#but he had a good start I think! finding out your sister was sacrificed and developing this hatred for the creatures you think killed her-

[hollowflight-propaganda]

Ngl, I'm pretty excited to revisit arc 3 + Dragonslayer for my series reread because book 11 is the only one of those I've done a proper reread of, and that was 4 years ago

I'm also excited about that because then I can imagine my own complex rewrite for it all :)

[drvscarlett]

About You Pt 19

Sebastian Vettel x Webber!Reader

Summary: Everyone knows about the history of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. But there's a well kept story within the paddock about Sebastian Vettel and another Webber. This is that story.

A/N: and i think its a good time to reread the series because we have some parts that is a hint to the previous chapters. its all connected! i hope you all enjoy!!!

About You Series

2015, Albert Park

Today marks the first race that he would do for Scuderia Ferrari, the dream team of most drivers. From the entrance, there were plenty of Tifosis with their banner and red ensemble waiting for him. Sebastian was used to having fans back in his Red Bull and Toro Rosso days but the energy of Ferrari fans is on a whole another level. People of all ages with different speaking languages calls out his name with something in hand for him to sign with.

“Bring the championship back to Ferrari”

“We are with you Sebastian!”

“Grazie Sebastian, have a good season!”

The words of encouragement being passed by people is something that brings a smile on his face. It was uplifting to hear that people still believed in him despite losing the championship last year. He feels extremely motivated to go to the car.

When he entered the garage, Kimi, his teammate was sitting there with his usual poker expression. Upon seeing Sebastian, he cracked one of his rare smiles and welcomed Sebastian to the team. The rest of the garage seems to be excited in welcoming Sebastian as well. They buzzed about how excited they all are about the build of the car and the opportunities that this season may grant. It was a good omen for Sebastian.

The practice session won’t start for a few minutes, so he opted to lounge in his driver’s room. The minute that Sebastian opened the room, his eyes zeroed in on the fruit basket of oranges placed on his desk.

An irony that a single fruit can bring back so many memories and could make all happy thoughts disappear from Sebastian. It suddenly reminded him that there was one person that he won’t be seeing around this year.

With a sigh, he picked up the card attached to the basket.

Congratulations Sebastian Vettel for being in Scuderia Ferrari. Have a great season ahead.

He smiles thoughtfully with the message. Flipping the card he tried to find who have sent it but it seems unsigned.

‘Can this be from her?’ he couldn’t help but think about it. He believed that he never mentioned it in any of his interviews that this was pre-race ritual goodluck for him. His thoughts couldn’t help but drift to her.

It has been months since he has seen her. There were also no news about her like she disappeared out of thin air, like she never even existed. He just wanted to know how is she doing. Is she doing better now? Can she walk now?

The heavy weight of his feelings had him sitting in silence.

“Seb..”Kimi knocked and entered the room “Free practice is starting in a few and they wanted me to call you”

The Finn was often referred as someone who doesn't care but he was secretly good at picking up emotions, “Are you okay?”

Sebastian looks up and tries to shrug it off“I’m good, don’t worry…Just the oranges”

“You allergic?”

“No”Sebastian’s voice falters “Just wondering who might have sent it”

“Probably a fan of yours”Kimi suggested.

“Yeah a fan”

2015, Sepang

Mark Webber’s book Aussie Grit, a chapter excerpt

Honestly, I never gave it much thinking that my sister sacrificed a lot of her time to be with me. She was merely 16 when she decided to accompany me to my racing and be my personal assistant. Instead of going out during the weekends, she spends it with me in strategy rooms or moping about a winless weekend. Now that I see it, I never saw her have time for herself. Everything that she does is because of me.

I wish I could tell you that I have been a good brother. There are several instances where I have been the cause of her heartache. If only I brought down my ego a notch then I wouldn’t miss several years with my baby sister. It was a great thing that she even gave me a chance. We were rekindling and everything. Then, last year was an eyeopener when she got into that accident. We were lucky to have her alive but it paralyzed her legs completely and it’s taking a while for her to recover. I respect my sister’s wishes to step back from anything motorsports related or from the media’s eyes. As her older brother, I do what I have to do to make sure she is getting the privacy that she needs.

She may or may not be reading this book but I hope you know Y/N how loved you are. We will always be waiting here for you. You take your time and your big brother will take care of everything.

2016, Lausitzring

The crowd was roaring as a Schumacher was once more placed on top of the podium. Glee was evident in Mick’s face as he made his way down from the podium. His eyes scanned the crowd and he couldn’t help but widen when he saw Sebastian’s face. He didn’t know that he would be joining to watch the race today.

“SEB!” Mick immediately made a beeline towards the F1 driver “What are you doing here?”

“Watching you race of course” Sebastian grins.

It was something that Sebastian has tried to do as much as he could. He can sense that Mick needed guidance and Michael would have done that if he was awake. So, whenever Sebastian could, he would drop by and watch Mick race. When he couldn’t, he rewatches them and messages him to commend him or recommend some improvements in his techniques.

“Very very proud of you Mick”he added the praise.

Sebastian hugged Mick proudly. Cameras immediately went off to capture the moment. Both of them have been used to the fanfares of the paddock and they could already see the articles that will be posted comparing young Seb and young Mick.

“Excuse me Seb but we have to get Mick for media duties” someone from the PR team interrupted the moment

“You can wait at the driver’s room”Mick instructed

“Look at you so bossy”Sebastian joked

“Viv, don’t let him go anywhere”Mick insisted “Seb, I still have to talk to you and update you about a lot”

Sebastian nodded and headed his way to the driver’s room. He greeted some of the staffs that were lounging there and proceeded to make himself feel at home in Mick’s driver’s room.

He couldn’t help but chuckle as soon as he enters. The driver’s room was pristine and clean. Sebastian was not the most organized driver on the grid when he was Mick’s age. Seeing how every paper has been neatly filed, clothes folded, and pillows arranged—Mick was far better from him than a mile.

There were two tables but his eyes lingered at the table where the drawer was slightly opened. He catches the glint of a photo frame. Curiosity got the best of him, and he opened the drawer a bit more to see the frame. It was a photo of the Schumacher family with him and Y/N.  The bright smile on each faces and the way Sebastian held Y/N with Mick in the middle. It was a reminder of the good old days.

“I hope you are okay”Sebastian’s hands hovered at the picture.

She never leaves his mind. He stopped talking about her but she is always in his mind. Sometimes when he takes photos of Mick, he wonders if she is watching his progress. What would she say? Sebastian could bet that if things were a little different then Y/N must have been there in every race that Mick participates in. She would have been there with Sebastian proudly cheering for Mick.

“Hey”Mick was right on time to interrupt him “Media is sometimes even more tiresome than the race”

“You think that’s bad, wait till Formula 1” Sebastian snickers.

He slipped the picture back to the drawer and shut it close to avoid anyone else from snooping. If this was hidden away then Mick might have wanted it private and away from prying eyes. Sebastian respects that. However, Mick didn’t miss it.

“You saw the picture, didn’t you?” Mick asked

“Yeah�� a sad smile graced Sebastian’s face “It’s been a while since I saw her and its just a bit nostalgic”

Mick has tried to avoid talking about Y/N as per her wishes and of course because he was unsure about Sebastian’s thoughts. He didn’t have the full picture of what went down but he was not dumb to not know that the ending caused them a lot of pain.

As a witness to their pining, Mick can tell that Sebastian never stopped loving Y/N.

“You miss her” Mick softly says.

Miss was a simple word to use. Sebastian longs to be with her. He has all the connection, power, and money to find her but he always stops himself. She needed time and he is willing to give that to her. However, he really longs for her.

“I do kid, I really do miss her” Sebastian sighs.

“Even after all these years?” Mick wondered

The older driver could only nod. Mick gave Sebastian a comforting hug. Mick wished that he could say the things that he know but he made a promise and his Papa raised him to honor his words. The hug is the only thing he can do right now.

2016, Yas Marina Circuit

The party was on full swing. The drinks are flowing, and Jenson could not hear the endless cheers of congratulations for his retirement. As a former party boy, he used to enjoy these kinds of events but now that he is getting older he seems to be taking a step back. He found himself making his way out of the balcony to get some open air.

“Ditching your own party? That’s so unlike you Jenson”

It seems as if Jenson was not the only one who needed some fresh air as Sebastian was also out there with a beer. The Ferrari driver has a drink in hand as he leans by the balcony.

“I think I entered my party days too early so now I’ll be retiring” Jenson admits.

“Congrats to your retirement man”Sebastian hugs him "Retiring seems to be a trend"

The implication was subtle. For the past few years, people have been retiring. Starting from Mark to Y/N and now its Jenson. He has also heard Nico joking around earlier that maybe he could retire as well now that he has a world championship. Sebastian couldn't help but ask if this is a sign from the heavens that maybe he should as well

"You should try to, there is an appeal to it." Jenson voiced out his thoughts.

Taking a sip from his beer, Sebastian shakes his head in response. He can't retire yet. He still has a passion for racing, its the only thing he has ever known so it would be hard to quit it.

"I think I can still keep up with the young ones"Sebastian replied thoughtfully.

"Wanting to race or do you want Y/N to find you easily if she decides to come back?"

Bold statements from Jenson seems to take the conversation to a different turn. A sober him would have himself controlled with the information that he shares especially with Y/N. But his defenses are down and he knew Sebastian wanted to know how she is.

“She is doing okay, she is better now and healthier. But I don’t think she will return, she is happy with her life now. No media, no stress, just a simple life”

A wave of relief washed over Sebastian's face. It was a sense of comfort for him to know that she is okay. The distance is difficult but he is glad that she is alright and getting better.

"I'm glad to hear that." Sebastian stated "But I’m not asking for her to comeback. I want her to have her time to recover as she said"

Jenson's face contorted to what seems to be an irritation or maybe this was the alcohol making his emotions go haywire.

"Why are you like that?" he asked.

"Like what?"

"How can you keep waiting and holding on even though it has been years. You should have forgotten her, you should have chosen another one. Why do you stay?"

"Because I love her." Sebastian answer was immediate "I know it is naïve and simple but there is no other way to put it. I love Y/N. I think she tried to push me away before but its always her no matter what. I know I made mistakes and I hurt her and I tried to make it up. Everyday I am trying to do better because I wanted to be a better person that Y/N comes back to"

The air that Sebastian ended his speech with was crackling with tension. Jenson, who seems to be drunk a while ago, suddenly sobered up with the confession. He looks skeptically at Sebastian and he could see how much he means everything he just said.

"You really love her right seb?"

"I do."

"Okay then wait for her." a resignation in Jenson's part "You take care of her okay? She is one of the best person in the world and she deserves the best. I hope you don’t get tired waiting for her."

Jenson has always been careful to keep his feelings away. He knew that this was a losing battle to admit his emotions but maybe people were right to say that alcohol manages to bring out the deepest darkest truth that we have.

In this haze, Sebastian finally dawns a realization. Something that he should have realized years ago. It was so obvious now that Jenson is all drunk and open to read.

“You love her”

“Loved.” Jenson begrudgingly admits “I know at one point I tried shooting my shot because I wanna piss Mark off. But when I got to know her damn man, I was a puddle. I knew it was useless to tell her how I feel when a) I am a playboy that cannot be taken seriously b) you look at her like she hangs the whole universe in front of your eyes and c) because she loves you so so so damn much”

Plenty of times that Jenson wished that he played his cards right. He wished that maybe he could have sabotaged the relationship and show Y/N that he is a better option. However, he doesn't have the heart to do that knowing that it would end up with Y/N being hurt. He also knew that her happiness is with Sebastian and all he ever wanted was to make her happy.

“So you take care of her better now that you know that I’ll always be watching your back. You fail another time and I’m stealing her away” Jenson laughs jokingly

Sebastian nodded in agreement.

2017, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

"One, two, three, smile!"

Anyone passing by would have thought that its just another tourist family with the mother taking a photo of her daughter and husband. But they couldn't be more wrong.

Four time world champion Sebastian Vettel was hiding under the glasses and the cap. He looks like any other regular dad with his fanny pack and the simple get-up. Margarette was now 3 years old with a crooked smile that makes her a spitting image of her father.

"Papa, where we gonna go today" the little girl couldn't contain her excitement.

"You are so energetic huh" Sebastian picks her up with ease and placed her to sit comfortably on his shoulder "We are off to see this beautiful place"

"What is it?"

"It's a secret but its near" Sebastian assured.

It was one of those trips that Sebastian have planned to spend time time with Margarette. The Spanish Grand Prix was just right around the corner so Sebastian is maximizing his time to spend with his little girl. Hanna couldn't help but feel a sense of joy seeing the two together. Maybe the two of them didn't work out as a couple but she was glad that Sebastian never abandoned Margarette.

"Papa are we going to that big palace?"Margarette asked "Mama look we are going to that palace"

Margarette was pointing to the tall construction of the Sagrada Familia. It made Hanna let out a small wow because she have heard stories about this place before but this was really a breathtaking sight.

"It's not a palace darling, its a wonderful church made as a biggest apology for the city's sin"Hanna explained.

"But Hanna"Sebastian interjected "I think this is the grandest showcase of love because they keep on working on it for years and years for the city's forgiveness and-"

Sebastian stops halfway. The memory of the place from years ago seems to dawn him and why the whole conversation was flowing out as if it was recited for memory.

"You alright Papa?" Margarette wondered.

Sebastian was quick to shrug everything away, "Let's go inside"

The inside was even more beautiful than its facade. Margarette didn't know where to look and she seems to be awestruck anywhere she gaze upon. Sebastian chuckles to himself plagued once more by the memory of a certain someone that he once toured with in this place.

Once again, Sebastian was at the pews muttering a prayer. Even now he doesn't believe but he prays to any mighty Being out there to take care of Y/N. If its possible, make her walk again and help her heal from everything that she has been through. Sebastian was sure there were some stray tears that runs down his cheeks as he prayed.

A tug at his side reminded him that Margarette was there sitting next to him.

"What do you pray for?" she wondered.

"I'm praying for a friend"

"Is that why you cry?"she pressed on more "Is friend sick? Is friend sad?"

Sebastian honestly don't know what to answer with the following questions. How could he say so when he didn't have any form of communications with her.

"I don't know baby if she is okay but I pray she is okay" Sebastian sighs.

Her tiny hands reached for Sebastian as if a way to comfort him. Sebastian held Margarette's hands tightly. Hanna watched the two of them from a pew behind not wanting to interrupt the moment of the two.

"You know they say we can get three wishes when we visit a new church" Sebastian diverts the topic "You should go make your wishes"

"Like a birthday wish? It will come true?"

Sebastian nods and he immediately noticed how she brightened up. She was at that age that she has so many to wish for and she wanted to wish every best thing in the world. However, after a moment she seems to smile.

"I'll wish for your friend to be okay" Margarette declared "And I hope you see friend soon"

"That's very thoughtful of you baby"Sebastian couldn't help but hug his little girl.

Silently, Hanna prayed as well for that wish to come true. She hopes that maybe Y/N could come back for Sebastian. She has been a witness to how much Sebastian waits for her to return and its clear to her now how much he means to her.

2017, Suzuka Circuit

Sebastian Vettel asked about when is he going to settle down.

After being stuck in a panel in the Japanese Grand Prix media day with a group of drivers who have wives and girlfriends, Sebastian Vettel sticks out like a sore thumb in the bunch. He was pressed as to when would he introduce a girlfriend or if he has any plans on settling down. The Ferrari driver joked that the media is just like his mother asking him the same question.

“The thing is, I am happy as I am at the moment. I am not cynical about the idea of love, its just that lets say that love has already found me early. Maybe I am a sappy or romantic but I intend to wait for that love to return to me because it’s the love that I have promised to wait for. Nothing compares to her.” The person behind Sebastian’s definition of love has remained a mystery to the media. It has already been years but Sebastian has not been spotted to bring any partners to the paddock.

When asked about his rumored daughter, Sebastian has admitted that he has a daughter. He refused to deny his daughter but he wanted a quiet and simple life for her.  “She is someone I treasure greatly. I intend to keep her away from the media as much as possible, she is one of the best thing that life has given me without asking.” He also mentioned that she is co-parenting with the mom of his daughter as they are great friends and nothing more.

2018, Albert Park

“Exciting season yeah Kimi?” Sebastian was his usual enthusiastic self.

The Finnish driver just shrugged a small yeah as they pass through security. Sebastian was already used with Kimi’s responses and he decided that it balanced out their duo. If Sebastian is the hyperactive one then Kimi is the laidback quiet one.

“Did you hear Jules' godkid is coming to the grid this season?" Kimi wondered.

Sebastian remembered how Jules has been mentoring a young kid before. He has mentioned his name multiple times but Sebastian have forgotten it already.

“Charles?”Kimi offered.

“Charles? The one we saw in 2015?”Sebastian asked

“Yeah that one. He got a seat at Alfa Romeo”Kimi nodded in agreement.

It was crazy how quick time passed by. It was just yesterday that he was racing with Jules and now he will be racing with his godkid. Sebastian could feel his age catching up on him with the new rookies joining the grid.

“We better go check on him and welcome him” Sebastian suggested.

“You go ahead, I’ll catch up later”

Sebastian headed to the Alfa Romeo garage which is quite a walk from the Ferrari garage. He stopped by to greet some of the media and the people at the paddock. But he has his eyes set on to welcome the newest rookie to the Formula 1 community.

"I'm looking for Charles Leclerc" Sebastian announced upon reaching their sister team's garage.

The mechanics were quite busy with the preparation for the car so all hands were on deck. It was a good thing that Fred Vasseur immediately caught Sebastian's presence

"I think he is the driver's room with his family" Fred smiled

"Can I interrupt them?"

"Go ahead, I'm sure Charles would love to see you her" he encouraged.

Sebastian made his way towards the room and he could hear the overlapping voices of Charles' family. It brings him back to the first time that he joined Formula 1 and his whole family has also been supportive just like this.

"Charles, be careful. I don't want you hurting yourself in your first race"

"So I can do it in my second?"

"You are a little menace, how do we put up with you?"

The bantering between them seems to keep Sebastian from disturbing them. He knew that he shouldn't be eavesdropping on them and he started to think that maybe he should just greet Charles later during the drivers' parade.

"But Charles listen to Pascale, you come back safe to us"

The chills that went down his spine when he heard that voice was like no other. He knows that person very well but he can't help but think that he may be wrong because its been so long. His heart started to beat loudly, his clammy hands shaking to twist the door knob of the door open. He was out of his wits to even overhear that Charles was getting out of his driver's room.

"Yeah, I'm-" the shock was visible in Charles face and he immediately steps out of his driver's room "Sebastian, I didn't know you were there"

Sebastian wanted to mentally facepalm himself to be caught in such an embarrassing situation.

"I just wanted to welcome you to the grid, kid" Sebastian manages to say

Charles shifts from his spot, "Thanks I guess"

It was obvious that Charles seems uncomfortable with Sebastian around. A normal feeling that a rookie driver would feel in his first season. Sebastian wanted to ease his mind a little.

"Jitters?"

"You could say that" Charles agrees "Maybe I just need a little bit of time with the family before I go out and race"

"You do that. I'll see you later"

"Thanks Sebastian"

As Sebastian retreats, Charles could let out a sigh in relief before entering his driver's room again.

Pascale was there with eyes wide as if asking his son if that's who she think it was outside the door. Lorenzo and Arthur were by the door seemingly anxious with the interaction.

"He's gone now and I think I managed to hold him off" Charles assures everyone "But I still think its really a bad decision for you to be here"

"And miss your first race in Formula 1? Jules would kill me"

Sitting at the corner of the room, Y/N Webber was there. Her face seems to have matured over the years but she still carries the same tricks just like how she is fiddling with her necklace.

All eyes of the Leclerc family was on her because this was the closest call that she have encountered with Sebastian after all these years.

"I have been careful Charlie. I have been to several of Mick's races undetected with him at the attendance. I have been in some Formula 1 races undetected "Y/N soothes "Calm down, okay?"

Charles couldn't help but feel a little bit guilty. He didn't want his debut to be the reason for Y/N's pocket of peace to be disturbed. He certainly didn't know that Sebastian was coming to greet him.

"I travelled a long way to watch you race so you better focus, okay?"Y/N encourages.

"Thank you for being here Y/N" Charles softens to a smile.

"But Y/N, aren't you planning to ever meet Sebastian again?" Lorenzo couldn't help but wonder.

The girl in question could just smile.

Honestly speaking, there wasn't an answer in her head at the moment. Hearing his voice just a door away was taking all of her self control to not run outside and hug him. She is scared if he would still welcome her back or would he still love her as much as she loves him even after all these years?

Fiddling with her necklace, the pendant that he has given still sits on the chain together with the ring he once gave her.

[aspenispoplar]

Ok so here's my thoughts on dungeon meshi as a D&D party finally.

Okay so Laios and Falin's players (P!Laios & P!Falin) are actually brother and sister in real life. P!Laios got his sister to join him in the D&D game he was in. She was pretty shy and so wanted to make a healer character.

So their party plays the campaign for a while. Maybe a couple years or so. Mostly it doesn't have all that intense of a plot, but everyone's enjoying it.

Then in the dragon fight, Falin's player asks the DM if she can save Laios from the dragon's critical hit bite. The DM says sure but she only rolls like a 13, so the DM lets her save him by sacrificing her character, and she agrees.

Everyone's quite shaken up about it all, and to up the stakes the DM has the couple DMPCs/hirelings they had leave the party.

And now we get to the main focus of this headcanon. After P!Falin died, she wanted to make a new character, with a really different vibe from her old one, especially since she had gotten a lot more comfortable playing D&D now. In real life, she and P!Laios enjoy cooking together a lot, so she talked to the DM and P!Laios about it, and out came Senshi- P!Falin's new character!

P!Laios decides to try to help support P!Senshi's desire to focus more on cooking by taking out a book on monster cooking which he put in his inventory as a bit during character creation.

Basically it went like this

DM, (thinking to DMself: they're pretty overleveled now for the earlier layers of the dungeon, I should try and make it harder on them): so, you're running low on money. Even without the hirelings to pay, you need to sacrifice some of your expenses or sell some of your equipment to afford everything you lost.

P!Laios: Hey DM, how much do our rations cost? Because remember that meme book that I gave myself during character creation on cooking monsters?

DM: *very large sigh*

P!Senshi: *barely-restrained giddiness*

That's the main headcanon, but I also have other minor little headcanons about the other two player's characters.

Chilchuck's player has had some antagonistic DMs who loved torturing their players with traps in the past, so when they were told by the DM that the campaign was going to be "a pretty realistic dungeon crawl", P!Chilchuck decided to make the most roguey rogue of all rogues to ever rogue. They maxed out the trap-finding score to the point where the DM had to actually start including more traps for Chilchuck to feel a bit more useful, since the DM never actually planned on using very many traps in the campaign.

Marcille's player is a huge anime fan, and has made on-and-off jokes this whole time about the dungeon being some sort of bad isekai plot.

DM: Marcille, you feel a wet splash on the top of your head, only seconds before a slime drops on top of you.

P!Marcille: Oh? It's on my head? Is it suffocating me? Choking me perhaps...? Restraining me?

DM: Fuck you. Also you take 2 acid damage.

*everyone laughs at the DM's pain*

DM: There is a large plant monster in front of all of you

P!Marcille: Oh? Does it have vines? Like, tentacle-ish vines?

DM: You know what? It does now. It's rolls a 17 on grappling you. Have a good time with that.

P!Marcille: *waggles eyebrows* okay then

DM: I am going to hit you with my car covered in hammers rigged to explode multiple times and hammers go flying everywhere

While all of this is going on the DM is actually secretly very pleased to make a bunch of worldbuilding around the dungeon ecosystem and monsters and everything.

[dorabledewdroop]

The White Healer Chapter 6

Warnings: physical abuse, angst, little spicy content, jealousy.

author's notes: Two chapters in one day lets fucking gooooo

Series Masterlist

X--X--X--X--X

“How about this, I’ll share the memory with Nat and Piet” Wanda said. “We can tell you what we saw”

Everyone nodded in agreement. The people who opted not to see the memory directly watched as Wanda’s eyes glowed red, followed by Natasha, Pietro, and Y/n.

You closed your eyes and stayed like that for a few minutes. Everyone else held their breath as they watched the interaction. Suddenly Pietro, Wanda, and Natasha stood up. Steve shot up, about to walk to them when Pietro hurried to the nearest trash can and hurled. Wanda crumpled to the ground and started sobbing. Natasha stood up, breathing heavy and rushed out of the room. Clint immediately went after Natasha, Steve knelt beside Pietro and rubbed his back while Sam made his way to Wanda. Tony sat there in shock, as did Bruce. You hadn’t moved from your spot. You sat there, staring off into the distance as a single tear rolled down your cheek.

As Steve knelt beside Pietro, he noticed that Pietro, too, was crying. He decided he’d ask everyone later as now was not the time. Pietro kept crying and muttering something to himself, soon he zoomed out of the room.

Sam was getting worried, the sobs wracking Wanda’s body only seemed to get worse. Deciding nothing good would come of keeping her here he helped her up, expecting resistance but to his surprise Wanda stood up and ran out of the room herself.

That left you, Tony, Steve, Sam, Bruce, and Thor.

Unable to stay silent any longer, Tony stood up and pointed at you.

“You” he barked out. “Just what have you done to them?”

You paid no attention to what he said, you were completely lost in thought. Tony did not appreciate being ignored. He stomped to you, grabbing your collar.

“What did you do to them?” He shouted at you as he shook you.

“Tony that’s enough” Steve exclaimed.

“No, Steve. All we know is that they looked into her mind and completely lost their shit.”

Steve began to say something but stopped himself. He, too, was concerned at the display. Just what had those three seen? What had you done to warrant such a reaction? Was it really so heinous? Before he could think any further he heard Tony yell.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you” Tony snarled. 

Unable to tolerate your impassive expression he slapped you. Hard.

That seemed to bring you back, you stared at Tony. Tears freely falling from your eyes now.

Thor decided he had enough, he grabbed Tony and shoved him against the wall.

“You do not lay hands on her, Stark” Thor roared his eyes glowing a dangerous blue.

“Let him go Thor” Steve said firmly. He moved his gaze to Tony. “That was completely unacceptable. We don’t even know if it was her fault”

As Thor let go of Tony, Tony scoffed. “Great work both of you. She’s missing now. Congratulations”

Steve looked around to find out that you had, indeed, fled the room.

Clint followed Natasha rush to one of the many balconies. He watched her finally crumple against the wall now that no-one was there. She let out a sob as the tears started to flow. Sighing, Clint sat beside her as she turned to him and started sobbing harder. He gently stroked her back.

“What happened? I’ve never seen you react like this” Clint asked gently.

She continued to cry for a while. Her cry turned into sniffles, and when it finally stopped did she start talking.

“The stone.. it manipulated her.. she sacrificed herself to save her sister’s life but the stone chose her instead. Deciding to take her sister, without her consent.” She whispered, a few fresh tears made their way down her face.

Clint frowned, from what Tony had told him, the mind stone had some level of intelligence. But this.. this was pure cruelty.

“She was in pain, Clint” Nat whimpered. Gripping his t-shirt tightly. “She was in so much pain. I could feel it.”

The two stayed there for a little while until Natasha said she’d go freshen up and meet everyone back in the meeting room. 

Clint made his way back to the meeting room and faltered as he entered. There was a weird tension in the room. Thor was standing in the corner, glaring at Tony. Tony was facing a screen, looking at.. something. Steve was having a quiet discussion with Sam.

“Where is everyone else?” Clint asked the group.

Steve turned to look at Clint and answered. “Bruce went back to his lab for some research, Wanda and Pietro needed some time to themselves. Where’s Nat?”

“She needed some time to herself too” Clint replied. “Where’s y/n?”

“She ran away” Tony commented, continuing to stare at the screen.

Clint frowned “What do you mean she ran”

Tony huffed “She bolted, Legolas. It’s a pretty simple statement.”

“Did Nat tell you what happened?” Steve asked, desperate to change the topic.

Clint nodded “I’ll just wait for her to tell everyone directly.”

They waited for another ten minutes before Pietro, Wanda, and Natasha came in together.

At once Wanda asked “Where’s y/n?”

Steve, already dreading the conversation, said “She- um- left..”

Thor was tolerating none of this and merely scoffed.

“Do not lie Steve. She ran away after Stark hit her.” Thor rumbled, his glare focused on Tony.

Pin. Drop. Silence.

“… He did what” Wanda said, her eyes glowing as she took a step towards Tony.

She’d never liked him but this. She was going to tear this man apart. Before she could think about what to do with him Pietro appeared in front of her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t focus on that idiot, sestra. Take Natasha and go find your girl.” He told her softly.

She snapped her head to her brother, eyes widening.

“You.. know?” She whispered, completely forgetting her anger towards Tony.

Pietro merely smirked.

“I’m well aware of your feelings towards y/n.” He said

“But I’m actually with-“

“Natasha. I know. You two aren’t as subtle as you think” He said smugly.

Wanda blushed a little. Her eyes shining. Her brother… accepted her..

She was about to hug him when she remembered where she was. Giving a grateful smile to her brother, she turned around and gently took Natasha’s hand, intertwining their fingers. Everyone’s eyes went to their hands. No-one dared to say anything. Clint merely smiled, glad his best friend finally found someone.

Natasha was having none of it. She hadn’t even noticed Wanda and Pietro’s interaction. No. She was glaring at Tony. How dare he raise a hand against you. She was going to kill him. She was going to make sure he lives the rest of his miserable life in regret-

A gentle squeeze brought her attention to Wanda. Right. Their priority was finding you. Everything else came second.

“Let’s go find her, malysh” Wanda whispered.

Nodding, the both of them hurried to the main gate. 

The moment they stepped out, Wanda’s eyes glowed red as she searched for your thoughts in the vicinity. It took a minute or so but she could faintly feel you.

“Found her. Nat do you trust me?” Wanda asked.

Natasha quickly nodded “Of course, detka”

Without prompt Wanda used her magic to lift the both of them off the ground, heading straight towards you.

They landed softly a few meters behind you. You were siting at the edge of a lake, staring off into the water. They slowly approached you, unsure of whether you’d heard them arrive.

“She used to love lakes..” You said softly.

Taking this as an invitation, they sat down on either side of you. Their hearts broke as they saw your tear-struck face.

“Any large body of water was her favourite” you continued. “The orphanage obviously didn’t have the funds to afford sending us to nice places. Public pools didn’t allow us in because we didn’t have guardians to accompany us. I’d take her to a lake or beach every single week during the summer.. she’d swim for hours even if she was all pruned up. I would have to drag her out of the water because she refused to leave despite violently sneezing.”

Wanda took your hand in hers, as did Natasha.

“She sounds amazing” Wanda said softly.

“She was.” You agreed. “She was the best”

After a brief pause you spoke again.

“I didn’t want this you know.. I didn’t want these powers.. or anything. I just- I just wanted my sister..”

Nat pulled you into her arms as you begin to cry softly.

“I know, malyshka. I’m so so sorry” she said into your hair.

Wanda hugged you from behind, effectively sandwiching you between the two of them. You felt yourself relax, something you always found yourself doing in their presence.

“Come back with us detka, please?” Wanda begged.

You pulled apart, frowning.

“Am I- am I allowed to? Tony was pretty upset-“

“That man” Nat seethes “can go eat a bag of dicks”

Your eyes widened, unable to help yourself you chuckled.

Wanda smiled a bit, remembering what Thor said her eyes flashed red in anger.

“I will kill him for hurting you” she swore.

You shook your head.

“It’s okay” you said, “he was just upset because I hurt you guys”

Wanda shook her head vehemently.

“You did not hurt us at all, devochka. It just broke our hearts to see the pain you went through” she said, caressing your knuckles.

“Besides, he did what he did because his egotistical asshole who throws temper tantrums because he thinks the world revolves around him” Natasha finished.

You giggled, causing them both to giggle with you.

“So..” Nat asked

“Will you come back with us?”

You tapped your chin with your finger, pretending to think. Natasha rolled her eyes, grabbed your hands and stood up. Laughing you stood up as well. The two looked at you in confusion as you began walking.

“Where are you going?” Wanda asked

Frowning, you just said “to the compound?”

Smirking Wanda grabbed you by the hips. Not missing the way your breath hitched. Natasha grinned as she looped her arm around Wanda’s hips.

“Ready?” Wanda asked

“For wha- OH MY GOD” You squealed as you were lifted off the ground by Wanda’s magic. The two women giggled as you clung tightly to Wanda, yelling how cool you found this.

When the three of you landed at the entrance of the compound, you were breathing heavily.

Making your way up to the kitchen you paused upon seeing Pietro standing looking worried, Steve and Tony were in a heated discussion. Upon your arrival, they all looked at you. Pietro was suddenly picking you up. You yelped.

“How can you, your sister, and Nat pick me up so easily? I’m heavy” You complained.

Pietro put you down and raised an eyebrow.

“They picked you up, huh?” He teased

Your ears burned as you realised what you had said. Sure they were your best friends but you had a feeling Pietro was well aware of your feelings for the two of them.

“Y/n” Steve called out as he stood up. “May I speak with you for a moment?”

Confused, you nodded and walked towards the kitchen island with him. He noticed Pietro standing nonchalantly within earshot. It warmed Steve’s heart to see how much those three seemed to care about you.

“What’s up” you said, still smiling at your previous interaction with Pietro.

“Pietro told us what happened. How you got your powers.” Steve said.

Your smile slowly faded. Unsure of where this conversation was going. Was he going to tell you that you weren’t allowed to be a part of the team anymore? You stopped yourself going down a spiral and paid attention to what he was saying.

“I’m so sorry for what happened to your sister. I can’t imagine the pain you must have gone through. I’d also like to formally apologise for how all of us reacted. We didn’t know what had transpired and it was wrong of us to jump to conclusions. I’d also like to apologise on behalf of Tony. What he did was completely out of line and I can assure you it won’t happen again.”

You sighed in relief as he finished. Quickly telling him how it’s completely understandable and you’d already forgiven them. You also told him you hadn’t run because of what Tony did but because you were overwhelmed with the memories that had surfaced. He nodded and once again apologised, hugging you briefly after the conversation ended.

Meanwhile, Tony decided to leave as he didn’t wasn’t in the mood to deal with you at the moment. He found himself completely frozen, unable to move. Looking down he saw slight red wisps covering his body. His eyes darted to Steve who was unfortunately completely absorbed with his conversation with you. Tony made eye contact with Pietro who just raised his eyebrow and proceeded to stare at Tony with a slight smirk. Gritting his teeth, Tony gave up trying to break free. Wanda and Natasha entered the room at that moment, heading straight for him. Tony’s eye’s glanced at the knife that was in Natasha’s hands as the two women stood in front of him. Trying to maintain his cool he glared at Wanda who just smirked at him, enjoying just how much he was freaking out. Natasha leaned towards him, knife resting against his thigh.

“The next time you even think about laying a finger on y/n. I will cut you open and feed you to some street cats.” Natasha said lowly. Every word dripping with carefully controlled rage.

“The sad part is” Wanda said softly. “Y/n would do anything and everything in her power to heal you from whatever we do. Because that’s the kind of person she is”

There was a hint of adoration in her voice that Tony obviously didn’t pick up on, but Natasha did. Her heart swelled with love as she hummed in agreement and stood up. The two of them walking away, extremely satisfied with the interaction.

The moment they left the kitchen, Tony found himself able to move again. Not waiting for a single moment he walked to his lab, thinking of ways to counter Wanda’s magic.

The next morning, some of the team were sitting at the dining table eating breakfast.

Thor had claimed he needed to consult his father about the appearance of 3 infinity stones, he promptly left after giving y/n a box of pop tarts.

Mid conversation, FRIDAY informed the team that Maria Hill will be arriving with mission briefing. To say you were beyond excited would be an understatement. It was your first mission ever. You were nervous about how you’d perform but everyone had repeatedly assured you that you weren’t required to take part in combat and were just there incase someone sustained an injury.

You were certainly caught off guard when Maria Hill entered the dining room. If you didn’t have feelings for your best friends, you absolutely would have attempted to woo this woman. Maria on the other hand had no such qualms.

“Well hello there beautiful” Maria flirted, staring you up and down.

You grinned ���Hi there”

You didn’t notice the way Natasha’s jaw clenched at the interaction. Or how Wanda had stiffened, a burning sensation spreading through their chest.

“Mission debrief is in 15 minutes but if you’re free right now I can tell you about is seeing as it’s your first mission.” Maria said shamelessly.

You were about to reply when Natasha shot up. Pietro failing to hide his absolute shit eating grin.

“Actually, there’s something Wanda and I need to talk to y/n about.” Natasha said coldly.

Ignoring the urge to throw Maria out the window, Wanda got up in agreement and walked towards the door with Natasha. Wanda could hear only one loud thought going on in Natasha’s head. Mine. On repeat. Smirking, Wanda said nothing but stood there.

“Y/n” Natasha barked.

Raising your eyebrows you excused yourself and followed the two of them outside. 

As soon as the three of you were out of ear shot, Natasha shoved you against the wall. Hard. 

“Nat-“ Wanda began.

“No Wands. If Y/n wants to act like a whore then I will treat her like one.” Natasha seethed.

All rational thought had left her mind. 

Before Wanda could interject, in a swift movement you had moved and pinned Natasha against the wall, with your hand gripping her throat. Natasha let out a squeak in surprise. Never had anyone managed to do this to her.

Both Wanda and Natasha were caught completely off guard. They knew you could be confident and would tease them time and again. But this was different… this was.. hot.

“Just who do you think you are talking to?” You snarled right next to Natasha’s ear.

A shiver ran down Natasha’s spine. Her knees felt incredibly weak. Within a second, all the control she thought she had was gone out of the window.

Wanda’s eyes widened as she saw her girlfriend, the black widow, because a submissive heap within a second. She felt heat pool deep in her belly at the act.

Nat’s eyes fluttered shut and she let out a whimper the moment you nipped her ear.

You leaned back, letting go of her neck and watched her stumble for a second as she tried to regain her balance. Eyes wide, looking at you with a mix of shock and arousal.

“Bedroom” you commanded. “Now.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Nat started making her way to your bedroom. You and Wanda followed suit. 

“Are you okay with this?” You whispered in Wanda’s ear.

She vehemently nodded.

“I.. really liked that. I know Nat did too.” Wanda whispered back.

She decided to take a peak at what was going through your head and immediately turned completely red.

Natasha was absolutely fucked.

X--X--X--X--X

taglist: @marvelwomen-simp @nothanksbye07 @jono723 @luadyjcmd @alexawynters

[gingiesworld]

Old Flames

Part three

Wanda Maximoff x GN! Reader

Warnings: Death. Angst. Fluff. Happy ending

Requested by @ginnsbaker

18+ MINORS DNI

Five years felt like a lifetime to Y/N who remained in their home they shared with Wanda. Looking at all of her trinkets. Her multiple rings that would be on her fingers, her shampoo they had started to use just so they could have some sense of comfort. They had also buried Vision on the grounds, given him a headstone knowing Wanda would want to visit him when she returns. Y/N also found themselves sat out there, talking with him about everything.

"Do you think they felt pain when they turned to dust?" They would question multiple times.

"I like to think not." Nat spoke from behind them. Making them turn and face her.

"How did you find me?" They asked her as they stood up.

"Wanda used to speak about you." Nat told them, ignoring there own question. "She would make it seem like a fairytale. The princess and the pauper style."

"She was my queen." They told her.

"We have a way of bringing them back. Bringing everyone back." She told them.

"She was pregnant." They informed her. "During the fight, before the snap. We were going to start a family her and I. Do you think that when she returns, it will be as it was?"

"I can't answer that." Nat told them honestly. "But we have a chance to try. Hope that we may succeed."

"I just want her back." They told her honestly.

"Then help us. Help her." She told them as they nodded.

"Ok." With that the two had flew back to the compound where Tony and Rocket were working on the time machine. Working out the kinks and making sure it run smoothly.

Once it was all up and running, Y/N had accompanied Nat to Vormir in search of the Soul stone. Nat sat on a rock as Y/N observed the cliff.

"Thanos came here with his daughter and left without her." Nat told them as they shook their head.

"This is rediculous." They chuckled as Nat smiled slightly.

"I have to do it." She stated as she stood up and approached Y/N.

"No. You don't." Y/N told her.

"Yes I do." She told them.

"Yelena would want you to be alive when she returns." They told her.

"And what about Wanda?" Nat countered.

"She's already survived years without me and if she is pregnant still, she will have you and the rest of your make shift power rangers." They told her as the two chuckled lightly. "I have been a bad person Natasha. If this is the one good thing in my life that I can do, let me do it."

"You need to see your kid grow up Y/N." Nat countered as they shook their head.

"No. They will already have a kick ass family. They don't really need me." They told her as she shook her head.

"You know I never saw the appeal about you as Wanda spoke about you. Your childhood, your past at Hydra." Nat told them honestly. "But you are actually quite tolerable."

"I can say the same for you Natasha." They smirked before tackling her to the ground. "Tell Wanda I love her."

------

After the fight, three lives were sacrificed to save the universe. Vision, Tony and Natasha. Tony had a funeral which Wanda had attended as Y/N remained at a distance. Watching as she mourned the loss of three important people to her.

Once the two returned home, she cried in their arms for hours. Losing a friend, a sister and the man who took her in after she lost her brother, took it's toll on her as she fell asleep. After a few hours, she awoke to an empty bed, empty living room and kitchen until she looked into the yard. Seeing them sat beside a stone.

"What's this?" She asked them as they stood up. She read the writing on the stone

Here lies Vision,

Hero, friend and brother.

'What is grief if not love persevering.'

"I brought him here." They told her. "I saw how you looked at him. It was the same way you look at me."

"Y/N." She whispered as she rested her hands over her stomach.

"You loved him the same way you love me and I couldn't leave him there." Y/N told her honestly. "He needed a proper resting place and I knew you would want a place to talk to him. Lay flowers and remember him. Besides, he is a great listener and the only friend I have really had over the past five years."

"Thank you." She whispered as she kissed them softly. "You didn't have to."

"I did." They told her. "If I didn't, science poachers would have took him and broke him down for spare parts and I couldn't allow that to happen."

"I love you so much." She kissed them once more before she pulled them to take a seat. She listened to them as they told her what she had missed over the last five years. Happy to have her back in their arms where she belongs.

[kalissimsblog]

Return to normalcy: Part 1

< Previous | Next >

Text below the cut

Xavier arrives at the playground with his wife, Cassie, and their children, Levi and Kami. The four of them start making their way over to the play area, looking for the others as they walk. He and two of his siblings made arrangements to meet up and have a playdate for the kids. It’s something they like to do on occasion so the little ones could socialize and spend time with their cousins, but due to recent events they haven’t been able to do so for a while.

Realizing that they are the first to arrive, Xavier scouts out a picnic bench beside the playground to serve as a meeting spot for everyone. When the spot is secured, Xavier urges the kids to go play and plops down on the bench, keeping an eye on the children as they run around. Cassie finds her spot next to him and rests her head on his shoulder.

“This is nice, isn’t it?” she says “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do something as a family.”

“Yes, very.” he replies

It is a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky and the temperature was just perfect, not too hot, not too cold. There is a slight breeze that keeps the air from feeling stagnant and keeps the heat at bay. It felt good brushing across his overly-sensitive skin.  He gazes at his wife still nestled against him and smiles. He missed being able to do this.

A few minutes later, he spies his twin sister, Luna, coming down the path, her twin daughters, Harper and Hadley, in tow. Xavier notes the lack of the other two household members.

As she approaches, Xavier waves in greeting. Luna struggles to juggle the squirming toddlers but eventually makes it over to the table. She releases the children and encourages them to join the others. 

“Full of energy, huh?” Xavier asks.

“Just a little,” Luna replies, catching her breath. “Toddlers, you know. Never a dull moment.”

“Sounds about right.” Xavier says, thinking back to when his kids were toddlers.

Cassie, still seated next to Xavier, smiles and looks up at Luna. She’s clearly happy to see her old friend. They haven’t had much time to hang out in recent months so now they could finally get caught up.

“Hey Luna. You’re looking well.” Cassie says

“You as well.” Luna smiles. “You’ve been keeping my brother in check, I hope?”

“Of course. Someone has to.” Cassie says.

The girls giggle and glance at Xavier as if to read his reaction. He doesn’t give them anything so they continue chatting. After a few minutes, Cassie stands up, gives Luna a quick hug, then walks nearer to the play area to supervise the little ones, leaving the two siblings alone to talk.

Luna joins Xavier on the bench. She looks tired and slightly stressed out. Being a parent to toddlers will do that to you.

Xavier wonders about her husband, Aidan, and son, Finn.

“Where are the boys?” he asks.

“Finn isn’t feeling well, so Aidan stayed behind with him. Full moon tonight.”

“Ah, I see. Poor kid. Hope he feels better soon.”

Luna’s oldest child inherited lycanthropy from his father and struggles with the effects of the curse. The days surrounding the full moon, especially the day of, cause him to feel ill and achy. Luna and Aidan dedicate most of their time to comfort him on those days. This explains why Luna seems on-edge today. 

Luna frowns and sighs.

“I wish there was something I could do for him. I hate seeing him in so much pain and not being able to help. It makes me feel like a bad mother, you know?”

Xavier gives Luna a surprised look. His sister is far from a bad mother. She’s always going above and beyond for her children, sacrificing sleep and anything else necessary to meet their needs. Xavier hates seeing her so defeated, and could practically feel her dismay, so he tries to comfort her.

“Don’t say that, Luna. You do everything for those kids. You’re doing your best and that’s all anyone can ask for.”

She sits in silence for a few moments.

“It’s our fault, though.” she finally replies. “If Aidan and I were more careful… I love him, and would do anything for him, but I feel so guilty that he is like this because of us.”

Xavier is unsure how to respond. She’s right, technically. He remembers how rough her pregnancy was with him, how she almost died. If she had chosen not to keep him things would have been easier for everyone. He doesn’t fault her for her decision, and he understands why she feels the way that she does. But now Finn has to deal with the consequences because of her choices.

“Loving him is the best thing you can do for him. Some things are out of our control and we just have to do what we can. Who knows? Maybe one day he can be cured and not have to deal with this anymore.”

Luna’s eyes widened in fear. She’s seems to be remembering what Aidan went through when he was cured. There’s no way she’d subject her son to that same torture. 

Before she could respond, Xavier clarifies. “I don’t mean the same method as Aidan’s cure. I’m just thinking that maybe someday someone will develop a cure that’s safe for people like him. It’s bound to happen eventually.”

Luna relaxes a little. 

“That would be nice.” 

Obviously tired of talking about it, and probably regretting bringing it up, she changes the topic.

“Christian is coming, right?”

“Supposed to be.”

Xavier glances at the time on his phone. Late again. He’s not surprised in the slightest. Christian has always been bad about being on time for anything, work especially. Xavier has come to expect it at this point, but it doesn’t mean that he isn’t disappointed in how irresponsible his little brother tends to be.

To be continued...

[riordanness]

he was sunshine - [w.solace]

wordcount: 1.1K

warnings: death mentions (sort of)

requested: no

My senses weren’t working properly. My eyes were open, but I couldn’t see anything but darkness.

My touch senses were working fine, though. I could tell that I was lying on a bed, a blanket draped over me. The blanket felt kind of rough, but warm.

It was quiet. I couldn’t make out any distinct sounds. Either I was losing my ears, or I was all alone… wherever I was.

I blinked, and I could see again. Thank the gods. I glanced around, realising I was in the infirmary. Oh…

I hit my head. That was the last thing I could remember before my vision went dark. But, what was happening? Did Gaia actually rise? Was she defeated? Were my friends alive?

I had to find out. Ignoring the pain, I pushed myself up onto my elbows, sat upright, and threw the covers off. I was dressed in jean shorts and my camp T-shirt, what I always wore.

My sneakers were lying on the floor beside the bed, so I pulled them on. Spotting my weapons on the bedside cabinet, I grabbed them and slung them over my shoulders. Being a daughter of Demeter, I wasn’t usually picked out of a crowd to be a fighter, but I was wicked good with the bow. Good as some of the Apollo kids, even.

I ran a hand through my short, dark curls, trying to fix my bed hair. I got bad bed hair most nights, but other than that, my hair was pretty manageable. I didn’t usually have tie it back, given that it was only cut to just below my ears.

I left the cabin, and saw… no one. Usually, there would be tons of kids all around the cabins, playing basketball and chasing each other, heading to activities and playing pranks on other cabins. I couldn’t hear a thing. It was like the whole camp had vanished.

I searched the cabins, the Big House, the armoury, the dining pavilion, the strawberry fields, and the forges. The only place I could think of left was the amphitheater. Even before I reached it, though, I noticed a trial of smoke rising up from the middle of the amphitheater. That worried me. I hurried faster.

Just as I’d feared, it was a fire. The camp was burning somebody’s shroud. Or multiple somebody’s. As I entered the amphitheater, a couple of my cabin mates and friends waved at me. Anita, my half-sister, rushed over.

“You’re okay!” she whispered. “Oh, I’m so glad. You hit your head really hard. Will said you might not be up for a few days. Do you feel okay?”

Come to think of it, I felt awful, but I brushed it off as hunger or fatigue or something. I was totally fine!

I tried to smile. “Oh, yeah. I’m okay. Thanks. What happened? Was Gaia defeated?”

Anita’s face fell. “Uh, well… yes. But we lost some good friends.”

I bit my lip. “Who?”

“Samuel, Tracey, Olive, Nate, and… Leo Valdez.”

“Leo?” I gasped. “Oh no…”

Anita quickly told me the story: Leo Valdez, son of Hephaestus, had bravely sacrificed his life to kill Gaia. He had died in a fiery explosion in the sky above camp.

I couldn’t speak. I’d gotten to know Leo pretty well over the months he’d spent working on the Argo II. He’d spent so many long hours and days busy working in Bunker 9, I’d made it my personal job to bring him food and water every day, and make sure he ate. During these little visits, we talked a lot. We’d become pretty good friends.

And now?

He was gone. I felt tears coming, but I tried to fight them down. “They were all too young,” I whispered. “This is all so unfair. I hate this dying business! Why can’t the gods just stop it and stop having poor kids who are targets for monsters?”

Anita looked at me sympathetically. “I know. It’s okay.” She took my hand. “Come on. You should sit down. Will Solace said you needed your rest.”

It was probably true. Will was the best medic I’d ever met. He knew what he was talking about. Besides, my head was starting to throb again, and I was feeling dizzy.

“Uh, yeah. Good idea,” I managed.

I sat with the rest of the Demeter cabin for the remainder of the funerals. The shrouds were burned, the proper things were said, but I was in a bit of a daze. I barely heard anything that was said.

It was so strange. It’d been the middle of the battle, Gaia had just risen up out of the earth and was trying to kill us all, Camp Half-Blood was surrounded by Romans and monsters, and everything had suddenly gone black on me.

I don’t know how I’d survived. I asked Anita, and she confirmed that Will Solace had found me unconscious and carried me off to the infirmary. For some reason, that made me blush.

I hadn’t thought much about the son of Apollo in my years at Camp. He’d always been around, even before I’d gotten here. He was always sunny and happy, always helping everyone, and always healing all of us silly demigods who got ourselves hurt.

My mind drifted. Back to my first year. My first time playing Capture-The-Flag. I’d been brutally beaten up by the Hunters of Artemis. My arm was cut up, my ankle was broken, and I’d gotten a concussion.

Will had refused to leave my side the entire time, even though he was only ten at the time, same age as me. He’d insisted on staying in the infirmary with me until I was well. I think I was the first person he’d ever healed properly, and on his own.

I was brought back to one particular occasion… I’d woken from a deep sleep, my ankle healing (which was slow even with the help of nectar and ambrosia), and found Will sleeping beside me. He was sitting on a chair, slumped forward with his head on his arms, his arms on the edge of my bed.

It took a bit of shuffling and fiddling, and a bit of pain, and a lot of grunts and hard work, but I finally managed to pull him up onto the bed with me. It was a pretty big one, a double bed size. I slid over to one side, spread half the blanket over Will, and snuggled down beside him.

I fell back asleep instantly, not even thinking about how weird this position would look in the morning when someone else came in to check on us. (Other campers, Chiron, and me and Will’s siblings checked on us regularly). I was just trying to do something nice for a friend, someone who was doing something nice for me.

I drifted off to sleep with Will’s breath on my hair.

[melishade]

Attack on Prime New Age Anthology: Game Plan

Main Story

Catching Up Part 2

Released from Quarantine

Reunions

The humans start discussing a game plan on how to tackle a world without titans.

"I do apologize for everything that has been happening in the past month," Bryce explained as he sat down at his desk. He gestured to the two chairs in front of him, and Kenshin and Willy sat down in each of them, "But we do thank you for being cooperative."

"What is this about?" Willy asked.

"Your world is in chaos," Bryce stated bluntly, "You faced a cataclysmic event of untold proportions, one that hasn't been thought about here on Earth. Your ecosystem has been ravaged, we are still counting the death toll, and there is a possibility that damage has been done to the ozone layer. If we sent the people we have here back home, there is a chance they would not survive due to the drop in oxygen levels."

Bryce picked up one of the papers on his desk. "However, the biggest concern we have been hearing from many of the denizens is whether or not the power of the titans have been destroyed. The Autobots have conducted enough tests to absolutely confirm that, but it's uncertain if the people on your world would trust titans from beyond the stars."

"...you want us to be your mediators," Kenshin concluded.

"More ambassadors," Bryce corrected.

"General, our world is in chaos like you said, and many countries have either been destroyed or destabilized. Not to mention, I lost some of my political influence prior to the Rumbling," Willy explained.

"Your sister was on the front lines, and she sacrificed herself to save thousands of people," Bryce retorted, "I think that has helped redeemed your name."

Willy's eyes lowered to his hands, doing his best not to cry.

"I doubt I'd be much help," Kenshin proclaimed, "Willy's not a ruler of a country. I am, and I'm certain that many of Hizuru's top officials have been killed during the Rumbling, along with a good portion of the land. I have no idea how many of my people are alive."

Bryce pulled out his phone and showed them a picture of their world's map. "The Autobots also calculated how far the Colossal Titans have gotten before Optimus destroyed it. Marley has been wiped off the map for the most part, along with a good portion of the Middle Eastern Region. Hizuru has been ravaged, but the entire country hasn't been destroyed. There have been a few continents left unscathed or barely touched. The region we would call North America had only just been hit by the Rumbling when the event stopped. This continent that we would call Australia, along with a few other islands haven't been touched mainly due to the distance from ground zero."

Bryce put the phone down. "If you have allies, political influence anywhere, then it would help to use that in order to mitigate the chaos and prevent infighting over basic necessities. We can help you provide food and water to the people that have been disparaged, along with medical assistance."

"What do you want from us in return?" Kenshin demanded, "No one asks of something without something in return."

"I doubt that we would be able to provide you anything," Willy retorted, "Your world is much more advanced than our own, and we need all the help we can get. What would you need from us?"

"Earth has been trying to find life on other planets that would be hospitable to humans from Earth," Bryce explained, "Even though we've come into contact with Cybertron, the planet's not hospitable to humans, and titans like them are considered fictional to the wider populous. You've already had the concept of titans for thousands of years and your world has been similar to that of ours. We could start interplanetary relationships. And your world is prime ground to run some tests of our own."

"Such as?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes.

"Repairing the ozone layer, food growth and restoration, so far many scientists have been wanting to test environmental impacts and repairs," Bryce answered, "Our world is slowly going through a climate crisis, and to test out how to repair that crisis on a world that has had their climate completely altered would be revolutionary in terms of progress. You will be receiving a tremendous benefit by having your world repaired at a quicker pace, but we will also be benefitting from this as well by preventing our own demise."

"We could use this help." Willy turned to Kenshin.

"I know for a fact that you have much more to gain that you're not telling us," Kenshin accused.

"You're right," Bryce confessed, "And this information is something I'm not allowed to disclose to you, especially since this a developing situation. But I assure you that this will be beneficial to you if you cooperate with us willingly."

Kenshin grimaced at that before glancing over at Willy.

"We have nothing to lose from this, and we can't repair the world on our own," Willy reminded, "And I think many of the people from our world would like some sense of normality."

Kenshin sighed in defeat at that. There were many already dead, injured, or displaced, and that number was going to continue climbing. He just knew it. "Fine. We'll do your alliance."

===

"Alright, I got the huge bags of chips I saved in storage!" Miko declared as she walked up the steps to the common area of Unit E with four giant bags of different flavored chips along with a bag of Styrofoam bowls. The 104th and Onyankopon were either sitting down on the couch or the floor, with the exception of Jean who was in his wheelchair. They were watching Jack write a list on a white board with a red marker.

"Potatoes." Sasha's mouth watered at the familiar picture of potatoes on the bag.

"Don't be greedy," Miko warned her as she sat on the floor opened the bags, "We have Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, and Tortilla Chips."

"I thought you had spicy chips," Rafael remarked as he continued typing away on his laptop.

"They're not going to be able to handle Hot Cheetos." Miko ripped open the bag containing the Styrofoam bowls, "Alright, dig in."

Sasha jumped at the potato bag, but Miko quickly grabbed her and pinned her to the ground.

"Wow." Jean was impressed as Sasha squirmed in Miko's grip.

"Mikooooo!" Sasha whined.

"Be patient!" Miko scolded her.

"Thanks Miko," Armin said as he got himself a bowl of Doritos, "It's usually pretty hard to stop Sasha when it comes to food."

"Yeah, I can imagine," Miko commented.

"Okay." Jack turned to the audience as he pointed at the list on the whiteboard. "So these are the things that we have to take care of. One." Jack pointed at the top of the list. "Providing aid and relief to the people affected by the Rumbling. This going to be a consistent, top, priority since the death toll is still climbing. Two."

Jack pointed to the next item. "We need to check up on Paradis. Historia, you mentioned you're the queen and the military has effectively been dismantled."

"I don't know who would be trying to take control right now," Historia explained from her seat on the couch, "It could fall under a dictatorship fearful of receiving retaliation for the Rumbling."

"So we need to find out what's going on there and prevent a dictatorship," Jack declared, "Three: hold a funeral procession for Connie."

"Why can't we just do that right away?" Sasha demanded as Miko got off of her.

"Paradis needs to be stable first before we can do the funeral," Jack answered, "Someone could interrupt funeral proceedings, try to kill you, desecrate Connie's grave. Paradis needs to be stable first. Four, we find Mikasa."

"But Mikasa's been missing for over a month!" Armin exclaimed.

"Yeah, that's the problem," Jack sighed in defeat, "She's been missing for over a month, we have no leads on her location and finding her without the technology we have on your world is going to take longer. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?"

Armin thought it over. "She might have gone back home?"

"To reverse Madagascar?!" Rafael exclaimed, "I thought you guys were a hermit country everyone hated! Who the hell would be willing to take her there if there are any available mods of transportation?!"

"I don't know!" Armin exclaimed, "Maybe she went to civilization?!"

"Hey, wouldn't it be funny if she actually swam back to the island?" Miko quipped.

"Knowing her strength, she probably did," Jean proclaimed seriously.

"There's no way!" Miko snapped her head at Jean.

"Maybe we can ask the locals and see if they spotted her?" Onyankopon suggested.

"Maybe, but it still might not be as effective," Jack admitted, "We do have pictures of her, thankfully, but still, it's finding a needle in the haystack. Also, do we really know if she made it to Paradis in the past month?"

"I know that she would have gone back home," Armin declared with confidence, "It's the only place she has a real attachment to. No where else."

"Well..." Jack trailed off, "We'll check the sight of the final battle first, go to the closest refugee camp to ask there, and if we can't find her there, then we can scope out Paradis once we can stabilize the government. That's the bed plan I can come up with given the lack of information we have on her."

"...okay," Armin relented.

"Additional items include Jean staying behind on Earth to learn how to walk again," Jack continued.

"Make sure to bring me back home when you have Connie's funeral," Jean declared.

"Will do." Jack nodded, "We'll also need to have a video prepped to send over to Optimus once he wakes up."

"What?! Optimus is feeling better?!" Onyankopon exclaimed.

"Yeah, we received some texts from Ratchet saying that Optimus' recovery has been stable. He doesn't need life support anymore and hopefully he'll wake up sooner rather than later."

"That's great!" Sasha exclaimed with delight, "We need to tell the others!"

"Pretty sure shark lady's already in the loop if she's with Ratchet," Miko commented.

"Can you stop calling my wife that?" Historia demanded.

"She used to turn into a shark! What can I say?!" Miko exclaimed.

"Once we finalize all of this then we'll let Erwin and Hanji know," Jack declared, "Levi's still unconscious according to Jean."

"Yeah, his injuries were pretty bad," Jean declared.

"And I'm certain Bryce is talking to Kenshin and Willy," Jack surmised.

"Ugh, the golden spoon." Miko rolled her eyes.

"Why would they need to talk to Bryce?" Onyankopon asked.

"Politics," Jack replied, "Want to create alliances."

"And steal resources," Rafael mumbled to himself.

====

Hanji removed their glasses and rubbed their eye before eating the granola bar that was placed on their table. "They're going to execute Megatron."

Erwin didn't reply to that. He was merely flexing the fingers on his cybernetic arm when he heard them speak. "...you want to save him."

"That's the plan," Hanji grumbled, "Or a plan. I know I'm completely outclassed here, and I bought myself extra time in quarantine because of my stunt from earlier. The humans here are advanced, Cybertron is way above anything Earth is, and so many people want Megatron dead, both human and Cybertronian, and who knows how long Optimus will be out of commission before they decide to reach a verdict."

"Something tells me that he doesn't want you interfering in his situation, if he cares about you," Erwin assumed.

"Is it fucked up that I give a shit about him now?" Hanji asked him, "I mean, originally I just wanted to study him, but damn it, he was actually putting in the effort to be a better person to the point I was willing to put my trust in him. But I've heard his war crimes. I doubt Cybertron is going to see it that way, considering how much harm he's done to other people."

"I doubt you're going to get far," Erwin proclaimed.

"Well according to Jack, they looked into his head and saw his memories and now don't know what to feel. Not to mention Buckethead saved some people that he had screwed over in the past, specifically the Bot that killed him before his body got hijacked by Unicron," Hanji explained, "Our interactions with Megatron are making them second guess."

Hanji looked back at Erwin. "C'mon there has to be something between you and Megatron that would get them to second guess themselves."

Erwin sighed in defeat. "Hanji, he came to me as an insurance plan, and it felt like manipulation when we were talking. He ended up forcing Nile to stay after he found out about us, and Kenny-!"

"Hey, Kenny was on you. You broke him out of prison," Hanji cut him off, "But Floch and Louise got involved. With the way that they were acting in regard to Eren, how did Megatron convince them to stay and not blab about his team?"

"He didn't," Erwin declared, "He gave us a choice."

Hanji stared in surprise. "What?"

"Megatron said that he was going to stop both Zeke and Eren regardless of whether or not he stood alone," Erwin explained, "He gave all five of us a week to come to that decision: to join him or leave the cause. No repercussions. No threats of death. He knew that Floch and Louise were a risk,...but he still let them go."

"Erwin this is fucking big!" Hanji slammed their hands against the glass, "Megatron: the big bad who forced everyone to do his bidding or die, is giving organics a choice to follow him?! Megatron, putting his life on the line for organics! Megatron choosing to save those he had wronged! Megatron choosing to save the one who killed him! Erwin, this is a case; however small, it is still a case! We have to try and find a way to fight for him!"

"Hanji, do you really think that you can somehow get their attention while Optimus is in the hospital?" Erwin asked, "And if you do make your case, you are defending a war criminal. It is like defending Eren's actions to the rest of the world he just slaughtered."

Hanji grimaced as they pushed off of the glass.

"Hanji, I need to know." Erwin pressed his cybernetic hand against the glass, "Are you prepared to do this? If you defend Megatron, you will be aiding and abetting a war criminal who is clearly guilty. They can and will target you. They might kill you for defending someone that has ruined so many lives."

Hanji shut their eye in response.

"Is Megatron really worth your life?" Erwin demanded.

Hanji looked back at Erwin, and could see the concern in his eyes and felt bad. Even though the power of the titans were gone, they were still putting themselves in danger once again. Was Megatron really worth any of this at all?

Hanji took a deep breath. "If it wasn't for a good portion of Megatron's decisions, I'd probably be dead right now. Part of me is still uncertain if Megatron's truly changed for the better. But at the very least, I owe him a debt for keeping me and my comrades alive for so long....You gonna stop me, join me, or remain neutral?"

"...If you said they looked into his memories...I don't know how that would be possible," Erwin commented, "Then I'm certain that they did see me. Like it or not, I have to provide a case for him."

Hanji smirked. "Alright, looks like we're going to try and fail to defend a genocidal maniac! The hypocrites we are!"

"Levi's not going to like this," Erwin declared.

"Oh, Levi's gonna fucking hate us for this," Hanji snickered.

(Alright, I know a lot of the focus is on the humans, but we will go back to the Cybertronians! I promise!)

[inukag-archive]

Hi! Could you recommend me something similar to “the kings mistress” by dolphingirl0113 on Ffn? I’ll take any rating, and anything to do with the early to late modern pieces with kings, queens, knights, pirates. Etc. I have an unhealthy obsession to stories in these time periods and I would love to find more InuKag fics like this. Thank you!!

Hi psychoticpeopledisorders, thank you for your patience while we put together a list full of royalty and medieval adventures a la The King's Mistress! (linked below for any who haven't read it)

You can also check out our other royalty, historical, and fairytale themed lists for even more stories you're sure to love:

Arranged Marriage: Part One and Part Two

Beauty and the Beast Inspired

Fairytale Inspired

Feudal Era AUs: Part One and Part Two

Pirate AUs

Royalty/Rich NSFW

Happy reading!

(Gif by fic-finder @lostinfantasyworlds)

The King's Mistress by dolphingirl0113 (T)

Kagome and Kikyou Higurashi, rivals in every way, both find themselves in love with their King. But when a man at court brings Kikyou's scandalous past with him and threatens her life, Kagome must choose between old loyalty and a passionate new love.

--

Death, Greed, and Love by Jav-chan (T)

A death of a beloved father. Wedded to a husband whose very presence make ones stomach clench. Captured, the morning princess of Veshrane finds love at her prison. Death, Greed, Love.

--

Behind the Masquerade by Keolla (M)

When Inuyasha and Kikyou were engaged, Kikyou's sister, Kagome, was unexpectedly sent to observe Inuyasha. However, she didn't expect to fall for him.

--

The Lady and the Rogue by @starlingchildgazingatthestars (E)

Historical AU. Kagome is betrothed to Lord Sesshomaru, as part of a political arrangement between both of their families to continue promoting peace between demons and humans. The problem is that Kagome has her eyes and heart set on Sesshomaru's roguish half-brother, Inuyasha...

--

The Stable Hand by @petri808 (T)

Princess Kagome was envious of the kind of freedom the commoners had. Everyone assumed that being royalty was pure bliss, but she felt like she was trapped in a cage. One of the things she enjoyed doing to relax was ride her horse and would request the accompaniment of the stable hand to keep her safe. The man was fairly new in their kingdom, but something about him allowed her to feel normal while they were together, and yes, she'd started to fall for the handsome man.

--

Family of the Dog by WolfRanger2003 (T)

An AU of Inu no Taisho and his family. From his own father and siblings to his sons, how does a powerful daiyokai deal with enemies that threaten his family.

--

The Princess and the Pauperess by narcoleptic shishkabob (T)

Princess Kikyou and peasant Kagome trade places for a month, thinking each has the better life. What they're about to find out could not be further from the truth.

--

The Protector of Her Heart by Eowyn Organa (T)

Kagome is the princess of the Human Lands, forced to marry a man she cannot love. Inuyasha is her knight, sworn to protect her. But he cannot protect them both from the most dangerous thing of all: love.

--

So NOT A Fairytale by @britonell (T)

Kagome had a plan: Inuyasha’s the prince, Kikyo’s the princess, and she’s the matchmaker. Yes, she had it all figured out…except the matchmaker ends up making the prince attracted to HER instead of the princess. Not. Good.

--

The Demon Prince and the Miko Princess by Guise'n'Disguise (T)

Kagome is a princess on the run and Inuyasha is a prince in hiding. They come from two different rival kingdoms. Will they ever get together?

--

Crowned Jewel by @heynikkiyousofine (M)

Long ago, the Jewel of Four Soul came into existence and with it, a prophecy was born. “It shall be, when she who protects all the earth’s creatures destroys the darkest of evil, balance will return to the land.” Since then, powerful priestesses have protected the Jewel, only for evil to grasp at its power time and time again. Sacrificing herself, the last one took it with her to the next world until the most powerful of them all would be born, the one the prophecy proclaimed.

--

The Unfortunate Queen by @elkonigin (T)

Kingdoms rose and fell because of their rulers. Kingdoms could be destroyed and rebuilt based on a single person's choice. Grand Princess Kagome Higurashi has no idea what her father was thinking before he passed away, but clearly he'd made a terrible choice when he handed her the crown and all its mess, its secrets, and its dangers.

--

Dreaming of You by InuFan4life (M)

InuYasha is a prince, and Kagome is a servant. They are best friends, but cannot see each other in public, then a series of unfortunate events begin tearing them apart. What will happen? 

--

Lover, Be Good to Me by Emmyyasha (E)

Inuyasha longs for Kagome's touch. Not just because he is irrevocably in love with her, but because he is desperate for the relief that her healing magic can provide him after sustaining injuries from a harsh battle. Yet he cannot go to her. He is merely one hanyou soldier in an endless war who doesn't deserve her kindness lest it be mistaken for weakness.

Still, she always comes to him every single night under the cover of darkness, fills his tent with her healing light and soft smiles. Tonight, however, she's late. And though he's selfish for her company, he knows he must suffer alone until his body can recover on its own.

But Kagome was never one to keep him waiting for too long.

--

Seven Weeks by ScarletRaven1001 (T)

While on a journey to rescue the abducted princess of a foreign land, Inuyasha meets Kagome, a powerful sorceress who may make a powerful ally. There is just one problem: he thinks she is hiding something

--

Forever Nevermore by Desenchanter (M)

She fell in love with the prince at a young age, but what girl didn't adore him? As a commoner in their chaotic world love meant little if anything and she couldn't hope for it to save her again.

--

To Live by Love by SailorCreative (T)

Kagome is a beautiful princess and Inuyasha is a greedy halfdemon hoping to snatch the Shikon no Tama. Some brief nudity mentioned in later chapters.

--

Holding Out for a Hero by @lavendertwilight89 (E)

Inuyasha has always lived alone until the new lord of the Western Lands banished all kinds of beings onto his lands. Now he is tasked with rescuing a princess from a dragon for the lord can marry her. But what happens when they fall in love along with way?

Feel free to add your own recs in the comments or reblogs! Check our Masterlist of previous lists to see which topics we've covered.  After reviewing our submission guidelines, send us an ask (here).

[thehomeofplatonicfics]

The Curse Transfer (Part 2)

Reader x the Sallow twins and Ominis Gaunt (platonic!)

Read Part 1 here!

Your body unused to the curse that Anne had carried for so long, it tried to fight this foreign entity in full force, creating more havoc in your body as a consequence. You lay half-asleep and half-awake in Sebastian’s bed, tucked tightly into the covers. Anne diligently sat beside you, her face gaining more colour with each passing hour as yours only grew paler.

To her surprise, Solomon was proving to be fairly helpful in taking good care of you. He was cooking some soup for you to eat once you fully awoke. Only knowing some basic medicinal spells, Anne stuck with the tried and true method of a cool flannel over your forehead in an attempt to tame the raging fever you were suffering. She found this task trickier than she thought though, for in your delirium you kept twitching and tossing your head. The flannel struggled to stay in position.

Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Ominis and Sebastian were pacing in the undercroft eagerly awaiting your return. As the hours passed, the more anxious they became. “Y/N should have been back by now. They said they’d be back in a few hours.” Ominis turned in the direction of his friend, uncrossing his arms to let them hang defeatedly by his side. “You should have told me what they were planning to do… we could have stopped them before they did… whatever they’re doing.” Sebastian half-snapped, the venom in his voice missing, replaced with fierce concern for you.

“I think we should go to Feldcroft. Something must have gone wrong.” Ominis sighed, shaking his head. He’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this. “That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said today. Let’s go.” Sebastian replied, already heading out of the undercroft.

Anne dunked the flannel back into a bowl of cool water, replacing it back onto your forehead. This seemed to revive you, as your eyes fluttered open and fixed alertly onto Anne’s face. “Hello Y/N,” she began, a hand gently placed on your shoulder. “How are you feeling?” You opened your mouth to reply, but you couldn’t get any words out. A sharp stabbing pain pierced your stomach and you let out a sharp gasp. The pain started spreading through your stomach and abdomen, like a thousand tiny needles being repeatedly stabbed into you.

A deep guttural cry escaped you, as you flipped over onto your front curled up into a tight ball, one arm clutching at your stomach, the other desperately grasping at the bed linens and balling them up in your fist. Anne, being in the unique position of knowing exactly what you were feeling, knelt down onto the floor besides your bed and pried open your hand to replace the bed linens with her own thin hand. “It’ll pass soon, I promise.” Anne soothed, frowning in sympathy as you continued to loudly cry and writhe in pain. “Try to focus on breathing, Y/N.” She began, as you tried your best to follow her words.

It was at this worst possible moment that Sebastian and Ominis came bursting through the door. “Y/N?” Ominis called out to you, not knowing what was happening to you. “Anne, what’s wrong with her?” Sebastian asked as he rushed to his sister’s side. Your friends finding you like this distressed you even more, and you squeezed Anne’s hand as tight as you could as you hyperventilated. “Remember to breathe, Y/N. Can you do that for me?” Anne tried to soothe you while holding her free hand out to ward off her brother from getting any closer.

“Your friend took on her curse, Sebastian.” Solomon solemnly stated as he stepped out from the shadow of the kitchen. “What?!” Sebastian stepped back, looking between you and Anne and instantly knowing it to be true. He would have sacrificed anything for Anne to be cured but… not you. Never you.

Ominis stepped forward desperately feeling for your hand, and clasping it in his own so gently once he found it. “Breathe with me, okay? Deep breath in…. Deep breath out…” Anne murmured close to your ear, focused solely on you while Sebastian processed his shock.

You followed her instructions to the best of your ability, a pathetic little cry escaping as you breathed out. “Good! Now again…” The pain began to subside a little, and tears that you didn’t know you’d been holding dripped down your cheeks. “It’s okay. We’re not mad at you, I promise. You did well.” Ominis muttered to you, somehow anticipating what you felt about their arrival.

Sebastian found his voice again, moving towards his sister with teary eyes. “Anne… you really cured!” He pulled his twin towards him into a tight hug, Anne gratefully hugging him back with a squeeze. “How did they-?” Sebastian half-asked as he partially pulled away. “Did they know? Why would-?” He found himself cut off as your exhausted sobs distracted him.

Ominis gently helped you sit up, wrapping his arm around you as you leaned against his chest. All the while, he murmured softly to you every comforting thing he could think of. Solomon came over carrying a bowl of soup, holding it out to you. “You should eat this… help get your strength back.” He spoke to you softly and kinder than you’d ever heard him before.

You took the soup bowl from him, cradling it against your chest. A small tired smile appeared as the warmth of the soup radiated into your hands. “Thank you.” You whispered hoarsely, sniffing as you tried to calm yourself down. With a shaky hand, you took a spoonful of the soup. It instantly soothed your sore throat, and you felt a little more like yourself again. “It’s good… really good. Thank you!” You praised the ex-auror in between spoonfuls of the soup, eager to finish the bowl.

As you ate, your friends distracted you with all that was going on at Hogwarts since you left that day. “Oh, Professor Fig is looking for you.” Ominis added at one point, resulting in an eye roll from you. “Of course he is…” He’d likely found out you’d restored Isidora’s portrait. You’d have to avoid him until you figure out what you could say to him.

Finishing the soup, and with the companionship of your friends, you felt a little stronger. Whether you were strong enough to remove the curse was yet to be seen. Still sat in bed, the container was handed to you, before everyone stood back and out of the way. Everyone watching you perform your ancient magic somehow gave you extra strength. You felt powerful… special, something you’d rarely felt in your life. You came to the conclusion that you liked being able to show off.

Your fingers curled around your wand as you brought the tip to rest against your chest. Taking a deep breath in, you looked up to notice everyone’s expressions; concern from Ominis, gratitude from Anne, fascination from Sebastian. As you breathed out, a sly smile appeared. You twisted your wand, your smirk giving way to a grimace as you cried out in pain, dragging the curse out of you. The swirling black and red magic floated for a moment, before you carefully placed it into the goblin silver container, sealing it forever. It was finally done.

The allure of this power was strong, you could see why Isidora had succumbed to it. The rush of hugs you received from everyone, all expressing their relief, made you firm in your resolution to only use this magic when only absolutely necessary. You had a found family now, one you never wanted to jeopardise.

[1cat200]

Rottmnt au ideas

I've been thinking about what other rottmnt aus I could do while working on my current rottmnt Tiger Sister au and I have a few ideas.

Growth spurt au: this happens before the events of the rise of the tmnt movie where basically Mikey gets a weird yellow chemical spilled on him while helping Donnie out in his lab. The next day he is almost as tall as Raph and Mikey, Donnie, Raph and Leo think that Mikey is having a really big growth spurt until Mikey grows 50feet tall during the night and is stuck in the lair until Donnie can create a cure to turn Mikey back into his normal size.

Mythical turtles au: this happens after 1 year after the krang invasion when the turtles, April and Casey are chasing after a wanted criminal witch yokai who curses them into mythical creatures. Casey is turned into a vampire, April becomes a Banshee, Leo is a mermaid, Raph is a dragon, Donnie becomes a Harpy and Mikey gets turned into a werewolf. They have to find the witch yokai before the curse becomes permanent by the second red moon.

Ninja kids au: my rottmnt oc Cathy is in this au. And it is also based on one of my potential rottmnt episodes ideas for season 3. Casey, Cassandra, Cathy, April and the turtles get attacked one night by a mysterious man who looks like the Shredder and even calls himself the new Shredder and the crew get accidentally telaported into the new good future by their future kids who explain to them that the man was their timelines villain who is also the leader of the new Foot clan. The turtles and their allies and kids work together to save the world and stop the new Shredder.

Howl au: this is also another au inspired and based on one of my potential rottmnt episodes for season 3. This is when Casey is walking back to the lair after going on patrol by himself at night when he is suddenly attacked by a werewolf and gets bitten in the process. After the incident, Casey starts to have weird visions of himself running in the woods and acts really weird and has cravings for raw meat. He doesn't known what's going on until his first full moon and destroys half the lair and badly injures Leo. The turtles explain and tell him that he is now a werewolf. Casey gets scared and runs away and ends up in the woods and meets another werewolf named Axel who teaches him how to control his wolf side while the turtles look for a cure. This is an au that I will do for Halloween.

Till the end of time au: this is also another au featuring my oc Cathy from my current Tiger Sister au. This is the idea that Cathy had a kid of her own in the bad future where Casey was from. Cathy's son was named Makoto and he was a human and mutant tiger hybrid. He and Casey are cousins and grew up like brothers but unfortunately 2 weeks before Casey was sent back in time, Makoto sacrificed himself to save Casey from a pack of krang hounds and was persuaded dead. Now in the new timeline, Casey feels empty and alone without his best friend. That is until Makoto suddenly shows up,injured and Casey is both shocked and relieved to see Makoto again. Now he helps Makoto to adjust to the new timeline and keeps his promise to always be there for Makoto.

I really hope that you guys like these rottmnt au ideas! Let me know which one is your favourite/s in the comments below. I might get to work on one of these aus after finishing the fourth or third chapter of my rottmnt Tiger Sister au. Stay tuned for now!

(P.S. reblogs are very much appreciated!)

[starlightandsouls]

Fallen Hearts

Warnings: accusations of treason, torture, death, suicide, betrayal, blood (this is kind of dark so read with caution)

18+ MINORS DON'T INTERACT

A/N: Well I finally got done with this piece. Honestly it just might be my favorite thing that I have ever written, so here it is: my magnum opus. I truly hope anyone reading it feels at least a part of the emotion I tried pouring into this and if you like it please do let me know what you think! This fic soo much effort and emotion from my end so your comments really make it all worth it)

(Inspired by the song Eleanor Rigby- Cody Fry Although I don't believe I could do justice to the song, this fic is not nearly as emotional or dramatic as I wanted it to be. But then again how do you live up to this masterpiece of a song?)

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Azriel had never been one for afternoon picnics or eating apple pie under its own apple tree or relationships at all, come to think of it. But as it turns out, having a mate does change a person. Your personality, your very soul starts shifting; learning, becoming better acclimated to its lost twin. You begin doing things you would never have imagined just to make them happy. And that is how he ended up here; sprawled across a blanket, his back to the vast apple tree with his mate in his arms, munching on her hand made pies. Then again, Azriel would eat anything his mate blessed him with, just because he knew how happy it made her when he complimented her cooking.

The air was not stifling, despite the fact that they were well into the summer months. Summers here weren’t that long. Mostly because of the towering mountains surrounding the city that blessed them with good weather. But the two months that they did have summer were the worst out of the entire year. Velaris was usually boiling this time of year. However it seemed like the Mother had blessed them with good weather this time.

So they were lounging outside their sea side home, basking in the summer sun before it became insufferable. A few months later Azriel would reminisce this exact moment, try to relish in the meagre happiness its fading memory would provide and beat himself up for taking it for granted. But then again it wasn’t his fault. How could they have known they were happy? That this was all the happiness they would get?

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Azriel and Selene had been mated for well over three centuries, the other two you had been the closest of friends. That simple fact always brought her joy; that in their five centuries of life, she had always had Azriel. It was as if you were twin souls, meant to find and love each other.

The love you two shared was known all across Prythian. Everyone knew of the Shadowsinger and his mate, sister to the Heir of Night, closest to the High Lord Rhysand. Just as this fact was second nature to many, everyone knew not to get between the two of them, knowing they would gladly burn the world down, if just to keep the other warm. So deep and unconditional was their love. A force as constant, as eternal as the sun and the moon. Or at least they had thought it to be.

The war with Hybern had been won over half a decade ago and peace had settled. A hard won peace that had cost everyone a little too much. While all the courts were trying to rebuild, themselves and their diplomatic relationships with each other, they had remained blissfully unaware of a new threat lurking in their shadows, bidding its time to show its hand.

Rhysand, however, had begun to feel uneasy. Maybe it was instinct or just the unfamiliarity with peace after so so many years of pain, that something began unsettling him. He tried to hide it, if only for his family’s sake. They had all sacrificed too much for him to bother them with his unreasonable fears. But soon they began to notice his off putting behaviour. Azriel, of course, was first.

The two were playing chess in his office, as they often did. Cassian had gone to Illyria with Nesta to monitor the training camps, to ensure that no female was being mistreated despite the new laws. They had been vigilantly cracking down om anyone who toed the line. Rhysand had sworn to his mother that he would change the centuries old, misogynistic customs of the Illyrians. And now that he had the power to rule without any threats, he would do anything to ensure it.

But it seemed that his silence didn’t go unnoticed by his brother. Perhaps he was taken aback by Rhysand’s unusually quiet manner, given that that was usually Azriel’s job.

“What’s on your mind brother,” Azriel asked nonchalantly without looking up from the chess board, where he was getting closer and closer to besting Rhysand.

Rhysand didn’t reply, simply because he didn’t notice. His thoughts were too consuming, too rampant.

“Rhysand,” Azriel repeated, “Is everything alright?”

“Yes. Everything’s alright,” Rhysand said. What’s the harm in trying? Azriel quirked an eyebrow, telling that he wasn’t going to fall for this lame response.

Sighing, he replied, knowing he could lie to anyone, put up a facade for anyone. But not Azriel. His brother had always been the one to see through his mask that had fooled countless others so easily.

“Honestly, I don’t know either. And that’s actually exactly the problem. Everything is fine. But for some reason I’ve been feeling so uneasy, like something is going to go wrong.”

Azriel listened carefully without any interruptions. This was one thing he loved about Azriel; he was a great listener. He never judged him or gave him false reassurances, never tried to dismiss his concerns.

“Is something in particular bothering you?” Azriel inquired, seamlessly taking on the role of Spymaster, always ready to fulfil his duty.

“That’s the problem. There is no specific threat or danger that’s worrying me. I just can’t shake this feeling of dread. I swear Azriel this paranoia is going to drive me crazy. Such small things start bothering me these days. Like how Beron was acting in the last meeting. I mean he was an asshole as usual, but nothing other than that,” Rhysand started rambling. All his concerns and worries started bubbling to the surface, knowing Azriel was the one person he could vent to without any repercussions.

“Okay, so Beron’s acting strange. If you want I can go do some recon in Autumn. Figure out if those foxes are upto something,” Azriel offered. Rhysand could see the cogs turning in his head, already planning how he would go about it. Rhysand rushed to refuse before Azriel could formulate a plan.

“No, its fine. There's no point in going to that hellhole and riling up Eris. Plus my sister would skin me alive if I put you in danger without any reason.”

At the mention of Selene, a small smile bloomed on Azriel’s face, and seeing him made Rhysand do so as well. Azriel had gone through so much in his childhood and then when they had grown up as well. No family, no siblings. Sure Rhysand and Cassian were his sworn brothers but it was that feeling of having someone that was yours, truly and only yours, was more blissful than anything. And Azriel had found that in Rhysand’s sister. While it had been a bit off-putting at first, if only because it was his job as a big brother, later he had felt nothing but joy at the thought of the two people he loved most in his life, finding their happiness with each other. And both of them deserved it. After everything, if there was anyone who deserved it, it was Azriel and Selene.

After the game finished, which Azriel so gleefully won, he got up to leave, but not before adding,

“Hey, if you need anything, I’m here. Just say the word.”

Rhysand had only smiled and nodded, knowing his brother would almost put his duty first and foremost, sometimes even before his life. If only he had remembered this simple fact.

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Azriel’s POV...

Leaving Rhysand’s office, Azriel made a beeline towards Selene. His shadows had informed him that she was in the training ring. Of course. Despite there not even being a bare hint of a conflict let alone a war, you and Cassian insisted on training everyone everyday. The two of them claimed that should the need arise, they all needed to be ready. Azriel prayed to the Mother that it never did.

However, it appeared she was alone right now. Perhaps getting in some extra work out. Hypocrite. Sel was were always chastising him for working too hard, always forcing him to take one too many breaks. While she herself often toiled away in the training arena for hours and hours on end. Like he had said: hypocrite.

Walking in, he saw her slashing away at the dummy with her sword. Each strike was precise and lethal, the picture of perfection. For a moment, Azriel simply stood their quietly, waiting a second to take in the sight before him. Even covered in sweat and your leathers, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Night embodied in the form of a heavenly angel, a gift from the Mother to show mere mortals what true beauty looked like. Each day Azriel thanked the Gods for blessing him with this brilliant female for a mate but he knew deep down, even if he were to worship Selene for a thousand years more, it would never be enough to show even a trickle of his devotion. She was his muse, his reason for life, the one who held the keys to his soul and heart.

Despite his chosen silence, Azriel knew she had noticed him. If not because of his shadows, maybe because of the love pouring in openly through the bond. Selene always tried to feign annoyance at his ‘cheesiness’ as she called it, but he knew from the blush that adorned her cheeks and the blinding smile that lit up her face, that deep down Selene adored it. So he kept doing it every single day; reminding her how much she meant to him. He only hoped it was enough.

Finally putting down her sword, Selene turned to him with that smile of hers. She walked right over to him and instantly put her arms around him.

“Well hello there, handsome. How did you find your way to our humble abode,” she mocked as Azriel had honestly been scarce in the training arena these days. He had been occupied with either spying or some other task which, for once, left no time for training. A fact that his mate often loved to tease him about; that if he didn’t start training sooner or later, he was going to become an old crone.

“I was told there was a rather pretty female here who was getting quite lonely. I thought maybe I should go offer her some company?” he joked right back. Only with Selene did he ever leave his guard down like this, only with her did he let this side of him show.

“You’re shameless, you know that?” she said, laughing her melodious laugh that would make the sweetest nightingales shy away.

“You love me anyways,” he whispered back.

“That I do. I love you Azriel, more than anything else in the world. You’re my everything.”

Azriel only leaned forward and kissed her forehead and both of her closed eyes. It was the softer moments like this that brought Azriel the most joy. Not that he wasn’t thankful for each second he got to spend with Selene. But something about when it was just the two of them, surrounded by silence, quietly expressing their love for each other that touched his heart the most. Even when she simply held his hand, he felt powerful enough to conquer the world. That loneliness he had felt ever since he was a child disappeared when he had first befriended her and had not reared its ugly head towards him ever since. Such was her power, and he has been in awe of it for just as long.

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Three months had passed ever since, when it began. Disappearances, murders. People going missing left and right in all seven courts. And these were no ordinary people; nobles, court officials, warriors. Panic had begun to spread. No one had the slightest idea who was doing it or what their intentions could be. As the summer heat reached its peak, stifling everyone’s breaths, so did the uncertainty, the anxiety of the current events.

All seven courts were scrambling to find the reason behind these disappearances, a culprit, a reason. Something that would at least give them a hint as to what to expect, how to prepare. Azriel, himself, hadn’t slept in almost two weeks or if he had, it had been for an hour only at best. He had gone longer without rest, but the stress of everything was starting to get to him. Well that and the fact that he had come up with no answers. He was supposed to be good at this, it was literally his job. His entire family was looking to him for answers, when he had absolutely none to give. And the feeling of letting them down, risking putting them in danger because of his incompetence scared him more than anything.

Selene had been the only one to notice; how he was so tense all the time, how the bags under his eyes had become deeper everyday, how even his beautifully carved face had become gaunt, pale, because she knew he hadn’t been eating properly. She saw it perhaps because she was the only one he let see through his mask. Everyone needed him right now. He couldn’t afford to break down. But around her... he could take a second to breathe, to not put up a facade. She constantly reassured him that he didn’t have to do this alone, that he didn’t have to bear this burden alone. But what could he do? Centuries of experience had ingrained into his very being this sense of duty that he couldn’t shake off no matter what.

However, at the last meeting where Azriel had all but collapsed as he gave Rhysand his report, Selene had finally put her foot down. Despite everyone’s protest she had dragged him home, saying he needed rest, that everyone else could survive without him for a couple of hours. Now Azriel himself had also opposed this decision, albeit half heartedly. Because no matter how much he wanted to work, Azriel knew he had to be honest with himself. With how exhausted he was right now, if he tried to winnow somewhere Azriel knew it would end in a disaster. Selene had quickly shut up everyone’s arguments with a swift reprimanding and has dragged him home.

Which was how they ended up here; in their room, where Azriel sat in an armchair while Selene prepared the bed. In all honesty, Azriel knew he should help but he realised he would probably faint and increase her work even more. So he stayed still. While Selene fluffed up the pillows, Azriel gazed out the window to their garden. Only some time ago, the two of them had been having a picnic under their apple tree, blissfully unaware of what awaited them. The same, luscious tree that had held ripe apples for them just some time ago was now bare. The leaves were sparse, the branches lightning every day. The leaves were turning a pale yellow, losing that healthy green. Perhaps it was a sign of winter. Although it was still far off, the thought still unsettled him for some reason.

“Azriel.”

Selene’s voice calling out to him broke Azriel out of his reverie. Turning to her, he saw she was holding out a hand to him, signalling him to join. Each step felt like he dragging mountains as he walked across the room to her.

As he lay down with her, Azriel suddenly felt a strange sense of peace, of silence, wash over him. Selene began running her fingers through his hair, which really made him melt. Closing his eyes, he took in her scent. It never failed to soothe him, always grounding him.

“You know you can relax right. Not everything is your responsibility. Let others help you out as well,” she whispered into his hair. He knew she purposely kept her voice low for him, knowing when he was this exhausted, this overwhelmed, loudness always made it worse.

“I know but... I just feel so guilty. I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me. And I am trying, I really am. I just...”

“Shhh. Its okay Azriel. I know how hard you work, how dedicated you are to this court. And so does everyone else. You don’t need to prove it. You’re overworking yourself, my love. And until and unless you get some proper rest, I’m not letting you go out there. Cauldron knows what’s going on. And if you’re putting yourself in harms way, you need to be prepared. I... I can’t lose you, Azriel,” Selene cried out, her fears finally coming out.

“You’re not going to, my love. I promise. I always do don’t I? I’ll always come back to you,” he reassured her.

“You better, you big bat.”

The two of them got around four hours of sleep before someone came knocking on their door. While Selene was grumbling about it not being enough, Azriel knew with the current circumstances even that was a luxury.

It turns out Rhysand needed both of them for different tasks. Azriel was to go to Winter court to check on a lead that Kallias had apparently found. Selene was going to Day, to help out Helion with his forces. Rhysand had commented that he didn’t want to split the two of them up, but right now he needed all the hands he could get.

They had begrudgingly agreed and had left for their respecting missions, not before a hearty goodbye. Not a single soul in Prythian could have predicted what was about to happen as the two lovers went their separate ways. If only they had known this was the last time they would ever see each other again. Maybe they would relished in the moment more, maybe they would have spent more time together. Maybe, maybe, maybe. In the end everyone was left dreaming of how, maybe, they could have stopped what was about to happen.

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Feyre POV...

The last few weeks had been difficult for everyone, but Feyre thought it was even worse for herself and Rhysand. They were supposed to be the leaders of their court, supposed to assure them and provide all the answers, tell them that everything would be okay. But with every disappearance, she felt like she was failing her people. Helpless and aimless, the two of them were struggling to keep the court together, to stop the panic from turning into pure hysteria and chaos.

Right now, she was the only one in Velaris. Everyone else had gone somewhere or the other to try to figure out something about this new threat. Feyre had gone on the last round to Dawn Court whose villages had just been attacked, to see if they could perhaps find some semblance of an idea as to what the hell has been going on. While she had come back empty handed, it was her turn to stay with Nyx as Rhysand left this time.

Feyre was alone in the House of Wind, save for Nyx and Elain. After crying his throat soar, Nyx had finally gone to sleep. Elain had gone to put him to bed while Feyre read some of Azriel’s reports, desperate to find anything they could have missed the first time round.

She had just put the last of the papers down, her eyes heavy from all the reading, when a scream pierced the stagnant silence that had settled over the House. Instantly Feyre was on her feet. Had someone infiltrated the House, despite all the wards around it. She was all alone as well. No matter, Feyre was enough for whatever coward had dared to intrude her home. Nyx... Oh gods Nyx... no no no

Feyre ran through the halls, dread filling her as she prayed to whatever deities that listened, that the intruder was nowhere near her son. If something happened to him, she would raze the whole world down.

She had just turned a corner, when she slammed into Elain, who was clutching a crying Nyx in her arms. Thank the Cauldron. It was only did she realise that Elain was crying too, with a bleeding gash down her face.

“Elain, what happened? Elain, where are they? Elain!” she yelled at him, shaking her shoulders, trying to will her into speaking. But Elain kept on sobbing, shaking her head, she started hyperventilating. Only a second later, Elain’s gaze zeroed in on something behind Feyre’s back, and she screamed.

Pushing Elain and Nyx behind her, she yelled at them to run as she turned to meet the invader head on. Whoever it was, had laid a hand on her sister, and for that they would die a most gruesome death.

A hooded figure stood on the other end of the hallway, knives in both hands. Only, one of them was dripping in blood. Elain’s blood. Blood that could have easily been her son’s. The thought enraged her beyond reason, as she charged at the male.

The male was on her before she could reach him. His knives lashing out, each strike intending to kill. Feyre barely missed some of them. Shit. He was really, really good. All of her hits went amiss. Whether those be from her dagger or her power. The male evaded her in every way.

A kick to the ribs knocked the air from her lungs as Feyre collapsed on the floor. In front of her, the male reached for another weapon. Closing her eyes, she tried reaching Rhysand. She had forgotten where he had gone, but only hoped that he could feel her distress.

Feyre felt her assailant get closer and closer until she opened her eyes. Before she could give in to her fate, the glint of the dagger in his hands caught her eye. It couldn’t be.... Perhaps the blood loss had made her delusional. There was no way what she was seeing could be true. For the dagger in the male's hand, the one against her neck... was Truth Teller.

Summoning what last strength she had left, Feyre pushed herself off the ground and reached up to the man’s head. As she pulled down his hood, a cry of anguish escaped her. At that moment Feyre wished it had been someone else, anyone else. That it was some other pair of eyes sneering back at her, that it wasn’t the friendly hazel one’s she had grown accustomed to. That it wasn’t Azriel glaring down at her.

“Why?” was all she could croak out with his knife pressed against her throat.

Azriel said nothing and only pressed the blade closer, presumably to finish her off. Just as she has resigned her fate, a cry sounded out,

“Feyre!”

Rhysand. He had heard her. He was here. Thank the Cauldron. At the sound of his voice, Azriel got off of her and disappeared into the shadows.

That was how Rhys found her, crumpled on the ground, tears of her own making their way down her face. She understood now why Elain had been crying the way she was. This betrayal was so unfathomable, she couldn’t wrap her head around it despite seeing it with her own two eyes. It just wasn’t possible...

Rhysand skidded to a halt as he crouched down next to her,

“Feyre are you alright? Are you hurt?” and just like Elain, Feyre was now speechless. How could anyone expect her to put to words what she had just witnessed.

“Feyre, what happened? Where’s Nyx?” Rhysand cried out as he shook her again, probably scared out of his mind.

Given the situation, Feyre did what she could do in the moment. She tapped against his mental shields, asking to be let in, then showed Rhysand the memory of just a few moments ago.

The only sign Feyre had to tell her that he had seen it, was Rhysand going wholly still. The colour drained from his face as it became ghost white. He too crumpled on the floor. Eyes empty, staring at the wall before him, not looking at anything in particular. The hurricane of emotions going through him right now was unimaginable to Feyre. Azriel was his brother... to expect this from him....

Rhysand POV..

After the shock had lessened, but still not gone, he had called back everyone in his family. He had then proceeded to show them the same memory Feyre had shown him. Not Selene. His poor, innocent sister. To be subjected to such pain was something he would never wish for his darling sister. He would deal with her later. Right now he needed to deal with a traitor.

The emotions of everyone were varied, as expected. Cassian had protested the most, blowing up within an instant of seeing the memory.

“Rhysand, tell me you’re not falling for this. Tell me you don’t think our brother is a traitor,” Cassian roared at him, questioning him like Rhysand was in the wrong. The audacity of it surprised him.

“Are you suggesting my mate is lying? That your High Lady is lying!” Rhysand yelled right back.

“It could be a mistake. Maybe... she didn’t know what she saw. It...it can be a trap. Maybe someone’s trying to set him up... He would never... Azriel would never do this.”

“For Cauldron’s sake, Cassian! Feyre SAW him! What else do you want? What more proof that you want that that bastard is a traitor! That treacherous son of a bitch laid his filthy hands on my mate. And for that I’ll cut his head off. If any of you try to intervene, you can die right along with him!” Rhysand threatened, ensuring that everyone understood how serious he was being.

He had barely finished his sentence when the door to his office was opened. For the second time that night, Rhysand found himself speechless. For before them, stood none other than Azriel. Relaxed and unabashed. As if he hadn’t committed treason. As if he hadn’t betrayed the only family he had ever known. That pathetic son of a bitch...

Azriel walked in coolly, not showing any signs of the suiting emotions whatsoever. As he felt everyone’s gaze on him, the bastard had the audacity to ask,

“What’s going on here? Is everything alright?”

The one simple statement broke whatever fragment of reverse Rhysand had left. Whatever patience, uncertainty there was left went out the door. Instead it was replaced with white hot rage.

All Rhysand saw was red. His fury gone beyond any bounds, any and all sense of reason gone with it. He wanted Azriel’s blood. And he wanted it now.

Before he even knew what he was doing, he moved across the room and punched Azriel right in the face. And he did it again and again and again until Azriel’s face was nothing but a bloody pulp. Eventually, Azriel pushed him off long enough to ask,

“Rhysand, what... why are you doing this? What are you doing?”

The question was answered only by a kick to the ribs. Azriel groaned and rolled to the side, coughing up blood. The sight brought him more pleasure than it should have. At that moment Rhysand felt like a crazed animal. The sight of spilled blood exciting him to shed even more.

Rhysand hauled up Azriel and slammed him against the wall, he then spat at him,

“You thankless son of a bitch, after everything I’ve done for you! Five hundred years, Azriel! Five centuries together... I thought you were my brother... and you go and stab me in the back?”

Rhysand then showed him Feyre's memory, hoping that maybe it would quell this bastard’s stubbornness. Azriel’s eyes widened as he took it in.

“That’s not me! Rhysand... how can you even think of believing that. I would never... I was in Winter! You sent me to Winter!” Azriel croaked out, still making excuses.

“You lying bastard. But don’t worry. I know just how to make you talk.”

Rhysand then grabbed Azriel by the collar and winnowed to the one place traitors like him deserved to dwell. The Court of Nightmares. It had been Azriel’s area of expertise and now the same place Rhysand would use to break him.

Dragging him to the cells in the bottom most pits of this miserable place, Rhysand threw all concern as to who was watching, or what they might think out the window. The only thing on his mind was vengeance. The pain of this betrayal only fanned the flames even more.

Throwing Azriel in one of the cells, Rhysand himself walked in and locked the door behind him.

“Now, tell me. Who are you working with? And what have you told them?,” Rhysand demanded, perhaps if Azriel was compliant he could be granted an easy death.

“Rhysand, are you out of your fucking mind? Why would I do this? Go ask Kallias if you want. I was with him in Winter,” Azriel exclaimed.

“Who’s to say you didn’t trick him too?”

“Rhysand, please. You have to believe me. I would never do this. Feyre’s my sister. I would never hurt her!”

His mate’s name only enraged Rhysand even more. How dare this son of a bitch do what he had done and then proceed to act innocent? Like he could be forgiven his crime?

Rhysand called on his daemati powers and tore his talons into Azriel’s mind, tearing it apart from within, trying to find some clues as to who he had been conspiring with. Beneath him, Azriel screamed as he felt he his mind being violated, each passing second feeling like knives being repeatedly stabbed in his head. Good. Rhysand wanted him to feel pain, if only an ounce of what his betrayal had made Rhysand go through.

“Rhysand! Please! I didn’t do anything! Please!”

Rhysand withheld his mental attacks, only for a moment. He wanted to give Azriel one last chance to confess, if only for the sake of the five centuries they had spent as brothers. Perhaps it was easy for Azriel to throw them away like they didn’t mean anything, but not for him. He wasn’t shameless enough.

“I’m giving you one more chance Azriel. Tell me who you’re working with. And perhaps I’ll make your passing easier.”

Azriel only sobbed below him, hands in his hair, he only sobbed,

“I didn’t do anything Rhys. Please! Please believe me, you’re all my family... I would never hurt you...”

Rhysand grabbed him by the hair and slammed his head against the wall repeatedly before letting him crumple to the floor once more.

“Do not speak to me of family. You lost the right to do so when you turned your back on us! I gave you a chance to confess. Now don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. You raised a hand against my mate, your High Lady! If I hadn’t gotten there on time, you were going to kill her weren’t you? You were going to rob me of the most precious thing in my life. Now, it’s your turn.”

Realisation dawned on Azriel’s face as a long, dark blade of pure ebony materialised in Rhysand’s hand. He tried to retreat, to cower back but Azriel’s broken body only allowed so much.

“No no no. Rhysand please! I didn’t do anything! Please! Please don’t do this... think of Selene!”

“Don’t you dare take my sister’s name, you bastard. She didn’t deserve a filthy low life like you for a mate! She loved you with everything she had and this is what you gave her in return... But not anymore. I’m not going to let even your shadows get close to her. You’re going to pay Azriel. For hurting my mate, my sister... you’re going to pay for all of it,” Rhysand threw back at him.

And then...Rhysand raised the sword and brought it down on Azriel’s back, cleaving his wings right off his body. Azriel screamed a scream of pure agony. Blood trickled down his back as the membrane of his wings gave way to the blade.

Rhysand had exacted his revenge in the most fitting way he could think of. Wings were not only fragile but also extremely important to Illyrians. And now Azriel’s were gone. Despite the fact that he despised his parentage, his wings were what marked him as an Illyrian. Now he was nothing.

Azriel’s cries died down to nothing as his throat became parched because of the screams. Now he lay collapsed in a corner, body still shivering and shaking, perhaps from the pain, perhaps from Azriel’s sobbing.

Despite it all, Rhysand felt no pity, no sympathy. Azriel deserved it. Rhysand would not let some crocodile tears break his resolve. Before he left, he said one more time,

“I hope the next time I come here, you’re a little more compliant. Do think about what has already happened. If you don’t give me answers next time... well you know better than anyone else, there are many fates worse than death.”

Azriel POV...

Even after the High Lord had left, the Shadowsinger kept on crying, shaking. He tried and failed to come up with a reason for what was happening. His brothers couldn’t do this to him. Not Rhysand and Cassian. They weren’t like his step brothers. They weren’t.... This was all a bad dream. Yes, a nightmare. He would wake up and he will be in Selene’s arms, and all will be right.

The pain from Rhysand’s mental attack and the severing of his wings had driven Azriel beyond the point of sanity, his hold on reality slipping with each passing minute. Crazed with pain and fever, he kept on whispering into the dark, just like he had when he had been a child,

“I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t do anything. It’s just a bad dream. Its just a bad dream.”

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Rhysand POV...

When he returned to Velaris to the House of Wind, he was met the piercing sound of a female screaming. Instantly his heart stopped. Was there another intruder? Was Feyre alright? It was only when he reached the room the sounds were coming from, did he realise that the screams weren’t Feyre’s. They were Selene’s.

When he reached her room, he found her slumped on the floor, hair strewn everywhere, with her hand clutching her chest, beating at her heart. Feyre and Morrigan were by his side, trying but failing to calm her down.

“Selene, what’s wrong?”

Her gaze fell on him shakily, she stared at him got a moment as if trying to reassure herself that he was really there, before she started sobbing,

“Rhysand. Its Az... something is wrong. He’s hurt. I could feel it. It hurt so bad, Rhys. And now... I can’t feel him! I can’t feel him, Rhysand. You have to find him! You have to... he needs our help.”

“We will, we will. Don’t worry, my raven. But I need you to calm down first okay?” he said calmly. Selene only stared at him incredulously before pulling back from him.

“How can you ask me to calm down? I’m telling you my mate is hurt and you’re telling me to calm down?” his sister spat at him. He didn’t blame her. Not one bit. What she was going through right now was unimaginable. So Rhysand did what he could in the moment. He reached into her mind and put his sister to sleep.

Selene slumped into his arms as he picked her up from the floor. Laying her down, he ushered everyone outside.

Once they were all a safe distance away from her room, Cassian exploded,

“You can’t keep this from her forever Rhysand. You need to tell Selene. She deserves to know!”

The gravity of the situation finally started to weigh on him as his legs gave way from under him. Rhysand collapsed on a sofa and put his head into his hands.

“It’ll kill her. Knowing what that son of a bitch did... she won’t be able to survive it...” Rhysand whispered softly.

Cassian and Rhysand sat there for hours on end, trying to figure out what had led them there, trying to remember if there were any signs of Azriel acting strange in the last few months. But both of them came up empty. In the end they were both left with heavy heads, and even heavier hearts.

.................................................................................

Selene awoke only an hour later, once again in pain. The damned mating bond. It ensured that she felt every ounce of pain he conflicted on Azriel. That was one technicality that Rhysand had not thought of while exacting Azriel’s punishment.

This time it was Cassian who was in the room when Selene awoke, beside herself with pain and desperation. The feeling of the mating bond slowly withering away was enough to drive anyone insane. Rhysand would know; he had felt Feyre die once. He also knew how that it broke a person’s very soul in two.

When Selene awoke, she jumped straight out of bed and made to leave when Cassian stopped her,

“Sel, wait! Wait! Where are you going?”

Rhysand was truly beginning to worry for his sister. Her eyes were half crazed as she tried to fight off Cassian.

“Azriel! I need to find Azriel, he needs me!” Selene cried.

“He’s not here, Sel. We’ll find him. I promise. But you need to stay here, alright? It's not safe out there,” Cassian tried to reason with her, “Why don’t you sit down here? I’ll go get Rhysand. And then we can figure out how to find Azriel together alright?”

That was when Rhysand had walked in, going to his sister’s side the second he walked in. Selene took him by the arm and asked,

“Rhys, where’s Az? Where’s my Azriel? I can’t feel him. Why can’t I feel him?”

“I don’t know...”

“He knows I love him right? He knows I need him?”

“Of course he does,” Rhysand answered.

“THEN WHY ISNT HE COMING BACK? HE KNOWS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT HIM! WHY DID HE LEAVE ME ALONE!” Selene screamed at the top of her lungs.

Rhysand then put her to sleep again with tears in his eyes. Realistically, Rhysand knew they couldn’t do this forever. But seeing his sister in such a state tore his heart apart everything all over again. Glancing at Cassian, he saw in his expression that he felt the same. Their sister had always been shielded, protected. And to see her suffer in such a way, was more than either could bear.

.................................................................................

Two weeks passed like this; Selene waking up in a panic and then Rhysand or Feyre putting her to sleep. Each time they tried telling her, her broken state would deter them. Who would be the one brave enough to share her mate’s fate? Who would be the one to ring the toll bells for their love?

It was only when the second week ended when everything came crashing down. Selene was once again sleeping a restless sleep, Elain with her in her room.

The rest of the Inner Circle were in the Town House when Rhysand felt a disturbance. Someone had broken through the wards of the city. Instantly they were at their feet. Before any of them could react, there was a flurry of swirling darkness and before them stood a man.

The invader was tall, lean. Despite what he was undertaking, the man bore no armour. As if he expected no attack, no resistance. As if he could just walk out of here unscathed after barging in to his home.

“Who the hell are you?” Feyre demanded.

“Ah, Lady Feyre. Always so impatient. Lord Koschei sends you his regards. As for my name, we’ll that’s irrelevant really,” the man sneered.

Rhysand’s heart dropped. Koschei. It was impossible. He wasn’t... he wasn’t alive. How has risen again?

“That’s not...”

“Possible? Well i can assure you it very much is. Who do you think is behind all these people disappearing?” Then after adding a sick smirk the man added, “Behind the fate of your Shadowsinger?”

“Go tell your master, we’ve caught his lap dog. He won’t have any of our secrets anymore,” Rhysand spat at the man, still shocked at his audacity.

“Tsk, tsk. Rhysand. I honestly gave you more credit than you deserve. My master thought you all would never fall for this trap. But then again he did always underestimate my ingenuity. You see, we knew with Azriel by your side, we would never have been able to infiltrate your court. It was too well guarded. So we knew we had to get rid of him somehow, but we couldn’t figure out how. He was too secure here, with all of you. But then I thought: why do we go through all of that trouble when you can just do it for us?”

“What? I... I didn’t do anything. Azriel was working with you people. He got what he deserved,” Rhysand answered.

“Was he? Because I do not recall any such thing. And that is not something you forget. After all having the Shadowsinger by our side would have been such an advantage,” the man explained.

“Do not attempt to lie to me! I saw him.. Feyre saw him. He attacked her...” Rhysand began, perplexed. What game were these people playing now.

“Did he?”

The repeated questions caught him off guard. He glanced at Cassian who had a similar expression.

“Yes, we saw the memory. It was Azriel who attacked Feyre. He...” Cassian began.

“Really? Because I could have sworn Azriel was in Winter Court when I came here,” the man jeered.

“No, Azriel wasn’t....” It was then that the man’s words sunk in, “Wait, what did you just say?”

“Oh yes. It was me who attacked the House of Wind that oh so fateful night.”

“No.. it was Azriel... he..” Cassian started, too confused for words.

The man smirked smugly once again and raised an eyebrow. Then, the man snapped his fingers and in an instant, disappeared. In his place, now sitting before them... was Azriel.

A gasp from everyone sounded through the room. It was Feyre who exclaimed,

“What devilry is this?”

Despite looking like his brother, when he spoke the voice was the man’s own,

“Yes. There it is people. The grand reveal. It was I. Honestly it was so easy to fool you people. When Azriel left for Winter, I made my way here. I did the crime and poor Azriel paid the price. How sad.”

No no no no no no no no no

Before he could process what had just occurred, a soft voice echoed through the room,

“It was you. You took my Azriel from me.”

Selene. No.

“Yup. And he’s been torturing him loads as well,” the man added, mocking all of them.

“You son of a bitch! After everything you still have the audacity to stand before me so shamelessly?” Rhysand roared at him.

“Well if you ask me, I was just getting bored. I was expecting you lot to figure it out sooner but you are all so slow. So I thought why not come reveal myself? There’s no point in committing all these brilliant crimes when no one gives you its credit.”

The man disappeared before Rhysand could reach him to cut his measly head off.

“How could you?” Selene asked again, “How could you?!”

Rhysand tried making his way over to her but she retreated, getting as far away from him as possible.

“All this time... you’ve been lying to me. You lied to my face. How could you Rhysand?”

“Sel... it wasn’t my fault. I had no idea... we all thought it was Azriel... He..” Rhysand scrambled to come up with an answer, something to explain why he had done what he had. But deep down he knew, nothing could ever absolve him of this heinous sin.

“Where is he? WHERE IS HE?” his sister demanded.

“The Court of Nightmares.”

And Selene winnowed away.

...........................................................................

Selene POV..

The hurricane of agony and anguish that was ravaging her very soul right now made her want to curl into a ball and cry. But she didn’t have time. She had to find Azriel. She had to get to him.

Winnowing in to the Court of Nightmares, she willed the faint mating bond she could still feel to find him, to lead her to him. Cauldron knows what that monster had done to her mate. She would never forgive him. All of them would pay.

Pushing her fury aside, Selene skidded to a halt in front of a cell in the bottom most pit of this wretched place. Damn you Rhysand. She unleashed her power and the door before her crumbled to nothing. Walking in, she saw nothing at first. The darkness so absolute, no amount of light could ever lessen it in this place.

After grasping at nothing but the dark, she finally spotted a figure in the far corner of the cell. Azriel.

Running over, Selene felt like throwing up at the sight before her. Her mate's back was covered in blood and blisters. Open wounds, half clotted, half fresh. His majestic, awe inspiring wings were... gone. Rhysand couldn’t have done this. He was cruel but not this... this was unimaginable. He wouldn’t do this to his brother... would he?

Turning him over, she tried to shake him awake. He’s okay. He had to be.

“Azriel. My love. I’m here.” No response.

“Az. Please.”

With a shaky breath, Azriel’s eyes opened, only slightly. And her violent eyes were met with his beautiful hazel ones. Eyes that once held nothing but adoration. Eyes that had always looked at her like she had hung the stars. Eyes... that were now empty and hollow.

Azriel looked at her for a second, and recognition lighted up his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something but just as quick it closes. His hand slipped from hers and his chest stopped rising.

Selene was frozen in place, refusing to accept what had just transpired. Azriel’s now empty, unblinking eyes stared at her coldly.

“No no no. Azriel. Azriel. Wake up. It’s me. Its your Selene. I’m going to take you home. We’re going to go home,” she whispered, willing him to wake through some miracle.

Her hands felt the wounds on his back as she held him. They had been too deep, too lethal to be left as he had been. And those same wounds had led to his passing. Now that was what Selene would have realised if she had been rational, if she had been sane at the moment. But she was long gone past that point.

“My lion mate. What did they do to you? My brave Azriel... how could they do this to you?”

Running her hands through his hair, she moved it from his eyes. His empty gaze, his still chest mocking her.

“Azriel, my love. How could they do this to you? Azriel. Wake up. Come on, we’re going home. Azriel wake up. Please. For the love of God please wake up,” she cried softly once before panic began to settle in her chest.

Selene felt the mating bond stretch and stretch, until it shattered. The bond cleaving felt like someone had ripped her very soul apart. Her heart felt like it was om fire. The world fell away. The only thing Selene knew was her lost love.

“AZRIEL!” Selene screamed, finally letting out her anguish, “AZRIEL WAKE UP! PLEASE! MY DARLING! PLEASE WAKE UP”

She let out a wail that was heard all across the wretched court. She dragged her nails down her face as she screamed. At one point, she even stopped saying his name and just screamed in pain.

Her ragged screams were what led Rhysand and the others to the cell. Where they found her, holding on to her dead mate, pounding on his chest, begging him to wake up. The screaming did not subside or lessen with their arrival. The entire court of Nightmares stood witness that day as the Daughter of Night cried and pleaded for her mate, witnesses how the two lovers were torn apart.

Cassian fell to his knees at the sight of his dead brother. A wail of affliction tore free from him but Selene paid him no mind, she was too far gone beyond the point of salvation, as she still shook Azriel, as if expecting him to awoke any second.

Rhysand was frozen. Body, mind, both numb. His hands were shaking as he took in the sight before him. No no no. This couldn’t be happening. Azriel couldn’t be... dead. He couldn’t be. Rhysand was going to take him home, was going to apologise. He would have paid with his own life if he had to, to Selene and Azriel. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen...

Selene turned on him, rushing over to where he stood. He realised too late, she was holding Truth Teller. She must have grabbed it before winnowing here. Feyre, however, did and she moved to stop her. But Rhysand held her back. No. He would take whatever punishment his sister would deem him worthy of. His wings. His life. All were offered.

But despite screaming only a few seconds ago, which Rhysand also expected her to do, Selene only cried out softly, as if she was too tired to raise her voice anymore,

"How could you do this to me Rhysand? You put out the light of my heart. You killed the one who held my soul. You know, when you took him from me and then lied to me about it, when you took my love from me, my entire being was plunged into darkness. I was drowning in my soul's agony. The hope that I could find him again, kept me alive. I took refuge in that hope. But you took even that away from me. And who knows... if he had been alive.. maybe I could have forgiven you. Maybe we could have moved past this a century or two later. If he had been alive, there could be hope for another spring. Light could have lit up our lives again, flowers would have blossomed again. Your court would have been covered in the red of roses rather than the tainted blood of my innocent mate! You have forever changed the fate of this court Rhysand. You have summoned such a winter, whose icy winds will never stop.Everything will surrender to it. Everyone will meet their end because of it . My suffering, my pain is over Rhysand. But yours... yours has just begun."

Selene raised Truth Teller. Behind him, Feyre and Mor cried out his name, assuming the knife was meant to him. Beside him Cassian moved as well to get Rhysand out of Selene’s way. But Selene... Selene gave her brother one last whisper of a smile before moving Truth Teller to her own throat. It was then that the Shadowsinger's legendary blade spilt its last drop of blood. It was then that it took one last life, the life of someone who no one could have ever imagined being subjected to the blade.

Rhysand was frozen in place as he watched his sister, his darling baby sister slit her own throat in front of him. As she fell, he did too.

Kneeling, he held her lifeless body as blood flowed freely from her. The same blood that drawing from Azriel had given him so much pleasure only some time back. And now... his sister, his only family was gone. Gone...because of him.

The High Lord’s agonised roar could have been heard all across Velaris as he cried for his sister, for his brother who he had murdered with his own two hands. How... how could he have been so foolish? How had they come to this? How could Rhysand, the High Lord who believed himself smarter, stronger than any, had fallen for this heinous trap?

And his sister... she had died alone, without her love. So did Azriel. How.... How? How could Rhysand have done this? To think Azriel's childhood, his first steps, his first memories had been of the dark, cold cellar his so called father had locked him in. To think he had gone through all of that, had survived, found happiness only to meet his end in the same way...it was too cruel. Almost a slap to the face, like fate was mocking his brother; look, you tried to escape but what happened? Once again you return to this lonely darkness. People like you don't deserve happiness. No. Rhysand couldn't have been this cruel. Why hadn't he waited, why hadn't he questioned his own sinful eyes?

And Azriel... he was gone. His brother, the one person he could always rely on was gone, the one person who had always protected him was gone. To think of the fate he had subjected the two of them to; dying alone, in pain, without their mate by their side. Rhysand couldn't save them...

Cauldron. What had he done?

..................................................................................

The last vestiges of summer left the Night Court. And along with it, it took the last bits of warmth, of plenty... of happiness. The city of starlight now submerged in an unforgiving, relentless winter. As it would be for as long as it shall stand. For the cries of the Daughter of Night had not gone unheard by the Gods.

At the edge of the city, in a small garden by the seaside, the signs of winter first started showing. The home that had always been basked in light and warmth, now stood derelict. Doors have been thrown open, windows too. As the icy wind made its way inside the house, taking over what was once the haven of two lovers, a silence settled. It was the overbearing, suffocating silence. One that made its presence known, that couldn't help but make you think of a lost time, where this silence did not reign. Now... it only mocked the house's desolation. Look, what you used to be? How you have fallen.

Outside, the apple tree in the garden, in whose shade the Shadowsinger and his beloved had once laid, was now barren. As the last leaf of the tree fell, it was joined by the first snow of this eternal winter. Snow that would not stop, that would take all who stood before it.

Oh how they had fallen.... in the end, no one was saved.

[annymation]

How much have Magnifico and Amaya changed in Swap Au and what are the changes in their backstory (you mentioned that they also switched roles)? Does this mean that in Swap Au, the parallels between the villain and the hero are Amaya-Aster and Magnifico-Asha?

I WAS HOPING SOMEONE ASKED! THANK YOU SO MUCH I GET TO TALK ABOUT THESE FREAKS!!!

Alright, so in this swap au, it was pretty easy to imagine Star!Asha and Human!Aster, like, it's just them but Asha is more bubbly and optimistic while Aster is a bit more mature and realistic, nothing crazy... BUT THE ROYALS SWAPPING IS SO CURSED THE MORE I THINK ABOUT IT!

So let's talk about them one at a time:

Queen Amable the Sorceress

Backstory

Okay so for this to work, we'll change some things slightly. Amaya's backstory in this AU remains pretty much the same as Kow!Magnifico. Bla bla bla she wanted to be queen but didn't want to grant wishes and learning magic was too hard for her cause' her heart wasn't in it, badabim-badaboom her parents make a new heir.

However, this new sibling is not Florian, but oh don't worry, Florian will show up later. Swap Amaya had a sister, a sister named Harmona. You might remember her from the villains backstory I wrote way back. Originally Harmona was a mean girl that stole Amaya's boyfriend, but in this AU, Harmona is a good person, in fact, she's pretty much your typical Disney princess that wanted to study magic and one day become a good queen for Rosas

And a good queen she becomes indeed, leaving Amaya quite displeased for being casted out into the shadow of her little sister.

One day, a young man was found, passed out and floating adrift on a boat near the kingdom's shore.

Harmona ordered that he'd be brought to the castle at once, so she could help him with whatever he could need. Obviously the dude is our good ol' Swap Magnus

So Magnus explains he rather not talk about his past just yet, because it's oooh so traumatic, and all he wishes is to repay the queen's kindness by serving as her royal potion maker

Harmona agrees, seeing how her older sister seemed infatuated with the stranger

(Ya know, when you swap the genders it feels weird that Harmona is hooting for her sister to date this guy they just found at sea with no backstory, maybe I'm just looking too much into it but like, suddenly it's no longer a little sibling being a cool wingman and now it's more like "Wtf are you doing? He might be a sociopath" and indeed, he is)

Amaya fell head-over-heels for Magnus, but the guy just wouldn't reciprocate to her advances no matter what. But she knew the feelings were mutual.

Magnus admitted that indeed, he did love her, but to love means to hurt when that person is eventually gone, and that was a pain he didn't want to go through... Not again. (More on that in a bit)

But Amaya convinces him, saying they'll find a way to live happily EVER after. Saying he'll never lose her (lol and then years later she chases after Star!Asha into a storm and dies for a few minutes and he desperately brings her back to life, sacrificing his own youth lmao)

The two of them start dating, doing all that lovey dovey stuff like kissing, giving each other presents, plotting to kill her sister, baking cookies, all that good stuff.

1 year later and Harmona is dead.

Amaya rises to the throne, now with a magic staff she obtained in a quest. And after some practice with Magnus, she knows how to appear a lot more kind hearted and charismatic in the eyes of the public. Soon the two are nicknamed Queen Amable and King Magnifico (I considered renaming them different things so it's not so confusing but I can't think of anything, sorry)

Personality

The queen is a very passionate about giving her people everything they need, she's dramatic and has a larger than life personality. I know I've always said Kow!Amaya was inspired by Mother Gothel, but swap!Amaya here has that Gothel mannerisms to the MAX, like she's full on breaking into song here and there and cracking jokes that may be a lil bit passive aggressive if you pay close attention to what she's saying.

She has a bit of a temper that she does her best to keep under control when in public, but she's also very calculating, not letting her emotions take too much control over her.

She becomes more and more vicious as the story progresses, being absolutely ruthless in her pursue for Asha's magic and finding great joy in making Aster suffer along the way

I'll just let this image speak for itself

Appearance

Ooooh boy that's the best part! Pinterest here I come!

Alright, so first thing's first, in this Au Amaya is older than her husband, and unlike him, she doesn't like drinking youth potions, they taste horrible and cause a lot of pain before taking effect, so she let's herself age a lil bit, after all she is aging like a fine wine.

In conclusion, her hair is white.

And like Kow! Magnifico, she wears no crown, her hair IS her crown

How is her hair you may ask?... It's shaped like a rose

I can't quite decide if she'd have a rose on top and loose hair that give more of a elf vibe or if she'd have a rose shaped bun that give more of a bride vibe, ya'll decide in the comments

Her dress would be tones of white and gold.

King Magnifico the Warlock

If you play D&D like me you might have gotten all giddy seeing that tittle, thinking Mag made a pact with an evil entity or something, but nah, sorry, I'm just calling him "Warlock" cause' that's the male equivalent of a witch

Backstory

On Kow!Amaya's backstory, I was inspired by the greek myth of Persephone and Aphrodite fighting to win the affection of Adonis, but ultimately Adonis preferred Aphrodite.

But with Swap!Magnifico, I'll be taking inspiration from a certain other myth. The myth of Apollo and his lover Hyacinthus.

In the myth, Hyacinthus was a beautiful spartan prince, so beautiful, that he attracted the attention of not just one but TWO gods: Apollo god of the sun, music and prophecy, and Zephyr, the west-wind. However, Hyacinthus fell in love with Apollo first, which made Zephyr quite jealous. So jealous, that he went the "If I can't have you, no one can" route and straight up murdered Hyacinthus.

So yeah, you might already imagine where I'm going with this. So enough with the greek mythology class and let's go to Magnus version

Magnus was a young man that lived in a simple village in Greece, but he desired more in this life, to make a difference and help others

So, he started studying potion crafting, to heal the ill and rejuvenate the old, offering to help all of those in need. However, Magnus felt like the people didn't actually love him for who he was, they only wanted favors from him. He wondered if he'd ever meet someone that loved him for who he was

That's when our boy Hyacinthus shows up, but I'mma just call him Ryan for short.

So Magnus and Ryan fell deeply in love. But oh no, someone else is also in love with Ryan, can you guess who it is?.......... Yeah it's Florian, told ya we'd see him later

Florian was overtaken by jealousy, and decided that if he couldn't have Ryan no one else would.

One day, Manus and Ryan are partaking in a game of throwing a metal discus the highest they can. Florian takes this opportunity and once the discus falls in a place that they can't see, he steals it, hides behind some bushes while the couple is looking for their discus, and BONCS the metal discus right on Ryan's head, killing him.

Magnus did not see who the heck threw the discus. Consumed by grief, he locked himself away from the world for days, to mourn the death of his lover, but it didn't take long for people to come asking for more potions, more favors.

Magnus knew that whoever killed Ryan was in that village, he had no way of knowing who, but he knew one thing, they were all rotten, ungrateful pests that deserved a fate worse than death. Consumed by his wrath, he began to architect a plan.

So the gay go do crimes.

Magnus poisons their crops, thus cursing all the villagers, including Florian.

He sails off, running away from the few people that didn't get cursed, and later ends up lost at sea, until he's found by some sailors of Rosas. And the rest you already know.

Personality

So Magnifico in this AU functions as a calming and supportive husband for Queen Amable, though, although he's very gentle with her, his way of calming her is very... Unhinged.

Like, let's say Amaya is stressed because they can't find those dang kids, Magnus reaction to this is being like "Aww my darling, don't fret, I promise you as soon as they fall in our grasp I shall use my potions to turn their bones into mush, make their blood boil like hot oil, and we shall rejoice as we listen them pathetically shriek in pure, delicious agony" and he says all that in the sweetest voice you've ever heard.

He's like, an evil henchman, but that is actually competent, even though sometimes he can get a bit silly, which is very dangerous, don't get near him when he's getting the sillies

Honestly I might be more afraid of this version of Magnifico than the normal one, because the normal one at least has a fun showsman personality, this one just stays quiet most of the time in the background smiling menancingly, that is when he's not pretending to be nice to Aster, acting almost like a father figure, or showing his totally unhinged true nature. Terrifying.

Eh here's a meme for him too, it's basically their couple dynamic:

Appearance

Magnifico with a crown is cursed, but oh well, let's see what I can find on Pinterest

Alright, so straight up, he has Chris Pine's hair from the D&D movie. And he wears a relatively simple crown

His clothes are tones of white and blue with hints of yellow, taking some inspiration from greek clothing styles.

He wears the hood of his cloak often.

OKAY this took a while to write, but it was really fun imagining these alternate versions of the characters! Hope you liked them.

[vigilskeep]

oh what is your personal characterization of irving? i'm so interested on your take on him

this ask got sent after i answered another one, so i’ll start with what i said there: in many ways, irving and greagoir are the intended ideal of a first enchanter and knight-commander. world of thedas vol2 says: “it is a surprise to many that irving often credits knight-commander greagoir for his success as first enchanter. [...] though their friendship was never entirely without conflict, mutual respect and understanding resulted in a working partnership rarely seen in the circle leadership.” (i consider the first part a veiled joke at greagoir’s expense but that’s my very specific irving characterisation lmao.)

i think irving is clever before he is anything else. one of the things that separates the mage origin out from any other is that irving is making it happen. he is setting you up to be recruited by the grey wardens and succeeds no matter what you do. he talks you up to duncan, he sets you up to talk with duncan yourself, he’s aware of jowan’s secret relationship and his blood magic, and no matter what happens he completely handles the situation so he’s talking like he’s on the templars’ side and only grudgingly letting you go when he in fact planned it from the first. it’s mesmerising. i love it for him. that’s why he’s such a good first enchanter. that’s why he’s the guy who can be so trusted by the templars that on his word alone they will not annul a literally demon infested circle, even when he has been trapped in said demon infested circle. that’s why kinloch hold is the most lenient circle in thedas and you can find enchanters wandering the map by themselves with full circle permission. that’s why anders is alive. because irving is that good at his job. and because greagoir is the right blend of dutiful and not as smart as he is for him to be able to get away with it. this being my reasoning for guessing the above is maybe a veiled joke. irving credits greagoir for his own success because of what he has been able to get away with

that being said, irving is a very flawed man: he is so committed to the game he is playing, to scoring one against the templars and for his own side, that he’s forgotten part of his compassion for the mages under his care. some are protected, like anders and the mage warden, but others, like jowan and any other young mages so desperate and afraid they try blood magic, are sacrificed like pawns, thrown to the wolves for the safety of the whole. (although i do think it is remarkable that in the encounter irving designed, jowan manages to... miraculously disappear from a pre-arranged trap in the middle of the circle tower surrounded by templars. the chantry sister got sent to aeonar and the young mages got out free. like i’m just saying that’s convenient. things turned out pretty well for the mages, there. hmmm.)

so what does all that say for irving’s characterisation. how do i summarise a guy in one ask. uhhh i think he’s bitterly bitterly angry from a life spent under the control of the templars and he wants every win he can scrape away. i think he cares a lot abt the mages under his care but tends to do so specifically rather than for them all, because the sheer number of them (and the sheer number of them who will be lost, who he has seen lost year after year and has had to manage as tranquil or watch the templars kill) is simply exhausting. i think he’s capable of being funny in a sharp dry way with terrible gallows humour among his fellow senior enchanters and perhaps occasionally with his favoured students (possibly an influence on some of anders’ lines). i think he has high expectations of loyalty and ability from his fellow mages because he would expect no less from himself; the guy’s still forcing out the words to tell you to stop uldred after being tortured for who knows how long and then he’s complaining abt having to take the stairs down like a true old man. i think he arranged for the mage warden to become a grey warden partly because of the influence he believed his student might be able to hold if they proved themself on behalf of all mages, and partly because he just wanted them to be free

[out-of-users]

KNY Hashira God! AU!

Chapter 1: The start

Shit, shit, shit. Those were the thoughts racing through Tanjiro’s head as he carried his sister, Nezuko, on his back through the snow-filled hills.

After the slaughter of his family, and finding Nezuko as the sole survivor, almost fatally wounded and unconscious, Tanjiro’s heart swelled as he felt the younger sibling stir on his back.

“Just stay still, Nezuko.” Big brother’s going to get you to safety.” Tanjiro’s voice whispered to her. “Just stay still.”

Aggressive yelling and growling came from Nezuko as she wrestled off Tanjiro’s back, and pounced onto him.

“NEZUKO! WHAT’S GOTTEN INTO YOU!” Tanjiro yelled as he put a hatchet in her mouth to lodge it and buy him time.

Though it didn’t work, and all the wrestling made them fall off a ledge. When his vision cleared, he could see Nezuko on top of him, tears coming out of her eyes. He also saw a deep pond, one wrong move and they’d fall in and drown. Oh god. This situation couldn’t get worse, could it?

Yes, yes it could, and somehow it did. The lake started shifting abnormally.

The waves got bigger, and bigger, and one of them pulled Nezuko into the water. The younger sibling was trapped in a bubble of air, under the water. Before Tanjiro could say anything, though, something else came out of the water.

The ‘‘something’’ was apparently a someone, and he looked godly. With pale skin, ocean blue eyes, and a half red, half green and yellow checkered kimono, so light and dry it looked like he never came out of the water, Tanjiro’s mind was racing. How? Since when? He’s heard of gods, and paid his respects, but never met them.

“Pathetic. Look at you, trying to save a demon.”, The man spoke. His voice was dull, devoid of emotion.

“Please, you must understand! She’s good inside! I know it! Please, Spare her! I’ll find a cure, and fix her, just spare her, I beg of you!”, Tanjiro exclaimed, on his hands and knees, only talking faster as the air bubble that entrapped his sister got smaller.

“QUIT YOUR PATHETIC GROVELING! DEMONS ARE DEMONS, NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES! EVEN IF YOU BELIEVE SHE’S A GOOD PERSON, HOW IS YOUR DEAD BODY GOING TO FIND ANYTHING!” The once null god’s voice was now full of expression.

“Don’t beg, don’t give in to sorrow. You’re too young, enjoy your years. I know what it’s like. Your soul is far too pure.” Thought the god, as he stared at the speechless and now crying red-haired boy.

The air bubble got smaller, and Tanjiro had to think. Fast.

The axe, still in shape, was lying right beside him. With newfound strength, he pushed himself up, and started throwing rocks at the deity.

“That won’t work. You can’t kill a god. Worst you can do is hurt us, a small amount-” His voice was dead now. Back to what it was before.

But this time, he didn’t get to finish his sentence. An axe came straight for his head. It all became clear now to the shocked god. While he was throwing rocks, he got behind a tree, and secretly threw the axe. If he was a human, that could’ve killed him.

And while he was distracted, that means the demon girl could have-

Too late.

“GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!” Nezuko broke free from the air bubble, just as the mysterious god knocked Tanjiro unconscious. The now furious girl lunged for Tanjiro, and despite the god’s best attempts, he failed to stop her from getting there.

But instead of killing him, she stood there, and protected him.

Nothing could compare to the shocked look on the god’s face, as he saw the scene unfold.

Maybe, just maybe, these kids could be good.

Maybe they had a shot.

They were different, to say the least.

They were special. They sacrificed themselves for the other person, and had trust in each-other.

Reminded the god of the people he used to know. Remembrance flooded through his veins, but he didn’t have time for that.

“Go see a man named Sakonji Urokodaki when you wake up.” He said, to a dazed and confused Tanjiro, and a very angry and protective nezuko, who was too busy protecting to hear or understand.

“Tell him Tomioka Giyuu, the water god, sent you.”

All he got in response was a growl from Nezuko, and a nod from Tanjiro, but that was enough. He knocked both kids unconscious, and gave them one last glance.

“Rest well.” He said, as he slowly and quietly walked to to the middle of the pond, embracing the water as it swallowed him back up into the depths of the pond, and after he dissapeared, The sibling duo slept peacefully in eachother’s arms, holding eachother for heat, as the bitter winter air and snow surrounded them.

They were both alone, yet not forgotten.

Author’s note: HIIII! TOOK ME AGES TO WRITE THIS, YET IT’S STILL SO SHORT! (-_-) anywho, @zofi-persson You asked to be notified when it came, and here it is! (Again, I’m so sorry if this is bad.) anywho, see y’all later! Plz enjoy!

[sapphim]

So! I've been talking a bit about malcolm and his relationships with his kids, and I received a question about what carver had said about malcolm that I was referring to. Which got some great responses! But as I promised I would, I've collected some direct text from the in game dialogue and codex, and world of thedas about carver that I feel is illuminating in that regard, with some extra concerning leandra/bethany/hawke where I felt like it.

Prologue

Carver's codex entry if he died in the prologue:

Carver grew up surrounded by magic he couldn't truly understand. He cared deeply for his family, but sometimes felt like the stupidest person in the room. Carver foundered in Lothering, caught between the gifts of his apostate sister, Bethany, and the growing skill of his more focused sibling, Hawke. But even as Carver groused about his lot, he remained dedicated to protecting those he loved. He didn't think twice about sacrificing himself to save his mother during the flight from the darkspawn, and although Carver struggled to find his way in life, there is gratification in knowing his death had purpose.

Act 1

Carver's codex entry if he survived the prologue:

Strong and strapping, Carver is a skilled warrior set on proving himself, although it's not always clear who he is trying to impress. The son and sibling of mages, he grew up surrounded by magic he couldn't truly understand—and he feels like something was expected that he could never deliver. He cares deeply for his family, but sometimes feels like the stupidest person in the room. Carver foundered in Lothering. He blamed his lack of direction on not wanting to draw attention to his family of apostates at home. After his father died, he started down a military path; however, the Blight and rout at Ostagar ended this career almost before it could start. While he knows that swift flight was the only reasonable course in the face of the darkspawn advance, he almost would rather have stood and fought. Doomed though the effort was, facing the horde had purpose—something Carver had been searching for.

Birthright

Hawke: [Be happy for Mother.] You could slap on a smile for a few days. For her sake. Carver: She's not interested in what I think. She wants to provide for us, and you're making sure it happens.

Hawke: [No one is holding you back.] The "second child" act is getting pretty stale, Brother. Carver: Try it from this side, always running after you. Or taking care of Mother while you mark your territory. Hawke: That's enough, Carver. Carver: Even back home, what could I be? The lone blade in a house of mages? If I excelled, it brought too much attention.

Hawke: [You're being an ass.] You hating everything I do is really losing its charm. Carver: Sure, make light. Why take anything seriously? You're the eldest, you lead by default. Hawke: I don't see you taking the reins. Carver: When should I do that? When I'm following you around, or when I'm caring for Mother while you tame mighty Kirkwall?

Hawke: Well, good talk. Carver: [Sister./Brother.] Carver: I feel… I don't know. It's like Mother, taking everything out on us. She was just scared. Carver: I don't have a place in the life she is trying to bring back. Carver: I'm here if you need me, but I must find my own way.

Family History

Carver: These are by Father? Are you sure they aren't meant for you? I bet another mage could get more out of them.

Hawke: [Ser Maurevar was a good one.] Father must have felt he was worth honoring. Carver: A man who let him look ahead, and a name that would always mean "skill thoughtfully applied." Hawke: Seems like he thought it held some promise. Carver: Not a link back, but how to go forward. That's what I was to him. Carver: I… don't know what to say. Except… thank you.

Carver: I wonder how it compares to yours. Hawke: I'm sure someone thought far too long about my name. Point is, this was a swordsman. Carver: A man who let him look ahead. It would always mean "skill thoughtfully applied." Carver: Not exactly "master of all blades," but… Father actually thought there was worth to a swordsman. Carver: Thank you, [Sister/Brother]. It's… a connection I didn't think was there.

Legacy - Malcolm's Will

Malcolm: I may have left the Circle, but I took a vow. My magic will serve that which is best in me, not that which is most base. Carver: "That which is best in me." Father used to say that, didn't he? To you and Bethany? Carver: She never felt like she could live up to him.

Carver: Father didn't want a child with magic? He got that one wrong twice over. [Act 2, friendly Carver] Carver: He sure didn't show any regret back home. The attention he gave you and Bethany… Carver: Well, I guess he figured the worst that could happen to me was tripping on my sword. Hawke: [He had confidence in you.] He knew you didn't need protecting. You were the strongest of us. Carver: Sure, it's easy to believe that now. But I think… I just wanted to help. [Act 1] Carver: He can't have meant it. You and Bethany, you were his favorites. Weren't you? A: Hawke: [You know that's not true.] You can't believe that. Carver: Maybe not. But you had your little guild and I didn't really meet the requirements. Hawke: [No we weren't. Grow up.] Only relative to his disappointment for you. Of course we weren't his favorites! Carver: All right, all right, but you did have your little mage guild. Carver: I suppose he knew it would be dangerous for you. That templars were the least of the problems. Carver: Bethany didn't like it. Did you know? She wished she was "normal." Like me. B: Hawke: [We should have been.] The amount of complaining you do, I wouldn't have blamed him. Carver: It wasn't easy being outside your little guild, you know! Carver: And no, inside was probably no better. But even if father didn't want you to have magic, you still had that connection. Carver: I was always outside. Hawke: [You were free.] Right, outside with the dog. But you had no leash. Not like we did.

Hawke: [Why did you join the templars?] Carver, shouldn't all this make you want to, I don't know, offer a reason for joining the order? Carver: I have to defend the one moment I stopped waiting and did something? Hawke: If you wanted to spite me… [friendly] Carver: I'd hoped those wounds were at least scabbed. It wasn't you. It never was. [rival] Carver: No! See, right there is the problem. For the longest time, I thought it was you, but it wasn't. Carver: We spent so long running, and why? Because of magic, the Blight, money, and abuses. Carver: Well I'm no mage, I'm no Warden, and you didn't need me. But maybe… maybe there's one thing I can do. [Family history completed] Carver: Father believed in a templar. Why can't I? [else] Carver: For more than me. And you.

Bethany: Do you remember when Carver ran away and enlisted in King Cailan's army at fifteen? Hawke: He came clanking back in so much armor he could barely lift his legs. Bethany: Father didn't know whether to burst with pride or lock him in the cellar.

Legacy - Post Plot

Hawke: You never liked that he spent so much time with Bethany and I, but it wasn't all bad. Carver: He started training me too, best he could. Then I picked up some things from those soldiers who came through. Carver: Remember when I beat him? Took the blade clean away. Hawke: He was holding back. Carver: On magic? Sure, but not the blade. After that… well, he knew I could handle the house while he was off with you. Templar Carver: Another way you take after him, if I remember correctly.

Hawke: You know, I don't think we had it that bad. For a while. A short while. Carver: I think I blinked and missed it.

Bethany: You know, as much as he had to spend time training me, he was so proud of you and Carver. Bethany: His little soldiers. Bethany: His scoundrel and his soldier.

World of Thedas

I'll end with some excerpts from his WOTv2 entry.

Said he wanted to protect his family. That someone had to, because his father had died and, well, you know how the Champion turned out. Carver took it real serious, and I could tell he was hiding some family shame…. Carver said his father taught what he could, but he'd mostly watched mercs sparring when he was young, then aped it with whatever wooden waster he could get. I knew how it was, I did my time with a stick or two. That's what you do when you're on your own for lack of money or interest. Or whatever concerned a father like his…. We were far back from the named companies, supporting the "glory" of their charge or whatever. So far afield, I barely heard the call to attack. Not Carver, though. He ran as fast as he could, and damned if he didn't cut a wedge in the horde. A few of us kep the 'spawn off his flanks and used him as a spear… I never heard a retreat, but I heard the yelling when the royal colors went down. And then the Wardens, too. And I thought we were done without them. But not the Hawke boy. The more ground we lost, the harder he swung that plank of a sword of his. He was shouting that we had to win, that it was to keep our homes safe. I swear he was crying when we finally tackled him… It took three of us to drag him to cover. I had to slap him back to his senses, to make him see that killing five or ten more 'spawn wouldn't matter. The wall was on us, and dying there wasn't going to help anyone. I said if he wanted to do his family good, he'd get them safe. This wasn't his failure….