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pursuitseternal · 10 months ago

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Dream “In the Monster’s Shadow:” nsfw update for Ascended Astarion x Shadowheart

Astarion x Shadowheart | E | 2.5K dream smut

Summary: In her cell that is a far cry from a cell, Shadowheart finds relief from her isolation in sleep. Memories of their past… dark and twisted indulgent dreams of desires that can’t be… it’s a reprieve, until she wakes. And she’s not alone.

CW: smutty books, memories from “act 1,” dark dreams of indulging her suppressed desires, male receiving oral, inappropriate use of Detect Thoughs while sleeping, voyeurism if you squint… cliffhanger of sorts.

Previous Ch | Ao3 link | Masterlist

Chapter 3…

🖤🩸🖤🩸🖤🩸🖤🩸🖤🩸🖤🩸🖤🩸🖤🩸🖤

Slowly. Time passed so slowly. For all his threats of earning her keep, luxuries seemed to just appear before she even needed them. A feather bed… a screen to bathe behind… and clothes. Clothes so soft, silks and velvets and woven material she had never before seen or touched.

All of it skin tight or flowing and glowing in rich jewel tones.

All of it sensuous.

Save for the fact he never gave her any small clothes, no underwear or lacing to bind her breasts. But, as she laid in her bed, wrapped in a gown so soft she felt naked, about to open a new book that apparated on her end table… she didn’t know if she could call herself a prisoner.

She wouldn’t call this torture.

Except for the lingering ghost of that feeling of warm and wet licking up the back of her thigh. She shivered as her hand stayed on the crimson cover of that book. Whatever this was, it wasn’t maltreatment. It wasn’t the soulless torment of a deranged villain.

A monster, yes. Still that. With his glittering fangs and taste for blood and tongue to feed…

She shivered again, ignoring the slick that gathered unwantedly at the memory of that warm wet trail up her leg. Shadowheart had no idea how long it had been since then. Truly the cruelest part of all this was the deprivation of sun and time. No windows meant no marking the days before she would see him again.

And if she didn’t just start to hate the fact that each tingle of magic as something appeared made her excited.

Hoping it was him again.

She sighed, lounging on her stomach to spare the still lingering bruises on her ass and backs of her legs. Opening the cover, she read the title… A Pleasurable Deal… and a neat script flourished beneath it:

A little something to pass the time… Quite informative, I hope it arouses your curiosity, Princess.

Sensual regards,

Your Master, Astarion

Shadowheart slammed the cover, face screwed tightly in disgust.

Her head was swimming. Probably tired, body aching and hot and sore and uncomfortable. Yes, probably tired.

Curiosity niggled at her mind, however, as she scanned the worn pages of that book. Maybe, just a peek to distract before sleep overcame her.

Somewhere towards the front, she slid a finger in and squinted in a bit of fear.

“Oh, fucks sake…” she whispered to herself. “It’s illustrated…”

One eye squinted as she… examined… the picture— a very voluptuous woman grinding on… a saddle, a man fully erect with a riding crop in hand making her…

Her cheeks grew hotter than sacred flame as she slammed the book shut and tossed it across the cell. A groan, she tried to tuck herself in, sleep tugging her under.

Even if that image was burned in her mind almost as deep as the burning in her belly…

Sleep was restless… a miasma of memory and desire and want. The visions of her cell melted to the Goblin Camp… to being flogged by Astarion, his sweet silken voice purring his praises of how well she takes the pain for him. His good girl… the sting of the beating instantly sending a gush of arousal down her bare thighs. The ghost of his warm, wet tongue lapping up every drip that seeped down over and over and over again.

Her vision went dark, more of a midnight blue, beams of moonlight pierced its shadows beneath the coverage of the glade. Somewhere near the Emerald Grove, the sounds of the Tieflings’ celebration in the distance, her mind thrummed with the recognition. Voices wafted from the treeline as she crept in the grey shade. Unseen. Unobserved. Even as she could see them…

His pale sculpted body, formed just right to make her salivate. Every ridge and rise of his stomach and chest covered in moonlight, his skin like pearl as he crossed towards her.

Always… her.

“…I’ve been waiting…” he purred in the moonlight, looking as delicious as ever.

She had been waiting too, and she would have to keep waiting, perhaps forever. For even as she watched them strip and kiss and couple, all to her disapproval, she knew sooner or later one of them would prove false.

It was the way of the world. Wasn’t it?

But watching them… it was beautiful, stealing her breath. The way his elven body bent and danced and undulated. The way he controlled every clench of his ass and every push of his knees to spread her wider. His voice was sex itself, little purrs of pleasure and little growls of ecstacy as he fed from her neck.

Slut, she grumbled disapprovingly. Giving him everything all at once… pfft.

For a moment, she was sure her lungs would burst and her heart had stopped. Swallowing a noise in her throat as she forced herself to leave as silently as she had approached.

They wouldn’t notice anyway. But as she watched… as the memory overwhelmed her, she felt every motion she observed, every brush of his hands, every piercing pain of his fangs in her skin, every pounding fuck between her legs.

Her dream swirled… the memories of that night from the past faded to darkness and canvas and the faint smell of camp. Colored fabric stretched around as she stood inside. A body at her feet.

Pale. Unmoving. Bloodless. Dead. His love.

At last she was done, her heart twisted. Only a matter of time.

That's what you get for being his, she chided and sneered in her dreams.

His… the one who stood panting naked over her, licking his bloodied fingers of one hand, the other pumping slowly over his rock-hard cock. “I knew you would come…” he purred into her swirling senses. “Seems I’ve been satisfied in one way… but left aching in others.”

“I…” she heard her voice from a distance, as if she floated, observing this vision unfold. Punishment for her arousal and jealousy… all those things she should let go of. All those things that came rushing back to choke her when it came to the vampire.

“You came here to help, didn’t you?” his voice challenged her, confident. Stirring. His bare feet stepped over her corpse, and he closed in on her.

Cutting her off from that slit of night behind the entrance.

Leaving her nowhere to go.

Nothing else to do but glance between how he sucked his fingers clean, how he pleasured himself as she watched. “It won’t take long to… heal me, little cleric. You’ll only need a taste… and think, you won’t even need to use your precious spells,” that fucking, rakish, left brow of his quirked, crimson eyes narrowing, “you wouldn’t even need to use your hands, if you wish….”

Even Shadowheart’s dream-body shivered under that crimson gaze… unmoving.

“Come now,” he purred, bringing his cold, damp hand, wet with spittle, to brush across her gaping lips.”You can’t keep your eyes of me. You groan the loudest when you have to heal her night after night once I’m through with taking my fill. You won’t have to worry about that any longer…. Even now, your breath catches as the sheer size of me.” His thumb slipped into her mouth, the slight tang of blood from his mouth touching her own tongue.

It should have been repulsive. Should have disgusted her. But she only closed her mouth and sucked on that digit, letting his thumbnail score against the roof of her mouth.

His mouth brushed her ear, voice a rolling hum that ran down her spine. “I’ve been told I’m quite the sight from one’s knees… I’m sure you would enjoy the view…”

Gods, if she didn’t drop so hard her kneecaps cracked.

Eyes fluttered shut, tongue lolling hungrily, she attended to him. Why not… it was only her dream after all… and godsdammit if she hadn’t been left burning for days now. Salty, sticky, bitter—the soft head of his cock swept into her mouth. Those early drips of seed made her mouth water. She kept her eyes closed, better that way, even as she could feel his groans of pleasure from above her, feel the ripples of his thighs as he thrust slowly into her wet warmth. His fingers pressed into the crown of her head, keeping her from pulling too far back, his other grip still held firmly at the base of his cock.

As if he meant to control every little swirl of submission he drew from her mouth.

And submit she did, her stomach knotted tight, relishing the way he would use her… to find his relief and his pleasure and healing all at once. To give what she could.

Let him take as he saw fit. Her own touch pressed on the joint of his hips, fingertips tracing that alluring v of belly. She stopped breathing to feel his skin so warm… to suddenly realize there was a pulse down his shaft as he fucked between her lips.

“What a good little princess….” He purred, fingers digging hard into her scalp as he picked up his pace. Thrust after thrust slid on her tongue and gagged down the back of her throat. “Not so lonely and burning anymore, are you? Not so jealous now that you have my full attention…”

Her hand braced on his stomach, her own strength nothing compared to his. Not any longer.

She opened her eyes, unable to tilt her head. Unable to look up into his face high above her.

Not until he let her slide to the very tip of his cock. Not completely off, but eased enough for her to cast a glance up the planes of his pale body, to meet his glowing red gaze.

Magic stung her skin, metallic tingles filling her nose, carried on her every breath filled with the sweet musk of his arousal.

But she still felt the tug of her dreams. This couldn’t be real…. Just her mind. So she doubled down, nearly swallowing his cock whole, lips almost pressing against his pelvis. Her throat closed, his breath catching in delight and surprise. A little tickling chuckle in the back of her throat, where that twitching head clogged her mouth. She spread her lips. Just a little, just a slight bite as she dragged her teeth all… the way… down.

His pained hiss was music to her ears, the punishing pull of his fingers against her scalp made her nearly come herself.

He grunted. Pure, uncontrolled tremors spilled down his shaft as it thickened, as it twitched. Hips hitched, thrusts randomly deep and shallow as he panted out of breath. A guttural noise, and she tasted him shooting over her tongue. Swallowing, she kept her lips locked around that thick shaft. Even as his hand tried to pry her off. Even as her tongue lapped the last dregs of his cum until it dribbled from the corner of her mouth.

With a deep gasp, her eyes opened, her mouth was thick and sticky with sleep. Jolting awake, the world turned on its axis. Her skin was hot, her folds slick from her dream. She started to lift her head from the comforting warmth of her bed….

Only to see the sideways sight of his body standing at her bedside. He wasn’t even looking at her face, his eyes trained on her body sprawled beneath her sheets. His nostrils flared with every breath, gloved hands gripping into his elbows, arms folded over his chest.

Astarion turned his head, her face the last thing he settled on as he scanned her. “Pleasant dreams, little cleric?”

Gods, she could smell him still in her nose. Her tongue was thick in her mouth as if she could still swallow down the remnants of his bitter cum.

“Pleasant given the circumstances…” she groaned, sitting up and sliding away from where he crept at her bedside. “Being your prisoner after all… your own nastily little slave…”

He shrugged so coolly, even as his brows furrowed as she called herself his slave. “Well… if that’s how you see this arrangement, I’m not sure I can convince you otherwise, at least,” he grinned and leaned forward, “not yet.”

Something heavy settled right on her lap, his gloved hand setting that red bound book back on her body. “I hope you kept up with your studies… they were most enlightening, I trust.”

“I found it rather two-dimensional and uninspired, to be frank, Astarion…”

“Master,” he corrected with a snarl. “And I’m sorry if it was uninspired, perhaps your dreams filled with memories and hopes were better… I trust they didn’t… suck as much.”

Shadowheart shook her head. Of course, that sting of magic in her head. “You detected my thoughts in my sleep…”

“How else might I learn what you think of me, since you’re still just so cold, withholding… when I know you can care so deeply and hard.” He tilted his head, flashing those hungry eyes on her, “And when I say you care deeply and hard… I don’t mean care as much as I mean… suck…”

Her cheeks burned hot. Flaming as her face twisted in a look of disgust and defiance and wrath. “Never you mind what you saw, what you probably manipulated me to see.”

He shrugged again, “What kind of rogue would I be if I didn’t take advantage of an opportunity, Princess.” He rolled his shoulders, hands tugging that supple raven leather gloves that encased his hands. “Now, we will have to test your studies.” With a wave of his hands that made the ruffles of his eccentric shirt flutter, and the book flew open to that page… that illustrated page… with the saddle and the crop and the look of ecstasy plastered on the woman’s face when that riding crop met her ass.

“I hope our little adventure in your dreams has left you eager for something more… real… Maybe you'll even tell me exactly why you’re here.” He tugged her blankets from off her bed as she scrambled to pull her knees to her chest. “Or maybe, just maybe, you’ll tell your master just how much you want me…”

“Never,” she hissed.

“Have it your way… I find the hard way to be more satisfying at any rate,” he purred. Snapping his fingers, magic flooded the cell, surging over her skin. When the pain settled, Shadowheart froze, even as she was pulled to her feet by that wave of arcane power.

That strange saddle sat empty, awaiting its rider. Just like the book. And before she could let the anticipation swallow her whole as she looked at it, she heard the testing snap of leather on leather.

The crack of the riding crop in his hand as it made contact with the palm of his other.

He kept his eyes on how his hands bent and assessed the little weapon in his grip. His voice was far too smooth, too silken for the way his hands clutched hard and threatening. “Brace yourself, darling, we are just getting started…”

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icarusignite · 3 months ago

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An Eye for an Eye Ch.6

MASTERLIST / ao3 / wattpad

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x OC

"Where there is love, there is pain."

Summary: Far away from home and on the run from her husband Aemond, Daenys Velaryon retreats to a place that once was a refuge, but now has become a harrowing reminder of her losses.

Word Count: 4.2k

The night draped its cloak over Shipbreaker Bay, stars twinkling above as if they were winking secrets to each other. Daenys had not even uttered the command, but Silverwing had known that Storm's End would be their first destination. Below them, the sea stretched out like a vast expanse of liquid glass, its surface reflecting the starlight in shimmering ripples.

Under different circumstances, Daenys would have marvelled at the tranquillity of the scene beneath her, but right now, the peacefulness of the bay only served to stoke the flames of her fury. It was calm, much too calm, and still, she could not see a single damned thing.

As she scanned the soft lapping waters below, Daenys squinted, straining her right eye in a futile attempt to find something, anything that might offer a glimmer of hope, but it was too little too late.

Lucerys Velaryon was gone forever, and if she thought she would simply come across his floating form in the sea, days after he had passed, she would be the greatest fool in all of the Seven Kingdoms. Logic dictated that the search was futile, but what was logic in the face of love? What candle could logic hold in the face of devotion so unwavering?

Too little, too late.

The adrenaline that had fueled her flight was beginning to wane, leaving her feeling dizzy and disoriented. There was blood in her mouth, blood hardening in a crimson shell over her skin and under her fingernails. It was in her nose when she breathed and if she tried hard enough she could have drowned in it.

Perhaps she deserved to.

Despite realizing the futility of it, Daenys urged her dragon to circle Shipbreaker's Bay once more. In a more lucid state, she might have wondered if anyone saw her, for a beast of Silverwing's size would not be missed, especially flying this close to the surface, but nothing mattered anymore, certainly not the gawking eyes of some stranger who stayed awake at such an hour to watch the skies.

She shivered as the cold air whipped through her unbound hair, icy fingers reaching through her nightgown to freeze the very breath in her lungs before it escaped. Nonetheless, she could feel a scream building in her chest, the terrible kind that went on and on and never stopped until you ran out of a voice to give it. The kind that didn't stop until you were dead.

Or someone else was.

As she dug her heels into Silverwing's side once more, the dragon bristled with indignation, a silent protest against the fruitless circling. The princess could feel the tension in the creature's muscles, a silent communication of dissent. For a moment, it hovered in the air, its massive wings beating against the night sky, before decisively veering in the opposite direction.

Daenys felt a pang of frustration, but she was too exhausted to argue with her companion. She slumped against Silverwing's back, allowing the dragon to carry her wherever it wished, her fingers loosening their hold on the reigns ever so slightly.

It wasn't long before Silverwing began to descend, wings gliding gracefully as they approached one of the smaller, more isolated islands scattered between King's Landing and Dragonstone. Daenys could see the outline of its rugged coastline, illuminated by the soft glow of the moonlight, but instead of landing on the sandy beach, the dragon came to a stop at the water's edge, legs sinking into the shallow surf.

Daenys, too weary to protest, slid off Silverwing's back unceremoniously, her body crashing into the water with a muted splash. For a moment, she lay there, the cold embrace of the sea enveloping her like a comforting blanket.

The sensation of being submerged brought forth a flood of memories, memories that seemed to rise from the depths of her subconscious like spectres from the past. She closed her right eye against the sting of the saltwater, allowing herself to be enveloped by the eerie silence that surrounded her.

She had been here before. This was where she and her brothers had spent many a pleasant afternoon when they were avoiding duties or simply wanted some time to themselves, away from the court gossip. But more than that, she had been like this before, in another time and another place

As the chill seeped into her bones, she forced herself to stand, her muscles protesting with every movement.

She was ten years old again, standing on the shores of Driftmark, begging for her father to return. She was ten years old again, her heart heavy with the disbelief of loss, wading into the biting cold waters as she searched tirelessly, her hands reaching out in vain for a glimmer of hope, for any sign that the one she sought might still be out there, somewhere amidst the rolling waves. But no matter how hard she searched, no matter how desperately she called out his name, he remained forever beyond her reach, lost to the depths of the ocean, swallowed whole by the merciless sea.

She was a child again, learning for the first time how to be someone entirely new. Ten years she had known her father, and it had taken just as long for her to become someone who could live without him. In fact, there were days when she still felt like all her progress had been for nothing, when she felt as if she hadn't grown up at all. She was still a child. A tall child, but a child nonetheless.

She had known Luke for longer. She had been his sister for much longer and she didn't think she had it in her to accustom herself to a world where that was no longer one of her titles.

The mix of tears and saltwater stung, causing her eyes to burn with a searing heat. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, but that only seemed to exacerbate the discomfort. With a grimace, she reached up to wipe away the moisture, only to recoil as her fingers brushed against the tender mass of flesh and blood.

There was something about the sensation that jolted her into action; the primal instinct of a wounded person to seek out more wounds. Gritting her teeth against the throbbing ache, Daenys tore the bottom of her nightgown with a swift, decisive motion, fashioning a makeshift rag to clean the blood from her face.

With trembling hands, she took a deep, steadying breath, trying to steel herself for what was to come. Then, with a resolve born of desperation, she pressed the damp cloth to her injured eye, wincing as the rough fabric made contact with her tender skin.

At first, she couldn't feel anything, her face numb from the shock of the injury, but as she continued to scrub, the pain began to seep through the numbness, radiating outward like tendrils of fire.

They said dragons didn't burn, but here she was, a living pyre.

Gritting her teeth against the agony, her breath coming in ragged gasps, Daenys scrubbed harder. The more it hurt, the harder she drove her fingers.

Pain. Pain. Pain.

Everything fucking hurt.

Everything was fragmented, and behind her Silverwing let out a keening sound.

There was blood, so much blood, staining the cloth a dark, ominous crimson. Daenys cursed under her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she fought to keep her composure. If she was going to go home, then she could not do so in such a state, and so she persisted, scrubbing and rinsing until the cloth came away mostly clean. Her hands trembled with exhaustion, her fingers slick with sweat and blood as she continued to work. It felt as though she had been there for an eternity, her teeth ground to stubs, her lips bitten to a pulp.

Until she felt as though she had scrubbed her skin and peeled it from her skull, leaving her a bundle of exposed nerves.

After she was done, she just slumped there in the water, too exhausted to move. Her dragon reached out one of its massive silver wings to gently nudge her closer to the shore, letting out another pitiful screech, as if afraid her rider would drown herself.

Dragging herself out of the water, Daenys stumbled onto the shore, her limbs heavy with exhaustion. She collapsed onto the sandy beach, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she stared up at the night sky, the canopy of stars twinkling overhead like distant beacons.

It took her several more moments to gather the courage needed to trudge toward the little cabin ahead of her.

It stood as a silent testament to the passage of time, a relic of bygone souls who had once sought solace within its humble walls. A minuscule space, barely more than a glorified shack, it held a wealth of memories and emotions that transcended its crude appearance.

As Daenys pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside, the musty scent of age and neglect greeted her like an old friend. The interior of the cabin was dimly lit by the soft glow of moonlight streaming in through the cracks, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floorboards. Despite its modest size, the space was filled with an eclectic assortment of odds and ends, each one a cherished memento of a life lived.

She remembered the day when she and her brothers had first stumbled upon this forgotten refuge, their hearts heavy with the weight of their own burdens. Slowly, painstakingly, they had transformed it into something akin to a home, a sanctuary where the whispers of their bastardy could not penetrate.

Along one wall, a weathered shelf stood sentinel, its surface littered with an assortment of trinkets and treasures. Jace's Old Valyrian language books, with their worn leather covers and faded pages, sat alongside Daenys's collection of fairytales and histories, their spines cracked from years of use.

Above the shelf, Jace's maps were tacked to the mouldy planks, their yellowed parchment adorned with intricate lines and symbols. Beside them, Joffrey's sketches adorned the walls, their crude lines and smudged charcoal capturing whatever had caught the young boy's fancy.

It was a haphazard jumble of knowledge and imagination.

In the center hung a tapestry of sorts, its vibrant colours and intricate patterns standing out against the faded backdrop of the rotting wooden planks, and just the sight of it sent a bolt of grief so sharp through Daenys's chest that it had her gasping for breath. It was something that she and Luke had created together, a labour of love born from countless hours spent in the quiet solitude of the cabin. They had worked on it in secret, stealing precious moments away from the prying eyes of their brothers, who were often too preoccupied with their own pursuits to notice their absence. Jace, in particular, had been prone to teasing Luke for his "ladylike" talents, but to Daenys, her brother's skill with a needle was nothing short of remarkable.

He had practically shadowed Maester Gerardys everywhere he went, but when the older man refused to let the young prince practice his skills with a needle on flesh, deeming it much too unsavoury, Lucerys Velaryon had taken his practice to Daenys's septas. They had been delighted with him of course, his stitches neater than any they had seen.

In another life, he would have made an admirable maester.

Daenys remembered the hours they had spent together, huddled over the tapestry, their laughter —Luke's mostly, and Daenys's annoyed grimaces— echoing through the confines of the cabin as they worked side by side.

She traced the edges of the thing now, her fingers lingering over the cluster of hyacinths, red, purple, and blue —their mother's favourite. It was obvious where Luke's neat and precise stitches ended and where her own haphazard and loose ones began, giving the tapestry a lopsided and uneven appearance. But Luke had insisted that they hang it up, much to Daenys's embarrassment.

And so, there it hung, a tangible reminder of her loss, the colours dimmed due to grime and age.

Despite the passage of time, the cabin remained frozen in a state of suspended animation, a snapshot of a life that had long since faded into memory. And as Daenys stood amidst the relics of her past, she couldn't help but feel a pang of bittersweet longing for the innocence and naivety of youth.

Squinting against the encroaching darkness, Daenys rummaged through the clutter of odds and ends that littered the small cabin, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched for the instruments they had surely left behind. The sense of urgency that gripped her was palpable, a desperate need to stem the flow of blood that threatened to drain the life from her wounded face.

As she sifted through the tangled mess of fabric and trinkets, her fingers brushed against something cold and metallic—a needle. Relief flooded through her, mingling with the lingering dread that coiled in the pit of her stomach.

Swallowing back a sob, Daenys forced herself to focus, pushing aside her fear and revulsion as she prepared to mend her own wound. She was no maester or seamstress, and the memory of her uneven stitches on the tapestry made her stomach churn with unease, but she knew that there was no other option. She had nowhere else to go, and the thought of succumbing to her injuries felt like a coward's way out.

With trembling hands, she gathered the needle and thread, along with an old bottle of something that smelled vaguely of alcohol. Jace must have snuck it into the cabin, she realized, for she couldn't recall ever seeing it before. The maesters had always said that alcohol served as a good disinfectant, and Daenys imagined that Dornish sweet wine was as good as anything.

With a deep breath, she lowered herself to the floor, bracing herself. She could feel the sensation returning to her face, a tingling numbness giving way to a fiery agony that threatened to consume her whole. Gripping the needle tightly in her hand, she threw back her head and downed a deep gulp of the alcohol, the bitter taste burning a trail down her throat.

The liquid courage burned like fire in her belly, fueling her resolve as she prepared to do what must be done. With trembling hands, she doused the tip of the needle in the alcohol, the sharp sting of the disinfectant making her hiss. She could feel the tension coiling in her muscles, a primal instinct urging her to flee from the impending agony.

With a grim determination, she pressed the needle to her skin, and fresh iron flooded her mouth as she instinctively closed her teeth around her tongue. Pausing for a moment, she scrabbled around for something to prevent her from biting her tongue clean off. The only thing she managed to find was an old scabbard and as she stuck it between her teeth, she tried not to think about whom it belonged to.

With each stitch, the pain intensified, radiating outward like a thousand iron claws, scraping her raw. Daenys could feel the blood pooling beneath her skin, the sharp prick of the needle piercing her flesh with each careful movement, but she refused to falter, refused to slow down.

Her hands shook with exhaustion, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she worked to close the wound, and as wave after wave of nausea washed over her, Daenys felt her resolve begin to waver. Her muscles screamed in protest, every fibre of her being crying out for relief, and her fingernails digging bloody crescents into her palm as she fought to maintain her focus. Each movement sent shockwaves of agony coursing through her body, threatening to drag her down into the depths of unconsciousness.

Without a looking glass to guide her, she found it difficult to gauge where exactly the needle needed to go. Her sense of touch was dulled by the relentless throbbing in her face, making it nearly impossible to distinguish between injury and whole flesh.

Perhaps none of her was whole anymore, and soon she would look like how she felt. A gaping bloody wound.

Muffled sobs escaped her lips as she worked, her tears mingling with the blood that stained her hands. With trembling fingers, Daenys reached up to feel along the rough, uneven line of the jagged scar that now marred her left eye, but at least the bleeding had slowed to a sluggish trickle.

Taking another shaky sip of the wine, Daenys poured the remainder of the bottle over her scar, the burning sensation sending a shiver down her spine. She was made of agony, her entire body screaming at her to stop and rest. But if she gave in now, she knew that she might never wake up again.

With a heavy sigh, Daenys flung the bloody needle aside and leaned her head back against the cool wall. To distract herself, she removed the worn-out leather piece from her mouth, her fingers tracing the ugly stitches that marked the sigil of House Velaryon and the initials L.V. Tears welled in her right eye as she examined the unremarkable object, a flood of memories washing over her like a tidal wave.

It was a simple gift, nothing extravagant or grand, and she remembered the occasion vividly—it had been Lucerys's 10th name-day, and she had spent nearly three months painstakingly crafting the thing for him, pouring herself into every stitch.

When Luke had seen the finished product, he had laughed himself silly at the sight of the misshapen lettering, and Daenys had been furious with him at the time, her pride wounded by his mocking laughter. Eventually, though, the leather piece had become his favourite possession, and Daenys couldn't help the pang of hurt she felt at the thought of him leaving it here, abandoned and forgotten.

She felt a sickening wave of nausea wash over her, her body convulsing with dry heaves as she struggled to contain her emotions. But no matter how hard she tried, nothing came out. She hadn't eaten anything in over a week, her appetite ravaged by grief and despair.

Daenys felt sick to her very core, her stomach churning with a nauseating mix of sorrow and anger. She wanted to purge herself of all the misery that threatened to consume her, to turn herself inside out and shake off the weight of her burdens. Her body convulsed with dry heaves but all she spat up was acidic bile and blood.

Then she wanted to scream again, and the scream that had been building inside her for so long finally erupted in a molten stream of fire and blood. It was a primal, guttural scream, tearing through her like a beast unleashed from its cage. Each wail echoed through the confines of the cabin, and outside her dragon screeched in tandem, a chorus of torture between the two of them.

Her fists slammed against the floor with a sickening thud, the impact sending shockwaves of pain coursing through her battered body. Blood flowed freely from her wounded hands, mingling with the tears that streamed down her face in a crimson cascade.

She probably tore a few stitches loose that way, but still, she screamed. She screamed until her throat was raw and her voice hoarse, until there was nothing left but the empty echo of her own anguish. She screamed until she could scream no more, until the darkness threatened to swallow her whole.

Grief is just love with nowhere to go.

That's what her father had told her, but it had to have been a lie. This felt nothing like love. Love was not meant to be hideous. Love was not meant to scald your insides and wreak carnage like this.

This was rage.

Rage that rotted you from the inside out. Rage that remained even as whimpered prayers and incoherent pleas crawled out of the gates of her lips to ricochet off the dilapidated ceiling, unanswered, unheard. They fell right back onto her blinded face, never reaching where they were supposed to, although Daenys didn't quite know where she meant to send them.

All she knew was that somewhere above her, the gods were laughing, laughing at her folly, laughing at her naivete, for ever thinking that men could change, that the man she loved would put aside his grudges for something as insignificant as her.

In the dim, shadowy corner of the little cabin on the isolated island, Daenys allowed herself to crumble under the weight of her grief. It was a heavy burden, carrying the dead on one's shoulders, an albatross around one's neck, as her father liked to say. She sobbed over the death of her beloved grandfather, whom she had not been allowed to grieve for. For all the time she had not been able to spend with him as a result of her family having to leave King's Landing after the incident of Aemond's eye. She shed tears for her brother, whose absence loomed large in the empty spaces of the cabin, mourning all the memories she had yet to make with him, and all the things she had never gotten to tell him.

She mourned her mother too, who had lost her father, her son, and her birthright successively. Then she wept for Jace who had lost one of his closest friends in the blink of an eye, for young Viserys and Aegon, who would no longer have the joy of knowing Lucerys as a brother, and finally for her unborn sibling who would never know him at all.

And finally, she cried a little for herself, even if she did not deserve it. Her mother thought her a traitor, and so did the rest of her living family. She had nowhere to go, and no one to call home, and no one would care if she perished on this shore. She did not deserve to grieve for herself, having been married to her brother's killer, for having loved him, and perhaps for loving him still, and she abhorred herself for it even more than she abhorred him.

Although perhaps, her grief was tainted by guilt as well. Losing an eye was an excruciating ordeal, and losing it to someone else was something unbearable. How could she have expected Aemond to have forgotten, to have forgiven the loss of something so crucial to a person's being. It was all her fault. She should have been more vigilant. She should have known. She should have done something earlier to mitigate the loss. She should have cut out her stupid eye that night in Driftmark and thrust it into the Queen's hands, her hands sticky with blood and penance.

As exhaustion settled over her like a heavy blanket, Daenys lay curled up in a fetal position, her body trembling with the aftershocks of her grief. Her mouth hung open, her breaths coming in laboured gasps as she struggled to draw air into her shrivelled lungs. Every movement sent a jolt of pain rippling through her aching body.

Her senses dulled to a faded throb, the world around her blurring into a haze of indistinct shapes and muted colours. Her right eye, swollen and bloodshot, struggled to remain open, the effort of keeping it focused exhausting her beyond measure. Black spots danced in her vision, swirling and twisting like shadows in the dim light of the cabin.

In the depths of her exhaustion, Daenys found herself longing for the comforting embrace of her parents. It was a childish longing, a yearning for the safety and security of her childhood days when her mother and father had been her protectors and confidants. She knew she didn't deserve their comfort, didn't deserve to see them again after all that had transpired, but still, the desire burned within her, rotten and selfish.

She wondered if she could summon the courage to face her mother, to stand before her and plead her case. It was her whole purpose for escaping the Red Keep, to join her mother and fight for her claim to the throne, but the mere thought of rejection, of being turned away by the one person she had hoped would accept her, filled her with a bone-deep dread.

Otto Hightower's words echoed in her mind, a haunting reminder of the doubts and fears that plagued her every waking moment. If she turned her away, if she met Daenys with the same hatred and loathing that Otto said she would, Daenys would not be able to bear it. Rhaenyra Targaryen was the one person whose rejection she could not stomach, whose disdain would cut in ways that would never heal.

If your own creator despised you, what else was there left to do except cease existing?

A/N: likes/reblogs/comments are highly appreciated, would love to hear your thoughts <3 Comment to be added to the taglist

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fantastic-nonsense · 8 months ago

Note

What are five of your favourite Grishaverse quotes? Send this ask to 5 of your favourite grishaverse blogs!

Thank you so much for sending this, and sorry it took me such a long time to get to it 😭

Choosing was super hard because there are so many insanely good quotes in the books and I love several of them for very different reasons, but I'll try and give it a go anyways. So: five of my favorite Six of Crows quotes (because I still haven't read the SaB trilogy), in no particular order:

Kaz and Inej, on getting back up after a fall:

Get it together, Brekker, he scolded himself harshly. It didn’t help. He was going to faint again, and this would all be over. Inej had once offered to teach him how to fall. “The trick is not getting knocked down,” he’d told her with a laugh. “No, Kaz,” she’d said, “the trick is in getting back up.” More Suli platitudes, but somehow even the memory of her voice helped. He was better than this. He had to be. Not just for Jordie, but for his crew. He’d brought these people here. He’d brought Inej here. It was his job to bring them out again. The trick is in getting back up. He kept her voice in his head, repeating those words, again and again, as he stripped off his boots, his clothes, and finally his gloves. -Ch. 22, Six of Crows

Matthias asking for mercy for monsters/the "we are all someone's monster" observation:

“Nina,” he said, hand still pressed over the smooth skin on his chest where a bullet wound should be. “Nina, please.” “You know they would not offer you mercy, Matthias.” “I know. I know. But let them live in shame instead.” She hesitated. “Nina, you taught me to be something better. They could be taught, too.” Nina shifted her gaze to his. Her eyes were ferocious, the deep green of forests; the pupils, dark wells. The air around her seemed to shimmer with power, as if she was alight with some secret flame. “They fear you as I once feared you,” he said. “As you once feared me. We are all someone’s monster, Nina.” -Ch. 41, Six of Crows

Wylan and Kaz's entire conversation about disability and vulnerability while cracking Van Eck's safe:

He thumbed quickly through the ledger and said, “When people see a cripple walking down the street, leaning on his cane, what do they feel?” Wylan looked away. People always did when Kaz talked about his limp, as if he didn’t know what he was or how the world saw him. “They feel pity. Now, what do they think when they see me coming?” Wylan’s mouth quirked up at the corner. “They think they’d better cross the street.” Kaz tossed the ledger back in the safe. “You’re not weak because you can’t read. You’re weak because you’re afraid of people seeing your weakness. You’re letting shame decide who you are. Help me with the painting.” They lifted the portrait back into place over the gaping hole in the safe. Martin Van Eck glared down at them. “Think on it, Wylan,” Kaz said as he straightened the frame. “It’s shame that lines my pockets, shame that keeps the Barrel teeming with fools ready to put on a mask just so they can have what they want with no one the wiser for it. We can endure all kinds of pain. It’s shame that eats men whole.” -Ch. 18, Crooked Kingdom

Inej vs. Dunyasha on the Church of Barter rooftop, refusing to be cowed on her own turf:

“The blood you spill is the blood of kings,” seethed Dunyasha. “You are not fit for such a gift.” Inej almost felt sorry for her. Dunyasha really believed she was the Lantsov heir, and maybe she was. But wasn’t that what every girl dreamed? That she’d wake and find herself a princess? Or blessed with magical powers and a grand destiny? Maybe there were people who lived those lives. Maybe this girl was one of them. But what about the rest of us? What about the nobodies and the nothings, the invisible girls? We learn to hold our heads as if we wear crowns. We learn to wring magic from the ordinary. That was how you survived when you weren’t chosen, when there was no royal blood in your veins. When the world owed you nothing, you demanded something of it anyway. Inej raised a brow and slowly wiped the blood of kings on her trousers. -Ch. 35, Crooked Kingdom

And Inej at the harbor...hopeful, in love, and ready to take on the world with her boy and her ship:

Had she really thought the world didn’t change? She was a fool. The world was made of miracles, unexpected earthquakes, storms that came from nowhere and might reshape a continent. The boy beside her. The future before her. Anything was possible. -Ch. 44, Crooked Kingdom

#asks #six of crows #crooked kingdom #soc duology #inej ghafa #kaz brekker #wylan van eck #nina zenik #matthias helvar #there are soooooo many good quotes and I honestly wanted to use some of the funny and romantic ones #but these ones jumped out at me upon thinking about them #(the way I wanted to quote the entire kaz-van eck conversation from SOC Ch. 3 about exposing Van Eck's hypocrisy...rip to me)#(also there's a couple of jesper quotes I hold very close to my heart but these ranked just a tiny bit higher)

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the-name-is-z · 7 months ago

Text

SKELETONS | ch. 19

daryl dixon x f!oc

masterlist

a03 link

Summary: After their plan to execute Randall is upended, everything they know goes up in flames. Daryl, Iris and Glenn uncover a shocking truth, something Rick has been keeping from everyone. Warnings/Information: AMC's The Walking Dead OC Insert | 18+ Advised | strangers to lovers; the slowest of slow burns; gore; angst; horror; humour; m/f; discussion of walkers, a few minor injuries, broken neck, suggestions of murder/conspired murder/murder attempts, the barn is on fire, abandoning ancestral home, huge walker herd, familial death (canon), (somewhat) abandonment

Chapter 19 - Rotten

Iris and Daryl got their things packed and prepared for the trip before Rick came back over from the barn.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Yeah.” Daryl replied, Iris nodding along.

“I’ll go get the package.” T-Dog offered, jogging off toward the shed. Iris hauled open the back door of the truck, depositing a backpack of things Carol had prepared for Randall. T-Dog came running back fairly quickly, the look on his face saying everything they needed to know. “He’s gone.”

“What?” Rick asked, turning around.

“Randy’s gone. All’s left is a pair of handcuffs covered in blood, man.” He replied. They took off running toward the shed, Daryl practically ripping the door open. Rick knelt down to inspect the pile of blankets and the handcuffs. T-Dog went to tell the others and word spread fast.

“How long’s he been gone?” Iris asked, looking at the others.

“’S hard to say.” Daryl grumbled.

“The cuffs are still hooked.” Rick murmured, coming out of the shed to find what looked like the whole group waiting expectantly. “He must have slipped ‘em.”

“Is that possible?” Carol asked, stepping forward.

“Could have dislocated his wrist.” Iris suggested. “Doesn’t have much to lose.”

“Little runt couldn’t even pinch himself without screaming bloody murder.” Daryl replied.

“The door was secured from the outside.” Hershel observed, flicking the gold lock.

“Rick! Rick!” Shane yelled suddenly, storming out from the forest.

“What happened?” Lori asked. It was a good question. His face was bloodied, his nose obviously broken. It was spattered all over his shirt, his hands.

“He’s armed!” Shane replied. “He’s got my gun!”

“Are you okay?” Carl asked, worried.

“I’m fine. Little bastard just snuck up on me, clocked me in the face.”

“Alright. Hershel, T-Dog, get everybody back in the house. Glenn, Daryl, Iris, come with us.” Rick ordered, pulling out his pistol and meeting Shane halfway.

“Just let him go. That was the plan, wasn’t it? To just let him go?” Carol asked.

“The plan was to cut him loose far away from here. Not on our front step with a gun.” Rick replied shortly. Iris frowned. She watched as Shane took a gun from T-Dog, glancing back at the forest where he emerged. There was no way. It just wasn’t believable. Yet, everyone around her was immediately in fight or flight. Something wasn’t adding up.

“Don’t go out there, y’all know what can happen!” Carol warned.

“Get everybody back in the house. Lock all the doors and stay put!” Rick ordered. Iris adjusted her knife belt as they stalked off into the woods.

“I saw him head up through the trees that way before I blacked out.” Shane explained, gesturing. “I’m not sure how long.”

“Couldn’t have gotten far. He’s hobbled, exhausted.” Rick replied.

“And armed.” Glenn stated.

“So are we.” Rick replied.

“Can you track him?” Rick asked Daryl.

“No, I don’t see nothing.” He replied, frowning into the dirt.

“Hey, look, there ain’t no use in tracking him, okay? He went that way. We just need to pair up.” Shane stated firmly. Iris raised an eyebrow. Suspicious motherfucker. “We spread out, we just chase him down, that’s it.”

“Okay, this is ridiculous. I’m not combing through the forest for this kid when you probably left him dead in a ditch somewhere.” Iris spat, facing Shane.

“Then go on back, princess, we don’t need you.” He huffed.

“Kid weighs a buck-twenty-five soaking wet. You trying to tell us he got the jump on you?” Daryl asked, frowning at him.

“I’d say a rock pretty much evens those odds, wouldn’t you?” Shane asked, tilting his head. Iris rolled her eyes.

“Alright, knock it off. You three start heading up the right flank. Me and Shane’ll take the left.” Rick interjected. “Remember, Randall’s not the only threat out there. Keep an eye out for each other.”

“You too.” Iris replied pointedly, earning a frustrated snort from Shane. He and Rick stalked off in one direction, leaving them to the other.

Daryl led the way, even as the sun set, through the woods. He was searching for tracks along the way, leaving Glenn to shiver nervously behind him. Iris was in the back, sharp eyes glancing ahead for any movement. She’d killed two walkers with throwing knives so far. Frogs and crickets accompanied their footsteps through dried leaves, but other than that, it was dead quiet.

“This is pointless. You’ve got a light?” Daryl asked, turning around. Glenn handed him a flashlight as they stopped, Daryl fanning the light around the ground. He sighed irritatedly when nothing revealed itself. “C’mon.” They continued walking, looking for any signs of life.

“I think Shane’s gonna try to kill Rick.” Iris murmured.

“What?” Glenn asked nervously, glancing between her and Daryl.

“Wouldn’t put it past ‘im.” Daryl replied. “Got us looking for hay in a haystack.”

“We’re back to square one, anyway.” Iris noted, looking around.

“If you’re gonna do a thing, you might as well do it right.” Daryl stated.

“How could you think Shane’ll try to kill Rick?” Glenn asked.

“Because he tried to before.” Iris replied. They both turned back to her in surprise. “Dale caught him. Shane threatened to kill him, too.”

“Mm.” Daryl grunted. “Keep sharp.”

“Jesus.” Glenn mumbled to himself. They continued on for a little while before Daryl caught something.

“There’s two sets of tracks right here. Shane must’ve followed him a lot longer than he said.” He mused. Iris hummed.

“Blood.” She pointed out. Daryl shone the flashlight on the edge of a tree, where a smear of blood caught their attention. Somewhat nose-shaped, she’d argue.

“More tracks.” Daryl continued, pointing the flashlight at the ground. “Looks like they’re walking in tandem.” A bird called in the distance, startling Glenn into walking into Daryl.

“Sorry.” He mumbled. He was practically shaking in his boots. Iris put a hand on his shoulder.

“There’s a little dust up right here.” Daryl murmured.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean something went down.” He continued. They followed the tracks with the light until they spotted Randall’s blindfold on the ground. “Had a little trouble…” A branch snapped behind them and the three of them ducked behind a group of trees. Just a walker. Daryl tossed Glenn the flashlight, gripping his crossbow.

They waited until it got closer, shambling through the dark toward them. Glenn spun out from behind the tree and shone the light in its face. It snarled in response, lunging at him. Glenn cried out as it shoved him to the ground. Daryl shot an arrow but his aim was wide and the walker too close. Daryl grunted as it practically collapsed on top of him, the crossbow the only thing in between its teeth and Daryl’s neck.

Iris kicked it sideways, finding the flesh hard. The walker was new. As in, newly dead. It fell to the side, snarling before she stabbed her knife into its brain. The noises stopped, as did its movement, and Glenn shone the flashlight down into his face. Randall. That was that. Grimacing, Iris pulled the knife from it’s skull.

“Nice.” Glenn breathed.

“We should check how he died.” Iris murmured, kneeling down beside Randall’s body. Daryl took the flashlight from Glenn, joining her. He poked and prodded the body, checking for wounds, but didn’t find anything until the neck. A decent-size protuberance indicated a broken bone.

“Got his neck broke.” Daryl stated, frowning. He flipped him over, double checking. “Got no bites.”

“Yeah, none you can see.” Glenn replied.

“No, I’m telling you. He died from this.” Daryl said assuredly, gesturing to the broken neck.

“So, what? He just… turned?” Iris murmured.

“How is that possible?” Glenn asked. They all glanced to one another before standing, leaving Randall’s body for the crows.

They began making their way back before a shot rang out. They started running, making their way back to the farm as quick as they could, but they’d be a while regardless. After a few minutes, there was another shot. Any walkers nearby could have heard it. They picked up the pace.

They made it back to the house rather quickly, finding the group sitting around the living room waiting for them. Rick and Shane were not there.

“Rick and Shane ain’t back?” Daryl asked, voicing Iris’ concern. What were those shots?

“No.” Lori replied.

“We heard a shot.” Iris said, frowning.

“Maybe they found Randall.” Lori suggested.

“We found him.” Daryl stated.

“Is he back in the shed?” Maggie asked.

“He was a walker.”

“Did you find the walker that bit him?” Hershel asked.

“He wasn’t bit.” Iris replied. “That’s the weird part.”

“His neck was broke.” Daryl added.

“So he fought back.” Patricia gleaned.

“The thing is, Shane and Randall’s tracks were right on top of each other. Shane ain’t no tracker, so he didn’t come up behind him. They were together.” Daryl explained.

“Would you please get back out there, find Rick and Shane and find out what on Earth is going on?” Lori pleaded.

“You got it.” Daryl nodded. Iris squeezed Lori's shoulder as she followed after Daryl. They were barely a step off the porch before the groaning and snarling from the field stopped them in their tracks. The whole farm was littered with walkers, on their way to the house. Iris turned around to the door, finding Glenn standing and seeing the same thing they were. He turned around to tell the others. “A herd this size will rip the house down.” Daryl murmured.

“We gotta get the hell out of here.” Iris replied.

“Carl’s gone.” Lori said, bursting through the door.

“What?” Daryl asked, turning around.

“He— he was upstairs. I can’t find him anymore.” She panted. “He’s supposed to be upstairs. I’m not leaving without my boy.”

“We’re not. We’re gonna look again, we’re gonna find him.” Carol assured, pulling Lori back inside. Iris ran a hand through her hair. She stopped halfway through the motion, instead tying it up tight, putting on her bandana. They’d have some shit to wade through, she gathered.

The others came out, gathering on the porch. Hershel and Andrea filtered through the guns, handing them out.

“Maggie.” Glenn stated with wide eyes, glancing at her in question.

“You grow up country, you learn a thing or two.” She stated, cocking a shotgun.

“I got the number, it’s no use.” Daryl warned Hershel.

“You can go if you want.” The old man replied firmly.

“You’re gonna take ‘em all on?”

“We have guns. We have cars.” He answered simply, cocking his own shotgun.

“We should kill as many as we can.” Andrea shrugged. “We can use the cars to lead the rest of them off the farm.”

“This isn’t… We’ll die here.” Iris stated, alarmed at the fact that they weren’t already driving away.

“Are you serious?” Daryl asked.

“This is my farm. I’ll die here.” Hershel replied.

“Alright. It’s a good a night as any.” Daryl shrugged, swinging his legs over the porch railing. Iris grabbed his arm.

“You’re not serious.” She said with wide eyes.

“I ain’t leavin’ ‘em all to die alone. Are you?” He asked quietly. Iris exhaled shakily.

“I suppose not.” She replied, grabbing one of the rifles. She followed him to the cars, everyone filing into the vehicles, bringing their absolute essentials. Of course, Iris had all of her essentials on her person at all times, but it was something you learned along the way.

“C’mon.” Daryl jerked his chin toward his bike.

“You sure?” Iris asked. He made a face at her and she shrugged, getting on the back of the bike. As they pulled away, the barn erupted into flames, drawing walkers left, right and centre. Daryl pulled right up to the fence outside the barn, standing and pulling out his gun. Iris climbed up onto the back of the bike, hooking her feet into the frame for a higher vantage point.

They unloaded onto the walkers around the barn, bodies dropping like flies. The others drove around the fences, passengers half out of the windows with their shotguns and rifles. Even Jimmy was hanging out of the RV window with a pistol.

“’s move.” Daryl called over his shoulder. Iris climbed down, swinging the gun over her shoulder as she grabbed hold of him. He drove over to the RV and called out to Jimmy. “Must have been Rick or Shane who started that fire. Maybe they’re trying to get out back. Why don’t you circle around? Go!”

“Got it!” Jimmy replied, taking off. As exposed as the bike was, it was agile. They weaved through the field, taking down walkers one by one, and at one point Iris flipped herself around so she could shoot backward. Hershel was standing on the front lawn with his shotgun, but they were barely making a dent. They had to go.

The RV stopped at the barn, but it hadn’t started moving again. Jimmy must have been overrun. Iris watched as the pickup truck pulled off the farm, followed by the SUV. They were leaving.

“Daryl.” Iris called over the noise. They both looked around at the swarms, knowing it was over. They might have called this place home, in another life. Yet now…

“We’re goin’.” He nodded, pulling away from the farm. The groans, snarls, and the sounds of the barn burning began to fade into the distance. Iris looked up at the sky, smelling smoke and rot. There was probably nothing left by now.

Even the dirt roads they drove through were crowded with walkers, but if anything, Daryl knew how to ride. Soon, the sun was rising and they might be on the other side of it. He pulled onto the main highway and soon enough they were close to where they’d left supplies for Sophia.

Iris let out a breath of relief as she saw Glenn and Maggie following behind them, then T-Dog, Lori, Carol and Beth. They pulled up and Rick, Carl, and Hershel came out from between a few cars. Rick seemed over the moon, shaking hands with Daryl and exchanging nods with Iris.

“Oh, thank god!” Lori cried, running over and sweeping her son into her arms, Rick holding them both close. Maggie practically leapt onto Hershel, Beth joining them.

“Where’s the rest of us?” Daryl asked, looking around at the group. Iris hugged Carol tight, glad to see she was okay and making sure to thank her, particularly, for the sewing job on her bandana.

“We’re the only ones who made it so far.” Rick replied quietly.

“Shane?” Lori asked. Rick shook his head.

“Andrea?” Glenn asked.

“She saved me, then I lost her.” Carol murmured.

“We saw her go down.” T-Dog stated, shaking his head.

“Patricia?” Hershel asked.

“They got her too.” Beth said quietly, gripping onto her father’s jacket. “Took her right in front of me. I was— I was holding onto her, daddy, she just… what about Jimmy, did you see Jimmy?”

“He was in the RV. It got overrun.” Rick explained softly.

“You definitely saw Andrea?” Carol asked to make sure.

“There were walkers everywhere.” Lori shook her head.

“Did you see her?” No one said anything.

“We could go back.” Daryl stated, stepping toward his bike.

“No.” Rick shook his head.

“We can’t just leave her.” He protested.

“We don’t even know if she’s there.” Lori stated.

“She isn’t there. She isn’t. She’s somewhere else, or she’s dead. There’s no way to find her.” Rick said firmly.

“So we’re not even gonna look for her?” Glenn asked.

“How would we even start? It’s not like how we—“ Iris stopped herself before she mentioned Sophia. “It’s not like before.”

“We have to keep moving.” Rick decided. “There have been walkers crawling all over here.”

“I say head East.” T-Dog suggested.

“Stay off the main roads.” Daryl added. They looked up as a walker growled in the distance, hobbling toward them. “The bigger the road, the more walkers, more assholes like this one. I got him.” He shot an arrow through its eye, quick and painful.

They all agreed together that it was the best course of action. So, they got back into their cars, or in Daryl and Iris’ case, on the bike, and followed Rick as he drove down the highway. East.

TAGLIST:

@heidiland05

@ryoujoking

@catlalice

@maxinehufflepuffprincess

@lowkeyhottho

#thenameisz #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x original character #skeletons #the walking dead #the walking dead daryl dixon #twd daryl #twd daryl dixon #daryl dixon x oc

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creative-frequency · 1 year ago

Text

Astarion x Reader: Contradictions and Other Counter-Measures Ch.3

Summary: A lovely midnight stroll with Astarion, but you stumble upon his secret. Word count: 2278

Previous chapter

CHAPTER 3: Stroll

Another night at camp is bright under the full moon, the surrounding forest is silent and you’re once again dead tired after the day. Even though your body is aching for the rest, your mind stays stubbornly in a state of overdrive. You toss and turn on your bedroll, listening to the distant sounds of the nocturnal wilds. Sleep persistently eludes you, until you decide to stop trying.

After producing a small flame on your palm to light the way, you pick a random direction and start pacing into the nightly forest.

It might not be the best idea to leave Shadowheart and Lae’zel unsupervised at camp. Astarion wouldn’t lift a finger to stop them from strangling each other, but you need to be alone after another long day spent trekking through the wilds. You need to have some space and solitude to think.

It’s already been days but you still haven’t turned into a mind flayer. In fact, no one in your little group has any symptoms of ceremorphosis, but you’re not ready to count your blessings yet.

You walk down the forest road, listening to the critters of the night and how they dash into safety at the sound of your soft footsteps. The moonlight is so bright that you extinguish the flame on your palm; you can see better in the dark without it.

It’s almost unnaturally calm and silent until you hear the gravel crunch on the dusty road ahead. Immediately, you fall down into a stealthy crouch, trying to see what caused the noise ahead. The best course of action would be to turn around as quietly as possible, but your curiosity wins in the end.

Further away from camp than what is a smart place to be in the dead of night alone, you come across something a little bigger than a critter. For a second, you think what you see is a wolf or a small bear, and start raising your hands to sling a cantrip. Then the hunched character turns and stands up, leaving a large furry lump laying in the middle of the road.

For what feels like several minutes, you stare at each other in equal shock. The moonlight makes his silvery white curls glow eerily.

“Astarion? Are you alright?” you utter and begin to walk towards him, relieved that you didn’t come across any predators in the night.

“What are you doing here?” Astarion asks sharply and hastily swipes his face with a handkerchief. “Were you following me?”

His tone stops you in your tracks. All the relief just drains out of you, replaced with anxiety.

“I… had to get some air,” you explain dubiously.

Astarion’s trademark giggle rings in the night, but it’s cold and joyless. The sound makes you shiver with goosebumps.

“Air? Just how is the air at camp amiss, little princess?” he sneers.

You frown at him. You don’t recall giving him a reason for such hostility.

“Seems that you already know since you’re here too,” you retort.

“I’ll ask again, why did you follow me?” Astarion growls in a low tone. He turns slightly so that the moonlight reveals the smudged dark stains on his chin.

“For the last time, I didn’t follow you,” you reply, annoyed and confused, but also fear creeping up your spine. Just what in the Hells has happened to him?

“And yet, here you are,” Astarion says softly, but the tone is sharp with danger.

He crouches as he speaks and you’ve seen that motion enough times to recognise it. He is preparing to attack. You have zero idea what is going on, but you suddenly get the sense that you accidentally saw something you shouldn’t have. You can’t come up with any other explanation for Astarion’s behaviour.

Your hands raise up in a surrendering motion – your chances against him in a knife fight are stupendously low. Just as you try to figure out what to say to convince him to drop the dagger, your eyes happen on the thing on the ground. Before you can ask Astarion what in the Nine Hells is the furry lump behind him, it hits you.

It’s a boar. A dead boar.

It’s not even the first of its kind you’ve encountered in a similar state in the past few days. What was it again that Astarion said about the exsanguinated animal?

“It’s been drained of its blood, bitten by a vampire. I didn’t want to say anything to save you from worrying.”

It all makes sense. Of course.

He is always eager to take the night watch, doesn’t even lay a finger on the shared camp supplies and his skin is pale and perfect as smooth alabaster rock.

Astarion is coiled like a spring, ready to pounce on you. His glare is fixated to yours, silently gauging your reaction in every micro-expression. In that moment you also realise his eyes are red. While that is not so rare, the feature completed with his pale countenance is, and also, shockingly, perfectly understandable.

“You’re a vampire,” you huff and feel an unexpected rush of ease.

Astarion’s dagger rests against your throat before you can say another word. His piercing eyes stare intently into yours, so close that you can feel his shallow breath on your cheek. A rush of déjà vu comes over you.

“How astute,” Astarion comments. The stain on the side of his mouth is indeed blood and in the bright moonlight you actually see his fangs for the first time. You must have been blind – or blinded by his charming mannerisms and elaborate motions.

“I should’ve realised sooner,” you say feeling a bit stupid now that it’s said out loud.

“Not many people do until it’s too late,” Astarion says dryly, dagger still holding fast and his grip keeping you still. “Now, what shall we do about this… pickle we find ourselves in?”

You inhale his scent, a hint of bergamot with strangely earthy undertones. Maybe rosemary? He notices how you relax slightly.

“I could burn your hand like the last time,” you remind him.

Astarion scoffs.

“Why didn’t you tell us?” you ask more curious than worried about the current disposition.

His eyes narrow. You continue staring at each other. For a fleeting moment you feel the confusion and relief from Astarion’s mind colliding with the edges of yours. Then he murmurs apologies and steps back, releasing your shoulder.

“Apologies. I had to know I could trust you first.” He suddenly sounds weary, all the underlying threat gone from his voice.

Your arms fold over your chest. “That’s rich. Do I need to remind you whose dagger has been pointed at my neck several times now?”

Astarion’s eyes fall down to your neck and shoulders, and you feel like drawing a vampire’s attention to the said area is a bad idea. Luckily for you, Astarion is the perfect gentleman.

“I already apologised,” he points out with another scoff and puts the dagger away.

“Now I get why you were so eager to take the night watch,” you ponder, thinking back to all the other signs you missed.

“Well, I’m still an elf, I don’t sleep,” he replies in a biting tone, looking unamused.

“Right.” You tap your chin and produce another flame to float on your palm. It casts enough light for your human eyes to see his face.

There is a patch of awkward silence until Astarion clears his throat. “For the record, I would’ve trusted you with the knowledge of my… condition. Just… not the others,” he confesses and makes a tiny cough. His eyes dart away from meeting your gaze.

“Oh. Well. Thank you,” you say, a bit taken aback but weirdly somehow pleased. For once, he sounds sincere.

“I suppose you have some questions,” Astarion sighs.

“Just one,” you admit.

He arches one perfectly shaped brow.

“Is this how you’ve been feeding?” You gesture towards the dead boar.

“Yes,” he replies without sparing a glance at the cadaver. When he sees the dismay on your face, he adds: “I’m not some monster. I don’t hunt for the pleasure of killing. I need to feed.”

Feed. The strong word makes you shiver. Right before you is a being that lives on the blood of other creatures. Just how long did he think he would get away with sneaking off like this in the dead of night? If it was not for your overactive brain, you would be sleeping blissfully, tucked inside your own bedroll at the camp.

“Don’t overthink it, darling,” Astarion says, stopping your train of thought.

“I wasn’t,” you reply, but you both know it’s not exactly the truth.

He examines the look on your face and heaves another sigh.

“I suppose it’s better you found out this way. It’s been difficult to sneak away from camp lately,” he concedes, “Leaving during my watch would mean leaving you defenceless and that’s a risk I seem less willing to take lately.”

“Thanks for being considerate, then,” you say, wondering if he was referencing you as in just yourself or the whole group.

“We should head back. You need to rest,” Astarion says and an unexpected tender sensation blooms in the pit of your belly.

“Right, but first…”

He pauses to look at you, a puzzled expression on his face.

“Mind handing your handkerchief to me? You have a bit of, uh, blood here.” You point at the spot around your own face.

“Oh?” He smiles almost gleefully.

You take the offered handkerchief from his fingers and lean towards him to dap clean the rest of the blood. It has already dried so you try to rub it as gently as you can, stepping even closer. Astarion’s gaze softens at your focused face and he keeps perfectly still like a beautiful sculpture.

Focusing on the task at hand miraculously keeps you busy enough to not feel awkward or flushed because of the proximity. Still, you surprise yourself thinking how Astarion’s eyes are really pretty. The tender feeling persists. You clear your throat and lean back.

“There, nice and clean.”

His smile has melted into a mild, more genuine one. “Nice? Hmph. I guess I’ll have to take what I can get,” he murmurs.

“You’re a messy eater,” you say and offer the bloodied handkerchief back.

“It’s completely his fault,” Astarion nods towards the boar, “he had difficulties staying dead.” Another high-pitched giggle rings into the night. He sounds more like himself again, more bravado and less sharpness.

As you start walking back to the camp, the night of your first meeting floats back into your mind in the light of this new revelation.

“Tell me something, Astarion. The night we first met in Baldur’s Gate…” You don’t know what exactly it is you want to ask him, but he seems to catch on nevertheless.

Astarion sighs theatrically. “Yes. I was trying to lure you back to my Master. Happy?”

You stop to shoot him a horrified look. “...W-what?”

Astarion continues: “And would have succeeded if the Flaming Fist had not shoved up. Tsk–”

You smack his arm.

“Hells, what is wrong with you?!” he screams and jumps away. A flock of birds takes off from a nearby tree.

“You just admitted to trying to kill me!” you hiss back.

“Not by choice,” Astarion says, pronouncing each word deliberately and clearly.

That shuts you up. Heat rises to burn your face in shame. Undoubtedly, he was not acting on his own free will. He was commanded by someone he served. A thousand questions spring into your head, but you deem it best to keep them unasked for now.

“Sorry,” you swallow.

“Nothing we can do to change that now, darling,” Astarion replies and rubs the spot you hit.

You resume walking. There is an unseen spring in Astarion’s step and you wonder is the main cause for it because he has just fed or because his secret is now shared with someone. The thought brings back a shadow of the tender feeling and you reproach yourself for even thinking you could somehow have such an effect on someone as gorgeous as him.

Astarion lets out a hum as if an idea suddenly occurred to him. You don’t like the smile spreading to his lips. He clears his throat and talks:

“Now that you know my true nature, how about a little–”

You recoil instantly. “Absolutely not. I don’t want to become a vampire.”

Astarion has the audacity to laugh. “I thought you would have already realised that I’m merely a spawn.”

“Oh, I see,” you mumble, failing to see how that justifies his request. Your knowledge of vampires is practically non-existent. There must be a book about them among the ones you’ve hoarded in your backpack.

“I promise you, darling, you will feel just a slight prickle,” Astarion assures, teasing.

“Keep your fangs to yourself, Astarion,” you say in a harsher tone than what you intended.

His smile falters slightly. Or you think it falters since the motion is so insignificant that you could have imagined it in the light of the flickering flame.

“Of course. Silly of me to even ask.”

As soon as you hear the dejection in his voice, you regret refusing him outright. He has been managing this far, so it’s not your responsibility to feed him. If he truly needed blood, he would ask sincerely. That is what you tell yourself, but at the same time wonder when ever has Astarion been truly sincere with anyone.

“You’d best prepare yourself for the morning,” you say with a sigh.

Astarion raises a brow. “For what?”

“You will have to tell the others.”

Next chapter

My Writing Masterlist

#astarion x reader #astarion x you #astarion fanfic #astarion #baldur's gate 3 fanfiction #bg3 fanfiction #fanfiction #contradictions and other counter measures

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meli-writes · 1 month ago

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Consort - Ch. 02

(Previous)

/// CW: hardcore moment, captivity, dubious consent. ///

The Princess wished there’d been a thousand flights of stairs, to be carried away warmly in her Demon’s arms. She had counted two, which made these her mother’s chambers though she felt no recognition of that awful place. The marble floor had boiled and bubbled, grasping up the walls, crystalline tendrils dripping from the ceiling.

It was the cave she had been cast into, years ago — to die, before her Demon found her — before her late mother ‘forgot’ she had done so.

How often the Princess had returned there, to her Demon, wishing to her that the world could be made better, given so many sweetened words in return.

“It’s time — consort.” she said, with only a silvered fleck of sombreness, drawing the Princess across the room on her leash — gentle only so she wouldn’t slip — into the crimson light of the fireplace. “You need not be dressed again, for a few decades.”

Rosy flames slipped from their iron cage, dragging the Princess to her knees. “Please,” she squealed. “You said it wouldn’t be like this, Áine—”

What did she promise you? Cursed cinders whispered in her ears. Her Grace. They danced her dress away as flakes of ash. Your Grace. Ancient jewels crumbled into dust. Your Grace.

They left only that bouquet her Demon had placed around her neck; of petals, and thorns, and broken promises; which her Demon used to bring their lips together. Then flinging her back, into a bed of snakes, before she could fool herself at her Demon’s tenderness.

“How such sweet fruit grows — from the most rotten of trees — that, I shall never know.”

They slithered around her — the Princess shivering at their cold, living metal. “Because I know you’re better than this, and I saw who you were — beneath tooth and claw.” They bit into her flesh, spilling blood and fury. “And you can never hide that from me, Áine.”

She stood — haloed in flames — with coal-dark eyes flickering in uncertain shadows. She crawled forth to run a pair of dulled claws along her Princess’s bared cunt, snakes splitting her legs apart. How much of herself she had bargained, to give and be taken away.

“No. To conquer, to control. That’s my nature, sweetling who knows only a name I made for her. Which you will forget, and remember— Your Grace." She pressed inside, claiming what had been surrendered long ago.

But now she pulled against the coiling snakes, as they nipped at her again and again trying to make her stop. “Fuck Your Grace. I don't know who she is, and I don’t love her.”

Her Grace paused, and withdrew, slowly — making her whimper at its absence.

“I love you, Áine. Please, just Áine.” The Princess managed to strangle one of the snakes. “I don’t care if it's the only one I’ll ever know, if you made it because you love me.”

“You—” Her Demon’s tail curled on itself, snakes disappearing into the unnatural undergrowth. “—you’re such a sweet, foolish girl.”

The Princess rubbed the marks on her arms — which were faint, and would heal. “Because I trusted you?” She took her Demon’s hands — rough, and sharp, and unforgiving of herself. But she was soft, and kind, and caring. “Oh Áine, fuck you.”

And she was honest. Because the Princess didn’t need to know Áine’s true name to compel her — to bloom in her such sweet, and sincere, promises. Áine had to make things better.

She knocked into her — horns tangling with golden, ash-covered hair. “You have bargained everything, yet still I am in your debt — Theana." The faintest tear, surviving the furnace of her heart, fell from Áine’s eye. “I love you, and I-I’m sorry that I do.”

She grasped at Theana, tugging and squeezing at her flesh. The Princess wasn’t her either; just this empty object of her instinctual, demonic desires. Áine didn’t want to own that, she wanted to own her, however Theana would let her. “I will never be as I was, when I was mortal — neither will you. And I don’t know how you will ever forgive me for that.”

Theana sighed — nuzzling into Áine’s neck. “Well first, you can take this bloody collar off and find something softer. Then, as promised, you will fucking breed me — your consort."

---

(Masterpost)

originally written on cohost 01/01/2024, in response to Making-up-Demons' prompt:

Demon who has left their mark on you, to ensure you do not forget.

#3 minute read #melinoë writes #f/f #princess #demon queen

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head-empty-river · 1 year ago

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i think slay the princess parallels heavily with the magnus archives universe(s). the voices of the player plus the entity in the mirror, though they only add up to 13 (but imo some stand for more than one and/or overlap), are like the fears. granted that's including two that aren't "the voice of ____", so it's a bit of a stretch. still, the comparisons are pretty easy to make.

here's my opinion as to what the closest matches are, but some are more fuzzy than others from what i know so far of the game's content. will update as i learn more. so, in no particular order:

- the paranoid: the corruption.

due to the posession and insidious nature of paranoia. "the worms have found their orifices". also the eye bc its intimately tied to paranoia and stranger bc trusting no one.

- the cold: the lonely.

not caring about love or anything really, an acceptance from turning away from emotion. "snuff out your heart".

- the smitten: the desolation.

passion turning to self destruction, flame literally and figuratively.

- the contrarian: the spiral.

in imagery and in questioning everything to the degree that things lose meaning.

- the oppritunist: the web.

loves manipulation, pops up in the "forest" that's literally webs and wants to serve the princess (who's very web coded outside of the mirror)

- the narrator: the eye.

knows more and less than it's letting on, literally sees and describes what happens. maybe the web bc manipulation, or stranger bc static character in a way that feels uncanny to other voices.

- the hero: the flesh.

seems to be the most in touch with our character's physical body? idk this one is murky for me. could be the eye or stranger maybe.

- the mirror being: the end.

literally the end of each run and death of those memories and literally player and princess. also the vast for infinite possibility of forever and the void it exists in.

(haven't seen much of these in the final version of the game)

- the cheated: the buried.

feels helpless to stop what seems like a deck stacked against them, trapped in a cycle with no discernable escape.

- the flinching: purely by process of elimination, the dark?

tbh not sure, this wasn't even in the paranoid ending so it might not be in the final game idk.

- the skeptic: the stranger.

questioning if things are what they seem? that's all i have so far

- the stubborn: the slaughter. single-minded in its brutality. that's it rn.

- the hunted: the hunt.

just from the name, and the bestial from that the princess takes on this route in the demos.

- the broken: the vast.

based on paranoid ch 3, time wearing you down making you feel small and hopeless?

#i am super sleep deprived so pls forgive typos and logical errors #the magnus archives #tma podcast #slay the princess #slay the princess spoilers #tma spoilers #not as much tho #parallels #jonathan sims #jonny voice acting #we love to see it #major speculation #seriously a stretch #pls be nice in the replies #but if you disagree i'd love to hear what you think

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spilledbeans116 · 2 years ago

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DBZ: The Princess Saga

Ch. 2: The Dance - Vegeta x Reader - 3,385 Words - SFW

// Vegeta x fem!reader // Uses Y/N // Saiyan AU //

Read Part 1 here!!!

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Brushing your hair was quite easy, and you smoothed it out with your hands afterwards to prevent it from frizzing up. The dress, however, proved to be the difficult part. Your jumper was stretchy and fit your body snuggly, no zippers or buttons required. The satin dress, while still form fitting, required a zipper that you couldn’t pull up all the way. Had you been in your room, where you wanted to be, you could simply step out and ask one of the hundreds of other maids for help. However, you were not in your room and there were no other maids around.

A knock came at the door; It was actually more of a loud banging. “Woman, what the hell is taking you so long?” The prince's voice rang out, pissed to all hell. What else was new?

“I can’t reach the zipper!” You called back. The banging stopped and you heard an annoyed sigh.

“Just open the damned door and I’ll zip it for you so we can leave.”

You paused for a moment, making sure to hold up the top of the dress and cover yourself. You tried once again to zip it up from the small of your back to no avail. You sighed and opened the door, making sure to have your back to the prince.

After the door was open, there was no sound of footsteps coming to help. “Uh, Vegeta? The door is open.” Your tail swished behind you anxiously as you waited for the prince to do something.

Then the sound of his dress shoes clacked against the tile to you, where you felt his warm hand grip the zipper. He paused as you pulled your hair away from your back, and he pulled up sharply to close the dress. The sleeveless dark blue gown highlighted your shoulders nicely, and complimented the prince’s cape. The folds were soft, and the way the top of it was cut showed off your chest. You looked good in fancy attire.

You heard the prince turn on heel and quickly make his way to his room's door. “Hurry up,” he grunted, not even bothering to wait as you slipped on your shoes and blue scouter and ran after him. To be fair, his face was as red as a flame and he didn’t want you to see. He opened the door and you smiled as you saw the big bald saiyan waiting out in the hallway.

“Vegeta, why is your face-“

“Shut it Nappa now let’s go get this damned thing over with.” You fell in stride with Nappa as you both walked down the hallway behind the prince, with you on the right and Nappa on the left. Your dress billowed behind you as you walked briskly down the hall. The hallway was decorated with ornate gold statues, blue flowers, and sloping ceilings. Vegeta had ordered the walls to be decorated with the ancient tapestries depicting the legendary super saiyan, who’s hair shown bright gold and his eyes a blinding blue. They were stunning depictions, but still just legends all the same.

“Wow Y/N, you look beautiful!” Nappa smiled at you. As scary as the older saiyan looked, he truly was a sweetheart.

“Thank you Nappa. You clean up nicely yourself,” you grinned. He was wearing the dressier model of your everyday armor, which you had the same version of in your closet. The body suit underneath was black, with a dark gray chest plate and dark blue stomach piece. His tail was wrapped tightly around his waist and his scouter piece glowed blue as it picked up the power levels of the servants you passed.

“No one complimented my appearance,” Vegeta growled, not bothering to look behind himself.

“I think you look quite handsome, sire,” you smiled softly as he turned to meet your eyes. He seemed annoyed, but what you could not see was his tail whipping around wildly under his cape and the blush that came to his cheeks as he faced forwards again.

“Yeah Vegeta! You look all grown up!” Nappa said as he clapped his hands together.

“He still looks like a mama's boy to me,” the person stepping up next to Nappa laughed. He was wearing the same outfit as the older saiyan, but his long, dark hair was a stark contrast from the bald man.

“Raditz! You made it!” Nappa laughed heartily, swinging his arm around Raditz’s shoulder. “Where’s Kakarot?”

“Right here!” Kakarot smiled, stepping up to the other side of you. “Hey Y/N! Wow, you look really pretty!”

You smiled in return and glanced over his outfit; it was the same as the one the other two had on. You went to thank him before Vegeta cut you off. “Don’t compliment her Kakarot, her ego is already bad enough as is.”

“That’s ironic coming from you,” Raditz grumbled under his breath. As annoying as the prince could be, you enjoyed the little group that came with your job. They hadn’t been as welcoming of you at first, but once you trained with them you had earned their respect. It helped that you shared meals with Raditz and Kakarot almost every evening; at least, the ones when you weren’t with the prince babying his every need. For those, a good chunk of the time Nappa joined the two of you as well. It was also a bit of a help that you grew up in the same area as Kakarot, so you sort of knew him before starting work at the castle.

“So Vegeta, are you ready to find a mate?” Raditz asked, wiggling his eyebrows as everyone but Vegeta and Nappa chuckled. Nappa gave a slight frown, to which you raised an eyebrow at.

“I’m ready to get this damned night behind me.” He grunted, stepping up to the ballroom doors. “Don’t act like idiots. Woman, stay by me.”

You rolled your eyes and sighed. “Yes sire.”

Kakarot and Raditz opened the doors as you, Vegeta, and Nappa walked into the room together. A hush befell the room and everyone kneeled as the prince went past. This was the part of the banquets he enjoyed; the part where everyone honored his lineage and power. It made him feel strong and caused his ego to flare up to an even higher level of unbearable. Your tail wrapped tightly around your waist as you stared at the bowed heads of the prince’s servants and followers.

The prince sat on his throne beside his father, where Nappa stood with you to the right of the prince (you being the closest) and Raditz and Kakarot took their places to the left of the king.

“You may rise,” the King's booming voice echoed throughout the chamber as Vegeta huffed in annoyance, not wanting the moment to be over. Each separate house had selected a prime saiyan woman made for the title of queen to be presented to the prince later in the night. Out of all of them, he’d choose his favorite, based on his tastes alone, to dance with.

“Woman, fetch me-“ the prince began, but his father quieted him.

“Son, they are not here to serve you tonight. Go and enjoy yourselves, as I doubt this will happen again.” You glanced at Nappa, wide eyed, who seemed just as shocked as you. The four of you bowed.

“Thank you, my king,” you all echoed in unison. Vegeta said something hurriedly to his father, who shook his head and continued to watch the crowds of high society mingle.

You tossed a glance over your shoulder at the prince, giving a soft wave as he rolled his eyes. He tossed his hand over the right arm rest and let it dangle beside the throne as he smirked and flicked you off. You stuck your tongue out at him as you walked to the table and began to make a plate full of snacks.

“Man, I thought he would have been a lot happier to have women swooning over him all night. I sure would be,” Raditz grumbled, grabbing food off the table and shoving it into his mouth. Nappa elbowed him and Raditz began to choke as Kakarot slapped his back repeatedly. Raditz then swallowed sharply and gasped for air as Nappa shoved a plate into his hands. Having served the prince for so long, you had some idea of the manners required for tonight, and Nappa was a saiyan elite born into the higher class and had been taught the basics since birth. It was clear, however, that Raditz and Kakarot did not fall into either category and therefore stuck out like a sore thumb.

“Maybe he’s shy!” Kakarot whispered, piling his plate high with the finger foods.

“No, he’s just…” Nappa looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself as music began to play.

“He’s just full of himself.” You replied with a roll of your eyes. The four of you took a seat at one of the empty tables and began to eat your food. The table was covered in a white table cloth, with fancy silverware, napkins, candles, and a large bouquet of blue and gold flowers in the middle. The decorations matched the rest of the ballroom, which had marble and gold floors and vases of large plants hanging from the pillars holding up the ceiling. Vegeta and his father’s thrones were golden of course, with the cushions a bright red, standing out in the midst of the blue, white and gold decorations. The thrones sat perched above the dance floor, with marble steps and a dark blue carpet leading directly to its edge.

You had to admit, as silly as this whole thing was, it truly was one of the fanciest things you had ever been to in your life.

“Look at those dopes, dancing around with their noses in the air,” Raditz rolled his eyes and continued to shove food in his mouth, spewing a bit onto the table as he continued. “They think they’re better than us.”

“They are better than us,” you sighed sadly.

“Aw come on Y/N, don’t talk like that.” Kakarot frowned slightly. “I don’t think anyone is better than us.”

“Maybe Frieza,” Nappa grunted, earning a laugh from the four of you.

“See any girls that catch your eye, Nappa?” Raditz smirked, nudging the older saiyan with his elbow.

“Nah, they’re all too prissy pants for me,” Nappa chuckled. “Not my type.”

“And too young for Nappa!” Kakarot laughed, spewing food everywhere again as he shoveled more into his mouth.

“I don’t know, I think that one over there looks pretty nice,” Raditz smirked, pointing his fork at a taller saiyan woman, wearing a battle chestplate over her purple dress. Her hair was long, and she was the only one not dancing alongside the suitors. She was also the only one wearing armor as a suitor tonight. Instead of dancing, she was laying with her arms crossed against one of the pillars, glaring as the other women made fools of themselves with their silly gala dances. Her head swiveled to meet your eyes and you quickly looked elsewhere, a chill running down your spine.

“I think Vegeta shares your thoughts Raditz!” Kakarot giggled, nodding his head towards the prince. You looked over to see he was staring at the girl with a curious expression, and you felt your heart falter slightly. You couldn’t help the frown that came to your face.

“Hey no sour expressions!” Kakarot nudged you gently. “This is a fun night! We never get food this tasty in the barracks!”

You gave a sad smile and nodded. “Yeah I guess you have a point there.” Nappa was staring at you weirdly again and you bristled. “What is it, Nappa?”

“Do you know how to dance?” He asked suddenly.

“Nappa, I was born by the city limits in a tiny hut, do you think I can ballroom dance?” You laughed. “That’s like asking if Raditz can dance!”

“Hey! I’ll have you know I can and I’m decent at it!” Raditz huffed, crossing his arms and frowning while his brother giggled.

“You can’t ballroom dance to save your life!” Kakarot laughed, causing his brother to smack the back of his head. “Hey what did ya do that for?”

Nappa shook his head as he chuckled and took off his scouter. “Come on, I’ll show you how.”

You glanced around nervously at the hundreds of high class saiyans talking amongst themselves or waltzing around the dance floor. “I don’t-“

“Come on, they all know me here and they won’t think twice of it.” He stood up and offered you a hand, which you took hesitantly before taking off your scouter as well. As soon as it was set down on the table, he yanked you to a corner of the dance floor.

He placed one of your hands on his shoulder as he placed his hand on your waist. He then grabbed your remaining hand in his and held it to the side of you two. You could barely reach his shoulder, and his hand on your waist felt massive; gods he was a huge dude.

“Alright now step in time with me. And a 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.” You awkwardly waltzed around with Nappa, who was surprisingly a light dancer on his feet. His white boots clacked around the ballroom while you stumbled around with him to the music.

“Wow Y/N, you’re horrible at this!” He laughed quietly as you rolled your eyes and smiled.

“Gee, thanks big guy. I didn’t know I was dancing with the prince.” That earned a hearty laugh from your dance partner, who quickly quieted down and apologized after the dirty looks he got from the other dancers.

“I’m only pulling your tail. You’re not too bad for a newbie,” he smiled; It was a sincere smile and warmed your heart a bit as you continued to be terrible at waltzing.

“Thanks Nappa.” You couldn’t help but steal a glance at the prince, who was now staring at you and Nappa. You floated up a bit and gave a soft smile from over Nappa’s shoulder before he seemed to huff, cross his arms, and look elsewhere. What a cranky man. Then again you’d probably be bored sitting up there too, watching as everyone else at a dance hosted in your honor got to have fun and you didn’t.

“Has Vegeta always been this cranky?” You asked Nappa quietly, touching down onto the floor again.

He nodded his head. It was well known that besides being Vegeta’s trainer, the large man also acted as his nanny of sorts; a second dad if you will. Vegeta, although he’d never admit it to his face, looked up to Nappa as more of a father than his actual dad.

“For as long as I can remember, he was always the way he is; spoiled and grumpy.”

You chuckled at his response. “That sounds about right. I can’t even imagine him as a kid.” You had been working by Vegeta’s side for six years now, and you were the first maid that stayed longer than five days without quitting or pleading insanity from his attitude.

Nappa’s stare blanked for a moment before a soft smile grew on the older man’s face. “Actually, before he went to work under Frieza, there was just a small bit of time where he was no different from any other saiyan child.”

“I can’t imagine what that was like for him,” you said, glancing again at the spikey haired prince, watching as he talked quietly to his father.

“He got over it quickly, not like he had a choice.” Nappa began to smile, staring off wistfully as he thought of the past. “He used to have bangs.”

You gasped. “No he did not!” You, of course, already knew this, having seen the prince on the television during his father’s speeches as a child. Yet, you didn’t want to disrupt the older saiyan’s happy memories.

“He used to act like a kid too, whining for toys and to go play outside. Of course he couldn’t just play anywhere, so he would climb the tree in the courtyard while I watched from the benches.”

You smiled as Nappa talked about the young prince with such admiration. When it came down to it, it was clear Nappa thought of Vegeta as his son as well. When he was in the middle of talking about how he’d carry the prince above his head and Vegeta would pretend he was a rocket, a tap on your shoulder made you jump slightly.

“Hey Y/N!” Kakarot smiled. “Mind if I steal a dance? I’ve been practicing!” He motioned over to Raditz, who was now mumbling curse words under his breath as he sat back down at the table and once again began to pile food into his mouth with reckless abandon.

“Oh, uh, sure! If Nappa doesn’t mind that is!” You replied, glancing up at the bald saiyan.

Nappa scrunched up his face for a second and glanced in the prince’s direction. “Uh… I guess for a bit wouldn’t hurt.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll be quick!” Kakarot smiled again. He was always so happy for a saiyan; sometimes you forgot he wasn’t just an off worlder. If it wasn’t for his tail, you wouldn’t believe he was the same species as you.

Nappa flawlessly switched his hands out with Kakarot’s as you placed your hand on his shoulder. He went over and started talking to Raditz as Kakarot spun you around quickly.

“Woah woah woah we gotta keep pace with everyone else!” You laughed as he spun you faster.

“This is more fun though!” He smiled. “They’re too slow!”

You laughed and agreed but made him slow down anyway. The two of you were getting glares from the suitors as you shared the dance floor with them, but for once you didn’t care. The king had been right; when would you ever get to do something like this again?

“Why did you want to dance?” You chuckled, staring up into his eyes. He seemed to be thinking about it a bit before he gave his response.

“I was bored!” You felt like a rock just got dropped on your head but you laughed anyway. He could be really stupid but his personality was refreshing. You began to fill in with the rest of the dancers, all of whom were now paired up with a male servant and dancing around the room, their brightly colored ball gowns that depicted their houses swirling together in a blur of rainbow colors. You and Kakarot were no different, even if your outfits were less grand and your colors belonged to the prince's royal guard. Vegeta thought he had only glanced away for a moment before he realized he couldn’t find Nappa’s tall, bald, satellite head circling the dance floor with you.

“Where the hell are they,” he grumbled, spotting Nappa at the table with Raditz. The two were caught up in an intense conversation, with you nowhere to be found.

“Looking for your entourage?” The king chuckled darkly. Vegeta just grunted and looked away from his father, resting his elbow on the chair's armrest and placing his chin in his hand.

“Hardly see why you would care.” He grunted.

“I quite like the two of them together. They seem close.” Vegeta rolled his eyes at his father’s words.

“Nappa is as old as you father, I hardly doubt anyone else thinks that.”

“Not him you oaf, the saiyan boy. What’s his name? I don’t recall it… Bardock’s son.” Vegeta’s head immediately whipped up as his onyx eyes scanned the dance floor only to find you waltzing around with none other than Kakarot. His loose grip on his chin changed to a tight grip on both armrests of the throne, the intricate gold designs cracking under his hands.

“How ideal. He’s a good fighter, isn’t he? I know she has proved herself to be one as well. Their offspring would benefit our armies an undeniable amount.”

“The hell are you talking about, old man?” Vegeta spat, his eyes never leaving the two of you.

“Watch your tone, boy,” the king frowned. Vegeta didn’t even notice, watching as you smiled up at Kakarot and the two of you held onto each other. It made him feel a pit of uneasiness in his stomach; he felt disgusted by it.

There was no way he was jealous. He was the prince of all saiyans damn it! He watched as you stumbled and Kakarot caught you, holding you closer and continuing to laugh. Okay, maybe he was jealous. Not of your affections or the fact that Kakarot was able to hold your soft hands and your curving waist, or that Kakarot got to stare down at you in that gorgeous, deep blue dress. Not that you were wearing his colors and looked as beautiful as ever in it. Not even because his father talked about you and Kakarot’s potential children like it was set in stone. No, of course not. He was jealous his damned rival got to waltz around the floor and he did not. At least, that’s what he told himself.

“Actually, I’ve thought about it before as well. With you finding a mate of your own soon, I’ve drafted a letter to the girl's parents, offering an arranged marriage of her and Bardock’s son.” Vegeta's right hand snapped off the top of the arm rest and he tossed it to the side as he stood up abruptly.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” His father growled. Vegeta took another step down the blue carpet and towards the dance floor.

Kakarot was spinning you so fast again to the point that you were seeing stars. “Kakarot I’m gonna throw up, stop it!” You laughed dizzily.

“Me too!” He chuckled, coming to a slow stop. “Alright I’ve had my fun, I need some water!” You let go of his hand and placed both on his shoulders as the two of you laughed in the middle of the dance floor.

“WOMAN!” The prince’s voice rang out, high above the music and the dancing of the crowd. Everyone immediately stopped dancing or talking and the band stopped playing abruptly, turning to look at the prince to see who he was calling out to. You were no different, and a feeling of uneasiness washed over your entire body. He called every female “woman,” but when your eyes met his you knew he was speaking to you.

“Move.” He spat at the crowd, and they parted out of his path. He looked furious, but the suitors didn’t seem to care. Some bowed to him as he walked past, others curtsied. A select few reached out to him but he shouldered his way past them. When he reached you and Kakarot, he stopped, reaching out a hand.

“You’re dancing with me now,” he spat.

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Like these two chapters? You can find the rest of them here on ao3 or here on Wattpad! Thanks for scrolling this far, likes and shares are appreciated! Check out my page for other one-shots, and I'm open to requests!

-<3 Beans

#Vegeta #dbz #dragon ball z #vegeta x reader #DBZ: The Princess Saga #Vegeta x fem!reader #dbz fanfic #dbz fanfiction #dragon ball z fanfic #saiyan au #saiyan #saiyan self insert #nappa #raditz #goku #kakarot #planet Vegeta #dbz x reader #dragon ball z x reader

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sakublogs · 1 year ago

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Tumblr Fanfiction thread:

On this blog, please tag your favourite DCMK fanfics ( any ship and type) this can be either linked in the comments down below or reblogs. However,this is for TUMBLR FANFICS ONLY

if you wanna add any non tumblr fanfics please so so in the comment sections/reblog of this post:

This is all to keep things organised and so everyone can find what they want to read.

I want to give a special shoutout to @heizuha-queen

At her page, you can find any #heizuha fanfics that you like.

LIST: This is @gisachi's masterlist

This is @purplellamanator's masterlist:

This is @defectiveconantoy's masterlist By @subbe93 These posts have all the chapters: click on ch 1/prologue to read from the beginning: It has always been you The Symptoms of Love: The Diagnosis The Light in my Nightmares The Roulette of Destiny One shot: Yukiko/Yusaku: Our Greatest Masterpiece Eternal Flame ShinRan's firstborn About baby Ran jr. part 2 The background story for Black Knight & Princess AU Memories of a little princess in a pink dress Day 3: Those lucky ones Fan shorts #1, Fan Shot #2, Their Secret by @ckiine Fireworks by @dcsr392 A Genius Like Him by @lollipop1141 A Christmas oneshot by @yzkhr Kingdom come by @detcodrivels Congratulations on your wedding by @alitheakorogane A Titanic Night by @quite-a-character Shinran oneshot by @azure-bliss Just a call by @myfriendsarerealidiots December 21 Summary by @akemimiyano Rosebud by @ravenclawwitchc Shinran week: Day 7: Detective in Distress Day 6: Like in the Old Days Day 5: I wish I could tell you that I love you Day 4: The Lucky Princess Day 1: Forced rest Day 5: Your Face, My Face Day 6: Healing Touch Day 4: Kiss and Tell Day 7: Through your eyes Day 1: Horrors in the Darkness MINI-PROMPT Day 4: "Not so good" memory Day 7: Only a matter of time Day 6: Can I have this dance? Day 5 Day 2: I just called to say I love you By @sadisticwoof-dcmk until the flowers bloom again Love Flows in You by @marisandini-chu-blog and @sadisticwoof-dcmk in this life I pray we are happier the light we see in each other

I want to give another shoutout to @deducingcircumference ‘s idea to do a secret Santa exchange ( I personally think this idea can be applied to any ship) however, if you do fulfil their idea please credit.

#shinran #shinichi kudo #ran mouri #mori ran #kudo shinichi #mouri ran #dcmk #shinranweek #fanfiction prompts #support fanfic writers #dcmk fanfiction #adding this to my fanfiction list #fanfic prompt #fanfic #fanfiction #support tumblr events #tumblr thread

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harrowreads · 2 years ago

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❥ Yoongi Fic Recs

❣ Each blurb gives a glimpse of the contents of each fic, but be sure to read the warnings before proceeding! ❣

Yoongi is my main bias + main obsession so plz don't perceive the length of this list, okay. It's going to be absolutely ridiculous.

❥ 12 Lays of Christmas: Day 2 by minisugakoobies | drabble, tumblr ↳ Gift wrapping with your boyfriend goes a little awry. ❣ Gender Non-Specified Reader ❣ smut, pwp | established relationship ↻ read my review

❥ All That Holly Jolly Sh*t by daechwitatamic | oneshot, tumblr ↳ You haven’t seen or heard from Yoongi since he broke your heart five years ago, laying out a logical list of reasons why you were better off breaking up. When a Christmas Eve blizzard traps you together for the night, you have no choice but to examine how few of those reasons are still true. And if they’re not… where does that leave you? ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut, fluff, angst | exes to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Best Served Cold by anotherbtswriter | series, tumblr ↳ Yoongi shields his eyes from the flames. Smoke coats his throat, and he pants for breath. As he lies on the wet pavement, he realizes that this Molotov cocktail, this cheap-ass, dime-store intimidation tactic currently burning through his club, is a plan to intimidate him. First, he was annoyed. Now he’s pissed. ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut, fluff, angst | exes to lovers ↻ read my reviews: ch. 1, ch. 2, ch. 3, ch.4

❥ Blackthorn by sweetestofchaos | series, tumblr ↳ Min Yoongi, the last Emperor of the Joseon dynasty was betrothed to a foreign Princess from the time he could walk. The two exchanged many letters and gifts over the years as their love bloomed. Emperor Yoongi loved his Princess and it was on their wedding day that he was finally able to express his true feelings with his actions and not just his words. The love story of Emperor Yoongi and Empress Keena has been passed down from generation to generation; a love story so strong that it had surpassed the passage of time. Now a millennium later, the Emperor and Empress have been reborn at the same time…will history repeat itself or will the two become victims of the difficulties placed in their path? ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut, fluff, angst | strangers to lovers, arranged marriage au, soulmate au, fantasy ↻ read my reviews: ch. 1, ch. 2, ch. 3, ch. 4, ch. 5, ch. 6, ch. 7, ch. 8, ch. 9, ch. 10, ch. 11, ch. 12

❥ Cybersex by gimmethatagustd | oneshot, tumblr ↳ The whole point of being a phone sex hotline operator is that you’ll never have to meet your clients. So what are you supposed to do when you find out your favorite client is your brother’s best friend? ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut, fluff, humor | brother's best friend, friends to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Defrosting Ivy by moccahobi ↳ In a world where the 3 apex predators (humans, vampires, and werewolves) have been in a long standing power imbalance, Y/n is tasked with going undercover as a diplomat for the start of peace talks. What do they need to do? Find a talisman their organization has managed to identify as vital in resolving the conflict and ensuring the safety of all humans. ❣ Female Reader ❣ fluff, angst | supernatural au, enemies to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Devil Town by park-jimin-isnt-real | series, tumblr ❥ Chapter 1: Somewhere Lost - the guide ↳ You wake up on a bench in a forest, with no memory before then or recollection of how you got there. The person greeting you gives you three options: going into the Great Unknown (to never be seen again), wandering the woods (until you become an Edelwood tree), or spending a month in Devil Town. ❣ Female Reader ❣ platonic, light angst | over the garden wall au, speculative ↻ read my review

❥ Drip by here2bbtstrash | oneshot, tumblr ↳ When Yoongi makes the bold statement that any girl can squirt, you decide to call him on his bluff. ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut, pwp | friends to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ F*ck Christmas by sailoryoons | oneshot, tumblr ↳ Making hating Christmas your entire personality was never the plan. Then again, it seems bad things only ever happen around Christmas - like discovering your fiancé cheating on you, forcing you to move back to your sleepy hometown. But Min Yoongi happens to love Christmas, and if there is one thing your very stubborn childhood crush is going to do, it’s try to reignite your Christmas spirit. Even if he has to force-feed it to you with gingerbread cookies and too-sweet eggnog. ❣ Female Reader ❣ fluff, smut, humor | friends to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Good Fortune & A New Beginning by moonleeai | oneshot, tumblr ↳ Grumpy neighbor Yoongi is secretly a softie. ❣ Female Reader, 1st person ❣ fluff | strangers to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ If Walls Could Talk by btsrunmyiife | unfinished oneshot, tumblr ↳ You’re part of a web series of paranormal investigators that take cases from clients who believe their homes are haunted. While working in such close proximity, it’s only natural for some of you to gravitate toward one another – whether it be for stress relief or more. ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut | coworkers who fuck ❣ warnings: paranormal themes, mention of suicide ↻ read my review

❥ Invisible String by btsrunmyiife | series, tumblr ↳ Sometimes the hardest thing in life is letting yourself be seen. ❣ Female Reader ❣ queer, smut, fluff, angst | social media au, college au, strangers to friends to lovers ❣ warnings: topics of sexual assault & racial discrimination ↻ read my review

❥ Kick Up the Fire and Let the Flames Break Loose by ffion451 | series, tumblr ↳ Years after you gave up on him, Kim Taehyung appears back in your life: Are you the same person you were back then? Do you still love him? And why is it, with the supposed love of your life back, that you can’t stop thinking about the taciturn rapper who you has just come into your life? ❣ Female Reader | Feat. Taehyung ❣ smut, angst | friends to enemies to strangers to ?, strangers to friends to ? ↻ read my reviews: ch. 0, ch. 1

❥ Let Me by sailoryoons | oneshot, tumblr ↳ You’ve been friends with Yoongi for as long as you remember. When he tells you he’s never - and he means never - received oral in his life, you take it upon yourself to lend a mouth hand. ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut, pwp | friends to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Nothing to Hide by gimmethatagustd | oneshot, tumblr ↳ It’s your boyfriend’s first Pride Month since coming out, and you’re determined to make sure he has the time of his life. ❣ Female Reader ❣ queer, smut, pwp | established relationship ↻ read my review

❥ Obsidian by sailoryooons | series, tumblr ↳ You remember everything. The first time you radiated at garnet, feeling the power of the jewel rushing through you. Remember the energy pulsing at your command. And you certainly remember the face of the man who ruined your life. Then there’s Min Yoongi, the Chaotic who is the key to your revenge. ❣ angst, eventual smut | strangers to lovers, urban fantasy, crime syndicate ❣ warnings: graphic violence, morally grey characters ↻ read my reviews: ch. 0, ch. 1, ch. 2

❥ Please Linger by matchy6812 | series, tumblr ↳ After terrorizing the villagers with one too many pranks, you’ve been locked away in The Tower to atone for your petty crimes. As far as you know, The Tower is impenetrable. Nobody can get in, and nobody can get out. It seems you’ll never escape—until one night, a man named Yoongi barges in… ❣ Female Reader ❣ humor, slow burn, smut, angst | fantasy au, strangers to lovers ↻ read my reviews: ch. 1, ch. 2, ch. 3

❥ Right Here Right Now by hobidreams | oneshot, tumblr ↳ What if little red wants to be eaten by the big bag wolves? ❣ Female Reader | Feat. Hoseok & Namjoon ❣ group, smut, pwp, humor | werewolf au, college au, friends to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Suga's How-To Guide: How to Tr(eat) Them Right by sailoryoons | oneshot, tumblr ↳ Min Yoongi has been a cam boy for a few years now. The work is easy, the money is good, and he has loyal viewers. When he approaches you and asks if you want to be his muse for a ‘how-to’ series, your view on the infamous Yoongi changes. ❣ Female Reader ❣ smut, pwp | friends to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Taste by 7deadlysinsfics | drabble, tumblr ↳ Hoseok is in a sharing mood and his best friend is so, so thankful. ❣ Female Reader | Feat. Hoseok ❣ threesome, implied smut | established relationship, strangers to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Taste So Sweet by btsrunmyiife | oneshot, tumblr ↳ Yoongi is helping you experience something new, something you’ve always wanted to try. All you wanted to do was kiss a girl. You should have known it would be so much more than you imagined. ❣ Female Reader | Feat. Hwasa ❣ threesome, queer, pwp, smut | college au, established relationship + friends to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ The Earth, Your Butt, and Other Big...Flat Things? by matchy6812 | oneshot, tumblr ↳ When your world-famous boyfriend reveals himself to be an apparent flat earther, you decide to hold a modern exorcism—as in, you’re gonna try to fuck the stewpid out of him. ❣ Female Reader ❣ humor, smut, pwp | idol au, established relationship ↻ read my review

❥ Twirl for Me by gimmethatagustd | series, tumblr ↳ You’re perfectly content with admiring your ballet student’s father from afar, until he discovers the secret of your second job when he pays for a VIP room at the local strip club. What’s worse is your new knowledge of his secret life that won’t let you get him off your mind, no matter how awful it is. ❣ Female Reader | Feat. Jungkook ❣ smut, angst, slow burn | stripper au, strangers to lovers ↻ read my review

❥ Versus by minisugakoobies | series, tumblr ↳ Supervillain exes Yoongi and Hoseok are sick and tired of having their plans for world domination wrecked by you, aka Vitality, the world’s most powerful superhero. When fellow villain Jimin suggests a little competition to see who can bring you to your knees, they both eagerly accept. Now the battle is on as both men engage you in fight after fight to see who will conquer you first. Will you finally defeat these two, or will they destroy you - and possibly take each other out in the process? ❣ Female Reader | Feat. Hoseok ❣ smut, humor, fluff, angst | supervillain au, enemies to lovers ❣ warnings: some violence, use of weapons, fighting ↻ read my review

Yoongi x Reader as a side pairing:

❥ Business as Usual by blog-name-idk | series, tumblr ↳ The first thing Jin noticed about you was that you were hot. The second was that you were fucking brilliant. The third was that you were kind of a bitch. Basically, you were perfect. | The first thing you noticed about Jin was that he was hot. The second was the professors already called him by name. The third was that he was an insufferable prick. Basically, you hated his guts. ❣ Female Reader | Feat. Seokjin as main pairing ❣ smut, fluff, humor | college au, enemies to lovers ↻ read my reviews: masterlist, ch. 1, ch. 4

❥ The Love Witch by gimmethatagustd | oneshot, tumblr ↳ Despite being a popular romance blogger, Yoongi isn’t interested in finding love. He only summons a demon boyfriend to prove to his followers that it’s possible. He’ll send Taehyung right back to Hell once he’s done with him, obviously. ❣ Yoongi x Taehyung ❣ smut, fluff, humor, hint of angst | modern fantasy au, fake dating, strangers to lovers ↻ read my review

#yoongi smut #yoongi angst #yoongi fluff #yoongi fic recs #master list: yoongi

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sweetestofchaos · 1 year ago

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Blackthorn Ch 12 | M.YG

Ginkgo Spirit - The Prince returns to the palace with Namjoon safely but he is missing one person.

a/n: As always thanks to @sailoryooons for being my beta and making the banner. Character asks and the taglist for Blackthorn are always open! Minors do NOT interact with my work, please and thank you.

a/n 2: Shout out to @colormepurplex2 for the wonderful Namjoon edit!! Also, the taglist is still open as well.

Taglist: @thickemadame

Series Masterlist | Masterlist

Previous | Next

Tears had long since stopped rolling down Namjoon’s face as he sat on the forest floor surrounded by dead bodies and blood. His robes were soaked, stained so badly he knew he wouldn’t be able to wash the blood out. Koya flew down from the trees and landed on Namjoon’s shoulders. The bird chirped and nudged at Namjoon’s temple before Namjoon sighed and looked down at the tiny sleeping ginkgo tiger in his lap.

“I’ll be okay, Koya. We’re fated after all. I’ll meet him again in another lifetime.”

The wind picked up and the air around Namjoon vibrated with power. He glanced upwards at the treetops and Koya flew off his shoulder. The bird went up above, high in the air and circled around until the black dragon in the distance roared.

It was enormous, all back with two large matte black horns that sat atop its head, just above its long curved ears. Small, black spiked horns framed large golden eyes and ran down the sides of its jawline. Its nose was long and had two large, slitted nostrils and there were black crystal-like growths on its chin. Rows of sharp teeth poked out from the side of its mouth and showed a glimpse of the terror hiding inside.

Agust’s golden eyes locked onto the familiar bird that belonged to Namjoon and went off in that direction. On his back, doctor Hyungwon clung onto one of the black spikes that ran down the length of the dragon’s body, starting from the base of his long neck. The man’s face was slightly green and he kept his eyes squeezed shut tightly to keep from seeing the world so high above the ground.

Hoseok was perched on Agust’s back as well. His eyes were rolling flames, orange and red that shifted in the light while his skin glowed with a blue-yellow tint. His black hair whipped around his face and steam rose from the very stands. As Agust got closer to Koya, Hoseok stood up and rolled his shoulders. He looked at Hyungwon and called out to the doctor.

“Let’s go. He’s going to shift!” Hoseok picked the man up by his armpits and wrapped his arms around Hyungwon’s chest. “Hold on.”

Agust’s body rippled with a golden glow before it started to shrink and morph into a more human form. Hyungwon shouted as the solid body under his feet disappeared and he hung in the air. Hoseok would have laughed if he wasn’t so worried about Namjoon and Jungkook. Heat surrounded his body and smokey, mist-like wings carried him in the air as he descended towards the ground.

Agust’s giant leathery wings were angular, the inside almost entirely see-through, especially when viewed from a distance. Curved talons grew from each wing, ending like giant scythes. They shrunk in size, but did not disappear as the treetops below got closer and closer. There was nowhere to land and as Agust opened his mouth to burn the trees, they started to sway and shift. Agust and Hoseok hovered in the air, the latter confused as they watched the trees move out of their way. Koya chirped from down below and Hoseok clicked his tongue.

“The God of the forest must be here…”

Agust grunted and continued his descent to the ground with Hoseok and Hyungwon right behind him. As his feet touched the forest floor, Agust felt a powerful presence. It was all around, in the air, under the ground, and protected every single organism in sight. Hyungwon’s legs gave out as he touched the ground and Agust huffed out a thick plume of black smoke.

“Where did the bird go?” Agust scanned the area and found no trace of Koya. A power not his own swirled in the back of his mind like a distant memory and Agust found his feet moving east. He did not care for his lack of clothing nor the eyes of any creatures lurking in the distance.

“You feel it too?” Hoseok questioned as he lifted the doctor up by his armpits once again. He kept an arm around the man’s waist and helped him walk. “There is a very old and very powerful presence here with us.”

Agust inhaled and licked his lips. His forked tongue flicked out quickly before he hummed, “Blood has been split.”

“We need to hurry.” Hoseok tugged on Hyungwon and the doctor picked up his pace. He knew that lives were on the line and he was there to save them.

As they walked farther in the forest, the scent of blood and flowers mingled together thickly. The green grass started to darken, and as Agust took another step forward, the squish of mud under his bare feet made him pause. His eyes zoned in on a gathering of red spider lilies and he growled lowly.

“When did the gardener become a God?”

“What?” Hoseok stood by Agust’s side and looked at the red spider lilies. There was a haze that surrounded the area, something hidden in plain sight with old magic. “Namjoon isn’t a Go-” Hoseok’s word died on his tongue as the haze started to clear and there in the center of red spider lilies sat Namjoon, only his appearance had changed.

His standard robes were replaced with flowing white that had green and blue flowers stitched into the fabric. The white was now soaked a deep red, his hands were tinted from the blood that he wiped off on his chest and his face was flawless. His subtle imperfections were gone, replaced with smooth skin that glowed from within, a soft green color.

“N-Namjoon?” Hoseok’s voice was just above a whisper and carried on the wind.

Namjoon’s head turned and they could see the dried tears on his face, his brown eyes now completely green and Hoseok felt the sorrow seep into his bones.

“I-I couldn’t save him…I was too late,” Namjoon spoke and smiled sadly. “Jungkook had such a beautiful and pure soul. He tried to save a tiger that was being hunted.”

Agust watched as Hoseok and Hyungwon walked over to Namjoon. Hyungwon crouched down and carefully checked Namjoon’s face to make sure he wasn’t hurt.

“Were you injured at all, Namjoon?” Hyungwon stared at the man in front of him, knowing that it wasn’t the Namjoon that he knew. “May I see your hands?”

Namjoon looked down at his blood-tinted hands and swallowed thickly. “Do you know what a ginkgo spirit is, Hyungwon?”

“A ginkgo spirit?” Hyungwon thought over the question and a lesson from his childhood came to the forefront of his mind. “It is when an animal is wrongfully killed and its spirit is led to a ginkgo tree by the wind, correct?”

Namjoon nodded his head and smiled but it was anything but happy. “You are partly correct. The spirit of the animal is led to the tree of rebirth, a ginkgo tree, by the guardian of the forest. Power from the leaves grants the spirit the chance at a new life with the tree’s blessing.”

“I never heard that version before,” Hyungwon admitted and Namjoon looked at him. His green eyes were dark and murky, like the seaweed that washed up on shore. “Namjoon…where is Jungkook?”

“Jungkook?” Namjoon looked down at his lap and carefully unfolded his arms before he placed them at his side. There in Namjoon’s lap, a tiny gingko tiger cub slept peacefully.

Hyungwon stared down at the tiger cub and Hoseok dropped to the ground beside him. Namjoon’s lower lip quivered and Hoseok’s eyes started to burn. Namjoon didn’t have to speak anymore, everyone understood that Jungkook had given his life to protect the tiger and in the end, he was granted rebirth through Namjoon.

“Is-” Hyungwon cleared his throat and took a deep breath before he spoke again. “Is there anyone still alive?”

Namjoon scoffed and shook his head. “Those who clung to life, I snuffed out. Souls with such malice are not given any mercy.”

Hoseok’s hair no longer smoked, his skin no longer glowed, and his eyes were a sparkling amber once more. The adrenaline in his blood no longer ran red-hot, and as he stared at the sleeping tiger cub, he frowned.

“What are you going to do with the cub?”

“I was unsure of what to do with him,” Namjoon sighed and he looked behind Hoseok to Agust, who had watched them silently. “I think the Princess would accept him as my engagement gift, don’t you agree, Agust?”

Agust narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue. “If you wish to grant the Princess such a little beast as a gift…” Agust glanced at the sleeping cub and crossed his arms over his chest. “I suppose it’s as good a gift as any.”

“You would really have the Princess raise him? Why not keep him yourself?” Hyungwon wondered and Namjoon shook his head.

“Our time together in this world has passed. Jungkook will do well to keep the Princess safe.”

“I fear that the Princess will not accept the cub once she learns that it was born from Jungkook’s soul,” Hoseok voiced and Namjoon picked himself up from the ground.

“No one is to tell the Princess the truth…well the whole truth.”

“You wish to lie?” Hoseok stared at Namjoon with wide eyes.

“Not lie. We will tell a half-truth.”

Hyungwon and Hoseok glanced at the sleeping cub and sighed. “Do you think that is wise?”

“For the sake of the cub and to spare the Princess from any feelings of guilt, yes. It is our best option.”

“Agust?” Agust narrowed his eyes as Namjoon called his name and stared unblinking. “I need to speak to the Prince.”

As gold shifted to black, scales melted away and the wings that sprouted from Agust’s back flattened once more into their correct space like they were never there. Prince Yoongi stood in place of Agust, bare as the day he was born and stared at his friend with watery eyes. He knew Jungkook well. The young man was extremely talented and funny. However, he could not ignore the question that Agust didn’t ask.

“Namjoon.”

“Your Highness.”

“I think we need to have a nice conversation with drinks? Don’t you agree, Hoseok?”

Hoseok wiped at his damp eyes and cleared his throat. “Drinks sound wonderful, Your Highness. Doctor?”

Hyungwon nodded his head with a sigh and looked around at the blood soaked ground. “A drink would be much appreciated.”

“Let’s head to the nearest river to wash. Namjoon I packed new robes for you.” Hoseok motioned to the bag that Hyungwon carried and Namjoon nodded his head in thanks. "Yours are in here as well, Yoongi."

It was early the next morning when Byulyi woke the Princess and hurried her into a thick spearmint green robe and slippers. Wheein quickly wrapped her hair into a neat high bun before they led her to Aga and Mingi, who waited outside of the Prince’s chambers. The Princess was confused but the look on Mingi’s face let her know that something had happened. Their footsteps were quick. Silver started to spill into the Princess’ eyes, and before she could start to worry about what was wrong, she saw Prince Yoongi, Hoseok and Namjoon all standing out in the courtyard. The palace gates had slammed shut behind them and the Princess’ ears rang.

She chirped loudly and all three men’s heads snapped in her direction. Her eyes flooded with tears and she sprinted across the stone pathway. As she slammed into the Prince’s chest, she cried and he held her tightly in his arms. The Prince whispered soft words and squeezed her body tightly to his. Their hearts beat together frantically, and when the Prince pulled away, he smiled.

“Sorry, we kept you waiting.”

The Princess shook her head as the Princes wiped at her tears with his thumbs. Their faces grew closer and closer until their lips touched. Namjoon quickly turned his back while Hoseok sighed and rolled his eyes.

“We weren’t gone that long, Princess.” Hoseok’s voice was teasing with the warmth of understanding laced in. He had felt the same way when he thought Namjoon was hurt.

"Sa ase," Aga spoke up and the Princess pulled away. She bit her lip as heat warmed her face while the Prince simply licked his lips and smiled.

“I believe Namjoon has something to tell you.” He stepped out of the way and Namjoon stood before the Princess with his hands and arms tucked away in his sleeves.

“Are you well, Namjoon?” The Princess searched his eyes and then slowly counted the men in front of her, there were only three. “Where is Jungkook?”

Namjoon frowned and shook his head. “You will have to forgive him, Princess. Jungkook is a free spirit. Good, warm and pure…”

The Princess saw the way Namjoon’s brows pulled together, the way his eyes misted and his face flushed. She reached out and placed a gentle hand on his bicep.

“Jungkook will not be joining us. He um-” Namjoon cleared his throat and blinked his eyes quickly. “He stumbled upon a group of poachers that were hunting a tiger. He fought well but there were too many of them.”

“Oh, Joon…”

Namjoon slowly pulled his arms from his sleeves and held a tiny tiger cub in his hands. “This is a ginkgo tiger. He is what came of Jungkook’s sacrifice and I wish for you to have him.”

The Princess stared at the tiny cub. The cub had green and yellow ombre fur, starting from the head and going all the way down to its tail. It had pale yellow whiskers and its tail fanned out at the end like a large ginkgo leaf. The Princess found herself smiling sadly. She knew how ginkgo spirits were created and she sent a silent prayer to Jungkook for his valiant sacrifice.

“I-I think you should keep him..her?”

Namjoon smiled and stretched out his arms. “Jungkook would have wanted you to have him. He knows I’m not the best with animals.”

As the Princess started to disagree, the tiger cub opened its eyes and stared right at her. She was surprised to see that the cub had heterochromia; one eye was pale yellow and the other was a deep brown. The cub whined as it wiggled in Namjoon’s arms and before it could fall to the ground, it leaped into the Princess’ arms.

“Oh!” She hugged the cub to her chest and giggled as it licked at her chin. "Ki jan ou dous, ti bebe a." She cooed at the cub and nuzzled into the fur at the top of its head. Prince Yoongi stepped beside Namjoon and patted his shoulder before he walked over to the Princess’ side.

“I will talk with the head builder and have an outdoor-”

“You will do no such thing!” The Princess hugged the cub closer to her chest and glared at the Prince. “He will stay in my room. There is ample space for him.”

“My gem.” The Prince placed a hand on the Princess’ lower back and kissed her temple. The Princess stared up at him through her lashes and he sighed. “As you wish, Princess.”

She turned her attention to Namjoon who watched them with a fond smile on his face. Princess Keena stepped up to him and rested her forehead against his chest. Namjoon chuckled and wrapped his arms around her lightly.

"Si ou se yon bon moun menm apre lanmò ou renmen tonm."

“What does that mean?” Namjoon questioned as the Princess pulled away and stared up at him. The cub started to purr as she stroked the top of its head and Namjoon watched.

"If you're a good person, even after death your grave is loved."

Namjoon closed his eyes and tears silently streamed down his face. “He was one of the best people…he is very loved, even now.” Namjoon whispered as he thought about the rock and flower grave he made in Jungkook’s honor in the middle of the red spider lilies where his and the tiger’s body were reborn. Namjoon scratched under the cub’s chin and sniffled before he opened his eyes. “What will you name him?”

“I’m sure he will tell me in due time.”

“Tell you?” Namjoon raised an eyebrow and the Princess grinned.

“As the guardian of the forest, you should know that everything in the world has its proper name. Animals are no different and this cub will tell me his, in time.”

Namjoon looked at the cub and he saw that teasing fire behind the multicolored eyes. Namjoon laughed- he knew that look anywhere. “Take good care of him, Princess.”

“You can visit him whenever you would like, Namjoon.”

“We should head inside, Princess,” Aga cut into the conversation as attendants started to mill around the outside. The Princess wasn’t dressed properly and he refused to have anyone stare at her. The Prince removed his outer robe and placed it on top of the Princess, even though she wore a robe already.

She bowed her head as the Prince tucked her underneath his arm and they headed back to his chambers. Hoseok crossed his arms over his chest as he watched the young royals leave and he sighed.

“Do you get the feeling that she knows?”

Namjoon looked after the Princess and shrugged his shoulders. “The impundulu is old and holds a lot of power. She may only understand birds but animals talk to each other regardless of species. Jungkook’s spirit is a part of the tiger, so I wouldn’t put it past him to show his true self every now and again.”

“What are you going to do about the butterfly house?” Hoseok dared to ask and Namjoon tugged at his ear lobe in thought.

“Hyunjin is a skilled painter.”

“The carpenter’s son?”

“Mmmhmm. He hides it from his father but I’ve seen his work. I had planned on having him help Jungkook…but I’m sure Hyunjin will be fine on his own.”

“Very well. I support your decision. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help out.”

In the Prince’s chambers, Princess Keena sat on a plush rug while the cub scampered around, sniffing at everything. The Prince disappeared into the bathing water to wash the grime from his body and Aga sat on the settee with his elbows resting on his knees as he watched the cub.

“When will you leave His Highness’ chambers? You cannot stay here forever.”

“I am aware of that Aga, thank you.” The Princess giggled as the cub found the tie of her robe and started to swat at it. She waved it around for him to play with and glanced over her shoulder at Aga who sat with a frown on his face. “I will speak with the builder today and inquire about a bed and playpen for the cub. I would think that such a project would not take too long. I will resume my lessons tomorrow, now that Yoongi is back.”

Aga stared at the Princess as she played with the cub. He had not missed the way she called the Prince by his first name. “And the cub?” Aga inquired, choosing not to comment on the Princess’ familiarity with the Prince.

The Princess thought about what to do with the cub and she grinned. “He will join me!”

Aga grunted and rubbed a hand down his face. "Poukisa ou teste m konsa?"

The Princess’ laughter filled the air and Aga fought the smile that wanted to settle on his lips, “All the best guards are tested daily.”

As the day went on, the Princess spent her hours with the head builder to discuss a proper living habitat for the cub. While the Prince had the time, he sent Hoseok away under the guise of needing something from the Emperor and the stable hands. He had not forgotten what he had worked on before he left to help Namjoon and he wanted to bring his focus back to his surprise. While Hoseok was away, the Prince left a message for him with the guards at his door. He found his way to the butterfly house with no issues. Kai and Wonho bowed low at the sight of him.

“Where is the kitsune?” Prince Yoongi questioned and Kai informed him that San was stationed at the main entrance of the butterfly house inside. The Prince turned his attention to Wonho, who had yet to speak. “If anyone asks, this one went to relieve himself.” Before Wonho could respond, the Prince grabbed Kai’s arm and pulled him inside of the main gate. He walked briskly to the main entrance of the home and San bowed low.

“The both of you will come with myself and the Princess at sundown in a fortnight.”

“Your Highness-”

“Tell no one and make sure you both fall ill.” Prince Yoongi looked between the two guards. “Do I make myself clear?” His eyes flashed golden and they both nodded. “Splendid. Now, here is a list of items that you need to get before then.” The Prince shoved a folded paper into Kai's hand and took a step back. He smoothed out his robes and looked around.

The green haired guard unfolded the paper and read over it quietly with the kitsune beside him. Kai’s eyes widened and he looked at the Prince. “Y-Your Highness-”

“We’re going over the wall?” San was excited and a little worried. How did the Prince know that they often snuck out before they became the Princess’ guards?

“If there is anything that I missed, do not hesitate to acquire it.” Prince Yoongi pulled a blue, black and gold duru-jumeoni from his robes and handed it to San.

The two guards shared a look before the kitsune spoke up, “Your Highness…if I may?” The Prince nodded his head and San continued. “I may know how to pass through unnoticed but I know nothing of the town.”

“Likewise, Your Highness.”

Prince Yoongi frowned. “Where do you go when you leave the palace walls?” Both San and Kai’s faces heated up at the question and the Prince sighed. “The Vine…” Prince Yoongi was at a loss, he should have known. He remembered visiting the town when he was younger but quite some time had passed since then. He didn’t want to take the Princess out and risk getting lost. If Kai and San could not help him in town then who could?

“I have seen Minho in town,” Kai spoke up and the kitsune nodded his head in agreement.

Minho? The Prince didn’t recall ever hearing that the older man left the palace.

“I have never seen him in-” San cleared his throat and Prince Yoongi rolled his eyes. “The Vine, but it seems like he knows his way around the town.”

“Three is more than I would like to have,” Prince Yoongi muttered to himself and Kai handed the paper to San.

“I will stay back and make sure that no one suspects a thing while San and Minho act as escorts.”

“Very well.” The Prince nodded his head in agreement. “Have Minho enter the fifth garden, there will be instructions for him to follow. He will know what to look for once he is there.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” The guards both bowed and Prince Yoongi walked away with his head held high. Kai followed behind him, five steps back and the Prince bit his tongue. He was excited for his engagement announcement now, since some time together at the night market would be his gift to the Princess.

As the Prince entered his chambers, he found the Princess on the settee fast asleep with the cub curled into her side. He smiled and dragged the back of his knuckles down the Princess’ cheek before he leaned down and kissed her temple. As he pulled away he noticed that the cub had woken up and watched his every move. Not wanting to have the Princess wake up from her nap, he scooped the cub into his arm and walked over to his desk. He placed the small fur ball on the desk and sat down. “What will she call you, hmm?”

A knock at the door made the Prince frown and the door opened shortly after. A maid entered with a covered tray. When they noticed the Prince, they bowed low and he motioned for them to place the tray on his desk. The maid bowed once more as they set the tray down and hurried out of the room. Prince Yoongi glanced at the Princess’ sleeping form and sighed. It seemed she always requested snacks. He lifted the lid and small butter cookies were stacked neatly on a plate along with two dragon fruit jelly mooncakes and a nice selection of flavored croissants.

Beside him, the cub whined as it looked at the food and the Prince scratched his nose between his thumb and index finger. He picked up a butter cookie and held it out for the cub. The cub sniffed at the sweet treat and nibbled at it quickly.

“Slow down, little one. You will give yourself a stomach ache,” he warned with a fond smile on his face. The cub gobbled down three more cookies before the Prince covered them back up. “If you eat anymore, you will turn into a cookie and my gem will be very irate with me.”

The cub looked at the Prince with wide, wet eyes and nuzzled into his hand. “Hummm…cookie? That’s not a bad name. What do you think?” The cub was a nice shade of green that reminded the Prince of matcha cookies and it just so happened to be one of Jungkook’s favorite snacks. He picked the cub up and held it up to his face. “Cookie?” The Prince tried the name on the cub and it looked right at him. He smiled and nodded his head. “Very well, from here on out you will be called Cookie.”

When the Princess woke up, it was to voices whispering and when she sat up, the Prince was sitting with a woman that she had never seen before. The woman was older, with a wrinkled face framed in thick, grey ringlet curls. She wore a simple pleated grey skirt with a bright green ruffle blouse tucked in at the waist. The Prince caught the Princess’ eyes and he smiled before he motioned for the woman to pause the conversation.

“My gem, come. Join us.”

Princess Keena stood from the settee and smoothed down the skirt of her cognac colored boubou before she walked over to the desk. The woman bowed low in her seat and the Princess bowed her head.

“This is Duttu. She has worked with the royal family for generations.”

“It is an honor to work on your request, Your Highness.”

The Princess was confused. What request had she made? The Prince rested his hand on the back of Princess’ upper thighs as she stood by his side and she noticed that the cub was sound asleep in the Prince’s lap.

“I called for Duttu to design a collar and name plate for your little one.”

“Oh, thank you, Duttu.” Princess Keena bowed her head once more and Duttu smiled as she nodded her head. “But, I have not figured out a name-”

“Ah,” the Prince chimed in as he pointed to the tray on his desk. “It would seem that the cub is quite fond of cookies. He nearly ate them all and would have left only crumbs had I not stopped him.”

The Princess giggled and noticed that the cub had tiny cookie crumbs on his mouth and some had fallen into the Prince’s lap.

“I thought it was only right to name him, Cookie.”

“Cookie?” The Princess repeated the name and the cub in the Prince’s lap peeked its eyes open. “I think that is a very handsome name for such a grand being.”

“Would you like to see the design?” Duttu asked and the Princess shook her head.

“I will leave this matter in your hands, Duttu. I trust His Highness’ judgment.” Princess Keena picked Cookie up from the Prince’s lap and brushed off the crumbs from his snout. She bit her lip when the Prince squeezed the back of her upper thigh. “I will take Cookie outside for some air. Please, excuse me.” She walked away from the Prince quickly and once outside of the chambers, she smiled at Chan and Jooheon.

“You seem happy, Princess,” Chan raised an eyebrow at the cub in her arms.

“He has a name! Would you like to guess?”

“Matcha?” Jooheon offered and Chan stared at him confused. “What? It’s a ginkgo tiger, he’s green!”

“No, but you are close.”

“Jade?”

The Princess laughed and shook her head. “He wasn’t named for his color.” Chan and Jooheon shrugged their shoulders and the Princess smiled. “Cookie! His name is Cookie.”

“Cookie?”

Jooheon reached out and scratched under Cookie’s chin making the small cub purr in delight.

“It’s a fine name, Princess.”

“Are you going out?” Chan wondered and the Princess nodded her head. “We will escort you.”

She nodded her head and started to walk off. Two guards that the Princess didn’t know took up the post in front of the Prince’s doors and she wondered where they had been before. Once outside, she placed Cookie on the ground and the little cub ran and leaped from place to place as he chased butterflies and got lost in the tall flowers.

“Chan?”

“Yes, Princess?”

“Where is Aga?”

“He is with Lieutenant Jung at another war council.”

“And my maids?”

“At the butterfly house preparing for Hyunjin to paint.”

“Hyunjin?”

“Yes, Princess. He is the royal carpenter’s eldest son.”

Princess Keena nodded her head and squatted down as Cookie ran back to her. The little cub climbed into her arms and she stood up right with a smile on her face.

“I want to show Cookie my garden. I think he will like the flowers.”

Chan and Jooheon followed the Princess to the seventh garden and they stood guard while the Princess sat underneath one of the blackthorn trees and Cookie ran around. It was a peaceful lull in their busy day of training and standing guard. It was a break that they always enjoyed when in charge of the Princess’ wellbeing, and with Cookie now by her side, the two of them were sure that their days as the Princess’ guards would become filled with a lot more excitement.

In the morning, it was announced that Lady Zarrin was out for the time being due to a sudden emergency that needed to be handled. With that news, the Princess’ lessons were put on hold for the day. The lessons were to be taken over by another tutor and the Princess was curious as to who would stand in Lady Zarrin’s place.

The lesson schedule was altered since the new instructor was a teacher for younger noble women and the school was unable to find a suitable replacement. The Empress understood and the other tutors were flexible with their time. The schedule for the following month was to be followed in order: species studies with Kenigo, language arts with Wen and civics with Saina before the Princess had her lunch with the Prince. Afterwards, the lessons would resume with history taught by Tempus, etiquette with the new tutor and the day would end with Kwangseon and Ellarian who taught music and dance.

The morning of the lessons, the Princess was dressed in a kaba for the day, which was made of an orange blouse with a carmen neckline that hung slightly off the shoulders. The blouse was patterned with pale yellow and green diamond shapes with two-inch white lace that hung from the bottom of the blouse. A matching mermaid skirt that had four inch slits up the side with white lace stitched inside completed the outfit. The Princess didn’t want her hair styled much today, so Hyejin kept it simple as she pulled the Princess’ braids back into a large bun that sat at the base of her neck and attached diamond encrusted gold clips to the braids that were spaced out neatly and evenly.

The lesson room was filled with fresh flowers from the garden and Cookie napped on a blue cushion in the warmth of a sun spot on the floor. The Princess waited for Kenigo, the naga, to enter the room. Kenigo was from a smaller tribe that sat on the border of two neighboring towns and he was a proud creature. The naga were known for their strength and quick reflexes as well as their ever present snake bodies.

Kenigo was not like most of his kind from what he had told the Princess. He was soft spoken and had the kindest yellow eyes with rounded pupils instead of slits with thick black and blocky eyebrows. Red scales under his eyes and on his cheek bones framed his face along with his short wavy black hair that always seemed to be in his eyes.

Kenigo had four black antennae with teal tips at the back of his head, that laid down but rose when angered or threatened. He was over six feet in length. From the top of his head to the tip of his tail, he was ten feet long. He had wide upper shoulders, four muscular arms (two came out on either side of his ribs) and a red underbelly that complemented his black and teal tail that had red scales going down its length in large circles. Kenigo’s lower body was beautiful in the Princess’ eyes. She liked that when Kenigo wore his open kimono, she could see the black and teal scales that went along the side of his ribs; plus his abs were hard to ignore.

The Princess had thought that Kenigo would be strict and stern but he was easy going and answered all her questions without any trace of judgment. The door of the room slid open and Kenigo slithered into the room with a smile on his face. He bowed and Princess Keena bowed her head in greeting.

“Good morning, Princess.”

“Good morning, Kenigo.”

“I have spoken with Wen and we would like to have our lesson together today, outside.”

Kenigo’s black and grey kimono swished around as he motioned to the door and the Princess rose to her feet. The weather was inviting enough and she had been itching to spend the day outdoors. “Since Wen is an Oni and we are discussing the demon species, he offered to give a more personal insist on the topic.”

“That is very kind of him. I wish not to keep Wen waiting much longer…will you both be okay if Cookie joins us?” The Princess motioned towards the sleeping tiger cub and Kenigo’s laugh was soft as he nodded his head. She lifted the cub carefully into her arms and kissed the top of his head before she followed Jooheon out the room with Kenigo behind her.

The three stepped outside and Kenigo kept to the Princess’ side as they made their way to where Wen was waiting in the bamboo rock garden that was a mid way point between the butterfly house and the palace. Wen was dressed in his usually flamboyant and colorful hanfu. Bright greens, red and pinks made the Princess smile because Wen resembled a rose bush. Kenigo lowered himself closer to the ground which made his normally eight foot height drop to seven and again the Princess smiled.

She watched how Wen’s hazy orange-red eyes brightened at the sight of Kenigo and he tucked his hair behind his ear before he took a step closer. Kenigo was no better in the Princess’ eyes as the half serpent inched his way in front of Wen and lowered himself to the ground even farther so that he was only about half a foot taller.

“These colors suit you, Wen.”

Wen’s eyes darted to the Princess and he was quick to bow before he offered a smile. “Princess, Good morning. Oh! We have a new guest with us today?”

“Good morning, Wen, this is Cookie!” The Princess handed the sleeping cub to Jooheon and turned her attention back to the Oni. “I didn’t know you and Kenigo were close.”

Kenigo crossed his lower arms across his chest while one of his upper arms scratched the back of his neck, “We’re not t-that close,” Kenigo stumbled over his words and Wen just smiled.

“Shall we get started on today's lesson, Princess?” Wen moved the conversation to a more important topic and the Princess let it go.

The Princess’ lessons moved quickly one by one and soon it was time for lunch. Jooheon led the Princess to the seventh garden with Cookie, where she had started to have lunch with the Prince daily. Today was no different, however. The Prince was dressed in a black cross collared robe that had gold beadwork stitched along the thick collar. A black leather belt was wrapped around his waist with gold buckles and he wore a black silk robe over top with wide sleeves that had a gold dragon on the ends of the sleeves with red ink clouds. His hair was pulled away from his face in a half updo that had the top half twisted into a single neat braid with a golden clip attached to the end.

He stood upon the Princess’ arrival and watched as Jooheon pulled the seat closest to him away from the table. Once the Princess was seated, Prince Yoongi dismissed Jooheon along with ordering him to take Cookie away and sat in his seat with a smile on his face.

The table was filled with seafood today, since at their last meal the Princess had expressed how she missed the fresh fish from her homeland. Garlic lemon shrimp with broccoli, blackened salmon with avocado salsa and a spinach salad topped with fresh strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, feta cheese crumbles and a sweet poppy seed dressing acted as the main course. To round out the meal, medium rare steak bites with roasted potatoes and baby carrots were on the side in case the Prince wasn’t satisfied with the seafood.

“I hope you enjoy today’s meal. I spoke with Aga to find out a few of your favorite dishes.”

The smile on the Princess’ face was worth it. Before she could decide what to start with, the Prince grabbed her empty plate and put an equal amount of the salmon and shrimp in the center before he filled the sides with broccoli and salad. The plate was set before her and she watched as the Prince zoned in on the steak and potatoes. Other dishes such as rice, enoki mushrooms with garlic and scallion sauce, beef noodle soup and jukkumi bokkeum were within the Princess’ sight and her eyes flashed silver. The Princess wanted the stir fried octopus more than anything on a bed of rice with the enoki mushrooms on the side.

The plate before her was removed and replaced with the jukkumi bokkeum. She looked over and saw that the Prince had her original plate in front of him and he was already digging into the salmon. Princess Keena picked up her chopsticks and carefully pinched a piece of steak between them before she held her hand out to the blonde beside her. The Prince said nothing as his face heated and he took the offered food. He chewed slowly, savoring the flavor of the meat that was suddenly doused in deep affection from the Princess. As he swallowed, he licked his lips and smiled as the warmth in his stomach slowly spread towards his heart.

“Gamsahabnida.”

“Cheonman-eyo."

The Princess responded, knowing that the Prince had thanked her in old Laibic language. Prince Yoongi’s eyes widened slightly. He knew that the Princess was learning proper Laibic, but he hadn’t thought Wen would teach her the old language as well. He was impressed and proud of her.

“Are you enjoying your lessons today?”

“I always enjoy my lessons.”

The Prince rolled his eyes and the Princess narrowed hers as she popped an octopus into her mouth.

“Mother tells me you will have a new tutor for etiquette. Are you excited?”

Princess Keena shook her head softly. “I fear that Lady Zarrin went easy on me. I have heard that the new tutor is older.”

Prince Yoongi huffed, “I doubt Lady Zarrin went easy on you. She points out mistakes and works with you to correct them. There is no need to berate or belittle someone if they make a mistake. As a royal, it is our duty to move with grace and show no flaws before the people that we lead.” The Prince took a sip of his wine and cleared his throat lightly. “However, the only thing that separates us from the masses is the title our blood grants us. Outside of that, we are the same and we make mistakes.”

“You are full of wisdom today, my Prince.”

A smile tugged at the Prince’s lips and his gaze dropped down to the plate in front of him. He picked at the shrimp and lifted one to his mouth before he glanced at the Princess beside him. “I do share the soul of a very, very old dragon.”

The Princess giggled and nodded in agreement. “Should I give thanks to him?”

The Princess’ words were teasing but Agust stirred deep within the Prince’s being. His eyes melted into golden orbs and Yoongi clicked his tongue.

“Be careful Treasure…”

The words were low and rumbled like a storm at sea, it made goosebumps cover the Princess’ skin and hair rise on her arms. A warning within such a jest was a warning still and the Princess took a slow sip of water from her cup.

“My thanks would have you-”

“The food is going to waste,” the Princess had interrupted Agust’s words and the blond beside her narrowed his eyes. “Have some, steak. You seemed to like that just fine.” Again, she pinched a piece with her chopsticks and held her hand outward towards the man who had started to lose the battle with his dragon inside. “Come now my Prince, it’s getting cold.”

Golden eyes glanced down at the meat and when he licked his lips, the Princess noticed that the tip of his tongue had become a deep indigo color. The man before her wasn’t just the Prince but Agust and she knew to take the warnings that surrounded him seriously even if he acted softer in her presence.

“Ahhhh.” She smiled and twisted her wrist around, the steak at the end of her chopsticks moved this way and that.

A plume of smoke fell from Agust’s nose as he huffed and he was quick to snap his teeth around the end of the chopsticks and close his lips. Golden eyes locked with brown and as he pulled back, his tongue flicked the ends of the chopsticks. He sat back in his seat, crossed his arms over his chest and chewed silently. Slowly, gold gave way to inky black and the Prince was once again before the Princess.

“Did he cause distress?”

The Princess shook her head and smiled once again. “It seems he was more interested in me than the meal.”

The rest of the lunch went by without further incident and the two royals walked back to the butterfly house, arm in arm while Cookie darted around their feet. At the gate, Chan and Minho both bowed before the royals and opened the doors. Cookie scampered off ahead and as the Princess had started to walk away, the blond reached out and grabbed her wrist. His hand fell to her palm and their fingers laced together. The Princess turned to face him and smiled as she squeezed his hand lightly.

“Don’t fret, Princess. Have faith in your abilities and everything will go smoothly.”

“Was that your dragon or-”

Prince Yoongi growled and pulled the Princess into his arms, their entwined fingers pressed between their chests. “You enjoy stoking the flames, Princess?”

She stared at the man before her, wide eyed and quiet before she tilted her face upwards and pressed her lips to the underside of his jaw. Black scales, firm and slightly cool, caught the warmth that seeped from her lips. Before the Prince could respond, the Princess pulled away, slipping through his fingers like sand and disappeared behind her gates like smoke in the wind. He stood outside of the butterfly house, frozen. Jooheon cleared his throat from behind the Prince and that pulled him back to Earth.

“K-Keep up the good work,” Prince Yoongi grumbled and walked off in the direction of the palace. He had a meeting with Duttu about Cookie’s collar and he planned to surprise the Princess with the finished product.

In the late night when the moon was at its highest and smothered by clouds, two figures cloaked in darkness sat in the farthest corner of the Marmota tavern. It was a hole in the wall, filled with unknown patrons that made deals with devils and sold their souls for a moment of happiness at the expense of someone else’s life. Smoke hung in the air like a veil while drinks slushed and spilled onto the floors from careless cheers and fists slammed against table tops.

A barmaid carried over to pints of eastern blaze mead and set them on the table as she smiled at the two cloaked figures. The taller of the two nodded his head and the barmaid dashed off to deal with another table.

“W-Why did you ask me to come here?”

“You chose to come here.”

“There was a note folded in with my belongings with no signature…”

The man grabbed his cup and raised it to his mouth before he took a long sip and set it down. “You were wrongfully dismissed. Banished from the palace for what? Trying to save that woman’s reputation.”

The woman across the table pulled the hood of her cloak down. Brown eyes were bloodshot, dark bags sat under eyes and a deep frown rested on her face. Thick white bandages were wrapped around her throat and tightened as she talked. “I did everything Her Majesty asked of me and she threw me aside like common waste!”

“You served Her Majesty well.”

“It’s the Prince’s fault! He…he’s a monster!” The woman touched her neck tenderly and flinched as she remembered the way the Prince’s nails dug into her skin.

“And that is the future ruler of the Empire, how horrid.”

The man pulled a small scroll of paper from his robes and slid it to the middle of the table. The woman looked at the scroll and reached out, her fingers touched the man’s and she gulped. As the man pulled his hand away, the woman wrapped her fingers around the scroll and tucked it into her own robes.

“What is this?”

“The young Prince wishes to sneak out of the palace to the night market…do what you will with that information.” He downed the rest of his drink and stood. “The future of the empire is in your hands…Yongsun.”

Before the man could walk away, Yongsun grabbed his robes. “Who are you? Why are you helping me?” She tried to see under the hood of the man’s cloak but all she saw was the start of a mask that covered the man’s nose and upper face.

“I am no one. Just following orders.” As he spoke, the man pushed Yongsun’s hands off his robes and disappeared from sight.

#yoongi smut #yoongi fic #dragon yoongi #yoongi x oc #bts fantasy au #bts soulmate au #daechwita yoongi #blackthorn ch 12

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mrneighbourlove · 9 months ago

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The War of Fire: Ch 10. The Flame of Death Whispers...

Walking across a bridge that led from the central castle to the main tower, Princess Rinku and Princess Leere stopped in the middle of the structure. The sun was setting down on Hyrule, a marvelous sky painted by orange and yellow hues. Each of the girls leaned over the railing, taking a moment to breathe in air that was clear, and hopefully just relax as teenage girls rather than warriors.

Pushing some of her hair out of her eyes, Leere took a long look over the homeland before. The lush green fields were vast and wide, rising up into the various mountainous peaks that Hyrule was famous for. With just the two of them here, she looked over to Rinku. “How are you feeling?”

The blonde princess looked over to Leere, and the presence Leere felt was as heavy as the weight of a surging wave. Did Rinku look tired? Or did she look old? Either way, her sister tried to counter the weight behind her eyes with a light smile. “My sword arm is sore. I really need to work on my shield arm some more to compensate.”

Leere felt like she could understand that. “Yeah…”

It seemed it was Rinku’s turn to delve into her thoughts. “Your turn. You look pale. And I’m not talking about your normal, pretty demeanor.”

The young necromancer slowly nodded in response, her shoulders sluggishly rolling downwards. “I never thought that becoming a princess would mean that I would have to one day become a soldier as well.”

Rinku had a tone that was gentle, yet firm as she asked Leere to continue. “Go on.”

Leere turned her gaze from the fields of Hyrule and looked downwards onto Castle Town. “I am so grateful that Zelda found me and rescued me from a terrible fate. She’s been the best mom I could ever have. Ganondorf helped me learn the magic, the skills I needed to protect myself. I know his methods aren’t traditional, or some mom certainly didn’t approve, but he’s been the dad I needed. And you…”

Leere watched Rinku wait, a small tension felt between them wavering as she collected her thoughts. “...I care about you. I care about this family I was brought into. Then as grew up more, the expectations came crashing in.” She was quick to shake her head at some intrusive thoughts. “Not from mom or dad. I could handle that. But from this society that I was brought into.”

“Makes you wonder if saving the ruling class is worth it.” “It’s not just the nobility, Rinku. I feel so different. If I was just a normal Hylian girl, I don’t think I’d receive the judgment I do from others. But because of the connections I have to the kind of magic that surrounds my life, the forces that stick with me, I know that makes anyone, not just nobles, uncomfortable with me. Then there’s the fact that I’m… the way I feel- felt…”

Leere trailed off, her thoughts a tangled and complicated mess of emotions. Her cheeks started to flush and feel heavy with heat. She snapped herself out of those emotions, needing to speak, or she’d be trapped in her own head again. “It was too much. I needed to focus on myself.”

“So you ended up isolating yourself. Did that help you focus? Or did you just feel lonely?”

Leere turned to look at Rinku again, frowning. “Both? Do you have wisdom on that?”

“More than you know.” The blonde hero crossed her arms, still holding onto the bitter memory of the argument they had before Leere left the castle. “I said it would be foolish to go alone. Being by yourself can be difficult enough for anyone, but with minds like ours, there can be consequences for such actions.”

“Like?”

“You get over the nightmares by yourself? Have you found any peace with the ghosts that haunt you?”

“I think we have very different ghosts that try to cling to us. And the nightmares don’t go away.”

“Then what was it that you got out of leaving?”

Leere felt her heart pull at that. The tone that Rinku held in ‘leaving’ implied that she wouldn’t return. Maybe initially she made it seem like that was the case when she did. Leere thought about her year away from the castle. Living off the land, honing her powers, and communicating with the other world. Both the good. And the bad. “I found understanding. Some acceptance I think.”

“Of what?”

“Of what I am. The witch girl, not only adopted by the royal family, but of all of Hyrule. Its spirits speak to me, cling to me. I help them. Be it talking with them, or helping them with a task so they can feel like they can finally rest. Some of the really bad ones… I either endure until they’re gone or ward them off. They’re part of a cycle that often goes ignored in Hyrule. They also helped me realize how important life is, how many of them regret not being able to truly live the lives they wanted.” Leere looked back at Castle Town, almost being able to imagine seeing every soul that lived down there. “I think… I think I’m like you Rinku, in some ways.”

“Oh?” Rinku’s voice picked up, a warm curiosity strong in her voice. It seemed she wanted to see if Leere truly understood. “In what ways?”

“The people look to the royal nobility to help them, but for you, for most of your lives leading up to this one, you didn’t have to have a title of royalty or even fight in the army. You had the power to help others and you took up a sword to do so.” Leere looked Rinku in the eyes, taking in the age and beauty behind this young face. “I can’t imagine what it is like to remember all the past traumas you’ve endured… but despite everything you’ve gone through, you’re still you. You don’t let the nightmares drag you down, and that’s so inspiring for me. I want to help the people of this land that took me in, even if not all of them want me. I have the power to do so.”

It seemed that Rinku, while moved by Leere’s statements, felt concern emanating as well. “But what worries you is what you’re doing with that power.”

She meekly nodded in response. “The killing. I meant what I said, that I can do it. The power I wield is a sharpened knife. It can certainly be done. But is that all I can do? Just be a killer? Rinku, I don’t want to get numb to that.”

“No one wants that.”

“Yet it seems you are.”

Rinku waved that away quickly. “This lifetime has already exhausted me and I’m not even twenty. There is a purpose with every cycle I find myself in. Before, when my duty was complete, it was easier to enjoy my rest. Yet now, even with this amazing family I have, there’s a large part of me that thinks I need to prepare for the next Link rather than live a life as ‘Rinku’. That I’m just the tool that’s used to settle strife in times of conflict, and if I’m lucky I will have my legend told down in future generations. Except it seems that the takeaway for that legend is for people to get on their hands and knees and pray for a hero to appear and save them! For me to save them!”

“Rinku, I-” Leere reached out in a gesture of comfort, but the Hero dismissed the act of kindness.

The princess noticed immediately the emotional pain that was caused. “I’m sorry, it’s not you Leere. I just get so tired and feel burned out whenever I have to save the world on more than one occasion in a single lifetime. These aren’t adventures. Saving the princess, the kingdom, or a loved one isn’t a happy story to live through. There are struggles.”

“But you persevere. You keep going and see those struggles to the end.”

“Leere, things don’t always work out like that. I’ve been unlucky enough to die a few times, only for a fairy or a shrine to resurrect me and give me the juice to keep going. There was one lifetime I did die and stayed dead. I found out in my next life some random stranger took up arms and beat the wizard that slew me. People mistook him for me and kept the legend going. I know it's my ‘destiny’ to be the Hero everyone needs, and I’m going to utilize all the skills I know to win this war, but there’s no guarantee that I will come out of this conflict alive. There’s no guarantee that there isn’t another conflict I have to fight in the next decade from now. It stresses me out of my mind to think about.”

Leere attempted to reach out an arm out to Rinku once more, this time being successful wrapping one close around her. “What else are you worried about?”

“Dying in itself isn’t what I’m afraid of. I have the courage to face death. Goddess help me, I might even welcome it at times, the idea of a glorious, heroic death if it means protecting what I love.” Leere’s heart sank hearing that, but she stayed silent to let Rinku continue. “What worries me is that I’ll die, and the danger will still be alive. That with me gone there will be no one to protect those that I care about.”

Leere nuzzled her head into Rinku’s neck, breathing slowly as she held her close. The princess of courage relaxed, allowing Leere the comfort to do the same. “Then how about we protect each other? That way we can continue to protect all of them?”

The young necromancer felt Rinku’s heartbeat slow down, relaxing to a steady beat. “I think that’s a good start.”

“All that’s right, all that’s bright, will be revealed in the light.’ Can any of you tell me which scholar said that passage from the Book of Nayru?”

Impa sat around the children of Zelda and Ganondorf, taking a reprieve from the conflict to check in on them until Zelda relieved the Sheikah of their duty. The bodyguard had a soft fondness for the children, even if she could never fully accept Ganondorf himself into his heart. Impa had been there to see Zelda become Queen, helped raise Rinku, and she would be there to see these five Gerudo children have the chance to grow up as well.

Princess Orana raised her little hand, speaking with a small lisp due to a gap between her baby teeth. “Is it Ma-ma?”

“No little one. It wasn’t your mother. She knows it by heart, but she did not write the passage.”

The next to attempt it was Prince Ralnor. “He wasn't a scholar, but a saint. Saint… saint…Mar…ch?”

“You are very close, Ralnor. But you are off by just the name.”

Finally, Prince Covarog raised his free hand, the other protectively holding his baby sister Kanisa’s hand. “The answer was Saint Marcus!”

Impa nodded, glad to hear that the crown prince was taking his lessons seriously. “Very good. That is indeed the correct answer.”

By the doorway, the Sheikah saw Ganondorf entering. She gave the King a quick glance before returning her attention to the children. “But knowing what an answer is alone will not generate true wisdom. Seek the meaning behind the words, and learn from the philosophy, and you will transform knowledge into wisdom.”

The children seemed to be grasping this. At least Impa hoped so. She wasn’t sure given Ganondorf completely captured their attention as he strode in. All the kids who could stand rose to their feet, hobbling over to him. Orana in particular was vocal. “Da-dad!”

“Hello my little warriors.” Ganondorf leaned down and scooped up Covarog, Ralnor, Orana and Kanisa in one armful, hugging them close. “Did you have a good time with your nan-nan?”

“She teach us Hylia scripture”, Ralnor said in his little voice.

Ganondorf’s nose furled, but he remained hospitable and gentle in his tone. “So she did. Well, I’m able to spend some time with all of you. How’d you like to play wizards and knights?”

The boys and Orana cheered, with Kanisa still being too young to fully understand the game, but still smiled nonetheless. Ganondorf glanced at Impa, giving the Sheikah a quick report. “Zelda wants to see you before she departs for the tundra.”

Impa still didn’t like the fact that Zelda and Ganondorf had chosen a protection detail of his men rather than the bodyguard. Maybe she could have one last chance to protest this to the Queen herself. “Thank you for relaying that information. I will depart at once.”

Ganondorf gave a simple shrug before turning back to his kids with an expressively goofy face. “All right! Who wants to be the wizard!” “You! I want to be a knight!”, Covarog shouted out.

“I’m always the wizard.”

“You make the best wizard dad!”

Impa smiled lightly, the expression hidden behind the cloth they always wore as she made her way out of the bedroom. As long as the children were happy with their father, the Sheikah could tolerate the King. Making their way through the halls of Hyrule Castle, she gazed out of the stained glass window, admiring the art of Zelda’s past. The Sheikah bodyguard felt pride at being able to be a part of this legacy.

Asking around, Impa discovered that the Queen was already at the stables, instructing the soldier’s that would accompany her the traveling route that they would partake on towards their destination.

A simple set up using a cube of hay, the Queen had a map laid over for everyone able to see. She used a ruler to point out and measure relative distances. “... for the purposes of our target, we are going to call the enemy location Fort Cinder. Myself and Commander Klinge will take a small division to sneak forward and investigate why the Kikai Empire is held up so far away from our capital and why they’ve chosen the tundra specifically. While we do this, Captain Appo will take the division and work with Captain Regan of the Rito Tribe to coordinate either an assault or distraction depending on the amount of Hasai that have rooted themselves. If their numbers are too great, you need not throw your lives away needlessly. All I ask is you keep the Empire on their toes and distracted long enough for my reconnaissance to bear fruit.”

The Hylian Captain nodded to Zelda, letting out a chuckle. “Don’t worry my Queen. We know how to put on a show. The Hasai won’t be able to keep up with our dance.”

Impa watched as the crowd of soldiers all got a laugh out of that. It seemed to produce a well needed smile from the Queen. “I’m glad I can count on all of you for this mission. We leave in ten minutes. All of you are dismissed from this meeting.”

The rush of soldiers vibrated the ground as they left the small section of the barn. Carefully, moving past them like a leaf in the wind, Impa approached both the Queen and the undead commander. While Klinge and the Sheikah never grew to like one another, there was a sense of mutual respect, least when it came to duty. Impa found Vaati too creepy and Ghirahim was unhinged in his loyalty to Ganondorf, at least Klinge could be more restrained and more blunt. Even so, Impa wished she could be alone with Zelda.

“My Queen, you requested my presence?”

The Queen nodded, a wrinkle on her face. “Indeed. I have a task for you. I need you to stay here and watch over my children.”

Impa felt their face heaton, but was able to keep the tone of their emotions well hidden. “I do think that my place would be better suited at your side. You’re going into hostile territory that the enemy has entrenched themselves into. As your protector, I need to be by your side.”

Zelda smiled with the kind of brow that seemed to convey understanding. Pity maybe? “Impa, I would feel far better leaving the castle knowing that you were here to defend them. Your job is to protect the next generation. When I was a princess, it was me. Now that I’m Queen, it’s them.”

A deep concern, the only window to emotion in Impa, filled her eyes. “If that is your wish, I will follow it. But know that I will never stop wishing to protect you as well.”

“You’ve always been good to me, old friend.”

Old friend. Impa closed her eyes, contemplating the order. The Sheikah could follow Zelda from the shadows to make sure their safety wasn’t compromised. Even with the training of heightening Zelda’s perception, Impa could do it without being caught. But a sense of shame came with that thought. It wouldn’t be right of them to do that. She would uphold her friendship with Zelda by maintaining trust. “Be careful.”

“I always will.”

Impa shifted her gaze as Klinge stepped forward, placing a hand on her broad shoulder. When he spoke, there was always a metallic, machine-like sharpness to his voice. “Do not worry yourself. I shall watch over the Queen with the eyes of a hawk. In your absence, she will be well protected under my watch.”

How Impa wished she could see the man’s face. He was almost always hidden behind one of his damned helmets, but she could feel the smug superiority he had. Her glare was intense as he wisely took his hand off her shoulder. “Best you do. You wouldn’t want your leash yanked by our King if anything happened to her.”

Least Impa could make out his micro expressions well enough. From the corner of her eye she was able to glance at his hand making a fist. “Best watch the castle carefully while we’re away. I’d hate for anything to happen to you as well in my absence.”

“I’ll make due.”

Zelda cleared her throat, a slight annoyance cropping up. “If you’re done commander, we have an operation to carry out.”

Klinge saluted with a hand across his chest, like a butler. “Of course my Queen.”

Impa wasn’t sure for certain if he spoke with sarcasm with that title or not. He was always on an edge. Vaati adored Zelda, Ghirahim would not admit she was his queen, but Klinge had a true hatred for Hyrule. Impa was sure that he could become a traitor anytime, but it seemed his loyalty to Ganondorf outweighed his hatred. For now, he was able to get away with any veiled disrespect.

After he walked away, Impa sighed. “I don’t like that he’s the one accompanying you. I don’t trust him.”

“I know Impa, but Commander Klinge has proven himself quite effective. And I think, by working together through times of war, I am gaining his acceptance.”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. Just remember your own training out there and rely on that first and foremost.”

“I could never forget your training Impa.” Zelda took a breath to compose herself as she looked out a window, gazing at Hyrule castle. Looking back at Impa, she smiled lightly. “Take care of yourself while I’m gone Impa.”

“I will. You do so as well.”

~ Zannah was rather impressed by her brother’s airship. The blimp was incredibly large, with dozens of rooms, from a dining hall, several private bedrooms, and the engineering room where she was now.

At a workbench, the princess was working alone tinkering on her personal quarter blade as she liked to call it. A hilt that had the reach of a bo staff when both the blades were unsheathed by the press of a button or two on the grip. The precise gyros needed had to be calibrated every so often so that she wouldn’t find herself without a weapon.

When she worked, the other Romtan engineers gave her space. None wanted to upset her. In some ways, she was okay with the isolation. It gave her the time to just think and be at ease calibrating. But when she was done, that isolation turned to loneliness. One that she was too proud to break on her own. Seeing a glowing Sheikah core the size of a small rock on the table, she looked over some schematics and set to work trying to put together another blade.

Breaking the silence, her groove was thrown off by the cutting voice of her brother.

“Zannah. I didn’t know you had a fondness for engineering.”

The princess turned to look at her brother. Those sharp red eyes, tattooed blood coloured lines on his purple horns, and curved horns with golden tips and ornaments gave him a very defined and powerful look. Placing the hilt on the table, she got up, giving him his full attention. She wondered why she felt embarrassment being found here by him. It wasn’t like she went out of her way to hide her activities. “It’s a hobby that I picked up between training.”

“Just a hobby?”

There wasn’t exactly warmth in his voice, but he wasn’t sneering at her either. “It gives me comfort.”

Picking up the hilt she was working on, Nihilus scanned her work with a machine like precision. “Do you think you’re good at it?”

“I think with time I could be.”

“Hmm. When I become Emperor, perhaps your place at my side will be chief of engineering. It is good to have more than one skill that isn’t just fighting related.” Placing the hilt down, he turned his gaze back to his sister. Zannah could feel the intensity behind his stare, even when he was emotionally neutral. “It’s about finding balance. Balance that I wonder is still in you?”

Was she being tested? Zannah crossed her arms, not wanting to beat around the bush. “I assume you came here for me. Are we about to attack Hyrule?”

“In due time. But first, I need to test you. Go to the dojo. There you’ll find a uniform. I will be waiting for you.”

Zannah watched as her brother left, mentally preparing herself for a sparring session. She made an effort to clean her work table, then walked through the ship and went into the locker room to change.

At her brother’s request, she was garbed in light training robes. The clothing was far less restrictive than what she was used to, feeling as light as a balloon herself. Usually the chainmail she wore restricted her movements at least slightly. Standing across from her in the center of the dojo, her brother was waiting for her in a similar fashion.

In both his hands he had two separate bo staffs, and with a quick thrust of his hand, he threw one of them to her. Catching it with one hand, Zannah contemplated its weight. Lighter than her weapon of choice, given there weren’t any blades attached to either end, but the same principle applied.

Approaching, Nihilus seemed to study her closely, and when he spoke, he had a similar voice to father, only without the sickly, gravely tone that came with it. “It’s been too long since I’ve seen how you can perform in a fight. The walls are sealed by a heat absorbing layer. So don’t hold back your fire. If you have any still in you after losing Seras.”

Zannah knew that her older brother was goading her to attack. She didn’t care. With a snarl across her face, she used her bo staff to pole vault towards Nihilus with a kick. As she made the leap, she channeled fire into her kick in a ferocious display of power towards him to knock him off his balance. While her flames made contact, her foot was met with an open palm. She felt herself grabbed by her ankle, then redirected and thrown to the ground. With a groan, she landed on her backside. As she tried to get up, her brother’s tail lightly struck her across the face.

“Get up. Try again.”

The princess rose to her feet, her green knuckles turning a shade darker as she squeezed tightly around the bo staff. With a vertical slash, followed by several vertical slashes, she struck at her brother. Every attack she made he blocked.

“At least your movements aren’t stiff. But go faster. You really think that’s enough to take the head of Link?”

Zannah doubled her efforts, striking high and low. She was starting to get a rhythm when Nihilus made his first attack back. An overhead swing coming down on her. Easy enough to block, but she was then met with his tail latching around her ankle. Distracted for a second by the gesture, she looked down. It was long enough for him to strike at her with a knee to the stomach, bringing the princess a knee. This was rewarded with another slap of his tail to her face. Zannah felt her cheek sting from the strike, not just from the physical pain, but the humiliation behind the effort.

“Stop that!”

Her brother merely pointed his bo staff in her face. “You’re a princess of the Kikai Empire. Make me stop treating you like a brat and fight back properly.”

Zannah rose up once more, digging deep into her anger as she struck back. After a few counter blows from her brother that she was able to defend against, he cracked a smile at her. “I was wondering when you were going to take this more seriously.”

“I am taking this seriously, you prick.”

“Could have fooled me.” Nihilus threw a fist at her, but Zannah caught it with an open palm, although there was a struggle to do so on her part. “Was he like this?”

“Who?”

“Ganondorf. Overwhelming. Strength that threatened to consume you, as it did Seras.”

Zannah’s mind flashed back to how her brother was ultimately dominated by the King of Demons. The fear that filled Zannah, the fear of being powerless, made her realize that she had to consider all her choices in combat mattered. She had options, and it was her duty to utilize them wisely. As Nihilus was pushing her back with his natural strength, she let go of her bo staff to grab the arm she was holding back. Following this motion she used her brother’s own motion and strength to throw him over her.

The prince rolled over his Zannah. landing behind her. Even as she followed up with a knee to his face, Nihilus was already recovered. His hand blocked the strike, and he pushed her back a few feet with a push. Despite this, Zannah didn’t relent. She picked up her bo staff while kicking his weapon away from his reach.

She struck him over and over with a variety of angles, trying to hit him in the head or stomach, but Nihilus was quick to palm her strikes away, or just simply take the brunt force to his forearms. “Excellent. I feel the venom behind your strikes, but don’t tunnel your vision.”

Zannah took the training to heart, as she saw her brother’s tail from the corner of his eye scoop up his staff, curling around it. With a swift movement he had his weapon back in his hands, and he went on a fierce counter offense. Zannah was being pushed backwards as she worked up a sweat to simply not get hit.

Nihilus wouldn’t let up against her, frowning at her efforts. “Fight back. Use the unorthodox. Control my central line!”

Thrusting her hand down onto the floor, Zannah released a wave of fire against her brother. It caused him to step away, as he couldn’t quite see her in the moment through the wall of flames. With but a breath, he controlled the heat in the air around him, and gestured to the wall of flames, commanding its fire to die out. That was all the time Zannah wanted.

She only needed two seconds to produce a bolt of lightning. Thrusting her hand forward, the bolt danced forward towards Nihilus. As she launched her bolt, she saw her brother’s eyes flash with a small glow. It all happened so fast, one moment she was unleashing a deadly bolt of energy at her brother, the next-

An explosion of kinetic energy occurred, her lightning detonating between the two of them. The detonation forced Zannah to raise her hand to control the flow of fire to go around her. As she did, her mind was on overdrive. Thanks to this, she was able to make out the sudden and violent motion of a bo staff swinging at her neck. With her own, she was able to defend herself. Standing her ground, Nihilus stood over her, a fierce look of pride on his face.

The smoke settled, and the prince let out an exhale. “Well done.”

He didn’t offer a hand to lift her off her one knee. As a princess, she would have to carry herself. Standing up, she felt the air of battle dying off quickly between the two of them. Catching her breath, she held onto her bo staff for support.

NIhilus circled her slowly, his tail flicking up and down. “You have the skills needed to win this war. I have no doubt about that. Perhaps the power to. That was some impressive display of lightning.”

“You said to use the unorthodox. Would you have preferred a smaller dose of power?”

“No. What do you think would have happened had you hit me?”

Zannah’s gaze sharpened. Anyone else, maybe a closer range, she would have. “You would be dead.”

“Or critically injured.” Nihiuls stopped his pace right behind her. She could feel him looking right down on her. “Do you think your actions were appropriate in hindsight?”

Zannah cleared her mind, choosing to speak from the heart. “If you had, all you would have demonstrated is your weakness in the face of a half hearted attack on my end. In your absence under such weak will I’d gladly take command of both the mission and the Empire from you.”

A pause. Zannah wondered if she had made a mistake. But all her brother responded with was a chuckle. “Half hearted? Impressive. But you are right about one thing. We cannot afford to show weakness. Our enemies will take no hesitation in exploiting it.”

“That’s why we need to manipulate their weaknesses to our advantage.”

Nihilus was putting away his bo staff, but kept an eye on Zannah. “What do you have in mind?”

“The hierarchy of Hyrule acts as a family unit. By bleeding that family, we can have them disorganized long enough to make them create critical, deadly mistakes.”

“Two of their warriors you encountered are sisters, correct?” When Zannah nodded to her brother, his eyes went to a cold, impersonal place. “Then we tear them apart.”

Standing in the dojo again, he raised his hands in a fighting stance. Zannah braced herself, knowing that her brother was incredibly proficient in hand to hand combat. “Before we break between now and the mission, I’m going to spend the next ten minutes teaching you a few techniques. You will not fail against them again. Don’t hold anything back.”

Zannah gritted her teeth. Failure would not be a part of her foundation as a person.

The journey into the Tabantha Tundra was cold and turbulent. Riding on horseback, Zelda pulled up her balaclava as the snow started to come down on her forces. Checking her compass and map, she knew it wouldn’t be long until they started to get into a potential firing zone.

Holding up her hand and putting it into a fist, her soldiers came to stop. Strotting past the calvary to the front of lines, Commander Klinge and Captain Appo rode up to each side of their queen. Zelda’s steel gaze checked over the map before pointing out key sections to your chosen lieutenants. “The tundra is vast and wide. On the other side is the ravine that leads to the valley that marks a divide between our border with Labrynna and Danjur.”

Captain Appo nodded a little with a bit of shake. Zelda had sympathy for the man. All that armour must have made him feel as a cold as a polar bear. Yet Commander Klinge was still as a statue. “How do you wish to proceed?”

“Captain Appo, you will approach in a straight angle. When you see any Hasai, lead them to you. As for the commander and myself, we shall travel in a curve from here to here along the base of the Hebra Mountains.” Reaching into a bag, Zelda grabbed a tube, handing it to Appo. “Captain, take this.”

He grabbed it, almost pulling off the white cap. “What is it?”

“Careful captain. It’s a device that we were able to get through customs from Danjur. This new invention is used for non magic users to alert your allies by shooting a fiery flare into the air. All you have to do is pull the white cap off at the top and hold it into the air. When you engage the Hasai, pull this first one. If you feel that your forces are ill equipped, or that you need to retreat, pull this second one.”

Captain Appo nodded, taking both flares. “Neat invention. You can count on us, my Queen.”

“Good. Commander Klinge, I trust you have chosen a scout force to join us?”

“Indeed. This is Fang and Lash.” The Darknut pointed to two icy Lizalfos that blended in rather well with the snowy area. “They are excellent at camouflaged warfare, particularly in this kind of environment.”

“Excellent. Zelda turned to her forces, speaking loudly and firmly. “Ladies and Gentlemen. Be on your toes. The very tundra is against us. We can hope that our enemy has gotten acclimated, but we can not have any guarantees in this life. Stay alive! Now march!”

Zelda snapped the reins on her horse, marching her forward. Behind her, Klinge’s own mount ran behind her, flanked by the two Lizalfos. The tundra’s cold winds were sharp against Zelda’s eyes, but she persisted forward. It took about twenty minutes of galloping before she could make something out in the horizon. Positioned ahead was a makeshift camp.

Carefully getting off her horse, Zelda walked forward in her Sheikah garb, the special material of the cloth keeping her well insulated as she marched through the snow. She could hear the thud of Klinge jumping off his horse, but afterwards, he was remarkably silent for someone of his size. Getting closer to the structure, Zelda noted the material. Metal walls about twenty feet high. They made a pretty well fortified cube that dug into the mountain. “Commander Klinge. What do you make of this?”

The Darknut slowly scanned the area from left to right. “I would guess they’ve been here for a while. Latest I would say could be at least the start of the war. Knowing how isolated this area of Hyrule is from civilization, even the Rito, it could have been longer.”

Zelda felt both fury and curiosity bloom in her. If the Kikai Empire had been here even before the start of the war, that meant the security of her country had been exploited and abused long ago. But now she wanted to know the reason. What had brought the Hasai people to her country.

In the distance, a bright red light caught the attention of everyone in the area. Shortly after, what sounded like a gong echoed from the base. Following this, sharp gears turned and a door opened from the side facing towards the tundra. Zelda and Klinge immediately dropped to the ground and watched as Hasai soldiers raced out on mounted rides, ranging from horses to boars. The Skurge yelled to one another, Zelda was unsure if it was orders or merely hyping one another up. But the force that went out had to range from twenty to thirty men easily. She hoped Captain Appo would be prepared for enemy reinforcements.

Looking back at the walls, she studied them for any structural weakness she could spot. Atop the wall, there was some kind of metal wire with little barbs placed throughout. No doubt if someone tried to scale them, it would be painful, perhaps even deadly to be caught up in them. But the wire itself did not look thick.

Turning to Klinge and the Lizalfos, Zelda motioned to the wire. “Do any of you have a way to discreetly get past that?”

The commander held out his hand, then with the snap of his fingers in his other hand, he revealed an item of interest. It appeared something akin to a pair of pliers. “Take this. Fang and Lash can stick to walls. They’ll give you a boost up wards. Cut where you want.” As Zelda reached out for them, Klinge held them back. “Be careful, they’re sharp.”

With a smirk, she took them when he offered the handle. “So concerned.”

“I just don’t want you making a mess of the snow.” The Queen disregarded his sarcasm and made her way up. To her soldier’s surprise, she was able to scale the wall just fine. All it took was a running start to start kicking upwards. Despite this, both the Lizalfos were beside on standby in case she needed assistance. With a few precise snips, Zelda clipped away the wire. Thankfully, Klinge was able to grab it quietly as it fell to the ground.

Able to get a better look over the wall now, Zelda observed small metal boxes set up and drilled into the snow. Portable housing for troops and personnel perhaps? It seemed that all the doors were structured to go towards the center of the encampment, so that Hasai would either travel out of the gates into the wilderness… or into the cave the walls were built into.

Hopping down inside the camp with a soft thud, Zelda waited as the Lizalfos carefully crawled up and over. Finally, after about half a minute, Klinge had managed to hoist himself up with a hook. Carefully, he too scaled the wall back down instead of jumping.

Motioning her guard to follow her, they walked along the wall towards the cave. Sure enough, two guards were standing by, facing towards the gate on the far end. Zelda then grabbed some snow off the ground and imbued it with a little magic. Flicking it, the snow flew outwards, blowing past the two Skurge guarding the entrance. Turning direction, it blew into the cave, altering Zelda to any would-be additional guards. Luckily, there weren’t any. With a single gesture, she instructed the Lizalfos to take out the Hasai.

Rushing forward, the monsters were lightning fast in their approach. Before the Skurge could turn to retaliate, or even let out a cry, the pair of reptilians already had their jaws sinking into the necks of the soldiers. They used their hands to quickly pin them to the ground as their teeth shredded their lungs from their throat. It was a ghastly sight for Zelda, so she was quick to turn away. As quickly as they were killed, the Hasai were already having their bodies dragged away behind a tent to be buried under the snow. The queen had a sickly feeling that had more time been allowed, they would have eaten the bodies.

Quickly looking around, she waved for the commander to follow her into the ice cave. He made a swift order to the brothers to wait at the entrance. If anyone tried to enter, they had permission to kill on sight. Going through the cave, Zelda took note of how it curved upwards, how the wind barely echoed. Wherever they were going, it was leading to a massive excavated area. That knowledge gave the Queen severe pause. How long would the Kikai Empire have had to be here for?

It seemed that the commander felt similarly. When he spoke, his voice was pensive. “If the danger turns out to be too perilous, we turn to leave immediately.”

“Only if it comes to that.”

“Zelda, as Queen of this country, it is my job to protect you.”

The Hylian didn’t stop her pace, but her attention had shifted just enough. “Can’t help but notice you did not say ‘my queen’, Commander.”

“You are my Queen.”

“By technicality and marriage to your master. But not in your heart.”

The undead commander’s fist clenched as he walked forward, but his voice held its composure. “I serve Ganondorf. He is my King. I am a humble servant, but he is not my master.”

“Ghirahim doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, he’s an actual blade while you named after one. You serve the same function.”

“The Demon Lord has far more fanatical ideals than myself. He would have burned the world for Ganondorf, for the darkness that rests in his heart.”

“And you? What would you have burned?”

“I would have killed the rest of Hyrule for the atrocities that your people did to mine.” Klinge stopped just before the next curve of the cave. Zelda didn’t waver in her gaze against him. There was a hidden sense of bloodlust that came from him, and she was suddenly aware of their isolation. Yet, as quickly as that bloodlust came, it fell away to apathy. “However, I am not King, and you seem to have been set on keeping your word in creating a better era for Hyrule. I fight for that better future. If you are necessary to fulfill that future, then you must live.”

Zelda supposed that would be the best comfort of loyalty she could muster out of him for now. However, whatever thoughts she had about Klinge were completely dashed as they rounded the corner of the tunnel to the vast openness of the ice cave. The eyes behind the commander’s eyes went wide as almost dropped his sword in shock. The Queen let out a gasp at the sight before them.

“What in Hylia’s name?”

Before them, a massive construct stretched across over a mile long, ancient and modern metal fused together to create a dreadful beast. It was like a massive serpent stretched outwards, with bizarre cylinders that acted as joints for arms periodically placed at key points on its sides. At the head of the construct was the frame of a dragon, glass over the eyes and a forked tongue behind the jagged teeth.

All around, dozens of Hasai were stationed on both the ground level and high on rafters close to the titanic creation, but amongst them were also strange darkly green machine creatures. The constructions had a strange energy flow through them that made the parts that made up their bodies detached, yet still able to work in tandem. The more Zelda looked at them, there was more than scientific curiosity egging her mind, but an odd familiarity she couldn’t shake.

This familiarity was drilling so hard in the back of her mind, she didn’t even notice a glow coming from her hand right away until her commander spoke up.

“Zelda, your triforce.”

The Queen looked down at her hand. The lower left triangle was indeed glowing on and off. The feeling she felt rattling in her skull was warning and dread. Her own reincarnation was unlike Ganondorf’s and Link’s, for whenever she came into a new life, memories of past lives never came back to her. Zelda always had to look to history for past knowledge. Yet, in this moment, it was as if the triforce was doing its best to remind of her a past danger in one of her lives.

Squeezing her fist, Zelda turned to Klinge, a slow moment of panic filling her. She needed more intelligence on what was being built here. “We will make our retreat. Now.”

“Agreed. You don’t make something this big under your enemy's nose unless it's a weapon.”

As the Queen and the commander were turning back around, loud alarms were suddenly set off. Red lights swirled around the work site and the Hasai were suddenly running around like hornets in a nest. For a moment, Zelda wondered if they had been revealed to the enemy, but from a glance, that was luckily not the case. But that didn’t give her any comfort as she saw walls opening in the mechanical monsters for the Hasai to rush inside.

“All personnel, man your stations. Van Kiryu takes off in t-minus 5 minutes.”

The voice of a Hasai echoed from the head of the mechanical dragon, vibrating around the ice walls around them.

“Repeat. All personnel, man your stations. Van Kiryu takes off in t-minus 5 minutes.”

Not wanting to stick around, Zelda and Klinge ran back to the entrance of the cave. Other soldiers of the Kikai Empire were scrambling out of their cabins, marching out onto the snowy fields towards central Hyrule. Reaching the twin Lizalfos, the Queen gripped the flair at her side. If she used it now, they would have a fight on their hands. “We can’t wait here. But we can’t call for backup until we make some distance from here.”

“Then it is in our hands to return.” Klinge snapped his fingers to the Lizalfos to get a move on and spoke quickly in a few clicks and clacks. “Stay close, I’ll flank you to guard our backs.”

With one more nod, Zelda braced herself. They needed-

That was when the mountainside started to shake and rumble. The ground beneath them vibrated as the Hasai inside the mountain were ready to make their grand entrance. Zelda and her team ran as far away from the cave and mountainside as they could. Rock exploded outwards and snow came following downward in a haze of confusion.

The Queen and the commander coughed through the debris as they kept marching forward. A large boulder came rolling down, unfortunately crushing Fang in the process. Gritting her teeth, Zelda channeled her magic to summon forth a large crystal shield just big enough to keep herself, Klinge, and Lash safe. She could feel more rocks bounce off the protection ward, but did not drop her guard for a while.

For a moment, the only sound that could be heard was her breathing and the wind of destruction around them as the earth settled. Through the haze of the mountain snow, she saw something come from the digsite. Curving around the rest of the mountain side like a snake, Zelda could make out the last of a mechanical frame as it disappeared from view.

Pushing the dread in her voice down, the queen steeled herself. “Commander. Get us back home, now. The country is in more danger than ever.”

Grand Admiral Bellum checked a pocket watch, flicking it closed as a grin flashed across his grin. Van Kiyru being activated for the first time was everything he could have hoped for. The vibrations of power that went through the entire war machine was exquisite. Years of discovery, understanding, luck, building and preparation led to this. And soon, very, very soon, the destruction it could unleash would be on display.

First, however, key pieces needed to be put in place. Prince Nihilus, Princess Zannah, and T0-D would just about be making their way over Kakariko for the assault. Yet before even that, he needed to order an assault of his own. Feeling his hand over the speaking stone, Bellum admired the magic in such a small and simple little rock. Rub two or more together, and you’d have the ability to communicate with others over any distance you wanted. Speaking into it, he calmly asked for an update.

“General Oppo. Are you and your troops ready?”

A dark voice filled with anticipation answered back. The Skurge considered himself the Grand Admiral’s opposite, a rival perhaps even, but so long as they both served their emperor faithfully, the general would obey Bellum’s orders. “Yes. We are positioned just over the clouds.”

“Then land your craft and begin the attack.”

Putting the speaking stone away, Bellum took a breath as he watched the craft ascend into the air. Soon, the Empire would ascend to such heights as well again. Ironic. The decline came with the death of the dragons. Now it would be a dragon of his creation that would give his people their newest golden age.

~ Ganondorf sat on his throne, fists clenched as he finally had a moment to sit down. The afternoon had been hectic, running about looking after his children and ordering troops to rout out Hasai camps. Truthfully, there was some concern that weighed on the Gerudo King’s mind. Reports brought back to him found that only skeleton crews had been purged. Where was the bulk of the empire’s army? He knew that they weren’t diminished quite yet.

The creek of the throne door echoed as a familiar face walked in. Ganondorf paused, his gaze freezing on Rinku. Truthfully, while he loved her as his daughter, there was now always this slight air of tension that could rise up between them now that they both knew who she really was. The war certainly didn’t make their relationship blossom. He knew that it brought the worst of himself in her eyes.

Still, there was so much good ground they had grown between them. He tried to not be the one to drive a wedge between them. “Rinku… are you well as of late?”

His daughter looked a little pained in her eyes, then shook it off rather quickly. “Of course. Bit of downtime is all I need, then I can get back out there and do what I do best. Kicking evil’s ass to high hell and back.”

Ganondorf watched as Rinku made a swing of her arm and a punch upwards to emphasize her words. The King could feel the true weight behind those words, however. Leaning forward with both his hands collapsed together, even so far away from each other across the room he was a towering presence. “Rinku, I’m not asking you to be my soldier.”

That seemed to strike the wrong nerve with her, a frown and a shrug being returned his way. “You sure about that? Because I saw the posters you printed of Leere and I. Props on getting our good sides.”

“Those are to raise morale. You’ve already done so much for this kingdom. Just your presence on a parchment on a paper can inspire so much hope.”

“You know that’s not my style.”

Ganondorf sighed, slowly closing his eyes and breathing deeply. “I know. Despite that, I don’t want you to burn out in this war of fire.”

“And what about yourself?”

The Gerudo tilted his head, curious. “What about me?”

“You aren’t worried about the flames of war eating you up?”

“My child, I doubt that these Hasai could kill me.”

“That’s not what I’m referring to.” Rinku walked closer, feeling the side of her head as if she had some sort of headache. “I don’t like seeing you on the battlefield. I don’t like the way you seem to live for bloodshed.”

Ganondorf felt his face stone up. Lifetimes of combat, rage, and, unfortunately, cruelty, flashed through his mind. Those lifetimes all ended violently by the one speaking to him now. Did she have the right to speak to him about bloodshed? The arrogance? Yet, looking at her, he saw more of his daughter who was concerned than an old nemesis who wanted to contain him.

Gripping the arm rests of the throne, Ganondorf leaned back in his seat. “Do I? Conflict is something that I have become a master of. I know that looking at the way I condone myself can be frightful from an outsiders view, but it is-”

“A necessary evil?” Ganondorf frowned at Rinku beating him to his point. “But why commit an act of evil in the first place?”

The Gerudo sighed, but felt a different kind of fatigue with this line of conversation than he usually had with Zelda. There was more sincerity with Rinku than with his wife. No, not sincerity. Innocence? Determination? It was hard to quantify. “What would you have me do? My power has never been gentle. Our enemies would never show mercy to us, so how could I afford the same.”

“Ganondorf.” She spoke sharply, a surprise to the King. His instincts jumped and he felt his old rival’s come out of his daughter. As quick as it came, however, it passed as her expression softened. “I don’t want to see my dad turn into a demon to fight other monsters. You’ve proven that you can be better than that now.”

Ganondorf rose from his seat, a wave of emotion following over him to prove her right. “Rinku, I-”

Suddenly, a servant bust through the doors, flanked shortly by two guards. “Your majesty! Princess!!! Castle Town is under attack!”

“What?!” The King and his daughter didn’t hesitate to rush out the door to look out through the window overlooking the town. Descending like demons, several war blimps were landing over buildings of the town as Hasai troops were unloaded. Glaring with a deep ferocity, the King roared out to the castle. “Everyone! Man your stations and expunge this plague upon OUR HOME! VAATI, GHIRAHIM!!!”

It took no time for the Demon Lord to heed his call, appearing in a dazzling puff of smoke and dark sparkles. “I am at your command master!!!”

“Ghirahim, I want you to go protect my children. I will not have another kidnapping occur under our watch. You are my best blade.”

“An honour that I will see to.” The Demon Lord couldn’t help but throw a cruel job at Rinku before disappearing. “I’ll show you how one protects a child, hero.”

It took a few more moments before Vaati appeared, running around the corner in a hurry. Ganondorf loathed the rat on a personal level, but as a wizard, the King had been convinced of the need for the wizard's skills. “My liege. I assume that this is the about the Kikai Empire attack?”

“Vaati. Use every source of power you know to knock those blimps out of the sky. Rinku and I will be launching an assault at the ground level.”

“I will do all I can.” With a flick of his robe, Vaati was on his way.

Turning to his daughter, Ganondorf looked to her, wanting to give her assurance. “Not for glory, not for enjoyment, but for the needs of the people.”

Rinku could only nod in response. Rushing through the castle, the two of them made a quick stop to the stables to ride their war boars, making a fast paced march towards Castle Town as the gates of Hyrule Castle were opened. Holding up an open palm, Ganondorf channeled his magic into a glowing sphere. When it was ready, he unleashed the might, firing the blast towards one of the blimps. The magic flew through the aircraft with enough force to tear a hole through metal and cloth. The aircraft had to turn and collapse outside of the town as it came slowly crashing down.

Inside the town wasn’t much better. Citizens were running around to hide inside homes, but many were running out as Skurge soldiers were setting fire to rooftops with pyrokinesis or throwing bombs through windows to set blazes. Hylian soldiers were fighting fiercely against the invaders, and here in the heart of Hyrule, the Hasai had to face a large cast of diverse and furious people.

Goron smashed with fists as large as the torsos of many Hasai, crushing bones with ease. Zora commanded water to douse out the flames or to knock the Hasai off their feet. One with shark-like features tore into the throat of one Skurge soldier as they were locked in face to face combat. Hoping off his war boar, Ganondorf roared as he slammed into the ground with an open palm, forcing a shockwave to knock several Hasai to their feet, or some that were closer to be blasted into the stone work of several houses around them, shattering their bodies.

From a pool of darkness, Ganondorf summoned forth two dual blades, snarling at the Hasai around him. “Get out of my country.”

The invaders who could immediately responded with fire, blasting a combination of explosive flame towards the Gerudo. Placing both of his blades together, Ganondorf could feel the metal heat up as the fire was reflected to each of his sides. With a roar, he dashed forward, cutting left and right as the screams of gutted Hasai filled his ears.

As he took the lives of these invaders, this was the hardest part for him. The feeling of pure vindication in taking these lives. With another swing, he dueled a Skurge soldier for about five seconds before his opponent made a mistake in his movement and was decapitated. Ganondorf moved like a demon, swift, ferocious, and the most powerful player on the field with sheer might alone.

Ganondorf finished this unit of soldiers flawlessly enough, flicking a scratch of blood off his cheek. As he wondered about looking for a new batch of enemies to kill, his mind thought of Zelda and Link. Being warned of enjoying the slaughter and the rush war gave him. Even now, he could feel his own excitement rising. In the past, he would have zero doubts. Here, he was acting as a hero to Hyrule instead of its conqueror. He should have felt more vindicated than ever. Yet their presence in this lifetime had shifted his core just enough.

The Gerudo King nearly stopped to contemplate this, but the timing was not ideal. For now, he would act in the ways he knew best for the sake of saving lives. The weight of his actions and how he felt would be sorted later.

Nihilus finished putting on his gosoku armour, feeling adorned in a snow white chest plate. The last piece he placed on himself was the face mask, a covering that made him look like a demon, but still allowed his eyes to be seen.

Behind him standing in the launch bay with him, Zannah was adorned in similar armour, but opted to go without the helmet or mask. If his sister felt speed was better than protection, that would be her call to make, or mistake to regret.

Each royal child of Malakath had their own beast to ride into battle. For the deceased Seras, he was happy with a basilisk. Zannah had taken after her mother, able to tame the incredibly brutal Manticore that she named Raam. Nihilus, however, had a far more deadly creature tamed. About 40 ft in length, the monster he tamed was known as a Baraki, known in other tongues as false dragons or fell beasts. From a glance, this reptilian beast with wings on sharp claws and fangs could be mistaken for a dragon, but its ilk was far more violent and animalistic in nature. He named his Makuta, bringer of ill tidings and spewer of green flame.

The blimp made its way towards Kakariko Village, and the crown prince watched as the bay doors opened. Stage one was ready to begin. With a slap of his reins, Makuta let out a deep snarl as he took off into the air. Behind him, his sister followed closely.

It didn’t take long for Nihilus to see Sheikah and Hylian villagers taking notice of them. Before panic or understanding could settle in, the prince landed on the rooftop of one of the houses, the weight of his Baraki shifting. With a snap of his finger, he commanded the slaughter to unfold. With vile power, the fell beast spewed dark, green crackling fire on the village below.

People screamed in terror, others in deathly pain as flames consumed them. Dismounting off his mount, Prince Nihilus jumped three stories downwards, as he was 10 ft from the ground, flames shot out from his feet, the force safely decelerating him as he made landfall. Already, the surprise seemed to be wearing off as Sheikah warriors started to surround him, holding short swords and spears. From a glance, Nihilus could feel that these warriors were experienced, or at the least they felt prepared. He would show them just how futile their preparations were.

Two of the warriors charged him, and Nihilus answered the call. On each of his forearms were bladed gauntlets ready to slice and dice his enemies. He danced around his enemies, palming away one man, then after blocking the strike of another, retaliated with a slice across the throat, spraying blood outwards. The red scarlet liquid stained his chest armour, giving the prince his desired intent of fright.

Satisfied by his initial warmup, Nihilus looked to the sky as his sister descended upon the village, firing a bolt of lighting to cause the door to one house to explode before she dive bombed inside. Looking at another Sheikah, the crown prince gestured with two fingers for the man to come face him in combat. The Sheikah drew something from a pocket throwing it at the prince, and there was suddenly a blinding flash.

Nihilus closed his eyes and let his instincts take over as he relied on his ears and sense of smell. The Sheikah were incredibly light on their feet, running at him with the faintest of pressure against the grass beneath them, but it was enough. With a dodge, Nihilus ducked low, his tail lashing out as the man missed a swing over his body. The appendage grabbed the man by the neck, squeezing around tightly. With a wicked twist, there was a defining snap as the Hasai broke the man’s neck. Opening his eyes, Nihilus took a deep breath as he released the body to the ground. Putting both his arms together in a cross position, he quietly let out one word as the rest of the Sheikah charged at him all around him.

“Burn.”

Releasing the energy building up in him, Nihilus thrust both his arms outwards to his sides, and a dome of fire exploded outwards from his being for 15 ft in all directions. The fire completely devastated his attackers, turning their bodies into burning corpses as they fell to the ground in flames, their lungs bubbling and death being quick.

The crown prince looked at the burning village in front of him as the flames flickered in his eyes. Above him, his war blimp hovered above, allowing his soldiers to descend from rope and cables. Warriors in shimmering black armour made landfall, the fire reflecting in their uniforms. With hand signals, Nihilus’ Theron Guard quickly made their way through the village, shooting down villagers with crossbows and systematically killing every citizen they could find.

Breathing in the air, Nihilus started walking towards the largest house in the village. On this day, he swore to himself that he would burn a scar in Hyrule so devastating that the land itself would never recover from. Fire was pain, devastation, and suffering. And he would share his fire with this country. He was Dorami, dragon in human form, and his fire would be known to all.

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Happy Year of the Dragon!

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