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regeek · 5 years ago

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Essay of the North: Dragons, Masks, Ghosts, and Despair

Welcome to the next part of my essay about the Four Sister guardians. This one actually focuses on the sister guardians as individual characters. The thing that first drew me to these four characters as a subject matter is how thematically relevant they are to each book. In my opinion, each of the four books in the third Deltora Quest series has a central theme: in Dragon’s Nest it is dragons, in Shadowgate it is masks, in Isle of the Dead it is ghosts, and in Sister of the South it’s despair. Each of the guardians does a lot to tie these themes together, and each can be seen as sort of an embodiment of that theme, at least of the darker aspects of it. Another interesting thing that ties each of the sister guardians together is that each is a reference to another character in mythology or fiction, so I’ll talk about that here. The guardians are all beings of decay and subversion, so each is a subversion of some classical cultural archetype. Each of these characters, by being so thematically significant, help set apart the third series of Deltora books as a more powerful, resonant story than most youth fantasy stories.

First let’s start with Rolf the Capricorn. He is the antagonist of Dragon’s Nest, the start of the series. The main theme of Dragon’s Nest is the dragons themselves, and the crux of the story is Lief struggling with understanding these ferocious and powerful creatures. At the start of the story few in Deltora understood the dragons and their role in the ecosystem, so Lief has to learn if he can trust them as he embarks on a quest where they play an integral role. The dragons represent the harsh but important aspects of the natural world. From a distance they seem like dangerous monsters, but are actually vital parts of the environment in Deltora and must be respected. Although people fear them, they are actually keeping Deltora safe and balanced. The first test Lief faces in this series is reconnecting with the dragons and earning their trust.

Rolf is the embodiment of distrust and fear of dragons. Like the dragons, he is the remnant of a long-gone part of Deltora’s history, but not a part that should be brought back. His people are the biggest victims of the dragon’s rage, an entire society laid to waste by their fury. However, the fate of Capra is not what it seemed. In actuality the Capricorns were driving the dragons to extinction, and their obsession with beauty and artifice led to their destruction. They are a warning to the people of Deltora, an example of what will happen if they do not coexist with nature. But Rolf has nothing but resentment for dragon’s and all they represent. He has no interest in the modern state of Deltora, obsessed with a past that will never come back. He is deeply xenophobic, not just towards dragons but to all non-Capricorns. He would rather see the nation destroyed than integrate with it, helping the Shadow Lord doom Deltora to the same fate as Capra.

Fittingly, he takes the form of a false dragon. His appearance is described as hideous, like something our of a fever dream. He represents everything people feared about dragons, with none of their natural beauty. He seeks to exploit people’s reservations about working with dragons, making Lief question whether he can count these mysterious beasts as allies in his quest. His ultimate goal was to make it appear that the Ruby Dragon had joined the Shadow Lord as the guardian of the Sister of the East. Every step of the Shadow Lord’s plan with the Sisters was to convince the King of Deltora to abandon his quest. In this case to stop the quest before it even started, he cast doubt on the ability to work with the dragons at all. Rolf’s role in the plan was to drive Lief to abandon Deltora to the same fate that befell Capra.

Rolf is obviously based on a satyr form Greek mythology. He can be seen as a dark mirror to Pan, the greek god of nature. Pan was a being of music and sexuality, an amusing contrast to Rolf’s cowardly, pathetic persona. Over time Pan came to be associated with Pagan and Satanic beliefs, fitting given that Rolf is not what he appears to be. Rolf can also be seen as a parody of Mr. Tumnus from the Chronicles of Narnia. Mr. Tumnus was a faun encountered very early by the protagonists, and was a helpful guide for them. Lief and his companions also encounter Rolf pretty early in their adventure, but he is far from helpful. Although Rolf bears a physical resemblance to various goat-men throughout history, his personality and goals are the opposite of almost all of them.

The next guardian is Kirsten of Shadowgate, also known as the Masked One. Masks are the central motif of Shadowgate, with various types of masks being used by different characters for different reasons. Masks are used to hide your real identity with a new one of your own creation. The Masked Ones use their masks to turn on their old identities and create a new one for their new society. Laughing Jack can be thought of as wearing a mask in the form of his fake persona. Lief struggles with having masks placed on him against his will, overriding his own identity. Lief is shown for the first time a possible other life, one without the responsibilities and hardship of being the king, but with nor personal freedom.

It starts off with his physical resemblance to Bede, which drives Bess to force him to take the place of her son. At first Bess’s projection of Lief begins simple enough, making him learn to sing like her son did. Lief is too kind to turn her down, and finds himself being drawn deeper and deeper into the Masked Ones. This culminates in him having a mask literally forced onto his face, and he has to tear it off to regain his own identity. The result is a horrifying experience for him in which he briefly loses his mind, and ends with him scarring his face. These scars are a reminder of his experience, and also serve as a permanent physical distinction between him and Bede.

The book is structured to make you think Bede is going to be the antagonist, serving as a dark reflection of Lief. However, Bede is revealed to be a victim of the real villain, Kirsten. A character barely mentioned earlier, who nobody in the story thinks very much about, is the one behind everything. Kirsten is interesting among Deltora antagonists in that she begins affecting the plot very early on. Long before the heroes find her or even know of her existence she is pulling strings to drive the plot. The obstacle Lief must destroy in this story is not a reflection of his own identity, but someone who has removed their own identity completely. There are many masks in Shadowgate, but none as elaborate as Kirsten’s.

From what we know of Kirsten’s past, it sounds like she spent a lot of life being overlooked by others. Despite being beautiful, her face was paid attention to, so she created a new one. However, Kirsten is different from the rest of the characters in that both of her identities are “masks” and in her double life both of her personas are artificial. Her phantom is the embodiment of her allegiance to the Shadow Lord, a mask that moves on its own. The Masked One is a projection of her power and rage without having to reveal her true self to anyone. Her victims get no insight into the person killing them. She twists the culture of the man who rejected her, taking the form of a mask with nothing beneath it. But the version of Kirsten Lief and the others meet in the castle is also a “mask.” Its how she sees herself and wishes to be seen by others, but is just as fake as her phantom. Her external beauty disguises her horrific nature, and she forces Bede to live in her pretend reality with her. Her castle is an extension of this illusive reality, a world under her control that disappears upon her death. Appropriately she has reduced the other object of her rage, he sister, to nothing but a face by trapping her in a locket. Mariette no longer has a physical presence in the world, but still has all the things Kirsten will never have.

It is hard to look at Shadowgate and not see the influence of the Phantom of the Opera. The Masked One bears a physical resemblance to the Phantom, and murders performers to keep imprisoned a beautiful singer. Kirsten is a twist on character of Erik, wearing the physical appearance of Christine but performing the horrific action of the Phantom. Piecing together her identity is a key part of the plot, though the protagonists do not realize there even is a mystery until the end. The Masked One does not hide the image of a face burned by acid, but that of a beautiful women. Amusingly, Lief’s journey in this novel can be compared to Christine’s. Like her he is tutored in signing by a charismatic but untrustworthy figure in a mask, and he ends up with facial scarring like Erik. Also, while singing is used in Phantom of the Opera to communicate and empathize with the Phantom, in Shadowgate it is used to transmit coded warnings about the villain.

Isle of the Dead is about ghosts, the various ways in which the dead and action of the past still haunt us in the present. The most literal example of the ghosts of the past is Verity, and actual ghost keeping record of dark deeds past. Laughing Jack is on the run from the ghosts of his past, literally and figuratively. He can even be thought of as the “ghost” of James Gant, an identity left behind by a man who still wanders the world in search of something. Bone Point and the Lady Luck are places forever haunted by the dark memories of what happened there, showing Lief and the others a recording of it they cannot interact with. Lief and Barda free themselves from the Lady Luck by “correcting” the events of the past, and their battle with the Sister of the West requires they put together various other ghosts, like Verity’s memories, Doran the Dragonlover, and the Diamond Dragon.

In Isle of the Dead time is portrayed as all-consuming and unforgiving, and the effect of entropy on this story makes the protagonists feel like they are becoming ghosts too. The Sleeping Dunes show how a moment of passivity can lead to you being erased from history and forgotten, like the Amethyst Dragon was for years. Blood Lily Island shows how the passage of time can slowly destroy you. The island looks harmless but it slowly kills you without you even noticing (Rodda thought she could slip a little metaphor for despair past me here too- not on my watch!) Even the mighty dragons are shown to be vulnerable to the power of eternity, with Veritas being trapped by the Sleeping Dunes and the Diamond Dragon being stripped to bones by fleshbanes, which grew to great numbers during her sleep. The Lady Luck shows how you can’t escape the past or the passage of time. Its’ victims were doomed to eventually lose more than they can afford, and its pursuit of Lief and Jack makes them literally unable to run from the past forever. Isle of the Dead is a book concerned with eternity, how the passage of time destroys but also preserves people and ideas.

Doran is not quite a ghost as he is more undying than undead. He has guided Lief and the others through most of their adventures, and the memory of his actions is a great tool for them. However, each time they encounter someone who remembers Doran, they explain that he is long dead and the world he live din has changed. But Doran has been here the whole time, a final taunt from the Shadow Lord. In order to complete his life’s work, he must be destroyed by those he inspired. Doran’s actions are great allies to the king of Deltora, but the man himself is turned into an obstacle. The purpose of this design was to discourage anyone trying to destroy the Sisters, making them feel like they had to destroy their own history and what they hold dear.

But there is another “ghost” which provides Lief the opportunity to triumph over this challenge: the baby Diamond Dragon. Named after her mother, she shows how the legacy of the past is transferred down to new generations. Discovered on her mother’s bones, she is a glimmer of hope in a quest that seemed doomed. She shows that even as the heroes and icons of the past fades away, their legacy lives on in new generations. Just as Forta carries on the legacy of the Diamond Dragons, Lief carries on the work of Doran. The discovery of Forta allows Lief to beat the Shadow Lord’s trap. Doran’s last moments are of hope, not despair. He was meant to create depression about the past, but his death is a moment of hope for the future.

The revelation of Doran as the guardian of the Sister of the West is a shocking one, a twist on the usual pattern of these books having a battle with a big creature at the end. But those familiar with Arthurian lore perhaps should have seen it coming. Doran is an example of the Fisher King archetype. Many versions of the Fisher King appear in the tales of King Arthur, and many modern fantasy tales that follow the structure of those stories use a similar character. The Knight of the Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is an example, and Azor performs a similar role in the Ixalan story for Magic: The Gathering. The Fisher King is the final guardian of the Holy Grail, a spiritual and mental challenge after a gauntlet of physical one. The Fisher King is a king who possesses the Holy Grail, but has been cursed by the eternal life it provides. The Fisher King is kept in an immortal but crippled state, forced to watch the land around him with as he lacks the strength to protect it. To retrieve the Grail Percival must let the Fisher King pass away and rest by proving he can protect his kingdom for future generations. Lief does a similar thing by revealing Forta to Doran and letting him finally rest knowing their is hope for the future of Deltora.

Sister of the South is a story about despair, a theme that has been running through the previous novels but takes center stage at the end. Lief’s journey in series three has slowly been eroding his faith that he can protect Deltora and be a good king. The final Sister is the ultimate challenge to his confidence, and the final phase of the Shadow Lord’s plan is to make his believe there is no way he can win. The endgame is to create a scenario where the land is condemned to die one way or the other. But to build up to that dilemma is a series of challenges to Lief’s optimism, both in his belief that Deltora can be saved and whether it even should. The Shadow Lord does this by guarding the last Sister with an embodiment of Deltora itself, manifesting the cultural flaws of the land into a plot to destroy the kingdom from within.

How fitting it is that after battling all sorts of hideous monsters, the last battle for the fate of Deltora is against a common citizen. The story of Deltora began when the Shadow Lord exploited the societal weaknesses of the city of Del to seize power, and the climax involves history repeating itself, raising the question if Deltora will ever be strong enough to oppose the Shadow Lord. Paff is the ultimate test of Lief’s abilities as king, challenging him not as an adventurer but as a politician. She turns the citizens of Del into her own weapon, presenting them with a threat their king cannot protect him from and drives them to seek shelter in paranoia and ethnic tension. Lief is forced to question his abilities as king when that question is being posed by his own citizens. And of course Paff herself is a citizen of Deltora too, representing all of Lief’s failures in a single person.

Paff is such a tragic figure because, even though her crimes were horrific, it’s easy to understand what drove her to the Shadow Lord. Nobody, absolutely nobody, treats her with kindness or respect. She was alone and unloved. Lief rescued her from the Shadowlands, but never gave her a feeling of freedom. Yet he never suspected anything was amiss with her, unaware that a deadly enemy was hiding in plain sight. Lief was unable to help Paff but also unable to understand her, never imagining that she was capable of such horrors. Of course, Lief never imagined ANY of his citizens were capable of creating the fake plague, and realizing that it must have been done by one of his subjects but not realizing who it could be was agonizing for him. Paff created a wave of despair within him by forcing him to wonder which of his subjects was a traitor, and that any of his allies could be his enemy. Her plan involved destroying the trust of the people of Deltora in each other, in their king, and of the king and his people.

The end result of Paff’s machinations is Lief’s lowest point. As he encounters the Sister of the South he realizes he is no different from his enemies. He could have gone down the same path they did, and is tempted to do so at the end. He is as imperfect as the rest of Deltora, and in order to save the country he must destroy one of its citizens. Let Lief’s empathy gives him strength. Even after all Paff has done, Lief still has pity for her. Realizing how similar they were let him understand her pain, and he gave her an opportunity to atone, even after all she did. Yet the Shadow Lord revealed himself unwilling to provide such mercy, taking Paff’s powers and throwing her aside like a used tool. Paff had given too far into despair by this point, and rather than be redeemed she destroyed herself with the greatest symbol of the country she betrayed.

Before we talk about the cultural references baked into Paff’s character, I’d like to talk for a moment about the creature she controlled, as it is pretty unique among Deltora monsters. Like the Masked One, it is an extension of Paff’s power, its horrific appearance and strength contrasting the unassuming, harmless appearance of its controller. It is a creature of black oil, its lack of shape representing the hidden, insidious threat to the kingdom. It can attack several people at once in all directions, representing how Paff’s plot endangered every level of Deltoran society. The two heads are an unusual feature, unlike anything else in Deltora’s bestiary. The heads being a dog and a bird lack any biological purpose, suggesting that its appearance is more about symbolism than biology. As strange and varied as Deltora’s monsters are, all of their appearances served some sort of purpose. The creature Paff summons feels more like something from ancient myth or religion, not something that belongs in the natural world. It brings to mind the two-faced Roman god Janus, or the cherubim, and angel with the heads of a man, an ox, and eagle, and a lion.

The more mythical appearance of Paff’s creature got me thinking, and I’ve come to the conclusion that the cultural icon Paff references is the last book of the Christian Bible. The Book of Revelations, also known as the Book of Apocalypse, is a complex and confusing part of the Bible, so I’m going to tread lightly here. The book presents a vision of the end of the world, with human society being destroyed and the people of earth being judged by God. Appropriately, the Sister of the South features an apocalyptic scenario with the grey tide, a final judgment for Lief and the people of Deltora. More specifically the Book of Revelation describes two beasts that bring down human civilization, which I think are inspirations for Paff and her creature. The first beast is a huge monster made up of different animal parts, like Paff’s creation. It caused people to follow it, like how the people followed Paff’s propaganda about the plague. The second beast is a false prophet, which “breathed life” into the image of the first beast, and brought death to those who would not worship it. Paff herself is clearly a parallel to the second beast. Yet like all the other guardians, the story that Paff references is subverted by her. The Shadow Lord’s plan is based on an apocalyptic story he participated in, and he seeks to put the people of Deltora in the same position with the Grey Tide. The first beast was described as a seven headed dragon, yet it is seven dragons that save Deltora, rather than destroy it. Fittingly, unlike in Revelations the land of Deltora is not destroyed, and Paff fails to overthrow society. The “prophecy” the Shadow Lord created does not come to pass, and the despair his plan weaponized is defeated by hope. The story ends on an optimistic note detailing a long era of peace and tranquility.

These four characters are twisted and sad people, sympathetic yet dangerous. They are representatives of the failures of Deltora, tools for the Shadow Lord to destroy the kingdom from within. Lief’s journey to destroy the Four Sisters is about him coming to terms with the weaknesses in himself and his kingdom. Every step of the way he is shown that he cannot save the kingdom without destroying parts of it. Each of these characters are examples of what Lief could become, and he has prove himself different from them in order to succeed. As Lief battles them externally he is forced into an internal battle, one that has been building up over the course of the series. That will lead us to the next essay, about Lief’s psychology and why the Four Sisters quest is such a difficult and personal one for him.

#deltora #deltora quest

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carriagelamp · 5 years ago

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March 2020 Book Review - Books To Quarantine With

You know, when I talk about wanting more time to read this isn’t REALLY what I was talking about. Anyway, here are some of the books I read this month and/or helped me stay sane during self-isolation

Belle Révolte

Quarantine Queer Reads! This is a book I’ve been excited about for ages, from one an author I love, and is definitely worth picking up if you like high fantasy, complex magical and societal rule systems, and queer ladies leading the charge. This was a bit of a prince and the pauper story, with the wealthy Emilie switching places with the lowborn Annette so that Emilie could run away from her finishing school and study noonday magic necessary to become a physician, and allowing Annette to take her place to study the delicate midnight magics at a wealthy school. Both end up getting embroiled in the societal and martial turmoil of their country. (Also, if you haven’t read it, go back and check out Mask of Shadows, Linsey Miller’s first duology!)

Calvin and Hobbes: Weirdos From Another Planet

Let’s be honest: this has been a stressful time for everyone. I have no idea what my job is going to look like next week, it’s a little terrifying, and sometimes you need something feel-good. So I pulled out my old Calvin and Hobbes books and have been rereading them relentlessly. As a kid, this one was always my favourite, and you know what? You are literally never to old for Calvin comics.

The Witcher: Season Of Storms

Took me some time to decide if this was meant to be read third or last in the Witcher series, but I finally decided to follow the advice to stick to chronology and read it third. I was glad I did! Season of Storms reads like a really really long short story somehow, and it was just a really enjoyable adventure. An entire plot based around Geralt losing his swords is hilarious to me, yet it managed to cram in all the philosophizing and emotion as the other stories so far. It’s a really impressive balance. Also there was lots of Dandelion trying to be helpful and Geralt Having Feelings so how can I not love it? Seriously, the Witcher novels are some of the best “classic high fantasy” novels I have possibly ever read, and they routinely make me incredibly emotional.

Sisters

A Raina Telgemeier book I hadn’t read yet. Like her others, this was a cute, heart warming story, this one focusing on families, siblings, and the importance of connection and bridging differences. I’ll be honest... not a lot of this stuck with me afterwards, I couldn’t tell you much about it now, but it was a very pleasant read at the time and the art in these books is always lovely.

Kristy’s Big Idea

Rather the same as above. It was a retelling of the first Baby-Sitters’ Club book in a graphic novel format. It was fine. I never loved this series as a kid, and I can’t say this adaptation is what made me fall in love with it.

No Fixed Address

A fantastic Canadian novel! This is a story that touches on the child homelessness crisis in Vancouver, and is about a boy who lives with his single mother. When his mother loses her job, they wind up needing to live in a van, as a web of complicated little lies weaves tighter and tighter around them. It isn’t as depressing as it sounds though! The book manages to be very goofy, light-hearted, and funny -- and over all optimistic! So while there were definitely bits that had me crying, it was over all a really enjoyable read. I would recommend, and this coming from someone who normally isn’t super into real-world fiction!

Bleach 7-9

I had taken some more Bleach books out of the library before this all hit, so I had plenty of time to get through them during this quarantine! Have to admit, these later books are a bit more meh than the beginning of the series, in my opinion. I’d never actually read this far into the series as a kid, and I can see why I stopped. It’s a bit more of a run-of-the-mill shonen fighter at this point. But I still love Ichigo and once the libraries reopen I’ll probably continue reading.

Candy Color Paradox

A manga that did not let me down. I absolutely adore this series -- and finding a yaoi series that actually feels like it has a really good, solid, interesting relationship is like finding a needle in a haystack. Since the couple has really already gotten together, there’s not much relationship drama in this book, and it’s more to do with the drama that comes from their jobs as reporters, and honestly it was very refreshing. I’m looking forward to the next book getting translated.

Kiki & Jax

I’d read Marie Kondo’s book, so when I saw that there was a picture book to I had to pick it up and check it out! It’s actually really cute! It’s a charming little way to introduce the importance of cleaning to children that’s a bit more relatable than just “because I told you to”, and provides some of the more practical, useful tips from Kondo’s book presented in a simple, visual format. It was lovely.

F in Exams

This is just a collection of some hilarious test answers. It takes about ten minutes to skim through but made me grin. Some are so clever you feel they should really just be given the point.

Five Nights At Freddy’s: Into the Pit

More FNAF? Yes. Listen, I’m not proud, but I was too curious after that first one not to dig deeper into this (hurr hurr) pit. This one isn’t a part of the same series, and is a much simpler collection of short stories. While Silver Eyes actually managed to be kind of intriguing and suspenseful, this was mostly just... annoying. Like bargain bin twilight zone episodes that vaguely had animatronics slapped into it. A barely dragged myself through it, and it was less than two hundred pages, though in fairness it’s also clearly written for a younger age demographic than Silver Eyes.

Deltora Quest: Special Edition 2 (volumes 5-8)

I’d read the first special edition earlier this year (books 1-4) and finally got around to finishing the series (or at least the first arc of it). Reading it as these big collected volumes is great, because it feels less like tiny little books, and more like chapters within a larger story. Honestly, Deltora Quest remains one of the my favourite series, and it did not become even a little less enjoyable to read as an adult. The characterization of the main characters is fantastic, and this author doesn’t shy away from putting her characters in truly horrifying situations that feel new and intense. Despite the premise being a classic (the characters are seeking the seven stones of the Belt or Deltora) Rodda creates really unique creatures, people, world building, and plot points.

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sunshine-pup-fics · 5 years ago

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Secret Santa 🍁🍁

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

(This post will be here for you whenever you wake up!)

Hiya @normiewrites , it’s me 🍁 you’re secret Santa! So hi, hello, I’m SaladShark, or Sam! I’ve had this blog for a little while, and as you can see, I mostly write for my sunshine boi kirishima! Of course, feel free to browse my stuff, but you should probably read your fic first!

It’s got lots of references to your answers, and I really hope your character is at least somewhat like you! I’ve had so much fun talking to and messaging you, even reminiscing about old shows that apparently no one else has seen 😂

And speaking off, whilst doing my rewatch of Deltora Quest, I happened to write a short Lief fic at like 2am, so I’ve decided to include that as a little bonus (for past you and first crush 😉)

Alas, without further ado, here is your 6000 word fic. I have no regrets. none. It’s long and that’s how it be!

(P.S. the maple leaf has no relevance or correlation to me. I just wanted to use an emoji and I thought it looked pretty 😂)

Chapter 1: Gifts

Just one week into the school break and (Y/n) had already run out of things to do. One by one her friends seemed to disappear, off to see family, train and just generally take time to be normal teenagers. It felt like everyday (Y/n) was waving goodbye to one more classmate, and with them went her chances for fun and freedom.

Today she had no choice but to mope around the common room and wait for Eijiro. He'd claimed that he'd set up a date, but no amount of pestering had gotten him to crack on the exact details of what he'd planned. So waiting patiently, she was holed up in the common room, awaiting adventure.

(Y/n) shifted her position, throwing her legs over the edge of the couch, grumbling as it did little to relinquish her restlessness. She shifted again, rolling onto her stomach before almost immediately reverting back. A laugh echoed from the dining table. (Y/n) shot up, propping herself on her elbows as she peered over the back of the couch. Kaminari was seated at the table, eating breakfast whilst eyeing her from across the room. "Are you comfortable there, (Y/n)" He chided. She stuck her tongue out. "I want something to DO! But Eijiro hasn’t been down all morning! I'm dying of boredom here Denki!" He laughed again. "Just chill, I'm sure he'll be done soon. Plus you're gonna wanna be ready for everything he has planned." Kaminari got to his feet, collecting his bowl and disappearing into the kitchen, leaving behind an exasperated (Y/n).

Another half an hour passed and (Y/n) had contemplated just going back to bed for another few hours. She had sent no less than 28 messages to Eijiro, and so far had only received one vague reply. A simple “Almost time.”

So she nearly had a heart attack when her phone lit up with a new message. She snatched it from the table and hastily unlocked it, bouncing in her seat as she read the message.

“Everything is all set. Meet at your dorm.”

(Y/n) felt her pace quicken as she spotted Eijiro down the hall. She called out to him, pushing her speed as she tore down the hall. He called back, opening his arms as (Y/n) skidded to a halt, slamming into him. He grunted but managed to keep both of them upright. "Sorry!" She chimed, "I'm just a little bit excited." Kirishima raised a brow. "A little?" He asked. (Y/n) smack him lightly on the arm. He simply smiled, then nodded toward her door. "Well, we can't get going until we're both dressed properly for the occasion." He picked up a bag from the ground, holding it out to her. (Y/n) squinted at him, hesitantly taking it. "Should I be scared of what's in here?" Kirishima was quick to shake his head. "No, it's some new clothes for you. I had to ask Tsu to help with your sizing." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Okay, let's get changed and then go! I'm dying to see what you've been planning for so long!" Without waiting for an answer, she hastily entered her dorm, waving off Eijrio to his own room.

She placed the bag on her bed, kneeling down on the floor to begin unpacking it. She swore her hands were trembling. Her nerves seemed to be alight, causing excitement to whirl up inside her. She knew Kirishima had been planning this for weeks, and to think now it was finally happening. She paused, taking a deep breath, before reaching in and pulling out the top item. The first thing she noticed was how soft it was. She pulled it out, falling backward onto the ground. It was a beautiful (f/c) colour. She unfolded it, a smile etching itself on her face as she looked down at a brand new hoodie. She would have been content with that, but she quickly realised there were still more items in the bag. She gently placed the hoodie on the floor beside her before fishing for the next item.

Next was a T-shirt and a pair of track pants, both incredibly comfortable and a perfect fit. (Now she knew why Tsu had decided to have an impromptu fashion show the other day) There was also a new pair of runners and even a small range of accessories she could choose from.

From everything he had given her, she had at least deduced that they probably weren't going to a fancy restaurant. Regardless, she quickly changed into her new outfit, stashed her phone in her pocket and proceeded to entertain herself with her floppy jumper sleeves.

"Okay, are you ready?" Kirishima asked, glancing at his girlfriend as they headed down the hall. She energetically nodded. "Our bags are by the door, so we can head straight out." "Bags?" She questioned. Kirishima bit his tongue, keeping his mouth shut. (Y/n) huffed, realising she wasn’t getting an answer. "You'll have to tell me what we're doing eventually." She teased.

They continued on their way, descending into the common room and heading for the door. Two backpacks were sitting by the entrance, one (f/c) and one dark red. (Y/n) skidded over, picking one and up and immediately rifling through it. There were snacks, water, battery packs, the usual stuff you'd take on a day trip. She sighed, slinging the bag onto her back and watched Eijiro do the same. "So, you ready to go?" He asked. "Ready as I'll ever be, considering I don't know where we're going."

Chapter 2: The City

(Y/n)s eyes continued to jump from person to person as they wandered down an unknown city street. Her hand was intertwined with Eijiros, and both were drinking in the sites of the city around them. The buildings towered above them, the glass reflecting the sunlight far overhead. There was constant noise, car engines and unintelligible chatter of passer-byers.

(Y/n) glanced up at the red head, pursing her lips. "So, what's the plan huh?" He simply smiled, gesturing out before them. "To wander the city until we find something interesting." "Sounds good to me!" She chimed. They fell back into comfortable silence before (Y/n) shot a confused glance at him. "Then what was that whole week of planning for?" Kirishima laughed, lightly pulling her closer to him before turning a corner. "Trust me! Everything will make sense later." "Fine, fine." She mused.

They continued to stroll, idly chatting and taking turn after turn. The sun had peaked in the sky over an hour ago and had begun it's decent. Warm breezes swept between the buildings, carrying the scents of the city. Everyone they passed seemed to be full of life and personality, it became almost a game to try and guess someone's quirk as they passed.

"What about them? They look a little… angry? So my guess would be fire." Kirishima glanced across the street, seeing a middle-aged man in a business suit, however, his blonde hair was tousled and he looked to be in a sour mood. "You're just saying that because they look a little like Bakugo." (Y/n) nodded "Exactly. They look angry." Kirishima nudged her arm, a playful frown pulling at his lips. (Y/n) simply giggled, already looking around for their next target. "Oh, what about her?" She nodded her head toward a lady walking toward them. She was older, wrinkles beginning to pull at her features. She was smiling, nodding at those who met her gaze. Kirishima hummed. "She looks kind, some sort of healing quirk." He suggested. (Y/n) blew a raspberry, "You're no fun. I recon she has something amazing. Something like being able to manipulate peoples dreams." Kirishima stared at her. (Y/n) ignored him, waving to the lady as they passed her. "How do you just come up with something like that? Especially when looking at her. She looked so sweet and innocent…" (Y/n) leant her head on his shoulder, looking up at him with a sly smile. "Because it's always the people you wouldn’t expect to be the most amazing, strongest and kindest people. Looks aren't everything." Kirishima let his mouth hang open, unable to find any words. "Though, your hair is cute any colour you dye it." She ruffled his hair, earning a mumble in protest.

Eijiro opened his mouth to speak before he realized (Y/n) was slowing down. He stopped a few paces ahead, cocking his head to the side. She was staring down a small street, gaze fixed on something. He gently squeezed her hand. She slowly turned her head toward him, but her eyes stayed locked on whatever had caught her interest. Eijiro returned to her side, peering down the alley. There was a glass roof, sunlight filtering through from the sun peeking over the building. There were a few neatly trimmed bushes and flowerbeds lining the right side, and the left had a few tables and chairs. An ornate looking sign hung out from above a doorway. (Y/n) began toward it, Eijrio having not much choice but to follow. A few steps closer and they were able to discern the words.

'Sweet Talkin'

The two peeked through the glass door. It seemed to be a quaint looking café, mostly wood interior with a surplus amount of plants. "Do you want to check it out?" Kirishima leaned forward to gauge (Y/n)s reaction. She opened her mouth, only for her stomach to grumble. She sheepishly smiled. "I guess there's your answer."

The shop smelled like fresh bread and cinnamon. They'd found out that the store was a small bakery and café, and was located just on the edge of the shopping district. They'd taken seats outside, basking in the warmth of the sun, chatting and sipping their drinks.

The day wore on, the sun dipping lower and was easily lost behind the towering buildings of the city. The breeze now caused chills, urging the some of the afternoon dwellers back inside. Kirishima and (Y/n) had gotten so lost in conversation, enjoying each other's company that they didn’t notice the darkening sky, nor the creeping cold.

It was only when Kirishima's phone started ringing that he realised the time. He pressed the answer button, bringing it up to his ear. "Hey dude, you need anything?" He asked. There was no reply, but a distant thud and a yelp. Then Mina answered. "Hiiiiiii! How's the date? Where are you? What are you doing? I bet it's something SUPER romantic!" She chimed. Kirishima rolled his eyes, mouthing 'It's Mina' to (Y/n), who immediately stifled a giggle. "It's going fine Mina, though I could have sworn this was Denki's number." "Pshhh, it's fine. He let me borrow it!" There was a yell of protest from behind her. "Okay I gotta go, but hurry up and be ROMANTIC KIRISHIMA!" A beeping rung in his ears and he lowered the phone. "The usual?" (Y/n) asked. "The usual." He confirmed.

The two swiftly finished their drinks, paid, and left, continuing their trek to nowhere in particular. They headed further into the shopping district, beginning to window shop until the street lamps switched on.

The sky continued to darken, but despite it, the crowd never seemed to thin. (Y/n) and Eijiro wandered down the street, peaking in different stores. By the time the stars had flicked to life, their feet had begun to ache. Their pace had slackened, and conversation dwindled.

“There’s a game store over there, how about after that one we call it a day?” Kirishima guided her over and held the door open, then slipped inside behind her. They split up, scouring the shelves of games and hunting through the bins of toys and t-shirts. Aft a good while, they met back up at the store entrance, stepping back out into the streets.

“(Y/n)… I just wanted to thank you.”

She cocked her head, brows furrowed. “What for? If it’s just walking around the city with you, then there’s no need for that. I’d go anywhere with you.” He let out an airy laugh. “I’m counting on it. But really, you’ve been here for me through so much, you’ve never given up, and there’s no way I can repay you for that… but this trip is my best shot at it.” He slowed to a stop, taking both her hands in his. “I know you love adventure, and I know you’ve always liked this idea…” he broke away, rifling through his bag for a moment. He pulled something out, (Y/n) only catching a glimpse of black. “It’s not quite as good as the real thing, but I’m taking you on your Pokémon journey.” He smiled, revealing the object to a small Umbreon Plushie. (Y/n) covered her face, nearly curling in on herself as she felt heat flush her cheeks.

How had she managed to find such an adorable dork?

She then realised she hadn’t actually said anything and launched herself at him. For the second time that day, she’d nearly knocked both of them down. Eijiro caught her, wrapping his arms around her as she buried her face into his shoulder. “You’re the absolute best, you know that?”

“Mmhmm. Now how about we head to our hotel? We’re going to need as much rest as possible.”

Chapter 3: The Forest

Morning came, and (Y/n) found herself rocking with the train, staring out the window as she watched the world blur past, Umbreon plush in her lap. They’d left the hotel in the early morning and headed for the train station. The view had started with high rise buildings, soon falling away to more quaint suburban neighbourhoods, then with each passing minute they seemed to become more and more spaced out, trees and shrubbery becoming more prominent than houses or people.

“This is our stop.” Kirishima hauled himself to his feet, swaying with the train as it slowed to halt. He offered his hand, to which (Y/n) gladly took. They collected their bags, now packed with camping gear they’d picked up at the hotel, and quickly ducked out of the train.

The air was cool, rustling the trees nearby and sending leaves spiralling into the air. Everything felt clearer and brighter than it had in the city, the air almost seemed easier to breathe. “There’s a camping spot I’ve picked out for us, it’s about an hours walk. You ready to go?” (Y/n) nodded, and the two began their hike.

The sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves overhead, casting shadows across the blanketed ground. The path the followed was vague and rough, leaving them more adventuring than just simply walking.

“So what kind of Pokémon do you think would be out here?” (Y/n) ducked under a branch, glancing over her shoulder to watch Eijiro nearly smack into it. “There’d definitely be a lot of grass types, maybe even some bird Pokémon too.” (Y/n) hummed, a smirk growing as she innocently turned toward him. “Sooo does that mean my next Pokémon will be a grass type?” "I should have known you were fishing for information." Kirishima pouted, swatting away one of the ferns that lined the path. (Y/n) jut giggled, turning on her heel and continuing on their way.

It didn't feel like long before they stumbled into a small clearing. The trees encircled the small campsite, the lush grass was soft underfoot and flowers had sprung up in patches, dancing with the breeze. There was a cleared area where someone had once previously set up a campfire, and a small pile of logs was neatly stacked by one of the trees. Kirishima strode out into the centre, dropping his bag to the ground as he basked in the sun and breeze. His was hair down, and was losing its colour, fading to a dull red colour. Despite that, it rippled in the wind, looking nothing less than enchanting. He turned his head toward her, flashing his teeth as he held out his hand. (Y/n) returned the smile, taking his hand. They were warm, perhaps a little calloused from hours of rigorous training, but it was comforting. She yelped when Kirishima plopped onto the ground, nearly bringing her down with him. She managed to balance herself, staying upright. Eijiro pouted, letting go of her hand as he flopped backward, sprawling out on the grass. "C'mon, join me for a bit!" (Y/n) hummed, before strolling away toward one of the trees. Eijiro propped himself up on his elbows, watching her silently. She reached on the trees, glancing up into its branches as she circled it. She looked back at her red-head, shooting a grin before she pulled herself up onto one of the low hanging branches, disappearing up into the leaves. Her laugh seemed to echo around the forest, carried by the breeze. Kirishima's gaze trailed up the tree, watching the flashes of (f/c). He lay back down, turning his attention to the clouds overhead, lazily drifting across the vibrant blue sky. (Y/n) had found a branch to perch on, letting her feet dangle below, back against the tree trunk. She could see flashes of the sky from gaps in the leaves, and when the wind blew right, she could glimpse Eijiro still sprawled out on the grass.

Far off birds songs drifted along the wind. The pollen of flowers mingled together, creating a sweet scent that seemed to flavour the air. The leaves were lively colours of green, stretching up into the sky. It was a different kind of beautiful compared to the man-made city of gleaming lights and comfort of civilisation.

"(Y/n)! You gotta help me set up our stuff!" Kirishima called, haphazardly pulling their tent out of its bag. He paused when he didn't hear anything in response. He dropped the bag and turned around, scanning the clearing for her. "(Y/n)!" He called out again. He felt the panic well up inside him. Why wasn't she answering? Had she hurt herself? He sprinted over to the tree he watched her climb. He hadn't seen her climb down, had something happened? What if she'd needed help and it was his fault? He glanced up, squinting as he tried to discern if she was still up there. He couldn’t see her, so he stumbled around the base of the tree to see if she had moved to another side.

He scrambled to the left and promptly yelled as something dropped down right in front of his face. He fell to the ground, his quirk flaring to life as he prepared for a fight. Until (Y/n)s laugh graced his ears. He looked up, gaze falling upon (Y/n), hanging upside down from one of the tree branches. She was laughing, using one hand to cover her mouth whilst the other kept her shirt in place. Kirishima deactivated his quirk, pouting as he got to his feet, dusting himself off. "Not funny, (Y/n)! I thought you had gotten hurt or something." He crossed his arms, and looked away, pretending to be mad. "I'm sorry Eiji! But it was STILL kinda funny." He peaked an eye open to look at her, before tapping his chin in thought. "I might just have to enact revenge then." He watched in amusement as the colour seemed to drain from her face. "You wouldn’t dare hurt you're loving, doting girlfriend, would you?" she put one hand on her heart, feigning hurt. Kirishima inched closer, their faces now close. "You brought this on yourself."

(Y/n) could only watch as Eijiro raised his arms and mercilessly began tickling her. She immediately started laughing, trying to squirm away and swot his hands away without falling off. "EI-EIJIRO! STO-STOP PLEASE! I’M-" "Sorry, what was that? I couldn’t quite catch that." He relented on his onslaught enough for her to speak a coherent sentence. "I'm sorry! Okay! Please let me free from your tyranny!" He finally stopped tickling, allowing (Y/n) to catch her breath. She hastily pulled herself back up onto the tree branch, letting the blood rush from her head. “I’m going to remember this, Eiji, I hope you know.” He simply laughed, offering a hand to help her down. She raised her brows, turning her nose up at his offer and dropping down off the branch herself. “I’ll never trust again, I swear it.”

The night turned cold, but it bothered neither of the teens, as both were huddled up by their campfire, sharing a blanket as they happily chatted. Eijiro had provided a bag of marshmallows, and a regretful number of them had already been lost to the fiery pit.

“Truth or dare?”

“Dare”

“Give me your next good marshmallow.”

Eijiro sighed, throwing a dirty glare at (Y/n). “I should know better by now than to choose dare when there’s food around.” (Y/n) simply grinned, watching the flames lick their marshmallows, turning them a soft delicate brown.

“Okay while I wait, you can go.”

Eijiro paused for a moment.

“What do you keep in that box in your desk drawer?”

“My Beyblades. Truth or dare.”

“Wait what? You mean the box you’ve never let me open and nearly fought Bakugo over just has Beyblades in it?” Kirishima stared incredulously at her as she shrugged. “Yeah, they’re hype. Though I think I have a few Bakugan in there too.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“The only ridiculous thing here is how good your marshmallow is. Now hand it over!” She made grabby hands for it, swiftly robbing him of his marshmallow. “Okay, my turn again, truth or dare?”

“Dare.”

“Did you not learn from last time?”

“What? Picking dare is the manly option!”

“Fine, this is just working in my favour. I dare you to give me my next Pokémon!”

Eijiro rolled his eyes, nudging her arm as he learnt over to his bag. “You’re not meant to be able to do that. But here, enjoy your new friend.” He handed her another plushie. “A Torterra! Dude he looks so cool!” (Y/n) raised the plush up, examining it in the firelight. After deeming it good, she cradled it to her chest.

“Oh, wait a sec-“ (Y/n) reached for her own bag, pulling out her Umbreon. She handed Kirishima her Torterra. He sent a confused look, hesitantly taking it. “Now we both have buddies!” She shuffled over, leaning on Eijiro as she clutched the Umbreon in her lap. She finally turned her attention to the sky. It was now inky black, speckled with hundreds of stars. “It’s amazing how pretty it looks. We see the same sky from our dorms and it doesn’t look half as full as this.” Eijiro hummed in response.

“Though of course, you know that you’re more beautiful.”

“You wouldn’t let me forget it.”

Chapter 4: The River

(Y/n) awoke the next morning to the pleasant smell of bacon and eggs. She sat up, stretching out and then groggily stumbled out of the tent. “Morning.” She mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Eijiro greeted her back. He was sitting on the grass by a dwindling fire, tending to the pan of food. She took a seat beside him, leaning back on her hands. “Y’know I would have been happy to cook.”

“You’re the Pokémon trainer here, it’s customary that the companion cooks.”

“Can’t argue with that.”

Breakfast continued, the two eating their fill before packing up camp. Eijiro said they’d be heading east, toward their next camp spot. They began their trek, and it wasn’t long before (Y/n) became giddy at the sound of running water. She’d grabbed Eijiros hand and began tugging him along as she picked up the pace. And to her delight, the path came to run alongside a charming river. It was rather shallow but still wide, and the water cast dancing patterns on the pebbled banks, with ferns and plants growing either side, dipping their leaves into the water.

(Y/n) has immediately slid down to the water's edge. Dipping her hand in and watching the water ripple and weave around it. Eijiro couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face and the warm feeling that spread through his chest at the sight of her. She was so childishly giddy about seeing a river, he was glad he got to see this part of her.

(Y/n) closed her eyes, hand still in the river as she activated her quirk. She thought for a moment before a smile broke out on her lips. She felt a numbness creep up her arm, but as fast as it came, it disappeared. She opened her eyes, gaze sweeping the water. There was a moment of silence before something sprang from the water. It made a dash for Eijiro, running around his feet as he spun on his heels to try and catch it. (Y/n) laughed, getting up from the water's edge and rushing over to them. She grinned when a small bear cub, made entirely of water, reared up to lean on her leg. The water shimmered and glistened, holding it’s form as if filling a container. The cub dropped back down, bolting into the foliage, only to come sprinting back out a few seconds later.

“All that training must have paid off! It’s holding its shape really well! And you formed it so quick.”

“It’s definitely easier than it used to be and doesn’t take as much energy. I’m still struggling to maintain larger animals though.” She watched as the bear cub headed back for the river, and released its form once it was far enough in. The water collapsed, returning to from once it came.

“Come on, a little further down and we’ll be at our next site. And the river is deep enough you can swim in it-“ Eijiro didn’t even have time to properly finish his sentence before (Y/n) had taken off again, calling over her shoulder for him to hurry up.

(Y/n) watched from the water as Kirishima finished putting up their tent. She submerged herself further into the water, just her eyes peeking above the water. He kept shooting her glances as if he was afraid she’d just disappear at any moment. Though he knew her tendency to lose track of everything when she was swimming.

“Come ooooon! Hurry up Eiji!”

He rolled his eyes, pulling off his shirt and tossing it to the side. He turned back around, only to come face to face with himself. A perfect water copy of himself, except it was wearing a U.A uniform. He stood in awe for a moment, catching the details as the sun rippled through it. He focused on the scenery behind it, watching as the trees shifted and wavered, the water distorting it. He reached a hand up to touch it, pushing lightly on its shoulder. It stayed solid, reacting as if it were human.

Then, it took a few steps back, wading into the water before it collapsed.

“So, what do you think?”

He stared at (Y/n), who was floating nonchalantly as she looked at him. He opened his mouth a few times, shaking his hands in an effort to will himself to speak.

“That… that was incredible! How long have you been able to do that? Can you do anyone else?” He rushed to over, looking down at (Y/n) who had floated over to him. She sat in the shallow water, scratching the back of her head. “Only just recently. And no, I can’t do anyone else. You’re the very first person I’ve been able to recreate, really.” She felt her cheeks flush as Kirishima stared down at her with the utmost adoration. “I can make rough depictions of people if I’ve seen them enough, but nowhere near that level of detail. You… y’know, just happen to be around a lot.” She smiled, floating on her back and pushing back out into the river.

Eijiro followed, effortlessly diving in under the water. He swam up behind her, popping up and pushing a wave of water over her. She immediately shot up, a perplexed look, before it melted into one of a mischievous smile. “Are you sure you want to challenge me at this game?” She quirked an eyebrow, daring him to accept. Eijiro kept a calm expression, simply nodding. “Maybe I do dare challenge you.”

Eijiro immediately lost as (Y/n) summoned a large horse. It stood atop the water behind her, staring down at him as its mane dripped water, causing ripples across the surface. (Y/n) simply clicked her tongue. “I can spare you this loss if you step down now.”

Eijiro sighed, lowering his head in defeat. “I always know when I’m defeated…”

“And that isn’t now!”

Eijiro sprang forward, sweeping his arms around beside him, causing a wave of water to go crashing into (Y/n). She sputtered for a moment, before throwing her hand out. The horse sprang forward, only to collapse its entire volume of water on Eijiros face.

This went on for some time, Eijiro trying to deny defeat and (Y/n) laughing victoriously every time she crashed another water beast atop him. Though she had to admit, he put up a strong fight. After Eijiro had claimed a tie, they'd ended up sitting in the shallows by the bank, with (Y/n) 'practising' her quirk. She'd made a range of animals, both small and large, and even tried making a couple of her classmates.

"Hypothetically speaking, would you be able to make something that's not real?"

"Depends on what you mean. If you're implying what I think, then…" She trailed off, trailing her hand in the water as she concentrated. She felt the numbness creep up her arm, and the exhaustion start to settle in. She let her eyes flutter back open when she felt it. Eijiro watched in awe as an Umbreon emerged from the water. Its eyes seemed to swirl with darker water, giving it the air of life. It padded across the water's surface, walking in a few circles before making its way to Eijiro. He reached out to pet it, noticing how the tips of his fingers went through it. Once he retracted his hand, it fell away, back into the river. "As long as I've seen it enough and know its shape, I can make it out of water." "I see it all the time but you always seem to find a way to amaze me." He got to his feet, offering a hand to her. "But I have seen it enough to know when you're starting to use it too much." (Y/n) sighed, taking his hand. "I know, I know." They headed back toward their tent, Eijiro tossing a towel over (Y/n)'s head, much to her protest.

And after drying off, (Y/n) was gifted her next pokemon.

With Feraligator in hand, she promised Eijiro that she'd make a full-sized water one for him by the end of the break.

Chapter 5: The Beach

In the morning, they'd once again set off east, following the river. By the time the sun had just about peaked in the sky, the trees had started to thin, giving way to more low shrubbery and looser soil. The distant chirping and sound if running water had begun to mingle with the sounds of traffic and the ever so faint sound of crashing waves. However, the salty breeze was a dead giveaway. They kept walking, cursing when the dirt turned to sand and they sunk every step. (Y/n) expected to see the ocean much before they reached it, but was pleasantly surprised when they stepped foot out of the trees to find they were just a sand dune away. It was the perfect day, bright blue sky with puffy white clouds. The two hobbled out onto the sand, taking in the vibrant sand and stretching sea before them. Further down the beach on their right was a wooden walkway that lead to what seemed to be a row of shops and cafes, all facing the sea. Further down was also a a giant stone jetty, waves lapping at the sides.

“Race you to the water.”

Eijiro didn’t even get a word out before (Y/n) had dropped her bag and had hightailed it for the sea. She wasted no time diving in, already wearing her bathing suit as per Eijiros hint. Itching to do the same, Eijiro dropped his bags too, scrambling across the hot sand toward the clutches of the endless sea.

By early afternoon, they’d already worn themselves out. Races, splash wars, even wowEd the other beach dwellers with (Y/n)s quirk. And made the best sandcastle.

They’d haphazardly set up their tent as an escape from the sand and sun, watching the few young kids chase and flee from the rolling waves.

“Okay, what about that kid's quirk.”

“They literally have the head of a seahorse, (Y/n).”

“Think of Tokoyami! He has a bird head but that’s not his quirk!”

“Okay, fair point. But if he didn’t have a bird head… what would darkshadow look like?”

“I…” (Y/n) paused, brows furrowed as she tried to find an answer. She looked more confused with each passing second. Eijiro laughed, moving to clamber out of the tent.

“How about you debate it over ice cream?”

“Sounds good to me.”

Staring into the swirling depths of the sea with ice cream was always a good pass time.

(Y/n) swung her legs rhythmically as she worked away at her ice cream. Eijiro was right beside her, always stealing glances at her. He swore he’d never seen her so happy, so carefree. It was hard not to be swamped by work, not to lose motivation as they got attacked, over and over. No one had been prepared for agar their first year at U.A would be like, but Eijiro was just glad to have had (Y/n) by his side.

“-jiro. Eiiijiii.”

He blinked rapidly, realising he’d been staring off. “Oh, uh, yeah?” He turned toward her. With a swift flick, (Y/n) smeared a dollop of ice cream on his nose. She giggled to herself, trying to stifle them as Eijiro went cross-eyed to look at it. ”Here-“ (Y/n) offered a napkin, to which he gladly accepted. “You were looking so serious, staring off into the distance.” She weaselled one of her hands into his, and he grasped it without even noticing. “This won’t last forever you know.” (Y/n) stuck the rest of her ice cream in her mouth, using her now free hand to fish something from her pocket. She pulled out her phone, unlocking it and manoeuvring to select an app. “But you know what will last forever?” She raised her phone, moving to lean further on Eijiro as she tried to fit both of them in frame. He panicked, quickly smiling as (Y/n) hit the capture button. She brought the phone closer to them, checking out the photo.

“I’m not even sure you noticed, but I’ve been taking pictures of our whole journey.” She handed him her phone but began flicking through all the photos.

Eijiro had to admit, he hadn’t noticed. There were plenty from each day, many of just scenery, but without failure, every day she had taken a picture of him, with the plushie from that day in the corner. The first had been him holding her hand as they wandered the streets of the city. The second was him by the fire, Torterra clutched to his chest. The third was him sitting by the riverbank, imitating the Feraligator that sat by his feet.

“You took all these?”

“Of course. I wanted to save the memories of each place. And the plushies, and you, were the biggest part of all of them.”

“Then you’ll need one for today, right?”

It was Eijiros turn to fish for something, quickly sorting through his backpack.

He pulled out yet another plushie; a Swampert.

He handed it to (Y/n), watching as she smiled to herself, running her fingers along its fins.

In a split second decision, Eijiro raised (Y/n)s phone. She glanced up at it for a second before smiling.

And then he leaned in, planting a kiss on her cheek. He clicked the capture button, sealing the moment in time. He pulled away, leaving a sputtering (Y/n).

“I think that’s the best photo yet.”

“You could have warned me!”

END

And that's it! I do hope you like it, now have a wonderful holiday! And of course, feel free to send a message anytime!

But don’t think I didn't forget your bonus ;3

Lief was not prepared for this. Considering everything they’d faced along their quest, he was confused as to how this was the scariest thing he had to face.

He’d read ‘The Belt of Deltora’ from cover to cover, forward and backward and memorised it. He trained with his father, honed his skill with the sword. He was quick, agile and witty. He thought he was prepared for his quest.

So why was talking to (Y/n) such an impossible feat? He’d been perfectly fine until now. It felt as if anytime she was near, anytime she looked at him, and suddenly his heart was racing. He always tried to excuse himself, and in the beginning, it was fine. Barda would give him a curious glance but would shrug it off. Except now (Y/n) had started acting differently. She spoke less, and barely even started a conversation with him anymore. And Lief had deduced pretty quickly that he was the problem.

Lief stared back at his reflection, his eyes boring into himself. He clutched his empty water bottle in his hands, idly fiddling with the cap. Barda and (Y/n) were close by, setting up camp for the night. He felt his cheeks flush from even the thought of her. Perhaps he should consult the belt. Though he felt that to be an irresponsible thing to do.

His hand hovered over the gems, contemplating what to do.

He jumped when a twig snapped behind him. He jerked around, eyes wide and free hand on the hilt of his sword. His gaze found (Y/n)’s. She stood a few feet away, her own water bottle in her hands. She stared back at him for a few seconds, before her gaze dropped to the ground. She scuffed the ground with her boot, beginning to speak. “Oh, sorry for scaring you, Lief. I was just coming to fill my water… I can do it later though.” She turned away. “Wa-Wait!” Lief reached out for her, quickly becoming embarrassed as she turned back to look at him with a quizzical expression. He gestured to the stream beside him, averting his gaze. “It’s fine, there’s no reason not to.” He tried to smile, then turned back to the stream himself. He uncapped his bottle and began filling it.

(Y/n) hesitantly kneeled down beside him, wordlessly staring into the rippling water.

Lief felt his stomach tighten. This would be the perfect opportunity to explain himself, to tell her how he felt. Yet the words wouldn’t come. And drained with his breath was his confidence.

There were a range of things that could go wrong. So many ideas swirled through his head that he almost didn’t realise (Y/n) had spoken to him.

She was looking at him expectantly, brows knit together. He sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. “Sorry, what did you say?” He watched as she sighed, a sad glint in her eye, almost as if she’d been expecting it.

“I wanted to know… why you’ve been avoiding me… shutting me out.” She glanced at him, (e/c) clashing with blue. He sputtered for a moment. “I-I haven’t been!” (Y/n)s gaze hardened. “Oh? Cause that’s what I’ve been reading the situation as.” She finished filling her water bottle, getting to her feet and towering over Lief. “What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with me? What did I do, Lief? I’ve made more conversation with a squirrel than I have with you recently.” She huffed. Lief staggered to his feet.

“You- you haven’t done anything wrong- apart from just being yourself-“

(Y/n) scoffed at him. “Oh so just being myself is a problem now?”

“No! That’s not what I meant! I just- you’re making go crazy!”

(Y/n) sharpened her glare.

“That came out wrong too! Agh, I swear-“

(Y/n) threw her hands up. “Whatever, I get when I’m not wanted around. I’ll be with Barta for a bit. See you later. Maybe.”

With a final huff, she fled back into the forest.

He watched her go, eyes trailing after her. He wanted to call to her, to apologise, do anything. But he remained silent, head hung in shame.

Leif stumbled his way back to camp, cursing himself for being so stupid. All he’d had to do was coherently explain his feelings, and all he’d managed to do was make (Y/n) hate him.

He came upon their camping ground, only to see Barda seated by the campfire. Lief opened his mouth to ask, but Barda answered. “(Y/n) said she’d be back in the morning. Had some business she needed to take care of.” Lief nodded, taking a seat by the fire, watching the flames dance and flicker. He knew she was a capable fighter, but he couldn’t be rid the worry in his stomach.

Morning came, and there was no sign of (Y/n). Lief and Barda delayed breakfast, idling around until neither could wait any longer. They ate, leaving some food aside for when (Y/n) returned. If she returned. The sun continued to rise, and both men were growing impatient. They’d packed up camp, resorting to scouting the immediate area.

And they’d nearly given up hope, until yelling drifted with the breeze.

They immediately fell to alert, swords drawn. The yelling sounded as if they were being attacked, gasping shouts and pained yells. With a glance of agreement, the two barrelled through the forest.

(Y/n) huffed, swiftly dodging another Grey Guard before lunging forward and impaling them on her spear. Another charged her from behind, and she ducked to the ground and swept her spear under his legs, leaving him as a heap on the ground. Grey Guards littered the floor, but there seemed to be no end to them. She mentally kicked herself for storming off to have a tantrum. Sure she was mad, but a petty argument was nothing to storm off about. There were more important things to be doing.

But here she was, fighting off two entire pods of Grey Guards. She hissed as one tried to swipe at her with his sword. 3 more guards had moved to take the fallen guards place.

She launched at another one, piercing him in the arm. He grunted in pain, dropping to the ground. She parried a blow from another, bracing for impact as another one charged from behind.

A yell tore from her throat as their sword sliced her leg. She crashed to the ground, gaze following the sweep of blonde that blazed past her. She knew who had come to protect her. They always did.

She quickly sliced a strip of fabric from her cloak, wincing as she tightened it around her leg.

“(Y/n)! Are you alright?” Barda spared a glance behind him, locking gazes with her. She nodded, carefully getting to her feet. She leant on her spear, gritting her teeth as the pain flared through her leg.

Suddenly Lief was by her side, fending of a guard all whilst looking at her. “This is all my fault, I’m so sorry (Y/n)!”

She rolled her eyes. “We’re both at fault here. Let’s just fight these guys so we can live another day.” She stabbed a guard trying to attack her.

“But if I had just told you that I loved you, none of this would have happened!”

“Nows not the time Lief- wait, what did you just say!?” She shot him an incredulous look as she tried her best to evade the guards.

“You two can sort that out later! We need to get out of here before more arrive!” Barda bellowed. Leif yelled in agreement. “I suggest we knock off these guys fast then, I’m not about to run anywhere!” (Y/n) shot back.

Barda didn’t hesitate, quickly making a signal to Lief. (Y/n) didn’t get the chance to ask, as what seemed with not an ounce of effort, Lief swept (Y/n) up into his arms, making a mad dash after Barda.

The three collapsed on the ground, heaving heavy breaths as they tried to collect themselves. (Y/n) wriggled off Lief, sprawling out on the grass.

“What in all of Deltora possessed you to fight them (Y/n)?”

She picked her head up and stuck her tongue out at Barda.

“They were hunting you, so I figured I’d distract them for awhile until maybe you knuckleheads moved on. There was another pod nearby though and they managed to corner me.” She rolled over, now facing the sky. She flinched as her leg brushed against the grass.

“Let me look at that cut.” Lief was by her side immediately, concerned gaze fixed on her makeshift bandage.

(Y/n) propped herself against a tree, eyes closed as she twitched with every touch. Barda has disappeared to fetch more water.

She cracked one eye open to watch Lief. He was crouched beside her, carefully cleaning her wound. His touch was delicate, as if he was afraid of hurting her. She gazed at his face. There was anger swirling in his eyes.

“Did you mean what you said back there?”

Leif didn’t respond, and for a moment she thought he hadn’t heard her.

“I did…” he paused, hand hovering over her leg. “You’re amazing, (Y/n). And I let you get hurt.” He clenched his fists; knuckles going white.

He jumped when something caressed his shoulder. He turned to look at her. She was smiling softly.

“But I’m here now, right? You did save me.”

Leif nodded, returning to cleaning her wound. He swiftly applied their ointment and rewrapped it with bandages.

(Y/n) pat the ground beside her, to which Leif hesitantly sat down. They sat in silence, simply taking in the forest around them, until (Y/n) leaned up, pressing a kiss to his cheek. His hand flew to the spot and his mouth hung open, but when he looked to her, her eyes were closed, but a sly smile graced her lips.

Barda returned to camp, carrying the filled water bottles. It was oddly quiet and he nearly feared the worst.

Until he reached their camp and realised they were fine. He smiled, settling down beside their belongings.

Both teens were peacefully asleep, hands intertwined.

#bnha writers fest #kirishima x reader #kirishima eijiro x reader #mha kirishima

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ethanlivemere · 5 years ago

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Roddacember 2019

So I’ve decided to participate in Roddacember 2019, a little event created by @doomofthehills. I hope I’m not the only one, but even if I am, you can count on me!

I first read Deltora Quest (simply named Deltora in my country) when I was about 10. It was just a random book I saw at the library which I thought looked cool (especially the 3D Gorl cover art) and so I ended up reading the entire series (that is, series 1, 2 and 3, Secrets of Deltora and Tales of Deltora or whatever that was called. I never actually read the Three Doors or any other books that might exist because my library didn’t have them)

I loved Deltora Quest. It had a cool world, and the puzzle aspect really made it stand out. However, the series also terrified and traumatized me at several points (mainly: the Glus, the Masked Ones, the Lady Luck, the Glus, Reese’s fate in the fungus tunnel of Noradz, Ols, the Glus, the giant Shifting Sands monsters, also did I mention the Glus?) Still, despite that (or maybe partially because of that) I loved it. It’s kind of like Gravity Falls: it pushes the envelope when it comes to ‘for kids’, but that’s part of the appeal.

I kind of forgot about DQ for a year or 2 until I decided to look it up and discovered the anime. I immediately watched it and while the anime is far from a perfect adaptation, it was awesome to watch. I had already forgotten a lot of parts from the books, but as I watched I was always reminded “Oh! I forgot about this part!” I’ve watched the anime twice fully, and some parts more than that. But then Deltora Quest once again sunk into the back of my mind. I wanted to read the books again, but my library doesn’t seem to have them anymore (I might eventually give in and purchase the entire series online).

Now since I have Tumblr I’ve become enthralled by DQ again. I finally have a way of connecting to fellow fans so I will take Roddacember as an opportunity to express my love for the series, and bring this underrated fandom to the attention of others.

Clean Noradzeer! Ethan Livemere

(Also, note that due to it being such a long time since I read the books, I might accidentally say things that are either incorrect or exclusive to the anime. Sorry if I do, but feel free to correct me, I’d like to learn more)

#Roddacember-2019 #Roddacember #deltora quest #roddaverse #emily rodda

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ask-the-fnaf-nightguards · 5 years ago

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One couple splits and becomes two:

(A little fanfic i decided to write. Hope you like it.)

Mike walked into the room. He was hanging out with Jeremy who lived in his house, since he yet did not have the money to live in his own, or so Jeremy claimed. He was afraid that he’d have to leave Mike if he got the money. Though for now he lives together alongside Mike and his girlfriend Doll.

“Oh, hey Mike. How’s it going? Where’s Doll?” Jeremy asked him. “Well Jeremy. Don’t freak out, but we actually broke up.” Mike replied. “Huh? But why?” Jeremy asked a bit jumpy anyway. “Don’t worry. The two of us are still friends. Me and Doll just figured out that we were more friends then lovers.” Explained Mike. “She even jokingly said she’d take the job as my babysitter.” He added with a half-annoyed smile. “Well you do need one!” Cheeped Jeremy, who ended up getting a nogie by Mike. Jeremy did his best to try and squirm out of Mike’s hold, but he was to strong. “Okay, okay! I give, i give!” Jeremy said with a chuckle, and Mike finally let go of him.

Jeremy tried to fix his now messed up fluffy hair. Mike stood up and went out to make something to eat.

A bit later, after they’ve eaten they both sat down on the couch yet again. “Do you plan on trying to chase love again, or are you happy enough with having just normal friend-love?” Asked Jeremy Mike. “Well, i have had my eyes on one person. I was originally going to ask Doll if she was up for a poly-relationship. Though now i’m kinda single so i guess i could ask him.” Replied Mike with a smile. “Him?” Asked Jeremy curious. Besides Doll could he not recall Mike looking at or for any other person like that. “Yeah. He’s such a sweet guy. A bit on the shy side and a bit of a nerd, but that’s not necessarily bad, kinda cute actually.” Mike continued. “You’re sort of a nerd to with your pokemon collection.” Teased Jeremy. “Don’t make me ban your mangos again, like when i discovered your betrayal.” Mike teasingly-threatened. “Oh come on! I am allowed to enjoy Digimon, i gave you at least 21 pages on why Digimon is NOT a ripoff of Pokemon and that such an argument is utterly stupid!” Retorted Jeremy. Mike just laughed at it, Jeremy was so cute when he got angry. “Anyway, who is this dude?” Jeremy asked still with his adorable pouty face. “You.” Mike replied simply with a cookie smile. Jeremy began to blush beat red. “W-what!?” He stammered out confused, sure he had a bit of a crush on Mike too, but he never thought that Mike had it the same way. Jeremy did find Doll beautiful too, but he saw her more as a friend than a crush really. “You heard me. And while i may not be the sharpest knife, i have seen you giving me certain looks and how you sometimes behaved around me.” Mike said with a smile, trying to act cool. “B-by that you mean Doll pointed it out for you.” Jeremy answered back, trying to regain his footing. Mike did blush a bit at this, since it was actually true. “Heh, got me there dude.” Mike said and ruffled a bit with Jeremy’s hair. “So what do you say?” He added on. “Hey, cut it out!” Jeremy chuckled while pushing Mike a bit. “A-as for what i say? W-well sure, if you don’t mind. I-i’ll try my best.” Jeremy answered. “You don’t need to “try your best” when you already are the best.” Mike said giving Jeremy a little kiss on his forehead. Making Jeremy squeak and jump a bit.

Mike leaned on to Jeremy, now both laying down, while Mike hugged him as if he was a teddy bear. Jeremy just let it happened, he was to flustered and happy to say or do anything about it.

“Do you think Doll will be able to find someone?” Jeremy finally asked breaking the silence. “That girl got talent and is very smart and has charm. I’m sure she’ll find someone special for her and i wish her luck.” Said Mike, smiling at the thought of both him and Doll being happy with a special someone. Maybe if Doll found one, they could go on a double date? They were still close friends so the idea sounded fun.

Meanwhile, at the library that Doll works at, she was just sitting by one of the book iles with fantasy books. She was on break and decided to read a bit. She was in the middle of a series called “Deltora’s Quest”, an australian book series.

Doll heard someone approach her and she looked up. In front of her was a tall woman with bushy-fluffy hair that went down her shoulders and a bit down her back. Her eyes were gray, and she wore an armless red dress with spots of a lighter shade that went just below the knees. Her arms showed signs of muscles, though she wasn’t wrestler buff, still clearly strong though. “Excuse me, can you help me? I’m looking for something to read, but i don’t know what i should pick.” Asked the lady her.

Doll took a few seconds before she woke up again as she was gazing at the other woman. “O-oh sure. What genre or type do you like?” Doll asked a bit nervous as she realized she had just been staring at her for a couple of seconds.

“Well, i like it when there’s a bit of a series plot, but still have enough room for interactions and funny moments when it doesn’t feel out of place.” The lady replied.

“Well, i have a few suggestions for that. If you follow me, i could show you a little list.” Doll suggested and stood up.

“Sure thing.” The lady replied and followed her.

“If i may ask. What’s your name?” Doll asked.

“The name is Mahogany.” She replied with a little smile that almost made Doll melt.

-Time Skip-

Some time has passed and Mike and Jeremy had taken a date to a dance party. Here they met Doll who so far was by herself. They had a little chat and a good laugh. Mike invited Jeremy out for a dance and the other man accepted and went along.

Doll sat back and watched them. She then noticed that Mahogany was there too, looking quite happy and ready for the party. She and Doll had talked every now and than, and Doll quickly discovered that Mahogany was pretty good at punching, rapping and smack talk. Not that she minded, keeps things from getting boring, and she did feel secure around her. Mahogany was currently wearing a neat suit and tie instead of a dress. It honestly fitted her pretty well. Mahogany saw Doll and a smirk crawled on her face as she walked up to her. “May i ask the lady on a dance~?” She asked, putting on her charm as well. Doll simply nodded and accepted her hand, the two than went out on the dance floor and began to rock it out.

Jeremy pointed at Doll’s direction. “Hey Mike, look! Doll is dancing with someone.”He said and Mike looked over. “That’s the boss’ daughter! Wonder how that’s going to work out.” He said, as he knew that Mahogany was one tough lady. She did throw around with Vincent a couple of times when the idiot didn’t know when to quit his funny business. He was happy that Doll found a new friend, and maybe a lover as well.

-Time Skip-

It’s been a few weeks since the party, and Doll and Mahogany had gotten to know each other better. Mahogany had invited Doll over to show her, her home. It was medium large, so not a super rich house, but still a bit rich. Doll got permission to look around, and so she did.

Doll by either accidental luck or natural instinct found Mahogany’s room. She took a quick look in one of the large wardrobes and found different outfits. There was the suit she wore to the party. There was also a security guard outfit, though Mike never mentioned her working as one. A cowboy outfit with hat and boots included. Something that looked like a casino outfit with a bit hat. Something that reminded of either a librarian, office worker or secretary outfit, including glasses and a hair tie. There was even a outfit that looked like Garnet from Steven Universe, glasses included. The thing that made Doll blush and quickly shot the wardrobe shot was when she saw the bunny suit. It was to late though, the image of Mahogany wearing the bunny suit had already drilled itself into her head and she couldn’t get it out.

Mahogany soon entered and she saw Doll standing in front of her wardrobe, and she had an idea of what happened. A little plan brewing in her mind. “There’s some coffee in the living room. You can go and take some of you want.” She said simply, like she didn’t know what had happened.

“Okay, thanks Maho.” She replied and left the room. She couldn’t help but feel Mahogany’s eyes follow her. She knew that she knew. Doll was in the living room and had poured herself some coffee, when she heard Mahogany come walking and she almost dropped her cup on to the floor. Her face started burning furiously as she saw the other woman. For she was now wearing the bunny suit, and she looked better in it then her mind had depicted.

“So, do you want a show, or should i perhaps serve you instead~?” Asked Mahogany teasingly with a flirty tone as she walked closer to Doll, who simply said “yes”, not giving an answer to which one she meant. This was going to be an interesting night.

AAAA THIS IS SO CUTE??? PART 2 PLEASE?

#This made my heart worm #I like how you had a part with doll and mahogany <3 #fanfic #fnaf #submission

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zukka-blog · 6 years ago

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hi! i'm just getting into the avatar fandom and I was wondering if you have any atla/zukka blogs you could recommend?

ahh welcome to the fandom :D

and of course, there are so many good blogs!! I feel like i’ll definitely forget some, also these are mostly zukka blogs but there are some general blogs as well:

@dickpuncher420, @dickpuncherdraws , @gayavatarstyle, @ameeg, @jhoca-art, @lightningbenders, @zukka-week, @space-sword-yes-please @sad-olive-girl @backcountry-deltora, @avatarninja, @this-lady-of-the-flowers

There are probably more blogs, but these were just the ones i could think of off the top of my head. If you post zukka (or even just atla), reply to this with your blog name!!

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withickmire · 7 years ago

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a safe place to die

Fandom: Deltora Quest Characters: Doom, Gla-Thon, feat. unconscious quest family, mentions of others. Summary: Not all reunions were welcome. This is a prompt fill for @dragonloverdoran, who requested Doom’s POV of the trio’s surprise return to Del in The Sister of the South.

In recent years, the palace had become a constant source of light and noise. People walked through the halls at all times of the day and night, for it had become a place of home and work for many in Del. But although sunlight had slowly begun to strain through the windows, the halls were silent and empty.

Doom’s boots echoed hollowly through the wide corridors. He would sometimes hear movement behind the closed doors, but no one dared come out. The stink of the funeral pyres seeped into even the highest floors of the palace. The red fabric he had only recently tied around his face began to slip, and Doom reached behind his head to pull it tighter.

Lief had left Del in Doom’s hands for months, trusting him to be strong and capable, but with every hour that passed, it seemed to slip further from his grasp.

The memory of Josef’s foolish arrogance and Paff’s desperation for the old man’s approval had left a bitter taste in his mouth. They would cause more trouble, and soon, he was sure of it. He knew Josef never had any love for him, but how did he dare think he could simply do what he liked? Seeking Sharn’s presence when it seemed like she might never again open her eyes was not just stupid— it was cruel.

Doom gritted his teeth. He had been shocked by the speed in which the illness had spread through Sharn’s body. She had been so happy the night before she fell ill, relieved to hear of her son’s success and safety. It had been Doom who had knocked on the door of her bedchamber when she failed to appear at breakfast. It had been he who had thanked the heavens that she had not locked the door, he who found her in her bed, still as death, with angry red lumps swelling across her body. His kindly, clever friend was near death; the very idea that she might not wake clawed at his heart with an icy hand.

If given a sword to hold, and people to lead, Doom knew he would always rise victorious. But this illness, this Toran Plague, as the people had begun to call it, had disarmed him. He had survived in the Forests of Silence and the Shadowlands, clawed his way back to Del, and led the Resistance. But this… it had rendered him weak.

A cool morning breeze pulled him from his thoughts. One of the large glass windows at the end of the hall was wide open. Doom cursed; nothing was going as planned. He had specifically told the guards to shut every window they could find. He stepped forward and reached to shut it, when a scream from below shattered the eerie silence. He had not heard Jasmine scream since she was very young, but her knew her voice, and knew it well.

Doom did not bother looking out the window, although he did pull it closed, and tore towards the palace entrance. He was in the heart of the palace, and on one of the highest floors. He knew every shortcut and secret path in the building, but it still seemed to take him a lifetime to reach the outer stairs.

When he finally burst through the open doors, he was greeted by a scene of utter chaos. Guards were running, shouting, and scanning the skies. Doom stepped forward and found the stairs were slick with some sort of oily black liquid. Lief, Jasmine and Barda were all slumped upon the stairs, unmoving.

Fury flamed in his heart as it pounded in his chest. Had he not told Lief to stay away? And how blindly foolish were Jasmine and Barda to follow him?

A palace guard passed by with his sword drawn, and Doom grabbed him roughly by the shoulder. “Do they live?”

“Yes, sir,” the guard said, his eyes wide with shock.

“What happened here?”

“A dra— a dragon, sir,” the guard stammered as if he did not believe his own words. “It attacked the captain, and the lady Jasmine. It was about to kill the king, but we managed to drive it away,” Doom released him, and he staggered back to his fellows.

Doom looked up, but the early morning skies were empty. A dragon. Of all the stories Min had told him as a child, the ones of Deltora’s ancient dragons were always his favourite. His childish fascination had become a nightmare.

Lief was sprawled halfway down the stairs, one arm stretched downwards from his billowing green robe, as if he had reached for Jasmine and Barda below, before he was consumed by darkness. His face and body were covered with bleeding lacerations, but there were also strange patches of fresh scars on his face. Gla-Thon was at his side, and Doom approached them as a guard helped her lift Lief to his feet.

The gnome gave Doom a curt nod. “He is weak, but alive. We have checked them all, they do not show signs of plague.”

Doom let out a breath he did not realize he had been holding. Lief’s head slumped forward, and Gla-Thon adjusted her grip.

“We will take him to his room,” she said, and she and the guard disappeared into the palace, Lief’s prone form carried between them.

Dunn had pulled Barda to his feet with the aid of two other guards. The large man’s eyelids fluttered, but he did not wake as he was carried away.

The guards had given priority to their king and captain, but a young guard lifted Jasmine into his arms, and began to follow the grim procession into the palace, as Kree swooped above them.

“Wait!” Doom commanded, following the guard. “Give her to me.”

The guard was startled, but gently passed her into Doom’s arms without a question. Jasmine was pale as death, and blood soaked the side of her blue robe. A thin and muffled wail rose up, and Doom could see Filli half-buried in the collar of Jasmine’s robe.

Doom had not held her in over ten years; she was heavier than she looked, hard muscle under wiry limbs. An unwelcome flare of fear shot through him, as he remembered another early morning that looked much like this one.

“Jasmine,” he had whispered to his wife, as they were marched forward, flanked by Grey Guards and weighed down by chains. He had blinked blood from his eyes at it trickled from the deep cut above his brow, and he could still feel the raging heat of the fire on his back,

Anna had turned her tear-streaked face to him as best she could. Her split lip had stopped bleeding, and had begun to swell. “She is safe,” her voice had broken on the last word.

Safe. What did that mean? He had tried to ask, but she did not have the chance to tell him for some time, as one of the Grey Guards had ordered her to turn back around with a rough shove forward.

Safe. To be consumed by the flames. Safe. To freeze to death in the night. Safe. To starve. Safe. To be torn apart by creatures of the dark woods.

Doom shook the memory from his mind.

“Follow me”, he said to the young guard, and then pointed to one he knew, Nesk, who had not yet left, “you as well.”

“Yes, sir,” the guards followed without hesitation.

With Jasmine in his arms, Doom led them to her old bedchamber. The door was locked, but he was one of four people who held its key. He reached awkwardly into his pocket and pulled out his key ring. He tossed it to the young guard, who had said his name was Horace, and told him which one to use. Horace shakily unlocked the door, clearly overwhelmed by all that had happened.

“Go get fresh water, a cloth, and bandages,” Doom said to Nesk, who took off in a run.

Horace hastily pushed the door open. Jasmine had not lived in the room for some time, but she had left many of her strange belongings when she moved into the forge. Even the bed was cluttered with odd trinkets, scraps of fabric, and other peculiar treasures. Without being prompted, Horace cleared a space on the bed and drew back the covers, as Doom placed her down. Her tangled black hair spread across her pillow like the oil on the palace stairs.

He examined the wound on her side with careful fingers. The blood flow had slowed, though she had lost much. Nesk returned with what he had requested, and Jasmine groaned as Doom pressed the damp cloth to her wounded flesh, but she did not wake. Both guards waited as Doom washed and bandaged the wound. When he had finished, he poured the rest of the clean water into a glass, and placed it on the table by the bed for when she awoke.

He stood by the bedside for a moment. He had done all he could. The practical thing to do next would be to leave her be, but he could not bring himself to turn away. He pulled the blankets over her, so that it looked as if she were only sleeping. Her head rolled to the side, and a lock of hair covered her face. Doom reached down and pushed it back into place with rough, calloused fingers. Kree perched on the bed frame, and Filli wriggled out from under Jasmine’s robes by her head. She was safe, for now. Injured, but safe.

Safe. To survive it all, and return to a city turned into a nightmare. Safe. To die, struggling to hold onto her last breaths as her body was ravaged by plague. Safe. Finally home, where they all still could die.

He turned back to Horace and Nesk, who were waiting desperately for new orders.

“I will have my keys back now,” he motioned to Horace, who handed them back quickly. Doom motioned to the men to leave, and followed them out. He closed the door, and left Jasmine in the darkness. His fear seemed to pass as the door shut, but his anger returned. His heart began to pound again, and his fingernails dug into the hard flesh of his palms.

“Stay out here,” he instructed the guards. “Do not leave, and do not let anyone enter.”

He left them, and hurried to Lief’s old bedchamber. He had words for the king.

#deltora quest #feel free to counter this but i think doom has two major fears #1— that he will lose the respect and trust of the people he loves (based on the trauma of losing endon’s friendship)#2— that the people who he has fought so hard to keep alive will be lost (also clearly trauma related)#he’s so angry when he talks to lief i think it must be because lief didn’t listen to him #doom would see this as a lack of respect or faith #especially because he hasn't seen them in months and they show up half dead #lief was miserable about leading ‘doom’s child into danger’ in dragon’s nest #and then she washes back up on the palace steps covered in her own blood #this wasn’t supposed to be so much about doom & jasmine but this is what happens when i write them #i've got to run out for an hour or two so if there are any issues or errors i'll fix them shortly!#i always post fic right before i have to do something #i don't know why #yet another tag novel tonight #doom #jasmine #my writing

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