#they know that even if this soren goes back to his world one day that he will go back knowing what it feels like to be loved and cared for

[imissthefire]

the forging bonds supports omfg 🥺

[jelzorz]

192.

In the years after the war, after Aaravos, after the castle is rebuilt and feels like home again, Soren finds time in the peace to do... well. Nothing. There are always diplomatic missions and there's always security to check, but the peacetime is stable and surprisingly stubborn, and even when there are skirmishes in the surrounding towns or at the border—which is barely a border at all, these days—they're never big enough to cause any real trouble, and life slows like the sun in the summer months, quiet and calm and sleepy in a way he's never known.

This is what spurns him back into poetry. Dragon Smash Boy was silly, but so was he, in those days, and now that there's time, well. Why not? He doesn't have to be good at it to enjoy it, and he'll never be good at it if he doesn't try at all. Very secretly, he's always liked the skill in it, the ability to say something meaningful and beautiful in something short and sweet, and maybe one day, in the distant future, people will go back to the books and find his there, proof that he's more than just muscle and brawn.

It seems silly. Or maybe his father just made him think anything outside of the box he'd been put in was silly. He's done enough work to know he still carries the weight of his childhood with him, even after all the baggage he's already put down. Those days have long past. He can dream if he wants.

So he goes to the library and pulls down book after book after book. He studies the prose and the description, the weird places poets pause for effect, the metaphor and the assonance and the rhyme, and then he tries to write his own but... It never feels quite right. It always feels a little forced, a little ingenuine, lacking in the honesty of the poems he decides he likes best.

"I don't get it," he muses one day. He is lounging by a window in the library with a book lying open on the desk before him. This one is a recommendation from Callum: Even the Deepest Night is Lit by Stars by Damian Something-or-other. He'd had something wistful in his eyes when he gave Soren the title and Soren had had to know. "All of these are like... beautiful and mine are so..." He grimaces and shoves the book back just as Opeli appears from behind a stack with a pile of books in her arms.

She raises an eyebrow at him. "Can I ask what you're agonizing over?"

Soren glances up and chuckles sheepishly, his cheeks the slightest bit warm. "I'm—uh—trying to learn how to write poems," he admits. "It's... not as easy as everyone makes it sound. Let me take those." He gets up and takes the books from her arms without waiting for an answer and Opeli smiles her thanks.

"The best poems aren't," she says, as she leads him through the shelves to where they belong. "The best are the ones that are hardest to write."

"What do you mean?"

Opeli purses her lips as she starts removing books from his arms. "Art is about expression," she says after a moment. "And sometimes the most beautiful art is art that expresses something the artist can't otherwise express. It's putting a feeling on display and showing an audience where the artist is most vulnerable. It's no easy task."

Soren blinks at her. "It's about... being vulnerable?"

"It's about being honest," says Opeli with a wry smile, "to yourself about yourself. It's about expressing the things that feel too big for your heart to manage."

"You make it sound like those counselling sessions we used to have."

"It is, in a way," chuckles Opeli. "Those were a way for you express your feelings too. Poetry is not so different. You simply tell the world what you're feeling instead of me."

"Oh."

Oh indeed. Soren thinks about the things he told her, the tears he shed, and suddenly poetry feels a lot scarier as a concept. To be that honest, that vulnerable—in words that anyone in the world might see or hear? He likes to think that he's brave but that feels like something else entirely.

But he tries. He thinks about it late at night and in the early mornings. He writes it all down in flowery words and metaphors. Then, about a month later, he presents it to the council.

"It's hard to see in darkness when there's nothing there to see, When you turn, is it still dark? Or is the nothing me? Am I so small the shadows feel like neverending night? Or do you just think you're big enough to block out all the light? I'm older now and wiser and I still stumble through dark, But now the sun is rising, and I hear the singing lark. It doesn't feel so cold now and the morning looks so bright. Maybe I'm not nothing. Maybe I'm the light."

The council stares at him. Ezran drops his jelly tart and Callum looks like Soren might as well have hit him over the head with the butt of his sword.

"Was it bad?"

"Bad?" Rayla looks aghast. "Soren, that was amazing! How? When? How long have you been working on that?"

"Oh, um." Soren flushes a little and rubs awkwardly at the back of his neck. "A few weeks. It was okay?"

"Better than okay!" says Ez.

"It was actually really good," agrees Callum almost breathlessly. "Like. Really good. Great job!"

It's a better response than he ever though he would get, and Soren grins and bows, pleased to have something that he's finally happy with that actually passes as a real poem. The rest of the meeting passes quickly, and he spends it in a state of giddiness, of pride, before it ends and the others file out. Opeli is the last to leave, as always, and Soren hangs back, curious to know what she thinks. It was her advice he followed after all.

"Did you think it was okay?"

"I have a question for you first," she says, piling her paperwork into her arms. She looks him right in the eye, and Soren takes a breath, waiting for the critique--but instead, she asks--

"Are you okay?"

Of course. Soren glances away, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. "I mean. You said to be honest."

"You were," says Opeli. "I don't think anyone else realized it though."

"Yeah, well." Soren snorts to himself. He doesn't blame them, but it's not surprising. "They don't notice anything outside of them, do they?"

Opeli scoffs. "Unfortunate, but true." She studies him for a moment, blue-grey eyes too knowing to avoid. "There is no darkness that can extinguish light," she says after a moment, "and the Sun is the brightest light of all."

He laughs then, flattered by the metaphor (he thinks). "Are you a poet too?"

She smirks. "Perhaps," she teases. "It's scripture. But if you want my honest opinion, I thought it was beautiful."

"Really?"

"Really. You have every right to be proud."

"I am," grins Soren, and for the first time, he lets himself believe that maybe the dream of being a poet isn't so silly after all.

[raayllum]

by the end of s5, what do you think separates claudia and callum (if anything) from being a villain vs a hero?

Oh, there's plenty that differentiates them! This may not be as articulate as I want it to be as I've spent most of the past 3+ years pointing out / trying to convince people of Callum's similarities to Claudia and Viren (which S5 finally cinched for me, beautifully) than having to describe their differences, but I'll do my best!

Callum very much has both the best and worst of Viren and Claudia when it comes to dark magic, where he kind of borrows from each of them in distinct ways to be the most.... reasonable 'dark mage' in a lot of ways, due to 1) his views on dark magic and 2) his motivations for using it. So let's dig into it.

1) Views on dark magic

Unlike Claudia, to Callum dark magic isn't something frivolous (hi dark magic pancakes) or something to aspire after. He's far more like Viren (and even then I don't think Callum would ever consider dark magic "brilliant and clever" even if it is very much practical) in terms of seeing dark magic solely as a last resort since, as I've laid out before, Callum knows it's wrong. That it's a dangerous, slippery slope, for him in particular. Callum is also just willing to do something he Knows is wrong and see it to fruition anyway.

(Now, this also plays into the series' theme of how it's always Easier to play into / perpetuate the Cycle than it is to take the harder path of breaking it, but post for another day.)

Claudia has come closer to this viewpoint in some ways in S4 (crying as she explains what she had to do to bring Viren back) but ultimately, she doesn't think/see/know Aaravos is 'evil'. She doesn't think she's doing anything Wrong But Justified because she doesn't see anything wrong with what she's doing in the first place ("Humans were born with nothing, but we still found a way to do amazing things. That's what dark magic is really all about" / "The elves and the dragons did nothing. They judged us. They pitied us" / "All through history dragons have had the power while humans lived in fear. Well times are changing"). Callum is not that, at all, hence the guilt (even if I think more of it stems now in S4/S5 from what he knows dark magic allows - Aaravos' possession that then in turn also puts his immediate loved ones in danger).

Therefore, Callum's views on dark magic are far more akin to Viren's - powerful, dangerous, a necessity that chips away at you and you alone if you do it right, if you can successfully spare other people. Viren's comfort with dark magic goes further than that, and Callum's comfort with it is lesser than that, but they are more similar I think in their views of dark magic than either of their views are to Claudia's.

Like, regardless, Callum fundamentally disagrees with dark magic - he doesn't like or want to hurt innocent people/creatures if he can help it (again, big difference between him and other two mages, even if there are definitely areas where who Callum views as 'innocent' could be improved). It's a Last Resort, but it's a Resort. His aversion, those reservations, those lines, those morals? They exist (which is a distinction) but ultimately do not matter when Ezran or Rayla are threatened.

Which is, I suppose, as good a time as any to talk about

2) Motivations

Viren's hierarchy is the 1) the world (which his family is a part of), 2) himself, usually (because he believes he is uniquely positioned to be able to help the world & make the right choices) and 3) his family. We see this hierarchy play out pretty succinctly in 1x02-1x03 with Harrow, almost beat for beat. As Viren says there (and in S5) Harrow is his family and means everything to him... but Viren is not willing to reveal or relinquish the dragon egg in hopes of stopping the assassination, because he would rather have himself or Harrow die rather than put a weapon into Xadia's hands. This is also why he's willing to warp Soren into a cinder beast in 3x07. Not only is he personally pretty far gone at that point, but he is willing to sacrifice his family (gaslighting Soren to keep Claudia tethered in 3x03, for example + "I would've asked you to choose the egg over my own life, if it came to it"). In some ways, S5 is showing that he lost that part of himself and is now reclaiming it, making it true in ways it hasn't always been. Love is what made him Lose Himself but also how he ultimately Found Himself again (which bodes very well for Callum's S6 arc, but anyway...)

Alternatively... Callum says "I value those close to me more than Anyone or Anything" (Tales of Xadia bio) and he unequivocally means it.

Callum loves Harrow dearly, but he still knows the safest place for Ezran in 1x03 is to get the fuck away from the castle, so he goes. He breaks the primal stone after watching Rayla and Ezran mutually cry and console each other as Rayla blames herself for Zym's imminent death. As discussed, he'll do dark magic in 2x07 even though he knows it's wrong because it's Rayla's life on the line. He'll jump off the mountain for her. He'll threaten and demand answers from Soren before and after learning that Ez could be in danger, and run right into a trap. He'll do literally everything he did in 5x08 for Rayla, as we know.

In this way, he is very similar to Claudia, who would likewise Do Anything for her family and always mean it, particularly her father (after all, Soren 'walked out' on her, not the other way around; she was still trying to keep them all together). It is worth noting now, though, that Viren has now circled back, so arguably all three of them are sharing in this Motivation, and prime for Aaravos' manipulation if Viren still has a further role to play (although his curtain may have closed lmao). After all:

But yeah, Callum and Claudia are two characters who have always had a steady flow of parallels and a particularly brutal slant toward each other (because their selective loyalty is not and never has been to each other) and the easiest way to have an audience still remain sympathetic to an antagonist is to draw parallels between them and a protagonist, so...

Obviously in TDP there are 'good' guys and 'bad' guys but I don't think the series is that interested in a pure black-white good vs evil dichotomy. Almost every antagonist character is still sympathetic, developed, interesting, and we can understand where they're coming from. The protagonists make plenty of mistakes and have plenty of their own biases and contradictions; it's what makes them interesting too! People aren't necessarily Villains or Heroes so much as they are people stuck in cycles of grief and violence, and the series being an exploration of how and where and why they do or don't (or can't) break those cycles. At least, that's what I find is most useful from a meta perspective.

I think ultimately what differentiates Callum and Claudia in my head is, as mentioned, the different ways they view dark magic even if they have exceedingly similar motivations for using it, as well as Callum striking me more as the type to fight so hard to save his loved ones while they're still alive, but not quite as inclined to go as far as Claudia did and follow through on a resurrection spell the way she did. He's better at emotionally processing (although it's a low bar to clear for her) and better at letting things go, and more respectful of his loved ones' wants (most of the time). If Ez and Rayla both died in tragic/traumatic ways, I think that could (understandably) really warp him to something close to Claudia, but so long as one lived, I think they could keep him from going off the rails.

Claudia left the train station a Long time ago.

More metas that may be of interest (written before S4 and S5):

How Viren and Callum stack up flaws wise (S1-S4, screencap S5 update)

How Callum's initial view of Zym differs from Ez and Rayla (S1-S3)

Callum's morality (S1-S4)

TDP's Perpetual Trolley Problem, or How the Show Frames / Deals with Sacrifice and Exchange (S1-S4)

The Interlocking of the Cycle's Wheel with Viren, Claudia, Callum, and Rayla (S1-S4)

[jezabatlovesbats]

Music Mode Ideas, Witherstorm Arc Edition

I infodump about the storyline in Minecraft: Music Mode.

Episode 1

The Order of the Stone was a very successful band back in their day. They toured the world multiple times, fought monsters with their special musical powers, and released several albums that were met with acclaim. Their band was known for fusing the different genres the members specialized in: ‘50s rock and roll (Gabriel), classical (Ellegaard), hip hop (Magnus), jazz/bossa nova (Soren), and folk pop/J-indie (Ivor).

Jesse and the gang are huge fans of the band, and they've listened to all of their songs. They are a band inspired by the Order, and they combine their favorite genres as well. There's classical for Olivia, hip-hop for Axel, and other genres of Jesse's choosing. Jesse labels their music as Experimental, as they like to explore all kinds of music the same way they explore the world.

They're off to see a concert of rock n’ roll star Gabriel, a former member of The Order. At the venue, they meet up with Petra, who has a hard rock style. They also encounter a pop group called The Ocelots. Lukas has a pop star vibe going on, as he is a member of this group.

Later on, Ivor, an independent instrumental artist, interrupts Gabriel's performance. He spawns a monstrosity that communicates in distorted, eardrum-shattering noises. Gabriel requests that Jesse help him a plan a reunion concert, as he believes they might be able to stop this creature if the band combines their musical energy once again. They go to seek out his other bandmates.

He takes the gang to the Order's old recording studio. There, they find out that Ivor was a member of the band, seeing photos of him with the others on the wall. They didn't know he was in it because he didn't sing at all in any of their songs. Ivor only provided backing instrumentals.

Episode 2

Jesse goes with Olivia to find Ellegaard and then goes with Axel to find Magnus. Ellegaard is now the conductor of the Redstonia Symphony Orchestra, and her composing days seem to be behind her. Jesse and Olivia help Ellegaard create a new metronome, in hopes it will help her and her band stay in time. Magnus is a very popular hip-hop star over in Boom Town, which is reimagined as a bouncing city with less explosions and more boomboxes. Jesse and Axel challenge Magnus in a rap battle.

While heading over to Soren's place, the Order plans to plug their stuff into his special amplifier, a speaker that he claimed can make their sounds louder than anything else. Hopefully, it will wipe out the Witherstorm and its discordant cacophonies.

Episode 3

Soren has been trying to give music lessons to the Endermen, writing simple songs to teach them to play on instruments.

When the time of the reunion concert comes, Soren says hello to his former bandmates. He shows Jesse how to plug in the amp to get it to work properly. Jesse joins them in their song because they need one more person at their side for the amp to fire their sound power strongly enough.

Unfortunately, either Magnus or Ellegaard perishes during the concert, as they were drastically drained of all their musical power, leaving them out of energy.

The amplifier also doesn't blow up the command block, and the Witherstorm is reanimated, making even worse sounds than before. Petra is saved, but she's out of tune in terms of her memory.

Episode 4

Lukas gets concerned about the safety of his old bandmates, and so calls them up to make sure they're okay. The others decide to find Ivor’s collection of enchanted instruments, which are powerful enough to destroy the command block.

Arriving at Ivor's place, there's much reminiscing about how successful of a band the Order was, as their many music awards are displayed on the walls and shelves. Soren reminds Jesse that the song they played to defeat the Ender Dragon stayed number one on the boards for weeks, and it's still their biggest hit.

Jesse later figures out the truth: Soren used the command block to create many of their songs, and to kill the dragon. He's got good pipes, but he can't actually play music, let alone battle with it. This sparked some creative differences within the group. Ivor left the band to pursue a solo career, and they broke up some time after.

After Ivor arrives, Jesse picks out an instrument and gets some cool new performance attire. The others do as well. In the final battle-performance, the instrument sends out a special frequency that shatters the command block for good. Every single fight in this AU is a musical number; this particular number is the most epic one. Reuben dies in the heat of it.

Jesse and their band start to become popular when others recognize their deeds and notice that they sound good. Petra and Lukas join the band. The name of their band is what you pick as their team name in Episode 1: The Order of the Pig, the Dead Enders, the Nether Maniacs, or even the No-Names.

[sicknessbysalem]

I Think I'm Lost Again Masterlist

What is I Think I'm Lost Again?

This series was created by @simplysickness before life took them in a totally different direction and these characters/this work in progress were passed to me via Sparrow for several reasons.

I Think I'm Lost Again canon lore goes after suffering a near death experience, twenty six year old Lex Millington dropped out of the world of music to pursue other passions, while his talented boyfriend, Soren Castellan, and their best friend Ksenia Khilemenetskaya, continue to tour and make movies with their bandmate Avan. Per Sparrow in the ITILA early days: I Think I'm Lost Again at its core is a story of recovery and redemption against all odds and showing the world that stardom isn't always the solution to every problem and there is life beyond the glitz and glamor of the stage.

I Think I'm Lost Again

i. one: lex is thankful to be out of the music industry, really. it tore him apart, chewed him up, and spit him right back out as fucked up as possible. lex is also thankful that he finally has a job he loves. even if his love for the job will be his own undoing. (tw emeto, migraines, nausea, overwork)

Play This Life

i. one: lana usually knows better. the last thing he needs to do is make kostya's life harder than it is. But, sometimes, shit happens. No matter what you want. (tw emeto, suspected food induced illness, scat, mentions/references to treatment and chronic illness)

ii. two: kostya just wishes things could be normal. that he wouldn't be sick, that he could just live, that he could stop being so stressful for lana to deal with, right? (tw emeto, treatment, mentions of serious illness, single dialogue mention of another character suffering an overdose, self doubt)

iii. three: lana knows how to comfort kostya, he's learned by now how to take care of his boyfriend. but it doesnt make it any easier to see him suffer. (tw for emeto, dizziness, fever, implied treatment for major illness)

iv. four: for as much as lana loves kostya, sometimes threats need to have some merit. for as much as kostya loves lana, kostya will choose violence over hospitals any day, even if his boyfriend is stressed out. (tw emeto, more emeto, chronic illness, major illness, implications of treatment for major illness)

[reggies-eyeliner]

CROWN GUARD GAYS™

SORVUS HEADCANONS

bro their talking phase was INSUFFERABLE. like. GENUINELY JUST PAINFUL for everyone to watch. corvus looked at soren like the sun shone out of his ass and soren looked at corvus like he was his whole world. they were the last people to realize they were dating

soren goes all out on everyone's birthdays, he adorns the entire room with confetti and lights, and plans all of them (even though he's always a little late on the surprise aspect of it), and makes sure everyone learns fun dances and songs for the person. he went over the moon for corvus, asking the people to write corvus personal cards and he even wrote one himself. HE WROTE CORVUS POETRY AND IT WAS ACTUALLY! VERY GOOD!

but who goes all out for soren? who looks after him on his birthday?

CORVUS.

while corvus was the last person opeli expected to request a hundred feet of colored paper streams and a stack of jelly tarts, she gladly helped plan the party

corvus was never known for having a good sense of humor, but with soren, this blond man laughs so hard he punctures a lung. this leaves corvus beaming for the rest of the day

soren had always helped claudia dye her hair and style it on different occasions growing up-- and as she grew older, and well, you know what happened, he had forgotten how fun it was to do someone's hair. doing corvus's hair, styling it in different ways is his favorite thing to do

CORVUS IS SO TOUCH-STARVED, SOMEONE SHOULD HOLD HIM ME THINKS

around a month after the final battle, corvus walks into soren's room to find him furiously blinking away tears, and throwing a frame underneath his bed. soren had tried to greet corvus with a joke, but his voice broke right before the punchline. corvus led soren to his bed and held him as he sobbed over the loss of those he loved

WHENEVER THEY GO ON MISSIOnS people always ask "how do those two get anything done?? how do they even get along?" it's just the matter of soren saying whatever's on his mind, and that grounding corvus enough to focus on the mission instead of his thoughts. it's a win-win, your honor.

look me in the eyes and tell me that soren isn't a flirt

now look me in the eyes and tell me that soren doesn't get flustered when someone finally flirts back

because the first time soren had dropped a playful nickname on corvus, calling him "dear" after asking him to pass the salt, corvus replied with calling him "love" and SOREN EXPLODED INTO THE REDDEST FACE

soren isn't as concise with picking up certain cues as corvus is, but it's so clear that he tries. whenever corvus gets overstimulated, soren is so smooth and casual with telling the noisy crowd, "hey! me and my buddy gotta go check on something, we'll be back, man." and then they just sit in silence for as long as corvus needs

soren's tendencies of getting ahead of himself in battle might've changed, but they never truly left.

in dangerous situations, soren throws himself into battle, not expecting any serious consequences-- but sometimes, he doesn't get so lucky. he was in a coma for days, and after he woke up, he learned that corvus had been talking to him every single day and sleeping in the hospital with him since then

SOREN FELL FIRST BUT CORVUS FELL HARDER YOUR HONOR

[morganas-pendragons]

Mend | The Master Chief

I had more ideas for the fourth part (I'm not too thrilled with this one), which will be called Coalesce, but I am really enjoying writing for this version of John and may even open requests for him in May!

This will contain spoilers for Episodes 3 & 4. Enjoy! Reblogs and comments mean more to me than likes do. It means you're interested and engaging. Let me know if you want to be tagged in this series or/and in all future Halo fics! 

tag: @world-dominating-kitty​ - @ageless-aislynn​ - @lialacleaf​ - @shondlenoodle​ - @pinheadbanger​ - @all-the-things-i-done​ - @sashayazie​ - 

if you want to really hurt while you read this, listen to the 8-hour version of one song from the ODST soundtrack. Have fun! Also points to the person who catches the reference from my current favorite TV show!

***

You take it out yourself. You've grown accustomed to dealing with pain alone by now, by dealing with things like this entirely by yourself, and you refuse to place the burden of your newly returning memories on someone as innocent as Cortana.

You refuse to taint her. She's so young. You refuse to be the reason she loses that innocence.

You grimace as the pellet falls, droplets of scarlet following it, and you bend down to retrieve both your discarded shirt and the pellet itself to turn it over in your hands.

Damn her. Damn Halsey.

And it's like everything coming back to you at once. What you are greeted with is too much far too much for one person to be able to deal with at once, and you collapse on the bathroom floor in complete surrender to the memories of your life you've been forced to forget.

He's there. He's in all of them. Even if he is lingering in the background of the beloved forest where you spent so much of your childhood, he is ever-present and always looking after you.

"What's your name?" You're both young, young enough that the world hasn't broken you yet, but he's your neighbor and you're too lonely on a planet like this one to not have at least one friend.

"John. And yours?"

"Y/N."

The two of you were best friends, having grown up so close to one another on Eridanus 2. You were not particularly a fan of the outdoors as a child. Most of your days were preferred with your dog and a book you could write your daydreams in. Those were better. Much less boring!

However, having a friend like John, you were forced into the early morning sunlight atop the canopy of the trees nearly every morning to go to the cliff. You could get used to mornings like this if it meant you got to spend more time with John.

Your John. Barely seven years old, and one of the best friends you would ever know.

The cliff, the cliff-- the same cliff that marked the day you'd been taken for the Spartan 2 program.

"Soles-S, can you hear me?"

Little known to you, you've been writhing on the floor of the bathroom long enough for Cortana to take notice. She didn't know what else to do. She didn't know how to get your attention and save you from immersing yourself too deeply.

"No-No, JOHN!"

The entire base could hear you screaming. You are thrashing and kicking at your captors, eyes pleading and blurry with tears as Doctor Halsey and your least favorite person on the planet - the Sargeant who had trained the Spartans, Franklin Mendez - took the boy you've come to love and began to drag him away from you. The crash of thunder and pouring rain doesn't do much to hide the very obvious pain both of you are feeling.

John just hid his much better.

John knew he couldn't do anything. He didn't stop Soren from leaving, he can't stop you from whatever is going to happen now. Sierra-117 goes limp in his captors' embrace.

The last thing he remembered is the lightning illuminating the pure, abject terror on your face before you were both lost to each other.

"Master Chief!"

John hasn't realized he stopped moving, let alone stopped breathing. He had been thinking too much about your face over the last few days. While Halsey had outright refused to even tell him about you, let alone where you'd gone, there had been something familiar about you that made his chest ache to the point where he'd had to go seeking it himself.

Between the returning memories from the artifact and the records that were sealed to most people - but not him, perks of having a ridiculously high-security clearance - due to ONI wanting to keep everything close to their chest, he'd learned enough. He would learn more in time.

"Cortana," His tongue was thick and heavy in his mouth as he knelt down beside you. "What happened?"

He's having a hard time concentrating. You weren't just a dream. You were here, and real, and currently immersed in something so painful that your cheeks were wet. You were crying. Why?

"The two of you are from the same planet. Eridanus 2," Cortana explains. "You grew up in the same forest and were best friends as children before-"

"Before what?"

"Before you were taken into the Spartan 2 program. You two," Cortana motions between you both. "Were best friends. Halsey didn't like that. She-"

John grinds his teeth so hard that his ears rang with the force of the sound, and hazel eyes flicker between the hesitant AI and you before he asks, "She what?"

Cortana has to take a minute to consider her words carefully before she replies. She's been spending most of her living time getting to learn the ins and outs of humans. Even Spartans. Spartans are humans too, but Doctor Halsey seems to think of them only as a means to an end.

"Halsey took matters into her own hands. She led Y/N to believe that her memories had been totally wiped, morphing her into a weapon capable of following even the simplest orders. She is the only Spartan 2 headhunter. She is the pride of the Headhunters, while you are the pride of the UNSC. The two of you have quite the reputation.. but to get that, she had to sacrifice your relationship. Years of it." Sad blue eyes flicker down to your now still form where John has somehow subconsciously begun to run his fingers through your hair. It's such a tender expression of intimacy.. and yet he doesn't seem the slightest bit hesitant about it. "So she did the same to you. Kept the core of what makes you a Spartan, but took away the one thing she hated. Your love."

Your love. The pellet took away your ability to love.

"Well," He bends down to scoop your limp form into his arms, careful to rest your head in the crook of his neck as he stands to his feet. "That won't happen again."

I refuse to not feel anything anymore.

***

It takes a lot a lot of convincing for Halsey to let you come. She hasn't quite realized yet that you are.. not you... but you don't allow that to phase you as you slowly wake and find yourself laying inside the belly of a Pelican.

There's a seven-foot hulking mass of Mjolnir armor across the aisle, and you can tell he's watching you even through the gold of his visor. You slowly bring yourself to sit up at the waist and move to lift your hands toward the seal that releases your helmet.

An image appears in the corner of your HUD. You pause mid-movement and smile softly as Cortana's image flickers to life. She looks absolutely thrilled to see you. "Hello, 343." The AI said softly. "Otherwise known as Y/N. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Your name. That is your own name being spoken from her mouth and it might be the best possible thing you have ever heard. It sounds... right. Like it belongs to you.

"Likewise, Cortana." You reply.

"Before we can continue, there are some things I need you to know. There is a chip placed into the central port part of your helmet where your previous AI, Artemis, was held. I am your AI now in a different capacity than I am for The Master Chief. Doctor Halsey is not currently aware of what has occurred and remains in the dark about it." Artemis wasn't nearly as sentient as Cortana was, but you had enjoyed your time with her. "Speaking of. Master Chief, wouldn't you like to say hello?"

John hasn't said a word since they'd brought you onto the Pelican. It had taken far too much effort to convince Halsey to let you come. She believed you were meant to be in solitude, to live only for the orders that came and went.

That wasn't what was really bothering him though. It was what he'd found out through your file.

[continued: Only Spartan-IIs who had survived two or more specially assigned training missions would be evaluated for induction into the Headhunters.]

He'd had to do some digging, but what he'd discovered had rattled him to his core. The mission that ONI had sent you on was when you were only a teenager, barely seventeen, to infiltrate a Covenant carrier for intel. The UNSC and ONI were lacking in crucial information needed to establish files about the Covenant.

That came through you. Your mission, your pain, your torture. All of which had come through your time as a prisoner at the hands of a Sangheili Terrorist. The only reason you’d been made a Headhunter was because you eventually escaped - because God forbid they waste valuable resources to try to rescue you - and lived to tell about it. 

Why did they let you endure such heartache? Such pain? No one deserves that. Spartans are-

That's just the thing. Spartans should be able to compartmentalize. Mission first. Pain second.

Maybe that was why you'd forgotten about it. It was just too great of a traumatic experience to bear, and your brain had locked it up. Cortana had told him that was called having repressed memories. That was common for soldiers.

At least he knows the two of you have that in common even after all of that time apart.

"Cortana?"

"Go ahead, Master Chief."

"Can you establish a private line connected between the comms of our helmets so I can talk without other ears?"

It took her a minute to realize what he was asking, but she consents with a gentle hum and sets to work on what he's asked of her. You are blown away at the capacity she's been programmed with to work. Logistical and tactical appraisal for the Master Chief. Hm. It made sense.

"Connection established," Cortana says softly. "You're able to talk freely."

Your breath catches in your throat as you're left to look at each other through your HUD. His eyes are a startling green, soft and vulnerable and inviting as he meets your gaze. "I remember the first time I saw you again after all these years. I couldn't figure out why it hurt to look at you. It was just.. familiar."

"John-"

"And then I took the pellet out, and then I saw this couple on the train I was on. Just wanted to get out of the confines of the base. I saw it and I realized something. Something I haven't felt since we were teenagers. I want that." He continues, and your breath catches in your chest as it hits you. You're both feeling this. The pain of being apart for so long, the ache of wanting something better - something to share together that you have been deprived of since that night - and it's not just you who knows a very simple truth. "Y/N-"

"I want you." You say softly, and then you're moving across the floor to kneel in front of him and reach your hands out to remove his helmet. "And I think you want me too, and it terrifies you."

He doesn't have time to reply. Just as your fingers touch the seal that disengages to release the Mjolnir helmet, the door to the cockpit of the Pelican begins to open.

Neither of you has ever flown backward so fast.

"We're about to touch down on Eridanus 2."

***

Most of the walk through the forest is silent. You can hear Halsey and Adun rattling on about useless information that means absolutely nothing when you and John are returning to the source of your memories.

It's familiar. All of it. You can see child-like forms flashing in front of your eyes - memories of you and John - all over the place. It's like watching your childhood replay in front of your eyes for the very first time. For you, it is.

John is too engrossed in what he's seeing to realize you're nudging his fingers with your own, and the two of you lift your heads to meet each other.

Spartans have their own silent code. Just the body language is enough for them to read. For John, the way you're standing there beside him is enough for him to go "She's here, and she's not going anywhere." which somehow makes this entire situation much less anxiety-inducing.

The two of you eventually piece enough together to figure out where John's father buried what you originally assumed was the artifact, but it turns out to be an entire container filled to the brim with drawings. John’s drawings. 

Another memory you’d forgotten seeing as how there’s one of you right on top of the stack. That happens to be one of the ones Halsey notices first before John’s attention is drawn to the house. 

If he wants real answers, he’s going to find them in there. 

  “Master Chief,” 117 turns around to face you, hazel eyes gentle despite the anger simmering behind them, and you finally remove your helmet to meet his eyes with your own. Whatever weight has settled onto your shoulders with all that’s aspired recently dissipates just by being near him. There’s something about John that just makes you feel... weightless. Like you can both carry the burden of the other's pain and you just hadn’t realized how desperate you were for it until now. “I’m right behind you.” 

  “I’ve got your back, Jonny!” John can barely hear your voice from the cliff on the other side of the forest, but he knows you’re telling the truth. It’s him and you and you and him. Always. “Always and forever!” 

No one has lived in the house in decades. There are nearly no memories you can draw out from possible times spent here since so much of your relationship with John took place outside, but he’s clearly seeing things that you are not. 

On the other side of the room, Catherine Halsey holds her breath and waits for the inevitable fallout. You can tell just from the way she keeps looking at Adun that they’re both hiding something. 

That’s not on your priority list to care about right now. Right now, it’s John unveiling a truth he’s desperately seeking answers for. 

John doesn’t talk for most of it. You follow him throughout the house, from room to room as he walks through memories of his childhood with his mother and father until he hits the bedroom. 

That’s when you appear. Just as beautiful as you are now, but so much more carefree. You’re sitting on the table beside him as his mother removes both of your shoes that are caked in mud. 

Then you have your chin tucked into your hands as you watch him draw. It’s almost like you’re.. guarding him. 

What could she be guarding me against? 

You are everywhere. You’re there in his house, on his heels, following him down the hole to the second part of the Artifact. You are what gets him back through the danger wall after forcing him to part from it and you are what kept him safe. 

It’s because of you John is alive. That he made it past childhood. 

It’s because of Halsey that he became a Spartan. It is because of Halsey you were unwillingly cast into the Spartan 2 program solely because of your ability to do what he couldn’t. You were his perfect opposite. 

His perfect counterpart. And The Master Chief needed a partner who could counteract his flaws and weaknesses. 

The perfect Headhunter and her perfect Master Chief. 

But... that’s not who you two really are.. is it? 

  “John,” Halsey calls out. “Are you alright?” 

And when John pulls his helmet off, you are greeted with an expression that’s one part anger and one part fear. It breaks your heart. You silently slip your helmet back on and tune your comms into his own to talk to him through the comms that Cortana established for you. 

Out on the porch, he puts it back on. 

  “Tell me what you saw, John.” 

You’re suddenly thankful that Halsey can’t hear you, but you know you don’t have long until she figures out what’s going on. 

  “She was there with both of us. You..” He swallows the knot growing in his throat and curls his fingers into fists so tightly that he swears they’re probably turning white. “You were there too. Constantly keeping me out of danger like you knew that I had to make it to the future because I had a greater purpose. You kept me safe before I knew how to keep myself safe.” John’s hazel eyes meet yours through the HUD, and a soft sigh of relief passes through someone’s lips. You are not sure if it’s him or you. “Thank you.” 

  “Always.” 

  “She was there doing that stupid coin toss game with us both. She took me because I was ‘’special’’. But why would she take you?” He asks. It’s a good question. You really didn’t have a purpose to the extent that the other Spartans you’d met did. Unless Halsey had seen some kind of unfounded potential deep inside of you that was connected with John��s. “Why would she wants to ruin something so..” 

  “So what, John?” 

  “So good.” 

You snort. You can’t help it. For someone you feel as if you’ve known your entire life, he definitely does not know this version of you yet. “The version of me you knew as children burned away. Halsey saw to that when she left me to die in that Covenant carrier and then proceeded to repeatedly lock away my memories when I returned. She wanted you to be the shield that protected humanity, and I the sword. We are each other’s perfect counterparts.” A pause. “Spartans must be bonded to one another.. and nothing else.”

There’s this fire in his eyes when he looks at you after you’ve said that. It’s... oddly comforting. Like he’s trying to tell you that he refuses to let you endure such pain ever again. 

The ferocity in his eyes speaks volumes. Neither of you speaks after that, but you don’t need to. 

Halsey returns to where you both stand on the porch for a conversation with John. He immediately questions her on why she’d been here - in this house, a safe place for him as a child - and once again she’s attempting to block his completely logical questions by blaming it on his memories being muddled and out of sorts. 

You know better. She’s deflecting from telling him the truth, and it’s staring you straight in the face. 

  “You were so young when we met and so overwhelmed with grief. I took care of you.” There’s tenderness dripping from her voice. If you weren’t wearing your helmet, you would’ve promptly vomited at the sound of it. John was raised by this woman. She is the only maternal figure he’s known for years. It will be difficult for him to come to terms with the fact she’s spent his entire life lying to him and the other Spartans, indoctrinating them and taking away their ability to make their own choices. To be human. To love. And when the truth comes out about all of it... The UNSC will suffer the consequences when an uprising begins. 

No. I was the one who took care of him until you tore us apart. No one else could love John the way you could, and that’s why you took him from me. Took away all the things that made me and turned me into a mindless killing machine with one purpose. To follow orders. 

I won’t let you take John’s humanity away from him. Not again. 

That might be one of the most beautiful things about him. His fascination with the sight of slip-space, his quiet confession about his anxiety, and his worries about what you may find on Eridanus. How he’d lightly twisted his fingers around your own just for the human contact and how he looked at you through the HUD. 

All of these uniquely rare things that made him John are the most beautiful part about him. 

And that’s when you learn what that feels like again, to love John 117 the way you always have. Right there on the back porch of a broken, abandoned home on Eridanus 2 that is flooded with memories of a life you will never gain back. 

You know what you’re going to do from this point forward. 

Silver Team was five people, at one point. Nora-098 had been gone for a long time. 

It was time they gained a new fifth member. 

And you fully intended for it to be you. 

[beautifulterriblequeen]

A Tiadrin theory

I woke up this morning with a sudden headcanon about Tiadrin, and as I poked at it, it filled out nicely, so I’m gonna go ahead and call it a theory at this point.

It gets angsty, as all good Moonshadow theories do. If your heart doesn’t weigh 6 tons by the time you reach the end of this post, I didn’t capture the feeling properly.

Several bits of detail flutter around this mysterious woman, and I’ve theorized various versions of her circumstances, her relationship with Runaan and Ethari, her former position before the Storm Spire, the reasons she went there, and the reasons Runaan was so hellbent on avenging her dishonor.

I don’t think any of them landed as well or tied together as neatly as this one, though. Hence “theory” instead of just “headcanon.” Here we go:

FIrstly, some meta information. This is a fun tweet, but in this post I’m looking directly at “belief systems as sources of both comfort and restraint” and at the “weight of guilt” and “cycles of trauma” lines, in regards to Moonshadow culture, and specifically Moonshadow assassin training.

And raise your hand if you’ve been looking further afield than the front-and-center Janaya-with-Soren nod from “ripped women who teach soft boys to stab,” because I have. TDP is full of parallels and imperfect mirrors.

So, in the spirit of soft yet angsty cycles and the ripped women who perpetuate them, Theory Part I: Tiadrin trained Runaan, because she was the leader of the assassins before he was.

She’s referred to as a mastermind. Assassin leaders need to be good with plans of all sizes. We’ve seen how Runaan silently adapts to chaos and doesn’t tell anyone what his new plans actually are. He’s a good leader. But he also had to learn those skills from someone. Whoever instructed him was a tactical genius, and also very Moonshadow, and Runaan was an adept student.

Also, Tiadrin is a goddamn badass. She’s several inches shorter than Lain, Runaan, Ethari, and Viren. But she is a powerhouse in battle. She knows her physics well enough to drag this 6′2″ human battle mage skidding across the floor. Monster thighs, monster intellect.

As a 5′4″ woman who trained in jujitsu for several years, let me just say: gender equality in battle is great, but physics does not care. It will crush your popsicle-stick ass if you try to chuck a 250 lb person across the room and your math is off. The most accurate fighters are the ones who know how hard physics hits back when you’re sloppy.

Tiadrin earned every inch of respect, and every inch of her thigh circumference, the old-fashioned way. She worked for it, all day every day. Runaan does the same thing. He might have half a foot of height on her, but he trains like the world will crush him if he’s not perfect. And that’s very Moonshadow assassin in its own right, because it will, and it tried. Tiadrin knew what she needed. And she knew what Runaan, soft boy that he is, needed. And she made sure she trained it into him, all day every day.

Tiadrin is one of the reasons that Runaan survived the fight in Harrow’s chamber. She made him the fighter he is, the person he is, and that was just enough to pull him through... so he could see his own mentor trapped in a coin. Yay, thanks Viren.

Theory Part II: Runaan’s squad was made up of all the elves Tiadrin has personally trained, or trained by proxy.

If Tiadrin was Runaan’s trainer and mentor, then her honor was his honor. And when she supposedly faltered and fled at the Storm Spire, that suddenly cast him, as an individual assassin and as the current assassin leader, in a terrible light. If his mentor was a coward, what did she teach him? Would he also duck and run when things got hopeless, and abandon his duty?

The doubt that must’ve swirled around him when the village learned the terrible news about Lain and Tiadrin must’ve sliced right through him. Thousand-yard stare, biggest internal Oh No ever. Runaan lives to serve his people, and to have them doubt him, after all he has done to train them and protect them from harm, would be the worst kind of pain. He had to make it right.

But not just him. Assassins seem to take solo missions even for their first kill, if Eljaal’s covered shoulders are any indication. You can Moonshadow your feels if you don’t have to watch your friend kill someone, if you don’t have anyone watching while you stab someone to death. You can pretend it’s all serene and just and smooth and valid and honorable. You can hold to your love of life and dance right past your embrace of death, if no one else sees it. But Runaan’s mission had 6 members. They were definitely going to have to watch each other murder people. Why?

Tiadrin’s honor was their honor. An extended family of brothers, sisters, cousins, fosterlings, anyone who was drawn to Tiadrin, or her to them, bonded together over their family feels and protective instincts. They were family. And then their leader fell, her honor crushed.

They had to make it right.

They all carried Tiadrin’s honor with their own, taught by her personally, regarded as honorable assassins. Until she seemed to have a fatal flaw in her character. Then everyone wondered if that flaw got passed down, too. The assassins had to prove that it hadn’t been, for the sake of their people, and for all of Xadia who trusted them to take out threats in the dark. They had to go set right Tiadrin’s “mistake” and take Harrow for Zym’s death. All of them. Every single one, no exceptions.

No exceptions. That’s why Rayla had to go, too. Tiadrin taught Runaan everything he knew about being an assassin, and when she moved to the Storm Spire, Runaan dutifully passed Rayla’s mother’s teachings to Rayla herself, feeling like part of the family, an essential connection between mother and daughter, between assassin mentor and mentee. He tried to get it just right, just perfect, so Rayla would feel like she’d been trained by her actual mom as much as possible. Not just because Tiadrin was Rayla’s mother, but because Runaan respects Tiadrin’s prowess so much. She was the best, and every bit of Runaan’s efforts to be his best reflects his respect for her.

You don’t get to be the assassin leader unless you’re the best there is. Runaan knows that from both sides. And just like Tiadrin did with him, he does his best to teach Rayla everything she needs to stay safe and alive, so she can do her duty too, and come home safe to her family every day.

And, in the end, part of that duty had to be avenging her mentor’s mentor, her own mother, by accompanying Runaan on his mission. Her lessons were from Tiadrin, one step removed. If there was a flaw in her training, no one would trust her when it was her turn to lead the assassins, and she’s not even done training yet! Rayla understood Moonshadow honor, assassin honor. She was driven to ask Runaan to take her with him, and he could see exactly where she was coming from. Their honor was tangled up with Tiadrin’s. They couldn’t back out. They had to go to Katolis, them and everyone else Tiadrin had trained.

That’s why the binding ribbons came out. They were in a do-or-die situation, in the most literal sense.

They could not go home in failure. If they all failed, it would take out a whole line of assassin training, possibly the same one that had lasted for countless generations (okay maybe we can count them and there are like 30) and crush the Moonshadows’ spirits. And they’d literally rather die than see that happen. They were all ready to give their lives to restore Tiadrin’s honor, and their own, because without her legacy, there would be such a crater in the assassin corps that it might never recover.

Yes, this is basically my angsty “Runaan’s found family went into battle together and most of them died” headcanon again, but this time with a solid theory behind it. I’m not sorry. I love this angsty idea, it’s horrible. Do you see the cycle of trauma? I’ve got one more part to add, which may make it clearer.

Theory Part III: Assassin leaders always go serve at the Storm Spire once they successfully train their own replacement.

In this theory’s version of Why Laindrin Went To The Storm Spire, Tiadrin was always going to end up at the Storm Spire, once she became the assassin leader. That’s where the veteran assassin leader goes, see, to liaison between the dragon throne and the current Moonshadow leader. They know the assassins’ skills far better than any Skywings or dragons do, and they know the leader in charge of them, so they can give guidance or direction as needed, or simply phrase the Dragon King or Queen’s request in such language that the assassin leader knows intuitively what really needs to be done.

Yeah, Tiadrin writing Runaan mission directives. I can see it.

Tiadrin’s mentor would’ve left for the Spire when Tiadrin got promoted to leader. The person she trusted most in the world, who had trained her, left her behind, only to communicate by long distance. Moonshadow deniability, amirite--we’re not stabbing people, we’re sending tactical correspondence, yep that’s it. But Tiadrin was still surrounded by Runaan and the other young assassins, and she bonded with them all, and life was bright.

Then, the shadow came once again. Runaan was an excellent student, and she knew he was ready. Maybe she delayed, and delayed, Moonshadowing her reasons. Maybe she wanted the chance to bring life into the world, to try to balance out some of the death she had dealt. Maybe she wanted a few more years of domestic life in the Silvergrove with all her favorite elves, to bolster her heart for the years to come. Maybe her mentor at the Spire was up to shenaniganry in dragon politics and she wanted to buy them more time to lay those plans in place.

Knowing Tiadrin even the slightest bit, I will assume it was all this and more. But eventually, she couldn’t put things off any longer. She had to go fulfill her duty to the dragon throne and join the Dragonguard as the representative of the Moonshadow assassins who had bound themselves to the protection of Xadia long ago. She had to walk away from her bright life, her family, her friends, her allies, and climb up into that misty stone tower, to spend who knows how long away from everything she knew and loved.

And she did. She chose to walk away, for love of Xadia. She took her beloved husband with her, but she left the Silvergrove, Xadia’s protection, and her own daughter’s upbringing in the hands of the elf she chose to replace her. The soft boy she’d taught to stab, who would teach her baby girl to stab, too.

Because this is The Way.

I know I’ve had an angsty headcanon that assassins don’t retire. But, consider this: maybe one of them can. One of Tiadrin’s many plans could have been counting on Runaan’s extreme prowess and devotion to Rayla. If Tiadrin knew that she could return to the Silvergrove in peace and retire there with Lain once Runaan trained Rayla to take his place as the assassin leader, then she could live in the Silvergrove again for the rest of her life, and also get to see Rayla grown big and strong and become the assassin leader herself, another proud elf in a long line of honor and tradition. She might feel that was a big accomplishment, considering the dangers they all face. And it would be.

Yes, this would hinge on the fact that Runaan would have to leave the Silvergrove to replace Tiadrin at the Storm Spire, to serve as Rayla’s liaison to the dragon throne. Cycles of trauma, remember? Tiadrin can’t have all of her family back in one place, ever again. She has to love and train someone enough to put them through the life that she’s having to live, and she has to be strong enough not to let that break her. And then, she has to choose between them. She chose Runaan first, so that she could hope to choose Rayla later. She trusted him with all the future happiness of her heart. And he did his best with it.

But they didn’t quite make it, in the end, because of Viren.

I know this has been a lot of angst. I know. But there is a moonlit lining to this theory, and I think we all need to consider it. If there is a cycle of taking the assassin leader out of the Silvergrove to serve the dragon throne for ancient promise reasons, then if that ancient promise is ever rescinded or redressed in an effective way, the family won’t need to keep yeeting loved ones out of its orbit. And if assassins cease to be a necessary evil as a result, then no one will have to leave, or stab, again. At least, not for the same angsty reasons. They could stay together and never need to leave again.

It won’t be easy to break such a cycle. It might be impossible. But if anyone can manage it, it’ll be Tiadrin, and her family.

extra headcanon for this theory:

Tiadrin, packing up for the Storm Spire: One last thing, Runaan.

Runaan, stoically attentive because what are feels on the day your mentor leaves you: Yes, Tiadrin?

Tiadrin: Ethari will need to pick an apprentice to replace him, too. He should start looking now.

Runaan: Why? Only the Silvergrove’s Master Craftsman gets to pick an apprentice, and Ethari isn’t--

Tiadrin: *wink” Not yet, he’s not.

Runaan: Tiadrin, please, what have you done?

Tiadrin: I want to come back here someday, Runaan. I want to see your good work with Rayla. And I can’t do that if you flat-out refuse to leave your husband when Avizandum calls for you to replace me. So he needs to be ready to leave, too.

Runaan: I, I, I would nev-- I couldn’t--

Tiadrin: *patting his shoulder briskly as she strides out* Mmhmm, sure thing, kid. The council votes him in next Thursday. Be good while I’m gone! I want to find this place exactly the way I’m leaving it. Lain, honey, get your coat!

Lain, in the next room: Yes, Tiadrin!

Runaan, soft-eyed, to the silence in her wake: Yes, Tiadrin.

[iamdarkness]

Chapter two of To Feed a Tiger Forces of Will.

To Feed a Tiger.Forces of Will

 Alfonse x Summoner, Alfonse X Summoner X Lif  

And one sided (as of now) Dimitri X Summoner X Alfonse X Lif

Triggers for talk about mental health. It is Feral Dimitri after all. Mentions of death and depressive thoughts.

Sexual Harassment and maybe more than that.

Incest. (Freyr and mentions of Freya).

 I thought about making my Summoner gender-less to fit all kinds of genders, but there is a part of the story where it becomes a necessity for them to be female.

 A/N At the end of the chapter.

Chapter 2

    Alfonse did not return that morning…

   The morning after the meeting with Lif, when Alfonse was suppose to return passed and Sharena came instead. She said little to you, except that prince Hrid had come to visit Fjorm. Sharena and Fjorm left aster breakfast. They didn’t even take Ylgr with them and that was weird. You were suppose to go into town instead of Sharena that day with Alfonse to oversee the care for the refugees. You go to talk to Anna and learn she has gone with Sharena and Fjorm without telling you. Luckily for you Anna had left her most efficient Captain in charge and instructions. Zelgius is there to help too.

   You decide to take one of the heroes with you to town and meet the soldiers and other heroes in charge of the operation there. First you go to both Robins and ask them to run things for you as planned with Soren so you can go.

 You are about to go talk to M Grima and King Marth when F Dimitri comes from the direction of the tree house and asks to talk to you.

   -Of course. Say! I am going into town and I may be gone some hours. If you want to come, we can talk on the way. I need someone of trust to accompany me.- He seemed to think about it.- I mean you don’t have to do it. I am just going to be overseeing the operation at the back of the warehouse as to not get in the way if I am not helping. I need to count the supplies and to asses what to buy and get for the next shipment.

   -I see. I will go with you.- He says and you two take off.

   You wait for him to open up to you and tell you what he said you needed to talk about, but he asks about the operation and then about the “Victory Gardens” where the heroes were growing the food. He tell you how relaxing it is to work on the fields and grow plants.

   -Say, Dimitri. What did you want to talk about? -He looks sideways at you and keeps quiet a moment more.

   -I… King Dimitri came to see me the other day. He came to offer me to work together in the fields with his companion Marth.- You can see that he had changed the subject, but this is good information and if he wants to share it, then it is progress.

   -I see. How do you feel about that? Are you interested?

   -Marth seems like a good person…he is good for Dimitri.

   -Oh so you noticed they are together.

   -I can see it in their eyes when they are together. I will work with them.

   -Good. Just be careful with the bees. If you leave them be, they will not sting you, but some people just won’t leave them alone. Then they wonder why they get stung.

  The whole trip to town went on like this. He would often ask you questions about your world and you try not to talk about difficult stuff and so you talk about music and how technology works and the difference between modern medicine, healing and magic. All in all it was a pleasant trip.

   When the work was over it had taken you longer than anticipated and you had to get some food from the inn and eat it with him in a sort of picnic.

    You were on the way back when you hear a yell of help in the fields by the road. You go to see if someone needs help but Dimitri stops you. He goes to find out and you stay on guard just in case. He tell you to run if he thinks you are in danger. He will make time for you to escape. Instead you hear him call out your name.

   You go to meet him and find him looking at a woman who is fallen on the dirt by the road. Her belly is swollen and her face red from pain and strain. She is having contractions.

   - Please, it is coming! Please help me! - She ask you and you kneel to her feet while Dimitri stands there shocked into silence.

   -Do you live near? Do you want us to take you home or something?- You ask her while checking her vital like the healers taught you.

  - No my hou….grrr…aaahhh- She is cut off by her yell and you take the this time to check under her dress. With the light of the afternoon sun you can tell the bay is indeed coming and you can see the crown of the head. There is no time to taker to the castle, as it is still far away. She won’t make it that far.

   -Dimitri. Listen, the baby is coming and I need your help. You can say no because there will be a lot of blood and I don’t want you to..

   -I will do it. What do you want me to do.- He had been standing looking lost at the woman, but now he was full on attention and alert.

   -Help me stand her up and then let her use you as a support.-

 -Standing up?- He asks while helping her stand. She also looks at you skeptically.

 -It is going to be easier on her and the baby.- You tell him. He nods and help you stand her up.

 -The baby will get better oxygen supply and she will not strain herself as much. That is what the healers taught me any way.- You say and you lie because you saw that somewhere on the internet, but they need the reassurance.

 She finally stands up and he uses his arms in a kind of wide hugging position for the woman to hold herself steady. Meanwhile you take off your summoner coat off and ask her to breath as normally as possible through the nose and then let it out through her pursed lips as if whistling.

 - Don’t push now! Wait for the pain of the contraction OK! Ready Dimitri?- You ask him and he nods. The contraction comes and the woman hangs off of Dimitri’s arms and body, pushing with all her might.

   -Keep breathing! Don’t breath through your mouth!- You say leaning under her open legs. The head is almost out and you know you will need something to clean the baby once they come out. You see nothing and take off your blue shirt. Dimitri looks at you questioningly. Another contraction.

   -OK let the breath out and PUSH! The head is almost out!- and indeed the head is out and you take the coat and lay it under the legs.

 Another wait and the next contraction comes. You take the shirt and clean the baby’s face and nose of liquids and blood, and as she is still pushing a little of the shoulders can be seen now.

 Another contraction and you help the baby by pulling at the the head and shoulders gently and carefully. On the next contraction the baby is completely out.

 - OH! The baby is coming!- You are able to get the baby safely on the summoner’s coat. The baby starts crying loudly as soon as he is out. There is still some liquid and blood coming out and you remember the placenta is coming out too.

 -You can let her lie down now Dimitri. Let me finish cleaning the baby. Congratulations! It’s is a boy! And by the sound of those lungs he is very healthy !!

 After the placenta is out and the baby clean you have to check the mother for a hemorrhage. You check her pulse and it looks kind of low…wait is that normal?

 -How long had you been waiting for help?

 -I don’t know…a long time…my water broke and I… the sun… it was after midday.-So she was bleeding and dehydrated too…nice.

 -Dimitri please lend me your cloak and wrap it around her. Can you please carry her? We need to take her to the healers at the castle. I will be caring the baby. Dimitri do me a favor and talk to her too. Don’t let her go to sleep. Here drink this water Mam.- You say that all smiling and give her your bottle of water to drink. It is a just in case but shouldn’t new mothers have higher blood pressure and faster pulse? She seemed cold and sleepy and it may have been due to her exhaustion but just in case you tell Dimitri softly to hurry up.

 During the walk the woman seems to liven up and starts asking questions and answering them as well. She was actually the wife of one of the soldiers currently at the castle, and was walking back into town after coming to tell him the baby may be coming soon. The baby seems tried as well and you shush him and sing a quiet lullaby to help him sleep until she can breastfeed him.

    When you get to the castle you tell the guards to send for the father and tell him to go to the infirmary. They probably saw you from afar because they were already waiting for you with a first aid kit and a stretcher. Dimitri informed them he could finish the job and take her to the infirmary himself, without wasting more time. All of this while still walking.

   You are walking inside when Alfonse comes out running towards you with brows knitted and worried. He was about to say something but focuses on the bundle of bloody summoner’s coat on your arms and your state of undress.

   -Alfonse! Look we had a baby!- You tell him excitedly. He looks confused for a second and then an indescribable emotion comes to his face. Yo notice your mistake and rewind. - I mean I had it. No! What am I saying? I delivered it! She had it and Dimitri was awesome!- Dimitri had kept on walking to the infirmary. You notice Alfonse’s eyes look moist and a little red now and you are about to ask him, what is wrong, when he finds his voice.

   -What? What happened! They told me you came back all bloodied and carrying a wounded! I thought you had been ambushed!

-Oh we were coming back when half way through we heard her cries for help. She must have heard my horrible singing from afar heh,heh!- He made a face at that. He didn’t like when you made derogatory jokes about yourself. You were trying to catch up to Dimitri.- Dimitri went to see if it was safe or an ambush and he called me over. She had been there since after midday Alfonse! Was no one patrolling the road?

 -I will find out. - He said in a cold tone.

 -So I asked Dimitri to get her to stand so she can deliver it easier and he made such a great job of being her support! Of course she did all the hard work, I just caught the baby in my coat and cleaned it. Still it was awesome! Alfonse I think she is very dehydrated and I thought she may be having low blood pressure and that’s very dangerous.- He loos at you smiling fondly.- Sorry I am very exited if you can’t tell.- And you laugh. The baby starts crying.- Oh Alfonse ! See what you did? You woke him up with all the noise!

 - What did I do?- But he sees that you are kidding with him and smiles.

 You all enter the infirmary and they take the lady to a bed to check out. Alfonse stays out in the waiting area while you take the baby to the other healers to be checked out. Your coat is probably ruined and you are all bloodied. You go to the toilet and wash off the blood and return to be checked for disease as the healers told you. You never know what you can catch from blood. There is no HIV in Summit but there are always diseases you can catch from blood. They give you a spare gown to wear. They inform you that the woman was indeed very dehydrated and had lost a lot of blood as well. It was a good thing you had found her in time or it may not have gone right. The problem now was that she was not lactating and the baby needed feeding. The husband had come and was now trying to talk to the lady who was being administered some potions to replenish her blood supply and to help with lactation.

 You check on Alfonse and he is talking to Dimitri. When you are about to join a healer comes out and asks to talk to you. The baby will need a wet nurse or two. In her state the mother would not be able to lactate as of now. She will need at least three days for the potion to take.

 -we can search for one at town but it will be until tomorrow. We can administer a potion to someone to be a wet nurse for the night and the effect will wear off by the day after tomorrow.

 You go through your list of heroes that have been mothers and may want to help and wonder for a while how cute it would be to see Lady Camilla nursing a child too. - I can send for Lady Mikoto and probably Arete? See if they can help. I mean I have never done this, but I can try if they are not available…I mean that is kind of a lot to ask of a hero…

 They let you take the baby and he while they tend to the mother and locate a hero that may help or even a servant (most of them are older women who may not be up to the task). You wonder how it would feel to have a baby suckle at your breast. The baby starts crying. Here’s when a pacifier would be of great use! He sounds hungry.

 <<Well….no body is here…>>

 But do you use a finger or …

 <<What the hell! No one is going to know. They will know….No one’s gonna know….how will they know… Here goes>>

 It feels so funny!…But at the same time…can you imagine one of these, but yours and Alfonse’s?  And look at that, he is quiet.

   <<I mean, there is nothing coming out but at least he is quiet. Oh you poor thing!>>

   -_______ Can I talk to you?What are you doing?- Alfonse…. Of course…At first he looks confused and then he can see part of your breast and his face turns redder than a tomato.

   -Umm…They are looking for a wet nurse for tonight until they get one at town…I just wanted to know if I could volunteer…- You lie. You take the time to fix yourself but the baby starts crying again and you put the nipple back inside the little mouth.

   -We have servants for that.

   -Well he may as well use them, since no one else is!- Oh that sounded so wrong and it makes you laugh when he turns to you and makes a face of incredulity. You take this time to wiggle your eyebrows because you are already way deep and there is nothing else to loose and no one to save you.

   -_______!- He covers his face with his hands and collapses on a chair. You approach him and stand with one of your legs between his knees. He looks up and the look he gave you, made you shiver. You feel like at any moment he will do something and you imagine yourself sitting on his lap while he kisses you, baby in arms and all. Instead he closes his eyes and turns away from you.

 - I came to tell you Runa wanted to talk to you. She already talked to Dimitri.

   -Who’s that?You can look, I covered myself.- He still will not look up.

   -The child’s mother. You didn’t asked her name?

   -I was a little busy telling her how to breath and push and the blood and you know. I forgot.- You walk away from him.

   -________. I need to talk to you. Later.- He gave you a look that you only saw when things got very bad. In that moment you saw a lot of his father in him.

   -OK.

   -….I didn’t know you received training on aiding childbirth.- He asks, curious about it.

   -I didn��t. I had good internet…umm I saw some videos about it and they looked interesting. You never know when you will end up using something like that. To be fair I never expected to use it. If someone had told me this morning this was going to happen I would not have believed them. It sounds far fetch to me. -<And now I had my breast inside a baby’s mouth in front of the man I love. How is that for far fetched?>

   -You never cease to amaze me.- He looks at you with a warm expression and it makes you blush.

   -_______! I heard….Oh! You are …. breastfeeding a baby…- Fjorm comes inside the room with a look of utter horror and then it turns into confusion and later to …. She looks at you again and her eyes water. - Nifl! I thought you were injured! I better tell the other heroes before they have a breakdown. You look…adorable…-She says and turns to leave. You can hear her crying. Oh crap! She didn’t even let you say a word. Didn’t even ask who’s baby that was. You chalk that up to her thinking she will not live long enough to have a baby and it makes you so sad.

 You turn around to look at Alfonse and he is looking at you the same way Lif did last night. But why?

   Sakura takes this time to come in and inform you they have a volunteer and she take the baby now crying his lungs out while you are left worrying about three people now seeing you “breastfeeding” a baby that was not yours…The ground could open up and swallow you and you would thank it.

 Alfonse accompanies you to talk to Runa, who alongside her husband thanked you for your help. Runa had seen many of the heroes on the way in and does not know who Alfonse is and he did not want you to introduce him. That is until…

 -My darling Brant is always talking about you and our prince. I remember seeing him once when he was a little boy and the royal family came when this was but their Summer retreat. He was so very cute! He must be a very handsome man right now.

 -He is. I can tell you that I have met hundreds of people and heroes and he is by far the most handsome of all.- You say and know he is getting flustered.

 - I never thought I would get to meet you in person Summoner ______ and here we are. Brant says you are so nice and clever and I think he came up short! Our prince better propose before one of those dashing heroes snatches you first.

 You laugh at that and feel your face heat up. Brant, who was Runa’s husband was beet red looking at Alfonse who was also beet red. Sharena who was standing at the back started giggling.

 -Nah they’ll return me in a week tops heh, heh,heh!

 -That’s not what Claude would say, or Seth or Chrom or Leon. Oh and Zelgius…-Says Sharena in a singsong voice.

 -Not every one is as patient as Alfonse.

 -Well, I grew up with Sharena…- He said and turned to face Sharena who laughed harder at his red face. Runa seemed to catch up to what this meant and gasped.

 -Oh Your highness! How could I not recognize you! Please forgive me I meant no disrespect.

   -Please do not worry about this. Concentrate in getting better for your child’s sake. It was my fault for not being polite and introducing my self or my sister.

   -Yes it was his fault don’t worry about it! I am princess Sharena and I wanted to congratulate you on your beautiful baby!How are you going to call him?- Sharena comes like the friendly and energetic girl that she is, and stands by the side of the bed. Runa is taken aback at the difference between the two royal siblings. She smiles and takes the princess’ hand.

   -Thank you your highness! We thought about it and we will like to name him Dimitri like the prince of Faerghus who helped us today. We talked to him and he gave us permission.

   -Dimitri! That is a beautiful name! I really like it. All our Dimitris are great warriors.

 -Sharena I think it is time to let her rest. She needs to recover for the potion to take effect. -He says to Sharena; then turns to the new parents.-Congratulations to both of you. You have brought us the happiness we needed in these times of turmoil. Thank you. - Alfonse say in a solemn tone but smiling.

   You all leave and Alfonse asks you to meet him in your shared study after dinner and you agree. This means Alfonse is not going to be present at dinner and so you take your food and take it to share it with Dimitri.

   -Dimitri I wanted to congratulate you on your job today! You were great.-You tell him once you are done eating.

   -My hands were awash with blood…but for once it was the blood of life, not death. It brings me peace and happiness. As if water had cleansed my dirty hands.- He says this, while he looks at his hands.- Is there truly forgiveness for what I have done?

   -It is the miracle of life. I feel the same way. I am sure we can not only repent for our sins but also make up for them. This may be one way.- You take his hands in yours, but he goes to lay his head on your shoulder. He starts to cry and you embrace him and pull him to you. He needs this and you will be there for him.

   -Let it all out. I am here for you.- You caress his head and hair like a mother to her child and he hold on to you like a lifeline.

   When he lets go he tells you smiling that the family has asked him for permission to name their child like him.

   -I feel happy about it, but I can not help but think…I do not want him to fare the same as I. At least he has good parents. I am afraid to not measure up to his expectations.

   -Well. You are right about the parents. And he is way too young to expect something of you; except probably to carry him when he wants to be held. You got time to heal and grow… and become a good example.

   -I will.

   He left a little after that, but before he left he gave you one of the crystal necklaces to find the tree house. He trusted you enough to have you near.

    You returned to your room and found Alfonse already in the study. It looked like he was drinking tea, but it was cold and forgotten. He had lit the fireplace even though it was not cold. He was watching the fire when you found him. His violin discarded on his desk.

   -Alfonse? What is wrong?- Now that the excitement of the day was gone you could see clear signs of distress in the prince. His eyes looked red and tired. At first he tried to hide them, but he faced you with a sight.

   -Sit down. - He tell you and you sit in the chair across from him.- When we arrived at the palace. Prince Hrid was already there along with Princess Leagyarn. The Queen was about to call us over when we sent her the message that we were coming to visit.- You ascent to tell him to go on.- I already gave my report to Commander Anna about this.

   -It sounds serious.- He nods and still not looking at you.

   -Both Leagyarn and Hrid report, there are rumors of war. Places left totally destroyed by unknown forces. There are travelers form different realms seeking refuge in Muspell and Nifl. They think this war is coming our way.

You gasp at that. Those are bad news indeed. You had enough problems with what had happened in the past. You were still recovering from Surtr for goodness sake! And you have Embla, to deal with.

 - As you know our resources are not limitless and we need help. If this is true; it will be disastrous. The Queen and the other two royals have formed a council and decided to form a treaty…- There was a knock at your door and Alfonse just gave a tired sight and rubbed his face with his hands. You went to open the door to find Fjorm. She looked as tired as Alfonse and now you knew why…or at least part of it.

 -May I come in? I…Alfonse asked me to be here for the conversation.-You let her in and she looked like she truly didn’t want to be there.

 -I was just getting to the treaty.- Alfonse tell her without looking at her. She nods and sits on one of the chairs father way from both of you.

 -Hrid...had the idea of cementing our treaty with a personal tie, not only of friendship but familial. He means a marriage of both our Kingdoms. Leagyarn did not need such ties. She trusted our word alone.- Fjorm flinches at that.

 -Who…

 -Fjorm and I are getting married…- He says with finality and Fjorm starts crying. He does not meet your eyes. You feel like the floor is sinking and thank God that you are already sitting down. The air is not getting into your lungs and are getting dizzy, but you remember to breath again.

 -I’m so sorry _____! It is all my fault!- You hear Fjorm say between sobs.

 -Wait…your fault? Why?…I thought you were in love with someone already! Was it him you loved all along? Did you do this behind my back?- You are crying now not only of sadness but anger of being betrayed by one of the people you like best. She knew you loved Alfonse .Fjorm cries harder and you can hear her apologies mixed up with her sobs.

 -______ let her be. It really is not her fault. She sacrificed herself again to save us!

 -Oh by marring you?

 - Hrid wanted YOU! He wanted YOUR hand in marriage! He is angry at her now, for speaking out against it and asking to marry me instead. She is in love with you. Can’t you see!- Alfonse says waving a hand towards Fjorm. There is anger in his voice.

 -What? Me? Why?

 -What do you mean why? For the same reason Claude loves you, Corrin , Eliwood ,Camilla, Lif and I and now Hrid.- He stands and start pacing around the room. He could have gone on with the list because he thinks every hero loves you as he does.

 -Hrid? He doesn’t even know me. We’ve seen each other only a couple times! That is not love!- It is true he comes to see his sisters twice a year and stays a couple of days, but he usually spends the time with his sisters at town, or at the resort. You welcome him and have dinner with him and the heroes, but that is it.

 Alfonse stops walking and looks at Fjorm and when he sees that she can’t stop crying he explains.

 -Fjorm writes to him constantly and has told him everything about you. What you do, how you do it, what you say and even how you sing. He sees you through her love’s eyes and now fancies himself in love with you. She …volunteered to marry me, because she knows she will die and then…- He could not finish the sentence. You look at Fjorm. She avoids your eyes and covers her face with her hands. You go and hug her. She flinches a little.

 -Please forgive me…I …the shock did not let me think strait.

 -It is my fault! Please don’t hate me _______. When I die he will be free.

 -Fjorm I don’t want you to die! And I don’t want to think about you dying so I can be with him! There has to be another way!

 -We have tried to talk our way out of this, but there is no…

 -Hrid is a good man _____. He just thinks that if you two are not together he may have a chance at winning your heart. And _____, he will not relent. I know him.

 -Doesn’t he know he is hurting you as well?

 -He doesn’t know I am in love with you. He thinks the one I love is Alfonse and I am taking advantage of the treaty to marry him. -’Just like you had though’ she doesn’t say. That must have stung quite a lot coming from you.- There is no convinsing him of the truth. I know you don’t love me the way I do, and never will, but you have given me so much that seeing you happy made happy. I did not want this for you. I didn’t want to hurt you, but if you marry my brother, he will never let you go and then you will never be happy with Alfonse.

 - I see…

 -There is going to be a ball in two weeks to make the engagement official. Hrid will be there to…- You see Alfonse’s ungloved hands tighten. The knuckles are white with strain and it may be a trick of the light but you can see a line of red coating the white skin.

   -I should go now.- Says Fjorm still in your arms and stands up to leave. You walk her to the door and she opens it.

   -Please forgive me. Jealousy is the worst of feelings and it turns us into monster. I should not have reacted that way.

   -It is my fault. I never said anything. You probably thought I was following you around all this time just for him, when I was actually there for you…At least Eir thought so. She confronted me once. I had to tell her the truth.

   -To be fair I always thought you were doing research like us, when you were at the library. Are you going to tell her about…- You could not finish. She just nodded, said her good night and left.

   You were left alone with Alfonse. The man you love, but are too afraid to face now. It is strange but, even though you know he will marry another, there is comfort in knowing he loves you still. You only have to find a way to save him. < Yeah! Like I saved Lif right?>

   You enter the study and find him leaning on the chimney mantle. You had hugged him before in friendly terms but you have never been this bold to initiate such intimate contact. This time you stand behind him and embrace him; leaning your head on his back. He takes your hands in his.

   -I love you Alfonse.- he makes a strangled noise at that and tightens his hold on your hands. You can’t help but cry your self.- I will wait for you. I promise.

   -Fjorm sees herself dying any day now…but I can’t help but think about her surviving all this years…and I hate myself for it. I will hate my self for waiting and her for living…and yet I can live with that. The thought of you marring another is what drives me insane.

   -I will wait for you. Or I can be your mistress…

   -No! I will not do that to you. I will not stain your honor that way. You have no idea how the people here treat …no.

   -(sigh) Honor…what use is honor if it does not bring me happiness…but I understand you. I know it looks like I don’t care about what people say about me, and I don’t, but I care about what they think about you.- You close your eyes and take a deep breath to take courage for your next question.- Can I at lest have you once?

   -If I touch you…I will not be able to stop my self… I will not be able to leave you. It is already …I think it is time I move my chambers somewhere else. Go to sleep. We will talk tomorrow.- He lets go of your hands and move away.

   You go to your room and close the door of the study. Your heart is broken and his refusal had stung, but you also know him enough to know how he deals with heartache. He is suffering more than you in this and he will suffer more still, having to be married to a woman he doesn’t love and who doesn’t love him back. A woman he is clearly jealous of.

   Of course you could not sleep that night but a fitful couple of hours. Especially because you could see the light of the fire in the study and a shadow pacing around outside your door. You wanted to go out and end that torture, but you also understood him. Getting closer now would only complicate matters and make it harder in the end.

   Maybe it was fate that you had fallen in love with the same man twice and lost them both. Fate may be telling you, happiness was not for you. About some hours before day break you hear a violin begin to play. It was your favorite piece.

   The melancholy melody reached you and your mind wandered to the times he had played for you when you told him you could not sleep. Perhaps he knew that like him, you were not sleeping. How could you live without him? He was your other half. Loosing him again will be like loosing part of yourself. You fall asleep to the sound of his pain. (1)

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   Hours later you get up to go to work, you can’t hear anything in the study. You open the door with a bit of trepidation and find it empty. The door to his room is wide open, but there is no sound inside. You think he may be sleeping, but after a quick look, you find the room empty.

   You go to the dining hall and get something to eat. You are not hungry of course, but there is a long day of work ahead of you and getting sick will only make it worse. Before going inside, you fear to face him again, and even more in front of other people.

   -Hey Boss! Do you know what’s wrong with the prince!- You turn to look at the sound of the familiar voice, but find not only one Claude but two. Double trouble stand there looking at you and the younger of the two whistles.

   -You look worst than him! Did you have a party last night?- This earned him an elbow to the side by King Claude.

   -Yes Claude. I went to a rave. You found me out.- I say flatly.- You saw Alfonse?

   - He was going to the library, but he looks sick. You are not getting sick are you? Is it contagious?- He asked concerned.

   -No. I just couldn’t sleep. You needed him for something?- They look at each other for a second and young Claude nods and excuses himself to go have breakfast. Having these two together is a wonder. They do this thing where they have whole conversations with their eyes and it is scary to watch, knowing how smart and mischivious they are.

   -You had a fight?- King Claude asks quietly, eyes not straying from yours. You know he can read you like an open book. He hums a little and say.- We were tasked to let him, and you now there is a meeting in two hours. Commander Anna and princess Sharena look almost as bad as you. Is something going on?

   -Perhaps… Yes. I will let you know when I find out all the details.- You tell him. He is resourceful and know he will eventually find out and you will need his sharp mind to make plans any way.

   -Did you cheat on him with Fjorm?- He say it jokingly and you look at him with a “TF you mean?” look, but you also wonder why he even mentioned Fjorm.- You know that lady is in love with you right? I consider her my strongest opponent by the way. Sturdy and strong.

   -Claude…why do you even say that?

   - Well, when we were going to give him the message; we found him arguing with Fjorm. She came and said something to him and he looked ready to kill someone. You know that growly thing Lif used to do when he was actively trying to kill us?Well just like that. He went storming into the library. Fjorm looked ready to cry. I give her props for not running away. That’s why my girl is my strongest opponent.

   -Did everyone know about Fjorm but me?

   -Yep. You do know about me right? Please tell me you do; because I don’t know how else to..

   -Yes, Claude I know about you.- You smile at him.- And believe me when I say, that if I had not been Summoner here and had met you first. It would be very different. I would be crazy in love with that wit, those gorgeous green eyes, that astute mind and personality…Oh that sense of humor too and you would probably not even look my way.

   -I do have beautiful eyes, don’t I. (sight) Not as beautiful as Alfonse’s I suppose- He said teasingly. You can’t help not going along with his sense of humor. He was trying to cheer you up, so you smile at him and punch him lightly on the arm.

   You went together to have breakfast and then you ask the people working the kitchen if Alfonse had come to get food. He had not and Sharena confirmed he was still in the library and didn’t want anything.

   You think of taking him something, but at the end you just get an apple and some cookies you stole from the kitchen.

   You get to the War Room and Anna and Sharena are already outside. They greet you but they don’t meet your eyes. Alfonse is already inside looking at the giant map of Askr and the surrounding lands that is carved on a stone table. You go near him and put the apple and napkin with cookies in front of him. He did not made to take it.

   -Don’t make it worst by getting sick.- He sighs, takes them and start eating them. You sit in one of the chairs by the high stained glass windows, take out your schedule for today and start making plans.

   -You look better today.

   -If by that you mean, I look like I couldn’t sleep until you started playing, then yes. Thank you, by the way.- He nods but does not say a word. You feel like you are talking to Lif. Which tells you just how hurt he is.- Are you researching on who you think is behind the attacks?

   -There is too little information to do a proper research.- He answers after finishing the apple.

   - Could it be one of the realms from the Norse folklore? We already fought some of them. I can talk to Freyr and ask him what he thinks about this. He may even dream of something.

   - Perhaps.- He say simply. You are getting flashbacks of the days when you had first arrived to Askr and he would only answer with these kind of sentences. You can’t help to sigh and he just looks sideways at you, but doesn’t elaborate.

   Anna and the rest started coming in. Ten minutes later Anna starts the meeting that turned out to be just an announcement since there were people missing.

   -We will be having a meeting today at around six. The Royal Army Generals are coming. _______, I have a list of heroes I need in the meeting and I leave whoever you think should attend as well to your discretion. Here.- She hands you a list with names.- The King of Nifl and Queen of Muspell will be attending. - You look at Alfonse and he is looking at Anna intently but you can see he is doing that jaw thing he does when he is angry. Sharena is looking down at her feet.- They will be here two days and we need to be on our best of behaviors and safety. They will be arriving in three hours tops.

 Hrid.

 Two days.

  Now you understood why Alfonse was angry at Fjorm. She must have told him, Hrid was coming.The meting only lasted a few minutes while she gave the officers and heads of staff their orders.

 As soon as the meeting was over, Alfonse went out the door but was stopped by Delthea who was asking for you. He pointed you out and you wondered what was wrong with the bright magician.

 -Summoner! Someone spiked Freyr’s drink and he is drunk in the infirmary. He won’t let anyone touch him. Natasha wants you to go and see if you can help them out. He keeps saying he wants to talk to you and go to the beach.

 -Seriously? Do you have any idea who it was? Wait …Why was he day drinking at this our? It’s like 8 in the morning!- She shrugged. You rub your face out of frustration.- God! Why no one told me I was going to be babysitting grownup heroes that behave like five year olds? - Delthea started giggling and you noticed Alfonse had stopped to listen to the exchange. He came close and said.

 -Take the morning off after you let the heroes know, they are needed. You need the time off Summoner.- Even Delthea stopped giggling. She looked at him and then you, like she was expecting something bad to happen, like kids do when their parents argue in front of them. -Just be sure to be here for the meeting and dinner. His highness will want to see you as well.

 -I do not think that is prudent, there is a lot to do. Besides you need rest as well.

 - I have stuff to do- He turns to leave, then adds without looking at you.-…But summoner, Do go.

 You see him leave and after those cutting words you feel empty inside. You take Delthea by the hand and start to go towards the infirmary. It seems so impossible that you had been there just yesterday, full of joy and happiness and it feels now like a lifetime ago. It is enough to make you cry but not in front of Delthea.

 -______. The prince…

 - He is going through a lot right now Delthea.

 -Is it because of his marriage to Fjorm?- She asks biting her lip.

 -What do you know about that? How?- You stop to look around to see if someone is around to listen to your conversation.

 -I heard Fjorm telling Eir about it. I was looking at this book I found in a secret compartment under one of the bookcases in the library.- She shows you a blue book with golden runes and a set of locks on the side.- They couldn’t see me and they started talking and I didn’t know It was a secret.They are both very sad. Eir promised Fjorm to help her find a way to get off the marriage and not make you marry Fjorm’s brother. Is he the one coming today? Is that why Alfonse wants you to go to the beach? You know Fjorm is in love with you right? I think Alfonse is looking for a way to not marry Fjorm as well and that is what he is doing in the library.

 <<WTF?>>-I see. How did you know about Fjorm?

   -You can’t see the way she looks at you?- She rolls her eyes.- Just like Chorm and Claude and Leon…and his demon -She made a face- Oh and Xander.-You look at her questioningly- Sigbert told me. That is why he stutters when he talks to you. Oh Dimitri!

 <<Dimitri??>> You think, because King Dimitri has Marth, Savior Dimitri has Byleth and Student Dimitri has a sweetheart as well. Then you look up and see she meant “Feral” Dimitri is coming your way.

 -____ are you going to the infirmary?- You nod yes.- May I accompany you?

 -Of course! Are you not feeling well?- You ask concerned and make sure to remember not to burden him with your issues and give him your best smile, just like the one you will have to give the kids.

 -I...-He lowered his gaze- I want to know how…the baby is doing.- He said a little embarrassed.

 God this man is so sweet, you have to wonder just how much he had to suffer for him to be turned into what you saw of him earlier.

 -Oh I see. So was I,but now I need to check on a Dream God, that someone got drunk.

 -Do you need help?- He asks concerned.

 -I am not sure, but he is…he has touching issues and I am guessing it is because of his sister.-He looks confused.- Dimitri… no matter how bad thins get, remember that at least you are not trying to bang your sibling, without their consent.

 -What does that mean?- He asks in a small voice. Delthea starts giggling. Of course she knew what you meant.

 - His sister is in love with him and was actively trying to…you know… marry him…- You finished awkwardly.

 -What?…I suppose I understand why he would not want to be touched by people.

 - And it does not help that he is very attractive. This is why he always wear loose tunics.- Seriously the first time you saw him without that tunic, it was shocking! That man is a God…well literally as well, but still. Dimitri just nods and keeps walking at your pace looking sideways at Delthea who was trying hard to open the blue book.

 -Where did you get that book any way? What is it about?

 -Umm. Well last week I was hiding from Luthier, because he wanted me to finish my homework and I hid in the bottom shelf where there were no books, and I saw this crack in the shelf on the bookcase next to mine, and it had a spell on it right? So I waited until Luthier went looking for me somewhere else, and tried to undo the locking spell. It was an old spell, but like easy to undo, and the book was inside it. I just can’t open it. I has this spell I can’t make out.

 -Delthea,maybe it is a cue for you not to mess with it. It may belong to someone already. It may give you tentacles or something. Wait! Alfonse can translate those runes! I have seen him do it. It is some dead language we have encountered before. Why don’t you see if he can open it or knows what it is?

 -Oh! Yes!….But what if I get in trouble?

 -Tell him I sent you, because I wanted to know what that was and Delthea…Can you do me a favor?

 -Of course _____

 -Can you see what he is researching and try to help him? He is very intelligent, but sometimes people need another fresh mind to find the answer they are looking for.

 -OK. I’ll do it. I want to help you with...- You shake your head slightly and widen your eyes so she would not say a word about the betrothal in front of Dimitri. She understood.- his research.

 -You can do that once we come back from the beach.

 -No. You go, but you can please take my brother! He needs to go out. Deal?

 -Deal! Now go and tell Luthier, I need him to come help me with Freyr and that he can take whoever he wants to come with us. - She nods and starts running towards the library. You turn to Dimitri- Hey Dimitri. After visiting the baby I am taking Freyr to the beach. We are having some guests tonight and I need some relaxing time beforehand. Want to come? You don’t have to answer now. Think about it. I also need to run some errands before we take off. -He nods and opens the door of the infirmary.

 You both go inside and ask him if he wants to go with you and go together to visit the baby or go by himself. He decides to wait for you outside the room Freyr is in. Brady informed you he had calmed down when they told him you were coming, but he had been very dizzy, could barely walk and had not wanted anyone to help him on the bed. He had also not wanted to tell them, whom he though had spiked his drink.

 - Freyr? How are you feeling?- His eyes were open. This was bad.

 -______? I feel dizzy. I need to go…

 -We are going to the beach Freyr. Who spiked your drink? Do you know?

 -Freya.- He pointed to the night table where a pitcher of water was placed. You go and take it to smell and …-Do not drink it. It is a potion for deep sleep.- Indeed the liquid did not smell like alcohol. He was not drunk, he was fighting sleep. You were going to ask him why he thought Freya had done this if she was dead, but then so was him and you had called him fro the dead.

 - I swear your sister is like Freddy Kruger! This is bad! When did you see her?

 -This morning I was dreaming… having a pleasant dream. When a nightmare came to me. I saw your sadness summoner. Then she came to me, and said we would soon be together, now that she had come back to me. I tried to wake up and could not. She came near me and I could not move. I woke up when I heard Peony knocking on my door. She had sensed something, but she could not see her or feel her. I could barely stand and she helped me get far enough to come here. I sent her to look for anyone who could have penetrated our security.

 -I need to tell Anna bout this…But first I need to tell Brady if he has something to fight the sleeping potion.

 -Don’t go.

- I am not going anywhere Freyr.- You open the door and ask Dimitri to please go get Brady or any healer and to bring something to fight sleep. Then you go and stand by Freyr’s side to talk to him so he can stay awake. You ask him what the dream he had about you was about, but he did not want to elaborate.

 -You know Sir. It is not my place to tell you this but; have you though of maybe marring someone to see if she gets the idea?- He looks at you and actually smiles.

 - I have…but I find my self in the predicament of being in love with someone who does not love me back.- Suddenly his smile fades and he continues.- Can you imagine the calamities my sister would rain upon my beloved?

 -Oh yes. I surely can. I am so sorry to have intruded. Please forgive me, I did not meant to hurt you.- He sighs, extends his hands to you and asks you to sit on the bed by his side.

 - Do not fret ______. It is an obvious question. I should have ended this madness a long time ago, but the love for my little sister blinded me to her misguided pursuit, until it was too late to change.

 This conversation gave Brady time to come. He knocked on the door and came in with Dimitri and a young Leon in tow.

 - Lord Freyr, _____; I have here a potion that may counter the sleeping potion you took.- He gives Freyr the bottle and picks up the water and smells it.- Leon said he gave you the whole bottle, if you hadn’t been a god, you would be dead, even with one fraction. This is our strongest sleeping potion. Used for surgeries.- You look at Leon who is currently looking down at the floor.- Take all the bottle Lord Freyr, if you feel uncomfortable you can come see me later. _________, please don’t be hard on the tike. It ain’t his fault.- Freyr took the potion.

 -What happened Leon?- You asked him in a soothing tone. How can you be mad at him? He is a good boy and was probably tricked into doing this.

 - He told me to do it.-He pointed at Freyr. Everyone looks confused except Brady.- Well it wasn’t him I guess. I had a dream for two nights and he was crying, because he could not sleep. In my dream he kept asking me for help. He said he wanted to see his little sister and he needed a potion for that but he could not ask for it, because he did not want to worry you _______. He said not to ask him in real life so it would be our secret. He told me where to get it, and to just put it in his water when he was not in his room so no one would know. So I did what he asked...but now that I think about it; his horns looked different and he had a big ugly mole in his nose.

 Freya.

 If this had not been as serious as it was, it would have been funny. Freya was so self conscious about that mole… but also that mole was the root of the whole damned problem. Leon looked worriedly at Freyr, which was still looking at him with open eyes. Freyr smiles at him.

 -Do not be afraid child. I hold no ill intent toward you. You are innocent. I know my sister well, but I  confess I am shocked, by her tricking a child to do her wicked work.

 Freyr felt better and now could close his eyes and sleep as he always did. It was worrisome that Freya was back, not only because of the sick obsession she had with her brother, but because it meant someone had revived her.

 You send word to Anna about the incident and she comes to talk to Freyr and you. After this you, Dimitri and Freyr ( who probably does not want to be alone), go visit Runa and her baby. You had a good talk, you got to hold the baby and Freyr gave him his blessing. Runa could not believe she was in the presence of one of the ancient Gods.

   After sending word to the heroes that need to be in the meeting and King Claude who you think needs to be there as well, you take the stuff you need and pick up Luthier to go to the beach. Dimitri ends up going with you.

   It was around ten when you got there. Double trouble decided to come along to Dimitri’s chagrin, but thankfully young Claude decided to befriend Luthier. Young Claude took it upon himself to teach him how to make friends and charm the ladies. Meanwhile, King Claude was mostly talking to Freyr, and Sharena, whom Alfonse had sent along to have fun, but had done so just after he had learned K Claude was coming along.

   -Here Lord Freyr I got you a pineapple the way you like them. Do you want me to check it first?- You tell the silver haired man. He shakes his head slightly and and takes it from your hand.

   - Thank you _______. I can do this. I never did this before because I had no reason to do so, she had never been so bold as to do these king of wicked deeds.

   - I am sorry I can’t protect you more efficiently. I will go and do some research at the library to see if I can find something to help you. Physical barriers and security is something, but the mind and dreams are not easy to deal with.- Just how far had his sister gone before Peony had woke him up? The way he behaved this morning…you did not want to think about it, but you were sure he needed therapy after that.

   - I can put up shields in my mind to do so and now that we are aware she is back, it will be easy to detect her presence in dreams.

   King Claude took the opportunity that Dimitri was still getting a coconut for you and himself to come and talk to you.

   -Hey ______. I just noticed something. This Dimitri...Byleth choose Black Eagles and…

   - Claude I swear if you tell me not to bother with him, because he is going to die; I will slap you silly.

   - What? No! That is not it! In fact I wan to help you get him ready to win! After all the other me in his world may die along with him; and he will need someone like me, to teach him to charm his way into getting more allies! What I wanted to tell you, is that I have been talking to some of the other heroes that had different destinies and I understand that This Dimitri still has both eyes. He wears the patch but he still has his eye intact. I thing it was kind of like his sense of taste, maybe? I remember you telling me, when we first met that Dimitri had lost it either because he had had some physical trauma, or it was psychological. If it is the later he may recover it; just like King Dimitri started tasting certain foods after he started being such “good friends” with Marth.

   - Son of a witch! Seriously? Look, let me find it out. I just need to find the right time to do it. I don’t want him to get flashbacks or something. Oh and Claude you are a frigging genius! And a good man to boot! Thank you!- You hug him.

   - Do I get a little kiss as well?- He asks laughing and you can hear Freyr laughing too. You kiss him in the forehead. - Well that’s better than nothing.

   You can see Dimitri coming back in the distance with Sharena to his side. When they are near, you can see him looking sideways to the princess with a knitted brow. It may be because she is not her usual bubbly self. He asks her something you can not hear and she looks at him and smiles, but shakes her head.

   When they get to where you are sitting by Freyr and Claude Dimitri is furrowing his brows and looking intently at you like searching for something. You take this time to evade any questions or suspicions and distract Sharena with something fun by asking then if they want to build a sand Castle.

 Freyr and Dimitri have never don this and are instantly intrigued by the idea. Sharena perks up instantly and Claude proceeds to make it a competition and proclaims that his team consisting of himself and Sharena will win. You are left with Freyr and Dimitri who looks with trepidation at the items used to make the castle. You would think they will bite him, but understand it is his fear of breaking them, what is bothering him.

   -The point of this is to have fun Dimitri. You can use your hands and items to do it and if you don’t want to use the pail or shovel it is perfectly alright. First you go and get some shells and plants and stick or stones that you find on the beach to make the castle look better.- You ere picking up shells and pebbles when Young Claude and Luthier come back and make their own team, when you tell them about the sand castle competition.

   Watching both Freyr and Dimitri so invested in their work really made you happy. They looked so carefree, it almost made you forget about Alfonse’s engagement. Luthier also looked happy and it looked like Claude, as other extroverts do, had adopted Luthier.

   -Mister Sandman! Give me a dream. Make him the cutest that I’ve ever seen!- The moment the soft words of the song came out of your lips, Freyr looked at your smiling face with open eyes and smiled himself. - Give him two lips like roses and clover; and tell him that his lonesome nights are over.

   When you reached the part with “lots of wavy hair…” You could hear Claude shout “Someone wants gorgeous wavy hair?”.

   -You know she meant blue and gold! - Young Claude said and threw a shell at his older counterpart. This earned them a laugh from everyone. Even Dimitri gave his quiet laugh. Well everyone except Sharena. She was looking down at the sand castle.

   -Maybe we do need a nice dream. Would you like to take a nap in the sun? -Asked Freyr softly.

   - I can watch over you while you take a much needed nap.- Said King Claude. You agreed to do it after you finished the sand castle competition, which young Claude and Luthier won. The winners went to celebrate their win at the drink stand. You told them not to drink alcohol.

   Sharena agreed to take that much needed nap. You all were very used to not getting enough sleep by now, but somehow the stress of the situation was even greater, than some of the battles you had fought in.  

  You lay on a blanket between Freyr and Sharena; and Dimitri chose to lay down on a reclining chair next to Claude who was going to remain awake.

   You have the most wonderful dream in a while, and by the time you woke up, you felt like you had slept for days. (2) You felt so well rested you did not notice the sting on your skin, not did you notice you were tightly hugging a very firm body and being tightly hugged in return by someone behind you. That someone was still snoring right in your ear.

  -Had a nice dream huh Summoner?- Came Claude’s voice from behind you. You could hear the laughter in his voice.- I think you forgot to put on sun blocking lotion.

   -What do you …-Now you felt it. You were laying on your side and so only one side of your body was an angry red. You then notice the firm body you were hugging was Freyr who was smiling in his dream. His chest was just as red as your left arm and the left leg you had over his.- Oh Fudge!- You say trying to disentangle yourself from him, but an arm around your waist prevents you from moving. You turn around and see Sharena’s face about three inches from yours. You both are lying on Freyr’s arm. After taking your arm from his chest you notice it leaves a tan line with its shape.

   -Sharena! You are getting sunburned!- You say trying to move her arm. Half her face is red and you suspect your face fares the same. She opens her eyes and smiles broadly at you.

   -______!! I had the most wonderful dream! I….Ouch! Hey I got sunburned! How did that happen I got the lotion on!

   -So did I, and Freyr as well, but I probably look like Neapolitan ice cream!- You tell her and point to Freyr who is sitting up by now.

   -I count my self lucky, and this mistake worth the fun and happiness. -He looks down and smiles at the mark of your hand on his chest. He was moving his left arm and you were sure it was sore after all the time you and Sharena had been laying on it. God that man was a saint. You look around to find an umbrella over Dimitri who is still asleep. You look over at Claude who smiles at you.

   -They only had one, and I rather not have a very sore and angry Dima on our hands when he wakes up all red and in pain.- He gave you an apologetic look.

   - It’s all cool Claude. I rather he doesn’t suffer for it at least. I wonder why the lotion didn’t work?

   -Because it is regular lotion!…I am so sorry ______! I was so distracted this morning I got the wrong one!- Said Sharena bashfully.

   -Don’t worry Sharena! We will get all fixed up when we get back home. Right Freyr!- You hear a rumble of ascent coming from the God.- We better wake up Sleeping Beauty and get our Dynamic Duo, and eat some lunch so we can go home, by the way. We still have to get ready to meet King Hrid.- You tell them and Claude gets up to get the other two from the dink stand. That leaves you to wake up Dimitri who looks so serene sleeping. So relaxed and young…It feels like a pity to awaken him. You stand there contemplating how to go about it when he wakes up smiling. He looks at you and say…

   -Beloved…- he seems to realize what he said and sits up all red in the face.- I…

   -Mmm having a great dream I see! I am sorry to wake you up Dimitri, but it is time to go home.- You wonder if like Student Dimitri, this Dimitri is in love with Marianne, but you feel it is not your place to ask. He’ll confide in you when the time comes.

   After a hurried lunch, you get home all sore but relaxed and happy. Even Sharena looks like her old self.

   -Wow Thank you Lord Freyr! I had the greatest of dreams! Everyone was my friend! Even Navarre and Valter! Oh and Fomortiis too!

   -Why would you want to be their friend? I get Navarre but…- Asked Luthier.

   -They all deserve a chance to be understood. -Says Sharena.- Our dear Summoner taught me that.- She looks at you and winks. You return her smile in kind.

   - I guess, but Fomortiis is a literal demon…- Responds Luthier.- Oh so what did you dream of Summoner?- He ask you and you feel your heart beat faster. Your dream...You did not want to talk about it. Dimitri must have seen your hesitance and started to talk.

   - I… I dreamed my beloved gifted me a wheel of cheese and asked for my hand in marriage.- He said scarlet faced. Everyone looked at him surprised, but no one laughed.

   -Wow that sounds like something ________ would do!- Says King Claude.

   - I have you know…wait that does sound like a good idea. I mean if someone were to give me my favorite food and then asks me to marry him; I’d say yes right away! I think that is very romantic!- You say to the King.

   -Well, don’t keep your favorite food a secret! I need to know right now!- He asks and now everyone laughs.

   -Try a wheel of cheese Claude.- Says Dimitri to Claude’s surprise.

   -Quesadillas! Yummy!! - You say.

   -I got a pair of mice in my hands!- Says King Claude and gives a sigh.

   -I love cheese and Quesadillas too!- Pipes in Sharena.

   -I enjoy cheese and quesadillas my self as well.- Says Lord Freyr.

   You were all laughing by the time you reach the castle and were on your way to the infirmary to get fixed up when you see a group of people walking to meet you. It was Alfonse followed by Fjorm walking by Leagyarn. On Alfonse’s side was the King of Nifl.

   -Hrid…

   A/N

 1. The piece Alfonse is playing is clearly from his world, but I imagine it sounds a lot like Ikuto’s Violin Solo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET8hV8yPNNQ

 2. I wonder what the Summoner dreamed about? Should I leave it to your discretion or should I write about it. I am sure I will end up writing about Dimitri’s. Also Freyr’s forced dream was a dubious consent and I am not sure if I should write about that.

[thetimelordbatgirl]

While me and my friend, @disneyfan50 , are still messing around with our Owl House inspired AUs and changing some stuff with season 2 still coming out, decided to maybe at least explain the character roles in the AUs, this one being The Thunder House, an AU on disneyfan’s series, Descendant of Loki and my series, Marvel Descendants and Entity High:

*Henry Valens- also known as the Demon Man, Henry almost did join a coven when younger but ended up deciding not to as he didn’t feel like being limited in his magic, but this resulted in the Empress’s coven constantly chasing him and as a result, he’s been on the run for a while and survives on selling human junk from the human realm and on one of these days of almost no sells, he ends up with two humans running through his portal door after their book and as a result of them, his life changes forever. 

*Ophelia ‘Lia’ Lawson- a human from the human realm, Lia was always in charge of keeping her foster brother in check and as a result, was always getting dragged into his antics, which ultimately resulted in her being sent to his summer camp as well in order to ensure he actually behaved as their strict father expected both to have dropped their childish nonsense by the end of the summer, but both don’t go as instead, both run after a hawk who stole Samson’s book and in the process, both find themselves in a realm right out of Samson’s book. 

*Samson Lawson- a human from the human realm, Samson doesn’t know where he came from outside of the fact that he was found by Lia’s father and taken in and while he knows his foster father doesn’t truly care about them, he still loves his foster sister at least but often ends up dragging her into his antics based on his love for fantasy and after a incident involving snakes and fireworks, the two are almost sent to summer camp to straighten them out, but they never go as instead, they chase a hawk for his book back...and run right into a world right out of Samson’s fantasy book.

*Theo- rumored to be the lost god of death, Theo doesn’t recall what happened to him outside of waking up somewhere that was soon discovered by Henry while he was on the run from the empress’s coven and once the coven was gone, Henry and Theo ended up leaving together and despite insisting he’s scary, many doubt Theo there fully.

*Screechy- the demon that resides within the house, Screechy is The Thunder House in some sense and as a result, resides within the door if not roaming the house or even going beyond the town and despite coming off as creepy and annoying a lot, does mean well at the end of it all.

*Soren- Henry’s palisman he made out of Palisman wood when younger, Soren is a hawk palisman that when not being used by Henry and Samson with Lia eventually, roams the house or goes to get human junk for Henry to sell when Henry needs him to.

*Trinity ‘Trina’ Valens- Henry’s sister, Trina lost contact with her brother when she joined the Emperor’s coven after winning a fight she doesn’t like to discuss and in present, has risen to coven leader status, but after losing a fight to her brother, she ends up with the task to capture her brother, with the promise that his curse will be cured if she does so. 

*Locket La Valle- a student in Hexside, Locket is known to come from a powerful family but despite that, was a latebloomer which resulted in her friend, Erica, ditching her while they were children and in present, Erica mocks her fully for her failure to succeed at the Abomination Track, but after she sneaks two humans into school one day, she finds herself being moved to the Illusionist Track and even befriends the two humans.

*Celina Blood- a student in Hexside, Celina is known to be pretty crazy and is known to excel at her chosen track off the Potions Track and has a love for the human realm and its treasures at the same time, meaning she is eager to befriend the two humans Locket sneaks into school one day, easily becoming a loyal friend.

*Erica Sharp- the youngest of the Sharp children, Erica can often come off as cold and aloof to the people around her and when it comes to former childhood friend, Locket, she often made her life hard, especially when Locket failed at the track that Erica excelled in, aka Abomination, but after a few run ins with the humans, she ends up changing for the better slowly while befriending Locket again and even finding herself slowly falling for the human, Lia. 

*Eluf and Erico Sharp- the eldest of the Sharp children, Eluf and Erico are known for their mischief a lot of the time and their skills in the Beast Keeping Coven, but when it comes to their sister, they vary in getting along or turning nasty if she tells on them.

*Indra Storm- a student in Hexside, Indra is known to use her families status to get away with anything she wants, which includes tormenting others, with her main target being Locket a lot, but she still excells at the Bard Track while being the schools sports star.

*Thorn Warhammer- a student in Hexside, Thorn often tags with anyone really, but mainly tags with Indra and Erica, often joining in on the torment of students like Locket, but mainly focuses on excelling at his chosen track off Healing.

*Asmund and Ms. Sharp- the parents of Erica, Eluf and Erico, they are known to expect only the best from their children and as a result, can come off as rather harsh to their children, especially Erica. Being in the oracle and abomination covens respectfully, they own and run Sharp Industries.

*Empress Torunn ‘Tori’- once a kind ruler, something went wrong with Tori one day and she suddenly turned on people, becoming corrupted and almost nothing like herself and in the name of some being called Surtur, she made the coven system, with any witch being punished if they didn’t join, but she still seeks to extend her power to the human realm by any means.

*Deesei- the empress’ right hand woman, Deesei is loyal to her coven and willing to do anything for it, but is rumored sometimes to be the reason why Tori suddenly changed all those years ago, and has a great dislike for the Golden Guard when Tori gives her more jobs then Deesei.

*The Golden Guard/Frigga II- named after a late queen, Frigga has no clue what happened to the rest of her family but is loyal to the remaining member, aka her sister, Tori, and she is a child prodigy due to all her training and is loyal fully to the coven, and only starts to get doubts due to her run ins with the humans.

[sir-phineas-lost]

Continued

I’m moving my discussion with @theredhairedmonkey​ so as to not bother other people with constant notes.

Well, you’re the one who wants this exchange so badly. And look at the result, the number of notes you got for this post is in the high-80s now! Is that a new record for you? 

Is that supposed to be an attempt at sass? Dude, it wasn’t even my post. All the notes went to the original OP.

And I don’t “want” this discussion. I just refuse to let cowards who won’t debate in good faith win just because they think they can force the burden of proof onto everyone else.

Anyway, your criticism seems to boil down to “they could have made it better” and “they should have made it more obvious.” That’s just moving the goalpost. The way they did Ezran’s scene (which was remorse, not sadness, of the fact that he enabled Viren to make others do horrible things) was sufficient to get the point across. If you’re really going to argue that you’re too dense to pick up on that, fine. But that’s not really all too convincing of an argument. 

Again, you really don’t seem to understand what “moving the goalpost” means. And remorse doesn’t look like that. We have seen what faces other people in this series makes when they are remorseful.

And it looks nothing like Ezran’s face during Soren’s speech, and it is always accompanied by vocal admission of guilt. That really is what it boils down to. I don’t buy that this was just supposed to be “subtle” because this series has never been subtle about these things before. You making a huge leap from “Ezran looks sad” to “Ezran regrets his choices as king” doesn’t make you smart unless you can actually prove that this interpretation is consistant with the storytelling until this point.

The whole point of storytelling isn’t lights and design, but character arcs. Do Viren’s motivations become corrupted over time? Yes. Does this make him a villain? Absolutely. And that’s not a comment on his moral complexity, any more than Runaan’s status as a villain suggests he’s pure evil. Anti-villains have a place in this story too, to contrast with the motivations of the heroes. 

And in a visual medium, those arcs are communicated through lights and design. And again, you keep harping on Viren’s “corruption” even though I have repeatedly made a case for why that isn’t the point of his arc without ever addressing any of my arguments. Why does Soren make the point about “who his dad really is” if it is supposed to be about him being “corrupted”? If you are so ignorant about the language of visual storytelling that you think this...

...or this...

...is communicating that the person in the middle is an “morally complex” and not pure evil, then that is your problem. Like, the second picture doesn’t even require interpreting the visuals. He is just straight up admitting that he has no problem with throwing his best friend’s kid in jail. You would think that would be hard for him if he is supposed to be morally complex.

And here we see Viren’s motivations are complex too. He still wants to create a bright future for humankind, eschewing conquest until he’s convinced it’s necessary. He willingly risks his life at Lux Auera to reduce potential casualties on his side. And even though his status as the main villain is over, his arc will still continue. 

Yeah, except we have no reason to believe he really didn’t want to conquer Xadia from the beginning. He was raising an army long before he met Aaravos and Aaravos didn’t have to make any kind of argument for why conquest was “necessary”. He literally just went:

...and Viren relented. Again, no analysis of the “lights and design” necessary here. This is clearly portrayed as a man who wants power and conquest looking for any excuse he can find. And I remind you, this is explicitly confirmed by Soren to be Viren’s true character, not a corruption.

I have no doubt that Viren’s arc will continue. And it will continue to make him the only one responsible for everything that goes wrong in the world. Mark my words. When King Ahling is upset because Aanya murdered his son the solution will no doubt be to prove that Viren “killed him” first by turning him into a monster.

...yea, making Ezran’s arc simplistic and having enough time to flesh everything out are *totally* incompatible concerns! Seriously, all your edit of the exchange between Callum and Ezran demonstrates is that you’re angry the story shows rather than tells. That line you made up is campy, anvillicious, and unnecessary, because Ezran’s actions explain everything that line does. Maybe *you* didn’t pick up on that, but that’s a different problem. 

I wouldn’t say that they are incompatible, just that “simplicity” only seems to be concern for you in this specific case because you sure don’t seem to have a problem with Callum telling rather than showing his feelings.

And I really don’t see how the exchange I made up is in any way more campy than Soren’s monologue or Ezran’s pitch for peace to Kasef. Like I said, I just don’t buy that this show suddenly thought they could be “subtle” with Ezran making a complete heel-turn when they have always worn their intentions on their sleeve previously.

And no, this change needed more connective tissue to make Ezran’s choice of “no fighting” to his choice of “burn them all” to make any sense and not just come off as him always putting cute magical creatures over his own people, which is something of a pattern with him I might remind you.

This is part of what makes it difficult for me to see his “actions” as an indicator of anything but a preference for dragons.

Really? Corvus says Ezran is noble and wise? I seem to have missed that part. He doesn’t tell him he did the right thing, only that at the end of it, he’s shown great strength and courage. Ezran didn’t have to have made the right decision to be those things, and this was certainly the encouragement he needed to hear. If you paid attention to the rest of his arc as much as you do to this one line, maybe you would have picked up on that. 

Fair is fair, I kind of extrapolated the “wise” part but “noble” and “graceful” are synonyms (and isn’t it interesting that you did apparently miss that part?).

Ezran’s arc of not running from his problems came to a head at the end of last season when he went back to be king. This could have worked as a continuation of it if they hadn’t insisted on praising his every decision so darn much. Whatever you may think of Corvus little pep-talk it sure as fuck doesn’t express any indicatiion that Ezran just wanted to avoid the problem. And I think what Ezran (and his “arc) needed was something more along the lines of “you may not have thought everything through but you still have all the qualities of a great king”. You know, something to actually encourage him to work on these flaws.

When I look at Ezran’s entire arc, I see a kid who repeatedly claims to have empathy for everyone but abandons it when it is convenient for the people he cares about the most. It will always be “right” to help the dragon who burned his people alive before even checking to see who made it out of the blaze. It will always be “necessary” to fight a bloody battle and kill soldiers who have famillies at home when it is to defend his little dragon friend. And the story will helpfully make that even easier for him by dehumanizing the soldiers for him first. That is the pattern I see when I look at Ezran’s actions as a whole.

By long term consequences to Ezran’s actions, you mean “how people acted and reacted to his choices,” which...doesn’t change whether his choice was a good or bad one. Viren’s defeat was not a reasonably foreseeable outcome of Ezran’s abdication. I should not need to tell you.

Have you been listening to anything I have said? This is exactly why I have a problem with this whole thing and why I keep coming back to framing. Ezran couldn’t predict that this would save everyone so he shouldn’t have made that choice, but this is a story and by having the soldiers he saved come back to save the day again the narrative is telling us that this is something Ezran is responsible for and giving him credit for the victory. Combine that with the constant praise and the lack of any criticism and you have a story that says “Ezran always makes the right choice, even when all logic tells us that it shouldn’t work”.

How people act and react to his choices absolutely changes whether the choice was good or bad, because it is a story. This is how storytelling works. The way the characters react and the consequences of what happens is what tells us, the audience, how we are supposed to feel about it.

This dissonance between what we as real people can tell is bad leadership and what the story rewards as good behavior is literally the core issue I have been talking about since the beginning.

[illustrator-dani]

The Legionnaires Cub

On ao3 soon!!! But on tumblr now :)

"Is Elliot feeling alright, Primus Runaan? Callum and I have noticed that he hasn't been reporting to training lessons this week." Legionnaire Rayla Stormpaw said after saluting her uncle and former primus, Runaan Moonshadow. Her mate and fellow member of the Storm Warband, Callum Stormclaw salutes as well beside her. "He hasn't even responded to our letters we've sent him in weeks either."

Runaan nods in understanding. He bows his head after he takes a long sigh. That only worried the two parents more. "Elliot has been vanishing to the fields north of here. Close to the midnight desert. We have sent a scout to observe but they haven't returned yet. Elliot has been growing distant from his warband and to me, his primus, as well."

Rayla looks over at Callum and the two nod in unison. Whatever happened to their cub, rather for the good or the bad, they need to find out what.

For Callum, he knew checking in with Runaan was the best call and would do anything for his mate.

But for Rayla, this was a punch to the gut. If she hadn't left Elliot as an infant for Runaan to take care of- if she hadn't gone on that mission that took her away from the life she made. This would've been avoided or at least prevented from getting out of claw like this.

"We'll find him and the scout, Primus. We'll leave as soon as we can." Rayla salutes her uncle and goes to leave but a claw on her shoulder stops her.

"Just be careful, Rayla. There are dangers rising every day around the midnight desert. Dangers that you and Callum won't be able to face alone." warns her uncle as he steps away from them and heads up towards his office.

Callum doesn't speak about the warning until after they are safely back in the barracks and packing up for their adventure.

"Are we bringing the rest of the warband with us? You heard what Runaan said about the dangers-" he shuts his mouth abruptly when his mate turns to glare at him.

"I know about the dangers. We faced them head on before, just the two of us, and we never failed our mission. But this mission, Callum, is personal. It involves our cub." she says, sighing as she sits on his bed and rubbing her eyes with her paws. "It also involves a scout. I can see why you mentioned the warband, but it's still personal."

Callum goes to sit next to her and puts an arm around her while giving her a little smile. "I understand, love. Claudia, Soren, and Nyx have seen you with Elliot before. They're worried about him too and they're worried for you as well. Hell, I am more worried for the two of you than anyone else combined." He says, putting his head on top of hers while listening to her hum in agreement. He continues softly, gently, "I know you don't like mixing our warband into our personal lives, but they're our family too. They will understand and Soren will keep his mouth shut. Otherwise, I'll grant Nyx and Claudia permission to beat him up if he hits a nerve."

That made Rayla snort and she squeezes his paw that rests on her shoulder. The guardian had a way with words. She wouldn't lie but she found him using his charm on her super attractive. She knows that she's being stubborn. This mission is personal but she knows her bandmates won't object to rescue a cub they all helped raise.

Storm Warband is and forever will be a family.

Even the future generations will be storm warband bound.

Forever.

Rayla tilts her head up towards Callum's and he rests his head against hers. They haven't had time to just be with each other. Alone. Intimate. The only other time was… when they had Eliot. That was years ago. It felt like forever since they were allowed to be in the same barracks. Sometimes in the same bed when the other had nightmares or couldn't sleep.

I really need to ask for time off so Callum and I can visit Ezran in Katolis. Maybe visit my parents stationed at the Storm Spire. Thought Rayla as she pulls away from a flustered Callum who wasn't expecting a kiss at all. They haven't kissed in a while or even hugged. It was almost like the world was keeping them separated until now.

"What are you thinking?" He asks, looking at her with those emeralds that trapped her even as a cub. He still feels warm when she puts her paws on his cheek which he leans into subconsciously. As if his body missed her more than he did.

"About how we're going to explain to the others that we're horrible parents? C'mon, soldier, let's go reunite with the Storm Warband." she says, leaving him on the bed and packing the rest of their supplies in her bag. She stops when she feels a pair of paws wrap around her waist.

"We're not horrible parents, love. Our cub just has a mind of his own right now. He's a teenager. It's what they do."

"Yeah, I know. I just miss the little cub he used to be."

"We all do. Let's go make sure we find our cub and make amends with him then." Callum says kissing his mate's ear and letting her go to get into his armor as well. Once he was in full armor, the staff he held was brighter and had made Rayla's fur glow like a halo. He finds himself slowly falling in love with her once again.

"Why are you giving me that look?" Ever the observant one in the warband and the guardian shrugs. "Let's move out."

"Yes, sir." Callum follows the thief out of their barracks and couldn't help but smirk at the back of her head. He sees the blush on her ears. He gets her every time.

And it never gets old.

[raayllum]

also i Know i’ve talked about it before but it bears repeating, apparently: 

in TTM, callum and rayla have completely different priorities when it comes to the moon nexus. callum wants to move on; rayla feels like that will mean forgetting. they struggle with her feeling stuck and callum’s own unresolved grief. callum’s is focused on having rayla go through the portal to get closure about her family

rayla is focused on going through the portal to find out about viren, and callum is the one who brings up runaan and her parents at the end. that’s why he goes to lujanne in the first place!

C: It’s just... Rayla is in a lot of pain. And nothing I say seems to help! She’s stuck worrying about her parents. About what happened to Runaan. She can’t move on, not without knowing the truth of what happened.

but rayla, when they decide to go into the portal, is thinking first and foremost about viren

R: Callum, listen. Soren was worried about Viren too. Worried that we never found a body. We need to know what happened to Viren. He’s a threat to the whole world! This might be the only way to be sure he’s actually gone! [... upon entering the Portal...] Okay. Viren. My parents. Runaan.

this is the most basic crux of all of their issues in TTM. rayla believes, at first out of ptsd-induced hyper-vigilance, largely, and later because of what she saw in the nexus, that viren is still alive in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. (paranoid being a trait she shares with viren, ironically enough). and callum doesn’t.

there are other instances callum risks his life that rayla never chides him for. risking his life for ezran, general risk taking over the course of their adventure (i.e. offering to take sol regem’s deal at expense of himself), going out into the storm. yes, she’s worried he’s risking himself, but it’s for causes he believes in, and that’s key. rayla values that callum does the right thing (“and did what he knew was right”) just as much as he values it in her, if not more: “who told you that?” “you did.” when it’s for the mission, that’s something rayla - a very ideal, moral driven person, who bleeds and dies for causes first and foremost - can respect. when callum is risking his life just for a person (or more accurately, for her, but also sometimes for ezran) that’s when she falters, because that’s not a cause. that’s an exchange (and so is dark magic, but that’s a meta for another day) and elves don’t work that way, ideologically speaking

in 2x01, callum says that “This mission, taking the the Dragon Prince back to Xadia, it’s the most important thing we’ll ever do.” and rayla knows that callum still values that mission, and his pursuit of magic is largely him looking for a way he feels that he can contribute. and thus, rayla has a lot less trouble seeing callum risk himself for the mission for the mission they both believe in than she does for when callum risks his life for her (doing dark magic to save her life, for example) because she values those two things very differently. it’s very similar to why callum doesn’t want rayla risking herself, but he’s mostly upset he can’t find a way to help her in 2x07, versus actually fighting with rayla over her decision to protect another dragon in 3x08, because he knows when she’s doing things because she Believes in them, and when she’s doing it out of emotional distress and guilt/shame

because callum is insisting that he comes with rayla on her mission to hunt down viren, he isn’t insisting upon it for the mission. even when he’s trusting her, he says IF viren is on this side. I F

if callum was fully committed to the mission, there is no doubt in my mind that rayla would have let him come, or at least been far more easily worn down. but he isn’t, because callum himself states what the most important thing is to him, and it’s not viren - it’s not her mission

it’s her

C: You’re not doing this without me. I let you jump into the Nexus alone and I knew right away I made the biggest mistake in my life. I could have lost you. We do this together. Don’t try changing my mind [...] We’ll leave first thing tomorrow! Together. That’s the most important thing. Together.

and rayla can’t accept that she could possibly be as important to him as a Mission, because that would mean valuing herself the way callum does - above the mission, above himself, in so many ways - and both of those things are incomprehensible to her

at least for now

[fire-emblem-heroes-supports]

Reyson/Seteth C-A Support

Written by @sharyrazade

A/n: Possible content warning for Reyson’s backstory, but at this point in time, it’s probably not necessary.

C SUPPORT

[Seteth is taking a walk along one of the paths in the castle when he notices a man’s voice vocalizing- save for being a man’s voice, he’s sure he’s heard this exact melody before]

Seteth: [surprised] That’s not possible- can it be-?

[Seteth turns a corner to see that it is in fact, a man’s voice]

Seteth: Excuse me. Might I trouble you with a question, young man?

Reyson: [finally notices Seteth’s presence] Oh, my apologies! I did not notice you there! One might say my people are rather…musically inclined and just as inclined to lose ourselves in song. What did you need, sir?

Seteth: Your vocalizing- I am certain that I have heard that precise melody before, but cannot put a name to it.

Reyson: That is not surprising. You…are not from Tellius, are you?

Seteth: That is correct. And it therefore irks me a great deal that I cannot place the melody- I have heard my…sister vocalize that very one many times before.

Reyson: [expression perks up] I suppose it is not uncommon to have a sister skilled at singing, but to have one from another world be such- with galdrar, no less? Will wonders never cease? Might I ask your name, sir?

Seteth: You may call me Seteth.

Reyson: I am Reyson, third prince of Serenes. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Seteth: I should say the same, Reyson.

[Reyson and Seteth have reached support rank C.]

B SUPPORT

[Amid a noticeable commotion in the distance of Anna and the Summoner yelling at several none-too-happy heroes, Reyson storms away from the great hall out into the gardens in a rage, wings singed and sporting a number of bruises.]

Seteth: [shocked] My goodness! Are you alright, Reyson?! What happened?!

Reyson: [seething] Truthfully, I’m not certain myself. One moment there was calm, the next Elincia had tackled this other beorc woman and began pummeling her before Lethe joined in. Soren, Mordecai and some of the others pulled them apart, but needless to say, they had…some more words.

Seteth: Oh, dear.

[Reyson looks down in anger and shame]

Reyson: Then, the other beorc woman began to taunt Elincia about her father and the “subhumans” and I…I must have just taken leave of my senses- I started raining blows on the white-haired beorc woman from behind. The next thing I remember, I was on the floor being choked and beaten by this gaunt, waxy, corpse-like man before Tibarn clawed him in the face to free me.

Seteth: [surprised] That’s what that horrible commotion was about? I suppose I should have expected something was amiss when Anna seemed genuinely angry and unwilling to speak casually.

Reyson: Yes. It was not one of my…prouder moments, to say the least. My brother certainly gave me an earful about how my conduct was “unbecoming,” but he was not there- he did not have to listen to that vile beorc woman with the white hair goading Elincia about us “subhumans.”

Seteth: [shuts his eyes in contemplation] I see. Even so, that is a dreadful thing to call someone. It is little surprise that one would react badly to being called such.

Reyson: [knuckles clenching] Even so, knowing how arrogant that these humans can be knowing- forgive me, I have said too much.

[Reyson abruptly leaves]

Seteth: What in the world was that about?

[Still cooling off, Reyson storms into the gardens and runs into Leanne as he turns into a hedge maze.]

Reyson: [surprised] Oh, Leanne! Fancy seeing you here.

Leanne: [concerned expression] (Of course I’m here, Brother!  Naesala went off to see what that horrible disturbance in the dining hall was and still hasn’t returned. I was worried about you!)

Reyson: Really, it was nothing to be concerned about. A beorc acquaintance of mine prevented me from getting into any more trouble.

Leanne: [confused] (The man in green? With green hair?)

Reyson: Yes, him.

Leanne: (Brother, has living with Tibarn and the hawks for so long dulled your senses too? That man isn’t a beorc!)

Reyson: [even more surprised] Truly?!

Leanne: (Yes. Rafiel says the gentleman reminds him of Kurthnaga more than anyone else.)

Reyson: You managed to pull him away from Queen Naliah’s bed long enough to get that out of him? Hmm, that could explain why he kept calling me “young man,” after all…

[Reyson and Seteth have reached support rank B.]

A SUPPORT

[Just outside of the library, Seteth is conversing with Tibarn, looking both concerned and rather contrite.]

Seteth: [nods] I see. This was an enlightening- and sobering- conversation.

Tibarn: You’ve probably already noticed, but Reyson’s disposition…isn’t exactly common among Herons.

Seteth: [closes his eyes briefly] I cannot honestly fault him for it, truth be told.

Tibarn: Well, I’ll not pry, as it’s none of my business. Just take care when discussing these matters with Reyson. He’s rather- er- animated, as you know. Perhaps too much so for his own good.

Seteth: Understood.

[Seteth emerges into the garden and wanders a bit before running into Reyson, somewhat more composed than their last conversation.]

Reyson: [Still somewhat subdued] Ah, Seteth. I apologize for how abruptly our conversation ended. It was rather rude of me. And of course, how I came to insult what I assumed to be your people.

Seteth: [crosses his arms] I assure you, there’s no need for you to concern yourself with offense on my behalf- or on behalf of “my” people, I assure you.

Reyson: [inhales] I suppose I owe you an explanation for my rudeness, after all.

Seteth: If you feel it necessary, I’ll not stop you.

Reyson: As you may have gathered, my country, Serenes, is not…in the best of ways. I won’t bore you with the minutiae of how exactly it happened, but the people of Bengion somehow got it into their heads that my people were responsible for the assassination of the previous apostle, Misaha.

Seteth: [nods] And this was false, as your people do not fight.

Reyson: [slightly surprised at him having this knowledge] Precisely. Outraged, the people of descended upon Serenes with their torches and pitchforks and- all of them. Not just the men, but the women and the children too! After three days, my father, my sisters, my brother and myself…we were the only survivors.

Seteth: [visibly taken aback by the detail into which he goes] Goddess, that is ghastly!

Reyson: Tibarn and the hawks took father and I in afterwards, but my brother had been missing for sometime and we had assumed my sisters had both perished- been murdered with the rest of our clan.

Seteth: I…apologize, Reyson. That must have been torturous for you.

Reyson: Oh, it was, I assure you. In Phoenicis, I did not merely envy the hawks for their vitality and strength, but…I hated myself. For being so powerless to do anything to protect my people when they most needed me most. I have no intention of justifying it, but to explain my behavior; that beorc woman with the arrogant voice and hateful eyes must have just sent me back to that first night.

Seteth: [shuts eyes in contemplation] I see. Do you hate them, these beorc?

Reyson: There was a time when I would have answered “yes,” with no hesitation whatsoever. However-

Seteth: However?

Reyson: In the course of my journeys, I met many wonderful beorc. Misaha’s successor literally knelt before my sister and I to beg forgiveness and another exposed and personally ended the life of the man- one of Bengion’s senators- responsible for my clan’s slaughter, even after I spurned his earlier attempts to aid me. But even still…there will always be a part of me that hates them, yes. If you think less of me for it, I’ll not blame you.

Seteth: [rubs his chin] Why would I think less of you? I should think that is only natural that you would have some ill-feeling towards them.

Reyson: You have my thanks for your understanding, my friend. But I will battle these feelings of hatred for them for the rest of my very long life. A fact that sits poorly with me for one reason; a promise I made to someone very important to me.

Seteth: A promise? What sort of promise?

Reyson: To my sister, Leanne. Now we treasure her, but it cannot be denied that she is a little…childish and somewhat naive. When we reunited, she told me that she could not bear to see me with this sort of hatred inside of me and that I should accept the Apostle’s apology. I…did not handle that especially well either, but I did give her my solemn word that I would at least make an effort.

Seteth: [closes his eyes as he reminisces] I understand that very well also, Reyson. Yes, we are quite alike, indeed. But may I offer one bit of advice?

Reyson: Hm? Of course.

Seteth: I assure you, I also struggled and do struggle greatly with the dictates of my instinct towards survival and the protection of those closest to me versus my conscious intellect and moral code. However, for ages- ever since my wife’s passing- I wrestled with these dilemmas nearly in solitude. I…have very few people in whom I can truly confide. That is one way in which we differ, Reyson.

Reyson: What way would that be?

Seteth: From what you have told me, you have, both here and in your own world, a great many friends who would move heaven and earth for you. Be they from your race or not.

Reyson: That is true, I suppose.

Seteth: Indeed. You are a fine young man with loyal, devoted friends, Reyson. Do not hesitate to share your burdens with them when they weigh too heavily on your shoulders. Know that I will, as long as I am here, be one of those in whom you can confide as well.

Reyson: ...I will do that. Thank you, my friend.

[Reyson and Seteth have reached support rank A.]

[theredhairedmonkey]

Callum—A Hero’s Journey

Some of you may be familiar with the concept of the “monomyth,” also called the Hero’s Journey. In comparative literature and mythology, the Hero’s Journey is a common template for a wide variety of tales that involve a hero who goes on a decisive quest, triumphs over their foe, and finally returns home changed or transformed. The concept of the Hero’s Journey was popularized by Joseph Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces, so much of what I will quote below comes from this work.

The Hero’s Journey is seen everywhere in pop culture—the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, ATLA…and also in the Dragon Prince.

But often in these stories, only a privileged few become heroes. Often they are born to a royal bloodline (like Ezran), have innate special powers (like Rayla), or become a knight in shining armor (like Soren). Their journeys are imbued with cosmic purpose; they follow a hero’s journey because they were destined to.

Very rarely are these stories about someone like Callum, an ordinary person with few talents, who has no bloodline, no destiny to speak of, and no assigned place in the grand scheme of things. Yet his storyline, up through the end of Season 3, has followed the “monomyth” precisely. This could mean that Callum is actually the true hero of our story.

Let’s break down the steps of the Hero’s Journey and apply them to Callum’s arc:

The Ordinary World

Every hero's story begins in the ordinary world. Without this introduction to the hero's life before the adventure begins, there would be no character arc that shows how the hero has changed by the end. During this stage, we find our hero in a state of rest, home in their safe place. They are oblivious to any adventures to come. In this stage, we learn details about our hero, their outlook on life, their true nature and capabilities. We see our hero as human, relatable to ourselves. Identifying with our hero in this stage allows us to empathize with them later.

After a short prologue, the Dragon Prince opens with Callum, the step-child of King Harrow. We are introduced to Callum as a sheltered and bookish prince. He’s fairly awkward, and apart from art, he is shown to be terrible at most other tasks he tries. Nonetheless, he lives a normal life before the Moonshadow assassins arrived. We learn of his love of sketching. We learn that he is, for the most part, good-hearted. We learn that he is just a child, like we all once were.

The Call to Adventure

As Campbell writes, the hero is called to venture “forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder.” Here, this “call” comes as Rayla chases him across the castle, followed by Ezran showing his discovery—the egg of the Dragon Prince.

The revelation that the egg survived is the call to adventure.

Rayla: This changes everything…I can’t believe it. If the egg lives…

Callum: Maybe it could stop the war.

The egg must be brought back to Xadia, a region of supernatural wonder. Callum is being called to this world, reminiscent of what Campbell describes as “…a fateful region of both treasure and danger.” 

Crossing the First Threshold

This is the point at which the hero decides to embark on the adventure and cross over into the unknown, leaving their ordinary world behind. And in spite of having the option to go back for his father with Rayla, Callum decides saving the Dragon Prince is what matters most:

Callum: “It’s up to us now. We have to return this egg. We have to keep it safe and carry it to Xadia.”

However, here the “crossing of the threshold” takes place very gradually; Team Zym spends most of the first two seasons in the Human Kingdoms, and it’s only in 2x09 that Callum and Rayla finally make it to Xadia. But from the moment that Callum leaves Katolis Castle, he has left his ordinary world behind and entered into the adventure beyond.

Supernatural Aid/Meeting the Mentor

Once the hero has committed to the quest, help arrives either in the form of an artifact…

…or help arrives in the form of a person who may present the hero with gifts or important advice. This person has been to the unknown and understands what the hero is up against.

The Road of Trials

The Road of Trials is a series of tests the hero must face to begin the transformation. Here, Callum is tested when:

He must choose whether to sacrifice his newfound power (and sense of self-worth) so that Zym could be born.

He must decide whether to reject the temptation of Dark Magic, and that his life is bound to any destiny.

He must choose whether to take Ibis’ advice to leave the Storm Spire.

And he must choose whether to take the leap and try to save Rayla’s life, knowing he himself could very well die too.

In addition, there are several smaller tests as well, including, among others: Whether Callum should tell Amaya the truth about Rayla; whether he should trust Rayla with the egg; executing a plan for the journey up the Cursed Caldera; the hardship of learning his stepfather had died and deciding whether to continue the mission; journeying through Xadia, the Midnight Desert, and up the Storm Spire; and using his magic and emotional openess to help Rayla find closure with her parents.

But in the process, the hero will fail many of these tests.

Refusal of the Call

Even though it’s more common in modern stories for the hero to jump at the chance for adventure, traditionally they refuse to continue, or even begin, the quest. The hero has fears that need overcoming, second thoughts, or perhaps deep personal doubts as to whether or not they are up to the challenge. When first called a mage by Rayla, Callum’s first reaction is doubt and skepticism (“Who, me? No, I’m...I’m not really anything”).

Later, Callum has a moment when, due to his feeling inadequate, he flatly rejects his place in the story. Fear and self-doubt prevent him from continuing his journey.

The Woman as Temptress

This is the stage in which the hero faces temptation that will distract them from the ultimate quest. The temptation doesn't have to come in the form of a woman. It can be anything material that distracts the hero from what they have set out to accomplish. And here, Callum faces the same temptation that every human mage has had to face:

Atonement with the Hero’s Father

As with the metaphor of being tempted by a woman, this step also represents a metaphor of facing the one who holds power over the hero. In some stories, this could be a literal father (such as with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader), but in many cases, the person who holds the most power over the hero…is the hero himself. 

The hero confronts that which holds power over them and defeats it. Here, Callum confronts his darker self and takes aim at the idea that his “destiny is already written.”

The Belly of the Whale

At this point on the Hero's Journey, the hero, “instead of conquering or conciliating the power of the threshold, is swallowed into the unknown and would appear to have died.” 

After resolving to be the author of his own destiny, Callum continues his fever dream, voyaging into his “own heart and mind” on a ship where he is the sail. Eventually, instead of being able to brace the storm in his own subconscious, his ship is smashed to pieces and Callum sinks below the waves and begins to drown.

Meeting with the Goddess

This stage doesn't have to have a goddess, per se, but rather a significant power that gives unconditional love and strength to the hero. Here, on the verge of suffocating, there’s one person that Callum turns to for love and strength.

The meeting with the goddess “is the final test of the talent of the hero to win the boon of love, which is life itself enjoyed as the encasement of eternity.” And it is here, in the presence of his mother, that Callum finally learns the secret of the Sky Primal.

Callum: I just have to breathe?

Sarai: To know something truly and deeply, you must know it with your head, hand, and heart. Mind, body, and spirit.

Apotheosis

This is the point of realization in which a greater understanding is achieved. Armed with this new knowledge and perception, the hero is resolved and ready for the more difficult part of the adventure.

And it is at this point that Callum, awakened and enlightened, becomes the first human in countless lifetimes to make a connection to a Primal Source.

The Ultimate Boon

This is the final  stage of the Hero's Journey in which the hero achieves their goal. Here, Callum finally masters Sky Magic, represented by the one ability which we most associate with dominion over the sky:

Flight

Everything that happened prior to this was to test and purify the hero to get him to this place. And just as Callum completes his transformation into a powerful mage, the Dragon Prince is finally returned to his mother, greeted by a group of humans and elves, in a gesture that signals the end of the millennia-long conflict.

[berri-hopefulspouse]

"Soren, would you like to go first?" Ren never really expected themselves to be before an officiant- let alone for this reason...But, for some reason, they weren't afraid. Not exactly, not in the way they thought they would be. Nodding, they look back to Makoto- after keeping in yet another internal little squeak- and give a soft sigh and a little smile...They were ready for this.

"When we first met...and I mean, truly, deeply first met... I felt almost drawn to you. You said it yourself; we had always had some kind of connection, one that goes beyond time, space...probably even ourselves as we are currently. I always felt drawn to you then, to be close to you- but I could never exactly pinpoint what it was...yet, here we are now. Years later, and we're both still here. Both still...okay. I'll be the first one to say it- shit isn't perfect-" That gets a bit of a chuckle from themselves, "-But we're here...and we're alive. And we have the groundwork for a new beginning."

With a little shaky, nervous sigh, they bite their lower lip and manage to maintain eye contact with Makoto, "...I know I can't always be there when you need me- and I know I can't promise things will be perfect. But I can promise- can vow to you- that I'll be doing my best, each and everyday. Doing my best to improve, to get better, to learn new things, and to love you. Each, and everyday. Always, and forever. You mean the world to me, and to whatever secrets that we may share in the future..." Theres a smirk, and already Makoto knows what's coming, "I'll never tell a single soul. That's a promise, and my vow to you...I'll always, always cherish you."

Despite their light joke, there were tears in their eyes, barely held together through their strict will alone. Makoto wasn't much better- in fact he had to let go of their hand once or twice to wipe at his own eyes, before letting out a soft laugh of surprise himself. Still, after looking to the officiant himself- and getting a small nod- he proceeded to speak himself.

"Ren, first of all, how dare you make me cry like that-" That got a laugh out of the two of them, as well as the small gathering of people who had decided to attend that day, "-Still, still...There's so many things I could say...So many things I want to say- and it wouldn't truly be enough. You're so many things- you've done so much for me and for those around you...and yet, you never stop pursuing to help everyone around you. Everyone except yourself." Despite himself, he rests a hand gently on their cheek to reassure them, to calm them down a bit.

"I thought I knew who I was- someone who didn't quite stick out in the crowd, who was just...well, average at everything I did. And I thought I was okay with that... But uh..." He chuckled nervously, "Turns out that's just self esteem issues, I suppose. You never stopped believing in me- back then and all the way up until now. No matter what we faced, you had full faith in me that it'd be alright. I've always had a more optimistic attitude...and you always struggled to maintain one, but you still were always there for me. You say you weren't- but I assure you, even if you couldn't physically help in some way...I knew you were there for me, in spirit."

He shakes his head a bit, "I guess this is a roundabout way of saying...I'm proud of you. You've taught me so much, and grown so much more than from when we first met. You stand tall- well, really short in your case-" A little joke that earned him a gentle subtle kick with their shoe- causing him to laugh, "-You stand tall in the face of everything you've been through. Each day you keep moving forward, despite what lingers over you...And for that reason alone, I'm so proud of you. You always tell me that I saved you, that I've done so much for you...and while I can't always believe that's true, I can promise you that I'll be there whenever I can. You deserve to have someone who can protect you, and well- if it's me...I guess I really can't argue with that. I love you, Soren...with everything I am. You're my hope, and my proof that my Ultimate Luck truly isn't just a throwaway Ultimate...It's proof that I really am lucky to have you in my life. I swear, I'll never leave you- if you'll allow me to stay in your life...and that I'll always do my best to protect you, and cherish what we have. Always. My love for you is no secret."

He was trying to keep his voice from shaking, truly he was- but while his tone held certainty, his nervousness was equally as palpable in his tone. It was also not much of a secret that, simply put- he had completely did that on the fly, rather than plan it out. All the same, it looked like his words got through to them- the tears they were trying to keep back having started to fall from their cheeks. Leaning into the palm of his hand that still rested on their cheek, they nuzzled into it for comfort before pulling back to let his hand free- a smile on their face the whole while. At least he knew he didn't royally screw that up.

Still, thereafter came the rings- the one thing Makoto knew for certain. Ren may have been the one to do most of the planning- Mostly in part due to Makoto knowing full and well they were better at all of this than he could ever really hope to be- but he was the one who picked what the wedding bands would be. He didn't let Ren see what they were, wanting to get their reaction above anything else. He did his own first, slipping the ring carefully onto their ring finger- trying to quell the slightly anxious tremble of his own hands. He couldn't help being nervous.

The ring itself was simple in nature, but it's meanings would show themselves to those two alone. Theirs particularly had an outer layer of silver- steel, particularly- with moonstone in the middle. Carved into it, were a few small things. A moon and some stars, a reminder of the promise ring they got the both of them and a light comparison to his own band. A small little heart, that had a little ruby heart gemstone in the middle, as it was their birthstone. Lastly, on the underside of the ring, was engraved a few simple words; 'You are my luck, and my hope.'

His was similar of course, rather instead a shade of gold rather than silver with sun and cloud engravings on his own, and an sapphire heart rather than a ruby one. On the underside of his, was something that he heard them say to him once or twice- something that stuck with him, something he observed as they, in turn, slipped the band onto his ring finger.

'You're the reason I believe in my empathy.'

He watched Ren's reaction, though, as their expression shifted from the soft counterance they had previously to curiosity. Then, to thought- likely tuning out the officiant in favor of observing the ring- and finally acknowledgement, gaze snapping back up to meet Makoto's as the tears that had started to slow down only picked right back up. He could faintly notice them mouth something along the lines of 'You fucking dork,' as the officiant had continued to speak, their facade of pride crumbling down with their tears.

The two had been so busy reveling in their own little world for a few moments, that neither had even noticed that the officiant had been asking a question. Makoto, naturally, snapped out of it first in time for him to recognize his name being said.

"S-sorry, what was that?" And, promptly, his question snapped Ren back out of their own stupor, blushing a bit in embarassment. Makoto wished he wasn't in the same flustered state. Thankfully it got a bit of chuckles out of everyone else, and the officiant repeated himself.

"Do you, Makoto Naegi, take Soren to be your spouse?"

"Oh!" Well, if he wasn't red before hand, he definitely was now, "I...I do." ...But he still wouldn't hesitate with his answer, not for a moment.

It got a bit of a giggle out of Ren. At least they were amused at how flustered he was- but he knew full well it was a double edged sword.

"Soren, do you take Makoto to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Despite watching their cheeks turn a bright red- called it- and noticing their breath bitch a bit, their resolve didn't falter in the slightest.

"I do, now and forever."

Makoto couldn't help but smile at that, the nervous expression he adorned softening into adoration. He could be nervous, sure, but right then and there? With that smile they had on? He could feel nothing but pure, unadulterated love. He didn't notice when the officiant was asking if anyone had any objections- he didn't notice when no one had said anything, or that everyone was staring intently at the two, all he could really notice was them.

He only snapped out of it once more when he heard the Officiant speak once more.

"Then it is my great honor to pronounce you as husband and spouse!" The officiant look to the two with a little grin, "You may now kiss, if so desired."

About halfway through that sentence however, impatient as they were- Ren had quickly grabbed Makoto to yank the brunette into their shorter embrace. Yelping a bit in surprise- it instead dissolved into a little laugh as Ren mumbled a short and cheeky, 'Hey', to Makoto- only before pressing a shy kiss to him. He didn't hesitate to reciprocate, a hand gently combing past the flower crown veil to instead thread his fingers through their hair. Only then did they relax a bit, pressing back with a bit more decor for a few moments before drawing away a bit.

"Hello to you, too, Mx. Naegi," Makoto lightly teased, despite being out of breath. Watching their face equally flush a bright red, but light up with delight, he ignored the small uproar of his friends and family- instead laughing to himself before being ambushed in another kiss from his now-spouse. Despite it all, they made it to this point...New Years Eve- now New Years day...Now, officially, married. To the two, it was clear as day...

What a great way to start a new year.