#flame lotus duo

[midnightwryter]

🔥Inferno Duo

Fandom : LEGO Monkie Kid Characters : Red Son, Nezha

➥ CW/TW : None.

Familyhood !! - Nezha is technically Red Son’s uncle, reason for this is that Princess Iron Fan was apart of the Celestial Court alongside Nezha and Erlang. Before she split to become a demon along with the Demon Bull King. These two have an uncle and nephew kind of familyhood.

Protection !! - Some things I also like to imagine is that Nezha was protective over Red Son when he was a baby, though discreet with it. He ensures no harm comes to him as much as possible, even when he was still training him. Note : There’s no actual evidence of this in canon, but of course this is how most of the community sees the two. Two literal fire wielding uncle and nephew.

Training !! - Both their abilities being Pyrokinesis, Nezha was the one who taught young Red Son how to properly use it. Nezha saw Red Son when he was just a child who barely knew he was a wielder of fire. Even after he was also one of the people who had to separate the Samadhi Fire from Red Son. Nezha probably saw his younger self in Red Son. Supposedly even suggesting to Princess Iron Fan to personally train Red Son and his Pyrokinesis Abilities.  This has probably also led to Red Son using meditation as a form of relaxation from Nezha’s teachings when he was younger.

Looking Up to Him - Red Son growing up to be a teenager looked up to Nezha a lot when he wasn’t trying to get his parents’ approval. Perhaps even trying to wield a spear like he has, of course his style of combat has been something Nezha is experienced with centuries ahead of him. Even so, when Nezha noticed this he didn’t mind it. Seeing a young Red Son trying to be like him. Instead of trying to teach Red Son how to wield a spear like he has, he taught Red Son how to properly fight in close combat, without weapons.

Making an Entrance !!! - I'd say it's pretty evident that Nezha probably inspired Red Son to do and make such entrances when encountering opponents.

Other Notes : There is literally no relationship section of either of the two's wiki page on the wikia, so I went with what knowledge I have based on how the community sees the two.

reblogs > likes / thank you for reading

[boonalina]

Excerpt from Chapter Three, The Lotus fuels the Flame, of my Successor AU fic:

Nezha and Redson

Mac and Mei drawing Wuk and Mk drawing

This takes place before the timeskip in the story. Since Redson was basically raised by Nezha in this AU, I gave Redson an outfit that more resembled Nezha's style. I also simplified Nezha's (and everyone else's outfits) because I prefer simplicity. And because it makes it easier to draw these characters over and over again.

----

Q & A:

What is the Successor AU? -An alternate universe where Mei and Mk were born in the same era that Redson was. -Macaque raised Mei, Wukong raised Mk, and Nezha raised Redson. -Story has shadowpeach implications in it. Don't like? Don't read.

What are the changes to this universe? -Shapeshifting and glamour don't exist. Hence why Macaque can't hide his eye or his ears. -Macaque was on the Journey to the West with Wukong -Wukong never killed Macaque in this AU -And other changes, but for the most part, it's the same.

When and Where does it take place? -The story takes place around 95 years after the journey to the west ended. So it takes place in like ancient times. -Takes place in China (supposedly, I mean, I'm assuming the JTTW took place in China.)

Why did Macaque, Wukong, and Nezha raise those three? -I can't answer for Macaque and Mei cuz that's a spoiler. -Nuwa created and gave Mk's stone egg to Wukong as a sort of challenge to see if he could raise a child. (There's more detail to it but that'd be a spoiler.) -Nezha is the god of children, so he took it upon himself to take responsibility for Redson after Princess Iron Fan was put in jail. He calls himself Redson's "older brother."

What's the story summary? -Basically, I just wanted to create a possessive Wukong AU. Most of the story is basically a game of hide and seek. Where over the years, Wukong tries to find Macaque but keeps just missing him. Redson finds Mk stuck on Flower Fruit Mountain and they bond over time. Mei eventually finds Redson and Mk while she was on her own journey. Read the story to find out what happens!

[anarchswild]

Let's see if I can actually summarize what happened in the Clanswap Oneshot.

The night begins with Tammy King (Malkavian) and Reid Thomel (Tremere). Tammy's sire believes that he is a Ventrue, and gets enough results that the clan treats him as such, if not as a bit of a joke. Tammy is seen less favorably as she is a Malkavian with face-blindness trying to live up to being a Ventrue and is failing enough she thinks she's a Caitiff. Reid was embraced and taught Lure of Flames to cause problems, but he managed to lay low enough that when his city flipped from Anarch to Camarilla, they shipped him off to New York's Chantry. He only really was taught basic kindred knowledge and how to master his Thaumaturgy so that he didn't become a problem, so he figured out Auspex and Dominate on his own and isn't very good at them.

Tammy's sire sends her with instructions to meet up with a ghoul to gain information that could change the course of the war with the Sabbat. Reid's mentor instructs him to keep Tammy safe on this mission. The two meet up at the New York Public Library, where they have the worst first impression known to man. Reid botches on the aura read and thinks Tammy is out to get him, Tammy can't quite tell that Reid is who he says he is, and neither trust each other. Winter Chills, a Ventrue who is personally trying to make Tammy's unlife hell, makes her first appearance and does manage to confirm Reid's identity.

The duo's first stop is Hell's Kitchen, where the ghoul lives. This is Brujah territory however, so they run into Jackie and Malachi (1) on the way. Jackie makes them collect money in order to get through the territory without issue, and they instead find Sigrun standing over the dead body of the guy they're looking for. Reid's aura reading clues him in that she wasn't the murderer, and Tammy's Animalism lets her figure out where the culprit was hiding. They retrieve the money, pass it on to Jackie, and continue.

At the ghoul's apartment, it is revealed that she has gone missing. The two pick the lock to her door, find the apartment in chaos, and decide to check her mail downstairs to see if there's anything that could point them in the right direction. What they find in all the envelopes is a business card inviting her to the Lakehouse, the club run by the Toreador Primogen where people have been entering and never returning from.

The two make the choice to cut through Central Park to the north side of Manhattan, convincing the Gangrel Scumfuck and Milly (2) to let them through and then sneaking their way past a werewolf that snuck into the city. Apparently there's a Cairn somewhere in the park.

At the Lakehouse, they discover that there's a spell of sorts that makes it where if you are not in possession of an invitation, you cannot approach the building. The pair have multiple of the cards from the ghoul's mail and use those to sneak into the establishment. The Lakehouse, run by Dawn Sierra, a normal kindred just like you and me, consists of a restaurant for humans, a kitchen where ghouls work, a large bar room full of kindred, and a myriad maze of art galleries made by kindred. Tammy runs into a acquaintance of hers, Mary (Tzimisce), who is a member of the Sabbat. Reid makes his way to the bar room full of kindred, accidentally tipping off to one of the artists on the way (3) that he wasn't technically invited. In the room he sees kindred of all sects milling about, talking about art, and eating refreshments that were not at all vaguely implied to be human meat and blood. He resists the desire to partake in the refreshments, and manages to keep Tammy from doing the same when they meet up. It was like the Land of the Lotus Eaters. As they separate again to find info on where their ghoul may be, a Gargoyle (Lucifer) appears to get rid of Reid. No one else in the room seems to notice. He lost him in the maze of galleries, Tammy found Mary again to ask more questions about the strange place, and Reid connected with the leader of the city's Anarchs, Godfrey (Nagaraja), who also had figured out that something was strange and snuck into the Lakehouse without an invitation. He had been there long enough, however, to begin to lose himself in the enchantment of the place.

The plan had become for Reid to sneak into the kitchen and pretend to be a ghoul, the mistake had already been made once that night, while Tammy found herself unable to follow. So she checked out the bathroom as suggested by Godfrey, discovering there were no mirrors there whatsoever. Reid entered the restaurant to discover kine standing completely still, was brought into the kitchen to find human meat being prepared, and in the very back of the room were mirrors filled with the likenesses of ghouls surrounding a pillar with a single, beating heart. Reid recognized, through the teachings from Father Michael, that the heart belonged to a demon. All he had to do was destroy it. Sensing this, the mirror demon appeared and tried to bargain. A better life for Reid, where everything would be just as he'd love for it to be. Perhaps back to San Diego, or to Atlanta, or why not Portland? Reid, a simple man, did not fall for the temptations and instead set the heart ablaze in an inferno. Tammy and Reid were able to escape the burning building and rescue their ghoul target, though they had to convince a hungry Nagaraja not to try and eat her.

The ghoul revealed that she had been working deep cover in the Sabbat, getting close to the leader, Saria (Ravnos). She had written down where exactly and when a party would be occurring that very night, which the Camarilla would be able to ambush. All they needed to do was find where she had hidden it. In the Liberty Island museum underneath the Constitution display. As the ghoul left to recover from her trance at the Lakehouse, she was taken out by a sniper. Winter Chills. Winter had heard the gist of the information and was planning to take all the credit for Tammy's mission. It became a race for Tammy and Reid to ride on Tammy's ghoul (Trevor)'s fishing boat out to the island to beat Winter. Unfortunately for them she beat them, but they were the only ones who knew exactly where it was. She was so far ahead of them however that she was found searching the vicinity of the letter next to a passed out guard (4). As they confronted her and Reid made a mad dash for the letter, an orb of darkness fell on the room as the Sabbat attacked. Reid lucked into finding the letter's hiding spot in the darkness. They were up against Emmanuel Roche (Lasombra), Huginn and Munnin (still Gangrel), and Lazarus Frost (Tzimisce). Reid caused Roche to frenzy from using Theft of Vitae, but Tammy was able to calm the frenzy. Roche had no idea why they were even there, and a group of Nosferatu stole the letter from Reid in that chaos. They all separated as the police arrived to investigate the break-in.

Reid and Tammy's goal became to track down and follow the Nosferatu who had stolen the letter. The rats' boat fled into the sewer, so the fledglings had to enter through the subway. Two stops along the line, they exited into one of the secret warren entrances, having to fight off a group of Nosferatu who were instructed not to let anyone else down that night. Reid intimidated them all with his flame and they snuck down to where the Primogen awaited. They arrived just as Liam Cross (Nosferatu) was being handed the letter, with only Reid noticing the small figure (5) whispering into his ear. Pulling the Tremere Regent card and calling out the mysterious figure behind him, Reid and Tammy were able to convince Liam to hand over the letter. But it was too easy, and Tammy especially couldn't shake that something strange was happening. The two followed where the figure had left, discovering a trap door leading deeper into the warrens.

At the end of the tunnel was a lone room full of security screens, showing everywhere in the city and following the forces of the Camarilla, Sabbat, and Anarchs as they prepared for war that night. At the chair was the small figure Reid had seen. They, Malachi, revealed that he was one of the original 4th gen Niktuku who had been given a shroud from Caine himself that suppressed their clan flaw. They had been plotting for weeks, playing all sides in the city, aiming for everyone to kill each other in that single fight. Realizing that everyone was walking into a trap and that only they knew it, Reid told Tammy to run and warn her sire while he would remain behind and buy time. While she ran, Reid blasted the Niktuku with flames. As she had almost escaped and he had almost burned the creature to a crisp, the Niktuku used Temporis to turn back time to the beginning of the combat. Despite the second chance it had given itself, Reid was still able to hold it off for Tammy to escape, though by a much thinner margin. As the Niktuku reached to destroy the emergency elevator Tammy escaped through with one of the Nosferatu, Reid was able to completely immolate it, though left on death's door himself. Tammy was able to get the warning to their sires, who left the Sabbat and Anarchs to fight amongst themselves and reduce their ranks.

The Camarilla had won the night, Zacharias and Father Michael had taken all the credit, Reid and Tammy were told they could never speak of what they did that night, but they were rescued from the rubble and officially treated as neonates from that point forward.

[sanctum-of-ramshackle]

“I see your darkest fears…”

[TWST AU]: You can’t escape from your fears…

[Synopsis]: In this timeline, there seems to be another variant from the Valorant universe, but this young agent can see more than common horror.

Gender Neutral MC/Yuu

[A/N]: Hey everyone! It’s been a while since my last MC/Yuu variant post and pretty sure you’re starving for more content. Before you read this one, I have a confession to announce. When I posted my first Agent!MC/Yuu: Agent Deadeye, this Valorant agent, Fade was my first choice but back then, I didn’t know much of her or the game’s lore. After some research and gameplay by others, now I can finally post about a variant with her Radiant powers.

[TW]: Nightmares and some descriptions of imagery may be sensitive.

[Helin and ARB4 - KARALIGIN]

“Hazal!”

“MC/Yuu!”

MC/Yuu Eyletmez or by alias, Agent Shatter was recently recruited to the Protocol and surprise! They’re Fade’s younger cousin.

Fade was understandably displeased after finding out that a family member of hers joined into a job that could lead to a darker end.

What’s even more worrisome was that MC/Yuu has similar Radiant abilities like their cool older cousin.

They promised to be careful when using their powers and avoid being shot at during missions.

So the Nightmare Duo was born.

Two sleep-deprived agents having their own prowlers gettin’ zoomies at 3 a.m.

Everything seemed okay at first, until their last mission.

During a mission in Lotus, MC/Yuu fell into the water after getting shot at while they called Fade out for help.

They went unconscious due to blood loss and their vision went dark.

…

Grim: *Running away from the awakened Agent Shatter*

How did Grim become the one to run away?

It happened when after Agent Shatter was freed from the confines of the coffin they were trapped in, this Nightmare Radiant already became defensive and unleashed their Prowler to scare off who or whatever could get them.

Grim was the unfortunate one to witness something so horrific and just bolts out of the room.

They ran out, trying to find a way back home.

They come across different rooms and areas of NRC.

They only stopped when Crowley found them, mistaken as the new student.

Agent!MC/Yuu: I’m sorry, but I’m not a student-

Crowley: Clearly, not yet.

Then they were dragged in the dorm selection ceremony which was about to end.

The Dark Mirror viewed Agent Shatter and sensed something dark within them.

The young agent asked if they can leave when they were literally risking their life during a mission.

Then Grim came in, disrupting the ceremony and demanded to be accepted as an NRC student.

Chaos ensues with Grim flaming up the room and both Riddle and Azul were chasing after the little menace.

Agent Shatter summons out their Prowler out to catch the feline troublemaker.

Except some students unfortunately got affected by the Radiant’s powers and they screamed, panicked, trying to escape from their worst fears.

Even some of the Dorm Leaders were caught.

They saw utter horror within themselves, ready to be unleashed.

Agent!MC/Yuu: Bad Prowler! Get over here! *Summons it back to them*

Crowley: Young one. You should control your two familiars and cannot barge in like that-

Agent!MC/Yuu: Familiars? That flaming cat isn’t mine and my Prowler is part of me. Who are you and why am I here?

Crowley: You’re not a new student?

Agent!MC/Yuu: I’m a VP agent, working for the Valorant Protocol. Did the VL capture me and have their Fade manipulate my nightmares?

Crowley: *Completely lost of their conundrum* What is a VP agent?

Agent!MC/Yuu: You never heard of Valorant? Where am I and what world did I fall into?

Crowley: Night Raven College, Twisted Wonderland.

Agent!MC/Yuu: …Fade is gonna kill me.

[During Chapter 4]

Jamil: Why don’t you stay? *Uses his Unique Magic on MC/Yuu*

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Disappears from his view*

Jamil: Huh?

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Grabs him from behind and uses their powers to manipulate Jamil’s worst nightmares*

[His mind led to seeing himself chained against his will and reminding him he’ll never escape the status he and his family have while serving the Al-Asim Family.]

Jamil: *Wakes up in his bed covered in cold sweat* *Sighs* It’s only a nightmare.

Agent!MC/Yuu: Are you sure about that?

[The whole dorm woke up from the scream of the Vice Dorm Leader]

[Ramshackle]

[The First Years and MC/Yuu were having a sleepover, but something disturbs the peaceful atmosphere.]

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Screams bloody murder in their sleep*

[Everyone jolts up awake from the unexpected.]

Grim: *First to wake up* Hench-human?!

Jack: *Follows up* MC/Yuu?

Epel: What? Someone dyin’?!

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Quietly crying* I-I…I saw darkness…

Deuce: Hey, MC/Yuu. It’s okay. Nothing’s gonna get you.

Agent!MC/Yuu: You don’t understand. I saw what will happen in the future. Everyone will be gone…

Jack: Gone?

Agent!MC/Yuu: I saw everyone here and back in my world, something will happen tragically. I could smell blood and the Blot from these visions. I…Surrounded by people of our loved ones. They’re gone.

[Everyone was concerned for their friend and what they saw in their nightmares.]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

[Med Bay]

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Sits up in a panic and looks around their surroundings* Wait…I’m back?

Fade: You’re finally awake.

Agent!MC/Yuu: Hazal, I’m sorry- *Uncharacteristically has arms wrapped around them*

Fade: *Hugging them* Don’t scare me like that again. Sage was able to heal you, but you were in a coma for months.

Agent!MC/Yuu: I’m fine, Hazal. I’m glad to be back away from the nightmares I was having.

Fade: *Concern now* What nightmares?

Agent!MC/Yuu: *Flashback to everything back in TWST* I saw too many colors, that’s all.

✨[Reblogs helps creators and creates for more content]💫

[genesic-archives]

Nunnally's Halloween Ch 3-2: Hunting Ghost

This is the second section of the third chapter of 'Nunnally's Halloween'. This chapter continues the grand Halloween Party from the previous chapter.

Previous Section - Next Section - All Story Sections

(AN: If you're reading this in future this doesn't apply to you; I accidentally mistranslated some words in previous chapters and went back to fix it. If you've been reading this as it's been ongoing I offer my deepest apologies both for this story taking so long and for this minor slip up. Here's the small corrections I have made so you don't feel as confused:

'Entei Toju' is the name for Hong Yu's spear, which is a magical weapon that can produce fire which is called a 'Knightmare' within the story. I haven't started translating that story yet so I was unaware and just thought they meant the Knightmare mechas from the original anime.

During the meeting where they discussed looking for instruments, I accidentally translated 'koto' as 'piano' because I thought they were referring to the Chinese character for some reason [never translate at 3 am i guess TT]. A Koto is a Japanese string instrument somewhat similar to the guqin they mentioned in the story. )

We continue our story right where we left off with Lelouch barking orders from the kitchen.

Lelouch: Notify every member. Shift the progression into the third phase! Start acting quickly so we can stay on schedule! 

We then cut back to the party hall.

Hong Yu: On it! Let’s go, Liu Ki! 

Liu Ki: Got that, big brother! 

Gigi: Alright, may all party members please put your attention right at the center of the venue! The big cooking show is about to start! 

Nunnally: In preparation for the show, Al will be setting up a large iron plate on a pedestal in the venue’s center. Thank you all for your cooperation.

Al shoves a couple ghosts out of the way to move what should be a massive portable cooking pot.

Al: Woah, ‘scuse me… Yes, please move away! Big iron plate passing through! Alright, the iron plate installation is complete!

Liu Ki: Thank you so much, Al. Brother, I finished arranging the ingredients! 

Hong Yu: Alright, let’s get started!

Hong Yu proceeds to yell the spell he uses to utilize his Knightmare Treasure (spear) as if he is within a battle.

Hong Yu: Ignite, 'Entei Toju'! The fierce tiger of the Crimson Lotus has manifested in the name of Hong Yu! A flash of a fierce tiger! A blaze o-

Liu Ki: Brother, these flames are only for cooking. Don’t get so fired up over it. 

Hong Yu: …Huh? Then what should I do? It feels weird to summon flames without my spell technique. Fire…blaze of fire; no, there’s no technique... 

Al: The technique you had was fine, just ignite it well as soon as possible! 

Hong Yu: Yeaah! These flames have a nice feel to them! 

Flames appear on the floor of the hall, implying the pot was properly ignited.

Al: Wow! That was a nice one!! Okay, with this firepower, we should get cooking in no time! 

Lelouch (internal thoughts): What’s going on with the Jack-O’-Lantern…

Jack O’ Lantern: ……

Lelouch (internal thoughts): He's staring at the fire, not moving, hmm. We're just one step away from the climax of the party's excitement.

Liu Ki: Looks like you’re alright now, brother. 

Hong Yu: Yup! Hehe, I never thought a Knightmare Treasure could be utilized this way. 

Gigi: Chinese cuisine with the overwhelming power of blazing flames! It was truly an authentic and splendid skill by the sibling duo Hong Yu and Liu Ki! 

Nunnally: If you like the food you just saw get prepared, Al over here will be serving this dish to you all. Please take the opportunity to enjoy it to the fullest. 

Al: Yup, freshly grilled hot pot dishes are here! It’s very hot, so be careful! 

Lelouch: Alright, P1 will continue distributing foods. However… 

Al: I understand. Oh, ‘if you spread any rumors…! The ghosts will try to mess with you, so be careful’, right? 

Lelouch : You got it. I’m counting on you, P1. Put N1 and N2 into Pattern DELTA. 

Hong Yu: Ho-kay, now the real thing begins. Think you got it, Liu Ki? 

Liu Ki: It’ll be no problem. I’ll just be playing the koto here. 

Hong Yu: Then let’s get right to it! 

The 'My Room' music stars up in the background, implying Liu Ki started playing the koto. The song itself doesn't seem to have a koto part within it, but I guess they didn't have the budget to get another song.

Nunnally: What a beautiful melody… 

Gigi: Yeah, her playing sounds gorgeous and powerful… Along with that, Hong Yu’s dancing is also amazing. 

Hong Yu: Hey, what’s the matter, do you just wanna watch me? Let’s all dance together!

2 ghosts appear behind him, seeming to join in the traditional Chinese dance Hong Yu was doing to the music.

Gigi: Ah, the ghosts started dancing too… Kind of? I’m unfamiliar with this kind of dance, but the ghosts seem to enjoy it! 

Al (internal thoughts): I’m not sure what it is, but this feels more like a campfire than a Halloween party.

Nunnally: As long as the ghosts are having fun, then that’s all that really matters. 

Gigi: Heehee. Nunna-chan, I’m so glad you’re having fun too. 

Nunnally: Ah, I did it… Again…

Lelouch then walks over to talk with Nunnally and Gigi.

Lelouch: Hong Yu and the others seem to be doing well. 

Al: Huh? Is the kitchen holding up alright? 

Lelouch: I used up all the ingredients I had for Hong Yu earlier. It’s canceled now. 

Nunnally: Thank you for all your hard work, big brother. 

Lelouch: Yeah, and thanks for yours Nunnally. It was a nice and polite process. 

Gigi: Heey, I did my best too y’know. 

Lelouch: Yes yes, you all have done a lot of work. However, we can’t give up just yet. This is the final phase of our grand finale. 

Al: Are Liu Ki and Hong Yu going to be alright? Everyone seems to have fallen in love with Hong Yu’s dancing. 

Lelouch: Yea… Even so, I was a little shocked. 

Gigi: Huh? By what? 

Lelouch: I knew Liu Ki was good at the koto, but I didn’t know Hong Yu was such a good dancer… 

We then cut to Liu Ki with Hong Yu and the ghosts dancing, along with the Jack O' Lantern hiding in the back menacingly.

Nunnally: Hong Yu dancing while Liu Ki plays the koto… Goodness, I’m a little jealous. 

Lelouch: Nunnally… Right, wasn’t there definitely a piano in Fimbulwinter? 

Al: Huh? Yeah. There’s a grand piano sitting alone in an empty field. 

Lelouch: What do you think, Nunnally? When we get back to Fimbulwinter, why don’t we play a duet for the first time in a while? 

Nunnally: Huh? Are you sure it's alright? 

The Jack O' Lantern shakes violently in the back.

Al: What the- it looks like the Jack O’ Lantern has moved. 

Nunnally: I’m so happy, big brother. 

Gigi: Oooh. Things seem to be improving somehow, so Gigi-chan would like to support this. 

Al: Are you thinking up something crazy again? 

Gigi: Nope. All Gigi-chan does is give a single push. It just triggers a chance. 

Al: What triggered this chance? 

Gigi: With this, Lelouch can now be thrown into the dancing circle! 

Lelouch: Huh! No, I… 

A violent rumble sounds off as Gigi shoves him onto the floor, Lelouch now disappearing out of sight.

Al: I see it now. If we’re gonna liven up the party, we have to dance too! 

Gigi: That’s the spirit! Come on, we’re going too, Nunna-chan! 

Nunnally: I-I’m going with you? 

Gigi: Well, of course! If we all need to have the same excitement, we’ll be missing out if someone doesn't dance. 

Hong Yu: Lelouch, you guys, over here! Looks like you all came to dance too! 

Lelouch: Damn! It can’t be helped if this happens. This is my first time seeing a classic Chinese dance… 

Lelouch then shakes along as he tries to copy the others' dancing.

Gigi: Huuh!? Lelouch, yo-you’re such a good dancer…! 

Hong Yu: Lelouch, you got this! Liu Sou always tried to get into dancing but he was no good. 

Lelouch: I am part of the royal family.. My mother trained me when I was very little. 

(AN: I don't think he learned traditional Chinese dances in particular, but I do remember hearing somewhere that he probably was taught ballet as a child along with the piano alongside his sister like previously mentioned which I guess here they explicitly state was by Marianne.)

Al: Wow, you’re no good at sports, so I guessed that you’re no good at dancing either… 

Lelouch: That’s naturally rude. More than that… 

Hong Yu: Oh, the ghosts became more active a while ago. I think it’s almost time for the climax. 

Liu Ki: Well then, how about this!? 

Nunnally: Did the music’s rhythm get faster? 

Gigi: This is soo exciting! 

The Jack O' Lantern growls in the back ominously.

Lelouch: Well, how about this, Jack O’ Lantern!

The Jack O' Lantern once again shakes furiously.

Al: Huh? 

Gigi: Huh? What? What? 

Crumbling noises proceed to fill the air as the room gets a little darker.

Al: The Jack O’ Lantern is…! 

Nunnally: …!? 

[universalcollisionleaks00]

Universal Collision: Meet the Adventurer Support Assists!

Name: Tsubaki Aoyagi

Class: 5★ (STELLAR AWAKENED Left: Rainy Night Detective | Right: Shana and the Blue Flame Hunter)

Summoner/Duo: Yes (Duo; Shana and the Blue Flame Hunter)

🎂Birthday🎂: No

Weapon Type: Katana / Gun (EX Weapon: Shanna's Double Blade & Lotus Fragrance)

Current character status: Released

Stellar Awakened Release: 2/28/2024 (Rainy Night Detective)

Info (From D4DJ wiki)

Tsubaki was asked to join the DJ unit, which was lacking a vocalist, by Aoi, and quickly attracted attention as soon as she joined. She is a born vocalist who has been humming melodies for as long as she can remember. She has a cold and harsh personality, although she hates being alone.

VC

(Rainy Night Detective) Singing is the only thing that I've got. - Water and Shadow type resistance of all enemies -30% (1 Turn) + Status Immunity (1 time) to all allies

(Shana and the Blue Flame Hunter) I'm Shana, a Flame Haze who has bound a contract with Alastor, "Flame of Heaven." - (Tsubaki) Water type slash attack on a single enemy (XL) & Pursuit attack with (Shana) Fire type slash attack on a single enemy (XL)

Skills / Abilities

(Rainy Night Detective)

Lunatic (Sacrifice) - Activate Lunatic (Sacrifice) on user, DEF and M.DEF and convert them into ATK and M.ATK respectively.

Indigo Flame ★☆☆ - Combined Shadow and Fire magic attack on all enemies (L) + shadow and fire type resistance of all enemies -75% (3 turns) + next move: Indigo Flame ★★☆

* Indigo Flame ★★☆ - Combined Shadow and Fire magic attack on all enemies (L) + shadow and fire type resistance of all enemies -100% (3 turns) + critical attacks of all allies +30% (6 turns) + next move: Indigo Flame ★★★

* Indigo Flame ★★★ - Combined Shadow and Fire magic attack on all enemies (L) + shadow and fire type resistance of all enemies -150% (3 turns) + critical attacks of all allies +70% (6 turns) + reset back to Indigo Flame ★☆☆

Film of truth - Combined Shadow, Water, and Fire type magic attack on all enemies (XL) + physical and type resistance, and physical and magic attacks of enemies -25% (3 Turns)

If Prayer is stacked, consume Prayer to extend all frontline + subline lunatic users by 3 turns upon activating Lunatic

Calendula - Shadow type magic attack on a single enemy x5 (M) + increase strength (Max: x80 of strength) and number of attacks (Max: x10) if used consecutively

(Passive) Prayer - Upon Battle start, if user is in frontline, stack prayer on user.

Prayer effect: Magic attacks of user +30% but physical attacks of strongest P.ATK user -30%

(Story Passive) Unrecorded Futures Unrecorded Fragment increase - Increases the number of Unrecorded Memory Fragments by +20%

Stellar Awakened Skills/Abilities

(Stellar Skill) Ultramarino Flor Seca - Weapon attacks of all allies +200% (5 Turns) + Piercing attack on all enemies (3XL) + Water type Magic attack on all enemies x2 (3XL) + Ignore target's defense

- When in Stellar Burst: Perform Ultramarino Flor Seca: Träumerei instead

(Stellar Burst) Ultramarino Flor Seca: Träumerei - Weapon attacks of all allies +400% (10 Turns) + Piercing attack on all enemies (5XL) + Water type Magic attack on all enemies x4 (5XL) + Ignore target's defense + Remove all enemy buffs

- Increased damage if enemy resists attack

- Attack again if enemy resists attack (Until enemy is defeated)

(Passive) Stellar Awakening Fill Ability - When there are 3 or more Unrecorded Futures party members on the front line:

User's Stellar Burst Gauge Fill rate increases (M)

(Passive) Stellar Awakening Activation Ability - When Stellar Burst is activated with user and Gauge has majority shadow:

Type and Piercing resistance of all enemies -50% (Current Turn Only)

(Shana and the Blue Flame Hunter)

Dual Element Blade: Light and Dark - Combined Fire and Crystal type slash attack on a single enemy x2 (S) + Type attacks of all allies +70% (3 Moves) + Increase amount of damage if used consecutively (S>>M>>L>>XL>>2XL)

If Prayer is stacked, consume Prayer to extend all frontline + subline lunatic users by 3 turns upon activating Lunatic + grant Lunatic (Sacrifice) to all users (3 Turns)

Flame of the demon - (Shana) Fire type slash attack on all enemies x3 (XL) + Restore all statuses (Excluding Time Stopper & Holy Weapon) + (Tsubaki) Crystal type slash attack on all enemies x3 (XL) + Inflict megapoison (permanent)

(Story Passive) Unrecorded Futures Unrecorded Fragment increase - Increases the number of Unrecorded Memory Fragments by +20%

[favoritemtgcard-supplemental]

Every Nomination In Alphabetical Order

Aether Vial

Aetherflux Reservoir

Agatha's Soul Cauldron

Akroma, Vision of Ixidor

Alesha, Who Smiles at Death

Altered Ego

Aragorn, Company Leader

Arcades, the Strategist

Arcane Denial

Arcbond

Arcbound Crusher

Archangel Avacyn

Archive Trap

Arclight Phoenix

Armored Armadillo

Ashiok, Dream Render

Ashling the Pilgrim

Ashnod, Flesh Mechanist

Asmoranomardicadaistinaculdacar

Astarion's Thirst

Athreos, God of Passage

Atraxa, Grand Unifier

Augur of Autumn

Auramancer

Avatar of Me

Bakersbane Duo

Baleful Strix

Ball Lightning

Bane Alley Broker

Baylen, the Haymaker

Bearscape

Bioshift

Biovisionary

Bitterblossom

Black Lotus

Blasphemous Act

Blazing Archon

Boldwyr Intimidator

Bonecrusher Giant

Bovine Intervention

Brainstorm

Brash Taunter

Breach the Multiverse

Breaker of Armies

Brilliant Restoration

Brute Suit

Cadira, Caller of the Small

Canyon Minotaur

Capashen Knight

Captain N'ghathrod

Captivating Crew

Carnivorous Plant

Chainsaw

Chandra, Dressed to Kill

Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh

Chandra, Torch of Defiance

Chandra's Regulator

Chaos Warp

Chatter of the Squirrel

Chatterfang, Squirrel General

Cheatyface

Chub Toad

Collected Company

Colossal Dreadmaw

Colossification

Colossus Hammer

Comet, Stellar Pup

Conjurer's Closet

Conqueror's Galleon

Consecrated Sphinx

Consuming Aberration

Corpsejack Menace

Counterspell

Crackle with Power

Craterhoof Behemoth

Cruel Ultimatum

Cryptic Command

Cryptid Inspector

Cut Your Losses

Damnation

Dance of the Manse

Dapper Shieldmate

Daretti, Scrap Savant

Dark Depths

Dark Ritual

Darksteel Colossus

Darksteel Myr

Darksteel Relic

Dawnfluke

Daze

Death's Shadow

Deathbonnet Sprout

Delver of Secrets

Demand Answers

Diplomatic Escort

Dollmaker's Shop/Porcelain Gallery

Doom Blade

Doomsday

Doubling Season

Dragon's Rage Channeler

Drakuseth, Maw of Flames

Dryad of the Ilysian Grove

Dueling Rapier

Dutiful Thrull

Earl of Squirrel

Earthbind

Ebon Praetor

Echo of Eons

Edge of Autumn

Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim

Elderscale Wurm

Electrickery

Elesh Norn

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite

Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines

Elspeth, Sun's Champion

Elvish Visionary

Emrakul, the Aeons Torn

Emrakul, the Promised End

Enchanted Evening

Enormous Baloth

Enter the Dungeon

Enthralling Victor

Etali, Primal Conqueror

Etali, Primal Storm

Eternal Dominion

Exterminatus

Extremely Slow Zombie

Ezuri, Claw of Progress

Faithless Looting

Fiery Emancipation

Firestorm

Flameborn Viron

Flickerwisp

Floral Spuzzem

Flubs, the Fool

Fog Bank

Forest

Fortress Crab

Fumiko the Lowblood

Gallia of the Endless Dance

Galvanic Blast

Generous Gift

Ghalta, Primal Hunger

Ghired, Conclave Exile

Ghoulcaller Gisa

Giant Growth

Gift of Orzhova

Gifts Ungiven

Gigantosaurus

Gisa, Glorious Resurrector

Gisela, the Broken Blade

Gitaxian Probe

Glimmerpost

Gnat Miser

Goblin Chainwhirler

God-Pharaoh's Statue

Godo's Irregulars

Goldberry, River-Daughter

Golgothian Sylex

Gonti, Lord of Luxury

Grand Arbiter Augustin IV

Greasefang, Okiba Boss

Greta, Sweettooth Scourge

Grindclock

Grist, the Hunger Tide

Grusilda, Monster Masher

Gush

Gut Shot

Halana and Alena, Partners

Halcyon Glaze

Half-Kitten, Half-

Hamlet Glutton

Heartbeat of Spring

Heliod, Sun-Crowned

Hellkite Tyrant

Hero of Goma Fada

Hexdrinker

Hibernation's End

Holy Cow

Homicidal Seclusion

Hot Soup

How To Keep An Izzet Mage Busy

Ilharg, the Raze-Boar

Indestructible Aura

Inflation Station

Inkmoth Nexus

Introduction to Prophecy

Invoke the Firemind

Irencrag Pyromancer

Island

It That Betrays

Ixhel, Scion of Atraxa

Jace, the Mind Sculptor

Jaya Ballard, Task Mage

Jeska's Will

Jetmir, Nexus of Revels

Jhoira of the Ghitu

Jon Irenicus, Shattered One

Kangee, Aerie Keeper

Karn, Silver Golem

Karn, the Great Creator

Karn's Temporal Sundering

Killer Bees

Kiln Fiend

Kodama of the East Tree

Kor Skyfisher

Koth of the Hammer

Krenko, Mob Boss

Kruphix, God of Horizons

Kuldotha Phoenix

Lich's Mastery

Lightning Bolt

Liliana Vess

Liliana, Heretical Healer

Llanowar Elves

Loam Larva

Long-Term Plans

Looter il-Kor

Lord of the Void

Lord of Tresserhorn

Lotleth Troll

Loxodon Warhammer

Luminous Broodmoth

Lux Cannon

Lyra Dawnbringer

Maarika, Brutal Gladiator

Mabel, Heir to Cragflame

Madcap Skills

Magus of the Moon

Mana Tithe

Mantis Rider

March of the Multitudes

Massacre Girl

Master Biomancer

Maze of Ith

Maze's End

Mechanized Production

Megatog

Mindbreak Trap

Mishra, Lost to Phyrexia

Mishra's War Machine

Mogg Sentry

Moltensteel Dragon

Monastery Swiftspear

Mother of Goons

Mountain

Mulldrifter

Murder

Murmuring Mystic

Mycoloth

Myr Superion

Myrel, Shield of Argive

Mysterious Egg

Nahiri, the Harbinger

Narset, Enlightened Master

Nethroi, Apex of Death

Nimbus Swimmer

Niv-Mizzet, Parun

Nyx-Fleece Ram

Obeka, Splitter of Seconds

Obsidian Fireheart

Okiba Reckoner Raid

Oko, Thief of Crowns

Olivia Voldaren

Omnath, Locus of All

Omnath, Locus of Creation

Omnath, Locus of Mana

Omnath, Locus of Rage

Omnath, Locus of the Roil

Omnivorous Flytrap

Oni-Cult Anvil

Oona, Queen of the Fae

Oracle of the Alpha

Panglacial Wurm

Panharmonicon

Perplexing Chimera

Phage the Untouchable

Phalanx Leader

Phyrexian Dreadnought

Phyrexian Gargantua

Phyrexian Unlife

Plague Myr

Plague Rats

Plains

Planar Portal

Ponder

Pontiff of Blight

Possibility Storm

Pouncing Shoreshark

Price of Progress

Prime Speaker Vannifar

Primeval Titan

Primordial Hydra

Prismari Command

Prodigal Sorcerer

Progenitus

Pyromancer Ascension

Queza, Augur of Agonies

Rage Forger

Raging Goblin

Ral, Crackling Wit

Rancor

Raugrin Triome

Renegade Rallier

Reprisal

Repudiate/Replicate

Rhys the Redeemed

Riku of Two Reflections

Rin and Seri, Inseparable

Rise of the Hobgoblins

Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh

Rona, Herald of Invasion

Rowan, Scion of War

Run Away Together

Ruthless Negotiation

Ruthless Technomancer

Ryusei, the Falling Star

Sakura-Tribe Elder

Satoru Umezawa

Savor the Moment

Scragnoth

Scute Mob

Secret Rendezvous

Seedtime

Selesnya Evangel

Shabraz, the Skyshark

Shadow of Doubt

Sharktocrab

Shock

Slickshot Show-Off

Slime Against Humanity

Sliver Legion

Smothering Tithe

Snapcaster Mage

Sol Ring

Solemn Simulacrum

Soraya the Falconer

Soul-Guide Lantern

Soulmates

Spike Breeder

Spined Fluke

Spy Kit

Star of Extinction

Stasis

Stifle

Stoneforge Mystic

Storm Crow

Stormtide Leviathan

Storybook Ride

Stuffy Doll

Sun Titan

Supreme Verdict

Surgical Extraction

Swamp

Swirling Sandstorm

Swords to Plowshares

Takklemaggot

Tamiyo, Inquisitive Student

Tamiyo, the Moon Sage

Tarmogoyf

Tempt with Bunnies

Tendershoot Dryad

Teshar, Ancestor's Apostle

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

Thalia, Heretic Cathar

Thallid

Thassa, Deep-Dwelling

Thassa's Oracle

The Cheese Stands Alone

The Gitrog Monster

The Infamous Cruelclaw

The One Ring

Thoughtseize

Thragtusk

Thrashing Brontodon

Thrill of Possibility

Throes of Chaos

Tibalt, the Fiend-Blooded

Time Stop

Titanic Ultimatum

Toby, Beastie Befriender

Topplegeist

Tormented Soul

Totally Lost

Tough Cookie

Trading Post

Tragic Slip

Triumph of the Hordes

Trueheart Duelist

Typhoid Rats

Unable to Scream

Underrealm Lich

Unexpected Results

Unlicensed Disintegration

Unsummon

Urabrask

Urza, Academy Headmaster

Urza, Lord High Artificer

Urza's Ruinous Blast

Utopia Mycon

Vengeful Dead

Vexing Devil

Veyran, Voice of Duality

Vile Aggregate

Village Rites

Vizzerdrix

Vorinclex

Vraska, Betrayal's Sting

Vraska, Relic Seeker

Vraska, Scheming Gorgon

Warleader's Call

Waste Not

Wedding Announcement

Wedding Invitation

Weight Advantage

Westvale Abbey

Whirler Rogue

Will-o'-the-Wisp

Witness Protection

Wood Elves

Wordmail

Wurmcoil Engine

Xira, the Golden Sting

Yargle, Glutton of Urborg

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician

Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign

Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful

Zhur-Taa Goblin

Zoetic Cavern

[sureira]

Torbran, Doubler

Decklist: Torbran, Thane of Red Fell *CMDR*36 Lands: 36 Dwarven Mine Mountain (x 31) Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx Reliquary Tower Rogue’s Passage Temple of the False God25 Creatures: 20 Angrath's Marauders Auntie Blyte, Bad Influence Bedlam Reveler Bonecrusher Giant Chandra's Spitfire Consulate Skygate Dragonmaster Outcast Efreet Flamepainter Electrostatic Field Fiendish Duo Fortune Thief Guttersnipe Heartless Hidetsugu Magus of the Wheel Malignus Runaway Steam-Kin Satyr Firedancer Smoldering Egg Young Pyromancer38 Non-Creatures: 38 Anger of the Gods Annihilating Fire Blasphemous Act Browbeat Chaos Warp Conjurer's Bauble Crimson Wisps Demonfire Descent of the Dragons Desperate Ritual Disintegrate Dragon Fodder Empty the Warrens Expedite Flame Javelin Gratuitous Violence Insult // Injury Jaya Ballard Lightning Bolt Lightning Greaves Lightning Strike Magma Jet Mizzium Mortars Overblaze Overmaster Punishing Fire Pyretic Ritual Pyromancer's Goggles Quietus Spike Risk Factor Ruby Medallion Scytheclaw Skullclamp Shock Sol Ring Spikefield Hazard Swiftfoot Boots Thought Vessel

Tallies: High Cost: 15/20 Angrath's Marauders Descent of the Dragons Efreet Flamepainter Empty the Warrens Fiendish Duo Fortune Thief Gratuitous Violence Heartless Hidetsugu Jaya Ballard Junktroller Malignus Overblaze Pyromancer's Goggles Scytheclaw Torbran, Thane of Red FellProtection: Lightning Greaves Swiftfoot BootsDraw/Tutor: Bedlam Reveler Conjurer's Bauble Crimson Wisps Disintegrate Overmaster Risk Factor SkullclampRecursion: Conjurer's Bauble Junktrolle MayberBoard Wipes: Anger of the Gods Blasphemous Act BrowbeatSpot Removal: Descent of the Dragons Disintegrate Lightning Bolt Lightning Strike Magma Jet ShockFlying: ORamp/Rituals: Pyromancer's Goggles Ruby Medallion Runaway Steam-Kin Sol Ring Spikefield Hazard Thought VesselExile: Annihilating Fire Spikefield HazardHidetsugu Backups: Malignus Quietus Spike ScytheclawGratuitous Violence Backups: Angrath's Marauders Fiendish Duo Insult // Injury OverblazeSpell Slinging: 22 Anger of the Gods Annihilating Fire Blasphemous Act Browbeat Crimson Wisps Demonfire Descent of the Dragons Disintegrate Dragon Fodder Empty the Warrens Expedite Flame Javelin Insult // Injury Lightning Bolt Lightning Strike Magma Jet Mizzium Mortars Overmaster Punishing Fire Risk Factor Shock Spikefield Hazard

Maybe: -Aethersphere Harvester-Bitter Feud-Blood Moon-Bolt of Keranos-Brainstone-Brash Taunter-Burn Trail-Burning Earth-Chain Lightning-Chandra, Fire of Kaladesh-Chandra's Phoenix-Command Beacon-Curse of Bloodletting-Custodian of the Trove-Dangerous Wager-Desperate Gambit-Dictate of the Twin Gods-Embereth Shieldbreaker-Embermaw Hellion-Fire Servant-Flare-Fork-Furnace of Rath-Goblin Goliath-Goblin Offensive-Goblin Rally-Hedron Archive-Hordeling Outburst-Incendiary Flow-Infiltration Lens-Invoke Calamity *-Koth of the Hammer-Koth, Fire of Resistance-Kuldotha Rebirth-Magmatic Insight-Mana Geyser-Needle Drop-Nesting Dragon-Nyx Lotus-Past in Flames-Pillar of Flame-Play with Fire-Quest for Pure Flame-Reliquary Tower-Reverberate-Searing Blood-Seething Song- Solphim, Mayhem Dominus-Sunbird's Invocation- Uncivil Unrest-Valakut Awakening-Vandalblast-Violent Eruption-Wall of Torches-Wheel of Fate-Warlord's Fury

[justsomeboredgirl]

heyy i know cucumberplane duo is fuckin iconic but listen:

sqq -> peerless cucumber

sqh -> airplane shooting towards the sky

i feel like we're missing one ya know?? we don't have eggplant yet so I PETITIONED

mu qingfang -> username : Eggplant69

TRANSMIGRATOR MQF WHO IS A MEDICAL STUDENT SUDDENLY CHUCKED INTO ANCIENT CHINA AND KEEP STRESSING HIMSELF OUT BC tRaDiTiOnAl cHiNeSe MeDiCinE is gonna be the DEATH OF HIM

mqf : *pulling his hair out* no listen system i got into tsinghua university okay?! im fuckin smart and i know this so GIVE ME BACK MODERN MEDICINE BC THIS ORIENTAL SHIT IS FUCKIN ME UP

also mqf : hmmm interesting how qi can be used for healing but the plants here are fuckin ridiculous 🙄 like what the hell is blooming thosand petal ice lotus

mqf again : bitch motherfuckin ass omfg you lot have a fuckin fever how the fuck fuckin SEX is gonna cure u?!?!?! JUST TAKE A DAMN PARACETAMOL ("host, paracetamol does not exist in ancient china" "watch me bitch")

and when he meet shang qinghua, mqf just lost it and throttle sqh

mqf : bitch do u even have biology in highschool?! how is this all fuckin possible

sqh : *sobs* BRO THIS IS A XIANXIA STALLION NOVEL SET IN ANCIENT CHINA I JUST WING IT OKAY

mqf : *frustated scream*

when he sqq he just gave up and accept what the hell is his life and 99% of the time IGNORES(TM) shit

and then the unholy trio of transmigator was born and the world went into flames

mfq fav phrase was "I GOT INTO TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY OKAY I KNOW SHIT PEOPLE"

[stellawolfearts]

Dynamic Names (WIP)

These are all dynamics that I care about enough to either draw or write about. they are on this list because they have (or will have) a tag on my blog.

Some of these are silly and thought about for two seconds others i put some thought into it and yeah...you can tell which are which.

(i need to fix some of these tags)

---

Romantic/Qpr Relationships

Macaque and Wukong-Shadowpeaches

Xiaotian and Redson-Spicynoodles

---

Friendships/Familial

Xiaotian ,Xiaojiao ,Nezha ,Wukong and Macaque-

Xiaotian and Nezha-Dawn Duo

Xiaojiao and Nezha- Azaleas

Wukong and Nezha-Sunset Duo

Xiatian Xiaojiao and Nezha-Spring Gardens

Redson, Xiaotian, Xiaojiao and Nezha-Disco lights

Redson, Xaiotian, Xiaojioa, Nezha and Bai he-Rainbow Children

Macaque and Nezha-Purple Hyacinths

Macaque and Tang-Historical Inaccuracies

Macaque and Xiaotian-

Macaque Wukong and Xiaotian-

Macaque and Xiaojiao-

Macaque and Princess Iron fan-

Macaque and Spider Queen- Poison shadows

Macaque, Spider Queen and Princess iron fan-Gossip Gang/ or the talk shit about Wukong club

Spider Queen and Xiaotian-

Spider Queen and Xiaojiao-

Spider queen and Nezha-Purple Delphinium

Spider Queen and Redson-

Redson and Xiaojiao-Dragonflame

Xiaojiao and Xiaotian-

Bai he and Xiaotian-

Bai he and Xiaojiao-

Bai he and Redson-Blue flames

Bai he and Wukong-Freezing scars

Bai he and Macaque-Frozen bonds

Bai he and Nezha-Blue Lotus

Bai he, Xiaotian, Nezha, Xiaojiao, Wukong, Macaque-

----------------------------

The whole HC Monkie kid family include

Wukong-parent #1

Macaque-Parent #2

Tang-Parent #3

Pigsy-Parent #4

-

Spider Queen-Auntie

Sandy-Uncle

Princess iron fan-Mother in law

DBK-father in lawn

-

Nezha-Eldest son and eldest sibling

Xiaojiao-Eldest daughter

Xiaotian-Youngest son

Bai he-Youngest daughter and youngest sibling

-

Redson-Xiaotians Boyfriend and see's Xiaotians siblings as his own, especially Mei.

Still working on this so it will be edited

[writer-and-artist27]

[Image Description: Four screenshots from Fate/Grand Order showing in order, (1) the Bond Level Up screen for Berserker Miyamoto Musashi, where her Bond Level has gone up from 9 to 10; (2) the “Craft Essence Extracted” screen that shows Musashi’s Max Bond Craft Essence of "The Summer I Will Never Forget"; (3) a screenshot of Musashi’s Servant card, with emphasis on all 10 of her bond diamonds in the level screen being filled and about to be enhanced to Bond 11; and (4) a “Bond Level Limit Released” screen that shows Musashi's Bond Level limit being broken to reach Level 11. End Description.]

We're nearing summer again with this post (5/16/2022), and with that comes another Bond 10 - this time for the one Summer Servant I've been relying on since she came home to my Chaldea in the Summer 4 event last year.

Thank you for fighting for so long, Shii-chan. In farming embers, killing bosses, and just being you. I hope the time we've had has been worth it, because it's definitely been that way for me. Not just "data lost" in the Spirit Origin List.

Out of the original Big Seven, that's five down, two left to go for Bond 10s. Four, if we're counting the extra duo too.

And with all Bond 10 celebrations, I have to follow up with a story, right? Song included.

---------------------------------

Ever since leaving home, Musashi never took anything for granted. Lodging, food, water, even kindness. That's what happened after missing out on the Pruning Theoretical Phenomenon. Which is why she was not expecting to be summoned after that summer in Las Vegas, allowed to stay in Novum Chaldea like any other Servant.

Being in Novum Chaldea was like she could take things for granted again. Like she could live again.

Her journey was supposed to meet its end after Las Vegas. Vy's journey was the one destined to be boundless, not hers. But if there was one thing Musashi learned since getting stuck in a swimsuit for a Berserker Spirit Origin, Vy was stubborn.

So, so stubborn, even when holding up a Bond Chalice with its rainbow flames in Musashi's direction.

"...You're sure about this, Master?" left Musashi's lips before she could stop it, holding back a dry chuckle at the confused look the younger woman gave her with a tilt of her head. "I'm a selfish person, y'know. Not so much a hero but someone who might drain your wallet dry from how much I eat. Yet," Musashi jerked her head towards the gold cup in Vy's hands, putting a hand on her hip. "You're still willing to give me something as valuable as that?"

To Musashi's surprise, a pout formed on Vy's face as she stomped her foot against the floor, the black mantle of her Mage's Association fluttering with the motion. "Don't say the same thing as your Saber self, Shii-chan. I already cried my eyes out enough with that."

"Wait, wait, wait." Musashi wasn't expecting that response either, and she found herself cracking her knuckles before she realized it. "What did my Saber self say? Do I need to challenge her to another udon-eating contest?"

"Don't you even dare try to make an excuse to get out of this." Vy rolled her eyes while shaking her head, a wry smile of her own forming on her face with the movement. "Your Saber self one time said in Shimosa that she was a selfish person. That I might have a hard time, even if she got a different Spirit Origin."

"Ah."

"But still." Vy raised the Bond Chalice up in Musashi's direction again, nearly pushing it into the Berserker's cheek out of sheer stubbornness if not for the fond glint in her brown eyes past her glasses. "I wouldn't be giving this to you if I didn't love you, Shii-chan."

Musashi froze, her hand on her hip falling to her side limply.

"Sure, there's lots of things about you. Selfish, sword-loving, dense, but still recklessly cool," Vy added after a moment, a flustered shade of pink starting to climb up what Musashi could see of her neck past the brown ponytail and lotus hair clip. "And you didn't have to stay with me throughout Shimosa and Las Vegas, Shii-chan. But you did, and I couldn't help but love you after that. So the least I could do to show that is just give you one of the most valuable things Chaldea has to offer after a Holy Grail, right? And," Vy paused almost for extra effect, exposing some teeth with another smile. "You can't eat udon out of this cup!"

"Vy..." A few blinks revealed mist starting to form in the corners of Musashi's eyes. "I..."

"Oh. Silly, silly Shii-chan," Vy giggled, shaking her head while reaching over with one hand to grab one of Musashi's own, gently depositing the Chalice in her limp palm. "When will you get it through your head that even if Humanity turned its back on you, I'm not gonna? There's no other reason I would've Grailed you otherwise. I love you."

Musashi felt her nose seize up before she was tossing the Chalice aside to tug at Vy's mantle sleeves. The young woman was yelping, a bit of snot may or may not have started forming somewhere, but it was something once Vy was safely nestled in Musashi's front. "You... You really are stubborn, aren't you?" Musashi wasn't sure if she was laughing or sobbing. She still kept a hand on the back of Vy's head, holding her close while wrapping her other arm around Vy's waist. "What is a swords practitioner supposed to do with a little riceball like you, Vy?"

Thin arms carefully wrapped around Musashi's back in return, being careful of the many straps keeping her swimsuit together as another giggle echoed between them. "Just take the affection, Shii-chan," was the warm whisper in her ear, Vy's figure shuddering underneath Musashi's arm, most definitely from standing on her tiptoes to meet Musashi's height. "If we're all riceballs, it's hard to see the pickled plums on each others' backs. I can see yours and remind you it's there, at least. It's what friends do."

"That so..." Musashi ducked her head to press her cheek against the top of Vy's hair, barely able to keep the hitch in her voice away. "Then that's the same for me, Master. My little riceball."

Even if her Saber self was the one who came up with the nickname first, it was fitting.

Riceballs were the most simple and tasty offerings from Japanese cuisine. And with her thin arms and short stature, Vy was an example of one of the best. Tiny, but plentifully packed with the nutrients of stubbornness and love.

[only-lurkin-dont-mind-me]

The Path of Loyalty is Paved in Blood

While I enjoy reading Mostly fluff pieces, it seems as though whenever I write it always ends up... a little angsty (mostly with a happy end though, I’m not heartless)

@chiliiscereal

TW: Blood. Injury. Character death(s)

The night had been cold when you first met them, you remembered it well. You were still so young, so were they. You had been wandering the empty park in the later hours of the night, wandering aimlessly until you heard other children's laughter. Short stubby legs racing to find where the noises were coming from, the chattering grew louder as you made your way to a single basketball court. 

As you looked past the shrubbery dotting the edges of the court, you saw them, four brothers smiling and laughing in delight as they passed the ball around in what seemed to be a game of catch. You were too young to even think of how they looked different from you. Instead, you stood in place, wondering if you could join in their game. 

When the smallest of the group lost his aim and ended up throwing the ball into the same bushes that hid you, you took it as your cue.

"Mikey!" one of them laughed gleefully, "I'm over here; you gotta throw it to me!" 

"I'm doing my best Leo, catch better!" the other replied in turn as you grabbed the ball. Slowly you walked to the edge of the chalk outlined court, ball in hand, looking around nervously. You could hear them walking towards you. You only looked up when the biggest of the group spoke to you with a cheerful tone as you bounced the ball towards him.

"Nice find, I thought we lost it that time." Despite being the largest out of his brothers, he was smaller than you with a big grin. You couldn't help but smile back; yeah, they seemed like fun. 

Taking another step forward, you finally found your voice, "Can I play too?" You asked with a bright smile, one that was matched by the kid that had two red stripes by his eyes. 

He was quick to move to your side and grab your arm, pulling you along while exclaiming loudly, "New friend's on my team!"

"What?!"

"No fair!"

"NO TAKE-BACKS!" 

The darkened smoke-filled skies hid the sun from sight. You watched your heavy breaths rise into a cold mist, glowering at the looming threat that towered over you. You thought of that moment, of each and every moment you had cherished with this found family of yours.

The common tradition that came with sleeping over in the lair, you and Mikey would go straight to the kitchen, baking tools in your grasp as you both set about designing something that would be amazing. The music had been loud as you both danced around each other, tossing stencils back and forth, drawing out ideas for cake designs. Taking turns kicking the others out each time one of the brothers tried to infiltrate and sneak off with the tasty decorative pieces. "You know-" Mikey had spoken in an easy tone as you both worked on the final touches of the nights' creation. "-it really is fun getting to do this stuff with you, you're my favorite crafting buddy!" He would say while throwing an arm around your shoulders, beaming smile and all.

As the cold air of the storm seeped around you, fighting off the burning heat from the creature, you snarled at the beast above you, fist clenched, widening your stance, placing yourself directly between it and your family that lay in a bloodied and far too silent heap just behind you.

Another late night with Donnie, hiding out in the lab trying to be as quiet as possible while watching old horror movies. You could never be scared of them whenever watching them with the purple-clad turtle. "See? See?! right there, it's a big ass wire holding the doll up can you believe it!" You had jumped on him, covering his mouth to stop the roaring laughter from waking up everyone else in the lair. In the same fashion, he had covered your mouth to help you bite back the same laughter. shoving your hands away to keep his commentary up, "The blood looks like it's just water mixed with ketchup!" He had wheezed out. Throwing popcorn and chips at each other to try and silence each other in the strangest attempted stealthy food fight as the ridiculous horror movie played on. 

You could feel the ache in your bones as the rain and ash pelted your skin, your muscles wanting nothing more than to give out. You knew that the only thing keeping you going was adrenalin and a deep-rooted instinct to guard and stand by your family. As the blood dripped from your wounds down your person into a puddle on the ground, you planted yourself in place. Standing firm and unyielding.

Evenings with Raph, sitting with him on the floor of his room, holding his trembling hands together as he held a paper flower in his palms. 'The Beauty of Origami' laid open on the ground next to you both, Raph had asked you to go over the instructions and make the simple lotus flower first so he could see the steps in person. As he stared at it now it seemed so small and fragile in his larger hands. "You can do this, Raph. Paper is easy, it takes a light touch and that's it. Even if you mess up it's alright. It won't hurt anything if you tear a piece or two, we'll just try again." He finally looked to you, absolute trust in his eyes as he nodded. Gingerly placing your flower down in front of him, Raph took the piece of colorful paper from you, and he began to craft. 

You felt every emotion at once rising from within you, faithful love for your family, Warmth from all of the small moments you held close to your heart with them. You could physically feel your spirit rise in a violent force to defend them, this wasn't just a group of brothers. This was yours, your family. 

"Hurry up, if you don't get in here already the dynamic duo is going to be a dynamic uno. I will leave you behind if Raph finds you in the kitchen this late!" Leo whisper yelled as he stood halfway through the portal that leads to who knows where. You could only throw the bag of chips at him as you rushed his way, food, and drinks in tote. As a heavy set of footsteps slowly sounded through the hallway you saw Leo's eyes widen, He lunged forward, wrapping an arm around your torso, and pulled you through the portal with a laugh. As the world brightened once again to reveal a quiet cliffside, you could hear the water below. "Come on bestie, help me set everything up." So it would go, snacks, drinks, a blanket to lay on, and an endless sky of start to watch, fake constellations to make up and give stories too.

The beast let out a crashing roar as it stomped the ash-covered ground in front of you. You could feel the force of what felt like many in your words as you bellowed a wordless, hateful cry. You could feel tears rushing down your face now. Still, you remained in place. "This is my family! You will not touch them!" Thunder booming as your voice sounded. The storm only growing as though it was lashing out in your own emotional state.

Your ferocity faltered as you felt a hand reach out to rest against your ankle. You risked a glance behind you, looking down to see that it was Leo, you could see his bloodied mouth trying to move, unable to form the words, and tears falling down his bruised face. his hand shook from the effort of trying to grab hold of you. His eyes were desperate, tired, near lifeless. He wasn't going to tell you to fight, or to run. He was just... Scared. Of existing at this moment alone. 

You looked to the beast with a burning, hateful, wrath. You growled towards the creature as you turned your back to it. Instead of fighting fruitlessly with your last breath, you allowed your body to fall to the ground. Hitting your knees as everything you had was finally given out. 

You leaned against Raph’s side unable to feel for his normally pounding heartbeat. resting an arm on top of him to hold onto Mikey's limp hand, squeezing lightly, waiting for a responding squeeze that you knew would never come. Stretching your other arm over Leo's back to reach for Donnie, resting a hand on his chest, feeling for his slow heartbeat, only to be met with a cold lack of the familiar rhythm. Finally, you let yourself slump forward onto Leo's upper shell. You pressed the side of your head against his, no longer holding back the anguished broken cries. You felt his arm wrapping around your shoulders desperately as he tried to catch any breath he could. You could hear his crackling breathing slow as his body began to relax.

This was your family, you had found them when you were young. You had grown up with them. Celebrated with them at their best and mourned with them at their worst. You would find a permanent rest with them. You would stay until your final breath gave out and beyond. 

You called out their names softly in turn, waiting for any response. 

Nothing. 

You closed your eyes, knowing that this was where you belonged. Besides your family, till the end. As you allowed your body to finally rest, you held tight where you could. Allowing what final strength you possessed to be poured into a final declaration. "... I love you."

You could hear the fading noise of the beast finally getting closer, you had a feeling though that none of you would feel the burning as its molten fire gathered in its gut, its maw unhinged, the fading light of its flames shines and-

...

"HEY!" Your eyes shot open as you sat upright, greeted by the sight of four smiling brothers, no equipment, no blood or bruising, not a single scar from their lifetimes marred their scales. They seemed, healthy, glowing even in a way you had never seen before. 

Leo kneeled next to you, Raph was standing tall with Mikey perched on his shoulders. Donnie standing a few steps behind them, looking outward along the treeline of what seemed to be a meadow, staring towards something that had caught his attention. 

"C'mon, Donnie says the river down there has got to lead to a lake or something." Raph gestured to where Donnie was looking. 

"Yeah, baby! We're gonna go for a swim, see what we can find out here." Mikey chimed in, hopping from Raph’s shoulders to the ground, snatching up Donnie and pulling him along in his excitement.

"Yes, do try to hurry though, Michel here just might leave us all behind if we take too long!" Donnie shouted back to you as he was dragged along.

Raph could only laugh as he raced to catch up with his younger brothers. 

Leo grabbed your arm, pulling you up easily with a relaxed grin. As soon as you were up he began walking in the direction his brothers left in. Once he realized you weren't walking with him, however. He stopped, turning to you with a knowing look. "Hey-" Leo reached out a hand to you. "You coming?" 

You stared at him, settling into yourself with a wave of newfound peace, you couldn't feel a single ache or pain, just a light airy happiness surrounding you and your family. You slowly reached out and took Leo's hand, smiling back at him with a shine in your eyes you could only remember having when you had first met a lifetime ago. "Of course I'm coming with you guys, I'm always right with you aren't I?"

Leo nodded with an amused snort. "Course you are, you're always with us, oh and by the way-" Leo pulled you along, walking at a leisurely pace, seeming to settle into this new place just as much as you had. "-We love you too."

[watch-grok-brainrot]

For the minific ask meme: Jiang Yanli and U. coming home.

So… I LOVE this prompt. Thank you !!! What i wanted to do with this took a few brain jumps. First, i wanted a story about soup and about Yanli feeling like her role is to use soup to stabilize everything and heal. Then, i thought about writing a dark Yanli that haunts JC -- but that’s so OOC I decided not to go there. Finally I settled on this. It has been in my head for over a month, trying to figure out how I want to write this. Thank you for your patience!

Earth Offical’s Pardoning

Rated G

Word Count: 1213 (+/- 5 because I never let things be)

Content: cql compliant not other adaptations/novel compliant, canonical characters being dead, family feels, sad JC, baby!jin ling, mention of food because when do i not mention food?, holidays, visiting people, watching her child growing up, childhood development milestones

----

Zhongyuan Festival. Earth Offical’s Pardoning. The fifteenth day of the seventh month. On this day, the doors of the underworld opened and Jiang Yanli found herself walking hand-in-hand with her husband towards the world of the living. 

They traveled first to Carp Tower. Zixuan wanted to unite with their son and his family before seeing A-Cheng. Their gossamer forms breezed over the tower stairs and into the main complex. The small lotus pond Zixuan had built for her was abandoned -- brown lotus stems and dried lily pads stuck out of drier ground. 

Zixuan squeezed her hand and they headed towards his family’s Ancestral Hall. Jin Guangyao was in the midst of orchestrating a grand ceremony to honor the ancestral spirits. Jin Ling could not be found. Zixuan stepped before his still grieving mother, knelt, kowtowed thrice with tears in his eyes. He then stood up and tried to comfort her with intangible hands; they trailed over her shoulders and cupped around her face. Jiang Yanli bit her lip and looked away. 

After half a shichen of listening to insufferable ceremonies, Jiang Yanli grew impatient. Zixuan noticed her anxious hands and returned by her side. Jiang Yanli took her husband’s hand, “Let’s go see A-Cheng and Ling’er.” 

Together they folded the fabric of existence and stepped over to Lotus Pier. Crossing the threshold, they flew over the familiar lotus motif of the training grounds, straightened and then landed before the sword practice hall. Walking down the wooden corridors, Jiang Yanli traced her fingers through the hated cracks and scorch marks left from the Sunshot Campaign. A-Cheng kept them intentionally, persevering their appearance. They served to motivate the new disciples, to guide people in righteousness, and to remind everyone what the sect had once lost.

She glided along the familiar winding paths, missing the way wood once felt beneath her feet. She loved the twists and turns, like life, like rivers, like fate. There was something comforting to the seemingly inefficient corridors of her childhood home. Zixuan trailed behind, commenting occasionally on the beauty of said home. 

A few lotus species remained in bloom in the late summer. Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan stopped to admire the multi-layered ombre hues; their bodies hovering over the flowers, their hands failing to make the flowers waver at their touch. 

When they finally stepped into the Jiang Sect Ancestral Hall, Jiang Yanli realized Lotus Pier had been strangely devoid of people this entire time. Had A-Cheng sent everyone else away?

A pot of Lotus root and pork rib soup, plates of sweet and fragrant pastries, fresh fruit, and fresh lotus pods were set out as offerings for Jiang Yanli, for her parents, and for the other ancestors. A-Cheng sat at the edge of the lotus altar, as she often did after their parents’ death. Ling’er squirmed in A-Cheng’s left arm as his left hand held a wooden tablet. His right hand was pointing at the text on the tablet -- the tablet with her name. 

“A-Ling, this is my Jiejie, your mother. She was the most amazing person. I hope you grow up to be strong, kind, and intelligent, just like her,” A-Cheng said as he bounced Ling’er on one knee, his voice cracking as he spoke. 

Zixuan let go of her hand and she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around her little brother and her child. Shortly after, Zixuan sat down next to her and held his hand out to caress their toddler son. They had missed so many months of his infancy. 

“Ling-er is so big now. He has gotten half again as big as he was when I last saw him,” Zixuan said.

Jiang Yanli hovered her hand over her child’s head, “He babbles now. I wonder who he talks to. Is the wetnurse good for him? Does he have friends? Is he lonely? Is there someone to respond to his babbling?” Her vision blurred as she blinked back tears. 

The two of them sat by A-Cheng and Ling’er, watching A-Cheng play with the boy and teach the boy. Who would bet someone with as deadly a title as Sandu Shengshou would be so gentle with a child? 

Ling’er became fussy and A-Cheng set him down. The baby pulled himself up by A-Cheng’s robes and reached up to ask for A-Cheng’s hand. 

“You can do this yourself,” A-Cheng responded gently and shooed Ling’er away from him. 

Ling’er’s bottom lip quivered. 

“I know you can walk if you try. Look, I’ll catch you if you fall, ok? But at least try. Maybe your parents are here. It would be nice if they were around to see you take your first steps.”

A-Cheng picked up Ling’er, stood up, and set Ling’er next to the altar for stability. Then he took 3 large steps back, squatted down, and motioned for the baby. 

Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan watched, captivated by the two of them. Would they really be so lucky to witness their child’s first steps today?

Ling’er reached for his uncle. He took a few steps balanced against the altar and then pushed off. A step, two steps, and then teetered forward. Zidian flew out and caught the child. “A-Ling, good job! If only your mother were here, she would be so proud of your first steps!”

Jin Zixuan yelled, “Zidian! A vicious spiritual weapon was just used on our baby! What is your brother thinking? That’s dangerous!”

Jiang Yanli smiled, “A-niang taught us how to walk like this. Zixian knows bloodlines and the owner’s intent. It can be as steady as a banister while feeling more gentle than a dandelion puff.”

They spent the rest of their day with A-Cheng. They watched Ling’er be fed, be held, be coddled. They watched A-Cheng patiently teaching, softly holding, and playfully carrying the boy. Ling’er clung to A-Cheng and A-Cheng to Ling’er. Afterall, they were the closest blood relatives each other had. 

Time flew and night fell. A-Cheng took Ling’er to the market on the docks. Jiang Yanli knew the day was ending; her time here was ending. A-Cheng purchased a violet and gold lotus with nine intricate petals and a candle shaped like a lotus pod. He set Ling’er down and handed the lantern to the boy. 

“Hold.”

Ling’er took the lantern by a corner, waved it, and dropped it to play with the lotus pod candle that fell out. Jiang Yanli felt Zixuan’s arm around her waist squeeze her close. If they were still part of the living, watching her brother and her child bond like this would be bliss. 

A-Cheng picked up the lantern, took Ling’er’s hands and set the candle inside. He then lit the wick with his spiritual energy. The light from the flame flickered, casting violet and gold shadows over the uncle and nephew duo who belonged to the sects of violet and gold.

A-Cheng swooped Ling’er into an arm and gently set the lantern in the water with his free hand. Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan felt themselves drawn towards the lotus lantern. They held each other close and watched A-Cheng walk away with Ling’er towards Lotus Pier. They stood in place but the pull of the lantern carried them away. Lotus Pier slowly faded as they returned to the Earth Offical’s realm. 

Notes: 

So… there are 3 [something]-yuan festivals. Shang means upper. Zhong means middle. Xia means bottom. They all have an associated saying: for Shangyuan Festival, Heaven Offical’s Blessing (yes, like the title of the novel); for Zhongyuan Festival, Earth Offical’s Pardoning; for Xiayuan Festival, Water Offical’s Salvation. (uh… I chose salvation here because the chinese means relieving/saving from distress/suffering).

I don’t like the sound of A-Ling, so i went with Ling’er. I think JC would try to keep his sister’s naming convention and stick with A-Ling… but I also think Yanli might call Jin Ling Ling’er, especially since er can mean child. E.g. Ying’er LITERALLY means infant so uh… WWX probably didn’t get that name for a reason. XD Though i can see gremlin CSSR calling him that… 

Yes, Jin Ling is too young to walk. Maybe JC feeds him spiritual energy when he plays with the baby and so Jing Ling developed a bit faster? IDK. I wanted the story to be set on the Zhongyuan Festival so I fudged childhood development a little. I can also see Jiang Cheng intentionally trying to make Jin Ling do things younger so he can be “better than” or “beat” WWX at things… :/

I think this is only a little sad? Or it starts off sad and ends on an ok note? I’m curious to see what people think

[chromium7sky]

Four eyes/ ObsureD | second shot

A/n: wtf, the second part for four eyes. Still can't believe this. You may follow #damirae and #foureyes

Not long after they were having chat at the kitchen, the alarm suddenly blaring intensely. Damian and Raven jolted and quickly sprint towards the control room.

"What do we got?" Raven looked at the screen as Damian typing on the keyboard looki g at the coordinate where the alarm set off. It seems there's a group of mage call the Riot terrorise at north region of San Francisco city.

"The Riot. Again with their agenda." Damian sighed as he looked at their information. The Riot consist of three ameteur mage who decided to use their power to proven they are worthy. Instead doing good deed they decided to be scoundrel as they wanted to fight the mage based hero like Raven to measure their capacity.

The member of the group are Mimic, Psyche and Mirage. Mimic has the power to copy, Psyche has the power to take over the enemy body while Mirage has the power to project item out of thin air.

Damian still remember where his body controlled by Psyche to do reckless thing such as stealing Raven's cloak or switching both of their cloak. There were the time where both of them body swap which is a very very bad day.

"Ah, the three idiot again? What did they want this time?" Raven stared at the screen with the face of three mischievous rascal.

"A showdown." Damian quickly to his equipment room picking his best weapon and his costume. As soon as he's fully equipped, he went to the launching pad toward the Robin's airbike.

As He flip on the switch and pushed a couple of button, the engine start to hummed and and it start to warm up. Putting his helmet, and twisting the accelerator, the propeller start to spin blowing the debris near by away including it's cloth cover.

The bike has levitate and Damian balanced it by controlling it's handle.

"Arm and ready, Robin." Raven casually sit behind him, riding the air bike.

Damian almost jolted but he manage to calm down and look at her by the shoulder. "Hold on tight." He pressed the valve as the propeller spin more faster. "Lead the way, Raven."

Raven activate her power as her eyes went all white. She held her hand past his shoulder as the purple energy surrounding it. A door, a worm hole like door open, without wasting any time, Robin dive into the portal door with his bike.

--------------

" Why not we make this road more, alive?" Mirage waving his hand towards the road nearby and suddenly the road turn into gigantic snakes as it began to curled and gliding. People where shouting in fear, some run towards the other street.

Then came a girl with light blue hair, crackled haughtily as she saw people start to get away. " Freeze!" She lift both of her hand, light turquoise line start to come out from her finger and attached to a couple of people. They movement start goes to restriction then froze up. "Sorry, no sorry. Guess you guys are now riled up!"

As she moved her hands, the people who has been attached by her string start to picking up some pipes or wood lying around, start to do vandalizing.

One of the group, a boy just found the lighter. The unwilling victim had been forced to pick it and light up. Before the boy throw the lighter toward a store full of cooking utensils, the lighter has been suspended in mid air with purple aura surrounding it.

Before Psyche, the girl with blue hair, questioning what happen, then came the rain of batarang towards them which makes Mirage forming a shelter out of water from the water supply nearby.

The engine noise start to deafening them along with wild blown debrises that makes them closed their eyes. " What is this??!" Psyche shouted and has lost her concentration towards her puppet victim.

Without their knowing, all three of them has been bind by dark tentacle that come from the floor. Mirage shouted " Mimic! Do it!!"

Mimic smiled as he move his hands, another set of tentacle appeared pulling out the tentacle that bind them. " This is easy."

"Try it again." This time came in a batarang along with hard steel string circling the three amateur mage lower limbs. With a hard pull all three of them stumbled on the ground along with the purple tentacle embracing them, preventing their further movement.

"Shit!" Mimic curses as they have been captured.

"Guess we have gone through Lovecraft alpha plan well, Raven." Damian walked out of nowhere with hooded cloak as he bring his sword.

"I'm surprised it went well," Raven appeared behind the shadow of black bird.The Riot all shudder as they met the two demonic duo hero, Robin and Raven.

"Wrong timing for making a fuss at San Francisco city, Riot." Raven levitate display her eerieness.

"Shit." Mimic cursed under his breath. "Psyche! Use it! Use it now!" He shouted.

The way Mimic shouted makes Raven grew anxious about what about to happen. As Psyche successfully let one of her hand out Raven quickly step in front of Robin.

"Raven! Wha-" before Robin continue his sentences, a bluish flame blasted from Psyche hit the Witch girl.

The fire didn't burn her clothes and her skin but Raven scream as she crouched holding her face.

"Raven!!" Damian try to grab her but Raven went out of control as she unleashed violent shadows as she scream.

Her gem on her forehead glows dangerously red and the shadow whipping through the air. The Riot tried to escape by using the dirty tactic failed as the shadow start to suffocated them.

"H-hel...." Psyche drown in those shadow as she held her hands towards Damian.

Damian without thinking much he hold Raven from behind. "Raven! I'm here!"

Raven still screaming as the pain still burn.

"Raven!" Damian scream as wrapped his arms around her, embracing her. "I'm here. Nothing will hurt you. Not when I'm watching." He cooed her as his whispered.

Raven as if awaken from nightmare slowly landed her head on his shoulder. "R-robin?" Her voice similar to a girl who has been scared by her nightmare.

"That's right. I'm here." As he rub her back up and down. The. He could feel wet sensation on his shoulder. Is she crying?

The shadow slowly start to dissipated freeing those smothering ameteur mage who are now gasping for air.

Before they managed to escape, Damian quickly throwing three set of Bolas towards them, tying them down.

The Riot try to escape with magic but to no avail the Bolas were unaffected as it has been set by Raven to be anti magic properties.

"Raven, look at me." Damian hold on her chin as he cast his eyes on her face. Her eyes are gone!

"Damian." She whispered. "I can't see." She rest her face on his chest, holding onto his shoulder. Damian cursed then look at the Riot.

"Follow my lead. We're going back to the tower." As the young Robin lead the witch towards his Air bike. As he seated her, he glared at the culprit then at Raven and back to them. "Damn it." He cursed.

He walked towards them. "What did you do to her?" He pull out expandable blade from his glove. "Spill it out or your guts will."

The Riot were silent then mumbling each other. After a few exchange look and nod, they look at him. " We were..." The girl swallowed her saliva then proceed. "Stealing from one of the old shop down town." She shown the pendant. The pendant that has the lotus flower shape with each of the petal has eyes.

" We felt some huge energy from this pendant and it seems we have contact to it." Mirage explain. "They say the will help us by offering a pair of two eyes of thy enemy."

"We thought it might be fun prnak but turns out something else." Psyche bit her lips as she recalled what happen.

Damian got nearer as he inspect the pendant. With the blade he pulled the necklace, torn off from the light blue hair girl. "I need to go to the tower to find the book about this. I think I have seen it before." As Damian inspect the cursed artifact. Quickly he pulled the back zipper from his utility belt and put the artifact in it then stored it back on the other side of his belt.

"All three of you better come with me. We need to track down the source and gives the eyes back to Raven." As he pointed towards Raven who is seated, sighed, holding out her hand in front of her face trying to test her vision which to no avail.

"Please have mercy on us." Mimic beg some sympathy for them.

"Not until we solve this mystery or else." Damian walked towards raven who sit on the bike, silent. "Raven."

Raven jolted then turn her head towards them. "Yes?"

"I don't know if this is possible but can you teleport us towards the titans launching pad?"

"Us?"

"I found something that stole your eye sight."

"A curse?"

"Curse artifact I pressume."

"...okay then. I'll try." Raven take a deep breath, gathering her thoughts and concentration. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

In a blink of an eye, they were teleport back to the teen titans launching pad along with captured The riot.

Mirage was astounded." What level is this sorcery?"

Raven turned her head to the pressumed direction."Way better than you."

Damian went to the control centre picking up three mysterious devices from the drawer. In a quick move, he threw three of them towards Riot's arm and they quickly wrap around it. "As a safety measure, incase you guys were up to something." Damian pulled the Bolas releasing them.

The mages up on their feet. Mimic as mischievous try to cast a spell but it died before it be able to execute. "The band are anti magic too and..." Damian unfinished his sentences.

Mimic jolted by surge of electricity which made he landed on his knees. " It absorb your magic energy and turn into electricity." Damian continue after the demonstration. Mirage and Psyche look at him with horror.

"You can't do this to us, you bastard!" Psyche screamed at him.

"It's a perfect punishment for three of you." Damian shrugged. "Hope you learn your consequences for doing such damage by banishing my friend's eyes!" He pointed at Raven. "Since you're here with us, it is the time for your atonement by helping us to break thecurse."

"What if we decided not to cooperate?" Mirage raised his eyebrow.

" I tell you, if I didn't stop her, Us and this world would probably end up in hell." Damian glared at him. "Be grateful with your spared life."

The riot shivered. " Okay, we'll do it."

"Good. All we need is a book And a real mage." Damian walked toward his airbike. Raven still there standing as she lost in here thought.

"Hey."

"Damian."

"You okay?"

"It didn't burned anymore but I still can't see." Raven sighed. As Raven tried to walk, she goes wobbled and quickly Damian grab her by the waist.

"Don't get hard on yourself. Come, let me be your eyes." His voice goes soft as he put her arm around his shoulder. "You three, follow me."

"Yes, sir!" All three of them quickly followed Robin and Raven.

[idanwyn-et-al]

Winter Themes at The Lotus Flame: A Harbor Herald Exclusive!

Good evening to all of you, lovely readers! Your faithful reporter here taking a break from her usual Captain’s duties aboard the Nixie to enjoy one of the many Starlight concerts the entertainers of the realm have to offer. This evening, I had the pleasure of attending my first (but their second) Lotus Flame Annual Starlight Concert! Tucked away in the Lavender Beds, the stage was lavishly decorated with all the finest glitter and gold one might expect around this time of year. Though yours truly arrived a bit late, she still managed to snag a seat right up near the action; a bonny thing, too, as the musical talent on display was quite impressive!

Vit’oro Tyanu and  Seraphina Cantatrix played a few starlight classics on harp and flute, bringing some much-needed peace to this hectic time of year. These classics were followed by a very haunting, familiar tune as a harp duet; it brought more than one tear to my eye, I must confess. Astrid Adonalsium joined the duo to play about a little drummer lad and how all this trio seems to want for Starlight is...this audience! They closed out their set with a fearsome tribute to a one-winged primal of some sort, though your dear reporter confesses, Herald readers, that she has only heard of said primal in legends.

The next performer was one Clayde Lockheart, who started off with a flowing, expertly-fingered harp rendition of a song inquiring where, indeed, is Starlight. The answer seems to be in this concert hall, right now, by the reactions from the crowd! This song was a promise of skill that continued to deliver for the rest of Clayde’s set; the music of their harp was easy on the ear and well-played. There was one interesting comment by the performer reminding the men in the crowd from refraining from slipping anything into the women’s drinks, which...this reporter will take in the spirit it was intended instead of launching a full-scale investigation into this performer’s personal life.

Lada Gala followed Clayde’s closing number, and cut quite the figure on stage, garbed in whites and silvers with brilliant wing stage effects. Featuring her skill on the harp, she began with a lyrical rendition of Greensleeves, which just so happens to be one of this reporter’s very favorites. The few numbers that followed can only be described in the purple prose yours truly tends to favor from time to time; a journey through the gentle quiet of new-fallen snow in a distant forest, the smell of woodsmoke rising over the scent of ice and pine, as one returns to a home they didn’t realize they missed until hearing the silver notes fall from the harp upon the wind. Snapped back to the show from her music-and-booze soaked reverie, this reporter indulged in a bit of dancing to one of Lady Gala’s originals, “Starlight Romance”, widely available as an orchestrion roll! The Lady closed down her set with a somber reminder of the cold loneliness many feel during this season.

Taking the stage to drive those cold winter blues away entirely, the final act of the evening was none other than Savo Kesslivang, playing her, shall we say, colorful Starlight lineup. Anyone who has been reading this paper for any amount of time is aware that this reporter is a devoted fan of the Noise from the North Shroud, so I shall spare you my usual glowing review and say only that I enjoyed myself as I always do when Savo performs.

In closing, I highly recommend the talented performers, gorgeously-appointed and thoughtfully-stocked venue, and overall atmosphere of The Lotus Flame. If one is so inclined, one may visit their nightclub every Saturday night.

Songs and Snowfall, Idanwyn Lluanswys Harbor Herald Food and Lifestyle Columnist

((The Lotus Flame’s weekly nightclub is open Saturday evenings from 8:30 to 11:30 PM, EST. The venue is located on the Balmung server, Lavender Beds, Ward 14, plot 58!))

[cottage-babe]

Burning Scars part VII

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not me studying ATLA maps when i should be studying for school oml

Summary: Y/n, a werewolf from a hidden village, comes across Zuko and Iroh after being exiled. How has fate intertwined the wolf into the avatar’s destiny? 

MENTIONS OF BLOOD

*****this chapter takes place at Season 2 Episode 12*****

___

Oh boy... this is so rough.

It was quite crazy how everything could tumble down hill so quickly. 

After the teen’s fight at the Misty Palms Oasis, Y/n and Zuko refused to talk to one another. It was a constant, petty competition between them; waiting to see who would crack first. It was astonishing how Iroh managed to keep himself collected when the two children he looked over were in a silent battle. 

Iroh’s club had (thankfully) fetched the trio’s Ostrich-Horses from the stables and collected all of their things. After saying their thanks to the White Lotus, they hopped onto the saddles of their rides and set off toward their next town; Ba Sing Se. 

Y/n refused to share seats with Zuko as she had previously and tried to convince Iroh to see her point of view. The uncle had shut-down her idea at first, but when noticing her ‘persistence,’ he agreed and let her ride on the back of his saddle. ‘Persistence,’ of course, being her threats of walking beside them and slowing down their estimated week-long trip. Ahh, the power of time. 

They had wanted to go straight through the desert to save the days that it would take them to go around it, but the citizens of the desert advised against it. The Wi Shong Desert was impossible to cross. It would be unbearably hot, their water would disappear quickly, and it was easy to get lost when your surrounded by identical mounds of sand. Not wanting to take a chance, the trio followed the directions and traveled the edge of the taunting desert. 

This new path was preferred by Y/n, as she didn’t have the appropriate coverings for the heat like the two men did. They were returning to the same terrain that they were in before, the foresty-rocky one. The werewolf was definitely more comfortable with this change. 

The days passed slowly. 

Iroh and Y/n talked a bit, but not as much as they had before. Of course, it wasn’t like they were mad at each other or anything, it was just that the tension between the two teens were still present and it made things... awkward. The werewolf didn’t want Zuko to hear her talk about things because it might give him the impression that she grew comfortable with him again when she 100% was not. Zuko never talked much, but now there was an ever-present scowl embedded on his face. It wasn’t a pretty sight. 

When night came, the tension was even worse. They would sit, eat, drink, all in silence. Iroh, being the wonderful person that he was, tried to chisel at the quiet, but either neither would answer or one would release a snarky comment. 

After the first couple of days, Y/n’s anger and annoyance had eased slightly. She wasn’t even mad at him anymore for what he had done, the only thing that continued to irk her was the fact that he never apologized. He never admitted that he was wrong or that he understood her reaction. Zuko just continued on with the trip acting like she was in the wrong. 

There was one night in particular that set her off once again. 

They were unpacking the food that they had; the supply was dwindling. Of course, the trio had enough to last them the entire trip, but the sight of their food becoming so minimal was affecting their morals. At least, it was for Zuko. 

The boy made it his very job to complain about their supply almost every second. Iroh and Y/n learned to tune out his whines and pouts, but then he said something that triggered her anger. 

The werewolf couldn’t even fully remember the words that he said, but the idea still lingered in her mind.

“Maybe we should quit wasting our food on dead-weight like Y/n.”

She honestly could’ve just let it go like she had done with everything else he had said. Perhaps it was the traveling that lowered her tolerance, but those words set her off the edge. 

Y/n had stood up from her seated position around the campfire and glared at Zuko. Then, she simply turned around and left. No words exited her mouth, no reassurance that she was coming back, absolutely nothing. Iroh had jumped up from his seat and asked her where she was going, but he didn’t receive an answer. Just the silent crunching of her feet on the dirt path and her silhouette disappearing into the trees.

It wasn’t until twenty minutes later that the girl returned.

Her appearance was shaggy; her clothes were obviously put on lazily and her hair was slightly messed up. The one thing that was most prominent, however, was the very dead rabbit resting in her grip. 

Blood was leaking from it into her hands and some of it was smeared on her face. She was still irritated as she skinned and cooked the animal across the fire; her glare piercing through the top of the flames straight into Zuko’s eyes. Y/n shared the meat with Iroh that night and he seemed glad to have some real food for once. 

She felt as though she earned some respect after that night. 

For the rest of the trip, Zuko didn’t complain as much. He didn’t say things that would purposely get on her nerves, he just remained silent. Not one word left him again. 

His silence really helped Y/n get the time she needed to think. She thought about those feeling that she had for him in the flower shop, but she couldn’t see herself as that person anymore; as that love-sick teenager. It’s not who she is, it never was. It must’ve been the vulnerability that Zuko offered her; she fell for the soft side of him, a side that isn’t Zuko. They both had let down their guard and look where it got them; not even on speaking terms. 

It was relieving when they made it to the boarding docks that would bring them to the gates of Ba Sing Se. They were at an underground place, a cave from the looks of it. There were many people formed in lines or waiting with their baggage beside them. All the way across the cove, there was a large wall stretched to each side. Y/n assumed that there was water hiding behind it. 

Before they entered the docks (Full Moon Bay, as Iroh had called it), the trio tied their Ostrich-Horses to some stables and gathered their things. While the boys put on their bags and such, Y/n stood in front of their rides. 

“Thank you,” she whispered and smoothed back both of their feathers. “You’ve done so much for us, I wish we could repay you.”

Their two steeds looked down at her with a look that showed their understanding of her words. But their expressions revealed something else too; like their was something she could do. She honestly didn’t know what it was, not until they began walking away from the stables. 

“So, are we going to be coming back? What’s gonna happen to the Ostrich-horses?” Y/n asked just as her eyes saw the interior of Full Moon Bay. 

Iroh shrugged his shoulders. “They will possibly be handed over to other travelers. We don’t have a use for them anymore; when someone goes to Ba Sing Se, they hardly ever leave.”

Y/n stopped walking as the words hit her. Quickly, she turned around and shouted to the duo about forgetting to get something. It wasn’t a great excuse, but she needed to do one last thing before she started her new life here.

She had talked to Iroh privately before they started on their trip to Ba Sing Se. He told her how Zuko and him were planning to stay there for a long time or at least until everything died down. Iroh gave her permission to leave whenever she wanted, but said that he and Zuko would love it if she stayed with them. Y/n, at the time, almost considered leaving because of the situation with the other teen in the group. She had spent a couple days thinking about it; about the pros and cons, the risks that she would be taking, etc. In the end, she decided that staying in the boy’s company could benefit her, especially if Ba Sing Se was as wonderful as everyone else made it out to be. If anything, she could leave their group when they made it inside the walls; if she really wanted to. 

But she still needed to do this one thing first.

Y/n ran back to the stables and looked for their animals. There were quite a few there, but she quickly found the ones that she had been riding for the last week. They seemed happy to see her and she felt the same toward them; she finally understood what they needed from her. 

The werewolf untied their straps and removed the saddles from their backs. 

Then, she brought them to the edge of the forest, away from traveler’s eyes. Without a word, Y/n let them go out into the wilderness, free of the restricting fabrics that the humans had put on them. They almost didn’t run at first, just staring at her with large eyes, but after a moment they walked into the trees and their silhouettes blended with the shadows. 

Y/n let out a sigh. She felt really good. 

Quickly, she ran back to the entrance of the Bay and met up with Iroh and Zuko. The uncle greeted her while the boy just ignored her presence and continued walking. They followed Iroh to one of the lines and waited, explaining that they needed to get their passports checked first. 

Y/n was pouting the entire time. She wasn’t used to waiting in long human lines; she didn’t see the point of it. Why didn’t they just get more people to look at their documents so everything would go by faster?

Both her travel buddies were silent the entire wait and she was fine with it. Y/n spent her time people-watching; something that she found herself doing quite often. She excused herself by saying that she needed to ‘study the human culture,’ but in reality she just found it interesting. There were so many types of people around; some with large amounts of luggage, big families, even a group of bald people wearing yellow and holding a stick! There were so many interesting characters here.

Finally, they made it to the front of the line. 

A woman checked their passports, then handed them three tickets with a stamp. They each took one of the papers and headed over to the large wall that towered over the people. 

There was a man there that asked for their tickets and directed them toward a very large boat. It marveled Y/n. She had heard stories of these large things that could float on water, but seeing it in person was something else. 

How can this hold a bunch of people?

The werewolf had paused in her spot to think this and Zuko, who was walking behind her, shoved her shoulder as he pushed passed her. 

“Watch it, you’re in the way.”

She huffed and crossed her arms. Iroh placed a hand on her should for comfort before he kept walking to catch up with his nephew. Y/n was getting a little sick of all this. 

They walked across a board and entered the ferry. They were told to stay on the top deck until they landed at the boarders of Ba Sing Se. Y/n trailed behind the boys as they looked for a spot empty enough for them to rest; eventually settling near a railing on the side of the boat. 

A kind lady went around the ship passing bowls of food to each passenger; the trio being included. Before Y/n took a sip, however, she looked over the edge into the the deep blue water. They were very high up.

“We’re going really fast.” She thought aloud. 

Iroh joined her on the railing and looked at the water, ignoring her random words. “Who would have thought after all these years, I'd return to the scene of my greatest military disgrace,” he shut his eyes as he paused. “As a tourist!”

Y/n let out a small laugh at the old man’s silly words. But then, of course, Zuko had to come and ruin it. 

“Look around. We're not tourists, we're refugees.” He said as he move to stand on her other side.

“Lighten up, Zuko.” Y/n replied while her eyes stayed on lake in front of her. Maybe she’d be able to see a fish jump out!

She could feel the boy glaring at the side of her head, but she chose to ignore it, just like she did when he would complain before. She heard Zuko take a sip of his bowl before spitting it out dramatically. “Ugh! I'm sick of eating rotten food, sleeping in the dirt. I'm tired of living like this!”

The werewolf rolled her eyes, but set the bowl down on the deck, taking his reaction to the food into consideration. I think I can wait until we make it to the city. 

“Aren't we all?” 

The trio turned around from their positions on the rail and saw three teens, all about the same age as Y/n and Zuko. One stood closer to the front, a boy, about the same height as Zuko, but with shaggier hair. He had a smirk etched across his face and a plant stuck out from between his teeth. 

“My name's Jet,” The boy explained as he walked out from the covers that the Ferry had set up. He extended his hand behind him. “And these are my Freedom Fighters, Smellerbee and Longshot.” 

Behind him, the two teens let out a greeting. Well, the shorter one did, but the tall, mysterious guy just nodded his head. Zuko let out a small "hello" while Y/n waved politely. This was the first time she personally met another set of human teens. 

The first boy, Jet, began to walk up to Zuko as he spoke. "Here's the deal. I hear the captain's eating like a king while the refugees have to feed off his scraps. Doesn't seem fair, does it?"

Zuko wasn't answering the kid, wasn't even looking at him anymore, so Y/n almost did all of them a favor and declined the boy's advances for her travel buddies, but Iroh spoke before she could. 

"What sort of king is he eating like?" The uncle asked. Y/n rolled her eyes; that's not what she expected him to say. 

"The fat, happy kind." He smirked at Iroh before turning his attention back to Zuko. "Want to help us 'liberate' some food?"

The werewolf tugged on Iroh's sleeve. "I really don't think this is a good idea." 

Trust her, if her instincts were telling them not to, then they really shouldn't. She knew all about stealing food (especially from the humans), but something was off about Jet. She didn't want her group getting mixed up with the "freedom fighters" if they didn't have to. All they had to do was wait until the next morning to buy food from the city. 

Y/n looked at Zuko and met his eyes. She was pleading silently, don't. 

But the boy didn't listen to her. He threw his bowl out into the water and turned toward the group of teens. 

"I'm in." 

Y/n placed her hand on her forehead in exasperation. Of course he would do his own thing. She decided to settle for glaring at Jet's welcoming smile. 

The strange boy seemed to feel her eyes and turned to look at her. 

"Don't worry, princess, we'll bring your boyfriend back in one piece." Jet spoke once Zuko made his way over to the group.

Y/n and Zuko both scoffed at his words. Jet looked between them quickly while his smirk grew. 

"Ohh… I see." The boy took a step toward her. "Why don't you come too? I could use another lookout."

Y/n crossed her arms. Lookout?

Just as she was about to voice her opinion, Zuko stopped Jet's advancements with a stuck-out hand. 

"She's not coming with us." Zuko looked at her sternly. "Stay here and watch my Uncle."

Y/n was about to let out a sarcastic comment, or even something slightly mean to say that he can't control her, but there was something about his eyes that made her rethink it. He seemed… cautious? Maybe he can see how shady these teens really are. 

"Fine, but if you get caught, don't expect us to come and save you." 

With that, she turned on her heel and faced the lake once again, hearing the four receding footsteps as they walked away. 

The werewolf folded her arms and placed her head on them with a sigh. She really shouldn't be worried about Zuko, especially since they weren't on the best terms at the moment, but her heart couldn't help it. They had made it so far and it could all be ruined with this act of rebellion. Not to mention, if he let her go with him, Y/n could protect him if he needs it. Zuko has his bending, but that could only get him so far. She was trained for fighting. 

"You look as though you have a lot on your mind."

She lifted her head and looked to where the voice came from. Iroh was sitting on the floor, his bowl of rotten food resting in his palms while his eyes shined the colors of the setting sun. The girl took the spot next to him and followed his line of sight. 

The sunset was beautiful. The sky was a mixture of pinks and oranges all the way down to the giant ball of fire that glowed. Beams of light shined passed the small clouds that littered the sky, showing the power of the rays of sun. It was so pretty that she wished she could paint it to remember this moment. 

“So much has been happening recently; it’s just a lot to handle.” Y/n whispered.

Iroh nodded his head in agreement. “I can understand that. You’ve gone through a lot at such a young age.” He paused for a moment. “And I’m sorry that my nephew has added on to your stress.”

“It’s not you that I need an apology from, it’s Zuko.” She shook her head dejectedly. “And what is up with him?! One minute he’s all friendly, like he cares, and then the next he’s just so... infuriating.” 

The sun finally made it’s way past the tips of the mountains and fell out of sight. The orange took a deeper tone, but the view still left her awestruck. Iroh placed a hand on the wolf’s shoulder.

“I think there are some things that you need to learn about my nephew,” He began. “Zuko didn’t have many friends when he was a child, he was reserved and only ever talked to his sister and mother. And then after his incident when he was thirteen, he had taught himself to put up barriers, ones that not even I could break. But you must remember; Zuko is a child, just as you are. He may act cold-hearted, but underneath it all, he has a good spirit.”

Thirteen? He’s been out on his father’s mission for at least three years? 

“So, what you’re saying is that him being rude is actually his way of showing he cares? That doesn’t make any sense.”

Iroh laughed a hearty laugh. Y/n joined in slightly, but couldn’t see what was so funny. 

“I suppose that is a good way of putting it.” His laughter died down to a serious tone. “I just want you to know, Y/n, that although this does explain his personality, it does not excuse it. If you are having issues with him, then talk to him and let him know.”

Y/n sighed as the sky finally receded into darkness. Maybe he is right, she’s had plenty of time to think about everything, so the next step would just be to talk. The werewolf decided to point the topic in a different direction. 

“So, Zuko told me about the four nations and what bending was. He thinks I’m part of the Earth Kingdom.” She smiled at the older man. “Do you think I can bend?”

Iroh shrugged his shoulders with the same laugh as before. “Maybe. If you’d like, I can teach you some techniques that I know.”

Y/n’s eyes widened. Wait, I might be able to bend?

“But I thought you could only bend one element? You can do two?”

“No, no, no.” He waved his hand out. “I just studied their techniques and memorized some. I can’t say that I can help you fully, but I can try my best.”

That was honestly good for her. After Zuko had told her last time that it probably wasn’t possible, she had felt dejected. But maybe there’s hope now?

Suddenly, she saw something moving around in the sky. It was hard to focus her eyes in the dark, but the sight of a large animal flying over head caught the duos attention. 

“Uhh, what is that?” Y/n eyes with her eyes squinting. 

It flew off past their boat and into the opposite direction of Ba Sing Se.

Iroh shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve only seen one like that before...” Then he looked at the girl next to him. “Don’t tell Zuko that you saw that. He... is scared of flying animals.” 

She raised an eyebrow at his obvious lie, but promised to not tell the other boy. It was then that a smell hit her.

It smelled so warm and delicious that her mouth almost watered the second it hit her nostrils. She looked around until she saw the source of the aroma. 

Zuko, Jet, and his two freedom fighters were back with two large bags. They were reaching into the sacks and pulling out bowls, passing them to the refugees on the ship.

When they were finished, they made their way back to Iroh and Y/n with their bowls in hand. Zuko had given a bowl to Iroh and completely ignored Y/n, so she had to get her food from Jet. 

“Thank you, Jet.” She said with a smile as the sight of the food made her happy. Maybe the freedom fighters won’t so bad. 

Iroh and Y/n shifted their seating arrangement until they formed a circle with the four other teens. Jet was going to take the seat beside the werewolf, but Zuko beat him to it, claiming that his bag was there, so it’s his seat. 

They began to eat, Y/n almost scarfing down her entire bowl with one bite. She couldn’t deny it, she was hungry. They were surviving off of food that barely filled her, so now that she had the opportunity to eat, she wasn’t going to miss it. 

Y/n was so invested in her bowl of food that she couldn’t even process the conversation going on around her, all she knew was that Smellerbee had stormed off and Longshot had gone after her. All that was left was her two traveling friends and Jet. She decided that now was the time to tune into the banter that was happening.

“From what I heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se. I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall.” Jet said as he leaned back into his arms. 

Iroh nodded his head. “It’s a magnificent sight.” 

“So, you’ve been there before?”

Y/n slowly lowered her bowl with wide eyes. Was he going to tell him about his life of a war general?

Instead, Iroh settled for a solemn look on his face. “Once, when I was a... different man.”

Surprisingly, Jet didn’t pry the way she expected him to. “I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of, but that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se: for a new beginning. A second chance.”

A new beginning? Is that what I need?

It hadn’t hit her until then, but this new life that she strove for, a life away from her pack, away from her shame, was something that she already had. The boys had given her this opportunity the moment they asked her to join their trip. 

Ba Sing Se was this refuge for people who wanted what she had. It was a refuge for Iroh and Zuko, too. Did I really consider leaving them? It made her feel a bit of shame, she can’t just leave when things get tough.

“Hey, Zuko?” Y/n asked as she set her bowl on the ground in front of her. 

The boy just hummed in response, not quite looking at her as he continued to eat. 

“Do you think we could talk? Soon?”

Zuko stopped his chewing and looked at her questioningly. He set down his half eaten bowl and stood up. “Let’s go.”

She followed him to a separate area of the ferry. Most people were around the front of the ship, either eating the remains of the food or sleeping against the hardwood floor. There were some families around them at the back of the ship, but most weren’t paying attention. The duo stopped at the railings at the end of the boat. 

They were silent for a second, Zuko waiting for the girl to say something while Y/n was trying to regain her thoughts. C’mon brain, you can do this. 

“So, I guess I should start off with a ‘sorry’? I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you, especially since what you did was an accident.” She paused to let him talk, but he just continued to stare with a bored look on his face. “Uhh... I’m also sorry for insulting you. I was mad and didn’t think about my words. Everything else I said after that, though, I completely meant. You were a jerk to me.”

The corners of Zuko’s mouth lifted slightly at her words as he soaked them in. She didn’t really have much else to say, she hadn’t done much wrong. Y/n could only hope that the boy understood that. 

He sighed and looked off to the side. “I guess... you not at total fault here.”

Y/n almost scoffed, almost, but held it back. This was what Iroh was talking about; Zuko had walls and this might be the best apology that she’d get out of him for now. She didn’t really know what else to say, so she was happy when he started to speak again.

“I-uh-maybe shouldn’t have gotten mad when you called me out. Should’ve just accepted it and moved on, but-uh-I’m still learning.” 

Ok, this is going way better than I expected.

She half expected him to reject her apology and stomp off angrily, continuing to hate her for the rest of his life. She was glad that it’s going in the opposite direction. 

Y/n couldn’t help the giddiness that she felt rise within her and wrapped her arms around the boy’s stomach. He didn’t hug her back at first, but when he realized that she wouldn’t let go, he awkwardly settled his arms around her shoulders. She could tell that he was slightly uncomfortable with the affection, so she eased herself off of him with a grin on her face.

They began their walk back to the group with much less tension than when they came. 

“You know, Iroh told me that he’d teach me some earthbending to see if I was a bender.” Y/n spoke smugly. 

“Really? He shouldn’t, it’d be a waste of time.” The boy replied as she pouted in response. “I hope you know that I had to tell Uncle to make sure you would stay during the travel to Full Moon Bay. Don’t make me regret asking him.”

Y/n smiled. So, that was why Iroh brought up her leaving? She was kind of confused on why he would mention it if he wanted her to stay, but not it make sense. His approach was wrong, but it made sense. 

“So what I’m hearing is... you’d miss me if I left?”

Zuko just groaned out and sped up his pace, leaving her behind as their group came into view. For the rest of the night, the random cluster of six talked and joked around, the anger no longer being apparent between each teen. 

It was finally back to the way it used to be; only ten times better. 

___

There’s something so fulfilling abt writing a long chapter, I love it

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