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lovelyladyabsinthewrites · 1 year ago

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From the Ashes Pt. 32

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Pairing(s): Pairing(s): Rhaegar Targaryen x Lannister!Reader, one-sided!Jaime Lannister x Lannister!Reader, Jaime Lannister x Cersei Lannister

Warnings: slow burn fic, changing povs, Reader POV

Words: 4513

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 3.5 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Part 30 Part 31 Part 33 Part 34 Part 35 Part 36 Part 37 Part 38 Part 39 Part 40 Part 41 Part 42

Book Two of Dārilaros hen ōrbar se perzys (Heir of Ash and Fire)

“No way. . .”

“My lady. . . Where did you obtain such a treasure?”

As you gawked at what you had thought to be a normal opal gemstone, you felt your mind spin uncontrollably with disbelief. There was absolutely no way. Dragon eggs had been all but gone in Westeros, even in Dragonstone where centuries earlier they had been abundant. The few that had been found by Aerys early on in his reign were unable to hatch and thus destroyed as they proved useless to him.

Maybe that was why you had been feeling a deeper type of warmth resonating from the beautiful egg. A life that had once had potential.

You told Inniros of Thalina and how a knight from Westeros along with Tyrion had delivered it to you. It indeed hailed from Dragonstone where you had spent your childhood with Thalina.

“To think that maid was actually a red priestess.” mused Tyrion as he was unable to tear his gaze from the dragon egg. All the stories hadn’t prepared him for the real thing. Inside was a baby dragon that never got the chance to live. Impossible to both you and Tyrion to view Thalina as this secret keeper as she had been a lovely, ditzy girl when you had known her. “She knew all along.”

Inniros picks up the egg and examines it with his one good eye. Now Tyrion stared at the darkin. Another tale that he had thought was only make believe. A darkin and a dragon. He towered over you and Tyrion, his face fully visible now that he could no longer hide behind his long, red, locks. His sheared head bothered you. Who had done it? Or did he cut it off himself? You knew that some men of the Fiery Hand could be malicious.

“Granted, who knows if there’s anything left alive in it.” He murmurs, fingers scraping against a scale. “For all we know it could only be a beautiful fossil now.”

“Are you sure it’s an actual dragon egg?”

“Positive.” Inniros immediately replied without waiting a second. “There is a forgotten city in the heart of the Shadowlands called Stygai. It is void of human life and only the darkins are brave enough to venture out there. Strange creatures have taken over the ruins and there are rumors that dragons are still present there too. My master Batur brought me as close as he thought appropriate. I will never forget the shriek that shook the land beneath me. Batur told me it was from a dragon. The Shadow Hills where the darkin call their home are on the outskirts of Asshai and lead to Stygai. In a way we protect unknowing travelers from stumbling upon the Shadowlands.”

Inniros hands the egg back to you, very carefully as if there were still life in it. “Be very careful to who you show this to. Even if it’s just a fossil now, it’s still worth a fortune. Especially one as beautiful as this one.”

You purse your lips and cradle the egg in your arms like an infant. “If dragons are still alive in the Shadowlands. . .”

As if reading your thoughts, Tyrion continues your musing “Then it may be possible for the egg to still hatch if it’s brought there?”

The darkin shrugs and sits on the edge of his small bed, way too small for his height and long legs. “Who knows how old that egg is. But I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. Many odd things happen in the Shadowlands. From the River Ash that glows green at night to the creatures that lurk in the Valley of Shadows, anything could happen.”

Noticing the expression of unconditional hope on Tyrion’s face, you carefully tell your brother not to get his hopes up. Like Inniros said, this could only be a fossil now. Tyrion wasn’t having any of it though. His life prior had been filled with neglect and abandonment. He had entered the land where anything is possible and tales from his childhood were coming true. Darkins and dragons, creatures that lurked in the dark and all of the adventure that it carried with it. Even if Tyrion begged you, you knew he couldn’t accompany you to Asshai. There were too many uncertainties and you didn’t want to put Tyrion at risk now that he was safe in the temple. It pained you, the thought of leaving him again. But he would be with Jaime and you knew Jaime would do anything to ensure that Tyrion stayed safe.

A gentle rap against Inniros’ door sounded before Vidarr poked his head in. “Sorry to interrupt but the Red Priest who presides over the dungeon would like to know what to do with the Fiery Hand you sent down there.”

Yes, there was still the issue of that Fiery Hand to deal with. You look down at Tyrion. “I’m afraid I must leave you in the watchful eye of someone else.”

“I can’t go with you?”

“The dungeons are no place for a young boy.” You told him and immediately saw the fight that was ready on his lips. Trying your best at a ‘stern big sister stance’, Tyrion bites back whatever words he had on the tip of his tongue for he respected and loved you too much to cause you any type of displeasure. “Hey, don’t worry. I’ll leave you off at the training grounds so you can watch the others. Jaime must already be there after this morning. You can always find Jaime there.

Stiffly, Tyrion nods. “Alright. But what about the egg? Inniros just said to be careful who you show it to.”

“The temple is safe. I have no enemies here.”

Even so, you knew you couldn’t walk around all day carrying the egg. Hopeful eyes glance at Inniros who was glaring at Vidarr from his spot on his bed. “Inniros, would you mind terribly keeping an eye on this?”

“An eye is all I have.” He murmurs but holds out his hands so that you could once again place it in his care although he seemed hesitant.

You thank him and take Tyrion by the hand. “Are you too old to hold your sister’s hand?”

“Never!” To reassure you, he gives your hand a little squeeze.

The both of you smile and walk out.

The training grounds were loud as ever with the vibrato of clanging swords and grunting men and women alike. On his typical bench under the shade, Nuahlin sits pleasantly. He watches the army that used to be under his authority which old age had stripped him of. Neither seemed to bother him though as he smiles amicably. Next to him is the tall priestess Siofra with her short curly hair that was uncharacteristically blonde for someone with such dark skin. There was always a priest or priestess with him as he was still highly revered.

Her dimpled smile emerges when she sees you and Tyrion approaching. “Hello nuha kosh!”

You lead Tyrion over to them, guiding him as his attention was on the skilled fighters. In the depths of the ring was Jaime having it out with Weles. As of late they had been consistent sparring partners and you knew that they had a sort of friendship budding quietly.

“Rytsas (Hello) Siofra, Nuahlin. I don’t think either of you have been officially introduced to my brother. This is Tyrion. Tyrion, Nuahlin used to be the commander of the Fiery Hands. It has now been passed down to Weles who you see sparring with Jaime. And this is one of the Red Priestesses, Siofra.”

Tyrion greets them and blushes when Siofra gushes over his two different colored eyes. “How interesting! One is black and the other is green like your sister’s.”

Nuahlin pokes at the small sword that hung off of his hip. “Do you know how to use that, byka azantys (little soldier)?”

“Somewhat.” He looks down momentarily at his stunted legs. “It was hard to learn because I’m a dwarf, but I had an excellent teacher who taught me the basics.”

Gently nodding his head, Nuahlin seemed to already know who Tyrion’s teacher was. “The Westerosi knight you traveled with.”

“Ser Barristan Selmy.” Tyrion nodded.

“Yes, Ser Selmy. What a shame he couldn’t stay longer. It would have been wonderful to watch him spar with the Fiery Hand. Watching Jaime when he first started here was quite entertaining. He fought stiff as a log, now look at him.”

You and Tyrion turn your head to watch said brother swipe a leg under Weles, making the captain momentarily slip but flipped back on to his feet. It was a challenge to knock Weles off balance, not many were capable of succeeding. In the flash of an eye, Weles’ curved blade strikes out at Jaime while the sword he held in his other hand jabbed near Jaime’s stomach. The blade only caught a piece of his robes, sending a ribbon of fabric drifting through the breeze. You even heard Tyrion suck in a sharp breath at the close call. Jaime was holding his own though and was equally fluid in his footwork. He had become such a beautiful fighter.

“I am excited to see what the Fiery Hand can do with you.”

“Even if I’m a dwarf?”

His smile was tender. “Yes, byka azantys. In the Fiery Hand, we accept everyone. Former slaves, vagabonds, you name it. As long as you show faith and work hard.”

You catch Siofra’s attention. “Do you mind keeping an eye on him? There is a situation that calls for my presence in the dungeons.”

“Of course nuha kosh. I will take good care of Lord Tyrion.” she smiles happily.

Patting your younger brother on the head, you tell him that you would see him in a little bit and to behave. He nods, partially listening to you but his gaze couldn’t be torn away from watching Jaime.

Silently making your way all the way down to the temple’s jail cells, you were greeted at the gate by a Fiery Hand who bowed at your appearance. You nod to them and offer a small smile before opening the door and going to a cell where you were told the offending warrior was being held. Guilt flickered inside of you that someone who had been so dedicated to R’hllor should be behind bars for simply voicing worry. You knew trusting Inniros may have been viewed as extreme and unwise. He had murdered a handful of Fiery Hands without much thought and so efficiently. The power of the darkin terrified them and made them angry that he had not had justice brought down upon him. Inniros still stood while they were forced to bury their brothers. What would the actual Azor Ahai done with this man?

Even facing him you still didn’t know what to do. You stared into his dark eyes that flickered with the torch’s dancing light. Tattoos showed devotion to the Lord of Light.

In Valyrian you ask what his name is. He lowers his gaze and replies “I am Tejas.”

You repeat his name, practicing it on your tongue. “I must apologize that I had to resort to sending you here-”

“While the darkin walks free above.”

Trying to mask the wince, you felt your heart race. “Yes. Inniros. I know the crime he has committed is unforgivable. Inniros has done many things to obtain riches. But even R’hllor is willing to give grace to someone who repents, is that not correct?”

“You don’t understand the dark side of the world because you are but a girl, even if you are Azor Ahai reborn. You are young and trusting. Too trusting. You might have been able to get away with it back in your land of Westeros where the people are soft. Not here. Men will forsake religion in order to obtain wealth beyond their wildest dreams. The darkin lies.” He spat out the last sentence. “They are lost in their ways and have forgotten who gave them their abilities in the first place. And yet you let one into the temple after he murdered the men in charge of protecting you.”

You were quickly losing your courage. “What’s the proof you have that all of them have lost their way?”

“Speak up." You heard your father’s voice ring in your ears.

“Speak up and look right into my eyes.”

There weren’t many times when you thought back fondly on your father Tywin Lannister. Yet you found yourself drawing on his strength and remembering his harsh words. For at that moment, you needed to be a little bit of your father if you were to get through this without looking weak. And Tywin was anything but weak.

Tejas presses his lips firmly together before answering “You really know nothing because you were born an outsider.”

You envisioned your father glaring down at you behind his massive desk. Pale green eyes made you want to cry. He hated when you showed any sign of cracking. A Lannister didn’t show their fear. Better yet, a Lannister didn’t have fear. Courageous like the lion on their crimson banners.

“Then tell me, Tejas. Educate me for the priests and priestesses don’t seem to be doing a good enough job to your liking.” Attempting to fix your face like Tywin’s had been when admonishing you, you forced yourself to become steely. Finely honed like a blade of Valyrian steel. You wouldn’t show Tejas how nervous you were. At that moment he was a five year old (y/n); cowering before her abrasive father.

He took on your challenge though, not prepared to let a little girl like yourself intimidate him. You weren’t a little girl. That was his mistake for thinking you a fool. You knew the dark, cruel side of the world. Had the wounds to show that you had survived. “When Azor Ahai died, they did not join the rest of R’hllor’s worshippers at the temple. They wanted to be their own agents, live in those haunted hills of Asshai. They left without a word.”

“That doesn’t necessarily mean they lost their way. I understand your doubt, but was it not I alone who stopped him from causing anymore damage? I put an end to his reign of terror. When he saw Lightbringer ablaze, he knew what he had done was an error. Let me ask you, do you doubt that I am Azor Ahai reborn?”

Flushing slightly, he scrambled for useful words. “I-I personally wasn’t there to see Lightbringer’s glory. . . but according to my brothers it happened.”

“That didn’t answer my question. Do you think me a fraud, Tejas?”

You were unnerving him now. “O. . . Of course I believe you are Azor Ahai reborn, nuha kosh.”

“Then trust that I know what I’m doing with the darkin. While they may not have allied themselves with the temple back then, they will now. Azor Ahai is back and they’ll obey the call when I go there. They were created to help Azor Ahai win against the Others. There’s a reason for everything, Tejas, and it might not be clear now. A bigger event is at play and while I mourn the loss of the men that died protecting me, there will be more lives lost in the upcoming battle and we need the darkin to ensure we don’t lose more lives than need be.” Despite your hands trembling at your sides, you kept your voice level as Tywin would have. “I will allow for your release, but don’t you dare question me again.”

Tejas immediately presses his forehead to the ground. “Yes, nuha kosh. Please forgive me.”

You paused a few steps away from the cellar’s door, up on the stairs that led back to the brightness of day. Heart still pounding and a fever on your cheeks, you took a deep breath as the rest of your body trembled. To be that tough had been hard to do. You knew that being like that was necessary in order to prove your authority. You couldn’t have your men thinking you as a sweet, stupid, girl from Westeros.

Still jittery, you carefully make your way back to retrieve your egg from Inniros. The guards greeted you a second time before letting you in. Inniros was stationed by a small window that was held above a table and chair. On his lap lay the beautiful fossil.

“Are you alright?” He questions when handing you the egg.

You nod. “I never thought I would ever say this, but I’m grateful for my father being who he is. He’s a bastard, but his men respect and fear him. I had no idea how much effort it was to be like that.”

“Because that’s not who you originally are.”

“It’s who I have to be though. If I want the Fiery Hands to respect me, I have to act like the Lord of Casterly Rock.”

“You don’t want to be like him. Your sister is like him and she was not the least bit pleasant to be around. I walked into the shadows in front of her just to wipe that conceited look off her face.” Inniros told you.

Only imagining the fright on Cersei’s face made you smile a little. “I bet that felt good.”

The faintest hint of a smile made the corners of his lips twitch upward. “Yes, it did.”

He must not be used to smiling for it was quick to disappear and Inniros turned his attention back to the window.

“By the way, your hair. . .’

His hand goes up to where his mass of scarlet dreadlocks once covered the right side of his face; concealing the eye that he was missing. “The priests shaved it.” That was all Inniros was willing to divulge. You didn’t press any further on the issue but you felt angry that the priests would do that to him. Now he acted even more self-conscious around you. You thought the two of you had made progress during your visits to his cell, now all that progress seemed to be lost. Like the shadows that bent at his will, his hair had acted as a security blanket that he could hide behind. At least it would grow back. Perhaps on your journey to Asshai it could reclaim its former glory. When you got back, you would have to discuss with the priests that Inniros’ hair was off limits unless he wanted to cut it.

“If anything else happens. . . please let me know.”

You catch his nod before you leave Inniros’ room to go fetch Tyrion.

Back on the sea again, it wasn’t the same without his small companion.

Selmy would every so often look down to his side, expecting Tyrion to be there gazing out at the glittering Sunset Sea that would lead him back home to Westeros and to an uncertain situation.

There was no reason to feel melancholy as his job was done and he could return to his post. That’s what he had wanted when he first started out on his journey. Selmy had wanted to get back as soon as possible so as to not procure the wrath of Aerys. Once Tyrion had joined him everything had changed. Barristan started to enjoy the travel, enjoyed in Tyrion and his incredible brain. If the boy had been born in a normal body, he would have gone places- no, he WOULD go places regardless. While his blades skill was nothing to brag about at least Tyrion would be able to go down fighting and not like a helpless lamb. He was safely with his family now, the only family that loved him. And Jaime, Jaime seemed to have changed for good.

Barristan had to restrain himself from glancing over his shoulder, back to where the Red Temple looked out over the ocean. By now it was probably just a speck in the horizon since he had been on the water for some time now. The priests were eager to get him out as soon as possible. Even with (y/n) claiming that he was a trusted friend, they seemed skeptical of his presence. The girl had become a deity to them. At least that was what Barristan surmised. No one had really answered his question on what (y/n) was to them. It was clear that she was incredibly important to everyone in the temple. Serving as her castle, (y/n) seemed to have the last say in many things and they waited on her every word. Ilta had been passionate about serving (y/n) and this Lord of Light.

A while later the horn that warned of an approaching ship was sounded. Whether it was a friendly ship or that of an enemy was still yet to be seen. The sound had roused Selmy from a nap he had tried to force upon himself. On his feet in a flash and sword shaft ready in his palm, he dashed back up to the deck. By that time the ship was closer that Barristan could discern purple sails. The closer it grew, Barristan realized that there was a silver sword and star emblazoned on the purple sails. It was House Dayne’s sigil. He couldn’t believe it yet there it was. Lady Ashara Dayne’s ship that had transported Selmy and Tyrion to Lys. He made sure to inform the captain that it was a friendly ship and to stop.

The ship that belonged to Ashara slowly pulled in next to Selmy’s and a long plank was thrown so that their lady could board.

Still a sight for sore eyes, Barristan’s heart beat faster as he had thought he would never see her again. Her long dark hair was pulled back into a ponytail to help relieve her of the stifling heat. Waves splashed against both ships that made the plank wobble a bit but Ashara didn’t seem to mind. With her knee high boots, she took casually calculated steps forward with perfect balance. There was no fear on her face that she would fall over. She wore a revealing gold gown that billowed from the sea breeze. Gold bangles around her wrists could be heard clinking together.

“You look as if you’ve seen a ghost, Ser.” She chuckles once she is assisted onto the deck. With her feet safely planted, she waltzes over to the surprised knight.

“Forgive me, my lady, but what are you doing out here? I thought you had returned to Starfall.”

Her smile was ever dazzling as she laughs again. “You can’t get rid of me that easily. No. . . Where is Vaiko?” Ashara looks around him, perhaps expecting the boy to be hiding. Her eyebrows flicker down when she does not see him.

What he told her wasn’t a particular lie but it did dodge around the truth of Tyrion’s situation. “He has family in Volantis who wished him to stay. He will be better off there as I must return to King’s Landing.”

Ashara nodded with acceptance but she still looked a little sad that Vaiko was no longer there. Much like how Selmy felt. “I’m afraid you won’t be returning to King’s Landing quite yet, Ser Barristan.”

He frowned. “And why is that my lady?”

Long lashes flick up revealing her rich colored eyes. “I need your help. Is there a place we can speak privately?”

The captain allowed the two to use his personal quarters. In there they were secure from prying eyes and ears.

“News has spread from Westeros that the young Prince Viserys and Princess Daenerys Targaryen have been abducted from Dragonstone.” She sits on the edge of the captain’s desk, her eyes drilling into Selmy with dark urgency. “I plan to find them and bring them to Prince Rhaegar and my brother Arthur. But I desire your help. While I have my own guards, it could never hurt to have the most renowned knight in all of the Seven Kingdoms by my side.”

It was a lot to take in in such a short amount of time. Selmy’s stomach sank at the thought of someone kidnapping Aerys’ children amidst a war. Friend or foe, it didn’t bode well. “They could be anywhere by now.”

She moves her hair off her shoulder with such flippant ease. “Precisely. I’ve already sent some of my men out to start the search. Any kind of rumor or tip, they will follow. I must do my part too.”

“Why would you want to bring them to Rhaegar?”

“You can’t be serious.” Ashara momentarily chuckles. “I wouldn’t even dream of giving them back to the Mad King. And you’re too good of a man to do that to them. Despite your vows, you know how twisted Aerys is. You know that Viserys and Daenerys would thrive with their brother. Anyway I hear the war has turned against Rhaegar for the meantime. Aerys is implementing his wildfire on the battlefield. Who knows how many lives have been taken from that damn wildfire.”

He heard the worry in her voice for her brother Arthur. Ashara cast her attention down to her boots, brows knit together in the center as she grimaces.

“I pray to whoever is listening that Arthur is safe. There has been no news on who is left in Rhaegar’s army. It scares me, Barristan. Even before you arrived in Starfall I worried about Arthur. He hasn’t written to me since Tumbleton. Now all is quiet and I am not home to receive any missives even if they come. If I can do one thing for him that may help turn the tides, I will do whatever is in my power. While the Targaryen siblings may not seem like much of a bargaining chip, I think just having them with Rhaegar will completely unsettle Aerys enough for him to make a stupid mistake. We just need an opening.” Her tears refuse to fall, instead making her eyes glitter like polished amethyst. “I want to see my brother alive after this is done. That is all I ask for.”

How could he deny Ashara Dayne anything when she was that close to tears yet looking so strong and resilient; a woman ready to take on the world. She was asking more of him than Varys had. Now she was asking him to be a turncloak and work with Rhaegar’s allies. If this plan of her’s succeeded, he would be participating in the undoing of Aerys. Barristan remembered the day he was sworn into the Kingsguard. What a joyous occasion it had been and what honor he felt when King Jaehaerys smiled down on him and placed the pristine white cloak around him. Times had been easier back then.

If Tyrion were there, he would have wanted him to do this. To do the right thing instead of turning a blind eye as his king burned people alive.

He just hoped that what Ashara had planned actually worked.

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prue84 · 2 years ago

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The Current and Future Pendragons

Fandom: BBC’s Merlin (canon divergence, post-canon) AU AU: The Royal Husbands (Aithusa Pendragon)

High King Arthur Pendragon and the royal family of Camelot.

AU in which a series of canon divergences lead to Arthur surviving the mortal wound inflicted him by Mordred at Camlann and, with the help of Merlin who then becomes his Prince Consort, bringing the golden age foretold by the prophecies.

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Manip planned few years ago, but started on the prompt of @tavernfest. It's all @papysanzo's fault on Tumblr for reblogging the May round. Also @merthurotica, but their post on my RSS feed turned up later.

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More about the AU under the cut and also at the AU edit. (More fanworks from this AU at the links above) (All rambles and how this manip was made under the cut. Please suffer with me.)

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Arthur Pendragon, king of Camelot and High King of Albion. He successfully reunited the lands as the prophecies said, and also brought back magic. Few years after the victory of Camlann he married Merlin, who has become prince consort and second ruler of the kingdom. But, since unfortunately Merlin might be many things, but a woman with a womb he's not, Arthur (with Merlin) had to find a way to conceive a heir while being married to a man. Cue in Mithian, crown princess of Nemeth, equally saddled with the duty to give the throne a heir but uninterested in finding a husband trustful enough to sit at her side without potentially become a danger to her right to the throne. Together, the three of them reach an agreement that satisfies them all and they've been tight-close since. Their peculiar settlement initially was met with confusion and diffidence, but Mithian earned herself the thrust of everyone, and eventually the title of Queen of Camelot, third in line after Merlin. Peter is the first born of this union and rightful heir to the throne of Camelot. He's a talented swordsman but he suffered through all his teen years because of the never-ending comparisons with his warrior father who is on another fighting level. With age he learned to accept that he'll never be a war king and nobody ever asked him to become one either. He isn't his father, his name isn't part of legends or prophecies; he wasn't born to unite Albion but to keep it united once the Age of the Once and Future King sees its dawn. He will be a good and fair king for the peaceful times of the golden age, and his duty will be to make sure all his father - and his father's husband - sacrifices won't be wasted, that what they built is preserved. Susan was conceived because Mithian wanted both a heir for her to entrust Nemeth and a daughter. She's stubborn and strong but also capable of great empathy and kindness, as her mother and the Pendragon women (when they not meet High Priestesses who manipulate them). She's a formidable archer. Handsome Caspian, the son of Gwaine and Lady Vivian, is courting her and she welcomes this game, but Susan is enjoying too much her freedom to settle for a marriage and a family of her own. She has time though. Aithusa is the cute, small thing of the family, although she's actually the oldest of the new Pendragon generation - not counting the centuries spent in the egg that make her older than the castle of Camelot itself. As per usual with the dragon race, Aithusa's growth is stunned by her remaining with her parents. Only by being left on their own to tend to themselves, a dragonling is forced to grow. Thus, despite she was hatched on the dawn of the golden age, before Arthur married Mithian, she's still a dragonling that can fit Arthur's shoulders - her second favorite spot after the sling she made Arthur wear for years under his shirt. She learned the human language and can talk with her half-dragon impaired siblings Peter and Susan, but her speech pattern still needs some work. She doesn't care though. She's not so eager to leave the nest.

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Aithusa, (officially the ward of the king, unofficially considered by anyone in the court his scales-covered, flame-breathing daughter) is actually the eldest, since she was the first to come to the family. So yes, she's the older sibling. Make of this knowledge what you want. She also is firm that Arthur is a dragon, just one kind that looks like humans. But he's totally dragon. And if he doesn't breath fire or doesn't understand the dragon language, is all Uther's fault who didn't teach him his dragon gifts. Since Arthur is clearly a dragon, while Mithian sadly isn't, Peter and Susan are to her half-dragons. She still claims that it's because of the half human blood in their veins that they are impaired and don't have any dragon skill.

There's a fanfic for Aithusa as the (still only) daughter of the royal husbands during Father's Day, if you're interested.

When the time comes, and Arthur retires to Avalon to sleep, Peter will ascend as new king of Camelot, whose court will be moved to the renovated Castle of the Old Kings (or a new castle - still have to decide on this). Susan will succeed to Mithian on the throne of Nemeth. Aithusa will inherit the nest itself, the castle of Camelot, to own and protect until Merlin will be ready to make use of it.

I decided that Caspian would be Gwaine's (and Vivian's) son out of looks alone, and out of a (wrong) belief that he was meant to be Susan's love in Narnia. I never watched the second movie, and by the time I finally read the books, I didn't want to change it. For the same reason, I don't have a woman for Peter. A potential daughter of Gwen and Lancelot wouldn't be bad, but not necessary. (The AU idea ends with Arthur's travel to Avalon for his sleep and a mention of Peter moving the court to another castle, to then a time skip focusing on Merlin, so I didn't really focus on Peter's or Susan's life.)

While I'm writing this I wondered if Merlin wouldn't want to have a child so to kickstart the dragonlords kind (although, unless Magic changes its rules, the child would never inherit the dragonlord powers, since Merlin doesn't die). It never occurred to me before. I'm not sure he'd feel like having children, if he already knew that he would be immortal and he would then be forced to see his children grow old and frail and then die. But who knows. He could have one or more with Mithian, especially once Arthur is gone to Avalon. In case, Edward Pensive is there for the picking. Also Lucy.

About the AU When Lancelot is sent sent back to the world of the livings after he sacrificed himself to close the Veil, Gwen realizes that, between the two boys she loves, a relationship with a knight of humble origins has better chances than the one with a king that comes with a throne and a heavy kingdom, and so she picks Lancelot over Arthur. Arthur, who has given his blessing to the couple, doesn't find the time nor interest to find himself a wife and he's still a golden bachelor by the time Camlann happens. Merlin manages to save him and they eventually acknowledge their feelings. The Court backs Arthur's wish to marry a male servant on the premise that Arthur will pick a woman to give the kingdom a heir. And here comes Mithian, who might be more interested in women, so Camelot and Nemeth can make an agreement that will make both households happy. Since Mithian is wonderful, and fondness between her and the Royal Couple of Camelot grows, she's eventually given the title of Queen of Camelot, third in line after the King and the Prince Consort. Arthur and Mithian will have two children, the first born a male who will inherit Camelot and the second a daughter that will inherit Nemeth.

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Tec stuffs (aka Behind The Manip) Both a challenge and a nightmare. The original picture is four people. I needed five. Now, onto the specific characters - in order of making. Mithian, who had to be moved to make space for Merlin, was surprisingly easy to make. I wished to delete the lions on the dress, and replace them with either the Pendragon dragon or the Nemeth bull, but it was too much even for me, so I gave up. Removing them altogether felt odd - the dress is black with little movement, and without the lions it felt just one blotch of black. Susan. I'm not satisfied. The actress picture was perfect in pose but it has something in colors/lights that makes it stand out and look a bit more fake. Whatever. Peter. It took me a while to find the picture that would fit the body. Initially I kept the original body's curly hair, for I didn't feel like William Moseley's hairstyle would acceptable in a Medieval setting. But then I changed my mind, and remade it. He might be a bit too stocky for my liking but the body is that and making him less bulkier is out of option. On the chest the costume featured a cross: I erased it to be replaced it with the Pendragon dragon in the same style. Quite proud of how that turned out. Can't say the same for the sword. Yes, Arthur's son has a name sword which is coincidentally the sword of Peter Pensive. But the change was a given. Merlin was one challenge. I planned to use another body for his (the same king from Vikings but with another costume) but the picture just didn't work out. The one I chose... featured the man from the knees above. Which meant reconstruction for legs (which meant stealing the legs from Arthur's base - coincidentally it's always the same character!)... and the cloak. That was the true challenge! Also. I like how it turned out, but it just irks me that Colin doesn't look in the camera. But that picture was perfect and the result is fine. It did take me some tinkering to place the circlet but all in all I'm satisfied in how prince Merlin turned out. Bonus point for my headcanon marriage ring that didn't look good (the manip is too small for decent rings renderings), but I managed to add another from a jewelry maker that does rings in a style very similar to Ygraine's canon ring. Be sure to visit their Etsy and die. Ygraine's sigil, that replace the medallion the original body was wearing, is a given as well. Too bad we don't have a decent prop pic of it. Now. Arthur. Bloody Arthur. Tinkering with the original body to change colors from blue to red was funny. The rest NOT. Replacing the original sword with Excalibur, which was mandatory, gave a mild result. Ygraine's ring is there but, given the small size, isn't looking good enough. And those were the easy things! Because then it came the time to place bearded Bradley. Now. We do have few nice bearded Bradley pics, courtesy of the man himself, but they were mostly too small to work with in this manip - and/or in poses that wouldn't fit the body. You might say: there's Vikings: Valhalla. No, my friend. I downloaded ALL the screencaps available and very few worked, and - given the costume the character wears, there was never a inch of Bradley's bearded neck. In the end I worked with one of the pics Bradley released on Instagram. A pic with a black background in which bear and hair blended in. And an hard shadow on the right side of the face. A nightmare to cut, a nightmare to fix. And then the crown. The crown comes from The Hollow Crown. It looks similar but it isn't the same refurbished prop (different decorations, slightly different proportions of the fleur-de-lis). Years ago, when I saw the pics, I decided this would be older!Arthur's crown, for it's more regal with its fake gems and golden coating. There wasn't a pic with the proper perspective, so I had to tweak it a bit. It doesn't look awful, mind me, but I feel something's off with how it's placed on Bradley's head. I can't tell what, though - I used one of Arthur's coronation pics as reference while working, but still I can't fix what's wrong. In hindsight I wonder if I should've used a crowned Arthur pic with the original crown and be done with it. And then Aithusa. We literally have two pics of her, unless you want to work with night/dark screencaps. I knew where I wanted to have her, no idea how to. Still not happy. Does she looks fake? Yes. But at this time I just gave up. Whatever. (Besides, the other options didn't work. Her standing promo pic at Arthur's feet? Her fore legs are in a different perspective. Her standing promo pic on Arthur's shoulders? There was enough space, her head would be cut out from the picture and there was no way to extend the base pic by 50px, that specific background is a bitch to work with).

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Credits

1. + 18. Vikings, season 4 promo pictures. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/vikings/gallery4/gallery21/gallery.htm ) 2. Janet Montgomery from Salem, season 1 promo picture. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/salem/gallery1/gallery14/gallery.htm ) 3. Anna Popplewell from Reign, season 1 promo picture. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/reign/gallery1/gallery1/gallery.htm ) 4. Vikings, season 2 promo picture. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/vikings/gallery2/gallery1/gallery.htm ) 5. Colin Morgan from We Hunt Together. ( farfarawaysite.com/merlin/actors/colin/filmtv3/gallery.htm ) 6. The Hollow Crown, season 1 - Henry V. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/hollow/gallery1/gallery3/gallery.htm ) 7. Merlin, deleted scene - screencap. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away) 8. Spinner ring by artisanlook on Etsy. ( etsy.com/listing/462981991/spinner-ring-ruby-ring-silver-band ) 9. William Moseley from Bonnie Paul's 'It Was Love, Now It's War' Music Video photoshoot. ( justjared.com/photo-gallery/2650927/william-moseley-bonnie-paul-it-was-love-now-its-war-01 ) 10 + 11. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian original prop (Peter’s sword and scabbard). ( uk.propstoreauction.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/78/lot/18159 ) 12. Merlin, original prop. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away) 13. Bradley James, photoshoot by Jose Palma (2021). ( instagram.com/p/CVvMc_AMC8m ) 14. Merlin, season 2 promo picture. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away) 15. The Hollow Crown, season 1 - Henry VI. ( farfarawaysite.com/section/hollow/gallery2/gallery2/gallery.htm ) 16. Bradley James from Vikings: Valhalla, 2x06 - screencap. ( kissthemgoodbye.net/PeriodDrama/index.php?cat=510 ) 17. Merlin, 4x11 - screencap. ( kissthemgoodbye.net/merlin/index.php ) 19 + 20. Merlin, creature picture. (Merlin's Keep at Far Far Away)

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Crossposted Livejournal: prue84.livejournal.com/97890.html Dreamwidth: prue84.dreamwidth.org/89442.html Deviantart: deviantart.com/prue84/art/The-Current-and-Future-Pendragons-964446326

#Merlin BBC #Merlin #Arthur Pendragon #Mithian #Aithusa #Pendragon heirs #Merthur #ArthurMithian #AUs (Merlin)#AU: The Royal Husbands #AU: Aithusa Pendragon #||#crossover with:#Chronicles of Narnia #Manips #merlin-art #bbc merlin

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angrennufuin · 4 months ago

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Party Dossier: Cinders

[How Aysel would describe:] [as of the ship battle/search for Halberd]

Brân

[they/them, ??? (changeling) beast-path barbarian/Archfey warlock]

A mysterious figure clad in shadow-colors, with incredible strength and power in battle. They’re touched by something unworldly. Their reflection doesn’t always match reality. They have no memory of their past. None of this excuses them being so Goddamn tall! Oddly nice for someone clearly being whispered to by dark forces, and I should know.

Gawain

[she/her, goblin artificer]

Little spitfire. Bit me on the ship over here, which I think was more a feral defense response than actual aggression. Missing two out of four limbs, don’t know why yet. She seems Cannith-aligned and I don’t have any patience for houses, but it’s fun to have someone sworn to me by blood oath… if that is what the friendship pin situation was about. And I believe we share a certain element of chaos in our souls.

Harth

[she/her, half-elf forge cleric]

A quiet little mouse of a house mage. Maybe an ex-house mage now? Priestess of Onatar, how boring, but fun to tease. Desperately afraid of getting into trouble. Afraid of lightning, too -- I think she felt the kiss of my God in that accident she talks about. Isn’t she tired of being nice? Doesn’t she just want to go apeshit? Or is she actually as boring as she acts?

Haze

[he/him, kalashtar monk, way of the ascendant dragon]

For a guy whose midriff is always out, he’s a total square. Every time I say something outlandish, he looks like I personally ruined his beauty sleep, which is obviously a reason to keep doing it. Used to live in a monastery but he’s not spiritual. Fights barehanded, and therefore not to be underestimated. Nice hair.

Ishtar

[she/her, minotaur inquisitive rogue/fighter]

Pretty minotaur. We share a similar ethos on earrings and dramatics. Seems kind of nerdy and know-it-all, but I get the impression the all she knows is from books. That said, she’s been shockingly competent thus far, and sometimes you need a nerd to figure out stupid wizard puzzle bullshit. Goddamn can she sprint.

#party dossiers #aysel cemre #cinders campaign #op #brân #gawain #harth #haze #ishtar #GUESS WHAT NIGHT IT IS FOLKS #IT'S BE A MEAN LESBIAN PIRATE NIGHT #sorry to my friends i love all your ocs #aysel is just kinda terrible

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metaphysicalpistolsoraclemine · 4 months ago

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Atlantian Cataclysm, the Dark Age

Approximately 50,000 years ago, the NAA began the genocidal agenda to eradicate Celtic Kings Grail DNA and Melchizedek Christ Teachings from Atlantis, with RH Negative tracking, spreading disinformation, and destroying the records of humanity’s star origin and historical artifacts. See Historical Timeline Trigger Events and Ascension Timeline Rebellion.

During the Atlantian Cataclysm cycle, after they conquered Solar Dragon Queen Merida and stole the 11D Emerald Founder Records that were entrusted in her Guardian protectorate, this was the last stand of the Solar Feminine Melchizedek’s that embodied the Blue Staff of Mu’a. The 11D Arthurian Grail lines are the Celtic-Druid Grail Bloodlines that reside within Ireland and Scotland, which has the highest percentage of people with naturally red hair. Thus, sadly the ongoing covert genocidal agendas to eradicate these lineages that hold the genetic records of the Celtic-Druid Grail Bloodlines have a long history of repeated campaigns known as the Celtic Massacres and Druid sacrifices.

The Dracs went to the Lemurian continent to finish off the genocidal massacres in Kauai some 22,000 years ago, in order to kill off all the remaining tribes of Solar Female Melchizedek’s that were also Mu’a staff holders. This was to prepare for a completely patriarchal society on Earth as run by the invaders which formed into the Atlantian Brotherhood of the Snake containing; Nibiruians, Thothian Leviathans and those connected to the Orion Group who later formed the Luciferian Covenant. This was the final genocide of the matriarchal society lineage of Solar Female Melchizedeks running civilizations on the Earth surface, that was aided by the Annunaki negotiations and agreements, and was the last stage of the Lemurian Holocaust and the end of the Atlantian Golden Age.

After the utter destruction during the Atlantian Cataclysm, the NAA brought in the Moon craft which generated the dreaded lunar female principle, enabling the Moon Chain parasitic infiltration with Sexual Misery programming and the rapidly growing satanic force infection that resulted over the next thousands of years. The insertion of the Lunar Matrix was accomplished in part through dragging in the Moon satellite, to be used as a base of operations and for transmitting lunar broadcasts for magnetic field manipulation and Mind Control programs on NAA’s Prison Planet. Over generations, this digressed the human female principle through merkaba magnetic spin damage, molecular compaction, and associated reproductive distortions as lunar forces filled up the breath channel, sacral energy center and womb.

Most women on the planet lost control over their conscious choice to have sex, their higher participation in when to reproduce and bear children, and thus became enslaved through the NAA’s assorted Genetic Modifications for Breeding Programs and Alien Hybridization agendas, with their violent rape and misogynistic mindset being instilled into the population. Patriarchal organized religions, spiritual leaders or shamans started to crop up with narratives that women were infiltrated with unclean spirits, menstruation and black holes existing inside their wombs, making them prone to demonic Possession and committing evil deeds. Thus, it was commonly thought that women were not to be trusted, were less than men, committed the original sin by disobeying God, and could not become enlightened or spiritually developed, thus they had to be owned and dominated by male brute strength. The Solar Feminine Melchizedeks who were commonly holding powerful roles supporting their community as legitimate Mother of Dragons and as the High Priestesses intermediating between the earthly kingdoms and Mother- Father God, were targeted for extermination.

Such are the many histories across the globe that ensued with the stories of female witch hunts and erupted hysterias of false accusations made of women supposedly doing the devils work, through which to effectively persecute and kill off the solar female with embodied sophianic wisdom, not unlike the misogynistic targeting that still persists even today.

This twisted NAA misogynistic narrative sourced in regard to this horrible history of lunar infection, of SRA human Blood Sacrifice and Moloch tanks that corrupted the planet, was indeed very damaging to the inner female principle existing within both the male and female biology. It is accurate to say in some cases, that the heavy distortions of human race Miasma and the lunar magnetic spin in the lower section of the female reproductive organs made sacral solarization and lunar Transfiguration of the breath channel much harder to achieve for women, unless they were holding Solar Feminine Melchizedek genetic records within their Lightbody.

#hiddenhumanhistory #atlantis #lemuria #moon #ascensionglossary #godsovereignfree #oraclemine #metaphysicalpistol #jeminthehologram #gsf #energeticsynthisis

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lrdvyke · 1 year ago

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stats.

STR 15 ( +1 ) DEX 20 ( +3 ) CON 17 ( +3 ) INT 17 ( +3 ) WIS 15 ( +2 ) CHA 20 ( +5 ) proficiency ( +6 ), armor class ( 18 )

saves.

dexterity ( +9 ), constitution ( +7 ), charisma ( +8 )

skills.

acrobatics ( +11 ), athletics ( +7 ), insight ( +8 ), intimidation ( +11 ), medicine ( +8 ), survival ( +9 )

class. paladin ( lvl 5 ), sorcerer ( lvl 15 ) details. oath of devotion, draconic bloodline ( bronze, lightning damage ), wild magic ( frenzied flame homebrew ) languages. common, draconic weapons. war spear, gravel stone seal

story.

a lone adventurer who can be hired muscle for select jobs that he finds worthy, Vyke moves around Faerûn as if there is a known heading in mind. a look towards the distance, guided by something but he will not say what no matter how pressed he is. does he even know? what he does tell is that he came from the north, an area known only as the Badlands, escaping a tribe under its rather brutal chieftain, Hoarah Loux, but the rest is left to guessing. Vyke's kin are the nightfolk who were said to bleed silver and the ones who kept count of the stars, hoping for a day they would soon return. a nebulous concept, one that Vyke found wanting, which only further pushed his desire to move forward, away from the north, towards a better odd in life than the one he was given at birth. thus, he finds himself in more populated areas to lend his hand and spear to those who desire it, following an oath of devotion he made with himself to do what his fellows will not. yet his selfless loyalty leads him down a path deeper and deeper—the cult of the dragon was first, for the love of a priestess, he only knew later was a metallic dragon, who taught him the ways of the draconic bloodline sorcery that he could tap from within himself with her blessing. but the wandering continues. friends are made, friends are lost, but still he continues on without pause. he circles back around, he meets another in a small village upon the outskirts who fears whoever is after her, but she does not name her pursuer nor does she say why they pursue, but Vyke desires to do what he can for another blossom of love is there to force a heart to action. just like with everyone else, he expends every effort for another with little questions asked. so she whispers to him of a secret below the earth, seemingly further than the underdark, further still somehow; there rests a god who would grant him strength enough to save her. so he takes the plunge. and somehow he comes back out alive, yet changed beyond all sense with burned skin and eyes with sickly yellow flames within them. though he returns to a corpse with blood on his hands, and the madness burning deep within his chest comes forth in its burst of wild magic. the screams do not stop. the small village succumbs, bows underneath the unknown frenzied god and joins Vyke in the ceaseless screams that even the rats themselves carry within themselves. a divert in the path: was he killed when found? or was he taken to Revel’s End and jailed there? was the seal within his hand cut out, or was it taken and locked away just like he was? if he was jailed, would he be let out and allowed to live outside another day, or will he be killed inside the small cell? it seems his life is in another's hands once again, unable to keep count of the stars...

#— ver. dnd #— ver. bg3 #— study.#wheezes #gonna link this on my verse page but here it is #did i get some things wrong in the stats department? maybe. probably. math is hard #but i think this is a good enough start maybe i hope idk 😭#i've made so many dnd characters and i love making them but jus doin all the stats and whatnot hurts me ghkjsgkhs

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anadorablekiwi · 1 year ago

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Genshin Impact Lore and Theories: Sangonomiya Kokomi

Spoiler-free overview: why Kokomi is so powerful (for example walks on water in burst), and why her constellation is a dragon

Mention of Neuvillette

Spoiler analysis under the cut

So the theory that Kokomi is the hydro dragon has been circulating for a while now, but with the release and confirmation of Neuvillette being the Dragon Sovereign of Water (Reborn) i wanted to research and revisit this theory and found some interesting things

First off: her constellation

Pretty self explanatory lol

Second: the Dragon Sovereigns

The only Dragon Sovereigns that we confirmed know of are Apep the Dendro Dragon and Neuvillette the Hydro Dragon. Dvalin and Azdaha being dragon sovereigns are theories that have not been officially confirmed in game yet. There’s also the Dragon King whom doesn’t seem to have an associated element, Nibelung

We do not know anything (even among theories that i know of) about the electro, pyro, or cryo dragon sovereigns

Also, the dragon corpse killed by Ei that is connected with Watatsumi island, Orobashi, is Not a dragon sovereign.

Orobashi is a dragon unrelated to the Seven Sovereigns, who became the dragon god of the people of Enkanomiya/Watatsumi

Fun fact, watatsumi coral was broken off from Orobashi (by orobashi) in order to create an island for its people to live on

Sangonomiya Kokomi

If she’s not the hydro dragon, is she even a dragon?

My theory is Yes, and you may have seen this coming but i think she is Orobashi reborn, or at least was born with its powers (descendant maybe?). Or perhaps a secret third option

As the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi, it would make sense that she would have a connection to the deceased dragon god her people worship.

Secret third option: Draw from its power, thus becoming a dragon by default (she has additional power within her that is yet to be unlocked, a ‘sleeping dragoness’ so to speak yet to be awoken)

#genshin impact #sangonomiya kokomi #i forgot about this #wrote it soon after the Neuvillette confirmation then forgot #sorry if it sounds halfbaked

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dkniade · 1 year ago

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So between (the visual novel) Touchstarved’s Kuras ([kəˈraʃ] …?) and Genshin Impact’s Diluc (default outfit), Kaeya (alt outfit), Albedo, Fischl (default & alt outfit), Rosaria (alt outfit), Neuvillette, Yun Jin, Yaoyao…

Do I just really like characters with symmetric outfits, lots of metallic details, and a black/white/other colour/gold accent colour scheme (Yun Jin and Yaoyao don’t quite fit the pattern but their outfits are really colourful and cute...)

Yun Jin’s symmetry and values work well with the colour scheme of purple/pink (analogous) + red/yellow/blue (triad) accents,

And Yaoyao’s outfit just looks so soft and cuddly like a plushie with a bunch of warm analogous colours (yellow-green/yellow/orange/gold?) & dark neutral colours (dark-brown/white). A lot of shapes are repeated (sleeves and tassel are both white-to-beige; eyes, bells, and pouch are all round with warm colours)

[Kuras image from here / Here’s Genshin Impact wiki’s character list]

As for Inazuma characters, I’d say I like Kokomi and Yoimiya. But I wish they pushed the kimono part for Kokomi more and not have her look like she’s got a frilly swimsuit with thigh highs. If she’s known as a “Divine Priestess” and has water and dragon themes (not to be confused with Neuvillette as the Hydro Dragon), and one of her attacks is called 儀来羽衣 (Girai Hagoromo) in Japanese, hagoromo referring to “the kimono worn by celestial beings (tennin) that grants them the ability to fly, and thus ascend to heaven” (Elemental Burst trivia wiki page)— Then it’d be nice if her outfit looks more like a tennin’s.

As for Sumeru, I like Layla’s design (black/white/blue/gold again huh) but… if I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought she’s a Knight of Favonius. However, according to this Reddit post, it seems Layla means night in Arabic, and Layla is the Arabic equivalent of Little Red Riding Hood? I wonder if that served for an inspiration behind her character’s concept. Aside from that, Kaveh’s design looks nice and uncluttered if not too pale. According to his page’s etymology section, “Kaveh (Persian: کاوه) is a name of Persian origin which is used as both a given name and a surname. One famous figure with this name is Kaveh the Blacksmith, a figure recorded in the Shahnamah who led an uprising against the serpent Zahhak, also known in Avestan as Azhi Dahāka and was the inspiration for Azhdaha.”

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punkpandapatrixkdailyread · 1 year ago

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一歩ずつ求め続けるippo zutsu motometsudukeru／Wanting one thing at a time

Moon Day 20 in Aries／Disseminating Moon

day’s V I B E – Knight of Pentacles Rx

From today onwards, it’s time to use our resources wisely until the next New Moon. Ideally, if you have a lot of things you don’t need anymore, throw them away or donate. Things you’ve bought during a haul or discount or whatever, use them wisely, after all, you’ve bought them, why not use them?

The intention of this Aries Moon, coupled with Knight of Pentacles Rx, is not to start something new that you most probably can’t finish by the end of this moon cycle. It’s also not a good time to be buying a lot of stuff callously just because you feel like spending money. This could become a really bad energy leakage if you don’t learn to control your impulses.

The disseminating moon is a period of releasing energy bit by bit. So, it would be wise to strip ourselves of all the materials and energies we have accumulated thus far. You will feel lighter by the time of the New Moon and this will bring many blessings in terms of your healing and manifestation later. You’ll see~😘

Priestess of Intuition

m o o n a v i g a t i o n ♥︎

‘The Priestess of Intuition is here to support you in believing that all your dreams do come true. The key to making it all possible is your faith in your Higher Heart, as well as Higher Mind. When you know that your intentions are coming from a good place and that ego takes a back seat only to protect you when necessary, quite nothing in this world can stop you. People don’t realise enough that all perceived blockages and obstacles are already agreed upon by themselves. Once you decide not to honour this foolish agreement, baby, you’re a Mother Dragon. Rawr~!’

☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.

[Main Blog] [Patreon] [Paid Readings]

☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・. ☆♪°・.

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the-era-of-shadow · 11 months ago

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The Day The Moon Died Act II - The Wave of Black

Case 01: The Eternal Highschool Lovers

Chapter 5: Love Beyond Salvation

Written by Ash Rose & Lunar Eclipse

Cover Art by Ash Rose

CW/TW:

Fictional religious themes, murder, discussion of characters being injured & unconscious for multiple days (in a coma, basically), themes of eldritch horror, mentions of bodily mutation, abusive parenting & transphobia

Summary:

The Black Arms’ rally had been a complete and total success, and the group began to grow immensely in the weeks following it. To tell the tale of its spread in full, follow these three separate, and yet connected tales - cases of the Black Arms’ effect on PetalBloom, and see for yourself the damage that had been done.

Notes:

Happy Valentine's Day :D

[Act I]

[Moonlight Interlude I]

[Previous Chapter]

[Case 02] (COMING IN THE SOMEWHAT NEAR FUTURE)

When Uni awoke, the first thing she felt was the texture of sand caressing her skin as she stared up at the night sky. She also felt something else, a hand maybe? But she was still a bit asleep, so she couldn’t quite tell. Despite these sensations, there was just one thing that she thought to say.

“Am… Am I dead…?”

“Thankfully, no. Unless I’m dead too… But that doesn’t seem to be the case!” A very familiar voice responded to Uni’s query.

Uni adjusted her position and woke up more, now most certainly feeling a hand holding her face gently - and most certainly seeing just whose hand it was.

“L… Latté?!” Uni exclaimed in surprise.

There she was, peering over her so tenderly. The one who Uni had yearned for so greatly for what had felt like so long. She looked at Uni with a loving gaze, and wings that were much bigger than they had been the last time Uni saw her.

“You… You saved me…!” Uni stated in awe.

“Of course I did, silly! What else are girlfriends for?” Latté remarked, light hearted and carefree, just as she had always been.

“... How??” Uni wondered.

“Oh! Well, you see these wings of mine?” Latté responded.

“I thought… I thought they weren’t big enough to fly with…!” Uni recollected, remembering Priestess Archæsis’ findings the day prior.

“Not originally, no! But earlier today, something absolutely incredible happened! You see, we had another rally in the cafeteria, and during it, an animal trainer was brought in and he had with him a baby Petal-scaled Dragon!” Latté began to elaborate.

“Wait, What?!” Uni blurted, genuinely not expecting what Latté had said.

“I know, right?! Anyway, even crazier than the dragon just being there in general - Lord Doom assimilated it into the Black Arms!! Right there on stage!! And when he did so, I felt a tingling sensation on my back, surging through my wings! Next thing I knew, my wings had grown like three times in size!!” Latté continued.

“Woah…” Uni uttered - she had no idea what else to say.

She felt so incredibly happy to be alive and with Latté again, and was admittedly very intrigued by the grand tales Latté was telling her, but she still felt incredibly uneasy over the whole situation. She understood deep down that to become a Black Arms was just simply her fate at this point, but she still felt an attachment to the life she had lived thus far. She had spent her whole life living to the expectations of Madam Moonshine and those under her rule, she had imagined herself being loyal to Moonshine for the rest of her days. But now… well, that wasn’t going to be the case, it would seem.

Having some closure would be nice. Some understanding as to what really happened to Moonshine. The remaining parts of her stuck in the past still wanted to believe that she was still alive, but Uni was beginning to come to terms with the idea that she really was dead.

Besides, wouldn’t Moonshine being alive make things worse rather than better? If she was alive, then why wasn’t she speaking to any of the clergy, not even Archæsis? Why would she essentially leave Uni for dead, the reason she’s still alive now solely being because of the Black Arms rather than because of her?

Uni needed some time to deal with it.

For now, she was content with just being with Latté.

“Hey, I know this might sound… Silly, but-” Uni began to speak again.

“Who cares if it does? I just like hearing you say things.” Latté interjected lovingly.

“... Your wings are kind of hot, actually.” Uni revealed, making Latté’s face a bit green.

“Is that so? Why don’t I just wrap you up in them, then!!” Latté replied teasingly, tackling Uni as her two giant wings wrapped around Uni’s body.

“You fool, that’s what I wanted you to do! You’ve fallen for my trap!” Uni remarked playfully, to which both of the girls giggled.

As Uni enjoyed Latté’s loving embrace, she began to overhear a conversation nearby.

“That was a risky maneuver, Rehkloos. Whether or not you thought it was justified, you at least need to admit that.” One voice said, masculine and intentionally tough sounding, but also still pubescent.

“Risky is deeply underselling it. And, to be blunt, it was not justified. What did I just say to you and Latté earlier today about not killing kids?” Another voice chimed in, this one more androgynous sounding.

Latté seemed to hear the conversation too, and got up to try to see where it was coming from.

“Oh, good… Vladmira and Death managed to rescue Rehkloos…” Latté said with relief.

“... I wonder if the others made it too…” Uni muttered, getting up as well. Though she had always cared at least a little bit about the members of Mini Mayhem, despite the trouble they would cause her, the day’s events made her feel quite attached to them.

“Well, I saw Kæ’Mirah safe and sound just before I was sent out to go get you, so I bet she's alright.” Latté testified. “... Not sure about Kuel and Katrien though…”

“They had left the building just before you arrived.” Uni explained.

“... I see.” Latté replied, unable to hide the fact that she was worried as well.

Looking out in front of her, Uni saw Rehkloos alive and well for herself, with Vladmira and Death on each side of her. She looked quite remorseful, probably partly due to the chastising that Vladmira and Death were understandably giving her.

Though, Uni did also catch a glimpse of something that was behind the three of them, and shifting her view slightly, she managed to make out what it was that she was seeing. A Petal-scaled Dragon, in the flesh, fully grown as well, from the looks of it.

“I… I thought you said the one you brought in was a baby…!” Uni exclaimed in awe.

“O-Oh! That’s… That’s not the one that we brought in…” Latté revealed.

“Huh??” Uni turned to Latté, completely confused. “Then where did-?!” As Uni turned back towards the scene playing out before her, she and Latté witnessed something even more unexpected than the presence of a random adult dragon. The two of them watched as the “dragon’s” form began to change and shift, eventually revealing it’s true identity as the mysterious, god-like being that lead the Black Arms, which now, finally, Uni had a name to give to him, feeling the information shoot right into her from what she figured now was the Black Arms hivemind. The one and only Black Doom.

“... Huh. I had no idea that he could actually control the shapeshifting thing.” Latté remarked with surprise.

“It makes enough sense to me. If he’s able to shapeshift unintentionally, then shapeshifting intentionally shouldn’t be that much harder.” Uni speculated.

“I forgot that you knew about that.” Latté stated, looking slightly shocked.

“I figured. It’s not the most remarkable for only one god to give the most insignificant crumbs of information to Archæsis to then regurgitate to us.” Uni admitted, deciding to lay back down, though this time on Latté’s lap.

“... Makes me wonder if they’re even going to try to look for Lord Doom, or if they think that we’re not gonna do enough damage to warrant imprisoning him again!” Latté said out of the blue.

“... Again?” Uni echoed, curious.

“Yeah - from what I remember being told, before he came here to PetalBloom, Lord Doom was in charge of “stabilizing” the chaos energy in the universe - by “stabilizing” they more meant “getting rid of”, which basically forced him to stay in his chambers all day every day, and he wasn’t allowed to ever leave to Pantheon’s Plane - the only reason why they’re even here now is because another god used an ability called “Chaos Control” to warp him onto our planet!” Latté explained. “I’d say that’s pretty prison-like!”

“... And Moonshine knew about that?” Uni asked, feeling rather concerned by the thoughts her words implied.

“Most definitely! She was the one who made him in the first place!” Latté answered.

Suffice to say, Uni was appalled by what she was hearing. The actions attributed to Moonshine in the tale Latté retold certainly didn’t sound like the gentle-and-caring-but-also-a-little-strict persona that Uni had been raised to see Moonshine as. In fact, the only thing that seemed to be true according to such tales would be strict, though it was certainly not just a “little bit”. It made her angry, angry that everyone had lied to her all these years. Maybe joining the Black Arms wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“While you two are certainly correct, I must ask that you give Rehkloos some mercy… I can sense a deep instability within her.” Uni overheard Doom say to Vladmira and Death. “I will talk to her later. For now, allow her to calm herself and be grateful for her continued life.” He added.

“Can’t you just talk to her now? She’s right here.” Death questioned.

“I very much could, but I believe that there is something else that needs my attention first… Someone else, you might say.” Doom responded.

Uni turned over while still laying down to see where Doom would go, her curiosity piqued. As she did, she realized that where Doom was going was actually towards Latté and herself.

When Uni realized this, she started to get up and try to make herself look presentable, but Doom told her that she could stay right where she was, he just wanted to get to know her more and make her feel at home. It caught Uni off guard, but she complied.

“Though, first, I would feel it rude of me to not commend you on just how quickly you took action when the call came to you, Latté.” Doom began.

“Well of course! I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I lost Uni…” Latté responded.

“... Yeah, same here.” Uni agreed.

“I figured as much, given how you just kept trying to find me..!” Latté surmised. “Sorry for leaving like that, by the way… I know I said that I wouldn’t, but-”

“No, I get it now… You had things to do and you were worried that if you told me then I’d try to stop you or tattle on you… It’s a reasonable assumption to make.” Uni said assuringly.

“I can tell that you two have a very close bond with one another…” Doom pointed out, to which both Latté and Uni’s faces began to blush in response to.

“We’ve been friends for a really long time even before we started dating!” Latté exclaimed.

“Latté was the only person I’ve ever trusted with my secrets…” Uni added softly.

“Well then, I am glad to see you two reunited, then.” Doom replied.

“Thank you for making it happen.” Uni stated suddenly.

“Hmm?” Doom wondered curiously.

“Latté told me it was the introduction of a baby Petal-scaled Dragon into the Black Arms that caused the enhancement of her wings to the point of being able to fly with them… She also said that such was your idea, right?” Uni elaborated.

“That is what I said.” Latté confirmed.

“Yes, that was mostly my idea. An animal trainer from the capital had been brought into the hivemind last week during the rally at the plaza - he and his wife had come to Riverbed after hearing some rumors about us back home. When I noticed this, I began to discuss ideas of expanding our connection and power to the animals they cared for. We ended up settling on the baby dragon for now, but this is by no means the end to such experimentation.” Doom explained.

“Well thank you for that.” Uni reiterated, holding out her hand for a handshake.

“You are quite welcome, young one.” Doom replied, accepting Uni’s offer.

“... I think I’ve come to terms with my fate.” Uni said, still holding Doom’s hand.

“In what sense?” Doom wondered.

“Between what I’ve heard from Latté and the distance I’ve felt all my life, I realize now that Moonshine would never dare be so openly kind and loving as you have been in just this little moment. You prove yourself to be someone worth following, Lord Black Doom.” Uni concluded.

Latté audibly gasped, clearly being unable to contain her excitement.

“YAAAAAAY!!! UNI’S A BLACK ARMS NOW!!!!!” She cheered as she tackled Uni to the ground with a hug.

“Huhuhuhu… I think it is safe to call this meeting of ours a success~!” Doom exclaimed with pride.

“I agree… And at the very least with me being brought in, I’ll have an easier time making sure the Mini Mayhem members are alright.” Uni remarked.

“My… What a selfless way of looking at things…!” Doom noted.

“Yeah! That’s exactly the Uni I know!” Latté added.

“... Thank you, both of you…” Uni replied, her face green and eyes watery.

“But before we part ways, there is one last thing we must do.” Doom then said. Uni was confused and curious as to what he could be talking about, but Latté cut off her chance to speak.

“Oh, right! Do you need me to be out of the way?” She vaguely inquired.

“Not at all. The more comfortable Uni is, the better…” Doom responded.

After the short meeting with Black Doom, it was decided that it became late enough into the night to have Latté and Uni not go back to their respective homes. Instead, the both of them along with Mocha, the members of Mini Mayhem, and some other miscellaneous Black Arms - such as the one who provided the baby Petal-scaled Dragon that was brought into the hivemind during the night’s festivities, went to Lillian’s cabin to stay for the rest of the night.

When morning came, some of the Black Arms being housed in the cabin were given errands to run. Even little Mocha was given something to do. But Latté and Uni were not a part of such activities, as the leaders had decided that after everything that the two had been through this past week, they deserved a break. And so, the morning came and went, the two spending their time together in one of the hammocks that were in the process of being put up about the cabin. When Uni first awoke, she had insisted on wanting to do something, feeling obligated to, probably because of the pressure put on her all her life, or out of gratitude for her life being saved the night prior, or even both. But Latté relayed to her what she had been told by the leaders.

Rest.

Which managed to convince her. Hell, eventually, Uni ended up just going right back to sleep!

Just as the afternoon had begun, Lillian came by the two of them, looking to strike up a conversation.

“Tell me… Is the hammock treating you two well?” Lillian inquired.

“I’d certainly say so! And I bet Uni would too, given how she not only slept through the night in it, but has gone back to sleep still in it!” Latté answered enthusiastically.

“Oh well isn’t that just wonderful to hear?” Lillian remarked.

She then handed Latté a newspaper.

“What’s this?” Latté asked.

“A newspaper, have you never seen one before?” Lillian replied teasingly.

“No no I’ve… I’ve seen newspapers before..!” Latté assured between giggles. “I guess I was just wondering why you’re handing this to me.”

“I figured that you might have been getting bored up there all alone. I mean, you don’t even have your girlfriend to talk to, since she’s asleep.” Lillian explained.

“Oh! That makes sense.” Latté figured.

Looking at the newspaper, Latté noticed that just like during previous stunts of theirs, the front page story was about the Black Arm’s escapades. But there was something a bit different about this article compared to the others, for as Latté read it for herself, she came to realize that the writer spoke quite positively about the Black Arms in this article! After she read the article, Latté went to see who it was that wrote it.

Endrose Ræa.

Ræa…

That name sounded familiar, but not to Latté. She could feel through the hivemind that for whom it was familiar to was actually Uni, but couldn’t exactly access why.

"Hey, Miss Lillian, did we bring a journalist into the hivemind by chance?" Latté wondered.

"I think so, why do you ask?" Lillian responded as she was nearby in the kitchen, chopping up some vegetables.

"The article about us in today's paper is positive!" Latté exclaimed, displaying the newspaper outside of the hammock for Lillian to see.

Intrigued by Latté's claims, Lillian went back over to her and Uni's hammock to read the article for herself.

"Well I'd say, you're absolutely right, Latté!" Lillian remarked with pleasant surprise. "I should get more of these for the rest of the hive! Or at least the rest of us leaders."

"I could… Do that for you… Miss…" Uni muttered out in a half asleep state.

"No no, you were told to rest! You and Latté! I'll do it myself." Lillian insisted.

"Hi Uni! Sorry if Miss Lillian and I woke you up." Latté said as Uni laid back down.

"It's… fine…" Uni tiredly replied with a yawn.

"Oh hey! Miss Lillian! Before you go!" Latté called.

"Yes?" Lillian replied.

"Uni was wondering last night if the members of Mini Mayhem aside from Rehkloos were alright… Do you have any info on that?" Latté asked, her tone becoming more serious.

"They are all alive, that I do know." Lillian answered.

"Oh thank goodness…" Latté sighed in relief. She could feel Uni be relieved as well.

"Kæ'Mirah is out running an errand right now, actually. As for Kuel and Katrien… They are unconscious, knocked out by the blast. It might take them a few days to wake back up. And they did sustain some injuries - of which we're not sure yet. Right now we have some doctors that we managed to bring into the hive taking care of them." Lillian elaborated somberly.

"Just like… Kuel's brother…" Uni stated quietly.

"... Please know that we did not intend this outcome…" Lillian told the two, trying to comfort them.

"I know… I just hope they… recover…" Uni replied.

Feeling bad about the situation, Latté turned over in the hammock to embrace Uni, handing the newspaper back to Lillian.

As Latté got closer to Uni, she began to hear someone speaking in the hivemind once again.

“Hey, is this by chance a bad time?” It sounded like Widow was the one talking.

Heh, what are the chances? Latté gets to overhear a conversation involving Widow twice in a row!

“Are… Are you talking to me?” And the other person speaking was… Uni? This is sure to be interesting.

“Yeah, I was hoping to, anyway.” Widow admitted.

“I don’t think us having a conversation would breach the assignment I was given. Go right ahead.” Uni responded.

“I mean, I figured as much, since I’m one of the leaders who gave you the orders to rest.” Widow remarked light-heartedly. “Anyways, I was just interested in coming up with a costume change for you.”

“A… Costume change…?” Uni echoed with confusion.

“What you’re wearing currently looks pretty battered up from what you went through yesterday… And besides, it’s a nice way to show off the new chapter of your life that you’ve begun.” Widow explained.

“... Yes, I think I’ve noticed that! You yourself as well as the other Black Arms leaders had a change of outfits in the days after the Plaza Rally, right?” Uni recollected, now seeming to understand the concept that Widow was attempting to relay.

“Indeed! And they were all done by yours truly!” Widow replied proudly.

“Were they now? I think I do remember hearing about such passions of yours over the years…” Uni testified.

“Right…! Goodness me, with everything else going on, I nearly forgot that we’ve known each other for quite a while now!” Widow admitted.

“... For me, I think I’m thinking of having myself something relatively similar to my old usual outfit… But also a bit inspired by the outfit you made for Vladmira.” Uni requested of Widow after having a moment to think about her choice.

“Really?” Widow responded, surprised, though not unpleasantly so.

“... I know, you probably figured I hated them…” Uni awkwardly acknowledged.

“Ehhhhh…” Widow reacted, clearly not wanting to give away what she actually had thought.

“I had certainly convinced myself that I did.” Uni stated. “I mean, I also convinced myself that I disliked you, but I really went in hard with it on Vladmira. It began as a desire to not be associated with the two of you, as you two had a reputation of being “cursed” and “wicked”. I wanted to stay in good standing with my family and the church, so I did everything I could to separate myself from you, from them. But then Latté joined the Riverbed Choir… And while she was there, she met Vladmira and became friends with them… I was deeply jealous… But I was also incredibly paranoid. I was afraid that if Latté stayed friends with Vladmira while I was dating her, that all the effort I had put into making me look “better” than them would go to waste, and I would be shunned as well… Perhaps even abandoned completely, like how Archæsis did with Vladmira… I even started to worry that such things would happen to Latté too… So I antagonized them even further, not just for my sake anymore, but for what I thought was Latté’s own good…” She explained in detail. “But now I look back on that behavior and I… I hate myself for it… The both of you have been so kind to me… And Latté didn’t deserve me trying to make her stop being friends with Vladmira… She told me last night just how much Vladmira helped her in trying to get me back… I want to return the favor. I want to be their friend too, just like Latté. I figured that having similar outfits would be a start.”

As Uni finished speaking, Widow hugged her gently. Latté, feeling the tenderness of the hug and being moved by Uni’s words, began to tear up a little, the sounds of her choking on her tears being heard by Uni and Widow.

“L-Latté…! Have you been… listening this whole time…?” Uni asked, tearing up as well.

“Uhm… Y-yeah, it’s just kinda something that happens to me…” Latté answered skittishly.

“You must be exceptionally good at tuning into the hivemind, then…! It makes sense, given your circumstances over the past week!” Widow pointed out with intrigue.

“Yeah… Uh, one of those times I heard things from the hivemind may or may not have been when you and Sen talked about her feelings for you, by the way.” Latté admitted.

“... I… Okay.” Widow reacted, not knowing how to respond to that, it would seem. “Do you want a costume change too, Latté?” She then asked, changing the subject.

“Sure! I uh, don’t really know what it would be yet, but I’ll let you know if I come up with anything!” Latté answered.

“Anyway, back to what you were saying, Uni… I will let Vladmira know about how you really feel, okay? I mean, I’m sure they’d understand… We all had shitty parents like that, and the church is no better.” Widow said. “And on the topic of admitting things…” She continued, “I was kind of jealous of how you were allowed to become a girl as a kid when I wasn’t, I won’t lie… But I was naive back when I had those feelings. As I grew up, and watched you grow too, I noticed just how strict the barriers that your folks made your identity be really were… and instead of being jealous… I just felt bad for you. Sure, the outcomes were different, but in theory, the expectations put onto us weren’t all that different. And in the end, I ended up just wishing so badly that you would realize that… That you would fight back… Because I felt like you deserved to.”

“... I will. I will fight back. That’s my promise to you.” Uni pledged.

“Thank you.” Widow muttered.

“... How about tonight? I know you told me to rest, but-” Uni began to speak again after releasing herself from the hug that she and Widow had been in.

“For what?” Widow asked.

“To fight back… To get my revenge for all the years my parents controlled me and my identity.” Uni clarified. “I’m starting to come up with ideas.”

“Oh, I see…! I’ll ask the others what they think, but I personally am not against the idea.” Widow replied. “Mind sharing what those ideas of yours are?”

“Yeah! I wanna hear them too!” Latté chimed in, excited for what Uni had in store.

“Well, since you both asked so nicely…”

As day began to shift into night, the Bishop household was quite busy, as the parental figures of the home were quickly preparing a last minute celebratory dinner - excited to see their daughter Uni finally return home safely, accompanied by her darling girlfriend and her girlfriend’s sister.

They had become worried sick for Uni when she didn’t come home the day prior, asking Priestess Waning to go out and search for the girl. Latté and Mocha’s parents were deeply worried as well, from what Uni’s parents relayed. Their usually very busy father actually came home for once to support his terrified wife in this time of need, telling his work that he would not be returning until his daughters came home.

And now they were home - that’s what Uni’s parents said. After this dinner, they would send Latté and Mocha home to their likely overjoyed parents.

But Uni’s parents had been worried about the two as well, and they wanted to take this moment to celebrate the girls’ return.

Just as Uni had expected they would.

“Will the Priestess be joining us tonight?” Uni asked as her mother was setting the plates at the dinner table. “You did mention her going out to find me, so surely you let her know that I’m back home now, right?”

“Oh, I did find her back when I went out after you three arrived!” Uni’s mother replied, “She was so happy to hear that you three were safe. But she unfortunately had to turn down the offer to join us for dinner. She had gotten a summons by the mayor of Lunar High-Rise up north while she was out looking for you - she had been delaying her response to it so she could keep searching, but when I told her that you had come home, she finally allowed herself to start packing for the trip.”

“Oh… That’s quite the shame… I would have loved to see her off!” Uni lamented. “Do you know why she was asked to travel up north?” She then asked.

“She told me that apparently this awful problem we’ve been having here with those rioters has started to spread into other towns and cities…” Uni’s mother somberly explained.

“Oh dear…! Well, even if she can’t be here tonight, I still give her my sincerest wishes of luck while dealing with this whole mess…” Uni responded, mimicking her mother’s sadness.

“It’s probably for the best that she isn’t here, anyways…” Latté added.

“What… exactly do you mean by that, Latté?” Uni’s father asked, Latté’s connections to the Black Arms probably still lingering in the back of both his mind and the mind of Uni’s mother - for she too looked a bit concerned by Latté’s words.

“What she probably means is that… It’s better that she’s attending to whatever the situation is over there. Better to act early, and all that.” Uni reasoned.

Uni’s parents looked a little unsure of Uni’s explanation, but they decided to roll with it.

Once the plates of food had all been placed at the table, everyone took their seats and gave a united prayer of thanks to Madam Moonshine. Part of Uni wanted to chuckle, considering how she knew now that Moonshine would never hear the words she spoke. But to maintain her ruse, she kept such a desire at bay, and carried on with the prayer until its end.

What Uni’s parents had made for dinner on this night was not very extravagant, which made sense given the short notice. Just fish fillet and vegetables, a very common meal in the Riverbed Town. The star of the meal, however, was instead the beverage served alongside it - a special blend of tea prepared by none other than Uni herself.

As everyone chowed down on the meal after prayer, Uni made sure to keep her eye out for just how much of the tea her parents were having. She noticed that her father was drinking significantly more rapidly than her mother was. On the other side of things, however, Uni’s parents didn’t seem to notice how Uni nor Latté or even Mocha had taken so much as a sip of their cups of tea.

“So, Uni… How did you end up finding Latté and Mocha, anyways? You took quite the time doing so…” Uni’s mother eventually inquired.

“Oh dear me, it certainly was quite the adventure! One that I just don’t think we’d have the time for me to tell in full, I’m afraid.” Uni replied.

“Don’t be ridiculous! No one here is in any rush! There’s really no reason for you to feel that way-” Uni’s mother tried to insist, but Uni cut her off.

“Oh no, no, I’m quite sure I remembered you two having an appointment with Madam Moonshine later, surely!” Uni argued, which seemed to cause the confusion likely already stirring within her mother to come up to the surface.

“A-A meeting with Madam Moonshine? What ever could you mean by that, Uni??” Her mother questioned, a bit of panic slipping into her voice.

Before Uni could answer, the sound of the head of Uni’s father slamming into the dinner table resounded throughout the room.

Uni watched with morbid fascination as her mother attempted to awaken her husband - then realizing in her attempt that he no longer had a pulse. Her panic becoming much stronger now, Uni’s mother desperately begged Uni’s father to wake up, to not leave her side like this, as she struggled to grasp the reality of her husband’s sudden demise. But soon, a realization seemed to come to her, as she then turned to Uni with a horrified expression.

“No… No…! You… You couldn’t have…!” Uni’s mother begged, failing to truly comprehend the current situation.

“But I did, didn't I?” Uni replied simply, maintaining a smile.

“Why…? Why would you do this- Don’t you realize what you’ve done???” Uni’s mother wailed out hopelessly. Did she really not understand what has happened? What was happening at this very moment? To be so lost felt so strange to Uni. It was almost like through Uni’s perspective, that her mother’s mind existed in a different realm of consciousness from her own, an inferior realm, compared to her own. The concept captured her curiosity, making her wonder what the cause of this separation could be. Perhaps Lord Doom would know the answer.

But Uni would have to save those thoughts for later, as she did not want to lose the only chance she has at savoring her vengeance against the ones who controlled her all her life.

For now she was in control. Not of their lives, per say… But rather, of their deaths.

“Have… Have you…?” Uni’s mother muttered out, her body struggling to keep itself going as the toxins from the tea took hold.

“What else would it be, mother? I’m surprised you hadn’t even considered the idea. I was away for a whole day and a half, looking for two individuals who you knew were sworn into their hivemind… Was it really not obvious that they had taken me too?” Uni answered her, locking eyes with her mother, watching the life fade out from her mother’s eyes. “Or was it that… You perhaps, in some part of your mind… Actually considered it? But the rest of you was not ready for such a revelation? You were unequipped to face the corruption of your sweet beloved daughter… So you, consciously or not, forced yourself to remain ignorant… Heheheheheheh…. How ironic, isn’t it? That you act this way… Despite treating me as if I was already corrupt my whole life, no matter how much I tried to prove I wasn’t? Well, now I am. I’m your corrupted little girl… Are you happy now, mother?”

Uni’s mother tried and tried to speak, to respond to Uni’s words. But everything that came out was incomprehensible, the toxins and Uni’s betrayal seeming to quite literally break her mind. The sight brought much delight to Uni, as well as Latté and Mocha. Uni was able to have her revenge, and her parents - or at the very least her mother, was able to experience chaos through means of utter madness before she met her demise. A win in every aspect.

But soon enough, the last bit of life finally left Uni’s mother, and she, just like her husband, slumped in her chair and let her face fall onto the dinner table, her body without a single heartbeat.

As the tension from Uni’s reveal settled, Uni looked upon the lifeless corpses of her parents, fixated upon them, almost.

“What’re ya thinking about?” Latté asked her.

“... Do you think that in their last bits of coherent thought… Despite my own words… That they still referred to me in their minds as their son?” Uni pondered.

“Knowing them… They probably did.” Latté replied.

“Hmph… Then this fate of theirs was exactly what they deserved, that much is certain.” Uni stated.

Latté nodded, but then spoke again soon after.

“I just wish it could have been… Bloodier.” She admitted.

“I understand that, I really do. And in hindsight, it would seem I did not have much need for this way of doing things after all… But you know very well the reason why I had chosen this method.” Uni reminded her. “While I might not have the plans completely worked out just yet, I do wish to help Vladmira get their revenge on Archæsis when the time does come for that… And for what I have planned currently to work, I would need Archæsis to trust me still.”

“I know, I know! I’m just really craving some guts right now…” Latté elaborated slightly.

“Goodness me, dear Latté… Isn’t that rather selfish of you~? This is my first time doing something like this, and all you can think about is how much gorier you wish it would have been~?” Uni chastised her playfully, wrapping Latté into her arms.

“It’s not like that, I swear! I-I just-” Latté attempted to stammer out an argument in her defense as her face began to glow green.

“I’m just teasing you, my love…~” Uni reassured Latté, playing with her hair ever so tenderly. “But if your bloodlust is truly so insatiable… I’m sure your parents would just love it if we stopped by~.” She then proposed.

“Oooh, that’s a great idea!” Latté replied joyfully.

“Can I come too?” Mocha asked.

“Of course! It’d be rude of us to leave you out!” Latté answered her, Uni nodding in agreement.

“But first… Let us please savor this moment, my sweet Latté~...” Uni requested, pulling Latté in for a kiss on the lips.

Latté fulfilled Uni’s request, reciprocating the tender moment.

Case 01 CLOSED

-☆☆☆-

“Wooo!! Yeah!! Everybody give it up for Uni and Latté reuniting within the Black Arms!!” Garrick commanded excitedly. Seeing no reason to not comply with the young prince’s order, everyone else currently congregated gave their applause.

As the applause was happening, Eclipse stood up and seemed ready to return to their work, but stopped themself when they heard the sound of Shadow sniffling.

“Are you alright?” They asked her with concern.

“Oh… Y-yeah… Just emotional over the story again…” Shadow assured them, wiping away her tears.

“What’s got ya this time, hun?” Rouge inquired teasingly, though still rather sincerely.

“What… What Uni said towards the end there, about how she pushed mom and Vladmira away to look good in the eyes of those who had dictated her life… It… It really resonated with me…” Shadow admitted, its eyes watering up again as they spoke.

“Oh come here you…!” Eclipse said as they pulled Shadow into a tender hug.

“And you got better, just like Uni did!” Garrick pointed out, which really seemed to make Shadow feel better.

“I guess I did… Didn’t I?” Shadow replied.

“Considering we’ve reached the end of this part of the story, we can take a five minute break if you want some time to pull yourself back together, Shadow.” Widow suggested.

“Oh, you really don’t have to do that for me-” Shadow tried to object, but was interrupted by a rather familiar voice.

“No no, I think that would be rather good for you, don’t you think?” In the spot where Leanni once sat, Yuki now stood, its shared body having shifted back into its default form, and now wearing Yuki’s signature navy blue face mask, decorated with dark gray spikes on each cheek, just as it had always been.

“O-oh, okay..!” Shadow obliged, her face a very vibrant shade of green.

“Shall we get some drinks from the communal fridge in the energy chambers? I could certainly go for a can of ginger ale right about now.” Yuki suggested.

“Oh, I think I’m heading that way anyways, why don’t I go get them for you two?” Eclipse chimed in.

“Are you sure, you’d have to come all the way back here - wouldn’t that time be better spent working on Rouge and Relic’s assimilation pods?” Shadow questioned.

“... Have you not considered that I could just use Chaos Control to teleport back here? Or even just teleport the cans themselves?” Eclipse responded incredulously.

“... Wait.” Shadow spoke, the realization registering in her mind. “... Oh yeah.” She added with embarrassment.

Yuki couldn't help but chuckle a bit at the situation - something that several others joined him in on.

"Oh, wait! I just remembered! I had something to tell you about!" Shadow suddenly exclaimed.

"Tell me through the hivemind. That way I can easily store it within the databases for later." Eclipse responded as they prepared to take off.

"That's quite a smart idea of yours, I must say…!" Widow remarked.

"Thank you, Madam Widow." Eclipse replied.

"I agree! This is something you'd probably want to have documented, honestly." Shadow noted.

"Well then, you shouldn't waste anymore time stalling! Tell me every detail of what you've had in mind." Eclipse instructed.

As Eclipse began to travel back to their laboratory on the opposite end of the Aerth Temple, and Shadow and Yuki began to get themselves seated back in the area that everyone else was still congregated in, Shadow began to lay out the plan she and several others had devised earlier that night to take over Starlight City to Eclipse through the hivemind. Even from a distance, Widow could see that at some point, Eclipse had stopped walking, clearly incredibly intrigued by Shadow's ideas.

"Lord Doom Almighty, how did I not pick up on this when you all first discussed this??" Eclipse questioned with awe over the hivemind.

"Must've been so absorbed in your work that you just didn't hear it! Sounds like something you'd do!" Harazuki suggested an answer quite teasingly.

"Oh quiet you…" Eclipse sneered, everyone being able to tell that they were absolutely rolling their eyes at that moment despite the distance.

"Well it's good that you're hearing about it now, isn't it?" Relic chimed in, to which everyone else agreed.

"Yes! Shadow! Everyone! This plan you have plotted is quite brilliant, honestly!! If we are to use anywhere to rebuild our once great army, why shouldn't it be a city with "Star" in the name?! And besides, I'd like to think that I've already made a start on something akin to this! You all are aware of the fact that I've already assimilated the Starlight City Militia, yes?" Eclipse continued on with enthusiasm.

"Oh yes, that's right! What a useful bit of leverage!" Relic recollected.

"And my most recent work will do wonders in keeping off that foolish Doctor, too!" Eclipse added.

"Ooh! Ooh! And for the rally, we could attract a crowd by having Roses & Renegades play a show beforehand!" Shadow suggested.

"Well aren't you three being quite productive right now…?" Doom remarked, a sense of admiration coming from his voice.

"I'd certainly say so!" Eclipse responded.

"Goodness, this reminds me of when we would plan out the rallies on PetalBloom!" Widow pointed out, her comment clearly making Shadow feel very proud of herself.

"I concur…" Doom added, contributing to Shadow's sense of pride, which seemed to start rubbing off onto the other members of the hive.

"Yippee!! We're gonna make the Black Arms a big name once more, just like those before us!!" Garrick cheered.

"Oh! This actually has me thinking of something of a prelude into the next part of the story!" Widow said suddenly. "We can still take our little break, but may I tell that first?" She then asked everyone.

"I say yes!!" Garrick answered.

"I'd love that!" Shadow agreed.

"You are the one telling the story, your majesty." Yuki remarked.

"As you had said before yourself…" Doom added.

"Of course, I would love to listen in as I make my way back to the lab. Just let me make sure our plans are not forgotten…!" Eclipse responded.

! One new item added to the Black Arms Information Inventory under "Future Plans" !

"There! You now have the floor, Madam!" Eclipse concluded.

"Thank you very much!" Widow replied cheerfully.

-☆☆☆-

It had been about a week since the rally at the schoolhouse. With how hectic the week following the plaza’s rally had been with so many newly recruited Black Arms taking shelter at Lillian’s place after having abandoned their old residences for whatever reasons they may have had - most of the time it was that they had killed their resistant caretakers, the past week’s focus was to truly expand the Black Arms’ presence beyond the Riverbed Town. Sure, they had already attracted some folks from other towns and cities, but the people from there had to come to Riverbed to be with their brethren in arms, which was the root of the problem as far as overcrowding goes.

Slowly but surely, the Black Arms that had emigrated from other towns moved back to their old residences to spread the hivemind’s influence. A good lot of the Black Arms that were native to the Riverbed Town were also traveling to other places, too. They had come to understand that the cabin was becoming too crowded and desired to help clear out the space, as well as hoped that they could spread the hivemind into parts of PetalBloom that were still untouched by its metaphorical tendrils.

Eventually, the cabin had become a lot more habitable, with only about a dozen members left living in the cabin, not including the leaders that were in there as well - all but Death and Tsunami.

But it was still kind of crowded, at least to Sendrir’s liking.

Despite being constantly made to do such labor all her life by her now late father, Sendrir found herself usually in the kitchen helping Lillian with cooking and/or cleaning. It kept her away from the crowd, at least. Though it also kept her away from her friends and her girlfriend most of the time, which did bum her out. She could tell that they could tell it did, but what were they to do? She figured that she’d just have to wait it out til the last of the non leaders found a place to be other than the cabin.

But for now, she was in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes from the most recent meal. While she was fortunately not too closely reminded of her childhood, she still was a bit bored. So she decided to pass the time by eavesdropping on whatever it was that was happening this time in the living room.

“I was told that it should be any day now that he wakes up, but I just couldn’t stand to see you so upset for days on end like that… So I figured I’d bring you here.” The voice of a man said in a comforting tone.

“I… Thank you… But I’m still… I still feel lost.” The voice of another man, noticeably younger than the first, responded.

“Heh… Sorry ‘bout that, kiddo.” The older man apologized.

“So what does this all mean…? Are you… one of them?” The younger man questioned the older one.

“You’re in a room with several of us, buddy.” A bystander remarked.

“O-oh, um, right. Sorry…” The young man muttered with guilt. “... Is he one of you?”

“Partially. Though even that partial introduction into his body and mind is irreversible.” The older man explained.

“And why should I trust you on that matter? I mean, other than because you’re my boss. How can you possibly have an unbiased viewpoint?” The younger man argued.

“Funny how you’re asking me such a question about this and not about the recent articles I’ve written.” The older man retorted.

“W-well-” The younger man was about to speak, but was interrupted.

“We’re just about ready to go!” A woman called out to one of the people in the room.

“Oh shit! Thanks, honey. I got distracted.” The bystander from before replied.

Shortly afterwards, Sendrir heard the door to the kitchen open. Not putting two together in her mind at first, she immediately lamented to herself about possibly getting an unwanted flirting with when she didn’t pick up the new presence as that of another Black Arms leader.

“No need to worry about that, Miss. I’m a married man!” But when the new person in the kitchen spoke, Sendrir recognized it to be the same voice as the bystander in the living room, and as she turned and saw the bystander for herself, her mind started finally connecting the dots.

“Well if it isn’t Ferosæ the Dragon Trainer?” She greeted him.

“That would be me, yes.” Ferosæ responded.

“So, was the woman I heard out there that wife of yours, then?” Sendrir inquired in a playful manner.

“Indeed she is! She’s just about ready to head back home to Lunar High-Rise!” Ferosæ answered.

“And I assume you’re going with her, right?” Sendrir asked, wanting to mess with the guy while also admittedly being relieved that the cabin was clearing up more.

“Of course!” Ferosæ replied. “Though we won’t be traveling alone, actually.” They then added.

“Is that so? Who’s coming with?” Sendrir queried.

“Lord Doom, Queen Widow, and you! The three of you will be staying in a hotel that us High-Rise Black Arms collectively funded!” Ferosæ explained quite casually, as if Sendrir wouldn’t be completely caught off guard by that answer.

“I’m sorry??? ME??? I-I’m going to Lunar High-Rise???” Sendrir reacted with absolute shock.

“No one told you? Like… Actually no one told you?? I thought you were doing a bit!” Ferosæ questioned, just as surprised.

Just like that, a memory of Doom talking to her about the trip a few days ago came to Sendrir’s mind.

“... I think I forgot.” Sendrir admitted.

“Hey, that happens to the best of us. I was supposed to tell you to get ready like thirty minutes ago but when I entered the living room to get here I ran into another Black Arms with an outsider and it caught my attention.” Ferosæ testified, clearly trying to kill two birds with one stone as he comforted Sendrir as he also explained his lateness.

“Well, we’ve got no time left to waste here talking then, don’t we? Come on, let’s get packing!” Sendrir told Ferosæ, setting down the cleaning supplies she had been using and heading off to where her stuff was.

“Yep! Got it!” Ferosæ uttered, following behind her.

In just a couple of minutes, Sendrir had gone from being bored out of her mind to incredibly excited. After all, she had never been anywhere outside of the Riverbed Town before!

#the era of shadow #teos #sonic au #undescribed #black arms #sonic oc #writing tag #sonic fanfiction #the era of shadow: origins #teos origins #mod ash #mod eclipse

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