#i won’t complain but just know that’s a far jump from his original shape

[limon-rat]

When your oc redesign is slowly just starting to look like Gale from BG3

[ground-riot-jack]

Number 1 | K. Bakugou |

idk what this is man, an origin story maybe?? idk bakugou is an asshole and reader is a badass

The ratings where in, this is it, the big moment. After years of hard work and dedication, you’re finally about to find out if you made it the number Number 1 Hero Spot. You walk out on the stage with the other Top 5 heroes, one being your long term boyfriend, Bakugou. You’d been dating since highschool and worked at the same agency that he created.

“And for our number 2 Hero, we have...Ground Zero! Number 1... Angel! Thank you heroes for protecting and sacrificing your lives for us!” The announcer practically yelled at the large crowd of people.

You couldn’t believe it. You did it. You were the number 1 hero in all of Japan and your boyfriend was right behind you. The lights of the stage felt like power surging through your body. Your large white wings fluttered in excitement. You took your place at the number one podium and felt warm tears of joy stream down your face, you feel pata on your back and can hear congratulations swirling around but you can barely stand up straight.

Soon someone hands you a microphone, the crowd quieting down.

“Thank you all so much, I will work hard every single day until my body gives up to make sure this great nation is protected. I’ve worked very hard to get here so thank you all for recognizing my hard work and determination. I wanna thank Ground Zero, for being the best partner and for helping me get where I am. It won’t be easy but I will take this number 1 spot and wear it with pride. Thank you, i love you all” You spill out happily, you turn and grab onto Katsuki, hugging him and congratulating him on Number 2. You’d both climbed so high and so quickly since you’re UA days, it’s made you happy that you’ve come so far with the person you love most.

Bakugou however, didn’t look happy. It was extremely rare to see a smile on his face, but at the very least you’d expected his bored face. But now, he looked angry. He looked like he was ready to level the city withy he scowl pressed on his face.

“babe, what’s wrong? you good?” You grab his large bicep, getting him to look at you. His bright red eyes snap to yours and you feel locked in with how much animosity they hold.

“I’m ready to go home” He spits out before turning and walking back to the car you’d both arrived in.

You took a few more pictures with fans before following your grumpy boyfriend. As soon as you sat in the car, you could feel the tension thick in the air.

“Ok seriously babe, what the hell is wrong? We got the top spots, that’s amazing!” You turn towards him as the driver head back to your place.

“It’s nothing” He managed to say through his teeth with his are locked together with how tight he’s clenching his jaw.

“It’s something, you’re getting ready to blow this car up”

“I said it’s nothing, Angel” He speaks, the name oozing in malice and anger. Suddenly it clicked.

“You’re jealous that I got the number one spot while you got number two. jesus christ katsuki, could you be any more pessimistic. Why can’t you just be happy for me that i’ve reached a goal i’ve been trying to get my whole life? Number two is in no way shape or form bad.” You huff and fall back against the seat, you watch Bakugou clench and unclench his fists while staring out the window.

“I have to be number one and be better than All Might” He growls quietly, you knew it was a somewhat sensitive subject, but you couldn’t believe your ears.

“All might? Katsuki, you’re 23 years old, you can’t truly expect to be better than All Might right now? All might wasn’t even this good at this age yet, you’re way ahead of schedule. You can’t be happy for me because you wanna be better at 22 years old than All Might was in his prime? You’re delusional katsuki.”

“I HAVE TO BE NUMBER ONE”

“THATS FINE BUT WHY CANT YOU BE HAPPY THAT TOUR GIRLFRIEND IS NUMBER ONE?”

“BECAUSE IT SHOULD BE ME”

“so you think I don’t deserve this katsuki? You think what? I haven’t worked hard enough? I’m nor strong enough? I’m not good enough? WHAT IS IT KATSUKI? Why don’t I deserve to be number one? Why do you think your were unfairly judged?”

You both stared at each other in silence for a while, anger boiling into the atmosphere. You understood the only thing that drove bakugou in highschool was his need to be number one. You were both adults now, and you were in love with each other. You’d hoped that you’d made a big enough impact on bakugou that your life and love together would be enough of a motivator to be great, the way it was with you.

You felt that car pull into your large home, and immediately jumped out, racing up to your shared bedroom. You got out of your hero costume and into leggings and a tank top. You took off all your makeup and picked the confetti out of your wings. You looked up as Bakugou walked in the room.

“Im not sorry that I’m not settling for number two, I never will and you know it, but i am sorry for yelling at you and the way I acted.” Katsuki grumbled while looking at the floor. Usually, his awkward and hesitant apologies warmed your heart and made you gush at how cute your angry boyfriend was, but now you find yourself staying angry.

“That’s not an apology katsuki. You refuse to be happy for me, even though you promised you would be. You refuse to even acknowledge how much work I put into this to be number one. I am THE youngest Hero to hit number one and you can’t even say good job babe. Instead you get angry and jealous and mean because it wasn’t you. Never mind the fact that you jumped from 10 to 2 which is THE biggest jump anyone’s seen in years bakugou. You won’t even let yourself be happy at what you’ve done, because you’re too busy being jealous” You poke his chest, finally standing in front of him.

“It’s not a bad thing to want to be the best” He crosses his arms, getting defensive.

“Of course not babe, I want you to be the best too. So why don’t you want me to be the best?”

“It’s not that, it’s-“

“It’s what Katsuki?”

“I made a promise to myself-”

“YOU MADE A PROMISE TO ME KATSUKI. You gave me this fucking promise ring and told me that you you’re gonna support me no matter what. That we were gonna work hard to get to where we need to go and we were gonna do it together. You promised me you’d be by my side. That’s the difference between us babe. You need to be number one for yourself, I need to be number one for us. You’ve forgotten that” You wipe your tears and move around the tall man in your way. It hurt that Katsuki couldn’t see this was bigger than his highschool days. This was your life together. You hadn’t spoken to All Might or even Midoriya in years, so why was it so hard for him to accept you as a permanent part of his life.

“Baby, i’m sorry I just. I get one track minded and I was so hopeful that this was finally the day. I needed so bad to be number one-“

“THIS IS NO LONGER ABOUT BEING NUMBER ONE KATSUKI, THIS IS ABOUT HOW YOU CANT SEE THAT YOURE TREATING ME LIKE A SIDE CHARACTER. I AM YOUR GIRLFRIEND!! For fucks sake katsuki, we live, work, sleep, eat do and do everything together, so the fact that I’m not even one of the reasons you go out and do what you do hurts because this” You pause and gestured to everything around you. “This is the reason I wake up every morning, you are the reason I fight crime and your reason is, a childhood rivalry. You’re am adult now, you’re supposed to be friends with midoriya and all might and you’re supposed to be over this whole thing. This isn’t supposed to be the thing that drives you. I’m not saying I have to be too of the list but it would be nice to be on the list” You sigh and look at your boyfriend. You knew this wasn’t healthy to yell at each other like this, but you needed him to understand where you’re coming from.

“Baby, Of course you’re my reason for waking up and being a hero, I would do anything to protect you, it’s just I always pictured me at Number 1 with my agency and you and a family. I have a need, a primal urge to be number one and that’s never going to change. Doesn’t mean i don’t love your dumbass”

“Well I’m number one Katsuki, and I earned the hell out of it. I worked my ass off day and night for weeks and months and years so that I could have this. And to see you pout and complain and look me in my face and tell me you don’t think I deserve this spot hurts more than some cute little apology where you call me dumbass lovingly. So i’ll ask you again, why don’t you think I deserve this spot? What makes you better?” You squinted your eyes at the tall man and clench your jaw.

“Im physically stronger-“ You interrupt your boyfriend by grabbing his arm and kicking his legs out from under him, using your wings to flip him over in his back, pinning him down.

“You’re so close minded katsuki, that you don’t even know what i’ve. been doing for the past 8 months. I an the number one hero you think i didn’t train to be stronger than everyone around me?” You ask, hurt laced in your voice.

“Fine, you deserve this spot. You’re the best.”

“You dont meant that, I’m gonna make you fucking mean it Katsuki. One day you’re gonna see me and i’m gonna be the best and you’re gonna be in awe of my power and then you’ll finally see that i deserve this.” You push off of him and stand up your wings tucking close to your body.

“Just-give me a week babe. I promise I’ll make it up to you and I’ll show you I am happy for you, it’s just difficult being let down like this. I’m a sore loser and you know it.” Bakugou grabs your shoulder and pulls you close to his chest.

“You haven’t even said you’re proud of me yet. or that you love me. or even good job katsuki. You don’t believe i’m your heart that i deserve this do you?” You look at him, heart in your throat.

“I believe I should be number one. Every time.” Katsuki mutters in your hair like it was a compliment. You push him back, rage filling your body.

“You’re fucked up katsuki. I’m fucking leaving” You spit, throwing on a jacket and shoes, heading towards your front door.

“Where the hell are you going?!” Bakugou snarls as you move past him.

“Katsuki, I love you with every fiber of my soul, but right now looking at your face makes me wanna throw you across town and beat the shit out of you. I’ll be back tomorrow maybe” You mumble the last part, not really sure how long you wanna be away from your hot headed boyfriend.

“you can’t just fucking leave y/n, how do you expect to be number one of you can’t even stay and win a fight against your boyfriend.” Katsuki let’s out a dry laugh, causing you to turn away from your front door.

You lunge at Katsuki, ready to punch him until he understands you’re the number one hero. You two roll around fighting and spewing things typically reserved for villains. Bakugou pins you down on the floor, his knee on your chest and his hands holding both your wrists beside your head. You close your eyes and focus all your energy into your chest, a faint ball of white light glows from your heart. Ktsuki looks at it with realization before the energy is expelled from you and your boyfriend is sent flying across the living room.

“You did not just use Power Surge on me.” He growls. wiping the sweat from his brow.

“I did, and i’m fucking leaving and your not gonna say shit or so help me god katsuki, i will shoot a beam of light so bright and hot that you wake up blind, burnt and fucking single.” You use your wings to send you flying straight to your front door, you look back at your confused boyfriend once more before taking to the sky.

Bakugou began the cleaning process, shocked and confused. Why didn’t you understand he wants to be happy for you, he truly does, but his pride won’t let him get away with not winning. He decided to let you fly off to calm down for the night, opting to call and talk to Kirishima. The two friends ended up talking for a bit longer than expected, bakugou trying to get kiri on his side, not his girlfriends. It didn’t work however, Kirishima understood that bakugou would let his emotions cloud his mind, even when it came to you. By the end of the conversation, bakugou was almost has heated as he was while fighting you. He concluded the best option was to head to his agency and train for the night.

He arrived and decided to do some things around the office before heading to the training and workout wing of his large building. While going thru last minute files, there’s a knock on his door.

“Ground Zero, i wasn’t expecting you to be here so late.” A stranger smiles in Bakugou face as he opens his office door, his secretary smiling sheepishly.

“Who the hell are you?” He cocks his head and tries to figure it out before he’s told, one of those weird habits he’s picked up being a hero.

“My apologies. I’m Niko Takeyama, I work for the Hero Commission. How would you like to be the number one hero by this time next month.”

[cinnamonrusts]

i’ll see you in the village -- 5

parts: 1 2 3 4

Chris and his team home in on your location. He comes to learn just what Miranda has done to the woman he loves. (chris redfield x f!reader)

(tags: @moonlightnumbsthepainifeel)

                                                   ✧.* ✧.* ✧.* ✧.*

Chris sat inside the armored van and lit his cigarette. The darkness of the village was thick and the air felt heavy but in the moment, he felt calm. He was finally able to pinpoint your location and although Miranda had you in her clutches, his team confirmed to see you alive before she took you underground into her domain. Chris inhaled the cigarette deeply and recalled the many naggings he received from you regarding his habit.

“You should really stop smoking, Chris,” you complained as you waved your hand around in the air inside of Chris’s truck. “I’ll stop smoking -- when you stop gambling,” he blew a puff of smoke out of the window. You huffed, “I’m telling you, you can’t win if you don’t play!” Chris shook his head and turned toward you with cigarette in between his lips, “I’ll stop when you do,” he winked and your eyes rolled, “I’ll remember that when I’m a millionaire, Redfield.”

His eyes closed as he exhaled, “I’m coming, baby,” he whispered to himself, then exited the vehicle. Chris approached the team members that were staked around the general area and pointed out the location where Miranda was held up at. Around the exit of the village where you were last seen at was blocked with gigantic black roots that writhed about in a hostile manner. Helicopters flew overhead and on the side of the flying vehicles were the BSAA’s logos. Chris took the rifle from Lobo and looked through the scope to observe the situation and took note as to what his former agency was up to. They would only cause more issues for his mission than what he already had dealt with, but the Alpha wouldn’t let this stop them, they would continue on. “BSAA... They’ve gone too far,” he said as paratroopers exited to the ground but the chopper was soon attacked by a root and spiraled out to the ground with an explosion.

Redfield instructed his team to head for the main source of the black roots and destroy it. “I’ve got your back, boss. Let’s get to work.” said Lobo. Chris’s plan was clear in his mind: destroy Miranda, rescue Rosemary, and ensure your safety. With guns at ready, Hound Wolf Squad made their way through the village that was on the brink of destruction. He would fight the Hell and high water to finish what had been started.

✧.* ✧.*

Miranda brought you to the ceremony site and you shivered in the cold under the lab coat. You pondered an escape route but the area around you was mostly frozen forest and certain death awaited you if you tried to venture out into it, so you shifted your focus to the woman. Miranda led you down a small path to the ritual area where she would complete her life’s work. Your body soon began to feel weak and you could barely stand on your feet. When you arrived to the area, you dropped to your knees and struggled to listen to Miranda as she started a speech.

“That damn Ethan Winters turned out to be more of an issue than I expected...” she began. “I originally wanted him to merely dispose of my false children and awaken to the beautiful Megamycete, but he proved to be too troublesome for me to deal with any longer.” she turned to face you and dropped down to her knee, she took your chin into her hand and tilted your head back to meet your gaze. “Winters managed to destroy the four lords and take the pieces of his child back. But now he’s gone and the ceremony may continue.” she let go of you and raised to a stand. “T-Then what do you want with m-me then?” you struggled to ask. Miranda tapped her cheek with her finger as she pondered whether she felt you deserved to know her reasoning for infecting you with the Cadou. “You will be my high priestess for said future, my new Lord, if you may; but if little Rose fails to be a suitable host for Eva... Well, that’s what you’re here for, my dear..” your blood ran cold, everything that had just happened up until this moment was pure chance and you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Miranda didn’t choose you because she thought you were something special. It was because you seemed to be a good enough guinea pig for her trap.

“So- so, I’m just a fucking experiment?”“ your teeth gritted and your fingers closed into a fist. The last bit of strength inside boiled in your stomach and you pushed yourself to stand before taking a lunge at her. She merely slapped you to the side with the back of her hand and you flew several feet and sprawled out on the ground, face first. Miranda approached you slowly and pushed into your stomach with tip her foot as she rolled you onto your back. “Poor, girl. Soon, you’ll crystalize and wait for your mutation to finish. There’s nothing you or that man can do about it.” Man?! “C-Chris?!” you called out and weakly reached your hand upward toward the darkening light but Miranda simply chuckled, “It is useless, child. The Cadou is taking hold of you now and it won’t be long until you’re under its and my, control.”  Your arm began to stiffen as you could see a white crystallization spread out from where the Cadou buried itself in your body. Soon, you were completely frozen in place within a white crystal shell, almost like a cocoon. Miranda turned you from a living human, into a frightening beautiful statue for her to do with as her plans pleased.

✧.* ✧.*

Chris fought his way through the Lycans that popped up from every nook and cranny of the village. The homes burned brightly and the horrors seemed to worsen as he got deeper into the bowels of the area. Soon, he came across the Megamycete underground and planted an explosive that would destroy the village and every evil that dwelled within its boundaries. “Any sight of, [Y/N]?” Chris asked into his earpiece but none of his team members were able to confirm anything. “We do have sight of Miranda however at the ceremony site... wait...” Umber Eyes paused, “I have eyes on [Y/N] but...”

Chris’s heart jumped in his chest, “What!? What is it!?” he yelled as he hurried up a path of steps that led toward the surface. “She -- she isn’t moving. But I can’t see her too well,” his voice dropped and Chris stopped in his tracks. “What do you mean?” he barely could spit the words out. “I’m not positive but I can confirm she is there with the target. She seems to be laying on the ground but Miranda is in the way,” Redfield needed to get to the ceremony site as quickly as possible but found himself in a laboratory first. He examined the area and the notes that were scattered around on the many tables, and stumbled upon a connection that he would’ve never guessed. Oswell E. Spencer was Mother Miranda’s subordinate! It all started here, in this European village... Umbrella... everything that Chris had been through started with Miranda and hopefully would end here. This small room held another secret that was tucked away behind a barred cell. Chris’s rifle had its sights on nonother than Mia Winters! The man radioed in to his team to confirm that this was not Miranda and they informed him that she was still in the same spot along with you.

Chris asked why she was there and she told him the story of her being captured and used in experiments. He turned to leave and spoke into his earpiece, “Stick to the mission. I’m headed for the ceremony site.” but Mia followed him and demanded that she went with him. She reminded how Chris promised to keep her and her family safe but those words burned the Ethan shaped wound in his heart. The man struggled to inform the woman that Ethan, her husband, was gone. Dead. But he was done with the secrets, she needed to know and he had trouble with telling her the news. “I’m sorry, Mia. But we have to leave and destroy this village.” Mia wouldn’t let him leave until they would get her husband. Chris grew angry, “Mia! We need to get Rosemary and [Y/N], then we will get the fuck out of here! That is it. Understand?” When he spoke your name, it triggered a disturbing memory of the trauma the Winters spouse witnessed.

“That woman... [Y/N]… Miranda -- she did -- things to her.” Mia’s eyes flickered from Chris to the table that you were previously strapped to. Chris grabbed her shoulders and looked at her with eyes of desperation, “Is she alive?!” his voice cracked. Mia nodded her head slowly, “Y-Yes. But Miranda implanted her with her “gift” and I don’t know what happened after they left.” Chris sucked in his lower lip as his thoughts raced, “Gift? The Cadou?” he asked, his core shook but his composure remained solid. Mia nodded once more and a shadow of fear overwhelmed the man. “We need to go. Now.”

Chris was going to get you back and make Miranda pay.

[votederpycausemufins]

*arrives with a cup of hot cocoa instead of coffee* oh hey, you know you guys have been waiting long enough. Here’s the captain. Just ignore the Mumbo in the background having a crisis

@petrichormeraki

Grian regretted going through the portal almost immediately as a wave of nausea hit him. “Are you okay mister grain?” he gave a weak laugh at Crumb already figuring out that nickname.

“Yeah, just didn’t expect this place to be so charged with Vault God energy. Oof, no wonder I can’t remember anything. Can you try sending a message to Tommy?”

“Ye ye ye!” Crumb replied before tapping away at her own communicator. She stopped, jumping as someone wearing a white mask with a black symbol on it landed in front of them.

“Heyyyy!” Grian pointed finger guns at the Watcher that landed in front of him.

“Xelqua. What are you doing here?”

Grian frowned, recognizing the voice. “Ugh, Lynn… Look, I’m just here for my family and a friend of Tommy’s. I didn’t know it was going to be this bad.” He fumbled as Lynn threw an identical mask to the one she was wearing to him. He put it on and felt relief as it helped stabilize him a bit, though he could feel it activating his Watcher powers further. “If you know where they are, I can be on my way.”

“Fine, try not to take too long.” She gave Grian some directions before leaving.

Grian went to pick up Crumb, but found her looking a little scared. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Well, when me and Tubbox was getting flown away by the big bird, it made a portal dat looks like dat.” She pointed at Grian’s mask.

“Oh, yeah that bird was probably me. It was very much on accident though as you can see that is not happening this time.”

Crumb stared at him, half surprised, half skeptical, but mostly confused. “Are you a shape shifter like me den?”

Grian chuckled. “Nope, just an avian. Okay maybe not just. I was born an avian and then made into a Watcher, and to show off power they get wicked cool forms that sort of reflect who they are. Since a good number of Watchers are human based in origin, they basically turn into what people think of as angels. That’s… actually probably where those came from.” Grian shrugged. “Eh, who knows, it was who knows how long ago. Let’s just go find your friends.”

When Grian walked into the building Tommy was hiding out in, he got stabbed. He knew that it made sense, but he couldn’t help but look down at the sword. “Ugh, not again.”

His voice seemed to help the others figure out who he was. “Grian?”

“Hi Tommy! Sorry if I scared you. It’s just I kinda need to wear this mask or else I’ll feel sick and drunk at the same time or something.”

“Tommy an’ Tubbox!” Crumb jumped at the pair when she saw them, shifting to a hybrid form midair and then hugging them.

“Crumb!” Tubbo hugged her first. “Are you doing okay?”

“Ye ye ye!”

“Everything should be okay here soon guys. I’ve got some friends who are definitely going to take care of Dream for you guys once and for all. At the same time, I talked and we’re really going to make a permanent connection between here and Hermitcraft so you can visit all the time. Admin duties will be shared between the servers, but X said he won’t step on any toes, it’s just as a precaution.”

Tommy crossed his arms. “And what are you doing about your boyfriend?”

Grian hesitated at the lack of Tommy using Mumbo’s name. “You mean Mumbo? I mean, he’s a disgusting mess after barely sleeping and eating taking care of me, but I’m sure he’ll get better. Unless you’re concerned about how he was after being here, because again, bit of a mess but he’ll be fine.”

“Not going to get upset at me coming back?”

That really made Grian pause. What was Tommy talking about? “What do you mean Tommy?”

Tommy didn’t respond, just getting so angry he could barely say anything, so Tubbo answered for him. “Just before Mumbo left with you, he yelled at Tommy. He sort of said he wished Tommy never showed up in your world.”

Grian frowned. “Well, you’re fine to come back. I’ll make sure he has a stern talking to. Come on, let’s go back to the portal.” Grian then looked over where Techno and Philza were playing a game of… well Grian wasn’t sure, but it looked like some kind of board game. “You can come too if you want.”

Philza shook his head. “No. Whatever Dream did turned Wilbur back into a ghost, so someone showed up and took him away to fix that. We’re going to wait here until he’s back to normal.”

“Oh, alright then. Well, don’t be a stranger or anything. C’mon kids!”

“Hey! I’m not a kid!” Tommy complained, just making Grian ruffle his hair.

“Were it not for the laws of this land, that being you’re literally my brother, I might have adopted you. Also if we maybe had a few more years between us.”

Grian dropped off the trio at Tommy’s tower before flying to Mumbo’s base. He set his mask down on a table and then walked to where Mumbo’s bedroom was, surprised to hear the shower still running as he passed the bathroom. Grian paused and knocked on the door. “Mumbo, when you’re done in there, we need to have a chat. I’ll be waiting by the counter.”

Grian sat down on the ledge in front of the life counter of Mumbo’s base after feeding it an apple. He stared out at the jungle, waiting for Mumbo to arrive. He finally heard the redstone walk up behind him and then started to address him. “Mumbo, look. Tommy told me you-” He turned to look at Mumbo who was dripping wet. It was like someone pushed him into a pool while he was wearing his suit. “Mumbo why are you all wet?”

“You said to take a shower.” Mumbo said like how he currently looked was the most normal thing in the world.

“I didn’t mean in your clothes! Oh my god, go get changed!”

“I thought you wanted to talk?”

“We can do that after you’re dry!”

Mumbo was quiet before speaking again. “You know I don’t really have another suit.”

“You have your bamboo one!”

Again, he was quiet for a worryingly long time before he just sat down next to Grian. “Can we just talk and get this over with?”

Grian was reluctant and nodded. “Tommy said you yelled at him.”

“I know… I was upset. A lot of things had just happened and with everyone with amnesia, I was really the only one who was able to do much. And Dream had messed with you so I was angry. I barely got to sleep, and we had just had a war with that guy and we were all over the place and I just sort of… lost it.” Mumbo started to lean on Grian’s shoulder, but quickly stopped himself. “Through all this, you’ve been focused a lot on Tommy and your family, and everything else, but you weren’t really…”

“Oh Mumbo. Why didn’t you say anything?” Grian realized what Mumbo meant.

“Well, I sort of knew Tommy was sort of the priority. Plus you had a lot on your plate. I didn’t want to put more on there.”

Grian nuzzled against Mumbo’s chest, not noticing how he stiffened up. “Mumbo, I’m not going to stop loving you. I’m just going to have love for my family too. You know how we hermits need to be there for each other, and Tommy is a hermit too.”

“Yeah…”

When their comms buzzed, Mumbo gave a small sigh as Grian sat up to look at the message. He saw there were actually a few he had missed and laughed a little at them. “Looks like Crumb’s dad is looking for her but he was told he’s at my mansion. I’m going to fly over there and take him to Tommy’s tower since that’s where I left them. If you want we can talk more later.”

“Go deal with them first. And can you tell Tommy what I said?”

Grian nodded and then flew off to his mansion. He quickly arrived since it wasn’t too far even on foot. “Hellooo? Crumb’s dad? You in here?” He called out before spotting an unfamiliar man. “Oh, hey there. Sorry that Crumb’s not here. She’s actually at Tommy’s tower. I can take you there if you want.” Grian stood there as the man in front of him stayed quiet with his back turned to the avian. “Uh, hello?” He then put a hand on the man’s shoulder.

Sparklez jumped slightly, shocked out of his train of thought before he whirled around and saw Grian.

“Hi! Sorry if I scared you. Crumb’s not here, but I can take you to her.”

“Is… Do you live here?”

Grian nodded. He must not have seen many of the other bases. “Yup! Built the mansion myself. Why?”

Grian’s eyes widened as the man held up a lost child poster. “Where did you get this?”

“Uh, that’s from my old world. The kid’s not mine though. Just sort of-”

Grian was cut off by Sparklez. “I know he’s not your kid. He’s mine!”

“Oh my god you’re the captain.”

“Yeah, I am. People don’t normally call me that.”

Grian just grabbed Jordan’s arm. “No, argh! I mean… Tubbo’s here! Your kid is here! They’re with Crumb and Tommy right now.”

“You mean… that kid… with the green shirt, red bandana. That’s him? The whole time that was him?”

“Oh great, looks like you’ve seen him already. That should make things less awkward. Even more of a reason to go over to the tower. Let’s go!” Grian grabbed Sparklez and pulled him over to an ender chest to hand him some spare elytra and rockets. After he had put the wings on, they both got into the air and then flew to the tower.

When they landed, Grian had to hold Jordan back because he looked like he was about to tear the tower apart. “Hey Tommy!” Grian shouted up to the tower. “Are you guys still there?” When the blond called back in affirmation, Grian shouted again. “Can you three come down here? It’s important!”

“Give me a second! I need to grab some more elytra. Hey can you remind me to change the floor 2 elevator to a down tomorrow?”

“We’ll see. Might be busy for us then.”

In a few moments, Tommy was gliding down with Tubbo, Crumb in Tommy’s arms. Crumb was the first to see Sparklez and frowned. “Aw myan… do I have to leave?”

Her dad didn’t answer as he half stumbled towards them and then held Tubbo in a bone crushing hug.

“Ah! What’s going on?” Tubbo, having no context was confused.

Sheepishly, Grian gave the answer. “So remember how you said you went missing when you were little and couldn’t find your dad? I found a missing person’s poster? Well, Crumb’s dad is the one who made that poster… making him your dad too.”

Everything was silent as everyone comprehended the news, Sparklez just holding Tubbo close and not wanting to let go, but finally Tubbo half screamed from being so surprised. “He’s whAT?!”

Mumbo sat in his room, still dripping wet. He knew he could just go sit in front of some lava or stand in the nether for a while if he felt daring, but instead he was just sitting in his room leaving a puddle behind. He wasn’t sure why he set up an ice mirror, but there it was, waiting for him to take his shirt off.

He just stared at himself, trying to will himself to move, but it just wasn’t working. So he tried talking to his mirror self. “Alright Mumbo. Stop acting like a spoon and just look. It’s going to be there. He was lying and Grian seemed fine when he left. They’re supposed to stay forever. A few years won’t do anything to it.”

Still, Mumbo didn’t move, he just kept staring. “Fine, if that’s how we’re going to do it, I’ll just go ahead!” He closed his eyes and took his tie and jacket off. His hands trembled as he got to the buttons of his dress shirt, but then he steeled himself and undid two of them, pulling his left arm out of the sleeve. There was no hiding it now. He would open his eyes and right there, on the skin just under his clavicle, Mumbo would see it.

The redstoner took a deep breath and opened his eyes, looking into the mirror. He was staring at his face and now where he should, but it was hard to look away. No, he told himself. He had to look and put this all past him. He shifted his gaze and his heart dropped. It was gone, like it had never been there at all.

[thedigitalpen]

My 10 favourite... beefcake animes!

Okay yes, I realise that this is a rather weird title. I had originally thought to call it something along the lines of my favourite martial arts or fighting animes, but because the animes don’t always fall into that category, I decided to call a spade, a spade (or a beefcake, a beefcake) and admit that, most times sometimes, I just enjoy animes with muscular guys in them. That’s not to forget the ladies though because some of these shows also feature some rather muscular ladies in the mix too. So there’s something for everyone!

So, in no particular order (because the genres are sometimes different so making comparisons wouldn’t be fair):

1. Street Fighter series.

Hardly a surprise considering that this is a series that has a legacy firmly placed in the gaming world. Although you don’t really need to know who’s who in order to watch these shows, it doesn’t hurt to know a little about the characters before you jump in - mainly because the creators assume that those who watch it are fans of the show. Expect a fair amount of fighting (the name gives that one away), lots of bromance (Ryu and Ken 4eva!) and the eternal fight of good vs. evil (which is usually the plot of every show/movie)! Even if you aren’t familiar with Ryu & co., the show won’t lead you astray so you can watch without worry. Oh and let me just say - Chun Li is ma gurl! If you want to see a woman that’s not only beautiful but can also kick your ass, then watch these shows - especially Street Fight II the movie! 

2. Hajime no Ippo.

One of my most favourite sports animes of all time which tells the tale of Makunouchi Ippo and his rise up the ranks of the boxing world. He starts off as a kid that just wants to get stronger so that he can fend off the bullies who harass him. Sick of his weak self (and after a couple of incidents here and there), Ippo joins a boxing gym, starting from scratch and going through basic training. His coach sees his potential and helps shape Ippo into a power boxer who fights head on and never backs down from the fight. Throughout the series, we get to know the other boxers in the gym as well as the competitors that they face, and we watch them battle it out in the ring. It’s a story with a great balance of sports, a sprinkling of slice of life (well, the life of a boxer) and comedy. And, of course, boxing boys come with boxing bodies... and I’m not complaining! And if you enjoy this and want more, try either “Ashita no Joe” (old school classic) or it’s more recent spin-off, “Megalo Box”. Oh and in terms of strong women - no one beats Ippo’s mom! She’s a powerhouse!

3. Baki the Grappler.

More of an MMA vibe with this one - it’s about a kid (he’s like 13 when we first meet him) who has been raised to be a fighter since he was born - his mother gets him the best trainers and equipment money can buy. He eventually feels like he’s outgrown the traditional training method and starts to find other ways to become a better fighter, which includes following his fathers footsteps - training the same way he did and with the people he did - and taking on some of the other fighters he meets along the way. After an altercation with his father (using that term rather lightly), Baki’s path eventually leads to the underground fight scene where challengers can test their strength and face off against each other in an anything-goes type of fight, using whatever techniques, power and skills they have at their disposal. And Baki’s ultimate goal? To defeat his father! It’s got some family drama as the foundation, but when it comes to beefcakes, there’s no shortage here - even if it is a 17-year old kid looking like a grown-ass man. Oh, best to be aware that (excluding the OVAs) there 3 seasons of Baki - the anime series from 2001 and the 2018 Netflix version which covers the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc. 

4. Kengan Ashura.

When I first started watching this, the first thing I thought was - ahhh! this reminds me of Baki! And, indeed, there are quite a few elements that are similar. There isn’t any family drama here but there is an underground fight scene where anything goes in terms of fight style. However, the premise here is that the fighters don’t fight for themselves (well, not officially anyway) but that they fight for various companies who settle their business disputes via these types of organised “kengan” matches. It eventually reaches a situation where some of the other businessmen wish to get rid of the current Kengan chairman, and so this chairman organises a huge battle royale for any companies that wish to enter. The prize? The owner of the winning company gets to be the next chairman! This sets the stage for a number of one-on-one showdowns between the various fighter representatives. In terms of background stories, we have two main protagonists and their stories. The one is about a salaryman (turned “CEO”) and his life, as well his relationship with his son, and the other is about a fighter and the vendetta he holds against another fighter for a past incident. Personally, I love the way the fights are presented in this show - not only because of the eye-candy - but because it really does feel like you’re at a grand show! Oh, and unlike Baki, at least most of the fighers are adults.

5. Golden Kamuy.

Bring on the boys! Honestly one of the most entertaining shows I’ve watched in a while (and one where I demand that there be another season at least!) and also culturally/historically interesting too. It’s set around the time of the Russo-Japanese war and follows the story of Immortal Sugimoto - a soldier who left active service and finds out that there may be Ainu gold hidden somewhere in Hokkaido. The only problem is that the map has been tattooed in pieces, onto the torsos of various prisoners, most of whom have dispersed to different areas. Nevertheless, thus begins the hunt for the map! Along the way, Sugimoto meets various people along the way - making allies with some and enemies with others - all of whom are associated with each other in interconnecting ways. And all of whom are working toward one goal - get the gold! It’s a brilliant show that’s got some fighting, some mystery, some espionage vibes, some comedy (some of which is could be considered dark and/or weird) and some feels. It balances it all out and makes for an interesting and entertaining watch. Oh, and let’s not forget - a very enjoyable watch too! Mm mm mmm...

6. All Out!!

Another sport anime here, but this time it’s rugby! As someone from a country where rugby is a staple, national sport, this was totally up my ally! The premise is similar to most other school-based sports animes - a kid who’s self-conscious about his height joins the rugby team and learns to get along with the other boys as he trains and works together with them as part of the team. This is not only so that he can help the team improve, but to also prove his own worth. The team goes through training camps and they play against other schools, getting to know some of the opposing teams’ members and establishing some rivalries along the way. It’s pretty typical fare, but damn are these boys stacked! It’s pretty accurate though since rugby is a contact sport which requires some power (and apparently some short, tight shorts) to get the job done. It’s a light watch, but that eye candy is truly sweet!

7. Tiger Mask W.

From rugby to wrestling! This actually a continuation of sorts to the original Tiger Mask and Tiger Mask II series, building on the legacy and keeping related in the same sphere, but not directly incorporating the older characters. Unfortunately, the original series is hella hard to get hold of but even without it, you can watch Tiger Mask W without much of an issue. So the story is about a guy who had decided to join a wrestling gym and was pretty happy there until the gym was destroyed by another rival gym. Vowing to take that other gym down, he strikes out on his own and eventually joins one of the national wrestling associations, working in their match roster. But it’s all so that he can reach his goal of taking down that other gym by defeating the players supported by them. Enter into the ring various wrestling friends and both friendly and unfriendly rivals (including an old friend - bromance anyone?) and you get plenty of matches, plenty of muscles and some satisfying action! They also don’t forget the female wrestlers, which is a nice touch! Another one that’s light enough to enjoy at face value - much like how you’d enjoy real wrestling too.

8. Gifuu Doudou!! Kanetsugu to Keiji. 

A historical vibe with this one - it’s actually based on the spin-off of the original manga, “Keiji” which was created by Tetsuo Hara. And if that name doesn’t ring a bell, check number 10 on this list and you’ll know who I’m talking about - that’s right, it’s the guy who worked on Hokuto no Ken - and that should immediately give you an idea as to why this show is on the list. It’s a period piece about the friendship between Maeda Keiji and Naoe Kanetsugu - both of whom found their accomplishments on the battlefield. It’s told in hindsight, where they sit together, have a drink or three and reminisce about their younger days and what it took to get to where they are now. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it was pretty entertaining - especially when you see just how clever these guys were when it came to political maneuvering as well as in a fight. Of course, they’re pretty high in the beefcake stakes so if you like your men manly, then you’ve come to the right era. 

9. Dragon Ball series.

I’m pretty sure that I don’t have to talk about this anime, but in the interest of completeness, let me give you the wiki breakdown about what this anime is about: “The series follows the adventures of the protagonist, Son Goku, from his childhood through adulthood as he trains in martial arts. He spents his life far from civilization, until he is found by Bloomer, a teen girl who encourages him to explore the world in search of the seven orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which summon a wish-granting dragon when gathered. Along his journey, Goku makes several friends and battles a wide variety of villains, many of whom also seek the Dragon Balls.” (source). Of course, this is continued throughout the various series that follow, where Goku has his own family etc. But when it comes to the muscle factor in this show, it’s got it where it counts - everywhere! It’s a classic for a reason so even if you aren’t into beefcake guys, you should still probably watch it if you haven’t already.

10. Hokuto no Ken.

It just wouldn’t feel right if I had to leave this off the list because when someone says “manly anime”, I’m betting that 99.9% of the time most people think about Hokuto no Ken / Fist of the North Star. It’s the post-apocalyptic era and times are tough, with everyone fighting to survive with what little there is on the planet. Some guys want to be rulers, some guys want to be thugs, but one guy just wants to find his fiancee and do what he can to right the wrongs of the world and make a difference to the people he meets. That one man is, of course, Kenshiro. It’s full-tilt action, usually incorporating martial arts through the various fighting styles of the characters - whether it’s Hokuto Shinken, Nanto Seiken or sometimes just brute force and good old hand-to-hand combat. There’s a few female characters here and there who also kick ass so it isn’t completely one-sided, but they usually end up getting saved by the dudes so take that with a pinch of salt. Post-apocalyptic world or not, these guys sure can maintain their physiques. And when it comes time for a fight, you best believe they pull no punches! If you like pure fighting animes where you get to see people explode each episode, followed by the most epic line ever said in anime, then this is the one! 

Honourable mentions.

...because, can we really do without more muscular men and women in our lives?

1. Terra Formars - if you’re looking specifically for that muscular vibe, then try season 1. While I enjoyed both, season 1 had better animation (for me) and they all looked badass when defeating those nasty roaches - both the men and the ladies! 2. Hinomaru Sumo - a sports anime that revolves around a newly formed high school sumo club and the career path of the main protagonist. Informative if you don’t know much about sumo and, as expected, loads of meaty guys aiming for victory and aiming for the position of yokozuna. 3. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure - another show that hardly requires an introduction and would probably take way too long to explain considering how many Jojo’s there are, but rest assured, the guys are packed, stacked and ready to attack! 4. One Punch Man - if only because there a few characters who fit the beefcake category perfectly, e.g. Suiryu (hello there!), Garou and Tanktop Master to name a few. An anime that’s some parts serious, some part hilarious but always flipping shounen tropes on its head. 5. Sengoku Basara - also, not completely beefed out, but there are a few characters who would make the grade, e.g. Maeda Keiji (dejavu from number 8?) and Oda Nobunaga. Another period anime, based on a Capcom game, that uses a lot of poetic licence to make it an exciting watch with very memorable characters. 6. Free! - “Make us free na Splash! Kasaneta... 👏 👏 !” Swimmers bodies - that is all. If you’ve ever seen a swimmer’s bodies in real life, you’ll know what I mean ‘cos they have muscles in all the right places. A slice-of-life sports anime that revolves around high school boys (who eventually become college boys) who engage in competitive swimming. 7. Air Master - The ladies take over in this one, which is a show that revolves around street fighting and the goal of those various street fighters and martial artists to become number 1 on the Fukamichi Rankings. It’s more of that underground fight scene vibe but the main protagonist is a gymnast-turned-street fighter who takes on anyone who’ll challenge her (man or woman) and usually kick their ass. It’s got a quirky/weird sense of humour to it, but that’s part of why I liked it.

Well, I’m pretty sure that there are other shows that I’ve missed, and mountains of characters who have that A-grade beef, but I tried to choose shows that specifically have that muscular aesthetic as a default setting in the show. Hopefully I hit the mark here, sharing my faves with you, but if there’s some show or character that I absolutely must see, feel free to let me know! Because just like Tanigaki’s shirt, I’m always open to suggestions.

[captain-emmajones]

Here’s a Prompt; Emma’s when she comes back from the Underworld without Killian, pre funeral scene, when she realises she’ll never see him again 💔😉

Hello beautiful angel, thank you for the prompt! This is slightly different from what you asked for, but everything did originate from your idea. I hope you’ll like this <3

Big thank you to @snowbellewells who was a real angel and beta’d this and saved all of our eyeballs in the process <3 

Fluff - Angst - Canon Compliant -  Ao3 - 2500 words

Summary: This is set at the beginning of season 4 when Killian and Emma start dating and expands until the end of season 5 ... or the times Killian helped Emma make her bed after staying over, and the times he didn’t. 

The first time he offers to help her, she is sprawled across her bed like a starfish, as she tries to properly tuck in her freshly-washed fitted sheets.

“Come on guys, you’re making this harder than it needs to be,” she hisses between her teeth, one foot keeping the right corner down while her fingers battle with the left. 

“Need a hand love?” 

“Thought you were in the bathroom,” she mumbles -- this close from succeeding, this close -- and she doesn’t spin around to face him because the sheets just might escape her and she won’t allow it. 

She hears him chuckle behind her back. How dare he be chuckling?

 “Aye, well, a man has needs love...But now that I am here, let me help you.” 

It’s actually quite funny then, because as she reluctantly raises her chin towards him, ready to tell him that she’s got it covered -- although she has actually broken a sweat over this terrible affair -- well, her eyes meet his and her heart leaps inside her chest just as the fitted sheet bounces back into her face. 

Fuck. 

Because, see, the thing is the sun is quite a traitor, and it has decided to dabble its most outrageous golden beams into his gentle blue eyes and this absolutely does not stir something weird deep within Emma’s belly -- not at all. 

And Emma’s heart tries its best to remain neutral, cold, detached but the only thing it manages to do as Killian Jones offers her a bright smile and a raised eyebrow is to sigh and skip an alarmed beat. 

“Y-yeah, sure. Thanks.” 

The starfish leaves her natural habitat to stand up and hand him one corner of the white cotton sheets. When his warm palm brushes against hers, playfully, on purpose, she flushes remembering what those fingers did to her the night before.

“There we go, Swan,” he says, casually, as if all of this domesticity is normal and appropriate when her heart is throbbing and threatening to jump out of her ribcage onto the carpeted floor. “I’m actually quite an expert, as you’ll see.” 

And because misfortunes never come alone, he has the audacity of gently pressing his lips to her temple and sighing a deep sigh of contentment against her skin, and by that time Emma has completely stopped breathing. 

Because the thing is she is fucking terrified. 

.

Later that day, when Killian has ventured out of the apartment, a piece of toast tucked between his teeth, pirate business to attend love, and Emma’s alone with her mother in the kitchen, and her spoon tinkles inside her mug, tinkles and tinkles, Emma wonders aloud: 

���Mom, when did dad start helping you make your bed?” 

And then it’s quite a scene for the ages because Mary Margaret nearly spits her entire mouthful of tea into Emma’s face, and Emma figures her question might be slightly weird and instantly regrets asking it.  

“I’m, I’m…,” Snow White begins, and Snow White is blushing, and Snow White is Emma’s mother and Emma wants to dive into her mug of coffee and possibly drown there. “I mean, I don’t know.” She pauses, winces. “With the Evil Queen, and the sleeping curse, and all of that...your father and I didn’t really get to date, you know…” 

Oh, Emma knows. This is all very new and weird to her, the whole dating Captain Hook. 

“I see,” Emma replies simply, because Mary Margaret is gazing at her far too intensely and Emma is still contemplating diving into her small mug. 

Instead, she stubbornly lowers her gaze and refuses to look back up at her mother, who will not stop staring. 

“Why…” Mary Margaret’s voice resonates a few seconds afterwards, “Why are you asking, Emma?” 

Emma feels her hair stand on hand. 

“No, you know, just wondering…”

.

The next time he sleeps over, her parents are downstairs when they wake up. Emma feels like she is sixteen and she’s just had her first boyfriend at home, and while it is obviously inconvenient, a part of her cannot help but shriek (very silently) of happiness because this is is silly and dumb and it’s hers. 

“Alright. Just stay here, I’ll go grab us some coffee.” 

When she climbs back up, cold, morning air greets her and curls around her bare legs. But Emma cannot bring herself to complain. In fact, she can barely bring herself to form any coherent thoughts.

Because, see, the thing is Killian Jones -- her boyfriend, as we’ve mentioned before -- has opened wide the windows and is currently on all fours, busy fluffing her pillow, on top of her already tightly made bed. 

Emma blinks, swallows, tries her best to contain the panic birthing inside her throat, ready to roar out of her mouth. 

It’s just Killian. It’s just him. It’s just him. 

Although her legs seem to burn with the urge to run, flee, disappear, she breathes in deeply, it’s just us, forces a smile on her face and clears her throat to signal her presence. 

All it takes to quiet down the voices are his eyes gazing into hers as he turns his face. 

And she says, “You didn’t have to make the bed”, but she means something else, something that she isn’t ready to voice, that she is terrified to even think.   

And he smiles back at her, rolling back to her side, and she can tell in his “Don’t worry about it, love,” as he springs to his feet and to her lips that he heard it anyway. 

. 

As things turn out, Killian makes a far better bed than Emma ever could, and Mary Margaret is quite pleased. 

“I have never seen your room so tidy,” she exclaims on delivering a hot cocoa to Emma who is still busy with sheriff files. 

Feet propped on her desk, Emma shrugs and scans the room while this silly, little warm bubble of happiness swells inside her chest. 

“Well, yeah, Killian always makes sure everything is in order when he--” and abruptly cuts herself. 

Emma’s cheeks flush a bright pink then, what the hell was she about to say? and Mary Margaret’s cough is another poor attempt to hide her grin. 

“I see...Well, I’ll leave you to it. Say hi to Killian if you see him tonight.” 

Emma means to tell her that she absolutely doesn’t want to talk about her boyfriend with her mother, of all people, and she isn’t sixteen anymore and she shouldn’t feel this embarassed, but instead she just smiles, giggles a bit even, for fuck’s sake, and exhales: “Sure.” 

And if she wants to slap her own face with her own two hands afterwards, it’s only because this is new and terrifying and the happiest she’s been in ages. 

.

When she sleeps over on the Jolly Roger, and she wakes up to his side of the bed empty, a good sailor wakes up with the sun love, she tries to make the bed like he does...and fails, miserably. 

“For both of our sakes, Swan, please leave the bed to me.” 

And she wants to be mad, fists on hips, but instead a rare, childlike laughter rattles her ribs as she pounces on top of him and they both land onto the bed. 

“What’s the point of having a neatly made bed if we’re going to mess it up anyway?” she grins against his lips, and then kisses him more, and more. She cannot get enough of his kisses. 

He chuckles, too. It’s a wonderful sound. 

“Point taken, Swan.” 

And as she backs away to slowly delve into his eyes, Emma thinks she might need to hear it for the rest of her life, or else she might wither like the poets do. 

. 

(When he leaves, she doesn’t wither like the poets do. Emma figures she should have known, should have known that the metaphor was far too delicate and gentle, should have known that death would be fire and ashes and void -- oh, so much void, where he used to live in her heart. 

When he leaves, she burns, she breaks, she collapses to the ground in a deafening bang, but she most absolutely does not wither.)

. 

The first time, it is a parallel universe and it doesn’t count, it isn’t real, and she gets to hold him a few hours later, and squeeze him, as hard as she can, against her heart, and she doesn’t say it, then. 

Although his smile weakens he lets her love him this way -- with her fragile, imperfect, scarred fingers that tremble even as she brushes his cheeks. 

She doesn’t know how else to love him.   

(He also loses her, that night. She tends to forget it. That she isn’t the only one bleeding, that he also lost his love when she took on the darkness in a flash of light. He also lost her.)

.

In Camelot, they share a room. 

Although Dark Ones do not sleep she remains by his side most nights, and she watches him.

As the moon and the stars illuminate his skin, trace the shape of his face and dust his cheeks of constellations, she thinks about the time he died, only it wasn’t real but it could have been, and she thinks about how precious he is to her and that death should not be able to touch love, death should remain very far and hidden from her because god knows what she’ll do to keep him by her side. 

She brushes a stubborn strand of hair from his forehead and brushes her lips against his warm skin, once, twice, thrice. I love you. I love you. I love you. In his slumber, he smiles. 

She loves him. It is the only light in her darkness.

.

The second time, he lays asleep in a middlemist flower field. She doesn't let him sleep. She wakes him up. 

He hates her for it. No one likes to be awoken in the middle of the night, in the middle of an eternal, ghastly night. 

.

When Emma is alone in this big, enormous house, she is quite thankful Dark Ones do not need sleep. She doesn’t have to make the bed. But she does stare at it, the bed where they should be both lying down, curled up together, warm and comfortable and happy. 

She stares at it and she remembers his sleepy smile under the golden morning light, not two months ago, she remembers his blue eyes disappearing, one instant, behind yellow sheets that danced in the air between them, she remembers how much love she had seen in his eyes and how much it had frightened her. 

She isn’t afraid anymore. Her fingers have stopped shaking. 

She only hopes she isn’t too late. 

(She is, of course, she is but that will take some time to sink in.) 

.

The third time, she sleeps on the couch, warm fingers against the cold silver of the ring he gave her. 

“The Dark One is immortal. Emma isn’t. Bring her home to me.” 

Her heart pounds inside her chest for the first time in weeks and it bumps against her ribs, it rattles, it begs, it cries: what is the point anymore? What     is       the        point? 

She sleeps on the couch. 

It would be too much to withstand to wake up in her bed and forget that he is gone, stretch a hand and not meet his, stretch a leg and only find void, nothing, and remember it all, suddenly -- and stretch the bed cover and find her muscles sore and lonely and how the hell did she manage to do that alone? 

She sleeps on the couch. 

Until she stands up and decides Orpheus was right and strides to fetch him from Hell. 

.

Is she meant to turn around, and lose him forever? Is there no other ending? 

It can’t be. It can’t be, not when his skin still tastes like his skin, and his eyes are still blue and real and he is here with her, and they are going to make it out of there alive, together. 

Orpheus failed. She won’t. 

.

She does. 

She fails. Again. 

She leaves him behind. And when she turns around, her father’s fingers clutched around hers, tugging, tugging, Emma we have to go, she doesn’t even get to see him one last time. 

She swallows broken pieces of glass and happy endings and true love, and she suffocates because it is the fourth time and she cannot breathe and this cannot possibly be the end, they deserve time, more time -- 

-- We already got more time than we were ever meant to. 

.

The day she buries him, she’s staring at her unmade bed when, for the first time, she realizes, understands, that there will be no getting him back this time. 

That his warm fingers will not close over her knuckles, his stubborn little sigh, as he mumbles not like this Swan, you have to really tug, just like that…

Her fingers will forever remain stretched, ready to grasp, hold, treasure... but there is nothing left to reach. 

Tears burn her eyes as she stares at the stubborn piece of fabric in her hands that will not be properly tucked in. 

A breath, a sigh, a sob shaking her spine. 

She should have paid attention when he was explaining. Should have remembered the steps. Instead, she stared at him and his mouth and his eyelashes in this golden light and  thought she would have him forever. 

She thought they would have their happily ever after, so why bother with making a bed? 

But now he is gone and she is unable to make the bed like he does, used to -- oh god, will this ever get easier? -- and her fingers have nowhere to hold anymore, nowhere to reach, nowhere to be. 

.

It does. It gets easier. 

As things turn out, Fate has other plans than death for Killian Jones. 

Emma is forever grateful. 

(Their nights are still haunted by terror and grief, but that’s quite alright. 

Because, see, every morning, no matter the stormy night they just spent, no matter the nightmares and cries and screams, well every morning they make the bed together, and Emma actually pays attention when he explains, she’s learned her lesson, and they get to face the rest of their lives together.)

**

[psychemeanscure]

PART 22

“Please... Please wake up now loco.”

Her continuous plead that seem to be a strong order she needed to convey as if it was the only way to let him open his eyes. Only to hear the devil’s sniggering laughter. “See what’s more gratifying now, little pea?”

Its tenacious words which still left unattended for her liking for she can only glare, glistening substance of tears begins to drizzle. “Yeah. I, as your father got the chance to play with you my daughter.” and as if she was being responded by her silent protest.

Yet instead of entertaining the old man, she chooses to turn her eyes back to him. “Cabrón. Cabrón please, wake up. Jang Taeyoung!”

But nothing. Jang Taeyoung doesn’t even give a slightest flinch as he still remained heads down hard for her to see him fully as well. Clicking of tongue from the geezer was heard instead as it approaches his unconscious body. Pulling out an Opinel pocket knife she didn’t notice but now. Terrified for him, she jolted.

“What are you trying to do?! F*ck, don’t hurt him!”

She’s bawling mad! But neither of it was followed. The old Alcaziar was just laughing to its extent, positioning itself behind Jang Taeyoung and in between the tables where the monitors of her foster parents are. A hand tapping the edges of one table while the other’s traces the crook of Jang’s shoulder by the sharpness of its pocket knife.

“How was my gift, little pea? You like it?”

“F*ck you!”

“Oh, don’t be. F*ck you too, my daughter.” It even waves its hand as if it was just a casual talk to say. “Was that your term for I love you Dad? Consider it then. You see my original plan was just your foster parents, but after learning about your acting fiancé here or shall I say your ex-acting fiancé. I instantly changed my mind. And since you are my dear niña, I might just be generous for giving choices. Threesome is enough, isn’t it?”

He’s even in the middle of twirling its knife this time as if checking its own keenness. “I’ll kill you. I swear, I’ll kill you f*cking coño!”

“Hm. My pleasure, mi niña. So shall we? Who would you like to go first? Your choice.”

Its unwavering way of threats still. For what on earth is playing even that her foster Dad starts to regain its consciousness through the monitor aiming to call her attention. Shock evident in its aging orbs the moment it haunted her situation from the other side. “Mi hija!”

“Papá!”

As it wasn’t long also long for her to hear her own screams seeing her papá being stirred on his seat caused by the Alcaziar’s man. “Oh? so your acclaimed daddy yow is awake. Shall we go with him, then?”

When its underling begins to point a gun on his foster father, she lost it. Her rummaging fear erupted. “No!”

Heart racing heavily, incessant shaking of head, eyes shut tightly with flowing tears. “Please, I will do anything you want. Just, just don’t hurt him. Don’t hurt Papá, please!” She begged. Mused face from the latter takes in. “Really? Oh, of course mi niña. Yours truly father will be glad too. Now I’ve been thinking…”

Going back its pace onto her, stroking her hair like a maniac hag adoring the epitome of his delusional creation. “Why not a reenacting will do?” she surrendered.

The crazy man undoing her tied hands behind, guiding her to grip the pistol he pulled out to pointing Jang Taeyoung. Tears became whimpers, hands quiver for coldness, eyes pleading for mercy. For it gotten much worst that just like his foster father had, an underling is also pointing a gun from her still unconscious foster mother.

She’s nowhere to go. The devil’s whisper onto her ear makes her whole stiff even. “So, little pea. It’s either you kill him, or I’ll kill your fosters. Choose.”

It was her index finger being guided on the trigger this time. “Pull it, sweet little pea. Pull it.” Urging voice that just consumes more of her already blurred weeps to the expanse of her helpless orbs. ‘No. please…’ For all she can pray an impossible hope that can let them get out from the living hell they were in.

And it did. Miraculously it did when a surprise bullet hit a skin on the Alcaziar’s face leaving a small scratch. “F*cking coño. What was that?!” as a raging complain passed on to its assistant who came running to its boss.

“An elite gang is attacking us Señor.”

“Que? The hell are you talking about? How can an elite be inv---“

“You?”

A snicker came indeed. But it wasn’t from the hag anymore. It was from him.

“Jang Taeyoung, you bastardo?!”                  

Yes. Jang Taeyoung is finally awake. Or rather, he was all along. He heard it. All of her. But his body wasn’t. He’s trying though but failed. His body seem too slow to react for the only thing he can freely do is to secretly frown and listen. But other than that, he was also waiting.

Time. He’s counting the time until the last tick of his watch he expected it to be, came. They are here, and just as right to claim his strength. “Kill him!”

“No!”

Her hasty protest from the command even but before its two underling could even point a gun to Jang Taeyoung, it was already shot by another bullet. Much precise this time. Chaos was seen to the remaining ones while searching the possible spot of the springer gunman. For he can at least give a small smile to her as well before turning to already brazen Alcaziar. “One pointing gun, and a bullet for you. What will you do now, old man?”

The next thing happened?

Tables turned instantly that it was now the Alcaziar who’s now in the bridge of running to his life. Battles between sharpness of springers and panic of splinters disrupts the area, wrecking possessions tormented by its original form. Yet, one remains intact. The safe haven of their longing stares.

“We’re not done yet, you two.”

The following convicting threat of the Alcaziar as its cowardice escape faded until its exit. But none of its words matter for them that despite his not fully recovered body still, he managed to reach her trembling appearance. Grabbing the pistol from her rigid holds, untying the rest knots that keeps her from being tangled. “M-my parents… What might possibly happen to them now.”

Her worries for her foster parents as she was staring by the wreck LCD TVs, staggered.

Cupping her face as he wipes the tracks of her tiring tears by the tenderness of his caressing thumbs as if she’s a fragile figure needed to handle with upkeep. “They’ll be safe. Don’t worry.”

“B-but---

“Just trust me. I’m here. I’m here, Sung Eunyoung.”

“Jang…”

“It’s okay. It’s okay now. Did the bastard hurt you too much?”

For a minute she relieved. Not until she remembered his own situation. Shaking her head, hands went through the hems of his shirt. “Y-your bleeding.” For there it is, her proceeding worries. Eyes nor leaving the said stained. He was about to reply then but before he could manage, Jae came rushing getting his attention. “You’re late.”

“Apologies boss. Just got a little problem with the trackers. But other than that. We really need to get going as possible. The explosives might erupt anytime soon.”

Nodding, he pulls away her hold from his hem. Cupping her face once again obliging to look at him. “Now listen, Sung Eunyoung.” Questioning eyes stared at him as he continued. “As soon as we get out of this cargo, I want you to come with Jae. You understand me?”                

“W-what? Then how about you? And explosives? cargo?”

Her impatient queries certainly while he’s in the middle of assisting her wobbling body to stand up. Accepting hand reaching the gun and painkiller Jae handed. For right then she understands what he is planning. “You’re not in a good shape, Jang Taeyoung. What are you doing?”  

Her hissed disapproval and instead of giving answers to her questions, “We’re on a ship. That’s all I can say to you. Now, no more questions woman. We need to go.”  Just got one out of all, unfortunately. It was even proven the moment they felt its shaking turbulence. As she can only give in a sigh of her disappointment.

Clasping her hand, he finally drags her towing the direction Jae guiding. A passage safe to the enemy’s filthy eyes. For she only realizes then that the ship actually started sailing if not being halt by the attacks. Docks at the end junks far from where their current spot is.

A single motorboat and two were instated, awaiting to be loaded by them. Almost gasp for air when Jang Taeyoung enfolds his hands onto both of her waist, lifts her flawlessly like there weren’t a wound to endure. Arms needed to get a hold of his shoulders then. They were too close where all she could do is stare in silence.

But other than what she’s feeling, she got nervous all of a sudden. For some reason that she needed to catch his hand with hers as soon as he gets her down the motorboat for two. He let her though, even if even she knows it won’t be going to last. Holding her with the same tenderness as he smiled to her, he turns to his assistant.  

“Who’s leading the springers?”

He asked the moment he was handed an ear piece. “Lee, boss.”

“Good. And the Alcaziar?”

“Opposite side of the port.”

Nodding once again, he went back looking at her then. In their hands particularly, rubbing it in circular motion by his thumb, he ask for her understanding. “Now, I really need to go.”

His first word which reciprocated by her persuasion. “Come with us.”

She was gripping tightly on his, this time. She doesn’t know, but she really felt something might happen if she won’t hold into it. “I can’t. It’s now or never Eunyoung-ah.”

“With you in that state? Jang Taeyoung, please.”

Her proceeding plead, just to earn a chuckle instead as if trying to light up the atmosphere a bit. “Yah. I thought you’re eager to take down the old man, now we’ve got the chance, you’re retreating?”

She remained unbothered. Pushing her side still, only being forced to be handed with his assistant. “Take care of her. I’m counting on you.” Its series of command to it before cupping his hand to her face one last time. “See you on the dock.”

And with that Jang Taeyoung swiftly transfers to the single motorboat, jumps with expertise as he drove with speed leaving her sighting his far away figure instead. ‘Just be back, Jang Taeyoung’ for she can silently hope is that. Brushing herself with anxiousness.

“Worried?”  

She was surprised when his assistant talks out of nowhere that she needed to turn her slumping figure to its driving one. Indeed, this was the first time one of them tried to converse with her or rather they ain’t got the chance to. “J-jae, right?” her confirming which answered by its simple nod and smile when he turns to her for a while before she went silent, waiting to its proceeding words which didn’t came even so she initiated instead. Looking the chaos happened from afar now.

“I can’t understand. Letting your boss do what he wants in that shape while all of you, follows. Do underlings really have no say for exceptions than that? You supposed to protect him after all, right?”  

She does see them as mere underlings but looking by his assistant now was a company offering itself as someone to open up with. So she’s dropping the formalities, she opts to. Judging by its appearance they seem to be in the same age anyway. Probably not hard to adjust.

“He’s different. And I think you’re fully aware of that, miss. Besides, how can we stop a boss whose impulses already pulled off its limits by his enemies.”

“Impulses, what?” she’s confused.

Jae simply turns to her once again. “Ms. Sung, who do you think trigger him to do these sorts of recklessness?”

She can only gulp and avoid his gaze into an opposite direction for she need not further elaboration to know the answer. Although not too long after she heard his next words. Straighten like a butler on duty.

“All eyes to Queen.”

Then she felt something’s odd. They already reach the docks but the eerie silence isn’t securing them safety. That’s how she noticed the peering stance of Jae, ratifying the whole vicinity before turning to her with screwed eyes.

“That’s what he ordered. Now, get down!”

And it happened again. The same gunfights which she witnessed just a while ago. Jae was able to duck her head preventing it from any possible attacks, using the motorboat’s hull as shield. Good thing the said boat is as well enough for hiding. “Sh*t! I didn’t see this coming. I’ll definitely be a dead meat to boss after this. Stay put, miss.”

Right then, the assistant pulling out something from a secret compartment revealing a shotgun. Making her ball her eyes bigger. ‘Into how much guns should I see with this battle, por favor!’

The only complain she can think of, yes.

[thebibliomancer]

Tides of the Dark Crystal liveblog pt 22

Tides of the Dark Crystal because Amri just got pulled into the water, perhaps by some manner of white whale but probably not.

Last times on book: Amri and co are on a quest to unite all the Gelfling against the Skeksis. They’ve succeeded with the Sifa at Cera-Na and the Dousan of the Wellspring but while they were avoiding ever going to Ha’rar, All-Maudra Mayrin was killed by the Skeksis. Her daughter Seladon has become the new All-Maudra and spoke out in favor of loyalty to the Skeksis. In Ha’rar, the protagonists run into Tae of the Sifa and regrouped with her. While they were supposed to be sleeping on the problem, Amri instead fell off a boat because he heard a sea monster.

Chapter 22

Amri meets a new friend, unless he doesn’t, and then has an epiphany after getting friendly with a city street

So Amri is not drowning for the second time in the book despite being in some deep water. The first time it was because Naia was there sharing oxygen with him. This second time he’s just not drowning for some reason. He ponders aloud if he’s dead.

The creature he saw in the water is swimming around him, not giving him a good look, but untangling the rope that Amri tangled himself in like an idiot.

Pretty friendly sea monster.

The water filled his mouth, but he didn’t drown. He turned when he saw movement, but the creature that circled him, long and streamlined, was always just out of sight. It swooped through the thick water, giving scant glimpses of its long tail and powerful limbs that propelled it through the water as easily as a bird in flight.

The sea monsters responds to Amri pondering mortality by telling him he’s not dead.

“Um... am I going to die?”

“That is a strange question.”

Stupendous.

The sea monster’s voice (and general unhelpful way of answering questions presumably) pricks at Amri’s memory.

“Are you a Mystic?” he asked.

“Hmm... I am pretty mystical.”

Which is what Amri had said about urLii to Kylan and Naia back in the previous book!

Amri has enough of the vagueness or wondering whether he is or isn’t dead and just goes “I’m gonna go” because the whole conversation is like this. The Mystic asks Amri to wait and finally swims into sight.

Amri recognizes the multi-limbed individual as definitely a Mystic and guesses that they’re also the water spirit who is reputed to light the coast side lanterns.

But when the Mystic swims closer, Amri realizes what really seemed familiar about them. The Mystic’s eyes remind Amri of skekSa’s.

“Are you skekSa’s opposite?” Amri gasped.

“Opposition is a falsehood. Like day and night -- convenient words, but only part of the truth. For there exists such a thing as dawn, and also dusk. All phases in the turning of the spheres. I am merely a swimmer of the seas.”

!

It’s she!

They don’t name names here but its urSan the Swimmer!

Because in the game of not quite opposites between the Skeksis and the Mystics, skekSa said ‘i’m going to sail on top of the water haha’ and urSan went ‘ok i’mma swim everywhere’ and jumped into the ocean.

I can’t get over how great a concept that is. Just a urRu swimming everywhere.

Mystics are so ponderous on land but urSan is zooming around underwater. Maybe their problem is that they’re meant for the water.

She apparently also knows magic that negates the coldness of the water or the need to breath which explains why Amri is definitely not dead.

Amri asks if the Swimmer is here to help the Vapra, somehow believing “in the past, the Mystics had come to their aid when they had needed it most.”

“You already know how to help the Vapra,” the swimmer said, echoing his intonation so it was like hearing his own voice bubbling back at him.

“So you’re not going to help.”

“A compass is nothing without a ship.”

“Then point me in the right direction!”

“I already have.”

Because, yeah, that’s about the average level of helpful the urRu tend to be.

I mean, it is helpful, in the sense of you eventually figure things out. And Amri tries.

He keeps trying to puzzle through while the Swimmer keeps offering vague answers.

Amri complains that he doesn’t know anything about the Vapra or their city and that the Swimmer should be speaking to Tavra.

“I am speaking to whom I should be speaking. To the Shadowling that brought a song from deep caves to an oasis lake. Tell m, what is the difference between the waves of the sea and the waves of the sand?”

and

“What is the difference between crystals of stone and crystals of water?”

“Crystals of water?” Amri asked. Then he remembered. “You mean ice?”

“Deatea. Fire. Deratea. Air. Kidakida. Water. Arugaru. Earth. Four words with one center sound. Four elements with one central heart. Water becomes steam. Is that not air? And then it burns. Is that not fire? Dawn becomes day becomes dusk becomes evening becomes night. Becomes dawn once again. Where does one end and the other begin? Is there such a thing?”

This would be great for my fantasy setting with the elementalism magic system.

Its good stuff. I’m not sure where its leading. The solutions in these books tend to surprise me because they’re pretty magical.

Amri still doesn’t get it either and is now so confused that he’s seriously considering that he is drowning.

“But I’m a Grottan,” he called desperately. “I don’t know anything about waves except that I’m scared of the ocean. I don’t know anything about the daylighter world except that I’m clumsy at walking in it!”

You’re not clumsy at walking. You’re clumsy wearing shoes.

That’s pretty inspirational actually.

Not helping the unreality Amri feels, bubbles obscure the Swimmer and then propel Amri to the surface where he suddenly wakes up and finds himself on the deck of Onica’s ship, being shaken awake by Naia. Not wet at all from a dip in the ocean but a bit damp from snow melting on him.

Uh. Huh. Weird.

Naia is touching him to make sure he’s okay and they have a mutual blushy moment about that.

They go inside and Naia makes him a nice hot cup of... uh, water. Do people just drink hot water? There’s so many herbs in this boat.

“I had the strangest dream,” he said. It tasted like a lie. It couldn’t have been a dream, could it? He stared at the bundle of herbs in the center of the table, cold and dormant in the clay bowl. He shook his head. “Must have been a dream.”

He tells Naia what he dreamed, trying to be quiet but waking up everyone anyway. It seems more and more dreamlike the longer he’s awake and he’s pretty sure that the herbs that Onica used to try to Far-Dream earlier gave him a weird vivid dream.

Silly of him to think a Far-Dreamer would say a dream is just a dream.

“Even if it was a dream, that doesn’t mean it’s not important,” Onica replied. “Do you have any idea what it means?”

Amri blushed. “You’re the Far-Dreamer. Aren’t you supposed to be the one that knows...” Even as he spoke, he thought of what the Mystic had said. Dawn to day to dusk. Being a Far-Dreamer didn’t mean it was her responsibility to know everything there was to know about dreams. Perhaps he had been putting too much stock in titles.

You already know how to help the Vapra.

And this time he does already knows, it seems, because he suddenly darts out into the night, dismissing Tae’s concerns about the Skeksis since they can’t see very well at night.

Naia catches up with him and Amri feels comforted by having her at his side.

Shiiiiiiip tease.

They hike together into the city in silence where Amri does a thing.

Amri leaned down and pulled and pulled the straps off his sandals. Naia stood by and watched, hand on the hilt of her dagger. Ready to protect him from anything, even as he did something she didn’t totally understand. He tried not to worry what Naia would think of him, acting like a Shadowling in the middle of the Gelfling capital. He couldn’t worry about it. He had to be who he was.

He tossed the sandals aside, letting his back curve to the shape he had tried to hard to straighten. Barefoot, he crouched on the frozen stone pathways, and for the first time, his fingers and toes tasted the street of Ha’rar.

I’m of mixed feelings about this.

A revelation that Amri should just be himself does fit. His super move has been letting Tavra take over his body so she can do what she does do. But they don’t really do that enough that you have to start worrying about Amri wishing he were another person.

There was that bit where Tavra told him he couldn’t rely on Grottan tricks.... uh, and then his Grottan tricks don’t come up so much. Oh, Amri. Why won’t they let you be the weird alchemy boy?

He has had repeat things about being unfamiliar with shoes and walking without crouching but he wasn’t doing that to fit in socially. He had to wear sandal shoes because walking so much was doing a number on his feet. He had to walk not crouched because that was messing with him adapting to walking with sandals.

And in fairness, he puts the sandals back on after this so he doesn’t freeze his feets while walking back. So, the practical benefits of wearing shoes are recognized.

So I don’t know about Amri hadding to be who he was but I’m glad that he is.

Anyway. Amri has ground sense. Talking to sand and talking to rocks. Now, thanks to the Swimmer, he has realized that water is a beautiful spectrum and he can talk to ice too.

He gets a good feel for the vibrations of Ha’rar. The whole thing.

From the street to the Vapra homes to the citadel, the ocean and the cold blue mountains. It was all connected, intertwined somehow. As if some perfect, pure mineral laced the entire city in a web of crystal, originating from a source high in the mountains that looked down on Ha’rar.

Amri actually presses his ear to the ground to hear even better. And he hears how the song of Ha’rar differs from the mineral of the Dousan Wellspring or the rocks of the Caves of Grot.

This was fluid, like the sea or the lakes or rivers. Clear and pristine. Diamond-hard, carrying the thousand sounds of the city from one end to the other.

It was crystal, but not of stone.

OF COURSE ITS SO OBVIOUS NOW

No, I lie, I’m still lost.

What did you learn, Amri?

It was so simple, now that he knew. Now that he’d listened.

Dangit. Just tell me.

But he doesn’t. Cruel, cruel POV protagonist. Withholding plot.

“We have to get Tavra and Kylan to the trees of the Waystar grove,” he said. “I know how to send a message to the Vapra of Ha’rar.”

Fine, I guess I’ll read another chapter of the book I was already reading!

[loruleanheart]

Desired Fate, Chapter 5

Read on ff.net

Read on AO3

“Kill her...” 

Zelda’s heart plummeted as the full weight of his words hit her, her world falling and crashing into a million pieces.

No! Wait...! She moved her mouth to protest, but no words came forth.

Zelda tried to take a step back only to find her legs were like lead. She tripped backward, falling into the shallow water. 

The Champion imposters crowded her with swift precision, following their master’s order without hesitation. The dark Urbosa raised her scimitar. Zelda braced herself, squeezing her eyes shut. There was no one to save her. But even worse, she felt too numb to care.

And just as she resigned herself to this harsh fate, a blinding flash engulfed the forest, and the expected killing blow never came.

Zelda shielded her eyes, peeking out from between her fingers to see the Hollows writhing as they faded away. 

Was that.... the spirit that lives within the sword....?

She shakily breathed out and looked around, the hooded man was looking at her with a shocked expression. 

He turned to look at the sword, startled, “What?!”

Zelda was only vaguely aware as Link and the little Guardian came to her side, her knight having tracked her down with the little one in tow.

“Link?”

The knight offered her a hand. 

“I’m… alright.” Zelda got to her feet on her own. The back of her pants was soaked from falling into the water. She grimaced in discomfort.

As Zelda stood, Link drew his sword and rushed at the hooded man, giving a shout.

“Link! Wait!”

“I won’t allow you to take that sword, boy.” The wizard threatened. Link cast a glance at the sword on the pedestal, still glowing as if beckoning for him to claim it. He tried to make his way to it, but it was clear the hooded man was intent on stopping him.

Zelda stood back, stunned. Link is... the hero?

The hooded wizard levitated the orb between his hands, summoning malice to rain down on the knight. Link ran to dodge it. The mysterious man countered, levitating himself as if being raised by some invisible force. He brought his knees to his chest, becoming one with the orb. The ball of energy rushed at the knight. Link flew through the air, landing hard on the dais. As the boy stirred he turned his head to see his standard-issue knight’s sword had been broken in two. Wasting no time, he got to his feet and pulled the sacred blade from its pedestal.

The hooded man sneered at the knight, backpedaling a few steps in hesitation before jumping back into the orb and flying at Link once again, in a rage. This time Link swung the sacred blade at the right moment, shattering the illusion. The wizard fell to the ground. The orb went back to its original size and shape and landed some feet away. The hooded man reached for it, but Link quickly kicked it further away and held him at sword point.

“You can’t kill me. I am fated to revive Calamity Ganon. My purpose isn’t complete.” There was a slight waver in his voice, that stirred something in Zelda.

She rushed to the Link’s side who was standing over the strange man.

“Who are you?” The Princess demanded.

“Well if you must know... Your Highness,” the man said coldly, “I am Astor, prophet of the Calamity. Lord Ganon selected me to bring this world to its knees,” he said defiantly.

Astor… His name is Astor… Zelda’s eyes met with his. His sharp yellow eyes were looking at her with disdain, but there was something else she saw. There was true terror in the man’s gaze, despite the coldness his voice projected. 

Link held the edge of the sacred blade to Astor’s throat, threatening to apply dangerous pressure.

“Link, wait! No more... Please…” Zelda searched for an excuse not wanting to see a beheading right before her eyes. “H-he could be a valuable source of information on the Calamity if we take him alive.”

Link looked at her as if studying her expression. Her knight was unreadable to her and he said nothing in return. Zelda prayed she had come off as convincing enough. As the princess, she did have a sort of authority over him, and he was obligated to follow her orders, after all. So he didn’t protest.

As the knight was distracted, the prophet bolted upright and shoved past him, grabbing his fallen orb. Link moved to guard Zelda. The dome went up again, this time a hollow version of the hero emerged. 

Astor glanced at Zelda, who was looking back at him over the boy’s shoulder. The two shared another long gaze. A conflicted expression crossed his pallid features. He hesitated and then pointed to the small Guardian which was some distance from Link and Zelda. “Destroy the Guardian!”

Zelda gave a small gasp, but before she could act, the manifestation of Link made fast work of the little Guardian, leaving it in pieces. Link moved to take down his copy, skillfully dispatching the Hollow with little effort, mercifully bringing an end to his doppleganger’s empty existence. The Hollow disappeared in a puff of red malice.

When Zelda looked back, Astor was gone. Zelda collected herself and breathed out in frustration as she approached the broken down Guardian, surveying the damage. Sure, It may have technically been a piece of artificial intelligence, but she’d begun to see it almost like a friend, having ascertained it had come from the future to protect her. It truly was her guardian. But what would become of her now? Without her sealing power did she still have a chance to stop the Calamity? She hung her head and shed a single tear.

There was a long moment of silence between the princess and the knight. She couldn’t read his expression, leaving her wondering what he was thinking - or worse what he thought of her. She held everything back, trying to project the same unreadable expression. It was the lowest she’d ever felt.

The silence was broken when the Champions found them. 

“Zelda?” Urbosa came forward, seeing the broken Guardian at her feet. “Why would you wander away from the group? Are you hurt?”

“No, Urbosa. I’m… alright…” Said Zelda, still numb.

Urbosa looked down at the Guardian. “Oh my...” Urbosa sighed. “What should we do about this?” 

Zelda thought for a moment. “.... Perhaps Robbie can repair it.”

“Ok Champions. You heard your Princess. Everyone help carry as many pieces as you can.” Urbosa said as a way to lighten the somber mood.

Everyone complied and no one complained. Not even Revali.

Zelda collected a few small screws and gears, putting them in her pouch connected to her belt.

oOo

They were on their way back to Hyrule Castle. Zelda sighed as she shielded her eyes from the setting sun. A few paces ahead of her was Link, Master Sword at his back.

Already Link has gone from an ordinary knight to the one destined to wield the sword that seals the darkness. Yet, I’m still in the same rut I’ve been in all my life. And now… It’s like I’ve got a target on my back because of this cursed power I can’t even use.

In her mind’s eye, the moment replays again and again. “Kill her.” His voice had been so dark, so cold, and so full of hate.

I’m such a fool… His image must have appeared on the Sheikah Slate as a warning, and I...

She felt tears threatening to break forth. She raised her hand to her face. And then she felt everyone’s gaze on her.

She stopped in her tracks, and her voice wavered as she spoke. “How can I… If I am unable to awaken my inner power…” 

Urbosa came to Zelda’s side with concern in her eyes. “Okay everyone, let’s take a break.”

Everyone broke off and began to congregate in small groups. Urbosa pulled Zelda aside.

Zelda took a deep breath. “Link… He’s become so much stronger.” That was just the beginning of her troubles. Urbosa didn’t need to know anything beyond the obvious.

Urbosa smiled knowingly, “And yet, I have not. I presume that’s what you were thinking, hm?”

Zelda nodded. “More and more monsters have been appearing lately. It is a sign that the Calamity draws near. So there isn’t much time. And still, no sign of my power awakening…”

“Yes, I understand your frustration, but perhaps it is self-defeating to compare your progress to Link’s.” Urbosa turned her attention to the young knight, who was some distance from them being showered with praise by Daruk and some Hylian soldiers. “He… is the same boy he was before acquiring that sword.”

One of the soldiers held a plate of rocks. Link took a rock in each hand and wolfed them down without a second thought.

Urbosa gave an unsurprised cluck of her tongue. “He will rise to... any challenge with no hesitation. That’s all there is to it.”

Daruk laughed. “Well done, Little guy. Eat up!”

Zelda grimaced, feeling queasy.

Urbosa smiled at Zelda. “But I know that you too are capable of rising to any challenge. Look how hard you’ve worked to get this far.”

“But I’ve been trying all these years, and nothings changed….”

Urbosa went quiet for a moment, looking more saddened. “I know, little bird. I was there… I haven’t forgotten all your struggles. But I have faith that you are where you need to be and everything will unfold as it is meant to. You must accept that too.”

“But it isn’t… It isn’t in the slightest...” Zelda was reeling. Everything felt out of sorts and very wrong. “Excuse me, Urbosa….”

Before Urbosa could protest, Zelda walked away as fast as she could. It was all too much to bear. Her head was spinning. She was about to lose control of all her anxieties and distress she’d been holding back. She broke into a run, and as soon as she was out of sight she vomited.

oOo

“Is that the Sacred Blade I see?” King Rhoam stood up from his throne on the second floor of the sanctum.  “Link, I’m very pleased it was you. Now I have divine confirmation that I made the right decision in choosing you as Zelda’s knight.” The king looked so pleasantly surprised he mercifully didn’t seem to notice Zelda’s disheveled state.

But Impa did.

“Your Highness…” Impa rushed to the Princess. Urbosa held a comforting hand to Zelda’s shoulder as she gave a nod to Impa.

“I’m fine, Impa. I just got a bit ill on the way back.”

“Thank you, Champions. You have done your duty well, and as a result, Hyrule’s hero has been discovered… There is only one last thing required to oppose the Calamity.” Rhoam looked to his daughter.  “Oh… Where is that little Guardian? It’s usually always at your side.” Rhoam asked, which threw Zelda. He really was in an exceptionally good mood.

“Broken… Regretfully...”

“Ah… That’s unfortunate...” King Rhoam offered. His voice was not unkind. He even sounded a little disappointed and she wondered why.

“I’ll take it to Robbie and Purah first thing tomorrow for repair,” Zelda said, numb. Impa gave her a much needed gentle push towards her chambers.

“Link, Champions, I’d like you to join us for a celebratory dinner.” King Rhoam continued.

Zelda headed to her bedchamber, taking care of her disheveled state. She washed her face, undid her braid, and brushed her hair, before changing into her royal gown, one of her waiting maids stepping in to assist her in tying and lacing up areas that required an extra set of hands. The dress was exquisite, but truth be told, it limited her range of movement.

Zelda took her seat in the dining hall at a long table opposite her father. Link was to her left and seemed to acclimate to the formal setting quite well despite eating rocks with reckless abandon just a short time before. Impa was seated to her right. The Champions were further down the table, closer to Rhoam who exchanged pleasantries with the Champions. Daruk, Revali, and Urbosa dominated much of the conversation. Mipha was more reserved.

“You know, Mipha was just tellin’ me the other day how she believed Link would be the one who could wield the sword,” Daruk mused out loud to the whole table.

Mipha looked flustered, but then the Zora princess composed herself and said sweetly, “Daruk, I told you that in confidence.”

Daruk laughed. “Oh… Sorry. And yet, you were right. You should own it!”

“Is it my understanding that you and Link have been friends since childhood?” Rhoam asked, trying to make polite conversation.

Mipha stiffened at the King’s question. “Yes, that’s correct.” She smiled serenely at Link. The boy looked up from his meal, acknowledging the zora princess.

“It has been such a pleasure to have you join us for another meal after all these years, Chief Urbosa. It is deeply unfortunate that the queen could not be here to see this day.”

“Indeed… I think of her every day,” Urbosa replied. “Zelda looks so much like her. Now more than ever. The queen was about the same age Zelda is now when we first became friends.” Urbosa glanced across the table at Zelda, giving her a reassuring smile.

“Zelda, that’s your favorite cake and you’ve barely touched it,” said Impa, the royal aide showing concern in her voice.

It was true, she’d been kind of picking over it with her fork. “I’m quite full already…”

“It’s just unlike you to turn down fruit cake.”

“I can’t take another bite. I might get sick again…”

“Okay. Okay. Say no more.”

The dinner was winding down, and King Rhoam spoke in an official tone. “ We will hold a ceremony to honor the Champions in three days. Zelda, it will be your duty to handcraft the sacred blue garments for each of the Champions, including a tunic for Link.

Zelda closed her eyes, holding back a sigh. She replied dutifully. “Yes, Father. I’ll get started on them right away.”

[lochsides]

Fearless (Taylor's Version) Review

Never did I think that I would have the chance to listen to one of the most formative albums of my childhood for the first time, twice. Never did I imagine myself filled with so much undiluted joy when Fearless (Taylor’s Version) was announced. One thing I have learned in the past 13 years since I heard Love Story on the radio for the first time is to never underestimate Taylor Swift. Fearless is such a special album to me because it is how I discovered Taylor, and in turn made incredible friendships. It was such a nostalgic feeling, listening to Taylor’s Version.

I was 11 when the original album was released. I didn’t think to write down my opinions about art that impacted me, and ultimately shaped me, so this is going to be a very long post. That’s also why it took me a week to gather my thoughts coherently. Below the cut is a full 26 song track-by-track review of Fearless (Taylor’s Version), but the summary is: I love it more than I did in 2008 and I am so proud of Taylor for reclaiming her art. She has always been a game changer. I hope this makes everyone more aware.

My favourite tracks are the same as they have always been — Breathe, The Way I Loved You, You’re Not Sorry, Untouchable — but with the addition of the brilliant From The Vault tracks. Don’t You is my favourite.

Fearless — Immediately on the first listen, I could pick of the improvement on the audio quality. The production is cleaner in this streaming era of music. Fearless feels new right off the bat, but it sounds just about the same. Taylor’s vocal sits more comfortably in the song, indicative of her maturity as a singer. This rings true for all of the album but because this is the first track, I think it’s more palpable here.

Fifteen — To me, Taylor’s Version of Fifteen sounds so similar to the original. It’s remarkable how well she has replicated this track. Somehow this song feels more personal to her story than it has ever before. Hearing her 31-year-old self sing “in your life you’ll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team” actually gave me chills.

Love Story — When she released her new version of Love Story, the changes in her vocal were almost indiscernible if I hadn’t already been so intimately familiar with the original song. This was the first Taylor song I had ever heard and it will always have such a special place in my heart. Hearing her version of it, rededicated to her fans, was so heartwarming. It still hits almost 13 years later.

Hey Stephen — The vocal quality on Hey Stephen (Taylor’s Version) is far better than the original. Her voice sounds fuller, richer, throughout the song, and less pitchy. It makes the song even more pleasing to listen to. Strangely though, her vocal maturity doesn’t necessarily make her sound older on these songs. With a song like Hey Stephen, I think that youthfulness is essential and she managed to replicate that in her new performance.

White Horse — I know I said that Love Story introduced me to Taylor but White Horse was the song that made a fan of me. So when I say this song sounds better than before, I really mean it. The production is more refined. Her vocal is smoother and it sounds so similar to the original in the chorus but it’s in the verses that you can easily detect the differences. Unlike Hey Stephen, she does sound older on this track but it lends itself to that, the disillusionment of fairytales.

You Belong With Me — YBWM is another song that sounds so similar to the original that if I wasn’t so familiar with the song, I wouldn’t be able to describe the differences. It’s also one we’ve all heard her song so often live that it all melds into one. The productions sounds almost the exact same same. Also her country accent that’s somehow both there and not.

Breathe — Okay so time to get real here, I nearly cried by the time Breathe started playing. This has been one of my favourite songs of hers for over a decade. It made me so emotional to know that she is reclaiming it. I connect this version of this song to her experience with how things ended with BMR. The essence of this song is loss.

Tell Me Why — A lot of people talked about how much her vocals had improved on Tell Me Why and that the song sounds so much better now, but to me it’s probably one of the best replications on Taylor’s Version. It sounds the exact same as it did 13 years ago. That’s not to say her vocal hasn’t improved. She uses it very strategically. I think this song is underrated and being re-exposed to it in this new way made people appreciate it more.

You’re Not Sorry — Taylor’s vocal maturity hit me differently on this track. Her voice sounds chilling in the way she evokes the emotion of the song. Every note she hits is more balanced. You’re Not Sorry is probably the song I feel sounds the most different. This might just be because it’s one of my favourite songs that I can so easily pick it apart. Regardless, it is beautifully sung.

The Way I Loved You — I was probably the most excited to hear her remake The Way I Loved You, and boy did she improve on the quality of her vocal on this song. She sounds more effortless singing this song on Taylor’s Version. The production is also cleaner on this version. The instruments are more distinct. It’s subtle improvements that really take it up a notch, while remaining the same song I fell in love with.

Forever & Always — The new production on this song makes it soooo much better than the original. I won’t lie, Forever & Always has never really stood out to me that much. Taylor’s Version does. The guitar solo is less overpowering. Her high notes are more seamless. I like this version far more than the original.

The Best Day — I know this is a special song to Taylor and there is almost an extra softness to her voice singing it this time. I can hear her smiling when she sings “God smiles on my little brother”. There is so much warmth throughout.

Change — Tell me it’s not iconic that she used the lyric “it was the night things changed” to announce that Fearless (Taylor’s Version) had dropped when she wrote Change about being on an independent label. Power move!

Jump Then Fall — One of the most beautiful things about rediscovering an album is getting to look at it with a new perspective and gain a new appreciation of certain songs. That’s Jump Then Fall (Taylor’s Version) for me. I would say this is the biggest grower from 2009. I can’t quite discern what it is about Taylor’s Version that makes me enjoy this song more but I do. I guess it goes back to the subtle improvements she has sprinkled across the album.

Untouchable — I think any song in which Taylor has any high notes sounds better on Taylor’s Version but Untouchable really showcases it. Her vocal is so much smoother and airier, the transitions between notes so much smoother. It lends itself beautifully to the song.

Forever and Always (Piano Version) — Taylor emotes differently on this version to the original, which I think sounds sadder. Perhaps this is due to the fact that she’s trying to emulate the old version. What it all comes down to is that the song sounds the very similar to the original but feels different. Her vocal delivery and the piano accompaniment are still beautiful.

Come In With The Rain — The instrumentation on CIWTR (Taylor’s Version) is so crystal clear. That is a testament to new production. Taylor’s vocal projection is also much stronger. It makes the song feel grander than it did before.

Superstar — I think Superstar is another of those songs that she did an incredible job of reproducing. Her vocal sits comfortably in the song. This song makes me miss concerts so much in this pandemic world we’re all living in. I have always been very fond of this song.

The Other Side Of The Door — When I tell you all I wanted from Taylor’s Version of Fearless was to hear her sing the outro of The Other Side Of The Door with her 2021 vocals, it is no exaggeration. And Taylor did not disappoint. I fucking love this song. It is so full of energy and life.

Today Was A Fairytale — I was surprised to see this on the tracklist for Fearless (Taylor’s Version). I believe she will be remastering every song in her BMR catalogue. Her voice is fuller on the verses and the chorus sounds exactly as I remember it from years ago. Her vocal strength better complements the production and those heavy drums. She isn’t straining as much.

You All Over Me — I think this was the perfect song to introduce the Vault tracks with. It fits perfectly within where her music is now while maintaining the integrity of the original demo. I really like this song. Maren’s backing vocal sounds great on it. Also the lyric “no amount of freedom gets you clean”??? Need I say more?

Mr. Perfectly Fine — It’s the teen angst for me in this track. I love how petty this song is, truly. It’s so quintessentially Fearless, in its subtext but also in the genre. It has that melding of country and pop that she was beginning to explore at this stage.

We Were Happy — I was so excited when I figured out the words “we”, “were” and “happy” from that chaotic video Taylor posted. I have loved this song for actual years. It’s the exact sound for which I fell in love with Taylor’s music (see White Horse). The lyricism in this song follows that storytelling structure that I think she shines with. I honestly feel with the way that it was produced, it could’ve just as easily fit onto evermore.

That’s When — The first thing I noted when listening to this song was the change in perspective. I wonder why she did it, but I am absolutely not complaining. Keith Urban really made this song for me. I love how he sounds on it. His vocal complements Taylor’s so well. That’s When is very catchy.

Don’t You — I can’t decide what my favourite aspect of this song is. The songwriting, the vocals, the layering, the production. This is just *chef’s kiss*. I love how I can hear Jack Antonoff in the production, especially in those drums. I would say it’s the most pop-leaning song on Fearless (Taylor’s Version), but it doesn’t feel out of place. Don’t You encompasses all of my favourite aspects of Taylor’s music.

Bye Bye Baby — The original demo “The One Thing” has been one of my most played unreleased songs over the past decade. Bye Bye Baby feels so much like a brand new song, with all the changes she made, but still coated in the nostalgia of something so familiar. The production is more intricate, the lyric changes add more depth, the vocal inflections complement this new version. I feel like this song is so indicative to me of her growth as a songwriter and performer.

[stayextrafrosty]

I am Your Future, I am Your Past

A Roswell New Mexico soulmate AU

Description: Soulmate AU based loosely off a manga I’ve read recently. The Manes and Guerin family lines have been drawn together for generations. A curse placed on the original lovers forces them to endure trials where the Guerin’s take any damage inflicted on the Manes’. Present day, Alex Manes has no idea about his family history. Then Michael Guerin, of all people, shows up saying he’ll protect him no matter what.

Warnings: Homophobic and racist language, violence, angst

Pairing: Alex Manes/Michael Guerin

Minor/side pairings: Michael Guerin/Maria DeLuca, Alex Manes/Forrest Long, Liz Ortecho/Max Evans, Isabel Evans/Maria DeLuca

Rating: Explicit

Title from the song “Take on the World” by You Me At Six

Read on AO3

-

Prologue

Back in the days of ritual sacrifice, there were two families. The Guerin family served the Manes. The two children grew up together, playing, studying, learning to fight. As they got older, their parents began forcing them apart, for the Manes Princess could never be seen with a Guerin slave.

The two children snuck out at night, talking about how it would be different someday. Someday they could be friends openly. As they moved into their teenage years, things changed again. Nights were spent in each other’s arms. Soft sighs as they memorized the feeling of their bodies. It was bliss.

They were discovered by the princess’ father one night. He beat the slave boy, breaking his hand for daring to touch his daughter. They were forbidden to see each other. The slave boy was held back and hidden from view when the Head family was around. The princess cried for her friend and lover.

The yearly sacrifice to the gods was upon them. And a white flag sat in the front courtyard of the Manes estate signaling it was to be their daughter presented. The lord stole his daughter away, forcing her into a small shed in the dark corner of the grounds. He had no intention of getting in the way of the sacrifice for she had disgraced him. But he knew the slave boy would try to stop it.

The slave boy knew the grounds like the back of his hand. He had to memorize the best routes to take when the two of them had been sneaking out. He located the small shed with ease and tried to encourage the princess to run away with him. She cried for him, wishing she could. But this was her duty. She didn’t want to anger the gods, or worse, her father.

The slave boy went to her every day and every day tried to talk her out of being the sacrifice. Her resolve weakened as she listened to the promises her made her. He would protect her. They would run as far as they needed, until they could be together. The night before the sacrifice was to take place, they ran.

The family chased them, the slave boy protecting the princess with everything he had. But it wasn’t enough. They had almost made it out of town before they were caught. Lord Manes had come prepared to perform the sacrifice himself.

She made no sound as the arrow pierced her back and heart. She stumbled and fell to the ground. The slave boy cradled her body in his arms. He was going to be next. But the lord didn’t kill him. He wanted the boy to suffer without her. They were left among the trees.

The boy pleaded to the gods to save her. Let her live. Let him take the pain instead. They heard his plea and granted his wish. With conditions. The future generations would be forced to feel this same pain. They would be drawn together as the lovers were, facing trials to prove they were truly meant to be.

The boy took on the princess’ wounds, dying in her place. She wept but continued living for his sake. She would always love him and every one of her reincarnations would too…

The story of the original lovers was passed through generations. Every few generations would go through trials. The pair rarely survived to complete them. Men and women died senselessly. Always drawn together by the curse for the sick enjoyment of the gods.

-

Chapter 1

Michael Guerin always scoffed at the old books and stories. Or at least he did. Then the marks appeared on his chest. A geometric looking flower with five diamond shaped petals. He fought the urge to go looking. No way was he going to start taking on the pain of someone else. Besides, Alex Manes was in the past.

He didn’t even know the history. And why would he? He had three brothers who probably all knew it, and nothing ever happened. All the reincarnations had been a man and a woman. So, unless Alex had a cousin, some mistake had clearly been made.

Michael’s phone buzzed in his pocket while he was elbow deep in a junk car. He tried to convince the customer that it was a lost cause, but the guy wouldn’t hear it. Michael could fix almost anything, even this old ford. But he knew when it would just be a waste of time.

He wiped his hands on his jeans before pulling out the phone, trying to avoid getting too much grease on it. His girlfriend’s name lit up the screen and he smiled. They had gotten off to a rocky start, but things were easier now.

“Am I running late for something again?” He grinned even though she couldn’t see it.

“No, but would it kill you to be on time for once,” she said sarcastically.

“Look DeLuca, I gotta make an entrance. So, what did you need from me today?” He wished he could see her roll her eyes.

“I just wanted to remind you that we’re having a welcome home party for Alex. You remember him, right?” How could he forget? Michael clenched his fist, flinching at the pain from the areas that were broken.

“Yea. You want me to come along or something? I will for you, but I don’t want it to be weird. We weren’t really friends.”

“Ok but Liz is bringing Max so that doesn’t really matter. You’ll know someone.” Michael sighed. Him and Max haven’t exactly been on talking terms. He and Isobel had been able to escape the thumb of the family. They knew the story of course but no mark had ever appeared on them. In fact, it was a miracle one had appeared on him at all. It usually made itself known in the high school years. At least, that was the pattern.

“Alright. Are you hosting at the Wild Pony?”

“Yea. Open bar and everything,” she said knowingly. Michael laughed.

“You know me so well, Maria.”

“But of course. So I’ll see you later. Love you!” The line clicked off. The sun passed behind the lone cloud in the sky, providing the briefest of relief from the desert sun.

Ten years ago, Alex left. He didn’t even say goodbye. They weren’t good for each other and they both knew it. Michael slammed the hood of the car a bit harder than he meant to.

“Hey! Don’t need you breakin’ customers cars,” his boss, Sanders called to him. The old man was half blind and pushed a lot of work onto Michael but he also let him live on the lot. He couldn’t complain.

“Sorry. Hey, I’m heading out for the day. I’ll come in early to finish this up. Or maybe you could just call him back and convince him that this is a lost cause.” Sanders shook his head.

“If I do that, then he won’t pay.” He stepped back inside the small trailer he used for paperwork. Michael headed over to his own trailer. The least he could do was change clothes. He considered hooking up the hose to his trailer to shower too but then Sanders would be all over him about operating costs. He tossed his dirty shirt on the pile that needed to go to the laundromat.

“Ah, fuck it,” he mumbled to himself. He didn’t want to embarrass Maria by smelling like sweat and old car. He laughed at himself. Alex has always liked-

No! He wasn’t going to let himself finish the thought. It doesn’t matter anymore. They weren’t friends. They were hardly acquaintances anymore. Alex Manes was just a guy who happened to share the same name as the stupid prophecy.

-

Alex sat outside the Wild Pony in his car. He hadn’t been here in ten years. Was he ready to get back to life as normal? He wasn’t the same kid that left to escape home all that time ago. He was broken. More than he was then. Missing a leg. Nightmares that haunted him.

He shook his head and stepped out of the car. He knew he was early, but he couldn’t help it. It eased the anxiety. This wasn’t war. It was ok if his brain wasn’t running a million miles a second.

The dust covered his shoes as soon as he set foot back in Roswell. Something that didn’t change when he went to Iraq. It felt new and familiar. He raised a hand to his chest where his friends had slapped a tattoo on him but refused to admit it. It wasn’t bad, just strange. A geometric flower with diamonds for petals.

The pull of Roswell was never something he understood. He just knew he had to be here. Leaving was hard but it was for the best. The first thing that had happened when he got back was his father lecturing him. No familial connection at all.

Alex clenched his fists and moved toward the doors. This was no time to be thinking of the past. The door stuck in that familiar way. His crutch stuck to the ground but not enough for it to hinder his movements.

A smile settled on his face as he took in the surroundings. Nothing had changed except for the neon sign that had all the letters lit up. Maria must have had someone fix it. No one sat around the pool table though it was set up. A group laughed and he turned toward the bar. He watched as Max Evans and Maria DeLuca attempted to hang a sign. It was clearly much bigger than they had planned. Liz and Rosa Ortecho held a glass of something and laughed as Max wobbled on the step latter.

“You guys know this wasn’t necessary right?” The four of them turned to look at him. The three girls jumped up and rushed over to him. Maria dropped the sign, leaving Max to stop it from knocking bottles over.

Liz and Rosa wrapped him in a tight squeeze and he laughed at their excitement. He had missed this. Hugs were rarely exchanged in the air force. It usually requires an almost death. Maria joined the group hug, but the extra weight was pushing him off balance.

“As much as I love all of you, I think this would be easier if it was one at a time.” They all laughed, letting him go slowly.

“I told you not to be here until six! Why don’t you listen to me,” Maria whined? She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing a kiss to his cheek.

“Because when have I ever listened to you,” he joked back.

“Ok so you’re still that little boy who is a good kid but trying to be bad? Got it.” Rosa grinned as she pulled him in. “I’ve missed you, Manes.” Alex rolled his eyes at her.

“Rosa, come on. No need to pull out the friendly insults as soon as he walks in. You could always insult her back you know.” Alex laughed as she hugged him.

“Nah, I think I’ll spare her for now.” The group laughed again as Max came up beside Liz. They had never been close but they got along. And Alex knew Liz loved him. He reached out a hand, smiling kindly at him.

“Welcome back, Alex. Oh, and thank you for your service,” Max said. He reached out and shook his hand.

“You know I just did this for attention right?” Liz’s mouth dropped open in mock surprise as they all started laughing. Alex followed the group to the bar. Max and Maria resumed their task of trying to hang the banner. Alex offered to help but they refused, stating he shouldn’t set up for his own party.

Other people showed up as the evening went, some helping add decorations that he truly believed were unnecessary. Old friends from high school stopped to catch up and thank him, though he wasn’t quite sure how to respond. His time in the service wasn’t always for causes he believed in. He lost count of the number of times where he realized what they were doing could be considered wrong.

Maria checked her phone for the twentieth time, mumbling about how “he was late.” She mentioned in a letter she had fallen for a guy that ended up being surprising. Apparently, he used to be some regular at the bar. She didn’t think good of him, but something changed.

“So, do I get to meet that guy you were raving about in your last letter?” Alex took a sip of his drink, raising an eyebrow at Maria.

“I mean, that was the plan but apparently he’s ditching. Or he just wants to be fashionably late,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Of course, I guess you might know him. He did go to school with us.” Alex racked his brain, but no one stood out. Maria sighed and shrugged.

Alex felt a tugging in his mind. In his heart. It happened occasionally overseas when he was homesick. Must be the nostalgia of the Wild Pony. He jumped as Maria moved suddenly.

“There you are! Took ya long enough.” she bounced out from behind the counter. Alex chuckled as he turned in his seat to meet the mystery man. He took a sip of his drink as he did and nearly choked.

A cowboy hat sat on his head but the curls refused to be tamed. Alex watched as Maria wrapped her arms around his waist and he kissed her head. Then he turned his eyes on him.

Every memory he had successfully suppressed while he was away came flooding back. Alex glanced down at his hand. It was still messed up from when his father had- He looked away quickly. Michael Guerin… he never thought he’d see him again. Pain tugged at his heart but also something so incredibly right that that world could end and he wouldn’t care.

“Alex. Welcome home,” he said. He wanted to cry. There was a warmth in his voice that was so familiar. Memories of nights in Michaels truck or in that shed overwhelmed him. He was a still just a boy when it came to Michael.

“Uh yea, thanks. Nice to be surrounded by sand again,” he said, trying to sound confident. A small grin made its way onto Michaels face. Alex returned the smile, hoping it wasn’t as nervous as he felt.

“Alright, DeLuca. You got me here on the promise of free booze. Why not pour shots for the three of us?” Michael took a seat next to Alex, arm brushing against his briefly. Alex ignored it in favor of the tequila Maria was placing in front of them.

-

Michael didn’t know how to react. He hadn’t expected to simply look at Alex and have every old feeling resurface. His heart tugged at his chest, telling him to just reach out and touch him. To hold him close. To protect him with every fiber of his being.

“Ok but just because I could now kick Kyle Valenti’s ass doesn’t mean I want to. I’m trying to avoid violence.” Alex took another sip of his drink, his cheeks beginning to look flushed. Michael tried to hide his grin. He had never heard Alex so confident and comfortable. Maybe it was just the alcohol talking but it was a side of him he’d never seen.

“Maybe a bad idea to kick his ass these days. Guy’s a doctor,” Michael pointed out, taking a sip of beer. Alex raised an eyebrow and looked to Maria for confirmation.

“He’s not kidding. But hey, maybe he’s changed. Not like you’re the same kid from high school,” she said, raising her glass in a half toast.

“You can say that again. I might have wanted a tattoo then but when my buddies slapped one on me, damn I wanted to kill them. Course they deny everything. Assholes,” Alex said, laughing. Maria’s mouth dropped open, but a smile soon replaced it.

“Oh my god, where?” She could hardly contain her excitement. Michael had to admit he was curious. Alex shook his head and began to unbutton his shirt and he had to stop himself from choking on his drink. Was he really going to strip here? “Woah, maybe I should have cut you off earlier,” Maria joked. Alex rolled his eyes and grabbed the shirt to move it to the side.

“No. I’m not that far gone.” The flower on his chest reflected some of the lights, making the diamond petals look iridescent. Michael's eyes widened at the familiar pattern. There was no way this was happening now. Not after all this time.

“It’s not horrible considering,” Michael said, trying to act natural. Maria agreed with him as she reached out to touch him. Not that it would feel different than the other skin. As Alex readjusted his shirt, Michael felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Max, a serious look telling him to come right now.

He told the two he’d be back and followed Max outside. He must have overheard the conversation. Maybe even saw the tattoo. Michael knew what lecture was coming. The look of pity and misplaced apologies.

“Michael. You have to talk to him. He doesn’t know anything about that mark.” Michael sighed.

“Yes Max. I get it. You forget I’m part of the main branch. Just because my parents are dead doesn’t change that.”

“And yet you’ve avoided learning anything about the past incarnations.”

“What’s there to know? Things are going to happen that will likely kill us both and we have to get through ten of them or the curse will just continue to a later generation. Actually. Better idea. Why not just not have kids? Then the curse can’t continue, problem solved.” Max scoffed at Michael's plan.

“You idiot. That’s why there’s side branches. We took you in when your parents died and you’ve done nothing to try to survive,” he scolded.

“I didn’t ask you to do that! Why not just let me figure it out myself?”

“We are family, Michael. Isabel and I refuse to let you do this alone.” It was Michael’s turn to scoff. His humorless laugh must have made something in Max snap.

Max grabbed his shoulders. Shaking him and eventually shoving him back. Michael lunged at him. He hadn’t been in a fight in a while and he needed it. Michael swung his fist at Max’s face, only hitting his arm. He thought tackling would have been a better strategy but he tripped. Max grabbed him again, wrapping him in a chokehold.

“You care about Alex, don’t you? Of course you do. You can’t fight it Michael! If you do it for anyone, do it for him.” He clenched his jaw and tapped Max’s arm.

“He’s better off without this. What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him.” Max shot an accusatory glare at him.

“You know that’s not how this works.” Michael shrugged and started back inside.

“We don’t know that,” he called back.

Michael looked around for Maria and Alex but they weren’t where he left them at the bar. He wished his heart didn’t immediately kick in to panic mode when he didn’t see him… them. He didn’t have to look hard. They had taken up residence with Liz and Rosa at one of the pool tables.

He watched from the door as Liz tried to convince Alex to play. He insisted he wasn’t good at pool and refused to play. Michael smiled, watching Alex run a hand through his hair. So what if he cared about him? Anything they had was over now. And he loved Maria.

Until Alex looked at him. Caught him staring. But he couldn’t look away. The tugging at his heart refused to let him. His fingers twitched in his pocket, aching to touch him.

Alex broke eye contact first. Though not by choice. Alex stumbled when some guy rammed a shoulder into him. Michael shook his head, brought back to reality.

“Watch where you’re going faggot,” the guy snickered. Michael thought he recognized him. The wrinkles on his face suggested he was older but he seemed to know Alex. Alex’s eye twitched slightly but he didn’t respond. Michael came up to the table just as Liz stepped into the assholes personal space.

“First of all, get the fuck out. You have no right to talk to a hero like that. You did nothing with your life after high school. You never stopped being a bully Chris and I’m glad it made you look like a fucking prune. Of course, the cigarettes also caught up to you. You are a worthless piece of shit and weren’t invited anyway.” Michael smirked. He saw why Max liked her.

He vaguely remembered the guy but he needed to reach way back. He thought this guy was an old friend of Kyle though he wasn’t sure about it anymore.

“Shut up you stupid alien. Don’t they teach you about respect where you’re from?” She looked surprised. But Michael wasn’t. This had gone far enough.

“Alright you fuck, time to go,” he said, grabbing his collar. Chris struggled in his grip but couldn’t pull free. Michael was pissed and anyone who was a regular here knew they couldn’t beat him when he was pissed.

Michael almost didn’t see the hand flying at his head. He released Chris and he stumbled, obviously drunk. But this asshole wasn’t giving up without a fight. His lunges were sloppy and slow, easy for Michael to avoid. He caught a glimpse of Max, watching from a table not far away.

“A little help deputy,” he asked, annoyed. Max sighed and grabbed Chris’ arm before he could throw another lame punch. Michael took the other and they hauled him out, throwing him to the gravel.

“Do everyone a favor and don’t come back you piece of trash,” Michael spit at him. Chris scowled before reaching behind him and pulling a fancy revolver from his waistband. Max and him shared a look before raising their hands slowly. He wasn’t sure if Max had a gun on him but because he was off duty, Michael wasn’t counting on it.

“Guerin!” Michael's eyes widened. He jerked his head to look behind him, at Alex. Michael heard the gunshot. He knows he did. He felt no pain, at least not right away.

Alex crumbled, clutching his arm though he hardly made a sound. Chris was stumbling away but Michael could hardly focus on that right now.

“Go after him, I’ve got this,” he said to Max. He nodded and ran after him. Michael rushed over to Alex trying to hold him up. His face was scrunched in pain, blood seeping into his flannel. “Damnit, Alex, why’d you follow us out here.”

“Cause I was worried,” he mumbled out. Michael sighed.

“You’re going to be fine. And don’t worry about me.” Alex raised an eyebrow at him.

“I was just shot. I would actually appreciate it if you called—” Alex blinked. Michael's arm started to ache, growing quickly to an agonizing throb. He ground his teeth together and stood, stumbling away from Alex. He could feel the blood start to flow down his arm. Alex was right. He would need a hospital.

“Wait, Guerin. What’s going on? What happened?” He grabbed at his arm where the wound used to be. Michael cursed. Of fucking course this happened. Now he had to explain it to Alex. He tried to make it to his car. Alex stood to follow him, though he was slow with the crutch.

“Damnit,” Michael muttered to himself. He jerked on the handle of his old truck. His arm was going cold. Losing too much blood.

“Michael.” He looked over his shoulder at Alex. There really was no use running.

“Look, Alex. I will explain. But right now, you need to drive me to the hospital.” Confusion danced on every one of his features, but his face set with determination quickly. He tried to help Michael as best he could to the other side of the car, but neither of them was steady with the extra weight.

“Here. Let me wrap it temporarily.” Michael’s eyebrows drew together but widened as Alex pulled his shirt off, tying it above the wound in his arm. “That should slow the blood flow. Hold your arm up as much as you can, ok?” Michael nodded, trying not to stare at him. He had a white tank top on, but he knew Alex was not the boy he used to be.

Alex sped to the hospital, probably breaking more than a few driving laws. It was a miracle he wasn’t pulled over. He screeched up to the front doors, nearly breaking the key as he tried to pull it out. He hurried as much as he could to help Michael keep his balance. They stumbled through the front doors.

“Hey, he’s losing blood fast! He might need stitches!” The edges of Michael’s vision started to go black and fuzzy. He felt the distant touch of hands. None he recognized.

-

Alex paced as much as he could outside the waiting area. What had happened. He knows he was shot. He grabbed at his arm again, but there wasn’t even an ache. It’s like the wound had transferred to Michael.

“Damnit,” he scolded himself. This was somehow his fault. He could feel it. He reached a hand over his heart, almost subconsciously. He frowned. Something did feel different.

He made his way to the bathroom and locked the door. Standing in front of the mirror, he watched in amazement as the tattoo glowed and dimmed a few times before one of the petals disappeared.

“What the hell…” He shook his head in disbelief. This wasn’t the tattoo he had thought his friends put on him. Maybe he should have listened when they said it wasn’t them. He made his way back to the waiting area as calmly as possible. He was greeted by Max and Isabel.

“How is he,” Isabel rushed out. Max rested a hand on her shoulder, nodding to Alex, like it was supposed to mean something. They shared a look.

“Michael’s getting stitched up. Should be done soon. But what’s with the pity looks and silent communication?” Isabel opened her mouth but shut it again with a look from Max. Alex gave a humorless laugh.

“It’s just better if Michael explains it to you. I’m sorry you’ve been kept in the dark so long,” Max said. He looked between the siblings. Before he could say anything else, the doors behind them slammed open, Maria rushing in with Liz in tow.

“Where is he? What happened? And I can’t believe you fucking drove! Are you stupid?” Maria pulled him into a hug. She was probably right. He felt sober as soon as he saw Michael hurt but that didn’t mean he was.

“You’re right, I’m sorry. And he should be fine,” he said, not sounding as confident as he hoped.

“Max what happened,” Liz asked gently, grabbing his hand.

“The asshole had a gun. He shot Michael while he was distracted.” Alex flinched at the words. It was his fault Michael was in pain. It was always his fault. Just like back then.

A throat cleared behind Alex. The group turned to the doctor. Kyle Valenti stood there, looking almost no different except for the beard.

“We stitched up the wound but couldn’t locate the bullet. It must have passed through his arm. So that’s lucky. He’s being moved to a room right now so you’ll be able to visit him,” he said, every bit the professional.

“Thanks Kyle. What room,” Liz asked?

“Follow me,” he said, turning. Maria held Alex’s hand the whole way there. She was scared. But Michael Guerin was not going to be stopped by something like that. Alex could feel him. Like his heart also beat within him.

The walk was short but tense. No one said anything. As if saying something would change Michael’s condition before they were able to see him. Kyle stopped in front of a door, knocking before pushing it open. Alex heard him before he saw him.

“You again?” Alex fought the smile back. Michael lounged with an arm behind his head, the other arm wrapped in gauze and in a sling.

“Hey, I brought people you like with this time. No need to glare at me.” Michael rolled his eyes before they settled on Alex. Though they only lingered a moment. Maria rushed to his side, grabbing him and kissing his head.

Alex hung back slightly, letting the others worry about him first. They would get their chance to talk. This was too important for Michael to not talk to him about.

“Let me make something very clear Michael Guerin. You are not allowed to get hurt like this again.” He chuckled as he sat up, hugging Maria.

“I’m fine. This won’t keep me down.”

“Maybe not but that doesn’t mean you can be careless,” Isabel noted. Alex thought she looked at him too but couldn’t be sure.

They didn’t get to stick around long. Visiting hours had technically ended before Alex had brought Michael in. Maria needed to be pulled away by Liz, promising her they would come back first thing tomorrow. Alex sat in the chair as he watched them leave. He just needed a couple things answered right now. It couldn’t wait.

“I’ll be back tomorrow to bring you home alright? Don’t give the nice doctors too much trouble,” Isabel said. Michael gave her a sarcastic salute as she was walking out. Alex stood from the chair slowly, moving next to his bed.

“Visiting hours are over, private.” Alex rolled his eyes.

“You know I haven’t been a ‘private’ in a long time, right?” Michael shrugged. He was avoiding the elephant in the room. “I’m not here for the banter, Guerin.” He let his head rest against the pillows, looking at Alex with that melting stare.

“I know,” he said. Alex waited for more but Michael just looked away from him. Was he shy?

“Any information at all would really be appreciated.” Michael half laughed and reached up to move the hospital gown to the side. The same mark that was on Alex’s chest was on his. His eyes widened, instinctively reaching to touch it.

Alex traced his fingers over the mark, petals reflecting the lights of the room. Michael's skin was hot, just like he remembered. He glanced up to meet his eyes. Michael slipped his hand over his, holding it in place over his heart. Alex felt his heartbeat speed up

Beeping from the heart monitor pulled them both back to reality. Alex jerked his hand away. He was just thankful the heart monitor couldn’t display his racing pulse. Michael cleared his throat and looked away.

“That mark is a connection. Looks like this counted as the first trial.” Alex’s eyebrows drew together. “Long story short. Our families have been cursed to be drawn together for generations to endure these trials. We have to get through all ten.”

“And if we don’t,” he asked?

“Then we’re dead.”

[razieltwelve]

Angry Bird (Final Rose)

Once upon a time, Jaune had been chased by a goose. He had only been a lad of seven, so he had naturally run to his parents for protection from the angry bird. At the age of twelve, he’d gone one better and gotten attacked by a swan, Larger, angrier, and considerably more ferocious than the goose, he’d only managed to escape after diving through the window of his house and somehow getting it shut before the swan could follow him indoors.

Now, at the age of seventeen, Jaune had finally encountered something more terrifying that the swan.

It was a chocobo. A really, really, really pissed off chocobo.

Apparently, his name was Mangler, and the name couldn’t have been more fitting.

“Help!” Jaune wailed as the red-and-black behemoth chased him around the pen. “Pyrrha! Help!”

The redhead took one look at the twelve-feet-tall abomination chasing her almost boyfriend and did what any teenager in love would have done. She valiantly put herself between Jaune and the chocobo.

She might as well have been a piñata.

With a screech that could be heard for miles around, the chocobo simply kicked Pyrrha out of the way. She just barely managed to get her shield up in time, but the raw power behind the attack hurled her out of the pen and through the wall of a nearby shed, out the other side, and then into a tree.

Jaune gaped in horrified disbelief. Pyrrha was a badass. Everyone knew that. And the chocobo had just kicked her out of the way like she was some random pebble on the road. He was so, so dead.

Or maybe not.

“NORA!” The other redhead on Team JNPR leapt into the pen, hammer raised high above her head, her legendary war cry on her lips.

And she promptly met the same fate as Pyrrha. In fact, Mangler’s aim was extraordinarily good. She ended up imbedded in the tree only a half a foot to the right from Pyrrha.

It was at this point that Ren, brave, brave Ren, had to make a decision. Did he leap into the pen to save his friend and team leader? Or did he yell advice from the sidelines in a bid to avoid sharing the fate of his two other teammates.

He chose the latter.

“Just keep dodging,” Ren shouted. “He’ll get tired eventually.”

Fact #1: Chocobos can run at full speed for hours without rest. Angry chocobos have also been known to pursue their quarry for days without eating or sleeping.

Fact #2: An adult chocobo is way, way faster than a teenage Jaune.

“That’s it,” Ren continued to yell encouragement. “I think he’s getting tired.”

Jaune was in no position to reply. Mangler had finally managed to corner him and was doing his best to peck him to death. Hunched in a corner of the pen and holding his shield up for dear life, Jaune couldn’t help but feel that Ren was only saying that to avoid jumping into the pen.

“Can you just get in here and help me?” Jaune wailed. “I don’t think he’ll get tired before he kills me.”

“He’s definitely getting tired,” Ren replied. “Just hold on a bit longer while I go get help.”

“Wait!” Jaune cried. “Don’t leave me!”

X    X     X

Sazh tilted his head to one side. Now, he knew Mangler was a jerk. The gigantic chocobo had been brought to the ranch specifically because of his jerkiness. His previous owners just hadn’t been able to deal with him. But Sazh was an old hand when it came to handling chocobos. He’d handled plenty of angry ones over the years, and he’d been able to handle Mangler just fine. It helped, of course, that he had Chirpy with him, and there wasn’t a chocobo in the world that could beat Chirpy in a fight. Still, Sazh had been forced to put Mangler in a chokehold twice before the chocobo had finally acknowledged Sazh as the boss around the ranch.

Jerkiness aside, Jaune must have really done something to get Mangler mad. Most of the time, he’d just kick someone around a little and then toss them out of the pen, but this was the first Sazh had seen him really go after someone. Oh well. He’d best get in there before Jaune got killed.

“That’s about enough.” Sazh leapt over the fence and clapped his hands together. Mangler rounded on him immediately, and the chocobo postured, drawing himself up to his full height and puffing his feather out in a threat display that made him seem even larger. “You know well and good that you’re not supposed to act like that.” Sazh kept his eyes on Mangler, but his next words were for Jaune. “Get out of here, Jaune.”

The blond groaned and dragged himself out of the pen.

“All right then.” Sazh nodded at Mangler. “Are you going to calm down, or are we going to do this the hard way?”

The chocobo’s eyes narrowed, and then Mangler lunged.

X    X     X

“You have got to teach me how to wrestle chocobos like that,” Nora said.

Sazh chuckled and patted Mangler on the head. The gigantic bird scowled. “Maybe I will, but I’d suggest starting with someone a little smaller than my friend here.” He chuckled as Mangler made chuffing sound. “Yeah, he’s a sore loser, all right, but he’s not a bad sort, not really.”

“He did try to murder Jaune,” Pyrrha pointed out.

“Eh, I’m not sure he was really trying to kill him, maybe just mangle him a bit. If he wanted him dead, he would have just wrenched that shield of his out of the way and trampled him. I’ve seen that happen in the wild, and the guy getting trampled wasn't a rookie either. He was a huntsman with a decade of experience.”

“Why did he attack Jaune like that?” Ren asked.

“I don’t know. I figure Jaune might remind him of somebody.” Sazh ran his hands through the feather along Mangler’s neck. “A lot of black-and-red chocobos are short-tempered. It’s kind of like how most yellow chocobos are as friendly as can be. But they don’t get vicious like Mangler can be on their own. No, something has to have gone wrong for them to get mean. You might not believe it, but he’s a lot better now than he was when I first got him.”

“Is that so?” Pyrrha asked.

“Yeah. I had to really go after him the first few weeks. He’d fight anyone and anything that got near him. Nowadays, he usually doesn’t start anything too serious. Oh, he might push and shove, but for the most part, there’s no meanness in it, not like before.” Sazh shrugged. “The owners I got him from weren’t the first ones who had him, and they weren’t cruel as far as I could tell. He must have had owners before that, ones who weren’t so nice, or maybe he was a wild chocobo who got caught by poachers and mistreated. It happens more often than you’d think. Either way, he’s pretty happy here even if he’ll hardly let anyone ride him.”

“Who does ride him?” Nora asked.

“He doesn’t mind it too much if it’s me, and he’ll let my son and wife ride on him too if he’s in a good mood. But, really, the one he gets along the best with is Lightning.”

“Professor Farron?” Jaune stared. “Really?”

“Yeah. The first time, they met, Mangler just went right at her. She just uppercutted him and put him in a headlock, told him he’d get a dozen times worse if he kept acting up.” Sazh grinned. “He took a liking to her then and there, I think, and he won’t complain if she’s the one riding him. It helps that usually Lightning only takes him out if she’s in this area on a mission. Mangler loves to fight, and anything tough enough for Lightning to be sent after it is going to give him a heck of a fight.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Jaune laughed. “Well, I’m just glad to be in one piece. Thanks for bailing me out.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Sazh patted Jaune on the shoulder. “But next time, if you’re going to climb into one of the pens, maybe try that one over there.”

Jaune looked over. “But that’s the one with all the yellow chocobos in it.”

“Yep. Like I said, they’re friendly as can be. Start with them and work your way up.”

X    X     X

Author’s Notes

Several chocobos have worn the name of Mangler, this one might be the biggest of the bunch. He is large enough that he is noticeably bigger than even a fully grown Fury who his himself huge. Yeah. Jaune didn’t have much of a chance here. People also forget that Sazh was one of the premier huntsmen of his generation. He just doesn’t do that sort of thing as much anymore, but he keeps himself in shape.

If you’re interested in my thoughts on writing and other topics, you can find those here.

I also write original fiction, which you can find on Amazon here.

[sonicringbond]

Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey - Scene 27

Thank you everyone for your patience, we finally have a scene with a little action in it. I won’t keep you away from it as I know everyone has been waiting for it for a while, so please enjoy, after just a bit of opening exposition in...

    ~I really do love travelling. Especially with friends!

    ~Tee-hee~♪ Though my current friends aren’t as enthusiastic as I am. Draw has been with me for a while, but he’s always either teasing me or being too serious. I feel kind of bad for him and really hope our journey together will help him open up and have more fun. I kind of forced our new friend on him though, as well as a Ring Bond.

    ~It really surprised me that the weird little creatures we saved were fairies. The one we befriended we’ve taken to calling Mote as they don’t have any names normally. But they glow like the motes of light that Rings leave behind so it’s now a really cute name~♥ Now if only Mote was nicer to me.~

    From the back of a covered truck bed, Rosy watched Draw as he looked at the gray ocean beyond the truck. As a storm raged on and turned the ocean violent and hostile, the truck bumped along as though it was unconcerned. In the comfort of the truck, Rosy barely paid the storm any mind and spied the fairy they named Mote resting. As she smiled and waved pleasantly, the fairy took note and ducked out of sight to which Rosy puffed up her cheeks.

    ~According to Draw, the reason why Mote avoids me and won’t even stay out long enough for me to look at them is because I’m a medium and fairies don’t have the right to talk to someone chosen by the gods. I don’t really remember the adventures I went on with friends as well as I do the ones I went on alone and talked to them about, but maybe I’ve met some. I don’t remember. But it’s not the first time I’ve been called a medium either. A friend back home once did and Ix also called me a medium. Is it really so special being able to maybe talk with gods using my tarot cards?

    ~Well, I’m sticking to talking to spirits today!~

    Not giving up on making friends with Mote, Rosy skipped over to the back of the truck and leaned out as well. The rain immediately slicked her quills, and salt water just as likely sprayed her as the ocean smashed tumultuously against the rocky and jagged coast. In the distance among one particularly rocky outgrowth, an old stone brick castle could be seen rising up and reaching towards the sky with its numerous towers.

    ~After Draw, Mote, and me started traveling together, my goal has been tracking down Sonic so we can get him to help Mote save all their friends from whoever it is who is capturing them and shoving them into those awful autogolems. Unfortunately, Mote doesn’t know who it is and finding Sonic isn’t easy either, but fortunately I have a record of being good at finding him. Mote is also a Ring Fairy supposedly, so that inspired me to try also tracking down another Red Star Ring. Trusting my cards is fine, but we also need one to hopefully get back home. And I’m sure just like me, Sonic is looking for one too as well all our friends.

    ~And that brings me to that big castle that we’re heading for right now. Supposedly it’s haunted, but claims that if you stand in the highest tower that you can hear the wailing of the ghosts who still live in it have lured me to it. Other people argue it’s just the sounds of the ocean rising up from the whole set of ruins that extends out some ways under it. I kind of wonder if it used to be a big city above water before the ocean came in. Or maybe the ocean or the city were dropped here by a Ring Shift. It’s so hard to tell with our world.

    ~Still, as much as I hope the local ghosts can help me find Sonic, some people say that in the ancient underwater city there are tiles in the road that look like the big Red Star Ring that Sonic and I accidentally put up in the sky. But if that’s really true… Well, the ghosts will surely know!~

~|~

    “Why does every idea you come up with lead us into danger!” Draw cried out from the top of his lungs as he clung on to Rosy for dear life.

    Running as deftly as she could through the crumbling ruins she laughed and would have scratched at her cheek if she were not giving Draw a piggyback ride. “Well, everyone calls me a rascal–”

    “You call yourself a Rascal!” Draw yelled at Rosy and was nearly drowned out by a crack of thunder beyond the castle wall.

    Skipping and jumping from one crumbling wall or staircase to the next and down the occasional hall, Rosy attempted her best to outrun the ghosts that were anything but friendly. Barely more than what resembled a sheet draped over a ball, the ghosts were possessed of terrifying eyes of darkness and had long curved horns growing from their foreheads. Rosy had already encountered the receiving end of the horns once and lost most of her Rings. Attacking the ghosts did no good either as they simply dispersed and reformed. As a result, Rosy chose to flee.

    “Well, getting into trouble is part of adventuring too.”

    “Do all of your friends get into trouble like this!”

    “Maybe…?”

    “You’re going to get me killed, aren’t you?”

    “Don’t talk like that Draw,” Rosy tried to cheer up her koala companion, but as she ran out past a broken wall and into the storm, the slick brick floor stole her traction from her, and she slipped and slid about uncontrollably.

    “WOAH~!”

    The two screamed out together and Rosy desperately tried to press her feet into the ground beneath her, but all she managed to do was provide herself more surface to slip on. Her red ballet flat like shoes were not well suited to running as it was, though Rosy made do as she called them cute. She was getting fairly decent running with them on reasonably dry terrain and some grass, but here in the old castle they proved disastrous.

    With yet another slip from an attempted step, Rosy slid down into involuntarily performing a full leg split and continued to slide with even less control than before. Trying to bring her legs back under her merely made her spin and she and Draw crashed into a wall and tumbled right over the parapets.

    “Ow~,” Rosy laughed as much as complained as she held her head and looked up into the violent storm clouds above. A bolt of lightning tore through them and a tremendous crack of thunder shook Rosy and the castle through. “Hee-hee. It’s a good thing Tails isn’t here. He’d be too terrified to move. But then the ghosts would get him.”

    “If you didn’t first,” Draw argued as he walked over and looked down at Rosy. “Besides, it looks like the ghosts won’t come outside.”

    “Really? Rosy questioned as she sat up and extracted herself from the mud she was sinking into. Using the pouring rain to clean herself off, Rosy looked around noticed that they really were not being chased anymore. “Wow! In that case we should probably find a way to get to the tallest tower before the sun goes down.”

    “You really still want to go up there. It looks like it’s covered so these ghosts will probably be waiting for us.”

    “Well, I’m still hoping to meet a nice ghost who can point us to the Red Star Ring or even Sonic.”

    “You are so weird you weirdo girl!”

    “Hee-hee! Don’t be like that Draw. It’ll be fun! Promise!”

    ~Draw of course was fussy about it, though that could have also been due to his coat being soaking wet. It’s funny he how called me strange for wearing a leotard in the snow, but he’s been wearing that fur coat ever since I met him. I wonder if it’s that cozy.

    ~At the least, Draw’s coat was definitely cozier than the castle’s highest tower. But that didn’t make the tower less amazing. Though it was mostly exposed to the elements and the roof seemed to stay up as though it were magic, the view of the city under the waves was breathtaking. Also sad in a way. This once massive city now rested beneath the ocean with only the castle full of ghosts to show where the city was now. But if the rumors were true, and Draw and I could definitely hear something up there in that old rickety tower, then there were ghosts who still talked and likely lived down in the city. I just needed to get in touch with them. To do that with the shape the tower was in I was going to have to use up a lot of Rings to protect my tarot cards from the rain. But it would be worth it. I came up here hoping to find a clue to where Sonic was and maybe snag a Red Star Ring too! It was just a matter of following my destiny as it unfolded!~

Scene 27 · CLEARED A Tide of Ghosts, to be continued

-----

And there we have it, quite a bit of action, and Rosy having a fair bit of clumsiness while it’s going on. I really hope everyone enjoyed and is looking forward to the next scene. It’s my personal favorite so far and has plenty of action as well. Please look forward to it, and thank you so much!

-----

Special Thanks to Cutegirlmayra Story by @JoshTarwater/SonicFanJ Inspiring Song – What Makes the Sky Blue – Tsutomu Narita – Granblue fantasy Original Soundtrack: Promise

Fair Use Disclaimer

Sonic the Hedgehog and all affiliated characters and logos are the express property and Copyright© of SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS used without permission under Title 17 U.S.C Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976 in which allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. “Fair use” is use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be considered copyright infringement. The Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey alternate universe (AU) consumer written work of fiction is a non-profit transformative work primarily for personal use and can and will be taken down without warning or prior notice at the request of the copyright holder(s) should it not be recognized under “fair use”.

*Sonic Ring Bond logo created by DEE Art – twitter.com/daryliscute.

Sonic Ring Bond AU and Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey are the creation of Joshua David Tarwater/ynymbus/sonicfanj/@Joshtarwater and is to be, including all contents herein considered for all legal purposes the property of the Sonic the Hedgehog intellectual property (IP) and copyright owners, SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS. All story contributors via prompt, suggestion, written scene, art, and all and every other contribution acknowledge that all contributed material is forfeit for legal purposes to SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS upon official request from SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS.

[psychedelic-ink]

A dream of a memory(by lunna-star-8)

There was a girl running through the forest in blue shorts and an aqua t-shirt, black hair to the wind and tight grip on an old pipe as her feet took her expertly over the roots, the rocks and dead branches, almost like the wind carried her to the edge of their forest and into the sea of grey.

That girl was me.

“I win!” I call out as I throw my arms up in the air.

My oldest brother arrives soon after “When… Did you get so damn fast?” Ace breathes out as he rests his hands on his knees.

I shrug as I get my breath back “I’m like a ninja!”

He straightened up and chuckled “I’m just happy that Luffy didn’t think of rocketing his way here, that would’ve been a disaster.”

We both laughed and that was when my twin brother appeared winded out “I… Should’ve… Thought of that…” Luffy fell back as soon as he reached us.

“Oh no you don’t!” Ace argued with him “I’d like to not start the afternoon with my body smashed against the City Walls, thank you very much!”

Luffy sat up with a whine “That was one time!”

“I’m pretty sure our silhouettes are still marked on the walls, Luf.” I point out with my free hand on my hip.

“Don’t you pick on me too, Lu!” he complained but then his eyes widened and he pointed at me “Eh, your tail’s out again.”

Both my brothers look at me and I slowly look over my right shoulder to see the tip of my tail there again “Luna…?” Ace’s voice calls softly as I keep my eyes trained on the black and white tail attached to me.

“Oh!” Luffy pipes up in excitement “The ears now!”

“You’re not helping!” And I hear the unmistakeable sound of Ace hitting my twin over the head. I feel a growl climbing up my chest and onto my throat, Ace sighs and he’s pulling the tip of my tiger ear before I notice, pain goes up and down my body “And you, why are you growling at your own tail, you moron?!” I tried to get him to let go of the tip of my very sensitive ear but he wouldn’t have it “I mean, how many times do we have to have this conversation? It’s your tail.”

I pouted as I looked at my tail “It’s weird.”

“I wish I had a tail…” Luffy whined as he now stood leaning on his own pipe “And could turn into a giant raging tiger…”

“No!” me and Ace lectured at the same time but our brother only laughed, he was like that. Maybe he’d have mastered the full tiger form by now while I’m still scared of letting go…

Ace let go of my ear and crossed his arms over his chest “C’mon, weird? Have you met the rest of your family?” we both looked at Luffy that kept grinning and I tilted my head “’Weird’ is also known as ‘casual Tuesday’ with us.”

I laughed at that, it’s not like he was wrong. I took a deep breath and felt my ears shift back to their original human shape, when I looked back, the tail was gone too “Hurray!”

Ace nodded, moving to support his own pipe on his shoulders with his arms hanging from it “Ok, now, we were gonna get ourselves some decent weapons, right? Time to retire the old pipes.”

“I don’t need one.” Luffy spoke up as we all started walking through the Gray Terminal “My punches are like pistols!” he punched the air with the fist he was holding his staff with.

“Yeah? Maybe if you ever manage to hit your target.” Ace mocked and I laughed.

We kept our usually cheerful banter as we crossed the Terminal, things were just the same as they’d always been; with the Bluejam pirates gone, Sly and his ‘gang’ had taken over the position of King of the junkyard; the army never really walked outside the gates unless to dispose of the garbage that the nobles still dumped at the Terminal; the scavengers still raced to the ‘treasures’ hiding in the piles of trash that then in turn, they sell back to the city… I swear, sometimes it feels like we were the only ones that had lived through the fire, the only ones that had lost in the fire…

I shook my head as we reach the Great Gate and feel an arm wrap itself over my shoulders, I look over to see my oldest brother smile at me and I mirror his expression without thinking about it. I wrap my arm around his torso and he kisses my head as we continue on into Edge Town, the same low lives as there had always been, selling things that they wouldn’t dare try to sell in town like drugs and weapons. Like I said, nothing had changed really… Made me think why was it all for…? What was the point?

“You’re uncharacteristically quiet.” Ace pointed out and I looked up at him, I don’t think I ever told him how much I liked his freckles “Get out of your own head, shrimp.”

“I’m not a shrimp!” I argue puffing my cheeks out, he pinches my cheeks “I don swech wike Wuffy, ya no?” I pull my hand from his side and start to lightly brush the tip of my fingers where my hand had rested.

“LUNA!” Ace jumped like a scared cat and me and Luffy laughed to tears until I felt his eyes on me.

“You’re in trouble now.” Luffy said to me but his eyes remained on our brother.

I nod “Eh… Depends.”

“It depends, huh?” Ace glared over at me, he really didn’t like when I tickled him, that never stopped me though.

I grinned “If you catch me.” And turned back to run.

Ace chased me up and down the lower town, until I was laughing too much to be able to run anymore and he caught up with me, drowning me in an attack of tickles. Luffy jumped on us, helping out Ace with tickling me, I could barely breathe between laughs “I… Surrender!!!” I call out between laughs and they end up stopping, both laughing at this point as well. I grab Luffy’s cheek and pull as far as I felt like “And you…” I breathed out “What… eheh What made you think hehehehe he needed help tickling me?”

“I wike hearing you waugh.” He replied and it made me release his cheek that smacked back into his face “You’ve been too serious, Lu.”

I smile at him, ignoring the stares on us from the people that passed by “Sorry, I’ve been thinking—” what had I been thinking about…? Him? Ace leaving? It had been two years since one and it still was five years until the other. Why had I been thinking more about it lately?

“We know.” Ace had simply said in my silence, making me look back at him as he got up and swatted the dirt off his clothes, then held out his hand to me with a smile “We’re here though, Luna. And I promised, didn’t I?” I smiled up at him and took his hand to help myself up “Nothing for you to go all serious about.” Once I was up, he pulled Luffy by the scruff of his neck and we patted the dust off our clothes.

I’ve always felt more intensely than other people, I couldn’t just be happy I had to radiate it and it could happen with the smallest things – I touched my bracelet as I bring it to my chest – I had smiled for a whole month after Sabo got me my bracelet, I could never not smile when Ace braided my hair, smiling came as naturally as breathing when Luffy gave me piggyback rides… It was never hard to make me smile and it lasted for the longest of times. But this also applied for when I felt sad, for I couldn’t just be sad, I’d feel empty and dark and down a hole I could never really climb out of – not by myself at least, fortunately I still had two of my brothers to help me.

I smiled and looped my arms through theirs “Let’s go! I still have to kick both your asses in practice later!”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m not nice enough to let you beat me, you know?” Luffy pointed out from my left and I grinned at him.

“You don’t have to dear brother, I still win the majority of our duels.”

“You can’t say the same to me though.” I turned to my right to see Ace grinning down at me.

I puff out my cheeks “Logic dictates that I’m bound to beat you even once in our lives, you know?”

He scoffed “You keep telling yourself that, shrimp.”

“I’m beating Ace before you get a chance to, Lu!” Luffy perked up, making me turn to him again.

“You only get to claim that after you’ve beaten me more times than I’ve beaten you!”

His smile opened wider as he looked ahead “Just you wait until I control my powers better! You won’t beat me then!”

“Ha! By then I’ll control all my Zoan forms.” I reply to him, Luffy turns back to me and we both start laughing at each other.

We casually walked through the way too clean streets of Downtown, completely ignoring the stares of the people that thought us too grotesque for their perfect little town, they should know better than to stare at this point.

It doesn’t take us long to get to Zeke’s shop, he had the best weapons to sell in all the Goa Kingdom, it was right between Edge town and Downtown, hidden enough away to not be noticeable to those that didn’t know where it was but there nonetheless to everyone that tried to seek it out. It didn’t seem very big from the outside but Zeke had used the surrounding empty buildings to expand his business without anyone noticing, also the military approved of it, they had to get their weapons from somewhere.

“Oh no!” Zeke’s voice comes from the back of the shop as the three of us scatter through his corridors making me look up at him. The old man comes from behind the counter with his cain waving in the air looking at me, then looking around “Hey, you too!” he points his cain at Luffy that stops himself from grabbing a battle axe and Zeke looks around again as I see Ace walking up behind him.

“Hi old man.”

Zeke jumps in the air before turning to Ace with his cain still in the air “Oh no!” I can’t not smile to myself “No!” the man shakes his head as he keeps saying it “Out of my shop! All of you!”

Ace chuckled “C’mon Zeke, be nice, we’re here as actual customers this time.”

The old man’s eyes widened between me and my brothers “Is that supposed to make me feel better?! It doesn’t!” the old man is forced to put the cain on the floor as he takes a breath “You three—Brat, you touch that axe I’m throwing you over the damn wall!” he warns and I saw Luffy flinch before he whistles away from the weapon, like he’s discreet or something “You three are destructive enough with your little pipes! I’m not giving you anything that could kill someone!”

I shrug “A spoon could kill someone in the right hands.”

The old man turns to me and waves his cain again “That mindset, little witch, is exactly why I’m not selling you three anything!”

“Old man, c’mon.” Ace tried to reason with him as he pulled his backpack off to show the man the contents “It’s good business.” I tried not to laugh at the way Zeke’s old eyes basically jumped at the amount of gold in my brother’s bag “And I promise that we’re not getting Luffy a weapon.”

The man nodded trying to pull himself together as Ace slung the backpack over his shoulder again “That’s a relief…” but then he eyes me and Ace “You two aren’t that much better though!”

“We’re not that bad.” I waved off and the man waved his cain at me again.

“NOT THAT BAD?!” he took a deep breath and pointed his cain at a bit of his shop that had patchworks holding the ceiling together “Do you know, you little pest, who shot my ceiling into the air?”

I scratched the back of my neck as I looked away “Eh? Luna did that.”

I dropped my head at my twin’s voice “Thanks Luf…”

“Put that down!” the man warned Luffy again before rubbing his face “I’m gonna have a heart attack with you three in my shop…”

Ace laughed “Tell you what Zeke.” Both me and the man looked up at my oldest brother as Luffy moved along to another trinket “What about two of us wait outside? Would that make you feel better?”

“Much better!” the old man admitted taking his hand to his back as he walked back to the counter “It’ll also help me forget that I’m selling actual weapons to the three worst delinquents of Grey Terminal.”

“That’s not fair, you sell weapons to the military!” I grumble “And you used to sell to Bluejam and you now sell to Sly. We’re not that bad!”

The man turned to me half way with a chuckle “In my books? They’re small fries compared to you three.” He paused for a moment before continuing walking to the counter “It’s a compliment, little witch.”

I wasn’t sure how I felt about this ‘compliment’ but I shrugged it off as Ace rolled his eyes “Lu, take Luffy and wait outside, will you?”

I whined “But Ace…”

“I promise I’ll get you something cool.” He assured me as I crossed my arms and puffed my cheeks out “Don’t make that face, shrimp.” He pinched my cheek again “Now take Luffy and wait outside, c’mon.”

“Wat’s sho uffair!” I mumble before he releases my cheek and I stare at him as I rub my cheek “You’re cooking tonight then.”

He nodded “Deal. Now go on before the old man throws a mace at us or something.”

I laughed as I walked around to Luffy that was playing with a dagger, casually put it down and grabbed him by the hand “C’mon Luf, Zeke is an asshole.”

Me and Luffy ducked instinctively as an iron mace hit the wall where our heads were meant to me, didn’t faze us as we walked out back out the door. I sat on one of the boxes pilled on the entrance as Luffy kicked a rock “It’s not like we do that much damage.” He grumbled what only made me laugh.

“I destroyed his ceiling but you tend to nearly kill Zeke with whatever you grab.”

He turned to me with a finger over his chin as he seemed to think “I don’t remember that.”

I laughed more “I’m not surprised!”

We weren’t there for that long, I stayed sitting on my wooden box, flipping my pipe to pass the time as Luffy was clearly starting to hit his boredom mark, I didn’t know how to keep him entertained as I also wanted to go back inside and check out the cool weapons.

“He thinks he’s such a fucking hotshot.” My ears perked up as I heard a male voice from the inside the shop accompanied by more than one set of footsteps “Piece of fucking shit thinking he’s somebody around here.” I didn’t notice anyone in Zeke’s shop but it was certainly big enough for me to have missed them, five guys walk out of the shop adjusting clearly new daggers into their belts. I looked at Luffy that pointed at his own head as he tilted his head to me, I lifted my hand to touch my ears, only to notice that they had shifted again. I tried lowering my head to not call attention to myself, when I felt a familiar straw hat softly settling over my head, I looked up to see Luffy now standing by my side smiling at me, making me smile back at him. I touched my back to notice that my tail hadn’t made an appearance this time, breathed of relief and looked over my shoulder to notice that the men hadn’t paid us any attention, placing them almost at the corner of the short street “I’m telling you, someone should teach him a lesson!” despite their distance, I found that I could hear them just the same.

“And that someone’s you?” another one seemed to ask as I tried to shift my ears back into their human shape “Ha! I’d love to see you try to fight the kid.”

“I’m not saying me, but I certainly wouldn’t mind if someone killed him.”

Why can’t I shake their conversation? What does the tiger know that I don’t?

“Him and the other brats, all a fucking pain.”

“Lu, they’re not going away…” Luffy whispered near me and I nodded as I focused harder on making them go away.

“He’s the worst of the lot! I’m telling you, Ace’s a waste of life.”

I snapped my head in the direction the men had left. What the fuck did they just say…? I gave the straw hat back to my twin, gripped my pipe tightly and got off the pile of boxes before I ran off “Luna!”

I didn’t turn back to see Luffy running after me, I was too preoccupied with turning that corner and finding the group of men “Which one of you said that?”

The men turned to face me “It’s one of the brats.” Rushed footsteps stopped behind me and I glanced over my shoulder to see Luffy looking between me and the men “And another one. What do you two want?”

“Right now? Your head on a platter.” I said, keeping my eyes on them.

The men chuckled among themselves while I felt my brother’s hand on my elbow “Lu, what’s wrong?” he knew I wouldn’t just start a fight out of nowhere, I had met Shanks too after all and had learned that lesson as well, but there was no fucking way I was letting them walk away after I had heard what they said. But at the same time, I didn’t want to tell Luffy what I had heard, it’s silly, but it felt wrong to tell him.

“They’re talking shit.” I simply replied, keeping my eyes on them “And they’re losing their teeth for it at least.” There was something that was worrying me though, inside of me there was a roar that was trying to claw out and not quieting down but I couldn’t bring myself to back down “Keep back Luffy, I’ll handle these guys myself.” He let go of my arm and I heard him step back.

The men laughed but I narrowed my eyes on one of them and jumped him, smacking the bent edge of my pipe right on his face, sending him rolling back a couple of times as I turn to the other four that suddenly were taking me very seriously. They reached for their weapons but with their words ringing in my mind they were lucky if they got out of this with their lives, I was seeing red. They were the waste of life! How dare they?! They should wash their mouths before talking about our brother!

I hit one of them so hard with my staff that his blood splashed on my face. It was like a pulsation coursed through me – shit.

I stopped and glanced over at Luffy that had stayed back like I had asked. We didn’t need words, he knew what was happening, his eyes widened and that was it… That’s what I remember.

Everything else was fog. There was rage, a roar, a cry… I wasn’t enough myself to see Ace turning the corner with Luffy, worry evident all over his face. I don’t remember the feeling of my paws on the back of the men I had just beaten, I didn’t hear my brother’s exchange before Luffy took off running around the building, I wasn’t enough there to see Ace put his staff down and take off his backpack. I wasn’t in control when Luffy tangled his rubbery limbs around my body and Ace wrapped his arms around me. I wasn’t the one that struggled as the tiger thrashed against my brothers’ holds but there was only one thing that broke through the fog and the fear and the anger, clear like a bell came my oldest brother’s voice - “It’s alright Lu, we’re safe.”

With Ace’s voice came peace, the feeling of being home and not even the tiger could fight that. I remember being cradled in my brother’s arms as my body started to feel too heavy for me to hold, I remember feeling so small I could be a fairy, I remember the smell of my brother’s skin – warm like the sun, fresh like the wind that blows through the forest, bitter like oranges – I smiled weakly at the smell of home and then I was out.

I wasn’t awake to see my brothers share a sigh of relief, or to see Ace glare down at anybody that wasn’t unconscious – a silent threat to stay back or lose their lives – as he cradled me in his arms. No, when I woke up, I was leaning against a tree and the breeze of the forest caressed my skin, beside me to my left, Luffy was wrapped around me so quiet that you’d think he was asleep but the moment I moved, he looked up at me with bright eyes and a radiant smile “You’re back!”

I couldn’t help but smile too “I’m back.” I held him tight too as I looked around “Where’s Ace?”

“Hunting.” Luffy simply replied “He said he’d promised you that he’d cook tonight.” Then he frowned “I thought it was your turn to cook.”

“Yeah, but then Zeke wouldn’t let all of us be in the shop and Ace wanted to be the one to stay.” I explain “I bargained.”

We both laughed as we looked at each other, I was thankful to be back “I was worried, you know?” I didn’t say anything “What you heard must’ve been really bad, huh?”

“Piece of fucking shit.” “I certainly wouldn’t mind if someone killed him.” “Ace’s a waste of life.”

I nodded “It was worse than when we heard those Mountain Bandits talk about Shanks…”

“Oh…” was all my twin said, I knew he understood where my reaction had come from.

We sat there waiting for Ace to come back, I knew I ha scared Luffy by the way he stayed quietly by my side, arms wrapped twice around me as he pulled me close. I’m sorry Luffy…

Ace didn’t take long, showing up with a giant crocodile dragging behind him, he smiled tenderly at me “Good to see you awake.”

“Sorry…” I sheepishly said but he waved me off.

“Are you two gonna help me with this or am I carrying it and you all the way back to Dadan’s?”

Me and Luffy were quick to get up help our brother carry the beast, as we do this, I notice the dagger hanging from my brother’s belt “You got a blade!”

He looker over his shoulder and grinned “Oh, I got a set for you two.” I grinned so widely that if the tiger wasn’t so drained, it’s ears would’ve made an appearance, he looked back ahead “Hey Lu?” I hummed in acknowledgement “You never did say why you don’t like to shift.”

I didn’t reply, simply looking at his back as we walked “I think it’s cool that you can turn into a tiger.” I heard Luffy pipping up behind me.

“It’s scary…” I admit walking between them and adjusting my grip on the crocodile’s back “It’s always angry and I don’t know why…”

“Don’t you?” Ace’s voice made me look up at the back of his head “I think you do.” I thought about what he was trying to say, maybe I did know? But no, the tiger had always been hard to control, calling it had always been scary.

“Well… It’s still hard to control.”

“You’re not necessarily someone that likes to be controlled yourself.” Ace chuckled but it only made me frown at his back.

“Where are you getting at?”

He shrugged and the whole crocodile moved with his shoulders “I’m just saying, you’ve always referred to the tiger as ‘it’ or as something separate from you, and maybe that’s the problem?” I opened my mouth to speak but he was clearly not done “It’s not an ‘it’, it’s you. I think that the more you try to separate yourself from your tiger self, the harder it gets to control. Maybe, and I’m no expert, but just maybe if you learned to accept that the tiger is a part of you, then you’d control it better.”

“What if you’re wrong?” I spoke up “What if the only reason I’m able to come back is because I fight it? What if I invite it to take over and it turns on both of you and then—”

“I’m not dying!” Ace clearly enunciated the words as he looked over his shoulder at me, almost to drive it home “Didn’t I promise that?” I nodded at him, taken a bit aback by his tone “And, for as long as I’m around, I’m not letting anything hurt you or Luffy! I don’t care if it’s the military, the thugs of Gray Terminal, Sly or even if Bluejam himself showed his piece of shit face! This also goes for you hurting yourself, Luna. So no, your inner tiger can try going on all the rampages it wants, I’ll be there to bring you back, get it?” I nodded again, too stunned to find my voice “Do you get it, Luna?”

“Y-Yeah…” I nodded again, feeling my cheeks warm up, I smile “Thanks big brother.”

I notice Ace’s cheeks turn pink as he looks back ahead “A-ACE!!!” I look over my shoulder to find Luffy crying in what I can guess is happiness “A-ACE’S THE BEST!”

“SHUT UP, LUFFY!” Ace argues from the front making me laugh to myself. As long as I had them, I’d be alright.

I had a bath before going to bed that night, put on my pyjama and went back to our room to do something of my hair. Luffy was already snoring it up and I had to smile at the scene before I went to grab my brush, but a hand reached it before I did “Let me.”

“Go sleep Ace, I’m just giving it a quick brush so it’s not all tangled up tomorrow.” I hold out my hand to him but he doesn’t give it back.

“Sit, shrimp.”

I roll my eyes and puff my cheeks out but do as my brother tells me. With my legs crossed on the floor, I can’t help but remembering the first time that Ace had done my hair for me, it had been about two years before and it was messy and he pulled my hair a few times and it had come out full of knots, but I felt deeply loved… I can’t explain it properly, maybe it’s just silly, but it’s like when Luffy gives me those tight hugs that I never want to let go of, it makes me feel truly loved. I really hope that there’s something that I do that gives them that feeling too.

“Are you gonna tell me why you started that fight?” he asks as he brushes my hair but I don’t reply “You can imagine my scare when Luffy runs into the shop calling my name and saying that you’re shifting. When you passed out, he said you were fine and then you just went after those morons.” I still didn’t say anything “The both of us know that you wouldn’t just randomly start a fight, so I’m curious of what made you lose control so badly that you went full tiger on them.”

I sighed as I fiddled with my bracelet on my lap “They said something – that I’m not going to repeat – but it was bad, like… There was no way I was gonna let them leave with all their teeth, kind of bad.” He chuckled behind me “Nobody talks of my brothers like that…” I only realized I had said it aloud when he stopped brushing my hair, immediately I covered my mouth.

“Luna…” shit, there was the serious voice. He spun me on the floor so that I was facing his rather serious face “I don’t want you getting into fights just because some assholes bad mouth us.”

I crossed my arms over my chest “You’d have done worse if what they said had been about us instead.”

“So, worse, you got in a fight just because they bad mouthed me?” he lectured “C’mon Luna, you know better than that.”

“Just?! Oh…” I tried to keep my temper in check but keeping my eyes on his “Ace, the oceans of the world will run dry before I let anyone bad mouth my brothers. God help the world if your secret ever comes out and I hear anybody make comments I don’t like!” he rubbed his face, covering whatever expression he might be making but I saw his shoulders drop slightly as he breathed out.

“You can’t just fight the world, Lu.” He said, as he dropped his hands to the floor “Trust me, I’ve tried.”

I frowned and waved my finger in the air a bit “Oh, you watch me, brother!”

“I thought your pal Shanks had taught you that it’s stupid to pick fights over stupid things.” He tried again but I found myself standing up, my small height being just enough for him to have to tilt his head back a bit.

“It’s not stupid!” I protest “It’s my family! You’re my family! Luffy’s my family! Dadan is my family! Grandpa’s my family! I will not stand by as some jackass says bad things about any of you! I refuse to! What kind of woman would I be if I just allowed that?” he keeps staring at me and I just cross my arms over my chest again. In retrospective, saying that while wearing an oversized shirt that read ‘sunshine’ in the front, might’ve not been the best of moves, but it was done either way “And after what that guy said? He’s lucky if he’s still breathing.”

“What did he say?”

“I refuse to repeat it.” I reply “It was an absolute lie, like saying that we don’t need the sun in the sky! Like saying we don’t need air to breathe! It was ridiculous and I’ll never let anyone say such things and walk away laughing!”

He sighed but his features softened “You could’ve gotten hurt…”

I shrugged as I sat back down, facing him “It won’t stop me from fighting.”

He spun me back around and continued brushing my hair “What am I gonna do with you, shrimp?” there was silence for a moment as he put the brush down and started to wrap my hair up in a braid. I handed him a rubber band when he was done and he kissed the back of my head “Thank you, Lu.” I couldn’t help the small smile on my face as I traced my fingers through my freshly made braid. When I turned, he was already settling himself to sleep and I did the same, for the first time in a while, not scared to see the tiger in my dreams.

When I opened my eyes, there was no more forest, no more junkyard and I was no longer a child, I was wrapped in bandages in the Heart Pirates’ ship and it hadn’t been the tiger that roamed my dreams, but the past.

[meat-husband]

SFW Vincent and a fem so that he’s kidnapped??? Does he have to hide her or how does she react to him?

Thank u for requesting my wax boy!! This is sort of the original version of this post, but I liked it enough to finish them both apparently Vincent gives off stalker vibes lol

Your eyes open slowly, still heavy with sleep and fatigue, but there’s not much to see once you do. The room is dimly lit, only vague shapes somewhere in the distance that you can’t make out, and what you can see is blurry, filtered through your unfocused eyes. The rest of your body is still numb with sleep and so far all you can feel is the heavy weight of your eyelids, drooping back down as you contemplate closing them and drifting off again.

Each time you woke up, groggy and confused, you didn’t stay that way for long. These brief glimpses of consciousness were dizzying and your head already hurt, so you allowed your eyes to close again. You didn’t know what you had been hit with, but the pain hadn’t gone away yet, a deep, swollen throbbing over your temple and behind your eyes. There is a tender spot there and you suspect that it’s covered in a nasty bruise, but there is no way to see if you’re correct.

You’ve been here for days. Maybe even weeks, but the first few days were a blur, and even now you have no reliable way to know what time of day it is. There are no windows here, no natural light, but you can guess that it has been around two weeks spent on a little cot in the corner of a dark basement. They feed you once a day, or at least you think so, and you have counted eleven meals, plus however long it was before you woke up for the first time. Thinking of food only reminds you of the dry weight of your tongue, heavy in your mouth - it has been hours since your last taste of water, perhaps longer.

Blinking the sleep from your eyes, you try to focus your vision. Even with clear eyes, the room is dark, but it looks empty, flickering light showing you only shelves and tables, a worn chair pushed up next to a pile of loose papers. That’s where your captor had been before, but the glimpses you took now didn’t show him anywhere. He was lingering nearby, he always was, so you breathe carefully, stealing short peeks through your lashes. The room is dim enough that you can’t see clearly to the other side, so you remain still, waiting.

You are getting tired, though. The small amount of food and water you’ve been given hasn’t been enough to sate you - they’re just keeping you alive, giving you the bare minimum and each day only makes you weaker. There were no solid memories of your first few hours here, but you must have fought, the aches and bruises you had woken to told you that much. You wanted to keep fighting, but the tremble in your arms and spinning of your head when you sat up made you think that submission was the best option for now. Not forever, you told yourself, you were just going to bide your time, and one day you would have the opportunity you needed to get out.

There is a noise, a quiet shuffling from somewhere across the room. You stiffen in place, closing your eyes to keep up the facade of sleep even as the sounds grow closer. His steps are heavy, muffled in a way that makes you think he’s trying to be quiet, trying to step softly. A throbbing pulse starts up in your veins, heart beating faster in apprehension, and you hope he won’t notice the tension in your body. It’s probably meal time, the hunger in your stomach tells you, and you waver between fear and need. You’re afraid of him, of both of them, but they’re your only source of food and water.

You nearly jump when you risk the next peek through your lashes. The dim golden light of the room is behind him, a figure looming over the little corner you occupy made into a silhouette by the flickering candles. The darkness hides his features, but you know which one it is - only one of them ever comes down here, tending to you in between long vigils spent hunched over the tables, working at some task that you hadn’t yet figured out.

A hand hovers over you, as if he’s thinking of shaking you awake, but it never descends. Instead, he pulls it back, curling long fingers into the fabric over his chest.

“Wake up.”

His voice is quiet, raspy and unused, and you’ve never heard him say more than a word or two at a time. It sounds labored, like it takes some effort to get out the words he does say, but they’re perfectly clear despite the shortness.

You don’t try to keep pretending. The pain in your stomach can’t be ignored, you desperately want something to eat, so you open your eyes fully, looking straight ahead rather than up at the man standing over you. Your arms still shake when you push yourself up, and his hand is back, hovering over your shoulder as if to help, but you make it up on your own with only a little trouble.

A thick chain pools in your lap as you sit up, the padlock at your neck bouncing against the protruding bones at your collar. You wince and the weight of it is uncomfortable, but your hands are tied at your waist, so you can’t adjust the makeshift leash and collar. The length of it follows your legs down to the end of the cot, the metal cold against your skin, wrapping around the leg of the bed.

You wobble a little bit but stay upright, looking up expectantly, but a swoop of fear rolls through your stomach when you notice that there is no food. He’s holding a bottle, the same one he’s always brought you water in, but this change in the routine unsettles you. You’ve never been offered water outside of mealtimes, and unless they’re going to start withholding food now, you’ve never had a meal that was only water.

He holds up the bottle, shaking it back and forth, and although you’re uneasy, the slosh of liquid makes your dry mouth ache. You watch him unscrew the plastic lid, but you don’t open your mouth when he tries to press the bottle to your lips. Something is going on and you don’t want to be caught off guard.

“Thirsty?”

Your heart skips at the unexpected question and you look up, away from the water, meeting his gaze for half a second. You don’t hold it for long, forcing your eyes back to the floor and shaking your head. You’re dehydrated and tired, but you aren’t drinking that water no matter how much you want it.

He presses it to your mouth again, prying your bottom lip open with the rim of the bottle, but you jerk away. A small splash of water hits your chin, dripping into your lap, but you fight against the urge to lick the wetness from your lips.

“Drink.”

“I don’t want it.”

Your own voice is nearly as broken as his, dry and coarse. It hurts to speak, your throat seizing up and a cough builds, but you choke it back down.

He seems confused by your refusal. You’ve never turned down water before, and clearly you need it, but you keep your mouth shut and eyes down. He prods you with the mouth of the bottle a few more times, making insistent little noises, but you turn your head away.

A big hand grasps your face and you jolt, fighting to pull out of his grasp. Strong fingers dig into the flesh of your jaw, biting into you, and the bruised side of your face throbs again. He pulls at your bottom lip with a thumb, held still while he tilts the bottle to your mouth again. Soft noises, coos and shushes, come from him in an attempt to calm you, but the hard grip on your face makes you panic. Your hands, tied at your waist and unable to reach out of your lap, twist and pull at their bonds, rattling the chain.

“I’ll drink,” you gasp out, twisting your neck to get away. “Let me go, I’ll drink it, just don’t make me.”

You’re surprised when he does let go, and your head tilts and turns for a moment longer to escape the hand that isn’t there anymore. It throws you off balance, your chained hands too slow, and you go down, laying on your side and propped up on a wobbly elbow. You breathe heavily for a moment, watching him loom over you, but he makes no move to force the bottle back to your mouth.

You look at the bottle, and the brief taste of water you had gotten earlier makes you crave it all the more. The taste is always strange, more earthy and metallic than you expected, but it was a natural taste, not something tampered with. Maybe he’s trying to drug you, maybe not, but either way you know you’ve got to get it over with.

“I’ll drink it.” You repeat.

You’re too tired to sit back up so you stay where you are, watching with half lidded eyes as he offers the water again. Despite your protests earlier, you drink eagerly, gulping down the metallic taste and relishing the feeling of it soothing your throat. It drips down your chin, sliding down your neck and soaking into the dirty collar of your shirt, but you don’t care.

You watch the bottle in front of you empty, much faster than you want it to, but it feels so good to finally get something to drink. Food would have been good too, something heavier to push away the hunger in your belly, but you’re not going to complain.

Your eyes open when the bottle is pulled away from you, though you don’t remember closing them. Maybe it was drugged after all, because you’re feeling the exhaustion hit you now, making your limbs heavy. A hand on the back of your head pushes you gently down until your head lays on the mattress, long fingers digging into your hair and staying there. He doesn’t move even once you’ve settled down, bent at the waist to keep his palm pressed to your skull.

Your eyes are heavy again, but you keep them half open, peeking at him from the corners. You aren’t sure what he looks like, besides the long hair and messy clothes, but you supposed there was probably a reason he wore the ugly mask. It was just lifelike enough to give you an uncanny feeling of unease, and the right eye was always ominously dark and blank. He was tall, much taller than you, and bulky. You wouldn’t have been able to stand up to him even if you weren’t half starved.

“Better? Good?”

“Yeah,” you mutter in reply, feeling the weight of his hand shift as he slowly strokes your hair. “Good.”

[gwenbrightly]

Mistle-NO!

This story was originally posted as part of a secret santa event on wattpad, but I really enjoyed writing it and wanted to share it with you all. This Christmas fic doesn’t necessarily have a specific timeline, so feel free to use your imagination! I hope you enjoy!

“So whaddya think?” Kai finished, looking expectantly at his girlfriend. Skylor chewed her lip in deliberation. Spending Christmas on the Bounty sounded wonderful but...

“I don’t know, Kai. I’m just not sure it’s a good idea for me to be away from the restaurant for that long...”

The master of fire’s face fell. He reached across the table they had snagged in the back corner of the restaurant and squeezed her hand.  

“I understand… I can’t imagine how hectic things have been for you lately. You look like you haven’t slept in days.”

“I probably haven’t,” she admitted, making a face, “We’ve had so much to do. Processing our catering order for that charity ball, getting everything decorated? And there’s been way more reservations than usual – everyone in the entire city seems to have forgotten how to cook for themselves, I swear… it’s been pretty overwhelming for all of us lately.” Kai frowned.  

“Wow, you really can’t catch a break, can you? Tell you what. If I got the gang to come in and help you get everything prepped on Christmas eve, do you think you could sneak away for awhile?” he offered. Kai was willing to do pretty much anything if it meant she’d say yes.

“I…” Skylor offered, not fully sold on the idea. There was so much to consider –

“Please?” Kai begged. If only he was as good at making puppy eyes as Lloyd was…. The master of amber sighed.

“I’ll see what I can do… It does sound nice…”

“There’s my girl. I promise we’ll make this work.” He assured her.  

______________________________________________________________________________

Skylor sat in her car, waiting for Kai to respond to her text. After spending the morning at the restaurant making sure everything was ready for her absence (with the help of numerous ninja), the master of amber had made a quick pit stop at her house to shower and grab presents for everyone. Now she just needed someone to let her onto the Destiny’s Bounty, as she had no desire to try and scale its sides in the freezing cold snow.  

Tap! Tap! Tap! Skylor jumped slightly at the sound before looking up from her phone to see Jay standing just outside her door. She rolled her eyes and climbed out of the car.

“Hey. No Kai?”  

Jay shrugged.

“He’s on kitchen duty... Which basically means he’s trying to keep Cole as far away from the kitchen as possible to he doesn’t give us all food poisoning again.” he disclosed.

“Oh,” she laughed, “he’s really that bad of a cook?” “Trust me, he is. C’mon let’s get you inside. It's cold out here.” the master of lightning told her.

“Sounds good to me. Care to help bring these packages inside?” she asked, unlocking her trunk. He grabbed some of the bags inside, careful not to dislodge the tissue paper.

“Sure thing!”

Together, they walked up the gangplank and onto the deck of the flying ship. The warm air inside was a welcome reprieve from the frosty December air.  

“Wow, you guys did a great job with decorating this year!” Skylor commented, admiring the Christmasy atmosphere that exuded from every corner of the Bounty. Jay grinned. They had all spent a lot of time making sure everything looked perfect. This was at least in part due to the fact that Kai had been in a panic over having his girlfriend spend the holiday with them for the first time, but that wasn’t something Skylor needed to know about.

“Thanks! Decorating the Bounty together is a long-standing tradition.”

“Nice. So, uh. What’s all this green stuff everywhere?”  

Jay narrowed his eyes at the offending foliage.

“Ugh, Cole and Lloyd must be up to their old tricks again...” he muttered. Skylor stared at him, confused.

“Huh?” “It’s mistletoe. Every year, Cole and Lloyd put mistletoe literally everywhere so that they can take embarrassing pictures of Nya and I when they catch us off guard. I guess they wanted to include you and Kai this year, too.” explained the master of lightning.

Wow. I’ve gotta admit, that’s awfully creative of them. And... a little scary. I didn’t realize they could be so devious,” Skylor admitted, “Should we stick these presents in the living room or something?” she inquired, ready to find the rest of the gang.  

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. I’m sure Kai is dying to see you by now anyway.” he agreed. She rolled her eyes at the light teasing, though she didn’t really mind. It was nice to be included in this chaotic family of elemental masters. Even if she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about the mistletoe. They wandered into the living room, greeted by the sounds of Kai, Nya, Lloyd, and Cole debating the pros and cons of several Christmas movies.

“All I’m saying is that if you’re not gonna let me help with the cooking, I should at least get to pick what movie we watch in the meantime.” Cole complained. The smith siblings glanced at each other.

“We already told you, your cooking stinks and I don’t think-” Nya started as Kai said, “Oh, hi Skylor!”

“Hi.” Skylor greeted, crossing over to the tree so she could put down the gift bags. Jay followed her. Unfortunately, it was then that Lloyd noticed a slight problem.

“Uh, guys? I hate to be the one to tell you but... You might not wanna look up right now...”

“What? Isthereaspider?” Jay asked in a single breath, panicking.  

“.... No. No spiders...” the green ninja assured him. He looked relieved until Lloyd added,

“Just... Cole, it kinda looks like our prank might have backfired this year...”

Skylor and Jay both looked up. Kai facepalmed. There was mistletoe hanging daintily from a bright red ribbon directly above them.  

“Seriously, you guys?!” Jay protested. Nya looked like she was trying to hold in laughter.  

“Sorry. You know the rules, Jay.”  Cole said unapologetically. The two victims glanced at each other. This was going to be awkward.  

Wanting to get the moment over with, Skylor leaned over and kissed Jay’s cheek before pulling away a split second later. Their faces were both flushed as they hurried over to their prospective significant others.  

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry -” Jay repeated over and over again until Nya shut him up with an actual kiss.

“You’re an idiot.” she declared.

“Huh?”  

“Your face. That has to have been the funniest thing I’ve seen today... Did you really think I was gonna be mad at you for that?”

“... Maybe a little?” Jay stated sheepishly.

“Oh Jay...” Nya said, laughing as she hugged him. Skylor and Kai watched with bemused expressions.

“So that was...” the redhead began.

“Don’t worry about it, Sky... this sort of thing happens all the time. It didn’t... weird you out too much or anything... did it?” her boyfriend asked, regarding her carefully. Skylor shrugged good naturedly.

“Nah, I figured something was bound to happen. I’m just happy my first Christmas with you hasn’t ended up being totally boring.”

“Oh, well in that case... You won’t mind if I do this!” Kai stated, kissing her.

‘Mmm... this is shaping up to be a pretty amazing date.” she stated, happily leaning into him. Things may have taken an unexpected turn, but she was happy to be where she was, regardless. Spending Christmas on the Bounty was definitely going to be an experience she’d never forget.