#So now it’s like she broke her sword fighting a monster or something

[spikeisawesome456]

I just tried to create a super long, detailed post on the app about a personal fandom art creative project I’m working on, and the app ate it, and now it won’t let me post on the app anymore. I had to log in on the web browser version on my phone to post this. Moral of the story is: don’t trust the Tumblr app. It will eat your long posts and make you cry tears of sadness and tears. :-(

Anyway, here’s one of the pictures I was going to post in the epic post I was going to post. Maybe I’ll rewrite it when I’m on my desktop tomorrow, I dunno. I mostly was writing it for me, I doubt anyone was going to read it, ha. Also, apparently the browser version of Tumblr automatically saves your posts as drafts as you go, while the app version doesn’t??? What the hell, Tumblr. That would have been nice to have before my epic rambling post was eaten by the app, oof.

Anyway. This is Ciri, from The Witcher 3 game. I like customizing Funko Pops sometimes, and after seeing a House of Dragon Funko in Walmart (I think the character was like… Daemon something or other?? I don’t watch HoD, or GoT, so I don’t know who those people are) that reminded me of Geralt, I was like… hm. But that would have been too easy, so I was like, I wonder if I could make Ciri. I’m not done, obviously, I still need to paint her outfit, but hopefully I’ll be able to do that tomorrow and be done then. ^-^

Originally I had then put my entire process this far down, with pictures and everything, but since Tumblr ate it… :-/ Oh wells.

Oh, and here’s the back of her braid. I’m… not the best sculptor in the world, and milliput is not the easiest clay to use, and French braids are a mystery to me when they’re done in hair, let alone a tricky air dry clay, but I think I did a pretty good job considering. Especially considering the first iteration was, uh… not great. But Tumblr ate that, so y’all shan’t see what it looked like, ha.

[sinizade]

B'ella, the Pale Child (Dark Urges Redeemed)

Class: Warlock (Barbarian subclass)

Romance: Bae'Zel

Besties: Scratch / Owlbear / Wyll / Gale / Karlach

One extra egg among all those eggs wouldn't make a difference, nor would they complain about having two extra hands to fight for the "glory" of their queen. This way, the hatching of this egg surprised the elders of that Creche a little, a child as pale as the moon and with eyes as red as blood that possessed a fury worthy of a demon, certainly that child had something inside it, but the Githyanki wouldn't get rid of a healthy child just because of surpestitions based on one of the babies' appearance... But should they?

B'ella was obedient, precise, deadly, her teachers could see and feel the almost insane pleasure she felt every time she beat her opponents in training, every time she made them bleed and beg... Something so... Sadistic... Even for a Githyanki child, it was unusual to have such an appreciation for death and the ways of killing, but then again, they weren't going to get rid of such a dedicated and useful fighter like her just out of superstition.

Her adulthood was only accompanied by an insatiable hunger, B'ella could have had her uses in combat, an animal, a monster, but when her abilities began to affect other Githyanki they finally realized that having her there was no longer safe or suitable for Creche, so in a clear desperate act they tried to contain B'ella, they tried to tame the monster inside her... The Slayer, but that obviously didn't go as they expected and her sadistic, cruel and psychotic fury spread to everyone in that Creche. Every teacher, every warrior, doctor, student, child, egg, all murdered, torn apart in a bloody dance that spread throughout each hall and that was when she heard a voice, a small creature that praised her... A praise that she never found she was going to receive, told her that there was a place where she could be who she really was, where she could know what it was like to have a family that truly admired her for what she did...

That male human, that Enver Gortash, intelligent man. Tasting Gortash, subduing him to her whims was satisfying, but her devotion was only to her creator, to her god, to her father, Bhaal... But everything had been thrown into the trash with the betrayal of that insolent child, that damned and jealous changeling who took her rightful place.

Waking up on a ghaik ship with no memories left her disconcerted, but her focus now was to get out of there and return to her people and achieve purification. Having someone as adept in battle as Lae'Zel made it easier since the rest of her companions with the exception of Karlach left the pale gith with disgust in her mouth regarding combat.

It wasn't so bad being around that bunch of big noses, they entertained her, they seemed to care about her dark desires, not just for them, but also for her? This was new, not even she remembered the last time she received any kind of help (literally)

Lae'Zel... Zhak vo'n'fynh duj... B'ella could barely understand what she felt, she could barely know what she felt, she didn't know or remember that feeling, but with Lae'Zel everything was clear. .. She was her world, her sword, her flame, the source of her joy...

Finding out that she wasn't a child of Gith broke her, even if she managed to hide it well, it destroyed her completely inside, knowing that the years she spent in her Creche, that her "egg", that her life, was a fake life designed by her "father". That wasn't for her, even if it once had been, now it wasn't... B'ella would no longer be a Bhaalspawn, now she would be a child of Gith and follow Orpheus and her beloved Lae'zel into battle against Vlaakith's tyranny

Some extra information about B'ella

Her memory was "reset" to her times at Creche as soon as she lost her memories, before her dark impulses took over.

She has a strange habit of keeping a lock of her enemies' hair for no reason, she just likes to have a memory of good battles, but when the enemy wasn't good enough she just crushes its head (She has a lock of hair with her from the hair of Minthara/ Ketheric/ Raphael)

Even though she appears to be reserved and cold, B'ella is considered TOO romantic when she is with Lae'Zel and only Lae'Zel, only her source of joy can see B'ella that way

[quack-quack-snacks]

Time Will Tell - Chapter 1.28

My Time Will Tell Masterlist

My Cha Hyun-su Masterlist

My Navigation and Masterlist

The Time Will Tell Glossary

Warnings: Mourning, another character death, hostage situation with the gang at the end of Season 1. Word Count: 2,796

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You handed the origami flowers you made with Yeong-su and Su-yeong to Mr. An and he walked over to place it on Jae-heon’s grave. “You died when you should have lived,” he started saying. “And I lived when I should have died.”

Your face remained blank save for the tears that streamed down your cheeks, but your eyes lit up in recognition when you noticed Ji-su had walked in. She walked out just as quickly after seeing Jae-heon’s grave, and you couldn’t blame her. 

You gave each of your siblings a kiss on the head before going after her. 

It didn’t take long to find her since she was only a few rooms down the hallway, but your heart broke when you heard her sobs. They quieted down when she heard your footsteps approach and you kneeled down in front of her. When she saw the sympathy and similar pain in your eyes, she bursted into tears again and you wasted no time in wrapping your arms around her shoulders and bringing her into your embrace. You held her as she sobbed and you let your own tears fall. You knew her pain was much worse, especially since you could see the obvious love the two of them held for each other. You just wished you could help her but it was death. Death wasn’t something you could stop, and it took time to grieve. So even if you couldn’t take away all her pain right now, you would try your best with the comfort you could provide. 

She didn’t fight you physically but she tried to warn you to stay away from her. “I’m nothing but bad luck. Everyone around me dies,” she sobbed and you shushed her. 

“None of that is your fault. Jae-heon would never blame you for his death, and I know that for a fact. Don’t blame yourself for things you cannot control.”

She sighed with a sob at that and you hugged her tighter. 

You were simultaneously surprised and not when Eun-yu walked in. She placed a pack of chocolates in front of the girl next to you with a soft glare. “Eat this. You know you are always ugly, but you really look like shit right now.”

You glared at her and opened your mouth when Ji-su cut you off with the same speech about staying away from her. 

“You want to live, right?” She started. “Just act like you did before. Nothing good will happen if you’re near me,” her voice started to crack. “Get away from me if you want to live,” she sobbed. “I’m nothing but bad luck.”

“Oh jeez,” Eun-yu scoffed and you knew she was about to say something rude. “You really hate yourself, don’t you.”

Called it.

“Everyone around me keeps on dying,” Ji-su started crying again and you stroked her hair softly. “Whether they kill themselves or get killed by monsters-”

“Enjoying your pity party?” Eun-yu interrupted.

“Eun-yu,” you scolded with a glare. She rolled her eyes but you could see the genuine worry in her gaze. 

She slid down the wall and started telling both of you about her story. About how her parents died in a car crash on the way to a ballet recital she wanted to see. How her brother quit medical school to pay for her ballet classes. How he didn’t blame her even when she thought he should have. 

You wanted to hug her too but you knew that would be something she wouldn’t enjoy. 

Once she was done talking, she looked over at the sword she had brought over. It was Jae-heon’s and even though it was partially broken, she still reached over to grab one of Ji-su’s hands and wrap it around the handle. 

“You don’t need to make yourself miserable. Things are bad enough as it is,” she told her before standing up and exiting the bathroom. You watched her go with a warm feeling. Even though she didn’t show it very well, it was clear Eun-yu cared about everyone in this building. 

You had followed Eun-yu out of the bathroom shortly after she left when Ji-su asked you for some space since she just wanted to be alone for a bit. 

Now, about an hour later, you were in the basement with Yeong-su, taking turns watching outside through the binoculars with him. You turned around when you heard footsteps and saw Mr. An and Yi-kyung walk in. Mr. An took a seat next to you on the stone platform and you looked at him. “Halabeoji,” you called, addressing him with the same name Yeong-su and Su-yeong had resorted to calling him by. Yeong-su looked over a little from where he was looking out the window but returned his gaze outside quickly. 

“Let me ask you a favor,” he asked Yi-kyung. “There’s something inside this place. We must find it.”

“Find what?” She asked. 

“I don’t know. An underground tunnel or a bunker or something.”

‘Oh. I guess he wasn’t lying when he was telling that story yesterday when he was drunk,’ you thought to yourself. 

“What do you plan to do?” The woman asked him abruptly. 

“We will use it to hide,” he declared determinedly. “People keep dying. Young people with their whole lives ahead of them are dying. I believe that you’ll survive this. I can tell from your face.”

She looked down before the conversation was cut off by Yeong-su grabbing your attention. 

“Unnie, halabeoji, look.”

You let Mr. An take the binoculars first and look out before he gave them to you. You saw a large army truck driving in the direction of your building and your heart rate sped up. You gave the binoculars to Yi-kyung so she could also see and the looks on all your faces were intense. 

“Is the army coming to rescue us?” Yeong-su asked innocently. The gut feeling told you the answer to his question would be a no but you couldn’t find the courage to say that to him. Instead, you just rubbed his back. 

Mr. An sighed before turning to Yi-kyung and you. “Move out. On your own. I’ll greet our guests.”

“What?” Yi-kyung asked. 

“The soldiers, you can't trust them. You might not understand,” he explained and the expression on her face turned somber. 

“I do understand.”

Mr. An chuckled lightly before turning to Yeong-su. “You have a sidekick. Yi-kyung is a secret agent. She’s just like you.”

Yeong-su turned to face the woman beside you and you spoke to the older man. “I can’t do anything. I lost my axe and I’m already injured so I’m not all that useful,” you protested. 

He hummed, thinking for a minute. “Then you should hide with your brother. Your mission will be to stay hidden and not get caught!” He said. His voice was still playful for the sake of Yeong-su and you worried your lip. 

“What about Su-yeong? I need to protect her too.”

“I will protect her. Don’t you worry, okay?”

You nodded reluctantly and allowed yourself to be led along with Yeong-su into the building again. After a while of looking, you all found a vent and you helped Yeong-su climb in. You talked a bit more to Mr. An and Yi-kyung before you all split up and you climbed into the vent with your brother. You hugged him closely while he sobbed quietly and placed your hand on his mouth when a few strange people with guns walked by. You saw them dragging Mr. An and nearly gasped but you were able to hold yourself together. He smiled at the vent and in a manner of quick thinking and paranoia, you grabbed Yeong-su and placed him on the little area above the vent’s entrance. He sat there and looked at you with confusion. For a second you thought you really were just being paranoid but you were glad that you did it when one of the men came back into the hallway and pointed the gun at the vent. He opened it and saw you immediately. 

“I fucking knew it. Get the fuck out here,” he sneered with a smirk. You held your hands up and avoided looking at Yeong-su as you came out. 

“Okay, okay. I’m coming out just don’t shoot,” you pleaded with him, carefully climbing out of the vent and stepping down. You nearly fell when he grabbed the collar of your shirt and started dragging you away with the gun pressed against your head. 

When he dragged you into the lobby, you saw the other residents huddled up against each other. Some were crying while others just looked scared. You saw Mr. An next to Su-yeong shushing her. The man pulling you shoved you into everyone and you tripped over your own feet. Just as you expected to feel yourself hit the ground, you were caught by familiar arms. 

Though Hyun-su held you softly, his eyes glared at the man who pushed you. He continued to glare even when you untangled yourself from his arms to hug Su-yeong. 

Mr. An whispered in your ear, “What about Yeong-su? Is he okay?” 

“He’s okay,” you whispered back. “Everything’s okay.”

The man who pushed you suddenly held up a red crayon/chalk. He whistled as he circled the group, drawing a line around all of you. 

“It’s a bit bigger than last time,” one of the thugs teased. 

The man in the hat with the red bandana around his neck - the same man who dragged you to the group - smirked. “Should I measure the area every time?” He asked but didn’t wait for an answer as he addressed everyone in the circle. “This is your jail now,” he laughed.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out and Ji-eun started stumbling. Everyone screamed in horror as she fell to the ground. Mr. Han got pushed into the ‘jail’ as well. He started crawling toward Ji-eun to help her but got pulled back by everyone. 

“No, Mr. Han! Stay here, they’re going to kill you too!”

“Please! What are you doing?” He screamed to the leader of the group who was the same man who shot the girl. You all watched as the light drained from her eyes and she passed away. “How could you kill her? How could you?”

“You’re so emotional,” the man with the red bandana laughed. “Are you going to cry for everyone?” He looked down and started nudging Mr. Han’s arms with his gun. “Mister, you crossed the line. Go inside.”

“Just squeeze in,” the leader said. “That’s your home. A tiny home,” he smiled. You wanted to run up to him and smack that smirk off his scar-ridden face but you couldn’t. It would just be a death sentence. 

You sat down next to Mr. Han with Su-yeong and everyone followed suit. Soon you were all huddled together sitting on the floor with Hyun-su sitting next to you, pressing his side against yours just enough to reassure you of his presence while not making it too obvious of his concern and care about you. The cries quieted down and everyone sat silently, trying to process everything that was happening. 

The leader climbed up some stairs so he was elevated and started talking. “My name is Shin Jung-seop. Why don’t we all just get along without fighting?” He suggested. You wanted to laugh at the irony of that statement. They were the ones who came in here and killed one of the residents yet they wanted to ‘get along’?

“How can you say that after what you did?” Mr. An said exactly what you were thinking. One of the men held up a gun to his head and you shoved Su-yeong’s head into your chest to direct her sight away from it. “How can you treat people like this? We’re not animals!”

“I’m sorry,” the leader ‘apologized’ and held up his gun, shaking it a bit. “This is all I know. If you all do as I say, I won’t kill any of you.”

“So… What do you want from us?” Eun-hyuk asked. Ever the brave one holding the role of the leader, his voice did not quiver and he showed no signs of fear. It was something you admired about him. 

“We should get to, uh, know each other,” the man explained, stepping down the stairs and approaching the group. You pulled Su-yeong closer to you to get her away from anyone that would approach and it seemed to catch the leader’s eye. His eyes narrowed in on where Hyun-su’s hand had unconsciously protectively wrapped around the wrist of the hand not holding your sister and he smirked. The sight of the grin sent a sense of dread down your spine. “I bet you’re curious about us, too.”

Eun-hyuk stood up and you wanted to smack everyone in the circle. Why was everyone so desperate to be brave and stand up to the people who literally have guns and are more than willing to shoot them? “Why don’t you tell us? Where were you before you came here? What happened out there?”

“They were dead,” the man told him apathetically. “All of them.”

“Did they just die? Or did… you kill them?” Eun-hyuk asked forwardly. You wanted to smack him upside the head. 

“It was a small church,” the man started to tell his story after a beat of tense silence. “They’d had it fortified well, so I got my hopes up, but all of them were already dead. What’s interesting is there were no signs of a monster attack. They had all killed each other,” he said and took a step closer to the bespectacled boy. “You shouldn’t be worrying about monsters. No. Humans are… the scariest.”

He giggled under his breath while Eun-hyuk looked down and clenched his jaw. The smile on his face was menacing and it made you anxious. 

Suddenly, a guy with spiky hair in a bright red hoodie and a lot of piercings came into the room and walked up to the leader with another guy behind him. Both guys gave you bad vibes but something about the second guy was a special type of unnerving. The type that you got whenever you got attacked by a monster. You shrugged off that thought though as the guy in the red started talking. “What?”

“What?” The leader asked in response.

“Ui-myeong said you were looking for me.”

The leader looked over his shoulder to the second guy - Ui-myeong - with a questioning gaze but he just shrugged and softly shook his head.

“Hmm? I wasn’t.”

“You son of a bitch!” The man yelled at Ui-myeong, turning around to face him and glaring at him. Everyone around you gasped at the sudden loudness but you couldn’t look away from the guy. There was something about him that made you feel uneasy. He seemed to notice your stare because he looked directly at you. His blank face and eyes showed nothing but you still thought it was weird. 

“Did you find anything?” The leader asked the man in the red with a laugh, drawing his and Ui-myeong’s attention back to him. You sighed in relief when he looked away. So far, despite the uneasy feeling he gave you, he was the one of the group you felt most safe with. He was the only one who hadn’t done anything particularly violent. 

That didn’t mean you actually felt safe around him though. 

“There’s a girl. She’s hurt.”

Ji-su...

Eun-hyuk’s face showed his worry for a second before he schooled it back to normal. 

“Stop frowning,” the leader scolded playfully. “These people are already scared.”

He walked over to Ui-myeong and swung his arm over his shoulders before walking off. The man in the red walked off in the other direction before being stopped by another thug. “You left her alone? Why? Was she not your type? Can I have her?”

“I’m saving her for later,” he said and it made you terrified for the safety of Ji-su. 

Eun-yu tugged Eun-hyuk back down to the ground and started reprimanding him. “Are you crazy? Stop standing up to them.”

“You’re going to get yourself killed like that, Eun-hyuk,” you butted in, scolding him as well. 

“I did it because I wanted us to live,” he rebutted.

“By provoking them?” You asked sarcastically. 

He ignored you and turned to Hyun-su. “We have to wait.”

“Until when?” The boy asked. 

Eun-hyuk leaned in to whisper even softer. “It seems like they killed soldiers and stole their weapons and ammo. They only have a few guns and there are dozens of monsters out there.”

“We have to do something,” Hyun-su insisted. 

“When the time is right… we’ll act,” Eun-hyuk told him reassuringly. “You’re not the only weapon we have.”

~

Taglist <3

@hyeon-yi

@haowonbins

@mythical-mushrooms13

@visualconcern

@yomsy

[6rookie-writer0110]

Glass Dawn

Male Reader x Danielle Rose Russell

Request: Can you do a male reader x Danielle Rose Russell. R met her on Legacies and was Hope’s love interest as time goes on they catch feeling for each other

You hate being sick and you are feeling weak. You just coughed too hard and you had to miss work. Someone is knocking on the door and you go to open it.

“Danielle, what are you doing here?” You asked.

“I wanted to bring homemade soup and medicine for you” Danielle smiled.

You couldn't help to smile. You let her inside your apartment and she followed you to the kitchen. She takes out the stuff from the bag and you keep your distance from her.

You and Danielle met on the show called Legacies. You play her boyfriend on the show And many fans ship your character Zeke with Hope. When you first saw her, you developed a crush on her. You started to get to know her and your feelings became strong for her.

“You didn't have to come over,” You said.

“What you are not happy to see me?” Danielle smiled.

“I-I didn't mean it like that. I'm always happy to see you but I'm sick” You said.

“I’m always happy to see you too, Y/n. The soup will help and I thought we could run our lines together” Danielle said.

“Thank you for the soup” You smiled.

You love her smile and she pours the soup into a bowl. You start to eat the soup and she truly does like spending time with you. She makes sure you eat the soup and she starts to read her lines. You went to grab your script from the bedroom then went back to the kitchen. You and Danielle start to run lines while you eat your soup, but you still keep your distance.

“I think you said that word wrong,” You said.

“No, I said it correctly,” Danielle said.

“I don't think so,” You said.

“You are wrong and eat your soup,” Danielle said.

“Whatever,” You said.

After a while of running lines together. You and Danielle start to talk about something else. She shares her chocolate candy with you. She throws it at you and you caught with your mouth, she is speechless because she thought you would miss it.

———

You finally got better and you are happy about it. You went to work early and Jenny is happy to see you. You and Jenny had to go to the makeup trailer but after a while, you and Jenny fell asleep in the makeup chair. Danielle arrived at the makeup trailer and she noticed you sleeping. She takes out her phone, stands next to you, and takes a selfie. She posted the pictures online and many fans started to like the pictures.

You found out about he pictures and you wrote a comment. But now, you have to film your scenes with the cast. Danielle has to do a magic spell while Kaylee and Jenny argue and you watch them argue. Danielle is struggling to open a jar and you are trying not to laugh.

“It’s not funny, Y/n” Danielle mumbled.

“Sorry, but I forgot my lines” You giggled.

“Then you open it,” Danielle said.

She gave you the jar and you opened it. You gave it back but you accidentally dropped it. Kaylee and Jenny started to laugh and Danielle playfully smacked your chest.

“You broke it, that wasn't in the script” Danielle giggled.

“Shut up, Danielle” You smiled.

Everyone had to the scene from the beginning. In the next scene, you had to fight monsters and you didn't mess up your lines. The stunt double actor has swords close to your neck…

“Hope! The magic! Use it now!” You yelled.

“I-I… Y/n, I'm busy right now!” Hope yelled.

You start to laugh and the actor helps you stand up. Danielle started to laugh

“Wrong name” You smiled.

“I forgot my lines” Danielle laughed.

For the last scene, you and Danielle had to film a romantic scene. You are standing close to her and you are holding her hands. She stares into your eyes and she moves closer and you put your arms around her waist.

“You mean so much to me that I can't lose you. I want you to stay in my life forever and you always make me smile and make me feel safe. I don't care where you are, if you need I will be there” Danielle said.

What she said, you know that wasn't in the script. But the director didn't yell cut now you have to say something.

“I feel the same way. I care so much about you and I will be there for you whenever you need me. I like everything about you and I wouldn't change anything” You said.

You and Danielle stared into each other’s eyes, then you kissed her on the lips. The kiss is passionate and her heart starts to race fast. She starts to kiss you back now the director yelled cut. He liked the moment that he wouldn't want to change anything. You didn't say anything about the kiss and she touches her lips.

You avoided Danielle because you didn't know what to say about the kiss. But you noticed she was talking to Kaylee, but you went to grab something to drink.

“I really like him a lot,” Danielle said.

“Tell him. You and Y/n, always spending time together it's about time you tell him” Kaylee said.

“Do you think, he feels the same way?” Danielle asked.

“Yes, he does. I have seen the way he looks at you. Why are you scared to tell him?” Kaylee said.

“I don't want to make things awkward if he doesn't feel the same way,” Danielle said.

“You are overthinking it. Just tell him and he will feel the same way, trust me. I think you should take a chance on him and just be happy” Kaylee said.

“I will try to tell him,” Danielle said.

“Good. After you tell him text me because I need to know” Kaylee smiled.

They continued to talk for a while.

✯ ✯ ✯ ✯

You had to go to Comic-Con with the cast. Before you leave your hotel room, Danielle went to see you.

“I was about to go to the lobby,” You said.

“Can we talk about the kiss?” Danielle asked.

“Um, sure. What you said wasn't in the script” You said.

“I know and I didn't forget my lines. It was in the moment I… Y/n…” Danielle said.

She didn't finish her sentence, she grabbed your shirt and kissed you on the lips. You start to kiss her back then she stops.

“Y/N, I like you a lot. What I said, I meant every word” Danielle said.

“I like you too” You smiled.

You start to kiss her again and you wrap your arms around her body. She starts to smile

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?” You asked.

“Yes,” Danielle smiled.

You kissed her again before you two left the room. She told Kaylee what happened and Kaylee is happy for you and Danielle.

——-

You and Danielle have to film on Valentine's Day, you two couldn't get time off. Danielle told you to meet her at her trailer. You go inside and she surprises you with a romantic lunch.

“Wow,” You smiled.

“Since we didn't get the day off for our first Valentine's Day, I thought we would have a romantic lunch,” Danielle said.

“You are the best girlfriend, Danielle. I got this for you, the other gift is at home and I forgot to bring it. But I thought we could share heart-shaped donuts together” You said.

“The donuts look so cute” Danielle smiled.

You put the donuts on the counter. She wrapped her arms around you and she started to kiss you. Then you and Danielle start to eat together and you can't stop smiling at her.

[smilesrobotlover]

AO3

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Chapter 6- Hold Me so I Feel Safe

Uli watched anxiously from her home as Colin and Talo paced at the entrance of Ordon. Mayor Bo wanted the two to be the backup for Link and Rusl in case anything happened, meanwhile Beth and Bo would protect the village if there was an attack. So far, no monsters have invaded the village, but Rusl and Link haven't returned either, even when the sun went down, plunging the village into darkness. Uli should’ve slept, and she tried to, but waking up to her husband still missing in bed kept her from being able to. All she could do was watch the entrance as Colin and Talo waited impatiently. Every minute that passed felt like an hour, and her worry grew with every second that Rusl and Link weren’t there. Soon, the sun began to break the horizon, and Uli felt a lump in her throat. She watched Colin and Talo waste no time to move out, with Beth and Bo watching the entrance as they left. Dread rested in Uli’s stomach as she watched her son leave the village, possibly facing something dangerous enough that kept Link and Rusl from returning. She didn’t doubt Colin and Talo’s ability, but their fighting skills weren’t as great as Link and Rusl’s. If something happened to them��� how would Colin help? What if he got hurt? What if Rusl and Link were hurt? What if she lost all of them simply because Bo and Coro practically forced them to investigate the woods at night?

“Mama?”

Uli looked behind her where Rela and Kori stood, watching her with worried eyes.

“Is papa still gone?” Rela asked in a small voice, her hand clutching onto Kori’s as his eyes got watery. Uli bit her lip and looked up at the entrance, hoping that Rusl and Link would walk right through, laughing and alive. She took a deep breath when nothing changed, and she faced the children. She couldn’t cry about this, she needed to be strong for them.

“Yes, Rela, they’re still searching the woods,” she said, praying that they were still searching and weren’t fighting for their lives.

Rela frowned. “Maybe I can help Colin to find them! I have a wooden sword! I can fight bad guys with it!”

Uli quickly shook her head. “No, Rela, you will stay here until they return, ok?”

Rela pouted and Kori looked down, his bottom lip quivering. Uli’s heart broke and she knelt down to be at eye level.

“Kori, baby, they’re going to be ok.”

Kori sniffed and rubbed his eyes. “I— I want my papa.”

Uli pulled him into a hug. “I know you do, sweetheart, I know you do.” Uli held him for a moment as he cried, and she looked over to see if anything had changed. It didn’t. She stood up and gestured to the kitchen. “How about we eat breakfast, ok?”

Kori nodded glumly and he and Rela sat at the table as she started making food for them. Uli was constantly looking out the window every chance she got, anxiously seeing if the boys had returned, but there was still no sign of them. After she made breakfast, she sat at the window, watching the entrance as if her life depended on it. Kori and Rela finished their breakfast and started playing silently, making Uli far more anxious. Goddesses, what if she had to live the rest of her life like this? What if they never returned and she was the only one who could take care of Kori and Rela? What if she lost all the happiness and joy she’s had for years now that her family brought. She couldn’t imagine losing all of that in seconds, she just couldn’t!

Before she could spiral further into the horrifying thought, Uli saw Beth shoot up and run to the entrance, and her heart beat against her chest as if it were trying to escape. She held her breath in anticipation, and she saw Beth enter Ordon, then Talo, then Colin, and finally, Rusl and Link. Uli let out a cry when she saw the two and she ran out the door, sprinting to the group.

“Rusl!” She shouted out, and she pulled her husband into a hug, crying into his shoulder from relief.

“PAPA!” She heard Kori yell as he sprinted to his father, with Rela following closely, and she heard sighs of relief coming from everyone.

Rusl leaned into Uli, resting his head against the crook of her neck, his arms wrapped weakly around her. He felt tired. Uli pulled back and cupped his face so she could observe him. His eyes were half open and bloodshot, heavy bags were beneath him, and overall, he looked exhausted.

“Oh spirits above, what happened out there?” She asked, looking at Link who looked a tad better, but not by much.

“Ma, make sure he gets some rest, ok?” Link said, pulling away from the group and moving towards his house.

“Link—“ Rusl called out for him but Link stopped him.

“I’m going to tell everyone and write the letter, ok? You get some rest.”

“You need rest too.”

“I’ll get rest when I’m done, I promise!”

The two seemed rather agitated, but they didn’t argue further. The group watched Link walk away, and Uli frowned.

“Tell us what? What letter? What’s going on?” She asked, and Rusl let out a heavy sigh.

“I… don’t… don’t go to Faron woods,” he said simply, and Uli looked at everyone else, specifically Bo who looked worried.

“What do ya mean, Rusl? What did you two see out there?” The mayor asked him, and Rusl shook his head.

“‘m too tired to explain it just… stay away from Faron woods. Especially at night, please.”

Beth and Talo gave each other a worried look, and Kori and Rela pressed themselves up against Rusl’s legs.

“Well, let’s get you to bed, ok Rusl?” Uli finally spoke up, she gestured for her kids and Kori to follow. “I assume you’ll be staying with us, dear.”

Kori nodded and looked down, fidgeting with his fingers. Uli didn’t know what happened, but she couldn’t help but feel worry over what was happening. But at least her boys were alive.

Thank the spirits they were alive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Uli stared at Rusl’s folded clothes in front of her. She spent a good chunk of the morning trying to wash them, but they were stained black. His shirt, his headband, his trousers, his beloved ordon obi and sash, it was all covered in black splotches. Uli figured that it was all mud, but no matter how hard she scrubbed, it wouldn’t come out. His shirt and pants were ripped in some places as well, and she came to the conclusion that his clothes were a lost cause. But she figured she could keep these until Rusl confirmed for her to throw them out. So she folded up them up and set them down on the table after they were dried. And she simply stared. Everyone in the house was quiet and the air was tense. Rusl passed out as soon as he got to bed, Colin sat in a chair watching Kori and Rela protectively, and the two kids simply stared at their toys. Link had been running around the village talking to everyone and even making Coro stay with Fado. But he never swung by to talk to the family, she assumed he was saving them for last.

The silence was suddenly interrupted by screaming coming from Uli’s room, and she felt her heart leap to her throat. She and Colin stood up and rushed to the door, swinging it open to see Rusl wide awake and panting, clutching his chest as his eyes looked around frantically. They landed on Uli and Colin and he relaxed slightly. Uli gave Colin a look and he nodded, returning to his spot by the children, who looked terrified.

“It’s ok, dears,” she said softly to them, entering her room to where Rusl was. He was silent as she sat down next to him, and he avoided her gaze.

“Rusl?” She said softly, resting a hand on his shoulder. He smiled slightly, but it looked forced. He gave her hand a gentle pat.

“I’m ok… just had a nightmare.”

Uli frowned as he looked away, clearly disturbed by the nightmare. She began to rub his back which made him relax, and she let out a sigh.

“Are you ready to tell me what happened?” She asked. She was willing to wait, but she and Rusl made sure to tell each other everything. If something was out in Faron woods, she needed to know.

Rusl shook his head, rubbing his eyes tiredly. Uli nodded and stood up. “Get some rest, darling,” she simply said, beginning to head to the door, until Rusl gripped her arm, stopping her. She looked over at him confused, and he had a desperate, almost embarrassed look on his face.

“Uli… could you… um… just… stay with me?” He asked, quietly. Uli smiled and sat down next to him, opening her arms to him. He relaxed and rested his head on her chest, allowing himself to be held by her. She rubbed his back and neck, ruffling his soft hair. The motion seemed to soothe him, and he was back to sleeping. Uli continued to hold him, not wanting to leave his side. She wanted to be here when he woke up again, she wanted him to feel safe by another person being beside him. Rusl began snoring softly and she giggled quietly, resting her head against his and closing her eyes. She’ll be here for him, and when he’s ready to talk to her about what happened, then she’ll still be here to listen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Colin glared blankly at the ground in front of him, his sword resting in his lap as if something would attack any second. Rela and Kori were chatting quietly about their toys, and his sister glanced at him.

“Colin? Do you think papa will be ok?”

Colin looked up at her, interrupted from his staring. He sighed and shrugged. “Yeah he should be.”

“Why was he screaming?”

“Nightmare.”

Kori and Rela glanced at each other worriedly.

“I get nightmares too, maybe I can sing grandpa a song?” Kori suggested, beginning to stand up, but Colin stopped him.

“Not right now, Kori. Let gramma take care of him, ok?”

Kori pouted and sat back down, petting his cat plush gently.

“What do you think happened?” Rela asked quietly, staring Colin down. He simply shrugged.

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t say,” Colin frowned at the memory of him and Talo finding the two men. They were by the Faron spring, both looking filthy and exhausted. Colin nearly got tackled to the ground by Link when he ran up to them, clearly jumpy from whatever happened that night. No matter how hard Colin pressed, they simply brushed his questions away. It couldn’t be a bear, they would’ve said so, and he was sure that if it was, they wouldn’t have been gone all night. At least not running around the woods, which was clearly what they were doing.

The door opened, causing Colin to flinch. Link was in the doorway, his cheeks flushed red as he glanced around the room. Kori got up and hugged Link’s legs, and he quickly gave his son a squeeze. Colin joined the two at the doorway, anxious to finally know what was going on.

“Link—“

“I gotta get mine and Kori’s things, I’ll be right back,” Link cut him off, giving Kori a kiss on the head. “Is there anything you need from the house?”

Kori looked at his toys and shook his head. Link nodded and left before Colin was able to register what was happening.

“Wait—“ he started, but Link was already gone. Colin let out a frustrated huff as Kori returned to his place next to Rela. The door to his parent’s bedroom opened and his mother peeked her head through.

“Was Link just here?”

“Yeah.”

“What’d he say? Did he tell you what happened?”

“No, he just left.” Colin returned to his place on the chair, glaring ahead. Uli tilted her head at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just… worried. And confused.”

Uli walked over to him and ruffled his hair, pulling him into a side hug. “We all are.”

“Is pa ok?”

“Yes. I just came out here to grab another blanket for him.”

“Did he tell you what happened?”

“No, he doesn’t want to talk about it yet.”

Colin groaned. “All this waiting around is just making me anxious.”

“Me too, dear. But right now, your pa needs time to open up about it.”

Colin sighed as he leaned against his mother, staring at the doorway.

“Where was Link going?” His ma asked.

“To get his and Kori’s things.”

“Well… maybe he needs help?” She suggested, giving Colin a look. He glanced at her confused.

“I think he’s fine—“

“Go help him, Colin. See if he’s willing to open up to you.”

Colin’s eyes widened in surprise and he sat up. “Will you be ok with the kids?”

Uli gave Rela and Kori a smile. “Of course I will. You talk to Link, and I’ll talk to your pa when he’s ready. That way they won’t have to repeat everything to us.”

Colin smiled slightly and nodded, heading out the door to follow Link. The air felt eerie as Colin walked to Link’s house. The people that were out were speaking in hushed tones, watching Colin as he silently walked. He was relieved to reach the clearing that held Link’s treehouse, away from the stares. Epona was pacing the ground, clearly feeling the anxieties in the air, and Colin heard rummaging coming from the home. He jumped up the ladder and knocked on the door before letting himself in. There were bags sitting in the middle of the floor, and he heard noises coming from the basement.

“Link?” Colin called out, certainly not wanting to surprise him with his presence. There was silence, then grunting as Link emerged from the basement, carrying another bag.

“Colin? What are you doing here?”

“I… just thought that you could use some help,” Colin muttered, suddenly getting nervous about asking Link what happened. His older brother furrowed his brows, then looked at the bag around his shoulders.

“There’s not a lot. I can handle it just fine.”

Colin sighed and looked down. “Link I… I just wanna know what happened.”

Link stared at him for a moment, then shook his head. “I’ll tell you when I bring our stuff over—“

“No you won’t. I know you won’t. You’ll just tell us to avoid the forest and then head out to deal with it with the rest of us feelin’ confused.” Colin blurted out without thinking. He immediately regretted it, but where he was expecting anger, Link’s face only held exhaustion.

“Listen, y’all don’t need to know everything,” he said quietly.

“If there’s something going on in the woods, don’t you think I should know what it is?” Colin pressed. “I’m not the scared kid I was before, I can protect myself and Ordon, and I want to. But I can’t do that without knowing everything!” Link’s face was blank as he stared at Colin, and he quickly added more, “I can relay the message to the others so you won’t have to explain everything again.”

Link stared at Colin for a long moment, a concerned expression on his face. His jaw twitched as his eyes looked back and forth, and he opened his mouth slightly, before closing it again. Colin raised an eyebrow as Link turned his head away.

“It was… just a monster,” he mumbled, and Colin rolled his eyes.

“I know it wasn’t just a monster! You and pa would’ve said something!”

Link glared at him for a moment, then plopped his bag with the small pile on the floor and sat down, rubbing his eyes. Colin watched him patiently, staying in the same spot with his arms crossed.

“Colin… it… it was a shadow beast.”

Colin’s blood ran cold and he felt his eyes widen. Fear took hold of him and memories of hiding in the sanctuary from black monsters flooded in.

“H-how?” He asked quietly, and Link shrugged.

“I don’t know. I don’t know how it slipped under my radar after all these years.”

Colin felt himself sway a bit, and he sat down on the ground, his legs crossed. “Are— are you sure?”

Link nodded. “Positive. It let out a scream to paralyze me and pa, I’d recognize that scream anywhere.”

Colin looked away, remembering the battered men when he found them.

“So… what happened?”

Link gave Colin a look and opened his mouth to explain the story. He explained them searching around the house, he explained being paralyzed by a shriek, he explained looking for pa after it took him, and he explained fighting it until the sun began to rise. Colin listened to every word, his stomach sinking lower and lower as Link talked. He felt himself grow nauseous as he explained the beast vomiting Rusl up, and the implications made him lightheaded.

“Is this thing… eating people?” He asked, his voice shaking slightly.

“I…. I’m not sure. The scent it…” Link trailed off, staring blankly at a spot on the ground. “None of it makes sense.”

Colin tilted his head at Link as he grew silent, his expression blank.

“Why didn’t it go after you?” He finally asked, and Link shrugged, staring at his left hand.

“I have some theories,” he answered, before letting out a heavy sigh. “How’s pa?”

“He’s fine, he had a bad nightmare but he's resting.”

Link nodded and smiled slightly, staring at the pile of bags with an exhausted look. Colin pursed his lips and stood up.

“Resting seems like something you should be doing too. Come on, let’s get this stuff to our house.”

Link’s eyes held a hint of stubbornness, but his exhaustion got the better of him and he nodded. Colin grabbed some bags and gave Link a small smile, before moving to the door.

“Colin.”

He turned around and saw Link glaring at him.

“You know how serious this situation is now. I need all of you to stay away from Faron woods. Stay together and do not go out at night. You understand?”

Colin nodded slightly. “I understand. If… me and the others can help you and pa fight it—“

“No, it may be a shadow beast, but whatever it was doing for ten years made it strong. Me and pa are going to castle town tomorrow to make a plan of attack, but for now, stay away from it.”

Colin looked down, feeling slightly disappointed that they were leaving so soon. “Alright. I’ll try to keep everyone safe.”

Link smiled slightly and gave Colin a quick hug, patting him on the back before pulling away.

“Thanks Colin. I hope I can solve this soon.”

“I know you will, you always do,” Colin said encouragingly, and Link looked down bashfully.

“Sure…”

Colin wrapped an arm around Link and guided him out the door. “Let’s go, you look like you’ll pass out any second now.”

Link chuckled and let himself be led out, his arm wrapped around his little brother.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was in a tight space, he couldn’t move his arms and legs. His body was bent at an awkward angle and the air was thick with moisture that he couldn’t breathe. He struggled to move, to crawl out of his prison, but he couldn’t no matter how hard he tried. Something wrapped tightly around his body, but he couldn’t see. It was pitch dark, and he felt helpless as tendrils snaked around him, coiling around his neck. He tried to scream for help, but he found he had no voice. He couldn’t break free, and even if he could, he wouldn’t be able to crawl out. He was hopeless, he was going to die, it was all over for him.

He was dead.

Rusl jolted awake, breathing heavily as the feelings from the nightmare lingered. His heart was beating quickly against his chest as he looked around the dark room. He squinted his eyes and went to sit up, but he felt something; something wrapped around him. He nearly panicked again, but he heard breathing, and realized that it was just Uli. He was in his home, with his wife laying behind him, one arm under his neck and the other under his arm. He let out a sigh of relief and laid his head back on the pillow, holding onto her hands. He was safe, he was ok…

Rusl closed his eyes, trying to relax in his wife’s hold, but he couldn’t. His mind kept returning from the night before, the beast that he saw, that attacked him, that Link saved him from. It’s black, eyeless face, it’s snarling yellow teeth. Rusl shuddered, flinching at every creak his house made. What if it was in Ordon? Watching him through the window? What if it came back for revenge? He looked behind him at his window, expecting to see a black beast snarling at him, but he found nothing. There was nothing, he was safe. But he didn’t feel safe, not even in his own home.

A desire to protect his wife and family overcame him, and he spun around, wrapping his arms around Uli. His wife began to stir from the sudden movement, and she pulled away, staring at him with tired eyes.

“Rusl?” She asked softly, looking around. “Is everything alright?”

Rusl bit his lip and sighed. He didn’t mean to wake her up….

“No, it’s ok, Uli, I’m sorry I woke you up… I’m just…”

Uli frowned and traced her fingers along his face. “What’s got you acting like this, darling?”

Rusl sighed. He should tell her. He knows he should tell her. But he didn’t want to talk about it, he didn’t want to relive that moment. Uli picked up on his hesitation and gave him a peck on the forehead. He melted into the kiss and hugged her tighter. Goddesses above he loved this woman. He loved her and she deserved to know what happened. He let go and sat up, staring at the dark room, only feeling comfort with Uli beside him. He never hated the dark…. But now…

“Rusl?”

Rusl took a deep breath and began to explain everything to her. When he and Link went to Coro’s house, when the creature shrieked and paralyzed them both. Rusl’s senses were clouded when that happened, and he barely got a good look at the creature with his torch. But he does remember when it grabbed him and snuffed out the fire. He tried to gloss over when he was inside the thing, since that was the part that got to him the most, but instead he spilled all his words out describing it. Describing the tendrils wrapping around him, keeping him in place he tried to escape the tight stomach. He didn’t know how or why the tendrils suddenly let go, but he was able to wiggle out of the stomach enough for the beast to vomit him up. The memory got too much for him at one point, and he himself felt like he was going to vomit. Uli held him as he tried to get ahold of himself, and he went back to explaining what happened, but in a much more disorganized manner. He truthfully didn’t remember much after he was pulled free from the mouth of the beast. His eyes were covered in black slop and he blacked out after a sharp pain went through his leg. He vaguely remembered something tightening around his ribs to the point where he couldn’t breathe, but he couldn’t tell if he imagined it or not. Then he woke up to his son watching over him worriedly, and it was over. It was the morning and the beast was gone.

He looked at Uli awkwardly when he was finished. He hoped it all made sense, but he wasn’t focused on explaining it in an organized manner. Uli was silent as she thought about all that he told her, her hand never leaving his back.

“So, what are you going to do? Link mentioned letters.”

Rusl nodded. “Me and Link are heading to castle town to tell the resistance about this first thing tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? Are you sure it’s safe?”

“No. But we can’t sit in Ordon afraid for our lives while this thing takes people and—“ Rusl stopped himself. What was it doing to people? Devouring them? He was inside its stomach. If Link didn’t save him would he be…? He shuddered. He couldn’t think about that.

“Are you sure you’re fit to go to castle town? It sounds like you went through a lot, darling.”

“I’m sure. Link found fairies to heal us. We’ll be fine.”

Uli rubbed his back for a moment and sighed. “Alright, I take it you want us to stay out of Faron woods?”

Rusl nodded. “Avoid Faron woods, especially at night. Try to stay indoors and try to stay together, ok?”

Uli nodded, her brows pinched together. Rusl hugged her and rested his head against hers. Uli melted into the embrace and pulled them both down onto the bed.

“Please be safe,” she muttered, closing her eyes as she buried her face in his neck. Rusl didn’t reply, he just laid there holding his wife, listening to her beginning to snore softly. But Rusl couldn’t fall back asleep. He was on edge, he kept feeling like he was in danger, and eventually he pulled away and walked out into the living room with a spare sword in his hand. He spotted Kori resting against Link, and he smiled slightly. He didn’t think about them being out here, but he shouldn’t be surprised. Link was too far away from Ordon, it was safer with them both here. Rusl gently sat down in the armchair next to the couch, watching the door intently.

“Pa?”

Rusl turned and saw Link wide awake, holding his son in his arms.

“Can't sleep, Link?”

He shook his head. “Kinda hard to. I’m anxious to get to castle town.”

“Me too.”

Link sat up, laying Kori down and tucking him into the blankets. “So are we gonna talk about what happened?”

“I already discussed it with your ma, I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“Oh… ok, but…” Link stopped himself and sighed. “Never mind.”

Rusl frowned and studied his face. “Do… you want to talk about it?”

Link pursed his lips. “I just… I’ve been thinking about it all day and… I don’t know…”

Rusl sighed. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I just… that creature that attacked us… I… it can’t be…”

“What?”

“Well, I keep thinkin’ about it, and that thing was a shadow beast, but… it was so different.”

Rusl faced him fully. “Shadow beast? Aren’t those the Twili creatures that attacked us at the temple of time?” Link killed those creatures quickly before Rusl was able to comprehend what was happening. They were terrifying, bigger than a normal human, with otherworldly masks covering their face. He didn’t recall the beast that attacked them being the same, but then again, Link said they were different.

“Yeah, those are shadow beasts. Being around one as a light dweller will turn you into one, but… I don’t know, this thing didn’t seem to turn you into anything…”

Rusl shook his head in confusion. “Link, you’re not making any sense. You say it was a shadow beast, and though they’re similar, they were too different.”

Link shrugged and let out a sigh, leaning forward. “Sorry, I’m just thinking. It didn’t have a mask, it was big, and it seemed more powerful than a normal shadow beast. It… felt like a shadow beast that’s gotten powerful over the years. I’m just confused on how I missed it…I fought all the ones Zant sent to me, but where did this one come from?” Link frowned and looked up at Rusl, his blue eyes filled with worry. Rusl gave him a small smile, not fully understanding what Link was saying. His boy was rambling his thoughts out without thinking about how clear he was being. Link’s eyes suddenly got watery, and he turned away.

“Link?” Rusl shot to his feet and gathered his son in his arms, who melted into the embrace while crying. Rusl rubbed his back as he cried in his shoulder, rocking him back and forth.

“I–I was s-so worried ‘bout you,” Link whimpered, clutching Rusl tighter. “I thought you… you were gonna die and–” Link sobbed, interrupting his ramblings, and Rusl gave him a kiss on the head.

“I’m ok, son. I’m ok, thanks to you.” Tears were streaming down Rusl’s face as well. He thought he cried himself dry already, but apparently there were more tears to be shed. They held each other for a long while, the relief from his son being safe finally crashing down on him. Although it was an awful experience, Rusl would go through it over and over again if it meant his family would be safe. Though he began to wonder why the beast didn’t attack Link, and why it went for Rusl instead. He stopped crying as he thought about it, hearing his eldest hiccup quietly. He supposed it didn’t matter in the end, his son was safe, he was safe, and that was all that mattered. After a moment of crying, Link finally pulled away.

“Sorry,” he muttered, and Rusl scoffed affectionately, giving him one last squeeze.

“You don’t need to apologize, my boy.”

Link smiled and looked at his son, who was wrapped head to toe in blankets.

“Hope we didn’t wake him, we weren’t being quiet,” Rusl said with a chuckle, and Link shrugged.

“He’ll be fine…. Hopefully.”

The two chatted quietly the rest of the night, discussing their plan for the next morning, and how they were going to fight this beast with the help of the resistance. Rusl’s fear melted into fury as they discussed it, and he was ready to fight this thing. As soon as the sun began to rise, Rusl got up and started to get his things together. The sky was a dull gray as Link and Rusl strapped their things to their horses, explaining the situation to the confused residents of Ordon. Link was speaking to Kori quietly, giving him a hug and a kiss as Kori sadly hugged him back, while Rusl bid his farewells to Uli and Rela, and as he pulled away from his wife, she gave him a stern and worried look.

“I’ll be back, Uli. I trust you can keep them safe?” He said softly, and she smiled slightly.

“Yes, please be careful, darling.”

Rusl kissed her lips and nodded. “I will.”

When Rusl went to Colin, he was staring at the ground blankly, and Rusl tilted his head. “What’s wrong, Colin?”

“I– Link told me everything that happened and… I want to go with you guys!”

Rusl was taken aback. “You want to go with me and Link?”

Colin nodded. “I–I want to! I want to help you guys!”

Rusl smiled slightly, seeing courage in his once timid son, seeing passion in his eyes when there used to be content, it made him proud. He almost said yes, but he stopped himself. His smile fell and he gave Colin an apologetic look.

“Colin, I would love it for you to come, you’ve grown so strong and capable, but… It’s too dangerous, and I need you and the others to stay here to protect Ordon in case something happens, ok?”

Colin looked down sadly and nodded. “I understand.”

Rusl sighed and pulled him into a hug. Goddesses, his youngest son had grown up so much. He was mature, wise, and brave. Rusl couldn’t be more proud of him.

“Next time, next time I’ll take you with me,” he promised, giving him a firm pat on the back. “You’ll be a great addition to the resistance.”

Colin gave him a squeeze and pulled back, a sad smile on his face as Rusl pulled away to get on his horse. He and Link gave their family a nod and took off, silently riding to castle town.

[occasionallyprosie]

A Thousand Ways

Chapter 14: "Passing Through"

Linkle and Warriors would 100% rp royalty as kids and Legend and Hyrule are theatre kids... also, the ballad didn't work.

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"So, is she staying with us?" Wild asked after they took out the monster camp with Linkle's help. Her mere presence had set Warriors off and the two were constantly bantering, more than any of the others ever did with each other and that was saying something.

At first, some of them were concerned, then they collectively realized that Warriors was more relaxed than they almost had ever seen him. It really showed when the fight began, and Linkle and Wars basically handled the entire thing. They fought together incredibly well, Linkle using crossbows and Piyoko--Legend was surprised at how attached Piyoko was to Linkle, she adored the heroine who loved her in return--as weapons, Piyoko definitely had the time of her life, while Warriors used his sword and shield to control the entire camp with ease... with the exception of the couple black bloods that Legend and Hyrule, and Time and Wind handled 

Honestly, Legend saw half their group just hanging back and he joined them in time to see both siblings gang up on a giant, and bring it down in record time.

Both were grinning at the end of it all, high-fiving and throwing insults at the other's form and battle choices.

"If she wants to," Warriors said in response to Wild's question. He shrugged. "I can't stop her if she does."

Linkle scooped up Piyoko into her arms. "I'd love to, goddesses know I miss this kind of thing, but I have to pass." She turned to Warriors. "One of us needs to stay back home, and tell Ma about that pretty little lie of yours."

"I told you--"

"Yeah yeah." Linkle waved him off. "Whatever. I'll tell her that it's a new development and her baby boy didn't lie to her face."

"I am literally a grown adult--With children!"

"Kids you adopted during the war so they wouldn't be sent to an orphanage don’t count."

"Hey!" Wind exclaimed.

"Rude," Time grunted.

Warriors gestured at them. "Does it look like we care? Why does Mom trust you more than me when my kids are actual children and not animals?" 

"Because I have more than you, and they're better trained. Mask dyed Impa's hair green!"

Legend glanced at Hyrule, leaning over to whisper to him and Wild.

"Bets that Mask is the Old Man?"

"No way," Wild hissed back. "It's totally the sailor."

"Ma would side with me that actual kids are far harder to take care of than a flock of cuccos!" Warriors argued.

Linkle scowled. "You know what? Fine! I'll adopt two of my own!"

"Wha--You’re going to--"

Legend and Hyrule both broke when Linkle raised an eyebrow at them.

"Us?" Hyrule pointed at them.

Linkle nodded. "I like you two, besides, I bet you'd beat Mask and Tune."

"No way!" Wind piped up. "We'd kick their ass! Besides, you can't take the Vet, he's my baby brother."

Time snorted. "Wow, Sailor. I'm wounded."

"You’re my little brother, there's a difference," Wind huffed, "Apple's my baby brother and Aryll's my baby sister."

Legend staggered a bit as Hyrule hugged him and declared, "My little brother now!"

"Daaad!" Wind whined, pouting at Warriors.

Legend couldn't help but laugh. Warriors sighed and tried to barter with Linkle, who stood her ground about adopting him and Hyrule.

Wild leaned over. "Would you let her?"

Legend looked at Hyrule, they shrugged.

"Sure," Hyrule agreed.

"Only when we're in this era though," Legend added, thinking of Dusk. "I don’t want to deal with... having to explain that to anyone. If she really wants, then fine, but only legally binding here... I'll let her claim it whenever, if only so we can fight the Sailor and Old Man."

"Yeah," Hyrule smirked, arm still slung over his shoulders. "We'd totally win."

Linkle gestured at them while Warriors groaned.

"Ha! I win! Next time you guys show up here, I'll have the paperwork ready," she swore. "Okay?"

"I can't believe you three." Warriors threw his hands up, turning away.

"Okay," Hyrule told Linkle. "Are you our mom now? Or...?"

"Sure. Next time, I'll introduce you to my Ma as her better grandchildren."

"Rude! Link, why didn't you ever introduce us to your Mom?!" Wind demanded.

"I-I--" Warriors floundered.

Legend could honestly tell that Linkle had only actually offered to mess with Warriors, and if agreeing messed with the Captain and the Sailor? Well, he was all for that.

What kind of 'baby brother' would he be if he didn't take whatever opportunity he was presented with to mess with his apparent siblings?

The portal came during the walk back to town, which was less filled with Warriors and Linkle arguing, and more filled with Linkle questioning him and Hyrule about their lives 'as a good mother would.'

"Well!" Warriors said loudly, interrupting Hyrule and Legend explaining their era and how it was different from his era to Linkle. "As fun as it has been to see you again, my dear sister, we simply must be going now."

Legend snorted, he heard Wild and Four sharing giggles too. Twilight and Sky had taken up the rear of the group, and both seemed especially amused.

Linkle pouted. She wrapped her arms around Legend and Hyrule. "Oh must you, Captain?" She replied, losing every ounce of her country accent in replacement of a posh, castle town accent. "Oh Captain please, my sons are only children, you need not take them away to fight battles for a higher power. Please spare them. Look! They are no soldiers, nor squires training to be such, doest thou not see their fear at facing warfare?"

Oh she is amazing, Piyoko clucked, Link, your new mom is amazing and I love her.

Warriors' face hardened, but the mirth was clear and it was a conscious decision to help bolster Linkle's argument by pulling on every part of his self control and acting ability to play the part of a scared kid. Hyrule's shoulders stopped shaking from holding in laughter and a glance showed that his successor was an excellent actor too.

"The Queen's commands are clear, these boys are to march to battle and face against the dark horrors of time," Warriors declared.

"You monster!" Linkle cried dramatically, playing up her part of a scared mother despite not looking even barely old enough to be their mother. "Child stealer!"

"Okay, okay!" Twilight intervened, choking on laughter. "Even if this is entertainin', we really do needa go. So say bye t' yer Ma, Vet, Traveler, and let's go."

On one hand, he could just cut the act, on the other... Legend looked at Linkle, and he was definitely pouting and using everything he knew to appear scared. "Ma, I don’t want to go."

Hyrule couldn't hold it in anymore and he broke, grabbing his stomach and wheezing in his laughter. Warriors gaped at him, as if surprised he was a decent actor, while Linkle immediately hugged him.

"I know, I know," she held firm to her own act, "but you must." She pulled away and held his face, he grabbed her hands and could see how she was starting to struggle to keep character too. He really wanted to break. "Be strong, and filled with courage. You will find your way back home, I know it."

A beat passed before they both broke, and the entire area was filled with various forms of laughter, loud and boisterous, high and wheezy, contained and quiet, someone's sounded like a fairy's even and another's was carried by the wind itself it felt like.

Legend wiped a tear from his eye. For a moment, it felt like everything was actually okay. For a moment, he was just joking around with friends, pulling stupid jokes and teasing each other.

The next, he felt Piyoko brush his leg, and the reminder of why she was with him hit him. With that, came the reminder of everything that had happened in the last few months. He managed to not let his renewed realization show to strongly, the laughter slowly fizzled out and he lent down to pick up Piyoko.

Link? She sounded concerned. He'd seen her fight with Linkle, but also needed Linkle's aid at every moment. All Piyoko could truly do was distract, and blind if she was lucky. Unlike heroes who accidentally harm cuccoos, monsters had no qualms with smacking them from the sky and he had seen so many close calls in just one fight alone. Linkle was used to accounting for them and ensuring their safety, Legend wasn't and he didn't want to risk her safety to learn.

"Let's--"

"Linkle?" Legend looked at the older woman, she was Warriors' twin, wasn't she? 

"Yeah?"

"Would you be willing to keep Piyoko?"

He heard several people freeze and inhale sharply. He wasn't sure exactly why.

Linkle frowned, crossing her arms. "Why?"

Warriors spoke up, instructing the others to go ahead and file through, to make sure they had their supplies and everything.

Link? Piyoko sounded hurt, though also concerned.

"I... She's a good fighter," Legend said, looking down at her in his arms. "One of my oldest companions, but... I don’t know how to fight with her, and I can't risk her in order to learn. More than that... You've mentioned you have a whole flock of your own, she's friendly and can assimilate, and... and Piyoko, we both know you prefer life on the farm rather than on the road. You also have said you love Linkle, if you’re both okay with it, I think this would be the best option for you."

Piyoko stared up at him, completely silent. He could almost feel her hurt, but the way she wasn't immediately pecking him and telling him he was an idiot--like she had when he suggested she stay with one of the farmers in Kakariko with the other cuccoos--meant he was right and she actually was considering it.

A part of him wanted to take his words back, to keep Piyoko with him. She'd been there in Holodrum, had always been someone he could trust. Din, he'd called her his emotional support animal for all the times he'd vent and she'd offer insight. But he also knew that no matter how much he wanted to cling to before--before his grandparents, before that cell, those days where he could feel his body wasting in that cave--and how Piyoko was a reminder of that, of days between adventures at his grandparents farm, of the lightness in Holodrum, of safety and warmth and peace... she was still a farm animal, and he wouldn't choose his own mental security over her physical safety. Not in a million years. Not ever.

If she's okay with it, Piyoko conceded, almost surprisingly so.

Linkle held her arm out and Piyoko jumped to her, wings flapping to aid the transfer.

"I'll take good care of her, visit when you can," while he can, Linkle gave him a pointed look.

He nodded. "Of course... Later, Piyoko."

...bye Link. Be safe.

"When am I not?"

Warriors and Twilight were the only ones waiting left, as per usual, the local Link would be the last to enter the portal. Legend left with Twilight, and everyone waited a few minutes longer before Warriors came through and it shut behind them.

During his watch, Legend watched the sun rise against all odds, and sure, astronomers of his era had determined the world to be a sphere and to revolve around the sun, but did he particularly care for that detail? No. The sun rose, that's why they called it a sunrise.

There were a million things he could think about.

Raven, how his ancestor not only was the grandson of the Fallen Hero, but how the people seemed to regard the Fallen Hero and in turn how they treated Raven... and what he did in spite of it. Additionally, just the fact that he'd never see Raven again... again. That's the second time he's lost the one man he's considered a parental figure, his uncle had been great but he... there was something there, he was always his uncle, never quite a father figure.

The fact he can't seem to die. That cell, he didn't look over to see the blood but he knew that no person should've survived what he did, and he didn't know how. But maybe Dusk had some special method of saving his life. Then the cave... the island and storms... he had been sick, so sick he couldn't move and didn't eat for days, he knew now he shouldn't have survived that--learning how long they'd been in the Sailor's era and the Traveler's era right afterwards--and yet, he did. He didn't know what Marley and Raven did either, but they didn't have access to things that would've done anything special.

He knew he should've died in that cell, he was certain of that fact, but that portal had come at the perfect time... More than that, the portal had come to that cave and had to of dropped Legend right on Raven in order for him to have survived that too.

He knew the goddesses wasn't done with him, this was just further proof of that.

Or... he glanced at the back of his left hand. Maybe my ancestry plays a larger part in that survival.

Three people here were his ancestors. 

Sky was the easiest to place and yet the hardest to come to terms with. Sky was from before the timeline got chaotic, the line from him to Legend was straight and simple. He was the easiest to understand and yet... how was he, Legend, a descendant of the goddess, and by extension, royalty?

Time was probably the easiest to come to terms with, his was a bit weird with the timeline and parallel worlds, but it was comprehensible. Time was the Fallen Hero, Legend had figured that out, Twilight's Hero of Time was from the exact same time as the Fallen Hero, the history books claimed him to have done the same things as the Fallen Hero... only he succeeded in the end. It was weird, but Legend could understand it. He knew Raven was his ancestor, and he now knew Raven's grandfather was the Fallen Hero. So sure, Time wasn't his ancestor, but in a weird parallel timeline way, he was. That was simple.

What wasn't simple was Twilight, what wasn't easy to come to terms with was Twilight. Because if they were related, it was confusing.

Legend knew exactly four things about his father: one, he was younger than his uncle, two, he looked almost nothing like his uncle aside from the bare minimum sibling similarities, three, his name had been Link and Legend was named after him, and four, he died around the same time Legend had been born.

Now, that paired with the fact that his uncle Alphon was his uncle, would lead one to assume that Twilight--well his parallel self in Legend's timeline--was his father. Easy, simple, timeline shenanigans makes it confusing but only a little more than Time.

Except that Legend has met Dusk and her two children, the children that are the parallels to him and Fable. He knows who their father is, and the problem is that their father is Alphon and Legend knows his father isn't Uncle Alphon.

That's the confusing part. Legend genuinely doesn't know how to place Twilight, his best conclusion is that Dusk and Twilight had some other variable that kept them from falling in love or at least having two kids that Legend's parents didn't. And knowing that Fable's counterpart was born... roughly two years after Twilight's adventure, meant that variable was probably related to his adventure.

But, how did Dusk's daughter look so identical to Fable if she had a different father, who bared little resemblance to Twilight? 

"Honestly, couldn't some part of my life been simple?" He muttered. He wished Piyoko was here--she's safer with Linkle.

"Did you say something?" Wild looked up from the breakfast he was working on.

"No, just thinking. Need a hand with that?"

The moment Legend opened his eyes, he knew things were wrong.

He shot up and almost expected to see lapping waves and hear cawing seagulls, only to see a familiar forest.

"What the..." he breathed, pushing himself to stand as he looked around. He dug out his ocarina and tried to play the Ballad of the Wind Fish.

The song reverberated in the forest—which it shouldn't have, the notes should've just expanded further—and thrummed all around him.

Nothing changed though. He almost began again when he heard a bush rustle.

He moved quickly, drawing his sword only to see a man rush through the small clearing to kneel by a tree. He put something inside it before quickly shoving his cloak into some sling at his chest.

“Excuse me?” Legend called, wary. He reached for the man’s shoulder.

Yelling caught his attention, familiar yelling. He tensed as he shifted his stance, the man shot up quickly.

“This way!”

“Find him!”

A squad of knights burst from the same direction the man had come from. The man moved past Legend in a way that should have bumped his shoulder, but he just went through him.

The realization near smacked him in the face.

This was a vision, he had some of those when he was younger but ever since Koholint he couldn’t differentiate them from dreams. He was seeing some scene, past, present, or future, and he couldn’t intervene. So he observed.

The cloak had been hiding a forest green tunic lined in golds, a golden crown, though Legend couldn't quite see his face from his angle.

“Stand down,” the leading knight commanded, and Legend froze when he saw that familiar glaze in the equally familiar knight’s eyes. “We only wish to kill the boy.”

“Over my dead body,” the man snarled, Legend felt a flash of familiarity at the voice.

“So be it.”

He swallowed thickly. What being had dragged him into some hell where his main torturer, visibly decades younger, was facing a younger and more composed Twilight?

Time grabbed Twilight’s arm and pulled him back. “We’re only observers, Pup.”

“He can’t see us,” Twilight croaked.

Hyrule was waving a hand in front of Legend’s face, but their scholar didn't even notice. Time didn't know how exactly, but they were all sharing some kind of vision, except Legend was separate from them. He blamed the goddesses.

“There’s a baby here!” Wind exclaimed from where he and Four had investigated the tree the nobleman had been knelt by.

Wild suddenly yelped loudly, grabbing Twilight’s arm as he jumped back.

Time turned to look at what startled the Cub, and only due to his earned dark vision, could he see the nobleman's face. The darkness of the snowstorm overhead didn't help, but his face was very clear.

Though it lacked tattoos and scars, it was undoubtedly their rancher, or someone closely related to him. His jaw the same shape, his nose and eyes, the way Time could almost feel a connection to him...

Time tightened his grip on his pup as he felt him go rigid beside him. The man in front of them wasn’t much of a man, maybe Sky’s age, younger than Twilight at least.

“What in Hylia’s…” Sky breathed.

The lookalike cut down two of the knights before an arrow lodged into his bicep. He didn’t cry out and only barely switched his sword to his other hand to block another blade. Time didn’t know what they were meant to be seeing; between the alleged baby in the tree behind them, the young man fighting to save both their lives, and Legend’s exclusion from them.

Time felt his blood go cold as a blade sank through the bundle on the young man’s chest, and then through his chest too. He could see the sword protruding from the man's back.

“NO!” Wild screamed.

Twilight lunged to catch him and pull him back, Time pulled both back as he listened to Twilight promise Wild that it wasn’t him. Wind cried out too, and Warriors was quick to pull him and Hyrule to him as they watched the young man snarl, baring slight fangs. The young man swung his sword desperately, and it knocked the knight’s helmet off, but did little other damage.

“Agahnim will fail,” he swore, “you’ll fail.”

The knight laughed; Sky suddenly made a horrified noise upon seeing the knight’s face.

“With that brat dead, he will prevail,” the knight sneered. “With you out of the way, that wife of yours will be easy pickings, king.”

The knight shoved the noble off his sword, the man fell back and into the snow. 

In a reminder that Legend was completely separate from them, the veteran shot forward, dropping to his knees beside the nobleman.

“No, no, no—” Legend said as the knights all laughed. They boasted to one another, cheered how Agahnim would be pleased, and left the nobleman to die. “Don’t tell me—”

“No--Kit, it’s not him, it's not the Rancher,“ Sky tried as the young nobleman struggled to breathe, blood slipping from his mouth.

Time hated to see it, that was his pup—in look, at least—who was dying on the forest floor. It was that inn all over again.

A ripple of violet wrapped around their scholar for a moment, and just in time, Legend’s hand landed on the young man’s chest.

“He touched him!” Four gasped, voicing what Time knew they all were thinking. This was a vision, a dream, how could Legend interact with it like that?

“Who…” the man murmured, frowning and his brows knitting together in a way that Time could only see Twilight, could only see his descendent laying there.

“Wait—I have a fairy,” Legend shoved his hand into his pouch. “It’s going to be alright—You’ll be fine, you’ll get out of this—”

“Yer him,” the man slurred, and Great Forests, he even sounded like Twilight. “I… I got’ta see… ya grown up…”

Time held his pup a bit tighter as they all stared at the scene.

Legend made a strangled noise. “No, no, no—Where is that damn fairy?!” He suddenly froze as the man raised a bloodied hand to his cheek. “W-What--”

“If yer here…” the young man said, “s’means… yer not changin’ it… are ya?”

Time did not know their acclaimed Veteran Hero to be fragile, yet in that moment he looked like breaking glass.

“I can’t, can I?” He responded, voice breaking. He didn't sound his years either. “I’m sorry—I’ll fix it though! I—Agahnim doesn’t win! I stopped him, and-and I—I saved Zel—She’s—She’s okay too. You—You’re okay—You don’t have to worry.”

It hit him: Legend wasn’t seeing Twilight.

“I know… ya got the look of a hero… jus’ like y’r ancestors.” The young man smiled just as his hand slipped down from Legend’s face, leaving a line of blood down it. “I’m… ‘m proud.”

Legend caught his hand but otherwise didn’t move, his mouth moved as if to speak but no sound emerged.

“What the hell?” Warriors breathed.

“Is he okay?” Wind whispered, daring to try and touch Legend again while the veteran just stared at the dead man in front of him.

“I don’t—” Twilight choked out, “he’s not okay—Ordona, please.”

Wind’s hand went through Legend again.

A call caught their attention. Legend’s head jerked to the side toward the wider forest. He scrambled to his feet as that purple wisp wrapped around him again and the call grew clearer.

“Link!” All their heads turned toward the older woman. She was followed by an older man carrying a lantern, just outside the area. “Link! Baby, we came! Where are…”

“Leanne,” the man grabbed her arm, staring in their direction. “Is that…”

She pushed branches aside and entered the area, Twilight made a strangled noise while Legend, who saw them too, let out a pained cry as he dropped back to his knees.

The woman rushed to the body on the ground, her hand brushing through Legend’s shoulder and half of Sky’s body as he failed to get out of the way quick enough. 

She let out a horrid scream, one worse than any redead Time had ever heard, a cry of pain deeper than any injury, than any sword wound.

“LINK! NO! GODDESSES NO! NOT MY BABY!” She screamed, falling to the ground beside the dead man.

She screamed and sobbed and begged the goddesses not to take her child, her husband kneeling beside her and placing his hand on his son’s leg, eyes slipping shut.

Time couldn’t move, her cries froze him to his place, and it seemed all of them had the same reaction, except for their veteran.

Legend, with visible tears streaming down his cheeks, rushed over to the grieving couple and dropped beside the woman.

“Gran—Gran, please stop crying,” Legend begged, and Time felt the pieces click into place. At that same moment, Twilight fell to the ground just beside Time. Wild made a worried noise as he dropped beside the Rancher. “Gran, please, it’s okay, I’m so sorry—Look! Gran, look at him, he’s smiling. Gran please, don’t cry. I’ll fix it, I will.”

He sounded like a child, he sounded like Time when he had begged Navi not to leave, he sounded desperate and broken and like he just wanted to fix the one thing he had left.

“We shouldn’t be seeing this,” Four said, stepping back. “We’re not supposed to be seeing this.”

The woman faltered, her hand lowered to the man’s face and brushed his cheek, tugging the smile that had remained when his spirit moved on.

“My baby,” she sobbed, her cries quieting. “My baby boy.”

Another kind of cry caught all their attention, in the hollow of a tree came the sound of a crying infant.

“Oh,” Legend breathed. “That’s how…” He let out a pained laugh for seemingly no reason.

The old couple both went to the tree, and the woman cooed, it was strained and a bit painful, as she scooped an infant wrapped in royal blue from the hollow.

Time stumbled as the world suddenly jerked beneath their feet.

Next>>

[her-gracious-lady-herald-bits1]

Prompt: time your oc hurt someone

Setting: pre-dragon age origins

---

Her hands won’t stop bloody shaking.

She’s been trailing the shem guard-Sergeant for weeks now, learning his habits—when he drinks, where he pisses, how he stumbles home through the warehouse district thinking he owns every sodding shadow.

Tonight’s different. Tonight, Kallian’s got her mum’s daggers strapped to her hips, and her heart’s hammering so hard against her ribs it makes her want to laugh or vomit or both.

She’s about to kill her first shem. Proper kill him, like. Not just nick his purse or stick him enough to run away. The thought should frighten her more than it does.

(Three strikes, Kalli.) Her mum's words feel bitter on her tongue. (One to blind, one to bleed, one to finish.) But Adaia never taught her how to murder. Self-defense, aye. How to cut a purse, sure. How to make shems think twice before grabbing at an elf girl—that was lesson one through bloody fifty. But this? This is something else entirely.

He comes stumbling round the corner, swaying like a tree about to topple, using the wall for balance. Marcus Thane. Guard-Sergeant. Not a demon, not even a monster. Just a sodding man. The kind of man who’d break an elf girl’s fingers in the markets for daring to lift a pouch. The kind of man who’d cut her mum down when she came charging to save her with blades drawn. Just another drunk shem staggering home too late, too stupid to think he’s walking into a right bloody reckoning.

Her fingers tighten around the daggers. Familiar as breathing, these blades. Been practicing with ’em since she was tall enough to reach the kitchen table. Now they’re gonna taste shem blood for the first time since—

(Since.)

"Oi! You sodding murderer!"

The words tear out of her before she means them to. Stupid. Should’ve just stuck him in the back and been done with it. But some part of her needs him to know. Needs him to understand exactly why he’s dying in this piss-stained alley.

He turns, nearly losing his footing. Recognition flickers in his drunken eyes. Then a furrowed brow. "The knife-ear kid..." he mutters, voice low. like he’s struggling to place her.

The words twist something deep in her gut. She steps forward. "Her name was Adaia.” Her voice wavers, too high, too tight. "Say it. Say her fucking name."

"Yeah, I know the name." He squints at her, swaying. "She pulled steel on us, girl. Damn near carved up Jonas before we had her down. She brought it on herself."

The rage hits so hard she can taste it, sharp and metallic like copper on her tongue. He doesn’t even remember properly.

(He bloody well will)

"She was protecting me," she spits. "You broke my fingers, you twat. She came for you because of me!"

He doesn’t even flinch. His hand brushes toward the sword at his belt. "That it? This about revenge, then?" He laughs, a low, mirthless sound, and steadies himself against the wall. "Think you’re the first to lose someone? Just trying to do my job, girl."

The blade is in her hand before he finishes the sentence.

The first cut slices across his sword arm. Not deep enough. Not nearly deep enough. He roars, swings wild, but she’s already dancing back. Another slash opens his thigh, and he stumbles, blood pooling black in the moonlight.

Could end it now. Should end it now. But the rage is screaming in her ears, louder than the night watch in the distance, louder than her mum’s voice whispering (quick and quiet, Kalli.)

"Fight proper, you little cunt!"* He charges like a drunk bull.

She sidesteps, hamstrings him. He collapses hard, sword clattering from his grip.

"Like you fought my mum proper?" Another cut. Another. She’s making patterns in his flesh now. "Like you gave her a bastard chance?"

"Please—"* His voice cracks, thick with panic. "I got kids—"

Her dagger stills for a moment.

"So did she!" The words rip from her throat, raw and burning. *"She had me! She had—"

Her hands tremble. The blade wavers. And Marcus is sobbing now, crawling, bleeding.

(End it, Kalli. End it now.)

She tries to find his heart, like mum taught her, but her hands are slippery with his blood, and he won’t stop making those horrible sounds and—

"Shut up!" She can’t tell if she’s screaming at him or herself. "Just shut up shut up shut—"

It takes three tries to finally do it. Three more sickening thrusts, the blade sinking deep, his body convulsing, going limp. She stands over him, breathing hard, watching the thing that used to be a man, used to be a killer, used to be—

The night watch’s distant calls snap her back. She runs. She flees. Whatever you call it when your legs move but your mind stays behind in a piss-stained alley with the first person you’ve ever killed.

Spends hours scrubbing blood from under her nails, watching pink water stain the basin before tipping it out.

Victory tastes like bile and copper. Justice feels like hands that won’t stop shaking, no matter how hard she scrubs them clean.

Her mum’s voice echoes in her head: (Quick and quiet, Kalli.)

But she wasn’t quick enough. Wasn’t quiet enough. Wasn’t enough to save her mum, and now she’s not even enough to properly avenge her.

Just another knife-ear kid playing at justice in the dark, learning the hard way that some stains don’t wash off.

No matter how hard you scrub.

Her hands won’t stop bloody shaking.

---

Finally got around to writing as one of my protagonists

With this done, I'm attempting to get past writers block, and to finish one about Evelyn's time in Kirkwall, and how it pretty much crushed her

Fun times, eh

[ararine]

My experience and opinion on each vanila love interest choice

Bachelors

Alex : Jock. Gramp Jorge and grandma Evelyn's grandson. He have dog. He is young but capable to grow up. I am closer with his grandparents more than him.

Elliott : Local romantic dreamer broke writer with luxury taste. His piano skill well. As good friend, I always give him crabcake I have too much. Ship with Leah.

Harvey : Idea of local and only doctor in town crush on me from the first sight even before he do my health check is so uncomfortable. Not mention he still collect me 1000g doctor fee when I fall sleep in my farm after married. Also his crush on Maru is awkard. He is NOPE for me

Sam : Sabestian's friend. Young one with dream and good big brother. Still nah not my type. I admit that in his family, he is one I feel least close to.

Sebastian : He click so perfect. I enjoy slow with stable pace with him. I am happy that he is happy and found his own place and how he belong. Among vanila, he is always one I marry with. I fear frog in RL so much but I willing to let him keep dozen of frog in his santuary. I get along well with his mom but not feel close with maru or Demetrius.

Shane : Broken and depression. At least after heart 8, he recovery a bit and found his passion. I never give him beer. My relationship with him more like I am best family friend with ranch family.

Bachelorettes

Abigail : Sorry for her fan but she is "I am not like another girl" vibe for me. Like Sebastian casual nightstroll in mine and give us Void Essence and Frozen Tear that is on deep floor while Abby said a lot how much she want to enter and train sword but always have cold feet to enter enless you married her. Her 14H event of she protect us from damn bat and give its grave is sweet but stupid. We survive and fight damn flying fire in valcano and carried weapon like 90% or time. Make she save our ass is kinda force scipt. Also enter cave mean you kill or attack a lot monster bc they wouldn't left you alone, I kinda avoid attack shadow people unless it is self defend bc Krobus but I wouldn't give bury to damn 300 iridium bats I slay to farm bat wing. I don't want to 'advanture' with Abigail since I enter mine for gather resource and material not for fun. My relationship with Pierre is conflict bc his personality and I feel I didn't close with Caroline much.

Emily : Weird but good friend. I can't imagine spend my whole life or date her, her bubble hight energy is not good for my introvert small social energy bar.

Haley : Well she act like spoiled stereotype blond bitch at first but she slowly grow up and sweet girl at heart. She havr city girl spirit so I understand that rural town like this make her feel frustating on a lot inconviniece but at least bus is fixed now. She was honestly have cheaper taste than you thougth she will have. I could imagind with baking sweets together with her and cuddle animal farm together and take pic or show her some secret place's great view. I wouldn't mind married her.

Leah : I can imagine we spend peacful time together in our farm and do forage together in forest. Or she drawing my farm animal or my pet or view. Wouldn't mind married her

Maru : well she is good girl with skill and innovative mind. Just not my type... Her father is kinda overbearing in law type too

Penny : let said, I aware she is good girl, just someone with mindset and dream for perfect loving family kinda not fixed well with me. Her reaction if we said we never want kid at all is kinda something even I understand why. Also her eager to help around that could end up be insensitive something even she didn't mean it. Well let said she isn't my type and me isn't one I think she will happy with too. I feel closer with her mom more than herself.

[linktotheheart]

Seeing the Signs

My fic for @silentteal for the @loftwingletters for the @zelinkcommunity loftwing letter exchange!

.....

Link dropped to one knee with an audible hiss of pain as he defeated the last bokoblin, panting and resting his weight on his sword which was planted firmly in the grass.

No, no no no, Zelda thought, as she sprinted to catch up to him. Hylia, not again. He's hurt again and it's my fault, please don't let him die! The shrine of resurrection is gone, I can't do anything!

“Link,” she cried out, dropping to her knees and sliding the last few feet from the speed of her sprint. “I'm so sorry! Where are you wounded? I'll take care of you.”

Link looked up with a smile, brushing the hair out of his eyes, and Zelda's heart made a weird swooping motion like a Rito aflight.

“Don't worry, Princess,” he signed. “It's just a pulled muscle. I lost my footing in the wet grass and tweaked something in my leg.“

All the tension left Zelda at once, and she wasn't sure whether to laugh or yell at her reckless knight. She settled for saying in a stern, stubborn voice, ”Well any wound can still be dangerous. You will let me tend to it immediately.“

Link laughed, an almost-tinkling, melodic laugh that for some reason always made her think of fairy children deep in a forest. ”Yes, your highness,“ he signed teasingly, and she glared at him.

She set about removing first aid supplies from her backpack. Bandages, cloth made adhesive with chu-chu jelly, a balm made of monster parts that eased inflammation. 

She could feel Link's intense blue eyes on her as she applied the balm with a firm but gentle touch. She wasn't sure if the heat she felt in her cheeks was from his sky-blue stare or from the little thrills as her fingers brushed his leg. Strange, the balm didn't have any electric-elemental ingredients to her knowledge - though really, she knew it wasn't that. For some reason, she thought suddenly about the hylian sign lessons that he had given her pre-calamity, the way his fingers had felt like so many fairy wings on hers as he had carefully corrected her signs.

She then took the bandages and adhesive cloths and methodically wrapped the injury to give it support, before finally raising her eyes to meet Link's. To her surprise, he was as red as she was.

The silence hung in the air between them, somehow as fraught as the atmosphere before a storm, yet warm and comfortable as a home.

Zelda realized her hands were still on the completed wrap, and cleared her throat as she hastily removed them. As the silence broke, Link almost looked disappointed, as if he had hoped for her to... say something? Do something?

”You are not to fight any monsters until that muscle is healed, do you understand?“ Zelda said, her words falling over each other in their haste to leave her throat. ”That's what we brought along an additional guard for.“

Link nodded, still giving her that unreadable look. She stood, brushing down the now sodden and grass-stained front of her leggings, and offered him her hand to help him up.

As he stood, she held onto his hand for a minute longer, then abruptly threw her arms around him, clasping the back of his head with one hand and gripping the back of his tunic in the other balled fist. ”I thought I'd lost you again,“ she half-murmured, half-sobbed into the hair above his ear.

Link hesitated, then hugged her back tightly, his arms sturdy and unyielding as the Deku tree itself.

As Zelda finally drew back, the hand that was behind his head lingered, coming to rest in a caress on his cheek. His azure eyes were as warm and bright as a summer afternoon, as he brought up one hand to cup hers. She paused, not wanting the moment to end.

“Do you trust me?” the other hand came up to sign, startling her.

Her eyebrows knit together as she started to pull her hand back. “Of course I do! If this is about asking you to let others fight, I -“

He caught her hand as she pulled it away, interlacing his fingers with hers. The words died in Zelda's mouth as all her breath seemed to desert her.

Link stepped forward, slowly, as if he was trying not to spook a wild horse. One hand came up to alight - trembling almost imperceptibly - on her own cheek, and he closed most of the distance between them. Their faces inches apart, she understood that he was giving her the choice of what to do.

She moved the last few inches, blossoming into a kiss. Oh Hylia, Din Farore and Nayru, this is what she had been wanting. The last of the realization that he had been waiting for her to come to him so that she could be the one to make the choice, after a lifetime of being subject to other people's desires, melted away into the sensation of him. Her whole awareness melted away into soft lips, the smell of sweat and horse lather and leather, the feel of home.

She was brought back to the world around them when a loud noise arose from a little bit away. They both jumped apart, Link sheepishly grinning and rubbing the back of his head, as their guard applauded and cheered (with more than a few wolf-whistles) at them from a rise a couple hundred feet away.

She looked down at their hands, and then interlaced her fingers with her knights’, tracing the line of his arm up to see him gently smiling at her in a way that made her dizzy. She leaned into him, then yelped slightly as he stumbled. Somehow, she'd already forgotten his injury.

Poking him in the ribs, she said “Now you're going to get some rest.” Ducking under his arm, she helped him start limping back to their entourage, as the captain and lieutenant of the guard rode their way leading their horses.

She then recalled a memory she'd long forgotten. Over a century ago, Link had taught her the sign that he had helped introduce when silent princesses were discovered. She blushed as she remembered the other sign she'd had trouble distinguishing it from - “I love you.”

.....

If you have an AO3 and it's okay, I'd love to post in on there as a gift to your account there as well, Teal!

[reyreadsandwrites]

An Imminent War or Whatever

content: Jason x named female demigod

a/n: short one this time. not sure if I like it so might delete, we'll see :/

I personally don't like writing in y/n / 2nd pov, so if you want your name in a story: send me your idea and a name and I'll try to get back to you!

warning: none

It was the first week of January. Alina and her friends had just come back from their quest to free the goddess Hera a couple of weeks ago and already she was bored. There’s only so much training you can do before your arms get tired, or your legs hurt from being slashed at so often with sharp objects. Leo had said it would take months to build a ship for the next quest in the way they wanted and, honestly, Alina didn’t know enough about mechanics to question his judgment, but that also meant that they were stuck for however long it would end up being with nothing to do but wait. 

It’s not like Alina wanted to be in constant danger and surrounded by monsters, but she also hated the wait. Alina was desperate to see Percy again, having lost countless nights of sleep over her oldest friend’s disappearance and, honestly, she was curious about the other camp. Camp Jupiter. 

Jason had told her a few things - all he could remember, anyway. He talked about it with a distant gaze in his eyes as if he wasn’t so sure if he missed it or not. She couldn’t help but be intrigued at this mystery place he had grown up at. It didn’t help that they were putting all their bets on Percy being there too. 

So, as the boredom sunk in, Alina had tried to find something to do. Her first stop had been the arena, where she won a sword fight to a grumpy child of Ares, then Bunker 9 where she had almost hammered her own hand while helping Leo. Alina had ultimately decided a walk to clear her head wouldn’t kill her, so she welcomed the cold and started her way to the beach all the while looking for a certain blond who nobody had seen since lunch. 

Speaking of the devil. She had made it to the border of the woods before she saw him. In a light blue sweater that had a stupid superman joke on itthat, of course, Alina had gotten him on a Christmas sale during her latest trip to the city, Jason was somewhere she had never expected to look - distracted, floating on air and in a tree? 

She looked up squinting from the winter sun. “Having fun up there?” 

Jason almost toppled out of the tree before catching himself with another gust of wind, seemingly spooked by her sudden appearance. Alina tried to stifle a few giggles and Jason responded with a string of curses before floating down to her side.

“I was helping a Dryad.” He said with a solemn nod, as if that explained everything. 

“Of course.” Alina answered with a smile. “Walk with me?”

—

They had made their way to the beach shortly after the tree debacle and had set themselves up on the sand watching the waves crash on the shore. They had talked themselves out and now settled into a comfortable silence, watching the sun go down. 

They had often done the same thing on their recent quest; opting to keep watch together as Leo and Piper slept. That’s how Alina knew that Jason was afraid his memories would never fully come back. And it’s how Jason knew that Alina was afraid her friend, Percy, wouldn’t remember her after everything they’d undergone together. 

“You ever wonder what you would be doing now?” Alina broke the silence. “In another universe. Where there was no threat of war or whatever.”

Alina looked at Jason. In the sunlight light, he looked almost regal. He was sprawled out in the sand, leaning on his arm, with his legs spread out in front of him and already looking at her. He shook his head. 

“I’ve never thought about it.” he started, sitting up and looking at her. He paused, thinking for a minute. “To be honest, I wouldn’t change anything, if that means having you here with me.”

Alina raised her eyes to meet his; his bright blue shimmering in the golden glow of the sun. She was all of a sudden aware of how close the two of them were sitting and without thinking much, she found that she didn’t mind. They were inches apart and getting closer. Alina swore she felt a pull; something dragging her to him. In that moment, Jason was magnetic. 

She could feel his breath, a warmth by her cheek. She looked down at his lips and watched the scar on his lipped moved with his mouth as Jason gave the slightest of a grin. She heard him whisper her name. 

For a while they stayed there, drinking in each other, the moment, the sun and in the end, it was Jason who closed the gap. He leant down to capture Alina’s lips in a kiss, holding her against him, a movement that was painfully gentle and eagerly awaited. She brought her hands to his chest as she leaned into it, grabbing a hold of his shirt to bring him closer.  

She felt sparks. Wild, magic, unforgettable. She might’ve blamed it on the fact that she was kissing the all to famous son of Jupiter - lightning and all but none of that mattered. Not the war, not the ship, not the wait. She was kissing Jason Grace and Alina was more than alright with that. 

“Imminent war or not, I’m glad I know you.” 

[redlazuly]

so i've just joined the pjo series discourse on sm (i've read all the books) so maybe people might have already said this but i feel like the monster fights are kinda underwhelming ?? the fights themselves but the atmosphere around them too. i'm just going to say it point by point to be clearer :

Mrs. Dodds: she's the first monster and threat of the show. i was waiting for something scary and surprising, that would have terrified percy or something. but instead the "reveal" was slow, and there wasn't even a fight, he just kind of opened the sword (even tho we don't even see him doing it) and she just. dies like that ?? it was really easy and i get that they can't just kill percy in the first ep but there wasn't even a bit of struggle or anything. tbh this first fight really dissapointed me. there was mystery that creates an intrigue but she just wasn't scary or a menace imo (EDIT : I HAVE NOW REREAD THE SCENE AND IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THIS IS EXACTLY HOW THE FIGHT PLAYS OUT IN THE BOOK (extract down below) so forget everything i said in this part, i'm sorry. )

2. The minotaur : i liked this one much more than the first one, the car chase was thrilling and the atmosphere of the scene was really cool. i've only got one little thing to say about it, but i think it's just a me thing and i'm nitpicking (idk how to make gifs so i hope you can picture it in your head) :

when sally takes percy's jacket to lure the minotaur away from the boys and uses it as a red cape like in a corrida, i think it kinds of take the attention away from the fear of the monster in itself by being comedic. AGAIN i know i'm nitpicking here but why not say it.

(also i regret that the last scene was so far away from the camera and from the camp border. i know it's bc it's percy's pov but i loved percy's desperation in the movie (I KNOW IT'S BAD) when he's failing to save his mother and finally sees her (and her emotions) when she is gets taken away from him.)

3. Medusa : i LOVED what they tried to do with medusa and how they tried to make us sympathise with her. however, the fight was REALLY dissapointing to me. it kind of happened from nowhere. it's implied that it's annabeth plan but it really happened way too fast and did not give enought time for the viewer to appreciate the threat that medusa can be. it felt way to easy for them to beat MEDUSA. the fight lasted 5 seconds max and it felt shy in a way, like as if they didn't not want to fuck it up.

+ special mention : 4. Clarisse: I'M NOT SAYING SHE'S A MONSTER, I'M JUST PUTTING HER HERE BC TECHNICALLY SHE WAS A THREAT TO PERCY. i like dior's acting, idk anything about her outside of the show but i'm going to be honest : not knowing the cast at all, at first i immediately thought she was drew 😭. she IS a really pretty girl but for me she doesn't emanate clarisse's ares' daughter vibe. when her spear broke she was so GOOD, but appart from that she's just really chill i think ? like she's not menacing, she just kind of a mean girl bully (which clarisse is ig but she's not a menace enough imo) and tbh i think she's just not as "rough" as i think she could have been.

tldr : i think the fights were not scary enough and did not set a good tone for the series. they were also too easy and fast for them to be enjoyable.

of course i still enjoy this show a lot so i will be watching the next episodes and the rest of it so maybe there will be improvements. please yell what you guys think !!

it's the first time i ever talk so much on tumblr, so i hope it was readable. if there was any mistakes please tell me, english is not my first language.

[bio-mecha-dragon]

Archive of Wizzro's dialogue in Hyrule Warriors

Switch Lines

Scenario- The Armies of Ruin lines

"Hiya ha ha! Keep attacking!"

"Is Volga slacking off again? Fine! Send out the next unit!"

"Attack! Destroy! Massacre! Kill the royal whelp before I grow impatient!"

"Move! Invade Hyrule Castle from the northern gate! They'll never expect it!"

(Fight Wizzro early) "I have no time for these vermin! There are preparations that need my attention!"

"Hiya ha ha! This is where it gets interesting! Unleash King Dodongo!"

"Yes, enjoy your time with the king… I have an appointment elsewhere!"

Scenario- The Sheikah Tribesman lines

"Hiya ha ha! Getting you into these caves was so simple! Now they shall become your tomb!"

"Kiya ha! As long as we have a Summoner, we'll have all the monsters we want!"

"Destroy that eyesore of a rat! Show these fools the depths of despair!"

"Forward! Cut them down! Hiya ha ha!"

"There’s nowhere to run! Crush them! Beat them! Grind them to dust! Hiya ha ha!"

"Too slow! Chase them down and commence the pincer attack!"

"Always something in my way… I'll smash these rats myself if I have to!" 

Scenario- The Sorceress of the Woods lines

"Scatter those Hyrulean pests! Exterminate them!"

"This'll teach you! Hiya ha ha!"

"You dimwits! I won't let you run away so easily!"

"Surround the big tree! Attack and destroy them!"

"Running… Hiding… In big tree…"

“Excellent! Let’s wreak some havoc!”

"Enjoy your little success, weasels! My next plan will burn your spirits to ashes! Hiya ha!"

"Hiya ha! There's no way you'll be able to put out that fire! I'll see you burned to a crisp!"

"Yes, this is beautiful! Exterminate them!"

"Gruh… These worms are wriggling more than I expected!"

"Kah?! Who let them talk to the Great Fairy?! That plan was PERFECT!"

"Ooh… What if I had IT kill them? Hiya ha ha! That's so naughty! I love it!"

Scenario- The Water Temple lines

Note: Disguised as Zelda

“Hm. Invaders. Someone destroy them for me.”

“Hyrulean soldiers! Cease fighting for the unworthy, and follow my royal command!”

“Hear me, soldiers of Hyrule! Flee from this temple! Drop your weapons, and turn back!”

“I have captured your ally! If you want her to remain safe, lay down your weapons!”

“Now… punish the insolent fools in front of the temple!”

“I have no idea how you broke my spell… But no matter. You leave me no recourse.”

“My loyal servant, King Dodongo! Come forth! Burn these fools to the bone!”

“Insolent wretch! You dare challenge me, the princess of the royal family of Hyrule?”

“King Dodongo slain? Impossible! Hurry, my servants! Serve Your Highness! Destroy!”

“How did you see through my disguise?”

Scenario- The Sacred Sword lines

*-Disguised as Lana

*"Eee hee hee! Get them! GET THEM!"

*"The enemy still lives! Finish this!"

*"you and that insipid fairy are such nuisances! I'll stomp you both if I have to!"

*"I guess you're not as easy to trick as you look... Oh well. I still won't let you win!"

"Tried hiding from me? Little brat…"

"You fool!"

"Don't mess with me, punk! Give me the Master Sword!"

"Hmm. It seems this sacred location is blocking my powers. A change of venue is in order!"

"Gaahh… You're cheating. Then again, we didn't give you much choice, did we?"

"If you want Cia, you'll find her in the Temple of Souls. But she's not going to be happy…"

Cia’s Tale- The Dragon of the Caves lines

"Ahhh, much better! But who are you and what do you want with me?"

"Hiya ha ha! I look forward to proving you right!"

"Ha! I'll burn down, blast apart, or shatter anything that gets in your way, Mistress! Heh heh hee!"

"Looks like we could use a boost! I'll just fill the gaps with a few more warm bodies!"

"All right, little lizards--you want a fight? Let's fight!"

"When fighting Gorons, watch for giant rodents. Your base will thank you for it."

"If you like winning, you'll want to stop those Bombchus…"

(Both Bombchus explode) “Pathetic. The enemy takes two keeps and our side is quivering in fear already.”

(Bombchu reaches Allied base) “Destroy that Bombchu before it annihilates our base!”

(Wizzro is in trouble) "Uh, Mistress? I think I may be in a tiny bit of trouble…"

(Wizzro needs aid) "AHHHHH! IT HURTS!"

(Wizzro flees) “Gyaaaah! I just barely lived!”

"If I can make these dragonfolk obey, I won't have any use for a sorceress…"

"Hiya ha ha! Once this keep is crushed, the witch won't stand a chance against my magic!"

"Gyah! I'll swear any oath you like--I'll never betray you again! Mercy, please!"

“I swear… eternal loyalty… to Cia.”

Cia’s Tale- The Invasion Begins Lines

“Hiya ha ha! Take the keep and force those gates open!”

(one escapes) “You let them get away? Imbeciles! Useless pests!”

(two escapes) “What are you doing, fools? If any more escape, they'll do it over your dead bodies!"

(reinforcements appear) “So you came running when those escapees called you? How nauseatingly noble!”

(Zelda appears) “What kind of princess fights alongside the commoners? I’ll teach her some manners!”

(Fights Zelda) “First the castle… then the owner… I’ll murder it all! Me! Hiya ha ha!”

“Rude! They went to their castle and didn’t invite us! Guess we’ll just have to knock!”

Cia’s Tale- The Usurper King lines

“Greedy people are easy to control--this Zant is your stooge for sure.”

“Let’s take down Midna as a welcome-aboard present! Hiya ha ha!”

“Crush the ants when they attack, but leave their keeps alone… for now.”

“Hey! That keep is one of Zant’s. Let’s leave it alone for now.”

“Zant’s forces appear to have it out for Volga for some reason…”

“Wait, stop attacking Zant’s guys! Midna’s starting to win, and we can’t have that!”

“So Midna’s got some teeth after all… Well, not for long! Hiya ha ha!”

“All right, I think our base is safe from Midna’s goons for now.” “So let’s kill Midna already!”

“That little demon thing is planning something… Keep an eye on it!”

“Hm. Locked gate. Should open up if we take the keep, though!”

“Kiya ha ha! How pointless! I’ll just strike right back!”

“Yeah, that did it! Now we just have to beat Midna!”

“I’m really hating her, but that was a pretty good move. We could be in trouble…”

“Probably! And if we get it from her, we can open the door and finally meet up…”

“If we tear down that dragon, then Zant might lose his will to fight back!”

(Allied Base in trouble) “Hey! The Twilit dragon’s fireballs are going to burn down our base!”

(Allied Base in danger) “That’s more fireballs than that base can withstand. We should do something.”

“We can’t let them run away--we’ll have to kill ‘em all!”

Cia’s Tale- The Demon Lord lines

"In that case... why not exploit the strength of the local humans?"

“The small one is controlling the big one! If he takes our base, we lose!”

Cia’s Tale- Darkness Falls lines

"But... I haven't even healed my wounds from that last fight!"

"Just look at Ganondorf control those creatures... When he says "Kill," they say "How painfully?"

"I... don't think so. My services belong to the strongest: Lord Ganondorf!"

"Hiya ha ha! Yes, let me demonstrate my power! You won't be disappointed-- I promise!"

"Hiya ha ha! Is my strength overwhelming you? Once you see my full power, you're done for!"

“Hiya ha! The number of monsters has waned? So? The battle is still far from over!”

“Well, I can fix that…”

“Haa… Haa… Seems I’m running out of power… Not sure if I’ll be able to summon any more…”

"Noooo! Not back into the ring!"

Miscellaneous

(Praise) "My! It looks like you have a few tricks up your sleeve, don't you?"

(Praise) “What… power!”

"What manner of beast is this?"

(Flees) “That’s it! I’ve had enough of this!”

"They never learn, do they? It's pointless, but they still keep coming!"

“I have more important things to do, so let’s get this over quick!”

"They'll be looking for the pieces of that one for a while. Gyahahaha!"

"Doesn't matter how hard you try-- cannon fodder will always be cannon fodder..."

"It's not enough... I need to make you all suffer more! Gyahaha!"

(Victory) "Battling... what an inconvenience!"

(Praise) "Kiya ha ha! You're really impressive out there!"

(Victory) "Your performance was abysmal compared to mine! Hiya ha ha!"

"You want me angry? I'll show you angry!"

"Your uselessness in protecting that keep almost makes me giggle."

"The keep is down. How droll. Oh well, on to the next one."

"Hiya ha ha! I took the keep!"

"Ho! Now is my chance to show off a bit!"

"Hum… Must I do everything?"

"I'll exterminate any vermin that get in my way!"

"Hiya ha! Allow me to join!"

"Aieee! Somebody, HELP ME!"

"Hiya ha ha! Your suffering is far from over!"

"You're nothing! Don't waste my time."

"Nincompoop! That'll teach you."

(Praise) "Hya ha ha! That's good! More, more!"

"I think a crushing defeat would suit you well! Kiya ha ha!"

"I... Lost? But how could one as clever as I lose to YOU?!"

"Garbage will always be garbage. Consider yourself trash that's been disposed of!"

”Don’t plod off on your own! Wait for me!”

(Praise) "Incredible! I'm completely speechless. Well, not completely..."

(Praise) "That strength... it's... monstrous! Hiya ha!"

“Such kind words… Whee hee hee!”

“Leaving so soon? Then why bother arriving in the first place?!”

“You can keep fooling around if you want. Me? I’ll be doing my job.”

“Are you excited for my help! You should be! Hiya ha ha!”

“Hmm… You’ll make for an interesting challenge… I’ll enjoy killing you!”

(Flees) "Curses! I didn't anticipate it'd be this hard."

(Praise) “Wonderful skill! I’m dizzy just watching!”

(Save) "You saved me... Er-- don't act so proud of it!"

Wii U

“Are you afraid yet? Gyahahaha!”

"Fortify our base!"

“We must defend our base, or else our plans will fail!”

“How could I lose to such filthy warriors?”

"Hiya ha ha! I'm so delighted with this turn of events!"

"All right, then, let's see if you can beat me! Hiya ha ha!"

"Garbage will always be garbage, nothing more. Consider yourself trash that's been disposed of!"

“Now you know my terrifying power!”

“Shut up and be defeated."

"Now is the perfect time to advance our army!"

"Fine, but don't botch things up!"

"Very well, I'll play with you for a few minutes."

"Attack the enemy! Destroy the enemy!"

"I can't possibly handle this... Retreat!"

“Urgh… I need help!”

“Forgive me for being a bother…”

“Pfft! I’m not trying to run away. I’m just trying to call for reinforcements!”

“Hiya ha ha… I won’t let you go!”

(Wizzro is in trouble!) "See what happens when you get in my way?"

[brutal-nemesis]

E&T: A Truly Slothful Start

*points at Erebus* Bro is NOT built for this lmao (btw I drew the sloth demon a v long time ago enjoy)

Suggested battle music: Grandma (Destruction) from NieR: Automata (spotify | youtube)

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Ingredients: combat whump we fight monster, amputation hehe (not gory tho!), slight drowning, undescribed eye whump

PART III: Untitled World

The things that hit him first were the suffocating darkness and the awful chill in the air.

Erebus knew he didn’t belong here. All around him, strange rock formations jutted out every which way, no sign of life among them. There didn’t seem to be any source of light, and yet everything was clearly visible, casting hardly any shadow. The silence was nearly absolute, pressing in on his ears. The only thing he could hear was the freakishly loud sound of his own heartbeat, amplified by the collar around his neck.

Wait, the collar-he reached up for it, fingers closing around the awful strip of leather that he’d been forced to wear since the start of his captivity. He had a sword, he had claws, and N...no one would make him wear another one if he broke it. So he should take it off, right? He should destroy it. He’d always hated it, the way it meant he was owned, how it let-let people put leashes on him and lead him around like a dog. She...she’d said it herself, that he had to wear it so he wouldn’t forget that he belonged to her, but now they were...not together. So it shouldn’t matter. 

But he couldn’t stop thinking about when she’d taken it off for the procedure with the envy demon, about how utterly, embarrassingly exposed he’d felt without that stupid collar. Maybe the feeling would pass, and he would just have to get used to being without it. He hadn’t worn one for the vast majority of his life, so it should be easy to adjust back, right? Besides, it was more than just a collar, it was a way for her to know if someone other than her was touching him, and that was violating, it was...it was a way for her to know he was alive. Assuming it worked, assuming whatever signal it was could be sent to another world.

Erebus lowered his hands, still chained together, as he blinked away tears. He-he was really here, in this other world with only a slim chance of ever going back. He’d take every tie to his old life he could get, no matter how painful. And if the spell on the collar worked, then…he owed it to her to let her know he was still alive. He could wear the collar for a little while longer. The muzzle, on the other hand...he didn’t mind tearing that off and throwing it away in the slightest.

Shakily, he stood, grabbing the sheathed sword in front of him. Being expected to fight was…strange. But, looking at himself now, he was practically designed for this, almost every modification giving him some sort of advantage. It made his blood run cold to think about how this had been the plan from the start, how obvious it seemed now. He wanted to lay down and sob and process what had happened, but everything was so different and strange that he didn’t feel safe enough to let his guard down like that. Swallowing the lump in his throat, he buckled the sword belt around his waist and began looking around.

Behind where he’d appeared, there was a bag lying on the ground. Inside was a cloak with holes for his wings, a knife, and a bedroll. Well, better than nothing, but he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do about food and water or lighting a fire. Maybe that demon tongue would be coming in handy, after all. He put on the cloak, grateful to have something to help him keep warm in this place, along with the shoes he still had on from their trip to the desert.

Nothing else here, he began carefully making his way along one of the stone cliffs, leaning on it since there had never been a chance to fully heal the gash in his leg. Progress was slow, and maybe it would have been a good time to think things through, but he couldn’t stop tears from forming in his eyes at the mere thought of what had happened, so instead he just focused on the pain in his leg, flaring up brighter with every step.

Time felt impossible to grasp, as if this place was outside of it entirely, but at some point Erebus reached the end of the maze of stone. He was greeted with what looked like a vast ocean, but the water was unnaturally calm, not a single ripple on the glass-like surface. Had there been stars above, it would have been beautiful, but under the canopy of uniform blackness, it just looked like a cold, empty void. 

Erebus hesitated to step out in the open, no walls to protect him, but the silence was so absolute that he couldn’t imagine there was another living thing anywhere near him. His leg didn’t hurt quite as much anymore despite how much he’d been walking, so he was able to hobble to the water’s edge and investigate, setting the pack down to make moving around a little easier. The sword, however, still hung at his side, just in case. 

The water was clear, and as far as he could tell, there was no sign of life in it whatsoever. It was jarringly different from the seaside at home, where you could hardly take a step without spotting a shellfish or aquatic plant. Here, it was just pebbles, no broken shells or bits of dead coral among them. He crouched and dipped a finger in, finding the water both cold and salty. The ripples created by his finger traveled far, seeming to get bigger as they traveled along. Suddenly, even bigger ripples rushed to meet them from farther out, and Erebus’s stomach knotted in terror as he bolted upright, pulling out the sword, having to hold it with both hands since they were still chained.

He strained his eyes in the darkness, looking for whatever had caused the disturbance. Was that...there was something  in the water out there, he was sure of it. He took a few steps back, sword still held in front of him, watching the strange shape grow larger and larger as it approached. The moment the tip of its nose emerged, the surface of the water erupted, spraying Erebus with cold mist and shooting tendrils out into the open air that coalesced into a large sort of web. Arches of water now crisscrossed all throughout the space, severely limiting how much he could fly around, especially since he never had a chance to practice it much. In the middle of the watery network was a large bubble, and when he saw what was inside it, Erebus’s jaw dropped.

The creature was enormous, big enough to swallow him whole in one bite. Its pale gray body was long, with two pairs of flippers that were almost as big as Erebus and a webbed, spiny ridge going down its back. A cruel, curved hook jutted out from the end of its tail, almost as sharp-looking as its conical teeth. As Erebus looked at it in horror, it turned its gaze to him, its blank white eyes staring into his own identical pair. So this…this must be a sloth demon. He was supposed to fight that? 

He could leave, just run and hide, this thing couldn’t follow him through those rocky canyons, he could stop and take a moment to think, but this was an enemy right in front of him, and no matter how terrifying, it had revealed itself, no more surprises. Erebus tightened his grip. If he could-could beat this thing then he could really rest. It would be safe here. He would be that much closer to going h…somewhere that wasn’t here. He could do this. He had to.

Despite how much he was shaking, Erebus took flight and approached, finding it difficult to do so while he was holding the sword, but not enough for him to fall out of the air. The demon just watched as he flew past the jets of water, and Erebus hated those blank white eyes boring into him, which just made him loathe his own all that much more. How…how exactly was he supposed to attack it? It was so huge and he couldn’t see any kind of obvious weakness, not to mention that it was surrounded by a sphere of water. While he knew his eyes worked underwater, he could only imagine his wings would be a hindrance, not to mention the heavy sword. 

Maybe…maybe he should just retreat for now. Come up with a plan and come back. This was just…it was too much. Reassuring himself that the demon couldn’t follow him, he cautiously turned around and started to weave his way through the tendrils of-there was a sharp jerk on his wing, and suddenly Erebus was being dragged through the air, crashing into pillars of water as he went, barely registering the splash of his sword hitting the sea below as he scrambled to get his wing free of-of-it was that hook it was pierced through the top of Erebus’s wing he couldn’t get it out his fingers were slippery and freezing and useless he had to do something kick his legs flap his wings anything-

Just as those awful teeth came into view, Erebus managed to swing himself back, but the chain on his wrists was caught, wrapped around a tooth, his fall jerked to a halt, he was hanging by his wrists, the hook was gone but his wing wouldn’t work, he had to do something, that eye was so big and so close, watching him struggle, the beast’s throat humming with an ancient growl, hungry, he couldn’t just let this happen, he grabbed the tooth with his left hand and the chain with his right, he could do this, pull himself up enough to-

The great jaws snapped shut, and Erebus tumbled into the water below. 

Cold shocked his system, despite the fact that his left arm felt like it was on fire. 

He couldn’t stay down here. He had to get to the surface.

But, down there, a faint glint. Metal. His sword. His only hope of winning.

He swam towards it, progress slow and painful and-

His left hand was gone. 

There wasn’t time to mourn it. 

His remaining hand wrapped around the hilt of the sword. It was heavy, too heavy for him to swim up with. 

He was running out of air. He had to try. This couldn’t be the end. Not here. Not so soon after-

The hook pierced through his wing again, and it was all he could do to hold onto his sword this time around.

The sloth demon pulled him up and out of the water with its tail, tossing him high into the air as it opened its great jaws to swallow him whole. His wings torn and useless, all Erebus could do was flap them desperately and hope it would be enough, hope he could at least-his foot landed on one of those teeth, holding him for just a moment before he slipped, but it was enough to aim his sword hold it steady launch himself down drive that point right down into the demon’s eye paint that awful soulless white with red hear the roar of agony so loud he could feel it in his bones and now the water was collapsing falling back down the great corpse falling with it he had to get away wrench the sword out jump back splash into the water struggle to the surface to the shore drag himself out of the water collapse on the shore and breathe.

He-he’d won, but just barely, and the losses were-Erebus bit back tears, looking away from the ragged stump at the end of his left arm. There was no way he could survive six more fights like that.

This horrible, hostile place was going to destroy him, and there would be nothing left of him to go back home.

Next→

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III. Son of the God of Toilets

PAIRING: Percy Jackson x Fem!OC

SUMMARY: Percy gets a tour of Camp Half-Blood, including a closeup of the girls’ bathroom.

WARNINGS: bullying, physical fighting

SERIES MASTERLIST

MAIN MASTERLIST

They’d only made it a few steps away from the cabin before Annabeth spoke.

“Jackson, you have to do better than that.”

“What?”

Annabeth rolled her eyes and grumbled under her breath, “I can’t believe I thought you were the one.”

Amara stood in between the two. “Annie, that’s not fair. Percy, you just need to—“

“What’s your problem?” Percy yelled, anger taking over. “All I know is, I kill some bull guy—“

“Don’t talk like that!” Annabeth interrupted him. “You know how many kids at this camp wish they’d had your chance?”

“Hold on,” Amara said, trying to separate the two.

“To get killed?”

“To fight the Minotaur!”

“Okay!” Amara screamed. “Stop yelling at each other or I’m leaving.”

She didn’t necessarily have an issue with them yelling at each other, she just hated that she couldn’t seem to get a word in. At least now they could all be upset together.

Annabeth just crossed her arms. Amara pushed her fingers through her hair by her temples, covering her eyes with her palms before dragging her hands down her face. Percy stood there like a kid who’d just been scolded, arms hanging awkwardly by his side as he looked around.

Amara broke the silence.

“Look, most of us are here because at some point we were attacked by something. We didn’t all have to opportunity to kill our monsters so killing the Minotaur is like a dream come true to some of us,” Amara explained. “That’s why it’s important that you make a good impression, Percy. Everyone’s already got these high expectations of you because you killed the Minotaur.”

Percy shook his head. “If what I fought was the Minotaur, like the Minotaur, isn’t there only one?”

“Yes”

“And he died, like, a gajillion years ago, right? Theseus killed him in the Labyrinth. So…”

“Monsters don’t die, Percy,” Annabeth said. “They can be killed. But they don’t die.”

“Oh, thanks. That clears it up.”

“They don’t have souls, not like we do,” Amara explained. “You can kill them, and they’ll stay dead for a while.”

“Maybe even a whole lifetime if you’re lucky,” Annabeth added.

“But monsters are primal forces. They take their time reforming, but once they do it’s like they never died in the first place.”

Percy thought about Mrs. Dodds. “So if I happened to kill one, accidentally, with a sword, it can come back?” he questioned.

“The Fur… I mean, your math teacher. That’s right. She’s still out there. You just made her very, very mad.”

“How did you know about Mrs. Dodds?”

“You talk in your sleep,” the two girls answered at the same time.

Percy didn’t love that. Hopefully, he didn’t say anything completely embarrassing. Heat crawled up his neck and flicked against the tips of his ears at the thought.

“You almost called her something. A Fury? They’re Hades’ torturers, right?”

Percy watched as the pair glanced around nervously, Annabeth staring at the ground like it would open up and swallow her while Amara scanned the sky as if something was going to swoop down and carry her away.

“You shouldn’t call them by name, even here. We call them the Kindly Ones, if we have to speak of them at all.”

“You’re more than welcome to risk it though. I’m sure the Ares kids would love a good excuse for a fight,” Amara joked. Annabeth smacked her arm, the two girls now having an entire conversation through their eyes.

Are you serious?

Someone had to lighten the mood and I’m just pissed it was me.

He needs to learn or it’ll get him killed.

You also need to chill or he’s gonna get mad again and ignore you.

“Look,” Percy said, interrupting the bizarre silent film he was being subjected to. “Is there anything we can say without it thundering? And why do I have to stay in cabin eleven, anyway? There are plenty of empty bunks right over there.”

He pointed at Zeus and Hera’s cabins to prove his point. Annabeth looked like she was gonna be sick. It took everything Amara had in her not to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

“You don’t just chose a cabin, Percy. It depends on who your parents are. Or parent.”

“My mom is Sally Jackson,” Percy said. Amara just closed her eyes and sighed quietly. All the humor from the situation was gone.

You adorable, clueless idiot, she thought. Wait, adorable?

“She works at the candy store in grand central station,” he continued. “Or at least, she used to.”

“I’m sorry about your mom, Percy. But that’s not what I mean. I’m talking about your other parent. Your dad.”

“He’s dead. I never knew him.”

Annabeth sighed this time. Amara jumped in, hopefully preventing Annabeth from just strangling Percy.

“Your dad’s not dead. You wouldn’t be here if he was. You wouldn’t be here unless you were one of us.”

“You don’t know that,” Percy said, anger returning. “You don’t know anything about me.”

His outburst pushed the two over the edge. Maybe Amara would let Annabeth strangle him. Maybe it would kickstart something in his brain.

“No?” Annabeth started. “I bet you moved around from school to school a lot. I bet you were kicked out of a lot of them.”

“You were probably diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD,” Amara continued, raising a finger on her hand for every point they made. “Letters float off the page when you read and what doesn’t float away is always shifting around. That’s because your brain is hardwired for ancient Greek.”

“And your ADHD. You’re impulsive, can’t sit still in the classroom. That’s your battlefield reflexes. In a real fight, they keep you alive. As for your attention issues, that’s because you see too much, Percy, not too little. Your senses are better than a regular mortal’s. That’s why teachers want you medicated. Most of them are monsters. They don’t want you seeing them for what they are.”

Percy looked unnerved. Amara supposed she would be too if two borderline strangers just summed up her life. But they’d done this speech a hundred times. It was always the same story.

“You sound like you went through the same thing.”

“Most of the kids here did. If you weren’t like us, you wouldn’t have survived the Minotaur, much less the ambrosia and nectar.”

“Ambrosia and nectar,” Percy stated, but it came out more like a question.

“The food and drink we were giving you to make you better. That stuff would’ve killed a normal kid. It would have turned your blood to fire and your bones to sand and you’d be dead. Face it. You’re a half-blood.”

“It’s not all bad,” Amara said. “You get to stay here where it’s safe, year round if you want. Chiron’s a good teacher, a lot better than mortal ones, and since the lessons are in Greek it’s not as hard to understand. And you’ll make friends that you get to spend a ton of time with. And there’s amazing food and the campfire.”

Amara stopped when she realized Percy wasn’t really listening to her anymore.

Percy was stuck inside his own head, thoughts flying around faster than he could process them, until a shout snapped him out of it.

“Hey! A newbie!”

Clarisse La Rue and three of her sisters—Sloane, Megan, and Audrey—had pushed their way out of cabin five and were now marching directly toward them.

“Clarisse,” Annabeth seethed. It was probably an Ares’ kid trait, but nobody pissed people off quite like Clarisse did. “Why don’t you go polish your spear or something?”

“Sure, Miss Princess. So I can run you through with it Friday night.”

“Erre es korakas! You don’t stand a chance.”

“We’ll pulverize you,” Clarisse growled.

“Clarisse,” Amara snapped. “Camp is huge. Find anywhere else to be, please.”

“Nah, but good try, Sunshine.” Clarisse smiled when she saw Amara glaring at her. “Who’s this little runt?”

“Percy Jackson, meet Clarisse, daughter of Ares.”

Amara guessed they were skipping over the introductions for everyone else. Shame. She loved calling Audrey ‘Aubrey’ and watching her eye twitch when she corrected her.

“Like…the war god?”

Clarisse sneered. “You got a problem with that?”

“No,” Percy responded, a sudden surge of confidence overtaking him. “It explains the bad smell.”

Amara couldn’t contain her laugh. She quickly pulled her lips between her teeth, biting down to silence herself, but the damage was done.

Clarisse growled. “We’ve got an initiation ceremony for newbies, Prissy.”

“Percy.”

“Whatever. Come one, I’ll show you.”

“Clarisse—“ Annabeth tried to say.

“Stay out of it, wise girl.”

“Hey!” Amara started at Clarisse, but Annabeth grabbed her wrist before she got anywhere. She looked over at her and Annabeth just shook her head.

Not worth it.

She hated it when Annabeth was right. She didn’t actually hate it, Annabeth was right a lot of the time, it just sucked that there wasn’t anything they could do for Percy without getting caught in the crossfire.

Percy handed Amara his Minotaur horn and got ready to fight. Amara had never held a spoil of war before. She turned it over in her hand, rubbing her thumb over the tip of the horn. She should probably give it to Annabeth, not deeming herself responsible enough to hold onto someone’s only memento, but he gave it to her so she hardened her grip until her hand hurt. She wouldn’t lose it.

Percy lost the fight immediately, Clarisse putting him in a headlock and dragging him towards the girls’ bathroom. Percy was kicking and punching the entire time, but Clarisse never wavered. She made it into the bathroom with him in record time.

The girls’ bathroom wasn’t anything spectacular. There was a line of toilets down one side, a few shower stalls along the back, and a line of sinks up the other wall. The cabins all had their own bathrooms, so the communal ones weren’t used often. They were clean, Chiron made sure of that, but they certainly looked original to the camp.

Clarisse grabbed a handful of Percy’s hair and led him into one of the stalls, Percy too busy trying to avoid getting his hair ripped out to stop her. He wouldn’t have been successful anyways. Somehow fighting against Clarisse was worse than fighting against the Minotaur.

“Like he’s ‘Big Three’ material,” Clarisse snickered. “Yeah, right. Minotaur probably fell over laughing, he was so stupid looking.”

“Pot meet kettle,” Amara murmured under her breath. Annabeth smacked her arm to tell her to shut up when Clarisse’s sisters stopped laughing and turned back toward them.

Clarisse shoved Percy onto his knees and pushed his head toward to the toilet bowl. Percy fought against her the whole way. If his head was going to get dunked in toilet water, then he wasn’t going peacefully.

Percy was straining against Clarisse, completely refusing to accept his fate, when he felt something pull at the pit of his stomach.

The pipes began to rumble. Clarisse’s hand loosened in his hair as everything shuttered. Then a stream of water shot out of the toilet, completely missing Percy and hitting Clarisse straight in the face.

She fell, the force of the water knocking her off her feet and pushing her back against the sinks as her screamed. Her sisters came forward to help, but water began to spout from every fixture in the bathroom. Streams from the showers and sinks joined the toilets, targeting the four girls until they were washed away and out of the bathroom.

As soon as they were gone it’s like the plumbing realized it had gotten rid of the garbage and ceased fire, water settling back into the pipes where it belonged.

Unfortunately, Amara and Annabeth weren’t spared. The two were soaked, clothes dripping wet and Amara’s hair pulled nearly straight from the weight of the water. They stared at him in shock.

The entire bathroom was flooded. The only dry spot in the room was a circle around Percy. Even Percy was bone dry, not a drop of water on him or his clothes.

He slowly got to his feet, his legs shaky, and walked toward to two girls.

“How did you…”

“I don’t know,” Percy answered, looking back over the bathroom like he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing.

“All hail, Percy Jackson. Son of the god of toilets,” Amara quipped flatly, handing Percy back his Minotaur horn so she could wring out her hair. She grimaced as they walked through the door. The feeling of wet clothes rubbing against her skin was revolting.

Outside, Clarisse and her sisters were sprawled out on the grass recovering. By now other campers had gathered around, curious about the scene that they had caused.

If Annabeth and Amara looked bad, then Clarisse was ten times worse. Her hair was flattened across her face, clothes sopping and covered in mud where the sudden water flow had found bare patches of dirt. Fire burned in her eyes when she saw Percy. “You are dead, new boy. You are totally dead.”

Percy apparently liked to try his luck, words slipping past his lips before he could stop them. “You want to gargle with toilet water again, Clarisse? Close your mouth.”

She went to charge Percy, but her sisters held her back. They dragged her back to cabin five, other campers avoiding them as they went, before finally disappearing inside the gaudy red building.

Amara wasn’t sure if Percy had a lack of self preservation or just lacked a filter between his brain and his mouth, but she had to admit that it was nice to see Clarisse be knocked down a few pegs.

The two girls stared at him. Annabeth was all too good at hiding her emotions from him and Amara wasn’t far behind, her eyes only partially giving her away. He couldn’t tell whether they were grossed out, angry, or impressed.

“What?” He caved, itching to hear what they had to say. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking that I want you on my team for capture the flag.”

Amara wouldn’t burst his bubble that he was already on Annabeth’s team, Annabeth all but securing Athena’s alliance with Hermes through Luke and Amara, and let Percy have his moment.

In fact, Amara refused to answer him at all, much to Percy’s disgust. He wasn’t sure why he cared so much what she thought of him, but he continued to pester her as Annabeth showed him more places around camp. They made it through the forge, the arts-and-crafts room, and the climbing wall before they stopped at the canoeing lake.

Between Percy staring at her anytime he wasn’t listening to Annabeth and her waterlogged clothes chafing her skin, Amara was more than ready to get back to cabin eleven.

“I’ve got training to do,” Annabeth said flatly. “Dinner’s at seven-thirty. Just follow your cabin to the mess hall.”

“Look, I’m sorry about the toilets.”

Amara appreciated the apology, running her fingers between the cut off bottoms of her shorts and her legs, unsticking the wet denim. Annabeth seemed far less accepting.

“Whatever.”

“It wasn’t my fault.”

Wrong answer. The look Annabeth shot him made it clear that it was, in fact, his fault.

“You need to go talk to the Oracle.”

“After getting approval from Chiron, that is,” Amara chipped in, now pulling her shirt away from her stomach, somehow more uncomfortable in her wet clothes standing still than she was walking around.

“Who?”

“Not who. What. The Oracle. I’ll just ask Chiron.”

Percy didn’t respond. He only had more questions and figured it was probably better to just keep quiet than ask more stupid questions that he wouldn’t get clear answers to.

He stared down into the lake, not expecting two pairs of eyes to be staring back at him. Two teenage girls were sitting at the bottom of the pier wearing jeans and t-shirts, their hair floating up around them as minnows darted about. They smiled up at him and waved. Not knowing what else to do, Percy waved back.

“Don’t encourage them,” Annabeth warned. “Naiads are terrible flirts.”

Amara rolled her eyes. The naiads might be terrible flirts, but they were pretty and they were always nice to Amara.

“Naiads,” Perry repeated, looking back at the underwater girls like he’d finally lost his mind. “That’s it. I want to go home now.”

Amara felt bad for him. After everything—the Minotaur, the bathroom, seeing Chiron—it was naiads that made him think he’d gone crazy.

“You are home, Percy. This is the only safe place on earth for kids like us.”

“You mean, mentally disturbed kids?” Percy blurted, turning away from the water.

“She means for half-bloods, demigods, whatever you wanna call us. The not-mortals, not completely at least,” Amara said.

“Not completely. So we’re supposed to be what? Half-god?” Percy responded. He knew that was true. He wasn’t too sure about a lot of things, but he did know that demigods were half god, half human. He just couldn’t admit that it might be true about himself.

Annabeth nodded. “Your father isn’t dead, Percy. He’s an Olympian.”

“That’s…crazy.”

“Is it? What’s the most common thing gods did in the old stories? They ran around falling in love with humans and having kids with them. Do you think they’ve changed their habits in the last few millennia?”

“But those are just—“ Percy paused. He supposed he’d seen a lot of myths over the last few days. So he was either dreaming, crazy, or they were really telling the truth. “So if all the kids here are half-gods—“

“Demigods,”Annabeth corrected. “That’s the official term. That or half-bloods.”

“I still prefer not-mortal. Has a specific air of uncertainty that calls to me,” Amara chimed in. She knew her quips weren’t exactly well timed, but she couldn’t stand the overbearing tension.

“Then who’s your dad?” Percy asked, finishing his thought from before Annabeth interrupted him.

He immediately regretted asking. Annabeth’s hands tightened around the pier railing and Amara just looked at the ground, any amusement she previously had wiped from her features.

“My dad is a professor at West Point. I haven’t seen him since I was very small. He teaches American history.”

“He’s human.”

“What? You assume it has to be a male god who finds a human female attractive? How sexist is that?”

Percy decided to ignore her outburst before he dug himself an even deeper hole. He looked to Amara. “What about you?”

"My dad’s a curator. He works with Greek and Roman artifacts. He kinda bounces around but last time I saw him he was working at the Parthenon in Nashville.”

“So who’s your mom, then?”

If Percy thought the hole he dug with Annabeth was deep, then he hit the underworld with Amara. She just looked up at him, her smile sad as she shrugged her shoulders.

“The million dollar question. Undetermined,” she stated.

“Cabin six,” Annabeth answered, directing Percy’s attention to her and away from Amara.

“Meaning?”

“Athena. Goddess of wisdom and battle.”

“And my dad?”

“Undetermined,” Amara said. “Just like me. Nobody knows.”

“Except my mother. She knew.”

“Maybe not, Percy. Gods don’t always reveal their identities.”

“My dad would of. He loved her.”

The two girls shared a look, Annabeth trying her best not to harm Percy’s perception of his parents. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe he’ll send a sign. That’s the only way to know for sure: your father has to send you a sign claiming you as his son. Sometimes it happens.”

“Sometimes it doesn’t,” Amara cautioned, bitterness coating her tongue.

“What do you mean sometimes it doesn't?”

“The gods are busy. They have a lot of kids and they don’t always…” Annabeth ran her palm along the rail, trying to find the right words.

“They don’t always care about us,” Amara finished. “They ignore us.”

Percy observed Amara. All the times he’d seen her so far she’d been pretty bubbly and positive. She took care of him, smiled at him, cracked jokes.

Now she looked absolutely dreadful, arms crossed over her chest, eyes a mixture of resentment and dejection. She looked like a crumbling shell of the lively girl he was becoming accustomed to.

He thought back to the situation he was in. “So I’m just stuck here. That’s it? For the rest of my life?”

“It depends,” Annabeth said. “Some campers only stay the summer. If you’re a child of Aphrodite or Demeter, you’re probably not a real powerful force. The monsters might ignore you, so you can get by with a few months of summer training and live in the mortal world the rest of the year. But for some of us, it’s too dangerous to leave. We’re year-rounders. In the mortal world, we attract monsters. They sense us. They come to challenge us. Most of the time, they’ll ignore us until we’re old enough to cause trouble—about ten or eleven years old, but after that, most demigods either make their way here, or they get killed off. “

“So monsters can’t get in here?”

“Not unless they’re intentionally stocked in the woods or specially summoned by somebody on the inside.”

“Why would anybody want to summon a monster?”

“Practice fights.”

“Practical jokes,” Amara chimed in.

“Practical jokes?”

“The point is, the borders are sealed to keep mortals and monsters out. From the outside, mortals look into the valley and see nothing unusual, just a strawberry farm.”

Percy paused, processing all the information that’s been thrown at him in the last few minutes.

“So…you’re both year-rounders?”

The two girls nodded, Annabeth pulling her leather necklace out from under the collar of her shirt. Amara’s already laid on top of her shirt, three colorful clay beads on display compared to Annabeth’s five. Annabeth’s also held a gold class ring in the center of her necklace.

“I’ve been here since I was seven. Every August, on the last day of summer session, you get a bead for surviving another year. I’ve been here longer than most of the councilors, and they’re all in college.”

“Why did you come so young?”

“None of your business.”

Percy just sighed, standing there uncomfortably as silence fell over the group. If they got a bead for every year, then Amara had been there three years, since she was nine presumably. Percy was glad he got the extra few years with his mom, even if he had to suffer through smelly Gabe to have them.

“So…I could just walk out of here right now if I wanted to?”

“It would be suicide, but you could, with Mr. D’s or Chiron’s permission. But they wouldn’t give permission until the end of the summer session unless…”

“Unless?”

“Unless you were granted a quest. But that’s rare and it’s been years since the last one,” Amara said.

“Back in the sick room, you asked me something about the summer solstice.”

“So you do know something,” Annabeth said accusingly.

“Well…no. Back at my old school, I overheard Grover and Chiron talking about it. Grover mentioned the summer solstice. He said something like we didn’t have much time, because of the deadline. What did that mean?”

“I wish I knew. Chiron and the satyrs, they know, but they won’t tell me. Something is wrong in Olympus, something pretty major. Last time we were there, everything seemed so normal.”

“You’ve been to Olympus?”

Amara nodded. “There was a field trip during the winter solstice. That’s when the gods have their big annual council. Some of the year-rounders got to go—Annabeth, me, Luke, Clarisse and a few others.”

“But…how do you get there?”

“The Long Island Railroad, of course. You get off at Penn Station. Empire State Building, special elevator to the sixth hundred floor. You are a New Yorker, right?”

“Oh, sure,” Percy responded, like there was definitely six hundred floors and not only a hundred and two.

Amara didn’t have much to contribute. She knew Empire State Building and floor six hundred, but the rest might as well have been gibberish instead of instructions. She was not a New Yorker.

“Right after we visited, the weather got weird, as if the gods had started fighting. A couple of times since, I’ve overheard satyrs talking. The best I can figure out is that something important was stolen. And if it isn’t returned by summer solstice, there’s going to be trouble. When you came, I was hoping…I mean—Athena can get along with just about anybody, except for Ares. And of course she’s got the rivalry with Poseidon. But, I mean, aside from that, I thought we could work together. I thought you might know something.”

Amara kept her suspicions about Percy’s father to herself for the sake of Annabeth. There was no god of toilets, at least not one she was familiar with. The only god she could think of that would give Percy the ability manipulate the water in the bathrooms would be the god of the sea, Poseidon, and that would be the last thing Annabeth would want to be true. She had a feeling the girl was already jumping through hoops in her mind to deny any possibility that Percy could be a son of Poseidon.

Perry just shook his head, confirming that he didn’t know anything more about the solstice or what the gods could be fighting about.

“I’ve got to get a quest,” Annabeth mumbled to herself. “I’m not too young. If they would just tell me the problem…”

“Then we could go fix it,” Amara smiled at the girl. “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno.”

Annabeth hated when Amara spoke in Latin, but at least this was a phrase she knew. It was something Amara’s dad used to say that she’d accidentally brought to camp with her, saying it to Annabeth and Luke often and almost always using it as the blue team’s motto in capture the flag.

Percy seemed to know it too. “One for all, all for one.” He flushed when both girls looked at him, scrambling to explain himself. “What? Chiron was my Latin teacher.”

Amara just giggled as Annabeth shook her head.

The smell of barbecue was now wafting through the air, mixing with the weaker scent of fresh bread and fruit. Percy’s stomach growled loudly.

“Come on.” Amara gestured at Percy to follow her. “I wanna change before dinner. I’ll see you at the campfire, Annie!”

“See you at the campfire, Mae,” Annabeth mumbled distractedly, tracing her finger over the rail of the pier as she looked out at the lake.

[kokiriofthevalley]

My silly little Ganondorf headcannons

(curing my boredom and my first post on tumblr lol anyways)

Ocarina Of Time

✷he wears gold lipstick/makeup that was commissioned by him from the other gerudo that has very specific, precise and even rare ingredients that can't be made better anywhere else in Hyrule

✷i feel like his usual outfit was made to go to Hyrule, rather than be an outfit he typically wears while in gerudo fortress and his actual outfits look similar to his people's, maybe because it's traditionally considered more feminine? And he felt like they (Hyrule) wouldn't take him seriously unless he was conforming to Hyrule's gender binary of clothes

✷I feel like he'd be really reserved at any type of function or party that's not hosted by him/any other gerudo, like an older sibling at a birthday party. But he would be civil and "involved" with others when he knows it means gaining and maintaining a reputation

✷you would not catch him DEAD doing karaoke if any hylian is there or in a 100 mile radius dear GOD but give him more than a few drinks and leave him by himself and when you come back he'd be soloing "I need a hero" in no time

Wind Waker

✷I already wonder what he did everyday for the past however long between getting out/being freed from the sacred realm and kidnapping blonde children

✷but I think he would send bokoblins and moblins to raid islands for their books, specifically history and folklore books so he could not only gather info of what's happened over how ever long he had been gone but also get at least an idea of what happened to the hero of time and/or princess Zelda afterwords

✷ I'm not even going to lie, when he kidnapped that rich girl that link has to save and she becomes poor, he definitely stole her eyeliner if she had it on her, or he at least got his monsters to raid some woman's makeup drawer

✷He would 100% duet "gotta go my own way" with the helmaroc king while drunk, he would let himself have fun and sing 'cringe' songs he's tired ok

He would do Gabriellas part let's not lie here

Twilight Princess

✷He would get into the Salty Spitoon just by walking past it on the street

✷I personally think he wrapped up the sword of the six sages because it glowed like a light saber and it gave away his location at least one time to some random ass person he then had to kill

At LEAST once thinking about it is so funny lol, you see some tall guy with a glowing stick while going to buy a bag of flour or something and now you're dead lol

✷when he's in bed and he's recalling his earlier days, he definitely cringes to himself at the fact that he got snitched on by a child who most likely can't tell you what a verb, an adjective or a hyperbole is

✷he has to take off his crown(?) when he goes to bed (and even IF he does sleep) because he tried to go to bed with it on once and woke up to his pillow absolutely torn the FUCK up, like it was just rags at that point

Tears Of The Kingdom

This one is gut feelings because I haven't played it yet because I'm broke and if anyone sees this pls don't comment spoilers 😭

✷takes VERY good care of himself/his appearance and definitely has people who work in Hyrule castle who have a crush on him (both male and female and also gender nonconforming)

✷Trained from an early age to fight, but specialized in swordplay and archery, rather than fighting with his bare fists

✷I saw from others posts that don't have spoilers that he absolutely dispises rauru. He would 100% act petty. He would subtlety deform rarus cutlery if they all have a meal together when nobody is looking. not to the point where it's obviously bent but like the handles aren't straight at all now and he knows that they can't fix it unless they completely melt the forks and knives down to reform them

✷He also definitely "discovered" a broken window or two in Hyrule castle

[flower1622]

What the future can hold?

Chapter 44

With Jack and Samantha:

Both were bleeding on the ground from the monster's attack. Jack was trying to stop the thing from killing them by using Clarisse's sword that she gave him in case something happened. The sword was on the beast's mouth with Jack holding it. The monster ends up throwing the weapon to the side. Jack puts his sister behind him and he stands in front of Samantha to protect her. When the monster opened his mouth to attack the kids, a stone hits him in the head. Jack and the monster turn their heads to see Percy Jackson standing holding his arm that was also bleeding.

- Why don't you take someone of your size, motherfucker?! - Percy screams at the monster. It runs to Percy to attack him. Percy falls on the ground and tries to stop the monster from devouring him by holding the monster's mouth while he feels pain all over his body, especially in his arms. Jack takes the opportunity to get the sword from the ground and he goes to where Percy and the monster were fighting, trying to be quiet as possible. Then he stabs the monster pretty hard with the sword and continues stabbing until the monster finally disappears. Jack throws the weapon to the ground and goes to check his sister. He helps her stand up and caresses her bleeding cheek. Samantha only hides her face in his chest and he hugs her. Percy notices the sword on the ground and notices why Clarisse didn't fight with the monster with her sword. She gave it to protect the children, even if she didn't have anything to fight with. The worst of all is that the monster broke his. So, he would have to ask Leo or Hephaestus if they could fix it. Percy takes a look at the siblings and saw how traumatized the little girl looked and how her brother was trying to comfort her. Jack looks at Percy with a completely serious face.

- Clarisse? - Jack asks and Percy only shakes his head. Jack continues glaring at Percy. He closes his hands into fists. Right at that moment, Percy knew that Jack would never forgive him. Even Percy feels guilty after what happened to Clarisse. He finally meets the real Clarisse and now...he lost her. Mary lost a daughter. The camp lost a leader. Jack and Samantha lost their sister. 

'And I lost a great friend (and maybe future lover)' - Percy thinks and gets confused with the last part. He never thought about Clarisse like that. It was like another part of him said that. Just remembering Clarisse's last moments made Percy feel so much anger and also close his hands into fists. Both Jack and Percy looking at each other with hatred in their eyes because of the person they lost.

Weeks after Clarisse's fall:

- I heard what happened. Are you thinking about her? - Chiron says behind Percy, who was looking at the sea while he stands on a rock.

- Yes, Chiron. But I know she must be in a better place now. Even if we lose many things in this world, we'll always hold them in our hearts and memories. They will never totally disappear. The people we meet. The Childhood. The moments. Everything - Percy says.

- You really matured, didn't you? - Chiron asks.

- I guess. One day, I would have to - Percy says.

- Right - Chiron says.

- So, what do you plan to do now? - Chiron asks.

- I plan to visit my mother and spend some time with my family before my classes start again - Percy says.

- Good choice - Chiron says.

- You know that you will always be welcomed here, right? - Chiron asks.

- I know...and I'm sorry for visiting only the Jupiter camp but not our camp - Percy says.

- Don't apologize. You can do whatever you want to do. You are your own person, Percy Jackson. Who decides for yourself is you. You decide what you want to do in your life now. Just because some people suggested something, it doesn't mean that you have to accept everything. You don't have a Seaweed Brain, okay? So, start to think for yourself for a change. See what you like and go after it. You are not obligated to anything - Chiron says.

Chiron walks away.

Thanks...I guess - Percy says.