#we have established i am a cave mushroom because i like it dark and cold and i dont like to go outside

[xpiester333x]

My boyfriend every time we're playing BG3 together: look, over there

Me: what is it?

My boyfriend: a mushroom. Your people. Go get it.

[captainkurosolaire]

Prompt #11 : Checkmate

Black Sun vs White Moon

         The Eclipse                      

(Flashback) The night before the storm begun his mind thought wandering looking up at the clouds. While he laid prone on his backside allowing the Sun to warm his flesh. He tried using his linkpearl to ring up Ayla trying to establish a connection. “Mo--..--<Static>” Would reverberate back he started checking everything, including his pockets to see if there was something jamming that wasn’t noticed or placed on him. He tried another linkpearl and continued, getting the same results. But something was intercepting every time. Hearing the same thing in return when others tried responding. Checking instead on A’yi but finding her still not home he decided to take a airship to The Dravanian Hinterlands and go mourn with her assuming she wasn’t taking it well. Getting to the sight there was a gravestone and a already buried A’gomine. He sighed kneeling down and instead of doing his usual traditional bad boy persona paid the respect. Lifting up his head and opening a hue the constellation of Cygnus was twinkling and vibrant flashing back a memory of her. Something felt ominously off. Baby Bat constantly hid inside his hat against the Sun only peaking out during the hour of Nocturnal. Then showed his usual signs of snickering away at the Captain though with his presence came, hers. Meeting inside the Cave was Pogo. One of the Oracles, that led A’yi to her dying Shaman before leaving that had a connection with her. -Poro- “Captain, you’re here seeking A’yi? I am glad you’ve come, much to tell, come inside for a moment.”

He hops into the cave. Giving a box addressed to him from A’gomine. Opening it a White/Golden Ship encrusted with Diamonds, Black Onyx and Rubies and the waves were made of the finest sapphires in a form of a replica with all of his own ship down to the flag. With it a note. -A’gomine- “Please take care of my A’yi, She loves you very much. I have bestowed her much power see too it she is seeking growth and the abilities to use it. Captain Solaire, I am sorry unfortunately the fates did not allow us to meet, there is a secret panel in the bottom of the boat with three small vials they are labeled should they come in handy for your journey. - All my love, A’gomine.” -Poro- “A’yi was drugged and taken from here, I should haven’t let her alone. Male Keeper from smell, with magical prowess who is very exceptionally skilled. He opened a portal and whisked her away to another dimension from my knowledge. My visions granted me that sight, she isn’t hurt currently and allowing her no freedom. The darkness she was put in is eating away at her own will. She has offered options to select her for death instead. Though he hasn’t budged with a single one, only adamant to destroy you. I haven’t a faint way to locate her maybe another here of my kind can assist you. The ward protecting you and Ayla was found and destroyed on your ship. Keep your strength, Captain.” He offered to hand him some food and drink along with A’yi’s room to stay and rest from the trip. -Kuro- “Thanks Froglet but I am off, No time to waste. If A’yi is set free, or you sense her get her to safety.” He’d bottle his emotion knowing that It was -him-   His runic tattoo on his forearm staying asleep in the process still jet-black. Kuro would then do what Poro suggested and spoke with one of the elder oracles called Popo.

-Popo-“You follow, I lead you to what you seek.”

Was said in confrontation and he didn’t have a reason not to believe one of them yet.

Arriving at a cavern in the heart of The Dravanian Hinterlands in the section of the Ruling Quarter. He’d look around with a spyglass as they entered further in the darkness began steering away from the light.  (The Dravanian Hinterlands ( 15.9  , 38.0 ) Z: 0.9)

The water was about ankle volume in height.

-Kuro-“You brought me to an empty cavern? This doesn’t sound like an ambush at all.” Said with sarcasm.

He’d start scanning around looking at the enticing aetherial crystals that were shoved like gems into the earthly surface stalactites of these same turquoise crystals hung above a big opening was left that peered outside. The outer area covered with glowing mushrooms alongside the pool.

Popo halted and turned.

Applause rang through out the cave in echos with hands clapping together delicately.

-Mysterious- “Excellent work Popo. You led exactly what you’ve preached fate. Now you can whither in peace.” (Battle starts gets more graphic)

Suddenly Popo combusted from the inside after full becoming a cryogenically frozen. The blood splattered all across Kuro’s attire.

Stepping out of the shadows was white.

-Kuro- “YOU, bastard… Using pawns and disposing of them, where the hell is A’yi?”

-Shiro- “Oh she’s in company of sorts more like misery, I could always answer your question with another… Why do you choose to still live rat? It’s because of your survival you mucked up everything, I thought Ul’dah was starting to do better with cleaning up filth but suppose that was to hard to believe.”

-Kuro- “I’ve lived because you’re what everyone claims you to be a failure. Your little extermination of all the Goldbrand and what was it? <Quote> “Thus ends the Goldbrand.” Seems you really fucked up with that one. Now we could spend hours quoting why the other one is going kill the other yadda, yadda, frankly. I’d rather cut to the action this is a parley to finally end things.”

-Shiro- “Fool, you’ve truly not changed. Remember what I did last time to your crew? I could’ve done that exactly 1054 in alternative plays currently, Only ten of those were narrowed down to let your crewmates not be buried in the depths of the ocean and vanquished, slaughtering everything you possess gets dull the second time around.

You’re supposed to be a Captain but not a single one of them can grasp team-work. Half of them can’t protect themselves, you know why? Because of your idea. Letting them be free like they aren’t pawns? Giving them options to fully develop and grow on their own terms in independence how absurd. Without telling them how to rule their lives or cutting down their weaknesses you allowed it to grow in your ranks. It’s because your own weakness rubs off on them.”

-Shiro- “You wanted to know where A’yi is?”

Shiro would pull out half of the clothed material of a dress and let it fall below Kuro’s feet. Letting him think she was slain.

Cold starring straightly in a deathly grin appeared ear to ear signaling the challenge

Kuro’s one eye up widely and his fist clenched to the point his nails dug into his palm flesh and blood droplets letting them ripple and bounce in the small pool. His forearm runic flashed brightly once showing signs of something steering from all the built up fury being suppressed. Kuro then drew his swords out of each scabbard and said not another word.

-Shiro- “Come show me, Is the Goldbrand really destined to survive or does it die like it was meant to? Channel that anger and use it show me what kept you alive. With your death, everyone will be better off I assure you.”

Shiro pulled out a scepter simply and took position his powerful icy blue eyes stared into Kuro’s one. Aetherial energy started forming faintly and started guiding towards Shiro ever enticingly. With his other hand he pulled out a rapier holstered.

The battle clashed begun as Kuro disappeared before Shiro and came down with an aerial strike after using a Ghost Step(Shukuchi) He’d be blocked by spikes of ice that formed from the pooled water that was frozen almost instantly breaking them instead. The ice then converted into a hand and reached out to grab Kuro attempting to freeze him solid Kuro quickly stepped outside of his boot. He then flipped and landed back into the soils of the cave. Kuro turned his back against Shiro in one fluid motion and pulled off his last leather boot off included and pulled something inside that -Clicked- Then threw his boot towards Shiro.

Shiro amused laughed at the desperation underestimating before an explosion from his boot combusted forth in point blank proximity. Kuro had a grenade prior to learning the fight was taking place.

-Shiro- “You mongrel just, WITHER AWAY!”

Some of the fabric sleeves of Shiro had been damaged of his pure white suit but he put up a fully fledged ice barrier in a solitary second.

Kuro remembering the words given to him by Ayla to not allow his brashness to override his brain, smarter, calculating, thoughtful and hold every card. He didn’t hold up on the advantage and threw down a smoke grenade right in front of him pulling the pin and fading inside it.

Shiro not laughing anymore realizing now that Kuro has actually grown and is a challenge took a duffel bag that was strapped around his waist and stuck the scepter in between his teeth. He poured out hundreds of bones and let them all scatter everywhere around becoming a yard. Then starting to speak a fast chant and holding three fingers forward, biting his own lip with his Keeper fangs to the point he bled then begun channeling a strange and potent dark aetherial source of energy that struck down in the skulls laid all around three skeletons started assembling from the necromancy art.

Speaking with a different dialect. <Kill him>

Shiro pointed the Skeletons that constantly cackled their jaws and teeth together and saw right through the smoke of Kuro who was seen. Shiro conjured three different ice shaped weapons for each resurrected crewmate one a spear, sword, axe. The swordsman skeleton struck at the known position of ‘Kuro’ In the midst of the slice through the wind the fog of smoke cleared and Kuro had successfully been cut in half.

Shiro saw Kuro’s aetherial energy dip down. Right before the skeleton could bask crackle in glory his skull was stepped in by another Kuro who jumped over the one cut in half and then turned into a puddle of water since it was a clone. With the leverage given by the skeleton he charged straight towards Shiro and had no way to block it this time one. The Skeleton Crew Mate with the Spear through his weapon and pierced Kuro in the gut again. Only for another clone to dissolve. Shiro starting to get frustrated looked around not having any luck before a falling Kuro came in from above in a swan another at the same time from behind.

Shiro quickly froze one of the clone puddles of water and created a ice controlling wall to close the one from behind in a curved wall formation . This allowed Shiro’s last Skeleton to attend with it. While focusing the one coming in with velocity from the swan dive removed the bottom hilt and brought out the chains and threw his sword before it left his hand fully grabbing the end of the chain and with it cut the scepter carried by Shiro which was brought back to his hand after summoning the skeletons. With the broke half of the scepter Shiro just simply forced ice to form and turn it into a custom weapon made of ice and impaled Kuro in the shoulder having him land right on the created weapon deeply.

Kuro was trapped and on his knees from the sudden impact scraping them against the soils of the ground. His trademarked hat flew off on it’s own in the form of baby bat eventually the bat freed itself flying to the ceiling of the roof and watching in distance.

Meanwhile the Skeleton with the clone dealt with a clone of Kuro who had an extra grenade and removed the pin of it with his tongue after being sliced disintegrating that Skeleton into bone dust and damaging the Ice curved wall.  

<Narrator> While Shiro threw the duffel bags of skeletons bones and casted a Necromancy resurrection spell. Kuro had begun casting his jitsu <Ten-Jin-Chi-Sen-Bon> inside the layered smoke left behind his grenade. And created four clones that all lined up so they would come off as one image. He knew Ayla was expert at seeing aetherial energy he didn’t doubt Shiro could do it and which is why he needed to create a method to ensure a blow could land. The first one slain was a diversion while the second one also was. The other two spent time in the beginning helping the original Kuro climb to the top on the stalactites with his nimble Miqo’te capabilities. While the fourth one after finished being a footstep used a Ghost Step to get behind.

-Shiro- “Least you’re finally indulging my time.”

Shiro’s ice shattered before he could destroy it himself with Kuro striking it with his sword. Removing the shard of ice that was stuck in his shoulder and spewing blood risking the chance of blood loss. Kuro threw one sword straight towards Shiro and it was simply parried and kicked to the side from insane reactions it seemed like with just his rapier. The other katana being exchanged for Kuro’s good conditioned arm and shoulder with the chain still released he staggered to his feet but manage to stand openly.

His other side wasn’t too healthy but his other arm managed to make it to his eye-patch and ripped it off releasing a bundle of concentrated and stored aetherial energy with golden glimmers.

Shiro’s eyes looked away for a second from the exposure and stunned.

-Shiro- “Detestable, but yet you’ve developed far beyond my estimations.”

With Kuro simply chuckling manically followed by the slightest of a confident smirk felt a surge of his energy back. He saw clearly and was active in <Truesight> watching all the aetherial and disturbances. He tapped into <Echo> and dodged a flooding off harmful aetherial that had been forming. Which had been slowing down all the actions and flow of Kuro’s movements in the atmosphere it was dwindling towards stopping time.

Luckily from the Skeletons and knowing that Shiro could manipulate time only cause of A’yi's previous foresight Kuro had an extra chance.

Shiro had miraculously not even broken a sweat or hardly even left from his position since starting his impeccable defenses were fearful. One handed strikes were traded back and forth with Kuro’s one Katana(Death) competing against the Rapier(Mol���usa) of Shiro’s. Constantly deflecting and evenly matching one another but it seemed Kuro had the edge and actually made Shiro take a step back. They each took a different stance between while Kuro had used mixtures of kicks and dirty style fighting along with throwing needles from behind him. Shiro had place one hand behind his back and took on the stance of Noble fighting and began perfecting his parry rate he couldn’t actively slow down Kuro but was able to do the projections instead. Kuro would continue to show his unrelenting barrage of a real pirate by lobbing spit directly at Shiro face which had caught him directly in the cross hair and felt the need to mess up his stance during that Kuro took the opportunity to disarm Shiro’s Rapier and having it fly across the room finally it had seemed Kuro had the leverage as soon as the Rapier left the arm another fluid slash of the wind came towards Shiro’s face but Kuro’s blade broke in pieces.

-Kuro- “No way…”

Shiro simply smirked with sinister intent an entire barrier almost like sphere surrounded him of -Diamond Ice- Now Kuro was holding a half broken blade and was close in range Kuro had backed up as quickly as he could but during their engaging battle Shiro had begun taking the pools left by Kuro’s clones scattered all over and started making them connect all together in a gate behind. Cornering Kuro.

-Shiro- “CHECKMATE!”

He’d destroy the diamond ice barrier and send forth a perfect sweep of hundred, no, thousands of ice shards that all cut into the flesh of Kuro he blocked his face by using his arms to cover it up. Standing up with only adrenaline and willpower.

Shiro was left puzzled by the endurance displayed.

-Shiro- “You will die with your dignity intact. You may have one last word, this time, it’s in my nobility to offer you that.”

Kuro in the distance mumbled something under his breath…

-Shiro- “Speak up!” He begun to form one last miniature ball of diamond ice to pierce a hole straight through the entire torso including the heart of Kuro he would be hollowed if it connected.

-Kuro- “Ma” … “Maa” “MAAHES!”

Shiro knew what that name meant he threw the projectile anyway thinking there was no time to react.

Kuro’s forceful situation bursted and brimmed his growth and aetherial pressure sky rocketed to new levels to the point it was boiling temperatures, his fangs extending and growling viciously having the stalactites starting to fall inside them. Baby Bat fled to go fetch and warn Ayla. Kuro’s forearm was engulfed and at the level of -Orange- Instantly. His hair grown out slightly up to his shoulders length and wildly messy.

He extended his hand and sharp claws included and caught the miniature ball of diamond ice like a professional catcher and insanely fast threw it back during that one throw he ran behind in speed not even Shiro was accounting for his Diamond Ice Barrier managed to absorb the orb but was cracked.

Maahes began burning clenching his fist and infused with his own aetherial anger striking in well traded blows of incarnate and unkempt rage furiously he was breaking his own knuckles and cracking them but was getting through the diamond ice with his infusion and mixture the more pain his aetherial pressure increased. His forearm reached -Red Orange- levels to the point all those who were bonded with him were sent a distress call the now flashing and glowing runic tattoo started covering his arm above the elbow.

He broke through Shiro’s almost invulnerable defenses and grasped his throat in one fluid motion and slammed down Shiro to the ground and started sliding his back against the soiled ground leaving a trail of his corpse being dragged and Shiro’s back being scraped peeling off the flesh, Maahes keeping his knees bent in the process and using his almost otherworldly strength to start cracking Shiro’s neck threatening to break the bones and slamming him against the caves, again and again, again…

More rubble begun to drop from the top of the caves and land into the pool splashing against everywhere. Maahes let constant roars out and began striking the ribs breaking a few of them with his hot fist. Then grabbing Shiro’s arm painfully and throwing him far having him slide across the pools filled of now obstacles barely clinging on.

The psyche of Maahes was visited with Kuro who was on the side.

-Maahes- “KILL.. I’LL DEVOUR HIM, HURT AYLA, MAKE PHELI DARK, HURT VESSEL, MURDER STAR GLITTER!?!”

Kuro would step behind the enraged Maahes who had been waken up and placed a firm hand on his supportive shoulder blade.

-Kuro- “Let me end this. It’s my responsibility he slaughtered my original crewmates, threaten to do the same again, Underestimating my crew and me as a Captain, Kept A’yi from me, along with everyone because I couldn’t be certain who he intoxicated with his darkness, distanced me from Ayla, preventing me from having my eternal ceremony. THIS ONE TIME I COMMAND YOU MAAHES!”

Kuro had forced himself to overpower Maahes for the first time ever the seal started retracting and Maahes in the psyche went to his chains and started being pulled back and laying down for his rest letting for once.

Meanwhile Moli’s heart-shaped pendant cracked.

Kuro gaining back control he felt the impact of the blood loss and all the injuries rushed and he collapsed before even taking another step.

Shiro had struggled but managed to endure the brutal assault one hand was entirely broken including the bones. His tail twitching entirely soaked from the water and starting to make it to his knee with his body feeling so intensely he only thought of one person.

-Shiro- “Moli..”

Shiro with his telepathy linked from Sha he tried giving a warning message to tell him the location so he could finish what was required.

Kuro’s hands were torn to the brim knuckles all broken his shoulder was bleeding worse. His feet included his own aetherial pressure from accessing Maahes had burned the flesh off his arms his fingernails were all bleeding some broken.

Shiro managed to stand and started waddling weakly towards Kuro’s prone body and started conjuring the last muster of his aether energy he managed to survive Maahes only by slowing down his movements and guiding basic ice to cushion him but it wasn’t enough. He coughed up blood and started turning the pool crimson waterworks.

Kuro fought to stand up too even though he looked terrible.

-Kuro- “One last blow decides this.” He forced one hand to roll up into a curled fist and started concentrating his focus into it to allow it enough energy to move freely.

They stepped in working and grunting and both trading growls and howls. Their thoughts wandering. Shiro had constantly thought about A’yi’s words it was distracting him about they might be able to manage to work together and defeat the Sea Lurkers.

Shiro with a diamond covered sword compared to Kuro’s one fist seemed like enough to beat the odds. He started gathering in the old ice around to try to recover and cover up wounds mainly on his back. Both shirtless practically and tattered bodies, battered clothes breathing and exhaling weakly.

Confronting one another the final discussion happened almost in range.

-Shiro- “You’ve got to be killed! I can’t afford to lose, Moli, Sha. I’ll set us free from slavery from the Sea Lurkers... Just who the hell do you think you are?”

-Kuro- “Allow myself to introduce you thoroughly, The name is Captain Kuro Solaire! residential ass-kicker at your service. I don’t give a damn about your reasons, I’m taking you down.”

-Shiro- “Killing me you’ll just end up becoming what you’ve spent your life trying to destroy. Maybe I should let Maahes have a bargaining deal by releasing him out of that seal just would take a touch of the aether…”

-Kuro-”Acting like I haven’t struggled with what’s inside me fighting for ownership? The only reasoning I am standing is because of the crew to this day. I don’t care how strong, cunning, or danger I fall into. I’ll STAND for them. Was only when I lost everything… When I gained it all. You my matie are about to learn what it means to be a real pirate.”

-Shiro- “So naive…”

Deep down Shiro was learning the true aptitude behind Kuro it wasn’t anything basic. Even though his powerful gaze could see aetherial fluxes.

He couldn’t have possibly predicted the full essence and the treasure buried inside the soul.

They each sized up one another and Shiro had the advantage slicing against the wind but doing it forcefully with his diminished supply of energy and wounds slowed down the pace he applied the pressure on Kuro’s end.

Kuro stepped in and with <Echo> saw seconds ahead and saw how he was ready to end things and was planning on stopping time with his buried emotions the fate of his life depended on it.

Only moving forward he looked with determination and each step of the torn up soles of his feet with blisters moved. He stared right into the range of the blade and while Shiro looked back.

He saw a man with no fear. The full result of training for years on end of being tortured and healed and repeated of walking into things in order to win. His presence was as if a skeleton with a scythe was prepared to behead Kuro and held it against his neck the same edge of that blade against the scar that Shiro had placed upon him all those years ago…

Shiro in this thought swiped and missed. Kuro had saw the angle of it where it landed and in that mix kicked the ankle of Shiro which had him tilt an opposite way allowing another blow to slice through the air but miss its target. Now out of Echo’s Kuro took the opportunity pull his feet upward and got a picture perfect shot to Shiro in a low blow, dirty and a foul play but a testament to the pirate code.

Kuro: This is for A’yi and my Moon Ayla along with anyone else who wanted to do this!”

When the blow landed.

-Kuro- “This is for my crew!”

Kneeing Shiro in the face and forcing the ice melded aetherial blade to shatter from loss of concentration.

-Kuro- “This last one…. Well... Is, just because, YOU PISSED ME OFF!”

With all the rest of the built adrenaline Kuro released a quick fired punch to the side of Shiro’s cheek and alongside his jaw breaking it and making it slam directly hard right into the smack of the ground thunderously with a full force of pow. Instantly knocking him out and rolling his eyes above Shiro’s head.

-Shiro’s Thought- “You were right foolish, A’yi…”  

-Shiro’s Whispered Breath-“ I’m Sorr-eey, M-o-li...”

Another crack in the diamond heart that was forged with life energy for Moli formed.

Before Kuro collapsed he looked over Shiro’s prone and defeated body and raised his middle finger in the air with class before landing on his back with his own powerful thud barely hanging on with his wounds, debatable even worse than those given to Shiro.

The battle had concluded. (Since was a free writing day, I felt like shizz and need to recharge. I decided to just roll back something old, so excuse me for that. But still relates and pushes forward towards current drive even if this was 2 Sagas / 2 Years ago. Also didn’t copy the images over >< I might fix that later if possible)