#western au hollow knight

[alecz-obssesionz]

Some designs I added to the ~Hallowest~ HK western AU

Herrah the Fighting Beast & Lurien the Diplomat

And Pale King[that's his name] the governor of Hallownest

AU belongs to: @pinktrapped and I

[pinktrapped]

The little sheriff and their comrade Quirrel from Hallowest AU nom nom. Hallowest AU with @alecz-obssesionz .

[braisedhoney]

Captain have you heard about honey buzzard?

They're this cool bird that eats wasp and hornets and also the only known predator to hunt asian hornets (which are huge)

And the first time i saw a picture of it carrying a honey comb while flying with (what i initially thought were) bees following and immediately thought you and the crew lol

until now no i hadn't but NOW I SURE DO!!

i know nature is an entirely different thing with a complex ecosystem and each creature has its place in it. but god, i HATE those massive hornets. i hate hornets in general, which tbh is very bee captain of me even though my sona is more an owl who lives near the hive. so this funky little guy gets bonus points from me just for that.

(also i think it's really heartwarming that you thought of our crew when you saw this like. that is adorable.)

i looked up pictures of em and honestly they look like they're just The Birds Ever. i'm sure they'd have a feud with the bees or smth (a bug's life style y'know) cause they steal honey, but i can't help but love the honey theme. 10/10.

[sugar-comaaa]

⋆｡‧₊°♱༺𓆩call me sugar, sugar!𓆪༻♱༉‧₊˚.

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

toyhouse 𓆩♡𓆪 insta 𓆩♡𓆪 twt 𓆩♡𓆪 bluesky 𓆩♡𓆪 sweetened twst

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

hello hellooo, my name is sugar! i'm a 21 y/o goth, queer artist from the southeastern united states. i use she/they pronouns (no preference) and am a demigirl/femme nb. fem aligned gender terms are okay (girl/lady/ms.) as well as gender neutral (enby/mx.). my favorite colors are black and pink, as you can probably tell. i'm an infp-t, a cancer sun, and a scorpio moon and rising. i'm au-dhd with ptsd. lilia vanrouge is my hubby and my little meow meow, and vox akuma is my oshi. draculaura, makoto kino, haruka tenou, michiru kaiou, and shego were my gay awakenings. princess scorpia is my beloved bug wife, and yoosung kim and jaehee kang can have all of my kissies.

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

i draw quite a bit of fan art here. i'm currently suffering from twst brainrot so i apologize for my quite frequent lilia posting (no i will not he is my husband). other fandoms i draw for include cybird's ikemen series, obey me, mysme, she-ra (2018), danganronpa, bee and puppycat, monster high, sailor moon, madoka, P&SwG, pjsekai, bandori, hollow knight, vanitas no carte, vtubers, and several others.

aside from fan content, i have my own OCs as well. many of my inspirations come from anime and western cartoons, alt fashion and subculture, fashion history, religion/spirituality, and my experiences with sexuality, gender, and neurodivergency. i also post a lot of pretty people in lingerie, so warning for both artistic nudity/near nudity, and actual near-nsfw/suggestive content (hence why i say for minors to not engage with my nsfw content).

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

i'm currently working on setting commission prices, and making a patreon for spicy art and progress updates. this post will be updated when both are up!

i'm working on two series of pieces at the moment; both for twisted wonderland. one is a line of dakimakuras that i may possibly make into actual dakis to sell! the other is a tarot deck. i also plan on selling my art as prints eventually, which will also be linked here when i decide to do so.

i don't really take requests but feel free to talk to me in my inbox! <3

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

blog tags:

mdni: minors do not interact (usually used on nsft posts but can be used on others)

nsft: not safe for tumblr works

sugar speaks: mod posts

sugar wont shut up: random thoughts, rambling posts, posts unrelated to art

𓆩♡𓆪 oc tag list 𓆩♡𓆪

꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷꒦꒷

[presentsforlife]

I hate em. You hate em. Everyone hates em.

[wingedarrows]

I am very late to the party but I was able to draw western!red during classes so here they are!

In this au they're kind of a wandering nomad sort with their curiosity to guide them, and since nights are cold they spend the early morning basking in the sunlight to warm up.

[lucyfloyenworkshop]

Some reflections about Twisted Wonderland: Endless Halloween Night’s Event

I just finish to see the translation of the Part 1 of the new Twisted Wonderland Halloween event, Endless Halloween Night.

I retake my breath, and rethink about what happened and what could happen next with since the next part will be upload next week (^^!!!!). As a fantasy lover and writer, and also because I love to studies cultures and if, it is possible, to the most ancient roots of the legends, I couldn’t help myself about founding some cultural references in Twst’s Halloween (both last year event and the cards !). I just love this event because of the melting, meeting pot of influence. When I saw the event for the first time, I was amazed by all of the venue, the costumes. All the work, the references, the story... I can only tell a great thank you to Yana (for this event and the all universe ^^). Ins’t just disguises and pretend, it’s about costumes and becoming the ghost/monster/spirit. To make tribute.

I not gonna lie about the fact when I saw the trailers it truly surprised, excited and touched my curiosity at a point that my brain and my imagination had all ready start to imagine what going on  !

The students finally had a peaceful joyful Halloween’s festival and now... What happen to the committee team !? Not like I don’t complain to see one in a while some scary Malleus (he is a dragon and a dark fairy after all!!) but since he literally explose his most agressive side during the Halloween week (Scary Monster main event story chapter and , Cater SSR Scary Costume card)... I am afraid of what will happen, specially we see green lighting in the third and fourth trailer and Sebek look panicked and afraid (?) and Silver is on his guard, ready for fight. Riddle, Ace, Jamil, Floyd... everyone seems to be surprised, unsure of what going on, au aboits... and we see the the committee team members wonderfully scary... 

Something wicked come this way...

So there is some topics and theory linked this Endless Halloween Night’s event that I wanted to share with you...

Okay...so we go....

A meeting-pot of culture and movies 

Right after the upload of the trailer, people talk about that new event will be a reference to Tim Burton’s movie such as Nightmare Before Christmas. Yes it’s quite possible that event will had indeed some Tim Burton’s leitmotifs but it can had also, as in the first event, some Pirates of Caribbean or Mulan’s influences as much to the sequence of  Mount Baltr with (Fantasia 2000) or other scary legends about Halloween. I think, like the first Halloween event it will be a meeting-pot of different Disney movies,  (as exemple, right in Part 1 of Endless Halloween Night, we have a direct reference about the Enchantress’s Mirror in the Beauty and the Beast.)  but also the boys’s respective hometown. The best exemple are the costume itself . Just some exemples: 

 - Sacrabia rewrite the theme of werewolf, a nordic legend. 

- Octovinelle had chosen the exact opposite of the mermaid, the mummy. If there is a lot of kind of mummies around the world, it is more the Egyptian one because of horror novels and movies, and with the mad-scientific’s venue, it can be also a reference to the cabinet of curiosité or  (sorry I don’t know the English word) in the XVIII-XIX where was exposed some strange relics such as dry fairy or mermaid mummies.  

- Diasomnia, which represented, in my opnion the western fantasy with medieval gothic castle, ancient dark legend and western dragon meet the eastern culture with the ryū/lōng. 

- The Pumking Knight is a direct reference to of course Sleeping Hollow’s Headless Knight  and its Irish counterpart the Dullaman but also to Jack O’Lantern with the pumpkin (I will return on that iconic character in few moment) .

 In Jade SSR Halloween card, we discovered who Halloween is celebrate in the Land of Pyroxnese, Hot Sand Lands, Harvest contry, under the sea or in the Valley of Thorns. It’s a true moment of where everyone are gathering, sharing in order to give to the visitors, and for themselves (!) a good and fun week. And it on this different Halloween traditions that I will talk about the next topic: 

About Halloween scary origin and the culprit 

In both Jade and Lilia’s Halloween cards, we see that in their hometown, Halloween is celebrate, at the first look as a joyful feast. In the Coral sea, the merfolk play music, in the Valley of Thorns the fea lit up wood-carved lanterns that represent a ancestor, are dressed at the image of that elders and dancing around a fire of joy in the Royal Castle’s courtyard while a scarecrow is burned (yes it’s certainly make reference to the scene in Sleeping Beauty, where Maleficent’s minions celebrated their victory but ins’t all...). When Jade and the Diasomnia’s boy told about that, everyone think these celebration are joyfull one like underwater festival and midnight costumes party. Well as we discovred longside the others, theses two Halloween are everything but not joyful !

In the Coral Sea, if merfolk are playing music it’s for keeping away and apeace the souls and the ghosts of every sailors whom died on sea and can’t move along to the Other Side. Remember in Pirates of the Caraibean At the World’s End,it was Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman’s first task to take care of theses souls and help them to reach safely the Other World. According to sea legend, their is a lot of scary tales about these tourmented ghosts that died during storms whitout hope to see the shore again. 

In the Valley of Thorns, well, we know Lilia’s habit during Halloween, to become more and more dreadfull and scary every years until this famous night where all the inhabitant of the Valley, including Malleus (whom is the most fearfull magician of Twisted Wonderland ! ), were so scared and horrified that the memory of this dreadfull night give them goosebumps and the very trough to speak about frooze them !  But we know also that the Valley of Thorns is the only kingdom in Twisted Wonderland to not having modern technology such as electricity. Since the inhabitant seems to be in majority bieng  fairies and other supernatural creatures, they use magic for their daily needs and for me, this people, this kingdom represented dark magic. Not dark magic as the oppostion of light magic in the shema of Black/Evil vs White/Good magic. But Dark magic that came form the Dark Ages, where people worship and feared the forces of Natures and belived in the power of the supernatural being such as faiires or fea. The Ancients Ways....

There is a lot of reference about it trought Personal Stories, Voices Lines of the Diasomnia’s boys but just for stay focused on Halloween, I will take the scarecorw that is burned in the Castle’s Square.   

We all saw this image of a flamming scarecrow during Carnaval,  or Halloween but why we burn it ?  Well, it a device for thanks the spirit/gods (?) for the haverst but most of all a way to bannish bad things away.

[note : it’s also why witches were burned alive since the XV century (by the way it’s during that century that the Witch’s Hunt begun, not at the Medieval Age!!!!!)]

During Medieval Age and before, people were most fermers, people who live form the earth by product grain, vegetables or by raise aniamls such as sheeps, pigs or cows. The time where Halloween siting is the same as the end of the Harverst which had began at the begning of Summer. People garthered for return the product and the animas to the stockstore and the stables and the cold days comes more and more quickly. The cold began to froze the grass and the flesh, leafs falls, days became more and more short... With the Coming of winter, it is the return of the dark days. The sun, bearer of life and warm, will dispeare form the sky  until the 21 of December (Yule, Christmas) where it rise again. But until that day, the periode beteween the last days of october to mid december are darkest, coldest moments of the years where in the night the darkest being such as dragons, fae, monsters, witches or werwolf rules over the forests or around the lakes, where the mist invade the moors under the cold wind that annunciated winter. It the time where the nature lament. Yes. it’s the time where the ancient fear and the inhabitant of the World of Night return on earth alongside with the spirit of dead.   

One of the origin of the name “Halloween“ is “All Soul’s Eve/Night”. Every where around the world, every cultures had a season of the year where the spirit of the Other World came haunted this one (in Japan it’s during summer). In Europe it’s in november for the reason that I explain jsut above.    

Most of our modern Halloween’s traditions came form the Britain Island and before that form Irland, (where came also most of the tales about the fea ;-) ). A pagan feast is behinf Halloween. It’s Samhain. During that feast, the Clans gathering and celebrate both the end and the begining of the year, the end of the harvest and the memory of the ancestors. I will not talk about to much about it beacuse ins’t totally the main point of that post, (even it’s one of my favorite topics and may be I will post something about in the future), so let the most important of about that feast and even the moemnt where that celebratin happen. It’s said that during that period of the year, the veil between worlds, the Living and the Spirit Worlds, is the finer. The spirit can easly goes between these to edge, haunting, lamenting, wandering around the humans. During that days, ins’t not recommanded to goes out side, specially when during twilghit where the shadow engulf the world before nightfall and mist invaded the standing stones of forgotten tombs like in chapter of The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring with the Barrow-Wights. An other exemple, the two first episode of the fourth saison of BBC’s Merlin illustrated that two side of Samhain and more in particular the dreadful one. If the ghosts of the ancestors and good spirit return among the living, it is all the case of evil ones such as the wraith and ghosts full hate and lust of revenge... or lost souls such as Jack O’Lantern, the ghost of a man who can’t go neither in the Haven or in Hell and whom is cursed to wandering on earth until the end of Times with a turnip litup with a piece of flamming coal ( I pretty sure that our culprit is a kind of Jack O’Lantern or an other lost souls)   

Will-o'-the-wisp, Church Grim... all of this dark creatures are looking on of the soul of the dead, watching on their forever rest for tomb raiders and avoid that the most evil of ghosts disturb the Balance between the Living and the Other World.

The ghosts, wraiths and other dead spirit are not the only dangerous being to wandering during Halloween Night. According to Irish’s tales, if during the 21 of June and Beltain the fairies are, sad and tourmented. (Malleus confirm it in one of his Halloween’s voice lines). And unlike Good Fairy Mother or Thinckle Bell, ALL the fea are dangerous.  Even the action of the most beloven fairy can still harm someone and at the opposite some fea waiting only that a human feel in their trap... (thank goodness, ins’t the case of our two NRC’s favorites fea! ) 

Theory about what will happen next… 

Warning: For this part it’s just my opinions and theories ! Nothing canon !

So redarding all these fact, I really think that the culprit, is a ghost and may be perhaps several ghosts of dead children (we can see is on the event’s title).  

It’s true that Twisted Wonderland is more a teenager and adult world than a children one (both its characters than the audience). Expect , we didn’t so many children in that story. In fact it’s only during the Halloween’s week that we meet children. All of them are playful, full of wonder and joy, delight the fun and love the “nice“ monsters of NRC. Full of innocence and dream but..   as we know, children (and Grim) sometime want always that the fun never end and in that case the worst and dreadful scenario can happen whiteout realising that it’s hurt. The two best exemple that I present are the character of Lily in Pandora Heart or (and I think it is the best exemple) Skull Kid in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. 

Since Twisted Wonderland, through every characters’s background there alway  a sad, depressing and dark story, it will be not surprising to learn that the culprit/culprits is the ghosts of dead children that are died during a Halloween feast and never finished the party and so can’t reach the Other World peacefully. As we can see in Ghost Marriage’s event, ghost are all-powerful on the livings. Even Lilia had been frozen when Eliza slapped him and we know how powerful Lilia is. So a vampire-fairy and a dragon-fea ins’t a big deal. 

As Ashen-Eye said to Stella in Ancient’s Magus’s Bride, the no-human (fairies, supernatural creature) and the spirit (elemental, ghost, dead) heard all the words and wishes of human. Words had power and who know the true meaning of a word or a name, can use it at his will. [ both fairies and dragons are masters in that domain) The control of the True Name of thing/being is the base of magic in both folklore and fiction (Ursula K; LeGuin’s Earthsea, Tales form Earthsea, Spirited Away etc...). So imagine that these children ghosts, than wandering between the worlds, heard a certain monster-cat and a ginger Heartslabyul’s first years wish that Halloween night continue forever... 

Well... Be careful for what you wish for because the surperatural begins can argued that wish but most of the time, and I will not make a list of exemple because there to many of it, the wish will goes for the worst and turn into a living nightmare. 

If it’s how it’s happen, so why Malleus, Jack, Cater, Kalim, Vil and the other look like (gorgeously) demonic, evil and scary ? 

For some reason, I have the feeling it’s linked some how to what happen during the night where the Halloween committee’s members had chasing away, haunted and scared the Magicam Monsters.

Just like Jade and Vil said, at Halloween there is also scary ghost and a lot people misunderestimated that fact. It’s why, during that particular night where they bannsihing away the foolish Magicam Mosnter, all of them become the monster that they wearing the costume and the plan was a success !

By the way I will said in my opinion it was Diasomnia (they not even pretend to act like monster !), Heartslabyul (being buried alive is a true phobia and  the worst and dreadful death ever),Savanclaw (not being able to move and Leona’s Unique Magic) that was the most dreadful and scary.

So once again imagine that our ghosts culprits see Deuce, Cater, Jack, Jade, Azul, Vil, Epel, Jamil, Idia, Lilia and Malleus, pretending at different degres of acting, being the scary monsters, they will enjoy it and in their wicked desire to keep Halloween night forever they will take “the monsters“ into their twisted, dark and endless Halloween world... for more realism and fun.

Possession, transformation, amnesia and fake memories, I really dunno how/what it could be but I a hunted per sure that  all elven of them, will become the monsters/ghost they pretended to be and during in the previous event they defending that Halloween place/venue that became  a real place, no more a decoration...

AND I FEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT ACTING AT ALL !!!! 

Why I have the big feeling that our recurring team will had to fight the committee members order that the return to their normal self ?

Well it’s true that this Forever Halloween World is in black/white just like the memories after the overboot’s battle but it’s can be just a artistic choice. But what it sure it’s take the same path than both the overbolt and the Halloween’s dreadful night.  The firsts locations we discovered is a graveyard (Heartslabuy Skeleton’s venue), a cove with at the horizon a ship wreck (Savanaclaw Pirate’s Venue, an abandoned lab (Octovinelle Mummies’s venue) and a spooky, haunted, gothic like castle which look like the main building of NRC (may be Ramshackle resident since it is the Main Alley that our ghosts resident, Grim (probably Yuu too) chasing away the last Magicam Monsters). 

Oh jeez...

 If it is really the case... I am afraid about Diasomnia because even as their normal self, Malleus and Lilia are enough scary and dangerous !!!! I mean, when they chasing away the magicam monster they didn’t pretended to be !!    

Truly, except , there is no event in that story where we don’t must save the day, confront bolt monster, a crazy hunter teacher/students (Vargas’s Camp/Bean Day)... without the dorm leader’s overbolt and the invitation to hell ! (Ignihyde and Diasomnia’s arc)

But I love that universe ! ^////^

It’s was a very long post. Hope you enjoy it :-)

Good day/night to all of you :-)

I totally assuming my love for dragons/ryū, Malleus Draconia and Diasomnia Dorm !!! XD ^^

[ofcacthuxandkylosaur]

My Big Kylux AUs Tag List (part 5)

ABOUT

Go here to find an INDEX of every lists (including all thematic lists)

–> A - C (part 1)

–> D - F (part 2)

–> G - L (part 3)

–> M - R (part 4)

S

Sailor Moon AU {part of Magical Girl AU}

Sailors AU (also see Pirate AU) [or see Sailor Moon AU]

Samurai AU {part of  Ancient Japan AU}

Satyrs [both] AU {combines:} {part of Greek Mythology AU}

Satyr Hux AU

Satyr Kylo AU

Scavenger Hux AU

Scavenger Kylo AU

Scientists [both] AU {combines:} [or see Medical AU]

Scientist Hux AU

Scientist Kylo AU

Scottish Mythology AU {part of Celtic Mythology AU}

Secret Agents AU [see Agents AU]

Selkie Hux AU {part of Irish Mythology AU}

Selkie Kylo AU {part of Irish Mythology AU}

Senators {both] AU {combines:}

Senator Hux AU

Senator Kylo AU

Sex Friends AU [see Friends with Benefits AU]

Shakespearean AU

Shape of Water (the) AU

Silmarillion AU [see Lord of the Rings (the) AU]

Six Feet Under AU

Skyrim AU {part of Fantasy AU}

Slave Hux AU

Slave Kylo AU

Slavic (modern setting) AU

Slavic History AU {includes Russian History AU}

Slavic Mythology AU {includes Russian Mythology AU} {part of Mythology AU}

Sleeper Knight Hux AU {part of Force sensitive Hux AU and Undercover Hux AU}

Sleeping Beauty AU

Sleepy Hollow AU

Smugglers [both] AU {combines:}

Smuggler Hux AU

Smuggler Kylo AU

Sniper Hux AU (also see Assassin Hux AU)

Snoke Never Existed AU

Snow White AU

Soldiers (non-Star Wars setting) AU [see Military (modern setting) AU,WWI AU and WWII AU]

Soulmates AU

Southern Gothic AU (also see Horror AU and Monster Kylo AU) [or see Gothic Style AU]

Space Pirates AU [see Smugglers AU]

Speleology AU [see Caving AU]

Spirited Away AU

Squirrel Hux AU

Star Trek AU

Steampunk AU

Steven Universe AU [see Gem AU]

Stormtrooper Hux AU

Stranded AU

Stranger Things AU

Stripper Hux AU

Suit Porn AU (also see Office AU)

Summer Camp AU {includes Moonrise Kingdom AU}

Sun and Stars AU

Sun and Moon [see Night and Day AU ]

Surfing AU

Swan Princess AU

Swimmers AU (also see Pool AU)

T

Tailor Hux AU

Tangled AU

Tarzan AU

Tattoo Artist Hux AU {parted from Artist Hux AU}

Tattoo Artist Kylo AU {parted from Artist Kylo AU}

Teachers [both] AU {combines:}

Teacher Hux AU

Teacher Kylo AU

Technicians AU

They Met Before AU {includes In the Garden of the Sun AU}

Time Travel AU {includes Back to the Future AU and Life Is Strange AU }

Titanic AU {parted from Cruise AU}

Top Chef AU [see Chef AU]

Toys AU {includes Nutcracker (the) AU}

Train AU

Trans Hux AU

Trans Kylo AU

Treasure Planet AU

Tron AU

TROS Fix-it AU [see Post TROS AU]

True Mate AU

TV Show (game) AU {includes Great British Bake Off (the) AU}

U

Undercover [both] AU {combines:}

Undercover Hux AU {includes Sleeper Knight Hux AU}

Undercover Kylo AU

Uni AU (also see Art School AU)

Uptown Girl (song) AU

V

Vampires [both] AU {combines:}

Vampire Hux AU

Vampire Kylo AU

Vampire Hunters AU [see Demon Hunter Hux AU or Demon Hunter Kylo AU]

Vatican AU

Victorian AU  {part of XIXth Century AU} (also see Jane Eyre AU)

Vikings AU (also see Celtic AU)

Virus AU (also see Zombie AU)

Vloggers/Gamers AU [see Bloggers AU]

Volleyball AU

W

Warlocks AU [see Witches [both] AU, Witch Hux AU and Witch Kylo AU ]

Warm Bodies AU {part of Zombie AU}

Welcome to Night Vale AU

Werewolves [both] AU {combines:} [or see Wolves AU]

Werewolf Hux AU [or see Wolf Hux AU]

Werewolf Kylo AU [or see Wolf Kylo AU]

Western AU {parted from XIXth Century AU}

Wicked AU [see Oz AU]

Wings AU

Winnie the Pooh AU

Witcher (the) AU {part of Fantasy AU}

Witches [both] AU {combines:} (also see Kiki’s Delivery Service AU and Necromancer AU)

Witch Hux AU (also see Familiar Kylo AU)

Witch Kylo AU (also see Familiar Hux AU)

Wizard of Oz AU [see Oz AU]

Wolves [both] AU {combines:} [or see Werewolves [both] AU]

Wolf Hux AU [or see Werewolf Hux AU]

Wolf Kylo AU (also see Little Red Riding Hood AU) [or see Werewolf Kylo AU]

Wrestling AU

Writer Hux AU

Writer Kylo AU

WWI AU {parted from 10′s AU}

WWII AU (also see RAF Pilots AU) {parted from 40′s AU}

X

X-Files AU (also see Cryptids AU)

X-Men AU

Y

Your Name AU

Youtubers AU [see Bloggers AU]

Yu-Gi-Oh AU

Z

Zombie AU {includes In the Flesh AU and Warm Bodies AU} (also see Post Apocalyptic AU)

Zoo AU [see Animal Welfare AU]

Zootopia AU

#

007 AU (also see Agents AU, Agent Hux AU and Agent Kylo AU)

5th Element (the) AU [see Fifth Element (the) AU]

101 Dalmatiens AU

XVIth Century AU (also see Renaissance AU)

XVIIth Century AU (also see Jacobite AU)

XVIIIth Century AU

XIXth Century AU {includes Napoleonic Wars AU, Regency AU and Victorian AU} (except for Western AU)

XXth Century AU:

00′s AU

10′s AU {except for WWI AU} (also see Names in Marble AU)

20′s AU (also see Great Gatsby (the) AU and Prohibition AU)

30′s AU

40′s AU {except for WWII AU}

50′s AU (also see Grease AU)

60′s AU

70′s AU

80′s AU

90′s AU

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[laurelsofhighever]

Chapter Rating: Mature Relationships: Alistair/Female Cousland Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, Fereldan Civil War AU - No Blight, Romance, Angst, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Cousland Feels, Hurt/Comfort Summary: Alistair and Rosslyn end up somewhere they don’t expect.

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She sat tall in her saddle at the head of the column of riders, the salt breeze stirring against her face, tugging at her hair and the deep blue cloak arrayed over her horse’s quarters, while the jingle of harness rang like the clamour of Satinalia bells in her ears. She didn’t need to look behind her to see the array of the knights who followed her banner raising dust along the length of the Cullodhne Road, gleaming so brightly in their armour they seemed less flesh and blood than a trail of sapphires led on a silver string, like something out of legend.

On her right hand, Highever was laid out under the cloudless Kingsway sky, industrious as a beehive. Boats bobbed on the incoming tide, flashing signals to one another and to the dock workers to communicate their cargo, and further into the city itself smoke rose from the smithies, the bakeries, from the eternal fires lit in the various chantries scattered through the streets. The Orlesians had left it a wreck, blockaded as it had been during the Rebellion by Clayne pirates and abandoned by all but beggars and the most stalwart fisherfolk, but her father’s careful investment had mixed well with the forthright determination of his people, and bit by bit, like a kennelmaster nursing a starved whelp, the city had returned to prosperity. Now it sat, the third jewel in the crown of Ferelden’s northern coastlands, sleek on the riches brought south from all over the world.

And her gaze stretched beyond it, to the basalt cliffs that hid ribbed flats of silver sand and sparkling rock pools beneath their skirts, and as far again in the other direction, until the blue haze of distance stole all detail and blurred land and sky against the horizon. Stubbled wheat fields and rolling pastures dotted with livestock gave way to deep forest that fluffed like discarded bobbles of felting with the distance, but which grew tall with ash and oak and sheltered dense populations of game under their eaves.

A thought itched in Rosslyn’s mind, despite the beauty of the day, like there was something she had misplaced. The gates of Castle Cousland stood ahead, another hour’s ride away at the end of the road, the keep couched above the town like a lioness watching over her tumbling cubs. Squinting against the glare, she scanned the walls, though for what she did not know.

“Is it good to be home?”

She turned to Alistair, on her left on a great bay charger. “I can’t quite believe it yet.”

He reached across the space between their mounts to take her hand. His oak-bronze eyes softened with his smile, lending her strength and maybe taking some for himself too. Surely she should be allowed a little pride at having caught him, all handsome lines and wind-ruffled hair and laughter, a fierce warrior and a good man and hers.

“I love you,” she said, and he beamed.

They reached the castle gates to the clarion notes of a fanfare. People lined each side of the road, waving strips of brightly coloured cloth like pennants as they strewed wildflowers beneath the horses’ hooves. As the delicate stems were crushed, their sweet, herby scent rose as a greeting and Rosslyn sat a little straighter, determined to match the grandeur of the celebration. Her horse tossed its head. She had to let go of Alistair’s hand to manage it. They passed into the shadow of the barbican, clattering over the hollow boards of the wolf-pit to reach the second portcullis, and emerged again into the airy, gravelled space of the bailey. The Laurels flew from every pole, from the battlements and the towers and the tips of the standard-bearers’ pikes, framing the straight path to the keep in an undulating sea of blue silk.

Her parents waited for her at the top of the steps. For some reason her eyes darted to the western gate, but the shiver passed as her horse pranced sideways against the bit, and she dug her heels into its flank to keep it grounded.

A third figure waited behind her parents. As she dismounted, he stayed far enough back that all she saw of him was a shock of feathery white hair and beard blown over rich furs, but she turned to hand the reins to the groom that had emerged from the throng and thought no more about the details of his face. Alistair stepped closer to her, using their horses as a shield. With soft eyes, he leaned in and brushed his hand along her elbow, briefly enough to look like he was steadying her, lightly enough that she wished all the layers of her armour gone.

“I know there are people watching, but I really want to kiss you right now,” he murmured.

“Save it,” she teased, with a playful glance to his mouth. “Give me two kisses later.”

“Only two?”

Side by side they climbed the steps, Rosslyn with her stomach churning and the relief of home settling over her shoulders like a mantle. Feeling too hot, she tugged her gauntlets off her fingers and twisted them through her hands. Bryce and Eleanor came forward before she even reached the top, and smiled as they enveloped her in a hug, armour and all, holding close for a tight, desperate moment before they pulled back to welcome Alistair as well.

Her father bowed. “Your Highness, I am honoured to meet you at last.”

Alistair flushed to the roots of his hair. “And you – I mean, the honour is mine, Your Lordship,” he stammered, slinking into himself as he always did when his lack of confidence overcame him. For a moment he stumbled, caught off-guard by the two benign expressions, but when he glanced sideways Rosslyn lent him an encouraging nod, and the happiness clear in her eyes allowed his shyness to melt away.  

He cleared his throat. “Highever Is just as beautiful as I imagined it,” he said, and earned another proud smile from Rosslyn. “I’ve been told so much about it.”

“No doubt,” Eleanor replied on her husband’s arm. “But we must thank you for the help you have given our daughter.”

“Who, me? I mostly just cheered from the sidelines.”

“Alistair –”

Bryce laughed. “Handsome and modest to boot! Looks like you were right when you told Fergus you didn’t need any help to find a husband, Pup.”

“Bryce!”

“Hus–?” Rosslyn froze. “No, he’s – we’re not –”  

“Talk for another day, I see,” her father allowed, rubbing the spot on his arm where Eleanor had swatted him. “Well, no rush, as long as all stays fair. In any case, there’s someone else here who wishes to see you.”

He turned with an expansive gesture to the man waiting behind them. In the breath of space it left them, Rosslyn passed a squirming look at Alistair, expecting to see relief in his features now that her father’s scrutiny had been directed elsewhere. It was there, in the quirk of a brow and the tilt of his jaw, but it warred with a curious lift to his mouth that she didn’t know how to interpret. Before she could ask him what was on his mind, however, the expression disappeared in a shock of recognition as the old man finally stepped into their circle.

“King Maric!”

Startled, Rosslyn hurried to mirror Alistair’s bow, but the king made a noise of displeasure and waved the gesture away, as if such formality were out of place. The movement unsettled the mantle of wolf furs that bundled him against the chill of the autumn air, exposing the rich, embroidered cuff of his tunic. Up close, the white of his hair still retained a golden sheen, weak as winter sunlight, framing a pale face with the same square jaw and straight nose as both of his sons. A pair of washed-out, tired blue eyes regarded them from beneath a stern brow, but the moment eased and the frown melted into a kind smile as the old man reached out and laid his hands on Alistair’s shoulders. There was barely an inch of height to separate them.

“My son,” the king said in a quiet voice.

Rosslyn looked away, not wanting to intrude.

Maric’s smile faltered when Alistair remained too stunned to reply, but he seemed to share Cailan’s implacable nature, and recovered well. “Let me look at you, all grown – you’ve surpassed all my hopes for you, you know. Ferelden owes you a great debt, and your name – both your names – will be spoken for ages to come.”

“Father…” The word tripped from Alistair’s tongue, unfamiliar, guarded against all the things he did not say.

“You should be proud of the man you have become,” Maric told him. “As I am – especially given your excellent taste in companions. Will you introduce me?”

Startled into manners, the younger man stood back and brought Rosslyn forward with a gesture, remembering to let her bow before giving her name. Behind them, her parents’ attention was turned by the arrival of a servant, who whispered in Bryce’s ear before scurrying away again.

“Your Highness,” Eleanor called, “forgive the intrusion, but preparations are being made for this evening’s feast. since it isn’t for a few hours yet, would you like to get settled first?”

“Everyone is eager to see you,” her husband added next to her. “The two Heroes of Ferelden given a proper homecoming at last.”

“Your rooms have been prepared, if you would all follow…”

The brightness of the day gave over to the dim interior of the castle’s entrance hall, with its familiar gold-threaded tapestries and the view out onto the courtyard garden brimming with colour. Guards stood at attention in their alcoves. As Rosslyn lagged behind with her father and Alistair, rich, savoury smells wafted up from below, like in every celebration of her childhood, and without anything particular to take her attention, she drifted into memory. When she had last been here, garlands of holly and ivy had arched above doorways, twined with red glass beads and baubles enchanted to glitter like stars.  

The image made her uneasy, the same anxious flutter beneath her ribs that she had first felt… When? She knew it well, as the fire that sang through every nerve before a battle, but the details escaped, slipping through her mind like grains of sand through her fingers. Her disquiet must have shown on her face, because a hand brushed against hers, too casual to be noticed by anyone else, but deliberate enough that Alistair’s fingers didn’t move away when she returned the gesture.

Her father had pulled ahead slightly, lost in the castle’s rambling history, and didn’t notice them falling behind. It was a well-worn speech, the same one offered to all new visitors, though some bore it with more grace than others; Oriana’s parents had made it three hours and four ages back before the dainty Lady Ophelia had ‘twisted her ankle’ and begged them both out of climbing the tower. And yet, the comfort of the familiar words could not drown out the doubt in her mind that pricked at her like hailstones, drawing her in all directions like the echo of a shout across a foggy heath.

“What did we do?” she asked, when the wrongness finally clicked.

“What’s that, Pup?”

Her mother had turned, too, already five steps up the central staircase with the king.

“His Majesty said Ferelden owed us a debt,” she clarified, with an uneasy glance at Alistair. “But for what? I have no memory of it.”

Maric tutted. “No memory of routing the last of the rebel forces and saving us all? You are too modest, my lady. My son, surely you haven’t forgotten your victory?” He smiled, but the expression looked hollow as new ice, and the gap in her memory glared wider, insistent.

“There was the war…” Alistair tried. He scratched his head.

“The war is won,” Eleanor told him. She looked imperious, standing at the top of the stairs, her face backlit in sharp angles by the windows, her hair pulled back in neat braids except where loose strands fell around her face…

Rosslyn tasted bile. “You died.” Months of nightmares, the revulsion crawling across her skin, those last cold, desolate moments atop Harrowhill with the weight of the Cousland sword on her hip. “Howe killed you and put your heads above the western gate.”

“The men who told you were mistaken, Pup,” her father replied, laying a hand on her arm. “Howe got what he deserved, thanks to you, and you should be proud of that, but you’ve been too long in battle. You have forgotten the feel of peace, that’s all this worry is.”

She shook him off. “What men who told me?”

The challenge hung in the air. Her eyes, locked with her father’s, stared him down, waiting for a crack, a flinch, anything that might reveal what was really going on. A hand twitched towards the sword still buckled at her side.

“Come now,” Maric chuffed, catching the movement. “What manners are these? Is it not enough that we are all here, whole and well, and ready to celebrate?”

“King Maric died at sea.” Alistair spoke quietly, but he had shifted his weight further behind Rosslyn, and his hand, too, had reached for his sword.

“Shipwrecked, and a long time coming back to my rightful place,” came the reply. “You know this. I don’t understand why you’re both being so stubborn.”

“Pup, it’s time for you to rest,” Bryce said, and turned to Alistair. “You know she pushes herself too hard, doesn’t give herself the credit she deserves.”

“Yes…” He shook his head. “I mean, she does – you do – but this isn’t right.”

“Howe is still out there,” she insisted. “The war isn’t over.”

“Nonsense,” Eleanor snapped. “You are safe. There is no war, and you should be proud of your role in ending it.”

But Alistair was frowning. “We were in the tower, at the Circle. The last thing I remember was… Uldred – we were fighting him to save the mages.”

A flash blinked in Rosslyn’s mind, an image of dark stone and a looming monster, shards of black energy scattering across the floor. But a fog closed around it, cutting it off like a dream. Her father once more touched her arm, his smile kindly, his eyes soft.

“That’s not your concern,” he told her. “All we want is for you to stay here, and take your rightful places as –”

“You’re not real,” Alistair interrupted. “None of this is.”

Rosslyn stepped back, out of reach, sword drawn. “My father would never say such a thing, not while there was still fighting left to be done.”

An instant passed in which it seemed her father would try cajoling again, but they stood firm, side by side, and as he looked from one to the other his face collapsed into a snarl too twisted to be human. Ambient sound dropped like the sudden cease of a storm. Behind the demon, the castle blurred and shimmered, its details and those of the other players dissolving without the need to hold onto the illusion. Only the floor beneath their feet remained steadfast, solid enough to ground her as she drew her sword.

“You couldn’t just be happy, could you?” the Not-Bryce growled at her. “I would have given you everything you wanted, let you live the dream of everything you ever hoped coming true.” It circled them. “What fools you are – you delight in struggle, and wriggling like little hooked worms instead of the hawks you might have been. Even you, Lady Falcon.”

It made to lunge, starting forward with a hiss, and its hands curled into claws, but pulled up short before it reached them, head cocked as if listening to something.

“No – no,” it muttered. “They are mine. They are mine. You won’t interfere.” It shook itself, growing sinister and stretched out even as it kept Bryce Cousland’s form. Its words echoed with a second voice beneath the one it had borrowed. “You bring this on yourselves. If you will not give me your pride, I will take your pain, and such exquisite pain it shall be.”

Two guards leapt from nothingness and grabbed for Alistair. He cried out, but before Rosslyn could reach for him the blurred world dissolved into black, swallowing him with it. She stumbled, whirled, found the demon smirking at her turmoil.

“Yes,” It sneered. “I feel your pride. Fight me, give it to me, give me strength…”

She raised her sword. “You do not get to wear my father’s face.”

--  

The doors of the harrowing chamber burst open. Almost before the first abominations could turn, arrows took them in the throat. Soldiers roared, demons squealed, and in the confusion of the clash of metal and bone, Cailan stormed through, a war cry on his lips, resplendent despite the ichor staining his golden armour. His greatsword cleaved through everything that rose in his path as he wielded grace and violence in equal parts, and in moments the ragged line that had managed to form against him collapsed. He faced the thing that had once been Uldred. Only the barest traces of humanity were left in its face, in the carapace just barely clinging to its old proportions and the grin that stretched too wide with too many teeth. Energy crackled between its claws as it turned towards him, dark tendrils that coiled down and wrapped around the two motionless figures at its feet.

“Do you worry for your friends, little king?” it boomed when it saw the direction of its gaze. “Do you think to save them? Your pride will undo you.”

Cailan laughed at it. “I’ve roasted larger game than you, piglet! Come taste my blade and die on it!”

He charged, roaring, but the headlong rush was more controlled than the demon believed. As it swiped for him he dodged, rolled, came up under its guard and neatly sliced through the soft skin behind its knee. The demon howled, crashing to the floor as its hamstring was severed. Fade being it might be, but it had trapped itself in a mortal body, in the limitations and the pain of the physical world, and its grip on that reality seemed to be weakening. Unfocused, it lashed out, catching the templar on Cailan’s left, and one of its own kind as it tried again. The king parried the blow as he ducked out of the way again, and this time – there, beneath the arm. He sprang like a cat, thrusting his entire weight behind the point of his sword, straight into the exposed inch of flesh beneath the monster’s arm. The steel pierced deep, first through muscle and bone and then into the cavity of the chest. The roar became a gurgle, then a rattle of air. Blackish blood surged over Cailan’s greaves, into his boots, making him slip as he darted out of reach of the still-flailing arms, but as he swung to face his next opponent, he found the last abomination falling to his captain’s sword.  

Across the other side of the room, one of the templars was loosening the bonds on the remaining mages, and another had taken charge of the warrior who had accompanied Rosslyn and Alistair into the tower. All around, the carnage of the battle was being settled, picked through with the grim efficiency of soldiers practiced in war. Seeing himself not needed for the time being, Cailan wiped his sword clean on his cloak and sheathed it, shucking the confines of his helmet before turning to the two figures on which the demon had been feeding. Alistair was already awake, but Rosslyn still lay sprawled upon the stone, her face exposed and pale, all but unresponsive to the sound of her name or the hand on her cheek.

Slowly, she stirred, groaned, pushed herself onto her elbows and rolled upright, pressing her fingers to her temple. Alistair’s voice came low and soothing in her ear, his arm a support around her shoulders that she leaned into him like a small creature huddling from the cold, bringing their heads so close they seemed to shut out the whole world.

“… And I killed him,” she said. “I killed him. My hands – the blood –”

“It wasn’t real.” His hand covered hers. “We were in the Fade, and it was toying with us.”

“I - Your Majesty!”

They parted like scolded children, and Cailan, like a worried parent, found his hands going to his hips.

“You both seem determined to age me prematurely,” he huffed. “Not content with a failed assassination, you decide to storm a tower full to the brim with demons! It was well done with the rest of the brutes, but it seems lucky I decided not to wait – that last one nearly had you.”

Rosslyn frowned. “We would have defeated it.”

“You’ve been missing for two days.”

“Two –?”

“I had to threaten Greagoir with exile before he would let me help.”

Alistair sat up straighter. “Did he force the Annulment?”

The king shook his head. “Luckily for you, Val Royeaux is a long way off, and your heroics managed to give first Enchanter Irving a chance to slip away and explain the situation.”

But Rosslyn was still frowning. “How were we lost for two days? It was still afternoon when… Where is Enchanter Amell – and lieutenant Cullen?”

“They’re being seen to,” came the reply. “You’ll all be weak after so long without food, hold on – you there! Fetch water and some tack from the stores.”

With Cailan’s attention diverted, Rosslyn let herself sway against Alistair once again. “Two days…”

He traced a thumb along her cheek. “We were trapped in the Fade,” he reasoned. “Maybe time is distorted there? But we survived it, and that’s what matters. The Circle is safe and now Greagoir has no reason to allow the Annulment.”

A wet chuckle interrupted them. Uldred’s body twitched, its form shrunk back to moderate size now that the demon had been slain both here and in the Fade, but the transformation had left sagging folds of flesh poking through the ruined clothes like loose sails. As they watched, he hauled himself onto his front, head lolling, his breath a harsh rattle in his throat.

“You think it so – so easy?” he babbled. Blood trickled between his lips. “You have – only delayed the inevitable.”

“I see no victory for you,” Rosslyn snapped. “Your army lies dead, and the mages and templars still live. You failed.”

The mage’s eyes rolled back in his head, his words seemingly more for himself than his audience. “Loghain will come for you – all of you. And you will not – be able to – you won’t stop him. He can’t be stopped.”

“Loghain told you to turn yourself into an abomination and go on a murderous rampage, did he?” Alistair scoffed.

Cailan returned, his eyes narrowed and his mouth set in a grim line. “He is just a man,” he said. “Even if he did orchestrate this tragedy.”

“Another one to add to the list.”

“He promised us an end!” Uldred cried. “To fear – a life free of the Chantry’s leash – and I – would have gladly served. But you don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

The chamber rang with the harshness of the mage’s laugh. “You pretend you have no fear, but it knows you – all of you, what you cry out into the night, and – you will fail.”

“What knows us?” Rosslyn demanded, struggling to her knees.

“I am not the only one to seek help in the Fade.” Sightless eyes turned on her. “His ally is more ancient and powerful than anything – you can imagine. He will use it to burn you to ash, and I –”

“I’ve heard enough of this.”

There was a bright swipe through the air, and a wet thud as Uldred’s head was separated from his body and rolled away across the floor. Cailan stood over him, sword still raised, staring down at the corpse with nothing but revulsion in his face. After a moment, he shook himself, sighed, and crossed to kneel beside Rosslyn, taking a waterskin from his belt that he pushed into her hands. She took it without a word.

“It is over,” he said. “Brother, can I trust you to watch her? I must organise the relief and get word to Knight-Commander Greagoir.”

Alistair barely spared the king a glance. He nodded, already helping Rosslyn to her feet, ignoring his own dizziness and the weakness of his legs as he led her to a chunk of fallen rubble at the edge of the room. She stared at the floor as he knelt in front of her and shed his gloves, and only reacted when he pulled hers off too and chafed his palms over her fingers to warm them up.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry it took their faces.”

She blinked, softening as she caught up to what he was saying. “That’s not what… It tricked you, too.”

“It’s not the same for me,” he replied, still with her hand in his. “It’s not like Maric and I were close.”

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.”

He offered her a weak smile, a huff of laughter and a cautious look to see if they might be overheard. “My lady is too wise for me.”

“That cannot be,” she answered, leaning closer, “because my prince is not a fool.”

“Only a fool in love.” But he stopped short before he could kiss her.

Around them, the remaining mages helped to the lower levels by members of the royal guard, Amell was channelling a glow of healing energy into Cullen’s unconscious form, and the ichorous stain where Uldred had fallen had been scattered with sand from a bucket in the corner. Her eyes fixed on it, the levity of the past few moments falling away into a frown.

“A demon. He’s in thrall to a demon.”

Alistair followed her gaze. “If a demon’s manipulating Loghain, it explains why he’s dealing with Tevinter, maybe even why he started the war,” he reasoned.

“You don’t understand.” A muscle ticked in her jaw. She sighed to steady herself. “I… I almost gave him Highever.”

“What?”

“When I was escorting Baudrillard to the border, I drafted letters in case he betrayed us, declaring a turn of allegiance if – in case I was killed.”

His eyes went wide. “But that’s –”

“Treason. I know. I thought it would be the lesser of two evils in the face of an invasion from Orlais, but… now? A demon?” She sank her head into her arms. “I can’t believe I was so stupid.”

Gently taking her hand again, Alistair eased down next to her. Around them, the clearing of bodies continued without talk. Most of the dead were mages who had refused to yield to Uldred and his abominations, and they had been discarded for far longer than a mere two days, though with the pressure of magic in the air, the corpses had been preserved. The templars’ blank faceplates betrayed no emotion as they worked in pairs to lift each one to the lower floors, but they were focussed on the work.

“You couldn’t have known,” Alistair murmured, once the nearest templar was out of earshot. “What happened to the letters?”

“Burned. Gideon saw to it.”

He nodded, relieved. “Can you stand?”

“I may even be able to walk,” she replied, nudging against his shoulder. “Good thing too – it looks like we’re about to get our marching orders.”

Cailan appeared at the top of the stairs, his sombre mood already stuffed behind his usual joviality, his steps picking around the rubble still left on the floor.  

“They’re going to house us in the barracks, Travers here is going to show you where it is,” he told them. “I can take care of the rest for now.”  

“Did we thank you for rescuing us yet? Because we’re really grateful.”

The pair staggered to their feet, using each other for balance, their armour as much a support as a hindrance for exhausted limbs. Hunger gnawed at Alistair’s belly almost worse than the cramp in his muscles. He stretched, as far as his plate allowed, and tried to hide the purse of his lips when Cailan offered Rosslyn his arm.  

He wants to marry you, actually, he had said, with a serpent of jealousy coiling black in his gut. As if she hadn’t already woken up beside him and confessed that she loved him. He put the feeling to the back of his mind, along with the realisation that they might have discussed telling Cailan, but they hadn’t expected to meet him so soon. How would they broach the subject? What would they say? The answer could wait for morning. For now, he was content to follow, and leave the nightmare behind.

[unexpected-profundity]

Hollow Knight Fic Recs

Okay, in celebration of @wingedarrows​ defeating the Radiance (Congratulations again!!!) I’m finally getting around to finishing this list she requested. None of these have Godmaster content (or if they do, I didn’t know enough to recognize it). 

Shorts

sharp silver of a perfect note by oriflamme

It must not care, even if the King's final expression is that pride it so craves. It will fulfill its function. It won't feel anything at all.

Really sad, really beautifully written, one of the best on this list. (Waiting to read the sequel til I’ve finished Godmaster or given up!)

light under water, Monochrome, Epitaph and a void-cut shape by @rukafais The Seer rescues the Radiance’s enemy; ghosts and living friends comfort the knight. Ruka’s writing is all really excellent; I can’t pick a favorite.

the price of our designs by @hallownest Monomon plans to be a seal.

Howling Wraiths, Missing Person and Homeward Bound by @followerofmercy The knight mourns with Hornet and keeps adventuring with Quirrel.

Keep Walking by laurelofthestory Quirrel leaves Hallownest, and begins to forget.

protected at last by MiniNephthys Collector’s POV - creepy but surprisingly sympathetic? He’s just trying to keep the grubs safe!

Gratitude by LittleGrumblrAnna The Knight says goodbye to Elderbug and the Old Stag.

No Shining Armor by Trashy_the_Trashman Bretta’s POV - the Bretta resolution I needed (poor girl needs a friend)

Her Blood On My Bones by spockandawe Myla’s not okay.

Multichapter/Series

Quirrel's Locations by @soar319 Quirrel explores Hallownest and remembers snatches of the past.

a crown of ash and honey (you shall never wear) by @hallownest Hornet’s childhood. Beautifully written. A favorite.

...Father?... by Nym_P_Seudo A bit unique, but one of my favorites. The Hollow Knight’s POV in first person, and really goes all out imitating the game’s formal/old-fashion speech patterns. The most I have seen anyone do with the Great Knights, especially Ogrim, and I love what the author’s done with Isma, too.

Void Children: Little Slices of Life Edition by @peculiurperennial No one dies. Ghost has three more younger siblings to take care of. Hornet gets annoyed at Grimmchild and gives him timeout in a kitchen cabinet. Ghost grows up. There are giant moles. (Well, maybe normal-sized, but you get the idea.) Some moments of peril but generally a happy au. Doesn’t touch on godmaster until the sequel, which I’m waiting to read.

AU/Ask Blogs

@empy-caelumgardens  Children Adventure AU featuring Hornet, Quirrel, the Hollow Knight, and Ghost running around as kids. Heartwarming but hints of angst to come.

@vessel-of-hallownest  Post-canon ask blog/comic, the Hollow Knight and Ghost both survive. 

@wildwildhallownest and @talesfromthehallowest (same au, different projects) Hallownest but a Western. 

...and if you’ve read this far and still want more you can look through my bookmarks...

[alecz-obssesionz]

💥 NKG & RADIANCE 🌟| HALLOWEST AU

Some concepts as I want to retake the lore we planned with my bestie for the au of which we talked but never showcased properly ;^

Hope you're still interested!!💥💥💥

HALLOWEST AU by @pinktrapped and I

[pinktrapped]

And Hornet's design for the western au with @alecz-obssesionz YEEE. She's one of my favorites because she reminds me of "El Zorro".

[rinskiroo]

Works-In-Progress

I was tagged by the wonderful @ashes0909

Do Dis:

List all the things you’re currently working on in as much or little detail as you’d like, then tag some friends to see what they’re working on. This can be writing, art, vids, gifsets, whatever.

Hollowed Out - The sequel to Lost Valor; Forgotten Stars, a Poe/OC romance story filled with drama, space battles, fun banter, and a lot of angst.  LVFS was pre-TFA and HO is set during TFA and afterwards.  Most of the conflict centers around Kylo Ren’s interrogation of Poe and the fallout from that.  I’ve written nearly all of it, except for the final arc/ending.  I’m taking my time to release it because I want it to be great.  LVFS was just me, but I wrangled both @tafferlicious and @pugmaster-general to beta this for me.  This is the story I’ve probably put the most energy and effort into out of anything I’ve written and holy shit I hope people like it.

Pistolas At Dawn - A Western AU following very loosely the plot of The Force Awakens.  It’s built with the March daily prompts from the /r/fanfiction subreddit.  It’s got some romance, shoot outs, BB-8′s a wolf, Kes has a ranch where everyone is welcome, ships are horses.... It’s a little weird, but fun.  The first 15 or so chapters came out in rapid succession, the rest has been slow going as I’ve been putting a lot of effort into HO.  Hopefully I can finish this up soon!

Boycott Love - Theron/Jedi Knight accidental(?) smut fic.  This was supposed to be just a reflective short scene, but then they started having sex, and then it went into all my headcanons about how having Valkorion in a Knight’s head is FUCKING AWFUL.  It was also supposed to be a one and done, but I think it’s going to be three chapters total.  I have most of the second chapter done, but then they started having sex again and now I have to deal with that.

Masterlist

I tag @ilral AND @damdamfino

[lady-herald]

@cappurrccino hollow knight western AU when?

I like bugs. I also like western movies. So why not to create a western movie with bugs? 

Hurray for my bachelor movie!

[alecz-obssesionz]

◇ Odd weaponry choice ◇

[alecz-obssesionz]

My bff @pinktrapped made a western au with the bugs called ~HALLOWEST~ and I JUST COULDN'T RESIST DEAR LORD

Idrew her designs and added Radiance