#it just seems like she might be used as a distraction here from the larger problem as this post and these sources suggest XD

[detectivefable]

Also adding this one:

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jul/10/100-fossil-fuel-companies-investors-responsible-71-global-emissions-cdp-study-climate-change

[teshadraws]

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Seekers of Soul

[Chapter 71]

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AO3 Link

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Nia, Tobias, and Junie join Carnelian in his search for Yveltal, and learn a bit more about aura in the process thanks to a very unwilling helper.

-

“All right, Samir, extend your leg for me. Gently now.”

The skiddo follows Eira’s instructions, their displeased expression just on the edge of a pout.

“C’mon, Samir,” Junie says, lifting her head from where she’s digging face-first into her breakfast. “Think of it this way—you get to stay here all warm and toasty while we go freeze our butts off!”

“More importantly,” Nia says, “You can rest and focus on healing up. And help Eira keep an eye on Fidel!”

Samir still doesn’t look happy about being left behind for today’s excursion, but they seem to have accepted that Nia and Tobias—not to mention Eira—aren’t going to let them put any strain on their injured leg. The skiddo will just have to deal with staying put for a day.

Nia moves her empty plate off her lap and wipes her face clean of stray crumbs. They’d been given a fresh loaf of hot, berry-laden bread for breakfast, and Nia had devoured two thick slices in record time. The meal had reminded her of muffins made by her mom, and the only thing that had slowed her down at all was the bittersweet lump of nostalgia in her throat.

Nia pushes aside memories of early mornings laughing over breakfast and gets up to distract herself.

First she goes to Fidel’s side, crouching to peer at the zoroark’s sleeping face. Eira had already checked on him when she first arrived, and the froslass had seemed pleased by what she’d found—she’d even said Fidel might wake up later today.

Nia tucks the blankets a bit closer around the zoroark, then straightens up to look around. Tobias and Junie are taking their time finishing their own meal, distracted by conversation as Eira re-wraps Samir’s leg. And Carnelian already left a little while ago to discuss his plans for the day with the Matriarch, and he has yet to return.

Since they have a bit of time to idle, Nia takes the chance to wander around the cabin, winding through the towers of books Carnelian has stacked around the room. The sableye gave her permission to flip through any that caught her eye, so she skims their spines until one does, then carefully pulls it free.

It’s titled World’s Blessings: Evolution Stones. Nia flips through it, slowing down when she spots a beautiful illustration showing a variety of colorful stones. The pretty blue and gold one under her thumb almost looks like it has a lightning bolt inside of it, and it’s fittingly labeled as a “thunder stone.” That name tickles Nia’s memory, and once she flips to the following page and sees an illustration of a familiar evolutionary line, she realizes why.

Right! Pikachu evolves into raichu with a thunder stone. And apparently the climate and location where one is used decides whether or not the raichu is a psychic variant, like Hazel, or a plain electric type. Fascinating! Does it happen immediately when they touch it? Can they stop the evolution process? Surely they can, right?

Nia flips eagerly through the next few pages, wishing she had the spare time to read through everything it discusses—especially the speculative reasoning behind why the stones work the way they do, the specific Pokemon they affect, and so on.

The book focuses next on the water stone and its information, and then the fire stone. Nia doesn’t pause until a striking illustration catches her eye, making her heart jump.

The growlithe evolutionary line lies in front of her. She recognizes the first evolution from when Asher transformed into a growlithe, all the way back at the human convention in Ghatha. But her eyes are drawn instead to the much larger evolution beside it.

An arcanine. Just like Sulien, the leader of the outlaws who killed Tobias’ family, and almost Tobias as well. She doesn’t know the details that Tobias and Dismas were privy to during their talk in Kaleido’s prison, but she knows enough to piece the night together. However, she’s never had a visual to put to the species name before.

She traces the arcanine’s form with her eyes, focusing on its sharp teeth and giant paws. Her fur prickles. Nia can only imagine how small a young charmander would be compared to such a beast: like a toddler next to a tiger. Her stomach churns.

“Nia!” Tobias calls.

Nia slams the book shut and spins to face him and Junie across the room. “Y-Yeah?”

They’re both standing and stretching, though Tobias gives her an odd look. “Uh. You ready?”

Nia hurries to join them. “A-Aren’t we waiting for Carnelian?”

“He likely got held up by the Matriarch,” Eira says, amused, as she closes her bag. “He’s too polite to cut her off when she starts chatting. You’ll get an earlier start if you go find him yourselves.”

“Will do,” Tobias says. He pulls on his snow cloak, then reaches up as if to adjust a satchel strap on his shoulder, before realizing nothing is there.

Nia stifles a laugh as she pulls on her own coat. “Maybe someone in the village has a spare bag? Or we could always buy one and restock our items here in the village.”

“Kanan should have all the supplies you need,” Eira says. “Just take a left from here and follow the path to the maroon building with the inventory sign out front.”

Nia nods, logging that info into her memory as she helps Junie shrug on her own little snowcoat and vest. It’s only once Nia looks around to make sure that they’re not forgetting anything that she realizes Samir looks…very lost, lying in their blankets with their leg propped up and watching everyone leave with something nervous in their eyes.

Oh, right. They’re going to be stuck here all day, probably ruminating over the fact that they aren’t with the rest of the team, helping.

“Uh, Samir, do you want some books to read while we’re gone?” Nia offers.

Samir doesn’t exactly look thrilled by the idea, but they do shrug.

“Okay! Any preferences?” Nia bends to look at the titles in the nearest stack, skimming through names. “Most of them are about, um. Rocks. But…”

Samir gives her a dry look, as if to say, Just pick one.

Nia still tries to find some titles that look interesting, including one about earth and stone-related myths and legends.

Then, finally, they’re out the door and stepping into frigid cold air. It’s like a slap to the face, chasing away any lingering sleepiness in Nia’s head. She shakes out her fur and hops on her feet to warm up.

Eira closes the door behind her with one last call to Samir that she’ll be back to check on them in a few hours. Then the froslass points Tobias to the item shop before leaving with a cheery wave, leaving Nia, Tobias, and Junie standing outside the guest lodgings.

Even in the shade of the valley, the snow around them feels bright, especially framed by the early morning sky overhead. Nia blinks to adjust, and shifts Junie’s weight on her shoulder. “Right! To the shop, then?”

Tobias nods and leads the way. The morning is calm as they weave through the village, watching the townsfolk start their day as the sun peeks over the valley and makes the snow sparkle. Nia plays with the cold air, releasing puffs of breath to form steam and imagining what it would be like to have fire breath like Tobias.

“Hey, I’ve been wondering,” Junie says, idly. “Since we lost our bag, that means we lost our money too, right? How’re we gonna buy anything?”

Nia stops. A few feet ahead, Tobias stumbles mid-step before falling still as well.

On Nia’s shoulder, Junie looks back and forth between them, snrrking a laugh. “Neither of you thought of that?”

Tobias spins around, face bright red as he points at Junie. “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?!”

“I didn’t think I had to!” Junie answers with equal volume. “I thought it was obvious and you had some kind of plan!”

If possible, Tobias’ face grows even more flushed. It would be hilarious if Nia wasn’t feeling just as embarrassed.

She groans and plants her face in her hands. “We are so stupid. How are we gonna buy anything if we don’t have any money!?”

“I think something can be arranged.”

Nia jumps and looks up at the wry voice, even more embarrassed to find the Matriarch approaching them, Carnelian skittering along behind her.

“Good morning, you three,” the Matriarch says, clearly enjoying their mortification.

Nia thinks Tobias is literally steaming with embarrassment as he mumbles a greeting in return.

“Good morning,” Nia says with a sheepish smile, making sure to meet Carnelian’s gemstone eyes as well. “Um. Guess you heard about our little problem?”

The matriarch laughs. “The whole village heard you!”

She moves her clawed hands atop one another to rest her weight on—oh. For the first time, Nia notices that the weavile is using a cane today. One that’s seemingly made of pure ice, its crystallized facets gleaming in the morning sun.

Huh. Nia supposes she is on the older side. Still, something about that—about a mobility aid paired with a ‘mon from the sneasel line—makes her wonder if the Matriarch might have some ideas to help Ezra’s recovery, back at the guild. She doesn’t know if anything can be done in this world for a Pokemon missing an entire arm, but…

“Don’t fret,” the Matriarch says, breaking Nia from her thoughts. “Since you’re working in the interests of the village, I’m more than willing to part with a bag and a few items to make sure your party is properly prepared.”

Nia slumps with relief. “Thank you so much. We didn’t even think about losing our money.”

“Some of us did,” Junie points out.

The Matriarch laughs. “Can’t blame you, after your journey here. Carnelian, could you run to Kanan’s place and grab a bag and some supplies? Food for lunch, too.”

The sableye behind the weavile jolts. “O-Of course! I’ll, um. Be right back.”

The sableye darts off before anyone can get a word in, so the Matriarch calls after him, “Meet us at the entrance to the mountain! We’ve got a brat to pick up on the way.”

Carnelian nods before continuing on. Nia startles as the Matriarch turns and hobbles off in the opposite direction, clearly expecting them to follow. After a quick exchange of looks with Tobias and Junie, they hurry after the weavile.

“’A brat to pick up?’” Tobias quotes.

“Soren,” the Matriarch says. “He’ll be accompanying you on your dig today.”

Tobias’ face wrinkles up like he took a bite of something sour, and Junie groans, “Not him!”

Nia is…torn. On one hand, she certainly hadn’t enjoyed how blunt the lucario was in his aura use yesterday. But on the other hand, she hadn’t sensed any bad intent from him, either. It was like…the mindset of a doctor cutting into a patient. Clinical. No-nonsense. Efficient.

She still would’ve appreciated a gentler touch.

Still, Nia can’t help feeling a bit excited, too. Soren isn’t likely to be forthcoming about…anything, really. But he’s still a lucario who clearly knows his way around aura. Maybe she can get him to share some tips or something!

“Couldn’t we have literally anyone else?” Junie grumbles, her feathers fluffing out from the edges of her snow gear.

“You could,” the Matriarch admits as she leads them around the edge of the village. The rocky, snowy incline of the valley and some hardy pine trees rise up on their other side. “But I’m hoping you’ll rub off on him a bit, Riolu.”

Nia blinks at the weavile’s back. “Me?”

“So we have to deal with a jerk because you’re hoping Nia will make Soren nice?” Tobias growls.

“It worked for you,” Junie teases.

Tobias looks genuinely offended by that remark. Nia tries not to laugh.

“Soren is never going to be nice,” the Matriarch snorts. “But if he stays so rigid, he’s going to snap himself in two one day. Can’t have that.”

So he’s…tense? Uptight? Nia doesn’t know how she’s supposed to help with that. She looks at Tobias and Junie, but they seem equally unsure.

Before they can ask the weavile to elaborate, Nia’s attention is stolen away by a new sight. Camped outside the village in a snowy clearing and hemmed in by pine trees is the lucario settlement. Their homes are simple but impressive igloos built from blocks of ice. Nia remembers someone—Avery, maybe—mentioning that the packs are a nomadic people, and Nia wonders if that’s why they choose to live in temporary homes like this.

Or, Nia thinks, eyeing the few lucario already out and about, Maybe they just aren’t bothered by the cold. Their pelts do look thicker than hers. Is that an evolutionary thing, or something built up from living in such frigid temperatures?

“The pack chooses to live outside of the village,” the Matriarch explains. “They say the cold strengthens their minds and bodies.”

Oh. Or that.

“Hardcore,” Junie whispers.

It’s surreal, seeing an entire group of Pokemon so similar to Nia and yet so different. They’re all easily twice her height if not taller, with a more lithe build and varying shades of blue fur, but otherwise the resemblance is striking. From the way Tobias and Junie glance back and forth between Nia and the pack of strangers, she imagines they’re thinking the same thing.

The lucario chat openly with one another, their expressions warm and comfortable. One lucario says something to another, and both of them laugh, loud in the still morning air as steam billows between them. They’re so…lively.

Which means it’s just Soren who’s like, uh. That.

As Nia watches the lucario interact, a second thought itches at her brain, spurred on by the way one of the lucario reacts after spotting her, their smile faltering into something…somber. Sad, almost.

Nia wonders why she has yet to see a single riolu among the pack.

Before she can ask the Matriarch about it, her attention is grabbed yet again by a lucario exiting the largest igloo, his expression as cold as his surroundings and his icy eyes familiar. Soren. The pack leader’s son marches in their direction, seemingly unsurprised by their arrival.

Nia notes how the other lucario straighten up and quiet down as Soren marches by. Like…co-workers hushing a rowdy conversation so they don’t get in trouble with their strict boss.

Wait, no. That’s not quite right. That would imply a sense of fear, or at least dislike, but the way the lucario look at Soren is brimming with…respect. Admiration, even. There’s a distance there, but Nia gets the sense that the way they straighten their postures isn’t to avoid a scolding, but instead to make Soren proud of them.

Huh. So is their relationship more like…a king and his loyal subjects? Or his knights, maybe?

“Oh, here we go,” Junie mutters.

Soren bows to the Matriarch as soon as he reaches them. “Good morning, Matriarch.”

The Matriarch inclines her head in return. “Good morning, Soren. I see your father convinced you to join us today?”

“Yes, Matriarch,” Soren grits out. His gaze flicks over the rest of them, lingering on Nia. While his expression doesn’t visibly make his displeasure known, Nia can still feel it radiating off of him in waves.

“Off we go, then!” the Matriarch chirps, ignoring the awkward atmosphere. She turns and leads them away, and Soren follows immediately in her footsteps.

Nia, Tobias, and Junie exchange an uncertain look before trailing after them.

The weavile leads their group past the village and onto a small trail in the snow, bordered on either side by boulders and scraggly trees. The slow incline leads up the side of the valley, towards the looming presence of the mountaintop.

When they reach the yawning mouth of a cave—or a tunnel, more likely—Nia sees that someone is already waiting for them.

“Carnelian!” She calls, waving.

The sableye perks up at her voice, and waves back with a woven bag in hand.

At the sableye’s side is a big lump of brown…hair? It has a pack tied around it, a small lantern hooked to the strap, and for a long moment, Nia wonders what in the world she’s looking at. Well, until the hair moves, turning to reveal long, floppy ears, a pair of short tusks, and a pink nose. A Pokemon! Some kind of…pig, maybe? A boar?

“’Morning, Nouf,” the Matriarch calls as they approach. “Thanks as always for helping out.”

Right, the Matriarch mentioned another Pokemon yesterday.

“What kind of Pokemon is that?” Nia whispers to Tobias.

“Piloswine, I think,” Tobias answers.

Soren’s ear twitches, and he casts a cold glance over his shoulder. When he faces forward again, Junie sticks her tongue out at his back.

“We already had a tunnel through the mountain,” the Matriarch says, turning to Nia and the others. “But with Carnelian going off-route to follow the crystals to their source, Nouf here has been helping him dig.”

Nouf rumbles, which Nia takes as some sort of greeting. She gives a tentative smile and a little wave in return.

“These two will still be doing the digging,” the Matriarch explains. “But I would like you four to join as protection as we get closer to the source. If something goes wrong, it wouldn’t do for these two to get in trouble without backup.”

“Do you expect something to go wrong?” Tobias asks, crossing his arms.

“No,” the Matriarch says. “But you can never be too careful. Cave-ins, mystery dungeons, and Yveltal himself are all risks at the moment, with how unstable the world is.”

“T-The crystals themselves aren’t harmful, though,” Carnelian assures, bringing up a worry Nia didn’t even think to have. The sableye steps forward to hold out the woven bag, and Nia realizes this must be the supplies that the Matriarch told him to grab. Nia takes it with a word of thanks. “I b-believe they’re just, um…energy run-off, from Yveltal’s cocoon.”

“So you’re pretty sure they are coming from Yveltal,” Tobias says, taking the bag from Nia to peer inside.

Carnelian nods. “I-I am. I’ve never seen anything like this crystal before, and the c-closest I could find were Dark Gems. A-And since Yveltal is a dark type…”

“It’s strong evidence that we’re on the right track,” Nia guesses.

Carnelian beams. “Correct!”

“Go on, then,” the Matriarch urges, almost playfully. “I want you all back before dusk, or we’ll send a search party in after you. You have your supplies, yes?”

Nouf makes another snuffle that Nia takes as agreement. Tobias nods, slinging their new pack over his shoulders—good, he must be satisfied with the contents, then. This bag is more like a backpack than their old one, and it rests easily against his spine.

“W-We’ll be careful, ma’am!” Carnelian says with a little bow.

Then he turns and leads the way into the cave, his semi-translucent form vanishing in the shade. Nouf shuffles in next, the lantern on her back clanking and swaying with each short step. Soren follows, and Nia and the others bring up the rear.

Inside the tunnel, darkness smothers them almost immediately. There’s no wind or sunlight here, and the air is bitingly cold.

Tobias’ tail flame and Nouf’s small lantern are the only sources of light, barely illuminating the stony tunnel around them. Carnelian leads without hesitation, though, looking strangely confident as the rest of them grow more cautious with their footing. His night vision at work, Nia supposes.

As they walk, Nia slowly adjusts to the environment, to the stillness in the air and the quiet echoing of their footsteps. The darkness doesn’t offer much in the way of sightseeing, and Carnelian and Nouf seem focused on their task, so…

Nia’s eyes drift to Soren’s back. She clears her throat. “Hey, Soren?”

The lucario flicks an ear.

“How long has your pack been here at the village?”

“Two months,” the lucario answers.

Silence falls.

“So…you all come here for the winter, then?” Nia asks, trying to sound polite. “I would’ve thought you’d go somewhere warmer.”

Soren grunts unhelpfully.

Another silence.

Tobias gives Nia a look that says, Give it up. He’s a lost cause.

Nia ignores it. “Um…where do you all go the rest of the year?”

“We travel.”

On Nia’s shoulder, Junie faceplants and mumbles, “Kill me.”

“I can’t imagine what that would be like,” Nia says. “It looked like there were pretty many of you, right? I didn’t see any riolu, though.”

Soren finally looks at her, though it’s more of a glare than anything. His aura spikes with emotion. “We have no riolu.”

Nia recoils. The resulting silence feels heavier this time.

The ground beneath them gently slopes down as they go deeper into the mountain. Nia alternates between looking at Soren and keeping track of her own feet.

“U-Um, what do you mean?” Nia finally asks, her voice small.

Soren takes a visible breath, his shoulders rising and falling. “Is this information relevant to your mission?”

“Well, n-no, but—”

“Then I have no reason to explain further.”

Nia gapes at his back. “Well, I mean…I am a riolu. So I think that makes it a little relevant to me?”

Soren scoffs. “You are a human in a riolu’s pelt. You are not one of us.”

Nia winces, struck in the chest by a surprising amount of hurt. Technically Soren isn’t wrong, and Nia has made it a point in the past for others to recognize her as human, but…something about Soren’s dismissiveness still feels awful. Like after all the work Nia has put into figuring out this body, she’ll still never be enough to fill it properly.

“Hey, there’s no need to be rude!” Junie says.

“You are the same, Rookidee. Your words mean nothing here.”

Junie makes an outraged noise.

“Then let my words mean something,” Tobias growls, his tail flame growing brighter. Carnelian, at the head of the pack, glances back nervously. “Whether these two were humans or not shouldn’t matter. Right now, they’re just as much a Pokemon as you and me.”

“You can’t see their souls,” Soren dismisses, still infuriatingly calm. Still not looking at them. “They are different.”

“I’ve never noticed a difference between human and Pokemon souls,” Nia protests.

“Not a surprise.”

Okay, he is officially getting under Nia’s skin. Her aura bristles in response. “And what does that mean?”

“Yeah, Nia’s great with her aura!” Junie says. “And it actually feels nice when she does a reading, unlike when you do it!”

Soren’s tail flicks. “I highly doubt any aura reading is actually taking place. It takes years for riolu to grasp such a skill.”

“Well, I’m not a riolu, am I?” Nia snarks. She shoves Soren’s aura with her own, like siblings annoying each other across the middle seat of a car.

To Nia’s surprise, Soren stumbles. He whips his head around to stare at her with wide eyes. Nia stops to glare at him, but it takes Carnelian and Nouf a few more steps to realize the others aren’t following.

“You should not be able to do that,” Soren says, low.

“And yet I am,” Nia counters. “Are you ready to talk to me like an actual person yet?”

Soren narrows his eyes. Then, Nia feels his aura prod at hers, cautious and testing. Nia can sense that he’s trying to get a read on her, on her strength, and so she pushes back, until the two of them are in a proverbial aura wrestling match. Vaguely, Nia registers the blue glow of her aura surrounding herself, the appendages on either side of her face lifting. Soren’s eyes flash a deeper blue as well.

Nia wishes her aura weren’t so exhausted from their trip up the mountainside. Her reserves are still low after holding back that avalanche yesterday.

In what feels like hours but couldn’t be longer than a couple of seconds, Soren finally manages to pin Nia’s aura. He holds it there for a few long moments—just long enough for the lucario’s victory to be indisputable.

Nia releases her aura, panting, and glares at Soren. She really wishes she could’ve overpowered him, but she supposes that isn’t realistic, given his evolution and the years of practice he has on her.

Still, Nia thinks the little squabble accomplished something. The lucario’s expression is wary as he stares down at her, lacking the dismissive condescension from before. Like he’s actually seeing her as a riolu.

Or as a threat.

Tobias, who had stepped closer to Nia, meets her eyes with a frown. “You okay? What did he do?”

“I started it,” Nia admits.

“U-Um,” Carnelian squeaks, drawing everyone’s attention. The sableye flinches as all eyes land on him. “S-Sorry to interrupt, but we should really keep moving if we want to make progress today…”

All at once, Nia’s stubborn defiance melts away, replaced by guilt. “Oh. Of course. Sorry, Carnelian.”

Carnelian glances between them, as if unsure they’ll actually follow, before nodding and leading the way again. Nia follows, Junie on her shoulder and Tobias at her side, and after a moment Nia hears Soren trail behind them.

As they continue their journey, Nia takes a few deep breaths of chilly cave air to cool her irritation. She doesn’t even look back at Soren as they walk, instead keeping her eyes on the faintly lit path ahead of them.

At least until Soren speaks up, minutes later. “Where did you learn to use your aura?”

For a moment, Nia is tempted to be as childish as the lucario and refuse to answer. But she wants information, not a fight, so she says, “Our mentor, Val. She’s a medicham.”

Soren doesn’t respond, but Nia can feel his gaze heavy on her back.

“She helped me understand the basics, and I got some tips from my friend Avery, too—a kirlia. Otherwise, it’s just been me…figuring it out as I go.”

Soren is quiet for a long moment. “And I assume you have not been in this world long.”

“Um,” Nia says, glancing at Tobias. “Four or five months, maybe?”

Nia can’t see Soren, but she can feel his aura jolt with surprise. Then it sours, turning to disbelief instead. Ugh.

“Read my aura,” Soren says. “Like the rookidee claims you did for her.”

Junie spins around on Nia’s shoulder to face Soren. “At least say please! God. Maybe commanding someone to do something is how things work in your pack, but Nia doesn’t have to do what you say!”

Nia glances back, and swallows a laugh at the stunned expression on the lucario’s face. She wonders if he’s ever been talked to like that before.

“A ‘please’ wouldn’t hurt,” Nia teases.

Soren gives Nia a dry look. But then, after an agonizingly long stalemate, he glances away and mumbles, “Fine. Please.”

“There we go!” Nia falls back a step to walk next to Soren, and Tobias wordlessly follows on her other side. “Tobias, could you hold my hand to make sure I don’t trip?”

Tobias mumbles an assent and takes Nia’s hand, his fingers warm around hers.

Satisfied, Nia closes her eyes and reaches out with her aura to find Soren’s, making a connection between the two of them. She skims over the deep, ocean-blue surface of his soul with the intent to dive in, dipping her proverbial fingers into the waters to test the temperature.

She’s not all that surprised to find resistance where others usually invite her in with open arms. Soren is wound tight, less a flexible ocean and more…a block of ice. Or maybe a dense blue sapphire, the edges of him cut sharp and clean.

There’s something at his aura’s core, something bright, but Nia can hardly see it through the stone’s hardened layers. She supposes she could dig her claws into him like a pickaxe, and break him apart to see what’s inside.

But she’s not Soren.

Instead, Nia tries to coax the aura open gently, tries to cushion the sapphire in the bowl of her palms and polish it—melt it—with a warm breath and a soft touch. She can feel a bit of Soren’s cautious defense slough away, and the facets clear for the briefest moment to show her a peek at who he is at his core.

Soren is…someone carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. A young adult, barely more than a child himself, who was raised from birth with his future duties in mind. While other children played in the snow drifts and dirt, he was placed on a pedestal, his personality chipped away one flaw at a time and sculpted to fit his role as a perfect crowned jewel.

It’s…sad, actually, that Nia can’t find evidence of much else, at first. What kind of upbringing did Soren have, that his entire being is shaped more into the role of a leader than it is a person with their own thoughts and feelings?

But there has to be more. She knows there has to be more.

Nia tries to squash any of her emotions that could be interpreted as pity, knowing the lucario would pick up on it in an instant, and instead tries to project a sense of…open curiosity. Not towards Soren the leader’s son and future leader of the pack, but towards Soren the person.

Nia holds the gem of his soul up to the light, and tries to see through it to the pieces of him hidden underneath that polished exterior.

Finally, at just the right angle, she catches a glimpse of someone different. Someone…painfully tired. Tired, and lonely, and uncertain of how well he can lead his pack when they all know what’s coming. He loves his people fiercely, but he doesn’t know how to comfort them because he was never taught comfort and—

Soren’s aura yanks away from Nia, and Nia lets him go willingly.

When Nia opens her eyes, Soren is stopped in place with an unreadable expression, staring at her. Nia stops as well, offering him a judgement-free tilt of her head.

For a long moment, nothing is said. Ahead of them, Carnelian stops once more to look back. “U-Um…”

Soren wordlessly resumes walking, moving past Carnelian and leading their group forward himself.

Nia follows, taking a breath and trying to decide how she feels about what she just saw. While knowing a fraction of what Soren went through still doesn’t excuse his harsh demeanor, she’s also swamped by an overwhelming wave of sympathy for the lucario.

She can’t imagine being raised for one purpose and one purpose only, and never being allowed to stray from it. Even worse, Soren was forced into a role that he was destined to fail. He’s lived his entire life with the burden of leading his pack through a dying world and knowing he won’t succeed.

How do you even handle that sort of pressure? That sort of hopelessness?

She felt firsthand how isolating it must’ve been.

Nia shakes out her fur to rid herself of the feeling. Junie and Tobias blessedly don’t ask Nia what happened, though they keep glancing between Nia and Soren as if that could give them answers. Instead, their group falls silent again, following Soren and Carnelian deeper and deeper into the tunnels and closer to the heart of the mountain.

Eventually, they leave the wide path they’d  been following to go down a smaller side-tunnel. From the rich scent of soil and the rough ground underfoot, Nia guesses that this one must’ve been dug more recently.

It’s only here, as Nia starts paying attention to their surroundings again, that she notices the flash of firelight reflecting off of something shiny in the cave wall.

Oh. It’s a small, faceted stone, black as night and barely visible in the low light. As they walk past it and the angle changes, Nia catches a hint of red at the stone’s core.

More and more of the stones start to litter the walls and even the ground, sometimes as clusters and sometimes in a dappling pattern, almost like scales. Nia thinks her eyes are playing tricks on her at first, but no—as they go deeper, a faint purpley-red glow emanates from them, like glow-in-the-dark stars.

“Carnelian, are those..?”

Carnelian glances back, then grins. “Yes! These are the strange stones the village noticed. Beautiful, aren’t they? They begin to glow the farther down we go and—I suspect—the closer we get to their source. They’re quite tasty, too.”

Nia almost trips. “Tasty?!”

Carnelian gives a nervous laugh. “V-Very! You know that sableye eat gemstones and minerals, yes?”

“Y-Yeah, but how did you know that these were safe to eat?”

For the first time, Nouf speaks up, the piloswine’s voice low. “He didn’t.”

“Carnelian!”

“I couldn’t resist!” Carnelian protests. “They’re so beautiful! I just had to know how they tasted!”

Nia laughs, caught off-guard. “Well, I guess it didn’t hurt you, so…what do they taste like?”

Tobias snorts a laugh of his own, glancing fondly at Nia.

What?! She’s curious!

“Like haban berries,” Carnelian sighs. “Strong and crisp.”

“Well, now I’ve gotta try a haban berry,” Junie says. “Hey, Carnelian. What’re your absolute favorite rocks to eat?”

“Oh, how could I choose? I’m particularly fond of dusk stones, but a cold ice stone is perfect on a hot day. And grated sun stones are a lovely seasoning on a good soup or curry!”

“Sun stones, huh?” Tobias muses. “We found those sometimes where I grew up. My sister always said they looked like candy. Nearly broke her tooth on one once.”

Nia glances at Tobias, her heart squeezing at the wistful, amused look on his face. He doesn’t talk about his sister often.

“I wouldn’t say they taste like candy,” Carnelian chuckles. “They have a warm and earthy flavor to them. I much prefer them to the bitterness of moon stones, though.”

“Ooh, what’s the nastiest stone you’ve ever eaten?” Junie asks.

Carnelian answers all of their questions about the flavors of various stones, seemingly delighted by their interest, until they finally reach their destination. The tunnel in front of them abruptly ends in a cave wall, littered with those strange, lightly glowing stones.

“Here we are,” Carnelian says. “Nouf and I will handle the digging, so just keep an eye out for any disturbances.”

“Are you sure?” Nia asks with a frown. “It feels kind of…rude, not to help.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Carnelian says, “But—"

“You will only slow us down,” Nouf says.

“Y-Yeah, that’s, um. True.”

Nia’s brows raise, and she steps back, gesturing with a hand. “Then by all means!”

Carnelian says something to Nouf, who snuffles an answer, before the two of them start digging right into the wall. Nia’s impressed by how easily Carnelian’s claws carve out the rock and soil, scooping it behind him in a pile as easily as a dog digging into sand. Nouf, a step behind, doesn’t hesitate to shove the soil away from Carnelian and pack it into the walls with her short tusks.

Wow. Looks like they do have it covered.

Soren crosses his arms and leans against the wall, watching the two ‘mon work.

Unsure of what else to do, Nia and Tobias find their own spots to sit down across from the lucario. Nia presses against Tobias’ side, enjoying his warmth in the cold air, and Junie settles into the dip of Nia’s lap.

Nia and Tobias joke about how much easier their own cave-in cleanup would’ve been with Carnelian and Nouf on their side, before telling Junie the full story of that tumultuous mission with Andyn’s team beneath the guild.

Eventually, though, their story is done and conversation lulls. The only sound is that of Carnelian and Nouf shifting rock and soil aside.

At least until Soren speaks up. “Why do you fight against the will of the world?”

Nia looks up, startled to find the lucario staring straight at her, and even more surprised that he’s starting a conversation at all. “W-What?”

“You know that Xerneas will likely reject your plans,” Soren explains. “The fact that we feel the effects of the dimensional break even now only reinforces that it is destined to happen. And yet you and the Matriarch still foolishly wish to wake her anyways. Why?”

Nia frowns. “Well…we know it’s a long shot. But it’s the best plan we have if we don’t want this world to end, right?”

“Wishing something were not so does not mean it isn’t meant to happen.”

“How would you even know if something is meant to happen?” Junie challenges. “Giratina doesn’t seem to think it should!”

“He did say that the other legendaries were in a panic when Arceus went dormant,” Nia agrees. “So maybe this isn’t actually the will of the world, but more like…an accident?”

Soren’s mouth twists with doubt.

Tobias flicks his tail, throwing shadows across the cave wall. “Even if it is ‘meant to happen,’ who says we have to just accept that?”

Soren narrows his eyes at Tobias. “It is our duty to listen to the world’s will and follow its lead. Fighting against it won’t achieve anything.”

“Well, I don’t think the world should get to decide that,” Junie says.

“And who are you to decide in its stead?”

“Why not us?” Nia asks, the words genuine. “When I look at the aura in the world, it doesn’t feel like we’re any less important than it is. It feels more like we’re all separate, but…connected, too. Like the different parts of an ecosystem. Or the threads in a tapestry.”

Soren looks at Nia sharply. For a moment, she thinks it’s just because of the way they’re challenging his worldview, until he repeats her words back to her. “When you ‘look at the aura in the world?’”

Tobias and Junie turn curious eyes onto Nia as well, and her ears slope back as she realizes she never actually told them about her most recent discovery.

She gives an embarrassed laugh. “Oh! I, um, realized recently that I can see the aura in the environment, too. Not just in Pokemon, but in plants and the earth and stuff. How it all connects. Which seems kind of obvious in hindsight, but I was never really looking for it before and it’s a lot more faint than our aura is, like background noise or something that you just get used to. So I, uh…”

Nia’s rambling trails off once she notices Soren’s intense expression. “Um. Is that…not allowed?”

“It…is,” Soren says, sounding like the words are being physically dragged out of him. “But typically, only lucario can manage it. Riolu rarely develop their aura enough to do so before evolution.”

Nia isn’t sure how to react to that. A mix of embarrassment and pride washes over her as Tobias gives her an impressed look and Junie wolf-whistles.

Just to make sure that Nia isn’t wrong and that the world’s aura is indeed what she’s seeing, she takes a moment to double-check, placing a hand against the rocky soil to send her aura out in a pulse.

It's definitely more difficult here, where she’s not surrounded by the life energy of the Haven’s forest, but…

There. Thin threads of aura making up the world around her. She doesn’t know if the human world—her world—would look like this too, but this world is filled with life energy, with aura, down to its core. Down to its very atoms. She can see its structure, the fabric of reality that they need to keep from tearing.

Once again, Nia feels the strange, unsettling sensation that this is something she shouldn’t be handling. Like being given an open flame in a paper house.

“I…think that’s what I’m seeing?” Nia says. “In the Lexym Tree the pathways were much clearer, spread out like veins or…rivers, maybe. I could see them and follow them really easily. Here, the aura is more faint. But it’s still there.”

As if to prove it, Nia sends a bit of her aura down one of the pathways to brush against Soren’s foot. It takes more effort on her part than it would have somewhere lush like the Haven, but it’s doable.

The lucario’s jaw tightens.

Tobias blinks at Nia, bewildered. “How long have you been able to do that?”

“I only thought about it after Will suggested it,” Nia says. She looks at Soren again. “The only place I’ve seen the world’s aura broken was in a mystery dungeon. I’m guessing you knew that already, though.”

For a long moment, Soren seems reluctant to respond, before admitting, “Yes. Aura ties this world together. The increasing number of mystery dungeons are…wounds, of a sort. Areas of the dimensional barrier where the aura has grown thin and frayed. Holes in that tapestry, as you put it.”

“But mystery dungeons fade after a while,” Tobias says. “Does that mean those wounds close themselves up?”

Soren shakes his head. “Not entirely. Each time reality’s fabric is torn and stitched together again, its binding is loosened. Weakened. Until eventually…”

“It unravels completely,” Nia whispers.

Soren nods.

“Wait, that’s what mystery dungeons are?” Junie asks, looking between all of them. “Then why do Pokemon go crazy if they’re caught in one while it’s forming?”

Once more, all eyes turn to Soren. He scowls.

“This actually is sort of relevant to our mission,” Nia points out. “So the Matriarch would probably want you to tell us, right?”

Soren gives Nia an irritated look, clearly hating the way the Matriarch’s authority is being leveraged against him. “…We are influenced heavily by the world around us. Exposure to sudden instability in the world’s aura is enough to drive a Pokemon temporarily mad. Only moves that stabilize and block that bleed of life energy can protect someone’s mind until the dungeon starts to close the wound itself.”

Like the moves protect and misty terrain, Nia realizes. That’s how they avoided going feral during the formation of that mystery dungeon with the Aqua Jet’s crew. A wide-eyed glance at Tobias shows that he’s thinking the same thing.

“So if that’s the case, then Giratina is right,” Nia says. “The pre-emptive break in the dimensional border—those threads being torn apart in the future—is behind everything going wrong in the world, right?”

“Giratina’s words…do have some sense to them,” Soren admits. “The world’s decline has been accelerating rapidly. It makes sense that one final rip through loose, frayed strings could cause enough damage to be permanent, and catastrophic enough to be felt through time.”

No one seems to know how to answer that. Carnelian and Nouf, caught up in their digging—and making impressive headway—likely can’t even hear their discussion.

Down here in the cold and darkness, it feels like they’re the only people in the world. Nia shivers.

“If Xerneas is willing to help,” Nia says, soft. “Will she even be able to fix something so…dire?”

Soren sighs. “If Xerneas were to agree to help, she should be able to reinforce the barrier enough to change the current path of its break, yes. And theoretically, the world should be able to stabilize itself well enough afterwards.”

Nia swallows. “But…you don’t think she’ll want to help us.”

“I do not think she will interfere if this is how the world is meant to end,” Soren says, neatly side-stepping a definitive yes or no.

Another pause, as Nia tries to fathom just…letting an entire world and countless lives die when you have the power to stop it.

“So if the aura of the world and the auras of Pokemon are connected,” Tobias says, catching Nia’s attention. “Is that why Pokemon can’t evolve anymore?”

Oh, Nia hadn’t even thought about that.

Soren gives Tobias a dull look, staying silent.

“It has to be, right?” Nia says. “It all started around the same time. Maybe Pokemon auras are fraying, too..?”

“But that should cause some kind of obvious health defect, right?” Tobias asks with a frown. “From what I can tell, nothing is different aside from evolution being stopped.”

“Evolution is not possible without enough stable energy in the environment to support it,” Soren says, surprising them both. Though when Nia looks, she thinks she catches a hint of annoyance on his face. Ah, so he’s the kind of person who can’t stand others being misinformed.

Noted.

“And since the world’s aura is fraying, already stretched thin just trying to hold itself together,” Tobias says, trailing off.

Soren nods. “The surplus of aura the world used to offer us Pokemon, allowing us the necessary burst of energy to change form, is now gone, bleeding from the frayed border at too constant a rate to replenish. The network of aura in the environment is too unstable to sustain growth, and our bodies can sense that. We are offered only enough energy for us to survive and use our moves, nothing more. Evolution is not considered a high priority without a stable enough world to support our new forms, even if that means the extinction of entire species.”

Soren’s tone dips into something…different, for those last few words. Something bitter, and angry. So unlike the obedient resignation he’s shown so far. Nia eyes the way he glares at the ground, his arms crossed.

“Extinction?” Nia presses, gently.

Soren’s face twitches, and Nia imagines him berating himself for the slip. She expects him to close himself off again, but instead he looks at her with a furrowed brow.

“…I suppose you should be informed, on the off chance that we survive long enough for it to matter.”

Nia blinks, unsure of how to take that preface.

“Certain Pokemon can only have children after evolving. With evolution stopped, those species are at risk of going extinct entirely.“

Oh. That is…not what Nia was expecting.

“Riolu and lucario are one such species. With evolution impossible, we would die out within a generation,” Soren says. He barks a sharp, biting laugh, making Nia jump. “Not that it matters either way, I suppose. Not when we can see the energy of the world dying around us. It would be cruel to introduce new life to the world when it’s doomed from the start, so we have not had a riolu—a child—in our ranks for over a decade.”

For the first time, Nia thinks she can see a glimpse of Soren the person rather than Soren the future head of the pack. He’s still acting as a leader, but this bitterness doesn’t feel like duty. This feels like frustration on a personal level, frustration borne from love rather than obligation.

Nia thinks about what she felt when reading his aura. The exhaustion, the expectations and hopelessness, and how despite it all Soren’s first priority was still leading his pack well. Comforting them. It’s obvious to Nia that he places their well-being above…everything, really.

Which means he’s not as resigned to this fate as he’d like any of them to believe. He can’t be.

“That’s…incredibly sad,” Nia murmurs.

She thinks about that leavanny they met during the bug swarm’s migration. About how she worried for her kids’ fate, stuck as sewaddle their whole lives.

Soren nods, looking at Nia with something almost resembling sympathy. “You could never have children of your own without evolving. Not by blood, at least.” 

Nia’s face heats, and she lifts her hands to wave them frantically in front of her. “O-Oh! No, that’s, um. Fine, actually. Even if I was interested in having kids one day, I’m not staying in this world once the barrier is fixed. I already have a family waiting for me in the human world.”

For a long moment, Soren doesn’t respond. His eyes narrow.

“W-What?”

“What will you do if you cannot return to the human world?”

Nia stares at Soren, uncomprehending. The chill in the air suddenly feels sharper than before, cutting through her coat and fur and burrowing into her skin.

“There has to be a way,” Nia says, slowly. “I…came here from the human world.”

“Your soul did,” Soren agrees. “But souls do not simply wander.”

Nia’s mouth goes dry. She feels like her stomach has been punched through her lungs. She struggles to take a calming breath, then another, and wills her voice to stay steady. “W-What does that mean?”

Soren is silent for a few long seconds. Too long. “I am not at liberty to say.”

What is that supposed to mean? The fear in Nia’s gut curdles into anger.

“I will find a way home,” Nia says, her voice rising, arguing despite the fact that Soren gave her nothing to fight. Her hands clench around the edge of her coat.

Just because Soren and Giratina think it’s impossible doesn’t mean it is. Soren was wrong about her aura control, after all. And if they’re already going to do the impossible and save the world from falling apart, then there has to be a way to find her way back home, too. Will said he’d find a way, and she believes him.

Junie looks up at Nia, her face uncertain. At Nia’s side, Tobias looks away, watching Carnelian and Nouf’s work.

Soren doesn’t answer, simply staring her down in the low light, his eyes like chips of ice.

Nia takes a deep breath, frantically searching for another topic to focus on. “Y-You said earlier that only lucario can see the world’s aura like I can. Does that mean you can do it too?”

Soren doesn’t answer for a few long moments, and Nia is terrified that he won’t. That he’ll just let her float in her fears. But finally, he relents.

“I can.”

“Can you tell me more about how to use it?” Nia asks, aware that she sounds just a bit too desperate. She can’t handle Junie’s concerned expression, so she gathers the bird into her arms. “I-It’s kind of…intimidating, to me. But I could see it being helpful, for searching and stuff! Like how your pack found us on the mountainside.”

Soren still seems reluctant to share what he probably sees as pack secrets, but Nia thinks his resolve is slowly crumbling. He just needs a final push.

“Please?” Nia asks, softly. “If we can save the world, maybe this information will help us do it. And you clearly don’t want your pack to die, will of the world or not.”

Soren closes his eyes with a heavy breath, and for a moment Nia thinks she said the wrong thing. But then—

“The world’s aura offers helpful pathways for searching, yes, but they have other uses as well. Most importantly, as lines for communication and energy transfer.”

Nia leans back, thinking. Searching for someone she understands, and even communication makes sense. It’s like what she did for Tobias, intentionally projecting her thoughts and feelings to assure him during his aura reading. Just…instead of using her own energy to keep that aura connection stable, she could use the established aura of the world, right? Send her energy down a specific path like a boat on a waterway.

But considering how much control she has, and how that connection stabilizes and goes both ways, Nia supposes it’d be more accurate to think of it like…a transmission on a wire, maybe. Two phones connected over miles of distance. It would explain how Soren has been communicating silently with the Matriarch and his pack this whole time.

But…

“Energy transfer?” Nia asks.

Soren nods. “We are all made up of life energy, after all. Once you connect to your target, it is possible to transfer aura between vessels. That’s how healing moves work, sending energy from one Pokemon to another to replenish their strength.”

“And that loss of life energy doesn’t…hurt the sender?” Nia asks, unsure. “Like, long-term?”

“No more than using a move would. A loss of aura isn’t permanent, unless there is a constant leak counterbalancing that regeneration, like in the case of the world’s border. Otherwise, it will replenish with simple time and rest.”

“Is that how it works for moves that use the power of the environment?” Tobias asks, brow furrowed. “Like…hidden power, or surf. They use energy from the environment to form the attack, right?”

Soren glances at Tobias, looking even more reluctant to answer his questions than Nia’s.

Junie groans, finally fed up. “Dude! They aren’t gonna backstab your pack or anything if you tell ‘em how aura works! They just like learning stuff ‘cause they’re big ol’ nerds!”

…Well, that’s one way to put it.

Tobias gives the rookidee an unimpressed look, and Junie fluffs herself up with a huff. Nia laughs and strokes a hand over the little bird’s back to calm her down, grateful as always to have her here in all of her Junie-ness during such stressful moments.

To Nia’s surprise, Soren seems to have been disarmed by the silly outburst as well. He only sighs before holding out a paw, palm up. There, a ball of his aura forms, the color of a roiling sea.

“You are correct. Pokemon, the world—we are all connected, and while there must be intent behind the transfer of energy for it to function correctly, it can be done. In the case of such moves, the transfer can occur without any understanding of aura at all.”

“And that’s what we’re hoping Xerneas will do?” Nia asks. “Transfer enough energy into the barrier so it can withstand whatever is destined to rip through it? Or at least wake up in time to fix it right after it happens?"

Tobias frowns, watching Soren snuff out his aura. “Where would Xerneas even get that much energy, though? If the world’s aura is already falling apart and there’s not enough life energy to go around…”

“Xerneas has been building energy as she sleeps, in preparation to counterbalance Yveltal’s awakening,” Soren says, sounding almost thoughtful. “As such, she should, theoretically, have enough energy amassed to reinforce the dimensional border with the aura from her own body.”

“But if all energy is connected,” Junie says. “That means Xerneas would be connected to the dimensional border already, right? Why doesn’t her energy just…go ahead and fill those gaps even if she’s asleep?”

“Everything is connected,” Soren agrees, “But that does not mean that energy always goes where it is needed—simply that the pathways exist. Sometimes distribution of aura must be consciously directed.”

Right. It’s like…the electricity wired up to a house. Sure, the power might be right there in the walls, but it’s not going to charge up a dying electronic unless you plug that electronic into an outlet and give the energy a specific direction to go.

“So the life energies of Pokemon and the world can plug into each other,” Nia muses. “But they’re also…separate, in a way. Which is why we haven’t seen regular Pokemon falling dormant or anything.”

Soren nods. “Only the legends are directly tied into the threads of the universe. The rest of us are simply contained within it.”

Huh. Nia tilts her head back against the cold rock wall while she mulls that over.

So as long as they can find enough energy outside of the fabric of the world itself, Xerneas should be able to reinforce the barrier before…whatever is supposed to break it gets the chance to do so. Or at least be able to stitch it closed after the break, as long as they’re ready for it.

Now they just have to, y’know. Find Xerneas and convince her to help. Even if Soren is confident that she won’t.

What will they do if she refuses?

Nia shakes her head. She can’t just sit here and dwell on that thought in the dark. No use worrying endlessly over something she can’t do anything about right now.

She looks around for a distraction, automatically seeking out Tobias first. He has his own head tilted back, brow furrowed in thought, and Nia’s eyes trail down to his neck, covered as always by his scarf. She hasn’t seen him scratch at it once today, so hopefully that means the cream Eira gave him is working.

Her eyes trail next to Junie, who is still cuddled up in Nia’s lap and unusually quiet as she thinks.

Finally, Nia looks at Soren, who is standing across the tunnel with his eyes closed.

Everyone else seems content to stew in their thoughts, but Nia doesn’t think she should let her anxious mind have full reign at the moment. So she goes to her usual method of distraction and takes to practicing her aura, forming it as a baton and seeing how long she can keep it tangible as she flips it around her fingers. She occasionally loses hold of it and launches it across the floor to dissipate in a flash of blue light.

Soren watches her antics with his usual serious expression. Nia thinks she can feel his aura hovering nearby, as if watching her, but she tries to ignore the feeling and focuses on strengthening her aura, one trick at a time.

Nia considers trying out some of the things Soren mentioned before—communicating with her aura over a distance, or even transferring energy, but…

Well, quite frankly, her aura is still weak from their trip up the mountains and stopping the avalanche. She’s curious, but she also really doesn’t want to exhaust herself when they’ll be stuck down here for who knows how long.

“Come,” Soren says, pushing off the wall. Nia loses her concentration and fumbles the baton so it bonks her on the head. “They are moving on.”

Nia rubs her head as she turns, surprised to see that the lucario is right. Carnelian and Nouf are making impressive headway into the dirt, already yards deeper than before and nearly out of sight as they dig around a bend in the tunnel.

Nia and the others get up to follow, and her rear is already sore from sitting on the cold, hard ground.

It’s gonna be a long day.

—————————————————————————————————

Nia loses track of time quickly underground, and wishes not for the first time that they had a watch. Hours pass—interrupted only by a quick lunch—before Carnelian and Nouf finally call it quits, the two of them clearly exhausted. The sableye seems pleased with the progress they’ve made today, but Nouf…well. It’s hard to know what Nouf’s thinking.

Carnelian leads them out of the mountain and back into the outside world, and Nia is surprised to find the sun dipping into a late afternoon. She’s not sure if she thought it’d be later in the day, or earlier. Time gets weird underground.

Either way, she blinks hard against the bright shine of the sun reflecting off the snow, and relishes the feeling of cold wind ruffling her fur and warm sun on her face. The air of the cave had felt dead and still by comparison.

Soren parts from their group almost immediately, sparing them a nod before heading back to where the pack is camped out. Junie blows a raspberry at his back, but Nia is actually a little sad to see him go.

Soren still isn’t…friendly, by any means. But he did share some information with them, and Nia has a bit of a better idea of how he ticks. She’s more comfortable in his presence after being around him all day, at the very least.

Carnelian leads the rest of them back towards the guest lodgings, telling them excitedly about what supper will be tonight and how Nico, the delibird who brought them their meals last night, has started keeping gemstones on hand to grate up and sprinkle into Carnelian’s food so he can enjoy the delibird’s cooking and get nutrients all at once.

Nia smiles and interjects with questions at the right times, delighted to see the little ghost flourishing and really making a home for himself here. As they walk into the village, her eyes wander, taking in the townsfolk going about their business now that it’s daytime.

August had stressed that the mountain town was wary of outsiders, and their welcome from Soren and the Matriarch had proved that. While the townsfolk haven’t been hostile by any means—Eira and Nico are outright friendly—the other townsfolk eye them with more wariness than they received in larger cities like Ghatha or Kaleido. This feels more like Shivergleam, like a small, isolated community where everyone knows everyone and anyone outside of that loop is considered an outsider.

The village is friendlier than Nia was expecting, though. As they pass by the light blue dinosaur Nia noticed the night before and what looks like a penguin with an ice cube for a head, the two ‘mon call to Carnelian with a cheery greeting. Nia wonders how much of their relatively positive reception is thanks to them having Carnelian’s favor. She has no doubt that’s why Eira is so open with them, but it seems like the little ghost has won over the rest of the other villagers as well in the few weeks since he’s been here. Not that Nia can blame them—Carnelian is a sweetheart.

Nia is distracted from her thoughts as they pass by what looks like…a sandslash? But instead of the sandy brown she’s used to, this one is a light blue, its spines crystalline and icy.

More importantly, the sled it’s pulling, topped high with lumber, is tipping over as one of its runners catches on a rock. The sandslash squeaks as it’s yanked back with it.

Nia uses quick attack to dart forward and catch the tipping tower of wood, pushing it back into place with a grunt.

The sandslash, lying on her back in the snow, blinks up at Nia, surprised.

“Are you all right?” Nia asks.

Junie, who had managed somehowto cling to Nia’s shoulder during her quick attack, pecks a stray piece of wood back into place. “This is a lot of lumber for one ‘mon to handle!”

The sandslash comes back to herself, rolling to her feet as her short ears pin to her skull. “O-Oh. Um. Yes. I’m fine. Thank you.”

The sandslash bows to Nia and Junie and hurries off without another word, the lumber sled trundling along behind her.

Nia frowns at the Pokémon’s retreat. They didn’t, like…offend her or something, did they?

“Don’t worry,” Carnelian says, sidling up beside Nia. “I-I think she was just embarrassed. She’s the quiet sort. Usually her son is with her and he does most of the talking.”

Nia still feels unsure, and glances around at the feeling of eyes on them. A few of the townsfolk are indeed watching Nia and Junie, though Nia can’t tell how they felt about that little exchange from their neutral expressions and murmured conversations.

Carnelian starts talking again with a bit of forced cheer, leading them back towards the guest lodgings, so Nia tries to put the incident out of mind as she and the others follow the little ghost type.

When they walk inside the guest lodgings, Nia perks up at a welcome sight.

“Fidel!”

The zoroark is awake, sitting up in his nest with a quilt around his shoulders. Samir is lying next to him, the two of them peering down at two open books. They look up as the group enters.

“You’re okay!” Junie says. She flutters over to perch on Samir’s blanketed back and gives Fidel a quick once-over.

“How’re you feeling?” Nia asks, hurrying over as well.

The zoroark’s eyes are heavy and his mane is a mess, but he manages a tired smile. “Hello, you two. Good to see you’re all unharmed.”

“Well, most of us,” Junie says, tugging playfully at one of the leaves wreathing Samir’s neck.

Samir rolls their eyes. As if to prove something, they stand up—on all four legs. They give a little trot around the open space surrounding their beds.

“You’re healed!” Nia says, tail wagging. She’ll never get over how quickly Pokemon recover. It’s incredible.

Junie, riding atop Samir’s back, laughs. “Okay, dude, we get it! Stop showing off. Man, Eira really knows her stuff, huh?”

“That she does,” Fidel says, watching with a smile as Samir settles back down. Tobias gestures for the skiddo to extend their leg so he can take a curious look at the injury, still wrapped up in bandages. “She used some kind of poultice made with a ground-up root, and Samir was up and about in hours.”

“And you?” Tobias asks. He looks up at Fidel.

“Still not great,” Fidel admits. “Very sore. But I’m alive, and I hear that I have you all to thank for that. So thank you.”

The zoroark says that last sentence seriously, making purposeful eye contact with each of them. Nia can imagine he’s probably thinking of Asher, of what would’ve happened if he hadn’t made it back home to his son.

Nia swallows a lump in her throat. “Of course. We wouldn’t leave you behind. I’m just…I’m sorry that I couldn’t protect you in the first place.”

Fidel shakes his head. “No no, none of that. You have to keep yourselves safe before you can help anyone else. And you came back for me. That means more than you think, even if the father in me wants to scold you all for endangering yourselves to do so.”

“Aww, you’re such a softie!” Junie says, fluttering up to perch atop Fidel’s fluffy head. “Literally and metaphorically.”

“So did Eira give you two the all-clear?” Tobias asks, glancing between the two injured ‘mon.

Samir nods with a satisfied look on their face.

Fidel grimaces. “Afraid I’m on bed rest for at least another day. Apologies that I can’t be of more help.”

Junie snorts. “You’re not missing much. We literally just sat in a cave all day while Carnelian and Nouf dug a hole.”

“She’s not wrong,” Nia laughs.

“I think we can manage on our own,” Tobias agrees with a smirk. “We’re supposedly there to guard the diggers in case they stumble across Yveltal or there’s a cave-in or something, but I think the Matriarch just wanted to stick Soren in a hole with someone and make him socialize.”

Fidel rumbles a quiet laugh. “You don’t sound very fond of this Soren fellow.”

“Right, you haven’t met him yet,” Nia realizes.

“Lucky duck,” Junie grumbles.

While the rookidee starts telling Fidel about Soren in very unkind terms, making Tobias snort, Nia flops back into their nest and closes her eyes, fatigued after the long day of aura training and tense conversation.

They haven’t found Yveltal yet, but maybe tomorrow will be more fruitful.

[kimberbohwrites]

Her Commander

A request from the amazing @weaveandwood starring her Inquisitor, Brinni

Summary: The Inquisitor (Brinni) has been away from Skyhold, from Cullen, for her longest stretch yet and it seems he’s not too happy about that. Brinni isn’t backing down from his bad mood though. Instead she’ll wind him up and enjoy it when he finally snaps and becomes Commander Cullen in private ;)

Tags: N$FW SMÚT below the break, PIV, desk séx, Soft Dom Cullen, Cullen x Female Lavellan, Canon Compliant, rough sèx

3.2k words | Click here to read on Ao3

Her heart soars as she sees the castle gatehouse growing larger as it comes into view. When the familiar sound of the lowering portcullis fills her ears she feels the corners of her mouth pull, threatening a smile. But it’s a feeling she masters quickly lest she be caught grinning by some hawk-nosed, beady-eyed noble here to kiss up for the power they hope it might gain them.

Brinni has been away for longer than usual this time on her official travels as Inquisitor. It feels strange to already feel so at home in a castle they’d stumbled upon and called home, but then again — he is also here. Her vhenan. She blushes at the pet name she’s not bold enough to use out loud just yet as it crosses her mind.

A tickle dances across the back of her neck— her increasingly sharpened instincts confirm to her that she is indeed being watched. As Skyhold looms directly in front of them and she catches just a hint of a dark fur mantle and the glint of the armor worn by someone hastily retreating back inside, she realizes that more than nobles had been watching from the walls above.

She moves slower than usual as she dismounts and unpacks her saddle, thinking he must have been rushing down here to see her after she’d been away for so long. It’s not until she’s saying goodbye to her companions and their striding off toward the tavern that Brinni realizes he’s not coming. Her conclusion is proven when she receives word via messenger that her advisors would like a debrief at her earliest convenience.

“At her earliest convenience,” she laughs to herself. Josie’s eloquence gives some much needed softness to what is surely Leliana’s more direct way of doing things.

A heavy sigh leaves her. She really had hoped to see Cullen in private before seeing him in such an official capacity in the war room, not just any official capacity, her commander. A heat sparks within her when she thinks of seeing behind the heavy doors of the war room. It’s not a big deal, she tells herself, it’s not like he isn’t devastatingly handsome no matter where she sees him. But she can’t deny the fact she often finds herself fantasizing about that version of him — Commander Cullen.

When it’s just them, alone, her Cullen is soft and sweet. He’s gentle, treating her like the petals of a delicate rose in bloom. She loves him for it. He’s her knight in shining armor with a heart so pure she often finds herself reminded to be better by the unwavering guidance of his love alone.

But Commander Cullen — at the thought of that side of him, heat rises on her face as her mind wanders. Swept up thinking about the way he stands dominating a room, his hands, always coiled with energy — either on or within reach of his sword. Sometimes a leather gloved hand of his will clench the thick wooden table with frustration and she can’t help but wish it to be the damned furniture. She has to remind herself that Leliana and Josie are close at hand as she imagines that bruising grip on her body.

She shakes her head quickly before the flush that has formed on her cheeks turns any brighter, hoping it will clear away the thoughts of her beloved commander bending her over the war table and…

“Ahem”

The stable hand clears his throat to distract her from her silent contemplation, Brinni is startled away from her fantasies and back to reality. With a tight smile and a silent prayer that they couldn’t tell what she had been imagining, she hands the reigns off and starts toward the great castle across the yard. The air is bracing and she’s eager to get back inside quickly, climbing the many stairs up to the main hall entrance of Skyhold.

“Inquisitor!”

Brinni looks up as the familiar and warm voice calls to her.

“Varric!”

They stop at the door, taking stock of one another.

“I’m glad I caught you! I heard you’d returned, I was on my way to the tavern to see if I could rustle up any good gossip from this latest round of your adventures. The littlest detail could make a great story one day, you never know.”

She smiles and tries to laugh him off like the idea of being in one of his stories doesn’t fill her with anxiety.

“There are better people to write about Varric, what about—“

“Say speaking of stories,” Varric cuts in but she’s not surprised in the least. She’s learned that if the dwarf has something to say there is very little she can do to stop him from talking — “Did you mess up your little love story with Curly?”

She can’t help but let out a little gasp of surprise as Varric continues.

“You’ve been gone longer than usual Inquisitor — I may be a simple businessman, storyteller, and handsome scoundrel but I think you’re in trouuuble”

A sigh of irritation punches out before she can stop it.

“Whatever do you mean Varric?”

“Well, I saw Curly earlier today giving the new recruits more hell than usual, which wasn’t so strange until just now when I also caught him storming towards the very place I know you to be headed.”

“Oh.”

Varric is kinder than most people realize or maybe he has a soft spot for her. Either way, he mercifully drops the subject the moment a blush rises on her cheeks. He claps her shoulder warmly and heads out to join the others at the Herald’s Rest.

“Welcome home Inquisitor!” He calls back to her as she retreats into the main hall, late for a meeting she is now dreading.

—*—

At first it’s hard to tell Cullen is mad. He’s always been so tense during their debriefs and strategy sessions. She’s always admired his strategist’s mind— capable of leading armies and toppling their enemies. It’s about halfway through the meeting that she notices he won’t even look directly at her, only looking at the table in front of her when she speaks. She’s sure Josie and Leliana each picked up on it immediately, both masters of the Grand Game that she’d only just begun to play.

They decide on her next course of action, another long trip away that she needs to leave for within the week. Red Templars have been spotted and it could be just the clue they’re looking for. She’s not eager to leave again so soon after just returning but there is too much at stake to consider anything other than duty. Cullen agrees to the plan with a flash of something in his eyes — anger? Sadness? Before she’s able to find out he is gone. His dark form departing in silence as Josie pulls her aside to discuss a developing political incident.

By the time Brinni finishes up Cullen is long gone from the main hall.

“Ass” she mutters to herself.

She isn’t going to chase him, at least not yet. The Inquisitor won’t be seen following her Commander around like some lovesick puppy.

Brinni heads to the tavern, ignoring Varric’s concerned look when she sidles up to the bar so soon after their talk. The ale is bad but it’s better than the stale water rations they’d enjoyed during their most recent mission in the Western Approach.

She laughs and listens as the Iron Bull and Krem share war stories to impress the crowd. She cools off and puts the Commander out of her mind for a few hours. She’s not drunk but pleasantly buzzed by the time she finally climbs the stairs to the top of the castle walls where Cullen lives and works in Skyhold.

“Come.”

His familiar voice sounds clear through the door even as the harsh mountain wind whistles past. It’s so much warmer when she closes the heavy door behind her. Cullen is sitting at the large wooden desk he spends more time at than in his own bed. Parchments and books are all stacked in front of him. She knows he reads them all — enemy movements, troop reports, casualty updates, supply requests — the demands are endless. A pang of guilt hits her when she realizes how much she has missed him.

“Cullen—”

“Ah so you do remember where to find me, I was beginning to wonder.”

His voice has a grating edge to it, like the kind he reserves for delivering stern direction to his soldiers. She curses herself and tries to ignore how the sound of his voice like this makes heat pool within her.

“Cullen I’m s—“

“And is that ale I smell?” He hasn’t looked up from his paperwork even as he sniffs the air for the stale ale on her breath. She covers her mouth with her hands like it will stifle the scent she breathes.

“I’m sorry!”

He sets the paperwork down roughly, his attention raptly focused on her now — his honey colored eyes stick her to the spot, dripping in a storm of emotion. When he does move, it’s quick and she hardly registers it. The highly trained rogue in her momentarily panics. Cullen moves from sitting at the desk to boxing her against the door with his body faster than her brain could track it. Her mind reels as she remembers that her sweet chantry boy is a hardened warrior that has ended countless lives with his blade.

“Sorry?”

His palms are flat against the door on either side of her head. He’s not touching her, the difference in their size does the job of both silencing her and fanning that heat within her. He smells of parchment and leather, the combination of which leaves Brinni’s mouth watering as her mind reels. His jaw is set tightly and she can tell that her sweet Cullen is nowhere to be found, leaving her at the mercy of her Commander.

“You’re sorry. That’s all you can say?”

“What more do you want to hear?”

She knows she’s toeing the line now, but she can’t help it — a thrill courses through her body as she baits him and it’s clear he’s taking it. His hands coil into fists against the door. The wood groaning under the pressure of his growing anger.

“You’ve been gone for maker knows how long with hardly a word and when you do turn up, it’s a few ales deep. Your attitude needs adjusting, Inquisitor.”

“And just what do you intend to do about it, Commander?”

His reaction is immediate like a reflex. One moment Brinni is standing against the door and the next she’s hoisted up against it. Her legs are pulled tight around his waist as he claims her mouth hungrily. A strong arm braces them against the door and the other pulls her body eagerly against his where their hips now connect. There’s no mistaking the hardness she feels, she moans into his mouth at the sensation.

His kiss is rough and unyielding, his tongue sweeps into her mouth and claims it for his own. A desperate groan in rises up in the back of his throat before he can stop himself. The sound drives her into a frenzy and she grinds herself against him to hear it again and again. Before he loses control he pulls back enough to look her in the eyes, the anger is still there but he’s also looking for something — permission?

Brinni makes him wait a moment longer. She knows they should talk, they each should apologize but right now a far more carnal urge drives them. They haven’t been together a few months but already his body against hers has come to feel like home and she needs him, fiercely. With a coy smile she gives a small nod and then he’s kissing her breathless again.

Her clever hands sneak through his layers, undoing the many straps and buttons that hold his fur cloak and heavy pieces of armor. They drop off in satisfying thuds, muffled by the heavy fabric of his cloak pooled on the ground. Meanwhile he continues to grind their bodies together as he presses her back up and against the door. In the back of her mind she can’t help but think that how their tandem sounds of lust are likely heard by guards passing by on the wall outside.

He lifts her away from the door — making it look easy to support her as his free hand snakes up to hold her firmly by the back of the neck, so there is no escaping his devouring kisses. With a bite to her kiss-swollen lips, his mouth follows her jawline down to her throat where he leaves a hard bite that causes her to hiss in pain as she clenches with anticipation. His hot tongue darts out to soothe the mark that is surely blooming on her skin now.

In revenge she grinds herself on him hard and she can feel his hand clench around her in response and a breathy groan punches out of him. He takes a few staggered steps back, half-sitting on his desk as he centers Brinni in his lap. His eyes rake over her face warmly, his adoration for her shining through his anger.

“I thought my attitude needed adjusting, Commander?”

She purrs it into his ear, letting her teeth brush against his sensitive skin before leaning back to survey her work. Cullen is panting and shaking below her in just his plainclothes. She can see a flush on his chest where she’s already loosened a few shirt buttons and it rises up to his neck.

He stands, placing her back on the ground and turning quickly to trap her standing between him and the hard desk. Before she can speak he turns her around roughly, making room to bend her over his desk with a firm grasp. With one hand on her back, he keeps her bent in place chest down on the hard surface with her feet on the ground. His other hand makes short work of her leathers, pulling her pants and smallclothes down to her knees with a few skilled tugs.

“Allow me to teach you some manners, Inquisitor”

He grits the words out as his hand comes down on her exposed bottom with a slap, just hard enough to sting. She sucks in air sharply, groaning from the dual sensations of both pain and sweet pleasure. Just as the feeling fades another blow lands, this time on the opposing cheek. Brinni hisses at the stinging sensation, the sound fading to a whine — she wants more. The next spanks come in rapid succession on alternating cheeks. She’s dripping already, she can feel in the cool castle air.

Cullen’s fingers dip inside her, he fails to stifle an eager groan at what he finds.

“Oh you like this, don’t you Inquisitor?”

She doesn’t need to turn around, by the sound of his voice she can tell she’ll find him wrecked — as half-mad with lust as she currently is. All she can do is nod against the desk in response.

He pulls his fingers out and delivers a sharp slap to her backside.

“Mind your manners and speak up, Inquisitor”

“Yes! Yes Cullen, I like it!���

“Not. Quite.”

Then another slap, her eyes are watering from all of it — the pain, the pleasure — her mind finally able to step away from the traumas of her responsibilities. It’s bliss. She lets go and surrenders to the feeling, almost yelling out what she knows he wants to hear—

“Commander, Yes Commander!”

“Good fucking girl”

His fingers sink back into her, hungrily searching out her sweet spot. The hand on his back, still holds her to the desk but his thumb strokes the surface of her back lovingly. She’s so close to the edge already. He bends down, still pumping two fingers into her and leaves an open mouth kiss on her back before licking a stripe up her spine. Brinni screams as she comes undone on his hand, eyes rolling back into her head.

In the haze following her climax, she hears the sound of Cullen’s belt and barely registers his hands leaving her body as he hastily pulls himself free from his leather breeches. He lines himself up eagerly and slams his hips forward, bottoming out inside her and holding himself there. It could be her time away or the fact that he’s incredibly excited, but he feels huge inside her and she lets out a breathy whine of satisfaction.

His hands grip her hips greedily as he grinds himself against her, letting her adjust. She can hear him puffing and panting with the effort of maintaining control, but through it she swears she can hear him muttering something under his breath. It isn’t until he starts rocking his hips back and forth when she’s ready, that she’s sure of it. Gathering strength, he begins to pound into her and she can hear him then, almost chanting—

“Missed you. M-maker’s breath. Missed you. Please.”

He angles his hips with a soldiers precision, his cock dragging against the spot she needed him in most and she can’t speak — can’t comfort him. All she can do is moan, almost wailing at how perfect he feels. One of her hands lets go of its grip on the table and reaches back, her smaller hand wrapping around his wrist where his hands clench her hips for leverage.

“Brinni”

He gasps her name, as he continues pistoning in to her — drawing them both closer to the edge.

“C-C-Cullennnnn”

It takes all the remaining brainpower in her just to get that out, her nails surely biting in to his skin as his thrusts intensify. Not for the first time in their relationship, glass and parchment clatter to the floor from his desk. The sound of his own name seems to drive him wild as he adjusts his stance, hitting the perfect spot within her every time. It’s too much, this next finish overwhelming her body as she screams out in ecstasy.

He’s right behind her, fucking her through their climaxes as he spends himself deep within her with a groan and a sharp hiss.

Brinni feels perfect, barely registering where the bruises will bloom in evidence on her body. From where the desk had surely bitten into her hips to Cullen’s actual bites on her neck. She vows to avoid a healing potion for as long as possible to let the marks linger when she’s inevitably pulled away from him again. As the sadness of that thought threatens to sink back in to her, she feels Cullen’s strong arms scoop her up and pull her close. Brinni looks over at the ladder in his quarters with dread.

“Actually — I am better prepared this time.”

“Oh?”

“Yes this time, you don’t have to climb a ladder on such, er, tired legs”

He’s blushing and rubbing the back of his neck like she isn’t naked in his arms. She’s grins as he carries her around to a cabinet where he’s stashed a few blankets and bedrolls. They fetch them out, setting up a sleeping area in the corner together. He climbs the ladder himself to toss down the pillows from his simple bed in the loft.

Tomorrow they will make up, apologize and talk though how hard this is — falling in love at the end of the world. But tonight, tonight they lock the heavy wooden doors to enjoy a few hours in each other’s arms.

Dividers by @ Olenvasynyt on tumblr

Thank you for reading!! Comments/Kudos/Likes/Reblogs appreciated

[livesworthlivingau]

Behind the Vale Chapter 23

Spoilers for ISAT/Two Hats below! CW: Panic attacks, some mental spiraling.

"Do you have to wear that outfit still?" [Nille asked as you walked side by side down the trail to the next town. You smirk and put your hands behind your head as you stepped along.]

"What's the matter, am I distracting you~?" [She rolls her eyes, elbowing you lightly in the side, though you actually get the wind knocked out of you slightly, wheezing out and gripping your side.]

"Oh crab! S-Sorry! Don't know my own strength sometimes."

"I-I'm fine." [You wheeze out, clearly not. She chuckles and stops in her tracks, letting you catch your breath for a moment.]

"So... We're probably getting real close, you gonna be okay?"

"P-Probably not..."

"Vale..."

"Would you prefer I lie?"

"No! Just... Ugh, we gotta figure this out Vay, I don't want you running off again!" [You take a very deep breath, sighing it back out.]

"I promise... I won't run away, at least not without saying anything... I don't know if I'll be able to stay, but I won't just leave you... is that enough?" [You ask genuinely. Nille crosses her arms, a bit upset that that's the best she could get out of you for now, but seeming to accept it.]

"Alright... but if you start feeling the need to run, we're gonna talk, and I'm gonna help you work through it, no running from your feelings without a proper talk! Maybe a few skull bashes with the hammer, y'know, for good measure~." [She laughs out heavily. You just smile, appreciating the way she showed she cared. You find a weird comfort in it involving threats for some reason. Perhaps it would be best to not look into that for now.]

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

[You browse along through the stalls of the town's open market, curiously glancing about at what each one had for sale. Nille was off refilling her own supplies somewhere else in the hustle and bustle, this being one of the larger towns you had stopped in. You go to pick up some fancy looking trinket only for a voice to cause you to freeze solid.]

"Does everyone have their shopping lists and coin?" [Crab... The Researcher,]

"Yup! Got mine! Camping supply duty!" [The Fighter,]

"A-And mine! Bonnie and I are food duty!" [The Housemaiden,]

"Yeah! I gotta find everything to make Nille's favorite!!" [The Kid...]

[You finally turn to glance in their direction, seeing them all together... minus your Stardust. Though that felt like a blessing in this very moment. You quickly look around for a place to hide, doing a very poor job of 'casually' walking away, keeping them in the corner of your vision. You finally duck behind a wall, placing your back to it and panting frantically. It's okay, we don't need to panic, they probably won't even recognize us! You try to logic out to yourself, only to look down and realize what you were wearing. The lightless skin of your arms speckled with stars fully visible through the sheer fabric. WHY DID WE HAVE TO WEAR THIS YOU BLINDING IDIOT?!]

[You try your best to regain your composure before suddenly feeling a hand on your shoulder. You nearly jump 3 feet into the air, holding up a paper sign in shock only to find Nille standing beside you, pulling her hand back.]

"S-Sorry! You good? You looked like you just saw a ghost." [She said, though her own words starting to help her realize what you might have just seen.]

"Wait, did you- Are they here?! Did you see Bonnie?!" [She asked excitedly, you're still quite shaken up, but you just manage to nod, pointing in the direction you saw them.]

"Thank you, Vay! I-I'll... I'll give you a few minutes and then introduce you, alright?" [She caught herself getting lost in her excitement, wanting to be there for you as well but wanting so dearly to see her sibling. You just give a light nod of permission and acceptance, letting her rush off before you lean against the wall again. You were hyperventilating, you couldn't catch your breath, just gasping in tiny puffs at a time and letting them back out before they could help. We need to calm down, Vale! Get a hold of ourself! Stardust isn't here, we can handle this! Just calm down! You finally manage to catch a full breath, sighing it back out, then taking another, and another, and another...]

[You start pacing back and forth in the little alley you were stewing in. How do we go about this? What do we tell them? The fact we were Loop has to come up certainly, no hiding it in this... We've already told Nille nearly every other blinding thing... well, all but one... No! No! We can't get into that right now! Okay, so we tell them we were Loop, and go from there... simple, right? A part of you is sure it won't be that simple, but there's not much else to be done at this point. You simply practice your breathing exercising for a few moments longer, finally heading out to try and find them all.]

[You stay far behind, but you spot them fairly quickly, Nille is kneeling down to give Bonnie the tightest hug you've ever seen. The both of them are crying, and the rest of the party is happily watching this touching moment like a scene from a play. It's nice, you're happy for Nille, as happy as you can be all things considered. You wish this moment could last... but you know you can't keep your distance for long, she'd drag you in to 'meeting' them all soon enough. You do your best to keep calm as you wait.]

[Finally the two of them have had their moment, Nille gets introduced to the other members of the party, and after a moment she turns back to look around, spotting you and waving you over. With one last deep breath you begin to walk over, your heart racing quickly again, doing your best to keep your mask firmly attached.]

"Everyone, this is Vale, we've been travelling together for a little while. They saved me from a sadness that got the jump on me, about a week after y'all unfroze everyone." [Nille explains, showing you off a bit. You give a nervous smile and wave as you're introduced. They all examine you like some strange beast, focusing on the visible skin of your arms. Before you can even manage to start talking, they realize who you are.]

"LOOP?!" [The Housemaiden and Fighter cry out in unison, being called that again makes you wince. The Researcher has a raised brow, almost inspecting you, ever curious as always. The Kid is looking up at you with a confused expression.]

"What happened to your face?"

"Bonnie! Mind your manners!" [Nille scolds their sibling some, only for you to chuckle a bit.]

"No, no, it's fine. It was quite a shock for me as well, but that's a story for another time~! Just call me Vale from now on, alright? That name has some... painful memories associated." [The Fighter and Housemaiden seem to understand quite well, being used to the change belief and all. The researcher hasn't taken that studious look off their face the whole time, it feels like you're being examined like some sort of experiment... The kid still looked a bit confused, but seemed to accept this for now.]

"Hey Vale, uhhh... We kinda thought you were dead? Did something happen? Sif woke up one day and was sure you were just gone..." [The Fighter starts to explain with a nervous look, as if unsure they wanted an answers, you notice then taking a little glace at the tip of the scar on your chest.]

"Right... that's part of that 'story for another time'... Where is Stardust anyways?"

"Back at the Inn, resting up, he had quite an... 'episode' when he thought you were dead..." [He looks disturbed, recalling several parts of the week. Was Stardust okay?... Did he really care that much about us?...]

"E-Episode?..."

"Like you said, Story for another time!" [The fighter parrots back at you, getting a bright smile back on their face.]

"O-Oh! Speaking of Siffrin, we need to tell him! He'd love to hear you're actually okay!" [The Housemaiden adds, The Fighter perking up.]

"Oh Change! You're right! Uhh… You all continue shopping, Vale, do you mind coming to see Sif?"

"Lead the way!" [You declare confidently, or at least try to. You feel Nille patting your back, you turn back to her, and she gives a reassuring smile, whispering to you.]

"You got this, I'll cya soon?" [You nod in response, smiling back lightly, then heading off with The Fighter.]

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

"Alright, here we are, should I... give you two some privacy?" [The fighter asked as you both stood outside of the house they were staying at, Stardust just inside.]

"I think that would be for the best, yes. Thank you."

"Of course! I'm sure you two went through a lot together, I can't imagine what it would be like stuck in those loops for so long..." [You wince at that, rubbing your arm lightly, he had no idea how right he truly was...]

"I better go back to the others, still gotta finish my shopping after all. You know where to find us if you need us!" [He offers with a bright smile, heading back to the market. You are left alone standing in front of the door.]

[Minutes pass as you just stare at it... the one last barrier between you and your stardust... We could run away again... but we promised Nille we wouldn't... Come on, we've come this far! it's just a door knob! Stars, we don't even have to open it, we can just knock! You take a deep breath and bring a hand up, ready to knock...]

[... Why aren't we knocking?! Why are we just standing here like a blinding idiot?! WE CANNOT TURN BACK!! KNOCK ON THE BLINDING DOOR YOU FOOL!! You finally summon enough courage, anger, annoyance, whatever emotion it was that finally pushed you over the edge, flicking your fist at the door a few times. Stars... we did it... we did it, it's happening, we can't go back, we can't run, it's over, it's all over, why can't we run? It would be so easy, just turn and head in a random direction again, what's another week of endless running? We've done it once we can do it again, just live in the woods like some hermit! Yes this is a great idea, just pick a direction and-]

[Suddenly the door starts to crack open, Stardust poking their head out of it. They blink a couple times, confused at the sight before him.]

"Uhm... Can I help yo-" [They start to speak, their voice was weak and raspy. They examine you before something clicks in their brain, seeing your arms, seeing your face, likely noticing how nervous you looked in this moment. Your heart raced like mad. You notice their eye getting watery already.]

"L... Loop?..." [You wince again at that blinding name... but you let it slide for now. You don't want to ruin this for him.]

"... Hello, Stranger~." [Is all you can manage to force yourself to say, trying to paint that smile back onto your face. You stand there awkwardly a moment as tears roll down their face. Before you can even react, they had their arms wrapped around you, wincing as he gripped you tighter than was comfortable, even squeezing some air out of your lungs. He sobbed into your clothes all the while.]

"I thought you were gone..." [He choked out through his weeping. You eventually manage to bring your arms up to hug him back, lightly rubbing their back.]

"I'm here Stardust... I'm... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..." [You finally manage to speak again, your own tears welling up now. You rest your head on theirs, hugging back even tighter.]

"I'm sorry to-"

"No!" [You suddenly shout, gripping tighter.]

"N-No... Don't apologize, please... You did nothing wrong, Stardust. I'm the one who... who messed up..." [You struggle out, your tears dripping down into their hair as flashes of the memory of the last time you were together enter your mind.]

"... I'm so glad you're okay, Loop..."

"It's... It's Vale now..." [You correct as gently as you can, still holding each other close.]

"Vale... That's a nice name." [They note with a soft smile, sniffling some as their tears began to slow. You both stand there for a while in the close embrace. You savor this moment where everything feels oddly okay, after all, you know that feeling won't last for very long...]

[nottmodor]

Ok so I was talking about this with @p-artsypants and she suggested it would be a good idea to let that idea out in the open for anyone to adopt cos I can't write anything that would satisfy me but I need to get this out or I'll explode so to the, like five people that will see this

So to give spme backround: This idea cane to be from a combination of many half fury Hiccup fics and one fic were Astrid is turned into a Night Fury

So after two years of overthinking and underthinking I present:

Insert title here

So the fic start about half a year before the events of Httyd 1. Shortly before a raid Astrid goes to the Forge to have her Axe repaired. There she "speaks" with Hiccup about her Ambition without really paying attention. A thing that happened in this au is that at some point a NF during a raid destroyed somewhat her house, so her ambitions are to take one down. Hiccups crush on her gets in the way of him realising that that is pretty irrational but they are like 14 so...

What is important to note here is that Hiccup doesn't just have a crush on Astrid. He idolises her. He wants to be like her. He clings to the one opinion he is able to get out of her

So shortly after a raid happens. Astrid goes to the fire brigade as usual but she is distracted. She keeps looking up and trying to find the Night Fury resulting ina bit of a comical scene were wither the twins or Gobber tell her off about it. Eventually that horrible whistle is heard and everyone ducks down. Except Astrid. She already smells something fishy. The NF is attacking. It's just zooming oast, presumably using scare tactics, and linger over a somewhat tall hill. So she dumbs her bucket and grabs her axe, thibking if she gets a decent vantage point she might be able to throw it at the dragon. She foes there surrounded by houses looking at the sky, but then

BOOM

The house behind her collapses. Fire and smoke cloud her and prevent the people who say her go there from helping. Particularly her parents. Hiccup who has been watching everything borderline faints. Astrid, now filled with dread, suddenly feels a shape land behind her. A Night Fury in the flesh. Big, with a set of amber eyes reminding her of the wolves she used to hunt with her father. She is grabbed. Screaming. Pain. Cries from bellow. She is flown over the forest over Raven Point and dropped down to a peculiar Cove. But she couldn't care less about that. The Night Fury is right at her face. Growling. Roaring. She is pinned at the dragon seems to inhale whilst roarin, the fins on its back charging wiht lightning. It was the most terrifying thing she's ever seen. The it bites down on her shoulder. She screams as a strange, terrible filling fills her veins. Turning her blood to acid. Scars appear. They glow . Pain erupts all over her muscles. She is dying she thinks. She will wish that was the case soon

A pain in her skin. Black scales cover her arms up to the forearm and her legs up to her knees. Her nails grow a couple centimeters and sharpen to the point of being indestructible. He back is covered in scales. He skeleton shifts, black wings,huge, erupt from her back and a tail from the small of her back at least the length of her legs and more. The scales take over some parts of her neck and cheeks, her forehead, and her eyes, Gods, her eyes feel like they are on fire, they turn Draconic. Her pained body convulses under the dragon her muscles tensing and growing, becoming more defined he skeleton and bones shifting and getting larger. She gets taller. Her earns turn to those cute ear flaps of the night fury that twitch in the slightest of sounds .In a singular moment of sanity tho she sees it. A rock. Sharp right there. She reaches for it and then jabs it straight into the Night Furies eye blinding her on it. The dragon goes back, scales stop glowing and she snarls. But her injury is too great and her focus lost. And on top of that the Queen calls. Nevermind, she will finish this later.

Astrid continues to convulse and be in pain she doesn't stop growing untill she reaches a height of about 6,7

The last thing she sees is her own blood around her before she closes her eyes, hoping the Valkyries will be as glorious as was promised

Context: The sudden height change and muscle change is cause by the fact that her body was kn its way to becoming that of a Night Fury, but the skeletal changes come last so she first needed to reach the size of one. She's still human-oid and all. Character design is important, the reader should easily visualise a scene if they so wish.

Back in Berk, the people are devastated. Such a promising young girl taken to die so savagely. Her parents are hysterical. All the village mourned. And Hiccup, he takes it harder than most of his peers. And Stoick feels for him. He lost Valka the same way, and he knew about the crush his boy harboured for the shield maiden. He helps him in a way to deal with the grief. But a few of those helping strategies are bit questionable by modern standards, but not all. Something dies in Hiccup, the final straw is added. He takes a vow, to avenge her, to become a hunter if Night Furies, to stop being all of that. He never looks at his inventions again, he throws himself at athletics and weapons training to an unhealthy amount, till he bleeds. He hammers at weapons at the forge with way more angst that a teenager like him should. And Stoick is proud of his son. When he hands him that axe for dragon training, his son takes it dutifully and doesn't waver. But he can't just not notice, the difference in his sons eyes. Hiccup goes relatively well in dragon training, he becomes the defacto (involuntary) leader of the pack. He looses the final fight to Snotlout, but only cos he knows about how Spitelout treats his son. And Stoick feels proud but...scared in a way he can't pinpoint. Over the next four years his relationship with his son gets better on a superficial level. They talk about chiefly stuff, dragon killing stuff but...nothing that truly matters.

When Astrid wakes, she looks at the pond in the cove, blue draconic eyes looking back at her being the least if her concerns she screams. She screams and cries and begs and hates herself, the Gods and that...thing that turned her into a-a...monster.Her balance feels off, she can feel the floor were her tail touches it, new nerves and limbs and muscles feel like they've alway been there, the new apandages not being heavy like the painful punishment she deserves for being a monster feeling wrong. She fall into depression. She decides to never, ever go back to Berk cos they would kill her and she would deserve it. Yeah... it's not a fun time to say the least. At first she makes a shirt from the remains of her old one that has been torn to shreds but because of the wings it can only be a crop top so thats fun. Her leggings are fine, thank the ancients for that. Over the next four years she learns how to survive. At first she behaves like a nirmal human, refusing to do anything with her wings or tail other that not have them limply hanging there. But her new instincts and necessity drive her to begrudgingly learn how to fly. And it is wonderful. In the air her pain seems to disappear. The cove becomes her home. She's hesitant to interact with the dragons in the forest, initially hating them more than ever, but then she begin to kinda understand them croons, purrs and roars feel like... meanings. Communication doesn't evolve much but eventually she learns the truth. She sees the Queen but doesn't succumb to her trall. And all of that terrified her.

Its important to note that Hiccup doesn't become a full on dragon killer. Yes he's killed a few but he prefers to take them down or knock the out. He just... can't do it. But he tries. Because thats what Astrid would have wanted.

Eventually, as Hiccup is taking a walk in the forest, a habit that helps blow of steam he hears, things. He sees blood of boars and other weird stuff that indicate somone hunted here but that's not right. A human hunter wouldn't be so messy and violent and a dragons would be so sloppy and non violent. He comes back every day, tracking whatever is causing that problem, and eventually...he finds her, or she finds him?

You can imagine how that goes

At first they dont recognise eachother. Astrid doesn't know who this tall man with the long hair and the fur semi cape and the onesided axe and lean form is. Hiccup is this close to shitting himself with rage and terror. Who is this giant half dragon person, why does she look familiar, why would the Gods create such a creature .But, eventually it clicks. Hiccup can't get a word out . Astrid is filled with shame. He runs, she doesn't follow. He goes back home and collapes.

What to do, wtf is going on, can he tell. Should he tell? Would people believe him? The poor Hoffersons , they would die to hear about this. Poor Oskar what would he think. It hits him that Astrid doesn't know about her little brother than was born shortly after her presumed death. It was a miracle her mither hadn't suffered a miscarriage with all the pain and trauma. What to do?

Back in the dragons nest a Night Fury plans her next move. The Queen had kept her alive mostly out of pity now that she couldn't fight, and her purpose wasn't completed. Damn them all. The girl had stopped her literally at the half way mark. Now he species would die out if she didn't complete the girls transformation. Her poor ags had been destroyed at birth when rocks collapsed on top of them cos the Queen decided it was a good time to move. She was too old to have more and besides, he mate had travelled down south only to get slaughtered by The Killer of Kin. She needed someone younger and healthier to replace her so that the hope that her kind would survive.

Hiccup eventually returns to the cove demanding answers. Why. Why is she like this. Why didn't she return, thi he doesn't say that outloud. Astrid does her best to explain. Drama ensues. Argument range from sassy to vitriolic.

Tho eventually, through hardship...they form a truce. They become friends. Hiccup finds comfort in her, finally soneone to be truly honest with away from expectations and lies and fake smiles, hollow goals. Astrid is glad to have someone. The poor girl js so touch starved she could cry. She never does. They catch up on the last five years since they were fourteen. Hiccup shares with her his journeys, confesses the fact he modelled himself after her, about her parents, their friends, she has a brother now! She tells him about her life in isolation

At first she avoids the topic about the truth of dragons, afraid of his reaction but it does come out eventually after a tiny bit of drama

Their relationship grows. They develop feelings but they don't know how to express them. Astrid has been alone forever and Hiccup has suppressing his emotions for so long.

An interesting bit is that Astrid is this is a merging of her and Toothless personality. She has some of hir mannerisms, she involuntary has become quite cute and cuddly (she will deny it till her deathnest, Hiccup a little shit about it too much)

End of part one cos I'm tired of typing.

[mmkin]

Fishman friends and lovers (Siren's Shark)

Chapter 12 of Siren's Shark is now up. Link to AO3 here, also included under the silly pics I doodled at work a few days ago. IDK why but I can only seem to draw at work on my breaks instead of at home, go figure.

Content warnings - some smex (consensual) some slavery, past trauma and abuse.

Thought it'd be fun to draw when Arlong meets his siren in the first chapter lol... Ignore the words at the left, that's my grocery list. And yes, I decided on Yolande's birthday.

And Hatchan and Yolande are besties. So kawaii!!!!!!!

XII

o0o0o0o

Yolande wrung her hands anxiously as she saw several smaller fins move toward the larger one. There was no time for discussion, and she'd been left behind with the younger fishmen and Rekiin as Arlong and his crew made their way toward the Sea Beast.

If the gods were real, she hoped they listened to her prayers. It wouldn’t be the first time she prayed and despite her skepticism in a higher mystical force, the emotional part of her sought assurance in the hope that there might be a sympathetic ear out there.

Her stomach knotted and her hands shook as she tried to imagine what it was like under the water. Some of the fishmen had also gone in with harpoons and nets, but how could she not worry? After all, wasn’t this why she had agreed to go with Yoshi when he wanted to retire to Coldrock Island? So she wouldn’t have to deal with shit like this? Her heart was pounding as she looked through the telescope. There was splashing. Occasionally she’d see a fishman. The Sea Beast raised its head out of the water, bearing a strong resemblance to a bear.

She’d heard about them but this was her first time seeing one. Arlong was a mighty fishman, but no matter how big or strong someone was, there was always someone out there, bigger and badder. She felt Caten’s hand on her arm. “Can I look?” the catfishwoman asked. Numbly, she handed over the telescope before going to the prow of the ship, the wind whipping through her hair as she watched the fight. Blood came to the surface. She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t.

Arlong. And not just Arlong, but the others. The bear's head reared out of the water again, giving out an angry roar, she saw several harpoons near its neck.

Then it was over. Her heart thudded against her ribcage as Arlong jumped out of the water, traces of blood on his face and bare chest. She felt light-headed as she heard his triumphant laugh.

“Fire up the grill! Let’s not let this meat go to waste!”

Fishmen eagerly lopped off choice parts of it, and as the Sea Beast was a bear mix, it had a quite nice thick flavor to it. She sat on the upper deck, watching quietly as Arlong helped his brothers hoist slices of meat to the deck from the water, chopping it into smaller pieces to be cooked. The rest of the animal was towed behind the boat.

What would Yoshi say if he could see her here, amongst a band of fishman pirates? She’d gone from being a Marine widow to the lover of a pirate captain. Since Arlong was busy with his men, she retreated from the deck to spend some time alone in her lab, trying to distract herself from her anxiety.

“Hey Yolande, Arlong wants you,” Hachi informed her. Around him was the scent of smoke and spice. He’d obtained plenty of flavors at the market on Dreamsicle Island and it smelled like he’d put some of them to good use.

“You called for me?” Yolande asked as she approached Arlong, who had a platter of cooked meat in front of him. She was grateful to notice that he’d washed the blood off himself.

“Come, sit by me. Share our bounty.” He waved his hand to the meat in front of him, which contained quite a few choice cuts and bits. Hurrah for Captain Arlong, she thought dryly… not that he hadn’t earned it. Taking on a Sea Beast required a coordinated effort, and the fishmen trusted Arlong to lead them. None of them had gotten hurt, though a couple of them had been nearly swallowed when the Sea Beast thrashed around.

Hachi was in charge of the grilling, and the kitchen helpers assembled several sides to go with the meal. A gentle breeze blew the rich scents across the deck, but Yolande had no appetite. She simply sat there, observing the festivities, listening to the fishmen chatter about their encounter with the giant bear-fish.

“Go on, eat,” she heard Arlong urge, and she slowly turned her head to him.

“I lose my appetite when I get anxious.”

He stared at her for a moment. “Is it something I did?” he asked with mild confusion.

“Yes… No, no, I’m not angry at you. But when you were in the water with that Sea Beast, I worried about you. I was so scared.”

"Hmm." He tutted to himself a few times as he stared at her, and she looked down. He lifted her chin, rubbing his thumb along her jaw. "I suppose if you're not trying to starve yourself, skipping a meal will do you no harm. Bask in my presence and know that I am safe, let that calm you." He released his grip on her and turned to talk to some of the fishmen. She slumped back in the chair with a soft sigh, watching as the afternoon sky faded to evening stars.

o0o0o0o

“Have a drink, at least,” Arlong offered after a few minutes. “Relax.” He was gratified to see her accept the bottle that Take brought forward.

So his siren worried about him to the point where her stomach got into knots. Poor thing. Had anyone else ever worried so much about him? His mother, his sister, his nakama? He turned his head, looking down at her as she nursed her bottle, staring out thoughtfully. He reached out to rest a hand on the top and side of her head, feeling the thick bun of her hair against his palm.

“Perhaps when we retire for the night, I could help soothe away some of that anxiety, hmm?” he asked with a lecherous purr. His hand slid down, the back of his fingers against the side of her face. She did not move for a moment, and he wondered if he would be rejected.

“You think to distract me with your cock?” she asked as she finally looked at him. Her tone was unreadable.

“I didn’t think there was any harm in offering.”

"… You're right. There's no harm in that." With that, she leaned her head against his hand, nuzzling it. She lifted her head to take several gulps of her drink but lifted her hand to hold his, long, slender fingers curling around the side of his hand.

He would face another danger soon enough. Marzu Island. How was she going to handle that? Wisely, he did not mention it, and simply sat back, enjoying the feel of her small but warm hand in his large one.

What would Ajkul say if he saw his protege with a hybrid siren? Not once had he ever heard Ajkul say anything nice about humans. Doubtless, the old shark would have been incredulous at the thought of a siren having human blood. Sirens were always supposed to be mermaids or fishwomen, creatures of the sea as much as any fishman. Ajkul would say Yolande was tainted by that human blood.

Tainted. Arlong glanced down at Yolande again, squeezing her hand. He would be lying to himself if he said he never wondered what Yolande might look like if she were a full-blooded fishman. But he found himself dwelling on her human heritage less and less. A couple of months had passed by but he was still crazy about her, there were some times when the heat would overtake them and they'd just go at one another, but even when that mood wasn't on them, he still enjoyed her company.

She finished her bottle, and it was taken away.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

“A little. I have a good buzz going.”

He chuckled at that. Oh yeah, a good buzz made plenty of worries go away, how well he knew that.

o0o0o0o

Erhu rubbed the back of his head nervously as he glanced at Caten. Both of them had come from the Fishman District but had not met each other until Aiuchi and his crew captured them.

When they'd been resting and recovering from their ordeal, they'd taken the time to get to know one another, comparing their childhoods. Erhu was only a year older than her at twenty-one. He was a neon tetra fishman, giving him two distinctive blue stripes along the sides of his face and back that flashed neon green-blue when the light hit them, and Caten told him that she thought these stripes were cute.

So they started flirting, and he noticed that she was also flirting with two of the pirates that rescued them. One thing led to another, and he'd shared Caten with Ishidai and Mido. It was a learning experience, to say the least. If Caten wanted to carry on with the other two, Erhu would accept that, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to participate in that sort of group activity again.

“Something you want to talk about?” Caten said as she sipped her drink, leaning against the railing.

“I was wondering if perhaps you and I… hm.” He didn’t want her to think he was ungrateful for her invitation.

“You’d prefer a little one-on-one?” she asked. He stared at her for a moment and she smirked.

“… If that’s all right with you.” His heart was pounding as he looked down at her.

“It is,” she reassured him. “And I’ll admit, three fishmen at once can be a bit much sometimes. So, tonight, just you and me?”

He gave out a relieved chuckle. “Gosh, yeah. I’d love that. Um, thank you.”

She grinned at that and stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Such a gentleman.” After a bit of time drinking and looking out at the stars and the water, he let her lead him away.

After some foreplay, she wanted to get on top, and he was happy to oblige. He nuzzled her breasts and ran his hands along her back and hips, happy for some joie de vivre after the ordeal he’d been through.

After he came into her, she leaned down so she was resting on top of him, and he nuzzled the crook of her shoulder and neck as he rested his hands on her back. Since he wasn't part of the crew, Arlong didn't ask him to be part of the raid on Marzu Island. He and the other younger fishmen, along with a few pirates, would maintain a lookout and other various duties around the boat while Arlong and his crew did the dirty work.

If Arlong had asked him to participate, Erhu would have felt obligated to say yes, considering that he would face life in slavery if not for the sawshark fishman. He hadn't been here for very long but was coming to understand that the life of a pirate was quite different than the old life he'd known back in the Fishman District as the child of one of the many poor families that lived there. He wasn't an orphan, but his parents were barely able to support themselves let alone their kids. His one role model was a neighbor who worked as a healer, collecting local herbs to make whatever medications he could for the people around him.

The healer took Erhu under his wing, teaching him the things he knew. He was not a doctor and had no formal training, but in the neighborhood, he was the closest thing to one, and his herbal remedies did work for various mild aches and pains.

The healer passed away a couple of years ago, and among other factors living in the District became increasingly untenable. Even with Whitebeard’s protection, pirates still found ways to acquire fishmen and mermaids to sell. Erhu thought of the proposal that lured him away from the District and into the clutches of Aiuchi and his crew.

He looked down, running his fingers along Caten’s hair as the fishwoman gave out a contented hum.

“Have you asked Arlong?” Caten asked. Erhu frowned in confusion for a moment before he remembered. He gave out a soft sigh.

“Not yet. He’s so busy with other things. He has a crew to run.”

"I doubt this is something he will have any difficulty agreeing to," Caten replied. "You're already doing it, might as well make it official. I'm no mind-reader, but I think it's something that might make Arlong happy, and you want to be on his good side."

He raised an eyebrow as he lifted his head to look at her, and she smiled back sweetly.

o0o0o0o

The early morning sun illuminated Yolande’s legs as she stretched out, doing her exercises while Arlong was sleeping. Her legs were splayed out on the floor as she leaned forward, feeling the pull in her back as she reached her arms out in front of her.

With a contented sigh, she rose to her feet and turned to see Arlong lying on his side, staring right at her. She gasped a bit in surprise before collecting herself.

“Did you enjoy the show?” she asked.

"It'd be a more entertaining show if you wiggle around," he replied lecherously. "Especially since you're in that," he said, pointing to the silk nightie she was wearing. He was clad in nothing but a pair of undershorts, which afforded a quite fine view of his well-toned body. One of the nice things about living in warm weather was not needing to layer up, which meant she saw more of Arlong’s body on a regular and casual basis.

… Not that she was about to complain. He did make a pretty damn nice piece of eye candy.

“If I had any artistic talent, you’d make a fine subject to draw or paint,” Yolande replied, sidestepping his suggestion. He sat up with a smirk.

“If you’re going to appreciate my body, I’d prefer you do it with your hands and mouth than with a pencil or brush,” he shot back. “… And besides, I find the skills you already have much more useful than making a pretty picture on paper.”

She shrugged in acknowledgment of that. She was very nearly done with putting together what the crew needed for the mission. She’d already demonstrated to Arlong the various explosives she was using, albeit in much smaller amounts. She remembered well the gleam in his eye as he saw the explosions, the flames shooting up, bits of debris raining down from the empty crate she’d used for the demo. He grinned to himself as he imagined it on a much larger scale, bringing the rulers of Marzu Island to their knees. That evening, he’d been especially fierce in bed.

In certain instances, explosives were used in an attack. But for this particular mission, some of them were meant to provide distraction. The fishmen had been working hard and training under Kuroobi and many of them were actively trying to develop Haki. With the intelligence Koji, Hazel, and Lew provided, Arlong and his officers were able to work out a strategy that even Yolande acknowledged was pretty solid. And not only that, but the fishmen would be turning some of Marzu’s defenses against them.

One of the ways Marzu Island kept itself relatively safe from pirates was the use of underwater mines so that there were only a few safe ways to approach the island. The fishmen would move them around to cut off escape routes in case anyone tried to alert the World Government or the Marines before Arlong was done with the island.

There was still the matter of the Devil Fruit users that were in employ on the island, but Yolande was working on something that she was certain should be effective.

Useful skill, indeed. Her ruminations were interrupted when she felt Arlong’s fingers under her chin. She looked up into his intense blue eyes.

“You truly are a credit to our race,” Arlong said with a prideful grin. She smiled thinly at that and jerked her chin from his grip before she snapped at his fingers, growling softly. He chuckled lowly.

“Snapping and growling at a shark?” he asked, his lips pulling back to reveal his trademark predatory grin. He rose from the bed, towering over her.

“Squids are predators too,” she shot back. His grin faltered for a moment at this almost non-sequitur, and he glanced at her with confusion. She grinned back.

“That’s what I am. Hachi figured it out when he took a close look at my ink. Octopuses have black ink but squids have a bluish tint to theirs.” He lifted his hands to cup the sides of her face.

“Squid, huh,” Arlong responded musingly. “And yes, they’re predators too but I think it’s obvious who has the edge here.” He ran his thumbs along her cheeks as he maintained his grip.

“Indeed,” she said dryly. He’d never threatened her air supply, but whenever he had his hands on her, it was hard to not feel vulnerable under their grip, especially if he was holding her head or neck. His eyes were cold and predatory as he studied her.

She might not be caged or chained, but she didn’t have the option of leaving. Nor would he allow her skills to go to waste.

“Little squid. I’m glad you understand.” His voice was smooth but dangerous, velvety with an edge to it that had her shivering. His hand slid from her neck and he stepped away from her to get dressed for the day.

Common sense told her that she shouldn't find that danger sexy. His nose and sharp teeth alone were lethal weapons, and she noticed that he seemed stronger than the average fishman. Not for the first time she wondered about the parts of his past that he did not tell her about. Hmm. Not that she didn't already know plenty about him simply from observing and listening to him.

She watched the flex of muscle in his shoulders, back, and arms as he pulled on a tank top. Hmph. Stupid sexy sharkman.

o0o0o0o

Capturing slaves for Marzu Island was a quite profitable endeavor for Captain Aiuchi. His father and grandfather had done the same, though their methods were refined through the generations. In the old days, they could sneak into the Fishman District and kidnap orphans and poor fishmen easily lured by a coin or two. They had to space out their raids to not be too recognizable, so they tried to capture as many as they could at a time. Sometimes there might be a pretty or particularly talented one among them, and a bit of extra profit could be made from that. Fishman Island proper was more guarded, but a mermaid from the nicer part of the Ryugu Kingdom was quite valuable.

They’re not fully human. They’re part animal, and it makes them inferior to us, his father and grandfather would say. When he’d asked about the human slaves on the island, his mentors would shrug. They got themselves into debt one way or another, so why should we care? The weak get preyed upon. Better to be the butcher than the cattle, after all. And so on.

… And now, here he was, in the position he’d put humans, fishmen, or otherwise into over the years. Aiuchi muttered to himself as he scratched the side of his face as he sat against the wall, looking through the bars. His side ached every time he took a deep breath. He’d dealt with pirates before, and humans and fishmen who resisted their enslavement. His men were well-trained, culled from the best the island had to offer, so even against a fishman’s superior strength, they prevailed. He wasn’t stupid.

He never would have invited fishmen onto his ship, but the sharkman’s bitch had him fooled, the fishmen trailing behind her like obedient lapdogs. That intrigued him, and he wanted to know more, and who knows, someone as like-minded as him could be good for a bit of fun.

Even though he was already locked in the brig, he was chained, as was the rest of his crew. Designed for fishmen, the chains were extra heavy, which robbed the humans of much of their energy when they tried to move around.

Oh, he’d certainly made attempts to escape. But the sharkman was no naif from the Fishman District who’d had little experience with humans. This one had been out in the world and dealt with humans long enough to have a pronounced distaste for them.

Aiuchi had tried some mental warfare. He'd needle at the fishmen, trying to pinpoint various weaknesses as they stood guard, but that was met with silence, threats, and even a few blows, one of which broke a rib. When he was interrogated, he'd tried various attempts at obfuscation or stonewalling. Much as Aiuchi hated to admit it, he'd developed a begrudging respect for the ray fishman that handled much of the interrogations and otherwise. He understood the resolve of a warrior.

He lifted his head as a fishman came by with a cart. His stomach rumbled as it often did but he learned to ignore it as the fishman ladled some cold stew for him. He looked down at the concoction he’d have found unappealing, but he was pragmatic enough to know that beggars could not be choosers. So he lifted his bowl and swallowed its contents.

He looked up again sometime later when Koji was dragged to the cell next to his and dropped on the floor.

"Did that fish-loving bitch want to play with her little pet again?" Aiuchi grunted. The blue-haired youth gave him a deadpan stare as he made his way to the thin mat before sitting down.

“Call her what you will, but she’s the best chance I have of getting my sister’s freedom,” Koji said flatly.

"Come now, you don't think slaves are cheap? Especially one such as your sister?" He remembered the girl, her hair a similar shade to her brother's. She had been seventeen, legally a minor, and therefore her father could sell her to settle his gambling debts. "You knew that it would take you a while to earn that money. Such is the way of things," Aiuchi said. Spike himself had started as a slave, a delinquent teen sold by his parents. But Aiuchi had seen the potential in him and channeled Spike's resentment and rage into a useful tool, paired with a Devil Fruit that made him a formidable part of the crew.

"Hah, that's easy for you to say," Koji muttered. "But now we're in the same position. You liked to lecture our crew about survival of the fittest, of making yourself strong however you could and not letting others take advantage of you. And I thought I was doing that by working hard." Koji stared at the wall angrily. Aiuchi smirked to himself. This was Koji's first fishing expedition. That's what Aiuchi and his forebears had called it… fishing. They'd go fishing every several years, collecting fishmen and perhaps a few other types of slaves along the way.

“You would have eventually earned her freedom… eventually,” Aiuchi taunted lowly. It was indeed possible to buy freedom, so the slaves could hardly complain about unfairness, but it was no easy task, and why should it be? Otherwise, where would be the profit of it?

o0o0o0o

Erhu sat in the infirmary, watching as Lew quietly mopped the floor. The petite man moved around calmly and methodically, keeping his infirmary clean. Regardless of who his master was, the doctor tended to his infirmary much as Hatchan did to his kitchen. If Omald had been working at that pace, Toma or one of the other fishmen would have been on his ass about it, but Erhu sat back as he asked Lew questions about medicine.

As the captive slave-doctor of the Arlong Pirates, Lew could hardly object to the company of a fishman who had sincere questions about his profession. So the two of them would converse, and he obliged Lew’s questions. The fishman talked about the healer who had mentored him and what he’d learned. Since he wasn’t a member of the Arlong Pirates, Erhu was little more than a passenger and found this a good way to spend his time when not helping with a chore. He’d narrowly escaped being a slave and was determined to not let this opportunity go to waste.

“I’m about to grab tea and a bite, would you like me to bring you some?” Erhu offered.

“That would be appreciated,” the doctor said with a bow of his head. Erhu smiled to himself before he brought back a pot of tea, two cups, and a generous portion of grilled sea-bear meat among other things.

“You can put down that mop and relax,” Erhu said as he gestured to the desk, where he’d set down the tray. He knew that Lew had been a slave for many years and this behavior was ingrained in him, which made him quite agreeable to his new masters, but Erhu found it unsettling at times. Would he have turned out like that too, if he’d been enslaved long enough? “Please, help yourself.” Erhu’s tone was sincere as he looked down at Lew.

o0o0o0o

Arlong watched from the upper deck as Kuroobi drilled his class, using two of his students to put on a demonstration of focusing their fishman strength. It pleased him to see the renewed fire in Kurrobi’s eyes. It reminded him of the determined boy he’d come across back in the old days. Ajkul had just died, so Arlong was alone again. He was strong and scrappy, but there were plenty of bigger fish than him and he was only eleven years old. He knew he needed nakama to ensure that he would have many more years.

Kuroobi had an abusive father, so he was on his own a lot, and he’d made friends with Hatchan who had been but one of many mouths to feed to a worn-out grandmother. The pair was a few years younger than Arlong so even if they might have one another, they were still quite vulnerable.

He’d gone from being the ward – and sometimes caretaker – of an old fishman to someone who was now responsible for two young fishboys. But Arlong saw the potential in the pair, and they saw what he offered – protection. They watched one another’s backs, and Chew becoming part of the group did not change that.

People might prattle on about growing stronger, training themselves, and so on. That was why Devil Fruits existed, to give people a shortcut.

Many fishmen disdained Devil Fruits, but Arlong knew that raw fishman strength was not enough. After all, it was that very strength that made a fishman attractive to humans in terms of exploitation.

Although Kuroobi, Chew, and Hatchan remained his core, Arlong drew other fishboys – and fishmen – to his side. Strength in numbers, he said, and that proved itself time and time again. Mess with one of Arlong’s brothers, and you mess with the whole crew. Regardless of the upheavals the crew had experienced, that remained one of his core values. One of the best ways to deal with humans was to support your brothers and sisters. See what had been done with the takeover of the White Mermaid and the eventual fate of Marzu Island.

He would be lying if he didn’t have doubts. His defeat at the hands of the Straw Hats proved that he wasn’t as infallible as he once believed. But it wasn’t as if he came to Marzu unprepared. He had strength, yes. But also explosives and other useful chemicals. And stealth and surprise.

Wonder what Brother Tiger would say if he could see me now, Arlong mused. He returned his attention to the two fishmen sparring in front of Kuroobi. If one were to go by looks alone, the larger fishman would have the advantage, especially since his opponent was one of the smaller fishmen on the ship.

Mido looked down at Erhu, but the almost-scrawny young fishman squared his shoulders, looking up at his larger and more experienced opponent. Arlong smirked to himself. He’d known Mido for years, the pink-skinned fishman was part of the Arlong Pirates before they merged with the Sun Pirates. Most people wrote Mido off as a clumsy-looking oaf, but the heavyset fishman had a quite sharp mind. He’d been good at collecting tribute and keeping down unrest back in the days.

As a newcomer, Arlong wasn't quite as sure of Erhu. He wasn't officially part of the crew, but he was a brother regardless and has thus far given no trouble.

Erhu’s smaller size gave him a certain maneuverability not found in bulkier people, but Mido defeated him nonetheless, knocking him back with a well-aimed blow. After a couple of moments, Erhu got up and resumed trying to take the larger fishman down.

Arlong smirked to himself as he watched, trying to anticipate what one or the other might do next.

o0o0o0o

Marzu Island was visible in the distance with a telescope. The initial explosives had been planted and were soon to be lit. They would take advantage of the darkness and confusion. And they'd taken the time to prepare for contingencies if the information they'd been given proved false or no longer up-to-date, but Arlong didn't think that the slaves under Yolande's care would lie to him, even if Aiuchi or his elite clients would – and did.

He smirked to himself. Turning humans against other humans… well, if humans were willing to betray one another, he might as well use it for his benefit. After all, much as he had disliked Nezumi, the rat had his uses. So the cabin boy wanted his sister’s freedom, the doctor was doing as his new owner commanded, and the maid wanted to be with her family, and that meant giving Arlong accurate information. He looked around at the fishmen getting ready. Each fishman knew their job. He smiled faintly as he saw Ishidai and Caten have a quiet conversation, Ishidai holding the catfishwoman’s face affectionately. Yolande gave Chew a bag, exchanging a few words with him before going to Hatchan, who pulled her into a hug.

Sweet siren, expressing concern for her nakama. Well, shouldn’t she anyway, since these were her brothers and sisters?

She approached him, the wind whipping several loose strands of her hair around. He reached out, rubbing his thumb along her cheek.

When he’d first taken her to bed, he tried to maintain a certain sort of distance from her. His long, painful experience with humans kept him wary despite the bond he undeniably shared with her. He would make good use of her and treat her decently, but now he knew that he had developed genuine feelings for her. Her concern touched him, but he didn’t want to admit that.

“Marzu Island will know the rage of the fishman race!” Arlong roared as his crew cheered for him. Behind him, a firework on the island went off, illuminating the sky for a moment with flashes of blue and green before fading away. The first wave of fishmen was secure on the island. He grinned to himself and joined the second wave of soldiers, diving into the water.

As he and the others approached Marzu’s shores, several explosions went off around the island, strategically placed and lit by Kuroobi and several other fishmen. He grinned as he stepped onto the beach, hearing panicked screams as the island’s security forces attempted to marshal themselves, but the fishmen had prepared well for it.

One of the ships belonging to Marzu’s security went up in flames hundreds of meters down the shore. He grinned to himself and lifted his sword, signaling for his men to move forward. He would have his vengeance.

[quietlyblooms]

grasp the dawn | my hero academia

your quirk isn't well-suited for heroism. you think this long before anyone has the chance to say the words aloud. your skin shifts and changes without your permission, reveals the way your heart clenches and startles. it doesn't matter how well-trained your poker-face is; the hue of your skin always gives you away. you can't hide anything as well as you'd like to.

well, you couldn't. time, training, and stubborn, furious determination did wonders for your quirk and, most of all, your sanity.

you just wanted control over your own body. you weren't thinking of the future, what might become a possibility rather than a naïve child's dream. your quirk wasn't well-suited for heroism. only you still believed this as you entered high school, and it was your homeroom teacher, flabbergasted by the use of your quirk for a practical joke and your adamant protest that you did not belong in the hero course, who eventually made you see reason.

and now you've come full circle, it would seem. u.a. high school looms overhead, and your stomach somersaults. teaching is meant to be a break from the stress of your hero career, give you a chance to help students reach their true potential just as your homeroom teacher did for you. you belatedly accept that maybe all won't go according to plan. more than likely it won't. but that's fine.

you'll meet the challenge with a smile, teeth bared in determined defiance.

QUIRK INFO

similar to octopi, chiyo's skin is made up of special cells that allow her to mimic the colors and textures of her surroundings. it comes as naturally as breathing these days, sometimes to the extent that chiyo may disappear while immersed in thought or a task ( almost like an unconscious effort to remain undisturbed ). this ability is most ideal for covert assignments or partnerships that involve a flashier teammate. chiyo also possesses a venomous bite like certain octopi, capable of paralyzing and even killing her opponent if left untreated. she purposely leaves this detail out of most unofficial profiles and interviews, though, as it's useful to have a hidden card up her sleeve. she also doesn't want anyone asking to see her fangs. that's embarrassing. there are other physical advantages chiyo shares with octopi, such as enhanced strength and an accelerated healing factor, though don't expect her to regrow a missing limb!

ADDITIONAL INFO

chiyo acts as a remedial combat teacher as well as the art teacher for u.a. high school, where she once attended as a teen.

her official title is the color-changing hero, chiyoko, though this may change if i come up with something better :' )

while she may have a following as many heroes do, she's a lesser known pro hero; her career involved working closely with the police and higher authorities, working undercover, infiltrating, or neutralizing volatile targets. she's done few interviews and never sought out endorsements, much preferring the quiet career she's had.

this " quiet career " did lead to chiyo losing an old friend, which was part of her final decision to try teaching for a while. she needed a break, and in a way, she hopes she can make up for failing that friend. this is a detail only those very close to her would know about.

chiyo’s hero uniform is a skintight suit that has a utility belt which carries smoke bombs, an extending bo staff, a small dart gun which utilizes a diluted form of her venom, and whatever else she can fit within it ( typically things that can be used for traps and distractions ). what she can carry is limited bc if the belt were any larger, it would be difficult for the material to react to her quirk like the rest of her suit. the suit itself is white if chiyo is not actively using her quirk. there is also a helmet, but this is often forgotten or only used during planned assignments. chiyo thinks it's itchy and uncomfortable.

i'm sure i'll add more here as i catch up with the series, but if you have questions in the meantime, just ask <3

[shining-scion]

What if Karamelle… didn’t suck?

Plot under the cut.

Velma the Shadow Scholar comes with too.

The Old One kicks the bucket like normal, but Annabelle, the guide, steps in before fighting can break out. She leads the group to a “place where they can all get along”, which is really just a forest. Everyone instantly starts acting weird— like this is the best place they’ve ever been— when the Wizard is encased in a bubble of roots. Bartleby’s stepped in, stating that he has no idea why Karamelle is draining mana faster than he can reasonably distribute through the leylines, or why people in this world can’t seem to see anything.

The Old One kicks the bucket like normal, but Annabelle, the guide, steps in before fighting can break out. She leads the group to a “place where they can all get along”, which is really just a forest. Everyone instantly starts acting weird— like this is the best place they’ve ever been— when the Wizard is encased in a bubble of roots. Bartleby’s stepped in, stating that he has no idea why Karamelle is draining mana faster than he can reasonably distribute through the leylines, or why people in this world can’t seem to see anything.

He doesn’t elaborate on what this means.

When they’re released, the forest has shifted into a maze, and they have to find their way back to town. All their friends are gone, but they meet up with Annabelle and Maulwurf when they finally find their way back.

The residents of this world don’t seem to be able to use magic, and while Annabelle insists everything produced in Karamelle is sustainable, the magical strain on the world is obvious.

The main plot essentially involves the Wizard knocking sense into the schism and trying to figure out what’s going on in the world with Velma, who insists that this isn’t shadow magic at work.

At the climax, the Wizard discovers that musicology was behind a powerful veil of illusion over the world, essentially coating it in magical Resonator energy so sweet, and so uncomplicated, that it affects everyone in the world. There’s a team of people “backstage” working to keep the illusion up, and there’s probably a really cool moment where you end up in the “backstage” and have to fight your way through. (Really similar to that one part in the first portal game where you break out of the test chambers and tear through the offices?)

This is all done by the corporation running Karamelle so that their workers remain distracted and oblivious to the horrible things being done to their world, and the CEO’s plans for the larger Spiral. Maulwurf brought them here in an attempt to give the CEO access to the Arcanum’s knowledge. (You know. So they could gain access to horrible magic no company should have access to.)

Once the Wizard confronts the Grand Fairy, they end up getting forcibly stuck in an illusion themselves, after narrowly dodging them for most of the world. Fortunately, this holds them in place long enough for the Nothing to pull them into a cavity, and the Aberrant Paradox fight begins as normal. The clash releases such a burst of shadow energy, and something else, that the whole veil on Karamelle is lifted, revealing the true, quant world it always was.

(All the major other plot points such as the schism ending up in cavities and whatnot happens still, after you save them from their respective Karamelle illusions, so the rest of the arc is pretty much unaffected.)

My major inspo was pretty much the same sort of Disneyland thing, except I thought it would be cool to focus on the “pretty distraction” element more. The idea of a “backstage” for Karamelle was actually inspired by those tunnels people say are around Disneyworld, so that people can get around without walking around the parks and breaking any “illusions” the guests might have. I thought the idea of a world that looks like it gives you want you want, but is actually a lie, was a really good contrast against Novus’s whole deal of actually doing it.

[levy120]

Character Study: The Dragon's Watch Asura on their own future

A while ago I came across a post talking about a PTSD symptom called “foreshortened future” and it was a serious topic so I didn't wanna reblog and clog the tags with fandom (and I don't know if the described symptoms accurately apply here to make a case for this)

BUT I for sure couldn’t stop thinking about the Dragon's Watch Asura in this light because that sense of "I can't see myself in the future" applies to all three of them without exception.

We have…

Blish, who is the catalyst, the one who strove to fight for the time he has and wound up dying twice for it.

Taimi, who despite pushing through with a "rest is for the weak" mentality, knows since day one that she lives on borrowed time, knows that "there is an end" but "won't let that stop her".

And Gorrik, who despite being of health (to our knowledge, he might still be at risk if Blish’s sickness was genetic), has lived through multiple traumatic events - from surviving Thaumanova to the death of a loved one. 

Once Blish is gone, Gorrik throws himself from acute project into acute project because "he just wants to feel useful" and he needs to work in order to cope and keep himself distracted because the SECOND he's forced to sit still and can't apply himself... we get the Prison Journal.

It is truly harrowing. 

-

There's... something to say about Anet's decision to pair him up with Taimi.

As far as I'm concerned, this ship did not have to happen. They vibed great enough as colleagues. From how I saw it, Taimi seemed to have a greater interest in Blish, definitely the closer connection for sharing a coleg, while Gorrik was "the weird little brother, being off doing who knows what (working at the Inquest)" while Taimi and Blish rivaled each other in educational notoriety. 

To Gorrik, Taimi was "what's left" after Blish; and to Taimi, initially and objectively, he was the one who'd executed Blish's procedure in the past, and her last remaining lifeline if she wanted to take this into consideration. It is mentioned that before EoD they have been tinkering on not further disclosed "Golem Mods".

After Blish's passing it was only natural Gorrik would focus all of his concerns on Taimi's wellbeing (whether she approves or NOT) now that he could no longer fuss over his brother. Both, because it's in his nature to do so from growing up with Blish, and because no one would want to see a friend suffer that same misery if you KNOW you can help it.

As that, their partnership works as a very organic platonic relationship.

That being said, I can understand though why they would gravitate to one another under the light of shared trauma bonding.

As much as I want to say they deserve to be happy with each other, I can't help but think of all that must be bubbling under the surface considering the circumstances. 

None of them can truly plan further than their current projects, but they make up for that by giving them their all. 

What that means in terms of their relationship is something I have yet to wrap my mind around. 

-

On the one side, we have Taimi who seems to have been happy enough with their arrangement. Then along comes Ankka and sparks what Taimi winds up calling "jealousy" but I perceived as Taimi's deep-rooted resentment for the Inquest. 

Throughout the story, Gorrik holds a bigger resentment towards Ankka for her betrayal, than Taimi holds for her as a person. I believe that to her, the larger threat was that she represented and challenged everything that she wished for Gorrik to be "better than".

And that fear IS warranted!

When Gorrik does refer to his days with the Inquest to the Commander (like working with Ankka or living at Thaumanova before it blew) it is exclusively with fondness. And when his hurt for Ankka boils over he goes on a "Forgiveness is for the weak" vengeance crusade that bears no compromise and has both Taimi and Marjory express concern for him. 

On the other side, we have Gorrik - who is followed by Death. From the almost poetic nature of the tiny lifespan of bugs, to the losses he has already faced, and is still bound to face at an uncertain point in an uncertain future.

He's so used to it that upon slaying Ankka - someone who despite everything, he also cared about once upon a time - that he outright claims that he's "tired of feeling like this."

…and if watching Ankka die is having that effect on him, someone who betrayed and hurt him and in his words “had to pay”, then I fear for his reaction the inevitable day he outlives Taimi.

It's like everything he cares about is fleeting and or fragile. And yet, Gorrik truly flourishes in the fields that challenge that. From executing his brother's golem procedure, to repopulating both the Rollerbeetle AND saving the Skyscale from extinction.

And that might just be what Taimi sees in him. 

[hoperays-song]

Sing 1 Commentary and Review Pt. 3

Welcome back to the madness loves!!! Also, I tried to tone down the commentary so I get further in the movie this time. Is this an elaborate plan to distract me from my fic being with my beta reader? Yes! Am I using it for content? Also yes! Enjoy!

Yes, I am trying to restrain myself more this time, it's hard.

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

Guys, guys, guys, here me out here... I think Barry minds.

Also, headcanon I'm not sure I ever mentioned on here before but the reason Barry minds Johnny taking his spot isn't jealousy of being passed over but because he didn't want his honorary nephew to have a larger role in the gang than he already did. He was trying to protect him.

HERE. This is the moment where Marcus confirms they were going to stop stealing after this last heist. They were legit only doing it out of necessity because the needed money.

(aka my debt theory is going strong bwahahaha)

Ok but the way Marcus looks at Stan and Barry when Johnny storms off, just his face of "that's weird right? or is it normal teenage angst? what's going on?" is so funny. He's so lost.

Also, I genuinely believe that Johnny might have been planning on telling his family about the singing here (he comes back much later but seems still really hyped up like he was getting the confidence to do so) but didn't when he was given the role of getaway driver. Even if it was just for one job, it clearly made him feel way less seen as a person and like he was a disappointment for not fitting into the mold of who he thinks his father wants him to be (the queer metaphor is still going hard I see, lovely).

👏 Relationship👏  Counseling👏 

Engineer Rosita My Beloved!!!! <3

This woman definitely has at least two masters degrees in mechanical engineering because the machine she made is something out of Willy Wonka.

So... there either were intake forms where they all listed their talents and Johnny put down a skill he hadn't done since he was little or... Buster legit just asked this teenager to learn an skill that takes years upon years of training in like a month. For some weird reason, i'm leaning towards the latter and Johnny having experience is a coincidence.

Horrified Punk Rocker™️

I completely forgot that Meena wrote out what she was gonna say to Buster on her hand. I love that and I will be including it everywhere.

Also, unrelated, but Buster is on his second felony of the movie right now and we barely are passed the 30 minutes mark. Not to mention the numerous misdemeanors.

And, the workshop where they build their props in apparently on the second floor according to Buster. That seems like you're making more work for yourself with all the moving up and down but, you know, you do you.

Mike puntable moments counter: 19

He really does not think things through does he?

Lance puntable moments counter: 17

Dude, she's your girlfriend, for fucks sake, be supportive!!!! It's not rocket science over here!!!

Johnny making fun of his dad and exaggerating his accent will never not be funny to me. He's acting like a regular teenager, not a gang member, and it's both adorable and hysterical.

Judith has arrived!!! We love characters who are actually just trying to do their jobs here. Like imagine being the bank representative assigned to Buster freaking Moon. You'd be pissed off too.

... Gay. That's the only commentary I can add here. That's very gay.

Gunter, the chaos enabler, Rosita, the chaos handler, and Caspar, the chaos.

You just know as soon as Caspar got home he was begging him mom to let him hang out with the fun dance guy again.

Johnny's over here going through the nine stages of grief about his singing career.

Also, do we know why Johnny was called away this time? Because they weren't planning any heists in between the one we have already seen and the failed one to our knowledge. So, was he actually called back because of something to do with the garage? It would technically be a family business thing then after all.

Ash, I am so sorry. About everything you go through in this movie. So sorry. You get adopted by a crazy guy and an old rockstar by the end of the next movie if it's any comfort (probably not but worth a shot).

Also, their apartment is huge!!! How are they affording that when struggling to find and keep gigs???

Lance puntable moments counter: 27

I am once again reminded that the mob canonically exists here and Mike thought cheating them was a good idea?!?

Mike puntable moments counter: 23

The last moments those poor flowers had. RIP.

The dramatic music that appears whenever she does is honestly amazing. And I love how she just seems to despise Buster on principal here.

But the fact that Eddie's grandmother knows Buster? And a fair bit about his life? Eddie has definitely mentioned him and also Buster went to Eddie's graduation!! That's so sweet, you know he was one of those people who make huge posters of their loved ones faces and their degree.

This, my lovely gentlefolk and assorted cryptids, is what a bad idea looks like!

Ok, we have arrived to the failed heist. Now personally, I would have just pretended to be sick so that Buster would have let me go without worrying about the show. That way my role in the show would be safe while I would also be out of debt, win-win. However, that's clearly not what happened here.

I stand with the fact that this could have been easily avoided but I do not solely blame Johnny here. He's a kid. Kids make mistakes all the time. He just made a mistake. Was it a bigger mistake than a lot of people's? Yes, but it was still a mistake. He is not at fault here.

As for the gang, smart move on their part to immediately surrender. That way they lessened their sentence by not resisting arrest. Also, Marcus looks genuinely worried when he realises Johnny is not there, and I completely understand that. He has no idea where his son is and there's police everywhere, he's bound to be panicked.

Rosita is amazing. I love her, she's so sweet.

Ok, genuinely forgot about Gunter and Rosita's fight at the dress rehearsals.

Also, Mike puntable moments counter: 25

Ok, I feel like we missed a part of this conversation. We jump right to Marcus asking where Johnny was and looking pissed. I can almost guarantee that that conversation did not start like that. Marcus and Johnny are shown to be close, despite their communication issues. He's going to be upset, yes, but he's still gonna be worried about his kid. Marcus definitely asked if Johnny was ok or arrested or sick first.

Also, ouch. This scene hurts. The overall message of familiar rejection for you just trying to be yourself, of who you actually are is not good enough? It makes me sob every single time. This is just insanely painful.

(Yes, this is a central part of Johnny's story being queer coded and as someone who had a similar situation happen when I came out, I'm just saying it's very realistic).

Then the stealing bit afterwards being reference for pushing yourself into who others want you to be to feel love? And Johnny choosing even then it's better if he is his actual true self? Amazing, perfection, true cinema.

This is the emptiest grocery store I've ever seen in my entire life. Seriously. Is anyone other than these two there? I'm guessing a cashier but I don't see one.

Also this security dude is an amazing hype man, just cheering and blasting music.

Buster, stop encouraging kids to commit felonies. I know you're on three now but seriously man???

WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND GAVE THIS GREMLIN A BLOWTORCH?!?!?!?! ARE YOU TRYING TO DESTROY SOCIETY???? Also, Meena and Buster were renovating the theatre at the same time as Johnny was practicing with Mrs. Crawly. I completely forgot they were there at the same time?

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

This is taking way longer than I thought but hey, it's time consuming!

Be back in a few (these take a bit to edit sorry)! - <3 Gooseless

[quietlyblooms-gone]

GRASP THE DAWN | MY HERO ACADEMIA AU

your quirk isn't well-suited for heroism. you think this long before anyone has the chance to say the words aloud. your skin shifts and changes without your permission, reveals the way your heart clenches and startles. it doesn't matter how well-trained your poker-face is; the hue of your skin always gives you away. you can't hide anything as well as you'd like to.

well, you couldn't. time, training, and stubborn, furious determination did wonders for your quirk and, most of all, your sanity.

you just wanted control over your own body. you weren't thinking of the future, what might become a possibility rather than a naïve child's dream. your quirk wasn't well-suited for heroism. only you still believed this as you entered high school, and it was your homeroom teacher, flabbergasted by the use of your quirk for a practical joke and your adamant protest that you did not belong in the hero course, who eventually made you see reason.

and now you've come full circle, it would seem. u.a. high school looms overhead, and your stomach somersaults. teaching is meant to be a break from the stress of your hero career, give you a chance to help students reach their true potential just as your homeroom teacher did for you. you belatedly accept that maybe all won't go according to plan. more than likely it won't. but that's fine.

you'll meet the challenge with a smile, teeth bared in determined defiance.

QUIRK INFO

similar to octopi, chiyo's skin is made up of special cells that allow her to mimic the colors and textures of her surroundings. it comes as naturally as breathing these days, sometimes to the extent that chiyo may disappear while immersed in thought or a task ( almost like an unconscious effort to remain undisturbed ). this ability is most ideal for covert assignments or partnerships that involve a flashier teammate. chiyo also possesses a venomous bite like certain octopi, capable of paralyzing and even killing her opponent if left untreated. she purposely leaves this detail out of most unofficial profiles and interviews, though, as it's useful to have a hidden card up her sleeve. she also doesn't want anyone asking to see her fangs. that's embarrassing. there are other physical advantages chiyo shares with octopi, such as enhanced strength and an accelerated healing factor, though don't expect her to regrow a missing limb!

ADDITIONAL INFO

chiyo acts as a remedial combat teacher as well as the art teacher for u.a. high school, where she once attended as a teen.

her official title is the color-changing hero, chiyoko, though this may change if i come up with something better :' )

while she may have a following as many heroes do, she's likely to be a lesser known pro hero; her career involved working closely with the police and higher authorities, working undercover, infiltrating, or neutralizing volatile targets. she's done few interviews and never sought out endorsements, much preferring the quiet career she's had.

this " quiet career " did lead to chiyo losing an old friend, which was part of her final decision to try teaching for a while. she needed a break, and in a way, she hopes she can make up for failing that friend. this is a detail only those very close to her would know about.

chiyo’s hero uniform is a skintight suit that has a utility belt which carries smoke bombs, an extending bo staff, a small dart gun which utilizes a diluted form of her venom, and whatever else she can fit within it ( typically things that can be used for traps and distractions ). what she can carry is limited bc if the belt were any larger, it would be difficult for the material to react to her quirk like the rest of her suit. the suit itself is white if chiyo is not actively using her quirk. there is also a helmet, but this is often forgotten or only used during planned assignments. chiyo thinks it's itchy and uncomfortable.

i'm sure i'll add more here as i catch up with the series, but if you have questions in the meantime, just ask <3

[ask-the-achs]

*The computer kicks on*

DBX NO RULES NO RESEARCH JUST BLOODSHED

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

DEKU VS AZULA

DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL VS MOTHER'S LOVING SON

Mufastu City Japan 10:35 PM

*Midoriya was reading his textbook as he was studying for a end of month test his teacher Eraserhead was going to spring on them. He had remembered everyday of the last 3 years of his short but well known and stressful life before he woke up in Valhalla and then after ragnarok the world's reseted and here he was reliving his life as he knew when the tests would come and what will happen where and who's who. As he read there was a very loud noise from the sky as the hero looked up he grabbed his Völundr...look alike unfortunately he couldn't get to his Valkyrie or Zerofuku but he had a feeling he'd have to fight somone.*

*in the ship a fire nation princess was smiling like a maniac she didn't know how she got here but she knew that like before she'd conquer it all. These...villains with this 'quirks' were the perfect the solders as she burned the ground below watching the worms squirm beneath her....*

*her thoughts were interrupted by something smashing something into the side of her ship as men were thrown across the foyer into the walls or off the ship entirely as a rather giant green teen was stomping over cracking his neck. He was wearing a green bodysuit boots painted red that had metal fillings and spikes on the end and what looked like a mostly black rabbit or hare mask on his face as he stamped forward.*

Deku:I take it your the boss of these nimrods?

Azula:oh. It's just a nobody. I was hoping for a hero that was worth my time. Like All Might or Endeavor.

Deku:you aren't worth All Mights time and Endeavor won't get here in time. But me?

*he chuckled.*

Deku:ill have you out for all the counts.

*she turned was this boy. Was he insisting she was nothing? Nothing? Did he know who she is!? She was born lucky! She was the ture fire lord! This boy was lucky to be born!*

FIGHT!

*Azula turned to try and fight only for her to narrowly dodge a kick from the MUCH larger teen to which she jumped back. Fast one isn't he? He'd be perfect for her army if she could get him to*

*she got punched in the stomach as Midoriya then grabbed her by the hair and threw her into the door at the other end of the foyer makeing it bend.*

Azula:YOU IMPATIENT WORM!

*she then shot out blue fire from her feet at the teen who got hit in the chest and he bounced back.*

Deku:hmm..seems you and Dabi have something in common.

*he then used the saltwater quirk he copied from his..future? Other life's? Son and put out the fire with the water and ice from his past life's run in with Geten. To then freeze his torso.*

Azula:And who is this Dabi?

*she used various explosions to propell herself into the air and then channeled a fire ball above her.*

Deku:a burnt whiny child. A lot like...

*Azula got confused as soon a pillar of blue fire shot from his arm and nearly hit her only to deflect it.*

Azula:I'm a firebender genius!

*She then saw he disappeared only for greenish purple fog to build up above her.*

Deku:unlike you I pay attention.

*he then yanked her through the portal made from the fog and threw her into the ground. Wait... was this the top of the ship? He can teleport? Oh she needed this boys power or his service.*

Deku:come on now. "Princess" *he said that bit with sarcasm. Show me what you've got. I'm done with you. And you've crossed lines. Now. *he took a deep breath* GET OUT OF MY HOME!

*Azula smiled and soon shot out a fire attack which was a distraction for her to shoot a lightning bolt attack which hit him square on in the back as he used his ice and a swiping moving to deflect the ice.*

Deku:RRRAAAAA....THAT...THAT *he burst out laughing.* Compared to Denki. THAT. DIDNT. FUCKING. HURT!!!

*Midoriya maybe picked up a few things from the godkillers as he soon jumped, grabbing his sword with black tendrils. Wait, how many powers did this boy have? She didn't get enough time to ask more questions as he swung his sword at high enough speed it just cut her chest piece and draw blood to which she glared at her foe and let out a loud mad laughter as she in rage yelled letting out a large blast of fire which flew through the air and hit delu covering the body only for the clouds to grow in the sky from the heat change to build storm clouds she then stopped as she fell paralyzed.*

*deku had used Stain's own Bloodcurdle to paralyze her by drinking her blood of course she still kept letting out fire blasting the ground as she laughed in sadistic glee watching Deku blast back the fire nation soliders to which gave her enough time to recover and hit deku with everything she had as his mask fell off and her soldiers used their fire to burn the city hearing the crys of those innocent souls that suffered from them all Deku yelled a ferocious roar that shot out Ice Fire water Lightning compressed air an explosive beam of light and an arry of darkness which combined blew up the ship and all surrounding air ships that had shown up to continue the invasion. All the ships landed on Dobagha Beacj as they crashed into the sand and water. Azula had genuine fear in her eyes as she soon got hit with the Shockwave of the blast she soon fell into the sand and looked at the sinking ships she groaned.*

Azula:what a shame. Those were our best ships and units.

Deku:*walking out the water. His suit being burned to nothing but shorts and his boots. His mask fell off showing his body was mangled by the blast. His arm was broken and twisted in 3 diffrent ways. His leg was scorched. His face was jacked. The blast tore off his left cheek burning away all his flesh showing his jaw and all the teeth that reached to his ear. His nose was completely gone his right eye was turned upwards and permanently blinded and his torso and back was charred with 3rd and 4th degree burns.* you heartless cretin.

Azula:Wha-what are you? Why are you not screaming?

Deku:I've. Suffered. Worse.

*Azula tried to stand up and use martial arts to put him down only for midyora to block and swing his own large fists or legs to kick or punch at her.*

Azula:*dodges a blackwhip attack* you fought well but I must kill you! You are a threat to my rule! I am the fire Lord Azula!

Deku:you are no ruler. I've met a ture King. I've seen a true lord. You are a parasite with delusions.*he then pulled the whip back. Which shot his nearly 7ft sword into her torso nearly splitting her in half and cutting her arm off.*

Azula:*screeches of pain and yelling at Deku trying and failing to burn him either her fire breath crying and screaming* I-I I AM NOT GOING TO LOSE TO YOU!

*her tears felled more and more as she was having a mental breakdown at being unable to win and realizing this is where her conquest ends at the hands of some Nobody! Some insignificant worm!*

*Deku pulled his sword out picked her up and with one simple punch Broke her neck in two snapped her jaw and end her life all in one as he then froze her body then throw it into the ocean watching it sink as he chucked as hard as he can.*

Deku:*seeing Sunblood's androids and Mai's servants retrieve the people on the ship and help everyone that was affected by this invasion.*...good...thing...youre...here...

*Deku then passed out. This young hero was going to have a very VERY long month.*

*...his mothers were going to kill him.*

THE WINNER IS DEKU!

[hrtsmom]

She nodded. “But we have to do something.”

Rather than trying to make what seemed like an impossible decision, I thought about West. I’d been wondering what kind of life we’d had together, how we would have raised our children. Now that had never happened; I would never know. How could I miss something that had never happened, that I had never experienced and now might never be able to?

It was all too confusing, and I suddenly felt even more bone-weary than I had before. I just wanted to go back to where I had been – all the way back. My life hadn’t been great, but at least I understood most of it. At least I knew what to expect, more or less. Maybe there was a way to just . . . retreat. Give it all up.

Before I could say any of this to Tia, she turned and stepped out of the shop. Walking to the stairs, she called up, “Ted? Teddy, can you come down here a minute?”

Footsteps, and then a man appeared from above. “You two making any progress?” he asked as he descended the stairs. “I mean, it is getting kind of late. Maybe you should put your toys away for the night?”

Ted looked to be in his sixties, like Tia, with streaks of iron gray in his dark hair. When he stood next to her, the top of his head was about even with her shoulder, though the deep tone of his voice had made me expect a larger man. He turned his warm smile from Tia to me. “You look like you could use some more sleep anyway, Jill.”

Tia drew in a deep breath. “I’m sorry, but we can’t rest now. Actually, we have to go.”

“Go?” He raised his eyebrows. “Where, at this time of night?”

“I’m not sure. But I think it’s the only way to figure out what’s happening to Jill. And I think we have to do it now, before it’s too late.”

I slid down from the stool. I didn’t know what Tia was planning, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to go along with it. But if she thought there was a chance to fix things ...

“Just be careful, okay?”

Tia bent down a little to kiss him. “No promises, but I’ll do my best.”

Ted nodded, not smiling at her joke. “I know.”

Tia came back to me, pushing up her left sleeve to reveal an implant similar to the one I’d seen on West’s arm before. “Grab your omni – but be careful with it,” she said. “Don’t touch the screen.”

I picked the gadget up by its edges, detached the charger cord, and slid it into my front pants pocket. Then I grabbed hold of Tia’s shoulder as she activated her implant.

“Here goes ... everything.”

I thought I heard Ted say “Good luck” as we left, but maybe I only imagined it. After all, the noise of the fire in the library was a bit distracting. And of course I immediately inhaled smoke again, and started coughing. Bad idea, Tia, bad idea ...

Before I could even try to say it aloud, though, she tapped the face of the implant again. We didn’t leave the library, but the fire vanished. Or was it the other way around? I bent over, resting my hands on my knees as I pulled the clean air into my lungs.

Tia coughed too. “Sorry about that. A little side trip I didn’t plan.”

This version of the library was softly lit, reasonably tidy and unoccupied by anybody, living or dead, apart from the two of us. My immediate reaction to seeing it like this was to wonder how long it had been since I’d been here. I could remember bringing the younger versions of Yvonne, Tia, and Finch here. In a way, that had been just – what? Yesterday? Earlier today? At the same time, it was years ago.

I don’t care what you say. I’m going back.

Tia, don’t ...

Oh, I wanted to go home. Wherever and whenever that was anymore.

[eikooowie]

Okay, this is a truly fascinating and contrasting pairing! Sora Grape's cooperative, sweet, and strategic nature against San Zanta Tan Satan DX's presumably chaotic, powerful, and perhaps mischievous (or even outwardly "evil"-themed) persona creates a wonderfully rich "opposites attract" dynamic. This will be fun to explore.

Here's an expanded backstory for Sora Grape, incorporating her family background and her love interest, San Zanta Tan Satan DX:

Sora Grape: The Sweet and Tangy Strategy & The Alluring Chaos

Bottleman Name: Vine Volley DX (Swarm/Support hybrid, excelling at overwhelming opponents with multiple, coordinated shots, or providing strategic cover. Special move: "Grapevine Gambit" - launching a tightly packed "cluster" of caps, or firing caps that create temporary obstacles or distractions.)

Personality: Social, cooperative, a bit of a strategist, and surprisingly adaptable. She loves working with others but can also be fiercely independent when needed. She might seem sweet and innocent but possesses a sharp mind and a knack for unexpected tactics. She values teamwork and adaptability.

Love Interest: San Zanta Tan Satan DX (Likely a powerful, unpredictable, and charismatic battler whose Bottleman excels in overwhelming, perhaps chaotic, attacks, or even possessing a "dark" or "corrupting" special ability. Their dynamic is one of harmony vs. discord, cooperation vs. raw individual power, where her light and order might be drawn to, or try to temper, his compelling chaos.)

Family:

* [Unnamed Parents/Grandparents]: Owners of a vineyard, instilling her values of community, growth, and the power of collective effort.

* [Unnamed Siblings/Cousins]: Fellow workers in the vineyard, fostering her love for teamwork and shared endeavors.

Backstory:

Sora grew up amidst the sprawling, sun-drenched vineyards of a vibrant, community-focused region. Her family, the [Unnamed Family Name - e.g., "Kojima" or "Hayashi"], owned a medium-sized vineyard, a generational legacy producing a variety of grapes for juice, jams, and even a beloved local winery. Her [Unnamed Parents] taught her the quiet dedication of nurturing the vines, while her [Unnamed Grandparents] shared tales of the land's history and the wisdom of collective effort during the annual grape harvest. Sora was deeply involved in every aspect of the grape season – from pruning to picking, to the communal effort of sorting and preparing the grapes. She learned that while each grape was sweet on its own, their true strength lay in the collective, in the robust flavor they created when combined, and the deep, complex notes that emerged through patient cultivation.

Her introduction to Bottleman DX was through her local community. The vineyard often organized a series of friendly Bottleman matches as a way to build camaraderie during the off-season, fostering a spirit of lighthearted competition. Sora, initially drawn to the lively atmosphere and the cheerful rivalries, quickly became fascinated by the strategic aspect of the battles. She saw how some battlers excelled individually, but also how others struggled when faced with coordinated attacks or unpredictable formations. This reminded her of how a single grape, while sweet, was part of a larger, more impactful cluster, and how even a small, seemingly insignificant twist in the vine could change everything.

Inspired by the collective strength of a grape cluster and the tangled beauty of a vineyard, Sora began to design her own Bottleman. She didn't want just one powerful shot; she wanted a Bottleman that could embody the idea of a "volley" or a "swarm," a cohesive unit rather than a lone attacker. Using repurposed vine trimmings for aesthetic accents and durable, slightly flexible plastic from old farming equipment, she meticulously crafted her Bottleman. Its design was sleek, with multiple cap-loading mechanisms allowing for rapid fire, and it had a rich, deep purple color scheme, reminiscent of ripe grapes.

She named her Bottleman "Vine Volley DX." It wasn't about singular power, but about coordinated attacks and strategic density. Its shots could be fired in rapid succession, forming a concentrated "cluster," or spread out to create a wide-area distraction. Its special move, "Grapevine Gambit," might involve launching a burst of caps that briefly tangle or redirect opponent caps, or sending out multiple caps that act as temporary barriers or diversions, allowing her to gain a tactical advantage and dictate the flow of battle.

Sora's training often involved practicing with her friends and [Unnamed Cousins/Siblings] from the vineyard, developing complex strategies for coordinated attacks and defensive formations. She learned to anticipate opponent movements and to use her Bottleman's unique capabilities to create "densities" of caps that were hard to break through, or "bursts" that overwhelmed defenses. She was known for her ability to turn a defensive position into a sudden, overwhelming offensive, like a sweet harvest turning into a potent vintage.

Her public debut came during a highly competitive inter-community Bottleman tournament. A rival team, known for their individual superstar battlers and aggressive, no-holds-barred tactics, was dominating. Sora, recognizing their reliance on individual skill over teamwork, proposed a new strategy to her own team, leveraging her "Vine Volley DX" and her understanding of collective force.

In the battle, while her teammates engaged the star players, Sora used "Vine Volley DX" to create a strategic "net" or "wall" of caps, restricting the opponent's movements and funneling them into predictable pathways. Then, with a perfectly timed "Grapevine Gambit," she launched a concentrated cluster of caps that overwhelmed a key opponent's Bottleman, opening the way for her teammates to secure the victory. The rival team, used to battling individual power, was completely disoriented by Sora's collaborative and dense attack strategy.

It was during this same tournament, or perhaps at a later, more underground event, that she first encountered San Zanta Tan Satan DX. San was a notorious and enigmatic figure in the Bottleman circuit. His Bottleman, Satan DX, was a vision of dark, chaotic power, often appearing with unsettling movements and striking with unpredictable, devastating force. While many battlers respected his undeniable skill, they also found him unsettling, almost intimidating. San was a force of nature, operating by his own rules, often disrupting established norms.

Their first clash was legendary: Sora's precise, cooperative clusters against San's raw, chaotic bursts. He found her methodical teamwork frustratingly effective, like trying to untangle an impossible knot, while she found his unpredictable power exhilaratingly dangerous, like a wild storm. Despite their opposing styles, a strange fascination developed. San, drawn to her unique ability to bring order and strategy to the chaos he thrived in, began to seek her out. He found her grounded nature and sweet demeanor a compelling counterpoint to his own volatile energy. Sora, in turn, was undeniably intrigued by San's raw power and the alluring unpredictability of his "dark" Bottleman, sensing a deeper complexity beneath the surface.

Their interactions became a dance of sweet and tangy. San taught her about raw power and breaking through rigid defenses, while Sora showed him the elegance of strategic placement and the unexpected strength found in collaboration. Their shared passion for Bottleman DX, despite their wildly different approaches, forged a connection that, against all odds, blossomed into a compelling romance. She became his quiet anchor, and he, her thrilling challenge.

News of the "Grape Strategist" and her unusual bond with the "Satanic Battler" spread quickly. While she still loves her life in the vineyard and the camaraderie of her community, Sora now actively participates in Bottleman DX tournaments, sometimes even leading a team, and often with San Zanta Tan by her side. Her goal isn't just to win, but to showcase the power of cooperation, adaptability, and complex strategy, even when faced with pure, untamed chaos. She believes that Bottleman DX, much like a grape harvest, is about more than just individual effort; it's about how every element works together to create something truly rich and impactful. With San Zanta Tan's powerful, unpredictable presence, Sora fights with a sweet smile but a sharp mind, always ready to spring an unexpected "Grapevine Gambit" that can even temper the wild heart of chaos itself.

[the-firebird69]

She's having a digestion issue but he's had it for about 20 years and it's off and on and he's been doing well even when it's yellow he's still feeling okay.

There's other things going on too Ken is being annoying is this I've got enough for the noise stuff go do it to someone else so you can get behind.

True too they start being annoying let's cover and they get screwed up because they're trained to be annoying but really the storm was kind of still here even though it's gone it's not what it is it's not true it's still wins whirling around that's about 4,000 miles across and it's going to stop eventually and stopping up north at the Appalachians terrible this guy needs to be stopped this time he's saying it's a proof of power if we can do what we want and I want the storm stopped and we do too if you don't have the power we need it and put that up

---they attack him when he says stuff like that by the way I used to do it silently but now a lot of people hear it and we have to get going he needs help okay I'm putting it out there

---and some more things going on you have a few other things to mention they don't treat him like an adult and he is and it's starting to get family repulsive but they feel that they're doing the right thing I know I haven't to try and get by they get punished by the empire and their relentlessly doing it it is important but people here can't help it and they're not getting assistance and they really need it

---we're working on some stuff we have a lot going on and a lot of it is in space Trump's flee this heating up as mac daddy said to 90%. Look the ding dong who gives a s*** just get rid of them already she attacked me how you might take some damage to them but thank Daddy doesn't even care so it's just shut the f******. And it's going on now and it just increasing the oddness here. And yeah children should be kept separate from adult males and women too I haven't figured that out but it seems real calm here except for these kids.

---once this fleets heated to 90%. There are plans to try and aggravate them and they're also bolstering the police that surround them so give me heated to 90% And the fleet around them is going to be bigger and bigger right now the fleet that is surrounding them and recording them off it's probably about 30% bigger and it's getting larger as the day goes by it is huge but it's probably about 63% of what it was at first and the fleets in there are heating up because I think something is happening here that will help them and they don't see what's going on but they do think that and they'll probably proceed to heat up to 95% by tomorrow morning

Thor Freya

I'm annoyed that's all and he says no kidding because of these stupid fleece heating up extremely slowly and it's probably John remillard he wants some forced to win and they didn't do anything and he's not laughing and they would have to start losing the battle here to call off ships and we're going to do this okay everybody this is Ringling vitamin Bailey I mean this it's going to be terrible

Hera

So there's a couple other things some of the stuff is fiercely annoying okay they say they're playing cover and they're getting themselves creamed when it was obsessive about his Ben I don't know that he won't stop and you look at Tommy F and he's doing the same thing I was saying it looks like you guys don't get it and they're grinding it in and it's horrendous and they keep doing it if I see this dumb girls fat ass in my stupid face again.

I'm going to get involved cuz this is a nightmare to bring the stupid circus and he can't stand it and sick again a little bit from now digestion and I don't want to hear about it this is wrong

Thor Freya

We were not cleaning them out before and it's just getting sick and we're supposed to use it and we didn't for a long time it's tried doing it to work so we're going to start up again

Frank Castle hardcastle

We have a lot going on into announce this s*** is distracting us and we're sending people now

Duke Nukem Blockbuster

We have a lot of people depending on us and look if it takes us 3 years that's nothing compared to thousands of years agree on teeth and we're going to get through it we can't allow this kind of behavior it is not entertainment for any virus can't be obvious either but for Christ's sake this is way over the top and what they do to me is over the top they should understand it but they say they don't when they have nothing in a couple weeks I will get it and that's what's going to happen I can't rush things I know why but we do have to at least get ahead of schedule in some areas and look and see why those people are I know that we're ahead and Thor and Freya their group and several areas

Zues Hera

This is a good idea we don't want to put it in everyone's face but we are ahead in several areas and we'll tell you which ones one of them is recruiting for the war we have all of us signed up and they do too almost the Japanese have them all signed up and also differently we have huge buildings in place for our communities and that's our race of our kind we have 90% of them

There's more and I'm going to make a list

Zig Zag

You have other things to talk about and we're going to post in a moment

Olympus

[j-graysonlibrary]

The Xiang Chronicles: Book Two Chapter 2

Title: The Xiang Chronicles: Book Two

Author: Jay Grayson

Word Count: 98k

Genres: Fantasy, adventure, drama, LGBT+

Available on: my website

Synopsis: With another Xiang in the mix, for the first time in history, Pangu decides to reevaluate his methods and his place in the world. Along with taking his little sister Heidi as his last disciple, he also chooses to take the more political path in his efforts to end the discord throughout the land—particularly within Terra. (And gaining favor from the handsome Lord of Ultimos does not hurt.)

Heidi butts heads with everyone in the group, save Raine, and tensions are higher than ever. There are failed love confessions, in-group fighting, and demons from Kira’s past but that all comes to a head when they meet a servant of Shakti who is more than what she seems.

Could it be that the Mistresses of Shadow are more nuanced than previously believed? Or that the strict dichotomy between light and dark are, perhaps, a touch exaggerated? That and more begin to plague Pangu’s mind and his faith wavers…

Full chapter 2 under the cut

Chapter II:

The façade of the inn was just as grand as the rest of Ultimos but, at eye level, the building was nigh covered in posters and flyers for promotional events throughout the city. One was much larger than the others and had eye-catching colors. Pangu scanned over it to read “Have more stuff than you need? Sell it here!”  He tilted his head to the side in slight amusement. Of course, if there was a city in the world where the citizens might suffer from excess, it would be Ultimos.

The charming (although a tad disarming) poster only served as a temporary distraction for Pangu. He was still outside the inn and he still needed to walk through the doors and find his old mentors. He did not want to, not in the least, but he knew he needed to.

Tracking them down had felt task enough so he should see it through. With how many inns and hotels there were in the city, he had to use his energy to feel for them. Luckily, they had not been masking that aspect so their location lit up like a beacon. A small one—far across the city—but a beacon none the less.

Pangu blew out his exhale and then stepped inside.

People walked about, busy with their own lives, and he had to maneuver around quite a few bodies to find his old teachers. They were not holed up in a room as he expected but in a lounge area, surrounded by books and scrolls. And, although they were technically out in the open, no one else in the inn bothered them. Not even when Merra started to lift one of the books into the air without touching it.

Pangu had to only walk a few steps into their space before all eyes were on him. Merra dropped her book and sat up straighter to address him. “Xiang, hello.”

“Pangu,” Zhu said tersely and stood. “We were hoping to speak with you.”

At that, Hwang leaned over to Merra and told her, lowly, but still loud enough for Pangu to hear, “Go and practice in your room.”

The new Xiang nodded, collected an armful of books, and then left. Once she passed by the last table of the lounge area and into the crowd at large, a series of “ooh”s and “aah”s erupted and the people flocked to her as if they were seeing her for the first time.

“You seem confused,” Jun mentioned with a chuckle. He was talking, naturally, about the scrunched face Pangu was pulling as he watched the scene.

“We are hidden from sight,” Gong carried on explaining, “To the people, this area appears as a decorative fixture in the inn. That way only those we wished to see—you—could approach us.”

Pangu turned back to them and noticed a very similar expression across all their faces. He felt ten years old again so he slowly took a seat and set his hands on his lap. Just like when he was a child, he knew he had to say something but he did not know where to start.

Luckily, Zhu started for him. Unluckily, he was not in the best of moods. Although, to be fair, he hardly ever was. “You know what we will say…do you not?”

“That I have failed in my duties?” Pangu hazarded a guess.

There was no immediate answer though Gong did reflexively shake his head. At least one of them was willing to stick by him, Pangu thought.

He swallowed hard and tried again. “The spirits talked to me already…”

“And you ignored their council,” Zhu snapped back. He did not raise his voice or even have much anger present in his words but Pangu still fought the urge to shrink away.

“Why is it that you refuse to listen to them?” Hwang asked.

Pangu shifted his eyes between the four of them, unable to maintain contact. “I…I know my disciples. I chose them for a reason, and I do not intend to give up on them just because of their pasts. I would choose no others and I trust in my own instinct. I know it is not the best idea from your perspective but I believe in them.”

“One is a Chaaya, Pangu,” Zhu said and narrowed his eyes.

“He was one,” he corrected. “You could think of it this way: I am keeping an enemy closer and unable to do ‘evil’. You could even argue that I have reformed him.” Though Pangu, personally, did not think of it in such terms, he knew that particular framing could alter some of his mentor’s view points. Or so he was hoping.

The men exchanged glances. Then Jun asked, “You will not change your mind?”

Pangu shook his head and briefly let his eyes stay closed. “I am sorry, but no.”

Zhu let out a sigh that was loud and filled with frustration but, despite that, he moved on. “So, when do you intend to find a fourth disciple?”

It was a reasonable question and one Pangu had been thinking about quite a lot, especially during his recovery when he had little else to do besides think. Yet, he decided to turn the questioning to them. “Will Merra be getting disciples as well?”

“Yes, of course,” Hwang answered quickly.

“We will be helping her pick them out,” Jun added.

Pangu had a feeling that was due to his “failure” in the area. He straightened his back and returned to their question. “I was thinking of asking Heidi.”

There were several reasons as to why and the primary reason—which he would never tell her directly—was that choosing her would keep him from having to travel all the way back to Enlil any time soon. He would need to return eventually, of course, but he had a lot on his plate right now that would make the trip highly inconvenient. Then, there was the fact that he knew (or he hoped anyway) that his mentors would approve of her. They knew her resonance and her character so there would be no friction between him and the spirits about the choice.

Finally, there was the more personal reason. While Pangu found himself on edge around his sister and perpetually exhausted by her one-sided sibling rivalry, he did wish to do this for her. She had spent her entire life in his shadow, feeling left behind. Unlocking her ability to interact with the air around her and giving her a power to call her own would be, in a way, a type of amends.

The four old men looked at one another, a hesitant acceptance making its way onto their faces. Each started to nod at a different pace before Gong said, “I think that’s an excellent choice.”

Pangu smiled in relief. “Good. Now, once I have her as my last disciple, I was wondering what all you want of me. With another Xiang in the picture I…I was wondering if my role or my duties would change.”

There had definitely been some conversation about the matter with how their eyes met. In fact, they were probably carrying on a telepathic conversation right at the moment that Pangu could not hear.

He leaned in when Hwang opened his mouth, curious and nervous to hear the verdict. “Well, Pangu, the thing is…”

***

“It is not creepy,” Raine argued as he adjusted his hold on Kira’s hand. With the gloves off he could see the dark spots and the black on his fingertips and under his nails. It was not as bad as it had been right after the miasma burst through its hold but there were some stubborn splotches that refused to disappear.

“Is too,” Kira argued right back.

Raine half-rolled his eyes as he flipped the man’s hands over and pressed a thumb into each of his palms. The energy flow in him was stable and quite strong as well. He had, pretty much, completely recovered physically and spiritually. Although his attitude about spiritual topics was still an issue.

Apparently, the spirits being able to see and hear everything at all times was not a comforting thought to Kira. He saw only the negative side of it and would not be swayed.

Raine did not agree, of course, but he also could not fight the smile that pulled at the corner of his lips. “Honestly, I am just glad you did not state your opinion in front of the Heavenly Princes.”

“Anything I said or did would reflect back onto Pangu,” Kira explained with a sigh. While he had wanted to speak his mind, he knew it was a lot more precarious than it seemed. He would not just be hurting himself with any possible backlash from the obtusely powerful men but he could be hurting Pangu as well.

“That is very mature of you,” Raine commented and pushed his thumbs against the meat of his palm. There was no reason to keep holding onto him but he started to give him something of a hand massage anyway.

Kira noticed and thought of drawing his hands back but decided to indulge a little. He lifted his eyes up to the dark, almost midnight blue of Raine’s irises. He spent too much time looking at him, he decided, as he realized he knew all of the details of his face and was hard pressed to find something new to discover. But, instead of saying anything on his mind, Kira retorted, “I can be mature.”

Raine snickered. “Of course. I am just glad you picked the right time to show it.”

He continued to run his thumbs along the mounds and plateaus of Kira’s palm, making him gulp out of nervousness. The touch, while nice, was starting to breach into a more intimate territory which Kira was sure was not his intent. So he gently pulled back and asked, “Why do those heavenly princes disguise themselves as old men anyway? Why not walk around town with a glowing crown and a perfect face?”

“They were not always divine,” Raine answered and started to fidget with his hands now that he had nothing to hold onto. “They were regular men who ascended to their status so they keep a more human appearance. Something, I guess, is reminiscent of their old appearance.”

“Old?”

He chuckled. “Yes, I suppose. And, while they are directly under Tiandi, they are not meant to be worshipped to the same degree. That is why they take off the ‘Tian’ prefix in their names when they are in our realm.”

“Even Pangu treats them like regular old dudes,” Kira mentioned with a smirk. Had it not been for the Xiang using the men’s names and plenty of context clues, there was a chance he would have never figured out that his mentors were also the four Heavenly Princes. Pangu never stated so up front.

Raine returned with a quiet laugh of his own. “True. But they are also like his parents, in a way.”

“Hopefully they are not scolding him…” Kira had a feeling they were.

Raine did too. But he did not wish to linger on such a possibility, much less speculate on the matter. “We should meditate…like he asked.”

“I guess so.” Kira shrugged and then asked, “Is my spiritual body or whatever alright?”

With a quick pat to the shoulder and a persisting smile, Raine replied, “You are pretty much all better. Pangu should do a once-over in case I missed anything but I bet you will be back to typical training in no time.”

While the two of them settled down on the floor to begin their meditation, Baiya was on the ground level of the palace by the front entrance, trapped in a predicament of his own making. Well, partly Pangu’s making as well.

When the Xiang had asked him to collect information from Oli, he doubted he expected the young man to be so well versed. Baiya had only asked what he thought was a simple and vague question, “So, what can you tell me about Feng?”

As it turned out, everything.

Oli was far more excited by the question than Baiya had anticipated and even ran off momentarily only to return with an arm full of books and documents to help answer his question. He went over the history of the Feng territory, the previous clan leader, the current clan leader, the economic situation, information about the three major cities, their imports and exports, their crime rates, and even their delicacies.

It was an overload and Baiya was not sure when it had happened but he had definitely stopped listening. He was just nodding periodically and humming, “Uh huh” which kept the kid going a mile a minute.

Sweat even started to dampen Baiya’s hairline as he began to worry he would be stuck there forever. He longed for someone to return to the palace. He would even take a break from Viren. Or Heidi.

“Oh, and circling back to Lord Fei Kuta Sim, there are rumors about his wife being the one actually in charge. And of course these are just rumors so it would be wise to not mention them. I just thought I should let you know in case you notice it firsthand. That way you do not say something by accident and offend him, right? So, that is something to keep in mind too,” Oli rambled with a huge grin still intact.

The door to the palace opening was the reprieve Baiya was looking for and, even better than Viren walking through the entrance was Pangu. He could not help but jump up and rush over.

“Pangu!” He grinned and was tailed by Oli who continued to clutch a scroll between his hands. “How did things go?”

“Alright.” The Xiang shrugged. “Did Heidi come back?”

Baiya shook his head. “I have been here with Oli almost the entire time you were gone. No one has come through.” No one, he stressed mentally.

Pangu pursed his lips for a second before glancing up to the stairs. “Are Raine and Kira up there?”

“Yes, or, so I assume. We can check.” Baiya looked over at Oli. “Thanks for all of the information. I’ll make sure to pass it on to Pangu.”

The young man grinned from ear to ear. “Sure thing. And if you have any more questions…”

Baiya did not let him finish and started to lead the way up though Pangu caught up and matched his stride easily. “That boy is very passionate about politics,” he grumbled once they were out of ear shot.

Pangu held back a smirk but it still pulled at one corner of his lips. “Yeah?” he asked as he noticed the exhausted expression on his disciple’s face.

“He may normally seem shy but he can talk.”

They both shared a short, private, laugh before opening the door to Kira’s room. The two other disciples sat on the floor, facing one another, in a meditative pose but they slipped out of that relaxed state as soon as the door creaked open. Kira even scrambled to his feet while Raine sat up on his knees.

“How did it go with your mentors?” Raine asked.

Kira looked even more expectant. “They did not give you too hard of a time, did they?”

Pangu shook his head and looked between them. Heidi was still absent but he realized that was a good thing for the moment. It was only fair to let everyone know before he made the next, big step in his journey. First, however, he wished to ease their concerns.

The fact they were all clearly worried at all was a bit of a blow to his heart. Pangu pushed past that nagging guilt and moved straight to the good news. “Well, I talked about what my role is going forward and we all agreed that I can continue operating as I had been. So, all of our plans remain unaltered while they train Merra. We can set off for Feng in the morning and clear the miasma while seeing about an alliance between the lord and Viren.”

“They have no criticism on anything you’re doing?” Kira pushed with an arched eyebrow. He had a difficult time believing such a thing. There had not been direct hostility toward him or anything but he certainly felt a discomfort aimed his way.

“My methods differ slightly from expectations but there were no demands for change,” Pangu worded his response carefully. Technically, it was true. Not even Zhu told him that he had to disavow Kira or Baiya…he just suggested it. There was a difference.

“That is good then…right?” Raine finally stood as well and stretched his long limbs up, nearly brushing along the ceiling. “We can return to business.”

Pangu nodded. “I also want to add my fourth disciple.” Three intense gazes met his and he almost did not continue. But he shoved down the nerves and carried on anyway, “To help ease their worries, I am going to ask Heidi to be my Enlil disciple.”

“…You want to bring your sister along…?” Baiya carefully replied, not wanting to outright show his disappointment.

Kira, on the other hand, held nothing back. “She’s not a good fit. She’s just going to berate you the whole time.”

Pangu shook his head. “She is not always like you have seen her. This will be good for her…and me as well, I hope. Besides, being my sister, she has high resonance so her training will be smooth.”

Raine glanced between Kira and Baiya who both wore quite prominent frowns. He did not want Pangu to feel even worse for his decision so he slapped on a smile and said, “I think you are right, Pangu. We will not have to travel to Enlil either so this is the best course of action.”

Pangu appreciated his support and gave him a short lived smile in return. He was not sure how much of it was Raine’s true feelings or if he was simply attempting to make him feel better but he was grateful either way. Kira and Baiya certainly were not cheering for the development and, while Pangu did understand, he could not go back on his choice.

He would never say so to either of them, especially not Kira, but Heidi was, in many ways, his compromise for keeping the two of them as his disciples.