#the mountains and rivers are forever silent

[guzhufuren]

IT WILL BE BROADCAST VIA INTERNATIONAL STREAMING PLATFORM ONLY, MEANS NO PULLBACKS OF THE SHOW OR SOFTENING THE CONTENT

New uncensored chinese period BL The Mountains and Rivers Are Forever Silent (山河永寂)

The drama is based on the novel of the same name by Yihanhe (一寒呵)

Won't be broadcast in mainland China, will air through an international platform.

Filming start: beginning of January 2025 Filming period: 20 days Casting call: December 13, 2024

Summary: Thousands of years ago, the mountains and rivers were destroyed and wars started raging everywhere. Sixth prince Xiao Yunze had no hope of ascending the throne to the Southern Kingdom. By chance, he saves Zhao Ziang, who was trying to assasinate the prince. As they get to know each other, gradually feelings beyond mundane develop between them and they fall in love. As the political situation in the Southern Kingdom changes, Zhao Ziang kills the prince to protect Xiao Yunze and let Xiao Yunze succeed to the throne. The death of the prince causes a rift between the two, and Zhao Ziang resolutely leaves and embarks on the journey again. Several years later, Zhao Ziang becomes the emperor of the Northern Kingdom. With his efforts, the Northern Kingdom is about to unify the Central Plains. But when Zhao Ziang faces the last obstacle - king of the South and his ex lover Xiao Yunze, whom he had missed for many years, he doesn't know what to do. Will love win or power win?

Character profiles:

Xiao Yunze Male, visual age around 20 years old. He is slender, loves playing chess, calligraphy and painting, and is elegant in every move. The sixth prince of the Southern Kingdom, with a refined and timeless temperament. He is intelligent and sensitive, talented, and has expanded his music and poetry. He has a gentle personality but is not weak. He has a keen insight into people's hearts, but is willing to stay out of the game and abandon the desire to fight for power. He advocates elegance, likes to live in seclusion in the mountains, and is tired of the whirlpool of power, but he always has a deep attachment to family affection, especially to his brother, the prince, Xiao Yunqian, with complex feelings, respect but also alienation. In the chaotic situation, he became a calm and deep character with his gentle but firm character.

Zhao Ziang (Xiao Yunze's cp) Male, visual age is around 25 years old. A hero in the north, with a tall figure, a resolute face, firm eyebrows, a violent temper, and both wisdom and martial arts. He is resolute and resolute, and is aggressive and enterprising. He is calm and resolute, has extraordinary strategic vision and execution, and is a hero in troubled times. He is informal, but respects the strong and the wise, and always pursues his ambitions. Although he is in the midst of power and killing, he is also sincere and righteous, and has a heart for his country. But when facing Xiao Yunze, he is always indecisive.

Xiao Yunqian (Xiao Yunze's elder brother) Male, visual age around 25 years old. The prince who shines in the court is determined to gain supreme power. He can sacrifice all emotions in pursuit of power, but finally loses in emotions. He has a strong desire for power and has shown extraordinary political wisdom and strategy since childhood. He has a cold temperament and is deeply scheming. Although he looks calm and restrained, he is actually full of ambition. He is not obsessed with sensual pleasures, but pursues power itself with a cold and resolute will, instead of sympathizing with the common people. In the process of pursuing power, he regards all obstacles as stepping stones. He has a complicated relationship with his brother Xiao Yunze. They grew up together when they were young and had the warmth of brotherly love, but they became increasingly alienated in the power struggle. Xiao Yunqian is very oppressive in his dealings with others. He is a strong man who integrates coldness, decisiveness and ambition. In his world, family affection and feelings often give way to power. He is a typical hero in troubled times.

Guo Zheng (Xiao Yunqian's personal bodyguard) Male, 20 years old. The prince's personal bodyguard, who has practiced martial arts for many years and is very capable. The prince's personal bodyguard, who is naturally fond of martial arts, is rough but delicate. Many years ago, he fell in love with Yin Shan at first sight. Although he had no interest in poetry and books, he was subtly exposed to the elegant world because of Yin Shan. Guo Zheng admired Yin Shan's talent and gentle temperament. Although he was not good at speaking, he protected him silently with practical actions. He hides a tenderness under his strong appearance, burying his loyalty and admiration deep in his heart. He is a contradictory combination of cold and hot in troubled times.

Yin Shan (Xiao Yunze's childhood sweetheart) Male, 20 years old. A scholar who has loved poetry, calligraphy and painting since childhood. The son of a civil official in the court, he met Xiao Yunze since childhood because of their similar interests and they have a deep friendship. Yin Shan is well-read in poetry and books, and has outstanding talents. He especially loves the love stories described in books, and is full of idealistic pursuit and loyalty to love. He has a gentle personality like jade, but he has a rare firmness and perseverance, and always accompanies Xiao Yunze. Yin Shan advocates elegance and has no intention of fighting in the world. He only wants to use his talents and sincerity to protect the deep friendship and unknown emotions. He is a touch of peace in the troubled times.

Zhao Jifu (Zhao Ziang's younger brother) Male, 18 years old. Grew up in a temple. Compared with his brother Zhao Ziang, who is heroic and valiant, Zhao Jifu embodies more calmness and strategic precision. He can even be said to be a two-faced person. He is humble and gentle on the surface, and is good at hiding his true intentions. But in fact, he is a scheming man and a master in the political arena. He has shown extraordinary adaptability in complex situations, and is good at making secret plans. He is an important force in promoting the family's hegemony. His temperament is restrained but his edge is hidden, showing a kind of hidden strong style. He is a wise man and counselor who cannot be ignored in troubled times.

Han Zaizhou (Teacher of Xiao Yunqian) Male, 60 years old. An important official in the court, he has a high wisdom in politics and worldly affairs. The core of the prince party, the veteran of two dynasties of the Southern Kingdom, calm and composed, and has a thorough understanding of power and politics. The previous emperor of the Southern Kingdom is old, and Han Zaizhou has to start planning for the next generation of the Southern Kingdom. Faced with prince Xiao Yunqian who has lost control in pursuit of power, Han Zaizhou has to persuade Xiao Yunze to participate in the fight for the throne in order to stabilize the court, because he feels affection for the younger generation of princes.

*text from the informational brochure was converted with image to text online programs, translated through google translator and edited by me with some help of online dictionaries. i do not speak chinese, so there are most certainly mistakes in the text. purpose of this translation is to give you the general idea

[celestemona]

⋆˙⟡ — CONSTANT AS A RIVER, PERPETUAL AS MOUNTAINS

cw: no pronouns mentioned. just pure cuteness.

High above the forest floor, Kinich perched silently in the upper branches of a towering tree, his body still and balanced like a natural extension of the canopy. Below him, the landscape unfolded into a maze of thick trees, jagged rock faces, and the distant, thunderous roar of the waterfall cascading down the mountain. The air was thick with the scent of damp leaves and fresh water, the humidity clinging onto everything.

From this height, Kinich had a clear view of the world below—a vantage point that made him feel at home, with the winds sweeping through the treetops and the sway of the branches beneath him. His tribe had long since adapted to this unforgiving landscape, where cliffs loomed, trees stretched endlessly into the sky, and the terrain was as treacherous as it was beautiful. To outsiders, this place was inhospitable. To Kinich, it was perfect.

His sharp eyes followed you, who was on the floor far below, walking with a carefree grace that stood in stark contrast to the harshness of the environment around you. You moved with ease, your steps light as if you danced along the path, humming softly to yourself. Your hair fluttered in the breeze, and every so often, you’d pause to marvel at the way the light filtered through the trees' forms above, casting intricate patterns of shadow and light across your skin.

A small smile tugged at Kinich’s lips as he watched you, hidden from view. There was something magnetic about your presence—how you could bring warmth and life to even the most untamed of places. He admired your resilience and fearlessness, your ability to thrive in a land most would shy away from. Even now, you didn’t seem at all fazed by the singular nature that surrounded you.

From above, he could see how your eyes lit up every time you discovered something new—a strange flower, the movement of a saurian group nearby, or the iridescent glitter of sunlight against the waterfall in the distance. There was a joy to the way you moved, an uninhibited energy that drew him in and made him want to stay and watch you forever.

You suddenly stopped and tilted your head upward, squinting at the towering branches as if you could feel his gaze. “Kinich?” you called out, your voice slightly playful. “I know you’re up there somewhere.”

Kinich smirked, though he didn’t move or answer right away. He stayed hidden, knowing you’d keep searching, your instincts sharp enough to sense when he was near.

Your eyes scanned the treetops, and then your smile grew wider. “Come on. Don’t make me climb all the way up there just to find you,” you complained, putting a hand on your hip. “You know I will.”

That was enough to stir Kinich into action. With the quiet grace of a true Scion of the Canopy, he leaped from the branch he was perched on, landing silently on a lower one before dropping to the ground with barely a sound. Your face lit up when you saw him, eyes sparkling with delight.

“Took you long enough,” you said, closing the distance. Your hands immediately reached for him, fingers curling around his arm as you pulled him close. “Were you watching me the whole time?”

Kinich nodded, his expression calm but the warmth in his eyes gave him away. “You’re hard to miss,” he replied, his voice low. “Especially when you’re singing all the way.”

You giggled, your hand slipping down to entwine with his. “Well, I had a feeling you’d be up there, hiding away like some elusive yumkasaurus. But you know I’ll always find you.”

Kinich tilted his head slightly, his thumb brushing across the back of your hand. “I wasn’t hiding,” he said, though there was a subtle playfulness in his tone. “I was... observing.”

You raised an eyebrow, stepping closer until you were right in front of him, bodies almost touching. “Observing, huh?” you murmured, your voice dropping to a whisper. “And did you like what you saw?”

Kinich’s eyes met yours, and for a moment, the world around him seemed to fade away—the trees, the running river, the steep cliffs. All that mattered was the warmth of your hand in his and how you looked at him, so full of life and love.

He didn’t answer with words. Instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing softly against yours in a slow and steady kiss, much like him. You responded immediately, your arms wrapping around his neck as you deepened it, your fingers gently tangling in his hair.

When you finally pulled apart, you rested your forehead against his, your breath coming in soft, warm puffs against his skin. “You don’t always have to watch from afar, you know,” you whispered, your voice laced with affection. “You can come closer.”

Kinich smiled, his hand coming up to cup the side of your face. “I’m here now,” he said softly, his voice steady as always, but with a tenderness that only you ever got to see. “I’ll always come closer when it’s you.”

.

.

a/n: oh well. i didn't intend to write to him soon but i wanted to gift myself since my birthday is coming and i've been checking his tag for updates more times i should to. come on, my fella writers, where are you?

[book--brackets]

Green Rider by Kristen Britain (1998-present)

On her long journey home from school after a fight which will surely lead to her expulsion, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her future as she trudges through the immense forest called Green Cloak. But her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves as a galloping horse bursts from the woods, the rider slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan that he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king, and that he bears a "life and death" message for King Zachary. He begs Karigan to carry his message, warning her not to read it, and when she reluctantly agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to complete his mission "for love of country." As he bestows upon her the golden winged-horse brooch which is the symbol of his office, he whispers on his dying breath, "Beware the shadow man..."

Karigan's promise changes her life forever. Pursued by unknown assassins, following a path only her horse seems to know, and accompanied by the silent specter of the original messenger, she herself becomes a legendary Green Rider. Caught up in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald (1872)

Princess Irene lives in a castle in a wild and lonely mountainous region. One day she discovers a steep and winding stairway leading to a bewildering labyrinth of unused passages with closed doors - and a further stairway. What lies at the top? Can the ring the princess is given protect her against the lurking menace of the goblins from under the mountain?

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton (1936-1985)

Jo, Bessie and Fanny move to the country and find an Enchanted Wood right on their doorstep. In the magic Faraway Tree live the magical characters that soon become their new friends – Moon-Face, Silky the fairy, and Saucepan Man. Together they visit the strange lands (the Roundabout Land, the Land of Ice and Snow, Toyland and the Land of Take What You Want) atop the tree and have the most exciting adventures – and narrow escapes.

The Last Binding by Freya Marske (2021-2023)

Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He’s struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents’ excesses. When an administrative mistake sees him named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society, he discovers what’s been operating beneath the unextraordinary reality he’s always known.

Now Robin must contend with the beauty and danger of magic, an excruciating deadly curse, and the alarming visions of the future that come with it—not to mention Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, who clearly wishes Robin were anyone and anywhere else.

Robin’s predecessor has disappeared, and the mystery of what happened to him reveals unsettling truths about the very oldest stories they’ve been told about the land they live on and what binds it. Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles—and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep.

Ash by Malinda Lo (2009-2011)

In the wake of her father's death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King's Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash's capacity for love-and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher (2020)

Kara finds the words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring this peculiar area—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more one fears them, the stronger they become.

Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark (2020)

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die. 

Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to Hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up. 

Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci by Diana Wynne Jones (1977-2006)

Cat doesn't mind living in the shadow of his sister, Gwendolen, the most promising young witch ever seen on Coven Street. But trouble starts brewing the moment the two orphans are summoned to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Frustrated that the witches of the castle refuse to acknowledge her talents, Gwendolen conjures up a scheme that could throw whole worlds out of whack.

The Thief of Always by Clive Barker (1992)

Mr. Hood’s Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming countless children into its embrace. It is a place of miracles, a blissful round of treats and seasons, where every childhood whim may be satisfied. There is a price to be paid, of course, but young Harvey Swick, bored with his life and beguiled by Mr. Hood’s wonders, does not stop to consider the consequences. 

The Deep by Rivers Solomon with Daveed Diggs, William Hutson, and Jonathan Snipes (2019)

Yetu holds the memories for her people—water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners—who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly, is forgotten by everyone, save one—the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.

Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface, escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities—and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.

Yetu will learn more than she ever expected to about her own past—and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they’ll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity—and own who they really are.

[googleitlol]

Revisiting King's Crown got me inspired to write something from the future, a little snippet of when it's almost the end of the journey. It happens at a point where Dove isn't in the best of head spaces, she's learned stuff that has her questioning a lot, so Wukong takes her for a little vacation to Flower Fruit Mountain.

I've cut around some specifics just so I don't spoil too much of the later plot, but I rlly wanted to share this piece. There's angst, not a whole lotta self-love going on, but there's some comfort in there so hopefully that makes up for all the sad stuff 🫶

Dove Masterlist:

Why?

The moon shines over Flower Fruit, full and bright. The stars accompanying it in the night sky twinkle overhead, a faint breeze leaving a cover of bumps over your arms. Despite the slight chill, it is very welcomed after your day in the summer heat. There are barely any clouds in the sky, it’s a perfect way to end the night. With the blanket of night, there is barely a whisper of another soul on the grassy landscape you lay on with the king of the mountain.

Your Peaches is the one who suggested stargazing, he lays just underneath you, his shirt discarded a few metres away. You lie with your head on his chest, a hand rests just over his stomach as you take in the sky’s tableau. One of his arms wraps over your midsection, keeping you close while his tail thumps slowly and rhythmically over the ground. His head lays on his other arm, and he keeps a knee propped up while he looks up to the sky.

The world is silent as you watch the stars. They move so slowly in the mortal realm compared to the Jade Palace. Up there, the stars race through the sky like an ocean current, slowing for no one. Down here, they inch across the sky so slowly, their movement is barely even noticeable. If only it could all be that slow, if only this could never end. How wonderful it would be if this journey could go on for eternity. You would rather cross a thousand rivers, climb a never-ending mountain than have it end so soon. But you need to do this, whether you want to or not. It’s for the better, for everyone.

“So?” Wukong hums from under you, it’s easy to feel his eyes on the top of your head. “Has today been worth it?” He asks, but you can’t answer him right away. You look up at him from your spot on his chest, soaking in the warmth from his body. The slow rise and fall of each breath he takes is comforting.

Everything about right now feels perfect, Sun Wukong has made today so calm. It feels as though he could soothe all your worries in a moment like this, just stay how you are forever. But you can’t. You can’t allow yourself to enjoy today, enjoy all of this. Not after everything you know now. “Why?”

Peaches looks down at you, his warm smile enough to cause the butterflies in your stomach to stir. “Care to elaborate?” His smile carries to his eyes, those beautiful sunset eyes. Looking into them, all your anxieties could melt away.

Then your gaze travels up, to the gold encircling his head. “Why bring me here today?” You ask, your brows furrowed with worry.

He answers your question with one of his own. “This is your future home, isn’t it? Or should I be expecting one of us to commute between my mountain and that bodhisattva’s?”

“…I’m not going back to Potalaka.” You look back out to the sky, the stars in the same position as you left them.

Wukong takes a moment before replying. “She only did what she thought was best.” His chest rumbles with soft laughter. “Hell, you know I would’ve done a lot worse if I were in her position.” You know Guan Yin did her best, but it doesn’t make anything better.

You sit up, hugging your knees tight as your eyes wander over the landscape. This isn’t right, none of it is. The two of you are sitting here in the comforts of Flower Fruit Mountain while the others are on their own. Sun Wukong risked a day away from Tripitaka, and for what? An attempt to make you feel better than you should? “…Why?”

He lets the silence sit this time, slowly sitting up to join you. His hand finds its way to your back, it moves gently back and forth in comfort. “Because you can’t keep beating yourself up over this. It wasn’t in your control, Dove.”

You look down into your lap as his tail wraps around, pulling you closer. Why is he trying so hard? All these years with him, and still you have not a single clue as to why he chose you. Who in their right mind would do that, after everything you’ve done. The thought makes your chest grow tight, it makes each breath all the more difficult to take.

“Why do you love me?” Your voice is barely a whisper, but that doesn’t stop him from hearing it. Wukong stiffens at the question, his hand freezing as his head swivels down to look at you.

You find it in you to look back at Wukong, his eyes are wide with a mix of shock and concern. He almost looks hurt by the question. “What?” He frowns, turning to face you more.

“How can you?” You press, moving away from his touch and turning to face him as well. “After everything I’ve done.”

“Stop that.” His frown deepens, and you shake your head.

“We should be with the others right now.” You look away, but before you can move any farther, he takes hold of both your hands.

“Dove.”

“How can you defend me?!”

“I’m not letting you talk yourself into thinking–”

“I did this to you!”

You reach out to hold his head as you speak, the cold metal of the circlet in your hands. A reminder of your spite, your hatred that drove you to hurt him. The malice and resentment that hurt your Peaches.

He looks back at you, stunned into silence as tears prick at your eyes. “I… I hurt you. Every time that thing on your head tightens, when you were only trying to protect us– even when we were trying to tell you apart from Macaque!” Your shoulders shake, each intake of breath sharp as the tears stream down your face.

“I gave Tripitaka the sutra, I tricked you into wearing the circlet! How can you love me after all this pain I’ve caused you?!” Your head falls onto his shoulder as you try your best to stifle your cries, your arms dropping down to his shoulders. “I don’t deserve it. Not from you, not after I hurt you like I did.”

The silence that follows is only broken by your muffled breaths. Neither of you move, still as stone. Only when your shaky breaths slow do you feel arms wrapping around you. “…We were both pretty angry people back then, huh? Ha, we still are.” Wukong shakes his head, as if in amusement.

A sigh slips from his lips, and you feel him rest his head over yours. “I still remember my confusion, the first time I felt it tighten around my head, falling to the ground when the pain hit me. Even when it stops, sometimes I can still feel it.”

His arms slide back, his hands taking you by your shoulders to pull you back. Once he can properly look you in the eyes, one hand moves to cup the side of your face. He’s gentle as he holds you face up to his, his thumb moving to wipe away a tear. “I hate what you did to me, but I could never hate you.”

Peaches smiles at you, it’s small but genuine. His words leave you speechless, at a loss that he takes to keep going. “You got me to wear this crown, but it’s coming off as soon as Master reaches Thunderclap Monastery. I tried killing you…” His gaze wanders away for a moment, his smile turning guilty. “…more than once.”

You frown at that. Of course you remember the first time in the Jade Palace, but what else was he talking about? The time where he tried using you as bait for those demons that took Tripitaka’s cassock? “You said that time in the tree was so you could find the demon’s home while they were distracted.”

“Eh, I was going for a, ‘kill two birds with one stone’ approach with that.” He admits, his chuckle traced with some shame. You deadpan a little before he continues.

“But even after everything, you chose to be here with me.” Your eyes widen a bit as he moves closer. With his other hand moving to hold the other side of your face. He pulls you in so that your foreheads meet in the middle. “So don’t you ever question my love for you. It is as eternal as my life, and it will shine to make your darkest days light. You deserve the world, and more, that is something I will never let you forget.”

Your heart quickens, thumping against your chest rapidly as Wukong’s gaze holds yours. You can feel your face flushing, those sun-kissed eyes that hold you in their sights enough to make you swoon a hundred times over. Tears well up in your own eyes, and before they can fall, he pulls you into an embrace.

“You can’t blame yourself for something that happened when you were a child.” He whispers as you slowly wrap your arms around his back. “It all would have happened, regardless of whether or not you knew why.”

It takes you a second to slow your breaths. “I could have done something–”

“You were eight.” His voice is firm, stopping you before you could say any more.

Your eyes shut tight. “That doesn’t mean I wish I could have done something to stop it.”

One of his hands slides up to hold the back of your head. “You couldn’t have.” His fingers comb through your hair, and you melt into his touch.

There isn’t anything you can say. You know he’s right, but it doesn’t make the truth any harder to swallow. An entire village, gone. Innocent lives, friends who lost their lives because of you. You can’t let anyone else lose their life, you wouldn’t be able to live with yourself if that happened.

At least you have him with you, here. You still can’t see why he cares so much for you, but right now, you’re just grateful that he does. “…I love you.”

“And I love you, Dove.” Peaches hums, and before you can say another word, your love lays back against the grass, taking you with him.

The steady beat of his heart drums against his chest, it’s rhythm soothing as you allow yourself to relax in his hold. This night really is beautiful. “Are we going to fly back tonight? You know nothing good happens when you leave Tripitaka for too long.”

Wukong lets out a soft huff. “My brothers will be alright taking care of him for a single night. Right now, I think you need a good rest on an actual bed.”

“Why use a bed when you’re right here?” You mumble, nuzzling your head into his chest with a small smile. He laughs at that, and you feel him place a kiss on the top of your head. A sigh escapes you, your eyes closing slowly as you lay with Wukong. “Peaches… why?”

“Why, what?” He asks in a whisper, his voice soft.

When you open your eyes, you look up at the sage with a smile. “Why did you bring me here today? The real reason.”

Peaches keeps his eyes to the sky, his head shaking a bit. “You know why.”

“I do, I just want you to know you can’t trick me.” You smirk, making Wukong laugh again.

“We’ll see about that.”

[eluminium]

SKIZZLEMAN WEEK LETS GOO!!!! May not have actually written and finished something for like two years BUT SKIZZLEMAN WEEK IS MORE POWERFUL THAN PROCRASTINATION!!!!

Thank you @skizzlemanweek for organizing and creating these prompts!

Prompt 1: Silent/Shout

-

It had been a weirdly silent few weeks on Magic Mountain.

Well, kind of. Of course, with seven hermits nearby and many more in horse riding distance, real silence is quite a rare phenomenon. But for the residents around Magic Mountain, an uncomfortable stillness louder than expected had settled into their hearts lately. As she cleans out the bones of her latest catch, Gem remembers mentioning it to Impulse recently.

"I didn't realize how much the man talks until he was gone. And now I'm like: Oh, this is what it's like for there to be silence, actually!"

The man in question? None other than Skizzleman, of course! Who isn't dead, just on some off-server business of some kind. At least that's what he told Gem and the others before leaving.

She rolls her eyes fondly at how Scar started talking about some conspiracy theory of his where Skizz is some heaven-sent spy barely a tick after Skizz took his leave. A rant that resulted in poor Mumbo explaining to a confused Joel that Scar's comic-book hero phase last season had some lasting side effects.

She unceremoniously drops the fish bones into the river outside her new anglerfish-shaped fish shop. They hit the water with a small splash before sinking into the murkiness below. Gotta give back to the river! Otherwise, it'll get mad. That's basic fisherwoman knowledge.

When she turns to head back inside so she can put the fish on the cutting boards away, her eyes catch the faint silhouette of Skizz's pyramid in the distance. The sight of it makes the silence around her somehow more prevalent. A sigh leaves her. She misses him. She never thought that the silence he leaves behind would suck this much.

But as she heads back inside, Gem reminds herself that she won't need to miss him for long. He said he'd only be gone for a few weeks, so he's due to be back pretty soon. Then she can go back to poking him for being old or something. In fact, she can almost hear him shout an overdramatic "HEYYY!" already as she points out that-

Wait.

She quickly drops the floppy boneless salmon in the chilled chest and rushes out the door. She may have a good imagination, but it's not THAT good! She looks around rapidly until her eyes catch something. Two figures in the distance. She squints, but it doesn't really help, so she pulls out a spyglass instead.

She can't help but gasp in surprised happiness when she spots familiar feathery wings and a bright spinning halo. It's Skizz! He's back!

Of course, Impulse stands next to him, his demonic tail flapping wildly in excitement. They seem to already be caught up in a conversation. Typical them, can't leave each other alone for five seconds. Seems like the perfect time for her to come and deliver some made-with-love Gem Punches!

But just as she's about to put the spyglass down and run over, she spots a shocking change in Impulse's facial expression. The happy smile decorating his face melts in a tick into something unreadable. (Fear? Annoyance? Teasing? A mix of that and more?) Confused, Gem stops and pans the spyglass over to Skizz's face. Is he…Is he making kissy faces at Impulse-?

Before she can even process what's going on, Impulse looks in her general direction and RUNS. Full-on sprints at top speed in a manner Gem would be impressed he could do if she wasn't so caught off guard. The spyglass quickly disappears into her inventory as she watches him approach with Skizz hot on his heels.

"GEM!!! HELP!!!" Impulse shouts in a clearly overdramatic tone.

"You can't run forever Dipple Dop!!!" Skizz cackles manically.

"What are you idiots doing?!" She tries to put on a tone of playful annoyance, but her amusement leaks through like water through a hole in a boat.

"He's gonna kiss me on the cheek, Gem!!! You gotta help me!!!" Impulse squeals as he runs around in circles on the shore, skillfully dodging Skizz's attempts to grab him.

Gem can't help it. She bursts out laughing so hard it almost hurts her throat. These dudes, she swears. Obviously, if Impulse was actually uncomfortable with the situation he'd tell Skizz, and they wouldn't have a silly goose chase on her front lawn, so she feels rather justified in cackling at his supposed misfortune. And she only laughs harder when Impulse lets out various desperate noises of desperation, which are comical enough that Skizz has to stop his chase because he's laughing too hard. His hands land on his knees as he completely loses it together with Gem. Impulse giggles and stops in his tracks instead of running further, all but confirming that they're just messing around.

"Wow, Gem! I beg for your help, and you laugh at me? I thought we were friends!" He says in an overly hurt tone while crossing his arms and sniffling dramatically.

Gem opens her mouth to respond, but before a single syllable leaves her, Skizz pounces on Impulse and finally scores his victory by snagging a smooch on the man's cheek. He even manages to catch Impulse in a hug. Gem lets out something between a cheer and an "awwwwwww!" as Impulse wiggles in his best friend's grasp.

"I missed you, Dipple Dop!" Skizz says with happy sincerity as he squeezes said Dipple Dop.

"Missed ya too buddy" Impulse responds, sounding like he's getting all air wrung out of him. He pats Skizz on the back. Skizz, in turn, lets him go and turns his eyes to Gem, still standing in the mouth of her anglerfish. He wastes no time jumping into the river, splashing water everywhere, and then swimming over to her.

"And I missed you too, Gemstone!" He cheers as she helps him up onto the solid (?) ground.

Gem can't help but smile as she tackles him for a hug of her own. As his sturdy and comfy arms wrap around her she feels, more than hears, how the hush around Magic Mountain fades away as one of its seven lively mountaineers has come home once again.

[smoshysimp]

how it should have gone

shayne x reader

warnings: it’s kinda a sad one

“just, shut up and listen to this.”

shayne rolled his eyes, already obeying with a wordless reply.

you pressed play on your phone and put it down on the center console. soon after, the car’s speakers filled with hepburn’s moon river.

hardly satisfied with your feat, you turned your body toward your door and stared out the window. you were mad at him, because he ruined the moment. the sun was perfectly set in front of the both of you as you drove on the highway. mountains became more prominent on different parts of the horizon. shayne had just finished driving through the majority of albuquerque and you felt the song was fitting for the view, at least, before you started to argue about something you didn’t even remember anymore.

dream maker, you heart breaker; wherever you’re goin’, i’m goin’ your way

you hated when this happened. you found yourself remembering every argument, all forming into one giant fight in your mind. about leaving on time, about family members making the trip hard, about each other making the journey unbearable; no matter how you went about it, you two had basically fought and jabbed at one another the entire time. and the damn song you put on made you feel worse, when it was supposed to romanticize the sunset.

two drifters off to see the world, there’s such a lot of world to see

sometimes, you felt so alone. you felt trapped, because he was with you when you found out about your parents. who else could you talk to about anything? you didn’t have your mentors anymore to help with relationship situations like these. you were too old to google the problem and search for answers. hopeless moments lasted forever, and branded the edges of your memories as if to remind you that you never truly enjoyed a quiet moment.

with a sigh, you placed your hands in your lap and picked at your nails. to your surprise, shayne’s right hand grabbed your left and brought it closer to him.

“i’m sorry. i’m sorry for arguing with you right now, and for arguing so much during the trip. i picked a lot of fights that i shouldn’t have, and i didn’t mean to do that to you. i know it’s really hard, going back after so long and around their anniversary, but i love you, and i know your parents would be proud of you.”

you gave his hand a squeeze as you fought back tears; your head and body still faced the passenger window. “i’m sorry too.”

his thumb brushed against your knuckles. no words were exchanged as the song ended, and it went back to playing whatever was on his playlist.

“can you play it again?” he asked.

you nodded your head, unsure if he saw it. not wanting to break the connection, you grabbed your phone with your free hand. the song played again, and this time, your body faced him as you both silently gazed into the mountainous sunset.

moon river, wider than a mile; i’m crossing you in style someday

[gorbalsvampire]

𝖃𝕴𝕴𝕴 𝕿𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖘 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝕱𝖊𝖚𝖉𝖆𝖑 𝕭𝖔𝖍𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖆

𝔄𝔠𝔱 ℑℑ, 𝔰𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔢𝔰 𝔳 𝔢𝔱 𝔳𝔦

Our story arrives at the traditional two-part end-of-season finale-type wham episode. It wasn't planned this way, but it turned out I'd overplanned slightly and there was a knot of "I know what you need to know but I can't tell you what to ask for" we needed to pick our way past to resolve things and we were all too sleepy, so we split this session right down the middle and it was the correct decision to make. Oh lord, was it ever the correct decision to make.

This is gonna run long. Put a brew on. Make one for me while you're in there - Earl Grey, oat milk, no sugar. Big mug. No, the big mug - there you go. Perfect.

We begin in the monastery of St. Lawrence, on Petrin Hill, where Brother Marsillius is tending to the wounded knight and also sipping from his dressings because the Lord helps those who help themselves. Said knight has regained consciousness, and introduces himself as Christof, a second son on his way to join the muster of the Sword Brethren for crusade into pagan Livonia.

Alas, he was waylaid in the woods outside Prague: some demon, with great paws and a scaled hide and baleful red eyes, set upon him and gouged him without mercy. Marsillius recognised this as a vodnik - a water creature that comes in many forms and does not usually attack travellers without provocation. Christof confessed he might have swung first, but - he is here to fight the enemies of the Lord, is he not?

Christof thanked him for his ministrations and asked if, perhaps, now that he could walk again, there was some small duty he could do? Even if not the sword, some work to which he might put his idle hands?

Marsillius also saw an opportunity, or perhaps experienced a craving. Seeking permission from his sire, he produced a potion of sorts - a muddle of herbs and vitae that would, he swore, aid noble Christof in his recovery. In return, said Garinol, Christof was to visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and transcribe the inscription from a reliquary that Garinol could not bear to handle.

Marsillius and Christof experienced a very godly and heterosexual moment. That's what the notes say.

We needed a brief moment of OOC time here, to re-establish exactly why everyone was going to Vysehrad. It helps to keep everyone aware of all the threads and stakes going into a resolution, and also to refresh the memory of decisions made weeks ago in real time.

To summarise: Marsillius' premonition suggested he should go to the mountain and Alzbeta was going too, to pray with him. Theodericus was worried about his friends, and Libussa, and Shaagra. Mariam needed to prove there was nothing evil in the ghetto, and to confirm her Compulsion-induced belief that All This Shit Was Connected, and also her cat was up that mountain somewhere.

As Mariam and Marsillius had an awkward conversation - she can't read him at all, but no doctrine on either of their parts says they can't be friends. This was the first time, I think, that she'd admitted these people were her friends. She wanted to make right what she'd done to Katya, or caused to be done - nobody deserves to live forever as a tongueless, silent possession. Alzbeta arrived, and then Theodericus, and gosh, when he walks up with his travelling cloak and his chainmail, his long sword and his short sword and his eating knife with their lion's head pommels, suddenly it's possible to take him seriously. The age of chivalry is almost upon us, and the stories are already starting to be told; Mariam was genuinely awed by the sight of this actual knight.

The coterie made their way along the south road, by the banks of the Vitava, sneaking out of the city without lights to avoid the Prince hearing of their departure. A mist was rising off the river, and the going was hard. I should add, at this point, that it's a long and tricky enough walk to Vyserhad, on a short summer night, that nobody had a chance to feed before they left - so Alzbeta was sharply hungry at 4, and nobody was below 2.

Along the road they passed a decrepit watermill, and the two Cainites leading the way - Mariam with Eyes of the Beast, Alzbeta with Heightened Senses - pulled up sharp. Something was watching. Something in the rafters with eyes as red as either of theirs. Mariam stared it down, sheer heft and silent fury incarnate, and when she showed a Messy Critical, the watcher's will broke first; something tumbled, and fell into the stream, and was gone into the river proper in a flash. Some vast and terrible fish. Something Marsillius also recognised; the vodnik is said to take many forms, among them a pawed and scaled fiend, an old man with a ragged beard and a green felt hat, and a pike of unusual size.

The lights of Vyserhad were visible, ahead and above - so many lights. Torches and candles lining the crenellations, the battlements carved from the living mountain. A path, winding to and fro up and up. A gatehouse, and atop it a grotesque, a winged shape with vast owlish eyes, seven feet tall and not even standing upright, and - it was moving. It knew they were coming.

In the end, it was Theodericus that stepped up: they were guests and, as such, must introduce themselves. Such courtesy (and dots in Etiquette, dump skill my ass) did not go unrewarded. Szarka, warlord of the Fiends, descended with a powerful leap and greeted the visitors; trifold jaws and a foot-long tongue choked out a welcome. Mariam's lack of respect for the Prince, and Alzbeta's talk of visions, were the deciders; Szarka took them in.

Through the winding streets of Vyserhad, the Citadel; dense and shuttered, flickering candles and restless dreams all around. To the square before the immense Gothic basilica, the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, the most nodular and extravagant architecture in the city: as though the stone itself wished for a more outlandish shape.

In the square before it, a dead tree hung with climbing orange flowers. At the foot of the tree, bare earth, and on that earth a throne, and on that earth, barefoot and languid, Libussa. Theodericus took a knee and Alzbeta dropped a curtsey before Mariam and Marsillius could even ask who this was.

She was attended by guards - orange surcoats and splinted leather, or the wide hats and staves of the wandering Chods - and by a second Fiend. This Depolt, tall and rangy, arms hanging a foot longer than is normal and four more twitching within his robes, bade them welcome in a voice semi-consistently resembling that of David Warner, and extended to them the hospitality of Clan Tzimisce.

Nervous, Marsillius chose to Sense the Unseen, and lord, did he ever sense it! The comforting light-without-light, warmth-without-warmth of the Basilica ahead, and all around, all around, beneath and below, the mountain - dark, watchful, aware, seeing him and them through every flame. Our poor boy bare shat himself, had he but been living, and tried to sneak into the Basilica to be with his God.

Libussa's head snapped round, and a voice not quite her own asked what he was about. He spoke to her of visions; of a calling from God that brought him to this mountain, and his need to pray. Alzbeta spoke of experiences much the same. And Libussa asked them if she was the royal nun the rumours spoke of (she is not; that honour belongs to Sister Agnes), and if he had seen what she had seen; been seen by what saw her.

Here follows a break between sessions. We wrapped up by establishing everyone's immediate Desires for next time. Alzbeta was discovering things about herself and God, and she wanted to know more of the Tzimisce and their ways. Marsillius was afraid, mortally afraid, and wanted to get onto consecrated ground where he was safe. Mariam was disgruntled; none of these people save for Szarka spoke plainly, and she wanted to speak to Szarka, protector to protector. Theodericus was concerned: although the Tzimisce didn't seem as monstrous and horrible as he'd been warned, Libussa still seemed ill-treated, and he wanted to ensure her well being. She was, after all, a queen. And everyone wanted more meat crimes; it was felt that I could be going harder. I still find Koldunic Sorcery more interesting than Vicissitude, but let it not be said that ol' Relleytrots doesn't take feedback...

To ease the pressure and create some better scenes, oh some absolute scenes, we (I) divided the coterie. Depolt sensed the Hunger radiating off Alzbeta, and invited her and Theodericus to dine with him; what kind of host would he be if he did not?

Libussa rose from her throne and expressed, to the air at large, that she was so tired, may she rest now? thus confirming to Marsillius that she was not in control of her own form. He recalled that she often slept on sacred ground, and asked if they could see inside the Basilica. Alas; no. Ground sacred to the White Christ is not for Tzimisce to walk upon. But Marsillius was free to try, and the Tzimisce looked... expectant. Anticipatory, even.

This left Mariam alone with Szarka, whose form imploded on itself, buckling and collapsing into a body more human, a little shorter than Mariam, patagia wings indistinguishable from sleeves, that furry mass behind her shoulders merely a fine stole, ignore that her dress is the flushed red of a blush and that her tongue is still a foot long.

Marsillius first, inside the Gothic magnificence of the Basilica, seeing and feeling Libussa's steps become lighter and more hesitant with every stair they climbed. He ended up carrying her to the altar, laying her down before Peter and Paul and Christ, and asking her, in hesitant tones: who is doing this to her?

And Libussa answered, clearer than she'd ever been before: magna mater, blood of my blood, queen of my world, the goddess Shaagra, the Dragon of Prague. She who gave Libussa the gift of prophecy; she who claimed two older sisters and two eldest sons. She whose blood was the Premsyl blood, and the secret of Libussa's four hundred years of life. And Libussa was - is - so old. So tired. May she not rest? Is there not more toil?

Marsillius, tormented - for this is how he preys, and this is the Lord's work that he does, to feed upon the dying and ease their passage from the world - asked: can she be stopped? If she is waking, can Shaagra be stopped?

Libussa does not know why you would want that. Libussa must sleep, now.

Smash cut. Mariam and Szarka, outside. The realisation that I've fucked myself with Szarka and Shaagra and, in everyone's consciousness, Sorcha. I should have used Valasca, but I got so hooked on the murder valley...

Mariam and Szarka had their heart to heart. It was a beautiful conversation: long silences and long thought, speaking true and from the heart. Mariam wanted to know if there was evil in the Josefov, or threat to it and to her people; to those she called friends; to the people of Prague. Szarka took her time to answer carefully, for hers is the Road of the Beast - she does not dissemble.

Evil in the Josefov? Not of her doing or her family's. Threat to the Josefov? Not by her will; no grievance there. Threat to the city? To others? Who can say? When the Dragon wakes, she will be hungry, but her hunger will be sated first in Vysehrad.

If it comes to blows, these two will be enemies, but they were able, here and now, to talk as kindred spirits. Mariam expressed her concern that Prince Brandl thought the threat to Prague was coming from her clan and people, and Szarka explained that he has always feared and mistrusted Zvi and the Jews; that if he spilled their blood it would not be on the hands of the Tzimisce.

There followed a discussion of who owns the city. Szarka, maiden of Valasca's revolt, warlord to Libussa the first princess of Prague, saw the city as theirs - that is to say, the Tzimisce's. Mariam, a farmer's daughter, saw a continuity: those lands she grew up tilling would never be hers again, they are her father's, and will be his son's, and their son's. What was is passed. What was built by you is not yours forever.

Both of them acknowledged they sounded like their sires. Perhaps there's something there.

For now, their conversation was over, and Mariam went inside the Basilica.

Meanwhile, by the Devil's Column on the north face of the mountain, Depolt and Alzbeta shared stories - Depolt told the tale of how the Devil was cheated and threw down this pillar on the mountainside in rage, and Alzbeta explained how her mother, in madness and fear, had pushed her into the fire to make her form less desirable to men. There was some sympathy there; perhaps she was merely mad.

Depolt explained that he could take those scars - if she wished it - but he understood if she did not wish it, if the body was where the memory was written. There followed a discussion of Disciplines, of moulding the mind and body, and a demonstration of the particularly visceral Feral Weapons to which Depolt had access. These two also have a spark between them - a tendency toward philosophy.

But then the men in splinted leather brought out a family from their home; a woman and her adult sons. A test for both visitors; Alzbeta, the Consensualist, and Theodericus, the Ventrue. Both took their lumps; Alzbeta two Stains, for doing what she did even with a prayer for the prey and letting Theodericus do the same, and Theodericus two Willpower hits, for the weight of his Bane descending. He confided, as they walked back to the square, that he found biting people like that - just like that - rather cruel, and rather crass, and most untidy. Alzbeta, shaking, could not discuss it, and fearing she would have another vision, Theodericus bore her with haste to the Basilica.

Here was Marsillius, and here was Libussa, so very tired. Would he do what he felt bound to do? But here was Mariam, walking in alarmed, saying he and Alzbeta had been right. There was something waking in the mountain, and it was dangerous, but was it something they did not want? Would they let whatever came come, and deal with the aftermath? Would fighting only make things worse?

Marsillius wondered aloud if they should warn the Prince, evacuate the city, at least warn him to quit the city - but if he did, said Mariam, he would come back and find it in others' hands and besiege it, and that would be worse. Prince Brandl was bound to do something stupid, and to blame his rivals, and the visionaries - Alzbeta and Marsillius - were complicit in that, to a degree.

What if they simply removed Prince Brandl? Would they be better off, asked Mariam?

Marsillius looked down at Libussa, maddened and weary, ancient and possessed, and asked in answer: "do you think this is better?"

Stirring in her sleep, Libussa seemed to recognise that Mariam was Jewish - they'd mentioned the rabbi in their conversation - and murmured something about that poor old man, about the Prophet of Kupala, about what she'd seen that night in May-time. That got Mariam worked up, and she strode out, intent on asking the Tzimisce which of you is Kupala's prophet -

Instead, she found Theodericus and the worrying Alzbeta, and as they hastened back inside to confer, Alzbeta dropped her bombshell: "the Prophet of Kupala is my sire."

She described him as resembling Brother Marsillius in passing - older, more haggard, less well kept - and as Marsillius spoke of his desire to save Libussa somehow, to take her from this place or grant her rest with the Kiss, Alzbeta broke down fully. She had already fed here. She had not been able to quiet that scratching dry Hunger in her throat. She had fed upon the unwilling, and - was she damned? was she evil?

That question, in this place, and the concurrent loss of Humanity? That changed things. Libussa rose, and intoned her prophecy in a voice they had not heard before:

Faith defiled shall lead you to me. Innocent blood shall lead me to you.

And within the foundations of the Basilica, within the bowels of that sacred place, they all heard it - crack.

Exit coterie, pursued by a fear. Mariam racing to warn the Jews. Alzbeta and Marsillius, clinging to each others' hands in fear of God and something worse. Theodericus, with Libussa in her arms, convinced at last that she needed to be saved - and, as the players remarked as the tension bled, they'd need her.

Here ends Act II - She Only Speaks In Exposition

Join us next week for Act III - We Gotta Kill The Prince Yesterday

[yael199192]

O'saa x GN old friend Reader

Summary: the two of you were travel buddies ever since you two were little. Your parents new O'saa's parents, so, thats how you two met. Growing up together, doing stuff together, and even surviving the Festival of Termina! But, now, the two of you needed to go seperate ways. So, for lasts goodbye, the two of you went to a mountain in Abyssonia after arriving back..

Warning; none, just fluff.

___________

You always took pictures of either you two or just O'saa to have nice memories you two had. He always acts different around you, but was still dismissive in a way. Always catching a genuine laugh from him, which made you happy.

One day, you two traveled back to Abyssonia after the terror of the Termina Festival. O'saa throwing the floating wizard head; Nas'hrah to a nearest River before you two walked up a mountain.

You and O'saa were going to go in seperate ways now, meaning that you won't be seeing each other, so, now you two are trying to have fun together in your final moments together.

————————————

CLICK, CLICK

You took another picture of O'saa, his back showing while there was a beautiful few infront; the sun slowly setting. The picture was beautiful, making you smile as O'saa was looking down of the mountain you two were standing on.

"Heh, still taking pictures i see?" O'saa silently chuckled, making you smile. "Well, yeah! I mean, i want to make this a memory forever." You said before slowly walking beside him, sitting down. You took a deep breath before looking at your camera.

"Hey..you sure you're going to be alright out there? Alone?" O'saa asked, a hint of.. worry in his voice. "Of course i will be alright, and you know me, i have a dagger by my pocket wherever i go whenever i am in danger." You replied softly, a smile plastered on your face as you looked at O'saa.

O'saa just looked into space, seeing his yellow eyes look forward, then down. "You know that i love you, right?" O'saa suddenly asked out of the blue, it shocked you. You've never heard him use the word Love once, well, maybe he did in the past without you noticing, but it was still surprising.

"I do know, and i too love you, hope you also stay safe.." you said, unsure what else to say. It was overwhelming for someone like O'saa; stoic and stern, suddenly say "i love you," but atleast it felt..honest from him.

The two of you sat there, sharing memories and laughing together, until it hit dark.

"Well i should get going, my train ride is at 11pm." You said, standing up, making O'saa automatically stand up too. You made sure you've got everything.

You felt the Yellow Mage hug you, tightly, making you hug back. Feeling a slight tremble from his body, as if holding back tears, well, it was sad leaving a childhood friend behind, but, things had to be done, and you needed to go back to your family.

Just then, you felt O'saa's lips touch you'rs, which surprised you, but, you didn't reject, and kiss him back.

Closing your eyes as you pulled yourself in. After a moment or two, you two seperated.

"Have a nice trip, my friend." O'saa said, his hands cupped on your cheeks, making you smile at him. "I hope i will have a nice trip, and maybe i can visit you if i got time." You replied, kissing his cheek.

"Can i...take you to the train stop?" O'saa asked, tilting his head to the side a bit. You nod in respondes, seeing a slight beaming glint in his eyes.

__________

[At the Train Station ]

It didn't take long enough before arriving at the train station in Abyssonia. You've made it just in time. Your train came as you looked at O'saa one last time, giving a peck on his lips.

"See you next time, S." You said, waving goodbye at him. "Goodbye, Y/N." O'saa replied, waving back as you entered the train.

Taking a seat near a window where it shows where O'saa stood, waving at him again before the train took off.

_______

Ten minutes went by, and you started to sketch on your diary after writing inside of it. There were small doodles O'saa made in the corners of the old pages, some say 'Look out for the Boogy man!," and some other silly stuff with a doodle next to it.

It made you smile softly to yourself, you really hoped to see him one day again..

Then, you looked outside, yawning and went to sleep. The train ride will be eight hours long anyways.

______________________________

I'll propably make a pt2 out of this since i like this story already, but yeah, thats all. And im sorry if i post too much of funger, its just that i love my boy O'saa but uhm yeah, hope ya enjoyed it!

[delicatemusickingdom]

Book 1 Part 1 Chapter 3.2

Chapter 3.2

Their first time ‘outside’. A vast sky, unobstructed by the castle walls, with no sign of the barrier’s shining rings. Lush verdant grasslands that stretched out forever. Dark, sprawling forests. And, majestic, towering mountains in the far-off distance. 

Even the whistling wind smelled different. With the herald of early summer, the plant life was sprouting all at once, and signs of vitality overflowed from every place. 

So this is the ‘outside’. 

The boys thought, overwhelmed, sweating as they pushed the cart under the brilliant sunlight.

Even Flynn seemed to be at a loss in the presence of such unadulterated freedom. He looked incredibly moved. 

There was no trace of the feeling of being stifled like back in the lower quarter. More than anything else, this place was under no one’s jurisdiction. There were no nobles, rich people, or knights here. Not even adults. Even the capital of the world, Zaphias, was nothing more than a small existence in the face of the vast scenery that spread out from before their very eyes. When they thought about it that way, even the ‘other side of the wall’, that had always been the target of their envy and jealousy, started to feel like a suffocating place squeezed between the castle walls. 

It’s not like they hadn’t come into contact with nature before. They’ve walked through places where trees grew thickly, where there were no buildings, right on the edge of the barrier. But now, as they moved forward with an especially heightened awareness of what it meant to be ‘outside’, the outside world seemed full of stimulation in a different way compared to before. 

Apart from the sound of the cart’s wheels rolling over pebbles on unpaved road, the only sound they could hear was the occasional chirping of birds. It was nothing short of idyllic. 

But. As he pushed the cart, Yuri looked down at his waist. The hatchet tucked into his waistband gave off a dull glint. There were dangers lurking within the scenery that dictated the necessity of such precautionary defensive measures. 

Jiri and the others had told Yuri so many times, about the threat of monsters roaming about in the outside world. It wasn't that he didn’t believe the adults’ warnings, but he was sure that if he acted quickly, he’d make it work out somehow. He didn’t really know the concrete details of what a monster was, and at most, he’d only seen one or two types of monster corpses. How dangerous they were had always been left vague and unclear. But now that Flynn had mentioned the need for weapons, things suddenly started to feel more realistic. 

It was only now that he keenly realised how reckless he had been, but now that he had come this far, there was no turning back. Since it’s come to this, I have no choice but to reach the intended river and return with the water as soon as possible.

Yuri glanced at Flynn beside him. Ever since they set out, he had been silently pushing the cart, not speaking a single word. But his machete was firmly secured to his waist, and his face was as alert and vigilant as a boy could look. 

Flynn’s presence reassured him. When Yuri realised he was thinking that, he frowned slightly, and pushed the cart with more force than necessary. 

As for Jareth and the other boys, they didn’t even try to hide their anxiety at first, clutching at their farming tools-quickly-turned-weapons. But as they walked and nothing seemed to occur, in the face of the liveliness of the early summer and refreshing breeze, they gradually started to gain more confidence. Right now, they were enjoying themselves, chatting away without a care in the world. 

Yuri felt mildly irritated at the fact that they looked like they had forgotten about the danger of the monsters, but it was true that despite the adults’ repeated warnings, it was hard to evoke such feelings from this rich scenery unlike that of the gloominess of the Gray Alleyways. 

“I’ll build a house, as easy as that, I’ll build two houses, as easy…”

One of the boys got carried away and started to sing, and the other boys joined in as well. As expected, that was going too far, so Yuri opened his mouth to give them a warning. 

“We don’t know where monsters will come from. It’s better not to be so loud.” 

Flynn said without looking behind. 

Jareth and the others, who had their good moods ruined, rebelled all at once. 

“Don’t be such a bore. It’s only a song.” 

“Surely the monsters are scared of us.” 

“They’re nowhere to be found, aren’t they?” 

Flynn looked like he was about to say more, but he seemed to have changed his mind and kept quiet. With no other choice, Yuri took over from him. 

“That’s enough. What if the monsters really hear us?” 

After Yuri said that, Jareth and the other boys stopped singing, but they didn’t stop talking, deliberately calling out things like ‘There are no monsters’, ‘We’re not afraid’, in loud voices so Yuri could hear them, and had to tell them to stop again. Flynn didn’t say anything. 

If it was going to be like this, it would have been better to come here alone, even if it meant bringing less buckets. Yuri didn’t know how many times he had thought that bitterly. 

But eventually Jareth and the others were forced to keep quiet. At this point, they had to get off the main road and push the cart into the grasslands. That was the only way they could get close to the river. 

The cart became more difficult to push, and the boys gasped for breath, no longer having the energy to spare for idle chatter or criticisms. At times they even had to push the cart through grass that reached up to their waists. 

****

The river suddenly appeared in front of their eyes. Although they could hear the sound of water, they didn’t notice it until they got closer because of the surrounding grass blocking their sight and because it was the size of a ditch. 

It was one of the many nameless brooks that flowed from the distant mountains, trickling and meandering by until eventually flowing into the large river. 

“Yeah!! We’re here! We’re finally here!” 

“Calm down. We haven’t done anything yet.” 

Yuri chided them, but that didn’t dampen the boys’ excitement. Yuri gave up and, letting out a sigh, went around to the back of the cart where the loading platform was. He reached out a hand to bring down a bucket. And from the other side, another hand reached out to support its weight together. 

It was Flynn. He didn’t look at Yuri, but it seemed he was determined to lend Yuri his strength. Just like that, Yuri brought down the bucket without a word, and, with both hands, carried it to the river. Flynn followed after him silently. 

The river was narrow, but not to the point they could leap over it, and there were clumps of tall grass growing on the riverbank on both sides, so he could fall in if he wasn’t careful. 

Perhaps because the flowing water had eroded the earth in places, but there was a big difference in level between the grassy area they were on and the riverbank, about tall as an adult. Yuri and Flynn had to search for a way to get down to the riverbank. 

They finally found a relatively gentle slope. It took the both of them to lower the bucket together and dip it into the dark, flowing water. Yuri flinched from the weight as he pulled the bucket out of the water. It’s going to be tough carrying this up all the way on my own. 

“Hey, everyone! Come over here!” 

Yuri shouted a few times from the riverbank, and after a few minutes Jareth and the other boys finally appeared. 

From there, everyone concentrated on the operation, working to carry down the buckets, lower it into the water, bring it back up, and load it into the cart. They needed to synchronise their timings because the buckets were quite heavy when filled with water, so they called out to each other. They worked together, sweating while doing their jobs, and for a while, everyone stopped thinking about unnecessary things. 

Everyone was drenched in sweat by the time the last bucket was loaded onto the cart. Yuri and Flynn sat side by side, their backs against the cart, panting heavily. 

When Yuri looked at Flynn, he found Flynn also looking back at him. He gave Flynn a small nod, then stood up. It isn’t over yet. Now, we have to go back the way we came. As if those feelings were transmitted to Flynn, he stood up as well.

Yuri was about to turn around and call out to the others, but suddenly — the sound of something falling into the water rang out. 

Instinctively, Yuri began to run towards where the sound had come from, but when he heard the cheers that followed, he stopped in his tracks. 

The sound of water again. Then, cheers. And again. 

Feeling a rush of anger, Yuri approached the riverbank and looked down at the river. 

Jareth and the other boys were swimming. They didn’t even take off their clothes, shockingly enough, and when they noticed Yuri and Flynn peering down at them they waved their hands. 

“Yuri, you should come down too! It feels great in here!” 

“Whoa, it’s really cold!” 

“I’m glad to be free of all that sweat and stickiness!”

Yuri’s patience finally snapped. 

“Knock it off, all of you!”

He yelled, and Jareth and the other boys, startled, started to tremble.

“What did you all come here for? This isn’t the time for fun and games! What if—”

“Yuri.” 

A voice near his ear said abruptly. When he looked up, he saw Flynn looking in the opposite direction of the river with a grave look on his face. The level of seriousness in his countenance was different compared to anything he had seen before. 

Instead of speaking further, Flynn slowly turned his body in the same direction as his gaze. Then, he pulled out the machete from his waist. 

Ahead of Flynn’s gaze, something large and black was steadily approaching, pushing through the grass as it moved. One, no, two. Sweat dripped down the back of Yuri’s neck. 

If only he’d mistaken what he saw, but as if to shatter than wish, Flynn murmured. 

“Monsters.”

****

Were they attracted by the sound of Jareth and the boys making noise, or the sound of them drawing the water? Or maybe they had been following them since long ago. Whichever it was, it didn’t matter now. 

The black shadows were now close enough that he could make out their shape. Eyes that burned brightly even through the tall grass. Long fur that bristled on end. 

Yuri had seen them before — as corpses. If he remembered correctly, they were creatures called demonic wolves. According to Jiri, they were monsters classified as extremely weak. But taking another look at the living demonic wolves in front of his eyes, Yuri couldn’t shake the thought that maybe that was only the case if you were Jiri. 

Behind him, Jareth and the others must have sensed something was wrong and come up from the riverbank, because he heard their gasps. Without turning around, he called out to them.

“Stay hidden! Don’t come out, no matter what!”

Jareth and the other boys had left their weapons scattered around the cart. There was no guarantee they could get there before they were attacked. If that happened, it would be a nightmare. 

If only I had a blastia. That thought also crossed his mind. A bodhi blastia, designed to let humans combat monsters. It was said that if one possessed a bodhi blastia, they could exhibit power unimaginable for humans, allowing them to stand toe-to-toe with — or even surpass — monsters. 

But Yuri had only heard about such things from stories told by someone else a long time ago. He’d never seen the real thing before. Right now, the only thing he could expect to have was what he had on hand — a hatchet, which had at most been used for chopping wood. 

No— Yuri looked at the boy standing at his side. At the very least, Flynn was here. He didn’t know when Flynn had moved, but he was now gripping his machete and in a battle-ready stance just like Yuri. 

But. 

Is the tip of his machete trembling? Before he could think about what that meant, Flynn opened his mouth. 

“Yuri, can I ask you something?”

“What, do we really have time for this?” 

“Have you ever fought a monster before?”

At that question, he felt a surge of fear rush through him. 

“Not at all. ……You?” 

The golden-haired boy answered without taking his eyes off the approaching monsters.

“Me neither.”

Yuri lifted his eyebrows in amusement. 

When all is said and done, he’s not such a bad guy after all. Yuri thought to himself. Perhaps we could even get along well — if we survive this, that is. 

“I heard this monster has a habit of targeting nearby prey.” 

Flynn said, in a tone as if reciting from memory. 

“I’ll bait it from the front. You—” 

Without waiting for Flynn to finish speaking, Yuri started to run. Out of the two demonic wolves, he leapt at the one in front. 

The demonic wolf was momentarily confused by the sudden movement, but then it let out a low growl. Kicking off the ground, it sprang towards Yuri. 

As he watched the monster’s jaws draw near him, he felt goosebumps running all over his body. He skidded to a sudden halt, and, using that same momentum, jumped backwards. It wasn’t over with that one time, though — as soon as his feet touched the ground, he dodged the attack with another jump. 

One more time— is what he thought, but his foot caught on the grass, and he fell backwards. His vision was filled with a view of the sky, quickly covered by a fierce shadow—

“HAAA!!”

Accompanying that spirited yell, a chilling, dull thud rang out. Yuri felt a warm liquid splash onto his face. The black shadow collapsed heavily beside him, and the ground shook slightly. 

“Hurry and get up. The next one is coming!” 

Flynn’s voice called him back to his senses, and he quickly got up. The demonic wolf lay collapsed right next to him. Blood gushed out from its forehead as it twitched and convulsed in its final moments of agony. 

Yuri let out a deep breath. He didn’t know when, but Flynn must have stopped it. 

Flynn was right by his side. Fresh blood dripped down the machete he was holding as he stood there, protecting Yuri. His face looked angry, and at the same time, surprised. Without looking at Yuri, he yelled. 

“How could you be so reckless!?”

“You were going to do the same, weren’t you?” 

“But!” 

“I just thought your aim would be more ‘reliable’!”

Flynn was about to argue further, but was abruptly interrupted. The second demonic wolf suddenly rushed towards the both of them. 

“Ugh!” 

“Why, you!”

As if by agreement, the two of them simultaneously leapt to the left and right. The demonic wolf landed in the spot in between them and paused, exposing its flanks defenselessly. Yuri and Flynn immediately slashed at it from both sides. 

The demonic wolf shrieked, and with the last of its strength, attacked Flynn. Yuri struck it with a blow from his hatchet, ending the last remains of its life. 

This time the demonic wolf fell to the ground with a splatter of blood, where it lay beside its companion and stopped moving. The smell of blood they were unaccustomed to made the both of them feel nauseous, but a sudden gust of wind carried the smell away. 

As if that had severed the tension in the air, Yuri sank to his knees on the spot. His hatchet fell to the ground with a heavy thud. The moment he thought it was over, the strength in his waist gave out and his legs started shaking. He didn’t care about anything anymore. 

Flynn sat beside him. His hands were also trembling slightly, and he slowly peeled his fingers off the machete gripped in his right hand. 

Neither of them spoke for a while, basking in the reality that they had narrowly escaped from the jaws of death. They had no blastia, no experience fighting monsters, and even though the monsters were considered one of the weaker types, they had still managed to take them down. For the boys, they were truly fortunate. 

Some time later, Flynn spoke. 

“Yuri, what was that thing you did earlier?” 

“What thing?” 

“You spun the axe in your hand as you slashed the monster, right? I’ve never heard of anyone doing that before. If you slipped up, you could have cut yourself.” 

“Ah, yeah…” 

Yuri tilted his head, as if realising it only after Flynn pointed it out. 

“I mean, the head of the axe is heavier, so I just thought it’d be easier to spin it.” 

In response to Yuri’s answer, Flynn opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, looking extremely surprised. His face suddenly softened. 

“Easier, you say…… You really are strange.” 

“Maybe so.” 

Yuri shrugged lightly. 

“Pft.”

Laughter burst out of both of them like a fountain, gradually growing louder until it permeated the blue skies. 

“Ha ha ha ha…”

From their hiding places in the grass by riverbank, Jareth and the other boys watched on in wonder. 

****

“Alright, before we go back, I’m going to wash up a bit.”

Yuri said as he stood up. His face and clothes were covered in monster blood. Even if he tried to wash it off in the river, he wasn’t sure how much of it would come off, but it was better than not doing anything at all. If I went home like this and Grandma Jiri caught me, who knows what she’d say. 

Flynn also stood up, and, sensing that it was safe to come out, Jareth and the other boys also showed themselves. 

Yuri was about to nod to them when Flynn cried out sharply. 

“Look out!” 

From a corner of his vision, a black shadow rushed towards Jareth and the other boys. A third one! By the time he realised that, it was already in right in front of Jareth and the other boys. 

Then a golden blur crashed into it. 

“Flynn!”

Yuri screamed and rushed forward as well. Flynn had used his body to collide into the demonic wolf. Its large body staggered from the blow, and it struggled to regain its footing. Yuri reached it before it could stand up, and, using all of his strength, rammed himself into its shoulder. 

In front of the cowering boys, the demonic wolf and the two of them clinging to it did a somersault, rolled over, and — fell. Past the grass, and towards the river. 

Three pillars of water rose up. The first was Yuri. He had fallen into a shallow part of the river, and quickly got up and grabbed onto the grass growing by the riverbank. 

The second pillar of water was much larger, and as it floated to the water’s surface, quickly revealed itself to be the body of the large demonic wolf. There was no sign of the demonic wolf moving, and it continued to float slowly along the river’s current. Jareth and the others thought they saw something like a handle of a hatchet sticking out from its body, but it soon disappeared from view as the corpse spun in the current. 

The problem was the third one — Flynn. Despite being a small river, the current was still deep and rapid in some places. Clearly, Flynn had fallen into one of those. He kept trying to get close to the shore, but the current would sweep him away each time, preventing him from getting close. 

Yuri, who had been pulled up and out of the riverbank by Jareth and the others, frantically searched for a rope or something that could serve as one. But unfortunately, in such a place in the middle of nowhere, there was nothing they could use lying around. In the meantime, Flynn was being swept further and further downstream. 

Yuri and the others were worried that Flynn would drown at this rate, but surprisingly Flynn wasn’t sinking under the water at all. Looking closer, they could see that he was clinging to something white in colour. They didn’t know what it was, but thanks to that it looked like he was able to stay afloat. 

“We’re going after him!” 

Yuri called out to Jareth as he ran along the river. He had no idea what to do, but he knew that he couldn’t lose sight of Flynn no matter what. 

Flynn continued to be swept away by the current, and there was no signs that he was any closer to the shore. How far will this go? As Yuri started to worry, one of his fellow friends cried out. 

“Look over there! It’s a caravan!” 

There were several horse-drawn carriages parked on the shore downstream from where they were. Smoke from a bonfire rose from a corner of one of them. 

“Heeeeey!” 

Can they hear me shouting from all the way over here? And even if they did, will they notice Flynn and save him? He didn’t know but had no choice but to call out anyway. Yuri and the others all ran and called out to the caravan as loudly as they could. 

Sure enough, there was movement. They saw people frantically moving around the carriages, taking something out. 

They cast out something like a fishing net and caught Flynn. As several people pulled him ashore, Yuri and the others finally arrived and helped out as well.

“Flyn……wait, what the heck is this!?!?!?” 

Yuri yelled involuntarily. Definitely, what they pulled ashore was Flynn, wrapped in the fishing net. But the thing that Flynn was clinging onto—

“Watch out, that’s a merman!” 

One of the adults from the caravan shouted. It had a large, pointed head that screamed carnivorous, and small, unshapely human-like limbs attached to a slippery body. Just like how there were demonic wolves lurking in the grasslands, there were aquatic monsters lurking underwater. And Flynn was clinging onto one of them. 

But the merman was even more limp than Flynn was. It didn’t move even as Flynn crawled out from the fishing net.

“……Is it dead?” 

At the adult’s question, Flynn shook his head. 

“I think it’s just passed out.” 

Sure enough, as he spoke, the merman beside him slowly started to move. Realising that it was surrounded by humans, it hurriedly slipped out from the fishing net, jumped into the river and, in the blink of an eye, swam away. Everyone looked on in shock. 

“That’s a monster that usually lives in the ocean. I’ve never heard of one appearing in a river. I hope it’s not an omen of things to come…”

A man from the caravan murmured. Yuri ignored him and rushed to Flynn’s side. 

“I was wondering what you were holding onto, but I didn’t expect it to be a monster. There’s something wrong with you.” 

“I heard if you cover the gills around the merman’s neck they won’t be able to breathe. Well, I never thought I’d be able to test it out for myself.” 

“You heard from whom?”

It was only after he’d said that that Yuri realised he’d messed up. In an instant, that familiar stiffness slipped back onto Flynn’s face — like a mask. 

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay. Both of us, I mean.” 

Yuri didn’t pursue it any further and said. The mask disappeared, and Flynn broke into a smile. 

“Yes, I’m glad that was no big deal.”

Both of them were stained with monster blood and soaking wet from their fall into the river. Although it was true that they had miraculously gotten away with no injuries apart from a few bruises and scrapes, the things they had experienced in that brief period amounted to more than just a big deal. Despite that, Flynn had spoken so dismissively. Yuri could only shrug his shoulders in amazement. 

“It was a big deal for you, though.”

As if interpreting Yuri’s words as sarcasm again, Flynn looked a little offended. 

“U-Um…”

Jareth and the other boys spoke up timidly. The boys were fidgeting, looking for the next words to say, as they looked at Flynn. Flynn had a suspicious look on his face, but Yuri grinned. 

“If you guys have something to say, make sure you say it properly.” 

Prompted by those words, Jareth and the other boys took a step forward. 

“Um, well, thanks for saving us.” 

They stuttered as they spoke, as if they were probing Flynn’s reaction with each word. Flynn, on the other hand, didn’t seem to have expected it, and his expression looked as blank as always. Jareth hesitated, unsure if he should continue, but then he took a deep breath and let it all out in one go. 

“So, we’re sorry for everything we did before! We were in the wrong!” 

Jareth and the other boys bowed their heads in unison. It took about a second for it to sink for Flynn. 

“Okay.” 

Not saying anything unnecessarily, Flynn nodded seriously. Jareth and the others continued mumbling, but they looked visibly relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. 

“Well then…”

A man from the caravan, who had been watching the entire exchange, cleared his throat. 

“You guys seem to be done making up, so is now a good time? I’m guessing you guys are kids from the Imperial Capital? We’re also headed there. We can’t just leave you kids alone like this, so if you want to we can travel there together.” 

When Jareth and the other boys heard this, they cried out in joy, as if they had forgotten why they had come here in the first place. ‘The adults are coming with us. We can go home.’ Looking at them, even Flynn let out a somewhat happy expression. 

But Yuri couldn’t bring himself to truly feel happy. He had intended on carrying things out secretly, but it had ended up getting adults involved. He had a pretty good idea as to what awaited them when they returned. 

Prev | Index | Next

[unsoliciteddakpics]

Wavelength

It’s hard to find the words for what feels so natural,

This bond we share, though stretched by miles, is undeniable.

Though you’re far away, the space between us feels like a dream,

As if our hearts are entwined in an unspoken scheme.

In the quiet moments, in the depths where thoughts reside,

I find you there, in the hidden corners of my mind.

How do you do it? How indeed…

Is it our wavelength, that mysterious thread?

Does our love connect us in ways unseen,

Bridging mountains, deserts, and everything in between?

It’s as if you’re the keeper of my soul,

Unraveling the thoughts I’ve tried to control,

And with each whisper of your name,

You pull me closer, and I’m never the same.

Oceans are vast, like a sky adorned with stars,

But even in their endless stretch, they can’t compare to what we are.

My thoughts, like wild rivers, run untamed and free,

Yet somehow, you know them, as if you hold the key.

You chase them down, understanding every twist and turn,

In your embrace, my restless mind finds peace, yearns.

You’ve read me like an ancient script, worn but true,

And in every word, I see how deeply you pursue,

The essence of who I am, the man beneath the walls,

And with your love, those barriers crumble and fall.

You’ve bridged the distance between our hearts,

In that silent connection, where all love starts.

So here we stand, bound by something we can’t see,

A love that stretches over miles, yet feels so near to me.

In your eyes, I see a world where we are forever one,

And in your heart, I know our journey has just begun.

For every wave that crashes on the shore,

Our love will rise, unwavering, forevermore.

[guzhufuren]

you have heard of young rich lord falls for a crossdressing cold blooded assassin

now behold uncensored gay chinese wuxia collab 2.0: gentle prince meets assassin, to sweethearts to exes to (time skip) two enemy emperors who fuck

[msmorningstaarr]

Martell Week: "The Night We Met"

Memories of Oberyn Martell x Ellaria Sand

In honour of @martellweek, here we go!

DAY 3: Favourite moment

"Oberyn wanted vengeance for Elia. Now the three of you want vengeance for him. I have four daughters, I remind you. Your sisters. My Elia is fourteen, almost a woman. Obella is twelve, on the brink of maidenhood. They worship you, as Dorea and Loreza worship them. If you should die, must El and Obella seek vengeance for you, then Dorea and Loree for them? Is that how it goes, round and round forever? I ask again, where does it end? I saw your father die. Here is his killer. Can I take a skull to bed with me, to give me comfort in the night? Will it make me laugh, write me songs, care for me when I am old and sick?"

-- AFFC

Relationships: past!Ellaria Sand x Oberyn Martell; Ellaria Sand x Loreza Sand

Word count: 1.5k

Warnings: coping with grief, angst, fluff, falling instantly in love, mentions to elia’s death

ao3 | masterlist

Oberyn, as the essence of vengeance give us a clear portrait of what so many characters (i.e Arya Stark, Lady Stoneheart) can turn their lives into once injustice reaches its door. Such a wholehearted moment where Ellaria mourns and only clings herself onto what is left for her of her love: memories and her daughters. Thinking about this, I wrote it inspired by the song "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron. Please, indulge yourselves.

Hellholt settled amongst the harsh dornish desert and sultry dunes of sand, quite near a river, though. The castle had its architecture projected to be more fresh, blow a breeze inside of it and thus, manage for the ones living there survive the scalding heat of the country. However, even with ancestral technology the castle had its days where the sun would invade everything and make its overwhelming presence, burning and melting all the things it could reach. Tonight would be one of these nights. Either way, Loreza cuddled and crawled towards her mother for a sorrowful embrace through quiet sobs from mother and daughter.

Little by little, the eight daughters of Oberyn were coping with his unfortunate death. Ellaria, his paramour, felt at a loss for words or actions. He was her one, true love. A strong and pure bond of a lifetime… and she lost him right in front of his eyes. Ever since the day Oberyn had his head crushed by the Mountain, the scene repeated itself in her mind and the exasperated sound yearned to leave her throat again and again and again, but nothing left her lips, not even a slight sigh. In an attempt to seek her own solace, she isolated herself in her own safe space: home. 

The air inside Hellholt felt heavy, mirroring the weight on Ellaria’s heart. The loss of Oberyn, a man whose fiery spirit once echoed through the halls of the castle, left an indelible void. The mourning period stretched on, and each day seemed to blur into the next. Loreza found solace in the memories her mother told her, in the moments shared with Oberyn, but the pain of his absence was a constant ache. The girl of only seven years of age had so little time with her father and was already well aware at such young age about the horrors of grief. 

Ellaria moved through the castle like a shadow, her laughter and energy diminished, if not vanished at all. The absence of her paramour presence was palpable. In the evenings, when the desert sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow on the sand, Hellholt became a fortress of memories and sorrow.

Ellaria, once a vibrant force within the castle, now moved with a quiet grace. She retreated to the chambers they once shared, surrounded by the remnants of Oberyn's essence—his books, his trinkets, and the lingering scent of his favourite perfumes. She found comfort in the familiar, even as the world outside seemed to lose its colour.

Loreza clung to Ellaria as a source of stability. The two shared a profound understanding of grief, and their silent embraces spoke volumes. As the night settled over Hellholt, Loreza's tears merged with the sorrowful whispers of the desert wind outside.

In the dimly lit chambers, Ellaria calmly embraced her daughter as she gently involved her small arms around her mother. Ellaria traced the contours of her face, as if trying to find traces of Oberyn in her features. Memories of their passionate moments flooded her mind, both a balm and a torment.

“Mother,” Loreza muttered.

“Yes, sweetling.” Ellaria replied.

“Tell me about the day you met papa again.” Loreza asked, drawing invisible patterns with her fingers over her mother’s belly.

Ellaria beamed, gently caressing her daughter's black curls. “Of course.” A sad smile rose on her face.

It was a bright night in Sunspear when I accompanied my father on a journey to pay our condolences to House Martell in honour of your aunt, late Princess Elia. Your father missed her dearly and his eyes were never seen so lost. Her body was brought back to Dorne a long time after her assassination and your uncle, Prince Doran, invited the lords of Dorne for her funeral, once she was a beloved princess as I told you once. I never met her in person, but I know she was perfect for all that your lord father has told me of her. I was grieving too. My mother had died not so long ago after the princess’ death. But on the night I met your father, his eyes lingered on mine and stared at me for what felt like an eternity. Oberyn was rather impulsive as a man, but that night he was quiet as the grass that hides a serpent. And then, I decided to be bald. That night, heat consumed me as much as consumed us tonight and I could not find any sleep, so I walked towards his chambers in the middle of the night and knocked on his door. His eyes sparkled with a puzzled and amused expression for my action, but he remained silent. We just looked into each other’s eyes. Then I just spoke.

“I know how it feels to lose a loved one.”

Loreza listened to everything and changed her expression at any nuance of her mother’s story. Her tears had drowned as her mother spoke so softly about her father and even allowed herself to smile whenever it came to remember the memory of her maidenhood.

Then, your father replied. “Come in, my lady.” And I entered his private quarters for the first time, but quickly remembered to correct him.

“I am no lady. I am a bastard.” And I said it proudly, as I always taught you and your sisters. He smiled at me for the first time and poured me a glass of wine.

“Bastards are born from passion.” Your father told me. “I have four of them with me. The second one reminds me of Elia the most.” 

“Your fame is well known throughout the Seven Kingdoms, my Prince.” I replied, gazing at his brown eyes. 

“You may call me Oberyn.” Your father calmly said. But after this, he went back sad again and I just sat by his side and held his hand while he stared at the floor. I was so instantly drowned into his beauty I paid no mind to speak anything, I just wanted to be near my Oberyn.

Suddenly, he looked into my eyes and questioned me. “Who did you lose?” I believe he thought I made that up to get near him. His peek examined me with profound depth.

And I promptly responded to him. “My mother, not so long ago.” 

His fingers entangled on mine and I felt a rush, my eyes burned and my heart beat in exhilaration, a feeling you will feel once you reach your maidenhood, sweet girl. I was already in love. “Then I pay you my condolences.” That is just what he said.

“Grief is a relentless companion, one that we must navigate through the storm. Losing someone we love changes us, shapes us into beings capable of enduring the harshest of winds.” The wine in my hand tasted bittersweet, a reflection of the shared sorrows that had brought us together. “But the sun one day will shine on us again, Prince Oberyn.”

For a moment, the weight of grief seemed to lift as I sat there, hand in hand with my Prince of Dorne. The vulnerability he displayed, the raw honesty in his eyes, created a connection that transcended titles and societal norms. And there, he was no longer a prince and I was no longer a bastard. It was only him and I. We were two souls seeking solace in the midst of heartache.

“Thank you.” Your father told me earnestly and a shadow casted over his eyes, following for a soft tear falling from his eyes. It was the first and last time I saw your father cry and I did what felt most logical… I kissed his cheek exactly where his tear fell apart. I remember it all like a vivid dream, right in front of my face. Oberyn instantly kissed my lips with no shame or any feeling a grown person should feel, but only tenderness and comfort. Ever since, Oberyn pleaded for me to stay with him and Sunspear and never let me go. Not so long after, your sister Elia was born. And then Dorea, Obella and lastly you, Loreza. 

Loreza’s eyes fluttered with a comforting expression, leaving a soft tear fall from her eyes. 

I grew up thinking I could never love someone nor be loved with such devotion and there he was, loving me since our first kiss. I felt that love, my little snake. For I loved him right then too. And I hope that you and your sisters experience this type of love too. That is why I yearn for peace. I wish no mourn for any of you… just pure love.

With this, Loreza tried to merge her body into Ellaria, wiping her tears on her mother’s nightgown. “I miss him, mama.” 

“I know, sweetling. I miss him too.” Ellaria said, quietly sobbing. “But now it is past time for you to sleep, love. I already told you a bedtime story, so close your eyes and get some rest.”

Loreza nodded and tried to reach her pillow close to Ellaria, but before she would close her eyes, the little girl turned to her mother and spoke. “Do you think I will dream of papa tonight?” 

Ellaria sighed and caressed her daughter's brown curls, with a broken smile. “That is all I could hope for.”

[savagewildnerness]

(Someone interrupted me so this went slightly wrong, but oh well. It is.)

I asked ChatGPT: Describe Gabrielle de Lioncourt in metaphors

Gabrielle de Lioncourt is a quiet ember, glowing with a soft, steady light, yet capable of igniting a flame of ferocity when provoked. She is the wind’s whisper—gentle, elusive, and often unnoticed—but with a force that can erode mountains in the long span of time. Gabrielle is the moon's distant sister, her beauty serene but distant, a calm presence in the tumultuous world of the undead, forever pulling at the tides of emotion with a steady, silent pull.

She is the river that flows beneath a frozen surface—quiet, unassuming, yet deep with currents of power and history that no one dares to fathom. Gabrielle is a tapestry woven with threads of nobility and tragedy, a fabric rich with a legacy that is worn but never frayed, her past always haunting her like a fading portrait.

Gabrielle is a winter’s morning, sharp and crisp, with the promise of warmth lingering beneath the chill. She is an old oak tree, her roots sunk deep into the soil of history, a silent guardian watching the passage of centuries, her strength found not in grand gestures but in the quiet endurance of time. She is a blade wrapped in velvet—soft to the touch, but with the cold edge of a warrior beneath the surface, honed by experience and tempered by loss.

Her heart is a sealed letter, written long ago but never opened, its secrets guarded by the weight of centuries. Gabrielle is a star fading from view, still burning but increasingly distant, her light dimming in the ever-widening expanse of eternity. She is the calm in the eye of the storm, a figure who stands apart from the chaos of her vampire family, neither the raging fire nor the cold ice, but a quiet force of nature who endures all.

[maggie-eatsregulusblack]

Little Swiss scrabble!!

Tags: angst, major character death, self harm, insanity, Swiss ghoul, Mountain ghoul, heavy angst, isolated, self inflicted pain

Ao3 direct link^

rest under the cut

A burden

Always and forever, nothing more than that. His problems don't matter, never will, and never should. Nobody’s gonna care, he hasn't been through enough, it wasn't enough, never was, never will be.

Never enough

Overdramatic

It wasn't that bad

Tears welled in the ghouls eyes for the hundredth time, how many times was he gonna pathetically start crying again? He had no reason to cry, why was he crying? Only an argument, that was it, he was just being dramatic.

The multi ghoul sobbed onto Mountain's shoulder, buried himself away. He didn't fucking deserve this, he had no reason to cry, why the fuck was he so upset over a little argument? Mountain was completely silent, not even moving an inch. Swiss felt the earth ghouls warmth around him, he didn't know if he should stop crying and grow up or just cry more, he deserved it, maybe if he kept going they’d finally think he’d been through enough.

“I’m.. sorry..”

Swiss was met with silence, not a single noise, word, or even movement from Mountain. Did he care though? not really, Mountain had every right to ignore him, he was crying over something so small, why the fuck was he crying?

Why was he crying?

He couldn't answer the question, was it because voices were raised? but there wasn't a meaning behind it, it was just in the heat of the moment, it was stupid. he could take it before, so why not now? had he just become a weak crybaby? Why now all of a sudden?

Swiss felt a sudden wave of emptiness and dread wash over him, everything went cold, time felt like it was paused. That’s when he realized.

Blood dripped from his palms, leaving red trails…like a river… as it trickled down his arms.

Clothing ripped, messed up, dirty.

Glass shards in his legs, everywhere.

His face was wet, tears flowing needlessly down his cheek like a waterfall that would never run out of water.

Mountain not there. He wasn't there, never was. He had never even stepped foot in the room. No one had, not since Swiss locked the room and boarded up the windows, leaving himself in the dark secluded room, empty.

Swiss made a useless attempt at shakily standing up, leaving red bloody handprints on the floor as he collapsed back onto his knees.

Right, he had been sitting way too long. How the fuck was he supposed to walk.

How many days had he been awake? he lost count, why sleep? he was just fine, wasn't he? Even if he wasn't, other people had it worse.

Stop being dramatic

Swiss would never be able to escape them. Not anymore, at least. Voices echoing through his head, now also through the room.

His empty, dull, laugh bounced off the walls, repeating itself, loud and clear. He sounded dead, passed on, lifeless, unalive, everything but alive, cheerful, happy. The adrenaline of new cuts would never get old, would it? Always a repeating cycle.

Cold, metal invading and piercing the skin.

Nothing, silently watching as blood slowly formed small beads on top of the once clean and unharmed skin.

Stinging, tears welling, now finally remembering as all the pain slowly seeped in.

Numb, then done, that was it. So short, yet felt so good, so right.

Oh.

The vein.

A smile slowly took over his face as he took in what he had done. This was it. Nobody would have to think about him anymore, they could all live happily, without him.

His head was spinning, where was he? how would he know, why would he care, he didn't. vision going on and off, black to not and then back to black.

Get out.

No, let yourself go.

Please leave, they’ll help you.

They don’t give a single shit about you, it's not worth it.

What does water feel like?

Get. Out.

How do you use your legs?

Stay. Stay and die.

Save yourself, you can't breathe.

What would it feel like to be loved?

He would never know. Not anymore. His eyes glazed over, the last tear falling as he made one more attempt to smile. His body went limp, muscles weak and exhausted as a thud was heard when he dropped from his knees to lay still on the concrete floor.. His mind was in chaos.

Is this really what death felt like?

It was all so empty, but full. Thoughts scattered everywhere unorganized in his mind, chaotic.

He smiled, eyes locking onto the top corner of the room, a camera. He knew everyone was watching. He put it there, they could celebrate when they saw him dead through the screen.

“No!-”

Mountain’s broken sob and cry was the last thing Swiss heard through the thin walls of his once beloved ministry and home, before taking his last, deep breath.

[dreamdepot]

Dreams of the Kingdom - Chapter 30: Final Fall

Previous < First > Last

AO3 Wattpad or below!

“Mama, tell me a story?”

“I’ve already told two tonight, silly.”

“Please Mama, one more?”

“Do you promise to go to sleep after?”

“I promise!”

“Okay then, let’s see here… Once upon a time, there were three goddesses. One day, the three goddesses looked down on a lonely, lifeless world and felt very sad. Din, the goddess of power, shaped the land, giving it form. She dyed the mountains red with fire and carved the hills and valleys. Nayru, goddess of wisdom, created the order of nature, bringing science and magic to the land. She filled the oceans and rivers with pure water. Finally, Farore, goddess of courage, created life on the new world – the animals that crawl the land and the birds that soar in the sky. Seeing their work was done, the three goddesses decided to leave, but they left one final gift to the new world.”

“The Triforce!”

“That’s right, the Holy Triforce, the symbol of our kingdom. It was a small but powerful bit of their power that would guide the new life on the world and help bring them peace and prosperity. The Triforce grants any wish you have, if your heart is balanced and true. It was placed in the Golden Land where only those powerful enough to find it would be granted its blessing. However, it was too dangerous and powerful to keep in one piece, so it was split into three parts, hidden far from anyone. It is said that whoever unites the Triforce again, shall reign over Hyrule and bring about a new lasting peace…”

==============================

Blink. Yawn. 

Wind whistled around you. As the sun set over the horizon, you flew silently over the rolling landscape.

Good. Air. Wind. Wind nice…

You stretched your massive undulating body. Your iridescent navy-blue scales rimmed with gold, much like the robes of Hyrule’s royalty, sparkled in the light of the rising moon. Your horns curved over and back into a regal – but deadly – crown, fitting as you looked like a king over the other dragons. As you enjoyed your flight over your domain, it felt like you were forgetting something… something important…

Oh well, it couldn’t have been that important.

You looked down at the little beings on the surface. They seemed very interested in you, but they were so small and quiet, you really couldn’t hear what they were saying. Instead, you curled away and slowly climbed into the sky. You sniffed and yawned. Being so high was nice. It was relaxing. Staying up here forever… didn’t seem like such a bad idea…

The peace, however, didn’t last. You could hear a deep rumble coming from the big spikey thing jutting into the sky. Rock cracked and shifted as another massive dragon emerged, cloaked in darkness. It roared as it climbed higher and higher, its eerie eyes glowing in your direction. As it climbed, the darkness peeled away revealing its black and red scales, and its impressive horns – larger but less regal than your own. Its dark eyes ringed with blue and yellow blinked slowly at you. You snorted, not too happy at having another dragon invade your territory. He may have been a bit larger than you, but your fangs and horns were no less deadly than his.

Demon Dragon…

You then saw one of the little beings lodged in a gap in the Demon Dragon’s fangs, a small speck glinting in the moonlight, but he seemed… familiar?

You looked closer and felt something lurch in your heart.

Soulmate.

The other dragon turned to you, challenge in its eyes as it held onto your mate in its jaws.

NO. MINE.

You slammed into the other dragon, biting down on his neck. He roared in pain as your mate tumbled from his jaws. As much as you wanted to punish this intruder, you had to catch your mate. You darted away, swooping under him and catching him in your soft mane. Then, you climbed higher and higher, as high as you could go. The Demon Dragon snapped at your tail, but he was too slow to reach you.

Soon you reached the rim of the world, so high that the land below was merely a speck under the clouds. You evened out your flight, growling softly to your mate, hoping to soothe him.

Even if he didn’t understand, your mate hugged your snout as best as he could. He was saying something, but he was too quiet to hear. While he tried to hide it, you could feel teardrops on your scales. But, your mate was strong and resolute. He stood and wiped away his tears, drawing his pretty sword. He gave you a nod, whispering something… a promise? You couldn’t tell. It didn’t matter now as the Demon Dragon had caught up, blocking your path and roaring. The spots you had clawed and bit had torn away his scales, revealing dark oozing wounds, with terrible dark eyes watching from the gash. That seemed to be enough for your mate to know what to do. He patted your snout and then ran forward, leaping into battle.

==============================

While the battle raged, the sky faded away. The last vestige of your mortality stirred, and you opened your eyes to find yourself standing in an endless void. You looked down at your hands, semi-transparent in this surreal dreamscape. You still wore your armor, and your sword was still strapped to your back. Glass-smooth water spread out as far as the eye could see, somehow supporting your weight as your footsteps sent ripples out across the surface. The stormy sky above rumbled with an oncoming squall.

“I figured you’d show up here eventually.” Ganondorf stood some ways away, the only other person in this lonely void. He was still in his Demon King form, but the Gloom within him seemed to have faded from what you had seen under the castle. He seemed more serene, something you hadn’t seen since your earliest dreams of Sheik.

“You used the curse to turn me into a dragon too.”

“I told you that I would win in the end.” For once Ganondorf seemed… tired. He looked down at his hand, opening and closing it into a fist. “I was led to believe draconification sacrificed everything, but it seems the dregs end up here.”

“Or perhaps those who are particularly strong linger a bit longer,” you muttered. Part of you wondered if Zelda was just trapped alone in this void for all that time when she was a dragon.

“And now you and I shall be locked here for all eternity,” Ganondorf said, a cruel smirk growing on his lips. “Just as I planned… you and I…” His voice trailed off, and his face fell.

You couldn’t help but rub a little more salt in those wounds. “Yes, stuck here for eternity, king of nothing.”

“I am an immortal force of corruption that will destroy this land!” He snarled, but it seemed weaker than his usual blustering.

“And you created another dragon that will stop you at every turn!” You snapped back. “Congratulations, we’re both immortal now, and for what?! Look at what your greed has led to, oh mighty Demon King? You now rule over nothing.”

Ganondorf didn’t answer, simply grunting as he turned away from you. He stared off in the distance. For a time, both of you were quiet. Finally, he broke the silence. “What do you feel when you look at me?”

The question took you aback, but you could only answer honestly. “Contempt for everything you’ve done to my people, to your own people, to everyone throughout history.”

Ganondorf looked into your eyes, and for once, they didn’t burn. Instead, for a fleeting moment, you saw a different man – Ganondorf the kind, honorable warrior, the man who Sheik fell for. His eyes were soft, almost hopeful. He slowly reached out with his hand, but stopped short, pulling it back. “Even if you are his reincarnation… you aren’t him.”

“No.” You sighed. You looked down at your hand, where the Triforce once was, tracing over the scars. “I am him and I’m not him. Even if you meant for him to return, I’ve lived a life so different from his. I couldn’t be him if I tried.”

Ganondorf looked away. “I lost him so long ago, and yet I kept hoping he would return to me. I finally have the power I desire, but now it feels so hollow.”

You looked up at him, unsure of what to say. “He truly did love you, unconditionally.”

The glimmer of hope in your chest was snuffed out as Ganondorf turned to you with fire in his eyes. “And yet, that traitor… he couldn’t see what I was doing for him. For us! My blossom was too enamored with the past and his dragons, his precious Zonai! Rauru and Mineru lorded their power over us, interlopers that wanted only to manipulate us like toys. They weren’t us, they were never us! If only, he could have seen the beautiful future I had planned for us! He would never want for anything!”

“Ganondorf, he didn’t want anything but your love! Your attention! He didn’t need some fancy clothes or precious jewels or to be waited on hand and foot! He wanted you to see him for him.” You swallowed hard. “He wanted you to see him like Link sees me – a person that’s more than their title or their abilities. Sheik wanted you to be equals, partners in everything until death do you part.”

Admittedly bringing up your boyfriend to your sort-of ex was probably not the best move – especially to a mad tyrant. “You might not be him, but you’re as big a fool as he is. Clinging to your dreams of the past, memories of a fallen kingdom that will never return!”

“I’ve let go of that Hyrule, I know it will never return, but I will build a better one, with my friends and my family. Together we’ve lived and moved on. Ganondorf, you’re the one obsessed with the past here.”

“RrrAAAAGH!” He growled, charging you full force. Your body moved on its own, blocking with your sword.

Both of you froze for a moment in surprise. Suddenly you laughed, a little giddy. “Becoming a dragon burns away everything… even your hold over me.” You planted your feet, swinging hard and knocking him back.

He swung again, his strikes no less powerful, but much sloppier. You parried the strikes easily, even with his overwhelming strength. The second he swung, you blocked before hitting his side with a spin attack, then backing quickly. You knocked him to the ground. With a growl, he kicked himself back up, knocking you in the chest. With a split second to spare, you rolled out of the way of his sword, plunging down into where your neck once was.

“Who do you think you are to cross me?” Ganondorf roared, his eyes glowing red. “You were supposed to be my servant. You’re supposed to be a pathetic royal, unable to solve their problems without relying on the hero. You were supposed to be nothing but a vessel for my power!”

“I’m not nothing!” You shouted, as your sword clashed against his. Your precise strikes landed one after another, not giving him the slightest chance to attack. “I am [Y/n] Daltus Hyrule, descendant of Rauru and Sonia, brother of Zelda Ambi Nohansen Hyrule, and most importantly, partner of Sir Link of Hateno. I sing with the Rito and swim with the Zora. I fight with the Gerudo and move mountains with the Gorons. I walk the shadows with the Sheikah and play with the Koroks. I raise my sword for all people of Hyrule, for this is my kingdom!”

You leaped into the air, aiming your sword down for the finishing blow. Your sword plunged into his chest. Blood trickled down, tainting the water. Ganondorf struggled up, unable to stand, gasping for breath. You glared down at him, your own chest heaving as you pushed him to the ground. “Your reign ends here, Demon King.”

As the blood stained the water, your reflection in the water shimmered, and rose. Breaching the surface, was none other than Sheik. He stood beside you, looking down at Ganondorf with a guarded expression. 

“You…” He managed to growl while slowly bleeding out.

“Yes, me,” Sheik said. “I think it’s time you cross the veil, don’t you?”  

“You… betrayed me…” He said. It may have been a trick of the light, but you swore you saw tears forming in his eyes.

Sheik shook his head. “No. As I said before, you chose a path I could no longer follow. You grew obsessed with power.” He knelt before the dying Demon King and extended his hand. “Come on Gan, let’s go together. It’s not so bad.”

Ganondorf’s eyes started to glaze over, only focusing on the hand before him. “After all this?”

Sheik nodded. “It’s over. It’s time to let go.”

Ganondorf seemed to think about it. Slowly, however, his face turned into a pained grimace. “You think I would give up after all this? You haven’t changed. You never respected my vision.”

“It was an obsession, Ganondorf, let it go. For once, please let go of this darkness and hunger for power, before it’s too late.”

“You don’t understand! It was my birthright! I was to rule it all! You didn’t understand, you-” Suddenly, the ghostly image of the Master Sword appeared, slamming down through Ganondorf’s forehead.

Sheik’s face fell, but at the same time, he seemed to finally be at peace. “It looks like our time is up. This is our final goodbye, Ganondorf Dragmire. I hope that in the next life, you find happiness.” And with that Sheik turned and walked away, his body fading with each step.

“No…” Ganondorf coughed. “No, come back, Sheik… please… my blossom…” Tears rolled down his cheeks as he reached out for nothing, as the light in his eyes faded. “I…”

His body slumped for the final time. Slowly, it began to disappear and peel off, blowing in the wind. Whether they were blossom petals or dragon scales, you couldn’t say. In mere moments, the Demon King was gone forever.

You sat back, feeling an ungodly exhaustion wrack your body. “We did it, Link,” you said with a yawn, slowly laying down. Your body also began to slowly fade as your eyes drifted shut. “I think… I think I’ll just rest here. You’ll save me, won’t you?”

==============================

Link pulled the Master Sword from the shattered secret stone on the Demon Dragon’s head. Light poured from the gash, Gloom bleeding profusely from its body. Link was thrown back into the air, caught by the other dragon. Together, they watched as the Demon Dragon writhed and roared, his secret stone shattering upon his head. Streams of golden energy poured into the air as the beast futilely tried to fly higher, his whole body fading to black. Slowly, his strength failed, beams of light cracking through his wounds. Suddenly, his body exploded with a massive blast of energy, releasing all of the power once held by the Demon King from his centuries of corruption.

Ganondorf was defeated.

“We did it, [Y/n]!” Link said, hugging the regal dragon tightly. The only response he received was a quiet, but content, snuff and a growl that sounded more like a purr. Link lovingly pet the scales, when suddenly his Zonai arm began to glow. The light grew brighter and brighter, overtaking the two of them completely.

Link found himself in a space between time, floating above his now sleeping dragon. His hand twitched with light, slowly feeding into his dragon. He then realized he wasn’t alone. The spirits of Rauru and Sonia appeared by his side, placing their hands on his. The light grew stronger and stronger as the flow of time reversed. In a magnificent shower of light, the dragon transformed back into the Prince of Hyrule. Link looked down, to see his arm too had been restored.

Rauru and Sonia gave Link a final smile as they faded away. “Good luck, and take care of our successor,” Rauru said. “We leave Hyrule in your care.”

Link could only nod as the world began to blur around him.

==============================

Wind roared past your ears as you slowly awoke… though as clouds passed by, it didn’t take long to jolt you out of your exhaustion.  You were plummeting through the sky!

You scrambled to right yourself, but your body felt stiff and unresponsive. Instead, you looked up to see Link, diving after you.

You tried to shout to Link, but your voice was carried away by the wind. Instead, he grabbed your hand, pulling you towards him. He met your lips in a kiss, pulling your head in against his bare shoulder, a mere second before you splashed down in a deep lake.

You breached the surface, gasping for air. The two of you swam to the edge. Once you caught your breath, you found his lips on yours again. He held you tightly, “You’re safe… Hylia, I thought I lost you.”

“Gonna take more than that to keep me away from you,” you smiled, pressing your head against his. Your head felt foggy, not quite remembering what had just happened. “It’s finally done, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, he’s gone for good.”

You looked up at Hyrule Castle, still on its new stone pedestal. The waterfalls glistened in the light of the rising sun. The grass swayed in the gentle breeze. The Demon King’s monsters were seemingly gone for good. Hyrule was finally at peace.

==============================

Later that day, you found yourself once again on the Great Sky Island, this time with Zelda, Purah, the Sages, the Champions, and Sharpe. You all walked along the newly repaired causeway to the altar behind the Temple of Time, hanging above open air. Mineru led the way, shedding her construct form.

“Quite the view,” Sidon muttered more to himself. “You never get tired of it.”

Purah agreed. “I still can’t believe such an impressive landmass can float in the sky. Just when I thought I’d started to figure the Zonai out…”

You all approached the altar. Mineru stared out over Hyrule for a moment before addressing you. “Everyone, I am glad I was able to bring you all here. I wanted to share this view of Hyrule with all of you.”

“Wow, I’ve never been up this far before, goro,” Yunobo said,

“What a sight it is,” Riju added. “Zelda, you were roaming the skies all along?” 

Your sister nodded. “Yes, although I don’t really remember. Brother? Perhaps you have a better memory?”

You shrugged. “Unfortunately no, Link probably remembers more about the final fight than I do.” Nearly all of it had fallen from your memory, except for hazy pieces of your duel with Ganondorf.

The Champions approached Mineru, as her spirit began to sparkle. “It’s nearly time,” Urbosa said.

“Mineru!” Zelda said.

“Do not worry. You have all overcome the burden my era left to you. You have proven yourself and you no longer need me. I know I can move on – join Rauru and the others – and the world will be safe.”

“I guess this is goodbye for good,” Sharpe said, hugging you. “Unless… you’re gonna time travel again?”

“Shhh!” You hissed, seeing both Purah and Zelda perk up. “I’m hoping they forget, you do not want the two of them with unrestricted access to time travel.”

He mimed locking his lips. “Take care, okay? And you, Link, if you do anything to hurt him, I’ll haunt you so bad it’ll make the Demon King look like a Chu Chu.”

Link laughed patting Sharpe on the shoulder. “I’d never hurt my prince.”

“Farewell everyone,” Mipha said, giving Sidon a final hug. “We will always be with you.”

“We’re leaving Hyrule in good hands,” Daruk said.

Revali was quiet for a moment, but even he looked back at all of you. “Take care,” he said simply.

Urbosa looked to you with a smile. “Sparrow, as Mineru said, we know the world will be safe with all of you. Lead them all into a new day.”

You bowed your head. “I promise.”

With that, the spirits began to fade. You took Zelda’s hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze as tears formed in her eyes. Mineru saw it too. “Zelda, don’t worry. Rauru, Sonia, and I… and the Champions, we will always be watching over you.”

The wind brushed against you as they disappeared. You sighed, finally feeling that last bit of tension release inside you. For a moment, you were all silent as Zelda composed herself. “You know,” you said quietly to her, “King Rauru and Queen Sonia, Mineru, Sheik, the Sages… everyone throughout time. I think they’d be proud of all of us. We’ve brought peace to Hyrule, and now with the Demon King gone, we can finally work to their goal of a lasting peace for all time. With the help of our friends, of course. As Rauru told me, Hyrule is not just us, it is everyone.”

Zelda wiped her tears, a soft smile growing on her face. “It is certainly something he would say. I miss them so much already. Thank you, brother… but that said, I think if I had any doubts about my decision, you’ve certainly cleared them away.”

“What does she mean by that?” Link asked quietly by your side. You didn’t have time to respond.

“Everyone, I have an announcement,” Zelda said. You were a bit surprised, though you saw that Purah seemed to know what she was about to say. You did as well, but you hadn’t expected her to make the announcement so soon. “After discussing with my brother, I have decided to renounce my claim to the throne. I believe my work to serve Hyrule is best done through my research and assistance to the people. My brother is the one who helped to unite Hyrule twice now with Link. I believe that he will be the king that the people of Hyrule need.”

“Hear, hear! A wonderful idea.” Sidon cheered before yanking you into another bonecrushing hug. “We can be kings together, my friend!”

Riju nodded. “King [Y/n] has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

“Oh, oh, oh!” Yunobo shouted. “We’ll get working on getting the best gold to make your new crown!”

Tulin was nearly bouncing with excitement. “You’ll need an archer for your royal guard, right, right?”

“Guys,” you laughed, “let’s take this one step at a time-”

“All hail the new King of Light!” Sidon shouted.

“Yes, my brother will be a fine king, and I’m sure everyone will want to throw him a grand coronation to celebrate Ganondorf’s defeat.” Zelda took your hands with a warm smile, but there was a glint of something evil in her eyes as she added, “Once he fulfills the traditions to ascend the throne, of course.”

Oh, that bitch. The tradition she mentioned was, namely, marriage. You shot her a look but the smirk on her face told you everything. The betting pool – she was in on it!

You cleared your throat, feeling the pouch with the ring in your pocket. “Thank you everyone, I would be honored to. And I will fulfill all of the requirements.” You leaned in so only Zelda could hear, “Tonight, in fact, and I swear if you ruin the surprise, I don’t care how far back in time you end up, I will find you.”

“Well, excuuuse me, Prince [Y/n].”

“I think you mean, King [Y/n].”

“You haven’t been coronated yet, brother. I’m going to enjoy this as long as I can,” she said. “Now, I think you should address your people.”

You shook your head. “My friends, thank you all for everything you have done to help us defeat the Demon King. Hyrule is finally free from the curse that has plagued it every day since its birth. Together, I hope that we can bring eternal peace to our kingdom, and I hope that you will stand with me in achieving this goal…wait, where’s Link?”

Everyone looked around but the Champion of Hyrule had completely disappeared. “I swear he was right here!” Purah spluttered. “Need to tie a bell on him…”

“He didn’t fall, did he?” Tulin asked.

“Link’s too used to gliding and diving for that,” Riju muttered. “Where could he have gone?”

“Let’s split up and search for him,” Yunobo said. “He couldn’t have gone far.”

Sidon meanwhile stood by your side, sensing the rising anxiety inside you. “He wouldn’t have run away without a good reason,” Sidon muttered so that only you could hear. “Let’s find him, everything is going to be okay.”

You nodded, more puzzled than panicked.

==============================

Thankfully, it didn’t take long. Link was near the edge of the Great Sky Island not far from Ukouh Shrine, looking out over Hyrule. Something about the way he crouched at the edge, the leaves from the yellow trees swirling around him made him look more handsome and heroic than ever. You sat down beside him. “Hey, you okay?”

“You’re gonna be King of Hyrule.”

His voice was strained and his gaze fixed on the horizon. While most wouldn’t catch it, you could practically feel the waves of anxiety coming off of him. “I really don’t think that’s going to change much. We’ve been doing most of the duties of a king for a while now.” Link remained quiet. “I don’t know about you, but I think I’m good without any big adventures for a little bit. Sure, there’s the rebuilding, but I think you and I earned a break. Tell you what, how about tonight we go camping, just the two of us?”

“You’re saying you don’t want to do another adventure?”

You frowned, a bit surprised to hear some sadness in Link’s voice. “No, of course not. You know I’d go on any adventure with you. I’m just saying we deserve some rest too. Isn’t that what you wanted? I really want to spend time with you.”

“Yeah, but…”

You squeezed him, pulling him into you. “Link, I’ll go wherever you want me to. I’ll follow you to the end of time. Hell, I did go to the end of time for you.”

“Good.” Not exactly the response you expected; you thought he’d at least laugh at the joke. He squirmed free and looked you dead in the eye with that steely determination you’d come to adore.

“Good that I’m resting or good about another adventure?”

“Both. I…” He trailed off, running his hands frantically through his hair. He stood up and began to pace. You stood as well, hoping to calm him down. “Ugh! This isn’t how I wanted this to go, but if you’re going to be king, then I don’t have time!” He looked away for a moment and took a deep breath. “[Y/n], I want to be king.”

You spluttered. “I’m sorry what?!”

“That came out wrong. I want to be king with you.”

“Well technically you wouldn’t be king, you’d be Prince-Consort not a capital ‘K’ King, but,” you stopped as your brain felt like it short-circuited. “Wait, what?” You looked down and saw that Link knelt before you, eyes sparkling in the light.

“My prince – no, my king… No matter where we are, be it sky, surface, or depths… no matter what time or what life we live, I can’t imagine it without you. I’ve loved you since we first met, and I’ll love you until the end of time. You deserve the best, someone who will always be by your side, even when the world is ending. Will you let me be the one?” Link held out a beautiful Zonaite ring, rimmed with gold.

“Goddesses, Link, dammit… of course you’d beat me to it,” You half-laughed, half-cried. “Of course. You don’t even need to ask.”

Link looked at you with soft eyes as he slipped the ring on your finger. “Of course I do. I’m still not convinced this isn’t a dream, that I get to call you mine.”

You brought him closer. “If it is a dream, I hope I never wake up.” You looked down at the ring, admiring how it seemed to glow on your finger. It was intricately carved to look like dragon. “When did you have a chance to get this?”

Link looked a little flustered. “Well… uh… after having a conversation with Tauro…”

“Really?!”

“We reached an understanding!” Link protested. “In return for letting him examine my arm, he made sure the ring was made to the exact specifications of the ring Rauru gave Sonia. He said the design was supposed to bring good luck! It was so the dragons would look after you!”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “I mean… I know one dragon who looked after you.”

“Too soon!” He groaned. “Wait, you said I beat you?”

“Yeaaaah, I was gonna propose to you tonight – the whole camping thing.”

Link laughed. “Well… what if we still did?”

“We can always… sneak out.”

Link gave you a glare. “As much as I want to, your first action after being named king is not going to be running away without telling anyone.”

Just then Purah came up. “Oh, thank goodness, there you are.”

“Perfect timing Purah, Link and I have to go. We’ll see you guys tomorrow!” You turned to your knight. “Good enough?”

“Works for me.”

“Wait, I, what?! Where are you going right now?”

“Planning a wedding!” You said, tapping the Purah Pad.

“WHAT?!”

==============================

The two of you cuddled together under a blanket before a crackling fire in the Tabantha Tundra. While your cooking pot simmered with seasoned gourmet meat, the aurora put on a brilliant show for the two of you, shining with all the colors of the rainbow. Dinraal, Naydra, and Farosh even chose to fly by, the light shimmering off their scales. “Just like our first date,” Link sighed. “Or I guess the date that never was… the one that should have been our first date.”

“To be fair, without your plan for it, we wouldn’t have gotten together.”

“Just took over a hundred years,” Link snorted. “So, what was your plan?”

“Well, I figured I’d talk you into coming out here, get you all nice and cozy, fill you up with your favorite food…”

“Mhmm?”

“And then…” you said, pointing to a rock, “I’d ask you to move that rock, since I need something to hold down the edge of the tent.”

Link gave you a questioning look. “Now?” You nodded. Link lifted the rock, and with a puff of smoke, a Korok appeared.

“Ya-ha-ha! You found me!” The little forest spirit cheered. “But I don’t have any Korok seeds, so I’ll have to give you this!”

Link took the pouch from the Korok and pulled out the black and amber ring. He couldn’t help but laugh a little, hiding his happy tears. “Still can’t believe you beat me to it,” you said, coming up behind him and slipping the ring on to his finger. “After I planned all this.”

Link spun around and kissed you, slowly. “I would’ve waited if I knew. I’ve got to be the luckiest man in Hyrule – wait, no, all of Hyrule’s history too.”

“Nah, I think that’s me.”

“Um?” The Korok’s little voice piped up. “Mr. Prince, can I go home now? It’s cold…”

“Oh right! Sorry little guy, yes, and thank you so much!” The little spirit floated away on the wind back home. You blushed, turning back to Link. “So, uh… yeah. That was the plan and then tomorrow I thought we could go to the hot springs.”

Link laughed. “It was a good plan, sorry I ruined it.”

“Don’t worry about it. Yours was a great surprise.” You both crawled back under the blanket. You absently played with your ring as you snuggled closer to your fiancé. “Prince-Consort Link… I think that sounds perfect.”

“King Link sounds better.”

“Eh, we can rewrite the rules. Today begins a new Hyrule.”

==============================

A/N: One chapter to go. Please stay tuned for the finale next week.

Additionally, if you would like something to do while you wait for the ending… there’s a little game hidden in the story. Every, and I do mean every, Zelda game including spin-offs has an easter egg hidden somewhere in the story. Games with remakes even have multiple references. Many (namely the mainline games) are pretty easy to find, but I wonder if anyone has found all of them.

Next week: The wedding and coronation of the hero kings of Hyrule.  

[ashbutnotashketchum]

Wrote another story, animal creation myth with a bunny.

The Myth of the Celestial Bunny and the Birth of the World

By: Me

 

The Beginning

In the beginning, before time and space had names, there was only the Void- a vast, silent darkness, empty of life and sound. Out of this darkness, a single spark of light appeared, and from that light was born a gentle, radiant being known as Ora, the Celestial Bunny. Her fur shimmered like the dawn, soft and luminous, and her eyes held the kindness of the stars yet to be born.

Ora looked upon the Void and felt a deep sadness for the emptiness around her. With a soft twitch of her nose and a hop into the darkness, she decided to create a world filled with life, warmth, and harmony.

 

The Weaving of the Earth and Sky

Ora’s first act of creation was the weaving of the earth and sky. She reached into her own fur and pulled a strand of the softest silver, then stretched it through the dark. From that thread, she formed the horizon, where the earth would meet the sky. Each hop she made across the Void laid down valleys, mountains, rivers, and oceans. Her fur brushed over the ground, planting seeds that grew into lush forests and fields of flowers.

But the world remained still and silent, so Ora decided to create others to fill it.

The Creation of the Great Guardians

Ora crafted the first beings from her own spirit. She made Talon, the Hawk, fierce and sharp-eyed, who would guard the skies and carry the wisdom of the winds. Then she created Fang, the Wolf, strong and loyal, who would roam the forests and guard the harmony of the land. Lastly, she brought forth Shell, the Turtle, ancient and wise, to protect the waters and keep time itself.

Each Guardian was given a piece of Ora’s light to guide and protect the world, but none held as much light as Ora herself.

 

The Birth of Day and Night

One day, as Ora looked upon the world she had created, she noticed that it was still too bright, and she sensed that creatures would need rest and dreams. So she took a small patch of fur from her ear and threw it into the sky. It scattered into thousands of pieces, creating the stars. From her tail, she made the Moon, a gentle glow to watch over the night.

But as she rested, a mischievous being was born- a trickster god named Nox, the Shadow Fox. Nox loved to play and saw an opportunity to bring movement and change Ora’s creations.

The Trick of Nox and the Gift of Mortality

One night, Nox crept up to the Celestial Bunny while she slept and nibbled at her fur, taking some of her light and scattering it across the world. With each piece he hid, creatures began to age and change, growing from youth to wisdom and, eventually returning to the earth. Mortality entered the world, and Ora wept when she discovered Nox’s trick.

But Fang, Talon, and Shell saw beauty in Nox’s mischief. Mortality, they explained, would allow every life to be precious, each season to have meaning, and every creature to seek the light within their own hearts. Seeing this, Ora forgave Nox and welcomed the change.

 

The Cycle of Rebirth

To keep balance, Ora created the spirit of rebirth- a small part of her own spirit to dwell within every creature. So, even though each being would live and die, a part of them would be reborn in the endless cycles of nature,

She named this spirit Moa, the Eternal Hare, who would guide the souls of all creatures to the stars and back to earth, ensuring that each life was never truly lost.

 

Ora’s Gift to the World

With her world complete, Ora felt her own light fading, as much of it now glowed within her creations. She took one last hop across the sky and, with a final twitch of her nose, gave her eternal blessing:

“May you find kindness in the earth, wisdom in the wind, strength in the waters, and courage in the night.”

With that, Ora faded into the stars, becoming the first constellation- The Bunny in the Sky- her image forever watching over her creation.

And so, the world flourished, balanced by light and darkness, life and death, day and night. Each creature carried a piece of Ora’s light, and every time a child looked up at the stars, they would see her shape and remember the kindness was at the heart of all creation.