#everyone will get mad but it’ll be well executed so they’ll have to go along

[gianteyedcrow]

Need to start manifesting my Nightwing writing credit ASAP

[therealvinelle]

What if the entire human cast were turned into vampires? (those who stay human throughout the saga)

Well, the first question we must ask ourselves, is who’s turning them? Who would do such a thing?

It’s a very stupid thing to do, after all, and a surefire way to earn yourself a visit from the Volturi.

Now, who in the post-Breaking Dawn world would want to turn all the humans near the Cullens into vampires, ensuring another confrontation between the Cullens and the Volturi?

Answer is, drumroll-

The Romanians.

As of Breaking Dawn, the Volturi are extremely vulnerable. Jane, Alec, even Chelsea have all been neutered. Renata is Schrödinger’s shield. She might work, might not. The more time they’re given to regroup after this, however, the worse news for their would-be usurpers.

Now is the time for a rebellion, but there’s no rebellion without Bella. Bella, unfortunately, is in a coven led by ultimate pacifist Carlisle, and Carlisle isn’t going to greenlight storming Volterra with an army. It’s time to get creative.

This could go many places, but the path of a biting spree in Forks and La Push is certainly one of them.

So, Vladimir and Stefan bite the entire human cast, and open Pandora’s box.

One of the first things to happen, I think, is that Billy, Quil senior, Emily, Kim, and Rachel are killed, maybe even before their transformations can complete. They would not want to live as vampires, to them vampirism is a fate worse than death. A mercy killing before they can hurt anybody would be the only way out.

As for the rest...

This would break the secret.

In this globalized age of internet, viral videos, and live TV, several hundred people all falling mysteriously ill with the same inexplicable symptoms, screaming and begging for death for days, slowly turning into something else as baffled doctors watch, before becoming massacring demons that tear the hospitals they’re in to pieces within minutes and proceed into the streets, killing everything in sight-

Aro hasn’t had a headache like this since ever.

This doesn’t even have to do with the Cullens anymore, though they’ll have to testify that they had nothing to do with this. Caius will be out for blood, though, any blood, and his ire will fall upon them.

This, of course, is the part the Romanians did it all for, because everyone knows that the Volturi are corrupt and would execute them regardless of guilt, so the Cullens will have to bring a new set of witnesses to this confrontation. And this time, of course, the Volturi are showing up to get massacred. Stefan and Vladimir high five each other.

And this time the odds are entirely in their favor.

In Breaking Dawn, standing by the Cullens was a suicide mission. No one knew Bella would be able to pull off what she did, none of the arrivals even knew she even had a gift when they agreed to come. Carlisle gathered only his bravest and most devoted friends.

In this scenario, now that everyone knows Bella’s gift neuters the Volturi, every single vampire who’s ever wanted the Volturi gone are going to want to be there. From random nomads to Maria with her newborns, everyone who’s anybody is going to want to be there, and they’re likely already squabbling over who gets to be top dog as soon as Aro’s a pile ashes.

And Aro can’t avoid this.

He can’t barricade himself in Volterra because there are hundreds of newborns loose in Washington. If he does nothing this will mean that the Volturi rule is officially void. They can’t enforce their law anymore, they may be alive down there in Italy but the era of the Volturi is over in all the ways that count.

If he goes to Washington, he can’t avoid the Cullens for the same reason as above. If he doesn’t collect their testimony to ascertain their innocence it’ll mean they’re now above the law, which in turn means that the Volturi don’t have the strength to punish them.

He has to go to Washington, and he has to deal with the Cullens.

Now, Carlisle may think the best of everyone, but even he would know the plot of the movie 300 when he sees it. The Romanians showed up at his doorstep, they totally didn’t create all those vampires wink, oh and here are eighty thug vampires who are already drawing straws on who gets to kill which Volturi.

More, what happened in Forks and La Push is only a taste of what’s to come.

Not only are the Volturi needed to help stop this madness, but if they should fall then what happened in Forks and La Push will only be a blip on the radar against the chaos that will be unleashed. It’ll be a genocide of the human species.

And Carlisle will have a culpability in that. The reason why this mass vampire creation tragedy is happened in the first place is precisely to see the Cullens go to war against the Volturi.

Last problem, it would be a massacre of the Volturi. Carlisle is a pacifist who cherishes life, even if it there would be no repercussions to the Volturi falling, forty-something vampires would still be killed.

I think at this point it would be unconscionable for Carlisle to allow this confrontation to happen. Question is, how to prevent it?

I have no doubt that the Romanians would be filling Bella’s head with conspiracy theories and what have you, for starters, explaining how her family will never be safe while Aro lives. It would be effective, even if Bella is told by Carlisle what this means for humans she’s not necessarily going to internalize just how bad that would be. Bella also has the problem that she romanticizes her love for Edward, to the point where she i Eclipse would let his family die if it meant she could keep him. Letting civilization fall to protect her lover would be acceptable to Bella.

More, the Cullens like humans well enough, but they’re not altruistic.

Likely, they would be convinced by the Romanians and the other vampires there that this was a fight for liberty, the human population would be fine, this is really no worse than Heidi fishing 40 people a week, we’re just more honest about it! The Cullens would want to be convinced, because the Volturi are scary and have proven evil in the past. If they’re not overthrowing them, they’re not just agreeing to live in danger, they’re agreeing to be slaughtered. It’s been established, to them, that Aro’s just itching for an excuse to kill them.

Carlisle can make his plea that they fuck off to Isle Esme while he alone stays behind to testify to Aro, so there’s no Bella at the confrontation. They’d refuse both because there’d be nothing stopping Aro from killing their allies and then coming after them when they’re alone, and because there’d be a real chance they were leaving Carlisle to his death.

Besides, with Bella’s gift they can hold the Volturi hostage, act nice or she’ll let these 80 vampires kill them. Nevermind that the vampires would just attack the Volturi anyway, and Bella couldn’t not shield them.

Bella and the rest of the Cullens aren’t going to go along with Carlisle.

Now, if Carlisle were Aro, the hard but effective solution here would be the Didyme route. Kill Bella, one life to spare the many.

Carlisle is not Aro.

What options does he have, then?

He could sneak away to intercept the Volturi, speak with Aro, hope to in some way initiate talks. It’d be a desperate, futile gamble, one where even if he gets Aro to listen it still won’t make their army-shaped problem go away, because Bella will never believe it if Aro says “we’re friends now! No quarrel! I’m definitely not going to kill you at first leisure if you let your army go.”

It’s an empty lead.

I think, given everything, Carlisle would swallow down the bitter taste of irony, call up his old friends whom he can still rely on, such as the Irish and the Amazonians, and ask very nicely if they would - sigh - like to witness that the newest Cullen-Volturi encounter goes over peacefully. The shapeshifters should be on board as well, after what happened to their loved ones and the countless other innocent humans killed or turned, they’ll never forgive the Romanians and not Bella for standing with them either.

So Aro shows up, and there’s Bella and the Romanians with an army of thugs, and there to the side is Carlisle with his tiny squad of witnesses. Who, should a fight break out, will try to defend the Volturi and get themselves killed in the crosshairs.

There’s a long silence.

Everyone is giving Carlisle their most exasperated eyerolls, his own squad included. Carlisle wishes he was rolling his eyes too, but the situation is a bit too serious for that. He just stands there feeling very uncomfortable.

Quite damningly for Bella, if she now allows the fight to happen that means the shapeshifters will be killed. None of the Cullens are particularly keen on the fight now that Carlisle’s likely to die.

Frankly, I think this would be an unbearably awkward encounter where absolutely nobody acknowledges aloud the reason why they’re there, or what was supposed to happen, and act as if it’s a normal trial, for the several first few minutes.

The Romanians know this is it, this is their chance, so right about the time where Aro is saying “How excellent that we’ve established the Cullens didn’t do it! Who, then, could the culprits possibly be?” they launch their attack.

All, at this point, depends on Bella’s reaction. If she keeps up her shield, then a glorious battle occurs, and most if not all Volturi die, the Carlisle squad are also goners, and most if not all of the Romanians’ army die as well.

The thing is, to win the Romanians don’t have to win - they just have to make the Volturi lose. So, even if they’re wiped out, if they can take out the key members of the Volturi then the Volturi will still have lost.

And this is where Aro’s planning enters into the equation.

Would he bring his key players to what was certain to be a slaughter? Would he even come himself?

Is it not perhaps wiser to send the twins, who in a fight without their gifts would be the first and easiest to be killed, to a secret location? Hope that, should the Volturi fall, then they can at least hope to take Bella down with them so that Jane and Alec will be able to keep the world from succumbing to a fiery hellpit?

And Jane and Alec couldn’t do this alone. They’re kids, for one thing. More, there are no men like Aro. His gift and personality both have been how he kept the vampire world under control for over a thousand years. It is a romantic notion to go down with your ship, burn with your empire, but it’s an impractical one. And Aro is nothing if not practical.

If he doesn’t show up to the trial it’ll just be sending his Volturi to be slaughtered, and as I explained above, not going at all isn’t an option either.

I think the twins would be safely whisked away to some faraway place, while Aro arrives with plans for an effective escape for himself and the core members, and as many vampires Chelsea was able to get to redshirt themselves.

This, in turn, means that even if Bella doesn’t use her gift, it’ll still be a slaughter. Alec and Jane aren’t there.

In the scenario where Bella doesn’t use her gift, this forces the Cullens to fight alongside the Carlisle squad and the Volturi. The odds are not so uneven as they originally were. Could be Aro still escapes, or given the tipped balances he could try and luck it out, to increase the odds of his side winning.

There are many outcomes this battle could have, but the Volturi would not escape unscathed from this. No coven would, the fighting would only end when there was only the victor remaining.

I, personally, like the outcome where Carlisle and Aro both survive, and find themselves living with a new world order. The secret is out, the Volturi are a shadow of what they once were, and the Cullens can never live as humans again. The two form a tentative alliance (because at no point has anything been cleared up between them) to keep this new world from descending into interspecies war.

Edward, now a Volturi, wonders where it all went wrong.

(There’s also the outcome where Renesmée joins her grandpa’s squad as a teen rebellion thing, and since no one wants to harm her the fight is cancelled. 

Aro repeats his ramble about nukes and missiles, the vampire community needs him to smooth things over and have Chelsea make all world leaders adore vampires or it’s over for all of them. Carlisle supplies in that poorly scripted random member of the audience says exactly what the magician needs him to way, “Yes absolutely the humans have weapons that can take us out!”

It’s awkward for everybody.)

[murasaki-murasame]

Thoughts on Higurashi Sotsu Ep5

This week on Higurashi Sotsu, we witness the most irredeemable of all crimes:

A little girl pushes over someone’s pot of curry.

Thoughts under the cut.

On the one hand, the actual answers for this arc have ended up being way more straightforward than I expected after how unclear a lot of it felt back in the question arcs, but on the other hand it’s probably a good thing that they’re not doing anything convoluted with this when they’re already doing this a lot faster than they probably should, lol.

I’ve said it a lot of times before, but the fact that they’re spending so much time on stuff that comes across as unnecessary and predictable still feels like proof that they actually meant it when they said that this is meant to be accessible to new fans. I think the execution is kinda clunky and they probably should have committed entirely to it being a sequel, but they’re clearly trying to spend time on stuff that wouldn’t necessarily be obvious to people who haven’t read the VN.

Although even then, this episode kinda highlights how the new series hasn’t really gone into Shion’s entire backstory or character arc at all, which isn’t necessarily gonna stop new fans from understanding what’s going on here, but it does make her feel a lot more unimportant as a character, and the narrative themes and parallels set up in this episode don’t come across to the new fans who don’t know how Watanagashi and Meakashi went the first time around.

Anyway, the gist of this answer arc is basically that Mion was indeed the culprit this time, and killed basically everyone. It’s not very surprising at this point, but it’s really neat to actually see what it looks like for Mion to succumb to the syndrome. It feels very different to how basically everyone else handles it, since she’s way more cold and calculated about things, and has more self-awareness of her actions. The dramatic irony of how she didn’t even want to kill Shion and just got carried away in a moment of anger was cool, and on a related note it’s kinda funny in a morbid way to imagine that she probably killed Oryo with the taser without realizing it as well. I think something similar happened in the VN where Oryo dies before Shion can actually torture her for information.

Which reminds me that this is all making it really clear how foggy my memories of the original Watanagashi and Meakashi arcs are, lol. I was hoping to reread the VN when Gou started so I could compare them properly, but that got derailed by my laziness and real-life stuff coming up, so now I don’t really remember enough to confidently compare how this went to those arcs. From what I do remember, though, this feels like a bit of a reversal of how those arcs went, where this time Mion wins her confrontation with Shion and goes on to kill everyone else.

There’s still one more episode left, but the next episode is probably going to show that Mion killed Kimiyoshi after Oryo, then probably killed Rika after watching her rant at Keiichi, then Satoko will go off to confront Mion at the mansion and they’ll both end up dead. I’m still not entirely confident about why Satoko would bother going there in the first place, but my best guess is that she wanted to confirm what Mion had done, especially if she ends up not being sure about whether or not Rika’s dead if she didn’t witness Mion killing her.

Speaking of Satoko, we also got to see how even after the injection [or however she managed to drug Mion], she had to keep monitoring her and pushing her buttons to try and get her on the track to paranoia, since at least at first she seemed to be completely normal. Mion still ended up going L5 anyway, but it makes me hope that the next arc will go even further with having Satoko’s plans mess up.

Also, from what I’ve seen people say, the curry competition scene was actually very similar to the VN, except Satoko used more indirect methods of messing with everyone’s curry. I think this was actually pretty in line with how ruthless the club members can get, and how tolerant they are of blatant cheating, but it’s kinda funny seeing people get way more mad about it now than they ever would have before, lol. There’s also something funny about Satoko clearly just not giving a shit about subtlety anymore and just knocking stuff over and messing with their curry right in their faces. I think in her own way, Satoko’s getting kinda tired of all the looping [like in the last episode where she seemed bored of the card game], and her restraint is slipping.

In a lot of ways they seem to be setting up this idea of Satoko being careless and risky with her actions, and it makes me wonder if that’ll play into the next arc or two, and how Rika might end up ‘winning’ against her. But we’ll see.

It’ll be a little while before we actually get to the next arc, but it’s probably still the one I’m most excited for. For one thing it’s gonna be five episodes long so even if it also covers Nekodamashi I don’t think it’ll feel quite as fast-paced as these first two arcs have, and I feel like seeing Tataridamashi from Satoko’s perspective would feel much more different to what’s been going on in these arcs. There’s also be less competition between ‘the Satoko stuff’ and ‘the answer arc culprit POV stuff’ in the next arc since Satoko herself is basically the culprit of Tataridamashi. 

I at least hope that the next arc is where Satoko’s plans really start messing up, and she starts doubting herself. For one thing it’d be a little boring to have all the answer arcs go in the same sorta way with her doing exactly what she sets out to do, but if they’re setting up for any sort of redemption for her, something along those lines is going to have to happen eventually.

Maybe I’m just giving her too much credit, but I like the idea that maybe her resolve wavered and she ended up wanting to stay in that fragment, but Ooishi went L5 all on his own and fucked things up. Probably because of something like him getting into contact with Teppei and realizing that [in that arc] he hadn’t actually done anything to Satoko, which would fuel his paranoia about the village engaging in witch hunts. I think it’s at least safe to assume that Teppei really did attack Keiichi at the end of the arc, after how the fight between Keiichi and Rena ended up not having any tricks or misdirection to it, so Teppei probably became convinced that the village was just out to get him.

But anyway we’ll get to that when we get to that, lol.

[thebeltanequeen]

Updated GOT Predictions!!

As much as I don’t want some of these characters to die, or as suspicious as I am that they will just bc D&D love subverting expectations and everyone expects certain people to die, this is how I think it should end LOGICALLY if they follow the path characters were set up for in the books and in combination with the show

Cersei

I agree with pretty much what the entire fandom says. Jaime will kill Cersei then himself, dying a tragic hero. I don’t think Cersei lied about being pregnant. I think she either is pregnant still, was pregnant and something happened, or thought she was pregnant but realized she went through menopause instead. Jaime will confront Cersei when he gets to KL and they’ll have a huge fight I imagine. That’s when we’ll figure out the baby situation. I’ve never questioned that the baby was Jaime’s bc, for those of you who haven’t noticed, Cersei HATES Euron and would NOT have his baby. If she had her way, she’d kill Euron after they won the war. So whatever answer we get will play a huge role in the way she’s killed emotionally. Anyway, so Cersei will either be winning the battle, ergo Jaime steps in to stop her from using wildfire as the finishing blow, or she’ll be losing the battle and Jaime still prevents her from using wildfire, but he also doesn’t want to see her brutally murdered. He just doesn’t guys. It would be OOC for him to suddenly want her to be massacred. I don’t think Cersei will fight Jaime physically when he does kill her. I’m thinking she’ll be relieved it was him and that the prophecy is being fulfilled, so she no longer has to live in fear and grief anymore.

Jaime

As I said above, Jaime is going to commit suicide after he kills Cersei (and their unborn child if she is still pregnant). After he heard Sansa talk about wishing to see Cersei executed, he realized he wouldn’t stay in Winterfell for multiple reasons. He can’t let Cersei win, and he can’t let her be brutally tortured and executed. Jaime became so cold to Brienne at the end of this episode to protect her. He knows he needs to go to KL and that he probably won’t live. Brienne would want to come with him, and she would be in danger too. He also probably doesn’t want to make her feel like she needs to choose between him and Sansa. Confronting Cersei is something Jaime needs to do alone. He is on his way to KL to talk sense into her head to save her and their baby (Like I said, we’ll figure this out then. Cersei is just too damn heartbroken about it every time it’s brought up). He will of course fail for multiple reasons. Cersei is too stubborn, too powerhungry, too vengeful and too frightened to stop. Cersei also won’t be willing to listen to him after he left her, but she won’t be able to kill him. She can’t kill Tyrion, much less Jaime. After Jaime kills her, he won’t be able to live with himself. He’ll die a hero though.

Arya, the Hound, the Mountain, and Brienne

So I actually think Arya and the Hound will tag team killing the Mountain and perhaps even Qybrun in the process. The Hound will die afterwards from his injuries and he’ll have a touching moment will Arya, who WON’T leave him to die alone. After the Hound dies, I think Arya will head for Cersei and instead of killing her she’ll SEE Jaime do it and hear why he’s done it. She’ll watch the twins go out, and it will be Arya who tells everyone that Jaime saved them all. This will directly parallel when Ned walked in after Jaime killed the Mad King, but he was too stuck in the old ways to hear him out on what happened. Arya will right one of the few wrongs her father ever did. She’ll have been the one to save everyone from the Night King, and she’ll recognize that Jaime saved everyone from Cersei. Then I think Arya will roam the lands as she pleases, just as Nymeria does. Perhaps Gendry will give up his lordship and he’ll travel with her. He could give Storm’s End to Davos if he survives KL. Brienne will hear about what Jaime did, she’ll understand that he was protecting her all along, and she’ll write about his good deeds in the book. I actually think she might end up pregnant, and she’ll have a baby (I hope it’s a girl who also becomes a knight I would LOVE IT) and she’ll tell their child about their heroic father. Brienne would be a great mom and it’ll finish her arc nicely *cries*

Jon, Sansa and Bran

I have a theory that whatever fate the direwolves had, the same fate will befall their respective Starks either literally or figuretively. Lady was the first to die, and Sansa is arguably the Stark who has changed the most drastically. The girl she was is dead. She is no longer the little dove, or the little bird, but she is now the undisputed Lady of Winterfell. I actually think Sansa will be Queen of the North by the end of the show. Sansa being Queen has been foreshadowed all eight seasons. I think the Iron Throne will be destroyed, and the seven kingdoms split back up, but peacefully. Sansa will rule. Jon will be the one who orders the Iron Throne destroyed after Cersei’s death. I imagine Arya will tell him of the twins’ death and Jaime’s sacrifice and Jon will honor that by getting rid of the one thing that started this mess in the first place. A Targaryen built the iron throne and it will be a Targaryen’s responsibility to destroy it. Jon will then leave to roam the free lands with the free folk, as Ghost will be. Jon never wanted to be King, and after he destroys the throne and elects Sansa to rule the North, he deserves peace after all his fighting. He’ll embrace his Stark name and live and die a Northman. Summer is dead and Bran is figuratively dead as well. I could actually see him peacefully passing away at Winterfell from old age. Whether he trains a new 3 eyed raven or not is debatable.

Dany, Greyworm, Drogon and Varys

Dany and Greyworm are utterly devastated over Missandei and rightfully so, but they’ve fallen for Cersei’s trap just like Jon did when Ramsay killed Rickon at the Battle of the Bastards. Dany is also mourning Rhaegal and she is not thinking clearly. Dark Dany is happening for sure, and it’ll be tragic because we all know why and can understand what she’s thinking and doing. She’ll destroy King’s Landing, and the carnage will be so brutal and she’ll feel so triumphant that Westeros will turn on her, especially when news of Jon’s parentage gets out, at which point Varys will be executed for treason. What’s been made abundantly clear this season is that Dany is an outsider. Westeros does not want her, they want Jon. She and Jon will get into an argument at the end of the battle, and she’ll allow the Iron Throne to be burned by Drogon once the haze has cleared and she realizes how many innocent people she just killed. She’ll be devestated and will retreat to Dragonstone. She broke the wheel, but she lost everything, including her humanity for a brief period of time. As for Boatie, I don’t think Dany is pregnant, but if she is I think she’ll also give up the throne to raise her child in relative peace. I think she’ll either stay at Dragonstone and try to make that her home, or she will return to Essos with Drogon. Her particular storyline is one that can go in many different directions, so it is the most confusing to pin down for me. I can see Greyworm dying in battle after killing Euron (if Yara doesn’t show up in battle and do it herself), but I honestly don’t think he will. I think he will go to Naath and the last we see of him will be him smiling on the beach. I think he gets a tragic, but beautiful ending.

Tyrion

Ah, Tyrion. The one everybody loves, whether he’s suffered in the writing department the last few seasons or not. Out of all the Lannister’s, he’s most likely to live, but I don’t think he’s going to. I’ve actually only recently decided this, but I was reminded of the brilliant Charles Dance’s line in season one about how “soon, all of us will be dead” and “only the family name lives on.” Although this was said to Jaime, I think it applies to Tyrion too. I now think all the Lannister’s are going to die, but their name will certainly never be forgotten. I’m not sure how, but Tyrion might go out. Perhaps Dany kills him for treason even though he was trying to defend her despite his own fears? Or maybe there’s a time jump at the end of the show and we see Tyrion dying at old age as Lord of Casterly Rock? I would not be surprised either way, but I want him to go out doing something heroic, not dying for something he didn’t actually do like in season 4. He is too fantastic of a character to go out in a shitty way. He deserves an amazing ending to his story.

[addie-bear]

[ @addie-bear @chances-r-high @high-chancellor-raask and also staring a ton of people I’m too lazy to make blogs for ]

(( The following contains spoilers for Game of Thrones. Because I have exactly zero self control. ))

“This emergency meeting of the Senate of the Galactic Alliance is now in session,” Senator Destiel announced from her place at the front of the large room. Addie observed that this was perhaps the largest meeting room she'd ever seen, minus anything she'd seen on the Glitter Massive. The Senators were seated along a large wooden table that curved around the room, vaguely resembling a horseshoe. Addie was placed in the middle at a small desk. She couldn't help but drum her fingers nervously. If she didn't know any better she would have thought that she was on trial.

“Today we are here to discuss possible candidates to replace High Chancellor Ra'ask, or Dwight Dwicky as we've come to truly know him,” Destiel continued. “We have compiled some options. And Miss Denivar the reason you are here, is to give a different perspective. Seeing as in the past we have failed quite spectacularly to listening to outside voices.” She seemed to eye a few people in the room in particular. Addie had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

“So, have you had a chance to look over the candidate files I sent you?”

Addie nearly snorted at the way the question was phrased. As soon as she'd found out what this meeting was to be about she'd thought long and hard about what she was going to say. She took a deep breath and stood up.

“I have, Senator. But...I don't think any of these people you've shown me are what the Galactic Alliance needs.”

“I beg your pardon,” Senator Wark snapped, turning to Destiel. “Destiel I told you this was a bad idea! She's still just some dumb kid.”

“She is a highly intelligent young woman who did what no one else in this room managed to accomplish,” Destiel said. “And the only reason you are angry is because you submitted your own name into that pile. Now sit down.”

Wark grumbled something under his breath in a language Addie didn't recognize, but she could tell just by the look he was giving her that he could be a problem. That was okay. Maybe if she could convince everyone else…

“As you were saying, Miss Denivar?” Destiel encouraged.

Addie cleared her throat. “What the Galactic Alliance needs is someone who truly knows the ins and outs of its government. I'm talking the good, the bad and the ugly. Dwicky had his hands deep in a lot of underground stuff and black market trading. Dirty deals left and right. But if you have someone who understands that world, that lived through it, then they will know how to best get the Galactic Alliance out of it and rebuild the integrity of the union.

“And it...probably wouldn't hurt if he had been originally trained for the job since birth. And actually cared about people.”

Destiel raised a brow. “I'm sorry but...are you talking about Chance Dwicky? Isn't he Dwight’ clone?”

“He is nothing like him, assure you. Starting with how he uses my last name these days.”

“...Didn't he kidnap you?”

“Yes, but kidnapping is just basic courtship tactics in my family,” she said, waving her hand in dismissal. When the room stared at her in a bit of horror, she coughed. “Sorry that was a...bad joke. Look, I'm not wrong. He knows the Galactic Alliance like the back of his hand. He probably knows its problems better than anyone alive. And how to fix them. Yeah, he's done some terrible things. I won't deny that. But it was under manipulation and abuse. He's...so much different than before. He's one of the most compassionate people I know. And well...everyone loves a good redemption story.”

The Senators exchanged looks amongst themselves. Well, all except for Wark, who was pouting like a petulant child. After several moments Destiel turned back to Addie.

“We will...consider it. Thank you, Miss Denivar.”

000000000

“You did what?!”

“Look, I literally only thought about when they showed me the candidates,” Addie explained. “And let it be known I'm not exaggerating when I say they suck, Chance.”

“Addie. I literally can't do this,” Chance argued. “Like... literally cannot.”

“Yes. You can. I know you can. Chance I've seen you take charge of an operating room like you owned the place. I've seen how far you will go for people, and not just people you care about. People who are complete strangers to you.” She reached up and held his face in her hands. “The Galactic Alliance is torn to shreds. Who better to heal it than a doctor? And not just any doctor, someone who knows it better than anyone else every could, someone who's the protégé of Team Nebula's Chief Medical Officer and the Queen of Lazuroth? And you've already built relationships with some of the representatives! so there’s that!

Chance hesitated in his response. He shouldn't be so...floored that Addie had so much faith in him. But...he was. He felt his face heat up and his heart pick up speed. He reached up and took her hands in his. “It's not...that I don't want it. I just...never thought it was a possibility anymore. Like...there have been times where...a part of me wishes I'd went back just so I can over throw him myself but…” He looked into Addie's eyes. But you. But Iris. But everything and everyone I have now.

Addie smiled a little. “You can have it now, though. If you still want it. And you could actually do things the way you want them done.”

Chance took a shaky breath, but he nodded. His name wasn't Chance for nothing.

“They want to meet you tomorrow. Interview you, I guess.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “You're gonna be brilliant.” 

Chance smiled, leaning in kissing her forehead. “Speaking of...healing things,” he awkwardly segued. He pulled out a vial from his pocket. It looked eerily similar to the vial Harmonia had sent her, except the liquid looked more holographic. “I...took the liberty of developing this. The vial they gave you wasn't... immediately harmful, but after analyzing what was left in there, I realized it would...well once it wears off it's going to ruin all of your recovery. You'll be back in a wheelchair.”

Addie frowned a little. “Can't say I'm surprised. I figured there had to be a catch somewhere.”

Chance nodded. “This one though...it'll stop that from happening. You'll be fully recovered. Besides, you know, having to monitor you for seizures and such.”

“Fun,” Addie drawled, before her smile returned tenfold. “Thank you, love.” She took the vial from Chance, grinning broadly. “Almost symbolic, don't you think? Take something your asshole dad helped make and then make it better.”

Chance snorted. “Calm down, there, Songbird. I have to win first.” He took her hand as the kept walking along the path of the large solarium. “And I'm pretty sure the odds of that aren't in my favor.”

Chance won the election by a two-thirds vote.

000000000

Dwicky grumbled when he heard movement outside. Usually that signaled yet another person coming to see him, and so far they'd all not been great visits. The last one had been his court assigned lawyer. Apparently even his own personal attorney had turned against him.

At least he was kept up to date on what was going on out there.

His cell door opened and he sat up from his spot on the floor. He couldn't help but cackle. “Well, well. Fancy seeing you here, Commander.”

Addie grinned a little. “It's Admiral now.”

Dwicky's brow furrowed. “Admiral?”

“Yep. Admiral and Master of Arms to the new High Chancellor of the Galactic Alliance.” She smirked. “You should probably be careful of the people you call failure.”

Dwicky just cackled. “What a pretty little ending for you. To the victor goes the spoils, am I right?” She scoffed. “I suppose you do win this round.”

“This round?” Addie asked. She probably shouldn't be rubbing things in his face. That wasn't why she was here. But...it really was far too tempting. “This is curtains for you, I'm afraid. They even gave me permission to use Cynder to execute you.” She folded her arms. “You're done.”

“Do you really think I'll be the last one?” Dwicky asked. “The late monster you'll ever have to take on. The final boss if you will?” He cackled. “Must be nice, believing you're the hero in this story.”

Addie narrowed her eyes. “You certainly aren't.”

“No, you see, you're not understanding, Admiral,” said Dwicky. “How many titles do you have now? Princess of Lazuroth? Admiral and Master of Arms? Phoenix of Justice is the newest one I've heard. Should we slap on Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons on there, as well?”

“I mean, if you must,” Addie told him. “Do you have a point?”

“My point, little bird, is precisely what I tried to tell you before. You think you're so good. Justice incarnate. The savior of the multiverse. But let's take a moment, here. Your mother is the Queen of Lazuroth. Your father the head of the most well known neutral negotiations group in the universe. Your uncle is the Tallest the largest and most stable Irken Empire there is. And now you have one mate the head of the Galactic Alliance and, knowing you, you won't rest until the other is seated on his rightful throne.” He gave her a sickening smirk. “And then there was your display. How you showed the entire multiverse how you'll answer injustice with justice and take down the tyrants with Fire and Blood. Forgive me for continuing the Targaryen theme, here.”

Addie simply stared at him. He was really going hard with the Game of Thrones references, wasn't he? “Are you saying I'm going to meet with a dreadful fate?”

Dwicky's smirk became much more disturbing, a madness in his eyes. “What I'm saying, little bird, is some people are going to watch that broadcast, and maybe they'll see a beacon of light that will come swooping in and free them from the monsters that have them in chains. But others?” He snickered. “They'll take one look at that footage and see nothing more than a threat to everything they hold dear.”

Addie couldn't help it. She snorted before laughing softly. “Oh, Dwight you ignorant slut,” she told him. Her gaze was fierce as she stepped toward him, leaning down to get right in his face. “You say that like that's not exactly what I'm counting on. Because if they're afraid of me, then everything they hold dear is everything I hate. I was born to topple corrupt empires and take down evil megalomaniacs. And you're right about one thing. You won't be the last.”

There was moment of silence as Addie's words hung in the air. She kept her gaze intense, a ferocious glare full of disdain.

Dwicky glared right back, gritting his teeth. They'd taken his metal arm while he was unconscious. Though there was plenty of temptation of strike her, he knew that he stood no chance against her right now. Which was fine. Let her believe she won. He would find a way out of this if it killed him.

Addie finally backed away, standing up straight. There was nothing more to say. This was over.

Except…

“Good luck at your trial tomorrow, Dwight,” Addie told him as she turned around the exit the cell. “Not that it will save you. I'm sure you and my uncle's father will be great friends in hell.”

And with that, she left.

[gone-to-fight-the-fairies]

The Thing Between Them Part 9

Series Summary: After watching 13x17, this is how I felt things would’ve occurred if Gabriel had left the reader all those years ago when he’d “died” and current day Ketch is trying to win her affection, but realizes she’s still heartbroken over Gabriel.

Summary: When Gabriel discovers that the Reader is on a mission with Ketch and Charlie, he’ll move Heaven and Hell to get her back.

A/N: We’re beginning to arrive at the end… Some of you may have sensed it, but I’m likely to write two alternate endings. I can honestly see the reader going off with either of the men and I think everyone deserves the reader to end up with who they want. Part 10 or Part 11 will have two alternate parts, so be on the lookout for that! THANK YOU all for reading this far!!! Love you guys!

Pairing: Gabriel x Reader, Arthur Ketch x Reader

Warnings: torture, some potential sexual misconduct, swears, a Nazi…

Word Count: 2350

Masterlist

After two days of anxious hell, the traveling group arrived upon Enochian wards securing Dayton. In no mood for nonsense, Gabriel disabled the Enochian symbols using the little angelic grace left in his system. The defeated wards alerted human, armed guards who emerged from the woods to defend their base. One of which was Mary Winchester. Sam and Dean had their heartfelt reunions with their mother, while Gabriel crossed his arms, tapping his foot until he could no longer take the suspense.

The archangel approached Mary, shoving aside her boys; not bothering to introduce himself before getting to the point. “Where’s Y/N?”

Mary’s attention detached from her sons, staring at the archangel with an even expression, studying him at eye level. She confided in her boys about the archangel's identity before Gabriel repeated the question.

“It’s not safe out here,” she avoided the subject, motioning everyone to follow her. “We’ll talk inside the perimeter.”

Mary led her sons past the guards, through the trees encrypting Dayton. Castiel and Gabriel exchanged a glance before following the others. On Mary’s heels, Gabriel rephrased his question. By this time, Castiel became antsy about Jack, asking about his son's whereabouts. Upon hearing his name, Jack appeared beside Castiel. The two shared a meaningful hug while Gabriel fought back the urge to expel fire. 

“Is anyone in this shit-show going to answer me, or what?!” Gabriel exploded, eye daggers aimed towards Mary, but slightly distributed amongst anyone who dared to make eye contact.

Castiel cleared his throat, “Umm, Jack, this is your uncle, Gabriel.”

Jack’s eyes followed Castiel’s gaze, observing his uncle for the first time. “She’s with Ketch.” The Nephilim answered bitterly. “And Charlie… They’re on a mission.”

Gabriel frowned, the black hole in his stomach barely relieved by the fact that you were alive. “Where?”

“I… I don’t know. But Bobby would.”

Gabriel attempted to keep his annoyance at a minimum. “And where can I find him?”

“Singer Auto Salvage,” Mary answered, nodding her head north. “A few hours that way. You just missed him; he was here a day ago.”

“Okay,” Gabriel clasped his hands, trying to refrain from lashing out. Knowing he was closer to reuniting with you, he accepted the goose chase. “I’m gonna go get my girl. Who’s coming?”

The statement was quickly undermined by Lucifer’s presence, prolonging Gabriel’s quest to find you. After a tense, lengthy discussion, mostly about the Winchester’s plans to save the camp, the entire Dayton group traveled towards Bobby’s outpost.

When the Dayton group arrived at Singer’s camp, Gabriel appeared as a puppy without his leash. “Move.” He spat, crashing into people as he hurried along, searching for any sight of you or Bobby. Gabriel had briefly met the man during his cover as the Trickster and knew exactly what features to hunt.

“You!” He shouted across the salvage yard. Bobby instantly turned his head, watching Gabriel speed towards him. “Where’s Y/N?”

Bobby’s face twisted. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”

Dean, Sam, and Castiel followed behind. Bobby’s face light up at the sight of the Winchesters. “Boys!” After shaking their hands, he pointed his thumb at Gabriel. “Who's this oddball.”

“If I had the full strength of my grace…” Gabriel threatened under his breath as the others spoke.

“He’s a friend of Y/N,” Dean said. “He’s worried sick, and we have to hear about it until he finds her, so is she back yet? Jack said something about a mission.”

“No, they ain’t back. They got a tip on some angel kill squad looking to execute some, uh, resistance. They went to head them off at the pass.”

Gabriel chimed in. “Which way?”

“No, no, no you can stay here and wait." The command earned Bobby a scowl "They should be operating their strategy about now. And Charlie would take out anyone who kills her momentum, especially an angel.” Bobby eyed the man before continuing. “They’ll be fine. Charlie’s done this before and Y/N… she’s one of the best damn hunters.”

Gabriel groaned, stomping away as the Winchesters and Bobby discussed evacuation plans for the people of their bases.

“For high crimes against the realm,” one of the angels spoke. Right on schedule, a squad of angels marched along the path, leading a human, blinded by a sack over his head. You, Charlie and Ketch glanced between one another, preparing to make your grand entrance. “and its exalted ruler, Michael, the prisoner I condemned to death.”

“That will do,” Ketch announced, as the three of you stepped out onto the path, guns pointed at the small gathering of angels. Triumphant smirks decorated all of your faces as you've believed the ambushed appeared authentic.

Charlie nodded towards you, giving you the signal to save the prisoner. You stepped forward and unmasked the man. Unharmed, the mid-twenty-year old appeared in good health despite the circumstance. “We’re gonna free you,” you promised him.

You hadn’t noticed the angel blade that slide out from the depths of his sleeve. He quickly grabbed you, holding the blade to your neck. You tried to fight, but the man… or angel kept the blade against the flesh. “No, you aren’t.”

Charlie and Ketch gripped their gun tighter, anger residing in both of their features, but Ketch’s eyes burned with a rage that you’d never seen in him.

“Drop the gun,” one of the established angels ordered. “You’re coming with us.”

“No,” you urged Ketch and Charlie. The slight shake of your head forced the blade to cut your neck. You hissed at the motion, accidentally convincing Charlie to lower her weapon.

However, Ketch held his weapon firm, scavenging his mind for a way to protect you and murder those who ailed you. With no other solution arising, he outheld his gun, throwing it at the feet of the angels, allowing them to take him hostage.

After Gabriel, Jack and the Winchesters persuaded the leaders of the camps to take their people into their world; Bobby came up to them with the intelligence of your whereabouts.

“Just got news on Charlie, Ketch and Y/N. Goin’ after the execution squad, went sideways. They’re the ones who got ambushed.” Reluctantly, Bobby added, “Angels captured them.”

Gabriel stepped towards the man, fists tight at his side. “This is all your fault.”

“Excuse me?”

“If you’d had told me their damn location, I could’ve helped them!” Gabriel spat, the anger causing his smaller frame to tremble in the slightest.

“With what grace?” Sam reminded. “Look, they’ve been in trouble before, we-“

“It’s all my fault,” Jack’s voice broke out.

All heads turned towards the Nephilim. “I… We fought, right after they came to Dayton. I pushed her away," his voice wavered. "I’m the reason she left.”

“No, Jack,” Sam began to comfort the kid. “I’m sure-“

Gabriel intervened, stepping towards his nephew. “What did you fight about?”

Jack peeled his eyes from the floor, staring at Gabriel as his eyes glistened. “About Ketch. They seemed close when they arrived. Mary told me how awful he is; everything he’s ever done to hurt the Winchesters. I tried to warn her… but she already knew. And… I got mad. Then she got mad. And she sided with Ketch, so, now she’s…”

“We’ll get her back,” Gabriel spoke, but there was no confidence in his voice. He turned towards Bobby. “Where’s the path, old man?”

For angels, they sure knew how to carve out their own personal slice of hell. Ketch’s screams bellowed and bounced off of the walls. His hands hung above his head, the tip of his feet brushing the ground as the angel traded off between slicing and punching his bare front. Tied to a chair, you flinched every time the torturer would touch the Brit. You nearly gagged with every cry.

Charlie sat beside you, dried blood reflecting off of the fading, florescent lighting. She’d known Ketch a few days, and tears threatened her eyes. You couldn’t imagine your expression.

“How many fighters do you have?” An alternative of the same question the angel had asked for the last thirty minutes.

Ketch groaned through the pain. “Where is your battalion base?”

Ketch glanced at you, as though to debate wither to give in. All you could do was stare back, afraid he'd choose to betray everyone. Ketch finally spoke. “Are you familiar with a place called Boardwalk?”

“No.” The angel answered, refraining from cutting Ketch further.

“Well, it’s very near Park Place. Go to Oriental Avenue.” The angel listened to Ketch intensely, buying Ketch’s bag of bullshit until, “and take the B&O Railroad straight to hell.”

The angel carved another long laceration down Ketch’s front. Ketch laughed through the pain, amused by the angel’s annoyance while trying to maintain a strong front. “Mmm. Mmm. I that all you’ve got to make me talk? I must say,” he breathed out a sharp breath. “It’ll take much more.”

The angel took a step back. “Okay, then I guess it’s time for more.” The angel’s eyes flashed toward you as he stalked over, each step predatorial as his lip curled on one side, eyes darkening with power.  The angel stopped directing in front of your chair, blocking almost your entire view of Ketch. He bent down, much like greeting a child, “Hi, girlie.” His eyes briefly roamed over you, while a free hand brushed the hair out of your face.

“Don’t touch her,” Ketch threatened with what strength he had left. His breath shallowed, and he had to wait to gain more strength to speak. "You hurt her-"

"And what?" The angel shot over his shoulder, casually glancing back at the mortal man.

“This guy seems fonds of you,” the angel observed, watching you intensely as his roaming hand slipped over your chin. “Is he giving it to you good?”

You glowered at the angel, contorting your mouth to spit in the angel’s face.

Angelic grace erased the rebellion, causing the angel to grin wildly towards you. The angel’s hand slipped down from your face, brushing down your neck. The surprisingly smooth tips of his fingers danced over the clavicle bone. You closed your eyes, imagining the way things could go. “Hmm?” The angel prompted as his hand dipped between the top of your breast and your arm.

“Stop it!” Ketch screamed, tears freefalling across his face. His entire body shook forcefully as he shut his eyes, unable to watch your assault. 

The humm of a car halted the angel's motions. He chuckled deeply at the sound, straightening up his posture to look through the blinds of the window. “You think I actually want to touch one of you apes? I’ve sent for an expert in these matters.” The angel strutted back over to Ketch as the headlights shined through the window. “No talking required.”

The front door opened and the angel graciously greeted the oncoming angel. “Good evening, Gabriel!”

Your heart combusted at the name. Your eyes swarmed over the archangel in the doorway. His hair was shorter in the back, something you'd never seen. Green, military clothes hung from his body, resembling only one other style. You quickly realized it wasn’t your Gabriel, but the alternate version.

“A Nazi, really?”

Gabriel focused on your face, a scowl darkening his appearance. “I already kill you?” His accent was thick, resembling his inspiration.

“German too? God, be more original.”

The archangel leaned over you, grabbing a fistful of hair and pulling your head back. You bit back a groan. “God is not here!” he hissed. “Pure steel. Took me nearly a year to get the job done. It will give me more pleasure to relive the event.”

“No, please,” Ketch begged. “I… I’ll tell you what you want to know.”

Gabriel released his grip, turning back to gaze at Ketch. “It is too late for that, I’m afraid.” He turned back, placing his palm on your shoulder, walking around to stand behind you. “You have to realize; this will all be your friend’s fault.” Gabriel leaned down to whisper in your ear, toying with you while Ketch scrutinized. “He should’ve confessed sooner.”

Gabriel took off his dark gloves, preparing for something you were bound to find out. “You have to understand, that everyone has a breaking point. A… point of pain. Particular, primal fear. It’s a nerve so… raw that your will doesn’t exist to be factors. And that all of your little secrets… they flow from your mind… to mine… until your mind no longer exists.” Gabriel snuck his hands over each side of your head and begun the extraction.

Electricity. Like a lightning bolt continuously striking a metal rod within your mind. An electrical match which lit the fire in every nerve of your head. Pulsing inflammation and swelling, overwhelming your head, ready to burst at any given moment. You closed your eyes, unable to focus on anything other than the pain Gabriel created. You'd been a hunter a long time; stabbed, beaten, shot... a stubbed toe in comparison.

You didn’t realize you were screaming until Gabriel’s hands dropped prematurely, leaving your mind barely intact. Blood rushed through your head, clogging your ears. Threats and screams erupted into indistinctive chatter. Fights and gunfire sounded like white noise.

You regained minimal focus as Gabriel’s face appeared in front of you again. You produced guttural screams, pushing away, forcing the chair to tip over. The angel hovered over you, standing you back up with physical labor. Against the restraints, you thrashed in the chair, struggling to move away. The archangel spoke, but the rush of blood in your ears prevented comprehension. The impending fear of feeling that pain again overwhelmed your senses. You couldn't ever go through that again and live.

The restraints around your arms loosened, causing you to peel open your eyes. The Nazi uniform absent, replaced with a blue jacket and jeans. He kneeled down, and you retracted your hands, bringing them up to defend yourself. Gabriel didn’t appear to notice, as his focus revolving around your face. “Y/N?” His voice was calm, accent absent.

This was Earth’s Gabriel.

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[imyourliquor-youremypoison]

Divided We Fall (OUAT - Peter Pan x Reader) Part 4

Requested by @ajakral

Synopsis: Who said there were no girls on Neverland? Who said Peter Pan ruled over this world on his own? On the other side of the island, far from the mermaid lagoon, the echo cave and the skull rock – that’s where (Y/N) and her girls lived. Because behind every great man there is an even greater woman, what would the king be without his queen?

A/N: Doesn’t star any OUAT characters apart from Pan, Felix and Wendy.

Word count: 2.4k

Part 3 <<< >>> Part 5

MASTERLIST

“Up and in line everyone!” (Y/N) ordered and her girls stood in the usual order within seconds, dropping everything they were doing. In a single swift motion, she threw a thick wooden stick to one of the younger girls who fumbled a bit before catching it, out of surprise.

“You can't hesitate, if someone else than me throws something else at you, you need to catch it,” she said and paced in front of the girls. When she reached the same girl again, (Y/N) threw her elbow at her, aiming for the face but this time she caught it before it hit her. “Better,” (Y/N) congratulated her with a smirk.

It was still raining, they had just eaten a good meal, it was the exact opposite of what you called good fighting conditions. Perfect.

“These are the worst conditions you can find yourself in during a fight,” (Y/N) continued. “Pair up!”

In a common movement, all the Lost Girls moved to face up their partner. They paired up with girls of the same strength – (Y/N) shook her head.

“No, not like that. Mingle with the stronger ones, challenge yourself because there is no honor in winning against someone you know you can defeat.”

They changed partners and shared confused looks as they did so.

“Fight, and I want to see you use the elements to your advantage. It's raining, it's muddy, the sounds of nature cover anything else, use it.”

As soon as the words crossed her lips, the girls executed her orders. The smaller, weaker ones attacked first because that's what (Y/N) taught them to do – to strike before their adversary gets a chance to hit them. If you're smaller, it means you're faster. If you're bigger then you can knock your enemy out faster. Sybil and her cunning ways was the first to dive to the ground and swing her leg around to sweep the other girl off her feet and make her slip in the mud.

“Good Sybil! Everyone look at that! That's what I'm talking about. Don't be afraid to play dirty literally and figuratively, Neverland isn't a playground and next time a bunch of Lost Boys come here, I want you to make them eat the ground.”

She made the girls fight and fight and fight again, keeping up the rhythm until they were wetter from sweat than rain. They panted, covered in mud and blood, pointlessly trying to rub away the dirt with the back of their equally dirty hands while dodging blow after blow.

“What the hell is wrong with her?!” Sybil groaned in between a couple punches.

She ducked forward when Dorothy leaped toward her and tried to hit her shoulder. Sybil hurt her shoulder last month, everyone knew that. But it was fair game, she didn't hold grudge against her sister. It was a weakness and she exploited it, like (Y/N) had instructed.

“Shut up or you'll be on watch duty for the next two centuries,” Dorothy replied and attacked again. Her hair kept flying in her eyes and the rain made it stick to her forehead and momentarily blinded her.

“What is it with her today?! Why is she such a pain in the-”

“Sybil?” (Y/N) interrupted the girls' fight and grabbed the poor Sybil's arm. “Got something to say?”

“Yes!” She snapped, letting her emotions take precedence over her head and stepping closer to her leader instead of backing down like a wise person would have. “What's going on? Why are you venting on us? What's the deal with you today?!”

“My deal-” (Y/N) began, talking between her teeth and tightening her grip on Sybil who winced in pain. “-is my business. You stay quiet and do as I say, or you can run off into the jungle and throw your little pity party there. If you interrupt training once more, I'll personally see to your punishment.”

Sybil turned a few shades whiter and her pupils lost in size. Fear sizzled in the air as rain showered them.

“No dinner for you tonight. You're on first watch. Dorothy-” (Y/N) said and the girl's eyes moved from her friend to her leader. “-You pair up with Tina and teach her the basics again, she still can't throw a proper kick.”

She didn't say a word but moved over to where the young blond girl called Tina stood, with her arm hanging each side of her body, trembling in fear. The partner was already walking towards Sybil to face her new adversary.

“Congratulations everyone, you get two more hours of training and you can thank Sybil for that. I'm leaving but don't think for a second that I won't know it if you stop before I say it's over.” (Y/N) clapped her hands – the signal for the Lost Girls to resume their fighting. “If you're not too sore to move tomorrow, it means you did it wrong.”

*

“If every muscle in your body doesn't scream for you to stop then you haven't given it all yet,” Pan philosophized while circling around the heavy breathing girl at his feet. “Do better or die out there.”

“What's out there?” (Y/N) asked before rubbing the blood away from her split lip.

It didn't stop the bleeding though, and bruises were already forming here and there all over her body. She simply couldn't do it – what he asked of her was too much.

“Why, the world of course!” Pan said with a smirk. “If you're not tougher than the world, it'll kill you, don't you know?” He knelt down to be at eye level with (Y/N) and she had to refrain from spitting in his face. “Get on your feet little lamb, or the big bad wolf will get you.”

“Who's the big bad wolf in this dumb metaphor?” (Y/N) scoffed in disdain, blood dripping from her nose as she slowly stood up, along with Peter. “You?!” There was so much scorn in her voice that she couldn't even blame Pan for the following blow.

Her feet left the ground and (Y/N) immediately raised her hands before her face to protect herself and closed her eyes, ready to take the blow, get the air knocked out of her and to receive another bruise in some painful place. But it never came. (Y/N)'s jaw was still clenched in fear and anticipation when she dared open one eye to see what was happening and the only thing she saw was that Pan wasn't there anymore. Or rather, she wasn't with Pan anymore.

Not a second ago she was surrounded by trees and now she stood on the edge of a cliff by the sea. Neversea was a forbidden place – no Lost Boy was allowed to get in the dark waters. Most of the island was surrounded by sharp rocks anyway, there was only one sand beach, the rest of Neverland was as hostile as one would expect.

A series of sharp edged rocks led the way to the water several meters below. Despite the seemingly deadly territory she was in, the call of the void was strong. Tempting. It was mesmerizing, it sang to her and (Y/N) stepped forward against her best judgment.

“Hello?!” (Y/N) screamed out. Her voice echoed against the rocks but no one answered. “Where the hell am I now?” She wondered out loud.

There was still no answer but this time around she heard voices. She couldn't make out what they were saying but she wanted, needed to know and it somehow made her take another step towards the edge. The sound of the waves hitting the bottom the the cliff was loud and regular, it lulled her and covered the voices she tried to hard to decipher. Her feet moved as though thy had a will of their own. It felt a little wrong, (Y/N) wanted to fight against this invisible force that compelled her to move but this urge didn't take precedence over the need to find the source of the chants.

Where did it come from? Who was singing so beautifully? Whose void pierced through the mist of the sea? It was pure madness but her raised foot hovered over the void – there was no more ground to put her foot on but she couldn't stop moving forward, the wind pushed her from the back and the voices pulled her toward the sea.

“What are you doing, you foolish girl?!” A voice exclaimed from behind her, snapping (Y/N) out of her reverie.

She felt a tight grip on her upper arm and was abruptly pulled back on the land, away from an imminent death. It was like being ripped out of a stupidly vivid dream too fast and waking up feeling dizzy and lost.

“Pan?” (Y/N) asked confusedly. “Did you hear this?”

“Of course I did, everyone does. Don't listen to them, they'll lure you to a certain and painful death.”

This at least made her come back to her senses.

“What the hell was that? Get your hands off of me!”

“I just saved your life, I would advise you show a little gratefulness,” Peter scoffed and released her once he had dragged her far enough from the sea and its mysterious call. “It's not my touch that you should fear but the sirens. If they got their hands on you, you'd be a goner.”

“I'd rather throw myself off this cliff and get eaten by magical creatures than have your filthy hands touch me – and I already told you multiple times that I'm not scared of you.”

Peter dropped his hand and looked at her more intently, making her feel as though he was seeing right through her instead of at her. (Y/N) shivered of disgust and repressed the urge to rub away the feeling of his touch on her skin. He didn't believe her, that much was obvious, but she wouldn't contradict him again. If he wanted to underestimate her then so be it.

“You disappeared, well done,” he eventually congratulated her as though she accomplished some extraordinary deed.

It must have been pretty fantastic since he barely acknowledged her perseverance - if not skill - during their training sessions but suddenly complimented her.

“I didn't do it on purpose,” she said, chin still raised high. There was no point in trying to pass it as talent, she did it on accident and wouldn't be able to do it again if he asked her. “Where are we?”

“The mermaid lagoon,” he scoffed in a way that suggested that he hated this place. “Don't let the pretty name fool you, it's the most hellish part of this entire island. Mermaids will lure you to a certain death if you let your guard down for so much as a second.”

“While you're all rainbows and butterflies and do not threaten my life at all,” (Y/N) snickered sarcastically, earning a stern glare.

She expected Peter to physically punish her for this bold comment, to suspend her in the air, tackle her to the ground, or magically strangle her but he did none of it and simply turned around - trusting she would follow him and not be stupid enough to take a chance on the lagoon. It was a tough choice for her nonetheless and (Y/N) seriously considered running in any other direction than the one Peter was. Thoughts ran wild in her head for a second, but she just literally vanished in thin air before his eyes and he still managed to find her, so how could she even hope to escape by foot?

“Move!” He barked at her form a fair distance. “Training's far from being over, I see you still have some fight in you so you go back at it until you're too tired to insult me.”

(Y/N) thought that she'd have to be dead for that to happen, but she still obliged and silently followed his steps through the thick greenery of Neverland.

*

At the end of the day, Peter couldn't simply isolate himself from his Lost Boys endlessly and he had to return to camp after a few more hours of sulking at his thinking tree. Even he couldn't call it anything but sulking. Denying this to himself was pointless and he was in his damn right to act like a child if he wanted to – he was the ultimate forever child, who could blame him for acting like one?

“Shadow,” Peter called from the top branch of his tree, high enough to give him a view of the creek and Skull Rock.

It appeared almost right away, as though it constantly lurked in the dark, waiting for its master to whistle. For this alone Peter despised it but he couldn't deny how useful it was. It complete missions like no Lost Boy ever did. The only person who ever came close to this was (Y/N) – that is, until she turned against Peter. Felix could rot in his tree for all Peter cared, he was a poor second in command most of the time, but still the most capable of the Boys. It really spoke volumes about the state of Pan's little army. Pitiful.

The Shadow floats in the air before Peter, blocking his view and waiting orders like the perfect silent soldier. Peter often thought that if the Shadow could talk it would quickly go from his favorite to least favorite minion.

“What's she doing?” He asked in a flat voice – he didn't know why he felt so compelled to fake detachment when he spoke to the Shadow, but he did it. All the time. There was no other way he knew of to deal with the jumble of emotions he felt.

The Shadow shook its faceless head in defeat. Peter had grown to learn how to interpret the Shadow's body language. The Lost Girls' camp was sizzling with tension today, probably like his own camp. (Y/N) was a mess of wild emotions she refused to deal with, and she let out the steam by giving the rough side of the hand to her girls. He sighed deeply. As soon as he raised a hand toward the sky and flicked his wrist, the rain stopped. Peter rarely changed the weather the way he just did, but he knew that (Y/N)'s mood wouldn't improve as long as the storm went on.

“You won't be giving her the usual flower, today I need you to do something else for me...”

A/N: I know I take fucking forever to update, thanks for bearing with me y’all, you’re the best!

[redrobin-detective]

You know, I like the idea of Zuko making the wrong decision in Ba Sing Se and being able to recover from that. But like, I'm also lowkey upset we didn't get to see Zuko run off with the Gaang at the end of Book 2. What we had was good and dramatic but just imagine:

- 78% of Zuko's S3 angst comes from his decision to side with Azula in Ba Sing Se so if he never had that moral quandary, it's arguable Zuko would be more at ease with himself and the others especially given how good he was doing at the end of Book 2. Plus the Gaang (Katara especially) would be much easier on him so instead of being angry/suspicious, it'd just be super.... awkward... getting used to another member plus an ex-fire prince who used to chase them? Classic

- Also so like it's very possible the Gaang could've escaped Ba Sing Se unharmed with Zuko's help. The city was going to fall no matter what but Zuko probably could've stopped Azula lightening at Aang. My point being, that spirit water is still available and she did offer to heal Zuko's scar... just a thought. It would come in handy when undercover if the traitor prince no longer has his obvious identifying mark.

- After about 5 minutes Sokka decided that Zuko was his new best friend, he's a guy around his age who's mature but also mischievous with a love of weaponry and strategy and yes. Zuko and Sokka are attached at the hip and it drives Katara crazy cause they get into so much trouble but she's never seen her brother happier. Oh my god, when Sokka gets his meteor sword the two of them will spar all day. They get their weapons taken away frequently.

- Chief Hakoda sees Zuko has repented and hears .4 seconds of his story before trying to adopt him. ("You'll love the Water Tribe Prince Zuko! Don't worry, your new grandmother will fatten you up" "!?!") Toph has to break it to Hakoda that Iroh has already claimed Zuko and Zuko meanwhile is overwhelmed by all this affection. Still, he's honorary Water Tribe now

- Zuko interacting in normal Fire Nation towns. Think about it, he was a crown prince, he'd probably never been outside the capital city and then he was banished from the Fire Nation. He's likely never seen regular Fire Nation life. It's just as new and exciting for him (plus he helps them blend a little better)

- Zuko starting Aang's firebending training, being a bit more gentle once he hears the reasons for Aang's block. They walk through the basics and soon Aang slowly but surely begins to develop his bending. Zuko is able to learn from everyone too and, on a whim, decides to practice lightening bending. His mind is free of turmoil and is shocked when he's easily able to summon the electricity. He scared the pants off his sleeping companions who think Azula has come to them.

-  Katara and Zuko, mom and dad of the group. They just fall into sync parenting the often wild Aang and Toph while keeping Sokka in line. Zuko insists on helping her with cooking and cleaning up and is surprisingly good at it. She nags all the others about following Zuko's example. Also awesome playful bending battles between opposing elements that always gets crashed halfway through by the others.

- Appa and Momo adore Zuko, Aang and Sokka are totally jealous. Appa because he knows Zuko saved him from Lake Laogai and Momo because Zuko is a literal heater and he can almost always be found snuggled with Zuko. But Zuko is, in general, very good with animals. Even better than Aang.

- Joking about Zuko's past mistakes becomes a thing, it's not awkward or snippy, they just love bringing up embarrassing memories and teasing him about it. It helps Zuko feel more at ease, he still feels bad for the things he did in Book 1, but they tease to let him know he's forgiven.

- Like in canon, Iroh is captured in Ba Sing Se and Zuko is half mad with grief for a while afterward until he hears that Iroh was not executed but merely thrown into prison. He cried happily and openly when he learned he hasn't lost his only remaining family member who loves him. He makes plans to break Iroh out on the Day of Black Sun.

- On a side note, Zuko tells the story of his mom and you know, you fuckening know, that Operation: Find Zuko's Mom is a go. He doesn't have Ozai's confirmation but he still suspects she's alive. They all agree to search after the war ends.

- Zuko gets along with Toph better than all the others, they get the whole idea of nobility and honor but also know when to let things loose. Firebending and Earthbending have similar principles so they gel together. Katara and Aang are relieved that Zuko is there to balance out Toph's brashness with his own quiet stubbornness. He fits in so well, it's weird to imagine him not always being there, he's able to complement everyone.

- The Gaang realizes very quickly that Zuko's self-esteem and sense of worth is below nothing. Years of emotional (and physical) abuse from his family, being told he's weaker and worthless plus those years of shameful banishment means he's got no confidence. Aang breaks down into tears when Zuko casually remarks that he likely won't survive the war. He's legitimately shocked to hear the Gaang would be devastated if he died. The team works hard to build up his confidence and let him know that they love him. It works wonders on his mood and even his firebending improves without that mental block. Team Avatar swears that they'll defeat Ozai not just for what he's done to the world, but what he's done to their friend.

- Once relaxed and assured of his place, Zuko really opens up. He's never had true humor in his life but he develops a cutting but wry sense of humor and more often than not finds himself chuckling at Sokka's terrible jokes. His protective, stubborn nature is in full force and he would do anything to keep his turtleducks safe (he's usually put in his place but he's trying ok). Temper's still there, it's a firebending thing, but it'll flame and go out quickly and people just get used to it. He gets playful with his bending and is not above pranks. He's smiled more in the time before in the invasion than he ever remembers in his whole life.

[sadisticsmiles]

Beyond a Thief’s Power Episode 7

In Order to Survive

"Kenshi? What's wrong?" Rina had noticed Kenshi's silent state. "You don't look well. Is something troubling you?"

The others also gave their undivided attention to hear what the firefighter had to say.

Kenshi was staring down at the counter. His shoulders were slumped and he let out an exaggerated breath. His face began to fill will pinkish-red tints of color, giving him a mad blush. "I'm not exactly sure how to say this, but…" Then, he gulped. "I think… I've fallen in love with Sayuri."

Hiro's eyes immediately widened with great shock. He could not believe his ears. "WHAT?!"

Unlike Hiro, however, everyone else inside Le Renard Noir was calm about the situation. They stared blankly and seriously at the firefighter.

"Kenshi," Riki began with a stern expression, "Are you really sure you actually have any romantic feelings towards her? You might just be mistaking how you feel with a large admiration and respect for her appearance."

Rina sighed. "No, I'm positive he's actually developed feelings for Sayuri. He was lost in thought for a while now, Riki. It was different than before, so I don't believe Kenshi's gotten the wrong idea."

Kenshi looked at Riki and gave a light nod with his head. Then, he looked down at the floor. "Yeah. The way she looked tonight was so beautiful, I was captivated by her entire being. Her wings also glowed with a bright white light and they were extremely elegant. It was like she sent feathers down to my body, heart, and soul when she was in the air. Her movements and agility were also astounding, I couldn't believe she was really there. She looked so hot—"

"Stop!” After swiftly standing up from his seat and walking over to where the firefighter was, Riki had closed his eyes and put his right hand out, right in front of Kenshi's face. "That's enough out of you, Kenshi." He seemed distraught by the spiky-haired brunet’s blabbering and felt as though his whole face was about to twitch any second now. A sigh came out of his mouth and he placed the same hand on the top of his forehead. "I know you really like her, but you have got to let things go. All this talk about Sayuri is making me irritated, so don't add on to how sexy you think she is." He opened his eyes, displaying his frustration and annoyance. "It sounds so wrong coming from you."

"It was pretty disgusting to hear about near the end," Takuto commented indifferently. "I thought I was going to puke."

Hiro nodded with a sickening expression. His frown and eyes made him appear as if he was a puppy on the verge of tears and illness. "I have to agree with Takkun and Riki there, Kenny. My stomach doesn't feel so great when you say it like that."

Kenshi's eyes widened in surprise. He didn't think everyone would act with opposition towards his output. "W-What? Am I really that repulsive when I put how I feel in words? I just thought it'd be fine to let you guys all know what I was thinking, that's all!"

"But tell me, Kenshi," Atsumu urged in a stern voice and had a corresponding facial expression, "Do you really feel that way about Sayuri? If your emotions and words are genuine, I believe it's okay for you to like her for the time being. Although, I'm not sure how long that will be. If she doesn't leave your mind, then I think you can continue loving her for the rest of your life, and perhaps even beyond. It's up to you to decide how you really feel about her."

Kenshi smiled warmly at Atsumu's words. "Boss…"

Rina frowned with her arms folded across her chest. "But to think you've fallen for Sayuri, rather than a normal girl. It's truly worrying, Kenshi."

"Huh?" Kenshi asked in a perplexed manner. "What do you mean, Rina?"

Rina turned her back towards the counter. She glanced at Kenshi and told her fellow thief and friend something for him—along with everyone else—to hear. "Kenshi, not only have you grown feelings for a magician, but you've begun to harbor them for a Magician of Fate."

"A Magician of Fate?" Kenshi inquired further.

"Mitsuki-san's already told you all this—after she met you guys years ago—that in Neon, magicians are classified under three categories: Intelligence, Power, and Fate1. Those under the name of Fate are the magicians who many are pulled towards," Rina explained. "Sayuri's beauty and wings have created a romantic effect on you, which in turn, has caused you to fall in love with her. Though it may sound like an illusion, it isn't. Your feelings for her are indeed the real thing, so it's no doubt you kept thinking about her after we came back. Anyone who is attracted to a magician similar to Sayuri's aura and powers in a sexual direction is going to fall for them no matter what. It is inevitable, and there is a high chance you may never be able to fall in love with someone else even if you wanted to as a means of forgetting a Magician of Fate."

"So, that means Kenny's almost forever stuck with liking Sayuri that way?" Hiro asked with an astonished expression on his face. "Then, he'll probably never get a girlfriend!" he exclaimed with zeal toward Kenshi's unfortunate circumstances. "Alright! Seeing as Kenny won't be able to stand a chance against any guy who has Sayuri's heart, he'll be doomed from ever attaining her love. Yay~!"

Kenshi felt as though he was going to burst from the inside outward. "Hiro, that's pretty cruel of you to say right now!" He frowned uneasily, and asked, "Can't I at least get some support from you guys on this? Boss is the only one who's given his okay so far, and I'm really in a pinch when it comes to Sayuri."

"Well, we're only letting you know our emotions and opinions on the subject," Hiro stated. "Plus, even if you wanted to go out with her, everyone will instantly acknowledge the fact that you two would be the most unfit pairing out of all of us. I can't say I'm fine with that thought myself. It just makes me sick to think of you and Sayuri ever being together."

Rina narrowed her eyes. "Sorry, Kenshi, but I can't give you my approval for this, either. Sayuri is a magician, after all. You don't seem to be suitable for someone out of your league. In fact, I have to be honest and tell you my outlook on your hopeless case. I think an ordinary woman would be the best choice for you. Of course, I know it's a bit harsh of me to say this, but considering what it's like to be around you, maybe it's better if you married a human girl instead."

"See?" Hiro laughed. "Even Rina knows what's right and wrong at a glance. You're a good person and all, Kenny, but you're more like the guy next door. You're just an average person in the universe, and you can't change that about yourself. It's all about luck and having a set life2. You should know that by now since you don't really have anything that makes you an elite like Riki and Takkun, who both tend to make more money than you with their careers."

At that second, Kenshi could sense a raincloud over his head, allowing all the bad things to pour down on him as small droplets of rain. "…" A conflicted expression overtook his face; his eyes faded. Inside, it felt like he was dying, rotting to the core of his body—his heart and soul. He knew Hiro's words were true, but he didn't want to admit it.

Riki breathed with a strained smile, letting himself relax while he looked at Kenshi. "In love with the enemy, huh? That's something I never would have imagined in our group, but I guess it's just like Kenshi to be the tragic one of all. Poor guy. It must be pretty rough to be in his shoes. He seems even more exhausted than before."

Takuto was still as stoic as he usually was at times like these. "It can't be helped in his case. He was born to be less than a star-crossed protagonist and we can't do anything to adjust his life to how he wants it to be. He's going to have to deal with it, rather than sulk under a cloudy, gray sky." Then, his playful grin came onto the scene. "But that's what he gets for letting his guard down while we're executing our missions. I bet he's been up all night playing his horror RPG games again."

Rina glanced at Takuto with a quizzical facial expression. "Like The Beast's House3?"

"I was thinking more of The Twisted Man4 or Death Demon5, but that works, too," Takuto mentioned. "But maybe he's more into Mutilation Party6 even though it's got different versions."

Rina frowned. "That's the one where a bunch of kids and other people get transported into another dimension, right? I don't like the amount of blood and carcasses in the game. They freak me out; in fact, they'll definitely creep any magician out."

"Don't worry," Takuto reassured his ex-girlfriend. "If Kenny ever asks or tells you go over to his house to watch him play that game, call me and I'll punch him right in the face for giving you a scare. I can land a powerful hit in no time." Another grin formed on his face due to his enjoyment. "I should try beating him at his own hobby sometime. It's been a while since I was over at his house, so it'll be a good warm-up for me."

Rina held her right hand near her face, and it was already curled into a fist-like structure as she giggled. "Thanks, Takuto."

The instant he saw his ex-girlfriend's serene facial expression which was full of gratitude towards him, Takuto's eyes widened in astonishment. He was stunned as his heart skipped a beat, making him reminisce about his feelings for the blonde magician. "…!"

As the light blond continued to stare at his former lover, Hiro was somewhat uncomfortable about that, seeing as his eyes were narrowed a bit. "Oi~, Takkun. Hello~? Earth to Takkun~. Answer me already!" Then, he frowned in a slightly frustrated manner. "…"

Rina had taken notice of her ex-lover's long gaze at her and was drawn in towards it as she stared back into the former's golden eyes. Shortly afterwards, she shifted her own gaze downwards, showing a faint frown. "T-Then let's move on with our missions… We still have several orbs to collect and send out, so keep in mind about our current situation. There isn't enough magic to sustain the magicians residing in different cities in Japan, which means that we’ll have to get to the rest of them very soon."

Riki nodded. "Rina's right. It's also putting a lot of effort on her part to participate in them. We don't want the worse-case scenario to happen, so let's call it a day and take a good rest until tomorrow."

"Then, I'll walk you home tonight, Rina," Takuto proclaimed. "Unless…" He had a devilish grin on his face. "…you want me to carry you there in my arms?"

Takuto's preposition made Rina blush furiously, and she was becoming infuriated at her ex's behavior. "W-What are you saying at a time like this, Takuto?! I can walk home by myself!"

"You don't have to refuse, you know," he continued with the same expression stuck on his face. "We used to date, so it shouldn't be such a big deal to get carried home at night."

Rina's anger was flaring up even more. "No thanks! I don't need my ex-lover to do anything like that for me, so you can just leave it and go home by yourself."

"Ooh!" Hiro perked up. "Things are sure getting steamy in here!"

Riki started fanning himself with his dominant hand with an uncomfortable look on his wonderful visage. "Tell me about it. I can feel chili peppers coming from those two. Ugh… It's getting too hot in here."

Indeed. The heated bickering on Rina's part, along with Takuto's sarcasm, were much more difficult to bear for the leader of the Black Foxes. Riki felt like his body was on fire, and Kenshi couldn't agree more.

"Whew!" the firefighter exhaled. "Maybe I should get the fire department to make a special case for those two. I can see plenty of flames sparks flying back and forth between them. It's getting too much to handle at the moment—actually, within each second!"

Atsumu took out a bamboo folding fan and waved it towards the lit-on pair. "I wonder if things will be okay." He was wearing his usual smile on his face. "I haven't seen this happen between them before, myself, so maybe I should try grilling some food near those two."

"Don't," Riki panted. "The food you make will be burnt to crisps. Ah, geez!" The government official began to cough, covering his mouth with his left hand. Then, he regained his breath again after a few seconds only to cough a bit more. "Will you knock it off, Takuto? You started the fire, so put it out." Another set of coughs made their way out of Riki's throat. "Hurry!"

Takuto's indifference returned when he heard Riki's complaints. "Fine." His shoulders dropped and he looked at Rina. "Suit yourself. Whether or not you decide to go home is fine with me."

Rina disappeared in an instant and the heat died down. It felt cool again inside Le Renard Noir and everything returned back to normal.

"Wow, Takkun," Hiro said. "You really upset Rina. She was totally blazing just now!"

Riki started to catch his breath once more with some remaining pants. "Guess… something really did happen… while I was asleep a few days ago." His respiration was soon back to its usual self, but he was quite exhausted. "Rina's never this angry and we all know it."

Kenshi sighed. "Yeah, I figured. Things weren't looking too good when she got so flustered. Everyone could tell something was going on." He glanced at Takuto and asked, "Takuto, did you do something to her a while back? It didn't seem like anything you two would have normally said to each other."

Takuto frowned and averted his gaze towards the floor.

Atsumu smiled lightly. "Takkun, be honest. If there's something going on between you and Rina, you should at least say what's on your mind. You know we're all here for you, don't you? We're all ears for anything you want to relay to us."

"That's right," Kenshi agreed. "We're partners in crime, Takuto! A member of the Black Foxes is still part of the same team as the rest of the other members. We all think of you as a nonpareil friend and there's no one who could ever beat you at your job. Each and every one of us has something the others can't completely fulfill when we're apart. Isn't that what makes us a band of thieves at night, while we're working on our own careers during the day?"

Riki grinned. "I hate to admit it, but Kenshi does deserve some credit for saying something as commendable as that. It makes me want to knock him out myself."

The spiky haired brunet's shock had immediately gotten to him. "What? You'd hit me right here and now, Riki? I can't believe you would consider doing something like that when we're all together."

"I'm playing around, you idiot," Riki replied with his usual sedate expression implanted on his face. He placed his left hand on his waist and hip. "Are you trying to suggest that I should put a punch on the side of your face when we're alone together? Man, you can be pretty sickening sometimes."

Hiro laughed. "Haha! Picking on Kenny is actually fun when you think about it. It makes all the serious stuff go away."

"So, are we lumping him in with Beardy over there?" Takuto asked. "I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but Kenny's on a whole different level than an old barf who's got no sense of commitment to anything or anyone."

Atsumu's eyes popped opened a bit higher. "Hey! I've always been committed to Shinobu and the bar. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be here right now, would I?"

"Not like you've shown your worth," the light blond bluntly countered. "Riki's got better commitment than you. Just look how happy he is in love and work."

Riki smiled contently with closed eyes. "What can I say? I try to make everything a success, so I guess it really does work out in the end for me."

"Not like I was complimenting you or anything," Takuto retorted dully once more. "I was just stating the facts."

Riki glowered. "Tch. Should've known you were the one to ruin things whenever you wanted to break the ice, Takuto. But, anyway. It's about time for you to tell us what happened between you and Rina."

Takuto looked at Riki with an apathetic expression on his face. "Riki, do I really have to? I don't have the energy to talk about it."

"Yes, you do," Riki answered in a composed manner. "And it's not that you don't have the will to speak about it; it's because of your personality, Takuto. You refuse to talk about Rina much since the break-up, and it kills the living hell out of us. Don't you think it'd be a good thing to rely on us every time something bothers you to the point where it gnaws at your shoulder or the back of your mind? Besides, the way Rina was a little earlier wasn't common, if you catch my drift."

Takuto looked down at the floor and stared at it, and he knew what his best friend meant. "It's not as easy as you think it is. There's still too much to apologize for and I haven't done anything to convey that feeling yet."

Hiro's eyes lowered with sorrow when he saw how much Takuto was suffering. It was as though a knife went straight through his heart. "Takkun…"

Kenshi lowered his head. "I bet it really makes you feel guilty, doesn't it? But it's still something we need to know, Takuto."

Atsumu smiled helplessly at the group of men sitting on the chairs in front of him and his bar counter. "I can think of a certain day in particular." His expression became serious as he looked at Takuto. "Takkun. It was right after you went after Rina a few days ago, wasn't it? I could sense you two had something connecting your bond with each other, due to the amount of time you guys were gone. I'm positive you must have done something that affected Rina in a few ways possible. While you all weren't here, she kept getting lost in thought for several minutes. Luckily, she didn't get off track before a customer showed up, so it was only before we opened Le Renard Noir. It was as if something in her system was full of bugs."

Riki grimaced at that last sentence. "Boss, she's not a robot or computer. She's a living young woman who has extraordinary qualities."

"I know what I'm talking about," Atsumu responded casually. "Still, Rina wasn't like her usual self earlier as well. I wanted to ask her about it, but I figured it was best not to. There seemed to be a lot on her mind, so I left her alone to think for herself. I know you might not appreciate the thought of any of us meddling into your affairs, Takkun, but it could help mend things between you two."

Takuto nodded as he kept his indifference. "I know, but… I'll only cause trouble for everyone if I say anything about my problems."

With his eyes closed, Riki sighed. "You really like keeping us in the dark, don't you? Don't hold back on a conflict if it's about to kill you, Takuto. Besides, how long do you think we've known each other, anyway?" He relaxed a little with his eyes opened. "If you say that we don't understand you at all, then you're wrong. You and I are best friends, despite our age difference; however, the eight of us are practically family, since Mitsuki and Rina have been with us as well, so don't forget we had Shinobu before they came to Earth; even in death, she's still remains in all our hearts."

Hiro's face brightened when he heard the word 'family.’ He, too, wanted to cheer Takuto up and support him. "That's right, Takkun! We're like brothers, so you don't have to take in all the pain for yourself to handle. We're always with you no matter what!"

"Don't forget the good and bad times now, Takuto!" Kenshi smiled energetically. "We've gone through plenty of difficult times together, haven't we? There's no way we could abandon anyone in our team!"

"There you have it," Atsumu concluded with a content smile.

The other fours' words made Takuto realize how close they truly were to one another. "You guys…" He smiled back at them and allowed himself to speak the truth, which was a rarity not many knew about. The next thing he knew, he was looking back to what occurred not too long ago with unsettling emotions. "To be more precise, after we walked to Rina's apartment, I…"

  ~The night of March 26, 2007~

  Rina gazed into Takuto's eyes when she found out (unintentionally) about Takuto's feelings. "Takuto, do you still love me?"

Takuto was unable to meet his past lover's gaze, so he averted his eyes from Rina's. A whirlpool of emotions overflowed within his body, and his appearance was resolute soon enough. "Yeah, I'm still in love with you, Rina. I've never stopped loving you, even after we broke up."

I still love you, but I could never say that before, Takuto thought. It always hurt to see your sad expression, but I had my reasons for breaking up with you.

Several feelings from the last few years were sending themselves into Rina's heart as she looked at Takuto with sad and uncertain eyes. "Takuto, I—"

She was soon cut off with a soft, warm sensation on her lips, which came from her former lover's, and her overwhelming emotions became one big surprise when she realized what was happening. Takuto had kissed her—something he had not done since the day they broke up—and that hit her pretty hard. Once he pulled away, she looked down at the floor of her apartment and the ground with disorientation.

"About that kiss just now…" she brought up. She was very flustered at that instant and could not look at Takuto at all. "I… Um…"

Takuto only nodded and told Rina, "Those are my true feelings. Whether or not you believe me depends on what you decide in the end. Anyway, I'll take my leave, so you don't have to get me anything. I'll be at the bar to get Beardface to reheat my pork noodles." He held up his right hand in a wave and turned around, making his way towards Le Renard Noir. "Well, bye. I'll see you later."

 XXX

 Hiro's eyes widened in shock and surprise at Takuto's confession of the night that took place a few days ago. "You kissed Rina?!" It was still novel to him and the others what they had heard from Takuto's mouth.

"Takuto, you—" Riki started to say before stopping himself. He let out a sigh and understood the situation. "I see. So that's what pulled her trigger."

Takuto gave a light nod with his head. "Yeah. It's not like I meant to set her off, but I couldn't help myself from kissing her that night, so I guess it must have come off as a huge shock to her when I did it."

"Of course it did," Hiro frowned. "Anyone would be surprised when someone they used to be with kisses them out of nowhere, and without any warning, too. I can certainly tell you that it only makes a person more self-conscious when someone decides to plant a sucker on their lips." He exhaled in a sigh. "I think Rina's been going through too much because of it. She's probably trying as hard as she can to concentrate on everything, including our missions."

Kenshi placed his left hand on the back of his head. "I feel bad for Rina, but there's just too much to think about right now." He had an unyielding look on his face while observing the others. "We have to help out the other magicians who are here on Earth, along with her and Saionji. They're not going to last long without the help of those orbs, and we're slipping away from our duties as members of the Black Foxes. Didn't we learn anything at all tonight?" he asked calmly—as calm as his voice would allow him to.

"Kenshi's right," Riki declared. "We have to do something for their sakes. Magicians survive on magic which those orbs contain, and yet, we're running out of time."

Atsumu nodded firmly. "Right. We can't let them die out. I'll see if Rina and I can locate them during our break at work and before we all meet up, so we can take on a mission tomorrow night."

"I'll ask Seiko if she's seen or heard anything about them," Hiro offered. "There has to be something before then."

"I'll check out if anyone from work knows anything or can help find some information about them," Takuto announced nonchalantly. "If not, we'll just meet here and hurry to a location we can find."

Kenshi glanced down at the floor. "Maybe the orbs won't appear in front of anyone. They could be in a hidden place like the cave we were at a few hours ago."

"So they could be at an area such as, the top of a mountain?" Hiro asked with a surprised look on his face before frowning with his lips pressed firmly. "But we won't be able to run all the way there on foot!"

"We could use Rina's teleportation to get to wherever we need to be, like we did tonight," Riki reminded Hiro. "As long as she's not carrying any one of us, we'll be fine. For now, we should get to bed. It's already pretty late, so we're practically wearing out our bodies."

Atsumu yawned. "Perfect timing. I was just feeling sleepy, so I'm turning myself in to my room."

Kenshi nodded tiredly. "I'm getting exhausted myself." He stood up from his seat and gave a wave with his right hand. "Good night, guys. See you all tomorrow."

It was a matter of minutes before the entire group went to sleep for the night. Taking a place to stay in the bar, they permitted themselves to lay down on a bed and finally had some shut-eye.

  XXX

  The next night, the Black Foxes were gathered inside of Le Renard Noir. A clarification was about to be told by none other than Rina herself.

"I still can't believe this," Rina breathed in exasperation. "To think an enormous amount of orbs suddenly appeared throughout the whole area." She took a sigh. "Anyhow, I have enough energy to teleport us to the mountain. Just take a sprint towards the door and let's hurry!"

Everyone nodded and followed Rina's instruction, preparing to run over to the entrance. Atsumu, however, was staying behind as usual. Once the other five began to dash, they were immediately teleported to the mountain summit they were supposed to arrive at. The members of the Black Foxes were on what appeared to be a battlefield, and the trembling sensation they felt added to its image in their minds. They steadily walked further, several feet away from being near the edge of the cliff.

"Is it just me, or does it feel like we're on the death grounds of countless soldiers from decades ago?" Hiro asked, shaking at the thought of someone—perhaps an army or a regular group of men—passing away right at the spot they were standing on.

Riki shook his head. "No, I don't think it's only you, Hiro. But something feels out of place about this location. It's as if we're going to encounter someone soon."

"Uh, Riki," Kenshi put forth, "I don't want to burst your bubble, but I think it'd be better if you didn't say something to jinx us tonight. We've already had enough failures now, so we don't want to have any more."

"Sorry," Riki apologized. "It's not like I can really help it, either, Kenshi. The atmosphere gives it that kind of feeling."

Takuto scanned the area as he held his laptop. "My laptop's telling me the orbs should be around here, but I don't see them anywhere."

"I can sense them and their presence is getting stronger the farther we go," Rina informed. "Maybe we should walk a bit more."

Hiro frowned once more. "You mean, go to the edge of the cliff? Are you sure about this, Rina?"

Rina's shoulders dropped and her face clouded over with an indefinite expression. "Not entirely. I don't really know if we'll see something under there, but it's worth a try."

"Hopefully we'll be able to find something," Riki remarked. "Black Foxes, let's go. It's show time."

They all agreed and made their way towards the inner surroundings of the area. Hiro was anxious, but continued with the others who were by his side.

"Well?" Riki asked. "Find anything down there?"

"No," Kenshi voiced his disdain. He had searched where he was standing and even looked down, but did not see any of the orbs. Only the crashing sea with its waves and eroding rocks were visible. "There's not much over on my side. What about you?"

Riki gave a shake of his head. "No, not here, either. Why aren't they, though? I thought the orbs were supposed to be somewhere on the mountain, but is the signal off?"

"There's definitely an indication from this point," Takuto affirmed after taking another look at his laptop screen, which displayed a red dot flashing repetitively on a grid. "It's pretty high, so there's no doubt about it."

Hiro stood in place. "I have a bad feeling about this. There's no telling where the orbs are, so maybe we need to inspect the mountain some more."

"There's a vast pull coming from here," Rina mentioned. "It's like I'm being taken down."

Hiro tilted his head to his right. "I don't feel anything, though."

"Oh, but you will," a female voice said from behind.

The Black Foxes turned to see who it was, and they had known by the sound of the voice. Sayuri was right there in the air with her extravagant wings, floating in front of them from a distance.

"Sayuri!" Hiro shouted with surprise displaying in his eyes.

Riki placed his left hand on his hip. "So, it's you. Why are you here? Did you already take the orbs?"

"Who can say?" Sayuri questioned in a deliberate, toying manner. "All I can really articulate to you is that you're not wrong about them being in this place. However, you're not going to be able to find them if you just dilly-dally around all night."

Hearing those words made Riki smirk. "Well, aren't you a mysterious lady? You know, you could be a great addition to our team. What do you say?"

A look of fury overcame Sayuri's sophisticated calm fashion in a matter of seconds and all hell broke loose. "Me? On the side of the renowned Black Foxes?! Who the heck do you think you're speaking to?! I'm a magician who's on the side of the law, not a troublemaking criminal like you! As if I would ever wish to join you band of thieves!"

Sayuri's wrath was enough to blow the guys away, as she utilized her wings to create giant gusts of wind towards the men standing in front, not counting Rina as a thief. In addition, the winged magician’s powers had destroyed Takuto’s laptop in a matter of seconds. Riki and the others were about to be blown away by the time Sayuri flew off and were struggling to keep their feet on the ground.

"Ugh!" Riki yelled. He, Kenshi, Hiro, and Takuto weren't going to be able to stay on land for long, and it was only getting worse for them.

At that moment, Rina started to glow with a yellow light. "Riki! Everyone!"

A bizarre power ceased the Black Fox members from nearing their falling deaths and held them back from the cliff's brink. It was as though a miraculous force was upon them. Just as they were being saved, Rina's body gradually slipped toward the cliff and her eyes began to close in a gradual motion. Soon, she reached the border, and started to fall down toward the sea.

The guys' eyes widened as they saw Rina's unconscious body dropping.

"Rina!" Takuto shouted. He felt his heart sink as he and the others witnessed the scene, and a feeling of terror and trepidation immediately seemed to asphyxiated his entire body.

  XXX

                 1) This is a reference to 77 ~And, two stars meet again~, a galge by a company named Whirlpool.

2) Hiro’s words refer to fate.

3) This is my shout-out to The Witch's House; the other three shout-outs are to 4) The Crooked Man, 5) Ao Oni (however, I didn't use a Japanese word for a different color to substitute Ao in the name), and 6) the Corpse Party games.