#fergus portal

[viva-la-runaway]

I think I mentioned my headcanon about Wheatley’s siblings in the RickRatt post. So, I thought I'd share these while I work on my Pride Month drawing.

All the siblings are characters either from the game, or from the series “Meet the cores” on Youtube by Harry101UK. I own none of these characters.

Small TW: Implied child neglect (nothing too detailed.)

I’ll start off by showing y'all my more recent Wheatley design. This is the one I usually stick to these days

Then right here is the older design, and with him is my human design of Space core.

Headcanon time, yippee :D

So, almost all of Wheatley’s siblings come from different moms, but they all have the same dad. Ray, Clark, and Rose have the same mom because they're triplets. Rick and Wheatley have the same mom, but she died while giving birth to Wheatley

Most of the kids don't have much contact with their moms, as they all grew up with their neglectful fathers. Their mothers were never in positions to care for them entirely or were products of one-night stands, so they usually just ended up in the care of the oldest three brothers.

Rusty, Fergus, and Chuck were in charge growing up. They each worked jobs to help feed the younger siblings, while the middle kids did things for their neighbors to earn extra cash.

For such a chaotic and sometimes rather unfortunate life, they all turned out fine and got jobs at Aperture. Wheatley’s good record at work actually helped most of the siblings get jobs there, even if some of their jobs were rather unimportant in some peoples eyes.

Wheatley was actually rather brilliant before he was turned into a core. He was still very talkative while working at Aperture. He also tended to be a bit clumsy and often made mistakes, sometimes forgetting to do his work because he was too busy yapping at his coworkers. Those little flaws are what I imagine led to his selection for the core experiments.

If you guys want more specific headcanons, I have a TON. I guess this could be considered an Au, so I'd love to share more if you guys have any questions about it. :)

[wardencommanderrodimiss]

playing fe7 and I have not learned anything from the Gluing Fergus To His Horse incident. used some cheat codes and accidentally deleted legault from my army. My survival rank is still at the max so he's not dead I think? I just can't find him in my army anymore. He's blacked out in the support logs and everything. I suppose I'll see in the end cards if the game thinks he's dead or just unrecruited somehow

Mark is going through post-battle summary with the lords: "...and finally, we seem to have lost Legault."

Eliwood: "He was killed? That's--"

Mark: "Oh, no, I don't think so. I just can't find him anywhere. Nobody's talked to him since the last battle and all his stuff is gone from the barracks."

Hector: "So he ditched us."

Mark: "Well...about that..."

Lyn: "Mark, why was your book of tactics open to a page about 'teaching a thief or assassin to stealth so hard he exits the game'? What does that mean?"

Mark: "...yeah he definitely ditched us, Hector you're right. I didn't do anything."

Lyn: "Why does this same tactics book advocate for gluing your soldiers to their horses, ruining their capability to fight indoors?"

Eliwood: "Is it too late to find another tactician?"

[fanmade-cores-competion]

ROUND 1

[transatos]

Spoilers for every campaign ahead.

Here is my fan-theory fan-timeline for connections between every single Just Roll With It campaign. There are approximately six regions to look at. In chronological order, with the world name listed first and included campaigns second, here they are:

Prevarus - "Apotheosis":

This one's special! No direct ties, just in the same universe as the rest.

Mana - "Convergence", "Riptide":

The first glimpse of this world is in Convergence's underwater society (e3). This is an early, shallow undersea civilization. Sometime afterwards, the Convergence Crew's adventure ends. Kasper (and any potential other crew members) enters a final portal to take him to Mana's Feywild. The Black Rose Pirates prequels occur. Riptide occurs. A decade after Kasper's entry to the Feywild, he meets the Riptide Pirates. Additionally, Horsea, or the Western Sea, has a continent or island on which Convergence's ghostly wild west (e7-8 [lost]) is. This is one of the Archangels' and the Party City Ghost's hometown. Mana and Prime are in the same solar system.

Earth - "Blood in the Bayou", "Convergence", "Paradise Chronicles":

Blood in the Bayou occurs in Galloway, Louisiana. Many decades later, a meatball-like meteor (meateor) hits Earth, similar to the one that threatened Prime. This is the home planet of the infection in Galloway, and it finds a new home on the streets of New York. This time, nobody can stop it. Scientists attempt to study and isolate it, with little luck. The Dimension Dudes arrive a few years into the infection in Convergence's City of Nightmares (e4-6). Alastyr gets infected with "Fergus", a slow-acting transformative version of the rot. The crew portals away. Despite the hopes of those in the Garden, it eventually rots a hole into the center of the earth, almost splitting it in two. The world deals with this fallout, and the Paradise Chronicles occur 300 years later.

Prime - "Mythborne", "UH-OH!", "Agents of P.I.S.S.", "Prime Defenders":

Mythborne contains early manifestations of superhero powers, to a certain few individuals. UH-OH! occurred on Earth in post-BITB, pre-Convergence days, but Bacon-Man simply flew incredibly fast through space (Earth and Prime are in different solar systems) and got to Prime later in his career and life. Agents of P.I.S.S. are early prototypes of W.A.T.C.H. Prime Force occurs. Prime Defenders occurs. Sometime during PD, Convergence Space (e9 [lost]) takes place. The Strangehold is in the same orbit as the W.A.T.C.H. space base, and the two groups are aware of eachother. Sometime during or after the end of the Convergence Crew's adventures, Alastyr planehops to Prime and joins W.A.T.C.H. Prime Defenders takes place after Earth was lost to the rot and before Paradise Chronicles.

Fauna - "Prime Defenders", "Convergence":

Fauna, as seen in Prime Defenders and as the world Vyncent knows, is still overrun by monsters. It is the world prior to the great goddess planting Yggdrasil, saving it. A thousand years after Yggdrasil being planted, Convergence (e1-2) occurs. Cultists of the Corn takes place somewhere within its world, in a distant town.

"Intergalactic Gameshow"s:

All of it has genuinely happened, it is just never acknowledged.

Some notes, and shorter campaign mentions:

Goobleck is omnipresent, and watching at any point. Food, the food store, is one of the universe's funny repeating patterns, appearing on both early Mana and City of Nightmares-era Earth. The Fight Before Christmas occurs somewhere out in the galaxy. Where? Who knows. Have fun. The Final Episode is somewhere in another distant corner of the galaxy, chronologically far after all other campaigns have occurred. Lastly, ties to the Fated's world have been omitted out of respect for the current DMs.

@strawberri-syrup and @kasperconvergence you asked for this! Thank you for the encouragement.

[300iqprower]

Hypothetical Summer Singularity: Male-Swimsuit Spectacular on the Stygian Shores!

I'm just gonna format this like a point by point outline/narration of how it'd play out. See previous list for the full casting. With that said:

Good news, everyone! A hell portal has opened up! Also Rider Caesar finally materialized, and he's so powerful he broke the male swimsuit curse! Finally we’ll have- er, hey wait a sec, isn’t this TOO many swimsuits?!

Heading through said hell portal into the singularity to investigate the source of grail-like summonings, they find themselves somewhere in Hades, though it feels awfully warm and summer like.

The villain of our story appears to be Chiron! Or rather, Chiron Alter, a disgruntled and bored Charon who took matters into his own hands and possessed Chiron for a beach body and potential summer fling!

Now a mysterious figure revealing himself as Brutus has come to help, loyal as ever to Rider Caesar and determined to restore the emperor to his full power, who with an elated Cleopatra, and now Saber Mandricardo (something about equivalent exchange?), must traverse the transformed "River Styx Resort" and figure out what the hell is even going on, before Chaldea’s systems (and budget) are completely overwhelmed by the numbers of alts, costumes, and chain summons being released!

Recruiting d’Eon, Mephistopheles, and Fergus, as well as the new Gundrun alongside her husband Erik, after the usual misadventures and enjoying of what vacation we can get, it’s time to put a stop to Charon!

…Until, upon defeating Charon, it turns out the real cause is Pretender Blackbeard, alongside his “boyfriend” Berserker Achilles and a mysterious shielder (Who really did try to stop them, honest…). After so many years of being stuck as some weird 2 star pervert, Teach got sick of it and after realizing his bisexuality last Summer, set out to fix things! Starting with reuniting his new bestie Achilles with their long lost boyfriend Patroclus! Rally your mistreated, your underpowered, your constantly referenced but never actually given, for Blackbeard is here to unite us against the tyranny of heteronormative gacha oppression! …well, that was the plan anyways, except didn’t Grand Carnival already do this joke?!

Regardless, we don't't stand a chance against a roided out Achilles! Falling back, Hektor and a now adult Paris are the only option to turn to, though is it just Hektor or are things getting a bit chilly around here? Whatever. Hektor’s certain we’re gonna need Bedivere and the round table knights, as well as a powerful curse user to take down an enraged Achilles. That’s one sorceress already taken care of, a bunch of himbo knights to go. Off to recruit them!

After a good walloping, as well as a bit of calming down from an understanding d’Eon and Fergus, a defeated Achilles and Blackbeard relent, and we can find out where the grail causing all this mess is- waddya mean Blackbeard doesn’t know? Waddya mean someone else told him how to kick off a male summer event?! AND WHY IS IT SO FREAKIN COLD AROUND HERE?!

Suddenly, a ghostly crew of ice shades seem to answer that question! A lot of them! How is this event still not over?! Well Hektor seems certain Charon knows. And he does. The servants of Cocytus, the riverbank those who could not pay Charon, seek those who cannot move on from their own lamentation and drag them back to their master. A sick melding of Hades and Inferno, Cocytus is more like the monstrous Charybdis than an actual body of water, devouring those who cannot escape their own sins and refuse to pay for them.

Brutus’s work was done, and his bargained time up. He had returned Caesar to his glory in the Grand Order, even if he had to throw all of Styx into a mess of overflowing swimsuit servants to do it. Now he was to throw himself into the depths of Cocytus for good. Not as Assassin Marcus Junius Brutus, but as Pretender Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus, the true and much less noble architect of Caesar’s death, who could never forgive his own cowardice.

But when did Caesar ask for such “justice”? No, he did not permit it, let alone ask for it. As Mephistopheles and Bedivere attest, cowardice is not an absence of love, and to live eternally believing such is a fate none deserve. Brutus may not forgive himself, but Caesar does, and if only through arrogance is certain that is all that matters. Thus, with Blackbeard’s ship at full power from the number of servants gathered, at Caesar’s command they take to the waves, and bring down the leviathan-like Cocytus to protect Chaldea’s newest member.

[ask-everafteracademy]

Ever After Academy route summaries

Abel Hawthorn the Woodsman

Abel has been cursed with the same contract that bound the Tin Man to kill Hero and Heroine. But Hero believes they can overcome the curse together and they renew their vows to each other. Abel can’t let Hero go, curse or not. But, a mysterious green fog claws its way across campus, draining magic everywhere it goes. The rush to cure the trees increases as they discover Arin is dying from their connection. Hero learns to wield axes from Abel and to use magic from Nora. In return, Hero teaches Abel how to cook. To everyone’s horror, they find the green fog was sent by the Wizard as it takes over the Labyrinth! Hero discovers that fixing the lighthouse lamp has to be from his own magic. As the fog gains power, everyone begins to see creepy magical illusions of their fears. In the finale, the fog is strong enough to possess Abel’s body and Hero must fight him. But in the end, it’s love—not power—that saves them both. Breaking the spell on Hero helps break the curse on Abel at the last minute through love.

For the remaining seasons, trust, loyalty, and ‘love as an answer’ were to be the main themes. Hero fixes the lamp as he retakes his Light Keeper role and becomes an unofficial Woodsman. Abel becomes an efficient cook and confidently faces down all his past enemies. They continue on many adventures in both realms, often able to fulfill their separate duties together. Eventually, Abel is given his own, unique title from the White Queen and becomes his own boss, employing dedicated Woodsmen around the world. This gives him more time with Hero where they raise orphaned children together.

Lavinia the Ice Queen

The mystery of Lavinia's parentage is revealed. She was born to Titania, the queen of the Summer Fae Court and the most powerful of the Fae. Titania loved her daughter for a time, but Lavinia was half human and Titania also realized that Lavinia could grow up to be a threat to her. So she had Lavinia left in the snow to freeze. Lavinia has no memory of her early days among the Fae, but she does remember doing anything she could to survive...and she does remember that magic came to her naturally. When Lavinia came into her full power, she caught the attention of Titania who at first wondered who this new queen was...and then realized it was the daughter she tried to abandon.

We planned on spending the rest of Lavinia's route delving into the topics of betrayal and love and Lavinia would grapple with both her struggle for power (which has always been her way of self preservation) and her own sense of morality. After finding out she is the daughter of her worst enemy and a universal villain, she will also struggle with who she is as a person. Titania will try many tactics to either destroy Lavinia or make Lavinia give away her power. Ultimately, it will be the grounding love of Heroine that will help Lavinia through this difficult time. They will break the spell on Heroine and defeat Titania and her Fae Court. Lavinia will choose Ezra to rule as regent in her kingdom while she travels with Heroine while she works as the Path Finder. When Heroine and Lavinia's child grows up, that child will become the Path Finder. Heroine and Lavinia will return to Lavinia's Ice realm and rule as equals.

Arin Langdon the Guardian

The final challenge is interrupted by the arrival of Wilhelm Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm. Heroine is able to use her magic to turn the tide in the fight against Wilhelm, and in doing so finds a way to use the magic of the Path Finder...to create paths and to open portals between this world and the magical realm. The clash with Wilhelm culminates in the temporary defeat of Wilhelm, but in the death of Dr. James Tutorea. As he dies he gives Heroine a ring that matches the one she wears. Fergus also sees the error of his ways and withdrawals [sic] from the competition. It is decided the best thing the group can do is find a way to travel to the magical realm and go to the Red and White Queens as James was doing to get the seeds.

Arin and Heroine are then confronted with a problem that they will have to deal with the rest of their lives: that Heroine's place as the Path Finder is in the magical realm and Arin's is in the Library. Over the course of the rest of the seasons we would break the spell on Heroine and have Heroine and Arin grow in their magic together as well as in their love. They would wear matching rings that magically create a space between the worlds where time stops for just the two of them where they can be together whenever they want for as long as they want. In this way they can fulfill their duties but also be together. Before Heroine goes into the magical realm, they have a wedding that solidifies their union. Heroine and Arin will eventually retire from their roles and pass them down to their children.

[renee-writer]

What If It Were Brian Chapter Thirty-five

AO3

“He was an evil man, cruel to all around him. The time was different but the queen and prince still wished to get away from him. They went through a portal that brought them to a place and time where the real king lives. He wasn’t like the other. He was kind and loving. There a princess was born to them named, Olivia. There they lived happily forever.”

 

She watches her big brother, fascinated by his words. At a few months old, she doesn’t understand them but, she loves his focused attention and her name being said.

 

Jamie loves his son’s storytelling skill and the role he has in it. The true king, indeed. Claire is out collecting herbs for her surgery. With the new house finished, the original house can now be used as such. Fergus went with her as a guard. Murtagh is out hunting. It is just himself and his children.

 

“Grand tale son. Storytelling is in your blood. It is a Scottish tradition.”

 

He smiles down at Olivia, who is contently resting in his lap. Claire can only make short trips. The lass remains fully content only with her mama, as it should be at her age.

 

“Your turn daddy. Tell us a story.”

 

He is happy too. Patting his free knee, he invites Brian to join him. 

 

“There once was a poor lad, wondering about the land, in service to his uncles. A Laird in excel, you see. Unable to return to his land because the evil Englishmen.

 

One day, he fell off his horse, injuring himself. Well, neither his uncle nor the other lads with him knew how to fix it. They were discussing it when suddenly, like a dream, there was a lass there.

 

She looked like no other lass the poor wonderer had ever seen. She behaved like none either. She took charge, you see. Neither weak nor obedient was she.

 

When she spoke, demanding leave to see to his shoulder, he realized she was an English lass. It didn’t matter, he knew still she was to be his lady.

 

She fixed his shoulder, a type of magic, then they rode together back to his uncles keep. He was a stubborn one, was the lad, not telling her he was injured another way.

 

She found out when he fell off his horse. He woke to her kneeling a top him, speaking words no lass should. He knew then, even more then before, she was to be his bride.

 

They were married, amidst a room full of candles. Now they have sons and a daughter. He is Laird of his own land. They are living happily.”

 

Brian has falling asleep. Olivia is awake, looking at him with her round eyes, a grin on her face.

 

“Aye, my lass, the story is about your daddy and mama.”

 

He adjusts to lay Brian down on the bed. Then he just rocks his daughter until Claire and Fergus, return.

[ladala99]

Burnout's Power

Contains: mind control, Christianity-inspired demons

Burnout padded towards the ritual ground—the last place Ilere had been spotted.

Time was running out, and Burnout knew it. Wisdom had made it clear that Desert was not going to be sitting out of the fights for much longer.

Burnout was going to have to fight Desert, which meant that he wouldn’t get the benefit of Desert’s and Sandy’s powers. In fact, they would be used against him. He wouldn’t stand a chance. Not unless he had a power of his own.

The demonic portal shimmered. It was close to closing. Whatever he had to do to convince Ilere to give him a power, it had to be fast. Which probably meant sacrificing something. Perhaps becoming changed, like his father and Fortune. But the alternative was being vaporized and his soul absorbed as pure energy. It was a risk he was willing to take.

Ilere’s eyes glistened as he approached. “You’re coming to me?” she asked.

He bowed. “I need a power. Whatever it takes. I need to be able to fight Desert. Whatever. . .” his breath hitched. Was he really going to do this? “Even if it means losing myself in the process.”

He raised his head and met her eyes.

She blinked in pleasure. “I think I have the perfect power in mind. No need to change you myself.” She opened her eyes again and met his. The world faded from around them.

Burnout’s body tingled, and he felt an unfamiliar warmness in his chest. Like happiness, but not quite. Something a bit more sinister.

The world faded back into view. That was it?

Ilere spoke. “I have unlocked the ancestral perception that was locked before. You now have the ability to summon your ancestors at will, manifest them, and control them.”

His ancestors. Fergus, likely, but also, “Doesn’t that include you?”

She flicked her tail. “It does. But it would not give you access to my powers. Just my physical strength.”

This seemed too easy. “What’s the catch? You can’t just be giving me this for nothing.”

“In order for them to fight by your side, you must control them.” She let that sink in.

He would be controlling them like Sandy and Desert control lions. And Ilere at times.

She continued, “Using such a power for your own gain will, of course, put you in my pride in the end. Especially as you have chosen to receive it yourself.”

“I see,” he said. He dipped his head. “Thank you for offering me a fighting chance.”

“I hope you survive,” she said. “I would be rewarded greatly to bring your soul into my pride.”

“And I’d rather be there than be red energy,” he replied.

———

He didn’t have to use his power against lions like Fergus. He could use it on the mindless lions already chained the the demon realm. And for practice, he tried exactly that.

He was in a rocky clearing in the territory, and he focused inward. He thought about one of the ghostly kings he had seen, with the dead eyes. He felt a line of energy connecting him with that lion, and pulled.

It felt like he was dragging the other lion out of a pile of fallen trees, but he managed to get him free, channeling energy to manifest him.

The dull-eyed king was there, looking somewhat confused. He was the Primal Smilus one with saffron fur and an onyx mane.

Now to actually control him. Burnout poured the second type of energy, more sinister but feeling oddly good to use, into the ground. Chains of red energy burst from the ground and tangled around the dull-eyed lion’s legs.

Burnout could feel the other lion’s mind, though it seemed far away and through a thick fog. He mentally grasped at it, and as soon as he locked it in his mental jaws, the fog cleared.

The other lion’s body was Burnout’s to command, but a very confused presence itched at the back of his mind.

I’m dead, it said. I’m supposed to be dead. Ilere said that she would ensure I wouldn’t awaken to the horrors of her world. But I seem to be home. Is this a dream? Horror dawned on it. I can’t move. Something else is controlling me. Where’s Ilere?

The mindless lion wasn’t mindless after all. Burnout had the power to bring him—perhaps all of them—back. He let go, but as he did so, the mental fog rolled in and the other lion’s eyes glazed back over.

Burnout used his power again, taking back control, but also awakening the lion again.

That was weird, the other lion thought. It was like oblivion took me again, but I’m back. And still can’t move.

Burnout rose himself and walked into the other lion’s view.

“You’re still in there,” he said. “I tried my power on you because I thought you were mindless. But I guess I woke you up.”

Did Ilere know about this potential? Perhaps she knew it wouldn’t matter, as the fog would return when Burnout released him.

Who are you? The other lion wondered.

“My name’s Burnout. Lightning’s cub. I know you’re an ancestor, but what is your name?”

Lightning’s cub is controlling me. Not again. And must be able to hear my thoughts. I am Luke, son of Lana. I am the one who brought the Exile Pride back into the fold. Lightning was from the Exile Pride. What do you want with me, Burnout? And where is Ilere?

“I was testing my new power,” Burnout said. “I. . . I don’t know about any Exile Pride. I don’t know how it was in your day, but I’m a submale, and I’ll need to fight to stay alive. One of my opponents has the power to control lionesses, and he will use that power against me. I got this power, to manifest and control the bodies of my ancestors, to defend myself. Whoever loses these submale fights will die, and their soul will be absorbed as demonic energy.

“As for Ilere, well, the original is in the ritual grounds. I don’t know where the one that normally commands you is, if that’s what you’re asking. I can summon her, too, I think. If you want. I don’t know if you do since she’s probably the reason you’re mindless.”

Absorbed as demonic energy. Ilere must have integrated into the main line, then. So you are both of Lightning and Ilere. That’s . . . dangerous.

My Ilere is the reason I was like that, yes. In life she served me, and in death I was to serve her. She told me she would spare me the pain of being aware in that world of death and torture, and she did just that.

Burnout tested his ability to command the body. It felt oddly right, toying with its poses.

“You said ‘not again,’ earlier. What did you mean by that?” he asked.

The Lightning in my day wanted me dead. She could see the future and knew what my kingship would lead to. She also repeatedly tried to prevent my Ilere from gaining power over me. Including putting me in trances herself.

Lightning was powerful in her own way, Burnout. Combining her powers with Ilere’s. . . That is what you are doing now, isn’t it? Summoning a dead lion to control him.

“Yeah,” Burnout admitted. “It seems once I let go, you’ll be mindless again, though. So it’s not like I can free you. This is just making me feel bad whatever I do.”

“Is he not mindless now?” a lioness asked.

Burnout jumped, and spotted the lioness who normally commanded Luke sitting on a tall rock. Luke’s Ilere.

“The fog cleared when I took control and he seems to be who he originally was,” Burnout said. “Ilere gave me a power,” he added. “Summoning and controlling my ancestors.”

Luke’s Ilere jumped down. “Interesting,” she said. “I guess that makes sense that he’s preserved in there. After all, if we ever lose power, all of us will be returned to our most uncorrupted state, so we can be tortured most effectively.

“Of course,” she said, “this isn’t what you need, is it, Burnout? You can’t be distracted in battle. You’ll need to silence the mind as well.”

Dread crept into Burnout’s heart. She was right, of course. And he sensed he could do that.

She’s not even pretending to be kind anymore, Luke commented. What did they do to her down there? Perhaps it’s best I don’t know. Perhaps she just used her powers too much.

From my experience with my Ilere, the more you use your powers, the more you lose your true self. Remember that, and use them sparingly. But if you must practice, go ahead.

With that invitation, Burnout activated the third stage of his power that he could sense. Luke’s thoughts were choked out as Burnout’s will filled the space. It felt satisfying, but he also felt guilty.

Satisfied he knew how to do it, he let go completely. He felt the fog fill the mind again as he retreated, and could barely spot a spirit chain spring back out of Luke’s paw to unite him with his Ilere.

Luke walked dully to his Ilere’s side.

“Don’t let yourself get distracted during an actual fight,” Luke’s Ilere said, and they both walked off.

[ghxstkn1fe]

thinking about alastyrs arm in pd. when did he make and attach the prosthetic? did he cut his entire arm off or is the prosthetic some type of device used to fend fergus off? is fergus even still there? if so, how much is it affecting alastyr? is it one of the reasons alastyr went a little mad? what is that green stuff he injects into the arm? it looks like how the portals in convergence were described but if there is truly a connection then why? what is that green liquid and why is he injecting it into his arm? is the liquid what keeps fergus at bay???? i need answers??? bizly please????

[best-character-named-x-poll]

301-400

Round 301: Cosmo : WINNER: Cosmo (Fairly Odd Parents)

Round 302: Alina : WINNER: Alina Starkov (Shadow and Bone)

Round 303: Zeke : WINNER: Zeke (Xenoblade Chronicles)

Round 304: Adora : WINNER: Princess Adora (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Round 305: Fergus : WINNER: King Fergus (Brave)

Round 306: Sheila : WINNER: Sheila Hammond (Santa Clarita Diet)

Round 307: Remy : WINNER: Remy (Ratatouille)

Round 308: Caroline : WINNER: Caroline aka GLaDOS (Portal)

Round 309: Felix : WINNER: Fix-It-Felix (Wreck-It-Ralph)

Round 310: April : WINNER: April Ludgate (Parks and Recreation)

Round 311: Ignacio/Ignatius : WINNER: Ignacio "Nacho" Varga (Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul)

Round 312: Orla : WINNER: Orla McCool (Derry Girls)

Round 313: Craig : WINNER: Craig Pelton (Community)

Round 314: Erica : WINNER: Erika (Barbie's Princess and the Pauper)

Round 315: Gaius : WINNER: Gaius (Merlin)

Round 316: Lois : WINNER: Lois Lane (Superman)

Round 317: Hugo : WINNER: Hugo (Dream Daddy)

Round 318: Skyler : WINNER: Skylor Chen (Ninjago)

Round 319: Hans : WINNER: Huge Hands Hans (Phineas and Ferb)

Round 320: Camille : WINNER: Camilla Hect (The Locked Tomb)

Round 321: Olaf : WINNER: Count Olaf (A Serious of Unfortunate Events)

Round 322: Dana : WINNER: Dana Scully (The X-Files)

Round 323: Tim : WINNER: Tim Drake (Batman)

Round 324: Daisy : WINNER: Princess Daisy (Mario)

Round 325: Quentin : WINNER: Quentin Beck aka Mysterio (Spider-Man)

Round 326: Flora : WINNER: Flora Reinhold (Professor Layton)

Round 327: Fox : WINNER: Fox Mulder (The X-Files)

Round 328: Rosemary : WINNER: Rosemary Woodhouse (Rosemary's Baby)

Round 329: Ralph : WINNER: Wreck-It-Ralph (Wreck-It-Ralph)

Round 330: Ada : WINNER: Ada Wong (Resident Evil)

Round 331: Rod : WINNER: Rodrick Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

Round 332: Missy : WINNER: Missy (Doctor Who)

Round 333: Raphael : WINNER: Raphael (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)

Round 334: Elena : WINNER: Elena de la Vega (Zorra)

Round 335: Stan : WINNER: Stan Pines (Gravity Falls)

Round 336: Victoria : WINNER: Victoria Everglot (Corpse Bride)

Round 337: Steve : WINNER: Steve (Minecraft)

Round 338: Anita : WINNER: Anita Fite (Young Justice)

Round 339: Clyde : WINNER: Clyde Donovan (South Park)

Round 340: Dawn : WINNER: Dawn Summers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Round 341: Gabriel : WINNER: Gabriel (Ultrakill)

Round 342: Rebecca : WINNER: Rebecca Bunch (Crazy Ex Girlfriend)

Round 343: Cory : WINNER: Koriand'r aka Starfire (Teen Titans)

Round 344: Debbie : WINNER: Debbie Jellinsky (Addams' Family Values)

Round 345: Carlos : WINNER: Carlos the Scientist (Welcome to Night Vale)

Round 346: Tara : WINNER: Tara Maclay (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Round 347: Alucard : WINNER: Alucard (Castlevania)

Round 348: Isobel/Isabella : WINNER: Isabella Garcia Shapiro (Phineas and Ferb)

Round 349: Wade : WINNER: Wade Wilson (Deadpool)

Round 350: Marina : WINNER: Marina Ida (Splatoon)

Round 351: Clive : WINNER: Clive (Professor Layton)

Round 352: Athena : WINNER: Athena (Greek Mythology)

Round 353: Ron : WINNER: Ron Stoppable (Kim Possible)

Round 354: Vivian : WINNER: Vivian Kensington (Legally Blonde)

Round 355: Cliff : WINNER: Clifford the Big Red Dog (Clifford the Big Red Dog)

Round 356: Heather : WINNER: Heather Chandler, Heather Duke and Heather Macnamara (Heathers)

Round 357: Bernard : WINNER: Bernard (The Rescuers)

Round 358: Paige : WINNER: Paige Matthews (Charmed)

Round 359: Terry : WINNER: Terry Jeffords (Brookyln-Nine-Nine)

Round 360: Dora : WINNER: Dora Marquez (Dora the Explorer)

Round 361: Monty : WINNER: Monty Montgomery (A Series of Unfortunate Events)

Round 362: Gemma : WINNER: Jemma Simmons (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D)

Round 363: Parker : WINNER: Parker (Leverage)

Round 364: Melanie : WINNER: Melanie King (The Magnus Archives)

Round 365: Francis : WINNER: Francis Monogram (Phineas and Ferb)

Round 366: Jules : WINNER: Jules Paxton (Bend It Like Beckham)

Round 367: Malcolm : WINNER: Malcolm Wilkerson (Malcolm in the Middle)

Round 368: Molly : WINNER: Mollymauk Tealeaf (Critical Role)

Round 369: Jonas : WINNER: Jonas Quinn (Stargate SG-1)

Round 370: Claudia : WINNER: Claudia (Interview With The Vampire)

Round 371: Aiden : WINNER: Aiden Pearce (Watch Dogs)

Round 372: Cynthia : WINNER: Cynthia (Pokemon)

Round 373: Oscar : WINNER: Oscar the Grouch (Sesame Street)

Round 374: Mabel : WINNER: Mabel Pines (Gravity Falls)

Round 375: Randall : WINNER: Rand al'Thor (Wheel of Time)

Round 376: Liesel : WINNER: Liesl Von Trapp (The Sound of Music)

Round 377: Stuart : WINNER: Stuart Little (Stuart Little)

Round 378: Laurel : WINNER: Laurel Lightfoot (Onward)

Round 379: Roger : WINNER: Roger Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit)

Round 380: Nami : WINNER: Nami (One Piece)

Round 381: George : WINNER: George Cubbins (Lockwood and Co.)

Round 382: Esme : WINNER: Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)

Past Polls

Round 1: Peter : WINNER: Peter Parker (Spider-Man)

Round 2: Elizabeth : WINNER: Elizabeth Swann (Pirates of the Caribbean)

Round 3: Jason : WINNER: Jason Mendoza (The Good Place)

Round 4: Eve : WINNER: EVE (WALL-E)

Round 5: Fred : WINNER: Fred Jones (Scooby-Doo)

Round 6: Rachel : WINNER: Rachel (Animorphs)

Round 7: Arthur : WINNER: Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Round 8: Amy : WINNER: Amy Pond (Doctor Who)

Round 9: Tom : WINNER: Tom (Tom and Jerry)

Round 10: Claire : WINNER: Clare Devlin (Derry Girls)

Round 11: James : WINNER: James (Pokemon)

Round 12: Max : WINNER: Max (Black Sails)

Round 13: Simon : WINNER: Simon Belmont (Castlevania)

Round 14: Jane : WINNER: Jane Crocker (Homestuck)

Round 15: Victor : WINNER: Victor Nikiforov (Yuri On Ice)

Round 16: Mary : WINNER: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins)

Round 17: Will : WINNER: Will Graham (Hannibal)

Round 18: Laura : WINNER: Laura Palmer (Twin Peaks)

Round 19: Ben : WINNER: Ben "Obi-Wan" Kenobi (Star Wars)

Round 20: Chloe : WINNER: Chloe Price (Life Is Strange)

Round 21: John : WINNER: Jonathan Sims (The Magnus Archives)

Round 22: Lydia : WINNER: Lydia Deetz (Beetlejuice)

Round 23: Mark : WINNER: Marc Spector (Moon Knight)

Round 24: Jess : WINNER: Jesse Pinkman (Breaking Bad)

Round 25: Theo : WINNER: Theobald Gumbar (Dimension 20: A Crown Of Candy)

Round 26: Sarah: WINNER: Sarah Jane Smith (Doctor Who)

Round 27: Richard : WINNER: Richard Gansey III (The Raven Cycle)

Round 28: Cass : WINNER: Cassandra Cain (Batman)

Round 29: Edward : WINNER: Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Round 30: Carm : WINNER: Carmen Sandiego (Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?)

Round 31: Hal : WINNER: HAL9000 (2001: A Space Odyssey)

Round 32: Sid : WINNER: Sydney Adamu (The Bear)

Round 33: Jack : WINNER: Captain Jack Harkness (Doctor Who)

Round 34: Stephanie : WINNER: Stephanie Brown (Batman)

Round 35: Ash : WINNER: Ash Ketchum (Pokemon)

Round 36: Veronica : WINNER: Veronica Sawyer (Heathers)

Round 37: Kurt : WINNER: Kurt Wagner aka Nightcrawler (X-Men)

Round 38: Eleanor : WINNER: Eleanor Shellstrop (The Good Place)

Round 39: Nathan : WINNER: Nathan Young (Misfits)

Round 40: Fiona : WINNER: Princess Fiona (Shrek)

Round 41: Gale : WINNER: Gayle Waters-Waters (Chris Fleming)

Round 42: Barbara : WINNER: Barbara Millicent Roberts aka Barbie (Barbie)

Round 43: Sam : WINNER: Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings)

Round 44: Grace : WINNER: Grace Chastity (Nerdy Prudes Must Die)

Round 45: Barry : WINNER: Barry Bluejeans (The Adventure Zone)

Round 46: Raven : WINNER: Raven (Teen Titans)

Round 47: Dan : WINNER: Danny Fenton (Danny Phantom)

Round 48: Mia : WINNER: Mia Fey (Ace Attorney)

Round 49: Matt : WINNER: Matt Murdock (Daredevil)

Round 50: Rose : WINNER: Rose Tyler (Doctor Who)

Round 51: Robert : WINNER: Robbie Rotten (LazyTown)

Round 52: Lola : WINNER: Lola Bunny (Space Jam)

Round 53: Scott : WINNER: Scott Summers aka Cyclops (X-Men)

Round 54: Olivia : WINNER: Olivia Octavious (Spiderverse)

Round 55: Finn : WINNER: Finn the Human (Adventure Time)

Round 56: Emily : WINNER: Emily Charlton (The Devil Wears Prada)

Round 57: Elliot : WINNER: Eliot Spencer (Leverage)

Round 58: Sonia : WINNER: Sonia (Pokemon)

Round 59: Gideon : WINNER: Gideon Nav (The Locked Tomb)

Round 60: Jen : WINNER: Jennifer Check (Jennifer's Body)

Round 61: Miles : WINNER: Miles Morales (Spider-Man)

Round 62: Lana : WINNER: Lana Skye (Ace Attorney)

Round 63: Spencer : WINNER: Spencer Shay (iCarly)

Round 64: Tracy : WINNER: Tracy Turnbald (Hairspray!)

Round 65: Luke : WINNER: Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)

Round 66: Natalie : WINNER: Natalie Scatorccio (Yellowjackets)

Round 67: Harry : WINNER: Harry Du Bois (Disco Elysium)

Round 68: Lucy : WINNER: Lucy van Pelt (Peanuts)

Round 69: Damian : WINNER: Damian Wayne (Batman)

Round 70: Tabitha : WINNER: Tabitha Casper (Dan and Phil Games: Sims 4)

Round 71: Nick : WINNER: Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Trigun)

Round 72: Gwen : WINNER: Guinevere (Merlin)

Round 73: Paul : WINNER: Paulette Bonafonte (Legally Blonde)

Round 74: Abigail : WINNER: Abigail Hobbs (Hannibal)

Round 75: Jordan : WINNER: Jordan Baker (The Great Gatsby)

Round 76: Donna : WINNER: Donna Noble (Doctor Who)

Round 77: Morgan : WINNER: Morgana (Merlin)

Round 78: Allison : WINNER: Alison Cooper (BBC Ghosts)

Round 79: Patrick : WINNER: Patrick Star (Spongebob Squarepants)

Round 80: Linda : WINNER: Linda Belcher (Bob's Burgers)

Round 81: Philip : WINNER: Philip J. Fry (Futurama)

Round 82: Clarisse : WINNER: Clarisse La Rue (Percy Jackson)

Round 83: Jeff : WINNER: Jeff The Killer (Creepypasta)

Round 84: Maria : WINNER: Maria (The Sound Of Music)

Round 85: David : WINNER: David aka Solid Snake (Metal Gear)

Round 86: Tiffany : WINNER: Tiffany Aching (Discworld)

Round 87: Charlie : WINNER: Charlie Kelly (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

Round 88: Sandy : WINNER: Sandy Cheeks (Spongebob Squarepants)

Round 89: Cody : WINNER: Commander Cody (Star Wars: Clone Wars)

Round 90: Amanda : WINNER: Amanda Young (Saw)

Round 91: Jeremy : WINNER: Jeremy aka Scout (Team Fortress 2)

Round 92: Velma : WINNER: Velma Dinkley (Scooby-Doo)

Round 93: Adam : WINNER: Adam Parrish (The Raven Cycle)

Round 94: Sue : WINNER: Susan Pevensie (Narnia)

Round 95: Derek : WINNER: Derek Hale (Teen Wolf)

Round 96: Michelle : WINNER: Michelle Mallon (Derry Girls)

Round 97: Neil : WINNER: Neil Perry (Dead Poets Society)

Round 98: Lisa : WINNER: Lisa Cuddy (House MD)

Round 99: Tony : WINNER: Tony Soprano (The Soprano's)

Round 100: Karen : WINNER: Karen Smith (Mean Girls)

[wheatley-imagine-scenarios]

Hello LGBT Community Part 4

Kinda funny how I thought I was done after part 2 and now I’ve realized how many characters there truly are. Anyway, this part is for Meet The Cores specific characters. This might be put in multiple parts because there’s quite a few of those guys. I’ve been made aware of The Underground fan series as well, but I probably won’t use that, just because the characters have pretty small part and I just don’t really know what I’d say about them. Anyway, here’s some gay headcanons, with the obligatory mention that all Aperture bots/employees are trans.

‘Onathan (Ego Core)

He gives off sophisticated gay vibes

He has never loved a woman in his damn life

Trans man, he/him pronouns

Turret Core

Demigirl

I headcanon the human turret as demigirl and human defective turret as demiboy I just like thinking of them as the yin and yang of each other, just thought this would fit here

Asexual panromantic

Rusty

Gay for reasons I can’t put into words

Trans guy, he/him

Ray

Pansexual

Trans man

I’ve heard people ship him and Space Core, and I haven’t decided my thoughts on that, but I can definitely understand it

I also just want to appreciate his chaotic energy and also pray for his VA’s larynx

Glitchy

Trans dude, he/him

Literally his whole role in the series was him wondering what his purpose was

Getting maybe abrosexual vibes from him?

Rose (Botanical Core)

Definite bisexual

Trans woman, she/her

I’d say lesbian, but I can’t deny the romantic undertones of when she was talking to Fact. (Yes I think Fact is gay, but he’s also an entirely different character in Meet the Cores from what I’ve created. Kinda like how Caroline is in the Portal 2 Musical)

Fergus (Gel Supervisor)

Asexual homoromantic

Trans man, he/him pronouns

Dr. Alma

Lesbian, so very lesbian

Trans woman, she/her

[fanmade-cores-competion]

Presenting!!! The Fanmade Cores competition!!!

Jumping on the bandwagon to these things!!! This competition is gonna be for the fan-made cores in some portal series and games! Obviously I probably didn't get everyone, but The Underground is already sort of obscure enough I didn't want to use more unknown ones that were definitely going to loose anyways because only 5 other people knew about them!

All of the cores I'll be using are from Meet the Cores 1-3, Portal: The Underground, Portal Stories: Mel, and Aperture Tag! And these are ONLY the Cores, so no turrets, P-body/Atlas variations and others won't be included here!

With that out of the way! Here are the matchups (no links right now since I'm still setting up the polls!)

ROUND 1:

Avery vs Enrichment Core

Ray vs Gaming Core

Chuck/Security Core vs General Core

Fergus/Gel Supervisor vs Rusty Core

Narrator Core vs Dr. Alma

Omni Core vs Oxygen Core

ST4NL3 Core vs Humour Core

Glitchy vs Music Core

Loose Screws Louis/Jazz Core vs Ohnothan/Ego Core

Rose vs Turret Core

Legal Core vs Quest Core

Virgil vs Heavy Metal Core

Rainbow Core vs Nigel

Paranoia Core vs Storyteller Core

Friendship Cores vs Optimism Core

Ambition Core vs Interview Core

Protocol Core vs Elite Core

Once I get the polls set up these will all have links! For now please rb to spread this to other Core fans :]

[arinlangdon]

From the Lovestruck official website, a summary of the remainder of Arin's route:

The final challenge is interrupted by the arrival of Wilhelm Grimm, one of the Brothers Grimm. Heroine is able to use her magic to turn the tide in the fight against Wilhelm, and in doing so finds a way to use the magic of the Path Finder...to create paths and to open portals between this world and the magical realm. The clash with Wilhelm culminates in the temporary defeat of Wilhelm, but in the death of Dr. James Tutorea. As he dies he gives Heroine a ring that matches the one she wears. Fergus also sees the error of his ways and withdrawals from the competition. It is decided the best thing the group can do is find a way to travel to the magical realm and go to the Red and White Queens as James was doing to get the seeds. 

Arin and Heroine are then confronted with a problem that they will have to deal with the rest of their lives: that Heroine's place as the Path Finder is in the magical realm and Arin's is in the Library. Over the course of the rest of the seasons we would break the spell on Heroine and have Heroine and Arin grow in their magic together as well as in their love. They would wear matching rings that magically create a space between the worlds where time stops for just the two of them where they can be together whenever they want for as long as they want. In this way they can fulfill their duties but also be together. Before Heroine goes into the magical realm, they have a wedding that solidifies their union. Heroine and Arin will eventually retire from their roles and pass them down to their children. 

[thadeeliv-si]

Mansion Harvest Party Day 4: Party Time!

An earth pony and a pegasus, both dressed as vampires, stood near the refreshment table, not at all bothered by the well-dressed person and magical girl running past them in a panic.

“What is this, anyway?” the pink one, Diamond Tiara, asked.

“I dunno,” the beige one, Quill Ink, replied.  “Could be punch.  Could be red wine.  Could be blood.  Could be white wine dyed red.”

“And what was with that invitation?” Dia continued.  “And those woods...this house...that kid?”

“Haunted,” Quill said.  “All of them.  The kid’s probly a ghost.”

The two ponies continued their conversation.  Meanwhile, labrador!Thade walked around with Fergus.

“You think any of them can understand us?” Fergus asked.

“I sure hope not,” Thade said.  “Otherwise, I just spoiled Portal 2 for everyone in this room.”

“I hear ya,” Fergus said, clearly not hearing her as he swiped a small sandwich from the table.  “Do you like your meals with or without impalement?”

“That’s a context-sensitive question and you know it.”  Thade sniffed the sandwich.  “I don’t think I can even digest half this stuff anymore.”

“Only one way to find out,” Fergus said, removing the toothpick and tossing the sandwich into Thade’s mouth.  Thade made angry muffled yelling noises, but calmed down when she started eating.

“I haven’t had cheese in too long,” she moaned.

Quill looked over at the labrador, in ecstasy over a sandwich.  “Even the dogs are having more fun than we are.”  She looked at the entrance.  “I wonder how Ocellus is doing as our carved pumpkin.”

“She’ll be fine,” Dia said, wrapping her foreleg around Quill’s neck.  “Now, isn’t there something you’re forgetting?”  She smirked.

“Of course!” Quill exclaimed.  She grabbed an empty plastic cup and placed it upside-down on Dia’s head.  “How could I forget the party fez?!”

“I will never understand where this came from,” Dia said, adjusting her cup.

“Fezzes are cool,” Quill responded.

“That didn’t answer my question.”

Natsuki approached them, holding Destiny.  “Is, uh...is this your dog?” she asked.

“Excuse me?!” Destiny shouted.  “What do you mean, ‘their dog’?!  I’m not anybody’s dog!”  She sighed.  “Why are humans so dense?”

Natsuki glared down at Destiny.  “Well, sorry for trying to help you!”

The two continued their bickering next to Quill and Dia.

“...should we…?” Quill started.

“Never,” Dia answered.  “Come on, let’s see if we can find any couples that don’t involve you.”

[renee-writer]

I Fought the Law Chapter 53

AO3

“You best prepare them.” Murtagh suggests. Jamie nods and steps out. He goes up to the door and enters.

Claire stands at his entrance, Fergus cradled in her arms. “Jamie, Gel knows a barrister that can help us with his paperwork.”

 

He smiles, kisses her and then the top of his son’s head. “That is excellent.”

“Did you guys get everything sorted?”

“Well sort of. We did get the portal destroyed but…, there was a complication.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Us, or a version of us, my ancestor, James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser and his wife, Elizabeth, who I swear Claire is the split of you, came through. They are here, literally, in the car.”

 

Geillis is forgotten until she calls out, “The hell you say!”

 

“Hand to God.” He replies not taking his eyes off Claire. “Shall I bring them in?”

 

She nods as her mate says, “Absolutely!”

 

“Yes, bring them in.”  She says through numb lips.

 

They enter with hesitation. At seeing Claire and Geillis, wearing trousers, Jamie the first, starts to say something and then stops, recalling when they are. Instead, he bows low while his wife courtesies.

 

“Lasses, thank you for your hospitality. I am James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser, the Laird of Lallybroch and this is my wife, the Lady Elizabeth.”

 

“Very nice to meet you. I am Geillis Duncan and this is my mate, Claire Beauchamp and her son, Fergus.”

 

“Our son.” Jamie adds.

 

“Won’t you have a seat.” Claire offers.

 

They do, Elizabeth tucking her dress carefully in. She looks amazingly like herself. It is eerie. The others find seats around the room. Jamie takes Fergus rocking him against his chest. They all look at each other.

 

“So, you ah, came through the stone?” Geillis says.

 

“No Mistress Duncan. We were at Castle Leoch and suddenly found ourselves in the presence of the others.” James answers.

 

“It was quite a shock.” Elizabeth adds. Her accent is higher browed then Claire’s who has lived all over.

 

“I can well imagine.” Claire answers. The two lasses look at each other. The similarities are amazing.

 

“Jamie, we must have a child. Lady Beauchamp must come from us.”

 

“Aye, mo ghra, we must.”

 

Jamie and Claire look at each other. Does this mean they are related way back? Before either can speak, there is a knock.

 

“Oh that must be Ned, the solicitor.” Geillis exclaims.

 

“Oh boy.” Angus mumbles.

 

“You might as well let him in Gel. Maybe he can help make sense of all this.”

[ladala99]

Lioden - Burnout's October Prelude

I have gotten around to giving that cub a personality. Or at least a story - personality so far is "unsure cub who is probably too mature."

Contains some non-graphic violence and Christian-inspired depictions of demons and demonic ritual (also non-graphic). As per usual for my Lioden stuff.

------

Burnout sniffed around the den, looking for something to play with. He eventually settled on a leaf, tossing it into the air and pouncing at it before it landed. He was so focused on his self-appointed mission, he almost didn’t hear a the echoey voice at the edge of his awareness.

“Burnout. . . Burnout. . .” it repeated until he pricked his ears and looked. A shimmery form of a full-grown lion stood next to him, and as he looked, it became more and more solid until he could see just how golden he was. He looked majestic, with a proud brown mane and amber eyes. “Burnout,” he said, clearly this time, “can you hear me?”

Burnout nodded. “Who are you?”

The lion raised his tail, showing both power and joy. “I am Fergus, the first of the pride. I am glad to see I am the first to reach you.”

Burnout blinked, his tail twitching. “First? Oh, is this about how Mommy says the spirits speak to her? Are spirits going to speak to me?” He shuddered at the thought. His mother’s spirits moan and wail and give warnings that cannot be heeded.

“Yes,” Fergus said. “And soon at that. The lands are darkening, and the battle between heaven and hell will begin once more. Your father will make a choice, but I do not believe he thinks he has one. He will be corrupted, and the spirits of hell will speak to you, telling you lies.” He snarled as he spoke the last sentence.

Burnout’s eyes widened. “And I’ll become like Mommy?”

Fergus shook his head. “You already are more equipped to handle what you see and hear. But it will not be easy, and if you choose to heed the lies you hear from the demons. . . The pride will go through another generation of darkness.”

“We are demons, though, aren’t we?” Burnout said. “That’s what everybody says. Why would demons lie to us?”

“You are more lion than demon,” Fergus said. “That bloodline is less strong and, despite what they will say to you, will not give you privileges in the afterlife. They will, at best, take your will and leave you a hollow slave. But for many, pain and torture is the fate for lion spirits who take the path of that eternity.” Fergus looks off in the distance. “My pride cannot be reduced to this forever. My descendants deserve a dignified fate. I hope it can change with you.”

“What do I do?” Burnout asked.

“Remember what I told you. Once the portal is open, I won’t be able to reach you until it closes again. If you believe the lies of the demons who will walk among you, and you make a promise you cannot take back, then I might never be able to reach you again. So please, I believe in you—resist them. And maybe you can dig the pride out of the hole it fell into.”

“Okay,” is all Burnout could think to say.

The spirit of Fergus faded, and Burnout’s father, Wisdom, returned from his patrol.

———

Wisdom could feel what happened. The knowledge streamed into his mind from the power he had requested from the demons. By making that request, he knew that the natural demonic essence that flowed through his bloodline was lost, but at the time he hadn’t cared. But now, that allowed his ancestors to interfere.

“If your heir does not believe us, then you, Wisdom, will be treated as a normal, wretched lion for all eternity. You must either stop him from being the heir, or you must ensure that he, too, is irrevocably in our grasp. Then will you keep your power and freedom in the next life.”

Because of his infinite knowledge, Wisdom knew the voice in his mind spoke the truth. At least partially. They would try every way to wriggle their way into enslaving him after his death. But so long as he fulfilled every request, he would keep himself safe, taking his place as a demon-lion. Living with his demonic ancestors in power.

He didn’t like how they kept changing the deal, but he knew he was too far gone to back out now. He had been too far gone the moment he was born. Demon magic had run through his veins.

When he had chosen his power, the demons were not all that willing to give it to him. Perhaps his ancestors had also sacrificed something, perhaps their conscience or their will. Omen, his father, had been completely ruthless, after all. He had kept everyone in the pridelands, lions and animals alike, under a trance and sacrificed them all to the underworld whenever he killed. That was his payment for power.

Wisdom had wanted to know everything, and the demons had suggested he accept a demonic companion that tells him everything he asks. He refused and wanted the power for himself. So they said he had to give up having demon magic at all during life for this, and they’d only give it back after death if he earned it in ways that he would know how. That was the deal he had taken.

He had assumed then that it would only be his own actions that affected his fate, but once he knew all, he also knew that the demons didn’t have any such limitations in mind.

Wisdom sat down next to his son. “I’m sorry,” he said, “that my choices make it so that you have a much harder path through life. You weren’t born with power, but that doesn’t mean you can’t earn it later. Come.” He stood again and gestured with his tail.

Burnout obediently, if hesitantly, followed. Fergus hadn’t told him anything negative about Wisdom, but clearly the cub knew this somehow was about his chat with his ancestor.

Wisdom quickly told Ashes what he needed as he passed by her, making sure Burnout couldn’t hear. The fierce lioness had a sadistic gleam in her eye as she left to follow orders.

As they neared the ritual ground, Burnout slowed. Wisdom positioned himself behind the cub. “You are in no danger,” Wisdom told him. “I will not blame you for what some ghost told you. This will only prevent you from getting confused later.”

The cub still refused to enter the ritual ground.

“I am your father and I command you to stand in the center,” Wisdom said with a hint of warning. “And if you do not, perhaps I will end your life after all.”

The cub whimpered, but crept forward, allowing Wisdom to lead him to the center.

When Omen had been here, the circle had glowed. But not now. It would still work, however.

Ashes came back, beckoning two lionesses enter the ritual grounds: an elder of Ashes’ own line and a lioness with distinctive fur unrelated to the pride.

Wisdom growled a chant, knowing exactly the words to use for his purpose. He first advanced on the younger lioness, then killed her in one bite. Her spirit flowed red into the ground and into a terrified Burnout, but Ashes watched carefully and he didn’t dare try to run. The elder saw what was happening and dipped her head. “What am I fueling?” she asked quietly.

“A protective shield against unwanted spirits,” Wisdom said. “Then I give my life in service.” She exposed her neck, and Wisdom took the offer. Her spirit, too, flowed red into Burnout.

As Ashes cleaned up, Burnout stared at Wisdom with wide eyes. “It is done,” Wisdom said. “You are free to go.”

The cub did not need to be told twice and dashed back towards the den, obviously horrified. He would have to get used to this sort of thing eventually. Without magic of his own, all demonic displays of power had to be done through instant sacrifice.

“You would rather end the lives of two rather than just kill the cub?” The demonic voice asked. “It is still uncertain whether the cub will choose correctly.”

Wisdom huffed. While the statement of the promise did make that the more obvious choice, Wisdom knew that killing Burnout would not do Wisdom many favors. He wanted a cub of Lightning’s line, which Burnout was, to succeed him. But also, he had to believe that Burnout would eventually see it was better to side with the demons than try to escape them, and someone who makes that choice of their own will is worth infinitely more than any sacrifice.

———

Burnout huddled in the corner of the den. He didn’t know what his father tried to do to him—succeeded in doing to him. It seemed to have something to do with Fergus, though.

He felt something wrap itself around his hindquarters, and he jumped, but it still stayed there. He tried to shake it off, but it seemed to dig in.

“Relax, Burnout,” a lioness’s voice hissed. He looked and spotted a red-coated lioness with demonic horns. Like Fergus, she started as a spirit and then solidified. “It’s just some decoration.”

Burnout looked, and saw the ropes with horsehair attached draping over his body. “Why? And who are you, anyway?”

“As an outward display of debt,” the lioness said. “I am Ilere, an ancestor of yours.”

An ancestor. Burnout relaxed a bit. But, “Debt?”

“We are protecting you from those who would seek to confuse you.”

“Fergus?” Burnout guessed.

Ilere nodded. “He thinks we don’t look after our own. We do. When the portal opens, and Wisdom chooses us, every one of my descendants will be rewarded. That includes you.

“However—” She flicked her tail. “—You are free to choose to be just a lion, like that Fergus wants. Make it so those lionesses died for nothing. It will be obvious to everyone what you chose, however. So choose wisely.”

Her form faded, and Burnout was alone again.

If this was the right thing, Burnout doubted this would be the way to go about it. Fergus was probably right.

But would Burnout be able to endure the time the portal was open?