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sagemoderocklee · 3 months ago

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pleas my beloved, tell me more about cats guide and secret liaisons im blowing u so many kissies about it also hi it’s kel

genuinely was like "is that kel?" when i saw the start of this ask cause who else would be callin me 'my beloved' XD

ANYWAYS! i am sooooo excited for both these fics and it's a travesty that SL is still so far out... i NEED to work on Honor Bound T___T but god the editing on Alliance... and just the years and years its been since Alliance and how much my view of like EVERYTHING has changed...

okay so let's start with A Cat's Guide, which is a gift fic for @ghoste-catte (surprise!) that has been sitting for like 2 years now and was prompted by a video of a cat living in an apartment that i saw. this cat was like obsessed with the neighbor and always wanted to visit him, and i thought it would make a cute story from cat!Shukaku's pov as he tries to set up Gaara with his cute, nice neighbor who always gives Shukaku fresh salmon whenever Shukaku slips out of his own apartment to go visit Lee. it's 9 chapters cause you know cats have 9 lives (and i have years worth of gift fics for greyson to make up for) and the chapter titles are structured like a self-help sort of book and im genuinely so excited to work on this fic i just suck at getting anything started. but here's the opening:

---

Step One: Selecting an Ideal Match

Shukaku had been around for at least as long as Gaara had been alive, but for a cat pushing twenty-one he was a surprisingly healthy beast, except for the arthritis that had set in some six or seven years ago. Not that this deterred him in the least.

Quite the contrary, Shukaku spent much of his time climbing things he shouldn't and jumping from places far too high.

Yet however much trouble he managed to get into, Shukaku was a cat of breeding, and he took himself quite seriously. He did not, for instance, protest at the groomers because he liked to be clean; he did not, as a matter of pride, shove his face into his food dish and gobble it up; and he only slept on the nicest, softest cat beds money could buy. He ate expensive food, slept on expensive things, and shat in premium cat litter.

All in all, Shukaku was spoiled, and he liked it that way.

He was also picky, persnickety, and prone to biting for no discernible reason—at least, not as far as his human could tell. If Shukaku had been able to explain himself, he'd have told Gaara he was quite the sensitive soul and sometimes his mood simply got the better of him.

Gaara's brother might not be so sympathetic, having been on the receiving end of one of Shukaku's many fits of fury, but Gaara was understanding despite the language barrier.

(And that's all I have besides chapter breakdowns and chapter titles)

---

and now to Secret Liaisons, which is the third installment to the Allied Nations Saga and at one point was the FINAL part of it back when it was a trilogy, but I knew that there needed to be a fourth fic to that series because there were too many questions left unanswered at the end of SL.

So without spoiling anything for HB, SL continues to follow the ensemble cast with Gaara and Lee being like the main protagonists. This is yet another political drama and it starts off with a blow to Gaara and Lee.

SL is also where GaaLee actually comes into play, but I'm trying not to spoil too much so we'll leave it vague enough. However, I do have lots of snippets for this fic and can share the prologue because I'm just that generous. (Please keep in mind, I wrote this prologue like... 14 years ago and my writing has since evolved):

---

“We await your decision, Kazekage-sama.” The council rose as one, filing out of the room, leaving Gaara to sit with his thoughts, his siblings sharing significant looks over his head.

“Gaara,” Temari began, reaching for her brother.

Gaara rose quickly, stepping out of her reach. “I have things to take care of.”

Temari and Kankurou watched Gaara leave, helpless to do anything else.

***

“You wanted to see me, Kazekage-sama,” Lee said, bowing before Gaara’s desk.

Gaara turned from Lee, rising to his feet and moving to the window overlooking his village. This was his home, it was everything he had fought to protect in the war, it was the most important bond he had. He was the Kazekage of Suna, first and foremost, but that knowledge did little to sooth him.

“Do you miss Konoha?” he asked, not daring to glance at Lee.

“Of course,” Lee said, certain as always. “It is my home and my friends are there, my sensei. But I am happy here.”

Gaara didn’t reply, watching as a child ran past on the street, chasing a ball. It was his job to protect that child, to protect that child’s mother and father. The choice should not have been so difficult to make. He loved his village powerfully, he loved his people and his siblings just as much. They were a part of Suna.

Lee was not.

“I… have no more need of you,” Gaara whispered to the wind, not daring to turn around, almost hoping Lee hadn’t heard.

Silence stretched between them for a minute before Lee found his voice, cracked and uncertain. “I—beg your pardon, Kazekage-sama?”

Gaara closed his eyes, fisting the fabric of his Kage robe above his heart. “I am sending you back to Konoha.”

“Wha—but—why?! Have I done something to upset you? Whatever it is, I will make up for it! I will not do it again! I promise!”

Gaara shook his head. “You are a liability. You cannot stay here.”

“I do not understand,” Lee said, his words shaky and broken.

“It is not complicated: You will return to Konoha. I am releasing you from my service.”

“I—but I swore to stay by your side. I swore to always—you accepted me! Why would you do this?”

“Because I have no other choice.”

Lee was silent save for the heavy breathing that seemed to fill Gaara’s ears, making them ring. He had prepared for Lee to fight him on this, he had known Lee would want answers, but he had not been ready for the obstacle his own feelings created.

“Do you not trust me anymore?”

Gaara turned enough to glance at Lee over his shoulder. Lee’s expression was crumpled, his eyes wet and his lip trembling. In that moment, Gaara understood the power he had over Lee: the power to break him by words alone. He had never known that power and he never wanted to again.

“Kazekage-sama?” Lee asked desperately when the silence went on for too long.

Gaara’s vision swam for a second and he turned away. “With my life. That is the problem.”

“But why? What have I done? Why would you send me back?”

“Because the council does not trust you and my trust in you gives them reason to doubt me.”

Lee faltered, the words he’d been about to speak dying on a choked back sound, as though he were trying to keep from crying. Gaara could not stand to look at him anymore. “This is… temporary, right? Until they see, until you convince them—”

“No, Lee,” Gaara said, his knuckles white against the windowsill. “You will return to Konoha permanently. We are done.”

“N-no, I cannot accept that!” Lee cried suddenly. “Y-you cannot just send me back—I—you are everything to me. I have given my life to protect you—”

“Then honour your promise and leave,” Gaara said harshly, turning to stare at Lee. “If you wish to protect my life, then protect my title as Kazekage and leave Suna.”

Lee reeled, lowering his head. “I did not mean to speak so forcefully, Kazekage—”

“I am not your Kazekage. You are no longer bound to me.”

Lee closed his eyes tight, his hands in fists at his side that shook with the effort Lee exerted to hold his tongue. He took in a shaky breath, his eyes on Gaara’s feet. “I will a-always be bound to you, Kazekage-sama. Even if I leave…”

“You are a fool to think that,” Gaara said. “When you return to Konoha, in time you will forget your loyalties to me.”

“Forgive me, but you are wrong,” Lee said passionately, looking up at Gaara, his eyes hard and wet. “I will never forget this bond.”

Gaara stared, wide-eyed at Lee. “Why are you so determined to stay with me?”

Lee looked away, hiding his gaze. “Because you are important to me. Why should I waver in my affections for you? Why should I deny my loyalties when they mean so much?”

Gaara had no answer, but Lee’s words would not change their situation, no matter how much they both wanted them to.

“You will go back to Konoha. This matter is no longer up for debate.”

Lee closed his eyes, his face still turned away. “…as you wish, Kazekage-sama.”

“Don’t—”

Lee bowed and turned, leaving before Gaara could say more, the door clicking gently closed behind Lee. Gaara let out a shaky breath, sitting back down at his desk and pulling his official statement to the council towards him.

Rock Lee will return to Konoha…

The words blurred for a moment and Gaara blinked several times before his vision cleared, the report now stained with several drops that smudged the ink. Gaara set his brush down, staring at the report, only distantly aware of the wetness on his face and the ache in his chest.

---

I would definitely want to edit this before actually posting. I don't really like how choppy it is from that very first extremely brief scene which is just the like obvious tail end of a council meeting, and i think the actual pros are just… not great. i can def do better. but this is like the main obstacle of the fic and well I'm sure you can guess who these liaisons are between based on that lol

anyways <3 thanks beloved for the ask! hope you enjoyed these and they satisfied your curiosity

#ask game answers #gaalee #my fanfiction

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minecraftbookshelf · 9 months ago

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I also asked this in the comment, so sorry if you were avoiding answering it, but what do all the rulers actually do? like what are their actual responsibility's, like i know Pix has his whole thing going on and he's more of a priest, but what about the others? Do they all just do standard work?

I wasn't fully avoiding it on purpose XD

(We'll get a good look at A Day In the Life of the Codfather after the wedding, I promise.)

The short answer is that it varies by emperor.

Obviously Pix has his religious duties (and also a bunch of things that would qualify as hobbies were it not for the fact that he's been chipping away at them for centuries now and they are prominent parts of Pixandria's trade and architecture and infrastructure)

A couple of the rest of them have religious aspects to their role as well. Joey and Pearl come to mind but they aren't the only ones.

The Emperors, as a general rule, also just...work?

This is also impacted by the fact that the majority of the empires have minimal (if any) industrialization. Most things are done by hand; sheep-shearing, wheat farming, mining, fishing, slime herding, etc... So everyone is working, its mostly just a matter of scale and how much personal benefit the individual gets from their own labor. But its like, as an example, (and you'll see this at some point, possibly as soon as the next chapter) Xornoth knits most of their own socks. It's just what you do in the evening after the day work is done. You sit by the fire and relax and knit before bed while spending time with your family. (Every council meeting in Rivendell at least one person is knitting or working with an embroidery frame or something.)

There's also administration aspects and diplomacy aspects of being an emperor.

Basically everyone is busy all the time with something. The exact details vary based on individual circumstances but it's not always as simple as the modern idea of a "day job"

#ask and it shall be answered #heliostheperson #marriage of state au #rain rambles #mos: asks #mos: worldbuilding #mos: rivendell

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chubbening · 7 months ago

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OH MY GOD OKAY HEY so me and a popular artist friend who shall not be named recently got into your fic Calories and Kink and IT IS SO HOT AND SUCH A HUGE INSPIRATION!!!! I literally started my own fic bc of it and I'm trying so hard to do my own things based on my own tastes and not lift too much inspiration xD

I just wanted to ask if any of your characters (Alexa, Reggie, or anyone else) has references? We may or may not be doing gay fanart for your adorable fat lesbian comfort fic.

Also I was stoked to find you're trans (us too)!!! Happy for you, also just learned you're a system!!! You both rock, keep up the good work, you got some real fans here :D

I think you just broke Ava's part of the brain lmao (she'll be fine) but thank you so so so much!! We've gotten so much lovely feedback on this story, and it means so much to us that what started as a kinky little side project has so engaged folks in our corner of the internet <3 Best of luck with your fic! One thing about writing is no one else is gonna do it like you, so even if you take inspiration, it'll still be your own.

It's funny you ask about references, because we've been thinking about commissioning some art for a while, just haven't gotten around to it (*coughcough* $$$). So like, we don't have ref sheets or anything. But (speaking of lifting inspiration) Reggie was originally inspired by one of NekoCrispy's characters, Astrid. Specifically the energy of this piece sparked something. Obviously we made Reggie a maned wolf and very much our own character, but we still think of her shape as similar to Astrid's (while compensating for NekoCrispy's more stylized hips), but 6' tall and with bigger arms ;)

For Alexa, shape- and vibe-wise, we go to https://www.tumblr.com/littlestpigletann. She's been posting since she was a lot smaller, so it's handy to dig back (on various platforms) and get a sense of Alexa at various points in the story. Although, Alexa's probably a bit lankier than Ann, who if I remember is 5'1" (Alexa's 5'6").

Feel free to DM us with any questions (about this stuff or w/e), we love chatting with folks! Honestly feels surreal to have people calling themselves fans and talking about doing art of something we created, like… Obviously no pressure to follow through, but we'd love to see what y'all come up with!!

Woo, trans! Honestly if we had a do-over, the one thing we'd change is making one or both of the MCs trans. We were just at a weird place with our dysphoria when we started writing it, and by the time we got comfier with things, there wasn't enough support in the story to retcon that. That's probably why we started doing more with Ash, tbh.

Okay, last anecdote here, the system thing is so funny in relation to Calories & Kink, because we didn't know we were plural when we wrote most of it, but we 1000% wrote Alexa and Reggie as individual self-inserts. When one of our partners started reading it, she compared us (still unaware) to Reggie because I fronted more during sex, but Ava, the more frequent fronter at the time, was like, "What? No, I'm way more like Alexa."

Anyway, thank you so much for sharing this message <3 We'll be giddy all day now ^^

Promise we'll work on the last few chapters soon--we really do want to give this thing a proper ending.

Take care,

Seija

#ask #my writing #calories and kink

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piracytheorist · 6 months ago

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So as I mentioned, I got my copy of the Family Portrait stories!

It feels weird to suddenly have to turn the pages the left-to-right way, lol. But I guess it wouldn't work the right-to-left way for a book translated to English.

Opening it there's this cute illustration, as well as the winter-y one on the back, which kinda makes me wonder: why is it bound on the book?? I wished there was a safe way for me to rip it off and hang it on my wall. Anyway, both illustrations are super cute!

And so my collection continues to grow!

I might order the Eyes Only guide soon, I'm just wary of it including spoilers from a few future chapters. So we'll see. In any case, this might be the first time since I was a child collecting Disney's Ducks comics (and I wasn't that meticulous with those, even) that I've made such a collection! Should things keep going well I intend to keep buying the volumes to the end of the story :D

Spoilered thoughts about the stories included in the book below!

The first mission with the Eden kids going camping actually reminded me that I can find the dynamic between Anya and Damian pretty funny, at least from seeing how stubborn Damian gets. The illustration especially of Damian holding Anya's hand with Anya going like "He can be nice for real??" and Damian going like "How dare she manipulate me into feeling bad for her!!" is terrific and the only way I'll ever see this dynamic, thanks. Also really loved the moment of Damian kinda and dismissively admitting to himself he's also scared of the thunderstorm. Also found it really funny how at the end, Loid is described as handsome XD the writer knew her audience!

In the second story I think I lost count how many times I laughed. While with a deep, interesting layer, Yuri is just so entertaining to me. The most normal guy ever, wishing he was an ingredient so his sister could chop him into her dishes along with pieces of the cutting board 🥰

No, but really, I think there was a lot of care in writing Yuri here. His inner monologue is unending and bound to give Anya a headache, though it was quite sudden to hear him refer to her as a bastard and the spawn of Loid's loins 😳 but I liked the darker tone as he "acted" as a cop and took out his frustrations on the actor, picturing him as a potentially-abusive Loid. It ticks at a very interesting dynamic which I very much hope Endo explores at some point :D

(I actually wonder if there will be a moment post-identity reveal (where Yuri also knows about both Loid and Yor) and he makes a really ugly quip at Anya and Loid goes all protective like "Say whatever you want about me, but hurt my daughter again and I won't hesitate, bitch")

While I found Anya's "interrogation" scene funny, I found it a bit repetitive that she used the same technique that she used with the Red Circus guy from the bullet-in-butt date. Small note, but still XD

For the third story I have both praises and criticism... I understand how it was needed for the story, but I don't like it when characters' disabilities are taken away. It would have made for a bit more complicated setting but it would have been a little more respectful to have Alessa unable to see Franky because she had eye surgery for whatever reason aside from being blind before, and she had bandages on and couldn't see. And Franky would feel like he's on borrowed time because he knows from day to day she'll get the bandages off and she'll face him.

Also, making her nineteen instead of sixteen is just on the verge. And because I have met people who are now professional singers... nineteen is way too young to be considered for opera. She could be training, of course, but it's a very long-term investment. There's a reason most opera singers you see in concerts are in their late twenties at the earliest. And I get that she comes from a musical background and she has a talent or whatever, but again. She could have been aged up to mid-twenties and to me it would have made much more sense.

But as for the good parts, I was actually surprised by how convincing Franky was about wanting to deceive her. And when Twilight turned and asked "Are you sure you're okay with this?" I might have felt a chill. I should have given Franky more credit, haha. And the banter between them was nice, with Twilight teetering on thinking of Franky as a friend, and how Franky ended up handling the situation... that was good, I liked it.

I had already read the last story through a fan translation, so I wasn't surprised by anything new there. It was just as fun and wacky as you'd expect it to be. By the way, I liked the point that story drove on, that despite the painter's success and fame, he only had a cheap apartment for himself and donated all his earnings so that future art students could paint without worrying about the cost of their supplies. Very in touch with the whole story's message :)

What struck me as odd was when Loid hugged Anya to keep the pretense of him being a doting father. I was like "He would not fucking do that" cause we know homeboy isn't ready for such proximity, and an actual hug between Anya and Loid has to have a big impact, the times he held her up while she slept or whatever notwithstanding.

But the ending was really sweet, with Twilight feeling a sense of warmth and getting a bit of honesty in his smile. The last illustration by Endo was very fitting!

Overall, it was interesting to hold a book in my hands and read about the characters that way. I think Aya Yajima did a good job capturing the characters, and I'm always happy to read Endo's afterwords, he really seems like a very chill and down-to-earth guy.

#sxf #sxf family portrait

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empressofthesunwriter · 6 months ago

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Yin and Yang: Book 1.16

Balance is a key aspect in the world, so why shouldn’t the Avatar have an opposite?

In a world where Raava and Vaatu merge with humans, the Avatar and the Daimon try to keep the peace between the four nations.

Aang and Hua are the current incarnations, but wake up 100 years in the future.

How will these two learn all four elements in one year and defeat the Fire Lord?

Book 1.16: The Deserter

After two weeks I can finally update T.T

I’m so happy I finished this chapter, it gave me so much trouble.

It helped that I worked on My Hero Academia FF Kill La Hero, so give it a look.

Also, I want to announce something: I have finally decided to say fuck it.

People today say we can’t write smut or similar things for FICTIONAL characters even if they are underage.

Do these people not know how teenagers are?

Most of them are horny all the time and when they can have sex they will do it!

They won’t stop watching porn and having sex with each other because we aren’t anymore writing about Fictional Character A having sex with Fictional Character B.

Also, writing should be free!

We should write what we want, it’s not my task to monitor kids and teens.

I put the warning on and if they still can read it, then blame the parents not us authors!

It’s their mission to protect the innocent of their children.

Even if they talk in school about sex.

I can still remember what we talked about in my teens.

And it wasn’t My Little Pony or grades. XD

Sex is something normal and natural and not something to be ashamed of.

And more I don’t say.

If you disagree feel free to block me and search for other fanfics.

You think like that, I think it this way.

Let’s respect each other's opinions.

I’m telling you this because we will experience together with Aang and Hua the first steps in physical love. I don’t think I will let them have sex right now, but dear god I want them French kissing without people coming for my ass.

Also, Zutara is to hot to not have sex when they are a couple ;D

Anyway, we are still a long way away from these things I just wanted to give you a heads-up. ^^

Now on with the story!

Water.

Earth.

Fire.

Air.

Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony.

Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

Only the Avatar and Daimon, masters of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed them most, they vanished.

A hundred years passed, and my brother and I discovered the new Avatar and Daimon, an airbender named Aang and an earthbender named Hua.

And although his airbending and her earthbending skills are great they have a lot to learn before they’re ready to save anyone.

But I believe Aang and Hua can save the world.

***

It was nearly sunset when Team Avatar reached a little roadside kiosk.

Getting curious they walked up to it.

“This should give us a good idea of what's around here.”, mussed Katara reading the posters.

Sokka flips a small pouch to find it empty aside from a few crumbs.

“See if you can find a menu, I'm starving!”, groaned the water tribe teen.

“I bet we'll find something to eat here, the Fire Day's Festival.”, said Aang, before he read aloud. “Fire Nation cultural exhibits, jugglers, benders, magicians ...This would be a great place for Hua and me to study some real firebenders.”

The Daimon, who had Jaiyi in her arms, raised an eyebrow. “What? Are you saying my firebending lessons are not enough?”

“Hua, we learned the scroll up and down.”, reminds her Aang. “Now we are making it up on the go and I don’t think we are making great progress.”

Hua raises a finger, like she wants to argue, then frowns and signs.

Aang had a point.

They knew the firebending scroll by now without even looking at it.

They needed to learn new moves.

“You are right. It would be good to go to this festival.”

“You guys might wanna rethink that. Look at this.”, called Sokka from the other side of the kiosk.

All joined him to see what was wrong.

The answer was simple.

“Hey, posters of me, Hua and Blue!”, grinnend Aang.

The posters looked good!

“Wanted posters! This is bad.”, corrected him Soka.

Each of the three who had a poster removed it from the kiosk. Blue just grumbled it, Hua studied the painting of herself, while Aang read his poster.

“I think we better keep moving.”, declares Katara.

“The scroll helped us, this could be Hua and mine only chance to watch a master's up close.”, begged Aang.

Hua nodded.

“I’m with him. We will never master firebending only with the scroll.”

Katara frowned, but she had to admit, the youngest had a good point.

“I guess we could go check it out.”

This made Aang and Hua smile, while Sokka and Blue stared at Katara.

Did they hear right?!

“What? You wanna walk into a Fire Nation town where they're all fired up with their ... you know, fire?”, questioned Sokka.

Blue wrote his thoughts.

>>I’m with Sokka. This just screams trouble for us.<<

Sokka narrowed his eyes at him but then signed: “Can’t believe I’m with Mask-Dude on the same side…but this doesn’t mean I will stop keeping watch over you mister?!”

All just deadpannend at Sokka.

His paranoia of Blue was getting old.

Secretly Zuko was happy how only Sokka mistrusted him still. It was one obstacle less in his quest to capture Aang and Hua.

“We'll wear disguises and if it looks like trouble, we'll leave.”, proposed Katara to the two sceptics.

“Yeah! Because we always leave before we get into trouble.”, sasses Sokka back.

However, since the two oldest boys were outvoted, they had no choice but to go with the others to the festival.

Sokka to protect them, while Zuko hoped a chance would turn up to snatch Hua and Aang.

At nightfall, they had nearly reached the town where the festival was held.

They stopped on a hill and Aang told their animal friends to hide. Momo and Jaiyi dived into a bush and Appa hid behind the little bush.

It was adorable!

Then it was time to disguise themselves...

Blue just put the hood of his robe even deeper over his masked face. Hua, Sokka and Katara put on their black cloaks while Aang pulls his orange shawl over his head with a smile, making him look ridiculous.

“It's like you're a whole different person …”, retorted Sokka sarcastically, while Hua and Katara giggled.

Blue just shook his head.

“Let's go.”, said Aang cheerfully.

After a few minutes they enter the bustling town.

People with masks were everywhere, children played and they nearly got run over by a costume dragon.

“I think we need some new disguises.”, told Katara studying the people with the masks.

“Where are we gonna get masks like that?”, wondered Sokka.

It seemed like the universe was good to them tonight since they heard a man calling: “Get your genuine Fire Festival masks here!”

“That was surprisingly easy.”

Blue keeps his mask since they sold Blue Spirit masks too, so hopefully, no one would conclude he was the real Blue Spirit, while the other picked out their mask.

Hua chose a white with red markings kitsune mask, Katara chose a lady with makeup, Sokka a blue smiling mask with petals around the rim, and Aang chose a red mask with a frown on it.

After looking at them Katara removes Sokka's mask, revealing him to be frowning, and Aang's mask, revealing him to be the one smiling.

She places Sokka's original mask over Aang's face and Aang's over Sokka.

You could feel Sokka frown even more.

They walked around for a bit looking at the attractions. Sokka nearly burned himself with this food called Fire Flakes.

Not even he was hungry enough to eat them full.

They watched a little puppet show with Firelord Ozai who burned down an earthbender and decided to move along.

Too macabre for them.

Then Aang sees a big crowd and leads his friends there, Sokka murmurs that it was probably an execution.

Zuko heard him.

And it didn’t make him feel good.

The other where the whole time on edge at the Fire Festival, while he remembers happier times, going with his mom and uncle and Lu Ten to them and enjoying them.

How Sokka said that the main attraction of the festival had to be an execution…was this how the other nations saw the Fire Nation?

That when they celebrate, they like to execute people?

What he learned with his tutors so long ago was how the Fire Nation wanted to spread their technological advance over the primitive nations, but this?

It made him question things again.

He was never more thankful as the show turned out to be a magician who needed a volunteer for his next trick, picking Katara. Aang thought she was in danger and airbenden the fire away, which turned into confetti and lost his mask.

As a distraction, Aang made a silly dance, while Hua and Sokka freed Katara from her seat, as people recognised Aang as the Avatar.

Then a wild chase took place and a man in a hood helped them to flee with explosions.

Aang called for Appa with his whistle and they flow away from the festival.

The Avatar praises their new ally for his quick thinking with the explosion and setting off the fireworks, while Sokka impressed tells him how the man knows his explosives.

That’s when the man turns around and they see he is a Fire Nation Soldier!

The man corrected them.

He was once and his name was Chey.

The group lands to make camp.

When the campfire burns, Chey begins to speak.

“I serve a man.”, he says. “More than a man really, he's a myth, but he's real, a living legend, Jeong Jeong the Deserter. He was a Fire Nation general, or wait, was he an admiral?”

“He was very highly ranked, we get it.”, stops him Sokka unamused.

“Yeah! Way up there! But he couldn't take the madness any more. He's the first person ever to leave the army - and live. I'm the second, but you don't get to be a legend for that. That's okay though. Jeong Jeong's a firebending genius. Some say he's mad - but he's not! He's enlightened.”

Did Aang and Hua hear right?!

“You mean there's a firebender out here who's not with the Fire Lord?”, they chorused together, Aang even stood excited up. “We've gotta go see him! He can train Hua and me!”

“We're not gonna go find some crazy firebender!”, makes Sokka clear.

Even normally Firbender where a pain in the butt, however a crazy ex-general/admiral living in the woods, just screamed trouble!

Annoyed Chey comes to his master's aid. “He's not crazy! He's a genius! And he's the perfect person to train the Avatar and Daimon! That's why I followed you into the festival.”

Now the annoyed Sokka makes clear how he was thankful for the help, however, they would leave for the North Pole in the morning.

Now Hua and Aang protested together.

“Sokka, this could be our only chance to meet a firebending master who would be willing to teach us!”

“It can't hurt just to talk to him.”, agreed Katara with the two youngest.

“That's what you said about going to the festival! Why doesn't anyone ever listen to me?”

“Is this again about your instincts?”, mumbled Hua, yet Katara and Aang heard her and giggled.

As Sokka turns to pout, he almost runs right into a spear.

In a flash, they are surrounded by men wearing straw hats, light armour, tribal make-up, and wielding spears.

Oh-Uh!

***

The Spirits hated him, Zuko was sure.

Not only was going to the Fire Nation Festival a disaster, no, but now he was in one of the huts of deserters and traitors of his country!

If his father ever found out he was near the infamous Jeong Jeong the Deserter, he could forget his throne and say hi to a nice little cell on the Boiling Rock!

Maybe Uncle Iroh was right and his plan did have flaws.

No, he couldn’t think like that!

As long as he keeps his “Blue” theatre-going, no one would ever need to know how he captures the Avatar and Daimon.

Still…when he was a boy, Zuko remembered how Uncle Iroh talked about Jeong Jeong, calling him a military genius and a dear friend.

Could someone, whose uncle so appreciated, really be a bad guy?

The part of him, that was formed through propaganda, said yes, but his emotional side, who trusted his Uncle said no.

So…does it mean the Fire Nation, his father, was in the wrong? It was like someone threw a bucket of cold icy water on him.

How could Zuko think such traitorous thoughts?!

He was his father's and his nation's loyal servant!

That’s why he did this spiel of being friends with Aang and Hua to capture them for his nation.

For his honour and to eliminate their biggest treat!

Still…he looked at the people who slept beside him.

Katara was nearly snuggled on his side, which was not good for his racing teenage hormones. He was still a teenager and she was a beautiful girl, who was too trusting of him!

Sokka slept behind him to not make any funny business happen.

Like Zuko would do anything to Katara.

Sweet and fierce Katara, who naturally took him in in their group and acted with him like they were old friends.

She didn’t deserve the heartbreak he would cause her when he took Aang and Hua away.

Zuko had seen and felt how Katara saw the two youngest as her own.

But he wouldn’t have a choice.

He never has a choice.

Then there were Aang and Hua.

Hua slept on Aang's chest, gripping his robes, while Aang embraced the smaller girl.

They looked like two puzzle pieces.

A perfect fit.

Just none of these two wanted to look reality in the face.

Behind his mask Zuko signed.

He was already a way to invest with everyone, even with Sokka when they squabbled over random things, it would only hurt when he betrayed- when he had to fulfil his mission.

More than normal he wished for his Uncle's advice, okay, Uncle Iroh would sprout some weird proverb nonsense, but then he would help Zuko figure it out.

Another sign left his lips.

He should try to sleep.

Thinking this all over and over wouldn’t change a thing.

He NEEDED his honour, his place as the crown prince back.

He wouldn’t leave the Fire Nation in the perfectly manicured hands of his cruel sister!

Azula cared for power, not for people.

It’s then that Chey enters their little hut.

So much for sleeping.

Careful, with Hua still in his arms, Aang sits up.

“What happened? Can we see Jeong Jeong now?”, he whispered, while Hua cutely snuggled up closer to him and Aang stroked her black hair.

Yeah, these two were already a couple and didn’t even notice.

How did Katara said to Zuko? Aang and Hua were two lovable idiots in the mysterious ways of love.

He had to agree.

Meanwhile, Chey made a face.

“The thing is…he only wants to speak to the Daimon since her next element is Fire. He doesn’t want to talk to you at all. After talking with the Daimon he wants you all to leave immediately.”

“Finally!”, shouted Sokka, which woke now everyone up. “Let's hit the road.”

“Why won't he see me?”, wonders Aang, while Katara and Hua yawn and rub the sleep from their eyes.

“He says you're not ready. Says you haven't mastered waterbending and earthbending yet.”, Chey explains.

“Wait, how does he know that?”

“He saw the way you walked into camp. He could tell.”

“I'm going in, anyway!”

“Wait Aang!”, stops him Hua. “I should probably talk first with Master Jeong Jeong. He did ask for me. Maybe I can sway him to teach you too.”

Katara nodded. “I’m with Hua. Let her talk with him first.”

After a second to reflect on it, Aang agreed.

That’s when Chey let the metaphorical bomb explode.

“He wants to talk to the Blue Spirit too.”

All eyes zero’ed on Zuko, while he started sweating.

What did the infamous deserter want from him?

Maybe his rigid body told Chey what he was thinking since the man said to him: “I dunno, why he wants to talk with you. Maybe because you are fighting against the Fire Nation too?”

“Or because he IS Fire Nation.”, whisper-shouted Sokka.

For that, Katara hit with her elbow the side of his stomach.

Ignoring Sokka’s paranoia Hua stood up and waved to Zuko.

“Come on, Blue let’s talk to Master Jeong Jeong.”

Did he have a choice in this matter?

Not if he didn’t want to blow his cover.

So he followed Hua to Jeong-Jeong's hut.

They squabbled a bit about who should go in first before it was decided Zuko should go in first.

Jeong Jeong surely wanted to talk longer to Hua as she was the Daimon, than he who was a vigilante.

Yeah, Zuko had a bad feeling.

The feeling got worse when he stepped into the hut and saw Jeong Jeong already turned in his direction, fixing him with a knowing look.

Nervous Zuko bowed before him.

He wondered what Jeong Jeong wanted from him.

***

Yawing Hua was sitting beside Master Jeong Jeong's hut.

He and Blue were talking quite long.

What did a Firebending master need to tell their friend, which took so much time?

If she wasn’t so sleepy, she would thought about it more, but Hua wanted just to fall back in Aang's arms and sleep till midday.

She was really tired, okay?

That’s when Blue stepped out of the hut. Her friend stared down on the floor, seeming pensive.

“Hey Blue.”, she greeted him, standing up. “Is anything alright?”

Even if his mask didn’t show his eyes, Hua felt them formally on her.

Something desperate and sad was in them.

“Blue?”

He just patted her head and walked in the direction of the forest.

Did he need time to think?

Hopeful he would return soon.

With a sign, Hua stepped into Jeong Jeong's hut.

She could smell the soft fragrance of jasmine as she bowed before the master.

“Master Jeong Jeong it is an honour to meet you.”, she greeted him.

“Raise, girl.”

So she did as she was told.

Jeong Jeong had wild white hair, a scar going down one of his eyes and wore simple black clothes.

He was currently making tea.

That’s why she smelled jasmine.

“Take a seat.”

She kneeled in perfect seiza before him. Jeong Jeong handed her a cup of tea.

“Drink. It’s a brand a friend of mine likes quite much, it will help you to stay awake.”

Hua thanked him with a bow and tasted the tea.

Mmh, what a filigree and delicious taste.

Jeong Jeong's friend knows his tea.

“You wanted to speak with me, Master?”

“Indeed, girl. I know you aren’t an earthbending master yet.”

How did he know?

“But you are getting closer. Your next element is fire.”

She nodded.

“I’m currently training in it with a scroll, but there isn’t anymore for me.”

“I see.”, hummed Jeong Jeong, sipping his own tea. “You need a master.”

“Are you offering yourself, it would be a great help and honour, Master.”

“This would mean, you have to leave your friends and your Avatar.”, he told her simply. “He needs to learn water and has to go to the North Pole, if you wanna learn fire you have to stay here with me before you rejoin him to learn earth.”

It was like a slap in the face!

Leaving….Leaving Aang, Katara and Sokka?

Staying here all alone?!

What?!

“I had a feeling.”, declared Jeong Jeong with wise eyes. “You and the Avatar were brought together too soon and started to learn together 100 years ago, I’m correct?”

Not trusting her voice Hua nodded, before she croaked out. “I lived in the Southern Air Temple a few months before Sozin’s Comet came. With me was an Earth Sage, Master De, who trained me in earthbending, while Aang should have perfected his airbending. Since then we have always been together.”

“What fools.”, grumble the master. “I can understand letting you meet so soon and tell your destinies because the war was on the horizon, but starting the bond between you was foolish! An Avatar and Daimon pair normally meets once at 16 then four times a year, when each season begins, till they have mastered their respective elements. Then the bond should take root and lead to love or companionship. But this mess…only complicated things. You can’t anymore be without each other.”

This made Hua bite her lips nervous.

Should she ask?

She needed to ask.

“Will you teach Aang then with me?”

“No!”, he said loud and clear. Even the flames of the candles rose up. “He needs to learn water and earth first! But I recognize I can’t keep you from your Avatar.”

Jeong Jeong handed her a little chest, which she hadn’t noted before.

“Here are some Firebending scrolls. More advanced than the one you have surely. Learn with this, till you and the Avatar come to learn fire from me. But before master earth and water. This is the best solution for the mess the monks and Earth Sages did 100 years ago.”

The Daimon thanked Jeong Jeong with a bow, hugging the chest to herself.

“Go in peace, young Daimon.”

“You too, master.”

Hua knew when she was dismissed, so she went to their hut for the night.

How should she explain to Aang that Jeong Jeong didn’t want to teach him?

***

In the end, Hua's worry was for nothing.

Somehow Aang convinced Jeong-Jeong to teach them both.

So the next morning, while Sokka fishes, Katara practices her waterbending and Blue still hasn’t returned, the Avatar and Daimon stand bandy-legged, on flat stones in the river.

Jeong Jeong stands a foot or two away on the bank in front of his cottage.

“Widen your stance. Wider! Bend your knees. Now, concentrate.”, tells them, Jeong Jeong. “Good, good!”

“Wait! What do we do now?”, wonders Aang, while Hua sends him a look that screams don’t speak!

“Silence! Talking is not concentrating! Look at your friend, is she talking? Even that oaf knows to concentrate on what he's doing!”

From Sokka comes an offended Hey.

“But what are we concentrating on?”, asks Aang again and Hua makes an aport-the-mission sign.

“Feel the heat of the sun. It is the greatest source of fire. Yet, it is completely balanced with nature!”, explains Jeong Jeong.

Hua nods, takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

She tries to feel the warmth, only concentrating on that, but, of course, Aang has to interrupt again: “So when do I get to make some fire?”

“Concentrate!”

“Aang, you make ME lose my concretion!”, shouts Hua together with Jeong Jeong.

Their teacher leaves them and Aang feels embarrassed. Even more when he hears Sokka and Katara giggle behind him.

He blushes.

Hua just signs and follows Jeong Jeong's instructions.

She wants to become a better firebender, if she has to start at the beginning she will.

A while later, Jeong Jeong returns and leads them high up on a mountain.

Aang can’t keep himself from asking if they can make fire now, only for their teacher to say he brought them there to breathe.

The Avatar was in disbelief, but he followed Jeong Jeong's instructions.

Then he leaves the two alone again.

It takes Aang exactly five minutes before he whispers: “Hua, hey Hua!”

The spoken to girl just continued breathing, trying to ignore Aang.

She wants to fulfil this exercise to Jeong Jeong pleasing.

Sadly Aang calls her again a few times.

Hua loses her nerves when he pokes her.

“What Aang?!”, she shouts. “What is so important?!”

“Come on, you have to think this is wasting our time. We already can do firebending moves.”, Aang whines.

“Aang, I think we should listen to our teacher. Jeong Jeong knows more about this then we both together. Look, he already corrected our stance. We were all wrong.”

The boy huffs a little.

But it was so boring!

It was more fun learning firebending with Hua and the scroll.

“You know what, I’m going to talk to Jeong Jeong.”, declared Aang.

“Aang that’s a bad idea, just do the exercise.”

However, her other half was already on the way to their master.

Hua couldn’t help herself to huff.

Aang, the airhead, wanted to have fun, then really learn the elements.

Did he think the war was a joke?

Well, she at least would listen to Jeong Jeong.

She didn’t know how much time passed, it was like she had fallen into a trance when she heard someone come for her.

Silence was around them.

Curious she opened one eye.

It was Blue!

“Hey, Blue, were where you? We have been worried.”, she tells him.

Blue only stares at her.

A bit nervous Hua opens fully her eyes.

“I’m currently meditating, feeling the sun, you know for firebending.”

Still nothing from her friend.

A bad feeling took its place in Hua's stomach.

Then Blue finally moved, coming towards her.

***

After Katara healed Aang's burn, they finally noted their missing friends.

“Where are Hua and Blue?”, wondered Katara.

She had a bad feeling in her stomach.

“She is probably still where Jeong Jeong left her. I know where.”, said Aang calmly.

Jaiyi yipped it at him in a way that said let’s hurry and pick up my girl.

So Aang flows Appa in the direction of the mountain.

What they found there surprised them.

It looked like a battlefield, with burn marks on the ground, yet strangely Blue and Hua were sitting there together, talking with each other.

The girl even seemed to have cried.

“Hey Hua, Mask-Dude!”, called Sokka for their attention. “Need a lift?”

“Hey guys, that would be nice.”, sniffled Hua and Blue patted her shoulder.

They helped them on Appa and Katara fussed over Hua.

“What’s wrong Hua? Did you hurt yourself?”

“No, no…Blue and I talked.”

“He can talk.”, sassed Sokka in between.

All ignored him.

“Blue wants to give you something Katara.”, told Hua.

Now all were curious.

Blue took something out of his pocket and gave it to Katara.

“It’s my mother's necklace!”, shouted Katara happy. She thought she would never see it again. “Blue where did you find it?!”

“I found it on the prison ship you started a riot with the earthbenders.”, talked Blue for the first time to them.

His voice may have been a bit muffled from his mask, but the other three know this voice well enough.

Sokka got his boomerang ready.

“I know it!”, he shouted.

Slowly Blue took his mask off...and they looked at Prince Zuko's calm and somewhat defeated face!

Muhahahaha I hope you like the cliffhanger!

I wonder what will now happen? :D

Let me hear your theories!

I hope the next chapter won’t take this long, but if it does please be patient with me and motivate me with comments so I keep on writing :D

Till next time <3

Last

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amethystina · 10 months ago

Note

I was casually rereading whtd, as one does, and reading the comments (because i love the extra insight you give about the information that we're limited to in Ga On's pov) when i stumbled upon this comment: "… sort everything out? (and no one dies along the way, hopefully) He'll be very happy for them." about lawyer Ko and that in combination with the "minor character death tag" has made me Extremele worried about him. (plus you have also said that the kidnapping tag is not the one we should be worried about!!) I know you probably can't say anything about this because of spoilers, but know that it has been noted!!

Also kind of want a scene wherein lawyer Ko, Yo Han and Ga On are all together. Their dynamic would be so exquisite!! (obviously no pressure to actually write this, just a thought)

Anyway, whtd remains so good even after already having read and reread it in its entirety at least 5 times (and some scenes/chapters much more than that) (my ao3 history says i've visited whtd 200 times… so uh. yeah. i'm normal). I love slow burn so much (to the point where most romance book leave me disappointed bc they MCs get together like 100 pages in), i just love reading/watching the build up of a relationship and you write it so well!

I guess i just wanted to thank you for writing! I hope you're doing well <3

I'm usually very careful not to spoil what's going to happen in future chapters but I'll make an exception this time and flat-out say that you don't have to worry — Lawyer Ko is not going to die. I would literally never forgive myself if I killed him xD Not to mention that you all would probably come for my head if I did. He's just too amazing to be killed off!

So, rest assured, he's not going to die :)

And there will be at least one scene with Ga On, Yo Han, and Lawyer Ko in the same room unless my plans change dramatically. Which they rarely do, but "rarely" isn't the same as "never" so we'll see. Truth be told, though, I'll probably try really hard to keep it because I totally agree — the dynamic would be SPECTACULAR. So yeah. Stay tuned for that, I guess? ;)

You've definitely read Who Holds the Devil more times than I have x'D At least in its entirety. I mean, I reread the chapters at least twice (often three or four times) but I rarely start from the beginning and read it all the way through. I did at the end of my long break last year to get back into the swing of it, but it's difficult to find the time for that since I always have to focus on the next chapter. Which is a bit stressful at times, I will admit, since it puts more pressure on me to remember things at the top of my head (or at least know where to look if I want to check any details) but I'm lucky enough to be blessed with a really good memory, so that helps.

Anyway, I'm so glad you're enjoying it 💜 I honestly didn't plan for the slow burn to be quite this slow when I started the fic, but I can't say I have any regrets. Much like you, I just enjoy it too much ;) There's something so incredibly satisfying about delving this deep into Ga On and Yo Han's feelings and slowly developing relationship. And I guess that's also why I can't help throwing out tidbits of information in the comments, since there's usually so, so much happening within this story that you readers don't see (especially within Yo Han's head).

And I'm still not sure how to handle the knowledge that some people read the comments specifically to find those tidbits. Like, I don't mind you doing so! Go right ahead! They're public and all that. But it kind of blows my mind that some of you are so interested in what I'm writing that you'll do that. It feels a bit surreal to me, but in a good way? Like I'm an ACTUAL writer or something xD

Anyway, thank you so much for this kind and supportive message 💜 I definitely needed it right now because things honestly aren't all that great. Partly because of overall exhaustion and restlessness — mostly due to work — but even more so since it's now been a month since I posted a chapter and the requests for me to please update soon are starting to come in. I swear, it happens like clockwork every time I don't post within a month. And, what makes it worse, is that it's often from people I don't see comments from when I actually DO upload more frequently. As in, they don't comment on the fic itself, only when they think I don't update fast enough. Which is pretty disheartening, not going to lie.

Tragically enough, once the month mark passes, I have to start bracing myself whenever I get a comment or ask because there's now a 50/50 chance that it'll be someone asking me to update soon. They usually try to be nice about it, but it kind of always fails.

So, again, thank you for this. Because while I know that I should take my time and update on my own schedule, it's not always easy to remember that when people start asking me why it's taking so long. This was a nice change of pace and I'm very grateful for your kindness. Thank you 💜

#Amethystina Replies #Anonymous #... well that turned into a bit of a bummer #Sorry about that #I think I'm just a bit moody in general tonight #I actually have 8k written on the next chapter #But as usual I don't know exactly how long it'll end up being #So that's not saying much #I also admit that I'm kind of dragging my feet a little #Because it's another chapter that's very exhausting to write #And since I'm already exhausted it's difficult to find the energy to write #I'm not one of those who need motivation since I can push through most types of writer's block #But I DO need to be able to string sentences together #And I can't guarantee that in my current state

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pyropsychiccollector · 9 months ago

Text

Yuma Harem: Down Came the Rain 1/7

Time to begin the third series~... I wanted to make sure to do all of the poll winners first, so that's the initial reason for spreading the love between series. :3 And now it's Rain Code's turn~...

As always, this will be an AU. Rain Code killed off... a good half of this harem. And Guillaume might as well be dead for all that she drops off the map after Chapter 3... XD So Fubuki and Kurumi are the only canon survivors. And the game ends on a pretty somber note with Yuma just leaving after regaining his memories, moving onto the next adventure. Very typical in shounen series, honestly. It's not "bad", just...

I want to fix things. (人◕ω◕) Too much death. Too much hurting the Kokohead. The Kokomelon, as some fans might affectionately call him. (人◕ω◕) And moreover, the "Yuma" we come to know "dies" as he regains his memories. Sure, it's strongly hinted that his feelings and experiences are just integrated into his original self... But we don't know the former #1 of the WDO. We know "Yuma", the amnesiac. Maybe Yuma had principles before he gave up his memories, maybe he did have morals... But if Makoto showed us anything, he was frankly a ruthlessly cunning individual that crossed any line in order to reach the truth. You can see this in how he assigned a great many detectives to Kanai Ward, and most of them died.

... I know I'm rambling, but the point I wanted to make is that I'll be focusing on the Yuma that we know. Not that the former #1 isn't interesting to think about... But Yuma has heart, you know? I wish to reward that. Reward the nice guys. Reward the goobers. (人◕ω◕) It does mean Shinigami will be sticking around, and you could count her as an unofficial member of the harem (... I mean, c'mon. What? You want Shinigami to bonk her Master silly in the Mystery Labyrinth? Perverts. (人◕ω◕) Not that I'm much better.)... But as you'll see, I've tweaked the idea of Mystery Labyrinths. If Kodaka's going to have a game just short of Persona, I'm gonna go "all the way" with those ideas. Put my own spin on the concepts. (人◕ω◕) I regret nothing.

The Beginning

To absolutely no one's surprise... Kurumi won the poll. lol I don't mind, she's essentially "Detective Chiaki". Finally, a series where "Chiaki" lives... For those who played Danganronpa, they were just brutal with her, tearing out and stomping on our hearts. Again and again. XD As a consequence, though, Kodaka killed off just about everyone else. ... He just can't let us be happy, can he? (人◕ω◕)***

But this lets me get Kurumi-chan outta the way. Again, not that she's bad... She's honestly a really sweet girl, and I won't pretend otherwise. It's just that we know Kurumi's story, know her dynamic with Yuma. And I personally like saving my dessert - that is, the girls that I most strongly support with the protagonist - for last. ... Didn't completely work out for Fate, but aw well. (人◕ω◕)

... I'm rambling again. There's stuff I gotta elaborate on. The first thing to note in this AU is that through a miracle, the train gang - the detectives that Yuma first got to know before reaching Kanai Ward - are all spared, save for Zilch. What ended up happening is that Yuma passed out in front of the detectives, fell over and bumped his head. This allowed the detectives to figure out that he was drugged - likely by the coffee he drank - and the fake Zilch was left to improvise and have Swank and the Peacekeepers deal with the detectives after faking his death to pin on the detectives.

Yuma still goes to the Mystery Labyrinth and Shinigami executes fake Zilch at the end of it. Yakou still arrives to help get the Peacekeepers off Yuma and friends' backs, and they all successfully make it to the Nocturnal Detective Agency. I bring up this background information just so there's not any confusion about Pucci's survival, later on... And why I'll be bringing up the train detectives in subsequent Chapters. XD

Chapter 1 still goes the same way. So we'll skip right to the relevant bits: the Aetheria Academy arc. Chapter 2. (人◕ω◕)

Chapter 2 is... more changes. Due to a few more detectives moving around in Kanai Ward (Pucci, Aphex, Zange, Melami), the NDA is a little more known. Which is why one of the "Aetheria trio" (Yoshiko, Waruna, Kurane) approaches Yuma first, as opposed to Kurumi. Kurane-chan wanted to desperately explore one last non-violent option to expose Karen, and avoid blackening Waruna and Yoshiko's souls. (人◕ω◕)

... I won't go into full details just yet, save that for the appropriate posts. However, I will say that Kurane's actions do wind up saving herself, Waruna, and Yoshiko from becoming killers. It doesn't all go to plan, and they do throw Yuma under the bus when crap hits the fan... But they live, and are able to atone for screwing Yuma over. The Aetheria trio still has futures. (人◕ω◕)

With all this background explained... Let's talk about Kurumi~ Because Kurane was the first to approach Yuma, Kurumi is initially unaware of who "Yumi", one of the new girls at the academy, is. She doesn't know he's a detective looking into Aiko's death (Kurane is testing him, which is why she didn't give him all the details), just that "Yumi" cares enough to ask about Aiko and what happened to her. ... And "Yumi" is rather cute. Kurumi-chan totally fangirls over Yuma's female disguise that he got from Desuhiko. Fooled into thinking he is a girl, and just another student at the academy. (人◕ω◕)

Kurumi and Yuma hit it off pretty well. For the week or so leading up to the fateful rehearsal, Yuma pokes around, trying to pinpoint the truth behind Aiko's death, whether it was a suicide or if someone killed her. Initially, Kurumi tries putting the brakes on his investigation because Yuma's a "civilian", and she doesn't want him getting in trouble with the Peacekeepers... But after Yuma half-lies and says he has connections with the new detective agency in town, promising to get them involved if Kurumi lets him investigate... Kurumi allows it, and gives her all in supporting "Yumi".

... Then the rehearsal happens, and "Yumi" stands accused of Karen's murder. Kurumi is still kept out of the loop as Yuma, Desuhiko, and Melami give the Peacekeepers the runaround while investigating the new murder case. She does what she can for "Yumi" by asking the theater club members and comforting them, but unfortunately Kurumi's not able to do too much with all the Peacekeepers locking the theater hall down.

It's not until after everything blows over that Kurumi finds out the truth about "Yumi". ... I mean, she saw him exposed as a man when Martina cornered the detectives on stage, but she wouldn't get the full story until the case's bumpy resolution. Kurumi didn't take it very hard she was kept in the dark for so long; Yuma had his reasons, and while he couldn't keep a new murder from happening he did help expose the truth and bring closure to Aiko's death. And it was a relief that her doubts about Yoshiko, Waruna, and Kurane could be put to rest. All four of them were close friends of Aiko, and it hurt that Aiko is gone... But they're able to move forward now, even if the trio has regrets and feel they need to atone in their own ways.

Kurumi helps Yuma with his investigation into Kanai Ward, filling him in on the information her grandfather uncovered before he disappeared. That Amaterasu was dabbling in homunculus research. Kanai Ward is still a broken city in dire need of hope, but Kurumi feels more optimistic now that detectives have finally arrived. The perpetual rain feels a little less oppressing~

The Middle Act

Kurumi bonds with Yuma and the other detectives in the coming weeks. (人◕ω◕) Kurane does, too, clinging to Yuma pretty hard... And Waruna and Yoshiko come around at their own paces. The bottom line is, Yuma becomes a good friend to the Aetheria girls. (人◕ω◕) He can never replace Aiko... But he fills the role she left behind. Yuma's an earnest, kindhearted young man that won't stand for injustice. Yet he won't give into despair, won't stoop to murder or similar extreme methods. The ends don't justify the means. In his unwavering beliefs and how he slowly gains confidence the more time he spends in Kanai Ward, Yuma helps the Aetheria girls to remain grounded. He helps them to have hope once more. (人◕ω◕)

Of course Yuma's got a giant target painted on his back because of the Peacekeepers running everything, but Kurumi stands by Yuma. Not just because she's the city's only informant, but because Yuma is her friend. And he helped her connect with Yoshiko, Waruna, and Kurane.

... So when Yomi still nukes the sub, a couple of weeks after the Aetheria case... Kurumi is swept up into urgency by Kurane, who's the most worried about Yuma, especially after he gets spirited away by the Resistance... It's not like there's much they can do. Needless to say, Chapter 3 is pretty rough for the Aetheria girls. While Waruna and Yoshiko are still in the middle of reflecting and bonding with the detectives at their own respective paces, and while they have varying doubts about how much the detectives can really impact Kanai Ward's situation with Amaterasu... They still didn't wish harm on the detectives. Not after being given a new lease on life. Kurumi and Kurane are the closest with the detectives, and it hurts to see the sub blown up, to not know if the other detectives are alive... To know that someone kidnapped Yuma...

And later, events go further downhill. Yuma and the detectives get pinned as bombers, as terrorists... The Aetheria girls have to be careful with the Peacekeepers suffocating Kanai Ward more than usual in their hunt for the detectives, but they can't just stand by and not help Yuma find the truth behind the new case. Marunomon District doesn't get flooded this time around, but bombs going off and killing people is still... pretty bad... Kurumi does everything she can as an informant to glean as much evidence and testimony as possible. And Kurane looks to her, emulating Kurumi in her own way. Kurane's greatest strength is that people rarely notice her, even the bumbling Peacekeepers that are so dead-set on tracking down Yuma. It's an awesome investigative power, and Kurumi's grateful to have Kurane's help in gathering clues. Waruna and Yoshiko help in their own ways; Waruna's the fiery, overprotective girl, the "muscle"; and Yoshiko has... connections. Mostly schoolmates, but she's on good terms with people outside the academy, too.

Regardless of Kurumi and the Aetheria trio's help, Yuma, Aphex, and Fubuki still end up cornered. ... And then through some miracle, all the detectives come out of the woodwork, and they're saved and the Peacekeepers grudgingly stand down when Amaterasu's CEO shows up. Kurumi's not sure what to make of Makoto, he seems like a pretty laidback guy, but there are undertones of... something more, beneath the surface. He saved the detectives, saved Yuma, but Kurumi can't help wondering what Makoto's angle is. And she's even more baffled when the CEO gives the detectives their sub back, with everything inside pretty much the same as it was before it got destroyed.

About a month flies by before they all know it, after that debacle. The detectives are all reunited, Kurumi and the Aetheria trio can still hang around them, and even the Resistance leaders are coming around now... Kurumi was a bit intimidated by the Resistance before the detectives came to the city, only really having rumors to go off of. But really, the Resistance leaders are pretty goofy, even if they're capable in their own right. They're not as extreme as the rumors would have you believe.

With all of them coming together, it really feels like they can effect change in Kanai Ward. The Peacekeepers are still wary of the detectives, still want to arrest them... Or at least some of them do. Kurumi begins noticing that some Peacekeepers are, however grudgingly, allowing the detectives to look into cases. At least the small-time stuff. ... If Amaterasu is linked at all in incidents, they're still pretty defensive and ornery. But there's a lot of crime in Kanai Ward, and Amaterasu isn't tied in everything... Just the most serious stuff.

And with Vivia's latest intel, they've been trying to locate a secret lab where the homunculus research is being conducted. To no avail, but it's the best lead they have to go on. And so a month after that last debacle... Kurumi is anxious when the detectives go straight to Amaterasu and get wrapped up in another incident. She, her friends, and the Resistance can't do much but wait for the detectives to come back, and it's an agonizing wait...

Thankfully, the detectives do make it out of Amaterasu's HQ in one piece. And they bring good news: Yomi's been arrested, and it truly seems like Kanai Ward will change for the better after this. Kurumi's glad. The detectives still have their mission of discovering Kanai Ward's Ultimate Secret... But for the first time in years, Kanai Ward seems to have a bright future ahead of them.

... To Kurumi and everyone else's dismay, however, the tragedies aren't over yet. Apparently, after they see the news of the World Detective Organization getting bombed, everyone in the sub at the time is knocked out. And when they wake back up... Yuma is gone. Nothing else was taken, no threatening note was left behind... Yuma's just disappeared.

They all have a bad feeling about this. The detectives are determined to settle this themselves, to keep the "civilians" out of harm's way... But Kurumi, the Aetheria trio, and the Resistance absolutely refuse to sit this one out. While the detectives go straight to Amaterasu HQ to confront them about Yuma's abduction, the Aetheria girls and the Resistance scour Kanai Ward, just on the off chance that Yuma was taken by someone else...

To their great horror and discomfort, however... Yuma is nowhere to be found. They investigate hard over the next two days... The detectives return with their conclusion Yuma isn't in Amaterasu, they were even allowed free roam of the Amaterasu premises by Peacekeepers and researchers alike. And... he wasn't there. The Aetheria girls and the Resistance didn't have any luck, either - no one had seen or heard from Yuma. It's like he disappeared from the world completely...

And that's around the time that the detectives decided it was time to confront the one area they'd left untouched: The Restricted Area. If Yuma was nowhere in the Kanai Ward that they knew... Then he had to be there. Determined to save Yuma, everyone bands together to bust into the Restricted Area, rules and laws be damned. (人◕ω◕) They take one of the Resistance's vans and use it like a battering ram to plow through the electric fence around the perimeter of the Restricted Area. Then they take another van and drive on through the opening, not trusting at all what might be on the other side...

The Restricted Area is unlike anything they'd seen in Kanai Ward. It was rundown, and it seemed like an older area of the city, nowhere near as bright and illuminating as the rest of the city. It was like... darkness lurked in the Restricted Area. A deep darkness that made Kurumi feel anxious and worried, but they needed to take the plunge and find Yuma at all costs... He... He had to be there. There was nowhere left. No other possibilities. Kurumi and everyone else were unable to accept the possibility that it was too late to save Yuma... that he was already gone.

After finding that the Restricted Area was not an easy place to navigate by car, and that the people roaming about it seemed... strange somehow... the "Yuma Rescue Squad" got out to explore the area on foot. Servan and Aphex would stay with the van, driving around where they could and keeping an eye out. But the detectives, Kurumi, the Aetheria trio, and Shachi, and Iruka all split up to cover the most ground. They weren't dumb enough to search on their own, not in such unfamiliar territory; they formed pairs or groups. Kurumi stuck with her friends, and bravely forged on ahead.

... It was such a spooky, spine-tingling place. The locals were gruff and unresponsive to them, and not a single teenager was keen on approaching them more closely. They vaguely knew that this area was rumored to have had a gas leak in the nearby mines, and that Amaterasu labeled this town as uninhabitable... So maybe the locals were so strange because of that gas leak. Amaterasu might not have been able to do anything for the people here.

All Kurumi could do was keep searching for Yuma... He had to be okay. He had to be. Seeing this place so desolate and brought to utter ruination... A heavy weight was in Kurumi's chest and refused to go away. If Yuma was here, there was a good chance that he hadn't eaten or slept well... But they would save him. They wouldn't leave a single stone unturned.

To their immense relief, Kurane was able to find Yuma after what must have been an hour... He was holed up in a random house, after barricading the door and windows. Yuma... Yuma was bleeding. It looked like someone or something had tried gnawing his shoulder and neck, and his clothes were all roughed up. Kurumi and Yoshiko did what they could, scrounging around for any First Aid supplies in the home, bandaging Yuma up and sterilizing his wounds. He was horrified at seeing them in the abandoned village, fearfully asking if they'd encountered anyone... If everyone else had come here.

Yuma was not that relieved to hear that was the case. When asked what had happened to him, why he was holed up here, all Yuma could say was that the people in this village were wrong... They weren't normal. Weren't sane. He even went so far as to call them zombies... Yuma wasn't sure how or why he was brought here, but they needed to round up everyone and leave. He didn't want to endanger his friends...

He didn't feel that he was worth the effort to come here. Yuma had been prepared to just die trapped in this abandoned house. But now all he wants is to just get everyone safely out of the village... go back where they came. If they have to leave him behind, so be it.

Yoshiko and Waruna gave Yuma an earful about his self-sacrificial attitude, and Kurumi and Kurane just did their best to comfort him. They'd make it out... But Kurumi came to the realization that they should investigate this place. Yes, safety was paramount... But if they just left, Yuma could get dragged back here by whoever kidnapped him. Hell, the Peacekeepers might punish them for breaking in here, or they'd just seal off the Restricted Area again... This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to find out what this place was, what happened here, and why Yuma was brought here.

... Kurane doesn't like the thought of lingering somewhere that almost got Yuma killed, but Waruna and Yoshiko uneasily agree that Kurumi's right. They can't just... leave without answers. They'll look around while searching for the Resistance and the detectives.

In subsequent events, they skirt around the locals that Yuma's deeply fearful of. They investigate an old post office, and find the order to evacuate amidst papers left behind. Soon enough familiar faces show up, and the girls have no choice but to believe the "zombie" story that Yuma fed them. There's no other explanation for seeing Karen and her father approaching them sluggishly, moaning and groaning incomprehensibly. They make a run for it, and somebody outside shoots an arrow attached with a note that explained a little bit about defective homunculi... They don't have the time to sit and reflect on it, so they keep moving, and eventually run into the Priest from the church, as well as that Worshipper. And before long, more and more familiar faces emerge from the woodwork, none of them can be reasoned with so Yuma and the girls keep running.

Gradually, they hook back up with the other Rescue Squad members, who are thankfully in one piece, if not spooked by the seemingly cannibalistic residents. They eventually reach the ominous factory, and uncover more information about homunculi and the true nature of Kanai Ward. Some Rescue Squad members are already in the factory and surrounding areas, poking around. They learn the uncomfortable truth that the meat buns of Kanai Ward are made from human corpses, and they just keep learning more and more...

The final "stop" on their tour is an old bathhouse up high. They all can see this is where the unending rain originates from, and when they turn off the equipment... everyone but the detectives pass out, and the residents of the abandon village go berserk. Makoto arrives to restore the rain, but only after Yuma "lends a hand". Right after the rain is back, Makoto and the detectives have a tense standoff, and Yuma has no choice but to access the Mystery Labyrinth one more time to resolve everything. Thankfully, however, he's not alone as all the Nocturnal Detective Agency personnel join Yuma on this last eye-opening adventure. (人◕ω◕)

The Future

Players should probably know by now how the final adventure goes. (人◕ω◕) Yuma uncovers everything, and this time he's got his NDA friends supporting him, not just Shinigami. It's an emotional rollercoaster for all of them... But they get Makoto to change his ways, to leave the labyrinth and reveal the truth without killing him.

I haven't really mentioned up until now, but the chief difference with the labyrinths from canon is that it's possible to talk it out with the culprits' souls and have them reveal the truth to everyone outside the labyrinth. There's no need to execute the culprit every single time. With the soul returning to the culprit, changed, the labyrinth fades away on its own. So essentially, Yuma and co. won't have to use Shinigami's emergency exit. (人◕ω◕) Shinigami can remain contracted to Yuma.

Of course that means Yuma won't regain his memories... But he's fine with that in the end~ Because all the mysteries have been solved. Makoto is going to tell Kanai Ward everything, and he's going to strive to open their city up to the world and allow them opportunities to leave. Amaterasu will develop innovations to help them deal with their weakness to sunlight. Hearing the truth will be hard for the citizens, especially for the Rescue Squad... But the people of Kanai Ward will endure.

And the NDA... Well... (人◕ω◕) Yakou thinks he'll be on his own again, everyone else returning to the WDO for new assignments... But he's floored when he's wrong. Yuma, for one, resolves to stay and help the NDA. Kanai Ward still needs detectives... They're at a crossroads now, with Peacekeepers receiving a major overhaul, Amaterasu coming back from years of corruption. Yuma might not have the memories, but he knows that he used to be #1 of the WDO, and as he currently is... He can't lead the organization. Yuma would rather work here, where he knows he can still make a difference. (人◕ω◕) The train gang that he came here with pretty much agree to stay, too, for their own reasons. Desuhiko, Halara, Vivia, and Fubuki will at least go back to the WDO for the election to decide the new #1, but then they'll probably come back to help as detectives~ Their time here wasn't long, but they're loyal to each other and to Yakou. It's enough to make the poor guy bawl his eyes out. He's touched. (人◕ω◕)

Kurumi graduates from Aetheria Academy soon after everything resolves, and she remains the city's informant - although with the detectives' help, she may find new informants willing to step up, to learn from her~ Yuma remained here because of his bonds with the few people of Kanai Ward that he's gotten to know these past several weeks. He has an ever-deepening bond with Kurumi and her friends, and the Resistance.

Yuma still has plans to travel the world someday... He may or may not settle in Kanai Ward forever... But he's in no rush to leave. And even if he ever does depart, Yuma will have a bunch of... buddies... tagging along. (人◕ω◕) ... Alright, they're his girlfriends. No use beating around the bush. He can't deny that he loves them all, and they love him. ... A lot. (人◕ω◕) Sure, certain girls are more competitive and greedy... But Kurumi's one of the ones willing to share Yuma. Yoshiko, Waruna, Kurane, Fubuki, Pucci... They're all good people. She wouldn't keep Yuma from them~

... Guillaume is an interesting one, but more on her later. (人◕ω◕)

Surprisingly, Kurumi is slower on the "I wanna marry Yuma" campaign... She's content to just be with him. Yoshiko, Waruna, and Kurane are more ambitious. ... Or in Kurane's case, she just... needs him. Very badly. (人◕ω◕) Pucci is ambitious, too. Fubuki more goes with the flow. Guillaume is... Guillaume. There's no rush for baby Yuma's, either. Not for Kurumi, at least. Not to say Kurumi wouldn't like having a family with Yuma; the idea is very appealing. It's just... Kurumi's deeply flustered with that intimate stuff. The really, really intimate stuff. Hugs and kisses are great, she likes cuddling, but taking off clothes and doing..... that... Kurumi's not horny. It's too embarrassing for her. In the beginning, anyway. Kurumi is beaten out by her friends in this instance; each of them having their reasons for craving Yuma on that physical level. (人◕ω◕)

Nevertheless, Kurumi does form a family with Yuma someday. Makoto was gracious enough to give Yuma and his ladies residence in Kanai Tower, and later he also helps oversee the building of a proper "home" for all of them... Of course it has to be big. There's seven of them plus Yuma. And then you throw in their kids... Yuma's life is very busy with seven lovers, but he doesn't regret loving them. (人◕ω◕) Kurumi's one of the gentler, "fun" moms. And she's second in maturity, only losing out to Yoshiko on that front. ... But that's cuz Yoshiko's used to being a mother figure, even before her children were born.

The rain never stops in Kanai Ward... But now Kurumi and everyone else knows it's there to protect them. And with the NDA alive and thriving in the new Kanai Ward... With Yuma there... Life had never been sweeter for Kurumi-chan. (人◕ω◕)

#master detective archives: rain code #kurumi wendy #Yuma x Kurumi #Yuma harem

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ririchanva · 9 months ago

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Chapter Seventeen: Battling In New York~! (Part Three)

░❇┊Previous┊❇ ░ ❇┊Next┊❇ ░ ❇┊Masterlist┊❇ ┊AO3 ┊❇░

░❇ Buy Me Some Coffee~? ❇░

Chapter Warning: Violence, death of a minor character, blood.

A/n: Key Notes about this chapter:

There will be more Kwami Swapping. I know it can be annoying, but hey...we'll see who gets who this round.

New characters are appearing as a teaser. Fully revealed in the next and final chapter of this arc.

Ladybug and Chat Noir are gonna be super OP down the line. Then again, so are Bakugo and Deku.

As requested by you folks, more of the American teen heroes xD

So with that, let's get to part three~

“We need to find Empress Tigresse and King Stinger!” Chat Noir argued, the two having been called by Lady Dragon, the heroine reporting that Techlonizer was spotted with some allies and would need backup.

“I know! But we need to prioritize this first!” Ladybug explained as she was swinging into the scene, already ready to summon her Lucky Charm.

“Don’t be scared~“ Techlonizer chuckled, watching the United Heroez carefully with a dark smirk, “I only wish to finish what I started~”

Ladybug was about to throw her yo-yo up in the air, but suddenly felt her communicator go off. Biting her lower lip, she picked up and answering it, frantically hissed.

“Kinda busy here! Still have to de-akumatize Techlonizer!”

“It’s about Zoe. She was akumatized and we need backup” King Stinger spoke from the comm as his face was shown on Ladybug’s screen, frowning. In the background, Empress Tigresse, Pixie Girl and The Sorcerer were doing their best to stop Sole Crusher from stomping on anymore people.

“We need you here. NOW!”

“I’ll go!” Rody’s voice called as he was coming out of the fire, soot covered his body from head to toe, Pino flying frantically above him while the ladybug and kitten stayed on Rody’s shoulders, “You deal with these guys, I’ll deal with Zoe!“

Ladybug had so many questions. However, her eyes landed on the briefcase that was in Rody’s hand and immediately understood. Nodding her head, she soon rushed to get Techlonizer and his crew, Chat Noir reluctantly following after her.

Lady Dragon landed next to Rody, already turning into her full dragon form, “Hop on. I’ll go with you.”

The Otheon thief didn’t argue as he jumped on her back, the two now soaring to the sky to locate where King Stinger and the others would be.

“NO!” Nine yelled, about to chase them but not before both Deku and Bakugo jumped in together, kicking the armoured man to another building to stop him.

The current Holder of One-For-All paused in his steps as Bakugo went straight ahead to use his Exploding Gaunlets towards the villain, looking around for someone.

When his eyes landed on Bonnie Blanche, he rushed over to her, “Bon, I need you.”

Perking up with a bright smile as she was called on, the rabbit themed heroine looked over at him and hopped over to him, “What do you need, Deku?”

“We need to head to places and pick up some people. Will you help me?”

The rabbit heroine nodded, already opening a burrow with a twirl of her umbrella. Taking his hand, Bonnie Blanche soon jumped in with Deku in tow, and the two ending up in the “warren” where the other portals were.

“So what is it that you’re planning?” Bonnie Blanche asked before she saw the Dragon Pendant in hand and blinked when Izuku pointed at a portal.

“First I have to go to Shoto-kun and get the Bee Miraculous back.”

“But why?”

Deku was about to explain when he shivered for a second, frowning when he glanced over somewhere, Bonnie Blanche following his line of sight. He didn’t know why, but he felt like someone was watching him. However, the presence was gone as soon as he was pinpointing it out, making Deku narrow his eyes.

“D-deku?” Bonnie Blanche asked worriedly, snapping Deku out of it.

“…Sorry,” The green haired hero turned to her and smiled weakly, then looked determined, “Anyways! I have a plan!”

Rody looked down at the briefcase on his lap with a somber look, pursing his lips as he touched over the top of it. Taking a deep breath, he opened it with a click of the locks, peeking inside.

There, he saw a four sectioned square casings with a circular center and a gold outline. In each section of the square are four different objects and in a different color with a darker-shaded circled symbol in the center. One of the objects missing was a red section with a darker eagle symbol. The objects that were inside are some sort of traditional looking cloak pin, some sort of ring, and feathered earrings.

But his eyes was mostly focused on the middle one, which seems to be some sort of hair tie with tribunal patterns on it. Unconsciously, he reached out for the hair tie and once it was in the palm of his hand, a warm glow formed above the object. Rody didn’t feel scared about this, almost feeling a sense of dejavu as a little Kwami like creature appeared before him. This little one looked a lot like Pino in a way, only their body was green with red, black and white patterned wings along with their feathered top.

Opening it’s dark beady eyes, the creature cooed softly in warmth.

“Greetings, my new Chosen. My name is Talli.”

“I’m Rody.” The boy introduced himself immediately, not noticing Fei was looking back at him questionably, “I’m sorry that you’re stuck with me. Your master…“

“—Has completed his mission. Now your destiny shall begin,” Talli watched as Rody looked down at the Miraculous in hand, his eyes sorrowful and unsure, “Why do you not have confidence in yourself, Young Rody?”

“Because all my life, I’ve done bad things to survive. I had to cheat, lie and do anything so I could place food for the table for my siblings. Try to give them a way to have a bright future when I couldn’t,” Rody murmured as he squeezed the Miraculous in hand, “I do not deserve to be a Miraculous holder, especially not the new Guardian. Can’t I give it to Pixie Girl or The Sorcerer? They were looking for your Master and you guys—“

“Pala would NEVER give the Miracle Box to someone he was not sure of. The Spirits of his ancestors has led you to him as the next successor.“ Talli said with a sure tone, as Rody barked a laugh.

“No. It was a coincidence that we met. A mistake.“

“There is no such thing as coincidences. Do not mock a dead man’s wish for us to be in good hands. Your hands.”

Rody went silent as Talli continued.

“You are destined for great things. It starts now. I am sure your mother would be very proud of you and the man that you’ve grown up to be.”

“M-My mum?” Rody breathed out as he looked at the Kwami in confusion, “How—?”

“Rody?”

The brunet snapped his head towards the sound of a woman’s voice and gasped, his eyes widening in shock at the sight before him. Behind a glowing Pino was a visage of a middle aged woman dressed in a pilot’s suit with tanned skin, light brown hair like Rody’s that was tied as a side ponytail and bright silver like eyes.

“M…Mum…?”

Rody shakily reached a hand out to the spirit before him, tears welling in his eyes as the woman smiled softly, reaching her own gloved hand towards him.

“You’re so grown up. Time sure flies.” The woman laughed softly as Rody sobbed openly, wishing to reach up and hug her.

“Mum! Y-You’re here. R-roro and Lala, they—“

“I know. I’ve been watching you kids the whole time. I’m sorry that Ed had left you guys alone. I’m sorry that I wasn’t there for you when you needed me.”

Rody shook his head, sniffling, “N-No, it’s not your fault. If anything I…I’m sorry I let you down. I lost my way…”

“And you can find your way back. Rody,” The woman said firmly as she reached to touch his son’s cheek, softening a little, “It’s never too late to make a change. I’ve always told you to always take a leap of faith on anything your heart desires. Just as I know that flying is your dream. A big part of you that will never go away.”

“Mum, I have to look after the kiddos…”

“And you do a wonderful job, you’re the best big brother they could love and ask for. I’m very proud of you so far, and hope you continue to grow…” The woman softened as she then breathed out, “But you also have to take care of yourself too, my little wingspan.”

“Rody, we’re here!” Fei interrupted, the dragon flying near to where Soul Crusher was, already cornering Pixie Girl and the Sorcerer, both King Stinger and Empress Tigresse missing in action.

“Do what you gotta do, Rody. I know you will know what to do in the end.”

Rody snapped his head to his mother and shook his head, “N-No, no no, you—you just got here! I have so many things to say, so many things to ask…please don’t go yet, Mum—“

The woman smiled as she touched over where Pino was just floating motionlessly, and chuckled, “I’m not that far away. If you ever need me, you can always talk to this cutie right here. I’ll always be with you, Roro and Lala…I love you guys. This isn’t a goodbye. We’ll meet each other again.”

Rody sniffled, raising his hands up to catch Pino, who was floating down onto his palms. The woman slowly vanished into sparkles of light, leaving Rody to cry silently and hug his bird companion tightly to his chest. Once he got his bearings together, Talli looked to him with a knowing smile.

“So, Rody Soul…what shall you do now?“

He was quiet for a moment, chewing his lower lip as he thought for a moment. With a determined face, he took off his own hair tie and tied his hair with the Miraculous on, tightening his ponytail as he looked to the Kwami.

“Never too late to make a change, right?” Rody told the bird like creature as Pino woke up and rested on his shoulder with a chirp. Rody looked over to Sole Crusher then turned to Talli with a grin.

“So, what should I do?”

Talli chuckled in amusement, nodding their head, “All you have to say is; Talli, Soul of Unity.”

“STOP SCREWING AROUND!”

An explosion went off as both Ladybug and Chat Noir moved out of the way when Bakugo landed a hit on the bandaged covered man, sending him flying.

“Mummy Bastard…don’t underestimate me!”

“Are you okay?” Ladybug landed beside the blond, noticing then that one of his gauntlets were missing, then thought with an impressed smile, ’He sacrificed his own gear…’

“LOOK ALIVE PEOPLE!” Fury shouted as he and his other ghost partners flew above them, tackling the beast like man.

Next to them, Sparrow, Uncanny Valley and Tsukuyomi went after the woman with hair extending quirk.

“He’s right! We should take down Techlonizer and that other guy with him, and fast!” Chat Noir stated to Bakugo and Ladybug, twirling his bo-staff in his hand, “What’s the plan?”

“Judging with the fights against the pros, the new guy has more than one quirk,” Bakugo murmured as he looked to where Sir Nighteye and Eraserhead were up against Nine, then back at the duo, “You two deal with the Akumatized villain. I’ll help the heroes with those other freaks.”

“We’ve got your backup, Kacchan!”

Both Bakugo and Ladybug looked up and spotted Deku coming out from Bonnie Blanche’s portal, both he and the rabbit heroine were being followed by a few people.

“Wha…?”

Ladybug was surprised to see not just Carapace and Queen Beebeside Deku, but it seems there are new faces. The spotted heroine felt her head spin, before looking at Deku for an explanation.

“Okay, I can totally explain~”

“Anyways, I have a plan!”

Deku soon was popping his head into a portal nearby, reaching his arm out before pulling someone in. Glitter Gilt yelped as she looked around in surprise before looking back at him, then at Bonnie Blanche.

“Errrr, what’s up guys?” She asked as Deku was looking into another portal.

“Sabrina-san, power down for a moment, I need Daizzi for someone else.” He told her, soon reaching both his arms out into the portal to pull in King Stinger and Empress Tigresse.

The Bee Hero looked confused as he watched Glitter Gilt powered down, the Pig Kwami falling into her hands. Although Empress Tigresse whirled around to Deku to ask for an explanation, but Deku raised his hand up in front of her, shaking his head.

“No time to explain. Power down and hand me the Tiger Miraculous. Shoto, you as well. I will need Pollen.” Deku said all this calmly while he took the Pig Miraculous from Sabrina.

“What’s going on?” Shoto asked as he powered down, feeding Pollen before seeing Deku reaching into another portal once more, pulling in Rockershella, Feathertop and Cobalt Bull.

Deku told them to power down as well before looking back at the fire and ice hero.

“I need to give proper Miraculous to their permanent and respective owners. For this plan to succeed, I believe this is the best course of action.” He stated, taking the Bee Miraculous from Shoto before handing it to a gobsmacked Chloe, then reaching into another portal.

Sabrina, looking confused as Deku passed her the Tiger Miraculous to her, looked over at him, “Does Ladybug know you’re doing this?”

One knowing smile told her that, no, she didn’t.

Deku pulled Ubayagi into the warren with them, smiling softly at her once the Goat Heroine de-transformed and handed her Miraculous to him.

“So, um, w-what are we doing right now?” Nathaniel asked as his Miraculous was taken and suddenly was presented with…The Peacock Miraculous?

“As I’ve said, I’ve got the perfect line-up for everyone for this battle. Especially since we’re gonna be getting new recruits today,” Deku hummed, twirling the Turtle Miraculous in hand before handing it to Nino.

Which made Nino push the Miraculous back to Deku with a forlorn look.

“Are you crazy!? I screwed up as Carapace, you should give this to Nath and let him be Pridwen!”

“I second THAT. Why are you giving me the Bee again when Sabrina was doing brilliantly more so as the Bee Heroine?” Chloe argued, although Deku just looked at them as if their question was confounded.

“But you guys never screwed up as Carapace and Queen Bee?”

Nino snorted, “Do you not remember what happened with Sombre Swift?”

“That wasn’t your fault though?” Deku argued gently, while Nino was shaking his head, “Nino…”

“To be honest, Nino, I think Izuku has a point,” Nathaniel interrupted as he looked to Nino and softened, “While I know that Master Fu would be disappointed in me giving up my mantle for the Turtle, something in my whole being tells me you were the true holder for Wyazz than I.”

Nino stared at his friend and then gripped the bracelet in his hand, “…I don’t—”

“You have always been a loyal friend. Protective and true where it counts. And you’re not the only one that makes mistakes here,” The red head reasoned as he gave a smile, “So…if Izuku thinks you should be Carapace again, I do not mind giving you back the mantle.”

Nino sniffled for a moment, giving a one arm hug to Nathaniel and smiled, “…Thanks, man.”

He placed the bracelet on and watched it glow, Wyazz appearing before him and was surprised when the Kwami hugged his face.

“Duuuude~!” The Turtle Kwami let out a happy cry, which made Nino cry and pat the little guy’s head.

“Duuuude~!”

Meanwhile, Chloe stared down at the hairpin in hand then shook her head, walking towards Sabrina. She tried to hand it back to her, but was surprised when Sabrina refused.

“Pollen knows you’re her true holder. And so do I.” Sabrina explained as she smiled at her best friend, “You may think that being Queen Bee was a fluke, but I’ve always believed you were made to be her,”

“B-But…I’ve worked so hard being good…wh-what if I fall back to being the old Chloe again?”

“That won’t happen,” Shoto tilted his head as he stepped beside her, “But then again, I do not know what ‘the old you’ was like. But Chloe-san is still Chloe-san at the end of the day. Someone that wishes to help her friends and do good. Someone exceptional.”

Sabrina was relieved at his words, and she turned her head to watch Pollen appear before Chloe.

“My Queen,” The swami bowed her head as she smiled happily, “Whatever you decide, I shall support you. But as I’ve told Queen Sabrina, you are my true Queen.”

Deku watched quietly as Chloe teared up, but soon placed the hairpin into her hair and brought her confident face on. Good, he would think with a smile.

“So…I shall not be holding a Miraculous this time?” Shoto asked, noticing Kirishima and Yaoyorozu were not given a Miraculous either.

Deku grinned, “No. But I do have some ideas for you, Shoto. The same with Yaomomo and Eijiro.”

Nathaniel hummed, looking down at the brooch in hand. Curious, he placed it over his chest and watched it glow, Duusu appearing before him with a smile

“Oooohhh~ So cute~ And warm!” They cooed, nuzzling into the red head’s cheek. “Shall we?”

“I suppose we shall,” Nathaniel chuckled, stroking the top of the Kwami’s head with a finger.

Sabrina placed her Miraculous on and watched Rooar appear in front of her.

“Oohhh I can sense a fighting spirit in you~“ The Tiger Kwami said with a grin, “Ready to fight, partner~?”

“I-If you will have me!” The girl in glasses smiled, nodding her head.

Momo watched them before looking over at Deku, “So who are getting the Dragon, Ox, Pig and Goat then?”

Deku looked thoughtful for a moment.

“I…might have an idea for the Dragon. But I’m gonna need help with the rest,” Looking to her, Shoto and Eijiro, he smiled, “This is where you guys come in.”

Ladybug did notice that Momo, Shoto and Eijiro weren’t here and looked to Izuku questionably.

“Where did they go?”

“They have their own missions. Now…” Deku was looking at the new Dragon Heroine beside him, “Introduce yourself please~”

Looking unsure, the young Dragon Heroine sighed before looking to Ladybug, smiling, “I’m…Zhulong. Nice to meet you, Ladybug. I’m a huge fan!”

“Indeed she is. She even wears a costume of you—“ Izuku gulped a chuckle when the embarrassed Dragon Heroine nudged at him.

“Er, nice to meet you, Zhulong?” Ladybug smiled a little before looking back at the One-For-All user, “And the rest?”

Deku smirked, tilting his head, “On the way~”

Shoto should’ve known that he he was going to be faced with a challenge.

“So we’re going to convince my half sister to de-akumatize herself, and if that doesn’t work, we’re gonna defeat her and get her to use the Pig Miraculous?” Queen Bee said in a deadpan tone, her and Shoto arriving back to the area where Sole Crusher was, “Yeah, as if the first plan will happen.”

“We’ll have to try.” The fire and ice quirk user hummed as they rushed towards where Pixie Girl and Sorcerer were fending Sole Crusher back, but then blinked when two new faces arrived in the scene.

“Lady Dragon!…And, um…?” Queen Bee looked astounded at a colourful bird themed hero next to the Chinese heroine, and frowned, “Who’s this clown?”

“Thunderbird,” The new hero grinned as he saluted, “Nice to meet you, honeybee~”

The bee heroine narrowed her eyes, finding that cheeky look very familiar.

“About time bloody reinforcements are here!” The Sorcerer shouted at Shoto and Queen Bee and blinked, “Where’s King Stinger, and who…..?”

A small smile was on Shoto’s face and Queen Bee raised a brow, and the magician like hero felt stupid for asking.

“She’s gotten stronger since stepping on those civilians. We need a plan,” Pixie Girl breathed out with tiredness, “I’m already running out of juice as it is and might transform back…”

“I have an idea,” Thunderbird raised a hand up before looking at Lady Dragon, “Distract Sole Crusher, I’ll go from behind. Honeybee, Candy Cane, with me.”

“…Candy Cane?” Shoto raised a brow before Queen Bee snorted.

“I think that’s you.”

Lady Dragon looked at Thunderbird for a moment before touching his arm, looking worriedly at him, “Be safe.”

The bird themed hero smiled, winking, “Naturally. I ain’t gonna lose here. Just have my back, m’kay?”

Lady Dragon nodded, transforming into Lady Eagle and soon was flying into the sky to be in the akuamtized giantess’ face, making Sole Crusher roar and try to swat her away while Pixie Girl and the Sorcerer followed her lead. Thunderbird pursed his lips, turning to jump high onto a building, with Shoto and Queen Bee following after him.

“So what’s your plan?” The Bee Heroine asked as Thunderbird landed gracefully onto the top of a tall building, staring at Sole Crusher.

“First, we’re gonna need to distract Sole Crusher before I make my move and use my Miraculous.” Thunderbird hummed before looking at the two, “Honeybee, since I know your Miraculous can freeze things on the spot, I need you to sting at Sole Crusher to keep her still. As for you, Candy Cane, I’m going to need you at the ready when we destroy the akumatized object.”

“It’s her shoes.” Shoto pointed out, and Thunderbird nodded.

“Okay, good. So that means that once I got her distracted enough, you’re gonna have to use those quirks of yours to destroy them.”

While that was going on, Lady Eagle shifted to Lady Dragon once more, flying over the skies as Pixie Girl and The Sorcerer were trying to keep her in place when they noticed Sole Crusher froze with wide eyes, looking at something.

“VENOM!”

Queen Bee yelled as she managed to prick the akumatized giantess and Shoto was quick to use his ice to freeze her into place just in case the Venom won’t last long.

Thunderbird made a quick dash had landed onto Sole Crusher’s back and placed his hand onto her, his eyes glowing a soft golden hue. He soon raised his weapon, which happened to be a golden sickle, and waved it in the air.

“Sorry, Zoe. Spirit Form: Unity.“

Thunderbird felt the world melt around him into darkness, his body glowing as he stood alone in the abyss of blackness he was now standing on. Frowning, he walked around for a moment to find out where he was until he heard quiet sobbing. He followed the sound, letting his feet lead him until he stopped by a hunched looking figure. Zoe.

Softening, the hero walked over to the girl and touched her head, making the blonde jump in surprise. Whirling around, tears were streaking down her face with her lower lip quivering, shoulders and chest heaving in a way as if trying to hold back from bawling.

“Zoe…”

“Leave me alone…” The small whimper came from the girl, curling herself back up again pathetically.

“I can’t. You have to come back to your senses, Zoe.” Thunderbird murmured as he watched her, and Zoe scoffed.

“It’s not like anyone wants me back. My father doesn’t. Rody certainly doesn’t.”

Thunderbird tried to mentally not wince at that, and feeling even more awful that the statement she said was totally true. But it wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

“Be as it may, if you don’t snap out of it, you’re gonna end up hurting more people than you are right now,”

“I don’t care anymore,” Zoe murmured as she buried her face into her knees, hugging her legs close to her chest, “I just wanna disappear.”

“Oh grow up, Zoe.” Thunderbird almost lost his temper and took a deep breath, noticing that there was a shadow-y butterfly lingering close by, “Seriously. Are you just going to keep feeling sorry for yourself?”

Zoe looked up at him angrily with tears, “Why do you even care?!”

“I don’t! I just want you to stop thinking of just yourself and hurting everyone around you!”

Meanwhile, outside in reality, Lady Dragon transformed back to her humanoid form and stood with Pixie Girl and The Sorcerer, Shoto and Queen Bee rushing behind them. They all watched how a glowing Thunderbird was so still and quiet along with a frozen looking Sole Crusher, as if time stopped for the both of them.

“So this must be the power of his Miraculous?” The Sorcerer hummed, tapping his chin as he tilted his head, “What now? Do we wait? My magic could dispel the Akuma…however, I am afraid my power is not enough for one this big?”

“We should get the Akuma now while he has a hold on her. At least when it breaks free, we could contain it before Ladybug gets here.” Lady Dragon murmured as she was soon approaching to Sole Crusher’s shoes, but was stopped by Queen Bee, “Wha—?”

“We have to wait for Ladybug,” She stated to Lady Dragon with a frown, “Meaning we don’t touch until we can get in contact with her.”

“It will be too late by then, and I don’t think Thunderbird can hold Sole Crusher for this long.”

Suddenly, all five heroes heard a sound and whipped their heads to see Chimera rushing from building to building, jumping over them to reach behind Thunderbird’s back. Queen Bee growled as she was soon rushing u a building to stop him, Shoto using his ice to make steps for her to use to get up there.

“Don’t you touch him!” The Bee Heroine yelled as she was readying her fists, knocking the the wolf like man back from pouncing at Thunderbird, Shoto following her to make an ice wall in between them.

Lady Dragon, Pixie Girl and The Sorcerer following after them, ready to defend them off from the villain, but soon were surprised as a bunch of Nomus appeared out of nowhere.

“W-what? How is this possible?” Shoto looked back to see the creatures, noticing the black swarming portals and frowned, ‘Does this mean Kurogiri is somewhere around here? But how?’

Thunderbird blinked as he felt his surroundings shake for a moment, looking around before glancing over at Zoe now curled into a fetal position. He didn’t have time for this!

“Okay, look,” The bird Miraculous holder crouched down before her as he rested his arms over his knees, looking at her tiredly, “I…am not good at this whole hero’s speech thing. Heck, I don’t think I’m cut out to be a damn hero in the first place.”

He noticed Pino’s transparent form floating above him along with Lady, and then Lucky curling next to him. Pursing his lips, he placed his hand out for a moment, feeling Lady landing on his palm as she gave a soft ruby like glow.

“I wonder…” He murmured as he closed his eyes and then whispered quietly, “…Lucky Charm.”

A warmth spread from his fingertips as a weight was now placed in his hand. Opening his eyes, he blinked when he saw it was—

“…Heh, what a terrible irony,”

Zoe looked up at Thunderbird’s words, then her eyes widened as she sat up, seeing it were sneakers. The very ones that look a lot like what Rody bought her years ago, only…it was red with black polka dots.

“…How—?”

“I suppose my Lucky Charm wanted you to remember where you came from.”

Thunderbird hummed as he saw how Zoe’s eyes wavered, almost teary as he then sighed.

“It’s not too late to turn a new leaf. You can’t go back to what was, but you can move forward for a better tomorrow.”

Zoe pursed her lips, as she sniffed. Thunderbird noticed that an outline of a butterfly appeared over her face, knowing that whoever has the Butterfly Miraculous now was trying to feed more negative energy.

“B-But…I gotta c-crush those in my way…otherwise t-they’ll step all over me—“

“You don’t have to crush anyone. There’s no such thing as winners OR losers,” The hero hummed as he felt Lucky nuzzling against his leg, reaching out to pet him, “There’s just…people. With a lot of unique differences and individualities…”

Back outside,Lady Dragon flew over to where Thunderbird was, seeing the hero hasn’t move and eyes still glowing, “Thunderbird! Hurry it up in there—“

“I’m not finished!“ The bird like hero bellowed, his voice mixed with various of others, which shocked the Chinese heroine.

Thunderbird looked up at the darkness with a frown, before looking back at Zoe.

“Zoe, you can start over. You can make new friends. You don’t have to take the abuse your father gives you. Just. Be. Yourself.”

Zoe looked at him, and Thunderbird took this to continue.

“You might trip, you might fall. And there will be always someone to help you back up…do not let the voices in your head win!”

Zoe pursed her lips while thinking, and soon she was holding her head and groaning, “Get. Out. Of. My. Head….”

Thunderbird smiled as he was soon pushed out from Zoe’s head—

Shoto managed to freeze Chimera in place, but then looked up when he heard a scream and saw that Sole Crusher broke away from the Akuma’s control, turning back into regular size Zoe. Thunderbird managed to create wings behind his back and flew to catch her, the two landing back on the ground.

“NOW!”

The Sorcerer yelled as he was spinning his star staff and raised it in the air, making a bubble around the GIANT AKUMA trying to attack them. Pixie Girl soon used her own magic to sprinkle over the bubble to create her own magical sphere to keep it in. Lady Dragon flew above them to aid Shoto into keeping Chimera frozen, and Queen Bee rushed to meet with Thunderbird, who was checking over Zoe.

“W-wha…?” Zoe looked around for a moment, holding her head and frowning, “What happened?”

“Quick, give her this!” Queen Bee was holding out what seems to be a pink anklet, and Thunderbird looked at her questionably.

“Is that—?”

“Zoe Lee.”

Zoe looked up at the Bee Heroine, who rolled her eyes before pushing the Pig Miraculous into her hands.

“I don’t have to explain. But if you wanna be useful, then help us.”

“What are we doing here?”

Eijiro frowned as he and Momo were now standing in what seems to be a police station. Bonnie Blanche brought them here to find the two individuals for the Ox and Goat Miraculous.

“Deku knew that we would find the perfect holders for these particular Miraculous. And I trust him.” Momo breathed out as she then was stopping to a black door, reaching to open it and step in.

The two blinked when finding a blonde haired girl and a short dark haired girl sitting near a table, looking frightened and Eijiro placed his hands up to show they weren’t dangerous.

“It’s okay. We’re friends…w-we were sent by Ladybug. Are you…Aurore-san?”

“—And Mirielle-san?” Momo added.

Aurore and Mireille blinked as they both nodded, making Eijiro and Momo relieved.

“Ladybug is looking for us?” Mirielle asked.

“Well, technically she and some others are hoping you’d help join the fight against the forces of evil. But, you don’t have to if you don’t think you can.” Eijiro assured as Momo was holding out the Ox and Goat Miraculous.

“Aurore Beauréal. Mireille Caquet. We need your help.”

Naomasa Tsukauchi was stepping into his office when he saw a bright light, blinking in surprise before getting into gear. He rushed over to the room where he had left the poor French girls in, and once he arrived, the room was empty.

“Wha—?”

A laugh echoed behind him and the detective turned his head to see Crawler grinning at him.

“Looks like someone swiped up your guests. Wonder who~?”

“Crawler!”

The vigilante shrugged, Crawler walking over to the room and then spotted what seems to be a piece of paper with writing on it. Picking it up, he read it quietly, then laughed as he placed a hand over his face, making Tsukauchi look at him weirdly.

“What? What is it?”

Crawler shook his head, a sharp grin stretching on his face, “Looks like things are going to get interesting~”

‘She’s quicker than I imagined.’

Tsukuyomi growled as he was dodging Slice’s sharp hair extensions from hitting him along with her knives being thrown at him, Uncanny Valley and Sparrow aiding him to taking her down. The Jet Black Hero looked around, seeing his allies having their own battles going on. The Ghost Force already taking down the Mummy fellow, Deku and Bakugo were already having difficulty taking Nine down along with Ladybug and Chat Noir taking down Techlonizer as well. While the Pros and other Miraculous heroes were trying to help out, many Nomus ended up randomly popping out, making things quite difficult.

Which left himself with his two teammates to take down the red haired villainess.

‘I need an opening!’

“THIS IS PATHETIC!” Slice shouted with an evil grin, but yelped when Sparrow used their birdarangs at her.

“UNCANNY! NOW!”

The robotic girl flew above and raised her hand, shooting a laser beam at Slice, slicing bits of her hair completely.

“THIS IS IT!” Tsukuyomi yelled, about to use Dark Shadow’s abilities until he saw that Slice did not appreciate her long luscious hair being cut off.

Rage built in her eyes as she crazily started shooting spikes of her hair at them like needles, “HOW DARE YOU!”

Sparrow dodged the flying projectiles with ease, bringing their skateboard down to ride away from it while Uncanny flew in the air. Unfortunately, a few embedded themselves onto Uncanny’s legs, making her yell out as she suddenly fell into an alleyway, crashing.

“AEON!”

Sparrow was quick to rush to check on her, seeing how the robot like girl powered down, showing the very hurt Aeon. Removing her mask, Jess reached over to check on her sister, the voice changer on the ground.

“Aeon, no, please…”

Tsukuyomi was frozen on the spot, anger boiling in him but then blinked when he felt warmth in his cloak. Quickly, the bird headed hero took out the necklace that he had taken from the museum and saw the object glow. Lo and behold, a bird like creature appeared before him.

“Hello, my little fledging~! My name is Liiri, the Kwami of Freedom!“ They introduced happily, tilting their head and winked, “All you have to say is: Liiri, Wings of Liberty!“

Nodding his head, Tsukuyomi placed the talon necklace around his neck and shouted, “Liiri! WINGS OF LIBERTY!”

In a flash, Tsukuyomi felt the sensation of his clothes changing, and power surging into him, surprising not just Jess and Aeon, but it sent fear onto Slice as well.

“No…w-what is this?”

A new hero stood in Eagle like garbs, the Miraculous holder looking down at his gloved his hands before looking to Slice.

“I am Spilornis. And you shall be brought to justice!” The new Eagle Hero spoke in a powerful and deep voice, already bringing his fingers locked together and clothes his eyes, a golden feather floated in front of him, “Liberation.”

Suddenly, a scream escaped Slice for a moment as her body was glowing gold after the feather flew and landed over her heart, embedding into her. But after a minute, the light died down from her body and soon she fell forward with a thump.

“Wha…?” Jess stood up and helped Aeon up as well, watching how Slice was unconscious on the ground and twitching, “What just happened? What did you do?”

“Liberation does not work with those that would reject it.”

Suddenly, Liiri appeared on Spilornis’ shoulder, shocking all three teen heroes, although the Eagle Hero blinked slowly.

“What…how are you here?”

“Aren’t Kwamis usually, like, stuck in the user’s suit?” Jess added, as Liiri cackled softly.

“It would seem thanks to your quirk, little fledging, your Dark Shadow allowed me to appear before you and talk with you. Quite rare and useful, if I do say so~”

Spilornis hummed, looking at Slice’s body, “She…rejected Liberation?”

“Indeed. For you see, once the feather is inside the target’s body, whoever is the Eagle Miraculous holder can free the recipient from any mental or emotional restriction of their choosing that prevents the recipient from reaching their full potential, such as a code of ethics, a vow to not do something, or the fear of the destructive potential of one's own power.”

“So by rejecting it…?”

“Her will to not be taken over by Liberation adjusted the spell into knocking her out for a good while.”

“So she rather just be a bad person than to be good? That’s messed up,” Jess huffed and Spilornis looked at her, then at Aeon.

“Aeon-san?”

“I-I am alright…” She hummed and looked down at her leg that had the piercings from Slice’s locks, frowning, “But I thought my robotic shell would prevent me from being hurt…I…should not be even hurt?”

Jess winced, then saw how Spilornis was looking at her and sighed, “Aeon…t-there’s something I gotta tell you. That maybe our moms should have told you—”

“DIIIIIIIIIIE!”

Bakugo yelled as he was aiming his explosives towards Nine, Deku jumping over him to deliver his Delaware Smash towards the villain but the two were soon pushed back by two blue water dragons, making them crash into a building before them.

“We should assist them!” Spilornis told the two, Jess nodding as she was soon placing her hood and mask on, forgetting about her voice changer while she soon easily carried Aeon in her arms.

“I’ll take Aeon somewhere to safety. You go ahead,” Sparrow said and with the help of her skateboard, the two soon made their escape, and the Eagle Hero rushed to help his friends.

Ladybug looked up from fighting Techlonizer and her eyes widened at the sight of Deku and Bakugo and looked towards Chat Noir along with Hitoshi,The New Tiger Heroine: Rayures and The New Peacock Hero: Avarius.

“Guys, we need to take Techlonizer down NOW!”

Ladybug soon made a run, Carapace ducking and bringing his shield up above him, providing as a spring board and pushed Ladybug to jump high above the akumatized villain. Raising for a kick, Ladybug dived down to Techlonizer, knowing that he has to block, Hitoshi following at her side to use his capture weapon to tie his metal arms.

“RAYURES, NOW!”

“CLOUT!” The Tiger Heroine yelled, sliding towards Techlonizer and aimed for his chest, punching him into the sky.

Shinso was quick to use his capture weapon once he was coming down, and tying him up.

“CATACLYSM!” Chat Noir yelled, jumping over her to destroy his cuffs, watching it disintegrate and a LARGE dark butterfly flew out of it, trying to escape.

Carapace was soon using his shield to trap them in, looking over to also see that some escaped but the Ghost Force managed to corner them with their own powers.

“No more evil doing for you, akumas!” Ladybug shouted, already spinning her yo-yo and quickly grabbed all the akumas together, and purifying them.

“Ladybug! Here too!”

Star Stallion had opened a portal as Thunderbird was poking his head in, but managed to duck when a frozen looking Chimera being thrown to the ground. Stepping out, Pixie Girl, The Sorcerer, Queen Bee, Shoto and a blonde pig themed heroine stepped out.

“The akuma?” Ladybug asked, but blinked when the Pig Heroine stepped forward, already holding out what seems to be a large gift-wrapped box.

“They are all in here, um, L-Ladybug.”

Ladybug stared at her for a moment, tentatively taking the box and actually observing her, “And what is your name?”

“Mangalica Majesty.”

“Huh, what a name…” Ladybug hummed before opening the box and was prepared for the huge akuma, the Miraculous Team already on breaking it apart to tiny ones, and Ladybug cleansing all of them.

“Bug! Bakugo and Deku!” Chat Noir interrupted, pointing up to Nine pinning his sapphire stoned dragons onto the heroes, “We gotta help them!”

“Everyone, help the other heroes with the Nomus. Chat, let’s go.”

The cat hero nodded, as the two then raced to reach their friends.

“It’s you and me now, Chaton!” Ladybug looked over at her partner, who nodded.

“You and me against the world once more. Let’s save our friends!”

The two then froze in their steps, feeling a sudden surge of something go from their heads to the very soles of their feet. Ladybug and Chat Noir looked at each other for a moment, before looking up when everything was suddenly dead silence. As if the world has stopped around them. Shaking their heads, the two rushed towards Bakugo and Deku, jumping up to them and landing on top of the dragons’ heads.

“Hold on! We’re getting you out!” Chat Noir yelled, already trying to pry the dragon’s mouth to open and release Deku.

Ladybug was already next to Bakugo, when she heard him murmur. Squinting at him, she learned closer to hear what he was saying.

“…Won’t…lose…”

“Huh? What are you saying now?”

The blond growled in annoyance, as he looked up at him, “..I…won’t…lose…”

Chat looked over at them before looking down at Deku, “So? Any other tricks up your sleeve?”

Deku gave a small grin, as he laughed weakly, “…Just one. But d-do you trust me?”

Chat Noir blinked, but nodded his head, “Course. After all we’ve been through so far…”

Deku looked over at Ladybug and Bakugo now, coughing out their names, which made them look over at him questionably.

“Ladybug…Kacchan….I-I…I have a crazy…idea…”

Bakugo was quiet as Ladybug looked confused.

“There’s…only one way…to defeat Nine…”

Something in Bakugo’s eyes clicked at that moment, and Ladybug looked between them.

“What? W-what is it?”

Deku held out his hand to them, desperation and hope in his eyes. Ladybug still didn’t understand what was going through the green headed hero’s head, but she figured Bakugo could understand what were his intentions judging the way he was reaching out. She looked down at the Lucky Charm in her hand that she had summoned a while ago…which happened to be tablet. The very same one she uses that contained the copy of the Grimoire.

Marinette looked surprised at Master Fu using her phone to picture each page of the Grimoire and sending it to what seems to be a personal Ladybug Tablet.

“So…what was the reason of doing this?” She asked as she observed him, the Master smiling mysteriously.

“One of these days I shall be gone. Which means that before then, you’ll need to study up on the Grimoire in your spare time before I shall pass it down to you and the other Guardians.” He explained.

Adrien, who was next to Marinette as he was flipping his own copy in his Chat Noir tablet, made an ‘ooh~’ sound as he pointed something on screen, “No way~? We can actually give energy to people? Like a power boost?”

“Only the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous can. As the two that are set to be the balance of the universe, they are indeed powerful enough to give strong, natural energy. Almost life energy,” Fu hummed, as he looked solemn, “I believe some theorise that this was one of the reasons that quirks were created in this day and age. That some previous holders of the Ladybug and Cat had unified with each other to give birth to the dawn of humans having powers of their own.”

“So…does it count as a wish? Making quirks exist, I mean?” Marinette asked, as Fu shrugged.

“Who knows? But I believe that you can give power to those that need it without wishing for it. But that is the choice of the Ladybug and Cat to decide…but it comes with a lot of consequences, of course.”

Ladybug hummed as she looked at Chat Noir, as she gave a look. Somehow, Chat Noir understood with that one look, nodding his head.

Deku blinked as he felt Chat Noir place his hands onto his head, looking up at him for a moment to see what he was doing. The feline hero closed his eyes, something about his aura felt…light. Almost as if he was mustering up some sort of feeling. It made Deku’s insides swell.

Ladybug was doing the same, as she had placed her hands onto Bakugo’s spiky hair, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

A pink like glow formed around Ladybug, growing brighter and brighter as Chat Noir was the same, only the light shining off of him was green. This made both Bakugo and Deku look at each other, before once more reaching out to each other. The finger tip of Deku’s almost touched Bakugo’s that had a bloody cut, almost grazing each other’s hands before quickly grabbing a full hold.

Thunderbird's eyes glowed for a moment as his head tilted.

He saw lines of green and orange strings around not just Bakugo and Deku…but around Ladybug and Chat Noir as well.

Comments and Love are appreciated~ See you in the final chapter of this New York Arc. Because after this, it's the main plot again~

- Riri-Chan

#my hero academia #boku no hero academia #bnha #mha #miraculous ladybug #miraculous #mlb #fanfiction #fanfic #crossover fanfic #crossover fanfiction #AU #crossover #quirks and miracles #Q&M #miraculous: tales of ladybug & cat noir

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