#captain capsize/lady ianite

[coolcattime]

Safety [Mianite Oneshot]

Relationships: Captain Capsize/Lady Ianite

Characters: Captain Capsize, Lady Ianite, Lord Dianite, Skipper Redbeard, Jordan Captainsparklez, Tucker Jericho, Tom Syndicate, Sonja Firefoxx, Lord Mianite

After so long of being imprisoned in the Nether, cold air feels like heaven to Capsize. It’s such an overwhelming relief that it takes her minutes to even consider the implications of feeling it.

When she finally does, she opens her eyes to find herself in a cage floating in the sky somewhere in the farthest reaches of the End. Lady Ianite greets her, an elation overtaking Capsize to see her goddess freed. However, quickly she questions as to why she remains imprisoned. Questions with painful answers, even if the only ones she hears are false.

AO3 Link

The first thing that Capsize noticed was the cool breeze hitting her, as pleasant as it was painful. After the never-ending heat of the Nether, she couldn’t help but bask in it even as it began to feel like needles digging into her skin. It was still the nicest thing she had felt in weeks. She just lay there for minutes, nearly crying in relief that she finally felt cool air again. Until the impossibility hit her.

If she was still in that cell in the Nether, the only thing she should be able to feel was that sickening supernatural heat. She supposed it was possible that she was so close to death that she had begun hallucinating, but her thoughts all felt her own. If anything, she felt stronger than the last time she was awake, not weaker. So, what precisely was going on?

Acknowledging the first difference in sensation opened up her thoughts to begin noticing the other ones. Soon enough the oddities and impossibilities were piling up in her mind. The first one was that she realised with a start that she was no longer shackled. No longer was tight metal pushing into her skin. It seemed her limbs were free to move as she wished them too.

Of course, her body still ached. Though she did not feel nearly as beaten down as she had in her last moment of wakefulness. Despite how it certainly was not possible, it seemed that she had been recovering.

She almost didn’t want to believe these feelings. No… No, she desperately did want to give into this new reality where she wasn’t stuck in that tiny cell in a hellish dimension. But she couldn’t afford to build up hope. It would just shatter her if she awoke from this dream.

It was painful to admit, but she was so tired. She was meant to be Lady Ianite’s messenger, a person looked to for guidance. Instead, she was a worn-down prisoner terrified to even risk hope. She was utterly ashamed of how badly she had fumbled her mission. If anyone from back home could see her, they’d tell her what a failure she had turned out to be.

In a moment of spite, she huffed. What good was berating herself actually doing? It was just as bad as lingering in a dream would be. She needed to actually do something. Though entirely exhausted and frankly still terrified learning she was still in her cell, she forced her eyes open.

What she found before her eyes left her just confused. She wasn’t in the Nether. She was no longer in that claustrophobic cell. However, she also wasn’t free.

Immediately, she tried to sit up. Tried being the optimal word. A sharp pain shot through her stomach as she did. With a cry she was sent back to her starting position of laying on the cold stone.

She tried to breathe through the sudden shock.

Had she been stabbed? It was the sort of injury that she’d associate with this type of pain, but she didn’t recall anything of the sort. She’d have thought even in her less than responsive state that she would’ve been woken by such an attack.

At the very least, she could tell that the injury was recent. It had to be with how painful it felt, but as she carefully ran a hand over where the pain was coming from, she didn’t even feel a cut. She desperately tried to make sense of it, trying to bite back fears of it being something far worse than a stab wound. However, as she continued to lay there, she was stuck staring at the bars above her that separated her from the sky. She couldn’t remain doing nothing. She needed to know why she could see the sky at all.

She was more careful in sitting up than she had been in her first attempt. Though her gentleness did little to ease her pain. She had to grit her teeth as she still very much felt like screaming. However, without the aspect of it being unexpected, the pain was at the very least management.

Once she was sitting up, it was far easier to get herself to her feet, even if her body whined and complained at the process. Now that she wasn’t shackled and restrained, now that she could move, she was going to make sure that she did. She needed to explore whatever she could here before her movement was restricted again.

She was in another prison. Though perhaps that was overselling it a little. It was a cage. A giant cage of iron bars completely open to the air. It wasn’t the most confined she had ever felt. She doubted anything would ever compare to that tiny cell she had been imprisoned in until now. A place where she had been shackled and restrained left with nothing she could even possibly do but await her own death. However, she was not about to be grateful for a prison just because it was nicer than the last. There was still the tightness in her chest from the feeling of being confined. There were still the ever-present thoughts reminding her that she needed to escape.

She needed a focus to stop such thoughts from overwhelming her. So, she settled on the most basic. Where exactly was she? Given her capacity to feel cold and the presence of a sky, she was clearly no longer in the Nether. However, that wasn’t exactly an answer to her question. The sky that surrounded her being lit up by a bright purple aurora did give her a certain assumption. One that made her stomach twinge uncomfortably. However, there was little point dwelling on assumptions. After all, this prison came with a view, she could see for herself where she was.

Despite the dread building within her, she forced herself to one of the cage walls. Her movement was slow, her limbs aching after so long of being stuck in one position. She could see her surroundings quite a while before she actually reached the bars, but still she forced herself all the way. Despite the illogical hope she had tried to hold, the view didn’t change when she reached the edge of her confinement.

She was, as she feared from the look of the sky, in the End. So Dianite had managed to force his way into some of Ianite’s realm despite their efforts to strengthen her. However, it was far worse than just that.

The cage she was in was built on a tiny floating island, high above the other far larger landmasses that surrounded it. All that could be between herself, and the endless void was a layer of stone bricks and a shallow amount of end stone. The landmasses around her were far enough away that, even if she did somehow manage to break free of these bars, she would never be able to reach them. Even if she did, for as far as she could see it was just an endless forest of chorus trees. She seemed as if walk through them forever and never reach their end.

She just stood there, leaning against the bars, realising that she was just as trapped as she had been in her previous cell. Her shackles had been replaced by an endless landscape that she would never be able to reach anyway. It was suffocating. But unfortunately, she couldn’t show it. Not when the bastard god who had trapped her was here watching.

She was sure that he was. While she might not entirely trust herself, she still trusted her senses enough to believe them not to be lying about the presence behind her. And if there was a presence, it had to be him. Who else would it be?

She remained still, as did he. Both were waiting for the other to acknowledge them first. He liked when she acknowledged him, whether she cowered or stood strong, it always left him with a horrible mocking grin. She wasn’t going to this time. If he wanted to play this game, she wasn’t turning to look at him and giving him any sort of victory. She could hold strong. She could—

“Capsize,” Her eyes widened as she heard that sound voice and realised just how completely and utterly wrong her assumption had been.

She turned, fast enough that she wanted to scream, but no pain was enough to stop her from whipping around with tears brimming just as a smile was breaking onto her face. The only fear left in her mind was that this was somehow her imagination.

“Ia!” The moment she saw her, she melted into elation. Standing before her was Lady Ianite. Not a flickering image or a voice in her head. Her goddess was actually physically stood before her. Ianite had been freed.

Even with the terrible situation she was still in, that fact was enough to break through her dread and distress and have her laughing in relief. Even if she hadn’t been the one to do it, Ianite was free. She was stood before her, smiling. Though, strangely enough, the goddess’ expression was not one of happiness as her own was. Though it was, at least as far as she could tell, a genuine smile, it seemed as though it was just there to conceal pain. The smile you’d give to someone on their deathbed.

And that, well, Capsize knew that it should give her chills. That she should stop and worry. But she was face to face with the person that she had been fighting for so long to save. How could she focus on anything else but how much of a relief and victory that was?

“You’re safe!” She said. Then she couldn’t hold back. Even with her aching limbs and the terrible pain in her midsection, she rushed to her. Though her joy wasn’t enough to actually keep her upright. She ended up stumbling, being caught in Ianite’s arms.

The goddess pulled her close as she wrapped her own arms around her. She could only describe it as an embrace, as the sort of thing she had been dreaming of for so long. The sort of hold that she wanted to melt into and never leave. It had been weeks since she had had any non hostile physical contact, she wanted to cry as she felt Ianite’s hand running through her hair. She never wanted this to end. She could fade away right now in this moment and be truly satisfied with her fate.

However, despite her own desires, she knew that she couldn’t stay like this. As intoxicating as being held by Ianite was, there were still so many questions that she needed the answers to. Even so, it took more strength than she’d care to admit to break away. As if being inches away from her goddess may kill her.

“Are you okay?” Ianite asked as she did, leaving her feeling all the worse for ending the moment. Especially as she could not answer the question positively. Beyond her physical pain, there was the question that she needed to ask that she knew could only lead to more pain. Unfortunately, she could not leave it unspoken.

“Why am I still imprisoned? I… I thought that when they freed you, that I would also…” She didn’t know how to finish her sentence. It felt wrong to imply that her friends may have just given up on saving her, but what else could she think given her surroundings?

Ianite looked down, squeezing her eyes shut. Capsize felt a pit beginning to form in her stomach. Had it not already been obvious, it was now painfully so. Something had gone deeply and terribly wrong.

“That was the plan, for the champions to travel to Aethoria and free us both. Unfortunately, my brother couldn’t take a loss.”

⚖ ⚖ ⚖

“Come on then,” Lord Dianite invited the champions to attack him. To his absolute disappointment, not one of them made a move.

They really were all cowards. It seemed that they really had been hoping to skirt by and ruin his plans without any resistance.

He understood his own champion not making the first move. Even if he was a turncoat and a liar, he was still the champion that he had cultivated. The fear would still be there. So, it was no wonder that he stood on the edge of the makeshift arena hesitating to come any closer.

What Dianite, however, couldn’t understand was why the others were being so cowardly. They had wanted to defeat him, hadn’t they? So why were they all waiting on him to make the first move? Perhaps they thought they had time to dawdle and strategize. Well, he wasn’t going to allow them such a boon.

“Perhaps you all need a little more motivation,” He laughed with a horrible mocking tone. He brought his hands up, in one summoning an impossibly sharp sword. It was crafted from a dark metal, one that none of the mortals before him had ever seen before.

He grinned and for a moment it seemed like he was going to lunge at one of them. However, the person he attacked would not be any of those before him. Rather she appeared in his other hand, already barely conscious.

“Capsize!” Her brother screamed in horror as every soul in the arena rushed towards the horned god, each desperate to stop the attack before it occurred. Even the fastest of them could not reach him before he stabbed his weapon into her gut.

⚖ ⚖ ⚖

“He stabbed me?” Capsize questioned. The idea left her cold and numb. It wasn’t unbelievable. In fact, if anything it was extremely believable considering that she did believe that she had been stabbed and Lord Dianite made the most sense to have done such a thing of anyone. But the fact that she believed it to be true didn’t rid of her the numbness at once more being used as a prop to hurt other people.

It was the reason Furia had attacked her too. It had nothing to do with who she was. It was just to cause Redbeard pain. She wasn’t important at all. Just the way her hurt made other people feel.

She didn’t know what was more pathetic, that fact itself or how sensitive she felt about it. Her silence must’ve stretched a little too long as Ianite took one of her hands. She gave it a comforting squeeze. The tiny smile on her face was enough to spread warmth back through her body. She took a breath and managed to speak again. “I don’t remember any of it.”

There weren’t exactly flaws to pick at in the story thus far. While she could ask how Ianite knew what had happened, she assumed that she had simply been watching from afar. She always could watch her own domains and cities. Given that the fight was in Aethoria, she was probably watching the whole thing. Her thoughts twisted at that. Ianite had had to watch her get skewered.

But there was such a gap in her memory that it was difficult to believe anything could’ve happened beyond her being moved from her previous prison to this one.

“I don’t think you were awake,” Ianite spoke quietly. Capsize could hear what remained unspoken, that she hoped that she wasn’t awake. Given how pained her expression was, Capsize herself felt glad that her memory seemed to be failing her. “You haven’t been responsive for almost a week now. Even with our connection, I could barely sense you. I was starting to fear that you might have…”

Again, her fear was left unspoken, though this time because her voice broke before she finished her sentence rather than by choice. However, this time Capsize found the strength to give a comforting smile.

“Hey. I ended up surviving, didn’t I?” She said, laughing as best she could. Though, she couldn’t sound nearly as confident as she wanted to. There was still something deeply wrong here, the questions about it threatening to some to the surface, but even if she was imprisoned, she was okay. She wasn’t dead or dying. So, she could comfort and reassure Ianite that she did not need to linger on such fears. “And you’re clearly fine too. So, I assume Dianite isn’t a worry anymore.”

“No, he’s…” Again, she watched Ianite hesitate. Though she didn’t wear the same pained expression as she did previously. “He’s dead. All the heroes fought him, but ultimately Syndicate dealt the final blow.”

“Oh gods…” Capsize felt her throat go dry. It was as if the world completely froze.

Now, Capsize certainly wasn’t going to mourn the bastard god after everything he had done. In fact, she would be lying to say anything but that she was glad to see him gone. However, it felt so incredibly unfair that Tom had had to kill his own god. She couldn’t imagine a crueller fate for a champion.

She almost asked if he was alright, only stopping herself because she knew he couldn’t be. The most that she could wish was that he wasn’t grieving alone. None of the champions would have any more reason than she did to mourn the devil, she knew. But with how close friends they were, she hoped that they’d have the sense to offer him at least some comfort, even if just a shoulder to cry on. Once she was out of here, she certainly would. It was the least she could do for a friend.

However, with that thought, another struck her with all the gentleness of a falling brick.

Dianite had released her. Released her to kill her, yes, but had he sent her back to a cell again Ianite would’ve mentioned.

But here she was in a cage.

She had been freed. Dianite had been slain.

So why was she once again imprisoned?

She looked at Ianite, the obvious question on her lips. However, she couldn’t ask it as she was met with a look so haunted she doubted she would ever forget it. Purple eyes bore into her, a broken look that did not belong on a goddess piercing into her very soul.

“As I said though, my brother couldn’t take a loss.”

⚖ ⚖ ⚖

All four champions ran ahead of him, Jordan leading the charge, as Redbeard did his best to run without disturbing Capsize’s wound. A futile task given that she had been run through. The fact that she was still holding on was only not a miracle due to the excessive number of healing potions that Foxx had thrown onto her. Even with their best efforts to heal her though, his sister was still bleeding out in his arms.

A curse on Lord Dianite’s sword, he was sure. That was why she wouldn’t stop bleeding. A curse so he could get the last laugh even after his own defeat. But Lady Ianite would be able to heal her. She had to be able to heal her. They’d come so far.

Capsize was in his arms. She couldn’t die now.

“Dianite’s dead. So, she should be free already, right?” Tucker asked as they ran through the gate. The temple was in sight now, towering over them as a beacon of hope.

“Yes! We’ve freed her! I can feel it!” Jordan said in response, confident and completely elated.

Redbeard wished he could share such a celebratory tone. He should be able to. The mission was complete. The evil god was defeated, and their goddess freed. But this wasn’t his mission. He was no hero. He was a desperate man who could feel blood seeping through his sleeves and staining his skin.

She couldn’t die here. This had been her mission. Sparklez could claim it as his all he wanted, but she was the one who had sacrificed everything to make sure that the mission could be completed. This was Capsize’s mission, her victory to celebrate. She couldn’t die without even being awake to acknowledge it.

He knew that she would say she’d give anything for Lady Ianite. As much as he tried to ignore it, he had always known that included her own life. If he was being completely honest, it had been a terrible fear of his that they would make it to this moment, to this victory, and he would see Capsize sacrifice herself for it. But at least he would’ve known that was her own wish. That would’ve been so much easier to stand than the death he was currently trying to prevent.

This was the furthest thing he could think of from willing self-sacrifice. This was her dying to hurt other people.

She’d been imprisoned to hurt him. Dying and being captured due to an attack from Furia that he knew he would’ve been able to prevent if he had just tried. Dianite was only able to attack her because she had been imprisoned. If she died here as a culmination of that capture, her death would rest surely on his shoulders.

But she wasn’t going to die. He kept trying to reassure himself of that as he shook and stumbled. They’d enter the temple. Lady Ianite would greet them as heroes. She’d heal Capsize of this cursed wound. Everything would be fine.

Everything had to be fine.

Those words kept repeating in his head as he entered the temple. They were his only focus beyond keeping Capsize steady. Perhaps that’s why the scene before him dawned so slowly.

The champions had frozen, the previously jubilant energy dead and rotting into a horrible dread. An altar made of obsidian sat in the centre of the room. A bubbling potion sat in the middle of it. Though he had no idea its effect, Redbeard knew just from looking at it that it was wrong.

Then there was what he realised last. Or maybe he had noticed it first but had been such a horrible twist of the knife that his mind had elected to ignore it.

Before them was an image of Lady Ianite, flickering to make it horribly clear that she was not there with them in the flesh. Shackles still bound her wrists. As she looked at all of them, she was barely holding back tears.

“My heroes,” She spoke with the heavy sorrow of one about to watch an execution. “I’m afraid one more sacrifice is needed.”

⚖ ⚖ ⚖

“Dianite placed a binding curse on my prison. In order for myself to be freed, another would have to take my place,” Ianite spoke gently, though each word held a profound grief. Worse, each word brought a dawning realisation to Capsize about the only reason she would be saying them.

“No,” The noise that escaped from her was hollow. Less a word and more an attempt to desperately claw her way to better reality that was quickly spilling away from her. There was only one reason why she would be in this cage and Ianite would be saying these words to her. And it absolutely couldn’t be true.

They couldn’t have done this to her.

“Capsize,” Ianite said, squeezing her hand as if that would in any way soften the blow of what she was going to say next. “This was my prison. You replaced me as its prisoner.”

“No!” She repeated as if being louder would make it have more meaning. She ripped her hands away from Ianite and stumbled away only to feel her back hit the bars. They pressed against her skin, feeling worse than the physical restraints had. She started to feel her breath being ripped away from her. “They wouldn’t have done this to me! They... they can’t have.”

Her own voice betrayed her as it broke and cracked. Reality was as terrible as it was obvious. Still her thoughts rushed to deny it. They can’t have condemned her to this fate. Redbeard wouldn’t have let them. Tom wouldn’t have let them. Hells, all of them had acted like they had cared about her. How could any of them have inflicted such a terrible fate on her when she couldn’t fight back or advocate for herself?

This had to be a test of some kind. She couldn’t understand why Ianite would test or try to trick her like this, but it being a cruel test would still be better than this being her actual reality. So that had to be what this was.

“It was not exactly a unanimous decision.”

⚖ ⚖ ⚖

Jordan stood frozen in horror as he stared at his Lady, still imprisoned. Suddenly what was meant to be his victory was an absolute nightmare.

It felt like a terrible joke. That after all the work he had put in, suddenly there was one more insurmountable hurdle.

Furia was dead. Dianite was dead. He was stood in his Lady’s temple. And in order to get to their final victory, they were going to have to sacrifice someone.

“So, to free you, one of us needs to drink that potion,” He said as if repeating his Lady’s words back at her would somehow reveal another option. There had to be another option. The solution couldn’t be that one of them had to be left behind, sacrificed to reach their greater goal. What kind of an ending was that?

Despite what he had been desperately trying to wish into reality, his Lady nodded.

“Yes, and they will replace me in my prison,” She said, mournful for a sacrifice that had not yet happened.

Jordan, for the first time since declaring his loyalty to Lady Ianite, felt utterly lost. He knew that ultimately this choice fell to him as her champion, but he had no idea where to start. He had to make this decision. It was his job to save his Lady and this was what needed to be done to save her. But it was an impossible burden to bear.

“Isn’t there anything we can do to break the prison’s enchantment? Tom’s Dianite now, surely, he could just turn it off!” Tucker beside him fumbled for another answer. He sounded just as desperate as Jordan felt, offering hope that he could cling to. But he knew that he couldn’t, it would only make his decision even harder.

That was until he saw the briefest hint of light in his Lady’s eyes.

“Yes! Maybe. If we could prepare for a few hours, then perhaps—"

“We don’t have time,” The defeated voice of Sonja cut through his Lady’s words and all the hope they had given it. His thoughts berated himself for even daring to have the tiniest fragment. His body felt rigid as he turned to her, just feeling all the more numb as he saw her gripping an empty bottle in blood covered hands. “I’m out of healing pots. If we don’t free Ianite now, Capsize is going to die. No matter what, we’re going to lose someone.”

“Wait! I’ve got a couple pots,” Tom said, quickly slipping back to the dying woman. Jordan felt the briefest pangs of jealousy as the questions pressed in his head of why Tom would’ve brought healing potions when they don’t work on him as an undead creature. But he pushed it down. They didn’t have time for the petty drama.

How could he even think about bringing up their romantic tangles when Redbeard was lowering his dying sister to the ground with a darkened look in his eye. There was only reason he would be letting her go right now. Though he certainly didn’t want to hear it, Jordan knew precisely what the man was going to say before he said it.

“Give me the potion, I’ll drink it,” He spoke directly to Jordan, as if knowing that this was his choice as champion. Or perhaps he was just scared to pick up the bottle himself.

The latter seemed to be closer to the truth as the pirate was shaking. It was truly like looking at the condemned. It was impossible to believe he truly wanted to make this sacrifice.

“Please,” Still though, he begged to be handed the potion. “Capsize has given up so much for this mission. If making myself a sacrifice lets her live through this, I can happily do it.”

His tone didn’t match his words. Rather he sounded seconds away from breaking completely. His attention turned to Lady Ianite.

“You’ll be able to heal her, right? Once you’re freed you can heal that cursed wound.”

“Yes! Yes, of course, Skipper. Your sacrifice won’t be in— Captain, what are you doing?”

As Redbeard and his Lady were speaking, Jordan took the potion from the altar. Just as looking at it, holding it felt completely wrong. As if it could drag him into the darkness at any moment. But grave as it may be, it was just a feeling. He could push past it, and he needed to. He had to focus all his resolve on doing what he had to do.

“Captain!” His Lady yelled. Though the fear laced in her tone hurt him, it could not dissuade him. He did however turn briefly to look at her.

“I’m making the only right choice. She’s dying anyway,” He said simply. As he turned away from her, back to the woman dying on the floor, he saw the briefest glimpse of dawning horror on his Lady’s face. He forced himself to ignore it.

The decision was painful, yes, but it was the only logical one. If someone had to suffer in that prison, it should be the person who would have to suffer for the shortest amount of time. She wouldn’t even know.

“No!” He heard Redbeard scream behind him. Apparently, the man was going to try and insist on being the hero he wasn’t.

There were rapidly approaching footsteps, the pirate trying to rush him. However, any attempts to wrench the potion off her were swiftly stopped when he threw his elbow back. His diamond armour hit soft flesh, and there was the sound of the man falling back. He forced himself to ignore the yelp, to ignore the painful coughs that quickly followed.

“What the hell, Jordan?!” Tucker demanded from behind him. That was fine. They could judge him and treat him like a villain all they wanted. None of them wanted to make this decision either so why should he care if they judged him.

He needed to save his Lady. So, he needed to make the hard choice.

“Please just give it to me! I can’t lose her!” His voice was weaker, hoarse now. Jordan desperately tried to ignore the voice telling him that was because of the damage he had just done. This was the right choice. He had to hold fast and make it.

“You’ll lose her either way! You won’t have your sister when you’re stuck in a prison for the rest of your life! At least this way she won’t suffer!” It was the kinder option. Either way one of the two siblings would have to live knowing the other had been sacrificed for their Lady. But if Redbeard was sacrificed, Capsize would have to live with the knowledge that he was alive and had given up everything for her. Meanwhile she barely had a few minutes left. Redbeard could live in the knowledge that at least she died none the wiser. It was just kinder.

“No! This place needs a prisoner! It’ll keep her alive!” His Lady cried.

Jordan hesitated, his throat feeling dry. He could so easily pretend she was lying. She had been so close to Capsize, of course she would lie so she wouldn’t be imprisoned. But even with all his rationalizing, his brain wouldn’t accept that.

What it could accept though, was that they couldn’t know how much it would heal her. It would keep her alive, yes, but that didn’t mean she would ever wake, that she would ever realise her situation. Better than any of them who were awake and aware being saddled with this fate.

That, and even if she was fully healed, Capsize was like him. She’d give up anything for Lady Ianite. Give up anything for this mission to save her. If she woke up there, she’d understand that her fate was necessary to save their Lady.

Now steadfast in what he needed to do, Jordan kept walking forward. He could ignore all the cries and yells behind him. Though he did find one more obstacle. Tom stood between him and Capsize, his sword pointing squarely at Jordan’s chest.

“You’re not giving it to her,” Tom spat, snarling as if he was ready to bite like his undead brethren. Jordan squared his shoulders, ready to fight if he needed, though he certainly didn’t have time for one.

Why was he still acting like this? Had he not done enough damage to the mission already? Jordan couldn’t even tell if he was still trying to stake a claim on his girl or just acting like the villain for the sake of it. The sword pushed against his armour. “I’ve already lost Dianite, I am not losing Capsize too!”

“You lost your god because you chose to follow a villain! If you wanted the reward of being a hero, you should have actually been one! Because villains don’t get rewards, and they certainly don’t get the girl!” He yelled. There was a painful silence.

Tom looked at him as if he had physically struck him, just complete and utter shock. He loosened his grip on his sword.

In the brief moment of Tom being distracted, Jordan shoved past him.

He knelt by Capsize, quickly uncorking the potion. He allowed himself the briefest pause, running a hand through her hair.

“I’m sorry, my Capsize,” He whispered before tipping the potion into her mouth.

⚖ ⚖ ⚖

As Ianite fell silent, Capsize sat blinking back tears as numbness overtook her. She couldn’t deny the truth anymore. Every doubt she had tried to cling to had been sunk by Ianite’s full explanation. Never had she faced such a bitter truth.

Sparklez had done this to her. He had chosen to sacrifice her all the while acting as if he was making the honourable decision. She wished so deeply that she could say it was expected, that learning he had done this didn’t hurt. But she would be lying to herself if she said that. Even with just how little she had expected from him, with how little she could say she respected the man, this still felt like an impossible betrayal.

Maybe this was just karma for disliking him.

“I—” As she tried to speak, she found herself unable. Her voice cracked and immediately she broke into tears.

She was stuck here, nothing more than a tragic sacrifice for Sparklez to look back on and lament. His first love lost too soon.

She could have forgiven him for stealing her present. For appearing out of nowhere and stealing her mission and Ianite’s attention. But now he had also stolen her future. Anything she had planned to do was now impossible and all she was left with were shattered dreams. With Ianerea destroyed, she may as well have no past. All that was left of her was a legacy that he was free to weave however he wanted.

In the end, she was nothing.

There was nothing even to fight. Her fate had been sealed hours ago, completely out of her control. She was stuck here, a prisoner of a cursed cage that would never let her leave and not even death was an escape from. Surrounded by a completely unchanging view that mocked her with just how impossible escape would be if she even tried. She couldn’t even gather the strength to be angry, every ember of it already extinguished by cold hopelessness. All she could do was sob.

She sobbed as every sacrifice and defeat hit her at once. They were meant to be worth something in the end. She had given up everything and lost even more. There was meant to be some sort of reward in the end. Instead, she was left with nothing but a complete and hollow emptiness.

Warm arms wrapped around her. She ended up sobbing onto Ianite’s shoulder. Despite how earlier being held like this overwhelmed her with elation, now it barely even gave her comfort. One arm was stretched across her back, Ianite holding one of her arms in her hand and the other in the bend of her arm. The goddess’ other hand rested on her head. It felt protective and warm and she never wanted her to let go. But still, it wasn’t enough to stop her from sobbing.

“I would have— If I had been awake, I would’ve,” She couldn’t complete her own sentence despite desperately wanting to. The meaning of it just felt hollow. It was impossible to rid herself of the bitter numbness the betrayal had caused. But she knew that had she been awake and aware, she would’ve willingly drunk the potion and taken Ianite’s place in this prison.

She didn’t know why it mattered to her. Why she wanted so desperately to make clear to Ianite that she would’ve truly given up everything for her had she been given the opportunity. Maybe just as some kind of trick, to convince herself to stop crying. If she would’ve chosen this fate anyway, then she didn’t need to feel so broken that it had been forced upon her.

“I know, Capsize,” Ianite said softly. She stroked her head, the repetitive motion actually managing to break through her horrible despair and actually give her a tiny bit of comfort. “But that doesn’t mean this isn’t a wrong to be righted. I promise you. I will keep working until I can break this curse my brother put on this place. I will free you.”

Capsize listened to her words, hearing her own resolve from the very start of this mission echoing back at her. Despite how she had never been in a worse place, she had never felt safer than she did right now in Ianite’s arms.

⚖ ⚖ ⚖

Night had fallen now, not that that was a particularly easy fact to acknowledge in the End. However, the bright purple aurora had dimmed, and now the only light in the cage was a lantern summoned by the goddess who still sat by the now sleeping prisoner. Despite Capsize’s insistence, she had used what strength and power she had to summon whatever she could to make sure she was comfortable. The light by her sleeping form. The simple bed that she slept on. Enough blankets and furs to make sure she wouldn’t feel the cold air.

Ianite sat by the sleeping pirate just as she had stayed with her the whole time since had awoken. Even now, she was focused on a task, stirring through her dreams to quiet any nightmares. After how long she had sobbed for, she deserved a restful night's sleep. She did not need any reminders of the betrayals she had suffered, nor the pain that Dianite had inflicted on her. And if Ianite banished away dreams where she was getting a little too close to the champions for comfort that was just a happy bonus.

When finally her dreams settled into something preferable, Capsize’s form relaxed. She seemed so peaceful despite everything. And now Ianite allowed herself to smile. Guilty though she felt for the amount of tears that she had caused, she was glad that it had all worked out.

Admittedly, she had been worried at points. Jericho had immediately questioned why Capsize wasn’t also free when she had greeted them alone in her temple. Absent as her brother may have been as a guiding force, it seemed his champion was still chosen wisely. He had questioned after she had summoned her puppet too, asking after the possibility of a cure. He could’ve so easily ruined all of her careful planning.

Her brothers’ other champions had also posed possible complications. She had at least expected something from Syndicate given his closeness to Capsize. Thankfully his actual ask had been easy enough to shut down. After all, she had no idea what she would’ve done had the champions all agreed that they ought to take the undead puppet with them in the void.

Foxx had blended into the background so often that she hadn’t even noticed that she wasn’t keeping her distance from the puppet like the others until she was far too close for comfort. Yes, she found it admirable that she had cared enough for Capsize to attempt to heal her, but still it had sent waves of panic through her when she had heard the smashing glass and since just how close she was standing to it. What would’ve happened if she hadn’t made it lunge at her to chase her away? How close had she come to seeing the imperfections in the illusion?

But thankfully all her fears had been for naught. Her own followers had played their parts perfectly. Jordan had never doubted a word she said. What a good and loyal champion he was. Even if Redbeard did doubt her, he was never going to allow his sister to suffer. Admittedly, her plan may have pushed him a little far. The man appeared broken by his grief and the mercy killing he believed he had bestowed. As much as Jericho has been a thorn in her side threatening to reveal her lies, she had been so thankful to see him drag the Skipper out the water.

How would she have ever explained to her treasure that her brother was dead on top of everything else she had to tell her?

As it stood, the man was still deep in his own grief. Completely expected, given all he had been through today. Perhaps she could fix it eventually. A little memory manipulation to have him remember things the way Capsize believed they had happened. It may prove useful someday down the line. For now, though, she was content to just let him mourn.

Once the champions had left, he had requested to be alone. She was, of course, keeping an eye on him to make sure that he did not try anything drastic again. But she had been more than happy to give him the time he wanted. After all, there was someone far more important she wanted to focus on.

Capsize had still been unconscious when she had first arrived in the cage. The enchantments on it were already doing their job and healing the damage inflicted on her by Dianite’s prison and general treatment of her. Though, it had been quite the shock to see the bloodstain on her shirt and the worryingly large pool underneath her. Apparently, she had underestimated just how connected the original and the puppet were.

Thankfully, despite her initial panic, the wound had been mostly healed already by the enchantments. She knew it would hurt for a good while but Capsize was not at risk of dying. After all, the goddess had designed this place to make sure that its occupant couldn’t die. She was just so thankful that it worked in practice as well as theory.

She had erased the blood puddle to make Capsize’s awakening at least a little more pleasant. Then all that had been left to do was wait. Wait until the captain had recovered enough to regain consciousness, all the while weaving her story to perfection. She couldn’t afford her to question. If she didn’t truly believe that she was stuck here, she would never stop trying to escape. Thankfully, her messenger had never been one to doubt her. And her dislike of her champion gave an easy person to stick the terrible deed squarely on.

Yes, it had hurt to see her tears, to hear her broken thoughts. But beyond all her guilt, Lady Ianite was overwhelmed by relief. Finally, she had her messenger away from anyone who could possibly harm her. Finally, Capsize was safe.

At first, she had thought it would be enough to keep her safe from Dianite and his servants. The people who wanted her dead or at the very least suffering. She had thought that her brother being defeated would be enough for her to be protected.

However, the more she had watched Capsize from afar, the more she had discovered the sheer amount of people she needed protecting from. She saw her on Ianerea, doing everything she possibly could to assist and to give answers that she didn’t have. And what had its people done? Doubted her. Acted as if she was some struggling child that they could belittle and ignore and lecture. Watching that had made her realise just how many people she needed protecting from.

Watching the way the champions treated her only cemented her decision. Her own champion had bickered over her like she was a prize to be won. The others joined in as if it was some funny little game how uncomfortable they could make her. All the while they had left her so unprotected that she had fallen into her brother’s clutches.

And so, she had realised that there was only one way to protect her. To keep her away from everyone and everything. Now, she would never be harmed again. Now, no one knew where she was, so she was finally safe. Besides herself, of course.

Well, actually she supposed there was one other person.

“I know you’re watching, Mianite,” She said in a soft tone as to not wake her companion. For a god that remained so absent from the action, he was certainly nosey. She could almost feel the judgement in his stare. As if he had any right to judge how she treated her follower. “I will not allow you to interfere. She is my messenger. I can keep her safe however I want.”

“This is cruel and possessive,” He said coldly. She almost laughed.

Who was he to judge cruelty? He had been perfectly content to allow her to suffer as Dianite’s prisoner until Jordan came along and remembered her.

And possessive? Keeping someone precious close to you and away from others who would hurt them wasn’t possession, it was just logical after everything. He had never liked the idea of getting attached to mortals, so he just couldn’t understand. “You can’t imprison her and let the world believe that she’s dead.”

“I can do whatever it takes to keep her safe. And it is absolutely none of your concern,” She said, running a hand through Capsize’s hair. She looked so peaceful.

Mianite stopped staring. Of course he did. She knew he was still judging her, but he could not interfere in her realm. The only way he could possibly try would be via a champion and unfortunately all of them had disappeared who knows where. It was unlikely that the void would give them back anytime soon. He could not steal Capsize away from her even if he wanted to.

No matter what he thought, Capsize was safe. Safe and hers. He could call her possessive all he wanted, but who wouldn’t be when the one that they loved had come so close to death? Finally having her any from all of that, it was such a weight off her chest. Her beautiful Capsize was safe at last.

Soon enough, this place would be a home to her. There would always be the lingering sadness, yes, but Ianite would fill that with hope and anything she could possibly request or desire. She would be just as satisfied here as she could be anywhere else. They would be happy together, just as they were in the dreams that Capsize so often had. She would have no need for anything else.

And if the world proved safe enough one day, she could miraculously figure out how to break Dianite’s curse on this place. How elated Capsize would be when that day came.

With a bright smile, Lady Ianite softly kissed the sleeping woman, only feeling brighter as she smiled in her sleep.

“I promise you, my Capsize, I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”

[grailknightmonty]

in another time, another place, the social experiments proceeded with a different, but similar intent.

alleged research into records buried in archives of Showfall Media found they referred to it as the mianitian incident.

Mianite genloss AU time lets goo

(bonus concept sketches)

[licantropa]

Deed written by Capsize (Ep. 69 Jordan, Ep.80 Tom, Ep.55 Sonja):

Thanks to your help, Hero. Ianite is now healthy again, and because she is she has decided to replenish everyones houses and give them a little extra.

A while back we promised you that we would give you any booty that we found and after you showed a fine interest in my vessel I thought it would only be right givin’ it to you.

You went against your own god to help the others. That is the meaning of a true hero.

Thank you. x x x

[mladyianite]

happy 6 years of mianite <3

here is part 1 of 2 for my mianite optifine screenshots of the s1 map :) hope you all enjoy the nostalgia on this special day

(each of the photos as a lil caption too)

[ainelane]

Slight tw

I don't have much to say for a redhead headcanon. After the heroes jump into the void. He buries his sister in end. Which i imagine is an honor for any follower of ianite to be allowed to be buried in the end, though the thought that her final resting place being anywhere but ianaria their home stings a bit. Being both happy for her and sad for her is a weird feeling but he gets used to contradicting feelings. He is both in awe of Lady ianite and disappointed in the limitations of his God. He is thankful for the attempt of bringing his sister back and bitter that she didn't put her to rest herself. He knows he volunteered to do it. In fact it felt like the only right thing in the moment but, sometimes when he closes his eyes he dreams of the moment. The zombie zombiefied capsize at the end of his blade he stares down at the sword through her chest then up to her face. And in those dreams the monster is gone. Instead is the steadfast and strong sister he always knew smiling at him. The smile always hurt the most. It was the smile she wore when they were barely getting by and she wanted to convince him everything was fine. Then he'd wake. He quit drinking, ianite would be happy to offer him drink or even the option to forget but he refused both. He couldn't run anymore his sister wasn't their to watch his back or pick him up from his drunken stumble he'd have to somehow stand on his own. No crutches no drink, no miracles. Redbeard will be just fine at first it would be hard but, he's skipper.... Captain Redbeard ianites new right hand and younger brother of Captain capsize.

I said that I didn't have much to say and somehow it went into a bit of a fan fiction rather than head Canon i guess I should tag a slight tw

Thanks to @coolcattime for the redbeard selection sorry for the slightly off format

[syndianites]

A Pirate Dreams of Drowning (but the sea is too kind a death)

She wakes with a start. Distantly, she is aware of the lull of waves rocking her back and forth. A rhythmic reminder that she is still alive.

Ba-dump, Ba-dump, dump, Ba-dump.

For an eerie moment, her heartbeat aligns with the waves. Slow, steady, impossibly slow. She heaves a breath and it speeds up again, panic flooding her veins.

She had died. Fire and brimstone had swallowed her up, sucked up her blood and chewed on her bones. Her mouth had tasted like iron and smoke, like she was gargling the scraps left behind by a blacksmith.

A cough interrupted her frantic thoughts. It took a moment for her to realize it came from her, torn from lungs that remembered something that didn’t happen

Suppressing a shake, Capsize rose from her cot. Her room was small, smaller than one would expect from a captain. She preferred it that way. Too much space made her feel boundless, in the way a fall into the Void felt endless. Like space itself would swallow her whole.

That was the curse of the ocean bound- for all the sea set you free it could as easily suffocate you for eternity.

No, the walls felt safe, grounding. She placed a hand on one, running her chipped fingernails down the worn wood. It felt familiar, calming. In her dream all she had felt was rough, unforgiving stone and an unbearable heat. If she went topside she would surely feel the cooling breeze that pushed them forth in their travels.

Letting her hand run along the wall, she made her way to her vanity. The old, scratched mirror revealed unblemished skin- save for the marks of sleep left behind from her pillow. Her hair was at an odd angle and the night shirt she slept in had more than a few wrinkles.

But it was all mundane. Usual. This is what she oft woke to and what she likely would for days to come until they reached shore once more.

If she stared too long, however, her skin looked blue-ish gray in the little light let in by the circular windows lined upon the wall opposite the door. It made her look washed out- no, dried out. Like she had been left in the unforgiving tundra for far too long and left to freeze dry as her rations ran out.

How ironic. She felt anything but cold. It felt like fire danced on her skin, burning and searing. Her veins felt like molten copper. Scalding and killing her from the inside. If she bit her tongue and opened her mouth, what would come out?

The scratch of her nails made her blink the image away. She looked to her right, where her fingers had turned into a fist on the vanity table. Beside them lay her most valuable- yet most hated- possession. A magnificent statue of a long haired lady, arm stretched high above her holding scales perfectly centered, with a staff carved with an Eye of Ender in her other hand. Despite the blindfold she wore, Capsize swore it was looking into her soul.

Lady Ianite.

Her patron, the Herald of the End, Goddess of Balance.

The Damsel in Distress.

The thought of her brought a heretical scowl to her face. Of course, she of all people was forced from her home to travel to help save the goddess. Of course, it was her duty to find her champion and help restore peace. Of course, she had to be the side piece to Ianite’s designs and her champion’s brilliance.

Of course, of course, of course.

And with each night that passed she swore the statue felt her resentment and teasingly sent it back to her in the form of back dreams. Omens, if she were the magical type.

But she wasn’t. She was a pirate. A pillager at worst and a friendly trader at best. Capsize had no inclinations of being a hero, let alone for a Goddess she hardly cared for.

To be godless, however, was considered a worse crime than theft and murder. When the gods so clearly exist, when the prayers of the common could be answered through good faith and good will from the gods, why let a mass of godless sprout up, why let them anger the gods? Why not punish them?

To be godless was not really a crime. But it would cause social outcast. Godless were foul and terrible. Miscreants of horrid luck. Better to take an oath to a god you don’t care for and fly under the radar than to declare yourself a follower of your own will.

Where had that gotten her?

Miles upon miles from familiar shores, seeking out heroes to assist to save the goddess she chose only for neutrality. Being a hero was not neutral. Fighting the Chaos god was not neutral.

Capsize wanted nothing more than to steer the boat around and fuck off to no where.

But her crew mattered more than that. They believed in the mission, in their Goddess. If she was in danger and called upon them, then they must answer her divine call.

And if Capsize’s brother was among them? She will be too. For as long as it took.

Still, fire and smoke and heat and death haunted her sleeping thoughts. The closer she got to new lands, the closer she felt to her own demise.

Was this all worth it? 

[wingkink]

Hey guys, since 8tracks has kinda gone to shit (to put it nicely), I’ve migrated all my Mianite playlists to playmoss.com! Just reposting them in case anyone is still alive in this fandom.

I should go now, quietly (Captain Capsize)

cover art | listen

All my children can become me (Lady Ianite)

listen

These words are knives and often leave scars (Mot Screziato)

cover art | listen

To Andor, With Love (Prince Andor & Lady Ianite)

cover art | listen

[myfriendscallmecoelophysis]

where we will we'll roam

Its atla au fluff I swear

Dedicated always and forever to @the-nerf-house  and @transvav (5166 words)

“And we’re sure Jordan can’t just waterbend us all over there?” 

“While I appreciate the confidence in my abilities Tom, no. I can’t. It's an entire ocean. We’ll have to find a ship.” 

They’d come to the unfortunate realization that unless they wanted to back track several weeks, they’d have to cross the Southern Ocean to reach their current destination in the Earth Kingdom and were now left with the dilemma of how to accomplish that task. 

“There’s a village about a day's walk east of here, it's on the water so hopefully they’ll have a ship we can charter.” Dec pointed out, tracing the route with his fingertip on their map. 

“Or steal” Tom muttered with a mischievous look. 

“We’re not stealing a ship Tom. We need someone to sail it anyway, unless you suddenly learned how?” Tucker scolded. They quickly fell into their familiar routine of teasing argument, gesturing wildly and voices rising despite the amusement in their eyes. 

From her perch on Jordan’s shoulder, Ianite flicked her tail, rolling her eyes at them. Gods this entire journey would be so much simpler if any of them would ever bother asking what skills her Champion had to offer. Then again, he wasn’t likely to tell them. He preferred his privacy, which she respected, but sometimes she felt that he stayed quiet just for the satisfaction of surprising them when he revealed a new talent. 

~

When they arrived at the village, it turned out to not only be a port town, but a bustling one at that. For once, their mixed group doesn’t stand out sorely, the people in the town as varied as they themselves are. They split into groups to restock supplies, get information and hopefully find someone they can charter a ship from. Jordan volunteered to go to the docks because he may not want to tell him of his years of experience sailing but he certainly wasn’t going to let one of the others get tricked or swindled by a greedy pirate. Tucker and Wag join him, Tucker because he likes to think he’s the leader of the group and Wag simply because he is interested in seeing the different ships.

Ianite stood on Jordan’s shoulders as they approached the docks. The air smelled of fish and salt, dozens of boats of all sizes bobbing in the waves. “Milady?” Jordan asked, glancing back at her curiously. “Everything okay?” There was a feeling shuddering down her spine, a familiar pull that she hasn’t felt in years, like the way Jordan felt to her but, different. She leapt from his shoulders and dashed into the crowd, ignoring her Champion's cry of worry. 

~

“So that was weird of her right?” Tucker commented to Wag as they chased Jordan through the crowd. “I mean that cat is always weird but that was extra weird.” For Mianite’s sake when did Jordan get so quick? There were a lot of people to dodge through, he should not be able to lose them this easily. Up ahead he saw Jordan turn sharply and sprint up the ramp of a random ship after his cat. What the actual fuck was going on?

When they finally caught up with him, Jordan had gone still and quiet. His cat was curled in the arms of an old sailor, purring up a storm. The sailor looked just as surprised as Tucker felt but didn’t seem to mind otherwise. 

“Nice cat ya got here lad.” The sailor commented pointedly, lips curled into a slight smile. 

“Skipper?” Jordan breathed. He sounded astonished, as though he was seeing a ghost. 

“Aye, but it be Captain now mate.” The sailor smirked, showing off a golden tooth. 

“And Capsize?” Jordan’s voice was hesitant, as though he was scared of the answer.

“Happily retired. Well not happily, had to force her after she took a bit of a fall. But she’s happy now. Married a fisherman's daughter a while back, two o’ them live in a port town in the Earth Kingdom, started adopting orphans left an’ right. Actually where I be headed.” 

Tucker could see the relief flow through Jordan like a wave, his entire posture changing and relaxing. Admittedly he didn’t know much about Jordan, none of them really did, but he could read a room  ship and figured this must be a guy Jordan knew. 

“These your friends? Or are these just scallywags trying to commandeer me ship?” The Captain asked, nodding towards Wag and him. 

“We’re with him. I’m Tucker, this is Wag.” he glanced at Jordan then decided eh, heck with it, if Jordan knew this guy and he was already headed to the Earth Kingdom he might be able to give them a lift. “We’re trying to find passage to the Earth Kingdom, think you could help us out?”

“Tucker!” Jordan reprimanded. “I’m not going to-”

“‘Course I can help you out mate, long as you're headed my way. Anything for an old friend, ‘specially you Cap.” he directed the last part at Jordan with a one fingered salute. 

“Please I’m not-” Jordan said, shaking his head but then trailing off with a glance towards him and Wag. “Not anymore.” Something changed on the Captain's face but he nodded nonetheless. 

“Either way mate, I'd be happy to take you ‘cross. I be warning ye tho, this ain’t no merchant ship.” He leaned in a bit and smirked “We be pirates.” 

“The only person on this crew that was ever really a pirate was Capsize.” Jordan argued, the gentle melancholy replaced by amusement. The Captain looked at him for a moment then laughed, a deep hearty belly laugh. 

“Aye that do certainly be true! Now then! Skipper! Prepare the cabins, we be having guests on this voyage!” From up above in the rigging a man with stark ginger hair leaned out. 

“Yar! Aye aye Captain!” He answered in a high pitched squeak of a voice, saluting as he began to climb down. 

“That be me First Mate, Skipper Tom.” He leaned in once more, putting a hand to the side of his mouth “He may be a few drops short of a bottle, defected from the Fire Nation Navy and all, but he’s got spirit and having him around certainly beats sailing by meself.” 

“Skipper, I mean, Captain. Are you sure you can take us? It’s not just us three, we have a bit of a crew of our own.” “Jordan Mate, any friends of yours be friends of mine. It be alright. I promise. ‘Sides, not like your Lady here takes up much space.” The cat looked up when she was mentioned and meowed once before snuggling back in his arm. “Aye Lass, I have just the place for ye. Hows about two of ye go find your friends and one of ye can stay behind and help me get the ship ready?” 

“I’ll-” Tucker started to volunteer to stay but Wag had already grabbed his hand.

“Tucker and I will go find the others. You stay here Jordan.” Wag said, nodding to Jordan. There was a spark of gratitude in Jordan’s eyes but he didn’t say thank you, not outright at least. 

“Any supplies we can get for you Captain? As payment for taking us?” Wag asked. 

“I’m sure whatever yer friends already be getting will be fine. Just be sure ye be back before sundown. It ain’t smart to set sail after dark.” 

~

Once Tucker and Wag had left, Jordan expected questions. Instead Skipper, no he had to remember, he was Captain Redbeard now, gently set Ianite down on a nearby barrel. “Ye still remember how to sail mate? Me thinks it’s probably been a while.” It was the only hint he made at acknowledging that something was strange. 

He fell into the rhythm of preparing a ship to sail easily enough. Sure he had to retie a few knots and needed Skipper Tom’s help to run some of the rigging but by the time the others arrived his hands and body had remembered what to do. From the looks they gave him as he slid down a rope from the mast, Tucker had told them at least whatever he thought he knew and they wanted to hear the rest from Jordan himself. Before any of them can open their mouths to ask, Redbeard is shouting for Skipper Tom to raise the anchor and for Jordan to help with the sails. He goes without hesitating, more than happy to put off the explanations as long as possible. 

They leave port as the sun is setting though the light of the nearly full moon is plenty to guide their way. Jordan managed to avoid explanations by sticking close to Redbeard. He knew the others wouldn’t let their questions go but they would at least relax their desire to know now if he ignored them long enough. They should be used to him doing it enough by now. 

“With a moon this full I’d ask ye or yer airbending friends to give us a little boost but ye’d rather stay out longer wouldn’t ye?” Redbeard commented knowingly, a hand loose on the wheel. They are standing at the helm together, most of the others below deck trying to get some sleep. Wag and Dec are up top still, chatting to each other over a game of sticks and pebbles but with the sound of the wind it's loud enough that they won’t hear what’s being said. “How long has it been lad?” 

“I’m not sure.” Jordan admitted quietly. “How old are you now?” 

“Old enough.” Redbeard chuckled. “Old enough.” he reached down to scratch at Ianite’s head. She’d draped herself just in front of the wheel on a wide banister that allowed her a view of the entire deck. She’d missed the feeling of sailing just as much it seemed, barely stumbling as it rocked back and forth. “Care to tell me what happened?” 

“Not really.” Jordan replied. 

“Fair be it mate. Then how abouts the story of how ye ended up travelling with the Avatar?” 

“They found me. I wasn’t going to help them at first but Milady insisted. If I had my way, I’d still be back home in my treehouse.” 

“But ye’d also be alone. No offense to ye of course lass.” He conceded when Ianite turned to look at him. “I know ye Captain, ye need friends in your life.” 

“I’m not a Captain anymore. I haven’t been in a very long time.” 

“Ye will always be a Captain, even if ye don’t think ye are. ‘Tis not about the title, ���tis about the way ye carry yourself. Ye are at home out here mate, on the seas. If once ye all have won yer battle, ye be looking for somewhere to go, know ye will always have a place aboard me ship.” 

Jordan sighed but then gave him a gentle smile. “Thanks Skipper, I mean, Captain.”

“Of course mate. Now, reckon ye can manage to keep her steady while I get some sleep?”

Jordan grabbed the wheel from him and nodded “Aye Aye Captain.” 

~

Of everyone, Karl imagined he related to Jordan the least. They were opposite elements, opposite personalities and had, from what very little Karl knew about him, very different approaches to life. Karl had spent all his life trying to prove himself as a worthy Champion to Mianite, to create a name for himself the same as Tucker and Tom had. He was loud, outgoing and easy to read, an open book he liked to claim. Jordan on the other hand was quiet, reserved, and secretive. From what Karl had seen, Jordan could kick any of their asses in a fight without breaking a sweat. So why was he so timid? He should have confidence through the metaphorical roof. It was a mystery. 

He realized as he watched Jordan move around the ship, that the waterbender did have plenty of confidence. He walked without falter while the rest of them barely kept their feet. He climbed and swung through the riggings like he'd been born to do it. He was the most comfortable Karl had ever seen him. He clearly had some sort of history with sailing, the fact that the Captain of the ship treated him like an old friend only solidified the theory. But why then had he been hiding away in a deep forest? 

“Your owner is a mystery, you know that right?” Karl told Lady, feeding her a piece from the fish he was busy butchering. He wasn’t sure how but he knew the cat understood them when they spoke to her, there was something strange about her as well. The pair of them were just oddities. She chirped at him, tail flicking and eyes focused on the fish. “Was he a pirate before you both moved to the forest? That why he’s so comfortable on the ship?” She didn’t answer, abruptly licking at her paw. He chuckled to himself, cutting off another piece of fish for her “Fair enough. Guess we all get to keep our secrets.” 

~

It only took until the second day for boredom to begin to set in. On the first day, the novelty of being on a ship and exploring it had been enough but now that the novelty had worn off... 

“Jordan! Spar with me!” Tom shouted up at Jordan. The waterbender was lounging on the crossbeam of the foremast, apparently completely unconcerned by how high in the air he was. He sat up, looked down at Tom, then promptly ignored him.

“Jordannnn!” Tom whined. 

“Give it up Tom, you can’t even bend out here anyway. He’d kick your ass.” Tucker commented, he was also lounging back, hat pulled forward over his eyes and hands behind his head. 

“I’ll spar with you.” Karl offered. “Promised the Captain I wouldn’t bend anyway.” Tom grinned and was leaping at him in an instant. Soon enough the others were watching from their various positions around the ship. They may all claim to be uninterested but there was a reason all of them were some of the best at their respective talents. Karl wins, just barely, and then Sonja is on her feet calling out “Me next!” Unlike Karl and Tom’s duel, Sonja and Wag send gusts of wind across the ship and through the rigging, the sails rippling. Both step and twirl with their element, counterbalancing against the motion of the ship with each move. They declare a tie in the end, bowing to each other with wide smiles. Dec throws Tucker a staff and the two of them engage, the clacking of the wood ringing across the water. It’s a spar that is slightly less than fair, Tucker had far less training with physical weapons than Dec did, but that doesn’t stop him from giving it his all. Their battle leads them all over the ship, up on the railings and across the deck. From his position at the helm, the Captain simply ducks under the swing of a staff, grinning just as big as the rest of them. Tucker missteps, his foot getting caught in a rope and sending him backwards. Dec grabs his hand to slow his fall but still puts him on the deck, staff poised over him. The only one left who hasn’t fought is Jordan and as if of one mind, they all look up to where he’s sitting.

He’s got a grin on his face and his outer shirt shrugged off. Of them all, he’s got the biggest advantage and he knows it, both in bending and in familiarity with the current environment. They fall into their respective stances as he gets to his feet and then he suddenly sprints across the crossbeam. They watch as without pause he grabs a hold of a rope and leaps, swinging down and then out across the water. He let go, diving through the air and into the water with hardly a splash. 

It’s a playful massacre after that, all of them heaving with breath and laughter, absolutely drenched with seawater. Jordan is no exception, he’s standing between them all, breathing just as hard but with a grin a mile wide on his face. The entire game had done wonders for their boredom as well as dissipating the strange tension that had surrounded over them since they’d embarked. 

Jordan sat among them at dinnertime instead of alone like he had the nights prior. They did their best not to react when he quietly said “Redbeard and I learned to sail under the same Captain.” It’s not the first time they’ve gotten a hint to his past but it is the first time he’s brought something up of his own accord. 

“Aye.” The Captain agreed, raising his mug of grog with a smile. “Best Pirate Captain you ever did see.”

“Capsize was a friend of mine when I was young. She and her crew came to the port near my village and offered to teach me to sail. Redbeard was the Skipper aboard the ship at the time. I owe her a lot.”

“As do I lad. We certainly ain’t the only ones. ‘Tis why I make a point to go and visit her, even if it do be out of me way.” 

The others stayed silent as Jordan and Redbeard reminisced back and forth, both out of interest to hear what it had been like for Redbeard to grow up on this ship but also for the glimpses it offered into Jordan’s past. They all knew better at this point than to pry or attempt to get anything from him easily. Eventually Jordan seemed to notice none of them were speaking up and quickly apologized, almost visibly drawing in on himself. 

“You’re alright mate, nothing to be sorry for.” Dec assured him with a gentle smile. “You know, I once knew a pirate lord who called himself Hermod. Though admittedly he was also quite the notorious liar so not sure how much stake I put in him actually being a lord like he claimed..” And then Dec was off, telling his own story. He was perceptive in a way the others often weren’t, able to diffuse building tensions before they even fully formed. It was why he made a good priest to the Gods and a good friend.

~

It's barely dawn when the ship shudders beneath them. There’s shouting from above and when they stumble from their hammocks onto the deck, Captain Redbeard, Skipper Tom and Jordan are running around like mad. 

“What’s going on!?” Tucker speaks up for all of them. 

“Fire Nation ship on the horizon, heading towards us and fast.” Jordan explained quickly as he tied a rope down. “We’re going to try and outrun them but odds aren’t good. Their engine is faster than our sails could ever be.” 

“What can we do to help?” Tom asked. 

Jordan paused for just a moment, looking at the Captain. “I’ll take care of the steering lad! You keep us afloat!” The Pirate called, Jordan nodding in agreement. 

“Tom, Tucker, Dec, tie down everything loose. We don’t want any weight shifting around. Wag, Karl, you two work on defending against any projectiles that may come our way. Expect fireballs at the very least. Sonja, you’re with me. We’re going to try and keep them off of us as long as we can.” 

They scattered to their assigned tasks and for once no one even considers questioning. Not even Tom, who normally would question an order from anyone but his God, says a word. They are putting their faith in Jordan’s expertise even though they have no idea to what extent he knows what he’s doing. It’s not quite blind faith, he’d proven that he knew his way around a ship, but it’s faith in skills that they only know part of. It’s all they have right now though, so it was good enough.

“Coming about!” The Captain called, heaving the wheel hard to the side. The boom swings across the deck as the sails turn. “Give ‘er some help!” Together Wag and Sonja send a huge gust of air into the mainsail, steadying the turn and speeding it up. Their ship is smaller than the one they are facing and more maneuverable. It would be faster if not for the presence of an engine, the opposing ship belching a plume of steam into the air from it’s central column. 

The moment they are facing the Fire Nation head on, the barrage begins. Fireballs the size of small boulders come sailing towards them, one after another. Together Wag and Karl manage to deflect them into the sea, each one sending up a massive splash and burst of sizzling steam as it hits the water. 

“This would be easier if they’d come overnight. The moon was full.” Jordan said, more to himself than to Sonja. He fell into his bending stance and she stepped into a mirror copy beside him. “You understand the plan?” The Avatar nodded in agreement, taking a deep breath. This would be the largest attempt at waterbending she’d done thus far. Up until now she’d worked primarily in small amounts, starting small with her practice. This was throwing her straight into the deep end and hoping she’d swim. 

“You’ve got this. Trust what you’ve learned.” Jordan reassured her. “Block everything else out. Focus on the water.” 

“On my mark.” He muttered softly. Their ship faded from around and below her, she could only feel the water, the waves. She let the sounds around them disappear, stretching out to feel the flow of the sea beneath them. She could feel it’s potential, what it was capable of doing, the strength it held. 

“Now!” He said and they both moved into action, pulling and lifting the sea. It wrapped around the sides of the Fire Nation ship like an enormous sea monster from legend. The waves crashed on the deck and then all at once, both Jordan and Sonja tightened their grasp on the water, freezing it solid. 

“Fill the sails!” Redbeard cried, Wag turned on his heel and sent the strongest gust of wind he could muster into the canvas, the sail bloating from the force and propelling them forward. Sonja stumbled on her feet, Jordan reaching out to steady her. 

“I’m alright.” She said after a moment to catch her breath. “Next step. I’m good.” 

“You go help Wag. We’re almost out of this.” he assured her, running off towards the stern. 

Between the extra air filling the sails and the push of water behind them, they manage to outrun the ship once they have it frozen in place. After nearly an hour of the Fire Nation ship being out of view and several course alterations so they couldn't be followed, Redbeard collapsed against the wheel, flexing his hands after their white-knuckle grasp on the wheel. The rest of them collectively fall to the deck, heart beats slowly calming and adrenaline fading. 

It's Tom who speaks first, raising a victorious fist in the air from his position laying on the deck, crowing “Yo Ho Yo Ho a Pirate's life for me!” 

~

The little detour puts them an extra day off course but eventually they do see land on the horizon. 

“Land ho Captain!” Skipper Tom calls from the crows nest, waving his spyglass wildly. Captain Redbeard nods with a grin. 

They pull into the port town just after midday, all of them lending a helping hand to get the ship tied off and steady. 

“Thank you for your help Captain.” Dec said, reaching out to shake the pirates hand. “We appreciate you getting us over here.”

“Not a problem at all mate. Any friend o’ Jordan’s be a friend of mine. If ye ever need a ship. I be at yer service.” Redbeard saluted with a grin. “Speakin’ of, ye coming with me mate? I’m sure she’d like ta see ye.” 

Jordan blinked in surprise “I don’t know, I wouldn’t want to, Ow!” His hand went to his ear, rubbing at the spot Ianite had just nipped. He glared at her but sighed “Fine. I’ll go see her.” 

“We’ll wait for you just outside of town Jordan. Take as long as you need.” Dec assured him with a kind nod. 

He watched the rest of them disappear into the crowd, wobbly and laughing as they regained their land legs after days at sea. 

“It’ll be alright mate. Promise.” Redbeard said, laying a hand on Jordan’s shoulder. “‘Sides, I think Miss Lady here is excited to see ‘er anyway.” 

Jordan stayed quiet, wringing his hands as he followed Redbeard through the town. Skipper Tom had stayed behind to mind the ship, leaving just the two of them. He lead them just outside the town, to a home with its own dock, a small fishing boat bobbing gently in the waves. 

“Uncle Redbeard!” A child’s voice cried out. From the home, a trio of children came running. Triplets, Jordan realized after a double take. All three looked nearly identical aside from the manner of dress. 

“Ahoy mateys!” Redbeard greeted, crouching down and opening his arms wide so the children could tackle him to the ground. They swarmed him for a moment asking all sorts of questions, barely intelligible in their excitement. 

“Who’re you?” One of them asked, pulling away from Redbeard to look at Jordan. The boy had a sneer of suspicion on his lips, though it was less than threatening considering his age and size.  

“Calm yourself lad, He be a old friend of me and your mum.” 

“You don’t look very old.” Another child said, the girl’s voice high-pitched and accusatory. 

“It don’t be good manners to comment about someone's age Kala but I assure ye, Jordan do be a friend of ours.” She still looked suspicious, turning away with a ‘hmph’. 

“Are you a pirate?” The last child asked, far more politely than both his siblings. 

Jordan shrugged “Not really, but I have been before at one time or another.” 

“You’ll have time to ask all the questions ye want, right now we be needing to see your mum. She inside?” 

“Aye Captain!” all three chriped together in their best impression of pirates, grins on their cheeks. They saluted him with varying levels of propriety then dashed back towards the house on each other's heels. 

“Mom! Uncle Redbeard is here!” The voices preceded their entrance into the home, Redbeard removing his hat as he stepped through the door. 

“Aye? Skipper?” A woman called and Jordan nearly crumpled to his knees. He’d thought he was mentally ready to see Capsize again but suddenly he wanted to run as far as his legs could carry him. Seeing her would only further cement just how much time had passed. He’d had the same gut-twisting realization seeing Redbeard but Capsize was, well she was Capsize. They had been as close as two people could be once upon a time. 

Redbeard’s gentle hand on his shoulder and Ianite’s comforting familiar weight kept him in place, but it did not stop Capsize from dropping her tea tray in shock when she entered the room. 

“Jordan? Mate, be it you?” Her dark eyes were shimmering, wide with astonishment. She was older, of course she was. Her hair was silver now, braided back away from her face. Her skin was deeply wrinkled from years upon years spent in the sun on the sea and instead of her Captains coat she wore a simple pair of trousers and a loose fitting shirt. 

Jordan nodded, suddenly unable to find any words. She crossed the room slowly, as if he might disappear if she moved too fast, then opened her arms to embrace him. 

“Oh mate, I thought ye had died.” She sighed in relief, resting her head against his shoulder. “We all thought the worst when we came back to the village.” She must’ve felt the way he tensed or the way his heartbeat quickened because she fell silent for a long moment. “I just be glad ye are alright.” She pulled back just enough that she could look at Ianite. “And I assume I have ye to thank for that milady?” Ianite stood from his shoulder and crossed to Capsize’s, rubbing her cheek along the old pirates face as she went. “Aye, I be glad to see ye as well. I be glad to see ye both.” She repeated, letting go of Jordan to stroke Ianite. 

“I’ll get another pot o’ tea going, ye both go sit and catch up. I’ve already had me chance.” Redbeard suggested with a smile, nodding towards a small table in the corner. 

“I do be wondering how ye ended up here.” She admitted. 

“Well,” Jordan began, sitting down across from her. Suddenly he realized that these were people who would understand if he were to tell them. They wouldn’t judge him for his actions or the way he’d reacted. They had always cared for him and Ianite like family. Maybe now was the chance to finally get some of what he’d been holding on to for so many years off his chest. He cleared his throat, opened his mouth to speak but then closed it again, suddenly unsure. 

“Mate, I don't need the whole tale.” Capsize said, reaching across the table to squeeze his hand. “As much as I want to hear it, if ye ain’t ready to tell it then ye don’t have to.” Their eyes met, her stormy gray eyes so familiar a comfort. “Start with how ye found Redbeard.” She suggested and a weight lifted from his chest. 

“We, me, milady and the ones we are traveling with, needed passage to the Earth Kingdom. It was actually Ianite that found him…” 

Later that night, long after the sun had set, Jordan rejoined the others. They’d set up camp on the outskirts of town, a fire already roaring between them and their chatter greeting Jordan long before he actually saw them. He’d not told Capsize and Redbeard everything, but more of the story had flowed from him than he’d told anyone but Ianite. It had felt good, letting some of the weight go, even if it hadn’t been all of it. 

“Good visit?” Wag asked as Jordan sat down next to him. 

He nodded, shifting Ianite from his shoulders to his lap. She hardly stirred, tail curling around herself as her purring got louder. 

“It’s always good to catch up with old friends.” Wag commented, turning back towards the fire.

Jordan let himself get lost in the banter, listening and just existing among them. He’d been alive long enough for more than one lifetime. Half of one had been spent in Darkness, another with the Pirates and his village and now he had this. It may have been a long road to get here and an even longer road ahead but maybe this time he could actually do some good. 

[transvavsquad]

I just imagined Grandma Capsize just going "SPARKLEZ! YOU DARE COME BACK AFTER YEARS OF BEING GONE?!" And Jordan is hurriedly shushing her "A-ah! Capsize! L-let's talk about that later, we ah, um, were hoping to use the water arena for training?" And Tom is like ofc "Jordan, who's the old lady?" "She's uh a family friend. Lt. Capsize 2nd of the Captain" "It's Captain Capsize now, after yo- the Captain disappeared. Why do you need the arena?" "I'm training the Avatar, this is Sonja" "Hi!"

jordan and capsize are glad to see one another of course- jordan thought she'd be dead by now, and even ianite admits she hasn't been able to feel anyone else's faith in her.

capsize laughs and slaps a hand on jordan's back. 'that'd be your fault, i believe,' she says. 'not all of us are aura bound to the lady. it's easy to miss the little stars in the universe when you've got a supernova sparking right in front of you, i suppose.'

[cannedhorses]

Goddess & Captain

[rhodirachel]

Mianite: Capsize’s End | A Mianite Fanfiction | [One-Shot]

Rating: T

Words: 834

Relationships: Jordan x Captain Capsize

A small, written narrative of one of the most famous scenes in Mianite. I hope you enjoy.

"Is there one last thing you would like, as a gift to all your troubles in the journey?" Lady Ianite asked.

"Bring back my sister!" cried Redbeard. The others gathered around Redbeard, frustrated of the inconsideration of other wants and needs; but also wanted Capsize back as well.

"...Are you sure this is what you want?" questioned Ianite. Ianite feared what would happen, something she did not know the others were unware of.

"Yes! Please, just bring her back! Quick!" yelped Redbeard.

There was a expression of slight hesitation before Ianite complied to the hero's request. She mustered the power in the time of a minute or two as the others waited for the unexpected.

"Where is she?" asked Jordan. He couldn't wait to see her; to finally live a life once again with Capsize by his side.

"Yeah, shouldn't she be here by now?" Tucker questioned. Ianite spoke no words; she was too horrified as she saw the pale, and infected body appeared in the distance of the royal hall. The others saw what direction she was looking at; and wondered why she had such an appalling expression. They turned around as well to see the sickened body practically slouch her way toward them.

"C..Capsize?"

"No.."

"Oh my god. Is that her?"

"It can't be."

It was, however. As she got closer, the team could notice the once enriched brown hair, now a sloppy, gooey mess. They could notice her once tan, golden skin, now rotten and pale. They could notice her once chocolate brown eyes that only showed love and care, now almost black that showed nothing but pain. The others were horrified at what she had become.

"P...lease...help," she begged as she crawled her way towards them.

"Guys, what the hell happened to her?" spoke Tom. But by the time anyone could speak, Capsize started running towards them.

"Sister?" hollered Redbeard. He ran to her with open arms; but they did not hug. Capsize's expression went from misery to ferocity, and she clawed at her brother's face. Redbeard screamed and fell to the ground. The team pulled out the swords and ran to Redbeard's aid.

"Get her!" yelled Tom. The others tried to fend off Capsize, but their caring hearts wouldn't bring them to fight her. They were scatted all around the hall, trying to dodge Capsize if she came for one of them individually.

"Can't we do anything to save her?" asked Tucker.

"I am so sorry, brave heros," choked Ianite. "I cannot do anything to bring your loved one back. I wish I could."

"No. No no NO! This is all wrong! We have to know of a way to bring her back!" yelled Jordan.

"Hero," replied Ianite, "I cannot do such a thing. Her body was too weak to bring back from the void she was in. This is, now, her only state of being. There is only one thing to do to this tortured soul."

"And that is.." continued Sonja.

"If you really do care for Capsize, you must kill her."

After this, the whole team went silent and their mouths opened wide. No one in the team could kill Capsize. Not even Tom.

"My Lady, there has to be another way!" replied Jordan.

"I'm afraid not.. This is the only way, hero."

At that, Jordan and the others ran out the hall onto the grassy surface; trying to get away from Capsize. No one had the heart to slay such a person. A person who was caring and loving like her.

Out of nowhere, Jordan was tackled to the ground as he yelled. It was Capsize who had pounced on him; she started clawing at his face, trying to bite his very own flesh off. He could barely fend her off, she was a ruthless monster now. She wasn't caring and loving anymore. She wasn't her anymore.

"Help! Someone get her off of me!" Screeched Jordan.

Redbeard walked towards Jordan, tears on his cheeks.

"I'll be the one to do it," he said as he walked.

"No, Redbeard you don't have to do this! There's got to be another way - we can find that way!"

Redbeard raised his sword, and pointed it to Capsizes body, thrashing- trying to get to Jordan.

"Jordan, you and I both know this is the only way." And with that, he stuck the sword in Capsize's side.

"No!" Jordan screamed. Redbeard took the sword out of Capsize, and Jordan held her body as he saw the last bit of life go out of her eyes.

"Thank.. you."

Jordan couldn't say anything in return. He was speechless, except for the wailing as he clutched Capsize to his chest, his heart and his brain begging her to come back to him, once more.

Redbeard came from behind Jordan, and put his hand on his shoulder.

"You're the captain now. Do her proud."

Copyright 2017 © rhodirachel. All rights reserved.

[coolcattime]

For Pride Month, my own little unhealthy/toxic yuri au version of the Season One ending and events after ^-^

Inspired by this Capsize animation but like made gay now.

Capsize awakens with an aching body confused as to how she's currently alive and why her prison has been changed. She sits up, having to try twice as a horrible pain shots through her midsection from a wound she doesn't remember receiving. And she finds herself inside a giant cage floating over the void in the end. The whole thing is empty save for herself, and her surroundings other than the void is just an endless forest of chorus trees. It's as she's sitting, trying to recall any fuzzy memory of how she got there, she feels a presence behind her. Suspecting Dianite, she doesn't turn until she hears her name spoken softly and realises how wrong her assumption is.

There is Ianite, having been freed a few hours before, who greets her with a sad smile. Capsize has no idea whether to be elated that her friend has finally been freed, concerned by her expression, or just confused by the situation in general. But the two end up hugging as the happiness wins out, before Capsize questions why she's still imprisoned. Ianite tells the story: when the others came to free them both, Dianite appeared to fight the champions - to be expected - but he had begun the fight by summoning the already weak and dying Capsize and ran her through.

Once Tom had killed the god, the group had rushed to Ianite's temple hoping she would be able to heal Capsize as time was clearly running out. Instead they had found one last trick from the now deceased god. The prison that Ianite was in has a binding curse, it must always hold a prisoner. To free Ianite, someone must replace her. Despite her own protests, the goddess knowing that the prison would heal the captain and leave her imprisoned, the champions chose to save Ianite by replacing her with Capsize.

Capsize doesn't want to believe her at first, but Ianite adds details that she originally hadn't wanted to mention. That Redbeard had begged to be the one swapped instead. That while all the champions had given their opinion, it had ultimately been Jordan that made the decision. And Capsize's disbelief turns to bitter horrible betrayal. Because if she had been there, awake and able to make the decision, she knew she likely would've chosen this fate to save Ianite. That she would've sacrificed her own freedom for her goddess'. But having her choice robbed from her hurts. She ends up sobbing as Ianite holds her, the goddess promising to do everything in her power to break the enchantments on the prison.

And though Ianite felt guilty for her tears, she was glad that neither side had questioned her. That the champions hadn't questioned the failed revival leading to her being a feral undead. That her messenger hadn't questioned that she had been sacrificed by her friends. Now she had Capsize to herself, away from any harm. Away from her brother and his servants who had wished her dead. Away from the champions who had brickered over her like a prize to be won. Away from the island of people that had doubted her when she had laid down everything her goddess. No one knew where she was so no one could harm her again. Well, she supposed Mianite knew, but her brother wasn't exactly going to do anything about it so Ianite saw this as protected enough.

Not a day goes by where Ianite doesn't visit Capsize. All ‘attempts’ to break her bindings were fruitless, and the pirate knew she was likely stuck for the long haul. A fact that became scarier as she realised as wasn't aging (or at least that her aging was incredibly slowed). But Ianite is a constant that she's glad for. The goddess provides her anything she desires, enough comforts that she can almost forget that she's stuck in a prison. Ianite will often tell her of the world outside, about rapid changes happening to the world at large. About Ianerea rebuilding, the survivors hailing her as the hero that saved their goddess. She wished she could actually see this for herself, but hearing the words from Ianite is enough for her to cling to. And the two grow close - the kind of close that Capsize had quietly dreamed of before. The two are happy, the world (and the champions now outside of it) remains oblivious to Capsize's survival.

And it seems this is the way things will stay until a goddess from another world dreams through her other self's eyes and writes about her dream of visiting a caged woman. Until Lord Mianite sees suspicion in the eyes of one of the new champions and once again gifts directions towards a cage in the sky.

[coolcattime]

Third Time's the Charm: Part 2/3 [Mianite Post Timeline Piece]

Characters: Captain Capsize, Lady Ianite, Lord Dianite

Relationship: Captain Capsize/Lady Ianite (onesided)

Additional Tags: Major Character Death, Major Character Undeath, Suffering, Imprisonment, Lethal Wound, Cruelty, Mocking, Self Confidence Issues, Possibly Unrequited Love, Hyperthermia, Slow Death, Love Confessions, Comes Back Wrong, Helplessness, Grief/Mourning, Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms, Denail

Part One 🥀 Part Two 🥀 Part Three

A03 Link

As the heat of the Nether has turned to a chill, Capsize knows she once again not long for this world. She has a final conversation with her goddess that begins a determination that will lead to tragedy.

Treasure Her Body

Capsize was freezing. That was the strongest, most overwhelming thought in her mind. She was so cold even though she knew that she wasn’t.

She no longer knew how long she had been in the Nether. Last time she had spoken to Ianite, she had told her it had been days, but the way she was stuck in this tiny room away from the sky or anything else natural, she could easily be convinced that it had only been a few hours. Normally heat could kill a person in a few hours, couldn’t it? Of course, the Nether worked differently. Or maybe it didn’t, and she was just being forced to remain alive by Ianite or Lord Dianite. For kindness or cruelty or just random chance, she was still alive.

Her head was killing her, making her thoughts increasingly incoherent and painful to sort through. She had known from the beginning that she would die in this room, but that hadn’t made the actual process pleasant. By this point she couldn’t move from the fetal position she had pulled herself into to try and warm herself. Her mouth was stuck with an unpleasant, sour taste that left her feeling like a child sick in bed. Except no one was coming to comfort her, she was stuck alone on the rough brick floor awaiting the moment that the pain would end.

However, all she could currently do was pull her legs tighter to her chest as she shivered. She wished that her coat was in reach if only the tiniest bit more warmth.

“Capsize,” Ianite’s voice came clearly into her head, far easier for her to concentrate on than her own thoughts. She closed her eyes, able to pretend that her goddess was physically with her. If she focused hard enough, she could imagine her kneeling behind her, running a hand through her hair. Only imaginary, only in her mind, as she knew that Ianite would not actually do so even if she was her, but the make believe was the most comfort she muster for herself. “Capsize, are you still awake?”

“Yeah… Just about,” Her voice was weak, fading away even as she tried to push through and sound strong. It didn’t matter, she knew that she did not need to speak out loud for Ianite to understand her, but still she wanted to pretend. It was silly. No one could see her at this moment and believe she had any strength left to give, but even as every part of her form gave her away, she wanted to appear strong for her goddess. She couldn’t let her down, didn’t want to spend her last moments hearing her upset. But it was hard for her to think at all, let alone think of any excuse to keep Ianite from worrying about her. She’d long since run out of tears, her eyes even closed felt uncomfortably dry, but she could swear that she felt tears on her cheeks. She knew she must look pathetic, why was she even trying to pretend? “I’m so cold, Ia.”

“No, you’re… Just hold on a little longer. I promise you, by the end of the day you’ll be safe,” Ianite did not sound confident. Rather it sounded as if she was just desperately clinging to a fading hope. Capsize wondered if she had actually managed to contact Lord Mianite or if her strength was simply not up to such a task. In truth, it didn’t matter. She knew her own strength was running out. She did not have time left in her for a rescue. With the condition she was in, even if she was found she’d simply weigh the other’s down in their ability to complete their quest. She knew that. As painful as it was, she had accepted it. So why hadn’t Ianite?

“I won’t last that long. I’m done, you know that as well as I do,” She hated having to actually say those words. She hated even more the sob that erupted from her goddess, one that threatened to drown her in the emotions she was so desperate to suppress. It was the sort of cry she had only heard from those mourning the dead. It was fitting, she supposed, but that didn’t make it any less painful to hear such sorrow from Ianite.

It was not the sort of grief that should come from a goddess, but she supposed their friendship had progressed far past the kind of bond a goddess and mortal were meant to have. A friendship far too human to be good for one who would have to outlive her and, despite knowing that fact, she had always still longed for more even when that fact hurt her. She had so many things she wanted to say, grievances and confessions she did not want to go to the grave with her, but instead she was laying there unable to do anything but listen to the sobbing.

“No! No, I can’t--! I will not let him keep you!” Ianite’s words were laced with grief and disgust and denial. She knew, had always known, that Capsize was mortal. That she had voluntarily embarked on a dangerous mission that had already led most of her crew to early graves. There had always been a chance that it would end her as well. But never had Ianite been able to stand or even picture the possibility of losing Capsize. So, she had tried to keep her away, to keep her out of the notice of her brother. Still, she had always been sure that even in the worst, most unimaginable situation, her soul would remain. That she would still have some form of her friend to be with her for the rest of time. Dianite had taken anyway even that small comfort. He had made sure that he would both lose her to death and be stuck in the knowledge she would suffer beyond it. It was more painful than anything the goddess had felt before, the sort of emotion she was not meant to feel.

Capsize herself felt drained. She wanted to be able to cry, but she had spent so much emotion already. There was no moment where she could’ve recovered to allow herself to be able to feel anything at all. Now she just felt tired. Left with nothing but exhaustion as she listened to the fresh grief of her friend. “I was meant to protect you! I tried so hard to… Please, Capsize, please. A couple of hours, that’s all it’ll take.”

“I’m sorry, I… I’ve failed you again,” She said, trying to apologise for so many different things. She felt so much weight dragging her down. She knew that she had completely failed in her mission to save Ianite. The most important mission it was possible for her to take on and she was going to have died twice while having done nothing to help. At least if she’d sacrificed herself right at the end her death would be worth something.

Maybe everything would’ve been better if she had stayed on Ianerea. Maybe then she would’ve saved something that way. Or maybe she would’ve fallen alongside her home, but at least she would’ve died without being such a burden on the very goddess she was meant to save.

“No! Don’t you dare apologise!” Ianite said, sternly and a touch too loud. Capsize shrank further inwards. She knew that the goddess did not want her to react in such a way, that she cared about her and just wanted her to stay alive, but how could she feel anything but a failure? She had pushed to be given the directions to come to this place and ended up giving so much to this mission that was not hers in the first place. She had led her crew into danger she had not told them about, and nearly all of them died for it. She had taken them anyway from Ianerea when they could have served as at least somewhat of a defence when the attack had come. And what good had she done for all she had sacrificed to be here?

Nothing. She had achieved nothing that Sparklez and the other champions couldn’t have done without her. “You haven’t failed me, you never could.”

Ianite’s voice croaked as she did not hide the fact that she sobbed. And Capsize knew she should take this. As hard as it was listening to this grief, at the least she would die with her and Ianite’s friendship as it had been. She had not failed in her eyes. She was her messenger and friend that she wanted to save from this terrible fate.

But a scratching creeping guilt was still there. She only had now to admit it, though she was not sure she even wanted to. However, if this was truly her last time talking with Ianite, she knew she could not hold back her words.

“I thought you had replaced me,” The words spilt out, weak and cracking. Immediately she heard a silence fall, though she knew that Ianite was still there, still listening. Her own shame was overwhelming. She should’ve kept it a secret. All she was doing was causing more pain, but how could she keep hiding it? She had tried to bite down her insecurities for the sake of the mission, for the sake of their friendship, but this was the end. She knew it was the end. If she could achieve none of the things she was meant to, at least she could be honest. “When you said He had given you the strength to escape, I was so sure that you had. I tried to push it down, to ignore it, but I met him and… is Sparklez my replacement?”

“No! No, of course not! How could you—!” Ianite snapped before quickly quieting herself. She almost shook as she realised her tone. She was about to lose her friend and she was yelling. Worse, she realised too late just how scared she had sounded asking that question.

Capsize hated herself for doing this. They had fought so much since her arrival in the champions’ realm. She had hated every mild disagreement. It had added to every fear she had about her current place in the world. So why was she so determined to drag them both back to it? What was she doing but tainting Ianite’s last memories of her? She knew it would’ve been easier to just allow herself to die without confronting the terrible thoughts, but she couldn’t. She needed answers or failing that just needed Ianite to know what she had been holding back. “No one could ever replace what you are to me. Jordan is my champion, but you are so much more than that. Surely you know… Did I say something that made you believe you were lesser than him?”

“What else was I meant to believe?” She didn’t have the energy to fully express the bitterness that had been building over these past months. “No matter what he did, you defended him. You told me to give him chance after chance and acted like I was ridiculous for trusting the other champions above him. So fine, maybe you didn’t replace me, but truly how I was not meant to believe that you saw him as better than me?”

“I…” Ianite’s voice died in her throat. The single word she did manage to get out may as well have been a raw sob. A single noise that was weighed down with a terrible realisation of what her actions had done, but with the knowledge that she would never be able to fix them. She did not have the time to repair the fractures she had caused between them.

This thought, this terrible knowledge that she had broken something that she did not have time to repair, was shared by Capsize. A painful thought that she could not help but fixate on as all the others seemed so far away. Their last conversation and she had chosen to be cruel. She wished she had died quietly.

“I’m sorry,” She said, a horrible dry lump in her throat. Maybe that would fix things. She didn’t know, everything was so hard to focus on. It was surprisingly hard to even keep herself coherent as trying to think felt like wading through mud. She was just so cold… so tired. Ianite was here… “Can you hold me?”

“I’m not there with you Capsize,” Ianite said, her voice hollow. Even with the terrible things she had learnt, her own focus was solely on how weak her friend’s voice was. Maybe if she could keep her talking, she could keep her alive. She just had to keep her focused on reality. Unfortunately, Capsize’s mind was already drifting away.

“Please. I want you to hold me at least once,” She whispered, almost crying though she had no tears to spill. She was vaguely aware of the truth, that her goddess was not and could not be with her, but with her thoughts as thick and foggy as they were, all she could think was how unfair it was. And then she thought about how terrible that thought was. Those two thoughts swirling around in the heaviness of her mind. The unfairness of never getting what she had truly wanted and the terribleness of wanting such a thing at all. The internal argument eventually devolved into the same self-loathing it always did. She was selfish for even wanting such a thing. She would never be good for a goddess.

“Don’t think about yourself like that. You’ve always been good enough for me. You’re my messenger, my friend, and—”

“That’s why it’s so terrible…” She only whispered, yet her words were enough to silence Ianite entirely. She had told herself so many times that she should just appreciate what she had, but the longing had never gone away. It had instead just grown, become so obvious that people on Ianerea had begun joking about it. She had tried to take it as the joke they had meant it as, but her actual relationship with Ianite had left her feeling ashamed. She had held it so close, been so desperate for it to not be found out by her goddess until the moment was right. But here she was, the moment was never going to be right. “I know I’m your friend, and that’s an honour that I would never dream of denying or wishing away. But I… I’m a little bit in love with you.”

“What?” That singular word escaped from Ianite. Confused and terrified in equal measure as she had no idea how she ever could’ve missed such a thing, but worse knew that had it been hidden from her so well there was only one reason it would be being confessed to her now. She wanted once again to lose herself in tears. She wanted to tell Capsize to save her strength and that she could tell her all this in person. Yet she could do neither. This was the clearest sign the goddess could’ve possibly received of the condition her friend was in. To silence her now would do nothing but prevent her from ever making the confession. No matter the pain it brought, she could not allow herself to silence her last words.

“I know it’s stupid. I had it all planned out, I knew when I wanted to tell you. I’d come to rescue you and then I’d confess everything, as if I was some shining knight and you were a princess,” She had always liked stories like that when she was a kid. They had made life seem so simple. Maybe that’s why she had foolishly latched onto the idea. In the stories, the sacrifices always ended up worth it in the end, when everything ended up happy. But the vague concept of losing a home or people loyal to you was, needless to say, far different from the reality of experiencing it. All she’d actually done was prove how far she was from being a hero. “Then I met Sparklez and how could I see him as anything but your real knight?”

What was she, a pirate, before a man in glimmering armour? A man with the title that all knew was the one that belonged to the protectors of the gods. She tried, she really did, to push down her jealousy. It was not helpful towards their goal, and she knew as much, and it was not as if she wanted his title or felt as if he in any way threatened her own, but still… Still, she had not managed to keep away those unpleasant feelings. The way that Sparklez had treated her, the way that Ianite had treated her complaints about him, both had left a festering unpleasantness that broke through far more than she would like. Yet, despite how she would love to just blame Sparklez, there was more to this than her meeting him.

“I know that you didn’t want me to come here and help you. I heard how hesitant you were to give me the directions…” She couldn’t stop thinking of that night. The darkness of her bedroom before everything had been sacrificed. “Given everything, it seems like you were right… I mean, look at the mess I’ve ended up in.”

She tried to laugh, to add some brevity. All she did was hurt her throat.

“I really wish you were here… That you’d hold me like you do in my dreams… I know that you can’t be though…”

There was quiet crying somewhere far away.

“Please just remember me… I’ll miss you, Ianite.”

Her voice faded away, quickly followed by her consciousness. Her mind clung a little longer, her thoughts slipping into a dream of being held briefly before they too were gone. Captain Capsize died alone, chained to the floor of a cell awaiting the comfort of a goddess unable to reach her.

She did not hear the grief that came afterwards. The begging and sobbing of a goddess who had lost her friend. In another cell far from the one she had been kept in, Ianite screamed until her throat was raw for her to wake up, to answer her, to just hold on a little longer. She knew in reality that she was gone. She had felt their connection snuff out and she could not reach out to her anymore. But knowing and accepting were two very different things.

A part of Capsize did remain. A newly formed spirit, chained as she had been in life. However, she was not yet aware. Newly born ghosts rarely were. It took time for them to build up any sort of awareness. As it stood, her ghost was stuck in the hopelessness she had been stuck in for her last days. That was how she would remain for a long time to come even as her body was taken away.

Her body was taken as a mocking trophy to the goddess’ prison cell. Chained across from Ianite, out of her reach even without the shackles that bound her, her lifeless form was posed kneeling with her head lent on the hilt of a sword thrust into the ground before her. A twisted image of her insecurities that was left before the goddess as if she was a mere decoration. And any feelings tied to memories Ianite had left of warmth towards the brother that had become her captor were truly dead.

Lady Ianite, staring at the corpse of her friend knowing that her soul remained the possession of Dianite, told the champions and the skipper that she was still alive. It wasn’t entirely a lie. She could still hear her crying. But it was not a cruelty or false hope. It would be true, even if it currently wasn’t. She would build her strength. She would bring her back. Her friend won’t have died alone for the sake of saving her.

It took nearly a month for them to arrive in Aethoria. Or perhaps it was longer, she really couldn’t tell. Such a length of time should be but a blink of an eye for a goddess, but instead it felt like an eternity. The whole time stuck staring at her body while convincing herself she did not need to grieve because she would bring her back. She would fix her. She would apologise for the hurt she had caused. They would discuss the confession she had made.

Everything would be okay.

The time came. She was freed. Dianite was killed and his powers absorbed by his own champion. The champions and the skipper stood before her. She offered them the wish, already knowing what would be asked of her. She tried to just smile through and ignore as Jericho questioned why Capsize had not already been freed alongside her.

Ianite was sure that she would be able to retrieve her. Yes, she was weakened, but Syndicate would not have the control over his newly gained power. Even in her current state, she was sure she would have no trouble breaking the controlling bond that the sacrifice had forcefully placed on her. It was this unfortunate assumption that led to the tragedy that night that would haunt the goddess for years to come.

Perhaps had she explained, she could have worked with the newly empowered god to reunite body and soul. Perhaps had she told the group the truth of the situation, he wouldn’t have unconsciously clung to the soul of his friend causing the goddess to have to fight him for it. There was an infinite amount of perhaps and maybe and what if that Ianite would question for so long after that night. Perhaps if she had told them. Maybe if they had been faster. What if she saved just a little more strength. But not a single one could ever change the reality of what did happen.

The soul that she had been so desperate to revive was torn apart.

Eight pieces were scattered across the world, most to be lost for years to come. The one that had been retrieved by the goddess was reunited with her body, but by itself it could not return any true life.

Capsize did not understand what was going on. She could barely remember what had led to this moment as her memories were disjointed and unfocused. All she knew was that Ianite had called her and now she was completely unable to control her own body or perceive her surroundings. She felt like she was being puppeteered, a fact that terrified her as knew she was moving towards presences but had no idea who or what they were. There was something heavy in her hands, voices all around her. She felt attacks made against her, her body lashing out, but was not actually in control any of it.

Desperately, she tried to take control, to even just stop, but it had no effect. So, she tried to speak, to yell, to scream. All of it just came out as groans. Something was truly wrong with her. She pushed all her strength into one action.

“Help me…”

Surely someone could help her. There were people around her. One of them must be able to do something. Ianite was here, she had heard her calling. Why wasn’t she helping?

Someone approached her. Despite desperately wanting whatever help they could give, her arms thrashed out towards them in what she was sure was an attack. It didn’t connect. A tight grip forced her arm still. She wished had the strength to repeat her words.

She didn’t know what was going on. She needed help. Were they going to help?

A terrible pain stabbed swiftly through her gut.

She felt forwards. There was a clattering as arms pulled her tight and an almighty wail of grief filled the air.

And once again, Capsize was gone.

[coolcattime]

A Little Fall of Rain from Les Mis (and a lot of the other Eponine Marius songs) has become such a Capsize/Ianite coded song in my head. Not even in like a their love is unrequited way, but like listen:

Ianite sees Capsize as a friend, cares for her and wants to protect her but doesn't realise there is anything deeper. Capsize idolises Ianite, wouldn't give up their friendship for anything, not even her own feelings.

Then Jordan comes along, and Capsize feels almost replaced. She sees Jordan get praise and can't help her own jealously especially as Ianite keeps lecturing her about her dislike of him despite how disrespected she feels by him.

(Every word that she says is a dagger in me.)

But like, to actually focus on A Little Fall of Rain; the song is essentially a song about a man realising that his friend is in love with him as she dies in his arms and that to me is when Ianite would realise Capsize feelings for her - when it's just too late. And like Capsize is the type to assure Ianite that she isn't hurt as she's literally dying because she can't stand the pained expression on her face.

Even if Capsize doesn't literally die in Ianite's arms, I really think the vibes are there. And I genuinely think there's a part of Capsize that would be okay with dying in Ianite's arms.

Basically I'm back on my thought process that the real love triangle in S1 is Capsize and Ianite having feelings for each other but Jordan getting in the way almost incidentally.

[coolcattime]

Third Time's the Charm: Part 1/3 [Mianite Post Timeline Piece)

Characters: Captain Capsize, Lady Ianite, Lord Dianite

Relationship: Captain Capsize/Lady Ianite (onesided)

Additional Tags: Major Character Death, Major Character Undeath, Suffering, Imprisonment, Lethal Wound, Cruelty, Mocking, Self Confidence Issues, Possibly Unrequited Love

Part One 🥀 Part Two 🥀 Part Three

A03 Link

Dying is an odd sensation. Most people only experience such a feeling once, though the Realm of Mianite is home to more than one person who is an expectation to such rules. It’s no secret that Captain Capsize is one such expectation. She has always kept how exactly each felt a secret, but each of her revivals still stick in her mind, memories that won’t stiff despite all the ones she appears to have lost.

The two revivals where Capsize would die again, and the third where she wouldn’t.

Part One: I Can Hear Her Crying

The pain that spread through her neck was the worst Capsize had ever felt. It was odd. She couldn’t quite process why she was in such pain until she saw the grin on Furia’s face, saw his sword at the end of its swing blood-soaked with only one person it possibly could’ve struck. She reached for her neck, gripping the wound she found that was far larger than her hand. She could barely process what was happening as she stumbled back, her body collapsing under its own weight.

She was dying? No, that couldn’t be right. This couldn’t be her end. She… she hadn’t saved Ianite yet. She wasn’t done yet. She couldn’t be done yet. As she collapsed, she heard the yells and shouts around her, but none of it processed. As she fully collapsed, desperately trying to get back up but finding herself unable, she felt a pressure on her neck. Tom was staring down at her, the emotions she felt reflected back on his face. He was saying something, talking as he pressed down on her wound as if that would have any effect. His words felt like she was hearing them from underwater, not quite reaching her ears. The pressure was quickly fading, though Tom didn’t pause in trying to stop the blood loss. It was just that everything was fading, growing distant.

She was actually going to die. This was it. Her life, cut away in an instant. It felt wrong.

And then she was gone.

Gone for all of a few seconds before oblivion was ripped away from her. There was a very different pressure on her neck as she now stared into the eyes of Lord Dianite. Having all feeling suddenly returned to her after it had ripped away was not pleasant, made all the worse by the fact that she couldn’t breathe.

She struggled against his grip, trying to pry his hand from her neck as she tried to actually process what was happening. She died? No, that didn’t make sense. She was alive. Maybe not for long as the god was currently preventing her from breathing, but she couldn’t have been killed by Furia despite knowing that she had been. But she couldn’t actually put together how such a thing could’ve happened, her actual thoughts consumed by getting the hand off her neck. She wanted to live. She needed to live. If she was somehow alive, she was going to live. She was desperate despite the impossibility of prying away the god’s claws, taking any little breath she could and kicking and flailing as she was raised off the ground. It wasn’t realistic to fight against the strength of a god, but she’d be damned if she didn’t try.

Lord Dianite barely acknowledged the woman squirming in his grasp. She wasn’t going to die, and even if she did, he was in control now, he could bring her right back. What a happy accident this was for him. He listened into his prayer room, listening to Furia’s silly little declarations and the champion’s panic. Neither the guardian nor the champions knew what a prize he had been given by Furia attempting to prove his own strength. What a prize it was that they didn’t. After all, if the champions did know, they certainly wouldn’t allow the situation to stand. He waited for them to leave his temple, knowing the moment they did it would be over for the little pirate. And of course, they did. They had no idea they were leaving the woman they thought dead to her actual death.

Capsize had no idea how long it was before she was dropped to the ground, gasping for air. Breathing burned. She’d felt the pain before, a minor inconvenience when swimming, accidentally swallowing water and having to painfully choke for breath for a few moments. This pain, however, was not just catching her breath. It was at least a minute of painfully breathing as she recovered, though she had no idea if the pain was from just the fact she hadn’t been able to breathe, or due to whatever Furia had done to her neck. Had he actually sliced through it? How was she alive? Lord Dianite looked down at her, waiting for her to finish. What a gift he had been given. Sure, he would’ve preferred Sparklez, but having the precious little captain that his sister loved so much his possession, he could very much settle for that. He smiled when she finally finished coughing and forced herself onto her feet. She had confrontation and defiance on her tongue, only for a horrible, hollow dread to creep in as she noticed a shackle on her ankle, a chain running from it connecting her to the floor.

“What—” She tried to speak, to keep some appearance of strength in front of the god, but her throat burned, and her voice croaked into nothingness unexpectedly, causing her to burst into coughs again. Lord Dianite chuckled.

“Oh, I bet that stings. I really didn’t heal you very well,” He said, clearly taking pleasure in her struggle. He hadn’t particularly cared if he’d left her able to talk, but he was glad now that she could. Her being able to argue back would make this just a little more entertaining. Capsize reached up to her neck, realising her hands were no longer blood-covered despite there not having been a moment where it could’ve been cleaned. She didn’t see herself as particularly easily confused, at least she didn’t before she came to the champion’s ‘Realm of Mianite’, but she couldn’t make sense of what exactly had happened to her. The wound had closed, she could feel that much, but it hadn’t disappeared. It hurt to touch, but it wasn’t the open wound that left her dying on the floor. “Furia did a real number on you. Do you realise, little Captain, you were dead for a couple moments?”

“No, I couldn’t… And what? Are you gonna try and convince me that you’ve brought me back out of the goodness of your heart?” She spat at him, doing what she could to ignore the pain that speaking caused her and the confusion at the whole situation. She wasn’t going to look confused, not when he spoke to her with a tone like she was so far beneath him. She couldn’t stand the condescension that dripped through his words. Little Captain. Being called that bothered her more than she cared to admit, more than it should. An acknowledgement of her lack of importance. Acknowledgement? Why was that the word that came to mind? It shouldn’t be. It wasn’t true. She wasn’t unimportant. Sparklez hadn’t—None of this mattered! She needed to know what he had done to her, what he was planning to do to her. There was absolutely no reason that he should’ve been able to bring her back to life, only Ianite should be able to, so he must be lying, but for what gain? Dianite smiled a wide, unpleasant smile. She hadn’t realised. Of course she hadn’t, she hadn’t had a moment to process. That would make this all the more fun. He stepped closer to her, uncomfortably close. Capsize hated having to look up at him.

“No, nothing so noble, though I’m sure you already knew that. A question for you: do you know what happens when someone is killed in a god’s temple by said god’s follower?” He asked, speaking slowly as if he was explaining to a child. Or perhaps the world itself had slowed down as reality dawned on Capsize. She shook her head, backed away as every thought in her head was rushing to find any alternative explanation. This wasn’t reality. This wasn’t happening. Dianite chuckled at her reaction, making her panic grow all the more, as she knew damn well what his words meant. She tried to hold her composure, having very little success. Her world was falling apart before he spoke again to confirm his meaning, to grind any hope she had left into dust. “Furia made you a sacrifice. Your soul, your very being belongs to me.”

“No! No, I—! I don’t belong to anyone!” She yelled at him as she tried to figure out any explanation that meant his words weren’t true. She couldn’t have spent her whole life devoted to Ianite only to end up the bastard’s plaything because of a single moment. She couldn’t breathe again, her chest feeling unbelievably tight. This couldn’t be happening. Somehow, this wasn’t real. She must’ve been knocked into a nightmare somehow. No. No, she knew she was in reality that obviously, and terribly, this was real. But what did that matter? She had been chosen for the mission to save Ianite. She was not going to let anything stop her. She wasn’t going to let Lord Dianite have control over her life. She just needed to think, there was some solution to this. She looked up with as much determination as she could muster, mostly driven by spite. “And what? You’ve locked me up? I wait a few days and Ianite tells Sparklez where to find me, and the sacrifice doesn’t matter if I’m alive, does it?”

It would only matter upon death, she reminded herself, as long as they freed Ianite before she died again, the situation could be reversed. She didn’t particularly want to be rescued by Sparklez, but she’d bite back her dislike of the man in this situation, she wasn’t irrational. The heat of the Nether was already bothering her, she didn’t particularly want to be stuck in it for multiple days, but she could hold out. She knew she could last long enough for Ianite to get a message through for the others to come and find her. Dianite had to admit, he admired her optimism. She had never faulted in her loyalty to his sister, even when she was replaced by Sparklez. That was the very reason he'd decided to bring her back for the time being. He was curious if this could actually make her snap. Her dying, her soul belonging to him, he knew both would’ve hurt his sister more than enough. But he couldn’t help it, he needed to see what her precious little captain losing faith would do to her.

“Oh, I’m sure you could survive a few days. You’re only under my temple you know, I’m sure if Sparklez was told he could come running and be here in less than an hour if he really tried,” He began to circle her, unsurprised that she didn’t turn to keep looking at him. She could, if she wanted, the chain wasn’t short enough to be that prohibitive to movement, but she was stubborn. She wasn’t playing whatever game he was playing. She stood her ground. She quickly regretted her decision as Dianite tugged her backwards. He’d grabbed her hair, claws digging into her scalp as she was forced to look up at him. She resisted struggling only because she knew he wanted her too. He wanted an excuse to make the experience even worse than it currently was for her. She scowled, staring with burning eyes at the god that she hated. The god smiled. “But, unfortunately for that idea, they’re all leaving. Setting sail as quickly as possible to that ruined little island you call home. So, you’d need to survive not only the days it’ll take for my sister to slowly build up strength to talk to Sparklez, but all the days it’ll take for him to sail back.”

He smiled widely as her eyes widened, riddled with absolute horror. Every fibre of her being wanted to scream, but she found herself completely unable to make noise at all. This couldn’t be real. There had to be some way of this. She couldn’t just be waiting to die. She was meant to live. She was meant to save Ianite. She wasn’t done yet. Her thoughts were screaming, telling her to kick and scream and fight until this wasn’t reality, but her actual body felt lifeless and defeated as the devil loomed over her, chuckling darkly. And why wouldn’t he be laughing? Even if he lost in the end, he would be satisfied in the knowledge that he had taken away his sister’s precious messenger from her.

He tossed the woman to the ground, curious about how long she would last. She’d always been stubborn, had a certain determination that made her a problem. He’d enjoy watching her struggle and fade away. After all, it was a shame that she had originally been snuffed out in just a couple of moments.

“Have fun, little Captain. I imagine these will be your last few days, it would be terrible if you didn’t enjoy them,” And with those words, Lord Dianite disappeared.

Capsize was left utterly alone. Alone in a room formed completely of nether bricks. No door, no direction to tell where the easiest escape route would be. She wasn’t getting out of here by herself, even if she wasn’t chained to the floor. She was already far too warm. There was a biting fear riding up and tightening her throat. She couldn’t—she couldn’t die here like this! She took her coat off, throwing it into a far corner out of where the chain would allow her to reach. Eventually she’d get so hot that she’d become cold, she couldn’t let her coat be in reach when that happened. She stared at the shackle, at the chain connected to it. It barely felt real. She tugged at it.

Nothing happened. Of course nothing happened, it was a heavy metal chain, she wasn’t going to be able to break it with her hands. She didn’t stop trying, though. She tugged, pulled, kicked, doing anything physically possible that could have any kind of effect on the chain.

And nothing happened.

She realised she was breathing too fast, each breath burning in her throat, but she couldn’t slow it down. There was nothing her mind could grip too. Nothing here was safe or comforting. Even if she tried to focus, she wasn’t going to be safe. All there was, was her quickly tightening chest, a completely empty room, and the absolutely terrible heat. Breathing was beginning to hurt again. Was that because of the speed at which she was breathing, or the heat of the air rushing in and out of her lungs? Why was this happening to her? Had she done something to deserve this? Was this a punishment?

“Capsize! Capsize, breathe with me!” Ianite’s voice filled her head, alongside what sounded like calm breathing. Ianite didn’t need to breathe, and it felt overwhelming to have the sound of another breathing suddenly in her head, but Capsize followed them, nonetheless. She wished there was something more physically, even just a hand on her shoulder so she didn’t feel so dreadfully alone. Such a comfort wasn’t going to come. She was alone. That wasn’t going to change. When she finally got her breathing under control, she ended up sitting with her knees pressing into her chest. She felt pathetic. She should be fighting, doing anything she could to escape, but there was a certain numbness to her thoughts. She couldn’t escape this situation by herself. No one was going to find her before it was too late. It felt clear in her head that she was not leaving this room, but she hated how quickly she had allowed defeat to sink into her thoughts, especially as she could hear the panic and worry in Ianite’s words. “Capsize, are you--? I lost track of you for a few moments… I thought I might’ve… Did he hurt you? What did my brother do to you?”

“Furia killed me. I died in the prayer room,” Her voice was weak. She ran her hand across her neck, wondering what the scar she had surely been left with looked like. She’d never get to see it. There was a sharp intake of breath from Ianite, followed by quiet muttering that she wasn’t really listening to. Ianite clearly knew what it meant, that Dianite had taken something that they were in no position to take back. She hated hearing her in distress. It felt so much worse than the frustrations she’d been hearing for the past few weeks. She longed for the frustrations, for the goddess to be begging her to give Sparklez a chance. At least that hadn’t come with the knowledge of her own impending death. “Dianite revived me, locked me up under his temple. Think his plan is to wait for me to die again.”

“No… no!” It was clear that Ianite wanted to say more, she needed to figure out a way out of this situation where Capsize didn’t die. Capsize herself wondered if she was missing something. Maybe she was just pessimistic at this particular moment, but she felt pretty stuck in this situation. It wasn’t as if she was happy about it, frankly she was terrified what dying while her soul belonged to Lord Dianite meant. Was her afterlife going to be robbed from her? It was a sickening thought that invaded her mind. She barely managed to keep her composure that she desperately wanted to keep a hold of. She didn’t need to be calm. There wasn’t a soul in the realm that would judge her for breaking in this situation, but she almost felt the need to be some kind of comforting calm force for the goddess. “I’ll build my strength, tell Jordan where you are. He’ll save you. I know he will.”

“He’ll try, but I’m told the Champions and Skipper are headed to Ianerea. He won’t make it in time. Don’t waste your strength,” She hoped her own fear wasn’t betrayed by her tone. She knew that she was giving up. She didn’t want to, obviously she didn’t want to die, but what she wanted even less was for her brother to find out she’d died twice. Redbeard was stronger than anyone back home had given him credit for, stronger than he gave himself credit for, and probably stronger than she gave him credit for. But she knew, no one was prepared to find their sibling’s corpse, let alone see that they died for a second time. If the situation was reversed, if she found out that she’d accidently left him to this fate, it’d break her. She didn’t want him to suffer like that, not when he was surely already hurting.

“It wouldn’t be a waste! You’re my friend, I am not just going to let you die!” There was a choked sob from Ianite. Capsize felt ashamed. Mostly from the shameful numb pang she had from hearing the goddess refer to her as a friend. She should appreciate the title and the friendship that she had, but nothing was ever good enough for her, and she quietly resented herself for it. She felt even worse that she’d made her goddess cry. So, she tried, she really tried to think of some way anyone could arrive in time to find her alive. And, a clear obvious name appeared in her mind, a tiny burning ember of hope.

“Fox…”

“Firefox?”

“She didn’t come with us. I doubt the others would’ve gone to get her before leaving. If you can tell her where I am, I think there’s a chance she gets here in time,” She didn’t want to put faith in her own words. It’d only hurt more if she let herself believe there was a chance that she’d survive, but she hated the idea of disappointing Ianite. Hopefully Fox would forgive her if she ended up finding her corpse.

“Yes! Okay… okay! I’ll contact Mianite. I… I do not know how long it will take me to build up strength, but I promise Capsize, I am not going to let you die,” She spoke with the same determination as Capsize had about saving her. It was not enough to make the pirate optimistic, another thing she felt unendingly guilty about. Ianite was going to waste her precious strength trying to save her. It was the exact opposite of what was meant to be happening, but even worse, there was a certain happiness within her knowing that Ianite cared enough about her to try and save her. A happy feeling that she wanted to cling to in this terrible moment, but she felt so utterly guilty for doing so. “Please just don’t give up. I will find a way to help you, I promise.”

“I… I believe you, Ia,” She hoped that her voice being so weak wasn’t giving away the fact that she was lying. She considered apologising for the fact that the goddess had to waste any of her strength on her, but she didn’t want to cause any more upset. So, instead she came up with different words. “And thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me Capsize, I… Please pray if you need anything, even just to talk. You know that I am always here for you,” With those words, there was a change in the air that Capsize knew meant Ianite had left her alone. Now it was just her, her thoughts, and the burning Nether heat that she knew was going to kill her.

She could believe in Ianite. That belief was set into her very being. Even in this, the absolute worst of times, she did believe in her goddess. She could believe in Fox. The lass was as good as any of the champions, even if she didn’t get the credit she deserved. There were certainly worse people she could be relying on for the physical act of saving her. She could even believe in herself. She could be stubborn enough to survive for the days it’d take for Ianite to have the strength to speak with her brother. Lord Mianite, though? The god whose own loyal champions admitted to seeing as an absent deity? She’d trust Sparklez before she trusted him.

She was sure this was the end for her. That fact was a lot more painful to admit than she wanted it to be. She was never going to save Ianite, never see her in person again. And worse, she had no idea if she even wanted the others to know of her actual fate.

Redbeard would end up blaming himself. She knew he would, she’d blame herself if this had happened to him. This second death had to stay a secret from him. Maybe when it became clear she wasn’t going to be rescued in time, she’d be able to talk Ianite into keeping this a secret, to keep the others from losing morale. Better they all think she died to Furia’s blade than realising that she suffered. Even Sparklez didn’t deserve that kind of guilt. But was she really going to be able to talk Ianite out of any futile attempts to rescue her?

She sighed at her own thoughts, and kicked the chain connected to her ankle. This was it, the infamous Captain Capsize reduced to a prisoner waiting for death. Someone only pretending to have hope because she couldn’t stand her goddess sounding sad. She felt pathetic. She was an absolute failure. With no energy left, and no ability to do anything else anyway, Capsize curled up on the floor, and began to cry.

[coolcattime]

Post-Mianite Timeline

So this is going to be my brief overview of my post-Mianite timeline, along with some brief notes about some character ideas and like just my general thoughts. It also goes like just a couple of important details that would've happened in the original two seasons, just because they're needed for context.

Season One:

Capsize dies a few days after her "death" in the Nether. No one expect Dianite and Ianite know about this. Ianite has sometimes considered sharing what happened, but feels intensely guilty about it and so has kept Capsize's real death to herself.

Season Two:

During her time in the Season Two world, Sonja begins researching necromancy. She says this is in order to aim with bringing Dianite back, but in reality she's hoping to be able to properly revive Capsize when (and she's sure it's a when and not an if) they get back home. The only person to see through her excuse is Martha, who warns her against the idea. Sonja does not listen to this advice.

At some point after Mot disappears, Spark begins to get, for the lack of a better word, haunted. No one is quite sure what is going on, though not really in the mood for it to escalate, decides to begin research into the type of ghosts that inhibit this world.

Post-Timeline:

When those who jumped into the void at the end of Season Two arrive in the Season One world, minus Tom and Jordan. Obviously, this causes quite a bit of panic as no one has any idea where they are or why they've disappeared. They manage to get some conformation that the two are both alive, but not much else.

While attempting to figure out how to use her knowledge of necromancy given that magic doesn't really work the same here, Sonja realises that the realise why Capsize's original revival failed was because her soul fractured. After discovering that a piece of her soul is what's haunting Spark, the two start to work together to search for the rest of the pieces to hopefully revive her sucessfully this time.

After finding enough soul pieces to repair it, Sonja and Spark travel to Capsize's limbo, which is a mostly made up of her fractured memories. Before of them get seperated at some point and discover some memories they probably weren't meant to. Regardless, they reunite and manage to restore the soul of and revive Capsize.

Capsize takes a little used to suddenly being alive again, especially when she realises the memory issues she has and the fact that Redbeard really isn't okay. At the very least she has Sonja helping with the former, though it's slow going when neither of them know everything Capsize has forgotten.

Jordan and Tom reappear about a year after Capsize is revived. I don't know exactly what they remember about their disappearance because I haven't watched Isles and don't know what happens in it. Regardless, they're back and everyone's glad for that. During their reunion with everyone, they learn that Capsize is alive again and are both glad, though Tom and Capsize clearly have the much more friendly reintroduction.

Some like general story ideas:

Capsize attempting to recover her lost memories, or at least figure out exactly what she's lost.

Capsize figuring out her growing feelings for Sonja alongside her old, but very much still there feelings for Ianite.

Sonja dealing with the side effects of (possibly worsening) Flux Flu in a world that really doesn't have the resources to help deal with it.

Tom figuring out literally being a god now.

Capsize and Jordan slowly actually becoming friends.

The Shadows and Furia returning, possibly working together (gonna be honest, mostly focused on the interpersonal conflicts right now).

A lot of trauma recovery.