#fairest of them all universe

[1nky-quill]

FUCKING AU TIME

AU where Maleficent raises Maleficent the same way she did in the 2014 movie with Aurora (however I fucking hate that movie and need to repurpose the concept to something I do like)

Since the mirrormaker hates Grimhilde so much, I don’t see him taking care of her that well. In canon I have no idea how Grimhilde survived living with no one but her father who refused to take care of her— honestly her Grandma probably raised her.

But in this AU Maleficent finds out about Grimhilde in one way or another (most definitely from the odd sisters telling her about her) she probably worried for her because she was being unattended to the same was Maleficent was as a baby, so she likely starts taking care of her by coming to rock her to sleep when she’s crying in the night. I imagine it being similar to a lot of the scenes in the 2014 movie, she might send Diablo to rock and feed Grimhilde.

She’s probably keep a watchful eye on Grimhilde throughout their childhood, making sure she stays out of trouble. Eventually they’d meet and it’d be pretty similar to Aurora and Maleficent’s relationship in the 2014 movie (minus the curse and Aurora being a princess lmao)

[twstowo]

They end up in a universe where the two of you hate each other [Twst]

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗SYNOPSIS: The two of you are happily dating and he couldn’t have asked for anything else, however, one day he finds himself in a strange place only to find that here the two of you are enemies.

♡︎Includes: Vil and Idia

[AU Masterlist]

[Riddle and Leona] ☆[Azul and Jamil] ☆[Here] ☆[Malleus]

⋆⋅☆Vil

The fate of this Vil had been written. Consumed by rage, he would impulsively order Neige's execution, but his plan would unravel, leading to his own downfall and demise.

──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

Vil shivers upon learning of such a fate. He once succumbed to the same temptation, and despite his continued disdain for Neige, he is relieved he didn't harm him that day. As a noble known for his beauty, people from around the world used to travel just to witness his ephemeral charm. However, with Neige's arrival, his admirers slowly vanished, deeming Neige more enchanting.

Attempting to maintain his composure, Vil struggles against the storm raging within his mind. Even in this realm, his spotlight had been taken. Can't he, just once, be the fairest of them all?

One day, an invitation arrives, sent by Neige himself. Vil hesitates before deciding to attend the party. He meticulously prepares himself, aiming to make a lasting impression and prove everyone wrong about Neige being better than him. What he didn't anticipate was finding you there.

Observing you always standing by Neige's side, dressed like a guard, Vil can't help but admire you. You resemble a knight in shining armour, yet he can't ignore the glances you give Neige whenever he interacts with you. They mirror the looks you used to give Vil back in his universe. He struggles to restrain himself before confronting Neige.

"I know you're jealous Neige took your spot," a familiar voice interrupts his thoughts. Vil turns to see you, your eyes cold and your voice distant. In this life, you grew up with Neige, childhood friends who shared a deep bond. You recall the day when someone, envious of Neige, inflicted a grievous injury that left him bedridden. That day, you vowed to be his protector, his knight.

"Oh, please. It isn't that I'm jealous," Vil responds, his mouth speaking freely, cursing himself for letting slip his true feelings. For in his heart, you are still the one he loves. His jealousy now isn't about Neige stealing his beauty spotlight, but about stealing you away from him.

⋆⋅☆Idia

The fate of this Idia had been written. He was a deity seeking revenge from the others who had confined him in this dark land. As he executed his revenge plan, he would fail, only to never see the light of day again.

──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────

Idia missed his alone time, for as soon as his eyes opened, he found himself surrounded by people treating him like some god. They would light fires for him, sacrificing lambs in his name. How much he wished Ortho was there to blast these weird people and help him go back home, but alas, he was alone with no Ortho or you in sight. His days were spent hearing people ask him to curse others, wishing death upon them. Even though he knew he had the power to do so, he found himself unable to function properly in front of all these people until the Ortho from this universe showed up.

He watched in disbelief as Ortho looked just like a normal person. Idia ran to hug his brother, tears daring to spill from his eyes, relieved that at least here, his brother had been fine.

Even if it sounded crazy, Ortho believed every word Idia stated. Idia explained that he had come from another universe, and the two of them began thinking of a way to bring him back to his original universe.

Amidst all the chaos of his days, he watched as, once again, his worshippers prepared another ritual. However, his face paled when, instead of a lamb, he saw those people bring you, tied up. He saw the hatred in your eyes as you squirmed, trying to untie your limbs. Everyone kept holding you down, and he couldn't watch anymore. He shouted at them to stop, a feeling of rage consuming him, hair turning red, at seeing you in such a state. They brought you over to him, and even though he had just saved you and kneeled to touch your face with such tenderness, to all of the worshippers' surprise, you kept looking at him with eyes filled with rage.

“You are an excuse for a god.” There was irritation and disgust present in your voice as you looked at him. Idia himself would have never believed he would see such an expression forming on your face, especially directed at him. He gulped, unsure of what to say, as he felt his heart shatter.

“Please, please don’t look at me like that…” His voice had been nothing more than a pleading whisper as he could not stand the thought of you hating him.

[your-local-grinning-cat]

Don’t implicate me in this.

I gave someone a cursed book and I think they might have read it-

best prank I swear 😼

YOU

[multidimensionalguidance]

The Astrology Behind: Miss Universe 2024

I know that beauty posts are an obsessive topic in the Astrology community, as much as it is in any other type of content that predominantly women engage with, and I've realized that the more you learn the more you notice that every sign and nakshatra have their own type of beauty.

Now, there's definitely a few that tend to stand out when it comes to competing in "who's the fairest of them all?"

From a general perspective, these placements, signs, and nakshatras are what we would expect to see:

Venus conjunct Moon or Sun

Venus in 1st, 7th, 10th

Venus in Taurus/Libra

Taurus/Libra ascendant

Venus nakshatra on ASC, Moon, or Sun

AL with aspecting Venus, being in Taurus/Libra or in Venus nakshatra

There are many astrologer enthusiast who study the impact of astrology on someone's appearance, Claire Nakti being one of the most well known behind these studies, and many others who constantly contribute towards this topic.

Now, is it really true for modern standards such as Miss Universe 2024 to find the signs and naks mentioned earlier? Let's take a look...

Note: please keep in mind that these are sidereal calculations, and out of the 130 contestants I was sadly only able to find half (65) of the birthdates. So, please be mindful that it's definitely not a complete research, and many other signs, nakshatras, or placements could overturn these results.

As we can see from these results, Venus influence is definitely an important factor and also its exaltation sign (Pisces). Gemini and mercury appeared a lot as well in Sun and Venus placements, which makes sense considering they must have a youthful appearance, playful demeanor, and express themselves eloquently. In terms of nakshatra though, Mars seemed to have a lot of dominance in the Moon signs giving a sexy, bold, or courageous appeal to the contestants.

Saturnians (Capricorn and Aquarius) also appear a lot in almost every category, except for Mars. These women tend to have a sharp, commanding, and timeless type of beauty that simply makes them stand out a lot. They are hardworking and focused, which is needed in order to achieve success of any kind.

In terms of results that REALLY grabbed my attention was definitely Mars in Libra, wow. It completely dominated in almost all of these beautiful women. Again, it seems that when it comes to their actions and drive there must be a sense of harmony, elegance, and appeal. I personally think Mars is what makes them have "that walk"!

From aspects observations, the Mars-Rahu and Mars-Pluto ones kept on sticking out like a sore thumb. This goes along with needing to have an extreme headless drive towards everything that's illusory (Rahu) and a shocking factor (Pluto) of some sort. To me, this is the "I'm very competitive" aspect and mixing it with Mars being in Libra "I need to be elegant and poised", it just clicks perfectly for a "I must be THE most beautiful and driven towards beauty" type of attitude.

Anyways, hope this was an enjoyable and fun research to read! Please remember that all signs and nakshatras have their own beauty, but not all of them want to compete for it or even show it off.

[sansaorgana]

Adar is one of the best things that happened to The Lord of The Rings universe and let me explain why.

So, I've read The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit – a long time ago – but I've seen the movies a few times. I have never read The Silmarillion or other Tolkien works related to this universe but I think it doesn't matter in what I want to say either way because I focus on the way we perceive things about this universe in the most popcultural way and I think The Lord of The Rings movies and books are the most popcultural phenomenon out of Tolkien works and most people know only them.

So, the way the Orcs are portrayed in these is... deeply concerning and I've never thought of it until Adar. But you see, they are treated as the lowest form of life that doesn't even deserve to live – a dangerous, mindless and aggressive piece of meat that has to be killed to clear the path. And I understand why the characters think this way about them but I wish there was more philosophy around them in the books and movies.

This universe teaches us we don't get to decide who deserves to live and who deserves to die. That even the trees should be respected like every other alive being. And yet the Orcs are treated like the lowest form of life that don't get the same amount of compassion. And all of that in a story that is about destroying the tyrant and the evil that Sauron is. He doesn't care about any life and he wishes to annihilate whatever is on his way to ultimate power. And yet, the characters who are supposed to fight him have a similar mindset to him when it comes to the Orcs – they're a filthy race that should be wiped out of this world.

And I've never even thought about it – the way the Orcs are being treated and perceived. Not until Adar. And I think it really adds a lot of depth to this whole universe. As I said, I don't know every work by Tolkien and maybe he was talking about it in some letters or notes but that is not the knowledge that made it to the popculture.

I especially like the fact that the Orcs indeed are not portrayed as good at heart. They truly give you reasons to hate them and yet, you get to have this moral conflict because... Does it really give you the right to want to annihilate their whole race? The Rings of Power is asking the right questions with this plotline. That scene where Galadriel – one of the mightiest and fairest of all Elves – threatens Adar that she is going to kill all of his children, that they are a mockery, that she is going to make sure he sees and hears them suffering... It was thrilling in the best kind of way.

[cogneartive]

THE YOUTH: ah the beatles! tis what my elders speak of, i know not much of what they are but that they are prominent in our culture

THE GROWING LOVER: the beatles, o beatledom! i know now more of myself and the world. john lennon and paul mccartney were lovers and george harrison might have been autistic and my fairest ringo is wonderful on the drums. i wish to know all there is about them

THE UNHAPPY MAN: the beatles, the dreaded beatles are not to be admired or to be praised. i am SICK of their mention, their visages and their voices. i wish good death to them and their fans

THE NOW ACCUSTOMED ELDERLY: beatles, beatles, the band of universal. whether we love or we hate, or we know or we do not know. we must accept this: that beatles are forevermore and they are within all

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I don't know if you had talk about this but-

Fun fact: despite Yana(if i remember correctly, it's Yana who confirm it) say that the event is like alternate universe of the main story, some of the event did follow through some canon settings for events(?) Only(i also still having doubt.

I know the tapis rouge event already done a few weeks ago if not months ago, but i just found it when i watch it again.

Azul and Grim is the only one surprised by the reveal of Eric and Vil being father and son because Ace and Jamil was there when Vil reveal it in Vil's Scary Dress Vignettes(i know it's vignettes, but it'stechnically in the universe if said event so i add it), and the one who appear in that Vig was Ace, Ruggie, Floyd, Jamil, him and Rook, Ortho and Lastly Silver. In that Vig, Vil did reveal his father kinda subtle but at the same time enough to make people theorizing, which shown by Ace and Ortho.

Twst usually make dialog box that shows that everyone is surprised together or atleast shown that they also surprised, but in tapis only Azul was shown openly surprised, while Grim and Yuu(since we didn't get any dialog box) only show surprised expression, and Jamil and Ace didn't show any surprised and only surprised when the person himself arrived in person.

I think it's funny that the events may or may not follow some canon settings or lore that we may need to think of, especially if they had subtle references of previous event. What do you think about this?

I went back to confirm, and your description is correct! In Vil's Scary Dress vignettes, Ace, Ruggie, Floyd, Jamil, Rook, Ortho, and Silver are in Pomefiore as Vil gives them lessons on how to do their makeup to match each of their dorms' Halloween costumes. (You'll notice that Ace and Jamil, two boys who would later visit Fairest City in Tapis Rouge, are present. Azul and Grim, meanwhile, are not present for Vil's makeup lessons.) It is in these vignettes (in the third one) that Vil reveals his father is Eric Venue:

In 3-7 of Tapis Rouge, we actually get to meet Eric Venue face-to-face. It is here that Grim and Azul (who were not previously privy to this information in Vil's Scary Dress vignettes) express shock that Vil and Eric are related.

There is no follow-up dialogue from either Ace or Jamil (who were already presented with this information in Vil's Scary Dress vignettes) expressing the same surprise. Their shock moreso comes from reacting to Eric's impressive accomplishments and/or the fact that they're able to meet such a famous person The characters then get into a conversation about why Vil and Eric don't disclose their relation publicly. Then they move into formal introductions before finally settling in for food.

While it’s true that most (if not all) vignettes and events are considered AUs, I think it’s more of a convenience so that the writers don’t need to worry about continuity or timeline issues when comparing vignettes/events to the main story or even to each other.

How I see it is that vignettes and events are a little more free to have continuity or to reference each other (ie other vignettes and events, especially within the same “set”/“series”) and the main story (lest we forget instances like Fairy Gala: If), than the main story can have continuity with or reference vignettes and events. This is likely because if all events and vignettes are AUs anyway, then the devs can casually pick and choose which details to acknowledge (like Ortho gaining free will post-book 6) and which to ignore. The few times when vignettes/events are mentioned in the main story, they are left vague enough so as to not allude to specific event stories such as the Culinary Crucible/Masterchef as a course or NRC’s charitable Halloween activities being mentioned briefly. There are no details which would imply certain ingredients/cooking partners (which would confirm Culinary Crucible/Masterchef events as “canon”) or Magicam Monsters, the Spectral Realm party, NBC, or Playful Land were experienced (which would confirm the Halloween events as “canon”).

I have to wonder if the shock/non-shock at the Eric Venue-Vil relation was intentional or just coincidence 🤔 cuz that’s one hell of a long callback to make when I thought the whole point of delineating events and vignettes as AUs was to relieve the writers of the stress of keeping up continuity. This just seems like more trouble than it’s worth… but I guess we’ll never really know for sure, but either way I still appreciate this subtle detail.

[deliajackson]

PJO ≠ Greek Mythology

I can't believe I have to say this but I swear by the gods, the next time I see a pjo fan saying "the gods can be easily overthrow. This is canon on riondanverse and in greek mythology" or "yes. Mortals, specially demigods can win a fight against the olympians and easily defeat them. It happend on greek mythology. So it is plausible for Percy overthrow Zeus." I'm gonna riot.

You want a story where Percy takes down Olympus? Ok! There may be fics on ao3. You want a fic where Zeus is taken out of his crown and someone else takes his place? Fine. There may be fics on ao3 with this premise. I may hate this take, and I won't read it. But if you like, go ahead.

The riondanverse barely scratches the greek mythology correctly. The Gods are marely réplicas of the tales of Old. They dont match with their myths - since Riordan basically blanded one myth on the other, or created a few himself. - The PJO Gods are not a source for greek mythology, they dont properly represent their importance, much less their complexity, nuance and power.

So stop. Just stop spreading misinformation about Mythology - which u know nothing about if you are saying those things - or using it as a basis to your takes.

The Gods, the Olympian Counsil cannot be "easily" overthrow in any possible way. Using the idea "Zeus did that with Khronos so it is easy" is literally absurd. Zeus is a God. He has always been a God. He was born a God.

Only a God can fight another one and win. And a mortal - including demigods - can only harm a God with divine help - which usually is Athena's helping them. - No God can overthrow Zeus powerwise, let alone a mere mortal (Im looking at you, Epic fans). He is the King of Gods for a reason. That is a fact in greek mythology.

But if you want a good idea of "dethrone Zeus" trope acordding to Hesiod, there was a prophecy one of Zeus children would be the one to do it. When Zeus learned about it, he pushed a Khronos and devoured one his pregnant wives, Métis. Athena was still born from his head though.

Do you know what he did to Athena? Nothing. She is his favorite kid. He kept doing it? Also no. He never did that again. And all his god children were welcome in Olympus. Even Dionysus - who was born a mortal and ascended. Even Heracles, who became a minor god.

+ the "overthrown" of Zeus wouldnt happen. Zeus is - according to greek mythology - the fairest of the kings. I dont care if you don't like Zeus because for your modernized view on ancient tales "he is evil". He is a good king and that is a fact in Greek Mythology. You like it or not. He is not a tyrant. And he is not considered a Tyrant in mythology either. Another reason for one of his wives be Themis - Justice.

By the end of the day, getting out of Myth and going into their philosophy and theology.

The Gods are literally a representantion of the Cosmos and natural law. They are not "beings with too much power". Hades is the underworld. Poseidon is the nature. Zeus is the heavens. More than that, Zeus is the one who brought harmony to the universe - the oikos. Without him, everything we know about crumbles.

And Zeus children are the parts of human society. The pillars of "civilization". Apollo is art and healing. Hermes is communications and commerce. Athena is strategy and warfare. Hephaestus is technology. Ares is conflict/war and bloodthirsty. And there you go.

All the Gods represent the "good" and "bad" aspects of their domains. + They also reflect the human nature. That is why they are "flawed". That is why they are way more complex in the myths. Why they make good and bad decisions. Why they sometimes are kinder, why sometimes they are crueler.

Overthrow the Olympians mythwise? Would be the end of the life as we know of. The end of civilization. If there would be human life by the end of it.

Stop saying shit u don't know about only to support your takes on a greek-american fanfiction written by an American man.

[book--brackets]

The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine (2001)

Twelve-year-old Addie admires her older sister Meryl, who aspires to rid the kingdom of Bamarre of gryphons, specters, and ogres. Addie, on the other hand, is fearful even of spiders and depends on Meryl for courage and protection. Waving her sword Bloodbiter, the older girl declaims in the garden from the heroic epic of Drualt to a thrilled audience of Addie, their governess, and the young sorcerer Rhys. 

But when Meryl falls ill with the dreaded Gray Death, Addie must gather her courage and set off alone on a quest to find the cure and save her beloved sister. Addie takes the seven-league boots and magic spyglass left to her by her mother and the enchanted tablecloth and cloak given to her by Rhys - along with a shy declaration of his love. She prevails in encounters with tricky specters (spiders too) and outwits a wickedly personable dragon in adventures touched with romance and a bittersweet ending.

Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn by Tad Williams (1988-1992)

A war fueled by the powers of dark sorcery is about to engulf the peaceful land of Osten Ard—for Prester John, the High King, lies dying. And with his death, the Storm King, the undead ruler of the elf-like Sithi, seizes the chance to regain his lost realm through a pact with the newly ascended king. Knowing the consequences of this bargain, the king’s younger brother joins with a small, scattered group of scholars, the League of the Scroll, to confront the true danger threatening Osten Ard.

Simon, a kitchen boy from the royal castle unknowingly apprenticed to a member of this League, will be sent on a quest that offers the only hope of salvation, a deadly riddle concerning long-lost swords of power. Compelled by fate and perilous magics, he must leave the only home he’s ever known and face enemies more terrifying than Osten Ard has ever seen, even as the land itself begins to die.

Starbound by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (2013-2015)

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. 

Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. 

Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other's arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder-would they be better off staying here forever? 

Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won't be the same people who landed on it.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (2004-2024)

Meet the great Skulduggery Pleasant: wise-cracking detective, powerful magician, master of dirty tricks and burglary (in the name of the greater good, of course). Oh yeah. And dead.

Then there's his sidekick, Stephanie. She's… well, she's a twelve-year-old girl. With a pair like this on the case, evil had better watch out…

Stephanie's uncle Gordon is a writer of horror fiction. But when he dies and leaves her his estate, Stephanie learns that while he may have written horror, it certainly wasn't fiction. Pursued by evil forces intent on recovering a mysterious key, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source – the wisecracking skeleton of a dead wizard.

When all hell breaks loose, it's lucky for Skulduggery that he's already dead. Though he's about to discover that being a skeleton doesn't stop you from being tortured, if the torturer is determined enough. And if there's anything Skulduggery hates, it's torture… Will evil win the day? Will Stephanie and Skulduggery stop bickering long enough to stop it? One thing's for sure: evil won't know what's hit it.

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (2006)

Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be pretty . . .

Aza's singing is the fairest in all the land, and the most unusual. She can throw her voice so it seems to come from anywhere. But singing is only one of the two qualities prized in the Kingdom of Ayortha. Aza doesn't possess the other: beauty. Not even close. She's hidden in the shadows in her parents' inn, but when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the new queen, she has to step into the light--especially when the queen demands a dangerous favor. A magic mirror, a charming prince, a jealous queen, palace intrigue, and an injured king twine into a maze that Aza must penetrate to save herself and her beloved kingdom.

Trickster's Duology by Tamora Pierce (2003-2004)

Alianne is the teenage daughter of the famed Alanna, the first lady knight in Tortall. Young Aly follows in the quieter footsteps of her father, however, delighting in the art of spying. When she is captured and sold as a slave to an exiled royal family in the faraway Copper Islands, it is this skill that makes a difference in a world filled with political intrigue, murderous conspiracy, and warring gods. This is the first of two books featuring Alianne.

Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu (2015-present)

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900's Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, MONSTRESS tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both and make them the target of both human and otherworldly powers.

Lockwood & Co by Jonathan Stroud (2013-2017)

When the dead come back to haunt the living, Lockwood & Co. step in . . .

For more than fifty years, the country has been affected by a horrifying epidemic of ghosts. A number of Psychic Investigations Agencies have sprung up to destroy the dangerous apparitions.

Lucy Carlyle, a talented young agent, arrives in London hoping for a notable career. Instead she finds herself joining the smallest, most ramshackle agency in the city, run by the charismatic Anthony Lockwood. When one of their cases goes horribly wrong, Lockwood & Co. have one last chance of redemption. Unfortunately this involves spending the night in one of the most haunted houses in England, and trying to escape alive.

Protector of the Small by Tamora Pierce (1999-2002)

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of a new rule in Tortall—one that allows females to train for knighthood. After years in the Yamani Islands, she knows that women can be warriors, and now that she’s returned home, Kel is determined to achieve her goal. She believes she is ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page. But standing in Kel’s way is Lord Wyldon. The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights. He says she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. It’s just one more way to separate Kel from her fellow trainees. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even when the test is unfair.

Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes (2012-2018)

Princess Cleo of Mytica confronts violence for the first time in her life when a shocking murder sets her kingdom on a path to collapse. Once a privileged royal, Cleo must now summon the strength to survive in this new world and fight for her rightful place as Queen. 

 The King of Limeros's son, Magnus, must plan each footstep with shrewd, sharp guile if he is to earn his powerful father's trust, while his sister, Lucia, discovers a terrifying secret about her heritage that will change everything. 

 Rebellious Jonas lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country cruelly impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making. 

 Witches, if found, are put to death, and Watchers, immortal beings who take the shape of hawks to visit the human world, have been almost entirely forgotten. A vicious power struggle quickly escalates to war, and these four young people collide against each other and the rise of elementia, the magic that can topple kingdoms and crown a ruler in the same day.

[yuurei20]

Strange question but!! Yk how the villains are treated as heroes? How on earth did the heroes stories work if they, uh, yk, dont have the villains? Like i briefly remember TWST!Jafar hijacking Aladdin’s plan to fake being a prince, so theres not rlly any more “aladdin” story, but im curious how other stories went if u know! Are the OG heroes still treated as heroes, etc etc, that fun stuff

Hello hello! Thank you so much for this question!!

The different interpretations of history that seem exist in Twst are fascinating, and one of my favorite things is the part in Book 6 where Lilia seems to insinuate that the Disney stories that we know might not actually be what really happened, because history is written by the victors:

These "classic" stories--were they, too, twisted to suit an agenda? Is the truth closer to what is taught as history in Twst, or is it somewhere in the middle? It is so interesting to think about!

For the most part it seems that the heroes from the stories we know are not turned into villains in Twst, and the deeds that are attributed to them were actually done by multiple characters from different folklore:

For example, Harveston has stories about miners and customs based on "a young lady who made a wish at a well," a "traveler" who cleaned a stranger's home and then a tale about "some princess who wished to fall in love right away," as if the young lady, princess and traveler are three separate people.

While basing their traditions on the miners, the lady and traveler, they also deify the Fairest Queen, as if they are all independent individuals with no overlap.

One of the more interesting parts of the Fairest Queen's history, in particular, is that there is actually a "dastardly villain" in Harveston folklore that stalks a woman who is then saved by forest creatures.

The huntsman is--just like the queen--not a villain in the Twst universe. Who was who, and what really happened? 👀

For the Scalding Sands, it seems that the unnamed princess and the sultan from local stories are just as revered as the Sorcerer of the Sands himself, with the sultan known to be the person who named the Sorcerer as his vizier and retaining their connection from the story we know.

Much like in Harveston, the history of the Scalding Sands seems to attribute what we believe to be the history of just one character to multiple individuals: Kalim talks about the Sorcerer saving his country from a street rat, who was a swindler/charlatan/usurper who tried to trick the sultan and princess, in a rare case of a "hero" being vilified.

But they also have folklore about "a poor but kind-hearted young man" who shared his food with children, and whose marriage to the beautiful princess they celebrate every year with a festival.

Whereas the Disney movies make the charlatan and the kind man into one person, in Twst's history it seems they were two different people.

Diasomnia is very big on the Thorn Fairy, and they also talk about the human king who feared her, the princess whose birthday she was not invited to (Silver: "Was their king raised in a barn?") and the three presents that the princess received.

Lilia talks about a trio of fairies that were not able to break the Thorn Fairy's curses and also put an entire kingdom to sleep, while Silver comments on how Lilia is consciously, intentionally emulating the three fairies from that tale with his cooking.

Silver and Malleus discuss "some faeries" raising a child for 16 years without magic, but they do not seem to know why they did so, and it is unclear if they believe that those faeries and the three faeries that put the kingdom to sleep are the same or different people.

Heartslabyul seems to separate Alice into two different characters as well, referring to a 1-km-tall giant that the Queen of Hearts tried in court and a child that got lost in the castle as if they were two people.

The only reference we get of the "heroes" of the Lion King tale are Jack referring to the King of Beast's "rascal of a nephew" and Leona mentioning that he deposed his brother "to build a better, wiser kingdom."

While the characters seem similar to the stories we know it's possible that the timelines are slightly different, with the rebirth of the pridelands being attributed to the King of Beasts himself rather than his nephew.

The history of the Sea Witch in Twst might be the most fascinating: the characters reference the Sea Witch taking someone's voice for a contract and making a shapeshifting potion to facilitate love between a mermaid and a human, but also turning herself into a human and being proposed to by a prince the next day, with no acknowledgement that the human from the first tale and the prince from the second might have been the same person.

They also talk about the eels flipping over a boat and a mermaid princess who had trouble walking on land, but there is no mention of the princess being in the boat in the eel story.

Octavinelle even acknowledges that the Sea Witch once made herself huge and sunk a ship with a whirlpool and "some even labeled her a monster," saying that she was later lauded as a compassionate figure after turning over a new leaf. (While the less-than-pleasant deeds done by the Sorcerer, the Fairest Queen and the King of Beasts in the stories that we know are never mentioned.)

Silver's tale from Halloween seems to be an exception to this rule. Everything done by the "hero" in the tale we know is still attributed to the hero in the story that Silver knows, and the enemy army is still the enemy army.

To the initial question: it seems that the heroes from the histories that we know are still being regarded as heroes in Twst (though they tend to get separated into multiple people), while the characters that we know as villains are also highly regarded. This sometimes includes their pasts (in the case of the Sea Witch and the Queen of Hearts), being separated from their pasts (in the case of the Hunter) or with no mention of their pasts (the King of Beasts, the Sorcerer of the Sands, the Fairest Queen, the Thorn Fairy).

(Not a lot of information about the King of the Underworld when compared to the others! Idia mostly just talks about how charismatic he was. Ortho suggests something about "the truth" about him being closer to Idia's own situation than they have been taught, but Idia is not convinced.)

Also: there is a reference to a hero rescuing his ladylove from the Underworld in Book 6, so it seems the hero in that tale remains a hero in Twst as well!

[streets-in-paradise]

The Halls of Freya - Thor x (Fem)Vanir!Reader

Warnings: Pre vanishment Thor is quite insistent in his seek to pursue the reader.

Summary: The calm expected for your studying visit to the Aesir gods gets somehow ruined by the intense appreciation of your looks that many began to show you, Prince Thor being the most devoted among your admirors.

With his coronation expected to happen soon, he is determined on the idea of marrying you to make you his queen. Despite facing your subtle rejection over and over, nothing shakes him out of that certainty. Still, he can't help to notice and misinterpretate your friendlyness towards Loki in contrast to the responses he himself has obtained from you.

Slightly jealous of his brother for the first time in his life, he drags him to cooperate in his plan seeking the advice of the goddess of love.

Note: Inspired by this and the swedish song i'm linking below. Full english translation of the lyrics can be found here.

Tags: @thorsslxve

All guests were granted respect and peace in the magnifical asgardian palace, but your arrival seemed to be an exception on the second aspect. As a vanir lady of high nobility, some didn't believe or cared to consider your visit was not essentially social. Adquiring knowledge in the greatest of the Nine Realms, the political center of your universe, was your main goal, but quite many asgardian men had other things in mind when it came to your realm.

Beautifull women, Vanaheim would be forever associated with the looks of Freya in their public conciousness and most Vanir women would get submitted to that image. Asgardian warriors were trying to approach you in herds, scandal spontaneously created on the assumptions typically associated with your origin. Nobody wanted to miss the chance to get a first look of your face and you haven't had dissapointed them.

Prince Loki was the onlyone who remained unimpressed and mocked the situation, winning some of your simpathy from that simple action. Unlike the others, he did acknowledge that Vanir women were also remarkable in the fields of sorcery and divination. Freya herself had shared many magical secrets with the Aesir, matter that should have been as famous across Yggdrasil as her splendid looks were.

From all the fields in magic commonly attributed to the Vanir, your strenght was nature. Completely opposite styles, since yours valued prosperity over power, but Loki was kindly cordial with you as you acknowledged his vastly superior skill. He didn't mind indulging your curiosity from time to time, given that you would pay him with flattery. In that particular context, it was a source of pride for him among all the other asgardians who, unlike him, did want you and were trying to impress you.

His brother, the first of them all.

Thor had been very vocal about his infatuation from the very first moment that he saw you. His whimsical, unstoppable will to chase you was frankly admirable.

Stubborness and chivalry walked hand in hand, managing to either humor you or exasperate you whenever he was near. The eldest prince couldn't stand being ignored and ruining your focus had become his new favorite sport.

" My fairest lady, aren't you bored of your loneliness? " He distracted you once more as you intended to read, making you loose in the sentence. " I believe you won't discover the wonders of my realm hidding your divine face behind that book … Come with me so i can show those to you."

Tempting offer followed by his most charming smile, but you declined.

" Studying is my purpose, Prince Thor. I'm currently more invested in the books on your library than in the contemplation of your glorious looks, and i intend to keep it that way. "

You completed your rejectment with a kind smile, showing it wasn't personal.

" But you must be suffering!" He insisted. " Trapped as you are behind walls, missing the light and the green grasslands of Vanaheim."

You sighed of exahustion, but your eyes were back on him and that was what he wanted to achieve.

" That's why I like to study in the gardens, but your even more frequent visits there have made it impossible."

Thor approached you with hurted innocence, sitting ríght next to you.

" Can I be blamed for feeling curious about the visitor that has deservedly awakened such fascination among my men?" He wondered out loud in sweet whispers. " … Only the race of Freya could have produced a woman so fair, so pridefull. You have mezmerized me and it's with great sorrow that I lament to find your glance fleeing from mine. "

You finnally closed the book.

" I'm here for wisedown, not searching for a man."

The straightfold answer wasn't what he wanted to hear.

" Had a frost giant iced your heart? " He dramatically inquirred. " Mine is burning of love for you, consuming in the wait to make you mine."

His lovely face accompanied the passion of his statement. You could tell he was craving for you to give in so he could break the short distance between you with a kiss.

" I know what you must have heard of us, but not all Vanir women are passionate lovers. "

Nothing could have prepared you for what he had to say about that.

" We will put that on test once you become my queen."

An increíble surprise impossible to hide had caused you to run out of comebacks.

Fortunately someone else granted you one.

" There are two problems with that statement. " Loki pridefully pointed out, approaching him from behind." Father hasn't abdicated the throne in your favor yet, and she is too clever to stand an engagement to you given the volatile nature of your desires."

The god of mischief had found a subtle way of calling him a spoiled brat without it sounding like an offense and for that he made you chuckle.

" Don't listen to my brother's mockery. " Thor defended himself, too focused on you to replicate directly to Loki. " You must trust me. "

" I don't trust any of you. " You mischievously recalled, glancing at the dark haired god, then back at him. " The lady of the shining necklace is very wary of Loki as well, tales circulate in Vanaheim about the tribulations he had repeatedly brought to her. "

You eyes were fixated on Thor as you finished the sentence.

" … Many times, mediating in absurd demmands of marriage from other men."

Loki couldn't beat the allegations, a conversation with Freya was all would be needed to confirm the veracity of those stories.

" Fair enough, that reputation is deserved."

On that you had a specific point to make.

" Just to be clear: you won't get me for him the way you got him the hammer. "

Your acknowledgement of his role in the chain of events was a nice surprise for him, but upsetted his brother.

" I won my ríght to Mjolnir the same way I know I will win your affections. " Thor stated with determination. " Fighting, proving that i'm the best. "

" In that you are mistaken, prince." You coldly corrected, temporally loosing some of your usual politeness. " I'm not a prize for you to win. Even if you believe my beauty is the blessing of Freya's race, you are not entitled to it. "

Far away from being genuinely hurted by the callout, he kept looking at you with adoration.

" I never said i was, but I know you will be my wife. I can feel it, even if you can't currently see it. "

The statement weirded you a bit, so you joked about it.

" Nobody ever told me that the Son of Odin was a seer. "

" Not a seer, a fool. " Loki commented. " He apparently loves to make a fool of himself for you. "

Thor blatantly ignored him, as if the whole world ended in you.

" I will make you fall for me, I promise you that. " He insisted one last time, ríght before holding your hand to place a kiss on your knuckles. " We will be blissfully married, you will be the most stunning queen Asgard has ever seen and I will be your enamored king."

The way in which his blue eyes shined while looking at you said even more than his words. Smiling was like an involuntary reflex for you and he took that as a good sign.

" She can't see it now, but she will be my wife. " He commented to Loki with excitement as soon as you left. " I have a good feeling, brother. She is the one, I must find a way to her heart. "

Loki had quickly realized he was asking for advice because he didn't have the slightlest idea of how to deal with rejectment and refused to face it. Even if it would be just for that, he was very happy with your arrival into their lives. The arrogance and lack of self awareness were still there, but Thor was stumbling with negatories for the first time in his life. For once he had a hard time getting what he wanted and Loki was thrilled to witness it.

" You can always ask your Vanir friend about the courting rituals their women prefer. " He suggested. " Hogun is your closest source, it's his own culture. And he is your only hope, because Fandral has already failed on his own despite being an expert on the matter. "

The blond god smiled as if an insane idea had just occured to him.

A Vanir expert on the matters of love was who he needed as advisor.

" No, no ,no. I know that look. We can't ask her more favors! " Loki stopped him ríght away. " We had terrible experiences in the past, she associates us with anger and annoyance. I wouldn't bother her if it wasn't extremely necesary. "

Thor was careless for the warning.

" She is the greatest expert. Only she can reveal me the secret to win the affections of my beloved. "

The halls of Freya had to welcome him because Thor was welcome anywhere in Asgard. Even if it was true that the splendid goddess had been wrongfully involved in some of his adventures with Loki, she didn't personally despise him for that. However, he was ríght in one detail: they did have the tendency of annoying her to the core. Everytime they had come to her with a problem of theirs, Freya had found herself regretting the help to some extent.

One look at your face was enough for him to toss aside any consideration of risk. At that moment, there was nothing he desired more than your love. The fact that Loki seemed to be your favorite of both had awakened a bit of jealousy in him. You were going to be his, he had no doubt of that, but his brother got an easier time getting closer to you. It was clear that you were friendly to each other in a way that excluided him. In practice, it was more like the difference Loki himself had experienced in his interactions with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three, but it didn't look like that to him.

In fact, Thor was so unused to being treated like that it was quite hard for him. His brother had no friends of his own, reason why he lacked practice as the brother awkwardly engaging in the meetings of a friend group that wasn't really his. He felt left behind whenever you would show to have your own inner jokes with Loki among other signs of your bond in development.

Desperate as he was for your attention, he failed to understand why his brother had more of it even if he knew that he didn't fancy you. Instead of cooperating with his cause, Loki amused himself with jokes at his expense and, for so, he would have to join him in the resolution of his romantical quest.

They reached the magnificent main hall on her asgardian palace, but Freya didn't receive them directly. Instead, her cats inspected the visitors ahead. One passed by Thor with gallant pace and rubbed the head against his leg, but the one that intended to do the same on Loki hissed as soon as his scent was recognized.

" I told you it wasn't a good idea. " The god whispered as they both watched the cat leave in a run. " Clearly, she hasn't forgot of my involvement in all those improvised bargains with lustfull giants desperate to have her. "

" You have paid the price, so did I." Thor calmed him. " If I once had almost considered trading her as ransom for Mjolnir, the sacrifice I endured to avoid it was enough to be forgiven."

Loki wasn't going to let that chance to make fun of him slip away.

" Maybe you should ask her to borrow you her magical necklace again. It's granted that the girl won't stop looking at you if you wear it for her. "

Thor wanted to reply to such shamefull provocation, but he was interrumpted by the sound of a femminine voice approaching. The chant of the lady spoke of a sorceress pridefull rejecting the advances of a flirtatious king in a refined comedical way.

" Lucky of you. " Loki pointed out on the irony. " She seems to be in a good mood today. "

Freya was soon in front of them in all her radiant beauty, but when she saw them, she wasn't happy.

" What have you done this time?" She inmediately questioned them, fearing a disaster. " Unless the frost giants are already on the way, i'm not borrowing you my cloak ever again. "

Gesturally contaning his brother, Loki attempted to save the situation speaking ahead of him.

" Worry not, stunning Freya, since our concerns aren't a matter threatening the gods. I come to you humbly, on behalf of a man suffering for love. "

The eyes of the goddess were like daggers pointed at him.

" You always do, better this not be another of your trade offers. " She warned him, then glanced back at Thor. " It looks like your brother is the suffering lover. "

The god of thunder smiled at her, pleased of being guessed so accurately.

" I'm hopelessly infatuated of the young maiden who has followed you from your homeland. " He began to explain. " … She is the sweetest one this realm has ever known, beautifull like in the most pleasant of dreams, but extremely difficult for my reach. "

Freya wasn't surprised by the confession. Everyone was somewhat aware of how intensely he wanted you, the rarity was to find him admitting he was failing on the conquest.

The goddess of love recognized the desperation in his eyes because she was one of the few that knew it well. She have already seen it many times.

" It's only logical: she is a good representative of everything Vanaheim stands for, as you are for Asgard. " She informed him. " Frey cherishes her, he has practically raised her. From him she had learned the secrets of our kind, and the light magic of the elves in Alfheim. You know well that my brother is a warrior and a lover alike. He has taugh her according to his values: peacefull rullership, love for nature, selfless love and will of sacrifice. "

Her words were indirectly putting in doubt the posibility that Thor possessed such qualities.

" … (y/n) loves Gerd as a mother, and as you know, she isn't a goddess." Freya added, taunting polemic. " My brother gave his sword for the chance of marrying a giantess. This is the image of love she grew up admiring and I doubt she would settle for any less. "

In case he could mix up the interpretation of her words to satisfy his whim, she got very clear with a determinating example showing him the practical translation for his case.

" Would you trade Mjolnir for her, Thor? Ask yourself that, even if she won't demmand you to do it, for this kind of devoted love is the only way to her heart."

The two gods were silenced, shocked by drastically different reasons.

" At least it's most likely that means she isn't currently in love with Loki." Thor finally concluded, refusing to get disencouraged. " He has always jested Frey about his choice, called him a fool for trading his best weapon for a wife. "

In another occasion, that could have accidentally unleashed an argument between Loki and Freya.

The Vanir lady laughed to the assumption and the youngest prince wasn't comfortable with that.

" Excuse me? " The god of mischief stopped the thunder god. " Is that what you think it's happening? "

" She is always so sweet to you! Even when you tease each other, she doesn't mean it with you the same way it falls on me. "

" How?" Loki complained, starting a fight with him instead. " How could you possibly believe that she has fallen for me ? "

" She treats me differently, like if I don't belong among you, and I can't stand it. "

Loki wished he could have openly laughed to his face, the irony was too strong to handle.

Freya read it on his eyes and calculated her strike.

" It's just an affinity, and it doesn't surprise me as much as it should. Your jealousy is pointless, we know he isn't good at keeping friendships. Sooner or later his trickery will damage her and it will fall apart. "

" I shall not be blamed for causing curiosity on her, since your foolish brother has only taught her of light magic and growing plants. " The youngest Aesir Prince defended himself from the provocation. " I bet the girl came to Asgard hoping to learn some real magic. "

For the honor of her brother, the goddess forgot to measure her words carefully.

" Gerd must have showed her some tricks I know you will love. " She coldly sentenced, mentioning the giantess on purpose.

Freya's rage didn't find its límit on Loki, her patience had ran out for both brothers.

" And to you I say: If you don't want to get treated like my old giant suitors, you shall stop behaving like one of them."

The comparison was an offense too great for Thor to tolerate.

" THAT'S ABSURD!!! HOW AM I IN ANY WAY ALIKE TO THOSE MONSTERS??"

His stubborness had awakened her combative spirit.

" Every single day during his worktime here the builder of the asgardian wall used to arrogantly brag to me claiming I was going to be his wife. EVERY-SINGLE-DAY! LOOK HOW FAR THAT GOT HIM! ARE YOU HOPING TO SUCCEED WHERE HE FAILED? "

Circunstantially careless for the presence of his brother, Freya grabbed Thor by the jaw so he would look at her closely as she finished her advice, hoping the words would stick with him.

"Do you think it will work out for you based only on the fact that you are a well spoken and handsome prince? Do you sincerely believe that would make ANY difference? I have rejected towsands like you, not all of them were disgusting ogres.Toss your pride aside and humbly court her with true sweetness instead of this gallant simulation of admiring respect that's nothing but pure arrogance. "

To soften things, she caressed his cheek as she released the grip on his face before providing some encouragement.

" I believe in your good heart, and that's what you should be presenting to her."

The advice was brutal, but very wise. Still, Thor wasn't sure of how much of it was genuine and not only a product of Freya's anger, that he guessed was caused by his brother. Only one thing had been tranquilizing and that was knowing you weren't developing feelings for Loki.

However, the desperation that the trickster god sensed on him under that assumption was an interesting discovery. Thor had kept that small seed of secret distress well hidden untill Freya exposed him. Following the core of the reasoning she presented to them, Loki would gladly assume the role of the servant Skirnir and get him the girl if Thor would grant him a similar reward. Not a magical weapon that time, but the throne of Asgard. He did wonder if his brother could be that foolish, an ever greater fool than Frey ever was in his eyes. Answers eventually came to him when he saw the awe in his expression as he discovered you singing in the gardens of the palace.

Days before the date meant for Thor's coronation, you were trying to cheer up Loki because you were the only one finding his disdain for the situation relatable. While he resented not being the choosen one of his father, you lammented being chosen by his brother. You didn't despise him or deeply resented his interest as completely unwanted, but you knew that once Thor would be crowned king there would be no way out for you. No escape from him, with all the implications that had, and not hating him didn't mean feeling comfortable with a marriage to him.

Frey would come to congratulate the new king and he would have to stay to witness your wedding, so proud that the child he raised has become Queen of Asgard. King Odin himself was the onlyone capable of stopping that madness, maybe moved by the reminder of Gerd indirectly linking you to the giants. That hope was lost when you heard him comment that the peacefull inclinations of a Vanir under the influence of Frey were good balance for Thor's war driven spirit.

Loki was your only hope.

In remembrance of the old stories, you ended up asking him if he could come up with a trick to save you just like all those times he saved Freya from marrying the giants. He laughed, called you a terrible conspirator, and asked you if you loathed his brother that strongly.

The truth was that you didn't, but you couldn't stand the idea of becoming the toy of an arrogant, vain prince. A man who chased you for your beauty, who claimed you were going to be his from the very first moment that he saw you regardless of your opinion.

And yet, that wasn't all what was to be learned about him.

Thor had potential to achieve his goal, you could feel it, but he was blind to it most of the time. His pride blinded him, often turned into entitlement, and you couldn't stand that. Still, you were quite curious for what could be found behind that.

After all, his people loved him for a reason, and you were never able to stay mad at him for long. Vanity aside, you couldn't simply ignore his dedication to you. The way in which his eyes would shine if you responded nicely, his deep voice going slightly softer, his cheery self remaining always enthusiastic no matter the failed landing of his flirting. Allways expectant, waiting for you with such great loyalty like no other of your admirors. The onlyone who managed to make you smile, who would stare at your face but be trully hearing whatever you were telling him.

Venting disdain about him wasn't what you wanted to do about the situation, and it wasn't the ríght way of supporting Loki.You did your part in the way you imagined he preferred to be comforted. No heartfelt speeches, only seeking to humor him with jokes.

That was how Thor had found you, midway into the task of becoming the trickster of a trickster by singing a cheerfull song for his brother. The garden looked even more green and vivacious than usual, work of your magic without doubts. You were wearing a flower crown and behaving with an adorable carefreeness that the god of thunder was incapable of resisting. He remained frozen in his spot, fearing you would stop if you noticed him.

It took him an instant to notice that yours was the same song he heard in the halls of Freya, the dispute of the king and the sorceress. Verses he haven't heard before revealed that the progression of the song was increasingly against the king, He had offered the fair maiden to drink from his goblet, but her reply was terminant.

' I want no wine, I want no mead. To get rid of you is all i need'

Your acting reflected the annoyance and desperation, to what Loki bursted into laughter.

" Your enchanting voice makes anything sound beautifull, my lady. " Thor praised you from afar, finally pacing towards you. " I don't mind being jested when it's done so sweetly."

You turned back and smiled for him, a hint of nervousy over being discovered remaining very visible.

" In Vanaheim, this topic is common in songs meant to be comedical. I believe is the influence of the legends. "

As he observed the interaction, Loki noticed you weren't looking at his brother precisely like the goddess of love used to look at her repulsive suitors.

" The songs of our people speak mostly of battles. " He commented, taking the conversation elsewhere. " The trully amusing ones almost exclusively deal with my shenanigans. "

" And the serious ones focus on my courage. " Thor followed him with pridefull excitement. " I crave to show you some, but I dread that nothing would sound as good in my voice. "

For the very first time ever, he had shown a small glimpse of humility in his courting attempts and you intended to reward it.

" You have a very pleasant speaking voice."

" Then I shall read some asgardian poetry for you! " He suggested and attempted to contain his enthusiasm ríght afterwards. " … If you would consent to spend a while in my company, of course. "

Thor was asking nicely, a change that you approbed. In order to make him see that was the correct path, you couldn't do anything but indulge him.

" I will gladly join you, Prince Thor. "

Radiant of joy as if you would have already agreed to marry him, the old habit slipped back in.

" Not for long, I will soon become King of Asgard. " He corrected you, as if it was meant to impress you. " And the celebration is what i'm looking foward the most. You will have the honor of the first dance, my beloved, with all the kingdom watching us. My glory shall be yours, for I wish no other maiden but you to be admired alongside me. "

" And I suppose you will offer me your silver goblet to drink from as well? " You called him out with mockery. " To what i will have to politely refuse. "

With that, you shortened the distance between you and sweetly sang for him one more verse of the song.

' The King's caresses are not for me, neither I desire his consort to be.'

Thor's lips parted and he released a sigh, ironically enchanted, and the reaction surprised you so much that it made you giggle. It was a display of spontaneous vulnerability, something he had never showed you before.

" Yet how I wish the day will come when you will be mine. " He softly confessed, caressing your cheek. " No King would ever find a better Queen. "

At that point you began to wish you could give in to him. So many doubts were stopping you, mainly due to his oscilant manners. Most of the time he acted like a petulant child, but in moments of brillance like that one he was so close of awakening your feelings.

You couldn't let him know that, not untill noticing stronger signs of long lasting growth. If Thor wanted you that badly, he would have to become a man whose marriage proposal you could take seriously.

And he eventually did, thanks to the trickery of his brother.

For the sake of his own personal interests overlaping with your problem, Loki granted your wish. The coronation was interrupted by a surprise attack of Frost Giants, unleashing Thor's rage beyond any rational measure. His hurted pride claimed vengeance and he recklessly leaded his friends to unleash war on Jotunheim, counting with the company of his brother. Thor's actions were severely punished by the Allfather, who casted him out of Asgard after depriving him from his rank and power.

As Freya later recalled, he got exiled by his own stupidity. You, however, couldn't help feeling guilty about it. Loki didn't have to admit his blame for you to realize he was pulling the strings. He had helped himself and saved you from that rushed wedding, but the cost was peraphs too high.

The chain of events unleashed proved you ríght. As Asgard's temporal regent, Loki denied your ask of returning to Vanaheim. Under his petty excuses, you knew he was probably fearing you would go to Frey with the news, then he would arm the Vanir and the light elves against him counting with the inside support of his sister. Off the record, and sadly, you also were aware to be the closest thing he had to a friend. For so, you were forced to watch his descend into madness.

At his return, Thor reunited with you in the palace of Freya. She had been sheltering you from Loki's rage, unleashed when you couldn't keep supporting him anymore. Despite the fright of those last instants and your regret for trusting him against the lady's advice, you sincerely lammented his passing. The god of thunder found comfort in that, but he seeked more than to vent his grief to you with that visit.

" I owe you my greatest apologies. " He begged for forgiveness, holding your hand. " I was a selfish fool. I overly focused on my feelings for you and never wondered about the true desires of your heart. All you wanted was to chase knowledge unbothered and I kept getting in the way of your dreams for the sake of mine. "

You stared at him in awe, something had changed him deeply during his exile and the result felt like the sign you were waiting for.

" Worry not, good prince: you are forgiven." You answered, caressing his knuckles within the contact he had already established. " Although I do wonder if that dream of yours still stands, many things seem to have changed in the short span of your absence. "

Thor led your hand to his chest, to the spot of his heart.

" It remains yours, if you want it. " He sweetly confirmed. " I hope my learning in exile has made me a man trully worthy of you, but if it's still your wish to decline my affections I will understand it. "

You remained silent for an instant, tasting the moment, and in that feeling he kept the confession flowing.

" Before you take your choice, there is something i need to share. At the peak of my demise I had plenty of time to think, and you were always on my thoughts. From this I have obtained a great realization I need you to hear. "

You were hooked to his every word, craving to discover what he had for you.

" The first time I saw you, I knew i wanted you. That was lust. " He began to explain himself. " When i told you that you would be mine, That was arrogance. "

His eyes were on you the whole time and the sincere warmt in his glance was inviting even tho he wasn't intending that on purpose. There was no masterplan to charm you, only the strenght of his raw feelings being exposed to you.

" And when i realized I would give up everything to keep you, that … That was love. "

Your lips parted for you to sigh in romantical delight, as charmed as you once had made him feel.

" Love is a dream of the Vanir, the true blessing of Freya. " You finally replied, caressing his loose hair and the side of his beard. " So if you love me, and your feelings are true, you are one of my dreams come true. "

Thor couldn't believe what he had heard, prepared as he was to face your final rejection.

" Do your trully want me, in your heart? "

You smiled shyly for him, then nodded affirmatively with the cutest look.

" Many men had stated that they would sacrifice what they value the most for love,but untill now only one had proven it with actions. " Was the reason you gave him. " To the lose of Mjolnir you had also accidentally realized of your real feelings for me. Your punishment found you joining Frey in spirit, as you lost your weapon and discovered the agonical waiting of distant love. "

He didn't consider it before, but you were ríght, and he was very glad you had showed him that.

Before he could thank you again, you were trapping him in sweet embrace.

" Not even in my wildest dreams I could have imagined to be loved like this … and no more nights I will keep you waiting. "

[wisteria-lodge]

SORTING DISNEY VILLAINS (1937-1989)

For  *spooky season.* I suspect this will be easier than sorting the heroes, who tend to be reactive while villains are very clear about what they want and what exactly they’re going to do to get it. Let’s see if this ends up being the case. 

I go into a lot more detail about this character analysis system here, and talk about the move away from the HP terminology here. But here are the basics: 

PRIMARY (ie MOTIVE)

BADGER ~ Loyal to the group.

SNAKE ~ Loyal to yourself and your Important People.

LION ~ Subconscious Idealist. Ideals are linked to feelings and instincts.

BIRD ~ Conscious Idealist. Ideals are linked to built systems and external facts.

SECONDARY (ie METHOD)

BADGER ~ Connect with the group. Make allies, work steadily and well. Be whatever the situation calls for. If you find a locked door, knock.

SNAKE ~ Connect with the environment. Notice things. Tell people what they want to hear. If you find a locked door, get in through the window.

BIRD ~ Collect skills, knowledge, tools, personas, useful friends. If you find a locked door, track down the key or learn to pick the lock.

LION ~ Be honest, be direct, speak your truth. Either the obstacle is going down or you are. If you find a locked door, kick it in.

THE EVIL QUEEN (1937) - BURNT BADGER / BIRD

So. I know that in Snow White the Queen's Thing is Vanity, but.  The ‘Vain Villainess’ trope is about the fear of becoming less powerful in a world that only values you for your looks.... which doesn’t actually seem to be her issue? The Queen seems pretty darn unchallenged in her universe. That’s almost part of the problem - there’s an addiction/obsession/paranoia flavor to the way she’s constantly checking in with the Mirror.

I don’t think the Queen is actually obsessed with Snow White’s beauty. I think she’s obsessed with her innocence, her “heart” (that’s literally what she asks the Huntsman to bring her, Snow’s heart in a box.) Snow White isn’t just the “fairest” as in the prettiest, but the fairest as in the most fair-minded, the most honorable. The presence of Snow, with her optimism, kindness, and trust is an existential threat, proof that the Queen is going about things all wrong. The power we see her wield definitely has an edge of sadism: She forces Snow to wear rags (none of the other princesses wear *rags.*) And I’ll be haunted by this image of the Queen’s dungeons forever.

So even though my first instinct was to go Hedonist Snake primary for the Evil Queen, that’s not right. She’s not focused on enjoying herself. She doesn’t seem conscious enough of her own desires to be a Bird, and Exploded Lion is possible… but I’m going with Burnt Badger. An obsession with being “Fairest of them all” seems to suggest a group-focused, External-facing primary, and I absolutely see how the extremely UnBurnt Badger Snow White would really get under a Burnt Badger’s skin. 

Obviously a Bird secondary. The Evil Queen is Mad Scientist coded, even has a literal evil laboratory. The “Old Crone” plan features a transformation, a costume, and is very much an Actor Bird persona.  

THE WICKED STEPMOTHER (1950) - SNAKE / BADGER

While she does seem to get some sort of sadistic pleasure out of controlling Cinderella, the Wicked Stepmother’s main motivation is her daughters. Her daughters kind of suck, but that doesn’t actually matter. The Stepmother is going to make sure they get that happy ending, with all the targeted loyalty of a Snake Primary. There’s a Badger secondary in there too, which you can see in the way she’s… subtle. The Stepmother takes away Cinderella‘s privilege bit by bit… but never actually goes after her directly. She manipulates her daughters into doing her dirty work (like the way they tear up Cinderella’s dress) so she can always maintain plausible deniability. She’s prim, she’s proper, she’s Lady Tremaine. Dark Courtier Badger, all the way. 

THE QUEEN OF HEARTS (1951) - LION / LION

This Queen’s thing is that she’s childish. She wants what she wants NOW. Doesn’t matter if it makes sense, doesn’t matter if it’s impossible. The Queen of Hearts functions as both a lesson to Alice (authority figures don’t always know what they’re talking about) and as a warning (this could be you if you don’t navigate the transition to adulthood properly.) I see a very young Glory Hound Lion primary in the way she forces everyone else to cheat so she gets the emotional reward of winning the croquet game. I also want to attribute the Queen of Hearts’ extremely short fuse to her Lion primary - she acts on what she’s feeling the *second* she starts feeling it, and never questions this. Also she's a Lion secondary. There’s no plan. She lives in Wonderland. She’s living moment to moment.

CAPTAIN HOOK (1953) - BADGER / SNAKE

Unlike the Queen of Hearts, Captain Hook does not seem to be *of* the magical land he lives in. He is this outside force trying to impose order on Neverland, leading the only rigid organization there and constantly tying up/imprisoning the main characters. Hook is also the only one threatened by the concept of time (the ticking crocodile.) *Peter* will never grow old. But somehow Captain Hook will? Or feels like he will? Tradition also says that the actor playing Wendy’s controlling father should play Hook as well (the Disney film uses the same voice actor in both roles) so there's definitely something about toxic order going on. In the world of Peter Pan, Hook/Father becomes representative of adulthood/society/the Man. That makes him an Authoritarian Badger primary, defined by his organizations.

For his secondary - Hook’s not much of a planner. He’s most effective while he is talking an angry Tinker Bell into helping him, and in that scene he’s charming. He flatters her, pivots according to what he thinks she wants to hear, and while Courtier Badger secondary is possible, I think this feels more like Snake. (I also think you have to be some kind of Improvisational secondary in order to hold your own against Peter.) It makes sense - Hook has to be appealing and seductive as well as threatening, because that's kind of what adulthood is.

MALEFICENT (1959) - BIRD / LION

Maleficent feels socially slighted in a very *abstract* way. She doesn’t seem to have an emotional response to either the other fairies OR the King and Queen OR Aurora. Her curse doesn’t have anything to do with with her social standing, or her power, or her role in the kingdom. We actually don’t know what Maleficent’s deal is. Maybe by not inviting her to the christening the kingdom has broken some important Rule of hers. Or maybe she’s just torturing people because she’s bored, and this is a fun Project. (That is her plan with Phillip after all, and this image will ALSO always haunt me.)

But either way, she’s a Bird primary. The only question is if she’s more of a System-Building Bird, or a Project Bird. 

Unusually for such a cold villain, I think I want to give her a Lion secondary. She’s patient, and her plans take place over long time-frames, but the plans themselves are direct - “When your daughter turns sixteen, I will kill her.” Done. Also, when Maleficent is threatened, she turns into a giant dragon who certainly does not plan, and her goons (while useless) are very loyal. So another point for Inspirational secondary.

CRUELLA DE VIL (1961) - LION / LION

Cruella wants a coat made out of Dalmatian puppies. That’s  it. So I'm putting her in the same category as Hannibal Lecter, someone doing this for the *art,*  the ~*~aesthetic~*~ of the thing. But unlike Hannibal, nothing about Cruella is cold or considered. I don’t think she’d be able to tell you why she wants that Dalmatian coat apart from “It’s fabulous, darling.” So instead of going Bird primary (the typical Weird Villain sorting) I’m saying she's a Lion. Cruella seems to have an aesthetic-based morality: "fabulous" and "non-fabulous," instead of "good" and "bad." She’s a Fay Lion primary, like Jack Sparrow.

Her secondary is harder. She definitely has goons, but they’re useless, and don’t seem to like her much. She doesn’t plot or face-change. She clearly likes Anita and doesn’t like Roger, and never bothers to mask this. Cruella first tries to buy the puppies - then sort of seems surprised when this doesn’t work? Honestly, the main impression I get from her is that she’s… not trying very hard. She only really starts to care right at the very end, when she’s driving with wild hair and crazy eyes, as her roadster falls apart around her. I’m going with Lion secondary to reflect that tendency she has to operate at either 1% or 100%.

MADAME MIM (1963) - LION / SNAKE

Madame Mim has a sort of a professional rivalry going on with Merlin, and dislikes when Wart calls him “the greatest wizard in the land.” So of course she challenges him to a wizard duel. She wants to be the best, she wants to win… and that’s all there is to it. So we have another Glory Hound Lion primary. 

It’s very clear that Madame Mim loves transformation. She switches between her different faces as many times as she possibly can over the course of a single conversation. Notably, she has a sexy version of herself that she uses to charm people into doing what she wants… and there’s no reason she couldn’t wear that all the time. But she doesn’t want to. Mim gets a lot of joy out of her fluid Snake secondary, and when she’s not solving a problem she just wants to chill out in Neutral. 

PRINCE JOHN (1973) - EXPLODED SNAKE / BIRD

Prince John’s motivation has a couple of  layers. Obviously, he’s a *little* bit too excited about taxing on the citizens of Nottingham… but that’s because he’s overcompensating. His main visual design element is a crown that doesn’t fit. He’s not King John, he's Prince John, only in charge until his other (better) brother Richard comes home from the Crusades. That’s why he’s so easily flattered - he’s incredibly insecure. But his conflict isn't with Richard, exactly. It’s really... mommy issues. Everything John does is to please Mummy (an off screen-character.) Very Exploded Snake primary. 

Secondary is hard because John is incompetent. He mostly solves problems by pointing the Sheriff of Nottingham at them. It’s a running joke that he doesn’t actually listen to his advisor Sir Hiss, who generally has the right idea but isn't a suck-up. I guess John does lay kind of sophisticated traps for Robin Hood?  They don’t work, but the intent at least is Bird. So I guess I would have to go with that - a pretty incompetent Bird secondary. 

PROFESSOR RATIGAN (1986) - BURNT SNAKE / BIRD

Unlike Madame Mim and Merlin, whatever Basil of Baker Street and Ratigan have going on does not feel like a professional rivalry. Technically Ratigan is plotting a coup… but he spends approximately 85% of his on-screen time entirely focused on Basil. They are at least ex-friends who now hate each other (and it’s really easy to read them as straight-up bitter exes.) Even his hatred of being called a “rat” seems to be linked to Basil - that's an insult Basil uses, implying that Ratigan is motivated by hedonism and ego, and not by the purity of the puzzle the way that Bird Primary Basil is. Really, he’s criticizing Ratigan for having a Snake primary motivation. 

Ratigan is very obviously a very loud Bird secondary. He loves lists, he loves Rube-Goldberg devices. He’s based off Professor Moriarty, it's Snake Bird all the way down.

URSULA THE SEA WITCH (1989) - SNAKE / BIRD

So Ursula wants to take over, be the new monarch of the sea… which is usually a Glory Hound Lion motivation. But there's the implication the she's doing this to specifically screw over Triton... which would make her more of a Snake. Ursula also has a *very* hedonistic approach to life, something you often see in Snake primaries with small circles. It's just her and her “babies," the eels Flotsam and Jetsam. He eels also seem very emotionally important to her, as far as villain minions go. This could be another example of Snake primary loyalty.

I don't know, I just think a Lion primary Ursula would be angrier, more of a Scar. She’s doing her own thing, and makes use of an opportunity that falls into her lap. This is structurally a story about King Triton (who has the big emotional arc and the most character change) so it makes sense that she is specifically a Triton villain, and Ariel was just unlucky enough to get in the way.

I'm actually going to say Bird secondary for Ursula. I agree that she gives off Snake secondary *vibes,* and absolutely might model or perform it for fun. But the way she wins over Ariel is by spouting facts very fast and very confidently, then getting her to sign a bad contract - it’s a Corrupt Lawyer beat more than anything. Vanessa, Ursula's alternate form, is more an Actor Bird transformation (Wicked Queen style) and less a Snake secondary playing around (Madame Mim style.) Vanessa is Ursula's version of Ariel - she even speaks with Ariel's voice. That's a Bird secondary approach. When Ursula‘s plans start falling apart, she doesn't pivot. She starts looking very Lion secondary - exactly like Bird secondary Ariel does when she’s overwhelmed.

Tl;dr 

Double Lion -  Queen of Hearts, Cruella De Vil

Lion Snake - Madame Mim

Snake Bird - Prince John, Professor Ratigan, Ursula

Snake Badger - Wicked Stepmother

Badger Snake - Captain Hook

Badger Bird - Evil Queen

Bird Lion - Maleficent

[pinkpinkmermayyy]

yall who do u think each cars character would be if they took the role of a Disney villain?

here’s my opinion as of now:

@champmorado @alaztortarrant28 @x0stormie0x

while those like gaston and hades might fit him, I also have another proposition (since I also think francesco would be gaston and chick hicks would be hades).

lightning as the evil queen.

like hear me out

Instead of being obsessed with being the fairest in the land, he’s obsessed with being the FASTEST in the land.

What if we took the self discovering and maturing journey lightning had to realize that his place was now to help cruz become a better racer just like doc did with him and flipped it on its head?

Instead of being proud of cruz as her new mentor with how much she’s growing as a racer and accepting that, while he still will race, he’s not the best of the field anymore, he becomes increasingly jealous of anyone who surpasses him and immediately takes action, which means killing them. I’m imagining this more on a fantasy au but this can also apply somehow to the canon of the cars universe.

Lightning is absolutely terrified of becoming even slightly slower. He needs to be the fastest or he’s done for, it doesn’t matter that he’s the literal ruler of an entire kingdom. If someone surpasses him, to him, it’s the destruction of his entire stability and self esteem. Of course this has rarely happened, and when it did, they were instantly taken care of thanks to his huntsman MATER and his efficiency with his tasks.

He sees the potential in Cruz and decides to do all he can try and quash it: limit her surroundings, giving her poorly manufactured oil (or something), anything to make her chances of becoming faster than him absolutely impossible.

But it’s inevitable. When he asks his mirror (which doc is inside btw) who the fastest is, he answers that it’s Cruz. Outraged, he immediately orders mater to kill her and bring her engine as proof that the deed had been committed. Mater is more hesitant to do this but lightning reminds him of the consequences if he fails. And it happens, kind of. You know how the story goes.

When lightning learns that she isn’t dead, he transforms into a weaker, rustier car to try and look like a “lemon” and trick cruz. Of course, that never works out for the evil queen in the end, no matter who it is.

I might sound cringe here but hear me out guys hear me out

[twisting-echo]

Explaining my OTP with ship dynamic memes!

Snow White x Kuzco (Snowzco) is my OTP.

For those who don't know, Kuzco and Snow White are a couple in my Disney Mirrorverse college AU. The AU is called Mirrorverse University, and it's set in a modern magic school setting where Disney and non-Disney characters learn to become guardians to expel the fractured, like Jujutsu Sorcerers and such.

I ship Kuzco and Snow White because I thought it would be cute for them to bond over the fact that they were both poisoned. I love them because Kuzco is a narcissist who sees only what's on the outside and thinks that he's the fairest one of them all, and Snowie, who is kind and sees only inner beauty, is oblivious to the fact that she's the fairest of them all. Snowie negates Kuzco's narcissism and teaches him humility. This ship also, surprisingly, has a lot of angst.

(Please click on pictures for better quality)

Some serious stuff happens while fighting the Evil Queen, and Snowie sacrifices her pure heart to save her best friend Kuzco. (This is inspired by some actual events from the book Mirrorverse: Pure of Heart.)

Kuzco gets very emotional when it comes to ice cream.

We all know that Snowie is sweatpants 24/7. And Kuzco loves showing off his girlfriend in his strawberry dress. I headcanon Kuzco as gender nonconforming, but he goes by He/Him pronouns. He loves to express himself through the clothes he chooses to wear based on his mood.

Kuzco has game but Snowie has better game.

When Kuzco first started liking Snowie, he confused his feelings for her as a one-sided rivalry over hotness.

I don't own any of the other ship dynamic memes; I just found them on Pinterest. If anyone knows to whom some of the pictures belong, tell me, and I'll credit them.

🚫 IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS SHIP, PLEASE DON’T COMMENT OR REBLOG 🚫

🚫 PLEASE DO NOT STEAL OR REPOST MY EDITS 🚫

[uchiwife]

「Believe me, my heart is unchanging, I promise to wait a thousand years. No matter how many winters have passed, I will never let go.」

— 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝗺 𝗛𝗲𝗲-𝘀𝘂𝗻

A mini-story in which Sakura and Madara are continually reincarnated, but only one of them remembers all the lives they've lived. No matter the period, the world or the universe. Madara is the one who will remember every life they lived together - whether it had a happy or tragic ending. Sometimes, Madara would even witness one of Sakura's reincarnations falling in love with another and living her life.

There had been a time - the first, during the Nanboku-chō era, when Madara and Sakura were on opposing sides. He vaguely remembered it as a civil war between the Northern and Southern courts. Specifically, between the supporters of Emperor Go-Daigo, who ruled the Southern Court, and the supporters of Emperor Kōmyō of the Northern Court.

Madara was part of Emperor Go-Daigo's army, but Sakura was a kind of oracle. A Miko. Although she'd been a servant, she'd worked her way up to the court, and Emperor Kōmyō often sought out her gifts of divination.

Madara remembered that it was this same Miko who had predicted his imminent death. At the time, he hadn't been amused. Even less so when she had claimed that he would return, that ‘the threads of fate were already working for him.’ He'd found her singular, a beauty marked by her long pink hair and jade-green eyes. There was something celestial about her.

They'd ended up falling in love, but unfortunately, Sakura had been right about his death. It was quite ironic. He'd died at the hands of the man he'd served. Come to think of it, bonding with the Miko from the enemy camp might not have been the best idea, but the love he'd felt for this woman was such that he'd have burned an entire nation to stay by her side. All he knows is that the North won out over the South in 1392. Another prediction from the pink-haired high priestess.

There had been countless occasions when he'd experienced happiness and a love that transcended time and space, but each loss had been more painful than the last. Sometimes it was Sakura who suffered that loss, and it was in those moments that he was almost grateful that she didn't remember their previous lives. There had been strange ones, and others he didn't understand, because the place was so different, from the architecture to the clothes, that he was certain it was one of those "other worlds". A dimension apart.

That's why, after a while, Madara stopped believing in the thread of fate. He'd had enough of loving so ardently if every time everything went to ashes. This wasn't the life he wanted. It was Sakura he wanted; but hope was already lost to him and he knew he had lost his way for good when he returned for the umpteenth time. On a battlefield, in the middle of a war, and once again, she wasn't one of his allies.

Sakura stood there like a goddess of war, showing no mercy to the enemy. He looked, looked at this woman he had loved in countless lifetimes. It was as if he'd been born for her, born to love her. This romantic bullshit might make him puke right now, but it was a fact that was confirmed with each new reincarnation. He knew, deep down, as disgusting as that thought was to today's Madara, that even if he hadn't been lucky (unlucky) enough to remember Sakura, he would still have loved her. That was the way it was. That's why when she came at him with her war cry to attack him, his body reacted instinctively and impaled her. She had wanted to create a diversion so that her teammates, one of his Uchiha descendants and the host of the nine-tailed fox could attack him.

Of all the lives he'd lived, this seemed the fairest. Maybe because he was a shinobi, maybe because he was one of the most powerful, and it had taken five entire nations joining forces to stand a chance against him. Ironically, in a life where he would probably have been best placed to protect her, he now had to kill her. He had a plan to keep. Maybe this way he could create a world with his own vision. A vision in which he knew Sakura would probably never exist. Not just because they were enemies, but because in this life, they hadn't been reincarnated at the same time. He didn't know why, he didn't know why the gods had such a twisted sense of humor, but he'd come to terms with it, and hatred had won his heart when love was no longer there.

If he were honest with himself, Madara would say that the main reason also lay in the fact that Sakura, his sweet Sakura, looked at his descendant as if he were holding the moon in the palm of his hand. He knew that look. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, and at the same time, if he weren't so mad with rage, although he denied that was the reason, he could laugh: this Uchiha Sasuke shared an uncanny resemblance with his late little brother Izuna.

So maybe his killing intent wasn't simply based on the fact that they were enemies. His jealousy had led him to make many mistakes, but his hatred made him make far more horrible ones.

When he was eliminated by the shinobi alliance, he knew there would be no next time. No next life. It was as if he'd heard the whispers of the gods in his ear, taunting him. It was his curse.

In his last moments, as his old friend Hashirama stood by his side and they exchanged their last words, he heard him say that he was sure ‘Sakura would be all right, and that he was sorry that once again, this life had not been the right one for them, but that something told him she was in good hands.’ Hashirama was the only person on Earth who knew Madara's secret, and he had never breathed a word of it to anyone.

His last look was for her, his last smile too, and as he died, he knew that his heart would live forever in her.

[gwaedhannen]

Preamble: the state of Beleriand after the First Battle

Ah fuck guess I'm writing this now. Bullet-point style because all the best AUs use it (yes I'm talking about @thelordofgifs's The Fairest Stars) and definitely not because I'm lazy.

Quick synopsis of the First Battle in Y.T. 1497:

Morgoth upon his return sends two orc-hosts through the northern passes, the west-host down Sirion and Narog and the east down Celon and Gelion.

The east-host is beaten by Thingol and the Laiquendi, but the Laiquendi take heavy losses, and their king Denethor and his kin are all slain on Amon Ereb before Thingol can reinforce them.

The dwarves of Mount Dolmed deal with the surviving orcs.

The west-host cuts Thingol off from Círdan, and the Falathrim are driven back to Eglarest and Brithombar and besieged.

The aftermath:

Thingol pulls his people into Neldoreth and Region, and Melian raises the Girdle. Doriath is founded.

The surviving Laiquendi either scatter into Ossiriand or join with Thingol's people.

Orcs have the run of West Beleriand.

Eglarest and Brithombar are besieged until Fëanáro's host arrives and the siege is called off to go deal with them (and they're destroyed by Tyelkormo's forces).

...But in this universe, Fëanáro and the rest of the Noldor are still on the Helcaraxë for another 25 solar years.

Now we're getting into conjecture:

In canon, Eglarest and Brithombar are besieged and destroyed a year after the Nírnaeth, thanks to Morgoth's siege engineers. This is despite the elves of Nargothrond helping to rebuild the cities during the Long Peace, and the Falathrim's reinforcement by survivors of the battle and the fall of Hithlum. Only a few survivors escape with Círdan to Balar and the mouths of Sirion. Three fleeing ships also sail far further south and found Edhellond near where Dol Amroth will eventually be. The rest of the Havens' inhabitants are killed or captured.

It's still Y.T. 1497. Morgoth hasn't had centuries to innovate his siege technology, but Círdan's cities also haven't been rebuilt with Noldor walls.

The Grey Annals says Fëanáro's host arrives some seven solar years after Melian raises the Girdle.

(Yes if we go by the usual "1 tree year = 9.582 solar years" then it could've been upwards of 25 solar years since the Darkening in 1495 before the landing at Losgar.)

(I hate Tolkien's timelines sometimes.)

Círdan holds out for over a decade. The orcs can't completely starve them thanks to the ocean, but repeated assaults on the walls wear down the defenders, and there's only so much fish and seaweed.

Meanwhile, the Northern Sindar of Mithrim and Nevrast are constantly harassed by the rest of Morgoth's west-host. Círdan sends ships north to evacuate those he can, but he only has so many ships and men.

The orcs have them cut off from Doriath, but they're not living this far away from Menegroth because they like Thingol's rule. They theoretically acknowledge him as king but realistically mostly ignore him.

(Any claims that Thingol hates them due to closeness to Angband and rumors they sometimes serve as Morgoth's spies are unfounded exaggerations.)

And while normally he'd ignore them in turn, they're still his people in some form or another.

Thingol sends what sorties he can to harry the west-host, but Doriath's forces are still exhausted from the First Battle and much of the kingdom's resources are tied up in getting the many refugees settled.

It also doesn't help that Melian warns him that should he die, her grief will not allow her to stay on the continent and maintain the Girdle.

One of his chief vassals is dead, and the other is besieged. His lands are being ravaged. But he can't leave his borders, because he isn't willing to risk himself (and therefore the Girdle) falling and exposing the main part of his people to attack.

So he throws himself into making sure his people are as happy as can be and entrusts the war to his captains.

So that's the state of things for the next 15 solar years. Orcs gradually hunt down the remaining wandering Sindar who don't find shelter in Doriath or some hidden refuge. Mithrim and Nevrast slowly depopulate from the Falathrim's evacuation missions, orcs, and what few refugees can sneak by Morgoth's forces to Doriath. Thingol holds lavish banquets and listens to Beleg and Mablung's reports while everyone else sleeps off the wine. He doesn't permit himself time to cry.

Midway through Y.T. 1498, Brithombar falls.

(to be continued eventually)