#thousands of times i watched that scene and only now i noticed the tear

[yoonnamjin25]

This tear will haunt me til my very last breath. Arthur really said "no man is worth your tears... UNLESS THAT MAN IS MERLIN" 💔😭 it really hurt him so fucking much to know that the only person he thought he could blindly trust was the one who lied to him the most I NEED TO HUG HIM ASAP PLEASE 🥺🥺

[loving-azerath]

One night Stand

With Captain Price

You were bored.

Bored to tears.

Every day was the same. You woke up at a too early of a time. Your body craving more sleep and a body beside you. You would make your coffee at home, tricking yourself into believing you were saving money doing so. When you knew that you would just buy a coffee later on in the day.

You would work, a shift that bored you to tears just as much. You fucking hated it but it was either this or being homeless and that was simply something you couldn't do.

It was a boring life. You had tried to date. You really gave it all, but with all of the fuck boys that didn't take time to get you ready. The toxic assholes who has made you cry far more times than you would ever admit. You were bored of that too.

You needed something.

It wasn't like you to go to a bar. No, and you weren't stupid. You knew better than to go by yourself. Roping in your best friend. One who had way more experience with the scene. One that you knew you could count on.

She had helped you style everything. Knowing the bar ahead of time and what outfits went with the occasion. She had this down to a science. "Okay now hair down- men like to see how long your hair is. They wanna know if they can pull it" She says, you chuckle taking the clawclip out of your hair and letting it fall around your shoulders. You didn't hate your reflection. It just wasn't what you were used to. Yet that was the point of tonight. To get out of your comfort zone.

So you continued.

She drove you guys to the bar. Since she was going to be showing you how to let lose and keeping you safe in this spot, she didn't plan on drinking. Though she never seemed to need to drink to be the life of any party. She was fun that way.

The bar was busy tonight. Men in uniforms, men in grudge looking pieces, men dressed like they belonged at a frat. Various different kinds though none seemed to catch your own attention.

Well- that was a lie. You were more attracted to the frat guys. It was part of the reason every fucking interaction with any man had been so disappointing. You knew that. You were attracted to the assholes who only wanted a place to put their dick in. So you pretended not to be interested. Letting your friend drag you to the bar and ordering you the first drink of the night. A tequila shot.

"You look tense- this will help. Don't drink too much tonight. If you do meet a guy that you wanna fuck you wanna make sure you aren't too drunk for it to be skivvy" She says, you chuckle, rolling your eyes but mentally noting her comment.

"Are any of these guys regulars?" You ask her, she looks around shaking her head.

"No- but fuck do I see someone I wanna make a regular" She says practically drooling. You follow her eyeline. Watching it land on a group. You couldn't tell who she was looking at. There were four of them. Sitting around a table with a pint of beer in front of them half empty. It was where you could tell the smell of tobacco was coming from. As one of them had a cigarette between his gloved fingers, a mask pulled up above his nose. Then another in a black beanie and black weather jacket. a cigar resting in his hand.

The other two weren't smoking, chuckling between themselves. you watch as one stands up, dark skin and short coiled hair. He backs up from the table heading to the bar. She follows him with her eyes. So he was who she wanted. He leans against the counter, putting a signal up to the bartender who seems to understand exactly what he wants.

"You're new around here" Your friend says to him, he looks at her smiling slightly before nodding.

"I am. You notice every bloke that comes into a place like this?" He asks, her eyes seem to widen.

"Fuck and your british. Fuck me up" She says, he chuckles

"Get that a lot round here." He admits "Though it's from no one who looks like you darlin"

She smiles at him, looking up at him through lashes with a look you have seen her give a thousand times. She extends her hand.

"I'm Vivian" She introduces herself, he takes it.

"You can call me Gaz" He replies back

It was like you were watching a movie you wanted to insert yourself in so badly. Not that you could. You just watched, knocking back another shot before looking around the room for anyone. Anyone who might have their eyes on you. There weren't lack of them either. Just none you wanted to waste a night with.

"I send you over here to get a drink and you find a friend" A gruff also british voice says, You look making eye contact with the man in the beanie. Your stomach flops. He's older, gruff looking, hot for no reason at all.

"Sorry Cap, I am a sucker for a pretty little thing with blue eyes" He says looking back to Vivian.

"Cap? You guys military?" You ask, you don't know why you do. You knew the answer. You just wanted him to talk to you. He nods at you, once again meeting your eye.

"Affirmative. Just here for the weekend." He answers

"Pleasure or business" You ask

"Business. Finished now" He tells you "You ladies from here? Or is it a holiday?"

"From here." You say, it seemed like such trivial conversation though the eye contact made your stomach move in ways you haven't felt from previous interacts with men before.

You don't know how it happened throughout the night. When they invited you to join them, when you were watching Vivian make heart eyes at every man at that table though her attention remained mainly on Gaz. You learned the others names. Soap, the only Scottish man at the table. His mohawk needing to be touched up a bit but he was good looking. And Ghost. The silent one who had uttered maybe five words the entire time. It wasn't until midnight when you realized how much time had flown by. Small flirtations towards Captain who you now knew as John.

Vivian and Gaz left to fuck in the bathroom at around 1 am. Soap making out with a random chick against a wall which left Ghost and Price. Ghost being the watch dog you observed. Keeping an eye on the door.

A glass was dropped, shattering and you notice both men reach for their hip. The outline of a holstered weapon grabbing your attention. It made your thighs squeeze together and you almost mentally kick yourself for it.

"Just a glass" Ghost says, John nods putting his hand back on his lap, his finger tapping against it.

"You don't seem like this is what you fancy a night out, darlin" John says, you look up at him. Shrugging.

"It's not- I needed something different. Sick of the same thing. Sick of the same...men" You say, he nods clicking his tongue

"What type of men would that be?" He asks leaning towards you slightly. You swallow hard.

"Men who just want something to stick their dick in for the night. Not that I don't like a good one night stand but fuck at least try to let me enjoy myself" You say, it could be the tequila. You wanna blame it on the tequila.

He chuckles

"What makes you think I'm not just like them?" He asks, you chew on the inside of your cheek.

"Are you?" You ask tilting your head to the side. He smirks, chuckling slightly.

"Wanna find out?" He asks

Yes. Yes you fucking did.

So that might be how it happened. How you ended up agreeing to let him take you back to your place. How you didn't end up half way through the door before his hands were on you. His lips were on you. His didn't kiss like the men you were used to. He was hungry but he knew what he was doing. His hands were rough and calloused but fuck did they feel good grabbing at you. Holding you against him. Pinning you against the closest wall. Your arms wrapping around his neck as he trails hot kisses from your lips to your jawline. To your collar bone, then teasing at the hem of your dress's bodice.

"Which way is your bedroom, sweetheart?" He whispers against your neck as he goes back up. You whimper at the feeling. Fuck did he know what he was doing. You pointed to the direction. Grabbing his hanging dog tags around his neck.

"Let me show you" You whispered

So you did, almost dragging him by the tags if he hadn't been following so close behind you. As soon as you closed the bedroom door he was on you again. Grabbing your face with his two hands and walking you back to your bed until your knees hit the edge. Falling back on it. Though he doesn't fall with you. No, this man just bends over with a practiced ease that flooded you. Pulling you by your legs further down slightly to angle you where he wanted. Lifting your skirt.

"If you need me to stop-" he kisses your thigh "If I do something wrong" He loops his fingers around the hem of your panties "Tell me and I'll stop"

He pulls them off. He didn't give you time to reply before he latched himself onto your clit. Pulling a noise from you that you didn't recognize.

"That's it pretty girl, let me hear you" He mumbles against you. He laps you up like this man hasn't eaten in days. You were gripping the sheets around you and staring down at him as he devours your cunt. Panting through pleasure you haven't had before. His grip on your thighs to hold them open was almost a bruising pressure but you didn't seem to mind this time.

"Fuck- John" You gasp your head tilting back

"Mhm- that's right love say my name. Tell me how good I'm making you feel. One of his hands leaves your thigh, teasing your entrance and even that was sending you close to the edge.

"Fuck- yes right there. John fuck-please it feels so fucking good" You say so lewdly you don't even know if it's your voice anymore. He listens, letting his finger slide in and pumping in and out of you until you are spasming around his finger. Your eyes rolling back as curses and his name fall from your lips.

You were still panting, but he doesn't waste time. Unbuckling his pants and lifting your legs onto his shoulders. Almost bending you in half, pressing your knees against your chest. He doesn't put it in yet. Just slides himself through your folds. Wetting his length. You buck your hips trying to guide him into you but he just tsks at you.

"Gotta go slow for this part darlin, don't wanna hurt you" He says, you don't get it. Not until the tip hits your entrance and you realize. This man is fucking huge.

"Oh my go-" You don't finish as it turns into a whine as he pushes through. Slowly but every inch is sending you further into the stars. He backs out a couple of times starting again and it has you panting under him.

"Good girl- just breathe. Almost there" He tells you, he finally sinks fully into you. Groaning at the feeling of your wet walls clenching around him. Accustoming to his size. The first thrust has you literally seeing stars and the gasp that comes out of you almost has him in a chokehold.

He pace is brutal, but fuck does it feel good. The air around you filled with the sounds of your bodies slapping together and how wet you are made it sound so fucking pornographic you were in awe that this was you. Making a sticky fucking mess of his cock.

"You are so god damn wet- so fucking tight. This what you needed baby? To be fucked properly?" He asks you just nod because you are so fucked dumb what are words anyway.

Every thrust left you gripping for sheets, for heaven, for him. Finding his dog tags again and yanking it down. He groans deeply moving a hand to your throat. He doesn't squeeze and for a moment you were kind of afraid. Though it subsided almost as soon as you saw the absolute pleasure written on his face. The subtle pressure on the sides of your neck makes you dizzy but in the best way.

He was slamming against you, the combination of your moans together was filling your ears and imprinting itself in your brain. The same way he was imprinting his cock into your walls.

"Fucking hell...you're taking it so fucking well for me baby" He says, you almost lose your fucking mind. It was the most back arching, sheet gripping, mind blowing sex you had ever had and you weren't sure you would recover from it.

You couldn't even tell how much time was passing. Just that every second, every minute felt like you were floating. Like you were made for nothing but this and you didn't want to be anything else.

He slows, letting your legs down and massaging your aching hips for a moment before moving you. Manhandling you to bend over the bend. Your back arched so prettily for him over your bed. He presses your face into the mattress by holding you by the neck. Re-aligning himself. Pushing in was easier this time but you felt everything so much more. He doesn't begin right away grabbing your wrist with his free hand and moving it under you. Tapping you soaking clit with his fingers.

"Come on, tight little circles for me. Be good for me. I wanna feel you cum on this fat fucking dick" He says, you listen because you wanted it to.

His thrusts were just as unforgiving in this position. Though he was hitting your spots just right from it. Forcing you to climb a lot faster than you thought you could like this. He could feel it. He growled and moaned as he could feel you slowly tightening around him. Slowly losing your breath and your moans turning into something far more feral.

"Fuck- fuck oh my fucking god John. I'm going to fucking cum please please don't fucking stop" You didn't know who was talking, you didn't recognize the words or your voice but it was you. It was the bitch in heat he was turning you into. His hand leaves your neck moving to the base of your scalp where he pulls you off the bed and against his chest. Your hand still working those tight little circles sending waves of goosebump causing pleasure. A tight arm wrapping around you to keep you in place and release some pressure from your hair. His fingers spread across your abdomen and the size of his hand was enough to fuck you up.

It sent you. Off the cliff that seemed to only be safe because of his hand wrapped around you. You shook against him, eyes rolling back so hard you thought they would live there. Practically screaming his name as your hand comes down to his hips, digging your nails into his skin.

He growls but its not in anger. He's close. Proof in his stuttering hips and more panty type groans.

Finally he cums, filling you so full that you could feel the pressure of it. Both taking a moment as he pants through his orgasm and you pant through coming down from yours. He pulls out of you and you can feel him leak down your thighs and normally it would annoy you. But this time you thought it was the hottest fucking thing.

He stays the night. Though he isn't there by the time you wake up. A notecard with his phone number on your nightstand. You smirk down at it and tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. You now found a new craving. Not only for him. But for older men. For larger men. For men that knew what they were doing. He had ruined you. Ruined you for those shitty frat boys and toxic assholes. And you were so fucking okay with that.

[bl4ckph0enix]

Daybreak

Pairing: Aemond Targaryen x wife!reader

Warnings: none

Summary: You've tried to help your husband. Yet, you are forced to watch the wrong person getting crowned...

Wordcount: 1.9k

A/N: So, maybe many of you cannot relate to this. The idea came to me while I listened to the song 'Daybreak' by Dimash Qudaibergen. But I just had to write this because as someone who has to fight with very intense emotions, I can relate to this so unbelievably well. My heart broke for both Aemond and Aegon during the crowning scene. Aemond may be the villain of House of the Dragon, but it wasn't really his choice. No one gets born this malicious, one is made this way. And even when it actually is a deliberate choice at some point, growing up in a family like the Targaryen's only means that this attitude is forced upon you without a real chance to escape it.

English isn't my first language, please forgive any mistakes!

Stiffly, you stood together with your family-in-law on the podium in the Sept. Thousands of citizens were gathered in the hall, squeezing each other in order to get in to be able to see the crowning of Aegon II Targaryen. Your facial expression was completely blank and shock cursed through your body, causing to numb every emotion and dull every sense, and coldness slowly seeped into your bones. It's been three years now since you got married to Aegon's younger brother Aemond Targaryen. The both of you hadn't had a great start. Mean words and accusations had been thrown in both directions and you had actually hit him one or two times. He was the only person in this world that could get you riled up this much. And he also was the only person that you loved more than your own life.

You hadn't been able to avoid to fall in love with him. The both of you had partially been forced to spend time together and over the course of months, you had come to know Aemond better. You knew of his favorite things, of the things he hated, of his doubts and dreams. Especially his dreams. They were ones you shared. Having spent three years in his family, you knew as much as Aemond that he was a better man than his brother. He should be the one to be crowned today. Instead, he stood next to you, as stiffly as you yourself, his eye looking over the crowd with no emotion. Your fingers were intertwined with his and you could feel the warmth of his hand on your palm. Normally, it was reassuring and calming. But today, it did nothing to you.

You felt completely numb as you watched the kingsguard enter the Sept and build a corridor in the crowd for Aegon to go through. The tips of your fingers became cold and your breath slightly hitched in your throat, barely audible. One second later, you could feel the gaze of your husband on you, almost burning the right side of your face with its intensity. Of course he had heard you – he would always hear you, no matter where you were or how far away. It was your special bond that you both shared with each other after your Valyrian marriage; a bond that had developed with hate and rage, pain and tears, and that had turned into care and happiness, passion and love over time. The surroundings receded into the background, only noticeable at the edge of your field of vision as your empty eyes followed Aegon walking through the crowd. Somewhere distant in your mind, you registered that he seemed as unhappy and desperate as you felt right now deep down.

The events passed you by in a blur. You vaguely heard the Septon speak from far away, not able to follow the words that were spoken; you saw Aegon accepting his fate, the crown on his head, and you barely managed to hold yourself together as the searing pain that you had buried deep within you for today began to rise to the surface. But you held on. Because you knew that right now was not the time to lose it. You knew the pain Aemond held within himself that he never allowed to be seen. You knew of his childhood and youth, full of the bullying from his siblings and nephews, the lost of his eye, the expectations especially his mother had with him which he hadn't been able to meet, and his burning wish to follow his father on the throne after Viserys' death, to prove himself. Your hand that still held Aemond's became completely cold, even his warmth couldn't prevent it as you saw your meticulously detailed plan going down the drain right in front of your eyes. You knew that Aegon didn't want to be king, as much as Aemond and you didn't want him to be.

You couldn't explain when it all had started to go down the hill. Everything had been perfect. A few days before this important day, you had spoken to Aegon after having gone through everything with Aemond beforehand, how you wanted to do it. You had explained it in detail to Aegon and he had not hesitated to give his approval. One of the preparations had been to bribe the right people who you knew would support you to make Aegon disappear. They had agreed to help you because they had been able to see in Aegon's face and attitude that he did not want to be king. After everything was prepared, everything had gone smoothly today, almost as if everyone around you just wanted to play into your cards. Aegon had disappeared to hide above the dragonpit where no one would suspect him and would just have waited for an opportunity to board a ship to leave Westeros. Even when Aemond had come to you to tell you that his mother had sent out Ser Criston in order to search for Aegon, you had known that this wouldn't change anything.

And yet, here you stood, helplessly watching how the wrong man got crowned.

You could feel tears bubbling up in your throat and swallowed hard to keep them at bay. Still not the right time. You were thankful that Rhaenys Velaryon freed her dragon and disturbed the crowning ceremony, causing utter chaos and pain as her dragon hurt and killed people. You barely registered Aemond pushing himself in front of you to protect you, his hand on the right side of your hips to reassure himself that you were in fact behind him. You saw Rhaenys escape with her dragon as they tried to close the doors to prevent both her and the people from fleeing. But what happened next, you didn't know. You had a few flashing pictures of the kingsguard escorting you through the Red Keep to your chambers, which you shared with Aemond. The door was quietly closed behind you, but you didn't react at first. You still felt eerily numb, though the ripping pain was lurking beneath the surface, and you couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened during the last hour in your life.

Your gaze wandered out of the window at an extremely slow pace while your heartbeat started to quicken as your brain tediously began to catch up with what had happened. You knew that your emotions would nearly kill you the moment they would start to devour you. You tried to hold it back, to give yourself more time to maybe prepare a little bit for what was about to come. But you couldn't. The first sob escaped your throat mere seconds after you felt the barrier that you had built around your feelings begin to crumble down. The quite rustling of clothes somewhere beside you drew your attention and you saw Aemond standing a few feet away from you as your gaze flickered over to him, looking completely desperate, pained, and defeated.

It wasn't fair! It wasn't fair that the man you loved with every fiber of your existence had to suffer this much.

Something finally snapped somewhere in your mind. Burning pain ripped through you, hatred for Queen Alicent and her father melted your intestines and rage flowed through your veins like liquid fire. The first chalice crashed against the wall with a loud noise, accompanied by your furious scream. Everything had been perfectly planned, even Aegon had agreed to your plan and had supported you. And now, here you were, damned to see your soulmate suffer. The next chalices, glasses, and plates were thrown through the room, clattering to the ground and crashing against the walls, splintering into a thousand pieces just like your soul did at the sight of Aemond. You weren't able to hold yourself back; blankets, pillows, cups, plates, chairs, and books were thrown through the room by you while you simultaneously screamed your throat raw. For you, it was the only way to handle this all-surrounding pain, rage, and hatred within you that chewed venomously at you and devoured you whole. Tears were streaming down your face and your silver-blonde hair was an absolute mess, the long strands completely tangled, but you couldn't care any less.

Nothing was anymore where it had been before. Even the table had got toppled over by you in your rage. You didn't even really notice that you grabbed the glass vase that stood on the windowsill with pretty flowers in it – a gift from Aemond's mother yesterday. Now it seemed to mock you. Before you could do something more, your knees finally gave way due to exhaustion, but that didn't stop you. As soon as you were sitting on the ground, you slammed the vase onto the stone with your hand still attached. The physical pain that shot through your hand as a big piece of glass cut deeply into your palm, was what brought you finally back a little bit. Your voice went quiet and soundless sobs shook your whole body, big tears still streaming down your cheeks and dropping to the ground and on your dress. You could see the dark color of a pair of breeches as Aemond knelt on the ground next to you, carefully taking your injured hand into his own.

“Please,” you sobbed. Your throat was sore and hurt, your voice hoarse and raspy, cracking at the end and almost swallowing the next words you choked out, “Please, Aemond, make it stop. It hurts so bad.”

Another wave of tears welled in your eyes as you looked at him. New pain tore your heart to shreds the moment you saw the wet shimmer staining his beautiful face. “I know,” he whispered, his own voice breaking and thus barely audible. He looked down at your hand again, turning it around and inhaling sharply when he saw the large shard of glass that stuck in your hand, drawing blood that already started to drop to the ground, accompanying the new tears that streamed down your cheeks.

“It hurts,” you breathed. There was no need for you to explain to Aemond that you didn't mean your hand. Your other hand came up and the tips of your fingers grazed his hairline and the upper part of his forehead, lovingly and soothing. “I am sorry,” you whispered, causing his head to snap up again to look at you. “I have failed you, my love.”

You could see the pain in his eye as you said these words. “No,” he contradicted you and shook his head. “No, you didn't fail me, Y/N. You gave everything I could have asked for, and even more.”

“Avy jorrāelan, ñuhyz zaldrīzes,” you said weakly and finally started to calm down, exhaustion slowly settling in. “So much that it hurts.” (I love you, my dragon.)

“I know,” was all Aemond said to this. “I can feel it.” He grabbed the shard of glass carefully and started to pull it out, causing you to contort your face in pain. “We will fix this, byka mēre, I promise you.” (little one.)

“Okay,” you sniffed and wiped the tears from his cheek. All that you wanted was to see him happy, truly happy. It had become the center of your life the moment you realized that you loved this man that was still a broken little child deep down. You knew that sitting on the Iron Throne with that crown upon his head was what would make him truly happy.

And you would give everything to get him on that throne. In the end, even your own life.

Maybe one day, I'll write another part, but I just had to get that off my chest.

[prismaticpichu]

Zack and Sephiroth watch Kung Fu Panda 2 (Zack completely forgot about that one scene with Po’s mom). Sephiroth just assumes it’s going to be a silly kids movie. What’s the reaction

Sephiroth, sitting stagnant on the couch, has a hollow, almost ghostly look consuming his once steely eyes. It feels as if something has been gouged out of him—catching him off-guard, striking him where he’s weak. Like an all too raw piece of his soul has been ruthlessly pried from its fragile structure. The movie has been paused for several seconds now, Zack having noticed the way his friend has seemingly left his body. He sets the remote down and glances worriedly at his friend.

“Seph…? You okay, bud?”

Sephiroth doesn’t respond for several beats. He can only stare at the paused screen, silent, unable to tear his gaze away from the frozen frame before him. Unable to look away from the snapshot of roaring flames, of a village trapped in the famished talons of fire and smoke and burning wood.

Of a mother panda, running away, about to be mercilessly slaughtered by the command of a madman.

“How could… anyone… do this?”

Zack pauses for a moment, saddened by his friend’s saddened voice, and taken aback by how genuinely struck Seph was by Shen’s attack on the panda village. He considers joking, chuckling—perhaps saying something about the history of evil peacocks. But he doesn’t. It doesn’t feel right. Instead, he just scoots closer to his friend.

“I dunno, bud. When bad people, y’know, when they want something… they do bad things.”

There’s another beat, another reign of silence. And the next set of words slash Sephiroth’s throat as they leave it.

“He… the bird…” The syllables are jagged, taut. “He killed his…”

Sephiroth doesn’t need to finish the sentence for Zack to understand it. To understand everything. And like a tidal wave of acid, the realization of what he has inadvertently subjected his friend to comes toxically crashing down on him.

Zack’s gaze darts between the screen and Seph. “Oh my god… buddy… what is wrong with—Gaia, I’m so sorry….!”

He wraps his arm around his wounded friend, kicking himself a thousand times for his insensitivity and blindness. Out of all the movies they could have chosen….

Sephiroth dips his chin, resting it on Zack’s hair, a momentary relief from the horror portrayed on his screen. Never did he expect to be struck so viscerally by one of his friend’s favorite films. Never did he expect to be at a loss for words amid their playful banter and commentary. Never did he expect an innocuous, colorful, loving movie to be a mere veneer for something much darker.

“ I know…. I know this prolly hurts real bad…” Zack solaces, continuing to hug his pal. “I promised to never…. I’m sorry, Seph…. Gaia I’m sorry… We can stop now, if you want, maybe play a game inste—“

“….Wutai.”

Zack blinks, confused by the sudden shift.

“….Wutai?” he echoes puzzledly.

Sephiroth’s eyes strain, his muscles stiffening. “I… I’ve done this…” he admits bitterly, painfully, like the words scraped against his tongue in serrated, poisonous blades. “In Wutai… I’ve razed villages. Killed countless. I… I probably have slaughtered a child’s…” He struggles to finish that sentence, the brutal scene from the movie still raw in his mind.

“I… I am like Shen.”

Zack’s heart twists, a full jagged knot tethering in his chest as he digests Seph’s words—the pain, the guilt, the self-loathing… He shakes his head, pulling back slightly from the embrace.

“That’s not true,” he says firmly, kindly. “That’s not true, bud.”

Sephiroth opens his eyes, ready to protest. “I… I’ve razed…”

“it was a war, Seph… you know that. I know you do. ShinRa ordered for those villages to be burned. From what I can tell—and learned… you didn’t have a choice.”

Sephiroth closes his eyes again, riding too many turbulent memories and emotions to think of a proper response. Zack returns his head to Seph’s shoulder.

“You would never do what Shen did, bud…” Zack says quietly. “You would never kill out of hate. I know you wouldn’t.”

For a long swath of time, Sephiroth remains locked in the other’s arms, silent, listening to the unwavering sincerity of his best friend’s words. Letting them sink into him, letting them assuage him. Gauze him. Heal him. He sinks deeper into the embrace, clinging to Zack’s heartfelt hope in him. To his trust. To his beliefs.

And there he makes a vow to never prove Zack wrong.

KUNG FU PANDA 2 SAVES NIBELHEIM, Y’ALL!!!!

[siempre-bucky]

“Marry me, Bradley, you'll never have to be alone." Please? 💕

Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw x Reader

Summary: Jake and Javy poke fun of your proposal while at your little post elopement get together

wc: 620

a/n: of course my dear! for you!!

Join my blurb night!

Beer bottles covered the glass living room table, and the soft music coming from Payback’s stereo was being drowned out by the tipsy giggles of your friends. Those giggles erupted into roaring laughter when Bradley lurched forward, beer spewing from his clenched lips at something Fanboy said. You gasped as the tan-colored liquid spattered on the skirt of your short white dress. 

In the midst of his laugh, he apologized for ruining your ‘wedding dress’ and dabbed it with his napkin. You laughed and shooed his hand away, reassuring him and pulling him into your lap. The team fell back into their comfortable positions and gathered their composure. The small dagger gathering was all Mickey and Reuben’s idea after seeing Rooster’s ‘we eloped’ message in the group chat a few weeks ago.

“So,” Mickey spoke in between chuckles, “Rooster, how’d you propose anyway?” He wagged his finger in between you and your new husband. 

Rooster looked over at you with a playful glint in his eye. You smirked and brought the rim of your drink to your lips “He didn’t,” you said knowingly, causing everyone to gasp. Notably, Phoenix’s mouth hung open and Mickey stood up and did a little jog around the dimly lit living room. 

“What?” He cackled. 

Jake smirked, “I know how it happened,” he said confidently, looking up at Javy who sat on the arm of the chair next to him. He rose from the plush lounge chair and tapped his best friend's chest. They bounced like giddy schoolchildren and positioned themselves in the center of the room. “Oh, Y/N!” Jake stared off dramatically, taking Javy’s hands in his own, he then dropped one hand to put the back of his hand on his forehead, “I’m so lonely!” 

Javy leaned in and put Jake’s hand to his lips, “Oh Bradley!”  You rolled your eyes and held Rooster back from breaking up the bad Shakespeare scene. “Marry me, Bradley!” Javy sighed enthusiastically, “You’ll never have to be alone!” 

“Yes! A thousand times yes!” Jake fake cried. 

Your group of friends cheered as Jake dipped Javy, pretending to kiss him on the lips. The pair did their bows and high-fived as they took in Rooster’s unimpressed face. “Alright, alright, sit down!” Bradley groaned, but you could hear the amusement in his tone. 

“That’s not how it happened,” you corrected playfully. 

—

“Someone’s not making it back from this,” Bradley said grimly, hazel eyes glancing at the class photos lining the Ready Room wall. You stood beside him, arms crossed and looking straight ahead; his saddened expression would only make you feel worse. 

“He might not come back,” you prodded, finally looking at the class of 1986, the one Bradley was staring at, staring directly at the man who helped raise him. 

He looked up, hoping that would be enough to suppress the tears that were threatening him. If Maverick died, he’d be alone. You’d leave him and make a life of our own, leaving behind a path that could only lead to an early grave. “I’d be alone,” he whispered, speaking his inner monologue. 

“I’m right here.” 

“For now.” It was only a matter of time. He stepped away from the pictures and you watched his back in the reflection. 

“Marry me, Bradley,” you said with every ounce of confidence you could muster. You watched him stop, his posture stiffening as he took in your words. “You’ll never have to be alone.” Finally, you turned, trying to keep a straight face as you noticed the tears forming in the corner of his eyes. 

He cautiously stepped forward and took your hand, a shaking thumb running over your knuckles. He nodded and looked up with the kindest smile, “Ok.” 

[skyloftian-nutcase]

To become an EMT was fairly intense training. The class only lasted a semester, but it was eight hours of class per week with nearly two thousand page textbooks, hours upon hours of clinicals, and the overarching dread that people would be relying on you for life and death situations when you passed.

To become a paramedic was even harder. A two year program heavy in pharmacology and cardiac rhythm interpretation, with so many new skills piled on that it was overwhelming most of the time.

To Hyrule it was all an adventure and an honor, though, one he readily accepted.

He hadn't been expecting to use such esteemed training to be combing a cow pasture in the middle of the night, though.

"This is your fault, by the way," Aurora grumbled. "I'm never holding over for a shift with you again."

"How is this my fault?" Hyrule questioned before yelping and jumping out of the way of what could have been a disastrous footstep into a pile of unsavoriness.

"Yesterday was a calm shift," Aurora pointed out as she also jumped around some cow chips. "Eleven calls in twenty-four hours. Nobody was dying and nobody was obnoxious. Today, we ran twenty-one calls, of which two were codes, one was a drunk person cussing everyone out except for the one person he thought was an angel, a person who was convinced their banana was possessed, and this."

"Somebody drove off the road and crashed through a wooden fence into the pasture and it's my fault?" Hyrule parsed out, jumping slightly when he walked unwittingly into a wet nose. The cow stared at him unblinkingly, munching aimlessly on whatever she'd grazed. "Excuse me," he huffed, ducking around her.

"The patient has to be long gone," Aurora sighed. "I'm willing to bet they were drunk and ran as soon as this happened. They wouldn't want a run-in with PD."

"Nobody wants a run-in with Impa," Hyrule snickered.

Despite tearing through a wooden fence, the car actually hadn't sustained too much. It was likely as Aurora suspected, though - a drunk driver who was uninjured enough to recognize Impa would chew them out and arrest them, and therefore opted for fleeing the scene.

"At least the cows weren't hurt," Aurora muttered, watching one stare at her. "We're definitely attracting a crowd, though."

As his partner chuckled, Hyrule noticed that they had, in fact, attracted quite the crowd. It seemed like the entire herd had gathered at this point, all staring pointedly at the paramedics while the police continued to sweep the area.

"Uh... hi," Hyrule waved awkwardly, and Aurora burst out laughing.

Turning, Hyrule watched his step carefully, avoiding both holes and manure, before he rammed unceremoniously into something, gasping and falling backwards into his partner.

"Rulie!" Aurora yelped as she caught him. "Are you okay?"

Hyrule grumbled, regaining his balance, his heart racing from embarrassment, and then he stared at what he'd crashed into.

The fence. He'd just... walked head first into the broken fence.

Hyrule snorted. Then he fell into hysterics, his gut aching from laughing so hard. Aurora stared at him a moment and then joined in.

"Keep this up and you'll be the patient," Aurora snorted, gasping for air. She turned to Impa. "Impa, I'm taking my partner home before he kills himself!"

Their serious friend shot them a look, taking in the sight of Hyrule, who was now sporting a small cut on his forehead from the splintered wood, though it clearly wasn't bothering him as he was wheezing and bent over.

"I don't even want to know," she sighed heavily. "The driver's long since fled the scene. You two can go in service."

Hyrule let Aurora guide him as both stumbled on to the road, still laughing loudly.

Two years of training for life-and-death emergencies only for Hyrule to create his own emergencies while aimlessly wandering a cow pasture. He supposed his instructors had been right when they'd mentioned one couldn't make up half the stuff they dealt with at work.

[happy-mokka]

Hi there.

I'd like to start with a warning first: Beware!

I'm rather new to tumblr, so if what will come next turns out to be total bs, I hope you all get out of this unscathed, forget we ever crossed paths and will be able to go on with your beautiful lives.

If you're still here, you'll about to hear the nice and accurate story of a guy that stumbled naively into a Good Omens binge watching weekend and came out forever changed.

Roughly 4 weeks ago I was asking friends what they were watching currently. I needed new material to turn to.

That's when it happened.

One of them casually brought up Good Omens on Prime.

I should give it a try.

Angels, demons. Terry Pratchett. Neil Gaiman.

Ok. I like fantasy. I like good story telling. I have an odd sense of bad humour.

I decided to give it a try.

To my eternal shame I have to confess, that until lately I hadn't read a single line written by both Pratchett and Gaiman.

I've read thousands of books. My love for them is so widely spread over all genres, that it simply did never happen. There was always some other book and author that came next.

Oh, how blind and ignorant I have been. I now clearly see the grave error of my ways.

If you can't forgive me, that's ok. I'm having a hard time myself doing so.

Be that as it may, I'm currently reading Good Omens and won't stop there. I promise.

Update notice 2024-06-03 I am now 6 books into Neil Gaimans works, last one was this...

Update notice 2024-08-02

It's been now a few weeks since the allegations on sexual abuse by Neil Gaiman came to light. As a fan of his work I am devastated. As a decent human being I absolutely stand with the victims. Will I continue reading or watching his work? Well, I still have some books on my to-do shelf stack that I already bought and would not want to waste them. So I will read them at some point. Won't buy new ones, however.

As for shows he's involved with, I will continue watching them, if with the given circumstances anything new comes out at all... Too many good people are involved and invested in the works, that don't deserve punishment for his doings.

Good Omens was nothing short than life changing for me. I will never stop cherishing it and the person who brought it into my life (and I certainly don't mean Gaiman by this).

So, where was I?

Right.

Binge watch session of Good Omens season 1.

Saturday evening. Around 9:30pm.

Episode 1 wasn't even running for 5 minutes and I was already sucked right into it.

Frances McDormand's God intro and the garden eden scenes.

I was instantly in love.

Michael Sheen had already been one of my favorites. His first minutes as Aziraphale directly hit home.

David Tennant was familiar but I also hadn't been into Doctor Who, so it took another 5 minutes to also fall for Crowley...

The path was set and I started to deep dive in.

6 hours, 6 episodes, 1 Antichrist and 1 almost Armageddon later I crawled into bed on early Sunday morning to get at least a few hours of sleep. I fell asleep with an almost idiotic grin on my face and a feeling of deep content.

Only 5 hours later, technically still Sunday morning, I woke up, prepared a coffee infusion and switched the TV back on.

There were important deeds to be done. Episodes to be watched.

I could sleep later.

Narrator: No, he would NOT sleep later...

I again immediately fell for the 2 celestials.

The slightly different arc, no dramatic catastrophe on the horizon, instead beautifully written side characters and wonderful new details on the two main protagonists...an evolving love story that had already been clearly visible in season 1...

And god, or Satan, HOW I LOVED JON HAMM as Jimbriel...

I again ended up binge watching the whole season, only interrupted by a few coffee and bathroom breaks.

6 hours later. The end credits were already over for like an eternity and I hadn't moved. Just sitting there, all goosebumps and teared-up.

I ate something. Had to. Don't really remember tasting anything or remembering what I actually had.

I was dumbstruck.

The friend that had suggested to start watching GOs, hadn't let out much more detail, so I hadn't been prepared in the least, for the emotional train wrecked state it had pushed me into.

Hours later I finally fell into an uneasy sleep.

The next morning before work I just sent Tori Amos' Nightingale in Berkeley Park to my GOs friend followed by a ❤️, as a signal that I had watched it all and let her know that there was no need anymore to hold back with talking out of fear to spoiler me.

We had lunch together and spent the whole time rambling on our GOs induced emergency emotional state and the whole beauty of especially Gaiman's season 2.

The next days we kept randomly talking about GO before she pinpointed me to tumblr, in case I wanted to dare a real deep dive into GO fandom.

So here I am now. A week's passed. I've spent hours of reading so many amazing posts around here. So many eye-opening moments.

I'm not only speaking of all those perfect interpretations of GO and it's characters.

What impressed me so much more is the fabulous energy especially radiating from the queer community.

Not being queer, only having a few queer friends, I hadn't really realized, just how big a thing GO in general and season 2 in particular was for you.

Update notice - 2024/04/10

Attention! This installation of base module "Sexuality" is currently being updated to a more flexible one...work in progress...

Update notice - 2024/07/03

At an age where my eyeglasses turned bifocal, I finally came to the realization, that not only my eyes celebrate the duality of life. In fact my whole being did it for as long as I can think back. It is astonishing, how efficiently one can get used to ignore feelings, that society considers unseemly. So, finally, this is me here, bi and queer🌈.

I was raised to walk earth open-minded, to respect everyone, no matter of religion, gender, nationality and sexual orientation. This is so deep a part of my DNA and personality, that GO for me was just a beautiful story about the blind following of religion, the meaning of life and, most of all, love.

Both protagonists are played by male actors and apparently being in an ages long repressed gay relationship? I didn't even consider this unusual or anything else than normal.

2 immortals fall deeply in love, first into humanity, life on earth and then finally into one another, while trying to overcome all the madness of belonging to two opposing sides of the same medal.

A great parable on the pursuit of happiness. Skillfully written for the screen and perfectly casted and played.

Well that was then.

Now I see you and I have to thank you, for opening my mind even further.

For giving so much joy so generously, although every day is still a fight for your rights.

For giving me a space here among you and the chance to delve some more in beautiful minds and fanfiction.

So, if you're still here and reading this, maybe it was not all bs. Maybe it gave you some minutes of entertainment and distraction from every day's stress and problems.

It sure was for me.

I'll end this with some favorite Shakespeare quotes, although now I'm not so sure any more, if not some red haired demon might have actually written this...

"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber’d here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: if you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to ‘scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends."

☘️

A Midsummer Night's Dream - William Shakespeare

🔻🔻🔻

More personal middle aged ramblings:

👉🏻 birthday meldown 2024 🔥

👉🏻 my year in books 📚

👉🏻 1 year anniversary of Good Omens 😇😈

[mitsuyafics]

Wish I Were Heather

female reader

character : Kurokawa Izana

Note : based off the song Heather by Conan Gray

She still remembered the third of December, the winter came rushing in and she always seemed to forget a jacket at school.

He gave her his sweater, "It looks better on you than it does me" He smiled, but she hadn't seen that smile in a while. Only if he knew, She loved him so much. He kissed her forehead and laughed.

Her eyes scanned the hall as she watched His eyes. His eyes watching the new girl walks by. Something felt so wrong, seeing the way his eyes trailed after her every step.

Her eyes, brighter than the blue sky, She could tell the girl had him mesmerized while she watched the scene play out.

Her name was Heather. She held his hand as He put his arm around her. They got closer, the heat keeping both of them warm.

The winter breeze felt colder and colder to y/n. She felt empty without his sweater.

She tried and tried to hate the girl, but she couldn't. She was amazing. Perfect, everything she aspired to be. She was an angel.

But then again, Y/n kind of wished the girl was dead.

She watched her as she passed by, wishing to look even the slightest like her. She tried fixing her hair, changing how she looked. She changed her style, She changed her hair, She started wearing make up. She wanted to be as pretty. She wanted to be enough for him.

She just wanted to see His smile once more. The smile he was giving the other.

He noticed a change, seeing the girl trying harder to look different, but he couldn't find that glitter in her eyes that she always had. The one that used to pull him in.

He realized how much time he had spent with her in the last week. He hadn't spoke to her in days.

She continued to watch from afar, as he gave her his sweater, and kissed her lips lightly.

That day was the end of everything. She ran home, tears making her face even colder in the breeze.

She ran into her room, locking the door and sobbing into a picture frame with her and the boy she used to know so well. "Why would.. you ever kiss me. I'm not even half as pretty as her. S-She.. She's enough for you.."

"I wish I were heather..." She cried into her pillow, feeling as if the world was ending. The love she had formed over the past year tearing her heart into thousands of pieces.

The next day she went into school. Avoiding every eye and looking her way. She tried drowning herself in her hoodie, maybe the eyes would leave her.

"Are you okay?" Izana asked Her.

"Yes" She smiled, and walked away, not even giving the boy a glance.

The boy felt his chest feel so weird. When she walked away from him, looking worse than she ever had, his chest felt like 18 tons were piled on it.

Heather walked up to him, making him feel the slightest bit better, but nothing compared to the hurt he was trying to hide.

He took the girl on a date to the place him and Y/n would come the most, not knowing he'd see the girl there, streams of tears falling down her face.

Seeing his face, she ran.

He ran after her, trying to catch up as she ran as far as she could, almost making it to her house door.

"Y/N, WAIT!" He screamed, grabbing her wrist and turning her to look at him.

"What?" She smiled, besides the tears that just kept flowing.

"Tell me whats wrong with you.."

"Nothing's wrong with me" She smiled again, "Now if you'll excuse me.. I have to go.."

"Stop Y/n. Please. Talk to me, Tell me why you're crying. Tell me why you changed yourself and look so.. different today.."

"Why would you ever kiss me?"

"W-What?"

"Why would you ever do it..? Ahaha" She giggled, something so sad he could feel the pain she had been feeling. "I'm not even half as pretty.."

"What? Y/n, what are you talking about? You're beautiful!"

"She's enough for you.." She smiled, crying harder, "You gave her your sweater.." She sobbed out.

His eyes widened, seeing the impact of what all has happened.

"Its just polyester!" He defended himself, causing her to cry harder.

"But..."

"But what?"

"..But you like her better.." She covered her mouth in an intent to stop the sobs.

"Y/N..? You.. You like me..?" He felt so different, like a part of his mind opened to something. He.. Just wanted to hug her, and tell her he was sorry.

She smiled once more, pulling her arm out of his grasp, backing slowly up into her house.

"I wish I were heather.." She cried out before slamming the door in his face.

[theshrikeandcanary]

Another World Lost

Summary: Your sister died from a variant which marked your “Ben” cannon event. Miguel ofc knew about this (since he leads the spider society). This whole fic is just you being angry and Miguel being angsty.

Warnings: death of a family member, angst (seriously just angst), no happy ending and curse words

< 1.k words

You were pissed. Everyone around you could sense the pure rage dripping off you as you walked down the halls of the spider society. You only joined the shithole when you genuinely believed that among the thousands of spidermen you were only doing good. And yet you’ve just witnessed your sister die by a variant that should never have been there. Yes, you could blame yourself, used a web in a different spot, arrived on scene earlier or maybe Miguel O’hara could have warned you. Your cannon event being your sister die and all. Just maybe that would have been helpful. The only tip off of his involvement being the notification from your watch. “Cannon Event Completed”.

Those three god forbidden words circling in your head as you slammed his office door open. Of course Miguel had been preparing for some kind of reaction since he must have known for weeks. “You knew didn’t you”, you spat. It sounded like a question but you both knew the answer. He looked down at you with some twisted understanding of his own warped reality.

“Yes, but we didn’t tell you since the cannon- “

“The cannon! Fuck the cannon you were supposed to be on my side. My own boyfriend knew and let my sister die. And for what? So your stupid cannon event theory wouldn’t break?”, you screamed as tears rushed down your face. Not only did you watch your sister die, but your own boyfriend let it happen. He knew you wouldn’t be able to save her amongst the others who needed saving. No wonder there weren’t other spider people to help, her death was supposed to be on your hands alone.

He looked dumbfounded as if he didn’t expect your emotions to be taken out on him. But you weren’t done; you wouldn’t be until he hurt the way you hurt. Till he understood your sister’s death was his fault alone. “Her death is all your fault Miguel. I may not have been able to save her but you let her death happen. How long did you know? A week? A month? Months? Her blood was on your hands the moment you knew and hid it from me. From both of us.”, the hurt of your words was evident on his face.

Your sister was the first to know of Miguel’s and your relationship. She noticed your constant glances at your phone or watch waiting for any notification to pop up. Occasionally helping you send semi flirty texts at midnight during your pinning stage. At the night of your and Miguel’s first date she was there, helping you pick out the perfect outfit and how to style your hair. When she finally met Miguel, she was nothing but welcoming, telling him all the embarrassing stories of your childhood together. She was your best friend. And now your best friend was gone.

A sheen came over his eyes, seeming to just realize what he had done to you. He hurt you while trying to protect the multiverse. Regret consumed him as he watched you open a portal and drop your watch to the floor. There was nothing he could say to stop you from leaving. Your back had turned from him for good. The memories of you flashed before his eyes knowing this would be the last time he’d ever get to see your face. The face he’d grown to love, to kiss and hold. As the portal closed his eyes wondered to the polaroid sitting on his desk. A simple photo of you hugging him from behind, laughing while trying to reach far enough for a good photo of you both.

To him you were his world. Something he always sought to protect. Yet you had slipped through his fingers like sand, any grasp of his future sanity lost with you. He had failed again to protect his love just as he failed his last.

[anxresi]

Chloe Bourgeois.

Imagine spending five years of your life investing in a character.

Imagine watching S1, noticing the subtle signs of a redemption arc slotting into place, and being totally on board.

Imagine seeing S2 and loving her realistic development, the superhero she becomes and the positive changes that carry onto her civilian life. (Apart from one scene of Marinette ‘encouraging’ her to bond with her mother by being as nasty as possible... yeah).

Imagine watching S3 and being disappointed that, for the most part, things seems to have come to a grinding halt with her storyline as the show obsesses with a stupid romance that goes nowhere. “Well at least the finale can’t make things... oh.”

Imagine in S4 not only pretending 3 seasons of promising development never happened, but stripping her of all humanity to turn her into a psychopathic sociopath so eevviill she makes Lila look like a girl scout by comparison.

Imagine this radical character sabotaging done with no build-up or foreshadow whatsoever, because apparently people decide to become nihilistic maniacs overnight. As you do.

Imagine introducing the most bland, flavourless, boring, pointless, arbitrary, unnecessary, nothing character EVER. (Thank you online thesaurus)

Imagine expecting her to replace Chloe in our hearts and minds, one of the emotionally rich and complex individuals at one point in time... (Until Thomas Astruc got his way)

Imagine, to add insult to injury, her name rhymes with Chloe’s, they have VERY similar color schemes, they’re sisters AND this new nobody steals her position as QB a mere two episodes later. Thomas rubbing it in? NEVER!!

Imagine destroying in short order what few relationships Chloe has left, including the precious bond she shared with her father and childhood best friend, so you can paint her as EVIL ALL ALONG.

Imagine quitting the show at this point, for your mental health’s sake and the fact the writing is objectively THE WORST, only to be bombarded with more canonical bullshit when you log onto tumblr to look at (again, objectively) the far superior fandom works.

Imagine reading what happens to Chloe during S5 thanks to Zag’s airtight security methods, and no longer being upset because now the whole sorry farce borders on bad parody. When I approach it in that frame of mind, it doesn’t bother me half as much. Hello coping mechanism!!

......................

This post was inspired by something I read online about Chloe’s eventual fate compared to Gabriel’s, and the contrast between the ignominious end of a troubled teenage girl and the tears shed for a ruthless terrorist who tried to murder THOUSANDS of people was... definitely something.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So, I’ll just try this:

[nonexistent-introvert]

Cruel Summer

Pairing: Sherlock x f!reader (Max, replace with anyth u like)

Word count: 1.9k

Warnings: Angst, moving on, lingering feelings

Summary: You fell for him too early, he fell for you too late

A/N: Inspired by the scene in fleabag "it'll pass" and also partly the line in Cruel summer ("I love you, " ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?) .My old fics are all written in third person and the reader is alw Max so js change it to your liking.

“I love you.” Max watched him, her eyes watering. Sherlock looked at her in bewilderment, for the first time, he doubted his own senses, his mind went blank. Max swallowed, looking away as tears welled up in her eyes, “I love you.” She repeated in a whisper. 

   “No you don’t” Sherlock muttered. His hands running through his hair, “it will pass. It’s just a crush.” He insisted, looking everywhere but her. Max closed her eyes, “Sherlock. You know it isn’t like that- you know I meant it.” “Shut up!” Sherlock shouted, silencing her. Max’s jaw tightened, her nails digging into her palms.

   “I-I’m sorry” Sherlock apologised. She swallowed, “Sherlock. Let's just pretend this never happened.” Max ended. Turning her back towards him, “Max-“ he held onto her arm. Max removed her arm from his grip, a flash of hurt crossed his features. “It will pass.” She whispered under her breath as her heart shattered to a thousand pieces.

———-

   Sherlock’s breath hitched, there she was in London, in a theatre. John had dragged him to watch an orchestra, he was reluctant at first but the inner music connoisseur in him gave in, now he knew the true reason why. 

   It was what she deserved. He told himself, repeated in his mind as he watched her. A solo part with one of her oldest friend, Chris. They built up on each other, harmonised perfectly, and conveyed the feelings of the excitement and mystery of a romantic relationship. Their chemistry is almost undeniable. The way he looked at her, it was evident Chris liked Max romantically.

    The room broke into applause for the performers. Sherlock woke from his train of thoughts, clearing his throat as he subtly tried to wipe a tear that formed. John broke into applause, a proud grin for his friend.

   “John!” Max laughed upon seeing her friend. She quickly ran towards them and embraced John. “You were fantastic.” John complimented. She blushed slightly and muttered a thanks before her eyes fell on the curly haired detective beside John. “Hey Sherlock.” She smiled and greeted, but Sherlock didn’t fail to notice how she stepped back to put some distance between them, how she lowered her head slightly, as though losing confidence. He swallowed the hurt at her actions. “It was a rollercoaster.” He simply said. Max paused, a glint in her eye as she smirked. “Is that a compliment or?” “A compliment. A very high one.” He clarified. Max laughed. A comfortable silence fell between the three of them. John nudged Sherlock with his arm to which Sherlock clicked his tongue in annoyance and flared at John. “I- John-we-“ Sherlock stumbled upon realising what John wanted him to do. Max smiled warmly, “Sherlock you need to speak up. We are not the only ones here. Plus a few weeks of non stop practice means my ears are not at their most optimal state right now.” Max joked. John groaned at how the almighty detective inability to ask Max out. “He means-“ 

    “Max! hurry up. The shops are going to close at this rate.” Chris strode to Max’s side, nagging at her. “We’re all waiting for you.” Max gave a sheepish smile as she tried to take her bag from him. Chris swiftly avoided her, “You’ll get it back when I get my fill.” He teased to which Max rolled her eyes. Chris looked to the two old friends, a charming smile as he apologised for interrupting. “I have to go. We’ll catch up sometime while I’m still here yeah?” Max excused herself, hitting Chris' shoulder playfully as she reached for her bag's pocket and took out a name card. “A call and I’ll drop by Baker Street.” Max promised. A smile on her face as she waved to the two men and left with Chris, laughing as she tried to snatch her bag from him.

    John handed the name card to Sherlock instead. “One call,” John repeated to him, a disappointed look on his face. Sherlock’s eyes remained on her figure as she disappeared around the corner with her group of friends. “She’s better off without me.” Sherlock said. John frowned, “you wouldn’t know until you try.” “You don’t understand John, she was merely being respectful to me because of you. I hurt her too much and she deserves better.” John sighed. “Don’t pull this cliche shit on me, Sherlock. You’ve been absolutely miserable without her, so pick up the guts and call her.”

--------------------------------------

    Sherlock drummed his fingers against his armrest. His eyes darting to the namecard that acted as a bookmark in the book he barely paid attention to. 

   “Hello?” Max picked up the phone. Sherlock swallowed, the words that he had prepared long lost at her voice. “Sherlock, I know you’re there. If that’s you…” Max broke him out of his trance. “You said a call and you’ll drop by.” Sherlock quoted, his heart pacing. 

   Max glanced at the man before her. He was scrolling on his phone, casually feeding himself french fries. A laugh escaped her, catching Chris' attention. He sent her a judgemental look, but a smile tugged on his features. “Yea sure. Now?” Max asked to which Sherlock hummed. 

    Sherlock paced his room, stopping every few intervals as he played the violin in front of the same window that looked out to the street in front of 221B. His eyes long abandoned the score as he played from memory, while his eyes drifted to the streets every so often as he anticipated her arrival. Sherlock straightened, dusting himself off as he adjusted his button-up when he caught sight of her figure. There was frustration within him when he realised who she was with. He reminded himself that he had no right to feel like that, not when he rejected her and pushed her away. Sherlock watched bitterly as she smiled and laughed at his words, watching as he too struggled to keep a straight face when she told him a joke when he was taken aback by her stupid stories. Eventually, Max stopped in front of 221B, she stuffed her hands in her pockets, smiling softly as Chris bid her goodbye. 

     Max bounced on her feet, watching Chris try to cross the street to the bus stop. His backpack bounced behind him as he ran through the traffic, the cars driving with no regard for him. She was worried but would rather die than admit that. Chris reached the other side safely, noticing her stare. Max raised a thumbs up to which he gave her a confused look. “Was wondering if you would get run over.” Max texted, chuckling at his predicted reaction as she turned her back and entered the all-too-familiar place. 

    Sherlock stubbed his toe when scrambling for his armchair upon hearing Max’s footsteps. He winced but cleared his throat and sat down anyways just in time when the door swung open to reveal Max and Mrs Hudson. “I just got some tea darling, I’ll make some for you- it's been so long!” Mrs Hudson hurried to the kitchen downstairs, shooting a disgusted look at Sherlock’s kitchen which looked more like a lab. “Where’s John?” Max asked, masking the feelings that came to the surface upon seeing him. “How would I know?” He simply said, looking out the window to act nonchalant although his eyes drifted towards her. “Hm, you guys were inseparable.” Max commented. “Well everyone moves on.” Sherlock glanced at her to which Max simply sat down on the sofa that she used to occupy, seemingly not having understood Sherlock’s innuendo. Her phone buzzed, a smile covering her features as she read the message and Sherlock hated how he knew who was texting her. She put away her phone to be polite but the messages came in a never-ending chain. Max muttered a ‘shut up’ to her phone before silencing it and clearing her throat, facing Sherlock fully. 

   “I’m- the..” Sherlock stopped, unable to find the right words. Max waited patiently for him, she always did, he just never appreciated it until she finally decided to leave. “The way I handled it back then, it was wrong.” A haze fell over Max’s eyes as the painful events replayed in the back of her head. She tore her eyes away from him, the smile leaving her features immediately and replaced with a forlorn look. “Forcing it wouldn’t have worked either.” Sherlock closed his eyes, his jaw tightening at the guilt, “It took me too long to realise-” Max cut Sherlock off before he could finish his sentence. “We would never have worked out.” She said coldly. Sherlock tilted his head, curious to know why, it was like a moth to a flame, it was dangerous to be that close, he was bound to get hurt, but he just had to know. “No matter how much we care for each other, our relationship would never be healthy. We both have issues that the both of us cannot solve.” Sherlock stood up from his seat, Max patted on the seat beside her encouragingly when she sensed his hesitance. Sherlock sighed, “Not a single chance?” Max swallowed, she knows the feelings that she buried deep inside were still there, she could love him, she felt the urge to agree, to take the risk and love him but years of working with him taught her, logical reasoning was the way to go. “There is, but it's not a chance I’m willing to take.” Max said. Sherlock winced, he wondered if her straight-up rejecting him would have hurt less. “The pain, hurt, I went through. The constant reminders, and the lack of self preservation as I wanted to see you more despite knowing your stand on this. It’s not something I want to risk going through again.” Max reasoned.

“Ouch”

“I'm not saying this to hurt you, but to tell you how hard it was.”

Sherlock nodded, “I know” 

     “Are you happier with him then?” Sherlock asked after a silence, they were more comfortable now, her head laying comfortably on his shoulder, their fingers brushing against each other. Max went quiet for a while, not knowing who Sherlock meant before it clicked. “Chris and I-” “I know, but it's obvious there’s something there. Even I could tell.” Max lifted her head a little to look at him, “You always could tell Sherlock.” “Not when it comes to emotions, sentiment, I'm bad at those.” Sherlock retorted. Max smiled softly as she thought about it, “Maybe, I don’t know. I’ll go with the flow.” Sherlock smiled at the answer, an answer that encapsulated her personality. “But you’re happy with him?” 

   “Yes. He makes me laugh, and smile even through the smallest of words.” Sherlock closed his eyes, letting out a breath. He wanted to be that man for her, yet it seemed like he only brought her the opposite. Max noticed his change in demeanor, but before she could say anything, Mrs Hudson's voice called out. “Come down for dinner you two! I made your favorites!” Max smiled, “Coming!” She replied. She stood up, lending a hand out to Sherlock as he took her hand. His eyes never left her, trying to commit her to memory, refresh the memory that was hidden somewhere, gathering dust for two years. She smiled bitterly at him, “It’ll pass Sherlock” Max repeated the words he had said to her back to him. Words he never realised how hurtful it was until he heard them for himself. He looked out to the sun that was setting, almost like the sunset he had rejected her 2 summers ago. It was indeed a cruel summer yet again. 

[burstingdragons]

Protecting the Future [NaLu]

Those once bright brown eyes grew wide as everything around her turned white in a flash. Ten thousand dragons ravaged the land as she could hear the castle behind her crumbling. The crimson sky and the charred lands was all that was left of the once lively and mighty Fiore kingdom. Ancient beasts from the past, now flying freely in the future, laying waste to her home.

One fiery behemoth took notice and took it upon itself to be her executioner. Bruised and battered, those same tearful filled eyes saw the rain of fire coming down as she simply glanced outward to a discarded arm. One with a hand that had a pink guild emblem on the back of it. Her very own.

Accepting that death had finally come to take her, she shut her eyes one last time trying to remember all her friends and adventures she had gotten to go on in this life. The temperature sky rocketed around her as the ferocious ball of fire landed on its target...only to be weakened as its size grew weaker. The fire around her was bright as it flew from all sides and was greedily absorbed. There, standing before her, was somebody she never thought she would see again after becoming separated. Void of all hope at this point, suddenly that spark became reignited after one glimpse. The spiky pink hair, the scaly checkered scarf, the mark on the side of his right shoulder. She couldn't believe it!

"Sorry to keep ya waiting Lucy...cocky lizards." 

Not knowing it was still possible, a small smile graced itself upon her lips. Natsu...

The dragon, now filled with curiosity at this newcomer who managed to swallow his fire, touched down sending shock waves through the earth.

"Listen up ugly!" Natsu began pointing at the dragon who watched on, tilting its head amused. "You just picked a fight with the wrong guy!" He shouted directing the beast's crimson eyes to his shoulder which proudly displayed a red insignia. 

"I'm Natsu Dragneel of the Fairy Tail guild!" Lucy's teary filled orbs couldn't help but look up to his shoulder where the guild mark lay. 

"I'm a dragon slayer!" He revealed punching a fist into his palm. Growling dangerously he declared, "and I'm here to do just that!" 

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"They would still end up stopping Eclipse, fate has stolen that choice from them. Their future is set in stone. The one who closed the gate before will always do the same." He closed his eyes. "As long as they are alive, it is bound to happen again." 

"I don't have a clue what you're going on about pal. Spill it, who's this person you're after anyway?" Natsu asked nonchalantly, but couldn't help wonder why everything seemed so off about the man.  

The eerie chuckles coming from the future Rogue caught the group off-guard as they awaited a response to Natsu's question. Abruptly, his singular visible red eye opened as dark black shadows warped around his fist in a spiral. 

"It's you! Lucy Heartfilia!" He shouted as he stepped forth and threw the magic blade full of dark magic towards his target. Taken back by the sudden motion, Natsu watched as the shadow dagger raced out of Rogue's hand and towards his blonde haired partner.  

"Lucy!" Natsu called out in worry, finally snapping himself out of his trance, as he leaped towards the blade and tried to snatch it. By just inches, his hand missed the tip as he fell through the shadows.

Frozen in her own trance-like state, Lucy was trapped in place as she rapidly watched the blade speed towards her. Eyes as wide as saucers, she waited for the inevitable strike through her body. To her surprise, and horror, a blur of blonde hair in a black cloak jumped in front of her and took the dagger fully. Dark red spew out sloppily in front of her as Lucy watched her future self land painfully against the palace floor.

Rogue looked at the scene confused while Natsu caught his fall and turned sharply around to stare back at his friend. Wendy was in shock alongside Happy, Carla, Pantherlily, and Loke. 

The crash was one of the loudest things they had ever heard, besides the black dragon Acnologia's own roar, as Lucy of the future began feeling the consequences of what she had done. 

"Oh no are you okay!" Lucy yelled out, free from her daze, as she rushed to the blonde's aid. 

"No!" Happy added as he began running towards the two as fast as he could. Natsu's arm hung limply at his side as his mind was trying to process everything that had happened. His face completely blank of all emotion as his figure trembled, visibly shaken at the ordeal.  

"What? There are two of them? How could this be?" Rogue asked bewildered. 

Lucy and Happy both reached her at the same time, as black smoke began billowing out of the wound. Lucy used her arm to prop her future self forward. "Just hang on!"

"I didn't do it. I didn't close the gate." Future Lucy stated. "I would never do that..."

"I know you didn't!" Lucy eagerly said trying to support her future self as she looked at her with worry. "I promise, I won't either no matter what! But, why? Why didn't you protect yourself!" Lucy chastised not understanding why the girl sacrificed herself. 

Future Lucy smiled weakly at her present self. "You're part of my past. If you were to die, then I would die too." She explained. "In a way, dying is the only way I could live." 

"Lucy..." Happy mumbled sadly as he tried to fight back the tears. 

"It's so strange...I never thought I would die in my own arms you know? It's kind of comforting." 

"Stop! Stop talking like that! You're gonna be okay, you're going to make it! I promise, I won't let you die!" 

The stunned group really began to take notice of the situation at hand. Wendy began lightly crying as she knew that future Lucy would die. 

"Can't we save her?" Pantherlily asked. "We can use healing magic!" 

"I'm afraid that wound is to severe. There is nothing we can do." Carla answered dejectedly.

Future Lucy, despite the excruciating pain in her side, continued to be strong. "Don't cry, it's okay. I thought that I would never get to see my friends again, but I did one last time and that's enough to make up for the hell I've been through."

"Lucy..." Happy reached over the end of her cloak and placed his paws over her concealed arm. "Just try to hang in there, we need you." She couldn't help but smile lovingly down at him, as a mother would towards her child. 

"I'm not the Lucy you know, I'm from a different time. A whole other world, there is no reason for you to cry." She reached her lone hand out, placing it on the side of his cheek. Happy grabbed it as if it were a lifeline and began sobbing against it. "The me that lives in this time, she gets to keep on living with her friends, so you don't need to be sad." 

"But we are sad!" Happy's voice began growing louder as his emotions poured out of his small little body. "We don't care what world you come from, because no matter what anybody says you're still our Lucy!" Tears ran down his face, as the temperature around them began to gradually increase. "You're our friend and we love you! We don't ever want to lose you, so of course we're sad how could we not be!" He finished as he fully enveloped her arm with his paws while future Lucy consoled him as best as she could. Behind them, Natsu's fidgets became less and less from shock, and more from anger. His bangs shadowed his eyes as he stood there like a statue. 

"Hey, could you let me see your guild mark?" Lucy looked down at her dying future self and was surprised at the request. Bringing her hand in front of her eyes, she showed off the pink Fairy Tail emblem. Future Lucy's own hand came up, placing her fingers on it as a forever ago memory resurfaced before her. The thought causing waterworks to begin themselves uncontrollably. 

"Where's yours? What happen?" Lucy asked with her own tears ready to fall as she tried imagining what had happened to her future self in her own time. In a cruel twist of fate, simultaneously Lucy, future Lucy, and Natsu all experienced the exact same memory.

"Hey Natsu, look!" A much younger looking Lucy Heartfilia excitedly called out to her friend. "Mirajane just put the official Fairy Tail mark on my hand!"  

Eyes still hidden from view, the increasing built up temperature was beginning to leak out as the fire dragon slayer was about to blow. Holding her comfortably in her arms, Lucy could only look at her own self in shock. 

"I just wish..." Future Lucy's lessening voice expressed before she lost all feeling and her head rolled off to the side. Finally, those unshed tears Lucy had been holding back burst through the gate as they continued to fall endlessly. As if signifying the end of a challenging journey, future Lucy's hand slipped to the floor, still. 

Both Lucy and Happy wailed over her body as Wendy hugged Carla and Pantherlily, while Loke stood angrily. Her final words continued to repeat itself within all of them. 

"Please...protect the future." 

The grieving duo continued on, while Wendy and Loke turned and watched their, now adversary, closely. 

"How could she have forgotten she closed the gate?" Rogue questioned aloud incredulously.

"I don't care about your gate!" Lucy denied looking up. "I would never shut it, but you still, how could you!" She accused, her own anger revealing itself.

"You say that now, but you will. You have done it before and I know you will do it again." Rogue countered.

"I'm not going to shut the damn gate! Why do you keep accusing me? Cut it out, I haven't done anything to you!" Lucy shouted trying to defend her self.

"The gate will be closed, there is no way to prevent it! Not while you are still alive!" 

"You heard my future self say that she did no such thing! Tell me, why would I lie to myself?" 

Fed up with her existence, Rogue lashed out. "Her delusions are irrelvant! Every choice you think you have has been decided by fate!" Summoning the same shadowy blade that took her future self's life, he prepared to throw it, aiming to end the Heartfilia line in its tracks. 

Reaching his boiling point, Natsu spun around in fury. "And I'm going to turn fate, into a pile of ashes!" Darting like a bolt of lightning, Natsu lit his fist ablaze and slammed it into Rogue. The power of the flames so intense that it forced the corrupted dragon slayer to slide backwards down the hall. 

"I ain't letting anybody steal Lucy's future...not while I'm alive!" Natsu declared enraged. He couldn't help but shed a tear for his lost friend as he remembered her final statement.

Please...protect the future.

"I will, I promise!" He swore as he put himself fully between his friends and Rogue. His bangs overshadowing his right eye that began glowing a bright red, promising revenge.

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As if sensing the threat, the airborne beasts began circling around and towards the fire dragon slayer. Flying wing to wing, three dragons opened their mouths and fired jet streams of flames down at Natsu. He simply smirked. Taking flight, courtesy of a rock that exploded beneath him, he jumped up while lighting himself on fire. He began shooting off different spells in his arsenal. 

FIRE DRAGON's BRILLIANT FLAME! He slammed the double spheres of fire into the first dragon, doing massive damage and sending it plummeting into the earth below. 

ROAR! He responded with his own breath attack just narrowly missing the second dragon. His next mark landed, however. 

FIRE DRAGON's CRUSHING FANG! Coming down right on top of him, the dragon opened its jaws wide prepared to consume the pest only for Natsu to right himself mid-air, and in perfect timing, as he delivered a crushing blow that sent it flying away. He continued to duke it out, dragon after dragon, as Lucy watched on helplessly, the only sign of her friend being the explosive wakes of fire left in his path. 

"Natsu! It's no use!" She called out despairingly. "Please, stop!" 

Hearing her with his enhanced dragon slayer hearing abilities, he chuckled to himself after completely taking down another monster. "I ain't giving up that easily Luce! You know me better then anyone else." 

Eyes tracking another dragon, Natsu was fired on from behind and engulfed in a large fireball that caught him by surprise, sending him careening into the destroyed land. "Ahh!"

"Natsu!" Lucy shouted trying to find her friend's location.

"I ain't quitting." She heard the determination written clearly in his voice. The strength and power of the Fairy Tail guild. The refusal to back down, the never ending hope. "I refuse." He picked himself up as the wind settled back down fully revealing himself. The same dragon that had nearly killed his friend and looked down on him as if he were an insect was soaring high above, then it began to charge down at him. He accepted the challenge.

"I won't run." He stated while fully standing up, glaring up at the monstrosity before him. "And I won't turn back." 

Something was telling him this was it as he lit his fist ablaze. Something he had done so simply whether it was dealing with a dark mage on a job or taking down a dark guild master himself. This was the end. The ferocious roar of the fire dragon king, Igneel, could be faintly heard as Natsu set himself fully on fire. Using his flames as a boost, he once again fired himself into the sky one last time.

"Do you hear me? You're done for bastard!" 

FIRE DRAGON's...

"NATSU!" Lucy cried out, tears in the corner of her eyes, as she reached out for the one closest to her despite him feeling so far away. Shining like a star in front of her, she watched in horror as the golden ball of fire disappeared in all its glory. The dragon chomped down on the heart of Fairy Tail, before it too exploded from the inside leaving neither combatant the victor. 

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Growling, Natsu watched Rogue shoot backwards giving him the opening he needed. Turning his head lightly to the side he glanced back at Lucy and the rest of his friends. "Lucy, get out of here right now." He demanded.

Lucy looked at him sadly. "I can't." She looked down at her future self's body, no longer moving. She was truly gone. 

Knowing she needed support, Loke came up behind her offering his hand to her. "Natsu's got this, let's go." She continued to battle herself, before Loke decided for her and grabbed her hand taking her with him. Seeing Happy, Wendy and the rest of their gang departing, Lucy and Loke followed them leaving Natsu to face off against Rogue alone.  

Gathering his bearings, Rogue marched off after them. "You're not going anywhere!" He ordered. Once more he was met with a fiery punch from a hateful Natsu who slammed into him head on, sending Rogue into the floor. 

"Natsu Dragneel-" Rogue was unable to finish his speech as once again the fire dragon slayer's fists rammed through him catching on fire as they slid further back. His full intentions, were to gain ground between them and the rest of their group. The decreasing distance he saw of Lucy and the rest caused him to lightly smile.

Looking back to their former location, Lucy whimpered for both her deceased future self and lively fiery comrade. Please, be safe Natsu.

Natsu's smirk widened as he held his fists out in front of him wanting to pound the murder in. He hurt Lucy, and for that he is going to pay!

"I never once doubted you'd try to stop me." An echoey voice spoke, which quickly revealed itself to be Rogue's. Rising back up, now lit entirely with shadows around him, he shrugged. "Oh well. It doesn't really matter, because your fate is already sealed." Turning completely into a shadow, he shot towards the palace wall and begin using the ceiling as his pathway to get by Natsu. 

"Even if you manage to defeat me, the dragons will still kill you." He ominously added as his shadow passed above Natsu.

"Bastard, I didn't pay you for a butcher." He stated as he watched the shadow switch to the side of the wall.

"Time changes a person." Rogue revealed as he shot off the wall and was behind Natsu back in his human flesh. "Unfortunately for you...time is limited!" 

Shadows began surrounding Natsu who crossed his arms and forced his stance up, as he began fueling off all the rage inside of him. The shadows vanished as he stared at the floor. "Your mistake Rogue...was taking something very precious to me...right before my eyes."

"What?" Rogue asked uncertain still surrounded in his own shadows. Natsu continued looking down, the wrath in his voice increasing by every word.

"I don't like the way you do things. I promised her. I'm going to protect the future." He finally looked up, glaring the man down. "And I'll do it my way!" Natsu proclaimed as fire shot off him. 

"A duel between dragon slayers, what is this round two? It doesn't matter I am sure to win!" Rogue smirked evilly. 

"Just shut up and fight." Natsu growled. 

Fire and shadows clashed, one led by rage, and the other guided by determination. Both dragon slayers were sent backwards, neither one able to become the dominant force. Flaring up with his shadow powers, Rogue disappeared back into the floor, before shooting back up the wall and onto the ceiling. Natsu looked around trying to pinpoint where Rogue would pop out from, only to be shocked as underneath him became a cloak of darkness. He tried to shield himself like earlier, but the point black range was proving too much for even him to fight off. Laughing to himself, Rogue sent a shadow attack and blasted the dragon slayer backwards giving him a little taste of his own medicine. 

"Question for ya...did you really come here to save the future?" Natsu gasped out while on his knees trying to recover his magical power. Rogue flinched back on instinct at the man's smile. He stood back up. "My nose is telling me you're nothing but evil!" Rogue responded with a grin of his own, this one being more sinister. 

The ground began rumbling as parts of the walls and ceiling began collapsing in on itself. "What's that sound?" Natsu asked looking around trying to figure out what causing such a massive commotion. 

"The Eclipse...." Rogue began darkly laughing in front of him. "IT IS FINALLY OPENING!" Righting his mind, Natsu watched as Rogue flashed at him in a spiral. "Even without killing Lucy Heartfilia, time moves forward!" 

Quickly raising his arms to block, Natsu summoned enough fire to shield most of himself from the attack. However, it wasn't enough to dispel it, forcing him to have to try and withstand it. 

"But still, she will get in the way of things without fail!" With added fire, Natsu finally broke the barrier and sent them both away from one another. "She will close the gate! It's set in stone!" Rogue, now in his own anger, sent bullet like projectiles made of his shadows directly at the dragon slayer. 

"No way she would ever do something like that! I know Lucy, a hell of a lot better then you! I know she would never destroy our future!" Lighting his hands on fire again, he blocked the shadow bullets and went after Rogue.

"Move aside!" Rogue ordered, flaring up a shadow like shuriken in his palm before launching it at his opponent. With no where to dodge, Natsu was forced to take it in full force as he roared in pain. "I will end her life, and you can't stop me!" He smugly grinned.

Breaking out, Natsu back flipped himself onto the ceiling before throwing himself off it and back onto Rogue. "No you won't touch her!" Spreading his arms wide, suddenly both fire and lightning began bursting off the dragon slayer. "Change mode..."

LIGHTNING FIRE DRAGON! Exploding in both fire and sparks, Natsu bolted right towards Rogue harshly. The dragon inside...it was wanting out. Backed by a swirling amount of flames, a bolt of lightning electrocuted Rogue as if it were a missile. Only, using his forearm to block it...Rogue was unscathed!

"Is this the power you have hidden from me all those years ago?" He questioned amazed as his right shoulder sleeve was torn completely off. Seeing Natsu's other hand about to deliver a devastating blow, his revealed eye began glowing a dark bluish black. Natsu jumped back sensing the change in power, as half of Rogue's black hair turned white. 

WHITE SHADOW DRAGON! Natsu's eyes went wide at the familiarly of that spell. He didn't have much time to think on how Rogue had ability to use that type of power, however as he took a shot to the chest from the future man in his new form. 

"At last...light and dark working together as one." The new and improved Rogue spread his own arms wide mimicking Natsu's former movements as he shot fourth his hand. 

WHITE SHADOW DRAGON's SILK! Thin projectiles of light and darkness bombarded the dragon slayer who had no time to avoid and roared out from the hits. Pieces of the wall and ceiling began being destroyed by the velocity of the spell as Natsu continued to take blow after blow. He was finally thrown back as he landed with a small thud against the palace floor.

"White...shadow?" Natsu asked fighting through the pain. His adrenaline was all over the place and he could barely think straight. 

Rogue darkly chuckled as he rose his now blackened right arm. "I took Sting's powers when I ended his life." He ignored the glare he was receiving in that moment. "It wasn't easy, but it was absolutely necessary. In retrospect, I should of honestly done it sooner." 

"Amazing, I knew you were all about darkness, but I had no idea you cared so little about life!" Natsu accused as he began feeling some of his fire rekindling before it snuffed itself forcefully. Another powerful combined light and shadow attack had him on the verge of unconsciousness as he fought to stay awake. It was a losing battle, as he slowly started losing his vision, the last of his sight being a smug looking Rogue.

"Well, now you know...and you can take that with you to the grave!" Rogue evilly revealed his plan as he once more lit himself up in his white-shadow mode. Only, his eyes began to grow wider as he realized some sort of new transformation taking place and his mode access had been closed off. 

"Sorry pal, I just got word you've already received a free trip there. I'm just the one who is going to aid you and help make it happen!" Natsu's figure became engulfed in an inferno of crimson flames as Rogue listened to the fire dragon slayer's voice change. Not a change in tone, but more, personality. 

"Who the hell are you!" Rogue shouted keeping himself on high alert at the extraordinary boost of power. 

"Just somebody trying to keep my vessel alive. I want to thank you personally by the way." Natsu's new form stated as he walked out of the dying inferno and now had bright red eyes and two small horns sticking out of his spiky pink hair. 

"Thank me for what?" Rogue asked slowly dropping his guard. 

"For bringing him so close to death, that I could take control and end your life myself." They replied as in a flash of fire, Rogue was sent hurdling into the castle walls brutally. Not even giving the white-shadow mage time to recover, they once again buried him in a sphere of fire as Rogue had to put everything into his magic to not be burnt into a crisp.

"See how bad you're struggling?" They darkly chuckled. "This isn't even a fourth of my power, human." 

Rogue took notice of that jab and fired back with his own. "Human?" He laughed at the insult. "Are you implying that you aren't human? What are you then?" 

"That's none of your concern." 

"That must be why Natsu Dragneel is so strong then, he's not even human!" Rogue greedily began speaking to himself aloud. "We're close in magical strength, I would even say I am stronger then him now. If I can beat you and kill him, then I can control both of your powers!"

Before he could comprehend it, the full might of whatever was controlling the former fire dragon slayer, had him by the throat with a fire sword in his hand. "How dare you compare yourself to us. You dare believe you can kill me and take my power, mortal?" 

Despite the increasing amount of doom, Rogue hastily nodded. "I know I can, nothing in this world is unbeatable! Natsu Dragneel has proven that! I will discard you and him and-"

"Then I will end your fantasies here and now!" 

Raising the flaming sword for the fatal strike, the mysterious power that held command over the dragon slayer began wavering.

"What's happening?" Rogue asked curiously. 

"She draws near..." The monster holding him growled before throwing Rogue through the castle wall as he went flying into the night sky. "You lucked out human...you better hope I don't gain control again against you." The dark voice lessened before it finally succumbed into its dormant state as Natsu fell onto his back unmoving. 

The castle was caving in on itself, but she didn't care. She had to reach him! Reaching the corridor they had ran away from, she returned to it determined to make sure her friend was alright. She refused to lose both of them! 

"NATSU!" Lucy called out as she spotted him still in the center of the blast zone. Dodging falling debris, she and Loke dragged him away to safety. Certain it was okay, they propped him against the wall as Lucy tended to him. She began straining herself as she fought to urge to fall asleep. Loke easily noticed it and planted a hand on her shoulder in support.

"Let me head back Lucy so you can regain some of your power." Lucy wanted to shake her head disapprovingly, but knew she needed him to go back to the Celestial Spirit realm. "Fix him up then meet with the rest of us at the gate. We don't know what to expect at this point and hopefully Princess Hisui and Arcadios will listen to us this time." 

"Alright." Lucy agreed, although stubbornly. "See you soon."

"Be safe Lucy."

"I will." With a flash, Loke disappeared leaving her alone with the battle beaten fire dragon slayer. As she tended to his bruised face, she couldn't help but notice two small horns protruding from his hair. She blinked her eyes, and when she looked at that same spot, the two horns had vanished. 

Did I imagine that?

Lucy continued patching her boneheaded friend up as she tried healing his chest wound. It would leave a big scar, but she was sure he wouldn't mind to much. He had plenty of them and she was certain he would continue to gather them as if they were his own personal collection. It corresponded rather well with his room full of memorabilia to be honest. "What did you go through back there Natsu?" She asked sadly while wrapping the bandage around him. 

"Nothing to worry about." A raspy voice caught her attention as she looked up and was shocking to see bright onyx orbs staring back at her. "I'm glad you're alright Lucy." Unable to prevent it, Lucy tightly wrapped her arms around his torso as she squeezed him, making sure she was gentle with his injuries. 

"Thank you..." She whispered against him before pulling away and seeing his conflicted state. 

"I thought I told you to run away though?" He looked at her quizzically. "Lucy..."

"I couldn't help it okay! Future me's death gave me crazy thoughts and so I came back to make sure you were alright dummy!" She pouted in protest smacking him on top of his head. 

"Well I'm as good as new now, thanks to you!" He cheered causing her to smile. 

"So, did you beat him?" Lucy asked wondering if he had been successful or not. She was a little put off as Natsu seemed to look at her distantly. "Natsu?"

"Well...not exactly. In truth, I don't really know where he went." Or how the fight ended for that matter.

"WHAT?" Lucy asked standing up and then looking down at him accusingly. "Natsu what did you do with him!" 

"Nothing-I swear, at least I don't think I did anything?" He jumped up and countered her stare with one of his own. A few seconds passed and the duo burst into laughter despite the uncertainty building around them and their future. 

"I think we should get back with the others." Lucy stated before she began to lightly blush at the intense stare the dragon slayer was giving her. "W-What Natsu?" 

His expression lightened as he gave her his signature grin and chuckled. "I want you to know that I meant what I said back there. Every single word." Shocked, she allowed him to draw her close as she rest her head against his shoulder. "As long as I am alive, not a single thing will be stealing your future before it can be completed. Kind of like that story you've been trying to write, ya know?" 

Lucy wondered if the dragon slayer had more to say, the tension between them was so tight...

"Well, let's go regroup with the others!" Natsu cheerily decided as he grabbed her hand and dragged her along with him. Lucy whined in frustration as she cutely pouted.

Why do you always play with my heart like you do, but at the same time...I don't mind. I'm just so glad you're still here with me. I can't imagine having to go through a future without you, Natsu.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Her eyes slowly opened, as if they had been closed for an eternity. The golden grasslands, much brighter then her blonde hair, expanded in every direction and went out to almost anywhere. The sky was blue, vastly different then the blood red she had been forced to endure. She slowly rose up, realizing she had been resting on a hill.

"What was that?" She wondered to herself surprised. "A dream?"

She finally took notice of her right hand as she instantly brought it close towards her. She turned it around and saw the pink insignia of the Fairy Tail guild stamped on it and lovingly cherished it once more as she closed her eyes. Taking a few breaths, she reopened them expecting to be in another nightmare, only to be astonished as she continued seeing the golden fields around her and the beautiful blue sky above. Standing up, she looked around at the vast open area around her and could only wonder where she was. She took a few steps looking for a place to a go, when a voice stopped her in her tracks. 

"Hey, Lucy!" They called out to her. She turned around wondering who had said her name and noticed the many silhouettes before her. "Would you get over here already?"

"Everyone's been waiting on you!" Another voice cheered happily as Lucy continued looking back at them. Suddenly, she took notice of their appearance as she gasped. Tears began to build themselves in the corner of her eyes as she couldn't believe what she was seeing. With a chuckle, Natsu in his full colorful glory ran down the hill and held out his hand to her. 

"Come on, we still have adventures to go on!" He explained as his scarf flew behind him mightily in the wind. Lucy finally blinked her eyes as long tearful nights and hellish nightmares were finally over. She was free.

"Yea!" Lucy dazedly nodded, continuing to cry at seeing her lovable dragon slayer, the one from her timeline, alive and well. She grabbed his hand and he took it as if she were a princess, his princess, pulling her behind him and smiling back at her all the way. Happy flew next to them as the original gang had formed back together and they ran up to an awaiting and lively Fairy Tail.

[whumping-seven-days-a-week]

Highway to Hell

(this is my new series and I’d love it if anyone could provide feedback)

@whumpcereal @darkthingshappen @oddsconvert @painsandconfusion @lonewhumper @shywhumpauthor @some-messed-up-writing-for-you (if you’re on this list then congrats, you’re my fave writers! Also I will not tag you again after this)

I will not lie this was a bit rushed but I felt so desperate to post something.

Part One

Tears cascaded down Kelsey’s cheeks as she let the door shut behind her. One more year she was constantly reminded. One more year. When other people tell her that, they seem to neglect the fact that a year is a long time.

She brushed the tears from her face and ran to the bathroom to examine her mascara streaks. Staring in the mirror has a funny effect on time. You feel like you were there for a couple of seconds when in reality you’ve been there for hours, thinking about your face. Your body. How bad it looks. How Jennifer from school has a flatter stomach than you. How Lana has a smaller nose. Endlessly wondering how you could be better.

Glancing at her watch she noticed it was only 11:45 and yet she was already home from school. Luckily her parents were at work until late today.

Choosing PE as an a-level was a bad idea. And not just because of the shitty nature of the subject itself. At her previous school, there had been separate changing rooms for each person, but here, they all got changed in one room. This wouldn’t have been a problem… except for her scars.

Thousands of marks littered across her back, and chest. Different methods for each one, some newer than the rest. If she was in a joking mood she might have called herself mixed media paper. Normally it’s only her that laughs.

Laughing is like a coping mechanism. Inside she might feel like shit but no worries, let’s make the conversation more awkward by joking about her trauma. It’s one of the reasons her therapist isn’t done with her.

She isn’t normally so sensitive when people notice her scars. But this time was different. They stared. They pointed. They whispered. Some of them even giggled. I mean what sort of person does that? Almost immediately she threw her shirt back on and dashed out of the room.

There were a bunch of burns too. The letter ‘c’ recurring almost everywhere. Cassian liked to do that. Mark her as his.

She scrubbed the mascara from her cheeks and made sure she was looking presentable. She didn’t know why, there was no way she was going back to school now. Not after the scene she just caused.

After unlocking the bathroom door and stepping out into the hallway, she headed to the kitchen to make herself some lunch. Most days she skipped lunch, but she didn’t have much else to do.

She pulled a knife from the block and started chopping the tomatoes. They looked a little old but she didn’t care. Just for a second, she could have felt certain she heard the upstairs floorboard creak. But who would be home? Not her dad- he’s in Spain for work and her mum was at some big work meeting.

‘Hey, Alexa! Play Kelsey’s mix’ she yelled to the device across the room. It was stress-relieving to yell. To shout. To scream. That one she worked out herself- no therapists required.

She hummed along to the tune and headed over to the trash can to peel the carrots. The only way she could ever cease the voices in her head was with music. She always managed to lose herself in it.

But then she heard a creak again. And this time it was louder. Closer.

Her head whipped around trying to find the source but there was no one there.

‘Mom!?’ she yelled apprehensively. Her anxiety was starting the build and her heart rate quickened, ‘are you there?’ Her voice was quieter that time. So quiet it was almost a whisper.

She placed the carrot on the counter and grabbed her knife from earlier. Whoever was there was not meant to be there.

‘I said, is anybody there.’ Kelsey tried to sound threatening but the fear in her voice was evident.

The police. She needed to call the police. Her eyes flicked to the counter but her phone wasn’t there. Shit. She left it in the bathroom.

Slowly, she made her way to the bathroom, almost tripping over a shoe. She locked the door behind her and grabbed her phone from the sink.

She began to dial the numbers. 9. 1. Then she looked up. Biggest mistake of her life.

‘Hey there baby doll, missed me?’ Cassian. Fuck. Fuck! His voice was cruel, laced with fake sweetness. In the mirror she could see him lurking in the far corner, pointing his gun at her.

She dropped her phone from fear, and as he walked towards her, stayed frozen. His eyes were a piercing blue, so bright you could see them from a mile away. They just made him more intimidating.

Kelsey stared. She stared for a while as he brought his hand to hold her face and as she shuddered under his grasp. Her mind desperately grasped for a way out. ‘I-I’ she stuttered, ‘I, Cassian, p-please, just-just leave me alone.’ Fear was choking her.

‘Listen here,’ he said, ‘you be a good girl and come with me and it won’t be as bad when we get home. How does that sound?’ Home. But not her home.

It took all of her strength to not follow him, lean into his gentle touches. Instead, she ran. Only a couple of steps to the door where she grabbed the doorknob. It didn’t open. It was locked.

Those couple of seconds trying to unlock the door cost her. Cassian was onto her in an instant, grabbing her and wrestling her to the floor. Sure, Kelsey threw some punches, but she was only small. 5,3 to be exact whilst Cassian was definitely at least 6 feet.

She was surprised her heart didn’t come crashing out of her chest at the ferocity of its pounding. Her eyes were streaming again.

He straddled her waist a began to look through his bag whilst Kelsey threw some weak punches. It was pathetic. But she’d rather be pathetic than give up.

When she tried to scream, it was as if her voice didn’t work. It was trapped in her throat as Cassian pulled a syringe.

‘I’d stay still if I were you.’ he laughed so casually. It was fucking demonic.

He held her head with one hand and injected the yellow liquid with the other.

It took effect almost immediately. The world began to spin and all of her remaining strength felt drained. She just about managed to slur a few words before rolling over onto her front, when the drug took control. The last thing she heard was her music.

Highway to Hell by AC/DC. Ironic.

[time-bone-swap-au]

Angsty thought. Bc I'm evil.

Imagin if, near his final moments. MBK was just MK. Just a scared kid(at least that's how all the Demons see him-) a scared kid who doesn't want to die, to just stop existing. He just wanted his family back! His life! Now here hes laying. At deaths cold terrifying embrace. Hes crying. Sobbing, begging for dadsy,Mr tang. Monkey king. ANYONE to please just wake him up j-just hold him again. He just wanted his life back, but, the gang doesn't understand. They just stare. Not knowing what to do at the villain who haunted them for so long..just, turning into a crying sobbing mess.

But they fail to notice the two Gold and sliver demons behind them. Too weak to comfort their big brother in his time of need. Only watching as MBK slowly dies a lonely death.

(Idk if this is accurate. But I thought of it)

Actually the death goes like.

He’s lying there next to Bai He, the rest keeping their distance, Bai He has his back in her waste and his head on her hand.

MK utters

‘You and I are not so different…we both fight for what we think is right…’

‘That pursuit only leads to one thing…’

‘To destiny?’

MK pauses, he begins to remember this quote…this scene…

While not exactly the same…it was going to end where it all began…

‘Pain’

MK starts having flashes of his old life, the life he spent thousands of years fighting for…keeping his sanity, causing the world pain because it wasn’t the world he fought for…

And tears start to form…

Because he realizes…that world doesn’t exist…

Not anymore…

His family hates him

His mentor hates him

His friends hate him

And the one person he hated more than anything is holding him caringly in her arms…

How the roles have been reversed…

Guess Lady Bone Demon was right…

No matter what he does…it’s going to lead to pain…

Because…as he was hurt…

So did he hurt others…

He deserves this…

‘It doesn’t have to be…’

He looks at the child holding his head gently, to the point it’s raised…she sees her hand on his…as gentle as a swan, it held the charred arm…

And she saw her smile…

And from that smile…

He saw himself…the once empathetic version of himself…willing to see past the Lady Bone Demon…

And with his tears…

He finally gave a genuine smile…and a genuine chuckle…causing her surprise…

‘You…’

‘Are a husk of what I was…’

He smiled, knowing a piece of his soul remains…

Maybe he could give himself victory…by leaving the very part of him that remains…and destroying the very part of her that was left…

He closed his eyes to rest…knowing that there was that part of them…to watch after them while he was gone…

And as his body begun to disintegrate due to age…he smiled and closed his eyes to rest.

‘Goodbye…Bai He…’

MK turns into a pile of bones, leaving nothing but the cool blue mist behind, Bai He stares at the stars as the mist go up unto the sky…

That was the first time he called her by name…

And by that…MK was at peace…

[trickstarbrave]

wip whenever

i got tagged by @orfeoarte and since i usually post five thousand art wips heres a wip of moon and star

idk whos all been tagged. if u see this count this as me tagging you. i wanna see ur wip

voryn goes home and nerevar gets Sad. ft cameo from my friends oc virelos bc i am running out of chimeri names

.

As they approached the stronghold proper, Voryn slid off Nerevar’s back, eager to walk on his own two feet. A guard noticed, his face contorting to first disbelief, and then joy. “Lord Dagoth!” He shouted, and Nerevar could see the subtle flinch in Voryn’s shoulders. It would take some time for him to get used to being called “lord” rather than “young lord” or “heir”. Especially when the emotional wound of his mother’s death was still so raw. 

“Virelos,” Voryn greeted, watching as the guard whistled. A few more guards spilled out, each cheering, before rushing inside. More members of House Dagoth, many still in mourning robes, came pouring out with cheers that their lord had been returned safely. A smile tugged at Voryn’s lips that he couldn’t help. “I see everyone has been awaiting my return.”

“My lord,” The guard was smiling too, far too wide from his face. “We had feared we lost you as well. To see you return in the flesh is… What we all hoped for but were terrified may never happen.” 

“I would never leave you all.” Voryn reassured him as Araynys and Vemyn quickly stepped outside and brought Voryn into a tight hug. 

“Damn s’wit…” Vemyn hissed. “You had me so worried I thought my damn heart would stop.” Vemyn had an injury on his arm still bandaged, and Araynys had his head bandaged as well. It seemed the nords had attempted to attack them all and take the one who fell unconscious first.

Nerevar stopped the others a few paces back, keeping a respectful distance from the stronghold as he watched the scene unfold. At first he smiled with warmth and relief to see Voryn back home amongst his brothers and his house, before an empty feeling started to claw its way into his chest. 

There, in that scene of Voryn being embraced by his brothers while members of House Dagoth cried tears of joy and said prayers to the three, Voryn looked as though he belonged. Despite being weary from his travels--exhausted, still slightly injured, and his usually pristine appearance disheveled--there was no denying how right he looked in such a scene. How he truly looked like he was the lord he was born and raised to be, beloved by his people. He was home, and he looked like it. 

A lump formed in Nerevar’s throat, a heaviness settling in his chest and limbs. The ache only grew worse as he realized why he felt such a way.

Nerevar never knew his parents in either life. Not as the Nerevarine, and certainly not now. He could only guess at who they were, and where he came from. All he had to go off of was Voryn’s story that his hometown was destroyed before he ended up at Kogoruhn and caught the heir’s eye by chance. Given he was raised by House Mora, he could only infer his mother was probably a chimer, though maybe he had been abandoned at the edge of their town and been taken in for a time, given his last name out of pure pity and nothing more. 

But what he did know was after his hometown was destroyed and the members of it slowly regrouped and spread out from the urban sprawl around the stronghold, was that no one took Nerevar with them. No one wrote him letters. No one asked about him. 

Voryn had a place he called home. A place where he belonged. He had people who worried about him, fussed over him, and missed him dearly. A family who missed him. A lineage he could trace back. He had a parent who raised him well and loved him dearly--going so far as to spoil him to a degree by letting his friend live in the stronghold as his playmate--and brothers who fussed over him and worried for him. 

Nerevar didn’t have that. 

Certainly, Nerevar had friends; he’d never deny that. He had friends who cared about him, and a lover who was passionate about him, but never really a home. He had temporary places he stayed be it apartments or camps, but never a place that was his. Even now he stayed in Voryn’s manor, and before that lived in House Dagoth’s stronghold. But as much as he didn’t want to be, he knew in the end he was an outsider. 

Outsider. Outlander. Half-breed. Someone who didn’t even know the name of his own parents. Someone who likely was never wanted in the first place. Someone who always had to work to earn his keep, and someone who had to claw his way towards and beg for a spot at the table. Even when he was king, he didn’t truly belong in the house that adopted him. He wasn’t ever genuinely accepted or welcomed, instead only reluctantly allowed when circumstances demanded it. It was a constant across lifetimes, it seemed. 

Even if Voryn loved him, that didn’t mean the rest of his house would accept him. Nerevar was already well aware Gilvoth saw him as a manipulative, shitty excuse of a half-blooded chimer who was only taking advantage of his younger brother. He didn’t have to guess that most of Voryn’s brother’s had similar bad opinions of him. Uthol called him an outsider. Vemyn scowled at him in the halls the few times Nerevar passed him. Tureynul and Odros ignored him like he wasn’t even there most of the time. 

The heavy feeling in his heart grew. But he wouldn’t crumble and falter here; it wouldn’t be good to sour the joyful mood. He loved Voryn, after all, and by extension cared about the people who loved Voryn as well. They deserved their happy reunion before they resumed the funerary rites once more, and they deserved it without interruption. 

[whovianwatchingstartrek]

A Whovian Watches Star Trek for the First Time: Part 025 - A Strong Cold Open, and A Strong Cliff-hanger

Star Trek: Enterprise - Season 1 Episode 26 - Shockwave Part 1

So, I'm finally at the end of season 1. This season has been a nice little introduction to the Star Trek universe, and it's been really nice learning about the wider key elements of the universe alongside the characters, which I don't think is something I would have experienced if I start with the Original Series.

On the advice in the replies, I am gonna tackle Shockwave as two separate posts because of the season break between the parts. I'm also partially motivated by the fact that by sheer coincidence there are two separate Doctor Who Universe stories called Shockwave, so covering the parts separately means I get to do a comparison segment for both of those. But, onto the episode: The Episode starts with the Enterprise sending the shuttlepod down to a colony planet, everything seems calm, but then suddenly as they descend, the planet is suddenly engulfed in fire and explosions. Which is a hell of a way to cold open an episode.

It immediately seems pressing to figure what the fuck just happened. The Colony is just gone. Dead. The crew immediately notice things aren't adding up. It's looking like the shuttlepod's plasma exhausts ignited the explosion, but all logs indicate the plasmaducts were closed with no leaks.

The writing on Archer in this episode was great. He really felt like he carried the weight of just accidentally killing 3 and half thousand people.

Starfleet and the Vulcans shut down the Enterprise's mission. It's looking like the End of the Road. Seeing everyone's reactions to that news is interesting. Phlox's never ending optimism that new adventuring opportunities will present themselves, Trip taking the combative "The Vulcans will use this to hold us back" stance, Travis not really knowing if anything will live up to being aboard Enterprise. And, the highlight, T'Pol trying to convince Archer to fight back against the decision. She masks that as "It is your duty as captain to present your case", but really she's grown attached to the crew, she just isn't ready to admit it.

After that attempt at being convinced, Archer hits the bed, and is instantly sent back in time by Daniels, the Temporal Cold War future guy from Cold Front. Which means, whatever happened to the colony: It's related to the Temporal Cold War. The Explosion wasn't supposed to happen. This is finally what kicks Archer into action. With help from Daniels, and some previous readings from Malcolm, evidence of sabotage was found, and the crew start moving to take down the Suliban ship that sabotaged the shuttle

This was a great Season Finale. Seeing everyone working on top form with the future of the whole mission at stake was excellent, and the action sequence of T'Pol, Archer and Trip moving to get proof of sabotage from the Suliban Stealth Ship held me captive.

Shadowy Future Guy showed up again. There still isn't much on his specific motives, but now plans to kidnap Archer. I really want to know more about our main villain's motivation. Being an elusive mystery is fine early on, but an elusive mystery with no answers or even clues gets old quick.

Our cliff-hanger leading into Season 2 is Archer sacrificing himself over the Suliban to save Enterprise. He gives command over to T'Pol. This scene was honestly kind of sad. It genuinely brought a tear to my eye. Then to find as he left the bridge, Daniels throws him into the future, to find an apocalyptic wasteland, leaving the Suliban to attack enterprise. This is a heavy cliff-hanger. I genuinly can't even begin to predict how Archer is gonna get back to his own time. Daniels' time equipment is gone, he's stuck in the dead future. And the Enterprise itself is about to be shot down with no chance of escape.

I am really looking forward to seeing how this is resolved. I can't wait, and I only have to wait a day, I can't begin to imagine how it must have felt to wait a whole season gap for the conclusion.

Comparing my Enjoyment of this Episode with a Doctor Who Universe Story of the Same Title

Doctor Who: Destiny of the Doctor - Part 7: Shockwave

So, the Destiny of the Doctor anthology was a set of 11 short hour long audiobooks, one with each doctor, released in 2013 in the lead up to the show's 50th Anniversary. I don't know how seriously Trekkies take their show's anniversaries, but in the Doctor Who fandom we go wild with anniversary fever, especially back when the 50th rolled around. There was so much content released 2013 celebrating the shows history. I could talk about Destiny of the Doctor as a whole for a while, but really I'm only here to talk about one of it's stories.

Shockwave, the 7th story in DoD was in theory supposed to be sort of a quintessential celebration of the 7th doctor era and all of it's elements. In a lot of ways, it is very much is a very Season 26 7 and Ace Story. The Doctor takes Ace to a planet which's star is set to explode due to a spatial anomaly and is throwing out a lethal shockwave of Artron energy (In Doctor Who, that means Time Travel radiation). To Quote the Doctor, "We can't help them. It's already too late."

I'm gonna skip most of the plot summary stuff here, because this is already a long post.

To those of you who aren't familiar with Who, the Seventh Doctor is an interesting character. He often keeps his companions in the dark about his actual plans, sometimes to the point of being a manipulator, and that is definitely what happens here. The story is narrated from Ace's perspective, separated from the Doctor who is working away in the Shadows. Shockwave is a good example of a 7 and Ace story. Enjoyable, but because of the nature of what it is, it doesn't try to do anything new with the characters. I like 7 and Ace's character dynamic, but stories like this really make you long for the more emotionally charged stories where Ace finally snaps over the 7th Doctor's bullshit. That said, even without that kind of occasional plot beat from Ace that I love, this story still writes her really well. Her personal character arc in this one is really really well done.

As with all of the DoD stories, The Eleventh Doctor briefly steps in for a cameo that only begins to make sense when you get to the final story in DoD. It's one of the better DoD 11th Doctor cameos, certainly less intrusive than the one in the 4th Story.

Both Enterprise's Shockwave (Part 1) and Destiny of Doctor's Shockwave are enjoyable, but on the whole I would give the edge to Enterprise here for being more of a standout within it's on series. Enterprise's Shockwave was higher stakes than normal, it was. DoD Shockwave was just another "7 doesn't clue Ace in on his plans" story in a sea of other "7 doesn't clue Ace in on his plans" stories. A very good one of those, but with nothing that would make me recommend it over the other good examples of the 7 and Ace dynamic.