#one who has faced goliath and won

[nixariel]

okay, clearly somebody on the art team was having way too much fun while working on the CS 2019 title sequence XDD

because taking a closer look at some of the clutter on this table turned into noticing a pretty nifty collection of freeze-frame bonuses. To start with,

doesn’t that badge look awfully like a lab access card? True, it doesn’t quite match Heliogem’s logo from S1E06

but that it looks like a lab badge at all does bring that episode to mind. There's also a picture of one of Vermeer’s paintings in the upper right corner—The Astronomer, to be exact—along with a photograph of the interior of the Rijksmuseum from S1E05 (underneath what looks to be the security checkpoint from Carmen and Shadow-san’s visit to Moscow in S2E07).

Once the hat is lifted, a second photo is revealed, this time of the outside of the Rijksmuseum.

Incidentally, Vermeer was believed to have had a fascination for cartography because maps are visible in at least six of his thirty-four surviving paintings despite the technical challenges including them would have presented. Those painted maps have also been identified (based on extant museum copies) as accurate depictions of real maps circulating during the 1600s. Given Carmen’s own fondness for travel and geography, I would wonder if the CS writers had more than just ‘Old Master with a convenient number of paintings’ in mind when they were picking potential targets for an art-themed caper.

Taking the hat away also reveals a photo of the Ecuadorian 8 escudos doubloon from S1E04, as well as one of the ship in which Carmen originally found the coin.

And finally, there is a diamond certification report (plus glamour shot) of a gem that looks suspiciously like the one Carmen ends up holding later in the title sequence.

The rest of the clutter is either too out-of-focus/obscured or too nonspecific to draw any clear connections, except for one last photo:

That is near-unmistakably Michelangelo's David, but to the best of my memory, the 2019 show never visits Florence (where David is located) or makes any particular mention of the statue. Even in the 90s cartoon, I don’t think either ever played any special kind of role. Which (if the photo's more than a throw-it-in, and I really hope it is) raises a very interesting possibility: that it does have significance, just like the other photos, but in a subtler and more allegorical sense.

Because in pitting herself against the Goliath of V.I.L.E., hasn’t Carmen chosen a path of becoming a giant-slayer too?

[kenoxa]

Domination in Formula 1: A Blessing or A Curse?

When someone not well versed in the world of Formula 1 thinks about the sport, a few things may come to mind: Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes; Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna. There is a definitive comparison with all of the names I have presented to you - Dominance. Every team or driver listed here has at one time in their existence or life been the leading image of the sport. But someone winning every race is boring, right?

If a team is performing the best, has the best car, the best drivers. Then you would think there would be no competition. This is not always the case. Since 1958 and the start of the Constructors championship we have seen 11 drivers take the title who were not driving for the winning constructor. This begs the question: is it the car that is dominant or the driver? I think both are true. In order to be given a place in the best teams, you need to be the best driver. Ayrton Senna was given the drive in McLaren after proving his worth in the smaller teams, first with Toleman (where he almost won the Monaco Grand Prix until it was controversially stopped early due to adverse weather), then with Lotus. Winning races in a car that should not have been winning anything proved to McLaren team boss Ron Dennis that Senna deserved a chance. Now he is considered by many to be the greatest driver who ever lived. Lewis Hamilton is another example, incidentally also with the team McLaren, though much later. Hamilton showed such promise and speed in lower categories that when given the chance to race alongside reigning 2 time champion Fernando Alonso in 2007 Lewis almost won the title; missing out by 1 point. (Lewis came second, Fernando third. Lewis beat Fernando by means of having more second places, 5 to Fernando's 4. They both won 4 Grand Prix). Almost out of spite, Lewis went on to win the 2008 Championship driving for McLaren, Ferrari won the constructor title that year.

A new fan joining the sport in 2018 seeing Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton winning endless titles may start to root for Verstappen at Red Bull, or Vettel at Ferrari. Building the foundations of your loyalty to a team or driver stems from whether they are winning or not. A driver who is always winning may quickly become the favourite of many fans. Someone who is always winning may start to become a Goliath in everyone's eyes. Then, and only then, will people start to root for the underdogs. It is worth noting that casual fans may support a driver purely based on nationality. If every race saw a different winner, leading to a champion who won marginally with 15 other drivers almost taking the title, the value of the overall championship would diminish. If every driver is constantly in the run to win every race then people would quickly start to forget who wins at all. When someone like Michael Schumacher starts winning championships one after the other with Ferrari, people start to notice. When people start to notice, they begin to become attached to the names and faces they recognise. Now you have fans who are not going to see a Formula 1 race - you have fans who are going to watch Michael Schumacher race in Formula 1. It is worth remembering, Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996 when the team was very much underperforming. He helped rise them up to start winning in 1999 with a constructors title followed by 5 more as well as 5 consecutive driver titles - all with Schumacher's name on them. Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher are the only two people to have won 7 drivers championships each.

I feel compassion to everyone that say Max Verstappen winning nearly every race between 2022 and now (early 2024) is boring and bad for the sport. Even I have said it becomes boring. But you have to admire his dedication and clear ability. He almost never makes a mistake. You don't win 19 out of 22 races on pure luck. Max often found himself winning races in 2022 by 20+ seconds. But if you take him out of the equation his teammate Sergio Perez was not even always second place and, when he was, he was never clear of the field. I think what we currently find ourselves in is a period where a team such as Red Bull have built a car that has the capability to leave the field behind. Then they have put Verstappen behind the wheel and the two mix emphatically. If we had two drivers driving for Red Bull in 2023 who were of Perez's level, the title would have been much more up for grabs. Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari would have all been fighting for wins and the title. But Max drove the Red Bull that year, and the rest is history. People tend to forget history. In 1988 McLaren were so dominant that they won every single race except for the Italian Grand Prix (The First Italian Grand Prix held at Monza since the death of Enzo Ferrari the year prior. It was Almost like fate intervened to make the two McLarens retire in that race. Senna through a collision and Prost with engine failure). Senna and Prost were fierce rivals and in that year Prost won 7 races. Senna won 8 races and took the title. If, in 2023, Max had a team mate who could take the race to him, just as Prost took the race to Senna, then maybe we would not be talking about how Max winning every race is boring, rather how the two drivers at Red Bull make for an entertaining season (even if only between those 2 drivers, arguably better than 1 driver).

I think the debate over dominance being good or bad for the sport is a conversation shrouded in immediacy. One fuelled by our generation's brains that are wired for instant gratification. While it may seem bad for the sport now, for reasons stated above I believe that dominance is required in sport. It brings people together. Forms attachments between fans, drivers and teams. Forms legacy and legend. In five years time, in ten years time, in 40 years time - Max Verstappen will be remembered for his absolutely devastating dominance displayed in the years between 2022 and TBC. As of right now, he is leading the 2024 standings and it looks like, save for multiple retirements, he will go on to win this championship too.

[heyimdove]

TW: climate change, wildfires, hurricanes, woe.

Sorry, I know you follow me for Good Omens stuff, but I’m freaking out.

San Diego doesn’t get hurricanes, but one, (a category 4???) is coming for us.

I’m a born and raised San Diegan and I can’t believe I’m typing this at all. But here we are, facing Hurricane Hilary and collectively holding our breath, wondering if we’ll be okay. Wondering what we’ll look like in a few hours.

I’m a worrier. I worry. I worry for our loud wonderful parrots who wake me up every day, and for our marine wildlife who I love with all my heart. I fear for our homeless community, who have already dealt with enough this year just existing, and who are too often children. I worry for the people who believe they’ll be okay, will make a bad decision or two, and prove themselves wrong.

It all makes me think of 2003.

For a week that October, it felt like the world was ending. The Cedar Fire, which was the biggest fire in California history (might still be) burned for a week. I was little.

We had never had snow days (the only snow we get out here comes in cone form), but suddenly white ash was falling like snow and school was canceled. This was the first revelation to me that we were really In It.

I remember sitting at the sliding glass door with my big sister, small feet pressed against the glass, as we watched the sky turn black from smoke and ash. I remember how you could only tell it was daytime because you could still see the sun behind the smoke. It was this ominous, dull red orb, like a dying ember, like Sauron’s eye, like God had abandoned us but stuck around to watch til the credits rolled. Even inside, we held wet washcloths over our noses and mouths so we wouldn’t inhale the ash that snuck into the house through cracks we didn’t know we had.

I remember my dad, crying and clutching the phone, as he begged my grandma to follow evacuation orders to leave their house. Grandpa didn’t want to go, so he stood on the roof with a garden hose, watching a wall of fire two blocks away as it ate trees and homes. He stood up there, spraying the roof like it would make any difference, while Grandma broke down and screamed for him to escape while they still could. Dad kept saying “leave him, Mom, leave him!”

I’ll be honest: that fucked me up.

Scripps Ranch, their part of town, has eucalyptus trees. They’re oily. They blow up when they catch fire. He only agreed to leave when he watched one explode a few houses away. My loyal, loving grandma didn’t leave him behind.

That taught me something strange about love that I haven’t been able to untangle since. I love my grandfather, but I never have forgiven him for what he put her through that day. What he prioritized under the black skies and white ash and red sun when people were dying. I wonder if he thinks he won, that he beat the fire, because their house didn’t burn in the end. I wonder if he thinks of himself as David and the fire Goliath, not realizing that his David was so small, Goliath hadn’t ever known he existed.

I hope so much that we don’t get more Davids this time around.

That people don’t hear about 19ft waves and grab their boards. Don’t drive their cars through the same place it always floods in Mission Valley, the same place people always end up drowning. Don’t try to save a house and lose a life instead.

That fire season was our worst, but fire response has improved so much since. Everyone said it was so bad because we hadn’t been prepared; now we do backburns, controlled burns, we’re better about campfire education. We’re safer now. We listen to evacuation orders. We have bug out bags and back up plans and binders where we keep our important documents. Aside from the occasional low-grade panic when I smell fire in the air that may be a barbecue, may not, I’m not really even afraid of wildfires now, only sad for the places impacted by them, like Hawaii and Canada. I find myself wondering what their sun looks like.

When I think back, I also remember how everyone came together to help. Firefighters from across the country and around the world came to help fight. Came to help us. It chokes me up as I write- especially when I think about the active fire maps and remember we only have so many firefighters.

I hope we don’t need backup this time. But I’m scared anyway.

Because we don’t have hurricane practice. This is new. The rain this year was new. The October-June winter was new. I’m scared this is is like 2003 and we’ve got a massive deadly natural event and no idea how to fight it. We didn’t build for this.

I hope this is just a dramatic response to what winds up being nothing. I was in Ireland during Hurricane Ophelia, and that was a bit of wild weather, but most people shrugged it off. I’m crossing fingers and everything else I can for an Ophelia situation.

To any San Diegans reading: don’t shoot the Hurricane.

But if it’s worse, then I just want to say I love my city. I love the way we held each other up in 2003 and 2007 and 2020-22. I hope we never have to again, but I’m grateful I have all of you if we do.

I just sandbagged around the house, covered the windows with blankets, filled the freezer with ice. Everything’s charging, my flashlights have batteries, and my bathtub is clean and full of water. I’m not religious, but I still said a little prayer for the fish in my pond and brought in the patio umbrella. I couldn’t catch the black cat that hangs out in my yard so I said a little prayer for her, too.

I hope I reblog this on Monday to tell you I’m a silly and melodramatic idiot, but today I’m scared. Climate change is real and something must be done. I’m sick of fires and floods and this self-fulfilling prophecy that the end is nigh.

We still have options. We have addresses (figuratively speaking). We know how to build the guillotines (figuratively speaking). We outnumber those who would have our streets flood and our homes burn for personal profit- and we can permanently separate them from it (figuratively speaking). And I am tired of speaking in codes about who our enemies are now that the planet is fighting back. I’m sick of having to say I’m figuratively speaking.

[deva-arts]

Would Vincent or Amon win a fistfight against Nathaniel?

Short answer: Depends on the rules. If they are limited to just hands and no talents, powers, or techniques besides force, he's getting his ass handed to him by Amon.

Vincent could win if he gets his hands on him. Crush all his bones! all of them! Otherwise Nathaniel would know better and likely win with his bones intact.

Long answer:

Nathaniel is incredibly strong, stupidly tall, and an excellent tactician on his feet. He knows how to profile his opponents! However, even with his physical strength, he isn't inhumanely strong like Vincent, or Amon for that matter. Assuming none of them are using their powers... Let's see...

He would win against Vincent, solely because of Vincent's overreliance on instinct, speed and force rather than technique in a fight. If he is airborne it's a wrap for Nate, since no one in their group can truly compete against Vincent's speed, peaking at twice the speed of a f1 car.

Amon isn't very fast or flexible like Vincent is. He isn't very quick to think details in a fight like Nathaniel- hell, he's just a few inches taller than 5'5 Sera. But his best assets (without activating his powers) are his innate, superhuman strength, extremely dense, practically armored body, and years of fight experience. He's not afraid to fight dirty.

Nathaniel would have to stick to his true form, no weapons, no armor, no shifting, no mind warps, only fists. ( Ruling out martial arts too to keep it simple.) Just his two fists against the heavyweight tank in the group who is painful to punch. He would hold his own well, but Amon is just NOT the type you want to fight under these conditions.

Amon would also be in the perfect position to nail liver shots with his height, while Nathaniel is inconvenienced by not reaching him as easily with his arms. Liver shots with strength? punching those six eyes black by reaching around that guard? it's a wrap. Nate gets turned from is to was.

And this reminds me of a K1 match I saved on instagram! so...

Pictured is 6'6 "Golden Boy" Kickboxer Badr Hari against 7'2 "Techno Goliath" Kickboxer Hong Man choi.

They're crazy different! Choi is giant and Hari is already huge- Hari has to jump just to punch his face! But despite this.. Hari won.

Stole this from wikipedia:

"After 3 rounds of fighting, Choi's corner threw in the towel due to a rib injury. Although Hari was unable to faze Choi with two heavy punches thrown in the first and second rounds, in the third round he began targeting Choi's ribcage with punches and kicks."

So... Yeah! Nathaniel would've won without all of these rules in place... But circumstances and opponents always change outcomes, even with your most powerful cards :>

[waltwhitmansbeard]

RAHHHHHHHHHHH for the otp with child prompts can I request #10 with (you guessed it) mfl vaxleth?:,)))

#10 - watching the child(ren) being in awe of the simplest things read these first.

turned my water into wine #37

These days, Derrig feels less like Keyleth's guard and more like a member of the family, especially after all Nel did for Keyleth during her pregnancy. Still, he is an employee of the sovereign, and as such, he is entitled to some time off, which he takes when Vilya is a few months old. Though the war is over and the acute danger has passed, Keyleth knows her father is loath to leave his daughter and granddaughter unprotected out in the little cottage on the edge of the grounds, and so he has asked Grog to fill in for Derrig during this well-earned reprieve.

So when Keyleth and Vax set off toward the castle for a meeting with the Council, baby Vilya nestled in her father's arms, it is only then that Keyleth realizes that Grog has yet to properly meet the newest addition to the royal family.

Keyleth has to press her lips together to keep from laughing at the askance look that Grog and Vilya exchange with one another. "She's...tiny," Grog says slowly, head cocked to the side.

Vilya, for her part, is staring wide-eyed and unblinking up at the goliath, easily the biggest person she's ever seen in her short life. Her mouth is a little slack, like she's gobsmacked by the size of the man in front of her.

Vax sniggers. "She is tiny, Grog. Do you want to hold her?"

Grog's awe turns to uncertainty, a feeling that Keyleth understands. It's not that she doesn't trust Grog. She would merely rather see him wielding a deadly weapon than her fragile baby.

But Grog gingerly extends one hand—his palms are so massive that he hardly needs two to hold Vilya—and Vax settles her down on top of it. For one wild, terrifying second, Keyleth is convinced that Grog is going to close his fist, squeeze Vilya as he might a grape, but then he lifts her up, her head propped up on his slightly-curled fingers, and brings her close to his face. "Well, hello."

Vilya's eyes are still wide, but she reaches a hand out and smacks it clumsily against Grog's nose. "Ba!"

Grog blinks in surprise. "Ba?"

"Ba!" She squeezes the tip of his nose, her tiny hand barely reaching around it.

There's a pause. "I think she's a genius."

Keyleth laughs, the tension ebbing away. Vax slides his hand into hers, then says, "Of course she's a genius. She's my daughter, isn't she?"

Rolling her eyes, Keyleth says, "Alright, we're going to be late. Grog, can you bring her back down, please?"

Grog seems reluctant to do so, but soon Vilya is back in her father's arms. She seems equally as upset by the development, her chubby hands reaching out toward her new giant friend. Grog chuckles, clearly please. "I think she likes me."

"Of course she likes you, big man," Vax says, clapping Grog on the back. "You have quite a number of shared interests, like sleeping and eating."

"That's true!" Grog says brightly. He has a new spring in his step as the little group heads off toward the castle.

Keyleth grins at Vilya, who watches him move with an awed expression on her face. "Do you like your new friend, sunshine?"

Vilya gurgles happily, still grasping toward Grog, and Keyleth laughs. It shouldn't come as a surprise that Vilya is winning hearts left and right, considering how easily she's won over the rest of the castle already, but still, it's a comfort to know that even enormous, blade-wielding guards cannot escape her little girl's easy, endless charm.

[smokeybrand]

Get to the Choppa

While perusing the internet during the ridiculous amount of down time i have at my job, I came across this weird little meme. It had a side-by-side of Naru, the main character from the most recent film in The Predator franchise, and Billy Sole from the first. Both are Native individuals and the caption was one that said something to the effect of, “I’m supposed to believe this tiny woman can defeat a monster that this big, hulking, man couldn’t?” Yes. Yes you are. That’s the point of Prey. That is Naru’s entire arc. She CAN do that, she CAN defeat a Yautja, but no one believes in her until she does. Prey is an exceptional film but it’s not telling a new story. It's a “David versus Goliath” narrative. Finding victory on the mettle of your wits, not the power of your brawn. Strategy over physicality. Naru worked smarter, not harder. Billy died because he refused to do any of that. He stood his ground and met the Jungle Yautja as a warrior. He died as one, too. Naru met the Feral Yautja as a hunter, and won as one. Yes, she was smaller, weaker, and just generally less equipped to face a Yautja than literally any man in this film. However, it was her observation skills and execution were, head and shoulders, above every other character in this film. That's why she survived. That's why she took the Feral's head. That's why she was a hunter. Lost in this absolutely bad faith take, is the fact that Naru being tiny is irrelevant. Everyone is tiny compared to a Yautja. Not one of these person who has ever faced down a Yautja, has done so in an equal match of skill. Except, maybe, Machiko Noguchi. Maybe.

I'd have to read those comics again but, if Machiko did win, I'm sure it's after time spent with them. When they first showed up on Ryushi, i'm pretty certain she was in the same situation as Naru. In fact, I know she was. Machiko is technically smaller than Naru so, you know, there's that, too. What I mean is, Yautjas are straight up, physical specimens. They are, for lack of a better term, superhuman. That's the point. In the first film, the Jungle Yautja manhandled all of that Eighties beefsteak testosterone, like they were nothing. In the face of such overwhelming force, Dutch was no different than Naru and, like Naru, had to resort to pure technique, observation, and execution, to defeat the Jungle Yautja. Dutch became the Hunter, just like Naru, just like Machiko, just like Harrigan. I mean, Harrigan literally defeated a Yautja in one-on-one combat, but that was after the thing was absolutely crippled. Even then, Harrigan won that fight based on his execution and observation throughout their many encounters leading up leading up to the climactic scrap, not because he was this super masculine, overpowering, force. The City Yautja was cooked by the time the two of them clashed in it's ship. One arm. Bullet riddled. The thing had fallen through a building or two. Bro had to have been exhausted. Harrigan wore City down, like you do a massive elk, and landed the killing blow only after barely ducking several hurled his way by his mark. Harrigan has more in common with Naru in terms of physicality and he's basically the only one who of this lot who went toe-to-toe with a Yautja and survived.

I said all of that to say this: it's staggering to me how media illiterate a certain portion of the public at large, is. Prey is not some Rubik's cube of a narrative to be unlocked. It's rather straight forward in how it tells it's story, one it tells very well, but people focus on the dumbest things in order to be outraged. Like, Naru defeating Feral is no different that Ripley defeating that first Xeno or Sarah pancaking that first T-800. It's the sane f*cking thing and yet, Naru's hero tale is somehow, unbelievable? It's somehow far fetched? We've been telling this same story for millennia, just swapping out the characters, but this is the one that's hard to believe? That sh*t is ridiculous. I understand that it's all just culture war bullsh*t, spouted by mostly conservative Betas that are afraid of the feminine, but that messaging is just absolutely destroying art. It's ruining storytelling and I hate it. The point of Prey, the point of every Predator film if you're being honest, IS the fact that these alien creatures are an overwhelming force and we, poor humans, overcome to triumph. That's the point of the franchise. That's the point of these narratives. That sh*t goes back to the myths we used to tell ourselves about what hides in the shadows. It's a fundamental aspect of the human experience and, in this, the year of our lord 2023, I have a bunch of soft ass, keyboard misogynists, making sh*tty memes about how it's so unbelievable a small woman can find her way to that victory. It takes them out of the story and relegates Naru's adventure to the bin. Bro, just admit you hate vaginas and move on. Check your weird gynophobia at the door because Naru is dope. Prey is dope. Her story is one of the best to be told in the entire franchise. Whether you like it or not, whether you want to believe it or not, Naru Dutch'd Feral long before Dutch Naru'd Jungle.

[yamnmoth]

The Story of King David Part 1: Saul's Fall from Grace and David's Ascension

Black = The story

Red = The lesson

This story starts with God rejecting Saul as king of Israel, which happened because God commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites, a people who had attacked Israel as they were leaving Egypt. The problem is, Saul took their king Agag alive, as well as the best sheep, cattle, and everything else that was useful. Saul only destroyed what was noted as “weak and despised”.

What we value shouldn’t be based on how useful or pleasing it is, it should be based on what God thinks about it.

Saul even had the audacity to set up a monument to himself in Carmel after the horrible job he did! And when he was confronted by the prophet Samuel, he claimed that he did everything God commanded.

(Samuel): “Bet. Then why am I hearing the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle?”

(Saul): “Oh that! I saved these to sacrifice to the Lord, so even though I technically wasn’t ‘sposed to, I meant well so it’s all good dawg.”

Then Samuel proceeded to scream at him the Lord’s judgment on him, which was that God brought Saul up from nothing and made him into the first king of Israel, but then he had the AUDACITY to disobey direct orders to wipe an evil people off the face of the earth, so he would no longer be king.

This next line  when Samuel replies to Saul goes so hard, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as obeying him? To obey is better than sacrifice. Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Then Saul finally admits his wrong and that he gave into peer pressure from his soldiers to spare the best stuff and asks for forgiveness, but it’s too late now. God already chose a shepherd boy named David to succeed him, since his heart would be with the Lord. Samuel invites David’s father Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice to choose the next ruler. Samuel looks at each of the sons and judges them based on age and appearance, thinking that one of the better-looking and older ones will be the king, but God tells him not to judge based on outward features, but based on a person’s heart. God reveals that none of these men are to be king, so finally the youngest David is brought in. God tells Samuel to anoint him, which he does, much to the shock of everyone around him.

It wasn’t until later that David would take on the challenge that he’s most known for: killing Goliath. First he entered Saul’s service as a lyre player after the man became possessed by a demonic spirit, which would cause him to be tormented. David would play for him since the sound was the only thing that could calm him when he went into a spell. It was said that Saul liked David so much that he made him one of his armor-bearers in his army. After this, the Philistines, more enemies of Israel and a people with giants in their ranks, gathered at Sokoh in Judah to attack. They were on one hill while the Israelites were on another with a valley separating them. An interesting fact was that in the past, there were people who were much taller than people can be today. Some standing at 9 or more feet tall with seemingly no physical or mental repercussions, as many of these people functioned well in armies. Since the Israelites refused to come fight, a man named Goliath, one of the giants, was a part of the Philistine army and came down to the valley to taunt the Israelites and demand that they send their bravest man to fight him, and whoever won would win the battle and the opposing side had to surrender. The Israelites were terrified, however, because of Goliath and so there was a stalemate for 40 days. This is where David comes in. He was sent by his father to deliver food to his older brothers in the army, and once he got to the camp, he heard Goliath shouting and immediately wanted to fight him. It was on sight.

David didn’t just want to kill him for the wealth and the princess in marriage Saul was offering to whoever did the deed, but to bring honor to Israel and to God. He exemplifies how someone should do things for the glory of God, not just for earthly rewards.

When David’s oldest brother Eliab heard that David would fight Goliath, he actually had the nerve to call David conceited and wicked, and that he only came to lean back with some popcorn and watch the slaughter. So you know what David did? Turned away and kept talking to other people like a champ.

David showed how a Godly person should keep a cool head and not retaliate when provoked, but go about their day.

Eventually, Saul heard what David was saying and sent for him. David was pumped and ready to go, but Saul tried to discourage him.

(Saul): “Listen young boy, this fella’s 10 feet tall and weighs half a ton. Your scrawny self boutta get squashed.”

(David): “Brotha, I’ve killed lions and bears with ma bare hands after they made the mistake of coming after ma sheep. I got this.” He goes on to say, “The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”

Then Saul finally lets him go. He tries to give David some of his armor and sword, but David says, “Nah, I’ll win,” and decides to take only five smooth stones and a slingshot with him to battle. Then we finally get to the battle where Goliath is like, “Really? This ‘lil fella? Do I look like a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And to quote David, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” Then David strikes Goliath in the forehead with a stone, and it sank into his forehead, clearly directed by the Lord, and he collapsed. Dead. David proceeded to cut off his head with his own sword after, like a boss. He then took his head and weapons and put them in David’s own tent once the Israelites were finished chasing the Philistines away and plundering them. In the end, David got honor and glory, wealth, and Saul’s daughter’s hand in marriage for his obedience.

David perfectly exemplified how it’s God who controls everything, including which battles are won or lost. We have free will, but the Lord controls all the outcomes of our decisions. When David aligned his will with God’s will to defeat Goliath, he succeeded, even though he only had an ineffective weapon.

The first part of David’s story shows how God’s will is absolute, and that our wills have to align with His in order to lead successful and full lives. When we act in God’s will, we can accomplish anything and will be richly rewarded. This part also teaches us to not judge a book by its cover and to turn the other cheek (Except when God gives you the go-ahead to enact judgment on someone, like in the case of the Amalekites and Goliath.)

I hope I communicated all this well and that you got a lot out of reading this! I’ve never done something like this before, but I enjoyed making this and want to make more, so if you liked this, let me know!

Footnotes:

The Amalekites lived in the Negev desert. The Hitites, Jebusites, and Amorites lived in the hill country, while the Cananites lived near the Mediterranean sea and along the Jordan river. The Philstines also lived along the Mediterranean. They were all enemies of Israel.

The Israelites had been enslaved in Egypt for 430 years. Then God sent several plagues on Egypt to convince them to let the Israelites go, which succeeded.

David was most likely a teenager at this point since he’s referred to as the youngest, but he’s old enough to fight off beasts when they attack his sheep. This source explains it best https://christianity.com/wiki/bible/how-old-was-david-when-he-killed-goliath.html

David had to be atleast 20 to join the army, so this took place a good while after he was first anointed to be king. And it doesn’t seem like Saul knew he was anointed since he never makes mention of it.

[smokeybrandreviews]

Get to the Choppa

While perusing the internet during the ridiculous amount of down time i have at my job, I came across this weird little meme. It had a side-by-side of Naru, the main character from the most recent film in The Predator franchise, and Billy Sole from the first. Both are Native individuals and the caption was one that said something to the effect of, “I’m supposed to believe this tiny woman can defeat a monster that this big, hulking, man couldn’t?” Yes. Yes you are. That’s the point of Prey. That is Naru’s entire arc. She CAN do that, she CAN defeat a Yautja, but no one believes in her until she does. Prey is an exceptional film but it’s not telling a new story. It's a “David versus Goliath” narrative. Finding victory on the mettle of your wits, not the power of your brawn. Strategy over physicality. Naru worked smarter, not harder. Billy died because he refused to do any of that. He stood his ground and met the Jungle Yautja as a warrior. He died as one, too. Naru met the Feral Yautja as a hunter, and won as one. Yes, she was smaller, weaker, and just generally less equipped to face a Yautja than literally any man in this film. However, it was her observation skills and execution were, head and shoulders, above every other character in this film. That's why she survived. That's why she took the Feral's head. That's why she was a hunter. Lost in this absolutely bad faith take, is the fact that Naru being tiny is irrelevant. Everyone is tiny compared to a Yautja. Not one of these person who has ever faced down a Yautja, has done so in an equal match of skill. Except, maybe, Machiko Noguchi. Maybe.

I'd have to read those comics again but, if Machiko did win, I'm sure it's after time spent with them. When they first showed up on Ryushi, i'm pretty certain she was in the same situation as Naru. In fact, I know she was. Machiko is technically smaller than Naru so, you know, there's that, too. What I mean is, Yautjas are straight up, physical specimens. They are, for lack of a better term, superhuman. That's the point. In the first film, the Jungle Yautja manhandled all of that Eighties beefsteak testosterone, like they were nothing. In the face of such overwhelming force, Dutch was no different than Naru and, like Naru, had to resort to pure technique, observation, and execution, to defeat the Jungle Yautja. Dutch became the Hunter, just like Naru, just like Machiko, just like Harrigan. I mean, Harrigan literally defeated a Yautja in one-on-one combat, but that was after the thing was absolutely crippled. Even then, Harrigan won that fight based on his execution and observation throughout their many encounters leading up leading up to the climactic scrap, not because he was this super masculine, overpowering, force. The City Yautja was cooked by the time the two of them clashed in it's ship. One arm. Bullet riddled. The thing had fallen through a building or two. Bro had to have been exhausted. Harrigan wore City down, like you do a massive elk, and landed the killing blow only after barely ducking several hurled his way by his mark. Harrigan has more in common with Naru in terms of physicality and he's basically the only one who of this lot who went toe-to-toe with a Yautja and survived.

I said all of that to say this: it's staggering to me how media illiterate a certain portion of the public at large, is. Prey is not some Rubik's cube of a narrative to be unlocked. It's rather straight forward in how it tells it's story, one it tells very well, but people focus on the dumbest things in order to be outraged. Like, Naru defeating Feral is no different that Ripley defeating that first Xeno or Sarah pancaking that first T-800. It's the sane f*cking thing and yet, Naru's hero tale is somehow, unbelievable? It's somehow far fetched? We've been telling this same story for millennia, just swapping out the characters, but this is the one that's hard to believe? That sh*t is ridiculous. I understand that it's all just culture war bullsh*t, spouted by mostly conservative Betas that are afraid of the feminine, but that messaging is just absolutely destroying art. It's ruining storytelling and I hate it. The point of Prey, the point of every Predator film if you're being honest, IS the fact that these alien creatures are an overwhelming force and we, poor humans, overcome to triumph. That's the point of the franchise. That's the point of these narratives. That sh*t goes back to the myths we used to tell ourselves about what hides in the shadows. It's a fundamental aspect of the human experience and, in this, the year of our lord 2023, I have a bunch of soft ass, keyboard misogynists, making sh*tty memes about how it's so unbelievable a small woman can find her way to that victory. It takes them out of the story and relegates Naru's adventure to the bin. Bro, just admit you hate vaginas and move on. Check your weird gynophobia at the door because Naru is dope. Prey is dope. Her story is one of the best to be told in the entire franchise. Whether you like it or not, whether you want to believe it or not, Naru Dutch'd Feral long before Dutch Naru'd Jungle.

[scottdclary]

The Underdog Advantage

Hi All,

Here’s my daily newsletter navigating the crossroads of business, growth, and life.

If you love this content (please share it), but also…

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Remember David and Goliath? Little guy faces a giant. The odds? Impossibly stacked against David.

Yet, he won. How?

He wasn't weighed down by heavy armor. He wasn't restricted by traditional techniques. He just had a sling, a stone, and a mindset to match.

Being the underdog is not a setback; it's a setup for a major comeback.

Every smirk thrown your way, every dismissive comment, every "that won't work"... It's free ammunition.

Write it down. Each and every reason they list for why you'll fail.

Don't get bitter. Get specific.

Tesla was the underdog in the auto industry. They were laughed at. Until they redefined what a car could be.

Netflix was merely a DVD rental service. Then they decimated Blockbuster and reimagined entertainment.

Underdogs come with fresh perspectives. Without legacy baggage. They see gaps where others see continuity.

Each doubt thrown your way is a clue. A hidden message telling you exactly where the status quo is weak.

"You're too inexperienced." Perfect. No bad habits to unlearn.

"You don't have the resources." Great. Necessity breeds innovation.

"No one's done it that way before." Fantastic. That's precisely why it might work now.

But here's the catch.

To make those doubts your roadmap, the mindset is key.

Change doesn't come from staying comfortable. Every level of success you aspire to demands a new level of thinking.

Are you willing to grow?

Einstein remarked, "The one who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The one who walks alone is likely to find themselves in places no one has ever been before."

Being an underdog means you're already outside the crowd. You're primed for paths untraveled.

So, next time you're dubbed the underdog, remember:

Your trajectory isn't defined by where you start, but the mindset with which you journey.

Don't just shock them. Awe them. Then, while they're still reeling, help them see the world through your fresh lens.

[arielsojourner]

No but imagine it. Like I mean really. It would be so fucked up.

The US Olympic Commitee, due to corruption or insanity, proposed Gotham and by some fluke, it won the bid.

Clark Kent and Lois Lane literally starts an investigation to try and uncover how the fuck Gotham could have won. With a little detective help (Thank you Batfam) their 7 piece expose article wins them a Pulitzer and there are huge IOC and even FIFA reforms. But the Games still happen much to the despair of many.

Some idiot decided to build the Olympic Village practically on top of Crime Alley (because land is so cheap) so Red Hood's gang has to protect the athletes and coaches who don't have a fucking clue. Well, some of them from some countries know how to behave but not all of them! (Plus once the Games are over Red Hood can take the village over and offer free housing to those in need.)

The US sends in some hot shot movie producer to develop and direct the Opening Ceremony highlighting the city and its history. He quits after a week of hazing from every costumed villain not currently in Arkham and the vitriol of the locals. The guy they bring in to replace him wants to use Amusement Mile as a "fun" backdrop. He doesn't last 24 hours before he "mysteriously" vanishes. It remains an unsolved case. (Oracle refuses to help Batman figure it out). After that the Gotham U drama department takes over. When the Opening Ceremony airs ... well... the commentators really have no idea what to even say, other than it is reminiscent of Tim Burton's earlier works. That and Edgar Allan Poe mixed with Mary Shelley's works.

Dick briefly wishes he could compete in gymnastics but that would be too telling. He does go to as many events as he can. His part time gymnastics coach job goes full time soon after, thanks to an uptick in new students and WE money towards youth sports initiatives.

Tim however gets to compete as a skateboarder which the board of directors at WE has no idea what to do about until Tim medals and then they really don't know what to do about it. Their CEO is 17 and went straight from a meeting to compete, win gold, put back on his tie and suit jacket and go back to work. The rest of the Batfam didn’t even know he was in the Olympics until they saw the news coverage of his medal ceremony.

They are even more surprised when they discover Barbara is competing in the ParaOlympics. Commissioner Gordon is so proud.

The mascot of the Games was jokingly going to be a bat but the city voted and it's an adorable baby bird in classic Robin colors. Dick has got a dozen of them. The other Robins deny it but they all bought ones too.

Lots of big celebrities come into town to see and be seen. They are not welcome amoung Gotham's Old Money or even Gotham's Newer Money. They attend a few galas (invited as a novelty) but they have no idea how to behave when Two Face takes them hostage. So much unnecessary screaming. Gothamites as Alfred is fond of pointing out, are a breed of their own.

Damian volunteers his own barn to stable the dressage horses. Goliath and Batcow won't mind! Bruce must firmly retract the offer for security reasons. Still, Damian insists on seeing the equestrian events and protests until he is allowed to gift all winning horses with medals. He then asks for a horse of his own. Bruce says no. Talia then has a horse delivered. Alfred arranges lessons for Damian.

Poison Ivy uses the Games as an excuse to hold the city hostage until something is done to stop during in the Gotham Harbor. Bruce and Tim in turn use it as an excuse to leverage the rich into backing environmental clean up.

Cass performs as a solo dancer as part of the Closing Ceremony.

Bruce gets to be part of the Olympic torch procession once the flame enters the city. He doesn't get to enjoy much more than that because it is weeks of hell keeping all the Rogues quiet.

Killer Croc tries to go after the triathlon athletes in the water but is stopped.

Catwoman keeps trying to steal the medals just for kicks. Oracle and the Birds of Prey have to set up round the clock security. Batman is too easily distracted to be much help.

Riddler keeps trying to sabotage different events because he mistakenly thinks all Olympians are jocks. Steph and Tim have to thwart him and talk him down while diffusing bombs. Harley even lends a hand so Ed can work through some high school trauma.

Bane just wants to watch weightlifting and wrestling in peace but Batman feared the worst when he heard he was in town.

Scarecrow tries to taint the athletes food and water to study performance anxiety in real time.

Penguin just sticks to gambling but Nightwing has to work extra hard keeping people out of the Iceberg Lounge (no, it is not a cool nightclub.)

Mr. Freeze tries to turn the Summer Games into the Winter Games. He thought it would be funny.

The less said about Joker's not funny attempt at mass murder the better, though the media just thought it was some weirdly intense pyrotechnics display. Gordon is so relieved at non-Gotham naivete. The Mayor would have his hide if the Games were ruined.

No one really gets any sleep for weeks. The rest of the world has no idea what to make of perpetually gloomy Gotham.

So really. Not every city can or should host the Game. The lesson? Do NOT host the Games in Gotham. Just don't.

Imagine if they hosted the Olympics in Gotham though would that be fucked up or what

[beloved-31-proverbs-women]

🔥🛡️ Keeping Going Woman of God 🛡️

I’m sorry that life is so hard. I’m sorry that you feel broken and rundown. I can’t imagine how you must feel with all that your heart is facing, but I thank God that He knows it all and answers when we call on His name.

I do know that you were created by a God that has already won every battle you will face. So even as you stand in this moment with tears and worry pouring from your heart, take a moment to remember that He goes before you. You are never alone, and you are deeply loved by the One who created you.

I know that the battles seem to be relentless, and the feeling of loss can be paralyzing, but when you walk with Christ, you can never be broken, for He is your portion, and you are more than a conqueror!

Yes, you may be wounded in this moment, but you are never beyond repair, for the Great I Am knows you by name, and with Him, you cannot and will not fail.

You will continue to walk out of the lion dens unharmed! You will continue to defeat the Goliath’s in your life! You will continue to be blessed even in and through the mess, and most of all- you will continue to be HIS!

There is a purpose in the pain. I know you may not feel it right now, but I pray you believe it, and I pray that every scar etched into your heart and flesh serves as a reminder of what you’ve survived; with faith to believe you will get through once again.

[lifetip901]

The eternal Lord Semmy Schilt k1

The eternal Lord Semmy Schilt k1

A total martial arts, Kakbok, Kakbok, Ketchy.

It was born in Netherlands. When I was young, I was trained to train the first time, and then participated in Daedo, and then participate in Daedo, and then win the first time.

The characteristic is a fighter named 212 cm, 224 cm, and 224cm. Most of them have a lot of energy consumption, because of energy consumption is weak than ordinary people, and weight is weak, and the size of the size of the size. In addition, these are usually played in sports such as basketball, so many other events such as basketball. Heo Na was a fighter who was completely out of this problem. The basic body itself was very good for life, and there was no physical problems, and there was no one-way in the mouth. Therefore, it was possible to stabilize the game operational operational operations and basic equipment. In other words, it is virtually impossible for the opponent's position, but there is no weaknesses or strategies, but there are no way to target the opponent's game operations.

However, it is also notorious for the reason for this reason. The four-out victory itself is very high, but most patterns are structured, but most patterns are not fun to see that it is not fun to watch it as well as well as they are officially not interested. Shel's star can be seen as a style, but it can be seen as much as much as possible, and the opponent's best to be able to lead to a great role in the distance, as possible. Even before the revision of the rules, even though it was superior to MMA JMA JMA JMA jjigae, it was waiting for infinite Niki. Above all, there were many cases of this-sided public tax system, and the relatively large amount of increase in this position, and it was difficult to increase in this position. The attack pattern was colorful and the KO rate was high, but it was hard to say that it was a fun game. In the end, at the end of the K-1, the presence of a champion that was too strong caused the group's own success to fall. In the early days of becoming a champion, there were some respectful cheers for the champion, but at some point, the audience showed no reaction except when they were hit.

He is the one who imprinted Samishl's law on the world's martial arts world, and that is, martial arts are doomed if it is not fun. Fighting enthusiasts often hate box office matches or fighters who provoke opponents, and because of that, Sammy Schult was the perfect ideal fighter for them. Choi Hong-man vs. Bob Saebop match, which people criticized as a circus match, was the most ideal for martial arts, such as a silent "I'll do my best" short-answer interview without provoking others and a perfect karate basic skill. Even in the article about retirement, there were no clicks and comments, showing that Muffle is scarier than malicious comments.

The reason why the Samishult game is not fun is that it has become a stereotyped and obvious game in which small fighters are always struggling with short arms and legs and are intercepted. The global box office element is David VS Goliath, where David should be the main character. Hyodor gained popularity because he met the vicarious satisfaction of beating large fighters with his small physique. But Sammy Schult is Goliath who beats David. The scripted professional wrestling's box office structure shows a powerful Goliath, slaughtering Western wrestlers, and a "Justice Wrestler" appears, punishing Goliath (Hulk Hogan's body slam to Andre the Giant) and fans cheer, which Goliath would have won David and Goliath's fight, so no one would have been interested in. Recall how enthusiastic the crowd was when Peter Arts, the "old fighting spirit," kept pushing Sammy Schult with a strategy of losing weight and taking bones when he faced Sammy Schult.

Of course, David's beating Goliath is bound to be fun in terms of the game. Think of Mike Tyson. You have to penetrate the opponent's long reach, and if you look at Tyson, you feel a thrill as he penetrates the opponent's dog attack with a lightning speed, and the scene where the big opponent falls like an old tree with a powerful shot is quite spectacular. On the other hand, the big opponent has no reason to dig into the small opponent, so they keep a long reach from afar and pursue stable games, but in general games, the gap between the two players is not that wide, and Samishult is too big to be fun because the opponent is intercepted from afar. In his prime, when a full-fledged fight began after a lull in the early stages of the game, he often drove his opponent to the end of the ring corner with only one side and KOed his opponent who lost his mind from repeated attacks. For the audience, the game ended after watching the same technique from the beginning. I'm bored

The disadvantage is that it is quite vulnerable to opponents who break through the punch distance and fly a punch battle, which also contributes to Schult's relatively strong facial mill. In the past, "Red Scorpion" Alexei Ignatsov suffered a KO defeat, and K-1 hero Peter Arts frequently broke Schult's distance and won by decision through Game 5 against Schult, suggesting some ways to attack. He also struggles unexpectedly with players with similar or large height differences, such as being downed by the same giant, Jan the Giant Nokia, or being punched in the face by Choi Hong-man and showing his back. Bada Hari completely targeted the robot by destroying Schult literally. It was a KO victory in the first round. an inexcusable defeat From the start, he was hit by a punch offensive that was driven without any gaps.

However, it is not easy to know the weak point because the punch power is so strong that even opponents who can attack this weak point often collapse in vain. Hari's tactics were the same as in the first game, but even Hari fell on his knees in vain as he was intercepted by a long-distance jab (…). In fact, it is safe to say that there is no player who has clearly targeted Schultz's style except for Arts, but even Arts couldn't do anything in the first game and was KOed by a jab. In addition, the trap is that there was no defeat after Game 5 against Atsu. As he entered his later years, his facial defense skills increased, making Schult more difficult.

It is often compared to Choi Hong-man, both giants, but their styles are completely opposite. While Semi-Schult maintains distance and accumulates damage, Choi Hong-man actively enters and throws a big swing. In fact, the two met at the K-1 Korean Grand Prix, and some people secretly expected Choi Hong-man to break up and make Kang-jung with superior skills, but when the game began, they continued to allow Choi Hong-man's punch from the beginning. In the previous giant match against the 211cm-tall Montana Silva, the same method did not work for Choi Hong-man, who had been training for several years, unlike Montana, who controlled the distance well and ended the game with a low kick, but was even bigger, stronger, and didn't fight professionally. It was originally optimized for smaller opponents than him, so he was very embarrassed against the bigger Choi Hong-man, and it turned out that his face guard was vulnerable, perhaps because it was very rare for him to be punched in his face due to his height. After humiliating almost to the end of the second round, Choi Hong-man changed his style completely, continued to check with kicks, and added more hits, but Choi Hong-man won the decision to see if the background of Korea worked or if it was due to his performance until the second round.

He also appeared as a villain in "Transporter 3." When he knocked down all the pawns, he appeared alone, laughing, "Are you the smartest?" Jason Stadem's line was all he had to say, "No, I'm the biggest." He put on a huge amount of strength and strength, but he couldn't do much in front of the main character Buff.

[sailor-peeking]

A Mini D&D Guide For Eddie Munson Fans! (Aka how to do the d&d thing)

So you found yourself writing a character who's playing D&D and you've never played a session in your entire life.

Here are the basics as told by a me! (A DM🤘)

[other players feel free to add stuff I may have left out in the comments PLEASE!]

First! A campaign is a complete story told together as a group. However, every time you play is not it's own campaign. If your story takes up multiple games to complete those individual games are called sessions!

I personally as a DM find it best when my characters have notebooks for longer campaigns to take notes.

Let's start with the positions! The hard part.

There are two main positions you can be you can be the dungeon master (DM for short) or you can be a player.

The dungeon master: is kind of like a guide! They're there to assist the players in telling a full story. The dungeon master is not the players enemy. If the players die the DM does not win. The two positions are friends in the endeavor. Dungeon master usually have multiple characters to play these are called NPCS aka not player characters (very similar to video games. Think the villagers from Minecraft) these are there to help your player characters along OR be there for you or enemy. Note: your villain is an NPC. But that still doesn't make your DM your enemy.

The second position is

Your Players: these is everyone else in the group! Your player will have classes and levels and races. PAUSE.

"But sailor if they're people of course they have races!" Yes they do have that but a race is considered your species [for example : elf, half elves, gnome, dwarf, Goliath, and half orc] each race has their own stats I won't get into those here because there were too many to cover but you can do research on your own a good resource if you're just beginning is the website D&D beyond!

Your class is another important part of your character that decides what you can do there are magic classes and non magical ones and it's good to have a wide variety in your group. [For example the hellfire club has: a Bard (Dustin) who are very persuasive and usually kind of fun and energetic music tends to play a big part of them as a character, a paladin (Mike) like a knight in shining armor they're kind of like you're really cool police friend, your ranger (Lucas) warriors of nature! And several more! Barbarian, cleric, mage, rogue, etc.

Now that you've done all of that reading! (Good job kiddo!) Here's the easy part dice. For the sake of simplicity we will be using 5e rule (5th edition) instead of the historically correct 1e rules because stranger things doesn't use those rules.

You have several dice in a set

D20 - helps you determine if you can perform a task that you would like! The bigger the number the higher your success the lower the number the more likely you fail. If you get it 20 you automatically succeed. If you get a one you automatically fail. In your stats you will get modifiers here's where you do a little math and add up when you roll.

Your other dice- can be used for damage! Usually a specific attack or spell that does damage will have you roll a certain die. (Usually, a D4, D6, or D10 or sometimes several for bigger attacks)

D2???- And of course to help you make decisions there is your two-sided die aka a COIN! Some die come with a cute coin piece that goes with the set but I personally have a trusty quarter.

Together as characters with the help of your DM and dice you will go on adventures and face encounters.

An encounter: are simply just fights and battles that you may face! To get out of them you must fight or use your magic abilities to take over an enemy. Or maybe even persuade them to your side.

So you've face every encounter your DM has thrown your way and faced off the big bad guy!

Congrat! you've come to the end of your campaign and feels like you've won. In a way you kind of have! But just because you 'win' doesn't mean that your DM has lost you have won as a group in telling a story. You have successfully done... "the D&D thing!!!"

[childofchrist1983]

Everyone likes a good underdog story. One of the most often related underdog stories is the story of David and Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17.

David was the most unlikely of heroes. Puny, small, and young, God chose him to defeat a giant - A seasoned, battle-scarred warrior. It appeared that David didn't stand a chance and the Israelites would be defeated. Then along comes little David, who, unbeknownst to the crowd, had already been marked as God's anointed. Most Christians know rest of the story: David defeats the giant, Goliath, with a smooth stone and a shepherd's slingshot. Then he uses the giant's sword to cut off his head. Subsequently, David marries the king's daughter and later becomes king himself.

On the surface, David seemed like a very foolish choice. But God uses the foolish things to confound the wise and the weak things of the world to shame the strong. David won because he honored God. He wasn't arrogant and boastful; he just had faith that God would give him the victory. God can use a humble heart. An underdog who has been counted out by the world is God's favorite vessel, because only by using the foolish and the weak can God's glory shine.

People will never be able to say that David killed Goliath under his own power, because David, by himself, just didn't have what it takes. Through God, however, he had more than enough. Keep the faith and keep moving forward in your faith with Jesus! May the LORD our God help us to remember that He is always there ready to give us all that we need to come to Him and spread His Gospel message of Truth and salvation to others. May we never forget to thank Him for this and everything He does and has done for us! May we never forget who He is, nor forget who we are in Christ and that God is always with us! What a wonderful Lord, God, Savior and King we have in Jesus Christ! What a loving Father we have found in the Almighty God! What a wonderful God we serve! His will be done!

Thanks and glory be to God! Blessed be the name of the LORD! Hallelujah and Amen!

Father God Almighty, Lord Jesus, I love that You use the foolish thing to confound the wise and the weak things to shame the strong. That means that there is hope for me.

I am both foolish and weak at times, so You might use me for Your glory. Help me to ready when the time comes for me to slay the giant. Be with me and allow Your power and glory to be revealed in me. And we know that no one on this Earth compares to You. You alone are worthy of worship! You alone are worthy of all praise and honor and glory!

You are sovereign and in control. As we go through our days, give us eyes to see those who need Your love today. Help us to help those who are suffering and forgotten. Let us be Your hands and feet as we go to them, O Lord, and help us to speak Your Word of Truth to them to bring them peace and comfort all through the guidance of Your Holy Spirit. And, Abba Father, forgive us for the times we have had evil thoughts against anyone else. We know we are all Your wonderful creation and we are precious to You, so remind us to treat others as You would treat them. Fill us with fear and wonder when we seek Your face. Draw us into Your Holy Word where we can read about Your awe-inspiring power and nature. Guide us with the love that You have for us. Help us to do Your will in all things. Help us to all be one in You daily. Help us so we may us remember all You've done and still do for us and take joy in the blessings and life You have given us.

May we seek You and Your Holy Word as well as the peace and all the fruits of the Holy Spirit today and everyday. Help us to walk in a way that is worthy of this calling You have guided us to. Help us to live this new life walking in Your ways and will and giving You praise for making it possible. Help us to value the true and eternal riches more highly than the passing and deceitful riches of Earth. Help me to walk in Your Holy Spirit, to seek You and Your will. Help our thoughts to turn to You in the little pauses and intermediate moments of this day and everyday. Help us live each day to glorify You so that when You return, we are ready. I cannot wait for Your return! Come soon, Lord Jesus!

May we worship You all our days, O Lord. May our lives show the world Your light and Truth and that You are a loving God and Heavenly Father who delights in showing love and mercy. May we all be humbly and faithfully honored and excited to worship, glorify and serve You daily and to do Your will. You have been so good to us, far more than we as wretched sinners deserve. You are so good! So wonderful! Forever and always!

Thank you, O Lord, for all Your creation and Your miraculous ways. Thank you for seeing us as worth the sacrifice. Thank you for sustaining us, loving us and defining us according to Your will and love for us. Thank you for making sure we are taken care of. Thank you for being the best friend we could ever have! Thank you for Your endless mercy and love that has saved us. Thank you for always protecting us and providing for us and for Your Spirit to help us when we are in need. Thank you for giving us a chance to be saved from our sin and spend eternity with You. Thank you for adopting us as part of Your family in Heaven and making us one of Your own. Thank you for being our present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). Thank you for always being near and for loving us. Thank you for giving us a reason to love others and so many more reasons to love, praise, serve and follow You. Thank you for Your selfless and sinless sacrifice. Thank you for Your guidance and protection. Thank you for Your Truth and light. Thank you for Your wisdom and strength and grace. Thank you for giving life to the world and to us. You give and take away – And we thank you for it. Thank you for everything! Your will be done! Blessed be Your mighty name! To You and Your Kingdom be the glory forevermore! In Your name I humbly pray, Amen and amen

[tigerseye46]

A Hero Is Born (Red Shark/Sand Au)

Summary: After being dismissed by Guanyin after centuries under their teaching, Red arrived at the city to live a normal life, hiding his identity and powers. He has spent four years in the city and works at Culinary Cicada, content with how he is now. He didn’t expect his life to change one day.

A/N: Finally got this done. There are going to be rarepairs but aren’t the main focus for this chapter so I didn’t tag it. Sun Wukong’s alias is Sun Hàoyú 昊瑜 meaning “vast and limitless excellence.” Zhu Bajie’s alias is Zhu Xiùliàng 秀亮 meaning “refined light.” Sorry if these aren’t good aliases. I know Sha Wujing’s staff can’t control water, but in this au, it can. He learned how to do that after the journey. Also I want to say thank you all my anons and others who put in ideas for this au! It made it really fun! Anyway enjoy!

AO3 Link

Red would admit he didn’t care much for the legends as other people did. He had been a small part of those legends so they weren’t extraordinary to him (not that he had revealed that information to anyone). 

But Mr. Sun and Tang always loved to talk about them, especially the latter, so he listened to the elders. Today was one of those days. A special day that would change his life forever. 

“The thing you need to understand, bud, is that the old legends are never finished. While there may be no pages left to turn, there is always more. Years ago, the Spider Queen and her army attacked. No one could stop them, no one except… Sha Wujing. Using his crescent moon spade, he trapped the Spider Queen under a mountain. He made it so no one else could wield it and he trapped her forever.”

“With the battle won, Sha Wujing… disappeared and was never seen again. It is said that the spade remains there, preventing our world from being destroyed. Because of him, civilization was able to prosper into the awesome world we see today. All thanks to Sha Wujing!”

Red hummed as he leaned against the counter. “That’s cool I guess.”

Mr. Sun scoffed. “Just cool? You know how many people would love that story?”

“I’m just not that impressed by it.”

“How dare you. You always react to the stories that way. Thought that one would bring more excitement.”

“Well, I’m not your audience. You’re not putting on a play for me.”

“At least you listen anyway.”

“That I do. I do think Sha Wujing is more impressive than say the Sun Wukong or Zhu Bajie.” At least he didn’t attack him as much as the others.

Sun appeared as if he was offended by the statement. “He is impressive… I like the Monkey King better,” he muttered. “Anyway, you know the deal. One peach soup.”

“Yea, yea. You got it.” He attempted to pass the bowl but it was quickly taken away by Tang.

“Not so fast. You left out so many details, Hàoyú. No extensive details of how he defeated the Spider Queen? He’s a hero! He deserves a better explanation than that.”

With an eye roll, Hàoyú responded, “Whatever.” He made grabby hands at the bowl. “Can I have my soup now?”

“No. You’re a scholar, tell the story accurately or I might go to your rival.” Sun huffed at the mention. “I could do better, better than those stupid depictions of Sha Wujing, no one can really capture his handsomeness, huh?” He cleared his throat, the small blush on his cheeks fading away. “Anyway, Red, you have orders to take out. Get to it!”

“I was about to take my break.”

“Break? You've been taking a break all morning. How is Culinary Cicada supposed to flourish if you’re slacking off?”

He began pushing Red, rumpling the other’s lotus print shirt. He shoved takeout bags in his hands then sent him out. The human heard a slurp behind him. He spun around to see Sun had stolen the soup back. Furrowing his brows, he suggested, “How about you tell an actually good and detailed story about Sha Wujing and you keep the bowl?”

“You just love hearing about your crush. Alright, it’s a deal.”

————

Red entered an abandoned construction site, whistling a tune under their breath and focusing on their phone. He paused when he heard a voice. “It’s amazing that you’ve finally done it! Are you ready, you two?”

A nasally voice replied, “For the last time, Goliath, we’re almost done.”

“Sorry, Syntax! I’m just so excited!”

“You can’t blame uncle Goliath’s excitement, dad.”

“Hmph. Well, try to hold it in for a bit longer.”

The demon hid behind some rocks. He spotted three spiders and a human surrounding a mountain.

One spider towered over the group, he fiddled with his fingers nervously, indicating that despite being the giant, he was probably the most gentle one out there.

Another had his hands behind his back, tapping his feet impatiently.

The third was tinkering with an invention, a device strapped to his back. The human was beside the third, he had a purple bandanna with two green marks, almost like eyes, wrapped around his forehead and a black coat with white fur.

“Because of you two, we can lift Sha Wujing’s spade!”

Red moved higher up and looked at the glowing object. The duck beside him quacked out of surprise. What was a duck doing here? Whatever. It wasn’t important.

“Sha Wujing’s spade,” he whispered.

“The spider clan will be restored!” Goliath’s shoulders briefly bounced up in surprise. “Huh?”

Huntsman was on top of the mountain and started reaching for the weapon. “Huntsman,” Syntax yelled. “Don’t do that!”

“Whatever, nerd.” He gripped it and instantly got zapped by it which sent him crashing into a wall.

Syntax stood over him. “Idiot. This is the hundredth time you’ve tried this. You think you would have learned your lesson by now. We’ve clarified that he made it so only someone worthy would wield it.”

“Which is why we have this.” The human gestured to the power glove. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.”

“Hmph, brat.”

“Go ahead, Xiaotian.” Syntax pulled Huntsman up, their cheeks becoming green for the slightest second before they focused on the kid.

Xiaotian strolled up to the weapon and pulled on it with the glove. Sparks danced until he was able to rip it off. He held it high in the air and shouted in triumph, “Look at what I did!” Goliath and Syntax applauded him while Huntsman huffed.

“I could have done it,” he mumbled.

Xiaotian went back up to his family with a smile and waited a second before asking, “Wait, why isn’t anything happening? Are you three sure this is the right mountain?”

Syntax scoffed. “No, Xiaotian, I think it’s the other one.”

The mountain rumbled and cracked in the center. The Spider Queen destroyed it and crawled out with a cackle. “I’ve returned! The queen is back!”

Red’s eyes widened. Oh no. The queen was free. What should he do?

The duck pecked his hands as he was pondering. “Hey!” He attempted to shoo the duck away. “Shoo! It’s rude to peck at people’s hands!”

The four bowed to her with heads hung low, the human placed the crescent moon spade aside. “My queen,” Huntsman started. “We’re glad to have you free.”

“My clan,” she cried. “Wait, where are the rest of you?”

“I’m sorry. We’re some of the few spiders left.”

The Queen’s fist clenched, her happy tone at being freed slipped away. “I see. It’s all Sha Wujing’s fault. Now introductions are in order for the new members.”

“Well, there’s me, Huntsman. Then there’s Goliath and…”

“I can introduce myself, brute. I’m Syntax, my lady, and this is my son, Qi Xiaotian.”

If Red wasn’t so focused on the situation, he would have thought, Son? Those two look nothing alike.

“Son?” Her majesty questioned.

“Yes, he is my biological son. I wasn’t born a spider but I would say those details are for another time.”

“Alright. How did you all manage to free me?”

The human stepped forward with a spring in his step. “I did it, my queen! I managed to harness its power to make it our-” Her majesty loomed with a glare. Xiaotian nervously chuckled. “Our power,” he finished.

With a scoff, the queen congratulated him reluctantly, “Good job… for a human.”

Ignoring the human comment, he beamed. “Thank you! Now, we, the Spider clan, can rule the world!”

The duck continued to peck at the demon. The demon flapped a hand to get rid of the sting while the bird focused on the other one and made him fall right onto Qi Xiaotian.

Red held up the bag of food. “Hey… did someone order food?”

Huntsman and Syntax stared at Goliath. “What? I didn’t order anything.”

Xiaotian shoved him. “Get off me, dumbass! You ruined my moment!”

Spider Queen focused on the intruder. “Well, well, we’ll, an eavesdropper has fallen into our midst. It’s a shame to crush such a tiny, insignificant thing like you as my first act but, oh, what can you do?” She was about to crush them when she was interrupted.

“Wait, my queen.”

Ugh, the human. She rubbed her face. “Yes?”

“You don’t have to waste your energy. I’ll handle it! Allow me to prove myself!”

“Fine. Go ahead.”

Red muttered, “Maybe I can go now.”

“You’re fortunate, grocery boy. It’s not every day someone is crushed by the Spider Clan! You should consider yourself-”

The demon’s ears picked up a sound, his gaze drifted to the staff. “Sha Wujing’s staff,” a voice whispered.

Xiaotian growled, “You’re not listening! I, Qi Xiaotian, will not be disrespected! You’re toast!”

The human attempted to punch him with the glove but he blocked it… blocked it with the crescent moon staff. Fuck. “How did you?”

How did he? He could have used his fire to block it. Why didn’t he? Well, his identity was a secret and he barely used his fire since he became Guanyin’s disciple so that was understandable. But to grab the staff, what was he thinking?

“That’s scientifically impossible,” Syntax said.

“I don’t understand what’s happening but I don’t care. That’s ours!”

“I was supposed to be on my break! Dang it, Mr. Tang!” The weapon activated and whacked the human and the spiders (save the queen) away.

“This can’t be,” her majesty muttered in disbelief.

“That was not what I expected.”

Huntsman hissed, “That doesn’t belong to you. Give it to us!”

“Ummmm… no?” Then suddenly he was launched into the air by the weapon. “AHHHHHH!”

“He can’t leave with the damn thing!”

“I was trapped under a mountain and suddenly, a thief takes it!”

Xiaotian bowed. “Allow me, your majesty. I won’t fail again.”

“Fine! Go!”

The human grabbed his technological staff and made off in his motorcycle to give chase.

-------

Red took in deep breaths to calm himself down as he landed on the ground. Xiaojiao snapped a picture of herself with her sword and motorcycle outfit. During the picture, she used her magic to create sparkles. “Nailed it!” She pocketed her phone and put the sword away.

“Xiaojiao!”

“That was a cool game of tag! You looked like you were having fun! I wanted to join in too!”

“I almost died.”

“But you didn’t! We should go to the arcade! Invite your new friend!”

“He was trying to kill me.”

Her face turned dark. “Where does he live? I’ll handle him.”

“Red Son! Where are you?” Tang stormed up to them. He showed his phone to reveal a zero-star rating. “I got a zero-star rating because of you. Would you like to explain yourself?”

“I think what happened is-”

Xiaojiao giggled. “Congrats, Tang! It’s better than nothing!”

“No, it isn’t! You know you would be in trouble if this happened to my magic shop, missy. Now, Red, you’re-” Tang searched around. “Where did he go?”

Red slipped past him. “Mr. Sun!”

“Hey! Come back here!”

Ignoring him, the demon ran into the shop. “Mr. Sun!”

Hàoyú was in the middle of his bowl. “Yea?”

“So, remember the story you told me this morning? About the Spider Queen?”

Tang and Mei followed him. “Red, we weren’t done talking.”

“Yea, that’s great, Mr. Tang.”

Sun sipped his soup, completely disinterested. “Yea? What about her?”

Red got close to his face. “She’s back! Sha Wujing’s staff was removed! We have to find him! He has to save-”

Sun pushed him back and held his bowl protectively. “You’re getting spit in my soup. Calm down. Who knew that would be the story you get wrapped up in? Relax, it’s just a story.”

“It’s not just a story.” He showed the spade. Hàoyú pursed his lips, contemplating the possibility or holding back from saying something snarky, Red wasn’t sure.

“Wow, Red, you found a stick!”

“No! It belongs to Sha Wujing!” The three burst into laughter. Red growled, his fists briefly flamed but no one noticed except him. “Listen to me! The Spider Queen is out there. I’ll prove this belongs to Sha Wujing.”

Sun raised a brow. “Okay. How?”

“Ummm…” The spade wobbled, it grew then stabbed part of the wall, causing a crack before shortening.

Sun gasped and he was about to get a closer look when Tang pushed him away. Tang grabbed the arm holding the spade and hoisted it up towards the sky. His eyes twinkled. “Sha Wujing’s spade! I knew it! His awesome weapon that he used to seal evil! Wait… why do you have it? And where is the queen now?”

“She’s at a fashion store,” Mei responded.

“What?!”

“I hope this isn’t one of your puppy videos, young lady.”

“There’s always time for a puppy video, Tangy, but no. Look at what’s trending. Hashtag Spider Queen!” She showed a video of the Spider Queen robbing a fashion store with Qi Xiaotian. The queen used some device to absorb a one-of-a-kind item.

Tang panicked when the video ended. “Okay! We have to do something! Get in the truck!” He shoved them in the truck while they shouted out of surprise.

The group yelped as Tang drove like a madman through the streets. They were squished in the car, Red rasped out, “This is a little uncomfortable.”

“Tang! Can you slow down? You’re going to kill us,” Mr. Sun told him. He couldn’t die but he knew it would be unfortunate if the group got into a crash.

“Yea. We need to get to Sha Wujing without getting injured in a crash.”

“Guys! The Spider Queen moved downtown! She’s destroying the mall!”

“We need to get to Sha Wujing fast. The only problem is we have no idea how to get there.”

“Ugh, you’re right. How do we get there? Do we just keep driving?” Tang asked in a frantic tone.

Mr. Sun replied, “Well, if you would have let me talk before you pushed us in here. I know someone who could get us there!”

“Really?”

“Yep! An old friend of mine. The greatest, excellent, glorious Zhu Xiùliàng. Now drive there, Tang!”

“Drive where?”

“Uhhhh… oh, yea, you need directions.”

-------

The group watched kids climb on the tall pig like a jungle gym while others were in the corner conversing or doing other activities. Wukong had a big grin on his face at the scene.

Xiùliàng chuckled and cautioned, “Careful, little ones.” He gently put them down, they frowned and he reassured them, “You can play later. Grandpa has to talk to these people first.” They reluctantly agreed and began breaking away to do their own things.

Sun blushed as the light hit Xiùliàng in a way that illuminated his beauty. Tang whispered to him with a smirk, “Oh, now I know why you brought us here.”

Xiaojiao teased, “Wow, Mr. Sun. We have to save the world and here you are trying to pick up a guy. I see you.” Sun shot them both a glare.

The pig didn’t hear them, he instead focused on beaming at the kids as they walked away. A hand was placed on his hips and he turned to the group with a “Sorry about that. That’s a lot to take in.”

“It most certainly is, old friend. I was hoping something like this wouldn’t happen,” he muttered.

“I was hopin’ that too,” Xiùliàng muttered back. A child with black hair tied up in braids and a blue headband with a flower ran up to the pig with a drawing in hand. “What is it, Yǎshuǐ?” He picked her up so she rested on her arm.

“I made you a drawing, grandpa!” She waved it in front of the pig’s face then looked towards the group. Her eyes briefly widened in surprise before she gave a wave. “Hi, yéyé!”

“Hi, hon,” he greeted.

“Oooo, yéyé. Didn’t know you had grandkids with him,” he teased. “Why didn’t you invite me to your wedding and why didn’t the paparazzi cover it?”

“Shut up, Tang. It’s for respect, you know that.”

“Mhmm…”

Red shook his head. “Disregarding Mr. Sun’s love life,” he murmured. “Mr. Zhu, we need your help to find Sha Wujing.”

Xiaojiao got on her knees, bringing her friend down with her and pleaded, “Yea, we could really use your help.”

Red sighed. “Please help us. The fate of the world is at stake.”

“Alright,” he answered. “Really?”

“Of course. Anything for Sun.” The two cheered. “I’ll just drop these kids off then we’ll go.”

“WOOOOO!”

------

Tang hummed as he walked along the path, trying to contain his excitement. “See, this isn’t that bad,” he said then a trap sprung out of nowhere. “Eep! Never mind! Stupid Sun, stupid Zhu, why did we let them stay behind?”

“Because you said they could.”

“Careful, Tangy. I wonder why Sha Wujing chose to live here.”

“I don’t know. Good thing it isn’t Sun Wukong’s home or we would have to go pass the Flaming Mountains. They actually had to borrow my m- Princess Iron Fan’s fan to-”

A cackle came out of nowhere. Syntax appeared. “If it isn’t you three.” Syntax used the glove to pound at the ground, sending it up.

“Hey! Be careful, kids!”

“I’ll be taking that spade.”

Red held the weapon up. “This is Sha Wujing’s. You are not taking it.”

“You’re just a bunch of broken metal, can’t even make anything useful.” “What? Oh, whatever.” He charged at the spider who caught the spade with glove.

He was launched and heard the distant cry of “RED” as he blacked out.

------

The demon woke up on Sha Wujing’s mountain. “I’m… I’m here?” He stood up and started walking. He spotted a house and peeked inside but found no one so he continued onwards. There was a handmade statue of Tripitaka and Sha Wujing. “Wow.”

The sound of a twig snapping caught his attention. He saw the very person he was looking for glancing at him with a frown. “Huh?” Then the figure ran off.

He followed quickly and reached a river, a single fish. “A fish?” The fish jumped out of the water, a blue light surrounded it. “Ack!” The older demon appeared. “Sha Wujing?”

“It’s been a long time, Red Son or should I say, Red Boy?”

“You know it’s me?”

“You literally just switched the Boy to Son. No shit. Surprise your little friends haven’t figured it out yet.”

“Yea, I haven’t told them yet.”

“I know. Anyway, where’s my spade?”

“Oh… ummm… I’m sorry! I lost it. I was trying to bring it to you and-”

Wujing laughed. “I know. I’ve been watching you.”

“What?” He flashed back to some of the animals he saw. “That was you?”

“Yep. I need something of you, kid. I need you to be my successor.”

“What? Are you sure? Has your brain short circuited?”

“No,” he replied annoyed. “My brain is fine. You’re going to be my successor. Look you came all this way and were fine.”

“Because I’m a demon!”

“Regardless of that, you still made your way here and you’re experienced in fighting. Be a hero.”

“What about the Spider Queen?”

“What about the Spider Queen? Take it as a trial or a warmup.”

“But I-” He sighed, he was hoping he could lead a normal life but he supposed he had no other choice especially since the elder had no intent on helping. The elder was changed, certainly different from the demon who was considered more calm and rational.

Sha Wujing grunted. “What are one of those bullshit quotes I can give you? Oh, right. Believe in yourself and you’ll be fine. The spade was taken from you! Get it back!”

“Alright!” He zoomed off.

Wujing whispered, “Hope this makes you happy, master.”

-------

Xiaojiao was about to use her powers when Red Son crash landed. Red dusted himself off.

“Kid,” Tang yelled.

“Red,” Xiaojiao shouted. “You’re alive! We saw you blast off! We thought something happened to you! Where did you get the jet? You crashed it already! Did you find Sha Wujing?”

“Yep!”

Tang questioned as he looked around frantically, “Where is he?”

“He said it’s up to me, to all of us.” Sun and Zhu exchanged glances.

“What?”

“That’s anticlimactic.”

“How are we meant to fight that?” Sun motioned to the Spider Queen’s humongous form.

“We believe in ourselves. You clean the streets while I stop her… somehow.”

“The jet would have been useful.” She kicked the broken pieces and a speed bike was revealed.

“That works.”

“You can do it, pal!”

Red drove off and approached the queen. “If isn’t the thief trying to ruin my big moment.”  She attempted to squish him when he dodged with the bike.

“Where is it? Where is it?” He squinted at the device the queen had been using to absorb objects, the spade rested in the middle. “Here goes nothing.” He ran into it.

Xiùliàng covered the group. “I’ve won! The clan has been restored!” She stumbled. “Huh?” Red emerged with the weapon. “Sha Wujing?”

“Nope. Just Red.” Red punched her. Spider Queen tried to blast them, they dodged with taunts, “Nice try! You missed! Almost!” They pushed her down with the spade then used it to cut half of a building. “Here we go!”

As he was about to trap her, the Queen roared, “I won’t let this happen again!” She destroyed it, the younger demon was sent backwards. “Sorry, doll. Good luck trying to trap me again. I AM THE QUEEN!” Red’s gaze shot towards a body of water. “You might have that idiot’s staff but you are not Sha Wujing!”

“No, I’m not. I’m Red, his successor!” He lifted the spade up, water swirled around it and he sent it to attack the queen. “It’s time for your reign of terror to end!”

The queen gasped and her powers waned, she turned back to her normal form. “That’s impossible!”

“Nothing is impossible if you believe.” Xiaotian raged, “This isn’t over! You wouldn’t be so mighty with your precious powers, sand boy! Come fight me!”

Red was about to do when a web entangled him. The three spiders showed themselves. “Nice try. We know when to leave the party. We’ll see you,” Huntsman said. Syntax threw a smoke bomb and they disappeared.

The group cut Red free. “You can’t run when I’m about to win! Hmph.”

His friend hugged him. “You kicked SQ’s butt! Without us the city would be toast.”

“I couldn’t have done it on my own.”

Xiùliàng hugged them. “You did.”

“You’re the new Sha Wujing now I guess.”

“I’m proud of you, Red,” Tang said. He was proud of his kid but he couldn’t understand why Sha Wujing had chosen to hand his weapon to a random kid. He’ll think about it later. “I’m really proud.”

“What do we do now?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Red perked up. “Yea! We could bring justice to the world! Go after bad guys!”

Sun suggested, “Or we could eat.”

“Let’s go with that.”

The group discussed their recent adventure while Sha Wujing watched from a building. He frowned, shifted to a duck and flew off.

[writingbykrystal]

"So we meet again, Clairvoyance."

"It appears so, Silver Streak. Back for another ass kicking?"

Jessie faced off against Adam. He really was the most fun to fight, they both got really into their monologues and usually ended up dramatically trash talking eachother more than actually fighting.

Adam stuck out his tongue. "You know I won fair and square last time, you pulled a dirty trick with literally throwing Menagerie at me."

Jessie shrugged. "He was only in wolf form, not like he weighed that much. I wouldn't have thrown Elephant-Thomas at you."

While they were talking, Jessie tried to peer into Adam's mind. Concentrating, she began to pick up his thoughts. "Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you do-"

At Jessie's confused expression, Adam started to giggle.

"You bastard, did you seriously Rick-Roll me in the middle of a fight!?" Jessie cried.

With Adam still cackling like a witch, Jessie used her telekinesis to pick up a brick and throw it at him. But, as she threw it, a thorny vine caught the brick and hurled it away.

Jessie swore as she looked behind her to see Chokeweed had snuck up and was now sending his vines at her. She started batting them away with her telekinesis, but there were too many, and soon her hands were bound and she could feel herself being dragged into the main Villain Building. She started swearing viciously at Adam and Ethan, who were now both laughing as Ethan's vines dragged her, along with Electra and Jack Frost down to the holding cells under the building.

-----

Once the three villains had been placed in power dampening cells, Silver Streak and Chokeweed were replaced by Ember and Menagerie, who were on guard duty that day.

Jessie turned to Eva, who was looking a little bit worried. "Ok, kid, it's your first time being captured isn't it?"

Eva nodded.

"So," Jessie began. "What usually happens, is when we lose a fight and get captured, we usually get taken here to wait until we either escape, or get rescued or ransomed, or Red Hornet forgets about us and someone comes let us out. I used to lean toward escape, but that's a lot of work, and only usually good for annoying the guards because usually we get caught again. I tend to wait it out here until someone rescues us. It's probably gonna be Leah today, she's the best at rescue missions."

Eva looked a bit less concerned. "So we're not gonna get in trouble for being captured?"

Jack looked over at the girls. "Nah, bro, it's all good, happens all the time. Worst that will happen is Jessie and Izzy get bored and start to argue with eachother over something pointless."

Ember looks over, offended. "Hey! I disagree, the worst that happens is when you and Tommy are both here and just make out the entire time!"

Jessie points at Izzy. "I agree with her."

Eva looks visibly more relaxed. "So we just like, chill here?"

Thomas laughs, "Yeah, pretty much."

-----

"Izzy. Izzy. Izzy. Izzy. Izzy. Izzzzzyyyyyyy."

Izzy looks over at Jessie. "What the hell do you want?"

Jessie grins. "I'm hungry, can you get me McDonald's?"

Izzy scowls. "Bitch, I'm on duty, I can't just leave to get McDonald's."

"Only guard duty, nobody's gonna care," Jessie replied. "Tommy won't snitch, right Tommy?"

Jessie glances at Menagerie for conformation. He nods.

Jessie starts chanting. "McDonald's McDonald's McDonald's McDonald's."

Quickly, Electra, Jack Frost, and even Menagerie start to join in the chant.

"McDonald's McDonald's McDonald's McDonald's."

Izzy sighs. "Fine! Fuck you all, though."

-----

A small portal opens up, and out steps Slip Space and one of Bright Shadow's strongmen called Goliath.

"We have come to rescue our brave comrades from the horrors of your evil dungeon, you dreadful villains!" cried Leah, grinning.

Menagerie looks up from the poker game that everyone was playing, using fries and chicken nuggets as the chips. "Oh no," he said, monotone. "However will we stop you?"

Ember makes a half-hearted fireball and tosses it at Slip Space, who portals it away.

"Please take them," Izzy said. "Eva has won literally all of my French fries."

Leah laughed and gestured at Goliath, who broke the lock on the cell door. The three heroes walked out of the jail and through Leah's portal.

"Oh dear, they're escaping," Menagerie said, as he took a sip from his diet coke.

"Hey, wait! You forgot this!" Izzy yelled, and threw Jack's unfinished cheeseburger through the portal after them.

Thomas looked at Izzy. "So," he said. "There were four of them, and they knocked us out and tied us up and broke the cage."

Izzy balled up all the trash and ate the few remaining nuggets. "Let's make it six," she said, as she and Thomas went upstairs to go tell their boss that those sneaky heroes have escaped yet again.