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m1ckeyb3rry · 1 year ago

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Endure XVIII: Heir

Series Synopsis: You and Eren Jaeger have been best friends since the age of two, but the two of you are destined for an inevitable tragedy. The world you have been born into is cruel; it is one where friends are traitors and enemies are allies, one where you find yourself doubting everything you've ever known. In this life, mistakes are fatal, and you must be careful, lest you make one too many.

Chapter Synopsis: You get news from your home country of Triura, asking you to return from Marley at once.

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Eren Jaeger x Female Reader, Armin Arlert x Female Reader

Chapter Word Count: 6.4k

Content Warnings: swearing, canon-typical violence, sexual abuse (non-explicit), major character death, angst, original characters included

You reclined back on the bad passively as Claude placed wet, open-mouthed kisses against your neck, sucking on the skin and leaving dark marks wherever he went. Letting out a soft breath through your nose, you resigned yourself to not moving, knowing that the quicker he finished, the quicker he would leave you alone.

“You’re so pretty,” he murmured, “I’m so lucky.”

Luck. Luck had nothing to do with this sham of an engagement. You had been attacked by some mysterious outside force and sent to Triura. When your blood was tested, it was revealed that you were an Eldian, but instead of kicking you to the curb, as most countries would have when faced with a wayward Eldian girl without her memories, the Triurans saw an opportunity.

“You’ll be such a good mother. I can already imagine it. You’ll be even prettier filled with my children,” Claude said. In and out, in and out, the motions were painful and repetitive. You knew what to expect and so you just closed your eyes, willing it to be over soon.

Claude Tybur. The youngest of the three siblings, though still quite a few years older than you were. He was also famously the cruelest when compared with his unassuming sister Lara and his charismatic brother Willy.

Triura needed an alliance with the powerful Tybur family. The Tybur family needed a noble Eldian girl to marry to Claude so that he could produce heirs, one of which might inherit the Warhammer Titan once whoever the current holder might be’s time ran out. You solved both problems.

So you were adopted into the Triuran royal family, given the title of princess and then nearly immediately given away to Claude, who was delighted to have a bride as young and beautiful as you. It was a matter of pride for him.

You, for one, were in no position to complain. You were spoiled, whether in Triura or in Marley. Everything you wanted, you got. If you had to put up with Claude’s cruelty for the few minutes you saw him each day, then so be it.

In and out, in and out. You wanted him off of you. You never wanted him to come near you again. You did not move. As always, you let him have his wicked way with you. You had no choice, after all.

“Do you think this’ll be the one?” he grunted, face flushed.

“I should hope not. It would be shameful if we were to have a child out of wedlock,” you responded.

This was the wrong answer. Claude’s hand went around your neck, and the other shoved its fingers down your throat.

“You need to have as many children as possible in order to continue the Tybur line and ensure that there is a proper candidate for the Warhammer Titan. If you know what’s best for you, you’ll take this time. And out of wedlock? Shame? You needn’t worry about that. Do not forget your place, Eldian whore. You are only here because I allow it, but I can replace you easily if I so choose. Triura wouldn’t do anything. You are alone; you have no friends or allies. You belong to me. Do you understand?” he said. You nodded frantically, tears slipping out of your eyes as you stared into his cold, dead blue ones. He gave you a pleased smile, removing his fingers from your mouth and his hand from your throat. Bending down, he nuzzled the very spot he had just bruised.

“That’s right, pretty girl. You’re so good,” he cooed mockingly, caressing your sides and cupping your jaw until he finished, after which he collapsed on top of you, falling asleep within seconds, leaving you a mess with no escape.

Unbidden, a pair of jade green eyes flashed across your mind, and you frowned. Checking to make sure Claude was truly asleep, you sighed, whispering an apology to them.

“I’m...sorry.”

As soon as Claude had rolled off of you, you took a shower and then fairly ran to find your best friend and inform her of this latest development. She was where she always was, tending to the garden. Hiking up your skirts, you waded through the grass to tap her on the shoulder.

“Hey, Princess! How are you today?” she said, bending down and plucking a pink camellia from the bush and tucking it behind your ear. You gave her an impatient look.

“It happened again,” you said.

“What did?” she said.

“May! What do you think?” you snapped. The girl looked at you, raising one perfect eyebrow. Her caramel colored hair was tied back loosely in a messy bun, and her icy green eyes were impassive as she regarded you.

“You saw something?” she said. You sighed and nodded.

“Yes. Claude was...you know...and then I saw a pair of eyes that were the most beautiful shade of jade green I have ever seen, and I felt like I had disappointed them, somehow,” you said. May frowned, returning to pruning the camellia bush.

“Maybe you had a lover before, and you feel like you’re cheating on them now,” she said with a shrug.

“Am I?” you said.

“I don’t think so. I mean, it’s not like you remember him, or anything, really. He can hardly blame you,” she said.

“Plus, for all we know, he’s dead or something, killed in the same attack that claimed my memories. It’s not unlikely. We have no clue what happened or how I ended up in Triura, so…” you trailed off, feeling immensely saddened at the thought of this jade-eyed person’s demise.

“Or we could be wrong and he might not have been your lover, or even a he. Your memory’s a funny thing. I doubt it’ll come back until you’re surrounded by things that remind you of your past, but the problem is that we can’t exactly do that when we don’t know what your past is,” May said, handing you the pruning shears and gathering the fallen leaves she had cut away in a basket.

“It’s probably for the best that I don’t remember my life before all of this,” you said with a wistful sigh. She gave you a sad look.

“Rough day?” she said.

“When is it not? He called me a whore and threatened me, saying he’d cast me aside if I didn’t get pregnant this time,” you said, drawing your woolen cloak tighter around your shoulders as if it would protect you from Claude’s cruelty.

“You won’t,” May predicted. She was uncannily good at such things, having known when each of Willy Tybur’s children would be born, and even which gender they would be. This meant that she was right; you had not gotten pregnant, and even though you were scared, a part of you felt relieved. You didn’t want Claude’s demon child inside of you. You didn’t want any child inside of you, to be fair, but you did not want Claude’s most of all. It would be just another way for him to control you.

“Is it bad that I don’t feel upset?” you said as the two of you walked back towards the Tybur mansion.

“Well, you’re here to marry Claude and have his children, so in that sense, yes, it’s probably bad, but I understand your feelings. If I were you, I wouldn’t be upset, either,” she said, stopping by the shed to toss her pruning materials and the basket of cuttings in their proper spots.

“I really shouldn’t complain. The Tyburs are good to me, besides Claude of course. Willy and Lara are perfectly pleasant, and Willy’s children adore me. If I must put up with Claude and bear his children, then isn’t that a small price to pay?” you said. May hugged you tightly, stroking your hair.

“We both know it isn’t.”

Entering the mansion, you were immediately sought out by Willy’s five children. Fine and Vanessa, his two daughters, began to tug on your skirts, while Alois, Bruno, and Rico ran around you, chattering about something or another. You exchanged looks with May, who was doing her best to hide her amusement at your predicament.

“What’s the matter with all of you?” you said.

“Daddy said we can go into Liberio if we have an adult watching us! Uncle Claude and Aunt Lara said no, so we came to you and Miss May! Please, Aunt Y/N, please!” Fine said.

“Why would you ever want to go into Liberio? That’s the internment zone, isn’t it?” you said.

“Well, yeah, but it’ll be exciting! Like an adventure, you know? We’ve never been before. Please say yes! We’ll be very very good,” Bruno said, clasping his hands together and giving you puppy dog eyes. His siblings all did the same, and you sighed.

“Let me check with your father. I’ll take you, but only if he says yes,” you said.

Willy Tybur was lounging about in his sitting room when his children dragged you and May into it. He gave you both knowing looks.

“Did my hellions pounce upon you next?” he said.

“You guys are the hellion duo!”

You blinked. Whose voice had that been? It must have been another memory, though you did not recognize it. May gave you a worried look, and you shook your head.

“They want to go into Liberio. May and I are fine with taking them, but only if you’re okay with it,” you said.

“That’s fine. You five won’t bother Aunt Y/N and Miss May too much, will you? I better hear only good things from them, or no more field trips,” he threatened his children, though his voice was gentle and amused as he spoke, belying the fact that he was not serious. Still, all five took it to heart, saluting at their father.

“Yes, sir! We will be the bestest in the whole world!” Alois said. Willy smiled.

“Very well, then. Have fun!” he said.

The seven of you stuck out in Liberio like sore thumbs. The Tybur children were bright and happy, wearing neatly pressed clothes and having spotless faces. May wore a long pastel skirt and white blouse tucked into it, and she had on a sunhat to shade her face. You were the worst of all, with your dress that touched the ground, your wool cloak, and most importantly, the gold tiara adorning your hair, marking you as a princess amongst commoners.

People gaped at you in awe as you walked through the streets. The Tybur children raced ahead, pointing at the different sights and whispering amongst each other excitedly. You and May followed at a far more sedate pace, fond smiles on your faces as you watched over them.

“So, what was all that earlier?” she said to you after a moment.

“Another memory,” you sighed, knowing immediately what she was referring to.

“What now?” she said.

“A man saying ‘you guys are the hellion duo!’” you said.

“Hellion duo? Was the princess a troublemaker back in the day?” she teased. You shrugged.

“It’s possible. I wouldn’t know,” you said, tapping your head mockingly, cursing your own amnesia.

“Ah, that’s true. But this is good, right? You got two memories in one day! Let’s run through everything you’ve remembered so far, maybe it’ll help trigger something in you,” she said.

“It’s not much, you know that. There was a white horse that I rode sometimes, a town that I saw from the perspective of a rooftop, a dead girl with red hair that I gave a lily too, and now the eyes and the man’s voice,” you said.

“Right, and let’s go over where you got these memories from,” she prodded, even though she already knew the answer. It was an exercise in futility, to be sure, but one you engaged in anyways.

“The horse I remembered when I saw horses pulling the Tybur’s carriage, the town I remembered when I went in one of the airships for the first time, the girl I remembered when Fine was sick, the eyes I remembered when Claude...and the man’s voice I remembered when Willy called his children hellions,” you said, abruptly cutting yourself off when you got to Claude. May gave you a sympathetic look.

“So it seems like whenever you’re put into situations similar to the ones that you used to know, you remember more. That tracks up with most amnesia patients,” she said.

“Glad to know I’m not abnormal, but it seems my memory regaining is going to be a slow process, since so far, all of these situations have been at random. We don’t know what situations to put me in, so we can’t put me in them deliberately in order to force me to remember more,” you said. She pouted.

“I know, I was just hoping talking about it would make things better,” she said.

“Thank you for your help, May, truly. You’re the only one that even cares. It couldn’t matter less to the Tyburs if I remember who I truly am, and same with the Triurans. In fact, it’s better for them if I don’t. Kind though they may be, I have to remember that besides you, nobody here is truly my friend. Oi, Rico! Leave that poor man alone!” you shouted, seeing Rico messing with a tired looking blond man.

Rico froze and looked back at you with a guilty expression, darting back to your side as you reached the man.

“I’m so sorry about him, Mr…?” you trailed off, staring into his wolfish amber eyes. He looked at you in fear.

“Y/N?” he said.

“How do you know my name?” you said. He shook his head.

“Ah, right, of course. I’m Vice Chief Reiner Braun,” he said.

“Please, Reiner, you were joking, right? This is a joke. Please get off of me.”

This time, it was your voice that you remembered. You backed away from Reiner hesitantly, some instinctual part of you telling you that you had to run, that the man you were faced with was dangerous, though he had been nothing but polite in the few seconds you two had spoken.

“Lovely to meet you, Vice Chief. I’m Princess Y/N,” you said. His face was sorrowful when he spoke again.

“I know. Have a nice day, your royal highness,” he said, turning abruptly and marching off before you could say a word.

“Who was that? He’s pretty good looking,” May said, appearing beside you.

“Run along, Rico, but please try not to bother strangers anymore,” you reprimanded him. He nodded at you, wide-eyed, before scampering off to rejoin his siblings.

“That was Vice Chief Reiner Braun. He has the Armored Titan right now, if I’m correct. May, for some reason...I remember him. I don’t know how, or why, but at some point I met him, and I was scared,” you said.

“Maybe you were from Liberio. You must’ve been scared because he’s an Honorary Marleyan or something. I wouldn’t think too deeply into it. He would’ve said something if he knew you, right?” she said.

“Well, I guess that’s true. He knew my name, but I suppose that isn’t too hard to guess. How many princesses are visiting Marley at the moment, especially with Willy Tybur’s children?” you said, relaxing only slightly at May’s assurance.

“Right. This has gotta be some kind of record, huh? Three memories in one day?” she said.

“Certainly,” you said, “I wonder if it’s because my head injury finally healed and I’m more comfortable now, allowing my mind to relax and begin to try and remember things.”

“Could be true,” she said.

“Regardless of the reason, I think it’s a blessing in disguise. Maybe if I remember enough...I’ll be able to return to my old life. Provided that my old life is worth returning to,” you said.

“As long as you take me with you,” May said with a wry smirk.

“Why would you give up being one of the Tyburs’ favored servants to run away with me to god knows where?” you said. May’s stature was not one that came easily. She was treated as one of the Tyburs themselves instead of a low-class Eldian, and it was a role many dreamt of.

“It would be rather boring to deal with the Tyburs without a friend, now that I know what true friendship is like. We’ll suffer together, yeah? Us two Eldians against the world,” she said, interlocking your pinkies.

“I’m glad to have you as my best friend,” you said.

“I promise we’ll be best friends forever,” she said.

“Best friends, times infinity,” you agreed.

Returning to the mansion, corralling the Tybur children into their rooms, you and May were met with an irritated looking Claude and an equally irritated Willy.

“Why the hell did you let her visit Liberio?” Claude hissed.

“She’s a grown woman. You don’t own her. She’s free to do as she pleases, and she did me a great favor by watching the children,” Willy said.

“I didn’t give my permission,” Claude said.

“She doesn’t need your permission. Like I said, she’s a grown woman,” Willy responded, crossing his arms.

“She is my bride-to-be, and ergo my property!” Claude said.

“Excuse me, am I interrupting something?” you said, entering the room with May at your side. Claude turned his cold gaze to you, stalking across the room.

“Who the hell said you could go out today?” he said.

“Your brother,” you said.

“Are you engaged to my brother? Or are you engaged to me? You’ll come ask me for permission next time,” he said. You frowned at him but nodded demurely, not seeing the point of fighting. It would just lead to more pain and suffering for you.

“There won’t be a next time for quite a while, actually,” Willy said.

“What are you talking about?” Claude said.

“The princess has been called back to Triura to take care of some affairs there. She will return to her home country at once,” Willy said.

“I can accompany her,” May said. Willy seemed surprised but nodded.

“Very well, then. Pack your things, both of you,” he said.

“Wait a second! I will go as well,” Claude said.

“Claude, you were not invited,” Willy said.

“Neither was May!” Claude said.

“May will come as my lady in waiting. King Alexander and Queen Lanie should accept her then,” you said immediately.

“Whose side are you on, anyways?” Claude said.

“That is enough. The two of you, go pack your things. You will depart as soon as you are ready,” Willy said. You and May raced out of the room before Claude could find some new reason to make you stay.

“What a relief!” you said, giggling as you ran through the hallways.

“You can get a vacation from Claude, and maybe we can work on your memories, too!” she agreed, her eyes sparkling. You did not know how you had become lucky enough to have a friend like her, so dedicated and loyal.

You packed as many gowns and cloaks and tiaras as you could fit into your trunks before calling a few of the servants to bring them into the carriages. Triura was, thankfully, not too far from Marley, so the carriage ride would only be a few hours or so.

“I wonder why I was called back,” you said to May, who was sitting across from you, leaning her head against the window.

“Who knows?” she said.

“I just hope nothing’s wrong,” you said.

“Triura’s a peaceful country. I’m sure it’s nothing big. They probably just want to check up on how your engagement’s going,” she assured you.

“Well, I guess we’ll find out.”

The driveway to Triura’s palace was lined with ancient cypress trees that towered, nearly touching the sky for how tall they were. They formed a natural archway, almost, shading the paved drive and protecting it from the weather.

King Alexander and Queen Lanie were standing and waiting at the end of the driveway for you and May. Opening the door of the carriage, the coachman helped you down, and you both immediately dipped into curtseys.

“Princess. We have much to discuss,” King Alexander said, his voice and face serious. You gulped but nodded.

“Very well, your majesty,” you said, “Come, May.”

“Do you trust your friend?” Queen Lanie said.

“More than anyone. Anything you want to say to me, you can say it in front of her,” you said, grabbing May’s hand. King Alexander pursed his lips but motioned for you to follow him.

As soon as you were shut away in his private meeting room, the king turned to you.

“Who are you loyal to?” he said.

“Triura, of course,” you said.

“Y/N. Having seen how Claude treats her and how Willy and Lara do little to stop it, I can no longer in good conscience continue to serve them. It is why I’m here now, instead of back at the mansion,” May said.

“Good. Triura has decided that it is going to ally itself with Zeke Jaeger and the devils of Paradis,” he said.

“What? The island devils? What happened to the treaty with the Tyburs?” you said.

“We’re going to play both sides, as it is. The outcome of this war is far too uncertain; in order to assure Triura’s continued survival, we must have good relations with both the forces of the island and the Tyburs. You are key to both contracts. We will explain Zeke Jaeger’s plan to you and then send you to the island, where you will explain it to them. Once your business on the island has concluded, you will return to the Tyburs as if nothing happened,” Queen Lanie said.

“Fine, I’ll go, as it is my duty to Triura. But I will not force May to come,” you said.

“Like hell I won’t! I’m by your side, remember?” she said.

“May, the island devils are a savage people, from what I’ve heard. It won’t be anything like what life with the Tyburs is like,” you said.

“You’re a princess, and I’m your lady in waiting. They won’t do anything to us. They’d be foolish to try it, and I’m sure we’ll have guards, too,” she argued.

“Yes, we will send guards with you. Mark my words, every effort will be taken to ensure your protection and safety on the island,” King Alexander said.

“It’ll be suspicious if I return to the Tyburs’ alone, and I have no place in Triura. I’m coming with you, like it or not,” she said. You sighed in acquiescement.

“Alright, then. When do we set out?” you said.

“Your ship leaves tonight,” Queen Lanie said.

“Well, at least we won’t have to worry about unpacking our things,” you muttered.

The ship ride to Paradis was long. You and May lazed about, walking above deck and watching the sea until you grew bored; and when you were bored, you tried to jog your memories.

“The sea...I think it was important to me,” you said to her, staring at the water as the ship cruised through the waves. There was a sense of home, of longing and wonder that you felt as you basked in the brilliant blue.

“Does it have a memory with it?” she said.

“No. No, I don’t think I ever got to see it, but I think I wanted to. What a shame, I must’ve lived in some landlocked country or something,” you said, feeling bad for your previous self.

“Then let me officially welcome you to the sea!” May said, spreading her arms out. You rolled your eyes.

“Bit late for that, don’t you think?” you said.

“Now you’ve finally been officially welcomed. It’s never too late for that!” she said.

“Thanks, May. Means a lot.”

Paradis Port was nothing special; indeed, it was downright primitive compared to Marley or Triura’s. It was lucky that there were only two ships docking, yours and the one from Hizuru.

You had never met the Azumabitos, but they were famously greedy, and you were not looking forward to having to meet them. Still, they were friendly enough, so you supposed it wouldn’t be so bad.

“And now, her royal highness, the Princess Y/N L/N of Triura!” the herald called.

“That’s our cue,” you said to May, who grinned at you as you disembarked the ship.

“Time to meet these so-called devils,” she said.

Immediately, your eyes were drawn to a group of people that looked to be roughly you and May’s age. They were staring at you in shock, their faces white and hands shaking, as if you were the devil. As you watched, one of them, a particularly handsome boy, began to smile and run towards you. You were taken aback. Was this some sort of traditional greeting on the island?

“Y/N!” he said. Before he could reach you, though, he was tackled by your guards. They were famously protective, and you were glad that they were there, lest you be assaulted by this random boy. He struggled against them, but their grip was too strong.

“Let go of me, bastards! Let go, I’ve waited two years for this! Y/N, tell them to let go! Come on, tell them we’re friends!” he said. You frowned at him before giving May a perplexed look. She seemed equally as lost, biting her lip.

“I’m sorry?” you said. You were quite sure you had never met him in your life, let alone been his friend. You had never even been on this island before.

“It’s me! Eren! You know me!” he said. You felt bewildered, looking around for some sort of aid. His friends seemed confused as well, though understanding had dawned upon the blond one’s face.

“I’m very sorry, but I’m afraid I don’t,” you said.

The only way you could describe them at this moment was horrified. The handsome boy, Eren, gazed at you with huge, wounded eyes, going limp in your guards’ grasp. The blond boy buried his face in his hands, and the girl with braided hair’s jaw dropped.

“The hell kind of joke is this?” Eren said.

“Is this a typical greeting in Paradis?” you said, furrowing your brow. The customs of the island were a mystery to you and the rest of the world, but perhaps this was what they did.

“Why are you acting like you don’t know anything? What is wrong with you?” he snapped.

“Excuse me?” you said.

“Eren, that’s enough. I think she has amnesia,” the blond boy said.

“How did you know that?” May said.

“By the walls, this is a joke, right? This is all a fucking joke or something. She’s not supposed to forget me! We were going to meet again, but not like this!” Eren said.

“Did I know you before or something? I’m sorry, I don’t have any memories from before I arrived in Triura. Although, I don’t know how I would’ve known you. I’ve no clue how I would have gotten to Triura from this island,” you said.

“Did you know me? Did you know me? Oh, Sina, you really have forgotten everything,” Eren groaned.

“Come on, Eren. Let’s go. We can talk to her later,” the girl with the blonde braids said. Her pear green eyes pierced into yours, as if she was searching for something. You tilted your head, but obviously, whatever she was looking for, she did not find. She turned away in disappointment, and you shivered, bringing your cloak tighter around you.

“That was weird,” May commented as you rode in the carriage towards Paradis Castle. You snorted.

“You’re telling me. That Eren kid was really upset I didn’t recognize him,” you said.

“He’s the one with the Founding Titan, did you know?” she said.

“No, I didn’t. Claude hardly found such things important to tell me. Is he really? Wonder what he wants with me, then,” you said.

“You must’ve known him! Maybe he’s the key to regaining your memories,” May said in delight.

“Do you think I was from this island?” you said.

“It’s possible, although you’re right in saying that it’s very odd that you ended up in Triura of all places,” she said.

“Agreed. We can worry about this whole situation later, at any rate. For now, we just need to focus on informing the Paradisians of Zeke’s plan,” you said.

The Azumabitos had arrived at the castle far earlier than you and May, most likely because they had not been held up having a conversation with the people of Paradis. When you joined them in the courtroom, Lady Azumabito was crying about something. You gave her a startled glance.

“This girl is the rightful heir to the Azumabito line!” she sniffed, pointing at a beautiful girl with short, dark hair and grey eyes.

“How fortunate that you were able to meet her, then,” you said before smiling at the girl, “You have lovely hair, by the way.”

“Thanks,” she said, her eyes wide when she looked at you. You remembered her as one of the ones from the port, and you wondered if she had known you before, too.

“Well,” you said, clearing your throat uncomfortably, “Let’s go meet the queen, then, and inform you all of Zeke’s plan.”

You sat beside Lady Azumabito, with May on your other side. Queen Historia looked equally surprised to see you as everyone else had been, and you were beginning to wonder what the implications of all of this were. Had you been an islander in your past life?

“Zeke’s plan, um, has three parts,” you said nervously, well aware of Eren staring at you as if you were a precious piece of art or some sort of angel. Your cheeks warmed, and you kept your eyes focused firmly on the paper that had Zeke’s plan detailed on it.

“First, there will be a small-scale version of the Rumbling, in order to test its power,” Lady Azumabito said, noticing your nerves. You gave her a grateful smile before taking a deep breath and continuing.

“As well as testing its power, this will demonstrate your strength to the world on a non-catastrophic scale,” you said.

“While preparations for this are being made, we will also work to improve and modernize your military. With Triura and Hizuru’s aid, you should be able to become strong enough that, in time, you will be able to defend your country without the need for the Rumbling,” Lady Azumabito said.

“And the final part of the plan is for someone with royal blood to inherit the Beast Titan. This person will then need to continue to have children that will take the Beast after them, as for the Founding Titan’s powers to work without it being possessed by someone of the royal family, they must be in contact with a titan that has royal blood,” you said.

“I will do it,” Queen Historia said calmly.

“Absolutely not!” Eren said, slamming his hands on the table, his eyes filled with rage. They were a pretty shade of jade, though they had darkened with fury. You flinched back, scared by the anger he was displaying.

“It’s necessary to have a royal titan shifter at all times,” Lady Azumabito tried to explain. Eren turned his fierce glare upon her.

“We aren’t cattle that will be forced to breed in order to survive. Find another way,” he spat.

“There is no other way. I’m sorry, but it’s what must be done, according to Zeke. He could be wrong, but…” you trailed off, frowning.

“No, he’s not wrong,” Eren said, shaking his head, “The one time I used the Founding Titan’s powers, I was touching a titan that had royal blood, I’m sure of it.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Commander Hange, the leader of a branch of their military called the Survey Corps, said.

“I didn’t know what you’d do to Historia,” he said with a frown. You gave him a pleading look.

“Please, I know you don’t like it, but it’s your country’s best chance for survival,” you said. His face softened impercibtly when he saw you, but he did not give in.

“It isn’t fair,” he said.

“Zeke still has a few years left. We can execute the first two steps of his plan, at least, and revisit the Queen Historia issue later, but I’m afraid you won’t really have much of a choice in this matter. My apologies, but the world isn’t a fair place,” you said, your hand unconsciously going to your stomach. Like it or not, you were in the same situation as Queen Historia. Soon, you would have to have Claude’s children, and just like Queen Historia, you had no choice in the matter. Unlike Queen Historia, you could not even pick who the father would be.

Eren’s sharp eyes went to where your hand was placed, and he gave you a surprised look. Face burning, you drew your hand away and turned back to Queen Historia, who nodded at you gratefully.

“Hey. We need to talk,” Eren said as everyone left the courtroom. You and May paused, and you turned to look at him curiously.

“Certainly. What’s the matter?” you said.

“Privately,” he stressed.

“I’ll go. This could be your chance to get your memories back! Good luck!” May said, darting off. You groaned, watching her go before turning to Eren, who was standing there and waiting for you.

“Lead the way, then,” you said, following after him through the maze-like hallways of the castle without complaint. Once you were a safe distance away from everyone else, he paused and gave you a look.

“Are you pregnant?” he said.

“I don’t see how it’s any of your business,” you said.

“You — Sina, I fucking hate this. Fine. You’re right, it’s none of my business,” he said, running a hand through his hair.

“I’m not, by the way,” you said, “Not yet, at least.”

“Is he good to you?” he said. You did not respond, and he scowled at you, grabbing your hands in his own.

“I have everything I could ever want,” you said.

“I don’t give a rat’s ass. Does he hurt you?” he said.

“Why should I tell you? Why do you care?” you said. He stared at you as if you had said the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard.

“You seriously don’t remember me. Not even a little bit,” he said mournfully.

“I do not. I’m sorry. Were we close?” you said. He laughed bitterly, closing his eyes in pain.

“Yeah, we were close. We were best friends, Y/N. Ever since we were two years old, we’ve been best friends. We all thought you were gone forever these past couple of years, but you’re not. You’re back, and you’re alive, but yet I think I had more of a chance with you when you were dead than I do now,” he said.

You racked your brain. Where were your memories now? If there was ever a time for something to happen, it was now, but nothing appeared. You stared at Eren, wishing you could remember what he did, but you just couldn’t. You were his best friend, or so he claimed, but he was a stranger to you.

“I think you might be right on that count,” you said. He let out a choked sob.

“Don’t do this. You’re joking, right? It isn’t funny anymore,” he said.

“It’s not a joke, Eren. I genuinely don’t know who you are. I really, really want to, but I just don’t,” you said.

“Do you remember any of us? Tullia? Armin or Mikasa? Jean? What about Petra?” he said. You shook your head.

“No, I don’t. Like I said, I have no memories. I wish things were different, but the fact remains that they aren’t. Maybe one day I’ll get them back, but in the meantime, this is who I am. Princess Y/N L/N of Triura,” you said.

“So there’s a chance you’ll get them back?” he said. You shrugged.

“Yes. When I’m placed in situations that mirror ones I’ve been in before, I sometimes get memories. It’s May and I’s hope that if I go through enough of these situations, I’ll be able to get most if not all of my memories back. However, it’s not really been a reliable indicator of anything. After all, it isn’t like anybody knew what my past was. We didn’t know what situations to place me in, even if we wanted to. As it is, the Tyburs haven’t exactly been falling all over themselves to find a cure for my amnesia, either. I expect that’s because I will make a far better wife for Claude if I don’t even know who I am,” you said.

“But I know what your past is! And so do Tullia and Armin and Mikasa and Jean and Captain Levi and Sasha and Connie! We can try to help you get your memories back!” Eren said excitedly.

“So I really was an island devil, then,” you said with a small frown, “How amusing. Say, did I ever know Reiner Braun?”

“He was the one that killed you. Fed you to a titan, or so we thought,” Eren said coldly.

“What? But when I saw him in Liberio, he didn’t seem at all like he knew me,” you said. Eren shrugged.

“Reiner’s a good actor. Who knows what was going through his mind back then? Anyways, what do you say? Will you let us help you?” he said, offering you his hand. You stared at it for a second, weighing your options.

Like May had said, this was your chance. You could get your memories back, and you could maybe even escape Claude for good.

This motivated you. More than anything, you wanted to escape Claude. If the people of the island could offer you protection from your fiance, then I’d be a fool to deny them, even if it did mean you were stuck with the island devils.

The island devils. It seemed you were one of them, if Eren was to be believed. And for some reason, you did believe him. There was an honest openness to his kind gaze. His jade green eyes shone with affection, and you realized that it was his eyes you had seen, back when you had lain with Claude. You had known him in the past, and what’s more, he had been important to you.

You took his hand and shook it. A pleased grin formed on his face, and your expression mirrored his own.

“Well, I’m willing to give it a shot, Eren. Yes — I want you to help me get my memories back.”

taglist (send an ask or dm to be added): @futuristicxie

#eren x reader #armin x reader #eren x y/n #armin x y/n #eren x you #armin x you #reader insert #canon au #endure #m1ckeyb3rry writes

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tehuti88-art · 11 months ago

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2/2/24: r/SketchDaily theme, "Free Draw Friday." This week's character from my anthro WWII storyline is Leopoldine Jäger. She's the young (around eleven years old) daughter of Magdalena Jäger and adopted daughter of Major Ludolf Jäger (her mother was pregnant when they met). She's also the oldest of nine children (and counting). She's every bit Daddy's little princess; despite them not being related by blood, they adore each other, and she's plainly Jäger's favorite. She's also a budding fanatic just like her parents. There'll be more about her later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se.

Regarding her design, she's leucistic, not albino. Since she's a child, I tweaked her design, and made her eyes and ears about 10% bigger.

TUMBLR EDIT: I've already gone over most of Leopoldine's role in the story in her mother Magda's entry. Magda is pregnant with her, via a one-night stand with an SS officer when Magda is around eighteen or nineteen, and he has no interest in marriage (and Magda's family is no help), so Magda goes to a Lebensborn maternity home in hopes they'll help deliver the baby and put it up for adoption (abortion of Aryan babies is illegal). While there, she meets Jäger (a captain at the time), a former Waffen-SS officer who's recently transferred to the Allgemeine-SS and is touring the maternity home; he'd recently been involved in the other part of the Lebensborn project, offering his own services fathering children he'll never get to meet. He's looking to start his own family, and something about Magda sparks his interest; the two of them pretty much see it as fate that they meet when they do, and quickly end up engaged and then married. Magda worries that Jäger will be disappointed in a daughter, much less a daughter who's not even his by blood; yet Jäger latches on to little Leopoldine immediately, declaring her his "perfect little Prinzessin." He officially adopts her without a second thought, and always treats her as his own. He and Magda just as quickly start their own family--Lisbeth, Liesl, twins Lars and Lara, Lothar, twins Lilli and Lotti, Liane, and another baby on the way by the final story--yet it's Leopoldine who holds the first place in Jäger's heart until the very end. These two just adore each other to bits, and Jäger spoils all his children, but he spoils Leopoldine the most. Leopoldine is his heir, and his most promising pupil. He plans for her to one day take his place as leader of the Fourth Reich.

Leopoldine is bright, she's devoted, and she's motivated. She'll do anything to make Papa happy. She's the perfect Nazi daughter. Jäger easily uses his powers of persuasion on Magda, who's not terribly intelligent but loves him dearly; still, Leopoldine is even more devoted than she is. Magda tries to believe in the cause but at times she has her doubts, especially as time goes on and the Third Reich begins to falter. Leopoldine never doubts. Not once. So of course, Jäger deduces quickly that she's the one he has to groom to make the perfect Führer. Sure, she's a girl. But that's just a tiny inconvenience. Jäger has his own bizarre vision for the new world, and if he and Magda can't lead it, then Leopoldine will.

Leopoldine is kind of a pathetic figure in that really, she has no will or vision of her own. Everything she believes and does is for her father. She exists merely as an extension of him, a personification of his own hopes and dreams. From the moment of her birth, she never really stands a chance. Sure she's happy, she fully believes in the plan. Just that she never had the chance to believe in anything else, or to know that there are other paths she could have followed. Jäger does such a thorough job of ensuring her devotion that even if someone had the chance to show her what else is out there, she wouldn't care; Papa's plan is all that matters. In this way, despite her reprehensible belief system, she's basically an innocent. She doesn't know it's wrong, or any other way to be. She's just the empty vessel an SS officer fathered, Magda bore, and Jäger filled to the brim with his plans for a new Reich to replace the old.

The Fourth Reich is never to be, of course; but Jäger is smart, he comes up with an emergency plan for that, too. He hopes it never comes to pass, though it does. He shares this backup plan with Magda and Leopoldine shortly before the end. Magda is anguished, and tries to refuse; Leopoldine holds steady. At the very end, when Jäger is gone and the time comes to implement the final plan, Leopoldine still has full belief it'll work out, even if in a different life and not here; she reassures her mother that Jäger had promised it would be so. Why would Papa lie? As Magda gathers the children and gets things ready, Leopoldine brings hot cocoa for all to drink until they fall asleep. She's the last to doze off; she's also the last child Magda shoots and kills, her mother sobbing her eyes out the entire time. Magda takes her own life shortly afterward, all part of the plan. And just like that, the sprawling Jäger family is no more.

The sad little bodies, all bundled up lovingly in a row and with their heads covered (except for Magda, of course), are discovered by the same group which defeated Jäger. Among them is Otto Himmel, a former SS captain; he previously worked for Jäger as a secretary and trusted confidant. He was well loved by the Jäger children, including Leopoldine, and despite his feigned cranky demeanor he loved them as well, slipping them candies whenever he could, tolerating their cries of "Uncle Otto" as they would clamber over him. Himmel had longed for a large family yet was never blessed with one; the Jäger children served as a sort of surrogate. Upon finding the children's bodies, he breaks down weeping, kneeling and gently clasping Leopoldine's small cold hand in his own. "Why? What was the point?" he cries; "I gladly would have taken them in." The actual point--that either the Jägers were to live and thrive together, or be defeated and die together, no in between--is too alien for him to understand. Himmel's always believed in life, unlike the fake professed beliefs of the Nazis, who believed in life under particular circumstances only. He doesn't see a defeated Reich, a noble sacrifice, in the end. All he sees is an immense waste of what could have been. A family tragedy.

Indeed, that's all that becomes of Jäger's grand plan for his wife and children and himself. A new world that collapses before it's born, and the annihilation of a family. A tragedy, and nothing more.

[Leopoldine Jäger 2024 [‎Friday, ‎February ‎2, ‎2024, ‏‎12:00:10 AM]]

#artists on tumblr #ibisPaint x #SketchDaily #original characters

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rockislandadultreads · 1 year ago

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Libby Spotlight: New eAudiobooks

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (read by Meryl Streep)

In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family's orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother, and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.

Tom Lake is a meditation on youthful love, married love, and the lives parents have led before their children were born. Both hopeful and elegiac, it explores what it means to be happy even when the world is falling apart.

American Prometheus by Kai Bird & Martin J. Sherwin (read by Jeff Cummings)

American Prometheus is a full-scale biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer, "father of the atomic bomb," the brilliant, charismatic physicist who led the effort to capture the awesome fire of the sun for his country in time of war. Immediately after Hiroshima, he became the most famous scientist of his generation - one of the iconic figures of the twentieth century, the embodiment of modern man confronting the consequences of scientific progress.

He was the author of a radical proposal to place international controls over atomic materials - an idea that is still relevant today. He opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb and criticized the Air Force's plans to fight an infinitely dangerous nuclear war. In the now almost-forgotten hysteria of the early 1950s, his ideas were anathema to powerful advocates of a massive nuclear buildup, and, in response, Atomic Energy Commission chairman Lewis Strauss, Superbomb advocate Edward Teller and FBI director J. Edgar Hoover worked behind the scenes to have a hearing board find that Oppenheimer could not be trusted with America's nuclear secrets.

American Prometheus sets forth Oppenheimer's life and times in revealing and unprecedented detail. Exhaustively researched, it is based on thousands of records and letters gathered from archives in America and abroad, on massive FBI files and on close to a hundred interviews with Oppenheimer's friends, relatives, and colleagues.

Pageboy by Elliot Page (read by Elliot Page)

“Can I kiss you?” It was two months before the world premiere of Juno, and Elliot Page was in his first ever queer bar. The hot summer air hung heavy around him as he looked at her. And then it happened. In front of everyone. A previously unfathomable experience. Here he was on the precipice of discovering himself as a queer person, as a trans person. Getting closer to his desires, his dreams, himself, without the repression he’d carried for so long. But for Elliot, two steps forward had always come with one step back.

With Juno’s massive success, Elliot became one of the world’s most beloved actors. His dreams were coming true, but the pressure to perform suffocated him. He was forced to play the part of the glossy young starlet, a role that made his skin crawl, on and off set. The career that had been an escape out of his reality and into a world of imagination was suddenly a nightmare.

As he navigated criticism and abuse from some of the most powerful people in Hollywood, a past that snapped at his heels, and a society dead set on forcing him into a binary, Elliot often stayed silent, unsure of what to do. Until enough was enough.

Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher (read by Jennifer Blom)

There's a princess trapped in a tower. This isn't her story.

Meet Toadling. On the day of her birth, she was stolen from her family by the fairies, but she grew up safe and loved in the warm waters of faerieland. Once an adult though, the fae ask a favor of Toadling: return to the human world and offer a blessing of protection to a newborn child. Simple, right?

But nothing with fairies is ever simple.

Centuries later, a knight approaches a towering wall of brambles, where the thorns are as thick as your arm and as sharp as swords. He's heard there's a curse here that needs breaking, but it's a curse Toadling will do anything to uphold…

#audiobooks #library resources #libby app #new books #reading recommendations #reading recs #book recommendations #book recs #library books #tbr #tbrpile #to read #booklr #book tumblr #book blog #library blog #readers advisory

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starwrittenfates · 16 days ago

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And that was exactly like Lara didn't want to get married or liked the idea of her father's idea of an arranged marriage to begin with. Not only was everyone already eyeing her for the precious Elder Blood and the possibilities it carried, but for the child she could bring forth with it along with her title. She knew the symbol of hope it would hold for their people, but Lara wanted to be more than that.

For starters, she wanted to be her own person too. Not just the Princess of the Aen Elle, or the Elder Blood, but Lara. She had to hide the feeling of wanting to cringe at Crevan's words of confirmation.

Green eyes went wide, looking up at him when he mentioned teaching a human magic. ❝ Are you sure that's a wise thing to do? What--what if this human turns and uses it against his own, forbide the rest of our kin still stuck on that continent and other world? ❞ However, the look of disbelief on her face only grew. ❝ You want me to meet this Cregennan of Lod, don't you? If my father ever found this all out...❞

But when had she ever been one for listening to him? Perhaps it was time she stopped it completely. And again, she was determined for him to not find out a thing. They had to keep up the act of pretending everything was okay and going smoothly.

"And Ge'els..." He added, folding his hands behind his back and doing his best to keep his face as passive as possible. "Imlerith, Nithral and well... I suppose the shorter list would be 'who doesn't want to marry you' I can't think of anyone in their right mind who wouldn't." Although he supposed their reasons for wanting to marry her were vastly different from his ideals of a marriage with Lara. He loved Lara for her soul, and they wanted her for the status she could give them. Sweet. Her father certainly wouldn't think so. "I'm careful. I know that I shouldn't, Lara, but healing a dh'oine child and watching the smile on their face as they walk for the first time... I can't sit by and do nothing when my magic can do that for them." "One of them is exceptionally talented for a human. We have a deal, he and I. I teach him magic, and he teaches the others. Nobody will ever know it came from me. Most important he learns magic to help his people, and he doesn't flinch at a pointed ear. I believe that we both want the same thing." He only hoped that he was not making a terrible mistake that would come back on their people later on down the road. "Cregennan of Lod they call him. I think that you would like him, Lara."

#mysteriouself #𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄 ⟫ Lara Dorren #VERSE ;; The Tragedy of the Elder Blood (The Witcher)#✨ 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐔𝐄 || our destiny is in the stars ✨

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thesvnsins · 3 years ago

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{Prologue}

Genre: angst, fantasy

Warnings: kidnapping, dragons, separating from family, a little family drama.

Wordcount: 2.4k

A/n: okay so this is my first series. Don't know what to expect(?)

Be my Treasure | Next

Your feet dragged you through the hallways of your palace. Everything was already set. The weather was clear and the sun was shining brightly. The guests had already arrived. The food was already prepared. The wedding gown was sitting perfectly on you.

The wedding.

Your wedding.

A ceremony that binds the groom and bride together. Forever. Something special for both of them. Something that makes their hearts bloom....so why aren't you able to feel anything?

It's not your day. It was supposed to be your sister's day. It was Lara's wedding. And yet here you are, preparing to walk down the aisle and become one with the person she was supposed to be with.

Royalty is such a cruel path.

Your parents had worked hard to find the perfect husband. A princess and a king. The ceremony would unite you to him making you the queen of his kingdom.

But not his heart.

Your sister had specially given you her most adorned jewellery for this day. The royal circlet. Only the highest-ranked people in the family were allowed to wear it.

You weren't supposed to wear it. It's only worn on the wedding day of the crown princess. You are not the crown princess. You never were.

You were summoned ten minutes ago, informing you about the beginning of your wedding ceremony.

Typically, it would be held in the royal church with a minimum audience, sealing the deal in front of the families. But since the king liked the outdoors, the wedding was also being held in the royal gardens with more than required people.

That's where you were headed to. The royal gardens. A place where you spend most of your childhood with your sister. Playing with her. Laughing with her. But now all the happiness was going to get crushed under your king's commands.

When a princess is married to a king, he takes over the princess's kingdom as a sign of dominance and power. Taking the crown and making it his own. Stealing it. Claiming it as his. A centuries-old tradition of your kingdom.

Said tradition is going to happen to you. Caelum isn't a very big kingdom and you might not be the crown heir but being the princess of an independent kingdom was one of your dignities which you carried with pride.

Covering your face with the thick veil you enter through the heavy metal doors, introducing you to the new setup arranged in the gardens.

The chairs are placed in proper rows and the orchestra is playing a beautiful melody for your arrival. The guests all are standing up from their seats, some smiling, some clapping.

A big floral arch was straight in your view with white and pink roses, just like the bouquet you were holding. Your eyes land on the person in front of the arch.

The king.

Your king.

Or that's what he is supposed to be.

You have been trying so hard to have any sort of feelings for him but it always comes back to your emotions and not the title of his position.

He is wearing proper regal attire with a sword clasping close to his waist. His smile is wide and gorgeous, but not welcoming.

He has always been known for his looks more than his victories. But you don't find him quite attractive as your friends had suggested. Or was it because you don't feel anything for him. You don't even know his name, how did your parents think you can love someone without knowing a single speck about them.

After today, you will be his and would have to follow all his rules, all his regulations and all his orders. Nothing yours. Nothing of your own. You won't be allowed to make any decisions or be given any choices.

Just him and his rules.

You start walking as the pianist hits the crescendo. The guests smile while looking at the bride, all fake. They all know it's meaningless.

Everything is fake. They always have two faces. One for show and the other which shows the real person. This is all for show.

Always have been. You rarely get to meet a genuine person. Even your own family makes you question them sometimes.

At least they are not able to see who is behind the veil. They don't know. Would never know. If it's you or Lara.

You reach to the handsome king and he gently takes your left hand and kisses the top of it.

"You're looking beautiful, my princess" he compliments you but his words somehow make shives of fear run through your spine.

Princess.

His princess.

More like a caged bird kept as a trophy. Used as a souvenir to show off. Making them believe that he had won you. Conquered you.

His smile, his touch, his presence all make you feel cold. So cold. Is this going to be your life? You can't spend a lifetime with someone who makes you feel numb but one look at your parent's face twists your thoughts completely.

They both look so happy, looking at their daughter getting married and having a settled life. Getting to have stability in the kingdom and their lives, who wouldn't want that.

The officiant starts to speak the seven holy vows made by the bride and groom which binds them together in divine matrimony.

The vow of Communication

The vow of Support

The vow of Respect

The vow of Protection

The vow of Vulnerability

The vow of Trust

The vow of Love

You know he won't obey any of these vows as he is the king, he treats everyone as his housekeeper, let it be his family members too.

Your eyes roam around your surroundings for one last time. Looking at them through a filtered white layer. Remembering each detail - the view of lavender flowers lined up against each other, the listless flow of the river Meraki through your gardens, the little passage it created through your gardens to water the plants themselves, your parent's proud faces. Your parents. The king and the queen of Caelum.

But your sister was nowhere to be seen. Maybe hidden in her room or the library with her lover.

Everything suddenly seemed so surreal. You were just a princess - walking around the palace halls, playing with your friends, enjoying your life - and suddenly you were going to get married. But when the reality hit you, you couldn't stop but close your eyes and breath still to calm yourself. How you grew up here and now you have to leave it all behind just for the sake of a deal.

A deal with no respect, no independence, no love.

Nothing.

The officiant's voice brings you back as he asks you to answer his question with an 'I do'. The king looked at you with gleaming eyes awaiting your reply. If eyes could speak, his would confess greed. Hungry for power and not for love. Burning for authority and not respect. How could someone be so lifeless?

Your parents waited for your answer. Even the guests seemed interested. Dying to know when the 'crown princess' will answer the king with a charming smile.

Suddenly the open environment felt suffocating to you. Were you ready to give your life to someone you never knew just for the sake of strength? Were you ready to respect someone who you knew would cheat behind your back? Were you ready to love him just for the sake of a promise?

But before you could give any reply, high pitched screams were heard from the other side of the palace. Servants screamed and many came running into the gardens.

Your father went to one of them, "What happened?" he asked, terrified by the look on the servents face.

"The da-drag..." But they couldn't get much out due to the lack of oxygen. Your father turns towards you his eyes filled with tears as if full of regret or was it fear?

You couldn't understand.

He ordered a few guards something and they all started to run with him to the other side of the palace.

The king abruptly held both of your upper arms tightly making you look at him, "Just say yes Lara and it would be done!" he screams, still wanting an answer. An answer. An authority that only you could give him. Authority over you and your kingdom. But you couldn't get anything out of your mouth. As if you froze on spot. You are not Lara. How could you answer?

You could never answer.

Lara could never answer.

The guests and your relatives started running in different directions, trying to hide from something you didn't know.

Before you could ask anyone the reason for this frenzy your mother held your wrists tightly

"Come on, just get in! Be safe!" her voice cracked mid-sentence but that didn't stop her as she ran with you towards the palace.

The king shouted behind you about something like 'missing a great opportunity' but you didn't halt your steps, you felt good running away from him but still didn't understand the reason behind the shouts and screams.

But before you could get inside the palace threshold, a big silhouette covered the grounds. The sky was clear, you saw it this morning. The clouds don't move that quickly. You didn't realise when your mother stopped, neither the shouts were audible nor the guests were visible.

The shadow moved and that's when you realised that it wasn't a cloud. Your eyes slowly moved towards the sky and all you could see was a dark purple body of a huge winged creature you never saw or read about.

The creature moved its wings in a powerful stoke which lead to you and your mother stumbling. As you fell, the circlet tiara adorning your forehead also dropped.

You moved quickly to get it as it was studded with the most important royal jewel, a Painite.

As you gripped the tiara close to you, you felt a strong presence behind you.

But before you could turn and look behind you, two very sharp claws held you by your upper arms and you felt your feet being elevated off the grounds.

Many screams and desperate pleas of your mother and sister were heard by you. You started twisting and swivelling but his strong limbs held you so tightly, you could feel your skin being pierced by his nails.

All you could do was scream and shout at the top of your lungs as their figure became shorter and shorter.

You didn't even dare to look up, too scared of the creature who was holding you. Your lips trembled as tears poured out of your eyes. The pain given by his claws was too much for you to take.

Its powerful wings flapped and spiked through the air as it moved further away from your home. All you could do was just stare in disbelief.

It was your wedding day. You had just walked down the aisle and now you were being held by a mystical creature that was taking you to God knows where.

A small part of your brain was somehow glad. Now you don't have to marry an obnoxious king. But looking at the bigger picture, you were being held by a monster in mid-air. One slip and you will be quiet forever.

You hadn't noticed how fast your heart was beating until now. Your breathing was slightly increased and uneven. A single drop of sweat trickled by your hairline to your brow.

Fear.

You were never afraid of anything but right now the fear of not ever meeting your family combined with the fear of death made you hysterical.

That thought made you adjust your shoulders a little bit. That might have provoked something as the beast flared its nostrils and clenched his claws more tightly.

You noticed creeks of blood seeping out of the jabbed claws on your forearm. It wasn't burning very much or maybe the adrenaline wasn't letting you sense it.

After a while, you finally found the courage to take a good look at your captivator. Through your position, you weren't able to define much of its feature but you were able to see the shiny purple-coloured scales in the sunlight.

It had a long neck and scales all over its skin. Its head had two long regal shaped horns. Its back supported its huge wings.

The most striking feature this animal had were its eyes. They weren't any usual colour but were the colour of amethyst. They gleamed in the sunlight. They looked so magical that you almost forgot you were flying high up in the sky.

Your eyes roamed to his limbs and you saw two arrows stabbed in his front limbs, through which it held you.

Its blood wasn't clearly evident but the glint of the red liquid made it clear that the arrows were deep in his skin. You looked down and couldn't help but be captivated by the view beneath you.

The Meraki river was flowing gently through the woods and the trees were standing tall. Their leaves covered most of the ground and rare open patches of land were visible with a few houses. Not many people were residing there.

Suddenly a thought occurred to you. You have studied in your earlier years that a few houses meant that the area was barely habitable or uninhabitable at all. Not many residents meant you were at the edge of the habitable province.

"Where are you taking me?!" you shouted at the creature but got nothing in response.

You wiggled a bit as you knew it aggravated it and that it did. But you didn't get any information instead it clenched its claws more deeply into your forearms making you whimper in return.

It was foolish of you. To even try to talk to an animal who has probably never seen civilisation.

The sun was slowly starting to set. The shadow of this animal was constantly on you so you weren't able to feel much of the afternoon sun's heat.

But now as the sun started to move west, you secretly prayed that it didn't. You have no idea what would happen to you once there is no light for you to survive in. The moonlight won't be sufficient for you.

You don't know where this creature was taking you but the rush of cold that ran down your spine was one indication that things aren't going to be the same anymore.

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@dayrin085

#be my treasure #bts #bangtan seonyeondan #bts fanfiction #fantasy #romance #bts fantasy au #bts romance #jeon jungkook #jungkook smut #jungkook fluff #jungkook fanfic #bangtan #bts fanfic #bangtan fanfic

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justanothersimsblog · 6 months ago

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Summary: Ibis’ childhood cont

At 11 Ibis got his first girlfriend, a girl from his class named Anna, because his older siblings got in relationships too and that made it cool. Ulene inadvertently told Ibis that the house rule for girls was that they (he and Katra) had to meet them first before they could spend time over. Kiki couldn’t stand her so she was happy when they finally broke up later.

Another trip! This time the family went to Monte Vista. Both Ari and Eti now had boyfriends who also tagged along in this trip. Ulene rented a big house for the 11 of them. They met an old fae, Agatha, who recognized the pink hair. They discovered that she was related to them, sort of, she identified herself as the adoptive mother of a Lewis Notte, which was the family’s last name in Bridgeport. Lara changed it and then adopted Deadwyler after marrying Alan. Lewis didn’t have pink hair but his wife did and Agatha had a picture of them. Also during this trip Ibis met Francesca, who believed him to be 15 instead of almost 13. When Ulene found out he made him tell the truth which obviously meant she didn’t want to see him anymore. Before the trip ended Ulene and Ibis had a little chat about the responsibility of having a Pink haired heir.

Ibis’ more rebellious years begin. Before he’d broken rules and gotten punished but now he started taking things to new extremes. He got his piercings, eventually got his tattoos, started smoking, and making more drinks and the drugs him and his friends (Kiki and Pubert) would smoke. He didn’t care that he was breaking his mom’s biggest rule of absolutely no drugs or smoking. He also tried to date Kiki, and they hooked up for a bit, but when he wanted to take a step further she said no and everything ended.

10th grade and over the summer Ibis came up with a ridiculous plan that would end with him getting laid. His friends laughed when he told them and assured him they’d help but it wasn’t going to work. “No girl would fall for something so stupid!”. Well, one did. Ibis started ‘tutoring’ girls, first having lunch at school, then taking them home for dinner with the family so everyone would get a chance to meet, and finally ending in his room where he did everything he could to not open a book. Taia fell, hard, for him, and so their non-relationship relationship started. Saylor, Taia’s best friend, was vocally against this and even intimidated Ibis with her half-demon powers, but he took it in good stride because he had no intention of causing any harm. Because he lied he got grounded and punished, but he kept sneaking around to see her, and the whole thing started a vicious cycle. His mom was also on his ass for smoking which also kept extending his punishments. At the end of the year his school work had suffered so much due to absences that he had two choices, all boys military school, or Yinera Ealin Academy for genius occults.

He chose the Academy. He boarded there in Moonlight Falls for the last two years of high school\, where he made new friends and ‘dated’ new interesting girls. His roommate Kayne (and his brother Kale) became his new best friends, along with twins Emma and Grace. Emma was a frequent visitor of Ibis’ bed while Grace dated Kayne. Ibis also secretly ‘dated’ prom queen, class president, and actual fairy princess Ella, and a bunch of other girls, much to her distaste.

Ibis returned home to a Graduation party where everyone, even from neighboring towns, attended. Benny finally sealed the deal with girlfriend Gen, Timmy found some courage and did his first magic show performance in front of a crowd, Blaze and her new buddies escaped town after killing a guy right outside the venue, and Ibis hooked up with Taia after not having seen her for two years. Then it was off to college for Benny and Timmy, but off to travel the world for Ibis. With either friends (Kayne mostly) or family (his grandma Lara) he went to many cities around the world and had fun. He even visited his siblings in college.

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simshousewindsor · 8 months ago

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OPENING CLOSURE

[St Leo Chapel, Easton, Windenburg 5:37 PM WST]

Queen Katherine: Thank you guys for coming to the final rehearsal with me today. My first Garter Day and I'm beyond nervous.

Princess Lara: There's no other place I'd want to be... plus, I like getting a peek of the seating chart! (laughs)

Queen Rowena: Oh, Lara!

Princess Lara: Mom, I'm kidding!

Queen Katherine: The last time we were inside the chapel for garter day was with daddy, before it closed for renovations. The castle and chapel are both opening for the first time without him.

Princess Lara: He loved Garter Day!

Queen Rowena: (somber) He surely did.

Princess Lara: You doing okay, mom?

Queen Rowena: (somber) I am... just so many memories over the years coming back. I remember being pregnant with you, Lara, during the 96' ceremony and now here you are, married and pregnant!

Queen Katherine: Remember the year Lord Summerlin was invested?

Princess Lara: Yes! He fell flat on his face while kneeling!

All: (laughs)

Queen Rowena: At the 95' ceremony, The Lord King of Mayfair was so drunk that he threw up walking down the stairs, as the members departed.

Princess Lara: What?

Queen Rowena: He threw up again in the carriage ride back to the castle!

All: (laughs)

Queen Katherine: We should go. They will come in shortly wondering why we're still here.

Princess Lara: I still can't get over The Lord King of Mayfair throwing up down the stairs! What did daddy do?

Queen Rowena: We were already on the carriage and weren't informed until later. I remember he was quite angry, though. It was very hot that year, too! It's all the press talked about.

Princess Lara: (laughs) Absolutely hilarious!

Queen Rowena: I am so proud of you two! Daddy would be, too. This has been a very challenging two years for us, with losing dad and picking up the pieces, to Kate now being crowned. I know it's been hard and I want you both to know how much I love you.

Queen Katherine: We love you too, mommy! I am happy this chapter is coming to a close.

Princess Lara: Not before my baby is born!

All: (laughs)

Queen Rowena: (pointing) Oh! A bird flew through those windows one year.

Princess Lara: A bird?

Queen Rowena: A bird! The ceremony had just begun.

Queen Rowena: They had to replace two of the window panes. If you look closely you can see the two panes that are different from the rest.

Princess Lara: Did the bird die?

Queen Rowena: The bird lived.

Queen Katherine: Well, that was a good omen.

Previous | Beginning | Next - continue Heir Ascent (story)

Previous | Beginning | Next - continue Consort Redemption (story)

Previous | Beginning | Next - continue Second Place Countess (story)

#simshousewindsor #simshousewindsor ts4 #simshousewindsor monarchy #simshousewindsor simblr #simshousewindsor story #ts4 #sims 4 simblr #ts4 royalty #sims 4 story #sims 4 royal family #sims 4 monarchy #ts4 story #simshousewindsor royalty #the sims 4 royalty #sims 4 royalty #ts4 simblr #simblr #ts4 royal simblr #the sims 4

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elderbloodcarrier · 2 years ago

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@caelmewedd continued from X

Lara’s eyes started to soften, glancing back over at the sage again with her daughter, realizing how similar in thinking her and Avallac’h were. She didn’t want to be in an arranged marriage to someone who was just doing it because they were told to. Just like her own father and mother, Lara wanted to marry someone she loved and to also be loved in return.

Green eyes now looked wide at her father, hearing his heartfelt apology. The princess nodded before bitting her lip, thinking over his previous statement. If this would be her first shot at finally getting to speak with her father honestly, then Lara would tell Auberon all that had been bothering her heart. “Then may I first start by asking...what do you do if you can’t marry the one you love?” She tried to hold back the sobs threatening to escape, but was unable to, feeling like a young girl again seeking comfort from her father. “The man I love is dead. There is nothing I can do to change that except to watch over our daughter and raise her the best I can, but...” Lara wiped at her tears, struggling to find the words through her grief. “How did you manage without mother?”

#caelmewedd #ic. Lara Dorren #v; Lara Survives

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bloededhoine · 4 years ago

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world building cause twn doesn't part 12: the hen ichaer

i realize i've been mentioning the hen ichaer without really explaining it, and for that i apologize. but without further ado, let's go

colour code cause i fucking love colour codes - already happened/introduced, probably s2, important background info, stuff that might be in the prequel, extras

series masterpost

general

the hen ichaer is basically a magical gene that originated with the elven sorceress, scholar, and princess, lara dorren aep shiadhal

it can lie dormant or inactive for generations, but when someone is an activated carrier of the gene, they are called a source

sources have an insane capability for magic, it's so intense that without instruction they are a huge danger to themselves and/or others. remember pavetta's betrothal feast? hurricanes should not happen indoors

same thing with ciri's sonic scream.

obviously, the hen ichaer is highly weaponize-able, but it's difficult to put this into theory since the magic is so strong that it can easily kill the person who carries it

most important is that the hen ichaer can open ard gaeth, the gates between worlds. you may remember that the witcher is a multiverse, and the continent is just one of countless worlds

aen elle

the aen elle, elves who live in another world called tir ná lia, controlled at least one gate that they used to get slaves from other worlds

however, this was before the hen ichaer was seriously studied. unicorns are also capable of opening ard gaeth, and were present in tir ná lia, so the aen elle would kidnap them to be used as their world-hopping-genocide key. yeah, the aen elle are seriously fucked

the king of the aen elle was named auberon muircetach, and he was very well known for his wars with the unicorns, who weren't too keen on being enslaved for the purpose of conquering other worlds

the hen ichaer came into play when auberon noticed that his daughter, lara dorren, had pretty intense magical abilities. like, ard gaeth opening abilities.

auberon, lara, and a few other elves began studying the gene and trying to figure out how it works and how to use it.

through this study is how we got the title aen saevherne, which is used to distinguish an elven mage with extensive knowledge of history, science, magic, and, most importantly, the elder blood.

both lara and auberon were aen saevherne, as was lara's husband-to-be, avallac'h, and avallac'h's foster son, caranthir ar-feiniel

ithlinne's prophecy

ithlinne aegli aep aevenien was an elven prophet known for her incredibly dark prophecies that she delivered at totally random times. how dark were they? ithlinne's prophecies were almost exclusively about the death of all humanity and/or the end of the world. she was fun at parties.

anyway, when we talk about ithlinne we really only mean one specific prophecy, aen ithlinnespeath. to be confusing it's usually referred to as ithlinne's prophecy

here's the prophecy itself:

Verily I say unto you, the era of the sword and axe is nigh, the era of the wolf's blizzard. The Time of the White Chill and the White Light is nigh, the Time of Madness and the Time of Contempt: Tedd Deireádh, the Time of End. The world will die amidst frost and be reborn with the new sun. It will be reborn of Elder Blood, of Hen Ichaer, of the seed that has been sown. A seed which will not sprout but burst into flame. Ess'tuath esse! Thus it shall be! Watch for the signs! What signs these shall be, I say unto you: first the earth will flow with the blood of Aen Seidhe, the Blood of Elves...

what does that mean? well, the white chill (aka the white frost) is a massive ice age that has been approaching the continent for years. don't believe me? the white frost has destroyed countless worlds in the past, and it literally cannot be stopped. the only way to save the world is by the power of the hen ichaer.

here's a perfectly frightening visual of the white frost

ithlinne didn't elaborate on the how, but we now know that the only to survive the white frost is by finding a new world and massively evacuating the continent through ard gaeth, which can only be opened by the power of the hen ichaer.

genetics

clearly, the hen ichaer is important enough to literally save, or end, the world, but the aen elle did a famously terrible job of studying it. like, you'd think they'd be good at that, but no. to their credit, it is a bit complicated

first, there are multiple types of elder blood genes, the main gene, the latent gene, and the activator gene. to actually show the powers of the hen ichaer, someone would need to either have one latent and one activator, or the main gene.

let's go back to secondary school biology for a second, remember punnet squares? these fuckers

the letters in a punnet square represent a genotype, or the two alleles that are inherited from the parents. phenotypes, on the other hand, are what you see on the outside. for example, a genotype would be Aa but a phenotype would be brown eyes.

while the main gene is a simple dominant allele (shown by a capital letter on a punnet square), both the latent and activator genes are semi-dominant, meaning that when they meet they create a new phenotype: the innate magical ability that makes you a source.

it gets a little less scientific here so bear with me; this new phenotype is so powerful that it sometimes creates a whole new genotype. so instead of having one activator gene and one latent gene, the two would merge and you'd be left with only one (very powerful) main gene. this is the only single gene that actually has magic and it's a dominant gene, so you only need to have one to have the power.

but, the latent and activator genes don't always combine. you still have the full powers when they stay separate, but it is then less likely to pass the hen ichaer your children.

complicated? very much so. but in practice it's a lot easier.

for simplicity's sake i'll call the activator gene g/a, latent gene g/L, main gene g/m and a regular nonmutated gene g/r. to be a source, the genes you inherit would be g/a g/L, but they may combine to be just g/m. your average person would be g/r g/r and a carrier would be either g/a g/r or g/L g/r.

clearly, this makes tracking it pretty messy, since generations of people can be carriers without having a single source

tracking the hen ichaer

for now, let's do what those elven sages couldn't and track then hen ichaer, starting with lara dorren

eventually, lara met an exceptionally talented human mage, cregennan of lod, and they were lab partners (oh my god they were lab partners) in the study of the hen ichaer.

for all the studying, lara and cregennan's own genes have always been something of a mystery. elven mages don't tend to have any issues with using themselves as lab rats, so it's entirely possible that lara and cregennan, knowingly or not, mutated their own genes in their research.

ultimately, it doesn't matter what lara and cregennan's genes originally were. by some happy little accident, the two eventually ended up with at least one activator gene and at least one latent gene between them.

later, when lara and cregennan made their own happy little accident, riannon, she inherited one of each gene (g/a g/L), making her a source. however, riannon's genes did not combine as the elves expected, which made her a little harder to study.

riannon eventually met king goidemar of temeria (g/r g/r), and they had two children named fiona and amavet. i'll start with fiona, who the aen elle managed to figure out had the latent gene, making her g/L r

fiona ended up having a baby with king coram II of cintra (g/r g/r), they named him corbett, and he inherited fiona's g/L and one of coram's g/r.

the aen elle lost track of the hen ichaer when they studied riannon's other kid amavet. see, amavet was kind of a whore. he had twins, muriel and crispin, with the married countess anna kameny. obviously, these children weren't legitimate, and when the angry count kameny murdered amavet a few months later, he was officially childless

the elves did, however, manage to figure out that amavet had riannon's g/a gene and goidemar's g/r gene. anna kameny was just g/r g/r, and crispin ended up being g/r g/r as well. destiny does favour the hen ichaer, but sometimes it's just not meant to be. muriel, on the other hand, did inherit her father's activator gene and was g/a g/r.

let's hop back to corbett, fiona and coram's g/L g/r son. he and princess elen of kaedwen (g/r g/r) had a son, dagorad, who got corbett's latent gene and one of elen's regular ones, meaning he was g/L g/r

muriel married robert of garramore (g/r g/r), and their daughter adalia, the dramatically posed lady right there, had the same genetic combination as her mother, g/a g/r

this is where it gets even weirder

the lovely adalia married dagorad. her second cousin. they shared riannon as their great grandmother. feel better in the fact that it was not intentional, adalia's mother, muriel, was not officially riannon's granddaughter. no one would have even known, but adalia's g/a met up with dagorad's g/L in their daughter, calanthe

for the first time since riannon, the hen ichaer was back, and calanthe's parents genes combined to give her g/m g/r

while it took generations of destiny and accidental incest to make the hen ichaer happen again, now that calanthe had the main gene there was a 50% chance she would pass it to her child, which, of course, she did

calanthe and her husband roegner (g/r g/r) had pavetta, who inherited the g/m from her mother. no one knew about this until pavetta literally created a source hurricane, and was already pregnant

pavetta and duny's (g/r g/r) daughter, ciri, inherited the main gene from her mother and was a source.

sources

it's important to note that a source is not necessarily an incredibly powerful sorcerer, merely a person who has the genetic predisposition required to channel very intense magic

sources, like anyone else, can be bad students, allergic to potions, or just generally averse to magic on all levels except heredity. there is also no way to guarantee that even the most willing source will be good at using magic, in fact it's far more common that they will be really really bad at it. sources are extra susceptible to the chaotic state of magic in the world, and many end up pretty seriously harmed by it.

magical talent tends to make itself known in very emotional situations, like the death of a parent or a war. the same applies for sources, but they have an extra rule: their full powers are off limits until they lose their virginities

now, netflix has not mentioned that rule to be true or false, but i'm going to think of it as strictly book/game/etc canon, because ciri is 10 years old when netflix shows her using her source powers for the first time

the virginity rule makes things even more complicated, as customs about premarital sex are pretty strict in the witcher world (well, among nobility), and the dudes didn't seem to have fast reflexes. what i'm saying is that getting pregnant the first time you had sex was not uncommon. sources couldn't even use, and likely weren't aware of, their powers until they were already passing them on to another generation.

and even still, there is no guarantee that someone who is a source will ever actually show their powers. calanthe had the genetics, but she wasn't a mage. what happened? we don't really know. after calanthe married, cintra was pretty peaceful; there were no invasions or massive upheavals that could put enough stress on her to show her powers. plus, her parents didn't know she had any magical powers, so they didn't give her the training that would develop them, and she was a very level headed person who would likely be unaffected by many of the things that would make another source lose their shit.

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drwcn · 3 years ago

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Corie me realized that being a princess is a job w/ heavy responsibility is what finally made young me decide to not want the be-a-princess . It went from the classical not want due to internalized misogyny of what the stereotypical media portrayals are🤢 》 learning and connecting the dots that a princess is the child of leader thus learning to lead 🤔so they do have power sign-me-up-for-that》 to what that's some heavy responsibility for A LOT of people I think nah on getting a crown😶‍🌫️. Like young me went nah to want to be a princess so hard bc of the responsibilities to the point that when someone ask if I want to marry a prince to become a princess, I would say I want to marry a baker bc free and unlimited bread😅. Like when I saw royal conflicts of wanting the crown, western flavored, I would be like could not be me and asked why the lower ranking royals could just not peace out w/ their lowered responsibilities and their access to finery. So when I decovered in asian dramas that their were some royals that were like ✌️imma just do my own thing and not invite drama and more work✌️. I was like "Finally people who get it! I have never felt more connected to characters that are fine in middle management/being a spare/extra linage!"

where is the lie. all these hos be like emperor sempai notice me, and im just here like why? the best is to marry a well-off cousin of the emperor, someone who's not ambitious and not too stupid, who kinda just chills and dont get involved in drama. because that way yeah you won't have all the power and money under the sun, but you get to live a comfortable life, and no chance of losing your head over some stupid political scheme.

when i was a kid i wanted to be an archeologist. i think i watched too many of those angelina jolie lara croft and indiana jones type movies. but then i grew up and realized i don't want to a) spend any time under the sun that's not on a beach with a margarita in my hand or b) look at pieces of ancient turd under a microscope.

#corie replies

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ariel-seagull-wings · 3 years ago

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TOP 12 PORTRAYALS OF RAPUNZEL

@princesssarisa @sunlit-music @superkingofpriderock @mademoiselle-princesse @amalthea9 @theancientvaleofsoulmaking @astrangechoiceoffavourites @notyouraveragejulie @tilthenextbluemoon @giuliettaluce

Rapunzel, Rapunzel: lay down your hair so i can climb the golden stair!

These are the words to call the lady named after a vegetable, so one can climb her hair and visit the tower where she is kept prisoner. At the same time that she is known for her exotic name and very long hair, personality wise Rapunzel tends to get very underestimated. Some adaptations gaved her a pretty passive role, and pop culture parodies would usually paint her as “just a girl who cries for the Prince to save her”, downplaying the inteligence and resilience to adapt into harsh situations that she showed in the original Brothers Grimm’s tale. So today, i will share my twelve favorite portrayals of the long haired heroine, that showed respect to her, gaved her carisma and made justice to her strenghts.

12º The version from ‘The Story of Rapunzel’ (1951)

At the start of his career as a stop motion animator, Ray Harryhausen made, with the collaboration of his relatives, a series of shorts based on fairy tales. Those shorts were ‘The Mother Goose Stories’, ‘The Tortoise and The Hare’, ‘The Story of Rapunzel’, ‘The Story of Hansel and Gretel’, ‘The Story of Little Red Riding Hood’ and ‘The Story of King Midas’ (when this tale started to be taken out of greek mythology and be perceived as a medieval fairy tale in the public conscience), where the characters were silent and the voice was given to a narrator. This encarnation of Rapunzel is more on the naive and passive spectrum, but i like her design and the fact she is animated in stop motion, plus the short is historically significant for being one of the early atempts to adapt her tale , and that’s why she has a place on this ranking.

11º The version from Simsala Grimm (1999)

In this german-french, two plushies, Yoyo and Doc Croc, receive life from a magic book to have adventures inside the Brother’s Grimm tales. They go to the tale of Rapunzel and help her and Prince Egmond get together. This encarnation of Rapunzel is kept as both prisoner and apprentice of Frau Gothel, who wants to turn the young woman into a mean spirited sorceress like her. But Rapunzel can only make spells that create pretty and merry things, like squirrels and birds. It’s a nice touch of humour, and that grants her the Eleventh Place at this ranking.

10º Mackenzie Mauzy in Disney’s Into the Woods (2014)

This movie as a whole is a weak adaptation of the now classic Broadway stage musical. But it had some enjoyable elements, one of them being Mackenzie Mauzy’s performance as Rapunzel. Mauzy has a short time on screen, but in that short time she brings beauty, grace, melancholy and anger to the role, and this makes it stand out enough to be the Tenth Place in this ranking.

09º Linda Purl in Timeless Tales from Hallmark (1990-91)

Timeless Tales from Hallmark was a direct to video series that had a live action hosted by Olivia Newton John and animated segments showing the fairy tale of the day, animated by the Hannah-Barbera studio. Purl’s Rapunzel is the romantic dreamer archetype, who sings her wish to be free. She has two encounters with the Prince before getting caught by the Witch Scarlotta, having her hair cutted and exiled to the distant woods. She reunites with the Prince, who has been turned into a blue bird (i see what you did there, screenwriters), and breaks the spell over him with her tears. She should smell more onions to cry and bottle those tears, that can be very usefull.

08º Tisha Campbell in Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (1995)

In the bayous of Louisiana, Rapunzel is taken from her parents by Zenobia the Hoodoo Diva (played by Whoopi Goldberg, by the way), who seeks to make her a protege and shows her such neat tricks as voodoo dolls and shrinking her head down. Rapunzel is reluctant to do this when she sees Zenobia is hurting innocent creatures. Rapunzel soon attracts a handsome Creole prince, who must rescue Rapunzel and reunite her with her parents, but Zenobia seeks to thwart the interloper. One of the first african-american portrayals, this kind yet rebellious encarnation is a refreshing take on the character, and that is why she takes the Eight Place here.

07º Mandy Moore in Disney’s Tangled (2010)

After her mother dranked a tea made of a magical flower, Rapunzel was born with a magical hair that is able to heal any desease and rejuvenate anyone who touches it. Because of that, she was kidnapped and emprisoned in a Tower by Gothel, who raises Rapunzel to be insecure and afrayed of the outside world. But her curiosity is more powerfull, and with the guidance of a thief named Flinn Rider, the young lady escapes the Tower and goes on a journey to discover both what is scary and what is beautifull on the outside world with her own eyes, along the way captivating people with her merry and spontaneous personality, wich gives her the Seventh Place on this list.

06º Pamela Winslow Kashani in American Playhouse: Into the Woods (1991)

The lady who originated the role in the Broadway stage musical. Like Mackenzie Mauzy, Pamela Winslow Kashani brings the beauty, the grance, the melancholy and the anger to the role, but with an extra touch of energetic humour, taking advantage of the fact that she is in a stage show and getting intense as possible. That humour in the First Act is what makes her PTSD and tragic death in the Second Act all the more heartbreaking. Plus, she probably has the most beautifull singing voice ever gaved to a Rapunzel encarnation, and sometimes that is enough to earn a place in my rankings.

05º Mitsuko Horie/Lara Cody in Grimm’s Fairy Tale Classics (1988-89)

This encarnation has a tragic backstory, having been forgotten by her parents after they received a memory spell from the Witch and they had three more kids after her. She is raised in the Tower as the Witch’s granddaughter, and develops a great talent to play the harp. Is the sound of that harp that attracts the atention of the Prince, who comes to the tower and conquers Rapunzel’s love. Sadly, when they are making plans on how to take her away from the Tower, the Witch sees the Prince climbing down, so she cuts Rapunzel’s hair and beats her till unconsciousness before exiling the poor young woman in the desert, where she learns to survive while raising the son that she conceived with the Prince, who searches for Rapunzel despite being blinded by thorns.

04º Luisa Wietzorek in Sechs Auf Einen Streich (2009)

This adaptation gives some interesting touches to Rapunzel’s story and character: until age 12, she lived a nomadic life, travelling in Gothel’s donkey pulled cart. But one day Gothel spots Rapunzel talking with a young boy, and decides to lock her in the Tower, where there is a magic golden haircomb that makes Rapunzel’s hair grow to be used as a ladder by her adoptive mother. Years pass, and the destiny brings the Prince, who was the young boy of the pass, to the Tower where the now grown up Rapunzel lives, and she has to face a dilema: continuing to live in the Tower, that brings the feel of comfort and safety, or taking risks and running away to freedom with the Prince she fell in love with.

03º Kelly Sheridan in Barbie as Rapunzel (2002)

This was my first animated adaptation of the fairy tale, and still is my favorite. In this movie, while giving some painting lessons to her little sister, Barbie tells a version of the Rapunzel story to encourage her creativity: kidnapped as a baby by the Witch Gothel, Rapunzel was raised as a house maid, receiving constant verbal mistreatments. But, thanks to her friendship with a rabbit named Hobie and a dragon cub (who still needs to learn how to fly) called Penelope, and her love of painting, the young long haired lady never lets her spirit be broken, always dreaming of someday go to live free in a castle by the sea. One night, she is surprised to find a haircomb that turns into a magic paint brush, wich can make a portal where she can escape and explore the ouside world, and in her first journey, she meets and falls in love with the dashing Prince Stefan, while asking him to not his name to her, because she is afrayed of being forced to tell it to Gothel. And she doesn’t stay long, because she fears that Gothel will get revenge on Hugo, Penelope’s father, for her escape. Talk about having a great sense of altruism, who wouldn’t want to have this lady as their best friend?!

02º Sylvia Wolff in Rapunzel oder Der Zauber der Tränen (1988)

This german TV Movie combines the tale of Rapunzel with another, more obscure tale collected by the Brothers Grimm, called Maid Maleen. In this version, Rapunzel growed up very acustomed to the comfort and rich life provided by the Old Witch, using a magic reel to roll her hair in and make it grow to be used as a latter. Even tough she is in love with Prince Mathias, she is afrayed of going to the outside world. Later, not being enough that the Old Witch discovers her secret, cuts of her hair and blinds Prince Mathias, the King, after learning the existence of a maiden in the tower who becamed the love of his son, orders his troops to search the tower and seal its window, because he wants Mathias to marry another neighbour princess he arranged for him! Fortunally one of the soldiers takes enough pity to let a loose brick so Rapunzel can breath. She tries to use the point reel to scratch the clay that glues the bricks, and after cutting herself in the reel and crying over it, the reel regains magic, floating, opening the bricks, helping her to escape to the outside world and search for her beloved Mathias...

And my Number One favorite portrayal of Rapunzel is:

01º Shelley Duvall in Faerie Tale Theatre (1983)

There were some small changes made in some detailles of the story (radishes replacing rampion to be more familiar with international, non german audiences, insinuation that the Peasants Wife’s craving of the vegetal was a spell purposefully cast by the Witch, Rapunzel being traped in the Tower at adulthood instead of age twelve and a talking parrot/macaw that tells the Witch of the Prince’s visits), but as a whole, this is probably the most faithfull adaptation of the Brothers Grimm tale, and is all the more benefited for it, specially Rapunzel’s character, portrayed by the shows herself, Shelley Duvall. Duvall presented a very sincere passion for the source material, and in her performance, she showed a deep understanding of Rapunzel’s character and why she resonates with so many people: her rebeliousness, her curiosity, her romanticism, her inteligence, her quiet strenght, her resilience and her sense of hope, all of those qualities that the Grimm’s described in their heroine, are all there! When i watch this episode of Faerie Tale Theatre, i don’t see an actress playing a role, i see an icon of my childhood coming to life!

And that is why Shelley Duvall in Faerie Tale Theatre is whom i consider my definitive Rapunzel.

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