#earth 2 people were left cliffhanging and they were forgotten

[lostintheforestofnine]

If Earth 2 Choi Han exists, if author-nim goes on the trend of the other two holy trinity, "Why it has to be him and not me." thing.

I'm preparing myself not to be shock.

For real I'm already imagining the scene with a despair looking Earth2 Choi Han looking at him saying silently "Why not me, it's unfair."

A scenario: Cale was unconscious during the fight or using his powers or any scenario that will knock him up then for some reason he was alone or he was far away from his comrades. He was then rescued by "someone" and befriend this someone turns our to be E2 Choi Han..

I just realized this is somehow similar to ORV but nah. And there's probably a fanfic out there similar to this.

[maplecornia]

chapter 7

𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔡 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔱: 2.04K

𝔤𝔢𝔫𝔯𝔢: romance | slice of life | fluff | angst | bts x female!reader | ot7

𝔰𝔲𝔪𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶: You watched them from the sidelines ever since you were a young teenage girl. Now you’re grown up, they’ve returned after 2 long years and everything has changed. What happens when you pull back the mask and find the darkness within? What happens when you see that they’re broken?

𝔞/𝔫: so yeah, i've decided to start uploading every day for this story until i'm caught up with the chapters i have. i'll tell you guys when i'll go back to posting once a week.

𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: cliffhangers | angst | fluff | slight mentions of self hatred | depression | mental health illness | self harm | occurs in the year 2024 | set in a timeline where BTS went to the military together | slight language

tags:@kookaine |@fangirl125reader |@kookiebbyxx |@taradevonne

You almost faint in disbelief.

It's him, it's him.

Jeon Jungkook.

That's his face, those are his eyes, and that is his body.

Real, and right in front of you.

Heart pounding in your chest, you find yourself unable to breathe, your chest constricting and your mind going blank. You're faintly aware of the towel crinkling in your hands, and your feet propelling you backward, away from him. If he notices, he doesn't show it, seeming almost as frozen as you are.

You would know him anywhere.

The golden maknae of BTS, the one who’s made you laugh over and over multiple times before, the one who's good at everything, the sweet and handsome Jeon Jungkook.

Even after all these years, he still looks the same.

As he looks up at you, his hair falls in strands across his forehead. It's his natural color, a deep midnight black, with brown undertones. It looks as though he tried to do it in the morning, but a little too much dance practice has destroyed his efforts. There’s a slight sheen of sweat on his skin, complimenting the smooth soft complexion and making him shine as though he were a drop of moonlight befallen on the earth.

As he blinks, long feathery eyelashes cast small shadows on his cheeks, complementing the dark brown color of his irises. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words form, the same curve to his lips making it seem as though he were smiling even the tiniest bit your way. In the back of your mind, you recall how those lips would spread whenever he smiled, transforming his sweet face into one similar to that of a bunny.

As he moves even the slightest bit, your gaze travels to his jaw and you swallow hard.

Even his body is the same.

He's still tall and strong, sure and trained muscle rippling beneath his slight build. The coffee has even helped in this aspect, his shirt sticking to his chest and accenting his toned pectorals and sculpted abs beneath. You can see it in the muscle of his thighs, showing through his jeans, and the strong structure of his forearm. It even shows in the veins on his hands.

He looks the same as the day he left with the rest of BTS, leaving you behind.

At the thought, you sadly look away.

You had forgotten those days, forgotten the emptiness you felt in their absence.

You had forgotten about them for a while.

Perhaps that's the worst part.

What are you going to do?

You just bumped into Jeon Jungkook, probably the most beloved and adored member of BTS. Spilled his coffee all over him with not so much as a drop falling on you, and then proceeded to gawk at him.

You can't get all starry-eyed over an idol.

Especially not now.

Inwardly, you remind yourself that he’s just another person. He's just another human being, just someone else who lives on the same planet as you do.

Yeah, he's just another globally renowned person.

Half of the world's population is either in love with him or wanting to be like him.

Not to mention he's incredibly talented, with a great personality and heart of gold.

Nothing to worry about.

Glancing up at him, you can see he seems to have forgotten about you and is currently trying to rub the coffee stains off with the edge of his sleeve.

Smiling softly, you remember the towel you had retrieved moments ago and look towards him, swallowing hard.

“Mr. Jeon Jungkook?” your voice is soft, almost inaudible, and you silently curse yourself. Seriously, how much further are you going to embarrass yourself? Nevertheless, it draws his attention and he immediately looks up. At the sight of his eyes on you once more, your heart skips a beat.

“Here, you might need this.” Noticing the towel in your hands, he takes it from you, your fingers brushing against each other for a split second.

Almost as soon as he takes it from you, you snatch your hand back, trying to ignore the rapid beating of your heart and the faint blush rising in your cheeks. He smiles at you, politely, before nodding his head and murmuring what you think is a thank you, but you can't tell.

Looking away, you spy the mess on the floor.

Eyes widening, you immediately drop to your knees, pulling out another towel and starting to clean up the marble tile. It’s the least you can do after making a mess such as this. As you scrub up the floor, you can hear people whispering behind you and are faintly aware of a janitor in the far corner gazing at you in amazement.

You don't care, this is keeping your mind off of him.

This is distracting you from reality, at least for a moment.

But Jungkook has other plans.

You don't notice it when he pauses from cleaning his shirt and stares at you on the floor. Nor when he kneels and peers at you almost curiously. You don't even notice as he waves away a few staff members who inquire if he’s okay, or if he needs any help. You don't spy the faint smile playing on his lips as you dutifully clean up your mess.

Nor do you see when he takes the towel you gave him and cleans the floor beside you, setting the empty coffee cup to the side.

When you glance up from your work, and his face is there, just a few inches away from yours, you blink, startled.

His eyes meet yours, just like before, but this time they aren't as scared. This time, they’re friendly, almost nervous, but welcoming as they hold your attention once more. He smiles, softly, before reaching forward and taking the towel from your hand.

Inhaling sharply, you flinch away, surprised by the touch.

At the movement, his eyes falter in confidence and he looks away, shutting down once more. Only, you don't want him to shut down again. Frantically, you search for words, anything to say to him.

“I...” As he looks up at you, it's as though all your butterflies are gone and your mind is no longer blank. Things become clear and you know what you have to say.

“I’m sorry.”

At your words, he seems taken aback, as though he weren't expecting that. He blinks, surprised and you continue.

“I didn't see you behind me, and I should've apologized earlier or at least said excuse me or….” Trailing off, you sigh. Rambling won't do you any good now.

“The point is, I’m sorry.” You murmur, softly, before bowing your head to him.

You can't see his face or the way he looks at you tenderly, completely awestruck by your behavior. You don't see the soft, kind way he smiles before he playfully knocks on your head, and you raise it.

“It's alright, you don't have to apologize.” He reassures you and you flush deeply at the sound.

Jungkook’s voice is soft and almost melodic, as though he’s always ready to break out in song, exactly how you've heard it on videos and during concerts.

And yet, now that you're hearing it in person, it's a bit different.

You can hear the soft rumble in his throat as he speaks, a tiny hint of his Busan dialect mixing in with his words. Every syllable is straightforward and clear, every word having a purpose.

It's slightly raspy but refreshed, like the feeling after you've just had a good workout or have just accomplished a really hard dance you've been practicing for a while.

But what's most important is that at the sound of his voice, unexplainable emotions run through your heart.

You have to look away or you're afraid he would surely detect the rapid beating of your heart, the chaos in your mind, the way your body has suddenly gone weak.

Looking away, you spy the discarded cup on the side and lunge for it, startling Jungkook a bit. He dodges you, his eyes widening slightly. Pulling back you smile a bit sheepishly before standing and giving him a small smile.

“Wait here.” You instruct before turning and hurrying to a trash can.

As you look up after throwing away the coffee cup, you notice a vending machine and spy a canned coffee cup on one of the slots.

Glancing back at Jungkook, you watch as he offers the soaked towels to the janitor who has come behind you and is currently mopping up the mess.

Turning back to the vending machine, you pull out your wallet, taking out a couple of won and inserting it into the slot. Pressing the numbers of the coffee can, you receive your change, bending down to retrieve your prize and turning back to Jungkook. Taking a deep breath, you pocket your wallet and hide the coffee behind your back before walking back over to him.

As you reach him, he greets you with a friendly smile, and you return it, almost nervously.

“Here.” You say, and he takes it from you, peering at it in slight confusion. “To replace the other one.”

“Thank you.” He murmurs, opening it and taking a drink. As soon as he tastes it, he pulls back, overdramatizing how delicious it is. At the sight of his expression, you snort, chuckling softly.

“It's really good!” he exclaims, and you laugh, covering your mouth with your hand. He laughs as well, a soft chuckle that warms you from the inside out and makes your smile grow wider.

You open your mouth to say something else, but a voice behind you cuts you off.

“Jungkook!” at the sound, Jungkook looks behind you, and you turn around.

A staff member is standing near an elevator, holding it open. She frantically points to her watch, a phone held desperately between her shoulder and ear. She seems distressed as though she’s late for something, and as you think about it, you realize she probably is.

You couldn't meet with Kim Namjoon due to a meeting he had with BTS, and Jungkook happens to be a member of BTS. He was probably on the way when you bumped into him.

“You should probably go.” You mutter, a bit disheartened at seeing him leave. “It sounds important.”

As you say the words, you turn to him and he seems a bit down himself. He nods to the staff member before looking at you and smiling once more. A bit bashfully, he holds out his hand, grinning that bunny smile as you take it.

“Thank you for the coffee, miss. It was nice to meet you.” He says politely, shaking your hand softly before bowing his head to you.

“You're welcome, I’m sorry again, by the way.” You chuckle softly, and he shakes his head at you almost in disbelief.

“I thought I told you,” he murmurs, letting go of your hand and starting to walk past you. However, as he reaches your side, he pauses, whispering in your ear...

“You don't have to be sorry for anything.”

At the feeling of his breath against your skin, you shiver, a slight blush exploding on your cheeks. You refuse to meet his eyes, unwilling to let him see your blush.

So you don't see him smirk at your reaction before turning away and heading to meet the staff member who has started to pace in anticipation and worry.

As soon as he leaves your side, you turn, watching him as he walks away. When he reaches halfway to the elevator doors, he pauses. As though he could feel your eyes on him, he turns his head, glancing over his shoulder at you.

Smiling, he meets your eyes, raising his hand in the air to say goodbye. Letting out a small laugh, you roll your eyes before doing the same.

After a moment, he turns once more, completing the distance and vanishing behind the elevator door, your eyes unable to break from him the entire way.

And once he’s gone, you hold the same hand you waved goodbye to him with, close to your chest.

As though that would calm the rapid beating of your heart.

𝔫𝔬𝔱𝔢: pretty spoicy no? (¬‿¬)

chapter 8 here

check the Infinite Stars masterlist for more chapters

check my BTS masterlist for other BTS content

check out my masterlist for other kpop fanfics

[linaa-vera]

Digimon Fanfic Recommendations PART 1

So, during this quarantine I was dragged by the Digimon fandom again and I’ve been completely immersed in it. And at this point I’m past halfway the total pages of fanfic both in Fanfiction and in AO3.

So I present you the fics I think you need to read because they are worth it, ALMOST ALL OF THEM ARE COMPLETED SO YES.

PS: I tolerate all ships.

PS2: I’ll put in the name if it’s incompleted o completed. If it has 5 years without an update I’ll put dead.

PS3: THIS FIRST PART ARE FANFIC ONLY ON FANFICTION.NET

MANZANAR by GeminiStar01 (Short-story. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2781728/1/Manzanar

Summary: “Kouji and Kouichi find themselves in a JapaneseAmerican interment camp in World War 2 California. They're certain that the Digimon have something to do with thier coming here, but to what end?”

Thoughts: It has good writing, very realistic. It’s really concerning when they realize where they are and I really like how both are portrayed in the fic, both are in character which is amazing. Also good history lessons.

TIGER LILIES by AncientLou (Short-Story. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8042317/1/Tiger-Lilies

Summary: “A human lifepsan is an adventure, but much like the adventures in the digital world, they end. What becomes of a digimon left behind?”

Thoughts: VERY EMOTIONAL. I was about to cry every chapter. Very good writing. Puts in perspective that the digidestined are only humans, unlike the Digimons. The story follows what happens to almost every partnered digimon when their human dies. Broke my heart but it was worth it, it shows them in character really well.

YOU MISS HIM by bobtheacorn (One-Shot. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12370178/1/you-miss-him

Summary: “Overhead, Kari yawns; a sound muffled under her hand, barely even a sigh. / Kamiya Sibling stuff.”

Thoughts: I really love sibling relationships portrayed in fanfics. It’s very sweet and this one isn’t the exception. The author showed what it’s like living on the Kamiya residence and their relationship as siblings very well.

CONTACT by bobtheacorn (One-Shot. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11700482/1/contact

Summary: “Davis doesn't start the fight, but he does finish it. / rushprompt”

Thoughts: When I first read it I found it that could very much happen, Daisuke is someone who would not back down when someone threatens his friends. Everyone is in character, and I LOVE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN KEN AND DAISUKE IN THIS ONE. It can be taken as romantic or simply friends, the way you like it the most.

BROKEN WINGS by Kaeera (Short-story. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/722250/1/Broken-Wings

Summary: “Everybody thought that Daisuke was carefree, not? Everybody believed that he was happy...but what, when the truth is different and he has to deal with a trauma he is not ready to deal with?”

Thoughts: ANGST TO THE BONE PEOPLE. I SUFFERED. But otherwise enjoyed. I think there’s a lot that can be learned in this fic, very well written and down to earth. People can do horrible things every day, and many unknown people suffer the consequences in more ways than we can imagine, like our two protagonists.

ALL SEEMS BEAUTIFUL by Fizzing Wizard (Long story. UNCOMPLETE. Dormant since 2017, also on AO3 but with less chapters)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4446177/1/All-Seems-Beautiful

Summary: “After a bizarre incident at the camp, Taichi learns he's vanishing from his own world and becoming part of the Digital World. Meanwhile the Chosen take hits from every corner: the Spore Children, plus an enemy or several on the digital plane. And they can't keep their personal lives from tangling. ACT 2: The Chosen were dealt the worst blow possible, and it's tearing them apart.”

Thoughts: I was looking for a Taichi/Tai’s fanfic for so long. AND I FOUND IT. This story has everything, betrayals, love, FRIENDSHIP, and death. Everyone is in character which is wonderful, Taichi’s way of dealing with everything is very “goggle head like”. The descriptions are very accurate, and feel very natural.

FRIENDS TO THE END by Schnickledooger (one-shot. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5915938/1/Friends-To-The-End

Summary “Matt and Tai. Together in trouble again. Lucky they're friends, right?”

Thoughts: Really good portrayal of their friendship. Warms up my heart every time I read it.

HERE WITH ME by Mika-chan (One-shot. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/569622/1/Here-With-Me

Summary: “Taichi needs an appendectomy; he isn't thrilled. Taichi & Yamato friendship story.”

Thoughts: To quote a review “straightforward, simple, and sweet.” VERY WHOLESOME.

TOMORROW by Mika-chan (Short-story. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12130819/1/Tomorrow

Summary: “It's times like these when his father won't stop lecturing him about school and when Yamato won't stop being so self-absorbed, that Tai wishes life could be simple again—could really be just about fighting evil Digimon and saving the world.”

Thoughts: I really like this story because it shows how school can sometime be very stressful. And more importantly it depicts Tai very well, because it shows that he’s alone, or he thinks he’s being abandoned by everyone.

THE LOST TAMER by Miss Anonymous hp (Long Story. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10205417/1/The-Lost-Tamer

Summary: “Even before Takato was electrocuted, he was having a crummy day. It all started when he woke up with no memory, in a strange place, and surrounded by a group of kids known as the digidestined looking for somebody named TK. Now he, Guilmon, and five worried kids must set out to find out what exactly is going on… and why.”

Thoughts: I really like this portrayal of Takato. He’s very mature and his comments are very realistic. GUILMON IS THE SWEETEST. Even when you have all this characters in scene you don’t lose the essence. Very recommended. Has a sequel but it hasn’t been updated.

THE TEACHER OF ALL THINGS by Sadhelm2 (Long Story. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9801628/1/The-Teacher-of-All-Things

Summary: “That time in summer camp wasn't the first time Tai went to the Digital World. How different would things be if a more experienced and jaded Tai was sucked into the Digital World? V-Tamers/adventure01”

Thoughts: Tai’s very mature for his age in this fic and I love it. He knows stuff, and he’s not what I expected in this fic. But that’s what I love it, if you guys read it you have A LOT of suprises coming. 10/10

           HAS A SEQUEL TO KEEP ON RISING UNCOMPLETED. Set in 02. Dormant, last update on 2018.

WHAT WAS FORGOTTEN by Prince of Flames (Short Story. COMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8197908/1/What-Was-Forgotten

Summary: “During his battle with Cherubimon, Takuya falls unconscious. While he is asleep, he dreams of a past forgotten, and friends that he once knew.”

Thoughts: It’s a 02x04 crossover. Very short and has fluff. Love it. Although it’s not showed you can’t tell the friendship the two other protagonists had with Takuya is real.

CROSSING WORLDS: THE SEALED DIGIVICE by Sigthbent (Long Story. COMPLETE) (Has prequel, completed. And has a Sequel, uncompleted).

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5493589/1/Crossing-Worlds-The-Sealed-Digivice

Summary: “On a mission that has led Takuya out of his own dimension, he has ended up lost in another. Not only does the fate of multiple worlds rest on him succeeding, he'll also meet someone who will become forever intertwined with his destiny”

Thoughts: Another 02x04 crossover with GREAT worldbuilding. Everything is explained and you can understand the concepts easily. Takuya had a serious demeanor here, because of his new role as a “superior digidestined”(?) But has his charismatic smiles all over, very good characterizations of everyone. Cliffhangers, angst, fluff, EVERYTHING. AND THE POWER OF---

THE TAMER – A DIGIMON ADVENTURE by leonardo1123581321 (Long Story. COMPLETE) (Has a sequel, COMPLETE. HAS A THIRD PART ALSO WHICH IS ONGOING AND A LOT OF SHORT STORIES???)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11575755/1/The-Tamer-A-Digimon-Adventure

Summary: “Six young kids go to camp for the summer, wind up living in a Digital Land. With devices that let them digivolve their partners to make them stronger, our six heroes set off on an adventure to find a way back to their world. But stories tell of another boy trapped in this world for a long time and they fear the same fate. Mysteries abound in this new world. Will they get home?”

Thoughts: This is a masterpiece. If you like Doctor Who then you’re gonna love this. It’s the perfect match. The Tamer owns the situations every time he appears. I just can’t explain it further YOU HAVE TO READ THIS. IT’S AMAZING.

           Sequel: THE TAMER V1-2: ANOTHER DIGIMON ADVENTURE. (COMPLETE)

           https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12428191/1/The-Tamer-v1-2-Another-Digimon-Adventure

FORGOTTEN LEGENDS by Sightbent (Long story. UNCOMPLETED. DEAD since 2015 :c )

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6472937/1/Forgotten-Legends

Summary: “With the reemergence of a long lost continent in the Digital World the Digidestined have set out to discover its connection to recent troubling events happening in the real and digital world, but in doing so they will stumble across long forgotten legends and a chaos that has waited a long time to engulf both worlds. 02x04”

Thoughts: Ashh this fic. I really like it, I like the story, the world building. Everyone is in character, there’s so many mysteries. I’m really sad because the last chapter’s ending wasn’t what I expected and I need to know what’s happening. A good ride tho.

DIGIMON: CHAOTIC EVOLUTIONS REDONE by Katreal (Long Story. UNCOMPLETED. DEAD since 2015)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9679932/1/Digimon-Chaotic-Evolutions-Redone

Summary: “Posing as a Digidestined pair, and barred from spirit evolution save in the most dire of circumstances, Kouji and Kouichi struggle to aid the Chosen Children in discovering the secret of evolution, all while trying to unravel the truth of the connection between their Spirits, and themselves.”

Thoughts: I got a bit confused with the names of the digimons so I had to write them down to know which one was which, but I think that’s because I found it when my English wasn’t that good? So, meh. I really like this story, everyone is on character, very nice rhythm, good descriptions and conflicts. I love Koji and I love Kouichi and their relationship throughout the story.

ADVENTURE 02 X FRONTIER by Freefan1412 (Long story. UNCOMPLETE. On hiatus)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7484328/4/Adventure-02-x-Frontier Summary “Four years after BelialVamdemon's defeat the peace in the Digiworld breaks apart. A mysterious army of evil Digimon is wreaking havoc and destroying everything the children have struggled to build. And the key to evil's victory, lies with 6 'visitors'. 02 x 04 crossover. Rated for violence. Hiatus.”

Thoughts: One of the first “mature” fanfic I’ve found and what I loved about this is the fact that the warriors are more attuned with their spirits, they are vessels for them to manifest and it’s amazing. And it clearly shows that their world (frontier) was harsher and brutal than the adventure gang.

DIGIMON: FLAME WITHIN MIRACLES by Loki921 (Short story. UNCOMPLETE)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11854296/1/Digimon-Flame-Within-Miracles

Summary: “Davis holds a secret about himself that the other the Digidestineds, except for Ken, don't know. What does this secret have to do with the mysterious digimon that has been spotted recently and Kari seems to know? When evil once again rises, the Digidestined better be prepared for all they know to be turned upside down and a fight for their lives. Season 2 and 4 Crossover.”

Thoughts: I re-read this recently and I still love it. It’s an easy read. The battles are amazing and well written in my opinion. Everyone feels real and the interactions also feel amazing.

   At this point I think I made you a favor. Your welcome. If you pick any of the fics then I love you and go give your kudo to the fic because they deserve more recognition.

[jeidafei]

D.Gray-Man Vol.26: Komui’s Lounge (Extended) 4/5

>> Part 1 <<

>> Part 2 <<

>> Part 3 <<

Question 20: How many types of headphones does Marie have? And do they function differently?

Marie: Now I only have the latest model the Science Division developed for me. I keep it on at all times except when I go to bed.

Bak: I’ve contributed to the design as well. (ahem)

Marie: Did you? Thank you, Supervisor. 

Lavi: But you’ll hear countless noises and voices from a considerable range all the time, right? Isn’t that exhausting? 

Wisely: What!? You’re able to hear that much!? Where’s the respect for privacy?

Allen: Shut up about privacy, you.

Marie: Well, it was rough before I got used to it. I trained myself to listen for only important sounds from among countless noises. I’ve come to the point where everyday noises from people doing their chores and talking mostly just flow right by me, and since then I haven’t been “listening in” on anyone. 

Link: Aha. You really are a true man of character, Noise Marie. You’d better take notes, Walker.

Allen: How did this come to me?

Link: Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten how you threatened me with Timcanpy’s recordings.

(T/N: I don’t remember where the omake in which this happened is, but it was the recording of Link when Timothy possessed him on the Louvre’s roof and made all those funny faces and slobbering in the Phantom Thief G arc.)

Question 21: I’m curious about the length of time Krory can maintain his enhanced capabilities and the amount of Akuma blood needed. And also whether it is possible to extend his activation time by training, etc.

Bak: As of now he can drink blood from Akuma up to Level Three, and can stay activated for 10 minutes with 250ml of blood. Looks like he’s also experimenting to extend that time with support from the Science Division. 

Lavi: Wouldn’t drinking more blood extend the activation time?

Bak: No, it wouldn’t. On the other hand, drinking less than 250ml will shorten the activation time to around 3 minutes.

Marie: When you said he can drink blood from Akuma up to Level Three, is it because he hasn’t experimented with blood from a Level Four yet?

Bak: Well, since obtaining blood from a Level Four is next to impossible...

Wisely: Ho ho ho. Indeed, indeed ♪.

Allen: Seeing Krory enjoying Akuma blood that much really does make you wonder whether it really is delicious, after all.

Link: Don’t try it out, Walker.

Question 22: Does Miranda always carry sweets with her while on a mission? And does she have a favorite flavor?

Link: I’ve heard that since her Innocence requires stamina, she’s come to carrying sweets at all times to supplement her calories, but about the flavor...

Marie: Miranda said she likes minty flavors.

Allen: Are you sure? Miss Miranda always gives me sweets whenever my stomach starts growling, and they’re always fruity flavors like strawberry or pineapple.

Lavi: That’s just coz you like fruit-flavored candies, isn’t it, Allen?

Marie: Haha. So she’s packing fruity candies just for you as well, huh.

Allen: Eh!? Is that so!?

Bak: By the way, whenever Lou Fa learns you’re coming to our branch, she’d always prepare Mitarashi dumplings, Walker.

Allen: Eh!? Now that you mention it, there really did seem to be Mitarashi dumplings around whenever I go to the Asian Branch.

Wisely: What!? If you really loved eating that much, then why didn’t you accept Tikky’s invitation to feast back then?

Allen: It’s not feasting that I have a problem with; it’s that Curly-Head. He’s the very man who tore a hole in my heart, have you forgotten? Do you expect me to enjoy a meal with such a groping pervert?

(T/N: Er, Allen...I think your point is a little off here...)

Link: So you won’t let your appetite win in that case, Walker?

Allen: Yes?

Link: Nothing. That’s a relief. 

Question 23: So before Lavi became an Exorcist, he fought with a dagger?

Lavi: Eh? What’s this?

Wisely: They’re probably talking about that time back in the Ark. When you were in Road’s dream, remember?

Lavi: Ohhhh, so that was it. Wait, how come you know about that?

Wisely: La-de-dah♪

Marie: Lavi’s an all-rounder, like Bookman, right?

Allen: What on earth is that?

Marie: Those who can make use of any weapon depending on the situation.

Lavi: That’s because as Bookmen, virtually all our logs are of war zones. So Gramps trained me to be capable of handling any situation, and that training also includes martial arts.

Link: What are you most skilled with?

Lavi: Hmmmm. I like cudgels best, I guess.

Allen: You’re always fooling about whenever we duel-train, Lavi, and I’ve been thinking perhaps you’re no good. Kanda beats you in a blink, you see. 

Lavi: Aaaawwww. Come on! It’s such a pain to fight seriously!

Bak: But back then, when you were dueling with Fō, you seemed quite serious, though.

Lavi: I wouldn’t call that a duel; Fō was coming at me like she’s dying to kill me, damn her. How could I not take it seriously!?

Allen: Yeah, Fō does mean it when she fights, doesn’t she. 

Bak: She’s more a berserker than a guardian deity, that one.

Link: I see. You will not get serious unless it poses a certain level of threat to your life. 

Question 24: Are Nea and the 14th the same individual?

Wisely: My my. Is this reader mistaking something here? “The 14th” is just the alias the previous generation of Noah bestowed upon Nea. There is only one Nea. 

Link: Though Nea himself doesn’t seem fond of it; he’s said it is “a nickname given out of distaste”. Guess I’d have to be careful from now...

Allen: Huh? Careful of what?

Link: Would you like some mango juice, Walker?

Allen: WEE-HEE!

Bak: I’ve been wondering. Why isn’t he called “The 14th disciple” like the other Noahs but simply “The 14th”?

Wisely: Perhaps that is the distaste Nea was talking about. As has already been revealed in the Gray Log Fanbook, Nea has no Noah Memory, and for that very reason, the other Noahs may have treated him as the black sheep of the family. Well, I guess I’ll leave you here with a cliffhanger until the boy uncovers Nea’s secrets in the main narrative. 

Marie: He has no Noah Memory, so he couldn’t reincarnate like the other Noahs, and that is why he implanted his memories within Allen?

Link: Exactly when did he implant them within you? Do you really have no idea, Walker?

Allen: Told you; I really don’t know! It’s said to be around 35 years ago! I’m sixteen, remember? I didn’t even exist then!

Wisely: ..............

Lavi: What the heck are you grinning about, Three-Eyes?

Wisely: Nuffink.

(T/N: OMG OMG OMG OMG OH MY FREAKING GAWD WISELY DID YOU JUST FREAKING CONFIRM THE PAST!ALLEN THEORY WITHOUT SAYING A SINGLE WORD???!!!)

Question 25: Allen’s left eye should have become able to project the image of the Akuma souls to others, but it seems nobody apart from Lavi has seen it. Is it deciding itself whether to let other people see the souls within the Akuma?

Lavi: Ah, that...Just remembering it still gives me the creeps even now.

Allen: Back then when Lavi and Krory said they could see the Akuma’s soul, at first I was definitely sure the curse has strengthened in power, and from now people other than me will be able to see the souls, too. But after that, nobody ever saw it again. Looks like it’s just a one-time thing, after all.

Lavi: It was right after your damaged eye resurrected with the curse’s power, right? With your eye being in an unusual state like that, anything can happen. Me and Krorykins were just unfortunately caught up in the curse’s rampage. 

Allen: Well, it’s a relief, anyway. After all, it’s not a pleasant sight to behold. If it ends with you not having to see it anymore, I’d say it’s for the best.

Bak: I’m interested, though. As part of the Science Division, we welcome any information on the Akuma.

Wisely: So am I. For even my Demon Eye cannot see souls. In what state are they, the souls within Akuma?

Link: How could you say these things like it doesn’t concern you when you’re on the very side creating Akuma?

Marie: Must have been hard getting used to seeing those souls, huh, Allen?

Allen: When I first saw one, I was so scared I couldn’t even bear to look. But Master was patientーWell, for him. “Those things aren’t scary”, he’d scold me; they were once living humans just like us, and they’re just screaming for me to save them, after all. It took a long time, but just like that, little by little I became able to look at them. 

Question 26: What do Kanda, Allen, Lenalee and Lavi smell of? Lenalee would probably smell very nice. Well, she’s a girl after all; she’s definitely using perfume and the like, right?

Marie: Hmmmm. Kanda’s scent? Soap is the closest bet, I’d say.

(T/N: Sensei, considering the general negative image of D.Gray-Man as a Yaoi manga may I say this is not a wise move? *laffs*)

Allen: And me, Marie? What about me?

Marie: You usually have a sugary smell about you, Allen. Like dessert.

Lavi: Because there’s always crumbs all over your clothes, Allen.

Allen: Lavi’s eyepatch gives out whiffs of Fabreeze.

(T/N: the popular Japanese brand of air-freshener/deodorant spray.)

Lavi: Oi! Don’t say stuff from the old Instagram page! Some readers won’t get it!

(T/N: In Hoshino’s old Instagram there’s a drawing of Allen spraying Fabreeze at Lavi’s face for some reason. I don’t remember the caption. She’s also reposted it on her new Instagram just to clarify this joke. Maybe it’s just that he never/rarely takes off his eyepatch for cleaning and it’s moldy and sweaty...?)

Marie: Hmmmm...as for Lavi...he smells of tobacco a bit. 

Allen: Yeah! Just like Master’s scent.

Lavi: Ah, Gramps’ cigarettes, huh? I’m aware of that. 

Wisely: Bookman is a heavy smoker as ever. A wonder his lungs are still holding out even at his age.

Marie: I think Lenalee usually has a flowery scent, though.

Bak: Yes, she does! Lenalee-san smells like sweet flowers!

Allen: Bak-san, keep your voice down! If Komui-san hears you, we’d be in for big trouble!

Lavi: Lenalee doesn’t use perfume, and still she smells so nice.

Allen: There’s this thing she uses. You see, a while back I was talking to Lenalee about having more scars or something, and she said; “This works wonders, you know.” and gave me some of this thingーkinda like Body Oil? Could it have been that oil’s scent? The scars would fade if you keep rubbing this oil on them, from the looks of it. It smells wonderful when she’s putting it on me.

Bak: SHE WAS PUTTING IT ON YOU, WALKEEEEEEER!? (snaps)

(T/N: Trust me I had a really hard time keeping this one from becoming Fifty Shades of (D.) Gray or Silence of the Lambs for that matter...)

Allen: NO ULTERIOR MOTIVE! REALLY!

Lavi: Body oil, huh...ah, my heart’s gettin’ all weird just hearing that.

Link: What’s with that dirty look on your face, Bookman Jr?

>> Part 5 <<

[jarienn972]

Only a Little Superstitious - Chapter 22

Since I left this story on a huge cliffhanger earlier this week, I decided that since I already had this chapter written, I'd go ahead and give a double update! The sad part is that this story is now down to the final few chapters. I'm hoping to finish this tale by the end of 2018 and I really want to thank everyone who’s been following this story.  I’m also remembering to tag @killian-whump and @hookaroo whom I realized I’d forgotten to tag on the last 2 updates.  I apologize for the oversight and I know you’ll both enjoy this chapter!  Now, enjoy the next installment!

Also on AO3 and FF.net

From the beginning on Tumblr:  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11 12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21

Killian's eyes may have been closed, but he wasn't sleeping. He was conscious enough to have heard the crunching of gravel beneath a heavy boot and still savvy enough to recognize that the noise had originated from the opposite direction that Emma and Carlos had traveled. Someone was approaching and both he and Grandmother were essentially unarmed. He did have his hook at the ready, but in his fever-weakened state, it was hardly as useful as his cutlass or Emma's pistol. He threw open his eyelids to spot his elder companion scanning the low brush and chaparral surrounding them, having heard the same noise and seeking its origin.

"Who's there?" Grandmother demanded, her voice stern and unwavering.

"Well, what do we have here?" a deep voice responded, a taunting laugh resonating with his words. The speaker remained obscured by the scrub brush, but Killian already knew the voice. "Tough little, old Indian lady and an even older pirate who's seen far better days?" Kronk mocked them as he stepped into view, ducking under the rock ledge to escape the torrential rain.

"How the bloody hell did you find us?" Killian asked, clinging to as much bravado as he could muster.

"I had to put a few things together after speaking to your lovely wife," Kronk began as he shook some of the excess rainwater off of his clothing, showering Killian with the castoff droplets. "Your wife really shouldn't have left that box behind in your hospital room… Seeing the Ranger's name on the label made sense. I'd already figured that you'd had help getting off of that mountainside, but I had to think for a while about what you would have needed shipped to you from back home. Then, it finally dawned on me that somebody had figured out that the dagger was what opened up the portal which brought us all here. I took a wild guess that your wife might try to open up the portal again, this being the last day of the blood moon cycle after all, but there's still the little matter of the missing piece. The dagger won't work unless it's whole so even though you somehow managed to find the right location on this mountain, she can't open it. So, why don't you just save me some time and tell me where Emma and that broken piece are so I can get the hell off of this mountain again."

"I'm not telling you anything, Mate," Killian spat back as Kronk took another step closer. "Emma's not going to willingly hand anything over to you."

"I don't need you to tell me," Kronk replied, shooting a wicked smirk towards Killian before setting his sights on Grandmother, taking another menacing step towards her. "I'll bet I can get the Indian to talk…"

"I am a child of the Navajo Nation," Grandmother stated defiantly. "My people are not from India."

Kronk was pleasantly surprised by the old woman's bold response, enough that he took his eye off of the pirate just long enough for Killian to concentrate all of his remaining strength into thrusting his leg out into Kronk's path just as his opponent closed the distance between himself and Grandmother. The toe of Killian's boot caught Kronk's shin, enough to make him stumble, but not enough to bring down the burly man.

"Keep away from her!" Killian snarled, needing Kronk to back off long enough for Emma and Carlos to return. How long did it take to magically fuse a blade anyway?"

"You think you can fight me now?" Kronk laughed, unfazed by Killian's words or actions. "You haven't even the strength to stand, let alone fight! You had to be dragged out here, so why should I think you're any manner of threat?"

"I suggest you sod off before Emma returns," Killian warned, although it was becoming obvious that his posturing was waning. "She does have magic that she can harness here…"

"Oh, I'm counting on that," Kronk stated with a sickening grin – a split-second before lashing out with his boot to kick the pirate solidly in the rib cage. The impact propelled Killian's already impaired form into the rock face, his head and back striking heavily before he crumpled to the sandy earth, gasping for breath and rapidly succumbing to unconsciousness.

"Emma! Carlos!" Grandmother cried out as Kronk's attention returned to her. Unarmed, she'd be no match for the hulking figure before her.

"Now, about my dagger…" Kronk sneered as he reached the elderly woman in three long strides, but as he raised his arm to strike her, a single gunshot rang out, sending a puff of sand swirling into the air just inches from his foot. He froze, his eyes lifting to scan the horizon for the source of the shot.

"Next one won't be a warning," Emma snarled as Kronk's position shifted to meet her steely gaze, the old woman next to him now forgotten as he stared down the blonde sheriff. Carlos rushed to Grandmother's side, shielding her from Kronk, but she pushed her way around her grandson, more concerned for Killian's welfare than her own. With Kronk no longer barreling towards her, Grandmother hurried to her patient's side, fearing the additional damage that Kronk may have just inflicted.

Keeping the barrel of her weapon trained on the threat before her, Emma allowed her sight to drift from Kronk for just a moment, straining to get a better look at the slumped, unmoving body of her husband. He lay curled in a fetal position, his back against the rocks, and even from her position, Emma could see the dark stain that had formed across the front of his midnight blue shirt. Her mind tried to excuse it as simply rainwater from their hike up here or sweat from his fever, but her heart wouldn't be convinced, especially when she could see the trickle of blood that was streaming across his left ear onto his cheek.

"What did you do to him?" Emma demanded, gesturing at Kronk with the gun barrel, directing him away from her husband and their friends.

"He got in my way – as you are now," Kronk responded, making no effort to step aside and showing little fear of the weapon aimed at him.

"This beast kicked him," Grandmother informed Emma as her skilled hands examined Killian's wounds. "The impact has reopened several of the sutures and when he struck the rock, he cut open his scalp."

"As I said, he was in my way," Kronk repeated defiantly, "and he wouldn't tell me where I could find my dagger. I suppose it would be because you have it?"

"You mean this dagger?" Emma crouched and withdrew the blade that she'd hastily tucked into the cuff of her boot before hurrying back down the trail from the cavern. Kronk's eyes grew wide as he took in the sight of the repaired blade that she held up with her left hand, no longer even caring that she still held a pistol in her right.

"Ah, that would be the one. Does it still bear traces of your husband's blood on the blade?" Kronk taunted, trying to incite her anger, but despite a piercing glare from her steeled green eyes, she didn't break her composure. "So nice to see that you've already managed to repair it for me…"

"For you?" Emma laughed at him, her tone decidedly sarcastic, not the least bit jovial. "You aren't going to lay a hand on this dagger again, Kronk. We figured it out - why you were looking for us. You were searching for the missing piece."

"I have to admit that I didn't expect the point would shear off so easily upon striking bone, but what can one really expect from a blade that was forged hundreds of years ago?" Kronk raised his arms in a shrug to only further incense Emma. "You can just hand it over to me and I'll be on my way…"

"Do you fail to notice that you're the one at gunpoint here?" Emma reminded him, barely flinching as a flash of lightning illuminated the overcast skies. "Step aside so I can open up the portal. I'll let you return to Storybrooke with us, but you're going to face attempted murder charges."

"I have absolutely no intention of returning to that irritating little town of yours," Kronk insisted. "I have far bigger plans once I reach my intended destination."

"Like what?" Emma asked her quarry as she inched closer to him, desperately wanting to get a better look at what was happening with Killian, but she didn't dare take her eyes off of Kronk. "Are you crazy enough to think that the portal will take you back to your time?"

"My time?" Kronk scoffed. "Why on earth would I want to go back there? I jumped at the most ridiculous proposition I had ever heard long ago so I could get away from that place! I believed an old man's crazy story about a fancy knife he'd found buried in some cave way out in the Arizona desert that he claimed could transport someone to a land of untold riches…"

"What in the hell are you rambling on about?" Emma wondered. "You're going on like you found the gateway to El Dorado or something…"

"That's because I did," was Kronk's surprising reply. "I mean, it wasn't exactly El Dorado or Shangri La as the legends might imply, but it may as well have been. That's where I intend to return, and now, with the Warden gone, it shouldn't be difficult at all to attain a position of leadership…"

His use of the term Warden had the gears inside Emma's brain turning in overdrive… Where had she heard that term before? And he was gone…? "Oh my god, you're trying to get back to the Land of Untold Stories?" she blurted out in stunned realization.

"It was the Land of Plenty to us," Kronk corrected her, still patiently watching and waiting for a chance to disarm the Sheriff and relieve her of the dagger. "That's how it was described to me so many years ago in an Arizona Territory saloon by an old man everyone though mad. He barely spoke a word of English and so few out here in this godforsaken land spoke German so no one understood what he was trying to tell them..."

"But you could?"

"My parents emigrated from Germany and Austria and I grew up speaking German at home and English at school so yes, I understood his tale about a magic dagger. He'd come into town periodically carrying large gold nuggets that people around here thought were evidence of a mine hidden somewhere in these desolate mountains, but what he'd really stumbled upon was so much better." Kronk paused a moment trying to decide how much more of his story he should tell, but the longer he talked, the more likely she was to let her guard down. "That old man had found a key to another world – one with abundant riches, including veins of pure gold filling the verdant hillsides, but every time he traveled there, he'd return to find that weeks, sometimes months, had passed here. He tried to live a normal life here on what treasure he'd brought back with him, but after a few years, he grew tired of the desert and desired to return. He just couldn't remember where the gateway was so he spent several more years trying to find his way back to that cave, mapping out his search area until he found it at last."

"That's a great story, Kronk, but you're really just wasting my time. I need you to just stand down so I can get that portal opened because, I swear, if my husband dies, you'll wish you had too."

"We'll see," Kronk said, sensing an opening as Emma's sight drifted once again to her injured husband so he suddenly charged at her, knocking Emma to the ground. Both the dagger and her gun went flying, his momentum sending him tumbling over top of her. Kronk clambered to his feet, recovering faster from the collision than she did as she sat up, searching for the two items she'd lost hold of. A flash of lightning glinted off the blade of the dagger, half buried in a muddy puddle to her left and about ten feet from Kronk's position. No way she was going to let him get there first.

She stumbled to her knees and raised her hands, summoning all of the energy she could, both from the storm and from her own inner emotional turmoil and as the next bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, an equally bright ball of light blasted from her fingertips, knocking Kronk onto his rear. Kronk practically snorted at her unimpressive magical outburst, pushing himself back upright and lunging toward the dagger. Emma had reclaimed the upper hand though and easily blasted the blade away from his reach, the dagger landing next to Carlos.

"Impressive," Kronk jeered, remaining undaunted by Emma's display of magical prowess.

"I'm just getting warmed up, buddy," she hissed back at him.

With the dagger inches from his fingertips, Carlos glanced over at Grandmother for validation, as if he needed her permission to touch it. She nodded and mouthed the single word "Go" before he snatched it up while she returned to her task of applying pressure to Killian's wounds, her own fingers already slick with the pirate's blood. Seeing the artifact back in friendly hands, Emma used one more blast of magical energy to send Kronk flying across the clearing, his momentum only ceasing when he collided with a towering, ancient cactus. They all could hear Kronk's screams as his back, arms and legs were impaled by dozens of razor-sharp spines, but none of them cared for his agony at the moment.

Ignoring Kronk's pleas for help, Emma scurried over to her husband who remained laying unconscious and bleeding beneath the overhang. Dropping to her knees at his side, she gingerly ghosted her fingertips across his temple, finding his skin unexpectedly cool and damp to the touch.

"He's not feverish…" Emma said, her voice shaking as the impact of her words set in. Killian wasn't feverish because his lifeforce was slowing slipping away as he bled. She thought for a moment that she could possibly amass enough energy to heal him, but then would she have enough in her to still open the portal? And if it didn't work? What if he was already too far gone?

"The spirits are calling to him," Grandmother stated solemnly. "You must do this now - before he decides to answer them."

"Here," Carlos said as he thrust the dagger's handle into Emma's hands. "How do you get this thing to work now?"

"It needs blood… a blood sacrifice on the blade. I don't know why it was designed that way, but it was," Emma rambled, her eyes falling to Killian's blood-soaked shirt. "I don't think Killian's will work again…"

Grandmother raised her hand slightly, but Carlos immediately pushed it back down. "You can use mine," he offered, rolling up his sleeve to bare the ruddy skin of his forearm.

"I can't ask you to do that," Emma responded, shaking her head as she prepared to draw the blade across her own palm.

"You're not asking – I'm volunteering," Carlos insisted, taking hold of Emma's wrist before she sliced open her own skin. "I've already witnessed you do some amazing things up here and now, I want to do my part to help."

"I'm not even sure this will work," she lamented, suddenly insecure of her own abilities.

"It will work," Carlos assured her with a broad smile. "I mean you've pulled off one minor miracle already – you got an old Navajo woman to venture up onto the side of a mountain in the middle of a thunderstorm. If you can get her past her superstitions about being struck by lightning, you can do anything."

There was no other choice, Emma reminded herself. Killian needed medical attention and absolutely would not survive another trip off of this mountain. Their friends and family back home were waiting there to help… "Alright, let's do this. This might hurt a bit, but as soon as we get back to Storybrooke, it'll be easily healed."

"Don't worry. I've got a pretty high pain tolerance," he assured her as he extended his forearm toward her, bracing himself as Emma drew the sharpened edge of the blade across his skin between his wrist and elbow. The newly incised wound open and oozing, she pressed the flat of the blade into the crimson flow, rotating it until both sides of the blade were completely saturated.

"Thank you," she said graciously as she pointed the blade to the sky so that the liquid could trickle onto the hilt then trail over it to reach the moon image carved into its handle. She expected the portal to open just as it had in Storybrooke, nearly immediately after Kronk had thrust this same blade into Killian's chest, but she grew increasingly anxious as nothing was happening. "What am I doing wrong?" she asked herself aloud. Maybe there wasn't enough magic left in her after her battle with Kronk? She couldn't stop her gaze from dropping to Killian's deathly still form on the ground before her. She had to do this, she told herself, letting the words echo through her head. She had to keep her promise to get them home.

She lifted her chin into the drenching rain, closing her eyes, even though that wasn't likely to stop the flow of tears – not that anyone would be able to spot them amidst the raindrops anyway. Her thoughts drifted back to the last time she'd held a dagger in the middle of a storm – the Dark One dagger – and she decided she needed to do exactly as she had then. She wrapped both hands around the handle as the rain began to wash the blood from the blade, sending dull, pinkish rivulets over her knuckles when she hoisted the blade over her head. Lightning crackled around her and thunder boomed in her ears as the blade began to glow with a bright orange light, not that Emma could see it, struggling to maintain her focus.

She also didn't see that behind her, Nehemiah Kronk had regained his composure. The huge man was still plucking cactus spines from his clothing, but he'd been coherent enough to realize that Emma's magic was activating the dagger's magic and he needed to get to it. Carlos saw Kronk make a move toward Emma and started crawling desperately through the muck to retrieve her lost weapon, shouting a warning to her as he scrambled for the gun. "Emma! Behind you!"

Kronk was nearly upon her as the lightning bolt struck, drawn in by the dagger itself, but instead of striking Emma down and electrocuting her, something incredibly unplanned occurred. A sphere born of pure energy formed around Emma and the others, repelling the advancing Kronk and dispersing the electrical charge in a protective field across the sphere. Carlos remained on his knees, frozen in stunned silence as he realized that not even the steady rain was penetrating the sphere. They were inside their own little magic bubble, but Emma didn't look entirely pleased as this wasn't what she had expected to conjure.

Emma's eyes lifted upward, focusing on the gathering storm clouds above them, her green eyes sparking with each crackle of lightning overhead. Her arms still held the dagger high, as if offering it as a tribute to unseen gods, a pose Carlos imagined the high priests of the Inca, the Maya or the Aztec may have taken after completing a sacrifice. It was both fascinating and frightening simultaneously but as the Ranger knelt in awe of Emma's stance, he realized that he could no longer tell if Killian was breathing or not. He instantly found himself praying to gods he hadn't even thought of since childhood, hoping fervently that the great thunder gods would spare his friend.

A few feet away, a bruised and battered Kronk sat up, shaking his dazed head as he studied the protective sphere that surrounded the Sheriff and the others. It sparked with energy and pulsed with light as bright as if it had been forged from the lightning itself. Whatever this force field was, it still was not a portal so he scanned the bubble for a potential opening that might allow him access to the dagger. He would find a way to return to his Land of Plenty. Hell, this wasn't even the greatest danger he'd faced over the years. Playing sidekick to Yzma had certainly put him on the receiving end of plenty of trouble and many painful repercussions, many of them at the hand of those loyal to the Warden, but more often due to Yzma's magical failures. He'd never really feared anything that hack of a sorceress conjured up so why fear anything the Savior Sheriff could do either?

As though she could sense his approach this time, Emma turned her attention to Kronk. "Don't come any closer, Kronk," she warned. "You'll only electrocute yourself."

"You think I never felt the Warden's taser?" Kronk replied. "This doesn't frighten me and I will still get that dagger so I can return to MY home."

"You can't, Kronk," Emma stated, shaking her head vigorously. "You can't go back to the Land of Untold Stories. It's not there anymore."

"Don't lie to me! The Warden is dead so he can't stop me from going back and neither can you!" Kronk shouted confidently.

"I swear to you – it's not a lie. Whatever deal Hyde struck with Rumplestiltskin, it brought everyone to Storybrooke and the Land of Untold Stories ceased to exist so there's no way you can't go back." Emma tried to reason with her adversary, but he simply wouldn't be convinced. "Think about it, Kronk – were you planning to return to Arizona? It certainly wasn't Killian's chosen destination. You opened the portal wanting to go back and it did bring you back – to where you started. Why else would you have ended up here?"

"It's all lies!" Kronk shouted as he barreled into the sphere preparing to be thrown back again by its power.

"Kronk, stop!" Emma cried as the protective sphere once again defended them from his assault only this time, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking the fortified bubble at the same time that Kronk made contact with it. He seemed to be suspended for a moment as the storm's power surged through his body, then he was released from the lightning's grip, dropping to the ground with an audible thud. And this time, he wouldn't get up.

Emma's emotions were swirling. She hadn't wanted to see Kronk electrocuted. She'd only wanted him to stand down so that she could get them home. She wasn't even entirely certain if he was dead, but she couldn't imagine him surviving that… Whatever his motives were, he should have just stopped…

But she didn't dwell on that thought for long because at that same moment, the electrical bubble that encircled them began to rotate.

"Emma, what the hell is going on?" Carlos wondered, hoping his friend might have some insight as to what exactly they were experiencing.

"I don't know," she replied honestly. The dagger clutched in her hand had begun to glow once again and she could now feel it heating up against her skin. She wanted to drop it, but it wouldn't allow her to release her grasp, her flesh searing as the bubble around them exploded outward and a familiar, swirling portal materialized before them. "There!" she cried out joyfully. "There's our way back to Storybrooke!"

Her energy nearly spent, Emma stumbled backward a step, but Carlos sprang to his feet to steady his friend before she fell. "Easy there," he said as he caught sight of her reddened, blistered hands. "Emma, did the dagger do that to you?"

"Yeah," she replied, relieved that she could finally unfurl her fingers from the dagger's handle. She grimaced as she tucked the blade back into her boot since they'd still need the dagger to remove the dark magic from Killian once they reached Storybrooke, but she had no desire to keep holding it, even if it wasn't burning her skin any longer.

"Let me see, child," Grandmother spoke up, turning her attention from aiding Killian long enough to glance at Emma's outstretched palms. The old woman motioned for Emma to move closer so she could get a better look while Carlos stared at the swirling vortex, trying to think of the best way to get Killian into it. Grandmother frowned as she inspected Emma's hands, but while she was concerned about the burns, they did have more pressing problems. "They appear to be first and second-degree burns. They'll be a bit painful, but right now, our first priority has to be getting you home – both of you. How long will the portal remain open?"

"With such unstable magic around here, I have no idea," Emma confessed, her gaze understandably drawn to her husband's unmoving body.

"Then we must go now," Grandmother insisted. "He is barely drawing shallow breaths. I'm worried that when Kronk kicked him, he did more than just re-open the existing wound."

"I don't think we'll have time to strap him back into the sled," Carlos stated as his eyes darted back and forth between the portal and his injured friend. "This isn't going to involve a lot of walking around, will it?" he asked Emma, entirely unsure of how portal travel would work.

His question caught her slightly off-guard, so Emma had to think for a moment before answering. "No..., there's no real walking involved at all… You just jump into that swirling hole and you end up somewhere else – hopefully in Storybrooke. Landings aren't always pretty, especially if you get dumped out onto concrete…"

"Well then, I only know one way that we're going to be able to do this…" Carlos stated as he stood over Killian, straddling the wounded man's legs. "I haven't done this since my training days, so please forgive me, my friend. This might be a little bumpy…" He leaned over and grasped Killian's right arm, tugging the unconscious pirate into a semi-upright position. He then wrapped both of his arms around Killian's torso and hoisted his friend's body upward until he could swing Killian's head and upper body onto his shoulder into a fireman's rescue carry.

Once he had Killian's motionless form properly balanced, Carlos strained every muscle in his back and legs to push himself into a standing position. "Can we go now?" Carlos stated, knees ready to buckle from the extra exertion but fearing that the vortex might close on them at any moment. "Lead the way, Emma…"

Sensing that Emma might need a little support, Grandmother hooked her elbow around Emma's arm as Carlos positioned himself behind them.

"Next stop, Storybrooke," Emma stated as she mustered the strength needed to leap forward, Grandmother's spry little frame keeping step with her. Carlos hesitated a moment as he watched the two women vanish into the vortex then set his composure and took that leap of faith himself - all the while reminding himself not to drop his unconscious friend. He had no idea how this thing worked or where the hell he was going to end up, but this was already one hell of an adventure.

[xswestallen]

Just my thoughts on the show I wanted to share with you, I feel like it's not as good anymore. S1 was a masterpiece. Every character got their moments to shine and develop. They balanced the villain of the week with the Wells ReverseFlash plot. S2 was good but not as good as S1. Then S3 was a big decline in quality. It didn't feel like the same show anymore. Same can be said for S4, it was even worse than S3. Is it just me? I binged S1 & S2 online so Idk if that has romanticized my opinion of

them. I just feel like these last two seasons don't live up to the standard the first two seasons set. I hope they bring back what makes the show great in S5. I want more character development and meaningful stuff, less immature joking.

I agree and from what I’ve see, most of the fandom agrees as well. Seasons 1 and 2 are loved by the entire fandom. You didn’t romanticize them because you binged them, the people who watched it live feel this way too. Most people seem to love season 1 the most, but I personally like season 2 best, with season 1 being a very close 2nd. 

Season 3 wasn’t nearly as good as the first two. It was poorly paced and Savitar’s plan/backstory was never fully explained. But, season 3 was still good. It had all the elements that people love about The Flash, they just weren’t put together as well. Season 3 brought the action and left an emotional impact. I think Barry, Iris, Wally, Caitlin/Killer Frost, Julian, and Cisco were well developed throughout the season’s storyline. 

It seems season 4 is universally everyone’s least favorite season of the show. It had all the pacing problems of season 3, but without any of the character development or emotion. There were some great episodes in season 4 and some truly phenomenal scenes that stand out, but overall, the season wasn’t as high quality as the previous 3. I think the problems were Ralph and Caitlin/Killer Frost. 

It really felt like the writers wanted to make Ralph the main character, but at the same time, were too lazy to think up any storyline for him besides feelings insecure, getting a pep talk, rejoining the team. Pretty much every Ralph scene after 4x11 was hard for me to sit through. He was great in 4x11, well written and well developed. But, in 4x12, all that was forgotten. The writers constantly erased any character development Ralph made so that he could go through the same internal struggle 10 times. It was so boring. 

Not to mention, the sexual predatory behaviors Ralph was introduced with in 4x04 and 4x05. Now, they stopped writing such grossly misogynistic lines for Ralph after a few episodes, which I assume coincided with the firing of sexual predator Andrew Kresiberg, who probably thought such lines would be funny, but the damage was already done and Ralph made a bad first impression with a lot of fans. I want to like Ralph, because I really like Hartley Sawyer as an actor, but his writing was just horrendous. I hope season 5 is an improvement for him.

I am a huge fan of Caitlin/Killer Frost. I was really excited to see where he story went in season 4 because season 3 was such a rollercoaster. I know a lot of people didn’t like the split personality thing, but I did since it meant we got to enjoy both Caitlin Snow and Killer Frost. But, it soon became evident that the writers had no idea how to write for her after season 3. They went with out of character action for Caitlin in 3x23 so that her fate would be a cliffhanger, and never bothered thinking up what came next. 

The Amunet backstory made no sense. There was no reason for Caitlin to want a cure from Amunet when she didn’t want the cure Julian made. Then, after Amunet’s cure didn’t work, there was no reason for Caitlin/Frost to continue working for Amunet! Based on everything we learned about Caitlin Snow in seasons 1-3, I just cannot believe that she would shrug and keep working for a human trafficker when there was absolutely nothing stopping her from leaving. 

Now, they are changing everything we know about how Caitlin’s powers and Killer Frost work, and going for a dissociative identity disorder storyline. I’m ok with that, I just hate that we got an entire season of filler and have to wait for season 5 to actually see Caitlin’s backstory. I think that should have been her arc for season 4. Killer Frost was also majorly sidelined in all the action scenes. The once badass character who could hold her own against Barry was easily taken out by the simplest villains of the week. The only time we really got to see her fight was in the crossover.

I also agree that season 4 had very little character development and no emotional impact. Devoe didn’t really seem like much of a threat. Thawne killed Barry’s mother, Zoom terrorized two Earths before killing Barry’s father, Saviatr was going to kill Iris, and Devoe......... put Barry in prison for like 2 weeks for reasons that were never even explained???????? The fight against Devoe didn’t feel personal enough.

[hotsterfield]

What happens in Vegas... - Tom Holland

Word count: 2448

Summery: You wake up after a night in Las Vegas, only to discover you married the one and only Tom Holland 

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Epilogue

A/N: I really hope this makes up for the weekend! I was inspired by Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name”. Please, let me know what you think! It would really mean a lot! If the interest is there, I might make it into a series, so just let me know if you want a part 2! 

I know the ending is lacking a little, but i’m reallly tired, so i’ll just make it a cliffhanger! 

You woke to the sun shining on your face through the window. Your throat was drier than Sahara, and your head was pounding. You fumbled for your phone, and when you looked at the time, you also saw the notifications on your phone.

Your twitter and Instagram had blown up overnight. Like really blown up. There had never been this amount of notifications before. How the hell did this happen?

“I don’t know what happened, but there’s a legal document stating that we’re married!” You heard a voice say outside the door. You frowned your brows. When you looked down at your hand, to find a slim golden ring, that you were sure hadn’t been there yesterday. What the shit happened last night?

“I did what?” His voice continued. You opened twitter, and quickly gave up on figuring something out based on your notifications. Instead you found a couple of news articles, and several screenshots of a tweet.

“Just married the love of my life, @y/t” and a photo of you in a white dress, kissing the guy who you assumed sent out the tweet. Did you seriously get married to some stranger last night? And apparently someone famous too! At least you got the wild Vegas trip you wanted, you just didn’t expect to get married.

With a sore body, you left the bed. You were only in your underwear, the white dress laying on the floor, and your other clothes were nowhere to be found. You didn’t really feel like wear a wedding dress, so you searched the rest of the floor, and found a white T-shirt, that you quickly put on.

As you walked out of the bedroom, you found the guy standing shirtless, leaning against the kitchen counter. He eyed you, as you walked to him. You spotted the matching ring on his finger, and sighed internally.

“Haz, I gotta go. I’ll call you later” He hung up the phone, and sent you an awkward smile. “Hi. Ehm. So. We got married last night. It was a mistake, uh. I was very drunk, and I’m guessing that you were as well. I think we might have slept together, but I’m not sure, and this is going to sound really bad, but I don’t remember your name”

“it’s y/n. I didn’t plan on getting married to a stranger, yet alone a famous one, so there’s that. What do we do? Can’t we just get an annulment? Or a divorce or something?” You asked. You knew your parents was going to be so mad if they found out that you got married in Vegas.

“About that. I kinda told the whole world we got married, and my agent thinks it would be bad for my reputation to get a divorce. It would apparently be, and I quote “a PR nightmare”, and I don’t want that” He explained, and you were a bit shocked.

“You want us to stay married? Are you serious?” You couldn’t believe it. Why would you want to do that? “Yes. Just for a couple of months! Maybe a year. It’s my agents idea, and I thinks it’s kinda stupid, but Marvel don’t really like the idea of damaging my reputation if we can help it. So yeah. Sorry” He apologized, and you could feel yourself getting angry. Who the hell was he to think, that he could decide that?

“I don’t want to be married to you! I don’t know you! Hell, I don’t even know my own last name right now. I’m not going to stay married to you, just to help your career! Who exactly do you think you are?” You were definitely angry now. He was about to say something, as your phone rang. Before he could speak, you answered the phone.

“Y/n! I just got off the phone with Tom Holland’s manager. He told me what happened. How you got married in Vegas, congratulations on that by the way” He told you. You prayed that he could help you out with the divorce part.

“Oh thank god! I don’t want to be married, to that arrogant prick. So please, tell you can get an annulment!” You watched the annoyed expression on Tom’s face, but you just rolled your eyes at him.

“Yeah, I don’t think we should do that. Netflix just offered you a role in a new series. Mostly because of the news of you getting married. It would be great for your career!” No-no-no-no-no! This could not be happening!

“Are you kidding me? Why on earth would I want to do that?!” you yelled into the phone. “Well, look at it as an opportunity! Mr. Holland is a very international name, and being with him, could mean you get your big break”

“And before you say anything, Ellen wants you on her show. Don’t turn it down. This might be your only chance” You manager continued, and you just wanted to smash something.

“You can tell Holland’s manager that I want a contract, if we’re staying married” You said before hanging up. You glared at your new husband. This couldn’t possibly end well.

“So I’m guessing we’re married. Look at it positively. You’ll get famous quite fast now” He smirked, and you just wanted to slap the smile of his face.

“Oh please. This is strictly business, okay? I don’t care if we slept together last night, but I won’t happen again. I’ll play the part in public, but other than that I don’t care about you” You said coldly. You didn’t like him. He seemed so arrogant. Who gave him the right to think he was so much better than you?

“That goes both ways. Maybe we should get to know each other, and maybe agree on what we’re telling the public. Do we pretend that we know everything about each other, and that we just kept our relationship hidden? Or do we play it off as a love at first sight thing?” His voice was, is possible, colder than yours.

“Love at first sight. Then I don’t have to spend that much time getting to know you. At least not right now” You glared at him, really wishing you weren’t wearing his shirt. It just seemed wrong, and if he claimed It back, you would feel very exposed.

“Great! If you just give me my shirt back, I’ll leave. I don’t really want to be here anyway” You took the shirt off, and almost instantly the annoyed look in his eyes disappeared. His eyes went down your body, up again, only to go down once more, and then stop at your bra.

“Hey jerk. My eyes are up here” You threw the shirt in his face, and you turned on your hell and walked towards the bedroom again. It gave you some satisfaction, knowing he was staring. At least in this way you were better than him, and you were going to let him know. It didn’t take long before you heard the door slam shut.

***

A couple of days had passed. You had been so busy with phone calls, from your family, your friends and even journalists too. You had gotten the script for your new role, so when you hadn’t been on the phone, you had been learning your lines. For short moments, you had happily forgotten you had to play the role of Tom Holland’s wife as well. You sat down on the couch, mentally preparing for the interview. This was your first real interview.

“So, we’re here with Tom Holland and y/n y/l/n! Or do you prefer Holland?” The host asked, and you quickly looked over at Tom, who was casually sitting with his arm around you. “Both actually. As an actor, I want to be my own person, so there I prefer just my own name. But in every other situation, I very much prefer Holland” You gave the biggest smile you could, and looked back at the host.

“That’s so sweet. So let’s get right to the question everyone’s been asking. How long have you been together?” The host leaned forward a little, and you looked at Tom as he started to answer.

“Well, Darling. How long have we been married?” He looked at you, and your faces was suddenly so close to each other, and you forced a giggle. “4 days” You said, keeping your eyes locked on his, until he looked back at the host. “We’ve known each other for 4 days” He said, still smiling wide.

“What?! This is unexpected news! So you guys didn’t know each other before getting married?” The host looked at you with wide eyes, and a slightly open mouth.

“Kind of. We ran into each other in the afternoon. I had just gotten the part in the new series, and I wanted to celebrate. Then I met Tom” You glanced at him again, trying to seem in love. “He spilled a glass of water on me, and when I looked into his eyes, I just couldn’t look away” You continued.

“I’ve never been the type, to just fall in love, but there was just this instant connection. Everything just felt so right. It was really spontaneous, we can both admit that” He laughed, and you decided to continue.

“There was just something so beautiful about the love. I think we both wanted to have it to ourselves, just for a minute. We didn’t tell our family, we didn’t tell our friends. We got a dress, a suit. Then we got married” You carefully bit your lip nervously. “You didn’t tell your family?” The host asked, a bit astonished.

“No. It was some very awkward phone calls the following day. I think the word stupid was used a couple of times” Tom answered. The interview went on with you talking about the wedding, and just a bit about your new projects.

***

You were already hating this day. The interview was hard getting through, but now you still had to go on a date with Tom. You had to be seen out in public, preferably kissing. As you stood in front of the mirror, applying your favourite lipstick, you thought about how you were going to survive tonight.

You looked at the time. He was going to be here in 2 minutes, so in your opinion he should’ve been here 3 minutes ago. You absolutely hated when people were late, but you wouldn’t be surprised if he was. He was rude, and arrogant, so he was probably also late.

There was a knock on the door, and you were actually a bit surprised. You went to open the door, to find him leaning against the doorframe, looking at his phone. Impatient could be added to list as well. He looked up at you, and once again his eyes scanned you, causing you to smirk.

“As annoying as you are, you are still hot. So as long as you keep your mouth shut, I might actually survive tonight” He smiled, and you rolled your eyes, as you walked out to lock the door to your apartment.

“You’re just so charming, I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to have married you” You said, you voice dripping with sarcasm. You followed him to the car, and he quickly started driving to the cinema. You were going to see one of your movies. Well, it wasn’t your movie, but you did have a minor role in it. It was a dancing movie, and you were a backup dancer. You were on screen a lot, but you didn’t really have any lines.

As you got to the cinema, you found you seats. Your fingers were intertwined. As soon as the lights dimmed, all physical contact stopped. You didn’t focus much on the movie, instead you looked around to see what everyone else thought. You had seen it a couple of times already, so there was nothing new in it for you.

You reached a scene with a little sexier dance. You weren’t wearing much clothes in the scene. You always looked away in this scene, not because you were embarrassed, but because it was very strange seeing yourself be so sexually powerful.

As you glanced at Tom, you saw him smiling, and he started biting his lips. He didn’t realize you were staring, which make you smirk. The scene was definitely turning him on, and you couldn’t help laughing to yourself. He was such a jerk, but apparently all it took was a dance. This could definitely be used as torture. It was going to be some long months, so you might as well find something to entertain yourself with.

After the movie ended, and you walked out of the cinema, there were a lot of paparazzi. This was it, now was the time for your grand kiss. He was holding your hand, leading you to the car. He opened the door for you, and before you could prepare, he put his lips on yours.

You wanted to push him away, but you also knew you had to make it seem real. You put your hands behind his neck, and deepened the kiss a bit. You tried to imagine him as some other actor, but none of your tries really worked. After a while he pulled back, and you got in the car. He got in on the other side, and started driving.

“some of the paparazzi followed us, so if it okay with you, I’ll come up with you. I’ll sleep on the couch. I’ll be gone, before you’re up tomorrow” He said awkwardly, as he looked at you.

“Sure, I don’t care” You shrugged your shoulders, and in silence you walked up to the apartment. “Do you think we should move in together? To make it more believable. I got 2 bedrooms, so it wouldn’t be a problem” He stated, and you were once again rolling your eyes.

“So do i. We could just as well move here” You answered, as you opened the door. “Maybe we should talk about this some other day. I’m tired, and I really don’t have the energy to argue with you” He sat on the couch, and you mentally cursed at him. The moron didn’t take off his shoes.

“Since you’re here, do mind unzipping my dress? And taking your shoes off” You smiled ironically, as you walked towards him, turning your back against him.

“Sure” He sighed, slowly unzipping your dress, letting it fall down. You could’ve done it yourself, but you liked teasing him. He could be as mean as he wanted, but he couldn’t take his eyes off your matching black bra and panties.

Part 2

[artsyramblingroses]

Stevenbomb six has left me feeling really conflicted, because while I’m glad that it didn’t end with the Crystal Gems again overpowering or tricking their enemies into leaving, I have a few gripes which I shall list in order of least to most annoying.

1. Aquamarine. I know, she’s a mixed bag in terms of what people like,  but I couldn’t stand her. So if anyone likes Aquamarine, feel free to skip down to the next segment.

While its great that she was so Op and provided a difficult challenge for the CGs, It really bothers me how all Homeworld Gems seem to be portrayed as either slaves to their castes, earth gems like Jasper and the Famethyst who are treated as inferior by the majority of gems, who are heartless and cruel. Aquamarine was about ready to have Jamie murdered (And yeah, she was most likely bluffing to make Steven do what she wanted, but still, thats another living beings life you’re putting on the line, because you’re annoyed and want to go home, boo hoo, you pompous little snot.) 

And honestly, I didn’t enjoy her character. She did nothing to deprogram me from thinking that most Homeworld gems are cruel and evil. And while she shouldn’t automatically be made sympathetic (I’d say that I’d never become sympathetic or even like her, but the show made me go from hating Peridot to finding her adorable.) its gonna take a lot before I warm up to her. If she’s shown as a multidemensional character, I’ll appreciate that and will like her a little better because she’d have depth then. I just hate how shallow she is so far.

2. Everyone’s actions. It honestly felt like the Gems and Steven were acting dumber for the sake of the plot. Even if they were unable to overpower Aquamarine, they should have tried at least a little harder to fight these guys or plan ahead. Why didn’t Garnet use her future vision to better forsee what would happen? And yeah, why do they still let Steven do whatever he wants even though for the most part he still makes reckless and terrible decisions? I thought his trip to the Zoo would have changed that.

This is such an easy fix if they had just contacted Peri and Lapis at the beginning of I Am My Mom! Give them time to warp over while they start exploring for Connie and the others, and have them help ambush Aquamarine. One sneak attack by Lapis and Peri and that would have been enough to distract Topaz, allowing the CGS to pick one off. A good spear to the chest would have done it and give a few characters a chance to get away. Which leads into my biggest problem.

3. The ending. Its fantastic in a way, Steven is finally making himself known to gemkind and will be in a completely different environment than he’s used to, which will lead to some personal growth. We get to see all new gems. We get to see Homeworld.

On the other hand. Steven seems to fully embrace becoming his mother and getting himself killed to absolve himself of his mothers sins. Damn right it isn’t what Rose would have wanted. She’d be screaming in horror if she knew her son would do this. I’ve seen so many posts saying that Steven needs therapy and is very mentally scarred and I have to agree with all the overwhelming evidence. This is not healthy. This poor child wants to be a scapegoat and NO ONE STOPPED HIM. ALL HIS MOMS DID WAS SHOUT AT HIM NOT TO GO AND FLOAT IN THE GODDAMN WATER. WAS LAPIS HOLDING YOU DOWN? NO? WELL DO SOMETHING THEN! 

This poor boy clearly is traumatized and blames himself for something he can’t control. I thought maybe Nora’s tape in Lion 4 would have helped him to see that he’s not responsible for his mother’s legacy, that he can shape his own destiny and be who HE wants to be. But no.

 My god, he must have known that he was sentencing himself to death by doing this. He could have easily said he was a gem/human hybrid, he could have said he was the SON of Rose Quartz so at least he could be taken to see how the hell a human gem hybrid is possible. But no.

Goddamn. I shouted at the screen when he revealed himself in that way. I called him stupid. I feel bad, but Jesus, he could have handled this better. 

I honestly wish I could have enjoyed this more. I do have to say, it was damn tense and I am genuinely excited for Season 5. Season 4 has been mixed to bad in terms of  how things have gone plotwise, a lot of dumb mistakes were made by the CGs and I’m afraid that they’re going to be paid for in Season 5.

I can’t remember the stakes being this high in the show before, and it leaves us, much like Star Vs., on a damn cliffhanger while we stare at the screen and wonder what the hell is going to happen next. But it has reinvigorated my excitement, which is wonderful, as I had forgotten how much I had missed it.