#sword beasts arc

[piromina]

umm choco angst?

[danwhobrowses]

So I just finished Netflix's Devil May Cry series and - being a big fan of DMC3 (even though I spent like 4 hours trying to beat Vergil at the end) - gotta say, it surprised me. I went in with a low bar but it's pretty good.

The last episode did lose me, just some frustrating end decisions and the demand for a hulking boss fight, and there were some prior scenes or dialogue that were short of perfect in execution, but episodes 5 and 6 are great, the latter especially, so I hope it gets a Season 2 (warning probably gonna rant spoilers in the tags).

[cantdanceflynn]

Every time I watch Pokemon movie reviews I just know which of my favorite movies are getting the recognition they deserve and which are getting SLAMMED lol

[deikshen]

Shen Yuan, who opens his eyes and has just transmigrated into some strange demon deep in the Endless Abyss. Well, GREAT! He's a demon, and while he's not OP, if he behaves and doesn't mess with Binghe's women, maybe they could even be traveling companions. Cool! Incredible!!

It doesn't take long for him to find Luo Binghe in the Abyss some time later. He leaves a trail of carnage... And he's speedrunning!! Ignore the wife and solo plots, just mow down monsters and charge forward! He's awesome!

Shen Yuan tries to avoid the red flags that the stallion protagonist isn't, well, forming a harem. Maybe he would form later, when he had more power!! He's not exactly sure in which narrative arc are.

However, his days of watching Luo Binghe through the shadows are soon over. Luo Binghe catches him!! He has obviously noticed Shen Yuan following him. What does he want? Is he looking for him to kill him?

Shen Yuan ducks out a bit, but ultimately decides to impart his honed Abyss 101 knowledge from months of Wiki editing. He disguises himself as a demon who has been searching for a way out of the Abyss, and he knows that he can only do so with Xin Mo, but he knows he doesn't have enough power to wield it. So, he will tell Luo Binghe where the portal-opening sword is, if he allows him to travel by his side and accompany him when he leaves!!

... It's very easy to become travel companions after that.

Luo Binghe is suspicious (of course he would be!! After all, who wouldn't be?!) but he's nice when he's not on his monster-killing rampage. Shen Yuan kills minor monsters, but in reality, he might be getting into more trouble than he should... spiritual flora, ancient artifacts! Luo Binghe should collect them and become more stronger with them! Shen Yuan rambles a lot: he talks about flora, beasts, monsters, demonic history, he throws out fact after fact of PIDW backstories that never got fleshed out from the old demonic civilizations, banished kingdoms, people literally turned into black jade statues...

Luo Binghe seems to find it irritating that he's talking at first, but actually... It's like he can't stop looking at him afterward. Shen Yuan guesses that he must be considering getting rid of him, sometimes: Luo Binghe looks at him with an expression of dismay and doubt. It's like he's searching for something in him. Like he sees something familiar, but Shen Yuan finds it ridiculous. Bah!! As if there's something familiar about him to some random NPC in the world!

One day, after several weeks of traveling, Luo Binghe asks him: "Little Demon. Do you have a name?" And it's not like Shen Yuan has introduced himself, but he considers saying "Shen Yuan" to him not to be wrong.

After that, Luo Binghe... gets worse? He also becomes a little more talkative, which is good, they can have conversations. Shen Yuan enjoys learning little things about his favorite character: how he likes tea, what he misses most is not water or clean clothes but being able to cook with spices, his favorite food, his mother's favorite recipe, about his life on Qing Jing Peak...

That's when everything goes to hell.

A kind Shen Qingqiu? What the fuck? Luo Binghe speaks about his Shizun with more passion than he has spoken about Ning Yingying or any other person or thing. That he had had this horrible qi deviation, but right after, he had been so kind, giving him medicine, a new cultivation manual, fair training, even letting him live in the bamboo house! For the past few years, Shen Qingqiu had practically spoiled him: the best missions, all the running of the Peak, he was basically the head disciple in all but name.

That Luo Binghe had fallen in love with him. Deeply, devastatingly. And Shen Qingqiu had pushed him into the Abyss when his heritage was revealed. However, Luo Binghe will not doubt! He will leave the Abyss, return to his Shizun, and show him that his heritage does not determine who he is. He will become a righteous cultivator and will have his respect to reach his heart.

OOC! So OOC! What the fuck!? Where was the scum villain!? Why is Luo Binghe gay now!? What weird fanfic did he end up in!? Actually, Shen Yuan supposes, well. That means at least he wouldn't destroy Cang Qiong and all that. Wow. Dramatic but calm ending. A better world!! And worse for him, being a demon. Maybe Could he find a way to disguise himself as a human? He believes he has already won Luo Binghe's friendship and sympathy. Maybe he'll even help him to disguise.

Revelations are a rare thing, but Shen Yuan guesses, it's okay. They continue their travel, collecting flowers along the way (for real, not meimeis) who improve the cultivation, and occasionally fight for their lives. Shen Yuan has defended himself very well with his claws so far, but Luo Binghe teaches him how to use a sword, and it's nice to have one.

Shen Yuan has drawn a map, more or less: it is the path that must be taken to reach Xin Mo. He knows that some of those places will be more difficult than others; he explains to Binghe many times that collecting things to strengthen him is necessary: it's a waste of time for him to meet with his Shizun now, but he'll be grateful! He'll need to get strong fast!

Shen Yuan shamelessly takes advantage of all his knowledge of the plot: he teaches Luo Binghe everything he knows, all the weaknesses of the beasts, all the strengths of certain flowers or roots. However, the more Shen Yuan teaches him over the weeks of their travel together, the more Luo Binghe seems... weirder. If he looked at him too much before, now it's incredibly worse. Sometimes he even asks extremely specific questions and seems frustrated when Shen Yuan doesn't answer exactly as he expects. Once, even, when they are crossing some paths surrounded by magma and the heat is suffocating, Binghe improvises a folded fan of leaves for him, and he seems clearly aggrieved when Shen Yuan's first instinct is to fan Binghe!

Luo Binghe is a frustrating little creature who seems to be testing him. Constantly. Shen Yuan assumes it's normal, but still!! He thought he had the protagonist's confidence!! Something seems to sparkle in his eyes when Shen Yuan stops halfway to explore a forest of giant mushrooms and talks at length about the properties and, above all, about the mole-squirrels who get high off their asses biting mushrooms, and he even seems fucking frustrated when he offers some weird herbal blend similar to a bitter tea and Shen Yuan accepts it just out of politeness because it tastes awful. It's like they're running in circles!!

Still, they continue on their way.

There is still a large stretch of the map to go, which Shen Yuan translates into a few more months of travel, when they are cornered by some beasts. They're horrible, disgusting spider-beetles the size of a fucking elephant; it's an unfair fight, seven against two, and even with their swords the bugs are fast, their legs sharp, and Shen Yuan is too exhausted after hours of only being able to defeat two of them.

Luo Binghe fights majestically, but even so, there is one thing Luo Binghe cannot fight: being outnumbered. And when Shen Yuan sees the giant insect's attack at Binghe, his only instinct is to get in the way.

The insect's leg pierces through him. It doesn't quite touch Binghe, but Shen Yuan isn't even aware of the pain from the way his nerves have been ripped apart. He's stunned, disoriented, and only a moment later Luo Binghe enters that desperate berserk mode that the protagonist only got once every two hundred chapters. The horrible insects fall, and Shen Yuan doesn't even know why he's still alive.

He supposes that dying while Binghe is fighting is a bit anticlimactic. He's in a pool of his own blood and he's sure that not even the blood parasites will be able to regenerate any of it. He's dying, he knows it, and from the way Binghe drops to his knees beside him after defeating the insects and holds him, Binghe knows it too.

"It's okay," Shen Yuan manages to speak, weakly patting Binghe's face, "follow the map, leave the Abyss and meet your Shizun. I bet you'll scare him to death, but hey. You're a great boy. A very good one. Show him there's no one better than you for him."

Luo Binghe holds him. Shen Yuan is aware that there were blood parasites in his food months ago, but oh well. Nothing can be done now. It's too much.

Actually, he wants to say something else, something other than a pathetic goodbye talking about how the ex-stallion protagonist should go after his Shizun's bone, but while he recognizes that he is dying (he already died once, damn it, he recognizes death) a blue screen flashes in his head.

[ Recalculating data... Correcting recipient... Downloading files... Importing... ]

[ Bugs fixed! ]

[ Returning the Host to his main user... ]

At the exact moment Shen Yuan dies, Shen Qingqiu wakes up in Qian Cao with a gasp, suddenly touching his chest where a second ago he had felt a hole that pierced him from side to side. His head hurts, his muscles burn, and someone definitely screams in surprise because a bunch of disciples call out to Mu Qingfang and, damn, it's fucking chaos.

He's apparently been in a coma for the past eighteen long months since the Immortal Alliance Conference. A qi deviation? No one knew. It was as if he were just asleep, but nothing woke him. His vital signs were normal, low, but active. Except for Without-a-cure, there was nothing else in his spiritual veins, and Without-a-cure could not cause his current state.

Now, with a huge headache, Shen Qingqiu remembers. He remembers not only the last year and a half with Binghe in the Abyss, but his last years as Shen Qingqiu. And he remembers that, just after of pushing into the Abyss, the fucking System COLLAPSED! Damn SHITTY AI! And Shen Qingqiu believed that he was really going to deport him back to his body even if he pushed Binghe into the Abyss! ... But he hadn't. Just to a random demon's body until the system repaired itself.

The story he tells to Mu Qingfang about the qi deviation after Binghe was swallowed by the Abyss is as good as any. So, Mu Qingfang finally lets him rest until he recovers, and Shen Qingqiu accepts it.

During the Abyss, he had been... Free, somehow. He had no memory of being Shen Qingqiu, and he hadn't had to pretend to be anyone else. It had been the greatest freedom he had had since he arrived. Fuck, he has a lot to think about. How, above all, what the hell he's going to do now that, damn it, he knows Luo Binghe has somehow fallen in love with him. Fuck.

... Well, at least the other transmigrant on the scene will surely have something to say. Eighteen months in a coma! Ha! Shang Qinghua wouldn't even know what hit him.

[waywardsalt]

egg knight my fucking beloved

[inseobts]

Hey hey so I absolutely love your writing but I have an idea and I need you to kinda hear me out… so basically law x f!reader but BUT she’s kaidos daughter GASP (that gasp was totally real) but she hides it but the find out and uh that’s kinda it but maybe like kinemon and the others of the Kouzuki know her somehow (maybe by a birth mark or her eyes or something). So yeah 😋

Shadows of the Dragon

law × reader

a/n: bestie, I spent all morning writing this instead of looking for a job lmaooo I was really into it ngl

words count: 6.3k

tags: wano arc spoilers, reader is kaido’s daughter, first meeting, fluff, slow burn(?)

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

The battle for Onigashima has already begun.

Explosions echo through the halls. Screams, smoke, clashing steel. The floor shakes beneath your feet as you weave through the chaos, hood low over your face. You’re not meant to be here. If Kaido knew, you’d be caged.

Just like Yamato was.

Your lungs burn as you duck into the shadows behind a cracked pillar. The air tastes like ash and blood. You scan the fight ahead, Beasts Pirates swarming a small group.

At the center: Trafalgar Law.

He’s calm, calculating, his sword slicing clean arcs through the crowd. But there’s too many. One slips past his line of sight, a massive axe raised behind him.

You don’t hesitate.

Your blade flashes, a quick, clean throw. It hits the attacker’s shoulder, knocking him off balance before Law even knows he was there.

He turns instantly, catching the movement out of the corner of his eye. But you’re already gone, disappearing into smoke and stone like you were never there.

“Someone’s following me” Law mutters minutes later, once the fight thins out. Bepo tilts his head.

“An enemy?”

“…Not sure.”

He looks toward the shadows where you linger, high above on the rafters. Watching. Quiet.

You saved him. You didn’t have to. And now you can’t stop watching him.

That night, as the battle calms down, you leave another Beast Pirate unconscious behind.

Law appears near the crates just moments later. He sees the body, then the knife still buried in the man’s leg. Same kind of blade as before.

He kneels down, inspecting it “You again.”

You smile from the darkness above, unseen.

The next day.

“You know someone’s been helping us,” Law tells the others “Takes out enemies before we see them. Gets in and out like a ghost.”

Momonosuke frowns “A spy?”

“Could be,” Law says “But whoever it is, they’re not with Kaido’s soldiers.”

Kin’emon stiffens at that. His eyes flash toward the shadows “Did you say… ghostlike?”

Law looks over “Yeah.”

Kin’emon’s face darkens “There is an old tale… of a girl with a dragon’s eyes. One who walks through Wano like smoke. Seen, but never caught.”

“Sounds like a myth.” Law says.

Kin’emon shakes his head “Not a myth. A warning.”

You press your back to the wall, heartbeat rising.

They’re starting to notice you. But you can’t stop now. Not until Kaido falls.

Later on you start to pay more attention and you think you’ve gotten better at hiding. But Trafalgar Law is better at catching.

“Room.”

His voice is quiet, but the pressure shifts.

Before you can leap away, you feel the strange ripple in the air, the pull of his power.

Shambles.

The space around you blinks, your feet leave the ground.

You land hard on stone, the shadows gone, replaced by firelight.

You freeze.

He’s already standing there, arms crossed, sword sheathed at his side. Calm, unreadable.

“Not bad,” he says “You lasted longer than I thought.”

You say nothing, the hood still covering your face. Your heart hammers in your chest. You didn’t expect this.

He steps closer, slow and deliberate “You’ve been following me since the inner gate. Took down five of Kaido’s men without being seen. Saved me twice.” He tilts his head “Why?”

You grip the edge of your cloak tighter.

“I don’t owe you an answer.”

“You do if you want to leave.”

You look past him. The door is blocked. No windows. Just firelight, stone, and the surgeon of death with those piercing eyes.

“I’m not your enemy” you say, voice steady but low.

“That’s not an answer” he replies.

His tone isn’t cruel. It’s precise. Focused. He’s dissecting you with words the same way he would with a scalpel. Slowly. Carefully.

You shift your stance, weight toward your heel, just in case.

Law’s eyes flick down for a split second. He notices.

“You’re not used to being cornered,” he says “You don’t like it.”

“Who does?” you mutter.

He steps closer, now only a few feet away. You can see the cut across his brow, half-healed. You almost patched it yourself... almost. But you stayed hidden, like always.

“I don’t like mysteries in the middle of a war,” he says “Especially ones that move like assassins and carry Kaido’s blades.”

You stiffen. Just slightly. Enough for him to notice.

He watches you, eyes narrowing “You’re not with him.”

You hesitate.

“I’m not” you say.

“But you know him.”

That lands like a knife between your ribs. You don’t speak. Can’t.

He stares, then slowly lifts a hand but not threatening, just… thoughtful.

“Let me guess,” he murmurs “You’re not one of his soldiers. But you move like someone who trained. Someone who had to hide.”

He pauses.

“You’re someone close to him.”

Your heart kicks harder. Your hand twitches toward your hood.

He notices everything.

“I won’t say it,” he adds “But you’re going to have to. Eventually.”

You step back, the fire behind you casting long shadows “I’ve done more for your side than you know.”

“Then say it.”

“No.”

He sighs through his nose “Then take off the hood.”

You don’t move.

“I won’t force you,” he says “But if you want me to trust you, I need a face.”

A long beat of silence stretches between you.

Then, finally you slowly lift your hands and pull the hood back.

Your hair spills down. Your face is lit by firelight. And your eyes, Dragon gold. Just like Kaido’s.

Law freezes.

His expression doesn’t change, but you feel his silence is sharp now. Like something just snapped into place.

You say quietly, “Now you know.”

He doesn’t say anything. Not at first.

Then he speaks “…You’re his daughter.”

You flinch.

“I’m not him,” you say quickly, the words tumbling out “I don’t fight for him. He doesn’t even know I’m here.”

Law’s jaw flexes. His eyes narrow. You can tell he’s thinking fast, too fast.

“You expect me to believe that Kaido’s daughter, his blood, is sneaking around, saving my life and stabbing his men in the back?”

You lift your chin “I never chose him.”

He’s silent again. The fire crackles behind you.

“Yamato knows,” you add “I saw him with your group and he knows who I am. He knows what I’ve done.”

“Then why hide?”

“Because if Kaido finds out I’m against him…” You shake your head “I won’t get another chance. And neither will anyone else. I'm not as strong as Yamato.”

He stares at you for a long time. You’re sure he’s going to walk away. Or call you a liar. Or worse.

But then he mutters “…You’re reckless.”

You blink “What?”

“Reckless.” he repeats “And lucky I didn’t stab you the first night.”

You give a breathless laugh, more from relief than humor “You tried.”

He smirks faintly “I missed on purpose.”

You roll your eyes “Sure you did.”

He steps back, finally giving you room to breathe “You’re staying close to me now. No more hiding.”

You hesitate “You trust me?”

“Not yet... not fully.” he says flatly “But I’m curious.”

After that he doesn���t move. Doesn’t speak. Just watches.

You shift under the weight of it, but keep your chin up. You’ve already shown him too much.

“So,” he finally says, voice quiet, flat, “you can throw a blade, take down five men without being heard, and disappear into smoke.”

He tilts his head.

“Were you trained as an assassin?”

You snort, soft and bitter “No.”

He arches a brow.

“An obedient wife who had to learn how to survive.”

His expression doesn’t change, but you see the twitch in his jaw. The faint disbelief.

“…What?”

“That’s what I was trained to be,” you say, eyes fixed on the flames “Kaido wanted me to be a perfect bride. Pretty. Polite. Silent. Loyal.”

You shrug like it doesn’t matter, even though it burns like hell.

“They taught me how to move without being noticed. To listen more than speak. To smile even when I hated it.” You pause, voice low “It made it easy to sneak around later, though.”

He’s quiet. Watching you too closely now.

He says, “Then you’re surprisingly good at throwing knives.”

You let out a short laugh “Yamato taught me that. In secret. He said if I was going to be caged, I should at least know how to stab the lock.”

That earns a very slight, very rare pull of a smirk from Law. It fades fast.

“Do you know who he wanted you to marry?” he asks.

You glance at him, just for a moment “Someone powerful. Someone Kaido could use. It never got that far.”

“Why not?”

“Because I disappeared.”

You watch him now. The way his gaze drops to the stone floor for a second, like he’s putting together pieces you can’t see.

“And now you’re fighting against him,” he says “From the shadows.”

“It’s the only place I can do anything.”

He doesn’t answer right away. Then, quietly “Until now.”

You blink “What do you mean?”

“You’re not in the shadows anymore.” His voice is soft, but steady “You showed me your face. That means you’re in it now. With us. Whether you like it or not.”

You swallow.

“I didn’t save you to join your army.”

“No,” he agrees “But you saved me anyway.”

The fire pops. His gaze softens, not much, but enough to make your stomach twist.

“You’re not what I expected" he murmurs.

“Good or bad?”

He considers.

“…Confusing.”

You huff a quiet laugh “That’s fair.”

He steps away, hands in his pockets now, a casualness that’s almost too calculated.

“We leave at dawn. We’re moving to the eastern wing. I want you close.”

Your brows lift “What, no cages? No cuffs?”

“You’d just slip them.” He glances back at you “Besides, I already know you’re dangerous.”

You arch a brow “And?”

He shrugs, dry as ever “So am I.”

You’re walking a few paces behind Law, half-shrouded by the long corridor shadows of the eastern wing. The firelight makes your cloak shimmer at the edges, but your hood is back now. He insisted on it.

He doesn’t speak as you move, he’s not much of a talker unless he’s annoyed or amused. Right now, he’s somewhere in between.

And then, around the corner, you both stop.

Yamato stands at the end of the hall, bandaged and panting, having just shoved open a heavy side door. Behind him, Kin’emon and Momonosuke follow close.

“Law! There you are—” Yamato pauses as soon as his eyes land on you.

The whole corridor stills.

You feel their gazes like blades. Momonosuke blinks, trying to place you. Kin’emon’s eyes narrow, sharp with memory.

And Yamato smiles.

“You told him” he says, voice low with something like relief.

Law glances at you, then back at Yamato “You knew?”

Yamato steps forward, nodding “She’s been helping from the start. Since the capital. I only found out a few months ago, but I kept quiet because I know that she likes to hide.”

Kin’emon steps forward now, slowly “Wait…”

You tense as his eyes roam over you, his expression shifting from suspicion to something more ancient, recognition.

“The birthmark…” he murmurs, eyes locking on the base of your neck.

You instinctively reach to cover it.

“You were a child, around my age.” he says “I saw you once. During a peace talk… when dad... Oden was still alive.”

Your breath catches.

“I thought you were just a servant. But I remember your eyes.”

Momonosuke stares at you, wide-eyed “She’s Kaido’s daughter?”

“She is,” Yamato answers for you, calm but firm “But she’s not like him.”

Law stays quiet through all of it. Watching you. While you lower yuo head to not face them.

Yamato faces Kin’emon and Momo “She never supported him,” he says “She kept me safe. Snuck food to villages, warned people before attacks. She hid it for years. But she was always there, helping everyone but herself.”

Momonosuke steps behind Kin’emon, still processing. But Kin’emon… he lowers his sword.

“If what Yamato says is true… then I owe you an apology.”

You blink “Why?”

“For not helping you leave,” he says “For walking past a child in chains and doing nothing.”

That stings more than you expect.

Yamato’s hand rests gently on your shoulder “She’s with us now,” he says “She wants Kaido gone as much as we do.”

Law finally speaks, voice as dry as usual “She’s good at hiding. Quiet as a whisper. But she throws knives like she means it.”

Kin’emon raises a brow.

“She’s also very stubborn, I'd say.” Law adds.

You glare at him “Says the man who cornered me into a room with his powers.”

“You were being annoying” he replies flatly.

“You were being slow.”

Momonosuke blinks between the two of you “Are… are they flirting?”

Yamato groans “Oh no.”

Law just turns and keeps walking “We move in twenty minutes. Don’t fall behind, princess.”

You hiss under your breath, chasing after him “Don’t call me that.”

But he just smirks without looking back.

The room they gather in is small.

You stand near the edge, half-shadowed again, cloak pulled tighter. Law’s somewhere behind you, flipping his blade open and closed in that restless way he does when he’s thinking too hard.

Then the door slams open.

Luffy barrels in followed by Zoro, Killer, and an annoyed-looking Eustass Kidd. They’re dust-covered, blood-smeared, and loud.

“Yo! Law!” Luffy waves like they’re at a barbecue instead of the middle of a war “We just trashed another floor!”

“Obviously” Law mutters, but doesn’t look up.

Then Luffy spots you.

He stops walking.

“Eh? Who’s that?”

You shift, not answering. Yamato clears his throat behind you, ready to explain. But Luffy just beams.

“Oh! Is she your girlfriend or something?”

Law doesn’t even blink “No.”

“Really?” Kidd snorts, arms crossed “You’re keeping her that close and glaring at us like that, but she’s not your girlfriend?”

“I’m glaring because you’re way too loud” Law deadpans.

Zoro eyes you, a flicker of curiosity behind his boredom “She’s been following us, right? I saw her take out two Beast Pirates before anyone noticed.”

“She’s Kaido’s daughter” Law says bluntly, like he’s ripping off a bandage.

The room goes silent.

Even Luffy blinks.

“…Eh?”

You sigh and step forward, lifting your chin “Technically. I didn’t sign up for it.”

Kidd’s eyes narrow “You’re serious?”

Yamato nods “She’s been on our side the whole time. She’s the one who warned the capital two nights ago.”

Zoro whistles low “Well, shit.”

Luffy grins wide again “That’s awesome!”

You blink “You’re not… mad?”

“Why would I be?” he says, confused “You’re fighting him too, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Then you’re with us.”

Simple as that.

Law rolls his eyes “Don’t let him fool you. He always accepts people way too easily.”

Luffy shrugs “I like her.”

You stare at him, stunned. No suspicion. No fear. Just… acceptance. Like it’s normal to welcome the daughter of the enemy with a smile and an outstretched hand.

“Thanks?” you say softly, unsure how to react.

Then Kidd rolls his eyes and mutters, “Still sounds like you picked a girlfriend up mid-war.”

Law turns to him, voice flat “Do you want to be shambled into the ocean?”

You cover a laugh with your hand.

Zoro smirks “He’s definitely keeping you close. That’s not nothing.”

“Shut up.” Law mutters.

“You’re blushing!” Luffy points out.

“I will kill you.”

“I ship it.” Yamato adds unhelpfully.

Killer says nothing, but you’re pretty sure he snorts behind the mask.

You shake your head, hiding a smile you didn’t expect to have today. It feels like chaos, but not the kind you were raised in. It’s lighter. War still rages outside, but here you can finally breathe.

And maybe… fight for something more than just survival.

The storm of battle breaks again not long after.

Steel rings out, smoke choking the air as the ground trembles beneath the weight of clashing armies. Thunder crashes overhead.

You stay close to the walls, in the dark, your steps silent, your blade lighter than air.

This is where you belong.

Not at the front. Not swinging heavy weapons like Yamato. Not rallying the rebels with a captain’s call.

No. You were trained to be invisible. To listen. To vanish. And you’re good at it.

You slip past a Beast Pirate without a sound, catching the edge of his weapon with your cloak as you pass, he stumbles, confused, then goes still as a blade brushes his throat. Yours.

One down.

You never linger. Never let them see your face.

From your perch on a rooftop beam, you watch the others fight below.

Luffy is chaos incarnate, leaping from debris to debris, fists flying. Zoro and Killer carve through the crowd, Kid hurling steel like it’s an extension of his rage.

And then there’s Law, controlled. Deadly. Calling out “Room” like a calm god of precision. You watch his fingers flick and another soldier vanishes mid-swing.

He doesn’t look at you, but you know he knows where you are.

He always does.

But something’s shifting. You feel it in the way Kaido’s men move. Sharper. Slower. Looking up. Behind. Whispering.

They’ve noticed.

You drop behind a wall and press your back against the stone.

Two soldiers stand nearby, speaking low.

“…Too many of us gone too fast” one says “No one saw who did it.”

“She’s here,” the other growls “The girl. His daughter.”

Your breath catches.

“They say she’s with the rebels now.”

“She wouldn’t. He loves her.”

“He doesn’t love anything. You know that.”

A pause.

“If she’s here, and she’s helping them... we’re supposed to kill her, right?”

“…Only if we’re sure. But we better capture her alive, or if we kill her at least make it look like an accident. Don't go ma—”

You’re already gone before they finish the sentence.

Your lungs are tight, your movements sharper than before. Every shadow feels thinner. Every glance feels aimed.

They’re looking now. Not for a fighter. Not for a rebel.

They’re looking for you.

A hand reaches from behind a torn banner, grabbing your wrist.

You twist, knife in your palm, ready to fight.

“Easy.” It’s Law.

His fingers tighten around your wrist just enough to still you. His voice is low, close to your ear “They’re starting to talk.”

“I heard” you breathe.

His eyes flick toward the rooftops “We need to move. If they know you’re here, they’ll send someone.”

“They won’t be sure.”

He stares at you “You don't know how strong some of them are.”

You glare “And you don’t know me.”

He smirks faintly “That’s why I’m keeping an eye on you.”

You pull away, stepping back into the shadow “Then keep up.”

And just like that, you vanish again. But now, they’re hunting you.

You keep your distance, wait to strike when it’s necessary. And then, it happens.

You’re climbing a rickety scaffold to get a better vantage point on the battlefield when a voice, sharp and familiar, cuts through the noise.

“There! There she is!”

Your blood runs cold.

You whirl around just in time to see a Beast Pirate, a low-level soldier, pointing directly at you from across the field. His eyes widen with recognition, then narrow with intent.

“There she is!” he shouts again “Kaido’s daughter!”

A sickening rush of heat floods your chest as the world seems to slow down for a moment.

You don’t think. You react.

In an instant, your hand finds your blade, and you spring forward, vanishing behind a pile of debris.

They saw me.

Your heart pounds as you look for an exit. Somewhere, far down the hall, you see movement, more men. More eyes.

But this time, you’re not just running. You’re not just hiding.

You’re being hunted.

Your mind races, trying to find the quickest escape route, but the sound of footsteps behind you grows louder. They’re closing in.

“You’re not getting away, princess” the Beast Pirate shouts, his voice thick with malice.

Then, a voice, so familiar, so close, cuts through the tension.

“Room.”

The air around you shifts in an instant. A pull. A tug. A lurch.

The ground beneath your feet vanishes, and the next thing you know, you’re thrown sideways, but somewhere else entirely. A shadowy corner of the battlefield, far from the soldiers who are still scrambling.

Law stands over you, the same sharp, unreadable expression on his face.

He doesn’t ask questions. Just holds a hand out to help you up “You good?”

You nod, gasping for air, your heart still hammering in your chest.

“Thanks” you manage, your voice a little too thin. You push yourself to your feet, checking over your shoulder.

He looks behind you, eyes narrowing “They didn’t see you slip away. For now.”

“But they know. They’re coming for me.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment, but his hand rests on his sword as if it’s the only thing keeping him grounded.

“We need to move” he says quietly, pulling you along behind him.

You glance back, but it’s already too late. The soldiers you just outran are regrouping.

And then, you hear it.

“I’ve seen her!” the Beast Pirate shouts “Kaido’s daughter’s here! She’s helping the rebels!”

The words pierce through the noise like a lightning strike.

“You need to go tell Kaido.” another pirate shouts, clearly panicking “Now!”

Your blood runs cold.

Law’s grip tightens on your wrist “Stay close.”

You’re both moving again, but now, it’s not just about escaping. It’s about buying time.

“Shambles.” Law snaps his fingers again, his power yanking you both forward, but this time, it’s a wider distance. You’re thrown through the air, landing against the stone wall of a nearby ruin. But you’re still not safe.

The Beast Pirates are catching up.

You glance back toward Law “You know they won’t stop looking for me now.”

He nods once “I know. That’s why we don’t stop either.”

He strides forward, facing the group of pirates charging in your direction. They’re only seconds away from being on you.

You feel the familiar panic start to settle in, but you force it down. You know how to fight in the shadows, even when you can’t be hidden.

You swipe a hand to your side, pulling out a dagger. Law’s eyes flick to it, and a rare smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

“You know, you’re not as bad as I thought, princess” he says, voice dry.

“Right now, I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t call me that” you mutter under your breath.

He doesn’t answer, only moves to block the advancing soldiers, his sword raised with calculated menace.

One of them steps forward, eyes gleaming as he sneers at you “You're in the middle of the enemy camp. You think you’ll survive this? You think he alone can protect you agaist all of us?”

You meet his gaze, and for a moment, all you can see are shadows.

“I don’t need to be protected and I don't care to survive anymore.” you murmur, and then, you move.

The soldiers charge forward, teeth gritted, weapons drawn. They must think you’re just a soft girl trained to be a wife, that somehow you found someone who protected you all this time.

They’re wrong.

You’re quick, faster than they expect. One rushes you, sword raised, and you sidestep him in a fluid motion. A twist of your wrist, a flash of silver, and the soldier crumples in silence.

Next.

Law’s already engaged, slicing through the soldiers with his surgical precision. He doesn’t need to think about it. Just moves, calm and cold, his blade cutting through the air with deadly accuracy. His power flicks like an extension of his body, ripping through the battlefield with ease.

“Room” he mutters, and in an instant, a soldier who thought he was safe is yanked off his feet and flung into the distance. Law turns toward you with a sharp glance “You’re doing well, princess.”

You twist, knocking the sword of another soldier out of his hand with a well-placed strike “I told you not to call me that!”

He raises an eyebrow as he cuts down another pirate “What’s the matter, princess? I thought you liked the title.”

“I don’t!” You lash out with a quick thrust, taking down another attacker “Don’t call me that!”

He watches you for a moment as you fight, the sword flashes in your hand a blur of motion. But instead of teasing you more, he sidesteps an incoming blow and slides beside you, his voice quieter now “Why?”

The question isn’t mocking. He’s genuinely curious, and for the first time, you can feel the weight of his attention on you. The question hangs in the air, a rare moment of understanding between the chaos.

Your breath catches as you dodge another blow. The soldier’s eyes widen in surprise when you duck, slipping into the shadows just as you’ve been trained. You’re not done yet.

You drop the soldier with a swift kick to the ribs.

Law’s voice follows you through the smoke and dust “You’ve told me to stop calling you that. Why?”

You hesitate for a moment, turning to him as the last of the soldiers scatter in defeat. The heavy weight of the title, the one that’s been used to cage you your entire life, weighs on your tongue.

You take a breath “Because that’s all they’ve ever called me. Kaido’s princess. His daughter.” Your voice cracks slightly, and you quickly steady it “I’m not a princess. I’m just… me. I’m not his.”

The words hang in the air like a challenge to the ground beneath you. For the first time, Law’s sharp gaze softens just a little. He stops for a moment, looking at you, his brow furrowing in thought.

“I’m sorry” he says, his voice quieter than before. The usual teasing is gone.

You’re not used to hearing that from anyone.

You give a curt nod and start walking again, ignoring the weight that still clings to your chest. You don’t need his pity. You don’t want it.

But you’re not used to this either, someone recognizing that you’re more than what others called you. Not Kaido’s daughter. Not some “princess”.

“Let’s just finish this,” you say, pushing forward, your eyes scanning the shadows “They’ll be back. More of them.”

Law watches you for a beat longer, then falls in step beside you, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze “Right.”

You don’t know what’s different now, whether it’s the way you both move in sync or the fact that Law’s stopped calling you “princess” with his usual sarcastic grin, but you know it’s not the same as before.

Not anymore.

The rooftop battle is chaos.

You hide just behind a crumbling pillar, smoke curling around your feet. Lightning flashes above the shattered remains of Onigashima’s highest level, casting jagged light over everything. You can barely breathe through the thick air, heat, ash, blood.

Luffy’s up front, panting hard but still standing.

Kidd is yelling something, hurling twisted metal with wild force. Killer and Zoro are bleeding but moving, their blades catching firelight.

And Law is precise. Silent. His blade is slick with sweat, his coat scorched and fluttering with each blast of energy, but he never stops. His voice is calm, clipped.

You stay hidden. He told you to.

“Don’t show yourself” he said back before the fight began “You’re not ready for this kind of power. And if Kaido sees you…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.

So you wait. You watch. And it’s killing you. Because they’re losing.

Zoro’s down on one knee. Luffy coughs blood. Kidd takes a brutal hit to the ribs and staggers, cursing.

And Kaido laughs.

“Pathetic,” the dragon snarls, his voice cracking the sky “You ants dare challenge me?”

He raises his kanabo, slamming it into the stone with earth-shattering force.

You don’t even think.

You move.

You’re in front of Law before you realize it. Blades drawn. Eyes locked on Kaido.

He sees you. And he knows.

The laughter stops.

Kaido’s gaze sharpens like a blade “You.”

The silence cuts deeper than the wind.

“My daughter.”

Law’s head snaps toward you, eyes wide “No!”

But it’s too late.

Kaido takes one slow step forward, the storm above him crackling “You’ve been hiding behind them,” he growls “Lurking like a coward.”

You hold your ground “I’m not your daughter.”

That makes him snarl. The kanabo swings up, glowing with thunder.

“I gave you everything, and this is how you repay me?” His voice booms like thunder cracking stone “I should’ve thrown you away like you brother. Thought you were smarter.”

Your stomach twists but you don’t move.

You hear Law behind you “Get back.”

“No” you whisper.

Kaido lunges. The ground shatters.

And then—“ROOM.”

One second, you’re standing in front of a god. The next you’re nowhere.

The battlefield is gone. The air is cold. You’re lost somewhere far from the battle, knees hitting the ground as you fall from the jolt of his power.

You look around, eyes wide “Why?!”

You're alone.

You keep walking and walking, until you see Kidd and Law stand half-collapsed in the wreckage of victory, bruised and bloodied and barely alive.

You run to him.

“Law!”

He looks up and the flicker of relief in his eyes almost breaks you.

You drop to your knees beside him, checking his pulse, your hands already on his shoulder, trying to stop the bleeding.

Kidd, lying flat in the rubble nearby, groans “Hahh… damn… this hurts…”

You ignore him, completely focused on Law.

Kidd glances over and smirks through cracked lips “Tch. So what, Law? Your girlfriend gonna patch you up, cry a little?”

Law glares “Shut up, Kidd.”

You roll your eyes, already ripping fabric for bandages “Don’t tempt me to throw a rock at your face.”

“You see?” Law mutters, eyes fluttering half-shut “Not a princess.”

You snort softly, pressing your palm to his chest to keep him still “Damn right I’m not.”

He doesn’t say anything else. Just lets you touch him. Lets you stay.

And for once, you’re not in the shadows. You’re right here, with him.

You don’t want to leave him.

You glance up as one of Law’s crewmates rushes over, panting and wide-eyed.

“Captain!”

You stand immediately “He needs stitches. Internal bleeding, maybe more.”

“I—I’ll take care of him,” the Heart Pirate stammers, already pulling out medical supplies.

Law grabs your wrist before you can move away. His fingers are weak, but his grip is firm.

“Don’t disappear” he mutters.

You offer him the smallest smile “Not this time.”

Then you let go, and walk away.

The celebrations stretch on for hours.

Wano is free. The skies are clear. Kaido’s rule is shattered. And for the first time in years, you breathe without watching your back.

You’re standing by a balcony overlooking the lanterns floating up into the sky, your hair loose, a small drink in your hand. The laughter from the festival below rises with the breeze.

Yamato appears beside you, sliding you a grin as he leans on the railing.

“Still not used to this,” you say, looking up at the stars “No shadows. No running.”

He nudges you gently with his shoulder “Told you we’d get here.”

You smile. You’d never had a chance to just be with your brother. Not like this. Not in peace.

You both stand in quiet for a moment, letting the warmth settle.

Then Yamato glances over your shoulder, eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Well, I’m gonna go… talk to Momo. Alone...” he says casually “Very alone. Don’t follow me.”

You frown “What?”

Then you hear the footsteps behind you.

You turn and Law is there.

Cleaned up, bandaged, coat draped over his shoulders like a cloak. Tired, but standing. Breathing. Alive.

Yamato’s already halfway down the stairs, wearing that dumb knowing smirk.

Law stops a few feet away from you. Hands in his pockets. Watching you with that unreadable stare.

You speak first “I didn’t think you’d be up already.”

He shrugs “Didn’t want to waste time.”

You shift your weight, suddenly unsure what to do with your hands “You shouldn’t push yourself.”

“Not pushing.” He takes a step closer “Looking.”

You tilt your head “For what?”

Law pauses.

Then he softly says “For you.”

Your breath catches just slightly.

He glances out toward the lanterns, jaw clenched like he’s thinking too hard about what he’s about to say.

“I’m not good at this,” he mutters “Saying things.”

“I noticed.”

He gives you a dry look.

You let him continue.

“I’ve had enough of people who only look useful when they’re strong.” he says “That’s not you. You’re not strong the way people expect, but you still held your ground. Even when it nearly got you killed.”

You don’t respond. Just… listen.

He shifts, eyes flicking to yours “I could use someone like that on my crew.”

You blink “What?”

Law exhales, as if this was harder than any battle he’s fought “Join me.”

You stare at him, stunned.

“You don’t belong here” he says, quietly now “You’re free. Don’t waste it standing still.”

Your heart thuds hard in your chest. Because you hadn’t even let yourself dream that far ahead. But the idea of being with his crew, the sea, freedom, it blooms fast in your chest, warm and terrifying and right.

You finally ask, softly, “And what would I be to you? On your crew?”

Law’s mouth curves just slightly. Not a smile, not yet, but something close.

“Not a princess,” he says “That’s for sure.”

You don’t sleep much.

Your mind buzzes with Law’s words, your heart thudding with something between fear and excitement. You lie in the quiet room the Kozuki retainers offered you, eyes on the wooden ceiling.

Freedom is loud in your chest.

By dawn, you’ve made your decision.

Yamato nearly chokes on his rice ball when you tell him.

“You’re what?!”

You grin “I’m joining Law’s crew.”

He blinks like he misheard you “Law’s? The grumpy one with the resting death glare? Does he know??”

You laugh “Yeah. That one. And of course he knows, he's the one who asked me to.”

“Wow.” He leans back, genuinely stunned “I mean, I knew something was going on between you... but… joining his crew? Really?”

You nod.

Yamato grins, proud and a little sad all at once “So you’re finally leaving Wano.”

You look out over the now peaceful land. Lanterns still float in the breeze. The smoke of war is gone.

“I’ve hidden here long enough...” you say “It’s time.”

He claps a hand on your shoulder “Then go. Find your freedom. You earned it.”

The samurai don’t question your choice. They bow, grateful and respectful, and offer quiet farewells. Kin’emon even presses a small wrapped charm into your hand.

“For protection,” he says “Not that you’ll need it.”

You smile and thank him with a bow.

The Polar Tang is docked just off the coast, preparing for departure. The sun glints off its yellow hull, and the crew bustles around the deck, laughing, loading crates, checking gear.

You approach, a little hesitant until a loud voice cuts the air.

“Oi, captain!” Bepo calls from the deck, waving wildly “She’s here!”

Law steps out from the lower deck, coat swinging behind him. He’s in full command mode again, but when he sees you, something shifts in his eyes.

He meets you at the dock, hands in his pockets.

“You’re sure?” he asks.

You smirk “I’m already packed.”

That earns a short, quiet chuckle from him “Good.”

He turns and gestures to the ship “Come on. I’ll introduce you.”

You climb aboard, the sea breeze rushing against your skin, the world stretching wide in front of you.

“This,” Law says as the Heart Pirates pause to stare, “is our newest crewmate.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Then Bepo cheers “Welcome aboard!”

Shachi whistles “Whoa, the boss brought back a pretty one.”

You laugh, already feeling the knot in your chest loosen. Law just rubs the bridge of his nose.

But just then, Penguin glances at you with a smirk, looking at Law.

“So… she’s the one?” he asks, raising an eyebrow “The one Kidd and Luffy were talking about? Your girlfriend?”

The words hang in the air for a moment, and Law freezes. His eyes narrow, a small frown forming.

“What?” Law mutters, his voice barely above a growl.

Penguin shrugs “Well, they seemed to think so.”

Law’s frustration is clear, and you can’t help but laugh a little, leaning against the ship’s railing “It’s not like that,” Law says, brushing his hair out of his face “We’re not—”

“You’re not?” Shachi cuts in, grinning “Then why were you looking so worried she wouldn’t join us, captain?”

Bepo joins in, his innocent smile hiding the teasing tone “Yeah, captain, never saw you being so obviously anxious… Sounds like you’ve got a thing for her.”

Law glares at them all, his face flushed with frustration “I’m not doing this” he says, rubbing his temples.

The crew laughs. You, however, are enjoying the banter, crossing your arms and smiling to yourself.

Law sighs heavily, looking at you like you’re both cursed and a blessing “I’m really starting to regret bringing her here” he mutters under his breath, but you can hear it clearly.

“Yeah, sure,” you say, laughing softly “Regret it all you want… captain.”

Penguin grins at Law one more time “Hey, she is cute, captain. You could do worse.”

Law just shakes his head in defeat, not bothering to argue anymore “Can we please just get to work?”

You chuckle, feeling a warmth in your chest. Even with all the teasing, it’s clear to you that the crew already sees you as part of their family. And while Law’s still trying to keep his composure, there’s a quiet part of you that feels like maybe this is the place you’ve been searching for.

[alice-angel12x]

The Blue Knight Ch.8

Truth and Lies arc

Ch. 7/ Ch. 9

A land of burning sands and spice winds, Tall mountains that meet the clouds. At the very top, a bagoda could be seen. A heavenly garden, surrounded by strange sugar monsters.

The Scout team had traveled far and wide over beast yeast, locating man lactions ruled by the beast cookies. But they made sure to keep a safe distance away. Writing down all they could observe, identifying the monsters, and locating the beasts.

Till they finally reached the last corner of Beast Yeast. A strange place that seemed to be in a perpetual night. A place full of strange beasts and people. People who really seemed to enjoy lying to anyone.

Outside of the fairy kingdom, beast yeast is not a safe place. I hope this report reaches you, Pure Vanilla. And by the time you read this, we will be back in Crispia.

Sincerely,

Y/n Knight Cookie.

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

"There we go," Y/n sighed as they finished sealing the report.

Y/n turned to one of Raisin Cookie's trusted crows. Just as they were about to hand the letter over, chaos erupted in the camp. Creatures large, small, and long. All creatures of black and blue attacked.

The crow, in a panic, flew off dropping Y/n's letter in the forest. Y/n drew their sword and charged the enemy.

"Retreat to the fairy kingdom! I'll cover you!" Y/n commanded as they slice down the monsters.

The able-bodied helped the wounded evacuate, as one of them activated the moon stone. Opening a portal to the fairy kingdom, as the scout party funnels through.

Y/n, seeing that most of the scout party was through, cast a giant blast of blue fire as they turned to make for the portal.

"Hurry!" The cookie from the other side of the portal cried out.

Y/n picked up their pace when a tentacle of darkness wrapped around their ankle. Suddenly, more wrapped around them, their arm, torso, and face. As it began to pull them to the ground.

The last thing Y/n could see was the horrified faces of the scouts as the portal closed, and they were dragged away.

"I found you! Oh, I can't wait to see poor pure Vanilla's face when his favorite pal is gone!" A familiar voice chuckled.

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

Back in Crispia (The Vanilla Kingdom)

10 months after the scouts returned, Pure Vanilla received the bad news. Black Raisin watched her friend closely. In public or when in sight of others. He would put on a face and act as if he is recovering.

But when he is alone, the world seems to dim. He wanders the castle, the garden of lilies. He would stare and sit close to the lone Blue lily in the tiny garden of white.

Black Raisin Cookie had to make sure he was eating properly throughout the day. If left alone, the poor king would not eat. He would simply stare at the empty chair across from him, and they were supposed to sit there.

One can only wonder how he mustered the strength to smile and be brave for the people. When inside, all he wished was to have his beloved knight back in his arms.

Yet he was... Not. Alone. As the poor king tossed and turned in bed, the soul jam was there to witness. The beast was giddy in delight at his other half's misery.

________________________________________________________

In a blink, he wasn't looking at pure vanilla. But his lovely guest is high in the spire's tower.

"I hope my guest enjoys their sweet room. They're lucky I was feeling generous with them," Shadow milk cookie smirks.

"Master shadow milk, I fear I don't quite understand your scheme here. You had them where you wanted them; why not crumble them?" Black Sahire Cookie asked.

"Simple, there are just too many possibilities on how to cause the most distress for Pure Vanilla. I could simply keep them out of reach, steal them away, maybe even turn her into a minion of deceit. So many choices," Shadow Milk smirks.

Shadow Milk vanishes into the shadow, leaving Black Sapphire and the all-seeing orb. When Candy Apple Cookie kicks open the door. Probably looking for Shadow Milk Cookie.

"Ew, who's that?" Candy Apple Cookie asks.

"Our Master's Guest," Black Sapphire explains simply.

"For how long?" Candy Apple whined. "Guests need so much attention. Attention that should be mine."

"For as long as the master allows, I suppose," Black Sapphire shrugs.

Candy Apple huffs in annoyance, as long as they don't keep Shadow Milk's attention for too long. Then it's fines. She thinks to herself.

"So what's so special about them. They look so ... Plain and boring," Candy Apple comments.

"Well, they are Pure Vanilla's lover, so Master Shadow Milk wants to keep them forever apart," Black Sapphire says.

"Wow, boring Cookies like other boring cookies. Whatever, I'm going to find my pretty shadow Milk cookie," She sighs and skips off.

Black Saphire sighs as he looks back at the all seeing orb. "I guess it could be fun breaking them down before Pure vanilla arrives," Black Sapphire smirks. Deciding to pay a visit to the guest.

________________________________________

Are You Ready for Shadow Milk and Minion Shinanagins!! Sorry for the short chapter. I didn't just wanna cut to the next arc. I need to ease into it.

Anyways, I will try to keep updating/ flush out the story. Hitting 300 notes will expedite the next chapter's release ( higher priority).

So see yeah soon.

[narfin-frood]

pivotal moment where wander "has to" integrate sylvia into the hivemind and it EATS at him and it's the catalyst for a great deal of his redemption arc

GOOD PROMPT!!!! VERY GOOD PROMPT!!! i'm sorry the captions and timing are a little fuckedup but i could not REST until i finished this. i do recommend pausing to read some of this, and if that ends up being tedious, i'll put the thumbnails with a transcript under the cut!!

TRANSCRIPT:

[interior, planet yonder. wander growls in distress, green lightning sparking around him]

MR. METEOR: peepers, we gotta get outta here! [he grabs peepers by the hand and takes off]

WANDER: N-N-N-NO! YOU WILL NOT UNDO ALL MY HARD WORK!!

[wander growls again. sylvia covers her head to protect from falling objects]

SYLVIA: WANDER! are you okay??

WANDER: I'M FINE!!!

SYLVIA: really?? cuz this place is lookin' like it might not hold up much longer!!

WANDER: NO!!!

[wander rubs his forehead with his fingers, grimacing with effort. the lightning dissipates. cut to mr. meteor and sir peepers, at a crossroads. mr. meteor is looking up and around the ceiling as peepers scampers around him, looking for the way out]

SIR PEEPERS: ohhhh where'd we park?? which way is out??? ohhh grop it all looks the same!!! we're trapped!!!

MR. METEOR: it stopped...

SIR PEEPERS: [glances upward] ...huh.

[cut back to sylvia and wander]

SYLVIA: that's some willpower you got there, buddy...

WANDER: sylvia?

SYLVIA: hm?

WANDER: i want you to go after them. and i want you... to hurt them.

SYLVIA: wh...what...?

WANDER: i believe i've made myself clear.

SYLVIA: [shakes her head] no. i'm not doing that. you don't want me to do that.

WANDER: AND WHO ARE YOU TO ARGUE??? FOR THE GOOD OF THE COLONY, SISTER, I ORDER YOU TO GET THEM!!!

[wander breathes heavily from the effort of screaming. sylvia looks disgusted.]

SYLVIA: [removing her cloak] alright.

WANDER: w-w-wait, what're you doing?

SYLVIA: i'm leaving. [she wads up her cloak into a ball] if this is the kinda operation you're running now, i don't wanna be part of it. have fun spreading kindness across the galaxy.

[wander stares at her, wide-eyed and baring his teeth in an intense frown, as she walks away]

WANDER: [reaching out to grab her with several arms] YOU GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW!!!!!

[cut to mr. meteor and peepers, who are running down a tunnel]

MR. METEOR: are you sure we're going the right way??

SIR PEEPERS: i have NO IDEA sir

MR. METEOR: it opens up ahead! this might be the way out!

[camera zooms in and focuses on the end of the tunnel. something drops from the ceiling right in front of the exit, unfolding itself to take the form of sylvia. she has two mushroom arms sticking out of the sides of her head, connected to the ceiling, and her cloak is on again.]

MR. METEOR: UH-OH!

SIR PEEPERS: OH GROP

[closeup on sylvia's face. she snorts]

MR. METEOR: she doesn't look too happy, peepers!

SIR PEEPERS: why are you saying that like it's MY fault??

[sylvia mimics rolling up the sleeve she doesn't have and crouches, preparing to leap. peepers reaches for his sword.]

SYLVIA: GRRH!

[sylvia leaps into the air, screaming, aiming for peepers]

SYLVIA: YAAAAAAAAH!!!

SIR PEEPERS: ENGARDE, SHE-BEAST!

[shot changes to a flat shot from the side, and sylvia sails over peeper's head, crash-landing on the floor with a smack. she slides forward until she arrives at mr. meteor's feet.]

MR. METEOR: uhh...?

[sylvia shoots back to her feet, grabbing mr. meteor by the collar and winding back to punch him in the face}

MR. METEOR: WHOAWHOAWHOAWHOA WAIT!! NOOOOOO NOT THE FAAAAAAACE!

[sylvia's fist makes surprisingly gentle contact with hater's jaw. he looks at her in confusion, and sees her crying]

MR. METEOR: uhh. okay. um.

[he begins to scoot past her and away. sylvia crumples to the ground, shaking]

MR. METEOR: seems like you're goin' through a lot right now, and...if you're done, y'know, trying to kill us, or whatever that was...

[he trails off and makes eye contact with Sir Peepers. They dash off down the tunnel and disappear.]

[sillygoofyqueer]

Silly fic idea for you:

SVSSS AU where Shen Yuan transmigrates as a half-human half-crow-demon Phantom thief character.

He doesn’t want to steal from Bing-ge, but his System makes him, and naturally Bing-ge ends up obsessed. Bing-ge keeps luring him into traps with shiny things he just can’t help but want!!! Stupid crow impulses. (That he kinda wants to see Binghe again is irrelevant, obviously).

This is SUPER silly. Anon, this is so funny, I feel like I simply have to write this now oh my god. The idea that Bing-ge is confused at first, and he then sees this super handsome half bird-half human-demon thing and is like "man I need to get me more shiny things, I want to keep this fucker". ALSO, (I've heard that) crows are quite intelligent and start leaving presents as a response to getting fed or being given shiny things, so it could also be something where Shen Yuan starts having the urge to give Bing-ge things back after receiving all these shiny things (better if he doesn't recognise most of the traps as traps, mistaking Bing-ge for being a generous demon who doesn't need all of the shiny stuff he takes) and starts giving him shit like rocks and plants and the cool parts of beasts he fights... It also can be silly no matter when in the timeline this happens - it could be during the QJ peak arc where Shen Yuan sneaks around because he wants to see the awesome protagonist up close! The first time he steals something from Bing-ge, it's something super dumb like a particularly shiny rock or a coin that the boy left lying around, and Bing-ge's quickly like "??? The fuck just happened?" so he sets up a trap with the axe he uses for chopping wood (kind of rusty but still useable and particularly shiny). After that, it's chaos of trying to keep Shen Yuan the demon hidden while also stopping him from stealing other shiny things (cultivator's swords and such). Liu Qingge finds Shen Yuan trying to steal one of the swords he was gifted after saving a village and is also like "??? Kill?" It can also be after the Endless Abyss, when Bing-ge is like a demon lord and just has shiny stuff lying around. He throws it out occasionally and one day, while doing this, he notices a certain person swooping in and grabbing one of the shiny things. More antics ensue but I don't want to crash my laptop lmao (Which one would you rather me do, anon? Before the Endless Abyss, or after? Or both??) {part one! Part two, part three, part four, part five, part six, part seven!} [This gorgeous fanart from @slurmdog that's making me go insane here] [More awe inducing fanart from @moonlightobsessions that has made me pass out here]

[podemechamardek]

@nestaarcheronweek | Day Two: Mask

“We need to help her,” Bryce panted to Azriel.

“I promise you, she’s fine,” Azriel countered, urging them further into the tunnel. Out of the impact zone, Bryce realized.

The Wyrm must have sensed the sword’s approach, because it bucked against the bones and claws pinning it to the rock.

It managed to nudge the undead creature back, but only for a heartbeat.

Nesta raised her free hand again, and the undead creature slammed the Wyrm back into the ground. The Wyrm thrashed, desperate now.

With a dancer’s grace, Nesta scaled the undead beast’s tail, running along the knobs of its spine like rocks in a stream. Getting to higher ground, to a better angle.

The Wyrm shrieked, but Nesta had reached the undead beast’s white skull. And then she was jumping, sword arcing above her, then down, down—

Straight into the head of the Wyrm.

A shudder of silver fire rushed down the Wyrm. That cold, dry wind shivered through the caves again, death in its wake.

The Wyrm slumped to the ground.

The silence was worse than the sound.

– House of Flame and Shadow, Chapter 14

***

For today, @melphss and I commissioned this illustration of one of Hofas’ most iconic scenes, in which Nesta, through Bryce’s impressed eyes, kills the Wyrm while wearing the Mask. Once again, my dear Jaque, a perfect, wonderful and incredible artist, did an amazing job.

Art by: Jaqueline Florencio (jjflorentina)

Commissioned by: @melphss and @podemechamardek

🚫 Please don’t repost.

[howi99]

Little black sheep chapter 0

Cinder: *sigh, shaking her head in a disappointed manner* Jaune, this is suicide.

Jaune: It's genius!

Cinder: *frown, folding her arms together* You are going to get yourself killed. If not by a pack of beowolf, then by Mrs Arc when she hears about this.

Jaune: Nonsense! *Turning around, pointing his finger at her face* And stop calling her "Mrs Arc", for heaven's sake! It's weird and you called her mom just fine not even a week ago!

Cinder: *blush slightly, looking to the side* Just entertaining the idea of letting you come with me to Beacon is enough to make myself unworthy to call her mom. *Groan* Why must you want to become a huntsman?

Jaune: *cocky smirk* I could ask you the same question.

Cinder: I was trained, Jaune!

Jaune: So was i-

Cinder: *now using her pleading voice* I only showed you the basics! We don't even know what your semblance is! Heck, you can barely use your sword to hit me with the flat side of it, let alone cutting anything! *Sigh* Please reconsider your decision; i can always teach you more once i come back!

Jaune: *deadpan* Cinder, we both know you'd be too occupied working on the field to teach me. You just have to look at both mom and dad to gather that much.

Cinder: ... *Sigh* You win... *Mumbling to herself* Never should have unlocked your aura in the first place...

Jaune: *laugh* You honestly think that would have stopped me?!

Cinder: ... Probably not, no.

Jaune: *placing the envelope in the mailbox* Beside, i'll have you on my side. *Smile* What's the worst that could happen?

_ not distant future _

Jaune: *running from the Deathstalker, Cinder under his arm while she shoots arrows at the beast* SHIT SHIT SHIT!

Cinder: *panicking, seeing said Deathstalker approaching* SHUT UP AND RUN FASTER!

Jaune: I'M ALREADY RUNNING AS FAST AS I CAN! I WASN'T PLANING TO BRING EXTRA WEIGHT!

Cinder: WELL SORRY, BUT MAYBE IF I HADN'T NEEDED TO JUMP IN FRONT OF THAT BIG BUG TO PROTECT YOU, WE WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION IN THE FIRST PLACE!?

Jaune: IT'S AN ARACHNID, NOT AN INSECT!

Cinder: NEEEEERD!

Pyrrha: *thinking while running beside them, chuckling* (So that's what they meant when they said they were an inseparable duo, huh?)

_ back to present _

Cinder: ... I don't know, but saying that usually brings bad luck.

Jaune: *shrug* Eh, problem for later me.

[finisnihil]

i dont engage with the hsr fandom much outside of fanart/fanfic, so its always fascinating to see you respond to bad takes. i always feel like im in a little boat, seeing the shadow of some terrible beast pass under me. youre fighting battles i never couldve imagined

(this is re: your ruan mei tags in that post about "bad mother" being a female characters defining trait. it literally hadnt occured to me that you could possibly read ruan mei as a bad mother specifically. wild)

You have no idea lmao. My favorite character in Genshin is Il Dottore and my HSR favorite is Luocha. I'm in the trenches over here!

Anyways on a serious note, yeah Ruan Mei has gotten a lot of shit from the fandom for her relationship with motherhood, especially Jade fans*.

I love Jade as a character but a lot of the fans of her i've seen HATE Ruan Mei and love to drag her for being a deadbeat or a bad mother when the whole point of her arc in the 1.6 quest/event is that she doesn't want to be a mother and she's unwilling to sacrifice her career to care for her "children". She isnt heartless; she takes great pains to ensure they are cared for in her absence. Unfortunately, rejecting motherhood allows people to reduce her to just a "bad mother" and it really sucks when her character is diluted for the sake of defining her as that.

Jade is a character who is very maternal, she leans heavily into that role specifically to manipulate those under her, like Topaz. I feel like when people try to prop up Jade against Ruan Mei, they fully miss that neither women actually desire the role of mother. Jade sees people as investments and she uses maternal roles to cultivate the seeds she plants as to reap the rewards later. She's not genuine; it's all a mask. Trying to compare Ruan Mei and Jade is like comparing two oranges and saying one's an apple.

A character who is genuinely a mother and chose motherhood is Yukong. Her quest circulates around her relationship with her daughter and the circumstances that led to her chosing motherhood and her navigation of it. Even her splash art reflects this, being a depiction of a memory from when Tingyun/Fugue was a child and looked to Yukong as a mother figure, which is obviously a reciprocated sentiment since Yukong is the one who soothes Tingyun's soul and flies again to bring Fugue home.

Another female character that can be discussed in regards to motherhood is Jingliu. Jing Yuan claims they weren't close but you can tell Jingliu genuinely does care about him and even if Jing Yuan doesn't feel like they were close, she looked out for him and believed in him. Even when Jing Yuan wasn't naturally gifted with a sword she was willing to teach him and basically called those who looked down on him weak and lazy, saying they just wanted somebody naturally skilled so they could take credit for their student's success. Part of why she takes Jing Yuan on is because he reminded her of her younger self. Just looking at the age he started training under her, she did have a hand in raising him. Does this all make Jingliu a mother? Maybe. If she is a mother, though, she's a wire one.

The idea of the "wire mother" comes from a study and it basically is a mother who can provide for her children but can't offer them comfort or care beyond that. In the study, the cloth mother (can offer comfort but can't provide) was chosen over the wire mother more because the wire mother was cold and unfulfilling of emotional needs. I think that may play into why Jing Yuan felt they weren't close, that Jingliu's way of showing that care was teaching him how to survive and protect himself when people usually see care being the comfort of the cloth mother.

This is all just my thoughts though.

Sorry for the random analysis dump lmao motherhood is a big theme in the game (Mydei and his mother, Ruan Mei and her mother/her rejection of motherhood, Yukong and her daughter, Jade's use of motherhood, etc) and I got on a bit of a tangent. I'm glad you enjoy my responses to bad takes! I really am fighting for my life out here.

*Mandatory disclaimer that I dont look down on Jade fans i'm just noting what i've observed in regards to Ruan Mei discourse. If you're a Jade fan and you dont hate Ruan Mei, this isn't about you.

[baldurs-writers-3]

It's Gale Time!!!

Come explore the Wizard of Waterdeep~

For the Attention of by HardingHightown (2282, General) Content Notes: None Pairings: Gale/Mystra, Gale & Mystra

Gale writes two letters to Mystra, one before the game, and one just after defeating the Netherbrain.

Reccer says: An excellent character study of Gale, and a refreshingly nuanced take on his relationship with Mystra.

Learning Curve by AccursedSpatula (149742, Explicit) Content Notes: Depression, Suicidal Thoughts, Past Abuse (Verbal and Physical) Pairings: Gale/Rolan

Gale invites Rolan to assist with teaching at Blackstaff for a semester.

Reccer says: So incredibly well written with very strong emotional beats

Weave Me The Sunshine by ACrowsRockCollection (110026, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Gale/Jaheira

After joining forces in camp cooking duties, Jaheira and Gale's relationship transforms into something else. As they reckon with the Absolute, the stew pot, and their histories, Jaheira is forced to ask herself if she could find herself caring for a *Wizard*?

Reccer says: The one, the only, friends-to-lovers longfic celebrating our cranky High Harper and the wizard from Waterdeep.

A Heart As Cold As Ice by Defira (207094, Explicit) Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence (canon-typical violence) Pairings: Gale/Tav

The story of a drow warlock, Ryme'dra Ulutar, trying to escape from centuries of being wielded as a weapon, and Gale Dekarios. The fic alternates between Rhyme's past and Gale's present (during the events of the game).

Reccer says: This story features incredible worldbuilding and character development intertwined with a powerful, heartwrenching, entertaining romance. Rhyme is such a nuanced and engaging character, and the author absolutely nails Gale's voice.

Four of Swords by positivejam (3676, Explicit) Content Notes: Creator Chose Not to Use Archive Warnings, Dubious Consent Pairings: Astarion/Gale, Gale/Shadowheart, Gale/Minthara

It’s Shadowheart that helps him dredge the Chionthar. It’s Minthara who pulls the crown from the deepwater muck. And it’s Astarion who places it upon his head. Another gift. No. A reward.

Reccer says: [pats fic] This one lives rent free in my head. Gale corruption arc! Subby, power-hungry Gale trying to rationalize bad choices! Ritual sex! It's really good, I promise.

A beast in the belly by librarypirate (730, Teen) Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence Pairings:

Arcane hunger and intrusive thoughts, pragmatic and almost tempting.

Reccer says: Short and to the point, this depicts Gale's arcane hunger in a much more violent, primally evocative way than I tend to see in other works, and I've thought about it a lot since first reading this one.

Unintentional Surveillance by darkheartedrose (14821, Explicit) Content Notes: None Pairings: Gale/The Dark Urge

Gale hadn’t taken the tadpole into consideration when he’d started fantasizing earlier. Should have thought about the possibility that the parasite in his head may interpret his yearning in such a way that could cause it to resonate with Rhune’s.But he hadn’t. So now this was happening.

Reccer says: Quite literally sexting by tadpole, in the funniest (and smuttiest) use of that trope I've seen yet.

Both Sides Now by spacesunderstairs (5158, Explicit) Content Notes: Major Character Death Pairings: Gale/Minthara

Gale finds himself caught between two worlds and two names: the plain Gale Dekarios, or the wizard prodigy, Gale of Waterdeep. When he’s captured by a mysterious drow woman, he sees two futures: humility, or power– and the potential pleasures each path may provide.

Reccer says: A really excellent, compelling character study with plenty of spice and an extremely bittersweet ending.

To Life by vatisvera (2178, Teen) Content Notes: None Pairings: Gale & Jaheira

Wherein Jaheira tries to knock some sense into one of her newer “cubs”.

Reccer says: Beautifully poignant, well-written, made me cry (but in a good way!)

orphan hours by vertigo_cycle (4705, Teen) Content Notes: Gale-typical suicidal ideation Pairings: Gale & Astarion

Gale has a terrible time in the Shadowcursed Lands. Astarion attempts an intervention.

Reccer says: Really atmospheric, angsty, silly, and sweet all at once.

Suffer The Sting by ACrowsRockCollection (2001, Teen) Content Notes: N/A Pairings: Gale/Wyll

Bladesinger Gale spars with Wyll homoerotically.

Reccer says: THE TENSION. Extremely horny for a fic where nothing outright sexual is happening, with a dash of that signature Gale pining.

[greeniegaes]

Back at it agains with another svsss au im pulling out of my (slightly) sleep deprived brain

Basically yada yada everything happens as normal UP UNTIL the immortal alliance arc. SQQ gets this searing headache and the system just keeps popping up with errors, so while they are all fighting the spider hoard the system just kinda snaps and breaks. SQQ suddenly feels like he’s hit by a truck, his body starting to act like his sickly Shen Yuan body and his cultivation is tying itself into dead knots and every bone in his body feels like it’s locking up. There’s no system to blame for things as he and LBH confront MBJ and he just has to do his hardest to survive with just his spiritual sword.

And then the worse thing happens, Xiu Ya shatters.

SQQ panics at this, continuing to try his best fighting people off and eventually MBJ leaves *hooray* except not really because all the system errors are getting louder and louder in his head, and everything is blue and blaring and he might be bleeding and he can’t understand what LBH is saying even though he is right there, shaking his body and crying.

And then the abyss opens. He suddenly has the choice. He can send LBH, his white little sheep, down there to continue on with the PIDW plot, or he can… not do that.

So he pushes LBH.

Away from him. Away from the abyssal rift, only for him to be the one that falls though. He had prepared various lesson plans, life advice, what skills people to work on and so much more once he got without-a-cure, just incase he slipped up one day and couldn’t protect himself. So SQQ was satisfied as he knew his peak would be taken care of if LBH opened a specific drawer, everyone could still be taught by the hall masters and also have some future help prepared for each of them.

So SQQ let’s himself fall into the abyss, watching his student’s horrified expression as he plummets. He hears the system disconnect from LBH as he falls, all of the glowing blue error messages and pop ups instantly go away and he’s left in the dark as he sinks further and further into the abyss.

Surprisingly, he wakes up. He landed in the same field of flowers that are the reason LBH didn’t die in the original, they are filled with celestial qi in a place meant to be horrible and deadly. The one good thing about this place. He lays there for awhile and lets the plants essence fix up his meridians.

Then he has to experience the same horrifying things the protagonist did in person, fighting off each beast and trying his damn hardest to survive. It takes him a while, fighting and walking his way through what’s practically hell on earth, slaying beasts ten times his size, making sure not to fall into the trappings of demonic plants. He cuts his long hair, he thinks he will never see his peak again, so what do filial ties matter when you’re barely surviving. Sometimes the worse thing is his own mind, he feels a heavy layer of guilt to himself for so willing going along with the system. He sometimes forgets it’s not his fault too, that he was threatened to return to a dead body if he didn’t do as he was supposed to. But he’s happy sometimes too, he goes back to that field of flowers, laying in them and basking in his memories of a happier LBH, a LQG that isn’t dead, a Qing Jing peak full of song and happy healthy students.

He ascends from the abyss that day. He doesn’t know how or why but he wakes up in the same field of flowers, the sky above him no longer a damning black with red cracks seeping light in. it’s blue, soft, it hurts his eyes almost to look at it. It hurts so much but he can’t look away. He picks himself up, looking at all the grime and blood on himself and weeps in relief that he can go home. He hides his face and asks people where he is, somewhere in HHP territories, and begins to make his way back to his sect. Once he gets to his peak he sits down softly at the gate, it’s night time and there haven’t been many people about. He basks in the feeling of being home, leaning his head against the tall bamboo pole as he falls asleep.

He’s glad tomorrow is a new day, when he can see his family and just go back to his life.

(in the years he’s been gone all of CQS has been in some kind of mourning. LBH found all the letters from his shizun and they made all the disciples of QJP weep. Some of them took the advice given and left, some of them stayed and took care of a lordless peak. None of the hall masters or disciples were qualified to step up, and when the issue was raised even the peak lords agreed he shouldn’t be replaced. It was LQG who found him at the gate, going to visit the sword shrine in the bamboo house after an expedition, going to leave another fan to rot at the shrine’s foot. instead he heaved up his shixiong, hair not even reaching his shoulders, hands callused and dirty, and brought him back to the bamboo house, waking LBH in the process. Once morning light came everyone would know that their lost peak lord came home, but first they had to get the doctor to make sure he actually got through the night)

[novaursa]

Legacy (winds of winter)

- Summary: Tywin was the man who saved you from Robert's wrath. He was also the man who doomed you.

- Pairing: targ!reader/Tywin Lannister

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Previous part: of the east and the west

- Next part: the long night

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @oxymakestheworldgoround @luniaxifics @alkadri-layal @butterflygxril

The waves crashed against the hull of the Lion’s Glory, a sleek and sturdy ship bearing the Lannister banners, as it cut through the choppy waters leaving Dragonstone behind. Tywin Lannister stood at the bow, his hands clasped behind his back, the wind tugging at his cloak. Beside him stood Jaime, clad in armor that was brilliant in the pale sunlight, his golden hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

The cries of gulls mixed with the rhythmic creak of the ship’s timbers, but it was the distant roar that turned every head on the deck.

“She’s following us,” Jaime said, his tone amused as he tilted his head upward.

High above, Viserion soared, her great wings slicing through the sky with effortless grace. Her armor gleamed—a testament to Tywin’s command for her protection—the polished plates covering her underbelly and flanks glinting in the sunlight. Behind her, smaller but no less agile, darted the juvenile dragon from Dragonmont, its black scales shimmering with streaks of blood red.

“Younger one does not like being left behind,” Jaime remarked, shielding his eyes as he watched the dragons circle overhead.

Tywin’s expression was impassive, though his gaze remained fixed on the magnificent beasts. “They are loyal to her,” he said simply, referring to you, though his tone carried no softness. “As they should be.”

Behind them, Damon, now nearly four years old, toddled toward the railing, pointing upward with a gleeful laugh. “Mama! Mama’s flying!”

The servants, struggling to keep pace with the energetic child, reached him just as he grasped the edge of the ship, bouncing on his toes. “Young master, please be careful!” one of them urged.

Jaime chuckled softly, stepping back to ruffle Damon’s silver-gold curls. “Careful, little warrior. Your mother would roast me alive if anything happened to you.”

Damon ignored the caution, his wide eyes glued to the skies. “The little one’s coming too! Look, Jaime!”

Jaime squinted upward, watching as the juvenile dragon darted closer to Viserion, the smaller beast letting out an excited screech as it attempted to keep pace. “It seems even dragons can’t bear to part with her,” Jaime muttered.

Tywin’s lip curled faintly, though whether in irritation or amusement, it was difficult to tell. “The young dragon was never meant to remain on Dragonstone. It follows instinct, nothing more.”

Jaime smirked, glancing sideways at his father. “Instinct or not, it’s impressive. You’ve managed to keep not one but two dragons from turning this fleet into kindling.”

Tywin didn’t respond immediately, his gaze flickering to the horizon where Dragonstone was becoming a distant silhouette. “Discipline keeps them in line,” he said finally, his tone as cold and sharp as ever. “Nothing more.”

Jaime let out a soft laugh, folding his arms across his chest. “Discipline, yes. But let’s not forget who truly holds their loyalty. It’s not the lion they follow, Father. It’s her.”

Tywin’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not deign to reply. Instead, he turned his attention back to the sky, where Viserion let out a thunderous roar, her armored form glinting like a second sun. You, perched atop her saddle, cut a striking figure against the vast expanse of blue, your hair streaming behind you as the dragon turned in a wide arc.

“She’s flying ahead,” Jaime observed as Viserion began to veer toward the west, the juvenile dragon flapping furiously to keep up. “Heading to Casterly Rock already, it seems.”

Tywin’s jaw tightened slightly. “Good. Let her secure their loyalty there.”

Jaime’s brows lifted. “You speak as if it’s ever in question. Have you seen how your men look at her? How the lords whisper her name? They call her the Dragon Queen of Casterly Rock.”

Tywin’s stern gaze flickered to Jaime. “Enough.”

Jaime raised his hands in mock surrender. “As you wish. But I’m just saying, she’s done what no one else could. Dragons flying under Lannister banners? That’s a tale even the poets couldn’t invent.”

Damon tugged at Tywin’s cloak, his small face alight with excitement. “Papa! Can we fly with Mama next time? I want to ride the little one!”

Tywin crouched slightly, placing a firm but gentle hand on his son’s shoulder. “Not today, Damon. But one day, perhaps.”

Damon’s pout was short-lived as another roar echoed from the sky, drawing his attention back to the dragons. The juvenile let out a playful screech, twirling midair as if to show off its agility. Damon clapped his hands, giggling. “It’s so fast!”

Tywin straightened, his expression unreadable as he watched the dragons fade into the distance. Beside him, Jaime shook his head, a faint smile playing at his lips.

“You know,” Jaime said, his tone light, “you may not say it, but I think you’re proud of her.”

Tywin’s gaze didn’t waver. “Pride is irrelevant. She fulfills her role.”

Jaime chuckled, tipping his head toward Damon, who was now chattering excitedly with the servants about dragons and castles. “And what about him? Does he fulfill his role?”

For the first time, Tywin’s expression softened, if only slightly. “He will. In time.”

Jaime nodded, watching his father closely. “And the little one?”

“Maelor will have his place,” Tywin said simply. “As will they all.”

The sound of the waves filled the silence that followed, the ship slicing through the sea as it carried them westward. Overhead, the cries of dragons faded, their shadowed forms disappearing beyond the horizon.

“You’re building quite the legacy, Father,” Jaime said quietly. “A lion with a dragon at its side.”

Tywin didn’t reply, but there was a glint in his eye, a flicker of something between satisfaction and determination. As the ship pressed on, carrying them closer to the shore, the weight of their ambitions hung heavy in the salt-laden air.

The courtyard of Casterly Rock was filled with activity when the shadow swept over the towering walls. For a moment, the sun was blotted out, and the low rumble of beating wings sent a shiver through the gathered servants, guards, and residents. Heads snapped upward in unison, eyes widening as the enormous form of Viserion descended from the sky. Behind her, a smaller dragon darted through the air, its movements agile as it screeched a warning to the onlookers below.

A roar erupted from Viserion as she stretched her massive wings wide, the gust of her landing scattering hay, loose parchment, and the cloaks of those too close. The black dragon landed moments later, its claws scraping against the stone, leaving deep gouges in the ground.

The panic was instantaneous.

“Dragons!” a servant screamed, dropping a basket of apples as she fled toward the keep.

“Stay back!” barked a Lannister guard, drawing his sword even as his hands trembled. The clinking of armor was drowned out by the chorus of gasps, shouts, and hurried footsteps as the courtyard dissolved into chaos.

You dismounted gracefully from Viserion’s saddle. Despite the uproar, your expression was calm, your movements deliberate. With a firm pat on Viserion’s armored flank, you whispered something in High Valyrian, and the she-dragon rumbled in response, her eyes flickering toward the crowd as if daring anyone to come closer.

“Hold your ground!” you commanded sharply, your voice cutting through the cacophony. The guards hesitated but obeyed, though their swords remained drawn.

The juvenile dragon, however, was less composed. It hissed at the nearest guards, its tail lashing out to knock over a cart of barrels. The loud crack of splintering wood sent another wave of panic through the onlookers. You turned quickly, your voice firm yet soothing.

“Easy, little one,” you murmured, stepping toward the smaller dragon. It tilted its head toward you, its red eyes narrowing before it let out a low growl, reluctantly retreating a few paces.

A faint, almost amused smile tugged at your lips as you turned back to the crowd. “There is no danger. They are with me.”

Your words were met with uneasy silence, save for the soft creak of armor as the guards shifted uncomfortably.

A bold steward, his face pale but determined, stepped forward. “My lady,” he began cautiously, his voice trembling. “What are they doing here?”

“We are returning to our home,” you replied simply, glancing over your shoulder as both dragons began to retreat. Viserion turned first, her massive frame lumbering toward the entrance of an abandoned mine beneath the Rock, a place Tywin had ordered cleared years ago. The black dragon followed hesitantly, casting one last fiery glare at the onlookers before scuttling after her.

“Under the Rock again?” the steward stammered, watching as the dragons disappeared into the shadows. “That... that cannot be safe!”

You turned to face him fully, your expression unyielding. “Viserion has made her lair there before. She will ensure her youngling is safe. You have nothing to fear so long as they are not provoked.”

The steward looked as though he wanted to argue but thought better of it, stepping back with a bow. The other servants and guards began to settle, though the unease in the air was felt.

With the immediate panic subsiding, you turned and began walking toward the keep, your steps purposeful. The guards who had drawn their swords sheathed them reluctantly, exchanging nervous glances as they watched your retreating form. Behind you, the distant sound of dragons settling into their lair echoed faintly, a reminder of the power now residing beneath Casterly Rock once more.

The banners of House Lannister fluttered in the warm breeze as Tywin’s procession wound its way through the gates of Casterly Rock. The golden lion on crimson flapped proudly, a stark reminder of the power and legacy that had returned to the seat of their ancestral home. The courtyard was a flurry of activity, with servants rushing to arrange the arrival and guards standing at attention as the wagons, horses, and carriages rolled in.

You stood at the top of the stairs, your silver hair catching the sunlight, a calm yet warm expression on your face as you waited. Viserion’s occasional distant roars from her lair below the Rock echoed faintly in the background, but the arrival of Tywin’s retinue dominated the moment.

When the grandest of the carriages stopped, the door swung open, and Damon leaped out with boundless energy. “Mama!” he shouted gleefully, his curls bouncing as he darted across the courtyard.

“Lord Damon!” a frantic servant called, hurrying after him while trying not to trip over her skirts. Behind her, another servant carefully cradled Maelor, who squirmed in curiosity at the commotion.

You descended the stairs quickly, your arms open just in time to catch Damon as he flung himself at you. “My little warrior,” you said warmly, lifting him with ease. “You’ve grown restless on the road, haven’t you?”

Damon laughed, his small hands clutching at your shoulders as he grinned up at you. “I missed you, Mama!”

“And I missed you,” you replied, planting a gentle kiss on his forehead. His laughter melted your heart, the sound a welcome reprieve from the heavy discussions and plans that had dominated the past weeks.

From the carriage, Tywin Lannister emerged, his presence as commanding as ever. Dressed in his travel armor, his sharp green eyes surveyed the courtyard, noting the orderly chaos of the welcoming party. His gaze softened just slightly as he watched you embrace Damon.

“Welcome home, my lord,” you called, still holding Damon as you turned to greet Tywin.

Tywin strode forward, the faintest curve of a smile gracing his lips. “It seems I’m not the one you’ve been waiting for,” he remarked, nodding toward Damon, who was nestled contentedly in your arms.

“I’ve waited for all of you,” you replied, your tone affectionate but composed.

The servant carrying Maelor approached cautiously, the little boy reaching toward you with grabby hands. “Mama,” he babbled, his chubby face breaking into a wide smile.

You shifted Damon onto your hip and reached for Maelor, cradling him in your other arm. “And here’s my other little lion,” you said softly, kissing Maelor’s forehead. “Have you been a good boy for your father?”

Tywin’s gaze lingered on the scene for a moment, a rare flicker of warmth in his otherwise impassive demeanor. “He has,” Tywin said, his tone firm but not unkind. “Though Damon has certainly kept the servants on their toes.”

Damon beamed proudly. “I was brave, Papa!”

Tywin arched a brow, his expression almost amused. “Brave or mischievous?”

Damon giggled, burying his face against your shoulder. “Both,” he whispered conspiratorially, making you laugh.

Tywin stepped closer, placing a hand on Damon’s head briefly before turning his attention to you. “You’ve kept everything in order during my absence, I trust.”

“Of course,” you replied smoothly, shifting Maelor slightly as he reached for a strand of your hair. “Though it’s not the same without you here.”

Tywin nodded, his gaze steady but filled with a subtle pride. “Then let us not waste time. There is much to discuss.”

You inclined your head, your smile softening as you turned to lead the way back into the keep. Damon squirmed in your arms, eager to recount every detail of the journey, while Maelor babbled happily, seemingly just content to be close to you.

As you entered the cool halls of Casterly Rock, Tywin walked beside you, his imposing presence a constant but reassuring force. Behind you, the servants and guards followed, the air buzzing with the energy of a family reunited and a household settling back into its rhythm.

The council chamber of Casterly Rock was lit by the soft glow of lanterns, the stone walls adorned with tapestries bearing the lion of House Lannister. Tywin sat at the head of the long oak table, his hands steepled before him, his piercing green gaze sweeping over those gathered. Beside him, his brother Kevan, ever the loyal second, listened intently, while Jaime leaned back in his chair, his hand resting casually on the armrest. Around them, several bannermen and Maester Aldren awaited Tywin’s words.

The room was silent, save for the faint crackle of the hearth, as Tywin began. “The realm requires stability, and stability begins with order. It is time for certain... lapses to be corrected.”

His eyes shifted to Jaime, who straightened slightly, sensing what was coming.

“Jaime,” Tywin continued, his tone calm but authoritative, “you will return to King’s Landing and resume your duties as a knight of the Kingsguard. Your place is at King Tommen’s side.”

Jaime frowned, leaning forward. “I’ve served the crown long enough, Father. Let someone else babysit the boy.”

Tywin’s gaze hardened, his tone cutting. “You swore an oath, Jaime. One you have neglected for too long. The Kingsguard is not a convenience you abandon when it no longer suits you. I've offered you a choice to leave once, and you refused it. Tommen is your king, and your duty is to protect him.”

Jaime opened his mouth to protest further, but Tywin raised a hand, silencing him. “This is not a matter for debate. You will return to the capital.”

Jaime’s jaw tightened, his frustration evident. “And leave you here? With everything happening? Daenerys breathing down our necks, dragons circling the skies, with winter—”

“Do not presume to question me,” Tywin interrupted suddenly, his voice like steel. “I have managed the affairs of this realm long before you were born, and I will continue to do so. Your place is in King’s Landing, where you will ensure the boy remains safe and the crown secure.”

Kevan nodded slightly, offering quiet support. “The capital needs a strong hand, Jaime. You are the best man for the task.”

Jaime scoffed, glancing at his uncle. “And what about Cersei? She’s been quiet for too long. That usually means she’s scheming.”

Tywin’s lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. “Precisely why you must keep an eye on her. She is not to overstep her bounds again. The last thing we need is another of her... miscalculations.”

The mention of Cersei hung heavily in the air, and Jaime shifted uncomfortably. “She’s my sister, Father.”

“She is a Lannister,” Tywin said coldly, his gaze unwavering. “And she will act in the interests of this family, whether by her own will or by force. You will ensure her compliance.”

Jaime’s golden hand clenched slightly on the armrest. “And if she doesn’t comply?”

Tywin’s expression didn’t change, his tone as unyielding as ever. “Then remind her of the consequences of failure. Quietly, if possible. Firmly, if necessary.”

The other bannermen exchanging uneasy glances. Maester Aldren coughed lightly, breaking the silence. “If I may, my lord, the Queen Mother has been... difficult to predict of late. It would be wise to ensure her movements are monitored.”

Tywin nodded curtly. “See that it’s done.”

Jaime exhaled through his nose, leaning back in his chair with a resigned expression. “So that’s it, then? I’m being sent back to play nursemaid and spy?”

“You are being sent to do your duty,” Tywin corrected. “As you should have been doing all along.”

Jaime shook his head but said nothing further, knowing there was no point in arguing. Tywin’s word was final.

Satisfied, Tywin turned his attention to the rest of the council. “See to it that preparations for the Rock’s defenses are completed. Daenerys Targaryen’s forces are to be watched, and we cannot afford to be caught unprepared. Kevan, oversee the supply lines.”

Kevan inclined his head. “Of course, my lord.”

Tywin’s gaze swept over the room one last time, ensuring his orders were understood. “This council is dismissed.”

The bannermen rose, murmuring their acknowledgments as they filed out, leaving Tywin, Jaime, and Kevan alone. Jaime lingered for a moment, watching his father with a mix of frustration and resignation.

“You never change, do you?” Jaime said quietly, almost to himself.

Tywin looked at him, his expression unreadable. “And that is why this family endures.”

With that, Tywin rose, signaling the end of the conversation. Jaime remained seated for a moment longer before standing and following Kevan out, the weight of his father’s expectations pressing heavily on his shoulders.

The chamber was bathed in the soft glow of the hearth, the crackling flames the only source of warmth against the bitter chill that seeped into every corner of Casterly Rock. The heavy fur blankets barely warded off the creeping cold of winter's breath, which had now reached even the great western fortress. Tywin Lannister lay beside you, his stern features softened in the flickering light. The room was quiet, save for the distant howl of the wind outside, its mournful song carrying through the stone walls.

You lay with your head resting on his chest, his arm loosely draped around you. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat was a grounding presence in the eerie stillness of the night. Winter had come, and its grip was tightening with every passing day.

“It feels as if the sun is afraid to rise,” you murmured, your voice low but carrying the weight of your thoughts. “The day barely exists now. Soon, it will vanish altogether.”

Tywin’s hand trailed idly along your back, his touch as firm and deliberate as always. “The sun will return, as it always does,” he replied, his voice calm but resolute. “Winter is a season, nothing more. It is the weak who fall victim to its cold.”

You tilted your head to look up at him, your silver hair spilling across his chest like moonlight. “And yet, even here, winter reaches us. This cold... it’s unlike any I’ve felt before.”

Tywin’s gaze met yours, his green eyes unwavering. “The cold is a reminder of what’s to come. We must remain strong, vigilant. Weakness is not an option.”

You smiled faintly, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. “You speak as though the cold can be fought with swords and strategies. But what if it’s more than that? What if it’s the beginning of something we cannot control?”

He studied you for a long moment, his fingers brushing a strand of hair from your face. “If it is, then we adapt. We do what is necessary to survive. That is what we have always done.”

A silence settled between you, broken only by the occasional pop of the fire. You closed your eyes briefly, letting yourself savor the rare intimacy of the moment. Tywin was not a man prone to displays of affection, but here, in the privacy of your shared chamber, he allowed himself these moments with you.

“Daenerys has halted all negotiations,” you said after a time, your voice quieter now. “The seas around Dragonstone are freezing. She knows her armies cannot march in this weather.”

Tywin’s expression didn’t change, though his fingers tightened slightly against your skin. “She hesitates because she knows the odds are against her. The Targaryen name alone won’t save her from the realities of war.”

You hesitated before speaking again, your tone careful. “And yet, the winds of winter favor no one. Even her dragons are at a disadvantage in this cold.”

Tywin let out a low, contemplative hum. “The dragons will adapt, as they always have. The question is whether their riders will. Daenerys was a fool to bring her foreign armies here, thinking the realm would bow to her name. She underestimated the North and overestimated her position.”

You traced a finger along the scar on his chest, your touch absent as your mind turned over his words. “She is my sister,” you said softly, almost to yourself. “And yet, she feels like a stranger.”

“She is a threat,” Tywin countered, his voice firm. “Do not let sentiment cloud your judgment. Her arrival disrupted everything we’ve worked to secure.”

You met his gaze again, your eyes searching his. “And if she were to turn her dragons against us?”

Tywin’s lips curved into the faintest hint of a smirk. “Then she will learn the hard way that dragons alone do not win wars.”

You sighed, resting your head back against his chest. The fire crackled, and the wind howled louder outside, as if in agreement with his words. The weight of the world pressed heavily on your shoulders, but here, in this moment, you allowed yourself to rest.

“We should sleep,” you murmured, though sleep felt distant, like the sun.

Tywin’s hand moved to your waist, his touch grounding and deliberate. “Rest if you can. Tomorrow will demand much of us.”

You nodded faintly, closing your eyes as the firelight danced across the room. The cold was relentless, but for now, in the warmth of his arms, you felt shielded—if only for a fleeting moment.

[earthlybeam]

Hi there! :) I was so absorbed in your most recent work about the magical healing powers, it was so soothing to the soul! Is there any way you can create one with Legolas?

How would Legolas react to a reader who possesses magical healing powers similar to Rapunzel in Tangled?

The you the reader’s long as (your own hair colour) but turns golden and glows when you sing a special song, releasing healing magic that can heal wounds, cure sickness, and even restore life. Their magic, known as “Healing Magic” or “Sun Magic,” is connected to the power of the sun and can even reverse aging.

🍃𝓛𝓮𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓪𝓼

The battle had raged for what felt like an eternity, the air thick with the acrid stench of smoke and the iron tang of blood. Legolas, a figure of grace and deadly precision, had fought with unmatched skill, each arrow loosed finding its mark with a quiet, deadly whisper. His movements were fluid, a blur of elven finesse as he wove through the chaos, his bow singing with the rhythm of the battlefield. But even the most seasoned warrior could be caught off guard. Amidst the frenzy of clashing steel and snarling beasts, Legolas’s sharp senses betrayed him for a brief moment. A massive orc, its eyes filled with primal fury, surged toward him from the smoke. With a brutal growl, it swung a jagged blade in a wide arc, aiming for Legolas’s side. The strike was swift, too fast for him to fully evade. The blade tore through his leather armor, biting deep into his flesh. The pain was immediate and excruciating, the sharpness of the wound sinking through him like a searing hot brand.

Legolas gasped, his breath hitching as the blood surged from the deep gash in his side. His legs, once sure and strong beneath him, buckled under the weight of the pain. His vision blurred in a haze of red, the edges of his world fading with the pounding of his heart. His knees gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to stay upright any longer. His hand clutched at the wound, but the blood continued to flow, staining his tunic and soaking the earth beneath him. He could still hear the battle raging around him, the clash of swords and the cries of warriors, but it all seemed so distant now, as if the world had grown quieter, more distant. He tried to summon the strength to rise, to fight on, but the weight of the injury was too great, and his vision dimmed as he slumped against the cold earth.

You had seen him fall—his form a flash of silver and gold amidst the chaos and rubble of the battlefield. For a brief, frozen moment, time seemed to stretch, and your heart lurched painfully in your chest. Every instinct screamed in panic, and before you could process what had happened, your legs were already carrying you toward him, driven by a singular, unyielding purpose: Legolas. The destruction around you seemed to blur, the cries of war fading into the background as you sprinted through the smoke and carnage, your only thought on the fallen elf. As you reached him, the sight of him nearly shattered you. There, in the bloodied soil, he lay crumpled and broken, the once graceful and proud warrior now a shadow of himself. His skin was pale, and the usual radiance of his features was clouded with the deep lines of agony. His golden hair, usually so immaculate, was matted with sweat and dirt, and his armor was streaked with blood—his blood. His side was stained with crimson, the wound a cruel gash that had robbed him of his strength. His breathing came in ragged gasps, each one shaking him with tremors of pain. His eyes, once sharp and full of life, were dull now, glazed with exhaustion, the fierce spark of his spirit dimming.

“Legolas,” you whispered, your voice breaking as you knelt beside him. Trembling, you reached out and gently cupped his face in your hands, the coldness of his skin seeping into your fingertips, sending a chill through your very soul. His pale lips parted, and his breath came in a shuddering sigh, barely more than a whisper. “You should not have come,” he murmured, his voice hoarse and weak, like a dying wind. The words were full of pain, but there was a faint undertone of resignation, a weariness that reached deep into your heart. “It is too late for me.”

“No,” you said, your voice thick with emotion, trembling as you fought to hold back the torrent of fear and sorrow that threatened to overwhelm you. Your eyes, already glistening with unshed tears, locked with his—desperate, pleading. “You are not beyond saving.” Your hands shook as you moved them to his wound, desperate to do something, anything, to staunch the flow of blood that stained the earth beneath him. With trembling fingers, you gathered a lock of your own hair, long and (your hair colour), and carefully wrapped it around the gaping wound on his side, trying to bind it with all the gentleness you could muster, despite the urgency gnawing at your every movement. The sight of him—so frail, so vulnerable—stirred a protective fire deep within you, a fierce resolve that you would not lose him, not like this. Not without a fight.

Once you had carefully wrapped your hair— (your hair colour), like the night sky—around his wound, you felt a surge of determination rise within you. With trembling hands, you took a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. The weight of the moment pressed heavily upon you, but as always, you found solace in the one thing you knew could help. Your eyes fluttered closed, and with a steadying exhale, you began to sing. The melody flowed from your lips as naturally as breathing, soft and haunting, carrying with it an ancient power—an echo of long-forgotten magic. The words rose gently, like a prayer whispered into the wind, filling the air with their quiet strength. “Flower, gleam and glow, Let your powers shine,” your voice was a delicate thread of sound, weaving through the tumultuous silence around you, rising like a beacon of hope.

As you sang, the very fabric of reality seemed to shift. A golden warmth began to stir, a light that flickered softly at first, then grew, washing over you both in a radiant glow. Your dark hair, once so deep and shadowed, shimmered and turned, strand by strand, into a golden hue. It was as though the sun itself had chosen to bless you, each lock now glowing like threads of light, as if the very magic of your song had imbued your hair with its ancient power. “Make the clock reverse, Bring back what once was mine,” you sang, your voice rising, carrying the weight of your desire for his healing. The words seemed to vibrate through the very air around you, reaching deep into the earth, into the bones of the world itself, calling forth the strength of the past to repair the present.

As you sang the familiar refrain, “Heal what has been hurt, Change the fates’ design, Save what has been lost, Bring back what once was mine,” a warmth spread from your hands, wrapping around Legolas’s wounded side. The golden glow of your hair bathed him in light, casting long shadows in the smoke-filled night, yet it was as if all the darkness around you couldn’t touch the warmth of that glow. For a moment, everything seemed to still. Legolas’s eyes, which had been clouded with pain, fluttered open. The dazed, pained expression on his face softened as he gazed at you, wide with awe and wonder. His breath caught, steadying as he took in the sight of you, bathed in light, singing with such grace and power. There was a quiet reverence in his gaze, as if he, too, could feel the ancient magic swirling around you both.

As the last notes of your song faded into the air, you could feel the change. The pain that had clenched Legolas’s body, the cruel wound that had threatened to claim him, began to ebb. The glow of your hair intensified, weaving into his wound, healing it. The flesh began to mend, slowly at first, and then more rapidly, knitting together as though the wound had never existed. The jagged edges smoothed, the bleeding stopped, and the gash was sealed, leaving nothing but faint, healed skin behind. The golden light around you both softened, leaving only the gentle warmth of your presence. His breathing steadied, and you felt his body relax beneath your touch. It was a moment of quiet relief, the ancient magic doing its work, and in the stillness, you knew that, for now, he was safe.

“By the stars…” Legolas murmured, his voice trembling, hoarse with awe. His hand, though weak from the toll of battle, reached up toward you, his fingers trembling as they hovered near the glowing strands of your hair. It was as though he couldn’t quite believe what he was witnessing, as though the very sight of you—glowing with a power so pure and radiant—was beyond comprehension. “Your power… it is… unlike anything I have ever seen.” His voice, filled with awe and reverence, sent a ripple through you, a shiver of warmth and comfort. The magic you had woven continued to grow, pulsing in rhythm with the deep resonance of the song you sang. Each note seemed to deepen the connection between you, the golden light radiating more intensely, not just healing his body, but seeming to bind itself to his very essence. It wrapped around him like a cocoon, gentle but strong, a delicate shield of light.

The light around you both was warm and soft, enveloping you in a protective embrace, soothing the ragged breath he had taken in moments ago. As you continued to sing, your voice now carrying the weight of both healing and love, Legolas’s body relaxed completely. His tense muscles softened under the magic’s touch, and the bleeding wound that had once poured freely, now slowed, then stopped entirely, as if the magic had mended time itself. The gash—once a deep, threatening tear in his flesh—faded before your eyes, closing seamlessly, leaving behind only the faintest memory of what had once been. The skin, once torn and broken, now appeared smooth, whole, as if untouched by any weapon.

When the last note left your lips, you fell into a profound silence. The battle raged on around you, but in this moment, there was nothing but stillness between you and Legolas. Your body, drained from the exertion, trembled with the weight of the magic’s toll, but the exhaustion was tempered by a deep sense of relief and peace. The light around you flickered softly before fading, leaving only a soft glow, like the dying embers of a fire.

Legolas’s chest rose and fell steadily now, his breath no longer shallow or ragged with pain. His eyes opened slowly, his gaze finding yours, locking with a tenderness that seemed almost out of place in the midst of the destruction around you. There was no longer fear in his eyes—only gratitude and something deeper, something unspoken, yet clear. His gaze lingered on you, as though seeing you for the first time, truly seeing the depth of your power and the strength of your heart. “You saved me,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, as though the weight of his words alone could not carry the depth of his gratitude. His hand, still resting gently on the strands of your glowing hair, traced them with the reverence of someone who had seen the divine. His fingers brushed softly against your skin, as though afraid to touch you too roughly, yet unable to resist. “I… I do not know how to thank you.”

The warmth in his touch, the sincerity in his voice, stirred something deep within you. You smiled softly, your lips trembling with the aftermath of emotion, and shook your head gently. “You do not need to,” you whispered, your hand moving to cover his, grounding him in the moment. “You need only stay with me.” His gaze softened at your words, and in that instant, the weight of the battle seemed to lift from him. The tension in his shoulders, the burden of war that had weighed him down for so long, seemed to melt away. He leaned forward, his forehead pressing gently against yours. The warmth of his touch, the steady rhythm of his breath, grounded you in a way you hadn’t realized you needed. In the midst of the chaos, it was just the two of you—two souls, bound not by the forces of war, but by the strength of a connection that had been forged in light.

“You have my heart, my life,” he murmured, his voice raw, thick with emotion, his breath warm against your skin. “You are my light in the darkness.” The words, spoken with such raw sincerity, brought tears to your eyes. It was as if, in this moment, everything had led to this—this bond between you, stronger than any wound, any battle, any enemy. For a fleeting moment, the noise of the war faded away, leaving only the two of you standing amidst the ruins of a battlefield, your hearts intertwined, your spirits unbroken. In that silence, you both knew that, no matter what happened next, you had already found something far more powerful than victory.