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4rainynite · 7 months ago

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EAH Dorm Rooms Headcanons pt 22

Teachers Addition

It wouldn't be high school without the teachers and to teach the students passed down legacies.

A good majority of the adults went to Ever After High School and some even became teachers to teach the future generation.

At the end of the day teachers need a place to sleep and we get to see who roomed with who during their high school years.

The teachers' living quarters are between the boys and girls dorm and is smaller than the students' dormitory.

Like the students each room is design to fit the persons personality.

Headmasters Milton and Giles Grimm

Brothers Milton and Giles created Ever After High to teach the future fairy tales their storybook legacies. Overtime Giles notice how some destinies weren't equal even if some were happy ever afters. Giles purposed a way to make everyone happy, but Milton didn't agree. Still traumatized of almost losing Giles when they were children made him deadset on following the pre-determined fates and because he fears he'll lose power. There was a huge fight and Milton cursed his brother to speak Riddlish and banish him to the Vault of Lost Tales.

Being co-headmasters and founders of Ever After High School, Milton and Giles have the biggest rooms in the living quarters.

Milton's room is similar to his office: full of portraits of himself, full of awards, clean, expensive furniture, posh, with a canopy bed, and blue.

Giles's room is similar to the Vault of Lost Tales: messy, papers everywhere, books piled high, mix-matched furniture, and red.

When Milton cursed Giles the police investigated and closed his room up. Milton avoided the room at all crime to not feel guilt for what he had done to his brother.

When, Giles is free from his curse (he didn't get cured in Thronecoming) and Milton is arrested for his crimes, everyone predicts that Giles will throw away Milton's things. But, he doesn't. Giles lets it be, even after his brother's betrayel he refuses to touch the room.

Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga teaches home-evilnomics and facility advisor and though she sides with Headmaster Grimm with destiny she's less strict and willing to show sympathy for those who want change.

Baba Yaga doesn't need a room due to her living in her cottage/office with chicken legs so it changes locations and we've seen it plenty of times in the show.

Her cottage has Slavic designs, candles, spell books, potions, and she has a steering wheel to control the hut.

I believe Baba Yaga's cottage/office is like the shotgun houses from my home state Louisiana. For those who don't know what a shotgun house is it's a narrow house (front to back) and each room is divided for better examples: 1 2 3. The first section is her office, second potion making section, third kitchen, fourth bathroom, and last bedroom.

Mr. Breaker Badwolf

Breaker Badwolf was a student at Ever After High School where he studied (met the love of his life Ruby Hood and had a daughter) and now teaches General Villainy.

Breaker's room resembles a wolf's cave like his niece Ramona's room with rock formations, dim lighting, and leather furniture.

He seems like a hunter to me, so he has a collection of traps and snares in his room.

He keeps a two-way-book to speak with his with, photos of Ruby & Cerise, and letters from her hidden away in his room.

The White Queen

After, evacuating Wonderland due to the Evil Queen's curse, she and her fellow Wonderlanders escaped to Ever After. She got a job at Ever After High School as the new Princessology teacher.

Like all the Wonderlanders her room is messy, but in a organized chaos sort of way.

Her room is styled like a chessboard with Wonderland decor.

Maid Martha Marion

Maid Marion is the teacher of damsel-in-distress class and mother of Sparrow Hood.

Her cartoon and book appearance are drastically different in the show she looks like the perfect damsel while in the book she was described as:

Madam Maid Marian set a black bag under the desk, then removed her cone hat. Her hair was chestnut and cut in a short bob. She was fresh-faced, with no makeup. A few freckles dotted her wide nose and high cheekbones. She wore the colors of the forest, with a moss-green tunic and brown leggings. A pair of green feather earrings completed the woodsy look. Her suede boots looked super comfortable.

Appearances aside Unlike other damsels-In-distress she teaches her students to save themselves.

Her room is a hodgepodge of luxurious queen/ forest decor.

She definitely has exercise equipment and hunting gear like bows and arrows in her room.

Coach Gingerbreadman

Coachh Gingerbreadman is the gym teacher who encourages his students to run faster to avoid crazed bakers.

His room is more of a gym than a bedroom with a treadmill, weights, a rowing machine, and etc.

His room is mostly candy & gingerbread decor with trophies decorating the walls.

Evil Step-Librarians

Evil Step-Librarians (Stephanie and Sissy) are the librarians of the school, one is the mother of Prudence and Charlotte, and Cinderella's stepsisters.

While other staff members have their own room, they share one while at Ever After High School.

Their room has a gaudy luxury feel to it. Like everything cost of money but it looks cheaply made and tacky. And everything is bejeweled.

Since they're librarians the room has multiply bookcases with trashy romance novels.

Prof. Jack B. Nimble

Prof. Jack B. Nimble is the of tall tales and seems to be a popular teacher among the students.

Prof. Jack has a huge candle collection ranging from size, colors, and scents. He has the cleanest smelling room in the teachers' sleeping area.

As you can see by his desk most of the furniture in his room is candle themed.

Because of this the sprinkler system goes off in his room a lot (similar to Faybelle).

He also has a huge bookcase where he keeps a collection tale tales and poems.

Prof. Pied Piper

Prof. Alto Pied Piper is the music teacher and the father of Melody Piper.

His room is similar to the music classroom with many instruments and music books.

He keeps his Imperial Gold Turntables in his room when not using them in his class.

He has a mini fridge stocked with snacks for his pet rats.

He owns a huge collection of flutes and vinyl discs.

Rumpelstiltskin

Rumpelstiltskin teaches chemistry and is one of the least popular teachers in the school due making students spin straw to gold for extra credit.

His room is probably one of the messiest rooms in the teachers' living quarters and screams goblin core.

He has a spinning wheel that he uses to spin his own gold.

Momma and Papa Bear

Ursula and Bernard are a married couple so obviously they share a room together.

Their room is cottage core with bear cave elements.

Like their story sleep in separate beds since Poppa likes his mattress firm and Momma likes her mattress soft.

Ursula teaches cooking class so she has a ton of cookbooks and Bernard teaches beast training and keeps many cages and pet supplies in their room.

Their son, Teddy, sometimes visits them when not in class.

Author's note: We were robbed that they never appeared in the show!

Hagatha

Hagatha is the school's lunch lady who is infamous for her porridge which she adds artificial lumps to.

Can't really say too much about her so maybe insects motifs on her dress she has food and bug decor in her room.

Mrs. Trollsworth

Mrs. Trollsworth is the secretery and Headmaster Grimm's assistant in his schemes.

Being a troll, her room is messy with a mix of grandma parlor room decor.

Mr. Green Thumb - Is the groundkeeper/gardener, due to his small size he most likely has the smallest room in the teachers' living quarters. It most likely full of gardening equipment and indoor plants.

Prof. Card - Prof. Card with the other Wonderlanders evacuated after the Evil Queen's curse, he is the current art teacher at Ever After High School. His room is full of art supplies and has a few weapons since he was a guard.

Prof. Knight - Prof. Knight teaches Hero Training and is one of the oldest teachers in the school who still remembers the art of knighthood. His room is decorated with suits of armor, swords, and horse decor.

Well, that's all the staff at Ever After High School!

#my art #ever after high #milton grimm #giles grimm #baba yaga #dorm room #dorms #The White Queen #Mr. Green Thumb #Mrs. Trollsworth #Hagatha #Rumpelstiltskin #Prof. Pied Piper #jack b nimble #eah

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shadowqueenjude · 6 months ago

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I FINISHED CINDERELLA 3.

I loved the Prince! They actually gave him a personality! Super sweet cinnamon roll with a bit of an adventurous side, he’s fucking awesome! Just climbed up my list of Disney Princes! And Cinderella chasing her own destiny was epic! Anastasia’s arc was the best! She’s just a girl: sweet, awkward, and a dreamer! It’s really nice that they showed that you can grow up with poor parents and be influenced by them and still grow to be a better person, especially bc I experienced something similar with my own family! Great addition to the original fairy tale!

#cinderella 3 #mita watches

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kysukioshi · 10 months ago

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Concordia

Neteyam x fem!Na’vi OC

summary: a tale of love, redemption and betrayal; Neteyam and Tsuk'ami, two Na'vi from rival clans share a past forged in the innocence of a childhood friendship. Tensions between their clans rise as they strive to rewrite a destiny that fate has woven for them.

warnings: this story may contain violence, smut and swearing, so if you're not comfortable with those topics, please don't interact.

Story Masterlist

………………………………

Part Three - Veiled Portents

Tsuk’ami was always told she was a dreamer. She always focused on the irrational, the fairy tales and the myths, and how easily it could be her weakness. She was told she should wake up, and focus on the realities everyone had to face in order to survive—especially since she was the future of Soluna; the next generation.

At some point in her teenage-hood, she put her reading and writing hobbies aside. The judgement from her clan’s elders was too much for her to swallow. But as she got older, she embraced it.. kind off.

She hid her writing cloths and papers, but she no longer felt embarrassed to admit it to herself. She crafted vivid narratives, intricate stories of the resilience of the Na’vi people, the wars and the ages of peace, as well as some romance. One thing in particular she was proud of, was her character Txi.

She liked to think of Txi as her alter ego. Txi was brave, and she was a strong leader that led her people to freedom and peace from the external threats.

Txi was the embodiment of Tsuk’ami’s aspirations. Those desires were not only about her fantasies of fighting in a war, they were also about her mother. She wanted her mother to know Tsuk’ami’s limits— to see how much Tsuk’ami was actually capable of.

Now that Tsuk’ami met Neteyam, her deepest desire reignited itself again, making her curious to all the secrets and stories other clans had to share.

Her clan had its traditions, which consisted of the people knowing only about their clan. The knowledge wasn’t limited only to the leaders, and she knew she couldn’t wait that long to find out. She also knew where such informations could be kept.

…

In the middle of the night, Tsuk’ami slipped out of her family’s hut, trying to go unnoticed as she walked to her mothers study chambers— guided by the curiosity of her mother’s extensive collection of historical tomes and scrolls.

She moved the linen door flap, walking in and carefully, as if not to leave evidence, looking around the room. She crouched near a section of a shelf, which had ‘confidential’ written on stone above it. She cautiously looked through the neatly arranged scrolls and papers, her fingers tracing over each title as she worded it quietly.

Her hand brushed over a certain scroll, the wood handle old and dusty, with an engraved ‘narratives of the neighbours’.

Tsuk’ami became frustrated as she began to read. The first few segments of the long texts spoke only of customs and bygone eras she had already heard of. But as she dove deeper into the lengths of the scroll, she delved into accounts that spoke of conflict and alliances.

“The Tipani tribe, always stood protectors to the borders of many clans they bordered. Their domain veiled in the mist of the treetops. Their resilient tales bore stories of great craftsmanship, which had helped these people fight like true warriors, and succeeded in many wars. The alliance between the Tipani and Soluna were always helpful both ways. Soluna had provided them with passage, as well as supply pathways for their own, personal use.”

She ran her fingers over the additional, unimportant parts of the text

“Unfortunately, due to disputes and let downs, both sides decided to end their long term partnership, and Soluna declined any further supply chain support.”

“But what then?” Tsuk’ami whispered angrily. Those were no answers to her. What could have prompted them to cut their connections?

She scrolled through other texts, all until she found one titled ‘the lost tribe’

“The Omatikaya tribe had once had all eyes on it. Their borders held beautiful nature within them, which is why they were called what they were called; Omatikaya— blessed by Eywa. They had always been spiritual leaders, powerful and smart healers. Many of their leaders even rode the great Toruk. They had amazing supplies of food, as their grounds were rich with minerals and other supplements that produced good quality foods.

The Omatikaya, however, chose a wrong path. Their opportunities to prosper washed away as they let a demon enter their lands, mate their royalty and lead them. Although Tsyeyk te Suli lead wars and even rode the great Toruk, he still should have not been elected for Olo’eyktan.”

Tsuk’ami’s eyes were wide. That was it? Even after such information she was left in a cusp of revelation. Jake Sully, she thought. Neteyam’s father. She still answers, closure. She threw the scroll down as frustration welled within her.

How was Jake Sully allowed to the Omatikaya? What had changed their minds?

...

Neytiri’s footsteps were quiet in the echoing halls of the hallow hometree. She walked to the communal hut, moving with pride, as she always did. Her shoulders were pushed back, tail high, and braids neatly placed behind her ears.

She walked through the beaded doors, the elders standing to greet her, their gazes respectively turned towards the floor.

She walked around the round table, stopping at her eldest son’s side.

Neteyam’s gaze followed his mother, watching her sit right beside him. They shared a meaningful look, knowing both of them hated being there. Jake had left that hate club a couple years back, as he had gotten used to spending hours on end in that room, on that wooden chair, with those same babbling elders.

“Neteyam” he heard his mother’s soft voice, whisper quietly under the loud chatted “I know it is draining, but we must focus”

“Sorry” Neteyam murmured before he sat back, his ears perked at the never ending conversations that just didn’t concern him for some reason. He would care, if they were speaking about security problems, or patrol arrangements, but the words shared between the elders were everything but that.

“How affective do you believe our systems are?” And elder, Lefpa asked, turning towards Jake. “I understand we were offered new arrangements, by Anurai.”

Neteyam became interested

Jake sighed, “I believe their terms were far too vague, odd.” He began “I do not trust such ill-defined requests. I have seen where such agreements led, with the Soluna.” Neteyam’s ears twitched

“I agree. Such things require careful consideration” Futep spoke, his boney and skinny fingers tapping on the wooden table they sat at.

Neteyam had a list of the elders he hated. It was a special little place he kept somewhere in his heart, and that way always remembered. Futep was on the top of that list. He was always the most persistent when it came to Neteyam’s training and evolving into a grown, capable man. But never in a parenting, caring way. Neteyam had realised Futep was always furious with the fact that a ‘demon’ sat at the head of the council meeting table. He did everything he could to make Neteyam suffer through his training, so he can prove to everyone how a child through whose veins flows blood of a demon, is harder to train and excel.

Neteyam, of course, proved him wrong, so Futep searched for more ways to discreetly make him and his father and siblings suffer. His excuse was “your father signed up for this life, he, and you, must face our traditions and customs”

Everything he did, everything he said, annoyed Neteyam like nothing on Pandora. His constant finger tapping, throat clearing. The way his whole face sagged. The way he spoke slowly, with his chin facing the ceiling.

“What about the sightings. On the Soluna borders. Does it not concern us?” Lai spoke “they must be plotting something new.”

Jake looked to Neteyam “I had sent Neteyam to investigate the matter. Apparently it was a bug in the system” Jake didn’t pay much mind to it, but Neteyam’s head became loud.

“Were the sightings substantiated?” Futep turned to Neteyam, his fingers interlocking as he gazed at the boy. All the elders gazes were now on him.

Neteyam’s ears began to ring.

…

“Tsuk’ami must you interrupt me now?” Deyla looked up from her reading, her head still facing down. “I hope it’s important.” She finally put her scroll aside, now fully looking up at her daughter.

“Has father returned?” Tsuk’ami’s voice was questioning, as she spotted her father’s gear neatly placed on the against a wall. Her question was answered, as she caught a glimpse of movement at the entrance of her parents’ alcove.

She saw her father, a genuine smile breaking across his weathered face. “Paskalin” he exclaimed warmly, opening his arms to welcome her with an embrace that enveloped her in warmth and familiarity.

Her face lit up. Her father’s returns always brought much ease—understanding, to her.

Their embrace lingered for a moment longer, before her father, Kxeku, pulled back gently, a twinkle in his eyes at the sight of his daughter. “What are you up to?”

Tsuk’ami’s gaze returned to her mother. “I was hoping to visit Vitraya Ramunong today.” She explained. “Ah, the call of the forest” her father teased, ruffling her hair affectionately.

“A ritual is being performed at the tree of souls today.” Deyla informed her “I am afraid you will have to pick another day.” Her mother smiled softly returning the scrolls to her lap.

“What about the other one?” Tsuk’ami’s ears fell back, understanding of the consequences that might occur from that question.

Deyla’s brow furrowed slightly, “Which one?”. Her father’s gaze fell on her “the one at the borders?” His tone was questioning, and at it, her mother’s eyes widened “far too close!” She exclaimed

“I know” Tsuk’ami nodded, respectfully, understanding her mother’s concern “but I know you of anyone would understand. The great mother intends to show me something. I must hear.. I must see.”. At her comments, Kxeku had a considerate look on his face, as if seeking permission from his wife.

Deyla’s protective instincts clashed with Tsuk’ami’s eagerness “Your father may be more lenient,” she conceded “but that is dangerous. Those parts of the forest.. they are unforgiving.” She acknowledged.

After moments of silence, and her mother’s quiet concentrations, she looked up at her daughter again “with caution.”

Filled with a mix of gratitude for her mother’s guidance and bubbling excitement for her impending adventure, Tsuk’ami respectfully thanked her mother before swiftly departing toward the forest’s edge. Her heart danced in anticipation as she ran trough familiar paths that led to the lush forest

The animals she crossed paths with, sights and smells she encountered on her way to the tree, all fit her spirit. It was as if she always left a trace of herself wherever she went. The sunlight filtered through the canopy, painting her face with soft, warm hues.

As the sight of the tree of souls, she halted.

The colossal tree stood, surrounded by vibrant life of beautiful flowers and plants, hit by the colours of the sunset sky, making it even more eternal.

The expansive branches reached skyward, its bioluminescent roots hanging from its tops. It carried a tranquil energy, a silence and a peace.

It had her heart racing, and her neural queue already awakening its soft glow. She walked quickly with excitement.

…

Neteyam soared through the skies astride his ikran, the bonded flight carrying them over the vast expanse of the forests he now regularly kept watch on.

It had been peaceful for quite some time.. days, perhaps. At least for what he remembered. Days meant nothing to him. Time as well. It was all the same.

But ever since that interaction with Tsuk’ami everything was pretty boring at the borders. Not that he missed having problems, or her at that, he just appreciated the fact that she listened to his advice to not come so close to the borders, not just for her safety, but for the sake of the clans relations.

But of course, as it was in Neteyam’s life, everything he was thankful for or everything he grew comfortable with knew to quickly wash away.

As he was enjoying the wind clashing in his face and throwing his braided hair back as he rode the waves of the sky, he had to look down, and he had to catch the sight of a lone figure, standing, not so close, but not so far from the borders.

More precisely, it stood at the Tree of Souls. And even more importantly, that Tree of Souls wasn’t just like every other one. It was the one that Soluna and Omatikaya didn’t quite yet decide who it belonged to.

Sure, it was on the land of the Soluna people, but it was also gifted to Omatikaya, many years before their rivalry began.

That way, Neteyam didn’t really have to go down there and talk that na’vi away, because they were on their land, but he also had to because it wasn’t their property.

He circled above, watching with slight annoyance. The responsibility of the inter-clan dynamics often weighted on him. Yet as much as he wanted to stay open minded to the fact that those na’vi are maybe good people, they were killing him with their curiosity.

Irritation started prickling at him. They were ignorant, dismissive. But those were his personal sentiments speaking. His eyebrows furrowed as he gripped onto the handle on his ikran. He had to face the potential challanges that laid ahead.

With a sharp inhale and an even sharper exhale, he guided Wamey to a steady descent. They landed on a tree top, far enough for the person to not notice him, but close enough for him to get down and even closer.

He manoeuvred with ease—as if he was born doing it. But as he did, his moved became slow and sloppy as he found out who he was dealing with. It was a shift, a realisation, but it was also anger.

He was furious with her. She was most definitely the only one making problems in that damn clan. It was her third time messing up, and his third time cleaning it up.

He wrestled with conflicting emotions. One part of him wanted to walk on over there, and say all of it to her face. Scare her away, make her never come back, because quite frankly he didn’t want the sight of her anymore.

But did he? Because in the midst of his approach, he stopped, stuck behind tree, observing her unusually slow and careful moves. She was headed to one of the glowing roots of the tree, her tswin in her hand.

It was a sight for sore eyes. She looked peaceful. The light from the tree cast an otherworldly illumination of the lights on her features… perfectly. She was focused, didn’t even notice his presence.

He also had to admit. She looked beautiful. But that didn’t mean anything to him, right? He thought many girls from his clan were beautiful. Although not beautiful inside out, because he hadn’t found that girl just yet. But he was still allowed to think that.

He thought that about his mother, his sisters. About the girls that giggled and watched him leave everyday for work. The girls that talked to him during the big feasts, the girls that he thought were his true love when he was younger. Even the girls he kissed when he got drunk, and those he brought to his secret spot, using them for his release of stress—for his pleasure and need.

And just because he was a tad bit curious about her, didn’t mean he would let her do what she wanted. Right?

But as Tsuk’ami connected, and looked to be deeply focused, he couldn’t stop her. Not that he didn’t want to, but it was forbidden.

In her mind, images that ran painted beautiful scenes, usual things the great mother showed her. They were always vivid tales and songs of her people, living happily, in harmony surrounded by laughter, light.

But this time, there was an eerie sound ringing somewhere in the back of her mind. It reminded her of the dream. Scars inflicted upon the land appeared before her, disturbing scenes of death and distraction—disharmony that extended beyond. The web of life in the forest was interwoven, distorted.

She saw her clan, burning in flames. Trees ripped apart by strong winds. She heard screams. Cries. A cry—Heartbreaking cry.

“embrace the truth, for within it lies your path. you will carry the bridge. navigate it. see it” an unnatural uncanny voice spoke “the answers are close. look back.”

Tsuk’ami fought to regain control. She managed to reach for her queue, without really seeing it, and rip the bond apart. The weight of the visions clung to her, as she stumbled back a few steps, her back colliding with the solid frame that stood behind her.

The unexpected impact made her jolt and turn, Neteyam reaching to steady her, quickly removing his hands as he did. “What the fuck happened?” His eyebrows furrowed

She looked back, regaining her composure, recollecting her memories. Turning her gaze back at him, she narrowed her eyes “what are you doing here?”

“You knew I would come.” His voice was low and harsh “you keep doing this to make me come back.”

“What are you talking about? This is our land!” Suki stood her ground, meeting his skepticism resolute stare

“The tree belongs to us.” His arms folded defensively

“Spirit trees do not belong to any clan.” His remark sparked anger within her, her eyes flashed with frustration.

He sighed, rubbing his temples “I understand what you mean, but it is how both yours and my clan decided to divide things.” He spoke softly, trying to make her understand “if that wasn’t the case, imagine how many fights would occur if na’vi from both clans visited same trees at the same time.”

Suki lowered her gaze as she processed the information he gave her, but she quickly shot back “why should I believe that this tree belongs to Omatikaya?” Her brows scrunched together “your clan always manipulates for their own agenda.” Suki’s hands fell on her hips as she had a bitter look on her face. “Besides, my mother let me come here. She would never let me even near something that belongs to you.”

Neteyam scoffed “because your people always let their pride blind them. They use every opportunity to gain an upper hand and pretend things never happened” his temper rose the more he spoke

Their voices clashed like opposing currents. It echoed in the clearing around the glowing tree, where usually silence absorbed all life. Yet now, it was only dicord that unfolded.

Tsuk’ami didn’t have an answer to his words. She read about the Omatikaya, yet nothing was said. She was never thought of such things, and she understood that maybe, Neteyam was right. Her people probably hated their history, so they hid it, changed it.

After a moment of silence, Neteyam’s stern voice shifted the atmosphere “what did you come here for?” He wasn’t curious, he didn’t seek her answers so he could comfort her, he wanted them so he can scold her and go home for the day. She was always on the move, always looking to avoid home, or perhaps those were more of her tricks. She just wanted to mess with him.

“None of your business.” Tsuk’ami’s tail swayed as she tried to act brave.

He could see cracks in her coldness—the usual insecurity she carried. Of course, he didn’t acknowledge it, he just wanted to get to the root of the issue as fast as possible. “That so?” His head rolled back “It very well is my business when I’m the one who has to deal with you avoiding the consequences. There are rules you have to follow.”

“I am under no obligation to share with you why I come to the Great Mother.”

And she was right, he knew that. He considered her response, his head tilting to the side. He stood there for a moment, looking at the tree behind her “what happened there…?” His voice was softer

Tsuk’ami looked back, her ears lowering at the sight. “I don’t know.” she said, her voice barely above a whisper “I heard something… a voice. Something about bridge.. my path.”

Her answer was unclear, but it was one he could work with. He understood she had probably seen something horrible, the way she stumbled in shock and shook as she looked back.

He knew those kinds of visions all too well—but not from personal experience.

His younger sister, Kiri had always had them. Ever since she was born. Even stronger than Tsuk’ami. She would face nightmares, flashes of visions during the day, weird experiences when connected with the Tree of Voices, and even many health scares, when she would pass out out of nowhere, or have awful seizures.

So he knew how to deal with those things—he grew up doing it.

“Okay come here” he walked to the tree, but after a couple steps he realised she wasn’t following

“I’m not going there”

He rolled his eyes “don’t be a baby.”

She thought about it for a second, before she crossed her arms and walked up to him. They sat next to the tree.

“Whatever you saw there, it was probably important,” He began “a message, from the Great Mother.”

“I know.” Tsuk’ami, though still tense, responded, acknowledging the branches of the tree.

“You clearly didn’t understand it well enough and you must try again.” He explained, his gaze a mixture of determination reluctant camaraderie.

“No.” Tsuk’ami stood, waving her hands around. “I’m not doing that for some time”

“One day, you’ll do it anyway. So why not now, when it’s still fresh.” He stood up with her, trying to set his tone reasonable.

She hesitated, weighing the offer. It lasted a few silent moments, where she battled it.

“I’ll do it with you.” Neteyam’s voice suddenly broke her bubble, and she turned her gaze to him, questioning what he was offering. “I will connect at the same time.” He said

A tense pause hung in the air as Tsuk’ami grappled with the proposition. She was taken aback. Summoning her resolve, she looked up at him again, with a slight nod. “Okay..” if we must, she was going to add.

Despite the lingering tension, he grabbed onto a couple of the branches, holding onto his tswin in his other hand, the pink tendrils already dancing with anticipation.

Tsuk’ami followed his lead, holding her own queue close to the branches as if she waited for him to it first. And he did. But before she could follow, she took a moment to admire his face. His pupils dilated, and his mouth fell agape, before he pulled himself together, waiting for her. She shook out of her state, closing the distance of her whip and the tree.

She was immediately sent back, not conscious like Neteyam was, and it freaked her out. She was, now without warning, surrounded by fire and destruction. This time, she was sure it was her clan, but it was destroyed beyond recognition. People ran, but they were like shadows, and she couldn’t make their faces out. She began to panic— frowning and mumbling something as she shook, but she heard a faint voice “stay in it” ranting those words over and over again. She realised it was Neteyam.

She kept walking, stumbling over debris and dead bodies, and it made her shiver. At that, she almost gave up, but she kept going. “What do you want from me.” She looked up to the red sky, begging for answers “I don’t understand”

As she said it, everything became louder. The cries, the ringing, and it stood like that for a moment. When it stopped, Tsuk’ami was surrounded by darkness, and everything fell to a single cry. It was soft and high pitched, but heartbreaking. She looked around, but saw nothing. “Tell me about my path. How must I help?” she spoke into the void, but as she heard something, like a word almost spoken, she was shoved right out of that state.

She stood disoriented, her eyes widening as she noticed the branches shining like flickering lights. The usual steady glow seemed to falter.

“Neteyam” she turned to him, hoping he had answers to give her, “what’s happening with it?” She was eager to know. Did she cause it? Is it dying?

Neteyam was already staring up at it. He didn’t answer, but a hint of concern coloured his features. He knew he only had seen that scenery once— when his sister failed to connect to a Spirit tree of the Metkayina people. But this was no where near the same situation as that.

The silence suddenly broke “I’m done” Tsuk’ami stumbled back a few steps “I never asked for this. I’m not involving myself in these- these visions! And stupid riddles!” She yelled, throwing her arms around hysterically “if the Great Mother wants to tell me something, she can speak clearly.” And with that she stormed off.

That definitely wasn’t Txi speaking. Because in reality, all Tsuk’ami wanted to do was somehow save the world that was dying before her eyes. It’s what Txi inspired her to be. But this was just her fear—fear that she was doing something wrong. Fear that she wasn’t cut for that job, even though she fantasised about it.

Neteyam just watched, a silent witness to the turmoil that was within her. The forest went still, silent, the lights stopped, all as she walked away. And Neteyam saw it, he noticed. He recognised it.

_______________

Sooo Neteyam is learning something new about Tsuk’ami, and it concerns him more than he would like to admit!!

Btw sorry it takes me so much time to complete a chapter, I try to make everything fit perfectly for what I have planned in the future. (Things change quickly) loll

#neteyam atwow #neteyam #neteyam x oc #avatar #avatar the way of water #atwow #neteyam art #neteyam fanfiction #neteyam te suli tsyeyk'itan

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angryraiden · 4 months ago

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Day 5: Body of water.

ekhem... ✨AU✨ part 1.

Sam is the youngest son in a large family, lives in a small seaside town. His father is a fisherman, and the brothers are happy to share this, unlike Sam himself. He was always more attracted to tinkering in the ground. In addition, he is afraid of the sea because of scary fairy tales. So Sam often goes fishing alone to tame his fear.

On the eve of his coming of age, a small storm happens, and Sam has to urgently swim out to an unfamiliar place. And that's when he meets Frodo, washed up on the shore, in mermaid form. Wounded and unearthly beautiful. Sam is in shock, but he is a kind and worried boy, so he still provides emergency first aid (�� How can I give him artificial respiration?! He can breathe underwater! What if I get rid of the water in my lungs, will it kill him in the end?! /panic/). Frodo wakes up.

They're getting to know each other. Sam offers to help Frodo and take him back to the sea, to which Baggins categorically refuses and asks on the contrary to hide him somewhere. Then Sam takes him to a partially flooded seawater house on the shore.

Frodo says that he cannot go back to the sea because they are looking for him. Sam, like a child, enthusiastically decides that pirates, and Frodo laughs nervously and nods. This is how their secret friendship begins with sincere dialogues about family (both are lucky, but both suffer in their own way), destiny (Frodo persuades Sam to follow his dream, and not break himself for the sake of a family business, and his eyes are sad and guilty) and each other's worlds (Frodo teaches Sam not to be afraid of the sea, Sam he tells Frodo about plants, and with each other they learn what love is).

It turns out that Frodo can provide his legs with a magic song, and he and Sam communicate almost around the clock, but secretly.

But when Sam finally makes up his mind and reaches out to Frodo for a kiss on his birthday for the first time, everything doesn't go according to plan. Baggins tells the whole truth about his origins. He was chosen to become the husband of the Heavenly King Boromir (because I do not know any other otp with Frodo besides him and Aragorn, and Aragorn is obviously not an asshole enough for such a line). Why is that?

#lotr #lord of the rings #frodo baggins #samwise gamgee #lotr frodo #lotr samwise #samfro #samfrodo #frodo x sam #sam x frodo #frowise #samfrodo month

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emachinescat · 14 days ago

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A Year in (Book) Review: My 2024 Reading Journey 📚

#52 - Prince of Thorns & Nightmares by Linsey Miller

Fantasy / Disney Princes #2 / 432 pages / published in 2023 / Finished Jun. 29

One Sentence Review: This take on Disney's Sleeping Beauty was fantastic - I loved Philip's character growth, the way he had to struggle so hard to find out what made him happy because of the staggering weight of his arranged marriage and destiny and his overbearing father, and his squire Johanna was the perfect addition to the cast of main characters in this exquisitely executed take on an old, familiar tale.

Favorite Quotes

"He had learned how to look contrite and disappointed ages ago, but sardonic hyperbole was far more fun."

"'What happens if we can't get the sword and shield?'

'Phillip will retrieve them,' said Poena, 'or he will die.'

'No, thank you,' Phillip said."

"All right - not everything is terrible. One thing is good, so I'm going to celebrate that for a moment."

"Joy like he'd never before known flooded his veins, and Phillip knew that this was true love - wanting to face the world with someone who knew all your best and worst parts, helping them achieve their dreams, and basking in their successes. Trust. Bravery. Love."

"Do you feel up to disappointing your parents for the first time? It's a momentus occasion. I remember mine fondly."

My rating: 5/5

A Few More Thoughts (Spoilers):

This book was fantastic all around. I adored Philip's characterization, and Johanna was a fabulous addition. Despite being another retelling of Sleeping Beauty, this book felt fresh, original, and new. It has complex characters, depth, and even good representation, long with a huge twist!

Although I had an inkling that something wasn't quite adding up, I was actually shocked when it was revealed that Philip's fairies were Maleficent's students and had tricked him into doing her dirty work, and that his "magic" was not even real.

This book has several great messages, one of which is that one's duty to others - in this case, Philip's duty to his father, his people, and Aurora - should be weighed against one's heart and duty to oneself. Also that self confidence is its own kind of magic. And a bear is a much greater gift than beauty or song.

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kumeko · 11 months ago

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A/N: For the Adu/oration Alberose zine! I wanted to do a piece based off the myth of Galatea.

…

Albedo was a man of science, as much as he could be in a time when gods roamed the earth and magic ran amok. Life was simple: destiny was run by the Fates, life and death by the Archons, and what little was left over was what a mere mortal had control of.

That was a child’s way of thinking. Not every earthquake was because the Morax angered, not every teasing wind was Barbados’s pranks. Some had to have natural causes. Some problems had to be fixable. And if the rest of society had given up on determining the difference between magic and science, that was fine. Albedo was used to investigating alone.

“What’s this for again?” Lumine asked wryly, rolling back her shoulders and cracking her neck as she prepared for the next round of tests. The cursed sword in her hands glowed darkly in her hands, looking like a piece of the night sky. Despite how bright the sun was, it let out a cold, dark energy.

Well, mostly alone.

Albedo observed her over his clipboard. There were many strange attributes to his mysterious traveller, not the least that she looked like she’d stepped out from a myth five hundred years old. Her strength and skills were on a scale only a demigod could achieve and part of him was certain she had taken part in the ancient Archon wars.

Not that she’d say a thing about it. Lumine was many things, but open was not one of them. He cleared his throat. “We’re investigating the time required before the sword’s curse exhausts you. In addition, with stress stimuli that will—”

“Why’d you have to ask?” A fairy floated out of Lumine’s hair and crossed her arms with a huff. It was hard to look at her as she glowed like a firefly. “That’s confusing! And complicated!”

Lumine rolled her eyes but she nodded in agreement. “Sorry, you’ll have to dumb it down for us.”

“Paimon’s not dumb!” the fairy grumbled, stomping her feet in the air.

“It’s fine.” Albedo was used to this response. It was the reason his work assistants had left over the years. Few people ever understood what he said, fewer still tried to. It was a rare oddity that Lumine had stayed as long as she had. “It’s a strength test.”

“That makes sense!” Paimon clapped her hands. “You should have just said that from the start.”

“I guess you have to do this a lot?” Lumine guessed, rotating her wrists and squeezing her fingers as she prepared to grip the sword again. “Does anyone ever just understand off the bat? Like your assistants?”

Albedo neatly marked a line separating the last test’s results and this upcoming one. “No.”

Lumine stilled. “Never?”

“Yes.” Albedo looked up. “Are you ready for the next set?”

“Almost.” Lumine shook her arms. “That’s too bad, though. It’s always nice to have someone to talk to.” Her eyes darkened. “Someone who just understands.”

She was thinking of her missing brother again. Albedo had been with her long enough to recognize the tell-tale signs.

“He’d have to clone himself.” Paimon hugged herself and shivered. “Can you imagine two Albedos? That’d be double the confusion.”

Albedo rubbed his chin. “A clone…”

“Good thing that’s impossible…” Paimon trailed off as Albedo bit his lip thoughtfully. “It is, right? Right?”

-x-

Albedo was a man of science. He could tell you what a human was made of: oxygen(43kg), carbon (16kg), hydrogen(7kg). Nitrogen. Calcium. Phosphorous. Sodium. Sulfur. Iron. The basic building blocks of a person laid bare. He could tell you the parts of the body, the capillaries and veins that ran like roads and pathways through the skin and sinew, the complex tracks that ran oxygen and other nutrients to the major organs. The skeleton that held it together, the skin that kept it all inside.

Yet, for all of that knowledge, he couldn’t do the impossible. Science—alchemy—hadn’t advanced to the point of creation. Homunculi were a thing of legend, even in a time when myths walked the street.

Fortunately, Albedo had a gift.

Albedo was a man of science but one that was blessed by the Archons above. For all of his self-learned skills in science, his genius in arts far surpassed them. While he was decades away from creating life through alchemy, all he had to do was spend an hour painting to bring forth a new existence. He wasn’t certain which god gave him this magic and on what whim. It was something he hadn’t had use for before.

Perhaps it was all for today, for this new assistant. This person who would be able to keep up with him, who could understand his conversations without supplementary explanations. Despite Lumine’s words, he wouldn’t create a clone of himself—that left far too many confusing quandaries to deal with. Instead, he’d make a new person. Perhaps a woman, in honour of the ones who suggested it. One that had Lumine’s strength and Paimon’s innocence.

He carefully brushed across the canvas as he put together all of the best attributes in those around him. Albedo grabbed the verdant greens of nature, the golden honey of Lumine’s eyes, the soft pinks of the Paimon’s blushes. Sparks scattered with each stroke, until he could feel the warmth of his creation’s cheeks, the caress of her breath under his palm.

With the final touch, Albedo stepped back. The painting glowed brighter and brighter, the sparks almost blinding him, and when he next opened his eyes, a green-haired woman stood in front of him. Her eyes were wide as she took in her surroundings. When her gaze landed on him, she smiled sweetly.

“Sucrose,” Albedo breathed, the first word that came to mind.

Sucrose’s smile grew brighter.

-x-

The study was quiet. Sunlight filtered through the floor length windows, illuminating small particles of dust in the air. From the corner of his eye, Albedo watched as Sucrose flipped through the pages of a textbook, her quiet murmurs as she read like white noise in the air. He hadn’t expected her to take so quickly to learning.

He hadn’t expected anything, to be honest. Till now, he had only brought to life butterflies and other mindless creatures. They had instinctively known how to fly, just as Sucrose had instinctively known how to walk and talk, but a bug wasn’t the ideal example for personality or intelligence.

Fortunately, it seemed the archons had given him exactly what he’d wanted in a partner. Sucrose took to science like a dehydrated man to water. Day in and day out, she consumed every scrap of knowledge she could lay her hands on, occasionally looking up with a question as she tried to piece together the mysteries of the world.

It was fascinating.

Her cat-ears twitched, a tell-tale sign of confusion. Sucrose looked up from her book, frowning. Noticing his stare, she smiled nervously and asked, “Master, there’s an experiment here involving a flame flower and a mist flower. The chemical reaction is unusual.”

He remembered reading that years ago, when he’d first dipped his toes into the brand-new world of science. “Depending on what degree of bloom you use, you can either melt one or freeze the other. Or both, at the same time.” Albedo frowned. “And don’t call me master.”

Sucrose blinked, her large eyes regarding him guilelessly. “Why not?”

“I haven’t yet surpassed my master.” Albedo lowered his eyes, remembering his teacher. Even now, years after her disappearance, he still only held a fraction of her knowledge. “It’s not a title I’ve earned. Use my name instead.”

“A-Albedo,” Sucrose tried, flushing a dark crimson. “That’s…that sounds too personal…”

“Personal?” Albedo raised a brow. What an utterly strange reaction. He had never cared for such unnecessary politeness and not once had he thought of that attribute while creating her.

She nodded. “Yes. Maybe a different word, like teacher or—”

“Then you’ll have to get used to it.” He rejected her suggestion bluntly.

“R-right.” Sucrose’s ears flopped down at the thought. Her tail curled around her waist as she sighed. After a few minutes, she timidly looked up and called, “A-Albedo.”

Her cheeks were still flushed like candy apples. Albedo suppressed a laugh. “Yes?”

“I’ve read as much as I could but I…I couldn’t find the method you used to make me.” She set her book down on the table in front of her and interlaced her fingers nervously. “How did you do it?”

“That…” Albedo frowned, looking away. It still bothered him that he had to rely on the old ways to accomplish this feat. Sucrose was still staring at him expectantly and he sighed. Reluctantly, he explained, “Magic.”

“Magic?” Sucrose sat straighter, her ears perked.

“Like so.” Albedo picked up a pencil and a blank piece of paper. Quickly, he sketched a butterfly, a small black and white one. Within seconds it flapped its wings, rising out of the paper and fluttering around the room.

Sucrose held out a finger and it perched on it. She gasped. “It feels so real.”

“It might as well be.” Albedo watched as she curiously examined the butterfly from all angles. “Water won’t damage it anymore than it’ll damage you. There’s no physical differences between it and the real deal.”

“Wow…” Sucrose turned to him excitedly. The butterfly flew up and soared out of the room. “Can I do it?”

Now, that was an interesting line of thought. Albedo studied her. Just how much did she take after him? Just how much was entirely brand new? “The only way to find out is to try.”

-x-

Sucrose tugged on her skirt. Over the past few weeks, he had noticed it was a nervous habit of hers, one that especially came out whenever they went to the market or met someone new.

Or, like right now, when someone stared at her for too long. Klee’s red eyes widened as she danced around Sucrose. Her pigtails bounced with each step. The cecilias in her hand just managed to stay in one piece. “You’re so pretty, miss! Like my flowers!”

Sucrose flushed a soft pink. Another reaction she tended to do often, though Albedo had yet to determine the optimal causes of that yet. Her tail curled, her ears lowering as she stuttered, “T-thank you.”

Considering how often Klee came to visit him, it was a miracle it had taken this long for the two to meet. Standing in the middle of an open field, Albedo gestured at Klee. “This is Klee, my…sister. Of sorts.” Their relationship was too complicated to simplify into a single word. They were family, in an unconventional sense, and with her mother’s absence, he often rotated between brother and guardian.

He pivoted, pointing at Sucrose. “And this is Sucrose, my…” Creation didn’t sound right—he might have made her, but her mind was clearly her own, her reactions and choices unlike any he’d make. “Assistant.”

Sucrose stared at him with wide eyes. Before he could ask, she crouched and smiled gently at Klee. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Me too!” Klee stood on her toes, neck craning as she tried to look at Sucrose’s ears. “You look like a cat!”

Albedo chuckled softly as a flustered Sucrose allowed the young girl to touch her ears. He pulled out a small, red-and-white object from his bag. To the undiscerning eye, one would be forgiven if they thought it was a stuffed animal, a rabbit in a cute red bag. The truth, however, was far more dangerous than that. “I have your latest bomb,” he said, offering the weapon to Klee. “Ready to test it out?”

“Jumpty Dumpty!” Klee immediately pounced on the bomb, cradling it tenderly as she cooed. “It’s so cute!”

Sucrose, meanwhile, stared at him aghast. “A bomb?” She gestured at Klee. “For a child? Is that safe?”

He laughed again. Albedo had expected that response, but somehow it was far more amusing than he’d expected. “For most children, no. Klee is special.”

“Don’t worry, pretty lady. Klee knows what she’s doing.” Klee grinned as she held out her flowers. “You can keep this for me!”

Befuddled, Sucrose accepted the flower. “I—what?”

“Mom says when people have things to pick up, they’ll always come back. So you don’t have to worry!” And without another word, Klee skipped away, heading to a spot in the field just far enough that the blast radius wouldn’t hit them.

Albedo glanced at Sucrose. “She learned how to handle explosives through her mother.”

“That…doesn’t really explain much…” Sucrose sighed, twirling the flower in her hands absentmindedly. “She’ll be safe, right?”

Albedo nodded. “The Pyro Archon has blessed her, so she’s well protected. Flames can’t harm her.”

“Oh. Magic, right?” Sucrose relaxed. She tucked the flower in her hair before pulling out a notepad. “What do you want me to observe?”

“The explosive’s size and destruction. We need to see if the modifications I made were worth it.” Albedo watched as Klee came to a stop. “She’s right.”

“About what?” Sucrose asks, focusing on the bomb as Klee tossed it.

He watched her from the corner of his eye. “The flower matches you.”

In the bright red light of the explosion, he couldn’t tell if Sucrose looked more flustered than normal.

-x-

The smell of coffee roused Albedo. His shoulders and neck felt stiff as he lifted his head off the wooden table, his eyes slowly adjusting to the dim light as he recognized his lab. A warm blanket was draped across his shoulders and he stared at its striped pattern in confusion as he sat up straight.

“Oh,” Sucrose squeaked as she set down a steaming mug on the table. The scent of coffee grew stronger. “Sorry, did I wake you?”

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the drowsiness. The blanket was from her then. Another move he had never made. By now, Albedo was starting to doubt that he had much control over any aspect of her aside from her appearance and it had been a lucky coincidence that Sucrose was interested in science. “No. How long was I out?”

“Not long,” she answered softly, her tail coiling around her as she gnawed her lip. The tell-tale signs of worry. “You should sleep more. It’s not healthy.”

Last time Albedo had gone to the study, the books on human biology had been rearranged. He now knew why. Still, it had been a long time since someone had paid attention to his health and warmth flooded his chest. “Maybe after we’re done. I’m fine for now.”

“You could get sick,” she pushed, quietly standing her ground. “The only thing we have to do right now is organize the research papers.”

“It has to be done before tomorrow,” Albedo rubbed his neck, massaging his tense muscles.

Sucrose pushed the mug in front of him. “Then let me help. We’ll get it done faster.”

He looked up, taking in the determined clench of her jaw, the quiet confidence in her eyes. She wouldn’t back down. The warmth spread further and Albedo exhaled softly before nodding. “Thanks.”

-x-

Lumine panted as she leaned against a tree, brushing back her sweaty bangs with a trembling hand. “Was that…good enough…for today?”

Albedo nodded as he held out a water bottle. “I’ll need to sort the data before we do the next step.”

“G-great.” Lumine pressed the cold plastic against her head and chest before twisting it open and gulping down the water. Only when the bottle was empty did she stop, tilting her head back as she took a deep breath and sighed. “So you did it, huh?”

“Did it?” Albedo raised a brow, bemused.

“Made your ‘clone’.” Lumine chuckled as she gestured to the other side of the training ground, to where Sucrose stared at Paimon in utter confusion. “I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”

“She’s not a clone,” Albedo replied automatically, turning slightly to watch as Sucrose timidly poked Paimon. It was hard to explain Paimon’s existence on any level and he cracked a smile as Sucrose turned more and more befuddled.

Lumine grinned. “Friend, then? Either way, I’m happy for you. Things are easier when you have someone to talk to.” Her expression softened and he wondered if she was thinking of Paimon or her brother. “No one wants to be alone.”

“I don’t really care about being alone but…” Albedo couldn’t deny the fondness that unfurled within him when he saw Sucrose, the strange comfort that came whenever she stood by his side, whether it was for research or something more mundane. “You’re right.”

She laughed. “When am I ever wrong?”

-x-

Sucrose gripped the ladder lightly as she shuffled onto the top step. Slowly, she straightened, leaning on the closet shelf in front of her. “I have to grab the…”

Holding the ladder at the bottom, Albedo watched as she steadied herself. “The red box. Careful, it’s heavy.”

She searched the shelf before her ears perked. “Found it!” Carefully, Sucrose leaned forward, grabbing the box tightly. A thin layer of dust fell, tickling his nose. “What’s in it?”

“Old records from the first tests with Lumine. I want to compare the experiments to measure the changes.” He kept his eyes glued to her as she took a step down, his breath catching when she almost missed her step. “Slowly.”

“S-sorry.” Sucrose leaned forward slightly, taking a deep breath before going down another step. “You’ve been working with her for a while?”

“Almost a year now.” Albedo smiled softly, remembering their first meeting. In many ways, Lumine had been his first friend. “Even without the experiment…it’s been a fruitful encounter.”

“Fruitful?” He couldn’t quite place Sucrose’s tone—disappointed? Hurt? Longing? “Do you…”

She trailed off, her voice too low for him to hear. Albedo pressed, “Do I?”

“N-nothing.” Sucrose flushed a bright red. Flustered, she quickly climbed down, almost racing to get to the ground. “Don’t—”

Albedo’s breath hitched as she misstepped. “Sucrose!”

What happened next was in slow motion—Sucrose fell backwards with a surprised yelp, the box in her hand flying up. Papers scattered, floating down like feathers. Albedo let go of the ladder, his arms wide as he braced himself.

Then she landed on top of him and everything returned to normal speed. His back hit the ground, his head bumped into hers, and for a blissful two seconds everything went black. When he opened his eyes, Sucrose was on top of him, his arms wrapped protectively around her waist, her head nestled in the crook of his neck.

“Are you hurt?” Albedo asked, ignoring the dull ache spreading across his back and head.

“N-no,” she mumbled, slowly lifting her head. Her nose brushed against his cheek and her eyes fluttered open at the contact. For the space of a few heartbeats, she stayed there, her green eyes impossibly bright at this distance.

Then she flushed, the red spreading across her nose and ears like a ribbon as she pulled away. “S-sorry!”

Albedo tightened his grip before she could go too far.

“A-Albedo?” Her blush changed from a cherry red to a dark crimson, her pink tongue wetting her lips nervously.

Albedo was a man of science. He knew exactly why his heart was beating so fast (adrenaline, shock), how the warmth was spreading across his chest (norepinephrine), and what to do to stop all of that. And yet, something deeper, something primal filled him as Sucrose blushed.

Freeing one hand, he reached up, cupping her jaw, brushing her skin. Wherever he touched, her skin was feverishly hot.

If he kissed her, what sort of reaction would she have?

What sort of reaction would he have?

He pulled her closer. Maybe it was time he found out.

#alberose #genshin impact #albedo #sucrose #albedo x sucrose #lumine #paimon #klee #fanfic

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inukag-on-ao3 · 2 months ago

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A Destiny Worth More Than Over A 500 Year Wait

by novemberwanderer

UPDATE! CHAPTER 9 NOW AVAILABLE HERE!

Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/M, M/M

Fandoms: InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale

Relationships: Higurashi Kagome/InuYasha, Rin/Sesshoumaru (InuYasha), Ayame/Kouga (InuYasha), OC/OC

Characters: Higurashi Kagome, InuYasha (InuYasha), Sesshoumaru (InuYasha), Shippou (InuYasha), Higurashi Souta, plus 2 more

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Romance, Modern Era, Idiots in Love

Summary: It has been 10 years since the Bone Eater's Well has closed permanently. Kagome, now back home in Tokyo, is tasked in helping her mother and Sota prepare a celebration of life gathering for their late Jii-Chan & an acceptance of a large monetary donation from the well-known Takahashi family. What Kagome learns is that her grandfather kept secrets. Secrets that she doesn't know if she is ready to fa...

Words: 29,900 | Chapters: 9/? | Language: English | Private: No

#inukag #inukago #InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale #fanfic #ao3 #bot #latest #fanfiction

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fairylandblog · 2 months ago

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Faeries and Curses

Folklore frequently depicts faerie curses, an intriguing part of the mythological world. Supernatural entities known as faeries typically cast these curses as enchantments or spells. These curses, typically depicted as a form of vengeance or punishment, reflect the complex and unpredictable nature of faeries. In contrast to the conventional human conceptions of right and wrong, faeries behave in accordance with their own moral norms, which may be arbitrary or contrary to human standards. Consequently, people especially revere and fear their curses. It is common for fairy curses to be the result of crimes committed against faeries or violations of their limits, regardless of whether the offenses were intentional or inadvertent. Disturbing a faerie's residence or neglecting to show adequate respect are two examples of the many different types of transgressions that fall under this category. These powerful spells often target humans who violate faeries' pledges or infringe upon their borders. It is possible for the curses to take several forms, such as physical alterations, adverse luck that lasts forever, or sleep that never ends. Each of these manifestations aligns with the perceived offense.

It's not always the case that these curses are directly harmful. Some curses serve as lessons or tests, compelling the cursed individual to embark on a journey of personal development or redemption. In this way, faerie curses are a reflection of the intricacies of the human experience, since they intertwine themes of transformation and consequence. Frequently, the cursed individual embarks on a journey to break the curse, requiring bravery, ingenuity, and occasionally the assistance of friendly faeries or other magical beings. In locations where there is a significant belief in faeries, the concept of faerie curses is firmly ingrained in the religious and cultural fabric of regions regions. For instance, the stories of the "Good People" in Celtic folklore contain a large number of descriptions of human beings suffering as a result of faerie characters' anger. These stories serve as cautionary tales, reminding people to respect nature and the invisible world. Even in modern times, these myths continue to have an impact on cultural traditions, such as the practice of leaving offerings to please faeries or avoiding certain locations that are known to be haunted by faeries.

In addition, faerie curses are a manifestation of the overarching theme of the power and mystery of the natural world. These symbols represent the idea that humans are not the ultimate authority in the cosmos, and that there are forces beyond our control that require respect and understanding. Because faerie curses are unpredictable, they remind us of the delicate balance that exists between mankind and the otherworldly, which contributes to both the attraction and the horror associated with them. To this day, faerie curses continue to captivate the mind, both in the realm of literature and popular culture. The plot employs these devices to explore themes such as destiny, justice, and redemption. The continuing attraction of these curses lies in their capacity to challenge characters and readers alike, prompting us to contemplate the repercussions of our choices and the mysterious forces that influence our lives. This ability is present in a wide range of storytelling genres, from traditional fairy tales to contemporary fantasy novels. Within the context of these tales, faerie curses continue to serve as a potent representation of the enchantment and peril that the world of mythology has.

#curses and hexes #hexes #faeries #fae #fae folk #faerie art #faerie #fairy art #fairies

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frostcorpsclub · 5 months ago

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Name: January Priscilla Lillian Frost

Nickname(s): Prissy Lily (by James she hates it so much), Champ, The General, Little Fish, Warlord Mermaid Princess (all by her Daddy)

Main Ability: Ice Healing- The user can heal themselves or others by using ice, absorbing frozen energies and using them to freeze molecules, renewing damaged cells, causing them to stop bleeding. Ice can also provide energy to close up wounds, and allowing optimal health. (Source: Superpower wiki)

Personality:

January can be described as the second in command when it comes to keeping her siblings in check but she’s the commander and leader of her own destiny. Even amongst her own family she’s almost like a creature of folklore, quiet, calculating, a tiny bit feral. Ever since she was old enough to walk and throw a punch her father conditioned her to be his little solider and this was a role she absolutely excelled at, growing into it like a snug hand me down. Some people say she can smell weakness and fear. Her small stature makes it easy for her to crawl up the walls and descend from where she’s least expected. This, and her girly sense of style, also makes it easy for people to underestimate her. January could not care less about what other people think of her. This is not out of a studied confidence but an indifference and a lack of understanding of social cues. There are things that are logical, like attack strategies, social hierarchies, and the words of her parents. Even if information appears to be conflicting. Those things matter. Getting January to change her mind is a futile endeavor but she’s inexplicably talented at getting others to do so. She has somewhat of a flat affect and a minimal range of expressions but she’s incredibly passionate. When she does speak she is a natural leader, with an incredible self assuredness she never wavers in leading other towards her cause, she just seems as though she knows what is best. Being the quiet one means she absorbs a lot of information, she may not be the best at neurotypical niceties but she knows what makes a person tick and what they might fight for. In addition to her ardor for honor and competition, the third and least known emotion that defines her is hopeless romanticism. She longs for adventure, to be the knight in the fairy tale but also to be the princess. January looks up to her parents relationship very much and finds the hierarchy of it very comforting, she seeks a relationship just like it where she can do her part to protect and care for her family and be treasured at the end of the day. Despite being very open about her more sappy interests, much like her father, January isn’t exactly aware of the fact that people consider her to be sensitive. She won’t let herself be soft a moment before she meets the person she feels will provide that for her. January enjoys wearing a minimal palette as it can be difficult for her to concentrate if her brain is bombarded with too many colors and patterns. Her biggest weakness is the struggle of coping with “irregular emotions,” she gets insanely jealous especially when it comes to the attention of the person or people that she loves. When she gets overstimulated she can't just sit down because the grass and the wetness of outside irritates her, so Jack will take her inside and he'll sit in her room with her and let her take over what they do. Her stims are so physical when she's overwhelmed she can hurt herself and sometimes break her stim toys which only makes it worse. Some would say that she’s stubborn but she would say that funneling her anger towards the things she can’t control in to the decorum and prowess of a solider is in fact very healthy.

Future Spouse: Antione Hill

Future Children: Tiara

Trivia

Her favorite movie is The Little Mermaid and she refers to it with metaphor when she finds herself unable to communicate her feelings.

Also a HUGE my little pony fan, Goddess Warrior Queen Celestia stan for life.

She has autism, if you couldn’t tell lmao

She will often disappear for days at at a time, just to go out and swim and explore. She’s proven she can more than take care of herself so her parents aren’t worried.

While she enjoys a good hunt she isn’t too crazy about the taste of human flesh, she’s a seafood girl!

She spends more time under water than any winter being, she even floats around under there as she sleeps like a seal.

#january frost #frostkidbios #admin art #my art #jack frost 1997 #jackfrostmutantkillersnowman #jackfrostmks #jackfrost1997 #jackfrostoc #next gen #horror next gen #adminart

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shadowsong26fic · 1 year ago

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Thumbprint AU (aka BSG Soulmate AU) additional ramblings

Last night, I was explaining some of the concepts behind this fic to my roommate. So, naturally, rather than working towards anything I actually am writing/planning to write, my brain was still on that track and fleshing out some of the other details/thinking about some of the Impacts moving forward XD

Brief background, for those who don't actually want to dive into the fic: it's one of the ones I wrote for Year of the OTP, it's a BSG Soulmate AU.

I'm...generally not actually super into soulmate AUs, unless they're baked into the worldbuilding of the story itself (i.e., some fairy-tale retellings trend in this direction; heavily prophecy-based settings; lifebonds in the Valdemar series; the Sun-blessed and shadow in Starless which I'm currently rereading...)

But in this particular universe, I think they're interesting. Not because of the way prophecy and destiny work--in fact, I'm not even really touching on that side of things. Mostly I was interested because of how that might impact any among the Significant Seven, given the culture they exist in. Specifically Caprica and Athena. (I'm writing Caprica/Baltar for the challenge; but there are other soulmate sets I'm interested in.)

Anyway, the rules I came up with:

Not everyone has a soulmate

It is possible to have multiple soulmates 2a. They do not necessarily have to be each other's soulmates

It is possible to have platonic soulmates

The mark is your soulmate's thumbprint; the location varies

The marks appear after both (or all) parties involved have reached an emotional point of no return, which is why it's so inconsistent.

I've picked out five soulmate relationships for this AU, though I'm not sure I'll actually write anything further about them, but just for reference:

Gaius and Caprica

Helo and Athena

Bill and Saul (platonic)

Bill and Laura

Saul and Ellen

Some further thoughts behind the cut

So, starting with Gaius and Caprica - His emotional point of no return is giving her the codes/granting access. - Hers is her confession - This means, as shown in the one-shot already written, their marks appear during/after the chaos of the attacks. - Hers is on her thigh - I did put some thought into the locations of these marks; sometimes there is a level of Meaning that I can articulate, sometimes it's just Vibes. In this case, it's...sort of both? In that it's something that you generally have to be already intimate with her to know. - She notices it as soon as she downloads. - His is on his collarbone - The placement here is that--it's something that's generally covered up, or easy to cover up without looking like you're Actively Hiding Something...but it's also fairly easy to uncover. Once it is, it's something he can explain away (or at least cut off any further questions). For once, by telling the actual truth--his soulmate isn't in the Fleet. (No one's really going to follow up on that.) - This might impact how things fall out between him and Kara. - I'm...actually not sure when he notices. Unless Head!Six points it out, for the first couple of days he might assume it's a random bruise...except it's a pretty specific shape, and then it doesn't fade... - Other potential threads/directions this could go: - Possibly Caprica's alliance with Boomer breaks down faster. Boomer does not have a thumbprint. - This might impact Gaius's relationship with Gina (at least once she's out of her cell/after the actual Pegasus/Resurrection Ship arc; I...don't think it'll necessarily cut through the tangle of Everything Else in the moment, but in the aftermath). - It doesn't really affect things with Head!Six or Head!Baltar, I don't think. They're already...A Lot.

Bill and Saul - So, 95% of the reason why I'm including them is to highlight some of the Rules of this AU (i.e., platonic soulmates are Also a thing; you can have multiple soulmates who aren't necessarily tied to each other as well as you) - Also, it's frankly hilarious to have a cluster where Several of the people involved despise several of the others XD - Bill's mark is on his shoulderblade; Saul's is on his bicep. - Saul's is entirely Vibes; Bill's is because Saul always has his back. - I don't know when the marks appeared, in part because parsing the timelines here is. Complicated. Also don't know the specifics behind their points of no return, but oh well. It doesn't...super matter by the time the series starts, I don't think? - (I am considering adding Felix and Dee to the list as another pair of platonic soulmates, because their relationship definitely could be written that way? But I haven't explored it much/don't have any real thoughts on it).

Bill and Laura - Their point of no return is actually a shared one! It's on Kobol. - They're also (probably) the only ones with a shared point of no return. Make of that what you will XD - Her mark is at the pulse point on her left wrist. - Mostly Vibes here. - His I keep changing my mind on where it should be...any suggestions? - (I love these two, I very much enjoy reading about them; but I don't actually write them myself very often hence not a lot of Fleshed Out Details here)

Saul and Ellen - I'm pretty sure they woke up in their new lives with their marks and it was built into their new personas as a result, but. uh. yeah, who the frak knows, anything to do with the personal timelines of the Final Five is. a Mess. - His is right over his sternum; hers is at the nape of her neck. - Pretty much entirely Vibes here. - They're included in part for some of the same reasons Bill and Saul are included, in part because my best beloved 2000-year-old dysfunctional robot drunks in love (every time I rewatch the series, I like them more and more; particularly Saul), in part because "you guys are horrifically toxic in a way that strangely works; you are perfect for each other; please never involve anyone else in your bullshit.) - (But, of course, other people are involved in their bullshit XD Bill, Sam/Chief/Tory...)

Helo and Athena - Okay, so here's where things could Really Go Places in terms of AU/canon divergence. - Athena's point of no return, obviously, is her decision to take Helo and run rather than sticking with the plan. - His is actually after that, during the confrontation with Kara when he stops Kara from killing Athena. - You'd think it would be earlier, that point where he turns back to rescue her rather than continuing on on his own. There's two reasons why I'm going here: - First, it actually genuinely makes sense to me. There's the complications with (as far as he knows) her prior relationship with Chief. Then there's the whole Reveal. It's not until Kara is threatening her that he has this moment of Clarity and realizes that--whatever else is going on, whatever other complications there are, he needs this Sharon in his life. One way or another. No matter the cost. - Second, it's for Storytelling Reasons, which I'll come back to in a second. - Both of their marks are actually visible unless they are Actively Covering Them Up. - Athena's is on the back of her hand. - Helo's is on his cheekbone. - Which brings me back to the second point for putting Helo's point of no return where it is. - Because the marks appear once both parties have crossed that line. - Which means Kara actually sees Helo's mark appear. - Obviously, this has a huge impact on everything when they get back to the Fleet. - The first instinct, of course, is that the marks are fake--tattooed on or something. - But Kara actually witnessed when Helo was marked. - Also, any infiltration attempts by Athena get. A little more complicated. - ...I don't actually have a plan or anything, lol, just. Hoo Boy That Changes Things.

...so, yeah, that's where I am. XD I don't know that I'm actually going to write any of this (I have other projects that interest me more), but I figured getting it down on paper, so to speak, and out of my head was a good place to start!

#shadowsong writes bsg #au outlines for the win

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ao3feed-ichiruki · 2 years ago

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The Legacy of Moon

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/P0FIAbY

by Apostle_of_Dawn

The story is divided into three phases and ten arcs. The initial part of the story is all about the early interaction of Sesshomaru with the Soul Reapers, Hollows, and the Soul Society. It all started when Sesshomaru's Tensaiga was stolen by someone in order to lure him to the present in the Hueco Mundo where he met Tia Halibel who was looking for her missing friends Mila Rose and Sung-Sun. This phase will show the development of the main pairing along with some side pairings and conclude with the introduction of Infernal Demons and the fulfillment of the destiny of the Feudal Era.

Afterward, the story will move into the middle phase where Dracula, Zobek, Angels, and some more characters from the Bleach universe will make their debut. There will be serious changes in the Soul Society and with the arrival of the Quincies, things will conclude in the '1000 Year Blood War Arc'.

In the final phase, every mystery and truth will come out in the light and there will be a direct intervention of powerful forces of the world such as Gods, Satan, etc. in the lives of all of the main characters of the story which will be concluded by the 9th Arc, leaving 10th Arc for an encore.

Words: 1570, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: InuYasha - A Feudal Fairy Tale, Bleach (Anime & Manga), Castlevania Lords of Shadow と宿命の魔鏡 | Castlevania: Lords of Shadow & Mirror of Fate, God of War (Video Games), Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (Video Games), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore, Christian Tradition Lore & Folklore, Warriors Orochi

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con

Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen

Characters: Sesshoumaru (InuYasha), Selene (Ancient Greek Religion & Lore), Gabriel Belmont | Dracula, Trevor Belmont | Alucard, Tia Harribel, Orkos (God of War), Naraku (InuYasha), Aizen Sousuke, Orochi (Warriors Orochi), Other Character Tags to Be Added

Relationships: Tia Harribel/Sesshoumaru (InuYasha), Higurashi Kagome/InuYasha, Kuchiki Rukia/Kurosaki Ichigo, Ulquiorra Cifer/Inoue Orihime, Shihouin Yoruichi/Urahara Kisuke, Other Relationship Tags to Be Added

Additional Tags: Crossovers & Fandom Fusions, Mythology References

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/P0FIAbY

#IFTTT #ao3feed #fanfic #ichiruki

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ultraericthered · 2 years ago

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KH Canon OCs - How I See Them

Any followers of mine I have on this hellsite are likely aware that I am and remain a Kingdom Hearts fan who personally considers only the core narratives of Birth By Sleep, Kingdom Hearts (1), Chain of Memories, and Kingdom Hearts II (plus some Appendix content from the UX fairy tale, BBS 0.2 and 358/2 Days), all chronologically, to be the canonical narrative of the true and pure Kingdom Hearts, the epic Disney saga before it was all remade in the image of director Tetsuya Nomura’s demented shonen mangaka brain. Or to put it differently, only the first decade of the franchise (the 2002 release of KH1 up to right before the 2012 release of KH3D) matters to me on any deep level (though the second decade up to Sora joining Smash in 2021 has some shining gems of merit to take from even while the rest of it is all hot flaming garbage that’s being doubled down on and continuing going forward and I want absolutely no part of it, bye.)

As such, the KH original characters I would consider canonical to any worthwhile work of Kingdom Hearts are all those introduced in that first decade, with one exception I’ll bring up at the very end. And these characters, like many franchise characters, have been written and portrayed in differing ways between different entries, whether they be games, manga, novels, web original/fanon material, or even just the basic rough draft concepts. So...where does that leave me and how I view these characters? I thought it’d be fun to not only answer that, but to compare with actual officially liscenced depictions of the characters and see which ones best match what I consider the ideal for the “baseline”/”template” these characters ought to follow.

Sora

Sora is a free-spirited, mostly easygoing and cheerful young boy from Destiny Islands who finds himself the chosen wielder of the Keyblade one fateful night when the Heartless invade his home. He’s best friends with Riku and Kairi, and also with Donald and Goofy, his travel companions across the worlds. Generally positive, upbeat, bold to the point of cockiness, and with a steadfast belief in the heart and in his friends that are his power, Sora can also be very deeply contemplative, surprisingly considerate, and prone to becoming moody and melancholic whenever something really gets him down. Despite this his agility, abilities, and willpower are exceedingly strong.

The Sora who best matches this characterization would be...

Somewhere right between both games in the Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ package - Re: Chain of Memories and KHII. As great as KH1 Sora is, his character arc, growth and maturity through the course of that game’s story sort of ends at a narrative wall, as it was clearly developed like a standalone with the continuation of the storyline afterwards being uncertain. So Sora’s whole ordeal in Castle Oblivion was designed to break him down and the following story of KHII was likewise designed to build him back up again ‘til he reached Peak Sora, slicing through skyscrapers with his Key and everything. In between these portrayals, if we took the best of Sora from Re:CoM and added it to the best of Sora from KHII, we’d have my Sora.

Kairi

Kairi is the seventh Princess of Heart, a pure-hearted girl who comes from the world of the Radiant Garden Hollow Bastion but now lives on Destiny Islands due to being sent there by Xehanort when she was very young and small. Though appearing scrawny and fragile, Kairi is a spunky, cheeky, outgoing and good-natured tomboy with an endless supply of willpower and inner strength in addition to her athleticism. Unlike her best friend Sora, though, Kairi isn’t exactly carefree and is prone to anxiety and fear of change beyond her control due to her traumatic childhood experiences, and is also very impatient and fidgety, but tries to conceal all this beneath a sunny disposition. But put her in a situation of action and danger, and she will go fucking feral. Over the course of the saga, Kairi matures and grows braver, stronger, more proactive, more aware of all that’s around her, and more accepting of great changes, even temporary separation from her friends. Oh, and she and Sora might be in love.

The Kairi who best matches this characterization would be...

Yeah, you all saw this coming. Shiro Amano’s Kairi from his manga. Admittedly, his KH1 Kairi was not very good in the KH1 manga - the scripting for Kairi’s character in KH1 the game remains superior. Everything else, though, he nails for Kairi. We see more of her 14 year old self in flashbacks, we get her KHII character expanded upon so that her personality and dvelopment arc is better fleshed out and she gets more badass achievements to her name, and even the currently running KHIII manga improved her content. She’s perfect.

Riku

Riku is Sora and Kairi’s best friend from Destiny Islands and was to be the Keyblade’s chosen wielder. Cool, cocky, competitive, a bit aloof and tough on others, and prone to snark and joking around, Riku was also very inquisitive and yearned to explore bigger and better places outside his small backwater home, which paralleled his desire to be mature and regarded like a strong and capable adult. These qualities made him susceptible to giving into the darkness in his heart and calling the Heartless to invade his world, which lost him his claim on the Keyblade. His stint with Disney villains and turn to exploiting the powers of darkness for his purposes set his future course, as even when he realizes his errors and repents, he’s stuck with dark powers and a natural pull towards the Dark Realm. From here, Riku becomes first and foremost the “Good Disney Bad Guy” who uses what he gained from villainy towards the cause of good, to help others rather than himself, and to ultimately turn his Darkness into Light. This is symbolized in how he hangs around with Mickey Mouse, the epitome of a Good Guy. Ultimately Riku matures for real and becomes a watchful guardian with his own “twilight” power.

The Riku who best matches this characterization would be...

Like Sora, the ideal depiction of Riku lies somewhere between two games - his KH1 character and the parts of his story mode in CoM that worked and pushed him towards a unique and special path of redemption and heroism that wouldn’t require he wholly sacrifice his Disney Villain-ish aesthetic and edge that he makes work so well. He should never have become the Vegeta of KH, not when he could’ve been the Piccolo of KH, a role his character fits far more naturally.

Xehanort/Ansem, Seeker of Darkness

Xehanort (yeah I know *officially* he’s “Terra-Xehanort”, but that’s not spoken aloud in canon, so he’ll always be “Xehanort” to me) was an amnesiac young man heavily implied to have been a Keyblade wielder who was taken in by Ansem the Wise and made his chief apprentice. Growing envious, arrogant, and apathetic to ethics and emotion, spurred by feelings of inadequacy and his desire to know all that there is to know, Xehanort betrayed his master, banishing him to oblivion and stealing his research, his other followers, and even his name. Allowing the Heartless to overrun his world and sending Kairi adrift in his search for the Keyblade Master, Xehanort became a Heartless himself and masterminded a widespread invasion of the worlds for the purpose of cultivating the Heart Of All Worlds so that he may claim the power of Kingdom Hearts and blanket the universe in everlasting Darkness, which his research had concluded was the true essence of the heart and the stabilizing force of everything.

The Xehanort/Ansem who best matches this characterization is...

There was never any realistic chance than any other depiction of this character was going to top Billy Zanenort in the original KH game + its Final Mix. Everything about him there was so perfectly realized.

Xemnas

Xemnas is the Nobody of Xehanort who was born after Xehanort became a Heartless, who formed Organization XIII and leads it as its Superior. Devoid of feelings and with a vast emptiness where his sense of self once was due to lacking a heart, and now recognizing how pitiful his old self truly was, Xemnas refuses to sink back into Darkness and be rendered nothing of significance, so he desires to enhance and assert his own non-existence by not only gaining a heart of his own through his own Kingdom Hearts, but by claiming its power for himself, tainting the hearts of all life in the universe with his Nothingness so that everything is reduced to nothing and all hearts be enslaved in the thrall of his own, as the deified ruler of the worlds. Completely cold, calculating, philosophical, utterly ruthless, devoid of pity or mercy and with a grandiose sense of self-importance, Xemnas schemed to make the power of the Keyblade serve his own uses.

The Xemnas who best matches this characterization is...

Much like his Heartless counterpart, Xemnas was never better than he was in his debut game, but particularly KHII:FM, which added so much to his on-screen appearances and role as the overarching villain at the head of the Organization, fully selling how complex, tragic, and frightening a character he is. He was great in the other special edition games (KH1:FM and Re:CoM), but those were simply teases at him. Character-wise, KHII:FM remains his definitive outing.

Namine

The special Nobody of Kairi, born when Kairi’s heart departed the body of someone who was not her (Sora). Due to being a product of the connection between Sora and Kairi’s hearts, Namine posesses mystical powers and abilities to look into the hearts of others and tamper with the chains of their memories, which can create certain effects on their minds. At first Namine was a captive of Organization XIII and exploited in Marluxia’s conspiracy at Castle Oblivion, which she let happen due to her loneliness, fear of being left alone and abandoned, and desire to matter in the hearts of Sora and his pals. Initially timid and withdrawn, Namine grew to be more assertive and proactive thanks to her experience with Sora, which allows her to act with more confidence and let her more rebellious and mischievous sides show more openly. She forms a special bond with Roxas, Sora’s Nobody, and eventually with her own other half, Kairi, who she re-assimilates into so that now she has a home inside her heart.

The Namine who best matches this characterization is...

Yes, technically Namine had her strongest showing in terms of character development and story relevance in CoM/Re:CoM, but as a personality with longer lasting value to the series, KHII, the initial game, the FM edition, and also Shiro Amano’s manga adaptation, had Namine at her most appealing by far. She’s sweet, intelligent, helpful, lively, and as strange and awkward as you’d expect someone of her conditions to be, but I think it’s really all brought together in just that sly grin and pose she does in both that game image above and in her official character model art, and how she now fully embraces herself as a “witch” despite that having been just what others called her to start with. The girl’s a naughty little troll and she knows it.

Marluxia

Number 11 in Organization XIII. Marluxia was made lord of Castle Oblivion and from within it concocted a very diabolical and ellaborate scheme to brainwash Sora and bend him to his will so that he could turn the Keyblade against Xemnas, which would allow Marluxia and his co-conspirators to take over the Organization. While seeming elegant and refined, Marluxia is very authoritarian, cruel and without scruples when looking to claim the power he craves. In combat, Marluxia’s a graceful assassin who fights with a sickle and flowers.

The Marluxia who best matches this characterization is...

For reals, Marluxia’s never been gotten quite perfect in anything to feature him, but he was indisputedly at his best in the Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+ package, containing Re:CoM and KHII:FM. Re:CoM made his character a lot cooler and more intimidating than he was in the original GBA game (his confrontation with Axel and the fights with him alone prove as much), and his fight in KHII just really runs with the whole “reaper” aesthetic, making you truly fear him.

Axel

Number 8 within Organization XIII. Axel is quite the complicated character, being primarily an assassin with a mercenary sense of values and who does the work of others within the Organization only when he can be sure that it’ll benefit himself to do so. Despite acting like a snide, aggressive and largely blase punk, Axel is not only charming but very perceptive and good at reading a room, making deeply thought cost-benefit analyses of any situation and having a knack for manipulation of both people and events so that things go his preferred way. Selfish and scheming as he is, Axel also harbors deep vulnerability that only his oldest friend and senior member Saix has seen, and when he comes to value something or someone, he is unwilling to let go no matter what he has to do to keep them around. In combat, Axel is very flexible, and fights with chakrams and fire.

The Axel who best matches this characterization is...

It’s Shiro Amano for the win once again! The one constant for Axel is that his debut showing in CoM, whether on GBA, the PS2 specially remade edition, the novels, or even the manga (he’s literally the sole positive in that entire manga adaptation!), goes great for him. It’s everything that follows that I had to consider when weighing them against each other. Then it became no contest - not only is Axel’s portrayal in the 358/2 Days manga stronger, better written and better handled than the game version, but in the KHII manga I am actually very glad he survived past the prologue and can see the value in his role the whole way through. I have never been able to say that regarding KHII the game and especially the novels, but the manga actually got it right. So Amano’s Axel is the best, got it memorized?

Larxene

Number 12 within Organization XIII. Larxene moreso than other Nobodies is particularly agitated by the emptiness within her, so she seeks to fill the void by amusing herself and has found no better way to do so than to cruelly bring others down and toy with them even to a breaking point without any mercy or misgivings. A prideful sadist who cares little for others, Larxene became Marluxia’s co-conspirator in the Castle Oblivion plot to brainwash/recruit Sora so that they may overthrow Xemnas and take over the Organization, and she got an affinity for teasing both her colleagues and Namine. While normally easygoing, playful and snarky, in combat Larxene shows why she’s called a “savage nymph”, fighting with kunai knives and electricity.

The Larxene who best matches this characterization is...

In both versions of CoM, Larxene is a standout. Re:CoM removed a handful of her dialogue for some reason, but otherwise got to portray her personality in even greater detail, with her sauntering movement, skeevy flirtiness, and irritated gestures adding a lot to how enjoyable she is, her facial animation and voice acting emphasizing her malicious sadism, and even her death feeling sadder than just an abrupt tantrum fadeout. What both versions share in common is how uncompromisingly brutal she is to fight. “Savage Nymph” indeed!

Vexen

Number 4 within Organization XIII. As his human self Even was, Vexen is a very dedicated scientist, looking at everything as an opportunity for research and turning any exploitable situation into an experiment to conduct. Feeling like science lends itself not to heartfelt emotion or compassion, he is ice cold and even cruel in how he pursues his agenda. Vexen is also incredibly pompous and elitist, believing in the seniority that numbers within the Organization give and looking his nose down at those of “limited signifigance”. His claim to fame is the creation of Replicas, beings that duplicate the bodies of others but, much like Nobodies, are incomplete due to having fabricated hearts and minds. In combat, Vexen is meticulous, and fights with a shield and ice powers to match his personality.

The Vexen who best matches this characterization is...

As great as Vexen always was in CoM, Re:CoM made him just a teensy bit even better. Part of it is due to the voice acting, which is spot on in both languages. Part of it is due to him coming off as less of a dirty coward than before, thus easier to feel for. And finally, a big part of it is how he dies, a death far more grisly than in the original!

Lexaeus

Number 5 within Organization XIII. The Nobody of Alaeus, one of Ansem’s royal guards and scientific assistants, Lexaeus is the brute force within the Organization who doubles as one of the deepest thinkers of the bunch. Well composed, taciturn, and with a sense of honor, Lexaeus channels his mind through his muscle and is a force to be reckoned with as a result. In Castle Oblivion, he worked in the basement level along with Zexion and Vexen. In combat Lexaeus fights with a tomahawk and earth powers, and can also raise his chi so that he becomes a nigh-unstoppable rampaging monstrosity!

The Lexaeus who best matches this characterization is...

In CoM/Re:CoM he was a bland, forgettable, ultimately throwaway character who is laughably easy to beat despite his professed strength, and in KHII:FM, he’s is much less a character than he is a boss fight (though at least a really strong and difficult opponent now!). 358/2 Days got him down just right, with him being calm, gracious, and intelligent while also being brutal (poor Roxas!) and one of the strongest characters to play as. The only thing missing is his fondness for mind games and puzzles, I think Shiro Amano actually did that really well and it added to his character, but oh well.

Zexion/Ienzo

Number 6 within Organization XIII. The Nobody of Ienzo, youngest of Ansem’s apprentices, Zexion is an analyst and a tactician by nature, always observing, always thinking, and always deciding to act on what he believes to be the best recourse for disadvantaging his foes. Very deadpan, smug and assertive with others, Zexion owes the Organization a great deal and wishes to succeed Xemnas as its leader one day. But as he’s still young and impetuous, he’s not the successful schemer he’d like to be and cracks under pressure. In Castle Oblivion, he worked in the basement level along with Vexen and Lexaeus. In combat Zexion’s not the best physical fighter, so he prefers to cast illusions and mental tricks using a magic spellbook.

The Zexion who best matches this characterization is...

Re:CoM is the best Zexion is going to get in terms of character and combat, and I quite like Ienzo whenever he appears in later games. He’s the only counterpart to an Organization member other than Xehanort and Braig who feels like he warrants the expansion.

Riku Replica (Repliku)

A replica of Riku created by Vexen in Castle Oblivion, designed to reflect Riku’s full dark potential. Was brainwashed by Namine into being obsessed with protecting her and fighting off Sora, but he eventually regained knowledge of what he really was and it got him grappling with his sense of identity all the way to his tragic demise.

The Repliku who best matches that characterization is...

I mean, he’s pretty much the same in Re:CoM as he is in CoM, but with two added benefits: voice acting to actually sell his comically inflated intensity, and not being so ridiculously too difficult to fight.

Ansem the Wise/DiZ

The ruler of the Radiant Garden with an affinity for science and the aquisition of knowledge and wisdom. In trying to better understand the heart, Ansem ended up drawing beings born of the heart’s darkness to his world, and his efforts to keep them at bay were thwarted when his apprentice Xehanort betrayed him and banished him to the Realm of Nothingness. Consumed by dark thoughts, negative emotions and a desire for vengeance, Ansem went by the identity of “DiZ” (Darkness in Zero) as he sought a way to strike back at the Heartless and the Nobodies, the latter whom he particularly despised due to their very non-being serving as a reminder of his failures and the traumatic tragedy he’d been made to endure. While proud, callous, disdainful and patronizing to others, sometimes even downright cruel, Ansem has a wry sense of humor, enjoys peculiar interests such as computer games and ice cream, and can be civil when need be. He recognizes deep in his heart what’s right and wrong, but stubbornly refuses to heed his heart in favor of his mind. Suffice to say, this man’s story doesn’t have a very happy ending.

The Ansem/DiZ who best fits this characterization is...

When you get down to it, Ansem is really not that terribly interesting or invaluable a character in anything other than KHII. It’s the story with the role he was literally made to play, and in it we don’t only get his Ansem Reports and legendarily great voice acting by the late Sir Christopher Lee, but Final Mix even adds the one scene from 358/2 Days featuring him that was best fit to be shown in this story.

Roxas

Roxas is the Nobody of Sora, born when Sora’s heart left his body and he became a Heartless. Made the 13th member of Organization XIII, the solemn, moody and ill-tempered Roxas grew dissatisfied and at odds with himself, beginning to question his purpose and his very identity, which led to him leaving the Organization. He was then captured and mind-wiped by DiZ, who placed him in a simulation of Twilight Town where Roxas developed another identity, a bright, kind, considerate, humble and skeptical “boy scout” type who hung out with Hayner, Pence, and Olette. During this time his memories were scanned and extracted by Namine, and one identity crisis and fight to the death with his former friend Axel later, Roxas was made to re-assimilate back into Sora’s heart, where over the course of Sora’s next journey Roxas made peace with himself and his new home.

The Roxas who best fits this characterization is...

For a third time, Shiro Amano pulls through on not just doing justice to but actually perfecting a character from the games. While his Organization XIII persona in 358/2 Days still isn’t quite what I’d imagined, Amano’s writing for Roxas makes him so engaging the whole time that I barely care, and in the KHII manga he steals the show from Sora in a way Roxas in the game never could. I really like him - he’s way better than the black-coated turd of the later entries.

Hayner, Pence, and Olette

Three friends who live in Twilight Town and who were Roxas’ best friends in the simulation. Hayner is brash and energetic with a take charge attitude. Pence is chipper, laid back and good humored, and has an interest in stuff like machinery and truth-seeking. And Olette is sociable, willful, a bit bossy and snarky, and a shopaholic.

The Hayner, Pence, and Olette who best fit this characterization is...

Yeah, they’re pretty much the same in every single work they appear in, making it impossible to choose (though in Olette’s case I have to give her manga incarnation as shout out for the spiked baseball bat!)

Xaldin

Number 3 within Organization XIII. The Nobody of Dilan, one of Ansem’s guards and scholars, Xaldin is a naturally gifted warrior in the fields of both strength and strategic thinking. Viewing himself and his fellow Nobodies as abominations devoid of feelings, Xaldin views the Beast of Beast’s Castle with contempt and jealousy over him being a literal monster who possesses a heart, feelings, and humanity to reclaim, so Xaldin makes it his priorty to gradually take the Beast’s life apart and utterly break him in both body and spirit so that he may become a Heartless and create a Nobody that Xaldin may then enslave. Moreso than his colleagues, Xaldin is spiteful, malicious, verbally abusive to others, and devoid of any civility or decency, as it’s “not in his nature to hold back.” In combat, Xaldin is relentless, wielding six deadly lances and the power of wind.

The Xaldin who best fits this characterization is...

You really can’t do Xaldin any better than KHII:FM.

Demyx

Number 9 within Organization XIII. Demyx is a lazy, undisciplined, largely apathetic wastrel and a coward who prefers not to fight or apply himself to any tough situations. He likes lounging around, playing music, gaming with his colleagues, and generally taking advantage of others. Though he seems scatter-brained, silly, and even quite friendly at times, Demyx’s empty self makes him insecure about his place in the World, and when that button is pushed, he will throw caution and the pretense of feeling anything to the wind as he becomes a ferocious assailant, fighting with water and his sitar.

The Demyx who best fits this characterization is...

Again, KHII:FM got Demyx down the best. While 358/2 Days and even its manga adaptation fleshed him out a bit more, it lacks the spectacle of his boss fight that has made Demyx such a legend.

Luxord

Number 10 within Organization XIII. Luxord is a gentleman first, a gambler second, and an Organization agent last, so he’s not always the most effective when on a mission. However, he is also shrewd of mind, nefarious in means, and utterly fearless in face of a challenge. He generally gets along with his colleagues, respects a worthy opponent, relishes a good game, and prides himself on being keen and seeing through to the end anything he takes on, and he gets rather frustrated when things fail to match up with his perceptions and risk/reward analysis. In combat, Luxord fights with cards and dice, the gambler’s arsenal, and utilizes the power of time itself.

The Luxord who best fits this characterization is...

Fourth hit for Shiro Amano. While Luxord as an Organization operative in the Caribbean is enjoyable in KHII and even KHIII, Luxord as a character was better realized in the manga, which made him so much fun and notably goofier, meaning he has a much better chance to avoid the utterly asinine bullshit Nomura is now set on.

Saix

Number 7 within Organization XIII. Saix is a Nobody who both fully embraces being a Nobody and curses his fate as a Nobody, yearning for a heart of his own. He is so cold, so efficient, so faithful to the cause, and so uncompromising in his cruelty that he got himself the role of Xemnas’ second-in-command. Normally very deadpan and detached from any semblence of emotion, Saix always hides an undercurrent of intense rage, displeasure, venom and instability that only comes out when a full moon drives him into utter lunacy. He’s been friends with Axel since the start, as their human counterparts were friends too, but lately the two have drifted apart. In combat, Saix wields a broadsword and powers of moon, stars, and space.

The Saix who best fits this characterization is...

358/2 Days just gives Saix all the character focus, meaty role in the plot, and truly villainous deeds that you could ask for. He’s great in Shiro Amano’s manga adaptation too, but his darker presence and actual fighting in the game gives that portrayal of him the edge here.

Xigbar/Braig

Number 2 within Organization XIII, and the Nobody of Braig, one of Ansem’s guards and apprentices who always had a greed for higher status and power that could elevate his self worth. Wanting to wield a Keyblade of his own, Braig gladly accepted Master Xehanort’s offer to collude with him in his scheme to set off a new Keyblade War, and ended up exploiting Xehanort’s trajectory when he became Ansem’s apprentice. Becoming the founding member of Organization XIII along with Xemnas, Xigbar retains Braig’s laid back, gruff, rude and talkative personality and seemingly flighty and unserious attitude, but actually knows many secrets and holds many cards close to his chest, always thinking opportunistically about what can gain him the best advantages and put him several more steps ahead of others he disdains. In combat, Xigbar fights with sniper rfiles and gravity power.

The Xigbar/Braig who best fits this characterization is...

To put it plainly, Xigbar was initially one of the weakest characters in the Organization, and everything about his character in KHII:FM and 358/2 Days only works with the context given with Braig in BBS. (Also, he’s not Luxu. If Luxu were to exist, he’d not be this character.)

Xion

The suddenly added Number 14 of Organization XIII and the centerpiece of much of what happened in the time gap between CoM and KHII. She turns out to be an imperfect Sora replica made by Vexen who absorbed the memories of Sora that Roxas could not recall, leading to the puppet taking on an appearance and personality reminiscent of Kairi. But wheareas Kairi is sweet (albeit sassy and teasing), light-hearted and acts like she’s got her shit together, Xion has no such chill - she’s manic, edgy, feisty, stubborn to a fault, quite prone to angst or anxiety-inducing emotional turmoil, and very open about her insecurities. Despite this, she is fiercely dedicated to being a hard worker and applying herself on missions, giving it her all to earn her keep and putting on her best brave face for her friends ‘cause she loves them so deeply. Even when her screws come more loose and she has her very identity and continued existence in question, her desire to do right and look out for what’s best for her friends wins through. Due to her connection to Sora and Roxas, Xion too can wield the Keyblade. Was ultimately wiped from all memory.

The Xion who best fits this characterization is....

To the surprise of no one, Xion from Shiro Amano’s 358/2 Days manga adaptation IS the character for me and many others - in fact, she’s probably Amano’s crowning achievement, fully realizing the potential in such a bizarre and fanficcy character concept that was thought up by Tomoco Kanemaki and screwed with by Nomura.

Terra

The young Keyblade wielder who, years ago, fell prey to the darkness in his own heart and from Master Xehanort, becoming Xehanort’s vessel and a crucial component of who Xehaort was as Ansem’s apprentice. Having a soured relationship with his mentor and father figure, Master Eraqus, Terra’s heart burned with the desire to prove himself strong and to be a hero to others in need. While rather overconfident, willful, dense, brooding, short-sighted and with a fixation on power, Terra was also good natured, compassionate and vulnerable, wanting to see the best in others and so convicted to ideals of heroism and moral values that his will to do good and protect what mattered most to him outlived him and his own failings.

The Terra who best fits this description is...

Say what you will about Terra in BBS, good and bad, but he was easily the most fully realized character with the fullest realized story arc out of the leads in the game, plus his combat style holds up best.

Aqua

The young Keyblade wielder who, years ago, played a key (pun intended) part in saving the worlds from a plot by Master Xehanort to lay waste to everything, even sacrificing her physical existence to the Darkness in order to give her two friends, Terra and Ventus, their best shot at survival. Aqua was kind-hearted, keen and insightful, strong-willed, stubborn, and hyper-focused on her tasks due to the seriousness of her position and the ideals of peacekeeping and justice that Master Eraqus instilled in her. Having shown the Mark of Mastery, she was also a bit showy, standoffish, and judgmental, wanting to believe she knew best and that her heart wouldn’t lead her astray only to constantly second-guess herself and expose her more awkward side. She cherishes light and is constantly pushing back against the darkness in others and in herself. Above all else, Aqua values her friends as family and will do anything to help them.

The Aqua who most fits this characterization is...

The reason I hold a deep appreciation for what we got in BBS:FM’s bonus episode and in BBS 0.2 even when I don’t like either of those as products is that their contents helped really define who Aqua is and needs to be as not merely a strong heroine, but as a character who stands on her own apart from her two male friends. Shiro Amano’s recent adapting of the material did it one better by restoring Aqua’s adorkable side from BBS to give us bits of levity here and there. Plus, she’s just beautiful and such a damn badass in Keyblade combat, making Nomura’s ever sexist treatment of her in KHIII afterwards a legit crime of bad writing and character assasination.

Ventus

The young Keyblade wielder who, years ago, played a key (pun intended) part in saving the worlds from a plot by Master Xehanort to lay waste to everything, even sacrificing his very heart to vanquish the threat of the Unversed. Initially brought into the secret Keyblade Master order by Master Xehanort, while not of age to become a Master, Ven trained hard and looked up to his older friends/surrogate siblings, Terra and Aqua. A positive, confident, good natured, helpful and spirited youth, but one prone to uncertainty, melancholy, and impertinence when faced with conflict he found himself ill equipped to deal with. While not too strong or magically gifted, he was very agile.

The Ventus who most fits this characterization is...

Yes, just the basic concept of Ventus. He was never too well realized in any officially liscened work, and was most effective when asleep.

Master Eraqus

The old master of Terra, Aqua, and Ven, who in his own younger days was a colleague of Yen Sid and Xehanort in their Keyblade training. He meant well, but was overly strict with his surrogate children and zealous about safeguarding the light by stamping out darkness whereever, whenever, believing in absolutes such as the need to ultimately erase darkness from all hearts in existence and guide the worlds to a new age of prosperity in secret. He was struck down by Xehanort, the man he’d looked to as an elder brother.

The Eraqus who most fits this characterization is....

Once again, a character is never executed too well beyond his rough draft concept and design. And what a cool concept and design, too!

Vanitas

A being of pure darkness who spawned the Unversed years ago and who may have had some influence in the darklings’ evolution into Heartless. Vanitas trained under Master Xehanort as his secret apprentice and wielded his own dark Keyblade. He relished being cruel and channeling the pain of his own negative emotions into the pleasure of hurting others, and he was also very arrogant, viewing himself as the most supreme warrior who could even usurp and outlive Xehanort himself. While seemingly destroyed by Ventus, Vanitas never fully went away - we see traces of him in Riku’s dark mode and soul-eater, and in Sora’s own positivty turning to negativity and obsessive desire during his trek through Castle Oblivion. So long as darkness holds great power, Vanitas will linger as its embodiment.

The Vanitas who most fits this characterization is...

This was bar none the biggest shock to me. I didn’t think KHIII would get anywhere here beyond a shout out to Ienzo, but Vanitas in that game is honestly even better than in BBS, and for mainly one reason - he redefined what I thought of the character and his potential. ‘Cause beforehand I wasn’t sure I even wanted to see Vanitas again since he seemed to have no lasting value beyond that dumb ying-yang X-Blade plot with Ventus. KHIII showed he didn’t need to be just that. He could be his own brand of menace, the “Darkness” he chose to be. He didn’t even need to go around looking or sounding much like Sora - he could have far stronger “repeatedly comes back taking on a different shape and form” potential than Xehanort! And naturally, I don’t care one bit about whatever Nomura might have in mind for Vanitas and tying him to 12 other “Darknesses”, that’s BS. Leave me with my proud, gleefully evil solitary Darkness Incarnate!

Master Xehanort

The old Keyblade Master who set in motion the events that led to the story of Kingdom Hearts and whose heart became the canvas for the creation of the story’s overarching villain, Terra-Xehanort. Hailing from a small, constraining world before being chosen by the Keyblade, Xehanort finally got to explore the larger World only to, like Ego from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, find it so... disappointing. Being a naturally born sociopath with an inquisitive soul who always sought knowledge and yearned for the answers to all his heart’s most burning questions, Xehanort researched deeply into the old Keyblade War legends all while arrogantly intaking and exploiting Darkness in hopes of chanelling it as power. His ambition became to initiate another Keyblade War-sparked apocalypse where Darkness would ravage the World and he could then set foot inside Kingdom Hearts to harness its light and recreate the World anew in his own image, partially out of sheer curiosity to see the results such a grand cosmic experiement would yield and partly out of a desire to trascend his own humanity and play God. By the time he got around to it, Master Xehanort was little more than a self-interested, callous, maniacal old crackpot who did evil for evil’s sake and shamelessly reveled in it. Even after he, from inside Terra’s body, got amnesia and faded from consciousness, his dark legacy lived on in Terranort and his Nobody.

The Master Xehanort who most fits this characterization is...

OBVIOUSLY. In both Birth By Sleep the secret ending FMV and Birth By Sleep the game story, Master Xehanort was easily the most interesting, enjoyable, and best realized character, particularly when his on-screen portrayal firmly followed the Watanabe vision for him. A fantastic villain even with a dumb plan and incoherent motivations; were only those issues fixed, we’d have the ideal Master Xehanort who’d be by leaps and bounds superior to Nomura’s pet Villain Sue.

And last, and unfortunately least, we have....

Strelitzia & the Chirithy

Strelitiza is a girl who lived in the same world and village as Lauriam and Elrena, to whom she was a blood-related sister and surrogate sister respectively. The three of them belonged to a guild inspired by folk legends of the Keyblade, though they were not wielders of the fabled blade themselves. She was a rather quiet and shy girl who looked to others to give her courage and resolve, holding the highest opinion of her brother and best friend while undervaluing herself. Met with an unknown tragic fate, which effected Lauriam and Elrena deeply. The Chirithy, meanwhile, were local critters who were said to have been around since ancient times and could gague a hearts connection to the Keyblade. Chirithy also exists in the Final World.

The Strelitzia & Chirithy who most fit this characterization is....

As with Ventus and Eraqus, the basic concept and design outdoes the actual implementation of the character we got in the series. Don’t care to see these characters anywhere outside of my headcanon.

#Disney #Kingdom Hearts #characters #opinion #analysis

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