#but Yen Sid is thriving

[edream93]

I think it's time...(WLTF Outline)

So, for my Descendants folks, I'm sorry to say that I think it's time to call it. Though I know exactly how I want the story to go, I've unfortunately lost a lot of motivation for "We'll Light the Fuse" and most of my other unfinished Descendants stories.

Post D2, being part of the fandom, especially the Huma/Sea Three Side of things was so inspiring. I vibed with a great group of mutuals and for the first time I engaged in a fandom outside of just being an observer. I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to say, but I just want to thank my readers and other Descendants mutuals. Y'all unknowingly go me through a pretty rough time in my life. I hope you're all doing well ❤️

Anyway, I said I would give an outline of how I wanted WLTF to go. If you use any substantial bits, please reference me and also let me know! I'm not doing much writing but I'm still reading!

Neverland Arc/Hooked Intermission Arc:

Uma, Mal, and the others run into Tiger Peony and the remaining Lost Children who have hidden in an underground bunker away from Pan. Tiger Peony let them know that the spell that kept Pan asleep was broken due to the blood of Hook.

--- Long story short (and this would have been told throughout the arc, not just in one scene), Neverland always needs AT LEAST a Pan and a Hook to keep the island alive and thriving. The Pan (and technically the Captain Hook) that we see in this story is just the latest one. It's kind of one of those things where technically each Pan is unique in their own way but in the end all of their collective memories and experiences come together. When King Adam and the rest of the heroes got rid of/reduced the use of magic, it caused a magical blockage for Neverland as one of the few sources of pure magic in Auradon. It also was causing the current Pan to lose himself in thoughts and memories, like he would just space out. Sometimes he would forget entire conversations or days. It was shortly after Tiger Lily became leader of Neverland that people started noticing changes in Pan. Playing less. Spending time alone. Voice getting deeper...the Boy Who is Never Supposed to Grow Up getting...older... Around that time, the island was dying and the fairies were dying out. The Isle is Pan and Pan is the Isle. The Council of Magic (more on them soon) decided it was best to put Pan to sleep to halt his aging and to also naturally unblock some of the magical build up that he was unintentionally causing due to his unexplained growth.

---Not everyone was happy with it, especially those of Neverland but it was a time where unity was needed and Neverland, a historical site was dying (due to King Adam's decision to get rid of magic but no one really wanted to talk about that) so it was an agreed upon decision. Pan was put to sleep by the Council of Magic led by Fairy Godmother and Yen Sid, his loyal and faithful fairy Tinker Bell sealed away because they feared that she would find some way to wake him up. All very humane...Not.

---What people didn't realize, except for maybe Tiger Lily and her people is that Neverland is not inherently a Good place. It's also not inherently a Bad place. It's neutral, and with everything in life, has its good and bad. With Pan being asleep and Hook held prisoner under the barrier, there were no filters for the magic to go through and though it may have seemed like the magic was once again settling, it was actually building up dangerously. As stated before, Neverland always has a Pan and it always has a Hook. Even with Pan asleep, the delicate balance was skewed and magic will always find a way to get balance back, whether its outcomes are liked or not.

Anyway, back in the current timeline, Tiger Peony tells the Auradon gang that Neverland is forcing balance once again but unfortunately, the years of being asleep as well with his deteriorating mind has warped Pan. He has killed her mother and has put most of the island under his control. Tiger Peony was able to get most of the Lost Children (the kids who live in Neverland) into the underground bunkers under the hollowed old tree of Pixie Hollow the no longer spills out pixie dust. Since the Neverland fairies have long ago disappeared (around the same time Pan was put to sleep and Tinker Bell was sealed away) beneath Pixie Hollow has been turned into a disaster station.

Tiger Peony is grieving her mother and her home and angry for ever trusting CJ and thinking that she could be better than her father. She tells Mal that she did her duty and got High King Ben and Royal Counselor Evie back. Uma quickly notices that Harry, Carlos, Sammy Smee, and Big Murph are not present. Tiger Peony's make shift lieutenants (who were supposed to be heavily implied to to be either be the descendants of or were actually the three kids from the Nightmare Before Christmas - more of a world building addition/head nod than actual important part of the story) report that they thought the remaining boys were the few Lost Children under Pan's control.

Obviously Uma and Mal are not happy.

Across the Isle, Pan is not happy. He woke up to find Evie gone (there's a reason he's so obsessed with her) and CJ lost the Boy King (Ben). Thankfully he still has his Hook (Harry.

CJ is slowly starting to realize that maybe she isn't on the same page as Pan. She wants to be great and make a name for herself but Pan seems to be ordering her around worst than her siblings did on the Isle.

Harry tries to talk sense into her one last time but Pan (because he's connected to the island) realizes that the Auradon gang are now on the Isle and that causes CJ to get angry again at the thought of Uma and Mal coming in to ruin her fun and glory again.

Eventually, Uma, Mal, and the others find Pan. Pan tries to control Harry and make him his new Hook but Harry is so freaking devoted to Uma that despite having the blood of Hook (which basically means he's more susceptible to Neverland's influence), he easily breaks free of Pan's control like swatting a fly. (The power of simping compels him and all that jazz. I mean, there's an actual reason that'll be explained but that's what it comes down to basically, Harry's loyalty and devotion to Uma and vise versa.)

---"Why follow yer scrawny ass, when I have a goddess as a Captain?"

Obviously Pan is not happy and basically throws the world's biggest tantrum. The sky darkens, the waves rise high and crash violently against the shore as a storm begins to brew. Decides that if he can't have Harry as his Hook then he'll takeaway his thimble (aka kill Uma)

Back at Auradon, Audrey, Jane, and the left behind isle kids try to cover up for the others but Fairy Godmother and Mickey soon realize where they've gone.

Back in Neverland, though Pan may seem out-numbered, he has the Neverland mermaids and the Lost Children that he does have under his control. Basically a fight starts. Uma is trying to make sure she gets Harry, Gil, and the rest of the isle kids under her protection off this damn island but is struggling with her instincts which is to just destroy everything and take Harry and Gil away, somewhere safe.

In the midst of all of this chaos, Evie suddenly "knows" what to do to put Pan back to sleep and tells CJ that she's the only person who can help them do that.

At some point Mal turns into a dragon and goes rawr, flames, rawr trying to stop Pan.

Uma, while fighting Pan gets pushed into the water where all the Neverland mermaids are waiting to tear her to shreds. They pull her down into the murkey water and soon all that's seen is blood, rising from the depths.

The others try to fight Pan but he's too powerful.

Harry gets hurt. Like bad. Like might lose a hand bad.

Evie uses magic (her magic that smells likes roses - IT'S A CLUE that I've been sprinkling all throughout the written story so far as to what's going on with Evie and who Pan thinks she is), telling CJ that she's the only one who can stop Pan.

CJ blinks and suddenly she's alone and surrounded by darkness. With a far off light ahead. She walks and finds a fairy which she eventually realizes is Tinker Bell. -below is a scene I had typed up years ago because I loved it so much-

Silently, CJ watched Tinker Bell stroke the rusted surface of the thimble. 

“He was perfect. Made all up of starlight kisses and the wind’s laughter. Unwavering belief and the feeling of warm sand between your toes,” Tinker Bell smiled brokenly, her none-bent wing fluttering slightly. “My boy. My Peter Pan. Mine. My starlight asked me, so I gave him my heart.”

“The acorn,” CJ thought, heart lead in her chest.

She sank down to her knees before the fairy. She bit her lip, unsure of what to say. 

“But was it worth it? Was it worth the years stuck here? Broken? Trapped? How could you stand to be in a place like this all alone?”

A lone tear fell down the fairy’s cheek, but her smile never wavered. “Because he is my greatest happy thought. Even if he didn’t have my heart, I would shred my wings for him if it meant he would be happy.” Tinker Bell’s beautiful fae face twisted into something simultaneously cruel and longing. “That Wendy girl would never do that. Only me. Only Tink.” Her features smoothed out, and she looked at CJ with sudden new wonderment. “You understand...don’t you?”

The shadows around them shrieked and clawed, and CJ swore as the already small circle of light that surrounded them grew smaller. 

“Tinker Bell,” she desperately clasped the fairy’s hands, careful not to touch the almost tarnished thimble held so tenderly in Tink’s hands. “If you don’t help me, there won’t be a happy thought left of your darling Pan. And my brother-” CJ bit her lip, trying to hold back the sob that was threatening to claw itself from her throat. 

She was a pirate, dammit! No time for tears! 

“I’m not good at this mushy feeling crap,” she chuckled wetly, thinking back to Harry, her idiotic, brash, overprotective, heart on his patched-sleeve brother. She wondered if she would ever see him again. If he would ever forgive her...“Probably should be the last person to talk about this, but,” CJ gripped Tink’s hands tighter, willing what little warmth was left in her into her hands, “holding out like this, keeping him in this limbo instead of letting him pass along, you’re not helping him. You’re hurting what little is left of your boy.” 

“NO!” Tinker Bell shook her head vehemently, trying to pull her hands away from CJ’s firm grip with little luck. “No. No. No. No. Nonononono. He’s mine. He’s mine! My Pan. My Peter. My-”

Tink froze in shock as CJ’s arms wrapped around her, careful of her broken wing, in an awkward but firm embrace. “It’s okay to let him go,” CJ whispered softly. “It doesn’t mean you stopped loving him. Doesn’t mean you failed. But sometimes...letting go is the best thing...because holding on tight, no matter what you intended...it’s just hurting him.”

The withering shadows and breathing darkness pressed further against the perimeter of the circle and CJ could nearly taste the smell of decay and rot and death at their backs.

“CJ?” Tink murmured, leaning into her embrace. “I’m...I’m so tired, CJ. So so tired…”

“Then sleep,” CJ whispered, holding the broken fairy in her arms. “Sleep and dream of your boy, made up of starlight and laughter and belief and the feeling of warm sand between your toes. Sleep, and when you wake up, it’ll be a whole new adventure waiting for you.”

The darkness was now licking at her skin, threatening to consume her until nothing was left. She would embrace it. It was what she deserved. 

Slowly, so slowly that CJ didn’t even notice as the darkness crept higher until the only light that remained was the dull thrum coming from the rusted thimble as Tinker Bell turned over her hand, letting the small item fall into CJ’s. 

“Laugh always. Have many adventures. Cry just as much in laughter than in fear. And...cherish your happy thoughts...even when you grow too big for them,” Tink blessed as she pressed a kiss, as soft as fluttering butterfly wings on CJ’s forehead, just as they and the darkness shattered, until all that was left was faith, trust, and pixie dust.

(Note: ) Somewhere in all of this chaos, I would explain, drop hints that CJ's mother (because the Hook siblings all have different mothers) was Zarina, a fairy like Tinker Bell that fell in love with Captain Hook and when all the villains were forced onto the Isle, she gave up her wings and became human to be with him. Obviously did not end up well for her. Hook was horrible to her and around the time she had CJ she was deathly ill. Not sure if all of that was going to be explained in the story or not but basically my idea was that even though Zarina looked like a human, she was still a Neverland fairy, and unlike other fairies like Maleficent, Neverland fairies have such a strong, almost symbiotic relationship with Neverland. Essentially she died because she was cut away from magic.

CJ appears back - now with wings and more fae like features - in Neverland with the thimble Tinker Bell gave her that basically would put Pan back to sleep. (Essentially, Tinker Bell gave Pan her heart to try to fight against the deterioration of his mind due to the magic restriction. It ties into the bigger idea of magic is not something you can control and in its own way is kind of it's own entity, but essentially the magic of Neverland fed off of that exchange in a toxic way.)

Around the same time, Uma emerges from the water in her giant Sea Witch form looking like a goddess, the bodies of the dead Neverland mermaids turning into sickly foam around her.

The wind picks up, thunder and lightning pick up, and with CJ, Mal, and Uma (and Mickey though they don't know it) working together they are able to beat Pan and put him back to sleep.

Mickey arrives on a slightly newer boat than the steamboat they stole from them, basically giving the Auradon gang a ride back to the dorms. He also has Baymax with him who Harry who is slightly woozing from blood loss is surprisingly happy to see.

CJ apologizes for all the trouble she caused and asks Tiger Peony if she can stay to help restore the island. With Pan back to sleep, she wants to make sure that the magic of the island is actually balanced and as someone with the blood of Hook, she can influence that balance more now that she's aware of it and now that Pan is back asleep. Though still grieving her mother, Tiger Peony agrees.

The arc ends with Uma, Mal and the others returning back to school, hoping that's the end of all the weirdness.

Other things that were supposed to happen in this arc that I couldn't figure out where to put in the above:

Sammy Smee and Big Murph die under Pan's control which though she wasn't close to them, causes a lot more greif than Uma initially expected because 1.) she was supposed to keep them safe and 2.) she sees how it impacts Hadie and Diego

Carlos is fine but he's left with feelings of helplessness. He felt like such a damsel in distress all throughout this experience and that's going to have impact later on in the story.

Jay starts displaying more latent magic.

I hadn't decided when exactly it was going to happen but either in this arc or towards the beginning of the next arc, it would be revealed that Evie is the Sorceress (also known as Circe) from Beauty and the Beast reincarnated. She reincarnates every few years to make sure she's always experiencing new things and not getting stuck in her ways like other people. coughcoughFairyGodmothercoughcough.

Also, the remaining parts of this arc would have probably been another 3 or 4 chapter depending on how I broke things up with one of the chapters being a last Hooked Intermission. This was supposed to be happening during the same time the others were fighting Pan.

---Basically a riot happens on the Isle starting over by the docks but quickly spreading. Right before that though, Harriet runs into Anthony's mother, Anastasia, who warns her she should go somewhere safe to protect the baby. Though she appreciates the concern from the only adult who seems to genuinely care about her (despite her being her ex's mom) Harriet, with the help of Gil's brothers, Jonas, and surprisingly Sophie (Yen Sid's assistant) - who is back on the main part of the isle after checking the generators that partially help maintain the barrier - try to stop it. Harriet quickly realizes that the riot was started by Hook who is acting strange, even for him, almost possessed. They sword fight on the Jolly Roger. Harriet gets hurt but before Hook can deal the final blow, Anthony pushes her out the way and takes the fatal blow. Anthony gets a line out about how he was never good for her before dying. Some has lit the gunpowder that's on the ship and Sophie pushes Harriet into the water before jumping in herself before the Jolly Roger explodes. It's unclear who survives but it's implied that briefly the barrier was down.

---Back at Hades's place, while all this happens, the god of the underworld is paid a visit. He seems to expect it, going to his hidden stash and asking the uninvited vistor if he would like some wine. He doesn't get a response back so decides to drain the bottle himself pittering around his home wistfully murmuring: "'She will be a child of the sea; Chained to fae land, godly blood made mortal. Death’s attendant will be kind to her, protect her before his last breath. A coat of blood red will follow in her wake. And when the second star has risen. Then the realm of the dead and the sea shall be hers . And then the throne of Zeus will be hers, bringing upon a pantheon anew.' Or something like that, right sweetheart?"

---Hades says a few more things, basically implying that even though he knows the person with him in the room is going to kill him, that he'll come back again in another form. Death always needs attending to after all and death is one of the few things that humans still fear, still give power to. The person kills him, and just before he dies, Hades smiles, pressing a trembling kiss to Peresephone's lips as she pulls the dagger from the place where his heart would be if he were truly mortal.

And...that's how the Neverland arc would end! I'll come back and write the outline for the final arc if that's something folks are interested in.

Sorry again that I can't actually commit to writing this all out but I do have some scenes here and there written out that I had been saving.

Let me know your thoughts! Did this arc go the way you expect it to?

Also, remember, you can use some of these ideas, just give me credit and share so I can read and give you all the likes and kudos!

Eternally grateful for all the support ❤️

[soramystic]

The actual Plot of Kingdom Hearts

Okay so here’s something that’s been bothering me that I haven’t seen anyone talk about; the macro story of Kingdom Hearts. Because it’s easy to point and kind of laughingly go “what is the plot of Kingdom Hearts anyway”, and with all the talk of Darkness and Light and Keyblades and friendship and Hearts it’s easy to lose track of so okay. Let’s take a look at what we got. The overall, actual plot of Kingdom Hearts.

So let’s zoom out. Let’s zoom all the fucking way out. The biggest scale we can go to; the two fundamental forces of Light and Darkness.

Kingdom Hearts is, fundamentally, the story of Light persevering. Let me explain.

We start with the Chi-saga. It’s the Age of Fairy Tales, the realm of Light is thriving, and as someone once so succinctly put it, everyone and their grandma has a Keyblade. This is Light at its peak. I’d even go so far as to suggest that this is the only point in the story where Light and Darkness are fully balanced. The Master of Masters does mention a before-time where he and others waged war on Darkness, so maybe not a perfect balance, but the percentages are pretty much even.

But Darkness starts to creep in, do what it does best and corrupt from the inside out. Then Daybreak Town is gone and the Keyblade Wielders are greatly diminished. The ability becomes less common, and those who possess it are to be trained carefully. Missing Link isn’t out yet so we can’t assess the state of the Light during that period, but we don’t need to, because we have Dark Road.

Keyblade Wielders are pretty much entirely limited to Scala, Daybreak Town’s descendant. (…Theory that Daybreak Town/Scala Ad Caelum is a stronghold for the Light, but that’s for another time) From what we see in Dark Road, there are still enough people with the ability to justify setting up a school for, but by the end? Darkness has struck again, and Odin is no longer accepting students, leaving himself, Xehanort, and Eraqus as the last Keyblade Wielders (not counting Luxu and Yen Sid for obvious reasons.)

Which then leads us into Birth By Sleep. How many Keyblade Wielders do we have aside from Xehanort and Eraqus? Well, there’s the Wayfinder Trio, Vanitas, and Mickey. That’s five people. Five. From the thousands upon thousands that we started out with.

And they fall. Eraqus dies. Ventus is seized by sleep, taking Vanitas with him. Aqua seals herself in the Realm of Darkness. Terra is both literally and metaphorically ripped to shreds. They still live, but they are in no condition to protect the Realm of Light, and even if either Ansem or Xemnas had the ability to wield a Keyblade, they wouldn’t want to. Arguably we still have Mickey, but let’s count: that’s ONE. PERSON. One. One person against the Darkness that has broken and corrupted so many worlds, so many people. The Realm of Light is in danger. The Realm of Light is dying. The Light is dying.

So what does the Light do? One last-ditch attempt at saving itself – it takes its Keyblade, and finds a suitable Wielder. And it finds one. A child, bequeathed even, with the overwhelming desire to protect those he holds dear. And the Light thinks perfect.

But Riku chooses the Darkness. The Darkness could grant his wish, and due to the darkness already inside him – jealousy and arrogance, he accepted its offer. So where does this leave the Realm of Light? Any potentional Wielders have either abandoned the path of the Keyblade, or were taken off of it thru no fault of their own. The Realm of Light is done for.

Except it’s not.

Because you can argue that all of this came later, this giant macro story. All this history, this context was added by the later games. Right?

Except it wasn’t.

Because they say it. They tell you outright. They say it in the very first game: the story of Light fading, and how it survived in the hearts of children.

In the face of overwhelming darkness and despair, worlds crumbling and without his friends, without his weapon at one point even, Sora didn’t give up. Even traveling to the End of the World and seeing the shards of the worlds that already fell, that couldn’t hold out, he stared Ansem in the face and told him he was wrong. That the true nature of all things was not Darkness. That Kingdom Hearts is Light.

And so it was Light.

Light persevered in his heart - literally, even; he sheltered Kairi, a Princess of Heart. A heart of pure Light.

Light survives in the hearts of children.

And from there the tide turns. The Light is back, it has a foothold again, it has defenders.

Because that’s the thing. Kingdom Hearts wasn’t threatened by Ansem. If it were, Sora would likely have been given the X-Blade. But he got the Key of Light. Called the Kingdom Key, yes, but still the Keyblade for the Realm of Light. Because the Realm of Light needed his help, the Realm of Light was in danger.

So yeah, after that there are more Keyblade Wielders. Of course there are; the Light is finally able to fight back, once again trying to achieve a balanced state.

The fight against Darkness is never over, and it never will be. That’s how this universe works. But if this series has taught us anything, it’s that no one is ever wholly evil and no one is ever wholly good. Everyone has a little darkness, just as everyone has a little light. You simply choose for yourself which one to nourish.

The Light is not inherently good – we see this most prominently in Eraqus, who believes Darkness must be defeated and that if anyone possesses any darkness, they are evil. But the Darkness is not inherently evil either – as showcased by Riku.

Light and Darkness are two forces who need each other as much as they hate each other, and the power they grant is just that; power. Power is power, it’s just a tool. No morality attached.

The heart is a mess. Not fully good, not fully evil. Not fully light nor fully dark. One cannot exist without the other, and full dominance from either side is no good. The greater the light, the greater the shadow, right?

There must be balance. And balance takes hard work, and dedication, and no easy way out.

And the Hero of Light works harder than anyone else.

That’s why Sora is special. Not because he’s “the only one who can wield a Keyblade” (also who even said that? Riku? Literally what the fuck does he know he was being manipulated by Ansem and Maleficent), but because he was literally the least qualified person in the room and still made it work. Because of who he is. That’s why the Light chose him.

Light perseveres.

Sora perseveres.

That is the plot of Kingdom Hearts.

[cartoon-buffoon]

Despite taking a hiatus from writing I decided to cobble up something together from an AU idea for Epic Mickey because I COULDN'T GET THIS STUPID IDEA OUT OF MY HEAD! Because of my hiatus I'm posting this here rather than on my AO3 in order to just catalog this AU and it's premise in some way. Note that I still have yet to play the game and I really could sit down and play it now although I refuse too and I'm waiting for the remaster to come out. Be warned this is like 3,662 words, comes from an awful writer, and more than anything this is just an excuse for me to insert my favorite murderous rubberhose characters into a world and have them interact with my favorite normal rubberhose characters.

Repeating myself this time in bold letters: This is a fanfiction with 3,662 words that I'm posting here because why the fuck not. I have not played Epic Mickey yet this is an AU idea that takes place in that world. This features Oswald as well as the horror characters Bendy/The Ink Demon, Skitzo the 1920s Killer Bear, and the Cartoon Cat and Dog. As such these are MY takes on this character where they serve a role in this AU. Excuse the cringe and if you wanna spare yourself do not click, I am a bad writer and I never claim myself to be good. Also I basically copied and pasted this from my notes so there probably IS mistakes.

(also adding this but uhh I don't think this story needs any MAJOR content warnings but ya know this story is called "Blood and Ink" so expect blood and some stuff relating to it. Overall this entire thing is rated like T for teen. Oh and one last CW warning: cringe)

Blood and Ink

Oswald looked at the map the Sorcerer gave him, this was the right place yet he felt unsure about all of this. The area he found himself in wasn't known to anyone in wasteland but him, even then he never had been here. He never had any reason to be here until now. Wasteland was meant to be a savior from oblivion, a place that the forgotten would thrive and live, sadly some couldn't be spared. Even wasteland was home to a place where the forgotten truly came to die, a select few not even Yen Sid could save. As such he created a place for them, a place that served as a memorial to those who didn't even get a second chance.

The graveyard

That's where Oswald found himself, walking amidst the area where the dead came to dance and spirits of cartoons of long past lingered. The worst part? All the names and portraits on the graves he recognized. Each and every name littered on a gravestone was some toon he remembered yet seemingly no one else did. The lack of recollection made it so that this entire place was a reminder of the fate that had befallen them.

"No! I already went through the trouble of getting this!" Remarked Oswald while holding the magic brush he "borrowed" close like a weapon "I can't let it get to me now.... I gotta do this" stuffing the map down into his shorts he pressed on "if not for me, then for wasteland and everyone in it!"

Despite his own courageous words he was scared to death by the surrounding—well—death. It seemed like the faces on the tombstones followed him, the eyes of the fallen eyeing one of their brethren that was still breathing. Gravel and dirt made an uncomfortable noise scraping against the bottom of his paws, it was even more uncomfortable of a feeling. Despite the sensation he wasn't going to be deterred by pain, after all there was something much more frightening to worry about where he was at. Oswald knew the graveyard wasn't just a memorial, it's other purpose was the exact reason why he was here. The graveyard served as a prison for things that even Yen Sid had no control over.

The words of the Sorcerer echoed in the rabbit's mind, the warning he was given frightening him of what's to come: "some toons—nay—abominations do not deserve remembrance. There are some which are made of neither paint nor thinner which have no reason to exist, creatures not made to bring joy but to corrupt and feed on the joy that others bring. Toons, if you can even call them that, which are made of ink and blood. Like parasites you can't merely get rid of these accursed amalgams as well, like leeches they latch onto whatever comes their way, likewise they dwell in the world I created for you and so many others. Locked away in an area you know about yet never ventured into they await for whoever wishes to disturb them and open a gateway to their calamity" The look Yen Sid gave him was impossible to forget, Oswald saw fear in the Sorcerer's eyes as the last bit of the warning came out "I cannot save you nor wasteland if you call upon their aid as I'm bound to not interfere in your affairs, but I cannot bar you from this information either. It is your choice Oswald, I urge you to make haste and choose the fate of everyone, else your choice will be made for you by the powers at play"

It still gave him the chills, those words telling him how exactly dire everything was. Oswald pressed on however, hoping to get his mind off things he glanced at a grave trying to recall whatever poor soul was gone completely. There on the stone read the name of a long since gone toon by the name of “Krazy”. Curiously the grave was half-broken, chipped on one side via some vandalism caused by a brick. Upon closer inspection Oswald found the brick also had a name on it, “Ignatz” it read.

Oswald recalled the pair, one adoring the other and being met with a brick to the head. Despite the abuse they cared for each other, Ignatz and his violent ways was a sign of love, at least that's how Krazy interpreted it. The two toon's graves stabbed Oswald in the heart he was lacking, the knowledge that toons who had families, wants, dreams, all of which he also had were suddenly erased and left here pained him. This pain was just another motivator, he didn't want his friends or his family sharing the same fate, he didn't want wasteland to just be one giant graveyard where everyone was just words and pictures on stones. That mouse had forgotten and abandoned them despite everything they had been through, it was Oswald who had to be the hero now. Shaking off the emotional hurt Oswald stopped in front of a large stone mausoleum. The door was solid rock, the entire thing being rendered inert by the Sorcerer himself to prevent things from getting in. Well, it would be more exact to say he wanted to make sure nothing got out.

Oswald took a breath and pointed the paint brush at the two grey doors, ready to open it "alright magic brush, do your thing!" After a second or two nothing came out, the rabbit looked down with a frown "oh you gotta be kidding me, get on with it already!"

Slapping the hilt as if it were a toy that was running out of batteries, Oswald activated it's powers. Calling upon the magic that jostled through the enchanted item a torrent of blue paint came spilling out of the tip and onto the stone returning it to marble. After a few seconds the paint brush stopped, the last bits of paint fully giving life to the mausoleum, Oswald was unsure how exactly how to use it yet since he got to wasteland he had been testing it out. One could suppose it was just luck that he had figured out how to fire paint, how to use thinner was another story completely and he was unsure on how to call upon that power yet that didn't matter. What mattered right now was finding these things that could help him.

Trying to push the door open came with its own unique challenge, Oswald found his small statue made it hard to push solid marble. That wasn't going to get him down or stop him, instead he took a few steps back, holstered the paint brush via having his ears hold it, and puffed out his chest. With one quick charge the rabbit used all that strength he had earned by keeping the blot bottled long ago to open the door to something far, far worse. The heavy doors scraped at the ground and parted, Oswald's momentum carried him forward into the mausoleum sending him tumbling down some stairs deep into a crypt.

"AH!" He yelped whilst falling. Luckily for him he landed on his paws, well at least his paws landed first and all of his distached limbs slowly landed on top of each other after. Piece by piece Oswald was reassembled by gravity until he was standing there fine. "Phew!" He huffed "now where is-" his eyes landed on the brush next to him "there you are, let's get going"

Grabbing the brush the rabbit walked through the darkness and shadows with less fear than he had coming in. After all he had to save his world from whatever was happening to it. If the Sorcerer couldn't save it maybe these mysterious toons locked away could, rumors said they held creation powers similar in nature. These rumors weren't as kind to these toons as they were to the Sorcerer however, while Yen Sid was treated as some sort of guardian angel these creatures were treated like Boogeymen. Evil monochromatic beings that would snatch up a victim in the dead of night and gobble them up, at least that's what so many seemed to believe. Through a certain doctor's help Oswald had found out something different, bits and fragments of who or what they were got teleported into wasteland, posters for their cartoons, burnt film reels, and pens that their animators drew them up with. One such artifact were newspaper clippings detailing the hysteria that these creature's cartoons had brought upon anyone who viewed their cartoons. Their cartoons and the effect they had on the watchers were the exact reason why they were locked up. The things the audience did to themselves, what they did to each other, it was awful, the description of the people maiming one and another reminded Oswald of who exactly he was calling upon. He was asking for help from the downright evil.

That didn't matter still, instead of focusing on how horrific these things could be he descended into the crypt further until the door behind him slammed shut. Oswald's ears shot up and became detached by the startling slam, he didn't turn around though, he just had to keep going. Oswald kept walking until he finally reached the end of a long passageway which opened up into a large cavern. In the cavern at the very back were four projector screens that were powered off, just sitting there dormant and ready. It was pitch black and he couldn't make sense of whatever was going on behind the projector screen's circuits, besides there was no power in the cave so it's not like they'd be able to turn on anyways. Stumbling around he eventually walked right into the center of the room, this one little action awakening something he should have thought harder before asking for help.

The cavern was slowly covered in a grim red light that painted shadows on the walls, the shadows dancing and writhing while music played from nowhere. Now that he could see Oswald saw unlike the rest of the screens around wasteland these projector screens had no technology or mechanical parts behind them, they were just blank screens with red and black splotches on them. Wasteland itself seemed to sense this sinister presence, tints and turps came rising from the ground and flew at the projector screens to keep whatever was coming at bay. Once the spirits made contact the blue and green creatures suddenly stopped, the little wisps jittered around uncontrollably and Oswald watched as their color faded and were replaced with a crimson and black respectively. The newly made corrupted spirits circled the rabbit and crashed down at his feet, splatting red and black against the ground around him.

"What the?–ow!" Oswald grunted when some of the liquid hit his paw, it stung like hell although it didn't melt him like thinner would of "ah! Son of a Lady!"

All the corrupted guardians slammed into the ground and began creating a black and red insignia, Oswald quickly hopped away from it else he would be stung more. The insignia that grew was a giant star and it seemed to warp and shift once it became full, it wasn't some painting placed on the floor, it was like a living thing. The red light cast on the area began to fade making way for a very dim yellowish light, the rabbit was shrouded in darkness once more. The darkness uneased him, it felt as if there was something else there in it with him, waiting for him to move. Oswald's attention turned from the shadows to one of the projector screens which had some sort of spotlight cast onto it suddenly.

"huh?"

A voice unfamiliar to Oswald came from the darkness, it's voice broken and staticy. It was as if whoever was speaking was trying to mimic some announcer and with it came an entire orchestra. The mysterious music played and echoed off the walls, drums getting beat played while the star on the ground slithered over to the projectors.

"Ladies and gents, toons, tints, turps, blots and whatever-ya-call-it's, put your hands and paws together for the quartet EVERYONE'S screaming about!"

The projectors one by one tore and ripped apart, black and red oozed from the destroyed screens creating puddles on the ground which began to morph into shapes. Skeletal structures were formed from the blood and ink, the rising creatures soon growing flesh and cloth that covered their bones. Oswald gagged at the sight of the creatures slowly forming one by one. The first fully manifested and looked like a demented parody of a cartoon, it had small round ears and a short tail like a bear, a pronounced snout, two wide eyes that emitted a red glow, and it's proportions were odd, it had long limbs with an elongated torso only to end in a plump belly half covered by grey shorts. The most disturbing part was the blank grin with no emotion behind it, it's sinister smile contrasted with it's rather goofy appearance and haircut. The second creature grew out of a pillar of ink, its horns and teeth formed although it's face was obscured by black that dripped off its entire visage. Once it was fully created it stood hunched over on hoofed feet, spikes bristled up along its spine as it looked over to see the final two manifest. The final two creatures lashed at each other before even forming, inky claws grew from two puddles and clawed at the other until they stopped momentarily and sprouted out in the form of a lanky malnourished feline and canine. Both of them had bloody gums with large teeth and glowing eyes, seeing all this Oswald froze in place like a deer in headlights at the things awakening before him.

"Oh this is gonna be so FUN!" The grotesque toon feline exclaimed, its face morphing and stretching until it finally landed on an appearance that looked somewhat friendly, it stretched it's body over to Oswald quickly addressing him "hold on a minute will you pal? We gotta gather our bearings" the creatures head snapped around 180° to look at the bear who was scanning the room with his eyes which were white, it was as if trying to find something "speaking about bearings, Skitzo you find that runt yet?"

The bear—Skitzo as the cat called him, shook his head and let out a growl.

"Aww that's too bad, he'll turn up eventually, he always does, after all we can't kill him"

"Let the kid go, he don't do anything tos ya, Skitzo" the dog remarked.

In response Skitzo looked at the canine irked, the bear's eye twitched before both large white pupils of his turned red. The bear reached into his shorts and pulled out a jagged knife, a static noise filled the air as Skitzo spoke yet no words left his mouth.

The dog grew in size, now towering over the others he was summoned with at alert of the static noise “Oh yous looking for a fight already? Well buster step right up to the plate and you'll get what's coming to ya”

The two stared down at each other, seeing them get ready to fight the cat pulled out a frying pan and rolling pin and clobbered both over the head. The two immediately stopped their fighting, Skitzo’s eyes going white and the dog having a halo of stars spin around his head. The cat rolled his eyes and snapped back, his body and head fixing themselves while he addressed them

“alright, alright, you two cut it out, as much as I would love to see your ugly mug get ripped apart by Skitzo, now's not the time and you can brawl later” the cat looked around, trying to find the fourth member of his group "Inky, what're you do—oh! I see you're already back to ya old tricks"

Oswald was surprised to find while he was staring at the three titans in front of him the one a devil had changed shape, it now looked smaller in size, much smaller in fact. It was almost his own height now, it even looked more friendly sporting a wide grin with piecut eyes looking like a genuine toon. Skitzo scooped up the small creature up and placed him on his shoulder, the little devil quick to hop and and dangle his feet off the edge as he sat.

"Okay, nows that wes got that taken of, howzabout we do something about our viewer?”

The dog pointed to Oswald who had just idled by and watched everything unfold. A lump of spit built up in Ozzie's throat, with a comedically loud and audible "gulp" he swallowed it and spoke up.

"I'm-"

Before he could get another word out the cat had lunged forward and snatched Oswald up. The cat's face morphed back into a monstrous look with bloody gums and eerie shaking slit pupils.

"Oh we know who you are, ain't that right fellas!?"

All the creatures nodded in agreement. The small little devil melted into a puddle of ink on Skitzo's shoulder and slowly regrew back into the form of Oswald, albeit looking slightly different. It looked like a version of Oswald that was a bit more human in design, the rabbit remembered the style he had during that time yet it was still a surprise to see it again. In its copy state the devil began to dance around and sing a familiar song that struck a chord with the rabbit and brought back memories of when he had popularity. What scared Oswald was how the little devil perfectly copied his way of speaking back then right down to the very tone and annunciation.

"Lucky rabbit! That lucky Oswald rabbit! Nicest rabbit that you ever knew!"

The toons snickered, the cat quick to speak up again after his friend reverted shape "we've seen and heard all that you've done up until now, we don't really care about any of you toons yet what got our eyes is the fact that you went off the grid for a bit, you somehow when somewhere in this hell where we couldn't see or hear you and that caught our interest"

"Yous disappeared, showed back up holding that brush and suddenly comes looking for us? Yeah by that points we knew something fishy was up" the dog added.

"So now that there's no need for introductions, after all it don't matter if ya know our names" the cat's face grew in size, it got snout to snout with Oswald, breathing it's putrid breath that stunk of rotten flesh all over the smaller rabbit "why ARE you here?"

Oswald looked at them all determined, despite being in both the face and grip of danger he held his ground "I need help, wasteland is deteriorating and the sorcerer said you guys have some sorta power that can hopefully keep this place intact awhile longer, at least until a permanent solution can be found"

“Need our help?” The cat tilted its head unnaturally, its neck elongating slightly “that's the funniest thing I've heard in awhile! We don't help in fact, we do the complete opposite!”

Oswald was dropped onto the ground, he quickly picked himself up as well as the brush and kept up his pleas “You don't understand! It's gotten awful here, earthquakes, tsunamis coming from the thinner ocean, some toons are even naturally becoming inert! We don't even know what's causing it and I'm on my last paw” Oswald lowered his voice, feeling it not wise to come off aggressive in this deal he was trying to make “I don't want wasteland to be destroyed...”

The cat pulled out a giant magnifying glass in order to look at Oswald, the cat’s smirk grew wider seeing his desperation “heh, looks like you're in quite the pickle, can't say you're very smart for calling on us of all things though” the cat pulled out a cigar and lighter from seemingly nowhere and lit it up, taking a few puffs before putting it out on Skitzo's skin.

Skitzo giggled at the sensation, the cigar didn't go out and just caused more smoke to appear. The bear took the extinguished cigar and offered it to the little devil riding on his shoulder, once the devil declined with a head shake Skitzo just shrugged and swallowed the thing.

“Do ya knows who we even are?” The dog asked, leaning down on all fours to look at Oswald.

“You're toons” Oswald replied “toons who are not very nice..." He trailed off at the recollection of what their cartoons did to whoever watched them.

“Well you're right about one thing, we ain't nice”

“Yeah, that's putting it bluntly!”

“whatcha got dead wrong though is the fact that we're toons, nah we're something far more scary”

All of them seemed to surround Oswald, even the little devil hopped off Skitzo’s shoulder and shifted back into its larger demonic state. Skitzo’s eyes turned red again, the bear brandished his knife and stood ready to bring the massive blade down upon the rabbit. The cat and dog grew in size, the cat now sporting scruffy fur with gloved hands that were also claws, the dog took a form something similar although it's body didn't stay consistent, constantly shifting and changing growing massive or shrinking suddenly. The now large demon made of ink got ready to pounce, resting on its heels it awaited the signal from all the others to maim. All the monstrous toons casted a shadow over Oswald blocking out the magical dim light, despite it all the rabbit stood unwavered. Oswald stared back at them with a scowl and readied the paintbrush in his hands, he was ready for a fight and he expected these things to not be the negotiating type. The monster's smiled seeing their soon to be victim so full of life and confidence, what could a little cartoon rabbit and a brush do to them? After all they weren't even on the same plane as the toons, they took pride in saying exactly what they were to someone who wouldn't be able to hear for much longer.

“We're terrors!”

[valorxdrive]

❝ when people look up to you, you don’t get to be selfish. ❞ [ from @piousolus ]

Something about that statement sent a visible shudder up his spine. Truth be told, a good deal about what he learned within the Land of Departure tips a precarious balance. Sora's own existence happens to defy many of the teachings that allowed this very land to thrive.

At the same time, it allowed it to grow the Calamity known as Xehanort.

Was it wrong to let these thoughts pervade their hard fought victory? Aqua was someone he learned that held a studious closeness with the drawn rules, the aspects of duty and what their forbears laid within their hands. So why does it draw this sensation of worry so vividly within his mind? The resolution that lingers within her eyes on that very matter, where does it truly stem from?

"Then how does everyone truly learn about you? One of the most important parts of a bond?" Not merely what a wielder is supposed to represent. The question strikes at that thought like a brazen hammer. The eyes of this Guardian found themselves bright, fiery and challenging. Inklings of his anger burned alongside that very concern as a result of this topic, one that he never drew towards Yen Sid's attention (always closing him out the way he did), but right now, there's a chance to switch the momentum.

"If there's something I learned about this past, being selfless has been one of the biggest things to go and selfishly ask, this goes beyond just helping others who need a genuine hand too."

Without even realizing it himself, those once strewn hands had tightened into fist, leaving his composure similar to stepping upon a potential battlefield. "At the end of the day we're all people! And I believe that discovering ourselves is a priority that can't go and devoured as bad as it does here. What about people learning about themselves from the present too? The eyes of others shouldn't dictate that."

Great as it does sound for a society to be cultivated by the Keyblade, to get a deeper look in it's spectrum of thought, the tale of Xehanort had also taught another important side.

@piousolus

[lightheartedwarrior]

//Come pester @omnipotentmxster today via asks.

Its both free and therapeutic.

And who hasn't wanted to make Master Yen Sid irritated or angry?

[descendant-of-truth]

Sora was a big neurodivergent mood in KH3 specifically and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it

It's most prominent towards the beginning of the game, where Sora is asked to follow his heart to open the new world portals, and we see him struggle to do so not once, but twice. (With the same posturing, even)

Like he genuinely cannot think of where to go or what it is in his heart that he's supposed to be following, which is really interesting to me because I don't think we've seen this behavior from him before. But at the same time, it makes sense, because he's basically being asked to use his intuition, which is... pretty difficult to do on command

The two scenes are different in one way though, in that what triggers Sora deciding where to go is different each time. The first time, his subconscious is clearly telling him to visit Olympus, as shown by the way he flexes his muscles like three different times upon hearing the word "hero"

But for one reason or another, it just doesn't fully click with him until Goofy brings up the "may your heart be your guiding key" line. I don't know what exactly is blocking his brain from realizing he wants to go to Olympus but there's definitely Something going on there and I'm endlessly fascinated by it

The second time, he arguably doesn't follow "his" heart at all; he follows Roxas's.

Which yeah this is still him following his own desire to bring Roxas back, but it's interesting how he doesn't keep the focus on himself for very long if he can help it

Though it's not too hard to imagine why considering Donald and Goofy's reactions to his struggles

Acting like he isn't taking things seriously, noting that this particular struggle is becoming routine... like I said, major parallels to what a lot of neurodivergent folk go through.

In general, there's a lot of people thinking Sora should just Know Things without being given clear instructions, and then he tries to get clearer instructions on what to do and he's kinda just given a shrug.

And while Sora does eventually figure this all out, it's without any direct input from the others. It also doesn't help that they spend a lot of the game telling Sora not to follow his heart (which is telling him to help Riku save Aqua) because it would be too dangerous, while also... telling him to follow his heart. But only to accomplish what they need him to do.

Yeah it's no wonder he's still stuck wondering what "following his heart" is supposed to mean by Re:Mind, AKA after he's already defeated Xehanort

Sora is trying so hard in this game to be what people want from him and they're making that super complicated by being unclear on what exactly it is they want him to do. That's not entirely their fault since they don't actually have all the answers, especially Donald and Goofy, but it's clearly affecting Sora regardless.

(Probably unrelated/unintended but the Heartbinder is also odd to me? It's meant to make his "inherent gifts" stronger, the gift in this case being... connecting with others?? I know it's just there as a summoning mechanic but is there a reason Sora needs extra help with this, or a reason Yen Sid thinks he does? Is it because of how he lost his powers?? Does that make it a parallel to a disability aid???)

Also worth noting, though not directly a neurodivergent parallel, Sora's confusion over romantic love in this game (expanded upon in the novels) also falls into the category of "things everyone else just Understands inherently that Sora doesn't"

Quoiromantic Sora my beloved

In conclusion Sora is neurodivergent and it became a lot more apparent in KH3, where he has arguably the vaguest instructions and overall least suitable conditions for him to thrive

[descendantofthesparrow]

Interlude - Rewrite POYW - Part 6 - new buildings and snowball fights

=

-Six months later(February 2017)-

Diego stood in front of a work in progress building that was supposedly being turned into a shelter for vks that needed a warm place to stay and regular meals that they couldn't get on their own. His eyes drifted to the yet-to-be-hanged sign next to the open door where workers inside built the kitchens and bathrooms.

‘Carlos’ House - A safe place for lost kids - Auradon department of the isle’

Around a month ago King Ben and his councilor; Evie, had announced an on-Isle shelter for anyone that needed it, with two sections of the building, one for adults and one for minors. Fully furnished with fresh food, a handful of bedrooms that could house up to 10 people, multiple bathrooms, two full kitchens, and two snack kitchens, and isle hired guards and caretakers that would be screened and recruited by Harriet's crew.

Some of the building was finished so several homeless or starving VK’s had already moved into the empty rooms. Some of Harriet's crew had taken charge of guarding the building, keeping an eye on the Auradon workers to keep the younger kids safe while also keeping anyone dangerous out.

Diego felt a hint of pride looking at the sign, his little cousin, someone many thought would never amount to anything more than a slave for his mother, was now in Auradon, inventing and creating in Auradon and establishing a shelter for his fellow vks still on the isle.

Diego brushed his thumb over the walkie talkie in his hand, Carlos has sent it to him with one of the workers, something about Diego being an ear on the inside to keep track of things the isle needed and to help spread any news about more vks coming off the isle at some point.

Diego pocketed the device and turned on his heel, walking back to his apartment through the market, eyes drifting over the new posters detailing the upcoming -yet to be scheduled- VK day, where six VKs would be chosen and head to Auradon. It was a good year from now, the so-called CPS that would be ‘in charge’ of the new vks would apparently take the longest and both that and the Auradon shelter had been required for Ben to get the council to approve the new transfer plan.

Diego pushed open the gate to his apartment building and hurried inside, night was falling and even after everything king Ben had implemented onto the isle it still wasn’t safe to be out at this time. Diego walked into his apartment and locked the door behind him, tossing his keys and the walkie-talkie onto his couch.

He sighed and walked into his room, flopping against his bed and buried his face in his pillows. Just two days ago, the rotten four, as they used to be called on the isle before they left, had visited the isle to see how everything was going. And he had seen Carlos, no longer the short and scarily skinny tween, but an almost fully grown young man. Carlos had only been in Auradon for just a little more than a year but he was thriving, he was stronger, taller, and much more confident than he was before.

And Diego couldn’t help but be a little proud. When Carlos had seen Diego, he had rushed over, whispering to him as if it was a secret he was about to tell.

‘when the applications are sent here, fill one out, you’ll be my pick’ Diego pushed down the smile on his lips at the memory, it was nice to know that Carlos hadn’t forgotten him.

So maybe in a year, he would be joining Carlos in Auradon, both finally away from Carlos’ insane mother.

-

Evie overlooked the file that Yen Sid had pulled out for the young daughter of Dr.Facilier, Celia. Dizzy had requested from all of them that Celia be one of the next off, saying that she had promised her friend that she would get Celia off the isle as soon as she could.

And Evie had told Dizzy she would do her best. But unfortunately, it would be up to the council for Celia to be approved, and Evie hoped that Celia wouldn't try to be smart on her application. But again, the applications wouldn’t be sent for a good two years from now, so Auradon and the isle had a long time to wait until they could celebrate ‘vk day’ which was Doug's idea, he had said that the vks still on the isle deserved a day for themselves for waiting so long, and the vks in Auradon agreed, eight months was too long for Harriet and the others, two and a half was overdoing it.

It just sucked that Ben had no choice but to go with the council's requests, and it would be 2019 at least before they got the next round off. It was only thanks to Ben and (y/n) that the vks still on the isle knew that they in Auradon weren't abandoning them.

There was a new shelter being built in the name of Carlos’ for any kids or adults that needed a warm place to sleep, it also served as a place to keep track of the kids that took and turned in applications when the time came. Dizzy, around a week ago, had brought up the idea of possibly letting the older adults apply for Auradon as well, as some of them were long since reformed before the isle. (y/n) had said that Dizzy meant her aunt Anastasia, and told them about the baker and the alternate timeline sequels of Cinderella’s stories.

Which had confused the hell outta them but…considering (y/n) was from a world where they were all characters and had actors, they couldn’t argue with her about it.

Evie sighed and set down Celia's file, standing and stretching to get the tightness out of her muscles from sitting at the table for so long. She grabbed her jacket and shrugged it on, it was mid-February in Auradon so while the deep winter had passed it was still snowing and cold as hell outside.

Evie walked out of her room and made her way outside, smiling as she saw Dizzy, the Smee twins, Sammy, CJ, Harriet, and the rest of the vks (other than Gil) along with Doug, Ben, and (y/n) all having a snowball fight, (y/n) in Harry's arms as he lifted her out of the way of a snowball from Jay.

“Evie, heads up!” Evie squealed and ducked as a snowball soared past just where her head was a moment ago, CJ wincing as Carlos and Mal glared at her “Sorry! I was aiming for Harry!”

“I’m over here yeh lame-ass!” Harry cackled, dodging another snowball from Jay and grabbing your hand to bolt to the next snow fort Dizzy and CJ had made before the battle had started.

Evie laughed as she stood up and ran towards Mal and Ben, pulling Mal in front of her as a snowball from Harriet came speeding towards her “E!” Mal squeaked, wiping her shoulder and chest of the snow and turning towards Evie “No fair! No using your teammates as shields!” Evie laughed and stuck out her tongue, crouching down to scoop up snow.

“vks don’t fight fair M~! you said it yourself!” Evie then screamed as Mal squished a snowball into the side of her head, her blue hair trimmed with white “Hey!!”

“Payback!” Mal cackled, spinning on her heel and dodging another ball from Harriet then sending one back, pouting as Harriet just stepped to the side and the ball hit Sammy in the face. “oh come on-GAH!” (y/n) chucked a ball straight at Mal and hit her in the face, sending Mal to the ground. The snow flurried around Mal, almost creating a blanket on her from the thick frost. “really?”

Ben held in his laugh and lifted Mal out of the snow, holding her into his side as he dived behind another snow fort. “Ben” Mal faked a weak cough, holding her hand out towards Ben “you must…avenge my death…Bleh” Mal ‘died’ and slumped against Ben, closing her eyes and sticking her tongue out the corner of her mouth.

“Nooooo” Ben dramatically yelled out, a smile on his face as he let Mal slip off his chest. He stood, a snowball in each hand “revenge!” Jay cackled as Ben was immediately pummeled by several snowballs from the other side of the battlefield, (y/n) catching herself on Harry as Ben flopped back into the snow “treason! You’ve killed the king!”

“False! Dizzy is king now! She threw the last ball that hit you!” Harry cackled, lifting Dizzy by her armpits and holding the giggling teen in the air “all hail king Dizzy!”

Evie covered her mouth to stop the loud ‘guffaw’ from bursting, leaning on Carlos to prevent herself from falling “all hail king Dizzy!” Jay and Carlos echoed, throwing their hands forward and mock bowing at Dizzy, who was still giggling in Harry's grip.

“Fore!” Jay looked to the side and yelped, a snowball slamming directly into his face and he fell back into the snow “I said fore!” Gil laughed, Jane at his side giggling behind her periwinkle snow mittens.

“there yeh are!” Harry yelled, setting Dizzy down and gesturing for Gil to join the side of the pirates “come on, we need’a tank!”

“don’t you have (y/n)?” Jane laughed, sitting down on a bench nearby as Gil jogged over to Harry and quickly made a large snowball. Gil and Harry looked at each other at Jane's mention of you, then looked to (y/n), who was in the middle of hurling another snowball at the opposite team. They shrugged and Gil continued to make a large snowball

“(y/n)’s tha’ sharpshooter, Gil’s the tank” Harry grinned, cackling as Gil launched the foot wide snowball at the other side, completely decimating the small fort CJ had made and knocking her to the ground. “yeah!!!”

“Ow!” CJ groaned, shaking the snow off and crawling out of the battlefield “im done! Count me out!” she flopped into the snow a few feet away and took a few deep breaths as Gil launched another snowball at Carlos, knocking him to the ground.

“Dodgeball rules! You get hit you’re out, loser team makes hot chocolate for everyone!” Harriet called out, giving a sharp grin as everyone yelled in agreement.

Snowballs flew everywhere, Jane curling in on herself squealing as a few stragglers landed near her “not playing, not playing!”

“Jane!” Gil laughed, running toward her and picking her up bridal style, and running back to the battlefield, setting her behind the fort (y/n) and Harriet had reinforced “stay, I'll protect you” Jane giggled and swooned as Gil stood back up and launched a mid-sized snowball at Jay, hitting Jay square in the chest and getting him out. “got ya!”

“Not fair! You have (y/n) and Gil on your side!” Jay complained, Mal popped up, her eyes glowing green as several snowballs floated next to her. Jay laughed and grinned, running off to the bench where CJ and Ben sat. “ooooh! Yall are goin down!”

Mal threw her hand forward, the snowballs aiming for you but they hit the snow fort instead as you flipped behind it “Dang it! AH!” Dizzy chucked a snowball right at Mal and hit her in the face, marking the fae out “DANGNABIT!”

“Ha!” Dizzy cheered, throwing her hands into the sky, squealing as Evie sent back a snowball at Dizzy “Evieee!”

“Dizzyyy!” Evie mocked, a sharp grin on her lips as she tossed two more snowballs at Dizzy, the first missing and the second hitting Dizzy in the back “Gotcha~!”

Dizzy pouted and joined Mal, Jay, CJ, and Ben at the bench, cheering on her team as the fight continued. Now it was Evie, Carlos, Doug, and Sammy, vs Harry, (y/n), Gil, the twins, and Harriet.

It was all too easy.

Within moments Evie and the boys were pummeled by snowballs, all screaming in ���pain’ as they fell into the snow. The twins rushed over to the other side, throwing their last few balls into their ‘dead’ brother's stomach. Sammy coughed at the impact and sat up, pulling the two into his chest and rolling around, cackling as the twins squealed with laughter.

“We win! Ya’ll gotta make the hot chocolate now!” (y/n) laughed out in victory, Harry pulling her into his side with a grin, hiding it in her hair.

Ben sighed and gestured back inside the dorms “come on, there's a closed patio with a fire pit, we can make smores too!” the twins and Dizzy gasped at that and rushed inside, Dizzy pulling Evie as the twins pulled their brother and Harriet with them.

Soon all 16 teens were inside the closed patio, the firepit roaring as Harry helped the twins roast their marshmallows, their whipped cream-covered hot chocolates still steaming on their seats behind them.

“I can't believe at one point we outnumbered you and we still lost!” Mal grumbled, taking a layer off her toasted marshmallow and eating it, putting the treat back over the fire to let it toast again.

“that’s what happens when you have both (y/n) and Gil on the same side, (y/n) throws ninety-five miles per hour and Gil throws meteors, it was their game as soon as they picked their side” Ben laughed, handing Mal a hot chocolate in her glittery green and purple mug and sitting down next to her, sipping from his gold and blue mug.

“Then next time have Harry on your team to make sure you also have (y/n) and Gil” CJ snickered, leaning into Harriet's side as she chewed on her freshly made smore, gram cracker crumbs on the corners of her mouth.

(y/n) let out a small snort, leaning back in her seat and lifting her feet, setting them on Harry's shoulder as he helped Skipper set his marshmallow onto the gram cracker. “Maybe, who knows, I might play the other team next time~” Harry turned to look at (y/n), giving her a look “What? Don’t look at me like that? Just because I love you don't mean I won't kick your ass in a snowball fight” Harry rolled his eyes with a fond smile and pushed (y/n)s boots off his shoulder, ignoring the pout (y/n) was aiming at the back of his head.

“well, I’d say today was a good day” Ben sighed, sipping at his coco again and smiling as the group agreed with him, Harry standing from helping the twins and sitting next to (y/n), (y/n) slipping under his arm and laying her head on his chest.

Ben let out a content sigh and leaned back against his seat, closing his eyes and letting his head hit the headrest. Getting more vks to Auradon was going to take almost two years from now but for now, knowing the recent six and the original six were enjoying their life free from the isle was enough.

He couldn’t wait to share it with all the vks in the future.

-end of part 6-

part 6~!!! forgot today was Saturday but its only 630pm for me so i still posted on time, but yeah! Diego! Carlos! snowball fights! cuteness!!! its all getting wrapped up and loose ends are (hopefully) being tied!!!  hope yall enjoyed reading! part 7 next saturday!

@queer-cosette​ @sephiralorange​ @lunanight2012​

@daughter-of-the-stars11​ @musicarose​ @random-thoughts-003​

@remembered-license​ @rintheemolion​ @verboetoperee​

@imtryingthisout​ @thecaptainsgingersnap​ @jatp-rules-my-life​

[bluerosesburnblue]

On top of my recent watching of this Kingdom Hearts 101 video, sometimes I browse KH forums when I’m bored and it just hit me doing that that, like... no wonder nobody knows what the hell’s going on! There’s so much misinformation being spread around that people can’t keep anything straight!

The things I’m seeing cropping up the most are:

“Somebody” being stated to be the name of a fully complete being (Fact: Not actually a canon term. Fully completed beings are just called “people,” usually. The misconception comes from Axel’s line in Chain of Memories: “We Nobodies can never hope to be somebodies.” It was wordplay, not an actual term with an in-universe definition. Otherwise it would’ve been said... literally anywhere else in the franchise)

The Realm of Sleep (Fact: It doesn’t exist. The Sleeping Worlds are their own entities that don’t exist in any particular Realm. The Dive to the Heart is simply a metaphysical representation of the heart in a sleeping state that is connected to The Final World. The misconception comes from early fan translations of Japanese marketing material from Dream Drop Distance translating the Japanese term for the Sleeping Worlds, 夢見る世界 “Yumemiru Sekai” lit. “Dreaming World,” as “Realm of Dreams/Sleep,” which the fandom then applied the definition of the official English translation of phrases using “Realm” to. This was spread around and then brought back into fandom consciousness via a certain fan theory that came out after KH3)

[From @rainixdra​] Dream Eaters can only exist in the Sleeping Worlds. (Fact: Nope. Several Spirit Dream Eaters follow Riku [who is still a Dream Eater himself] when he enters the real world at the end of Dream Drop Distance, Chirithy is a Spirit Dream Eater that was born directly into the real world, and the Player’s Spirit Dream Eater in KHUx is thriving in the data worlds. The Sleeping Worlds are just where they’re native to. No idea how this one started because it wasn’t even true in Dream Drop Distance where they first showed up, but it’s also got spread around by the above theory)

The Princesses of Heart’s hearts are the seven light fragments from when the X-Blade shattered (Fact: They are not. The misconception comes from misunderstanding Xehanort’s final speech in Dream Drop Distance. All he says is that he intended to use them to forge the X-Blade because they had pure light hearts that were necessary for the clash of light and darkness to summon the X-Blade, not that they were the light parts of the X-Blade. This one is still up on khwiki.com with no source despite being false. [EDIT] Just glanced at their talk page, their supposed source is this line from DDD and is still a misuderstanding of Yen Sid’s line. He’s saying that the X-Blade’s seven light fragments were made to protect the seven pure lights that already existed. Some of them got confused about Mickey’s response. It’s not like Xehanort’s Thirteen Seekers of Darkness are literally the X-Blade’s dark fragments)

Sora has multiple Keyblades that he loses between games (Fact: Those are keychains. Sora has one Keyblade that he changes the appearance of using keychains. When he dual-wields, the second Keyblade is Ven’s. The keychain thing is mentioned in the Kingdom Key’s description in a lot of games, the confusion probably coming from the fact that the games occasionally use Keyblade and keychain interchangeably, and the keychain detail is mentioned scarcely)

Nobody can die in Kingdom Hearts; they’ll always come back to life (Fact: almost nobody in Kingdom Hearts has actually died, a lot of what the fandom calls “dying” isn’t. Death is explicitly when the heart and body perish together. Having your heart consumed by Darkness and creating a Heartless and possibly Nobody is not dying, it’s a forcible separation of a person’s component pieces that does not count as “perishing.” And the fact of destroying a Heartless and Nobody recreating the original person has actually been in Nomura’s mind since at least KH2 Final Mix. So I imagine that the heart kinda has to be in the body for them to perish together)

[I can’t believe I forgot this one] The Heartless must be destroyed before the Nobody for the original to re-form. (Fact: Nope! Same source as above: they can be destroyed in either order. Misconception comes from a misunderstanding of Yen Sid’s line in the Re:coded secret ending... because he mentioned Ansem before Xemnas)

[Here’s another] Worldlines are alternate universes/timelines. (Fact: Nobody knows what the hell a worldline is except for the writing team at this point. Mentioned in Luxu’s Secret Reports in KH3, all he says is that the Dandelions fled to one after the war. KHUx says they’ve been in data worlds this whole time, ergo, data worlds are a “worldline.” Japanese KHUx updates hinting at the data world thing came out before KH3, but the English version came out after which I’m sure left anyone who didn’t follow the Japanese updates or doesn’t play KHUx confused. Even then, the fact that the term doesn’t currently have a definition really throws people off. If anyone says they know for sure what a worldline is, they’re wrong because not even the Ultimania defines it)

If I think of any more I’ll probably edit them in, these are just the ones I can come up with right now but I’m sure there’s more

[minijenn]

FF.net link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13217824/37/Keys-to-the-Kingdom

Story Summary: Thirteen Keys, scattered across the worlds. Whoever holds them all is destined to rule the heart of all worlds: Kingdom Hearts. As the seven guardians of light and the thirteen seekers of darkness gather and scour the worlds for these keys, Sora finds himself caught between standing alongside his friends as they fight for the light and struggling against the encroaching darkness invading his own heart. KH3 retelling turned AU.

Ships: Riku/Sora/Kairi, Roxas/Xion, Aqua/Terra, Vanitas/Naminè, Disney ships

Rating: T

Warnings: Violence, Minor Blood and Gore, PTSD, Possession, Psychological Trauma, Angst, Tragedy, Character Death

Chapter Summary: Sora accompanies Aqua to the Land of Departure to awaken Ventus. However, as the echoes of the hearts inside his own start to overwhelm him, Vanitas isn't far behind, more than ready to reunite with his 'brother'.

Aqua can’t believe that she’d nearly forgotten how beautiful the stars are. She’s completely mystified by them from the moment they all return to the Mysterious Tower. In the Realm of Darkness, the black void that passed for the endless sky was eternally unbroken, unchanging. But here, the glittering dots of light that stand for the countless collection of worlds float freely within a deep, yet vibrant midnight sky. And she can’t take her eyes off them, no matter how hard she tries. 

Not that she really wants to anyway. For as glad as Aqua had been to reunite with Mickey and to see Sora and Riku again, she can’t deny that being around so many people after spending so much time in solitude is a bit overwhelming. That’s why, after a brief, cordial, check-in with Master Yen Sid upon arriving at the tower, Aqua had slipped away to one of its upper guest rooms, claiming that she wanted to get a bit of rest. And given the incredible ordeal she’d just been through, the others are more than willing to give the master exactly that. 

Even so, she’s hardly tired. If anything, returning to the light has reinvigorated her in every way. Physically, she’s thriving, her lungs filled with the clean, fresh air the light has to offer, air that doesn’t carry a single tinge of the slowly suffocating malice she’d grown so used to in the darkness. Her mind is free from the mire of misery she’d been marred by before, the sadness she’d sunken into slipping away more and more with each passing second. The first rays of true, genuine happiness have started to peek through the stormy clouds of grief that have lingered within her heart for far too long now. She walks out onto the room’s balcony with a spring in her step and a smile on her face that’s wide to the point of almost feeling silly, but she can’t help it. Because she’s here in the realm of light, in a place she’s spent such a long time longing to be. After everything she’s been through, all the pain and loneliness she’s been forced to endure, she knows she could hardly ask for anything more now… 

Except, perhaps, maybe one more thing. Or two. 

(Click above links for more! Feel free to leave a review, all comments are appreciated!)

[fortitudinem]

THE CREATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOMS OF AURADON

When the small Kingdom of Auradon re-emerges after a decade of being missing and yet, unmissed, there is a lot of confusion all around. The ruler of the Kingdom, Prince Adam, now King Adam, reveals himself to the world once more, exclaiming that he was cursed by an enchantress for ten years to take on the form of a hideous beast, but that the curse has been broken with the power of true love and he can now resume ruling his kingdom.

The curse itself had been woven in such a way as to make people forget that Auradon had ever had a ruler, or to bypass it completely. It had kept it safe, but also relatively undisturbed for over ten years. Adam had a lot of catching up to do, so despite having found his True Love, in the form of a common girl from the nearby village by the name of Belle, they put the wedding on hold until he has a better grip on what it means to be a King.

He takes to it like a duck to water, learning politics and economics with a surprising amount of ease. He sets up trade routes, funds local businesses and starts funnelling money into the local area and forging alliances with nearby kingdoms. Belle is inducted into Adam’s court as Lady Belle and starts learning what it means to be a queen, having never been involved in court before.

Over the next few years, technology begins to spread at an ever-increasing rate. Hot running water is invented and spreads through all the kingdoms and with this, steam is easily harnessed to create the steam engine.

Adam approaches his closest neighbours to propose an alliance, something that could help them all fight back against even the most dangerous foes. He speaks to the King of Verrelac (who is trying to secure a good future for his kingdom for his son Prince Christopher and his new wife Princess Ella), King Stephen of Solaria (who is still very protective of his daughter, Princess Aurora), King and Queen of the Summerlands (the recently integrated kingdoms of Queen Snow and King Florian), Queen Eilonwy of North Riding, King Arthur of Camelot, King Richard of Westerly and Prince Regent Eric of Tirulia. After nearly a year of discussion, they write up an agreement to all operate under King Adam’s banner in exchange for better trade deals, better protections and more political powers. Tirulia is the last to sign, but with the presence of a new threat- the sea witch Morgana, and their daughter’s safety on the line, it is seen as the best choice to make. Adam brings the Fairy Godmother into his council and she agrees to help him with his goals.

For a year their prosperity grows, they develop even more technological marvels, first gaslight then electric lighting (after finding out how to harness electricity, aided by magic), better metalsmithing processes. Many factories are built, buildings are climbing higher than ever before, cities are developing rapidly into commercial and economic hubs, highly populated by citizens who are flooding in from villages on the outskirts for the new jobs and opportunities of city life. Automobiles are invented, making travelling easier. This presents Adam with the opportunity to travel to kingdoms outside of his banner-lands and start negotiations afresh. He enters negotiations with King Frederic of Corona and King Hubert of South Riding, Emperor Kuzco of East Riding, Emperor Qui of Northern Wei, The Sultan of Agrabah, Prince Naveen of Maldonia and Queen Anna of Arendelle. These talks take over a year but are also eventually finalised.

Cities are ever expanding in the heart of what will be Auradon. Places like London and Auradon Central are thriving metropolises and people are flocking to them. Businesses are booming, Auradon is more prosperous than ever. Add to that the invention of a mundane way to talk across long distances so that everyone can access it and not just those with magic, otherwise known as the internet, and the development of computers, based around the idea of magic mirrors but smarter and much less magic. Plane technology allows for transportation across even longer distances and over otherwise dangerous terrain.

This allows Adam to progress even further. He speaks to Simba, Tarzan and Louie in the deep jungles, King Edward of Faraway, King Fergus of The Borderlands and Chief Tui of Motunui, they all agree to sign up under his protections. With the rest of the Kingdoms now behind him, Adam can push his final, slightly more difficult goals, speaking to the gods that rule Olympia and the elemental spirits of Schwartzwald. He creates a treaty with the gods, allowing him control over the mortals in their lands. The elemental representative of Schwartzwald, Elsa of Arendelle agrees; driven by the strong desire to protect the people of her enchanted land (and with Arendelle already signed on and a promise of being left relatively alone, there seems to be few reasons to refuse).

The final stage of his uniting of the kingdoms is to remove the magic that cloaks Neverland, placing it firmly within the real world. He attempts to do the same for Wonderland but finds this exceedingly difficult, instead managing to convince many of its residents to instead simply retire to Auradon. Neverland enters into the agreement with Auradon, taking its place amongst the kingdoms. Atlantica is also drawn into the treaty.

With the entirety of the known world having agreed, King Adam finally consents to marry Lady Belle, who becomes Queen Belle. Each Kingdom is invited to a public vote for High King and Adam wins with an 85% majority. All the kingdoms sign a fresh new treaty document, declaring the unification of their kingdoms under one banner and one King. The calendars are reset, to herald a new age of union, years become marked as AU or ante unionem for anything from before or as IB or imperium bestia for this point onwards. 

Adam unveils his master plan for getting rid of threats to the kingdom, a prison off the coast, where human criminals and magical villains alike can be placed as there will be a magic-nullifying barrier around it. The idea of a prison to store their most dangerous enemies that can safely contain them, particularly one that is being marketed as having no cost to them, is seen as a good thing and The Isle of The Lost is created.

Adam enters into arrangements with the gods of Olympia, taking away Hades to lock him on the Isle for the crimes he committed against Zeus, and with Hades removed from the underworld, all of the previously dead villains are brought back to life to be placed under lock and key on the Isle. This is met with mixed opinions, but Adam smooths over any worries.

He passes the Recycling Act through his royal council, a law that will send unused food from Auradon to the Isle, saving on food costs and preventing waste, as well as providing a place to recycle old furniture for use, again reducing the costs. The council agrees and the goblin-barge system is altered to take waste from Auradon. Citizens are encouraged to send any surplus of goods (food, clothes, furniture) to drop-off points are set up for the Isle. This is marked as doing a good deed and so everyone contributes.

He begins renovations on a disused castle in Auradon, to turn it into a private preparatory school for the upper echelons of Auradonian society. Fairy Godmother is named headmistress and the class schedules and curriculum passes through both Adam and Fairy Godmother before being approved. They have blanket control over what the students will be learning.

However, something unexpected happens. A rebellion starts, the villains on the Isle are not content with being locked in a prison. Outside the barrier, there are those still sympathetic to the villains and a group of witches, including the daughter of one Madam Mim, decide to free the villains. Working together, they manage to punch a hole in the barrier, allowing some of the villains to escape. Maleficent leads them to Auradon and they fight against the royals, with the intention of overpowering them, dethroning them and enslaving them. However, they are beaten back by Fairy Godmother and Adam’s forces and they are transported back to the Isle. The barrier is immediately strengthened, and the people are told it was a magical mishap, rather than given the whole truth about the barrier having previously been vulnerable to synchronised magical attacks. Yen Sid volunteers to go to the Isle and make sure that nothing like this ever happens again.

Following this attempted rebellion, Adam declares that magic should no longer be used as a quick solution. It should not be used at all where possible, as most functions of magic have now been replaced with a suitable technology. He encourages all Good Citizens of Auradon to abandon their magic/magical devices/magical natures and instead embrace life at a level more challenging, but also more rewarding.

The Offscourings Act is passed, declaring that as the villains have thrown their charity back in their face with their attempted takeover, the food they are being sent will no longer be in the form of unused and unopened goods, but in the form of scraps. Citizens are no longer encouraged to send whole packets of food but are instead given special recycling bins, the contents of which are collected and sent to the Isle.

Not long after this, Queen Belle announces the joyous news that she is pregnant and several months later, King Adam and Queen Belle welcome a healthy baby boy into the world. They name him Benjamin Florian.

Over the next year Adam passes a new set of laws make his line of succession the automatic line of succession and to eliminate the voting aspect of becoming High King. As the Kingdom has seen nothing but prosperity and happiness, as well as the prevention of a rebellion, everyone agrees. Prince Ben is named heir to the crown and throne of Auradon.

With the passing of King Hubert of South Riding and the insistence of Phillip and Aurora that they wish to stay in Solaria and not take on more responsibility, South Riding is merged into the Kingdom of Corona, though they keep the name South Riding.

Nine years into Adam’s reign, the last of the known villains/criminals are caught and imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost. A huge celebration is thrown around the Kingdoms, as well as the campaign to Keep Auradon Good. Every citizen is encouraged to Be Good and to be the best person they can possibly be. This includes leaflets, billboards and posters. Some of these posters are shipped over to the Isle of the Lost, to try and encourage the residents to rehabilitate and reform. They are regularly replaced due to high levels of graffiti.

Over time the royal council is relegated to a more advisory role, but they still hold sway and political pressure, however the King gets final say on laws and regulations.

Criminal activity in Auradon is practically non-existent. Trade is good. Every nation is prosperous and happy. The skies are always blue, and the sun is always shining. Birds help princesses dress in the morning and life is good. The people are good. Everything in Auradon is perfectly good.

[cori-writes-fanfic]

I have a lot of Thoughts after the reveal of the new Dark Road kids, and most of it isn’t directly about the kids themselves and more kind of crazy predictions about how the story will go.  (This may be a little bit of a jumbled mess as I try to organize my thoughts, so…bear with me.)

So we know that:

We don’t really see any of the Dark Road kids in the future besides Xehanort and Eraqus (or, at least, that we know of).

Eraqus is stationed at The Land of Departure, rather than Scala.

Literally nobody talks about Scala in the future.

Eraqus was a “blue blood”—i.e. descended directly from Keyblade wielders (most likely Brain)—and Xehanort was an off-worlder who was made an apprentice and desperate to Eraqus’s equal.

We don’t really know much about what Scala was like, but we can guess, based on the size, structure, and the information about Eraqus’s family that it was likely a thriving city at one point.  We know that it was built on the ruins of Daybreak Town, and that many of the citizens were likely descendants of Dandelions.  I’m running on the assumption that not every citizen in the city would be a Keyblade wielder (though many are, and the “blue bloods” are often expected to take up the blade).  That said, my guess would be that many times masters would take townspeople as apprentices, and they’d only really take on off-worlders if they showed a lot of potential (which would really drive Xehanort’s desperation to prove himself).

As for the kids themselves, I’m going to jump on the bandwagon for two of them: Bragi being Luxu and Vor being Kairi’s grandmother.  For the first, I think it’d be interesting to see Luxu interact with the other apprentices, knowing what he does.  …Well, that, and the name is way too similar to Braig, so if they’re not the same person, I’m likely just going to get them confused.  For the second, it’d give an explanation for why Kairi’s grandmother knows that story about the Dandelions (not that it’s technically needed, but it’d be kind of fun).  That said, I’m thinking they aren’t blue bloods like Eraqus, but from regular families around the city (and I’m sure that’s going to be proven wrong soon, but…oh well).

Story-wise, I’m kind of predicting that things will start off mostly with just general training, we’ll get some references to the Dandelions/X-blade/etc. through Bragi, and MoM will pop up at some point to speak cryptically to Xehanort and stoke his ambition/fear.  I’d guess that The Land of Departure is some sort of outpost for the Keyblade wielders (perhaps one of many) that either a) a couple of masters and apprentices live at full time, or b) masters and apprentices are on a rotating schedule for who stays at an outpost and maintains it at any given time.

At any rate, about half way through the story is when I think the big “Scala calamity” is going to go down.  Essentially, I’m guessing that Bragi/Luxu is going to spur this on (presumably in order to make sure Xehanort ends up as the “scape goat” for whatever his plan is, though I’m not sure how exactly that would work).  This ends up killing and/or scattering the Keyblade wielders, and either flat out destroying Scala or basically taking it out of this plane of existence.  Xehanort, Eraqus, Urd, Hermod, and Eraqus’s/Xehanort’s master manage to escape together and head to The Land of Departure for safety, hoping to find other Keyblade wielders there. When they don’t after a time, the master head’s off to check the other outposts.

Meanwhile, the kids are stressed because they’ve just had their home destroyed, many Keyblade wielders are missing—including one of their closest friends—and the other betrayed them.  Xehanort is particularly antsy, which is partly because he’s feeling somewhat inadequate; he wanted to prove that he was good enough to be a Keyblade wielder, but he couldn’t do anything to stop Bragi, couldn’t protect his new home and friends, and now he’s not even allowed to look for them and Eraqus is insisting that they stay here because the master ordered them two, and Xehanort just doesn’t understand—

And then MoM shows up again. Xehanort vents his frustrations, and MoM does his usual thing and kind of manipulates Xehanort into leaving.  This is ultimately what ends up prompting Xehanort’s “world tour” as he calls it in Re:mind; his desperate attempt to find what Keyblade wielders are still out there, and to prove that he’s still good enough.  Unfortunately, none of this actually gives him the time to, you know…process the traumatic event that he and his friends have just gone through.  So when he travels the world, he can’t help but notice the bad things; how so many people will lie and go behind the backs of people that they claimed to love (like Bragi), how so many people claimed to be strong but when it came down to it they couldn’t protect anyone (like him), and how sometimes those mistakes end up leading to dire consequences (like what happened to his home).  Ultimately, this is what ends up fueling his philosophy that the world needs to be restarted, even if his reasoning is faulty; if people are horrible, and they’re just going to cause more suffering (and force others to go through what he did), then they should just be saved the trouble.  And he’s going to do things right this time. He’s going to make it better.  He’s going to prove he’s not weak and maybe be able to make sure nothing like this ever happens to him again.

Back at The Land of Departure, the kid’s master has basically decided to take up permanent residence there.  He hasn’t had much like finding other Keyblade wielders; he only found one, a young master named Yen Sid, who was so traumatized by the fall of Scala that he decided to give up the Keyblade, though he’s promise to keep an eye out for other Keyblade wielders and send along any information he could get.  The master decides that the best thing he can do is keep this outpost in good condition and train his apprentices in order to make sure they’re prepared to go out into the worlds on their own. Eraqus, in particular, works like crazy in training, and adheres to his master’s teachings almost religiously; like Xehanort, he’s still grieving from an event that none of them have properly worked through, he’s just handling it in vastly different ways.  His family’s the one that was descended from the Union Leaders; he’s the one who needs to pick up the slack, to lead, to make sure that everyone’s okay.  He can’t let the others know how bothered he is by all this; he has to be strong for them. (But in the back of his mind, he’s still thinking about the darkness that Bragi brought to their shared home, and how it had destroyed everything he’d loved.  He still has nightmares about it.  It terrifies him.)

After Urd and Hermod become masters, they decide to travel the worlds, like Xehanort, with the purpose of both trying to protect people and see if they can find other Keyblade wielders (even if, by this point, they know it’s unlikely).  Eraqus wants to come with them, but they gently refuse; the master is growing weaker, and someone needs to make sure this outpost stays standing.  If anyone should be taking charge of this, it’s Eraqus.  He agrees, albeit reluctantly, and his friends head off.

Urd and Hermod visit The Land of Departure much more than Xehanort does (though all of them return for the master’s passing).  At different points, the two appear with a child in tow (Terra and Aqua).  Maybe one or both of them are their kids; maybe they just found them.  Regardless, they can’t bring them with them, and the kids have nowhere else to stay, so they have to come to The Land of Departure.  Then, at some point, Urd and Hernod just…stop coming back.

And Eraqus is troubled. He’s worried for his friends, but he can’t leave to look for them, not when he has two very young children to look after, not when for all he knows he’s the only Keyblade Master left. So he stays in The Land of Departure, and he raises—and later trains—Terra and Aqua.  He never talks about Scala; Terra and Aqua never experienced the place, never had to deal with the heritage they’d lost, and he can’t bring himself to burden them with his own traumatic memories.  (Though, if he’s truthful with himself, he can admit that’s partially because he doesn’t want to relive them, either.)

And then Xehanort reappears. Out of the blue, like nothing’s changed. Eraqus is overjoyed.  He hasn’t seen any of his friends in years, he thought he was the only one left, but now one of his friends has returned, and he’s desperate to learn more about what’s happened in the outside world.

But Xehanort…isn’t quite like Eraqus remembered him.  He’s talking about bring about another Keyblade War, about whether or not they’re worthy (he’s worthy), and Eraqus doesn’t understand.  (Why would you want to force others to go through the same thing they went through?)  Xehanort doesn’t really explain, and of course, Eraqus attacks him, and Xehanort gives him his scars.  (It’s like Bragi all over again.  The darkness corrupts people.  It takes his loved ones away from him.)

Xehanort, of course, disappears for a few years, and then comes back with a young boy named Ven. Eraqus…isn’t quite sure what to make of this, this time.  He’s not going to turn the boy away (and maybe even recognizes the name, depending on how much Bragi/Luxu told them), but he’s also…a little wary after the last meeting with Xehanort.  But…Xehanort is also the only other Keyblade wielder he knows, besides his apprentices. The last member of their group still standing.  And no matter what Xehanort had done, he can’t bring himself to completely sever that friendship.  He doesn’t entirely believe Xehanort’s given up his plan, but—maybe if he keeps a close eye on Ven, then he can make sure it never works out.  And maybe if Ven is here, the last of his friends will stop by more, and he can try and change his mind.  It doesn’t work.  It was never going to work, but how could he have known that then?

…Aaaand I’m going to leave it there because this got…really out of hand.  This is almost definitely not going to be canon, but, hey; it’s fun to think about.

[devillain]

Adults

This headcanon will focus on non-canon descendants adults. Meaning adults that are only mentioned in passing such as Horace and Jasper, or not at all. I will eventually do a post regarding Carlos’ mother, and canon adults like Yen Sid and Fairy God Mother. But that post will not be nearly as long because of how the movies played out for Carlos.

Carlos does not have many positive adults in his life, even when he comes to Auradon he does not have many positive adults in his life. The adults in his life that are positive all really have one thing really in common. And that is their connection to Carlos and learning.

Horace and Jasper

Horace and Jasper are the reason Carlos even got education as a baby. He was already behind because Cruella did not care. But they are responsible for slipping him little things to help him learn and develop as a baby. It can be argued that they are the reason Carlos got into building things because that’s all he liked to do as a toddler. Even if Cruella hated it. He appreciates what they did for him. To bad all of this ended the second Carlos could actually speak and think for himself. Whatever they did for him to help his mind grow as a baby was abruptly stopped.

Maurice

Ben’s grandfather, is also the shop teacher, and robotics coach at Auradon Prep. And Carlos loves this man. His mind works in ways that Carlos understands. Not to mention he teaches shop. Carlos loves the building of things of shop. He loves doing robotics, having done robotics since a child with scraps, the resources the robotics team has are insane to Carlos. He thrives under Maurice’s tutelage. In fact before Carlos decides to go into medicine, its Maurice that lead him to think he could be a serious app developer.

Wilbur Robinson

Carlos physics teacher. Carlos was very shy in class at first. Wilbur, and the Robinson family are huge inspirations for Carlos so to be taught by one of them absolutely blows his mind. Carlos for the first few months keeps his head down and his mouth shut. He is well aware that people think he cheats and such, he also wishes to avoid another Reza situation so he doesn’t talk about his grades either. It is very clear though he flourishes.

Wilbur’s class is the first one where Carlos is not afraid to actually speak up. This only happens after he is pulled aside after class which is a whole issue in itself. But Wilbur talks to him. After that Carlos opens up, and the truth about what he knows really comes out. You can’t cheat when you are being cold called in class. Wilbur is also the one to suggest that Carlos work harder to graduate early because clearly he can.

Lewis Robinson

Lewis is Carlos’ chemistry teacher. He has a different teacher than Evie, and my only reason for saying this is because Carlos is not in that scene. Carlos is shy in this class, just like he is in Wilbur’s class. But this is a whole different level. Aside from knowing Cinderella’s story backwards and forwards and how much he loves her story, and relates to her. He gets Lewis’ story on a very personal level. The issue is, Lewis got adopted, and Carlos always wanted that for himself. He wanted to be Lewis as a kid. He wanted what happened to Lewis to happen to him. He wanted a happy ending.

Carlos never actually comes out of his shell in Lewis’ class. He still does better than all the other students. But he is always quiet and subdued because he does not want to let down Lewis in the slightest. The thing is Lewis gets this. Lewis understands Carlos, just like Carlos understands him. If Carlos gets harder work because he is clearly bored in class, then Lewis doesn’t mention it.

Lewis is the main reason Carlos gets to graduate with his peers. He like Wilbur think Carlos should be graduating early. But due to Auradon prep’s birthday rule and who can be juniors vs. seniors its crazy. Lewis vouching for Carlos and his abilities is the only reason why Carlos’ senior year the valedictorian of the class does not walk across the stage. Why he doesn’t get that moment like the rest of the Core 4. But he gets a diploma and his status as valedictorian, as well as graduating summa cum laude.

After high school Lewis does take Carlos in to mentor him.

Big Hero 6

These guys are literal heroes for Carlos. There is nothing much to say except that Carlos worships these guys. I’m talking about them in a more general sense cause I have no idea how old any of them would be in a descendants verse whether they are still in college or if they have graduated. Either way their status as heroes are cemented. And he loves them. He knows their research and projects. The second he gets to Auradon he reads their papers in full rather than just the scraps he got on the Isle. He adores them so much its not even funnny.

[herocarved-a]

‘  live your life so that when you die,  souls will come for miles just to hear your historic tales.  ’

          @asterites​      /  stella .      ( grave suggestions . accepting . )

they rest beneath the stars . he watches the vaulted scene with as quiet an interest as he can . he fidgets , despite the contentment , &&. his fingers brush through the stalks of velvet soft grass ceaselessly . there’s a roar of wonder in his eyes as the stars fall , one or two at a time , to answer the prayers of the faithful wishers of the islands .

it’s in that contented silence , in the quiet of making wishes upon shooting stars , that his eyes tilt towards the woman sitting still beside him . he looks at her as a younger brother does an older sister ; there’s respect in that gaze , &&. love , a devotion that never quite disappears , despite all that they’ve been through . &&. despite her own choices that have led to her entrapment here , on his homelands , ( it’s temporary , he reminds himself , even as his heart aches , aches , aches --- ) , there’s no ill will between them . 

“ i don’t know what to do next , ”   he finally offers the reason for his late night endeavors ; as he lounges in the grass , as the beetles &&. crickets &&. little critters flourish &&. thrive around him , some even daring to take refuge in his clothes , he looks back towards the sky , lips settling into something sad , something a little bit lost ,   “ i don’t have the power of waking anymore . . .   &&. i don’t know if i want it , either . ”

to admit such a thing becomes a blasphemy even he shies away from ; lips twitch into a cringe &&. eyes flutter towards the gate that separates his yard from the road , as if he expects yen sid to appear with his harsh words &&. relentless attitude .

&&. of course , her response feels cryptic , heavy , full of responsibility --- -----

but he knows better . he senses the truth beneath the words , the simplicity in what she asks . be good . be kind . make the worlds a better place . these are things he can do ; he’s never been asked the impossible from her ( except once &&. his refusal to commit murder . . .   to kill her to save her world , he thinks , is something she can forgive . ) the boy turned hero , a little atlas carrying the weight of all the skies on his shoulders , rolls so he leans against an elbow &&. grins so shamelessly up at the one calls friend , family , sister .

“ you make that sound so easy , stella . . . ”

a low laugh , a gossamer chortle donned in the dew of early morning or late night , rolls free of his throat ,   “ but i can try , if it’s for you . ”

[nadziejastar]

Isa’s TRUE Personality: Pisces

Pisces Personality Traits

“Cool, collected, and mature beyond his age. He’s good friends with Lea.”

Saïx has a weapon called Twilight, which is shaped like a trident, the symbol of Neptune. Neptune is the ruling planet of the zodiac sign of Pisces. Pisces is the 12th, and last astrological sign in the zodiac. This means, it is one of the oldest and most wise signs. Pisces tend to be considered “old souls” and act much older than their age. The typical Pisces is an an extraordinary creature whose ideas and philosophies are wise beyond their years. Yet on the surface, like water in a lake, you'd never suspect how deep those waters run.

Driven by its strong connection to the spiritual world, this sign knows how to balance cold, hard reality with the warmth of love and understanding. Pisces feel a great deal, and they also feel misunderstood much of the time. They’re not quite pushovers, but they’re certainly sensitive. They are compassionate, easily feeling another’s pain.  

Joshua: “Imagine my surprise when I realized dreams take bodily form in this world. It struck me--by linking their dream pieces back together, maybe I could make them exist again. Maybe I could give them another chance.”

Riku: “It can't be that simple.”

Joshua: “Well, why can't it? By ourselves, we're no one. It's when other people look at us and see someone--that's the moment we each start to exist. All they needed was for someone to see them, connect with them.”

At times, however, Pisceans can have difficulty distinguishing fact from fantasy; they tend to get caught up in their ideals of how things should be. Pisces see the world through rose-tinted glasses. This perspective casts a dreamy gauziness on their words and actions that can be quite attractive to others. They place great weight on what they are feeling. Emotions define the Pisces zodiac sign, and it’s not uncommon for them to feel their own burdens (and joys) as well as those of others. The intuition of the Pisces-born is highly evolved. Many people associate Pisces with dreams and secrets, and it’s a fair association, since those born under this sign feel comfortable in an illusory world. 

Pisces: Twilight

“As the seasons converge and change, the last dregs of winter mix with the first blush of spring. Breath still curdles in the air, but pale green shoots start to unfold from the soil. This sense of “in-betweenness” is the essence of the Pisces star sign.

It’s the time of day when both the sun and moon are visible, the magic of twilight, and an unwavering trust in the Universe. As the last sign of the zodiac, you’re born with an innate sense of wisdom that takes the rest of us a lifetime—or lifetimes—to accumulate.”

Twilight is the time of day that Pisces is associated with symbolically. It's the last sign of the zodiac. It implies the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Hence it has been said that it signifies ‘rebirth of matter after death’. It carries the same meaning as the waning crescent moon on Isa’s jacket, and the sunset of Twilight Town. Pisces denotes the final moment which contains within itself the beginning of the new cycle. It’s the time of being in-between.

Isa---“A quiet and cool-headed youth. Though he does come out of his shell when talking to his best friend Lea, toward others he is distant and untalkative.”

Pisces are generally gentle, easy-going folk, who are on the shy and reticent side. They are filled with so much compassion and empathy, they often put others’ needs before their own. The willingness of personal sacrifice is one of their major characteristics. They are remarkably wise and self-sacrificing when it comes to helping the vulnerable or those down on their luck. Hands down, they are the most selfless sign in the Zodiac. Ruled by Neptune, Pisces is intuitive and incredibly creative by nature. With a soul as deep and vast as the oceans, Pisces thrives in a world of fantasy, where its imagination can flow freely.  

Axel: “Go on, you just keep running. But I'll always be there to bring you back!”

On the down side, they get hurt and demoralized very easily. While it's very true that Pisces' can count kindness as one of their greatest assets, their desire to escape becomes prevalent when the going gets rough. Water, like any other element, is filled with power. Further, water can be calm and placid, or stormy and destructive. Pisces often embodies both these characteristics. Neptune also rules all forms of escapism. If Pisces can steer clear of the pull of escapism while embracing their inner truths, they'll be quite successful in life.

Even with all the talent and resources they possess, their low self-esteem becomes a hindrance in their path. Pisces tend to be oversensitive. They take everything to heart and become emotional in the extremes. They tend to look at the negative side more than the positive side of things. Cancer and Pisces are considered the top two most emotional zodiac signs. I think this capacity for such emotional extremes is why Isa was considered such a good potential vessel for one of the 13 Seekers of Darkness.

Pisces’ Color: Light Green

Naminé: “Some people think pain is something you can just wipe away--and sometimes, maybe, you can. But not all pain can be erased. The only way to deal with it is to accept it head-on. And if the hurt is too great for you to bear it alone--well, then you turn to a friend close to your heart.”

Sora: “Because the hurt will bring us closer together, and make us stronger.”

Unlike Saïx, Isa’s natural eye color is light green. The mystical and magical nature of Pisces is enhanced by the lightest tints of green. As the color of life, light green represents renewal and inspiration, encouraging the healing and rejuvenating energies that Pisces is known for. The softer the green, the more Piscean it becomes.

♆ is the symbol of the trident of Neptune, or Poseidon. Ψ is the Greek letter psi, which is used as a symbol for psychology, psychiatry and pharmacology. It’s also where the name Poseidon comes from. Our word “psyche” is derived from the Greek word “psuche”, a word beginning with the letter psi. Translated, it means “a person’s heart and/or soul”. And this weapon has a prominent Recusant’s Sigil on it. Isa definitely needed healing.

Pisces’ Symbol: The Fish

Axel: “Well, I think you can be inseparable, even if you’re apart. It’s like, if you feel really close to each other. Like best friends.”

The zodiac sign Pisces is embodied by two Fish, and its glyph represents an image of these Fish, linked together for eternity. It’s important to know that it is not just one Fish, but two. They are a representation of Pisces’ ability to exist simultaneously in both a conscious and subconscious world. As the last sign of the zodiac, Pisces is also connected to the idea of cycles – that every ending is a new beginning – which is represented by the two Fish swimming in opposite directions. 

There's a persistent rumor among astrologers that you can always spot Pisces' by their crossed legs, even if they're standing. Like many clichés this one has a grain of truth in it. Perhaps this is because Pisces' symbol, two fish tied by an invisible cord as they swim in opposite directions, is being expressed. 

Isa---“Often scolds Lea, who has an opposite (though complementary) personality.” 

The fact that two fish (as opposed to one) represent the members of this sign also speaks to the duality of Pisces, and their yin and yang sensibility. The last sign of the zodiac embodies the idea that the world is created by opposite energies that complement and balance one another. Pisces is the living embodiment of yin and yang.

The story behind the fish is that one day, Typhon happened to see Venus, the goddess of beauty and her son Cupid, the god of love on the banks of a river. To escape from his clutches, Venus and Cupid turned into fish and swam into the depths of the river. They had tied their tails together so they would not be separated. In the river, they were saved by other fish, who were later hung in the sky as a token of gratitude. This was done to commemorate the day when the goddess of beauty and god of love were saved from being destroyed.

Pisces’ Ruling Planet: Neptune

Yen Sid: “In the Sleeping Worlds, real time does not flow. Unless one restores the world by waking it from its slumber, it will stay locked in a dream forever.”

The Third Eye chakra, located on the forehead, is ruled by Neptune. Fantastical and dreamy Neptune rules over the zodiac sign Pisces. It is the planet of our subconscious minds, influencing our dreams and fantasies, our imaginations, hopes, beliefs and our connection to spirituality. Those of the Pisces horoscope sign alternate between reality and non-reality in keeping with their introspective natures; their voyage between consciousness and an unconscious dream state says much about their intuitive, almost psychic natures.

In Roman mythology Neptune is the God of the Sea, and the planet Neptune’s influence is just like the vast, flowing, nebulousness of the ocean. The currents of Neptune allow Pisces to swim through a neverending world of dreams, imagination and spirituality where anything is possible. Neptune represents the invisible web that supports us when we let go of control and trust that we cannot fall out of the universe. It’s like falling asleep or floating in water. 

Among the 12 Zodiac signs, there is one specific sign in which a planet functions at its optimum. This is called its sign of “Exaltation.” Venus exalted in Pisces. Venus signifies our aspiration to beauty and truth through which we can realize the power of infinite love beyond our senses and pleasure that is the love of God, or realization of the God within ourselves.

The Rabbit’s Personality

Mystery Gear: "A weapon that draws forth its wielder's personality." 

Pisces is a sign of self-sacrifice, giving oneself over to the larger whole. The Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac is the equivalent to Pisces in the Western Zodiac. The Rabbit is associated with new beginnings, and symbolizes character traits such as creativity, compassion, and sensitivity. Their sensitive nature makes them shy away from aggressive or competitive situations. They keep a modest attitude and maintain a pleasant relationship to people around. Rabbits are introverts and emotional.  

While they enjoy the quiet life and artistic pursuits, they are also very cunning. You'd never guess that they were strong willed. They tend to get their way through kindness. They are friendly and easy to get along with. They rarely get into serious trouble. They are discreet and usually land on their feet. Rabbits may appear detached, but it is their way of protecting themselves from harm. They can be rather moody at times. They can be rather opportunistic, but are easy to take advantage of.

The Chinese Rabbit is popular and shy. Rabbits are compassionate and protective of their inner circle of family and friends. They are rather delicate, and in order to thrive they need a supportive base behind them. Without sufficient support, they tend to fall apart during times of conflict. Emotional disruptions can actually cause them to become physically ill. They don't like arguments and conflict. They may become pessimistic and depressed. The desire for remaining in safe, comfortable environments keeps Rabbits from taking risks which sometimes causes them to miss out on good opportunities. 

Isa---“A serene and self-possessed boy who always has time for a quick quip at his best friend Lea's expense.”

Rabbits usually have soft and tender personality traits, and their serene nature keeps them from becoming visibly upset. They will not be irritated easily, and they also avoid quarrels and conflict as much as possible. The Rabbit is intelligent and compassionate, but also can be timid and afraid of change. Everywhere they go they create peace for others, but compromise their own inner harmony with sudden mood changes and fear. Rabbits are full of heart and love to take care of the wounded body, heart and soul -- they are gentle and kind. Rabbits can speak eloquently and knowledgably about many things. Their interests are wide-ranging and global. They can be generous to a fault -- a Rabbit would give away his or her last penny to someone in need. Rabbits can be very successful as long as they keep their fears in check. 

They love everything and everyone, but self-love is a challenge for them. You may think you know a Rabbit, but it’s very hard to find out how they really feel, as they are so discreet about their true thoughts and feelings. They feel vulnerable when others know too much about their private life. If you have a Rabbit friend, make sure you honor his or her heart. Chinese Rabbits tend to move through life at their own pace, no matter what anyone else thinks. They are lucky and have long lives. They are very gracious and are natural diplomats. 

Those born in the year of the Chinese Rabbit tend to stifle their feelings inside. They are very loving and giving in relationships. Rabbits may have unrealistic views of how a relationship should be, and when one ends they can be devastated. It takes them a long time to recover. The need a partner who won't take advantage of them. When they find the right partner, the relationship is very strong. They love company and love having someone special even more. They are romantic, and prefer to act in more indirect methods.

Pisces’ Tarot Card: The Moon

Luna Diviner---“Second in command who longs for the heart he does not have. Only the moon breaks his icy calm.”

The Moon, in all its mystical and idealistic wonder, is the Tarot card of Pisces. The Moon card represents our ability to rely on our instincts and intuitions, while Pisces is known as the most intuitive sign of the zodiac. Just as we live by the cycles of the Moon, The Moon Tarot card encourages Pisces to go with the flow of nature, instead of swimming against its currents.

A sensitive Water sign, Pisces is represented by two Fish, earning the nickname, “the Fishes with wishes” because of their powerful imagination and creative spirit. If you’re looking for kindness and empathy, Pisces is THE most compassionate sign of the zodiac. Pisces rules the 12th House of Privacy, Escape, and Secrets. In addition to being a Water sign, Pisces is ruled by the planet Neptune, also known as the God of the Sea. The dreamy little fish are spiritual and intuitive, with Pisces being the most psychic sign of all.

The Moon is a symbol of dreams, intuition, higher consciousness, and spiritual wisdom. The dews represent human thoughts and also stand for peace and calmness. While the crayfish reflects emotional needs and desires, the pond symbolizes unconscious mind. The towers refer to the two sides of the brain, and the path in the middle with its twists and turns shows that the mind prefers being controlled by instincts rather than intellect. The wolf and the dog represent fear of the mind when facing an unknown situation.

Pisces and the Moon

Fairy Godmother: “Strong rays of sun create dark shadows. Light and dark go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other.”

Like Pisces, The Moon card is associated with the subconscious and often highlights idealism – suggesting that things are not as they may appear. The Moon card also represents our secretive side or “shadow self”. The dog and the wolf in this card represent how our wild side blends with our tame side. This recurring theme of unity can also be found in the towers. They symbolize the practical life that most of us lead, while the path between them reminds us of the more meaningful life that we desire.

This is very true to the nature of Pisces, who are always dreaming of something more fantastic than what is actually in front of them. The water on The Moon card symbolizes the subconscious. The crustacean emerging from the water represents “coming into consciousness” and the possession of psychic abilities, which is often true of those born under Pisces.

Neptune’s Tarot Card: The Hanged Man

Ansem: “So many are still waiting for their new beginning, their birth by sleep. Even me...and even you.”

Many decks associate The Hanged Man with the zodiac sign Pisces (a mutable Water sign), ruled by Neptune (planet of mystery, illusion, imagination, and mysticism). The card in Tarot symbolizes trial or meditation, selflessness, and sacrifice. When the Hanged Man card is upright in a Tarot reading, it symbolizes suspension, change, reversal, sacrifice, readjustment, improvement, and rebirth. The card means it is time to stop resisting and gain illumination. It is the time for reflection before moving on. No matter what's going on in your life, you can right the ship and keep moving forward.

Pisces is the 12th sign of the zodiac, and is known for being sensitive, compassionate, spiritual, and non-materialistic -- but also prone to confusion, alcohol and drug addiction, mental illness or breakdown, self-delusion, self-escapism through drugs, fantasy, and illusion. In The Hanged Man, unconditional love is needed to balance out intuition and sensitivity with discipline and logic. 

Axel: “Hey, Roxas. Bet you don't know why the sun sets red. You see, light is made up of lots of colors. And out of all those colors, red is the one that travels the farthest.”

Pisces represents "loss to the outer world, solution, and handing over the results of one cycle to the following one.” Here we face "the things which we have not yet mastered and those whom we have failed to understand or who have failed to understand us.” The card is seen to represent "sacrifice, release, acceptance, temporary abeyance or pause, emotional losses, and ending attachments to worldly, material goods." When ill-dignified, The Hanged Man can suggest "meaningless sacrifice, rejection of spiritual values, and confusion caused by mental illness, especially severe depression." 

Through the process of suspension the Hanged Man turns his focus towards the unconscious and experiences Neptune rising out of his watery kingdom. Neptune reminds us that remaining attached to old patterns, habits, or addictions perpetuates the endless cycle of martyrdom and victimization. 

Pisces’ Ruling House: 12th House of Subconscious

Sora: “The light in the darkness. It was you. You’re the one who kept me from fading away.”

Kairi: “All I did was believe that you wouldn’t.”

The 12th House of Subconscious is ruled by Pisces, the 12th sign of the zodiac. The 12th house represents your connection to spirituality, the deep and personal emotions you feel, and the openness of your heart. It is the reposit of humanity's deepest fears and governs the primordial waters it swims in before the first breath of life. It is also the house of secrets. Pisces’ understanding of quiet contemplation and emotional speculation is heavily reflected in the 12th House of Subconscious. This house is all about taking time for healing and rejuvenation before beginning anew. 

Pisces’ Element: Water

Yen Sid: “He needs you to believe. You see, Ventus's heart hangs in the balance. It sleeps in the place between light and darkness. From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend--one who believes in him, to show him the way home. Just as long as you love him...then Ventus will be able to find you when he wakes. He can follow that love back to where he belongs-- the realm of light.”

The element of Water flows through Pisces as a wave of devoted empathy and intuition. The Water element is all about our emotions, and Pisces is known for its deeply sensitive and spiritual connection to its own feelings, and the feelings of others. As large as the ocean, Pisces' heart is capable of expressing infinite compassion and love toward all beings. Without a doubt, the Water element is the most sensitive and intuitive. 

This element is capable of nourishing our soul through a deep, psychic understanding of what makes us operate. The element of Water is in touch with the source of creation and can sense that we, too, are a part of this divine birthplace. Water signs are incredibly empathic and can feel the emotions of others. Water can also drown in another person’s emotional abyss if not careful because water has no boundaries. It soaks into us. The element of Water can conform to the elements around it. When mixed with fire it creates steam, with earth it creates mud and with air it creates rain.

[valorxdrive]

is there anything sora has a hard time believing in? have there been times where he's truly questioned his standing on certain matters or beliefs?

Seeing what it’s building up into the future of the series, I believe it’s going to tie to the Light vs Darkness dichotomy that a lot of people in the series come to preach about.

Growing up the way he did, they stuck only lukewarm at best. Meanwhile battle served as the staple to see how the forces of Darkness is the enemy in many regards, given the many opponents he’s come to face thrived in that power. All while Light in itself was dying out due to the lack of people in his era of Keyblade History that could utilize it’s strengths.

Kingdom Hearts 3 (the past titles as auxiliaries) arrives to the point where his worldview on this matter is being changed. I won’t say it’s entirely gray area, but the human aspect of emotion which all elements thrive off of in KH mythos gets studied in a new lens. Darkness in itself isn’t as much of an enemy moreso the people thrust into grim influence which negatively enhances this aspect.

This doesn’t even begin to add the 13 Primordial Darknesses, not introduced to him just yet, but it’ll only expand a need to require heavier reflection on many concepts.

While Sora is perceived more as your hero who would look like they’re a bastion of the good and truth. (Which would be light in most cases of media you’d look in.) Kingdom Hearts has also showed examples where being ‘true to Light’ in a setting that doesn’t properly let you grow, can lead to you having moments where you become a monster and your own worst enemy.

So far this is a work in progress! (With the saga continuing into the Lost Masters arc.) In the meantime, we’ll see what new entail introduces upon his worldviews.

____

On the other hand? Before all this would be the horribly wrong view that Nobodies = Not human at all, thanks to Yen Sid’s (granted he was just relying new learned info.) and Xemnas’s (Now this man was just being heinous reference to someone’s identity) views holding a heavy hand above him while fighting strong in the KH Re:CoM to DDD era. For a moment he almost did feed into those views due to the rage he felt to Organization 13. (Also forgetting Namine too, who would’ve easily pinned sense on matters SO much earlier to him.)

That’s where his heavy questioning and the corraled into a resolution was found by meeting Roxas at the end of DDD. Those prejudiced views that were being built up by pain and a case of ignorance were aptly shattered thanks to the better ends of guidance he gained, on top of simply having a heart that’s more willing to care than it is to hate as a defensive measure.

@knightshonour

[lightheartedwarrior]

While what they were saying may have been important, it clearly wasn’t interesting. Sora couldn’t fight the heavy eyelids any longer and fell asleep standing up.