#kai might be the caped guy in this shot?

[anaja-theratbird]

So between Elsa bodychecking the ocean and trying to make it her bitch, Kristoff summoning an entire reindeer army, and Anna being 150% ready to go, I couldn’t help but notice this additional character in the Frozen II trailer.

Is that the Little Robber-Girl?

Are we gonna meet the Little Robber-Girl?

(Image: FilmSelect Trailer)

[sergeantsporks]

Another Shot at Life

Rating: General Audiences, Gen

TW: Child abuse, emotional manipulation

Ao3

Hunter accidentally makes his way into the human realm and can't get back home. But he's discovering that might not be such a bad thing.

Ch 2/7: When Mom’s Not Home

Ch 1

“I’m going to tell Belos.”

Hunter woke up with a gasp, patting the area around him. “Red?!” he rolled off of…a couch? Oh—right. When had he fallen asleep? He remembered being up, trying to brainstorm a way to open the portal, up after Camila and Vee had gone to bed—Vee had pointedly locked her door, as if that could keep him out if he actually wanted to capture her.

His palisman chirped cheerfully. Vee was playing with the bird, and Hunter dove for it, snatching Red away. “Don’t touch him!”

She yipped, scrambling back away from him.

Hunter examined the bird in his hands. Red warbled gently at him, and he leaned back against the couch, rubbing his eyes. Sunlight filtered in through cracks in blinds, and Hunter squinted. “What time is it?”

“Ten-ish.”

Hunter bolted upright. “Ten?!”

“Yeah, how do you sleep in that armor?”

“I can’t sleep until ten, I have—” Hunter growled. “Ten. Why didn’t I wake up?!” He glared at his palisman. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

His palisman cheerfully tweeted that he didn’t have to wake up at five anymore, and he needed the sleep.

Vee held out a hand for his palisman to fly to, but Hunter put a hand in front of Red before it could go to her. She frowned. “Why would Belos care if you had a palisman, anyway?”

Hunter scooped Red up. “He… doesn’t like wild magic.” He squeezed his palisman close to his chest, and Red chirped softly, as if to reassure him that he was still there. “And… he eats palisman.”

Vee’s eyes widened. “That’s horrible!”

“No it’s not!” Hunter said defensively, “He needs them—it’s not like he eats them because they’re a delicious delicacy.” He scratched Red’s head. “I just… don’t want him to eat this one.”

Vee scooted a little closer, eying him nervously. “I… promise I won’t eat Red. I know basilisks get a bad reputation, but I would never hurt another creature.”

Hunter hated the fact that his hands were trembling so bad, and he shook his head, still cuddling Red to his chest.

Camila came down the stairs, tossing a bundle of cloth down next to Hunter. “Tell me if those fit. They might be a bit big—they used to be Luz’s father’s.”

“I’m keeping my armor on.”

“Aren’t you hot?”

Hunter tugged his cape more firmly around him. “I’m keeping my uniform.”

Camila shrugged. “Suit yourself.” She sat down on the couch. “I know you’re not friends with Luz, but can you tell me anything about her?”

Hunter set Red on his shoulder, curling his knees up to his chest. “Only that apparently she’s the best girlfriend in existence,” he snorted.

Camila gasped. “Luz has a boyfriend?!”

Hunter scooted away from her a bit. “Noooooooo.”

“Luz has a girlfriend?! She didn’t tell me! Oh, that’s so exciting! What’s her name?”

“Amity.”

“Awwww, she’s growing up so fast.”

“She’s… she was nice to me,” he admitted, “Uh…” what else did he know about Luz? “She’s… she’s gotten pretty good at using magic. Even though she’s a human. She’s even going to school. I think maybe she fits in pretty well on the Boiling Isles.”

He could almost immediately sense that he’d said the wrong thing. It was something small—it was always a little detail, a tiny shift that he wasn’t sure how he’d caught—but it was enough to make him scoot further away from the human before her mood made a more obvious change. “I can’t do magic,” he continued as if nothing were wrong, changing the subject, “Born powerless.” He scratched his palisman’s head again. “Red here helps me do magic. So does my other staff.”

Camila nodded absentmindedly. “I’m going to work, now. Thank you, Hunter. Vee, there’s leftovers in the fridge. Teach Hunter how to use the microwave, kay? Be good, both of you.”

The human disappeared out the door, and Vee stood up. “Camila doesn’t want Luz to stay in the boiling isles,” she said softly, “She feels like she failed her. Maybe don’t talk about how much better off Luz is in the isles. It’s… a little upsetting.”

Hunter followed her up the stairs. “Why do you care so much? I mean—why stay here? You can look like anyone. Go anywhere. You don’t have to stay here.”

“I need magic to transform, first of all, and there’s not a lot of it out here, and second of all, I like it here!”

“Not a lot of it?” Hunter echoed, “So there is some out here, though?”

Vee disappeared into her room, closing the door. “Go away.”

“Hey! What did I do to you?”

“Why don’t you ask your emperor,” Vee responded, her voice muffled by the door.

Hunter rolled his eyes. “Okay. Look. You don’t like me. Fine. But the sooner I can find anything that will get me home, the sooner I’ll leave, and you won’t have to see me again.”

The door opened a crack again. “Fine. There’s a guy who collects magic stuff. He curates a museum. If anyone has something that will get you back, it’ll be him.”

“Where do I find him?”

“Trust me, you don’t WANT to find him. He’s dangerous.”

“So am I.”

“I’m serious. If he finds out what you are, he’ll kill you, cut you open—don’t go near him. Wait until nighttime and sneak in, if you have to go at all.”

Hunter pulled up his hood to hide his ears, and Red hid inside, chirping softly. “No offense, but I think I can pass as human a little better than you.”

“No offense, but you stick out like a sore thumb in that outfit. If you’re so determined to get killed, then go ahead. Like I said, he’s the curator at the museum. That’s where he keeps his magical artifacts, too.”

“Great.” Hunter started towards the door.

“Do you know where the museum is?”

“How hard can it be to find?”

Vee chuckled slightly. “Never mind, I don’t have to worry about Jacob killing you. You’ll get hit by a car before you even reach the museum.”

Hunter’s ears burned, and he slammed the door behind him. Right. This would be fine, he just had to get to a high vantage point, and then he could find the museum. Make a mental map of the area. He surveyed his surroundings, then scrambled up onto a trash can, hopping up and using the window frame as a foothold as he grabbed the top of the roof, hauling himself up.

There were buildings as far as he could see—rows and rows of them, neat and orderly.

No wonder Uncle Belos wants to combine the worlds.

Hunter scanned the building, looking for one that looked like it would hold old stuff. Finally, he caught sight of a statue next to a building that didn’t share the uniformity of the other buildings. Bingo. He mapped the streets in his head, plotting turns.

When he got back down off of the roof, Vee was waiting for him. “I’m going with you,” she declared.

“Thought you wanted to stay away from the museum?”

Vee crossed her arms. “I’m not going to go in. But Camila wouldn’t want you to go alone.”

“Go away. I don’t need you to babysit me.”

“I’m not babysitting you. I’m making sure you don’t go around conspiring with Jacob to capture me.”

Hunter started down the road. “For the last time, I’m not even a little bit interested in kidnapping you. You’re not hurting anyone here. Why would I care?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” Vee said sarcastically, following behind him, “Maybe because Belos chased me all the way here?”

Hunter stopped dead in his tracks. “What are you talking about?”

“Seriously? You’re the golden guard, how do you not know about the basilisk experiments?”

That bothered him a lot more than he wanted to say. “Great question. I thought basilisks were extinct?”

Vee walked ahead of him, crossing her arms. “We were. Belos created us.”

“How?!”

“I don’t know, how were you made?”

Hunter rolled his eyes, jogging after her. “Well, you see, Vee, when a mama witch and a papa witch love each other very much—”

“Very funny. Look, I don’t know. Belos didn’t exactly bother shoving his scientific notes into my cage.” She looked back at him. “You really didn’t know?”

Hunter shifted uncomfortably. “I’m head of a whole coven. I don’t keep an eye on every single experiment.” Apparently. But that was Belos’ personal experiment, he didn’t need to know everything—he was head of the emperor’s coven, not the emperor.

“Maybe you should have paid a little more attention to your surroundings, coven head. Belos hurt me, and all of my kind.”

“You think you’re the only one Belos has hurt? You’re not special.” The words popped out of his mouth before he could think, and Vee twisted back to look at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean—he’s the emperor—he has to punish people who break the rules—I’m just saying—”

“Well, I didn’t break any rules, except by existing, I guess.” Vee replied. She stopped. “Here we go. This is where I stop.”

Hunter gazed up at the broken-down building, then at the statue nearby.

His heart seemed to stop in his chest.

That was—

“Vee,” he asked in a strangled whisper, “Why does this town have a statue of Emperor Belos?”

Vee blinked at him. “What are you talking about?” Then her eyes widened. “You’ve seen the emperor without his mask?!”

“Of course I have, I—why is there a statue of him here, Vee?!”

“I don’t know,” she responded in a hushed voice, “Those are town founders, I think.”

Okay. Belos had been here before—he’d known that. He could ask when he got back. Right now, he needed to focus. “Where is the magic stuff?”

“In a room behind the welcome desk. Watch out for Jacob.”

“I can handle one measly human.”

Hunter pushed open the door. No one was at the desk, so he just walked into the back room. Vee was right—there was a lot of stuff in here. He picked up a training wand. Useless, at least to him. Still he tucked it in his pocket. He blinked at the back wall. It was covered in paper, pictures of the owl lady, in her beast form and regular. He traced the red lines with one finger, skipping over an old sketch. He stopped, going back. The sketch was worn and faded, but he could just make out a cardinal.

“Looks kind of like you,” he remarked to his palisman.

Red tweeted in agreement.

“Hey! You can’t be back here!”

Hunter whirled around, whipping out his coven staff. “Stay back!”

The man wrinkled his nose. “Eh, geeze, you really go out like that? Costume needs work, if you’re a little witch wannabe.”

Hunter’s ears burned. “I am not a witch wannabe! Where did you get this stuff?”

The man gave him a fake smile. “Hey, kiddo, it’s just some costume stuff, don’t worry about it, just come on out into the regular museum, okay? If you’re here for those tarot cards, they all got stolen, I’m sorry.”

“It is not just costume stuff.” Hunter jabbed a finger at the pictures of the owl lady. “I’ve met her. I know what she can do. And I know that you collect magical items.”

“You met her? Okay. Wait. I’m Jacob. You met the owl beast?”

“Yeah, she’s a real pain,” Hunter muttered, edging for the door. Nothing here could help him—and he was pretty sure that this curator guy couldn’t, either.

Jacob moved to block the door. “Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Don’t go!”

“This was a waste of my time. Get out of my way.”

Jacob’s gaze zeroed in on the inside of Hunter’s hood. “Is that…”

Hunter backed up, clutching his staff tightly. “What?”

Faster than he could react, Jacob lunged forward, flipping his hood off. Hunter kicked him, then slammed his staff right into the curator’s stomach. “Get back!” he warned.

Jacob gasped for air. “That cardinal—you look just like—” he rummaged around in a desk drawer, dragging out a sketch of a man with a cardinal on his shoulder. A chill ran down Hunter’s spine. That did look like him. Down to the haircut. What was wrong with this town?!

“What’s that, your creepy fanart?”

Jacob’s face turned a blotchy red. “It is not fanart, it is an artistic interpretation of what our town founder’s face would have looked like based on his statue! And except for your ears and scar, you look just like him! You even have the cardinal! Are you descended from him? Or maybe a clone, sent from Mars, and made to take his place?”

Wow. “Yeeahhh. Unlikely.” Hunter ducked around him. “Thanks for showing me your… whatever that was, but I’m going now.”

Jacob grabbed his arm. “You can’t go!”

Hunter kicked him right between the legs, wrenching away and making a break for the door. Vee was right. This guy was just insane. He slammed the door behind him, jumping over the desk and pushing it against the door. The door opened inward, so it wouldn’t hold him, but it would slow him down. Hunter burst out of the museum doors, tearing down to where Vee was sitting at the base of the statue.

“Time to go!”

Vee jumped up, running after him. “What happened?!”

“He’s crazy!”

“I told you!”

The doors to the museum burst open, and Jacob’s eyes widened when he saw Vee. “YOU!” he howled, and he sprinted after the two of them.

Hunter stopped, turning to face him. “I’ll take care of him.”

Vee backpedaled and grabbed his collar, dragging him forward. “You will not! The object is to not draw attention! Which fighting an adult in the street will most definitely do!” She yanked his hood over his ears. “You’re really bad at this.”

Jacob gave up, winded, halfway down the street. Vee didn’t stop running until they’d gotten back to the house, huffing and puffing.

“I could have handled that guy,” Hunter panted, “Easy.”

“You’re—crazy. Did you find anything that would help you get home?”

“No,” Hunter sulked, “Just a lot of useless junk.”

“Told you. What did you say that made him go after you?”

Hunter shuddered. “He went on and on about how I looked like one of those statue guys.”

“Oh, yeah. He thinks that the town founders got kidnapped and taken to the demon realm by a witch.”

Hunter rubbed his arms. “Not sure he’s wrong about that part.” That statue had looked way too much like Uncle Belos to be a coincidence. “I… guess you’re going to tell Camila about what I did?”

Vee shrugged. “I don’t know. It might come up. We like to talk about our days at dinner. Why?”

Hunter shifted from foot to foot. “No reason.”

Vee gave him an uncomfortably understanding look. “She won’t get mad. She didn’t tell you not to go there. If anything, she’ll be worried.”

“I… I put you in danger, though.”

“I went on my own. You didn’t make me. Actually, I’m pretty sure you told me not to come.”

“I just… Whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

Vee held open the door for him. “Camila isn’t going to hurt you.”

“I never said she would!”

“No, but you were thinking it. I get it. I used to get worried about making her mad, at first. It’s hard to imagine the adults not hurting you. I won’t tell her if you don’t want me to. But Camila’s not like that.”

Hunter’s shoulders stiffened. “I’m not like you. You were an experiment, you were locked up. I’m the head of the emperor’s coven. I wasn’t—I was happy.”

Vee shook her head. “If you say so.”

“I was!” Hunter took a deep breath. “Look, I… I’m sorry. That you were hurt.”

“By Emperor Belos. Your boss.” Vee pressed.

Hunter rubbed his arms. “Y-yeah. Sure. Whatever.”

“He’s… not a good person, Hunter. You know that, right? You ran from him for a reason.”

“I was just—I was scared of getting punished. But I—I shouldn’t have attacked Kikimora. I would have deserved—”

“Why are you defending him?!”

“I’m not you, Vee! Maybe to you he was a horrible tyrant, but to me, he’s the only family I’ve got! He cares about me, Vee. Sometimes he can be harsh, but it’s just because he wants me to be my best self!”

Vee shook her head. “I can’t believe it. You actually think that!”

“Of course I do! Because it’s the truth!”

Vee jabbed a finger at him. “There’s more than one way to lock someone in a cage, Hunter. And I’m starting to think that I got the better bargain.”

Ch 3

[autisticfangpyreclub]

Gold stained hands, red stained teeth - chapter 2

slight emetophobia warning for this chapter, though nothing graphic and the thing that could trigger it is mentioned very briefly.

-

“Cole, calm down!” Kai struggled to restrain a panicked Cole from lunging with his wooden stake. “He’s not going to hurt us!”

“That’s just what he wants you to think!” Cole yelled at him, frantically trying to break free from Kai’s grasp. “Nya, get away from him!”

Nya stood protectively in front of Lloyd, who clutched onto her arm like a child afraid of getting separated from their parent. Zane pushed Cole back, and yanked the stake out of his hand. “Cole, stop it!” he shouted, “you're scaring him!”

“I’m scaring him?!” Cole gestured violently towards Lloyd, “he was literally dead before I passed out!”

Lloyd whimpered. He let go of Nya’s arm and timidly approached Cole, who drew back in fear. “I… I promise I’m not going to hurt you,” he stuttered, “I’ve never bitten anyone, I swear!”

Cole tried to reach for the stake again, but Nya kicked it under the cabinet. “Don’t even think about it,” she said coldly, jabbing a finger at Cole’s chest.

Cole sputtered, looking around at everyone giving him similarly hostile looks. “B-But, he’s a vampire!”

“Yeah, but he’s like a chill, nice vampire,” Jay said, “and he’s super polite, seriously, you should’ve heard how many times he said ‘please’ after he woke up.”

“Do… I really say it that often?” Lloyd asked, blushing.

“Yup, at least a dozen times.”

Cole threw his hands up in defeat. “Fine, let’s say I believe you, just what are we supposed to do now?!”

“Well, uh…” Kai looked down sheepishly, “I was kinda thinking we could bring him back to the dorm-“

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Cole shot back. He sighed, and nervously glanced over at Lloyd, who was fiddling with the hem of his shirt. “And not just because he’s a vampire, but also because I don’t feel like explaining to our supervisor why we have a teenager squatting in our dorm.”

Kai shook his head. “That’s exactly why he needs to come with us! We can’t just leave a fifteen year old here all alone!”

“Hey! I’m sixteen!” Lloyd said with a pout, “six hundred and sixteen, actually!”

Nya laughed, and ruffled Lloyd’s hair. “Sixteen or six hundred, you don’t wanna be all by yourself, right?”

“Well, no…”

“Then it’s settled!” Zane said cheerfully, clapping his hands together, “you can come stay with us!”

“What?!” Cole gaped at him, bewildered at the sudden turn of events. “I didn’t agree to this-“

Zane took Lloyd’s hand and led him towards the door. “I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the couch, it’s a little beat up but-“

“What’s a couch?” Lloyd asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Um… well, it’s like a chair and a bed… combined?” Zane replied, “it’s a little hard to explain.”

“Oh, alright… wait!” Lloyd let go of his hand, and passed a still gawking Cole as he walked towards the wardrobe, “I should get dressed first!”

He swung the wardrobe open, and pulled out a long black cape. “Hm, should I wear this one or… oh!” he noticed the others staring at him, and covered himself with the cape. “If you all don’t mind… do you think you could…?”

Zane nodded. “Take as long as you like dear, we’ll give you some privacy.” They all shuffled out of the room, except for Cole, who had to be dragged out by his shirt collar.

Once the door was shut, Cole didn’t hold back. “Are you all out of your goddamn minds?! He’s a fucking vampire! What the hell are you thinking?!”

“Vampire or not, he is still an adolescent who has clearly experienced severe trauma,” Zane said, “I’m having trouble accepting the reality of vampires myself-“

“And that I was right?” Jay said smugly.

Zane rolled his eyes. “This doesn’t mean I suddenly believe ghosts exist.”

“WHAT?! But I was right about vampires!”

“Vampires I’m sure have a clear biological explanation, I still cannot think of anything that scientifically explains the existence of ghosts-“

“Let’s not get into this again, okay?” Nya cut them off, “Cole, I know you're scared, but Lloyd is more scared of you then you are of him. So please, just… give him a chance, alright?”

Cole was about to retort, but instead just grit his teeth and exhaled sharply. “...fine. But if he sucks out all my blood in the middle of the night, I’m blaming you guys.”

“Deal.”

The door creaked open, and Lloyd stepped out. He was dressed in a green coat with golden accents, and had the black cape draped over his shoulders. He had changed out of his stained white shirt into a black button up that was lined with frilly lace, and he had a green bow tied around his neck. “I’m all ready, how do I look?” he asked, adjusting his bow to sit over his collar.

“You look so pretty!” Nya cheered, “loving that cape, way to bring it back in style.”

“Thank you!” he twirled his cape, “but… I’m sensing I might look a bit… unusual in this time period, if the strange attire you're wearing are anything to go by…”

Kai waved his hand nonchalantly. “It’ll be fine, if it’s really an issue I have plenty of clothes you can wear. You like green right?”

“I love green!” Lloyd said excitedly, rocking back and forth on the spot. “It’s my favourite colour after gold, although I also like black…”

“Wait, speaking of which, how are we supposed to sneak you out of here?” Jay asked, eyeing Lloyd’s flashy outfit, “you do stick out quite a bit… and it’ll look suspicious if we leave with one more person than we came in with.”

Lloyd thought for a moment, then his face brightened with an idea.

-

“You okay in there little buddy?”

Lloyd peeked his head out of Kai’s pocket. He gave a high-pitched squeak as a reply, which Kai assumed meant yes. Kai gave him a thumbs up. “Don’t come out until I give the all clear all right?”

Lloyd nodded and nuzzled back inside his pocket. He yawned, and covered himself with his wings. It was hard to believe he was still tired, after technically being ‘asleep’ for six hundred years.

The ride in Kai’s pocket was a bumpy one. Lloyd tried not to let out a squeak every time he was shaken around, but it was getting harder as Kai quickened his pace. He felt like he was about to vomit up the expired blood he had drunk earlier all over Kai’s pants.

At last the ride came to a stop when Kai sat down. “Alright, we’re in the car, you can come out.”

Lloyd flitted out of Kai’s pocket and transformed back into his regular form. He slumped down onto the back seat. Turning from bat to person certainly hadn’t helped his stomach. He swallowed the bile rising in his throat and gazed at his surroundings. “Where am I?”

“This is a car,” Nya replied, “it’s like… a horse drawn carriage, but instead of a horse it’s run by a machine that makes the car move.”

“Like magic?”

Lloyd’s eyes were sparkling, and Nya didn’t have the heart to correct him. “Uh… yeah, like magic!”

“Don’t forget your seatbelt!” Kai said as he reached back and buckled Lloyd in. Lloyd eyed the seatbelt curiously.

“What’s this for?”

“That’s to keep you safe if we get in an accident-which we won’t!” Kai added quickly, “but better safe than sorry.”

They pulled out of the parking lot, and onto the road. It was already getting dark out, which fortunately meant Lloyd didn’t have to worry about the sun. He stared wistfully out the window as they got farther away from the castle. The trees they passed seemed so familiar, and yet so different.

It was night by the time they pulled into the campus lot. Lloyd had fallen asleep during the long journey, so Kai picked him up and carried him into their dorm room. He laid him down onto the couch, and tossed a blanket over him.

“Do you want me to stay until he wakes up?” Nya asked as she waited outside the door.

“I’ve got it, you go get some sleep,” Kai whispered, tucking a pillow under Lloyd’s head.

She nodded, and closed the door. Kai watched Lloyd sleep for a couple minutes, and then went to grab something to eat after realizing that was creepy.  

He pulled a fruit cup out of the mini fridge, and ate it while sitting on the table in silence. Lloyd would probably be hungry when he woke up. Kai didn’t mind letting him have some of his blood, but they would need to think of a better solution for the long term. Maybe he could steal some blood from the hospital… nah, he couldn’t steal to save his life.

The quiet was interrupted by the door bursting open. “Hey Kai, guess what we got!” Jay said as he walked in carrying a mcdonalds bag.

Kai shushed him, and pointed at Lloyd. “Oh, sorry…” Jay whispered, as he laid the bag onto the table. “We got you some fries.”

“Thanks,” Kai grabbed his fries out of the bag, and shoved a couple in his mouth. “Make sure you don’t wake him up, he’s had a rough day,” he said between bites.

“Yeah, I got it,” Jay sat down at his desk, and pulled out his notebook. He wrote down something, and then looked back at Lloyd. “Aren’t vampires nocturnal though? Why’s he asleep?”

Kai shrugged. “No different than one of us taking a nap in the middle of the day, right?”

“True.”

Cole flopped down onto his bed. “Speaking of naps, I’m gonna pass out too pretty soon,” he mumbled, “make sure the vampire doesn’t kill me in my sleep.”

“He has a name, Cole,” Zane said while buttoning up his pyjamas. He climbed up the ladder on their shared bunk bed, and tucked himself in. “We should all get some sleep now, it’s almost past midnight,” he yawned.

Kai also yawned, and nodded his head. “Your right, c’mon Jay.”

Jay didn’t look up from his notebook. “Not yet! I still gotta write down my observations-“

Kai grabbed him by the shoulder, and pulled him out of his chair. “You can do that tomorrow, let’s get some rest.”

Jay groaned, but didn’t fight back as Kai pushed him into his bed. He tried to keep himself from dozing off, but within a minute he was already out cold.

Kai climbed into his bed on the top bunk. He leaned over the railing to check on Lloyd, who was snoring softly, and had his cape wrapped around him like a blanket. Kai chuckled softly, then laid down and closed his eyes. “G’night guys… night Lloyd…”

-

The doors to the crypt slammed open as a robed figure scurried inside. She threw her umbrella aside, and wrung the water from her cloak. The rain pouring outside had been a setback at first, but given that meant no one was outside to witness a mysterious cloaked lady running through the night, it had turned out in her favour.

The robed figure approached the stone altar that stood in the center of the hollow room. A basin of water illuminated by black candles sat atop it, along with a spell book that she gently caressed with her hands. “Hello, old friend…”

Her servants had already prepared the ritual for her. She could sense them lurking in the shadows around her, watching and waiting for her next move. Time to give them a show.

She opened the book, and read the incantation off the page. The guttural sound echoed through the crypt, inciting excited murmurs from her servants. As she read, a tear in the fabric of reality grew above her. The water turned black, and splashed over the candles, leaving the sickly green light emanating from the portal the only light in the room.

As the final word was spoken, a man fell out of the portal. He landed on the ground in front of her. He grunted, and shakily pushed himself to his feet. His long black hair obscured his vision, but he sneered at the figure in front of him. “Who are you, why have you summoned me here?”

She laughed dryly. “Is that anyway to talk to your queen, Morro?”

Morro swept his hair away from his eyes. His demeanor immediately changed, and he sank to his knees. “My queen… I apologize, I didn’t recognize you-”

“Bow.”

Morro bit his lip, and bowed his head. The preeminent smiled, and leaned down and stroked his cheek. “My dearest follower… i've missed you so,” she whispered, “I have some… unfortunate news, however…”

She yanked him by the hair, and pulled him up to her eye level. “You have failed me, my child,” she hissed.

Sweat rolled down Morro’s forehead. A strangled noise escaped his throat. “My queen… what are you saying-”

The preeminent slapped him across the face, then threw him to the floor. She watched him struggle to get up, and her calm smile returned. “Do you remember the Garmadon family?” she said sweetly.

Morro gasped in pain. “Y-Yes… I killed all of them, I personally staked each of their hearts… but Wu, that wasn’t my fault, I died searching for him-”

He cried out as the preeminent slapped him again. “Do not talk back to me!” she snapped, “I’m not talking about him… I’m talking about Lloyd.”

“The… the boy?” Morro touched his cheek, wincing at the stinging sensation spreading across his face.

“He’s alive,” the preeminent snarled, “you lied to me.”

“No, I didn’t!” he shouted, “I swear, I watched him die, I couldn’t find the body but-”

She circled him like a hawk, glaring daggers into him. “So you didn’t burn him, or make sure there was no way anyone could resurrect him, hmm?”

Morro clutched his shirt in his hands. “No… no that's impossible, you can’t possibly mean…”

Hushed whispers came from the servants intently watching the confrontation from the sidelines. Morro breathed heavily, holding his head in his hands. “No, no… who… who did it?”

“I’m sure you’ll find out,” she crooned. She held out a hand for Morro, who looked at it nervously before allowing her to help him up. “My dear child… go finish what you started so long ago…”

She ran her fingers through his hair. He curled his hand into a fist, and leaned into her touch. “I will, my queen… I’ll kill him… and I’ll make sure he’ll never come back again.”

“Good…” the preeminent stepped away, and turned towards the exit. She beckoned towards the shadows. A servant ran out, and handed her umbrella to her.

“Wrayth here will show you to the armoury,” she said, as she stepped out into the rain. “And as for the rest of you,” she addressed the other servants waiting patiently in the dark, “follow Morro’s orders, he is in charge while I’m away.”

And with that, she slammed the door behind her. Morro stood in silence, feeling uncomfortable with the eyes of the servants now on him. He was their leader now, as he had been centuries ago. He checked his pulse, and shivered when he realized he didn’t have one.

“I’m still dead…”

The servant, the one she had called ‘Wrayth,’ handed him a silver blade. “Our queen told me that this was yours, Morro.”

Morro stared down at the small dagger. It was indeed the same blade he had wielded when he attacked the Garmadon’s, he could still see traces of golden blood flecked on its surface. What it lacked in size, it made up for in its effect against vampires.

Morro narrowed his eyes. He couldn’t wait to stab this blade through that vampire brats heart.

-

“Kai!”

Kai sat up stiff straight in bed at the sound of Lloyd’s scream. He practically jumped down the ladder, and rushed over to him. “What happened?!” he asked, sitting down next to him on the couch.

Lloyd’s breathing was fast and strained. He was shaking, and tears were forming in his eyes. “I-I… they were chasing me… I… I couldn’t get away…”

“It’s okay, it was just a bad dream,” Kai whispered softly to him, “it wasn’t real-“

“IT WAS REAL!” Lloyd suddenly shouted, startling Kai. “I watched my parents die, and all I could do was run away! I watched them burn them, I watched him stake them, and all I could do was… just stand there…”

He sobbed into his hands. Kai put a hand on his back, but Lloyd pushed him away. “Lloyd-“

“You should just kill me!” Lloyd cried, his lip trembling, “I’m useless! I’m just a useless monster who can’t help anyone… not even my own mother and father…”

Kai grabbed Lloyd by the shoulders, and turned him to face him. “Don’t you dare think that!” he said firmly, “you aren’t useless! None of what happened was your fault, you're just a kid.”

Lloyd held back a gross sob and looked down. “But… I’m a vampire, I’m supposed to be strong…”

“No one can be strong all the time, not even vampires.”

Kai pulled him into a tight hug. Lloyd squeaked in surprise, but then squeezed him back just as tight. “Thank you… I don’t understand why you're being so kind to me-“

“Hey, what’s with all the noise?” Jay grunted. His eyes widened when he noticed the tears running down Lloyd’s face. “Shit, you okay Lloyd?”

“I’m fine,” Lloyd said quickly, wiping his eyes, “don’t worry about me.”

“Let me get you some water,” Kai stood up, and headed towards the kitchen, “uh, if you drink water that is…?”

“I do, water sounds nice…” Lloyd laid back down onto the couch, and sighed. “I don’t want to fall back asleep… but I’m still tired…”

“Well, I know what I like to do while I’m trying to fall asleep,” Jay pulled out his phone, and googled ‘funny cat compilation.’ He held out his phone for Lloyd to see. “I just watch cat videos!”

Lloyd gazed at the screen in awe. “How is that… little box doing that? How did those cats get inside?!”

“It’s a video, those aren’t real cats, well, they are but… it’s really confusing to explain…” Jay trailed off.

Kai watched them from the kitchen. Lloyd seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself, laughing and smiling freely and unguarded. Kai wanted to protect that smile.

He brought the glass of water over, and set it down onto the table. Lloyd reminded him of Nya when she was young. She had always tried to act strong, but Kai knew it was just to hide how lost and helpless she felt. They had lost their parents too. If anyone knew how Lloyd must’ve felt, it was them.

In that moment, Kai decided he would watch out for Lloyd from then on. He needed someone to keep him safe, and although Kai was only human, he’d walk to the ends of the earth to do so.

[thecurseoflife]

CHAPTER 17 - My King, my Queen.

For the whole three weeks their plan took to be fully made, Camalia didn't see any of the Saporian's faces. Not even a glimpse of what they might look like.

So she had to fall back on her imagination.

She imagined Andrew as repulsive and disgusting as possible, with hideous features. Which would perfectly match his personnality, that she definitely didn't like.

Clementine was, in her head, kind of an old woman, but not that old. A bit cranky, with that constant frown, always bent over. She thought about some kind of a shawl over her shoulder, and a belt where she put all of her her magic thingies.

Maisie was very classy, with an uptight ouftit, maybe going a bit over the top with a cape, but nothing more. He would have a sword, or even just a dagger hanging on his side. She thought about a moustache that curls in the hand, that he was used to bully with his fingers whenever he was stressed or deep in thought.

Kai would be that big, cuddly man, looking like a teddy bear. Maybe with a very soft beard, very clean and nicely styled. The girl couldn't even imagine him with a weapon, but she had to remind herself that they were technically criminals. An axe would work with the features she had, but it looked so weird in his hands. She finally handed up with a stick. Stick is good.

Juniper would be with long hair, a large, bright grin, and maybe some freckles on her cheeks. It would underline her nice and goofy personality. She would be thin and constantly bruised, with funky hair bouncing everywhere. A long and nice sword would be the perfect weapon for her, and she was sure the saporian would wield it with grace and precision.

When she shared her thoughts to Varian, he simply snorted at Andrew's description and shrugged off the rest. To be fair, he hadn't really put names on the faces he saw, so he was just a little bit less lost. However, he was mildly happy to see how well she was getting along with the crew.

In one hand, it would ease communication a lot, and make her a part of the team, but on the other hand, he felt like she was more accepted than him... And also, they were supposed to be allies, not making buddy-buddy with the criminals. Their sad origin story didn't really move him that much. He didn't really cared, but he was glad it convinced Camalia, whatever her reasons were.

During the making of the Plan, they were confronted to the biggest problem : Captain. He was smart, strong, very smart, and an excellent leader. To overthrow the royalties, they had to go through him. A lot of solutions were offered, but all of them were destroyed by Camalia's inside knowledge of the man. They were hitting a dead end when the castle was suddenly full of running guards and panicked maids. Camalia got up from the place near the well she was sitting at, watching with surprise all of those people running around, in and out of the prison. She spotted Stan and Pete running around and gestured them to come closer. They hesitated, the girl now in prison was a criminal, then decided that between a very confusing order and the girl they've seen grow over the years, they chose the girl.

-What's going on ? Asked Camalia

A split second of doubt before Pete answered.

-Cap' is gone.

Disbelief painted itself across the girl's face, while behind her, Varian had a smile. Even though he didn't really want to convey his feelings to the guards.

-What ? What do you mean "gone" ? Is he ok ?

-Oh, yeah, don't mind Pete. Captain was fine the last time we saw him. He just... ran away.

-Captain ran away ?

-Yes. To find Cassandra.

He used to talk about Cassandra. During those little times they shared, before the curse became too strong. She was his beloved daughter, his treasure. He loved her with all his heart, and what was incredulity faded into understanding.

As Pete and Stan went back to their crazy run, she let go of the bars and went back to the well, sitting close to Varian, who couldn't hide his excitement.

-Did you hear that, guys ?

Once again, Andrew's disgustingly sweet voice rose.

-Yes, we did. It's great news. Now that Cap's gone, this plan will go easily.

After that, they learned by listening some guards that Stan and Pete had been designated to be captains while waiting for the actual Captain. There was supposed to be only one, but... well... Stan and Pete.

At first, Camalia was thrilled for her friends. Then she darken, remembering that they would be on opposite sides. Well, at least, they won't be harmed that bad... right ? Just... erasing their memories, and that's it ! It's okay. As the weeks passed by, Camalia's mindset changed, and she wasn't sure she liked it. She found more and more reasons... no, excuses to do what she was doing. They won't hurt anyone, it's better this way... She lied, and lied. Over, and over. But what else was she supposed to do ? She understood too well the Saporian's feeling and situation, and she couldn't leave Varian. Even if she wanted to, that is. After all, they were stuck in the same cell. She blocked out the little voice screaming she was wrong. She had to do this. She needed to do this.

It was the middle of the night, but everyone in jail was wide awake. Varian was silently watching the moon, waiting for it to disappear behind the tower. Camalia was stretching, breathing deeply, guitar in hand. Under them, the Saporian's were tensed, ready to jump out.

They had one shot at this And they weren't going to mess it up.

Minutes passed by and everything was quiet. Slowly, the shadows took over the light that disappeared in the window, only leaving the gentle flicker of the torchs in the corridor. Varian turned to Camalia and nodded.

She breathed in and played. The door, and part of the wall, exploded. Under them, and at the same time, the Saporians had unlocked their door and were now going up the stairs as fast as they could. A scream was heard above them, and a lot of steps eagerly running toward them. With a simple note, Camalia locked the door, and after a brief hesitation, placed several rocks in front of it. They needed to go through that door, but for now, it would prevent the others from getting to them. She turned back to the stairs just in time to see the last Saporian appearing.

I can't describe to you what the young music mage felt, upon seeing Juniper and Kai for the very first time. However, I can tell you that she froze, and nearly dropped her guitar. I can tell you that she walked over slowly, like in a dream, unable to detach her eyes from Juniper's beautiful, gorgeous dark skin. She couldn't hear the pressing voices nor could she feel the hands trying to get her to focus. Juniper didn't move, kind of confused, but feeling like the girl needed whatever was going on. I can tell you that Camalia approached her hand, brushed Juniper's arm and pulled away, like she had been burned. She hesitated, then touched it again. Juniper raised her arm, and Camalia could see her palm. She was shocked, and honestly shaken. She raised her arm next to the woman's. She was lighter, but... They were...

-You- You're like me.

Her voice was strangled and shaking, and her eyes were still glued to both of their arms next to eachothers. Juniper looked at Camalia. She looked at her upset face, at the tears building up and she understood. She looked at Camalia, she really looked at her, looked at her soul, at her story, like it was a book. Juniper was a tough woman, and always took pride in that. She didn't show weakness, she was strong, she never softened her words over what she was really thinking. So no, they weren't the same, not at all. But right now, that's now what the kid meant.

Without hesitation, she pulled Camalia in for a hug, and whispered in her ears.

-Yes, we are.

It took every bone in Camalia's body to not start crying her 15 years built up feelings right then and there. But they had to get moving, so she just hugged back and then took some deep breath to calm down and regain some kind of composure. Most of the people in the room, except Kai and Juniper, had no idea what just happened. All they knew is that they were wasting time.

Camalia grabbed her guitar and walked over the blocked door. They could hear guards banging on it, trying to get past the huge pile of rock the mage built. She stood as close of it as she could, then ended up backing up a bit.

-I am Camalia, a music mage, and I'm about to blow up this door. Unless you want to blow up with it, you better back up !

They heard the guards hurrily scatter behind the door, and within a beat, the door exploded. The Saporians and their allies rushed into the opening, knocking out any guards in their way. They ran up the stairs, to arrive in a corridor filled with guards, led by Stan and Pete. Their faces paled when they saw Camalia with the criminals, and once again, doubt ached in the music mage's heart.

They quickly composed themselves and ordered the attack. Without a second thought, the Saporians launched into battle. Varian, Camalia and Clementine stayed put, Camalia and Varian protecting the mage. The Saporians forged a path through the guards, and once they were on the other side of the corridor, they formed a circle around Andrew that placed a rune on the wood. In the Coronans' point of view, the criminals were cornered, separated and easy to take down. They were completely took off guard when the bigger group suddenly broke defenses and layed as flat as they could on the wall.

Across the corridor, Varian and Camalia did the same while Clementine pulled out another rune that she slapped on her staff before slamming it on the ground. The two runes seemed to connect and suddenly everything between those two paper were in a giant storm, making the guards fly away, and eventually knocked them down. When a dozen minutes later it calmed down, everything was quiet and the Coronans were out.

The Saporian team took the runes and continued their progress toward the throne room.

It took them some time and a few tricks, but they finally entered the room, where for some reason the royalties hadn't been taken to safety. Once the giant door closed behind them, Camalia definitely locked it and all the other smaller exits.

While the music mage was making sure it was all closed, pushing the doors one by one, the group approached the king and queen.

-You do not belong here, criminals.

Andrew let out a soft laugh.

-We've belonged here for quite a while, Frederick ! Rooting in your jail. I've grown attached to this place. But... I would like to see a little more than just, bars and walls, you know ?

He paused dramatically, acting as if he was thinking, then snapped his fingers and pointed at the royals.

-I know ! What about the entire kingdom ?

Camalia got back to the group, confirming they were trapped. Juniper gave her a thumbs up, making the girl smile proudly. Then again, doubt was there. This was wrong. She was doing the wrong thing. She was a Coronan after all, not... not a Saporian ?

-You won't get away with this, Saporians.

Varian stepped forward, and the queen had a movement backward. Shock, fear and a dot of anger passed on her face. Far from disliking it, the alchemist smiled.

-Well, they aren't alone, are they ? You see, I've been thinking of a way to start over, since I screwed up so bad you couldn't even give me the help you promised.

-We never-

-FREDERICK DID !

Varian was screaming, his face red, rage boiling in him. He gave an accusatory stare to the king.

-He DID. He promised to Rapunzel before she leave, and then he didn't do anything. He forgot about me as soon as I disappeared from his sight.

Camalia's head shot up at his words. Her breathing increased and she felt her stomach drop. They couldn't do that, Varian was just saying that because he was upset. They were the king and queen ! They had to take care of their citizens, all of them ! It's true no one ever came to help him but... they probably had a reasonable answer to that. But they stayed silent.

Unaware of the girl's state, the Saporians were all staring at their victims. Clementine slowly took the wand of oblivium out of her bag. She walked forward, letting the boy slips behind her with the rest of the team. She pointed the wand to the royals. Out of despair, Queen Ariana spoke.

-We don't know any of you ! What happened centuries ago is not our fault ! Please, stop this madness.

Andrew was about to clarify how they didn't do much to restore what their ancestors had done, and that if they did stop this madness, then what ? They were just going to be put back to jail. No thanks. He opened his mouth, exasperation and hate growing in his chest when someone stepped forward and whispered. In the silence, everyone heard.

-You... don't know any of us ?

He turned to see Camalia, and the expression he saw kept his mouth shut. She was holding her guitare close to her chest, her two hands clunched on the handle. She wasn't going to play, that's for sure. She stepped out of the group, not really seeing anyone, similar to her earlier state of bewilderment when she saw Maisie and Kai, but... It was sadder. Darker. Worst.

-That's a lie. You... you know Varian ! And you know Andrew, and... And you know me.

-No. You're just another saporian.

Camalia stumbled a bit backward, as if the words had punched her. She didn't stop smiling. She had just changed, it's been 10 years !

-Of course you do ! It was a long time ago but I was the 4 years old girl you had to put in jail ! You gave me an apple. You had to put a child behind bars, you... you can't forget that.

Her voice was shaking at the end of the sentence. No light of understanding in their eyes. It was cold, sick, madening. Their stares weren't the stares of a good king and queen. It was the stare of people corrupted by power, unable to differenciate their needs with the kingdom's. It was the look of those who take and close their eyes on the consequencies. It was the look of people that thought she was different, she was smaller, she was less. It was the look of people that thought she didn't matter. That look that make you want to puke and beat them up at the same time.

The kind of look that makes you explode.

Camalia grabbed the wand, snatching it from Clementine's hand, and pointed it at them.

-I've spent 10 years of my life in inimaginable pain, living, no... surviving under your feet. And you don't even care.

There was such disgust in her voice, as much as there was arrogance in the royals' eyes.

She cast the spell,  a few pink sparkles escaped, and the whole room turned white.

When the brightness disappeared, and everyone opened their eyes, it was to the sight of the king and queen, laying inconscious beside their thrones. Smiles creeped up the Saporians face, and the rattling of the wand hitting the ground stopped it mid-course. They turned to Camalia. The girl was horrified, her hands on her mouth, looking at the bodies as if she murdered them.

She turned her back on them and dashed to the big entrance, that she bursted open and ran through. They all turned to Varian, expecting him to run after her but he was busy checking on the bodies. Juniper frowned, not liking at all how the boy was treating his friend. She went after Camalia instead of him.

Andrew watched the whole scene with a smirk.

-Well well well, the little music mage won't be that much of a burden after all...

Camalia ran out. She ran through the corridors, meeting nothing but unconscious corpses. She tripped, fell, got back up and ran. She didn't know where she was going, tears flodding on her face, leaving a trail on the carpet behind her.

She ran, went down a staircase then another. Her mind was fuzzy, her legs were moving by themselves. Suddenly she was back in jail. Back in her cell. Her very own cell. The cell that felt like it was safe.

The cell that felt like home.

She crumbled on the ground, gasping and sobbing loudly. Her voice was echoing on the wall, doing nothing but making her feel like she was more alone than ever.

Then steps echoed back, as a response for her cry. The music mage turned, expecting Varian, but it was Juniper. She crawled back on the wall, not wanting to talk to her.

She felt the Saporian sit beside her, still in silence. It was quiet. An ideal silence that was only broke by the girl's sniffles. Camalia kept expecting that the woman would start talking, but she didn't. She just... sat there, looking at the ceiling, as calm as she could be. So the music mage spoke.

-I...I didn't mean to...

Her voice was trembling and full of cracks. She flinched at the sound she made, but continued.

-That's not... that's not what I wanted.

Juniper sighed and patted the Coronan's shoulder.

-Sometime, in life, we do things we'd rather not do. It just happens. And then you have to live with it.

-But I don't want to live with it !

Frustration exploded as she spoke.

-I don't want to live with the fact that I... I hurt people ! I don't want to hurt people, I hate it ! And I just did, because, what...? They couldn't remember me ! That's stupid !

Another silence. Camalia was panting, a new stream of tears running down her face.

-Well. Will the fact that you didn't want to change the fact that you did ?

-No ?

-Then what do you want to do ? Juniper shrugged. You don't really have a choice. What is done is done. Your future choices, however, are up to you.

The woman touched gently Camalia's forehead.

-Don't let your past, no matter how recent it is, define who you are, princess.

Juniper got back up, her eyes drifting to a place unknown to Camalia. She whispered, seemingly more to herself than for the girl.

-Trust me, the best you can do is move on as soon as you can.

She turned back to the music mage, still on the ground, taken aback by what just happened. The Saporian reached out for her, smiling as if nothing happened.

-Come on, princess ! We have to go help the others clean the castle. 'M sure the kid is done with the royalties by now.

The Coronan stood back up as well, and together, hand in hand, they left the prison.

FIRST / Previous / Next

WHAT’S THAT ?

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z Movie 13: Wrath of the Dragon

Kind of wild that I made it to Movie 13.   I want to call it the last movie, but it’s not.   “Path to Power” was released several months later, and while Movie 13 used to be the final film under the Dragon Ball Z branding, it was eventually followed by “Battle of Gods” and “Resurrection F” in the 2010′s.  Kind of wild how the 2010′s are nearly over.   I was just getting used to it being the 2010′s.

I’m tempted to think of this movie as a finale in some sense, because it’s set after the Kid Buu fight, but DBZ doesn’t end there.    There’s a three-episode epilogue set ten years after Kid Buu.   Really, this movie is just the first in what became a long list of Dragon Ball projects set during that ten-year period.  

This was, I think, the last DBZ material released by Funimation before they started re-dubbing things for the Orange Brick Sets and Dragon Ball Kai.  I remember attending a Funimation panel at a 2006 comic convention where they talked about this movie, and some of the voice actors were kind of sad that this would be the last time they would portray these characters.    At the time, it certainly seemed that way.    

So this movie premiered in Japanese theaters on July 15, 1995, after Episode 270 of the anime, and before 271.   So if you were a fan in Japan, you could watch Vegito and Super Buu in hot vore action, then go see this movie a few days later, and then watch Super Buu turn Vegito into candy, which strangely isn’t hot vore action.

The release chronology kind of surprises me, because I just got so used to thinking of this movie as an epilogue to Dragon Ball Z.   It kind of is, in a way, because the Dragon Ball manga had already finished up in May 1995, which is probably why this movie lines up so well with post-Buu continuity.    Everyone who’s supposed to be dead is dead, and everyone who’s supposed to be alive is alive.   

This one is my second favorite movie after Fusion Reborn, so I kind of wanted to consider what makes it the second best.   I mean, it’s a matter of taste, really, but I think it’s a question worth asking.   

So let’s get down to business.   This one opens with a kid holding a sword.   He had an ocarina, but he dropped it, and he looks like he’s in some trouble.

Then a giant monster steps on him, and he’s dead.   A mysterious voice declares that Earth is next.    Ominous!

Unlike every other DBZ movie, this one doesn’t feature the opening theme music, just a title card, which looks bad-ass by the way.

And here’s the title of the movie, which in Japanese was “Dragon Fist Explosion!! If Goku Can't Do It, Who Will?”

In lieu of a theme song, the credits roll over the next couple minutes of the movie, which I’ve always found to be a really nice touch.    All along, I’ve been admiring the looming sense of finality in DBZ, and this is a good example of what I’m talking about.    It’s July 1995.    The manga is over, which means the anime will be over soon, and as far as anyone knew, this would be the last movie, and it just sort of quietly proceeds with its business.    Z stands for the end.

This scene is mostly just to establish the Gohan and Videl are fighting crime as a team now, with Gohan as Great Saiyaman  and Videl as Great Saiyaman Mark 2.   Not sure why Gohan stopped wearing a cape, or why he still has that bandana and sunglasses.    He only switched to that because his Saiyaman helmet was illegal in the Tenkaichi Budokai, but that’s long over.   Videl got a helmet, so why can’t he wear one to match?

The weird thing is that Videl’s costumed identity is public knowledge, but Gohan’s isn’t?   They go back to class, and everyone just seems to know that Videl is still fighting crime like always, but as Great Saiyaman 2, or Great Saiyawoman, or whatever.   But Gohan pretends he just went to the restroom, like he used to do in the Great Saiyaman Saga.

Weirder still, everyone knows Gohan is the Great Saiyaman.   He unmasked at the tournament, after all.    I thought this movie might have forgotten about that, except Sharpner even points it out when Gohan returns to class.   

Incidentally, I’m not sure it makes sense for Gohan and Videl to still be in high school in this movie.   It’s set after the Kid Buu fight, but they use the Dragon Balls in this movie, which means it must take place one year after they wish for Shenron to erase everyone’s knowledge of Majin Buu.   So wouldn’t Gohan and Videl have graduated by this point?   They’d both be about 18, wouldn’t they?

Then Videl gets another call on her radio watch, and the cops want the Saiyaman duo to deal with a strange old man who climbed Raenzel Tower.   Videl seems to think that sort of job is beneath the Saiyamen, but they hang up on her, so she’s stuck.

So Gohan has to ask to use the restroom again, after he just got back.    He says he ate bad frog meat, like that does anything but raise further questions.   Erasa seems really confused, like she doesn’t know what’s going on.    Also, it kind of looks like Sharpner, Erasa, Gohan, and Videl are all sitting apart from each other in this movie.    Maybe there was some falling out?  

So here’s Raenzel Tower.   I don’t know that the scenery in this movie necessarily resembles any particular real world city, but this all feels a lot more like Japan than the world of DBZ.   That’s been kind of a gradual trend since DBZ began.   You’d see fewer and fewer animal-people in crowd shots, and by the Majin Buu arc you almost see none at all.    Now that I think of it, Satan City looks and feels a lot more like a “real” city than West City ever used to.    That car at the start of the movie had wheels, for example. 

Anyway, this red dude has climbed up the tower and he’s threatening to jump, because he’s so despondent.   Gohan tries to talk him down, but he won’t cooperate, and Videl gets fed up and dares him to jump.

So he does, much to Videl’s surprise, and then the guy complains that they almost didn’t save him in time.

For some reason, Videl is just irritated with this whole segment of the movie.    I guess she really didn’t like getting called out for this mission, and she probably doesn’t appreciate this guy pretending to be a suicide jumper just to get their attention.   Also, she really wants to get back to school for some reason.   Maybe she just really digs whatever book they’re reading in English Lit. 

Aw, look at that dog!

So this red dude is named Hoi, or Hoy, I forget which spelling Funimation went with, but the subs call him Hoi.    Climbing the tower was just a ruse to get Gohan’s attention so that he could enlist his aid in freeing Tapion, the great hero who saved Planet Conuts in the South Galaxy 1000 years ago.  

Gohan wants to meet the guy, but he’s stuck inside a music box and can’t get out.   Hoi wants to release Tapion, because he claims that there’s going to be a terrible crisis on Earth.   That’s why he’s spent the past thirty years searching for this music box, because he thinks it’s the only way to save the Earth.

To open the box, you just have to turn the handle to play its song, but the handle won’t turn, no matter how hard Gohan tries to force it.   Tapion then explains that he wants to make a wish to Shenron to open the music box, and that’s why he came to Gohan, because he found out that Gohan’s circle has had dealings with the Dragon.  

So Gohan takes the box to Bulma’s house, where she scans it with her... whatever all this stuff is.   This kind of looks like the bridge of the Enterprise, now that I think about it.  Anyway, she can’t make heads or tails of it, and Goku can’t force the handle either, so they decide to gather the Dragon Balls.

As they head out to search for the Balls, Hoi expresses gratitude for finding this kind of help on Earth, which prompts Goku to ask him if he’s not from this planet, and he kind of backpedals and acts like he lived here his whole life.    Seems to me that if he already knows about the Planet Counuts in the South Galaxy, then he must not be from Earth at all.    And even if he is an alien, why would he feel the need to hide that from Goku?   He’s an alien too, after all, so I don’t  think that would make him suspicious.  

For some reason, Videl is now really excited to see Tapion now, becase she’s “so interested in heroes.”   Did she decide Hoi’s story is on the level, or is she just warming up to the idea?

Krillin searches for a Dragon Ball in a carnival haunted house.    This is his only real contribution to the film.

So in no, time, the gang finds a bunch of Dragon Balls.   I’m not sure how they could split up like this, though, unless Bulma made multiple Dragon Radars.  

The seventh ball is in a lion cage at the zoo, so Goku just jumps in and takes it, because Goku does whatever he wants.   That lion’s lucky Bulma promised him shish kebabs later, or otherwise Goku would have just eaten this guy raw right in front of everyone.   

I can’t figure out Videl’s outfit in this movie.    From the back, it looks like shorts, but from the front it looks like a skirt.  

Anyway, Shenron grants the wish and zaps the music box so hard that it shocks Hoi.  

At first, it doesn’t seem to have had any effect, but then the handle starts to turn and it plays its song.   

Okay, so this is a weird place to bring up continuity, but isn’t it odd how Shenron only granted the one wish?   Dende upgraded him to grant two or three, depending on the wishes, so he should have at least asked if the gang wanted something else before he split.  

Anyway, there’s a big light and sound spectacular while the box opens, but Hoi’s eyes glow red and he has this extra-sinister look on his face.   Hmmmm...

Then Tapion comes out, and he’s kind of pissed that they released him.   He draws his sword and demands to be put back in the box, but the box fell apart when it opened, so it’s impossible.

What I don’t understand is that, later in the movie, Tapion acts like he knows Hoi, which implies that he recognizes him on sight.   If so, why doesn’t he just kill him here, while he has the chance?   Or would killing him not accomplish anything?

Then he leaves in a huff.   Trunks thinks Tapion is awesome, but everyone else is kind of puzzled, because he didn’t even thank them for getting him out of the box.

Later, Trunks and Goten track Tapion down to... a junkyard I guess?   Goten isn’t sure this is a great idea, but Trunks wants to meet this guy and hear all his hero stories.  

You know, this is really a beautiful shot.    Watching this again, I guess the main difference between this and Fusion Reborn is that this movie is much more grounded.    There were colorful shots like this in Movie 12, but they were mostly fantasy scenes of heaven or hell, or those extra-cartoony shots of the city.   Movie 13 achieves similar beauty in the mundane.  Instead of a mountain of needles surrounded by crystal jellybeans, we have a crane looming over a rusty storage tank.

Inside, Tapion’s just sort of brooding and freaking out.    When Trunks peeks in on him, he’s kind of taken aback by what he sees.   Maybe this isn’t a tank.    I’m not sure what this place is.   Maybe a derelict factory?

Hey, it’s a barbecue!   Goku was a good boy for not eating those lions, so he gets shish kebab.   Or whatever this is called.   There’s like a cocktail weenie and a shrimp and a pickle on the thing.  

Everyone wonders where Hoi went off to, and Master Roshi starts drunkenly blathering about how he’s harassing women, just like he’s about to start doing.   Why are Roshi and Oolong even in this scene?  

Gohan knows which way the wind is blowing, so he heroically puts himself in front of Videl so Roshi has to go through him to molest her.    It looks like Roshi’s poking Gohan in the dick, though.   Master Roshi belongs in jail.  

He gets fresh with Bulma, so she smacks the shit out of him.   Why does she keep inviting him to these things?  

There’s a cute moment here where Goku notices the boys trying to swipe food off the grill, so he scoots some closer so they can reach it.    Again, this is down-to-earth stuff you can’t get in Movie 12.

Okay, maybe this is a junkyard, what with all the wrecked cars here.    In any case, Goten and Trunks are taking food to Tapion’s lair.

Tapion keeps telling everyone to get away from him, so Trunks leaves the food behind and promises to come back tomorrow with more.

So then there’s a monster attack, and wow, these are some great scenes.    Again, very real-life-y, compared to early Dragon Ball material.   The only distinct Dragon Ball imagery here are the Royal Military uniforms on the soliders.   Otherwise, it would be very easy to mistake these for some other anime.  

That’s not a bad thing, by any means, because I’d say all these realistic city scenes help make the characters stand out more.

So it’s not actually a monster, but half of a monster.   The lower half, to be specific.   Gohan wonders if this was the terrible crisis Hoi warned about earlier in the movie.   I guess when you’ve lived Gohan’s life, you really can’t be sure if a creature like this is related to Hoi’s warning or not.    It could be some completely different crisis starting up.

Videl wants to do their usual routine on the creature, but it attacks them during their pose.  For some reason, Videl is super into the poses in this movie.  Other than one episode of the TV series, this is the only time we see Great Saiyaman 2 in action, but I guess it makes sense she’d dive into the role.   If she was eager to wear the costume, she must be up for the whole nine yards.  

So Gohan fights this thing for a bit, and he discovers that it’s intangible most of the time, and it’s only solid during the moment when it’s attacking something else.   I don’t think I ever noticed before that Gohan figures this out so early in the film.  

So Gohan seems to do pretty well against the creature...

And Videl thinks he’s won, but Gohan’s not convinced.   

The monster has a knack for vanishing and reappearing, kind of like Janemba, but without the pixelation effect.  It’s more of a fog kind of thing.    But then it seems to disappear for good, and when Gohan and Videl search for it, they find Tapion playing his ocarina.   

They also spot Hoi lurking nearby, but I doubt they’d recognize him in his ninja getup.

Later, Trunks brings more food to Tapion’s hideout, but he hasn’t eaten the last meal he left, and Tapion still won’t talk to him.   Later that night, Tapion falls asleep and drops his ocarina, and then he’s attacked by the top half of a monster...

It nearly kills him, but he manages to pick up his ocarina and play it, and this makes the monster fade away.

The next morning, Trunks finds the place shredded from the monster attack, but he’s relieved to see Tapion is still okay, so he leaves breakfast for him.

Then we get this scene where Videl and Bulma are washing dishes together, and she tells Videl how Trunks is sneaking food to Tapion, because he looks up to the guy like a big brother figure.    Trunks is an only child, you see, and he envies Goten’s relationship with Gohan.  Videl’s an only child herself, so she can relate.  

What I don’t get here is when Bulma replies “But you’ve been so keyed up lately”, and Videl seems unnerved by this and says “It’s Trunks’ power that is keyed up!”   I have no idea what this is supposed to mean.    Videl’s reaction almost resembles how she acted when Chi-Chi asked her if she had thought about marriage in Movie 12.   Was Bulma trying to imply that Videl has a thing for Tapion, and it got mistranslated?  I dunno.

On Trunks’ next visit to Tapion’s place, Hoi intrudes and tries to steal Tapion’s ocarina, but Trunks manages to get it instead.  Hoi unmasks and asks Trunks to give him the flute, because Tapion is the danger he had been warning about earlier on.   He claims that Tapion is connected to the monster that Gohan fought the other night.  

You know, one thing that never really gets clarified in this movie is where all of this is happening.   I would assume Tapion’s lair is in West City, since that’s where he escaped the music box, and why would he go to another town to find a junkyard?    But Gohan and Videl always did their superhero stuff in Satan City, so I assume that’s where they fought the monster.  

Anyway, I never understood why Hoi expected Trunks to trust him in this scene.    Initially he told them all that Tapion was supposed to save them from a crisis, and now he’s accusing Tapion of being part of the problem.   

Then again, I guess Trunks might be somewhat conflicted, since Tapion’s been acting very mysterious and moody this whole time.   But Tapion asks Trunks to trust him, and after a tense moment, Trunks does.   He gives Tapion the flute and Hoi leaves empty-handed.  I guess you could say that Trunks went with his gut.   From the beginning, Trunks saw something he liked about Tapion, and he decided to trust that first impression over Hoi’s exaggerated warnings.

Trunks prepares to leave before Tapion chews him out again, but instead Tapion invites him to stick around and join him for dinner.   Awwww.

Later, Bulma informs Videl that Trunks has invited Tapion to spend the night at their home.   Speaking of which, doesn’t Videl have her own home?    Why is she spending all her time at Capsule Corp. these days?

So Trunks shows Tapion all of his toys, but a toy robot catches Tapion’s attention.  It separates into two halves, sort of like that monster.  Hmmmm...

Later, Tapion tells Trunks about his little brother, Minotia, but Trunks falls asleep during his story.

As he watches Trunks sleep, he can’t help but be reminded of Minotia, and just so there’s no misunderstanding, that was the kid we saw die in the opening scene of the movie.   

So Tapion leaves Trunks to sleep, only to run into Bulma in the hallway.   She’s wearing this shawl, or maybe it’s a blanket or something.    It looks cute, is my point.   It also looks very different from what we usually see Bulma wear.   

She just looks a lot more like a regular person instead of some genius billionaire inventor.   She kind of reminds me of the older Chi-Chi from the History of Trunks special.   Anyway, she invites Tapion to stay at Capsule Corp. all the time, but he’s afraid of what might happen if he does.  

She wants to know what he’s talking about, but it’s a long story, so she puts on a pot of coffee.   I always thought it was tea, but that looks like a coffee pot to me.    Also, there’s an entire fruit basket just in case anyone gets hungry in the middle of the night.   Speaking of Vegeta, imagine if he’s in this room, just out of the frame, sullenly chewing on an orange while Tapion tells his gloomy origin story.    Vegeta eats oranges with the peel because no one ever told him not to.   Bulma can’t tell him now because it would be awkward after all this time.  

All right, so here’s the deal.    One thousand years ago, on the planet Conuts, they had this totem that absorbed all the evil will on the planet.   I don’t know if that’s legit, or some kind of superstition, but the totem was this big stone sculpture.    One day, this “sect of warlocks” from some other place showed up and turned the totem into “phantasm” named Hildegarn, or Hirudegarn.    Then they turned it loose on Conuts’ population.   Hoi was one of the warlocks.  

Man, I love this shot of Bulma.   This is really the difference between Movies 12 and 13.   13 has it’s share of fantasy stuff going on, but there’s a certain distance to it.   In Movie 12, the characters are right in the thick of it all, but here, it’s an ancient tale being told to a regular lady over coffee.  There’s a certain weight to all of this that none of the other movies really achieve.    For one thing, Bulma now realizes that she was deceived by Hoi, and their fun afternoon of summoning Shenron to meet a hero was actually part of Hoi’s plot to destroy their world.   So if things go badly from here, she’s at least partly responsible for whatever happens next.   You don’t get that complexity in the earlier movies.

Conuts was able to defeat Hirudegarn eventually, thanks to a pair of swords and flutes that were empowered by “God” to control the totem.   I think the idea is that the Kami of Planet Conuts was in charge of this, sort of like how Dende, the Kami of Earth, oversees the Dragon Balls.   But they might actually mean a higher power besides a DBZ-style Kami.  

Anyway, Tapion and Miotia played the ocarinas, which had the ability to immboilize Hirudegarn, and while they did that, a priest cut the monster in half with one of the swords.    The subs suggest that there’s only one special sword involved here, but Tapion and Minotia are both equipped with them, so I think that means there are two.    Maybe Minotia’s is just a regular sword. 

Here’s the priest, by the way.   I kind of like his design better than Tapions?   Anyway.

So that put an end to Hirudegarn, right?  Well, not quite.  I guess they couldn’t just kill the thing, so they did the next best thing and sealed each half of the phantasm in Tapion and Minotia.   Tapion got the top half, and Minotia got the legs.  But even that wasn’t good enough, because the warlocks kept trying to attack the brothers to take back Hirudegarn.  

So they ended up getting sealed inside music boxes.    I think that may be the Kami of Conuts there in the background.   The one with the multicolored halo.  As we’ve seen, these must be special music boxes, since Goku couldn’t even turn the handle on one.

Then they shot the music boxes into space, just to make sure they would be as far apart from one another as possible.   And that’s how Tapion ended up on Earth, and why Hoi came to Earth.   He told Dragon Team that he wanted to free Tapion to save the universe, but he actually wanted to get Tapion out of the box so that he could get the top half of Hirudegarn out of Tapion.  

Aw, man this shot from the aquarium is awesome.   This really is a great movie.   I think it’s a matter of taste.   Critics would probably complain that the battle at the end is kind of short and disconnected from the rest of the story, but this movie is telling a quieter, more emotional story.   I think Movie 12 is better, because I prefer the louder, goofier tone it has, but it really is a matter of personal taste.   

Anyway, it’s a safe bet what happened to Minotia.   At some point, Hoi tracked him down, managed to release the lower half of Hirudegarn, and used that to kill Minotia, as we saw in the beginning.  

So it’s up to Tapion now to make certain Hoi can’t gain control of both halves, or else Hirudegarn will destroy everything.    And as we’ve seen, he can’t go to sleep, or the monster will emerge from his body.    That worries Bulma a great deal, so she offers to build him a chamber to serve as a replacement for the music box.   At least, she thinks she can do it, since she still has the pieces from before, and she believes if she analyzes them that she can whip up a substitute.   

I like that about this movie.  Bulma hears out this poor kid’s story, and she’s like “Well, I’ll build you a box that’ll let you sleep!” and it won’t even take her very long.   Tapion’s supposed to be this magical hero, but Bulma has a bit of that same aura herself.

All she asks in return is that he spend some quality time with her son, and he’s happy to do that.    Also, Majin Buu’s dog is here for some  reason.   At least, I think that’s Bee. 

Then she steps outside to tell them it’s ready, and she’s still in her pajamas, so I think this means she was up all night working on this thing.    Bulma’s awesome. 

So this thing looks ridiculous, and I have no idea how it’s supposed to work, but I guess the idea is that she reverse engineered whatever mojo the original music box had, minus the part where a grown man could fit inside it.    Why did she bother adding the gold trim to the sides?   Because Bulma, that’s why.

Meanwhile, the lower half of Hirudegarn is attacking somewhere else, and I guess his tail can open up to reveal dozens of tentacles.

I guess this is how Hirudegarn feeds?   It’s pretty gross.    It suddenly occurred to me to search for Hirudegarn fics on AO3, but I’m pretty sure I don’t wanna know. 

Then Tapion gets some sort of psychic feedback, maybe?   I’m not clear on what’s going on, exactly, but it blows up the bedroom Bulma built for him.    So did it just never work to begin with, or is Hirudegarn becoming powerful enough to overload it somehow?

So Bulma calls in Goku, Gohan, and Goten.   Goku acts like he’s searching for clues, but let’s be real here, he doesn’t know what he’s doing.    He only picked up that gear because he thought it was made of chocolate.

Then Tapion stumbles back into the house, and he explains that the upper half got loose again, and he’s having more trouble controlling it.   He somehow got it back inside his body, but he asks the others to kill him before it gets out again.  Bulma offers to build a sturdier room for him, but he seems to think we’re past that.

Then Hoi shows up with the lower half of Hirudegarn, and they attack.    Trunks gives Tapion the ocarina, but it doesn’t work this time.

I don’t think this ever really gets explained properly.    Is Hirudgarn getting too strong to contain, or is Tapion’s power over him weakening?   Or is this because Hoi is doing something to help get Hirudegarn loose?   Or is it because Minotia is dead?

Anyway, now Hirudegarn is finally reunited, and Hoi is convinced that he’s now become invincible.    In the dub, Hoi explains that he’s the sole survivor of a species called the Kashvar, who believe themselves superior to all other forms of life.   The subs never get into this, but it’s a bit of lore that I enjoy.   

Hoi’s a pretty cool bad guy.   I like how he suckered all the good guys.    I like how he resembles Babidi but not too closely.   And I like his naughty red color.   

So there’s not much Tapion can do from here, so Trunks moves him to a safe distance an tells him to let them handle things from here.    Magic ocarinas and music boxes worked pretty well for a while, but now it’s time to do this the DBZ way, which means throwing down, mang.   

There’s a trailer for Movie 13 that was included in the video file I downloaded when I first watched the fansub of this movie.   In it, Masako Nozawa as Goku explains the premise of the movie, and how there’s this monster who’s going to wreck the world, and then she screams “I WON’T LET ANYONE DESTROY THE EARTH!”   It’s awesome.   

So there’s a couple of issues with this fight.    First, the elephant in the room is that Gohan’s the strongest guy in the movie, but Goku’s the one who makes the big save at the end.   The movie does a decent job working around this, but that leads into the second problem....

Which is that nobody can actually touch Hirudegarn now that he’s reunited.   I guess he’s stronger and faster than he was when Gohan fought the legs, so even though Gohan knows he can only hit him while Hirudegarn is attacking, it’s a lot harder to pull that off this time.    But what you end up with is a lot of footage of the Saiyans punching trails of mist, then getting clobbered.    It’s good for building suspense, but it’s not very inspired compared to some other movie fights.    Movie 8 was pretty one-sided, but at least the gang could hit Broly.   It just never hurt him, which indicated how tough he is.   

At one point, Hirudegarn turns solid so he can grab Gohan, but this sets him up for an attack by Vegeta, who finally shows up in this scene to bawl out Hirudegarn for attacking his house.  

But he gets the same treatment as everyone else.   Hirudegarn flings him into a nearby office building, and Vegeta expends the rest of his power just shielding himself and the bystanders from Hirudegarn’s fiery breath.

Goku tries to help him, and he just gets clobbered for his trouble.

So Goten and Trunks try to turn the tide with fusion, and for a hot minute, Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks seems to have an edge.   

After a volley of ki blasts, it looks like Hirudegarn just keels over and dies.   Oh, hey, that’s the same tower Hoi was climbing on when he first showed up.   So I guess this whole movie takes place in West City?    Only we saw Gohan and Videl in Orange Star High.   Ah well.

So it looks like Hirudegarn is dead or dying, but...

It turns out he was just molting.    Did Tapion have any idea that he could do this?   I wonder.

So Gotenks is the first to fall.   One swat from Big H knocks him down to the ground so hard that he de-fuses on the first bounce.  

Gohan and Videl are next.    I’m not sure why this thing keeps trying to crush Gohan, unless it’s because he’s the strongest one in the group.  Maybe that was their way of acknowledging this.  

So that leaves Goku to hold the line on his own, but he doesn’t last much longer.   Just when it looks like there’s no one to defend West City...

Tapion returns with his ocarina.  He hasn’t exactly had a winning track record with this lately, but it’s the only card he has to play, so he’s giving it all he’s got.

With a herculean effort, Tapion manages to seal all of Hirudegarn into his own body.   Trunks runs over to congratulate him...

... but this was only a temporary measure.    Tapion hasn’t beaten Hirudegarn.   He’s just holding him for a moment, long enough for someone to kill him before Hirudegarn can escape again.  And since Trunks is the only one on his feet, its up to him.   

It’s an impossible choice.  Trunks is just a boy.   This is too much for a kid like him, but there’s no other way.   If he doesn’t act now, Hirudegarn will escape, and there’ll be no way to stop him.     That’d be hard enough, but he loves Tapion like the older brother he never had.  It’s too cruel that he should have to do this.   And yet, what else can he do?

But before Trunks can decide, Hirudegarn busts loose, and the ocarina breaks.   So Tapion won’t be able to try that stunt again.    I’m not sure he’d be able to stand the strain even if he could try again.   Hirudegarn is just too powerful like this.  

So yeah, it looks like a total shut-out for Hoi.   Yessir, looking pretty rosy for the last Kashvar...

OH SHI--

HAHAHAHAHA HOI’S DEAD!   I love this part!   Did Hoi ever really have any control over Hirudegarn?   I mean, he wasn’t exactly telling him to do anything he wouldn’t have been doing anyway.    Nice knowin’ ya, you sorry bastard.

But everyone else is still screed.    Hoi couldn’t conrol Hirudegarn and Tapion can’t contain him and the Z-Fighters can’t beat him, so what does that leave.    Yeah, Trunks didn’t have to kill Tapion, but it looks like he’s going to die here no matter what.    Z stands for the end.  

But not yet.

Yeah, now I see why I had so much trouble telling what city this was.   It’s not West City or Satan City.    Hirudegarn needs to update his GPS, because he somehow ended up taking I-65 straight into Goku Town, population: get wrecked, son.

Hirudegarn goes to attack Goku, but before he can do that, Trunks jumps in and chops off his tail with Tapion’s sword.   Yeah!   

That got him good, but Goku wants Trunks to stay out of this one.    Gohan tries to tell Goku that Hirudegarn has a weakness, but Goku’s already figured it out.   He needs to goad Hirudegarn into attacking, and then use that moment to hit him with everything he’s got.   

Fortunately, Hirudegarn is happy to oblige, and he starts punching Goku, while Goku doesn’t do much about it.   He just no-sells each blow, taunting Hirudegarn to try again.   

Maybe this fight’s better than I gave it credit for.    The mistake the Z-Fighters made earlier was that they kept trying to strike Hirudegarn, which only left them wide open to his counterattacks.    The key here is to stay on the defensive, and lull Hirudegarn into remaining solid.

Of course, you’ve still got to be sturdy enough to weather this kind of storm, but that’s why Goku’s using Super Saiyan 3.   Gohan could have done this himself, but he got beaten up before he could come up with this strategy.    Goku can make it work, but he can’t stay in this form for very long, so he probably only has one shot at this.

But if he doesn’t do it, who will?!

Hirudegarn goes for one more punch...

But this time Goku jumps over his fist and...

DRAGON FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIST!

AAAAAAAGH!   His punch exploded!

And it turned into Shenron this is nuts! 

Hirudegarn knows he’s done fucked up now!

Yeah, say goodbye to your kidneys, asshole!   You thought you could just step on Capsule Corp.!   That’s where Goku gets his shish kebab, idiot!    There’s gonna be hell to pay now.

OH YOU THOUGHT WE WERE DONE?    Guess what, now the ki dragon that shot through you is gonna wrap around you and strangle you to death!

Also, it explodes again, so yeah, that’s the end of Hirudegarn.

Victory for Goku!    And the moral of the story is, don’t send a flute to do an exploding punch dragon fist’s job.

Later, the good guys reassure Tapion that they’ll wish all of Hirudegarn’s victims back with the Dragon Balls.   Well yeah, but it’ll be months before they can make another wish, so that’s kind of awkward.  

As for Tapion, Bulma has apparently built her own version of the time machine used by Future Trunks in the Androids Saga.   Either that, or she refurbished the duplicate time machine Cell used to arrive in this timeline.   This movie doesn’t play too well with Dragon Ball Super continuity, but fuck the Zamasu arc, it was stupid and this movie rules. 

So I guess Tapion’s going to go back in time to when everyone he knew and loved was still alive on Conuts.   I think the dub indicated that he was going to prevent Minotia’s death somehow, but I’m not sure how that would work.    Anyway, Trunks is sorry to see him go, but Bulma says they can just use the time machine to visit him.    Wait, so does she mean she has a second time machine?   Becase I don’t think they’re getting this one back.  

Before he departs, Tapion gives Trunks his sword, saying he won’t be needing it anymore.   So that’s pretty cool.

And as the time machine fades away, Trunks watches it go with his new sword on his back, and the credits roll...

... with scenes of Future Trunks in action.    Clearly, Toei wanted to connect these two versions of Trunks.    I think a lot of fans have mistakenly assumed that this movie is trying to suggest that this is the origin story for Future Trunks’ sword.   Maybe Future Trunks met some alternate version of Tapion, but I think this story was just making the point that Kid Trunks would admire a hero who resembled Future Trunks in a lot of ways, including the sword and the stoic, selfless personality.  

But yeah, that’s Movie 13.    It’s not as flashy as Movie 12, but it never comes close to being dull, and the Super Dragon Fist at the end is the cherry on top.   

Plus, you’ve got the excellent ending theme, “Ore Ga Yaranakya Dare Ga Yaru” by Hironobu Kageyama.  

[aweebwrites]

Allies Ch8

“Kai, Kai. I don’t think you understand how close I was to needing new underwear when that dragon appeared out of nowhere.” Jay says as they left the floating ruins, still jittery from the whole ordeal and they laughed at him.

“Yeah? Well we have another weapon for your efforts.” Kai chuckled as he glanced back at where he held the Nunchucks of Lightning. “You alright there doll? You took a pretty big hit back then. Scared the heck out of me.” He admitted and Zane gave him a soft smile.

“I’m fine. I do have some residual lightning left but it’s been converted into energy. It’s like what happens when you drink caffeine.” Zane reassured, brushing his fingers along his face where there was a tear in his skin, Kai having remembered he brought the emergency sealant for such situations along with him.

He thinks Kai worries too much but Nya was sure he worries just enough.

“Doll?” Cole asked with an arched brow and Kai slapped a hand over his mouth a little too late.

“You two are… A thing?” Jay asked, a little surprised and Kai sighed as Zane blushed a light blue.

“Yeah.” The Fire Knight admitted. “Have been for a little over a year now.” He shrugged and that shocked their friends.

“Over a year?! How did I miss that for that long?!” Cole asked, bewildered.

“Considering that all four of you are hardly at the same place at the same time, it’s pretty possible.” Nya shrugged.

“You knew?” Jay asked her, baffled.

“‘Course. I was under my brother’s wing for a year and a half before I got the title of Reserve Knight, remember?” She told him with a smirk.

“I hope this doesn’t change… Anything?” Zane spoke up after a moment, hoping they weren’t angry that they hadn’t told them.

It wasn’t like they purposefully kept it a secret from them. It’s just that Kai made no moves to tell them so he hadn’t wanted to push. Kai on the other had thought Zane would rather keep it secret so he hadn’t pushed either.

“‘Course not.” Cole huffed, a smile tugging his lips right after.

“Yeah. Thinking about it now, Kai could use Zane to keep him cool.” Jay says with a cheeky grin and Kai shot him a look.

Zane was about to comment when he paused, pulling his horse to a stop as he glanced behind him.

“What is it? The Generals?” Kai asked as he looked around too, wary now.

“... I’m not sure.” Zane admits. “I thought I heard something…” He whispered, looking around the area.

The Floating Ruins were located at the top of a mountain. They had a high vantage point here but he couldn’t see or sense anything.

“... I’m not picking anything up still.” Jay says, his eyes glowing blue before they faded out.

“... Let’s keep going but we have to stay prepared for an attack.” Cole says, hand on the hilt of his hammer.

“Right.” Kai nodded and they continued on their path ahead, more wary than ever.

____

“Are you trying to give away our position!” Cryptor snapped at Ultra Violet as she hopped off the back of the corrupted Earth Dragon, the sudden roar it gave off upon landing having them all wound tight.

“Relax tin man. They’re too far out to have heard it. And even if they did, we’re too far out to be seen.” Ultra Violet huffed as she patted his back. “And even if they did turn back to see what it was, we are more than capable of defeating them.” She added, cutting Kozu off before Kozu could speak.

That didn’t stop both Generals from reprimanding her, Pythor watching in amusement as he did. Lloyd? He was looking up at the Earth dragon, with its thick, rough looking scales, large teeth and blunt horns, all darkened by the corruption of Dark Matter… It was… Lloyd walked closer, the dragon’s purple eyes on him. It was the first time Lloyd encountered another dragon. He hesitates before reaching a hand up, hoping to interact, feeling an unexplainable bond with it. He… The Earth Dragon looked at his hand before leaning its head down and sniffed at it. Lloyd’s red eye blew wide in excitement once it pressed its snout into his hand.

He brought his other hand up, stroking along its muzzle before resting his head against it, a low rumble leaving them both. He just met this dragon… But he felt safe around it. Felt as if… He could trust it with his life. The Generals’ squabble was interrupted by a flash of green light, all of them looking to Lloyd with wide eyes as the echos of green energy traveled over the dragon, chasing away the corruption staining its being. It then laid down, keeping its snout level with Lloyd as it nuzzled their Prince like a faithful pet. The very same dragon that didn’t hesitate to attempt to slay the Knights… It was solid proof that their Prince truly was the Green Knight. Lloyd lifted his head to smile at the dragon, its green eyes on him as it wagged its tail.

“Monochrome black wasn’t a good color scheme for you.” Lloyd says, stroking his muzzle- laughing once he was licked.

He never expected this from any of the dragons guarding the weapons… Lloyd’s eyes widened then. But then that means… His expression turned absolutely sly then and he glanced over at his father’s Generals.

“Change in plans…”

_______

Shade followed along the shadows of the castle guards in the Kingdom of Fulgor, seeking more intel. He would have to keep doing this until nightfall where he could move as freely as he wanted. The more intel he could gather, the more he could aid Emperor Garmadon win this war. He had to know about any possible counter attacks that Wu might have, had to know everything he could know. He noticed one guard heading towards the inner walls and quickly slipped into his shadow. It looks like this guy was heading directly to Emperor Wu’s quarters. He frowned. No normal guard was allowed to go there. Shade’s eyes widened. This was a trap! He quickly detached from their shadow- Only to yell once bright lights filled the corridor from all angles, forcing him out of his shadow form.

“Capture him!” A guard yelled and Shade turned to run- only for a red- orange blur to rush by him, tripping him before he was piled on despite his struggling.

Cuffs were attached to his hands and he was hauled to his feet and held there as he struggled. He couldn’t use his powers!

“Master of Shadow…” Shade stilled then looked up at Emperor Wu with a smirk.

“Took you long enough to catch on.” He huffed at the unamused Emperor, a red head standing nearby.

“I had wondered what became of the element of shadow.  To think it was passed onto an Umberian of all people…” Wu whispered, thinking of the master of Shadow that went missing on the battlefield half a century ago.

They must have captured her and forced her to hand over her powers.

“So what? You gonna take it back old man?” He taunts and the guards growled.

“No.” Wu says before he could be hit. “Take him to the dungeons. Perhaps we can find out some information from him.” He spoke lightly as he turned away and Shade huffed as he was carried off.

He’d willingly die before he told them anything.

“Skylor.” Wu prompted and she changed into Shade using the power of form she borrowed from Chamille.

“On my way.” She says before vanishing into shadow.

Wu folded his arms behind his back. His brother would soon discover that two could play this game…

_____

Garmadon looked at the stained glass portrayal of three figures he kept over his throne. It was a story he hadn’t told Lloyd even now. Though he should. It was his story, the story of how he lost everything. It wasn’t a long tale to tell, though it was a painful one. Garmadon huffed to himself. How long has it been? Centuries? Millennia?... And yet, the pain of that memory never dullens. Never fades. Time does not eventually heal. He turned to the depiction of Lloyd’s birth and the darkness that surrounds it. He never wanted Lloyd to experience such a thing. But he was foolish to think destiny would be so kind to his son after all it had done to him. That day, Lloyd lost the childish light in his eyes far sooner than he should have.

He gained the look most of his soldiers carried instead. Dull eyed hardness that came with trauma and war. He grew up too quickly because of what happened. His laughter echoed through the castle halls no more after that. It had ached him so much… Holding his son’s trembling body in his arms that day… He had lost control. He regretted that many had died that day. They didn’t know any better. Their hatred was embedded deep in their minds from millennia upon millennia of corrupt thinking, stemming from his so called family. But… He narrowed glowing red eyes. He couldn’t deny the satisfaction he felt by teaching them a permanent lesson.

His hands were stained with the blood of many but his son has not yet experienced such a thing. And he won’t. He refused to let him. Garmadon turned away, his black cape fluttering as he did, taking his helmet with him as he walked out of his throne room. He won’t let Lloyd inherit this war. Very soon, he will bring an end to it once and for all. He walked quickly through the castle, towards its center, his cape billowing and his armor clanking as he did. Aside from his powers, the Overlord did leave him something else. He pushed opened the gates to the inner courtyard then, ignoring the dark rain immediately soaking him through as he walked towards the slowly spinning construct before him.

The Celestial Clock.

It was made by the Overlord himself to countdown to the day this war would end. It has been ticking for millennia upon millennia now. He walked closer to the main display of the large construct. It has been ticking backwards for so long… And now… Garmadon stopped before it. Now, it shows but a day left. He was prepared to do everything in his power to make sure it ends… And everything includes the Overlord’s Ultimate Weapon. He looked in the direction of the Mouth of Darkness a few miles away from the castle, further in the vast land of Penumbra. He hadn’t wanted to resort to this but he will do what he must. It was the one thing his brother nor his precious Knights could fight against.

Dark Matter.

One drop and they’ll be under his control. Then, nothing will stand in his way. He chuckled to himself as thunder rumbled overhead. The day of prophecy is upon them…

He wonders what expression Wu’s face would wear once he realises that the prophecy isn’t always right…

__________

(I'm hype for the next few chapters >:3. And of course I'd drag out Lloyd's past. Suspense is tasty.Thanks for reading!!) __________

Ch1 | Ch2 | Ch3 | Ch4 | Ch5 | Ch6 | Ch7

[city-writes]

Waiting Out the Rain

Its not often the Time Patrol and the Galactic Patrol find their works overlap, but the rare time they do, each group sends their best to get the job done. This issue this time is that one of the members of the Time Patrol has a history with one of the members of the Galactic Patrol, and it might hinder their job progress.

listen... i just wanted to write for my ocs, i didn’t mean to write nearly 10,000 words

Warnings: OCs; Takes place during DB Xenoverse 2′s canon; Includes DB Fusions’ canon Pairings: Zini(OC)/Tyber

Read it here on AO3! Commission info!

___________________ With a whirl of light and energy, Trunks and Zini rematerialized back into the Time Nest, Zini slamming down the scroll she’d been holding onto the table. “Damn it!” The sudden commotion caused both the Supreme Kai of Time and the Elder Kai to jump slightly, having seen this reaction coming after watching the two work from another set of scrolls.

“Zini,” Trunks cautioned, raising a hand to put on the full blooded Saiyan’s shoulder, “It’s alright, we’ll get them next time.”

Zini turned her head to look at Trunks, the demi-Saiyan a full head taller than she was, piercing dark blue eyes gazing into Trunks’ own blue. Zini’s lips pursed into a thin line, before she sighed, hanging her head, black bangs covering her eyes. “We almost had them this time, though.” Her hands curled into fists, and she shook her head. “They’re getting bolder with each change in time, and with Mira and Towa pulling their strings, who knows what they’ll do next?”

“You’re right; Turles and Lord Slug are not to be taken lightly,” the Supreme Kai of Time said, walking towards the pair of Saiyans, resting a hand on top of one of Zini’s fists, “but thanks to your hard work, we know that Towa is baiting them with fruit from the Tree of Might, and promising them each that they can take out Goku, in any of the timelines that they invade.” She then tilted her head a bit, smiling at the young woman who’d saved Toki Toki City from Demigra’s wrath years ago. “But we’ve got people looking out in each timeline, promising young rookies who can handle themselves and anything Mira and Towa throw their way. With the information you’ve gathered, we’re a step closer to capturing them.”

Zini was quiet, but knew the Supreme Kai of Time was right. Exhaling through her nose, she nodded, looking down at her boss. “Thanks, Supreme Kai.”

“Of course!” The Supreme Kai of Time exclaimed, patting Zini’s hand. “Now, to relax and unwind, how about I make us some lunch?”

A pang of fear bolted through everyone in the room, Zini swallowing harshly before clearing her throat, stammering somewhat. “A-Actually, I made plans to eat with Pinich today, Supreme Kai, sorry.”

“Yeah,” Trunks piped up, “I was tagging along with them, Supreme Kai, but we appreciate the offer!” With that, Zini and Trunks began to walk off, sparing themselves of the Supreme Kai’s notoriously bad cooking.

“Aww, alright.” The Supreme Kai of Time’s expression withered as her two best patrollers walked away, before turning her gaze to the Elder Kai, the smile returning to her face. “Looks like it’s just you and me for lunch, old man.”

A frightened look overcame the Elder Kai, who then stammered himself. “W-What’s that? It’s about lunch time!? Oh, I need to head down to the school and teach those rookies a thing or two! Can’t be late for that!” With that, the Elder Kai ran, hoping to get away from what was bound to be a bad lunch.

______________________

Walking in the Recreation Plaza of Conton City, Zini and Trunks gave a sigh of relief, having spared themselves the horror of the Supreme Kai’s cooking.

“That was close.” Trunks murmured, looking towards Zini as they walked. “Quick thinking with that Pinich excuse.”

“It wasn’t an excuse.” Zini said without looking at Trunks, a smirk coming to her as she watched a figure eagerly approach from the air. “I really did have lunch plans with Pinich.”

At that, Pinich flew in, landing in front of Zini and Trunks with his hands on his hips, his cape flowing behind him. “What’s up, guys?” He asked, giving a wide, toothy grin. “Off the clock?”

“For now.” Zini replied, folding her arms. “Thanks for meeting up with me. Haven’t seen you in a while.”

Pinich shrugged, the grin never leaving his lips. “Ehh, you know me; Hanging out with Wanta and Paprika, training with Master Vegeta, just doin’ the usual.” With that, he looked to Trunks. “How’s the job goin’?”

Trunks frowned slightly, a hand going to his chin. “Well, we’ve been having trouble apprehending Turles and Lord Slug, and we’re concerned about their working with Towa and Mira, who we thought we’d defeated years ago.” His gaze traveled to the ground as he continued to speak, “With Mira and Towa back to their old schemes, it’s only a matter of time before they pull something big.”

Pinich nodded as he listened to Trunks, and he smirked. “You’ll get ‘em! My rival wouldn’t let some bad guys get the best of her, right Zini?” He held out a fist then, waiting for her to bump it.

Her fist soon came into contact with his, and Zini gave a smirk as well, nodded. “Right.”

They pulled their hands away from each other’s, and Pinich’s smirk melted into a playful smile. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m hungry! Let’s get something to eat!”

Zini chuckled, and soon the three of them walked around the Recreation Plaza, each grabbing a bite to eat. They were quick to find a table in the Business District so they sit and eat, Trunks having bought them each 2 burgers a piece.

“I have money, you know.” Zini had offered, but Trunks shot her down.

“It’s my treat,” he’d said, exchanging the Zeni for two bags of burgers, “For inviting myself into your’s and Pinich’s plans.”

Zini had shrugged, and Pinich just grinned, happy he wasn’t the one who had to pay for lunch.

As the trio sat and ate, they talked about what all they’d been doing since they’d seen each other last, Pinich telling of his training with Vegeta, of his adventures in space with Wanta and Paprika. Zini told of her recent missions, as well as her attempts at training other Time Patrollers, much to her dismay. She’d never been a good teacher, and it was never more evident than when Supreme Kai of Time and the Elder Kai tried getting her to be one. Trunks told of his help and upkeep around Conton City, how different it was from managing Toki Toki City, but in a good way. He told of his missions with Zini, and of rookie patrollers that showed great potential.

As Pinich took a bite of his second burger, he looked over at Zini hesitantly, the move not going unnoticed by the female Saiyan. “What?” She asked, causing Pinich to swallow his bite of burger.

He gave a smile, but their was a worried look to it, and he looked away for a moment, before speaking. “You haven’t heard from Tyber recently, have you?”

At the mention of Tyber, both Zini and Trunks froze, Zini being quick to recover and bite into her burger. Trunks looked at her warily, knowing that her relationship with Tyber was a rough spot for the Toki Toki City Hero.

But Zini seemed unfazed, simply chewing and swallowing her bite of burger, looking down at it before speaking. “Nope.” She said, exhaling through her nose after a moment, “Why should’ve I?” While her expression seemed neutral, there was a tinge to her voice that made both the other Saiyans seethe slightly, Trunks and Pinich sharing a look of concern. Trunks shot Pinich a glare that said, 'End it. End the conversation, please.’ And Pinich took it in stride, shrugging and shaking his head.

“No reason,” He replied, taking another bite of his burger.

“I mean,” Zini looked over at Pinich, her expression untranslatable, sending a shiver of worry through the student of Vegeta. “You’re the one who brought him up for some reason.” She put her burger on its wrapper on the table, folding her arms and looking at Pinich pointedly. “Why are you wondering if I’ve heard from Tyber?”

“I…” Pinich felt trapped, the stare of his childhood friend making him feel like he’d been cornered. “I…” he looked at Trunks for help, and Trunks shook his head just slightly, enough for it to go unnoticed by Zini, but still give its intended meaning to Pinich: 'Just end it here.’ But as much as Pinich wanted to just end the conversation there, he sighed, knowing he couldn’t hide anything from his best friend and rival. “I was wondering because he hasn’t written me back for a while, and I’m just, kinda worried, you know?”

Trunks inwardly groaned, and shook his head slightly, knowing Pinich had just made a mistake. Zini, on the other hand, looked at Pinich incredulously, her head tilting somewhat as she processed what he’d said. “You’ve been writing him? … Wait, he’s been writing you back?”

Pinich nodded. “Yeah.” He felt like he was making a mistake admitting this, like he was digging a grave, but whose it was, he couldn’t tell. “I haven’t heard from him in like, 3 months? I used to hear from him every other week.”

Zini gaped at Pinich, Trunks pinching the bridge of his own nose as he shook his head. What had Pinich just done?“

"I..” Zini closed her mouth, an indescribable noise leaving her as she exhaled through her nose, and she took a bite of her burger, the move sharp and angry.

“Zini?” Pinich asked.

“I’m fine.” She replied insistently, her mouth full. She swallowed her bite and looked down at her burger. “I haven’t heard from him since the four of us last hung out.” Pinich and Trunks both seethed again, knowing that was over a year ago. “But no, I haven’t heard a word from him. Probably too busy with his Galactic Patrol work.” She took another rough bite of her burger, her tail unwrapping itself from her waist so it could coil and uncoil itself repeatedly in irritation. Her last line at been spoken with a bit of snark, though she opened her mouth again, speaking with it still full. “Though he can’t be too busy if he’s been writing you every other week.”

Pinich was unsure of what to say then, Trunks attempting to speak up, “Zini, maybe–”

“Ahem.”

All three Saiyans were quick to turn their heads to the sound of a foreign voice, their gazes lowering until they were met with the sight of a small, humanoid alien in an Galactic Patrol uniform.

“Jaco?” Trunks asked.

“Greetings,” Jaco began, looking at the group of Saiyans before turning his attention to Trunks specifically. “Might I have a word with you, alone?” He leaned in slightly then, bringing a hand to the side of his mouth, whispering to Trunks, “Super elite business, and whatnot.”

Trunks nodded and excused himself from the table, walking a little bit away with Jaco, leaving Zini and Pinich alone to talk.

“Hey,” Pinich said, putting his burger down and looking to Zini, “Listen, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No, no, you’re fine.” Zini insisted, swallowing her food and shaking her head. “I just…” She sighed, putting her burger back down too, and drummed her fingers against the table. “Maybe if I heard from him or saw him more than, I don’t know, once a year, at maximum? Then maybe things would be better between us.”

“Have things gotten worse between you?” Pinich asked, legitimately concerned he’d opened up some old wound that Zini had healed on her own.

Again, she sighed. “No, how can they when I never see him?” A huff left the young woman, her tail wrapping itself back around her waist. “… I just don’t know what to say at this point.”

“I do.” Pinich said, a small smile overcoming him. “You still got feelin’s for your ex and you don’t know how to handle it.”

Zini’s face flushed red, blue eyes growing wide at Pinich’s words. “I-I do not! We broke up ages ago, and don’t call him my 'ex’. I can’t stand the term. We’re just friends.”

Pinich was about to tease Zini somewhat, when Jaco and Trunks approached the table. Both Pinich and Zini looked towards them, and Trunks looked apologetic. “Sorry, but we’re gonna have to cut lunch short, Zini.”

Zini blinked, the red having begun to die down from her face. “Why?”

“We might have a lead on Turles and Lord Slug.”

At that, Pinich and Zini shared a look, and Zini pushed the remainder of her burger over to him, which Pinich happily took. “What are we waiting for then?” Zini asked, getting up out of her seat. “Let’s head out.”

“Sorry,” Jaco spoke up, wagging a finger at Zini, “But we’ve got to wait for another Galactic Patroller. This job’s more than enough for a super elite like myself to handle, but Turles is hopping through both time and space, so I need the assistance of you Time Patrollers, since with the exception of the Time Patrol, time travel is a serious violation of Galactic Law.”

“Alright.” Zini said with a frown, not wanting to wait for something as serious as a sighting on Turles. “So when’s your other guy getting here?”

“He should be here soon.” Jaco said, “He’ll probably park by my ship, so let’s head there.”

Trunks and Zini both nodded, bidding Pinich goodbye as they walked with Jaco towards his spaceship, the alien having parked his Galactic Patrol ship in the Bamboo Forest district of Conton City. There was a small clearing by a lake where he’d parked, and the group of three waited there, Zini breaking the silence.

“So where’re we going? And who are we waiting on?” She asked.

“Well,” Trunks began, folding his arms, “Jaco said he’d gotten word of weird activity on a distant planet called Raika, and when the Galactic Patrol sent members to investigate, they found a large tree, sucking the life out of the planet.”

“The Tree of Might…” Zini murmured, her hands clenching into fists.

“Yes, exactly.” Jaco replied, pulling a tablet from his ship and swiping his finger across the device as he spoke. “The Galactic Patrol was swift in their response of evacuating the few denizens of the planet, though when they tried to acquire the fruit the tree bears, they were stopped by a Saiyan and a Namekian.”

“Turles and Lord Slug.” Trunks confirmed, he and Zini nodding at each other.

“Now,” Jaco continued, giving a 'hmm’ as he stopped swiping at his tablet, “As for whom we’re waiting on, it happens to be this Galactic Patroller.” Jaco then turned the tablet around, showing the face of the man they were waiting on to arrive.

Zini’s blood went cold.

Dulled yellow eyes stared at her from the picture on screen, belonging to a tanned man, in a dark purple and black colored version of the Galactic Patrol uniform, its insignia clear on the chest of his purple armor. Short black hair covered the top of his head, and there was serious look on the man’s face, that she was all too familiar with.

“It says here he’s a Saiyan,” Jaco spoke, “and that his name is Tyber.”

Trunks looked to Zini, who couldn’t take her eyes off of the screen. “W-Why him?” Zini stammered somewhat, cursing herself mentally for the falter in her voice. “Why can’t we just go now?”

“Orders from higher up.” Jaco replied curtly, looking displeased with Zini’s impatience. “Apparently he’s one of the best in the the known Galaxy. He’s almost impressive enough to be a super elite like myself, from what I hear.” Jaco pulled the tablet away, and set it back in his ship. “I’ve only met him a handful of times, and don’t know him very well.

"We do.” Trunks spoke up. “He’s… a friend.”

“Oh, good, this should make things much less awkward then.” Jaco said, nodding somewhat. “I dislike having to be paired with other people, but if both you and… Zini, you said her name was?” A look of recollection overcame Jaco at that, and he smirked. “Ah, that’s right, you’re the Toki Toki City Hero. I’ve heard of you. Well, if the two of you speak highly of him, then everything should be fine.”

“Yeah,” Zini said, standing upright and folding her arms, her gaze not meeting Jaco’s. “Fine.”

Frowning, Jaco looked at Trunks, putting a hand to the side of his face so he could whisper to the half-blood. “Is there something I’m not reading here?”

Zini sighed Jaco’s words, the humanoid alien not exactly whispering the quietest. “Tyber and I were once… together. We got together before I started working with the Time Patrol, and afterwards, my work schedule and his work schedule just became too different and demanding for us to be together.” She lowered her gaze then, a look of genuine regret overcoming her. “We tried everything to make it work, with the exception of one of us giving up our jobs.” Her hands curled into fists for a moment, before she forced herself to relax, instead drumming her fingers on her arm. “I wasn’t about to abandon Toki Toki City, and I wasn’t going to let him give up a job he loved.”

At her words, Trunks put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. “Zini…”

“I’m fine.” She said insistently, speaking a little too quickly. She exhaled out her nose, and raised her gaze up to meet Trunks’. “I’m fine.” She said again, this time calmer, and more collected. “I just don’t like talking about it.”

“Well, if your personal life is going to get in the way of this mission–” Jaco began, sounding dismissive already.

“It’s not.” Zini growled, not liking Jaco’s attitude.

“Well good.” Jaco bounced back, giving a nod up to the sky, “Because here he comes.”

Zini paled then, her and Trunks turning to look and see a ship identical to Jaco’s descending from the sky, a black-haired individual visible in the cockpit. Swallowing harshly, Zini shrugged Trunks’ hand off of her shoulder, gripping her own arms tight.

After landing on the ground, the sound of the ship’s engine shut off, and the glass dome was that was the roof of the cockpit popped open, Tyber rising out of the ship, and flying over to where the others were gathered. He was wearing his Galactic Patrol armor, complete with matching black pants and dark purple gloves, and a pair of black and purple boots. “Jaco, sorry I’m late. There was an issue with some of the people we evacuated, and I–” In his talking to Jaco, he’d looked up from the super elite to see Trunks and Zini staring at him, and stopped speaking, his voice getting caught in his throat. “I…. Hi.”

Trunks raised a hand in greeting then. “Hey, Tyber.” The two were about the same height, Tyber having the slightest edge over Trunks by an inch or so.

Tyber raised a hand in response, before looking over at Zini, a small, genuine smile curling at the edges of his lips. “Zini.” His tail was hanging loosely behind him, as opposed to curled up around his waist like Zini’s was.

Zini exhaled, and nodded in response, her face expressionless and unreadable. “Tyber.”

The air was thick with unspoken tension, Jaco giving a small groan, raising a hand to his head as he did so. “Alright, so. We need to head to Raika asap. The sooner we get there, the better chance we have in taking out our enemies.”

“Right.” Trunks agreed with a nod. “So whose ship are we taking?”

“Whose?” Jaco asked, “What do you mean, whose? We’re going to have to take both.”

“Both? Why both?” Zini asked, tilting her head some.

“Because each ship only holds enough room for three people.” Jaco explained, using his fingers to count off. “The pilot, a passenger, and a cargo space that we use for when we have a second suspect we’re bringing in. It’s against Galactic Regulations to have more than three people on a ship, so since there’s four of us, we’ll need to split up.”

Zini did not like where this was going.

“I’ll go with–”

“I want Trunks with me.” Jaco interrupted Zini, whether it was intentionally or unintentionally, Zini had no clue, but she cursed him internally. “I work best with people I already know, and I’ve known him and Bulma for quite a while.” Jaco pointed a finger at Tyber and Zini then. “You two. Don’t let your history get in the way of this mission.” Tyber and Zini both flushed red at the accusation, both of them immediately defending themselves, but Jaco raised a hand. “I don’t want to hear it. I don’t need a blemish on my elite record just because you two Saiyans have a history. Try working out your issues or something on the flight to Raika. Now come on, we’ve got no time to waste.”

________________________

Initially, the ride to Raika was quiet.

Zini sat in the passenger’s seat behind Tyber’s pilot seat, watching him from behind as he flew the ship. He hadn’t changed much at all since she’d last seen him, to which she wasn’t surprised. She hadn’t changed much in the last year either. She then looked around, noting that he hadn’t decorated his ship much. It was pretty barren for the most part, save for 3 picture frames close to the cockpit’s controls. She should barely make them out from her position. One was of him with the Galactic King, the head of the Galactic Patrol, a green, octopus like alien with a golden crown on his head. One was recent, a picture from when she’d seen him last; one of him, her, and Pinich laughing with one another, just like the old days.

And the third picture…

She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of it. It was an old picture, from around the time they’d first gotten together. The two were looking out into the sky of a random planet, which one was lost to her after all these years. Zini was in a black, sleeveless jacket with a baggy, long-sleeved blue shirt, and black Gi pants with a blue belt, and Tyber was in a black leather jacket with a purple undershirt, and long black pants. His arm was around her shoulders, his tail around her waist. The memory, while somewhat faded, was a fond one.

She’d been so focused on the picture, that it took her a moment to realize Tyber’s chair had spun around, and that he was looking at her. She recoiled in her seat, and folded her arms, glaring at him. “Aren’t you supposed to be flying the ship?”

“I put in the coordinates manually. We’re on auto-pilot right now.” Tyber responded calmly, looking over to where Zini had been looking. Upon matching her previous gaze to the picture of the two of them, his cheeks flushed somewhat, but he kept his calm demeanor. “I found that photo while going through some stuff from our time in the TimeSpace Tournament. It’s from one of our break days where we didn’t worry about training for the tournament. I think Oats took the picture.”

Zini allowed herself to smile then, recalling the white haired human martial artist. She was part of their team in the TimeSpace Tournament all those years ago, and was both a loyal ally and friend. “I haven’t heard from her in a long while.”

“I haven’t either.” Tyber admitted. “Its been a while since I’ve talked to anyone in our old group, honestly.”

Zini frowned at that, remembering Pinich’s words. “Pinich said you’d been writing him.”

Tyber blinked, then nodded. “Yeah, but that was months ago. I lost his last letter and haven’t written him back yet.”

“Yet you still wrote him.”

An exhale left the Galactic Patrolman. “Yes, I did.”

Zini gave a 'hmph!’ at that, and leaned back in her chair, her gaze not meeting Tyber’s.

Things grew quiet between the two for a short while, before Tyber spoke again. “If we’re going to face Turles and Lord Slug, we need to think of various combos and tricks we could use to disorient them.”

Zini was silent, but after a few moments, spoke up. “Do you still make barriers with your Ki?”

Tyber looked towards her at that, and nodded. “Yeah. I’ve gotten better with it over the years. I’ve made stronger, larger barriers. Not just around me, but around anyone I choose. They stay in place for a good while, so long as I concentrate on them.” He smirked then, an uncharacteristically cocky look coming to the male Saiyan. “I bet I could even hold up against your Hyper Galick Gun now.”

“I don’t use Hyper Galick Gun anymore.” Zini said, crossing one leg over the other. “I mainly use melee attacks now. My best techniques are my Ki blade, my mimicry of Android 18’s Deadly Dance, and my Meteor Crash.”

“Ki blade?” Tyber asked.

At that, Zini unfolded her arms, extending her right arm in the air beside her. She then exhaled, and shortly after, her arm from her elbow down was coated in her Ki, forming at a tip at her fingers, like the blade of a sword. “I’ve learned the technique by watching Sauza and Vegito, and worked on it to make it my own.” With a flick of her wrist, her Ki blade dissipated, and she folded her arms again. “I can control the length of the blade for up to about 5 feet.”

Tyber looked impressed, and opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the sound of Jaco’s voice.

“Tyber, you there?”

Tyber was quick to turn in his chair, reaching for the radio comm that was attached to the ship. “I’m here, what’s going on?”

“We’re here.”

Zini and Tyber both looked out the glass dome and took in the sight of a sickly gray planet, looking like the life was being sucked out of it. “We’ve gotta get down there, and fast.” Tyber said into the radio.

“Yeah,” Came Jaco’s voice. “We’re headed down, follow us.”

As they descended onto the planet, the group found a clearing by some dead trees to park their ships at, the four patrol members exiting out of their respective ships.

In the distance, they could spot a Tree of Might, looming high above the rest of the treeline. “That must be where Turles and Slug are,” Trunks said. “We’ll have to keep out power levels low if we want the element of surprise; Turles has a scouter.”

“We’ll have to fly close to the ground.” Zini agreed, “This way we won’t tip him off this time.”

The group of four nodded, and all began flying low to the ground, using the dying trees as covering to hide themselves. As they approached the base of the Tree of Might, they looked up, seeing a cave-like hole higher up in the trunk of the tree. The patrol members all looked at one another, and Zini frowned.

“I don’t like this.” She murmured. “I can’t sense their Ki.”

“Me either.” Trunks echoed, looking upwards. “I don’t know if they’re here.”

Tyber frowned as he too failed to sense anything. “Well, what’s the plan then?”

“Well,” Jaco sighed, shaking his head. “This mission was a bust. They’ve destroyed the planet with this tree and have already moved on. We’re too late.”

“Wait,” Trunks lowered his gaze back to the group, his expression inquisitive. “Do you think they’ve already harvested the fruit the Tree of Might bears?”

The three other patrol members looked at one another at the question, before Tyber spoke up. “Let’s find out.”

The four then flew up the side of the tree, into the opening in the trunk, landing on the ground of the opening and looking around. The wood around them was dark and black, but sturdy, hearty. As they investigated, Trunks called the others over when he found a vine like substance, picked clean. “They must have the fruit.”

“We need to find them, now.” Zini said, turning to leave the Tree. As the four patrol members flew out, Tyber, Zini, and Trunks tensed, looking up quickly as they suddenly sensed a powerful Ki, only to see the devilish grin of Turles.

“Meteor… Burst!”

Purple Ki enveloped the patrol members, blasting all around them and knocking them all down into the ground below. Pain blossomed through Zini, and she pushed herself up, taking an offensive stance as Turles lowered down to the ground.

“Why, if it isn’t the warrior who defeated Demigra.” Turles spoke smoothly, his arms folded against his Saiyan armor. “And here I thought we lost you after our last encounter in space and time.”

With a yell of power, Zini rushed Turles, only to be attacked from the side by Lord Slug, the evil Namekian having rushed her first. Zini growled as she was knocked to the ground again, and got back up, taking a more defensive stance this time, her gaze flickering back and forth between Turles and Lord Slug. She’d get them this time, they weren’t getting away again! Extending her arm, she let her Ki form into a blade, extending the blade as far as she could. Spinning like a top, she forced her Ki blade to collide with both Turles and Lord Slug, knocking the duo backwards.

“Zini!”

Trunks’s voice came from her left, and she turned her head to see him with Tyber and Jaco in tow, the trio flying towards her and the evil duo. Upon seeing them, Lord Slug opened his mouth, a laser of Ki exploding from his mouth and hitting Trunks, Tyber, and Jaco head on. Zini’s eyes widened in shock, only to relax as she was the familiar blue-ish green of Tyber’s barriers, protecting them from the blast.

“Don’t take your eyes off me, woman!”

Conjoined fists collided into the back of Zini’s head, Turles having gotten the upper hand on her due to her distraction. He slammed her into the ground, then dug his foot into her back, pushing her into the ground further. “You should learn to keep your eyes on your opponent.”

“Get off of her!” A Ki blast hit Turles in the face, Trunks having gone Super Saiyan, rushing Turles after shooting him with a Ki blast.

Tyber was quick to kneel by Zini’s side, worry laced in his expression. “Zini, are you–”

“I’m fine,” She coughed, as she pulled herself up, using the back of a hand to wipe away at blood from the corner of her mouth. “Worry about Lord Slug!”

At that, Tyber nodded, flying back towards Jaco, who’d been skillfully dodging Lord Slug’s strong but slow attacks. Tyber was quick to charge up his Hyper Twin Cannon, firing two energy beams from his hands, aiming them for Lord Slugs’ back.

Knowing Tyber and Jaco had Lord Slug, Zini powered up to Super Saiyan herself, and flew to Trunks’ aide in fighting Turles, Trunks having trapped the Crusher Corps Saiyan in his Heat Dome Attack, yellow energy surrounding Turles and launching him up into the air. Zini was quick to adapt, using her Deadly Dance technique on Turles while he was falling, a combination of swift kicks that left little room for the enemy to respond.

With a flip, Zini kicked Turles downwards, sending him crashing into the ground below.

“Go help Jaco and Tyber,” Trunks said, “I’ve got Turles.”

“Alright.” Zini nodded and rushed over to Jaco and Tyber, who were struggling with Lord Slug. Jaco had out his ray gun, and was shooting energy beams at Lord Slug, but they seemed to be inaffective, the beams seeming to do little more than bruise him. Tyber, on the other hand, was firing off Destructo-Discs that were also seeming to be ineffective, merely ripping the evil Namekian’s clothing, but no more than that.

It was then that Zini flew in, sending a flurry of punches his way, Lord Slug smirking and using his arms to dodge them. Incorporating kicks into her flurry of attacks, Zini gave a yell of rising power, her jabs and kicks speeding up with every passing second. It didn’t take long for her to overwhelm Lord Slug, a powerful kick sending him flying. Jaco and Tyber watched on in amazement, but as Lord Slug got up, brushing himself off, the three patrol members recoiled, Jaco speaking.

“What’s it gonna take to keep this guy down?!”

“I don’t know,” Tyber said, “But we have to keep trying.”

A power Ki was quickly approaching them, Zini realized, looking in the direction the Ki signature was coming from. When she saw Turles, but no sign of Trunks, Zini’s eyes widened, watching as Turles took a bite of the fruit, his power skyrocketing, his fist crushing the fruit now that he’d taken his fill of it. Turles had his gaze on Tyber, who was distracted, still talking to Jaco.

“Tyber, look out!” Zini rushed to Tyber’s side, pushing him out of the way of–

“Meteor… Burst!”

The last thing she heard was Tyber and Trunks calling out her name, and then everything went black.

_______________________

The first thing Zini registered as her senses came back to her was that she hurt. Her body ached, and on top of that, she was cold and wet. A groan escaped her as she tried to sit up, her body screaming at her to stay down, but a hand at her shoulder stopped her, and she tensed. Who…? As her vision began to settle, she tensed upon seeing a purple glove, a hook of nerves curling in her stomach.

“It’d be best if you stayed down,” Came Tyber’s baritone voice, calm and even. “You’re in pretty bad shape.”

Zini gave a 'tch’ and reluctantly laid back down, closing her eyes. She was quiet for a few moments, an uncomfortable silence settling between the two of them. Feeling awkward, she spoke up. “…What happened out there?”

“The enemy over-powered us.” She felt Tyber take his hand off of her shoulder then, “You were knocked out, and Trunks moved to get you, but was stopped by Lord Slug. Lord Slug then sent himself and Trunks flying, and Jaco went to retrieve them. As for Turles, he came for us, but I managed to make a large enough barrier around him to trap him, and brought you here, out of sight from him so that you could try to regain some strength.” She opened her eyes then and looked toward him, only to see him sitting beside her cross-legged, looking at her, his yellow eyes filled with concern. Zini made a small, strangled sounding noise at the sight, and quickly turned her head away from him, doing her best to hide the rushing heat to her face.

“We would have been fine if you had paid attention.” Zini barked, irritation flowing through her as she tried to settle herself down, wanting the warmth from her face to die down. Her only response was a low 'hmm’ from Tyber, and she regretted her words, sighing. “… I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No, you’re right.” She heard him say, hearing him get up. She looked towards him then, watching as he walked towards the mouth the cave they were in, and noticed it was raining. He stood there, his tail dangling behind him as he watched the rain. “I should have been more careful.”

“Tyber–” Zini began, seething as she sat up.

“You focus on you.” He cut her off, then sighed, raising a hand to pinch at the bridge of his nose, not looking back at her. “Try and gain back some strength, and we’ll go find Trunks and Jaco after the rain’s passed.”

Zini opened her mouth to speak, intent on making a rebuttal to his 'focus on you’ comment, when she felt a lump in her wristband, prodding at her wrist. Using one hand, she dug into the wristband on her opposite arm, and pulled out a capsule she’d tucked away, smirking at her find. “Perfect.”

“What?” Tyber asked, turning around to see her sitting up. “Zini, I told you–”

She held up the capsule to show him it, before clicking in on the top part, the capsule poofing into a small box. Opening the box, Zini pulled out two senzu beans, tossing one to Tyber. “Eat it. You’re probably not in great shape yourself.”

Frowning, Tyber looked at the small, green bean. “What is it?”

Instead of answering, Zini popped her bean into her mouth, chewing on the hard medicine, it crunching loudly inside her mouth. Tyber made an unamused face at the noise, but watched as she swallowed, and jumped up, perfectly fine. “Zini?”

Zini popped the box back into capsule form, stowing it awayt in her wristband before stretching out her arms, then hopping on the balls of her feet, moving her legs around. “That’s much better.”

Tyber looked at the senzu in his hand, and slowly placed it in his mouth, chewing slowly before swallowing. His eyes widened as his body felt refreshed, all his aches and pains were gone, feeling back at 100%. “What are those?”

“They’re called Senzu Beans.” Zini said, leaning from side to side as she stretched out her body, getting her blood flowing after being knocked out. “Earth grows them, and we get a set supply from the tower they’re grown in every once in a while. They’re rare though, and take a while to grow, so we ration them into energy capsules.” Zini patted her wristband then. “I only had the two for this mission, so we’re on our own from here on out. Now,” She began walking towards the mouth of the cave, and moved to step out into the rain, “Why don’t we just go now?”

“Don’t!” Tyber warned, but his warning came a bit too late, Zini stepping out into the rain and immediately yelping as each rain drop caused her pain, ducking back into the cave.

She was only a little wet, but her eyes were wide as she regained her composure, looking to Tyber then. “What the hell?”

“The rain’s super charged with electricity.” He explained, shaking his head. “It started to rain while I was flying from Turles, so I ducked in here, where it was safe.”

Zini blinked in surprise, wondering how Tyber managed to fly in that and rubbed at her arm, looking out towards the rain. “Here’s hoping Jaco and Trunks are at least in a better positin than us. I can’t sense their Ki.”

“I can’t either.” Tyber walked to Zini’s side then, also looking out at the rain. “I can’t sense Turles or Slug either. I can’t sense anything, but you.”

“Well we can’t stay here until the rain dies out,” Zini snapped, walking back into the heart of the cave. “There’s gotta be something we can do.”

“Our best option right now is to wait.” Tyber replied, a bit of exasperation in his voice. He turned his back to the mouth of the cave to watch her as she tried exploring their current dwellings. “The cave is a shallow one, there’s a back wall but that’s it. We’re stuck here for now.”

“I’m going out there to find them.”

“Zini, no.”

Zini frowned and turned around to look at Tyber. “You can’t keep me here.”

“And you can’t fly for more than five minutes in that rain.” Tyber shot back, folding his arms and stepping forward. He sighed then, and shook his head. “Listen, I don’t want to fight. Let’s just wait out the rain and then we’ll find them.”

Zini stepped forward too, curling her hands into fists. “I’ll be fine, you wait here if you want.” She then walked past him, intent on heading for the mouth of the cave, when she felt a strong hand wrap around her wrist.

“I can’t let you go out there.” Tyber’s gaze narrowed. “You don’t have any more of those beans to heal you after being exposed to that rain for so long.”

Zini looked at his hand, then glared up at him, the Galactic Patrolman having a good extra head’s worth of height on her. “… Let go of my arm, Tyber.”

The two glared at each other, and when she tried to pull her arm away, Tyber pulled her back in, close enough to him that the two were mere inches apart from each other. Keeping their gazes on each other, Zini reared back her other arm, curling her hand into a first that she had every intention of slugging Tyber with, but the elder Saiyan was quick, using his other hand to grab at her wrist before her fist made contact with his face. Growling, Zini began powering up, intent on overpowering Tyber through sheer force if she had to, wind and energy whipping around her.

Tyber growled too, tightening his grip on Zini’s wrists. She could see the resolve in his eyes, and angry blue eyes peered into steely yellow, when his expression faltered, his grip slowly loosening. Confused by this, Zini stopped powering up, and pulled her wrists out of his grasp, but didn’t make any motion of moving out of the cave. Instead she folded her arms, a huff escaping her. But before she could speak, could ask him what his issue was, he spoke. “Can I kiss you?” The words took a minute for Zini to process, and blinked, tilting her head slightly as her brows furrowed.

“…What?”

“Can I kiss you?”

The question was spoken simply enough, but Zini found herself frozen to the spot, her mouth feeling like it was going dry. There was a bundle of emotions curling up inside her, and it left her feeling internally confused and panicked. Tyber’s face was in such close proximity to hers, his gaze not meeting hers, rather fixating on her lips.

“Is this really the time?” She questioned, her voice coming out hoarser than she intended it to. She mentally berated herself for the show of weakness, her hands curling into fists, shaking her head slightly and clearing her throat before speaking again, this time more confidently. “We’re on a mission!” There was more anger in her voice than anything, the emotion being one she defaulted to often when she didn’t know how to process what she felt. Though as much as she wanted to push him away… she didn’t. Her gaze momentarily dropped from his eyes to his lips, only to quickly snap back up to his eyes again, which in turn, rose to meet hers.

She could feel the heat rushing to her face, and exhaled slowly through her nose, dark blue gazing into dulled yellow. There was something in his gaze she couldn’t quite place. Hesitancy? Anxiety? Desperation? Whatever it was, it sent a pang of concern through her, and before she could stop herself, she unclenched a fist, raising her hand to cup the side of his face. “I…” She sighed again and shook her head. “Tyber, this isn’t… We shouldn’t…” It was taking everything she had to keep her voice steady and even. but she couldn’t bring herself to flat out say no.

She’d missed him.

As much as she didn’t want to allow herself to admit it, she’d missed him so much. She knew they broke up on good terms, and she tried telling herself that they tried, they couldn’t make it work, and that was the end of that. She was thankful to still have him in her life, but if it didn’t work, why try again? The only outcome was being hurt all over again. And damn, did she hurt after they’d split. She’d assumed she’d hidden it well at first, but when Trunks and Pinich both talked to her about it separately, she felt ashamed, like it was a weakness to show she’d missed him. Trunks was concerned because all she did was work and work and work and ran herself ragged with Time Patrol missions. Pinich could tell through sparring with her that she wasn’t focused, that as much effort as she put into training, her mind was always on something else.

And yeah, maybe she tried coping by burying herself in her work, and maybe she’d gotten a little scatterbrained during spars, but she was fine. She didn’t need them worrying over her, or their pity. She didn’t need them, or Tyber, or anyone! She didn’t–

The heat came rushing back to her face as Tyber leaned into her touch, letting his head rest in her hand, and the feeling of his tail loosely wrapping around her leg didn’t help the blush that rose to her cheeks, either. “I know,” he spoke, his voice soft and gentle, quiet like his words were only for her to hear. He turned his head inwards towards her hand, and gently kissed her palm, closing his eyes for a moment before looking back at her, “I’ve just missed you, is all.” He murmured.

Zini’s eyes widened at that, and she gulped slightly, not being able to find her voice. The emotions that had been bubbling inside of her began to boil over, and her heart hurt. “I…” I’ve missed you too, she wanted to say, but when she finally spoke, those words failed to come out.

“Who do you think you are?” She asked instead, her voice trembling with anger and confusion and sadness, her grip on the side of his face tightening somewhat, though Tyber seemed to not care. “Who do you think you are,” she repeated, her hand beginning to tremble as well, “thinking you could do this to me again?” In her mind’s eye, she recalled the first time they were in a similar predicament, during the TimeSpace Tournament, during their downtime in the spaceship they’d repurposed from Frieza. She’d gone to his room in the ship to talk about fighting combos they could pull off during the tournament and at some point during their conversation, they’d found themselves kissing one another, much to Zini’s surprise. She’d always respected him and the way he fought, and she’d have been lying if she said that respect hadn’t grown into something else, but never would she have imagined that he’d reciprocated her feelings, or that she’d allow herself to drop her guard enough that she’d act on them in such a way.

Tyber frowned slightly at her words, confusion laced in his expression. “Do what–”

Before he could finish, Zini leaned up, and pulled him down somewhat, meeting him halfway as she tentatively pressed her lips to his, kissing him. Tyber’s eyes widened slightly, but before he could do anything else, she pulled away slightly, letting her forehead rest against his. She refused to meet his gaze, however, keeping her eyes closed as she allowed herself to lower her guard, her tail unwrapping from her waist and hanging lamely behind her.

Slowly, Tyber moved his arms, letting his hands rest at Zini’s hips. He then unwrapped his tail from her leg, and just as slowly as with his arms, let his tail slink up to her waist, carefully wrapping around her and pulling her just the slightest bit closer. When she didn’t lash out or deny him any of this, he leaned in and kissed her gently, keeping the kiss simple and chaste, before pulling away himself.

Both full-blood’s eyes were lidded, gazing at one another, before Zini and Tyber simultaneously leaned in, kissing each other again, this time more fervently and with more urgency than before. Zini used her thumb to stroke at Tyber’s face, her other hand falling to his chest, resting against his Galactic Patrol uniform. Tyber’s hands remained at Zini’s hips, his tail securing its hold around her waist, pulling her closer to him, his thumbs rubbing small circles on her hips. A small noise left him and his brow furrowed as Zini bit gently at lower lip, then sucked on it in apology, her tongue running along his lip.

The two barely pulled away from each other for air before they were back to kissing one another hungrily, Zini’s hand at Tyber’s face moving towards the back of his head, fingers curling in thick black hair, pushing Tyber more into the kiss. Tyber didn’t mind in the least, Zini’s forwardness always being something he’d admired about her. He smiled against her lips, one of his hands moving upwards to the small of her back, resting comfortably there. Zini wasn’t sure who’d instigated it, but the two started moving, until Zini’s back was against the cave’s wall, the younger Saiyan trapped between it and Tyber. Not liking the corner she’d been pushed into, she bit his lip again, a little more roughly this time, as if to say, 'How dare you?’

But Tyber wasn’t fazed, the elder Saiyan breaking the kiss for a moment’s breath, only to reclaim her lips with his own, the two kissing heatedly once more. Their tongues, warm and wet, traced over one another’s, Zini playfully flicking her tongue against his before he made the move to suck on hers in retaliation, and the young woman moaning softly into his mouth, the vibrations sending a chill down Tyber’s spine, causing him to moan in response.

Tyber was so caught up in the moment, he almost failed to notice the feeling of something slinking around his leg, wrapping itself around the limb. When he registered in the back of his mind that Zini had been comfortable enough to not only loosen her tail from her waist, but to wrap it around him? A pang of emotion went through his chest, and he broke the kiss, the two Saiyans panting as they reclaimed their lost air. Tyber looked down at Zini then, watching her as she panted, her eyes closed as she reveled in their actions and licked her lips, her head tilted back against the cave’s wall, exposing part of her neck.

A stab of something primal surged through Tyber at that, and heat rose to his tanned face, realizing just what it was that surged through him just then.

There was a primal sense of want, desire, a craving that was begging to be served, but he reserved himself, simply leaning in and pressing a simple kiss to Zini’s reddened cheek. “We should…” Tyber was surprised at how hoarse his voice was, and he cleared his throat, speaking again. “We should stop while we’re ahead.”

Zini’s eyes opened somewhat then, and she tilted her head forward, looking up at Tyber with hazy blue eyes. “I don’t…” Her voice was hoarse too, and she shook her head slightly, not understanding. “Why?”

The hand at the small of Zini’s back moved upwards, cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing against her reddened lips. “Because,” he began, his eyes closing as he spoke, “I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself if we continue.”

His words, as well as the thumb against her lips, sent a chill down Zini’s spine, one that was strangely welcomed. She pressed a kiss to his thumb, her gaze playfully narrowing, “And what? You think I wouldn’t be able to stop you?” She was the stronger out of the two of them, this wasn’t news to either Saiyan. But when he opened his eyes after she’d spoken, she saw a hunger in them that she’d never seen before, one that caused her to shiver.

“I’m serious.” Tyber warned, leaning in and pressing his forehead against hers, “I don’t think you understand just how much I’ve missed having you in my life.”

“You underestimate me.” Zini murmured, her hands moving to rest at his shoulders. “You think I don’t think about you every goddamn day?”

“Zini…” Tyber closed his eyes, his tail’s hold on her tightening somewhat, “I–”

Both Saiyans tensed as they felt two different Ki draw near, the pair pulling away from each other and gazing out the mouth of the cave, Zini’s tail quick to wrap around her waist once more. It was then that they both realized that the rain had stopped, and neither could recall when it had.

Though as the sets of Ki grew closer, both Zini and Tyber relaxed somewhat, as Trunks and Jaco came into view.

“Hey!” Trunks called out, waving at the pair. Zini waved back at her partner, stepping out of the cave as she placed a hand on her hip. Tyber was slow to follow, looking back into the cave as he exited it, brushing a thumb against his own lips, before turning around to face the others, watching as they landed in front of them.

“That weird rain finally let up.” Trunks spoke, folding his arms as he looked to Zini. “You doing alright?”

“Yeah,” Zini replied, nodding. “I brought along a few Senzu Beans, and took one after I woke up.” She then looked back and forth between Trunks and Jaco. “Where did you two go?”

“We managed to find shelter at the ships.” Jaco stated matter-of factly, “We would have come out to find you both sooner, but the electric rain was interfering with the ship’s systems.”

“Yeah,” Trunks agreed, nodding. “After we got separated, Lord Slug flew off and disappeared before I could get him. But I managed to get the fruit away from him.”

“You did?” Zini asked incredulously.

Again, Trunks nodded. “It’s safe back on Jaco’s ship. We can take it to the Supreme Kai of Time for examination.”

“I wouldn’t put it past Towa to have used her magic to taint it somehow.” Zini murmured, a hand going to her chin as she spoke. “Turles ate and destroyed his fruit, so we weren’t able to get it.”

“That’s fine; We have the one, at least.” Trunks said.

“We better get moving, then.” Tyber said suddenly, looking out at the dying planet. “We don’t want to be trapped here if it starts raining again.”

All three of them looked to Tyber, and agreed with him. “Right.”

______________________

The entire ride back to Conton City was a quiet one.

Neither Saiyan spoke throughout the entire time in space, both their minds running rampant with different thoughts, from the loss of planet Raika, to the mystery of Turles and Lord Slug’s whereabouts, to their little tryst in the cave, both Saiyans were heavy-minded, to say the least.

When they arrived back in Conton City, however, after exiting Tyber’s ship, Zini watched as Jaco and Trunks began talking to one another, and leaned against the outside of Tyber’s ship, folding her arms and leaning her head against the metal. She said nothing as Tyber stepped out of his ship and stood next to her, watching the same sight she was.

“You know,” Tyber began, letting his tail swing back and forth slowly, “I owe you an apology.”

At that, Zini blinked and frowned, picking her head up off of the side of the ship. “Apology?” She asked, looking to Tyber, her brow furrowing in confusion. “What for?”

“I didn’t thank you for looking out for me back there.” Tyber replied, not taking his eyes off of Trunks and Jaco, who seemed to be deep in discussion about something. “So I’m sorry, and thank you.”

A red tint dusted Zini’s cheeks, and she scoffed, looking away from Tyber. “That’s no reason to… tch, it’s fine."She stood up straighter then, her mind wandering as she replayed their last moments in the cave in her head again.

"Hey, Tyber?”

Tyber looked at Zini then, tilting his head somewhat. “Yeah?”

Zini looked down at the ground for a moment, before raising her gaze to meet his. “What were you going to say before Jaco and Trunks found us?”

Now it was Tyber’s turn to turn red, and he exhaled slowly, looking away from Zini. “Ask me again after you stop Towa and Mira.” he said, folding his arms. The red was slowly leaving his face, and he looked back at Zini, smiling gently. “I’ll tell you then.”

“Ahem?”

Zini and Tyber both turned their heads to look and see Jaco standing before them. “Are you two done talking? We need to head back to base, Tyber.”

“Right.” Tyber nodded, then looked to Zini. “I guess this is goodbye, then.”

“I’ll see you after I beat Towa and Mira.” Zini said, smirking. “Don’t you forget it.”

Tyber smirked himself, placing a hand on Zini’s shoulder. “I won’t.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze before letting go, and looking back to Jaco. “I’ll start getting the ship ready to go.” With that, Tyber turned on his heel, and jumped back into his Galactic Patrol ship.

“You know, for what it’s worth,” Jaco said, looking at Zini before he turned around himself, and began walking to his ship, “You’re as good a fighter as he claims.”

Zini blinked at that. “He talks about me?”

“He’ll bring you up in stories every once in a while.” Jaco said, the small alien looking over his shoulder as he walked away. “You Saiyans are always so battle hungry.” Zini laughed lightly at that, watching as Jaco entered his ship.

Trunks walked over to Zini, and the two waved Jaco and Tyber goodbye, watching as their ships rose into Conton City’s sky, and eventually vanish beyond the clouds. Zini lowered her hand, and placed her hands on her hips, unable to tear her gaze away from the sky. She licked her lips slightly, and bit down on her lower lip as she thought of Tyber’s words.

“–ini? Hello? Earth to Zini?”

At the sound of Trunks’ voice, Zini shook her head, being pulled out of her thoughts. “Yeah?” She looked up at Trunks then, and was slightly taken aback by the unamused look he was giving her. “…What?”

Frowning, Trunks folded his arms, looking Zini in the eye. “Alright, spill. What happened between you and Tyber?”

Zini frowned herself, glaring at Trunks. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Listen, I’ve known you for over seven years now,” Trunks began, unshaken by Zini’s glare, “I know you and Tyber have history. I just wanna make sure you’re ok.”

Sighing, Zini dropped her stance, and shook her head. “Nothing happened that’s worth worrying about, Trunks. I appreciate the concern, but really, I’m fine.” It wasn’t a complete lie; while her and Tyber’s way of spending time during the rain was none of his business, she really was telling the truth. “In fact,” she began, turning to walk to towards the Time Nest, “I feel better than I have in a while.” She let a hand reach up, her fingers tracing her lips momentarily, before pulling her hand away and looking back at Trunks. “Let’s go stop Turles and Lord Slug, and find Mira and Towa.”

[fleetingfigures]

Superhero/villain :3

(This is mostly a spin off of a near future Yakuza AU I was imagining with a few friends, and as such I’ll use the picrew I used for that for this as well!)

“PENTAKILL!” 

“Ace!”

The incessant sound of a mechanical keyboard fills the small studio apartment, as the flashing displays from a multi-monitor setup illuminate a singular hunched figure in front of it all. A Miqo’te, no older than his mid twenties sits, or rather perches upon an elaborate office chair, typing away at inhuman speeds as his eyes dart to and fro, focused on the game at hand. He reaches over, grabbing hold of a now room temperature crêpe and takes furtive bite out of it, his eyes still glued on the monitors before him. And this is how most nights proceeded for this Miqo’te -  wherein he sits for hours, stuffing his face with all manner of snacks, plays a few games, then heads to bed. Though, tonight is not his usual night as, before the match he’s in can reach its natural end, his whole desk vibrates as his phone lights up. The man is tempted to just shut off the phone, and go back to his game, but, seeing the caller ID, he supposes he has to pick up. Typing a “brb” in chat, the Miqo’te grabs the phone, and flips it around in his hand before pressing the accept call button. 

“Yello?” The Miqo’te answers lazily, going to wedge the phone between his shoulder and ear to free up his hands. 

Loud breathing is the only thing that greets his question, accompanied soon after by the keen sound of gunshots and the dull thud of distant, yet hurried footsteps. Things seem to die down for just a bit as a gruff voice breaks the silence. “Sae. You have some Fucking explaining to do. You told me no one was going to be at the Garlean Warehouse by Pier 5, and yet what do I found except an armed squadron of their best guards!”

The Keeper rolls his eyes, moving the phone away from his mouth as he abandons his game mid-match. After closing its tab, he pulls up a non-descript program, displaying its two main windows upon the monitors before him. There he can see the man on call with him currently, a Midlander who, besides the wild mop of hair upon his head, which is probably due to the mad sprint he had to perform to not get shot, seems rather pedestrian. On the other window, he can spy the Garlean guards he had mentioned, armed to the teeth in their finest magitek assault rifles as they fanned out to scan the area. He takes another bite of his crêpe before he finally addresses his caller. “Well, seems someone didn’t ask for enough details.”

“Gods… Is now really the time to reprimand me on such a thing, Sae?!”

“Well, yes, considering we’re only bound by the cash you paid me, and the limited info I gave you was well worth the pitiful sum you provided.”

“Just, ok look… I’ll double your payment, alright? Just divert their attention somehow, you’re the fanciful hacker here.”

“Finneeeee, just give me a minute, alright? I’ve gotta get around a few of their security systems, kay?” 

“Make it quick.”

Sae begins to type quickly again, as he pulls up a third tab, and types into the minimalist chat box that greets him. 

Sae: “> Hey, saw a strange thing on watch. Seems someone’s lurking around your warehouse. Told ya that hiring a squad tonight was gonna be a good idea.”

Soon after hitting send, the Miqo’te gets a response back.

R.V.H “> Seems you aren’t insane after all, Sae. I assume the squad is handling the intruder as we speak, yes?”

Sae: “> Not quite. Seems the dude’s pretty good at evading them, and he’s got your canister in his hands. I could try my hand at stopping him directly, but that’d require me to gain full access into your systems, and maybe a little extra cash too.”

R.V.H “> Damnit. Are you sure they can’t restrain him without your aid?”

Sae: “> Yup. Pretty certain. The dude’s holed up in a room and is gonna slink away into the night if I don’t lock that grate above his head.”

R.V.H: “Fine. I’ll send the system’s master code, as well as an extra sum of cash.”

Sae: “> Thnx. And how much is that extra sum?”

R.V.H “500k gil, in addition to the 2 mil I’ve already given to you.”

Saerno begins to type even faster as he brings the phone back to his ear. 

“Hey bud, still there? You didn’t get shot yet, right? I’ve just gotten through the secruity’s, well, security. Seems you’re at a dead end, but that grate right above you might prove useful.”

The Hyur on the other end breathes a sigh of relief. “Oh thank fuck. Seems you’re not as useless as I thought you were, Sae.”

“Hey, I’m the reason why you even knew about this whole place anyways. No need to be so aggro, jeez…”

The Keeper reclines back in his chair, placing his phone down upon his desk as he finishes the last of his crêpe. Of course tonight of all night’s he had to deal with the stuff he’s been preparing for weeks. Couldn’t they have at least waited till after his match was done? God... He’s gonna have to grind again to get back into his ranked promos. But, he supposes, in some way, that this is a tad better than that cesspool of a ‘fun time’. It’s always so fun setting up two sides and letting things pan out from there; that is, of course, with a little of his tinkering sprinkled here and there. It’s one of the last things that brings him true enjoyment in this shitshow of a world anyways. With everything so orderly under the thumb of Garlean reign, and the Resistance trying to swoop in like knights in shining armor, it’s as if Saerno’s living in one of those stupid fantasy novels he used to like as a kid. It’s all so trite, so predictable, and he’s not going to let the world continue to lose what little flavor it has left. However, Saerno is soon broken out of his reverie as two notifications ping to life upon his phone, both banners indicating payments he’s just received. Smiling to himself, he stretches, and reaches for his phone once again and begins to lazily imitate static noises. 

“Hey -kshh- I think I’m -stssss- Breaking up on you.”

“W-wait what?! What do you mean, Augh goddamnit, it must be th-”

“Call Ended.”

With that, Sae tosses his phone on his bed, and leans forward to inspect his screens once again. Inputting the master code he had just received, the Keeper begins to toy with whatever catches his fancy at the moment. 

“Hmmm, Water boiler? Why not? Gas pipes? Let’s loosen em’ up just a tad, and- Oh! There it is, the canister’s main control panel. How about we just disable all safety protocols and…”

Saerno stands up for a brief moment, wheeling his chair over to the large window of his apartment and sits squarely on it. Reaching downwards, he grabs a bag of chips, honey barbecue of course, and begins to slightly part the curtains. Just then, a brilliant cerulean flame erupts on the horizon, as the shockwave produced by it shakes the very foundation of Saerno’s building. In the darkness of his abode, Saerno claps silently to himself, stopping to much on a few chips every once in awhile.

In this world, there’ll be heroes in capes, and villains in suits, but none of that really strikes too well, you feel? No matter what side they’re on, the life these super-whatevers lead is oh so boring and drab. And that’s why I’m here, to spread a little chaos, and to remind everyone that life isn’t like a picture book, or some trashy romance novel. This life we lead is called reality because it can never be predicted, never be truly under control. Though, I guess you could say that these words I’m spouting are absolute horseshit and I just want to see the world bounce between extremes for my own sick pleasure which, well, isn’t wrong, but can’t a guy enjoy some of the finer things in life? After all, sitting here and eating these chips would be way less interesting if there wasn’t a fireworks display going on in the background.

[ezmodo]

Calling Home

(Happy Mother’s Day!)

https://zaheela.tumblr.com/post/184836905126/part-two-of-the-commissions-from-ezmodo-for-a

Summer Rose lay propped up against the base of a tree and studied the faces of her family.

Tai smiled up at her even as their daughter Yang shoved a palm painfully into his cheek. He was the rock of their family, switching from active field huntsman to teacher at Signal so he could be home for the girls while Summer went on missions for Ozpin. He did it all, from cooking to cleaning to training to pigtail fixing, and he did it all happily on top of teaching full-time. Summer had worries aplenty while out on missions but, thanks to Tai, her daughters were never one of them.

Yang, her sunshine, pushed unceremoniously off of her father’s face as she smiled back at the camera. Summer only met Yang after Raven had left and she couldn’t understand how anyone could leave such a perfect little girl behind. After moving in, she was worried - could she really be Yang’s mother? Would she ever be good enough? But the first time Summer heard ‘mama’ all those fears melted away, replaced by a warmth that threatened to overwhelm her. That time and every time since, hearing Yang call her that made Summer’s heart swell. She would forever be proud to call herself Yang’s mother.

And finally her precious Ruby, so excited to be taking a picture that she couldn’t settle herself in the frame. Summer thought Yang was an endless bundle of energy but Ruby could run even her ragged. She followed her sister everywhere - if Yang was doing something, Ruby needed to be doing it too. Even down to the pigtails, though Ruby’s hair was too short for them. Otherwise, she was definitely her mother’s child. She was growing so fast and guilt gnawed at Summer everytime she came home to see her little girl suddenly so much bigger, so different. She looked into Ruby’s eyes, bright and silver, so much like her own.

Summer’s eyelids began to sink as she felt herself slipping, torn cloak bunching up against her neck as she slid further down the tree. It would be so easy to let herself slide the rest of the way down until her head rested on the grass. Just a moment to rest her eyes, to give her the strength to…

She bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to draw blood as she forced herself up. Her left arm lay uselessly at her side, broken in more places than one. Her right arm burned as she pushed and clawed her way back into a sitting position. The attempt felt like it drained what little strength she had left. The pain in her tattered right arm began to feel muted and far away. It was a warm spring day and yet Summer felt the cold settle in, the chill creeping up her limbs.

She pawed blindly for her scroll, panic flaring briefly before her hand brushed against it. She thumbed through the menus until she found where she needed to be. The faces of her family smiled up at her again, though smaller and surrounded by various buttons and options. The contact name was simply Home. Where she should be. Summer paused, thumb trembling over the call button.

You’ll hurt them.

They deserve to know.

You’ll break his heart.

He’s strong. He’ll be strong for them.

Is this the last memory you want to leave them?

I’m scared.

The tears were coming but Summer couldn’t lift her arm high enough to wipe them away. Some big bad huntress you are, she thought bitterly as she wept. Finally stifling her crying, she found the option she wanted - audio only - and hit call. She grimaced as she lifted the scroll and rested it on the bloody ruin of her stomach, trying to steady her breathing while she waited for the call to connect.

---

“Daaaaaaaaad! Your scroll is going off!”

“Bring it here!” Tai shouted back as he tried to wrangle his youngest daughter. “Stay still, missy. You wanted a cool cloak, right?”

Ruby vibrated in place as her father finished fixing her ‘cloak’, a large white pillow case pinned to the girl’s shoulders. As small as she was the pillow case reached down past her knees, though it looked more like a cape a superhero would wear than a proper cloak.

“Okay darling, I think the huntress is ready for action.”

Ruby jumped forward and spun on her heel, striking her best hero pose. “Am I cool?!” she asked excitedly. The effect was mostly lost as the girl struggled to stay still, sock-covered feet slipping on the hardwood.

“Super cool,” Tai agreed, giving his daughter a thumbs up. “Just like Mom. Take your socks off if you guys are playing inside, okay? You’ll hurt yourself.”

“Kay!” she shouted happily before dashing off, slipping and sliding in her socks down the hall to her room. Tai heaved a sigh from the couch as he watched her go.

“Hello, Mama? Helllloooooo?”

His eldest came in from the kitchen with his scroll pressed to her ear and he couldn’t help but snort at her getup. Yang would be playing the terrifying Grimm to Ruby’s huntress, it seemed, and Yang did her best to look the part. A black trash bag was pulled down over her head, holes cut out of the sides for her arms to stick through. A pair of pink heart sunglasses completed her transformation into the dreaded Grimm Yang.

Yang held the scroll out to him. “It says it’s Mama but no one’s saying anything.”

“Maybe she butt dialed,” he said, rolling his eyes when Yang snorted at him saying ‘butt’. “Or the reception’s bad. Lemme see.”

Audio only? Probably poor signal. “Summer? You there babe?”

Yang made a gagging noise and he swatted playfully at the girl. “The huntress is ready,” he whispered to his daughter. “Better go ambush her.”

Yang gave a big nod and snuck off down the hall as quietly as the trash bag would let her. He waited for Yang’s roar and Ruby’s happy squeal before turning his attention back to his scroll.

“Summer?” he asked again, listening. The line wasn’t entirely silent. He could hear breathing on the other end, definitely Summer’s. Maybe she couldn’t talk? He waited, listening as her breathing finally slowed and she forcefully cleared her throat.

“I-I’m here,” she said with a sniffle. “Sorry. Think the pollen’s really bad or something.”

“Mission already wrapped up? Wasn’t expecting you to call until tomorrow morning. You done on your end?”

There was a brief pause before she responded. “Yup...I’m done here.”

“Sweet!” Tai said, rising from the couch. “Think you’ll be back by tomorrow? I’ve been dying to see you. The girls have been too.”

“Not tomorrow,” she said, quietly. “How are the girls doing?”

“Terrors as always. They’re playing huntress now, a miniature Summer Rose vs a...Beringel, I think?” he laughed. “It was kind of hard to tell. Here, let me get them.”

Tai held the scroll away from his face as to not shout in his wife’s ear. “Giiiiiiirrrrrllllllsss! Come talk to your mother!”

Yang barreled into him as he made his way to the girls’ shared room, jumping to snatch the scroll from his hands.

“Hey Mama!” the girl shouted. Noticing her father’s wince, she lowered her voice apologetically. “Sorry. Hey, Mama. You win?”

There was a short pause before Yang responded. “Yup! Me and Ruby are playing. I’m a Grimm and-”

Tai smiled as he watched his daughter pace up and down the hall, rambling excitedly at her mother. Tai was terrified for Yang when Raven left. No mother and a half-assed dad wasn’t what she deserved. But then Summer came. Summer was more than Raven could ever dare to be, becoming the wife he would never be worthy of and the mother Yang deserved.

“-and I told him if he pulled my hair I’d punch him right in the face and he went and pulled my hair so I kinda HAD to punch him in the face and-”

Tai nodded proudly. Summer might not approve, and the principal definitely didn’t, but the sooner boys learned to keep their hands off his daughter the better. Besides, Yang could get away with punching boys her age. The police might have words if Tai was the one who had to do it.

Yang paused to catch her breath but Tai caught her before she could start a new barrage on Summer. “Okay okay, you can tell her the rest when she gets home. Get your sister.”

“Fiiiiiine. Love you Mama, bye!” Yang said, handing the scroll back to Tai before skipping down to her room and poking her head inside. “Mama’s calling!”

Ruby dashed out of the room covered from head to toe in weapons. She had no less than three plastic swords jammed down the front of her pants, a bow strung across her chest, and a squirt pistol in each hand. Tai offered the scroll to her but she just stood on her tiptoes instead, bringing her mouth close to the receiver.

“Busy fighting monsters Mama, can’t talk, byyyyeeeeeee!”

She dashed past him into the living room, turning to fire pretend shots at her Grimm sister. Yang roared in response and gave chase.

“Ruby!” he shouted angrily after the brat.

“Looooooovvvvveeeeeee yooooooooouuuuuuu!” she called back, voice fading as she pounded her way up the stairs.

Tai grunted as he lifted the scroll back to his ear. “I swear, that girl. So, how’d the mission go? If not tomorrow, when do you think you’ll be back?”

At first there was no response. And then he heard sniffles quickly give way to heaving sobs as Summer broke down.

“Summer? Summer!” he shouted. Looking to the girls’ room, he blocked his mouth and whispered urgently. “What’s wrong? What happened? Talk to me.”

She either didn’t hear him or just couldn’t respond as she sobbed into his ear. Panic was starting to gnaw at his stomach. Summer could be emotional when it came to the girls, but never like this, never while still out in the field.

She went on for some time, Tai muttering what comfort he could to her. It didn’t seem to help as she continued to cry, occasionally gasping as she tried to catch her breath. Finally she started to settle, her long shaky breaths filling him with dread.

“Summer,” he repeated. “What happened?”

“I…I...” she stuttered, “I-I’m sorry. I messed up. I won’t...I’m…”

Tai felt an icy fist grip his heart. “I need to run next door!” he yelled up the stairs, already tearing the front door open. “Stay inside and lock the door after me!”

He didn’t wait for his daughters to reply before he was out the door, leaping down the front steps, and tearing down the dirt path towards the next house down the road. Their nearest neighbors were over a mile away, not far at all for him. The fist around his heart squeezed down harder and he dug in, pushing as hard as he could.

“Tai,” she whispered in his ear, “don’t, there’s nothing-”

“Where are you?” he panted, cutting her off.

“I-I don’t know. I was lured away from the village and got lo- lost,” she moaned. “I think it was a semblance. They got me turned around and-”

“They?”

“Huntsmen. S-six. I got them Tai, but…” she gave a forced laugh that tore at his gut. “But they got me too.”

“Where’s Qrow?” he asked, mind racing. Anytime she teamed up with anyone it was with Qrow. He’d be closest, he’d be able to do something.

“Different mission,” she replied, voice strained. “Different continent.”

“Raven! She can-”

“She won’t,” Summer answered, voice thick as she started to cry again. “You know she won’t. I stole her family from her, she won’t-”

“The only reason we have a family is because of you!”

His vision swam with unshed tears as he continued to sprint down the dirt path. Halfway there, just a bit more. He’d call Ozpin, he’d call Raven, anyone that would bring Summer back home again.

“Tai.”

His stomach twisted as he ignored her. One arm pumping, he ran harder.

“Tai, please. Please.”

He wouldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t let their children lose her.

“Tai!” she shouted, and the anguish in her voice caused him to slow. “Please, say something.”

“Keep fighting,” he choked out as he stumbled to a stop. “I can’t lose you. The girls need you.”

He was crying now, ugly sobs that rooted him to the spot. He could hear his wife doing the same.

“Tai,” she finally managed. “I-”

“I love you, Summer,” he interrupted. “I love you so damn much.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, voice thick with emotion. “You’ll tell the girls, won’t you? Tell them how much I love them.”

“They know, they know,” he said, fresh tears pouring down his face.

“Ruby’s so little,” she cried. “She’ll forget me.”

“She won’t,” he argued. “You’re her mom. She loves you. She’ll never forget you.”

“You have to tell them,” Summer begged. “Everyday. Tell them.”

“I will,” he promised. “Every single day. They’ll know how much their mama loves them.”

“Thank you,” she whispered over and over again as she wept.

“We’ll be alright,” he lied. The girls took after their mother. They were strong. He wasn’t. “Don’t you worry.”

He stumbled off the path and found a tree. Letting the rough bark scrape his back, he sunk down to the ground. Summer’s cries slowed and eventually she let out a long, shaky breath.

“Tai…?” she asked quietly.

“I’m here, love.”

“Will you stay with me?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he promised.

He told her stories from school, about the garden he was finally going to start, and their plans for the following weekend. But mostly he talked about their daughters. He kept talking late into the afternoon as the sun began to set and he continued on, long after Summer Rose fell silent.

[criminalspacebros]

busted - space au

When a ‘lil fic’ becomes a one shot.

Pairing: Bruiseshipping (ColeXJay)

Context: Jay has to bail Cole out of jail again. Currently, the two of them are already dating and on the run from Garmadon’s forces. Skylor is introduced here and great news, I’ve figured out where Zane’s going to go!

Busted-Space AU

Jay had came out of his room, setting a course for the kitchen when his comm lit up from the table.

Pixal was sitting nearby the comm, searching from her computer for places to stay a couple nights in the town they were in.

It wasn’t much help that Kai and Nya were onto them now, gaining more and more useful leads. It was enough to scare Jay into wanting to stay low, blending in with the normal, everyday, people and rolling with it for a week or so.

While Pixal didn’t seem to mind, Cole, on the other hand, found it terrifying. He hated the idea, mainly because he would be recognized within seconds, but also because he hated the thought of having to follow the rules for more than even a day. It was strictly, whatever he liked, he was going to take it.

And Jay was bending his rules.

“What’s going on, Pix?” Jay asked from the door, poking his head out.

“You are not going to like it,” she muttered, half asleep as she tossed the comm in Jay’s direction.

Breaking news, the infamous space fugitive, Cole Brookstone, has been caught by the authorities and taken into custody just ten minutes ago.

It’s been known that the criminal has been on the wanted list for several years after stealing the Staff of Elements.

“I told you.” Pixal heard a sigh leave Jay as he shoved the communicator into his bag, before throwing it over his shoulder.

“Yeah, that was a bad idea.” He reached for the blue sweater over the chair, slipping it on. He had to admit, it stung a little to leave his cape in his room for the next week, since laying low also meant having to wear a new outfit. But Jay couldn’t argue against himself, and besides, he quite enjoyed the new look. “Well then, I guess I’ll be back in a bit.”

Pixal didn’t bother to wave him off, keeping her eyes fixed on the computer screen.

So, he suspected it was partially his fault. Or maybe all his fault.

When Jay first opted to lay low in the town, Cole began having issues with his plan to keep a low profile and stay under the radar. Forcefully dragging him along, even though he had no option to back out of it in the first place, Jay suggested that Cole take a walk in town to clear his mind off of things, whilst also suggesting he change into a new pair of clothes. And even though Cole had already warned Jay about still being recognized within seconds, the space pirate waved it off as an excuse.

Guess he was wrong about all that.

That or Cole had just found something else to steal.

It took longer than he thought before Jay finally stumbled upon the prison. Instead of the warden, a man named Chen had gone up to greet him, still bitter about losing his staff.

“Couldn’t charm your way out of this one, huh?” Was the first thing Jay said to Cole when he finally saw his boyfriend from the other side of the thick glass.

Cole sat against the wall, arms crossed and… pouting? Jay snorted.

“I told you to lay low.”

“And I told you they’d recognize me!”

“You were out for nearly thirty whole minutes!” Cole’s eyes widened and he turned his head away from Jay. The space pirate took that as admission of surrender and he cracked a toothy grin. “Ha, ha, what’s your excuse now?”

Cole didn’t respond.

At that moment, Jay’s stomach sunk. A flash of distress crossed Jay’s face as his eye drifted to the orange bracelet that was around his wrist. He stepped closer to the glass, pressing his palm against it gently. “Hey. You. Yeah, you dummy,” Cole’s head perked upwards and the corner of Jay’s lips lifted into a half smile. “I’m bailing you out again so be grateful.”

Slowly, Cole turned around, green eyes on blue. Within seconds, Cole’s hand was pressed on the glass, just on the other side of Jay’s. “Is this the part where I say ‘thank you’, Walker?”

“Actually, I prefer ‘thank you for bailing me out instead of breaking me out for the second time this month’.” Jay chortled, leaning his forehead on the glass. “Because I’m the best boyfriend in the whole galaxy.”

Cole rolled his eyes. “I love you, Cap, but I love your ego more.”

And just like that, Jay was blushing madly, desperately wishing he could curl up in Cole’s arms right now. How he wished he could kiss him. The stupid glass.

As if on cue, an officer came forward, her scarlet hair slapping against her neck. “Aren’t you lucky, Brookstone? It hasn’t even been an hour and you’re already free to go.”

Cole stepped back as the warden unlocked the cell. He shot her a grin.

“You can’t lock up this pretty face forever, can you?”

The officer wrinkled her nose. “Get out of here.”

Ignoring the officer’s comment, he quickly shuffled out of the cell to Jay’s side. He instantly took Jay’s hand in his and kissed him on the forehead, all the blood rushing to Jay’s cheeks.

Jay was too distracted to even notice the lady leaving. His hand shot out as he tried to reach for her. “Hey! Er, Ma’am?” He squeaked, gaining her attention. “Thank you.”

Her expression softened and a smile broke onto her face. She rested a hand on her hip, inviting conversation. “You know, you’re lucky it was just us and not Garmadon’s little squad. Who knows what they want with you two. Especially this guy,” she pointed at Cole.

“Skylor,” she held out her hand, “That’s my name.”

Jay shook it eagerly.

The officer looked the two of them up and down, growing suspicious at their choice of clothing.

The infamous Cole Brookstone was definitely not known for wearing hats, something he had tossed away but was wearing when they had first located him in the town square. And he surely never dressed to fit in.

Now, she didn't know much about Jay but a sweater and sweatpants seemed awfully casual for criminal activity.

“You two looking for a place to crash?” She asked.

Jay's eye lit up. “Yeah! How'd you know?”

“I might have a place you guys can bunk. But under specific conditions.”

Jay nodded eagerly. Cole was unimpressed.

“No stealing. No lying,” - Cole huffed - “No attitude. Oh, and, you have to give back the staff you stole from my father,” she pointed at Cole accusingly.

“That's impossible. I stole it four years ago.”

“So? Don't tell me you've gotten rid of it already.”

Cole's brows narrowed. “Can't say that I have.”

“You're joking.”

“Am I?”

Skylor growled, her fists curling. “That staff meant everything to my Dad. I can't believe you just-”

Cole lifted a finger. “I never said I got rid of it. I happen to like that staff.”

“Well wherever you're keeping it, give it back...” Skylor shared a look with the space pirate. “Or you can't stay here.”

Jay's face fell. He grabbed Cole's arm and shook it violently. “You have to give it back!”

“I stole it, it's rightfully mine.” Cole folded his arms across his chest, glaring in Skylor’s direction.

“You know, we're still here. I could always lock you up again.”

Jay threw an arm in front of Cole, shielding him. “I think-”

Except before he could finish, Cole took one big step forward, growling. “Your rules are so unfair! You expect me to do all that?”

“Well I wouldn't have to set rules if you weren't the most wanted fugitive in the galaxy!”

Cole clenched his fists, his teeth tight.

“Woah! Hey. Can't we negotiate something here? How about, Cole gives you back the staff, and the rest of the rules? Poof!”

Skylor looked intrigued. Cole gaped.

“Please? Kai and Nya have never been this close before.”

“You’re boyfriend doesn't seem to want to cooperate.”

“He's just, being a little stingy. Please, Sky? Can I call you Sky?” He teased.

“Jay, I hate that idea.”

“Shut it, Cole. Skylor?”

“This is so unfair, Jay.”

Jay sighed swinging his hand and Cole’s, “But every second we spend out there is every one step closer they have to finding us. We have to lay low. Besides, I hate bailing you out of jail. It’s not good for my wallet.”

“You have a wallet?” Cole snorted. “Okay, but seriously, what if Skylor rats us out? She obviously hates my guts. Maybe Pixal’s found someplace else to stay already.”

In fact, the space pirate had thought of that before. But he didn’t want to let it get in the way of all the possibly good things. He waved it off, eye drifting to his boyfriend’s serious expression. “Let’s not talk about this right now.” Jay reached into his bag, pulling out a chocolate bar and handing it to Cole. “I brought you your favorite.”

Cole’s eyes lit up with excitement and he reached for the candy bar greedily. Jay grinned and pulled it away. “Tell me first, what did you steal?”

Cole froze. He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“I just want to know what you stole.”

Cole gaped in shock. He stopped walking and threw his hands up defensively. “I didn’t steal anything!”

“You’re a terrible liar and you know it.” Jay continued a straight path, leaving Cole behind in the dust. “And don’t try to seduce me.”

“I swear! I was just walking through town like you suggested and then suddenly I was in handcuffs. Seriously!”

Jay tucked the chocolate away, raising his scarred brow at Cole.

“Fine! Kiss me if I’m wrong then!”

And Jay did just that. Cole’s body relaxed, his lips missing the feeling of Jay’s own against his already the second he pulled away. “You are wrong.”

He pulled his hand away, suddenly holding a pouch of gold coins.

“And I was right.”

[razzle-dazzle-13]

The Glorious Story of the Birth of Your Lord and Savior’s Heir

Or Fabian Cortez’s Adventures in Labor and Delivery.

I wrote this for my friend #thecorteztwins inspired by life at work and her amazing portrayals of Fabian Cortez and Anne Marie Cortez on the board we RP on together. Guest starring one of my OCs, Kaylee who’s an X-Man with mentions of my Rogue who is Fabian’s best frienemy and Pyro, Kay’s Brotherhoodlum boyfriend.

It’s long so please keep reading under the cut! :)

***

Ah yes, finally, finally, after nine of the longest months of his life that had been filled with pickles, ice cream, and screaming, often altogether. Usually aimed at him. If he never saw another pickle dipped in rocky road which was some horrible plebeian concoction and Fabian really didn't think he DESERVED to have had it near him, much less thrown at him, in his PONYTAIL, just because he suggested that she should perhaps NOT be teaching his SON such bad habits, because pickles were full of salt and ice cream of fat and that wasn't good for him! A growing baby needed PROTEIN.

Anyway, horrible snacks aside it was about to be the second most important day of all time.

The day Fabian Cortez became a FATHER. Passing his superior genetics into the next generation.

God he hoped the baby took after him and not Anne Marie. That would be tragic. Ugh. That would be the sort of cruel trick the universe might play on him, because through [i]no fault of his own[/i] horrible things often happened to him! Mostly because women were awful. Take Rogue, who had not only rebuffed his advances, even back before she had that little power suppressor bracelet when he had been the only man WILLING to put up with her, but even now when he offered to show her how it was done!

Her loss. Maybe he would find some women more worthy of his attentions at the hospital. Nurses often were cute and in a field like labor and delivery would probably need some reassurances from a big strong man when it got difficult. Labor was in the name. It was a lot of work to get a baby out of a belly button.

Fabian flexed at himself in the mirror and shot himself a jaunty smile. Ah yes. It was going to be a good day.

"Fabian! Are you finished packing my bag?" His wife, the love of his life, carrier of his child screamed up the steps between contractions.

Didn't this woman KNOW he was getting ready? He had to look his best when he met his son!!!  And all those nurses! Some people just had to make everything about them!

"In a minute my amor!" he shouted back down the steps, gritting his teeth. Women were hysterical at the best of times, especially when confronted with him, so he should expect her to be just a little bit unmanageable today, but he wouldn't blame her like lesser specimen of men would. She was the mother of his child after all. Even if now she had those stretch marks and was gaining weight like no one's business, he would never abandon her! Besides, he wanted twelve children so they would have to start working on the next one, maybe tomorrow. He had people like Tiffany and Brittany on speed dial, the beginnings of the harem he DESERVED for his other needs.

Fabian flexed one last time and then picked up the duffle bag, strolling down the steps in a most manly manner.

There was a small shriek from the front door.

"My amor?"

"My water broke."

He looked in horror at the puddle on the floor. "Is... is that from one of the," he lowered his voice. "Cavities?"

She gave him a look , one that was filled with disbelief due to her good fortune of getting the attentions of LORD CORTEZ, but that someone else might have described as exasperated.

"Just come on."

And then she snagged his cape from the coat hook and wrapped it around herself to soak up the mysterious liquid as she waddled to the car and Fabian could only stare in horror, unable to even form words.

***

The hormones were quite clearly making her crazy. Fabian was huddled across the room while she threw everything in reach at him, from the TV remote to the birthing ball to her phone to medical supplies, screaming with every contraction. So far this was nothing like he had expected! No one had gotten him juice or water or even a blanket! They even seemed to think HE should be walking down the hall to get HER drinks and ice chips, like he was some kind of servant! The nurse was a MAN who was clearly flirting with the love of his life, patting her shoulder, pulling her gown up over her belly to "adjust the monitor" and doing "cervical checks" whatever a cervical was, sounded fake to Fabian.

He also refused to call the baby by his correct name, Lord Fabian Cortez the Second, insisting on listening to her when she said he would be named "Malcolm". As if Fabian would let his first born be named "Malcolm", that was a sock name.

"My amor, I think I should run downstairs just for a minute, I'm feeling a bit peaked, maybe some dinner," he said as she started to throw up, afraid she might throw that at him too. He blew her a kiss as he ran from the room. Whew! Maybe the baby would be born while he was gone and she would be back to her usual self, because this was quite disgusting.

***

The couch was probably infested with all sorts of disease, but Fabian managed to fall asleep on it anyway after a hearty dinner that he had had to leave the hospital for (Fabian Cortez, cafeteria food? I think NOT!) It was a little hard with all the moaning and groaning his wife was doing. At least she had stopped throwing things. Something about the pain being too bad to lift an arm and could he give her a back massage. He had asked if she would massage.. other things.. for him if he did and she had started screaming again.

Of course someone as magnanimous as Lord Cortez didn't respond to a woman's rantings.

He slept his way right through the epidural and from five centimeters to nine when the door opening woke him up. Why hello, who was this pretty little blonde piece walking in the door? Her scrubs sort of hid her body, but her face was quite pleasing.

For some reason she spoke to his wife instead of him though.

"Good Morning!" she chirped. "I'm Kaylee, I'm going to be your nurse today! So we're about to have a birthday party, yeah?"

"We better," his wife said through gritted teeth.

"Does the baby have a name?"

"Mal-"

"LORD FABIAN CORTEZ THE SECOND!" He popped up from the couch and shot the girl a winning, come hither smile. She was so love struck by him that she just stared at him for a second. "I'm the first, of course," he clarified. "Lord Fabian Cortez, at your service." Really she would be at HIS service soon enough.

"Umm and who do you have with you today?"

"My husband," she said with a death glare at him. He preened.

"Right. So. Yeah. I'm going to get everything set up for baby Mal-"

"Malcom."

"Yeah. Be right back." And she scurried out of the room. Poor girl. So taken by him that she couldn't  even stay in the same room!

Luckily for him, Fabian didn't hear the rest of Kaylee's conversation with Matt, the night nurse.

"Oh yeah the father's a piece of work, disappeared for hours and slept through all of active labor. One of those. Ten bucks says he passes out when the baby is born."

"Matt what  kind of sucker do you take me for, why would I bet against a certainty?" she said tossing her head and going to eat a doughnut to fortify herself. It was going to be one of those days.

***

Fabian went to get breakfast, but whipped his phone out and answered as soon as it rang. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Kaylee. Your wife's nurse."

Ah yes, she couldn't even go five minutes without seeing his face. Poor girl was smitten. Perhaps she wouldn't be busy tonight and he could show her a good time.

"Ah yes, Kaylee, of course what can I do for you?" he purred. "By the way I know this great restaurant, just a few blocks away. Perhaps you will allow me to treat you to it after the baby comes?"

"Umm no thanks. Well we're about to start pushing. So you should probably come back."

"TELL HIM IF HE DOESN'T GET HIS ASS UP HERE NOW I WILL KILL HIM!" shouted the love of his life in the background. God. She just couldn't stand that he was talking to another woman he thought to himself, even as he posed for the benefit of the ladies at the cafe.

"Pushing? Pushing what?"

There was silence for a minute. "The baby."

"Why are you pushing my son?" he asked, so horrified he stopped posing. "That's so rude! I demand to speak to your supervisor!"

"Do... do you understand how this works?" she asked.

"Yes, I talk to your supervisor and he stops this madness!" Fabian started running for the elevator to save his son.

Upstairs Kaylee hung up the phone and looked at her patient. "You guys didn't do a childbirth class, did you?"

"Oh we did," she said through gritted teeth. "He just wasn't paying attention. He has the attention span of a hyperactive three year old on a sugar high. Unless boobs are involved. He was all about the breastfeeding."

"I don't get paid enough for this," Kaylee muttered.

"Same."

***

Fabian burst into the room to save his son and was greeted with a horrific scene. First, of all there was blood on the bed coming from the baby cavity. Second, there was a table full of scissors and other sharp looking torture devices that could have come from one of Creed's videos in the room. Third, the love of his life had her legs up in the air and all her bits just exposed, while the cute, but psycho nurse counted to ten and made her hold her breath.

"My amor!" he cried rushing to her side. "What is this?!"

"Shut up and hold my leg."

He looked at her in horror. "I think I'll just wait up here, yes, where it's safe." He patted her hair gingerly and took a big step back. "Is my son here yet? Has this harlot tried to push him?" he glared at Kaylee who was moving the monitor around looking for the baby's heart rate, but in Fabian's mind was just proving the reason she wasn't falling down at his feet, she was one of those women who preferred the company of women, clearly since she was pulling the same tricks as that lesser specimen of male last night, trying to seduce his wife with her fake cervical!

"You apologize," his wife said through gritted teeth. "I have to push the baby out idiot."

He would forgive her for that, she was clearly delusional right now. Well women were the weaker sex, he wasn't surprised that all of this was upsetting her. He looked at Kaylee anyway, waiting for his apology, but then a new smell hit his nostrils and distracted him.

Was.. was that FECES?

He thought he might faint.

***

Fabian was getting bored with this. It had been two hours! Kaylee wasn't even wearing a short skirt and low cut shirt and when he had asked her for some refreshments she had just glared at him. Didn't these people know who he was? He was going to be complaining, especially since her so called supervisor was just another scrub wearing woman "charge nurse" who had run in when the monitor started going slowly, saying something about the baby's heart rate and helping turn his wife,then going out to call for the doctor and a vacuum. Women! Always cleaning! At least she knew tidying up was her place. She wasn't completely hideous and he would need someone handy in the harem, he resolved to get her number when she was done cleaning.

"His heart rate came back up so that's good, but he's not coming down in your pelvis as fast as we'd like,"  Kaylee was explaining to his wife when Fabian tuned back in. "I think he has a big head."

"Well we know where he gets that from," she replied, shooting Fabian another look. He missed it. He was scrolling on his phone looking for a replacement cape.

***

"I can see Malcolm's head every time you push,"  Kaylee said. "You're almost there! Dad do you want to see?"

"Why is his head down there?" Fabian asked as he leaned over despite his reservations, then gasped in HORROR. "BUT, BUT, DOESN'T HE COME OUT THE BELLY BUTTON? WHAT KIND OF ORGANIZATION ARE YOU PEOPLE RUNNING? I DEMAND A REAL MANAGER! A MAN!"

He was still exclaiming when the doctors and charge nurse ran in (without a vacuum, apparently she did not know how to clean after all since she was handing the doctor a suction cup) and shuffled him to the side. One of them practically knocked him down at one point, shouting about shoulders disaster or something, Fabian was too busy screaming at the sight of a head emerging like some kind of alien from one of his wife's cavities, he couldn't tell which, and then the nurse VAULTED onto the bed to try to kill his or seduce his wife, shoving her fists into her stomach.

Fabian would have protested if he could stop shrieking wordlessly (later he would say he was the one who heroically SAVED both his wife and son when the female nurses and doctors ran around cleaning the room while she bled out). Finally the entire baby came out, slimy and bloody and DISGUSTING and there was a loud thump from the other side of the bed, ignored by Kaylee as she jumped off the bed to start resuscitating Malcolm.

If only Fabian had been a little nicer she might have made sure when he passed out he landed on the couch, but it wasn't to be.

***

When Fabian came to everything was calm. Ah yes. He must have taken a nap. He had to see his son, he was sure that whole thing had just been a very bad nightmare.

His wife was sleeping peacefully and there was Anne Marie, the big idiot, crooning to a bundle wrapped in a cow patterned blanket. Hideous.

"Oh hi Fabian! The nurse said you'd wake up eventually. She's super nice isn't she? We're going to hang out sometime! She asked if we wanted to take you down to the emergency room, but I said no, you do this all the time you'd be fine." She beamed. "Isn't Malcolm so cute? I filled out his birth certificate for you and guess what? Kaylee sent it right away! She said no take backs once it's sent and Malcolm is such a great name!"

"NO!" He staggered off the floor and to the baby. "MY POOR BOY! LORD FABIAN CORTEZ THE SECOND! CURSED WITH THAT NAME?!"

Malcolm woke up. Took one look at Fabian. And started screaming.

"Me too," Anne Marie said.

"What?"

"Oh he just thinks you're too much. And you know you packed that whole bag full of your clothes right? She's really mad that you didn't bring any of her stuff. Or Mal's. I had to get him this cute blanket!"

Fabian howled with the indignity.

***

In the locker room Kaylee couldn't stop laughing as she and the rest of the nurses relived the day. All was well that ended well and baby and mom were both fine and the floor had an amazing story to tell on bad days. She flipped her phone and dialed a number.

"John you're not going to believe what happened today-" she said, then had to stop talking as one of the nurses reenacted Fabian fainting. It was going to take her a minute to stop laughing long enough to catch her breath and tell her boyfriend the rest of the story.

[hr]

OB nurses monitor the baby's heart rate all through labor, turning the mom is the first intervention if it's decelerating in a bad way or the baby isn't recovering on their own. We spend a lot of time chasing the baby with the ultrasound and the contractions with the TOCO.

Yes sometimes you really DO push for four hours as a first time mom after you labored for a couple days and some dads really do sleep through it all and wander off for hours for food when mom can't eat or can only have clear liquids.

Vacuum assisted deliveries with the Kiwi are a thing, but not the kind of vacuum Fabian is thinking of.

Shoulder dystocias (AKA Disasters) are an OB emergency where the baby's head is out, but his or her shoulders get stuck. Yes, I have half tackled family or students to get them out of the way to deal with it IRL. The first maneuver to try to get them loose includes mom's legs way back and suprapubic pressure to pop the shoulder free-which can mean jumping onto the bed if you're short and don't have a step up handy.

[tinyshe]

COVID Noncompliance Now Labeled Top ‘Terror Threat’

When you think of potential terror threats, what comes to mind? Did opposing irrational and/or illegal COVID measures make your list? Well, it recently got top billing on the Department of Homeland Security’s list of potential terror threats as we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11. 

Over the past 18 months, COVID countermeasures have become increasingly tyrannical, and we now appear to have reached a new high (or low, depending on your perspective). The U.S. government is actually viewing citizens who exercise their Constitutional rights as domestic terrorists, enemies of the state.

Dehumanizing Discrimination Against Unvaccinated

As reported by Daisy Luther with The Organic Prepper,1 “Shocking and dehumanizing discrimination against the unvaccinated is about to make life VERY difficult.” She is, of course, referring to the media and government narrative that if anyone gets infected with SARS-CoV-2, it’s the fault of some germ-ridden disease-spreading unvaccinated person.

Public officials and media pundits alike are seemingly intentionally fanning the flames of unveiled hatred against those who choose to not participate in the world’s largest medical experiment and get a novel injection that programs your body to produce a disease-causing protein, the full ramifications of which won’t be known for years.

Getting the shot is a patriotic duty, we’ve been told, and opting out is nothing short of a traitorous act, according to some. This kind of narrative is extremely dangerous, yet no one seems to care — not even the departments responsible for keeping this the land of the free.

As noted by Luther, the rhetoric now hurled at unvaccinated people would under normal circumstances be considered hate speech. Now, it’s promoted as virtuous, and reporting a statistic or published medical finding that counters the official narrative that masks work, lockdowns are effective and the COVID shot is safe and effective is considered hate speech.

Can You See the Psychological Operation at Work?

It’s important to realize that this insanity is not accidental. It’s by design, and part of a sophisticated psychological operation to drive people mad. I wrote about this last week.

The article is no longer available, as all articles are removed after 48 hours, but you can still view the video I featured, which explains how mass psychosis is induced using fear, waves of increasing threat, isolation and other dehumanizing tricks of the psychological trade.

Once a population has sufficiently lost touch with reality and embraced a “magical rationale” where irrationality is justified, they become capable of unthinkable horrors and abuses against people believed to be responsible for their ongoing anxiety.

By convincing everyone that unvaccinated people are to blame for the never-ending pandemic, the pandemic industrial complex prevents the masses from identifying and turning on the real culprits — the string-pullers and beneficiaries of the psychological breakdown.

“It has happened many times in history: when human beings were used as slaves and property, when human beings were the subject of horrific experiments when the media and people in power deliberately manipulated human beings to believe that other humans weren’t like them, and therefore, it was permissible to mistreat or abuse them,” Luther writes.2

“As the saying goes, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. And repeat it, they are. I think, regardless of our stance, we can all agree that fervently wishing for bad things to happen to those who believe differently and dehumanizing them for their beliefs is pretty awful.

Don Lemon of CNN believes the unvaccinated should not be allowed to buy food or work. Does this mean he believes that they should starve to death? …

CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner says that unvaccinated people shouldn’t go to bars and restaurants. A doctor pondered the ethics of whether he could refuse to see unvaccinated patients in The New York Times.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s Big Kahuna of COVID, blames those not vaccinated for a new spike in cases … Alabama Governor Kay Ivey wants everyone to blame the unvaccinated for any cases of COVID that happen to occur …

That’ll really be helpful if someone unhinged loses a loved one to COVID and decides to seek vengeance on some ‘unvaccinated folk.’ After all, the governor said it was their fault. Speaking of which, Nick Cohen of The Guardian said that it was only a matter of time before ‘we turn on the unvaccinated.’”

Concerns for Lack of Vaccination Are Highly Irrational

Those who continue to pressure everyone to get vaccinated have simply failed to look at the most recent data, which clearly demonstrate that those who are vaccinated are actually FAR more likely to get COVID, and worse, contribute to the process of creating variants.

As recently reported by Israeli National News,3,4,5 recent data show Israelis who have received the COVID jab are 6.72 times more likely to get infected than people who have recovered from natural infection.

Among the 7,700 new COVID cases diagnosed so far during the current wave of infections that began in May 2021, 39% were vaccinated (about 3,000 cases), 1% (72 patients) had recovered from a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and 60% were neither vaccinated nor previously infected. Israeli National News notes:6

“With a total of 835,792 Israelis known to have recovered from the virus, the 72 instances of reinfection amount to 0.0086% of people who were already infected with COVID.

By contrast, Israelis who were vaccinated were 6.72 times more likely to get infected after the shot than after natural infection, with over 3,000 of the 5,193,499, or 0.0578%, of Israelis who were vaccinated getting infected in the latest wave.”

Penalties Large and Small Are Being Proposed

In addition to the penalties for lack of vaccination already mentioned in the quote above, Luther lists a number of others in her article, such as requiring unvaccinated people to:

Get tested daily at their own expense

Docking people’s paychecks

Charging students nonrefundable quarantine fees

Denying medical care at hospitals

Canceling private insurance or raising premiums by thousands of dollars a year

Suspending gun permits and driver’s licenses

Denying access to loans

Withholding government assistance and federal benefits like Social Security, VA benefits, subsidized housing and pensions

As noted by Luther, “The rabid contempt for those who think differently can lead nowhere good. For those who believe we should all get vaccinated or not, are you okay with this kind of dehumanization?”

In the video above, Project Veritas’ James O’Keefe exposes yet another double-standard that has become norm. Project Veritas has been accused of unethically doxing the rich and powerful, yet CNN a few weeks ago did the exact same thing to me.

CNN reporter Randi Kaye filmed herself ambushing staff at our corporate headquarters in Cape Coral, Florida, without blurring out the suite number. She then went to my home. As noted by O’Keefe, mainstream media routinely dox “the non-powerful” whose right to privacy is actually greater than government and media officials.

Project Veritas recently got banned from Twitter for publishing a video in which they confronted Facebook vice president Guy Rosen outside his home, asking questions about Facebook’s hate speech policy. So, to recap, Project Veritas got banned from Twitter for doing the exact same thing CNN did to me — but didn’t get banned for.

Artificial Intelligence Is Part of the New Battlefield

In mid-July 2021, surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a public advisory,7,8 calling COVID misinformation “an urgent threat to public health” that undermines “our ongoing work to end the COVID-19 pandemic.” The advisory calls for software algorithms to be deployed by social media platforms to “avoid amplifying misinformation” and strengthening monitoring of misinformation.

Similarly, at a recent Health Information Management Systems Society conference in Las Vegas, Hans Kluge, Europe region director of the World Health Organization, called for the use of “digital health” and artificial intelligence to fight misinformation. Artificial intelligence could also be used to identify communities with low COVID jab rates so that “swift assistance” can be launched in those communities.

According to STAT News,9 Kluge has “established a WHO unit focused on behavioral and cultural insights to understand the drivers of vaccine hesitancy and develop programs to counteract it.” Such programs include community outreach programs and identifying “champions” for the COVID jabs within religious communities, youth communities and the media.

Already, Kluge’s team is working with an artificial intelligence tool called EARS (Early AI-supported Response with Social listening tool). It mines blogs, news articles and online forums in 20 countries and analyzes the narratives it finds.

It can then anticipate how the information will spread, and what the effects of the information might have. While not stated in the STAT article, it seems reasonable to assume EARS is also capable of predicting which narratives would most effectively counter the concerns people express on these mined platforms.

Chosen propaganda narratives can then be pumped out using bot farms, such as the one imaged below.10 It may be shocking to some to realize that many of the “people” who are in favor of the official COVID narrative are not real people at all.

There are tons of fake profiles run by bot farms on all social media platforms that generate massive amounts of propaganda, including accounts with blue checkmarks.

The blue checkmark is supposed to designate that a user’s identity has been verified by Twitter and is “of public interest,” but clearly, the authentication process lacks in some of the basics, such as making sure the user actually exists in physical form and has physical control over the account in question.

Anti-Digital Hate Group Promotes Digital Hate

A central cog in the network fanning the flames of hatred and attacks on people whose only sin is the desire to make decisions for themselves is a group called the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).

It’s founded by a British national and unregistered foreign agent named Imran Ahmed, who is also a member of the Steering Committee on Countering Extremism Pilot Task Force under the British government’s Commission for Countering Extremism.

According to Ahmed, anyone who questions the rationale behind lockdowns, mask wearing or the safety and necessity of a COVID-19 injection may be prone to violent extremism, and the reason CNN trekked hundreds of miles across central Florida in search of me is because Ahmed has labeled me a top COVID misinformer.

According to its website, the left-wing Center for Countering Digital Hate prides itself on ‘researching, exposing, and then shutting down users and news sites it deems unacceptable in the digital sphere’ … That seems potentially dangerous, considering we know very little about the CCDH. ~ The Drill Down

In the CCDH’s initial report, “The Anti-Vaxx Playbook,”11 I was identified as one of the six most influential “anti-vaxxers” online that must be silenced. This was followed by “The Disinformation Dozen”12 and “Disinformation Dozen: The Sequel,”13 in which the list of targets doubled from six to 12.

These last two reports are what everyone — politicians, attorneys general, social media platforms and “blue checkmark influencers” — are now using to “prove” I am the most-dangerous and prolific superspreader of misinformation on the net.14

Whose Interests Does CCDH Protect and Promote?

When you think about it, isn’t it rather curious that government officials are actually targeting and violating the Constitutional rights of American citizens based on the opinions of an unregistered foreign agent who runs a tiny little “pop-up group” funded by dark money?15 As noted in a July 20, 2021, Drill Down article:16

“When a report goes viral in the news cycle, it only makes sense to question where it came from — especially if that report has influence all the way up to the Oval Office, affecting public health policy, while also having dangerous implications for free speech.

The Center for Countering Digital Hate … released a bombshell report earlier this week. It was picked up everywhere and had the following revelation: The majority of COVID misinformation came from just 12 people … But could this be a wily gambit by outside interests to justify the Biden administration’s censorship partner-up with Big Tech?

According to The Federalist, ‘The Center for Countering Digital Hate is an obscure international group reportedly based out of the United Kingdom and Washington, D.C., that works as an adviser to multiple governments and elite-run institutions about digital technology and regulation.

According to its website, the left-wing Center for Countering Digital Hate prides itself on ‘researching, exposing, and then shutting down users and news sites it deems unacceptable in the digital sphere.’

Users and news sites it deems unacceptable? That seems potentially dangerous, considering we know very little about the CCDH.

Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) expressed his concerns on Twitter with the following post: ‘Who is funding this overseas dark money group — Big Tech? Billionaire activists? Foreign governments? We have no idea. Americans deserve to know what foreign interests are attempting to influence American democracy’ …

No one knows who funds them. No one knows who is driving their research. But their findings are being used in censorship efforts under the guise of controlling misinformation?”

Violating Bioethical Principles Puts Lives at Risk

The sad irony is that government officials are really the ones contributing to unnecessary death and suffering by not adhering to bioethical principles that are enshrined in law. These laws exist for a good reason. They protect people from unnecessary harm and unwanted medical risks.

As an experimental trial participant, which is what everyone is at the moment who accepts a COVID shot, you have the right to receive full disclosure of any adverse event risks. Based on that disclosure, you then have the right to decide whether you want to participate.

Adverse event risk disclosure should be provided at the level of detail disclosed in any drug package insert. However, the COVID shots have no such insert or detailed disclosure, and adverse event reports are even being suppressed and censored from the public.

Instead, as explained by the FDA,17 since the COVID shots are not yet licensed,18 rather than providing a package insert, the FDA directs health care providers to access a lengthy online “fact sheet” that lists clinical trial adverse events and ongoing updates of adverse events reported after emergency use administration to the public.

A shorter, separate, online fact sheet with far less information in it is available for patients — but, provider or patient, you still have to know where to look up each of the vaccines authorized for emergency use separately on the FDA website to access those fact sheets.19

Adverse event risks must also be communicated in a way that you can comprehend what the risks are. This means the disclosure must be written in eighth grade language. In clinical trials, researchers must actually verify participants’ comprehension of the risks.

Failure to disclose these adverse effects, which is likely occurring in nearly every COVID injection case, results in an inability to give true informed consent as the person was never informed of all of the already well-established risks.

As just one example of many, Marie Follmer, in an interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,20 said no one ever warned her there was a risk of myocarditis. Her athletic son, Greyson, took the shot and is now unable to do much of anything and she fears he might die.

She admits not doing any of her own research, blindly trusting what she was told. Now, she distrusts the whole process, including doctors, as all have so far refused to acknowledge that there might be a link to the shot, and no one knows how to make him better.

Most importantly, the acceptance of an experimental product must be fully voluntary and uncoerced. Enticement is forbidden. It’s downright impossible to argue that the public messaging and incentives ranging from free junk food to million-dollar lotteries do not constitute coercion.

At the end of the day, if you decide you want to participate in a medical experiment, whatever it might be, that’s up to you. But everyone else also has that same right to choose.

If you find aggression mounting against an unvaccinated friend or family member, thanks to the current indoctrination that encourages savage and irrational behavior, think of something you absolutely don’t want done to your body, and then imagine being forced to do it just to maintain your right to enter a grocery store, buy insurance or keep your job.

Source: COVID Noncompliance Now Labeled Top ‘Terror Threat’,  Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola  August 25, 2021

[pika-ace]

BMC Miraculous Ladybug AU: A Solo Day (Part 1/2)

Part of a two-shot for this AU by me and @janethepegasus

Cyber Shock and Leo King are unstoppable as a team. But alone, things can get a bit hairy. Two-shot. Leo King and Cyber Shock both experience fighting the forces of evil alone, while their partner’s alter ego is the one they need to save.

Part 1: Leo King (aka Jeremy) is on his own when an super villain kidnaps Mr. Williams (aka Cyber Shock). 

The day had been surprisingly easy so far. Eric sat patiently at his desk doing his work, glancing up every now and then to make sure his students were doing their work. Eric glanced down to see Zip in one of his desk drawers, lightly dozing. There hadn’t been any akuma attacks for a while, so the kwami was grateful for a break.

The minutes slowly ticked by, when a noise could be heard from outside. Eric looked towards the windows, and so did a few other students and stood as a figure floated up, a cape flapping behind him. 

The figure raised a hand, pointing something at the window. “Now, a little break and repair trick.” A split second later, the glass shattered. The students all screamed and jumped away while the figure floated into the classroom. The figure then waved his wand at the window and the glass shards on the ground flew back to the window and the window was repaired as if nothing happened. 

The villain smirked down at Eric, “Was that trick good enough for you?” 

Eric’s eyes widened as he recognized the figure. This man was a street magician! Eric had been taking his usual route to school and spotted him doing some tricks. He had watched with only slight interest, when the magician had tried to do a simple vanishing act with a small object. 

However, the trick wasn’t very well done, as the magician was simply throwing the objects away when the audience wasn’t looking. Eric ended up catching one of the items and giving it back, while also commenting that he might want to work on his act a bit more. 

And that was enough to be akumatized over? Well, this wasn’t good.

A super villain on a school day. His wasn’t anything too new, but having the burst into the classroom was definitely a new one. 

Jeremy stayed close to Michael as all the other kids had gotten up from their seat and migrated to the far corner of the classroom as the villain hovered over their teacher. 

“Oh good; my first official act and I have an audience,” The villain said. 

“Who are you?” Mr. Williams demanded. 

“I am Ringmaster, the greatest magician in the world!” The villain said. “Now, for my first act, I need a volunteer...I think you’ll do nicely!” 

Ringmaster waved his wand and five large silver rings flew out of his jacket. The rings flew out and clamped around Mr. William’s body, pinning his arms. Mr. Williams gasped for breath, suddenly feeling the tight squeeze of the rings, like they were trying to force the breath out of him. 

Ringmaster waved his wand and Mr. Williams floated up towards him; Jeremy had to stop himself from running up to him and transforming then and there. “How do you like my levitation trick?” Ringmaster said. “Not so cheap, is it?” 

“Put him down!” Jeremy yelled, feeling Michael grip his arm and shooting him a look. 

Mr. Williams glanced at him but Ringmaster laughed, “Don’t worry; your teacher is my guest of honor, I won’t be hurting him...yet.” He said. “Keep mouthing off like that, and I’ll have to do a new trick; making this classroom disappear!” 

“No!” Mr. Williams yelled as the chairs and other various supplies began flying through the air. The students all screamed and cowered as the objects flew around them. 

“That was just a taste of what I can do,” Ringmaster looked at Mr. Williams. “And now, you’ll have a front row seat for my greatest act yet; the destruction of New Jersey!” 

And with that, the villain threw something onto the ground and smoke filled the room. Once it cleared, both Ringmaster and Mr. Williams were gone. The class quickly erupted into chaos, many running out to spread the word of what had just happened, and 

Jeremy quickly ducked away into the bathroom, his lion kwami flying out of his cardigan. “Guess akuma’s are good for one thing; getting us out of class early!” Leo remarked. 

“And we’re gonna have to use this extra time to save my teacher!” Jeremy held up his wrist. “Leo, Fangs out!” 

The kwami flew into his bracelet and Jeremy was surrounded with an orange light. A few seconds later, Leo King rushed out of the school and jumped to the rooftops. Jeremy sniffed the air and easily picked up on the villain’s scent; now he just had to arrive on the scene, and he and Cyber Shock would take care of this before school was out.

Eric struggled and tried desperately to somehow free himself from the rings binding him, but it was no use. Ringmaster had taken them to the top of a tall building and attached Eric to the middle of the pole at the very top, making the rings around him tighter than they already were. Plus, being up so high and the rings being so tight, breathing was definitely getting difficult for him. 

Zip was behind him, trying to somehow break the rings around him, pulling with all his might. “They’re too tight!” Zip cried. “Eric you have to transform!” 

“You know I can’t, not out in the open like this!” Eric said softly. “It’ll be okay, Leo will be here soon and we’ll have a chance to get out of here.” 

Zip looked at him helplessly, “But-” 

“Just stay out of sight, Zip,” Eric said. 

“Are you sure?” Zip asked.

“Yes, I trust Leo; everything will be fine,” Eric reassured him. Zip finally nodded and flew back into his jacket pocket just as Ringmaster was flying up to face him. 

“Comfortable?” The villain sneered. 

“I could go with a little less air, thanks,” Eric responded smugly. 

“I know your type,” Ringmaster growled. “You think you’re better than everyone else; well now, I have more power than all of mankind! And soon the world will be the audience to the most wonderful magic show of all time!” 

“You know, when I heard a ringmaster was here, I expected to see a circus in town,” A familiar voice said. “Gotta say, I’m disappointed.” 

Eric and Ringmaster looked to see Leo King on the very top of the pole that Eric was attached to. A smile pulled at Eric’s face while Ringmaster frowned, “A wild animal. Lions belong in cages in my acts,” He growled. 

Leo King shrugged, “I’ll pass; don’t you know it’s healthier for wild animals to be free?” He glanced down at Eric, “Speaking of which, this guy has a class full of students waiting and worried for him, so I’ll just take him off your hands.” Leo swung around on the pole, letting himself slide down, and planted a hard kick on Ringmaster’s chest, sending him flying. 

Leo landed and quickly turned to Eric, pulling at the rings holding him. “Man, what’d you do to make an enemy like that?” He asked. 

Eric avoided his gaze, “I suppose he didn’t appreciate it when I exposed one of his tricks,” he said. 

Leo purses his lips and nodded, still pulling at the rings, “Yeah, I guess I could see that, especially with how tight these things are! It feels like they’re welded onto you!” 

Eric looked past him and his eyes widened as Ringmaster was readying to shoot a ring at Leo. “Behind you!” 

Leo turned just in time to knock the silver ring away from him and Eric with his claws. “Hey, no shots to the back!” Leo exclaimed. “That’s the worst way to go!” Leo narrowly knocked away another blast and looked back at Eric, “Just sit tight, kay? I’ll take care of this clown until my partner shows up.” He gave a small salute and leapt towards the villain, Eric watching in fear. 

‘Dammit, your partner is right here, Leo!’ Eric internally growled, trying to struggle again. ‘I’ve got to get out of here, fast!’

“You know, you might want to look into not kidnapping your audience members,” Jeremy snarked as he leapt off the villain’s projectiles. “That would do wonders for your ratings.” 

“You’re a mouthy cat, aren’t you?” Ringmaster growled.

“So I’ve been told,” Jeremy shrugged, while glancing around slightly. Still no Cyber, but this guy wasn’t as hard as he thought he was gonna be. The akuma had to be in his magic wand, and with how much he was waving it around, taking it was gonna be easy.

Luckily for Jeremy, Ringmaster kept shooting projectiles at him, giving him footing to jump towards him despite him floating in the air. Eventually, Jeremy saw his opportunity when a string of colored scarves flew towards him, allowing him to grab on and swing around and behind the villain. 

Jeremy flipped over his shoulders and slipped the wand right out of his hand. “Yoink!” Jeremy flipped back to the top of the building. He snapped the wand in two over his knee and...nothing happened. “Where’s the akuma?” He wondered out loud. 

Ringmaster laughed, “I’m afraid this is only Act One!” He pulled a string of colored scarves out of his sleeve and lashed it towards Jeremy, who narrowly dodged.

Now he was starting to panic; where was the akuma? And where the hell was Cyber? “Cy, wherever you are, I could really use you right now,” He muttered.

Eric watched the battle as he continued to attempt to free himself, though he wasn’t making much progress. The rings were just too tight, not to mention that he kept getting out of breath thanks to being up so high. Leo seemed to be struggling now that he had no clue where the akuma was. Eric was just as surprised as him to see that it wasn’t the wand; it had been his first guess too. 

Eric watched Ringmaster, taking in everything on his person until his eyes fell on his top hat. He hadn’t taken that hat off since he had shown up, except to pull things out of. 

Eric’s eyes widened in realization. “Leo King, the akuma is in his-” 

Eric was suddenly cut off as something hit him, making his head fly back and stop his words. Eric shook his head from the sudden assault and felt pressure on his head. It took him a moment to realize that Ringmaster had thrown another ring at him, snapping itself around his head and over his mouth. 

“You should really learn to keep your mouth shut and not spoil the act!” Ringmaster growled. 

“Now that was just rude,” Leo King chided. And the fight continued.

Jeremy was stumped. If the akuma wasn’t in his wand then where the hell was it? And Cyber was still nowhere in sight! This was getting ridiculous! 

Jeremy grunted as Ringmaster straight up sucker punched him, causing him to fly right against the wall of the building. 

The villain then pinned Jeremy by the neck, “Why don’t we see if this cat can land on his feet?” Ringmaster dragged Jeremy across the wall until he flung him out into the open air. 

“Mmmph!” Eric struggled with all his might as Leo barely managed to catch himself before throwing himself at the villain again. He had to get the hell out of here so he could transform! However, he found his movements were getting slower, and...was his vision fading? 

Eric blinked and shook his head, feeling his chest tightening. He took a deep breath through his nose, but it hardly made a difference; the air was too thin! Not to mention that he could no longer feel his fingertips due to the chill. This wasn’t good; he couldn’t stay up here, he had to get down. 

Eric slumped and his head fell forward as a wave of dizziness hit him, spots dotting his vision. He couldn’t breathe; he didn’t have much time left before he passed out. ‘Leo...hurry…’

“C’mon, Cy, any day now…” Jeremy growled as he knocked Ringmaster away again and latched onto the side of the building. 

This was too weird; Cyber was never this late to a fight! Jeremy was getting worn out and he still hadn’t gotten a chance to break the object with the akuma! They couldn’t keep this up forever. 

Jeremy looked up at Mr. Williams, his eyes honing in on the sight, and it wasn’t pretty. His teacher looked extremely pale, slumping in his bonds while trying desperately to breathe. Having those rings squeeze the life out of him along with the other one covering his mouth wasn’t doing him any favors at this height. Any longer up here and he was probably gonna pass out. 

Jeremy needed to end this now, Cyber or no Cyber. He would just have to think like him. The akuma wasn’t in the wand, so where else could it be? 

Jeremy watched Ringmaster closely as he took off his hat to pull out a brand new wand for him to use. The hat, of course! Jeremy felt stupid for not realizing earlier! Okay, he could do this! 

“Time for this pesky lion to disappear, once and for all!” Ringmaster yelled. 

“Thanks, but no thanks!” Jeremy called. Ringmaster shot more rings at him, but Jeremy leapt off them and all the other projectiles being shot at him. 

After a while, Jeremy leapt into the air and Ringmaster somehow lost sight of him. “What? Impossible, where is he?!”

“Right here!” Ringmaster looked behind him to see Jeremy peeking over his shoulder and Jeremy plucked the hat off his head before jumping back to the side of the building. 

“No!” Ringmaster flew towards him and Jeremy simply moved to the side at the last second, allowing the villain to crash right through the window and crumble to the ground. Jeremy ripped the hat in two and the akuma flew out. 

...Oh shit. Now what?! Cyber was the only one who could purify the akuma! Without him, who knew what could happen! He couldn’t let that akuma get away! 

Not knowing what else to do, Jeremy leapt up and began waving and swatting at the akuma until he forced it back to the roof. He had no idea if this would work, but it was worth a try! 

“Lion’s Roar!” Jeremy took the biggest breath he could muster, and let out a loud roar at the butterfly. The sound waves pinned the akuma against the wall, completely immobile. Jeremy continued to roar, putting in all the energy he had, making the air almost shake. And just when Jeremy was about out of breath, the darkness on the akuma melted away. Jeremy stopped and took deep breaths and looked up at the akuma in shock. 

“Whoa, that worked?” Jeremy exclaimed. Sure enough, the butterfly was pure white once again, and Jeremy looked down to see that Ringmaster’s toys he had left behind were vanishing. 

Meanwhile, in a dark area surrounded by butterflies, a certain winged and masked figure was brooding. 

“You may have won this time, Leo King, even without your partner, but I will have your Miraculous!” He grimaced and rubbed his ear. “God, I hope Cyber is there next time...my ears are still ringing.”

Eric gasped for breath as the rings around his mouth and body vanished and he slid down and off the pole. 

“Careful!” Leo King appeared and slowed his fall before placing him on the roof of the building. Eric’s legs curled under him as he coughed, his lungs desperate for proper air flow and Leo guided him to the ground. 

“I think it’s time we get you back to sea level,” Leo said. “Can you stand?” 

“I...think so,” Eric breathed. 

Leo wrapped his arm around his shoulders, carefully standing him up and they walked to the edge of the building. “Hold on,” Leo got Eric on his back and managed to scale the building quite gently. 

A few people cheered as they flew through the air, and the next thing Eric knew, they were on the balcony of his apartment. Leo entered the apartment and set Eric down in a chair. Seeing that he was shivering, Leo disappeared and came back with a blanket which he promptly draped around Eric’s shoulders. Eric gripped the blanket, grateful for the warmth and looked wearily up at Leo. 

“Okay, you just stay put and stay warm,” The young hero said. “Don’t push yourself.”

Eric nodded when he heard a beeping noise. “Leo King, your bracelet.” 

Leo blinked and looked at his bracelet seeing that he was down to one paw pad. “Yikes; well, this was fun, but maybe let’s not do it again, get better, see ya!” Leo said before quickly running back towards the balcony. 

“Leo King,” Eric called, making him stop. “Thank you.” 

Leo smiled, “No problem.” He gave a small salute and vanished. 

Eric sighed in relief, deflating in his chair as Zip appeared before him. “Thank goodness Leo was able to stop Ringmaster,” The kwami said. 

Eric hummed and looked out at the balcony, “That kid keeps surprising me every day.”

The next night, Leo beamed as Cyber Shock joined him on the roof for their weekly patrol. “Look who’s back!” He greeted. “You think maybe you could call next time you can’t make it to a fight? I’m sure you had your reasons, but a warning would have been nice.” 

“Yes, I...apologize for not showing up,” Cyber said. “The damage from Ringmaster was very immense where I was, so I wasn’t able to transform.” 

Leo waved his hand, “Eh, don’t worry about it; all that matters is that I was able to get that akuma without you for once.” 

“I am convinced that that was a fluke and it won’t happen again,” Cyber remarked. “Don’t get too full of yourself.” 

“You’re just jealous that you missed all the action,” Leo remarked as they began jumping from roof to roof. 

“No, I’m not.” 

“C’mon Cy, you can tell me!” 

“You’re going to slip if you keep running your mouth like that while you run.”

“Oh c’mon, I’m the king of the jungle, I’m much more nim-ah!” 

“What did I tell you?” 

“Shut up…”

[thatlongspringnight]

Woohoo~ *throws candies on the air* It's halloween party time, m'lady!! May I request SLBP Lords in Halloween party hosted by Keiji scene! :3 p.s: i'm sure ladies would be curious how they gonna dress up based on their personality! ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง

THE LORDS AT A HALLOWEEN PARTY (College AU Edition)

(OKAY SO THIS ENDED UP BEING A LOT LONGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.)We all know that Keiji is going to throw a complete rager of a party. Free flowing liquor, lots of food, and wild dancing.We also know that ALL the lords are going to show up, whether they want to or not. In costume and on constant guard. You never know when Keiji is going to swoop in for a kiss. 😉 

Nobunaga: Well, he wouldn’t be called the Devil King if he didn’t come dressed as one, right? Our scarlet devil comes with a snazzy sharp and incredibly expensive tux and a black and red cape. Honestly, it’s a compromise, Nobu didn’t want to dress up but did it begrudgingly for MC. He didn’t want to “Look like a fool in front of men like the Tiger of Kai.” So he’s dressed to the 9’s and ready to party. His MC comes as a demure angel (because yes they are the couple that chose to be the devil/angel combo). Just revealing enough, she looks striking in a clinging white silk dress and wings. He’s sure to be taking that halo of her’s off halfway through the night in one of the many empty rooms wherever Keiji decided to host his party.  

Mitsuhide: He puts a lot of thought into his costume, he really does. Whatever he chooses he’s going to put the most effort into. This year he picks a more traditional costume. Vampire, a classic. Also, oddly enough (and totally not planned) he manages to come dressed closely enough to Nobunaga, that everyone wonders…did they match on purpose? Mitsuhide’s MC dresses like a cat, also a classic, complete with ears and a swishy tail. She spends the night teaching him all the dances to the music they are listening too. He doesn’t drink so she can. They retire from the party early, because he can’t get enough of how good she looks in that cat outfit and wouldn’t you know she has a perfectly shaped hickey the next day…Guess he really took his costume to heart, huh? 

Hideyoshi: What he really wanted to wear was one of those couples’ costumes, like the plug and plug-in. He was firmly denied. So he ends up going to the costume party dressed as a werewolf to his MC’s little red riding hood. Is it cheesy? Yes. Does he love it? Sure. If it means he gets to prowl the entire party and wander behind people and scare them. He’s about it. His MC is less appreciative of his efforts. But she looks killer in her outfit, so she doesn’t mind as much. Hideyoshi of the 1000 lovers does get an earful for flirting too hard with Toshiie’s MC, some things never change. Oh, and he did not manage to avoid Keiji’s kisses. He got a lot of Keiji kisses that night, tongue and all.

Inuchiyo: Everyone knows poor Toshiie is being forced to go as a puppy. With a collar, ears, and everything. Hideyoshi all but dressed him himself when he found out that Toshiie hadn’t gotten a costume yet. So expect lots of pouting, he doesn’t want to be at Keiji’s party anyways, but in his own words, he couldn’t leave his MC alone there with guys like that. Once the party kicks off and he starts drinking, he gets happier and manages to lose his shirt. Not that his MC minds the show (or any of the other people there, really, we all know Toshiie is gorgeous). His MC plays along and also dresses up as a puppy, to lessen the sting. Hideyoshi was more than willing to buy her a more ‘dominating’ outfit so she could ‘show the puppy who his owner was’ but was respectfully and firmly denied. She ends up having to cart his drunk ass home after the party. But he rewards her later for it…and he keeps the collar on. 

Mitsunari: This tsundere does NOT want to go to any stupid, foolish, insipid party. That is…he doesn’t want to go until Hideyoshi invites him. Once that happens, he’s going. He’s going for Hideyoshi, don’t mistake his reasoning for anything else. Nevermind that maybe his MC wanted to go, and maybe she convinced Hideyoshi to put in a good word. Mitsunari leaves the costume decisions to his MC, so they end up going as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. For most of the party Mitsunari sticks with Hideyoshi, that is until his MC starts chatting with Ieyasu about their shared classes. The moment that happens he has her on the dancefloor, safely away from that ‘golden-haired bastard’. Waltzing to the music doesn’t make sense, but it works. Oh and he’s the one that gets too drunk because of Hideyoshi so his MC spends the rest of the night, once they are home, rubbing his back and comforting him as he vomits.

Ieyasu: Ieyasu goes purely because Nobunaga is going. He doesn’t fight it. Doesn’t make a scene. But he wears that unsettling smile of his the entire time. He also doesn’t “dress up” really. He styles himself more like Phantom of the Opera or Interview with the Vampire while wearing a masquerade mask. He drinks in moderation and listens to what ~everyone~ has to say. He can’t stop himself from his snide comments though and almost manages to get into fights with Mitsunari and Yukimura, although both come to naught. His MC wears a slinky black dress and a mask too (just to match, Ieyasu, jeez) and spends the rest of the night dodging references from 50 shades of grey. Jokes that have Ieyasu pouting and flustered by the end of the night. She’s willing to handle a bit of fussing from him because she knows where it leads, especially when he’s been eyeing her like that all night. Maybe some of those Christian Grey rumors weren’t wrong. 

Yukimura: Talk about being PUMPED for this party. Yukimura is so excited to dress up with his MC and have a good time with all his friends. He dresses up in the soccer uniform of his favorite team and even brings a soccer ball to the party. He and Inuchiyo DO have a drinking match at some point in the evening, for sure. His MC dresses as a nurse, and no not a suggestive nurse. She spends most of the night actually administering first aid at this party. All the people getting drunk and falling keep her busy. Not to mention that her poor boyfriend can’t seem to keep himself from running into things when he gets wasted. That isn’t to say she doesn’t own a sexy nurse costume, she just saves it for after the party, where she can use it on Yukimura. Saizo: Saizo goes because Yukimura wants to go and Saizo’s MC wants to go. So, He guesses he is going. He dresses as a stylized version of himself. So imagine the professor vibe up to 11, complete with glasses. He’s pretty much drop dead gorgeous. He spends most of the party keeping his girlfriend out of the clutches of Keiji and making sure Yukimura and co. stay out of trouble. He is the one to ensure that the people who work for the tiger of kai make it home safe that night. Although no one realizes it. His is a thankless job. His MC dresses like a school girl, plaid skirt, blazer, thigh highs and everything. Mostly to taunt her boyfriend. Keiji thinks she looks precious and is pretty glued to her most the night. When he starts drinking she starts passing him off to unsuspecting people to avoid getting kissed. Although she does give him a peck on the cheek for his efforts, much to Saizo’s chagrin. But then again, he does get to punish her for bad behavior, doesn’t he?

Masamune: He and MC go as pirates! Mostly because it’s a costume where his eyepatch doesn’t stick out so much, so it makes him feel more comfortable. They take the time to handmake their costumes together, because its something they can use to spend time with one another, and his MC is great at sewing. There IS a costume contest and they are the winners, granted their prizes are just Keiji kisses, but still. Masamune drinks and gets a little tipsy, and it is revealed that he is a lot more touchy when drunk, so he spends the rest of the night basically glued to his girlfriend, not that she minds. Shigezane takes lots of embarrassing pictures of the two of them to show them when they sober up. 

Kojuro; “We should dress up as Bontenmaru, MC” “No” Kojuro really does want to dress up as bontenmaru the turtle. But his MC and Shigezane hardcore veto that.  So he ends up going as Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon. Complete with a cape…and a rose…and random declarations. Finally, his MC gets to decide if her teen crush on Tuxedo mask lives up to her man. Her man dressed as Tuxedo mask takes the cake. Kojuro’s MC dresses up as Sailor Moon, duh.  She basically has to. They come in 2nd place to Masamune and his MC for costumes in the contest. Although Kojuro and his MC end up taking the most pictures, especially posing and quoting the show. A bunch of the girls at the party end up taking a sailor senshi style photo with Kojuro’s MC in the middle. It’s a magical night.

Kenshin: Kenshin is too pretty for normal costumes. He goes in traditional clothing, heavily embroidered, and he might be wearing makeup? No one is sure if his ethereal beauty is natural or not. His MC is the group photographer, so she wears normal clothes and just takes pictures. Not that she minds, she prefers it this way. She takes so many stylized shots she considers making them into a book at the end of the night.

Shingen: Shingen 110% shows up to this party in a tiger pint loincloth and cat ears and that is it. He spends the night mostly with Yukimura and Kenshin and ignoring little Nobunaga and his death glare. They can settle their political arguments outside of social time after all. His lady goes as a lion tamer, although he’s no lion, the idea doesn’t go unnoticed. She’s got a whip and everything. He doesn’t mind. He certainly doesn’t mind later on.

Bonus:

Shigezane: He’s had his costume planned since last year. He goes as a referee, he even has a whistle. He uses this to spend the entire night jumping into random situations at the party, blowing the whistle and shouting “PARTY FOUL.”  He even gives people red cards, where is he carrying all those red cards? He also takes part in the Yukimura/Inuchiyo drinking contest. He has a blast. He is the only person to willingly kiss Keiji apart from Kenshin. His MC goes as princess bubblegum from Adventure time. She wanted to do a Disney princess, but couldn’t pick one. Either way, the princess starts a game of captain dickhead and gets most of the other MCs drunk, because she’s so good at holding her liquor. At the end of the night, he gives her a piggyback ride home because he’s a gentleman

. Hotaru: Hotaru has to go because big-brother Saizo is going and so is Kenshin. Obviously. So he and his MC dress up that day after finding out. He goes as a forest spirit. Lots of leaves. The look suites his innocent face. His wide eyes shining under his flower crown. His MC goes as a deer. Her makeup sealing the deal, and she even wears a headband with little antlers. They end up fast friends with Masamune and his MC and end up sort of separating from the wildness of the party to form a smaller, quieter party. At the end of the night, he and his MC go stargazing.

Oichi, Umeko, and Kiku: What, you thought they wouldn’t come? They totally come. Luckily for Kojuro’s MC, they come dressed as other Sailor Senshi! Because those girls are the best. Oichi is Sailor Mars, Umeko is Sailor Venus and Kiku is Mercury.

Now, where is Keiji in all this? Wandering the crowd, drinking, and kissing everyone of course! He comes to his party dressed as Cupid so he can give “shots” of love (actual alcoholic shots, and shots that are just kisses!) It’s a great party and everyone remembers it for one reason or another. It’s a great party, the end.

Tagging: @lady-of-oshu and @han-pan  and anyone else who wants to read this? :3 

[duhragonball]

Dragon Ball Z 097

Two episodes ago, Goku finally turned into a Super Saiyan.   Last episode, Goku announced that he was, indeed, a Super Saiyan.   This episode, Frieza is maybe willing to concede the distinct possibility that Goku might be something resembling a potential Super-type Saiyan.  Perhaps.  

Goku said that he achieved this form by having a calm heart awakened by anger.   I don’t know why he would know this was what did it, but Frieza concludes that this was why Vegeta could never pull it off.   

Meanwhile, Gohan is flying Piccolo back to the ship, and he’s spotted the Ginyu Force’s dead bodies, which means he doesn’t have much further to go.    Wait, is that Recoome?

It is Recoome!   I thought Vegeta blasted him into thin air, though.    Even if the blast didn’t vaporize him, I find it hard to believe he’d still be in the same pose her was in when Goku defeated him.   

In any case, this shot does make a cool monument to Frieza’s hubris.  He brought all these assholes to Namek to steamroll them like he did with every other planet, and look at them all now.    They’re all dead, and there’s nothing their precious LOWARD FUREEZAH can do about it.    He’s struggling to  save his own skin right now. 

I’ve heard the Funimation dub criticized for inserting western morals into this show where they may not fit, and that might be a fair point.    On the other hand, I think some western morals are quite universal, and they can be very apparent in DBZ, whether a western dub script notices or not.    Seeing Frieza’s men fall like this reminds me of Isaiah 36:6.    “Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him.”  

The broader context of that verse was that the King of Judah was hoping that an alliance with Egypt would protect him from the Assyrian Empire.   Maybe an alliance was a smart play for a temporal leader, but to put all your trust in it, like Egypt would be mighty enought to solve all your problems, well that’s kind of silly.   If they really were strong enough to save Judah from the Assyrians, then what’s to stop them from conquering Judah themselves?      Frieza’s a splintered reed of a staff.    His men rely on him for protection, but in the end he always betrays them or fails them.   They’d be better served avoiding him entirely.    It might not be safer, but at least it would be more honest.

Meanwhile, Frieza bathes in the humiliation of getting manhandled by this guy.    He almost figures out that he created this whole problem by not killing Goku when he had the chance, but his pride won’t let him finish connecting the dots.

Meanwhile, on Planet Frieza No, 79, the guys at HQ are trying to figure out why Frieza and the Ginyu Force’s  scouters aren’t responding.   One guy, who looks a lot like Cui, suggess that maybe Frieza’s finally been defeated.   That would suit him just fine, since Frieza wiped out his whole species.  

That talk earns him a summary execution...

... courtesy of this dude, who must be in charge because he’s wearing a cape.   He reminds everyone in the room that it’s because of Frieza that they all share  the prosperity they have.    Yeah, Frieza’s killed a lot of people to make it happen, but he promised to elevate this guy’s clan, so he figures that makes up for the rest of his species dying off.  

The dub gets a little more direct about this, with this guy giving the “Only two kinds of people” speech.    After all, he’s the same race as the guy he just had shot, right?    Well, he doesn’t care about that, because as he sees it the only distinction that matters anymore is whether you obey Frieza or not.    And the kind that doesn’t, well, they don’t live very long.   

As far as he’s concerned, Frieza is the savior of the universe!   He even does a Heil Hilter salute.   Geez.

Then they finally get a reading on Planet Namek.   I guess it’s some sort of long-range scouter, because all they detect is Frieza’s power level.... and a second power right next to his.  

Somehow, merely taking this reading causes the whole console to short out and explode.   

Then the whole top of this tower explodes!  Ha ha, what? 

What?  This is insane!   Goku’s so strong that if you even point sensors in his direction, your whole town explodes.   This is the stupidest thing ever and it’s great.  

Meanwhle, Gohan finally gets Piccolo into Goku’s ship, and Dr. Brief notices this, because he has the sensors in that ship tied into the one he’s repairing on Earth.   He contacts Gohan to find out what’s up, but Gohan doesn’t have time to give a full report, since he has to find Bulma.    Incidentally, the reason everyone’s at such an awkward angle is because Capsule 3 is currently lying on its side, so Dr. Brief, Chi-Chi, and Roshi all have to stand on ladders to get at the controls.

As for Frieza, he’s decided that if he can’t beat Goku, he’ll just destroy the entire planet.   Frieza can survive in outer space, but Saiyans can’t, so he figures he can win by default.    

Beautiful shot of the explosion as seen from Capsule 1.   

And the mesa that Guru’s house is standing on begins to collapse.  Pretty sure that’s a plot hole, but oh well.

King Kai senses Namek’s destruction, and he’s pretty  bummed out about it, but then he hears a telepathic message from Kami on Earth.    Kami has taken the liberty of reactivating the Earth’s Dragon Balls, and he’s sent Mr. Popo to collect them all in order to bring back Tien and Yamcha.   Chiaotzu’s out of luck, though, since he’s been wished back once before.

So King Kai checks on Namek again, because if Kami’s alive, that means Piccolo must still be alive, which means Namek must not have been destroyed after all.

Turns out it’s still in one piece but... yikes.  

Goku suggests that Frieza instinctively held back because he was afraid of getting caught in the explosion, but Frieza explains that the planet will still explode eventually because he managed to destroy its core.  

He estimates that Namek will blow in.... FIVE MINUTES.   Make your own joke here, I’m busy.

Wow, Goku’s hair looks awful here.   He plans to kill Frieza, find the others, and leave n his spaceship before Namek explodes.    Five minutes should be plenty of time for all of that, but Frieza argues that it won’t be, because he’ll use his full power this time.     Goku points out that he could have just done that from the start, and he figures that Frieza hasn’t been using his full power because he can’t handle the strain for very long.   So he’s just going to start kicking Frieza’s ass right now.

And that’s where we stand.    Sudden death.    Z stands for the end, but not yet.   We still have five more minutes, at least.

[ravenqueensspecialboi]

Fright Night

For @asliverofhope-the-fangirl as a part of the Fic Writer Halloween Exchange Rating: T Ship: BoKuroo Summary: Bokuto Koutarou and Kuroo Tetsurou meet at a haunted house. Read on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/12516356

Fic under the cut!  Happy Halloween!

Kuroo Tetsurou eyed the building in front of him.  It was one of the old libraries, the one that was mostly used for office space and events rather than media collection.  The library—with its darkened windows and somewhat decrepit observation towers—reminded Kuroo of all the places in horror films that housed humanity's worst nightmares.  It gave him the creeps.  Kuroo shook his head as he walked up the steps.  He tugged on the door handle, and the door swung open to reveal an empty hallway.  Kuroo stepped inside, closing the door behind him.  Standing in complete darkness, Kuroo pulled up the flashlight on his phone to use the weak light to search for a light switch.

"It's to your left," came a soft, apathetic-sounding voice from the darkness.

Kuroo would have been lying if he said he didn't jump about a foot in the air at the sudden comment.  Luckily, he had managed to hold in the scream that had bubbled up in his throat.  Kuroo took a moment in the dark to mourn the loss of his dignity, then reached to his left.  He blinked a few times to adjust to the light, then glared at the person standing before him.  In the center of the hallway was Kozume Kenma, Kuroo's roommate and current target of ire.

"You're late," Kenma said, turning away from Kuroo.

"I'm aware.  You could have told me when you were leaving," Kuroo pointed out.   "I would have come with you."

"I was meeting with Shouyou and Tora for dinner first, and you were sound asleep," Kenma said as he started walking.  "Come on, Yaku's waiting."

It was an event that the university did every year—a haunted house hosted by the theater department.  They would find a building on campus, set up shop for a couple of nights, and scare the students who ventured inside.  In past years, they had done "test of courage"—type events, where they would send two students into a darkened building together.  Members of the theater department would hide in various locations, making ominous sounds and waiting to scare whoever was walking by.  When Kuroo volunteered to participate last year with Kenma, the department decided to create a haunted house based on Dracula.  The result had been less than stellar.  Daishou had shown up, there had been teasing, then an argument, then a fight that almost destroyed several important props.  Kuroo had almost been banned from volunteering after that.

This year, the department was doing an Ax Murder haunted house.  Participants would be led through the haunted house by a tour guide.  The guide would explain that a series of ax murders had taken place in the building, at which point, a volunteer dressed as an ax murderer would attack the group.  The guide would lead the group away, running into more and more ax murderers until finally getting picked off at the end of the route.  Kuroo had hoped that he would get to participate as an ax murderer, but due to last year's incident, he was regulated to a less savory job.  Kuroo's job was to be a plant.  Kuroo would join each group as a lone student whose friends chickened out at the last moment.  He would make friends, blending in seamlessly with the people in the group until someone dragged him kicking and screaming down a hallway.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  For the next two days.  Kuroo wasn't sure if he was going to hate this or not.

Pushing open the door to a study room, Kenma and Kuroo joined the group gathered around the table.  Kuroo nodded at a couple of familiar faces before taking a seat.

"Ah, Kuroo, thanks for joining us," Yaku said from his spot near the chalkboard.  Judging by the tone of his voice, he was not happy.

Yaku Morisuke was a third year in the theater department.  He had taken over the haunted house project the year previous, and—after Kuroo's little showdown with Daishou—was by no means Kuroo's biggest fan.

Kuroo flashed Yaku a grin.  "I took a nap and overslept, you know how it goes."

"Sure," Yaku muttered.  He took a deep breath, "Alright, since we're all here, let's go over tonight's plan real quick.  We're gonna have three tour guides tonight.  Kai, Inuoka, Lev, you three remember the route?"

"Yup!  We got it!" Inuoka said as Lev nodded enthusiastically.

"Glad to hear it," Yaku replied.  "Make sure you stick to script."

Yaku had leveled a stare at Lev as he said this, but the first year chose that moment to stare at an interesting coffee stain on the table.  Sighing, Yaku continued, "As for murderers, we have Yamamoto, Fukunaga, Tanaka, and Azumane.  Tanaka, you're the first murderer.  Azumane, you're the second.  Then Yamamoto.  Yamamoto, you kill off your victim, then grab whoever the plant of the group is.  Hopefully, they'll be standing close enough to your hiding spot that you can just grab and drag.  Fukunaga, you're the last one.  You kill off the tour guide at the end, then chase the group outside."

The four nodded, Tanaka and Yamamoto sharing a quick fist bump before Yaku continued.

"For victims, we have Sawamura, Ennoshita, Sugawara, and Noya.  Your parts are pretty easy, just scream and die, essentially.  Make it as convincing as you can.  As for plants, we have Shibayama, Kenma, and Kuroo.  All you guys have to do is pretend to be there by yourself, and make sure you're in the right spot to be grabbed.  The only thing I ask is that you pretend to be scared when appropriate, and don't all hang out in the same spot.  We want people to think you're by yourselves.  I'll be assigning groups to tour guides as they go. 

"Don't touch the guests, like, at all, and watch for flying fists and elbows.  We want this to be scary, fun, and safe.  Everyone should grab a walkie before they go.  That way we can keep in touch in case anything goes wrong.  Keep chatter to a minimum so we don't break the illusion.  That's all I got.  Does anyone have any questions?"

There was a resounding chorus of , "No, Yaku-san" from around the table. 

Satisfied, Yaku clapped his hands together.  "Great, I love it when a plan comes together.  Let's get everyone into costumes and makeup.  Try not to drip the fake blood onto the carpet too much. 

"Oh, and Kuroo?" Yaku added, turning to stare down the taller man.

"Yes, dear?" Kuroo asked, batting his eyelashes.

Yaku's eyebrow gave the slightest twitch.  "We're keeping it professional this year," Yaku warned.

Before Kuroo could respond, Yaku left the room.  As everyone got up to follow, Kuroo turned to Kenma.  "He's aware that what happened last year wasn't my fault, right?  I wasn't planning on fighting anyone, but Daishou made fun of my acting.  And my cape, I might add."

"And your fangs, and your hair.  We've been over this Kuroo," Kenma said.  "Yaku doesn't want a repeat of last year, that's why he's singling you out.  Besides, your acting sucked.  You're a chemistry major, not theater major."

"Excuse you, my acting is fantastic," Kuroo grumbled.

Kenma stood up, giving Kuroo a dismissive wave.  "Come on, let's get this over with.  It's gonna be a long night."

***

Of all the places Bokuto Koutarou wanted to be on a Friday night, a haunted house was definitely not on the list.  In fact, Bokuto had suggested that he and his friends go to the Halloween themed comedy show downtown, but no.  They all wanted to go to the haunted house.  Because it was free, or whatever.  So here he was, walking behind his friends as they climbed the stairs towards what was certainly going to be Bokuto's doom.  And they were laughing.

"Akaaaaaaaaashiiiiii," Bokuto whined as he tugged at his friend's sleeve, "why are we going to a haunted house again?"

He knew he was grating on Akaashi's nerves, given the way his shoulders tensed at Bokuto's whining, but Bokuto couldn't help it.  He really, really didn't want to be doing this.

"Because we took a vote, and the majority of us wanted to go to the haunted house, Bokuto-san," Akaashi explained for the umpteenth time that night.

"How come Washio got to skip out?" Bokuto pressed.

"Because he has a test coming up."

"What if I have a test I need to study for?  You still dragged me out here."

Akaashi shot Bokuto a look over his shoulder.  "That's a hypothetical situation if I ever heard one."

"Akaashi-" Bokuto groused.

"Come on, Bo, it's not going to be that bad," Komi insisted, dropping back to clap Bokuto on the shoulder. 

Bokuto dropped Akaashi's sleeve, and the other visibly relaxed.

"It's a student-run haunted house, it's not going to be that scary," Yukie said, smiling at Bokuto's pout.

"If it bothers you that much, you can keep your eyes closed the whole time, and you can hold Sarukui's hand," Konoha teased as he held the door open for the group.  "Right, Sarukui?"

"Of course he can," Sarukui agreed.  "As long as he knows that I will give him shit for it for at least a month."

"You're all objectively the worst," Bokuto grumbled as Komi and Yukie pushed him through the door.  He shot a glare at Konoha, who held up his hands in a heart shape in return.

Bokuto had never really been inside the old library, but he didn’t need to have been to know that the entire space had been transformed.  Doors marked off with police tape, outlines of bodies on the floor, rugs with what Bokuto suspected were bloodstains, bookshelves blocked off to form hallways, and what appeared to be an ax buried in a wall.  Bokuto had to admit that he was impressed; the theater department really knew how to build a convincing set.

The group made their way to a marked room at the end of the hall.  Another group was leaving as they entered.  Bokuto recognized two first years from one of his lectures—Tsukishima and Hinata, he remembered—but he didn't recognize the rest.  Hinata was talking loudly to someone with blond hair and an oversized hoodie, while a taller boy with brown hair and freckles was comforting a much smaller, terrified blond girl.  Bokuto sympathized with her, she must have been dragged to there too.  Tsukishima and the other first year, some kid with black hair, were standing slightly apart from the others.  Bokuto caught Tsukishima's eye and gave him a wave.  He got a curt nod in return before the group vanished through the door, a tall boy with silver hair in the lead.  They were left alone with two people, Yaku (who Bokuto remembered from a class), and a man with a shaved head.

"Hey, welcome!" Yaku said.  "We're gonna give the other group a few minutes before we send you through.  This is Kai, and he'll be your tour guide tonight."

Kai nodded at the group and smiled, "Welcome guys!"

The sound of footsteps outside attracted Bokuto's attention.  He turned in time to watch someone walk through the doorway.  The new arrival was tall, and had the unruliest bed head Bokuto had ever seen.  He looked around, his eyes stopping momentarily on Bokuto.  Bokuto felt his face flush and his heart rate quicken; this guy was hot.

"Hey, am I too late to go through?" the newcomer asked, walking over to Yaku.

"If that was your friend group that just went through, then yeah," Yaku replied.

Hot Guy sighed, "Damn, guess I'll head home then."

Bokuto found himself speaking before he even thought about it, "It's okay, he can come with us."

Bokuto's friends, Yaku, and Hot Guy turned to look at Bokuto.  Bokuto thought he heard Konoha mutter something along the lines of, "I know what’s going on here".  Ignoring Konoha, he flashed a wide smile at the pair, and congratulated himself when Hot Guy's cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink.

"You sure, Bokuto?" Yaku asked.

Bokuto nodded.  "Yeah!  The more the merrier!  He turned to stare at his friends.  "Right team?"

There was a murmur of agreement from his friends.  Bokuto turned back to Yaku and made a "told you so" gesture.  With a shrug, Hot Guy crossed the room to their group.  Bokuto tried not to stare too much.

"Thanks for letting me come with your group," Hot Guy said, standing next to Bokuto.

"Not at all," Bokuto replied, hoping that his voice didn't crack as he spoke.  "My name's Bokuto Koutarou.  What's your name?"

"Kuroo Tetsurou.  Nice to meet you."

The rest of the group introduced themselves to Kuroo, making small talk until Yaku checked his watch and clapped.  "I think that's enough time for the other group.  I'm gonna pass you guys off to Kai, and I hope you all have fun!  Kai?"

"Alrighty, before we go through, just a few rules," Kai said, stepping forward.  "First, please keep your reflexes in check.  Second, if at any point you need out, please let me know.  There is no shame in needing to be led to a safe place.  Third, please watch your step as we go through, and don't run. It's gonna be dark in there, and we don't want anyone to trip.  Fourth, have fun!  Now, if you'll follow me."

Kai turned and walked through the door.  Bokuto and Kuroo let the others go first before bringing up the rear.

"If you get scared, you're more than welcome to hold my hand," Bokuto whispered to Kuroo.

Kuroo snorted, "Are all of your lines that smooth?"

Bokuto grinned.  "Hey, it was worth a shot," he said.

Kuroo shook his head in amusement.  He held the door open with one hand, bowed, and gestured Bokuto forward with a sweep of his arm.  Bokuto curtsied at Kuroo, grabbing his outstretched hand as he walked by and pulling Kuroo forward.  Plunged into darkness, Bokuto had to admit to himself, this night had gotten a whole lot better.

***

Kuroo had no idea how this Bokuto guy and his friends had managed it, but for the first time that night, Kuroo was having fun.  The first few groups he had gone with had been—putting it as nicely as possible—boring.  They all had begrudgingly allowed Kuroo to come along, and none of them had really talked to him along the way.  Adding insult to injury, none of them had really been that surprised when he had been dragged off.  Well, that could have been due to his bad acting skills, but still.  The least that they could have done was freak out a little. 

 Bokuto and his group were different.  They made an effort to include Kuroo.  They listened to Kai as he detailed the made up history of the "Ax Murder Mansion"—Kuroo had made a mental note to give Yaku shit about that one later—and they cracked jokes without malice.  Within minutes, there had been at least three variations of the phrase "ax a question."  They weren't taking things too seriously, but they were having fun and being respectful. 

Kuroo especially liked that Bokuto was sticking close to him.  Their hands had bumped once or twice as they walked, and each time they did, Bokuto would smile that toothy grin at Kuroo.  It was nice to get a little attention.

"Alright folks, we're coming up on the first murder room," Kai announced, doing his best impression of a campus tour guide as they paused outside a study room.  "A few decades ago, a student was found murdered in this very room.  There was no sign of the killer, other than an abandoned, bloodstained ax."

"I feel that I must 'ax' a question, but I'll save it for later," Bokuto muttered to Kuroo.

Kuroo snorted.  Really, he shouldn't have.  That brought the tally up to four, but he didn't care.  Bokuto was trying to be funny, and Kuroo thought it was cute.

As Kai reached for the door handle, something heavy crashed into the other side.  At least one person in the group—Kuroo wasn't sure who—yelped as the door rattled on its hinges.  Through the darkened window, they could make out the outline of a man with short hair.  Blood was running from a cut on his forehead, his eyes were wide with panic.  They could make out barely coherent cries for help as the man pounded on the door.

Kai grabbed the door handle and twisted, but nothing happened.  "It's locked!" Kai shouted.

At that moment, a shadow loomed over the trapped man.  He turned around as the shadow took a swing at him.  A splatter of blood hit the window, the man dropped.  No one moved as the door unlocked and swung forward.  There was a body lying on the floor, and towering above him was a man with a bloodied ax and a murderous gleam in his eyes.

"Ah.  Right," Akaashi muttered.

"Nope.  Nope.  Time to go," Bokuto said, his voice strangely level.

"I'm with you on that one," Kai agreed.  "Follow me, let's go!"

The group ran down the hallway as the ax murderer took a step out of the room.  Well, they weren't running so much as power walking, but getting away from the murderer was more important than the speed at which they did it.  Yukie seemed to be the least scared in the group.  She kept nudging Bokuto with her elbow as they moved, joking about leaving him behind if he didn't go faster.

Despite being in on the jump scares, Kuroo had in fact been scared with the rest of the group; he hadn't expected Sawamura to slam into the door that hard.  He had to hand it to Sawamura and Tanaka, they didn't half-ass anything, and that would set the tone for the rest of the tour.  Next up was Sugawara, and lord only knew what he would do.

As they rounded another corner, they ran smack into Sugawara.  Like Sawamura, Sugawara had blood running down his face, but from his mouth instead of his temple.  He was also had a blood stain on his abdomen, and was clutching his arm.  Blood seeping from between his fingers.  Kuroo was impressed, Sugawara looked like he had been through hell.

"You…. You have to help me!" Sugawara panted.  "I lost him for… for now, but he can't be that far behind.  He's trying to kill me!  He's trying to-"

Sugawara was cut off as Azumane burst from a nearby room.  Before Sugawara could run, Azumane lunged, wrapping an arm around his throat, and dragging him back towards the classroom.  Sugawara clawed at Azumane's arm, screaming for help as his heels dug into the carpet.  Azumane tossed Sugawara into the classroom before turning back to the group.  He raised his own axe and growled in the most menacing voice Kuroo had ever heard him use, "You're next."

The door slammed shut.  There was an ear-piercing scream, and then silence.  Kuroo jumped as a vice-like grip curled around his arm.  He whipped around to find Bokuto staring at him.  His wide-eyed stare vaguely reminded Kuroo of an owl.

"Kuroo, c'mon!  We gotta go!  The group took off already, but you were just standing there.  C'mon!"

Kuroo nodded and let Bokuto lead him down the hallway by the hand.  In any other instance, Kuroo would have appreciated holding hands with a hunk like Bokuto, but he couldn't without feeling bad.  Bokuto seemed to be pretty affected by what was going on.  Kuroo wasn't sure if it was because Bokuto was scared of blood, or what, but the man was not having a good time.  It wasn't going to help that Kuroo was about to make it worse.

They caught up with the rest of the group soon after.  Konoha, Sarukui, and Komi were breathing heavily.  Akaashi looked frazzled.  Even Kai looked a little spooked.  Yukie, on the other hand, looked positively delighted.  Well, Kuroo was glad that someone was having a blast.

Kai let out a sigh of relief at the sight of them.  "I'm glad you guys are okay.  We gotta find a way out of here."

"Do we have to?" Yukie whined under her breath.  "I wanna see more murders."

"I think I know a safe way out of here," Kai said.  "Stay close, we're gonna be moving fast."

Kai led them past a series of offices, then made a left turn.  Kuroo knew that Yamamoto and Nishinoya would be coming up at one of the next intersection of aisles.  He needed to prepare himself for what was coming next, but Bokuto still hadn't let go of him.  After a moment's hesitation, Kuroo slipped his hand from Bokuto's.  Bokuto turned back to look at him, one eyebrow quirked.

"Sorry, my hands were getting clammy," he muttered as he wiped his hand on his pant leg.

"Do you guys hear that?" Komi asked.

There was a pounding of footsteps, then someone skid into view.  The group came to a halt just in front of the newcomer.  Kuroo took a few steps forward to get into place, and to gave Nishinoya's makeup a onceover.  Much like the other two victims, Nishinoya was wide-eyed, frantic, and covered in blood.  Unlike the others, he never got the chance to plead for help.  Yamamoto sprung from the shadows and slammed his fake ax into Nishinoya's back.  A spray of blood left Nishinoya's mouth, hitting Kai and Kuroo in the face as Noya staggered forward, backwards, then collapsed.  That time, Kuroo knew Bokuto was the one who screamed.  Kuroo couldn't blame him; what Noya just did was disgusting, and totally unplanned.  Some of it had gotten into his mouth.

"Not enough," Yamamoto growled from behind his mask.  "Need another…"  Yamamoto surveyed the group, his gaze landing on Kuroo.  "You!"

Kuroo tensed.  He took a step back as Yamamoto lurched forward.  This was it.  What Kuroo hadn't been expecting was the wild card known as Bokuto Koutarou.  Just as Yamamoto reached for Kuroo, a pair of strong arms wrapped around his waist.  Kuroo let out the most undignified screech of his life as Bokuto lifted him up and backwards.  The rest of the group looked on with a mixture of alarm and bemusement as Bokuto readjusted his grip on Kuroo and slung him over his shoulder.

Bokuto took off down the hallway, screaming, "Not today, Ax Man!"

"Bokuto-san!" Akaashi called.

As they rounded the corner, Kuroo could hear Yamamoto shout, "What the hell?  Get back here, man!"

"Bokuto, what the fuck!?" Kuroo hissed, squirming in the other man's grip.  "Not cool, dude!  Put me down!"

"Hey, I saved your life!" Bokuto retorted.  "That ax murderer guy was about to get you!"

'Is this guy for real?' Kuroo thought.  'Everything about this is fake!'

"Listen, Prince Charming," Kuroo snapped, "not that I don't appreciate your very heroic rescue attempt, but this is a school sponsored event.  There's no way in hell I was gonna die."

Bokuto slowed to a walk, then to a stop.  "…Right."

"Now that we have that figured out, put me down, please.  I feel a little nauseous."

Bokuto set Kuroo down gently.  Kuroo did his best to ignore the fact that Bokuto kept his hands on Kuroo's shoulders, and the feeling of butterflies in his stomach that accompanied that knowledge.  Instead, he focused on how they had gone the completely wrong way.  They were way off route now.  Well, at least they weren't going to run into Fukunaga.

"Okay, question," Bokuto said.  "Why'd the ax guy grab at you?  There were other people in the group."

Kuroo sighed, "Dude, I'm a volunteer for this thing."

Realization and embarrassment dawned on Bokuto's face.  He covered his beet-red face with his hands and groaned, "You're staged.  It's your job to get dragged off by the ax guy."

"Yeah, it is," Kuroo confirmed, scratching the back of his neck absently.

Bokuto deflated even more.  "I'm so sorry," came the muffled reply.  "I don't do well with horror stuff to begin with, and I got a little overwhelmed.  For a second there, I really thought that you were gonna die.  Oh God, they probably had to stop all the other groups from coming through.  And they're gonna have to send someone to find us."  He shook his head, "I feel dumb now."

After a moment, Kuroo spoke, "You're not dumb.  Jumpy as hell, yes.  But not dumb.  If it makes you feel better, you did pretty well up until that point.  You managed to not scream until Yamamoto jumped out and attacked Nishinoya."

"No, I screamed when the first guy got axed too," Bokuto confessed.  With a sigh, he lowered his hands.  "Look, I really am sorry, I wanted to make sure you were safe.  You're too cute to die."

Kuroo smiled.  "You think I'm—"

"Kuroo, where are you guys?" came Yaku's voice from over the walkie.  "Are you okay?"

"Ah fuck," Kuroo grumbled.  He reached for the walkie and held down the talk button.  "Hey Yaku.  Did Yamamoto fill you in on what happened?"

"Yeah, he did.  He said that you got dragged off by the wrong person."

"I did.  Bokuto got a little jumpy after Noya sprayed Kai and I with fake blood," Kuroo gave the increasingly dejected-looking Bokuto a sympathetic grin.  "From his mouth, I might add."

"Gross."

"That's what I thought too.  Anyway, we're off route, but I think I know where we are.  Has Bokuto's group left already?"

"Yamamoto, Kai and Noya led them to the exit.  I think they're waiting for you guys."

"Alright, we'll be there soon."

Kuroo clipped the walkie back to his belt, covering it with his shirt.  Kuroo motioned for Bokuto to follow him.  They walked to the exit in silence.  Bokuto was obviously embarrassed, and Kuroo didn't want to make it worse by following up on the "too cute to die" comment.  However, it made the walk uncomfortable, and that, in Kuroo's opinion, sucked.  Before long, they reached the back door.  Kuroo pushed it open, revealing Bokuto's friends.

"There you two are!" Konoha called.  "Bokuto, what the fuck was that?"

"I told you guys that I don't do well in haunted houses!" Bokuto snapped back.  "You knew I was going to freak out!"

Akaashi rested his hand on Konoha's shoulder before addressing Bokuto.  "It's fine, Bokuto-san.  You told us that you didn't want to do this.  You're right, we should have known something was going to happen."

"Thank you, Akaashi," Bokuto sniffed.  "I'm glad that at least someone understands why I freaked out."

"We're sorry, Bo," Komi chimed in.  "We didn't think you were going to freak out that bad."

"We talked to Yaku-san," Yukie said.  "He's not mad either.  He does want Kuroo to go get washed up , though."

"I'll get right on that," Kuroo said.  "But first, can you guys give us a minute?"

The group nodded.  Kuroo led Bokuto a short distance away.  He gave Bokuto a quick hug, careful not to smear any fake blood on Bokuto.

"Seriously, don't beat yourself up over this," Kuroo said.  "It's happens sometimes.  I'm not mad, and neither is anyone else."

"I'll try not to," Bokuto replied.  "It was kind of funny wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was," Kuroo agreed.  He held out his hand, "Here, give me your phone real quick.  I wanna give you my number."

Bokuto all but threw his phone at Kuroo.  Kuroo laughed at his enthusiasm.  He programmed his number into Bokuto's phone, then sent a text to himself.

"There we go, now we can keep in touch," Kuroo said.

"You want to keep in touch?" Bokuto asked.

"Of course I do.  It's not every day I get swept off my feet like that."

If he hadn't had fake blood on his face, Kuroo would have kissed the blush off of Bokuto's cheeks.  Unfortunately, fate was cruel, and Kuroo was not into the idea of bloodstained kisses in the slightest.  With a promise to text Bokuto, he wandered back into the haunted house, leaving Bokuto with his friends.

"Hey Bokuto!  Let's go, it's cold out here," Sarukui called.

Bokuto nodded, his gaze lingering on the haunted house before he turned to regroup with his friends.  As they walked, Bokuto's phone let out a small chime.  He read the message preview, and stopped in his tracks.

"Bokuto?" Yukie asked, turning back to him.

Bokuto held up a finger so his friends would wait; his eyes were glued to his screen.

From: [Kuroo Tetsurou]: Thanks again for saving me from the murderer. Can I repay you with lunch tomorrow?

Bokuto let out a loud, triumphant screech, startling Akaashi and the others.  Ignoring his friends' glares, he fired back a quick reply, and all but skipped ahead of the group.  They shouted for him to stop, then raced after him.

"What's got you so smiley?" Konoha asked when he caught up to Bokuto.

"I've got a date tomorrow," Bokuto announced.

Konoha stared at Bokuto with disbelief, shaking his head.  "Seriously?  You have a date with Kuroo already? You have the strangest luck, I swear."

"You're just jealous because I've got a date."

They teased each other all the way back to Bokuto's apartment.  And when he went to bed that night, Bokuto couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, haunted houses weren't so bad after all.

***

The Following Year

As he raised his cup of coffee to his lips, Kuroo's phone chimed once—an incoming text message.  He set his cup back down on the table and pulled his phone from his pocket.

"What's up?" Bokuto asked from across the table.

"Message from Yaku about tonight," Kuroo said.  "I'm pretty sure he sent one to you too."

Bokuto flashed Kuroo a smile, "It was nice of him to let me participate this year.  I'll have a lot more fun scaring people than actually going through it."

Kuroo hummed in acknowledgement as he read the text.  "I think they let you because you can actually lift me.  Yamamoto can't."

Bokuto flexed, one eyebrow raised with a shit-eating grin plastered to his face.  "What can I say?  These are muscles are built for lifting Tetsus."

"This is a very specific callout," Kuroo said, obviously ignoring his boyfriend's cheesy line.

"What's it say?"

"It says, 'Please note that I will be checking zombie makeup periodically over the course of the night.  If I see ANY vaguely lip-shaped smudges, there will be hell to pay.'"

"I mean, to be fair, there is an increase in couples who volunteered this year," Bokuto pointed out.

"True, but you know he means us," Kuroo replied as he shoved his phone into his pocket.

"Well then, we'll just have to be careful not to smudge my makeup.  Won't we?"

Bokuto wiggled his eyebrows at Kuroo before making kissy noises at him.  Laughing, Kuroo reached across the table and took Bokuto's hand in his own.  They laced their fingers together, and Kuroo let out a contented sigh.

"I like the way you think."