#that lantern mmm it’s good

[kimjunnoodle]

Costco got caught in a storm and decided to stop at the menacing castle with an even more menacing host 🙀

[donutz]

sebastian with a reader who gives him a ton of resources and asks if they can buy a kiss from him O-O

Buying a kiss from Sebastian

You aren't that delusional right?

— A big ol smooch. Mwah. Delicious fishy skin oh so yummy.

Warning: Shy reader, but not the stereotypical 'Y/N'; Stutters, I'm sorry I'll try to make it realistic; THIS IS NOT A BIG DADDY AND SHY Y/N TROPE.; Sorry I just wanted to warn you; I don't use Y/N anyways, I use Reader as if there's a difference😎; There's no kiss on the lips☹️; Buttt there's a teasing Sebastian; 'Bad' words; Non-human reader, they just have the ear fins; They have green-like skin with four yellow eyes! Two fakes ones underneath their original ones; They also can disguise as a human

After dying over and over again, you became acquainted with Sebastian. You saw him in the shop and even saw him when you were dead. You’re not sure on how the dying thing works but…

It doesn’t really matter as long as you get to see Sebastian.

You’ve gained feelings for him, even though he isn’t very.. Human. His little insults can be annoying but I guess it’s um. Reasonable? Yeah that’s something you don’t enjoy all that much.

But his voice and his tone is something that you like. You may have a strange taste but who doesn’t like a 10 ft tall man that has aquatic features?

… Probably every other normal person…

But some mermen can be attractive! You feel like a little kid crushing on cartoons.

Sebastian seems very closed off and distant from humans. Maybe because humans are the reason he’s this way?

That’s understandable.

I don’t think I would like humans at all if I looked like that either. It’s not like he’s ugly it’s just… It seems like he was human before being that way.

Anyways

Maybe since he doesn’t seem okay with other forms of affection— You could get him a gift! It’s unexpected, can be taken as platonic, and a way to get closer to somebody! Perfect!

Though what should you get him?

Hmm…

You don’t know any of his likes, favorites, nothing really.

Oh!

But he has a shop!

You could uhh. Give him some items for his shop!

And then…

Ask for a kiss!

… Is that too forward? Well he might like you back!

He might… Like you back..

He doesn’t really give many hints on his feelings towards love. Especially towards you, minus the lessened amounts of insults he throws at you.

Oh that could be a hint! He stutters sometimes too! But he did that before he truly knew you… 

Ugh, too many ellipses.

Oh sorry I didn’t mean to break the 4th wall.

Agh hem.

As the loop starts again, you decided that the gift could be items. Items to give so he can hold it for his shop. Then a smooch!

A smooch?

Yeah a kiss. Totally. He’ll definitely give you a kiss with those… Rubber… Lips…

Okay maybe a kiss on the hand can suffice.

Exiting the submarine you prepare to give Sebastian a ton of items in return for a kiss!

Are you really that delusional?

.

.

.

Yes!

You end up finding flash beacons, flashlights, medkits— Actually maybe you should keep that one.

Y’know, just incase a good pers—

… Mmm…

People?

Just in case good people pops up.

Hate that thing.

Oh wow a lantern.

When it comes to the monsters and just being in this place in general, it’s like your whole personality switches. 

When it comes to Sebastian you’ll be all shy. But when it comes to just Urbanshade, its creatures, and Hadal Blacksite… You’re more mad and irritated.

Sometimes you even say bad words at the creatures.

Oooo.

Saying bad words even though you’re a grown adult.

How, “NO YOU CAN’T SAY THAT”!!

Y’know? 

When people infantilize shy characters?

Y’know?

☹️

You get pretty close to door fifty, having many helpful sources to give to that— man…

You hear an expected voice..(Oh how spooky)

“Hey. Come here”.

You look at an invisible camera pulling off that— Roblox man face or something- I don’t– I don’t know.

Speed walking over there in excitement, you hold a smile on your face. Your beautiful smile lines showing.

Damn, you really like him huh?

You crawl through the vents waiting with anticipation. Possible praise? Or even a smile?

You can’t wait.

Reaching the end of the vent, you immediately look up, bumping your head. It’s a good thing you have that head gear. You might’ve gotten a traumatic brain injury and five dollars.

… What.

A- Anways, you rub your head looking down.

“Oh damn. Well based on that head bump I already know who it is. Hello my favorite prisoner”.

“Hey Sebastian, yeah you’re so funny. Making fun of my h- head bump. Die”.

“Hey buddy I was justt messing arounddd”.

“M-hm- Mhm.” You let out pained noises. Getting out from the vent, you stretch out your limbs. Hearing a few pops

“Eww… Yuck, I hate those sounds.” Sebastian commented.

“Yeah they’re kinda weird about humans”.

“They suree areee”…

After a few seconds of silence, Sebastian speaks up.

“Soo, you gonna buy anything”?

“W- Well maybe, I– shiver, I actually have some gi- gifts for you.” Clearing your throat you physically cringe at the stuttering. It makes you seem.. I don’t know.. Fanfic material or something.

“Gifts”?

“Yea! Gifts.. T- To show you my um… G- Gratitude for- sigh, for giving me those items”.

He chuckled, “It’s not like I give you them for free or anything”.

“Yeah but sometimes you give me discounts”.

“Oh yeah huh”?

“So I— I wanted to give these to you, S- Sebastian”..

“You’re very stuttery today aren’t you”?

You look up at him while getting the things out of your bag.

You let out a shivery laugh, “Y- Yeah, I’ve never really um.. Given someone gifts before a- and it’s.. Spooky– down here”.

Sebastian could tell that was an excuse.

I know that was an excuse, it’s obvious you’re this way because of your little crush or something.

You hand Sebastian the items, his two claws engulfing yours. You wish these stupidly thick gloves were off your hands so you could actually feel his claws.

“And shaky”.

“Oh! Um”..

“You sure you’re okay?” He asks with concern. Putting away the items, he’s not sure why he even asked.

“Yeah I’m okay! It’s just um. Th- Those aren’t f- free.” Even with the small amount of built confidence, you were still very nervous.

“Oh of course they’re not. What is it? Do I have to give you some data or something? If you’re asking for cash then–”

“N- No”!

He’s surprised by the sudden and yippy-like voice.

“I uh, I don’t want data or cash”.

“... So, what do you want”?

“A. A uhm. Uh”.

“C’mon spit it out already”!

“A kiss!! Yeah a small kiss or something”..

.

.

.

Oh yes I love awkward moments, what about you?

“A kiss?” Sebastian repeats.

You nod, not even being able to speak right now. You’re looking at the ground with hands together and thumbs rubbing against the hard leather. If you weren’t sweating you definitely would be now.

“Y’know it would’ve made more sense if you said that before giving me the items”?

“Sebastian I’m serious”!

“Okay okay, yes you can have your kiss”.

You look up quickly, a quiet crack in your neck from turning it so fast.

You may think that you’re blushy and flustered one right now. Well that’s correct, if you can even blush.

Buttt you’re not the only one with a rapidly beating heart.

Sebastian’s trying to hide it, to not seem all vulnerable in front of somebody. Not just a human. Showing that you’re vulnerable is a sign of, I guess.. Weakness.

“But how can you even kiss me with that diving helmet”?

Oh yeah you forgot about that.

“O- Oh, yeah uhm- let me take care of that”.

That sentence peaks his interest, if you were to take that off then he’s sure your head would pop.

“W- Wait I was just joking—!” He reaches out to you to stop you, putting his right claw over your head gear.

Even though you’d be just fine with the pressure, you were shocked he even stopped you.

“Oh uhm. Sebastian. I’m not fully human, I can handle the pressure with or without the gear”.

Whattt??

His face scrunches with confusion and shock, stunned. 

You take off the head gear, but don’t worry, you’ve managed to disable that explosion thing. Just temporarily, they haven’t noticed yet.

You hold your gear in your hand, looking up at Sebastian.

You smile, showing off your yellowish, blueish teeth. Your ear fins sway slightly, up and down.

“Yeah I’m not really uhh, human. Fully anyways.” You set your gear on the ground—

“A- And I’ve taken care of that blowing up device. S- So don’t worry”.

God he reallyyy hopes that nobody walks in right now.

“Th- They can’t hear me either so, I’ll be fine temporarily. I’ll soon have to turn it all back on so they don’t suspect anything”.

Wow.

He thought you were kinda dumb to add onto your shy personality.

Damn.

That’s um.

Surprising.

You can feel his stare on you. It’s not very uhh, it’s not a good feeling.

You look back up at him, putting a hand over your forehead as if it were a visor.

“Do I not look good or-”

“N- No! That’s not why I’m staring. It’s just.. Surprising. I couldn’t really get any hints on how you weren’t a human”.

“Ah, well that was on purpose actually. I- I’m not sure if you really do scents but– I gave myself a more human scent and covered up the dark green skin with a more human one”.

Woww, yes you’re sooo smart.

He keeps on staring at you.

“Anyways, what about that uhm.. That kiss..?” You mentally cheer at the least amount of stutters in the much bolder question.

“O- Oh yes”!

Oo! A stutter!

“Well I doubt you would kiss me on the lips”.

“O- Oh I don’t m- mind— Ughh, I don’t mind kissing you anywhere really. Just a kiss itself is fine”!

“Oh really?” He teased.

“Y- Yes.” You whisper.

“Well, how about a kiss to the palm, yeah? Not too forward and nearly just the right amount of romance”.

“Yeah that’s fine”!!

Your somewhat wobbly legs move over to Sebastian. He slightly moves his right claw to your face, casting a shadow over your head because of how big it is.

You grab both sides of his hand and lean over to his palm, giving it a quick—

Smooch!

To the palm. Even after the kiss you still stay there for a few seconds, before backing away with your hands behind your back.

You hurriedly put your head gear back on before quickly stuttering out—

“T- Thank you f- for the k- kiss! I enjoy- gulp, enjoyed it”!

Rushing out of the shop, you let out a huge breath.

As if this was some show, the camera would pan to Sebastian’s scrunched up face, his lip(?) quivering. He’s happy that he’s cold blooded, or else he’d be blushing very, very hard right now.

He holds up that same palm, and puts it to his lips(??).

Letting out a shaky breath.

Guys guess how much words..

1773!!! I'm so good at um. Long fanfics yeah😛😛

[juniperdugong]

Ditching Witches

Pairing: Sylus x GN!reader (established relationship) Genre: Fluff, minor angst CW: Swearing, light-hearted jealousy WC: 851

Day 4 of To Halloween with Love Event

A/N: Lotta firsts with this event lmao, been meaning to get into the Love and Deepspace bag with fics for forever

"So comfortable already? Sweetie." Sylus walks in with a big bowl of popcorn in the festive jack-o-lantern bowl you had picked out together the other day.

"Hard not to get comfortable at your place," you beam as you cuddle into the biggest, fluffiest blanket you could find in his linen closet.

He sets the bowl beside you on the couch and slips under the blanket, wrapping an arm around your waist and lazily tracing lines along your belly with his cold hands. "Glad you like it so much- been so much warmer with you around." Resting his head on your shoulder you feel as he presses light kisses along your jaw.

"Don't get all touchy with me mister! Not after tonight..." You pout and huff as you pry his hand away with little to no strength, not really wanting him to let go but still wanting to stick to your conviction.

"Ha." Just as you expected, he presses into you and grips you tighter. "You're the one who picked that costume for me, kitten. How am I to blame?"

You whip your head away from him with another huff.

"Starting to sound like the big bad wolf, sweetie." He smirks.

You push at his chest and hog the blanket, "You were practically all over them!"

"I barely even spoke to them." He chuckles and you know the whole thing is silly but you can't help but be possessive with him... You know if the tables were flipped he'd probably be much worse.

"You spoke to them." You purse your lips and side-eye him.

"You don't want me to speak to other people?"

"Not when those other people obviously want to get in your pants..."

"Hey. You know I'd want no one else but you in my pants, sweetie." And his tone darkens for just a moment - almost willing you to take him into your arms right then! But no! You must stay strong, when else would you have the chance to get mad at him just a little?

"Those bitches-"

"Witches." He cuts you off and you look up at him with a puzzled expression, "They were dressed as witches." He grins knowing just what buttons to press for you to lose it.

And he's damn good at knowing your buttons because you swear your eye twitches, "You remembered what they were dressed as?"

"It was a Halloween party, baby."

"I hate you." You abruptly say as you toss and curl yourself up in the blanket so tightly you feel like it would rip if it wasn't so well made.

"Mmm... you hate me?" And your silence only further amuses him. "Oh no... My love hates me sooo much." The sarcasm is dripping from his words and you're about to just give in and call it there but suddenly you're being lifted and sat back down upright.

With the blanket still tightly wrapped around your upper half, you can tell that he's set you down in his lap with the way his arms settled on your waist. And you gasp as you feel his hot breath through the fabric near your ear, "They hate me so much that they can't even finish picking the movie for our movie night..." he whispers and it makes you shudder.

With a pout still painted on your face, you uncover yourself slowly, trying your best to leave eye contact for last. "Still hate me?" He says with a smile that he knows you can't ignore.

"Can't hate you..." And you know how childish you sound but what good is acting mature when he coddles you like this?

"Yeah? Well good, I'd hate for you to hate me. I'd hate myself so much."

"You know I'm joking right?" You just have to confirm with him that this is all some cringy game before you actually start to believe that this could become normal.

"I know, sweetheart. I also know that even though you're joking there's just a small part of you that's actually jealous..."

"You suck."

"Right. I suck." And he brings snuggles himself into you, constricting your movements with a hug.

"Why did you have to look so good in that costume? Huh?!" You poke at his chest with fury as you come to rest your head against his shoulder this time.

"You're the one who picked it, sweetie. I'm sure you had an idea of what I would look like in it."

"You had your whole chest out!"

"You picked it."

And you just have to resign from this nonsense argument because you're going in circles over practically nothing. With a sigh, you snuggle back into him and pick up the popcorn. He grabs the remote and you both begin the endless hell of scrolling till you both agree on a movie.

You knew you weren't justified in arguing with him over this. After all, he was the one who kept bringing up his partner to those witches when they asked for his number and he's the one who dutifully ditched the party with you the moment you said you wanted to leave.

A/N: Oh no... Sylus! Save me! Lmao I love this man so much, actually the death of me and the whole reason I picked the game up. (I have him leveled up far better than the others ;-;) I am lowkey hoping that my spinning wheel for this event picks JJK again soon bc I have some lowkey-angst I've been wanting to write out...

Please Reblog and Comment (They act as power-ups for me)

[scoonsalicious]

7.2 Bucky*

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Summary: Lily McIntyre, trainer for new SHIELD recruits at the Avengers Tower, has been in love with her best friend, Bucky Barnes, from the moment she met him. She's been content with her role of the #1 girl in Bucky's life, even if it means she has to sabotage a romantic relationship or two. It'll be worth it when he realizes that they're meant for each other, right? There's just one small problem: Lily McIntire never expected Bucky Barnes to fall for You.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language, Explicit Sexual Content Minors: GTFO; I don’t serve your kind here (oral (m receiving)).

Word Count: 1.3k

Previously On...: Bucky surprised you with a night-time picnic. You exchanged dog tags, and now things have taken a sexy turn.

A/N: Fair warning, this and the next two sections are smut! Hurray!

If you ever feel so inclined to support my work, hop on over to buy me a coffee; it's much appreciated! <3

NOTE! The tag list is a fickle bitch, so I'm not really going to be dealing with it anymore. If you want to be notified when new story parts drop, please follow @scoonsaliciousupdates

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

Bucky Barnes was convinced in that moment he’d died and gone to heaven. How else could he explain the sight before him? Major, on her knees, completely naked in the middle of the woods, save for his dog tags around her neck, body glowing under the candlelight of the lanterns as she palmed his aching erection through his jeans, telling him how much she wanted it down her throat. 

But Bucky knew that a man who carried as many sins on his back as he did had no hope of finding paradise in the afterlife, so this could only be the real thing. He watched with mouth hanging open as Major crawled up his body, undoing his belt and unbuttoning his pants. “Help a girl out and lift your hips, Sergeant?” she asked him with a smirk.

Bucky let out a low groan as he obliged, lifting his hips from the blanket so Major could pull his pants off his legs. Once she’d removed them, she tossed them aside atop her own pile of discarded clothes. 

“Mmm,” she hummed, “you sure look pretty, Sarge. Let’s get that shirt off.” Bucky made a move to reach for the hem of his shirt, but Major tutted him. “Let me take care of you tonight,” she said. “You always do such a good job of making me feel good; I want to return the favor.” Her hands reached to his waist, dragging his shirt up and over his torso, then his head, and Bucky thought he was going to cum on the spot. He’d never been with a woman so… enthusiastic? Insatiable? Commanding? All of the above, he thought. 

Once she had his shirt off, she leaned back on her haunches and studied him, licking her lips as she took him in. “I just want you to lay back and let me do all the work, okay?” she asked him. 

Bucky found he couldn’t speak through the lump in his throat but did as Major asked, leaning back on his elbows so he could watch her. She locked eyes with him, and he expected her to take his briefs off of him the way she had his pants, but instead, she leaned down and began to nuzzle his cock with her cheek through the fabric.

He sucked in a breath as she drew her nose along his clothed length. As he grew harder, she began sucking open-mouthed kisses against him. While Bucky couldn’t wait to feel her warm mouth against his sensitive skin, the friction the fabric was providing as she worked on him was divine.

“Fuck, sugar,” he grunted as her palm rolled over him. The gray fabric of his boxer briefs was already dark with precum, but Major added to the growing wet patch with her saliva. “If I don’t get these off soon, it’s gonna be the second pair I’ve ruined because of you in two days.”

Major laughed, her mouth so close to Bucky’s groin, he could feel the vibration of it in dick. “Wouldn’t want that,” she said teasingly. “No washer and dryer out here in the woods. Though, I suppose you could rinse them out in the stream and I could fuck you until they’re dry.”

“You kiss your mother with that mouth?” Bucky asked, his laugh turning into a gasp as Major rolled his boxer briefs down his hips, setting his erection free.

“Nope, just this fat cock,” Major said, winking at him. Once she’d slid his underwear down to his knees, she leaned forward and gave his cockhead a featherlight kiss. Bucky grunted and arched his back. Who knew the softest of touches could feel so fucking good?

Major licked a long, slow stripe along the underside of Bucky’s cock from the base to the tip, and Bucky nearly came right then. He tried to think of any and everything he could come up with to stave off his orgasm as Major took him fully into her mouth. 

He settled on the 1941 Brooklyn Dodgers. 

Major’s tongue around his tip, dancing over its weeping slit and Bucky bent his knees to brace himself against the ground… 

Winning the Pennant for the first time in 21 years over the Cardinals. 

Her cheeks hollowing as her mouth tightened around him, enveloping him in her warm heat… 

Losing the World Series to the goddamn Yankees, 3 to 1 in the fifth and final game. 

Her tongue sliding along the underside of his cock as her head began to bob back and forth, taking him deeper and deeper with each thrust. 

Higbe and Wyatt pitching their best seasons. 

The feeling of her nose brushing up against the curly hairs of his pubic bone… 

Eight hundred runs, the highest in the league and – Jesus fucking Christ, was she actually swallowing around him?!

It was too much. Despite his best efforts, everything she was doing to him felt too wonderful, too euphoric for him to continue to think straight, let alone try and hold back. “Fuck, sugar, pull off; ‘m gonna cum,” he grunted, but Major didn’t retreat. If anything, her eyes took on a sardonic look and she gripped his thighs tighter and began moving her head faster than she had before. God, Bucky thought as he watched her from between his legs, she looked a vision, the way she was devouring him. With her eyes locked on his, and the flickering shadows dancing in the candlelight, she looked like something out of ancient myth, a goddess of fire and lust, of darkness and passion. And he was a willing sacrifice to her alter.

The candlelight reflecting off the silver tag around her neck that bore his name. Of all the mere mortals that roamed the planet, Major had selected Bucky Barnes to bestow upon him the honor of seeing her, like this, in all of her divine glory. 

With a grunt that bordered on a growl, Bucky came at that thought– the thought that someone like her felt that he, of all people, was worthy. He could feel seemingly never-ending ropes of his cum spurt from his cock, and he was fully expecting Major to pull away– none of the other girls he had ever been with could seem to withstand the amount of cum the serum led him to produce, but Major? Major continued to suck him like he was a straw, as though she were trying to draw every ounce of cum out of Bucky’s balls and take it down her throat. And by the gleam in her eye, she seemed to actually be enjoying it. 

After what felt like the longest orgasm of Bucky’s very long life, he finally stopped, his cock beyond sensitive. Bucky’s elbows gave out and he fell onto his back, gasping for breath. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cum that hard. Gently, Major slid herself off of him. She wiped at her mouth gently with a hand, then moved to grab one of the extra blankets Bucky had brought for their picnic. She carefully draped it over him, then crawled up alongside his body to mold herself along his length.

“Are you okay?” she asked, tracing a gentle finger along the line of his jaw.

Bucky sucked in a gulp of air before turning to face her. “You…” he began, not even sure where he was going with his thought, he was so lost in the post-orgasmic fog of his brain, “you are fucking magic.”

Major pressed her forehead against Bucky’s shoulder and snickered. “If you say so,” she told him. 

“I do say so,” Bucky said, still trying to catch his breath. “I just need a minute.”

“Take your time,” Major said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

<- Previous Part / Next Part ->

[milliesfishes]

I think about the drugging fic you wrote every day and the new torture fic is PERFECT. Do you think you write something that’s a mix of the two? Billy having to watch his girl slowly lose her latch to reality after some rivals drug her in front of him. He feels so helpless as she starts giggling about how pretty she is with the first start of the effects before she gets sad and confused why she doesn’t feel good

౨ৎ⋆billy watches you get drugged⋆౨ৎ fem reader x billy the kid

Time is a cruel organism, at the hand of a master who lets it do as it pleases. Today, it was agonizingly slow as Billy squinted into the darkness, waiting for any sign or hint of you.

Bindings at his ankles and wrists prevented him from getting to his feet and combing the area for his beloved girl, though he resisted them with fervor. He could hear echoing voices, neither of them yours. There was no screaming at the very least.

The hardened men of a rival gang had taken you first, the bait to their trap. And when he'd come after you, he was bound and shoved against the wall too, gun forcibly removed. Your captors didn't state their case or offer any hint of an explanation. They just dragged you off by your wrists, and you called for him in aching tones, attempting to wriggle from their hold.

He didn't know anymore how much time it had been. The simple act of keeping track had proved hopeless after a few measly minutes. It didn't matter the amount of minutes, only the undeniable fact that you were not here with him, safe under his gaze.

Had it not been for the utter poetic metamorphosis he had been through in the act of falling in love, Billy was unsure where his place would be in the world. He shuddered to think of this imaginary version of himself's whereabouts, the bloody footprints in his wake. You were the key to the lock of his goodness, the love he knew he was undeserving of.

How he had cherished you. His darling angel, sent by a steadfast praying saint to retrieve his soul and pull it from the depths of hell. You had bloomed from his adversity, taking his face in your soft hands and teaching him just how tender a kiss could be.

And how had Billy repaid you? He'd gotten you embroiled in a situation devised by cruelties you should have been kept innocent from. You deserved silken sheets and jewels at your feet and instead you were held captive by men who knew not what they possessed.

The very second bootsteps sounded in the distance Billy sat up, straining his neck to see if you were close at hand. Two men became visible, and gripped in their opposite hands was you, dragged behind them, your bindings for an unknown reason nowhere to be found.

Tossing you to the side in a way that sparked rage in Billy, one of the men bent down to him. "We'll see if a little while watchin' your girl like this will loosen your tongue for what we wanna know later."

Unsure of the context of his words, Billy looked from them to you, perplexed. The men traipsed away without saying anything else, and he was forced to turn to you for answers.

"Baby..." Billy's wrists strained against the ropes in a way that was sure to leave a mark behind. "What happened? What'd they do to you?"

You rolled over on your back, giggling and looking up at the ceiling. "Am I pretty Billy?"

Frowning and shuffling forward the best he could, Billy's voice was veiled with concern. "Darlin'? What-?"

The sound of your laugh was like a bell, the buttons of your joy mistakenly mismatched through the loops of the situation. Streaked with a smile, you crawled forward to him. "You're pretty too."

Your comments were misplaced with the happenings of the hour. Hands on his knees, you propped yourself up. Through the glow of the nearby lantern stationed against the wall, he could see how glassy your eyes were. He tilted his head, studying you. "What'd they do to ya, sweet girl?"

"Mmm, they gave me some water," you murmured, leaning forward and propping your elbows on his thighs. "And now I'm so happy."

They gave you something? A thousand possibilities swam through Billy's head. But looking at you now, with your hazy smile and bleary eyes, there was only one that truly felt plausible. You had been drugged.

Otherwise they would have kept the ropes around your limbs and you would be terrified, even crying to him right now. Instead you were tracing lopsided circles on his knee, babbling about something or other he couldn't quite make out.

"Honey...honey," he tried, wishing his hand was free so he could grasp yours. Your eyes shot back up to his as a sweet smile graced your lips. Billy held your gaze, searching your eyes like a sailor for the horizon. "Stay calm. I needja to stay calm." You rubbed your hands over his legs, nodding and looking down at your fingers.

There was a steady quiet for a long while as you hummed distractedly to yourself, amused by your inner thoughts. The drug's grip was tightening on you, Billy could see it. It terrified him more than anything that you were unresponsive, arrested by the substance fed to you.

Unable to tear his eyes away from you, he tried and failed to come up with a plan. This wasn't a situation he'd been at all prepared for, and it terrified him. He was in dangerous situations nearly every day, and yet when something involved his girl, he was utterly helpless except for that baser instinct to keep you alive. Anything beyond that was a mystery thrown to the wind by fate.

He was yanked from his thoughts when you began to sniffle, eyes darting from side to side as if you were attempting to read your own thoughts. Your hands were shaking, fingers clenching into fists over and over in an attempt to rein in control. An alarm sounded through the chambers of his mind, and Billy shifted, leaning into you. "Sweetheart...baby look at me. Whatsa matter?"

"My...my head...it's all..." you shook it vigorously. "It's a-all jumbled. I can't think." Frustrated tears pooled in your eyes as you tried to make heads or tails of your thoughts. "What's happening to me-e?" The last word dissolved into a sob, and you folded your arms around yourself as your tears poured tracks down the apples of your cheeks.

Billy moved to put his arms around you immediately, but the ropes stopped him. Powerless to console you, he could only watch as you lost yourself to your misery. "My love...oh my baby." You raised your head at his words, graceful as a swan despite your drugged state. Recognizing him as your comfort, you lurched forward, crying into his chest, the dots of your tears wetting his shirt. The most he could do was nuzzle his chin against your hair.

You tugged on one of his suspenders, the expression on your face breaking his heart when he lowered his head. "Billy...won't you hold me?"

His face fell. "My hands are tied, sweet girl, or I would."

Eyes widening, you sat up, sniffling and brushing your tears away. "Can I...can I undo them?"

There she was. You was still in there, his smart girl, buried beneath the layers of the drug's hold. They had underestimated you even under the influence. It was almost laughable how simple it all was. He felt a smile coming over his face despite the circumstances. "Yeah, yeah honey you can."

Your hands were trembling, but you managed to unknot the ropes, shoving them away from him. Once they were free, you were diving into his arms, enveloped by his being as you'd so wanted to be. He took advantage of his limbs' newfound freedom and held you as tight as he could, planting gentle kisses into your hair. "Shh, baby. It's okay. It's gonna be okay, I've gotcha. It ain't gonna last forever, I promise."

"What's wrong with me?" you choked, and the compass of his heart pointed right to yours, the chain connecting you driving your emotions straight into him like a knife.

"Nothin', sweetheart," he cooed, nuzzling his cheek against your head. "Oh, baby...it ain't you. They gave ya somethin'. But it'll wear off in no time."

Lifting a finger to your eye, you sniffled delicately and brushed a crystal tear away. "It'll be okay?"

"'F course," Billy murmured, cradling you in his big arms and rubbing away any leftover stress that drew your body so taut. "We're gonna get outta here, darlin'. 'nd getcha some water 'n fresh air...it's gonna be okay, my love."

As he rocked you gently back and forth, consoling his angel, his mind labored for a solution in a previously drought-ridden desert of thought. His hands were unbound and so the possibilities stretched far and wide. He'd stolen your heart like a thief and he would guard it with his life. That meant keeping you unharmed.

This was the last time any man would lay a finger on his girl, whom he was besotted with so devotedly. Billy would re-dot the sky you shared so you weren't star-crossed anymore, seal the two of you away in the margins of a long-forgotten place.

Looking down at you in his arms, the end of this trial was near. You would be safe.

He would keep you safe.

[mynnthia]

Jack-O'-Lantern Potage and Sautéed Dryad Buds with Cheese (Kabocha Pumpkin Potage, and Sautéed Chinese Cabbage with Mushroom and Cheese)

ID: a photo with some dishes of food – from bottom to top: 1) a plate of sautéed chinese cabbage with mushroom and cheese sauce 2) a bowl of kabocha pumpkin soup 3) a pot of kabocha pumpkin soup. there is a sticky note on the pot with a face drawn to resemble the "Jack-O'-Lantern" bowl, pictured in the screenshot below

ID: a screenshot of the Dungeon Meshi anime, depicting "Jack-O'-Lantern Potage and Sautéed Dryad Buds with Cheese" the "Jack-O'-Lantern Potage" resembles pumpkin soup, served in 3 bowls and a pumpkin-like fruit with a face. the "Sautéed Dryad Buds with Cheese" is a ringed green vegetable covered in cheese sauce

ID: a photo of the same dishes as the first image in the post, but taken from a different angle

my first recreated dungeon meshi meal!

i had been planning on making kabocha pumpkin soup/potage for a while. after watching the newest dungeon meshi episode where they made "Jack-O'-Lantern Potage and Sautéed Dryad Buds with Cheese", i decided to recreate the full meal with the ingredients i had!

it turned out really good, definite recommend

if anyone is interested, i wrote up additional info about my process under the cut:

"kabocha" is the english term for the main kind of pumpkin common in east/southeast asia. it has a richer flavor and texture than orange pumpkins in the west, which makes it great for soups and stir-fries.

for my soup, i combined the kabocha with carrot and potato. the additional vegetables add nutritional value, and help "bulk up" the portion size.

ID: a photo of 2 kabocha pumpkins. one is sliced open hotdog-style, the other is intact [link to image source]

despite the smaller portion size, adapting the "Sautéed Dryad Buds with Cheese" was the bigger challenge for me – i was already familiar with making kabocha soup, so that was simple

i decided to use some leftover chinese cabbage for the dryad buds because of the similar appearance. i assume it was meant to be analogous to onion, but i'm allergic

ID: screenshot of some Dungeon Meshi manga panels, featuring Senshi preparing and cooking the dryad buds. when Senshi cuts open the dryad bud, he notes "mmm, this has a nice aroma"

when i tried searching for "cheese cabbage recipe" all the results were for oven-baked dishes. i debated baking the cabbages, but when i tried to cut them into rings, the cabbage didn't really hold shape, so i decided to just sauté them to save time

i thought about just throwing some shredded cheese into the pan when sautéing, but decided to make a cheese sauce for more accuracy

i made bechamel sauce (a french sauce base, made from melted butter, flour, and milk), and added cheese to make a cheese sauce. then i stir-fried the cabbage and mushrooms in butter and olive oil, seasoned with salt, pepper, paprika, and a bit of light soy sauce. i added the cheese sauce afterwards. it turned out surprisingly well!

ID: a screenshot of the Dungeon Meshi anime, depicting "Sautéed Dryad Buds with Cheese" being made a ringed green vegetable is being cooked with mushrooms on top, and a cheese sauce being poured onto it

if youve made it to here, thank you for reading! idk if ill recreate more dungeon meshi dishes in the future (i just happened to have all the ingredients for this one already, so it was convenient) but we'll see

[quillsandblades]

A Minute of Rest

Based on the art by @shunkani

Dancing candle flames and the muted glow of the lanterns swam before her eyes. Hange Zoe would swap tedious hours of paperwork with titan or—as these days demanded—technological research any time. The mechanisms of a rail engine or the complex arrangements and workings of gears and wires were certainly more suited for her exhausted brain than planning the next steps of their alliance with Hizuru.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t like she had much of a choice. With a sigh, she adjusted her glasses and pulled another sheet towards herself. Yellow parchment, embedded with small black text. Shadows flickered around the words. Her brain caught fragments of them.

Diplomatic relations with Hizuru date back to more than a century ago . . .

The unique characteristics of the Iceburst stone enable . . .

Potential reason of interest . . .

. . . cornered nation . . . no other country tolerates Eld . . .

She hunched over the table, squinting at the document, willing her mind to turn the words over and whip out a solution. There was a throbbing in her temples, and her back was stiff. But no, they had to plan their next moves; Hizuru had extended a hand of friendship and provided Paradis with ample resources for research about the outer world. She had to go through it all, understand the stance and motives of as many countries as she could. She wasn’t going to consider Hizuru as a reliable ally though, they were more concerned with Mikasa and the Iceburst stone rather than a good future for Paradis.

Hange slumped over her desk, face hidden in her arms. She was so tired of dealing with hate and mistrust and selfish, close-minded people. So tired.

A door opened behind her; quiet, measured footsteps sounded.

Levi.

A scraping sound on her desk followed by the weight of a hand on her shoulder.

‘Hange,’ his voice was low and made something warm and soothing unfurl in her stomach.

‘Mmm?’

‘Get your ass in bed if you’re so tired.’

She lifted her head. Levi was standing beside her, shadows playing upon his face; there was a cup of steaming tea on her desk. She sighed, pulling another paper towards herself, ‘Can’t.’

‘Your brain won’t understand shit in this state. Get some rest, a few hours won’t hurt.’

Oh yes they would. She squeezed her eyes shut. Time was precious, if she slept now who knows how many seconds, how many minutes would trickle through her fingers like water, and then she’d wake up, regretting it, because she could have done more research, maybe she’d have found answers, but then it would be morning and everyone would be awake and bustling about, and her presence would be demanded everywhere, and there’d be meetings where Zackly and Pixis and Lady Azumabito would stare at her, asking for their next moves, and whether she’d figured out something or not, but she’d just sit there with a blank face because she was so damn exhausted that she slept and there wouldn’t be time to do anything at all then, because she jus—

Fingers pressed into the back of her shoulders, kneading her stiff muscles, cutting out her thoughts.

Her surprised exhale crumbled into a weary one. Levi’s hands gradually moved to her shoulder blades, thumbs digging into the sore, knotted parts of her back. Warmth rippled through her body at his touches, easing out a tension she wasn’t aware of until now.

‘This feels so fucking good,’ she mumbled heavily. ‘I didn’t even know I needed this.’

‘With that shitty posture, of course you needed this,’ he said, pushing her back and straightening her spine. ‘If you sit in that position for hours, it’ll definitely make your muscles go all tense.’

‘You’re starting to sound like Moblit,’ Hange chuckled. ‘Ever the worrywart.’

‘Someone has to look out for your clumsy ass.’

‘So you’ve decided to take full responsibility then, Captain?’ she grinned.

‘Never got the liberty of deciding in the first place,’ he droned out.

She laughed softly, somehow feeling lighter than she had in hours, days. His hands were still pressing upon her shoulders, lifting the invisible weight, induced by stress. She hummed softly and leaned back, so that she was pressing against Levi’s chest. His hands stilled, curling around the curves of her shoulders.

‘Oi . . .’ he said softly.

The back of her head came to rest against his neck. She inhaled deeply, a clean woody scent invaded her nose, making her eyes flutter shut and her breaths slow down. It felt good, having Levi so close, feeling his warmth all around.

‘Hange,’ he called her again.

‘Can we just . . . stay like this . . . for a while?’ she whispered.

Yeah, just for a while. Because she still had work to do, so she couldn’t give in to the heavy pull of sleep yet. She’d rest for a minute, with Levi right beside her. Then she’d start again.

‘Okay,’ he said quietly.

‘Just . . . don’t let me sleep. I still have . . .’ her words dissolved into exhausted breaths, ‘so much to do.’

‘Sure, don’t worry.’

So late in that night, when the golden hues of the candle flames splashed against wood and stone, and the barracks lay under the heavy spell of sleep, a tired Commander rested against her faithful Captain, knowing he would pull her out of the velvety folds of slumber and get her back to work soon.

But for now, she had a minute. A minute of rest.

[primeofprimes115]

A Birthday to Remember - DCAU Supergirl x Male Reader

Fluff 🥰

Requested: Yes (From Wattpad)

Today was Kara's 21st Birthday, a birthday that was Kara's biggest birthday, at least in Earth terms, to her... Birthdays were celebrated a little differently on Argo, twin sister planet of Krypton.

What better than to spend it fighting and training in a simulated arena, that was overlooked by John Stewart, one of the Green Lanterns who Kara looked up to for advice from time to time, not just her cousin.

But, even though she got over the loss of Argo, her three sisters, mother and father, deeming her the Last Daughter of Argo, Kara In-Ze could never forget she was the last of her kind, wishing her family would be here to celebrate her 21st birthday with her.

But... At least she has new friends, her cousin of Krypton, and her ever-loving boyfriend of three years, who she fell in love with, knowing their first meeting before she revealed her super powers during an altercation with Apokolips' Granny Goodness years ago, the first time she debuted as "Supergirl".

Around that time, he had to reveal his little secret, that of being a technological genius who was a hero in his own right, being the son of a multibillionaire company much like Bruce Wayne's, his mother owns the company itself that has partnered up with Wayne-Enterprises then and there to change the world for the better.

Both were young at the time, now? They're happily together in a relationship, work closely together within the Justice League once it had opened up to allow many other heroes to join in, some would say that Y/N is the luckiest boy in the world to be dating someone like Supergirl. Though at most, Supergirl was lucky to be dating a hero such as S/H/N, his family was close with the Kents after all.

And with Kara's 21st birthday? Y/N had a very big surprise for her, something he'd been considering for a long time now, he'd been given the nod from Kara's cousin after asking about marriage, knowing he was married to Lois Lane. It shocked the Man of Steel at first, but he knew how much Kara loved him, and how much he loved her, he couldn't be anymore happier than knowing that his cousin was going to be married to someone like Y/N.

"C'mon, you gotta tell me what this surprise is!" Kara expressed dramatically toward her boyfriend, who stood with a smug look on his face, resisting Kara's efforts to make him spill the beans on what he had in store for her birthday. "It's my 21st! C'mon! Cut a girl some slack!" she sped up beside him, her cape rustling behind her as she walked normally with him in the hallway.

"Hahaha, then it won't be a surprise!" he chuckled, he hated to keep the surprise secret for now, knowing she'd say yes in a heartbeat to him upon asking the question, but it was also a good thing he had the box laced with lead, to prevent her from even detecting it with her x-ray vision since she was the snoopier one. "I even laced the surprise with lead".

"Ugh! C'mon! You're such a bummer!" she pouted childly, rolling her eyes playfully afterwards before she felt a pair of lips on her cheek' causing her to smirk and pin him to the wall next.

"Woah! Hey! Hahaha-Mmm!" his was shut up with a kiss to his lips straight after, his hands grasping around her hips where he felt her warm skin.

"I'll tickle it out of you if I have to" she whispered with a warm breath across his lips, knowing his ultimate weakness is being ticklish. However, Y/N felt confident still, smirking back at her.

"Good thing I'm wearing my ticklish-proof augments today" he noted to her, which made the blonde pout with a sigh.

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Can't spoil the surprise babe" he told her before sealing her lips with a loving kiss. "I hate to keep it from you, but trust me... It's gonna be worth the wait until later, it's not the right time yet" he continued, pulling back after a moment to get some air.

His eyes locked with hers and he could see the love coming back from those blue irises, a soft smile brewing across her face while she blinked slowly, both getting lost in each other's eyes.

"Three years we've been together, you've been there since I came to Metropolis one day" Kara went down memory lane with him about that, making him chuckle about that certain memory. "The day I... You... Met. If only I knew then you'd become a beacon in my life" she smiled lovingly at him, giving him all of her heart.

"I remember that day fondly" the corners of his lips arched into a soft smile, still pinned to the wall by his girlfriend. "Being there with Jimmy as well, then Granny Goodness comes out of nowhere. I couldn't even believe that you were a lot alike Superman at the time, it was... Amazing" Kara smiled deeply hearing that, she always thought he'd found it amazing. "I remember at that moment I fell in love, there was always something about you that drew me to you".

"I'd say the same thing about you too" Kara smirked before her smirk fell. "Do you... Think Kal's proud of me? I mean... I'm now wearing his signature colors now but, I've never really heard him say he's proud of me in person" she looked down at herself, seeing the fact she had recently changed her suit from the white tee with a small red cape, gloves and blue office looking skirt with red boots to a mid-length red cape, blue crop-top and red skirt with a gold V-shaped belt, and traditional red boots with the gold V around the top, still donning the S in honor of her cousin. She even dropped the hairband.

"Oh, I'm sure he's proud of you, Sunshine. One-Hundred percent sure he is" he cheered her up just for that moment, before his lips were sealed with one more kiss from Kara In-Ze.

"Thanks" she murmured while pulling back from his lips. "I'm gonna go train some more, need that work-out".

"Again?" he asked with a soft laugh, playing it off like he didn't think she'd go again, it sounded like music to his ears, his plan was working very well. "Gonna try break the record?"

"You're welcome to watch ~" she kissed his cheek before taking a hold of his hand. "Well?".

"Of course, I was gonna say yes anyway"...

______________________________________________________________

From what seemed to be just some training exercise, which Kara was being a little cocky at first about, setting a new record in the exercise she completed, then turning into a complete disaster when all of a sudden, a blue orb surrounded Green Arrow, John Stewart and Supergirl within the simulated zone before zipping them out of existence while Superman tried to prevent it from happening, though he had no way to prevent it in any way.

This had made Y/N extremely worried, having just witnessed his girl, alongside Oliver and John, zipped away and out of existence, whereas unknown. He felt sick knowing she was gone within a heartbeat by an unknown entity, at least toward him and Clark.

Little beknown to them, the culprit that did this was from the 30th Century, a far-away future within the timeline itself, the culprit was nonother than Brainiac-5, an organic who rebelled against his ancestors way of life and joined a future version of the Justice League called "The Legion of Superheroes" which was inspired by certain heroes themselves, most notably, S/H/N and Supergirl themselves, which was a secret kept for now...

Brainiac-5 made a huge risk bringing Supergirl, alongside Green Arrow and John Stewart into the 30th Century, though it wasn't really intentional to bring Supergirl into here, she was merely needed the most for being a powerhouse mostly to help free their teammates from mental domination by the Fatal-Five, the Legion's most known batch of enemies within their time.

However... This mission was more riskier than it already was, it was said in the history books of the era, that Supergirl would not return from this mission. It wasn't said that she was killed or went missing in the records, but most feared she would die in this mission.

Or was the history books lying?

In the end... Supergirl, Kara In-Ze, had proved that history isn't as it seems or says to be, she survived the mission, she took a play out of Y/N's own book on making her own luck, rescuing the Legionnaires from the Fatal-Five's control and saved the day. She thought like her cousin, acted like a leader, acted heroically, even willing to sacrifice herself to save the Legionnaires, if only Kal could see her.

Meanwhile this was all going down, Y/N and Superman had Steel help search around the perimeter to search for any signs of where they could've gone, discussing where they could search while Y/N's worries began to overwhelm him a little, fearing that he might not see Oliver, John and Kara again. Clark being the optimistic man himself, gave the boy some hope to continue the search, just to hold out some more hope to find out what happened.

With that going on... The Legionnaires reunited together again, the Fatal-Five's plans now up in flames all thanks to Supergirl's efforts in the long run. 

Balloon Boy handed out a Legionnaire ring toward the three Leaguers, though Oliver and John handed them back as returning with them would disrupt the time stream, Kara looked at hers with a smile on her face, thinking of even staying since the 30th Century looked a lot like Argo.

From all the buildings, to its atmosphere, it felt like home to her... But then something dawned on her.

She'd be leaving behind important people also, one of those people being her boyfriend, who can't come here to the 30th Century after she asked Brainy on the Legionnaire's ship if he could've just brought Y/N with her here, he only revealed it was impossible before giving out a short explanation as to why, which would completely risk breaking the timestream

She felt so drawn here, it looked so much like Argo! But... She'd be breaking someone's heart back in her timeline, someone who meant the world to her, someone who changed her life drastically the more he was around her.

She couldn't leave the love of her life behind, her heart was drawn to him, she planned things out with him in life, he had been there for her while she done the same for him. 

And so... She made the decision after thinking about it.

"Although I think that I do belong here with the Legion, which means leaving my cousin and everyone else behind, but there's only one person I know that I really can't live without" Kara looked toward the Legion before her eyes sat on Brainiac-5, then... She looked away, a lump in her throat upon thinking about the one person she likes to her heart's content. "Y/N... ever since he entered in my life after I went to Metropolis for the first time, things had changed for me drastically, more than I have to admit. Many people had said great things about him and about his family. And I eventually found out who he is, he's just this amazing, caring and compassionate guy, he was that one guy I fell head over heels for, when I hadn't noticed he fell for me first in a way. Since that first ever meeting, since that very first time we worked together as part of a team. Our relationship was a burgeoned one at best, and I've never been happier" she began to smile in GL and GA's direction. 

"Y/N is the type of person who would do everything in his power to make sure you're okay, safe and happy, while he takes in all the bad things that's effecting you, like an unmoving, pillar. His outgoing and friendly nature is what drew me to him, it's what kept me happy, made me feel... Home in a way. He and I had thought of moving in together a year ago, go to the same college together, be together outside of me wearing my cape and him using his gear and tech, have a normal life since we both have all the time in the world for that. Supergirl and S/H/N, Kara and Y/N" She looked down to the Legion ring on her middle finger, a thought of one day particularly being married to him as her eyes set on her ring finger. A thought ran over her mind what it would be like to stay in the future, with the Legion. It all reminded her of home on Argo, the sister planet of Krypton. "He said he has a huge surprise for me today, since it's my birthday, I spent most of today wearing this new look, wearing the same colors like Kal. I would hate to burst that bubble and leave him behind also, because I can't fathom to live here without him since bringing him here could potentially damage the timestream" she then looked toward Brainiac-5 before walking towards him, her fingers still examining the ring to feel the metal alloy. "And we don't want that, don't we?". "No, unfortunately" the young man replied. "We know him here to be the greatest man that's ever lived, he was one of the reasons the Legion of Superheroes was created, so were you" he finally told her. "That's all I needed to hear" she said with a smile, before sliding off the flight ring, as much as she'd love to keep it. "My head says I belong here... But my heart says the opposite. Perhaps history can be broken, it seems Supergirl does return to the 21st century after all, and rejoins with her loved ones" she then handed Bouncing Boy the ring and returned to stand with John and Oliver.

______________________________________________________________

"Whatever abducted them didn't leave any traceable energy signature" Steel confirmed with his scanner, as Superman then looked toward Y/N who was trying to keep his mind hopeful, but his scouter wasn't giving him any positive feedback either.

"Y/N?".

"Nothing on my scouter either... Damn it all!" he said with a little more frustration. "The surprise was supposed to happen an hour ago and I... I-".

"Don't worry, we'll find them" Superman remained optimistic, keeping his cousin's boyfriend from worrying even more". We could go see Dr Fate, or Zatanna, maybe they could-"

All of a sudden, a loud mechanical like noise erupted loudly throughout the room they were investigating still, the orb had appeared again in a flash of blue energy and within it was John Stewart, Green Arrow and of course...

Supergirl.

As soon as the little bit of smoke cleared, Y/N's eyes laid upon his girlfriend, his eyes widening in pure relief as did hers. "Kara!" His heart raced fast upon seeing her and he rushed up to her, enveloping her in a big hug which she immediately accepted. "You're okay, thank God!"

"Someone sure missed me" she teased before her arms around him tightened.

"John, Oliver, what happened?" Kal asked the two green suited heroes, wondering what really happened to them.

"Well... It's a long story" John told him.

"To put it short. We were transported to the 30th Century by a... Boy, he needed our help freeing his teammates, we helped. You should've seen Kara though, she was amazing. Took a page out of your own book in a way" Oliver told him as Kal looked at her cousin who was currently hugging back Y/N before the two pulled away.

He then smiled at her, before approaching her as the returning 21st birthday girl noticed his approach and smiled.

"Kal" she said with a relieved sigh, hugging him next. The Man of Steel accepted his cousin's hug as he was going to hug her to begin with. "There's a lot to explain".

"I know, I'm just glad you're safe and back here" he smiled before glancing over behind her, seeing Y/N smiling, reaching into a cartridge in his gauntlet, his fingers held a small lead box which had stored a very special ring inside.

Clark smiled and nodded toward Y/N, knowing he should pop the question now, as it should've happened an hour ago.

The question that would make a birthday to remember by...

"I never got to tell you before you zipped away... I'm proud of you, Kara" he told her with a smile growing on both their faces. "But... Not only that. You're a little late but since you're back? I know someone here has a very important question you don't wanna miss" Kal then told her, which she pulled back in confusion.

"What?" she asked. "What do you mean by-" she took a glimpse at Y/N before turning back around as something dawned in her mind as she did, taking note that he was on one knee, holding something. "Wait, Y/N, what're you -?" She turned back around, her cape fluttering behind her as she did before, looking him in the eyes and down to the object he held in his hand as he then flicked up the top of the little box...

Noticing a ring with a small diamond, a diamond that sparkled upon seeing it for the first time. Her jaw dropped, trying to keep composure, feeling as if she was about to burst out in tears realizing what the surprise was really about.

"Y/N... Is this...?" she stuttered, putting her hands over her mouth 

And she wanted him to tell her what it was hours ago, before she was "abducted" by a good Brainiac from the future.

"I... I had a little speech but... I-I-I kinda forgot about it since... You disappeared" Y/N himself felt a lump in his throat, getting a little emotional just thinking about the moment currently as the four men in the room stood by and watched. "I uh... I've been waiting to ask this for a while now, I've been holding onto this ring for, well... Years now, since Mom passed it onto me, knowing she wouldn't need it after Dad passed, it was his last request before he did pass. I wanted to wait until your twenty-first birthday, your cousin and I planned it out..." he told her as tears began running down from Kara's eyes as a few muffled sobs escaped from her. Y/N kept himself strong, fighting back any urge to let a tear fall down from his eyes.

"We've been through so many adventures together since we first met, shared our first kiss in the sky during our first date which was adventurous some would say, from staying overnight with you at the Kents, attending the same school, graduating the same day together, and then all the adventures after that for the last three years. You're like the pillar that keeps everything up in my life, keeps me going and happy. You've saved me more times than I can count than I've saved you and I couldn't possibly be more happier than have you in my life" he croaked a little before chuckling, still keeping his eyes on her as she let more tears fall down. "Kara In-Ze Kent, Supergirl - My Girl of Steel - I have one question..." he paused for a moment as Kara took her hands away from her mouth, his one hand reached out and she held her one hand out for him to hold.

"Y-Y-Yes??" she croaked with more happy tears falling down from her face, using her other hand to wipe the tears away from herself.

"Will you take me as yours forever. Will you marry me, Kara In-Ze Kent?" he asked the question, giving out all his heart out with it as Kara then knelt down to his level with a huge smile and happy tears still falling from her face.

"Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!" she said with an utter outburst of joy, answering his question repeatedly while nodding up and down before the she enveloped him into a deep kiss as the others stood by and watched with a smile.

From this moment on?

Kara surely knew this was a birthday she'd remember, the biggest birthday present she's ever been gifted.

You...

"Best... Birthday... Ever!" she exclaimed, the two standing up now after the deep kiss.

"Congratulations to you both!" Oliver said from the back. "Had a feeling it'd happen someday, you both deserve it! Seriously".

The two took Oliver's compliment as Kara then looked down toward the ring now on her ring finger, Y/N took notice of her observation.

"You like it?" he asked.

"Like it?" she scoffed. "I LOVE it! It was your mom's, I'm honored to wear it!" she corrected him before smiling hugely. "Wait until I tell Babs about this!".

"I'm glad you love it, mom's probably expecting to hear something back by now" he noted.

"You should, I think she'll be worrying that things didn't go to plan originally" Kal suggested.

"Yeah... I should".

"I'll go with!" Kara hugged Y/N arms with pure joy, having just been asked the question. "We can tell her together" she suggested, Y/N couldn't be more than happy to have his now fiancé come with him.

"Sure, Hun! My mom would be happy to see you again!".

With that... They ventured toward the Watchtower's teleporter after saying their goodbyes for the rest of the day towards the four others within the room, the rest of the journey was Supergirl flying her now fiancé towards their actual destination.

Knowing of what happened earlier?

This was something the both would remember...

This was A Birthday to Remember.

______________________________________________________________

Fin...

Word Count: 3592

Tag List: @jacenradio7 @jadenyukiyusakufujikiyutoduelist @rodimusprime2017 @beestriker015 @ma1egamer @6rookie-writer0110 @multi-fandom-enjoyer

[zylophie]

🍡 . 鳥居 — your secret admirer ft k.kazuha & xiao

✿ — ♬ ⌨️ᶻᶻᶻ : yue is typing... ✉!

✿ — ↻ SYNOPSIS : Love is like the breeze itself, you can't see it but the heart know it and its gentle whisper tell a different tale...

✿ — ♯ GENRE : fluff, gn reader

✿ — ↠ NOTE : pyon-yahoo, zee! I know we never really get to talk at all before this but I'm happy to be your secret admirer for this event so I really hope that I live up to your expectations for your favorite characters!

✿ — ♪ REMINDER : reblogs & likes are appreciated, in doing so will motivate us to continue delivering stories to you, thank you for all of your supports ~ !

✿ — ♭ ⁿᵒʷ ᶜᵃˡˡⁱⁿᵍ... : @mccnstruck

✿ — ► ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ : the art of you featuring kaedehara kazuha and xiao...

🍡 . 鳥居 — kaedehara kazuha

∞ You were an artist originally from sumeru who travel to different nations, looking for some inspirations to complete your travel illustrations journal in hope of sharing your experience with those who can't afford travelling fees.

∞ You weren't really interested in becoming a scholar but instead your passion lies in the world of arts so the moment you were able to become independent, you immediately went off to Liyue which was just so happened to be next to where Sumeru is.

∞ Ever since you were a child, you heard stories of other nations and their cultures so you were really interested in learning more about them and recording it all in your journal.

∞ But when you decide to set foot in an unknown territory, you honestly didn't expect to find love for the first time ...

The bustling city of Liyue was filled with vibrant colours and historical buildings as the laughter and chattering of its residents crowded the streets.

You could see all the buildings and the small stalls are decorated with paper lanterns, and their designs vary from dragons, maple leaves and many more. Your eyes caught the sight of various beautiful flowers decorated some of the residents' hair.

I have never seen those flowers before...I wonder if they are this nation's flowers?

You hummed softly, taking notes of recording it later in your journal once you get to your room but for now, that sweet, sweet tempting aroma of the foods from the stalls is leading you astray...

"(name), no...you have a job to do, you are not here to sightsee-" You paused mid sentence when one of the stall owners brought out the foods, deliciously fresh and hot. It looks so appetizing.

Okay, maybe one bite won't hurt...

.

.

.

"Mmm~ it's so good!!"

Your cheeks flushed in delight, taking another bite of the grilled tiger fish under the big tree as you quietly watched children and adults walking around the streets, enjoying the festival as much as possible.

After having a chat with the store owner about the cultures and their history, he was nice enough to give you some of his grilled tiger fish for free, probably because of the warm and lively atmosphere.

Whatever the reason is...but free food!

As you were enjoying the moment, you suddenly felt the gentle breeze on your face. There was a very light, almost quiet rustling of leaves but soon, the breeze suddenly picked up and you could hear a strong whistling sound of the wind.

"Ah, not my hat?!" You cried, eyes widened in surprise as you immediately stood up and set off to catch it. The (colour) hat flew gently with the wind as its dance to the song of the wind.

But to you, it's just seems like it was mocking you-

"Please, please, please don't go over the bridge...!"

Just as you fear. It went over the bridge and your face almost dropped.

...if it wasn't for a young man swiftly catching it and for a moment, time seems to hold still as the young man floats in mid air slowly landing on the ground as if he was dancing with the wind itself.

It was breathtaking.

"I think I just witnessed something magical..." You pinched your cheeks and soon enough, it stings like heck!

IT'S NOT A DREAM?

The young man turned to you with a kind smile, handing out your hat "I believe this one is yours?"

Oh god. His voice.

"A-Ah, yes! Thank you for getting it for me" You couldn't help but cringe at yourself when your voice just cracked, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

"Excuse me for a moment please" The young man suddenly came closer to you and reached out to your head.

You flinched when the feels of his fingertips gently brushed against your hair before pulling something out and presenting it to you.

"There was a maple leaf stuck in your hair" He let out a chuckle when your eyes widened and stared at him in shock.

"I-uh wha...?"

Oh gosh, is that why some of the passers-by were giggling at?!

"You seem surprised so it wasn't for decoration?"

"Y-Yeah... actually it's my first time here so I'm not very familiar with its culture yet..."

You shyly avoid making eye contact with him, heart thumping loudly and body temperature slowly raising. You could have sworn that the kind stranger would hear it.

"Would you like to take a stroll with me?" He asked in a kind tone, his gaze softened as some of his locks brushed against his face due to the wind picking itself up again "I could tell you anything of what I know about Liyue Harbor if you would like?"

"Are you sure? I would love to!" You happily accepted his offer, totally not just because you want to get to know him more... it's for your work definitely!

"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself..." You cut yourself off before awkwardly scratching your cheek "I am (last name) (name)...it's nice to meet you"

"I am Kaedehara Kazuha, I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance"

...and that was the start of your journey with the young samurai.

🍡 . 鳥居 — xiao

㊊ Ever since you were a child, you heard many stories of other nations from your parents' experience as adventurers before settling down in Sumeru and it's because of them, you've become more curious of the world outside of your homeland.

㊊ Especially the tales of the Rex Lapis and the Adeptus who fought alongside him during the war, you were most curious about the remaining sole survivor of the yakshas.

㊊ You were raised in a loving household so you couldn't imagine how that person felt after losing their family so tragically like that... you want to learn more about their history and how their efforts become one of the many reasons why Liyue Harbor is still standing to this day.

㊊ So once you were older enough to join the adventure guild, you immediately set off to Liyue Harbor for a mission to collect specific herbs that you can only find in the mountains of Liyue where danger lurk in the dark...

The solitary mountains loomed in the distance, the land of geo dwarfing the endless sea of greenery and yellow trees that surrounded the mountaintops.

At dusk, the mountains were silhouettes, shrouded in the dark hues of the night sky but as the sun began to rest, the stars painted the dark sky with their brilliant lights and soon, the moon rose higher as if it was guiding its little ones to shine brightly upon the world.

It was truly a sight to behold.

"This scenery might be good for a painting..." You couldn't keep the big grin off your face as you quickly make your way towards your next destination, hoping to find a safe place to camp for the night.

But something caught your eyes as you were walking up the path between the mountains, it was a small purple flower with strong vitality, its downward-blooming buds really remind you of something...

Wait.

You quickly went to grab your notebook, patting around the inside of your pocket before pulling it out and flipped it open to a list of plants for the mission.

"Hmm... it fits the description" You hummed, taking notes of the flower characteristics before quickly making a sketch of it to go along with and once you were done, you put it away for further studies later on.

You adjusted your grip on your bag before walking up to where the flower is and begins to climb the cliff. You didn't look down, carefully makes your way up the mountain and soon enough, you were close enough to grab the plant "Alright that one down-"

"Ya!"

You snapped your head towards the source of the noise only to see a bunch of Hilichurls and two of them were aiming their arrows right at where you were...

WHERE THE HECK DID THEY COME FROM?

You cursed under your breath at the disadvantageous situation you found yourself in, puzzled but you didn't get to think any further when a sharp and intense outburst, an agony of excruciating pain hits your left shoulder.

You gasped, gritting your teeths as your left hand loosen its grip out of shock and a highly unpleasant, intense physical sensation in the area where the arrow successfully pierced through the skin.

Its burns.

You were barely holding onto the cliff, your line of sight blurred as tears gathered at the corner of your eyes.

"Ika ya! Ika ya! Upano yaya ika!"

"Upa sada!!"

They were screaming at you in their own language, whatever it is...from you could tell from their noises that they were mad about something but why towards you...?

I didn't see any hilichurl camp nearby when I was making my way up here...

I could only remember encountering a few hilichurls because a few adventurers were cornered.

...Ah.

"Ika ya-!"

A violent gust of wind cut the creatures off and the sound of a spear piercing through as the screams of the hilichurls echoed throughout the earthly walls and the next moment.... it's dead silence.

You snapped your eyes open for the world, only to see a beautiful pair of strong golden eyes staring right back at you.

It was a young man with hair as dark as the night sky and teal undertones, he was clearly out of breath and was stiff as a wooden broad but he never took his eyes off you.

...there was something about him that made you feel uneasy, that look in his bewitching golden eyes...

As if he was looking at something... precious.

Why does he look so familiar though...?

"H-Have we met before?" You blurted out, completely mesmerized by this otherworldly beauty in front of you.

"..." He didn't respond, cautiously putting you down onto the ground and his lips trembling slightly, suppressing his emotions in check as he examined your face up close.

His hand cupped your face, his thumb wiping the blood off your cheek gently "...You should be more cautious of your surroundings next time"

His tone was harsh but it's like your heart knew that it wasn't intended to come out like that.

The young man had his back towards you and just as he was about to disappear along with the wind, you cried out "Wait...!"

He paused, slightly glancing over his shoulder to you but you could hardly see his face from where you were "...What is it?"

"I want to know... just who..." You looked up with pleasing eyes, struggling to breathe. You didn't understand why you were acting the way you are now but you knew that if you don't it now, you might regret it later on...

"Xiao"

You stared at him, surprised when he turned to look at you with a facial expression that raised even more questions; the looks of his eyes were soft...as if he was at peace from all of the burdens that shackled him to this world.

"As long as you're in Liyue, Call by my name and I'll be right there when you need me"

...and then he vanished to thin air, leaving you staring at the empty space…

[breyito]

Fear your sins, not your monsters: Part Two: Tortured Souls

@painlandweek Day 2: Leyends

Part 1 Part 3 Chapters: 2/4 Fandom: Dead Boy Detectives (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence Relationships: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne/Charles Rowland, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne & Charles Rowland, Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne & Crystal Palace Characters: Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Charles Rowland (DCU) Additional Tags: Protective Edwin Paine | Edwin PayneUnhinged Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Violence, Torture, Hurt Charles Rowland (DCU), Sickfic, love language: acts of service, painlandweek, BAMF Edwin Paine | Edwin Payne, Angst with a Happy Ending

A/N: Goodness gracious. This chapter is a behemoth. I think I have not written so much in one go since...2019? When the fires of wrath at Tony's death still lived within me lmao (im still mad, but im also tired now) Anyways!!! This took so long because the scenes just kept needing to be written out and out! And the dialogue! So.much.dialogue. Also, WARNING: there are some descriptions and threats of rape/non-con (about ocs and towards Crystal), so, *please* be careful. These ghosts are some real scumbags. As always, English is not my first language and I have no beta. Also, it's near 5AM, so. Any edits that need doing I'll do later. Enjoy!

Part Two: Tortured Souls

“What-t the fuck do you even want!? ” screamed Charles, after the thirteenth time he was transported from the rocks on the shore onto the cold concrete floor. He punched the floor in frustration but it didn’t make any difference: he wouldn’t feel it even if he tore out chunks of it. He’d tried that, digging his way out, but it was no use; the fucking room returned to its original state no matter what he did. 

(He’d also tried to break the iron bars on the window, but no matter how much of his hands he burned while trying, it was useless. The only thing it did was multiply the pain when he got thrown into the freezing depths again.)

He clenched his teeth while clothing himself again. He heard a giggle that sent another shiver down his spine and to the very core of his essence. 

“Oh, I’m just softening you up, kid.” the witch answered, an incorporeal voice just in his ear. Charles jumped and whirled around, but there was no one. 

“Softening me for what !?” he insisted. “How long do you plan to keep doing this for!?”

“Well…until you no longer have any fight in you, of course.” She giggled again. “That’s the best way to break in a new toy.” 

“I’m not a bloody toy !” he yelled, incandescently furious. The first dregs of a new kind of dread were emerging, and he didn’t like that one bit.

“You are now. Mmm, the things he’ll do to you when he comes back…”she teased, like the mere thought gave her pleasure. She sighed. “It’ll be delicious .”

Charles choked on his helplessness, and tried really hard to be more angry than scared. He almost manages to convince himself he succeeded. 

“See you later, baby. The lake needs time to freeze over, you know.” Just like that, the heavy presence was gone. 

Dawn had come while they talked. Still shivering, Charles curled up on the concrete floor, trying to place himself on the faint rays of sunlight. Not for the first time in his afterlife, he wished he could feel their heat as well as he could feel this permanent cold. It felt like he had never known warmth. Like the golden light of a lantern reflected on a pair of soft green eyes had only ever been an illusion.

Still, he kept Edwin’s face on his mind. The furrow of his eyebrows, the twitch of his nose when he wanted to say something and knew he shouldn’t, the sharp angle of his cheekbones….the tempting bow of his lower lip, just begging to be kissed. 

God…I wished I had just told you. I’m sorry, Edwin. I’m so sorry.  

—- —-- —--

—- —-- —--

By the time Crystal’s alarm went off, it was far past noon already. A part of her wanted to yell at Edwin for letting her oversleep when they were in a crisis, but as she looked around the office and noticed the complete state of chaos it was in, the words died in her throat. 

Edwin was dressed impeccably, though, sharp and without a hair out of place. Somehow, despite being only in his vest and coat, he seemed…more put together than usual. When the light hit him just right, he looked like a threat . It was unsettling, and made her feel ill at ease. But she pushed through it, because this was her friend, worried sick about their other missing friend.

Still, the way his fists kept meeting one another, and the now black gloves he wore gave away his agitation; and choked her up a bit. He had Charles’ necklace around his neck, and he was squeezing it between his fingers after every third time he smashed his knuckles together.

“Hey” she said, as she stood up from the couch.

“Good morning.” Edwin said, turning. “We have plenty to do today, but since the places we need to get to are not open before sundown, we have time for you to grab a bite.”

“I’m fine-”she tried to say.

“Crystal.” he interrupted. “You are alive , and thus have certain basic needs that have to be met for your presence to be beneficial to Charles’ rescue.” He took a deep breath. “If you insist on becoming a hindrance by refusing to take those necessary steps; I have no problem leaving you bound here in the office, until I get him back.” The tone of his voice left her no doubt he was completely serious, and would, in fact, leave her trapped in this room.

“Fuck, fuck , allright.” she conceded, as she put on her shoes. “But you will fill me in on what you found in the meantime.” Edwin tilted his head. 

“Very well.” with that he turned around and crossed through the door. Cursing under her breath, she hurried to follow him.

—-- —-- —--

 Once they were situated in a caffe with her meal in front of her and her earpiece very visible to avoid unwanted attention, she gestured for him to explain. Edwin, sitting across the table, cleared his throat and started.

“As we suspected, I cannot find him through usual tracking spells. This magic user has hidden their signatures too well for that.” He shifted in the seat, looking around before taking out his notebook. “However, I can track the ghost that hired us and lead us right to the trap.”

“Why haven’t you done that already then?”

“Because, first of all, at least back in the church, he had items that made him stronger and managed to escape after hurting Charles but just before he was taken and all the mirrors shattered.”

“So he’s tricky, is what you mean.”

“Exactly. We have no way of knowing if the witch provided him those items solely for the trap or if he has more of them. I’d hate to be ill prepared to face him, especially with you in tow.”

“I can handle myself.” she refuted, tone harsh.

“Crystal.” Edwin waited until she looked him in the eye, which was rare for him so she did. “I may not be very good at social interactions, but I did notice the way he was looking at you. It made me uncomfortable, so I can only imagine what it was like for you.”

“Well.” she said with a strained smile, eyes focused on her plate. “It’s not like it's the first time.” Crystal saw him hesitating on the corner of her eye, and then felt a slight pressure on her sleeve. She looked up and saw him give her a pained smile back.

“I am under no impression that what I experience when I use my disguises is anywhere near the real life, constant feeling of being under scrutiny and threat from those kinds of…men. And while the hardships I suffered when I was alive may give me some insight, it is not the same. But it is not normal and it is not okay.” He looked away for a tick before looking back at her. “In the future, we’ll try to screen these types of clients better. If they cannot treat you with the appropriate respect, they do not deserve our help.” He squeezed her arm once before letting go.

Done with sentimentalities for the time being, he leaned back and busied himself with his notes. Crystal, feeling like she had been punched in the throat, focused back on her meal and tried not to cry.

When enough time had passed that she felt she could speak without sounding choked, she set down her glass and tapped the table to get his attention back.

“You said we needed to go somewhere that wouldn’t be ‘open’ until night. Where is that? Some sort of library, a supernatural store…?”

“Not this time. Are you familiar with the term ‘black market’?” The ghost asked.

“Are you kidding? There’s a black market for magical stuff?” she hissed. “Wouldn’t that just be a regular magical market or whatever?”

“Oh, no. The supernatural world works on complicated networks. Usually, for regular cases, we can go to above board individuals or shops. But sometimes, less… moral objects are needed, and the Obscure Mart is the ideal place to obtain them.”

“Obscure Mart? Damn, you guys really love your theatrics, don’t you?”

“Of course.” he smirked. “That’s half the fun of all of it.” She was tempted to ask what the other half was, but feared getting off track.

“What do we need from this black market then?”

“Ideally, truth spells talismans. The iron chains to contain him are already inside the bag.” he pointed to Charles’ backpack. “Then, maybe some holy oil. Our reserve is quite small, and I’d rather have a larger circle than a small one.”

“Wait a minute. Holy oil? Isn’t that the stuff that can disintegrate a ghost if they touch it?”

“Indeed. Do you remember the abandoned warehouse of the Mc’Call case?” at her nod, he continued. “My plan is to catch unawares, and push him through a mirror into the building. I have already set up a salt circle to avoid him escaping, but I believe a holy fire around that circle will be better.”

“Isn’t that super dangerous?”

“It has its risks, but I think it is worth it. Besides, once you get there, you’ll put out the fire.” He adds.

“I mean, the warehouse is not far from here, but  how do we know that this guy won’t be in, like, Tanzania?” 

“These types usually have a pattern. As we’ve seen, he’s lazy, a pervert and from London. I don’t think he’s gone far at all.”

“Fine, ok. Also, truth spells? Couldn’t you just” she waves her fingers “do one?”

“Not at all. As a form of incantation, truth spells are useless. Truth spells talismans are one of the trickiest bits of magic and do work. The runes need to be in a specific pattern, written down in a special paper, with a particular ink, prepared in a confluence of the ley lines and only in certain phases of the moon.”  

“Well, damn. Off to the black market we go, then.” 

Ignoring the alarmed look from the waitress, she left a tip and got up to follow the ghost boy. 

—-- —-- —--

—- —-- —--

The entrance to the Obscure Mart was hidden in an ancient alleyway, behind a brick wall. Crystal had to bite her tongue not to make any Harry Potter related comments. (She had no desire to listen to another rant about how Rowling did the whole community a huge disservice, since she’d have to defend the world of Harry Potter but not the author because fuck that terf; and she hasn’t got the energy for that).

The market was a lively place, if a bit well, dark. Actual-for-realsies torches were the main source of light. The fires were of multiple colours though, which is cool. There were some stores she could see, but it seemed to be mostly tables and tents at the sides of the very long alley, with some narrow corridors on both sides. It’s not empty, but it’s not packed either. The first person that waved at them smiled, then looked behind Edwin at Crystal, and swallowed.

“Hi, Edwin!” They look behind the teens again. “Where’s Charles?” They ask, barely keeping the smile on their face.

“Taken.” Edwin said, curt. The person talking to them paled and then cursed softly. Crystal bit her lip not to question the wisdom of admitting such a thing, keeping in mind the ghost’s warning before going in: she was not to speak unless directly questioned.. “I need you to point me in the direction of Garreth Gadget?” he asked. Crystal blinked twice and tried not to snort at the name. 

“Y-yeah, sure. He’s on the seventh entrance tonight.” With barely a nod in acknowledgment, Edwin kept walking. 

The psychic girl saw the person that was just talking to them whisper something in the ear of their neighbour, and how this kept repeating as they walked down the road. As she turned to see the reactions of the beings around them she wished she could take the time to gape at all the crazy stuff. There was a giant ass tank with a giant ass glowing and mean looking octopus wearing a tophat that suddenly pulled all his limbs into a little ball and tried to hide behind his tophat . 

“-but who would be this stupid ?” asked a green girl with wings, fluttering agitatedly around her equally colourful friends. Crystal was calling her fairy for now and save the terminology for another day.

  “...yeah, probably someone new…” a sinister matronly ghost whispered to the man next to her, fussing over her wares.

“-ou think we’ll have another Bog Witch situation?” asked a… spooky talking tree?? Everyone that heard him shivered in unison. 

“ -uck, I hope not. That’d be…horrific.” answered the black cat with the equally black kittens.

Seeing as Edwin had gotten ahead of her anyways, she turned around to question the cat. That was the creature she was most used to, even if they were usually very rude.

“What ‘Bog Witch situation’?” she asked, intrigued. 

“Shhh!” The kittens shushed her in unison, eyes wide. They all hurried to hide behind their mother.

“You don’t know about the Bog Witch?” the cat asked, tilting her head.

“ What Bog Witch?”

“Exactly!” the green fairy answered, nodding. 

“No, really. What Bog Witch? And why is she so important?” Crystal was starting to lose her patience. There was a very awkward pause. “I’m new to this supernatural shit, alright? Is it some sort of legend or lore I don’t know about? Does it have anything to do with Edwin?”

“... it’s more like an urban legend. About what happened to her.” whispered a goth human boy. She assumed he was either a psychic or a warlock. He kept looking around, like Edwin would suddenly pop up out of nowhere.

“More like what that boy did to her.” muttered the ghost of a firefighter. 

“It’s not like it wasn’t deserved.” defended the matronly ghost.

“And what happened to her? Did Edwin… kill her?”Crystal asked, apprehensive.

“Oh, no.” the boy snorted. She relaxed slightly. “ Way worse. He erased her from existence. She and her Bog.”

“Which was an overreaction, in my opinion.” added the tree. 

“Erased her from existence…? That can happen? Wouldn’t people notice a whole ecosystem disappearing one day to the next?”

“Not in this case. When we say he ‘erased her from existence’ we mean completely . There are no traces, no records, no memories of them. Us supernatural creatures are the only ones that remember the Witch or the Bog.” Explained the fairy.

“Only faint traces, tho.” The firefighter added. “I assume as a warning.”

“You assume correctly.” Edwin stated, suddenly at her side. Everyone jumped back and quickly scampered away. He grabbed her arm and began leading her back down the road.

“Wait, wait, wait.” she said, stopping. Edwin sighed loudly and turned around, one eyebrow raised. “A warning about what?” she asked.

“About what I am willing to do to get Charles back. There are not many things that fall outside that list.” Crystal shook her head, incredulous.

Before she could question him further Edwin turned around snarling and grabbed a ghost by the shoulder, slamming him against the wall with a single hand. Said ghost was a guy, maybe in his thirties, and looked like the cartoon of a dealer, big brown trench coat and everything.

“Trying to avoid me, Garreth?” Edwin asked.

“Look, kid-”the man started, before yelping as said boy pressed his thumb deep into his clavicle. “Wait, wait-! Whatever you need, okay? I wasn’t sure I’d have what you wanted-”

“I need some truth spells talismans.” Edwin interrupted him. “I’m prepared to pay you handsomely for them.”

“ Truth spells ? I’m afraid I can’t help you there, mate. You know they are incredibly hard to come by-”

“I do. Which is why I know only you would have them tonight.”

“I’m sorry, lad, but-”

“I’ll trade you the immersive copy of the Kamasutra you always try to get your paws on.” The man’s eyes darkened immediately, but he shook his head.

“ Very tempting offer but-”

“Or I can just steal your coat and slice it open until it spills everything you have in there.” Edwin extended his free hand, and swallowing, Crystal put the knife he had given her earlier in it.  

“I’ll take it! Of course I will.” Edwin backed off to let him search the inside pockets of his trench then. “I was planning on using it on my lass, but fuck it. These birds can’t mouth off, can they?” he said, licking his lips. 

Crystal saw Edwin’s shoulders tense in disgust, but knew he couldn’t grimace; so she grimaced for both of them. Garreth finally took a single sheet of paper and gave it to them.

“It’s the only one I’ve got!” he defended himself at their unimpressed looks. “The wife is tricky, alright? Can never get her with these…”he mumbled. 

Edwin inhaled deeply and took a book from inside his own pocket, waving it in front of the man. 

“Holy oil, then, for the rest of it.”

“Hey-!”

“I can always give you just half the book and you can see if it still functions as intended.” he threatened.

“Fine, fine!” the man conceded. “Jeez.” He took a little clay pot from another pocket, tapping the waxed seal as he handed it over. “Straight from Jerusalem.” 

Edwin pressed the book against Garreth’s chest and turned around, pocketing the talisman and the oil. They both began walking, ignoring the wet sounds as the man licked his lips over and over.

They also ignored the way the rest of the beings in the Obscure Mart hunched over, some even hiding under their tables. On the corner of her eye she saw the octopus still in a little ball, just with ink spilled around it. As they left the market and arrived at the normal alley, Crystal stopped Edwin with a hand on his arm.  

“This isn’t like you, Edwin.” she said, softly. “This…brute force? The constant threat of violence? It’s like…”

“I’m Charles?” he finished, sarcastic. “We are not so different in our devotion as it might seem, Crystal.”

“I don’t buy that.” she said. Edwin let out a dry chuckle. “He’s our friend, but-”

“Crystal, you've seen him without me. You have never seen me without him .” he interrupted, eyes stone cold. “I know you think you know how our dynamic works. You think I keep him contained when I’m around, don’t you? Leashed , as some would say?” he smiled, and it was terrifying.  “Oh, dear Crystal....You have got no clue how savage I can be in the shadow of his absence.” 

Crystal took a step back, and Edwin seemed to become smaller. He turned his back on her and rubbed his hand all over his face. 

“I don’t like what I become when he’s threatened, Crystal.” he admitted, looking at the sky. “I’m aware that I can be quite brutal, and that regret is not in my vocabulary when these things happen.” He inhaled. “But this is the only way I know to get him back.”

“Edwin…” she whispered, tearing up.

“He’s always protecting me , saving me . Just yesterday he got injured and distracted because I couldn’t defend myself. Now I have to be strong for the both of us, and be tough enough to do whatever is necessary to save him.” 

Edwin wiped off a teardrop from his cheek, but more just kept falling. Crystal thought ‘Fuck it, they are my boys and I’m not about to lose either one of them’ and hugged him tight. Surprising her, Edwin hugged her back.

“I can’t lose him, Crystal, I can’t .” he whispered, voice trembling. “If you can’t stomach my methods I don’t blame you, but-”

“No, no. ” she interrupted him. “This is for our friend, and as long as you don’t hurt anyone innocent-”

“I promise.” Edwin said. 

“Then you do whatever you need to do to find him.” They separated and smiled weakly at each other, wiping the wetness off their faces. “Now, c’mon, we have a perv ghost to find.”

—-- —-- —--  

—- —-- —--

After finishing the holy oil circle and doing the tracking spell, they had an address. They found their perverted ghost perving on some girls in a club’s bathroom downtown, of course. Crystal setted off the fire alarm so that the bar emptied as Edwin surprised the man. As soon as she saw them disappear through the surface, she turned around and left. Fortunately it was the middle of the week, so her Uber should get to their location quickly enough.

Edwin pushed the ghost through the mirror with a surge of magic, right into the warehouse’s trap. The circle of holy fire was already alight. Edwin quickly followed suit and broke the mirror to prevent an escape. While getting iron shackles to bound the other ghost with, the man shook off the effects of the spell and got up. 

“You again, little boy?” he mocked. “Didn’t get enough of this, did you?” he laughed as he threw a marked stone at Edwin. The boy knocked the stone off course with the chain, and took advantage of the extended arm to get the cuff around it. “ Bloody hell !” the man cursed, trying to shake the metal burning him loose. He desperately patted his pockets with his other arm, trying to reach another stone loaded spell. “Why isn’t this burning you!? ” he yelled.

“It is.” Edwin answered, before reciting an incantation in Latin. “I just don’t care.” He let go of one of the chains as it seemed to become alive, and sent them in the direction of the other ghost. 

The man dodged and tried to run, but Edwin pulled from the chain already around his arm and he fell to the floor. The enchanted chain snaked around the man until he was covered in them, then pulled both arms behind his back and locked them there. The man fell to his knees, and Edwin couldn’t stop thinking how much he looked like a worm. 

Once that was done, he waited for Crystal so she could snuff off the fire. Ignoring the snarls and the cursing, Edwin took off his notebook from his pocket and revised his notes once more. The list of questions he needed to ask hadn’t changed, but it made him feel better. 

About half an hour later, Crystal arrived. Immediately, she broke the salt circle with her shoe and snuffed the oil with the short incantation Edwin had taught her. Edwin nodded in thanks and opened his mouth, but she cut him off.

“I’m staying.”  

Edwin agreed to it, shighing. 

“Fuck” laughed the ghost. “The black bitch is here too? What a party!” he whooped. They both ignored him. 

Taking the talisman out of his pocket, Edwin slapped it against the other ghost’s throat. The ink burned off the paper as it transferred to the man’s skin.

“Do you know where Charles is?” was the first and most important question Edwin had. The man smirked and opened his mouth to give some bullshit answer.

“Of course I don’t, that wench gave me one job and I did it.” Instead, he answered honestly. “What was that?” he asked, alarmed. “What the fuck was that!?” he yelled as he got no response.

“What is your connection with the person that took Charles?” Edwin continued, not letting the disappointment choke him. Of course this lackey didn’t know, it would have been too easy otherwise.

The man tried to bite his lip, but it was useless. The runes glowed and he had to answer.

“That witch?” he laughs. “She was my late mate’s girl. Awesome catch, she is.”

“Why?” asked Crystal.

“Lil’ bit hard to find a bitch that knows how to enjoy herself, huh?” he winked at her as he licked his lips and the blood he spilled. “Hell, sometimes I think she enjoyed it more than we did.”

“...enjoyed what?” asked Edwin, confused. The man laughed as the runes glowed, head thrown back.

“All the girls and boys we completely destroyed.” He said, proudly. Both teens froze . “Fuck, we had such a good run too! There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do, wouldn’t get, for him. Chains, chain saws ? Done. Knives, blowtorches, pliers? Easy. Even got us a speculum once.” he kept on, a sickening longing look on his face. “That was…a hell of a week.”

“Stop.” said Edwin, feeling nauseous. Fortunately, the runes glowed after that command too, rendering the man silent. While the other ghost silently laughed at them, Edwin checked on Crystal. She nodded at him to continue, swallowing. 

“What happened to your…friend?” The man bit his tongue again, but the words kept coming.

“I told you, didn’t I? He died. We both did. Went in a fucking gaze of glory.”

“The police killed you.” Edwin stated. “I don’t remember anything about them stopping a pair of…serial rapists.”

“Oi, have some respect for our skills, we also killed them.” he laughed again at their faces. ”And the pigs never found out!” he howled. “Thought we were just robbers, didn't they?”

The fact that these two monsters were still undiscovered sat like lead on the teens' stomachs. They looked at each other and nodded at the same time. They would get the names of the victims, try and give their families some closure. (Make sure those poor souls went to rest in Heaven.)

“And where is your friend now? Is he working with the witch?” Edwin asked. He lasted longer this time, a trickle of blood getting to his chin. 

“Nah. I saw him get dragged down by something inside a red light, didn’t I? So I ran. Ran back to our flat, and there I found her. Turned out the shite she spouted about energies and magic and whatever bollocks was true.” He shook his head and tilted it to the side, leaving it there.

“And then what happened? What does she want with Charles?” As the rapist’s ghost bit his tongue, the blood finally reached the runes, and cut through them. They glowed once, twice and then dulled. “No!” Edwing screamed. “What does she want with Charles!?”

The other ghost just kept laughing. 

“What are you gonna do now, little boy!? All outta spells already!?” he mocked. He spat on the floor and looked at them with a predatory smile that centred on Crystal. “If you want to hear me talk so much, I can sure tell you what I’d do to this black wench.” He licked his teeth. “Usually my tastes aren’t so exotic , but I’ll make an exception for you, birdie. You look…just so -” he’s interrupted by said ‘birdie’ kicking him in the balls. He wheezed, still laughing.

Edwin, very calmly, walked Crystal back a few steps and stood in front of her, so she wouldn’t have to see that monster’s face.

“It seems I will be extracting the information physically.” he stated, taking off his coat. “You should leave, Crystal.” he said as he took an ornate dagger from his pocket.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to…read him?” she asked, wanting nothing more than leave this place where this monster felt so fucking comfortable. The last thing she wanted was to read this fucking jerk and fill her head with the horrors he had committed, but she would if Edwin couldn’t do it.

“It’s not necessary-” he started.

“Yeah!” the man screamed behind them. “Sure you don’t want her to do this?” he laughed. “Your iron knives don’t scare me, boy.”

Edwin lifted an eyebrow in question to Crystal and she nodded. She started walking away as he turned around and smiled at the bound man.

“Oh, this isn’t iron.” he said, clicking his tongue. Edwin waited until the sound of the door closing before continuing. “This is cursed silver . This is not just going to burn you. This is going to ground you in your body in a way you haven’t felt since the day you died.” He carefully traced the edge of the man’s right eye with the blade. “And then, it’s going to turn each and every one of those sensations into agony .” He laughed. The other ghost swallowed, paling. 

“You think I can’t take a little bit of pain?” he still asked, full of bravado.

“ You took my partner away from me .” Edwin snarled. “Do you think I’m only going to inflict a little bit of pain on you?”  

“You wouldn’t.” he objected “You’re not corrupt enough.” the man stated, trying to sound certain but looking wearily at the blade.

“Haven’t you heard? I spent 73 years in Hell.” He slowly walked around the bound ghost, to stop behind him and whisper. “And among my own suffering, I learned many, many things there.” Edwin took off his gloves and let them fall to the floor one by one as he kept walking.

“How to unmake someone apart piece by piece is just one of the lessons.” He caught the terrified gaze of the rapist ghost. “I bet you think you know all about that, don’t you?” He stopped and looked him dead in the eyes. “Only you never had the chance to do it all over again. And again. And again .  So why don’t you let me show you?”

—-- —-- —-- 

Crystal walked outside feeling defeated. She hated it, but she thought that perhaps Edwin would not be able to do it, after the talk they had earlier. And then she would have to read that disgusting mind. She jumped on top of a pile of pallets and shoved her headphones on her head, putting on a metal playlist, just in case.

Not too early, either.

Some really ear-shattering screams begin a few minutes after she leaves. She tried very, very hard to convince herself the screams she heard were coming from the artists.

—-- —-- —-- 

By the time the screams had turned into choked whimpers, hours had passed. Crystal had resorted to putting on her headphones and turning her music to the highest volume, to ignore it. She knew the man inside was the worst kind of scum on this Earth, but he was still a person. He deserved to be punished for all he had done before and what he had done to Charles. This was all for information, she kept telling herself. She would do a lot of things not to lose another friend.

As Edwin walked out of the warehouse, just in his vest and shirt, she noticed he was… covered in blood would be an overstatement, but not by much. His sleeves were dyed red in places and his bare hands were bright pink. As he approached her, he did a movement with one of his hands and the same black smoke she had seen earlier as they did the tracking spell cleaned it all up, almost… devouring the blood he had had on his person.

“You learned anything useful?” she asked, hopeful.

“Yes, rather.” Edwin answered, before his coat wrapped him up and he fixed his gloves. “We should be going, though, we have no time to lose.”

“What? Why?” Crystal said as she jumped down the pallets she had been sitting on to follow him. Red light spilling from the broken windows of the building was her answer. “He’s moving on? Why?” she asked, completely baffled, as she reached his side. The dude had seen his rapist BFF being dragged down to Hell.

“I…convinced him that it was in his best interest to not be within my reach when this case is through. I suppose he thought his chances of surviving Hell are greater than his chances of surviving me .” 

She swallowed a few times, shocked. Noticing she had stopped, Edwin turned around.

“Shall we, Crystal?” he asked, eyebrow lifting.

[worlds-worst-ships]

Do you ship it?

[supernaturalfreewill]

You brushed the soil from your palms as Dean held out an ice cold beer for you that he’d retrieved from a cooler in the Impala. “Thanks,” you said, accepting it. The condensation dripped ice cold over your fingers.

He popped the top on his own and took a swig before glancing back over at you. He smiled and you felt your heart jump in your chest. 

“What?” you prompted him. 

“You’ve got some dirt on your cheek,” he said, gesturing to his own cheekbone.

“Oh.” You swiped a few fingers over it but Dean let out a low laugh. 

“Yeah, never mind. It’s way worse now,” he said.

You looked at your palms in the glow of the lantern. They were still rather dirty. “Yeah, that makes sense. Oh, well.” You looked out over the stillness of the graveyard, blanketed in velvety folds of shadow. “Didn’t you say graveyard dirt is used in some spells or something? Should we grab some before we go?”

“Mmm,” Dean hummed, swallowing another gulp of his beer, “Yeah. Probably a good idea. You never know when you’ll need shit like that.” The only sound for a moment was the chirp of a lone cricket nearby and a quiet rustling as the breeze tickled the leaves on the large sycamore overhead.

You let out a light laugh and Dean met your eyes again. “Of all the places you could bring me on a date... a salt and burn case in a cemetery.” You shook your head and he shrugged.

“Yeah, but would any of them have been as memorable? Hey—you said you were curious about the hands on stuff. It was a nice, easy case... I thought you’d enjoy it! Besides, it’s nice and quiet here and we’ve got the place to ourselves... no nosy neighbors.” He flashed you that boyish smirk that drove you wild. “It’s nicely landscaped. Well-manicured lawn...”

“Except for the giant pile of freshly disturbed earth and six foot deep hole,” you pointed out, picking up a handful of soil and playfully tossing it at him. It made a satisfying sound as it sprayed against his leather jacket.

“Yeah, except that,” he laughed. 

“Well, listen, if you think you’re getting lucky in a graveyard you’ve got another thing coming...”

“Damn,” he laughed, clearing his throat a second later. “Can I suggest we move to the back seat of the car then?”

You felt your face flush with heat but laughed heartily. “On the first official date and you think I’m going to agree to that? Nice try, Dean.”

“Ahh, well,” he shrugged. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Can’t blame a guy for tryin’.” 

[blu3cl0v3rs]

Mmm having Morro Thoughts.

So y'know how I usually write Wu as a good dad n stuff? Well, I've been undelusionalizing myself (read: watching the canon show and discussing it with friends) and I've come to the conclusion that Wu was probably not the best when it came to raising Morro.

Obv he got better when raising the Ninja, but he was definitely not a model figure for parenting with Morro.

Wu would be very standoffish, unclear, and distant. He also glorified the Green Ninja heavily, and almost immediately shoving Morro on that pedestal was probably not a good idea.

It shows in the flashbacks that he didn't exactly give Morro breaks when training, unlike how he'd only let Kai train once on the spinjitzu course in the Pilots. The one and only time we've seen Wu "hug" Morro was when saving him from being eaten by a Grundle.

So yeah.

Have this snippet I wrote in Discord

Morro picked up a framed picture, and held it facing Wu.

It depicted Wu and the Ninja, a proud smile breached the old man's face as he gazed upon his students. It was back when Lloyd defeated the Overlord.

"You never looked at me like this," Morro's voice waveres unusually.

Wu stayed silent.

"Y-you- You gived them breaks, you tell them you're proud of them, you- you hug them. For no reason! Jus-... Just because you can!" He spoke louder as he continued, and his lips quivered when he finished. He desperatedly held back tears.

"Wa... was I anything to you?"

It was barely a whisper.

"anSWER ME!" The wind swirled in the large room, and everything inside shuddered. "Was I anything to you?! Or was I just a chance at Destiny?" He spat the last word out.

The silence from the bearded man spoke the only answer Morro never wanted to hear.

"You were everything to me." Morro murmured angrily.

His grip faltered, still not used to his revived body, and the glass covering the picture cracked. It crossed over Wu's fond eyes and wrinkled grin.

Also apparently Wu doesn't light a lantern in DotD for Morro??? What the fuck????????

[samantha-and-nellie]

i finally read “the lilac tunnel: my journey with samantha” (shoutout to @cannon-memely for letting me know that i should actually take the time to check it out!) and i have Thoughts. full reactions from reading it under the cut

to preface this (since there is going to be a tiny bit of snark and general silliness), i did overall have a good time reading this book! i have some qualms with the storylines they chose to put in there, but i do think that the journey books are one of the smarter moves they made during the beforever era. i remember really loving the “you choose” history books as a kid, and i think the interactive component is appealing and generally a great way to keep children engaged. i could absolutely ramble on more about historical fiction for children, but let’s just jump into my (semi-chaotic) thoughts about “the lilac tunnel.”

first of all, FASCINATING that samantha apparently has a swing at grandmary’s house, since i’m pretty sure that it’s never mentioned in the original books. do we think it was lydia and gard’s, or do we think gard (or even hawkins) put it up for sam?

samantha’s got ORPHAN SYNDROME and she’s got it bad

okay. this is probably my main gripe with this book, but having this book set pre-nellie (and thereby having on option to essentially be nellie but under grandmary’s employment???) is bizarre af

on the flip side, the fact that nellie isn’t around really highlights how lonely samantha is, and i think we all know that I’m SOOOO normal when it comes to themes of grief and loneliness in samantha’s stories

WHY TF DOES EDDIE HAVE SUCH A LARGE ROLE IN THIS STORY. DEAR GOD PUT HIM BACK WHERE HE CAME FROM

elsa??? having a prominent role in a samantha story??? what sorcery is this???

yeah, super duper excited to have it reinforced that samantha is ready to accuse servants of stealing so long as they aren’t the servants that she likes

i think we’ve all had nightmares in which eddie ryland appears

samantha having an understanding of the fact that she’s transgressing by being friendly with a servant girl when this book is set prior to her relationship with nellie makes me wonder how much child workers she has tried to befriend /hj

saint louis fair mention for the movie girlies:)

i wonder if the description of grandmary’s outfit on page 30 is meant to be a reference to this dan andreason illustration of her?

the magic lantern show is really cute:) (might be thinking about writing fanfic of this but with nellie…)

samantha being shorter than the protagonist of this story after being the tall one with nellie is honestly pretty funny. smol bean samantha

awwwww gard and cornelia

HEY HEY HEY 

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

BEFOREVER I’M ABOUT TO THROW HANDS

anyways, apparently we need to re-traumatize samantha with near-drownings at every chance we get:) this is not messed up at all:)

guess we better pretend like that never freaking happened

… okay the locket origin story is pretty cute

this book has such insane emotional whiplash. what do you MEAN one piney point storyline is about nearly drowning and the other is about a moonlight swim with cornelia?!?

someone should really draw fanart of samantha wearing the protagonist’s capris (big bow and all)

tbh, kinda confused by the bike plot line in this story, cause didn’t they incorporate the bicycle short story into the main beforever books?

new career path dropped for samantha, folks! (medical field)

mmm the fear about illness is getting a little too relatable here

i love how much dress up there is in this book:) literally would’ve rocked my world as a child

not the ENTIRE RYLAND CLAN coming over for dinner. a formal dinner with eddie actually sounds so horrific

… guess that’s the note we’re ending on for me. thanks for reading my rambles, and feel free to let me know if there’s other journey books i should check out in the future!

[digitaldoeslmk]

Hello there, so I kinda wanted to ask, how's Wukong's attitude in this AU? After reaching buddhahood, he is a good guy now? Or does he still do crimes?

Pd: your artstyle is so pretty and I love how you're working on this AU to make it more JTTW accurate :)

thank you sm nonnie!! and mmm define "good guy" xD

my Wukong is a bodhisattva, meaning he's forsaken true buddhahood to help all living beings. however, his way of "helping" is Weird ahdjahwbwd

he's helped to create a truce between human and demons, and thus made their climb out of samsara easier. however, he also allows a lot of "bad" things to happen for the sake of one's betterment and inner growth. as an enlightened being, he may be called upon to defeat distractions, temptations and illusions, but he leaves the fighting up to the one who called on him. he also tolerates and even encourages certain "crimes" for the sake of civil disobedience against unjust systems, and for the sake of awakening to the illusion of control and man-made rules.

he also posts memes online to troll people jhadjhawb

he's very close to his depiction on the animated movie of the Lotus Lantern (it's on yt here, he shows up on the 47min mark) tbh, but with a more modern and sassy flair like his show characterization.

[colebrookstone-irl]

I maybe be a day late (Got caught up in quite a few things...) BUT I, have a story to tell 😌

*Insert the ENTIRE DotD transcript below cut*(I wasn't gonna type all of it so have the transcript.)

(The Yin-Yang Eclipse appears onscreen before transitioning to the Sea of Sand.)

Kai: (Lands his bike off the hill) Move, move, move. We're running out of time. Pick up the pace.

Cole: Yes, ninja. It's up to us to save the day... (lands his roadster off the hill) again.

Nya: Roger that, Kai. Zane, do you have a read?

Zane: ETA too late, unless we break all speed limits. Increase velocity.

P.I.X.A.L.: Already on it.

Wu: (comes on Lloyd's screen intercom) Ninja, I have reached the rendezvous point. Where are you?

Lloyd: The museum is still 5 clicks away. We're on our way.

Jay: (flies by in his Jet) Look out, kids. Jay to save the day. Hey, race you there, Lloyd.

Lloyd: I still don't understand how you got the Supersonic Raider Jet.

Jay: Uh, because I called dibs. Guy who calls dibs first gets it, right, Cole? (Cole drifts off in his vehicle) Right, Cole? Cole?! Let me go get him! He's drifting off again! (turns around his jet)

Cole: (Fidgeting with controls, terrified, his hands ghosting through them) No. No. Come back. Come... No. (vehicle drifts up a mountain and nearly hits Jay)

Jay: Cole! Look out!

Cole: Oh. Uh. Oh. (lands) S-sorry, Jay.

Jay: Whew. I know you're a ghost, but I'm still in the living world, and I'd kinda like to keep it that way.

Wu: Ninja, time is of the essence.

Cole: He's right. Engage.

Lloyd: We have one last shot if we wanna make it. Combine for maximum impact.

(Team combines their vehicles except Cole and Zane's.)

Kai: (attaches his bike to the left side of Lloyd's) Locked.

Nya: (attaches her bike to the right side of Lloyd's) Loaded.

Jay: (attaches jet to the top) And jet speed, reporting for duty sir.

(The different Ninja vehicles all transform into Ultra Stealth Raider.)

Lloyd: Fire all engines.

(The ninja race off in their vehicles towards Ninjago City. They arrive at the museum.)

Jay: (Panting) Master Wu, are we too late?

Wu: There may yet be time. (points towards eclipse)

Ninja: Ninja, go.

(The ninja all Spinjitzu into the museum.)

(The ninja head out the gift shop)

Jay: (laughing) Mission accomplished.

Lloyd: Yeah, good thing we got to the gift shop before it closed.

Zane: Yes, a Day of the Departed celebration is incomplete without a Day of the Departed lantern.

Nya: Oh, this is my favorite holiday. I love all the lights.

Kai: And the costumes. (gestures toward kids who just finished trick-or-treating)

Jay: And the candy. Hit me, kid.

(One with a pilot costume tosses Jay a piece of white candy into his mouth)

Jay: Mmm. Best day of the year.

Wu: Yes, enjoy the fun and festivities, but never lose sight of the true meaning of the Day of the Departed. Today is about remembrance. We light lanterns to remember our ancestors, and to settle our debts.

Jay: Yeah, got it, got it. Lanterns, ancestors, debts, but candy too, right?

(a man in a red suit with a rather long mustache comes to greet the ninja)

Dr. Saunders: The ninja. The Master Wu.

Wu: Dr. Saunders.

Saunders: Oh, please. We are all friends. You must call me by my first name, yes? Sander, yes?

Kai: (whispers to Nya) Dr. Sander Saunders?

Saunders: At your service. (chuckles) I am so pleased to be seeing you at this now. We are opening our new exhibit. Come. You see, come. (Walks to the entrance to the hall) Might I be presenting the Hall of Villainy.

All: Wow.

Saunders: Cryptor.

Zane: A plastic mannequin.

Saunders: Kozu.

Lloyd: Uncanny.

Saunders: Chen.

Nya: Memories.

Saunders: Samukai.

Jay: Is he looking at me?

Wu: Maybe from the past.

Saunders: And Morro. Checking this out! We don't just open on Day of Departed. It's Day of Departed lunar eclipse. A special eclipse.

Wu: The rarest Yin-Yang eclipse.

Saunders: Oh, poetic, is it not? Scary holiday, scary exhibit, scary moon, (Voice changes) There is magic in the air. (Normal voice) Boogily-boogily!

Kai: (looks around) It's... every villain we've ever faced.

Cole: (walks over to Master Yang's portrait) Not every villain.

Saunders: No, there are many more to unpack. Overlord, Golden Master. All the ones who tried to destroy you. Exciting.

Jay: Uh... yeah, exciting.

Saunders: As we proceed further on the tour you can...

Cole: (looking at Yang's picture) "Although known to some as the master without a student, Kodokuna Yang will be remembered by most as the creator of Airjitzu, the most powerful martial art in history." Huh. Actually, I remember Yang as the guy who turned me into a ghost. (Looks at the relic encased in clear material) Hey, uh, Dr. Saunders? What's the story on this thing? (his hand ghosts through the clear material) Hello? Dr. Saunders? Anyone?

(Team notices the relic encased in the clear box)

Nya: Look at that. Cool.

Saunders: Ah, you have a good eye, Nya.

Cole: Her? I'm the one who spotted...(Saunders and the ninja walk through as if he wasn't there) Uh, hey, watch it. You guys are walking right through me!

Saunders: (Describes to the ninja what the relic is) The Yin Blade belonged to Master Yang. It is said to possess much dark magic.

Cole: They don't hear me, o-or see me. It's like I don't exist anymore. And it's all your fault! (Points angrily towards Yang)

Yang: Cole. Come. Come.

Cole: (To the ninja) Uh....tell me you heard that.

Yang: Come, Cole…

Saunders: ...which is why it is sealed in this case made of Clearstone, the hardest substance known to human. Impenetrable by any living being.

Yang: Cole.

Cole: Yang.

Yang: Close the circle.

Cole: Close the circle?

Yang: Close the circle...

Cole: Close the circle.

Cole: (Gasps, waking up from the trance) Huh. (looks out window to see the ninja outside)

Wu: Thank you so much for such an informative tour, Dr. Saunders. (they both shake hands) ninja, at the eclipse's peak we will return here, for the concert. But first, we must go forth and honor those we have lost. Those who have departed.

Cole: They don't realize I'm gone. Maybe...I'm departed. (echoes)

Kai: See you guys soon.

Nya: Happy Day of the Departed, everyone.

(The ninja each go in separate directions.)

Wu: (Voice-over; Lloyd and Misako release a lantern in the Corridor of Elders) We honor our ancestors. Because if we never look to the past, we cannot envision the future. (Inside Four Weapons, Nya holds a lantern for Kai to light with his Fire before they turn to gaze at a picture of their parents. Meanwhile, in the Birchwood Forest; Zane places his lantern in one of the hands of his father's statue before covering it in a layer of ice, making it shine) On the Day of the Departed, we pause to remember those we've lost. (Jay, Ed, and Edna look through a photo album outside their trailer) And enjoy our time with those we are still fortunate to have. (Onscreen; in the remains of the Monastery of Spinjitzu) I raise this cup of remembrance tea to you, Father. We never forget.

(Cole is shown driving towards the Temple of Airjitzu.)

(The Royal Blacksmiths wait in the city's stage.)

Lou: Cole. Cole, where are you? My son was gonna meet me before the show to light a lantern. (They start to sing.)

Royal Blacksmiths: Gave you your voice. Gave you your song. Put music in your heart. Now my heart is gone. To pieces. Pieces, pieces. Pieces, pieces. (Dareth walks in.)

Dareth: Hey, guys? Hey, listen. (They keep singing.) Guys? Guys. Guys! Stop it! (They stop.) Ah, kids. Always letting you down. That's why I don't have 'em. Not cause Gayle keeps turning down my marriage proposals, even though I'd make an excellent provider. Ahem, anyway. It's a good thing your manager is here to help you focus on the important things.

Lou: What's more important than family?

Dareth: A paying gig for a festival audience. (He grabs a microphone.) Have a good show, boys. (He goes on stage.) Hello, Ninjago. Hey, look at you. Look at that once-in-a-lifetime lunar eclipse. It's really happening. How about a warm Day of the Departed greeting for the Royal Blacksmiths! (The crowd cheers. The band arrives on stage.)

Royal Blacksmiths: Be my Day of the Departed baby. Cold and spooky-hearted love. Still, my love for her is off the chart-ed.

Ronin: (He watched the quartet.) Everyone's here, so no one's home. Time for a little scrap-hunting. (He leaves.)

(Cole arrives at the Temple of Airjitzu.)

Cole: All right, Yang. Show yourself. You hear me? Show yourself.

Yang: You received my message.

Cole: I got it, all right. And I've got one for you. It's direct from the business end of your own weapon. (He pulls out the relic.)

Yang: (Gasps.) The Yin Blade. But how? It's encased in solid Clearstone. That case is impenetrable.

Cole: Not to a ghost. Which, thanks to you, I still am.

Yang: What are you going to do?

Cole: There's magic in the air. You know, eclipse and all?

Yang: Please, where is your holiday spirit? It's the Day of the Departed.

Cole: Uh-huh. And I'm settling my debt. (He charges at him, but he dodges. Cole breaks a vase instead, and Yang laughs.) What? What's so funny?

Yang: This. That. All of it.

Cole: What's happening?

Yang: My plan. (The spirits from the vase leaves the temple and possesses mannequins in the Hall of Villainy. Kozu starts to talk in his own language.) You never should have played with dark magic, boy. This Day of the Departed will be remembered as my Night of the Return. The Yin Blade, if you please.

Cole: Yeah, I don't think so.

Yang: I do.

Cole: (He turns around and sees that he is surrounded by Yang's students.) What? (They handcuff him and bring Yang the Blade.)

(The villains take control of the mannequins.)

Morro: Huh?

Samukai: Huh, Who-Who are you?

Morro: I should ask you the same thing.

Samukai: I am Samukai, Skulkin general, fearsome master of the ax.

Kozu: Ha! Fearsome? You call that fearsome? (He slices a pillar with an Elemental Blade.) This is fearsome! I am Kozu, destroyer of all foolish enough to challenge me.

Cryptor: Yeah, so how did you do against a guy who destroyed you?

Chen: But what has brought us back? Oh! Buttons, buttons, buttons! (He presses one, causing his chair to inflate. He then pressed another one, bringing it down. He then pressed another one, sending fortune cookies flying out of it. He then pressed another one, causing two mechanical legs to come out from underneath his chair.) Oh. Brake? No. Brake? No! (He crashes.) I'm all right! (He crashes again.) Still all right.

Samukai: What is going on here?

Cryptor: Well, the skinny man in the silky girl robes can't control his chair. And—

Samukai: No, I mean with us.

Morro: (He points to Yang's portrait.) Perhaps he can explain.

Chen: Still all right.

Yang: (He takes control of his portrait.) My magic has brought you back from the Departed Realm to Ninjago, but you can only remain for the duration of the eclipse. Unless...

Chen: Unless?

Yang: Unless you destroy the ninja who destroyed you. Use your Departed Blades, and you will take their place among the living.

Pythor: (He comes in reading a map.) Hall of Villainy? More like, Hall of Empty-ny. (He sees his mannequin.) Oh. Nice. (He takes his Anacondrai Staff.)

Yang: The ninja are dispersed around Ninjago, and you will have revenge. (The villains cheer.)

Pythor: Did someone say revenge? I want in. Ah, Cryptor, my loyal friend. (Chuckles.) Chen.

Chen: Pythor.

Kozu: Oh, frosty.

Yang: You must each choose a ninja and—

Samukai: I call Zane.

Cryptor: No! He's my clone.

Pythor: Technically, you're his clone.

Chen: The Blacksmiths’ brats are mine.

Pythor: How come you get two?

(Everyone starts to argue.)

Yang: Silence! Time is wasting, and I've got my own thing going on. So work it out! (He leaves.)

Chen: I have a score to settle with Nya, so she's mine. Her brother too.

Pythor: Lloyd, I destroyed the father. Well, more or less. It's finally time to destroy the son.

Cryptor: I'll take Zane.

Morro: Master Wu. We left things...unfinished. I will settle our debt, once and for all.

Samukai: (He groans and turns to Kozu.) That only leaves Jay. One ninja, but two of us. Okay, rock, paper, scissors. One, two, three. One, two, three. (Kozu walks away.) It doesn't seem to work.

Kozu: (He sees Dareth.) I want him.

Samukai: Yes.

Pythor: Then it's settled. Although, the ninja won't go easily. Perhaps we could use some help?

Cryptor: (He reads the map.) The Hall of Sidekicks.

Pythor: (Laughs.) Convenient, is it not?

(Yang's students surround Cole.)

Cole: So guys, what say you help me out? You know, student-to-ninja? Hello? Look, I know Yang's your master, but how can you be on his side?

Yang: Your pleas are useless. My students, well, they're loyal to no one but me.

Cole: Come on, guys. Yang is like the definition of evil.

Yang: Actually, "Yang" means "good". But I always did aspire for great. I dedicated my life to the study of the martial arts. I mastered them all, and even created my own. Airjitzu was my first achievement, but it was nothing compared to what I would discover next. My research revealed the location of the Yin Blade, a weapon whose magic was so powerful, it was said to hold the key to eternal life. Control that magic and I'd be forever remembered as Ninjago's greatest master. Immortality was so near. It was time for the ultimate test... myself. But something went...wrong. So while I will live forever, it is only as a ghost. Cursed to haunt this once-proud temple as Master of the House. Never able to return. Until tonight, thanks to you.

Cole: Thanks to me? How?

Yang: You said it yourself. There's magic in the air. On the Day of the Departed, when there's a Yin-Yang lunar eclipse, the Yin Blade can cut the Rift of Return. So thank you for this.

Cole: You're not welcome. And you won't get away with it. I'm supposed to meet my friends soon. When they see I'm missing, they'll come for me.

Yang: See you're missing? Ha! Look at you. You can barely see yourself. (Cole groans.) Besides, you've caused quite a few problems for your friends.

(Kai and Nya celebrate the holiday in Four Weapons Blacksmith.)

Nya: It feels strange being back in our parents' shop after all this time.

Kai: Nya? Do you think we'll ever find out what actually happened to them?

Chen: I could tell you. But you have bigger things to worry about.

Nya: Chen?

Kai: (He grabs two swords and hands one to Nya.) I don't know how you're back, but it's two against one.

Chen: Is it? (He reveals the Anacondrai Cultists have also been resurrected.) Goodbye, ninja. (He presses a button. His chair starts to punch him. He presses another button, causing carnival music to play. He presses another button that plays disco music.) Nope. Hmm. Uh, almost. Ah. Found it. Yes. (He activates the weapons.) Doodle pep, ninja.

(Zane celebrates the holiday in Birchwood Forest. A statue he made of his father crumbles.)

Cryptor: Oops. Did I hurt your dear old dad? Or should I say our dad?

(Jay is with his parents at the junkyard.)

Ed: Uh, Edna, dear, is that crumb cake ready? Jay's starving.

Jay: I'm fine, Dad.

Ed: I know, son, but I love your mother's crumb cake.

Samukai: (He walks out the trailer while Edna is being held hostage.) Guess who's back?

(Lloyd and Misako visits the Corridor of Elders.)

Lloyd: I know Dad's gone, but sometimes it's like he's still with me. (They see someone behind a boulder.) Pythor?

Pythor: When we last met, I decided to help you and your father, Garmadon, defeat Chen. Do you remember why?

Lloyd: You said something about how if anyone was going to take over the world, you'd rather it be you.

Pythor: Precisely. Time to finish the job.

(Wu is back at the Monastery of Spinjitzu.)

Wu: An eclipse is always an omen, but is this one a sign of good...or bad?

Morro: (He goes up behind him.) Bad. Very bad.

(Cole watches as Yang shows him the events.)

Cole: My friends. What have you done?

Yang: No, Cole, what have you done?

Cole: How? How could I steal the Yin Blade and release all those ghosts?

Yang: You were scared you were departing and that your friends had forgotten you. So I took advantage of your fragile mental state to trick you. Oh, oh, you weren't literally asking, were you? Give up, Cole. You're by yourself. There's no one to help you. Now, excuse me, I have a rift to open. Watch him, just in case. (He leaves while his students watches him.)

Cole: All by myself. Hm.

(Pythor slithers closer to the two.)

Misako: Pythor, what are you doing?

Pythor: Giving the kid a one-way ticket to join his daddy.

Lloyd: Sorry, I don't really feel like going on a vacation.

Pythor: But it's a holiday. Respect your elders. (He throws his staff at a statue. The head starts to fall.)

Misako: Lloyd! (Lloyd carries the head.)

(Chen presses more buttons.)

Chen: Who designed this thing?

Kai: Raider bikes. (They get on their bikes. Kai falls off his and lands in front of Chen.)

Chen: (He laughs and presses more buttons.) Oh, good. Better. Best. (Nya saves him before he can fire.)

(Cryptor brought more Nindroid Warriors with him.)

Cryptor: Escape is futile, Zane. You and I share programming. I know your every move before you even make it.

Zane: Even this one? (He Airjitzus into a tree.)

Cryptor: If you know it, I know it. Enjoy the Departed Realm. And say hi to dear old Dad.

(Wu realizes it's Morro that's behind him.)

Wu: Well, my former student. How have you returned, Morro?

Morro: The question is not how, but why.

(Cole tries to talk to one of the students.)

Cole: So I didn't get your name. (He doesn't talk.) Okay, I'll just call you "Chuck." Look, Chuck, I know you think you're Yang's student, and maybe you were once, but now you're his prisoner. Don't you see? He's not your friend. He's your captor. You gotta shake off his spell. Then, we can stop him. Together. You and me. (He doesn't talk.) Okay, no pressure, but you have three seconds to decide. One, two, three. (He jumps and kicks Chuck.) Guess I'm working solo, Chuck.

(Jay prevents his father from going after Samukai.)

Ed: Don't you worry, Edna. I'll take care of those piles of bones.

Edna: Oh, now, Ed, be careful. Dr. Berkman says not to strain.

Jay: I got this, Dad. Lightning! (He shocks Samukai's sidekicks.) I have no idea what you want with my parents.

Samukai: It's not your parents I want, Jay. It's you! (He throws Edna to Ed. He and Jay start fighting.)

Ed: Feisty. He's his mother's son. (Krazi and Frakjaw stand by the two and watch the fight.)

Samukai: Fools. Don't just stand there. Grab them. Then he won't fight me.

Jay: No!

Samukai: Oh, yes! (He trips Jay.)

(The Royal Blacksmiths continue singing.)

Royal Blacksmiths: Be mine. Day of the Departed baby. Cold and spooky-hearted love.

Dareth: Royal Blacksmiths, everybody. Aren't they fantastic? Hey, speaking of fantastic, it's my duty as manager to remind you that there's fantastic merch available in the gift shop. Hats, CDs, mugs. Show you're a real fan. Now, before my boys continue, I just want to say thank you for coming and getting into the spirit of the night. Look at those costumes. Funny clowns and aliens and astronauts. Wow, those Stone Warriors. (Kozu speaks in his language.) So realistic.

Kozu: Revenge will be mine!

Dareth: Well, normally my guys don't take requests, but it is a special occasion. Boys?

Royal Blacksmiths: Revenge Will Be Mine. And you know I'm feeling fine. 'Cause my girl's coming. (The warriors jump on stage.)

Dareth: Hey, that's no costume. (He runs.) Can we at least talk about it?

Kozu: Revenge!

Dareth: Okay, we're talking. (He runs toward the museum.)

Kozu: Destruction!

Dareth: Talking is good!

Kozu: Crazy!

(Dareth screams)

(Cole tries to find his way around the temple.)

Cole: Yes! No. (He comes across more students.) Hey. So any chance you wanna tell me where Yang is opening that rift? (They grab weapons.) So...that's a no? Whoa, let's not be hasty. This isn't a fair fight. I'm handcuffed. (One of them broke the cuffs.) Ah! Oh. So you might want a few more guys. (He disarms and defeats them.) Okay, sports fans, the score is Cole: 3, evil possessed students: 0.

Yang: Hurry up. I haven't got 3000 years. (Cole goes the opposite direction before he notices. He comes across some of his students.)

Cole: Okay, Cole, it's showtime.

Yang: Deal with him.

Cole: (He defeats the students.) Maybe I can do this myself. Whew! I'm coming for you, Yang. It's over. You don't have any more students. You're all alone.

Yang: Oh, I am not alone. Not at all. (More students appear.)

Cole: What's the matter, Yang? Too afraid to take me on by yourself?

Yang: Too busy. The eclipse is beginning to fade, Cole. Just like you. Take him. (They start to fight.)

(Wu wields his staff.)

Wu: We have fought twice before. And although it pains me, I will do so again if I must.

Morro: No, you misunderstand. I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to warn you. Master Yang has put your team in terrible danger.

Wu: What has Yang done?

Morro: He's made you forget one of your own, one who was already slipping away.

Wu: Tell me more.

Morro: I will, but aboard the Bounty. We have to warn the others.

(Kai now rides with Nya on her bike. They try to escape Chen and his Cultists.)

Nya: Duck! (Kai ducks, and Zugu hits a tree and is forced out of his mannequin.)

Kai: This is my stop. Ninja, go! (He uses Spinjitzu.)

(Misako confronts Pythor while Lloyd tries to hold the statue.)

Lloyd: Can't...hold...on.

Misako: Yes, you can.

Pythor: Fool! You continually underestimate me. You're so like your father.

Misako: He's right, Lloyd. You're brave and noble and—

Lloyd: And a master of Spinjitzu. You are still with me, Dad. Ninja, go! (He uses Spinjitzu to free himself.)

(Yang gets on the temple's roof.)

Yang: Good to see you, rare eclipse. Now help me to finally open up the rift.

Cole: All right, guys, time to take a break. Or not. (They fight again.)

Yang: Open the rift. Set me free.

Cole: Okay, okay, how about that break? (The students get back up and fight again.) You guys are more tiresome than Jay!

Yang: Yes. It is working.

(Samukai towers over Jay.)

Samukai: For what it's worth, this isn't personal, Jay.

Jay: It kind of feels like it is, Samukai.

Samukai: It's only so I can return. I promise that as soon as this is over, I'll release your parents.

Ronin: I'm on that one. (He appears with his Salvage M.E.C. and frees Jay's parents. He kicks Samukai.)

Jay: Ronin. Thanks for coming.

Ronin: Yeah, I came to help. I definitely didn't think your folks would be at the concert so I could, um...borrow...some free scrap metal for my mech.

Jay: What?

Ronin: Um, nothing. You're all clear, kid. Finish them.

(Zane tries to escape the Nindroids.)

P.I.X.A.L.: Zane, they have flight capability. It appears you have miscalculated.

Zane: No, I didn't. (He destroys their jetpacks.)

(Lloyd and Misako jump on the statues. Pythor attempts to push her off, but Lloyd stopped him, giving her enough time to pull herself off. Meanwhile, Dareth roams the museum.)

Dareth: Helmet of Shadows, where are you? You control the Stone Warriors, so I can control the Stone Warriors. (The warriors find him and begin chasing him.)

(Yang watches as the rift opens.)

Yang: Ah, here it comes.

Cole: Ugh, they just keep coming. I can't do this much longer. One last time. Ninja, go! (He uses Spinjitzu.)

(Nya gets off her bike and confronts Chen with Kai.)

Chen: Fair fight. I win. (He fires a missile, but Nya repels it with Water.) Unfair. (He gets hit with the missile and is forced out of his mannequin.)

(Ronin chases the Skulkin. Jay releases a giant magnet and crushes Krazi and Frakjaw.)

Jay: Old foe, new trick. Watch me, Samukai. (He shocks him.)

(Cryptor starts to attack Zane.)

Cryptor: I know your every move. I know how you hit. I know how you will kick. And I know you never give up.

Zane: Then I give up. (Cryptor attacks him, but falls and is forced out of his mannequin-)

(Lloyd and Misako outnumber Pythor.)

Misako: Time for you to call it quits.

Pythor: No, just time for a spectacular exit. (He jumps off of the statue.)

Lloyd: Think he's gone for good?

Misako: I hope so, but Pythor is as much cat as he is snake. He has nine lives.

Pythor: (Groans.) Next time I'll take my own advice and bring some sidekicks.

(Jay eats one of his mother's crumb cakes.)

Jay: Mm. Mm. Great crumb cake, Mom.

Ronin: Happy Day of the Departed, guys. Oh, and thank you for the bag of scrap.

Ed: All you had to do was ask.

(Dareth crawls toward the Helmet.)

Dareth: Helmet of Shadows. I found it. Security, eighty-six this guy.

Kozu: (The army grabs Kozu and rams him against a wall.) No, no. Release me.

Saunders: My museum! What have you done?

Dareth: (Nervously laughs.) Sorry.

(Cole defeats all but one student.)

Cole: Don't make me hurt you too. (The student runs away. Cole replaces his broken staff with his sword and goes out the window.) Stop it, Yang.

Yang: Freedom. Return. It's all mine.

Cole: No! You...are not going...anywhere! (He Airjitzus after him. He grabs him and they both fall back on the temple's roof.)

(Jay makes it to the museum, where the other ninja are waiting for him.)

Jay: Guys, I have the ghost story to end all ghost stories. You will never guess what just happened.

Kai: You battled the possessed mannequin of a mortal enemy?

Nya: Him and his goons tried to send you to the Departed Realm with magic blades?

Zane: But you defeated them first.

Lloyd: And saw their ghosts disappear into the night.

Jay: Oh, okay, fine. You guessed. Well, since you know so much, why were all those ghosts out here?

Wu: (He approaches them.) Because distracting you was part of Master Yang's plan.

Morro: And he had help.

Lloyd: (The ninja arm themselves.) Morro.

Jay: Any other villains want to show up tonight?

Kai: We've stopped five, what's one more?

Wu: No. Put away your weapons. He's here to help. Morro, tell them.

Morro: Yang tricked Cole into helping him open a rift to return to Ninjago.

Jay: Cole? How'd he trick you?

Zane: Jay, Cole isn't here.

Jay: Are you sure? He's been fading a lot lately. He's kind of easy to miss.

All ninja: (Gasp.) We forgot Cole!

Wu: To the Bounty. They must be at the Temple of the Airjitzu Master. Thank you, Morro.

Morro: Happy Day of the Departed, Master.

(Morro returns to his pedestal and he poses. His spirit leaves the statue and goes back to the Departed Realm.)

(Cole walks toward Yang.)

Yang: Just give up already.

Cole: No. I'm keeping you here until the eclipse ends and the rift closes. Your evil will never return to Ninjago. (They clash their weapons.)

Yang: What are you even fighting for? Your friends have abandoned you. (Laughs.) Your master has abandoned you. You are all alone.

Cole: No! (Yang destroys his sword.) Can't...go on...alone.

Yang: Yes. Yield. Soon I will be gone, but you will remain forever Departed, destined to haunt this temple forever as the new Master of the House. (Laughs.)

Cole: I'm...fading away.

Yang: Just one more lonely ghost. Not a friend in the world.

Nya: Cole!

Cole: Huh?

Yang: What? Who's that?

Cole: My friends. (He stops fading and kicks Yang.) Ghost or not, I'm gonna do what I came here to do, Yang.

Kai: We have to help him.

Nya: I can't bring it any closer. The wind's still too strong.

Cole: And you're wrong. I'm not the one who's alone. You are.

Yang: No. I have my family. (He points to his students.)

Cole: No, you have prisoners. That's not family. That's captivity. (He punches Yang.) Whoa, I feel...different. Like, like, I can punch through...anything. (He destroys the Yin Blade. The students return to normal, but are still ghosts.)

Yang: No. No! You broke my spell!

Cole: The rift! If you hurry, you can be free of this place forever! (The students uses Airjitzu and enter the rift. They cheer as they become mortal again.)

Wu: The rift is almost closed.

Yang: My...my students. Leaving me. I...I failed.

Cole: Yeah, you did.

Yang: I always fail.

Cole: Yeah, you—Wait, what?

Yang: I dedicated my life to studying the martial arts. Alone. I got arrogant, I wanted to live forever.

Cole: Why? No one lives forever.

Yang: Because I knew the day I was gone, no one would remember me.

Cole: All of this was so you wouldn't be forgotten?

Jay: What is he doing? Is-is he talking to Yang?

Wu: The rift cannot be opened again until the next Yin-Yang eclipse.

Zane: Which, according to my calculations, won't happen for 3,721 years.

Kai: Cole, the rift! You gotta pass through the rift!

Yang: You must think I'm a fool for having such a petty desire.

Cole: No, I get it. Believe me, I get it. I know what it's like to feel forgotten. Alone. It-it hurts. But Master Yang, you are already gonna be remembered forever.

Yang: Me? How?

Cole: You created Airjitzu.

Jay: Cole! It's now or never!

Cole: Now come on, there's still time to go through. Both of us.

Yang: No, I'm afraid that's impossible. The curse of the Temple requires that at least one ghost remained behind as Master of the House.

Cole: One of us has to stay here?

Yang: It must be this way.

Cole: Hey! What are you doing?

Yang: Settling my debt. (He launches the screaming Cole through the closing rift. The rift closes and the wind becomes stronger.)

Wu: Brace yourselves. It's going to be a hard landing. (The ninja land and get off the ship.)

Misako: Is everyone all right?

Zane: Nothing that tightening a few screws can't fix.

Lloyd: I'm okay, but where's Cole?

Jay: Oh, no!

Nya: Did he make it?

Jay: He was too late. He's gone forever. I'd give anything to have him back.

Cole: (off-screen) Anything?

Jay: Anything.

Cole: (He jumps from behind a boulder, a human again.) Even the Sonic Raider Jet?

All ninja: Cole! (They embrace him.)

Jay: You're back!

Lloyd: You're not a ghost anymore.

Nya: You look good as new.

Cole: Ah. Pretty much. Thank you, Nya.

Kai: Speaking of good as new...(He points to the temple.)

Wu: (Sighs.) The Temple of the Airjitzu Master has been returned to its original condition.

Zane: It's beautiful.

Cole: You know, that would be a pretty cool place for a ninja to train.

(The team gathers around a campfire with their friends and families.)

Cole: Whoa. And was I right or was I right?

Jay: (Sighs.) Yes, you were right. Are you going to retell this story every Day of the Departed from now on?

Cole: Only until you admit that you didn't want to move in because you were scared it's still haunted. (Everyone laughs.)

Jay: I wasn't scared. I was cautious. Okay fine, I was scared. And wrong. There's no more ghosts here.

Cole: Nope. No ghosts. (He and Yang secretly wink at each other.)

Wu: (They release the lanterns.) Happy Day of the Departed.