#but daaaaaaamn do i miss the days i had all the time i could want to write these fics

[johannstutt413]

(requested by calligomiles)

Ansel walked out of the Doctor’s office, nervous but optimistic. He- no, hang on, they literally just filled out the paperwork together - SHE was now recognized in official documentation and in PRTS as a female, although until the rest of the procedures were successful (which, knowing her co-workers, they would be) her biology and psychology weren’t entirely in agreement on that. Thanks to the support of the rest of Reserve Squad 4, however, the Cautus knew she could be confident in herself. This was right...even if she wasn’t sure what she’d tell her uncle the next time they saw each other. After all, he’d always said she was “the son he’d never had...”

With that mix of hope and trepidation weighing on hi- her, it’s no surprise that she accidentally walked smack into Rosa coming the other way down the hall to the Doctor’s office. “Ah! O-oh, Miss Rosa. My apologies.”

“Oh, I’m fine, Ansel.” The Ursus picked herself up before helping her Cautus collider. “Congratulations are in order, I hope?”

“Congratulations?” The Medic held onto her hand after she’d stood up.

Natalya smiled. “Logistics just got the email to make some changes to your paperwork going forward.”

“Oh, yes.” Ansel blushed. “It’s still a little hard to believe everyone’s okay with it, but everything’s gone well so far. I’m a little nervous about explaining things to my uncle, though.”

“Let me know if you want any help with that. I had to explain to my parents, too.”

The Cautus blinked. “You did? I never would have guessed.”

“I was fortunate they decided my mental health was worth the price.” She immediately regretted reminding herself of her family, but it was for a good cause. “Anyway, here - my phone number. If you need me, for anything at all, and I’m not in the Logistics office, send a message or call me.”

“Thank you, Miss Rosa. Were you going to see the Doctor?” She pulled out her cell phone to add the Ursus to her contacts on the spot.

The Sniper nodded. “I’m delivering a few reports and checking on the rest of the USSGG before I finish my lunch break.”

“Ah, then I won’t keep you.” The Medic put her phone away. “Enjoy the rest of your day, Miss Rosa.”

“You as well, Miss Ansel.” Both smiling, and the Cautus blushing, they went their separate ways.

Ansel spent the next few days (during her breaks) thinking about the inevitable conversation with her uncle, even though the only way that talk would happen was of her own initiative...at least, that’s what she thought until her uncle sent her a text: ‘Hey champ, how’s everything?’

“...*beep beep beep* *whrrrrrr*...Hello?” Natalya yawned on the other side of the line. “I hadn’t considered that you work the night shift.”

“My uncle texted me.”

A brief silence. “Give me five minutes and we can talk in my room.”

“Thank you.” Rosa hung up, leaving the Medic a moment to collect herself before telling Ptilopsis she had to take care of an urgent matter and leaving Medical. ‘I hope I’m not bothering her too much.’

‘I hope she doesn’t mind the mess,’ Natalya thought to herself as she tried to flatten out some of the wrinkles in her pajamas. Having done the best she could, the Ursus put on a kettle for tea and waited for the Cautus to arrive.

Just before the water’d finished boiling, there was a knock on the door. Rosa let her guest in before immediately going for teacups. “I put the kettle on for you, since I think a cup of tea could do us both some good. Any preference?”

“Low caffeine, please.” Ansel halfway collapsed into one of the three dining room table chairs available to her. “I’m sorry to wake you up this late, but I saw the message come in and I just...”

“You’ll never be a bother to me, Ansel, regardless of when your hour of need comes about. Honey?”

The Medic nodded. “Yes, thank- you have honey?”

“My physician prescribed it to me with a firmly regulated dosage, fret not.” She put a single drop in her own tea nonetheless, along with two cubes of sugar, before bringing both cups to the table. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can get you as you think of it.”

“Thank you, Rosa.” No need for the ‘miss’es at this point.

The Ursus took that informality one step further as she blew on her piping-hot drink. “You can call me Natalya, or Nat, or some variation if you like. If you don’t mind me cutting directly to business, you said your uncle texted you?”

“He did.” The Cautus pulled out her phone, opened the message, and set it on the table between them. “It’s a simple enough greeting, but him saying ‘Champ’ brought all the fear back, and I want to tell him. I want him to be happy for me, but...”

“You’re worried he won’t be.” A more than relatable experience for Rosa - she could practically feel the tightness in her chest from her own announcement.

She nodded, sighing as she inhaled some soothing tea-steam. “This does help. Yes, that’s exactly what worries me. I moved in with him originally because my father sent me to him, and since he didn’t have any kids of his own, I was the son he’d never had - or have, in fact. I have a few cousins on his side, but they’re also girls, just, you know.”

“I can see why that would complicate things for you.” The Sniper took a moment to consider her words. “Do you know what you want to say, as in the particular words?”

“I have a message drafted already. More than anything, I guess I just needed to not do this alone.”

Her words hung in the air for a moment as Natalya wiped a stray water droplet from her face. The steam must have precipitated on her face. “I can sit closer, if that would help?”

“...Yes, please.” They both stood up at the same time, hands on the backs of their chairs to move to where the other was seated. Ansel chuckled, and Rosa followed suit. “We’ll meet in the middle, then.”

“If you’d rather, there’s also the couch.” The Ursus pointed over to a loveseat across the apartment flanked by side tables.

The Medic glanced at her cup. “Can I take my tea with me?”

“I wouldn’t dream of disallowing it.” She walked her guest to the more comfortable seat, both with tea in hand, and set hers on the closer side table before settling down. “Whenever you’re ready.”

“Mmhmm.” The Cautus took a deep breath, opened her phone...closed it, opened it again, another deep breath, and started typing.

As ‘I’m doing quite well. There is something I need to tell you...’ made its way across the world through the internet, Natalya gently set a hand on Ansel’s shoulder. “You’re doing great.”

“Thanks.” She took another deep breath, noticeably shaking. “Do you think-” *DING!*

“Go ahead.”

The Cautus blinked. “Alright...Here goes everything.” Notes tab, copy, paste, send.

“Now all that’s left is-” *DING!* “Ah. That was quick.”

“Quick, but- oh! He...he must’ve had his message prewritten, too. Did he expect this?...Uh-huh...Uh-huh...Ohhh, really? I had no idea. Wow.” Ansel took a minute or two to type a response before putting her phone away and sighing contentedly.

Rosa, who hadn’t been reading over her shoulder, waited patiently for a moment before asking, “What did he say?”

“Oh, right.” She blushed, invisible in the dim light cast from the dining room. “He said that my oldest cousin, his eldest daughter, recently started hormonal therapy.”

“What a coincidence,” Natalya observed with a smile.

That made the Medic blush harder. “He asked me to keep him posted, and to send Reisen a message, too, because he misses me. I...wow.”

“That’s wonderful.” The Sniper was restraining herself - she’d have shouted from sympathetic joy if it wasn’t so late at night. “I’m glad everything worked out.”

“Me, too.”

Another moment of silence, as the Cautus basked in her victory and the Ursus basked in the radiated satisfaction before eventually taking her hand off Ansel’s shoulder. “Anything you want to do right now?”

“I...Oh, right. It’s one in the morning.” She sighed. “You probably want to go back to bed, I’m guessing?”

“If you need to go, or if-” Rosa caught herself before finishing that thought.

A bit late, though, as Ansel cocked her head. “Or if?”

“No, just that. Now’s not even a remotely appropriate time for that other question.” Natalya’s face now matched the Medic’s, who now realized the incomplete thought in its entirety for herself.

“N-not that I would refuse on principle,” the Cautus managed after some internal deliberation, “but I um...It’s a little unexpected.”

The Sniper grabbed a pillow and buried her face in it. “I should go back to bed. Clearly I left my dignity with my sheets.”

“If that’s what you’d prefer, then I’ll head back to Medical, but I told them not to expect me.”

“You did?” Rosa dropped the pillow and cleared her throat. “Well, then, perhaps, if you’d like, we could maybe, potentially...cuddle?” Why did that word sound so childish right now?

Regardless, it was just about the best one she could’ve chosen. “I would like that.”

“Oh thank goodness.” Natalya lurched to her feet, reaching for Ansel’s hand as she did and finding it. “I’m sorry for being so immodest about this, truly it’s an unenviable position I just sort of thrust you into- not that that’s what I was thinking of when I asked, of course, I just, I, er...perhaps the honey was a mistake after all.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m tired, too.” The Cautus meant it, but there was a smile on her face as she said it that proved that wasn’t the entire story.

Frankly, Rosa was adorable when she was flustered.

[chisinpink]

The Only One: A Mastermind!Nagito AU Story - PROLOGUE

Hello lovelies, I’ve posted a *lot* about my Mastermind!Nagito AU on tiktok (I’m @chisben there as well if you wanna check it out), and I rly wanna share it here so here’s the prologue! Special thanks to @servanthaji for helping out with the planning of this whole story in general!

(Content warning for mentions of bombs and bombings, swearing and crying.)

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JUNKO: Yep, that’s the day that it happened. The day everything started getting… pretty scary, if you ask me! I’m just glad you were outta town for that, and baby was home sick. That’s, like, the only reason she’s here today, too!

HAJIME: Wait, wait, slow down! What are you even talking about…?

JUNKO: Uhh, I’m getting to that? Besides, don’t you know that guy too? Nagito Komaeda?

HAJIME: Not really… I mean, I knew of him, but I was in the reserve course. I didn’t really talk to him or anything until I went to school that Monday, and… there was nobody there except him.

JUNKO: Oh, yea? Did he tell you anything?

HAJIME: Not really. After I got shot at and ran in the school, I asked him what the hell was going on, but it was like I wasn’t there either. He just changed the subject to hope over and over again, like I asked a totally different question, and eventually I just walked away. I still don’t know what he was doing there.

JUNKO: Then maybe he doesn’t want you to know, y’know? You’re so lucky you have me, then~!

(She smirks playfully. Hajime stares at her blankly and her face drops. She stares at a map with a pen in hand.)

JUNKO: Come ooon, I’m coping! This is pretty stressful for everyone, y’know, I use humor to forget about all this stupid shit.

HAJIME: Whatever… just… tell me what’s going on.

JUNKO: Well, what happened that day… that was the start of The Biggest, Most Awful, Most Tragic Event in Human History… in my opinion. And that’s saying a lot, because this world is filled with despair! And, like, his whole class helped him do what he did to the country! No idea why that is, but we can all fill you in on the rest, I guess. Preeeety sure we were all there in some way, ‘cept my baby.

(She gestures to the entirety of Class 78 of Hopes Peak Academy, standing and sitting in the basement of the school, as well as Mikan Tsumiki, who has a timid smile on her face as Junko looks back at her. Hajimes face drops.) 

HAJIME: Wh… what?? That can’t be it, that can’t be what happened…! The whole class?? The whole country?!

JUNKO: Eeeyup! They evacuated the school by putting a bomb under their teachers desk, and apparently all around the school, and I have NO idea how that lady didn’t croak! Anyways, everyone had to leave, and… that’s basically all I know. They just repeated that ooover and ooover on the news, it made me sick!!

(She threw her pen at a tiny radio propped up on a few cardboard boxes.)

HAJIME: Wh… this doesn’t… but… but, I...

(Kyoko steps forward and faces Hajime.)

KYOKO: I have some more information on what happened that day. After we were trapped here in the basement, all we had was the radio to inform us of the true nature of what happened. This is what I wrote down from those broadcasts.

(She hands Hajime a folder that contains three sheets of paper, all three of them hand-written notes. He begins reading.)

KYOKO: The class of 77-B was, most likely, all apparently under some sort of drug-induced psychosis. Most witnesses reported that they were acting strangely or out of character before they planted the bombs, and their eyes were hazy and… 

HAJIME: ”swirled”, “mixed”, “terrifying”, “comforting”, “light and dark” ...none of these make any sense.

KYOKO: My thoughts exactly. This entire event is bizarre and without any logical reasoning behind it… if you’d only heard about it on the news. But I think Makoto and I know more than any news outlets.

HAJIME: How?

(She looks over her shoulder to Makoto, signaling him to stand up.)

MAKOTO: Well, about a month ago me and Kyoko were going to one of the computer rooms to print something, but it was kind of out of the way, so we didn’t expect him to be there. N-Nagito, I mean. We saw him talking to Chihiro, and, uhm… I didn’t hear that part.

(He looks up to Chihiro. They stand meekly and fold their arms.)

CHIHIRO: H-he had been asking me to collaborate with him on a personal project, but… I didn’t have any spare time, and I didn’t even know him that well! So I finally just told him no, and he left me alone for a day or two… but t-then…

(Tears form at the corners of their eyes.)

CHIHIRO: H-he told me that… he was gonna… destroy the sc-sc-school if I didn’t-!

(They cover their face, and Makoto reaches out to rub their shoulder.)

MAKOTO: It’s not your fault, Chihiro. It’s nobody's fault but his. B-but anyway, after we heard about that, we decided that we had to keep an eye on him, but… basically the next day is when the bombs went off.

HAJIME: Why didn’t you just… tell a teacher what he told Chihiro?

MAKOTO: In hindsight… yeah, that would’ve been the safest thing we could’ve done. But Kyoko thought that we couldn’t keep an eye on him if he was expelled for that, a-and he could have been doing anything at home, so we fo-

KYOKO: Makoto, please, don’t. I was a coward, and I didn’t trust anybody else to investigate the matter. This whole situation could have been de-escalated dramatically if I had told school faculty.

(Kiyotaka stands from his spot next to Mondo.)

TAKA: You DIDN’T inform a teacher, or the Headmaster?! Miss Kirigiri, the school faculty always knows what is best for us!!

MONDO: Yeaaaah, is that why they all jumped ship and fucked off to who-knows-where so we could fight like dogs in the basement?

AOI: Hey, they did what they could, okay?? They had to protect themselves like everyone else! We’re not any better by hiding in the basement.

MONDO: Where the fuck ELSE were we supposed to go?? Candy land?!

YASUHIRO: Hey hey hey, Chihiro was right to lead us here the day the bombs went off! But I hear ya, maybe we coulda moved out of Japan together or somethin’ instead of hiding in Japan!

TOKO: I-I see why you’ve had to retake this year as m-much as you did now, you dumbass! He could b-be expanding anywhere now!!

BYAKUYA: As much as I hate to agree with her, I do. Nowhere is truly safe, and for all we may know, we’re being actively searched for. It’s only a matter of time before we have to relocate.

SAYAKA: I-I can’t stay here another second!! 

CELESTIA: Oh, so do you two suggest that we run out into the streets and expose ourselves to the predators? Play Nagitos game of cat and mouse?

LEON: Hell NO, I’m not playing that freaks game! But if he’s got his little possie out there looking every which way for us, then we gotta at least try and delay it!

SAKURA: On the other hand, we don’t know what they might want from us, if anything, or how bad the situation has escalated since we decided to hide.

HIFUMI: We don’t even KNOW what’s out there w-waiting for us anymore?! There could be giant mutant spiders wanting to turn us into baby food by now! I’m staying right HERE.

YASUHIRO: ...okay, I’m officially lost. Are we moving or staying?

SAYAKA: Moving!!

BYAKUYA: If you all intend on surviving, then you’ll all relocate. If you intend on being brutally murdered, then by all means, feel free to stay for a bit longer.

LEON: What in the actual fuck is wrong with you?? 

MAKOTO: H-hey, everybody calm down!!

SAKURA: We cannot make a decision until we know more about the outside world. AOI: But isn’t it because of what we don’t know that we have to go out there by now?

SAYAKA: Maybe some of us could go and some of us could stay?

TOKO: W-what if that reveals the hiding spot f-f-for everybody else??

MIKAN: (wiping away tears and hiccupping) N-nooo!!

YASUHIRO: Then we all have to come to the same decision, then.

CELESTIA: Yes, good luck reaching a peaceful consensus during the middle of an apocalypse!

BYAKUYA: I never said that it had to be a peaceful decision. If needed, you will all follow me kicking and screaming so I don’t perish thanks to your idiocy.

MONDO: I’ll knock some idiocy into ya if you keep runnin’ your mouth like that!

TAKA: Remember to take deep stomach breaths, bro! I think we can all solve this by utilizing a popular vote!

HIFUMI: But wouldn’t whoever’s the most popular win anyway??

HAJIME: SHUT UP!!! EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP!!!

(Everyone stops talking and stares at Hajime, who’s trembling and has his face in his hands.)

JUNKO: Daaaaaaamn, rookie’s kinda bold to be screaming at us like that, huh?

MAKOTO: Junko… you’re not helping. He’s obviously overwhelmed and you’re just teasing him.

JUNKO: C’mon, I’m nowhere near him! Hahah!

(Makoto sighs, sitting down next to Hajime on the floor. The rest of the students talk amongst themselves.)

MAKOTO: ...I’m sorry. I know you didn’t ask to be here, but… for what it’s worth, I’m glad that you’re still alive somehow.

HAJIME: … 

MAKOTO: You know… when Mukuro found you unconscious in that class, we all thought you were one of Nagitos’ friends. You seemed too peaceful in your sleep to have been running from anybody, or hiding from anything.

HAJIME: ...then why did you help me?

KYOKO: We thought we could get some information about the outside world. But apparently, you're just as lost as the rest of us.

MAKOTO: A-and because we didn’t want to leave anything to chance. Even if you were one of his people, we didn’t want you to just be out there. I’m glad that you weren’t, though… it feels nice to meet someone new again.

(Hajime lifts his face from his hands, palms and face covered in tears. He looks at Makoto with a faint smile.)

HAJIME: Yeah… feels nice.

☘️ TO BE CONTINUED☘️

[readbythestarlight]

c2e86

Evil queen Chewbacca xD

Travis and his undying loyalty to the Dallas Cowboys is super cute and I want them to actually win something just for his sake

heyyyyy congrats Laura!

Oh god here we go

Oh Sam

The DM will remember that

[[MORE]]

Can’t wait to see Ashley!!

(She’s gonna be here if I believe hard enough it will happen.)

fuck so are the Krynn actually there?? I hope not, I don’t want this to backfire on them

FLASH YOUR BADGES

Matt: “The Krynn is rushing at you”

Laura: “WHY?!”

Matt: “....because they’re attacking the city”

Good smart Fjord using the symbol

I hate that they’re stuck choosing sides when there’s shit so much bigger than this war going down and it’s so DUMB

SHE’S HERE

WHERE

IS

ASH-O-LEE

I feel like they’re very outnumbered even with Pumat there so idk what they’re gonna do when they get inside

That is a NICE map Matt

So some of them def seem like they’re just here for the Angel of Irons and don’t know what is really going on

Okay fuck here we go

Nat1 for initiative, bad. Nat1 for charity, good.

How is she making the earth rumble....?

I have some concerns that Caleb using his fire magic here in Rexentrum is going to get back to Trent...

Also I wish they’d not use up all their high levels on this fight they’re gonna need those against Obann

GUYS

Please stop wasting your good stuff ajskalskak

Okay so obviously they need to use their big stuff but specifically on HER

Caleb’s health is already real low so suddenly I’m nervous

Goooooo Pumat!

P: “hey wanna help us out here? Thanks buddy” I FUCKING LOVE HIM

Oh boy what’s coming

Fiends?

YAAAAS NOTT

Fuck gonna be the laughing hand right?

At least

YASHA’S COMING

At least he’s killable

Oh god

YAAAAAA ASHLLEYYYYYT

MY GIIIIIRL SHE BACK BAAAAABBBBYYYY

Okay okay but maybe Caleb can dispel the magic before her turn

Beau and Yasha in the same boat now and I hate it

Beau’s doing COOL MONK SHIT

YAAAAS GIRL

monks are the fucking BEST

Marisha that was EXCELLENT god I love her that was SUCH a move I love the way she played that and described it

“I would like to rage” I want to be excited but I’m not because she’s raging at Nott

YEAHHH SHE ROLLED DOUBLE ONES

good for Nott good for charity!!

Oh no here she comes

Wait didn’t she rage not reckless?

NAT20 YAY

Fuck him up, Nott!!

Make that save Nott

Fuck

I’m starting to get a weeeee but nervous

BEAU

OH GOD

I DONT LIKE THAT AT ALL F U C K

Enervation?

Nice! Fjord hurts her and gets healing

And Taliesin looked suddenly like he thought of something big

Ash: “there’s the slightest look of relief” I cry

Pumat plz be safe

Pumat... smash??

“Pumat Swol” xD

Pumat SMASH

Taliesin looks like he has something prepped and whatever it is I hope it’s good

Fuck I just had the worst thought what if Beau and Yasha both go down and they have to choose who to save?

Dispel? Dispel?? GIVE MY GIRL BACK

YAAAAAS

IM GONNA CRY GUYS

YAAAAS STORMLORD

I’m WEEPING

Spare the dying with his beetle WILDMOTHER BLESS CADUCEUS

He has saved their butts in the most desperate moments so many times

Babygirl is FREE

I’m cryyyying

Taliesin Ashely hug guys please I’m crying enough as it is

Oh man Beau missed Yasha being freed tho

YAAAAAS KILLING THE LAUGHING HAAAAAAND TAKE THAT YOU MULTI-MOUTHED FREAK

C: “get the fuck away from my friends”

Nott bb stay

Do you think Yasha’s wings will be feathered now?

Pumat please be safe

Matthew Mercer if he’s not okay I’m gonna be SAD

Someday I will win the Wyrmwood giveaway, but it is not this day :(

Ohhhhhh nice

So Yasha... can’t die?

Okay so interesting. Like the laughing hand couldn’t, we know that, except that they destroyed the heart so then he could.

Oh man I just realized Yasha doesn’t know about Fjord being a paladin that’ll be neat

Do NOT step in those circles

Nott’s free yay!

But also not in a great position

WHISPERS

I just got a look at the circles and realized they’re definitely the ritual circles so FUCK

Obann and the Inevitable End just hanging out in the ceiling

Okay so can Obann use ANYONE to help break this chain? Does he just need sacrifices?

Matt please it’s 1am already

Fjord’s just pulling all out sorts of new things tonight (probably because there hasn’t been a really big fight since he became Paladin). Fairy fire also sounds cool.

Lol he sparkles now??

Yeeees girl you rage and you fuck Obann UP

Oh damn the Inevitabel End is too?? NICE DISPELL HER AND LET HER KILL OBANN

Although I mean she probably still needs to die tho

Oh god Fjord please make it

Nooooo

Jester NO DO NOT STEP IN THE CIRCLE

IF YOU FAIL THIS HE HAS FOUR FOR THE CIRCLES

FUCK FUCK FUCK

Fuuuuuck

Yeeeees Cad getting Fjord free very nice

Oh thank god Jester resisted

Oh god Caleb

46pts piercing fuck

But at least he resists poison okay

Guys I have to sit through class tomorrow can we wrap this up

Aaaaaand then he fails it the second time and is poisoned fuck

YESSSSS

do it whatever it is babe Yasha deserves it

Please crush his skull in with your bare barbarian hands

Okay okay ripping his wings off is cool too

Niiiiiice!! I’m SO glad it was Yasha who got the final blow

Oh wait... maybe he really did believe it was the Angel of Irons

Oh don’t like that

Matt That was scary

WHAT DID HE SAY YASHA

“You failed, and so shall be punished.” Oh boy

Oh daaaaaaamn

So this mean’s he’s gone-gone. No being brought back. HELL YEAH.

Oh fuck he’s not gone-gone he’s fucked UP ew ew ew

I’m so glad we’re ending because I need sleep but that last mini is the stuff of nightmares and also two week hiatus

It’s gonna be bad tho they are all pretty much spell dry

Obann is gone so that’s good, this is just a messed up monster made of what’s left of his form

WELCOME BACK ASHLEY AND YASHA

We love you too Matt!

[nicksilveirart]

(SING!) Story Not Told, Chapter 15 – Road to Acceptance

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9 (MATURE)

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Click here to read chapter 15:

"Ugh. She's not even that good." Becky stated, turning the TV off and tossing the remote onto the couch. Lance, who was watching her with mouth agape, shook his head. "Yeah, totally." He laughed. The girl left the room. Going over, he quickly grabbed the remote and turned the TV back on. Hell, Ash was rocking the crowd out! If only he was still with her, he'd be famous now. Soon his expression turned somber. If he had just hidden Becky for a few more days... "What have I done? A chance wasted!" He smacked the couch. "Babe? Who you're talking to?" "Uh... No one babes! Listen, I'm gonna grab us some food, be right back!" With that, he took off the hall, directed to his former girlfriend's place.

On the good side of town, two porcupines watched the live show, and couldn't believe their eyes. Besides them, a smaller porcupine cheered to the beat. "Sissy really rocks it!" "It ain't that bad, hearing it again." Michael looked over at his wife, who merely shrug. "It isn't. It doesn't talk about heavy themes, or even hint on them. Melody is kinda pleasing, maybe taking those horrifying drums away would do the magic." The patriarch stayed silent, watching the concert. "There's some things we can't change, right?" "The best we can do is support, Mike. Even if we brought her back, in one year she could leave to do whatever and we wouldn't be able to stop her." He sighed, and she hugged him. "I'm not happy with this. What, don't you think I rather have a lawyer for a daughter? I thought she'd be another one living in the streets and holding a 'will play for food' cardboard, but she can make a living out of this." He looked over at Marina. "And she's good at it!" Adam piped up, motioning as if he was playing the guitar. Matthew laughed softly at that. "The way to win her back is letting her be herself, right?" "Right." His wife nodded, smiling. "And you want to go there right now and talk to her, right?" "Smart boy! Car's ready?"

Back at the concert, Ash was done with her song, and slid on the floor during her last solo. Opening her eyes, she saw the crowd had taken shelter behind the chairs, and an amount of quills were poking out of seats, some others scattered on the ground. Sheepishly, she made her way back to the mic. "Uh... You guys okay?" She was surprised to see the crowd springing back to life, and cheering on her and her song. Not long after, Buster joined her onstage. "Look at that! We've just witnessed the birth of a genuine rockstar!" There were quills stuck on his face, and Ash pulled one of them out. "Moon, you got some stuck here..." "Ow!"

After the show, the contestants bid their farewell and went home to their families. All, in except for a certain koala and porcupine. While the koala spoke to two sheep, the porcupine was being praised by a friend. "Dude... That was like, totally awesome!" Tara was holding tight onto Ash, not seeming to mind her sharp quills. "And that last solo?! Daaaaaaamn! You were born to this, I can swear!" Ash looked over, and saw Buster talking to an elder sheep and Eddie. "I'm not some sort of rockstar, Tara." She laughed. "I did one public performance." "Then you're on your way there!" The girl let go of her friend. "Also... Your boyfriend there seemed to like it." She winked. "He was hyped by everyone's performance, it proves nothing. And... Want me to introduce you? He seems to be done with... Whatever was it that he was doing." Both sheep were leaving the theatre, and Buster jumped happily. "Lead the way, bud." Tara motioned ahead, and Ash walked her friend over to Buster. "Hey there, rockstar!" He quickly hugged her. "Who's your friend?" He said, looking at the slightly taller otter. "This is Tara. She's my friend who said you write like Orson Whales." "High praise. Thanks." He bowed and kissed the otter's hand. "And... She knows." He froze. "Oh. Uh..." He shifted a bit awkwardly. "Hey, I'm fine with it as long as you don't hurt her." She shrugged, laughing. "But if you do, I'll hurt you." "Wouldn't dream of it." Ash got closer to him, and he smiled and held her hand. "Good. Listen bud, I know I said I'd be here and everything but I kinda... Well, night shift at the studio. We're gonna try and record tonight, weather's just fine for the scene we're filming." "I knew you were leaving after the show." The porcupine laughed. "Good luck. Hug everyone there for me, and thanks for being here." "Wouldn't miss it for the world." Both girls hugged close, and the otter left the two lovers behind. "I'd invite you over to my house, but I don't have one. We could go out and eat something." Ash was about to reply, but looked ahead and saw another koala approaching them, being followed closely by three porcupines. "What is it?" He turned to see. "Laura?" "Mom and dad?" She whispered. Both exchanged a glance, and turned to their visitors. "Nice show you have here, Buster. Real smooth." "Laura, what the hell are you doing here?" "I just wanted to talk to you, but... In private." "I got nothing to say to you." "But I do." The other koala remained impassive. She sighed. "When you went to the Cove that night beat sense into Lance, I was the one who kept the guards away from you, you owe me this." "You kicked Lance's ass?" Ash turned to him, bewildered. He sheepishly shrugged. "Man, I wanted to see it! Anyone has it taped?" She looked at the other koala. Laura laughed. "Maybe the security cameras, dear. I can get you access in no time, allow me." Buster gave her a light stare, and she shot him a smirk. "Just trying to bond with your... Friend here." "You haven't changed the least bit." He sighed. "Okay. Backstage?" "Whatever floats your boat, Buster." "Alright. Be with you in a sec." The girl went ahead. Buster turned to his current girlfriend. "She's cool!" She smiled. "She's an ex-girlfriend of mine." Ash's smile faded. "She's also a cheater, like Lance there. That day I was just mad because of how he provoked you and everything, I tried to keep it cool but he started messing with my nerves, and... I'm sorry, I'm not usually violent. Just the way he spoke about you, it made me angry." "I don't mind you doing that, really, I've heard him talk dirt about me to some of his friends and never said a word. So thanks. But, your ex... Don't you think she will..?" She shrugged, clearly uncomfortable. "No! Hell no! Well, it wouldn't be mutual anyway. I'd stop her." She looked at his eyes trying to find any sign that he was lying. She wasn't sure about this, if Lance had so easily cheated on her when he had the chance, why wouldn't Buster? He had already kissed this girl anyway! What'd stop him from getting a taste? And then she realized. Buster wasn't Lance. He was the guy who told her not to get back to him because she'd end up heartbroken. He knew the pain of being cheated on, and wouldn't hurt her in that way, would he? "Ash?" "Don't cheat on me. Whatever you do, just don't..." Ignoring the porcupines right behind him, he gently hugged her. In a friendly manner, afraid that her parents would break them up right here. He gave her a tender smile. "I love you. And I wouldn't do that to you." He gently pecked her cheek. Ash smiled, melting into the hug. He wasn't Lance. They way they hugged was different. He felt different. Hell, even the hug felt different. It was warm, and cozy. He truly loved her, thing Lance had never done. "I love you too." Smiling to herself, she shot a glance at the three porcupines a bit ahead of them. Coming back to her senses, she quickly broke the hug. He looked at her confusedly. "My parents are here." She stated. "Go check what she wants while I handle this." "You're the best. Be right back." With that, he ran backstage. The porcupines approached, Adam quickly running up to his sister and pulling her into a tight hug. "You were great, sissy!" "Heh. Thanks, buddy." Ash couldn't stop looking at her parents, trying to decipher what they were thinking. Well, it was good while it lasted. They'd take her back in, to a life she hated, so she'd be the heir of a great fortune, and probably go to college to become a doctor. "Hey there..." "Hey, dear." Her mother said, approaching the girl. Her husband kept a distance. "We saw your... Show." Ash rolled her eyes. "And you're here to say it was terrible, and I'm not the girl you raised, and to take me back with you." Marina shook her head. "Doesn't sound that bad. I think this is your talent either I like it or not. The whole town seems to like it, soon you will make a living out of this." She shrugged. Ash was listening, dumbfounded. Who was this person and what had they done to her mother? "I accepted this was you a long time ago, Ash. I don't have to like it, or agree with it, this is how you're gonna be, period. And I wouldn't speak the truth if I didn't say we missed you." "A few days ago, we were just ready to take you back, don't fool yourself. Living in that joint." "You think I haven't noticed? You kept guard outside my apartment." The teenager rolled her eyes. "We do that because we worry about you, dear." "Well I don't need you to worry about me! I've been handling myself just fine since I left home!" Her mother lifted a hand in air. "After that... Night, two years ago, I thought you'd come running back. I thought you wouldn't make it, and would need our help. But you made this, and now you're city-wide famous, you'll soon get... Contracts? Is that what they're called?" The girl merely nodded. "And... Well, this is your life now. Plus, taking you back in would be of no use... Another year and you would leave and we'd just sit and watch." Michael came closer. "So what we're meaning to say is... We accept you. And congratulations, of course. I haven't seen anything like this since Crabdence came to town." "And it'd be nice if you just... Dropped by, eventually." "And stood away from drugs." Ash laughed. Of course. This was her parents she was talking about. "Hey I know they sound fun and the all but they're not, missy!" "I don't do drugs, dad. Never did, and don't plan on." "Good." Both elders said almost in unison, letting out a breath. "Don't be like those punks who die early because of a heroine overdose." Ash rolled her eyes. "I won't." Coming closer, Marina quickly pulled her into a hug. "I missed you, dear." "I missed you too." She looked up at her dad. Clearing his throat, he took a step forward. "Can you forgive me?" Ash perked a brow. "For?" "For... Doing that, the same night you left. I always thought that was what triggered you leave." "It was part of it." The patriarch looked down. "That, and you broke my guitar. And kicked my boyfriend out of the house. And made a scene at a party." "Hey, I'm not perfect!" The girl grinned, victoriously. "I just... Can't we put that behind us and start fresh?" "We can." She smiled. "It'd be nice if you dropped by one day, to have dinner." Marina spoke up. "Tara drops by eventually, between one shooting and another, it'd be a chance for you to hang. She's always tired, barely says a word, a friend of hers would do her some good." Ash chuckled lightly. "It's a ton of work, mom. There's a lot of people involved in the production." "I gave up trying to understand what was hard about you artists' life's a long while ago. I can't imagine that. To me, hard work is a pile of paperwork that has to be done." "Artists." She laughed, and turning to face her mom. "It's the first time you don't call them elements." The older woman cocked a brow. "Call you elements." The elder woman smirked. "You're one of them now, and no way in hell my daughter's an element." Ash looked back at her father. He was smiling. She rarely saw him smile. Smiling back, she motioned to both girls. He quickly embraced both his daughter and wife, staying like that for a long while. That was it. Finally. They didn't think of her as a failure anymore. Ash had her family back.