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iouinotes · 1 year ago

Text

Good gone bad | Corionalus Snow (part two)

pairing: Coriolanus Snow x female!reader

movie: Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

genre: dark!character, smut

word count: k

summary: You awake from the illusion, Coryo has put you under. Can you escape him?

a/n: @user90288777 requested a part 2, so here you go :))

read part one here, part two

His body feels so good against mine, rays of sunshine are falling through the window onto our bare skin. I smile dreamily as I feel the warmth on my skin.

My eyes try to look at my surroundings and I do my best to concentrate. With heavy eyelids I see the portraits of the former rulers, look at the high ceiling, the marble floor and the documents infront of me, that are laying on his office desk. But I am unable to read them, the letters blur infront of my eyes.

His fingers are lazily tracing my skin, his lips meet my shoulders and continue to place gentle kisses further towards my neck. I hold my breath, when he brushes some strays of my hair aside, wrapping his arms around my waist to hold me close.

I can't say exactly how long we've been in this position. Me leaning against his back, sitting on his lap, while he radiates with a power, that makes me feel uneasy.

It could be minutes, days, even weeks of being near him, touching him, always staying by bis side.

Every little thought makes my head ache, I cant even remember how long it has been since he visited me in my dorm. Since then, the days have merged into each other, it is impossible to keep track of the time that has passed.

The only thing I noticed, is the repetitive contact with something, that makes me feel like I was trapped in a blizzard at first and then I can suddenly only concentrate on needing Coryo by my side.

Only him and no one else.

When that happens, like a rhythm, I feel myself getting lost in my feelings. No thoughts bother my head, the time disappears again and again infront of my opened eyes, but I am still able to feel the presence of him.

And that is most important, he always reminds me of it. Only him, only me. Only us.

Although I'm not sure, I begin to notice changes in my surroundings. The imperfections on the ground, the bright yellow colour of the wall, the cursive letters on the documents and his pale fingers, with which he holds me in a firm grip against his body.

The warm feeling from earlier melts into a shivering cold, when my eyes finally focus and I am able to actually hold on onto one of my thoughts.

What am I doing here?

Warily I try to catch a glimpse of him, but I can only see blue bruises and red traces of nails on my skin, it makes my heartbeat race in my chest. Even though I try to keep my cool, he notices my unnerved movements.

,,Im trying to focus, sit still." His voice makes my blood run cold.

It takes every ounce of effort in me not to move. To not immediately get up from his lap, to hit his perfect face and then flee hundreds of kilometers - no, to another district to escape him.

His proximity to me is unsettling and his voice so stern, that I don't even dare to breathe out too loud. I am so terrified and have absolutely no idea how to escape from this situation.

He betrayed me. I hear these thoughts loud and clear in my head.

And I loved him.

A numb feeling, similar to the dark void of my childhood, wraps itself around my heart, the grip so tight that it feels like my personal death sentence.

I wanted nothing more in this world, then that my wish would be granted and my love for him would dissolve, like his poison on my skin back in the dorm.

I thought about killing him for a second, to feel the relief of his blood on my hands, that could help me too be free. Then, I knew I would never be that selfish. Because I could never kill him, only to make me feel better.

So, I wanted to focus.

First of all, I have to rely on what I do best. Structured and clear reasoning to develop a plan. So I breathe in with my nose and focus on the facts. With an unobtrusive glance, I look around and notice three things.

Firstly, I am in the president's office.

Secondly (and this makes me freeze for whole 10 minutes, I can see it on the clock on the wall), Coriolanus Snow, my traitorous best friend, is the President of Panem.

Third, I'm sitting on his lap in a gauzy purple dress, he's reviewing documents about the regulation of new laws and I exist silently, doll-like beside him.

I want to cry until the Pacific Ocean seems like a river compared to the amount of tears I've shed. My nerves are on edge and even if I'm trying, I can't concentrate anymore. The only thing I am aware of is what he has done to me.

The night he came to my apartment and begged me to trust him again - he poisoned me.

This cold, liquid happiness that he poured over my skin paralyzed me. The more dials on the clock move forward, the more I realize how much time must have passed in reality. Months, because he is the president of our country, I sit on him as if it were a matter of course and everything becomes progressively more absurd.

I no longer know who I am or how long I've been pretending to be someone else. All I know is that he is to blame and the way he sits here - relaxed - shows that he feels absolutely no remorse. I almost think I'm going to throw up.

And then he moves and I freeze. His hands move to my arms, stroking them and I close my eyes, trying to concentrate on something else. When his voice breaks the silence and I understand the true meaning of his words, I have to suppress tears.

"I wish you would talk to me again. I miss you so much."

And then he is quiet again and silence engulfs us again. I can't believe what I'm hearing from him. And then I want to scream and ask "Then why did you do this to me?", but I stay quiet and even if I wanted to, I probably couldn't say a word.

Because it was all a lie. An illusion, a fake honesty. A dishonest love. And I was stupid enough to believe it. I let him do this to me.

Waves of hatred and sorrow so strong that I would writhe, if his arms weren't wrapped tightly around my waist, embrace me. I have to get out of here, away, away, away, away…

But how? He will notice any inconspicuousness. I know he notices every little detail. For the moment, I have no choice, but to continue pretending to be under this spell, even though it's killing me.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

Another hour passes and I become more and more exhausted from the strain of trying to stay calm. I struggle to keep my eyes open and don't notice how I'm gradually leaning more and more against him. Then I feel his lips on my cheek and goose bumps appear on my skin.

I'm suddenly wide awake.

"You're so good to me, if only you knew how happy it makes me that you're here with me." His words feel like ice splinters, that are stabbed into my heart and my muscles start to ache the more tense I get.

His fingers stroke my thighs, which is made possible by the slit of my dress. As he gets closer and closer to my core, I want to scream.

"I have to say, love. I admire your acting skills. I almost didn't notice that your calmness and submissiveness were faked."

When I try to jump off his lap, he holds me firmly in place in a tight grip.

"Do you know what your behavior over the last three hours has shown me?" He knew, I realize. He knew the whole time.

His fingers stroke my clothed core, sliding up and down, creating a delicious pressure that makes me twitch on his lap.

"It showed me that you can do exactly what I expect, without Dr. Gaul's concoction. I knew you would be perfect as my first lady of Panem." This statement makes me freeze. He quietly laughs.

"Really? So much time to think and you didn't realize that? You're everything I ever wanted. Of course you'll be by my side. No matter how."

To show me how much he already has me under control, he slowly pushes my panties to the side and drags one of his fingers through my wet folds. I'm unable to move, it's as if my body has gone rigid with fear.

"You are so pretty. Every moment I touch you is like the most precious treasure in the world." He is quiet for a moment.

"I had no choice, you would have never agreed willingly."

His words finally make me cry. Even his warmth and the arms he holds around me for support feel more and more like a prison.

"You're crazy - I loved you!" As I break down, my frustration, sadness and anger are clearly evident in my voice.

"I know, love." His fingers brush the tears from my cheeks, his lips leave loving kisses. But to me, everything just feels wrong. I don't want to be near him for another second.

"Then why? Why did you do this to me?" He won't let go of me, no matter how hard I try.

"Because we love each other in a different way. You were ready to let me go." His eyes are starring daggers in my back.

"I, on the other hand, could never let you leave."

Every word feels like a stab into my heart. I'm not sure I'll ever recover from these wounds. Or if he'll let me recover at all.

"And now what? You're going to keep poisoning me for the rest of my life?" I would rather die than live like this. When he shakes his head after a second, I have hope.

"Of course not. This time I want to give you an option. Either you will stay by my side voluntarily or, unfortunately, I will have to force you to. And we've seen how well that works, haven't we?"

I'm shaking, my head feels like it's going to explode any second. "Why won't you let me go? Please, I want to go home."

He turns me in his lap and for the first time I look at his face again. Notice his hair, grown back and neatly trimmed. The blue of his eyes, which doesn't look at me pitying at all. Then his lips, smiling as if he was giving me a present.

"My darling, you're home now. You'll be safe by my side forever. Your family is taken care of, your future is secure. You are now the most respected woman in the country, I have made sure of that. I'll do anything you want."

"You can't keep me here forever." My voice trembles. And when he starts to move his fingers inside me, my knees weaken. His hand holds my face tightly to keep my gaze fixed on him.

"Oh, but I already have." As he gets closer and hits the spot inside me, that makes me see stars, I can't help but moan uncontrollably.

The rustling of his pants resounds in the room and as he lifts me up for a moment and I gather all my strength to get off him, he lets me sink onto his cock. My warmth catches him, I almost fall onto him and feel a pain that quickly changes to pleasure. As he moves my hips up and down a few times, my eyes almost roll back.

"See how well I take care of you? I've already provided for everything. You won't remember, but we've done this so many times that you'll soon have two heartbeats inside you. Trust me."

I cant breathe.

"This world is cruel and covetous and I'm here to protect you from it." His hands grasp my waist.

If only he knew that it was really him, I needed to be saved from.

#coriolanus snow #coriolanus snow x reader #the hunger games #the ballad of songbirds and snakes #x reader

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marshalforgotten · 2 months ago

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📖 Rai would like to hear a story :3

Song or Story?

"Ha! Alright. I will tell you a particularly entertaining one, involving a group of fellows who went on a certain journey in a very specific direction."

"So our story begins with this renowned and holy Buddhist named Tripitaka who is travelling with four companions. One is a dragon disguised as a horse. The other three are celestial monsters- a pig, a monkey and a fish creature. The monkey is an especially rash individual, with a vast amount of powers at his disposal. In fact, he was so mischievous that he managed to piss off all three of China's major religions. Anyway, they are traveling westward when suddenly they hear the screams of a hundred or so people. Curious, the monkey scouts ahead to find a vast city where Buddhists are being enslaved and forced to pull a cart by Taoists."

"Shape-shifting into one of the Taoists, he asks where he can beg for food, only to be greeted with laughter and the information that in this kingdom the king himself follows the Tao. He gathers that twenty years ago there was a long drought that no Buddhist prayer seemed to alleviate. Then there came three immortals, goat-strength, deer-strength and tiger-strength. With their prayers they ended the people's suffering, in turn the court retaliated by destroying the Buddhists' temples and enslaving their monks for their apparent incompetence. Learning this, the disguised monkey made up a story about how he came to the city because his relative became a Buddhist monk there. The Taoists let him speak to the ones they had and after he laughed at the poor souls, they explain to him that the city enslave any Buddhist who passes by. Additionally, the three immortals swooned the king over by arranging the construction of a massive temple where they could pray and make offerings so that he lives for ten thousand years or so. The ruler liked the idea so much that he essentially, allows them to do whatever they want."

"The disguised monkey questions why they do not run away and they point out that their faces are placed on wanted posters in every province as a preemptive measure and though they rather perish then live like this, they keep getting saved and visited by many gods in their dreams. Apparently they kept telling them to stay alive, because a great monk was going to rescue them, bringing with him the great sage, equal to heaven. Now for context: Those gods knew the monkey and he was the great sage they were referring to."

"So with this responsibility brought to light monkey heads back to the Taoists, claiming to be related to all the monks he spoke with and that he would take the entire group and go. Naturally, the other religious leaders do not fall for it, so the monkey swiftly kills them out of annoyance prompting the Buddhists to rightfully throw a cow. Attempting to relax them, he explains that he is the great sage. However I jest you not, the monks told him that their gods stated he was 'an ugly, hairy beast with terrifying fangs'. So after some grumbling he said 'you are right. I am not the great sage. I am his servant and he is RIGHT BEHIND YOU!' So while their backs were turned he swiftly transformed into his true self and scared them."

"After throwing the cart full of stones aside, monkey tells the monks to scatter and gives them each a strand of his hair to change into a guardian spirit for protection. Most leave but a few stay behind to help monkey and the rest of his traveling companions. Speaking of them they all meet up and the remaining Buddhists lead travelers to the last, surviving monastery for the night."

"Monkey however was a very restless spirit and opted to investigate the giant Taoist temple those three immortals built, while his human companion slept. He finds them praying in said building and notices some particularly enticing food offerings. Unable to resist, he decides the place should be wrecked with company and invites his pig and fish friend to help trick their adversaries."

"The three, mischievous creatures whip up a whirlwind in the middle of the temple, causing the Taoists to take it as a sign that they needed to rest. Once they were gone they shape-shifted into three of their statues, as the pig literally disposed of the originals down the toilet. After taking on a proper disguise, they partook in the feast."

"Unfortunately, their revelry was soon interrupted, by a Taoist who returned because he forgot something. Seeing the place ransacked, hearing breathing and realizing the offerings had been eaten the man panics and slips on a lychee causing the pig to burst out laughing. The Taoists goes to the three immortals and after observing the place's condition, they conclude that their prayers must have summoned the three pure ones down from heaven and they should request for holy water or golden elixir for the king."

"Monkey then speaks up as a statue and claims they were summoned by their amazing prayer, but they just recently came from a party in heaven and had no such things on them. However the three immortals are insistent, so monkey promised that they would get some. However, they would need to bring a huge container and leave the room. After some time, they are left with a big cistern and revert to their true forms briefly. The pig questions where they would get the holy water..." The baboon then snorts.

"Then monkey starts peeing in it."

"So the travelling trio accumulate a considerable amount of 'holy water', which the immortals admit does not taste good. Then once they realize they have been deceived, monkey promptly grabs his companions, escapes the temple aaand slips back into the monastery undetected to rest for the night."

"You would think this would be the end of it, but the next day brought even more chaos. Tripitaka, being the ever law-abiding citizen that he is brought his traveling papers to the king so they could pass by, as was their custom. Naturally monkey and the others go with him, to ensure he is not enslaved. The king would have thrown him in chains immediately, but his advisor told him privately that they came from a very far away place and must have gone through many, many demons to get to this point. Thoroughly warned, the king was about to approve the documents..."

"Until the three immortals burst in to tell the guards to apprehend these miscreants for vandalizing their temple. Monkey of course lies, declaring that they are new in town, so they could not possibly know anything about this city and even if they did mess up the place how could the three immortals not stop them? This confuses the king enough, to where he cannot tell who is in the right or wrong. Luckily, an opportunity arises in the form of a servant who comes to report a drought in one of their provinces and that the people requested the immortals fix it. This gives the king an idea to make it into a competition of sorts. Whoever makes it rain, will not get in trouble. Thus did they start their games."

"Once they arrived at the troubled province, tiger-strength gets onto a podium and claims that striking his tablet fives times will surely summon the gods to create a storm. To prevent this from happening, monkey duplicates himself and slips up into the clouds. Now remember when I said he was notorious throughout China's three, major religions? Well, that reputation did him some favors. Because with each minor god summoned to help out with the storm, monkey intimidates them to convince these deities to help them out instead. In turn, they all summoned a giant storm only when Tripitaka got up to pray on the podium."

"The king was convinced, but the Taoists claim that it must have been their summoning that worked and that the gods and dragons were merely delayed. So they convince the fickle ruler to do another contest, which was to see who can meditate on top of a giant tower the longest."

"This presents a problem for monkey, because while he can do many things sitting still was not his strong suit. Fortunately, Tripitaka was capable of meditating for years on end. Monkey flies him up there and he begins the competition with goat-strength immortal. Deer-strength however decides to cheat to help his fellow Taoist and summons a bed bug to bite Tripitaka. Monkey sees his distress, removes the insect, scratches his little human friend on the head, then he becomes a centipede and bites goat-strength immortal on the face. He flings himself off the tower in surprise and Tripitaka wins."

"You think this would be enough, but the three immortals insisted on another challenge. This time a 'clairvoyance' test. They instruct the king to put something in a chest, so he has his wife place in some elegant clothing. But monkey being the trickster that he is transforms into a bug, sneaks in the box and morphs the clothing into ragged attire. When it comes time to guess, the Taoists assess the elegant clothes while Tripitaka at the insistence of monkey guesses the worn-down ones. Everyone including the king becomes shocked, when the Buddhist's prediction turns out to be true. This happens a few more times with the simian still successfully pulling the same trick, until the immortals finally suggest one. Final. Competition."

"You see, the three immortals were not simply called that as an empty title. They could survive having their heads cut off, their hearts removed and being boiled in oil. If the monk could survive that, they would finally accept the loss. Unfortunately for those idiots, they were dealing with monkey... a creature who happened to be one who thrilled at testing the limits of his own immortality. He even demanded to go first, the silly fruit-for-brain~"

"The king has an execution site prepared. They tie monkey up aaand cut off his head. But there is no blood and the simian yells for his head to return. Deer-strength fearing him had two spirit servants hold down it down to keep it from returning. Little did he know after two more times of calling it, monkey would simply get up, break the ropes and grow a new one. The king is so impressed that he offers to fill their papers at that moment, but monkey insisted that it was the three immortals turn to try. So tiger-strength goes through the same process, calls his head back, but monkey has one of his hairs transform into a dog and throw the freshly-chopped thing into the moat. Unable to grow a new one the Taoist dies and reverts to his true form, a tiger."

"Deer-strength enraged by this, demands that they do the heart removal and monkey was glad to do so, because he was experiencing a mild stomach ache and needed to clean out his organs. After a self-imposed disembowlment, monkey comes out fine. When the Taoist tries it though the simian transforms one of his hairs into an eagle to devour the heart. So the fool dies and reverts into a deer. Goat-strength demands the boiling in oil trial and monkey was all too eager to moisturize his skin."

"The test starts off well, with monkey thoroughly enjoying himself. However when he sees the pig whispering to his fish companion he assumes he's being laughed at and decides to prank them. So he turns into a tack, disappears into the oil and is instantly declared dead as his companions are captured. Tripitaka requests a moment to grieve his lost disciple and gives monkey a beautiful eulogy, but the swine ruins the moment by calling him an ignorant, deep-fried horse-wrangler. The simian is so pissed that he turns back, just to yell at him. Then I jest you not, when an officer exclaimed that he could not possibly be alive, but instead some ghost monkey was so offended he got out of the pot, dried himself off, put his clothes back on then killed him for insinuating he might be dead."

"Now the king was by this point quite set to simply give them their papers and let them leave, but monkey insisted that they must be fair. So goat-strength gets into the tub and the simian notices it is not heating up at all. He assess that a cold dragon must be keeping it from reaching a boiling point, contacts the northern dragon king cause they have history and gets the cold dragon arrested. The oil heats up and goat-strength dies, turning into- you guessed it, a goat."

"The king is distraught over all his immortals dying, but monkey points out that they were actually all demons in disguise and likely planning to overthrow him. This comforted the king, so he releases his strict policies on Buddhism and the companions are free to continue their journey."

"Ooof, I have not talked this much in a while. Pardon my many words. That is simply one of my favorite stories out of a certain book."

#a person is a person because of other people (ic)#knowledge is a garden. if it isn't cultivated you can't harvest it (answered ask)#champiionic #unsanitary tw #gore ment tw #long post #xiaolin verse tba #((hope Rai enjoys cause freaking DANG this took forever))#((and this ain't even scratching the surface of jttw))

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immasock · 3 years ago

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I'm turning insomniac with all these ideas and I'm getting all excited so I'll might just dump it in.

In the bible there's seven sins with the seven princes of hell who represent it which is the brothers so here's the thing, in the Book of Revelation, which is connected to the bible,

There are 4 horsemen of the apocalypse, death, war, conquest and famine. So what if MC represents death whose the strongest and the leader of the 4. These horsemen are practically like the core rulers or the most important/highest rulers of Devildom.

Oh my god you are a GENIUS. I swear you are my new favorite person

Pronouns: They/Them

The brothers and Dateables with Death!MC

Okay

I love this idea so much holy fuck-

MC is one of the 4 horseman of the apocalypse

Obviously

This means that they are in charge of the other 3 as well

Because they’re the strongest

But since the 4 horsemen are the ACTUAL rulers of Devildom

This means that MC is basically the big boss of everyone

Everyone in devildom has some level of respect for MC and the other horsemen

Obviously

They aren’t that stupid

But the four horsemen lead using fear tactics

Everyone is terrified of them

And by everyone

I mean everyone

Lucifer doesn’t like to admit when he’s scared but you can tell by the way he straightens up when he hears their footsteps approach

If he knows that MC or one of the others will be visiting the HoL then he makes damn sure that everything is exactly where it’s supposed to be

MC may also notice that not all seven brothers are ever in the house when you’re there

But it’s alright

In fact, the only time MC ever sees all seven brothers together is when there is a ball or they summon the brothers to their own castle

Because the four horsemen of the apocalypse definitely live in a castle

Because I said so

I will also say that Mammon doesn’t dare try to take anything from said castle

He knows that any of the horsemen could easily overtake him and do horrible things to him if he ever crossed them and that’s just not a risk he’s willing to take for a few extra Grimm

Especially with MC

MC does like Leviathan but thats just because he’s the general of Hells Navy

They’ve been known to work together couple of times

Especially when there is a particularly difficult fight going on

Someone else that is kinda fond of MC is Satan

Which I feel is a little obvious

But shhhh

It’s fine

When satan was first born and he was still trying to find a way to harness his anger so he didn’t explode over every little thing, MC offered to help him out

They let him take his anger out on them through sparing

Or even just letting him scream bloody murder at them

They really didn’t mind

They always enjoy seeing things like that anyways

Anyways

Asmodeous doesn’t like them

He’s afraid of them actually

Like most demons

He does think they are very attractive tho

But he wouldn’t dare try and seduce them

Hell it probably wouldn’t even work

They are much stronger than him

His magic is useless against them

Speaking of strength

Beelzebub

He has great respect for MC as well

Of course

He doesn’t interact with MC as often

He may respect them but he really doesn’t like them

Why would he?

He’s the protector of his family and they’re literal death

He doesn’t trust them

And neither does Belphegor

There was a small period after the fall that he blamed MC for what happened to his sister

He knows now that it wasn’t their fault but he still doesn’t like them

Now

Diavolo

He may be the prince, soon to be king, of the devildom

But he knows damn well that he is not all powerful

He knows that MC and the other three horsemen are the real ones in charge

And he’s fine with it

He gets to make most of the decisions but at the end of the day, what they say is law

Barbatos doesn’t feel any particular way about the horsemen

He respects them and obeys them obviously

But that’s where that ends

They sure like him tho

They often ask him to peer into the future for them

And because it’s the horsemen he has to oblige

The four horsemen have the entirety of the Devildom, and let’s be real, the celestial realm, under their thumb

#obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphie #obey me mc #obey me headcanons

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thefanficmonster · 4 years ago

Text

Fated

Karl Heisenberg x Autistic, Sound-sensitive Reader (Female)

Warnings: Swearing, Spoilers for RE8:Village, Noise sensitivity

Genre: Romance, Comfort

Summary: Not everyone could love a man like Heisenberg. But Y/N isn’t everyone, nor is she just anyone. She loves him as the whole package he is: murderous intentions, human experiments and all.

Requested by @phoenixofthevalley Hi dear! Here you go - the first fic I’ve ever written for Karl Heisenberg (first of many) and thank you so much for being my first ever Resident Evil 8 requester! Hope you enjoy the read! Feel free to correct me if I’ve described anything incorrectly or in an accidentally offensive manner. I have no intention of spreading hate or any type of misconception so I’d really appreciate the correction. Love, Vy ❤

Watching Karl get so excited over this grand plan of his - the destroying of Mother Miranda, his revenge - it all makes me feel uneasy. I can’t explain the feeling, mostly cause I’ve never felt it before, and I can’t quite describe it either. I don’t connect to people easily and I’ve always been told I’m the problem but I guess it took the right person to make me feel things I haven’t felt for no one else all my life.

“The weren’t worthy of your emotions, darling.“ Karl told me on one of the rare occasions when I opened up my mind to him. I felt his words wrap around me like a comforting embrace. For the first time in my life, I felt understood.

I think that’s what took me the longest to get used to - being understood, seen and validated. My opinions had never before been taken into account seriously, my personal boundaries were rarely respected by others and people always had a hard time dealing with how distant I can be. But what bothers me above all is how people refer to me as dramatic because of my sound sensitivity - something no one took seriously when I’d tell them about it.

Karl did though, surprising me to no end.

He respects that I like my personal space and prefer not being shown much affection, especially not physical. He understands that I have a hard time showing people affection myself. He goes out of his way to make sure I’m ok with whatever it is he’s doing, saying or suggesting. And I’m sure that if I were to ever tell someone about this, they wouldn’t believe me. That’s most definitely due to his rough exterior and intimidating appearance. Also probably because he comes off as downright selfish and rude when you first meet him, but getting to know him was a journey worth taking because I now know the real him. A trust me, his rough exterior and the softness of his true self have nothing in common. Although, he does claim that softness is only reserved for me.

With all that laid out, it’s completely understandable that I don’t want him going up against Mother Miranda. Thanks to Karl I’ve never had the displeasure of running into her, but I’ve heard countless stories of how powerful and downright terrifying that witch is. Bottom line: I don’t want Karl walking into something that’s the equivalent of suicide.

And I’ve finally decided to let him know exactly how I feel about it.

I’ve been sitting here, searching for my voice as I observe Karl in his deepest thinking space. He’s constantly in it, if you ask me - constantly thinking, looking for ways to make his innovations better, stronger, more powerful to add to his chances of victory against the sadistic ruler of this village. He was already at his desk when I walked in, hunched over dozens of drawings drawn with cut-edge precision yet in his mind they are probably not near good enough. In his mind, all he does is never good enough. He prides himself on this factory and what he’s produced thus far but he cannot stay proud of himself for very long, he constantly feels the need to better himself in order to remain worthy in his eyes. I wish I could change his mindset on those grounds but I know that my tries would be futile and pointless.

“Karl?“ I suddenly speak up, surprising both him and myself. I don’t know what I was thinking opening my mouth when I still have no idea how to go about this without making it seem like I don’t believe in him. That is in no way the case. I believe he can defeat her, if he cannot do it himself, his robo-army most certainly can. But I don’t want defeating her to cost him his life cause without him in mine I’m not sure what will be left of me.

He straightens up from where he’s been hunched over for the past God knows how many hours, rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms as her turns to look at me, his sunglasses capturing the white neon light in the office as he does so.

“What is it, darling? Something wrong?“ he takes a step towards me as I stand up and go to approach him.

“Actually...“ Suddenly, that thing he keeps in a safety cell just below this room starts going off with that annoying loud sound it makes. It’s always disturbed me, ever since it came to exist which was not so long ago considering it’s been his latest project. It not only terrifies me but triggers my sound sensitivity as do most of the machines in this forsaken factory.

I close my eyes tightly shut as I cover my ears with my hands, praying for the sound to go away as soon as possible because I can’t take it. It almost makes me physically nauseous and gives me vertigo, bringing me to the brink of tears because of its loudness and intensity, like it’s drilling right into my brain.

I can’t quite pinpoint the exact moment the sound went away because when faced with such a pain-inducing experience, my senses tend to tune out while I still remain conscious, but when my hearing returns I the only thing I’m able to hear is a steady heartbeat and a steady breathing.

“It’s ok, darling. You’re ok.“ I hear Karl’s quiet whisper, giving me peace and coaxing me into opening my eyes.

When I do so, I come to realize why the rest of the world has gone quiet. Why I’m suddenly so flooded with comfort like no one is able to bring me. No one but him. One of my ears is pressed up to his chest while the other is covered by his warm hand which travels up to move a strand of hair from my face and put it behind my ear as he repeats his soothing words like a chant, slowly starting to let go of me out of fear that he’s crossing a line. He’s always so wary about that and I’ll forever be grateful to him for it.

“Are you ok, sweetheart?“ His hands gently cup my cheeks, tilting my head so I can look him in the eyes - directly in the eyes, for he has ridden himself of his glasses. I’ve found he does that often when around me - removes his glasses. I once asked him why that is but the answer he gave me was vague, all the while a small smile played on his face. Guess he’s a bigger secret-keeper than I primarily thought. It doesn’t bother me really, I know the only secrets he keeps are the ones that would be a hazard for my safety if he exposed me to them, so I allow him his secrets and I keep some of my own to myself. It’s only fair, after all.

I nod, blinking up at him, “Yes, I’m ok. But...“ Now or never, girl. Now or never. “But if you want me to be honest, I will be.”

He looks baffled by my answer but he doesn’t falter, quickly regaining his composure before he replies, “Of course, dear. I always want you to be honest with me. What’s on your mind, what’s bothering you?“

Now “I haven’t been really ok for a while now.” I take his hands in mine, removing them from my cheeks but holding them firmly between us - a gesture that surprises me just as much as it shocks him. Never have I felt the need to be so close to someone. It may be momentary and temporary, but I refuse to dwell on that as I push forward with my argument, “I haven’t been ok since you told me about your plane. The whole thing with Mother Miranda and all that...” Not the time to be leaving me, words. I started this, I’ll finish it. “Look, Karl, I know you and your army can bring that witch to her demise but...”

“But what, Y/N? Tell me.“ He encourages me softly, his hands subtly tightening their hold on mine as if to keep me grounded, remind me he’s listening closely to every word I’m saying. Like he always does.

“But what if it doesn’t go as planned?“ I blurt out, biting my bottom lip nervously. It makes me anxious, being so honest and emotionally exposed. That’s so rare for me I doubt I’ll ever get used to it, but that’s the only way I have at least a fragment of a chance of convincing Karl to drop this. “What if things go south and you end up killed or turned into a monster or something else?“

The concern on his face washes away when he hears my words, getting replaced by a soft, consoling smile. I quickly look away, feeling that confession on my part was quite odd. I feel out of place but not uncomfortable, I don’t know how to explain it. It almost feels like relief, like I’ve finally gotten a huge boulder off my chest and I can finally breathe properly. But I can’t, not until I hear his reply. That smile should probably tell me something but it doesn’t - I won’t believe anything until I hear it come out of his mouth with my own two ears.

“Oh Y/N, darling, you won’t lose me. Ever.“ His thumb swipes across my knuckles soothingly, drawing abstract patterns on the skin of the back of my hand, “You never need to worry about me, hun, I ain’t going anywhere. No one can take me away from you or you away from me. Anyone who dares to try, well, bad things will happen to ‘em.“ He chuckles, easing the tension enough for me to able to look up at him again. When our eyes meet again, I see something I can’t name nor describe. All I know is that what he’s telling me is genuine and comes, “I’ll always be here, by your side, Y/N. I will always be here to shield you from anything and anyone. Any rogue lycan or any loud sound, I’ll be there to prevent it from reaching you. Never forget that. Ok?“

That urge to be have him close takes over me again. I think that somewhere in the back of my mind I see a clock ticking down, counting down the numbered hours we have together before he inevitably carries out his plan. As scary as that is, I think I can do nothing but accept it.

And so, that’s exactly what I do.

Wrapping my arms around him tenderly, enveloping him in the first hug I’ve ever given him - probably the first hug anyone has given him - I accept our fate, silently hoping it changes somewhere along the lines.

“Ok.“

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linksthoughtbrambles · 3 years ago

Text

A work in progress [a minimum of three, actually].

Part 25 of Link's Thought Brambles

Relax, Link.

Breathe.

Check your shirt, tunic, buckles. If you’re going to appear out there, you can’t have a single hair out of place. Not the first day.

Damn tunic’s shoulders won’t sit right. Slightly wonky seam. You should’ve worn this one on sparring day, Link. Then your best one wouldn’t’ve gotten ruined in the melee. Even mended it’s way wonkier than this one now and it’s all color-patchy.

Why the heck hasn’t the duck one returned from the laundry? Are duck droppings greasy or something? Difficult to wash out? More difficult than blood?! Maybe they thought it was so foul they were better off burning it. Oooh. That seems like some sort of evil ritual. BURN THE HERO’S CLOTHING! Aaaand shudder... Stop creeping yourself out, Link.

I could just not wear a Champion’s tunic today.

But it’ll be bad if I don’t. I can hear it already. People saying I no longer ‘feel like a champion’ or that I’ve ‘given up’ or that I ‘regret representing the Princess.’ You know. Horse-s@*#.

It must be exhausting to be the Princess. To think about things like this all the time. I’ve been here way under a year and I’m ready to run screaming into the woods. How she’s withstood it so long, I don’t know.

You have allies, now. People who’ll talk back. People who give you snails and cook you soup buns.

Which is nice.

And there are the people who’ve talked to YOU about things. Though… that isn’t always so pleasant. Kind of wish I didn’t know the extent of the bets they had going. But finding out glower-priestess was a schoolmaster in Akkala ‘til she got sacked for her nasty-ass personality is a WIN. No way I’ll be holding THAT over her head. Hahaha!!! Continue assembling an arsenal of school-based puns, Link. Guess you couldn’t be a RULER, eh?

It’s a work in progress.

If that woman ever sneezes in my presence, I will shout BLESS YOU at the top of my lungs. I have no idea if it’ll insult her or not but surprise is likely.

Oh. Oh ho ho. What if I randomly shout BLESS YOU? What would she think? That I’m blessing her with all my Goddess-granted herohood? That I’m PREDICTING a future sneeze with time-sensing hero powers? Will she walk around all day waiting for that sneeze, and when it inevitably happens will she then believe anything else I say in the future? Tempting.

Think on it, Link.

Okay. You look as good as you’re going to get. Stop rolling your shoulder. It won’t straighten that seam. Now walk out there and knock on the Princess’ door.

Walking. That’s the thing they’ll notice. My gait’s not right with all that muscle healing on the left. The ankles, knees, hips, elbows, wrists, and shoulders hurt pretty equally today, not contributing to lopsidedness. Who knew the silver lining to symmetrical joint-jamming was no limp?! Of course, I don’t get to experience that nugget of joy thanks to Vayden and his sharp sword. That dick. I have to figure out what to do about him. Greggan can’t keep him busy forever. He’s gonna throw something hot at me in the mess or try to de-shoe my horse or something.

That’s a fairly terrifying thought. Better check on Rionee later.

Be mindful and don’t overdo it today. The Princess is starting HER training. You’re just there to support her and maybe test out your own limbs a little.

Morning, Uri.

Thanks. I tried. Morning, Oron.

She’s in there now? Since when?

Yeah, that’s fine, I’ll give it a few minutes.

Opportunity to meander down the hallway and get used to walking in my boots again. I wonder if they’re talking in there or if Ria continues to be her stone-cold self. Haven’t seen her since the melee to know. That goes for most of them…

Keep to the plan, Link. Be respectful. Some people thought they had good reason to take you down a notch or fifty.

Of course, some didn’t. But you don’t necessarily know who was who.

Maybe a breath of air on that walkway below her chamber.

Wish that morning sun could hit me here. Too early. Shaded. Breathtaking view, though, even blocked by the bridge and study tower. Hebra peak is almost purple today. How does distance change colors? I bet the Princess would know.

Father’s company should be around there, ferrying scientists to and from strange old ruins and adding fortifications. A lot I don’t understand about that. Like why he’s in Hebra in the first place and not at Fort Hateno. You’d think when you left the Royal Guard you’d want to accept a post near your family.

Then again, he may be one of them again soon. This is just a temporary set of assignments to shore things up for the Calamity and to get some scientists to key locations. Wonder if they found that ancient Snowpeak citadel or if time has completely erased it… or if it ever existed at all.

Why hasn’t he come back? It’s been months. Months. He must have heard. He must have, by now. Right? He never even wrote a letter to make sure I understood, that I had to take my post even more seriously. That I had to be a hero as well as a knight. I expected that. Dreaded it. But this is worse. I know he’s written to the king a few times. Why not me? It can’t be the melee or what led to it. It’s too recent.

Maybe he just didn’t hear anything that worried him. If he thought I was doing well…

No. No, that doesn’t make sense. At least some of the Guard were horrified by me. They would’ve written to him. Told him everything. He can’t have thought I was doing well. Did I seem so hopeless he gave up?

“Thank you Ria, that will do.”

Woah.

Staring at the horizon too long. Tunnel-vision back. Close eyes, just for a moment. Stop. Just… stop thinking those thoughts. Relax, Link. You can’t read your father’s mind from 70 miles away. Ish. Breathe.

Weave retrieve leave wreathe seethe believe cleave heave.

Heavy words, those.

“Good morning, Link.”

Her balcony. She has her braid-crown today. First time since the Royal Lab. I’d gotten used to seeing her without it. ”Good morning, Princess. Are you ready?”

“As ready as I’ll be, I suppose.”

“The weather’s turning fairly cold. We… could walk inside through the Guards’ Chamber.” Please say no please say no.

“…No need. A walk outdoors may suit me today. We’ll be out in the yard regardless.”

Good! “As you wish, Princess.” I’m not ready to walk through there, either.

“One moment and I’ll join you down there.”

Oooh, that was a nasty wind whipping around the corner. It’ll be a cold walk. Maybe I should’ve worn that padded outer tunic. Not the doublet, that looks funny with the Champion’s Tunic sticking out the bottom. Then again, I’m back with the same problem. No, I should display the blue and white the first day back out.

Here she is. In that close-fitting riding outfit that suits her so well. Eyes up, Link. And NOT off to the side like you would’ve done the last time you saw her in this. Meet her eyes. She’s smiling at you… hard not to smile back like a complete buffoon.

And there it is! The left corner of my mouth. Can’t seem to win that fight. Why is the right side easier to hold still? Is this worse? Do I look like I’m smirking at her? I can’t let her think that. Say something. Say something! “You look nice today.” AAAAH!! No, you shallow-minded concussion-addled prick! “Y-you look nice every day. I didn’t mean you don’t. And you don’t look better today-“ OH S*@( LINK WHAT THE F*@$ IS WRONG WITH YOU? “U-um I mean you do, I mean not better just different, different, you have the braids and the clips with the color that matches the- the- the- top- and you look so… official!” You are still an idiot you totally missed your own point- “And how you look doesn’t matter at all, either, it’s not your job to look nice, and I wasn’t trying to suggest that Ria does a better job than you do-“

“This has gotten away from you a bit, hasn’t it Sir Knight?”

Oooooooh. She called me Sir Knight. I’m in trouble. She has red, puffy cheeks. She doesn’t look angry, exactly, her eyebrow crease is missing, and why is she biting her bottom lip so hard?

“Pffffta hahaha- heh! Heh! Mmm… mmmhmmhmm.… Link, you do get yourself worked up.”

You have no idea!

“Hmm. Well. Let us to the training yard.”

BREATHE, Link. ReLAX!!! BREATHE. Relax!

Steps.

Ow.

OW.

“Link, are you alright?”

Ow. “Yep.” Ow. Speed up. Power through it.

“It’s alright for you to lean on my shoulder. I can bear your weight.”

“I know you can. I was surprised.”

“I was too, if I’m entirely honest.”

“I’m fine. It’s only steps. If I’d been thinking about it, I’d have tried them yesterday and been ready for-“ WHOAH, wind!

“Ahk-“

Is there a storm on its way or something?! That was some gust!

“Heh. Sir Link?”

“Yes, Princess?”

“Were you afraid I’d blow away?”

“Huh? OoOh! Sorry!” We’re manhandling her, now?!

“You are forgiven.”

Get a grip on yourself, Link!

“In preparation for future dangerously strong gusts, it would be safer for you to brace my shoulders with your arm against my back rather than grappling my elbows, which are essentially hinges.”

I don’t think I took that in properly. Too busy stopping my hands from hovering around her like lizalfos claws.

Did she mean she wants me to brace her differently next time?

Was she pointing out that bracing a door by its hinges is totally ineffective, and therefore that my manhandling was not only entirely unnecessary but wouldn’t’ve worked well even if it had been? (And therefore that I am not so smart, but she’s too nice to just come out and say it so she has to tell me gently in a way that I might not even be able to figure out due to my unsmartness?).

Or is she saying she’d like me to put my arm around her shoulders?

I would very much like it to be that last one.

Very much.

She’s waiting for a response, Link. Eyebrows up. Getting higher by the second. Smiling. Cheery-looking despite the wind and the fact that it choked her a bit on her own hair.

What are you thinking, Link? Less than a week ago she couldn’t stand you. This is a thousand million times better than that. Don’t be an ingrate! Treat her with the respect she’s due, not like some schoolhouse crush. Which you’ve never had. But you can imagine what that would be like and snaking your arm around her at the first excuse is exactly the sort of creepy, egotistical thing Gio would do, and has done, and has even done to YOU. Yeah, you don’t want her to feel the way you did when that happened.

Not that she would, exactly, since the point of that was to show everyone in the village how much I looked like a girl.

“Link?”

“I- I’ll do it right next time.”

A bigger smile.

“Excellent.”

-----

Prickly.

I shouldn’t’ve agreed to this. It’s undignified. Hundreds of little bits of straw poking through the fibers of my pants. As if I didn’t already feel like someone’d pried each of my joints open and stuffed them clumsily back together. Greggan’s not wrong about my leg being weak and quivery, but I’m not sure this is better. There’s no way to comfortably rest it, I keep having to shift it, and it’s building up a real good throb. Bet I could see my heartbeat in my knee if I pulled my pant leg up.

Of course, I’m not going to try that. Because of the LOOKS.

Turn head- yep. Two more people eyeing me and suddenly they are VERY busy sparring. Hard not to wonder what they’re talking about over all that clanging and clacking. Makes my head ache more.

Also hard not to watch the Princess from this angle. I have a great view of her draw form from here, but we now know just how bad it can be if people think I’m leering at her.

He’s had her tugging on that thing way too long. Let her fire an arrow already!

I need a stretch. This thing is absurdly uncomfortable, and really I don’t need to sit down and I’m the fricking legendary hero, right, so I heal fast and am totally fine and there’s no reason for Greggan to treat me- huh? Why is he“Ah!”

“Itchy, kid?”

“… It hurts enough without getting smacked.”

“That wasn’t a smack. That was a clap on your shoulder.”

Why??

“Oh, oh ho ho, don’t give me those retriever eyes. They don’t work on me.”

But this is just my face.

“How much attention have you been paying to your charge?”

“…Enough?”

“I doubt it.”

“Wh-“

“You’re looking everywhere except at her. Your eyeline’s made the circuit of this yard at least fifteen times already, and every time it does it goes up and around her head or down to the grass in front of you before it moves on.”

“I’m watching her elbows.”

“And I’m from the Moon. If you’d really been watching her, you’d be thinking about that and not who’s craning their necks at you on the rampart.”

“There’s nothing to see yet, you haven’t even given her arrows.”

“You’re not paying enough attention, kid. Look at the bow.”

“It’s just your average-looking soldier’s bow.”

“Which I switched her to when she complained about the beginner’s bow. Missed that, did you?”

Guess I was lost in thought. Or trying to catch people’s eyes on me. Or thinking about stabby straw and how to keep it from jabbing into my man-parts. It’s loud in the yard right now, anyway. Wouldn’t have heard her if she didn’t speak up. “It’s not a surprise. She’s strong for her size. She doesn’t need to start out on a weak draw.”

“Not for a few draws. She’s done what, thirty or so?”

Well, that seems excessive. “What are you having her do that for?”

“At this point, curiosity. I told her to try it and she hasn’t stopped.”

“You can’t let her tire herself out before firing a single shot.”

“Why haven’t you stopped her, then?”

“I’m not the one training her.”

“From the looks of it, neither am I. Her form looks good.”

“What is it, a thirty-pound draw?”

“Thirty-seven.”

“Well. That’s not SO heavy.”

“Not for you, but for a slight woman who’s never had to do physical labor in her life? She should be shaking with each draw.”

“Why are you telling ME this? Tell her.”

“I’m not going to tell her a damn thing. It’ll affect what she shows me. It has to wait ‘til after she’s done. What I want is for YOU to pay attention.”

“I am-“

“No, you’re watching everyone else in this damn yard, because you’re too hung up on what they think of you.”

“No I’m-!”

“Do not argue with me, kid. I’ll be back in a moment. Watch her. Not them.”

Bad idea. Bad, bad idea. Does he not get that me watching her is basically what caused the melee?

“Princess?”

“Yes, Sir Greggan.”

Well, that plus a bizarre coincidence.

“How do you like that bow so far?”

Huh. I never asked her about that.

“It seems adequate.”

I can understand her going to the excavation site, but I don’t get why she’d go unescorted.

“Adequate, eh? So, it could be better.”

Or maybe I can. She was sick of me following her around.

“Yes. I’m aware that the higher the release velocity the more true the arrow will fly.”

She probably wanted a little time to herself without me breathing down her neck.

“I’d thought to brush up on my projectile motion equations yesterday, and then thought to read more regarding air resistance-“

Funny that she happened to pick the place I’d gone without her.

“-though I admit I didn’t get through all I’d meant to.”

Can’t hear her clearly. Too much noise. Maybe I should wander over there.

“So you want more speed, Princess?”

“More imparted to the arrow upon release, yes. The more force put upon it by the bow the better.”

Oooooh. OW.

“Hmph.”

“Sir Greggan?”

Why is it so much worse getting up off this bale than it was getting out of bed?!

“It sounds like you’re telling me you want more draw weight.”

“Yes indeed, but I understand that I’m merely a first-day trainee. I will happily accept your restrictions.”

What on the surface is Greggan doing?

“Phh. No restrictions, Your Highness. Here.”

He’s handing her a knight’s bow after all that?

“What do you think of this one?”

She spent all that time on one bow and he’s not even going to let her shoot with it?

“A marked improvement. May I get the feel for this one, as well?”

“… By all means. I’ll speak with Sir Link a minute.”

“Thank you, Sir Greggan.”

Wh- and he’s not having her fire this one, either? Does this make sense and I’m still too brain-damaged to understand?

“You should sit, Link. The itch is better than opening that damn wound up would be.”

…Okay… How long is he going to watch her draw THIS bow?

“You’re looking the wrong way, kid.”

“I’m confused.”

“Yes, you are--about a lot.”

That’s true, but specifically-

“You need to get over that mess in your head, Link.”

“What mess?”

“The one your bloody father put there.”

“Aaaah. No response. You know, don’t you? Started to figure it out.”

“I, uh… yeah…” But how did he know about it? “His advice doesn’t seem to work so well for me.”

“And that sentence coming out of your mouth is worth every minute of time I’ve spent with you these four months. If our Princess weren’t giving such an unusual performance, I’d be spending more of the morning on you and that beaver dam up there.”

Did he just say I have a beaver dam in my brain?

“I’d have brought Fournier over to handle the basics.”

It’s not like he could’ve meant my hair. He wouldn’t spend his morning on that.

“But it turns out… there are no basics. This is a first.”

I would, but oh NO! After all that time making sure I looked respectable this morning- my hair is everywhere. The wind!

“And Holy Hylia, you’re still not watching it. And for f&#@’s sake, kid, why the sudden rush to tidy your hair?”

Oooh, stop touching it, stop touching your hair, Link! “I-“

“Our Princess is repeatedly pulling and holding a forty-five pound draw like it’s nothing, but her appointed knight won’t watch her do it, because he’s afraid the muck-spouts on the other side of the yard and up on the ramparts might just think he’s ogling her if he does. And apparently because his ponytail is more important.”

“No, no, of course it isn’t-“

“Oh? Then stop fiddling with it.”

Yyyyr. RRrrrrrgh. But I know it’s MESSY. rrRRrRrrRRRRRRRGH.

“Agh. I shouldn’t have mentioned the hair. It’s not the point.”

“W-what is the point?”

“That you’re even more self-conscious today than usual.”

“I did just get my skull bashed four times a few days ago. Hard.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know, kid.”

“And it was because I- because…. Look, I’m not imagining it and I’m not overreacting. These people judged us over nothing. Nothing!”

“Yeah. So why waste your time on them?”

“Because what they think affects us. The royal guard-“

“The royal guard is another mess your father made.”

Mess? He was their captain. So well-respected they followed his directives even after he left.

“She’s had a few minutes on the heavier draw. What do you think? Still unsurprising?”

Okay… looking… just make sure your eyes stay up, Link. Watch her form.

It IS a little weird, isn’t it? She doesn’t seem bothered at all by the knight’s bow. It’s nothing to scoff at, and not at all where I’ve seen him start people. There goes Greggan. Maybe I’ll follow.

“Got a feel for it?”

“Yes, I think so.”

“Ready to try a shot?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Mm. Good. You seemed to be eyeing the targets?”

“Yes.”

“Nearest is twenty feet, give or take. Start with that.”

“Arrows?”

“Quiver, Your Highness.”

“Thank you.”

Wow. Look at her with that arrow nocked and drawn. She looks like she’s been doing that all her life. And whoops, she released already-

Uh.

“Well, look at that!”

That’s a bullseye.

“That target is so close, though—it hardly counts. Shall I try the next one?”

“By all means, Princess.”

How is he not shocked speechless?

It must be me. It’s not like I’ve ever trained archers. It must be a thing that happens sometimes, people nailing their first-

No way.

“Excellent. I assume I may try the third?”

Another one? At forty feet?

“You may try any target you wish, Your Highness.”

She’s going for the sixty.

Bullseye.

Eighty.

Bullseye.

A hundred.

…Bullseye.

“Holy f@$&.”

“Watch your language, kid.”

“You don’t watch YOUR language!”

“I do when I’m speaking of the Princess.”

She doesn’t seem to mind. She has a huge grin on. Wide, sparkling eyes. Her braid held up to the wind but the rest of her hair is everywhere. It’s the closest I’ve seen her to how she was that very first day.

“HEY OBBIE!”

DAAH!

“YESSIR?!”

You could’ve NOT yelled right next to my now pounding head…

“PULL THAT TARGET BACK! WAY BACK!"

That got their attention. The sparring’s slowing down.

Damn. Damn, that really hurts.

“Link? Are you alright?”

“Yes! I’m- I’m great-“ not about you, Link “I want to see your next shot!”

“Ehhehe.”

She just giggled, didn’t she? That’s new.

“ALRIGHT, OUTTA THERE, OBBIE, INTO THE WALL WITH YOU!”

Thank you for yelling further from me this time. Still hurt…

What is that… how may feet is that… too many, that’s how many. She’d have to aim way up and get the angle right.

Oh. That’s exactly what she’s trying to do.

The rest of them are all watching too, now. They’re not even pretending to spar.

Not rushing this time. Careful. Squinting up.

In flight.

My Goddess.

“Funny, isn’t it? You were worried that your sword didn’t seem magical. Yet it turns out you are, all by yourself.”

My Goddess!

“But- it’s not magic... I just do it.”

“I’m sure the other champions feel similarly about their abilities.”

“Princess, can you step back and try that again?”

“Y-yes, Sir Greggan.”

“Oh yes, I’m sure that terrifies you, but does it make any sense at all to bring a helpless princess into a battle with the Calamity itself?”

Of course it doesn’t. Of COURSE it doesn’t make sense.

And of course it’s another bullseye.

And here they come. All walking toward her. Haltingly, like they’re not sure they’re allowed.

“Again, Princess.”

“Yes indeed.”

I’m an idiot once more. But at least this time, I wasn’t the only idiot. This mistake was made when I was still playing with two-foot-long wooden swords.

I don’t even have to look. I know she hit her target. AHHH, the sounds their making! Ignore it, Link. Watch her. Watch her step against that back wall and send the final arrow home.

They’re all cheering. So loud! She’s not paying attention to them, though.

She's beaming at you, Link.

You have to say it. Make it clear for all of them. Just in case any of them are too thick to figure it out.

“SO, Princess!”

They’re listening.

“What was all that crap about needing to awaken your power?”

-----

Read Next: [Link is not a politician, but the king is.]

Read this fanfic from the beginning (it makes more sense that way).

Follow this link for the post list for this fic.

#linksthoughtbrambles #zelda #botw #fanfic #zelink

31 notes · View notes

etherealluminescence · 4 years ago

Text

GN!MC forcing conquering the demons into Pacts

Quick tags for those some people who reblogged my other post pt 1, I know I have a lot more but these are the only ones with comments on the post. @chalcedear @undertaker-02 @the-mexican-writer @mammonkinnie

Lucifer

You had spent countless hours against Lucifer, trying to fight him and force him into a pact. No matter what you did, it seemed like you failed.

It took you a long time to realize, but you had to train to beat Lucifer. And that you did. You knew how terrifying his power was as all the demons told you, so for a week straight you intensely trained until you were ready.

Lucifer was already on edge noticing you didn’t try anything, but he knew you wouldn’t give up, which was when you decided to strike.

He easily dodged your initial flying kick when he entered the room, but you grabbed onto the door and swung back around, kicking the tip of his head before he backed off.

He was now ready to dodge, believing that tour strategy was only to catch him off guard, but he was wrong.

When you landed, you dug your foot into the ground and threw yourself at him, but as he moved to the right, you used the shelf behind him to catch yourself and kick off it and nailed a kick straight to his head.

It was now or never as you began throwing heavy punches, trying to get him into a chokehold while he was prying you off, struggling a little as you bit onto his fingers or wings. You even bit onto his horn to stabilize yourself and kept punching.

By the end of it, you had quite a few bruises from his harsh grip, but he had a black eye and his feathers were all over the floor, you’ve won.

He probably could of killed you, but he didn’t want that, so he accepted his loss, glaring at you when you dug your heel into his stomach as Satan clapped and Belphie got out a trophy to hand you.

His pact was now your’s and you were going to flaunt it. He’s alright with the fact it was you who forced him into a pact, but it majorly hurt his ego that you were superior to him.

Mammon

You had recently arrived in the devildom half an hour ago and did not feel welcomed, in the slightest.

You tried to be nice to your guide, but he brushed you off and left you with Levi, or he intended to.

Levi gasped as he watched you tackle Mammon who tried to run off, and elbow him in the jaw. When he fell to the ground you kicked the life out of him muttering out “I tried to be nice to you fucker, if one of us is killed today it’s you.”

Levi was obviously bewildered, but took the chance to tell you to make a pact with him, his biggest mistake in his lifetime, all the poor demons in the future.

Mammon was crying a little as you forced him into a pact, and pulled him up with one hand, making him face Levi himself.

Mammon is 100% nicer to you because you’re scarier than Lucifer, and also because you genuinely treat him with respect now that he’s nice to you, something he’s not used to. Super happy to be the first ever demon you’ve conquered.

Leviathan

You had decided to do things the non violent way and participate in the TSL quiz, until Levi turned into his demon form and tried to kill you.

Taking up his challenge, you fearlessly walked towards him as Mammon was trying to tell you no, and you caught his punch.

It pushed you back a little bit, but you caught it and twisted his arm, and proceeded to beat him up in a one sided battle.

It’s not that he was weak, or others were helping you, but you genuinely managed to fight back and beat him so hard that it looked like his entire left arm was broken.

Lucifer was kinda pissed you broke his brother ngl;; but Diavolo is like it’s self defense?? And Lucifer is just like what human fights a demon across the room in self defense.

When Levi is begging for mercy he is reminded of what happened to Mammon and the rumors, accepting defeat, you make a pact mark with him, he’s kinda pissed though, like highkey.

He thinks that you probably think of him as a trophy or something to collect, based off the rumors. You probably don’t want to have a pact mark with an otaku, you just want to show off your strength.

He soon changes his attitude towards you when you show interest in him. You’re just genuinely a nice person and a caring older sibling figure, but will fight for the sake of peace and safety.

Now he’s just jealous that you spend more time with Luke than anyone else.

Satan

He offered you a pact mark easily because he wanted to piss off Lucifer, especially when you tried to give him a black eye from the pillow fight.

Very angry and disappointed when you said no, but then surprised when you said you’d beat the shit out of him instead, fair and square.

He knew you fought well, but are you sure you want to fight the embodiment of wrath himself? And you’re just like yep, the small tiny you, so confident.

He didn’t take it too seriously despite seeing the actual proof multiple times, and he watched you used his messy room to your advantage, even using the bookshelves to help you get air.

His ass was easily kicked even when he was serious. “You know, after facing both Levi and Beel, you aren’t much of a challenge.” You casually said as you formed a pact mark with him.

Slightly irked by the comment but delighted to be apart of your fan club, probably yells “BEAT THEIR ASS!” On the sidelines.

Pisses Lucifer off whenever you two fight and Lucifer gets an injury from you, and asks if Lucifer ever wants ice, just to be a dick.

Diavolo and Satan are in the fan club which PISSES Lucifer off when the two are in front of him discussing how you will one day (undoubtedly) beat Diavolo.

Asmodeous

You made a pact with Asmo after accidentally beating him up, he was begging for mercy and you kind of felt bad.

You insisted it wasn’t on purpose and he kind of avoids you for awhile after the pact mark. He’s glad Solomon isn’t like you, otherwise the devildom would cease to exist.

He’s eventually fine with you, and loves to take photos of you and Luke together acting like siblings because it’s the cutest thing. Although demons are scared of you they do kinda admire you, and seeing you soft with Luke is good for his devilgram.

Soon treats you like a friend instead of a monster that just so happened to kick his ass and make him beg.

You’re so tiny that it’s kinda cute and he nearly forgets someone like you is violent and scary so when he took you shopping and someone shoplifted, he was concerned for your nails after you disfigured them.

Will 10/10 treat your tense muscles and let you soak in his tub.

Beelzebub

He’s seen you fight before but damn he couldn’t believe it. You’re just so smol?? Couldn’t he crush you?

Lesson learned as he was knocked out after he broke your room. You didn’t want to hurt Besl since he was always courteous with you, so you knocked him out quickly.

He doesn’t remember more than you launching at him and the feel of his wings being tugged and his neck suddenly throbbing.

Mammon who watched beg for Beel’s life on his knees, asking you to spare him. You just nodded and waited for Beel to wake up before making a pact.

When he makes one, you give him some custard you asked Mammon to go out and buy really quick, you said please, and Beel is just so happy!!

He tried to kill you and he feels so bad but you’re just so kind!! Wants to protect you so bad but knows you’re just so badass so he instead helps you care for Luke.

Belphegor

You’d definitely be lying if you said you didn’t see it coming. His brothers had already tried to kill you, he was locked in an attic, and not to mention he gave you a weird vibe, you would of left him alone if you weren’t a nice person.

He tells you thank you for freedom and transforms, ready to kill you. No one got in his way and instead said “good luck Belphie” or “Nice knowing you” so he thought they wanted you dead.

Then he hears Beel say “I don’t want you to die, Belphie” and he is so confused? As he aimed his attack and you just end up punching him square in the face.

Afterwards, you kicked him in the stomach and grabbed his tail, swinging him into a wall, and knocking him over and over and over.

He is out cold, so when he wakes up and sees everyone congratulating him on surviving, he puts two and two together.

You were sitting on top of him and demanding a pact mark, and he unwillingly gives it to you after you nearly rip out his horn.

Pissed off and scared of you, slightly, but more impressed by the fact that even Lucifer struggles with you. When he finds out about the sheer amount of pact marks you have he’s starting to wonder when humans got so strong? And it became an endless spiral of him being pissed off.

Don’t worry though!! He eventually gets used to you.

Diavolo

Super happy it was finally his turn!! Like you did it, congrats, wants it you’d like some tea and what kind of attire to wear for his asskicking.

Is absolutely not looking down on you, he genuinely believes you’re strong. Because of that, he’s just so excited to face you. You beat both Lucifer and Barbatos, the majority of RAD, and you’re such a cool person!!

When you approach him you looked so badass. “Aye, prince of kiss my ass, I’m here to claim you once and for all and become the new ruler of this place.” You yelled out as you kicked down the door to his office.

The first time you two fought, he won. You had a lot of bruises, but managed to rip out some of his hair, at least. He finds it admirable how you still kept going despite him clearly hearing a rib break.

SUPER excited to tell Satan about it!! Hopes Barbatos recorded the fight so he could broadcast it at RAD during an announcement or something, but Barbatos rejected that idea.

Poor Diavolo only wanted to be included in this ass beating trend, but super happy when you return three days later and try to beat him up again, you even changed up the way you fight!!

You won’t ever know this, but one day he purposely changed his office’s layout to benefit your fighting style more, so when you finally beat him he was so ecstatic, his lips were bleeding but he was laughing, congratulating you and couldn’t wait to give you a pact.

Oh boy was he SO happy when you flaunted it, and sat in his desk chair with a hand on your chin, giving an order to Barbatos who recorded it, acting as if you really were the ruler of the devildom.

“Could you get some bandages for your former ruler, please?” You asked, feeling accomplished that Luke was officially safe during his stay in the devildom, and Diavolo was just swooning.

The public is 10/10 avoiding you because they are SCARED for their life. The people are convinced you’re like a nuclear weapon against demons.

Barbatos

He knew one day you’d defeat Lucifer, but it was so quick. You only needed a week of prep time?

Steps up his game a bit, because after two weeks of training you approach him ready to fight, and he can sense you’re not the same.

As he uses his tail to put you out of the room, he automatically feels your sharp teeth digging into his tail. He can withstand it no problem, until you literally rip a bit of his tail chunk out.

You didn’t let go even as he flung you off his tail, and you even dug your nails in. He showed no expression, but it was genuinely painful as you climbed his tail onto him, his tail no longer as useful because he was very sure you would rip through it.

His fighting against you one on one went well for him, he could see and easily predict your moves easily, until you head butted him and began every trick in the book.

From kicking, punching, biting, scratching, you name it, you did it. He was finally at your mercy when you were cover in both your own and his blood, while he was sure his tail was missing some pieces, and you were absolutely not letting go.

He’s 100% convinced you’ve gone feral in a span of three weeks, but that’s okay. The only thing stopping you from fighting the prince was now defeated, and he apologised to Diavolo frequently, who was only super excited in return.

Don’t worry you apologised for his tail and helped him with his job for awhile, totally not to also study Diavolo in his natural habitat.

First time you’ve ever seen him smile so soft was when he got his ass kicked so hard by you that his tail went chomp chomp.

Luke

Surprised pikachu face.

He understands you beating up Mammon,, and maybe some lesser demons,, but did you REALLY defeat Lucifer, Barbatos, and Diavolo.

Surprised pikachu face as you shrug and say “yeah I guess. I’m the ruler now, do you feel safe yet?”

Lucifer yells out you’re not the ruler just because you formed a pact with Diavolo, but you ignored him and smile at Luke, patting his head.

Luke is just nodding like “I’m safe!!!” While in his head he’s like WOW whaT PLEASE EXPLAIN.

Luke constantly calls you his older sibling now, tells daddy Simeon ALL about it, and brags about you to the demons who even look at him.

Praise this precious baby as he makes you all the sweets in the world. You’ve literally defeated demons of all sorts, even the most powerful, and all you want is to see him smile.

Will probably cry.

#obey me #obey me swd #obey me shall we date #obey me hc #obey me headcanons #obey me headcanon #obey me barbatos #obey me diavolo #obey me lucifer #obey me asmo #obey me mammon #obey me levi #obey me Satan #obey me beel #obey me belphegor

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dipperpinesthemanlyman · 3 years ago

Note

Do you have any good Danny Phantom fic recs?

I don’t usually make recs, but since I’ve been binge reading through the Phandom here lately I have a few! I’ll put them and their summaries underneath the Keep Reading <3

Also far warning there is no rhyme or reason to how I’m listing them

Little Lion King by Floralflowerpower andTheOnlyWife @floralflowerpower (incomplete)

A ghost king AU where Danny is an all-powerful ruler/ beloved king and hero who is terrified that his people would hate him if they found out he was a halfa. (Beta for this Phic is Theonlywife)

I am absolutely obsessed with the Little Lion King at the moment! I’ve read through all the available chapters twice now XD I plan to reread it again soon!

The Haunting Murders of Bristol Mansion by Pqrker

"No, no, it's fine, it's just...What if we convince them I don't believe in ghosts in the first place?"

Sam stared at Danny like he was crazy.

"That is the stupidest idea I have ever heard."

danny pretends not to believe in ghosts in a last-ditch effort to conceal his identity, while sam and tucker film it all

do not stand at my grave and cry (i am not there, i did not die) by Blueh

“I just—” he hiccups down his ghost sense but feels the cool burning sensation crawl up his throat anyways. He has just enough time to throw a hand over his mouth to cover the blue mist, and sends a desperate look at the clock. There’s still five minutes left in class. He stands up anyways. “I have to go.”

“You have to go?” Sam says. Danny hears the accusation in her voice loud and clear. “Again?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t enough, Danny! You keep—you keep leaving us! You’re pushing us away!”

His tongue feels like lead and he knows, even if he wants to, he can’t tell them. He can't. So instead, he doesn’t meet her eyes, takes one step back, and repeats, “I’m sorry.”

Sometimes, it feels like it’s the only word he can say these days.

Or: When Danny goes down to the lab and enters that portal at fourteen years old, he goes down alone. This changes things.

A Grave Error by thatgirl_youknowtheone @lucifer-is-a-bag-of-dicks

A fluorescent green gaze pierced through him from the rearview mirror. As much as the eye contact sent chills down Dale's spine, he didn't want to look away. Some primal part of his brain was much more comfortable keeping his eyes firmly planted on the predator in the back seat of the police car.

"Why won't he leave?" Dale whispered to his partner, the woman grit her teeth.

"I don't know, but I'm not the idiot who decided to fucking arrest him."

Connections by Lynse @ladylynse

Maddie knows that the Booo-merang has keyed into Danny, for whatever reason, so what's she to think when she sees it collide with Phantom?

Confessions (Connections Sequal) by Lynse

Follows Connections. Danny's secret's not as safe as he thinks, what with Maddie unable to ignore her wild suspicions any longer and piecing things together and Jack asking questions all on his own.

Shift by Lynse

Maddie’s capture of the phantom was routine—until she saw the shift in colour that meant it suddenly, horribly, wasn’t.

Revision (Shifts optional sequal) by Lynse (Not complete)

Maddie can’t deny it any longer. If ectoplasm can become blood, there’s more to this story than she ever realized.

Third Time’s the AU by KatWithTheGlasses

It started with one wrong move, and Phantom ended up hurt. Secrets are revealed and maybe things can move towards a better future.

A series of one-shots and small fics in which Phantom is revealed to his parents, and everything that happens after.

Maddie Learns That her Son Is Dead (Well, Not Fully, But Still) by GhostWriterGirl1

In where Maddie first notices her son's slightly ghostly features, and learns just how ghostly Danny has become. Warning: Lots of feels and angst in the last two entries, so get the tissues.

Danny the ViewTuber by ZombieMerlin

"Hi, my name's Danny Fenton and I do stupid dares and other stuff on the internet for the heck of it!"

Danny manages to accidentally create a ViewTube channel and ends up gaining a small following in the process. Now, all of a sudden, the entirety of the Casper High student body knows Danny's ghostly secret, Mr. Lancer is hella confused by the growing mystery surrounding Daniel James Fenton, and Danny slowly realizes that there may be things other than ghosts hiding in the shadows of Amity Park.

(Also known as "The Danny Phantom YouTube AU I didn't mean to write a plot for")

No One Knows AU by DarkNymfa

Set in an AU where Danny was alone for the Accident, and never told anyone about Phantom.

Angela Foley is Confused, Concerned And Tired (Not Necessarily In That Order) by GhostWriterGirl1

In which Dr. Angela Foley eavesdrops on a conversation between her son, Sam Manson and Danny Phantom, discovers some secrets, and becomes Danny's unofficial second mom.

Phantom of Truth by Haiju

Locked away in a secret government lab with Phantom as her subject, nothing stands between Maddie and the truth... except, perhaps, herself.

Shadow of a Doubt by Haiju (Sequal to Phantom of Truth)

The truth was supposed to save Danny. Fix things. The lab, the experiments, the lies, those were all in the past. Weren't they? Sequel to Phantom of Truth.

And that’s all I’m going to put because wow this is really long already lmaoooo

#idk how tumblr works #I hope you enjoy these #I wasn't sure what you would like #and I hope I gave you some recs that you'll enjoy!#danny phantom #fic recs

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tema-makes-art-sometimes · 3 years ago

Photo

Once Upon a Time there was a Little Dream.

No One Knows Who Dreamed it...

It was such a Little Dream.

This made the little dream think...

“I dont want to disappear, how can I make people to dream me?”

The little dream thought, and at last had an idea.

“I will make people come to me, and they will make my world.”

----

I may or may not have made an Alice Human Sacrifice AU. This is a strong contender for a blog for it to be 100% honest with you-- lemme know what ya think. Please click on it Tumblr ATE IT. >:(

AU Notes Below the Cut:

General Notes

It’s a world within a cursed book based on Alice in Wonderland, each of the Alice’s exist alongside one another, and while others can die when in the world, and the denizens of the world can die, the Alice’s cannot, at least not permanently. For reasons unknown they regenerate from any attempts to kill them. Each of the Alice's are said to be based on a Fairy tale character from the real world. And it is said that any who find and open the book will be transported to this Land of Alice called ELESIA. All Current Alice's are listed below.

Red Spade

Name: Alman Nation: England Fairy tale Counterpart: Red Riding Hood Powers: “Feral” - He’s able to turn into a wolf, and has the associated strengths of a wolf in and out of his wolf form. Notes: - He has an issue with blood-lust and craves conflict, which makes him dangerous. - He’s currently an outlaw wanted by the King for multiple crimes, mostly attacking people in the woods. - He actually hunts normally for money to sell the furs, he’s obviously very good at it. Relations: Diamond: Feels like the man taunts him being on just the edge of the woods. Club: Complicated. (He’s got a crush.) Hearts: Doesn’t like them, they romp around in his woods too much while able to easily escape him.

Blue Diamond

Name: Marine Nation: Canada Fairy tale Counterpart: Sleeping Beauty Powers: “Siren” - He's able to put people into a sleep like trance when they hear him sing. When in this trance they will do anything he requests. Notes: - He loves to sing, with and without using his power. - He loves fruit teas and coffee. And he’s always snacking. - His garden outside the castle was a gift from the King. - His crown of flowers is almost never seen removed. Relations: Spade: He finds him and his path through the woods rather bothersome, but there isn’t much he can do about it than keep him away. Club: He looks up to the King for reasons he doesn’t fully understand. Hearts: He’s very very gay for the both of them, and the three spend a lot of time together.

Green Club

Name: King Varis Nation: France Fairytale Counterpart: Ice Queen Powers: “Freeze” - He’s able to freeze things in his vicinity solid. Notes: - His powers are tied to his emotions, which can cause uh- emotional problems for him. He tends to bottle his feelings in order to keep his powers under control, the problem is they eventually explode and he'll freeze everything around him solid. - He's a well liked ruler, but he's also kind of terrifying. - Eternally paranoid about being back-stabbed for reasons he has no context for. Relations: Spade: He finds the man an odd figure, and wish he would just let himself get captured. Diamond: His baby, his pride and joy, he doesn’t know why, but he knew the moment he met Diamond that he was almost like a son. Hearts: They make him nervous because of how popular they are.

Yellow Hearts

Name: Labera Nation: Romano Fairy tale Counterpart: Gretel Powers: Beckon - The power to summon anything, to himself or to any location if he has been there. He can also summon people to places, including himself, which functions as a teleporting ability. Notes: - He’s known for being very quippy and witty, he always has something to say and he will make sure he says it. - He likes to pull things out of no where for visual gags and general convenience. - They are rarely seen apart, even if you think they are alone, they probably aren't. Relations: Spade: He loves to tease and bother Spade and any and all opportunity. Diamond: He loves and adores Diamonds very much, it’s very gay. Club: He’s a little nervous around the King, so he’s not seen near him alone. Heart: The warmth in his heart, the joy in his soul. He can’t think of a world where they were separated.

Name: Zir Nation: Germany Fairy tale Counterpart: Hansel Powers: “Command” - The power of heightened physical and mental abilities. He's incredibly smart and also has a psychic-like allure that draws people's attention to him. He's able to convince people to do things for him by just looking at them and giving them a command. Notes: - He has a slight rivalry with the King because of his ability to sway even his most loyal followers, though he has no interest in such things. - He comes across as quiet and disinterested sometimes, but he usually isn’t even close. - They are rarely seen apart, even if you think they are alone, they probably aren't. Relations: Spade: He finds him very bothersome and not scary in the slightest. He doesn’t mind his wolf form as much though... Diamond: One of the two loves of his life, he adores them both. Club: He finds the King very nice, but gets confused at how their interactions often turn sour, not realizing that the King finds him intimidating. Heart: The love of his life, they’re bount at the hip and he’d never ask for it any other way.

#hws #hws hetalia #alice human sacrifice #AU #hws england #hws france #hws canada #hws romano #hws germany #gercanmano

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theherohaven · 3 years ago

Text

— NARUTO CHARACTERS IN A MODERN HIGH SCHOOL!

FEATURING naruto, sasuke, sakura

naruto uzumaki

dumbass / sporty / impulsive / kind-hearted

⇒ dumbass

not everyone with low grades is necessarily stupid, but oh boy does naruto take the cake

he has the most appalling handwriting and spelling (it’s strangely endearing)

unsurprisingly, naruto has the lowest grades in the whole goddamn school, he’s never handed in a piece of homework, he can’t understand the simplest of concepts—he drives his teachers crazy

sometimes they don’t even know if he’s joking, or perhaps, they hope he is joking. (“is india a continent?” “say sike right now…”)

naruto is miraculously able to scrape by his exams and tests with the help of some divine being (her name is sakura and she has a bendy ruler and a lot of rage) so it’s not a huge problem… yet

however, that doesn’t stop him from staring with his mouth agape every time letters are introduced in maths (it’s called ALGEBRA, naruto!)

⇒ sporty

naruto is definitely only in this private school on a sports scholarship—probably athletics, cos this kid’s got crazy stamina!

the ace in every sports club: martial arts, cross country, basketball, football, rugby, swimming, volleyball etc. you name it, he plays it!

you don’t want to be on the opposite team to him in P.E, especially not in dodgeball… yikes. naruto has definitely broken a guy’s arm before completely on accident. it was kinda cool, though

girls and guys alike ogle at him working out. enough said.

naruto has this homoerotic sports rivalry going on with sasuke—they have these really dramatic stare-downs and they’re just playing like,,, tennis or smth 😭 pls relax guys it’s just a game

⇒ impulsive

detention is practically naruto’s second home, but that’s not because he’s a bad person or anything—he just can’t control himself sometimes

most of the time it’s small things: slacking off boring classes, some harmless pranks, getting overly competitive with his friends… and even the more serious stuff the teachers find themselves agreeing with

apart from that one time when he thought it would be a great idea to play something he called “lacrosse frisbee” outside tsunade’s office… suffice to say he’s no longer allowed near windows unsupervised

⇒ kind-hearted

despite his many flaws and misdemeanours, naruto’s silly personality makes him quite popular!

his genuine kindness and sincerity inspires true friendship and loyalty in his peers, earning him a place in pretty much every clique in the school :)

his almost accidental empathy allows him to help people with their problems where everyone comes out with a positive take! he’s such a sweet boy <3 the world doesn’t deserve him

sasuke uchiha

“bad boy” / power-hungry / anti-social /

⇒ “bad boy”

sasuke’s terrifying presence and moral ambiguity lends to his “bad boy” demeanour—he’s silently vicious and threatening and you’ll hear all sorts of scary rumours about him

he sort of saunters through the hallways in his pristine blazer and spotless shirt with his hands in his pockets and everyone always goes a little bit quiet at the sight of him

sasuke won’t go out of his way to stir up trouble, but he’s ruthless when someone gets in his way. he’s not afraid to use nasty words to get what he wants (sometimes he’ll spit out a deadly comment in class and the teacher will have to leave the room for a moment)

the scariest part about sasuke’s misdoings is that he never does anything rule-breaking- in order to surpass itachi he can’t get expelled, so he finds these dastardly loopholes in the school rules and exploits them to no end

⇒ power-hungry

even in a school setting sasuke is relentlessly power-hungry—he always wants to be the best and most influential. he definitely wants to go to law school and be the one to prosecute itachi to his grave!

he gets the highest grades as a result and he’s always a tad snooty about it too—but no matter how well he does in tests he’s never satisfied 😞

especially if anyone did better than him (looking at you, shikamaru)

he uses his achievements as an excuse to look down on classmates like an ass, but he will occasionally give nods of approval to those he deems worthy

he has a very expensive fountain pen and will hiss if you go near it

⇒ anti-social

sasuke absolutely despises most people. especially the annoying sweaty teenagers he is constantly surrounded by

despite being high-strung and scary and a massive dickhead sasuke is really popular and he hates it 😭 he gets so much female attention and he just FUMES

he likes to spend time in the school grounds when he can escape whatever group of people wants to “fix” him that day—the school often has a cheeky little visitor: a ragdoll cat called mushu who wholly owns sasuke’s heart. they are the best of friends! :)

sakura haruno

teacher’s pet / fearsome / sweet

⇒ teacher’s pet

this isn’t because she’s a suck-up or anything, her hard-working, methodical nature just makes teachers like and trust her!

she is tsunade’s apprentice of sorts, she works part-time as her lab assistant! having her headmistress also be her boss is pretty scary (but she manages just fine)

sakura doesn’t get top grades but her scores are certainly excellent—she may not be a “natural genius” like shikamaru or kakashi but her hard work earns her extra merit in class!

when she was in year 7 (6th grade) she was a HUGE suck-up and the most annoying boot-licker in existence—current sakura looks at her past self and cringes. she’s much more pragmatic and sensible now!

you can find her studying earnestly in the library lmao (when she’s not beating up naruto or sai!)

⇒ fearsome

from annoying teacher’s pet to herculean future med student? that’s sure an… impressive journey of self-development

sakura’s the school’s boxing champion! it’s very scary! she’s very scary! and also kind of hot! made a lot of girls question their sexuality! yeah!

it’s every students’ morning entertainment to watch sakura chase naruto down the halls after catching him spying on the girls’ swim team (though they quake in fear at the thought of being on the receiving end of such treatment)

she’s not a huge fan of sports but she starts for the netball team! just can’t let that incredible strength and agility go to waste :)

call her ugly and she’ll beat you to a pulp!

⇒ sweet

cw // mention of periods

sakura is very mild and gentle towards younger years, they all look up to her and go to her for advice! (she essentially has a little army of demonic children who’ll do whatever she says!)

she tutors a lot of people too (since people caught wind of how she saved naruto’s grades and if you can help him, you can help anyone)

though she tutors for free she can be very scary when you slack off

there’s an empty locker next to hers which she regularly stocks up with period products—pads, tampons, sweets, whatever the uterus-havers need!

all around the best student ever!

like for a part 2!

theherohaven 4 / 9 / 21

#naruto #naruto headcanons #naruto uzumaki #naruto au #sasuke #sasuke uchiha #sasuke headcanons #sakura #sakura haruno #sakura headcanons #naruto fluff #modern au #naruto shitposting

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nmikaelsonimagines · 4 years ago

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Haunted, Part Three: A Klaus Mikaelson Imagine

So here it is! The final part! Hope this is okay for you guys, and enjoy x

Need to catch up? Find the rest of the series just below:

Haunted

I just know You're not gone, you can't be gone, no

Y/N blamed her heart breaking on that damned bond between her and Klaus. He looked at her so differently from how he had a week ago, so differently from how he looked at her in her dreams. He looked at her with anger, with rage, with hatred. This wasn’t the Klaus that had saved her life, that had spoken to her with kindness and honesty.

This was the Klaus that New Orleans feared, and for the first time since that night, Y/N suspected he might be plotting to kill her again. She quickly dismissed the thought, refusing to believe that the Klaus she was bonded to was gone, the Klaus that she had found herself falling for having disappeared.

“I’ll ask again. What is she doing here?” Klaus glared at his sister. Freya took a step forward, and Y/N noticed how she seemed to shield her with her body.

“She came asking questions, Klaus. And I told her about the mating bond.”

Klaus looked at Y/N, and for a moment, she could have sworn that she saw that familiar kindness in his eyes as his features softened. But the voice that left his lips was clipped, harsh, the words of a ruler. “Good. So now you know. And now you can go.”

Y/N didn’t have a chance to answer before Klaus made his way up the stairs.

She wasn’t in control of her actions as she followed him, that bond pulling her towards her something.

Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out

“Where were you?” Y/N asked Klaus’s back. He turned and faced her, anger still present in his features. She couldn’t understand him. The night he had saved her life had been the result of following her around, and now he couldn’t bear to have her in his sight. Surely this mating bond was supposed to keep them together, rather than tear them apart? “Freya said you had things to figure out.”

“And last I checked it was none of your business, love, so off you pop.” Klaus waved his hand in the direction of the door, and Y/N swallowed. She would refuse to do as he told her, refused to let this be the end of something that had barely started.

“We need to talk about this surely.”

He said nothing, just turned his back on her and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

“Klaus, I’m your-”

In an instant, Klaus was inches from her. She should have been scared, but she wasn’t. She couldn’t be scared of him – it wasn’t in her nature. There was venom in his words, the tone she imagined he used on his enemies. She expected his eyes to turn to gold, but found herself lost in that deep blue once again.

“Don’t, Y/N. Don’t say it.”

Something's gone terribly wrong Won't finish what you started

“Why not?” Y/N noticed how Klaus’s eyes flitted to her lips, and every part of her wanted him to kiss her. She was finding it easier to fall into the state that the mystical bond provided; it was so easy to admit defeat, to fall for Niklaus Mikaelson. It should have terrified her, how she had so little control of her attraction to him, but instead it only thrilled her.

“Because,” his voice dropped to a whisper, “if you say it, it makes it real.”

“It’s already real, Klaus.”

Klaus moved away from her, running a hand over his face. Y/N didn’t want him to speak, knowing what he was thinking. That he wasn’t supposed to feel this way about anyone, that he was Klaus Mikaelson, the most powerful creature in history, that this wasn’t the way things were supposed to go for him.

He turned and looked at her again, and for the first time since he had returned, Klaus seemed almost saddened. Y/N wanted to reach out and hold his hand, wanted to tell him that everything was going to be okay. Instead, she stood and waited, ignoring the pull on that invisible string that urged her to go to him.

And then Klaus Mikaelson finally opened up.

Come on, come on, don't leave me like this I thought I had you figured out

“I felt it when you arrived, Y/N. I felt in here,” he pointed at his chest, at the spot where his heart lay, “and all I knew is that I needed to see you. So I looked for you, followed this pull, until I found you. I didn’t know how much you knew about the supernatural, about vampires, werewolves, witches, so I stayed out of sight. There was just this feeling in me that I had to protect you, had to know where you were all the time. And then, then that vampire attacked you, and I knew that I had to save you. I never wanted you to see me like that, but I wasn’t in control when I thought about you dying, about you leaving me.”

“That doesn’t matter, Klaus. I’m glad I saw you like that. I’m glad you saved my life.”

But it still didn’t account for why he had left, why he had been so cruel only moments ago. Y/N didn’t press the matter, knowing it would be best to let him speak when he needed to. The bond was obviously having an effect on him too, and he was struggling.

It made her heart ache for him even more.

Can't breathe whenever you're gone Can't go back, I'm haunted

Klaus continued, his eyes never leaving hers. “And then you asked to see me, and I knew I needed to talk to you. The moment you looked at me I knew then what this,” he gestured between the two of them, “was. I figured the best thing for me to do was to leave, to try and forget about you. But doing that was worse than death. Being apart from you was like I couldn’t breathe, haunted by dreams of your face, your eyes, your smile, your voice saying my name and telling me everything I’ve ever wanted to hear. That bond? That kind of love never dies, and I should have known better than to try and hide from it.”

“So you came back.”

“I came back, hoping you wouldn’t feel the same way.”

Y/N couldn’t deny the blow that hit her. Here was Klaus Mikaelson telling her what she had wanted to hear, yet he didn’t want her to say it back. “Why?”

“Because being with me, being mine, is only going to get you killed.”

Y/N shivered at the words that left his lips, the idea of being Klaus’s. He spoke the truth, she knew that, but there was a larger part of her, the one controlled by that bond that told her it was worth the risk.

You and I walk a fragile line I have known it all this time

“You should leave, before you get hurt.” Klaus sounded resigned, turning away from Y/N once again. She knew that he was fragile, knew that he was vulnerable, knew that it was all her fault, and anything she said ran the risk of making it worse. But she couldn’t help what she said, determined. She had come to New Orleans for a reason, and she wasn’t going to let that reason disappear.

“No.”

“What?”

“I’m not leaving.” Y/N took a step towards Klaus Mikaelson, the Original hybrid, defiance in every step, until she reached him, her lips inches away from his. “You’re worried about my safety, I get that. But you’re Klaus Mikaelson. If anyone is going to keep me alive, it’s you. In more ways than one.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because the universe is, apparently. It’s decided that you and I are supposed to be together, and I’m not going to ignore that. Neither should you when it’s clear that you can’t. So, if you’re willing, I think we should give this a go.”

Y/N’s heart was beating rapidly, anticipation threatening to drown her as she waited for Klaus’s answer. He looked to be chewing on her words, torn between what he thought was best for her and what was best for him.

She breathed a sigh of relief when he smiled.

Never ever thought I'd see it break Never thought I'd see it

Something had pulled Y/N to New Orleans, and as she smoothed down her dress that evening, she realised that she was beyond thankful for it. That something came in the form of the gentleman who would be picking her up in a matter of minutes, taking her on their first date.

That string that had kept tugging her towards Klaus Mikaelson had fastened into a secure knot now, one that would never be untangled, at least, not as long as she had anything to do with it.

It was strange how he had gone from a nuisance to a fear to her partner. To the love of her life. Of course, she didn’t quite know about that last bit just yet. There was that mating bond, yes, but it would be for her to decide if it worked out.

Although the thought of spending her life with Klaus did have its appeal. Y/N smiled at her reflection as she thought about it, eyes brightening when she heard the doorbell ring. She ran to the door, opening it and revealing Klaus.

He looked at her with those sapphire eyes that she remembered from that first night, that smile from earlier in the day. Y/N was almost breathless as she greeted him. “Hi.”

“Hello, love.”

Masterlist

#TVD #tvd imagine #tvd imagines #the vampire diaries #to #the originals #the originals imagines #the originals imagine #klaus mikaelson imagine #klaus mikaelson #klaus mikaelson imagines #klaus mikaelson x reader #niklaus mikaelson #niklaus mikaelson imagines #niklaus mikaelson imagine #niklaus mikaelson x reader #Joseph Morgan

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ms-rampage · 4 years ago

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Hello. You must be tired of me, no I really like the way you write. Can I ask imagine for Supernatural? Y/n is the sister of the archangels and Chuck's favorite daughter. After being captured and tortured by Asmodeus, y/n is broken, and Chuck tries to support his daughter. Please. I really like the kind Chuck who takes care of his children)

The Broken Archangel

No its fine! I don't mine 😁😊

Summary: Y/n is kidnapped and tortured by Asmodeus for several years. She’s rescued by Arthur Ketch, and is taken to the Winchesters, where God makes the discovery of his youngest Archangel.

Warnings: Some language, mentions of torture and rape. I apologize in advance. This might be a little bit dark.

______________________

Y/n was captured by the Prince of Hell, Asmodeus while she was protecting her older brother Gabriel.

She was taken to Hell where she was tortured and completely drained of her grace. Torturing her in ways, for her to give him the locations of her elder brothers Gabriel and as well as Lucifer either one of them.

She spent 8 years in Hell, being drained of her grace, making her a broken Archangel with little no no powers.

He was feeding off her grace, keeping her locked up in the deepest parts of Hell. Sewing her mouth shut.

Locking her in a cage inside a dark room, keeping her in solitary confinement.

She was basically his “little pet”. He drained her dry of her grace to make himself powerful and be ruler of Hell. Other than him torturing you, taking away your grace, he did other unspeakable acts to you, that you wished to never speak of, or even think of. With him weakening you, he knew you wouldn’t be able to fight back or defeat yourself.

Making you feel dirty, disgusted and making you want to kill every demon in Hell. Wanting to kill that white suit, KFC dickhole.

“So Y/n?” he asks, holding a sharp blade in hand wiping it with a hand towel “Where are those two brothers of yours?”.

You say nothing, sitting on the floor staring down at it, with a metal collar around your neck, attached to a chain on the wall.

You knew he was asking about Lucifer and Gabriel because Michael and Raphael are dead. He knew your grace wasn’t as strong as theirs.

“I asked you a question doll” he says, kneeling in front of you. You don’t dare to look at his face because you’d want to bitch slap him, and you would.

He straightens his posture, and grabs you by your hair, pulling it to make you look up at him.

You cry out, you try to hit him back but the chains around your wrists prevent that.

“I asked you a question, and you will obey it!” he growls, “I know your grace isn’t as strong as your brothers. I’m nearly done with you, a good 60% done with you. So where is Lucifer, and/or Gabriel?!?”.

You didn’t know the locations of Lucifer and your “twin”. Even if you did you weren’t gonna give them up. Finally being able to speak.

“Fuck off” you wince out. Knowing that response wasn’t gonna go well with this demon.

He clicks his tongue, kneeling in front of you again. “You know I’ll break ya, and when I do I’ll just dump out like the angel trash you are”.

Fast forward to several years later, and still under the torture of Asmodeus.

You are rescued by the British Men of Letters. Arthur Ketch because him and the Winchesters needed the grace of an Archangel to keep a rift open to go into the Alpocalypse world.

Since Lucifer and Gabriel were nowhere to be found, AU Michael is a douchebag, but Team Free Will weren’t the only ones looking for an Archangel.

Chuck spent the last several years searching for his youngest Archangel, his favorite daughter. Going from one world to another searching for her. Every universe he had created to find her since she left Heaven.

When Ketch brought her to the bunker, to the Winchesters, Chuck was able to track her down. On Earth in Kansas.

Him, and along with his two sons went to her location.

“Wait, wait” Ketch says to the two brothers aiming their pistols at him, he lifts his arms up to show that he means no harm ”I come bearing a gift”. He pulls you from behind the wall by your arm, showing you to Sam and Dean.

They put their guns down, looking at you and Arthur confused.

“Uhhh who is that??” Dean asks, pointing to you.

“This is Y/n” he tells them, sitting you down on a chair in the library, “Archangel Y/n”.

They look at each other, still confused. “Archangel??” Sam asks him.

He clears his throat, putting his bag on the table “Yes Archangel”.

“I thought there were 4 Archangels??” Dean asks, glaring at him.

Shaking his head, “Nope, there are 5. Michael, Lucifer, Raphael, Gabriel and her” he tells them, pointing to you.

You sit there, staring off into space. Your lips sewn shut, your all bloody and beaten after years of torture. Zero grace left in you.

Stammering, and not knowing what to say “I don’t-. Where did you-” Sam not knowing what words to use.

“Where did you get her??” Dean asks Ketch for Sam.

He sighs, “From Hell, she’s a feisty, stubborn one. She’s low on grace but enough to open the rift”.

You’re still in a trance, zoning out when it’s broken by another celestial energy in the room.

“Y/n!” a familiar voice shouts, Sam and Dean turn around, and see Chuck, a worried and scared look on his face. Seeing you for the first time in several years, possibly centuries.

You look up, and see your father. Eyes widened, even though you look, and are broken. Can only express one facial reaction, he can tell you wanted to cry.

You look up and down at him, as he cautiously approaches you. Thinking that this is all some game Asmodeus is playing with you, when he reaches to move your hair away from you face, you wince away from his hand.

Scared for anyone to even touch you. When Ketch rescued you, you were terrified, you had no idea who this British man was. So you didn’t trust him, even if you couldn’t tell him. He knew you didn’t trust him.

“I’ve been searching for you” Chuck mutters to you, “For centuries, I’ve been looking for you. I thought I would never find you”. Almost in tears, his voice starts to break, looking at what has become of you. How weak and broken you’ve become.

Dean clears his throat, getting his attention, “I don’t mean to interrupt. But why didn’t we, or the whole world know about a 5th Archangel??”.

He turns around to face the two brothers, “Because I never wrote about her in the Bible or in any of my stories. I wrote about the other 4, my 4 boys but her” he motions back to you, still sitting on the chair, “I never wrote about her because she was always my favorite. My favorite daughter, she’s the last of the Archangels and the only girl out of them. I needed to protect her”.

“Well looks like you did a great job” Dean sarcastically mutters.

Later that evening, they put you in Sam’s room. You sat on the bed while Sam removed the stitching from your lips. The pinching feeling of the threads being removed hurt more now than when they were put on.

Castiel enters the room, just as Sam finishes up with removing the stitching on your lips.

He looks at you in shock, you look up and see your little brother.

“Sam” he says in a soft voice, “She shouldn’t be here”. He looks at him confused.

“Why?! What’s wrong?!” he asks.

He looks over at you and says, “Because she is wanted, not only by Hell, but Heaven as well”.

He looks at Cas, eyebrows raised, “Why is she wanted by Heaven??”.

Castiel sighs, “I’m not sure, but if she’s wanted it's not good”.

“Can’t you heal her?” he asks, “Is there anyway you can do that??”.

He sighs, approaches you and puts his hand on your forehead. The second he does he hears your voice, in your own mind say.

“I must reiterate”.

“It’s not possible for an Angel to heal an Archangel” he tells Sam.

They both leave the room to give you some privacy, and alone time. Feeling free that you’re no longer chained to the wall or to the floor, and not being tortured every minute of every day.

The door opens, and Chuck steps in. Making you look away from the open door. Pressing your knees up to your chest, pressing yourself against the headboard.

“Y/n?” he mutters, slowly sitting down on the edge of the bed, “Y/n, please I want to help you”.

Being too scared to even look at your father, he sighs in disappointment.

“Y/n, I want to help you. What happened to you?, please tell me”. While Chuck is talking to you. The bunker gets two more surprise visitors.

Word got around Heaven that you were there at the Winchester’s bunker, and word got around to Lucifer and Gabriel as well.

The two Archangels made their way to the bunker even though they weren’t together, arriving at the exact same time. Separately. Startling Sam and Dean, making them have their guard up.

“What the hell do you want??” Dean asks, pistol ready in hand.

Lucifer rolls his eyes, “Calm down Deano, I heard a little rumor about a long lost sister” he tells them.

Gabriel appears right after he says that, “Where’s Y/n?!” he asks, frantically looking for his “twin”.

“Why are you here?!?” Sam asks him.

He rolls his eyes in annoyance, “It’s quite obvious! Isn’t it?!”. He goes down the hall towards Sam’s room, where you’re at, Lucifer follows behind him.

The two brothers follow behind them, and the two Archangels burst into the room. Startling you, making you fall out of bed onto the floor. Trembling out of fear.

Chuck tries to reassure you, “Y/n, Y/n, it’s okay. It’s your brothers”. You look up and see your older brothers.

“Y/n?!” Gabriel mutters, slowly approaching you. Chuck helps you up, back onto the bed. You look at him wide eyed, seeing your “twin” again.

“Why are you two here?” Chuck asks the other 2 Archangels in the room.

“We heard about Y/n” Lucifer finally speaks up.

Their normal conversation starts to turn into a heated argument between a father and two sons.

You on the other hand, you feel yourself grow angrier and angrier. Not at your father and brothers, but at the fact that they’re fighting about something that doesn’t even matter anymore. For the first time in several years you finally speak up. Loudly, very loudly that the whole building shakes.

“Stop!!!!” you scream loudly, causing the entire bunker to shake, making the lights flicker on and off. Making a few light bulbs burst into sparks.

Sam and Dean cover their ears, shielding their hearing from the ear piercing screech you’re producing, while the other 3 look over at you. You look up at your father and brothers. Slowly standing up from the bed.

“Asmodeus” you mutter before speaking slightly louder, “I was sold off to Asmodeus by those Pagan fuckers. I was tortured, I was abused, I had my grace stolen from me. He weakened me, he did things to me that should never happen to anyone!”.

Trying to hold back tears, “He used me for his own little affairs, he abused me. He violated me!” you scream, causing the walls to shake again. Making your lips sting from the stitch wounds around them.

You cry out these words, and they hurt even more explaining to them to your own family. The looks on all these men's faces soften, looks of empathy, looks of despair. Gabriel automatically knowing who did this to his little sister, to his twin.

“You don’t forgive those who did nothing but put you through constant pain, and torture. What he did to me you don't forget, nor do you ever forgive!. He made me feel vulnerable, live in constant fear. I was betrayed, I was backstabbed. I was protecting you two!”.

Your older brothers look at you with sadden eyes. “I was protecting you two from that Colonel Sanders demon prick!” you cry out, shouting through the pain.

Chuck trying to hold back tears. He knew deep down you're broken, and so did your brothers. Feeling horrible that their little sister, their youngest daughter went through a lot of pain and abuse just to protect her family. Knowing that she may not fully recover from the pain she endured for the last 8 years.

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themousefromfantasyland · 4 years ago

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How the Tooth Fairy Became a Guardian

Extracted from Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies, third book in the Guardians of Childhood series by William Joyce.

In this series, which served as inspiration for the DreamWorks' Rise of the Guardians, William Joyce managed to create one of the craziest and most epic origin stories for the Tooth Fairy. If I'm not mistaken, in one interview, he himself admitted how crazy it was, and how it was inspired by jungle movies he watched as a kid.

The bookworm bowed and told them, “The story of the Queen of Toothiana lies in volume six of Curious Unexplainables of the East.”

“Of course! I should have remembered that myself,” Ombric said, nodding. “Mr. Qwerty, please enlighten us.” (Ombric, the Wizard,and Qwerty, the literal bookworm, are characters that only appeared in the books)

The Guardians sat around the table while Mr. Qwerty began his tale.

“To know the story of Queen Toothiana,” he said, “you must first hear the tale of the maharaja, his slave Haroom, and the Sisters of Flight.”

“Sisters of Flight?” North interrupted.

“Sisters of Flight,” Mr. Qwerty repeated patiently. The image of a beautiful winged woman appeared on one of Mr. Qwerty’s pages. She was human-size, with long, willowy arms and legs and a heart-shaped face. But her wings were magnificent, and she held a bow and arrow of extraordinary design.

The Sisters of Flight were an immortal race of winged women who ruled the city of Punjam Hy Loo, which sits atop the steepest mountain in the mysterious lands of the Farthest East. An army of noble elephants stood guard at the base of the mountain. No humans were allowed to enter, for the mountain’s jungle was a haven for the beasts of the wild—a place where they could be safe from men and their foolishness.

Toothiana’s father was a human by the name of Haroom. He had been sold at birth into slavery as a companion for a young Indian maharaja. Despite being slave and master, the maharaja and Haroom became great friends. But the maharaja was a silly, vain boy who had his every wish and whim granted. Yet this did not make him happy, for he always wanted more.

Haroom, Toothiana's father

Haroom, who had nothing, wanted nothing and so was very content. Secretly, the maharaja admired his friend for this. For his part, Haroom admired the maharaja for knowing what he wanted—and getting it.

The maharaja loved to hunt and slay all the animals of the wild, and Haroom, who never tired of watching the powerful elegance of wild creatures such as tigers and snow leopards, was an excellent tracker. But he hated to see the animals killed, so when that moment came, he always looked away. As a slave, he could do nothing to stop his master. And so, with Haroom tracking, the maharaja killed one of every beast in his kingdom, lining the palace walls with their heads as trophies. But the one animal the maharaja coveted most continued to elude him.

In the mountain land ruled by the Sisters of Flight, there dwelled one creature that no slave, man, or ruler had ever seen: the flying elephant of Punjam Hy Loo.

The maharaja was determined to do anything to have one for his collection, but every time he tried to force his way up the mountain, the elephant army at its base turned him back. He realized that he must find another way to reach Punjam Hy Loo.

In those ancient times no man had yet discovered the mystery of flight. But after demanding advice from his wizards and soothsayers, the maharaja learned a secret: Children can fly when they dream, and when the Moon shines brightly, their dreams can become so vivid that some of them come true. Sometimes the children remember, but mostly they do not. That is why children sometimes wake up in their parents’ beds without knowing how they got there—they flew!

The wizards told the maharaja a second secret.” At this, Mr. Qwerty lowered his voice, and all the Guardians leaned closer. “The memory of everything that happens to a child is stored in that child’s baby teeth.

And so the maharaja’s wizards gave him an idea: fashion a craft of the lost teeth of children and command it to remember how to fly. The maharaja sent out a decree throughout his kingdom, stating that whenever a child lost a tooth, it must be brought to his palace. His subjects happily complied, and it was not long before he had assembled a craft unlike any other the world had ever known.

Meanwhile, the maharaja ordered Haroom to make an archer’s bow of purest gold and one single ruby-tipped arrow. When the weapon was finished, the maharaja ordered Haroom to join him aboard the craft. Then he said these magic words:

‘Remember,

remember,

the moonlit flights

of magic nights.’

And just as the royal wizards had promised, the craft flew silently through the sky, over the jungle, and past the elephants who guarded Punjam Hy Loo.

They descended from the clouds and flew into the still-sleeping city. In the misty light of dawn, the maharaja could hardly tell where the jungle ended and the city began. But Haroom, used to seeking out tracks, spotted some he had never seen before—tracks that could only belong to the flying elephant, for although they looked similar to a normal elephant’s, his keen eye saw one addition: an extra digit pointing backward, like that of a bird.

It did not take long to find the flying elephant, sleeping in a nest in the low-lying limbs of an enormous jujube tree. The maharaja raised the golden bow and took careful aim. The tip of the ruby arrow glittered in the first rays of morning sunlight. Haroom looked away.

Suddenly, there came an intense, cacophonous alarm, as if every creature of Punjam Hy Loo knew of the maharaja’s murderous intent. Charging down from the towers above came the Sisters of Flight, wings outstretched, with all manner of weapons at the ready—gleaming swords, razor-sharp daggers, fantastical flying spears with wings of their own. It was a sight so beautiful, so terrifying that Haroom and the maharaja froze.

Then the maharaja raised his bow again, this time aiming it at the Sisters of Flight. ‘Look, Haroom, an even greater prize,’ he exclaimed.

In that single moment Haroom’s whole life changed. He knew, for the very first time, what he wanted. He could not bear to see a Sister of Flight harmed. He ordered the maharaja to stop.

The maharaja paid his servant no heed. He let loose the arrow. Haroom blocked it. Its ruby tip pierced his chest, and he crumbled to the ground.

The maharaja stared in shock, then kneeled beside his fallen friend. Weeping, he tried to stop the flow of blood but could not. Haroom was dying.

The Sisters of Flight landed around them. The most beautiful of the sisters, the one the maharaja had meant to kill, approached them. ‘We did not know that any man could be so selfless,’ she said. Her sisters nodded.

With one hand, she grabbed the arrow and plucked it from Haroom’s chest, then kissed her fingertips and gently touched his wound.

Haroom stirred, and his eyes fluttered open. All he could see was the face of the Sister of Flight. And all she could see was the brave and noble Haroom.

He was a slave no more.

She took his hand, and in that instant her wings vanished.

The other sisters lunged toward the maharaja in fury. They raised their swords, and Haroom could see they meant to kill his former master. ‘He will no longer harm you,’ he said. ‘Please, let him go��send him on his way.’

The sisters looked from one to the other, then agreed. But they declared that the maharaja must leave all he brought with him. The golden bow, the ruby-tipped arrow, the flying craft of teeth, and Haroom, his only friend.

‘And one thing more. You must also leave your vanity and cruelty behind so that we can know and understand them.’

The maharaja was heartbroken but agreed.

The flying elephant glided down from his nest, and with his trunk, he touched the maharaja’s forehead, and all the vanity and cruelty went from him.

But once these things were gone, there was little left—the maharaja was as simple as a baby monkey. In fact, he even sprouted a tail and scampered away speaking gibberish, shrinking to the size of an infant.

His vanity and cruelty would never be forgotten—the flying elephant had them now, and an elephant never forgets. As for Haroom and the beautiful Sister of Flight, they were married and lived on in Punjam Hy Loo. Within a year, a child was born. A girl. Selfless like her father. Pure of heart like her mother. She was named Toothiana.

The child of Haroom and Rashmi (for that was Toothiana’s mother’s name) seemed to be a normal mortal child. As there were no other human children living in Punjam Hy Loo, her parents thought it best to raise her among other mortals, and so they settled on the outskirts of a small village at the edge of the jungle. The young girl was well loved and protected and lived a simple, happy life until she was twelve and lost her last baby tooth. That’s when all her troubles began.

“Troubles?” Katherine asked nervously. (Katherine is also another book only character. She is friend of the Guardians and future guardian herself, Mother Goose, guardian of the stories)

“Yes, troubles,” Mr. Qwerty said. “For when she lost her last baby tooth, Toothiana sprouted wings. By the end of this first miraculous day, she could fly with the speed of a bird, darting to the top of the tallest trees to choose the ripest mangoes, papayas, and starfruit for the children of the village. She played with the birds and made friends with the wind.

But while the children delighted in Toothiana’s new skill, the adults of the village were bewildered, even frightened, by this half bird, half girl. Some thought she was an evil spirit and should be killed; others saw ways to use her, as either a freak to be caged and paraded about, or to force her to fly to the palace of the new maharaja and steal his jewels.

Haroom and Rashmi knew that to keep their daughter safe, they would have to pack their few belongings and escape. And so they did, deep into the jungle. The village children, all of whom adored Toothiana, tried to persuade their parents to leave her alone. But it was no use. The grown-ups of the village had gone mad with fear and greed.

They built a large cage, hired the best hunters in the land, and asked them to capture the young girl. Among these was a hunter most mysterious. He spoke not a word and was shrouded from head to foot in tattered cloth stitched together with jungle vines. The villagers were wary of him, and even the other hunters found him peculiar. ‘He knows the jungle better than any of us—it’s as if he’s more a creature than a man,’ they remarked quietly among themselves.

But Haroom and Rashmi were as wily as any hunter. Haroom, knowing everything there was to know about tracking, could disguise their trail so that no one could follow it. And Rashmi, who could converse with any animal, enlisted their aid in confounding the hunters. Tigers, elephants, even giant pythons would intercept the hunters whenever they neared. But the hunters, eager for the riches and fame they’d receive if they caged Toothiana, would not give up.

Rashmi, Toothiana's mother

The children of the village were also determined to thwart the hunters. They defied their parents, sending word to Toothiana and her mother and father again and again whenever the hunters were stalking the jungle. Toothiana, wiser still, hid in the treetops by day, only visiting her parents in the darkest hours of the night.

After weeks of the best hunters in the land failing to capture Toothiana, the cunning villagers became more sly. They secretly followed their children and discovered where Toothiana’s parents were hiding. They left a trail of coins for the hunters to follow. But only one hunter came—the one they almost feared. It was then that the Mysterious Hunter finally spoke. His voice was strange, high-pitched, almost comical, but his words were cold as death. ‘Seize the parents,’ he snarled. ‘Make it known that I will slit their throats if Toothiana does not surrender. That will bring this child of flight out of hiding.’

His plan made sense; the villagers did as he suggested. They attacked Haroom and Rashmi’s camp. With so many against them, the two surrendered without a fight. They had told their clever daughter to never try and help them if they were ever captured.

But the Mysterious Hunter had planned for that. He shouted out to any creature that could hear, ‘The parents of the flying girl will die by dawn if she comes not!’

The creatures of the jungle hurried to warn Toothiana that her parents were doomed if she did not come. Toothiana had never disobeyed her parents, but the thought of them at the dubious mercy of these grown-ups filled her with rage and determination, and she flew straight to her parents’ aid. She dove down from the treetops, ready to kill any who would try to harm her parents.

But Haroom and Rashmi were brave and cunning as well. Haroom, who had never harmed a living creature, was prepared to stop at nothing to prevent his daughter from being enslaved. And Rashmi, like all Sisters of Flight, had been a great warrior. As Toothiana neared, they slashed and fought like beings possessed. Toothiana flickered back and forth, hovering over her mother and father, reaching for them, but she did not have the strength to lift them up over the angry mob. Rashmi thrust a stringed pouch into her daughter’s hands. ‘Keep these to remember us by. Keep these to protect yourself,’ she pleaded to her child.

'Now go!’ commanded her father. ‘GO!’

With a heartrending cry, the winged girl did as her father ordered. She flew away but stopped, unsure of what to do. Her ears filled with the sound of the vengeful mob falling upon her parents.

‘Go!’ shouted her mother.

Toothiana flew wildly and desperately away. And as she went, she screamed from the depths of her soul. It was the scream of two beings: human and animal. It was a scream so pained and fierce that it caused all the villagers who were attacking her parents to go briefly deaf. All except . . . the Mysterious Hunter. He screamed back to Toothiana. His was a scream equally unsettling—a scream of rage and hate that was more animal than human. Toothiana knew in that instant that she had a mortal enemy—one who she must kill or be killed by.

But for now she would grieve. She flew to the highest treetop and huddled deep inside its foliage. She had no tears, only the blank ache of a now-empty life. She rocked back and forth in a trance of disbelief for a full day and night. Then she remembered the pouch her mother had thrust into her hands. Trembling, she opened it. Inside was a small box carved from a single giant ruby. It was covered in feathery patterns, and Toothiana knew that the box had once been the ruby-tipped arrow that had nearly killed her parents. Inside this beautiful box was a cluster of baby teeth and a note:

Our Dearest Girl,

These are the teeth of your childhood. If you have them under your pillow as you sleep, or hold it tightly, you will remember that which you need—a memory of happy days, or of deepest hopes, or even of us in better times.

But one tooth is not yours. It is a tooth of amazing power, and from what being it comes from, we do not know.

Use it only in times of the greatest danger or need.

Your Dearest Parents

Toothiana still did not cry, not even after reading the note. She slept with her baby teeth under her pillow and took solace in the dreams and memories it gave her.

Toothiana stayed in the jungle. She began to hate her wings. Once, she had thought them wondrous things, but now she saw them as the reason for the death of her parents. Her grief and loneliness knew no depths. The creatures of the jungle did what they could to help her, by bringing her food and making her treetop sleeping places as comfortable as possible. The children of the village tried to aid as well, but they now had to be doubly cautious of the village grown-ups.

As for Toothiana, she became more and more convinced that she belonged nowhere—not among the creatures of the jungle and certainly not among the humans of the village. She was alone. When she was at her very saddest, she would take one of her baby teeth from the carved box she always carried in her mother’s pouch she now wore around her neck, and hold it until it revealed its memories.

As the lonely years passed, Toothiana saw that the village children lost much of their innocence and some of their goodness as they grew up. She began to collect their teeth, so that, in the future, she could give them back their childhood memories and remind them of their kindness, just as her own parents had done for her.

Soon the children, not wanting their parents to find out, began to hide their lost teeth under their pillows for Toothiana to find. And she, cheered by this new game of sorts, began in turn to leave behind small bits of treasure she had found in the jungle. A gold nugget here. A sprinkling of sapphire chips there.

But you can imagine the curiosity that is stirred when a five-year-old sits down to breakfast with an uncut ruby in her palm, or when a ten-year-old boy comes to the table with a pocket full of emeralds. Once again the hearts of the grown-ups filled with greed, and it wasn’t long before they forced their children to tell them how they had come upon those treasures. Soon enough they had laid a new trap for Toothiana.

One dark, cloudy night Toothiana flew to the village to make her nightly rounds. A boy named Akela had lost his two front teeth, and Toothiana had a special treasure saved for him: two beautiful uncut diamonds. But as she entered his open window, it wasn’t Akela she found. Instead the Mysterious Hunter leaped toward her. From behind his shroud of rags, she could see the strangest eyes. Close together. Beady. Not entirely human. And cold with hate.

Toothiana’s rage clouded her keen intellect. All she could think was, I must get rid of this . . . thing! But before she could act, a steel door slammed down between her and the Hunter. She glanced around with birdlike quickness. The room was not Akela’s bedroom, but, in fact, a cleverly disguised steel cage.

She was trapped! The villagers cheered as the Hunter hauled away the cage. His platoon of slavelike helpers pulled the wheeled prison away from the villagers and into the jungle. The helpers were as strangely shrouded as the Hunter who commanded them was, and seemed excited by the capture. The children wept, begging their parents to let Toothiana go free. But they would not. The Mysterious Hunter had promised them riches beyond their dreams when he sold Toothiana.

Toothiana flung herself wildly against the cage, like a cornered eagle. But it did no good. The Hunter and his minions traveled swiftly through the night, deeper into the jungle. They knew the creatures of the wild would try to help Toothiana, so they carried the one weapon every animal fears: fire.

Torches were lashed to the roof of Toothiana’s cage. The Mysterious Hunter himself carried the brightest torch of all. The animals kept their distance, but they continued to follow the eerie caravan and keep watch over Toothiana, waiting for a chance to strike.

After days of travel they arrived at the base of the steep mountain of Toothiana’s birthplace—the kingdom of Punjam Hy Loo. The great elephants that guarded the mountain were standing at the ready, shifting back and forth on their massive feet. Toothiana’s jungle friends had warned them that the Mysterious Hunter was headed their way.

The Hunter did not challenge the elephants. He ordered his minions to halt and made no move to attack. Instead, he held his flaming torch aloft. ‘I bring a treasure to the Sisters of Flight and the flying elephant king who dwell in Punjam Hy Loo!’ he shouted into the night sky. The sky was empty; there was no sign of either the winged women who ruled there, or of the flying elephant.

The Hunter called out again. ‘I bring you the half-breed daughter of Haroom and Rashmi.’ At this, an otherworldly sound—like a rustle of trees in the wind—was heard. And indeed wind did begin to blow down from the mountain. It grew stronger and more furious, with gusts that nearly put out the torches.

Toothiana knew instinctually that this wind was sent by the Sisters of Flight and that they did not trust the Hunter. She also knew that it was time to take out the box her parents had left her.

As the winds continued to rise, the Hunter grew increasingly nervous, as did his minions. They began to chatter in the oddest way, not in words, but in sounds.

Then a chorus of voices, all speaking in unison, rang out bright and clear above the howl of the wind: ‘Tell us, Hunter, why cage our child? Where be her father and mother? What trick of men do you bring us? What do you seek, you who seem of men and yet are not?’

The Hunter rocked on his feet, seething with undisguised hate. He held his torch high and stepped forward, leaning into the wind. The elephants raised their trunks but took a step back. Fire was a fearsome thing, even for these mighty beasts.

The Hunter laughed, then threw down his tattered cloak. He was no man at all, but a massive monkey. ‘A maharaja of men I once was,’ he screamed, ‘and by your doing, I am now a king of the monkeys!’ Then his troops dropped their cloaks as well. An array of monkeys revealed themselves, all armed with bows and arrows.

The Monkey King shrieked above the roaring wind, ‘You ask about her parents? Dead! By my doing! What do I seek? Revenge! On all who made me thus!’ Then he threw his torch into the herd of elephants and grabbed a bow and arrow from one of his men. He had it drawn in an instant, aimed directly at Toothiana’s heart.

Before he could let loose the arrow, the wind tripled in strength. Toothiana knew what to do. She held the ruby box tightly in her hand. ‘Mother, Father, help me,’ she whispered furiously, clenching her eyes shut. She pictured them clearly in her mind, letting herself feel the bond they had shared so deeply, letting herself remember how much they had sacrificed for her.

Suddenly, she was no longer in the cage. She was no longer a single entity, but several smaller versions of herself.

Bow drawn, the Monkey King hesitated, bewildered. How can this be? He could not remember the power of love—even though it had been this girl’s father who had loved him best—and his own memories were now fueled only by hate.

So the world turned against him once again.

The Sisters of Flight circled overhead. It was the flapping of their wings that made the great wind. It grew wilder and stranger, like a tornado. Leaves snapped off trees. Dirt swirled like a storm, and the Monkey King’s torch blew out.

Now the only light came from the Moon, and no jungle creature fears that guiding light. In an instant the elephants stampeded forward. Toothiana’s animal friends attacked. Toothiana’s mini-selves charged the Monkey King. The monkey army screamed and ran.

The king tried to grab the Toothianas, but he could not catch them. Then all the fairy-sized selves merged back into a single being. Toothiana was mystified by her new power, but she didn’t think on it. With one hand, she grabbed the Monkey King by the throat. It was as if she now had the strength of a dozen. The Monkey King cried out in terror and pain.

For an instant Toothiana felt the rage within her swell. She would snap his neck and be done with him. But the little box glowed in one hand, and the memory of her parents made her stop. She would not end this monkey man’s life. Let the jungle choose his fate.

So she let him go.

He fell to the ground, and she did not look back as she flew up to join the Sisters of Flight.

As they sped away, Toothiana and her kindred could hear the creatures of the jungle do as they saw fit with the fallen Monkey King. And his cries could be heard all the way to the Moon.

Mr. Qwerty then shut his pages. The tale, as it was written, was done.

#rotg tooth #rotg #rise of guardians #guardians of childhood #william joyce

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sassyhobbits · 4 years ago

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Could you please write post Kingdom of Ash fic where Aelin has to go back to Doranelle with Rowan on important business or something and she deals with her trauma going back/ meets Rowans family/ Rowan repairs his relationship with his cousins? Pretty please 🥺

loved this idea and had so much fun writing it!! combined with the modified prompt of “living is so much harder than dying. are you sure youre fit for living?”

here’s day 5 everyone!!

~~~

It had been three years since Aelin Galathynius had stepped foot in the City of Rivers.

Her first two visits to Doranelle had been… less than pleasant, to say the least. Most sane people who had gone through what Aelin had would never get within a hundred miles of the city. But, Aelin had never been one to allow a shitty experience or two keep her away.

In the three years since the end of the war, Terrasen had slowly been rebuilt. Aelin had gotten used to her role as queen, had gotten used to peace. Although it had been hard and strenuous work, it was worth it. Every struggle and late night, argument with lords and advisors, had led to happiness for her people. Aelin would do just about anything for them.

Part of being queen, Aelin had quickly learned, was responding to correspondences from other kingdoms. Sometimes, they weren’t all that bad. She liked to write to Dorian, enjoyed the sporadic letters she received from Manon. But there were plenty of others that were less fun. Taxes, proposals, budgeting.

But, a few weeks ago, she received a letter from Rowan’s cousin, Sellene, the new Queen of Doranelle. She invited both Aelin and her husband for a diplomatic visit to her lands.

“Are you sure about this, Fireheart?” Rowan had murmured to her one night, curled up in his arms in bed. “You don’t have to go.”

Aelin understood his concern. The last time she had been to Doranelle, she had been beaten and bruised within an inch of her life, patched back together, only to go through the process again the next day. Maeve had certainly done a number on her. But Aelin would be damned if she let the bitch get the last laugh.

“I want to go, Ro,” Aelin assured him. “I want to see where you grew up, get to know your family better.”

I need to go, is what she didn’t have to say, but knew Rowan understood. Aelin had conquered many of her fears in the years since the war, but there were still nights she woke up screaming, still nights when it was impossible to tell the difference between the darkness of night and the darkness of the iron coffin.

She needed to go back to the place where she had been brought down to her lowest. Needed to prove that she was strong, and that she had triumphed.

And so it was decided. The queen and king consort would sail east.

They stayed a week in Wendlyn with Aelin’s cousin, Galan. Since he had sailed to her aid during the war, they had formed a closer friendship. It was good to see him, to see the kingdom from which her mother hailed.

From there, they traveled by carriage to Doranelle.

“Much nicer than the first time we made this journey,” Aelin remarked one afternoon from the comfort of their carriage, resting her head against Rowan’s shoulder.

“You certainly smell better.”

Rowan earned himself a slug on the shoulder for that little comment.

They passed into the City of Rivers discreetly, not truly wanting to deal with a huge welcoming party. Aelin convinced Rowan to take a day to themselves, for her husband to show her the city itself. The beautiful, simple lives of the citizens of Doranelle. How Rowan had grown up.

It was a perfect day. Aelin loved seeing Doranelle in all its glory. It was truly a work of art, unlike anything she had ever witnessed in her years traipsing the continent. They wore hoods despite the mild, spring weather, the both of them far too recognizable now to move freely without some sort of disguise. It brought her back to the days of being Adarlan’s Assassin.

Rowan brought her to some of his favorite places growing up, showed her a block that sold the traditional street foods of Doranelle for lunch. He bought her some sweets and took her to a lovely park, where they lounged under the shade, just talking and sharing kisses. He took her to a nice restaurant for dinner, snagging a private back room for just the two of them. It was all perfect.

And then the next day, they woke and readied themselves to head to the palace. Aelin managed to wrangle her husband into something nice, though he protested it on the basis of it just being his cousins. She wouldn’t hear of it.

That first day in Doranelle, exploring the streets as nothing more than another citizen, Aelin had been nothing but content and relaxed… but the first sight of that wide, curving bridge that would lead them to the palace had her heart beating just a little bit faster.

She remembered the last time she had crossed this bridge beside Rowan. She had still been going by Celaena then, freshly nineteen, just stepping into her power and her status. Terrified, though she never would have admitted it then. She had already been falling in love with Rowan, and her newly healed heart certainly wouldn’t have survived losing him.

She knew Rowan noticed the small change in her demeanor, feeling him squeeze her hand comfortingly.

They were greeted by Sellene, who was just as elegant and beautiful as Aelin remembered. It was clear she had stepped into her role as ruler with dignity and grace. She embraced Aelin like she was an old friend, making her feel truly welcome.

They were shown to their rooms, given time to settle in and refresh themselves before they would meet in court before dinner.

Their quarters were lovely: bright, open, and airy. The glassless windows allowed for the sweet spring breeze to blow into their room. There was a large bath that Aelin had full intentions of making use of that evening. Hopefully with Rowan. He wouldn’t need much convincing.

Some of Sellene’s ladies came in to help Aelin prepare, making sure her hair was thoroughly brushed and gleaming, twisted up in perfection before placing her crown on top. Her gown was a lovely piece of Terrasen green and intricate silver embroidery.

By the time they were both ready, they made quite a pair. Striking, indeed. Aelin made sure she complimented her husband thoroughly as they made the short trip from their chambers to the throne room.

It managed to distract both Rowan and herself. She barely took in the halls they walked through, some of it twinging deep recesses in her memory, like some sort of dream. But, she forced herself to focus on Rowan, the man she loved, lest the memories get the better of her.

The next thing she knew, they were being announced as they strolled leisurely through the crowded throne room. Fae nobility bowed and curtsied as they walked by, sending them wide, broad grins.

The throne room was so different than Aelin had remembered it. When it had been Maeve perched on that throne, it had been cold and quiet. It had somehow always felt like a trap. But, with Sellene as queen, it was bright and full of life. Music played, people laughed and smiled. It was… good.

A half hour passed by busily. Aelin was introduced to some of Sellene’s courtiers, reintroduced to Rowan’s other cousins. People gave her their thanks, commended her hard work and sacrifice during the war.

It was hectic enough at the beginning to keep her mind thoroughly occupied. Chatting and charming and laughing. It took a while before there was a lull in the conversation, when Aelin wasn’t listening to someone or speaking herself. But, it finally came.

Aelin took the rare moment of solitude to take in her surroundings. Rowan was across the room, talking with his uncle and cousin, Enda. He looked happy, relaxed. She loved it when he smiled.

She looked away from her husband, glancing around the room. Despite her better judgements, her gaze snagged on that throne. It almost looked non-threatening in the late afternoon sunlight, but her gut still twisted. Images of a pale woman with dark hair and a spider’s smile flashed to her mind unwillingly. She flinched, eyes screwing shut and willing the memories of Maeve away. She was successful at first, but not for long. Images and snippets of voices, of screams that she didn’t know came from herself or others, assaulted her all at once.

Aelin’s breathing sped up, her heart hammering beneath her ribs. She felt the phantom bite of broken glass in her knees, heard Maeve’s cruel laughs. She saw Fenrys, heard his cry when Connall spilled his own blood right there by the throne. It was so clean now. Like none of it had ever happened.

But no. That had been real. The other images Maeve had sent her weren’t but…

Suddenly, the airy throne room was too small, too packed. Aelin felt ill. She ducked her head down, slipping out as discreetly as she could manage. The moment she was sure she was out of view, she bunched up her skirts and ran.

Her body remembered the way down into the depths of the palace, though she had never navigated herself. It had left a mark on her soul. She would never forget.

The dungeons below the palace were a stark difference from the open, bright architecture above. It could have been a different world. It was just as dark and cold as Aelin remembered, as it was in her nightmares.

She wasn’t sure how, exactly, she knew which of the near identical, dismal cells had been hers but… she knew. She hesitated outside the door, amazed by just how ordinary it looked. Who would have guessed that she had been held and tortured behind that door for two months?

Aelin pressed her palm against the door, the magic left in her recoiling at the iron she sensed. These dungeons had been built to keep people with magic contained. They had been well designed.

She pushed into the room slowly, using her magic to light the torches lining the walls. She wasn’t sure what she had been expecting to find: a coffin, blood stains, iron chains waiting just for her. But… it was empty. Even the stone table she had been chained to while Cairn carved her up was gone.

Just… nothing.

Aelin wasn’t sure how long she stood there before she sensed a familiar presence behind her. She was wrapped in the familiar scent of pine and snow, Rowan’s warm body standing just behind her. He placed a broad hand on her shoulder. “I thought I’d find you here.”

A tiny smile curved her lips, though she didn’t bother looking back at her mate. “You know me well, husband.”

There were a few beats of silence. Aelin didn't have to be looking at Rowan to know he was carefully considering his next words. So, she did him a favor, and spoke first.

“There’s nothing here,” Aelin said simply, stating the obvious.

“No, there isn’t. Is that a bad thing?”

A tiny shrug. “I don’t know. Yes? No?” Aelin hung her head in defeat, covering Rowan’s hand with her own. “Sometimes, it's hard to believe it all really happened. Without the scars, without the coffin… it just seems like something I dreamed up. I know I didn’t but…”

“But what, Fireheart?”

Her eyes burned with tears, throat tightening. “It would be… comforting, I suppose, to know that the experience left its mark somewhere else than in my head. It was terrifying and hopeless but I don’t want to forget it happened.”

Rowan stepped closer, her back pressed against his chest. He wrapped his strong arms around her securely, pressing a kiss to the back of her head. “I think you know that what happened doesn't only still affect you. I don’t think Lorcan will ever fully forgive himself for summoning Maeve to the beach that day, I don’t think Aedion will ever stop feeling guilty that he hadn’t been there for you when you needed him. And I…”

He trailed off, but Aelin knew Rowan better than she knew herself. She knew his fears, his regrets, his insecurities. Just as Aelin awoke some nights thinking she was back in that coffin, Rowan would wake thinking she was gone. Those nights, he would wrap her tightly in his arms and wouldn’t let go until the sunrise, as if she’d disappear with the morning dew.

She gave a meek nod. “You’re right.”

They stood in silence for a bit longer, stealing strength from one another. After a period of silence, Aelin spoke again.

“I thought it’d be easier by now,” she commented. “I spent most of my life struggling to survive, trying not to die in one way or another. It’s been three years of peace. I know three years is nothing to you and will eventually be nothing to me too but… when does life get easier?”

Rowan didn’t answer right away. “Living, Aelin, is so much harder than dying.”

She sighed and nodded. “You’re right. But when have I ever not stepped up to a challenge?” She looked up at Rowan and smiled cockily. He gave a breathy laugh and pressed a kiss to her temple.

“You’ve already conquered death, Aelin Galathynius,” he said. “I have no doubts you’ll conquer life just as easily.”

#rowaelin #my writing #i rlly enjoyed writing this one #tog

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