can’t talk about one without thinking of the other. And for Germans the national elixir is beer.

In addition to solidifying German national identity, King Ludwig I also transformed the consumption of beer into a cultural institution.

In October 1810, the young king got married in Munich, the Bavarian capital. The matrimonial festivities included a great deal of beer consumption, and the populace enjoyed themselves so much that, in every year since, they’ve repeated the celebration, which was christened Oktoberfest.

Today, this two-week-long beer-drinking bonanza is the most popular festival in the world. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors – more than even the Rio Carnival in Brazil – and in Oktoberfest fortnight those attendees consume some 7.5 million liters of beer.

Munich may be the beeriest city in the land, but the beverage is popular throughout Germany and has been for centuries. At the British Museum, one can view an impressive display of drinking vessels – testaments to the fact that Germanic peoples have been taking beer seriously for quite some time.

Indeed, it would seem that Germans have been guzzling the stuff for roughly 2,000 years.

The Roman historian Tacitus, writing in the first century CE, notes that barbarian tribes living along the Rhine and near the Baltic Sea shared an enthusiasm for beer, which they would consume by the barrel, sometimes from sunrise till sunset. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Germanic tribes, who warred against the Roman Empire for centuries, used beer as a sort of performance-enhancing drug.

Beer is a libation of such national importance that, in the nineteenth century, some Germans sought to claim it as a symbol of German identity.

These nationalists cited the German Beer Purity Law written in 1487, which restricts the ingredients admissible in the production of pure beer to water, barley and hops. They claimed that Germany was the only country that brewed beer with pure, untainted water. Thus, it was the land with the best beer.

National pride in beer is still alive and well. Indeed, the German Beer Purity Law is enforced to this day, though some exceptions have been made. Yeast and sugar are now allowed, and recipes for gluten-free beer are considered special cases.

Remnants of Germany’s vast medieval trade network can still be found abroad today.

Today, Germany is famous for its strong economy, but this is nothing new. Indeed, the Germans have been commercially successful for hundreds of years.

Back in the twelfth century, in the northern port cities of Lübeck and Hamburg, a number of merchant guilds came together and formed the Hanseatic League, later called Hansa. This confederation soon attracted new members, and by 1400, 90 German market towns had joined it.

It was a confederation with considerable power. The Hanseatic cities were united but independent; they each adhered to the Hanseatic legal system and funded their own armies, and they all had each other’s back, so they didn’t have to worry about fines or harassment from local lords or nobility.

Most importantly, they controlled the shipping routes throughout the north. They hired guards to protect their merchants against pirates in the North and the Baltic Seas, not to mention along Europe’s major rivers from the Volga to the Thames. These were attractive perks indeed, and the Hansa were very successful.

So Hansa didn’t even need to trade or produce goods; they simply grew wealthy and enriched their region by providing secure trade routes.

One can still see remnants of this vast German trade network today.

For instance, near Cannon Street Station in London, there’s a dark passageway named Steelyard Station. Back in the thirteenth century, the Steelyard – or, to give it its German name, the Stahlhof – was a famous trading spot.

In fact, it was the English headquarters of Hansa – a massive warehouse where merchant ships would offload German wine and beer before being reloaded with wool, a staple of English trade.

Germany maintained its economic presence in England well into the nineteenth century, with affluent German traders as well as artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger playing a central role in English society.

Prussian royalty wore iron jewelry to show that they preferred utility to luxury.

Modern-day Germans aren’t exactly known for their frivolity, and it wasn’t much different two hundred years ago when Germans wore jewelry that was almost as sober as their personalities.

Unlike most European courts, which treasured gemstones and finery, Prussian royalty preferred iron.

In Prussia, jewelry was strikingly sober, particularly in the nineteenth century. It wasn’t uncommon for the pendant of a necklace to consist of nothing more than a black iron cross.

Nor was iron considered a precious metal. In fact, it was quite commonly the material used to make household items such as forks and knives, and military ones such as armor and weapons.

The metal did have symbolic value. In Prussia, iron jewelry showed that the wearer was willing to sacrifice luxury at the altar of utility.

The fad for this sombre and unassuming metal was particularly pronounced in the Prussian capital of Berlin.

Just consider King Frederick William I, who, after beating back an army of invading Swedes in the 1670s, celebrated his victory by commissioning a statuette. It portrayed the vanquishing king mounted on a horse and trampling upon a vile dragon. In any other court, such a sculpture would have been cast in bronze. But in Frederick William I’s, which was based in Berlin, it was made from iron.

During the 1806 Napoleonic Wars, the Prussian predilection for iron experienced a resurgence. In Berlin, Prussian nobles gave their valuable pieces of jewelry to the state to raise money for the war, and, in return, were given jewelry made of iron. Nonetheless, Napoleon was victorious.

In 1813, Prussia’s position improved. Napoleon’s army had been weakened, and King Frederick William III decided to honor the country’s beloved metal by reviewing the system of military decoration. He introduced a new military decoration: the Iron Cross.

Napoleon was defeated by the Prussians near Leipzig in 1813, and every man who’d participated in the war effort received the Iron Cross. Such an egalitarian gesture had never before been made in the armed forces.

One of the darker sides of Germany’s recent history is expressed in the art of Käthe Kollwitz.

In the 1860s, the Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck led his country to the apotheosis of its military glory, and, in 1871, he became chancellor of the newly united German Empire. These were the first steps toward a modern German state and they were undeniably auspicious. Unfortunately, they were short-lived – crushed before the next century was even 20 years old.

This dark patch in Germany’s history is well expressed in the art of Käthe Kollwitz.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Kollwitz was living in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg, a working-class neighborhood. Hundreds of thousands of Berliners lived in abject poverty, despite the social-welfare institutions instated by Bismarck.

Indeed, the restless and despairing atmosphere reminded Kollwitz of the conditions that led to the German Peasants’ War of the 1520s, during which hundreds of thousands of peasants revolted against their masters and were brutally massacred. Kollwitz even made a series of paintings depicting these events.

Another of her moving works, Woman and Dead Child, honors the impoverished mothers of Berlin, who could do nothing but watch as their children succumbed to malnutrition and illness.

Käthe Kollwitz’s paintings weren’t mere imaginings of reported events. She’d witnessed the horrors of history firsthand – and, when World War I began in 1914, she was subjected to even more personal hardship.

One of Kollwitz’s sons, Peter, who wasn’t yet of age, asked if he could volunteer to fight. Kollwitz convinced her husband to grant his permission, and Peter was killed in action that same year.

This threw Kollwitz into an awful state of depression. For the next ten years, she worked on a statue dedicated to the memory of her dead son; it’s of two kneeling figures – a woman, stooped and shrouded, and a man, whose arms are crossed over his chest. Its name is The Grieving Parents.

In a chilling echo of Kollwitz’s first loss, her grandson, also named Peter, was killed in World War II, just two years before Kollwitz’s death.

Kollwitz never stopped creating art about the things that had shaped her life: death, grief and war – three elements that were all too common throughout Germany in the first half of the 20th century.

Germany’s history, though somewhat overshadowed by the grim events of recent history, is rich and fascinating. Before fascism and communism, not to mention the disturbing events of World War I, Germany was a federation of countries united by a common language that had been standardized by the great religious reformer Martin Luther. Beer, the favorite national drink, brought Germanic peoples even closer together. Furthermore, Germans controlled one of the largest international-trade networks of medieval times, and their homeland gave birth to both gothic architecture and mechanical clocks.

[pagan-raider]

Conquer You - Chapter II

This chapter was a real bitch. I deleted the whole thing twice. I hope it is okay now...

-> Chapter I

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It must have been well past midnight as Thyra reached the town. Lagertha had sent her back to Hedeby to deal with some wandering thieves who had plundered some farms. It had taken a couple of days to track them down but when she had finally completed her task, she had felt the urge to ride back to Kattegat as soon as possible. She had left mid-afternoon, knowing that she wouldn’t make it before nightfall, but she didn’t want to leave Lagertha’s side longer than necessary, especially with the sons of Ragnar still wanting her death. So she had ordered her warriors to spent another night in Hedeby and follow her the next day, while she had taken off immediately.

The town in front of her was quiet and peaceful, only lit by the silver light of the moon. Thyra was surprised to see that they had already started with the construction of the fortifications while she had been gone. Lagertha was wasting no time. But even the highest walls around the town won’t help her when her enemies are living inside of them.

Soon she reached the great hall and brought her horse into one of the stables. After she had taken care of the animal she slipped into the great hall, careful not to make any noise and disturb the people sleeping inside. She slowly closed the door behind her and turned to head to her camber but then stopped dead in her tracks. The throne room was lit by moonlight falling through the high windows and she could see a hooded figure sitting in front of the throne. Whoever it was seemed not to have noticed her and she took a few careful steps along the shadows until she could see a face under the hood. It was Ivar. What the hell was he doing here in the middle of the night? He was staring at the queen’s throne and seemed to be buried deep in his thoughts but Thyra also noticed the long knife on the ground next to him.

“You should not be here.” She said, staying hidden in the shadows.

If she had startled him, he didn’t let it show. He slowly turned his head to face her. “How come you are still awake?”

“That’s none of your business.” Thyra answered and stepped into the moonlight.

Ivar’s face turned into a smirk as he recognized her. “Ah, Lagertha’s little pet.”

“What are you doing here, Ivar?”

He narrowed his eyes, giving her an arrogant look while he grabbed the knife from the floor and waved it in her direction. “That’s none of your business.” He said, echoing her words and Thyra was hit by a terrifying thought.

“Where is Lagertha?”

Ivar rolled his eyes. “How would I know? In her bed I imagine.”

Thyra thought about checking on the queen but surely Astrid was with her and it was pretty unlikely that Ivar had killed Lagertha in her sleep without waking her lover. So instead she turned back to the prince.

“Go home, Ivar. You shouldn’t be here.”

He did not move. “I have not seen you in a while. Where have you been?” He wanted to know, ignoring her words.

“Hedeby.”

“And what did you do in Hedeby?”

Thyra was confused by his questions. Was he trying to make small-talk with her now? Or was he was he interrogating her with a certain purpose? All she wanted was to get into her bed, but she had a feeling she would not be able to make him leave until he had what he wanted, whatever that might be.

“Some of our farmers were threatened by thieves. I went there to deal with the matter.”

“And did you deal with the matter?”

Thyra simply nodded.

“So you caught those thieves? Did you kill them?”

Thyra gave another nod, wondering why that interested him so much.

“How?” He asked and she could feel his eyes bore into her. The look on his face was almost lustful and she had to suppress a shudder.

“I slit their throats.” She said.

An evil smile formed on his face and he closed his eyes as if was imagining her doing it. When he opened them again something in his face had changed, it was more hostile now, as if he had just remembered that he was considering her his enemy.

“So the queen has a brave little pet.” He said, his voice full of mockery. But before Thyra could reply anything he continued. “But that won’t help her. I promised the gods that I would kill her and I always keep my promises. You will certainly not stop me from doing so.”

“Oh, I will. I will not let you kill my queen! I promise that to you.” Thyra felt her blood starting to boil, challenged by his words.

Ivar tilted his head to one side and looked at her as if he was considering something. “What if I give you the chance to kill me before I can kill Lagertha?” He said finally.

Thyra raised an eyebrow at him. “What do you mean?”

“Since Lagertha so cowardly refused to fight me, I could fight you instead. If you kill me, your queen isn’t in danger any longer.”

Thyra considered his words for a moment but he didn’t leave her any time.

“I challenge you to single combat.” He announced. “Do you accept?”

She had no choice now and he knew it. She couldn’t refuse without risking her place in Walhalla, she was not Lagertha, her place among the gods was not sure yet.

“I accept.” She said, chin held high.

“Good. Tomorrow then.” Ivar decided. “Do you know where the training grounds are?”

Thyra nodded.

“I’ll see you there, tomorrow at noon.” With that he turned and started to crawl towards the door.

Now Thyra knew what he had wanted from her. And it seemed like he had known exactly how to get it.

 Lagertha’s orders had been clear, she did not want any harm to come to Ragnar’s sons. Thyra had considered telling her everything, hoping the queen would understand that she had no other choice than to accept Ivar’s challenge. But for reasons she couldn’t even name, she didn’t want anyone to know about her encounter with the prince last night.

As she reached the training grounds, she found Ivar already waiting for her. He sat on a tree stump, casually playing around with his axe. Ubbe was there as well but other than that the field was deserted.

Ivar spotted her as she left the tree line. “Ah, you came. I almost thought you had gotten cold feet.” He greeted her in a mocking tone.  

Thyra decided to ignore him and greeted Ubbe with a nod. The older brother came over to her. “You don’t have to do this.” He said, quiet enough so that Ivar wouldn’t hear it.

“Unfortunately I do.” Thyra replied.

He sighed and shook his head. “I don’t want to see you get killed. Our quarrel is not with you.”

“Your brother doesn’t seem to see it that way and I think you should worry about him, not me.”

“Don’t try to talk her out of it, brother.” Ivar yelled from his tree stump. “It will make it much easier for us to get to Lagertha once she is out of the way.”

Ubbe gave Thyra an almost pleading look but she shook her head. “I’m not afraid of him.”

He stepped away in defeat and mumbled something that sounded like “You should be”. But she wasn’t  sure.

Ivar smirked as Thyra walked over to him. “Shall we begin?” He asked, reaching for the sword that had been leaning against the tree stump.

Thyra felt the adrenaline start to rush through her veins and gave her opponent a confident grin. “I can’t wait.”

She drew her blades, more curious than nervous. She wanted to know how Ivar would compensate for not being able to move around. He had to be good with the sword. Ubbe seemed to think that he would kill her, but Thyra was determined to prove him wrong. He wouldn’t be the first to underestimate her badly.

Ivar pouted as he saw her twin blades. “Well, if that is how you want to play….” With his free hand he pulled his axe from his belt.

Thyra preferred to fight with two shorter, lighter blades instead of one heavy one. She had learned she could never outmatch male warriors in strength, but she could be faster than them and the two lighter weapons increased that advantage.

Ivar just sat there, a confident smile playing on the corners of his mouth, waiting for her to make the first move. How satisfying it will be to wipe this shit-eating grin off his face. She took a deep breath and put all her power into her first blow. It came heavy and fast but Ivar blocked it with ease. They looked at each other for a silent moment before hell broke loose. Metal hit metal in an almost unreal pace. It was a brutal fight and both of them had to use all their concentration and instinct. Soon Thyra understood why Ivar was so confident about his skills. Every blow was fast and precise and while is legs were useless, his upper body possessed an incredible strength. Every blow Thyra blocked send an almost painful vibration up her arms and into her shoulders. Soon her arms started to ache but she gritted her teeth and kept going, determined not to show any weakness.

But besides the force and brutality there was something else in their battle. Something Thyra couldn’t quite put a finger on. It was as if they were in perfect sync. Their movements were almost mirroring each other as if they both knew what the other would do in advance. It felt more like a dance than a fight for life and death.

They went on like this for quite a while, both of them already panting, both of them refusing to slow down. Thyra knew something had to change or soon she’d be too exhausted to keep going. She started a feint attack on his left side, then drew her blade back and slammed it upwards, putting in all the strength she had left. The sword hit the head of Ivar’s axe from underneath and knocked it out of his hand. She blocked the sword that was aimed to hit her shoulder with one blade and pointed the other at his face. Ivar looked at the tip of the sword that was only an inch away from his face and slowly let his sword sink.

Thyra smiled. “I guess that means I win.”

Ivar shrugged. “Alright then, go ahead, kill me.” He said, his voice perfectly calm.

Thyra hesitated. It wouldn’t take much now, just a small movement of her sword. But for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She felt the sword getting heavy in her hand.

Then all of a sudden Ivar hurled himself forward, using his leather bracers to push her sword to the side. His body crashed into hers and they both went to the ground. As her back hit the hard soil, all the air was pressed out of Thyra’s lungs. Before she was able to suck in a breath, she felt cold steel against her throat. She looked up to see Ivar staring down at her with a triumphant grin on his face. Blood was dripping from his face where her blade had cut into his cheek, but he didn’t seem to care. She squirmed under him, trying to reach for her sword but he kept her pinned to the ground with his body and Thyra had to admit defeat.

“That’s how fast things can change, little shieldmaiden.” Ivar said, lightly increasing the pressure of his blade against her throat.

Thyra cursed herself that she had hesitated, she really should have known better. That mistake might cost her her life now. “What are you waiting for? Get over with it.” She hissed.

Ivar clicked his tongue. “So eager to die, little shieldmaiden?”

“That was the deal, wasn’t it? One of us dies today.”

“It doesn’t have to be like this.”

Thyra looked at him in surprise. His blue eyes had turned dark and she felt like she was staring into the stormy sea. Ivar leaned down to whisper into her ear and she could feel his hot breath against her cheek. Despite the situation she could feel her body react. His weight on top of her and his breath against her skin made her whole body heat up. She felt her cheeks blush as she wondered if their bodies would find the same natural rhythm together in bed as they had during their fight. Ivar smirked at her and she wondered if he knew what she was thinking.

“Forget about Lagertha and pledge your loyalty to me.” He whispered into her ear.

Thyra narrowed her eyes. “Why would I do that?”

“Because I’d let you live.” He loved to be in such a position of power, it was written all over his face.

Thyra shook her head. “I can’t.”

Ivar growled at her and increased the pressure of his sword. Thyra could feel the blade dig into her skin and warm blood run down the side of her neck. She closed her eyes and smiled. Soon she would be with her parents again. How much she had missed them. But then the blade was gone.

“You will change your mind.” Ivar said, his face still close to hers, his blood dripping down on her. “I will make sure of that.” With that he rolled off of her and crawled away.

[snowboyclarkov]

Cross-Bey Polls - 6: LAV - DAH

In Beyblade Burst, many of the people can be considered as equivalents to people from the Metal Saga or the original. They are also often considered to be weaker than the previous generation bladers. With that, I've made 7 polls of Burst vs. Metal/OG to see who comes closest to defying this. This is the sixth poll - Pitch-Black Flame vs. The Chosen One.