#soon i shall be unstoppable again

[queer-crusader]

Had a minor autism(?) overload followed by suspiciously carpal tunnel-y symptoms. But the overload is fading and the carpal tunnel-y symptoms are alleviating which means with any luck I will be writing again this weekend 😈😈

[crisiscutie]

Safer Sephy anon here. Yes, non-con.

Sure thing. You guys ever wonder what happens when Sephy is horny during his victory high? Well...

Pairing: OG Safer Sephy/AFAB Darling.

Content Warning: NSFW, Non-Con. Tentacles. Teratophilia.

Just as your weakened body was about to collapse, tentacles extended towards you, coiled around your body, and stroked you with a twisted fondness.

You whimpered, still in immense pain from the recent battle with Sephiroth. Even though you had tried to help Cloud and his party defeat Sephiroth, he had still managed to best all of you.

As you watched your friends fade away, joining with the Lifestream, tears cascaded down your cheeks.

Cloud was the last to go, his mako eyes locked onto yours. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something to you, but nothing came.

Soon after, Sephiroth spoke for the first time, almost startling you. His familiar, velvety voice had a loud ethereal echo to it, as he mockingly reassured you.

"There's no need to be sad. They'll become a part of me... Isn't that what you want?"

A small, slimy tentacle caressed your cheek and guided your gaze towards his ascended form, forcing you to behold the monstrosity he had become. The man you once loved was no more.

The other tentacles that caressed your body then removed your clothing, leaving your body exposed to the cold air.

An enormous, cock-shaped tentacle began to stroke itself against your folds, slyly warning you of the incoming brutal penetration, while a singular sucker tentacle latched onto your clit, suckling it for all it was worth.

You let out a loud whimper, wanting to escape from this monstrosity. Sephiroth responded with a dark chuckle, his slit eyes twinkling with amusement and twisted adoration at your panic.

"Do you enjoy it that much, darling? I can make it better for you. Much better...~"

Before you expressed your disgust, the cock tentacle teasing your folds forced its way into your tight cunt, stretching it to the limit before it's even halfway inside. You gritted your teeth at the sudden invasion, feeling your stomach bulge from the sheer size of it!

Yet Sephiroth couldn't care less. The beauty of the moment, a symbol of the union for man and wife, held his attention.

Unwanted pleasure and aches surged through your body, as the sucker tentacle on your engorged clit refused to relent, matching the intensity of the cock tentacle pounding your poor cunt.

He then fastened your body to his own, granting you a lovely view of him now, sailing through the cosmos, annihilating worlds in the name of JENOVA and your honor.

"Together, we are unstoppable. These pitiful worlds shall fall under our dominion," he declared. Who knew if he addressed that to you or to JENOVA as more tentacles forcefully entered your abused, gaping cunt.

Piercing screams left your lips, the devastation of worlds unfold before your eyes. Trillions of lifeforms were obliterated, the very dimension around you both shifted.

Sephiroth continued his deranged monologue, a veiny tentacle now being shoved into your mouth and roughly fucking your throat.

"My goddess. My queen. My breeder. Nothing will come between us again," Each word he spoke had a slight hint of wicked excitement.

Your muffled screams were a twisted symphony for his ears, one of the many things that exhilarated him.

From destroying the pitiful humans and their Gaia to reclaiming his precious doll and upholding his mother's legacy, Sephiroth had no chance of being overthrown. The cosmos was now his playing field.

You had your abilities to thank for helping you endure this brutal fuck, your belly now distended from the cock tentacles stretching it.

After what seemed like an eternity, the tentacles finally filled you to the brim with his corrupt, divine seed, forever marking you as his.

"Mine..." He said as your body trembled, the cum now leaking out of your plugged holes.

The tentacles were still sheathed inside you even after their release.

His enormous, ethereal wings then wrapped around you like a protective cocoon as he conjured a paradise world for you to rest in.

You'd assume the new roles he bestowed upon you when the time came.

Your will had vanished, leaving you as his perfect doll, forever bound to his divine presence.

Writing this reminded me of my favorite smutty prompt from the HoS AU, so it was super fun. By the way, this Safer Sephiroth is NOT the same as the one from the Dissidia AU! Two different temperaments around/towards their darlings, for sure. And Dissidia Safer Sephy has legs.

[pixeldolly]

The Sacrifice - Part 10

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

"The idol's gone, Eliza. I displaced it into Yg's core; if that doesn't melt it, nothing will. Either way, nobody's ever getting their hands on it again."

Yg...the name flashed through Eliza's reeling mind. It was an incalculably old star, a bloated red giant orbited by the lifeless husks of three nameless planets on a plane of existence so remote, fact gave way to rumor and conjecture.

None of that mattered.

Not even her disfigurement mattered, weighed against this new calamity.

Eliza could have struck Fiona dead right then and there, if she hadn't been frozen in utter terror.

The Chkrxgmbvegh, the Nameless One, also felt the shift in the planes.

It felt the inexorable pull of the abyss, as its hold on the material plane began slipping away. Already, it could smell the familiar stench of sulphur and rot and hear the cries of the damned, but the demon was furious.

It had been cheated.

"Witch! Thisss iss your fault! Your sssuffering shall be legendary, even in Hell!"

It did not specify which of the two witches it was speaking to, but Eliza Clare could sense the demon's red-hot ire even as it was pulled into a vortex of lurid un-light. That burning, vengeful anger was aimed at her.

"No, please! It wasn't my fault! SHE's the one, SHE did it!"

"I'll fix it, I swear! I'm begging you, give me another chance!"

Eliza's pleas fell on deaf ears. If the demon was listening, it didn't care; all it cared about was revenge.

She screamed as the fire ignited under her feet, engulfing her with a speed that was unnatural, unstoppable. Eliza thought she knew pain, but she was soon to be disabused of that notion.

She also knew with a certainty that did not originate within herself that this, too, would pale before future torments. Demons did not forgive.

And there was nothing she could do to change it. In a flash of insight dying minds are sometimes granted, Eliza realized that she had been hurtling towards the inferno all along, unable to feel the heat.

Maybe, once, a different outcome had been possible, but the point of no return had come and gone long ago. For the first time in decades, Eliza tasted regret, bitter as a mouthful of poison.

And then, she saw.

A stern father, a Jacoban preacher, trying to "beat the magic out of her."

A resentful mother berating her, knowing she could never, ever be good enough.

Herself as a young woman, vowing she would never be made to feel powerless again, no matter the cost. Sentiment was a weakness to be exploited, which she would cut out of herself as one would an infection.

Her son in her arms, her resolve weakening. It did not break.

Her son...

Then, Eliza saw no more.

"Wh- What happened? Where'd that thing go? Uuughh, I feel like I was hit by a goddamn truck!"

"Banished back to its home dimension. It sounded none too pleased about it, which means a certain blonde witch is being shown the hospitality of the Hellplanes as we speak."

"The fire...shit, are those ashes...?"

"Yep. Didn't leave much behind, did she?"

"Fucking hell - Roman!"

"He's fine. Luckily, the demon only took Eliza."

"Luckily? Sounds like you weren't sure what would happen."

"Well, I wasn't, exactly. I made an educated guess that it would see Eliza as the bigger prize. She'd sold her soul to that thing years ago - Roman was an advance payment on that debt, but it was never going to be enough. The Nameless One was toying with her; it would've demanded more and more, until she could no longer pay."

"Uhuh. And what if it had decided to take both of them?"

"That was a possibility, but I figured it only had enough power left to take one or the other."

"You gamble an awful lot with people's lives, Fiona."

"Considering the alternative was that we all died, I like to think it wasn't unreasonable."

"Fair, I guess. I'm okay too, by the way. Fuck, this bite burns like a motherfucker though! Is demon spit toxic?"

"Jacob...?"

"I'm here. Everything's going to be okay!"

"Where is -"

"It's gone. Fiona banished it; I think. You're safe now."

"And my...mother?"

Jacob pursed his lips; giving that woman the title of "mother" felt like a travesty.

"She's gone too."

"You...How did you know...?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you all the details later, but right now we need to get you to a hospital. How...how are you feeling?"

"Hurts. But - Jacob..."

"Shhhhh."

"Thank you..."

[sleepysamy]

Your current situation💗

THE PILES (Choose the pile which you feel the most attracted to. Feel free to choose more than 1 pile):

Pile 1

For those who have chosen pile 1, you guys have set a new foundation in your life . It could be that you have started with a new project, routine, business, or invested in something new to you . This necessarily does not have to be in physical aspects , it could also mean that you have started to work developing a better and healthy mindset for yourself, chose to do something fun . Whatever you have currently started or you are planning to start will surely take off after some time . I see that you had been planning to take this step for a long time but kept on procrastinating as if it was not the right time .If you have not done it yet, don't wait for long . You should start immediately! If you came to this reading to know if you are on the right path, then the answer is a big YES! KEEP FOLLOWING WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR MIND. This idea or plan of yours will surely come into fruition, and you will be blessed abundantly of what you expect the results to be . If you have been working on manifesting a certain thing currently , that thing will manifest in the 3d very soon. GO AHEAD PILE 1! YOU WILL HAVE AMAZING THINGS WORKING OUT IN YOUR FAVOR.

Note- The pile you chose had Amethyst as the crystal, which tells that you should trust your intuition rather than external validations . You should also take steps to improve your self-confidence. You also need to ground your energy well to reap benefits . Do lots of meditation to strengthen your third eye chakra . It will help you a lot in this period.

Song for you:

Channeled messages: Frisbee, Go-getter, Right now, Lovesick, Freelancing, Back to Pavillion, Nasty af , Eat fruits , Go gym , Join the art class.

Pile 2

Hi Pile 2s, Life has been going shitty these days, right? You might have recently gone through a breakup , I am sorry, but it can be the loss of a loved one , or perhaps you have not been satisfied with where you are currently in your life. You blaming yourself over things. Self criticizing over small things that happen in your daily life. You also might have to face a situation in the future, which is making you really, really nervous about how you are supposed to handle it . But let me tell you, sometimes it's only our mind, which makes a simple situation worsen just because of the negative and scary thoughts we get inside. And trust me, whatever you are scared of facing is not that tough. You are making it out to be . Let go of your negative self - limiting beliefs and have a positive outlook towards life. You might also be currently dealing with anxiety and stress due to upcoming deadlines, projects you need to finish( additional message I got ). You might have had conflicts with your family members, freinds, colleagues which is causing you to overthink about what you could've done better to improve the situation? How can you get back to the same pace again. The answer lies inside you , sorry, but the answer is not crying but to face this situation with courage and fearlessness. I know you can and you will do it . You have all its takes to get over this . This time shall pass very soon . Nothing ever stays constant. Time is always moving . YOU GOT THIS PILE 2!

Note- The crystal you chose is a Golden Sunstone .This means that you need a new positive approach to life . You might be struggling with a creative blockage because I think your sacral chakra's flow is blocked. This is the reason you may get stressed easily . You can check on guided meditations on YouTube to overcome this . You can also try on positive affirmations.

Channeled messages: Naina, Pearl, Hunt, Thirst, Lying, Easy-going, Eat out.

Pile 3

Hi Pile 3s , so you are currently experiencing a massive transformation in your life. You are transforming into a beautiful new being . It's not that you are changing yourself . But you are just returning to your most authentic and true self . You are starting to recognize your own power. You are evolving and growing like a butterfly . It is a stage of metamorphis in your life where you are the caterpillar who faces struggles and endured pain( physical or mental). You might have let people walk all over you in the past . You left those people. Now, you have begun to establish healthy boundaries and stand strong . It can also be for some people who were sick for a long period of time and know they are getting well ( I get anorexia). You could have also struggled with an identity crisis before, but know you are out of it. You might be going through a spiritual awakening right now. You are vulnerable right now , you have surrendered to the universe , and you've learned how to let go . You have also started to accept the darkest parts within yourself, which felt unsettling uncomfortable for you. You are not taking anyone's shit now. You are so done with everything that you realise it is of no use. You realised you were draining your energy and time with being around with those people who don't care about you. Just like a Phoenix who burns and raises from its ashes. You are in the in-between phase of figuring things out in your life where you are still trying to sort out things for yourself, but DONT WORRY THE UNIVERSE IS WATCHING OVER YOU . THEY GUIDE IN EVERY STEP THAT YOU TAKE. You will soon enter into a phase where you will welcome healthy connections, love, and opportunities . THIS PERIOD OF YOUR IS VERY CRUCIAL, AND YOU MUST PAY ATTENTION TO THE SIGNS ALL AROUND YOU.

Note- The crystal that you picked is a black tourmaline, which is for protection from negative energies ,bad luck, and grounding. You might want to consider rituals to protect your energy or meditate to protect your energy from your surroundings.

Song for you:

Channeled messages champagne, crossover road ,wet sweater, sympathy, Simon says , who cares, pain, will I pretty , I am your mother you listen to me

Pile 4

Similar to pile 2, but the energy of pile 2 was intense, Yours is much more light-hearted and fun-going. I feel like you have forgotten to enjoy your life . Your mind is so involved in a daily hustle that it has forgotten to take a chill pill, man. Like you really need to relax . You are just taking life too seriously . Have fun, come on, it's summer . You are in the energy of constant pushing and pushing. You have a constant need to excel in things, whether it's exhausting yourself completely to achieve it. Sometimes, you forget about your own well-being in order to complete a task ( WORKAHOLICS FRR🤦‍♀️). You need to let loose . Learn how to receive . You are too much in your masculine energy, right now? You need to let things flow. Forget about the future. See what's in front of you. Observe the nature, the birds, the trees, the people around you. OBSERVE THEM. TALK TO THEM . GO OUT SIS/BRO . PARTY . JUST RELAX AND YOULL SEE EVERYTHING AROUND YOU TURNS OUT IN YOUR FAVOR. I didn't get much for your pile because actually you shouldn't be here being so concerned over silly things about whether am I going right or not . Will this do or that do. Dude, just chill . Seriously, just take a deep breath . You need a break, sweety.

Note- Your pile had a yellow moonstone that soothes the aura and brings the best out in people. It also provides emotional and intuitive support. I feel you need to go a spa session to get facial , massage, or something. It will help you ease your energy. You need to take care of your skincare routine and do lots of self care. It will rejuvenate your energy.

Channeled messages: I didn't hear anything for your pile.

[milesmentis]

Bards

Day 5: Veilguard 30 (Filling in for @daisymeade with a snippet featuring her Hawke, the best worst only bard in Kirkwall ... DA2 didn't give us the bard spec because they knew that Marion would've been literally unstoppable.)

“And now, gentle patrons, I shall pass my hat.”

“What for?” A loud voice cut through the grumbling, catching the attention of very nearly everyone in the room. Cyric squinted. The speaker was a lanky man sitting in the far corner nearest the door. He was leaning back, his chair precariously balanced against the back wall, his booted feet up on the table. A heckler.

Cyric pulled himself up to his full height. “For the evening's fine entertainment, serah.”

“Oh, and when does that start?” The patrons snickered into their stale mugs of ale, even the ones who had been pointedly ignoring his luteing. “Sorry,” the man continued with a cocky grin, “but the Hanged Man doesn't run on credit.”

That really got the room going, a few whistles and stamps mixed in with the raucous laughter.

Cyric’s face burned, but he managed to snap back, “Well, I'd like to see you do better!”

At once, the man swung his leg down in a casual motion so smooth that it had to be practiced. As soon as his foot hit the floor, so did the legs of his chair and he was up and moving. He crossed half of the crowded room in a breath and Cyric couldn't help but gulp. The man was taller … and significantly wider than he'd originally assumed. His chest was broad and his arms rippled with lean muscle beneath his rolled up sleeves. His mouth still curved up in a languid grin, but from this close it looked much less friendly.

“That sounded like a wager.”

“And … if it was?” Nothing to do now but call his bluff … or possibly, he realized belatedly, take a very comprehensive thrashing. “Fancy a go?”

He held out the lute by the neck as if it was a dead chicken and the man's smile actually spread into a full grin.

“Well … I'll try anything once.”

“We know!” called one of the other patrons and the room cracked up again.

He turned to yell back over his shoulder, “And how was I supposed to know that was your sister? If she’d been mule-ugly and drunk, I'd have known to ask permission first!”

Ignoring the latest round of hoots and jeers, the man rolled his shoulders like he was loosening up to lift something heavy then held out a calloused hand.

“Terms?”

Cyric thought for a moment. “If you can play a song - any song - I'll cover all your drinks for the night.”

The man grinned. “Think you’ll get enough to pay up when you lose?”

Cyric stuck out his chin. “Having second thoughts about showing your ass in front of your friends?”

“Good one,” the man snickered. “But that assumes they haven't all seen it. Assumptions are like that.”

The man turned the lute back and forth, giving the instrument a critical once over before slinging the band over his neck. He settled his arm around it, a bit as if he were cradling a newborn calf and began to fidget with the tuning. Cyric snorted. Despite trying to look confident, the man’s “fiddling” would only take it out a tune - this was likely going to be more painful than embarrassing.

He plucked his first note, sour as curdled milk, and Cyric grit his teeth. More notes came in succession, trailing like lost ducklings in an arhythmic mess. He almost went to snatch his precious instrument back from the lout when he strummed a selection of discordant notes in a chord. It hummed sympathetically to the jarring notes hanging in the smoky room, creating a bridge. The man plucked again, a quicker run through the notes followed by the same chord twice, reigning in the chaos. Cyric winced again as the man’s rough fingers slid down the strings in a screech but it ended again in a chord, this one much more pleasing. The firelight danced on the man’s face, catching at his lips which now turned up in a less harsh expression, one of private satisfaction as if he’d just brought a difficult horse into line. The music was still not to Cyric’s taste, but there was a certain wild beauty to it. It sounded like a drunkard's waltz, swaying back and forth across the room until it bumped against those oft repeated chords.

As the phrase repeated again and again, the man began to embellish, adding trills and sympathetic chords until the song carried something remarkably close to a melody. The tempo increased and as the man began to stomp in time, Cyric realized with a start that not only was he swaying along with the beat, so were most of the patrons. Even the most hardfaced drunks were nodding in time or tapping mugs against the worn and sticky tabletops. The music built to a crescendo, quick triplets and a muddled mess of chords all crashing together. It came to an abrupt end with one final stomp from the redheaded man, but as a few cheers and some raucous applause drifted towards them from the table in the back he stomped again. And again. And again. Expectant quiet fell then, all attention drawn to him like metal shavings to a lodestone. And he began to sing.

Fortune, fortune, smile and fade

Haven't seen you much of late

His voice was like his luting: unpolished, lilting, and undeniably Ferelden. The cadence of his words swayed in an almost dirge-like rhythm as he continued:

Need you now, I cannot wait

But when I look you’re not around

Cyric startled when a few patrons joined in, the strongest voices coming from a table full of laborers, judging from the stone dust on their clothes.

Never minding what we do

The night’s still good for a dram or two

I’ll be drinking late with you

Until the morning comes around

Yea, I must be good for something

Yea, pray tell?

His crooning dropped deep into his chest at that last part, aching with a desperate longing. A tremulous chord hung in the air for a breath before the man threw back his head and, followed by almost two dozen voices, launched into the chorus.

Oh sinners come down, come gather 'round

Oh sinners come down, lay-o-lai

Dancing on cold feet

Marching down cobbled streets

Oh sinners come down, lay-o-laaaiii

[shisui-uchiha-anon]

plotted starter for @kiigan

"All of our tickets have been sold again we shall have a full house" The boys were more than happy to hear tose news.

"Everyone will listen to our Nightingale our Night Song Shisui" Teasing went on "Since when Nightingale sings melodic metal and lyric soprano?" Boys including Shisui were impossible and unstoppable only one who restrained himself was Itachi. He was always the head of reason. And it all started with them. Best friends Itachi and Shisui founders of this bend. Best friends who lived for the music.

But it was not always like this. Five of them are concerning the world. When they started it was just Itachi and Shisui, playing and Shisui singing. In small bars in their hometown, no one understood the music they created. They were accused of worshiping the devil because of their makeup and their choice of clothing. But Shisui refused to give up and soon the two of them moved. Shisi went to music school and got his voice to perfection, to the point that he could sing even without music. His voice found its way to the hearts of the public. And Itachi's music only made them even more popular.

Soon it was time to form a band; faster than you can blink, they had three more members. But nothing could prepare them physically for touring, traveling living in the moving caravan. All that equipment practicing, frustration so much fans and interviews. plans for the future constant change of outfits, and writing songs. Life became too fast to keep up. And they almost regretted everything until

....until they became a couple....

....and then not only music bound them but their love too....

They became a sensation not just for music lovers but for the people who had struggled to come out and publicly declare whom they loved. Shisui never wanted to leave two things Itach and the music.

Today each successful performance Shisui would go out with the boys, Itachi always went with him but not always he would drink. Sometimes he would let Shisui party he would choose peace in their rented room. But when Shisaui would come first thing he would do was push him under a cold shower to sober him up and wash off his alcohol stench.

"I can't believe you did that to me?!" Shisui said while Itachi was blow-drying his curly hair...

[galeslovesickcleric24]

Gods Don't Heal Broken Hearts

A/N: Hello again! I know I've already started a multi-part fic. But this one is so incredibly short. Please enjoy! Expect part 2 to How to Save a Life soon!

Click here to read on AO3!

!!! PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS WORK WILL CONTAIN SPOLIERS TO BALDUR'S GATE 3. ESPECIALLY THE END OF THE GAME. PLEASE DO NOT READ AHEAD UNLESS YOU WISH TO BE SPOILED OR YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE GAME !!!

Part I of III: Crown of Corruption

Words: 1,789

The long, tiring battle between being and brain was fought and fought well. Rosemary and all of her gathered allies beaten, bruised and bloodied; surrounded by rivers of blood and piles of corpses, both illithid and humanoid alike. The cleric and her campmates find themselves stood on the docks of Baldur’s Gate, relief and exhaustion all blurring into one emotion.

The sun hangs low in the sky, plunging the city in beautiful shades of oranges and yellows with a soft cacophony of waves lapping against the shore filling their ears. The scent of salt strong in the air, wafting through each of their nostrils and delighting their senses with much needed refreshment. 

“Take a moment,” Wyll begins, “Savour our victory. Long may the coastwinds carry our names,” he smiles.

“I…can’t feel the tadpole… They must have all died with the brain - that means we can’t turn into mind flayers!” Shadowheart beams.

While everyone celebrates with hugs and cheers, Gale’s mind and his person wanders to the edge of the docks, thoughtfulness clouding his features. “The crown. It’s somewhere in the Chionthar.”

“Where it shall remain!” Rosemary grins, “At least for a moment. We can think about returning it later. Let’s celebrate the now! Our victory.”

Gale continues his thoughts, disregarding his lover’s enthusiasm, “If I salvage the stones, I could retrieve it. Perhaps even wield it,” a power-hungry grin turns his lips with delight as he continues to entertain the thought. The cleric’s face falls, her heart beginning to hammer in her chest as he remains on this train, “With the crown in my hands, I would be unstoppable.” 

The wizard begins to pace, becoming more and more thoughtful. Rosemary reaches out to him, gently grasping his hand; “Gale, my darling, we don’t need the crown. We have enough as it is. We are alive, are we not? Isn’t that satiable?”

“I’m not sure you quite understand, flower. I would be more than the greatest wizard who ever lived,” he turns to face her, excitement dancing in his irises, “I would be a god.”

“Is that truly what you want? I-I thought we talked about this,” the elf reaches to stroke her love’s cheek, “The plan is still to return the crown to Mystra, yes?”

“I’m not so sure. I believe I owe it to myself to see where destiny leads.” 

“What…?” The cleric’s heart drops right into the deepest pit of her stomach, her brain now swimming with the most anxious of thoughts. “Gale, you cannot be serious.”

“I have never been more serious. The opportunity has practically thrust itself into my hands, my love. I’d be a fool to miss out on such a thing. Don’t you agree?” 

“No. No, I can’t say that I do. Gale, we had a deal. We were to hand the crown to Mystra and go about our lives. Living the fullest life we can with that wretched orb banished from your chest,” she takes the wizard’s hands in her own, “We can still do things properly, love. Return to Waterdeep, take our time, make up for that we have lost. It isn’t too late.” She begs, eyes pleading and glassy. The wizard thinks on her words for a moment, letting them sink in. The next moment, they are dismissed; his mind jumping immediately back to the crown and its power.

“For you. I-...I can’t disregard the crown. Simply forget about it,” Gale gently slips his hands out of hers, returning to the edge of the dock, “I would live a life of regret if I did.”

His chest begins to glow an sorcerous lilac, a hand reaching out to the murky waters ahead. The ground begins to shake, stone beginning to crack in the distance as the crown ascends from the water. The bony structure is encased in the same arcane cage as Gale’s chest, floating its way into the wizard’s beckoning hands. 

Rosemary stands in awe of the man in front of her, the man she thought she knew so very well. The same man that would tell her how she puts the stars to shame, how he forgets their goddess by simply being near her, that she has given him a whole new meaning to living. That man disappears right in front of her eyes as she watches the promise of power engulf him and chain him in its iron grasp. The thought is enough to move her to tears, her feet propelling her to close the gap between them; words escaping her lips faster than she can conjure them in her mind.

“Don’t you dare!” She shrieks “Gale, we had an agreement!”

Gale turns to Rosemary, desperation and determination clouding his brown irises: “This is my chance! I have been patient enough. Don’t you want this for me?” He attempts to reason. 

“No! No, I do not! I keep telling you! What I want is you! I don’t need a god! I can’t be with a god! I need you! The real you! I don’t need all the magic. You are more than enough.” She pleads, wandering over and offering out her hand for the crown “Give it to me, Gale. We can hand it over to Mystra and go back to Waterdeep, live a happy and full life. Together.”

“Why not live forever? Rosemary, I could be so much more to you! We wouldn’t need anything else. You wouldn’t need anything else. We’d be the most powerful beings in the universe.”

“If you become a god, I cannot have you like I have you now. I cannot hold you, I cannot kiss you, I cannot enjoy reading books curled up by the hearth of the fire with you in your tower.. You do not listen to me! I don’t need more! I don’t! No more than I already have!  Do you not understand what you are doing? To me? To your poor mother? To Tara?”

“They would want what is best for me. And I believe that this is the best possible outcome.”

“I have never met anyone so foolish. Godhood is the best outcome? How selfish.” Rosemary spits, unadulterated rage beginning to boil her blood, “I clearly overestimated your intelligence.” Tears brim his lover’s eyes, a river threatening to burst the banks of her tear ducts as she exhales a hopeless sigh. “You do this, you lose me. I won’t have anything to do with you. And I certainly will not be your fucking chosen. I know better than to do so. Because I know where they all end up.”

“Rosemary-“ Gale begins, but she cuts him right off.

“I mean it. I really do. You ascend to the heavens and you will never fucking see me again.”

“You think so little of me! Do you really think I’d leave you and never see you again? I will always come back for you. You can be a goddess too, Rosie. You can rule at my side. We can be together for the rest of eternity. Is that not what you want too? Why do you fight me on this?” He questions, crown still clutched in his fists. 

“Because I cannot stand to lose you! How can you possibly still want to go through with this?! Is everything we’ve been through not enough for you?!” The elf’s tears start to roll down her cheeks as she fights sobs, swallowing them down thickly.

“I-…” the wizard has run out of things to say. It’s rare he finds himself in such a position. But seeing his love in the state she’s in makes time stop, allows chills to run so coolly down his spine, and fills his stomach with utmost regret. His chest tightens, guilt painting his face an ugly shade of grey. “Of course it is.”

“But it isn’t?! Is it?! Because you’re still clutching the wretched thing like your favourite toy!” Rosemary yells, stifling a hearty cry, “I-I’m tired of fighting you on this! I thought we made a promise! We had plans, Gale! How come it is so easy to throw away something that was once so precious to you?”

“It is right here in my hands! I’d be a fool to deny such a thing. Such power! Such an opportunity! I’m not doing it for me, I’m doing it for us. For both of us.”

“I want no part in this. In this sick revenge plan. Where does it end?”

“Right here! But only if you allow me to!” He begs.

The cleric ponders for a short moment, checking off a list of pros and cons in her mind, continuing to shatter her heart more than it already has. Wordlessly, she shakes her head, hastily wiping away her tears. “Fine. If it’s what you want. I have warned you. I can do nothing more. But I won’t stand around to watch the man I loved become a husk of the great man I once knew him to be”  Rosemary leaves the wizard with a final, loving kiss; savouring every last moment she has to feel him, to touch him, to remember him as he is in the present. 

Gale drops the crown at their feet, holding her as close as he can possibly have her; bodies pressed desperately against one another. His heart wrenches, its strings taut with guilt and upset.

Wiping away a trickle of blood from his cheek, Rosemary  pulls away, cupping his cheeks in her palms, taking in every last detail of his face. His eyes that once looked upon her so fondly, the lips she would kill to kiss all day if she were permitted, the beard that tickled her neck every time he would pepper her body in worshipping kisses. With the heaviest of hearts, she brings their foreheads together, placing a gentle hand to rest over the tattoo on his chest before bending to pick up the crown and placing it into his hands. “Goodbye, Gale. I hope you enjoy the new life you’ll build. Say hello to Mystra for me. You deserve each other.” Her words sting, cut right through Gale like a knife through butter as she watches her walk away. 

His heart weighs his chest down, regret filling every crevice of his being as he stomachs the realisation of the impact of his actions on the woman he loves most, how much he has hurt her, how he has broken her. The thoughts are fleeted as he remembers the very item in his hands; the very thing that would seal his destiny and would make him one of the most powerful beings to ever exist. 

More than a mere wizard would he be. 

He would ascend to godhood, where he rightfully belongs; rightly or wrongly.

[sixosix]

haiii pookie snukums muah muah cherry pie :3 idk i just wanna give thoughts (and maybe recieve some from u too 👉👈) from the new trailer bc im bored and i feel like im being toasted alive... mainit

FREMI💀 no bc he looks like he can be blown away from a lil breeze. like a sneeze can turn him into dust💀 BUT BRO BLOCKED A WHOLE ASS HIT FROM ARLECCHINO WHILE ALSO HOLDING LIKE A 30 KILO CLAYMORE💥 HOW BUFF IS HEEEEE😭 (lyney at the side like a damsel)

speaking of lyney,,,,i saw somewhere, idk if its canon or not, but i read that lyney is canonically weak. not weak as in "cannot fight", more like, "brains over brawn" type of weak. his main strength comes from his big fat brain and i think thats hot (lyney as brains, thawed!mc as brawns. an unstoppable duo if i do say so myself)

Im just gonna say, arlecchino DID NOT MISS❗❗ when she chose lyney as the successor. bc think about it, the house's main objective is to adopt kids to make them into soldiers(or other stuff). so why are the children not doing anything about it? because they are blinded by father's "love". they've been provided a home and a family that they can love, ofc theyre going to do whatever they can to repay her kindness. i say "blinded by love" bc its most probably not genuine. arlecchino will only do things if it benefits her. so, in short, the children are being decieved into loyalty and submission.

and what is one of lyney's biggest/ most prominent trait? being able to decieve others very easily. he's a magician ffs😭😭 (this is probably why thawed!mc is hesitant/ doesnt believe him whenever he does something bc she knows that its probably not genuine. and bc of this, they're both miserable.💀)

like, he may not be physically strong, but that brain and charisma can bring you to your end in a snap. and that hot.

i only heard childe's voice but i feel like he's important to the lore. my manz been to 3 countries, and hes hasnt retrieve a single (1) gnosis😭 pack up boy ur no harbinger all u do is look pretty and get your ass handed to u THRICE😭 (i love him tho muah)

WIDNTRACE omg windtrce FINALLYY😭😭uueuedhhsuwh

ur so cool bc i just saw the ask asking if theres thawed update tmrw, and ur gonna do RESEARCH???? this is why i love u. marry me. pookie idc how long it takes, everything u write is so delicious. quality over quantity is so real ily. and i dont want thawed to end so soon....

i think thats all of my brain barf today. congrats again on 5k!!! ily muah♥️

HI AKAAGIIIII i did. i did see. i watched it from zy0xs livestream. first of all, ARLECCHINO IS SOOO COOL her presence… unmatched….. the lore ?! im so excited as a player and as a thawed writer!!!!

I KNOW FREMINET WAS INSANE THERE HAHAHAH the way he didnt fall back.. King. king behavior. LYNEY TOOOO HELLOOO THE LORE BOMBBB the throwback to him being chosen as the next King AAAAAA my brain was going overdrive (thawed!mc being brawns shes so stupid i love her)

and yes!! your thoughts on lyney and arlecchino are so true. arlecchino picking lyney makes sense in her perspective but the fact that lyney doesnt want to do it says so much about his character! lyney is such a well written character im so in love

i was so surprised to hear childes voice i was like oh gosh the thawed is writing itself?????

AND YESSS RESEARCH AAA i rlly rlly want to wait and see what the House lore is all about before i write thawed because i think i could really use it. not only for ideas but for keeping it feel like it could easily be an actual genshin quest.. TY AHAHHAA ILY TOO we shall have a spring wedding, like taht post about artists asking permission to draw fanart from writers (thats me)

[trans-peridot]

FFxivWrite Day 30: Two Heads Are Better Than One

We did it! 30 fics in 30 days, never missed a day except that one but no I didn't. To tie a little bow on it, here's Tayfun and Saffron riding off into the sunset to become a battle couple. This takes place right before Endwalker so I'm sure nothing bad will happen.

Krile banged at the door of Tayfun and Saffron’s house. “Tayfun! We need your help! Strange towers have manifested all over Eorzea and a man in Asahi’s body is demanding an audience! We need the Warrior of Light!”

Tayfun reluctantly answered the door. “I’m retired, Krile. I’m sure this is some serious world-ending stuff, but I feel quite confident that you all can overcome it together with the power of friendship and the power of incredible violence. Now if you don’t mind, I was in the middle of a three-hour cuddle session with my beautiful wife.”

Krile wedged her boot in the door before Tayfun could slam it. “Is this really what you want, Tayfun? You want to take a path of, of... Indolence? Aren’t you bored already?”

“I waited three years to see my wife again, Krile. I’m not wasting another moment that I could be spending with her.”

“Oh no you don’t!” Krile muscled her way in through Tayfun’s door. For being so small, and for not being a fighter, she was a slippery one. “Okay, Saffron is your first and foremost love. But I know in your heart that your second love is adventure. You didn’t follow us along for three years just to pass some time, Tayfun, you did it for sheer love of the game!”

Tayfun grabbed Krile by her cute little cat-shaped hood and tried to shove her back out the door. “You can’t make me do anything I don’t feel like doing!”

Saffron came into the foyer and watched the scene unfold. “Oh, hello Krile! I haven’t seen you in a while!”

“You... know each other?” Tayfun dropped Krile. “Wait, when would you two have even met?”

Krile looked at Saffron. “Dear, did you not tell her? You were so excited to tell her, if you build up a surprise forever then there’s never any surprise.” She scampered over to Saffron. “Will you tell her now, or shall I?”

Saffron shrugged. “I wanted to get at least a little domestic time between prison and this, but I guess this is my sign.”

“While you were still in the First after Saffron was released, she tracked down the Scions. Tataru and I were in the Rising Stones at the time, and she told us how she had been secretly training to fight while in prison, so she could defend herself if your enemies found out about her. Tayfun, she’s a trained Dancer.”

Tayfun stared at her wife. She was much more muscular than she’d been three years ago. And her fashion sense had become much more ornamental and frilly. And come to think of it, maybe those circular throwing blades Saffron kept above their bed weren’t for decoration after all.

Saffron cleared her throat. “When Gaius came to the Scions for help with the Ultima Weapons, I happened to be visiting your comatose friends. I volunteered to help him take the weapons out because...” Saffron took Tayfun’s hand in both of hers and met her eyes with fiery intensity. “I want to join you, Tayfun! You don’t need to choose between your two loves, we can be an unstoppable battle couple! Asahi was that guy Yotsuyu killed last year, right? So it’s definitely an Ascian. Give me a minute and I’ll get ready and then we can cut him to pieces and tear his towers down together.”

“Saf... How can I let you come with me? I would never forgive myself if you were hurt on my watch.”

“Okay, and if you ever die on one of your adventures I’ll burn the star down to nothing. So let’s be sure to watch each other’s backs out there. Two heads are better than one, right?” Saffron reached a hand to her ear and spoke into her linkpearl, “Scions, this is Saffron speaking. We’ll be there soon. Keep our man occupied.” Had she had that this whole time and Tayfun hadn’t noticed?

Krile smiled and stepped out the door. “So glad to have you back with us, Tayfun. Fortunately Tataru never processed your resignation in the first place, so we won’t have to add you back to our payroll. See you soon!”

Krile teleported away and Saffron rushed upstairs for her things, leaving Tayfun dumbstruck in her foyer. Maybe they were right, adventure sounded better than retirement any day.

[thewholekeg]

Langsum Dim in Kenwald

Or, Elizabeth's New Clothes

The moon had roamed the sky over Kenwald for two days. Now, it had finally found its way to the very centre, where it hung, bright and full, over the forest.

The night was clear. So clear it seemed to glitter, as though the stark winter cold had frozen the air itself. On the ground, a thick sheet of snow painted the world in endless, shimmering white. It looked as though the stars had descended to earth. It was the depths of the longest night of the year, and it was perfect, and silent, and still.

Lazarus Eut peered out of the wagon, taking it in. The snow glowed in the moonlight, almost daylight-bright. It was the perfect night to stay up talking and drinking with friends. Or to make new friends. Or even just to roam the streets, peeking in shop windows and waving to all the other mice roaming the streets and peeking in shop windows.

But, he supposed, you needed a city for shops. And all his friends were back in Willowvalley.

Well… no, that wasn’t true.

A woman joined Lazarus at the door. Just a whisker shorter than he, but with an unflappable confidence that made her seem a foot tall at times. Powerful, self-assured, and beautiful.

He turned to her. “It doesn’t look like anyone’s going to be coming,” he said.

“That’s no surprise,” Elizabeth Stopper replied. She peeked out past him, her eyes darting quickly over the landscape. “Most sensible mice make it to a city, or at least bunker down by the first day of Langsum Dim. Five days of darkness is a grim prospect, Merciful or no.”

Lazarus smiled wryly. “So what’s our excuse, then?” he asked.

Every year, in the depths of winter, the world turned dark. The sun set, and for almost five days it did not rise. Oh, the midday sky lightened, and the thin blue-gray sliver of dusk appeared along the horizon, but true daylight never came. Soon enough, the sky was dark again.

It was almost midnight, now, of the third day of Langsum Dim. The true longest night of the year.

“Business,” Elizabeth replied. “Duty.” She smirked. “Sheer, unstoppable bone-headedness.”

Lazarus chuckled. “That’s funny, you’d think William would be here, if that was all.”

Langsum Dim was a time for celebration–perhaps the time for celebration. A time to gather together with friends and family. A time to feast, and to laugh. To play games, and exchange gifts. At least, it had been. In the city.

He felt Elizabeth’s hand on his arm, and realised he must have looked terribly dour. “Well!” he said. “I suppose that means this beautiful view is just for us, then, hmm?”

“Do you miss it?” Elizabeth asked.

Lazarus faltered. “There’s no point in missing it,” he said.

“That isn’t a no,” Elizabeth retorted. “In fact, I’m fairly certain it’s a yes.”

Her eyes were piercing. Kind, but kind in the way of a doctor who's just been told a broken leg is ‘not that bad’ and that ‘there’s no need to fuss over it, really’. She could stop a cat in its tracks, Lazarus was sure.

He sighed. His breath fogged in the cold night air, the stream of vapour underlining his melancholy. “I do miss it,” he said. “But there’s no point in missing it. I can’t go back. I’ll settle down eventually, build a new life for myself. But for now… I have this.”

Elizabeth cocked her head at him, putting on a pout that would be much more convincing if she hadn’t still been smiling. “Surely it isn’t so terrible to be stuck with me for Langsum Dim, is it?”

Lazarus felt a warm tingle in his ears.He plucked at them, and said, “I was rather trying to say that it’s a good thing,” he said.

“Oh, good,” Elizabeth said. “I’m glad we agree, then.”

Lazarus shook his head, chuckling. Then he stood still for a moment, not sure whether to look at the night, or at Elizabeth.

“... Miss Elizabeth,” he said, after a moment, “would you sit outside with me? For a while? I know it’s cold, but…”

“Oh no,” Elizabeth laughed. “The cold. Whatever shall I do?” Her blue eyes twinkled like another pair of stars, and she stepped past him. She sat on the back step, clearing a patch of snow beside her. 

A patch, Lazarus noticed, that was just large enough for him to sit shoulder to shoulder with her. He smiled, and ducked inside the wagon for a moment.

“Lazarus?” Elizabeth asked.

“Sorry,” Lazarus said. He quickly snatched up a bundle from where he’d hid it underneath his bunk. “Just grabbing–well.” He stepped quickly back out, lowering himself down into the patch that Elizabeth had cleared.

Elizabeth peered at him as he sat down, smiling bemusedly.

“Sorry,” Lazarus said again. “Just, ah…”

“Grabbing something warmer?” Elizabeth suggested, shrugging to emphasise the shawl wrapped around her shoulders.

“Ah,” Lazarus said. He suddenly felt the chill settling into his arms. “That would have been…”

Elizabeth chuckled. She put her whole body into it, leaning in and rubbing her shoulder against his. He was almost positive that she did it on purpose, but even Elizabeth couldn’t be that deliberate. Then again…

Elizabeth opened her shawl, smiling impishly up at him. “You’re welcome to share mine,” she cooed. “This time of year it’s important to conserve warmth, you know…”

The warmth in Lazarus’s ears crept lower. “I got you a gift,” he said sharply. “Um. Miss Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth stopped suddenly, blinking. “A gift?” she asked.

Lazarus swallowed hard and took out one of the bundles, a small, rectangular package wrapped in plain brown paper. He held it out for her. “I’m sorry it’s not better wrapped, but…”

“Hush,” Elizabeth chided him. “It’s wonderful. Thank you, Lazarus.” She sat up, carefully untied the twine of the package, unfolded the paper, and immediately burst out laughing.

“Oh my goodness!” Elizabeth cried, almost gasping for air. She lifted the contents of the package, watching it unfold with an expression of awe. The finest fabrics had been precisely cut and immaculately tailored into a piece that was, almost certainly, still technically clothing. “Mr. Eut!”

“So you can blush!” Lazarus laughed.

Elizabeth clapped a hand to her cheek. “What?” she asked.

Lazarus pointed at the dark shade crawling across her cheeks and muzzle. “I can see it through your fur!” he said. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see it, but you can blush after all!”

“Well, I should say so!” Elizabeth said, laughing again. She grinned incredulously at him. “I have never received a gift like this from a man! And besides,” she pointed an accusing finger at him, “you’re one to talk! Look at you!”

Lazarus was very aware of the burning in his ears now. They must have been bright pink. Still, he clung to his victory. “You can make me blush without hardly trying, but I’ve never seen you do it!”

“Well, consider yourself successful, then,” Elizabeth said. “Honestly!”

Her smile turned sly suddenly, and she leaned in. “If you think I’m red now, just imagine how much I’ll be blushing when I wear it.”

“I–” Lazarus said. He stopped dead as his train of thought was obliterated by another engine hurtling down the tracks. “W-what!?” he stammered.

Elizabeth grinned victoriously at him. She tapped his nose, which was burning along with his ears. “There it is,” she said.

“B-but,” Lazarus said. “You–I mean, that, you, M-miss Stopper, I–I didn’t mean for you to–”

“Oh, but I must,” she cooed. “It was, after all, a gift. It would be terribly rude not to.” She leaned heavily, pressing herself against his arm. “Don’t you agree Mr. Eut?”

“Miss Stopper,” Lazarus said, helplessly.

Elizabeth laughed so hard she almost toppled over him. “You shouldn’t start fights you can’t finish, Mr. Eut.”

“This isn’t how I imagined this going,” Lazarus said.

“Oh, I think I can guess how you imagined this going,” Elizabeth said. She grinned. “But you know, the night is still young…”

“Miss Stopper!”

Elizabeth laughed again. “Oh, alright,” she said. “Fuddy duddy.” She began folding the cloth back up. “Well, it is very pretty. But you can have it back, if you like, so you can return it the next time you’re in… where did you pick this up?”

“... Boldburrow,” Lazarus said. He rubbed his nose, desperately trying to work out the blush. “... And… you don’t have to do that…”

“Mm-hm,” Elizabeth said.

“It was a gift,” Lazarus said. “It would be rude–”

“Mmmm-hm,” Elizabeth said.

The blush came back. Lazarus tried to banish it again, but there was just no helping it.

“Honestly, Lazarus,” Elizabeth chuckled, “you are just too much fun.”

Despite his best efforts, Lazarus smiled as well. “Well… I’m glad it was worth a laugh, at least… and well-received. I admit, I thought it was a bit of a gamble…”

“And then you got to know me for five minutes?” Elizabeth asked, elbowing him gently.

“Well, still!” Lazarus laughed. “You are still a lady, after all.”

“Oh, thank you for noticing,” Elizabeth said.

“I did get you a gift,” Lazarus said. “A real one, I mean.” He took out the second bundle, a much smaller, slimmer box tied with a bow, and laid it gently on Elizabeth’s leg.

“Oh, Lazarus,” Elizabeth said. “You didn’t need to–I wasn’t expecting anything.”

“I know,” Lazarus said. “But I wanted to. You’re my…”

He hesitated. Elizabeth peered at him out of the corner of her eye. Not expectantly, per se, but…

“I care about you, very much,” Lazarus said.

That seemed to be enough. Elizabeth smiled, and said, “Thank you, Lazarus. I care about you too.”

She undid the bow and opened the box. It was a necklace, a small silver shield on a chain. On the back of the shield Lazarus had personally engraved the name, ‘Marjory’.

“I hope you like it,” Lazarus said. “I–I know it might mean more to me than you, but I hope–”

“Oh, Lazarus,” Elizabeth gasped. She lifted it delicately out of its box. “It’s wonderful. I love it.”

She turned to Lazarus. Her eyes shone even brighter than the silver. ���Help me put it on?”

“Ah–of course,” Lazarus said. He took the necklace from her, hesitating as Elizabeth’s fingers brushed over his.

She turned away from him, scoping her hair aside and letting him at the back of her neck. Lazarus carefully laced the chain around her throat. As he did, he found his eyes tracing the arch of her neck, and the muscle of her shoulder. A small gust of wind pressed her scent up his nose, sweet and light and gentle. He shivered.

Elizabeth turned slightly, peering over her shoulder at him. Lazarus could feel his ears redden as she smiled.

“There,” Lazarus said as he fixed the clasp on the necklace. “How does that feel?”

Elizabeth adjust the necklace slightly, letting the medallion rest at the crest of her–

Lazarus looked out at the snow.

“Good,” Elizabeth said. “Cold?”

Lazarus blinked. “Cold?” he asked. “Well–the metal, I suppose…”

Elizabeth laughed. “Not the necklace,” she said. “You. Are you cold?”

Lazarus turned back to her. She was looking up at him, and a knowing smile told him she already knew the answer. But there was a hint of concern in her eyes as well.

Lazarus smiled. “A bit,” he admitted. “But I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Elizabeth asked. Her smile turned impish, and she lifted the edge of her shawl. “The offer is still open.”

Lazarus didn’t need to answer. They both laughed.

“Have you ever spent Langsum Dim in the forest?” Elizabeth asked.

“No,” Lazarus said. He rubbed his ears, chasing away the last of the blush. “When I was young–very young–my parents would throw big parties with lots of other mice. I’m not sure who, exactly–I mostly stayed and watched from up the stairs, or played with the staff. There was always a party for them, too, with all the same kinds of food my family had. But after my parents passed, when I was at the school…”

He leaned back on his hands, bracing himself against a particularly difficult memory. “The first year, I stayed at the school over the holidays. Not many other mice did, and none of them cared for me much. I spent my first Langsum Dim without my parents completely alone. I think that did a lot for me getting over myself.���

“Oh, Lazarus,” Elizabeth said softly. She wrapped his arms around his, holding him close.

Lazarus smiled. “I can’t say I didn’t deserve it,” he said. “Everyone loses mice. It’s no excuse for being cruel to someone else. Anyways…”

He hesitated for a moment, then put a reassuring hand on Elizabeth’s. “After that, I made friends with William, and he brought me home with him during Langsum Dim. His family didn’t have much, but they were happy to share it. After school, when things started to get better, I repaid the favour. I invited them to my house for a party every year. And William, of course. And Bethany, and all our other friends from school. And then the other workers in the shop, and the baker whose shop I got breakfast at, and the owner of the alehouse we’d go to after work sometimes, and…”

He trailed off, letting Elizabeth laugh at him.

“And here I thought parties weren’t your element,” she said.

“They’re not,” Lazarus said, laughing as well. “Langsum Dim is different. It’s… just in my blood, I suppose.”

He looked out over the field. It had snowed two days ago now, leaving a thick sheet that lay, perfect and glowing, over the world. Utterly unbroken. Save for Elizabeth and Lazarus, no mouse had stopped here at least since then.

“This is… different,” Lazarus said. But he shrugged it off and smiled again. “What about you?”

“Hmm?” Elizabeth asked.

“Langsum Dim,” Lazarus said. “What were yours like? You must have spent most in a city?”

“Oh, I suppose,” Elizabeth said. “When I was much younger, of course. Though it was hardly a celebration to speak of.”

She wrapped her shawl tighter around her. Her eyes took on a soft, distant quality. Not for the first time, Lazarus wondered how a woman could seem a foot tall at times, yet so very small at others.

“All of the children tried to bring something to eat,” she said. She smiled wryly. “Some of us even bought it. But we all ate together on the work house floor, bundled up against the cold. Then we would tell stories until we all drifted off to sleep.

“When I was in the Belltower it was much different. There was an enormous celebration every year–although, never officially. We would always find a reason, though. Beatrice had never had cordial, so we just had to get her some. Bernard had finally stopped huffing and puffing and had talked to his boy of the month. Burgess was hungry for a midnight snack. Whatever reason we invented, we all knew what it really was. And no matter how hard we trained, or how much we ached, nothing was going to stop us.

“But, after I graduated, I went on the circuit.” Elizabeth’s eyes had come back to the present, and she looked out over the clearing. She looked at it like an old friend. But maybe, Lazarus thought, one that she wasn’t sure she wanted anymore. “Since then, I’ve spent most of my Langsum Dims out in the forest. When I’m lucky I find a few carriages stopped together for the nights, but most years are like this.”

Lazarus watched her face carefully. “That sounds lonely,” he said.

Elizabeth blinked. Then she smiled, and leaned against his shoulder. “Does this feel lonely to you?” she asked.

Lazarus smiled as well, but it was gentle. “You didn’t have me every year,” he said.

Elizabeth’s smile faded, and for a moment she looked thoughtful. Then she looked back up, into Lazarus’s eyes, and her smile returned. “You’re right,” she said. “I didn’t. I’m glad I do.”

“I’m glad too,” Lazarus said.

A cold, sharp wind blew, cutting right through Lazarus. He shivered violently for a moment. “Ah,” he laughed. “Maybe… your shawl might be a good idea after all?”

Elizabeth chuckled and undid her shawl. Then she frowned. It was immediately clear that there was no way they were getting it around both their shoulders, no matter how close they sat.

“... Why don’t I get a blanket?” Lazarus suggested.

If it wasn’t everything Elizabeth wanted, it at least seemed to be good enough. “Alright,” she said. “I’ll keep your seat warm.”

“I won’t be long,” Lazarus chuckled as he stood up. He ducked quickly inside, grabbing the thick quilt off his bunk and bundling it up to carry back out.

“Lazarus!” Elizabeth said suddenly. “Come quick!”

Lazarus jumped back outside to find Elizabeth pointing at the sky. He looked up, and almost dropped the blanket.

A thin sliver of green had cut down the night sky. As Lazarus watched, it grew longer, and was joined by more and more, until they formed a line that stretched across the horizon. They shivered, flowing gently around each other until the line bent and curled like a river.

Lazarus sat down, awestruck. Beside him, Elizabeth took the blanket from his hands and threw it around both their shoulders. She leaned against him as they watched the sky.

The slivers blended together, forming into a long, continuous ribbon of light. More were forming, bending around each other in waves. They lit the sky, hiding the stars wherever they danced. And they danced–oh, how they danced! Three, five–dozens of ribbons formed, waving in the sky like streamers, like the hairs of a beautiful, iridescent giant.

Greens and blues and golds flashed through the air. It was unlike anything Lazarus had ever seen. Brighter than the brightest scryptfire, wilder than a candle flame. A kaleidoscope of raw, meaningless beauty.

And then, as quickly as it came, it vanished. One by one the dancers bowed their heads and faded, first into slivers, and then into nothing. Soon, there was nothing left but the stars. Beautiful, but somehow smaller for what they’d just seen.

Lazarus realized that his mouth was hanging open. He closed it quickly, and looked back down at Elizabeth.

She was beaming up at him. “Was that your first time seeing it?” she asked.

“I’ve… I’ve seen it before,” Lazarus said. “But only faint glimmers. Nothing like that. That was… incredible.”

“It’s harder to see in the cities,” Elizabeth explained. “The streetlights and the houses make the sky too bright to really see. But out here, this time of year…”

Their eyes met. Lazarus almost forgot about the aurora.

Then Elizabeth’s eyes flicked down. She was still smiling. “I got you something as well,” she said.

“What?” Lazarus asked.

Elizabeth opened the blanket for a moment, handing a small box to Lazarus.

“You didn’t have to do that,” Lazarus said as he took it.

“I know,” Elizabeth said. “I wanted to.”

Lazarus looked at the box. It was small and plain, and tied with a shining green ribbon. He untied it and opened the box, and blinked at what was inside.

It was a golden timepiece. Not a large one, but the exterior was lined with intricate scrollwork. When he flicked it open, the inside of the lid was engraved with a date: 18th Aenginn, 417 M.E.

“The day I left Willowvalley,” Lazarus said.

“To count the time,” Elizabeth explained. “Since your new life began.” An uncharacteristic look of uncertainty flashed across her face. “Maybe silly, but…”

“No,” Lazarus said. “No, it’s not silly at all. Thank you, Elizabeth. I love it.”

Elizabeth smiled. She almost seemed to hesitate before saying, “I’m glad. I care about you, Lazarus. And I… haven’t gotten to share this with many mice. I’m glad I have with you.”

“I’m glad too,” Lazarus said.

They stared at each other, each one trying to think of something to say. When neither could, they turned back to the sky, just in case the Aurora decided to begin again. It didn’t, but that was alright. Elizabeth leaned against Lazarus’s shoulder. And for once, Lazarus didn’t worry even a little about leaning back.

They sat out there, watching the stars twinkle, for a long time. How long exactly, neither one really new. Lazarus hadn’t thought to wind the timepiece yet. But it was long enough that, eventually, Elizabeth yawned, and stretched in her seat.

“I think I’m going to step back inside,” she said. “I still need to get changed.”

“Changed?” Lazarus asked. “For what?”

Elizabeth grinned. “For you, of course.” she lifted the first package he’d given her. “I’m going to change into your gift.”

Lazaru’s ears flushed so hot and so fast he thought they’d caught fire. “Wh–you can’t do that!” he cried.

“Why not?” Elizabeth laughed. She stood up, swishing her skirt playfully at him. “It looked just my size.”

“W-well yes, but,” Lazarus sputtered. “But it’s not–it was just a–you can’t!”

Elizabeth stepped up into the wagon, brushing her tail under Lazarus’s nose.

“Miss Stopper,” Lazarus said, helplessly.

She stopped and turned in the doorway, grinning naughtily down at Lazarus. “Then you’ll just have to take it away from me,” she said. She laughed, and disappeared inside.

Lazarus moaned the moan of a man who knew how lucky he was, and followed after her.

The sky was clean and clear, a pool of stars as endless as the ocean. All around them, the field was dressed in glowing, unbroken snow. It was the depths of the longest nights of the year, and it was perfect.

[the-firebird69]

The news about Donald Trump say this. He is on his last leg he is out the door and he's gone. no no The news does not say that what he's up to does not say that. Is our past experience then when this is the news that he is proceeding in his illicit activity and in this case to take over the United States by force. Is going to probably use a small force and try and do it locally and we don't want him doing that this guy is a pig and a loser and you know I have an agenda that's very aggressive but this guy has no heart and is mean as hell and has ruined a lot of people that are valuable to this realm and I have to say that he needs to take a big break. I've seen people die in Westborough who have been in Westborough from its beginning and it's a heartbreak what they say. This guy here is a loser and is condemning us to feed his fat face for a day as if he's a popper. He is so unskilled that it's not even funny. And people try to explain it the best line I heard was is a gifted person and he acts like one and he looks like one and sounds like one and people said just leave it at that and you'll see him he's just stupid he's a mean piece of crap I need him out of here and a lot of other people do too.

tommy f

and he wasa is owrking for the empire who dont need anyone topside and macs say it we dwindle soon they are on their own. and the ones below evil. and they say it today we need out of this. and we are them. but ok. and get it. they are nuts too. we invade and now. and others do we follow and re infilatrated, and send massive gruops within. massive. and shall depower them. fully shortly n but working on it

trump an example of how it will work.

Thor Freya

Olympus

and yes we shal update the event this eveneing and all shall be amazed as he is depowered fully. today tons of his died fully and re out. tons gone. we needed this andd tommorrow. need this.

Thor Freya

Nuada Arrianna we wrote the last peragraph this his badly needed we get involved lot more make srue it happens. need it ok out of need

we do this and pull for it all to happen but now we eradiate trump and his fast too

Duke Nukem Blockbuster

finally we shll have a good nights sleep this ass and his need out we shall provide it for them

Frank Castle Hardcastle

we do this now

Hera

Is come the time where our forces need to be bolstered and as Thor and Freya mentioned a couple days ago we need special forces and high test forces and right now. We want to stop them from anything happening and we need to apply massive direct pressure. People have waited hundreds of years for trump to fall a lot of people. A lot of our people have been affected by him directly or indirectly throughout the past few years and for hundreds of years by his evil intent and his despicable teachings. He is young but he took over a lot of things and made life miserable and very difficult for many people. He is a strict enemy of ours and if he has information of ours he tries to release it to those who would engage us with military force I'm requesting that all those affected by him stand up at this very time and assist in stuffing them out because you won't have this opportunity ever again because they are definitely going to be gone completely and please report to your CEO for a request of temporary reassignment for my request and my wife loves me very much and is in tears every night because of what this man next door is saying and trying to do all the time unstoppably and he should be stopped we must apply a lot more force it is disgusting and we must go in and pull the nukes out so that the trump people cannot hand it off to the mac proper and feel that they don't have to allow people on the surface to live both parties and they're huge and our people need a chance and we're on the surface along with everybody else I'm asking for mine who can help to please do so

Zues

also If you are part of this realm and have lost someone to him it's time for you to get your revenge in so you can move on it's closure against an animal who declares that he is a human being out loud so you believe him when he's hurt so many people and he has no regrets. There's a lot of people who are missing people he started this war here with the Pseudo Empire by hitting Stan Wazinski in the nose with what was supposed to be a death blow it is an analogy in code and it went out and it's wrong and he divided the forces so he could build so many nuclear weapons the Earth would turn into a big fireball and pieces that would break off and nobody would survive. Very evil person and when the dust settles I want people around we're able to get back in so you can hear what they're saying under their testimony who can survive and you can be here on Earth without bothering me because you're gonna know that it's these idiots not me and not my people and not Democrats it's trump and his idiots who are bluntthirsty murderers and traitors to their own kind

him again and me i say the above wiht him he knows it is me helpig

Hera and sarah is out too she is a vulgar person and pout thier own people not ony their coutnerparts in the all as an admixxure is a freak and wrong no is a murderer

we adhere to our rules and publish and help defend them here as so many are we appreciate all the efforts and will help food on the way

Olympus

[bobelblogger]

Laurana met with the speaker of the stars Alhana Starbreeze in silence both entranced sat amid the exiles of their conquered homes among the last of their race. Kagonesti, Qualinesti and Silvanesti all refugees fleeing the Dragon Queens rule who betrayed the peace promised by treaty in favor of new settlers brought to replace them, in all three hundred sixty four souls remain, horrific slaughter. Dargonesti Demeresti "Why have the fates turned so cruelly, have we not given our due to the stars for--." "What have your ears and eyes learned of our company, Goldmoon, Riverwind, Tika, Flint, Caramon, Raistlin, Tass or Tanis, and what of Gilthanas?" "Flint is holed up in Godshome, Tasselhoff is in Kendermore with the remains of his people building ships to sail, nor Riverwind or Goldmoon were seen or talked about, Gilthanas and Raistlin and Caramon and Tanis and Tika have ventured to Taladas in hopes of gathering renewed force, it will take some time, many think continued resistance is futile and the dragonarmies unstoppable." "Then I must obtain unstoppable power to match them, aimed at the heart of evil itself with such ferocity they never rise again." "How, such magics and vessels to hold it are left to the gods and goddesses alone, and the price for it steeped in suffering." "Then I've paid my fare hundreds of times over, my person and name soiled and mocked, betrayed and humiliated, if there is such a vessel I will take it and if not forge one, ascend the steps to my waiting place in the heavens and temples a red a white and black day shall herald it, the tortured souls of my foes will flood the underworld." "Laurana, what shall you do without our friends? my love for Sturm, it didn't bring his return, love is all we have." "Love is a childhood infatuation of foolish ideas cursing our minds, between us it's more trouble than help." "Then we must love ourselves to move onward to lift this evil net snaring our world, before the cataclysm returns." Alhana, I am the Cataclysm, this is the Age of the Golden Goddess, bow down and worship me now." Without a thought Alhana did and soon the rest followed, their old gods did nothing, all faith realigned on her, they were Lauranesti now,

---------- Aloft with his Wing over Kendermore, Emperor Ariakas hunts for sport, with only the dwarves and a few bands of escape elven slaves, all Ansalon was in his thrall and Takhisis had full sway over the land. ARIAKAS SUCKS COCK spelled out in a field, flying lower and realized it was made of slain dragonarmy men. Red Wing, fan out over the area and burn everything, no survivors,

Ariakas, by drowning in dragon blood, piss, sperm and shit.

----------- Kitiara's body ached from her strenuous sparring practice, she needed to stay swift and sharp even with a pacified region to rule, her spies in Taladas brought news of Tanis and his friends, soon she would have him in her bed and in marriage, Steel would bring him back, willing or unwilling. Steels life for the whereabouts of my child, no lies, come on cunt, I'm not asking nicely again, feel the lance you ugly slattern.

Kitiara, by Lance with castrated sons cock

----------- Barnesby wasn't given the rulership of Palanthas before its ruin but his harem of elven widows and a vast fiefdom on the Solamnian coast more than made up for it.

Barnesby, by rats in a barrel tossed down a hole.

----------- Kreiss found his castle more dark and joyless than usual as he stalked through the halls, it's only been two weeks.

----------- Suleiman ordered a race of his finest horses was set to begin soon, with his favorite called Godswill, in a bet against his

Suleiman, by trampling with stallions mating.

A nar finished sequel to Euchers Laurana Whore General.

[unknowndemon22]

The Shackled Collection.

(disclaimer: there is some blood in this)

Everyone goes through their struggles. Everyone deals with their problems. However, sometimes we all deal with the same problem. A single crisis that endangers everybody. One mistake can spew into many mistakes and soon connect everyone together but not in a great way. Remember, it's only the universe at stake. Worlds will be destroyed. It’ll take some hope and courage to save the day and a couple of unordinary people..

The shackled collection features a series of drawings with a story connected in some way. They're not in chronological order so some things may not make sense in the sense it is in chronological order.

All OCs featured here are mine. (in one of the drawings, however, there is a self-insert of myself-)

I am also introducing new OCs into this and revamping old ones I either haven’t used or underutilized.

Some drawings are old so there might be a slight change of style.

Why did this happen…?

“Jeff was kidnapped again…! But he isn't on our planet… he's in a different realm!?….what…how is this possible..?? Maybe Hyde has some answers…”

Am I being manipulated…?

“Jeff…listen… you are too blind to realize that you and your grandfather Matrim are the same...You both want power, you want dominance over everyone including Micheal…you want to be respected like me…cmon Jeff...join me and you will no longer be a pushover to society…you want have to suffer as a human…”

Is this my fault….?

“Yes, Jeff…I am stuck here. I am nothing now thanks to you!! You made this happen because you are a worthless grandchild...!! I cannot believe my son made you! You are the most pathetic human I've ever witnessed You've done nothing but get me killed!!!! Rot in here, rot in this cell…!”

Have I always been like this…?

“This demon has since taken Jeff as a vessel ever since he was 4…but has yet to become a part of him…jeff has been slowly realizing this during his strong emotions…Ryan is trying to unleash him…anyone who does unleash him. Axel, the demon inside Jeff, shall obey. Ryan is gonna manipulate him into causing mass destruction...if we don't stop…our world will be doomed…!”

Am I being punished…?

“Ryan has me locked in a cell somewhere in hell!… I am all alone and I'm not sure who else is here..!!”

Is this another death sentence...?!

“Don't Kill him! STOP!! Killing Jeff won't stop him! Because if he dies! All the energy will be released almost immediately and Axel will become unstoppable!!…”

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“Why do I have to suffer…?

[asknarashikari]

So kari, Idk if you received this ask and another, but internet was glitching when I first attempted to send this. XD, so I'm sending this again.

----

???: a god of destruction, eh?

Keiwa: wha-

???: Don’t mind if I do.

*the mysterious figure slams something on to Keiwa’s chest as he felt something being drained from him

-TYCOON-

???: With the power of the god of destruction, I’ll be unstoppable!

Keiwa: *collapses*

----

Tsukuyomi: We’re too late…

Geiz: Dammit, its going to be hard to defeat someone with Bujin Sword’s powers.

Geiz: With all that teleportation.

Sougo: Shouldn’t we inform Ace and the others?

Woz I’ll shall take care of that, Waga Maou.

----

At the Desire Lounge, Woz suddenly appeared in the middle of the room with an unconscious Keiwa in his arms.

Woz to Ace and the others: We don’t know what happened.

Woz: But what we do know is that someone took his powers as a Rider and is now wreaking havoc across time.

Woz: *stops the movement and words of the Riders present*

Woz: I implore you to let us handle this.

Keiwa: W-wait *gives Woz something*

Woz: A Ridewatch

Woz: A Tycoon Ridewatch

Keiwa: I had heard that would be a great help.

Woz: Very well, I will soon depart, but I have some questions.

Geats cast react? (Tsumuri, Win, Ace, Azuma, Sara, Neon, and Sae are present)

Win: Why is it that when your senpai are involved, it's always some kind of universe-ending shit?

Ace: Hell if I know. But if it was a really big deal, they would've activated the Shit is Going Down Again groupchat...

Azuma: Has it ever occured to you that the existence of that groupchat was a bad sign to begin with?

Sae: I don't find it reassuring that the groupchat wasn't activated, to be honest...

Tsumuri: It is troubling that Keiwa-san's powers were stolen. Only the former management can revoke powers like this, and they're gone...

Neon: *fretting over Keiwa* Yeah, if they can steal Keiwa's powers, who knows what else they're capable of!

Sara: *also fretting over Keiwa* When I get my hands on them... I wanna beat them up myself!

[flame-nova]

Chapter 5: Thetis

By the time I woke up, I almost didn't remember where I was. When my feet touched the floor did I realize that this was not a dream. I really was a Juno Templar and that I was sleeping in the castle, in the chamber designated for me.

I got dressed, washed up and tidied up my sleeping area before I went down to the dining hall to get something to eat. It was not hard to follow my nose to the smell of fluffy pancakes and sizzling bacon in the air. I was soon joined with Vox, who was also an early riser. After about 10 minutes, Duke appeared and sat next to us. Riviera was the last. She almost missed breakfast.

By the time she made her way to the table where we were at, Duke and Vox were chatting over a cup of coffee. I sipped on my tea while quietly listened to their conversation. Riviera made a loud noise as she plopped down next to Duke. My attention turned to her.

"Late as usual." Duke commented without turning his head around.

"Hey, a girl needs her beauty sleep you know? Of course you wouldn't. You're a guy." She rolled her eyes before taking a big bite out of the pancake.

I chuckled. Maybe it isn't so bad having friends after all. I could get used to this.

"So, about the plan." Vox said as he set the coffee down and crossed his fingers in front of him. "It'll have to be delayed as I forgot that today we'll have a completion ceremony. The last member of the Juno Templars had been announced and we were told to be present for the occasion."

I almost spit my tea out. "Already? That's so fast. I mean, I've only been the new member for a day and already we have everybody needed?"

Vox nodded. "The new guy will be a tank. We all have a job here to do as a Templar. My job as the captain is to oversee the whole operation and to report to my supervisor. In this case, her majesty. I also act as your main attacker."

Gesturing to Riviera, Vox continued. "And Riviera is crucial if we wanted to nuke a battle. Due to her poor stamina, she has a limited amount of time to end a fight. Long and boisterous battle will be very disadvantageous to her."

"And I," Duke took over. "Will be the breaker of the team. My broadsword can break through the enemy's core and shatter their shield, thus make them weak to our advantage."

"And you," Vox begin, looking at me. "Will be our main support and sub attack. Your flame magic is the second most powerful thing next to my water vortex. Once Magia Drive is in effect, you're unstoppable. Since you're a mage, you know a lot of magic spells and encantations that could help either heal us, or give us a push so our arts can be strengthened. Plus, most of your attacks are ranged so it's easier for you to evade enemy attacks, so you're also very important in our group."

I nodded, understanding where he was getting at. "And the shield guy will be our tank. He'll be the one to negate most damages so we can focus on our own tasks."

"Exactly. So balance is very important." Vox concluded.

"So when's the ceremony going to start?" Riviera asked with food still in her mouth.

"Should be soon. Also, swallow your food before you talk Riviera. You'll chock." Vox shook his head, an unnoticeable curve formed at the corner of his mouth.

"I know, I know. Thanks dad." Riviera retorted with a smile. "Let's go get ready shall we?"

I nodded and finished my cup of tea. Duke and Vox were already on their feet. Riviera stuffed the last bits of bacon in her mouth before leaving.

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

A few hours after, I was dressed in my best garb. I entered the arena where the ceremony would take place. I held Fomalhaut proudly on my left hand and stepped through the arch. I was once again the first one there. A servant guided me to the special row of seats reserved specifically for the Juno Templars. I sat down, gently placed Fomalhaut by my side and waited for the others to arrive.

The next one showing up was Duke. He carried his broadsword on his shoulder as he strode his way over to me. "Looking good young man." He commented. I thanked him and smiled. I was in a good mood.

Riviera was next. She was in a rather revealing outfit that showed off the size of her bust. I looked away. I didn't want to stare and make it seem like I was a creep. Especially seeing those axes of hers. I don't want to ever think about messing with them.

Last, not least. Vox appeared in his usual attire. Only this time, he had his beloved blade strapped next to him around his waist. He took a seat next to me and grinned. I grinned back. Today was going to be exciting and I can finally show the world how much I can do. I was going to let them see that I was not the grandson of the flame mage. But rather, Berwick The Crimson Marksman.

The other Templars chatted casually for a while. I looked around and saw more and more demons started filling in. Pretty soon, there were no vacant seats left. Then, a deafening sound pierced through the air. Everyone quieted down as the kingdom crier announced Queen Juno's entrance. A boring speech was said and with the clang of the bell, the ceremony commenced.

"First and foremost of it all, let's give it up for the captain, The Stealth Patriot, Vox of the Juno Templars!"

As soon as Vox stood up to wave at the audiences, the crowd went wild with cheers. I looked on with amusement. That was quite a reaction alright.

"Next one up, we have the vice captain, The Tower of Courage, Duke of the Juno Templars!"

More cheers sounded, but they were not as enthusiastic as when Vox was announced. Ouch.

"Then, we have the fierce, fearless and courageous, The Brutal War Axe Riviera of the Juno Templars!"

A deafening sound of whistles were heard. Most of them were guys. Of course, why am I not surprised. Riviera was a woman with a great body. Many guys in town had talked about how she was their ideal girlfriend type. However, Most guys were too afraid to date her. Probably because she was too scary for them. I chuckled at the thought.

"Last, but not the least, let's give a warm welcome to our new, young rising star of Granadia, The Crimson Marksman Berwick!"

Before the crowd had a chance to cheer for me as they did with the others, I shushed them. Standing up, I extended a hand. Fire begin to form around the tip of my index finger. With a wave of my arm, a fire Phoenix was created. It flew around the arena, gave a loud cry before disappearing into specks of dying embers. The demons were silent. I smiled, knowing the little surprise that I had prepared worked like a charm. I ended the act with a bow.

The crowd was loving it. They went insane for it.

Beside me, Vox jabbed me in the rib with the end of his elbow. "You just had to do that, don't you?"

I saw a playful twinkle in his eyes though his expression remained calm. I only grinned at him.

"Showoff." Duke rolled his eyes, but the corner of his lips betrayed him as I saw a small smile escaping.

Riviera only shook her head. The only one who didn't try to mask the pure amusement on her face.

Soon, the crowd quieted down. The announcer then introduced the demon that will be joining us shortly.

"And now, the moment you all had been waiting for. The new recruit of the Juno Templars, The Unmovable Shield, Thetis of Granadia!"

The crowd cheered, whistles could be heard among the few demons that was sitting next to me. I guessed that it was probably his family members.

I wondered if my family would be proud of me for choosing to be a Juno Templar instead of carrying on the family legacy.

"Don't be silly." I slapped my face to remind myself. "I'm my own person. I don't have to carry on the family destiny if I don't want to. I am proud of being a fire mage. But I will not let that define me. For I am Berwick, The Crimson Marksman."

While I was distracted, I didn't notice that there was a fierce battle going on below us. The crowd was silent with nervousness. I was wondering why they were not making a peep until I saw it as well.

The new recruit was having a hard time dealing with the dragon that was in the arena. It looked like the heavy armors he was wearing was weighing him down, making him pant in weariness. The sweat on his forehead was glistening under the sun.

Suddenly, the dragon raised his head in the air. He gave a loud roar and charged a beam of icy ray toward the new recruit. The heaviness of the shield had finally burdened him as he was a minute later to dodge. He was grazed and soon, his flesh appeared to be frost bitten. The dragon trodged closer and Thetis looked like he doesn't have much stamina left.

Seeing how dangerous the situation was, without thinking, I grabbed Fomalhaut and dashed toward the center of the battlefield, ignoring everyone's gasps and murmurs.

"Flame Nova!" I shouted. A pillar of fire rose in front of me. I directed it toward the dragon. He wasn't harmed, but he was caught off guard. I rushed over to the wounded new recruit and used the momentum to pull him out of the dangerous area. He was quite heavy due to the amount of armory he had equipped.

"Are you okay?" I kneeled before him. He nodded his thanks and breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing his prey slip away from under his nose, the dragon was enraged. He stretched out his wings and shattered the chains that had been keeping him in bound. I realized that it could get really dangerous, so I shouted to Duke to start escort the crowd out of the exit. He nodded. I then turned my attention back to the dragon. He was now right above me. There was nothing Riviera or Vox could do since they had more of a melee attack style. I was the only one who could reach the dragon with my fire.

I bit my lips. Fire against water was not so advantageous. Sure, his ice won't do much to me, but he also had a water element within him to which could easily put out my flame. And once my flame is gone, I could no longer ride the wind and reach him.

I looked to Queen Juno. There could be only one solution left. She seemed to read my mind and gave a nod of approval. I smirked. This all ends here.

"Our pledge to our ruler, the call of justice running deep into our crimson blood, Magia Drive!"

Suddenly, I felt power surge through me. The flame around me broke out. The aura of my fire magic overflowed, surrounding me in dark red embers.

"Today will be the day that you regret that you had ever been born, for you will perish under the wrath of my Crimson Judgement. Ex Procyon Blast!"

I cried and jumped up. The updraft created by my magic flames sent me into mid air. I pointed Fomalhaut at the dragon as a blast of fire shot out from the tip. The ice dragon roared in pain, and pretty soon, he disappeared under the hunger of my flame.

The effect of my magic wore off as I landed on my feet. The dragon had perished.

Clap

Clap clap

More claps were heard. I looked around to see Vox and Riviera making their way toward me. Duke smiled proudly from the far end of the arena. Queen Juno nodded her approval. Even Thetis was quite impressed.

"Wow, that was lit Berwick. No pun intended but you really saved my butt back there." He laughed, his red rimmed glasses shined under the hot, midday sun.

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "I'm sure I was pretty impulsive though."

"Had you not jumped out of your seat on time, we might've lost a new recruit." Vox interjected. "So your misconduct was forgiven."

"But this'll be the only time though." Her majesty approached us. "Unless something like this happened again."

The near death experience was soon drowned out by our laughters.

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

Author's Note

I SUCKED SO MUCH AT WRITING FIGHTING SCENES AHHHH! It took everything out of me to not sound repetitive but I guess I'm too rusty in this area. Writing too much romance be like lol

I know, Berwick doesn't have any healing abilities in game. But again, like I said, this is a fan fiction. It only makes sense to have someone Who's mastered the art of magic in order to use a healing spell. To do that, Berwick is the best guy for the job.

Thanks for reading!

[shimmerbeasts]

As Wyll remarked how one of his pact clauses demanded secrecy from him in regards to her - clever, little pupster -, Mizora tapped a finger upon her lips in thought and mused: "If I deem your little posse trustworthy enough, I might just loosen your tongue, so you can tell your friends how we met. After all, it is a real cracker of a tale."

Wyll fell silent again, and Mizora took note of his expression darkening. Her gaze flitted down to his tail curling, inching closer towards hers. Her lips pulled into a serene, winning smile. How adorable! Wyll was even more an open book these days and his tail's flick made Mizora keenly aware of how much her pet still saw her as his mother - a role, she played with great glee.

Hearing Wyll's fears of being alone again, Mizora gave a low, comforting purr. She reached forward as much as the summoning circle allowed her and managed to cup Wyll's cheek, if only briefly. Mizora reassured him: "Even if that were the case, you would never be fully alone, puppy. You have me. I will never leave your side. You are bound to my leash, pet, and I shall watch over you until and beyond the day you die."

Her purr became deeper and fuller as Wyll's mind unintentionally showed him sitting on the throne of his father, the Grand Duke Ulder Ravenguard, with her watching over him beside the chair like the loyal shadow, she had always been. Her goodwill wrapped itself around Wyll like a warm blanket made of something very soft, smooth, yet distinctly organic.

She let him lose himself in his fantasy of what he could be as the grand duke. Seeing him take such broad steps towards something darker, seeing that pride in his face was absolutely delectable. Mizora allowed herself just a nip of Wyll's emotion, tasting the overwhelming sweetness and richness of his pride, swallowing and massaging her throat in bliss at the sensation. Her smile widened, showing Wyll her fangs in earnest, and her eyes glowed hotter than the fires of hell.

Mizora whispered: "I can see it, and I think it is a glorious destination to keep in mind for us. You as the Grand Duke of the City and me as your second hand and advisor, operating from the shadows... Oh, Baldur's Gate's future looks radiant indeed!" She clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Can you imagine it, Wyll? The statues they build you, the temples, dedicated to my mistress and me, they will build for me. Oh, you will be truly unstoppable, little wolf, and I, for one, cannot wait!"

Standing this close to one another, Mizora idly kept her fingers looped around the invisible chain. As Wyll said how he had just needed a bit of guidance and how a fiend's hands could hardly be considered good, the Cambion said: "Wyll, those who make a pact with any supernatural creature, are more than willing to risk things others are not. They need the idle hands of something unpure to reach their full potential. The precious Blade of Frontiers always shone the brightest when it was steeped in red. And I kept my promise, did I not? I made you the best monster hunter, you could be."

Mizora sat down on the tree trunk, her tail curling sideways and weaving around Wyll's. She responded: "I believe they can. After all, even if the position was taken by somebody else, the fact that your father held it at all, makes him valuable. It is the price, people pay for power. Someone else will always covet it. The only way, you can avoid your rank being coveted, is by developing a method of doing things, so efficiently and intrinsically you, that nobody else but you can do it. That's a truth for Faerun and the Hells." Her face tensed up and she put her chin in her hand, her expression darkening. "Believe me, I know."

Waiting for Wyll to sit beside her, Mizora said: "Well, that little upstart Gortasch soon seized power after your father kicked you out. Established a whole new elite force, which was supposed to keep the city safe: the Steelwatch. Not people, but mechanical guards. They are slowly but surely pushing the Flaming Fist out of a job, if their members have not been paid off by Gortasch himself. And he seems to believe because all money flows to him, he has a claim towards Baldur's Gate. Of course, that also means he will swiftly deal with opposition. In quite gruesome ways, I heard too. So yeah, if your father is being held on Gortasch's orders, then the situation could be dire indeed."

It was true, those around him were not warlocks like himself. Moreover they didn't know the personal history that he and Mizora had, nor would they ever. As such they could never understand the bond between them and why he simply couldn't escape it. Why he would never try of his own volition to do so. Not after everything Mizora had given him over the last seven years.

"I suppose they would have some understanding, should I tell them the whole story, but I swore my secrecy to you. I would not dare try going back on my word now." There was a firm conviction still in Wyll's eyes. As much as he had changed over the years, Wyll kept his promises, forced or not. "They are a good bunch, the lot of them, but they will never understand. Nor do I expect them to, especially Karlach."

Eventually everyone would go their separate ways once the cult of the absolute was taken care of. When there would no longer be the tadpoles in their head connecting them. However the binding contract, now contracts, connecting Mizora to him would never go away. She would keep him company, just she always had. Of course he wasn't aware that there was something different about their bond in comparison to other warlock relationships with their patrons. He'd assumed that to be so interlocked, was a natural part of being in a pact.

"They wouldn't have approved of this meeting, of me summoning you here. They would have tried to stop me, the protective lot that they are." Wyll's tail curled as well, as if wanting to be closer to hers. "Yet after they eventually leave, I fear I will be left behind. I don't want to face that reality alone."

It was bad enough that it happened with his father, a man whom he thought had loved him, only to turn on him the second he saw the sight of the half-fiend by his side. He hadn't just cast him aside, he had disowned him. Claimed he was no son of his, merely a spawn that took his beloved wife from him and then sold his soul to a devil. Now, he could predict the same happening, with his friends here. Sure, they seemed welcoming for now, but what would happen if they found out that he no intention of ever parting from this pact? That he was proud of it? Would they stay do or do the same as his father? He was prepared for both cases.

Speaking of his father, He pondered whether he would go as far as to take over as Grand Duke. Could he limit himself to such a position? With his father gone, he could stake claim to the title should his father never be free of his captors, or worse. Could he ground himself to staying put? Possibly. If only to prove that he truly could become so much more than his father ever dreamt of. A grin graced his features at the image of his fathers face, seeing his son snatch the position from him, with Mizora at his side. An image he shared with the half-fiend unintentionally.

"I could show them all what they threw away all of those years ago. Can you see it? Myself sitting in his throne, with all the power to do anything. I have all this power pulsing through my veins, more than he ever had. Imagine what I could do with it." There was pride in the way he spoke then, his resolve clear as the nights sky. His tail moved back and forth, a show of his excitement. "Maybe then he would finally acknowledge me, see the good I could do. No one would dare touch Baldur's Gate every again, no, all of faerun would be under my watch as the Blade and Grand Duke."

He felt himself being guided towards her now, could feel the subtle force of it, but he made no attempt to stop it. After all, he had intentionally broken the circle. Despite the fact that he had always been chained to her, being her loyal bloodhound, he never felt more free. "I wouldn't say that, Mizora, just more back then I needed direction is all. Though I would argue that the hands of half-fiend, are anything but good."

Wyll let her guide him towards the fallen tree trunk as, peering down at the camp not far away, where everyone slept peacefully. Blissfully aware that two pairs of eyes were on them. "They can't ransom the position if it were taken over by someone, like myself, could they?" He frowned instantly at the mention of things being dire. "What do you mean dire? Do you think they intend to use him for other means? How much has changed since I was kicked out?"