#i gotta know how they Really Look before i stylize them ya know

[wall-eye]

wiggly little guys with wiggly little hats

[badass-at-fandoming]

My Favorite Betrayal: Sevastian of the Winter

As one of the starter love interests for Lovestruck's popular Reigning Passions series, Sevastian of the Winter is a tumblr favorite. When I finally got around to reading his route, I enjoyed the stunning art and intricate writing--but this one moment really knocked me off my feet. I gotta post about it. Major spoilers ahoy.

One of the major themes in Sevastian's route is betrayal (which works so well in conversation with the theme of duty in Amara's route. The two routes are truly two sides of the same coin. But that's another post). From the plot to the art, betrayal, and its consequences, are everywhere. The decapitated statue in the Winter Quarter. Sevastian's nickname as "The Betrayer Prince." Heck, the Mark of the Betrayer Sevastian receives is mirrored on MC's sword-esque wedding dress.

[[Image ID 1, Sevastian pulls back his shirt to reveal a gleaming blue sword tattoo. The text reads, "Lines of twisting flame trace the shape of a stylized sword."]]

[[Image ID 2, MC and Sevastian stand side-by-side in their wedding clothes. MC's white dress has an incredibly deep and narrow neckline, with silver chain keeping it in the shape of sword. MC says, "Today marks the beginning of our life together."]]

As the plot goes on, Sevastian betrays, or contemplates betraying, various people and causes. Under the Silver Dagger persona, Sevastian betrays the other nobles by stealing their wealth. He betrays Lyris' trust and friendship by not talking to him after the wing debacle. He thinks about betraying his morals by murdering his father. You get the picture.

But there's one that stood out to me by a mile. It's this scene in s5:

[[Image ID 3, With weeping willows and fireflies behind them, Sevastian and MC stand distressed. MC has hold of Sevastian's forearm, while he leans slightly away from her. They both have anguished expressions on their faces]]

Let's re-orient. MC figures out she's the lost heir to Altadellys' throne. Lord Ubel, Sevastian's father, is salty about it, and MC and Sevastian flee his wrath and the capitol city. They hook up with the rebels, who oppose Ubel because he's an uber-rich dillweed. Led by General Nisse, the rebels task MC and Sevastian to convince the neighboring nation of Rovdyr to send troops and supplies. Our duo is on their way, but an ally betrays them. The situation devolves into a fight. A poisoned blade stabs Sevastian. Only MC's great-grandmother Edera pulling Sevastian into the hidden land of Fortrylle saves him. In this land infused with magical energy, time "stops" for Sevastian, and there's time to find the antidote for his ailment. Which is great, except the rebel cause is pressed for time. They need those Rovdyr allies. As illustrated in the above CG, Sevastian has the brilliant plan of leaving Fortrylle, letting himself die, and thereby forcing MC to get on with her royal future.

And I saw red.

My reaction was as searing as it was visceral. As a queer person, it's a very special experience to feel seen and represented in a work, but this was the first time I felt seen and absolutely hated it. This time, Sevastian was betraying MC and all they had fought for to be together. By throwing away his life, he was throwing all the choices MC had made to be with him right back in her face.

Part of the strength of my reaction stemmed from the fact that I had the 1980s AIDS epidemic on the brain. I'd recently watched Netflix's Circus of Books documentary. In it, a monogamous cishet couple recalled the epidemic and how it affected their lives and bookstore, which was a gay hot spot. Overnight, it seemed, their employees and customers started dying. They added hospital runs to their weekly errands. They called homophobic parents to inform them of their son's death.

And here, in the distorted mirror of fiction, was another queer man dying. No, not dying, but killing himself, so his partner "didn't have to suffer." So they "wouldn't be held back." So she could "move on" with her life and her queenly destiny. I'd heard those reasons before. I spiraled into the hundreds of stories of queer people killing themselves so their straight-passing partner could integrate into the heteronormative; into what others wanted them to be. The parallels drove me mad. Like these other deaths, his suicide felt so needless. Sevastian went on and on about how the rebels needed their queen, their rallying point.

The real kicker is: they don't. Like, no gamer wants to hear that their character is unnecessary to the story, but it's true in this case. MC and Sevastian don't bring anything particularly special to the rebel cause. They don't know military strategy or secret supply routes or a hitherto unknown access point to Altadellys. We learn later that Captain Amara and Queen Safir are around. With Amara's long history of service and Safir being the literal lost queen, they lend an equal, if not greater, sense of legitimacy to the revolt, and are excellent rallying points. Even securing Rovdyr forces don't require MC: General Nisse makes a war treaty with them on her own in Amara's route. The most MC and Sevastian contribute is Ubel's stolen funds. But once those are handed over, they're superfluous.

Just to nail this point home, MC has repeatedly said she doesn't have any particular inclination to be queen. It's more that the other options are terrible. Any destiny to be queen, any ultimate desire to wear the crown, is all in Sevastian's head. He's ignoring what she most wants, which is him, alive and by her side and loving her. I wanted to throttle him. In the midst of sickness and death, they had a chance to live in peace.

So, my God, was I impressed by this writing. For the low, low price of $0, I was absolutely knocked on my ass. Shit's GOOD, bro. I had to gush about it. Thank goodness the next scene gave us an affirming cuddle as a breather.

[[Image ID 4, MC and Sevastian stand close together in a grove of weeping willows. MC's eyes are closed. The text reads, "I lean into his chest as he curls his arms around me, half wishing I could crawl under his shirt and hide there."]]

This post is mega-long and has not real point besides LOOK AT THIS PRETTY, but ya know. Binge read Reigning Passions and you'll see what I mean. Thanks for reading!

[millennial-star-gazer]

The Draconic Demon Within: Chapter 4: A Demon’s All-Consuming Rage

The Draconic Demon Within

Genres: Romance, Friendship/Family, Drama/Angst, Hurt/ Comfort, & New Adult Fanfiction

Vera's April 2018 Prompts: Soul, Empyrean, Savage, Memory, Trust, Fear, Unstoppable , Resilient, Supernatural (Implied) Lost (Implied) and Loathing.

Nalu Lovefest 2017 Prompts: Dreams

Nalu Week 2019 Prompts (Implied:) Lost, Curse, Trial, Treasure, Chance and possibly Bare.

Pairing: Nalu/EndLu,( Natsu x Lucy/ E.N.D. x Lucy)

Rating: M for language, steamy and mature adult sexual content (all consensual) in these and future chapters. Reader Direction is advised.(You have been warned!)

Summary: Now faced with the reality of who he is truly is, the son of Igneel must contend with the new darker instincts of his new demonic identity- all while navigating through his ever-growing, intense feelings for a particular celestial wizard. Originally a Submission (semi -au) for Nalu lovefest 2017 (on my previous celestialgeekmage account and now an entry for nalu week 2019 with chapter 3. (Also was on my earliest previous accounts of teamedwardjace/Twishadowhunter in the past. Also part of Vera's April 2018 prompt challenge from fic-writers appreciation on cosmicdragonwizard).

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Chapter 4: A Demon's All- Consuming Rage

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A/N: Hey guys, it's your girl back again with another installment of TTDW! Fun fact: Being temporarily off work for a few weeks due to pandemic has provided some extra free time to edit and posta new chapter for this fic ( which is on account of the temporary closures of public institutions, and public spaces along with non-essential businesses/services in Ontario-the Canadian province I'm from). This isn't to suggest I'm not without fear or concern about the pandemic or potential effects on global infrastructure but at least I'm mostly coping as best as anyone can at this time. Hope you guys are all too. ( A bit more on this in the A/N at the end of this chapter .) Anyway, hope that this chapter and my other fanfics along with those from amazing writers can help you all while stuck at home. All right, that's pretty much my whole spiel for now. Without further ado, here's Chapter 4 of TTDW-Enjoy! 

(Note: Scroll down past the read more button/cut for the  designated legend menu and actual story content).

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Disclaimer: Fairytail does not belong to me, but to the most honourable Hiro-sensei instead, for whom without this work of love wouldn't be possible. 

Read Previous Chapters of TDDW and on platforms here:

(Copy and paste the links into another  window if need be)

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Previous (Click Here:)  (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/185917542578/the-draconic-demon-within-chapter-3)

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B. Fanfiction (Click Here:) (or here:  https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13113898/1/The-Draconic-Demon-Within-Reupload-from-cosmicdragonwizardaccounts)

C. A03 (Click Here:) (or here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/17365061/chapters/40861307)

2. Ongoing Master  Post Of All My Writing (Click Here:) (or here: https://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/179665258923/master-fic-rec-post)

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Legend:

Italic: Song Lyrics/Quotes (or flashback dialogue)

Bold: First Person Thoughts

Bolded Italics: Empathized, stylized Word(s) or bloodthirsty fantasies

Bolded Italics (Within and Outside Bracket) including for author's side notes also known as (A/N:) within brackets (though none for side-notes in this chapter ).

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"Your body is full of rage.

Every sinew. It is easy to read.

You speak volumes with a clenched fist."

( Paolo Bacigalupi: The Drowned Cities)

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"Seriously? Luce's alive?

That…. I can't...

A wave of overjoyed relief was washing over Natsu from the spectacular news about his best friend still breathing.

"Hear that Luce?!" He sobbed, not bothering to wipe the moisture from his eyes." You're alive and gonna be okay— Thank God! Really... don't ... know what I'd do without ya…," Scarlet-red eyes remained focused/trained on the face on the motionless angel in his arms.

"Pretty sure the guild and the rest of the people we know would be just as devastated if they lost such an incredible person and wizard . Glad you're okay either way though." Natsu's hands were stroking sweat-plastered strands of Lucy's hair back from her eyes with delicate care .

Really glad she's still in fact alive and kicking…

In that very moment , it was as if the world had fallen away; leaving just the two of them. Nothing else seemed to matter then . Not cold-blooded enemies in the room, or the recent battle just moments before; Not even E.n.d's unnerving metamorphosis. Just a dragon-demon and his most precious star with those subtle breaths, the visible rise and fall of her chest that somehow escaped any kind of major notice before.

Words can't even describe how relieved I am . Digits combed through Lucy's blonde tresses from crown to tip in a physical display of tender affection.

Hmm... Lucy's hair feels really nice. Natsu couldn't help but marvel at texture of her beneath his fingertips .Don't think I've ever stopped to fully appreciate it before .

"Gotta say that your hair feels really nice, Luce." Natsu voiced this innermost thoughts aloud; though his words were coming in soft. ."Smells real amazin' too."

Damn was the appealing fragrance of jasmine with a hint of cyclamen flooding his senses beyond intoxicating."like jasmine and that other flower we saw once— cyclamen, I think. . You've been using a new scented shampoo again, I see. Not that I'm complainin'."

"Psh—Listen to me" Natsu tacked on with a rueful chuckle that was still a bit thick from all that weeping before. " Gettin' all sentimental and crap. Hell... stripper would never even let me live it down if he heard . Still be damn proud of you though just like I am for how well you handled yourself in battle. Why don't we tell him all about it once you're awake and we're out of here?. Bet he'd like that . Till then, the two of us just need to sit tight and figure out our next move, okay?"

Wait ...

The fire demon's hands continued their fond movements- only for blood to freeze in his veins when noticing an unsightly contusion on Lucy's forehead; accented by a small gash just above her brow.

When did this happen? I swear those injuries hadn't there been seconds before .. .

Crimson eyes scanned his best friend's battered frame for further damage in alarm . My God... Natsu's breath caught in his throat at the sight of that line of discolorations on her legs . Not to mention all those scratches along with the small gash peeking out through the tattered remains of Lucy's Star dress .

"Oh Luce..." He sighed, remorseful voice breaking on her name. "Can see that you're in pretty rough shape right now. I'm so sorry. Honestly don't know how or why you had a delayed reaction to all the damage. But this wouldn't have happened if I only had grabbed you and run or got your spirits to transport you to their world, Hell— Maybe we could've both escaped and I could've helped kept you safe while figuring out this new demon form means for us together. Anyways, time to put pressure on your wound."

A hand tore a loose piece of fabric to apply pressure on the hemorrhaging wound. "See? You'll be okay . Gonnal get ya' all fixed up and good as new in no time ."

Damn Luce stills looks like an angel to me, Natsu mused in reverent admiration . Even with those injuries...

"Ooh- how cute!" Jackal's dervisie voice cut  through  the other demon’s reverie; whose arms automatically protectively tightened around Lucy's frame out of fierce instinct-automatic without a second though. Not to mention those two pair of eyes he could sense that set him on edge."

"Aw Damn." Jackal broke in again with a gleeful taunt that bordered on sadistic."That poor,pretty girl of you is covered in ugly bruises and scratches, Dragneel."

That little ...

Natsu's head automatically snapped around to meet Jackal with a baleful snarl. Damn was that all that black rage roaring in his veins all too consuming.

"There's that growling again" Jackal cackled, clearly unfazed at by the alpha demon's bared canines ." Bared fangs and what not. Such a shame what happened to Blondie here , or is it? You really did a number on her, huh Tempester?"

"Huh," Tempester mused, bland disinterest colouring his tone."it seems I did . Kind of forgot that my curses can sometimes have o delayed side effects on people . Who knows? That pathetic wrench might even have internal bleeding.

"You goddamned bastard!" The flame- eater raged, fury boiling over. "Lucy ain't pathetic or some kind of toy to play with ... God.. All those injuries… are you fault and . I swear that You're both gonna pay for what you did to her!"

"Oh-You think so?" Jackal scoffed with let out another infantilizing laugh —beyond infuriating .

"Someone's rattled." Tempster pointed out, listless eyes trained on the stone-brick wall ahead. "Unfortunate."

"You don't say," Jackal deadpanned, with a disdainful roll of the eyes ."But Seriously Though , E.N.D, do you even hear yourself? .I mean getting all riled up over a human girl in that way —talk about pathetic. Sure said girl is extremely beautiful with a killer bod and feisty personality to boot—I'll give you that. But is she worth losing your cool over or fraternizing with? I don't think so and neither should you . God knows all that pent up rage and aggression would be far more suited for another cause. Not to mention, you'd better off without her life tainting your judgement and hindering your full potential as the most powerful of all etherious. So let's resolve this, shall we? Hand over the celestial wizard and I'll gladly dispose of her for you . Sound good?"

" 'Sound good?'Sound Good?!’ Are you kidding me?"!

Good God did those last words only serve to incense the snarling dragon further.

" There's no way in hell I'm gonna give Lucy up or let either of you touch her!"

"Come on Dragneel-be reasonable."

"No-rot in hell!"

"Oh honestly E.N.D.-"

"My name is Natsu!"

"Well okay then, Natsu— Just calm down ." Jackal's couldn't seem to resist reprimanding the fire demon; as if he were some errant child pitching a fit ."You're being ridiculous. Anyways, tell you what. I promise to make her death as qui-"

"Shut up!"

" Quick and mostly painless..."

"I said shut up!" En.d's voice rose to an ear-splitting roar that could've struck terror into the hearts of the gods themselves. "Try anything on her and I swear I'll kill you!"

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To Be Continued

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A/N: Well that's Chapter 4 folks- hope you enjoyed! Now a bit more about the pandemic situation in Ontario . Like many other provinces and countries around the world,, the government of Ontario has opted to shut down/ temporarily close non-essential services, businesses, public spaces and institutions to help curb the spread of the virus for a few weeks (or more) before spring break. Such institutions include all schools and childcare centres/ services in those settings which applies to the childcare company I'm currently employed with. You know on account of most of their centres and programs being based in public schools. (Independently-run Daycares also remain closed. And yes i'm a ECE by trade for any who were wondering or didn't already). Schools and child cares were tentatively scheduled to reopen after April 5th; though the closures have been extended for another month (according to Doug Ford (the premier/leader of Ontario). Not ideal but at least it gives me some extra time for me to work on things alongside my writing(i.e editing upcoming chapters for fics and WIPS). All right folks, that's all I have to say on that subject.

As usual, please feel free to let me know what you think by leaving a comment/review , through a reblog or by any other means. Be sure to check out the rest of my writing while staying tuned for future updates of my fics and new projects along the way! (Links above, in the navigation and in bio If on tumblr . Also on fanfiction.) Anyway, take care and stay safe! Ta ta for now!

[navek15]

Fairy Tail: The Bravestar Saga Ch. 1

Author's Note 1: Fairy Tail: The Bravestar Saga is a non-profit fanfiction series.

Fairy Tail and Fairy Tail Series II are all owned by A-1 Pictures, Satelight, Bridge Madman Entertainment, Funimation TXN, Kodansha, and Hiro Mashima.

Any original characters and concepts are owned by Navek or xpegasus.

Please support the official release.

In a land far, far, away lies the Kingdom of Fiore. A small and peaceful nation of about 17,000,000 and a place filled with magic. Found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life.

For some, however, magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the Wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore.

But there is a certain guild in a certain town that sores high above the rest. One from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future.

Its name is Fairy Tail. And this is the story of one such legend.

                     Navek and xpegasus present

                               A Fairy Tail Story

                      Fairy Tail: The Bravestar Saga

                    Chapter 1: A New Legend Begins!

Hargeon…

The sound of seagulls cawing and the waves crashing against the beach sang through the air as early morning rolled over the port town of Hargeon. The daily 9 AM train had arrived in town, and the sounds of feet reverberated through the station as passengers got off and boarded the train. Among the passengers getting off was an interesting group of young adults consisting of two men, a woman, and a cat.

The cat had blue & white fur, a green backpack, and black eyes. But the most interesting thing about this cat was its very long tail and the fact that it stood upright on two legs.

The scrawnier of the two men had scruffy brown hair, green eyes, and lightly tanned skin. He wore a black t-shirt, a pair of brown goggles with green lenses around his neck, blue jeans, a silver bracelet with two green gems on his left wrist, green and white sneakers, and a pair of black gloves. However, the right glove left his thumb and pinky exposed, while the left glove only covered his thumb and pointer finger.

The lone woman outdid her male companions in both height and muscle mass. She had long orange hair tied in a ponytail, purple eyes, tan skin, a sleeveless red shirt, red fingerless gloves, white bandages covering her forearms, purple leggings, and black boots.

Rounding off the group was the second male who was wearing a long-sleeve red jacket, a white scale patterned scarf, an orange-trimmed black kilt over his baggy white pants, black sandals, and a green backpack. He had black eyes, spiky pink hair, and was currently writhing in pain on the station floor.

"Oh, thank the founders! It's over!" the pink-haired man said.

The woman sighed and helped the queasy man onto his feet. He leaned on her shoulders.

"Thanks, Alyssa."

"No problema," she said with a smile. "But now…"

"Oh, crap," the pink-haired man said as he saw the blue cat handing the brunette a bottle of nasty-looking green liquid.

"Come on, Natsu," the brunette said. "You gotta drink it."

"But it's so gross!" Natsu cried as he tried to walk away, only for Alyssa to put him into a shoulder hold. "Hey, wait!"

"Sorry, hun. But Zeke's right," she replied with an apologetic smile. The brunette uncorked the bottle, only to sigh as Natsu shut his mouth tight.

"Happy."

"Aye, sir!" the cat replied with a salute before pulling a feather out of his backpack. Happy approached Natsu's feet and began to tickle his toes. Natsu tried his best not to laugh, but it was a fight he quickly lost. The instant Natsu opened his mouth, Zeke shoved the bottle down his throat.

"Just drink already," Zeke shouted in annoyance, the crowd taking in the strange sight as mothers told their children not to look at them. After Natsu finally swallowed the green liquid…

"Oh, man! I feel like a new man!" Natsu excitedly exclaimed with his arms raised, Alyssa giggling while Zeke rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, man. You don't need to be such a baby about taking your medicine," Zeke said as he tossed Happy the empty bottle.

"Well, that's Natsu for ya," Happy replied as he put the bottle back in his backpack.

"Easy for you guys to say! You don't have to drink that crap!" Natsu shouted back before turning around to face the city. "Alright, enough stalling. Time to go look for Igneel!"

"Got it!" Alyssa said as she ran after him.

"Aye, sir!" Happy said.

"Hey, wait for me!" Zeke exclaimed as he and Happy chased after their friends.

In another part of town, a blonde girl grumbled as she stomped through the streets. She had an hourglass figure, blonde hair tied in a side ponytail with a blue bow, brown eyes, pink heart-shaped earrings, a blue & white shirt, a black wristband on her right wrist, a blue skirt, and black boots. On her right hip was a key ring that held gold and silver keys, and on the other side was a black whip with a brown handle.

'I can't believe that old geezer only dropped the price down by a couple of thousand Jewels,' the blonde thought to herself. 'Nice to know what my sex appeal is really worth.' However, her attention was drawn in when she saw a large crowd gathering in the town square. 'Huh. I wonder what that's about.'

Back with the strange quartet, they had begun their search.

"IGNEEL!" Natsu shouted at the top of his lungs, scaring away some birds as he looked around. Near him, Happy came back up from a sewer entrance.

"Well, he's not down there," the blue cat reported. Nearby, Alyssa lifted a dumpster over her head like a feather, spooking the raccoon that was sleeping under it.

"Nope," she replied before looking up. "You see anything, Zeke?!"

The brunette was on top of a roof and hanging on to a weather vane, his goggles over his eyes. "Nope. Everything looks fine!" Zeke leaped off the roof before ricocheting off the alleyway walls and onto the street. "You'd think it'd be easy to spot someone like Igneel."

"I hate to say it, but maybe that clue we got was a dud," Alyssa said. Natsu frowned as he began to think the same. But suddenly, the quartet heard some women screaming excitedly.

"It's Salamander!"

"He's so hot!"

"I hear his fire magic is insane!"

"You guys think that might be him?" Zeke asked.

"Let's go find out!" Natsu shouted as the four ran towards the commotion.

In the middle of Hargeon's town square, a large group of women had gathered together and were swooning over the man in the center of the crowd. He was a slim man in his early thirties with sharp and angular features, a blue undercut, and a heavily stylized "X" tattoo above this right eyebrow. His outfit consisted of a white button-up shirt, a dark purple cape with high collar and sun symbols on either side, dark red pants, and several rings on his hands.

Among the crowd of swooning women was the blonde girl from earlier, looking at the man with astonished eyes and a blush on her cheeks.

'What the hell's going on?' she thought as her heart began to race, and her cheeks warmed with a blush. The feeling only intensified when the man winked at her. 'Could…this be…'

"Scusi! Coming through!" Alyssa said as she and others cut through the crowd. Natsu began to shout as they reached the center.

"Igneel! Igneel! It's me, Natsu!"

Everyone's attention was turned to the sudden arrival of the odd-looking strangers. When the blonde saw the four, all of the strange feelings in her chest suddenly vanished, and she realized what had happened.

"Who the hell are you?" Natsu asked.

"Who am I? Why, I am the great and mighty fire Wizard known as Salamander," the man smugly stated. "Surely, you must've heard of me."

"Can't say that we have," Zeke said, only to notice all the girls were now glaring at the four with murderous intent, which was then followed by them shouting some very colorful words at them.

"Now, now, my lovelies. No need to be rude," Salamander said. He pulled out four pieces of paper with his name on them. "Would you four care for my autograph? That way, you get something to brag about to your friends."

"Why the hell would we-" Natsu began to say.

"Thank you! We'll just take those and be on our way," Zeke said with a nervous grin, feeling the glares of the angry women boring into him. He quickly grabbed the autographed papers and pushed his friends away from the crowd. "Toodle-loo."

As the four left, Salamander told the ladies they were all invited to a party on his yacht later that night before taking off on a stream of fire.

"Guess that wasn't him," Happy commented.

"So is it me, or did that guy seem like a real creep?" Alyssa asked.

"That's because he is a creep." The four turned and saw a blonde girl approaching them with a thankful smile.

"Hi, my name's Lucy."

A little while later, the group was eating at a local restaurant. Lucy offered to treat the four to a meal…and was immediately regretting that decision. While Zeke and Happy's meal only consisted of a grilled chicken salad and a fish respectively, Natsu and Alyssa wasted no time ordering everything on the menu.

"It's nice that you offered to cover lunch…" Zeke began to say as his friends dug into their meals with gusto. "…but I probably should've warned you how much these two can pack it in."

"No, it's fine. I owe you guys one anyway." Lucy sighed out as pieces of food began to fly everywhere. 'There goes all the extra money I saved.'

"Anyway, we should probably introduce ourselves," the brunette said. "I'm Ezekiel, but my friends call me Zeke. The big lady is Alyssa, the spike head is Natsu, and the cat's name is Happy."

"Okay…but why can he talk?" Lucy asked.

"Because I'm a cat," Happy replied before going back to munching on his fish. Lucy looked at Zeke for a better answer, but the brunette just shrugged.

"Not that I'm complaining, but how exactly do you owe us one?" Natsu asked through a full mouth.

"Well, that Salamander guy was using some sort of Charm Magic. That's why all those women were falling over him," Lucy explained. "I got caught up in it too, but when you guys came barreling through, I was able to snap back to reality."

"Really. I thought Charm Magic was illegal," Zeke said as he began to contemplate something. As he did, Lucy realized something.

"That reminds me. Alyssa, you were right next to that creep. Why weren't you affected by his charm spell?" Lucy asked the orange-haired woman. The taller woman swallowed her food before answering.

"Well, it's quite simple, Lucy," Alyssa said before wrapped her arm around Natsu's shoulder, bringing his head to her shoulder and smiling. "It's because I've already been charmed by the sweetest man in all of Fiore."

"Aw, shucks," Natsu said with a blush and a smile. "No need to go that far, babe."

'Oh.' Lucy thought to herself, realizing that the pinkette and amazonian woman were an item. And Alyssa placing a hand under his chin and making him look in her eyes confirmed it.

"But, you deserve every bit of praise, amore mio."

"Ooh, I love it when you talk all fancy," Natsu said as he wrapped his arms around Alyssa's waist. Lucy could swear that the air around them began to sparkle as they looked into each other's eyes.

"Oh, Natsu," Alyssa said dreamily.

"Oh, Alyssa," he replied.

"Oh, Natsu."

"Oh, Alyssa."

Zeke and Happy sweatdropped as the couple repeated each other's names like a mantra. "They're at it again," the cat stated.

"Nice going, Lucy."

The blonde girl laughed in embarrassment. "By the way, you guys said you were looking for someone named Igneel, right?"

The question broke Natsu and Alyssa out of their couple's trance, as Alyssa answered. "That's right. Igneel is Natsu's dad. We heard a rumor that a Salamander was in Hargeon, so we decided to stop by and look around."

"Too bad that guy was a total dud," Happy said with a sigh.

"No kidding. He looked nothing like a dragon." Natsu stated. "I bet he can't even breathe fire."

"So, your dad looks like a dragon?" Lucy asked, trying to imagine how someone could resemble a dragon.

"No, he doesn't look like a dragon. He is a dragon," Natsu answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Lucy was stunned when she heard this. As fantastical as their world was, dragons were considered to be creatures of myth and legends. But there was also something else that she freaked her out.

"Why the hell would a dragon show up in the middle of a fishing town?!" Lucy exclaimed in shock. Natsu and Happy suddenly got a widened eyed look as the realization hit them like a sack of bricks.

"Ya, I didn't want to say anything…" Zeke spoke up with an awkward look. "...but I was thinking that Hargeon looked way too intact for supposedly being visited by a dragon."

"I was actually thinking the same thing," Alyssa said sheepishly. "Sorry, sweetie."

After paying the check, Lucy got up and left. However, as she turned back, she saw Natsu and Happy prostrating themselves on the floor while Zeke and Alyssa bowed.

"Thank you for the meal!" The four said.

"Stop it! You're embarrassing me!"

"Well, we need some way to repay you," Alyssa said. Natsu's face lit up as he got an idea.

"Here ya go!" Natsu said as he handed Lucy one of the autographs Salamander gave them.

"No, thanks," Lucy replied with a flat look.

And then…

"Wow, looks like Fairy Tail's at it again," Lucy said with a chuckle as read the newest issue of Sorcerer Weekly. After parting with the four weirdos, the blonde girl decided to relax at the local park and read one of her favorite magazines. "This time, they wrecked a bell tower."

Indeed, a news article detailed a team of Fairy Tail mages called Bravestar and their fight against a group of bandits in a small countryside town. However, the battle resulted in massive collateral damage, including the town's iconic bell tower.

"I wonder why I can't find a picture of those guys," Lucy said to herself. "Then again, if I caused that much damage, I'd probably high-tail it before anyone took a photo."

She flipped the page, showing the weekly centerfold featuring the Fairy Tail mage Mirajane. "And Mirajane's as gorgeous as ever." The blonde commented as she began to think out loud. "I wonder what I'd need to get into a magic guild like that. Is there a trial? Or I do gotta submit a job application or something?"

The blonde then rolled up and magazine and stood with a determined look on her face. "Oh well, it doesn't matter. 'Cause I'm gonna join Fairy Tail no matter what!"

"Ah, so you're looking to get into my guild, eh?" Lucy turned and, to her shock, saw Salamander walking out of the bushes.

"Salamander?!" Lucy exclaimed as she sprung from the bench. "What are you doing here? Don't you know it's rude to eavesdrop on a lady?!"

'You were the one talking to yourself,' the blue-haired man thought with a sweatdrop.

"And don't think you can charm me again! That kind of magic doesn't work when the target knows about it," Lucy proclaimed. Salamander's eyes widened with surprise.

"You figured out I was using Charm Magic? Very impressive," he said with a sly smile. "We could use those kinds of deduction skills at Fairy Tail."

"Fairy Tail?" Lucy parroted, suddenly remembering what Salamander said before. "No way! You're that Salamander?"

"The one and only," he said. Lucy's eyes sparkled with awe before she collected herself.

"Oh, yeah. So what?" Lucy crossed her arms and tried to act nonchalant.

"So don't want to join my guild?" Salamander asked with a cocky smirk.

"Well, I wouldn't say that," Lucy answered with a pout.

"Then how about a proposition?" Salamander said with a charming smile. "You come to my yacht party tonight and mingle a bit, and I'll put in a good word for you with the guild master. What do ya say?" He extended his hand.

And any amount of disgust or mistrust Lucy had vanished and instantly shook Salamander's hand with such force he nearly toppled over. "I'd love to come to your party tonight!" Lucy squealed in delight

Salamander chuckled at her enthusiasm. 'Well, that was easy.'

"You really think you can get me into Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked, finally releasing Salamander's hand.

"You have my word," Salamander said. With a snap of his fingers, a stream of magenta fire appeared beneath him and lifted him off the ground. "Just don't say anything about the charm spell, 'cause I'm planning on having some fun tonight."

"You got it, Mr. Salamander!" Lucy said with a salute.

"Excellent! See you at the party, darling! Flame Magic: Red Carpet!" With that, he took off into the sky on his transport of magenta fire. And it was only after he left that Lucy realized that he had pseudo-charmed her.

'Oh well. I just got to party with that sleazebag for one night, and I'm golden,' Lucy thought to herself. "Fairy Tail, here I come!"

And then...

"Looks like this trip was a total bust," Zeke said. Night had fallen on Hargeon. After their lunch, the eccentric quartet had decided to look around the rest of the fishing town, just in case there was any chance at all Igneel had been here. Unfortunately, they had no such luck and were now stuck in town for the night since their train wouldn't arrive until the next morning. The group was standing on a walkway that overlooked the city and ocean, giving them a fantastic view.

"Hey, isn't that the yacht where Salamander's hosting his party?" Happy asked, pointing to the distant boat that had left the harbor. Just thinking about being on a boat made Natsu nauseous until Alyssa rubbed his head.

"What? You've never heard of Salamander?" The group overheard a girl in a pink shirt say.

"No, not ringing any bells," her friend in a black shirt said. "Is he a big deal or something?"

"The biggest!" the girl in pink said. "He's a super-powerful and famous Fire Wizard from the Fairy Tail guild, not to mention handsome. I wish I could've gone to his party."

The four friends' eyes widened at the mention of "Fairy Tail." They turned their gaze towards the glistening yacht floating in the bay and narrowed their eyes.

"Fairy Tail, huh?" Alyssa said.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Zeke commented while Natsu glared.

Meanwhile, on the yacht, Lucy and Salamander were sitting in his private cabin while the rest of the ladies partied on the deck below. The blonde had changed into an elegant red dress to make a better impression.

"I've got to admit, you've got great taste," Lucy said as she ran her hands over the furniture. "Midian leather and Bellumi oak are hard to come by in Fiore."

"Why, thank you, Miss Lucy. Being a Wizard of such renown comes with its perks," Salamander said as he approached his liquor cabinet. "I appreciate the finer things in life." He grabbed two glasses and an amber-colored bottle.

"A toast to your beauty," Salamander said as he poured her a glass of orange wine. "Be sure to savor every drop."

Lucy put on her best fake smile and forced herself to laugh. Without his charm magic, Salamander really came off as a creep trying way too hard to be suave. But as he poured the drink, Lucy noticed one of his rings emitting a small glow. With a squint of her eyes, the blonde saw that ring had an image of a crescent moon and a closed eye.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Lucy said. Salamander stopped pouring and looked at her in confusion. "You're trying to enchant my drink with a sleep charm."

"Hmph." Salamander gave a small smile and set down the bottle. "You continue to impress me, my dear."

"Look, I really do wanna join Fairy Tail. But I'm not gonna sleep with you to make that happen."

Lucy was about to get up…until she heard the click of a gun and felt cold metal pressed against the back of her head. With wide eyes, Lucy slowly turned and saw a woman with light brown hair, brown skin, and blue eyes pointing a gold flintlock pistol at her. Her outfit consisted of a pair of black cat-eye glasses, a bedazzled black vest over a full-sleeve white buttoned shirt, a black tie with matching dress pants and shoes, and gun holsters on each side of her belt, one of which was currently empty.

"Ah, Ripley. I didn't even notice you come in," Salamander said with a smirk.

"Well, you were blowing it, so I figured I'd give this little tart an incentive not to do anything stupid."

"W-wait, I saw you when I got on the ship," Lucy said with terror clear in her voice. "You were one of the girls at the party."

"Oh, please. Don't compare me to those floozies," the bespectacled woman said with a cruel smile. "Unlike them, I'm not so easily swayed by such simple magic."

"Simple? I spent a fortune on these rings," Salamander growled in annoyance just as someone else walked into the cabin.

"Yo, Salamander. All the new merchandise is knocked out." Lucy looked at the man, and the first word that came to her mind was "snake." From his slanted black eyes to his lanky body to his clothing of a tight black top, fingerless gloves, scale-like green pants, and black leggings underneath. "The boys are bringing them down to the lower- Huh, what's going on here?"

"It seems this girl is too smart for her own good, Kurohebi," Ripley explained. Lucy then felt shivers run down her spine as Kurohebi looked down her body and licked his black lips. He was even creepier than Salamander.

"Maybe so, but we can probably make a couple of thousand Jewels off of her," the snake-like man said with a low chuckle.

"Merchandise? Jewels?" Lucy asked fearfully. "What's going on?"

"Guess the cat's out of the bag," Salamander said as he stood up. "But don't worry, Lucy. We'll make sure not to harm that pretty little head of yours until we reach Bosco. After that, we'll make sure you're sold to the highest bidder."

"Y-you…" Lucy's eyes widened as his words sank in. "You're slave traders! But...I thought you were a Fairy Tail wizard!"

"Don't you get it? Our little playboy just said that to get you to come on board," Ripley replied bemusedly, Kurohebi chuckling along with her.

"So all the girls at the party…"

"You'd be amazed how much some depraved rich guys are willing to pay for pretty girls," Kurohebi explained. A hard scowl on her face, Lucy reached for her key ring, only for Salamander to grab it with his fire magic. He brought the six keys to his eye-level to examine them.

"These are Gate Keys. So you're a Celestial Wizard," Salamander said as he walked towards the nearby window. "Only the contracted wizard can use these. They're absolutely useless to me."

Before Lucy could protest, Salamander tossed her Spirit Keys out the window. She could only stare in horror and disbelief as everything she'd worked for vanished into the waters below. Lucy felt a myriad of emotions bubbling up inside; sorrow at the loss of her keys; fear at what would happen to her and the girls on the ship; but above all else, anger. Lucy was furious at Salamander and his accomplices. Magic was something precious and beautiful, and to have it be used for heinous, evil acts was unforgivable. With her eyes watering and her teeth grit, Lucy glared at the blue-haired man.

"You used magic to take advantage of others!" She yelled out. "You're the worst kind of wizard!"

The roof of the cabin exploded, surprising the four as someone landed on the floor. When the smoke cleared, they saw Alyssa glaring at the three slavers, her stance proud and defiant.

"Alyssa!" Lucy said with a smile.

"It's that bodybuilder chick from earlier!" Salamander proclaimed.

"What the hell is going on here?" Alyssa asked.

"None of your business, you dumb gorilla!" Ripley said as she aimed her gun at the orange-haired woman. Alyssa spoke a chant.

"Boost Magic: Boosted Kick!"

To everyone's shock, Alyssa's legs glowed with purple magical energy, a purple magic circle with a fist in the center appearing behind her. With amazing speed that betrayed her size, Alyssa leaped ahead and delivered a round-house kick to Ripley's torso, knocking her through the cabin wall.

"That was magic!" Kurohebi exclaimed as Lucy and Salamander looked on in shock. Alyssa turned and glared at Salamander.

"Salamander, right? I heard some girls saying that you're a Fairy Tail wizard," Alyssa said as she gripped the hem of her shirt.

"Y-ya. So what of it?" Salamander asked with a trembling voice. Alyssa pulled up her shirt to reveal a dark purple mark over her abdominals. One that vaguely resembled a dancing fairy.

"Because I'm from Fairy Tail! And I've never seen you before in my life!"

"That mark!" Salamander shouted.

"No way!" Lucy exclaimed. "Alyssa's a Fairy Tail wizard?! And you could do laundry on her abs!"

"Lucy? What are you doing here?" a voice said from above. Lucy looked up at the hole Alyssa had made and saw Happy…floating in the air with a pair of white wings on his back.

"This guy tricked me. He said he could get me into Fairy Tail if I came to his party," Lucy said before noticing the elephant in the room. "Wait? When did you get wings?"

"We'll explain that later," Alyssa said, taking a fighting stance. "Happy, get Lucy out of here. I'll deal with these bastardos."

"Aye, ma'am!" Happy exclaimed as he wrapped his tail around Lucy's waist. "Hold on!"

Lucy screamed in shock as the blue cat lifted her into the sky.

"You won't get away!" Salamander proclaimed as he snapped his fingers. "Flame Magic: Red Carpet!"

Alyssa attempted to jump at Salamander but she was stopped in her tracks by a stream of magenta fire.

"Uh, uh, uh, big gal." Alyssa turned and saw Kurohebi, flames surrounding his hands. "You gotta deal with me."

'He's got flame magic too?' Alyssa thought as Salamander took off in the air after Happy & Lucy. Meanwhile, Ripley had finally managed to pull herself out of the rubble.

"Ripley, get the rest of the guys!" Kurohebi shouted. "I can already tell that this ladies' gonna be a big problem."

"Right," Ripely said as she ran out of the cabin.

"Go ahead. Bring as many people as you like, cazzo!" Alyssa shouted, cracking her knuckles as her thick arms began to glow with the same purple magic as before. "I'll kick all your asses!"

On the shores of Hargeon, Natsu and Zeke stood atop the seawall. The brunette looked out onto the water with his goggles over his eyes. But these were no ordinary eyewear. By feeding a small degree of mana into them, Zeke was able to see over great distances.

"What's going on?" Natsu asked as he saw streams of fire flying through the sky.

"That Salamander guy is chasing Happy and…Lucy?" Zeke replied, watching as the blue-haired man unleashed blasts of flame magic at the two as Happy weaved and bobbed to dodge his attacks.

"This sucks! I should be out there!" Natsu groaned.

"We both know you'd get sick as soon as you stepped one foot on the boat," Zeke said, causing his friend to pout. "Besides."

Zeke fed mana into his bracelet, causing the gems in it to glow. In an instant, it transformed into a majestic silver longbow with green accents and shimmering bowstring. The green gems now sat directly above and below the arrow rest. "I could use the target practice."

A green magic circle with an arrow at its center appeared between the gems. Zeke placed his right hand in the circle and pulled back on the bowstring. As he did, an arrow made of solid green magical energy manifested within the bow, its arrowhead consisting of three points.

"Arch Shot: Tri-Seeker Arrow!" The arrow soared through the air like a rocket-propelled bird of prey.

Salamander grit his teeth and furrowed his brow as rode atop his Red Carpet, growing increasingly frustrated at his inability to hit Happy and Lucy.

'That cat's faster than he looks,' the flame wizard thought to himself. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw the glowing arrow heading towards and barely dodged it.

"Nice try," Zeke said with a smirk as the arrow suddenly split into three streams of emerald light that curved and chased after Salamander until they blasted him, causing the flame mage to fall on the deck of his yacht.

"What was that?" Lucy asked.

"That was Zeke's Arch Shot magic," Happy answered.

"He launched a spell from that far away," Lucy said in amazement.

"Um, Lucy?"

She looked up. "What is it?"

"My magic-" Happy began to say before his wings vanished. "-just ran out."

"YOU STUPID CAT!" Lucy screamed as the two fell into the ocean. But as they were submerged, Lucy saw something twinkling on the seafloor.

Back on the yacht, Salamander groaned as he got back up. He checked to make sure nothing was broken and gaped in horror when he saw the arrows had torn his cape to pieces. As he vowed vengeance for the destruction of his favorite cape, Salamander noticed that the fight between Alyssa and Kurohebi had moved to the deck.

"Prominence Typhoon!" Kurohebi shouted as he launched a column of fire at Alyssa.

"Boost Magic: Boosted Leap!" she chanted. Magic enveloped her legs as she leaped out of the way. With magic still running through her legs, Alyssa jumped towards her opponent as her right arm lit up like her legs. "Boost Magic: Enhanced Knuckle!"

Kurohebi barely had time to dodge as Alyssa attempted to punch him, her fist smashing through the deck floor. However, the snake-like man smirked as he swiped his fingers across her legs as magic circles spun in his eyes.

"Copy Magic: Epithet Scan." Alyssa felt a burst of magic enter her body and then leave. She back-handed Kurohebi, pushing him across the deck. However, the black-haired mage simply chuckled. "Alright, big girl. Let's how you handle your own magic. Boosted Kick!"

To Alyssa's surprise, purple magic surrounded Kurohebi's legs before he leaped and kicked her into a table.

'Copy Magic?! Merda!' Alyssa thought to herself as she got back up.

"Hey, Kuro!" The two mages turned and saw Ripley flanked by all slavers' goons, her golden guns in hands, and a large case strapped to her back. "If you don't want to die, then get out of the way!"

"You got it," he said before leaping out of the way. Alyssa quickly channeling her mana into her legs.

"Guns Magic: Rapid-Fire!"

"Boost Magic: Boosted Jump!"

Ripley unleashed a torrent of yellow mana bullets that Alyssa was forced to jump to avoid. The orange-haired woman quickly jumped behind the buffet table and tipped it to use as a makeshift barrier.

But before the slavers could get cocky, Salamander saw another arrow pass the ship before breaking into three streams of green light again. He scowled as he snapped his fingers. "Flame Magic: Red Curtain!"

A large wall of fire appeared on the deck, blocking the arrows. "Ripley, there's another Fairy Tail wizard attacking from long-range! Get rid of them!"

"Alright, but mind your tone," Ripley said before running towards a nearby ladder, leaving Alyssa to fight Salamander, Kurohebi, and their goons. The bespectacled wizard quickly reached the roof of the yacht and opened the case, revealing a golden sniper rifle with a long barrel and a scope. "Okay, Ronney. Time to go hunting."

Ripley laid down on her stomach and aimed her rifle towards the direction the arrows came. Like Zeke did with his magical goggles, Ripley fed mana into her scope, allowing her to see Natsu and Zeke on Hargeon's beach. With a grin, the Guns Wizard readied her next spell, a yellow magic circle with a bullet epithet appearing in front of the barrel.

"Guns Magic: Horizon Bullet!" With a pull of her trigger, a magical bullet shot through the air, barreling towards Zeke and Natsu. The pink-haired man's ears twitched when he heard the shot.

"Incoming!" Natsu shouted before tackling Zeke into the sand as bullet destroyed the part of the seawall they'd been standing on. "What the hell was that?!"

Zeke quickly sat up and zoomed in again with his goggles, seeing Ripley on the roof of the yacht. The two were forced to evade more Horizon Bullets that sent sand flying high in the sky when they hit the beach.

"Looks like one of Salamander's lackeys has long-range magic," Zeke stated before noticing that they had begun to attract the attention of Hargeon's citizens. "Natsu, try to get the rubberneckers away from the beach."

"Got it!" Natsu replied before running towards the townspeople. "You guys better high-tail it out of here! Things are about to get crazy magical!"

As Natsu tried to get the townsfolk away from the beach, Zeke stood defiantly, Ripley right in his sight. He conjured another arrow, this one with an arrowhead shaped like a stick of dynamite. "Alright, lady. You picked the wrong wizard to pick a firefight with. Arch Shot: Demolition Arrow!"

Ripley barely had time to roll away as Zeke's spell hit the roof, exploding upon impact. She quickly aimed and fired another Horizon Bullet that Zeke was forced to dodge. The two then proceeded to engage in a long-range battle, each of them launching spells from a great distance and dodging when they needed to. However, since Ripley and her allies were on a boat, they were slowly losing as Zeke's spells kept blasting more of the yacht apart.

As this was going on, Lucy and Happy emerged from the sea, the blonde having recovered her keys from the ocean floor. Lucy looked at the yacht with a determined smirk as she grabbed a golden key. "Here we go. Open, Gate of the Water Bearer - Aquarius!"

Lucy plunged the key into the water and a blue magic circle with a cross epithet appeared. With a burst of mana and water, a blue-haired mermaid with a dark blue tail appeared before Lucy and Happy, a blue and silver urn in her hands.

"That was awesome!" Happy cried out with joy.

"That's the power of a Celestial Wizard," Lucy explained. "I can summon spirits from the Celestial Realm to assist me in battle."

She turned and pointed at the yacht. "Listen up, Aquarius. I want you to use your magic to push that ship back into the port." However, the spirit glared at Lucy with piercing blue eyes and grit her teeth. "Hey," Lucy exclaimed. "Drop the attitude and help me!"

"Let's get something straight…" Aquarius said, her voice low and dangerous as water began to flow around her, and she narrowed her eyes at Lucy and Happy, sending shivers down their spines. "…the next time you so much as think about dropping my key, you're dead."

"U-understood," Lucy squeaked out while Happy let out a terrified whimper as Aquarius unleashed her spell and a torrent of ocean water was sucked into her urn.

"Poseidon's Wrath!" With a ferocious yell, Aquarius launched a tidal wave at the yacht…that also engulfed Lucy and Happy. Back on the yacht, Alyssa was in the midst of blocking Kurohebi's blows and Salamander's flame magic, only for the three wizards, Ripley, and the goons to notice the sudden shadow cast over the boat. They looked up and gaped at the massive tidal wave heading their way.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" the slavers all shouted.

"¡SANTO CIELO!" Alyssa yelled as the yacht was consumed by the wave.

Back on the shore, Zeke's eyes and mouth widened in shock at the approaching water. The green-eyed man quickly turned around and ran towards Natsu and the crowd. "EVERYONE, RUN FOR IT!"

Natsu and the townsfolk turned and balked at the sight of the rapidly approaching wave and attempted to high-tail away from the beach. As the wave was about to hit the shore, Zeke grabbed Natsu and created a green barrier around them just as the tidal wave consumed them and Hargeon's shore.

Luckily the seawall blocked the bulk of the water and what water made it past did barely any damage as Hargeon's buildings were built to withstand flooding. And as fast as it came, the water receded, revealing that Zeke had fallen on top of Natsu, the two men groaning in pain.

"Where the hell did that come from?" Natsu groaned out as Zeke got off him.

"No idea. Maybe one of Salamander's lackeys di-" As the brunette opened his eyes, he realized that his magic goggles had been shattered. "Damn it! I just bought these!"

"LET'S HIGH-TAIL IT, LADIES!" The two wizards looked and saw that Salamander's yacht had crashed into the shore, waking the girls and giving them the opportunity to escape

At the same time, Lucy and Happy washed up on the shore, the blonde coughing up seawater while the cat ended up buried head-first in the sand. Lucy then noticed Aquarius floating next to her.

"What's the big idea?! You think you could've tried not to sweep me up with the ship?!"

"Oh, that was an accident," Aquarius replied with a smile. "I didn't mean to get the ship."

"YOU WERE AIMING FOR ME?!" Lucy yelled as her spirit turned away.

"Don't call me for a while," the mermaid said with a haughty smirk. "I'm going on a week-long vacation with my boyfriend. And he's hot."

"You don't have to rub it in!" Lucy shouted as her spirit returned to the Celestial Realm. Suddenly, Lucy, Happy, Natsu, and Zeke's attention was brought to the yacht by Alyssa's yells as she was sent flying by Salamander's Flame Magic and crashed into the beach.

"Alyssa!" Natsu and Zeke shouted as they rushed towards her. They quickly helped her up and saw the slavers walking towards them, Salamander, Kurohebi, and Ripley all seething with rage.

"I've had enough of this!" Salamander shouted as he conjured up a magic circle in front of him. "I'll burn all you idiots to ash with a single spell! FLAME MAGIC: PROMINENCE TYPHOON!"

Natsu pushed Zeke and Alyssa out of harm's way and was completely consumed by a swirling pillar of fire.

"NATSU!" Lucy yelled while Kurohebi cackled.

"Aw, isn't that sweet? Pinkie sacrificed himself to save his buddies," Kurohebi said with a bemused smirk.

"Looks like Fairy Tail ain't all it's cracked up to be," Ripley taunted. But suddenly, Zeke and Alyssa began to chuckle, confusing everybody.

"Oh, please. As if Natsu could be killed by fire magic," Zeke said with a smirk of his own.

"How're the flames, tesoro mio?" Alyssa asked.

"Not gonna lie…" Natsu's voice came from within the inferno. "…it's pretty gross."

"HE'S STILL ALIVE?!" The trio of slavers cried out. What happened next utterly baffled everyone except Zeke, Alyssa, and Happy. A loud slurping sound was heard across the beach, the fire began to shrink. It shrank further until everyone could see that Natsu was actually eating the fire! Aside from his burnt coat, he was completely unharmed.

"Thanks for the meal, poser," Natsu said as he tore off the remains of his coat, revealing an open black and orange-trimmed vest, his muscular torso and arms, a black wristband on his left wrist, and a red Fairy Tail mark on his right shoulder. "Now, I've got a fire in my belly that's raging to get out!"

Natsu then smashed his fists together, conjuring up an orange circle with a dragon epithet in front of him. He then sucked in a massive amount of air. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

From his mouth, Natsu unleashed his own torrent of flames. Salamander evaded with his Red Carpet spell, and Kurohebi boosted his legs to get himself and Ripley rolled out of the way. The rest of the slavers panicked and ran as Natsu's spells destroyed the remains of their yacht.

"A Fairy Tail wizard with spiky pink hair, a scaly scarf, and unique fire magic," Kurohebi said as his eyes widened in realization. "Bora, this guy's the real Salamander!"

"Natsu's Salamander?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Don't use my real name, you idiot!" the man called Bora said as Natsu, Alyssa, and Zeke stood together, staring the other trio down.

"Bora Solak, or Bora the Prominence as he likes to call himself," Happy said, surprising Lucy. "I've heard of this guy; he used to be a member of the guild Titan Nose but got kicked out for bad behavior."

(Music Que - Fairy Tail Main Theme)

"We should probably introduce ourselves," Natsu stated as the air around him began to heat up. "I'm Natsu Dragneel, the Fire Dragon-Slayer!"

"My name's Alyssa Grunewald!" Alyssa said as she moved into a fighting stance. "And they call me the Boost Queen!"

"The name's Ezekiel Hudson, archer extraordinaire and proud heir of the heroic Hudson legacy," Zeke said as he tossed aside his broken goggles. He then pulled down his shirt collar, revealing a green Fairy Tail guild mark just below his left collar bone. "And you assholes are dealing with the greatest team Fairy Tail's ever had: Bravestar!"

'THEY'RE TEAM BRAVESTAR!' Lucy thought in absolute shock. These weirdos she'd bought lunch for were the infamous Team Bravestar she'd read so much about. While Fairy Tail wizards were known for being rowdy, she had read about a trio of wizards that went overboard during their fights, even by their guild's standards. Because of this, Bravestar was also known as Fairy Tail's Demolition Team.

"Pay attention! Because this is what real Fairy Tail wizards can do!" Natsu shouted, charging ahead, his fists engulfed in orange flames.

"S-Stay back!" Bora shouted. "Flame Magic: Red Shower!"

Bora unleashed a barrage of fireballs at team Bravestar. Natsu didn't even bother to dodge and ran straight towards Bora. Natsu leapt into the air with a burst of flame with a blazing right fist.

"Fire Dragon's Blazing Fist!" With a powerful swing, Natsu punched Bora with enough force to send him flying into a nearby building.

"Try eating this, Salamander!" Ripley shouted as she aimed her pistols at Natsu. "Guns Magic: Rapid-Fire!"

"Nice try!" Zeke shouted, this time conjuring up an arrow with an arrowhead shaped like a bundle of smaller arrows. "Arch Shot: Arrow Volley!"

Zeke the arrow and in a flash of light, it split into a volley of 100 small arrows that tore through Ripely's bullets.

"Damn you!" Kurohebi shouted, charging at Zeke with mana flowing around his legs. He suddenly felt intense burning pain shoot through them. He let out a pain yelled as he slowed to a crawl, allowing Alyssa to jump in and catch his hand.

"Looks like you copied my magic's weakness too!" Alyssa proclaimed as she channeled magic through her arms. "Boost Magic: Grand Toss!"

With a powerful swing, Alyssa tossed Kurohebi over the wrecked yacht.

"Their magic is nuts," Lucy said, completely in awe as the trio continued to fight.

"Aye," Happy said and began to explain. "Zeke uses hereditary magic that only his family has called Arch Shot Magic. It has properties of both Archery and Light Magic. Alyssa's magic is Boost Magic. It can supercharge the caster's physical abilities, but using too much can damage their insides, so they need to have a strong body to use it properly. And Natsu's Fire Dragon-Slayer Magic gives him all the abilities of a fire dragon. So he's not only immune to fire, but he can also replenish his mana by eating it."

Ripley scowled as she aimed Zeke and Alyssa, but Natsu charged at her, his arms now coated in fire.

"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" With a swing of his arms, Natsu unleashed twin torrents of fire at Ripley and blasted her into the water, knocking her unconscious. Bora emerged from the rubble of the building atop his red carpet with a wild and crazed look on his face.

"DAMN YOU ALL!" Bora screamed as a massive magic circle appeared beneath him. "BURN IN HELL!" A gargantuan crimson fireball in the shape of a skull formed above his head. "FORBIDDEN FLAME MAGIC: RED SK-"

"Arch Shot: Demolition Arrow!" Before Bora could finish his incantation, Zeke fired a magic arrow at Bora's fireball. The explosion was seen and heard all across Hargeon and beyond as Bora was blasted out of the air. As Bora fell to the ground, his eyes widened when he saw Alyssa charging at him, the magic around her arms glowing far brighter than before.

"Hey, stronzo!" Alyssa shouted. "This is what you get for impersonating my boyfriend! Boost Magic: Grand Combo-Punch!"

As soon as Bora came within arms' length, Alyssa unleashed a ferocious barrage of supercharged punches. And with a final solid right hook, the fake Salamander was sent flying into the town, crashing into a nearby water fountain. And with that, the battle between team Bravestar and the slavers reached its end.

(Music End)

"Alright! We won!" Natsu shouted as he and Zeke shared a fist bump. They ran up the seawall's stairs to join Alyssa.

"We rock!" Alyssa cheered as she and Zeke then did a double high-five, which she immediately regretted it as her arms began to hurt. "Owie."

"Oh, crap! Sorry, Alyssa," Zeke replied.

"It's okay. They're just a little sore," she said. But before the trio could continue their celebration, they heard something fall and break. Turning around, they saw that the fountain Alyssa had knocked Bora into had broken in half. They also finally noticed that while the buildings in Hargeon were mostly fine, most of the street had been upended by the tidal wave, and the buildings closest to the beach had been hit by some stray spells.

"You guys were amazing, but you really overdid it!" Lucy exclaimed as she and Happy approached the three.

"Well, I can't argue with that," Alyssa said, rubbing the back of her head with a nervous laugh. However, Natsu genuinely chuckled.

"Actually, this is pretty good by our standards," Natsu said.

"Aw, man!" Zeke exclaimed as he started pulling his hair. "Master Makarov's gonna have an ulcer when he hears about this."

"To be fair, Lucy and the fish lady did most of the damage," Happy said.

"Hey!" the blonde shouted.

"You caused that tidal wave?!" Zeke yelled. "And what fish lady are you talking about?!"

Before they could continue their conversation, Natsu's ears picked the sound of marching feet. He spun around and saw a large group of soldiers clad in orange & blue uniforms marching through the town."Oh shit! It's the Rune Knights!"

"The army's here?!" Lucy shouted.

"Run for it!" Zeke shouted as the five bolted away as fast as they could, Natsu grabbing Lucy by the arm.

"Why are you taking me?" Lucy asked as she was dragged off.

"You said you wanted to join Fairy Tail, right?" Alyssa asked. Lucy's eyes widened in disbelief. Actual Fairy Tail wizards were inviting her to join their guild. As they ran, the blonde saw that the four guild wizards had sincere expressions on their faces, even as they ran for their lives.

"So, let's go!" Natsu said excitedly. Lucy smiled back at them, slipping her arm out of Natsu's and started willingly running away with the four.

"Alright!" Lucy cheered with an ear to ear smile as the five ran out of Hargeon. It had been a crazy day, but Lucy had a feeling that things would only get better from here.

And indeed, the five friends would back on this night and realize that it was this day in Hargeon when their legend truly began.

Elsewhere…

On top of a snow-covered mountain caught in a raging blizzard, a fierce battle had just reached its conclusion. A lone mage stood amongst the corpses of over a dozen ape-like creatures, out of breath and barely holding himself up with his broadsword. The man appeared to be in his early forties. He had black eyes, slicked-back dark blue hair, and his outfit consisted of an open white coat with blue inner-lining, rolled up brown pants held up by a white belt, an s-shaped necklace hanging around his neck, and a pair of dark brown loafers.

'Well, that about wraps things up,' the man thought to himself, standing up as his broadsword vanished in a dark blue light. 'Time to head home.'

Unfortunately, one of the ape creatures the man had been fighting was rather clever, playing dead amongst its brethren. With his foe's guard down, the beast howled and attacked, the raging winds drowning out the man's screams.

To be continued…

Author's Note 2: Back when I wrote the first chapter of A New Day five years ago, I had no idea how much that story would mean to me. Writing AND and its sequels helped me improve my writing skills more than I ever imagined. And it was through these Fairy Tail stories that I met my co-writer, editor, and one of my best friends, xpegasus.

But recently, as I reread A New Day while compiling that story and sequels together, I realized just how flawed it was. I barely broke away from the canon, limiting my creativity and original flare. I also didn't really know whether I wanted to stick with the original Fairy Tail magic system for awhile, winging it until me and XPegasus sorted out the details midway through Homecoming. And I realized that it can be hard to get people invested in the later parts of my story if the beginning is mediocre.

So, now with years of experience under my belt, my best friend at my side, and a firm idea for where I want my Fairy Tail story, I've decided to reboot the Fairy Mythos Series. Or as it's going to be known from now on, Fairy Tail: The Bravestar Saga!

I hope that everyone who's followed all of my Fairy Tail stories until now will join me and xpegasus as we venture once again into this magical world. And hopefully, we'll make a lot of new friends and fans along the way.

Next Chapter: The Brawl at Mt. Hakobe!

See you next time!

[thelastspeecher]

Superhero/villain AU - Flute

I’ve mentioned before that when Flute (aka Ford x Lute) happens in the Superhero/villain AU, it’s kept a secret.  And everyone finds out after Stan walks in on Lute in Ford’s kitchen.  Since the last Superhero/villain AU thing I posted led right to that particular scene, I decided to go ahead and write it.  So here.  Have some gay shit.

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              Ford pulled on his pants, still silently fuming about Stan’s interruption earlier.

              I thought one of the benefits of living alone was that your twin brother would not walk in on you.  But no, Stan just had to get confused about where he lives.  Ford sighed.  Let it go.  Things managed to progress, even with Stan showing up just as it was getting heavy. He heard the front door open.  Lute usually doesn’t leave so soon.  He usually grabs something to eat from the kitchen and chats.  I suppose the interruption upset him-  Ford’s train of thought was cut off by a voice that most definitely was not Lute’s. The blood drained from Ford’s face. He couldn’t make out any individual words, but he would recognize that voice anywhere.  Oh, no.

              Ford grabbed the nearest shirt, threw it on, and sprinted out of his bedroom. As he got closer to the kitchen, the voice became clearer.

              “So, uh, what are you doing, exactly?”

              “Scramblin’ an egg,” Lute’s voice replied.

              “…You went to Ford’s place just to make breakfast?  Dude, it’s like four in the afternoon.”

              “Eggs can be enjoyed any time of day.”  Ford stopped in the kitchen entryway, panting.  Lute looked over, as did the owner of the voice he’d heard, Stan. Stan raised an eyebrow at Ford.

              “Apparently Lute broke into your house to make scrambled eggs.”

              “He didn’t break in,” Ford said, instinctively defending Lute.  Lute’s eyes widened.  Ford stifled a groan.

              That would have been the perfect excuse for why Lute’s here!  And I had to ruin it.

              “That is to say-” Ford started.  Stan looked back and forth between Lute and him, his brow furrowed. “I mean-”  Ford’s mind churned, trying to come up with some sort of explanation that would satisfy his brother.  Stan’s face went slack in realization.  “I-”

              “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding!” Stan burst out, startling Lute into dropping his spatula.  Stan clapped a hand to his forehead.  “You two are fucking!”

              “Stanley!” Lute said, aghast.  Ford could feel his face getting redder by the second.  “Don’t be crass!”

              “Yes, and don’t accuse us of that,” Ford said.  “We’re not-”

              “Don’t lie,” Stan snapped.  His hair burst into flames.  Ford took a startled step back.  “I know how this song and dance works.  Or did you forget how Angie and I got together?  I mean, for god’s sake, you guys are wearing each other’s shirts!” Stan gestured at Lute and Ford.

              “That’s why this felt snug,” Ford mumbled, only just now realizing he had grabbed Lute’s flannel.  He looked over at Lute.  Lute seemed to similarly have not noticed until this moment he was wearing Ford’s T-shirt.  He was inspecting the stylized periodic table emblazoned across his chest.  Lute looked back up at Stan.

              “Fine.  You’ve caught us.  We’re dancin’ the goat’s jig,” Lute said.  He waved his hand.  Water flew out of the vase on the dining table and doused Stan’s hair.  Stan scowled.  His hair began to steam.  “No need to twist yourself into a knot over it.”  Smoke curled from Stan’s sleeve.

              “Lute’s right,” Ford said as gently as he could.  “I understand you might be upset we opted not to tell you, but-”

              “Oh, I’m not upset,” Stan said.  Ford blinked in surprise.

              “Really?  Because you seem-”

              “I’m pissed!”

              “That’s a bit misleading-” Ford started.

              “I’m pissed as hell!” Stan continued, ignoring Ford.  “You guys are doing the exact same thing you got on my case for!  Mine and Angie’s!”

              “Angie’s and mine,” Ford mumbled.  Stan’s hair caught fire again.

              “Now’s not the time,” Lute hissed to Ford.

              “Right,” Ford said quietly.

              “Ford, a million times, you told me to rethink my relationship with Angie. You told me I was stupid for dating her. Over and over again!  You said she wasn’t good for me!” Stan shouted.

              “Wait, what?” Lute said.  “You didn’t think Angie was good enough fer Stan?”  Lute crossed his arms, completely ignoring his egg on the stove.  “You don’t think my amazing sister with a doctorate degree is good enough fer yer high school dropout brother?”

              “No!  No, that’s not what I meant at all!” Ford protested, holding up his hands.  “I just meant that Angie and Stan aren’t good for each other.  They aren’t right for each other.”  Ford glared at Stan.  “But I’ve since told Stan that I’ve changed my stance on the subject.”

              “Yeah, and you’re not one to talk, Lute,” Stan snapped.  “Angie told me how you kept telling her to rethink dating me, that she can do better, she should just sue for full rights to the kids. And don’t forget that time you spied on us while we were at the park!”  Stan slammed a fist on the counter.  Lute and Ford winced at the force behind the gesture.  “You two put us through the wringer ‘cause we’re a hero and villain, and now you guys are pulling the same shit?  The same exact shit?”

              “It’s not exactly the same,” Lute said.  “Fer one thing, Ford’s not a hero.”

              “He’s helped out my squad enough, he practically is.”

              “Stan, this is different,” Ford insisted.  Stan glowered.

              “I don’t see how.”

              “Yer bein’ awful immature about this,” Lute said, crossing his arms.

              “What, you can dish it out, but you can’t take it?”  Stan looked at the stove.  “Your food is too burnt for even me to eat, Lute.”

              “Oh, shoot!”  Lute turned the stove off, frowning at the completely black scrambled eggs in the pan.

              “…I’ve gotta go home.  I’ve got two daughters and a fiancée to take care of,” Stan said after a moment.

              “I’ll see you tomorrow to pick up the girls,” Ford said hesitantly.  Stan paused.

              “Maybe.  Maybe not.”

              “What?  You’re not going to prevent me from babysitting my nieces because of this, are you?” Ford asked.

              “Dunno.  I’ll have to talk to Angie about how both our twin brothers ended up bein’ damn dirty hypocrites.”  Stan sighed. “Look, this wouldn’t be as big a deal if you hadn’t decided to hide it from us.  Or if you hadn’t been so shitty to us when we were first dating.  But you did both those things, and…”  Stan clenched his hands into fists. “…Whatever.  We might take a little while to cool down, so just wait for us to call.  We’ll let you know when we’re ready to talk.”  Stan walked away.  The front door opened and closed.  Lute turned to Ford.

              “How much are ya goin’ to bet they’ll spill to our folks ‘bout our relationship?”

              “Relationship?”  Ford removed Lute’s shirt, frowning.  “I thought you said this wasn’t romantic.  It was just sexual relations.”

              “Uh.  Yeah. That’s what I meant,” Lute said, rubbing the back of his neck.  His cheeks were pink.  Ford fought back the thought that Lute was extraordinarily cute when flustered. “Our, ah, sexual relationship.”

              “Oh.  Okay.” An awkward silence fell.  Ford cleared his throat.  “And to answer your question, I doubt either of them will actually say anything.  Particularly once they’ve cooled off.”

              “Yeah, yer prob’ly right.”  Lute sighed, looking at his burnt snack.  “Well, looks like I oughta make myself a new one.  D’ya want any?”

              “Sure.  Thank you.”

              “No problem.”  Lute pointed his spoon at Ford.  “But in exchange, ya best give me my shirt back.”  Ford smiled weakly, still a bit shaken from Stan’s scolding earlier, but warming up in the face of Lute’s light-hearted banter.

              “Only if you return mine.”

[theresnosafeharbor4myships]

TITLE: Fire and Ice

A/N: This idea started out as a Dean x Donna drabble and ultimately became 5+ pages. I’m not sorry.

Dean followed Sam and Donna into the bunker and secured the door before shuffling down the stairs behind them.

“Headed to shower and bed,” Sam mumbled with a quick glance at them.

“G’night, Sam-o,” Donna replied, hanging her jacket over one of the war room chairs. They watched him trudge away, and she waited until he’d disappeared before whispering, “Think he’s okay?”

Dean nodded. “Just needs to sleep. And he feels bad he got locked outside while we got our asses handed to us.” He tossed his jacket onto the table and turned his focus to her, gently tilting her chin to get a better look at the cut high on her cheekbone and the swelling, purplish tint around her eye. “We need to get you some ice. Come on.” He slipped his hand into hers and tugged her in the direction of the kitchen.

“What about your arm? That cut might need stitches.”

“It’s alright; it’s not that deep.”

“Dean…” She pulled up short, forcing him to face her, and gave him a stern look.

He internally winced at the blooming bruises marring her beautiful face. If that damn witch hadn’t been dead already, he’d have killed it for throwing her across the room like a rag doll.

She was an amazing hunter, though he could admit he’d never have believed it possible when they’d first met. Exuberant, candid, effulgent, and strikingly attractive, she’d seemed too innocent and light-hearted for the likes of him. As per the usual, he’d tried to keep her unaware of the darkness that crept through the world like fog in a graveyard, but she’d sassed him with such veracity he’d been more pleased—and taken aback—than angry. At times he worried the weight of the struggle pressing down on them, on her, would eradicate her effervescence, that brilliant smile, the light in her eyes. But she’d begun surprising him with how easily she’d handled the news and a machete, and continued surprising him with her acceptance of the life that came with hunting, her joviality, and the affection she felt for him.

Still, when the fight left marks on her, both emotionally and physically, it made his heart ache in ways he’d never felt before, and he altruistically wished she’d never been introduced to such a life and its inevitable ails.

Selfishly, he was pleased she’d chosen to help them fight or he’d never have had the chance to love her.

“Did you hit your head, too?” Her hand ruffling through the hair at his forehead brought him back to the present. He saw the worry on her face and wondered how long he’d stood there daydreaming of their history.

“I’m fine,” he assured her. He gently gripped her wrist with his hand and moved her arm away.

“Don’t be a dingo,” she sassed with a side-glare, using the nickname she’d given him that was both a play on his name and a way to let him know when she thought he was acting like a half-domesticated canine.

He gave her a quick, unexpected peck on the lips, a smile on his face. “I already took care of it.”

He shrugged the torn, bloodied flannel off of his shoulders and eased his arm out of the sleeve. He’d wrapped gauze around his forearm several times, and though it wasn’t the best nursing job, it’d seemed to do the trick.

“When the H did you do that?”

“When you and Sam were cleaning up inside, after I got rid of the evidence outside. Now,” he snagged her hand again and continued toward the kitchen. “Let’s get that ice so you can see out of that eye tomorrow.”

“I’m worn out,” she admitted as they stepped into the kitchen.

“Mmm,” he agreed, tossing his flannel on the bench. “Today wasn’t a picnic.”

She watched him move around the kitchen, his white undershirt barely concealing his broad shoulders and muscled back, his toned arms flexing as he broke ice out of the tray. She still hadn’t gotten over how damn attractive he was—she doubted she ever would—and most days she could maintain her composure. But on nights like this, when exhaustion clawed at her body and the adrenaline of the fight had worn off until all that remained was the desire to be held and comforted, to give comfort to the man who loved her like no other had, she couldn’t help watching him, her eyes greedy, her soul longing to just…be and breathe with him. Cocooned up together, safe from the dangers that dogged their steps and sought to end them.

“You want anything?” he asked, indicating the fridge.

So many things… She shook her head once, using only a few words to sum up her thoughts. “You. And sleep.”

His expression softened, and he approached her, holding her gaze. “You got me,” he murmured before kissing her softly, his hand cupping her face on the uninjured side. “And sleep is coming right up.” With his other hand, he held up the ice pack he’d made. “After we take down the swelling.”

Her eyes flashed with something undiscernible, and he gently brushed his thumb across her cheek, his brow furrowed. “You alright, D?”

She gave him a small smile. “You betcha. I really do just want you and sleep. Post-adrenaline exhaustion, ya know?”

He gazed at her a few moments longer, waiting to see something other than fatigue, but she peered back at him, her eyes dreamy and drowsy.

“You’re damn attractive, you know that?”

He nearly blanched at her unexpected compliment, thrown by the change of subject. “You sure you didn’t hit your head?”

She stared at him, this man who fought the dark with his fists and his heart and never wanted anyone to know about it, who’d given up everything—family, friends, any sense of normalcy, his childhood and youth, peace of mind, and even his life on several occasions—and still fought tooth and nail to make the world a better place. Who looked at her with stars in his eyes and spoke to her heart with his touch and made her feel like a person again. Whose strength wasn’t only in his shoulders, upon which he carried the weight of the world, or the arms that held her tenderly, or that muscled wall of a chest she loved looking at and touching, but in his devotion to those he loved, his ability to pick up the pieces and keep trying, his determination to never give up, no matter how horrible the odds.

“Oh yeah. I got clear vision, even with a whopper to one eye.”

“Well, let’s make sure it doesn’t become a Big Mac.” He took her hand and headed for the hallway, turning left.

“Those aren’t—where’re we goin’?” she interrupted herself. “Bedroom’s that way.”

He turned to wink at her, a secretive smile on his face. “I got something better.”

“This I gotta see,” she teased. “Not sure my poor heart can take it after all of tonight’s excitement.”

Dean huffed an amused laugh, amazed as always that this firecracker of a woman could not only take the punches and keep on trucking, but that she could do it with her wit, sass, and smile. And make him smile right along with her.

“This,” he said, stopping in front of a room she’d never been in. “is the lounge.” He dropped her hand to open the door and flicked on the light as they entered.

Donna took in the expansive space, lit up by the lamps around the room: the fireplace at one end, a big, fluffy couch nearby, the bookshelves lining two walls, a pool table standing proudly in the center, an old radio and record player combo atop a mahogany table covered with old trinkets and knick-knacks. A large plush carpet covered most of the floor, and though the walls were brick, the room felt inviting.

“This is one of my favorite rooms,” Dean explained, motioning with his hand for her to sit on the couch.

She eased down into the center of it, unsure of its age, but was surprised to find it more comfortable than most modern couches.

Dean handed her the ice pack, the corners of his mouth quirking up at her. “You can grab the blanket behind you if you’d like. I’m gonna start a fire.”

“Thanks,” she muttered, holding the ice pack up to her face, her good eye watching Dean as he worked.

Any other man and she’d have to question her presence in a room like this: a stylized lounge buried underground, sitting on a soft couch with a fireplace nearby. Almost seemed like a monster’s lair.

But Dean Winchester wasn’t any other man. He hunted things that frightened children and their parents. He faced the dark with a brightness he didn’t realize he carried. He killed Hitler. He saved the world. Multiple times. He also held her in the highest regard and in his arms at night. He whispered secrets to her and coaxed hers out of her bruised heart and never once made her feel embarrassed. He watched her when he thought she wasn’t looking and looked at her like no man ever had. Like she was his world. He spoke to her like an equal and treated her like a queen, and she’d never met anyone like him.

No, she had nothing to fear from him. Except how deeply ingrained he’d become in her heart.

She let her gaze caress him as he prepped the tinder and logs for the fire. Hunkered down, the muscles in his toned and tan forearms flexing as he worked, his t-shirt stretched across his broad, strong back, that tapered waist, those long legs encased in denim that somehow made him seem sexier, if that was possible.

The man was hotter than a branding iron.

He lit the tinder, setting the fire ablaze, and she knew if they hadn’t been beaten like cake batter earlier, that wouldn’t be the only fire he lit.

As it stood though, one side of her face throbbed and her body ached from landing hard on the cement. Dean, too, had taken some punches, gotten knocked around, and had that cut on his arm that she would demand to see. But tomorrow.

He turned to her, his face lit up by the growing fire, and stood. “Need anything?” he asked, moving towards her.

“Nope. Just you.” She held her hand out as he approached, and he grabbed it gratefully, plopping down next to her and lacing their fingers together.

“How’s the eye feeling?”

“Hurts like the Dickens.”

He tried not to smile but failed and leaned to kiss her temple. “You wanted me…” He kissed her eyelid, her cheek, the corner of her mouth. “And sleep.”

“Mmm,” she hummed in agreement, her eyes feeling droopy from the heat of the room and the exhaustion overpowering her body.

“Wanna lay down?”

“You betcha.” She moved to lie down on the couch, and Dean scooted over to give her room to stretch out. She laid her head on his thigh, staring up into his mesmerizing eyes.

“Been a while. Let’s see it.” He eased the ice pack out of her hand.

Her skin had flared pink where the ice had sat, and her eye looked puffy, but it didn’t seem as bad as he’d feared.

“Looks painful, but better. We’ll ice it again tomorrow.”

She nodded once, and her eyes drifted closed. “Rest, sweetheart,” he soothed, brushing the hair away from her face and running his fingers through her hair.

*********

Sam had searched the bedroom hall for Dean and Donna, then the kitchen, the war room and library, and the garage. He told himself not to panic until he searched the other half of the bunker, but his long stride carried him quickly down the hallway, stopping at each door as he peeked in, but finding no trace of them.

He’d only slept for four hours and, unable to fall back asleep, he’d gotten up to make some coffee. He’d passed Dean’s bedroom door on the way to the kitchen, giving it a quick, haphazard glance before doing a double take and realizing the door stood open, the bed empty. Highly unusual, but he didn’t start feeling frantic until he’d searched all their main haunts and came up empty.

He turned a corner and saw the lounge door open, an oddity since they mostly kept the rooms closed up.

“Dean?” he whispered, unsure what had happened.

He popped his head in to get a quick look, then relaxed his stance, his muscles easing up.

Dean sat on the couch, legs sprawled out, head laid back on the top of the couch, fast asleep, one hand on Donna’s hip as she, curled up on her side, used his leg as a pillow.

Sam smiled to himself, relieved they were safe, resting, and together, and eased the door closed.

[mysticdragon3md3]

So I finally watched Promare.   TL;DR review: I smiled so much my face hurt. ^_^

SPOILERS SPOILERS  SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

I was a little worried about watching this movie subtitled in the theaters, because my eyes don't read subtitling as fast as they used to.  But thankfully, I was able to keep up.  And I'm really glad I did watch it in Japanese, because I was able to hear Galo use the kabuki cadence!  ^U^!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Along with his mie poses, it was just like the aragoto genre!  LOL  *U*  I love it!!!  Really added to his other references to Japanese culture.  From his favorite weapon, to those traditional firefighters he kept lecturing about, to even his taiko drummed theme music!  It was very cohesive.  ^__^

I watched Professor Thorig's review before watching Promare, and though I stayed away from the spoiler section, it did tinge my perspective a bit.  They mentioned some things that I started to look out for.  

I think Trigger just wanted an excuse to experiment with CGI.  LOL  ^o^ There was SO MUCH COMPUTER ANIMATION IN THIS MOVIE.  O___o  I seriously didn't expect it.  Usually anime series/movies isolate computer animation to certain sections where they really needed its help.  But Promare was like Trigger wanted to use the whole movie to experiment, play, and get experience with computer animation, in any little way that they could practice.  I had heard that squares and triangles were used to symbolize different factions in the story.  But I feel like Trigger just picked those shapes because they are the easiest, most basic building blocks for computer animation. I mean, as a studio more well known for their frequent, fluid, and lovingly-indulgent hand-drawn animation, it's kind of weird how much computer assistance this movie had...Unless playing and experimenting with computer animation was the point of this movie.  If this is one of their initial big steps into really using computer animation, it would also make sense to start with the basic shapes (triangles, square) and then just build the art style of the entire movie around that.  So that rather than being a limitation in their current CGI capabilities that they were restricted to working with, it seemed more like an intentional cohesive style.  Anyway, I thought it looked awesome.  ^u^!  All of it.  *U*  I've always loved and preferred stylized art styles.

I only caught 2 Trigger/Gainax references.  Obviously the big drill for a multi-pilot mecha, was like Gurren Lagann.  But also, after Kray Foresight excused his destruction of buildings by saying everyone in the ark was already in underground shelters, I was so sure, one of the protagonists would accuse him of lying again.  But no one did.  In fact, no one said anything.  There was no response to that line, to give it any kind of real relevance to that scene or contextualize its purpose of being said in this movie.  Then I realized it was an Evangelion reference.  ^o^ LOL

Like many other people, I saw "The Marvel Symphonic Universe" video essay by Every Frame a Painting, and can't stop thinking about it whenever I watch a new movie.  But anime and videogame soundtracks seem to generally be less effected by the homogenization or invisibility of music scoring in contemporary Hollywood.  I haven't stopped listening to Persona 5's soundtrack for the past 2+ years.  And I am just amazed by the music of Promare.  Even just Lio's theme has so many layers and things going on in it.  *o*  Promare has so much distinct music, that's meant to be noticed, sticks in your head after the movie, resonates with climactic scenes, and I'm re-listening to it right now. ^_~  Trigger knows how to make music to get you pumped.  ^-^  

Also very surprised to see Production I.G. in the credits.  *o*  I mean, I know Trigger and Production I.G. worked together before, but I didn't know they were working on Promare together.  O.o

One thing that bothered me was how Lio kept saying the Mad Burnish pride themselves on not killing anyone, but then at the end, he's setting fire to the whole city?  And I really expected the story to back-up what Lio said by revealing that the pharmaceutical building they attacked at the beginning, was actually up to shady stuff.  But they never got around to that.  So then 30 years of "terrorizing"/"attacking without killing", and no one innocent was killed while setting _entire_ buildings on fire?????  Meh, whatever. This movie wanted you to be assured of Lio's goodness, but at the same time, a Trigger anime has got to have giant city-wide destructive battle scenes. ^^;  This movie was too much fun to drag logic into it.  

I find that a lot of Trigger properties have this moment where logic just isn't happening, but ya don't care.  LOL  Usually, I say that anime emphasizes conveying emotional experiences, so when it works on an emotional level, logic is negligible.  And even when Hollywood movies do that, we can forgive plot holes.  But wow, Trigger really takes advantage of that!  LOL  But hey, they've built up the cache!  All their characters are always so immediately endearing and cool, that you'd forgive them for anything and go along with whatever ride they take you on.  Sometimes things happen, it's not explained why (sometimes only after the fact), and you just have to go along with it.  Why are they punching the planet?  Meh, it looks cool.  Why are they fighting inside the ark?  Why does it look like a sunlit skyscraper city inside?  Why is the volcano's magma acting sentient to help Lio?  When was a Burnish able to give another human their fire?  How was Lio’s arms able to regenerate after they were turned to ash, after he made ash sound so final before, even enough to overcome Burnish fire’s regenerative powers?  Why is this able to do this?  So we can get to the next plot point. Or in the case of Deus Ex Machina: Because it looks cool.  ^o^  Sometimes the lack of explanations make the stakes vague at some points, but I'm sure that's just because I'm stupid.  I feel like everything is assumed to be explained by emotion and "fighting spirit", and thankfully, those are my jam, so I'm fine with it.  ^o^  

And I feel like some of the names referenced Greek mythology, but I couldn't remember enough to know why.  Like Aina's sister Heris, was pronounced like Eris...who I think was a moon goddess of the moon's phases?  ...Oh wait.  “Eris was the ancient Greek goddess and personification of strife. She...was the force of suffering for mankind, and she delighted in the pain of humans.” (https://www.reference.com/art-literature/were-powers-greek-goddess-eris-8d18b7664ac3d43b)  Well, I’m glad Heris didn’t “delight” in the Burnish’s suffering, even though she had to put them through a lot of that strife.  Then there were terms for the ark/spaceship or something. I can't remember, but it sounded like terms I had heard in Greek mythology or something.  Even the name of the city “Promepolis” sounded very ancient Greek.  And the final mecha at the end too, “Deux Ex Machina”...  But then there were lots of Roman mythology references too.  Like Vulcan.  And Ignis’s name was Latin.  Possibly along with the other Burning Rescue members.  o.o?  

Also surprised to find so many now "old school" A-list dub actors cast in this movie.  Johnny Yong Bosch was Lio Fotia?!?  O.o  I gotta hear that now.  Crispin Freeman as Kray Foresight.  I wonder how much he contrasted Kray's mostly quiet tone vs when he went crazy near the end?  And it was so cool to hear Kari Wahlgren also in this movie, after she dubbed Haruko from FLCL.  And always good to hear Michael Sinterniklaas, Matthew Mercer, and Yuri Lowenthal.  ^-^  I gotta start paying attention to all the new dub actors' names from nowadays too.  ^^;  

JUST A WARNING THAT THE NEXT PARAGRAPH IS PROBABLY CONTROVERSIAL.  DON'T @ ME.  I WON'T RESPOND.

One of the biggest things that Thorgi commented about Promare, was the "currently relevant real world reference" that the metaphor of this movie's story was. Thorgi was very vague about that in the non-spoiler section, so I tried to figure out what he could have meant, while I was watching Promare.  At first, I thought it was just about racism and prejudice.  But at the point where the pizza maker was getting arrested, he wasn't even a terrorist, and his skin was brown...and the Freeze Force was coming in like over-militarized police, AFTER the leader of the "terrorists" was arrested and everything should have supposedly been peaceful now...and Aina started disputing Vulcan's arrests by pointing out that such arrests were only according to special anti-terrorist laws and shouldn't be lawful during peacetime, especially vs a non-terrorist, but Vulcan was over-extending the special circumstances of the anti-terrorism laws anyway, even vs non-terrorists, just so he could arrest people for just existing...And then I realized that the Freeze Force was characterized by ICE bullets and ICE weapons, and these ICE officers were running in to arrest people who were just peacefully living their lives, and treat them like terrorists...  It became painfully clear that this movie may have been talking about a lot of the problems going on in America right now.  (I say "may have been", because I realize how arrogant it is to assume everything is about you/your culture.  So I could also be wrong.  Then again, Thorgi even noted that the pizza scene looked just like New York City's Times Square.  And they were eating _pizza_!  Isn't that one of the things that NY prides itself to be known for?)  And I'm glad!  It pisses me off when people blindly brag about how "perfect" America is, by *assuming* everywhere else sucks (when they haven't even looked at other cultures), and get angry if anything about it is criticized.  Not only is not criticizing systems the complete opposite of what all my schooling in American history/culture advocated about American rebellious spirit, but that's how you get a society that builds up festering problems.  And if there are too many blindly nationalistic people in America, then I'll gladly welcome other cultures/artists to criticize what we're letting happen over here.  Then again, Promare could all be just a very generalized metaphor about discrimination anywhere.  After watching the movie, I watched Thorgi’s spoiler section and he mentioned that the movie released on “Bi Visibility Day” and implied Galo might be bisexual/homosexual after the CPR scene was framed kind of romantically and really held on it.  Frankly, that CPR scene between Galo and Lio was very different from the previous similar scene when Lio tried/failed to revive a Burnish girl who turned to ash anyway.  Compared to that scene, the Galo/Lio CPR was more like a kiss.  So maybe Trigger was very intentionally trying to allude to LGBTQIA+ minorities also being discriminated against, with their movie’s metaphor?  I would very much like Galo as bisexual representation to be confirmed canon.  ^-^  

[the-risen-tide]

Since I’ve been drawn (ha-ha) into the Bendy and the Ink Machine game and the fandom as of late, I thought I’d go ahead and share the fanfic I’ve been working on lately for those who are interested, since I haven’t posted in a little bit and I rarely seem to get the time to post writings. x3 Just a fun idea that came to me that didn’t want to be left alone until I’d typed it down: what if the studio appeared in the world of toons, its characters were actually all trapped, and a certain old-time starlet found it? :3  I had fun putting this together; as of this posting there may be a couple chapters left to do...I feel like this idea might’ve been done already, but...this’ll be my version then. x3

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13280900/1/Betty-and-the-Ink-Machine

There’s the link to the story, and I’ll post the first chapter up as a little teaser!  Enjoy!

Chapter 1

The Toon World, like any other world, has its dark corners that hide alongside the eternal light, energy, and happiness in which it was built.  Many of them are acknowledged; after all, a good story has to have its unscrupulous side, and the toons know this in spades.  Even those dark spaces have its own silver linings and humor.

But there is a place that many of the residents are cautious to talk about; a sprawling underground, basically like the slums of the universe, known by many names: the Defunct, the Lost Place, the Land of the Forgotten, the Faded...where toons that have been forgotten, hadn’t experienced laughter from the Real Side for so very long, lose their energy and their power and go to live out their eternal lives in solitude.

It isn’t all dreary (and they certainly make sure it isn’t); many toons are remembered again and revitalized.  But, all do realize that someday it may be their fate to end up on that side of the proverbial tracks.  And when they do, they just learn to make the best of it.

And then, for a very unlucky few, whose names in the real world were ground into dust along with their creators over time...they are practically imprisoned there, never to know again the happiness and memories they brought to those that watched them work.

Even still, there are toons who just don’t like to give up on them.

There was one who was somewhat familiar with the Defunct; she’d gone down there once before to rescue her oldest co-stars.  And that’s when she heard about the darkest corner, where true evil was said to reside, a haunted store of memories and regrets.

She’d been warned about it, of course.  But, as was always true to her character, curiosity overruled her sense.  Even more so, her desire to find the toons that she’d heard about in the good old days, if only in passing.

And, well...Betty Boop wouldn’t be herself if she didn’t at least take a peek.

“...Oh dear...what a dreary place...” Betty murmured to herself as she exited the taxi (who sped off like a racer once she paid the fare), and found herself facing the outside of a large, blocky building.  It looked very nondescript and gray (to be expected in the Black n’ White side of town), rather like it was placed there from the real world.  It lay in a secluded, empty street with no other buildings, and so the quiet was already disconcerting.  It wouldn’t have been much to see, except for the giant sign on the front: Joey Drew Studios, a name accompanied by three stylized film reels, set up in a once-grandiose fashion...now rotting and pretty much about to fall off its base.

It was told that the building was connected to another small toon world...now since hidden away, like its residents.

The young (appearing) toon woman had a shiver crawl up her spine as she opened the creaky gate and approached the building, clutching her bag tighter as the familiar smell of ink filled the air, not even a moment before she reached the door.  She knew that smell well; heck, she was made of it herself, as were many of her friends in the old days.  But this ink...it almost had a feel to it like ink from the real world.  Like the legendary inkwell used by her Uncle Max...but with something more.  She couldn’t quite describe it, but it made her wince a little.

She took a breath and looked the place over once more, her hands on her hips. “Well, I’ve been in some situations before, but this might just take th’ cake.  Me oh my...still, I gotta at least see.  I always wanted t’ meet the Joey Drew toons...welp, here goes nothin’...”

With that, Betty took a hold of the door’s handle and pushed it inward, stepping carefully through the threshold as the hinges creaked and echoed across the corridor.

The quiet of the inside was overtaken by the sound of old, creaking wood.  Betty cautiously looked around as she closed the door behind her and stepped through a hall laden with several posters of old cartoons.  Her hand would briefly touch over the paper, and she could practically feel its age. She glanced over each of them with interest, only referencing some of the main characters in the early days: Boris and Bendy.  Both of whom she hoped to meet at some point in this venture, although for the moment, things looked very empty.

Once inside the main hall though, Betty couldn’t help but notice the sound and sight of ink dripping from a few corners, as if a portion of the upstairs had been flooded with it.  The whole of the building seemed to have a thrumming pulse, and curling about here and there were pipes that were just streaming the blackened liquid like a life force.

“Oh dear...ink spills everywhere...I probably shouldn’t’ve worn my ol’ skirt...” she muttered and, with a little flick of her fingers as she pulled on the edge of the garment, extended it to transform into a pair of black dress pants instead, as well as taking a stylish gray coat out from behind her to put on.  “Oh, that’s much better.  At least th’ ink won’t show on ‘em.  Now let’s see...”

The toon woman kept walking along, curious as a kitten while observing the insides of what seemed like quite the extensive little cartoon studio.  There were open cobweb-lined doors filled with shelves of reels and projectors, plenty more posters lining the wall...even animators’ desks with lots of cute little pictures...none of which, sadly, moved.  Betty was quite used to living in a world where everything had a dash of life.  But there seemed to be none here, even a trickle.

“Helloooo!” she called out as she came to a bit of a crossroad.  “Anyone home?”

Nothing answered but the creaking wood, the echo of her voice, and more droplets of ink.  With a few frustrated tsk sounds, she kept moving until she spied a very curious sign.

“The Ink Machine?  Hm, now there’s somethin’ ta see...” she hummed, following the signs to what seemed like the studio’s biggest attraction now.  Carefully stepping over a dirty pipe and peering around the corner, though, Betty certainly wasn’t prepared for this thing.

It was a convoluted machination about as big as the room it was in, suspended by heavy iron chains and spewing ink from a pump into several large pipes that made up a sprawling underbelly to depths unknown.  This thing was the heart of the place, the source of the pulse, and with each beat, more shudders crawled across her body.  She forced herself to step away from it, clutching her bag close.

“Oohoohoo...” she shivered, “And here I thought I’d seen the strangest machines, but that...oh dear...I do hope I can find out what happened to the toons of this place.  This whole thing needs an explanation!”

Taking her walk back to a bit of a trot, Betty wasted little time in searching the next rooms; only employee break areas and more storage closets to be found.

But every so often, she’d think that she’d hear something, or see it out of the corner of her eye: a movement, a figure, a shadow...a glimpse of someplace familiar and yet not...but it would always be gone when she turned.

“This really isn’t funny,” she said aloud, starting to grimace now with impatience as she pulled her coat tighter about herself.  “I better find someone here with some answers, or I swear...”

And then, she had to stop cold as she peered around the darkest corner, gasping as she covered her open mouth.

Lying on a slanted slab like that of an operating table, arms and legs bound to it, was a toon...but one that looked for all the world lifeless, with “x”-shaped eyes to boot...and worse, a chest pried open to reveal an inky black hole.  No doubt about it, the black and white canine-looking figure wearing naught but a pair of suspenders looked an awful lot like Boris the Wolf, from his posters.

Betty couldn’t stop her shivering, her head shaking as she took a few steps toward the figure.  “No...oh no...oh nononono...oh how terrible...who’d do this?  And how?  In all my days, I can’t imagine...”

Quivering, she started to reach out to touch the wolf’s gloved hand, just to see if it was even the tiniest bit responsive.

And before Betty could even get close, she heard him groan.

“EEK!” she squeaked, backing away several more feet, her back to a wall as the figure came to life (to an extent) and wiggled the fingers of his gloves, mouth open in an almost breathless voice.

“...Wh...Who...Who’s...there?” Boris rasped.  “S-some-one...p-please...”

Betty came out of her frozen posture slowly, blinking as she gulped loudly and took a few cautious steps forward.  A’course, he’s a toon, they can’t die...but he MUST be in a world a’ hurt.  “H-hey there...can ya hear me?”

The wolf’s ears turned to her voice, but he seemed to have trouble seeing her.  “I-I...can...a bit.  P-please...whoever...y’are...if y’can...help...”

She was almost instantly up at his side, laying a tentative but comforting hand on his wrist. “Yeah, ‘course I’ll help ya darlin’...what can I do?” she asked, briefly glancing around the room.  The only things that she seemed to see were tools that wouldn’t have been of any help, and she certainly wasn’t going to grab the black-stained wrench on the nearby table.

Boris’s fingers wiggled again, desperately now.  “I-ink...just...need...ink...”

Betty nodded, but as she started to turn for the door, she paused.  There was plenty of ink around...but how was she going to bring any back to him?  It would take hours to find, let alone fill, any wells that would help those wounds.

Then, she snapped her fingers as an idea came to her.  “Oh, of course...so glad I brought this with me now...”

Boris could only hear what was going on, but even in his terribly-pained mind, he was curious to hear that she seemed to be rummaging through a bag for something big. And indeed, she was, pulling out a large and very special inkwell.

“This ink belonged to Uncle Max,” she explained as she set it on the ground and began to fill a large fountain pen with it.  “It should be just the thing. Just hold on tight, deary, I’ll getcha fixed up.”  I hope, she added on like a little prayer as the pen lightly tapped the edge of the well.

Boris could only nod weakly and cringe, bracing as he heard a lever pulled.  Holding the fountain pen like a fire hose, Betty let loose the black concoction.

SPLOOSH!

It was just one big splatter, enough to cover the wolf in her creator’s special ink that had brought life to her friends and herself...but as it covered his form and seemed to leave a shiny sheen, it thankfully looked to be doing the trick.

The ink then seemed to seep straight into the bound wolf, like he was a sponge soaking it up for dear life.  When his face emerged, he took a deep, long gasp of breath, like he’d been waiting to do so for years.  The last of the ink sealed his chest.  Good as new, there he indeed was: Boris the Wolf, of Joey Drew Studios.

His eyes, no longer signifying that of a deathly toon, blinked open tiny pie-cut dots that instantly focused on his savior, who was putting the giant pen and inkwell back into a little handbag like it was nothing.

Betty gave him a smile as she looked back to his face.  “Oh, there we go...you alright now?”

The wolf blinked a few more times to make sure that he was seeing what he was seeing...and then, he gave out a loud laugh.  “I...I’m okay!  I...I-I-I’m back! I...I can’t feel no pain!  You!  Y...Y’saved me, oh, thank ya, thank ya so kindly...!”

Then, he paused and had to gape, realizing just who he saw in front of him.  “Gee whiz, I know you! Yer Betty Boop, ain’tcha, or are my ol’ eyes failin’ me after so long?”

As always upon being recognized, Betty had to give a shy giggle and a wink.  “That’s me!  Good ol’ Betty Boop-oop-ee-doop, whoop!” she enthusiastically gave her spiel with a theatrical wave.  “An’ you gotta be Boris...I’ve seen you from yer posters comin’ in.”

The wolf, almost oblivious to the fact that he was still bound to the table, shyly stuck out his tongue.  “Eeyup, that’s me alright!  ‘Course, I ain’t no star like you...but gee, what in th’ world are you doin’ here?” He gave a sad grimace and tilted his head.  “Y’can’t belong to th’ Land o’ th’ Forgotten...you still got your toon...grabbin’ anythin’ superpower thing.”

Betty giggled.  “Hammer-space, they call it.  Yeah, y’got me...well, I heard about this place, an’ I had ta come see...after all, I never met you guys, an’ you were pretty famous for a while.  But, uh...lookin’ around now...” she gave another cautious glance with a roll of her eyes, considering the darkness in which they still resided, “I’m guessin’ you’ve been through some hard times.”

The wolf let out a breath that seemed like it wanted to turn into a laugh, and only became a harsh sigh.  “Lady, y’don’t know th’ half of it...”  His ears drooped.  “This place...it’s no place fer someone like you, or anybody.  It’s dangerous!”

“Oh yeah, I’ve been warned,” she waved her hand, “An’ yet, here I am!  It’s been scary so far, but I still wanna help you guys!  Oh, dear me, I should prob’ly help ya outta that table...” she started mumbling as she unbuckled the straps. Boris watched with perked ears and eager twitches of his gloved fingers until he could move his arms and legs again.  When he was finally all free, he leaped from the table and landed with a bit of a wobble; he felt it would take time to get used to walking, but at least...at least he was out.

There was a quiet moment when he just looked at his arms and legs, moving and shaking his feet one by one, before getting a big grin on his face and turning to the other toon with tears welling up in his eyes.  “Can’t believe it...’m actually okay...you’re a real swell gal, Miss Boop!” he cried and lifted her up for a giant bear hug and spun her around, his laughter almost unending.  “Real swell, how c’n I ever repay ya?”

“Ohoho my!” Betty giggled with surprise and patted him on the head.  Now that she got a good look at the wolf, he was fairly tall and lanky; with the dark spots on his cheeks, he almost reminded her of Koko the Clown, with a dash of Goofy in there too.  “Well I’m only happy t’ oblige, Mr. Wolf; an’ you can just call me Betty.  But now, won’tcha tell me exactly what happened to this place?”

Boris let out one more happy sigh and deflated a little, politely letting the lady down again. “You just call me Boris.  An’ well...I could, but...it’s a long ‘n sad story,” he admitted, rubbing his arm.

“Aw...well, I got time!  Like I said, I’m here ta help ya!  Please tell me what happened...and while we’re at it, we can find any a’ yer other toon co-stars.”

His head tilted a little, touched by her sincerity.  “Well gee; yer really as sweet as they always said ya were.  Not many people ever gave this big ol’ hungry wolf a chance.  Sure, I’ll help...s’the least I could do after what ya did fer me.  I oughta be around t’ protect ya from the lurkin’ dangers down on th’ lower floors anyway.”

Betty hummed.  “That would be a big help.  Let’s go then...where are yer other friends? I thought I’d at least meet Bendy; he’s the star, ain’t he?”

The taller toon made sure to keep up with her as they walked along the corridor, back toward the main entrance to the studio.  “Yeah, he is; Bendy th’ Dancin’ Demon, they call ‘im.  But, sadly...he disappeared, long time ago. I think he might still be in this place, I just don’t know where...” he glanced up in thought and scratched the side of his head.  “But I do know where Alice might be.  If anyone knows where Bendy is, it could be her.”

Betty glanced up at him questioningly.  “Alice?  Who’s she?”

“Oh, Alice Angel!” Boris smiled.  “She made up our trio a little later on inta th’ cartoon.  You’ll like her; she’s much like ya, a lovely singer an’ dancer.  Could have a temper sometimes, but still pretty nice. She was the first of us with a real voice actor when the cartoons went thataway.”

“Oh, she does sound like a treat!” Betty gave a little excited clap.  “Don’t think I ever heard a’ her before though.”

Boris grimaced a little.  “Yeah, y’prolly wouldn’t’ve.  There was always talk that she’d be as popular as Bendy, maybe more; they even tried t’ give Alice her own episodes.  But, sadly, she didn’t get that popular...at all.  Broke ‘er heart a little, but she kept at it, an’ Bendy an’ I still liked ‘er, even if they’d fight over the spotlight some.”

At that, Betty certainly felt for the poor girl.  The exact same thing happened when she eventually outshone her co-star Bimbo the dog; but her popularity soared, and he had ended up here in the Land of the Forgotten for a time.  She was still so very grateful that he’d never held any grudge against her for it.

“Well, I certainly can’t wait t’meet ‘er, and Bendy.  Hope we do find him.”

“Hope so too...t’be honest...I’m rememberin’ things now that make me doubt we’ll even be able t’save them,” he whimpered.  “I got nothin’, an’ you...” he seemed to brighten up a little then.  “Well, you were actually able t’ save me...you still got your toon abilities.  So maybe...maybe there is a chance we can snap ‘em out of it!”

“There’s always a chance, honey!” Betty encouraged with a little pat on his shoulder. “Just believe in it!”

“Eh, that’s what Mr. Drew always said...dunno if I do believe it.  But considerin’ things, I’ll certainly try.”

“Now there’s the pep I’m lookin’ for,” said Betty with a swing of a fist through the air.

[nitewrighter]

#25 Sombra and Mcree. Strictly for a mission mind you

Me several hours ago: Haha answering that one McSombra ask isn’t going to make me get really into McSombra. I got my hands full just shipping McHanzo and Spiderbyte! I gotta have self control!

Me, right now: I have no self control.

—–

McCree rolled a cigarette as they stood in line. “A terminal you can’t hack. Never thought I’d see the day,” he said, smirking.

“There’s a difference between ‘I can’t hack it’ and ‘I can’t hack it remotely,’” said Sombra, folding her arms, “Pretty sure it’s at least some of the same quarantine tech they’re using on the God AI’s,” she muttered, furrowing her brow, “But I can hack it,” she put her hands on her hips, “I just need to find it.”

“Mm,” McCree gave a nod and then glanced up at the neon sign of the club, “Mictlan, huh? Bit on the nose, ain’t it? Might as well just put up a big ol’ sign that says ‘Los Muertos Aqui!’” The line moved forward and McCree found both he and Sombra were now standing in front of a large graffiti tag of Los Muertos. “Huh…” said McCree. Mictlan was a club, operating out of an abandoned Lumérico power plant on the outskirts of town. Still, the place seemed pretty popular. McCree exhaled smoke and readjusted the waistband of his pants again.

“Do you have to keep doing that?” said Sombra, rolling her eyes.

“These damn things keep riding up and shimmying down and creasing in places you don’t wanna know,” said McCree, shaking out one of his legs.

Sombra just scoffed and smirked. “I think you pull off skinnies really well.”

“Feel like a damn fool. Next time, I pick the disguises,” muttered McCree.

“Riiight and let you wear that stupid belt?” said Sombra.

“It’s lucky,” said McCree.

“Was the hat lucky too?” said Sombra.

“As a matter of fact, yes,” said McCree.

Sombra snickered. “Who wears a cowboy hat to a club?” She caught herself. “You,” she said, with a sigh, “You wear a cowboy hat to a club.”

“Well so long as we’re ragging on each other’s tastes, I will say it’s nice to see you in an actual pair of shoes rather than those neon…whatever the hell those things are.”

Sombra glanced down at her heels. “I thought they were a little tacky,” she said.

“Nah they’re… I dunno, strappy–they look fine,” said McCree, puffing out some smoke.

“Well they’re pinching my toes so I’m switching back to the neon whatever-the-hell-they-are as soon as this mission’s over,” she said, tossing a translocator into some nearby bushes.

“Fair enough. And you can bet I’ll be getting that belt back. Hat, too,” said McCree. He readjusted the waistband of his pants again, “And into a pair of pants that ain’t crushing my tender vittles.”

Sombra snorted as McCree took one last drag of his cigarette and stamped it out under his heel as they made their way to the front of the line. The bouncer glanced down at a list, then back up at McCree and Sombra and frowned.

“And you are?”

“Maria Escaton,” said Sombra, tossing her hair over her shoulders. She hooked her arm in McCree’s. “And this is Joel.”

McCree half-flinched and half-bristled at the name but quickly caught himself. “We’re on the list,” he said, moving to pocket his hands but finding it too difficult to do smoothly in the skinny jeans so just resting it on his hip.

The bouncer glanced down at the list, then up at them, then grunted and stood off to the side.

“Much obliged,” said McCree, walking past with Sombra. As soon as they were out of earshot of the bouncer McCree gave a glare to Sombra. “Joel? Seriously?”

A smile just tugged at the corner of Sombra’s mouth. “I thought Blackwatch was supposed to be good with cover identities,” she said.

McCree scoffed. “Let’s just get this over with,” he muttered. 

“We move too fast and Los Muertos will know something’s up,” said Sombra, taking McCree by the arm, “Dance with me.”

McCree complied and both were on the dance floor. Sombra languidly put her arms about his shoulders and he kept his hands on her hips. Both were looking over the other’s shoulders, scanning for security and exits, turning as needed. 

Sombra pressed herself close to McCree as a a Los Muertos member brushed past them “How you holding up, Joel?”

“I’m holding up just fine, Pumpkin,” said McCree.

“Pumpkin?” Sombra repeated.

“That’s Joel’s nickname for Maria,” said McCree, smirking.

“Joel needs to pick a better one,” said Sombra.

“Sweetheart.”

“No.”

“Sugar-pie.”

“No.”

“Baby cakes.”

“No.”

“Honey bee.”

“No! Are you even trying?”  

“What does ‘trying’ look like?” said McCree.

“Just call me ‘Darlin’,’” said Sombra, furrowing her brow.

“You picked out ‘Joel.’ You don’t get ‘Darlin’’ privileges,” said McCree.

“What–do I need to punch you in the face and have D-cups like your boyfriend?” said Sombra.

“He’s not my–” McCree started then cut himself off, “I dunno, would you be nicer to me if I had your girlfriend’s ass?”

Sombra shrugged, “Maybe,” she said. Both snickered. Sombra glanced over McCree’s shoulder and her brow furrowed. “Northwest corner,” she said, turning McCree so that he could see what she was seeing without turning his head. There was a dark stairway off in the northwest corner of the club with a single Los Muertos member standing watch next to it.

“Sure your little doohickey will work with two people?” said McCree.

“I’m sure,” said Sombra. They moved across the dancefloor, easily cloaking their movements as dancing and navigating the flow of the crowd. “We’ll have six seconds,” said Sombra. 

“Gotcha,” said McCree. They danced in place, each using the turns in the dance to keep an eye on the stairwell and its guard at all times until a group of people moved in front of them, obscuring them from view, and Sombra activated her thermoptic camouflage. As it had been with Widowmaker, spreading out the camouflage ended up distorting it, but between the darkness and pulsing music and flashing lights of the club, they might as well have been completely invisible. They quickly moved past the guard and rushed down the stairs, finding themselves in a dark hallway. They moved down it as far as they could until the cloaking wore off, then Sombra quickly hacked the security cameras so that they would only show a loop of the past five minutes to whoever was watching them. Sombra brought up a screen projecting a floor plan of Mictlan back when it had been a power plant. “This way,” she said, navigating the dark hallways with McCree following close behind. They stopped dead in their tracks when they reached a door guarded by two members of Los Muertos.

“Hey–Party’s upstairs, you two shouldn’t be down here,” said one of the guards.

“Well shoot, Sugarbum, looks like we took a wrong turn lookin’ for that bathroom!”

Sombra gave McCree an icy sidelong glance when one of the guards squinted at her, “Wait—Sofía?”

Sombra’s reaction was instant. She punched him in the face, sent him reeling back, his compatriot opened his mouth to shout for backup but McCree clocked him across the face, knocking him out instantly before he could do so. Sombra threw her weight against the first guard and elbowed him hard in the solarplexus before finally knocking him out with an uppercut. Both caught their breath as the guards slumped to the floor.

“So…” McCree looked over at Sombra, “Who’s Sofía?”

“Go lock these guys in a closet, Joel,” said Sombra, hacking the locking panel next to the doorway. McCree shrugged and started dragging the unconscious guards over to a closet. When he finished unceremoniously shoving them in there, he closed the door then elbowed off the door handle with his prosthetic. He made his way back to a now opened door and walked into a dark server room where Sombra was busily hacking her way through the server.

“I knew it,” she muttered, “Same Quarantine tech. This could take awhile.”

McCree kept a lookout at the door as she worked. 

“It’s not my real name,” said Sombra after a short while.

“What?” said McCree.

“Sofía. I just used that name because even when I was a kid I wasn’t dumb enough to use my real name with these guys.”

“Fair enough,” said McCree.

A silence passed between them filled only with the quiet chimes and blips of Sombra’s screens. “You’re not going to ask me about the real name?” said Sombra.

“’Sombra’ always seemed real enough to me,” said McCree with a shrug. 

Sombra brought up a screen featuring a feed from the security cameras she hacked then turned her attention back to the terminal. McCree continued keeping watch, but after several minutes he glanced over his shoulder, “Not rushin’ ya but… I don’t think you’ve ever taken this long,” he said, glancing over at the screens she had projected around the terminal, then he blinked. Sombra had about 8 more screens projected than usual, and was working furiously, her mouth drawn to a thin line.

“Sombra?” he spoke and she seemed to snap out of it briefly, then tossed him an info-drive.

“Here. The intel that Jack wanted,” she said, quickly returning to her work.

“Well we should get back to the rendezvous point then,” said McCree. Sombra didn’t seem to be listening, only glancing feverishly between different screens, moving them around, trying to sort through data. McCree cleared his throat. “I said, ‘I think we should get to the rendezvous point.’”

“Just give me a few more minu—ah!” All of the screens around her suddenly flashed red and featured the stylized image of an eye before disappearing altogether as sparks suddenly flew out of the neural implants on the side of Sombra’s head.

“Jeez!” said McCree, jumping back from the sight of the sparks. Sombra was shaking, her breath shuddering. “You okay?” said McCree.

Sombra was still shaking, gripping herself.

“What was that?” said McCree. Sombra shook her head.

“Nothing,” she said, “It was nothing. Warning shot, maybe…”

“What are you talking about?” said McCree.

“We should get back to Ja–” Sombra started then both fell silent at the sound of footsteps coming down the hall outside. Sombra started desperately searching through her bra for her translocator beacon.

“Shit,” said McCree, but Sombra suddenly seized him by the front of his shirt and yanked him close and kissed him. It took him about three seconds to register what she was doing before he leaned in and reciprocated, just in time for the guard to reach the door. 

“Hey lovebirds,” the guard said, folding his arms and McCree broke away and glared over at him.

“Is it so much to ask for just a little privacy?” said McCree as Sombra hastily started searching through her bra for her translocator beacon again.

“You two shouldn’t be down here,” said the guard, “Where are the other guards?”

“Sounds like you’ve got security issues,” said Sombra, wrapping her arms around McCree’s neck.

The guard scoffed and then pulled out a comm. “Valdez,” he spoke into the comm, “I’ve got two intruders in the server room–Valdez?” He grumbled and set his comm to a different channel, “Oi–Martín. We need security down in—”

Sombra and McCree translocated. 

They reappeared in a flash of violet in a patch of bushes outside Mictlan and quickly and quietly exited the scene and headed toward the rendezvous point, the ruins of an old church that had been shelled out during the omnic crisis.

“So… you all right?” said McCree.

“I’ll be fine,” said Sombra.

“I take it you’re not going to tell me about the mysterious and spooky eye symbol that scared the shit out of you and made your head all sparky,” said McCree.

“Nope,” said Sombra. 

McCree frowned, then took out his pouch of tobacco and started rolling a cigarette as they walked. “You in trouble?” he said, as he stuck the hand-rolled cigarette between his lips and lit it.

“When are we not in trouble?” said Sombra, smirking. 

“Fair point,” said McCree. They were both silent for a while before McCree spoke again. “You know, I figured this went without saying, but Overwatch ain’t Talon. We take care of our own. If you need help, we can help you.”

Sombra scoffed. “Yeah I’d rather not the whole of Overwatch get involved with this,” she said, folding her arms.

“Gotcha,” said McCree, he exhaled smoke, “Just so you know, I can keep a secret,” said McCree, “If you think you’re in over your head, feel free to bring me into the loop and I’ll see what I can do.” He paused, “I suppose the ability to keep secrets doesn’t matter much to someone who can hack her way to them whether I like it or not but—the offer’s there.”

Sombra chuckled, “I’ll keep that in mind, cowboy,” she said as the Orca appeared in the distance.

[abakersquest]

CHAPTER FOURTEEN – STRIKE THE FLEET

Polly sat on the spar of the God’s Fortune, watching the light of the rising sun play out over the rolling waters outside the cave they’d hid in for the night. Her grandfather woke her for the early morning watch before taking Wally out to check the rest of the small island for any possible food. While there was plenty of water to drink onboard, the food stores were minimal for the crew of six. She found she rather liked having the new faces around, even if the circumstances were a bit dire. They all seemed like wonderfully interesting people who could keep up with her amazing grandfather, which was good. He’d never admit it out loud, but she knew he always felt a little lonely coming home from the Weather Eye every day and seeing none of his old crewmates aboard. She did her best of course, but for Captain Blackeye, there was as much love to share as there was strength and bravado, so just her alone wasn’t nearly enough. It was good to see him really smile again, like she remembered.

The lush tropical thicket of palm trees and brush kept Wally’s head on a swivel, both on watch for any strange island creatures and to take in all the exotic flora he’d only ever read about or seen dried for shipping. Blackeye insisted on taking point, cutting a path with his harpoon as they went. The trip had been rather silent, aside from their cutting and pushing aside of vegetation, so when the captain heard his small companion fall to the ground with a grunt he spun quickly on his heels and readied for anything, except for the sight of Wally on the ground, rubbing his toes ruefully.

“Well… That was embarrassing,” he grumbled.

“Hahaha! I shoulda known! Look at the size of your hoppers lad, it’s a wonder you c’n even walk through this!”

“Perfectly normal size for a wallaby, thank you. But it was odd; it didn’t feel like I tripped on a rock or a root…” Wally eyed the ground carefully, spotting a small shock of something white, mostly buried. He got back on his feet and approached the object, carefully digging it up. “Oh! Well there’s a slightly familiar face.” Wally pulled it up to reveal a very stylized statuette of an Icthyite holding a fishing rod. “Hello Old Jab, fancy meeting you here on…” a thought slowly slotted into place and Wally looked past what he thought he’d seen but clearly glossed over. Buried by vegetation were the remains of stone walls, burnt and bashed by some great force years ago. As he turned around, Wally realized he was standing within the borders of what’d once been a home, and just in the corner of the wall under roots that had erupted through it were two skulls, one much smaller than the other, clearly burnt as well.

His eyes had been focused on the nature, and not the thing it’d conquered. He now saw past the growth and realized there were several other old broken walls and artifacts of life buried by nature and time.

“You were born just at the end of the war, right lad?” Blackeye said quietly.

Wally looked to him silently unable to find the words he needed.

“So you probably never saw how bad it really got ‘cause of the war. Betcha saw a few towns in Planae and never realized they used t’ be twice the size they are now.”

Wally thought back to the crater left behind where Marsu once stood.

“Lotsa hands worked hard to keep the fightin’ from the people… They didn’t always succeed. This used to be Sarsi Town… A little nothin’ of a place that nobody ever heard of ‘til the war came callin’. That’s when Isto the Red came by n’… Well. You can tell.”

“Who’s Isto the Red?” He asked quietly.

“Captain of the Red Razor Fleet,” Blackeye said, closing his good eye for a moment of reflection. “One of many people who willingly joined Kota’s army when they came callin’. Those ships we were fightin’ yesterday, those were his. Seems dark magics raised ‘em and their crews off the seafloor where I’d put most of ‘em meself.”

Wally slowly set the small statue down, finding it difficult to look back up again. “Why go out of their way to destroy a small village…”

“Couldn’t tell ya f’sure,” the captain idly scratched at his gills. “But… it might be ‘cause I was born and raised here.”

Wally quickly looked up to the captain’s eyes just as he looked off into the distance at nothing in particular. “Ain’t like it was luck that found us an island with a cave to hide the Fortune in, Mister Walter.”

“I’m… I’m so-”

The captain waved his hand. “Bah, empathy ain’t what I need, ‘sides it was years ago anyway. Right now focus on gettin’ our stores filled… And tellin’ me how you even know the first thing about Old Jab.”

Wally recognized the need to talk about anything else immediately, the captain’s expression was entirely neutral, but he could feel it was a sore memory. “Well… A cook I worked for once used to be an Icthyite sailor, had one made of driftwood to watch over the kitchen. Said, ‘the watchful eye of the first on the ocean was always a good thing to have.’”

The captain gave a single sharp laugh before moving on again. “Guess there was somethin’ to be said ‘bout Animana’s takin’ in of all those refugees then, gave the world one damn clever wallaby. And damn clever’s what we gonna need now more’n anythin’.”

Wally didn’t feel particularly clever, in fact he felt woefully unprepared. In all the stories he’d ever heard from the chattier war veterans, none of them ever acknowledged there being people from other nations joining Sauro’s forces. The fact those were the kind of people who’d willingly kill the innocent, just to send some kind of message to their enemy must be why they didn’t. In the end, they were the same faceless and nameless enemy they had to be, it was easier to think of them as some intangible concept than someone who’d been your neighbor or friend before the war came.

He slowly tried to shake off the fact he was walking through ruins reclaimed by nature, and thoughts of the lives cut short all around him, but all of it just made his heart feel like a steel weight in his chest. His downcast gaze drifted to his wrist and the bracelet his sister had made him, bringing the unavoidable thought of Kota’s army attacking Animana once more. He flinched as an image of his family under attack flashed in his mind’s eye.

Desperately, he fought back tears at an all too obvious realization. No one came to save Sarsi Town; the great heroes of the era were all otherwise occupied. Try as he might to think of all the lives saved by them, all he could think of was those they failed to protect, and how they suffered. How many people could be suffering now as he lingered on this gravestone of an island? How many was he letting down right this moment? Doubt and indecision planted his feet, clenched his fist, and screwed his eyes shut as he tried to banish them from his mind. There was no omniscience, no great ability to be all places and face all dangers, only doing what you could in the moment to solve the problems directly ahead of you. He knew that absolutely, but in this moment, knowing that and believing it were two different things.

That’s when the foreshaft of a harpoon smacked him square on the head.

“OW!”

“AIN’T YOU THE WALLABY SPENT YESTERDAY THROWIN’ MAGIC FLAMIN’ CANNON BALLS AT GHOST SHIPS?!” Bellowed the old shark.

Wally rubbed the new sore spot on his head, looking up at Blackeye.

“You know how I got this?” Blackeye tapped his lifeless eye, producing an entirely unexpected tapping sound. “Obsidian, only thing matched the shade right and didn’t make me itch. I got this after Isto carved the real one out of me skull. After I sank three of his ships n’ broke a mast with his back! I couldn’t save the people o’ this here town, but I damn well avenged them! That’s what you gotta do. You can’t save everyone, don’t care who you are. You save what you can, and make those responsible pay out the nose for the rest, understand?!”

He slowly nodded and sighed out all his frustration and doubt. “Thanks captain…”

Blackeye began to walk away. “Thank me with food, not words.”

---

Later that day, as the crew of the God’s Fortune sat around the small table once more to enjoy lunch and plan, Blackeye explained the history of Isto the Red and the Red Razor Fleet. In the fifth year of the war, Isto made a name for himself as a raider, deftly emptying the holds of Unified Front supply ships and even sometimes taking whole ships for himself. The 8 ships in his fleet soon became the tip of the spear for Sauro’s naval forces all along the Icthy Isles. Isto’s abilities as a Water Mage and a sailor made him Blackeye’s most powerful rival on the sea.

“Odds are,” Blackeye swallowed his mouthful. “That next time, it’ll be all eight, and we’re gonna have to go in hard if we wanna take’em down. Means no holdin’ back nothin’.” He reached out his hand and patted Polly on the head. “’Specially you, sunshine.”

Polly gasped. “Really grandpa?! Y’ mean it?!”

Curious and pensive glances abounded before the two Icthyites as they conversed.

Blackeye chortled and waved to the unsuspecting audience, “show’em what you can do dear.”

Polly happily nodded, smiling at everyone at the table before a rainbow hued shimmer of light danced across her scales and she vanished from sight.

Needless to say everyone but Blackeye recoiled in shock. They all quickly scanned the room until Polly’s spoon seemingly levitated off the table and started wiggling in the air as, what was clearly Polly’s voice, made what she believed to be spooky noises before she reappeared in her seat with a giggle or two.

“Polly’s a Light Mage, ain’t seen if she’s got any Dark magic yet, but for now what she can do’ll help us take on those undead beasties. Oh,” he leaned toward Hector and Rozzi. “And in case you’re wonderin’ those ain’t got a smell on account’a bein’ ephemeral.”

“Remarkable,” said Wistea. “I never would have guessed. Light and Dark attributes are actually exceedingly rare across all the races of Mondia. In fact there are hardly any entries in ‘Greybark’s Guide to the Ephemeral’ or ‘Ashberi’s Cardinal Structure’ that cover the exact nature of either magic.”

Hector rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “That explains how you were able to sneak up on us in Areca. Tell me, do you know if you can make other things invisible aside from yourself?”

Polly smiled and replied, “made the Fortune invisible a few times so we didn’t have t’ pay port fees.”

He turned to Blackeye. “Captain, how likely are we to run into the enemy fleet again?”

“Ain’t no ‘likely’ about it,” the captain proclaimed. “We run on Galaga, they’ll be there. Isto ‘n the Rogue got holdin’ grudges in common in my experience. They’ll drop whatever they’re doin’ if they think it means crushin’ us.”

The knight nodded contently. “We can use that to our advantage then. Wally, Rozzi, have you gotten pairing your magic down yet?”

Wally and Rozzi shared a thoughtful look before they nodded and Rozzi replied, “Ready to go, I’d say.”

With a confident smile, Hector rose in posture. “We managed to scuttle one of their ships but there’s no telling if they’ve had the time to raise it again or not, so we might just be dealing with seven, either way, I have a plan that can help us deal with the fleet when we draw them all in. If you all approve, of course.”

“Let’s hear it, Mister Cani,” the captain leaned back in his chair with a slim smile on his face.

---

The next morning aboard Isto’s flagship, The Grim Reaper, a gurgled shout came down from the crow’s nest and the shambling crew increased their pace and readied for combat.

“ISTO! What are these disgusting undead doing?” shouted the Rogue.

“They’ve spotted the Fortune, general. Just as I expected, Old Blackeye tried to come in over the rocky shallows route thinking it’d baffle us. He must think I’m just another mindless undead.”

“You still can be, Isto,” the Rogue said dangerously. “Don’t do anything to make the idea more appealing. Mobilize the entire fleet; I want them to be ash before midday.”

Isto paused and thought before saying, “Sir, it may be wiser to stagger our-”

“ISTO!” The Rogue hollered. “DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE FLAREBEARER! VAPORIZE HIM UNDER THE VOLUME OF YOUR CANNON FIRE! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!”

Isto simply nodded before gesturing to a nearby zombie. It raised its gnarled arm and rang a corroded bell, the signal to gather the fleet.

Aboard the Fortune, Captain Blackeye watched at the ships came into formation, finding something odd about how they were dispersed along the shoreline, but reserved that thought for later. He proceeded to count the ships off as they entered into an inverse wedge formation. “HAH! Looks like they’re a ship down after all! We might just pull this off, Mister Cani.”

Hector nodded. “Here’s hoping. Ready you two?”

At the very start of the Foredeck, Wally and Rozzi stood side by side, eyes locked on the distant flagship and the general making his way to the forefront.

“Look at that, bet he’s got a gloaty speech and everythin’ ready.” Rozzi commented.

Wally knit his brow. “He caught us off guard the last time, so he doesn’t know what we can do. Why don’t we show him just how fast we’ve grown since then?”

“Happily, Sir Wally.”

With that, the two linked the hands closest to one another, holding the furthest out toward their target. Flashes of flame and jets of wind spiraled around their clasped hands faster and faster as they put more and more power into the oncoming spell. They spoke in unison as the words entered their minds, “TWO FORMS COMBINED TO ONE SHAPE, TWO HEARTS TO TWO HANDS AND STRIKE! TEMPEST BURN!”

Around them formed a shining aura of white light and ahead of the Fortune was born a towering tumult of wind and flame. The burning cyclone shot forward at incredible speed, vaporizing the water beneath it, creating a path of steam clouds before bashing full on into the Reaper. The explosion of force tore a sizable hole in the ship’s starboard bow, and knocked the Rogue clean off his feet. Slamming him back first into the deck. He unleashed an otherworldly cry of hate and frustration before shouting, “KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!!!”

The flanking ships in the formation moved to pincer the Fortune with cannon fire as it entered the dense steam cloud. Isto, with a gesture, snuffed the flames on his ship with sea water and closed off the new wound by freezing it.

“Pah, pitiful strategy. No matter where you emerge from that cloud, the cannons will reduce your tiny ship to splinters.” Isto watched carefully for any motion and grew suspicious as nothing moved or stirred from it. “FIRE INTO THE CLOUD, FLUSH THEM OUT!”

Shots rung out from the chase guns of every ship, creating a large plume of sea water that cleared away the cloud, leaving nothing but the sight of empty water.

“What?! Impossible! Where did they-”

The air ahead of Isto rippled , revealing the imposing mass of Captain Blackeye just as he delivered a massive right cross into Isto’s face, sending him flying through a mass of undead behind him.

“Never could see what was right in front of you.” Blackeye said with a sneer.

Isto hopped back onto his feet and matched the captain’s stare, his lean figure made to seem larger with the broad nature of his thick black jacket that matched the dark blue of his scales but contrasted heavily with his silver underbelly. As he stood he hunched, the back injury given to him by Blackeye forcing his once tall figure into a painful curve that further diminished the threat of the long saber that was his nose.

“That as tall as you get nowadays, Isto? If you’re lucky maybe you’ll manage t’ stab me in the thigh, y’ crusty ol’ marlin!”

“Oh Arias…” Something slithered out of his shadow and slunk up his leg. His body was then yanked and tugged harshly, old bones snapping and reshaping by brute force alone, returning the rapier-nosed pirate to his full height. “I’ll be aiming much higher than that.”

With the force of a tensioned spring, Isto launched himself at Blackeye, who barely managed to dodge the tip of his nose spike by hopping to the left, blocking a following sweep with his harpoon.

“WHAT SAY YOU, OLD KING OF THE SEA!” Isto growled. “WHY DON’T WE SETTLE WHO’S THE MASTER OF THE WAVES HERE AND NOW!”

The Ragged Rogue began to charge toward the dueling pair, only to be blasted backwards by a large ball of flame that smashed him into the Reaper’s foremast and displaced a number of zombies violently. He growled and collected himself as Wally and Hector slowly faded into view.

Hector winced. “Oof! Wally, you weren’t kidding about him being ugly.”

Two giant pins jutted violently from the Rogue’s back. He yanked them free with a war cry and barreled toward them.

The knights moved in perfect sync, blocking his dual strike with some doing.

Hector grunted as he struggled to hold back the Rogue. “Damn strong too!”

Wally said nothing, changing his stance to lift a leg and boot the Rogue away. With a smooth turn he bounded off after the catapulted fiend.

“Right, task at hand.” Hector said to himself as he followed after Wally.

The shuffling undead made their way toward the two battles only to be stopped by a dense wall of brambles that bloomed from the deck.

“Seems the plan is working thus far,” said Wistea as she appeared, her hands on the bramble wall.

“I can hear Hector gloating already…” Rozzi said under her breath as she manifested atop the wall, a thrust of her arm to the left sending a powerful gust over the amassed blighted, pushing several of them over the ships railings.

Beside her, the Ragged Rogue bounced off the top of the bramble wall, a ball of flame following his course, deflected deftly by his enormous pin swords.

“Little help Rozzi!” Shouted Hector as the two knights rushed toward the wall themselves.

She spun her finger in a circle and sent a small whirlwind their way, giving them an updraft to clear the wall with. As Wally did just that, he blasted a few of the undead away to secure a landing spot before the two of them continued on.

Rozzi huffed. “Well! So much for keeping the fight in one place…”

Wistea called up to her. “Rozzi, hop down! I can fix this!”

The red panda backflipped off the makeshift wall with ease, watching it bend over and turn into a bridge to block the amassed undead from both battles.

“Yeah, I can work with that.”  Rozzi jabbed her sickle into a gap in the brambles and began a spell. “Eight forms to one shape, from heart to hand and defend! GALE RIVER!” A much more powerful burst of air turned the bridge of brambles into a two way makeshift pressure cannon, shunting corpse after corpse out into the sea.

At the helm of the Fortune, darting between the enemy fleet, Polly gleefully shouted as she deftly steered around the few cannon balls fired her way. Her part in the plan was simple enough; she’d distract the cannoneers and, if possible, disabled the rudders of all seven ships. Coming into position behind one, she unsheathed her dagger and pointed at the pintle-and-gudgeon linkages on its rudder. Two beams of light shot from the short blade and evaporated the rusted metal in short order, leaving the rotten rudder to drop loose off the sternpost. With a triumphant howl, that was similar but of a much higher pitch than her grandfather’s, Polly sailed on to the next ship on the line to do the very same.

Blackeye continued his duel with Isto the Red on the foredeck, powerful jets of compressed water blasting back and forth between them, each only managing glancing blows. The captain drove the blade of his harpoon into the deck and shouted a spell, “BREAKER WAVE!” Ahead of him formed a tall rushing surge of water that raced rapidly toward Isto. The sinister marlin dove forward, his now lean and hunchless form allowing him to easily swim through the mystic wave, catching Blackeye off guard and driving his natural spear into Blackeye’s shoulder.

The mighty captain ground his teeth and stopped a cry of pain dead in his throat as a swipe of his harpoon barely cut Isto’s coat, the marlin having leapt back just in time to dodge it.

“Proud ‘Blackeye’ Cofresi,” Isto’s words weighed so heavily with mockery it was a wonder they reached Blackeye’s ears at all. “Mighty champion of the sea? DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH!” Isto rushed forward, thrusting and slashing at Blackeye who defended himself with his harpoon. “DO THEY PRAISE ME? THE ONE WHO TOOK YOUR EYE? THE ONE WHO SLAUGHTERED YOUR FAMILY? I’VE SUNK AND STOLEN MORE SHIPS THAN ANY SAILOR THAT EVER LIVED! BUT THEY PRAISE SOME OLD NOTHING FOR GETTING LOST OVER AND OVER AGAIN!” The final clash opened the distance between the two warriors that Isto filled with a shout. “WHAT MAKES YOU SO DAMN SPECIAL?!” Isto drove forward with all his might, aiming his birthborne blade straight at the old shark’s heart.

Blackeye quickly raised his hand, allowing it to be pierced, pushing forward to catch Isto’s face in his impaled palm. Mighty and bloodied fingers now dug hard into the marlin’s skull.

“For a start… Don’t talk so much.” Blackeye lifted Isto clean off his feet and slammed him down into the deck, shattering the planks beneath them and dropping them down into the next deck. “Next… Get a better ship.” Once again, Isto found his head used as a battering ram against the floor, dropping the two sailors down to the gun deck and then to the hold, where the swirling mass of shadows holding the ship together retreated at the midday sun now shining into the space. “Last… Take a hundred years to practice, and maybe then YOU’LL BE HALF AS GOOD AS ME!” With all his strength, Blackeye drove the back of Isto’s skull into the top of the Reaper’s keel, violently breaking both in the process. As sea water quickly surged into the large gash in the hull, he planted his foot in the unconscious pirate’s chest, pulling his hand free from the spike before spitting on Isto’s crumpled form. With his good hand he set to climbing back out.

Closer to the quarterdeck, Wally and Hector’s fight with the howling mad Ragged Rogue raged on. With a violent burst of power and speed he knocked the two of them away and carved up sections of the ship with his almost invisible threads, flinging them hard at the duo.

The two leapt from the barrage and quickly scrambled to use the rear mast for cover. Wally panted looking up at Hector. “Any ideas?”

“Well,” A bit of mast exploded off forcing Hector to duck. “Seems to me he matches your power and my speed… But do you think he can match both at the same time?”

Just then Hector quickly shoved Wally’s head down, the two narrowly avoiding decapitation as a thread off the Rogue diced through the mast. It shimmied in place, held by nothing more than the ships aged rigging.

“Only one way to find out...” Wally replied as he poured more magic into the Flare.

Hector did the same with his own sword before the two quickly ran on either side of the failing mast toward Kota’s General. With mystically assisted reflexes, Hector knocked the assailing threads aside, allowing the knights to close the distance. In almost perfect unison their blades struck, when Wally swung low, Hector swung high, trading off every second strike, forcing the Rogue to act defensively.

With every block the Rogue shouted. “WORTHLESS! USELESS! POINTLESS! AS IF EITHER OF YOU COULD EVER-”

Wally broke his guard, and Hector capitalized. A streak of blue white sparks exploding out of the newly made gash in the Rogue’s chest. As he screamed in their faces, Hector blocked a strike meant for Wally, which the wallaby took advantage of, severing one the general’s arms at its elbow.

Just then something shook inside the two knights that halted their assault for barely a second. “ENOUGH!!!” With a slash from his remaining arm the Ragged Rogue managed to send Hector and Wally skidding backwards on their feet, arms trembling as they barely managed to block the blow.

As the general’s severed arm flew back to its place Wally turned to Hector. “Did you feel that too?”

Hector nodded once. “Was that what I think it was?”

Wally nodded firmly, glaring at the Rogue ahead of them.

Once more the two knights charged, swords at the ready, magical energy sparking off the edges of their blades as they rained blow after blow on their opponent. The air grew white hot, and they moved faster than they ever had before, tearing apart any defense the Rogue had. In unison they spoke “TWO FORMS COMBINED TO ONE SHAPE, TWO HEARTS TO TWO HANDS AND STRIKE!”

Hector’s final strike shattered the Rogue’s pins and he shouted, “THUNDER!”

Wally shoved the flare forward, burying it in the fiend’s chest as he shouted the final word of the spell “BURST!”

A ball of fire and lighting engulfed the monster who unleashed an entirely supernatural howl of pain and hate. The din of magic launched off the Stellar Flare and out into the open air, carrying the violently thrashing Rogue with it. The reaction grew and grew until its light was brighter than that of the sun, finally detonating with an almost deafening burst of noise and force, vaporizing the entirety of its target.

Seconds after, the ruined ships lost all cohesion and began to falter. With nothing to keep it at bay, water exploded into every gap and ruined seams, reclaiming the once sunken ships. With the Reaper listing forward quickly, Rozzi, Wistea and Blackeye made their way to the rear of the ship where they found Wally holding onto an exhausted Hector to keep him from sliding.

Rozzi smiled. “I swear, I leave you boys alone and everything goes to pieces.”

“Slightly at fault meself,” Blackeye chuckled. “I put an extra hole in this heap ‘bout a minute ago.”

As the Fortune came into view, Wistea planted her feet and outstretched her vines to the ships railing. “All aboard, as they say!”

Rozzi hopped on top of one vine and slid her way down to the fortune. Blackeye clenched his teeth around his harpoon and took hold sliding down with his good hand while holding the other in his vest.

“Afraid we’ll have to pass Wistea… Hector’s in no condition to slide down anything at the moment. But we’ll catch up.”

The Planaetian nodded at Wally and Hector and once the others had arrived aboard the ship, leapt off the sinking vessel and tugged herself to the deck.

With a tired smile, Hector asked, “Wally, how embarrassing is this going to be?”

“Oh we’ll be living it down for a while, I’m sure.”

Hector gave a faint laugh. “Fantastic, wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The wallaby carefully scooped up his fellow knight as best he could given the overall size differences between them, took a few preparatory steps back, and set off into a running leap toward the God’s Fortune. For a brief moment the act seemed heroic and iconic, worthy of the nobility and courage of both participants until Wally’s foot clipped the railing of the Fortune, sending them both into a tumble that turned into an ungainly roll onto the deck of the ship, culminating in both of them huddled into a gangly mess against the far railing. Both unable to quantify the embarrassing landing with anything but groans of pain.

Thankfully the embarrassment and soreness were washed away by an undeniable feeling of elation. The Red Razor Fleet had been returned to the ocean depths, and a powerful enemy defeated along with it. It was their first true and absolute victory.

<[Chapter 13]–[Index]–[Chapter 15]>