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hacker-of-fandom · 4 years ago

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Obey me characters reactions to a chaotic ratman human.

Sidenote I was high on tired and chaotic rat TikTok enjoy.

Lucifer:

What the fuck is that thing.

This thing was supposed to go to school with demons and angels.

Thought he summoned the wrong person until Mc responded to the name that he called.

A more chaotic Mammon but he does shit for no reason. LIKE AT ALL.

The first time he saw Mc petting a rat inside the house, he felt himself cracking.

"Mc.... What are you holding?"

"My new friend."

"Is your friend... A rat?"

"Why yes he is, most rats don't like being called a mouse or rodents. So he thanks you for that."

"Would you like to pet him? Oh, you've gotten quite pale."

Might have begged Diavolo to change the human students with someone else. As you can tell that didn't go well.

But-

Mc did have some good flaws.

He has good advice for the stupidest things ever, that just so happens to help in the most interesting times.

Like when the sink starts to flood the kitchen, just to grab Mc and give him a wrench and leave him in there.

"Don't let anyone come in here until I've texted you so, okay?"

Gets a text like a minute after that saying that everything is back to normal.

He runs in there not believing that shit.

No doubt the sink is fixed and there is no more water on the floor. And it seems like-

Mc is cooking dinner???

Lucifer is baffled how that even worked.

Another thing is, while Mc doesn't look like he could even be a suitable tea guest with his messy knotted hair, black ripped clothes, and usually a rode- rat on his shoulders. He likes tea.

Very much so.

"No, no Lucifer. I'm not saying the Earl Grey tea that you brought isn't good, it's just that I can tell that you boiled the tea leaves for way too long. A minute longer than needed if anything- Lucifer. Please don't raise your voice, Charlie doesn't like it."

He will never admit that a ratman was actually right about how long you needed to boil Early Grey tea leaves.

His nickname from Mc is, "Prideful boi" or "Lucyyyyyy~"

When he realized he couldn't get Mc to stop calling him Lucy, he just stopped getting mad over it. He now seems to almost smile at it.

Almost.

Mammon:

He has to watch over this human?

Oh hell no.

Is what he thought when Mc first came to Devildom. But now?

Mc is his escape buddy.

You know how Mammon gets tied up from the ceiling like every week?

Mammon just needs to call out for Mc and he'll come with a smirk on his face.

"What'cha do this time, greedy boi?"

Mammon can't even lie to him.

"I tried selling one of Lucifer's rings."

"Oooooh, yeah that'd getcha stuck. So whatcha goin do for my comrades and I?"

"I'll tell the local crows to stop hunting you guys?"

... The rats basically cheer at that.

"You have yourself a deal."

In the next ten seconds, a small army of rats have bitten the rope apart to have Mammon fall into Mc's arms.

Even with Mc scruffy look, Mammon can't really deny that Mc's smirk is very nice looking.

In class, they pass notes to each other with the rats.

Might have matching necklaces to show both crows and rats that they are equal.

Crow king and Rat king.

Bonus points if they now have networks of crow and rats stealing people's stuff.

"Crow bro", "Mamoney", and, "Cutie".

"Don't pet me when saying that! NO I'M NOT BLUSHING, STOP PETTING ME!"

Leviathan:

Didn't really care.

Just another normie.

Until.

"WHERE IS MY SERIES OF "Rat God and snake hybrid fall in love after meeting each other in the woods!" ROMANCE MANGA!"

He was so sure it was Mammon. He was about to storm up towards his seat in the dining room but-

"Oh, wait- oh man I'm sorry dude. That was totally me." Deadly silent.

Rat man knew how to read?

"What."

Mc explains that he was bored one day and asked if the rats could find him a manga to read. He just never got where they got it from.

Apologies for the inconvenience and hands him the manga that he was currently reading.

Was in such a state of shock that he didn't even comprehend that rats somehow got into his room and got the books of the top shelf.

"Y-you read manga?"

"Yeah, I watch anime and play video games too in my free time."

"Oh- w-well! I bet you don't even play Heros alley!"

"I've played both demos, the first game, and the dev even emailed me a few days ago, about letting me play the second upcoming Hero Alleys 2 game before the release to see my opinion."

He can't believe it.

"You know Kero-sama?"

"He's an old high school friend, yeah."

Begins to worship this rat-man.

Probably hugs Mc crying.

Spends so much time texting each other about games they've played and animes. That Leviathan realizes Kero is not the only game creator Mc knows.

Mc knows a lot of famous people in the Otaku world.

Leviathan sometimes leaves out open bags of chips for the rats that come by his room when Mc is gone.

Might accidentally confess his love towards Mc to the rats.

Mc explains the next day that he can understand what the rats say to him. And that he thinks Leviathan is pretty cool to be around as well.

Leviathan might die.

"Gamer bro.", "Envy boi", and "Levi-Kun".

"Don't call me that!" Five minutes later... "Can you call me Levi-Kun again, please?"

Satan:

Hates rats.

With his cat love, he wouldn't bat an eye at a rat dying.

But when he finds rats in the library in huge group pushing specific books of shelves with Mc sitting on a couch reading the books to them, and them sitting in crowds just watching and listen to his voice. He might think twice before kicking them.

Other than Mc's messy looks and chaotic personality, his voice was often very nice to listen to. So when he saw this reading group of rats, he slowly walked towards Mc before sitting down on one of the empty seats. As all of the other seats were taken with rodents.

It was ironically the Nutcracker, that Mc was reading out loud. At it seemed like he just started on the book. When the nutcracker and Ratking were fighting, Satan summed that the rats would hate the nutcracker.

But to his surprise, the rats cheered or jumped around when the Rat King was defeated. And Mc laughed at their antics.

Mc ended the book with a happily, "The end!".

"Sorry, Satan. You were probably looking for something."

Satan snapped out of his daydream and realized, yes he was looking for a book before coming here.

"Oh no it's fine, this was actually quite entertaining. May I ask some questions?"

"Shoot."

This ended up in a beautiful friendship of two chaotic people who love torturing Lucifer and reading books.

And yes, Satan does try to protect some rats from cats now.

"Kitty cat", "Angry boi", "Bookworm" and "Mine" are all nicknames that has made Satan stop reading or keeping a straight face.

Satan was reading a book while Mc was holding him against his chest, reading over his shoulder and just gripped tighter on Satan and said,

"Mine." Satan didn't know who he was telling that to but he was pretty sure his heart just picked up it's speed and lost his place in the book.

His voice is very nice, okay?

Asmodeus:

GrossgrossgrossgrossgrossGrossgrossgrossgrossgrossGrossgrossgrossgrossgrossGrossgrossgrossgrossgross

Did he mention gross?

Mc needed to take a shower! Do his hair! Clean up! Wear some good clothes!

AND FOR DIAVOLO'S SAKE GET RID OF THE RATS.

Asmodeus avoided Mc like the plague. I mean- rats have been involved with many plagues so it's no surprise.

But one day-

"Hey! Asmodeus! I think you lost this!"

Asmodeus turned around to see his lost necklace. It was pink pearls with a gold diamond chain.

He completely forgot that Mc was dirty and hugged Mc as hard as he could.

"How did you find it? Oh, I've missed it so much!"

"Let's say I've had a little help. Plus I actually wanted to know if you've lost anything else?"

Short answer yes, yes he did.

So Asmodeus was in Mc's room which wasn't actually that bad looking. There weren't that many rats as he expected. While Mc was grabbing all the jewelry the rats have found in a month time.

Is honestly surprised that Mc didn't sell any of the items. A lot of it would have made him one of the richest humans in all three dimensions.

Asmodeus asked how he can repay him, with Ya know. Sex.

Mc shakes his head no but instead asks him what hair products he uses?

Asmodeus thinks he is about to get a new makeup friend when in reality Mc wants to clean some of his rat friends.

But it just ends up Mc and Asmodeus going to a spa, that is at human temperatures.

Even if Mc looks like a rat, he is kinda good looking without a shirt and his hair covering 95 percent of his eyes.

"Pretty boi", "Jewels", and "Pinky-pie" are nicknames he has used for Asmodeus.

Personally likes all of the nicknames.

Beelzebub:

Ratman eats.

A lot.

It's not just him that he's feeding, it's his army of rats.

So when Mc first eats with the demon brothers he eats a shit load for himself and then pulls out a basket to put cheese, bread, crackers, and a few veggies inside for his army.

Then walks into his room and just whistles.

The army comes flooding in his room to eat the food he has provided.

He leaves the room to go to the kitchen where he finds Beelzebub going through the fridge even though dinner was just served twenty minutes ago.

They actually begin to talk.

Beelzebub enjoys knowing that he has a eating partner(s).

They get onto the topic working out, school, food and eventually family.

Mc explains he doesn't have much of a family except for his rat family.

Beelzebub doesn't try to bring up Belphegor but Mc says this:

"I've actually read about the seven sins avatar once. And I'm just wondering, where's sloth? I can't remember his name but I know it starts with a 'b'." Mc turns to the rat on his shoulder.

"Belphegor? Oh yeah, that's it! Belphegor the avatar sin of sloth! Where is he?"

Beelzebub might just cry right then and there.

"I don't know." Mc's eyes soften at his answer.

Mc and Beelzebub talk about what happened. And become very close friends in the matter of days.

Beelzebub is glad to have someone to talk to about his guilt and the fight between Belphegor and Lucifer but-

There is one thing that he just doesn't- understand.

Mc fights for him. And he didn't understand it. Beelzebub once caught Mc fighting a demon in the hallway of the school. And he punched the demon square in the face.

He later figured out that the demon was talking trash about him and Mc overheard it and just attacked the student. Like a vicious animal.

After the fight, Mc is left a bleed nose and a smirk. Beelzebub is very scared and worried. But is calmed down once Mc hugs him.

"I'm not letting anyone talk trash about my family."

Is super happy for the rest if the week.

"Hungry boi", " Favorite cheese.", "Cutie pie".

Cutie pie kinda makes him freeze or drop whatever he has from shock. He likes it though.

Belphegor:

After the whole timeline killing thing, the rats don't trust Belphegor at all. They'll hiss and bit and poop in Belphegor's bed. And let me tell you when you have an army of rats pooping in someone's bed its like cow shit.

Mc probably forgives him completely but Belphegor is getting a different vibe with the rats.

Finally, speak up about it.

"Hey, Mc."

"Yesss?"

"Do you still hate me?"

"What."

Now Belphegor feels like a dumb ass for asking this.

"Do you still hate me because your rat friend-army is like attacking me? And it's making me feel terrible for Ya know, the..." Belphegor kinda just moves his hands around.

Mc sighs and whistles sharply. Belphegor flinches seeing the thousands of rats running in the room with most of their eyes on him.

"Alright! Who has been harassing Belphegor!? I told you guys not to hurt him. He's my friend. We just set on the wrong foot guys. Apologies now."

Fuck he didn't mean for Mc to do this. He has gotten afraid of the rats for the past two weeks and he's just waiting for the rats to turn their backs on Mc.

Like he did.

But to his surprise and relief, the rats run away but come back with an item.

It was ring.

They tower up towards Belphegor with the ring grabbing his left hand and placing it on his ring finger. It was a diamond ring.

"What." Mc stuttered realizing what they were doing.

"Guys I'm not forcing him to marry me to make up the whole killing thing, come one."

The rats didn't seem to care as they danced and made a shrill scream of the wedding music.

"So... We're married now?"

"In rat terms, yes."

He's not going to complain if he doesn't get attacked anymore and is expected to cuddled Mc.

Also, the ring looked very nice.

Nicknames are, "Sleepy boi" "Cowboy" and "My husband".

Mc meant it as a joke but realized Belphegor was blushing. So he decided to only say it when they were alone.

Solomon:

Thinks Mc is a wizard of some sort.

A rat wizard.

Solomon constantly tries to make Mc do a blood pact with him.

"Dude can't we just be friends like come on."

Is also okay with that.

They become potion buddies.

The rats help with getting items that humans can't get. Like herbs in the monster forest.

They might have accidentally made a love potion for Asmodeus but used the wrong hair.

It was a long week for Mc since Solomon taste-tested it.

Solomon was constantly trying to hold his hand, or hug him.

The few times Mc laughed at something in class while hold Solomon's hand, Solomon would be overcome with emotions to kiss the dirty rat-man.

One time he succeeded.

*Insert muffled ratman screaming*

After that interesting week, Solomon remembered everything and would scare Mc by hugging him or giving him the same half lid eyes while telling him he loved him.

The only man Mc has ever feared.

Nicknames Mc has given him, "Wizard boi" "Lover boi" and "White owl."

Solomon honestly likes White owl as an alias.

Simeon:

Rats like shiny things.

Simeon is very, very shiny.

Mc is very protective of Simeon.

Case closed.

But he knew the only way to really befriend Simeon was to befriend Luke. But without seeming like he was just trying to befriend him, Ya know?

So, Mc stood up for Luke when he was being teased for his height.

"Mammon you better shut up before I start sending my rats to take your jewelry and sell them."

You can bet that no one bullied Luke for his height again.

"You okay, Luke?" Luke denied that he even needed help but Mc knew that he just got on Luke's and Simeon's good side.

There is just times where Luke, Solomon, and Simeon talking while Mc is just listening when Mc would grab Simeon's hand and play with it.

Solomon would chuckle at the sight of the rat-man just playing with an angel's hand. While Simeon would be slightly confused.

Mc would have the most serious look on his face while he just tenderly touch Simeon's palms.

"Mc, what are you doing?"

"Shiny."

His hand wasn't even shiny but that's his response.

It would become a thing where Mc would friendly touch Simeon's hair or hand or cape.

And animalistic fight for him.

It took Simeon to look up if rats liked shiny thing and if they protect them.

And they do. In fact, they can hoard them and protect them with their life.

It was too late for Simeon. He had a cute dirty ratman king protecting him because he was shiny.

His nicknames would be, "Holy boi" "Lovely" or "Shiny".

Simeon did blush at the nickname lovely.

Luke:

Luke thought Mc was a sinful human based on looks. Dirty, hoarded shiny things, and was friends with the demons.

But he soon just realized that Mc wasn't a bad person, just a rat.

Luke became very interested in Mc's rat friends and secretly giving him sweet after he stood up to the demon brother about his height.

And much like Simeon, Mc found that Luke was very shiny too.

But soon Luke looked up at Mc like a dirty father-like figure. And Mc saw him as a son. Along with the rats.

"Shiny kid." Or "Angel boi" was the first nicknames he used.

Mc would let Luke pet the rats after a while.

Simeon, Mc, and Luke looked like a small family.

Mc would begin to call Luke, "Son" or "Kiddo".

Luke complained but would cheerfully tell Simeon about it.

Barbatos:

He probably fainted seeing Mc with rats on his shoulders.

Would avoid him at all costs.

But he would suddenly get along when Mc stated that there were mice in the palace.

"What?"

"Yeah, my rats just told me that they smell mice in here we can get them out if ya-"

"Please, that would be very appreciated."

In a minute the ten rats that Mc brought were biting the back of at least twenty mice's feet as the ran out of the open castle doors.

Everyone was in awe at how organized the rats were and more of the fact that Barbatos was being held by Mc.

They got along but Barbatos was very cautious around Mc. Until Mc had enough.

"Barbatos I love you, so I'm going to leave my rats outside when I come to the castle, I also will be well washed okay? I want to befriend you." Is the voicemail Barbatos got from an unknown number which he could tell was Mc.

Part two will be the rest of Barbatos and Lord Diavolo. Thank you!!!!

#obey me beel #mammon #barbatos #satan #obey me belphegor #obey me shall we date #obey me diavolo #obey me lucifer #obey me satan #obey me mammon #obey me asmodeus #male reader #rat man

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itssolonelyhere · 4 years ago

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Like your fics! Question i came for joker and wonder why sakura? i dont get the buzz for her. shes a obsessed sasuke fangirl so she wouldnt chose joker of him right? and i watched ns and she's not at all that. idt he would go for her either. there's harley that fits better. please dont take this offensively im just curious

This has been sitting in my ask box for a bit (I’m lazy... sorry!) and wasn’t sure how to answer it. So, first... Thank you for liking my stories! Second... @radita328 reminded me of all the reasons I like Sakura so much and chose her as my lead female character in all my stories. I try not to take anything offensively and have been asked this multiple times since I started writing for this ship.

This might be a good way to explain it... And if I get questions like this again (which I undoubtedly will), it’s already been thoroughly answered.

Sakura was quite insecure as a child, and the other brats often bullied her. For a while, she silently endured it and tried to ignore the comments on her appearance. It wasn’t until her friendship with Ino and crush on Sasuke that she really started to bloom and find her confidence. Sometimes we need an outside source to see ourselves in a different light or find what’s inside. I’ve debated whether it’s okay for a person to try improving for themselves or someone else. To me, it doesn’t matter. The results and finding that inner-strength is important. Sometimes it takes an outside influence or another perspective to bring out the best version of a person, and that’s the case with Sakura and myself. Those with a self-deprecating mindset rarely see what others do.

Sakura’s infatuation with Sasuke temporarily ruined her relationship with Ino (we all make mistakes) and she became obsessed with perfecting her appearance based on rumors of what girls think he likes. Extreme dieting (even at the expense of her training), growing her hair out, fussing with everything. This is something many do in hopes of attracting their crush, especially teenage girls. During the Chunin Exams, she realized that spending so much time on her looks instead of training was a waste The boy she wanted to impress couldn’t care less about it and she put her teammates in danger by not focusing on what’s important. This arc shows the beginning of her character development. To save Naruto and Sasuke, she used her body as a shield and cut off her ‘beloved’ hair. After being beaten to a pulp, she still refused to give up, knowing it might end in death.

Later on, Team 7 is split up as her teammates are taken to be trained, leaving her behind. Kakashi took Sasuke and Jiraiya with Naruto. Her own sensei and everyone else walked away, despite being in charge of helping her improve. Sakura took it on herself to go up to one of the Legendary Sannin and most feared woman to ask for training. She spent years studying, being pummeled by Tsunade, and honing her skill-set to the point of eventually surpassing her shishou, which is not an easy feat. The Strength of a Hundred Seal that took her three years of storing up chakra to create is a Jutsu very few are able to complete.

Sakura went from a small girl that was extremely self-conscious, to a top kunoichi within a few years. People doubted, overlooked, and underestimated her from the beginning, using gender and appearance as an excuse. She smashed through all those barriers (literally). People often despise her for the loyalty she’s shown to Sasuke, who doesn’t deserve it—whatsoever—and blame everything going wrong on her. There are so many instances that plenty of characters (especially in the war) would’ve died without her power, it’s not even funny, yet those facts get tossed aside carelessly. She’s had amazing character development, overcame diversity and bullying, improved herself as a person, and became one of the strongest shinobi through sheer determination.

As a woman who’s been teased for her appearance and underestimated, I resonate with her the most. Being half-Asian in a predominately white area as a teenager when my family moved came with its own trials and tribulations. Seeing a minority character grow and develop into a strong woman is very inspiring and why I chose her. I don’t blame Sakura for what the male creator of the series decided to do with her after building up so much potential.

Canonically, Joker and Sakura would probably kill each other, but that’s one of the points that I enjoy. He thinks everyone’s beneath him and has zero empathy, while she has an enormous heart and tries to improve to feel worthy of standing beside her comrades. They’re very different, but their strange appearance, penchant for violence (in various forms), and fanatical drive towards their goals is where they meet halfway. I’m a fan of the whole ‘enemies to lovers’ and ‘bad guy/small woman’ trope. Canon relationships are irrelevant in AU’s and fiction, in general. That’s the entire point of fanfiction, crack pairings and crossovers.

Harley Quinn makes appearances throughout most of my stories, but we’ve all seen how her relationship with Joker plays out. It revolves around abuse, manipulation, and abandonment. Not that my ship doesn’t at all, I’m just saying... They’re unhealthy relationship goals if that’s what you’re looking for. Personally, I like Harley better with Poison Ivy compared to J. Pam has been a big part of the healing process after Harley had enough of his shit. Saying she fits better includes keeping a woman in a toxic environment where she’s never respected or appreciated and constantly hurt without a single care.

I like to think that J has a good-eye for talent and would see that Sakura is brimming with it, even if it’s to use her as a weapon. He’s intelligent, cunning, resourceful, with ingenuity in spades. The freedom from the restraints that society puts on everyone that comes with J is very liberating, and I enjoy putting Sakura in that kind of atmosphere where she has no limits holding her back, like the Narutoverse does. Her appearance, race, gender... None of that matters in Gotham where it’s all about survival and playing the game. Him pushing Sakura beyond her limits and rattling the cage is what I’m totally living for.

Thanks for the ask and hopefully my incessant rambling answers this question now and moving forward. I get it often and not really sure why, considering all the crack pairings I’ve seen over the years, especially with Sakura.

#asks #Sakura Haruno #narutoverse #JokeSaku #joker x harley #Heath Ledger Joker #been sitting on this for a while #no better time than now #crack pairings #crossover #strong women #woc #Asian female characters

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sanctum-of-fantasy · 6 years ago

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@aphrodites-bloody-rose *Tosses confetti in the air* I hear today is your birthday! So here’s a little something to celebrate with, I hope you have a good birthday and enjoy this fic! :D

Placed under a read-more do to being lonngg.

Title: Card Games In...Armor? Series: Saint Seiya Characters: Pisces Aphrodite, Virgo Shaka Word Count: 2,441 Summary: Being stuck in an apartment while away on a mission was not something Shaka expected, nor did he expect to be sent with a certain Pisces Saint. The day took a even stranger turn when the man decided they should play a little known card game.

It was raining, it had been raining for the last three days in fact; dark grey clouds covered the sky and blocked out the sun. Normally Shaka would not mind such weather and retreat into his temple to meditate instead of outdoors. However, he was not in Sanctuary and was instead sitting crossed legged at a bay window, gazing out to the nearly empty streets of the city.

He was waiting for his fellow Gold Saint, Aphrodite, to return with whatever groceries the man had decided to pick up while he was out. They couldn’t do much else, not that the rain was a problem for them since they both trained in harsh conditions, it was the fact it was freezing cold and raining that was the problem.

Going about their mission in such conditions would be disastrous for their health, that was what Aphrodite had said, pointing out that Shaka would likely get sick quicker than him. He wasn’t completely wrong Shaka admitted quietly. The other man was born and raised in such cold conditions, while his homeland of India was far warmer.

The truth was proven in greater by the fact Shaka was currently dressed in several layers, a few pieces belonging to Aphrodite who had kindly given them to him. The Pisces Saint despite many things, was caring, which Shaka had not expected of him. But this was ignorant thinking he reminded himself and it was below him.

Behind him the quiet sound of the apartment door opening echoed into the kitchen and the sounds of heels against the wood floor followed before he heard the gentle voice of Aphrodite saying “I’m back!”

Slowly Shaka turned his head from the window, carefully sipping at his warm tea and heard the sound of shifting bags on the kitchen table. “How was your shopping trip?” he asked, tilting his head to one side.

“Pleasant, well as pleasant as it could be with the weather. I bought some thicker undershirts and socks for you” Aphrodite answered, taking things out of the bags and putting the food stuffs into their places.

Sweden had proved a harsher place than what Shaka’s winter clothes were designed for, so he nodded and said, “Thank you Aphrodite, I will be sure to repay you when we return to Sanctuary.”

“Think nothing of it dear Shaka, I can’t let my comrade freeze or get sick, especially not while we’re on a mission” Aphrodite spoke, still somewhere behind Shaka. He didn’t open his eyes to check, he didn’t need to now and most times he could get around just fine without using his sight.

Their mission was not of extreme importance, they just needed to check out a monastery that was being used as a Saint training location, a routine check in basically. However, the weather had slowed them down and so the two Saints were stuck in Stockholm until it passed.

Hopefully it would end soon, Shaka disliked the idea of being late or taking more time than they needed for something so mundane.

“I’ll get dinner started for us” Aphrodite said, breaking the silence between them, “I know you don’t consume meat, so I hope a vegetable stew will be pleasing?”

“That is considerate of you, thank you. I hope however, it’ll be enough for you?” Shaka asked, sliding his legs from under him and placing them on the cold floor.

“Oh, it’ll be plenty for me, now I did find something for us to do while we wait for dinner” Aphrodite answered, another bag shifting and for a moment Shaka considered against opening his eyes, but curiosity got the best of him and for once, the need for sight was apparent.

What he did see when his sight adjusted surprised him.

Two boxes, and a few packet sealed things, all with odd creatures and humanoid shapes with bold golden words displayed in the center.

“Yu-gi-oh?” He spoke aloud, giving the other Saint a questioning look, who smiled back and shrugged.

“I was passing a gaming store when I was heading to pick up things, there was quite a group of people were gathered inside so I got curious. It was a tournament for this series, seemed quite fun as well. So, I figured, why not?” The Pisces said with a gentle smile.

“I don’t gamble Aphrodite” Shaka said, voice calm and neutral.

“Oh no, you don’t gamble for this game! It’s just for fun, one of the owners at the store said these ‘structure decks’ supply all we know to learn the game and play. I bought a few ‘booster packs’ for the joy of opening them as well” Aphrodite said with a light chuckle and shake of his head.

“I still don’t see the point” Shaka said, frowning slightly and crossing his arms.

“Think of it like chess then, oh now don’t give me that look. It’ll be fun I’m sure” Aphrodite smiled, stepping close to pat Shaka on a shoulder before gently pushing the cardboard boxes and packets into his hands.

“Hold these while I start on dinner, please?” He asked, fluttering his lashes in a way that Shaka is sure would affect Aphrodite’s close companions. Shaka was not one of them though but decided to go along with the Pisces request for the simple reason of manners.

And perhaps, he was bored and needed something to occupy his time. Even if it’s a card game mostly designed for the younger generations.

After Aphrodite chopped and prepared the stew to cook slowly they settled down in the living room. The Pisces had pulled his hair into a bun before staring at Shaka for a few moments and then doing the same to the Virgo’s hair as well.

Shaka had insisted that his hair was not in the way, but Aphrodite had gone with it and said, jokingly, that it’d help him read the card texts better and during dinner as well.

Carefully, Shaka ran his fingers lightly against the braided crown Aphrodite had twisted on his head as he read over a rule book supplied with one of the structure decks. It all seemed complex yet explained so simply. ‘If this is a game that children can understand and play, then it figures’ he thought before glancing towards Aphrodite.

“How shall we begin then?” he questioned.

“Let us decide on which deck we’ll each use then divide up the booster packs and add any that works?” Aphrodite suggested.

The decks were called ‘Fury of the Deep’ and ‘Lord of the Storm’ quietly Shaka found such names ridiculous. In the end, Aphrodite went with the first one and Shaka with the latter.

“They are much smaller than I expected” Shaka said, touching the delicate card in his fingers and reading the text under the image of a blue twister. It was a ‘trap card’ he recalled and named ‘Dust Tornado.’

“Hmm I agree but that won’t stop us from enjoying the game. Now let’s open those packs, I’m curious to see what we got” Aphrodite said, clapping his hands together and smiling brightly. Like a child in a candy shop or upon a holiday Shaka thought. While he was glad that someone was enjoying themselves, he still wasn’t sure if he’d enjoy himself enough to play multiple rounds.

“The creators seem to have based some of the cards off various mythologies. How curious though that ‘Fenrir’ is with a card called ‘Daedalus’ while ‘Icarus’ was in a different deck completely. At least, I suppose the harpy cards make sense, somewhat along with Simorgh” Shaka started, frowning as he carefully opened a pack.

“Shaka” Aphrodite said.

“Yes Aphrodite?”

“I think you’re overthinking this” Aphrodite added, smiling sweetly and chuckling slightly as Shaka made a face. “Perhaps so but they could at least make the decks fit-….” He began before falling silent as he glanced down at his first card.

“Is something the matter?” The Pisces asked, tilting his head and lifting one fine brow as Shaka showed the card.

“I believe they have made an error. This card is called ‘Mythical Beast Cerebus’ yet it only has two heads. If anything, this the beast known as Orthrus” Shaka said, shaking his head. The inaccurate mythology combinations was beginning to bother him.

“Oh, Shaka you are only proving my point. I doubt the artists really cared when they had several hundred or thousand cards to mak-…and yet they get one card correct” Aphrodite had laughed at first, before opening his own packet and going wide eyed at the first one he saw.

“Aphrodite?” Shaka questioned before the other man wordlessly handed him the card. There was a woman on it, dressed in a white dress with a spear in hand, and a helmet upon her head with long hair. The shape was clear and too familiar, he’d grown up seeing a statue of that woman behind the golden temples of Sanctuary.

‘Athena’ was the card’s name and as Aphrodite had said, it was truly accurate.

“Well that is a mildly pleasant surprise” Shaka finally said before handing Aphrodite the card back.

“I suppose, however let us just set that card aside, shall we? Seems…disrespectful” he said, gently sliding the card away from where they had set up their mats (each a cheap thing made of paper) and notepads to keep scores.

“Agreed” Shaka said with a nod.

Slowly the two Saints turned duelists had figured out the rhythm of playing the game, the decks while basic and largely unedited proved to be interesting enough and able to counter the other one. Shaka was the first to tribute summon a monster and defeat two of Aphrodite’s lower leveled monsters. However, the Pisces had a trick hidden in his deck, grinning as he slide a spell card on to the ‘field’. A dark, spiraling galaxy titled ‘Dark Hole’.

As Shaka removed his monster to the ‘graveyard’ he frowned and gave the Pisces a hard look, “That was a nasty card you have there, Aphrodite.”

“Perhaps, but a legal move and I only had the one” Aphrodite chuckled into a hand and slide a monster on to his side and declared an attack.

Shaka subtracted the attack points from his life points and narrowed his eyes at the fact he was now lacking half of his original amount. “We are now back on the same level then” he stated before looking through his hand.

“Maybe, maybe not” Aphrodite teased with a wink.

He had proven to be correct in the long run, winning the first of their ‘duels.’ Inside Shaka felt an emotion bubble up in him and he flexed his hands on his lap. There was one part of him that Shaka always refused to admit to himself or to others, and that was a competitive streak. It was unfitting for someone such as him, being a man dedication to enlightenment and seeking perfection.

And yet…the human side of him found joy in this simple game. More joy than when he read a good book or played a good game of chess or checkers. His mind filling with strategies or mistakes in the round that had cost him points, some that were easily avoidable.

‘This simply will not do’ he thought.

“Well, that was fun” Aphrodite said, leaning back and almost admiring his remaining life points (Much higher than his own) and field of monsters.

“Indeed” Shaka started, “This game is quite engaging, I can see why some children might enjoy it as well while honing their math, reading and complex thinking skills. Shall we have another round?” He asked.

Aphrodite grinned then, in a way that could only be called devilish and folded his hands together and leaned forward against the coffee table they sat on opposite sides of. “Why Shaka, if I didn’t know better, I would think you actually enjoyed our little game” he teased.

Shaka felt a cold feeling run down his back and coughed into his hand from waving the other in a “stop” manner. “I simply wish to pass more time before dinner is ready, this has proven to be a good way of doing that” he said.

The other man laughed “Oh of course! But tell me, you did not enjoy yourself in the slightest? You seemed quite into the game. Don’t think I didn’t notice this” he said, wiggling a finger as he pointed out what Shaka thought he hidden away.

He huffed and shook his head “Do you wish to play again or not? You were enjoying yourself as well.” And quietly Shaka swore he’d be the victor this time if the other agreed to it.

“I don’t see why not, dinner will not for another hour at the least” Aphrodite chuckled and placed his cards back into his deck before shuffling them quickly. Shaka forced himself not to smile and repeated the motion from his own cards.

They played several rounds, each time adding a mark under one of their names after the round was done and a winner was declared. Each time the normally reserved Virgo allowed himself to relax and speak more openly with his comrade and opponent.

Aphrodite teased back and egged him with certain combinations and cards, but at the end when the kitchen timer went off, they found themselves nearly equal with points.

“We should have one last round after dinner, to see who the true victor” Shaka suggested as they headed to the kitchen to eat.

“Maybe maybe, the might Virgo Shaka is enjoying a children’s card game! How unexpected” Aphrodite chuckled and shook his head. “But I agree, one last round to see who the best between us is.”

“I shall give it my best Aphrodite” Shaka said with a light smile.

They ate in peace before a thought popped into Shaka’s mind. “Aphrodite? This game is international correct?” he asked.

“Hm? Yes, I believe it’s been released across the global and in many countries and languages” Aphrodite answered. It made sense, as their cards were typed in another language.

“Then it is reasonable to say that these cards would be obtainable in Greece then?” Shaka added, lowering his spoon and leaning back watching as Aphrodite’s eyes lit up in understanding.

“I would say so…and hope so. I would enjoy getting more cards and continuing our little games occasionally when time allows us” Aphrodite smiled, it seemed sweet at first however it was truly deadly.

“I agree fullheartedly and may the best duelist win” Shaka said, tilting his head to one and grinning back at the other man.

“Oh, I plan to my dear Virgo” the Pisces chuckled.

#saint seiya #saint seiya fanfic #virgo shaka #pisces aphrodite #anony posts #anony's writing #I can't believe I made this work but I did! And I have no regrets!#Happy birthday Wavy! :D

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rhythmbastard · 6 years ago

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STATE OF THE BASTARD 2019!!!

Better late than never! I'm 31! Wooo... For me, 2018 was a year where I tried out a lot of stuff and it worked. As shitty as things were otherwise, and at times, I felt like I was just spinning my wheels, I have a better idea of what to do going forward. The con front was quiet, but the few shows I did put on (Mini Iwai, Anime Iwai and Holiday Matsuri), went over very well, particularly because I've got my shenaniganing down pat. I've also put out quite a few songs out on Patreon, and managed to get to a few conventions I wasn't required to play at. Like, I can just hang out and shit. So I have a better feeling going into 2019. Here's to 10 More Years! Yeah, I've been at this for 10 Years. MOST RECENT SONG: "Death's Blossom" Youtube-

youtube

Soundcloud-

I JUST rendered the video and cover out today so I can have this for you guys. You're Welcome! FAVORITE SONG I MADE: "Thrash Panda" A song that's still Patron exclusive, but I feel REALLY good playing this song live. The ONLY reason I haven't dropped it yet is because I do want to make a cool piece of art to go along with it. OTHER COOL SHIT I DID: 2017's 3000 Brigade Show is finally out!

youtube

This was a good one. I still have the Wii Fit Trainer stuff, in my closet. 2018's show was even better since I had more to do! Amanda if you're reading this I still have all of your acoutrements in my closet I've also joined a DnD Campaign long time internet friend Luke Herr is running, which leads me into... PODCAST STUFF: RPG Pals Club- By the time you read this, it'll be out for the public! My character is Oi! A Drow Monk who chose the punk life over the underdark. So now he's a punk monk. NOW HE'S A PUNK MON- I'd Rather Not- The last episode was... not fit for human consumption, but we're nearing on 100 episodes, so the shaningans will Pentuple! TREND I LIKED THE LEAST: Coddling Bigotry Being A Cottage Industry Oh, wait? That was last year? And it still persists this year since all social media companies worry about is "engagement", content be damned, since 4chan Nazis have nothing better to do all day than harass transgender people and other minorities? TREND I LIKED THE LEAST PART 2: Articles About "Going Too Far" You know the trend: "SANTA SHOULD BE GENDER NEUTRAL!" "THEYBIES?" "EXACTLY ONE WOMAN WITH FEMINIST IN THEIR TWITTER BIO SAID A THING SO IT'S NEWS" You've seen these articles a million times shared by friends on Facebook, usually accompanied by a "WTF?", and in the comments go something like "I'm not racist/sexist/hating on x group here, BUT..." These stories serve a purpose to make you think that a certain marginalized group is going "too far" in the pursuit of equal rights. And when you have the fear of going "too far", its two fold: 1. You're afraid of anything being tried in the first place 2. It leaves the door open for someone more agreeable to the status quo to come in with an ineffective solution. So the only response is to drag them to the main point kicking and screaming, "Well don't you think X should have the same rights as the rest of us?" TREND I LIKED THE MOST: Furries Being The Comrades We All Need In This Shittastic World This year's Internet Hero was not a man, but a fox. A black, gay fox (everything Republicans hate) who was really, really good at fighting games. Second place goes to a guy who shat on Elon Musk: I've mentioned that the furry fandom/subculture is more creator focused than anime fandom, which means that is is decentralized, and all media considered "furry" is not produced by a singular entity. There may be pieces of media popular amongst furries, like Disney movies, Star Fox, etc., but the fandom itself owns the means of production, meaning it's socialist as hell, which is a good thing. Since there's no singular entity that produces the art, there's no reason for them to ignore bad actors in the name of profit. Video game and comics companies and the like can look at bullshit like Gamergate and Comicsgate and go, "Hey, their money's just as good as anyone else's! But since the talent pool is widely distributed, and everything is done on a person to person basis, you can tell the Nazis to fuck off:

youtube

And yes, there are Nazifurs/Altfurries. When the entire pull of a fandom is "You don't have to be the default you", it can be a good, like a safer space for LGBTQ+ people to express themselves and feel more out (i.e. their fursona is a different gender than the person was assigned, sexuality is different, etc.). Or it can be a bad, meaning "Hey, I was kicked out of my usual group because I was a dipshit who kept making holocaust/attack helicopter/racist jokes, SURELY these people will accept me!" As mentioned earlier, you can kick out the latter group. It's fine. When you've been an internet punching bag for so long, you can either be a shittier person, or keep on keeping on and learn to be better on your own. Same for the juggalos. LET'S COMBINE THE TWO, SHALL WE? FAVORITE SONG OF 2018: "Make Me Feel" by Janelle Monae

youtube

So, the runner up for this was "She's Kerosene" by The Interrupters, but while that a lot of energy and I crank up it my car all the time, "Make Me Feel" wins out because it has sexiest buildup to any song ever, and of course, Janelle Monae at her most fun. TOP 40 SONG I HATED THE LEAST: "Thank U, Next" by Ariana Grande

youtube

My thought process: "Ugh, OK, like, I haven't listened to a lot of Top 40 Radio, so I guess 'Feel It Still' is in the running, but let's see what Todd In The Shadows thinks..." "Thank U Next? That Ariana Grande song? It's a meme, but I'll give it a listen." "DAMN THIS IS SO GOOD! Her voice is so soothing! And the song expresses a sentiment so unique! Haha! I wonder what movies I'd parody for my thank u next equivalent?" THE "WHY DID NOBODY TELL ME ABOUT THIS SOONER?" AWARD: The Shadowrun Games by Harebrained Schemes Shadowrun is a TTRPG setting that's basically when two designers didn't want to decide on making a cyperpunk game, or a fantasy game so they're like "FUCK IT, WE'LL DO BOTH!" and have a game where you can play as orcs who can cast magic and elves who can hack into shit. Since 2013, Harebrained schemes have been making games based off the brand and have done so with X-Com style combat mixed with Neverwinter Nights style exploration, and while not very long, they've been fun to play and get into. Dragonfall is the best out of the three with a better story, and more connections to your usual shadowrunning squad. GAME OF THE YEAR: See Above ANNUAL REMINDER I SHARE A BIRTHDAY WITH MC BAT COMMANDER: via Blogger http://bit.ly/2Ht1MZJ

#dnd #furries #insane clown posse #juggalos #overwatch #podcast #reaper #shadowrun #state of the bast

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ffxv-ocs-unite · 7 years ago

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Hi there! I have an FFXV OC that I started creating content for a while ago. I put the links of the different posts if you are able to reblog them. Thank you for creating such a great place for OC creators to post their stuff! And thank you for letting me show you my character!

Artemisia Thanos

Character Sheet

Aesthetic Board

Drawings

Inktober

Comrades

Set 1

Set 2

Game Rewrite

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Short Stories

Something Smells

Sound of Silence

The Future Belongs to the Curious

#submission #Artemisia Thanos #ffxv oc #fanfiction #fan art

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thisweekingundamwing · 7 years ago

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TWIGW: November 25 - December 2

This has been a great week in our fandom!

Please please send love to all the amazing creators. Comments are like fandom food so keep our creators inspired and well fed!

Thank you all for all your wonderful creations.

-Mod Maeve

Please don’t forget to check the warnings!

Fanfiction:

@amberlyinviolet , yourbloodlikewine

In This Light Chapter 11

Duo spent the last semester working in his older brother's coffee shop. He's resigned himself to a boring spring when a stranger appears, shaking up his entire life.Eli left home last fall, choosing to spend the last six months living out of his van on his travels from the Midwest to the East Coast. By the time he arrives at Ink's, the novelty of traveling alone has started to wear off. Still, the last thing he's expecting is to meet someone who's going to change all that for him.

Duo Maxwell/Original Male Character(s)Trowa Barton/Original Male Character(s)Solo Maxwell/Original Male Character

Rape/Non-Con, child abuse mention, Sexual Assault Mention, homophobic parents, Re-Written Characters, Drug Use, Violence, off screen murder, gratuitous author indulgence

@anaranesindanarie

Death Unspeaking Chapter 8

What happens when a Gundam Pilot is mute? What happens when the other Pilots look down at him because of it? Will he overcome the odds or will the odds overcome him? For Manny who encouraged me to work on this.

Trowa Barton/Duo Maxwell

Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Underage

@claraxbarton

Cocktail Friday: Sunset

Response to the Cocktail Friday prompt on Tumblr.

1x2

One Night in Spain

Years after the war, Wufei reconnects with an old acquaintance.(Is this seriously almost the same summary that I used for Kangofu-CB's birthday fic????)For an amazing, talented, generous and wonderful friend.

Chang Wufei/Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton/Relena Peacecraft

drakanyst

g.h.o.s.t. Chapter 2

It started as some fun with equations, patching and brainstorming on an idea that had been scrapped by the gundam scientists before completion. Now, the project has taken on a life of its own. For a brief period, the five former Gundam pilots enjoy the fruits of what proves to be a powerful training platform. When the virtual reality interface is shared with a limited run of Preventers recruits, a domino effect begins that nobody is ready for. One braided adrenaline junky is caught in the middle of it, looking for answers to questions that come at a price. What is happening with the isolated program Yukio? And why do the riots and mass murders blossoming all over L3 mirror a VR instance? Is the platform emulating the life it is witnessing, vice versa.. or something else entirely?

Graphic Depictions Of Violence

TBA - Relationship

@duointherain

Not Quite Single Chapter 6

It's nearly a hundred years after the wars. Tech has kept all the boys healthy and young. While on a salvage mission, Duo recovers Steve Rogers. James Barnes has been Heero's colleague for over twenty years. There are a lot of misunderstandings. The fork in chapter two made me laugh. :)

Duo Maxwell/Heero YuyJames "Bucky" Barnes/Steve Rogers

Graphic Depictions Of Violence

IsolaVirtuosa

Unlikely Office Romances

Dr. Heero Yuy, Preventers forensics expert, can’t seem to get over his crush on his former wartime comrade Agent Duo Maxwell. Duo can’t seem to stand the sight of him… and yet…?

Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy

@kangofu-cb

Don't You Know

Cop!Duo meets SpecialAgent!Wufei in this fluffy rom-com.

Chang Wufei/Duo Maxwell

lil_1337

Gundam Wing Month - 2017

A collection of drabbles and short fics posted one a day for the month of November in celebration of Gundam Wing Month.

Trowa Barton/Quatre Raberba Winner, Chang Wufei/Relena Peacecraft, Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy

luvsanime02

How Far to Fall

Trowa surprises Relena with a picnic. Written for the December 1st Cocktail Party prompt

Trowa Barton/Relena Peacecraft

Tangled Web of Natural Oddities Chapter 10

Unnatural NovemberSummaryOne town, and a whole tangled web of supernatural beings. It's not surprising that people come to expect the unexpected there.

Alternate Universe - Supernatural ElementsLanguageHumorVampiresShapeshiftingGhostsMythical Beings & CreaturesWerewolves

Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy, Trowa Barton/Relena Peacecraft, Dorothy Catalonia/Lady Une, Catherine Bloom/Hilde Schbeiker, Chang Wufei/Long Meilan/Sally Po, Zechs Merquise/Lucrezia Noin

Hot Toddies and Cold Nights

Trowa's making some toddies, and knows that he won't be alone for long. Cocktail Friday

Engage Chapter 6

The time has come for all of their plans to finally start being put into motion.This is the eighth story in Navigation, a fem!Heero series.

Canon-Typical Violence, Minor Character Death

Maldoror_Chant

Freeport Chapter 13

Freeport colony: a notorious den of pirates, smugglers and thieves. Wufei persuades one of its denizens, his one-time ally Duo, to help him catch a killer hiding there. Agent Chang thinks he knows what to expect from this case, from Freeport and from Duo Maxwell. He couldn't be more wrong.

socio-politics with violence and hot guys, Blood and Violence, no EW, Slow Burn

Chang Wufei/Duo Maxwell

The Source of All Things Chapter 13

Center, a planet where magic and technology blend. Or more accurately, fight tooth and nail. A planet of Sources, holes in our boring dimension letting through arcane power, chaos and pseudo-deities. In this hot-house of myths and very real dangers, Trowa and Quatre find a mysterious man at the end of a shamanic voyage. Portents suggest this Heero Yuy is crucial to Center’s survival. He’s important enough to have some interesting enemies after him, at any rate: a devious killer and thief called ‘Shinigami’, and a very irate Dragon. Beyond them looms an even greater threat. Indeed, the greatest of them all.(Alternative Universe, far-flung future sci-fi/fantasy. There are elements from the anime that exist here, albeit in very different forms; Gundam mechas, Zero, and lovely G-boys for instance. They are perhaps a universal constant we are not yet aware of. This fic was original started over a decade ago. It has been heavily rewritten and should now be eventually finished)

3x4, 2x5, 1x2x5

Graphic Depictions Of Violence

The Manwell (Manniness)

Tomb Raiders Chapter 28

Trowa Barton was an orphan raised by South African mercenaries. Duo Maxwell was the son of a British lord. Not only were these two teenage boys destined to fall in love, but they were destined to save the world. Tomb raider style.AU 2x3x2 YAOI Duo/TrowaWarnings: Alternate universe fic, language, shounen ai, yaoi (male/male sex), angst, character death, reference to torturePromises: No non-consensual or underage sex!! None of the pilots will die!! Cross my heart...Notes: Very, very loosely based on the movie “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and, just like in the movie, no actual tombs are raided in this story. Heh. (^_~)v

Trowa Barton/Duo Maxwell

@ransomedbard

Arbiter Chapter 2

After an accident in space, Duo learns that he cannot permanently die - but every resurrection comes at a terrible cost for those around him. As he learns the extent of his powers, he struggles with the temptation to misuse them, and to find meaning in his devastating ‘gift’. His secret drives him away from the other pilots, even as he comes to realize his own loneliness and need for their friendship.

Resurrection, Suicidal Thoughts, Violence of the bullets and blood variety

Shinohoshi13

By Demons Be Driven Chapter 2

For years she struggled to live, burdened by a long-forgotten past, an unclear present, and a non-existent future. War consumes her life, forcing her to live as if every day is her last. Fate has seen fit to gift her with unnatural abilities far beyond the normal human capacity. With those abilities, she leads a daily game of tag, putting her life on the line over and over again. Will a chance meeting with a young man give this tired young woman the will to keep fighting? And with the war escalating higher and higher, will she have the time to find out who, and what, she really is?

OCx05; slight implied 01x02, 03x04, 06x13; one-sided Rx01

Relena bashing, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Adult Content, Crude Humor, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Strong Language, Torture, Violence, Psychological Horror, Magical Realism

StarLove18

Cuddle

Sometimes, what we fight for can bring peace. Peace also has a way of creating stress.

Trowa Barton & Chang Wufei & Duo Maxwell & Quatre Raberba Winner & Heero Yuy

Implied/Referenced Drug Use, My First Work in This Fandom

@vegalume

Collide - the teaser

This is the first in a series of small ficlets that will lead up to the full story.The ficlets take place on an alternate timeline that parallels some of the most important events of the series, beginning shortly after Heero is first sent to Earth. They focus on the relationship between Treize and Heero.Tags for the entire 'Collide' Series. See the notes for warnings specific to that part.

Treize Khushrenada/Heero Yuy

Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death, Underage, Alternate Timeline, possible parallel universe?, Angst, Death, Blood, Suicide Attempts, Romance, Eventual Smut, Humor

Collide - the first ficlet

This is the second in a series of small ficlets that will lead up to the full story.The ficlets take place on an alternate timeline that parallels some of the most important events of the series, beginning shortly after Heero is first sent to Earth. They focus on the relationship between Treize and Heero. The ficlets may appear disjointed (which is why they're not part of the main story). Tags for the entire 'Collide' Series. See the notes for warnings specific to that part.

Collide - The Second Ficlet

This is the third in a series of small ficlets that will lead up to the full story.The ficlets take place on an alternate timeline that parallels some of the most important events of the series, beginning shortly after Heero is first sent to Earth. They focus on the relationship between Treize and Heero. Tags for the entire 'Collide' Series. See the notes for warnings specific to that part.

Collide - The Third Ficlet

This is the fourth in a series of small ficlets that will lead up to the full story.The ficlets take place on an alternate timeline that parallels some of the most important events of the series, beginning shortly after Heero is first sent to Earth. They focus on the relationship between Treize and Heero. The ficlets may appear disjointed (which is why they're not part of the main story). Tags for the entire 'Collide' Series. See the notes for warnings specific to that part.

Whenpigsfly84

Doormat Babe Chapter 5

A mysterious child is left with Duo one morning. As he seeks for answers he'll have to face his past and prepare for a haunting future he'd never expected. Will he be able to reconnect with old friends or will he lose all those he loves?

Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy, Chang Wufei/Duo Maxwell/Heero Yuy, Trowa Barton/Quatre Raberba Winner

Drama, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Minor Character Death, Swearing, Summary

xX_Rabble_Rouser_Xx

Birthday From Hell

It's not that Duo Maxwell is INCAPABLE of celebrating a birthday like a reasonable person, he just REFUSES to celebrate Heero Yuy’s birthday normally.

Humor, Pranks, Birthdays, with friends like this who needs enemies??

Snippets:

@anaranesindanarie

1x2x6 OR 2x6 “liar” Prompt Response

@claraxbarton

WIP Screenshot

@lifeaftermeteor

LAM!verse NYC Branch Office, New York, New York, 30 November 207

@remsyk-blog

Cocktail Friday- Grounded

@treizes-heero

Moving in Prompt

@vegalume

Title: Collide

Pairing: Treize x Heero

Working title: STAR

Main pairing Duo x Heero - additional pairings 2xoc, 3x4 & 5xR

@weiclown

WIP sentence

Headcanons / Meta / Discussions:

@lelola

GW Logic

Wufei’s Response to Treize

Cell Animation in GW

Lady Une’s Portrayal

Duo Maxwell Reaction Scene Question

Heero and Quatre Zero System scene

Trowa and the Zero System

Wing Zero Reaction

Zechs and Relena Reuniting

Relena’s Pep Talk

@lifeaftermeteor

What Duo Smells Like

@fadedsepia

Episode 5

@outofworkshinigami

Treize’s worries about his personality change . . .

(Warning: Abuse mentions) How Treize and Vingt were abused

Fanart / Screencaps / Images:

@ashley-kuo

Rx1 Married Sims Screenshots

@bassrocks

Duo Maxwell drawing

@comics-and-things

Zech Merquise image compilation

@downwarddnaspiral

Zechs for @chronicwhimsy‘s birthday

@duointherain

Quatre Giving Wufei a Christma Gift

@hainekoken

Relena Peacecraft

@innergeekdesigns

Gundam T-shirt designs

@kangofu-cb

Heero Yuy

Duo Maxwell

Trowa Barton

Modern Quatre

Prevent Agent Chang Wufei

Officer Hilde Schbeiker

@lelola

Duo’s Expression Screencap

@lifeaftermeteor

Christmas Tree Topper Image

@musinglink

Gundam Wing Cover Art

@noelleian

Trowa and Quatre after their brush with Zero

Lady Une (apologies as this was accidentally misattributed initially!)

@outofworkshinigami

Sanc Treize

Commission for @cylinanightshade (NSFW, Quatre, Heero,Trowa)

@some--newtype--bullshit

Headshot Club

@the-cats-curse

Gundam Deathscythe

@thereasonsimbroke

Gundam Battle Damage

@vegalume

1x13 sketch

Heero, Trowa, Quatre WIP Embroidery

Invader Zim Quotes Set

Invader Zim Quotes 12

Invader Zim Quotes 11

Invader Zim Quotes 10

Invader Zim Quotes 9

Invader Zim Quotes 8

Invader Zim Quotes 7

Invader Zim Quotes 6

@yesacias-sketchbook

Relena WIP

@zer0-system

Mpreg Duo

Heero Doodle

Heero Lineart

Mpreg Duo

Gundam Wing Haul image

Heero Yuy Line Art

Heero, Trowa, Duo Sketch

Quotes:

@helmistress

Relena Darlian, Ep 14

Calendar Events:

Unnatural November by @gwblockparty

Ending November 30th

A fanworks celebration of all things weird and supernatural.

Participation information here!

AO3 collection here!

Eve War Event by @gw-evewar

Posting December 23rd - December 24th.

A fanworks Science Fiction event.

Participation information here!

Cocktail Friday by @thisweekingundamevents

Prompts post every Monday, submissions to be posted the following Friday from 3-5pm EST

Fun, open participation

Fics, ficlets, art, anything at all welcome!

Gundam Wing Secret Santa Exchange by @gwsecretsantaexchange

All assignments are out!

Remember to keep your recipient a secret!

Gifts should be posted and tagged December 20th - 24th

If you need to drop out for any reason (life happens!) please let the Secret Santa blog know as soon as possible!

Thank you all for a wonderful week!

#thisweekingundamwing

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classysassy9791 · 8 years ago

Note

1, 2, 10, 12, 17, 23, 27, 31

Wow! Thank you so much for the ask, lovely!! ^.^

This got really long, so I’ll leave everything below the cut.

Ask My Top Three

1. Top 3 Heroes/Protagonists

- Yona from Yona of the Dawn

A princess all her life who witnessed her father being killed by her lover and then forced out of her own kingdom, but still manages to be a bad-ass heroine despite everything.

- Piper Halliwell from Charmed

Her older sister always took charge and had all the answers, so when she died, not only did Piper lose someone very dear for her, but she also had to take on an entirely new role. Not only that, but she took on the Elders and fought for her illegal love/marriage to her white-lighter (and won!). Down to earth and a power-house to boot.

- Sango from Inuyasha

This girl has been through hell and back, but continues to fight for the sake of her brother’s life. She literally has no other reason to live, and was even willing at one point to kill Kohaku and then herself, just so they could both stop suffering. Thankfully she had Inuyasha and the gang to support her, and having her as a comrade is definitely an asset.

2. Top 3 Villains/Antagonists

- Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries

Yes, we know he was a bad vampire turned good (but really good all along), but his character development and growth has always been one of my favorites. He willingly allows others to view him as a villain and will gladly play the part of villain if it means protecting those he cares about or giving others a reason to push him away. If Elena or Stephen needed somebody to blame, he was right there fueling their fire. If they needed someone killed or buried, he’d gladly grab a shovel. His bad-boy personality gives him an edge, but he’s really just a lonely teddy bear on the inside.

- Kira (aka Light Yagami) from Death Note

So here’s this guy who has a notebook that can kill anyone he writes down, but Light is a very moral guy. He decides that he will become god of a new world, free from criminals, and will kill anyone he deems bad in the world, thus allowing only those with fit morals to live. The cat and mouse game he and L play in who can find who first is so engaging and the thought that went into the plot is great. Keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end, in my opinion.

- Kikyo from Inuyasha

She has such a tragic backstory and plays such a vital role in the entire plot line. Not only is she the reason Naraku became the half-demon he was, but she plays a major role in Inuyasha’s life, as well as Kagome’s. She remains this aloof undead woman, struggling not only with her feelings of being brought back from the dead, but of forgiveness and revenge. When she first reappears, she’s angry and bitter and wants nothing more than to see Inuyasha dead. And at the end, she gives up her life for another’s. I actually really love her character dynamic.

10. Top 3 Child Characters

- Wendy from Fairy Tail

Can you say character development?? The first time she appears, she trips over air and then gives a shy little greeting without making eye contact. The most recent time she’s appeared, she’s ready to kick a dragon’s ass into the next millennium all in the name of protecting her friends. This little chick is phenomenal and hands down one of my favorites.

- Rin from Inuyasha

Because let’s face it: a little ball of sunshine that is the only one capable of thawing a demon’s heart. I think just about everyone has a soft spot for this cinnamon roll. Besides that, like Kagome, she is a warm-hearted person that has this way of making people open up, helping people to heal (like with Sesshomaru and Kohaku), and has this fearless disposition about her.

- Carl Grimes from The Walking Dead

This kid has seen some shit. He’s just this innocent little 12-year-old in the beginning, and he’s matured so much due to all that he’s witnessed, he’s one of the best defenders and fighters that they have on their little team. He is not the kind of person to back down, and is willing to do anything in order to protect his family. Even though his father tried to protect him from the horrors, he quickly made his dad realize that he was no longer a boy, but a man, and needed to be treated like one.

12. Top 3 Fictional Animals/Pets

- Happy from Fairy Tail

This sassy little cat gives me life. Seriously. We’ve all seen shows with supporting characters that are literally only there for comic relief (and are never, ever funny), but this cat not only has an abundance of comic relief with his sarcastic commentary, but he also serves a purpose. He is Natsu’s buddy and is relied on to keep Natsu out of trouble, as well as be a qualified member of their team.

- Balto from Balto

This stray wolf who nobody wanted goes above and beyond, risking his own life, and traveling miles through a tundra, all to bring medicine back to town and save one little girl he fell in love with (and of course all the other sick kids). He’s a hero in my book.

- Kirara from Inuyasha

Selflessly goes into battle over and over again for the sake of her friends. She’s also the only other family Sango and Kohaku have left, which makes her even more important. Not only is she a great ally in battle, but she’s good to those she cares about (like bringing Kagome home or saving their lives in the nick of time).

17. Top 3 Non-human characters

- Kouga from Inuyasha

Yes, his flirtationship with Kagome can get rather old, but above everything else, he is fiercely loyal. The entirety of his plot in the series is to avenge the deaths of his comrades no matter what, except in the risk of losing the comrades he has left (like when he wanted to Goraishi, but not at the expense of Ginta and Hakkaku’s lives). He also has some humility, believe it or not. When he loses the power of Goraishi and his Sacred Jewel shards, he knows he’s no longer a match for Naraku, and will ultimately slow everyone else down. So instead of holding onto his pride, he steps down and basically says “good luck”. He doesn’t want to get in the way. Of course, his banter/brotp with Inuyasha is pretty great, too.

- Elijah from The Originals

One of the original vampires created, but he’s probably the best of the group. He’s a very moral person, to a fault, and his word is everything. Not only that, but he’s probably the only one whose sane among his siblings, and wants nothing but for them to be a family again. He doesn’t usually let his emotions control him, like Rebecca and Niklaus do. One of my absolute favorites of all time.

- Castiel from Supernatural

This sassy angel whose beyond social inept feeds my soul. I’ve only binge-watched up to season 7, so I’m really hoping he comes back and kicks ass. I need more of him in my life. And his brotp with Dean is beautiful.

23. Top 3 Books

- The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

I’ve talked about it before, so to save space, I’ll simply refer you back to here if you’d like to read up on it :)

- The Eragon series by Christopher Paolini

I’m not usually one for dungeons and dragons kind of fantasy novels, but I thought the movie was decent, but when I told a friend about it, he shut me down. He said the movie was trash and completely ruined the book, so I of course was curious and started reading them. Still haven’t started the last book, but it’s waiting on my bookshelf for me. Wonderful description and dialogue, amazing story weaving, and overall great plot.

- The Divergent series by Veronica Roth

The movies are pretty great, but of course never give as much details as the books. And damn, those books put you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Poor Trish.. My heart absolutely breaks for her. Also, the entire plot line and story is amazingly done, and I really enjoyed the separation into Factions and the revolution. Now that I’m thinking about it, I really want to reread the series!

27. Top 3 Musicals or Plays

- Wicked

I’ve seen this musical several times in two different states. And no matter how many times I see it, when Defying Gravity comes on, I get goosebumps. I’m actually planning on seeing it again this upcoming winter when it’s back in town.

- Book of Mormon

Okay, when I went to see this musical it was by a friend’s request. I had no idea it was by Southpark creators, or really what it was even about. So you can imagine my surprise when the first few lines of the show were derogatory and vulgar. I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically.

- Disenchanted

Summary: Poisoned apples. Glass slippers. Who needs ‘em?! Not Snow White and her posse of disenchanted princesses in the hilarious hit musical that’s anything but Grimm. Forget the princesses you think you know - the original storybook heroines have come back to life to set the record straight. (Love, love, loved it!!)

(P.S. I also plan on seeing Rent and Aladdin in the next few months)

31. Top 3 Heartwarming Moments in Fiction

- The ending of Charmed

After 8 years of constant battling, the Power of Three goes up against one last major evil. The creators were able to bring back most of the major original cast that has made appearances over the years, sending the show off with a family-esque bang. I cried the entire last 10 minutes as I said goodbye to my childhood.

- Rainbow Sakura, the 73rd episode of Fairy Tail in which Lucy has a cold and has to miss out on the Rainbow Blossom festival. It was her first time being able to go, so she’s really disheartened to have to miss it. Luckily, her best friend Natsu is there. He uproots a rainbow blossom tree and ties it to a boat, allowing it to float down the river right outside her window. I absolutely loved that moment.

- That time when Meredith confessed her love for Derek in Grey’s Anatomy

“Pick me. Choose me. Love me.” ‘Nough said.

–

Okay, so I’m really sorry this is so long, but I just like to talk about things that make me happy?? Thank you so much for the ask!! ^.^

#asks #sassy stays classy #inuyasha #yona of the dawn #charmed #vampire diaries #grey's anatomy #fairy tail #disenchanted #book of mormon #wicked #the truth about forever #eragon #divergent #balto #supernatural #the originals #the walking dead #death note

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reluctantjapanophile · 8 years ago

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After everyone has already watched it: Sherlock S04E03

The Final Problem

Seriously though, that first scene? What is it for? Haven’t we had a similar situation in The Great Game where Moriarty was first introduced? Some random person put in a ridiculous danger situation and Moriarty talking about it as if it was a game? Rehashing that kind of scene is far from the most exciting and effective opener they could have thought of.

Okay...

That was unexpected. Mycroft muttering lines of old black and white romance movies. Right ~~~

Interesting family day at the beach inserts.

OH dear, have we switched genre to Suspense/Thriller with a possible dash of Horror?

Breathing voice calling out one’s name? Check.

Flickering lights in the corridor? Check.

Sword hidden in umbrella? Check. Oh, ok, that one’s different.

Child running? Creepy doll? Check.

The sister?

Oh now we have blood.

Ah ha ha, the east wind. Eurus? I thought her name meant good wind as well. Irony~~

Duel with a clown.

Wait what? It was a pistol (?) instead? Booooring, Mycroft ~

Wait.... the person playing the running girl -- is that an old person? What?

Ah yes, you smartass, Sherl.

Well, now we know for sure that something DID slip past Mycroft’s web of surveillance. Oops.

FUNNY~~

And then this.

Ha. Ha. HA!

*clears throat*

Your sad kicked-puppy eyes moved me there, Mycroft.

A place to hold the uncontainables.

A map reference for hell.

Now why would this not go very wrong?

“Whoever you met, it can’t have been her.“ Said right after the broken window.

I hope Mrs. Hudson is ok.

Never effing mind.

Golden moment #2 there, friends and comrades.

What’s with Eurus and pyromania?

Sherlock and things he don’t usually say (more like never). Case in point number #1.

And case in point number #2.

And then somehow we progressed to this.

Ah well, at least this episode won’t be a bore.

Violin in the genes, eh?

Mmmhmmm. So as Mycroft keeps going on and on about how he should be the only one to talk to Eurus since he is aware of the dangers she posed, how come Sherlock ends up talking to her by himself?

Ha, Vatican Cameos.

Oh God. When John made a significant deduction, you know shit hits the fan.

Napoleon is back~~

What I would call a breath of fresh air.

You’re in for a treat.

Ha, the real maintain your distance of three feet, eh?

Hmm. I kinda thought John might do it.

I really did.

Can’t believe I would say this but I do miss him.

Anyway, we Vietnamese have a saying that once you throw your javelin, you’ve got to follow it. Or so goes my rough translation.

Onward! Choo choo!

Aww!

AWW! Oh God, Oh God! *sorry for the suggestiveness of the SFX*

Can I just say soldier!John is the best John??

Oh come on, Sherl. Tit for tat, tit for tat.

If you want her to say it, obviously you have to say it or an equivalence. Basic problem of exchange.

You must say Moriarty was a bit more merciful?

At least he had yet to burn the heart out of dear old Sherl. To make a brief comparison between this one and the The Great Game.

OH WOW.

Someone is on the offensive now.

Shoot Dr. Watson.

Uhm.

Shit, he’s right.

Uhm.

Dialogue??? What happened to the dialogue?

Oh dear. Oh dear. Are we playing the bad guy now?

For shame.

Yup. Bluff called.

Well, ain’t he the perfect Johnlock shipper then?

OK, let it be known that thanks to Yuri on ICE, I’m permanently attuned to the name Victor. This is not helping. This is not helping. Blah blah blah.

*breathes in breathes out* all is well, all is well *breathes in breathes out*

You’d think a well like that should not escape one’s notice.

Pets. She meant that literally, ha?

I see. A metaphor. So she provided the sounds of the scared little girl?

So 5 minutes of unsupervised conversation with Moriarty. And she got this all planned out.

This whole psychosis thing is not making it easy to understand and judge the characterization of Eurus. It’s like stepping into a boggling marsh, the kind in LOTR: The Two Towers, and in great danger of joining the people under the water.

She’s supposed to be both an amoral sadistic psychotic criminal mastermind and a frightened lonely girl? That’s asking a lot of the audience to grasp, and frankly I’m not sure if I was given enough reason to care. I like that Sherlock’s human side and sentiment were explored in tandem with all the primary players of the episode, to various degrees of success but I feel that Eurus didn’t have that much of a presence, in spite of the amount of her screen time. To be honest, Moriarty still felt more real than Eurus, even if he was just given to us in small morcels of pre-recorded clips.

So what’s the final verdict?

While I’m glad that this season did not end on a cliffhanger of sorts but with lovely moments of restoration and connection (and of course plenty of Johnlock moments in The Final Problem), there’s absolutely no doubt that this was the weakest season of them all. At the moment, I have found quite little that would prompt me to do a rewatch. The villains were, to be honest, extremely lackluster and the stories clumsily put together. Let’s not start on John’s character again, much as he was redeemed by the last episode. And Molly Hooper is definitely the landmine that the show creators decided to head straight into.

Why would she be single again? And why is there a need for her to be that miserable without Sherlock? And why does she still have that much feeling for Sherlock? In the last season, while still having lingering feelings for Sherlock, she showed genuine signs of having moved on, if not completely then partly. She can care a lot for him but that does not necessitate a strong romantic interest in him on her part. WHY, WHY, WHY? And the matter was so lightly brushed away with a not-even-5-sec appearance at the end. Seriously???

And frankly, is Mary Watson’s Miss You clip even necessary? Pretty words and all but somehow have this false and empty feeling to them. I listened to them and the so what question just won’t stop popping in my head. So they just went back their ordinary lives? So much for all that moral qualms going through the tests and rounds Eurus devised.

In short, Sherlock seemed to label “The End” (of some sort) onto itself with this season but in reality, it just made a big mess of everything and decided to wipe the slate clean and call the situation resolved. It felt exactly just like that.

Goodbye, season 4. I wish I could say better things about you but I feel that I’ve been much more lenient than I would otherwise.

I will miss you, Mary. The alive version of you.

#sherlock #sherlock season 4 #sherlock reaction #sherlock watch #sherlock writing #sherlock s04e03 #bbc sherlock #the final problem #sherlock holmes #mycroft holmes #eurus holmes #john watson #mrs hudson #molly hooper #disappointed #tired #drained #confused #pearl talks

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truecantaloupelove-blog · 7 years ago

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Steven Universe Finale (FanFic): “The Shattering- Part 1″

Hey, everyone! Welcome to my Steven Universe fanfic finale: this is how I’D imagination the perfect end to one of the best kids’ cartoons in the last 50 years. I little background; part of this fan episode was born from my frustration throughout Season 4, I felt the side episodes were taking up too much time, and there wasn’t as much attention devoted to fusion, gem lore, good action scenes and music like their was in previous seasons. Well, if you want something done right, do it yourself, so this fan work has the full package: fusion, battle, the cluster, ALL the Diamonds, some of of our favorite sidelined heroes returning to the action, and so much more.

A word of warning: this story does contain one OC of mine; a homeworld gem agent named Holy War Quartz. I really enjoy her as a character, I think she’s plucky and strong-willed in a very fun way, but I know how people feel about OCs so I tried not to give her too invasive of a roll in the story.

This episode is meant to take place during the final Homeworld invasion of the Earth, where things REALLY go down and get tense. I’ve filled in some of the gaps in lore that we haven’t learned yet, but I’ve still tried to keep it as close to canon as possible.

This is a fan-friendly, inclusive episode for everyone, just like the creators would want. Anyone is welcome to enjoy it, and there shouldn’t be anything offensive or upsetting in this to longtime hardcore fans of the series like me. Part 2 is one the way soon, so with that, enjoy!

Steven Universe—Series Finale:

S06 E25: “The Shattering”

A Fan-Made Episode

(Opening credits)

NARRATOR: On the last “Steven Universe” things had gotten pretty heated for our heroes—literally. (Shot of all the Crystal Gems and Connie trapped in a cage above a chasm filled with lava and brimstone) The nefarious Yellow Diamond had captured all but one of the Crystal Gems and decided to hold them as hostage for leverage against the remnants of Earth. But any sort of human counterattack was unlikely as Homeworld’s invasion of Earth was in full force; and all resistances to the relentless assault were being pummeled.

(Scenes of battalions of Quartz, Topaz, and Ruby soldiers decimating sieging and decimating major cities around the globe) As if that wasn’t enough; the cluster had finally begun to emerge, and the effects on the Earth’s tectonic plates were cataclysmic. Steven Universe led a brave defense for his hometown of Beach City, but when a great tremor split the boardwalk in two and swallowed the bulk of its citizens into the earth, this battle too proved futile—and tragic.

(A Quartz soldier spears Greg through the chest. Steven is seen holding his bleeding father, crying) Mortally wounded, Greg Universe was left for dead in the infirmary, but the rage of his father’s loss empowered Steven to do something he’d never been able to do before. (Steven screams a howl of agony and begins to transform, growing older, meaner, stronger) The pain caused him to finally break through the barrier of his pre-pubescent body, transforming this meek, effeminate child into a stout, brawny man bent on revenge. Enraged, he cut a lethal swath deep into the ranks of Homeworld’s forces, but even this effort would have come to naught had it not been for the sudden arrival of a new, shocking, and unexpected ally.

(White Diamond emerges, wielding massive twin swords. He intervenes as Steven is about to be overwhelmed in his berserker rage; the two of them pull together and manage to beat back the enemy) Together, these two brave warriors managed to drive off the invasion party—for now. But the Earth is in a dire state, and all of the forces of Homeworld are massed between Steven and his imperiled friends. Can Steven and the renowned White Diamond possibly hope to turn the tides of this war? Can they save their friends and neutralize the cluster before it fully emerges, wreaking devastation upon the planet? Is this humanity’s last bow? Find out on today’s “Steven Universe”!

(Aerial shot of Beach City; buildings are in splinters and fires are smoldering everywhere. The Big Donut, its roof ripped off and two of the walls collapsed in, is being used as a makeshift hospital; the remnants of Beach City’s citizens who aren’t too wounded to walk scramble around trying to bring the triage under control. Steven stands over his unconscious father, fists clenched)

STEVEN: Dear old Dad, I remember you once told that no matter what happened, there would always be a guardian angel out there to protect me. Well, now I need that angel more than ever, and only too late I learned you were lying. Yet somehow even now, I can’t bring myself to hate you for it.

(He surveys the wreckage of the city) I was once a boy with a home. With hopes and dreams. With a family, or at least what counted as a family in this decadent world. Now, when the true weakness, the feebleness of my world is exposed for what it is, and when all the rot and decay is stripped away, what am I left with? Nothing. Nothing but the fury, and my own restless thoughts to keep me company.

(As he ponders, a mutant gem monster the size of a rhino bursts through the perimeter and tears havoc through the town. Steven goes for his sword but is too slow. The gem monster is about to trample him when a white crystal blade slashes through its deformed body from behind, poofing it instantly. White Diamond stands there, his chest bare-shirted and his lips opened on a snarl)

WHITE DIAMOND: Keep your guard up, Half-Breed! I can’t afford to be watching your back every second!

STEVEN: (Dispassionately) Oh, yeah. Thanks. (He takes the mutant gemstone and bubbles it) Guess I owe you one.

WHITE DIAMOND: I mean it, Universe. You’re no use to me as an ally if you’re dead.

STEVEN: I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea that you want to be my ally in the first place: I’ve turned Gems before, but never this fast.

WHITE DIAMOND: Don’t flatter yourself; this has nothing to do with you personally, it’s a simple strategic analysis. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

STEVEN: That’s funny, I thought the Diamonds were on the same team.

WHITE DIAMOND: You really don’t understand your own culture even now, do you? You’re comrades-at-arms must have left you woefully ignorant.

STEVEN: (Bitterly) Well, they weren’t exactly the type for answering questions when asked.

WHITE DIAMOND: I’ll give you the shortened version, if only because it expedites my purposes. The truth is, Universe, that there is only one Diamond Patriarch, the White Diamond. This is the way it has been from ages immemorial: one Diamond, to rule them all. All planets, all gems, all the knowledge and technology of Homeworld ultimately belong to him. All the other Diamonds serve him as members of his court, or, as you more primitive humans might call it, his harem.

I too was the ruler of Homeworld, once, like my predecessor and the predecessor before him. But I made the first mistake any Gem can make: I fell in love. Pink Diamond, she was truly the most beautiful of all creatures, and I loved her more than any of my other concubines. So I spoiled her, and pampered her, and did something no White Diamond had ever done, or ever should do. I gave her a planet of her own, to rule. But Yellow Diamond took exception to our love, she became bitter and envious of her sister and plotted how she might take revenge. It took centuries for her plan to be carried out, but finally she found the perfect opportunity, and in one fell swoop, she tricked me, draining my power and forcing me to take residence in this diminished, weakened form. She deposed me, usurping my throne and my birthright. She set herself up as the new tyrant of Homeworld, with that simpering blue peon at her side. She rewrote history, she massacred millions of gems who resisted her blasphemous treason, and she divided the Gem empire, knowing it to be beyond her capacity to rule.

It is fitting, in a way, that the ancient grudge between us should be settled on this planet, where it began so long ago. I have had to live as an exile and a wanderer for thousands of years, but at long last my aching thirst for revenge is about to be slaked. But I’ve learned how to plot, I’ve learned how to wait out the centuries and play her long game. When I re-ascend to take my rightful place as Lord and Master of all Gemkind, I won’t make the same mistake she did. Let me be clear: Yellow Diamond won’t escape this day with her life.

STEVEN: (Wryly) I thought you said you were giving me the short version.

(WHITE DIAMOND yanks him off his feet by the scruff of his pink shirt. Even in his diminished size, he’s still nearly ten feet tall)

WHITE DIAMOND: I will not have my plans for vengeance foiled by your lack of conviction! This day is about more than either of us, Half-Breed! This is restoring the rightful order to the Universe. I have no love of Yellow Diamond; the Kingdom of Gemkind has gone to ruin in her hands! She knows this, she knows full well that only a White Male Diamond is fit to rule our kind, and yet she persists in her debauched, unholy reign, pretending to be a leader when she was created to be nothing more than a consort. I’m going to end her charade, and you’re going to help me do it, Half-Breed. You play a vital role to my plans, and therefore, I order you to stay focused and alert!

STEVEN: If means getting revenge, you don’t have to tell me twice. Now put me down. (White Diamond does so) So, what is our plan?

WHITE DIAMOND: Yellow Diamond currently holds my stolen energy, which puts us at the disadvantage. However, I still know her weaknesses. If we can make it to the throne room, I only need a few minutes of diversion to reabsorb my power, and once that happens, this entire war will be over.

STEVEN: Seems simple.

WHITE DIAMOND: Not quite. Yellow Diamond and her pusillanimous blue lackey are cowards by nature; her flagship is going to be surrounded by literal legions of soldiers, each tier stronger than the last. I know how her battle formations work; at the frontline, she’ll put the crippled, the forced fusion shard gems. Those, at least will be easy enough to hack through, but they’re only meant to wear us down before the real task begins. Next rank is the corrupted abominations, a shade more difficult to break through if only because they retain more of their sentience. Then after that, come the hybrids.

STEVEN: (Shocked) You mean there are more human-gems hybrids?

WHITE DIAMOND: Indeed. When Earth was colonized we learned to breed and weaponize the humans, some of whom we collected and carried back to Homeworld as prizes. Under my rule, at least, we only resorted to such a disgraceful tactics due to mounting desperation to provide relief contingents for our soldiers during the Great Gem War. Trained under the right conditions, these hybrids can become even stronger with their powers than natural Gems. However, their flesh bodies make them doubly vulnerable to both physical wounds and attacks to their gems. The half-breeds are a sort of trade-off in battle tactics, they have the best of both worlds as well as the worst. And by all means they are an insult to the purity of the Gem race, but do not underestimate their deadliness.

STEVEN: (Hushed) I can’t believe I’m not the only one…

WHITE DIAMOND: You have already met one such hybrid in the past, believe it or not. The agent known as Holy War Quartz 8-X1J was sent to this very town only a mere couple of months ago, will undoubtedly be among their ranks. Like you, Universe, she is in fact half-human.

STEVEN: Amy…

(He has a flashback to 11 episodes earlier, fighting against a tall, limber blond-haired girl in the temple. She appears to have been making short work of all the Crystal Gems in the flashback)

WHITE DIAMOND: “Amy”? That must have been the alias she took on for her mission. In any case, we must stay focused. Beyond the half-breeds lies the real challenge: Quartz soldiers, hundreds of them. And more likely than not a couple of fusions towards the back. Luckily, if we make it through that, all we have left to deal with are her personal guards.

STEVEN: Sounds like a tall order.

WHITE DIAMOND: I don’t understand your human inanities. But listen, Universe, before we march into this glorious battle, you really should consider finding some attire more appropriate to combat. Unlike me, your body can sustain permanent damage from flesh wounds.

(Steven looks down at his tattered pink star shirt. Since his transformation, it’s become far too small for him, exposing his midriff, clinging tightly to his pronounced pectoral muscles and outright shredded where his shoulders bulge through)

STEVEN: What? You mean this old thing? (He rips the shirt clean off, exposing his sleek, muscled physique) I was going to get rid of it anyway. I’ve outgrown it. (He throws the now pink rag aside and searches through the bodies for something more suitable. He comes across Suitcase Sam’s black rugged black trenchcoat) Ah. Here we go.

WHITE DIAMOND: Hmm. Much better.

STEVEN: Couldn’t have said it better myself. (He throws the black trenchcoat on, leaving it unbuttoned to expose his abs. Then he takes his father’s old bloody bandages and wraps them around his head as a headband of defiance) Don’t worry, Dad. Your old schstu-ball is gonna spill some blood for you.

WHITE DIAMOND: Listen, Half-Breed. You have to realize that even with me on your side, we’re going up against nearly impossible odds. If I weren’t a Diamond, it would be thoroughly impossible for the two of us to overcome the legions of Homeworld.

STEVEN: So what’s new for the Crystal Gems?

BISMUTH: Well in that case, maybe you have room for two more in this party?

(Bismuth and Jasper emerge through the perimeter. Steven sees them and runs up to give them a bear hug)

STEVEN: Bismuth! Jasper! How did you guys make it out of the Burning Room?

JASPER: The earthquakes just about leveled the entire Temple, Rose. The Burning Room was shaken off its foundations and all of the bubbles broke loose. We had to spend a couple of hours fighting through the corrupted defectives, luckily, this Bismuth here was sentient and competent enough to help me. Which reminds me, watch your step, the beasts are still swarming the area.

BISMUTH: (Looking around) Are we making bases out of ruins now? Whose terrible idea was this? (Noticing that Steven is now eye to eye with her) And look at you, boy! You’re more shredded than a six-citrine fusion! Whatever happened to that tubby, weepy pacificist who ran a sword through me?

STEVEN: He’s dead, Bismuth. That boy you knew is gone forever.

BISMUTH: Glad to hear it!

JASPER: What happened here, Rose? I know I was out for a long time, but this! This miserable chunk of rock looks even worse off than I remembered it.

BISMUTH: I was about to ask the same thing! This whole place has gone to matchwood! What’s up?

STEVEN: You were right, Bismuth. About the Diamonds, about Homeworld…everything. And I was too stupid to listen until it was too late. Now Yellow Diamond has her invasion in full force, and I’m worried the cluster is about to break free.

BISMUTH: Well, you know what I say. It’s never too late to turn over to a new leaf. Now come on, chin up, boy. We’ve got work to do.

STEVEN: But Bismuth, I…I destroyed your breaking point. I’m so sorry…

(Bismuth starts laughing)

BISMUTH: You really are something else, Rose. Did you honestly think I only made one?

(She drops the bag slung over her shoulders onto the ground; it’s filled with breaking points)

STEVEN: No way!

BISMUTH: Come on, now, everyone arm up! Something tells me we’re going to be needing these in the fight against those Homeworld upper-crusts!

WHITE DIAMOND: I most certainly agree. These two will prove a valuable asset in out assault on the flagship.

(Bismuth notices White Diamond. Her eyes narrow and she takes one of the breaking points, about to charge him)

BISMUTH: You…!

STEVEN: Bismuth, wait! He’s on our side!

BISMUTH: (Disbelieving) What?

STEVEN: He’s an ally! He saved me! And he’s going to help us stop Yellow Diamond!

BISMUTH: So…we’re teaming up with a Diamond to help stop a Diamond…well, I never thought I’d live to see the day…

WHITE DIAMOND: It’s most unusual, I’ll grant you. Believe me, I never expected to be fighting alongside plebian bismuth and a lowly quartz soldier, but desperate times and all.

BISMUTH: Don’t push your luck. Fortunately for your gem, I’ll take all the help I can get right now. Like they say, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

WHITE DIAMOND: Ha! Seems it’s true even a common brigand knows how to speak wisely every now and again.

BISMUTH: I said don’t push it. But enough chit chat! Everyone suit up! Unless I’m mistaken, we’ve got a war to fight!

JASPER: (Picking up a breaking point) Finally. I’ve been waiting to get back to what I was made for a long time now!

BISMUTH: (Holding a breaking point in one hand and a massive battle ax in the other) That’s the spirit! Now let’s go show those Homeworld elites who’s BOSS!

(Cut to a shot of Yellow Diamond’s monumental flagship. Its shape is a golden arm, appearing as though rising straight out the ground the way it’s positioned, the hand at the top clenched into a fist. Cut to the inside. Pearl, Amethyst, Sapphire, Peridot and Connie are still trapped in a cage suspended over a lava pit. On the opposite side of the room, Yellow Diamond paces the room anxiously while Blue Diamond quivers uncertainly, hunched over in her throne. Their Pearls stand by in attendance, apprehensive. Ruby has been quarantined in a yellow bubble, suspended above them. This doesn’t her from kicking, flailing, and screaming mutely)

CONNIE: (Nervous) So…anyone up for a barbecue?

SAPPHIRE: (Deadpan monotone) Your attempts at humor are doing nothing to set anyone at ease.

CONNIE: Well, I have to try something to keep from losing it right now. Do you want us all to just give up hope right now?

SAPPHIRE: Hope does seem to be rather useless at this point. My future vision refuses to grant me even the slightest possibility of success.

CONNIE: Wait…you mean you’ve already seen the future where we all… (She can’t finish the sentence; her voice trails off)

PERIDOT: She’s right, you know, we’re all completely doomed! I’ve calculated our odds of survival, and they’re currently less than 0.000000017% and dropping! Even if we could somehow escape the Diamonds, there are too many dangers threatening the whole planet right now—(A violent tremor shakes the ground)—like that! I’m not ready to die yet, not now, not on this planet! (She curls up into a fetal position beside Amethyst shaking uncontrollably)

SAPPHIRE: (Grimly) Hmm…true, without Ruby I can’t see the future branching off into alternate possibilities, but, I have a feeling that even if I could, I’d just see the same thing in every direction. There’s only one way this ends.

CONNIE: So…listen, I know if we were to be dropped right now, I’d pretty much be a crispy critter and a puff of smoke, but aren’t you Gems basically indestructible?

AMETHYST: (Blowing hair out of her face) Phht. I wish.

PERIDOT: Hold me, Amethyst!

(Amethyst picks her up like a basketball)

SAPPHIRE: She’s right. A gem’s gemstone can be cracked, broken, or corrupted, but in all cases, the consciousness still remains in some form, even if it becomes scattered and diffuse. If you want to truly destroy a gem, you have to apply a more…permanent punishment.

CONNIE: Like melting you down.

(Peridot lets out a howling sob and Pearl covers her mouth with her hands. Sapphire stays stone faced and stoic)

SAPPHIRE: Once the gem is liquefied, it breaks down into its core components. At that point, the gem is truly gone and the being it once held is extinguished.

CONNIE: So why isn’t Ruby in here with us?

SAPPHIRE: She’s the only who can survive at higher temperatures. Theoretically, she could fuse with all of us and extend her protection to everyone. No, I believe they have a far more creative sentence in mind for her. (Ice crystals begin to form at her base)

CONNIE: Aren’t you afraid.

SAPPHIRE: Of course. I’m absolutely petrified. Livid, too, I’m so furious right now I can barely think. (The ice crystals harden and grow)

PEARL: (Mournfully) Our only hope now is for Steven to come and rescue us. But I don’t see how that could happen.

PERIDOT: (Exploding) It can’t! He’s too far away, he’ll never make it in time, even if he could, he’d never be able to make it past the might of the D—

(Amethyst puts her hand over Peridot’s mouth, muffling her outburst)

CONNIE: I sure wish Steven would come and save us all. We need him.

SAPPHIRE: For his own sake, it’s better that he forgets about all of us. Him coming here will do nothing more than throw his life away with ours, and I’d rest easier knowing that he at least saved himself, and is living on peacefully somewhere far, far away from here.

(Cut to a shot of STEVEN decapitating a forced gem fusion with a berserker howl, his sword cleaving downward in a deadly arc. Beside him, Lion is clawing and making short work of a mass of writhing arms. White Diamond has unleashed his swords from their hilts by chains and whirls them around in viscous swaths, every slash breaking the form of a dozen monsters. He laughs maniacally at the thrill of utter butchery. Behind, Bismuth and Jasper are shattering gems left and right, Jasper supplementing her attacks with spin dashes and her crash helmet. There is very little talking for the first 10 seconds of this scene; the focus is entirely on the fighting. A far shot shows the countless hordes of gem armies, Yellow Diamond’s fist flagship looms in the background.

Gradually Gem shards have begun to litter the ground. Steven stoops down during a lull in the fighting and begins bubbling the fallen shards)

WHITE DIAMOND: There’s no time; leave them be! It will take them a few days to reform anyway.

STEVEN: They just keep coming! Is there no end to this? (Cleaves a twelve foot colossus in half through the midsection)

BISMUTH: We’re thinning out the hoards, boy! Don’t worry, this ain’t nothin’ compared to the stuff I fought back in the great war!

JASPER: EEEIIIYAAAGHH!! (She bludgeons a misshapen octoped to dust)

(The fighting continues. Steven mounts Lion and prepares to fight cavalry style. The gang tightens their formation, hacking devastation on every side as they slowly advance)

WHITE DIAMOND: Almost…there! We’re nearing the next tier!

JASPER: (Bloodthirsty grin) I could get used to this!

BISMUTH: I can feel it! We’ll be fine as long as we stick together!

(A tumultuous earthquake shakes the ground, rending a fissure in the Earth’s crust right ahead of the group. Entire ranks of gem monsters fall into the chasm. White Diamond uses his chain swords to grapple to the other side of the rift, simultaneously Steven leaps the fissure with Lion. Jasper and Bismuth are left stranded)

BISMUTH: Clods!

JASPER: Don’t worry about us, we’ll hold the front back here! You two press on! Everything is for nothing if you don’t make it to the ship!

WHITE DIAMOND: Duly noted! (They charge forward)

BISMUTH: …”We’ll hold the front?”

JASPER: Come on, I have an idea!

(Steven, Lion, and White Diamond have moved into the corrupted monsters. Swarms of deformed, animalistic mutants press them in on all sides, only the murderous frenzy of their blades holds them at bay)

WHITE DIAMOND: (Through the onslaught) I can’t believe Yellow Diamond would stoop to such a depth to keep ahold of her own power! (He chops through a feathered Agate corruption with seven eyes) This is sacrilege! Taking loyal, pure-blooded gems and twisting them into these unholy amalgamates! These are the tactics of our enemies! Depravity! (He grabs a bipedal monster by the tongue and slices it off with a lightning fast thrust of the blade. The severed tongue hangs in his hand, still dripping wet and palpitating. It squirms, it struggles, pulsing under his iron grip for a full three seconds before giving out and disintegrating into nothingness. White Diamond takes the rest of the beast by the head and plunges his sword straight through the gem) It’s too late for you, wretched child. The best I can do is make this quick.

(The creature squeals a primal, bloody scream as its gem shatters)

WHITE DIAMOND: How are you holding up, Universe? Is that meat-sack of a body fatiguing you yet?

(Steven hangs on Lion’s back, still violently swinging, but drenched through with sweat and stained with his own blood)

STEVEN: (Gasping) A little!

WHITE DIAMOND: Take this! (He tosses a small bean like crystal through the ensuing chaos; Steven catches it and gulps it down)

STEVEN: What is it?

WHITE DIAMOND: It’s an uznes shard. Extremely rare. It will revitalize your gem and give you energy to sustain yourself. But use them sparingly, I only have three and I might need one for myself!

(Steven’s gem glows bright and his expression immediately perks up)

STEVEN: Oh, yeah, that is some GOOOOOOOD stuff! (He laughs thunderously and decapitates a row of gem mutants with one hand)

(Meanwhile, Bismuth and Jasper are being driven back by the throngs of gem mutants. The untenable defense has forced them into a strategic retreat, taking out whoever they can as they fall back. But the opposition is overwhelming)

JASPER: (Spotting a cave) Quick! In here!

(They rush into the cavern. Bismuth rips an enormous crag off the wall and shoves it into the mouth of the cave as a barrier. The pounding of the gem mutants from outside shudders through the entire hollow of the cave)

BISMUTH: That boulder ain’t gonna hold forever!

JASPER: Bismuth. Fuse with me!

BISMUTH: What? Are you crazy?

JASPER: It’s the only way we’ll be strong enough to defeat them! We can’t last much longer on our own! (The boulder begins to convulse from the battering on the other side)

BISMUTH: I don’t even know you!

JASPER: Doesn’t matter; I’ve fused with strangers before! Right now, this is survival; it’s fuse or die!

(Bismuth seems to be weighing her options. The boulder begins to crack and splinter, the howling from the outside reaches a crescendo)

JASPER: I don’t have time for this. We have to do it now!

(She grabs Bismuth by the arm)

BISMUTH: What are you doing? Let go!

JASPER: We can beat them together! Just say yes already! (She tries to force Bismuth into a fusion dance)

BISMUTH: No! No! Stop!

JASPER: Quit…struggling! I’m doing this for your own good! (The dance turns into a wrestling brawl. Jasper grapples Bismuth and refuses to let go as they thrash about the cave. Bismuth changes her arms to hammers and attempts to club her assailant into submission, but Jasper is stronger. She pins the Smithing Gem down and holds her firm under the weight of her body. The gemstone on her nose begins to glows)

BISMUTH: Don’t do it! Please!

JASPER: Just relax. You’ll thank me for this later.

BISMUTH: NO!

(The boulder at the cave’s entrance explodes into a shower of rock splinters. Gem mutants pour in like gumballs. Bismuth screams out a primal wail as her body begins to turn into light, her gemstone blazing. The melting figure of radiant energy wavers for a second, struggling, but then the form resolves. Cut to a shot of outside the cave. The entire side on the cliff is literally demolished by the shock wave of power released from the fusion. Boulders fly everywhere, crushing gem mutants by the dozen. A being of pure light rises, growing twenty, forty, sixty feet tall before resolving into a distinct form. The scream turns into a bellow. Then into a laugh)

Sunstone: AAHH-HAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!! Ooh, I take it back! This feels amazing!

(Sunstone emerges from the dust of the cave. To call her burly is an understatement. Her body vaguely resembles a top-heavy centaur in form, but that’s where the similarities end. A scorpion-like tail whip protrudes from the end of the abdomen, and along the back, a row of spikes climb upward. Four limbs serve as legs, their ends tapering down to a fang-like point planted in the ground. The other four limbs serve as arms, two with fully formed hands and two with sickle-like blades. The skin of the fusion is a sparkling burnt orange, the face having Jasper’s shape but Bismuth’s rainbow dreadlocks billowing down to the waist. Two sets of eyes, one ochre and one steel, stare down at the throbbing masses of gem monsters in sadistic glee. When she speaks, she talks with two voices at once, not unlike Malachite. She also appears to still be aware of her component parts)

SUNSTONE: I haven’t felt this good in ages! (Switching persona) I know, right? I told you this was the way to go!

(Sunstone notices the masses of Gem monsters trying to claw at her feet)

SUNSTONE: HA HA HA HAHAHAHAH!!! Puny creatures! I’ll show you what true strength is! (She smashes a dozen monsters beneath one of her legs) We are strong now! Nothing can stand against us! No one can stop me! (With a swipe of her tail, thirty gem monsters are sent flying. She pounds the remnant of the cliff face with her fists, making it rain rocks the size of houses) I am mighty! I am powerful! WE ARE SUNSTONE!

(The scene switches to Blue and Yellow Diamond, watching the commotion of battle from on high)

BLUE DIAMOND: There really seems to be struggle going on down there, Yellow. I don’t understand how anyone could have mounted a counterstrike and survived for this long.

YELLOW DIAMOND: There is only one explanation. He must be down there with them.

BLUE DIAMOND: (Suddenly terrified) You don’t mean…?! No, that can’t be! Perhaps we should withdraw. We may not be safe here anymore.

YELLOW DIAMOND: Calm yourself, Blue. It’s all going to be over soon. This planet, this war…everything. Soon she will emerge, and when that happens, we need not fear even White’s wrath against us. (Another seismic wave rocks the ship) Every tremor of this planet’s crust sets her closer to breaking free. I can feel it now. She is very close. No doubt he can feel it, too. That must be why he’s acting so desperate.

BLUE DIAMOND: (Tearing) I just want this to end.

YELLOW DIAMOND: We’ve come too far to turn around now. You swore to me that you were in this to the very end. I’m not about to let you back out!

(Blue starts crying and her Pearl comes to comfort her. From the other side of the room, the Crystal Gems look on)

CONNIE: Can you tell what she’s talking about?

SAPPHIRE: I can’t see anything beyond a few hours from now. Everything just goes black. Which I can only assume must mean… (She trails off)

AMETHYST: Dark.

(Ruby still thrashes wildly in the bubble, her endurance ceaseless and her temper riled. Sapphire watches her with a hard gaze)

CONNIE: You two were really close, weren’t you?

SAPPHIRE: I would say so. Ruby and I were about as close as any two friends could be.

CONNIE: And…?

SAPPHIRE: And I don’t want her to be hurt. She was my best friend. She was almost like a sister to me.

CONNIE: A sister, huh?

SAPPHIRE: Just a sister, if you’re asking. I’m sorry, but I really would rather not talk about this. It’s already weighing heavy on my mind, discussing only makes the burden greater.

PEARL: Kind of like me and Rose, right, Sapphire?

SAPPHIRE: Yes, exactly like that. You two were very good friends as well, weren’t you?

PEARL: I’d say we were just about as close as sisters too. But the more I learn about Rose, the more I realize I never did understand her.

AMETHYST: Hey, could we worry more about escaping right now?

PEARL: There’s no point. There’s nothing we can do to save ourselves right now.

(Another convulsion rocks the ship. Peridot squeals and shivers in trepidation)

PERIDOT: Will they never stop?

SAPPHIRE: That one felt different. That was no earthquake.

(Blue and Yellow Diamond rush to the portcullis of the ship bridge. They gaze out the panel and behold the image of Sunstone rising, wreaking terror upon the Gem hordes)

BLUE DIAMOND: Great stars! What is that thing?

YELLOW DIAMOND: A wrinkle in our plans. This…this development may complicate things.

BLUE DIAMOND: Oh no, oh no no no no, I knew it was going to come to this! We’re doomed, Yellow! What are we going to do, what are we going to do, what are we going to do?

YELLOW DIAMOND: Calm down, Blue, we’re not in trouble yet! We still have contingency plans.

BLUE DIAMOND: I’m scared, Yellow.

YELLOW DIAMOND: Silence! I’ve had enough of your simpering; just hush and let me deal with the situation! (She presses a button on a comlink and speaks into it) Put the troop into high alert and have them send me up green squad commander. Inform all units to standby for possible deployment.

(The Crystal Gems see the edge of Sunstone’s rampage from their prison)

AMETHYST: Whoa-ho-ho! That thing is huge! It’s even bigger than Sugilite!

SAPPHIRE: I admit, I didn’t see this before. I have a fairly good idea what that creature is, though I hardly believe it myself…

(The doors to the bridge slide open and “Amy”, otherwise known as Holy War Quartz 8-X1J, strides in. In contrast to everyone else in the room, her appearance is absolutely stunning. Her luscious, silken golden locks drip down to her waist, her flawless white skin smooth and gleaming as ivory apples. Her eyes are shadowed with intrigue and mystery yet crystal blue and sparkling like the crisp ocean waves, they flutter like the delicate wings of butterflies beneath deep, seductive lashes. Her body is sculpted to a figure of perfection; tall, slender, lithe and sleek, yet still voluptuous in all the right places. Her liquid legs could enchant even the stoniest mercenary, her wine red pouting lips could send the coldest woman-hater to his knees begging for mercy. There’s not a trace of flab or fat or weakness in her tight, trained and expertly honed vessel of enchantment. She is everything every woman dreams of being, everything every man desires. She is the ideal female figure in every way. Her clothing consists of nothing but a sheer, clinging white tunic, draped off her form like a billowing curtain concealing a masterpiece of art. A curving diamond window is cut into the bust to expose a blood sanguine gemstone, polished to perfection and radiant like the rest of her. She enters before the Diamonds and kneels submissively)

AMY: How may I serve you, my Diamond?

YELLOW DIAMOND: Holy War Quartz 8-X1J, a situation has arisen on the eastern perimeter of our encampment. You will go and attend to this matter; put down the assailants by any means necessary. I am also authorizing you to command our Special Forces Squad V-284 LL “Hydra” to assist you in this endeavor. Be advised that we believe the filthy unregistered Halfling, known locally as “Steven Universe”, is among the counterattack forces. I believe the two of you have encountered each other once before, on a mission where your results were less than satisfactory. Kill the Halfling, take his gem and bring it us as proof of his demise, and you will be well on your way to redeeming yourself for this failure. Go now.

AMY: It will be an honor, my Diamond. I will not disappoint you again.

YELLOW DIAMOND: Indeed you will not, else you be disassembled and returned to your core components and recycled. Go, time is of the essence.

(Amy exits, determined. As she leaves the bridge, she whips out a chain-flail Morningstar, her gem weapon, from the quartz embedded in her bust. Yellow Diamond looks on in admiration)

YELLOW DIAMOND: You will soon learn what it means to cross a Diamond…Steven Universe.

(Back on the battlefield, Steven and White Diamond fly pell-mell into the ranks of gem soldiers. Chaos reigns in side. Confusion, clamor, and the dust of broken gems scatter the battleground of nightmares)

WHITE DIAMOND: Ingrates! Mutineers! Misshapen clods! How dare you attack me, the father of all Gemkind? Has it been so long that you don’t even recognize your own master and creator?

(A Topaz centurion raises a ten foot axe to cleave White Diamond in half, but Steven springs in on his feline mount, intercepting and eviscerating the ugly blob of a gem)

WHITE DIAMOND: Well done, Half-Breed. To arms!

(They collect in a defensive formation. It’s becoming clear that even with their combined strength and determination, they’re beginning to tire. A row of quartz soldiers launches spin dash attacks against them, but Steven blocks all of them with his shield and then slashes their forms with his mighty blade.

Suddenly a roar like a thunderclap echoes across the plain. Steven and White Diamond briefly turn to behold the monstrosity of Sunstone battering her way through the mutlitudes)

WHITE DIAMOND: Inconceivable! Is this another part of Yellow Diamond’s clandestine freak show?

STEVEN: (Dawning) It’s Jasper and Bismuth! They fused!

WHITE DIAMOND: Our allies found a way to increase their power levels that much? I don’t know whether to call it blasphemy or strategy!

STEVEN: Shut up and fight! You can worry about it later!

(Steven repels a platoon of Rubies that just charged them. By amazing coincidence, it’s the same Ruby squad that visited them on Earth several seasons ago. Steven makes short work of them, poofing Eyeball and Army, shattering Doc, letting Lion chew Leggy to shreds in his jaws, and then pouncing on Navy, the last one standing)

NAVY: No! Wait! Please!

(Steven grapples her and begins to choke the Gem to death)

STEVEN: I’m going to repay you for all those times you tricked me and disgraced my companions!

NAVY: (Struggling to speak) ...have…mercy…

STEVEN: You mean like this? (He rams his sword straight through her chest. Her eyes widen and she lets out a strained gasp of agony of before disintegrating into thin air.)

STEVEN: (Bubbling her) The day I let you free will be the day pigs fly, you charlatan. It’s more than you deserve.

WHITE DIAMOND: Universe! Look up!

(Steven sees what appear to be birds descending from the sky. However, as they draw nearer, their true nature becomes apparent)

STEVEN: Lapises! Lapis Lazulis, dozens of them, headed dead toward us, ten’ o clock!

WHITE DIAMOND: Matri con Skrias! Run! Take cover! Find something to grab onto!

STEVEN: Why?

WHITE DIAMOND: A Lapis’ power multiplies tenfold on Earth! With that many of them, they could—

(He is cut off as a tsunami levels the battlefield. The Lapis Lazulis have conjured a tidal wave of epic proportions and slammed it against the coast. Trees are uprooted. Boulders are supplanted. Only Yellow Diamond’s flagship remains intact. Thousands of gems, fusions, mutants and monsters are swept away with the tide. White Diamond, through superhuman effort, manages to plant his chain sword into the ground even as the surge blasts them full force. He clings to the hilt as an anchor with all his might, even while holding his other sword with the opposite hand. Steven grips the blade end desperately, blood pouring from his serrated hands. As the tidal wave subsides, Steven and White Diamond are left waterlogged and frantically panting for breath)

STEVEN: (Gasping) That…just about…did me in…

WHITE DIAMOND: Here comes another one!

(A second wave of equal force pummels them with unrelenting fury. And then a third and a fourth. Blast after blast of pure typhonic force nearly yanks them out of their bearings. Steven’s grip slips and White Diamond has to latch onto his arm to keep him from flying away. By the time the blows finally stop, both warriors have been pushed to their body’s limit. They lie prostrate on the flooded coast, wheezing and struggling to stand)

WHITE DIAMOND: No giving up, Half-Breed! It cannot end this way. We must think of something…

STEVEN: I can’t go on…I’m sorry, Dad…Rose…

(The Lapises descend like a flock of harpies, darting and wheeling about their prey. One of them levitates several water globules with her hands and morphs them into blades. Steven looks up, weary and defeated. He grits his teeth, too exhausted to defend himself. The Lapis readies her volley. She fires. The missiles race toward their target but they never arrive. A whirring blade chops them straight out of the sky. White Diamond is on his feet again, panting but flailing his chain swords with renewed vigor. He stands over Steven, shielding him)

WHITE DIAMOND: I…am…stronger!

(He slashes more water spears out of the sky as the Lapises unleash a hailstorm on him)

WHITE DIAMOND: I am stronger than you low-caste slaves!

(The Lapises barrage him with hardened aquatic spheres, but the razor precision of his weapons dissipates every one of them to mist)

WHITE DIAMOND: I will not bow down to you! I will not be humiliated!

(They draw water up from the earth, forming a sheet to slice the ground from beneath his feet, but he leaps to the side and severs the curtain in two)

WHITE DIAMOND: I am stronger than this planet!

(Full throttle attack; they slam him into the eye of a literal monsoon, but he stays upright against the catastrophic winds, swords in hands, howling in the face of the storm)

WHITE DIAMOND: I am stronger than fate! I am stronger than DEATH! I am stronger than all of you!

(His weapon finds a home embedding itself in one of the Lazulis. She screams before poofing; White Diamond cries out in triumph)

WHITE DIAMOND: You can’t stop me! Nothing can stop me! I’m coming for you, Yellow! I will be avenged at last!

(A fresh tremor catches him off-guard and rocks him off his feet. At that moment of instability, a water bolt catches him dead on the forehead. His gem cracks. The entire world goes dead silent and slips into slow motion as he falls)

WHITE DIAMOND: (In silent thoughts) No…I don’t understand. Was that really it? Did I really come all this way only to be halted now, with victory in sight?

(White Diamond clatters to the ground)

WHITE DIAMOND: All my life…every day, every waking moment has been predetermined and set in stone for me. A Diamond is born knowing everything for every situation; how to act, how to look, even how to think. Every deed was carefully measured and performed in perfection. Every decision was made before us, and the end was known before the beginning.

But now, coming to the end, everything falls apart. Even in exile, there was never a second I didn’t know exactly what I should be doing: I fought to regain my throne. To realign the sacred balance of Gemkind. Because it was what I was born to do; there was nothing else. Everything I needed to know was taught to me before I was born.

But death…death is the one thing we were never taught. How does one prepare for such an illogical impossibility as death? Now I stand face to face with the greatest, blackest abyss in the cosmos, a darkness I was programmed to never pay an instant’s heed to. And for the first time in my life, I ask myself: was it all for nothing?

No. This wasn’t meant to be my fate. Nothing in this adds up. All those years of tyrannical glory, the kingdom, the colonies, the untraveled worlds and the endless mystery of cosmic beauty, what are they now, now that I face the end of existence, the end of me? This isn’t supposed to happen. How can I be dying? I have so much left to see, to explore, to discover, to conquer and rule. My road can’t just end here, slain ingloriously by the blow of a common footsoldier. I…I’m better than this! I can’t die! I won’t die! Not here, not now! My journey must continue; I’ll stand on my feet and show them what a Diamond is truly made of! I am resolved to live! I won’t die! I won’t die! I…won’t…

(Everything fades to black)

WHITE DIAMOND: (Quivering) Keep…holding…

(The screen goes pitch black and there are a few moments of total silence. Absolute void. Nothing. X. 0.)

(A distant noise is heard, a far off stirring like the intonation of music across a winding corridor. The shot cuts to a close up of White Diamond’s gem. The fissures that cracked its surface are receding into nothingness. The shot cuts out just a little, and we see Steven cradling White Diamond’s head. His pink bubble is wrapped around them, the sound of Lapis Lazulis hissing and snarling can be heard outside it)

STEVEN: Don’t leave me.

(White Diamond opens his eyes)

WHITE DIAMOND: Steven! How…?

STEVEN: I healed you. I healed your gem.

WHITE DIAMOND: You can do that?

STEVEN: (Gazing up at the seething Lapises meaningfully) Yes. I can. It’s the gift of my mother, Rose Quartz. It took another uznes shard, but with my stamina restored, I have all of her abilities as mine, including this shield that surrounds us.

WHITE DIAMOND: Inconceivable! All this hidden potential in a mere Rose Quartz, and it was never explored. How greatly the Gem Kingdom could have benefited from this latent power!

STEVEN: Yes…my powers are very useful for healing. But do you know what else they’re good for? (He drops the bubble) KILLING!

(Steven conjures up a swath of thorny vines to shoot straight up from the earth and wrap around the Lazulis in mid-flight, breaking their wings and crushing their bodies until the very life is squeezed out of them. Every Lapis is poofed in a matter of seconds. Their useless gemstones clatter to the earth in a rain of crystal tears)

WHITE DIAMOND: (Laughing) Well done, Half-Breed! I was wise to choose you as my ally.

STEVEN: Now let’s move! The way is clear— (the sound of rushing winds like a roaring waterfall drums the distance) —no. NO!

(More Lapis Lazulis are pouring out of the windows of the flagship. There are hundreds of them, possibly even thousands, darkening the sky)

WHITE DIAMOND: Stand your ground, Universe! It seems our fight isn’t over yet!

(But the winged terrors speed right on past them, not paying a moment’s attention to our heroes. It soon becomes clear who their real target it: Sunstone, still kicking and howling in the distance)

WHITE DIAMOND: Fate has granted us a diversion! Fly! Fly fast as your feet can carry you! This is our chance!

(The two race toward the flagship, but White Diamond soon becomes tired of Steven’s comparative lack of speed and throws him onto his shoulder. Then he really takes off, surging over the yawning plain with superhuman power. They reach the entrance to the ship in less than a minute)

WHITE DIAMOND: Almost there!

(They both stop short, eyes dilating. The entrance to the flagship is wide open. But there, standing at the foot of the entrance, slapping her Morningstar against her palm, is Amy)

TO BE CONTINUED...

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mukyoucom · 7 years ago

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SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES E3 2017 LINEUP

From Square-Enix USA

LOS ANGELES (June 13, 2017) – At this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), SQUARE ENIX® is ramping up for an exciting show where fans can expect yet another impressive lineup of unforgettable games at booth #2001 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. First look and playable titles include FINAL FANTASY® XIV: Stormblood™, the second premium expansion for the critically-acclaimed MMO with over six million registered accounts worldwide, the newly unveiled team-based brawler DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY NT, FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE™, the HD remaster of a series classic, and the next game in the award-winning episodic franchise, LIFE IS STRANGE™: BEFORE THE STORM. Fans can also visit the Sony booth #4322 to try their hand at the brand-new FINAL FANTASY XV PlayStation®VR game, MONSTER OF THE DEEP: FINAL FANTASY XV. Off the show floor, KINGDOM HEARTS fans can also look forward to the first official symphonic concert, the “KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra – World Tour –“ to celebrate the 15th anniversary of KINGDOM HEARTS. The tour will be making its last stop in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre on June 14th. “E3 2017 marks the return of some of Square Enix’s most beloved games to experience in new and exciting ways from DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT and Life Is Strange to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online to FINAL FANTASY XII as well as bringing brand new titles,” said Yosuke Matsuda, president and representative director of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. “We are very excited to deliver a powerful line up of games at this year’s E3 as Square Enix continues to introduce innovative and engaging entertainment for gamers around the world.” Square Enix will also host its perennial live online broadcast, “Square Enix Presents,” directly from its booth. Fans from all over the world can get in-depth look at titles showcased at the show and have a chance to interact with creators throughout the show. For a full schedule please visit: YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/squareenixpresents Twitter: https://twitter.com/@squareenix Facebook: http://ift.tt/11kvCgZ Assets for this year’s lineup are available on the press site at: http://ift.tt/SLYjH7. TITLE DETAILS (by alphabetical order): DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT Platform: PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system Developer: Square Enix/Team Ninja (Koei Tecmo) ESRB: Not yet rated Release: Early 2018 Developed in partnership with Team NINJA from KOEI TECMO, DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT is the newly announced team-based brawler. The game pits legendary heroes and villains from FINAL FANTASY’s 30 year history against each other in epic and strategic 3 vs. 3 battles. Players will choose a team from a roster of more than 20 beloved FINAL FANTASY characters across ten iconic battle arenas and call forth fan-favorite summons. With a deep customization and progression system, players will gain experience points and unlock EX skills, weapons, skins and more as they develop their favorite FINAL FANTASY characters, their way. FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE Platform: PlayStation®4 system Developer: Square Enix ESRB: T for Teen Release: July 11, 2017 FINAL FANTASY XII ZODIAC AGE improves upon the 2006 classic FINAL FANTASY XII, now more beautiful and easier to play than ever. The HD remaster introduces a reconstructed battle design and the new Zodiac Job System, a 12-job character progression system first introduced in the 2007 title, FINAL FANTASY XII INTERNATIONAL ZODIAC JOB SYSTEM. With updated trophies and share functionalities, as well as stark visual and sound improvements, players both new and returning will experience the ultimate grand adventure through the world of Ivalice in an entirely new and improved way. FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood Platform: PlayStation®4 system, Windows PC, Mac Developer: Square Enix ESRB: T for Teen Available: June 20, 2017 Stormblood is the second premium expansion for FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, one of the world’s most popular Massively Multiplayer Online RPGs with over six million players globally. The game continues the story of the Warrior of Light as they join the resistance and set forth to the vast land of Ala Mhigo, challenging new threats across Eorzea™ and embarking on numerous new quests. The expansion features a new level cap increase, multiple new jobs including the Red Mage and Samurai, exploration of underwater environments, battle system updates, new dungeons, and much more. Fans can experience a small taste of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood by challenging a new primal – Susano. Test your skills for a chance to win an exclusive T-shirt at booth #2001 in the South Hall. LIFE IS STRANGE : BEFORE THE STORM Platform: Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC Developer: Deck Nine ESRB: M for Mature Available: August 31 for Episode 1 LIFE IS STRANGE: BEFORE THE STORM features Chloe Price, a 16 year-old rebel who forms an unlikely friendship with Rachel Amber, a beautiful and popular girl destined for success. When Rachel’s world is turned upside down by a family secret, it takes their newfound alliance to give each other the strength to overcome their demons. LOST SPHEAR Platform: Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4 system and Windows PC (STEAM®) Developer: Tokyo RPG Factory™ ESRB: Not yet rated Available: Early 2018 Expanding on the beloved I AM SETSUNA™ , the LOST SPHEAR™ adventure begins in a remote town where a young boy, Kanata, awakens from a devastating dream to find his hometown disappearing. To stop the world from being lost forever, Kanata and his comrades set out to rebuild the world around them with the power of Memory by manifesting thoughts into matter. MONSTER OF THE DEEP: FINAL FANTASY XV Platform: PlayStation®VR system Developer: Square Enix ESRB: Not yet rated Release: September 2017 In the completely new FINAL FANTASY XV VR game, MONSTER OF THE DEEP: FINAL FANTASY XV, players will explore the world’s oceans, lakes, ponds and rivers and participate in a wide variety of fishing challenges, witness stunning details only in PlayStation®VR, and reacquaint themselves with familiar faces like Noctis, Prompto, Ignis, Gladiolus, and more. MOTOGP 17 Platform: PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC (STEAM®) Developer: Milestone ESRB: E Available: July 11, 2017 The 2017 edition of the official MotoGP™ videogame brings all the adrenaline and the need for speed of the motorbike world champions with it. MotoGP™17 includes all the 2017 riders, teams and tracks, the new MotoGP rules, and the Red Bull Rookies Cup championship. This installment will reach 60 FPS for the first time, guaranteeing unprecedented performance and high-octane excitement. MotoGP is exclusive to GameStop in the US and channel-wide elsewhere. MXGP3 Platform: PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC (STEAM®) Developer: Milestone ESRB: E Available: June 20, 2017 The new MXGP edition, based on the 2016 season , offers the player a dynamic, ever-more enjoyable gaming experience thanks to a series of innovative graphics and techniques introduced by the new Unreal®Engine 4 graphics engine, which will take the game experience to a surprising new level. Hit the gas and get ready to tackle unpredictable, dynamic weather conditions in a competition which is unique in its genre. From sun to heavy rain, every change will decisively influence the rider’s visibility and the highly-deformable ground, putting even the most expert player to the test. And it is the ground which provides the greatest challenge: mud, dust, and dynamic deformations will be the master of all, while the sounds of engines running at full throttle, souped up with a brand new engine, merge with the ambient noise of chainsaws. Mobile FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS Platform: iOS, Android, Amazon Developer: Square Enix, gumi Inc. Available: Now Available Reaching its first anniversary on June 29, FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS is a turn-based FINAL FANTASY adventure made for mobile devices and aimed at a worldwide audience. The game uses classic battle systems with a simplified mobile interface and a throwback pixel art style fused with rich 3D graphics. Adventurers will begin their quest for a highly-coveted crystal, shortly before meeting two knights from Grandshelt and a young girl. Well-known FINAL FANTASY characters also appear in the game, which has over 20 million downloads globally. FLAME VS BLAZE Platform: iOS, Android Developer: Square Enix Available: 2017 FLAME VS BLAZE™ is a fast-paced MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game) for mobile devices with a twist: the team bases, called Reactors, come alive and the join battle! Players team up with friends or AI allies in 3-on-3 battles as they tame monsters, face off against opponents, and work together to destroy the enemy’s Reactor. The title is produced by Hironori Okayama (KINGDOM HEARTS Union χ) and directed by Yuji Abe (FINAL FANTASY XIII series), with character designs by Gen Kobayashi (THE WORLD ENDS WITH YOU®). KING’S KNIGHT -Wrath of the Dark Dragon- Platform: iOS, Android Developer: Square Enix Available: 2017 KING’S KNIGHT -Wrath of the Dark Dragon- is a new action RPG mobile game from the FINAL FANTASY XV Universe for iOS and Android devices. A nod to one of SQUARE ENIX’s earliest scrolling shooting games, King’s Knight,KING’S KNIGHT -Wrath of the Dark Dragon- features a completely new story and world with multiplayer support for up to four players. MOBIUS FINAL FANTASY Platform: iOS, Android, Steam® Developer: Square Enix Available: Now Available The first ever console-quality FINAL FANTASY game specifically designed for mobile devices, MOBIUS FINAL FANTASY™ takes players on an RPG adventure filled with deep character customization, ongoing live events, and HD graphics that push the boundaries of the mobile platform. Created by an all-star development team including acclaimed producer Yoshinori Kitase and writer Kazushige Nojima, MOBIUS FINAL FANTASY has already been downloaded by more than 10 million players worldwide.

About Square Enix, Inc. Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix group of companies. Square Enix, Inc. is affiliated with a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 130 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 70 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 58 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at http://ift.tt/KB8uEU.

© 2017 SQUARE ENIX. All Rights Reserved. BRAVE EXVIUS, CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, DISSIDIA, EORZEA, FINAL FANTASY, FINAL FANTASY XII, FINAL FANTASY XIII, FINAL FANTASY XIV, FINAL FANTASY XV, FLAME VS BLAZE, I AM SETSUNA, LIFE IS STRANGE, LIFE IS STRANGE: BEFORE THE STORM, LOST SPHEAR, MOBIUS FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX, the SQUARE ENIX logo, STORMBLOOD, TOKYO RPG FACTORY, TOMB RAIDER, and ZODIAC AGE are registered trademarks or trademarks of the Square Enix group of companies. Nintendo Switch is a registered trademark of Nintendo © 2017 Nintendo. PS, PlayStation, and PS4 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. Steam is a registered trademark of Valve Corporation. Unreal Engine 4 is a registered trademark of Epic Games, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.

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aion-rsa · 8 years ago

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15 Comics To Look Forward To In 2017

With 2016 behind us, it’s time to look ahead into the future. In the world of entertainment there is a lot of excitement in store in movies and on TV. Marvel has a lineup of epic films in development and DC is starting to really hit its stride with the upcoming “Wonder Woman” and “Justice League” films. That being said, you might be glad to know that there’s even more excitement coming within the pages of your favorite comics and graphic novels.

RELATED: Marvel Comics: The 15 Biggest Moments Of 2016

What do you have to look forward to? Well, we can tell you that change seems to be a major theme for most superhero comics in 2017, while many graphic novels and new titles seem to be focusing on horror. To give you just an sample of what to expect, we’ve put together this list of 15 comics to look forward to in the New Year.

RELATED: DC Comics: The 15 Biggest Moments Of 2016

DEADPOOL THE DUCK

One of the most anticipated Marvel comic of 2017 revolves around an amalgam of a sardonic duck trained in quack-fu and an immortal anti-hero mercenary. That’s right, Deadpool the Duck is coming, but is he the duck with the mouth… or the merc with the bill? “Deadpool the Duck” has Wade encounter Howard on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D; unfortunately (or very fortunately), Deadpool turns up in the wrong place at the wrong time, causing him and Howard to merge together and begin fighting for control.

Written by the talented Stuart Moore with artwork by Jacopo Camagni (who knows how to do Deadpool justice), “Deadpool the Duck” promises oddity and hilarity in equal measure. As strange as it might seem, the two have more in common than just a satirical or nonsensical nature. It’ll be fascinating to see what they bring out of each other if they don’t end up killing one another (no doubt because Deadpool started it) within the psyche of this mercenary mallard. “Deadpool the Duck” begins January 4th.

INJUSTICE YEAR TWO: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION

As with any Comic Book publisher, DC Comics has multiple universes that branch from different properties. “Injustice: Gods Among Us” was a successful fighting game in 2013 (with a sequel on the way), which saw Superman snap and take over the world after accidentally killing his wife and unborn child thanks to the Joker’s diabolical meddling. It created the basis of an award-winning fighting game and a series of critically-acclaimed comics revealing the years leading up to the events in the game and those that take place thereafter.

With the series finishing earlier this year, it’s time for fans to start building their collection. “Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Two” will be released in a complete collection on the 11th of January. Published by DC, and written by Tom Taylor with artwork by the likes of Mike S. Miller and Bruno Renaldo, the series will reveal how Superman strengthened his rule over the world and what happened when the mighty Green Lantern Corps attempted to take the tyrant down.

BEOWULF

Before George RR Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire,” before JRR Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings,” there was the epic “Beowulf,” which has been told and retold for more than a thousand years. Now, writer Santiago Garcia has united with artist David Rubin to bring you a retelling of the tale unlike any other. For those who don’t know, Beowulf began as an epic poem, written in Old English, about a hero hailing from modern day Scandinavia, who arises to save the realm from vicious monsters of incredible strength and viciousness. Against all odds, he faces and defeats Grendel, a monstrous troll-like creature, followed by his monstrous mother and finally, a mighty fire-breathing dragon.

Like the epic poem, Image Comics’ graphic novel will be split into three parts for each monster Beowulf faces. Garcia has stated that the graphic novel’s story will remain faithful to the ancient tale about heroism, honor and warfare, while at the same time offering a more modern perspective. The title will be released on the 11th of January.

MONSTERS UNLEASHED

January 18th promises a monstrous amount of action, starting with Marvel’s “Monsters Unleashed” series, written by Cullen Bunn with artwork from Adam Kubert, Greg Land, Salvador Larroca, Steve McNiven and Leinil Yu. Much like “Beowulf,” this series will see Marvel’s mightiest heroes take on vicious monsters from across the 616 Universe. Characters that were once in the background will be brought to the forefront and monsters that were once forgotten will now play a huge role, according to Bunn.

Brunn has also said, “It’s a story about the heroes of the Marvel Universe [waking] up one morning and out of nowhere, giant Marvel monsters start descending on the Earth and attacking in force. The super heroes have to put aside their differences, they have to mobilize extremely quickly in order to combat the monsters that are suddenly appearing all over the world.” The story will lead to multiple spin-offs and change the new Marvel Universe in a big way, though the writers have obviously been quite secretive about specifics. They have said that “Monsters Unleashed” will bring “something new and exciting that we think will be a very valuable new player in the Marvel Universe.”

RESURREXION

Marvel has some big plans for the X-Men, plans they’ve been teasing since Fall 2016, with their mysterious teaser banner stating only “An Ending. A Beginning.” It’s the end of the war between the Inhumans and the mutants who are fighting for survival after discovering that the Terrigen Mist that creates Inhumans and is engulfing the Earth is also toxic to mutants.

However, that enigmatic tease can mean a lot of things and few details have been released. What we do know is that Spring 2017 will see the release of several X-Men titles branching from the final part of the “Inhumans vs X-Men” story arc. “ResurreXion,” from which “X-Men Gold,” and “X-Men Blue” will stem, will hopefully be a return to form for the X-Men, as well as the Inhumans, with more details being released about upcoming tie-in titles like “Iceman,” “Jean Grey,” “Cable,” “Weapon X” and “Generation X.” That all begins when “Inhumans vs X-Men” #3 is released on the 25th of January.

DARTH MAUL

Darth Maul is one fan favorite that people have been curious about since the reshaping of the “Star Wars” universe. His comics-based stories preceding “The Phantom Menace” film were made non-canon, for the most part, so the upcoming comic could re-shape him for the new “Star Wars” universe. The upcoming mini-series, written by Cullen Bunn with artwork by Luke Ross, will explore Darth Maul’s past and his fall to the dark side, as well as his temptation away from it.

Bunn has said that the series would help bridge the two depictions of the character — “the warrior seen in ‘The Phantom Menace’ and the cunning strategist of ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ and ‘Star Wars: Rebels.'” The mini-series will also include appearances by Darth Sidious and show us just what he’s like as a teacher. Of course, you can probably guess he’s not a very good one… at least ethically speaking! For those eager to see Darth Maul in a new light, you can look forward to “Darth Maul” #1 on February 1st.

BALTIMORE: THE RED KINGDOM

Beginning in 2007, with the novel, “Baltimore, or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire,” the story of Lord Baltimore has been filled in and expanded through Dark Horse’s comic series, “Baltimore,” written by Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy. Lord Baltimore was once a soldier whose family had been destroyed by a vampire, Haigus, whom Baltimore hunted down and killed only to find that his vengeance was still incomplete. The upcoming “Baltimore: The Red Kingdom” will see Lord Baltimore missing, while a great evil in the form of The Red King takes over the world.

The miniseries will be written by Mignola and Christopher Golden and illustrated by Peter Bergting. It’s the final series of the epic 41-issue-long vampire saga, and teases the climactic and fittingly horrific ending to it all, with Baltimore seemingly absent for the moment when real vengeance for his family, killed by a monstrous vampire, could finally be realized. This conclusion, beginning with “Baltimore: The Red Kingdom” #1, will be released on the 1st of February.

BATWOMAN: REBIRTH #1

Kate Kane has become quite a popular character as the undaunted Batwoman in “Detective Comics,” which is why she’ll once again be receiving her own comic series this year, beginning with “Batwoman: Rebirth,” which will help fit her into DC’s post-New 52 universe. Fans of the character will be glad to know that she’ll finally be getting the attention she deserves.

The one-shot comic, written by Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion, illustrated by Steve Epting and Ben Oliver, will explore Batwoman’s origins and her future as she attempts to take down the syndicate spreading a new bio-weapon called Monster Venom. It’s a storyline following the events of the current “Detective Comics” story arc, in which Batwoman is tasked with leading a new group to defend Gotham City, a group consisting of Clayface (Basil Karlo), Orphan (Cassandra Cain), Red Robin (Tim Drake) and Spoiler (Stephanie Brown). The one-shot will be released on the 15th of February, followed by Batwoman’s own comic series in March.

THE OLD GUARD

On February 22nd from Image Comics comes a new series about Andromache of Scythia and her brave comrades, all of whom are bound by immortality and try to find their way through the 21st century. Written by Eisner Award-winning writer, Greg Rucka and illustrated by renowned artist Leandro Fernandez, “The Old Guard” will explore morality and mortality. Rucka has said, “Our main character is tired. She’s been around a really long time and it is long since passed the novelty phase.”

The protagonist, Andromache (or Andy) will narrate throughout the series and refer to her past often. It’ll explore the relationships between each character, affected by the turmoil and views of their respective ages. Two of the characters, for example, come from the First Crusade — an Italian knight and one of the Moors. Rucka has said “they keep killing each other, and then they wake up again, which resulted in them going, ‘this is pointless.'” The series looks as though it will portray immortals with a bit more realism than many films, books and comics have done in the past, which is an exciting prospect, indeed!

HELLBOY AND THE B.P.R.D: 1954– GHOST MOON

After his end in “Hellboy in Hell” #10, our favorite paranormal investigator, Hellboy, is set to return on March 8th in Dark Horse’s “Hellboy and the B.P.R.D 1954— Ghost Moon” #1, this time hunting ancient Chinese demons in Hong Kong’s infamous Kowloon Walled City. Mike Mignola returns to write, though he unfortunately will not be involved in the artwork. On the other hand, Brian Churilla and Dave Stewart will be illustrating the story, which is enough to turn our frown upside-down!

The writers and artists researched heavily into the period in which the story is set, with a focus on the British spy network in the Far East at the time. Brian Churilla has previously worked with Marvel Comics, writing and illustrating “The Secret History of D.B. Cooper,” which features adventures comparable to those of Hellboy’s, though perhaps on a lesser scale. That being said, his artwork is sure to bring new life to the character, as well as the historical setting in which he finds himself. And as far as we’re concerned, any new Hellboy is a good thing!

AMERICAN GODS: SHADOW

Neil Gaiman’s award-winning novel, “American Gods,” has quite a year up ahead. In April, we’ll see it adapted to television on Starz starring Ricky Whittle as Shadow Moon and Ian McShane as Mr. Wednesday. But first, on March 15th, you’ll see it adapted to comics with “American Gods: Shadow” #1, written by P. Craig Russel and of course, Neil Gaiman himself, with artwork by Scott Hampton, who’s brought life to titles like 1992’s “Batman: Night Cries,” as well as DC’s “Sandman” series (also by Gaiman).

“American Gods: Shadow” follows the titular Shadow, who has just been released from prison to find his wife dead. Alone and that much emptier, he takes a job as a bodyguard for the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, a conman who seems to know far too much about Shadow. Before he knows it, Shadow is cast into a world of dying Old Gods and the younger, more powerful New Gods. Lovers of literature and comics (or anything Sci-Fi or fantasy-related) are sure to enjoy this one.

DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD

This seems to be a great year for Deadpool fans. After you’re finished with “Deadpool the Duck” you can get your copy of Deadpool’s first ever original graphic novel, “Deadpool: Bad Blood,” written by Chris Sims, Chad Bowers and Rob Liefeld, who also does the illustration. It is set for release on March 28th. The graphic novel follows Deadpool as he tries to figure out where and how he came to make an enemy in Thumper, who keeps beating the hell out of Wade. That’s just about all Liefeld and company are willing to reveal about the character.

The writers are being very secretive about this one, not even revealing what Cable and Domino’s role will be in the story, other than the fact that they have one. If you have any doubts, remember that it’s Rob Liefeld, creator of the character (alongside Fabian Nicieza), and this is a story he’s wanted to tell for 20 years. You can rest assured that whatever story takes place in “Deadpool: Bad Blood,” it’ll be a great one… or at least something that will get people talking.

SUPER SONS

Superman and Batman are nothing short of legendary in the DC universe, so you could probably imagine that any kids either of them had would be under a lot of pressure. That’s exactly what the “Superman and Batman: Saga of the Super Sons” comic of the ’70s was about, Clark Kent Jr. and Bruce Wayne Jr. trying to make their fathers proud, that’s what strengthens their bond, so much so that they’re pretty much like brothers. Over the years, however, the DC universe has shifted and changed, and Superman and Batman both have new sons in the mainstream DC universe.

“Super-Sons” #1, written by Peter Tomasi, with artwork by Jorge Jimenez, will be released in April and follow Damien Wayne as a 13-year-old Robin and Jonathan Kent as a 10-year-old Superboy. They’re set to fight alongside each other as well as against each other, though probably not as dramatically as that sounds. Aside from the clear artistic and dramatic differences, “Super Sons” is part of the “DC: Rebirth” relaunch and will help reset the DC universe with elements from the New 52. Unlike their predecessors, these guys are being set up to last and it’s something we don’t want to miss.

JAMES CAMERON’S AVATAR

Free Comic Book Day, first held in 2002, was first held because of the attention given to comic-based films. Now, we have a film-based comic to look forward to this May, when “James Cameron’s Avatar” by Dark Horse Comics is set to be released. It’s been 7 years since the film’s release. David Cameron has promised an expansion to his world through sequels, but these films seem to have been hindered by the inner workings of Hollywood, so there’s plenty of reason to get excited about this comic. The story, written by Sherri Smith and illustrated by Doug Wheatley, will expand on the characters and settings introduced years ago through Jake Sulley, and will take place during and after the events of the film.

This is just the beginning of a 10-year partnership deal, which means there’s a lot more up ahead. The world of James Cameron’s “Avatar” film is beautiful and rich, and any expansion of that world, in any form, is something to look forward to while we wait for the highly-anticipated sequels.

JOHN BYRNE’S WONDER WOMAN

For fans of John Byrne’s work, you can look forward to the first ever collection of his 1994-1995 “Wonder Woman” comics. The collection contains issues #101-113, wherein Wonder Woman faces the likes of Doomsday and Sinestro, who seem to have returned from the dead. Book one follows her as she tries to figure out how and why they’ve returned while trying to survive. You’ll see her overcome the greatest foes even when the odds are stacked against her. Arguably the best part of the series was seeing Wonder Woman face the ever-evolving Doomsday, who seems to grow more monstrous with every step, forcing Diana to push past her limits, and even then… it may not be enough.

The legendary John Byrne, who has worked on “X-Men,” “Fantastic Four” and “Superman,” focused on Wonder Woman as a superhero and eventually brought Diana to divinity, exploring other characters such as Hippolyta by giving her the title of Wonder Woman while Diana was busy being the goddess of truth. As contentious as it was, his run built on the character a lot, even when it focused on other characters donning the tiara, showing us more about what distinguished Diana as Wonder Woman. Look out for it on the 30th of May.

What other comics and collections are you looking forward to in 2017? Let us know in the comments!

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