#but in Calamity (see I brought it back around) on the other hand EVERYONE was a Suvi in their own way

[finnfrei]

Hope you don't mind me asking again of your bard and her dragonborn? 😅

It’s getting hard to refuse a chance to rant about them, especially now as we have finished the campaign🌝

I keep thinking about this one scene after Clio got back from an adventure that almost became the party’s last one. They got to meet the gods of their realm or those who claimed to be ones. One of them turned out to be her sister’s patron, the other unwillingly caused vivid nightmares that were haunting Clio for more than five years reminding her about the assault she and her sister barely survived. Our oathbreaker paladin also had a time of his life meeting the god he used to serve. The party almost died there trying to prevent the destruction of their civilisation and death of everyone they love along with it. Her sister did die in a way there.

After killing some gods and saving the world, learning and surviving things she couldn’t even begin to comprehend, Clio got back home to the Iron City. She stormed to an ongoing council meeting in an iconic Aragorn at Helm’s Deep fashion, telling the story about what they’ve been through, explaining the recent global calamity and how they’ve managed to stop it. The utter awe on faces of other members of the council, including Hescan’s, brought bard the satisfaction she was seeking. Clio couldn’t quite grasp it but something was different about the way her chief looked at her. Last time she saw him he told her he was falling deep for her… or it was just a fever she had then, she couldn’t tell, she wasn’t sure. The man she was talking to through the communication ring during the adventure seemed to be the same unbothered and cold Dragonborn she knows for a few years now. Something shifted and for the first time she felt her hands sweating in his presence.

…

“I could’ve actually lost you this time,” he said in a quieter voice when they were finally alone and she noticed the slight shiver in chief’s voice. Clio’s heart clenched in her chest, he meant it. He worried about her.

That evening and the night that came after he was gentle, caring. That was new. Of course, he always made sure not to hurt her, unless she wanted to, but he never really expressed his affection like that. Not that it was unpleasant, it surprised and puzzled her.

…

“I was thinking…” he stumbled during a pillow talk a few hours later, “you know…maybe we should start spending more time together?”. She could’ve sworn she saw a blush coming through those emerald scales of his.

“I need to talk to you,” she sighed feeling tense and set up on the edge of the bed.

Hescan stood up, got around the bed, poured and passed a goblet of wine to the girl also taking one for himself.

“You know,” she started, “I believed my twin was dead there for some time. We had a huge fight right before that. All I could think about were things I should’ve told her or done and would never get a chance to.”

Hescan set quietly on his knees on the floor across from his little spy and was looking up at Clio as she proceeded, “And then I thought, what if we fail the whole “world saving” thing and I will never get to see you again. There’re things I regret I haven’t told you.” she stopped, trying to regain composure, “I have met someone,” she said avoiding looking at him at first, “He’s wonderful. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so safe and peaceful with anyone before.”

She could see the tension, anger and confusion building in his face.

“I feel seen. He looked into me and managed to bring back the girl even I believed was long gone, hiding under the myriad of different masks. He listens and he hears every word I say,” she smiles feeling already embarrassed of what she’s going to say next, “And despite all the common sense, I… I trust him.”

“What…” Hescan utters quietly, breaking the silence that filled the room. The look of anger, pain and the sticky feeling of betrayal washing over him.

“I trust him,” she repeats, “and I trust him my heart. I trust he will take good care of it.” Clio reaches with her hand and gently touches Dragonborn’s chest over his heart as she asks softly, “You will take care of it for me, wouldn’t you?”

The girl was waiting for a moment, watching as the anger on Hescan’s face changed to confusion and then the sparkle in his eyes as he glanced back at her when realisation finally hit him.

“I’m going to kill you!” he growled as he pounced at her, pushing her back on the soft bed. The girl giggled in his strong embrace, feeling the pressure of his body over hers.

“I need to hear it, my heart” she pleaded, pushing him away just enough to look him in the eyes.

He smiled softly and whispered, “I love you.” as he gently bit the arch of her neck, “you’re safe,” he followed with a kiss.

[velvetvexations]

Putting it like that I wonder how much Calamity might've directly inspired Suvi.

Rewatching through EXU Calamity and I just want to give big props to Marisha and Aabria for going so hard on the “rip to that other guy but I’m different” vibes that the Age of Arcanum was overflowing with.

The ladies find a letter written in plain and simple language that essentially says “Wizards can’t be trusted with knowledge because they’re too ambitious so I won’t tell you what the tree does” and immediately went “well maybe not those ambitious wizards but we’re totally different ambitious wizards who definitely know what we’re doing and are so much better and cooler that we’ll definitely be able to handle what we find!”

The arrogance, the drama, the self-centered hubris of it all—god I wish we had more time with these two ego-maniacs!

[lavandulawrites]

Okay but here me out with this idea, I don know why my brain made this connection but cause Snezhnaya is snowy and stuff and Snow White normally takes place in a snowy climate.

Capitano with a Snow White darling.

Like with the Calamity saw her once or twice before she fell asleep, and she is like the former Cryo Archon’s daughter or something. So when her father dies she falls asleep as since he created her out of snow or something to be his daughter, she lives off of his power or the abyssal power corrupts her body so much that she gets so weak and falls into a deep slumber. The Tsaritsa has her body in room in the Zapolyarny Palace, taken care of while she slumbers for hundreds of years.

So then when Capitano becomes the first of the Fatui Harbingers he finally sees her again, only in a sleep like death.

Snow White

Yandere Capitano x reader

This such an amazing idea!╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ I’ve always loved Snow White and it’s such a fitting concept for Capitano. (Let me know if anyone wanna be apart of my taglist).

Masterlist

Warnings: obsession, future murder, delusional Capitano, female reader

Word count: 901

The first time he saw you, you were sitting in the winter garden within the place. Your hair was elegantly braided in Snezhnayan fashion. Your makeup was minimal, but well suited. Your pale blue gown was flowy, yet warm given the white fur that was sewn onto the sleeves, the end of the skirt and the collar.

His breath was uncharacteristically caught in his throat at the sight of your beauty. You had looked up at him with a gentle and innocent smile. You didn’t seem intimidated by his towering height nor his muscular form.

The second time he saw you was at a ball hosted by the cryo archon. That was the day he learned you had been brought into existence by the powers of the archon, your father. Capitano found himself even more awestruck at your beauty, knowing your existence was above human nature. Your eyes had a certain glow one would never find in human beings. Your ethereal beauty stunned everyone that looked your way as you moved around the grand ballroom in your gown that sparkled like ice crystals.

The Captain bowed before you as he asked for a dance. You happily obliged. One of his large hand found the small of your back. The other held your hand gently as he lead you through the room in fluid dance that even surprised him. You were a talented dancer and he felt blessed by the heavens above to be in your presence. For once he longed for an entity above humans. His Khaenri'an kin and companions would be greatly disappointed to see him like this, but the black haired man could not care less. Not when he had found the woman he could imagine spending eternity with.

The evening came to an halt sooner than he had expected, and soon he saw you bid him farewell with a wave of your hand and a bright smile upon your lips.

Centuries had passed since the former archon had died and you, his daughter, had fallen into an eternal sleep. He kneeled before the Tsaritsa as she made him the first ranking Harbinger. He was a proud man and promised to serve her and her country for an eternity. He took her pale delicate hand in his large hand. A black colour with faint cobalt blue lines had started to form on his fingertips as a sign of the curse. He brought his hand to his mouth and kissed her gently. She smiled down at him with what resembled motherly love.

After the ceremony he was left alone, free to roam the palace. The new archon had placed great trust in him. He wandered the palace with his head held high and with a new identity. His steps came to an halt when he was faced with a large set of doors that looked like they were made of thick ice. He couldn’t see through them as their thickness was too great, but he sensed a presence behind them that lured him closer.

His hand itched towards the handle with a pull of an invisible force. As in a trance he opened the doors. They were heavy, but it was no struggle thanks to his inhuman strength. The room was dark except the small ice lanterns that casted a dim icy light. The room was lacking in interior, save for the lanterns and a big clear ice coffin. He could faintly see the outline of a person inside it.

Capitano’s feet moved on their own accord towards the enigmatic coffin. As he came closer he got a good look at the person inside. His heart hammered against his chest and his throat closed at the sight of you. When he saw that your chest heaved gently, he let out a shaky breath of relief. Finally, finally after all those years he got to see you again. He had thought it was a myth that the daughter of the former archon, the woman made of snow and ice, was sleeping in a ice coffin within the palace.

Capitano placed his hand on the lid. The cold ice sent a biting sensation through his gloveless hand, but he could not care less. How could he when the love of his life was right before him?

“Don’t worry, my princess. I will get us reunited sooner or later. Just be patient” he whispered as he kneeled before you with a hand over his heart. “I promise.”

He slowly rose to his feet when an idea struck him. His movements stilled as his blue eyes were locked onto your sleeping form. What kind of man would he be if he left you alone? He gritted his teeth as hot raging hatred filled his cursed veins. How could your father be so careless? Capitano wished with all his heart that your father would appear before him alive, just so he could kill him again.

He would find away to convince the Tsaritsa to let him away your hand in marriage. He would also have to find everyone underneath the former archon’s court and kill them for their inability of taking care of you. After he was done, he would finally have you all to himself. Waking you up shouldn’t be too difficult with a little bit of help from his colleagues and her Majesty.

You would never get out of his reach ever again.

[dutifulsilence]

Clouds surround him as Link sits atop the Temple of Time on the Great Sky Island, where his real quest had begun. Find Zelda, he'd been told. Save the world. Be the Hero. A task he'd fulfilled once, when the Calamity was defeated, a role he'd shed after to try to live a normal life for the past five years until the Upheaval.

A mask he'd worn for the last several months.

The mask had been chipped, cracked, and finally broken clean in half as everything came to crushing climax. Link was exhausted to a true breaking point, worn out from following the same steps as before - a downfall, starting anew, and slowly regaining his strength. It had been difficult the first time and was proving impossible to him now. He'd struggled through challenges, seen his friends suffer, and while he'd been able to work with them to save their homes, it made him realize a truth he'd never wanted to admit.

He couldn't save his and he'd never been able to.

Home had been lost to him a hundred years ago - his life, his past, almost everyone that had mattered to him had been lost the moment he'd fallen on the Blatchery Plain. He had no home to return to - not his childhood home, full of the ghosts of memories and an aching sense of not belonging, nor the house built near Tarrey Town, memory-less and little more than a base camp.

Home for him had been lost when Zelda had fallen into that chasm, swallowed by magic and thrown into the ancient past, and was far out of his reach as Zelda was now. He'd seen the memories in the tears, knew the fate she'd chosen - out of faith in him.

A faith placed mistakenly.

Link sighed and brought his hand up to rub at his shoulder, where soft Zonai scales met smooth Hylian skin. It burned, as it had when the gloom had taken his arm. It ached with phantom pain. Strange, he thought, as this normally only occurred when the Blood Moon approached, but that had passed only a couple of days ago.

Idly, he kept rubbing at his shoulder as he caught sight of the Light dragon drifting in the distance, her white scales glittering in the sunlight cast down from above. Link's heart clenched at the sight, tears forming in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Zelda - I was never good enough, was I? This is twice I've let you down." Throat constricting, Link swallowed a choked sob. "I'm not a hero like the others. Any other Hero would have kept you safe, made sure you never had to sacrifice so much. You'd still be home, with our friends, and not alone."

A twinge of pain in his shoulder spread up towards his neck, and while Link could not see it, his skin burned with new markings - tinged a pale blue-violet like a light bruise, but stretching out towards his heart. Link ignored the pain.

"I won't be able to save you. Hylia yn h've, the Master Sword chose the wrong wielder." As Link spoke, the bruising continued to cross his skin. Link poured out all the pain he felt, choking out words of guilt and self-loathing, of failing and not being enough, and with each syllable, the bruising spread. It reached his hair line and wheat-blond locks stained purple from root to tip.

"I'm afraid, Zelda. I'm scared to death to face the Demon King. I can't do it. I'm not strong enough and I never was."

Tears fell, rolling down his cheeks in streams. Link squeezed his eyes shut, overwhelmed by his own emotions, all walls tumbling down. The black geometric scars from his shoulder crossed his chest, ran up his neck and just below his jawline. His arms curled around himself, Link all but screamed out to the heavens.

"I can't save anyone anymore!"

Link dropped his head against his knees, heartbroken and soul-shattered. For what felt like ages, he cried - like a small child, lost in the world alone. That was the feeling he'd carried for years, since he'd woken up in the Shrine of Resurrection with nothing but his name. It was the feeling of knowing he didn't belong, that he had died and been brought back a stranger to himself.

Worst of all, it was the feeling of fear, a terror so great he'd never voiced it before, burying it deep inside himself to show the world a dedicated soldier, a young man chosen for a great duty, a Champion and Hero. All of it masking the truth of a scared young boy who'd never been ready for any of it.

Link raised his head, a moon-pale palm brushing tears away and lashes parting to reveal a glow of red eyes.

"I can't even save myself."

[marcynomercy]

Fate written in blood

YES CHAPTER 5 HAS ARRIVED! I apologize, unfortunately the person doing the beta-reading of the chapters got sick and still had their own uni projects, please understand. Thank you so much @littol-rascal even though you were busy, you did beta-reading for me. I’m very grateful. So I warn you that the next chapter may take time, but it’s for good! I hope you understand.

Summary: The blood has always been her way until the day that fate changed, After being kidnapped by mind flayers and the fall of the Nautiloid Calamity had a new opportunity for freedom and strangely her fate crossed with that of Astarion when the elf put that dagger around her neck. 

 Their fate until now was written by others, but now they would write with their own hands in blood. 

Warnings: Violence, blood, game events, mentions of trauma, distress/comfort, mention of abuse, wounds, mentions of torture. (That’s it for now)

Ship: Astarion and Calamity (Tav), Shadowheart and Carniex (Tav), mentions of other characters.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4.

Chapter 5 - Lost Memory

  Calamity spent what felt like countless hours taking care of her brother–to her eyes, the water was already pure red with blood, and the towels all bloodied and torn… she wiped her forehead with the back of her hand... gods be damned! She cursed the culprits in her mind. 

"Caly?" Shadowheart entered the tent with a vessel of clean water and saw her friend’s face, tired and stained with blood. "Your... face is dirty." She murmured. 

"Oh... I think I got dirty when I wiped my brow." Calamity replied dazedly. She looked again to her brother, who had finally fallen asleep, succumbing to exhaustion over pain.

"I brought herbs and bandages," Shadowheart said as she checked Carnifex’s fever. "The fever got higher... Honestly, it was to be expected, with how tightly he held you despite his injuries, prolonging the time without treatment…”

"He was always like that, "Calamity said, smiling softly. "Carn was always proud of his resilience, he always said it was because he was the oldest." A bittersweet smile stamped her face. " Idiot... he spoiled me too much. When we were kids, he insisted that if I had a problem, that big brother would solve everything. But, the world is not so simple, not so easy, and I fought with him many times because of this… and even now he insists on doing everything himself…” Calamity grumbled as she continued to wipe the wounds on Carnifex’s back, and Shadowheart watched, concern in her eyes. 

"I think he just wanted you to not have to worry…, I’d say you’re very lucky." Shadowheart concluded while preparing the medicine for him. "You are very lucky to have each other."

"Yes, we are… maybe that’s what has made us so strong," Calamity concluded.

 As Calamity turned to dip her cloth in the water, she saw it was once again red with blood. 

"I’ll get more water..." Calamity said getting up with the vessel in her hands and leaving the tent leaving her brother with Shadowheart.

 The camp was silent, but everyone was watching the tent of Calamity, it was the matter of the moment between them. Everyone watched Calamity come out of the tent, weary and bloodstained. They wouldn’t tell her to her face, of course, but  her companions feared that Carnifex was closer to death’s door than the land of the living, especially seeing the crimson stains upon their friend.  

"Gods... it really is a terrible thing." Gale muttered as everyone looked on. 

"It’s amazing he was up and conscious at all," Wyll muttered in response as he drank a sip of wine.

"Tsk, if he is weak, he will die like the rest of his frivolous race." Lae'zel, as always, was not the nicest in her comments. 

 Astarion ignored the conversation of his companions, he was... bored at least. The smell of the blood of Carnifex was irritating him, it was similar to that of Calamity’s blood, but not as sweet as hers... it had a touch of bitterness, the bitter flavor of a well-aged wine. It frustrated him, the minute details and differences between them, and the time they spent, though of course it was due to Carnifex’s injuries… 

"Someone is seething with jealousy here." Karlach chuckled, and Astarion huffed, glaring at the tiefling pointedly. 

"I am not!" Astarion replied with a snort, though his comrades didn’t believe his words at all. 

 Calamity took the opportunity to clean up a bit while refilling the water vessel at the river, though her mind was loathe to accept even a small break from its duties.  She saw flashes of prison cells while taking care of her brother… whenever he was imprisoned and chained, after being tortured, she would always go to the cell and take care of him, clean his wounds, make the bandages and even the medicines... she did everything. Sometimes she could do it without problems, other times... she would feel like vomiting, just from remembering what she had to do to get permission to go see him. Even now, standing in the river, she kept seeing those cold stone walls... I’m in camp, I’m in camp, I’m not there anymore! I’m free... we’re free! It’s okay, it’s okay. 

Calamity chanted in her mind… of course, it was 100 years, of course she wouldn’t easily forget, maybe the tadpole was somehow acting as a stabilizer for her messy mind… that would be ironic, if it was true.

"It seems you really were right to worry about him, dear." Calamity startled at the sound of Astarion’s voice behind her. "And it seems that your head is far from here." 

"I... am rambling again, it’s a bit annoying." Calamity sighed, turning to Astarion as she stood, vessel in her hands. " And why are you so upset?"

Astarion did not respond.

 He refused to tell the truth… well to be honest, he didn’t even know what the truth was, exactly–perhaps because Calamity had diverted all attention to another? Maybe he missed her dedication to his needs, his very being, or... maybe he just felt jealous that her bastard brother has such a kind person next to him to take care of his open wounds. But he wouldn’t call Carnifex such a word, anyways. 

"Don’t worry about me. You have another to concern yourself with now." Astarion turned and walked away, but perhaps he would have regretted those words if he had turned around, and seen Calamity’s upset and hurt expression as she watched him leave. 

 Finally, Calamity and Shadowheart had finished dressing Carnifex’s wounds after countless hours, and watching over him for days. Much to everyone’s relief, his fever was going down, and his wounds would probably be completely closed by the next day. 

"Well, I would tell him to stay at camp for a while, but something tells me he’s going to be accompanying us tomorrow." Shadowheart narrowed her eyes at Calamity, who simply sighed. 

"Yes, he’s stubborn and won’t hear a single word." Calamity said, turning to her brother’s sleeping figure. 

"I figured after all I’ve heard in the last few hours… I’ll make sure his injuries are healed enough for a busy day." Shadowheart sighed, already anticipating the headache. 

"Thank you, Shart." Calamity thanked her friend, finally seeming to relax a bit at the healer’s promise. 

Night fell soon after, and Carnifex woke from his fitful, his gaze searching for Calamity. 

"You know... for a moment, I thought finding you was a dream." Carnifex said as soon as he awoke.

"Good thing this is the waking world, dear brother." Calamity smiled, moving to check his temperature. "Thank the gods, your fever went down..." Her hand found his, squeezing it gently.

"I know you have a lot of questions, and so do I." Carnifex held her hand, sighing before he spoke again. "What happened? Why did you disappear and how did you end up here?"

"I’ll tell you..." Calamity began, and told him everything from the beginning: the kidnapping, the infection, the fall, how the group formed and the search for the cure.

 Carnifex listened, eyes wide with astonishment.

"Are you telling me you have a fucking parasite in your head right now?!" He tried to get up, but Calamity stopped him.

"Yes, and please, don’t strain." she sighed. " This parasite is... unusual. I can connect with other infected, I can read minds, and I can probably influence others infected…” she paused. “Though I say probably because I haven’t tried yet."

"So, you joined them because you all have a common problem... and they chose you as their leader." Carnifex laid his head on his sister’s lap. "But what bothers me most is this fucking parasite, I won’t let you turn into a Mind flayer! I can’t lose you like that!" Calamity’s heart warmed, her spirit full of love, of security, of the connection with her brother that she once missed. 

"And I don’t intend to let that happen either, not when we finally got our freedom... speaking of which, how did you escape?" Calamity asked, but the conversation and answer would both be cut short, as Shadowheart appeared before the tent. 

"I’m glad to see Carnifex is awake, and sorry to interrupt your conversation, but we have a problem with Wyll." 

Calamity looked to Carnifex, worried for both her brother and the unknown situation. 

"Calm down, I’m much better." He assured, tugging his shirt on. " I won’t make any promises, but I think I need to fit in too." Calamity sighed, but agreed, and so they left for the fire.

 That was the night Wyll was going to pay his penance, the night when they found out about his pact with Mizora and why he was hunting Karlach... Wyll had paid the price by having his appearance distorted by Mizora, gaining the appearance of a devil… Calamity felt sorry for him.

Perhaps, the campfire’s light would reveal the darkness of the past, for more than just Wyll.

"Since we are in the spirit of revelations... how exactly did Carnifex get here?" Astarion wasted no time, asking his question in a provocative tone as he stared at Carnifex..

"I had… help, I was in prison and they were torturing me for days when a man named Raphael appeared... he said was doing me a little favor to my sister and when I realized he had brought me to that road, then offered me a deal." 

"Raphael?!" Calamity was perplexed that he actually did it. "I thought he was just teasing me."

"And did you take the deal?" Astarion questioned.

"I replied that I would rather choke on my own blood than make a deal with a fucking devil, the bastard laughed and left." Carnifex shrugged and kept his hostile gaze on Astarion. 

 The group was drawing their own conclusions about Carnifex, that so far he just had a tendency to annoy Astarion–and no one was particularly against it.

"I liked him! Great answer for this asshole... you said his name is Raphael?" Karlach laughed raucously. "You did the right thing, nothing’s worth a deal with a devil."

"And I’m the biggest proof of that," Wyll completed with a self-centered tone. " I would like to ask a question… years ago, a group I knew was massacred, and the rumor said that it was the work of a Dog of the assassins guild... was it you?" Everyone was surprised and quiet, except for Carnifex–he remained calm and unimpressed. 

"Wyll... you never..." Calamity muttered distressedly.

"I didn’t comment on anything because I didn’t want to be inconvenient, and you were always busy with everyone’s well-being… I sincerely doubted that you were capable of it, so I’m asking the one I recognize as a killer from his eyes." 

Wyll and Carnifex exchanged glances.

"Well, I don’t remember what group you’re talking about... I’ve killed too many to remember." Carnifex replied without a shred of worry or remorse. "I don’t regret anything, if that’s what you mean… it wasn’t personal, I just obeyed because I didn’t want Caly to get hurt. That’s all."

 With no doubt or remorse, Carnifex did not bother to hide his coldness from them, and was at that point the antithesis of his sister, and Calamity’s companions were having none of it. 

"Men like you are an evil that I would not hesitate to eradicate from this Coast." Wyll spoke grudgingly. 

"I don’t doubt that under other circumstances,” Carnifex began, “I’d probably be trying to kill you, but lucky for us, I’m no longer on my old leash." 

Clearly, explanations were long overdue.

  So the twins explained how they lived in the guild, and of course they omitted the gory, abusive details, but it was implied that they existed. 

 Calamity went a little further than her brother, telling about the memory that had tormented her in a nightmare days ago, as her brother gained his first scars. The camp was silent for a moment, fleeting glances of anger, confusion, and sympathy flashing across the various faces. Finally, a voice broke the silence.

"Damn bastards!! Don’t worry, they won’t lay a finger on you again!!" Karlach declared emotionally. "If they show up, we’ll finish them off!" 

The twins smiled, feeling grateful for Karlach’s empathy.

Finally, there were no more secrets… but a good few more opinions would take their place.

 Astarion found his trance to be surprisingly peaceful, instead of the horrid daydreams he was used to. As the day’s anger began to wane, he slipped further into the trance, finding himself in the streets of Lower City. 

 He was walking around, looking for another pretty soul for his Master when he heard that voice.

 In the center of the square, a girl was singing one of those cliché bard songs while it was accompanied by the melody of an lute. She was a young half-elf girl, delighting the audience with her voice. Astarion did not take his eyes off her, thinking he had found the perfect target to take with him, and that Cazador would love her voice when she screamed. 

Without guilt or remorse, she was just a number, just another prize.  

When the song was over and the audience dispersed, he looked for that girl. He found her talking to the bard–they seemed to be splitting the coins as she took her share and was leaving, but a man approached her and… Ah. 

It was one of those disgusting pieces of shit that Astarion knew very well about the guy just by looking. Well, it was a perfect opportunity, anyways.

"Oh, here you are!" 

Astarion approached the girl and gently laid his hands on her shoulders. "I was looking for you, darling." The girl stared at him, confused, but understood quickly and just followed his lead.

"Oh, you’re here!" she beamed at him.

"I hope they’re not bothering you, dear." Astarion glared at the girl’s would-be attacker, it was a simple, hostile look, but one that gave his due message.

"Argh, shit..." the unpleasant man grumbled before leaving.

The girl sighed, turning her attention to Astarion.

"Thank you so much, I don’t really think words can express my gratitude at the moment... My name is Calamity."

"It’s a pleasure my dear, my name is Astarion." 

A usual introduction for an unusually-named girl, but Astarion still sighed… It was time for him to perform. "You know, I heard your voice, and I couldn’t help but be charmed by it… it was really beautiful." 

"I… I’m a bit embarrassed, really, but I’m glad you enjoyed it." Calamity wasn’t used to such praise, to hearing these words and her cheeks flushed.

Taking in the girl’s appearance, Astarion noticed that she was holding a basket with a single bouquet of flowers inside.

"A gift from a fan, I suppose." he commented.

"Unfortunately not, I spent the day selling these bouquets, but I have not been able to sell the latter until now. The bard was an acquaintance and he asked me to sing while he played, promising half the coins... So now I don’t need to worry if I can't sell this last bouquet." She smiled sweetly, but sadly. "Oh, sorry! I talk too much."

"Don’t apologize, you seem worried... what's wrong? Maybe I can help you forget." 

Her innocent look gave Astarion pause, but he waited… they always took the bait, and sweet words would yield a sweeter catch for his master.

"It’s nothing serious, just usual worldly worries." she sighed. " Well, I got a lot of money today so I don’t think I need to worry so much for 2 days or maybe 3... it must be a bit boring for you to hear this."

"Are you on your own?" he asked.

"Yeah, it’s just me and my brother... he should be back soon, so we can go away together." Astarion nearly huffed aloud before he stopped himself–she had someone to look for her later.

"If you don’t mind, maybe we could spend some time together." he suggested reaching out to her.

"Really? What would we do?" she asked innocently.  

"How about a little walk?" he suggested, waiting for her answer. 

Something within him faltered, and he blinked once, then twice, shaking his head slightly to clear the muddled thoughts within.

 Calamity hesitated a little, but eventually accepted the proposal, so Astarion took her for a ride.. It was the first time he didn’t take his target to drink or to a room, he just… he never realized that something as simple as a walk and a carefree conversation could be so precious. The more he heard her voice and how sweet she was... how kind she was, the more he thought she didn’t deserve it. She didn’t deserve to be taken to Cazador.

 Astarion gave up the idea of taking her, and luckily for both him and fate, her brother appeared at the perfect time. 

"Time did fly…” she trailed off. “Thank you very much for the ride, and the conversation, Astarion." She smiled, reaching into her basket. "Please, take the last bouquet, it’s just a simple thanks, really." She extended the bouquet of white lilies and daisies to him. 

It was the first time someone gave him something so pure. 

"Thank you my dear, I’ll accept these with pleasure... Now, go. Your brother is waiting for you."

Astarion watched her leave next to her brother, knowing he’d probably never hear such sweet conversation again. 

When Astarion awoke from his trance, he sat down, trying to process the memory, he... he really met her before? It was unbelievable! 

"What the fuck! The gods are trying to play a joke on me... fuck." He rested his head in his hands, muffling an anguished groan in his grasp. 

He began to remember the figure of Calamity he saw… she had not changed much during these years, but she was certainly very young back then. 

  At that time, Calamity wore a simple and worn dress, but it was not ugly or badly taken care of—for sure she worried about her appearance, and her hair was not as long as it is currently. At that time, her hair had been three feet below her shoulders and she wore a red bow to hold her hair... she had been more expressive and had a genuine personality, a little shy, but genuine. 

How much had they tortured her to almost destroy her like that? Why was he caring so much? Because... because he felt bad about realizing that this is the second time he’s targeted her?

No, that wasn’t it. However, he did understand why he felt this way.

"Shit..." Astarion muttered. 

Well that’s it! Thank you for reading the fifth chapter.

@spacebarbarianweird @spacesquidlings @vixstarria @thechaoticdruid @xxfaithlynxx

Who wants to be tagged in the next chapters please tell me in the comments.

[whatsnewalycat]

Psychomanteum / Chapter 7

Pairing: Dieter Bravo x F!Reader

Chapter 7: Monster

Chapter Summary: With help from your best friend, Dieter sets a trap to confront you.

Rating: Explicit (18+ only)

Word Count: 7.9k+

Content / Warnings: alternating POV, talk about addiction, grief, communication problems, drag queens, confrontation, argument, nipple play, piv sex, laugh attack

Notes: Chapter title from "Monster" by Lady Gaga. I wavered between this title and two others for longer than I'd like to admit, but I think Monster is fitting of the Halloween theme. Thank you for reading! You are an angel and I appreciate you.

[ Tag List ] [ AO3 ] [ Spotify Playlist ] [ Series Masterlist ]

The backstage dressing room at Barracuda Bar is in complete chaos.

Half a dozen drag queens are getting into costume and character, scurrying around, painting their faces, half-dressed with padding and layers of nylons and wig caps. Loud conversation and raucous laughter fills the crowded space, barely able to fit so many larger-than-life personalities. Everyone is wired with an undercurrent of excitement and nerves. Only adding to the calamity is “Monster Mash” blaring out of a Bluetooth speaker in the corner. 

One of those queens is Parker, who is transforming himself into his drag persona Jackie Lantern. He’s leaning over the vanity, face hovering close to the mirror lined with pictures of Harold Perrineau as Mercutio in drag from the 1996 production of Romeo + Juliet. One eye open, the other closed, he applies white glitter to his eyelid. His mouth is gaping wide in concentration. 

Trying not to disturb his zen as you approach, you gently set down the bottle of champagne you brought as a gift on the cluttered vanity, then look around the room with a wide grin, gleefully soaking up the effervescent energy that hangs in the air like a thick fog. 

Parker turns towards you, eyeshadow brush in hand as he reads the word from the sign hanging around your neck, “ Sorry? ” and frowns, then meets your eyes, “I don’t get it.” 

You look down at your fitted tuxedo and hold your hands out at your sides, then spin around in a circle, thinking maybe if he sees the whole thing it will click. But he just blinks. With a sigh, you explain, “I’m a formal apology.” 

The gears visibly turn in his head, and then he throws his head back in laughter, “Oh my god, ok, I see you Midwest.” 

You smile wide and nod at him, “I love the Mercutio costume. It’s perfect. Are you doing that song from the movie?” 

“You know it,” he winks, then turns back to the mirror and starts on the other eye, “Pop that champagne, love, I’m gonna need it ASAP.” 

“Should I get some cups?” you ask him while picking the bottle back up and peeling off the foil wrapper. 

“Nah fuck that, we can just take pulls,” he mutters. 

You shrug in response and untwist the muselet caged over the cork, “Is Reese coming to see the show?” 

“Nope,” he responds with an air of annoyance, “I invited him but he never responded. Probably doing something with his wife .” 

The word wife comes out with such venom, you wonder if the woman could feel a shiver run down her spine from across Manhattan. 

“Mmm,” is all you respond, not wanting to comment further on the touchy subject. It’s not like you have any room to give dating advice. You tug on the cork of the champagne and it comes off with a POP! that garners a howl of celebration from a neighboring queen. 

Parker sets the eyeshadow brush down on the vanity and takes the bottle from your hands, raising it to his lips. He drinks it gingerly enough not to spill champagne down the corners of his mouth, but fervently enough to make you raise your eyebrows. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so nervous for a show before,” you comment as he returns the bottle to your grasp. 

He lets out a belch, then winces, “That’s so fucking warm, holy shit.” 

In the spirit of commiseration, you take a few swallows of the champagne. Your eyes start watering from the carbonation and you burp, nodding in agreement, “That’s fucking gross.” 

“One more,” he mumbles and grabs the bottle, taking another long pull before he returns to his makeup. 

You eye him suspiciously. Something is up with him, but he obviously doesn’t want to talk to you about it right now. Normally before a show he’s filled with the same raw, confident electricity powering this room, but right now he’s a bundle of nerves. 

“Did you invite your flavor of the week?” he asks, words forming around the tight O of concentration on his mouth. 

“Who, Kelly?” you respond, but don’t wait for him to answer before you scoff, “No. She asked me to meet her husband. I’m not trying to get involved with their fucking marriage.” 

When Parker turns from the mirror to stare at you blankly, as if to say really, bitch? You add, “No offense. Sorry.” 

“The shade,” he chides playfully, then returns to the mirror and asks in a casual manner, “Have you talked to Dieter?”

The question gives you whiplash. Your head spins and heart starts pounding in your chest. That name hasn’t come up in conversation in months. 

“No…? Why would I?” You push off of the vanity and cross your arms, turning your body to face Parker so you can study his face. 

“Considering the luck you’ve had dating,” he shrugs, but avoids looking at you, “I thought maybe you would reconsider.” 

A bewildered chuckle huffs from your chest, then you shake your head, “No fucking way. After what he did-“ 

“And what did he do, exactly, Lou?” Parker finally pulls away from the mirror and turns his attention to you, propping a hand up on his hip, “They both came out and said it was a one-off. Y’all weren’t even exclusive. It was a meaningless hookup. You, of all people, should know a thing or two about how those work.” 

You jerk your head back in surprise, blinking at him as his gaze pierces you, then stammer, “I- I can’t date another fucking cokehead-“ 

“He has been on the wagon since then. People slip up sometimes. Again, something you , of all people, should know,” Parker advises defensively. 

It feels like a punch in the gut. 

He must recognize this, because his posture softens and he sighs, “I just… I know how much you liked him. And you keep going out with people and making all kinds of excuses for why you don’t want to see them anymore, but I think…” his tongue clicks against the roof of his mouth, as if he’s contemplating whether or not he really wants to tell you what he thinks. But he searches your face as he lets it rip, “I think it’s just because you still like him.” 

Your mouth gapes open as his observation hits you like a freight train. You can feel tears start to burn behind your eyes, but you shove them down. His face melts into a sympathetic pout. He continues. 

“I’ve known you since college, Lou. You’re my best friend in the whole world, and I’m gonna be real with you. The only other time you clicked that well with somebody was when you met Ethan.” 

This dissolves the dam of resolve you had been building up to keep yourself from crying. Right there in that crowded, joyous room, dressed in a silly Halloween costume, tears start to fall. 

“I know that what happened hurt, but I just think it’s something you should think about before writing him off forever,” Parker tells you softly. He places a hand on your shoulder and your face crumples. 

Mortification intertwines with the betrayal of your best friend’s honesty and a deep shame starts to percolate in the cords of your neck. They vibrate and tighten your chest until you’re gasping for breath between sobs. 

Why right now? Of all the times to talk to me about this, why right fucking now?? When we’re in a crowded room and he knows it’ll make me cry?

Even if he’s right. 

The thought grips your stomach and makes you feel squeamish. 

“Come here, baby,” he coos and envelops you in a hug, stroking your hair. 

“Miss Lantern, are you making your friend cry right now?” someone nearby asks him, but you both ignore it. 

“I love you and I don’t want anything to stand between you and happiness. Even if that thing is you,” he tells you. 

“I know,” you respond in a shaky voice, returning his hug. The surprise tide of emotion starts to waver as you get a grip on your grief. 

Parker grabs your shoulders and holds you out to inspect your face, muttering to himself, “We’re gonna have to fix this shit.” 

“Is it bad?” you sniffle and wipe your eyes with the back of your hand. He winces in response, so you turn and look in the mirror and groan. Your dramatic makeup is streaked down the sides of your face from your eyes to your jawline. You pout and whine, “God damnit , Parker.”

“Hold on,” he tells you, then peers around the room and scurries off to talk to someone while you take a few pulls off the champagne bottle. 

When Parker returns, he has a petite blonde lady in tow, and points to you, “Can you fix it?” 

Her mossy green eyes look over your face appraisingly, then she nods and tells him, “Oh absolutely,” she turns back to you and smiles, “Come with me, doll.” 

The term of endearment wrenches at your heart, but you follow her out to the hall where she has you sit on a bench. She reapplies your makeup with an expert hand, humming along to the Halloween music still blaring over the speaker from inside the dressing room. The two of you make small talk. You find out her name is Angela and she’s the lighting technician for the show, but is also a part-time makeup artist. She always brings her makeup to shows in case of emergencies.

Not that you’d call your bleeding mascara an emergency or anything, but you’re grateful nonetheless. 

Just as she’s showing you the finished product, which is fucking phenomenal, Jackie Lantern comes out of the dressing room. 

Her big white afro wig frames her face, showcasing the white glitter cut crease eyeshadow, glossy red lips, and goatee. She turns in a circle, flaunting the rhinestoned white bra and mini skirt. A matching cape flows behind her, shimmering in the light. White garter belts extend down her legs from beneath the skirt, holding up white thigh-high tights. She’s wearing long, white, fingerless gloves that almost reach her armpits. The bright, dazzling white of her outfit contrasts her dark skin beautifully. 

She is full Mercutio. 

You clap and hoot, bouncing to your feet to prance over and give her a hug. She hugs back and asks, “Are you gonna be ok?” 

You assure Jackie with a tight squeeze, “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” 

She pulls back and smiles warmly at you, “I’m sorry for coming at you like that, I just wanted to talk to you about it since- ” 

Her mouth snaps shut and her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. But only for a second before she picks up the fumble, “Since it’s been on my mind.” 

Your eyes narrow in suspicion again. An awful feeling churns in your guts, and you ask, “Are you talking to him or something?” 

“What? No,” she scoffs, then averts her gaze to Angela and tells you, “Hey I have to talk to Ang about something, babe. I’ll see you out there?” 

“Jackie-” you warn, searching her face. She brushes you off and walks around you completely, then links arms with Angela and starts off down the hall. 

You throw your hands out to your sides in exasperation behind them. As you make your way out of the backstage area to get a drink, you replay the conversation over and over in your head, finding a million ways to interpret the things Parker said. But no matter which way you twist it, his name, even just existing in your brain as a thought, burrows beneath your skin. 

Dieter made sure to wait until just before the show started. 

He approaches the crowded, red backlit bar and orders a drink for his nerves. From what Parker has told him, this could potentially end in disaster. But he has to try. You’ve blocked him from all forms of electronic communication, and, short of showing up at your apartment unannounced, where you wouldn’t let him in anyway, he doesn’t have many other options but to trap you. 

Dieter reached out to Parker a week after you blocked him. Parker (rightfully) reamed into him for breaking your trust. 

He confided in Parker, admitting that sex with Katie only confirmed his feelings for you. That he knows there’s something more with you. He asked what he could do to make it up to you. To get you back. Parker, a bit of a closet romantic, agreed to help Dieter on his mission. He told Dieter to stay clean and give you space. That he’d be in touch. 

So Dieter did exactly that. Dieter hasn’t used coke since the day of the wrap party. 

The fucking wrap party. 

If ever he has been filled with disdain for the attention fame brings, it was the fucking wrap party. If ever he has wished that he could wipe his memory fucking clean, it was that goddamn party. 

He had been awake for 36 hours straight when they wrapped. For 54 hours when he arrived at the party. It’s like he was outside of himself, a passenger as he watched himself walk into the black tie event wearing no shoes and dirty clothes, wielding aggression towards anyone who looked at him. 

Then he saw Katie… and completely lost it. 

Every ounce of hurt he felt came spewing from his mouth like acid he hoped would fucking melt her skin to the bone. 

He screamed at her for seducing him, telling her that she ruined his fucking life, even though neither of those things are true. Like he has time and time before, he ruined his own fucking life. His part-time hobby of destroying anything that brings him joy. 

And in true ruiner fashion, when people came to Katie’s defense, Dieter lashed out at them, hurling insults and tables and really whatever the fuck he could get his hands on. The cast and crew were all present to witness, or fall victim to, his tirade. He was escorted back to his hotel room, where he slept it off for the next few days. A pilgrimage to the land of the living dead. 

Once back in LA, Mark and Darlene called a meeting, and made it clear: he’s on thin fucking ice. 

It just so happens that the movie they wrapped on tells the story of a drug addict who spirals out of control. Dieter’s meltdown so perfectly paralleled the character’s that they were able to spin it as a publicity stunt. The film is somehow projected to do better because of the incident. 

Dieter apologized to everyone involved. When he called Katie and told her that he was deeply sorry for the things he said to her, then admitted that he was on a two-day bender with no sleep, she responded casually that it “got her name in the headlines and press for the movie, so, whatever.”

Which, honestly, didn’t surprise him. 

Considering what a fucking fool he made of himself, the sanctions on his acting career have been minimal. The same can’t be said for his mental state, though. He hated himself thoroughly after his actions replayed in his sober mind. Never thought he would be able to face any of the people who received the shrapnel of his emotional explosion. 

But, miraculously, all of those people accepted his apology and moved on. Except for the person he finds himself caring about the most: you . And he hasn’t been able to do a goddamn thing about it. The degree to which he pines for your affection, for your favor, is driving him fucking mad. 

He can’t figure it out. It makes absolutely no fucking sense. The more that time goes on, the truer it is. He spent a 24-hour stint as your real life lover. Just a taste of your devotion. That’s it. 

But it’s like you engrained yourself into his fucking DNA in that 24 hours. 

Thoughts of you haunt him every single day. Innocuous shit like his bathtub, soggy paper towels, pancakes, the scent of vanilla, reality TV, the fucking Beatles, and worst of all: literally every single baked good that crosses his path. Every time it’s like you’re whispering in his ear. Memories so vivid, if he closes his eyes and focuses, he can taste them. 

From time to time, he wonders if you even think about him anymore. The dark side of him tries to convince him that you’ve moved on. But for some reason he knows, really, that isn’t true. It’s like he can feel your yearning from across the country, deep in his bones. 

This knowing intuition comforted him, kept him from giving in to the hunger that threatened to swallow him whole after he quit using coke. But he was patient. When the hunger got deafening, he closed his eyes and tuned into the buzzing in his soul that told him there’s still hope . Then two weeks ago, he got a text. 

> PARKER: > I have a plan. 

And it’s certainly a plan. Whether or not it’s a stupid fucking plan has yet to be determined. But Parker confirmed that you’re here in this bar. 

“Bugs Bunny?” a stocky Tina Turner asks him, then sips their drink through a straw as their eyes scan his baggy, gray rabbit costume. 

He tips his glass to the stranger and corrects them, “Easter bunny.” 

“Adorable,” they reach up and tug at one of the floppy ears attached to the upright hood of the onesie. 

Dieter smiles and nods at the compliment, “Yours is great too. Tina is-“ 

The sound system starts to boom, then lights flood the stage, and they both lose interest in the, frankly, dull conversation, turning instead to the start of the show. Dieter drains the remainder of his drink down his throat and sets the glass down on the bar. He sets off towards the side of the stage, angling himself to face the crowd. 

A drag queen named Boo Who is up first. Boo Who is wearing a rooty highlighter yellow wig with a side part, an angular mirrored mini dress, and mirrored high heels, a la Lady Gaga at the Monster Ball. Appropriately, she lip-syncs “Monster” by Lady Gaga.  

As Dieter scans the crowd, he notices it consists of two types of people: either singing and dancing along, or completely entranced by the performance. Everyone is in costume, which doesn’t really help with the whole “trying to ID you” thing. He checks his phone and sees an unread message from Parker. 

> PARKER: > She's a formal apology

Dieter frowns at the screen and squints back up to the faces in the crowd, wondering what the fuck that means. But then something near the front of the stage catches his eye: a white neck placard that reads SORRY in big, bold letters. The person wearing it is wearing a tuxedo, complete with a black bow tie and white gloves. Their hair is slicked back and shiny with gel. Of course, he recognizes you, even beneath the black pencil mustache painted above your red lips. You’re singing and dancing, your smile wide and taking up your whole face. 

The air is sucked from his lungs. Even from here, he can feel your light warming his soul. He can’t help but start grinning at the spectacle. 

When the song changes, you turn around and start towards the bar. His heart starts to thud heavy in his chest, feet propelling him after you before he can think twice. 

You’re on your tip-toes, stretching across the counter, yelling your order over the music to the bartender when he sits down next to you. 

“Vod-ka cran-ber-ry?” you holler, enunciating each syllable as much as you can. The bartender nods in acknowledgement, then his eyes land on the person next to you. 

“Whiskey, neat,” the man requests. The timbre of his voice resonates down your spine and into your limbs. 

Your head snaps towards it. 

The man next to you has the hood of his bunny onesie in the upright position, hiding most of his face. But you can see a shock of messy, dark curls. He’s wringing his hands together, and you can see that on one are two thick-banded rings. And his aquiline nose is poking out from behind the shadow. Soft, musky notes of violet and patchouli. 

“I’ll pay for hers, too,” he tells the bartender when he returns, setting a drink down in front of each of you. The man slides a $100 bill across the bar, “Keep the change.” 

Blood rushes to your head in a flare of rage when it all falls together.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” you bark. He blinks back when he finally turns to meet your eyes. The eye contact feels like he’s reaching through your ribcage and squeezing your heart. Your knees feel wobbly and your stomach drops, but you hold your steel gaze steady. 

“I thought this would be better than showing up at your apartment unannounced,” he reasons, pressing his eyebrows together as he searches your face. His eyes flick down to the sign around your neck and the corners of his mouth upturn, “I like your costume. Very handsome.” 

Words fail you. All you can do is scoff and turn back towards the stage and walk away from him. But he catches your arm and says, “Please, Lua.” 

You spin around and square your shoulders as you spit, “What?!”

Your ferocity doesn’t scare him away. In fact, he comes closer, crowding you until all you can smell is his cologne and you can feel the heat radiating off of his body as he leans in and tells you, “It was a mistake. I’m so sorry.” 

He meets your gaze again after he says this. His eyes are soft and sincere and warm and you want to curl up inside them. Then you remember he made a fucking fool of you. He coaxed you out of your emotional hiding spot, then gutted you. 

You tried to shove those feelings back in and stitch yourself up months ago. Denied your wound’s existence, even to yourself. Ignored the rotting flesh you couldn’t bear to deal with. Now proof is humming loud in your body. The seams are pulling tight against your swollen belly. You’re so fucking close to splitting open, to spilling your guts, so he can see what he fucking did to you. 

“And what did he do, exactly, Lou?” 

Parker’s words from earlier nibble away at your brain. And, logically, you understand all of the points he made. You can acknowledge their legitimacy and see the apologetic look on Dieter’s face and know that he’s being honest. 

But all the hurt you buried for months has been resurrected. You’re right back where you started: jilted. 

“Ok,” is all you respond before shaking his arm off and turning around. In that second between the word leaving your mouth and spinning away, you see his shoulders slump and sadness etch across his face. 

You zig zag through the crowd until you’re close to the stage, then don’t look back. But you can feel his gaze glued to you. Like when the mirrors in Ethan’s room come into view, a shiver runs the length of your spine and lingers. 

It tingles at the back of your neck until about half way through Jackie Lantern’s set. That’s when Dieter appears in your periphery, just a few feet away. You keep your eyes forward on the stage as you cheer and dance in support. When her last song, “Young Hearts Run Free” by Candi Staton, starts playing, everyone fucking loses it. Dieter extends a few bills up to Jackie, who takes them and stuffs them into her white, rhinestone bra. Her eyes flick from him to you and you resist the urge to flip her off before she gets back into the zone. 

She fucking kills it, as always. The crowd loves her, and they continue to cheer after she walks off stage and the intermission music starts. Your eyes dart to where Dieter was standing and find he’s no longer there. Which is your cue to get the fuck out of here.

With your head down, you push your way through the crowd, stopping at the coat check to get your jacket before you hurry out the exit. 

Brisk autumn air licks your skin as you step out the door into the night. A thick layer of clouds lay low to the ground, reflecting the artificial golden light from street lamps, making the sky glow. Frost speckles the concrete sidewalk and sparkles as you walk. 

You’re plugging your headphones into your phone when you hear Dieter coming up behind you, commanding your attention when he barks your name, “Lou ella! ” 

You jump and turn around in surprise. 

“Are you fucking serious?” he scoffs, throwing his hands out to his sides as his face twists up with outrage. 

The fire in his question ignites your anger. It flashes bright and hot beneath your skin and you respond with vitriol, stepping towards him, but allowing for about two feet of distance, “ What? What, Dieter , what the fuck do you want?” 

“I want you to stop fucking running from me,” he answers through gritted teeth. His face is shadowed beneath the hood of his fucking bunny costume, but you can see the cords of his neck standing out and know that he is furious . He continues, taking a step towards you, “Stop fucking holding back. I know you are-“ 

“You don’t know jackshit about what I’m fucking doing,” you meet his glowering eyes in a challenge. 

“No?” he raises his eyebrows and blinks. Looks up at the glowing golden sky and shakes his head. Takes a deep breath. His gaze falls on you again, “So you’re not trying to avoid talking to me?” 

“No,” you lie. Neither of you move. The word hangs in the air. It settles like shards of glass in your stomach. 

His tongue darts out and licks his bottom lip, then he scoffs, “Fucking coward .”

It comes out of his mouth in a white hot puff when it meets the cool air. 

“ Fuck you,” you growl in return.

The corner of his mouth turns up in a smirk and he steps closer. You swallow hard at the dwindling distance between your body and his. That constant, humming electricity that ripples between you is so thick your skin is buzzing. 

“That’s it, doll, let me have it,” he purrs, “I wanna hear it. Come on.” 

Your nostrils flare and your heart starts pounding, rage bubbling in your chest, “You- You come here to my best friend’s show,” you step closer and jab your finger against his chest, “and you fucking ruin my night-“

“It’s more than that, Lua, come on, you know it is,” he coaxes, “Give it to me.”

“You- you- you- ” 

“And what did he do, exactly, Lou?” 

“You-” your voice cracks, but you push the words out, “ Hurt me.” 

He nods and searches your flushed face. Like this is what he was looking for. You continue. 

“You fucked this- this fucking gorgeous woman. You were probably just fucking me on the side while you actually fucking date her. Because she’s not fucking broken like I am-“ a sob catches your throat, “She’s- she’s-“

“She’s not you , Lua. She doesn’t fucking matter to me. She is not the person that’s stuck in my fucking head. She’s not what I think about every goddamn day. That’s you ,” he holds your gaze steady as he tells you this. You start to shake your head and open your mouth, like you could convince him that he’s wrong to think that, but he starts again, “And what about you and your no-fucking-strings-attached? How’s that going for you now?”

You flinch at the mention of your promiscuity. He cups the sides of your face, and studies you carefully as he asks, “It’s not the fucking same, is it?” 

Your throat tightens. All you can think of are his hands warming your cheeks. His intense gaze. The huffs of his interrogation against your skin. 

“Is it, Lua?” he repeats, softer now, almost a mumble. His eyes are scanning your face, landing on your lips. 

You swallow hard and shake your head. 

“Why is that?” 

Your mouth falls open to answer, but he pulls your lips to his before you can utter the truth that he already knows. 

Because it’s not him. 

You meet him with a ravenous energy, That spark, that fucking magic, it’s there . It’s in his touch that drops to your waist and pulls you in close. It’s flipping your stomach upside down and rattling those stagnant butterflies loose. 

His tongue slides against yours, breaching your mouth, hungry and searching. Your hands rest against his chest for a moment, soaking in the heat of him through your palms. They slide up the surprisingly soft fabric of his costume to the hair at the nape of his neck. You pull his body to yours, and a rumble sounds from the back of his throat. 

He pulls back only enough to plead, “Stay with me tonight,” before his lips are back on yours again. Like he needs them to breathe. Like he couldn’t bear to break the contact just to ask this of you. You nod in response, refusing to pause your onslaught of messy kisses. 

“Come on,” he mumbles against your mouth, guiding you towards the busy street. You take his hand and follow him a whole three steps to a black town car that’s parked and running. He opens the door to the warm backseat and gestures for you to get in. 

This is when you notice two things:

Your red lipstick and painted-on mustache has transferred to his face and he looks fucking ridiculous. 

He had a goddamn car waiting here the whole time. 

A jolt of obstinacy makes you scoff, “Really?” 

He grins sheepishly, but doesn’t respond. As you slide into the leather backseat, you decide not to tell him about the black smudges all over his face. He gets in after you and tells the driver to go to the hotel, then turns to you, “I know you better than you think I do.” 

“Is that right?” you ask, raising an eyebrow at him. 

He slides closer, leaning in so his breath is hot against your ear, “You think I don’t know you need a little stretching before you open up?” 

Heat rises to your face and pools in your belly. Your eyelids flutter as you glance up to meet his eyes. The look in his eyes is full of mischief and lust, but there’s something else there that’s softer, which keeps your gaze locked in place as its meaning steeps in your soul. 

“I missed you,” you admit, naming the significance. 

He presses his lips to yours and the kiss lingers for a tender moment before he renews it with more urgency. A tingle of want rolls across your body. 

You rake your fingers through his hair, pulling his hood down. He pulls back from the kiss and brushes his thumb against your cheek, meeting your eyes again, “I missed you, too.” 

“Yeah?” you smile, eyes flicking to his lips. 

He shrugs and gives you a boyish grin, “Maybe. I guess. A little bit.” 

You shake your head and roll your eyes, smile not fading, “I like your bunny suit, by the way.” 

“Thanks,” he looks down at it, then points to you, “I like yours, too. The tuxedo is um,” he licks his lips like he’s searching for the right words, “Really doing it for me. It looks so fucking hot on you,” his eyebrow quirks as his gaze trails down your coat, and he leans in until his nose is nuzzling against your cheek, “I can’t wait to strip it off of you piece by piece.” 

Just as your lips part with a gasp, the driver pulls up to the entrance of a hotel and puts the car in park, then calls back “Here, sir.” 

The two of you scramble out of the backseat. He grabs your hand and leads you into the hotel. Judgmental looks from the fine patrons of Whatever Fucking Five Star Hotel This Is whiz by as you trail behind him. When you reach the elevator, he punches the UP button impatiently.

The desire that hung thick in the air on the car ride begins to dissipate in the hotel lobby. You catch a glimpse of yourself and Dieter in a mirror. Your lust-fogged mind starts to clear and a strange sense of self-awareness dawns on you. Dieter has his bunny hood upright. Your hair is shiny and hard with hair gel. Smears of red lipstick and black paint coat both your mouths. Damning evidence that you were just making out. 

The two of you are incredibly out-of-context in this ritzy place. Plucked off the floor of the Barracuda Bar and dropped in this lobby that seems to be all gleaming white marble and chandeliers. 

In the elevator door’s dull reflection, you can see a few people gather behind you. Everyone is silent, all concentrating on the elevator floor countdown. 

Dieter raises your clasped hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. 

The gesture is so simple, yet so sweet it makes you feel giddy. You look up at him and find he already has eyes on you. He’s studying you with a warm kind of amusement. It brings a wide smile to your face, which spreads to him.

The elevator dings and the doors slide open. A few people come out before he pulls you inside, pressing the 20 button, and you both nestle into the back corner of the elevator as the remaining guests file in. 

“You, um…” your eyes flick to him and you barely stifle a laugh, “You’ve got a little something on your face.” 

Completely stone-faced, he glances down at you, then gestures to the general area of his face, “Here?”

You nod and clamp your lips closed. The crowded elevator is hushed except for the whiz of the pulley system and the muted beeps indicating ascent. He hums and frowns, pulling the phone out of his bunny suit pocket and opening the front-facing camera. The display reveals both of your faces as a mess of black and red smears. Your black eye makeup has bled down onto your cheeks, giving you raccoon eyes. 

“I think we look fine, don’t you?” he deadpans. 

Laughter bubbles up from your belly, bursting through your nose as a snort. The noise ricochets off the walls and earns a few dirty looks. Dieter breaks, his low-pitched laughter rumbling in his throat and shaking his shoulders. 

“You’re right,” you squeak, voice cracking into another wave of laughter that you can’t stop when you look back at his phone, “We look really fucking cute.” 

The doors slide open at floor 5 and release a couple that looks annoyed by the outburst. 

“Wait wait, serious face, I’m gonna take a picture,” he instructs, and you are both able to mold your faces into solemnity for one whole second before the laughter erupts from your throats again. You bury your face against his shoulder and give into the giggles, despite the impatient sighs of your fellow elevator passengers.  

The doors slide closed and the ascent begins again. 

“Lua, wait, is it,” he nudges you for your attention. You lean back and watch him lick his thumb, then rub the very corner of his mouth, “Right here? Did I get it?” 

An involuntary snorting noise sounds from your sinuses, then you squeak, “That- that's it, babe, that’s perfect.” 

“Oh thank god,” he sighs with exaggeration, then another stifled laugh rips through his words, “I’d- I’d hate to look like a mess- in- public- ” 

The last 3 words come out in breathless wheezes. This has you both doubled over in laughter, tears streaming down your cheeks, unable to breathe, for so long you don’t even notice the other people get out on their floors. 

On floor 20, the doors slide open and he pulls you down the hall to his room, the two of you still shaking with giggles. As the door clicks closed, you’re unzipping your coat. 

Dieter turns to you with a smoldering smirk. You shrug the jacket off your shoulders and fold it over your forearm. Before you can find a proper resting place for it, he tosses it on the floor and interlaces his fingers with yours.

You let him reel you in and wrap his arms around your shoulders. Your body responds, relaxing against him as you return the embrace. The placard around your neck struggles to conform into this new shape, crinkling in protest.

He nuzzles into your hair and releases a deep sigh, “This fucking sign, Lua, it’s gotta go.” 

You snort in response, but don’t go to take it off, or move, or anything. Your joints and ligaments decay into gelatin. His lips press against your forehead and he mumbles, “Do you wanna take a shower?” 

Leaning against him like this, you can feel his cock twitch at the thought. 

“Lead the way, bunny foo-foo,” you tease, then straighten your spine and return your weight to your feet.

“Easter Bunny,” Dieter corrects you as he pushes off the wall and starts towards the bathroom. 

“Whatever you say, Peter Cottontail,” you snicker. From behind, you watch him chuckle and shake his head, so you sing, “Hoppin’ down the bunny trail. Hippity hoppity, Easter’s on its waaaay.” 

Dieter shoots you an amused smile over his shoulder as he turns into the bathroom, flipping on the light. 

This bathroom, like the one at The Plaza, is as big as your bedroom back home. A large, rectangular, backlit mirror hangs above the white marble double vanity. The floors and walls are also outfitted in white marble. There’s a deep rectangular bathtub on a platform, separate from the shower. The shower itself takes up a third of the room, sectioned off with a frosted glass divider. 

Dieter walks over to the shower and cranks the knob to hot, then spins around and stares at you. You pull the SORRY placard off over your head and set it down on the counter, grinning, “What?”

He shakes his head and approaches you, crowding you against the vanity’s countertop. His hands settle at your waist and he meets your eyes as he mutters, “I’m glad you’re here.” 

You tuck your hair behind your ear and bat your eyelashes up at him, “I’m glad I’m here, too.” 

“I am sorry,” he reasserts. You link your hands behind his neck and watch him as he glances up into the mirror, then back to you, “For… everything.”

For a moment, the only noise comes from the shower head spraying water onto the tile floor. It looks like he’s deep in thought. You study his face as he presses his forehead to yours and becomes out of focus. 

“I don’t even know how to explain myself,” he admits, “It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have-“

“Hey,” you interrupt his spiraling, pulling back to meet his eyes, “I forgive you.” 

His shoulders sag and his features relax. You bring a hand to his cheek and brush your thumb against the stubble there. He flutters his eyes closed and leans into the touch. 

The tenderness that you both seem to hold hostage within yourselves so well comes into the light and lets itself be seen. Connection swells and throbs within your chest. When you close your eyes and zero in on the sensation, you swear you can feel it radiating between your souls. 

An open door. An invitation. 

Your lips meet his, soft but urgent. His fingers find the buttons of your tuxedo jacket and undo them, then the buttons of your dress shirt. You untie the black bow. It drops to the floor, followed by your jacket. His lips depart yours and press wet against your neck, then follow the unfastening of your shirt down your torso. 

You’re livewired and wanting, letting your eyelids close and your head fall back heavy. Your palms press against the countertop as you arch into the tantalizing sensation. Hushed whimpers escape your throat when he rolls his tongue against the delicate skin of your belly. 

Like he’s kissing away the hurt he caused. Licking your wounds. 

Dieter unfastens the last button and spreads open the starched white dress shirt. He grips your hips, splaying his fingers around to your back, up to the hooks of your bra. His mouth follows the firm pressure of his hands, leveraging your abdomen against his mouth as he continues to lick and kiss and suck his way up your body. 

Pleasure bubbles hot at your center, sending your pulse racing. Each flick of his tongue drips thick down your spine. 

A click sounds from your bra being unhooked and brings your attention back to Dieter. You drop your heavy-lidded gaze onto him, meeting his molten dark eyes. The elastic band of your bra slackens as he tugs at the front. You shrug off the shirt, then the bra. 

“Fuck, Lua,” Dieter hums, palming each breast, pressing a kiss into your sternum. You bring your fingertips to his hairline and comb your nails through the wild, loose curls. He looks up at you, desire etched into his features, just as obvious as your smeared makeup settling into his skin. 

You bite your lip and pull his face against your chest, smothering him between your tits. He groans and digs his fingers into the soft flesh, pressing them hard against each cheek. His thumbs find your nipples and strum them in tandem. The sensation sends waves of ecstasy down to your cunt and makes you moan. Ferocious in his movements, he comes up for air and drags his tongue up the crease of your cleavage. It slides up the slope of your breast and rolls back and forth over your nipple. 

The fluid movement makes you gasp and nod. His eyes flick to yours as his teeth catch the sensitive bud. When your jaw falls open and you release a throaty moan, the vocal manifestation of the flames of desire licking your insides, he rumbles, “Fuck, I missed that sound.”

Your pelvis is thrusting forward with a mind of its own, desperately seeking friction. But he doesn’t give it to you. Instead, he pinches and tugs on your nipples, playing with different levels of pressure until he finds one that has you melting like putty in his hands, all the while mumbling, “I think about you all the time, Lua, you know that? You know that not one fucking day goes by where I don’t think about you?” 

Too turned on to continue with this torture, you grab handfuls of his bunny suit and pull him to his feet. You kiss him in frenzied bursts, unzipping his costume as he unbuckles your pants and they drop to your ankles. 

You slide your hands down his chest, down to the elastic of his boxers, “Dee,” you whine against his mouth, “Please.” 

“Tell me what you want, love,” he purrs, plush lips catching yours. His hands slide down your sides and a finger hooks on the black lace of your underwear. An ache of anticipation throbs at your core, body screaming for him to touch you. 

“I want you to to bend me over this sink and fuck me,” you breathe, looking up through your lashes to meet his lust-blackened eyes. 

Without further question, he turns you around and pulls both your underwear and his to the ground. You meet his eyes in the mirror as his chest presses against your back. His body heat on your skin salves your chapped soul. The way his eyelids flutter tell you the feeling is mutual. 

One of his hands settles your hip, fingers digging into your flesh, while the other guides his member to smack lightly against your ass cheeks. 

You grin at each other through the mirror, and he hums against your ear, “Is this what you need, baby? Need my fat cock to stretch that sweet little pussy?”

The filthy words slide into your ear canal, down your spine, leaving a trail of charred remains as it fills you with fire. You swallow hard and nod. His cock nudges against your entrance. 

“Say it.”

The demand itself makes you whimper. Your lips form a pout and you try to drive yourself back, hoping to spur him into action. But his hand on your hip doesn’t allow for movement. He doesn’t flinch, just keeps his eyes steady on yours and waits.

“I- I need your fat cock to stretch out my sweet little pussy.”

“Good girl,” he coos, then presses a kiss against your pulse. His hips thrust forward, and his cock sinks into you at an excruciatingly slow pace, “Holy fuck-”

You sputter and watch his hot gaze on your contorting face. Both of his hands grip your waist now as he finds a rhythm that makes you writhe and gasp from pleasure. Each thrust sends shockwaves across your body, from the walls of your pussy through the tips of your toes. 

“Is that what you need, sweetheart?” he rumbles against your ear. 

“Faster,” you plead, pushing back against him at a quicker pace, following the urge tingling at your center. His tempo conforms to yours and you gasp, “Yes, yes, just like that, Dee-“

He groans and his fingertips dig into your skin, “Love it when you say my name, Lua,” his voice trembles with each sharp thrust that melts you from the inside out, “Does it feel good on your lips? Does it feel right? Do you feel that?”

His questions flip your stomach upside down. Because, yes, his name is like powdered sugar on your lips. Because, yes, being with him is like hearing your favorite song. Like warming your chilled hands on a fire. Like climbing into bed at the end of an exhausting day. 

“Oh my god, Dee,” you pant, nodding in agreement, “Yes- yes, I feel it.”

The mirror is starting to fog from the shower’s steam. You can barely see the reflection of yourselves anymore. Just blurs of skin moving in time. But your nerve endings are on fire, every square inch of your body doused in ecstasy as he fills you again and again. His lips hum against the crook of your neck, groaning curses with increasing frequency. 

Pleasure builds and builds at your center. You chase the sensation, meeting his thrusts in a frenzy, pushing hard against him as you moan, “Fuck, fuck, fuck- Dee, don’t stop, baby.” 

“That’s it, Lua, tell me what you need. Such a good girl, Lua. So fucking good,” he purrs into your ear. 

A twisting, dizzying static swells inside you, pulling sharp gasps of air in through your mouth. You let out a choked sob as your body fills to the brim with ecstasy, then releases it all at once. Your joints dissolve, arms and legs start to tremble, and your pussy seizes around him. 

His hips stutter, whole body going rigid for a moment before he moans and shudders, spilling inside you. He loosens his grip on your waist and wraps his arms around your belly, nuzzling into your neck. You can feel him smiling against you. 

Your chests heave in unison, relaxing more with each slowing breath. The two of you soak up all those beautiful post-orgasm happy chemicals, melting against each other more and more with each passing second. Eventually, he mumbles, “Shower?”

[ Next Chapter ]

[snail-studios]

For Orca lady (Orcitoh perhaps or Orphae??) here are some questions!

after 100 years passes, does she realise that she misses link's rivalry and camaraderie? when he comes back how does she react? How does she react when she sees Link in Mipha's engagement armour? What does she think of Muzu? did she help Mipha on her journey to collect things for the engagement armour and help her keep it a secret? Did she know about the armour in the first place? Did Mipha start resenting her for her dislike of Link/ was Link's dislike of her a topic of argument between mipha and link? does she begrudgingly respect Link for his cooking prowesses? What's her favourite food and weapon? what's her relationship with Doraphan like?

Hope that helps unveil a bit about her character :)

Ahh those are great name suggestions!!!

Long answers under the cut ⤵

Feel free to send me more questions like these, too!! it was super fun to answer all of these ♡

after 100 years passes, does she realise that she misses Link's rivalry and camaraderie? 

I think she does! She finds herself missing their spars and arguments, and while she really resents Link for failing Hyrule and Mipha (in her mind), she wishes he was still around. 

When he comes back, how does she react? 

Anger, at first. She can’t believe he has the gall to show up at Zora’s Domain after letting everyone down with no memories. It makes her furious, because at the very least he could have remembered Mipha, but he doesn't. After he regains his memories and kills Ganon she warms up to him a little, and they even become good friends. I’d like to think in an AU where the Champions come back (i have a fic about that on a03 wink wonk), she’d be a lot nicer once he brought Mipha back :))))))) 

How does she react when she sees Link in Mipha's engagement armour? 

I think she would be hurt and a little heartbroken, but try to be happy for them as long as Link treated Mipha right. 

What does she think of Muzu? 

I think she would find him a little annoying and disapprove of how hard he works the Zora siblings, but she doesn’t hate him. Muzu on the other hand loves her, since she’s hard working at her job. Maybe they’re even both out-of-towners in Zora’s Domain and hail from the ocean.

Did she help Mipha on her journey to collect things for the engagement armour and help her keep it a secret? 

I think she would when it was too dangerous for only one person, but understands it’s a pretty private quest so keeps her distance.

Did she know about the armour in the first place?

Not for a while, and she only realised it was for Link when Mipha told her. She’s not one to go snooping around a princess’ room, after all.

Did Mipha start resenting her for her dislike of Link/ was Link's dislike of her a topic of argument between Mipha and link? 

There’s a little tension but I like to think if things got really serious between them before the Calamity (which it most likely did) Link and the Orca would try to make up, or at least be civil. Maybe they’d get into a bit of a brawl and then realise they shouldn’t fight… ✨ mipha’s happiness is more important ✨

Tho a brawl might be a bit OOC for this OC as she’s quite level headed. Although, orcas can be pretty vicious irl…

Does she begrudgingly respect Link for his cooking prowesses? 

She prefers most of her stuff raw, so she’s not that interested in it, but she does get jealous when he prepares stuff for mipha lol.

What's her favourite food and weapon? 

Anything with salmon in it! And favourite weapon…hmm. Probably a really jagged spear made of teeth that she took with her when she left the ocean. I think she’d use her wits and bare hands and teeth too. She’s not someone you would want to get into a fight with, and I doubt Link could beat her alone.

…Now I want her to have a villain arc. 

What's her relationship with Doraphan like? 

They’d probably be really close! He'd known her since she was young (maybe mid-teens?) and probably rescued her from the ocean or the jaws of a monster, so he’d think of her the same way he thinks of Link. That doesn’t mean he approves of everything she does, though, but he thinks she’d be a good leader.

[twilightmalachite]

Altered - Heaven and Hell 19

Author: Akira

Characters: Shu, Natsume, Kanata

Translator: Mika Enstars

"You “should not” force yourself to talk “too much”, Shu. I “worry” your “soul” will slip out alongside your “voice”."

Season: Autumn

Location: fine Stage (Past)

⚠️ This is an import from a unproofed Twitter Livetweet!

Shu: Your complexion looks terrible, little boy.

Natsume: …You shouldn’t be the one telling me that, Shu-niisan.

Is it safe for you to come heRE? I’m a fortune tellER, not a psychotherapiST, I can’t tell you what’s right to dO, but…

Your mental health has broken down noticeably since autuMN, Shu-niisan.

Shu: I’m fine. All of you are here.

Even if everyone else here are all enemies, you see.

It’s always been that way for me. I’ve always thought that everyone surrounding me is my enemy.

It is why I was so pressed to open the eyes of the vulgar masses who understood nothing.

However, as I continued to recklessly challenge myself against this vague world, I began to be joined by fellow companions who came to my side, despite such exasperation towards me.

Of course, this doesn’t refer to you, the Five Eccentrics.

But about the children of Valkyrie of whom I called my dolls, and turned into pawns.

It’s too late to realize it now, however.

Alas, I have brought needless shame upon those kids who had devoted themselves to me and offered me their support. We fell into a trap and swam in a cesspool of manure, all because of my own shallow-mindedness and arrogance.

I have dirtied those beautiful children. I have dirtied their youths.

That is what I regret the very most.

If only I could do it over—

No, that is a foolish thing to say.

Life is precious and beautiful solely because it cannot be redone.

Natsume: (Nii-san really doesn’t seem to be mentally weLL… He’s mumbling about abstract things in a quiet voiCE. It’s a little scaRY.)

(BuT, the words he’s mumbling are more positive than I expectED. No, they’re filled with self-reflection and the will to improve himseLF.)

(Niisan didn’t just break and stOP. I think he's just saving up strength so that he can get back on his feet in a more skillful fashion one dAY.)

(That’s whY, I’m sure you’ll be fiNE, Shu-niisan.)

Kanata: You “should not” force yourself to talk “too much”, Shu.

I “worry” your “soul” will slip out alongside your “voice”.

Shu: As always, what you say doesn’t make any scientific sense.

Kanata: There is more that “exists” in this world than what is recognized by "science".

You need to be more like myself, probably.

Natsume: (On the other haND, Kanata-niisan appears to be fine.)

(It’s as if he hasn’t been defeated at aLL, like he hasn’t lost a thiNG.)

(It’s like the calamity that struck the Five Eccentrics somehow never existED.)

You’re stroNG, Kanata-niisan.

Kanata: No, no, I am not strong. I am weak, helpless, and always the one being saved.

Kanata: It’s simply because, unlike Shu, I had been “finished off” by gentle people.

And, I was “saved” by kind, strong people.

That is why I am so energetic. I am a “fish” out of water, flopping vigorously.

And so, because I am fine, I want to support everyone.

I do want to just be given, but to give, this time around.

We have gone through a bad experience. We have been hated, bullied, and trampled by everyone.

But, if I am able to give something “kind” in “return”…

Little by little, I feel that this strange “world” can even become something soft, warm, and “wonderful”.

So that is what I want to do, and will do, now. It is difficult to explain, ehehe.

I want to “digest” the “bad things” given to me, and turn it into something beautiful.

I’m sure that is what my “role” is originally supposed to do.

Thanks to everyone, I have realized this.

That is why I am able to say that I am glad for this.

So this all wasn’t just “senseless incident” that nothing good could have come out of… I’m sure.

Natsume: Learn from our mistakes and tragediES, and grow as human beinGS, huH?

You’re also very positive about thIS, Kanata-niisan.

Kanata: I can’t “force” Nacchan to also be, though. If you don’t like it, it’s okay to say you don’t like it, and it’s okay to cry if you want to.

But, once you’ve cleared it up and feel better, let us start walking again.

With our own two “feet” that were given to us.

Look, Wataru seems to be doing so as well.

Natsume: Wataru-niisan—

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[bugcatcherwill]

Rage Against the Calamity - Chapter 62: The Meeting of Monsters

Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos, and Wizzrobe. One of each has managed to break free from the Malice that binds them. With their tie to Ganon gone, these monsters must fight to survive in a world where everything wants them dead. Yet, things are not always what they seem. For as unforgiving a land as Hyrule, it will continue to surprise even the most hopeless hearts. This is the story of those four monsters, and all their unlikely allies…

Also on AO3

"You see, Hoz managed to catch a glimpse of y'all wrangling one of those ostriches and…"

The voice from outside was immediately familiar to Sledge. It could never forget that old Hylian's soothing tone. With unparalleled patience it stayed out of sight, ears twitching furiously. It wanted to go out there so badly and give Lettie a gargantuan hug. Sledge knew she was the one that put the torches out. She had to be. With Link at Rito Village with Kobb, there was no other Hylian around that could vouch for it besides her. Its eyes got wet around the corners as it listened to Lettie's dramatic retelling of what she's been up to. Purah watched the Moblin fidget from across the room, finding it adorable how Sledge kept trying to take the first step towards the door before backing up again. Although, for its sake, she thought it'd be best if it waited for now, and gently tugged its arm back.

"Hang on, Sledge, we're not out of the woods yet," she said, trembling a bit herself because her body refused to wind down. With a soft nod Sledge stayed put while Lettie chatted on and on, likely doing so to guilt the entourage she brought.

"...and I had to calm all these people down by myself! Can you believe that? By myself! So I figured I'd march all of them up to your front door so they could see with their own eyes that they're just working themselves up into a frenzy and there’s nothing to be so afraid about!"

Robbie morbidly chucked, craned his neck around the old Hylian to take a look at the crowd, then glanced back towards Sledge and the others. Hands on his hips, he blew a loud sigh - shaking his head at the entire situation.

"Well…yes, I will say there are a few monsters that live here now," he admitted. The crowd didn't gasp or guffaw like before, but hearing it straight from Robbie's mouth brought a newfound clarity to their eyes.

"They've been freed from Ganon for quite some time now - a few months, I'd say," Robbie continued, now much more apprehensive to the reception in front of him, "They're joining us in the fight to defeat The Calamity for good, and have already been nothing less than some of our most trusted allies. But unfortunately they’re caught up in the crossfire, so right now this is one of the few safe places for them. We've all made quite the number of enemies, intentional or not, so Akkala was the best place to hide. At least, until today…"

The once-angry mob winced all around, the shame from minutes ago rearing back up. Lettie's additional disdainful glares from over her shoulder stung like nettles that wouldn't leave the skin.

"But!" Robbie said suddenly, causing everyone to jump, "I certainly hope this will be water under the bridge! I, and my monster associates, would certainly accept an earnest apology when presented. Certainly better than the alternative, heh."

"Do you think we could see these monsters face-to-face?" Hoz asked, genuinely curious but still guilt-ridden, "So that we can bury the hatchet?”

Gingerly Robbie peeked his head through the door behind him. Back inside the lab, Sledge and Rezek hung around the deeply breathing Lizalfos.

"You do not have to go out there, Zayl," Sledge said, softly rubbing the ridge of its back, "Rezek and I can do this and you can wait and rest."

Zayl shook its head fiercely, pushing itself back up with shaky arms, its own body fighting against it, but its mind already made up.

"No…" it slowly croaked, pushing through the weak knees and watery eyes, "I need to do this. I need to move on from Hateno. This is not for them, it is for me."

Fiercely it shoved its claws out to give a thumbs-up to Robbie, who beamed a bright smile right back - pumping his fist triumphantly seeing Zayl rebound. He returned to the crowd with a newfound passion.

"While we all would've preferred to meet under…better circumstances…I'll let everyone introduce themselves and we can finally ‘bury the hatchet’ as Hoz said," Robbie said, cueing to the monsters inside it was safe to show themselves.

All of Akkala Stable leaned in on their toes to see just what would come out of that door. Holding their breath for a bit too long, the first monster emptied out into the night air. Rezek, cloak flapping in the breeze, gently tiptoed to Robbie's right. Instinctively the crowd sans Lettie gasped, seeing a Wizzrobe this close, and Rezek rolled its eyes so hard it nearly strained them. Suddenly it remembered why it wasn't the most social - the numerous eyes fixated upon the Wizzrobe reducing it to a spectacle rather than a living being. It wanted to tell them off, but it couldn't. It had to be proper, a perfectly behaved example lest it risk the entire lab, and it hated it.

"My name is Rezek," it said with a restrained monotone, "I certainly hope this means we won't be seeing a stunt like this again…"

Robbie elbowed it, warning Rezek not to poke the bear, but the Hylian crowd was far too embarrassed about this whole ordeal to get riled up again. Being talked down to by a Wizzrobe was a blow to many of their prides, but they just didn't have the gumption to fight back. It didn't help that Rezek was nothing like any of the Wizzrobes they had seen. There was no sadistic grin and haunting laughter - but the absence of such was just as chilling. What could possibly make a Wizzrobe this serious and dry? One Hylian whispered to another "I thought Wizzrobes were more whimsical" that Rezek easily heard and rolled its eyes even harder.

Lettie, however, saw beyond the veil. The moment Rezek walked through the door she could see the pure hurt and anguish in its eyes, and also the momentary relief. This creature had innumerable unseen burdens, and Lettie did not know how many of those it carried around wherever it went, but she knew that exhaustive face all too well - for it was familiar to her own. It was survivors' guilt, clear as day, a guilt she also dragged along since that fateful day of her youth. And the way Rezek held its arms: squished tightly inwards, shrinking its shoulders by at least a few inches, and hiding every semblance of a grabbable hand or wrist. This Wizzrobe had lost someone, someone incredibly dear to it, Lettie assumed immediately. Was it afraid of getting too close to anyone else for fear of losing them, too, or had it accepted that it would never find someone like the one it lost, so there was no bother trying? Perhaps it could be both, for Lettie had gone through the same turbulent storm of emotions at the passing of her late spouse.

The two met eyes and the old Hylian immediately felt a connection. As if her suspicions were confirmed right then and there. Desperately she wanted to wrap her wrinkled arms around this monster and tell it things would get better. That there is a sunset after the storm. But accepting that is a choice that Rezek would have to make, and it did not look ready. It instinctively turned away from Lettie's gaze. Even though Rezek knew her from watching Sledge give her the book, it wasn't ready to share that grief with a Hylian. At this point it'd rather deal with the inane questions the peanut gallery behind her undoubtedly had.

But neither of those moments came. Lettie respected Rezek's distance and the crowd fizzled, leaving them waiting for the next monster to walk out. The first part of Sledge they saw was the snout, cautiously sliding out the door, its whole head coming into view then rising high above the door frame as it stood back up from the hunch it needed to enter Hylian doors. Every head of Akkala Stable tiled higher, higher, until the Moblin stood at full height. Sledge felt even taller than usual, standing on the front porch while the rest were at the foot of the lab. Lightheaded from the tumultuous evening, and suddenly finding itself before at least a dozen judging Hylians, the Moblin's knees wobbled and it had to sit back down soon. Grabbing the wooden frame, Sledge eased itself down to Robbie's left. It sat criss-crossed, looking upon the Hylians gazing upon it in awe and slight terror. It was one thing to hear about the monsters at the Lab, and Lettie's testimony, but seeing one as large as Sledge up-close turned them into gape-mouthed gawkers. None of them noticed Khini hidden amongst the group clenching his fists and gritting his teeth in an irrational rage - all the polite inhibitions disappearing upon the sight of the Moblin.

Before Sledge could even take a moment to introduce itself to the wide-eyed crowd, Lettie threw Hoz's and Rudi's supportive arms down to sprint over to it. She slightly hobbled, but couldn't care less about her old joints when there were more important matters ahead of her. And that mattered was wrapping her arms around Sledge's lowered snout. The Moblin fully embraced the grandma hug, taking care not to squeeze her too tight, and tried to hold back the waterworks fruitlessly.

"Ohhhh it's so good to see you again, Sledge!" Lettie said, fiercely swaying back and forth and giving it a big grandmotherly smooch on the side of its wrinkled snout.

"It is good to see you too, Lettie," Sledge said, nearly choking on its words, "I am glad you are still around…"

"Wha!" she said, jolting back, arms crossing dramatically and feigning offense to tease it, "I may be old, but I ain't dying!"

That helped lighten the mood, especially for Sledge who let out the most genuine laugh before turning back to the other Hylians - some biting their lips thinking about what they would've done if Lettie wasn't there to stop them. A lot of them finally noticed that something was different about this Mobkin visually, too. It was only when it bowed its snout that they saw the jagged and pointed edges of its snapped horn. It didn't take a genius to infer that it had been through too much already.

"Yes, I am Sledge," it said, lifting its head up again, "I heard enough while I was inside, so give me a moment. This is not what you called an 'evolution' of monsters, but a liberation - and one that will benefit all of Hyrule."

The deep voice of the Moblin entranced the denizens of the Akkala Stable, now desperate to hear more. Lettie stayed in-between Sledge and the other Hylians, showing she trusted it far beyond just words.

"We are what monsters should be, without the corruption of Malice. I do not know why we were bound to The Calamity, but mine and my fellow monsters' existence proves it is not natural. And every day we are fighting against it so our kind can live without that wretched curse. We have the chance to create so much…but only if we are allowed to. We do not expect every Hylian to think kindly of us; I know too well that it is a foolish endeavor. Just see us for what we are: living, breathing, thinking creatures like the others you share a home with. So that when the rest of us monsters are freed, we can all rebuild this land."

Skepticism still persisted amongst the Hylians. Not in the Moblin's words, but whether its goals were even achievable. Many couldn't lie that they likely would never get used to seeing Bokoblins, Moblins, and the like walking around casually after everything that's happened. They'd believe it when they see it, so it was up to Sledge to make that vision real. Still, its voice carried a deep weight that shook the others to their core. And the way it hugged Lettie as if she was its own grandmother brought with the crowd memories of a youth that was long past or simply absent.  Perhaps it was really possible. 

"There is still another of us that would like to be introduced," Sledge said, snapping everyone out of their daze and turning towards the entrance. For a moment nothing came - leaving the crowd staring at an ajar door. But then slowly the very tip of a pearl-white horn came into view. A few instantly recognized the shape as Lizalfos, and eagerly awaited Zayl's head popping out from the lab. As more of its body eased out into the night air Zayl's eyes darted up, down, left, right - anywhere but towards the faces of the Hylians. So far their reaction was manageable, tepid even. After seeing a Moblin face-to-face Lizalfos were hardly any different. Even without looking, Zayl could sense the lukewarm reaction and got the courage to step out further. However, when its metallic tail came into view all but a few of them suddenly gasped - followed by corrective shushing. Though they tried not to stare, the wide eyes of the Hylians still zeroed in on what was meant to be a marvel of technology. Zayl winced, not sure if the pity or the shock made it feel worse. It meandered further to Sledge's left, hoping that if it moved further off-center it wouldn't be the center of attention any longer.

"Hi," the Lizalfos said with a jerky nervous wave, "My name is Zayl."

Lettie almost brought herself to tears upon seeing Zayl's full body. She knew her own people were responsible for this, the way it carried itself was apparent enough. Again, she felt that shared guilt all too similar to when she gazed upon Sledge's face for the first time. The old Hylian looked up at Sledge, motioning over to Zayl and mouthed something unseen and unheard. Sledge nodded, and Lettie moved in-between them - gingerly wrapping her arm under its chin. Without a second thought Zayl leaned towards her.

"Oh, you poor baby. It's alright, Zayl," she softly cooed, the smooth scaly skin gradually warming up to her touch, "I think you look great this evening…"

"What happened to its tail?" Rudi blurted out without thinking, and was promptly jabbed in the side from Hoz and shot a look that could kill from Lettie. Zayl shrunk inwards meekly, grabbing the tip. The metallic sheen at that spot had rubbed off entirely, giving the end a more brownish bronze look than the rest of the length, due to the Lizalfos' nervous habit.

"You should be asking Hateno that, instead," came a new voice from the inside. Out of the lab stepped Purah, dark circles under her eyes that told more of a story than words could. Khini flinched upon seeing her, the others next to him giving the man an awkward side-eye. 

"Hateno?" Hoz said with a sharp inhale, the name now in infamy, sending a wave of chills through his body, "Were they the same monsters?"

Purah passed Robbie and wandered over to Sledge's right, leaning nonchalantly on its shoulder - the Moblin still managing to find enough sarcasm within to roll its eyes at her. The blanket of night covered his steaming red face, but Khini had a hard time concealing his trembling fists. Just like last night, he tormented his own mind with all the possible reasons those two could act so casual around each other. The mention of Hateno drew too much attention for the rest to notice - leaving Khini to stew in his self-inflicted rage.

"Yes and no," she said with a shrug, "Sledge and Rezek weren't there, they were with Robbie. But Zayl and I were. Alongside Kobb - a Bokoblin you unfortunately won't be able to meet tonight as it's currently in Tabantha with Linky…"

"Tell us…what really happened in Hateno," Hoz said, not exactly prepared for whatever he might hear.

Purah sighed heavily, pursing her lips.

"Same thing that happened here, only there was no Lettie to stop them. A misunderstanding turned to assumptions, assumptions to fear, fear to violence. Couple of kids snooping around scared Zayl. Well…they all scared each other, really. The 'concerned Hylians' issued their 'ultimatum', I refused, and…you can go there yourself and look at the charred remains of my lab to see the outcome of that. And as for Zayl…it lost the most out of all of us that night.…"

Eyes darted from Zayl’s prosthetic, the soft blue lights especially prominent in the night, to Purah and then back. Hateno was an odd topic, as accounts ranged wildly in order and severity of events. Some would have you believe that almost the whole town got burned down. Yet the testimony that was hardest for them to process was one that went against every single one they had heard before. They wanted to believe it was a misunderstanding, especially now that they had a chance to meet the monsters in question, but cognitive dissonance gripped like a burr to their minds.

"But I heard a Bokoblin attacked the mayor!" a Hylian man shouted from the crowd.

Purah scoffed loudly through her nose, laughing at the complete unrepentance of the village that nearly took everything from her.

"Hah! Is that what they're running with?! Conveniently, they left out the part where the mayor was trying to wring my neck out, first!"

The reaction was once again uncertain. Purah could sense the apprehension in the shifting of their feet and rolled her eyes again. While they had made great headway by now, to convince them that their own would commit such a sin would take some effort. Sledge gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder as she closed her eyes, shook her head, and sighed once more.

“Look, you can choose what you want to believe. But I was there. Zayl was there. Our story is worth a thousand spins of the rumor mill. They’re all just trying to survive - same as the rest of us. And if you think something like Hateno could never happen, that the ‘good folk’ there could never act so unreasonable, look at how you were acting just tonight.”

The shame returned to the Akkala Stable residents, and something clicked in their brains. Even through Lettie’s scolding many of them planned on softly apologizing, then returning home with the same fears and doubts that Khini had sowed. With this, the gravity of the situation at last dawned on them. Many thought back to the riled up animals they were acting like just minutes ago. They would have burned that lab down, or at least tried to, had Lettie not stepped in. They had turned into a self-sufficient machine of rage and fear, only stopped by a lone Hylian throwing herself onto the gears to halt its progress. Nobo, the one who was the first to lay her weapon down, stepped in front of the rest with a grave stare.

“Alright…we believe you,” she said, turning around to make sure everyone else was in agreement, and was met with several nods and an assortment of grunts, “But I…really don’t know what to say. I have family in Hateno! How much of the village attacked you?”

“There were enough torches to create a wall of fire…” Zayl said softly as it shivered, its eyes reflecting an orange glow that acted as a window to that fateful night. 

Nobo was taken aback, almost ready to deny again.

“That is…how do I confront them on this? I’d like to believe they weren’t there, but I almost did the same thing? How would I even ask them?! What would I say if they were there?”

“It is never easy to tell someone what they need to hear, but it must be done,” Rezek said bluntly and firmly. Looking across the crowd, it was evident many shared Nobo’s sentiment - also having family and friends in Hateno as well. It was the largest Hylian settlement post-Calamity, so who knows how many participated in the burning of Purah’s Lab. Still, the Wizzrobe’s words resonated with them enough that it saw determination in their eyes for the first time. A chance to make things right, and no longer wallow in self-pity, was suddenly tossed in their lap. But despite this, the man next to Hoz had to get his final word in.

"There’s still one loose end I can’t shake my mind off of,” Rudi said, tapping his finger on his bushy facial hair, “Khini here claimed you also had a Hinox here. If it’s like the ones we’ve met here, then there hopefully should be no problem. I just need to know so I can finally get a good night’s sleep. As the stablehand, it’s my job to ensure this level of security.”

Robbie and Purah exchanged nervous glances, knowing that Sterre’s Hylian was hardly up to snuff. Purah also then shot a dirty glare right at Khini, who jolted his arms to his side and gulped. It appears that they had found the source of this entire problem in the form of a sneaky snoop. Robbie raised a single eyebrow, mentally noting that it was past time to upgrade his security.

“Oh, he did now? Well, in that case we can just cut through the lab to the back so you all can meet Sterre.”

Sterre…the very name sounded regal, and cleverly Robbie had put the Hylians in an etiquette snare. In the safety of the lab, they were much less likely to make a scene if the meeting went poorly. Moreover if they walked around back so much of Sterre would be obscured by the night that the Akkala Stable might go into a panic if they let their imagination do all the work for them. And the nail in the coffin: it would be rude to refuse an invitation. Robbie motioned to Zayl, Rezek and Sledge that they're all heading inside, which they did begrudgingly. Rezek was the most pessimistic of all of them, grumbling quietly about how this was a bad idea - Purah silently in agreement. Once Robbie held the door open for everyone else, Hoz and Rudi stepped through without hesitation. That was enough for the rest of the Akkala Stable to follow, everyone piling into the lab that now felt much smaller once a crowd of Hylians were shoved inside. 

The door behind them was left hanging open as the numerous heads swiveled around at the technical wonders all around them. The stationary automaton previously known as Cherry softly hummed in the center, while the wall of books and ancient Sheikah doodads loomed over them. Symin and Jerrin sat at the table in the kitchen, nervously watching the other Hylians gawk. Sledge tried to find a spot in the corner not to stick out like a sore thumb, but even sitting down it towered over the rest. Subtly it scooted over the back door in case it had to translate for the Hinox in the backyard. Robbie opened his arms unceremoniously to the messy lab before them.

"Well! What you see is what you get! I hope this also clears up any nasty rumors about the Sheikah as well," he said, flushing the stable residents' faces red. The door to the backyard was partially ajar as well - a few Hylians craning their necks just to get a glimpse. But all they could see was a bluish black darkness outside.

"Sterre!" he called out the door, "Everything's fine, but the Hylians down at the stable would like the chance to meet you…"

A low grumbling returned, followed by a very muffled thump. Sledge poked its head out and repeated Robbie's words but in Malician - followed by a few back and forth exchanges of words that none of the Akkala Stable could understand. Returning to the crowd and holding its breath, Sledge slowly swung the door open - bringing the Hylians at eye-level with the massive Hinox.

Many jumped in surprise or yelped, not expecting to see that singular giant yellow eye and toothy underbite this close. Sterre was laying on its stomach just so it could be level with the ground floor. The frame wasn't even wide enough for its entire head, hiding its ears and horn. Once the shock wore off, Hoz and the rest could see its lighthearted half-smile and the relief beyond its eye. Lettie almost chuckled at seeing its face, compared to how the rest were raving about the dangers of a Hinox this close to the stable. With the Malice gone, she doubted Sterre would be willing to hurt a lone meadow shrew.

"My name is Sterre," it said through the door before having to take a long pause for its next words, "Hylian speak of mine not good now. Sorry…"

Reception was befuddled, and Sledge stretched up to the Hinox's ear to recover this first impression.

"You do not need to add 'speak' since 'Hylian' also means their language. It is confusing, but you will get used to it. Also you would put the belonging before the object, not after. Go ahead and try it again."

Sterre cleared its throat, reverberating the floor, and gave it another go.

"My Hylian is not good, but I am…wording? Learning. Yes, learning. Only little days since I broke from the Malice."

Sledge gave a thumbs up, then after a few more hushed whispers, stood between the Hinox and the Hylians. Sterre's deep voice spoke their own monster language as Sledge acted as a second mouth - translating appropriately.

"I can see the hesitation in your faces and I understand why. That is why I speak to you through this door. I am aware of how I stretch higher than the rest, and the fear it brings. Even amongst our own ranks of monsters we were feared. But you must understand, we Hinoxes are not meant to be violent. It is not in our nature, as I have realized in my time outside the Malice. Suddenly, a burden of care has been thrust upon me so I do not hurt the ones that helped me. Every movement of my hands or feet must be considered - as my strength could easily break down a wall if I am not careful. It is difficult, and I have even considered moving somewhere where that is not a concern, but it is a reminder that consideration has always been here. That I am indeed more like the rest of Hyrule than different. I really do hope that we can still cooperate, or live separately but peacefully if you wish."

Sledge obviously added some embellishments there, but the message was the same. To hear these words, even indirectly, was nothing short of moving. There was no raucous applause to Sterre's speech, but the notion that even a Hinox could be freed, and was trying to right the wrongs of The Calamity, roused a primal understanding among them. 

"I never would've expected this in all my years, but you're good company, Sterre," Rudi said with the slightest of smiles hidden in his mustache.

"Well…I guess that settles everything," Hoz said, scratching his head underneath his helmet.

"You're damn right," Lettie spat back, still angry at the man for only finding some backbone now. She also stood on her tippy toes trying to find that infernal man, the one who hadn't muttered but a single apology yet, but he was conveniently hiding just out of sight - biting his nails nervously.

"Okay, but what do we do now?" one of the stable regulars asked, "We can't just go to bed after all of this!"

Sledge stood taller and directed its own voice towards all the Hylians.

"What almost happened tonight is no coincidence. It happened before and it will happen again…but only if you let it. If you wish to make things right just like we do, then show it with your actions, not words."

“But not all of us are fighters!” another Hylian called out.

"Then tell everyone,” Sledge said so matter-of-factly it might as well have been an order, “Do not tell them where we are, but tell them our story. Tell them how you met us, and who we really are. Right now, Hateno is the only narrative running through the Hylians. We are meeting with the other races of Hyrule, and it has gone well, but I am afraid the overlap between them and the Hylians will be too small. Hyrule has become too divided. The first rumors may have done too much damage already and we cannot have Hateno be the leading story. For the sake of our future, the truth must be told."

The Moblin was met with many nods, a new hotter fire brewing in their eyes. It was a simple request, but that was what made it so effective. It offered a way for them to make a tangible effort, and make up for their own wrongdoings in one fell swoop. Lettie smiled and gave Sledge a subtle thumbs-up, who bit its tongue bashfully - proud of its speech. Just as the last of the Akkala Stable was ready to head out the door and finally get some shut eye, a high-pitched “Whoops!” came from the spiral bannister. Every head turned towards what was the tiniest Ice Wizzrobe they had ever seen, spying on the scene from the top steps before missing a step and slipping - catching itself midair.

“Ashen!” Rezek hissed with an urgency, dashing up the stairs to intercept it. A wave of nostalgia blasted across the Hylians, hearing their own parents’ voice in that tone, and in some cases their own voices as well. In one smooth motion Rezek scooped up Ashen and held it over its shoulder daintily.

“Ashen, I told you to stay upstairs…”

“I still can’t sleep, Rezek…and I heard a lot of talking downstairs…”

“Please, just stay in your bedroom for now where it is safe. I will tell you what happened tomorrow.”

The complaints of the younger Wizzrobe carried across the lab, growing muffled and then quiet as Rezek hastily carried it back to the 2nd story bedrooms. Their attention away from the two Wizzrobes, Akkala Stable’s eyes then turned to another certain individual - heads turning to their target like a Guardian Turret. A circle of people gradually formed around the once-hiding Khini, those next to him distancing themselves as much as possible. Now he was the recipient of those same contorted faces of hatred he had created yesterday, except these were different. It was not a blind, irrational anger, but the kind that comes from a mother bear protecting her cubs. Lettie had to be held back by Rudi from lunging at the man on the spot. Meanwhile Khini’s once-triumphant posture had deflated to a pathetic hunched cower. Sledge and the rest picked up on the implications, and each turned to him accordingly with an even greater anger.

"Tell me, Khini," Hoz said, his thin mustache twitching alongside a vein in his forehead as his cheeks flushed red with a growing rage, "At any point in your rambling yesterday did you mention that one of these monsters was a child?!"

He could have lied again and chalked it up to misunderstanding, as lying came as naturally as breathing to Khini, but his hesitation was what did him in. He had purposely left Ashen out of the picture he painted to make his case better, and it was as obvious as a festering blister. Disgust accompanied the anger - horrified that they could have taken the life of a child all thanks to Khini’s willingful omission. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hoz was having none of it.

"Get out.” he growled, instinctively reaching for the sword on his belt that was no longer there, “You have until sunrise to get the hell out of Akkala or I'm running you through, myself.”

The sentiment echoed in Rudi, Lettie, Nobo, and the rest of the Akkala Stable. To say they were beside themselves in anger was the understatement of the century. But the worst for Khini was seeing the look from Sledge. Those disapproving eyes stung more than the ones from his own peers. To be brought down to a Moblin’s level, nay, below a Moblin’s level was unbearable. And the audacity it had to look upon him like that? A monster, taking the moral high ground? The same one that dared to be so close to one of his own?! Any sense of shame Khini may have felt was thrown out the window like bathwater, a bubbling cauldron of bitter animosity replacing it. Self-preservation be damned, he would have the last laugh. Lowering his head in feigned defeat, he silently nodded and turned towards the open front door - relaxing Hoz and the other Hylians but putting them off-guard. His hands already close to his chest, and frontside hidden from sight, nobody saw the slim dagger he had stashed in his pockets. His face turned manic as he clutched the blade in his shaky hands, taking heavy deliberate steps before pounding a foot on the floor. Eyes of a rabid dog, Khini swiftly turned around and lunged with the dagger towards Sledge - baring his teeth and screeching. Acting on reaction, the other Hylians couldn’t move fast enough to stop the glint of steel speeding in the direction of the Moblin’s guts. 

SLAM!

Yelps and screams of the Akkala Stable residents followed, and Khini was pinned to the wall as fast as lightning before he even got within an arm's reach of his target. The man’s head jostled, blood quickly matting his brown hair. The hand that held the dagger was violently grasped by another, unable to move his wrist. Another hand had gripped the collar of his shirt so forcefully the fabric tore at the seams. What felt like a velvety foot was pressed down on his free hand, leaving Khini completely immobilized. His blurry vision adjusted through his crooked glasses, the smell of ozone filling his nostrils, to see who exactly intercepted his assault. He was met with a dark face, burning yellow eyes and flashing white teeth splitting from the void. It was Rezek. The Wizzrobe had reacted all the way from the top of the stairs and practically fell on the Hylian from above. Softly it floated, Rezek’s own wind magic pressing it firmly against Khini, sticking him to the wall like a spider catching an insect. There were also two more daggers firmly aimed at his throat, belonging to Robbie and Purah who had jumped into action as well. Unblinking, Rezek stared into the man’s now-terrified eyes. With such speed and precision, he wondered how he was even alive. But the Wizzrobe’s furious face said it all. It could have killed him with little effort at any point, if it wanted to. The ambient magical aura was so strong that Khini had no doubt it had the power to take out the entirety of Akkala Stable just swirling around inside it. He could feel the restraint as Rezek firmly pressed into him, the restraint not to let loose a barrage of sparks and mayhem. The other Hylians stood slack-jawed, suddenly very relieved that they had not gone with Khini’s initial plan.

"You should consider yourself very lucky, Hylian," Rezek said with definite space between each word, slowly prying the knife out of his hand, "that we are not the monsters you think we are…"

With the dagger wrestled out of his hand, Rezek dropped it at his feet, the blade landing right between them with a satisfying CHUNK. The Wizzrobe motioned with its head and the two Sheikah sheathed their swords and gave it some more room. The collar of Khini’s shirt was stretched further, Rezek throwing the man towards the door. He stumbled and almost made a hard landing with the other side of his head, but caught himself on the wooden frame. Quickly he turned again under the lab entrance, shameless and still bottled full of rage. The rest of the Hylians now stood with Lettie, bringing themselves between Khini and the monsters, daring him to take another step forward.

“Y-you will see! You monsters and…interlopers!” he snarled, spitting at the ground with his eyes switching between Sledge and Purah, “That you do not belong on Hylian soil! And will be rightfully purged!”

Khini then took off into the night, barreling down the hill towards the stables. Rudi grew wide-eyed and soon took chase - worried that the man might sabotage his beloved stable if left unchecked. His angry barks carried out the lab until he, too, gradually faded into the blackness between the two softly glowing buildings. 

“I certainly hope that’s the last we’ll see of him…” Hoz said, wringing his fists that were just begging to be swung. Lettie patted his hand, also lamenting that she never got the chance to duff that man across the cheek.

“Dirt like him always seems to come back,” Rezek said with gritted teeth, staring at the open door, “and usually stronger. You should keep an eye on that…Khini…if it can be helped.”

Hoz nodded, having half a mind to run down there with Rudi just to make sure he wasn’t stirring up last-minute trouble before getting kicked out. But before that, he had just one more question to wrap everything up.

“Would it be alright for any of us to visit?” he asked, “You all are close enough that it wouldn’t hurt for me to check up every so often. Plus, it’d mean you can ditch the smoke n’ mirrors. I was wondering why your rations orders had gone up tenfold before all this!”

“Honestly?” Robbie said with a small chortle, glancing at Purah, “We will take all the help we can get.”

With a soldier-like salute, Hoz snapped his chin up gallantly.

“Then we will discuss the rest soon! I’m…going to go to bed” he said, deflating nearly instantly. The weight carried to those around him, the call to sleep sagging shoulders and darkening eyes. One by one they filed out the door politely, a few even saying farewell to the monsters around them. Lettie strayed behind the rest just to give Sledge and Zayl one last hug before turning to Rezek. Her arms spread wide with a look that told the Wizzrobe it’d be much less trouble to just accept it. With a begrudging sigh, Rezek huffed and floated down to wrap its arms around Lettie. The quietest “thank you” was heard only by her, its hands firmly gripping onto the soft fabric of her shirt before quickly snapping away. But the hour of evening was weighing down on her, too, and Robbie escorted her out the door and back towards the lab - Hoz hanging back to help her down the hill.

At last the front door was shut and Robbie immediately slid to the ground, considering the floor as tonight’s bed if Jerrin didn’t hustle over to ease him back up. Purah followed, taking the few lazy steps over to her bedroll in the book nook and faceplanting right into it. Right as Rezek began to float back upstairs, Sledge had some final words.

“I would have handled that, it was so obvious what he was planning you could see it a whole field away,” it said, almost disappointed it wasn’t the one to slam Khini against the wall.

Rezek snickered and wagged its finger tauntingly.

“Be quicker next time! Not my fault…”

“Tch, it just seems all anyone wants to do is jump in and save me…”

“Well…that is because you’re worth saving…” Rezek said as it turned away. A muffled mumbling was all Sledge heard.

Day 15: 27 days until the next possible Blood Moon

The warm coals of the central brazier still glowed red, Kobb and the Aerocuda curled around it. The harsh mountain winds howled past the bubble of the hot springs, but the two slept like a log. It had decided to stay the night at the Flight Range rather than back at Rito Village - both to tend the new monster that practically fell into its lap and to get some peace and quiet away from that one certain Rito. Yet today was the day that Kobb would be dueling it. Its large ears twitched, feeling the vibration of someone climbing the ladder, and groggily lifted its head to see Link’s familiar swishy blonde hair rise up. The Bokoblin stretched, patting the Aerocuda’s head, and gentry pried itself from the flying monster’s grip. Still sleepy, the Aerocuda laid its flat head on the floor, lolling its tongue out.

“You ready for today?” Link said with some morbid sarcasm, worrying for Kobb the whole night.

“I may be, but I do not think Hebra is…” it replied, turning its head towards the softly croaking Aerocuda. After everyone else had left, it had decided to name the monster where it came from last night.

“Awww, I like that name!” he said, kneeling down to get a closer look at it, “But I guess it still needs time to recover?”

The rope burns had mostly subsided, but the Aerocuda still looked absolutely drained of energy from the day before.

“Mmhmm…it can fly on its own, but I do not want to stress it too much.”

“Do you still need my paraglider?”

“No. I will manage without,” Kobb said, not an ounce of doubt in its voice.

Link pursed his lips, afraid Kobb had given up after he scolded it yesterday.

“So you’re fighting Thrush grounded? Are you sure about this, Kobb?”

As it was bending down to sling a nearby bow over its back, the Bokoblin turned its head towards Link with a smirk and a glint in its eye he had seen enough to recognize that Kobb had a plan.

“I will be grounded…but not helpless,” it said, reaching to scritch Hebra under the chin.

[imfluentinfangirlandgay]

Traitors In Our Midst - Ch 1

[SPOILERS FOR POKEMON: LEGENDS ARCEUS AHEAD. DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS]

Summary: This was the last straw. That damned man had gone too far this time, and everyone knew it. Ingo was pissed. He wasn't going to let this go easily, for Akari's sake or his.

Word Count: ~2100

No matter what his mannerisms may suggest currently, Ingo was not an angry person. Given all of his mixed up memories and the constant thick fog settled over his mind, he knew that much. Before Hisui or now. He was never an angry person. But sometimes drastic action calls for drastic measures, and if this wasn’t drastic action, Ingo didn’t know what was. Ingo gritted his teeth, absolutely fuming. He flexed his hands where no one could see, itching to just throttle someone with his bare hands, and this time it wasn’t Melli.

He held the sobbing child in his arms, on the cold floor of the cave. He patted their hair as they hiccupped, practically clinging to him. When that whole fiasco had gone down, what else could he do? It only made sense that he went into hiding with her. Next thing you know, the entire world crashing down around them was going to be Ingo’s fault too. He played over the scene in his head, wondering if it could have gone any different.

Kamado turned to Akari, Adaman, Irida, Cyllene and himself all hanging back. It had been Akari he had specifically requested, after all. There was something in his eyes that set Ingo off at once. He didn’t trust this man.

It wasn’t until the conversation had escalated that Ingo had felt true fear for the girl.

“Who or what are you, really?! Did you think you could gain our trust by quelling the frenzies you yourself brought about?!” he had practically screamed at her. Akari had frozen, and while Ingo hadn’t been able to see her face, he had an idea about what she may have looked like. Her voice had stuttered as she’d shaken her head, as if trying to convince herself it was all a trick. Ingo didn’t blame her. Kamado had completely derailed!

Adaman and Irida had attempted to argue on her behalf, but Kamado had shut them down in his blind fury.

“Consider yourself banished from the village! You are no longer a part of the Galaxy Team! Do not return until you can explain why these calamities keep happening - no, until you’ve restored everything to normal!” Ingo had raised his own voice in opposition to the absolutely outlandish claims the Commander made, but none helped. He made it sound like it was of his own goodwill that he allowed poor Akari to be able to leave and not be imprisoned. Ingo was outraged.

“Akari has put her own cab through so much hardship all for you! She has achieved every one of your goals for you, and the only thing you can think to do is throw her to the curb like garbage?” Ingo never shouted on purpose, as that was just the normal volume of his voice. However, when he wanted to have his voice heard over the thundering of a train whistle, then by Sinnoh, he would. “What kind of Conductor are you?”

Kamado pointed a finger in his face, “You watch your tongue! You are not completely exempt either! I know you favor the girl and you are foreign here, too. Maybe I ought to lock you in the basement just for your incompetence to your superior!”

“Nobody is my superior here except one individual, and we both know it isn’t you. I will not hear this nonsense of you throwing out a child over a problem there is no way they could have caused!” Kamado had grabbed at Ingo’s arm, locking on with an iron grip.

“Chain him,” he hissed with deadly calm. “I wish to hear no more from this freak’s mouth.” Without thinking, Ingo had grabbed the knife he used for slicing wood, nicking the Commander’s hand. He had loosened in surprise, enough that Ingo could pull away. Akari grabbed Ingo from behind, immediately taking off. The others tried calling after them, even Cyllene, but that didn’t last long. Akari summoned Braviary and they both flew off from town immediately, unsure of their next destination.

Why had Ingo acted so rashly? Surely, if he had been calmer about it, someone could have talked reason into the man. He knew that it was fear that had driven them to this act. Maybe if someone could have confirmed he had performed every safety check…

Akari shuddered in his grasp. Since landing in the Highlands, Akari had not said a word. Ingo had managed to summon Sneasler, who allowed them to take up residence in her cave. Upon sitting, Akari clung to Ingo as if he were the last thing she had (which, in a twisted way, was true). Kamado had been right, Ingo did favor this girl. Maybe it was because she fell from a rift, similar to him. Maybe it was because she did not seem to mind his… eccentricities. Maybe it was because they both bonded with Pokemon in a similar way. Whatever it was, it made Ingo feel a rush of anger on her behalf. He was going to break the Commander’s nose the next chance he got.

Every cry from Akari made Ingo’s gut wrench. He had this vague notion that he had done this before, acting as the shoulder to cry on for someone else dear to him, but damn it all if he couldn’t remember who. He patted her back as she openly wept in a way Ingo had never seen before. He had seen a small tear here and there from some bump or scrape (he had once found her fainted by a wild Pokemon), but this was different. Kamado hadn’t just hurt her, he’d decimated her. Ingo shook his head to himself, forming a plan in his head. Fine. Kamado wanted Akari to fix everything? He had another thing coming for him.

Sneasler rumbled deep in her chest, sitting by Ingo. The Noble’s eyes were filled with concern. She pointed at Akari with a long clawed hand. Ingo nodded, still rubbing her back. He didn’t say anything but he didn’t have to. Sneasler squinted her eyes and bared her teeth. He knew that the other Noble Pokemon would probably have some words to exchange with Kamado too, if they heard. Maybe they would just accidentally hear it through the Grepavine.

Akari’s cries had finally settled down. She still shuddered, but the shaking was less violent. She had her hands covering her ears, her eyes screwed shut as she buried her face in his chest. Ingo didn’t mind in the slightest, though this actually surprised him. He was typically not one for physical touch, but something about this felt vaguely familiar. He rocked her gently back and forth, hoping the rhythmic motion would help pull Akari out of her daze. Slowly, that is what seemed to happen. Her breathing leveled out, her knuckles slowly regaining color as she stopped clutching her ears as hard. Her eyes opened, looking around tiredly. Sneasler noticed this and gently placed a massive claw on the girl’s knee. It rumbled in sympathy. Ingo continued rocking. It just felt nice and Akari seemed to like it, too.

“It’s all my fault.” Her voice was so quiet that Ingo almost thought for a moment he’d misheard something. Ingo froze. The anger returned with full force. She sounded so broken and lost, like she had just kicked a Lillipup and left it in the dirt (what was a Lillipup?). She was blaming this whole thing on herself, when really she didn’t have anything to do with it! This is something that should have been handled amongst adults, but apparently some weren’t grown enough to be able to see that!

Ingo breathed. In, and out. “No, Akari, it is not. You are the last person to blame. You did not ask for the rift to open, you did not ask for the nobles to be frenzied. I watched you risk your life for the things Kamado asked you to do, without question. No, Akari, it is not your fault. If anyone should be blamed for this mess, it’s Kamado himself. He could not be bothered to come investigate the problems for himself and had to send the poor child from the sky to do his dirty work for him.”

“Because I’m disposable?” Akari asked suddenly. She made eye contact with Ingo, something he didn’t love, but he couldn’t look away, not now. Her eyes were still bloodshot, a moment away from spilling more tears. “Because no one would notice or care if I got lost in the field?” Ingo couldn’t lie to her, he knew that. But he knew that she had also hit the nail right on the head. That was exactly why Kamado had used her. He must have stayed quiet for too long, because she looked down and barked out a bitter laugh. “And that’s why he sent me away again, so I could do everything like his little eager Aipom and return to him with the answer in a nice little box and he can get the credit for it.” She rubbed her arms impulsively.

“Then don’t.” This was definitely not something in character for Ingo, but he couldn’t help himself anymore. “Don’t go running off to fix his problems. Let him struggle. See how much he truly needs you on the team. And then maybe, only if he truly apologizes, then finish the task at hand.” Ingo recognized that this may not be the wisest plan, but he did not care suddenly. Kamado hadn’t just attacked him, but Akari. And he was going to regret it.

“B-but isn’t that going against safety?”

“Well, technically not, because not only was it never your problem to begin with, but now you are out of the face of danger, are you not? Facing Kamado again would be more dangerous than sitting in this well-protected cave.” Even Ingo recognized his words did not make the most sense, and yet they somehow did. He shook his head. “I know you want to help, and that’s why you are so much better than Kamado ever will be. How about this. Nothing good will come out of running out tracks down, so how about we rest our cabs here and figure things out tomorrow? I doubt that rift is going anywhere, especially given the treatment that Kamado has taken. I can take the watch and ensure no danger sneaks up on us.”

Akari played with her fingernails, still in his grasp. She opened her mouth, and then closed it. Then opened it again. Ingo encouraged her with his gaze. “Do you think you could stay here? With me? I don’t want to be alone. After everything. I know it might be a lot and… if you don’t want to that's okay but-”

Ingo shook his head at her. “It’s quite alright, Akari. You dealt with a lot today, better than I did. And you have not had the chance to properly rest since coming to Hisui. On top of everything else, some of which I understand deeply, you look exhausted. If you promise to rest your engines, I will happily accompany you on your track.” Akari nodded, not wanting to look at him. She stood and stretched, allowing Ingo to do the same. He moved his thin mattress and blankets from the mouth of the cave into the deeper interior, in case someone did happen to find them. Sneasler prodded his shoulder, pointing her claws at the entrance, then at herself.

“You say you’ll take watch?” Sneasler nodded, tapping him with her claws, then pointing at his bedroll. “My Lady, I couldn’t just-” Sneasler cut him off with a huff, practically shoving him towards the blankets. “As you wish, my Lady. Please call me if there is danger.” She nodded again, quickly scampering out of the cave. Ingo returned to the newly made bedspread and Akari.

She had already laid down, releasing her Samurott as she did so. It splayed out by her side, allowing her to curl up against it. Seeing Ingo, she beckoned to him like a child would their parent after a nightmare. He knelt next to her, removing his cap and setting it aside. He mirrored the Samurott, the large Water-type rumbling quietly. He lay out on his back, stiff as a board. Akari grabbed his arm and clutched it to herself, burying her face in his old, ratted coat.

Ingo rolled onto his side and threw the other side of his coat over Akari, effectively squishing her between her partner and himself. Samurott nuzzled her head with its nose. Akari gave out a small, bubbly laugh as it played with her hair. She settled in, pleased with the warmth offered by the two around her. As she drifted off to sleep, Ingo couldn’t help the arm he threw over her. His passenger’s safety was always his first priority, after all. Before he knew it, he had drifted off the tracks too, directly into sleep.

[Next]

[ginger375]

LUtober

See the full collection on AO3.

Day 27: Bonfire

Hateno decided to hold a harvest festival once the Calamity was finally defeated. The first festival was a tiny affair; just the townsfolk gathering near the communal cooking pots and setting up a decent sized bonfire. People brought out baked goods and snacks to share, and a few others played some music.

Wild had attended with Zelda that year, it was her first real outing with other people and was the perfect sized crowd for a woman that had been locked away with a monster for a century. Wild had baked apple tarts, which were a huge hit amongst the townsfolk.

Then word had gotten out to the rest of Hyrule.

The second year saw more Hylians showing up, coming along in wagons with food and other wares to sell or trade. Some came from Lurelin with salted fish that would keep well over the winter, while others came from Kakariko with vegetables that would do the same. They set up along the main road and Hateno residents were thrilled to share their own harvests with their neighbours.

Zelda was much more at ease that year, Wild had been pleased to see. She even dragged him up for a dance or two around the bonfire, which lightened his heart as he spun and laughed with her.

“Thought you said this was a small festival, cub?”

And now, here he was with his brothers, where he warned them it was just a small event, only to see it had taken over the entire town.

“It used to be,” was all Wild could say to answer Twilight as he stood at the town gate, mouth hanging open in awe.

“This is so cool!” Wind exclaimed. Lanterns lined the street over stalls featuring everything Hyrule had to offer – Rito were there with down quilts and warm winter clothes; Gerudo had handmade jewelry and clothes; Gorons saw the opportunity to sell raw gems; Zora had ornaments carved from luminous stones; Hylians and Sheikah took care of the food.

“Let’s go drop our stuff off at home first,” Wild said as he led the group past the first few stalls. “Then you can all go nuts.”

“It all smells so good,” Sky said as he drifted towards a stall selling pumpkin pies. Warriors pulled him back to the group before he went too far.

Upon crossing the bridge leading to his house, Wild could tell Zelda wasn’t home. The lamps were out, but still warm, so she couldn’t be too far. Wild walked through the house, seeing if there were any clues to her whereabouts. So wrapped up in his search, he missed everyone dropping their stuff and running back out the door.

Twilight put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go find her, yeah?”

Upon getting down to the main thoroughfare the size of the festival was even more prevalent. Wild was stunned at the number of people.

“Any idea where she might be?” Twilight asked, looking at a table with bags of honey roasted chickaloo nuts.

“If I know her, she’s probably at the bonfire,” Wild said as he bought one for each of them. They continued up the street, munching their treat and taking peeks at the wares on display.

The closer they got to the bonfire, the easier it was to hear the music. And not just a couple random instruments; there was a full band this year and people were taking the opportunity to let loose and dance.

Wild looked around but couldn’t see any sign of Zelda. Maybe he was wrong and she wasn’t at the festival? Maybe the crowd was too much for her and she was hiding out at the lab up the hill? He thought perhaps he should head up the hill and check.

That is until he heard a voice scream “LINK!” The next thing Wild knew a body was running into him with enough force to knock him to the ground. Fortunately, he managed to save his bag of nuts from spilling.

“Where have you been?! You’ve been gone for months and I thought I’d have to dance alone tonight but now you’re here!” Zelda cried into his shoulder. He hugged her back and looked up to see Twilight trying not to laugh out loud but failing miserably.

“I’ll tell you everything once you let me up,” Wild laughed as Zelda climbed off him. He got up first and helped her to her feet, which swayed a bit once she was up. “Have you been drinking?”

“Pumpkin ale! It is delightful, you should have some!” she declared before turning to Twilight. “Who’re you?”

“I-I’m, uh… you see...” Twilight stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. Zelda walked right up into his personal space, looking up into his eyes as if he held the answers to the universe.

“Oh my word,” Zelda breathed as realization dawned on her face. “Are you really?”

“Uh, yes ma'am,” he said quietly.

Wild wrapped an arm around Zelda’s shoulders. “Leave him be for now, Zel. You can pick his brain later,” he leaned in to whisper in her ear, “along with the others.”

“There’s more?” she questioned as Wild nodded. “Alright, dance now, questions later. Let’s go!” She yanked Wild off to dance with her around the bonfire.

Twilight smiled fondly and shook his head. Their little group was in for a barrage of questions from the inquisitive princess, but for now, he deserved a pumpkin ale.

[esamastation]

Breath of the Wild snippet

Link is bored. It's a little startling how easy it's to see – how easy he's to read these days. Where before, hundred years ago, he'd been as unreadable as a brick wall, a look of serious determination as though permanently etched to his face, now he's an open book, covers flung wide. The serious frown still makes an appearance, of course, it's his default expression, Link's face simply rests in a way that makes him seem as though he's almost scowling, but now, should an emotion cross his mind… he does nothing to hide it. 

Like now, as his attention strays and his eyes wander and every so often he smothers a sigh or a yawn or a longing look directed at the door. It's in part painfully and in part endearingly clear how little attention he's paying to their meeting, and how much he wishes he could be elsewhere.

Zelda smothers a smile and then realises she's allowed herself to be distracted, and quickly turns her attention back to the meeting taking place in Impa's house.

"... a little difficult to test," Purah is saying. She's sitting cross legged in the middle of the floor, her seat cushion abandoned and papers flung about her – most of them about her anti-aging rune. "I can't even promise the test subject will survive the process, never mind that it will work even fifty percent of the time... so finding people to volunteer has been an issue."

"What, no old folks interested in regaining their misspent youth?" Robbie asks with a slight snort, adjusting his goggles. "I'd happily test it, if my work wasn't too important to risk!"

Purah gives him a look. "Well, duh. Most folk are the same," she says and shakes her head. "And besides, the population and age statistics don't exactly trend towards the elderly these days. The average life expectancy of both Hylians and Sheikah both trend about forty years younger than it used to be pre-Calamity. And the only way for people to reliably grow old these days –"

"Is to have a family or other support network, helping them," Impa muses, rubbing at her chin. "Which means they have things too dear to lose, for an uncertain chance."

"Just so," Purah says and folds her little arms, adorable in her seriousness. "I did post queries around Hateno village, of course, but I only had a couple of takers, and they all turned tail when I explained the risks. And we can't improve the chances without further testing. And we can't do further testing without candidates. And we're not likely to get more candidates with the chances being what they are - it's a vicious circle." 

By the door, Link looks ready to nod off. 

Zelda hums, looking at the papers Purah had brought, conflicted. It's incredible work, just as a concept, and Purah hadn't just left it at theory – and the results certainly speak for themselves! Purah is now, what, hundred and twenty, hundred and thirty years old? And she looks as though she is a girl of six, with all that time ahead of her and not behind. If the technology could be made reliable, it would no doubt change the future in ways Zelda can scarcely imagine… for the better, she hopes, for all the people of Hyrule.

But right now, she has more selfish reasons to make enquiries into the rune.

Zelda looks at Impa, sitting on top of a pile of pillows, her weathered, aged face thoughtful. Their eyes meet and Zelda steels her resolve. "Might there be any potential candidates in Kakariko village, Impa?" she asks.

"Hmm. I doubt it. Young Zain, maybe?" Impa muses. "Well, he's not so young. He's in his seventies, he has bad knees and no surviving relatives to support or be supported by. Bit of a sour grape, that one, though. Sceptic. Hard to convince."

"I'm sure if the Lost Princess and the Hero who stopped Ganon ask for it, anyone would be happy to give it a go!" Robbie says, slapping his folded knees. "Especially if they learn what it's all for!"

Zelda smiles, wincing, and looks down. Using her standing for such a thing… sure she'd done things of that nature before, pleading people to join their cause, ages ago… but never with the risks so high, and potential results so uncertain. She'd never liked asking people to risk their lives, for her or otherwise. Even with a cause so important...

"It would be a somewhat awkward thing to ask, though," she muses and looks down. "It is an awkward thing to ask. I'm… I'm sorry to have to ask it of you."

After all this time, all these years, all the service they'd already put in, to ask for so much more of them… but she had to. No one woman could rebuild a kingdom by herself. She needed help, she needed allies – she needed Impa and Robbie and Purah. With such a foundation, Hyrule might yet rise, better than ever, but for that to ever happen… Impa and Robbie needed to go through what Purah already had, and extend their already prodigiously long lives even further. They all deserved their quiet retirement, after all the effort they'd put in, but for Hyrule, Zelda would make this cruel request.

"Ha!" Robbie says, striking a pose. "Like I wouldn't do this without being asked! As soon as Purah can improve the odds – no, as soon as we can improve the odds –"

"What's that, you old coot, what do you mean by we?" Purah depends, bouncing to her feet. "If you think I will let you ever into my lab, mister, you're sorely mistaken –!"

"If we work together, combine the efforts of Akkala and Hateno tech labs, we're sure to succeed! With Cherry's incredible computing power and your Stone –"

"Your creepy ancient furnace is getting nowhere near my Guidance Stone!"

Link startles awake at the noise they're making and Zelda smothers a giggle while Impa sighs.

"I will ask Paya to check in on Zain, maybe he will be interested," Impa says and shakes her head. "But it's still a small test study, with only two subjects. I'm sorry, Zelda – as much as I wish to do this, I am with Robbie on this. The chances are too low and I have too much to lose, right now. Paya is nowhere near ready to take over for me here. There needs to be more candidate's, first, and I don't know where we can get them. But," she hums and looks away. "There might be someone who does."

Link yawns and then freezes, finding all of them staring at him. Then, clearly baffled, he points at himself quizzically, and Zelda offers him a smile.

Impa chuckles. "You've been all over Hyrule now, Link – you've traveled farther than probably anyone has in a hundred years. Better than anyone, you know the state of her people. Do you think there is anyone out there who might be interested in Purah's study – in regaining their youth, even at a risk?"

Link scratches the back of his neck thoughtfully and then takes out the Sheikah Slate, opening the map with an easy, well practiced wipe of his fingers over the screen. Zelda leans in, once more amazed – and a little jealous – of how far he'd gotten with it, how full of markers the map is. Hundred years ago, she'd estimated that there might be as many as a dozen sites of ancient Sheikah technology all over Hyrule. Link had discovered over a hundred. They now glow on his map, like glittering blue gems, the Towers and Shrines he'd seen and mastered.

Link zooms in on the map and then puts down three other markers. One in Zora's domain, one in Gerudo Town and last in Lurelin Village. Turning the slate around, he shows the map to everyone.

"Of course," Zelda breathes in realisation. "The Guardians never reached so far, so their populations were never so scattered or scarred. In Zora's domain, in Gerudo Town and in Lurelin, people can grow old peacefully, without fear of attack."

Link makes a face and a wobbling gesture with his hand and then shrugs. Zelda smiles, sadly. "Aside from monsters and other disasters and misfortunes, of course," she agrees. "But without fear of attacks by Guardians, they were allowed to prosper."

"Not the Rito, though?" Robbie asks, his goggles whirting and shifting like the eyes of a gecko as he looks between the map, Link and Zelda. "Or the Gorons?"

Link shrugs, rubbing at his neck.

"Gorons age like rocks, Daruk always said," Zelda muses. "And I suppose with Rito it can be difficult to tell their ages. If we send out invitations to the study, we should include them as well – assuming that the treatment by the rune isn't Sheikah exclusive…?"

Purah rocks back and forth on her feet thoughtfully, almost as though she's about to dance. "I… don't know? I calibrated the first version based on my own physiology, so it might be best to stick to Sheikah and Hylians for a start – but I can't see why it couldn't be adjusted. Gerudo are closer in structure to us than Rito and Gorons, or Zora for that matter. Might be best we start there, when we begin making modifications to include everyone."

"So, begin with Lurelin," Robbie says and nods. "How do we do that?"

"We'll make some posters and Link can zip in and out of Lurelin Village to post them," Purah says and strikes a pose. "It's just a snap for the Sheikah Slate."

Impa hums in agreement. "Best we make advertisements for Kakariko and Hateno as well, and perhaps some of the stables," she muses. "You never know who might take us up on it, and getting this technology to work at hundred percent will be a benefit to everyone."

"You're right," Zelda agrees, nodding. "Purah and Robbie, I suppose you two know best what should go on the poster. Can you make it?"

"It'll work much better, with your name under it," Robbie points out.

"We'll write a draft and you can copy it and put your royal touch and seal to it," Purah says and does an excited little dance. "This is so exciting! We'll get so many applicants and my little Guidance Stone will get to do it's thing!"

Zelda offers her a smile, all the while wondering, not for the first time… how much of a royal she even is, at this point. With the castle in ruins and the Kingdom in shambles, with no one to rule it for a hundred years… all that Zelda is now... is a story. The Princess that went to fight Calamity Ganon as the Kingdom fell asunder all around her. Not many even believe it. That might change with this meeting and the following cooperation, especially when they'd begin reaching out further, but right now… 

Princess of nothing indeed.

"So much was lost," Zelda murmurs, carefully resting her hands in her lap to keep herself from wringing them. She shouldn't concentrate on the losses. Not when there's so much to do. "It will be good to build something for a change. To improve things."

"Indeed," Impa says, nodding her head, her heavy hat tilting. "But if Calamity Ganon taught us anything, it is that we should take all due caution."

"Yes. And speaking of which," Zelda says and lifts her eyes to Robbie. "Your research in Akkala – I would very much like to hear more about it. Link showed me the armour and weaponry you made, they're very impressive – how did you manage it?"

Robbie all but launches himself into the story of Akkala Ancient Tech Lab, the research he'd done there, the progress he'd made, enthusiastically recounting the creation of his Ancient Furnace, Cherry. Zelda leans in, allowing herself to be drawn in, and by the door Link settles down with a sigh and begins nodding off again.

-

Hmm hmm. Took me 3 years, but I finally finished botw.

I might continue this one and it might end up a Stargate crossover. Who knows.

[awkwardspontaneity]

Until The Battle Is Won

BOTW Link x GN!Sheikah!Reader

Final part of Memories of You!

Previous

AN: Hey everyone!! This is the final chapter of this story. I wanna thank everyone for sticking around with my lousy update schedule ':). Anyways, I've loved writing this story and I'm kind of sad to see it end but also I love this ending so much- even though it hurts. So grab some water, maybe a snack, some tissues, and strap in. This is long and pretty sad.

TW: gore, reader death, descriptive injuries

Summary:  The final battle is here. Hyrule is in ruins as Ganon tears through every defense they had and now, the final champions must protect their Princess in the race to deliver them to their destinies.

It was dark.

Link was running through the forest, another hand in his as Y/n led the way. Their white hair was a beacon amongst the trees as he surged to keep up with their gazelle-like pace. He was focused on keeping up with the Sheikah warrior when he felt the hand slip from his. Link skidded to a stop, shouting for Y/n over the pouring rain. He knelt in front of Zelda, watching as she dug her fists into the mud beneath her. “How did it come to this? The Divine Beasts. The Guardians. They’ve all turned against us. It was... Calamity Ganon.”

Y/n had made their way back to the pair, carefully falling to their knees beside Link. He felt their hand curl around his, sensing the turmoil in him. It was all falling apart around them. They had worked so hard, faced so many trials, and made so many friends. And it was all for nothing. The fight was stacked against them, so much so that even Link was feeling the knot in his chest. They all felt helpless.

“Mipha, Urbosa, Revali, and Daruk…trapped inside those things...” the princess let out a heart-wrenching sob. “It’s all my fault!”

As Zelda cried into her hands, Y/n reached out to pull them back down, carefully pulling away the strands curled into her fists. When watery green eyes met red, the young Sheikah gave a pained smile. They linked hands with the princess and the knight, giving them both a firm squeeze. “I know it feels like we’ve already lost, like everything we’ve done has been for nothing. But we can’t think like that. We have the power of the master sword and the sealing light of the Goddess. As long as we hold our heads high and give this fight everything we have, Hyrule will survive this.”

“But I can’t use the sealing power!” Zelda pulled her hands away, fisting them in her dress to stop the shaking. Maybe if she weren’t such a failure, Hyrule wouldn’t be in danger. Her friends wouldn’t have to give their lives to face that monster. Why couldn't she do this one thing right! “I’ve tried everything and still I keep failing. Because of me they’ll die fighting the very beasts they were meant to pilot!”

“None of us can save them!” Y/n was looking down at the ground and, even through the rain, they could feel the tears sliding down their cheeks. “We can’t go back from where we are. We don’t have the time or the ability to save them from those beasts. So we must move forward. If we give up now… everything we went through…everything they are going through... it will be for nothing. And Hyrule will fall.”

Zelda surged forward, collapsing in her friend's arms. She clung to both as a sob tore from her throat. None of them could be strong. Not strong enough. Pressing his hand against Zelda’s back, Link reached out and placed a hand on Y/n’s arm. His voice was gruff, the stress and pain of what they were about to do- what they had already done, was too much for any person to bear. “All that we can do is keep fighting for their sake. We have to keep moving or we lose. We can win. We have to.”

He met Y/n’s eyes and they gave him a soft smile. They pressed their hand against his back and the princesses shoulder drawing both pairs of eyes to them. “No matter what happens, our friends will be by our side. Their wills become ours. And when you face down Ganon, you won’t be doing it alone. You’ll have the love and support of all your friends. All of Hyrule. So save your tears until the battle is won.”

Zelda sniffled, bringing a hand up to wipe at her cheek- not that it did much help with how muddy they had gotten from being on the ground. She wanted so badly to give into the crushing weight of everything that had happened. Just this morning she had held hope within her as she climbed mount Lanayru and now… she had lost everyone she loved. Her kingdom had fallen along with her father. All she had left sat here before her. Gazing at her with matching weight on their shoulders. They too felt the chains of destiny closing in around them. But they stood tall. These two bore the weight of the world without complaint and now, they placed their belief in her. The failure of a princess would not fail again. She refused to fail her friends. “Then we have no choice. We have to fight for them… and for each other.”

Y/n smiled at the princess, carefully pulling the trio together so their heads touched. “When this is over we can do as many crazy experiments as you want.”

Laughter bubbled up amongst the trio, smiles breaking through the tough exteriors they had adopted the closer Calamity had gotten. Each of them had suffered at the hands of destiny, and now they would face what could be their final battle.

Y/n choked back a sob as they thought of the sacrifices that had brought them to this point. The sacrifices they would need to make to save Hyrule. All they wanted was for their friends to be able to look over their homes with smiles. For the weights to finally be lifted from their shoulders and allow them to live their lives without the looming threats of their destinies. They knew the knight and the princess could never go forward after all that had happened since Calamity broke through but, if there was something they could do to protect those they had left, Y/n would do whatever it took.

Link watched his friends with a tightness in his chest. They were ready to face Calamity Ganon. He would protect them in the final battle and, when the time came, they would finally be free of the weight of Hyrule. He stood up, reaching a hand to the princess to pull her to her feet. Y/n placed their hand on his cheek, wiping with their thumb as he watched them. They gave a smile and he knew. They had confidence in him. He never viewed himself as a hero, no matter how many times his partner had called him one. But when Y/n looked at him it was like that pressure lifted. Like he really could defeat Ganon. And he would. No matter how long the fight lasted. To finally be able to spend his days doing what he wanted with the person he loved. To be free.

The trio took off again, heading towards the castle. Y/n stuck close this time so they could discuss battle plans with Link. They knew the most Guardians were in the fields near the castle so they would need to find a way past them. They couldn’t release the Guardians from the corruption so they would have to destroy them if they were spotted. The question was if they could destroy that many.

Y/n was starting to wish they had Robbie's anti-Guardian weaponry, even if they weren’t perfected.

------

The answer was no. They could not defeat the Guardians.

They had barely made it halfway through the fields before they were spotted. Once one Guardian had seen them, the rest followed. They were surrounded in seconds and, no matter how many Link and Y/n took down, it seemed like 5 more took their places. They were more than outnumbered. They were losing hope fast.

Y/n shot three bomb arrows into Guardians eyes, barely dodging blasts from two others. As the Guardians collapsed to the ground more followed. Mechanical limbs crushing their brethren to the ground with a deadly screech. They only cared to destroy the champions that stood below them. And it was starting to feel like they would.

Another blast echoed in Y/n’s ears and they felt the burn of the laser against their cheek. Too close! They knocked an arrow when the screech of metal sounded behind them. They barely managed to roll out of the way of a destroyed Guardian collapsing to the ground where they stood. They barely came up from the ground when they were knocked back down again.

“AHHH!”

Y/n could barely hear their scream over the shrieks of metal and the ringing in their ears. Flames crackled around them but the heat was nothing compared to the agony in their shoulder. They had been hit. Their skin still burned like thousands of needles pricking their way across their chest. They could feel nothing and everything at once. Like every nerve in their body was exposed and on fire. They couldn't focus, flames and metal blurring into one. It was over, wasn't it?

“-n… Y/n… Y/N!” Y/n felt the arms around them, a sob tearing through their throat as a hand brushed against the wound. Red eyes finally focused in on teary green orbs. It was only when their vision blurred did they realize tears were falling. The princess was crying too, shouting over the noise as the young Sheikah lay limp in her arms. Her hands slipped on the blood surrounding their shoulder and Y/n shot up with a silent gasp of agony.

“Y/N! You’re okay!”

Y/n stared at the princess in front of them. “Where’s Link?”

Zelda pointed to the center of the battle where the champion fought. Y/n shot to their feet, ignoring the pain that tore through them. They drew back their bowstring. “Whistle so he comes this way princess.”

She whistled as loud as she could and Link spun to the duo. His eyes widened as an arrow streaked past him and he took off. The champion slid behind the pile of fallen Guardians as the bomb arrow exploded. Dust and flames shot into the air creating a cloud over the battlefield.

Y/n ducked under the fallen Guardian with the others, heavy breaths escaping them all. It was only a moment. A single breath of time to plan their next move.

Link was the first to move, lunging forward to inspect his partner. He had seen them fall. Seen the princess holding them in her arms. And he had thought that was it. But here Y/n sat. Injured, but alive. And that was what mattered. That they were alive. He brushed hair away from their face with a shaky smile- honestly more of a grimace. He couldn’t find the words to explain his relief. How much he needed them and that he was happy they were okay, so he stuck with simple. “I love you.”

Y/n smiled back. They always knew what he meant, like they could read every thought in his head. They had felt it too. That moment of fear that they would never see each other again. But they were still here, giving him that goofy grin he loved so much. Despite their pain, Y/n was a rock- solid and unmovable. And they gave him hope. Y/n could smile at him and he could fight until his last breath. “I love you too.”

They sat in each other's arms, taking in the moment they had together. What could be their last moment with each other. Because Y/n had a plan.

“You have to go ahead without me.”

Y/n watched their friend’s faces morph to shock, then anger. Y/n knew they would fight the idea, but they had no choice. Even as their friends protested the idea, the Sheikah held up a hand. “If you and Zelda are to make it to the castle you need a clear path.”

“You can’t take on the Guardians alone!”

“It’s the only choice.”

“You said we fight together.” Y/n met Link’s eyes and they almost broke at the agony in them. They had never seen so much painted across his visage, the boy keeping a stoic face for the sake of his role. But here they were. There weren't enough words to describe the pain they both felt, physically and mentally. They were fighting on the losing side, and now they could lose each other? It was hard to see a point in the fight with so little left.

“Leaving you is my last choice… but I need you- both of you- to survive.”

“And what about you!?”

“I’M NOT THE CHOSEN ONE!” Y/n finally allowed the tears to fall. They didn’t matter. What mattered was guiding the chosen pair to Ganon. As long as Link and Zelda survived, they had completed their duty. Their life never mattered. It didn’t hold the same weight. Choking back their sobbing, Y/n tried to smile. They had their happy moments. Made friends. Fell in love. And now they had to fulfill their destiny. No matter how much it hurt. “Right now our destinies have to part ways… and I don’t know how long we’ll be apart. So I need you to keep fighting, even when I’m not beside you. Because together I know you can beat Ganon.”

“We shouldn’t have to leave you.” Tears were swimming in his cerulean eyes. The only thing that kept Link from crying was the promise he made. He wouldn’t cry until the battle was over. “I can’t lose you. You are my life… and I can’t live without you.”

“You can.” Y/n reached out, caressing his face in their hands. “You will… because I love you. I love you in this life, and the next, and every one that follows. I will stand by you until there isn’t a reason to fight and even then, I’ll stay with you. I. Love. You.”

Link surged forwards, pressing his lips against theirs. It was desperate. He needed to convey everything he felt in the few moments left. That they would stand together no matter what time they were in. They could be ripped apart or thrown through time, or even lose all their memories and they would still share this bond. As long as destiny brought them together, they would connect like perfect halves. They completed each other.

Link was the first to pull away, hands running through Y/n’s hair and over their face. It was like he was trying to memorize every detail about them. Like if he focused he could commit Y/n to memory. He needed to be able to find them again, even if it was only within his own thoughts.

“You need to go.” Y/n broke the trance, whispering the words neither of them wanted to hear.

They had to part ways.

Link pressed a final kiss to Y/n’s forehead before he stood up. Zelda lunged forward to hug the Sheikah, sobs escaping her. She squeezed so tightly Y/n had to bite their tongue to keep the whimper at bay as pain shot through their injuries. They would bare the pain for this moment with their friend. Pulling Zelda close to their form, Y/n whispered encouragement and thanks for their time together.

When Zelda pulled away, she wiped her tears before giving a grin. She may not hold the same belief in herself that the others did, but she would do what she could. She would hold onto the strength of her friends and use it as her weapon. Everyone had protected her for a reason. She would show them it was not in vain.

With their final goodbyes Link and Zelda took off, weaving through the corpses of Guardians. Y/n waited until they had reached the open fields before stepping out from their hiding spot and whistling. Mechanics whirred to life around them as Guardians rose to defense. Y/n drew back their arrows, white hot pain flaring as their shoulder stretched. This would be their final stand. They would give it their all, here and now, so their friends could go on.

The next few moments were a blur of exploding arrows, machines being crushed, and the blasts of lasers. Y/n couldn't keep track of how many times they had pulled back the string of their bow, loosing arrow after arrow in order to keep the masses of mechanical beasts focused on their being. They reached for their quiver once more, red eyes focused on the glowing eyes of the Guardians targeting them, only to come up empty. There were no arrows left.

There was no more hiding. All the Sheikah had left were the dual blades strapped to their side and the hope their speed would be fast enough to survive.

Y/n pulled out their blades, taking off towards the closest Guardian. They jumped up the front, thrusting their blade into its eye before flipping onto the next. The process of picking off Guardians continued as the Champion flipped and twisted their way through the masses of mechanical monsters.

Flipping off the top of a Guardian, the Sheikah noticed Guardians getting away from them. They had noticed the others! Y/n ran towards where their friends were and, in their panic, missed the giant arm heading their way.

CRUNCH

With a strangled cry, the Sheikah champion hit the ground. They tried to stand, curling in on themselves as they hit the ground again with a sob. There were too many. Y/n was exhausted. Everything hurt. So. Much.

Letting out a cough, Y/n felt a warm liquid trickle down their face. They could hear the Guardian closing in on them. The rest seemed to have lost interest when the champion fell, allowing this one to make sure it was for the last time. Propping themselves up, Y/n could see the red target on their chest. Mustering all the strength left in their body, they launched their sword at the Guardian. It struck the eye and, twitching in its failure, the beast fell. Unfortunately, this drew the rest of the Guardians back to the young Sheikah on the ground. Y/n fell back to the ground.

Thump.

Guardians picked their way over mounds of mechanical parts.

Thump.

Y/n closed their eyes.

Thump.

At least it didn’t hurt anymore.

BOOM!

Golden light erupted across the fields of Hyrule, extinguishing the flames and sucking the light from the Guardians deadly eyes.

It was warm.

Y/n smiled. Zelda had done it. She wasn’t a failure. She had unlocked her sealing powers and finally, Ganon would know defeat once more.

Y/n watched the clouds clear from the sky, stars beginning to light up the night. They supposed Ganon had pulled back from the golden aura. Maybe one day they could lay under the stars with Link. Swallowing the metallic taste of their blood the fallen warrior reached a hand up. They basked in the light of the stars twinkling above. It was like they were waving the champion up to their sides. As Y/n’s light faded, the stars grew brighter, blurring together into one light.

And with a soft breath, the Sheikah Champion allowed themselves to rest at last.

------

100 years later Link stood there watching over the fields of Hyrule. Calamity Ganon had finally been defeated. Zelda was safe as was Hyrule. The duo had made their way down from the wreckage of the castle, ready to begin their new adventure. They were free of their destiny, but the memories would follow with them forever. The Hylian Champion felt a tug and he spun back to face the castle. There above floated the spirits of his fellow Champions. Finally free from the corruption of Ganon and his malice beasts. But what stole the breath from his lungs was the spirit of the one he loved- Y/n- floating there with a grin on their face. Noticing him watching, they sent him a goofy wave, knocking their spectral arm against Revali. Link let out a snort. They never changed. Their lights began to dim as the Champions began to walk away leaving him to watch their final goodbyes. He smiled softly as he saw Y/n mouth ‘I love you’, a hand pressing against their heart, something he was quick to respond to. With one last wave, the Sheikah Champion faded away. And as Link watched the spirits of his friends- his love- fade into light, he let a tear fall quickly followed by more.

The battle was won.

[godofdystopia]

Save The Last Dance

I told y’all it’d be done by today and by today it is done. I’m pretty proud of this honestly, this being my first fanfic and all. I’ve written things and stories before but never a whole ass fanfic.

This was inspired by Darcy’s comment about Marcy being trapped, the leaked image of the three girls dancing, and me going, ‘That looks cool and all, but you know what would really be cool?’

I wrote this over a day to take my mind off my mom being in the hospital so, like, don’t expect Shakespeare or anything.

Anyway, here’s my very first fanfic: A Sashannarcy piece about saving Marcy called ‘Save The Last Dance.’

Words: 11.2k

The throne room of Newtopia castle had been all but destroyed.

The once mighty columns holding up the mosaiced ceiling had been cracked and broken, the floor was littered with impact craters and rubble, and the throne had been reduced to a pile of molten slag slowly dripping down the stairway like a metallic river. The once proud and storied stained-glass windows had been shattered to a one, revealing a nice view of the battle happening outside as both the forces of earth and amphibia fought against Andrias and his robot armies.

None of that mattered to the three figures who stood panting and exhausted in the center of the room, covered in bruises and open wounds and fighting to remain standing. Anne Boonchuy and Sasha Waybright didn’t see anything else, not the broken bits of robot all over the place, not the battle outside, and not even themselves. All they could see was the defeated girl laying in front of them, trying desperately to get out of the binding that held her down.

Marcy.

To know that this was what happened to her, to know some monster was playing around in her skin and speaking with her voice while the real Marcy was locked away in some deep dark part of the mindscape was absolutely heartbreaking.

But that red eyed beast was about to be sent packing if everything went according to plan.

“Alright… Okay,” Sasha panted, using the broken end of her blue heron sword to remain upright, her other hand pressed hard against her newly ruined right eye. She was exhausted, fighting her way up here with Anne through an entire army of robots, and then having a battle against one of her best friends was not something she ever wanted to do again. “We got her, I think?”

“You’ll die for this! You’ll both die for this!” The Core, they refused to acknowledge the bastardized version of their friends name it chose, raged from the floor. It had been tied down with a mixture of its own mecha-tendrils and specialty rope that Anne had brought up. “We’ll kill you for this, we’ll kill everyone for this!”

“We heard you the first time, shut up already.” Anne grumbled, sitting on the ground as she tried, and failed, to ignore the horrible pain coming from her left arm. It was still glowing completely blue even after leaving Calamity mode and she didn't want to think about what that meant. “You got the stuff?”

Sasha grunted an affirmative, and then just kept standing there still as a statue. The Cores' mad rantings and threats of bloody vengeance continued in the background.

“You gonna get it?” Anne asked from her place on the floor.

Sasha stayed still for a few more seconds before replying. “My limbs feel like lead weights. I haven’t felt this tired since I started battle training.”

“-Kill your families! Do you hear me? We’ll make you watch the life drain from their eyes and-”

“I literally can’t move my muscles.” Sasha said finally turning her head with a groan to face Anne. “Can you grab it?”

Anne was too tired to respond, she just shuffled her way closer to Sasha and reached for her back pocket.

“Left side.”

“-burn this whole city to the ground! We’ll salt the very earth around it and-”

“Thanks' Sash.” Anne pulled out a small vial of glowing green liquid and held it. Anne forced herself to sit upright and began turning the vial over in her hands nervously, the blue glow of her right arm contrasting well with the green liquid inside.

“You sure Valerianna and Maddie know what they’re doing?” Sasha asked, trying to be heard over the ranting Villain in front of them.

“-laugh as your world is consumed piece by piece! I’ll raise an army to conquer the rest of the Multiverse and finally sink the Boiling Isles into the sea. You-”

“Oh my god, will you shut the hell up already.” Sasha yelled out at the struggling god computer possessing her friend. When the battle began, its threats and taunts had been terrifying and enraging. It hurt to hear such hurtful and vile things come out of Marcy’s mouth with Marcy’s voice.

Now Sasha was just annoyed by the glorified calculator. You can only hear so many threats against your life, your city, and your world in the span of one hour before it becomes tiring.

Anne tried to shrug, but gave up with a pained wince. “I… don’t know. Neither of them had ever done a spell this powerful before, Valerianna even said she didn’t know if this would work or not, so who even knows?”

Sasha just sighed. “That’s not helpful.”

“I know.”

“We’re still gonna save her right?”

“Yep.”

“Oh, We’re sorry?” Finally, the Core stopped raging like a spoiled child. Now the demonic computer possessing their friend just stared at them, ten demonic red eyes looking straight at them. The Core began laughing, doubling over on the floor as it did so. “You’re going to save our hosts' mind? Is that what we’re hearing correctly?”

“Shut up Skynet.” Anne said from her place on the floor. “... But yeah, we’re gonna.”

The Core just smirked at them, Anne wanted to beat it off of them and would wear it not for the fact it was possessing the body of her best friend and crush. “We’ll admit, we’re curious. How exactly are you going to go about this?”

Anne simply held up the green vial.

The Core just stared at them and the vial, red eyes swiveling about as it looked. Finally, the central three eyes widened and a true smile spread across its face.

“You’re not actually going into Our mindscape, are you?”

Sasha and Anne glared at the thing wearing their friend's body.

“Oh, ohhh. You are.” The core seemed almost pleased as it just laid down on the floor. “You’re both more than welcome to try! It’s not like there’s anything you can actually do.”

Anne wanted to yell at the thing, scream until her throat went raw. But she had a job to do. Ever so carefully, she stood up off the ground and walked over to Sasha. The blonde warrior nodded and, with a wince and a pained expression, somehow stood up straight.

“So uh, how bad is it?” She asked Anne, looking at her in the eyes. Sasha’s right eye was just gone, a massive and fresh slice over it that, had the situation not been so dire, Anne would say almost looked like Grime and Beatrix’s wounded eyes. She’d probably enjoy the comparison, maybe.

“Yep.” Anne said, giving a nod. “Still hot.”

“Haha-ow!” Sasha stopped laughing with a pained grimace, holding her chest and squeezing her eye shut in pain. “Laughing hurt’s still. Let’s do this before we both die.”

“Yes please, we’re dying to see how this turns out.” The core snarked from the floor.

Anne and Sasha moved over to it and Anne lifted its head and shoved the potion into its mouth until every last drop was swallowed.

The Core looked at the two of them, and then for a brief moment all ten of its eyes glowed a brilliant emerald.

**********

Anne opened her eyes.

Or at least, she thought she did. A vast nothingness stretched as far as she could see, so dark and black she thought her eyes remained shut.

Anne stood on, well, nothing as her senses slowly returned to her. Her arm no longer felt like it was boiling from the inside, and all her injuries seemed to have vanished. She was no longer clad in her scavenged Newtopian armor, remaining only in her old school uniform which seemed to have vanished itself of all the wear, tear, and grime of traveling Amphibia.

She stood, surrounded by nothing, as if she had never traveled worlds in the first place.

She looked down.

She still had only one shoe.

“Oh come on!” She yelled out in frustration.

“Anne? Is that you?” Sasha’s voice came out from behind her and she whirled around. Sasha stood in the armor she’d worn when they first reunited in Amphibia. Brown scale mail and a single oversized pauldron with a torn cape. Her swords seemed to be missing as well. Just like Anne, all the injuries and dirt from Amphibia had disappeared leaving her looking even cleaner than she had been that night all those months ago.

‘And prettier.’ Her mind supplied unhelpfully as she turned her head away to hide the blush forming.

“Did we,” She coughed and looked back up at Sasha, the blonde having both her eyes in this weird abyss. “Did we do it right?”

“Pretty sure.” Sasha said, taking a few tentative steps on the nothing around them to walk forward. “The weird Newt lady said it would take us past the minds of the rest of the Core to where Marcy is. And I don't see any weird Andri-ass clones running around.”

“I also don’t see Marcy.” Anne responded as she began turning all over, trying to see anything.

“You losing hope on me Boonchuy?'' Sasha asked with a small smirk.

Anne chuckled. “No… just wanting this all to be over with.”

“Yeah.” Sasha said, the smirk fading off her face. “Me too.”

“Should we, should we walk or something?” Anne gestured to the abyss around them. Vast blackness stretched forever and ever onward in every direction she looked. Not a single hint of anything.

“What else can we do?” Sasha asked as she walked towards Anne, her steps coming more and more confidently as she got used to walking on, well, nothing at all.

Anne walked with her. Both of them determined to save their friend… and dreading what they may find.

Anne’s hand came down to hold Sasha’s. Her fingers interlocking with the blonde’s as they walked forward. Sasha squeezed her hand in response.

Both walked forward in silence.

The silence lasted all of ten minutes before they tried filling the void with some semblance of conversation.

“-Still can’t believe that I did that. I mean, selling Sprig for some pizza dough? Wasn’t cool in retrospect.”

“Sounds funny to me.” Sasha responded with a chuckle. “Plus, pizza is bomb.”

“Would’ve at least been less stupid if we got an actual pizza out of it, but no. The stupid tomato ate all the ingrdients.” Anne complained, her voice echoing in the darkness.

“How’d you even get out of a tomato plant’s stomach?”

“Oh, we ate our way out.” Anne said casually.

Sasha began wheezing at that, her shoulders shaking from how much laughter was trying to come out all at once. “You ate- You ate your way out!?” Sasha squeezed Anne's hand tight as she laughed. It wasn’t even the act itself that was so hilarious to her, but the nonchalant way Anne said it that caused tears to form at her eyes and threaten to spill out.

“I can’t believe that-”

“Door ahead.”

Sasha’s head whipped up at Anne’s statement, all humor gone in an instant as she looked at what Anne was talking about.

It stood out all the more from how black and empty everything else was. It was a pair of double doors, just like St. James had. Dark teal metal, shining chrome handles and plating, and simple plexiglass for windows. The only oddity about the doors, other than it being a pair of doors in the middle of an abyss, where the heavy looking chains wrapped all around it.

They were thick and dark iron chains, seeming to glow with an inner orange light that wrapped around the doors dozens and dozens of times. A massive, complicated lock stood in the dead center of the nest of chains. A massive, glowing red demonic eye stared out from the lock.

Anne and Sasha tensed and readied themselves to start fighting off holograms or phantoms, or for some ethereal alarm to go off and cause this whole plan to fall apart around them, but nothing happened. The eye just stood still, unblinking.

“Does it not see us or something?” Anne asked tensely.

Sasha began walking side to side, her eyes never leaving the lock. The demonic eye followed her every movement, and whenever she stood still it would start looking between her and Anne.

“Why isn’t it… doing anything?” Anne asked as Sasha walked back over to her, the eye following her all the way.

“Maybe it’s as shittily designed as the rest of the Core.” Sasha said, staring down the unblinking red eye. Her mind ran a mile a minute, trying to understand. This was all the defense that Marcy’s prison had: An eye that did nothing but watch them and lock a door?

There was something else going on here and she wasn’t looking forward to it.

Anne starred, and her mind drifted back to the last words the Core spoke before they went into the mindscape.

‘You’re both more than welcome to try! It’s not like there’s anything you can do.’

“Maybe it doesn’t care.”

Sasha looked over at Anne, her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean,” Anne gestured to the locked door and the eye. “Maybe the Core doesn’t care what we do because it thinks nothing we do will matter. It said as much when we went in here.”

“Not like there's anything…” Sasha whispered before growling in anger and stomping over to the Core’s Eye. She snarled as she poked a finger right in the glowing red pupil. “Listen here you Instrumentality knock-off bitch! Me and Anne are going in there, we’re going to rescue Marcy, we’re going to get out of here, and then we’re going to kick your ass and then Andrias’s ass! Do you hear me!” She yelled at the ethereal lock.

Naturally, the eye remained silent. Because it was an eye.

Sasha turned towards Anne. “Do your glowy dragonball thing and let’s get in there.”

Anne walked forward till she was in front of the lock and beside Sasha. Her left hand raised till her palm was in front of the eye while her right hand grabbed Sasha’s.

Anne closed her eyes and her world went blue once more. She entered her Calamity form and opened her eyes, staring right into whatever the Core had instead of a soul.

“Open.” she spoke with a voice not her own

The red eye rolled back till the pupil disappeared, the lock growing smaller and smaller as it did till it disappeared with a rather anticlimactic pop. The chains began to unravel and burn away, disappearing to wherever the lock went to as it did.

The door stood chainless, ready to be opened.

“Whatever happens in there Sash.” Anne said, turning towards the Blonde warrior. Anne squeezed Sash’s hand, finding comfort from her presence. “Whatever we find, I’ve got your back Commander.”

Sasha wanted to try and diffuse the tension with a joke about the Commander part, or Anne’s glowy anime powers, or even how their hands were still entwined and it made her heart do all sorts of jumps.

Instead, she just smiled at the girl who was, alongside Marcy, her best friend. Her rock.

Her everything.

“I’ll always have yours, Anne.”

Together, ready for whatever horrors awaited them, the two girls opened the doors and stepped inside.

**********

Whatever they were expecting, it certainly wasn’t this.

“Anne?”

“Yeah Sash?”

“Why does the evil mind prison Marcy’s trapped in look like our middle school?”

Indeed, as the doors closed behind them, Anne and Sasha looked out at what was quite clearly the second hallway leading towards the gymnasium of St. James Middle School. The familiar green lockers stood flanking each side just like they remembered. Anne could pick out Vince’s from a mile away, various Rock N’ Roll carvings all over it. In Mrs. Jenkins science class, the familiar smells of her lab wafting from the open door were just like they remembered.

It was all the more disturbing from the familiarity. The green lockers felt like the jaws of vicious predators just waiting to open and devour them, the ceiling felt both miles away and also inches away, each tile seemed like a trap waiting to be sprung.

Anne felt like she was being watched from every side, maybe she was. Sasha was fidgeting in her armor, looking increasingly uncomfortable as she looked around the hallway that Marcy, Anne, and her had probably spent a year and a half traversing day in and day out.

“This is, this is creepy right?” Sasha whispered as her hand clung to Anne’s like a lifeline. “I’m not crazy? This is as creepy to you as it is to me?”

“Yeah.” Anne replied, taking a tentative step forward and waiting for… something. Anything at all. This was the very depth of the Core. The center of a collective of every king, great general, and worshiped scholar that Newtopia had ever produced. This was a prison made to hold their best friend, the third part of their trio.

“It shouldn’t look like this.” Sasha was growing more and more disturbed the longer she looked. “It shouldn’t look like this. Why does it look like this?”

Anne said nothing, closing her eyes and just listening.

When she just listened, she could pretend this wasn’t an exact replica of their school and she was back outside in the void. Oddly, that was easier to deal with than this. She didn't hear any voices, no sign of life at all. All she could hear was…

Was…

“You hear music?” Anne opened her eyes and looked back at Sasha. The warrior looked confused and creeped out but still looked at Anne, her expression confused. “Just close your eyes and listen.

Sasha did so. And she could hear it just as Anne could: The steady beat of a Bass, the rumbling of feet, the distant sound of unintelligible lyrics.

“What… what is that?” She asked.

Anne looked at her. “Only one way to find out.”

The two girls made their ways down the hallways, trying to ignore everything but the growing sounds of what was clearly a party. The closer the two girls got to the gymnasium, the more evidence piled up: Streamers and confetti everywhere, posters covered in hearts and flying cupids, various notes and letters hanging out of lockers with bright red hearts sealing them shut.

They turned the corner and stood before the entrance to the gym, the now obvious sounds of music and revelry coming from behind it.. A massive banner hung over the doors, the same doors that let them into this disturbing parody of St. James. Small marble pillars held up ten statues of giggling cupids holding their heart bows aloft stood in front of the lockers, forming a walkway towards the doors. Streamers of red and pink hung from the ceiling like icicles above them. The floor was covered in confetti and love notes that led up to the red painted doors to the gym.

Anne read the banner above the doors.

St. James's Valentines Formal! This year’s theme: A Magical Night In Newtopia.

“... I completely forgot about the Valentine’s formal.” Anne said nervously, rubbing the back of her head.

“Yeah, me too.” Sasha said, just staring in awe of everything. “Can’t believe we missed it. Probably would have been fun.”

“Yeah, probably.” Anne agreed, chuckling a bit. “Weren’t they going to do something like Midsummers Nights?”

“Why are you asking me?” Sasha asked as she looked from statue to statue, frowning slightly. “Marcy was the one who was obsessed with the formal.”

“Well, I mean. “ Anne looked away, embarrassed. “Didn’t you have someone you wanted to ask or whatever”

Sasha coughed, blushing slightly. “I had… two people I would've asked.” She said simply, looking at Anne out of the corner of her eye. “You?”

Anne definitely didn't look in Sasha’s direction now. “Oh, you know. One or two, same as you.”

The two girls fell into an awkward silence. 

“Would you have asked either of them?” Anne asked suddenly.

“Oh.” Sasha was off guard by… everything. The creepy replica of their middle school, the weird statues, all the valentines stuff everywhere, and the increasing awareness that Anne was probably going to take her hand away any minute because Sasha’s was growing increasingly sweaty with nerves.

“Probably not. What about you?” she blurted out, trying to get her heart rate under control.

“Uh, not really.” Anne said awkwardly. “You know, schedules wouldn’t match up, out of town, you know the drill.”

“Yeah, Like, they probably would have said no to me too.” Sasha said with a forced laugh that Anne soon shared. Both of the nervous blushing teens standing in the middle of a phantom hallway of their school laughing like crazy people.

Both of them avoided thinking about the real reason they wouldn’t ask out who they wanted to.

St. James wouldn’t let girls bring other girls as dates.

The laughter died as awkwardly as it began, the two still holding hands as they stood. They slowly turned their heads back towards the hallway and the gym doors, the music coming from behind them still as strong as ever.

“This place is… so weird.” Sasha said finally, just staring at it all again.

“What, the theme being Newtopian Nights didn’t tip you off.” Anne said sarcastically.

“I was growing suspicious by the void, to be honest.” Anne laughed at that, and Sasha’s heart did another leap that she sternly ignored.

The two girls walked forward, looking wary at everything as they did. Neither noticed the cupid statues slowly turning their heads to follow them, their eyes beginning to glow a hellish red.

As one they opened the doors and stepped into a nightmare.

Anne and Sasha put their hands on the double doors. They paused in front, both waiting for the other to go.

“Alright.” Sasha said firmly, looking Anne in the eye. “Let’s find Marcy and get the heck out of this creepshow.”

The music was something neither of them had ever heard before, an incredibly strange tune that sounded like an orchestra playing, but the music itself was something almost melodic and ancient, a tune that went into your head and didn't want to leave. It would sound pleasant if not for the subtle feeling of wrongness about it. They both took it in and looked around the gymnasium as the music washed over them.

The entire gym was bathed in red lighting that shone across the entire hall. Various couples danced and mingled throughout the gym, seeming to move slowly in a massive circle around the center of the floor. The familiar basketball hoops had been folded back, the netting used to hold up more decorations to fit the theme. The bleachers that stood against the west wall were completely packed, to neither girl’s surprise as they both remembered the last formal they’d gone to had been much the same.

Indeed, this dance looked much the same as any other formal they'd gone to. But even the blind couldn’t fail to see the absolute nightmare that was this horrid dance.

Around the other walls of the gym that didn’t have their bleachers out were colossal statues of Salamander kings sitting on thrones of Coral and Metal. Each king was different from the other but they all were clad in resplendent armor and robes, they all held massive weapons in their right hands that were carved in sigils of the core, and all of them had cold and cruel faces that stared across the entire gym like court judges. 

The packed Bleachers were not filled with boys and girls too afraid to dance with one another, but instead were filled with robed newts. Dozens, if not hundreds, sat slumped over with glazed expressions like puppets without strings. Brutal and scarred-looking toad generals walked the sides in place of teacher chaperones, each armed to the teeth with various magi-tech weaponry like Barrel’s Warhammer. In fact, Sasha was reasonably certain that a few of them were wielding the Warhammer themselves.

The dancing couples and students that surrounded them were only half formed, shadowy figures that almost looked like people, but their heads were nothing but writhing masses of shadow with glowing red eyes in the dead center of their faces. Facsimiles of mouths would open and garbled unintelligible chatter would come out, like a conversation happening across a room you could barely hear. They danced and twirled around like real couples would, but the outlines of their bodies would blur slightly every now and again just like their shadowy faces.

But even that paled to the true horror of the room, and what caused the two girls to take fearful steps back.

Where the ceiling of the gym would be was a spherical monstrosity of metal and wires. A truly massive machine looked down at all the gymnasium with ten demonic eyes that roamed over everyone beneath it. Massive mecha-tendrils, much like Marcy’s possessed body had uses in the real world, anchored it to the walls around it while glowing power lines hooked into the backs of each Salamander Kings head, their crowns serving as extra eyes as the diadems in the center of each crown was replaced with another eye just like Andrias’ crown was.

There was no mistaking what this thing was.

The Core, in all its mechanical horror.

The red eyes shone lights down on the dancefloor like spotlights, each light circling the room before finding a dancing couple and staying there. The couple would giggle and dance before slowly fading into a shapeless blob of shadow before splitting off once more into different people, different dancers. The light would then move off to find another victim. Only nine of the Core’s eyes did this horrid dance; the central one, the largest of them all, remained fixed in the dead center of the room while the lights circled it constantly.

The doors slammed shut behind them, and Anne and Sasha jumped. One of the eyes looked over to them, the demonic eye lighting them up to the dancers surrounding them. The shadowy figures circled them, dancing in waltzes and twirls as their red eyes remained transfixed on them.

“Sasha?”

Sasha swallowed and turned to Anne, the girl was shaking as she looked around at everything. Sasha didn’t care, since the only thing keeping her from shaking in pure fear was Anne’s hand in hers, keeping her grounded even in the face of everything.

Anne turned to her, and Sasha saw fear in her eyes, fear she knew was reflected just as much in hers. “Don’t let go of my hand.”

Sasha didn't speak, too afraid. She squeezed Anne’s hand in a death grip and together they walked into the dancing mass.

The Core’s  eye continued to shine down upon them, the baleful red light following them as they made their way closer and closer towards the center of the room. The shadow dancers parted for them like a black curtain, all curtsies and horrid gibberish. The Toad generals around the outside looked at them and, with cruel grins, started to make their way over only to go back to the edge when one of the Core’s red eyes quickly swiveled and locked its red light upon them.

The robed newts, seemingly dead, all rose up as one and looked to the Core. Scholars, sorcerers, and professors all looked to the mechanical monstrosity and joined their voices with the song playing all around them, a hundred voices chanting to the glory of the Core.

“Anne?”

Anne turned towards Sasha, the blonde staying put as she looked at the Thai girl. “If we…” Sasha began, her armor shaking as the hellish dance continued around them. “If we don’t, i mean… I want you to-”

“We’ll make it out of here.” Anne said, hoping she sounded braver than she felt as the red light remained on them. “I promise you, we’ll make it out.”

“Just- That’s not, I want you to know… I…” Sasha started and stopped a few times. She looked into Anne’s eyes and felt courage.

Felt Strength.

“You and Marcy.” She said simply, not taking her eyes off of Anne’s. “I, it would have been you and Marcy.”

“I know.” Anne replied, staring into Sasha’s eyes to avoid looking at anything else in the room. “You too, you know? I wanted to ask you both too.”

Sasha and Anne Gave each other shaky smiles and turned towards the mass of shadow dancers around the center of the room. Slowly, each of the nine circling eyes of the Core focused on the two of them, bathing the two girls in deep crimson light.

Neither Anne nor Sasha asked whether they were ready, for they were both afraid of the answer they’d get. Together, the two girls stepped through the shadow dancers like a veil and into…

Into something else.

The second they got through the dancers, they could tell that they’d entered a massive illusion. The horrific decorations of the gym had all disappeared, the shadow dancers disappeared, even the Core disappeared. And in its place was a perfectly normal valentines formal.

The ceiling was back, and where the central eye of the Core was hung a massive disco ball that showed myriad lights around the room. The Bleachers were no longer filled with lifeless newt scholars chanting in unison but the expected number of boys and girls too timid to dance with one another. The statues of the Salamander kings were gone and in their place were large coral formations that looked similar to newtopian architecture. Posters and paintings of various Amphibia locales covered the walls around them and instead of Toad Generals and Warmasters armed to the teeth patrolling the perimeters, Mr. Michaels the band instructor stood talking with a few parents and other teachers. Even the music had been replaced with generic pop numbers.

The shadow dancers were thankfully gone and in their place were classmates and students that both Anne and Sasha recognized, and a few they didn’t. Sasha didn't know who the older Hispanic girl dancing in the corner was nor why her purple haired date had pointy ears but Sasha stopped caring when she saw the figures dancing together in the dead center of the room.

It was Marcy.

She was clad in a beautiful emerald dress modeled after Lady Olivia’s, with a brilliant scarlet sash wrapped around her shoulders. Her dress seemed to fade from a sparkly wavy bottom half into a slim upper half that looked like it was handcrafted from an ancient artisan. Her hair was done up in a pretty looking bun and a small tiara hung in front of her hair.

She was gorgeous.

And also dancing with, well, another Sasha and Anne.

Anne recognized the dress the other her was wearing as the one she’d briefly worn during her and Polly's disastrous girl time. Except somehow the dress had been altered subtly to look like it was fit for nobility. Her hair was gelled and combed into a wavy updo and she had on beautiful blue earrings shaped like butterflies.

The other Sasha what looked to be a mix between a smart looking three-piece suit and a soldiers dress uniform. Blood red cavalry men's boots with a coal black set of pants. A red sash around her waist and her crimson chestplate and pauldrons from her current set of armor. This Sasha, rather than having the long hair that she’d grown in her time in amphibia, had her hair cut to above the ear.

The three girls danced with one another, laughing and giggling to each other as they did so. Marcy beamed at Fake Sasha and Fake Anne while the two girls looked at Marcy with such overwhelming love in their eyes that the two real girls felt nothing but jealous.

“Dang Sash, other you is hot.” Anne said, staring at the fake blonde as she took Marcy up into a waltz.

Well, almost nothing.

“Forget the fake us, though that dress looks amazing on you just saying, and look at Marcy.” Sasha breathed out, staring at the taiwanese girl with adoration. She truly looked beautiful.

“Yeah.” Anne agreed, staring at Marcy just as lovingly as Fake Anne was. “She’s really something.”

“Yeah, she sure is.” Sasha said, just staring at the three of them happy and in love and enjoying the sight deep in her heart.

Then she remembered that two of those three people were fake illusions made by the Core and she got properly angry.

“Soo…” Sasha began. “What now?”

“Now, we get Marcy and get out.” Anne said and started moving towards Marcy and the Fakes. Sasha hurried behind her.

**********

Marcy Wu was on top of the world!

She couldn’t believe the turn of events that led her to this wonderful moment.

She’d almost thought her life was falling apart, that everything was going to go wrong when Andrias started talking about Newtopia’s ‘Glorious Past’. She almost thought that everyone would start fighting. That Andrias would reveal some kind of villainous twist about being a tyrannical conqueror and try to fight her friends.

‘Hate to break it to you kiddo, you’ve been duped.’

But none of that happened!

He activated the box, lifting Newtopia Castle into the sky, and then just as he’d promised he made his offer to Sasha and Anne about traveling to other worlds. Having a never-ending adventure across the multiverse where Marcy never had to leave Sasha and Anne behind.

Never had to leave the two girls she was madly in love with, the two girls she’d do anything for, had run away from home for, had sent them all to Amphibia for.

They’d been ecstatic at the opportunity, and had willingly joined her on a multiversal adventure. They’d seen so many strange worlds: One of duck people, one built on a giant corpse in a boiling sea, one filled with magical humans called Mewmans.

And through it all, Anne and Sasha learned to love Marcy just as much as she loved them.

They’d gotten together and begun dating, and begun traveling across the worlds. And now here they were back on Earth.

Marcy had been sad they’d missed her middle school prom, where she planned on finally asking the two of them out, rules be darned, and her wonderful girlfriends had decided they'd make a brief stop on Earth to do the valentines formal. The school had even let Marcy organize the whole thing!

… there was something wrong with that.

‘I just… I didn't want to be alone.’

But every time she tried thinking of it her brain got all fuzzy and Anne and/or Sasha would want to kiss her and she’d forget all about it.

She just got done with a lovely waltz with Sasha when she heard her speak out. “We got company Anne.”

Company? Of course they did, it was a dance.

“Seriously?” Anne sounded incredulous, like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “They actually showed up?”

Well, now Marcy had to see what was going on. She turned around and felt her jaw drop because before her in the center of the room were Sasha and Anne.

Another Sasha and Anne.

Anne was wearing her normal school uniform and was missing a shoe, just like she had been in Amphibia, while Sasha was wearing brown scale mail with a single oversized pauldron and a ratty looking cloak.

“You guys… what?” Marcy looked back and forth between the two versions of her girlfriends, confusion and shock overwhelming her. Before she could say anything she was tackled by the two new versions, both of them clinging to her.

“We’re so glad you’re okay.” Other Anne said, hugging her like she expected Marcy to up and vanish into thin air if she didn’t.

“I can’t believe… I watched him…” Other Sasha tightened her hug. “It’s so good to see you again Mar-mar.”

“Could you let go of our girlfriend please?” Anne asked as she and Sasha grabbed Marcy and tried to pull her out of their hug. Sasha actually shoved the other Sasha away with a growl, one that was fully returned by the new version.

“How dare you- did you say your girlfriend!?” Other Anne asked incredulously as she let go of the thoroughly confused Marcy. Anne took the chance to pull Marcy towards her and Sasha and away from the other versions.

“Yep.” Anne said with a pop, her lips forming into a weirdly cruel smile. “Unlike some people, we actually appreciate Marcy.”

“I’m sorry, I really am.” Marcy said as she moved into the middle of the two groups, looking between the two of them quickly. “But could someone please tell me what the heck’s going on?”

“Simple.” Other Sasha said looking Marcy straight in the eye. “We’re here to rescue you.”

‘Let me go!’

‘I wish I could, but my Lord wants a host. They wanted the best, the smartest.’

“...Eh?” Marcy asked.

“I don’t know what kind of whacked up threats he’s got you under but we’re bringing you back to the real world and away from these crazies!” Other Anne said happily, grabbing Marcy’s hand and tugging it like she expected her to follow.

“I’m not sure how long the resistance can hold off Andrias, even with Earth’s help he’s crazy strong.” Other Sasha said, looking about the room like she was searching for threats behind every smile. “But the sooner we get you out of here the better.”

“I don’t… What are you guys talking about? Who even are you guys?” Marcy asked, letting go of Other Annes hand and stepping closer to her Anne and Sasha.

The two newcomers looked hurt and confused. Other Anne looked a little teary. “It’s… it’s us Marbles.” Other Anne said. “We came all this way for you.”

“But Anne and Sasha are right there.” She gestured to her Anne and Sasha, the two girls waving happily at the two others while grinning. “I don’t know who either of you two are.”

“Those two fakes? Mar-mar they aren’t real.” Other Sasha said, taking a step towards her only to reach for swords that weren’t there when the fake version took a step as well. “None of this is real!”

“Oh this is just sad.”

Her Sasha’s voice had taken on an almost derisive quality to it, like she was talking down to the other her. Marcy had heard it loads of times over the years and yet, somehow, this version didn’t feel… right.

“Look at you both, you throw her away and now come crawling back when you need her.” Her Sasha made a soft chuckle before looping an arm around Marcy’s waist. “That’s really pathetic of you.”

“Listen here you fake ass bit-”

“Marcy’s happy here, with us.” Her Anne looped an arm around her as well, looking at the other her who looked like she was both incredibly furious and fighting back tears.

The Other Anne didn’t respond, she just looked pleadingly at Marcy. “Please Marcy, you need to believe us! We’ve come to free you from whatever Andrias and the Core have you trapped in. We’re here to save you.”

Ten demonic eyes behind her.

‘No,nonono, no!’

Andrias turned away.

“What are you talking about.” Marcy was confused, her head hurt and it kept hurting just looking at these two. 

‘Well, i guess that’s what you get for pouring your heart out to me over Flipwart.’

“Andrias is my friend, he’s all of our friend. He’d never hurt us.” Marcy told them. Andrias had been a true father figure to her, helping her whenever Marcy had emotional problems. Helping her confess to her friends, helping her every step of the way.

He’d never betray any of them.

“When he offered to take us on a multiversal adventure, we just couldn’t say no.” Her Anne said happily, hugging Marcy from behind. “We went with our Marcy like real friends would.”

“We had so much fun seeing all the new worlds.” Her Sasha smirked at the other them. “We even fell hard for Marcy along the way.”

Her Sasha leaned in and planted a long kiss on her cheek, Marcy giggled and blushed at the sensation but quickly grew worried at the expressions on the other two.

Other Sasha looked mad beyond belief, glaring at Her Sasha with such hatred in her eyes that Marcy was terrified she’d attack her then and there. Her Sasha just smirked at the other her and stuck her tongue out at her.

Other Anne looked at Marcy and… and…

‘Marcy, hurry!’

‘I just need to-’

‘MARCY!’

…Marcy had seen that expression before, but she couldn’t remember where.

“I really think you two should get lost.” Her Anne said nastily from beside her, nuzzling her head against Marcy’s and glaring at the two others from the crook of her neck. “ You're obviously upsetting our girlfriend and we’ve beat up bigger baddies for less.”

Marcy wanted to just sink into the embrace, her girlfriends were so comforting and sweet that Marcy forgot all her problems whenever they were together. Her Sasha reached down to grab Marcy’s han-

“What do you mean, ‘none of this is real?’”

Both of her girlfriends looked at her shocked, something… odd in their eyes, but Marcy ignored it and stared at the two other versions of Anne and Sasha.

Anne smiled and her heart did a jump that she felt guilty for since it wasn't her Anne. “This isn’t, this isn’t real.” Other Anne began, taking a few nervous steps closer towards Marcy. “It’s all an, an illusion i think.”

“I think it’s a straight up nightmare.” Other Sasha said angrily, still glaring at Her Sasha.

“... Or That, yeah.” Other Anne agreed.

“And your evidence for this is what exactly?” Her Anne asked tersely, wrapping her arms around Marcy’s and glaring at Other Anne. “That we’re dating Marcy”

“Wow.” Her Sasha asked as Marcy drew back, hurt and wounded by the question and staring at the other girls with tears in her eyes. “You must really hate her.”

Other Sasha just stood there, shocked beyond words. She looked at Marcy, whose eyes looked close to tears, and then between Her Anne And Sasha. Her expression grew murderous, her eyes glaring hatefully at the two girls comforting her.

“Hate her?” She asked quietly, still staring wide eyed at the two girls- no, the two demons. “Hate Her? Hate Her!?” Her voice grew louder and louder till she was screaming over even the music. “I’VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH HER SINCE THE DAY WE MET!”

The music cut off with a scratch as all the dancers around them just began staring. But Other Sasha didn’t even notice or care, too busy screaming at the two demons hanging off the other love of her life.

“I saved you and Anne that day in the park because you were both cute! I begged my parent’s to let me change schools because I wanted to be with you two! I beat up every bully you had because I wanted to impress you! I skipped cheer practice to carry you home, on foot, whenever you were sick because I was so head over heels for you that I couldn’t say no and call your fucking parents to give you a ride home like a normal person!”

Sasha was now red in the face from rage and embarrassment, yet her entire body was still filled with such righteous indignation that she barreled on past any mortification with the sheer power of anger alone and her voice echoed off the walls.

“I’m so in love with you I turn stupid! I planned out our imaginary wedding together when I was ten! I would’ve taken you to prom and kissed you in the middle of the gym, I don't even care that i would've gotten in trouble. And you- you fake ass, bottle-blonde bitch, have the actual fucking gall to tell me i hate her! I’d tell you to go to hell if we WEREN’T STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT ALREADY!”

Sasha had reached some crescendo and had clearly vaulted over the edge. She stood panting in the middle of the gym floor, the echoes of her screaming still ringing off the walls. Dead silence surrounded her and, clearly, without the drive of anger to guide her onward she started thinking about everything she just said.

Sasha burned with mortification and her face burned scarlet.

“Um.” Sasha whirled around at the sound of Anne’s voice and stared at the blushing Thai girl, who looked between her and Marcy with a face as red as hers. “I love you too Mar-mar. But, uh, I hope you don’t mind if I don’t do… any of that.” She gestured vaguely at Sasha.

Marcy was blushing madly, just staring at Othe-at Sasha embarrassed, yet so deeply pleased and happy she couldn’t contain the small giggles that burst forth.

The gym flickered around them, going from the Newtopian themed school dance to the red glowing nightmare from before. Marcy’s giggles broke off with a gasp as she looked around her.

“What was…” Her head burst with pain and she grabbed her forehead, groaning as it felt like an iron spike was being driven through it.

‘A collection of Amphibia’s greatest minds, preserved for all eternity.’

‘Now look what you’ve made me do.’

‘Why, hello there.’

“It’s the Core.” Anne’s voice broke through the pain, steadying her. “It’s some big… metal monster thing.”

“Or maybe it’s you two.” Her Anne’s voice responded, two arms reached around and hugged her. “Ever since you two showed up, Marcy’s been in nothing but pain!”

“... longer than that.”

Her Anne looked down at her, her expression confused.

“I’ve been… my head’s been hurting for awhile now. Before they showed up.” Marcy looked up at her and stared. “I hear voices, glimpses of things I remember happening but didn’t.”

“Marcy, it’s just these two coming to gatecrash from the outside.” Her Sasha said, but her voice sounded off, too off for Marcy to ignore like… like all the other times she’s been ignoring everything being off. “We just need to get rid of them and-”

‘If either of you two really love me, you’ll tell me what’s really happening.”

Her Anne and Sasha remained silent, staring down at her as the seconds passed by without a sound.

A colossal spike of pure agony laced through Marcy’s mind and she fell back with a scream and reality buckled and shattered around her.

The bleachers filled with chanting newts as massive and bulky toad generals slowly surrounded them. The dancing students bloed away into writhing shadows with glowing red eyes, and above them all, above even the statues of the former kings of Amphibia hung the thing from Marcy’s nightmares.

All her memories flooded back into her mind. Getting stabbed in the back by Andrias, the battle in the throne room, helping Anne and the Plantars escape, getting literally stabbed in the back by Andrias, the long months in the rejuvenation pod, trying to escape with Yunan and Olivia, getting caught…

And getting the Core loaded into her brain. Trapping her in a prison of her own mind.

“None of it was real.” Marcy was crying, just staring up at the Demonic metal sphere as it stared down at her like she was an ant. “Neither of you two were real, our love wasn’t real, none of it?”

Her Sasha and Anne… except they were never Sasha or Anne, and they were never hers.

“Get away from her.” Anne’s voice cut through her grief and Anne, the real Anne, stood next to her with her fists raised. “Get the hell away from her.”

“Told her we were standing in the middle of it.” The real Sasha snarked as she stood on the other side of her. Marcy’s face went red again from more than the light of the Core’s eyes as she remembered just what was said a few minutes ago by the both of them.

“We were as real as you wanted us to be.” The phantom Anne said simply, still smiling at her like they were still pretending. “It’s your mind after all, and since you’re never leaving we’re as real as you are.”

“We told you.” Anne growled at the two phantoms. “We’re taking her home with us.”

“But why?”

That soft, sad question left Marcy’s lips before she could force it back down. Anne and Sasha looked at her and Marcy broke into a fresh set of tears.

“I tricked you! I trapped you in Amphibia, I took you away from your homes, and I lied! I lied and i lied to your very faces! Why do you… why do you even want me back?” Marcy wailed as she looked at her two soulmates, unwilling to face them and see the obvious rage and hurt she knew would be there.

“... I’m not going to lie to you Marcy, learning that hurt. Learning it from Andrias hurt even more.”

Marcy winced and readied herself to be abandoned all over again, to be left behind by everyone.

“But…” Marcy’s head whipped up at that, staring at Anne as she got her words together. “Just because i’m angry doesn’t mean i’ll stop loving you, you know?”

“If Anne can forgive me, she can forgive you too!” Sasha said, her voice filled with determination as she glared down the two phantoms.

“Yeah, thanks for reminding me we need to talk about that Sash.”

Sasha cursed beneath her breath.

“I think this has gone on long enough.”

The voices rang out from every corner of the room, the very walls shaking from the power of them. They all spoke as one, one entity, one voice. The head’s of the Salamander Statues all turned to look at the three girls and spoke with voices like thunder.

“Simulation: Off.”

The horrid gym, the shadows with demonic eyes, and the colossal phantom of the Core all fell away into nothingness. Sasha and Anne tried to reach her but the grasping arms of the shadow dancers pulled them into the abyss with them as they fell away. The thrones of the old Salamander Kings crumbled into ashes that scattered and danced into the blackness until nothing but the empty void remained.

Marcy stood there alone with the two phantoms of her best friends, her soulmates, her everything. The two girls kept shifting from form to form: from their school uniforms, to armor, to the dresses they’d worn at the Valentine’s formal.

Only the glowing eyes of the Core, glowing eyes that replaced their own, remained the same.

“Why would you want to go back out there?” Shadow Anne asked, drifting over on legs that kept falling away into smoke if she looked too hard at them. She wrapped a hazy arm around Marcy and leaned her head on her shoulder. “We love you Mar-mar.”

“We’ll always love you too.” Shadow Sasha said, her form jumping from her Toad Rebellion armor to her dress uniform and back again. She smirked at the taiwanese girl, a thing far too wide and cruel to be on her Sashy’s face. “Them? They’ll grow to hate you.”

“You stole them away, after all.” Shadow Anne giggled, flitting around Marcy in a circle.

“Took them from reality for your own selfishness.”

“Ruined their lives.”

“Broke them.”

“Shut up.” Marcy begged the two phantoms, curling up and covering her ears. “Shut up, shut up, shut up.”

“It’s not like they could even love you after all.” Shadow Sasha said with a sneer. “Not with how much they hate you after everything, and why wouldn’t they? All you’ve done is bother and annoy them.”

Shadow Anne grinned, her haird falling apart till it looked like dark brown flames. “You know what awaits you out there?”

Visions passed before Marcy’s eyes. Anne and Sasha yelling at Marcy back on earth, not wanting her in their lives anymore.

Anne and Sasha finishing middle school without her.

Anne and Sasha falling in love without her.

Anne and Sasha dating without her.

Anne and Sasha marrying each other, without her.

Anne and Sasha, happy and in love for the rest of their days, adopting kids, traveling worlds, growing old together.

All without her.

“Please… please stop.” Marcy begged the two phantoms, tears falling heavy from her eyes. She curled up on the floor, trying to make the sight of her very worst fears leave her.

“They could never love you… but we can.”

Marcy forced herself to look up as the two phantoms wrapped their arms around her, wispy half formed head’s on each shoulder.

“We’ll put up with you as long as you want us to.” Sasha whispered.

“We’ll make you as happy as you want us to.” Anne said.

“We’ll keep you as loved as you wish us to.”

Marcy wanted so desperately to just give up, to just accept the lie for what it was and sink back into the nightmare. Nothing but pain and heartache awaited her out there, she wasn’t good enough for Sasha and Anne, why would they ever want to be with her?

Why would anyone?

“Why indeed?”

Marcy jerked her head up as familiar foot falls cut through the blackness. Both of the phantoms hanging off her arms looked up reverently as Darcy made her way forward. Her own body, as it was in the real world, possessed by the core.

The Antlered Axolotl helmet with its ten demonic red eyes that all looked down at her, crimson cape waving in a non-existent breeze behind it. Midnight black magi-tech armor with a single red eye in the center of the breastplate, right over where Andrias stabbed her with his sword.

Darcy smiled down at her.

“All of this was our mistake.” It spoke, looking down at her like a caring parent. “We wanted to make it real for you, so we made it based on your deepest desires.”

Darcy stroked it’s chin, looking her over like some puzzle it couldn’t finish. “We’ll give you more control over the simulation this time, let you make it as you go along. You’ll be happier that way, we think.”

The two phantoms nuzzled closer to her, giggling as they did so. They whispered sweet nothings into her ears all the while Darcy just looked down on them.

“Shall we try again, Wit?”

Marcy knelt there in the void, her heart and mind in shambles after everything. The two phantoms, the real Sasha and Anne, their confessions, the reveal of the true gym room, and now all of this.

It would really be that easy… wouldn’t it.

Ever so slowly, black shadowy hands began to reach out from the void and begin to pull Marcy down into it, back into the nightmare.

She could just give up… and be happy.

The two phantoms on either side of her wrapped their arms around her and began to fade together, forming an abyssal blanket that swallowed up more and more of the girl.

No more hurt… and no more worries.

Only her head remained as the roiling blackness swallowed her up. “Just give in, Wit.” Darcy spoke up, its voice reaching down to wrap around the girl’s mind.

The void reached her eyes and began to close in, and her eyes close-

‘I just don’t want to lose you, okay?’

‘Yeah, sure. I’ll carry you home!’

‘That’s a cool fact.’ Anne said with a blush. ‘What else you learn?

Sasha leaning her head on Marcy’s shoulders after a long time practicing.

Anne always wanting to partner up with her for everything.

Sasha scaring away any bully that tried to pick on her.

Anne and her holding hands as they walked home from school.

“You think we came all this way, went through all this grief, and we don’t love her?” Sasha’s voice echoed through the blackness. Darcy looked up and snarled. “Marcy, I'm in love with you you big idiot!”

“I don’t care what they said, or what they got you convinced of.” Anne’s voice reached down and entered all the way into Marcy’s heart. “We both love you, and we always will.”

Marcy’s eyes snapped open, and her arms yanked through the blackness to start pulling void stuff off of her. Black arms, as empty as the rest of the abyss around her, reached up to start pulling her down again, far more aggressively this time as they all but clawed her.

“Don’t you dare hurt her!”

Two sets of arms began pulling away the void arms and helping her out of the abyss. Anne and Sasha, the real Anne and Sasha, struggling like crazy to get her out of the nothingness she’d sunk into.

Marcy yanked her foot free and launched herself at the two girls, sobbing in relief as she hugged them like her life depended on it. Tears fell down all three of their faces as the three girls embraced, truly embraced, for the first time in months.

“Do you…” Marcy asked through hiccups, needing the answer and terrified of it all the same. “Did you really mean…?”

Sasha just grinned at her, eyes red with tears. “Every damn word, Marcy.”

“We’ll always love you.” Anne said, staring her in the eyes. “We always have-”

“-And we always will.” Sasha finished.

Marcy finally broke, hugging the two girls again as they just stood there, hearts open to each other and feelings finally spoken.

“Well, that was incredibly tedious.”

Anne turned over with a snarl to begin yelling at Darcy, at the Core, and tell it exactly what the three of them were going to do to it for hurting Marcy, when her voice halted with a yelp.

Sasha and Marcy turned to stare at Darcy as well and saw exactly what made Anne fall silent.

Darcy had fallen completely apart, shadows and hellish eyes sprouting from every crack that spread across its body as it fell into itself and reformed into something truly massive. Bright blue skin, familiar blue skin, began to sprout over its body as it grew taller and taller, taller than any human ever could or would.

The three girls began to fear that it was King Andrias, that he’d somehow made his way into the Core, but the figure grew even taller than his gargantuan size. A truly epic Salamander stood tall and proud where Darcy had been, his face grizzled with age and his yellow amphibious eyes as cold and cruel as can be. Regal robes that reached down to the floor spread out around his body while a truly epic weapon, a pole-axe as big as he was, rose up from the inky void. The Salamander grasped the weapon in his right hand.

The demonic eye of the core rose out from the middle of his coral crown, staring down at them passively while the Salamander sneered at them.

“So you’re the earth whelps my idiot son failed to kill again and again.”

The void began to bubble all around the three girls as More coral crowns started rising up out of the blackness, each resting on the head of a gargantuan Salamander king. Each king sneered or chortled at them, weapons of impossible size held aloft in their hand as each crown revealed a Core eye just like the first one had.

Just like Andrias’s had.

Glowing red power lines began to snake out of the back of their heads, reaching up into the sky where a Horrible red light suddenly pierced through the night. The Mechanical body of the true Core revealed itself as its ten eyes looked down at the girls.

“We tried this the easy way, the way of cowards and weaklings.” A truly brutal looking Salamander, his body clad in full Magi-tech armor that was as scared as his face was, growled down at them. “We made your prison comfortable and peaceful.”

“We let Andrias handle killing Heart and Strength.” The first King that rose up sneered.

“Obviously that was all a mistake.” Another armor-clad Salamander said, this one wearing multiple sashes each covered from top to bottom in medals and trophies.

“Now comes the last offer you’ll ever get, wit.” A Salamander clad in regal vestments covered in jewelry and shining adornments said.

“Submit or die.” The kings all said as one, their eyes never leaving the three.

Anne looked at both Marcy and Sasha, Marcy looking worriedly at both of them while Sasha tried to glare down the massive Salamander kings around them. The crimson light of the Core’s eyes bathed them completely, setting all of them on edge.

“How about neither of those?” Anne didn’t know how the words came out over her nerves, yet pure steel rang through her. She looked at the massive kings, at the Core above them, and at the Night all around them.

Anne grinned.

“We visited Mother Olm, you know? Went all the way to Proteus to do it.”

“They’re still alive?” The Robed King asked, shocked. “I thought they would have all perished over the ages without our glory to guide them.”

“I knew we should have killed them in the first conquest.” The scared Salamander huffed, crossing his bare arms. “The minute they challenged our right to rule the empire, we should have butchered them all.”

Anne ignored the byplay, she really wanted to get this right. “She told me that we’re cut off from the power of the box.”

“The power is ours, after all.” The bejeweled king said with a wave of his hand. “To do with as we please.”

“But she also told us something else.”

Sasha, seeing where this was going, grinned viciously and grabbed both Anne and Marcy’s hands.

“She said, that if at least one of us had our powers still…” Anne looked away from the old kings, away from the night, and straight into the central eye of the Core.

“... We could unlock it for the others.”

The kings realized where Anne was going and moved like lightning, arms and weapons raised to strike them down into nothing and wipe them from existence.

Anne began to glow a brilliant blue. And soon after, the other two girls began to glow as well.

**********

The battle was going extremely poorly.

Without the guidance of the Core, or Darcy as it asked to be called since it possessed Marcy’s body, Andrias’s armies began to lose ground all over. Andrias didn’t know why the Core had stopped responding in the middle of the conquest.

But he had a hunch, and he was going to fix it right away if he was right.

Andrias burst through the doors to his throne room, the salamander king taking in the destruction all around. His throne was a bust, shame that it was an antique, and he’d need to do some serious remodeling after earth was exterminated. Even more than he had to after the first lift off of Newtopian Castle and Anne’s first use of her Calamity form.

But none of that mattered to Andrias the moment he saw his lord and master.

It sat motionless on the floor, tied up with glowing rope and broken mecha-tendrils. Its black armor was scared and dented, and the cape had long since burnt away into ashes. The only sign of life was the slow rise and fall of its chest. A pair of shattered heron swords lay scattered across from a burning pile of brass that was once a Newtopian breastplate.

Andrias breathed a sigh of relief, Darcy was fine. And far more importantly, Anne and Sasha seemed to have been removed from the face of existence.

And he didn’t even have to do anything!

Andrias walked over to Darcy, his master’s demonic eyes fluttering open with mechanical clicks and whirs.

“Ah, my lord. Welcome back.” Andrias bowed. “With Anne and Sasha apparently gone, we can-”

Darcy started screaming. A horrible, mechanical wail of pain and agony that caused whatever glass that remained unbroken to shatter upon impact of the sound. Andrias fell to his knees, blood seeping from his ears at the noise.

Darcy began clawing at its helmet, the scream increasing more and more to an impossible decibel. It sounded like a thousand voices all wailing in unison.

All around the globe, both on earth and on amphibia, robot’s began to buckle to the ground and wail as one. Their heads began to spark and crack apart as they began firing whatever weaponry they had nearest at themselves to make the noise go away. The floating fleet, the collection of airships and flying fortresses that Andrias brought over to help with the conquest, began to implode and crash all around.

Darcy screamed to high heaven, and slowly its ten eyes began to glow a brilliant emerald.

Andrias looked at the emerald glow filling each eye in complete shock, his mind not even comprehending what he was looking at.

Slowly, the glow spread out from its eyes and began to swallow up Darcy’s entire form, the scream dying out until all of its body was wrapped in an ethereal shine of sparkling green energy and it fell completely silent.

Andrias’s jaw fell. It couldn’t be, it couldn’t fucking be!

The axolotl helmet burst apart into pieces of scrap, some of the shards scraping andrias as they went by. Free now, it- no, her burning emerald hair began to wave and float about from the energy alone. Her left side suddenly began to take on a blue glow, while her right began to take on a pink one.

Andrias forced himself to stand up, his shock replaced with anger and fear as he watched everything he’d worked for for the last one thousand years fall completely apart.

A shining blue figure began to move out from Dar-no, Marcy’s side, coming to a halt when only their hands remained connected while a burning pink one moved away from the left. Branches began to grow out of each of their heads, rising up into three distinct forms that Andrias truly believed he would never really see again.

Two branches spread from the glowing pink figure’s head like antlers while bark began to cover her chest and limbs like armor. The blue figure’s branches spread out like the spikes of a crown while leaves began to fall away from her flowing hair like cinders. The green figure was wrapped in vines blooming with flowers while her branches wrapped around her head like a tiara.

The glowing energy fled back into their eyes and there, floating in the ruined throne room and giving off light like a bonfire, were the Bearers of the Calamity. The wielders of Heart, Strength, and Wit. The champions of the prophecy.

Anne, Marcy, and Sasha.

Their eyes glowed just as brightly as their hair, their skin giving off a shine like precious gemstones. They all smiled at one another, their hands all held together.

And then, as one, turned to Andrias.

“Your ass is grass, bitch.” Sasha said simply, still smiling at him. The other two girls giggled and raised their fists.

As Andrias watched three superpowered fists race towards his face, he had time enough for one last thought.

‘I should have just run off and eloped with Barrel and Leif when I had the chance.’

[cafecourage]

The moment they realized they loved you. (Isekai Au Edition) Part 2

If you want more information on this AU here is the Link!

Sky:

- It started slow and very sweet.

- He took a long time realizing who you were. But he still believed in the others when they started to recognize you.

- When your behind him cheering you on, he feels invincible. Since during his adventure Impa tore into him pretty badly when he was late to save Zelda.

- Your presence is comforting to him. It feels like home despite being on the ground.

___________________________________

Being back in Skyloft was a small blessing for the chain. The tight knit community had already welcomed the travelers with little to no questions about their origins. It was a stroke of luck that they landed in front of the bazaar in the early morning when no one else was up yet. Their first day there was a resting day in attempt to gather information on the black blood monsters and inventory checks.

Sky took his time catching up with everyone. Letting the Headmaster and Sun know about the situation that had the hero hopping around in the timeline. Then he needed to go down to the small settlement on the surface to check on them. Sun did already tell him that things where still safe down there and that he should take a break. But he still would rather check it out himself just in case something did happen it better to be safe than sorry.

Despite being able to jump off from any of the decks in Skyloft. He automatically went towards the plaza near the tower of light. During his adventure it was the quickest way to the opening above Faron Woods. Sky was just turning the bend when he saw his Loftwing was already there on the docks and under its wing was You. You were trying to put a small amount of distance between you and the bird but the creature kept bring you closer to hold.

“(Y/n)!” Sky was baffled at his Loftwings reactions to you. He dashes to your side. “I’m so sorry. He isn’t normally like this.”

“It’s fine.” Your uncontrollable laughter the was full with childlike glee finally reached him. “In fact, I think he recognizes me!” You whispered smiling. The Crimson Loftwing cooed now leaning into his masters touch as Sky softly pet the side of his necks. Sky wondered if what you said was the truth. Since a Loftwing and its rider do share a special connection, it’s fully possible that his also felt and heard you. “Hey Link?” Suddenly your demeanor changed. “Can I ask something?”

Your bashful and embarrassed expression made Sky feel soft inside. “Of course.”

“One of these days can you show me around the sky or the surface?” You shifted awkwardly from him. He actually forgot that you haven’t physically been to his era before. That for the longest time you only saw things from his point of view without the ability to truly explore anything. “You don’t need to- “

“Are you free now?” He quickly cut you off. “I was actually heading down there now to check on the settlement.”

“Really?” Your face seems to brighten but then you remembered something and leaned closer to him whispering again “I don’t have a Loftwing though.”

He gently takes your hand “my Loftwing is strong enough for both of us.” He guided you to his side. You eyed the bird with uncertainty but you let him help you up onto the harness. Sky got on behind you reaching around you to get the reins. “Hold on to me if you get scared.” He teasingly warned and before you could question him. His Loftwing took off nose diving off of the deck.

You let out a small squeak as you latched onto his tunic. Sky almost felt bad that he actually scared you. But once in the air and on a steady path you finally opened your eyes again. “Woah!” The sight was nothing special but it was still just as beautiful. The clouds below them created an endless sea of white. “It’s so pretty.” Pride bubbled up as Sky watch you taken in the beauty of his home. This was just the start of what he wanted to show you as different locations came into his mind. “Hey.” You looking over your shoulder with hope in your eyes. ”Next time can we go to the Lumpy Pumpkin? I remember you singing high praises about their pumpkin soup.”

Sky tried to think of what he wanted to do tomorrow, right now there wasn’t anything that needed his attention. “If we have time tomorrow, I can take you there for lunch or dinner.” Maybe he could take a break from being a hero for a bit.

“Great! It’s a date then.” You sent a wink his way that sent his brain into a haywire before looking back into the endless sky. He was lucky his Loftwing is able to steer himself. As dot’s where finally connecting in Sky’s head. Pure love and affection bubble up as he embraces his new found feelings.

- He will be the one to uno reverse card on you. All love and affection will drown you instead. There was so much he wanted to tell you before to thank you for being by his side and encouraging him.

- Cuddle time will start here because of his need to make sure you know your loved too.

- He would be the one to confess first, but it would probably be played off as friends telling each other that they love each other.

- You’re not dense but overly affectionate. He might just need to spell out how you make him feel on a daily basis. Maybe then you’ll understand what you’re doing to him.

___________________________________

Legend:

- It hit him like a freight train.

- He isn’t mad at you. He is mad at himself. He had made his dues with what the people he had lost. Yet here he is. Already going too far.

- Your ability to make the situation brighter slowly eroded the walls he put up years ago.

- It might be all in his head, but he swears that you always make sure his needs are met even if he is trying to hide them.

___________________________________

“Link!!!” You barreled towards him ignoring the questioning stares the people of Windfall Island. “Link! Link! Link! LOOK!!!” You hold up a pink rabbit stuffed animal that you bought. “It you!”

The veteran in question huffed, “seriously of all things.” He turned on his heels “I’m going back on the ship.” He didn’t know why he was still entertaining your antics at that point.

“Wha- Hey! I was joking!” They were stocking up in Windfall and Legend was not happy to be on a boat nor in the ocean again. He wouldn’t say that he afraid.

Just… cautious…

You on the other hand looked like you were having the time of your life on the ship talking the it’s Captain and crew member’s. Yet most of the time you would stay by his side. The reason was obvious but nether wanted to talk about it.

Which is why you dragged him out to the port island. ‘An easy distraction.’ You told him, ‘I can show you around so we won’t get lost!’ He wasn’t worried about that. Legend trusted you. A fact he will never say out loud. However, he would rather hole up somewhere and escape the world then be here.

A soft hand took his when Legend reached the docks. He already knew who it was since you’ve been following him like a lost puppy all day. “One more place please?” You looked at him expectingly. “Then you can go back.”

“What are you a child? Why can’t you just go alone?” Legend snapped back, “you don’t have to be around me.”

“Legend I like being with you.” You pointed out like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “However.” You let go of his hand. “I also understand if you don’t want to hang out anymore and want to go rest.” There was no fighting back. No offense to his words. Nothing. Just a warm smile that filled him with warmth, that was accompanied by words fueled by unlimited care and understanding which made his heart beat faster. The silence between you two seemed to give you an answer. You turned around. A panicked feeling shot through. Legend was surprised with himself when he almost reached out to you when you walked away.

Instead, he watched you go. In the wake of his own emotions, he realized what had been happening. How he has been acting around you was starting to get familiar. “Not again.” He whispered disappointed in himself.

___________________________________

- Legend is going to be bitter about it. He isn’t going to take it out on you, but his mannerisms are going to be different after this.

- Not quite closed off, but it’s almost like he is mourning another loss.

- You would need to drown him in love and affection before he realizes you like him back. But like Twilight, he is going to be heartbroken if you decide to leave him to go back home.

___________________________________

Wild:

- Its progression was as natural as breathing.

- He just got off of his adventure so he always had you by his side. Just being near you is second nature.

- If anything, he was more than excited to actually have you physically be here alongside him.

- It rare to see ether of you not near each other when traveling together you two are inseparable.

___________________________________

The only upside of being in Wild’s Era is that the champion knew what to expect, it’s chaotic was normal for him and actually brought him a bit of peace. You came with that peace of mind. Having you join the chain to him was almost like you never left his side in the first place. From the moment he woke up after being told his name and what he needed to from Zelda, he was aware of your presence. You were the one to encourage him to explore the ruin kingdom. You were the one to recognize structures that the people in his world didn’t know about. The weird part was that you didn’t know how he was before the calamity, but he didn’t question that fact too much. He was more than happy to have someone treat him as a different person from before.

Now having you physically with him. Wild wanted to bring you to all of your favorite locations that you vocally told him about.

But that had to wait for now, because the downside to Wild’s Hyrule was the amount of things that wanted him dead. Moblins? Bokablins? Those guys are fine to fight they were push overs unless infected with the black blood. Actually, most of Wild’s monsters were like that. Once you get a hang of fighting them and recognize their patterns. They are a breeze.

A common threat that was annoy to deal with however, was the Yiga Clan. Which leads to the situation Wild and the others found themselves getting in while on the road to Hateno. He should of figured that they were going to strike when he got back to his Era. But he honestly didn’t think it would be in this quantity they were out number but thanks to Warriors taking control of the situation where managing. He was trying to make sure everyone was accounted for and was alive when he heard a string of curses coming from his right.

You had been knocked on the ground by a Blade Master. Your sword was near the clan member. Wild felt his world freeze in that moment as he bolted towards your body. With a falcon bow in hand. Wild side jumped. Locked in an ancient arrow and let it go.

The arrow sped towards the Blade Master. Hitting him directly. Turning the Yiga member into a bunch of Sheikah blue ribbons before collapsing into an orb where the arrow hit.

Wild slide towards your body. A pulse he needed to feel a pulse. Placing the tips of his index and middle finger on the base of your thumb and wrist. He pressed lightly to feel the blood pulsing beneath his fingers. A sigh of relief escaped him. Wild was lucky that the battle had come to an end. As the other Yiga members ether retreated in horror of what happened to one of their own or cut down quickly.

Hyrule join him soon after shooing him out of the way gently. Wild didn’t move from your side all that much. He didn’t want to. Just in case you left him too. He doesn’t know a life without you in it. A world like that just doesn’t exist.

Wild knows the name of the cause of his feelings. It’s the same thing that drives him to share his experience with you. He wants to be by your side and to make you happy.

___________________________________

- He is protective but not controlling. If anything, he wants to spar with you more. So, you can get better at fighting.

- You can bet he is going to start making you taste the different foods he had discovered, or sneak out to visit areas in his world more often. He doesn’t want you to miss a thing.

- There is so much he wants to do with you. So much he wants to share. So many things to say. That he just wants to do it all at once so there can be new things you both can discover together.

(Part 1)

[luimagines]

Coul I request the chain reacting to meeting the reader who is Wild's sibling? (If background is needed shrieks science and them whatever purchase did so the reader is just sorta- 15-28 )

Masterlist

I don't understand the second sentence but I think I can infer what you're trying to say. And even then, I came up with a backstory that more less fixes it regardless so yay!

Wild is everyone's favorite chaotic creative sibling!

And I went for older sibling because reasons and just assume that sibling! Reader is in their early twenties.

Content under the cut!

You woke up one day in Hateno village, quietly aware of the silence that echoed through your house.

You miss your brother.

Not that he was here often with his Goddess given assignment nor did he even know who you were for the first half of it.

What a day that was.

Your little brother back from the dead, scars and all and then some... but he had no idea who you were.

It hurt to say the least. But you were told it would happen once the news reached you. He would wake up one day to finish his duty but he would not remember anything regarding his past life.

Even when he found you again, after he somehow remembered you, you didn’t know where to begin.

You just knew that you were so happy to be together again after so long that you hugged him as tight as you could and told him that your door was always open.

To say you both cried is the understatement of the century. It was wet and ugly and messy and neither of you really talk about it but it felt good that day.

And while you both knew he couldn’t stay for long with his adventure being no where near complete. He did come home for the night after he set that travel medallion of his by the front door.

But that was then- before the Calamity was defeated.

Now that it’s gone- so is your brother. Again.

On a different quest this time, it seems.

You don’t understand why your baby brother of all people has to be the one to do it and you would like nothing more than to wrap him up in a blanket and shield him from anything else that comes to hurt him- but he never let you do that as a child- let alone now.

You begin the day like any other and try to get as many mundane chores done as you can before you finally try and get the stable in the back fixed up.

You noticed Link had an affinity to horses and had checked in with the nearest stable to see that he had some lodged under his name.

There’s a place at the house, darn it. Lodge them here. It just needs to be fixed.

With your goal in mind, you lose yourself to the work and the time passes effortlessly.

It’s around noon by the time you hear it.

The familiar sound of activation that gets your heart pounding in relief and unbridled joy.

You drop your hammer and run to the front of the house with the largest grin on your face. “You’re back, you Rug Rat! Come here!”

You single him out instantly amongst the group and tackle him in a hug.

He’s long stopped trying to fight on you on this and has also returned your crushing hug with one of his own. “I’m back.”

“You brought friends too.” You grin and give the group a two fingered salute. “And here I was afraid that this loner child would end up dead in a ditch somewhere and I would be none the wiser. Thank you for looking after my little brother. I’m aware he’s a handful.”

“Ok thanks.” He says.

“Little brother?” Someone from the group asks. They’re lost amongst the sea of head but you nod regardless.

“Yup. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday.” You grin and put your hands on your hips, introducing yourself right after. “Any friend of Link’s is a friend of the family. Come in, come in. Make yourselves at home. It’s not much but it’s ours. Been in the family since before the calamity struck. Let me wash up a bit and then we can get some food going, yeah?”

“I’ll start up the stove.” Link says and you’re about to disagree. After all, he just got home and should rest while he can but he ahs the most unburdened smile on his face that you can’t bring yourself to deny him.

 “Alright.” You sigh and head to the back where the shower is. It’s always been small and a bit cramped and the door stopped fitting correctly about ten years ago but now that’s it’s not just you anymore, you can go around into the giving the house the TLC it deserves.

But you’re starting with the stable in the back.

When you’re finished and you’ve dried yourself off, you get into the house to find it in a delightful array of colors and chaos.

Each of the boys seemed to have made themselves completely at home in the time you were gone and you leaned against the door frame, watching them all interreact.

Your brother didn’t waste any time with getting the stove up and running. You can smell the beginning of lunch getting cooked and it appears that Link has wrangled two of the boys to be his helpers. One appears to be the youngest with bright wide eyes and a similar blue tunic to that of Links and the other looks to be  slightly more timid in the process. He’s around the same height as Link but darker hair and a long white cape still clasped around his shoulders. 

You recognize the Master Sword strapped to his back.

Making a note of that you look around the room again. Three of them have made themselves comfortable at the table. One is easily the biggest guy of the group, red and blue tattoos on his face and scar over his eye as he watches the others go about the admittedly small house. The other two look to be the same size and you’re sure you can look them in the eye if you needed to. They’re talking to both each other and the group that’s cooking. One has a wolf pelt on his shoulder with more tattoos on his face and other is a knight if you’ve ever seen one with a bright blue scarf around his neck.

You’re not one to judge your brother’s friends but you make a mental note to watch him in case he tries anything.

Two of the boys- one with pink hair and the other have the most solid brown mane of the whole group have made themselves spares and are talking quietly to each other and not making a fuss.

The final one looks to be the smallest but he’s got an older glint to his eye that recognize well. He’s wearing arguably the most color tunic of the group with those four patches sewn together. He’s tucked himself away into a corner with a book out, not interacting with either of them outright but he has been looking up and adding his two cents to the older’s conversation at the table.

They don’t notice you’re back which is a testament to how tired they all must be.

They’re an interesting bunch.

But Link did always surround himself with interesting people.

So you’re not really surprised.

“Sooo...” Pinky starts off, calling your bother’s attention. “You have an older sibling?”

“Yup!” He answers, not looking up from the pot. “They were waiting for me the whole time, and even manage to keep the house. Up keep still needs to be done but we’ve been working on it together.”

“But they’re older.”

“Yes. We’ve established this.”

You have to hold back your snort.

“You were asleep for one hundred years.” Four Patches speaks up, closing his book silently. ”Shouldn’t they... ummm...”

“Be dead?”

“Or at least really old?” Mr. Brunette hops in, trying to lessen the blow of the sentence.

“You’re like one hundred and seven teen right? Wouldn’t that put them at being one hundred and twenty something?” Wolf boy offers.

“I guess so. Yeah. They were old at some point.” Link stops stirring and you can see him try to run the numbers in his head. “I know that much. The village talks about them being really old sometimes, but I guess that was years ago because it’s only from the older folk that live here.”

“But they lived through those one hundred years, didn’t they?” Blue Baby Face speaks this time.

“That’s what they told me.”

“So....” The knight tilts his head and tries to put his hands out as if that would help answer the question. “They’re like the Old Man then? Old in their head but young on the outside.”

“You can say that, yeah.” You say and take extreme satisfaction at the way most of the jump at your voice. “Unlike Link, I was alive the whole time he was asleep. I’ve got grandkids in Lurelin and they visit from time to time but someone had to at least keep the house up and running, might as well have been me.”

“I...” Link starts as he takes the food off the burner. “I never asked you how you stayed young, did I?”

“Nope.”

“Oh.” He looks away and deflates a little. Link looks a little disappointed with himself and that won’t stand in this house.

“I didn’t realize it was that important. And I’m going to assume you’ve explained most of the situation Rug Rat.” You laugh a little with a raised eyebrow. “You can blame Purah. You know she wanted to find a way to keep the old from aging, right? It’s why she’s in the body of a little kid again. But when she tried the second formula she realized that if she tried it on herself that it might as well but poof her back into a baby and she wanted to contact Robbie but he’s too far and too old to make that trip. I volunteered.”

“Really?”

“It still didn’t really work, I was transformed into a teenager instead of a child- a horrible time to exist really. But I suppose it was a blessing in disguise. By the time this one-” You step into the house fully and ruffle Link’s hair. “-came back, it left us with the same age gap as before. So in the end I can’t complain.”

“Why’d you volunteer?” Cape guy leans on the wall. “There’s only so many times you can test it, right? Who’s to say it wouldn’t have been worse?”

“Yeah, what if it did transform you into a baby again and you forgot everything?” Four Patches stands up and comes to stand by the table, putting his book on top of it. 

“I wanted to take the risk.” you shrug and pull your brother into a hug. “Is it a crime to want to see my baby brother again not matter the cost?”

“Get off.” He whines.

You laugh but do as he asks. “It was never said when he’d be back. Only that he would. I was willing to buy as much time as needed to be there for him.”

“I didn’t remember you...” He mutters to himself.

“You now, don’t you?” You punch him gently. “We’ve talked about this. It’s ok. I knew it was going to happen. It wasn’t going to stop me. Ganon himself couldn’t properly get rid of me. I’m not leaving your side anytime soon.”

He smiles and turns to hug you.

“Now where’s your wolf friend?” You ask. “Are you still traveling together? There’s something I wanted to give him.”

Wolf Pelt shimmies in his seat for a second but you don’t think much of it.

Link shakes his head. “Not right now but he has been coming by every now and then.”

“Well it’s good he’s still around to look after you then in my stead.”

“We have a horse though.” Link tilts his head up to grin at you. “It’s not the same but her name is Epona.”

Familiarity stabs you in the heart and you know it’s something that Link even remember even if he lives another one hundred years.

He was too little when she passed.

“...Like dad’s old horse. Can I see her?” You say with a light constriction in your throat. “How crazy would it be if they looked alike?”

“Dad had a horse?”

“You wouldn’t remember her, you were too little. I barely remember her as it is but yes, he did.” You take a step back and motion back towards the door. “Maybe after lunch you show me. We can bring her to the back and measure up how the stable is. I’ve been fixing it up.”

“Really!?” Link blinks, an excited glint appearing in his eyes.

“Yes. That’s what I was doing when you first came in. But let’s eat first.” You put your hand to the small of his back and push him gently in the direction of the table. “And then you can tell me about your friends and this new adventure of yours.”