#time fracture saga

[opal-owl-flight]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO SPLOON3 AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NEO3!!!

(On the phone screen being shown to Neo3 is likely a leaked Grizzco document about how all the eggs had gone missing)

There is no way the platoon wont pull all the stops to make the day happy for their favorite salmon-raised shithead. Doesnt matter that they havent had proper sleep for the last 2 days.More deets below regarding the feat….

For years, things have been simmering below the surface of Grizzco. Upstarts in the ranks, dissatisfied workers, *vengeful* inkfish, salmonid sympathizers who infiltrated the system to find out how to help, much like the platoon.

Crack teams. Strike forces. secret unions.

There isnt a BIG number of them, and none of them really worked together like a well-oiled machine, but they all had the goal of tearing this damn corporation/mafia apart.

For a variety of reasons, really. For poor conditions or pay. For the deaths of their coworkers. To investigate the big runs in hopes of stopping more in the future. To steal the eggs and return them to sea.

The platoon pokes here and there, and does their own share of this backbreaking work. The second everyone got paid... these groups opened the floodgates. Theres a lot of em, grizzco cant get em all. (And the activities cant be tracked back to the platoon, unlike other times like the Cap4 saga.)

Nobody knew they were working alongside the legendary NSS.

----------

A pal of mine puts it best...

Imagine knowing your partner, sibling, best friend died and finding out it wasn't just them dying defending the places... they died cause some corporate fuck orchestrated the whole series of big runs.

And in the future, these groups catch wind of what the NSS knows. That the big runs were all Grizzco made. This drives most of the shills into a frenzy. Most of all the high-value volunteers who were only there for the grand run but was trapped by the corporation.

---------

Come a whole 24 hours after the grand run, Grizzco starts panicking.

because only 700 million eggs remained in their stores.

Thats what Neo3 gets for her birthday -- the fact that all the extra eggs were returned to the sea. It rejuvenates her to fight for the future, now that there IS a future to fight for.

More raids continued after, 3 putting her squarely in that leadership position for the NSS's strike force (now including 7 and the crew from the Cap4 arc!)

Eventually, only 500 mil remained. And then grizzco goes on lockdown and....well, lets just say they made some people disappear. None from the platoon's strike force, thankfully. Most were grizzco's own shills, up in the higher ranks. Blamed for the loss of the eggs *and* for not making the number back.

-----------

I wont say tgere werent any casualties on the upstarts, though. Some were caught and are in serious danger from the mafia, though none fell under the jurisdiction of the NSS. The fact is, the NSS wasnt aware of a lot of these cases due to how fractured all the upstarts are. (It allows the movement as a whole to not be immediately shut down after a few get caught, or something. So they say.)

(bonus pic without the caption!)

[marshmellohi]

Links Meet AUs List

A lot of AUs get lumped together with Linked Universe, so I wanted to make a list comprising any and all original Links Meet AUs I could find! Please let me know if I’m missing something, you want your AU to be removed, a link is broken, or if you know an AU’s status so it can be moved to the correct dedicated category.

DISCLAIMER: Please pay attention to the content warnings on some of these AUs! I haven’t personally read every AU so I don’t know what some contain, but if an AU has something you don’t vibe with, there are more than plenty of others that you will love on this list! Please be respectful and kind to everyone! This list is both for archival purposes and to appreciate the creativity of the community!

Additional Notes: Some AUs have dedicated Tumblrs, some can be found through original tags, some are only on ff.net or ao3, etc. I have a separate list for AUs limited to Discord/DMs that I have not included here unless I receive permission to do so! Also, if something is separated by ||, that means that theyre 2(+) separate AUs by the same creator in the same tumblr… if that makes sense LOL. This list is Always Updating so be sure to keep an eye out for any new AUs!

PUBLIC

• A Link to the Present

• Across the Galaxy

• Ageless Soul

• Bonus Links

• Branching Timelines

• Chain as Cryptids

• Chained Spirits

• Chains of Time

• Courage of Ages

• Culture Shock

• Deuy’s Links Meet

• Dimensional Links

• Dreamverse AU || Identity Fraud AU

• Echoes of Courage

• Exodus

• Fallen Heroes

• Garden of Heroes

• GodLinks

• Hearts Linked Together

• Heroes Spirit

• House of Heroes

• Kings Comic

• Limited Hero

• Link and the Links || Soldier Poet King

• Link Between Links

• Link Rejoin

• Linked Across Dimensions

• Linked Arena

• Linked By Illustrations

• Linked Dreamscape

• Linked End

• Linked History

• Linked Keys

• Linked Maze

• Linked Spirit

• Linked Through the Centuries

• Linked Universe

• Linked World

• Link’s Fun Road Trip

• Little Links

• Magic’s Wake

• Meowmix’s Linked-verse Journey

• Minas Linkverse

• Monstrous Fusion

• Names of Courage

• Realms of Hylia

• Recalled

• Rifts in Time

• Sister’s Linked Meets

• Suncaster

• Tangled Chains [Lou]

• Team Timeless

• That Broken Promise

• The Hyrulian Valhalla Saga

• The Links We Share

• The Phantom Timeline

• The Sacred Realm

• Too Many Links [Zee]

• Train Whistles and Wedding Bells

• Unchained AU

• Winter Links AU

PRIVATE

AUs where the info is limited to Discord, DMs, and/or friends. Not typically published/shared publicly. Permission is asked to acknowledge these AUs here before posting.

• A Linked Week

• Fractured Timelines

NON-LINK BUT THEY STILL MEET

Crossovers with Zeldas, Ravios, Ganons… pretty much the exact same thing but with other characters.

• Lots of Ravios

• LU Ravioverse

• Strangers Across Eras

• Voice of Wisdom

• Wielders of Wisdom

LINKMEET LITE

Links meet, but it’s not the focus of the story/in the background (example: a world where all the links exist at the same time but the focus is on one specific character/the others dont come up much)

• Father of Time

• Royal Reads

INACTIVE/DEAD

An AU qualifies for the inactive category when: 1.) its been 2+ years since an update and 2.) it’s unfinished; or, 3.) the creator explicitly stated that they were discontinuing it. LMK if one still has a pulse!

• Into the Zeldaverse

• Link and the Links

• Linked By Time

• Linking Together

• Misfortunate Monsters

• Tangled Chains

• Zelda in the Multiverse

UNSURE/MIA

AUs where I am unsure of the status and thus need to contact the creator, the creator’s deciding where to go with it, or I can’t locate the original page. This is mostly for me- consider this kind of like a ‘to do’ list. Any insight is welcome!

• Bagel’s AU (N/C)

• Birdo’s AU (U)

• Cotty’s Linkverse (N/C)

• Chain Reaction AU (Nuked)

• Factorial’s AU (N/C)

• Fortu’s AU (N/C)

• Hyrule Bound (N/C ; Iirc there was a fanfiction but I can’t find it anywhere)

• Link Madness’ AU (N/C)

• Minty’s Linkverse (U)

• Missing Links in Time (U)

[the-bi-library]

Here are bisexual books out in April!

Books listed:

In Universes by Emet North Dear Bi Men: A Black Man's Perspective on Power, Consent, Breaking Down Binaries, and Combating Erasure by J.R. Yussuf Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur Of Blood and Aether (Harbingers, #1) by Harper Hawthorne Saint-Seducing Gold (The Forge & Fracture Saga #2) by Brittany N. Williams Darker by Four (Darker by Four, #1) by June C.L. Tan Rough Trade by Katrina Carrasco The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford Moon Dust in My Hairnet by J.R. Creaden What Is Love? by Jen Comfort Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter The Boyfriend Fix by Lee Pini Playing for Keeps by Jennifer Dugan She Came for Blood (Dreamers & Demons: Sapphic Monsters Book 3) by Darva Green Call Forth a Fox by Markelle Grabo I'm The Same by James Ungurait Something Kindred by Ciera Burch Calling of Light (Shamanborn, #3) by Lori M. Lee Off With Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta Even If We're Broken by A.M. Weald Harley Quinn: Redemption (DC Icons Series Book 3) by Rachael Allen Rainbow Overalls by Maggie Fortuna Smile and Be a Villain by Yves Donlon Lights, Camera, Passion by Isabel Lucero Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer Aubrey McFadden Is Never Getting Married by Georgia Beers Court of Wanderers (Silver Under Nightfall, #2) by Rin Chupeco Good Mourning, Darling (Darling Disposition, #1) by Azalea Crowley All the Hype (Oak Haven Romance) by S. Bolanos The Devil to Pay by Katie Daysh Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris

You can find these books in this list on goodreads

[rrhodes25]

Okay so I have more thoughts on the Ithaca Saga, about Athena & Odysseus' relationship, and how it ends.

Spoilers ahead, for those who have not listened

This all came to me when I was listening to I Can't Help But Wonder. I couldn't stop thinking about what I kinda saw before as an offhanded phrase from Warrior of the Mind.

"Sounds like a plan, goddess and man, bestest of friends!"

"We'll see how it ends."

At the time, I thought this was just characterization for Athena. She's a goddess, she's very professional, and like the other gods we see she is somewhat dismissive of mortals and their emotions.

But we've seen how it ends now. The relationship is fractured beyond repair. There isn't resentment anymore, and Athena is the one reaching out to Odysseus, similar to how she did in Warrior of the Mind but not for the purpose of shaping him, not with the same professional tone. Athena has changed a lot, and is reaching out with compassion, with empathy, with care. She wants to be friends again.

But Odysseus changed a lot too.

He's exhausted. He has fought tooth and nail for decades to get home. He's been beaten, bruised, tortured without end. And Athena abandoned him so early in his journey. She wasn't there to help, to support. She didn't even watch it happen as it happened, she caught herself up after the fact in Love in Paradise. Athena did a lot that Odysseus didn't see, like take a lightning bolt to get him off Calypso's island, but even if Odysseus knew that I don't think it would be enough.

Odysseus is done with the fighting. He is done with the pain, the work, the strife. He's done with the gods. And that includes Athena. He just can't do it anymore.

When Athena said "We'll see how it ends." She thought she would be the one to end this. But she's wrong. Odysseus doesn't have the energy to repair the shattered relationship. He finally has control over his life again, and that life doesn't fit Athena.

I didn't do a ton of theorizing about what would happen in the final saga, with the exception of one thing. I thought Athena was going to be far more present. From what I understand about the Odyssey, which I have not read in its entirety but have had to read several sections of it for classwork, and I've sought out different summaries and discussions about it out of curiosity, Athena is very involved in the ending. So, that's sort of what I expected to happen in Epic. I knew Penelope and the Suitors would get their own songs before Odysseus would start killing people, but I figured that Odysseus, Telemachus, and Athena would get their own number somewhere in between Penelope's song and when Odysseus starts his murder-spree. I didn't know how the relationship would end, but I had figured that there would be some kind of reconciliation, and then the murdering would have a little bit more of a vibe like Little Wolf, albeit far darker.

None of this is to say I dislike where Jorge decided to take the final saga, I think it is deeply interesting and absolutely crushing how he decided to handle it. Honestly all this yapping hardly has a real thesis or point, I just wanted to get the thoughts out of my head.

I suppose the closest thing to an conclusion I can draw from this is that Jorge completely subverted my expectations, and crushed my soul in the process.

10/10, wouldn't change a thing.

If anyone has additional thoughts, feel free to share. I'm always open to folks more articulate than me weighing in.

[empressgeekt]

Trolls - Burning Branches AU part 1

Or alternate title, I have now been sucked down the sudden black hole that is this fandom and now the troll plot bunnies are running ramped around my Fanfic farm, because the creators of this franchise has added my weakness...Sibling relationships... Now I have plans for a two story saga in this fandom of which I wouldn't have glanced at with interest at all a month ago.

Well, that's enough rambling, Time to get into the meat of the fic plot.

So, while browsing on Ao3 I noticed that there was this Rock!Branch au, where Branch is separated from the pop-trolls as a kid and ends up being raised by Barb and Thrash of the Rock Trolls. I love this concept, more then some relatives of mine. But I want to put a little spin on it. I've been a big fan of amnesia/memory loss fics, and I noticed there was a lack of them in this fandom.

Brozone breaks up and Grandma dies like in canon, same old same old. However, in this AU Branch is forced to leave the Troll Tree as a kid, because there is a larger sigmatism about trolls who went grey. The Trolls are very clear that they want nothing to do with Branch. They are all already living with death at their door step and they don't need a grey child to constantly break the false image of happy paradise that the adults try to maintain in the Tree to keep themselves sane. Branch, with nothing else left for him in the tree, packs up and tries to leave to find his brothers, though he does worry if they would even want him now that he was grey.

After successfully escaping the town, (the bergens don't notice if a small troll vanishes in the middle of the night, they didn't notice the whole village packing up), Branch spends a terrifying night in the woods. Running away from what are "predator's" in the eyes of a small child. Until he accidentally, stumbles in the a wormhole. The wormhole sucks Branch away from, Pop territory to the outskirts of the Rock badlands. But in this new hot volcanic he is still far from safe. (I'm adding that their are harsh powerful dragons that roam around the Rock trolls territory, as there has to be some type of reason behind they turned their own music and instruments in the to energy weapons while the other tribes didn't. Not to mention the active volcanic activity everywhere!) While running away from some of these actual predators and dangerous lava pools, Branch gets shoved over a cliffside, and falls into one of the few rivers nearby. In the raging rapids, the little troll strikes his head against the rocky river bed. Knocking him out.

Meanwhile, Still-King Thrash is leading an expedition to the river to fetch water for the people of Volcano Rock City. Being the very soft and caring Father he is, once he sees a small child floating in the river he jumps in without a second thought, and pulls the child to the shore. He leaves the expedition in the hands of another Troll and brings the some how still alive child back to the City and into the care of a capable doctor. While waiting to hear if Branch will live, Thrash goes through the little sack the kid had with him. There's enough evidence for the king of rock to come to the conclusion that Branch was running away, and needless to say Thrash is furious. Who would be so cruel that dared to make a child in his kingdom feel so scared and unwelcomed that they would run away! (at this point due to Branch's greyness and the high emotions of the situation Thrash hasn't realized Branch is from Pop yet, not that it would matter in the long run he's still ticked off).

Eventually, the doctor (an old friend of Thrash's whom they have a deep trust between, I haven't named them yet), calls Thrash in. Thrash finds Branch unconscious on the medical bed with his head bandaged. The doctor tells Thrash that's its a miracle that Branch is even alive, but it would take a bigger one for the child to wake up. The underneath the blood of the wound was a skull fracture and possible brain damage. Then he mentions it would probably be better if Branch never woke up, and further explains Branch's nature as a pop troll, and his greyness. Thrash takes this information in with a sad heart. Stigma against pop was still running high in the Rock kingdom, despite Thrash wanting to believe his people could spare their bias to care for a wounded child, he knows that no foster family would take a pop troll in. He asks the Doctor to keep quiet about Branch, and that if the boy would wake up Thrash would take him in himself. He goes home and hugs Barb after an exhausting day, and asks her if she was open to having a little brother.

After a few weeks, Branch wakes up, but he has no memory of anything. Not his name. Not where he's from. Not how he got there. At this point the medical staff that were allowed to know about him, have taken to calling him Charcoal, or Char, after his perfectly black and shiny hair, and it just kind of stuck after that. Thrash has taken to visiting Branch, even before the boy was conscious, quickly growing fond over the boy and until he'd recovered enough to be taken to the royal cavern. Barb takes to having Char around very well. Having a younger sibling, gives her something to put her protectiveness towards. Thrash makes and announcement, claiming Char as his own to Rock, and putting the boy as second in-line for the throne.

Still it isn't all cupcakes and rainbows with Char in his new home. He has lasting effected form his head injury in the form of migraines and fainting spells. The child is plagued by nightmares, of Giants coming to eat him and old ladies. They frighten him so much he draws and designs traps and bunkers to keep himself safe. Some of the designs Thrash actually considers building in case of emergency. Music brings him to tears if it's too loud or sudden, or if Barb asked him to sing-along. His room is sound proofed, and he has a pair of headphones to block things out if needed. Thrash also finds that his new adoptive son, is far more book-smart then him or Barb, the rarely used Rock library becomes Char's second home. The child become well educated in History, engineering, math, sciences and politics.

It would take two years before, Barb managed to talk Char into coming to her music practice, where the kid learns that music is more then just noise that makes him feel scared/unsafe. Seeing the weapon music can be, something he can learn to protect himself with, Char becomes hooked on the idea of learning it. Too everyone's surprise, it comes to boy like second nature, and his voice is like that of an angel's.

Eighteen years pass, and Branch grows up to be, Prince Char, second born son to Thrash King of Rock. He's a known expert with a guitar, both as an instrument and a weapon, his reputation is that of a eerily smart and organized strategist, who is loyal to his family and people to a fault and ruthlessly protective. With Thrash's health, both physical and mental, in rapid decline, Barb is forced to take on the mantel of Queen earlier then she wanted, but this time she has a brother to lean on as an advisor. Which is a good thing, because between the two of them Char is a much better planner.

Pressure is turned up on the royal rock siblings, when an unexpected earthquake destroys the farmlands that feeds the city. Sure, volcanic soil can been great for growing plants, but rivers of lava and giant fresh trenches don't help at all. Barb flies off the handle, and begins to panic in quiet about what she needs to do to protect the people of Rock, while Char looks into historical records to see if the past king ever had to deal with issues like this. Eventually he stumbles on the knowledge that during ancient times if one of the tribes was in trouble they would call upon their sister tribes for aid.

"Oh that's great advise your books have, let's ask for help from our sworn enemies!" Barb would exclaim, "Wait...the other tribes! If they lasted as long as we did, then they must have resources! But they wouldn't help us...not unless they were just like us. We could use our string to convert..."

"Barb! I'm going to stop you right now. First one our string isn't powerful enough to over-write someone's genre, believe me I looked into it-"

"But if we get all the strings..."

"You mean steal them?"

"Yah!"

"No, if we were to fail that would only sour relations between genres further and our people would still be starving. We'd be better off forging an alliance with a tribe, rather then wasting already limited resources conquering one."

"URGH! Why are you always right....So, alliance...that's our best plan?"

"Currently yes."

"With people that hate us! Are we sure we can't conquer them?"

"Barb, were trying to make a harmony. You can't make harmony with everyone using the same voice. They all need to be different, and they all can't be forced into something they they aren't or it all falls apart."

"Whoa, that's deep. Where'd ya learn that?"

"I-I don't know...but the point still stands we need to befriend another tribe not conquer one!"

"Okay, so how do we do that?"

"Well, apparently theirs more ways then one, all of them include paper work, so leave that to me, but one of them we actually have a unique opportunity to ally with."

"Oh? And how do we take advantage of this unique opportunity?"

"You're not going to like this...but we use me..."

Branch would go on to explain his plan to ally the Rock kingdom with the Pop trolls...through an Arranged Marriage between him and the Pop princess. Barb hates it, especially after all the pop trolls did to her brother when he was young, but she can't argue the logic. The pop trolls live in a forest rich with food and plant life, and water sources. However, they have zero defenses other then how deep they live in the forest. (how he knows all of this Branch has no idea) If the alliance managed to go through, the Rock trolls could get the needed food supplies, and the Pop trolls could gain the knowledge of how to use musical weaponry.

Barb still hates it, it feels like her little brother is throwing away his future. But Char assures her that he's okay with it, and that it's his turn to take on the burden of the crown he supposed to wear. As a bio-pop troll the possibility of an heir from the alliance marriage is higher then if they use a random Rock citizen, and as Rock Prince that will give more creditably to the pleads of their people to Pop. He tells Barb to just take care of Dad when he's gone and that they always have debbie to talk to each other through letters.

So they send a message to Pop Village...requesting to consider the marriage.

At Pop village, Poppy is busy with her new duties as a fresh coronated Queen, caring for the village needs and further establishing peaceful relations with the Bergens after the fall of Chef. When the message reaches her, delivered Via Debbie and Biggie, Peppy tries to take it from her before she cane read it. And then she demands that he Explain why she just got a proposal in a letter from a Rock Prince?

Peppy reluctantly explains the history of the Tribes, and how some times they would form alliances between the genres by wedding members of the royal families together to ensure peace. He makes it very clear that He doesn't want Poppy to even think of answering the Rock trolls even if to decline the proposal, but she fights back saying hat this might be their only chance for peace between the genres for years to come if its taken this long for them to reach out this time. Peppy then tries to argue that if Poppy were to accept the proposal that she would have to marry this prince, this stranger, and he never wanted that to happen to her. He knows Poppy is queen now and he can't order her to do anything, but he asks her to think about this before making any kind of decision.

Poppy needless to say, deeply contemplates the proposal. She wants to help reunite the tribes, but bonding herself to a stranger she never met was a daunting thing. She talks with Cooper and Bridget who are surprisingly helpful with everything, and decides that she'll accept the proposal with the condition that she and her future groom have the chance to meet and get to know each other before the wedding.

Barb and Char readily accept the condition, and calculate that they can give one month of courtship before the Rock kingdom is without food. They respond back to Poppy, and tell them that Char and a few others would arrive in Pop Village a few days after she would receive the letter that confirmed the betrothal.

Char arrives at Pop Village with much fanfare from his travel companions, but shushes them quickly and addresses Poppy and Peppy in a polite manner. Poppy is kind of thrown off by how grey her future husband is, not that she shows it. Char is just as shocked about how bright and colorful she is.

The romance is awkward at first. The cultural differences get in the way sometimes. But eventually a connection is formed. Char learns to feed off of Poppy's energy and Poppy learns that there's more to this grey prince then gloom. With the wedding scheduled for the end of the month, Poppy decides to introduce Char to her BFF Bridget.

Needless to say, it doesn't go well.

Char's underlaying trauma comes back in a panic attack and flashback upon seeing the Troll Tree and bergens. The memory of his Grandmother's demise suddenly becoming clear as day in his mind. In the panic he accidently fires his guitar at Grisle and Bridget, with makes Poppy panic and angry at him. So he runs off into the woods.

Bridget and Poppy end up having a heart to heart where Bridget says that Char looked scared. Having heard about how Char was acutualy a pop-troll and was adopted into the royal family, Poppy connects the dots rather quickly. Realizing that Char used to live in the Troll Tree but didn't escape with the others. the whole visit was triggering for him.

She runs back to Pop Village looking forh im, only to find that Queen Barb had arrived to help set up the wedding, and she wants to know where her Brother is. Poppy blurts out what happened while trying to defuse the situation, and that only serves to rile Barb up further. Until Poppy snaps, yellling at Barb that they need to go looking for Char not fight here! This impresses Barb into agreeing.

Poppy finds him and they end up having a heart to heart, and confessing...

The wedding goes on as planned. On the neutral ground of the Troll Tree, allowing Char to visit his late Grandmother's home for the first time in twenty years.

All seems well...Until one John Dory screams, "Stop the Wedding!"

...

I will post part two in a separate post because this is long!

Part two, and Part three

Edit: The prolog for this fic, which is basically Char's child hood is now posted on Ao3. Link

[wonderlanddreamer]

[1923] Watery Lane, Birmingham.

In the aftermath of a violent ambush on their home, the Shelby family must act quickly to help Lydia, who has been struck by a bullet.

Warnings: Mentions of violence, injury, and blood.

[Part of The Lydia Saga]

The Shelby home, once a bastion of strength and family, now lay in disarray, its proud facade marred by the violence that had shattered its peace. The front door hung askew on its hinges, an ominous welcome to the chaos within. Shattered glass crunched underfoot, mingling with the splintered wood of furniture that had been upturned in the frenzy. The wallpaper, once pristine, was now marred with bullet holes and streaked with soot, a testament to the gunfire that had torn through the house like a relentless storm.

In the hallway, a mirror lay cracked and discarded, its fractured surface reflecting the turmoil in jagged pieces. Family photographs, once lovingly displayed, were now scattered across the floor, their frames broken, and images of happier times lying amid the debris. The once comforting hearth in the parlour now seemed cold and distant, its warmth extinguished by the violence that had invaded.

The betting shop, a symbol of the Shelby enterprise, fared no better. The smell of burnt paper hung in the air, mixing with the lingering scent of smoke. Betting slips and ledger pages were strewn about like leaves in a gale, their contents rendered meaningless amid the destruction. The counter, usually bustling with activity, was now a barricade of chaos, its surface scarred by stray bullets and splintered wood.

The shelves that once held stacks of coins and tidy ledgers were bare, their contents either pilfered or scattered in the melee. Chairs lay toppled and broken, a testament to the frantic struggle that had taken place. The safe, usually a symbol of security and prosperity, stood ominously open, its contents rifled through and discarded in the frenzy.

Outside, the rain continued to fall, its relentless patter a stark contrast to the silence now enveloping Watery Lane. It washed away the blood and soot, but it could not cleanse the memory of what had transpired. Despite the fear and uncertainty, the family was rallying as they always did—together.

The memory of the ambush replayed in Lydia's mind with vivid clarity. She had been running, heart pounding in her chest, when she spotted John ahead—a beacon of safety amid the chaos. But before she could reach him, a sharp, searing pain had exploded in her side, stealing her breath and sending her crashing to the ground. The world had spun around her, the sounds of gunfire and shouting stretching into a distant echo as she lay there, paralyzed by shock and pain. She couldn't quite recall which of her brothers had reached her side first, but there was no mistaking who had exacted vengeance on the man responsible for her injury. Despite her blurred vision, the sight of blood splattered across Arthur’s clenched fists was unmistakable. In a fit of turbulent rage, he had forsaken all weapons, choosing instead to unleash his fury with his bare hands. Each blow landed with ferocious intensity, reducing the man’s face to a grotesque, unrecognisable mess.

Now, Lydia lay curled on her bed, the very act of breathing a torturous endeavour. The bullet had left a jagged wound in her side, a cruel reminder of the violence she had narrowly escaped. Blood had soaked through her shirt, forming a dark, ominous stain that spread with each painful breath. The skin around the injury was angry and inflamed, radiating a heat that spoke of the body's desperate fight against the intrusion.

Her small hands, normally so full of life and mischief, clutched the sheets in a white-knuckled grip, as if anchoring herself against the tide of pain threatening to sweep her away. Her eyes, dulled by agony and fever, flickered to her Aunt Polly, seeking reassurance in her steady presence.

Polly Gray moved with the grace of someone who had faced crises such as these before. Her heart ached for Lydia's suffering, but she buried her emotions beneath a mask of calm determination. She gently dabbed at the wound with a clean cloth, her movements careful and precise, trying to soothe Lydia's pain even as she prepared to alleviate it further.

The room around Lydia seemed to blur, the world reduced to a haze of pain that refused to relent. Each breath was a struggle, a sharp reminder of the bullet lodged in her side. Her pale skin felt like it was on fire, the wound throbbing with a relentless, searing agony that no amount of reassurance could ease. The damp cloth Ada used to wipe away her tears was a fleeting comfort, offering only momentary relief from the feverish heat that enveloped her.

Ada remained a tranquil presence, her gentle touch a beacon of calm in the storm of Lydia's suffering. Yet, despite Ada's soothing words and soft whispers, the pain clawed at Lydia's senses, drowning out the world around her. It was as if the hurt had taken on a life of its own, consuming her thoughts and rendering her oblivious to everything except the burning insistence of the injury. She had truly never felt anything like it, and never wanted to feel anything like it ever again.

Across the room, Finn stood beside Polly, trying to project an air of calm he didn't truly feel. His hands trembled slightly with the weight of responsibility, but he forced them to remain steady as he passed tools to Polly. Each time his fingers brushed Polly's, it was a silent exchange of strength and solidarity.

Finn's voice wavered as he spoke, reaching out to Lydia with a promise he desperately hoped to fulfil. "It’s going to be okay, Lyds," he said, his words laced with a mixture of hope and fear. But even as he spoke, he knew that his assurances were no match for the relentless pain that gripped his younger sister. His heart ached with the helplessness of watching Lydia suffer, wishing he could do more to ease her pain.

The door swung open and Tommy stepped inside, his presence commanding immediate attention. He carried with him a bowl of water in one hand and a cloth in the other. His appearance seemed to ease the tension in the room, his usually calculating gaze softened by concern as he looked at Lydia.

There was a tenderness in the way he approached, a complete contrast to the hardened leader he was known to be. His shirt was stained with blood, sleeves balled up to his elbows revealing injuries of his own that had been hastily patched up by John downstairs. Yet none of that mattered to him in that moment, his own pain of no importance to himself considering the juncture they were at.

As Tommy reached the bed, Ada quietly asked, her voice tinged with worry, “How are the others, Tommy?” He gave a brief nod as he set the bowl down with a gentle clink, his words concise but reassuring. “They’re managing,” he replied, not wanting to dwell on anything but Lydia at that moment.

Tommy carefully positioned himself on the bed so that Lydia could rest partially on his lap. His arms wrapped around her shoulders with a gentle strength, cradling her close against his chest. As Lydia settled against him, Tommy became acutely aware of the tremors coursing through her small frame. Holding her close, Tommy could feel the rapid flutter of her heartbeat against his arms, a frantic rhythm that echoed the turmoil within her. The sensation of her trembling tugged at something deep within him, a mixture of protectiveness and helplessness that he rarely allowed himself to feel. Tommy Shelby was accustomed to being the one in control, yet with Lydia in his arms, he was harshly reminded of the fragility of life and the limits of his power.

Lydia’s fear was palpable, a living thing that wrapped itself around her like a vice, squeezing tighter with each passing moment. The anticipation of having the bullet removed loomed over her like a dark cloud, and she was dreadfully aware of the pain it would bring.

"T-Tommy," she whimpered, her voice barely rising above the fragile whisper of her breath. It was a plea born of desperation and fear, her small hands clutching at his arms as if they were the only thing anchoring her to this world. “Please don’t. Don’t let them touch it. It hurts so much.”

Tommy's heart clenched at the painful vulnerability in her voice, an abdominal ache that resonated deep within him. He wanted nothing more than to take the pain away from her and take it upon himself, but he knew this was a battle she had to endure, and all he could do was be there, steadfast and unwavering.

He kept his voice steady and soothing, a lifeline in the tumultuous sea of her fear. "I know, love. I know it hurts," he murmured, brushing his lips against the top of her head with infinite tenderness. His breath was warm against her skin, a tangible promise of his presence. "But you're the bravest of us all, you know that? You're our little soldier."

Lydia sniffled, her tears soaking into his sleeves as she clung to him, drawing strength from his presence. She could feel the steady beat of his heart, a reassuring rhythm that spoke of safety and love. "It will all be alright, little one," he whispered, his voice a soft rumble, each word a balm against her fear. “We're all here with you, Lydia. You're not alone, alright?"

Her sobs quieted into small, hiccuping breaths as she clung to him, drawing strength from his presence. Tommy nodded to Polly, signalling that Lydia was as ready as she could be. Ada and Finn moved to help hold her steady, each offering murmured words of encouragement, their touches gentle and sure.

The moment Polly began her work, time seemed to slow, stretching each second into an agonising eternity. Lydia's scream tore through the room, a raw, anguished sound that pierced the air like a knife. It was a sound that clawed at Tommy's heart, each note of her pain resonating deep within his soul. He held her tighter, as if his embrace could somehow shield her from her suffering.

"It's okay, little one. I'm here. I’ve got you. Just a little longer," he whispered, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. He stroked her hair with a gentle hand, keeping her as steady as his strong arms would allow.

Polly worked with expert precision, her hands steady even as her heart ached for Lydia. She murmured soft reassurances as she carefully probed the wound, her fingers deft and sure despite the gravity of the task. The room was tense with anticipation, each person holding their breath as Polly continued her delicate work.

John and Arthur appeared in the doorway, drawn by the sound of their sister's distress. Their faces were grim, shadows etching deeper lines into their already weathered features. Each of them bore their own marks of the recent clash, Arthur’s knuckles were completely wrapped in bandages while John’s skin and clothes were still streaked with blood. They stood silently, knowing that too many hands would only add to the chaos, their presence a silent vow of solidarity and strength. Tommy caught their eyes, a brief exchange of looks that spoke volumes. At that moment, words were unnecessary.

Time seemed suspended, each moment stretching into an eternity filled with Lydia's cries and Tommy's whispered reassurances. Polly's focus was unwavering as she worked, her hands moving with a surgeon's precision despite the emotional weight of the task. Finally, with a deftness born of experience, she extracted the bullet.

The metallic clink as it fell into a dish was a sound that seemed to echo with finality, a signal that the worst was over. Relief washed through the room, palpable and profound, like a wave breaking against a weary shore. Lydia's cries subsided into soft whimpers, her body relaxing slightly as the immediate agony began to fade, replaced by a deep, bone-weary exhaustion.

Polly bandaged Lydia’s side with meticulous care, her touch embodying both the clinical precision of a healer and the tender affection of a mother. As she tied off the bandage, she leaned down to press a gentle kiss to Lydia's forehead. "There now, darling," she murmured, her voice a soothing lullaby. "It's done. You're such a brave girl."

Tommy's hold on Lydia did not waver; he kept her close, his cheek resting atop her head, his heart swelling with relief and pride. The tension that had gripped him slowly began to ease, though his arms remained wrapped protectively around her, a fortress against the world. "You did it, Lydia," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, each word a gentle caress. "It’s over, you did it."

Lydia nestled deeper into his embrace, her small body fitting perfectly against his. She was exhausted but comforted by the familiar presence of her family. "I was brave," she murmured, a small, tired smile playing on her lips, the pain of the moment already beginning to fade, replaced by the warmth of her brother's love and the safety of her family.

"The bravest," Tommy agreed, shifting slightly so she could rest more comfortably against him. His hand continued to stroke her hair, his touch gentle and reassuring, his presence a sanctuary of safety and love. As the room began to settle, the tension slowly dissipated like mist under the morning sun.

Ada leaned forward, brushing a stray lock of hair from Lydia's face, her touch tender and full of affection. "You were amazing, Lydia," she said, her voice a soft murmur that seemed to wrap around them all. Finn stood at the foot of the bed, his shoulders relaxing as the crisis passed, his eyes filled with admiration for his little sister's courage.

Gradually, the others began to leave the room, understanding that what Lydia needed most now was rest. They departed quietly, their footsteps soft against the floorboards, leaving Tommy and Lydia cocooned in the quiet intimacy of the dimly lit room.

As Lydia's eyelids grew heavy, her body finally succumbing to the pull of sleep, Tommy adjusted his hold, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. In the quiet aftermath of chaos, as the candlelight flickered softly and the shadows danced less ominously, they were reminded once again of the power of family. Lydia drifted into a much-needed sleep, feeling safe and cherished, her brother's words echoing softly in her dreams.

Tags: @novashelby @lau219 @peakyswritings

Please like, comment and reblog.

[ironclark]

The Remedy Set of Keyblades are Done!

LIGHT REVISION- A Keyblade modeled after the typings of Alan Wake! This Keyblade is designed to increase the damage of Light-based spells. The hilt is designed after a flashlight, with the hilt guard being inspired by the typewriter that Alan uses. The shaft of the blade is make of various typed letters, with the teeth being the lense flare of a flashlight. The token is the Clicker.

The World Logo is that of Bright Falls, where the game takes place. The name is a reference to editting a work of art as well as light itself.

CHAMPION OF LIGHT- A Keyblade modeled after the fight between light and darkness in Alan Wake: American Nightmare! This Keyblade is designed to have the effect of Light & Darkness! The hiltguard is designed after the CRTs that Scratch uses to taunt Alan throughout the game, with plumes of darkness arcing out of it to form half of the shaft. The rest of the shaft and teeth are formed from sparks of Light. The token is one of Alan's Manuscript pages.

The world logo is a based on the Arizona town named Night Springs, where the game loops itself. The name comes from the character that Alan has written himself to be, the Champion of Light.

ZERO STATE- A Keyblade modeled after the technology and fracture of time of Quantum Break! This Keyblade is designed to increase the effects of Slow or Stop on a target. The crossguard is designed after the Time Machines built by both Paul and Will in the game, with the core's patrusions on it. The shaft and teeth of the blade are designed after the visual effects of time breaking. The token is the Countermeasure built by Will.

The world logo is that of Riverport, the city in which the game takes place in. The name, Zero State, comes from when time has stopped.

OBJECT OF POWER- A Keyblade modeled after the Astral Realm of Control! This Keyblade is designed to launch targets into the air much easier! The entire keyblade is modeled after the black marble-like structures found in the astral plane, with the same golden veins in that marble as well. The teeth are made from Hedron, Polaris' counterpart in the Oldest House. The token is a slide from a Slide Projector.

The world logo is that of the Oldest House, the paranatural location that the game takes place. The name, Object of Power comes from terms used by the FBC to designated paranatural objects with supernatural powers.

CULT CLASSIC- A Keyblade modeled after the dual sides of Alan Wake II! This Keyblade is designed to have increased damage from Light-based spells! The hilt of the Key is designed after the woods that Saga Anderson traverses through, as well as the cross guard being that of the Antlers of deers that Saga interacts with. The center of the guard is the bullet hole made by Saga. The top of the shaft forms into the Angel Lamb that Alan Wake uses during his segments, with the wings forming the teeth of the blade. The token is the Cult of the Tree logo.

The world logo is a darker variant of the original World Logo. The name comes from the fact that a Cult Classic refers to a work that is extremely popular within niches, and that this game has two cults: Cult of the Word and Cult of the Tree.

[turnwheelofthetwelve-if]

Back when the world was whole, it was presided over by the Celestial Twelve. Each held a Relic that bestowed abilities onto it's chosen Warden and provided life and magic through the land and for a while, there was peace. But greed and jealousy corrupted the people and wars broke out over the Relics. Then the Great Fracturing occurred, ripping the world into twelve shards, extinguishing the powers of the Twelve from the world completely, and the Relics were lost to time. Without the powers of the Twelve, the world was plunged into a centuries long Dark Age, suffering from famines, plagues, and wars. Until 500 years after the Fracturing, when all across the world, new Wardens began emerging from the shadows. But without their Relics, their abilities were useless. Enter the Guardians, people born with a connection to the Wardens who were tasked with protecting them as they searched the world for their Relics. For centuries, Wardens and Guardians worked in tandem to search for the Relics, but as they kept returning unsuccessful and the disasters got worse, tensions rose and bubbled over and the powers of the Twelve were once again lost. Now, 1000 years after the Fracturing, Wardens and their Guardians have started to appear again just in time as worse disasters have started to ravage the world. But with the world rife with danger and in such disarray, truly restoring the Twelve seems more like an impossible goal than reality.

The Turnwheel of the Twelve Saga is a WIP collection of 13 interactive CYOA stories all taking place in the fictional world of Astelle, a world that was once lush with life and magic, now relegated to dry empty deserts and dense industrial pollution. Each of the books follow different characters on their journeys to recover the respective Relic.

Note: Because this is still a WIP, some names of characters or places may change during development. Also, this blog serves mostly as a hub to reach all of the other planned books, so there won't be much original content added here and just reblogs.

Genre: Adventure, Romance, Fantasy Post-Apocalyptic

Rating: 18+

Tracked Tag: #turnwheel of the twelve

Current Book: Chalice of the Scales

Status: Writing Book 1

Current Book Demo || FAQ || Ask Guidelines || Tag Navigation || World Lore || Dev's Main Blog ||

Book 1: Chalice of the Scales ( @chaliceofthescales-if )

Book 2: Ballad of the Maiden ( @balladofthemaiden-if )

Book 3: Sword of the Lion ( @swordofthelion-if )

Book 4: Tome of the Moon ( @tomeofthemoon-if )

Book 5: Fruit of the Twins ( @fruitofthetwins-if )

Book 6: Ring of the Heavens ( @ringoftheheavens-if )

Book 7: Horn of the Ram ( @hornoftheram-if )

Book 8: Mirror of the Sea ( @mirrorofthesea-if )

Book 9: Vessel of the Waterbearer ( @vesselofthewaterbearer-if )

Book 10: Sickle of the Harvest ( @sickleoftheharvest-if )

Book 11: Key of the Archer ( @keyofthearcher-if )

Book 12: Crown of the Dark ( @crownofthedark-if )

Book 13: Return of the Twelve ( @returnofthetwelve-if )

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Green Lantern Corps #1 by Jeremy Adams, Morgan Hampton, Fernando Pasarín and Oclair Albert. Variant covers by (1) Dave Wilkins, (2) Keron Grant and (3) Ariel Olivetti. Main cover (4) by Pasarín and Albert. Out in February 2025.

"The corps is back! And just in time for the deadly new fractured spectrum saga to kick into full gear! Join the newly formed Green Lantern Corps as they head out into the galaxy in order to stop Sorrow and his master from creating a power battery. John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Jessica Cruz, Guy Gardner, Jo Mullein, and all your favorite Lanterns are back in the most incredible ensemble cast this side of the cosmos! All brought to you by the great galactic creative team of Jeremy Adams (Green Lantern), Morgan Hampton (Cyborg) and Fernando Pasarin (The Flash)!"

[mercars-musings]

Will You Fall In Love With Me Again?

Fandom: Dragon Age - The Veilguard

Pairing- Emmrich Volkarin x TransMan!Rook {OC in particular}

TW- depicted: anxiety, self doubt, briefly mentioned psychological torture, failed attempt at calming ones self down from anger, self doubt; genre: reunion, hurt/comfort, angst, angst with happy ending, fluff. ~MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THE END OF VEILGUARD ~

Description-

After trying to claw his way out of the fade for the past 7 years, Rook is pulled back into Thedas only to be confronted by the fact that time passes differently outside of the Fade.

{Aka. Rook is mentally decemated by his time in the Fade which leads to him & Emmrich having a heart to heart about how much they love eachother.} Ps. The title of this fic comes curtosey of my hyperfixation on Epic the Musical & the fact I can't listen to "Will You Fall In Love with Me" from the Ithica saga without thinking of these two fuckers ;-;

Word count- 3.6k

Read on AO3: Here!

~ ♡ ~

An unfamiliar chill settles deep within Rook's bones, raising the proverbial hackles on the back of his neck.

Cool air was nothing new, Rook had experienced the unreasonable coldness of the fade for years at this point. Every waking moment he spent there was accompanied by the numbness of exposed skin and the crystallisation of stray tears on his cheeks. Both being an unfortunate aspect of the new reality he had found himself in.

The coolness he was experiencing now, however, was far from the norm. This coolness prickled at his skin, stabbing into his muscles as if reawakening the nerves that had long since desensitised. It was rejuvenating in a sense. Rook might have actually welcomed the feeling if his mind wasn't already preoccupied with well… whatever the hell that was.

Just ahead of Rook, the air had begun to ripple and fluctuate. The entire fabric of the fade had begun stretching & contorting in gorgeous hues of blue & silver; the low crackling noise that emanated from it intensified with each new fracture beginning to form at the edges. It tugged at the world around Az, threatening to claw something unknown into existence. The view would be hypnotising if it wasn't so nerve wracking to see in the usually impenetrable walls of the fade.

Nothing could snap Az out of his terrified awestruck stare, that was until a loud crash ricocheted through the fade & a strikingly familiar hand burst through the centre of the disruption, with a fervour that could only be described as desperate and frantic.

"Is that…" Rook breaths, his voice catching in his throat before he could finish his thought.

"I believe that's your queue kid." A husky voice chimed in from behind him.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Az eventually looked over at his friend. He watched as a sad smile tugged at the dwarf's lips & a knowing look glinted in his eyes.

There's no fucking way… after all this time… ?

"ROOK!" A voice that Az had almost begun to forget screamed through the fade tear, "DARLING! FOLLOW MY VOICE!"

"It's not very nice to keep your friends waiting," the shorter man continued, nodding towards the rupture in the fade. "Or do you want to spend another 7 years flirting with frostbite?"

Az knew it was a joke, but it still seemed to help him finally snap out of the surprisingly comfortable haze he'd spent the last… Gods know how long, stuck in.

There was no way in Hell that he would spend another second in here longer than he had to.

Without another word, Rook dropped to his knees, throwing his arms around the Dwarf & pulling him in for the tightest hug he could possibly manage in his fatigued state.

"I'll miss you Varric", he mumbled after a few moments, once tears began to sting at the corners of his eyes.

Varric chuckled lightly as he returned the hug, tightening his grip around the younger mans shoulders for the next few moments.

"I'll miss you too kid… now will you get the hell out there & stop whatever shit chuckles' is up to this time?"

Rook snorted at the comment, slowly letting go of Varric before rising to his knees & giving a faux salute. However, before he could finish his jest, the crackling of the tear suddenly turned into ragged sputtering.

"We can't hold it open much longer-" Emmrich's voice echoed through the tear, before he was cut off by a more aggressive yell from the Veilguard's resident scout.

"Rook where the hell are you!?"

With that, Az turned on his heels and began to run at full speed towards the tear. Only glancing back momentarily to see Varric's form slowly dissipate into the rest of the fade as Rook was dragged forward & back into his own world.

~

Rook stumbled forward, barely able to keep himself from falling face first into the cobbled stone beneath him. Though, only just, as he instead felt himself crash onto his knees. Az didn't mind though, the coarse rubble that had begun to cut its way into the calloused joints helped ground him. The searing pain contrasted the almost numb aches he felt back in the fade, letting him know that wherever he was now, he was at least somewhere that let him be more grounded in his body.

"Rook…?" He heard the familiar voice from earlier, though this time it featured a hint of uncertainty.

Still somewhat dazed, Rook looked up towards the noise, only to be met with a face he'd never in his wildest dreams thought he'd get to see again. Wordlessly, Az stared up at the older man, his eyes widening into saucers as his chest swelled with something he hadn't felt for quite some time.

Hope.

However, the hope was soon joined by a wave of confusion as the man's eyes fully adjusted to the light.

Everyone looked… exactly as Rook remembered them.

Not similar, not very close, exactly the same. Like, no more than a month had passed since… but it had been years. Rook knew it had been years, he's felt the ache of every single day passing him by as he stayed trapped in the Fade, helpless to save his friends… his world…

After a few moments, Az realised everyone was still staring at him in wait.

He'd forgotten to answer Emmrich, of course he had. No more than a few moments out of the Fade and Az was already acting like a fool again.

Rook opened his mouth to try and offer some form of an answer. Though, no matter how hard he tried nothing seemed to be coming out, it's as if all the screaming he'd done in the fade had torn his vocal chords to shreds, and now outside of the Fade his body was finally able to reflect that.

Unfortunately, the pain in his throat was only the beginning. Soon Rook felt his limbs begin to weigh heavily and his joints start to grate. His stomach ached & his head began to swim as if his body was finally being crushed by the weight of the exhaustion that had made itself at home in his bones for so long.

Before anyone knew what was happening, Rook collapsed forward onto an astonished Emmrich once again. Unable to stay conscious for much longer, Az mustered up the strength to utter one final, disbelieving phrase.

"You came for me…"

~

Upon opening his eyes, Rook tiredly looked around him, taking in the dark grey landscape that expanded far beyond his view. The cold air nipped at his skin once again as a familiar numbness began to seep back into his bones.

Az bowed forward, as the realisation dawned on him, his body shook as his frame curled in on itself and tears stung the corners of his eyes anew.

He hadn't escaped.

He'd just fallen for another one of the prisons cruel tricks.

How could he be so foolish as to think that he'd actually make it out of here? Never mind back into the arms of the man he ached so deeply for.

Frustration bubbled beneath the surface as Az trembled in place, the rage that he had managed to subdue during his first few years in the Fade was now starting to claw its way back up into his mind yet again.

In an attempt to stave it off, Rook shakily raised a hand to his chest, pressing lightly into the middle of it as he tried to remember the breathing exercises that Emmrich had taught him all those years ago.

In for 3… hold for 3… out for 3… & Repeat.

The years he had spent in the Fade hadn't been kind; during each & every moment he had been plagued with his doubts, his fears & his regrets. With each step he took he was reminded of every failure in his life & with each breath he was reminded of the good that he would never get to experience again.

So of fucking course this was just another trick.

In for 3… hold for 3… out for 3… Repeat.

Why not right?

Nothing in this Gods forsaken place would ever let him go.

In for 3… hold… out for 3…

It was a prison built for Gods, and Rook was no God.

Of course he wouldn't be able to escape.

In for 3… hold…

The odds were stacked against him, as always.

It wasn't fair.

None of this was fair.

In for 3…

All he had ever tried to do was help others: help Tevinter do better, help Varric find Solas, help his friends battle their own demons, help the world save itself from the worst of the worst.

And what was his reward?

Torture.

And with that thought, the rage had officially gnawed its way into his throat and he had to let it out before it consumed him once and for all.

~

An ear splitting, heart wrenching scream ripped its way through Rook as he lurched upright. The scream wracked its way through his body, racketing through his already tender vocal chords and into the dim light of the room he found himself in.

Az might've started to panic that the darkness that surrounded him was just more of the fade, if there wasn't a sudden dip in the bedding to the left of him. The new & independent movement caused Rook's head to snap in it's direction, only for him to be greeted by a silhouette that he hadn't seen in years.

Due to his stint in the darker parts of the Fade, Az's eyes were able to adjust to the dimness of the room quite quickly & after a few moments his breath painfully caught in his throat.

It was Emmrich.

"Darling, are you alright?" His Amatus' cooed.

Rook barely heard the question though, between the pounding of his heart & the blood rushing through his ears it was a wonder how he could hear anything honestly. So, instead of answering, he simply stared incredulously at the man before him, trying to process his words.

Was he alright?

After a few moments, Rook shook his head slightly, trying to push past the adrenaline pumping through every limb of his body.

"What happened? W-where's Elgar'nan?" Az managed to choke out, his throat still seemingly sensitive from whatever damage it had sustained in the fade.

Emmrich raised his hand slowly, cautiously hovering it over Az's as he waited for some form of confirmation from the Qunari. Instead of saying anything, Rook simply raised his own hand to meet Emmrich's & in return the older man immediately interwove his fingers with Rook's.

"Dearest, it's okay. Nothing has happened yet." Emmrich answered in a hushed tone, seemingly trying to keep his voice quiet enough to not startle his lover any further.

"W-what do you mean nothing's happened yet?" Az sputtered.

Nothing means, he's still out there. But if he's still out there how are they still in Emmrich's room in the lighthouse? Wouldn't he have levelled half of existence by now?

"We're still looking for him Az," Emmrich began, placing his free hand on Rook's cheek. "Which means we're safe."

"We're safe," Az muttered back, half in response to his lover & half in an attempt to convince himself.

It didn't make any sense, did the team and Elgar'nan enter a stalemate after they'd taken Ghilan'nain off of the board?

If they had, surely the stalemate couldn't still be happening, it had been years… but Emmrich wouldn't lie… not to Rook and definitely not about something this serious.

Although everything in his body screamed at Rook that there had to be a mistake, that none of it made sense… Rook was weaker than he'd like to admit. The idea that things hadn't completely gone to shit in the last few years was too tempting… and the idea that Emmrich was lying to him was too much to bear right now.

So, any argument he tried to form simply died on his tongue, and after a few minutes of trying to protest, Az's better judgement became easily overridden by his desire to lean further into Emmrich's touch.

The necromancer's gentle touch was a feeling Rook had almost begun to forget, though feeling it again seemed to thrust the memories back to the forefront. Warm, soft hands… eyes full of genuine adoration… the scent of Lavender & freshly turned dirt. The latter meant he must have visited the Necropolis recently, good to know that it was still around.

Taking a few seconds to reacquaint himself with his lover's features, Az's eyes traced along every crease that had been earned over years of life; every freckle whether it had been there the day Emmrich was born or whether it simply appeared one random Tuesday; and every well, everything that had made itself at home on his Kadan's face.

Enamoured wasn't a strong enough word…

Seemingly amused by how enraptured Rook had become, Emmrich brushed his thumb against Az's cheek, tightening his other hands grip in Rook's own hand.

"I've missed you so much Darling."

A gentle blush began to spread along Rook's cheeks as he tried to tear his eyes away from Emmrich sheepishly, though he'll admit he had done a pretty shit job at it since his eyes didn't even really budge.

It had always been so hard to look away from that man.

Sadly, all this wonderful bliss still couldn't fully silence Rook's cascading thoughts, especially not…

"Please… tell me this is real." Az blurted out, practically begging for the reassurance as he tightened his grip around Emmrich's hand. Tears began to sting at the corners of his eyes again, threatening to break the dam that kept them at bay.

In response, Emmrich simply leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss against the corner of Rook's eye, seeming to stop one of the tears in its tracks.

Az blinked momentarily, tears slowly starting to roll down his other cheek before wordlessly, falling into the necromancer. Sobs started to rack their way through his body yet again, though this time, for a very different reason.

He was home…

His joints ached as his body trembled against Emmrich's, though the pain could be a problem for future Rook, for now all Rook cared about was finally being able to hold his lover again.

Emmrich wrapped his arms around the larger gentleman, moving the hand he was using to hold Rook's cheek and placing it on his back. Slowly he rubbed circles on the Qunari's back in a motion that he knew Az had always found comforting.

"I never… I can't believe I'm here" Rook managed to choke out after a few moments.

"Nor I, dearest." Emmrich whispered, smiling slightly as Rook raised his head and their eyes met once more. "I was worried I'd never get to see that charming smile of yours again."

This earned another blush from Az as he felt his stomach flip slightly in the way that only a heartfelt compliment from Emmrich could make it.

"How… how long?" Az finally thought to ask, once his shyness subsided.

"Two weeks…" Emmrich sighed, shifting his gaze to their still interlocked digits momentarily before returning his gaze back to the man before him.

"Two-?" Az choked out, jolting backwards slightly as his wide eyes met Emmrich's sad ones.

The pair sat in silence as Rook's brain tried to work it's way through the answer he'd been presented with. The utterly ridiculous, observably incorrect answer…

Two weeks…

Two weeks?

But… how?

Rook knew it had been longer than that, he had lived it for fucks sake.

And then, a skin crawling thought, wriggled its way into Az's mind.

Breaking from Emmrich's embrace, Rook swung around and frantically opened the bedside cabinets. He flailed his hand around in each cabinet until he found the old hand mirror that he knew the professor kept nearby for emergencies.

Emmrich snapped his fingers which brought the lamp on the bedside table to life, seemingly knowing exactly what Rook was trying to do.

As the Qunari's face came into view in the mirror, a gasp caught in his throat.

He looked like absolute shit, which was to be expected after how long he'd been in the Fade alone. Though, what really alarmed him was the obvious signs of ageing that had now made themselves known on his features: his pink hair was now mostly greyed; deep wrinkles that were once only noticeable when Rook had slept particularly awfully were ever present; his face was paler; new cuts were making their way into scars; & his makeup had long since faded.

He looked early thirties now while Emmrich still looked…

"Emm…" Rook mumbled, realisation setting in that his lover {give or take a few extra bags under his eyes} looked the exact same as he had the day that Rook…

And with that, the dam broke once more.

"Gods, these fucking tears!" Az growled through gritted teeth, using his free hand to aggressively brush them away. "You'd think I'd be too fucking dehydrated to cry after…"

The words get stuck in his throat as all the pain & fear that surrounded him in the Fade returned two fold, crashing down on him as tried to wrap his head around the shifting of his world yet again.

"… after 7 years." Az finally muttered in disbelief.

Emmrich's eyes widened at the length of time Rook had seemingly been left alone in the fade to suffer while he - the so called "Fade Expert" - had floundered to find an entrance into the prison.

Now, Emmrich was no fool, clearly his beloved had aged somewhat, meaning longer than Two weeks had definitely passed by for him but… 7 years? That's almost the entire length of time it took for Emmrich to earn his professorship!

"My dear…" Emmrich was the one to choke on his words this time, "I am so sorry I wasn't able to find you sooner… to save you from…" Pausing, Emmrich seemed to weigh his options before he finally settled on the question he needed an answer to the most. "What happened?"

Az wanted to joke: say something that would make Emmrich smile again, something that would cut through the heavy feeling settling in his own chest and making him feel like he would all but suffocate under all of the days revelations. But… after seeing the genuine concern etched into his partners features, Rook decided that he would try to be brave & answer genuinely for a change.

"Nothing… good." He sighed, "the things I saw… the grief I felt… I don't know- how to… explain it." Rook admitted, turning his gaze down as his hand found its way back to Emmrich's and the men interlocked their fingers once more.

Emmrich's energy shifted after Rook's admission, changing to be more comfort oriented rather than fear centred. He couldn't change how long it had taken them to rescue Az but he could certainly be there for the man for as long as the spirits allowed.

"Take all the time you need my Darling Boy," Emmrich cooed, taking Rook's chin in his free hand & gently raising it so the younger gentleman was eye to eye with him again. "However long you need… I'll be here for you."

A short breath left Az as their eyes met, the Qunari seemingly freezing in place momentarily.

"Are you sure?"

Emmrich raised an eyebrow slightly, confusion now painting his features. "Of course Az, why wouldn't I be?"

"I'm not the same person," Rook croaked, "The pain, the fear, the rage it… it helped me survive in there but now that I'm out- I'm not sure… I don't think I know how to- to deal with it all. And I don't expect…"

Az trailed off, unable to continue speaking his train of thought aloud in fear that he would let slip the fear that had been squirming at the back of his mind since he'd realised he really had escaped the Fade.

"Az… talk to me. Please" Emmrich pleaded, concern lacing every word once again.

He was really bad at pretending not to be concerned, pretending not to be freaked out… well pretending anything really. He was an awful liar, it was something Az found so incredibly adorable about his Amatus. It used to brighten his day but… not right now.

Right now, Az was scared.

"What if… what if you hate the new me?" Rook asked, his voice barely a whisper at this point.

Emmrich's eyes softened as his partners words sunk in.

Of course Rook's self doubt would return stronger now than ever before, especially after all the torment he'd just been through.

"I do think it's far too late for that possibility to rear its ugly head, Dearest." The necromancer answered, slowly moving his hand from Rook's chin to brush a piece of greying hair behind the Qunari's ear.

A light blush formed across Az's cheeks once again, causing a smile to dance across Emmrich's lips as he continued. "I've fallen much too hard… I fear I shall fall in love with every single version of you My Dear."

A moment passed as Emmrich's answer settled over the two gentlemen, and although Rook knew it would be a long time before he could truly believe it, it seemed like this was all the confirmation he needed for right now.

Before he could really register what his body was doing, Az found his free hand had made its way to Emmrich's waist coat, grabbing a hold of it and pulling the necromancer closer as their lips crashed into each other. Az ignored the shooting pain in his joints in favour of relishing in the love of the man he had spent the last 7 years dreaming of.

Responding just as emphatically, Emmrich lurched forward though, slightly to the side of Rook, placing himself further into the bed. He deepened the kiss as he pulled Rook into him, opting to be the one to take the brunt of the weight, as they fell deeper into each other.

Both men's chests swelled with a warm feeling that they both had missed dearly in their time apart.

Love.

[book--brackets]

Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler (2005)

This is the story of an apparently young, amnesiac girl whose alarmingly unhuman needs and abilities lead her to a startling conclusion: She is in fact a genetically modified, 53-year-old vampire. Forced to discover what she can about her stolen former life, she must at the same time learn who wanted-and still wants-to destroy her and those she cares for and how she can save herself.

Weaveworld by Clive Barker (1987)

The Fugue, a magical land inhabited by descendants of supernatural beings who once shared the earth with humans. The Fugue has been woven into a carpet for protection against those who would destroy it; the death of its guardian occasions a battle between good and particularly repulsive evil forces for control of the Fugue.

Fractured Fables by Alix E. Harrow (2021-2022)

It's Zinnia Gray's twenty-first birthday, which is extra-special because it's the last birthday she'll ever have. When she was young, an industrial accident left Zinnia with a rare condition. Not much is known about her illness, just that no-one has lived past twenty-one.

Her best friend Charm is intent on making Zinnia's last birthday special with a full sleeping beauty experience, complete with a tower and a spinning wheel. But when Zinnia pricks her finger, something strange and unexpected happens, and she finds herself falling through worlds, with another sleeping beauty, just as desperate to escape her fate.

Midnighters by Scott Westerfeld (2004-2006)

A few nights after Jessica Day arrives in Bixby, Oklahoma, she wakes up at midnight to find the entire world frozen. For one secret hour each night, the town belongs to the dark creatures that haunt the shadows. And only a small group of people--Jessica included--is free to move about then. They are The Midnighters.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (2019)

There are no monsters anymore, or so the children in the city of Lucille are taught. Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. But when Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colors and claws, who emerges from one of her mother’s paintings and a drop of Jam’s blood, she must reconsider what she’s been told. Pet has come to hunt a monster—and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption’s house. Jam must fight not only to protect her best friend, but also uncover the truth, and the answer to the question—How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist?

The Book of the New Sun by Gene Wolfe (1980-1987)

It is the tale of young Severian, an apprentice in the Guild of Torturers on the world called Urth, exiled for committing the ultimate sin of his profession - showing mercy toward his victim - and follows his subsequent journey out of his home city of Nessus.

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer (2004)

In the future, in a place called Satelite City, fourteen-year-old Cosmo Hill enters the world, unwanted by his parents. He's sent to the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys, Freight class. At Clarissa Frayne, the boys are put to work by the state, testing highly dangerous products. At the end of most days, they are covered with burns, bruises, and sores. Cosmo realizes that if he doesn't escape, he will die at this so-called orphanage. When the moment finally comes, Cosmo seizes his chance and breaks out with the help of the Supernaturalists, a motley crew of kids who all have the same special ability as Cosmo-they can see supernatural Parasites, creatures that feed on the life force of humans. The Supernaturalists patrol the city at night, hunting the Parasites in hopes of saving what's left of humanity in Satellite City. Or so they think. The Supernaturalist soon find themselves caught in a web far more complicated than they'd imagined, when they discover a horrifying secret that will force them to question everything they believe in.

Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George (2006-2009)

Poor Creel. She can't believe her aunt wants to sacrifice her to the local dragon. It's a ploy to lure a heroic knight so that he will fight the dragon, marry Creel out of chivalrous obligation, and lift the entire family out of poverty. Creel isn't worried. After all, nobody has seen a dragon in centuries.

But when the beast actually appears, Creel not only bargains with him for her life, she also ends up with a rare bit of treasure from his hoard, not gold or jewels, but a pair of simple blue slippers-or so she thinks. It's not until later that Creel learns a shocking truth: She possesses not just any pair of shoes, but ones that could be used to save her kingdom, which is on the verge of war, or destroy it.

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry (2017)

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan's first--and favorite--lost boy to his greatest enemy. 

Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter's idea of fun is sharper than a pirate's sword. Because it's never been all fun and games on the island. Our neighbors are pirates and monsters. Our toys are knife and stick and rock--the kinds of playthings that bite. 

Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever. Peter lies.

The Elric Saga by Michael Moorcock (1965-1977)

It is the color of a bleached skull, his flesh; and the long hair that flows below his shoulders is milk-white. From the tapering, beautiful head stare two slanting eyes, crimson and moody... He is Elric, Emperor of Melnibone, cursed with a keen and cynical intelligence, schooled in the art of sorcery and the hero of Michael Moorcock's remarkable epic of conflict and adventure at the dawn of human history. 

[willowingstar]

will we get more fics for the Pearl ocean AU? If so will it be a continuation of the first one or will we get a timeskip and a different story?

it will be a continuation! currently, i have three "arcs"/"sagas"planned for it (but this will change indifinetely!). first one being calypso saga, judgement(placeholder name lol), scheria.

(DO NOTE THAT ALL OF THIS WILL STILL BE HAPPENING UNDER THE "PEARL OCEAN SAGA" AU NAME!!! think of this as like section or arcs)

calypso saga takes place immediately right after pearl ocean saga, in which telemachus is washed up on calypso's island. this saga talks about his time here and just how much his time there will change him as a person.

judgement saga is basically the wisdom saga of this au. athena basically goes to zeus in hopes that he can release tele from calypso's land but things go to shit as a) athena literally just fought him not even ten years ago and b) "OH YOU WILL NEVER GET MY 658TH WIFE NUH UH" -Zeus so athena gets zapped and is down momentarily (hermes was there watching and said a big fuck you to zeus. ody was also there but judged tele instead. he had also agreed to release tele so when ody basically saw not only ATHENA get hurt but the possibility of tele not being able to be free he CRIED. crode even. so poseidon and zeus basically threw him to his shell and locked him there until he calmed down. P.S. - he did, but he's like half dead on the inside.)

scheria saga takes place after telemachus left calypso's land in "im not sorry for loving you" style (but hermes smuggled him out illegaly instead). this is where, after the guidance of hermes (and athena, yes she is present here even though she has like half of her body fractured), they lead tele to scheria where he can be able to get help and set sail towards to ismarus. during his sail he had an encounter with ZEUS (thanks to hermes and his stupid decision to illegally snatch tele away) and he basically thunderbringers tele and like... uh, lets say half his crew died (NOT EURYLOCHUS THOUGH!!! HE GETS THE PLOT ARMOR HEHEH eurylochus my beloved). Eury and Tele's ship was the one that basically survived along with five others but they're hurt by the encounter. even with this encounter they still set sail in hopes of just being able to go home since ... at this point tele being TEN YEARS AWAY the war at the kingdom they're trying to save already ended but at the very very end of this saga they have, yet again, another encounter with poseidon... in a not so fun way.

so yeah! thats all :3

[cdroloisms]

i feel like in an effort to make one side of c!discduo seem more sympathetic than the other, the two of them are often framed as mortal enemies who have always stood on opposite sides and are functionally incapable of reconciling because of their differences. the damage between them runs too deep, c!tommy has ruined c!dream's peace from the very beginning or c!dream has been obsessed with ruining c!tommy's life from the start of the server yadayadayada. the issue with the two of them is boiled down to an issue with one of them, and the issue is that one of them is functionally too immature/evil/annoying/jealous/bad to ever treat the other one in a fair or equitable way, and so c!discduo Are Enemies And Always Have Been, and so one of them is "right" and the other is "wrong," and so on and so forth

and this is wrong. not only is it wrong, it is a lie--the lie, even, that started this whole damn mess in the first place.

yes, c!discduo has had conflict that predates lmanburg. said conflicts were also RESOLVED. the initial disc saga lasted, what, three days--if that? c!dream and c!tommy are characters with traits that lead to them repeatedly running into conflict with each other and the way they handle things, yes! they're also characters who have REPEATEDLY been able to compromise for the sake of the other. who have been able to talk things out, and make agreements with each other, and generally have the bare fucking minimum maturity to be able to deal with conflict in a decent manner???? yes, c!discduo argue. yes, it's often over those stupid ass discs. they also fuck around with each other, and have truces when it matters, and talk shit out, and help each other, like you'd normally expect from a relationship between human beings ????

no, the conflicts weren't always handled optimally. and no, they're far from perfect characters. but to act like they're characters who have been irreconcilable from the very beginning is just nakedly untrue, if you look at the start of the server. if it WAS true, then the finale wouldn't be beating them over the head with the fact that they can, in fact, have a conversation like other people do ????? their conflict has always been two-sided, but the other crucial side of it all is that their conflict hasn't been as bad as it turns out being from the very beginning. they weren't resentful pricks with a chip on their shoulder who decided to hate a guy that mildly wronged them from the very beginning. neither character would be remotely as sympathetic as they are if they were actually completely incapable of talking through their problems from day one! the whole tragedy of c!discduo involves the way that they fractured, and to erase the fact that they were actually quite amiable with each other for a pretty damn long time there also just ,,, removes a lot of the complexity involved with these two . you know ????

[jumpinguptothesky]

I don't know why I wanted to write this fan fiction. The fact is, I was really inspired and I'm really writing it without being able to stop. The only difficulty is translating it into English as well as possible.

Just goes to show, brain rott is real. Levihan always comes back to my mind, even when I think I've forgotten it. You can find it here.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62060140/chapters/158719963

I hope you'll enjoy it!

His Scent of Tea and Cedar

Summary:

Hange Zoe is a renowned writer. Her editor suggests she write about sexual services for women, but she flatly refuses. However, when she learns that her friend-with-benefits and impresario, Zeke, is about to get married, a creeping sense of loneliness begins to settle in. Craving intimacy, she decides to give the sex therapist service her editor recommended a try. To her utter shock, the man standing at her door is none other than her young and strikingly handsome janitor: Levi.

Notes:

Inspired by Yasashii Milk by Tadaka Rose

Chapter 1: Invisible Fractures

Excerpt:

"You think I’d just let you say this to me like it’s nothing?" Hange's voice trembled with raw emotion. "You couldn't tell me earlier? You had all the time in the world... at the door, when I offered you a drink, when I invited you up. Don't you dare blame me for your cowardice! I can’t believe you’re telling me this after everything... while... while we were..."

The living room was bathed in the gentle light of the morning sun. Golden rays streamed through the vast bay window, illuminating a garden where dew glistened on the leaves like countless diamonds. These almost ethereal gleams brushed the pages of an open manuscript resting in Nanaba's hands. Her short-cropped blonde hair reflected the faint golden beams, and her piercing eyes scanned the lines with intensity. Across from her, Hange sat nervously, shifting slightly in her leather armchair.

She tried desperately to maintain composure, though the subtle expressions of her editor, who had been silently reading for some time, left her feeling unmoored. Each moment felt like an eternity, as always when sharing her work.

Hange attempted to focus on the scenery outside, her hand nervously brushing her disheveled brown hair. She resisted the urge to chew her nails or adjust the frames of her glasses.

“This is incredible, Hange, truly,” Nanaba finally declared, closing the manuscript with care. “Your style is as captivating as ever. Every sentence resonates; every description transports.”

A modest smile graced Hange’s lips. “Thank you, Nanaba. You have no idea how much it means to hear that from you.”

But then Nanaba furrowed her brow, placing the manuscript gently on the coffee table. “That said…”

Hange detected a note of apprehension in her voice. “What? What’s wrong?”

Nanaba shrugged. “You’re starting to go in circles, Hange.”

“In circles?” she repeated, crossing her arms, clearly affronted.

“Don’t misunderstand,” the editor continued, raising her hands in a placating gesture. “Your last bestseller, about that group fighting for freedom against monstrous colossi, was phenomenal. But it feels like you’re clinging to the same themes. Even though each of your stories is different, your topics and perspectives always revolve around similar ideas… You need to try something new.”

Hange narrowed her eyes, skeptical. Her first saga, Wings of Freedom, had been a massive success. Since then, she had continued to write about humanity’s struggles, crafting noble, idealistic heroes. Even when she created new worlds, she returned to the fantastical, translating life’s everyday challenges, wars, and resistance movements into epic battles against oppression. She sank into the couch, rubbing her temples.

“So, what do you suggest I write? Science fiction? Mystery novels?”

Nanaba smirked playfully. “New Romance!”

A nervous laugh escaped Hange. “New… what?”

Full Chapter on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62060140/chapters/158719963

[remgrant]

Deciphering Magik: The Fractured Soul of Illyana Rasputin (Part 1)

Illyana’s history in the comics spans nearly 50 years, weaving a complex and often contradictory narrative, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly what happened to her within the 616 continuity. If you're new to Magik, trying to piece together her backstory can feel like staring into Limbo itself—shifting, chaotic, and filled with contradictions.

Few Marvel characters have paid a higher price for power than Illyana Rasputin. Unlike most heroes, her soul wasn’t just metaphorically tested—it was stolen, shattered, reforged into a weapon, and used as a key to summon cosmic horrors. In this post, I’m going to break down how Illyana lost her soul, how she regained it, and how it continues to shape her character.

Before we get into Illyana, we have to start with Belasco and his plan to summon the Elder Gods. Belasco made a pact with these ancient entities, promising to tear open a gateway to their dominion and unleash them upon Earth’s plane. To do this, he needed to construct the Bloodstone Amulet, a mystical artifact that required five bloodstones to activate. Each of these stones would serve as a tether, bringing the Elder Gods closer to manifesting.

Illyana was not the first pawn in this scheme. Belasco had attempted this ritual twice before—first with Beatrice Portinari and later with Shanna the She-Devil. However, neither of them underwent the same horrific process as Illyana. While the exact method by which Belasco created bloodstones from them is never made clear, what happened to Illyana was different—because it involved the direct extraction and corruption of her soul.

Ka-Zar (1981) #12

When Illyana was abducted into Limbo, Belasco began ripping pieces of her soul away, one by one, forging them into bloodstones that would be embedded into the amulet. This was not just an act of sorcery—it was psychological warfare, meant to break her down, corrupt her essence, and bind her permanently to Limbo’s dark magic.

Magik (1983) #1

Magik (1983) #2

Magik (1983) #4

New X-Men (2004) #40

By the time she escaped Limbo years later, three-fifths of her soul had already been stripped away—but what remained would prove to be her greatest weapon. To free herself form Limbo, Illyana used her soul - or what was left of it - to craft the Soulsword.

Magik (1983) #4

Illyana shaped her grief and rage into the Soulsword—a mystical blade that was both an extension of her power and a physical manifestation of her soul’s resilience.

But there was a cost.

The Soulsword didn’t just empower Illyana—it corrupted her. The more she wielded it, the more it tethered her to Limbo’s magic, darkening her nature and binding her ever closer to Limbo's throne. What should have been a symbol of freedom became a curse.

As she grew into her role as Magik, the Soulsword became both her greatest strength and a constant reminder of what she had lost. Whenever she used it, the corruption within her deepened. It connected her to Limbo in ways she couldn’t fully control, ensuring that no matter how far she tried to run from her past, it would always be with her.

New Mutants (1983) #36 - Illyana reclaims her soulsword and the corruption that goes with it, to save Kitty Pryde.

New Mutants (1983) #71

New Mutants (1983) #72

New Mutants (1983) #73

By the end of the Inferno saga, Illyana’s soul was in pieces—part of it locked within the Bloodstone Amulet, part of it bound to the Soulsword, and part of it corrupted by her time in Limbo. But the final fate of her soul became even more complicated when her first life came to an end.

In the battle’s climax, Illyana made a desperate choice—hurling her Soulsword into Limbo, rejecting her dark destiny, and seemingly destroying the Darkchylde persona that had consumed her. And with that, she was gone.

To those left behind, it seemed as though Illyana had simply reverted to childhood—her seven-year-old self standing where Magik had once been. The New Mutants believed they had somehow saved her, that Illyana had been given a second chance at life, free from the horrors of Limbo. But that wasn’t what really happened.

The Illyana who had fought through Limbo, who had forged her soul into a weapon, did not turn back into a child. She ceased to be. Illyana’s soul had been severed. What remained was not her, but another Illyana—one from an alternate timeline, one who had never been twisted by Limbo’s horrors. This younger Illyana had also been taken by Belasco, but instead of being shaped into Magik, she had been saved. Rescued before she could be corrupted, before she could lose her soul, she was a version of Illyana that had been given a second chance. This Illyana had never lost her soul, never become Magik.

To those who witnessed it, it seemed as if Illyana had simply been restored to childhood, as though the dark years had been erased. But that wasn’t the truth. The Illyana who had fought through Limbo, who had forged her soul into a weapon, had ceased to exist. The girl who remained was not her—she was a different Illyana entirely, one who had been pulled forward to take the place of the one who had just been lost.

But if the original Illyana was truly gone, why did her presence still linger? Her Soulsword remained, passing from wielder to wielder, as if it still held a fragment of her essence. It would take decades in real-world time before Marvel finally answered the question: What happened to Illyana’s soul after her first life ended?

That answer—and its consequences—will be the focus of Deciphering Magik: The Fractured Soul of Illyana Rasputin (Part 2).

[weebsinstash]

I keep thinking about Reader getting sick of YT's shit, physically fighting them (Totally, totally not projecting my own feelings at YT into that, whatcha talkin about? <<') and that being what leads to Miguel kicking them out of the Spider Society. Like, for the sake of this we'll say Reader made plans to meet up with the core group and properly set things straight- They've got a powerpoint ready, they've been running through a hypothetical dialogue tree all morning, they even got crayons too if someone's really not getting it. But most importantly, they've managed to scrape together proof of everything. So they rock up ready to plead their case, only to find YT already there doing the 'same'. YT somehow found out about this little meeting and decided to see if they could spin it in their' favour. At first Reader tries to explain what's really happening and that if they just look at the receipts they'd see that they're wrong, but the core group's just not having it. Peter's not having it, Gwen, Pav, fuck even Hobie, and Miguel's certainly not entertaining this anymore. They've had enough of 'their' lies and it's time they went home. At first Reader's devastated, weakly trying to tell them that they have no where to go back to, that they have no home that isn't here. But YT can't help but open their big fuckin mouth- low-key taunting them without giving anything away to the rest of the group- but YT and Reader know exactly what they're talking about. In that moment, something boils over in Reader. They can't stop themself from throwing the fattest punch at YT, and If this meeting started small it certainly won't be for long as Reader and YT's fight takes them all over. Hell, even spilling out into the rest of Nueva York. I'll spare you the rest of my ideas cause this is already getting long- But it certainly won't look good for Reader, now would it? :)c

That's the TRUE antagonist of the You vs YouTwo saga: making through this entire thing without absolutely beating the shit out of your doppelganger

It's all set up so perfectly. YT knows you're basically at your absolute breaking point and all but goads you into attacking them. YouTwo is standing there seeming like such the innocent little victim, having convinced all your closest friends that you're a fake, and you just absolutely explode

"I'll fucking kill you, you stupid fucking CUNT!!"

Punch them? They're lucky if that's all they get! The punch is essentially just to knock them down before you start trying to smack their head into the floor or straight up literally actually strangle them, and here come "your friends" to YouTwo's rescue. Pavitr's fighting style used to be a lot more cool to you before you got a solid gold bracelet cracking into the side of your head. You used to wish you could ask Gwen to teach you to be a little more graceful at gymnastics until she kicks right off of your face. You never realized how serious Hobie was when he told you he doesn't pull his punches until you're literally hitting a wall so hard it cracks underneath you because his guitar just slammed into your stomach. You never fully put two and two together on how Miguel's claws could CUT.

YouTwo may have gotten a little scuffed up but here you are, black eyes, busted lip, more than just a couple sprains and outright fractures as all of the people you considered your family, your FAMILY look at you with disgust. And suddenly you realize, with the biggest fucking pit in your stomach, that they just plan to open a portal to YouTwo's dimension and simply throw you through, completely unaware that you'll just slowly suffer and die after one of them swiped your watch during the scuffle. You'll have nothing to hold yourself together and tether you down, you'll just deteoriate and die and the thought fucking terrifies you. So you do the only thing you can think of, and you start absolutely running for your life for the Go Home Machine, because you either make it to that machine and prove you're the Real You, or you'll slowly suffer and die in another universe

The scene where Gwen gets sent home really does make the Go Home Machine look menacing. The way it can grab your arms and legs and drags you through the air kicking and screaming, holding you down at all costs, entrapping you in a bubble. You're just standing on the edge of the control deck with the gap and the machine behind you, still bleeding from wounds, and you're half wondering if Miguel is just going to kill you as he looks down at you with the coldest expression you've ever seen him make as he all but spits at you, "since you want to be the center of attention so bad, fine. Go home. Don't ever come back"

And you're being dragged back, left standing there on that platform feeling the most rage and sorrow and betrayal you've ever felt, you didn't even feel this fucking bad when your entire universe just suddenly poofed away, and all these people you thought of as your friends and family and coworkers are standing around, jeering at you, telling you you're not welcome there, some of them with your blood still on their hands.

The moment you're waiting for finally comes, the moment where the Go Home Machine finally goes to scan you, to throw you out like some anomaly, and it stops. It stops powering up as Spider Byte looks at the monitor in horror. Miguel is all but fuming as he storms over, "what are you doing?! Get them OUT OF HERE" and he freezes when he sees the same exact message Margo sees: 'NO DIMENSIONAL MATCH FOUND'.

Your vindication is finally here and you're so hurt by all of this that it honestly doesn't even matter. At this point you don't give a single fuck YouTwo stole your friends, because, they aren't your friends any more. You don't know any of these people like you thought you did, and apparently, they never really knew you either. They all get to stand there and feel bad for themselves as you stand there with your bruises and broken heart, starting to wonder where you're going to move now that you hate all of them and living in the Society is kind of traumatic now. They all try apologizing and talking to you, but you won't hear it. You're apathetic to it all, if not angered by it. NOW they want to be sorry?

They're trying to apologize, explain themselves, hug you, but you aren't having any of it. You've just got quiet tears streaming down your cheeks as you all but stumble your way back to your apartment, refusing medical treatment, refusing conversation, shutting the front door on all of them and finally crawling into your bed as a little voice inside of you says that you should hide yourself under the covers and never come back out