#the war games is beloved to me and i will not sully her name by cutting out A HUNDRED AND FIFTY MINUTES OF THE STORY

[the-oracle-of-the-lost]

ok so i did catch the clip where the War Chief is "revealed" to be the Master from the new colorized edition of the War Games and imo, something in the incidental music does not count as a confirmation. i haven't seen the full episode (and probably can't find it even if i was looking to watch it) so maybe there's more to it but as it stands? i don't think it's meant to be a surprise canon reveal. like iirc there's an EU novel that goes with the idea of the Master as the War Chief and another novel that has the War Chief as a distinct character so i think it hasn't been elevated beyond fan theory with dubious EU evidence for and against it.

[peggysousfan]

A Wild Reign

Here is chapter 2! It had been split up because I am still writing the other half, which is dragging out lol, so here is what happens!

As the crowd begins to regain their composure, murmurs fill the silence of the arena. Their own Princess had competed for her own hand under false pretensions; a facade not even the King was aware was happening. To them, this was more of a twist of fate than they could understand, as for the King and Lord Steven, it was beyond comprehension. Harrison calls to order and dismisses the event with haste, taking his daughter's arm and swiftly proceeds to the castle.

"What in God's name were you thinking? Wh-do you know what it is that you have done!" He paces, his head hung low in worry.

"Father-" She hastens to reply, but his state is much too panicked for her to speak.

"Peggy you cannot do such things! This- O this will make a mockery of us." The King stops and looks at her with an eye that can only be described as anxious; as fear.

"The rules still apply do they not?" She smirks shyly, hoping to keep her father from loosing his head. "Am I not required to marry Lord Rogers now that I have succeeded in beating his hand in this competition?"

He stops and looks at her attire, the armor fitting well and glistening with the victory she had overcome. Much like her brother stood, she too had a stance that demanded respect and shown her skill in combat. As much as he has tried to keep his wit and understand of the gravity of this circumstance, he can not help but laugh at the situation in which he finds himself in.

"My darling, it does not work that way. You must marry a suitor." His smile, now dim, pleads with her. "You must marry Lord Rogers."

"Your Majesty I was simply doing what I thought was right. I cannot stand by and watch as a man towers over me and seeks to rob our Kingdom!" Harrison ceases his pacing and stands before the Princess, her words striking fear in his very heart.

"My dear you do not know that of which you speak."

"But I do, father! I do not trust Lord Rogers to be as allocating or assisting as he claims he will be!"

"Margaret we need all assistance we may come across. If we do not we shall fall!!" The King's bellowing voice echoes through the deserted quarter, leaving his words to settle in the Princess's mind.

What could the King possible indicate with such a statement? How could Astoria fall? As these such thoughts bound through her mind, she looks at her father with caution. Surly evidence of a collapse would have caught her eye. Or would it have?

"Father, how could that be?"

With a heaved deep breath, the King takes a seat at the council's table. His posture slouched and his soul heavy. Everything is not as it once was, and now Astoria will see the consequences of it. The Princess sits opposite of her father, silent, hoping he will speak aloud the thoughts that trample his mind.

"After the war we became fragile.... weak. Our defenses had fallen for many months, you do recall such winter?" Peggy nods in confirmation, her thoughts running wild as a steed, not knowing where to stop or find its calm. "The Concordian Empire took advantage. Robbed us blind!"

"How!? Surely they would have been too broken to create another uprising."

"I wish it were so, but alas it is not. Rather it is not an uprising and more so a rebellious lash of outrage given the peace treaty that was written and signed between the 4 realms." The King, exhausted, looks to his daughter, so bright and righteous. Quite the opposite to how he feels. "They placed a specter within our walls. Hidden among us, I'm afraid. They were able to breech our Kingdom with his assistance, and looted all the schillings and gold we had from the vault. We have nothing left."

It is in his final statement fear strikes her heart. She is to be married to a man, rule as Queen, in hopes of restoring their lands. If she does not succeed, Astoria as they know it will crumble into nothing. Thousands of lives lost, homes vacant or destroyed, war after war with no defense. Woman and children starving, their bodies feeding off of their very bone...

What if marrying Rogers does not aid their oppression? Her marriage, her reign, would all be for nothing more then to be in the history books as a failed Kingdom. A failed rule. At such horrid, dreary thoughts, her body acts before her mind can think properly. She stands and walks away, her pace quick as a storm.

"Margaret? Margaret!"  The King calls after her, but she simply cannot hear. The sound of her heart pounding is too deafening to listen. Her legs continue to run, and yet she knows not where to. Anyplace but there...

Before she is aware of where she has stopped, her feet stayed planted, the leather souls beneath sink down into the march of the forest. It was not until she saw a familiar figure, one now etched in a position in archery, that her heart began to calm. She walks towards him, her pace slow and sure.

The knight releases his arrow, succeeding in hitting his target. As he begins to celebrate, his mood uplifted from his day, he senses he is not alone. Cautious, he turns swiftly behind and sees none other than his lifelong friend, the Princess.

"Peggy! I saw what you had done at the jousting tournament," Daniel laughs, "I must admit that was quite the....show." He stops in his amused statement and ponders her somber expression. "Peg? Are you alright? What are you doing here?"

"I-I don't know what to think, Daniel. I don't-" She stops abruptly and looks about the trees, wishing her duties did not prevent her from explaining her troubled state ."I simply wish to not be alone. Father... he has set my wedding day." Although this is not the entire truth, it is partial and enough.

"Oh... That is jolly news," He feigns a smile. His support secretly misplaced.

"He has chosen Lord Rogers as my husband. I do not wish to marry him."

"Could you not request another suitor?" At his suggestion she shakes her head in sorrow.

"Let us not speak anymore of it." Her mood only deepens into sadness the longer they converse on her troubles. "My only wish is to escape this place, if but for a moment."

Daniel looks out to the lightened sky, a fixture of beautiful, vibrant, color, and then back to his dear friend. Such a stark contrast between them. One filled with grace and glee, the other filled with misery and dejection. Peggy's state shakes his very core, his heart shattering at her sullied manner.

In his mind he finds but one way to lift her from the slums of her fears and thoughts. The knight takes the Princess hand in his own and stands before her. "Come. We shall bid this place goodbye and flee to anew. If only for a moment?"

"Where did you have in mind?" The solemn sadness within her eyes dims as the light of hope surfaces through.

"You shall have to wait and discover the answer yourself when we reach our destination."

She beams a cheeky smile, one in which he interprets happiness and tease. They walk hand in hand towards the stables, readying the horses as they go. But before they may depart, Sir Daniel glances at his beloved friend and laughs. Peggy in turn gazes up and questions his amusement. He then answers with a gesture towards her clothing- she has not removed her armor.

"May I ask... is that Micheal's armor you wear?"

"It is indeed. I hoped it would be a stoke of luck to win the tournament." The knight smiles sorrowfully and the Princess, too, hangs her head low. "I miss him too." They young friends embrace before pulling apart. The metal of their armor clinking together as one.

"You may wish to change before our ride. A more comfortable attire for our adventure." In response she nods in conformation, asking him to avert his eyes. "Why?" He asks cautiously, but she only chuckles and shoves him lightly until his eyes are on the horse and not herself.

As he stands and saddles the majestic beast, he hears the sounds of metal clinking to the ground. Curious, Sir Daniel turns his head over his shoulder and quickly averts his gaze. The Princess was in nothing but  that of her chemise. With a swift clearing of his throat, he began to toss the saddle on the horse, avoiding the direction in which his beloved had stood.

"I really must speak with a armourer. If not to change the weight of the armor, then that of the design. It is preposterously difficult to withstand for so long. I don't understand how you do it, Daniel."

"With much difficulty myself, your highness. I hear that plated armor is what is best to wear. It is more comfortable, and suited better for movement and fighting. In my own confession I must say, it would be a blessing from God himself to see myself."

More clothes shifting is heard from behind him as he pulls the bridle atop the horses mane and head. She neighs  beside his ear, the breath hot on his cheek. Sir Daniel chuckles lightly,petting the beauty as he finishes.

"Good girl," As he is distracted, Peggy seizes the moment and proceeds to take his helmet. "Are you quite finished, Peggy? The horses are ready for travel. Peggy?" He turns every which way but sees no sign of the Princess. Once he notices his helmet gone, a sigh releases from him; his eyes shutting in defeat. "Ever the games you play, your highness"

Sir Daniel stalks around the wooded barn, searching for the Princess. Weary as to where she could have gone. As he turns a corner of hay, a laugh behind him catches the knight off guard, as does the hands and body grasping him from behind. A pair of legs wrap around his waist, and the arms do so around his neck, a cool metal clinking against his cheek.

"You didn't expect such an attack, did you?" She asks, continuing to keep him in her hold.

"Very amusing, Princess. May you release me and return my property, or shall I have to do so myself." An underlying tease within his voice.

"Mmm I must admit I would love to see you attempt to try."

"Is that a challenge, you highness?" The woman in question huffs a breath, hot against his neck.

"How many times must I tell you, Daniel. You mustn't be so formal when its simply the two of us."

"Very well, I apologize Peggy." She laughs, tickling his neck through the helmet o'er her head, causing a shiver down his spine.

"Good, now what- Ah!" She shrieks as he swivels suddenly. He laughs knowingly, causing her to grip onto him tightly. "Daniel!" Around and around he spins, her head becoming dizzy. He then takes advantage of this and sits down, causing her to release him and sit as well.

Quickly realizing what their position must look like, Peggy tucks her legs underneath her, away from his waist. Had any one  saw such a thing, the kingdom would buzz with gossip, and Peggy, nor Daniel's reputation would ever be the same. The Princess would be seen as a tease, a whore easily gotten to. And Daniel? He would loose his position in knighthood along with everything he had worked so hard to achieve.

"I told you I could get you to release me. Now, my helmet?" She looks up at him his back to her, his head turned over his shoulder.

"Only because I allowed you to do so." Sir Daniel guffaws  and stands, taking her hand in his as they walk to the horses.

"If you say so, Peggy. Then it is." She removes the metal from atop her head and place it in the spot she had thieved it from.

"Hm, I must  say it is about time you learned that. And all it took was years of training." She jests, poking at his side.

"Aha! Much more vigorous than training to become a knight." He retorts, shrinking away from her teasing touch.

"Daniel!" He laughs jollily and grabs her hand in his won before she could advance. Peggy then at this looks up at him and tries her other hand, only he too catches it.

He smirks knowingly, realizing her troubles seem to have begun fading from her mind. Perhaps this is how he may keep them at bay.

They stand for a moment, staring into the golden light in the others eyes. A quiet sense taking over their being. The Princess calms her stance, standing straighter and towards her knight. Sir Daniel does the same, the forms but a few breaths apart. Every second passes, the closer they stand, all of time ceasing to stop. But it was to be in this moment the horse neighs loudly, needing its bridle fixed. The two pull apart, reality setting once again. As does the moment that lead them here, Peggy running from her father's words. Such sully takes hold of her once more. They mount and take leave, traveling beyond the gates and through the trees.

The wind is soft and quiet, brushing through the air. The ever still quiet, giving in to Peggy's somber mood. But how may Sir Daniel uplift her her? As if a light from heaven had shone upon his mind, an idea had formed; a song. He begins to sing bache bene venies, starting out soft and quiet, only to grow in sound, louder for her to hear. She looks to him, a small smile upon her face, giving into his playful nature. Together in harmony, soprano and baritone, the contrast of their voice fills the air with life and light. Their voices ring through the wind, carrying them along their journey. As they stop soft and low, they laugh in harmony, both moods uplifted in joy.

Ever still was the silence to follow, until Peggy's voice began to ring through the air once more. The tone of Los set gotxs recomptarem echoing through the wind. A light laughter leaves them once finished with the song. An uplifting manner surrounding them.

For only a few moments the continue on their journey. The wind calming and the horses neighing lightly, their hoofs following the trail into trough the clear woods. A trail long since known in the Princess's mind. A smile appears on her lips, a pleased expression upon her features. It is not until the pair have stopped that she questions their destination.

"May I ask why it is you have brought me here?"

Daniel looks over at her, a flit of a smile visible on his lips. She catches it and tilts her head curiously. It always fills her mind with wonder at the possibilities for that smile. The one he has when he plans something; whether it be mischievous or simplistic. Peggy can never discover the reason until it is present.

He dismounts his horse and ties the reigns around the trunk of a tree. Peggy sits and waits, reaching out as he holds her waist to assist her fall. As she lands on her own two feet, she stands before him, their faces but a breath apart.

"Thank you, my good Knight." She grins with amusement.

"Of course, Your Highness." Moments pass before they pull apart, the lingering feeling between them never parts.

As they walk side by side, the princess glances to her left, witnessing Daniel in an odd posture. Much relaxed and saddened. More so than his attempted smile as before. Rather than impose on a question, she takes his hand in hers, walking to the reservoir ahead.

The mystic, cold waters, laying flat in in its dark  infinite color and depth. The luscious green grass surrounding the water, such beauty and tranquility. A bird from afar whistles its song, echoing through the tree. Such peace fills her soul as the two walk along the land. They then take an abrupt stop, much to the princess's surprise. With an inquiring question on her expression, the knight laughs and sits upon the ground, motioning for her to mimic his posture; and she does. Sir Daniel then lies down on the ground, the grass a fickle feeling upon his cheek, so thin and wispy. As that wispy of the clouds above, floating high in the sky, there in the mist of heavens gates they surly fly. Peggy looks to him, such ease showing from his features. Relaxed and content. She looks to him and back at the peace above, gratified in this blissful moment of quiet. The princess lies down as well, upon the bared grass beneath, resting her head upon her knights armored shoulder; comfortable and pleased. As darkness falls upon her eyes, she feels nothing but the welcomed embrace of Sir Daniel, sleep filling her mind.

It is not until the sun begins to set, the colors vibrating in the sky, that the Knight opens his eyes and wakes the Princess. They must journey back home. Peggy's mood is much more at ease as they travel. The silence no longer stiffing, but pleased. As she returns to her chambers, a faint smile hidden on her lips, she shuts the doors behind her, happy to have her knight by her side. Such peaceful sleep had not been bestowed upon her in many months. Had it not been for the laws of the land, her own choice of a lifelong partner would have been the one she knew since childhood. The one man she falls for more as the days pass. If only God could give a helping hand and relieve her of the dreadful days to come. A wedding she does not wish to attend; her own.

It is with the following days the wedding is set. This day in which the princess marries her betrothed and starts her life anew. A life she hopes to render a positive change.

Within 3 days time the royal wedding is hosted. A grand event for all the Kingdom to celebrate, and yet not everyone was pleased with this turn of event.

"Are you ready, Your Highness?" Angela asks, her head peeking through the large metal door to Peggy's chambers.

The Princess stands in her deep blue, silk dress. The trail of fabric hanging from her arms and leading from their feet. The Juliet-styled dress soft on her skin, trimmed in gold. Upon her head lies a veil trickles in jewels, her crown the only topping needing to be set.Angie smiles encouragingly as the Princess takes her leave; starting anew.

[phantasmaleminence]

Yukimura’s Route Thoughts

I finally finished both routes for our beloved tsundere Yukimura! I’ll share my thoughts on both of these routes. Spoilers below! 

Now I love love love Yukimura as a character. I think he is very sweet and it’s so cute when he gets flustered. He has a subtle way of charming you that only he could pull off. I honestly laughed when he told the bandits that MC was not worth that much. He was obviously trying to avoid a fight so he hates unnecessarily hurting people, which I find very endearing, especially when we later find out that he is a killing machine. And noticing that MC really liked the pin and decided to save it for her and proceeds to let his tsundereness tell her that he just wants to get rid of it lets us see what kind of person he is. At this point, he didn’t even realize he had feelings for her! He’s so kindhearted and it’s easy to see why MC would fall in love with him. I would! 

That being said, I think Cybird cheated him big time. I really really enjoyed his route until they find out they’re enemies. The beginning was great since it let the relationship between them build. I am playing Shingen’s route right now I’m not ready to let Yuki go and I want to see more of him  and his starts off in your face. Yuki was not interested in pursuing a relationship with her so the romance seems less forced as we progress.

The chapter where they meet on the battlefield was the climax in my opinion. That chapter tore me up inside. He originally was okay with dying, but then he meets MC and wrote a letter to her telling her he will be back for her. He intended to survive for her ;w; But he almost immediately changes his mind when he finds out she is his enemy. He has a really strong sense of duty so it would be really hard to convince him to not die like a warrior. Plus, he has already done a lot for MC. Sparring the enemy is a huge no no in war but he doesn’t kill Yahiko’s dad because he didn’t want MC to witness that. 

I don’t like that he left her in the forest but there’s already been so many rants about that -.- I don’t want to beat a dead horse but come one everyone. Don’t make this one scene his entire character. 

The rest of the story...um...I think it kind of falls when they reach a truce. Their romance works out because MC did not give up. Honestly...I wish it were that easy. 

Dramatic route:

I did this one first because who doesn’t like some spice? But to be honest I didn’t think it was believable. Yukimura dies protecting MC? I don’t buy it at all. If he was able to mow down the enemy while avoiding having to harm her, then how would he be so careless when it came to protecting her? He is the peerless warrior. That is literally his title. The game paints characters like Kenshin and Nobunaga out to be the best fighters, but Yukimura must be one hell of a warrior if he made it into history despite being the younger, less important son of the small Sanada clan. 

What also bothered me was that he revealed that he knew the entire time that she was lying about not loving him. Why the hell would she even think he would believe her for a second. You do not risk your life, riding out into war, to chase someone you “don’t love enough.” 

And the fact that they implied Sasuke saved his life. I love Sasuke, but 一騎当千 Sanada Yukimura, who can stand the wrath of a thousand, had to be saved by a ninja that only trained for four years? I hope no one else gets screwed like that. Cybird had to screw his sweet personality by making him leave MC in the woods, and now they screw his strength. Great -.- I don’t mind that he needs to be saved because no one is unbeatable, but Sasuke only spent four years training while Yukimura was implied to have been training since he was a child. Have Shingen or Kenshin or Masamune save him. That would be more believable. 

However, I wanted him to have a happy ending and I am happy that he got that. Even though I didn’t like the path this route took, I think Yukimura deserved to be happy. He spent his whole life doing something he hated because he believed that it was the only way he could protect the ones he cared about. Sounds terrible, but is how it was back then (and even now. It sucks but you cannot protect everyone and have to pick and choose every now and again). And he stretched himself thin so MC would be safe. He must have had one hell of a time trying to convince Shingen to agree to a truce. Shingen would more likely forgive Kennyo for sullying his name than agree to ally with his sworn enemy (they were friends while Nobunaga destroyed his clan). 

Romantic route:

This one is supposed to be sweeter, and I liked the premise of this route better. Yukimura had the opportunity to shine as the protective boyfriend and ironically, this route had more action. This showcased the Sanada Yukimura he should have been. Strong, brave, admirable, etc. He infiltrated enemy territory, alone, and mowed down the enemy, all while protecting someone who could not fight. 

What I did not like was the ending. Yukimura’s dream before meeting MC was to go home. And that did not happen in the romantic route. Why? They could have easily agreed to a ceasefire after stopping Kennyo and he could go home. 

I personally enjoyed his route in the beginning, and after the climax it took a fall. But I enjoyed Yukimura the whole way through. I cannot believe he convinced me to spend money on a dating sim but I do not regret it. I will be holding his hand for a long time and I hope Cybird keeps making new stories with him in it. 

[sheikah]

i know people are saying the ending will be bittersweet and what that could mean, but I think it will end with jon, dany, and their heir ruling over a new form of the 7 kingdoms (breaking the wheel). As for the bitter part, I think perhaps all of the dragons die, but right at the end we see more eggs, signaling that they will live on in the future

I agree with most of this! I think that most of us in the fandom are programmed to expect the worst ever since book/season 3 because of the Red Wedding. That’s why there are so many doom and gloom theories about the ending. 

That being said, I do understand why so many people readily assume Jon, Dany, or both will die. I don’t think both will, but I would not be a bit surprised if one of them does. But the more I think about it, the more I’m starting to think they might both make it out alive. 

After reflecting more about LOTR (which GRRM frequently compares his work to) and GRRM’s assertion that he thinks readers will find his ending to be just as happy as it is bitter

“I’m not going to tell you how I’m going to end my book, but I suspect the overall flavor is going to be as much bittersweet as it is happy.”

(Source)

I feel that we can reasonably expect Jon and Dany’s survival. I think that because if we connect it back to LOTR, the principle characters in that series do live, even if it’s not all happy. GRRM had this to say about it: 

“It’s no secret that Tolkien has been a huge influence on me, and I love the way he ended ’Lord of the Rings.’ It ends with victory, but it’s a bittersweet victory. Frodo is never whole again, and he goes away to the Undying Lands, and the other people live their lives. And the scouring of the Shire —brilliant piece of work, which I didn’t understand when I was 13 years old: ’Why is this here? The story’s over?’ But every time I read it I understand the brilliance of that segment more and more. All I can say is that’s the kind of tone I will be aiming for. Whether I achieve it or not, that will be up to people like you and my readers to judge.”

(Source)

And so even though the overall tone of GOT/ASOIAF has been a bit pessimistic, and even though the the book and the show (until season 6, anyway) have been basically a practice in overthrowing expected tropes and “happy endings” for character arcs, I think we can see all of that having been an exercise in preparing the characters for their final trials. And I think that in the end, they can overcome that and be allowed to live, even if not altogether “happily.”

After all, ASOIAF is his life’s work. Who wants to spend all of this time and energy writing a series that ends tragically, even after years of tragedy? What would be the point? The theme? The message? The takeaway? If all of our heroes die, what is the reader to take from ASOIAF? 

Because if we look at other “everybody dies” narratives, there’s a clear reason why. Hamlet, for example, has a pretty unsatisfying ending in that all of its main characters die. Horribly. But we can trace the reason why for all of these characters. Hamlet himself suffered from indecision and inaction. Ophelia ignored her brother’s advice and got too swept up in romance with the unavailable Hamlet. Gertrude fell for her husband’s brother and murderer, betraying his memory. Laertes was a hypocrite–engaging in reportedly raucous and disreputable behavior in France yet trying to control his sister’s life and scold her for being potentially reckless by pursuing Hamlet. 

So it was sad when all of these characters died but we could take lessons from how they acted.

Same with other Shakespearean tragedies. In Macbeth, the title character and Lady Macbeth die because of their “vaulting ambition” to overthrow the king, stepping out of the sacred social hierarchy and trying to seize rather than inherit royalty. And Macbeth himself also paid the price for trusting in the fickle nature of prophecy by misinterpreting the words of the Weird Sisters and believing that he would be safe from traitors. 

Now let’s look at ASOIAF. Many of the characters who have died, died for arbitrary reasons. We can’t always easily trace a cause like we could with other tragedies. It’s easy to write Ned off as “too honorable” as I see many people do. But ultimately he was willing to sully his own honor in order to protect Sansa. He still died even when he sacrificed his ideals, abandoned the “right thing” of opposing Joffrey. There isn’t an easy solution to his death. 

Margaery also did everything right. She was a master of manipulating the men around her to protect herself and her family, all the while elevating the Tyrell family name. But still she was murdered. 

Deaths like Robb’s, Catelyn’s, and Oberyn’s can easily be traced to a character flaw. But that’s not the case for all of the big ASOIAF deaths. And it wouldn’t be the case if our remaining heroes were to die in the war.

Even Jon, who is constantly at the heart of the love vs duty conflict, should at this point be allowed to survive the series. He chose duty over love, chose the Watch over Ygritte. He was loyal to his men and his responsibility even when they weren’t loyal to him. He still died. 

So if characters like Jon or Dany, who have made mistakes in their arcs already and already paid the price were to die in the end, what is the point? What is Martin really trying to say about the human experience or human nature or war?

I think the characters need to live, even if things go wrong, that way at least there has been a point to all the suffering. This is especially true when we look at LOTR as a comparison piece. 

Sam’s famous speech comes to mind: 

“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end… because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing… this shadow. Even darkness must pass.”

The same has got to be true in Planetos. I have to believe that. And I think Martin does, too. So that his story can show that even in the worst of times–like the times our world is facing now, for example–humanity can find it in themselves to persevere. Martin even said recently that the White Walkers are like a metaphor for climate change. This makes sense considering the wonky seasons in Planetos. So if that’s true, then we know that modern, topical issues and themes are part of this story. And what would be the point of suggesting that humanity will succumb and fail at combating climate change? Why suggest that we would fail at or die in the process of overthrowing despotic rulers? Why write a story that doesn’t teach or encourage its readers?

Even with the negative tone throughout, I don’t believe GOT or ASOIAF are nihilistic. I think we can expect a more positive ending. This quote says it better than I could:

“Needless to say, it doesn’t really make much sense with what we’ve seen so far that the ending of A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones would echo Lord of the Rings’ relatively happy conclusion. Though it could be the case that Martin has been saving up years and years of pain and misery for a grand turnaround that does indeed lead to a somewhat uplifting ending.

All the years of pain and suffering may indeed be building to some enormous payoff. Jon Snow will likely survive his own death and live to become Azor Ahai reborn, as the prophecy foretells. Dany will find her dragon-riding support staff. Arya will become the most badass assassin in the realm. Even if (when) more beloved characters die, at least a few should survive until the end (smart money says Tyrion will go the distance), and perhaps the realm won’t be completely frozen and shattered when the last page of the series is turned.”

(Source)

So, yeah–I think we’ll have plenty of sweet to combat what was already a very bitter story so far. However, I don’t think we will see more dragon eggs. 

Magic going out of the world was a theme in LOTR and I think it’s a theme in ASOIAF too. The Children of the Forest have now died out. Until recently, everyone in the realm believed that the White Walkers/Others were already gone. They believed dragons were gone. And the supposed abilities of people like Melisandre and Thoros are met with suspicion and skepticism/doubt. 

So I think that magic has only really returned as a way to balance the fight and help humanity face the Long Night. That’s the only reason why. And once they’ve had the Battle for the Dawn, the dragons will likely be the price paid for peace.

[requie-blog]

   right, so, old meta from old blog, but honestly i can’t see myself writing this any better than i did back then, so?

   While it’s not a headcanon that I can apply into my writing, it deals heavily with Ace’s character, namely with the actual weight of one of his character traits——one that much of the fandom and fanon interpretations really reduce to just a quirk, when actually it’s hinting at something more symbolic. And yeah, that’s the fact that he likes chocobos.

  Because there is a reason, one with plenty of literary merit that gets overlooked in its english adaptation, that this detail is included and is so heavily connected to Ace’s character in particular. It is not merely chance nor coincidence that it’s a central aspect of Izana’s relationship with Ace——it is, in fact, critical to the point that Ace’s friendship with him attempts to draw out into the open.

  Now, in the world of Orience, chocobos are not seen with the same characteristic fondness that we’re used to them having in many other Final Fantasy titles. It’s not like they’re hated across the board——many NPC’s, ergo civilians, in various towns remark on how cute chocobos are or how they make nice pets, but within the Peristylium, the attitude taken toward them is very, very different. They are, first and foremost, equipment for the military, a means for transportation, devoid of feelings or thoughts. They are seen as replaceable objects, and that same ideology is an expectation and standard held by all the people who work within the Peristylium itself, perhaps with an exception of the chocobokeeps. During Izana’s initial meeting with Ace in the light novel, the cadet remarks that he’s, “the exception. [He’s] often told ‘It’s unreasonable to shower the army’s equipment with affection’.” Prior to this, Izana states that soldiers rarely visit the stables for this reason, especially simply for reasons to pet or feed their trusted partners——people like themselves are a minority, faced with plenty of scrutiny from their peers. Why this matters, when the classes at this point are treated as separate entities from the military is also elaborated on:

“In other words, the cadets were not ordinary students, but existed alongside the military personnel and civil officials. The classes were one organization that always mobilized together, so the relationships between comrades in the classes were extremely close. If he denied those classmates’ opinions, then his standing among them would also decline.”

  Which is something we see in the game, but is also a huge concept that we see in Japanese society as a whole outside the game. There’s a really excellent post on the matter using the framework of Persona 4 to explain how it exists in reality (see here.), but for the aspect of time, I’ll hit the highlights. Essentially, in Japan, like in Rubrum, people are taught to view themselves as part of a machine, so to speak. Each individual is a cog in the machine, and therefore unless everybody works together, the machine itself will fail or jam——as such, it is looked down upon to be different from other people in a way that inconveniences the people around you. The individualistic sort of traits that Westerners tend to pride themselves on are more openly found in certain hobbies for them, including gaming, where it becomes an escape to be more unique. Otherwise, it’s best to behave accordingly and not do anything that might bother anybody else. Now, take that framework and apply it to the individual classes within the Peristylium Suzaku, and it draws a near-perfect parallel regarding behavior: those who score lowly, don’t commit themselves to extracurricular activities or clubs, or are generally negative are not popular and are, henceforth, bullied.

  So, what does this have to do with Ace’s love of chocobos? Well, give me a second to really explain where Class Zero actually stands in regards to the other classes.

  We’re led under false pretenses to believe that Class Zero is beloved by the entirety of the Peristylium for around half the game, excluding many members of Parliament, if we simply proceed with the story and don’t actually talk to the other cadets. However, at the game’s beginning, Class Zero is new and because of their status and adoptive mother being the head of the Sorcery Department, are cast as the most important and powerful class, knocking Class First down a peg (a fact that their moogle is never happy about and constantly challenges you on) seemingly overnight. Now, this doesn’t have an effect until later on in the plot, when Class Zero is branded as traitors and more and more cadets are asking if they’re really all that and so strong, but that’s because in those initial battles, after Class Zero saved the Peristylium, they had no reason to complain. Class Zero was contributing in a beneficial way to the whole of the country and the war effort——it isn’t until they start becoming an “inconvenience” that the hatred and bullying towards them becomes a problem.

  And we even witness just how fickle the Peristylium cadets are about it, given in the final chapter when Class Zero returns after defeating Qator in Ingram and everything has gone to shit because of Finis, these other kids are outright screaming the blame at Class Zero from the moment they arrive——blaming them wholly for the end of the world despite the fact they never did anything other than what they were told. These cadets are bullies, unable to do much other than speak slanderous remarks in the face of Class Zero’s proven strength. And what’s worse, they don’t even care if Class Zero actually dies like they’re telling them to do, because they believe they won’t remember them anyway thanks to the Crystal’s Blessing. At that point, it’s more desirable for Class Zero to die and make everything better with their absence from these cadets’ perspective.

  In essence, Class Zero is only the top class in name alone. As far as the majority of the cadets believe, these new kids are deplorables if they don’t properly contribute and make everybody’s lives easier, and they only got their high ranking status because of Arecia Al-Rashia handing it to them on a silver platter, which makes it that much more annoying to them. And as we know incredibly well from the incidents at both Ingram and Big Bridge, to boot, Parliament has no issue with using Class Zero as pawns for their own gain, keeping them only as long as they’re useful and ready to leave them for dead the second they get the chance.

  Starting to sound familiar? It should——because it’s the same way the Peristylium staff and cadets treat the chocobos: like tools to be disposed of and replaced with no concern for their emotional or psychological states. And within Class Zero stands a greater example of all the societal constraints we see above in Ace himself. He behaves differently to receive the approval of his classmates and streamline their tasks as a class, and also on the larger scale in order to properly fit in among his fellow cadets——even though he doesn’t actually agree with their views or actions. He does still challenge the established norm, as Cater remarks that a “red-mantled cadet was seen at the chocobo stables” in annoyance, claiming that they were, essentially, sullying Class Zero’s name by doing so, and though she doesn’t realize it herself, there’s little belief that the cadet is anybody other than Ace to the player. But, regardless of his attempts to escape and enjoy the things that make him happy, he does ultimately cave to societal expectations of himself, out of a desire to maintain the bonds with his allies and, dare he even call them his friends, even if it means sacrificing a bit of his identity to do so.

  Ace, himself, however, is also the symbolic equivalent of the chocobos. In particular, he’s the symbolic equivalent of a chocobo from his own past.

  “When he was very young, Ace saved a Chocobo chick he found that had been abandoned by its mother. Unfortunately, the chick later died due to illness. Even though Ace has little recollection of this, he still feels a pinch of sentiment for the lively creatures.” — Crimson Codex; Ace’s character page; Page 2.

  Now, whether you personally consider the events in Chapter 8 to be abandonment or not isn’t really relevant for debate. Arecia Al-Rashia did leave her children on their own to combat the events of Finis and to complete the final pages of the Akashic Record from within the dungeon Pandemonium. She was nowhere to be found, and she had little intention of interfering in the game’s cycle, as she hadn’t done in every cycle prior. In this cycle, the Lulusath Arbiter (Rursus Arbiter, for the localization people) is defeated only once Class Zero is saved from death’s door by Machina and Rem using their l’Cie abilities to empower them from within their respective crystals. And as we all know pretty well, this only saved them temporarily from death, as with their own phantoma expended, Class Zero succumbed to their wounds shortly after the battle once they returned to their classroom. At which the revived/freed Machina and Rem enter the room and, suddenly, overcome with grief, Machina manages to forgive them for Izana’s death and the two of them carry the memory of their fallen classmates forward. Despite the twist on the ending, it’s an intentionally similar narrative in the baseline of how the events play out.

  Obviously, Ace is not an actual chocobo, though, he does possess many similar traits to them: steadfast loyalty, strength, speed, a desire to remain with others of its kind like family or friends, and a pretty similar color scheme to the chocobo from Chocobo Dungeon (that chocobo even has a satchel like Ace does!). It’s the sheer weight that this particular character trait holds in the overarching world of Orience, however, that makes it important to note, because the birds themselves hold such a particular reputation that it’s hard to believe it’s merely coincidence. Ace’s character is constantly put in comparison or in juxtaposition to the birds he likes (and admires) so much, yet we never see the same compassion from similar individuals, except Machina. It’s a smaller detail that, when looked alongside its entire whole, begins to connect the patches that seem irrelevant and fill the voids in this game’s already incredibly elaborate tapestry.