#would be crazy if the winged lion is just like alright someone make me a snack i have GOT to try this

[dungeonmessy]

posession fun time!!!!

[monochromemedic]

“Get the hell away from me you freak-” the man’s exclamation was cut short as a wet force shot into his legs, his body slamming against the pavement with a loud thud. A direct slime bullet shot, and the last of the gang was contained within their gooey prisons. I sighed in relief, lowering my arm. ‘I should quip, that’s what all the good heroes do right?’ “You kiss your mother with that mouth?” I said softly before realizing that no one, not even the gathering crowd could hear that. “You kiss your mother with that mouth?!” I repeated before realizing how weak that was. Baby steps... just needed to not show my face around here for a week so they’d all forget how much I fucked up. I rubbed my neck, fingers gliding along the cryo collar as it released a blast of cold air, waves of relief flooding my body. The crowd erupted in clapping, something that startled me back to the situation at hand. A small rising gang had been causing havoc over the city, something larger heroes would only keep their eyes on before attempting to resolve. They were there to help with big tasks, real villains or aliens, something that would cause real devastation. It made sense but that didn’t mean that some real low lives could sneak under the radar and cause some damage as long as they spaced what they were doing enough or kept it the damage to a minimum.  The Graveyard Gang was playing with that line and it was obvious that if it wasn’t stopped some hero would have to come down and take them out themselves. If not for me. I raised a hand sheepishly, waddling to the side of the street to meet the crowd that formed around me. “Hey... hello. Did someone call the police already? Is everyone ok?” My words were met by the sound of sirens drawing near, a large news van trailing not too far behind. A frantic woman nearly rolled out of the van, mic at the ready as she bolted through the crowd, ushering a small man lugging a camera to follow her. “Hi, hello, out of the way, Channel 9 news. Hi, I’m Sandra Stevens of Channel 9 news would you mind giving an interview about the heroic deed you just committed?”  Her words were fast and rehearsed, like she had either done this a million times or dreamt about doing it so much, the words burned into her brain. Her mic was pushed into my face, knocking against my chin and drawing a thin strand of goo onto the mic. The woman didn’t seem to notice however, her eyes laser focused on me. “I... I su-sure. I’m just not very good on camera-” “Don’t worry honey, editors make everyone look good. Cameron! Start rolling, everyone please clear the place we need a nice shot of...what do you call yourself, Miss?” “G...Grey Matter.” “Grey.” she repeated, a eyebrow raised in silent judgement. “Well Grey Matter, hope you’re ready for your 5 minutes of fame because we’re rolling.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My fingers ran across the laptop keys, restarting the video again for the 11th time in a row. I couldn’t stop, my first interview, my first well known appearance as a hero. And the interview was... terrible. The comments didn’t say that but I couldn’t help but notice how nervous I looked, how much I stared into the camera at times, the way I showed my powers and how one guy said it was like a bad hentai. I knew that but god when others said that made everything feel ten times worse. However other commenters were nice, saying how cool I looked, how good it was to see another hero on the streets, taking care of baddies that the others didn’t get. I felt like my ego was a metronome switching from feeling like a god to feeling like a dumbass. I readied my finger to press the replay button as the video neared the end when a knock came to my door. Strange, I didn’t expect anyone, and not many people knew where I lived. Maybe it was a neighbor coming to congratulate me? Not like I could easily disguise myself and not many other people had the consistency of tar. I slid my pants on and walked to the door, opening it to a face almost 3 inches away from  mine. “Hello-” I jumped back, arms raising and balling like huge slings, ready to attack only for them to deflate and fall to my waist as I realized who it was. “You really do stretch! It’s like you’re one big sticky hand toy. Neat, Neat...” Plastic Man commented, his neck extended to look at me further. “Mind if I come in? I’d like to talk.” “I... Y-yes of course Mr... Mr. Plastic Man I... Um.” I could feel myself beginning to melt as I went to close the door behind him, gesturing to my messy house before him. He towered over everything easily, walking past my fridge and ducking to get into my living room to observe more of the house, making eye contact with the laptop. He smiled widely to himself before shifting his eyes back at me. “Please, Mr. Plastic Man was my father, just call me Plas. And I assume you know about me from the way your fangirling?” “I... yes of course you’re an inspiration to me ever since I became like this. The way you quickly maneuver and creatively problem solve with an air of ease is inspiring. Not to mention the way your so cheerful with the public, it puts alot of people at ease, I...starting researching you because we have such similar powers.. not in a weird way just, how you do things.” I rambled trying to literally hold myself together as I felt my body begin to dribble to the floor. “I’m sorry can you excuse me-” “Go ahead, you need... help there?” He asked as I sped past him to my room, grabbing the collar and placing it around my neck. In an instant it came to life, a release of cold air wafting over my body. I returned to the living room, head craning to look at the tall hero. “No thank you, I’m alright. Sometimes when I get nervous or overheated I start to lose my form. The cold from the collar helps me keep me together.” He lowered his head, neck stretching once again to look closer at the device. “I get that, hell sometimes on summer days I gotta put myself in a freezer and become a Plas Pop or else I nearly melt down the storm drain. That’s just another thing we have in common I guess. And that’s what I came here to talk to you about.” I swallowed hard, his hand gesturing to the opened interview on the laptop. “Everyone’s been talking about the girl who took down the Graveyard Gang and word gets around fast.  So fast that even I got word of it almost as soon as it aired. Boy was I surprised when I saw you on camera, showing of a little of what you could do. Another stretcher like me! And one who’s new to the game, a fresh face. It got me thinking.” He paused, crossing his arms as he glanced towards the ground. “Things have been quite in the League, least for ol’ Plas. Much as I love my job and helping the universe, seems like I’m always backup number 54 on the list of who to call when the world’s gonna end. Which isn’t bad but it leaves a guy with alot of time on his rubber hands. So I was thinking maybe I should give the whole mentor thing a shot, take someone under my wing. Just haven’t got the chance to meet someone I could actually teach anything to, till I saw your little stunt. So what do you say? Willing to make what the Batman described as ‘A horrible decision that no one would agree to’?” This was crazy. A proposal like this? And so soon? Learning under one of the League, one of the bests? “Yes, I’d be honored to be mentored by you Plastic Man- er... P-plas. I hope I don’t disappoint you, um... you know I can’t shapeshift like you right. I can’t turn into lions or trucks... I... I can’t do alot of those things actually, just basic stretching and modifications.” “Hm? Oh well that’s ok, besides I didn’t expect you to be exactly like me, that’d just be crazy thoughts. Also that’d make you my son, and that’s just weird. You got something else that I don’t have, you got that goo shot. I can’t shoot bullets of myself at people and you said you can set up traps and knock people out in a hail of slime. That’s kick ass, we just gotta embrace that side of you and you’ll be up there with Superman at the table, talking about what multiverse crisis was your favorite.” He grinned, lowering himself to my level and wrapping an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close against his body. I felt my face grow warm as I looked away from him, my chest pounding despite the lack of heart in my breast. Now he was touching me? Telling me how cool I was? I felt myself begin to drip again, knees beginning to buckle. “Y-you really think so?” “I know so. You got spunk kid, we just gotta polish you up and you’ll be golden, Pony Boy.” The force of his palm hitting my back sent me jolting forward, his shadow looming over me. “How about you meet me outside of your place, tomorrow. 1pm. We’ll assess your abilities and work from there. Sound good? Too bad, crime never waits. I’ll see you there.” And with surprising grace he dipped out of my apartment, leaving me like it was just a frantic dream. If it wasn’t for the sting from his palm I’d assume I was merely daydreaming, but it was real. Plastic Man and me, working together. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Come on, haven’t you ever seen Spider-Man. Leap of faith!”  “I don’t know if you’re legally allowed to reference that...” I muttered, eyeing the large gap between buildings before staring back at Plas. “I haven’t really done much uh... traversal practice. What if I fall and hit the ground I... I mean I don’t think I can die like that but-” “I won’t let you fall, I promise you. I’d be a real bad trainer if the first person I mentored became a permanent stain on 4th street. You got this!”  Plastic Man grinned widely, flashing a thumbs up and stepping back. His words echoed in my head, as I stepped back a few feet, already making my plan as I dragged a line of slick slime in front of me.  ‘I’ll run forward, using the slime to propel me even further to close the gap. Then when I get as far as I can, I’ll stretch my arms out, attach to the building and slingshot my way up to the roof.’ I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, waiting until every last bit of air left my lungs.  And then I ran. My feet slid against the slime trail like a skater on the ice as I raced towards the edge. Before I could even attempt to jump, I hit the edge, my body fling more downward then I expected. I felt the air leave my lungs, my head snapping up towards the roof top I was aiming for and snapped my arm forward, splatting against the brick a few feet down. Damn it, Damn it, I got this. I got this. I felt the tension build in my arms, threatening to snap under the pressure. Just when I thought it was going to be too much, it released. And I found myself ascending just as fast I was falling. Up against the building. A wave of pain shot through my body as I was bashed against the wall, slowly feeling the way my body spread and slowly began to peel away from the window. Just as I felt the last few strand of myself start to detach, I felt a warmth wrap around my body, lifting me up to the roof of the building. “Hey you good? I never saw anyone but me rubber band that hard into a building before.” I tried to nod my head, wheezing and groaning as I laid on my back, staring up at the titan of a man before me. “I’m ok... just the wind got knocked out.” “Mm, yeah I’m not surprised. I mean if anything I guess we found out that a fall from here would be a-ok. Painful but... if you can survive going mach one into a building a fall should be no sweat.” He stretched his arms and sat down beside me, hands forming something just out of my range of vision to mess with. “Take your time, and we can try again. Maybe something with less of a gap to fall down.” I closed my eyes, a sickening knot forming in my stomach. I fucked up the jump, and fucked it up bad. Was he disappointed? Rethinking his decision to choose me? He had been teaching me for 2 weeks now, and I couldn’t help but think that I wasn’t enough by the way he’d sometimes look away, seem upset, maybe wanting to be anywhere else but here. My body slumped forward, lingering pain in my core. “Plastic Man?” His head cocked to the side, eyes unidentifiable behind his goggles. But I couldn’t bring myself to ask him what he thought of me. The words caught in my throat, my fear too great to hear the truth. I didn’t want to seem too pitiful, too... “I’ll try better next time.” “That’s what I like to hear.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “GM what were you thinking?! You know you can’t handle that kinda heat, why did you head into a burning building?! No one was in there! Everyone was safe!” I ducked my head away from Plas’ rage, watching the soot swirl around the remains of my arm. I was hurt bad, nearly melted and burned in a raging fire me and Plas tried to contain. But I was careless, eager to please a man I thought was losing interest in me. Despite the fact the building was clear I thought if I could help put out the fire before the firefighters came he would praise my boldness. But I only ended up making a fool of myself, having to had Plas rush into the building and collect me himself. He didn’t fair well himself, parts of him still goopy from harsh heat damage. “Look at me when I’m talking to you! Why did you do that.” His eyes were angry, his usual smile twisted into a disappointed frown. “I wanted to impress you-” “Impress me?! Yeah your new power to turn into a corpse was real freaking impressive Jenna. Why the hell are you trying to impress me like that-” “Because I don’t think I’m good enough to be taught by you!” I exclaimed, shocked by how I raised my voice at him. “I... I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to... I just... I feel like ever since you started to mentor me I haven’t been good enough. I’ve always been messing up and-and I feel like if I don’t do anything to impress you, you’ll just abandon me and I’ll fuck up the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I-I look up to you so much, and I feel like it’s such a privilege that you chose me I... I feel like it’s a mistake. And so I’m just waiting for you to realize that and I feel like you’re catching on so I had to do something to make sure that you didn’t fuck up with your choice.” Plas’ face immediately dropped, a look of concern replacing his scold. “Christ... I gave you Imposter Syndrome. Is this what the other people with sidekicks have to deal with... Woozy was never like this. Er...well, no he was he just didn’t have powers.” He bit his bottom lip, and sighed, inching to take a seat beside me. “I’m not good at this teaching stuff, I don’t know if you noticed. So if I made you feel like you weren’t impressing me, I swear it isn’t true. I remember when I was first getting the hang of being a hero. I was dog shit. The amount of times I did somethings stupid or tried to impress others without knowing what I was doing myself, god... and when I was part of the league? The first month was a hell, I didn’t get anything done. I still mess up, I just make it seem like I don’t cause I play it off. We all screw up, even Superman. I would know, I was there for a couple of those times, etched em right into my head.” He glanced away, tapping the side of his head where the words ‘Pantsing Incident of 05’ appeared.  “Point is we all started somewhere and we were all ass at it. You think Flash got the hang of dodging every car while he ran down the road? No, it was just that no one remembers those times cause he’s  too busy kicking ass now adays that no one cares that one time he ate asphalt. No one accept me who uses it to blackmail him occasionally because I’m petty and like to knock him down a peg every once in a while. You’re doing great.” I could feel the tears dripping down my face as he spoke, using my palm to desperately hide my emotions from him. His arm wrapped around my shoulder in a cautious, yet caring touch. “Can we just not... run into burning buildings next time we’re trying to prove something? I might not be able to get you out next time.” “Yeah, of course sir. Thank you, for believing in me, after I did that, and that you believed me in the first place.”

[voltrontranscript]

VLD S1E1: The Rise of Voltron

Season 1 Episode 1: The Rise of Voltron

Transcript by @dragonofyang

Summary: Out on the edge of the solar system on Kerberos, Shiro, Sam, and Matt are extracting ice cores from Kerberos’ surface when they’re abducted by a mysterious alien race. One year later, cadets Lance, Pidge, and Hunk pick up alien radio chatter that leads them to find the missing pilot Shiro when he crash lands back on Earth, and they meet Keith, who was attempting to rescue him at the same time. Together, Shiro, Lance, Pidge, Hunk, and Keith find the Blue Lion, one of five alien spaceships shaped like lions that forms the mysterious Voltron, and they fly to Arus, their next mission is to find and pilot the other four missing Lions of Voltron with the help of Princess Allura and her advisor Coran of the planet Altea to defeat Emperor Zarkon.

[Google Doc]

Sam: Easy, son. This ice is delicate.

Matt: Amazing. Isn’t this exciting, Shiro?

Shiro: You guys get a little more excited about ice samples than I do.

Sam: This is history in the making. Not only have we traveled farther than any human ever has, but this ice could hold microscopic clues about the existence of life outside Earth.

Matt: Think of it, Dad. We could use those clues to become the first people to meet aliens.

Sam: My life’s work would be complete. What is that? Seismic activity?

Shiro: We should get back to the ship.

Sam: What? What is that? It can’t be.

Shiro: Run. Come on, run!

Unnamed Galra Commander: Emperor Zarkon, we were scouting System X-9-Y as ordered when we found these primitive scientists. I don’t think they know anything useful.

Zarkon: Take them back to the main fleet for interrogation. The Druids will find out what they know.

Shiro: Please, we come from a peaceful planet! We mean you no harm! We’re unarmed!

[Scene change to an unmarked hallway lined with holding cells in the Galra ship.]

Male: Look, they brought in another one.

Female: Who is it?

Second Male: Over there. It’s another one.

Shiro: Huh?

[Scene change back to Kerberos, labeled ��One Year Later”.]

Lance: Galaxy Garrison flight log 5-11-14. Begin descent to Kerberos for rescue mission.

Hunk: Lance, can you keep this thing straight?

Lance: Relax, Hunk. I’m just getting a feel for the stick. I mean, it’s not like I did this! Or this!

Hunk: Okay, unless you wanna wipe beef stroganoff out of all the little nooks and crannies in this thing, you’d better knock it off, man!

Pidge: We’ve picked up a distress beacon!

Lance: Alright, look alive, team. Pidge, track coordinates.

Pidge: Copy.

Hunk: Knock it off, Lance! Please!

Lance: Well, this one’s on you, buddy, we’ve got a hydraulic stabilizer out.

Hunk: Oh, no.

Lance: Oh, no. Fix now, puke later.

Pidge: I lost contact. The shaking is interfering with our sensors.

Lance: Come on, Hunk!

Hunk: It’s not responding.

Lance: Oh, never mind, fellas. Thar she blows. Preparing for approach on visual.

Pidge: I don’t think that’s advisable with our current mechanical and gastrointestinal issues.

Hunk: Agreed.

Lance: Stop worrying. This baby can take it, can’t you, champ? See? She was--she was nodding. She was nodding. Pidge, hail down to them and let them know their ride is here.

Pidge: Attention, lunar vessel--[screams]

Lance: What are you doing? Buckle your belt. And Hunk, stop that shaking!

Hunk: I’m try--oh, no.

Pidge: Attention, lunar vessel, this is Galaxy Garrison Rescue Craft One Victor Six Three Tango. Coming in for landing and extraction, against crew recommendations.

Lance: No time for your mutinous comments now, Pidge. They’re going under and we’re going in.

Pidge: Look out for that overhang!

Lance: No worries, my first year in flight school, you know what they called me? They called me “The Tailor” because of how I thread the needle. Come around, come around! Come on, come on!

Hunk: We lost a wing!

Lance: Oh, man.

Computer: Simulation failed.

Pidge: Nice work, Tailor.

Iverson: Roll out, donkeys! Well, let’s see if we can’t use this complete failure as a lesson for the rest of you students. Can anyone point out the mistakes these three so-called cadets made in the simulator?

Student 1: The engineer puked in the main gearbox.

Iverson: Yes. As everyone knows, vomit is not an approved lubricant for engine systems. What else?

Student 2: The comms spec removed his safety harness.

Student 3: The pilot crashed!

Iverson: Correct. And worst of all, the whole jump, they’re arguing with each other. Heck, if you’re gonna be this bad individually, you’d better at least be able to work as a team! Galaxy Garrison exists to turn young cadets like you into the next generation of elite astroexplorers, but these kinds of mental mistakes are exactly what cost the lives of the men on the Kerberos mission.

Pidge: That’s not true, sir!

Iverson: What did you say?

Lance: Sorry, sir. I think he may have hit his head when he fell out of his chair. But point taken.

Iverson: I hope I don’t need to remind you that the only reason you’re here is that the best pilot in your class had a discipline issue and flunked out. Don’t follow in his footsteps. Next!

[Scene change to outside the Galaxy Garrison compound.]

Iverson: Lights out in five! Everyone back to their dorms, now.

Hunk: We shouldn’t be doing this.

Lance: You heard Commander Iverson. We need to bond as a team. We’re gonna grab Pidge, hit the town, loosen up, meet some nice girls and--

Hunk: I-I’m just saying this here, right now, on the record. This is a bad idea.

Lance: You know, for someone in a space exploration program, you don’t have much of a sense of adventure.

Hunk: All of your little “adventures” end up with me in the principal’s office. Oh, man.

Guard: L-5 north all clear.

Hunk: I’m fine.

Lance: Where is he going?

[Scene change to the roof of the Galaxy Garrison.]

Lance: You come up here to rock out?

Pidge: Oh, Lance, Hunk. No, um, just looking at the stars.

Lance: Where’d you get this stuff? It doesn’t look like Garrison tech.

Pidge: I built it.

Hunk: You built all of this?

Pidge: Stop it! With this thing, I can scan all the way to the edge of the solar system.

Lance: That right? All the way to Kerberos? You go ballistic every time the instructors bring it up. What’s your deal?

Pidge: Second warning, Hunk.

Lance: Look, Pidge, if we’re going to bond as a team, we can’t have any secrets.

Pidge: Fine. The world as you know it is about to change. The Kerberos mission wasn’t lost because of some malfunction or crew mistake. Stop touching my equipment! So, I’ve been scanning the system and picking up alien radio chatter.

Hunk: Whoa, what? Aliens?

Lance: Okay. So, you’re insane. Got it.

Pidge: I’m serious. They keep repeating one word: “Voltron.” And tonight, it’s going crazier than I have ever heard it.

Lance: How crazy?

Iverson, over PA: Attention, students. This is not a drill. We are on lockdown! Security situation Zulu Niner. Repeat: all students are to remain in barracks until further notice.

Hunk: What’s going on? Is that a meteor? A very, very big meteor?

Pidge: It’s a ship.

Lance: Holy crow! I can’t believe what I’m seeing! That’s not one of ours.

Pidge: No. It’s one of theirs.

Hunk: So, wait, there really are aliens out there?

Pidge: We’ve gotta see that ship!

Lance: Hunk, come on!

Hunk: Oh, this is the worst team-building exercise ever.

[Scene change to the cliffs where the mystery space ship landed.]

Lance: Whoa! What the heck is that thing? And who the heck is she?

Pidge: Lance!

Lance: Ow! Right, alien ship. Man, we’ll never get past all those guards to get a look.

Hunk: Aw, man. Yeah, yeah, I guess there’s nothing to do but head back to the barracks, right?

Pidge: Wait, they set up a camera in there and I grabbed its feed. Look!

Shiro: Hey! What are you doing?

Iverson: Calm down, Shiro. We just need to keep you quarantined until we run some tests.

Shiro: You have to listen to me! They destroy worlds! Aliens are coming!

Lance: That’s Shiro, the pilot of the Kerberos mission! That guy’s my hero!

Hunk: Guess he’s not dead in space, after all.

Pidge: But where’s the rest of the crew?

Iverson: Do you know how long you’ve been gone?

Shiro: I don’t know. Months? Years? Look, there’s no time. Aliens are coming here for a weapon. They’re probably on their way. They’ll destroy us. We have to find Voltron.

Pidge: Voltron!

Man: Sir, take a look at this. It appears his arm has been replaced with a cyborg prosthetic.

Iverson: Put him under until we know what that thing can do.

Shiro: No, no, no! Don’t put me under! No! There’s no time!

Pidge: They didn’t ask about the rest of the crew.

Lance: What are they doing? The guy’s a legend. They’re not even gonna listen to him?

Pidge: We have to get him out.

Hunk: Uh, I hate to be the voice of reason here, always, but weren’t we just watching on TV because there was no way to get past the guards?

Lance: That was before we were properly motivated. We’ve just gotta think. Could we tunnel in?

Pidge: Maybe we could get some hazmat suits and sneak in like med techs.

Hunk: Or we dress up like cooks, head back to the dorms, sneak into the commissary, little late-night snack.

Lance: No. What we need is a distraction.

Hunk: Is that the aliens? Is that the aliens? Are they here? They got here so quick!

Pidge: No. Those explosions were a distraction for him. The Garrison’s headed toward the blast, and he’s sneaking in from the other side.

Lance: No way! Oh, he is not going to beat us in there! That guy’s always trying to one-up me!

Hunk: Who is it?

Lance: Keith!

Pidge: Who?

Hunk: Are you sure?

Lance: Oh, I’d recognize that mullet anywhere!

Pidge: Who’s Keith?

Man: These readings are off the chart. Hey!

Keith: Shiro?

Lance: Nope. No, you--no, no, no. No, you don’t. I’m saving Shiro.

Keith: Who are you?

Lance: Who am I? Uh, the name’s Lance. We were in the same class at the Garrison.

Keith: Really, are you an engineer?

Lance: No, I’m a pilot! We were, like, rivals. You know, Lance and Keith, neck and neck.

Keith: Oh, wait, I remember you. You’re a cargo pilot.

Lance: Well, not anymore. I’m fighter class now, thanks to you washing out.

Keith: Well, congratulations.

Hunk: Oh, man. They’re coming back and they do not look happy. We gotta go. Uh, do you mind if we catch a ride with you?

Pidge: Is this thing going to be big enough for all of us?

Keith: No.

Pidge: Why am I holding this guy?

Hunk: Hey, we did all fit.

Lance: Can’t this thing go any faster?

Keith: We could toss out some non-essential weight.

Lance: Oh, right! Okay, so that was an insult. I get it.

Keith: Big man, lean left!

All: Whoa!

Hunk: Aw, man! Mr. Harris just wiped out Professor Montgomery! No, no, he’s fine.

Keith: Big man, lean right!

Hunk: Guys? Is that a cliff up ahead?

Lance: Oh, no, no, no!

Keith: Yup.

Pidge: No, no, no!

Lance: What are you doing? You’re going to kill us all!

Keith: Shut up and trust me!

[Scene change to outside Keith’s home.]

Keith: It’s good to have you back.

Shiro: It’s good to be back.

Keith: So what happened out there? Where were you?

Shiro: I wish I could tell you. My head’s still pretty scrambled. I was on an alien ship, somehow I escaped. It’s all a blur. How did you know to come save me when I crashed?

Keith: You should come see this.

[Scene change to inside Keith’s home.]

Shiro: What have you been working on?

Keith: I can’t explain it, really. After getting booted from the Garrison, I was kinda lost and found myself drawn out to this place. It’s like something… some energy was telling me to search.

Shiro: For what?

Keith: Well, I didn’t know at the time… until I stumbled across this area. It’s an outcropping of giant boulders with caves covered in these ancient markings. Each tells a slightly different story about a blue lion, but they all share clues leading to some event, some arrival happening last night. Then, you showed up.

Shiro: I should thank you all for getting me out. Lance, right?

Pidge: The nervous guy’s Hunk. I’m Pidge. So, did anyone else from your crew make it out?

Shiro: I’m not sure. I remember the mission and being captured. After that, it’s just bits and pieces.

Hunk: Yeah, sorry to interrupt, but back to the aliens. Where are they now? Are they coming? Are they coming for all of us? Like, where are they at this very moment?

Shiro: I can’t really put it together. I remember the word “Voltron.” It’s some kind of weapon they’re looking for, but I don’t know why. Whatever it is, I think we need to find it before they do.

Hunk: Well, last night, I was rummaging through Pidge’s stuff, and I found this picture. Look, it’s his girlfriend.

Pidge: Hey, give me that! What were you doing in my stuff?

Hunk: I was looking for a candy bar. But, then, I started reading his diary--

Pidge: What?!

Hunk: --and I noticed that the repeating series of numbers the aliens are searching for looks a lot like a Fraunhofer line.

Keith: Frown who?

Hunk: It’s a number describing the emission spectrum of an element, only, this element doesn’t exist on EArth. I thought it might be this Voltron, and I think I can build a machine to look for it, kinda like a Voltron Geiger counter.

Lance: Hunk, you big gassy genius!

Hunk: It’s pretty fascinating, really. The wavelength looks like this.

Keith: Give me that.

[Scene change to the canyons leading to Blue Lion’s hiding place.]

Lance: Okay, I admit it. This is super freaky.

Hunk: I’m getting a reading. Whoa. Whoa.

Shiro: What are these?

Keith: These are the lion carvings I was telling you about. They’re everywhere around here.

Lance: Hmm. Whoa. Whoa!

All: What?

Keith: They’ve never done that before.

Lance: They are everywhere.

Pidge: Is this it? Is this the Voltron?

Shiro: It must be.

Keith: This is what’s been causing all of this crazy energy out here. Looks like there’s a forcefield around it.

Lance: Does anyone else get the feeling this is staring at them?

Shiro: No.

Lance: Yeah. The eyes are totally following me.

Keith: I wonder how we get through this.

Lance: Maybe you just have to knock. Whoa. Uh, did everyone just see that?

Hunk: Voltron is a robot. Voltron is a huge, huge awesome robot!

Pidge: And this thing is only one part of it! I wonder where the rest of them are.

Shiro: This is what they’re looking for.

Keith: Incredible.

Lance: Hmm. Mmm… hmm… Here we go. Uh? Huh.

Pidge: Whoa.

Hunk: Whoa.

Lance: Alright! Very nice!

Hunk: Okay, guys, I feel the need to point out, just so that we’re all, you know, aware. We are in some kind of futuristic alien cat head right now.

Lance: Whoa. Did you guys just hear that?

Keith: Hear what?

Lance: I think it’s talking to me. Hmm… Um… Okay, got it. Now, let’s try this.

Keith: You are the worst pilot ever!

Iverson: What in the Sam Hill is that?

Garrison Officer: It appears to be a flying blue lion, sir.

Lance: Isn’t this awesome?

Hunk: Make it stop. Make it stop.

Lance: I’m not making it do anything. It’s like it’s on autopilot.

Keith: Where are you going?!

Lance: I just said it’s on autopilot! It says there’s an alien ship approaching Earth. I think we’re supposed to stop it.

Pidge: What did it say, exactly?

Lance: Well, it’s not like it’s saying words. More like feeding ideas into my brain, kind of.

Hunk: Well, if this thing is the weapon they’re coming for, why don’t we just, I don’t know, give it to them? Maybe they’ll leave us alone. Sorry, lion, nothing personal.

Shiro: You don’t understand. These monsters spread like a plague throughout the galaxy, destroying everything in their path. There’s no bargaining with them. They won’t stop until everything’s dead.

Hunk: Oh. Never mind, then.

[Cut to space.]

Hunk: Uh… Holy crow! Is that really an alien ship?

Shiro: They found me.

Pidge: We’ve got to get it out of here!

Lance: Hang on! Alright, okay! I think I know what to do!

Pidge: Be careful, man. This isn’t a simulator.

Lance: Well, that’s good. I always wreck a simulator. Let’s try this.

Shiro: Nice job, Lance!

Lance: Okay, I think it’s time to get these guys away from our planet.

Unnamed Galra Commander: Lord Zarkon, the escaped prisoner and his people found the lion. It attacked us and is heading out of the system.

Zarkon: Follow that lion and alert all ships in the area to intercept. Capturing that lion is your first and only priority.

Unnamed Galra Commander: Yes, Your Majesty. Full power after the lion!

Hunk: Oh, no!

Pidge: They’re gaining on us!

Lance: It’s weird. They’re not trying to shoot us. They’re just chasing.

Hunk: Okay, seriously, now we think having aliens follow us is good? I am not on board with this new direction, guys.

Keith: Where are we?

Shiro: Edge of the solar system. There’s Kerberos.

Pidge: It takes months for our ships to get out this far. We got out here in five seconds.

Hunk: What is that?

Lance: Uh, this may seem crazy, but I think the lion wants us to go through there.

Pidge: Where does it go?

Lance: I-I don’t know. Shiro, you’re the senior officer here. What should we do?

Shiro: Whatever’s happening, the lion knows more than we do. I say we trust it, but we’re a team now. We should decide together.

Lance: Alright. Guess we’re all ditching class tomorrow.

Lance: Whoa. That was…

Hunk: So sorry.

Pidge: I’m just surprised it took this long.

Shiro: I don’t recognize any of these constellations. We must be a long, long way from Earth.

Lance: The lion seems to want to go to this planet. I think… I think it’s going home.

Lance: Guys, personal space. Hunk, your breath is killing me.

Hunk: Um, is it just me or is anyone else having second thoughts about flying through a mysterious wormhole? Why are we listening to a robotic lion anyway?

Lance: Got us away from that alien warship, didn’t it?

Keith: I don’t know if you noticed, but we’re in an alien warship.

Lance: Oh, are you scared?

Keith: With you at the helm? Terrified.

Shiro: Alright, knock it off. No one’s happy to be in this situation, but we’re here now. If we want to get through this, we’ve got to do it together.

Pidge: So, what do we do?

Shiro: First, we find out where we’re headed. Lance?

Lance: I don’t know. I’m sorry. The lion’s not talking to me anymore. Wait! Wait, wait wait! Shh! Listen. I think I hear something.

Keith: I’m hearing it, too.

Hunk: It’s uh--it’s kind of a--a high-pitched squeal?

All: [exclaim in disgust] Come on, Lance!

Lance: But seriously, there’s a castle up ahead.

All: Wow.

Shiro: Keep your guard up.

Pidge: Something wrong?

Shiro: My crew was captured by aliens once. I’m not gonna let it happen again.

Hunk: Oh, no! No! I knew it was going to eat us! No! Oh, the door is open. Guess I was wrong about you.

Hunk: Hello?

Pidge: From the size of the lion, I expected these steps to be bigger.

Computer: Hold for identity scan.

Pidge: What?

Shiro: Why are we here? What do you want with us?

Lance: Whoa!

Pidge: Whoa. I guess we’re going that way.

Hunk: Hello? Hello? Hello?

Lance: Where are we?

Pidge: It’s some kind of control room.

Hunk: Are these guys… dead?

Allura: Father!

Lance: Woah! Hello.

Allura: Who are you? Where am I?

Lance: My name’s Lance, and you’re right here in my arms.

Allura: Your ears…

Lance: Yeah?

Allura: They’re hideous. What’s wrong with them?

Lance: Nothing’s wrong with them! They heard exactly what you said about them!

Allura: Who are you? Where is King Alfor? What are you doing in my castle?

Lance: A giant blue lion brought us here. That’s all we know!

Allura: How do you have the Blue Lion? What happened to its paladin? What are you all doing here? Unless… How long has it been?

Shiro: We don’t know what you’re talking about. Why don’t you tell us who you are? Maybe we can help.

Allura: I am Princess Allura of Planet Altea. I’ve got to find out where we are and how long we’ve been asleep.

Pidge: Okay, that’s how that works.

Coran: Enemy combatants! Quiznak! You’re lucky I have a case of the ol’ “sleep chamber knees”. Otherwise I’d grab your head like this, wrap you up like so, one, two, three! Sleepytime!

Lance: Well, before you did that I’d--[grunts repeatedly] like that.

Coran: Oh, really? Well how could you do that when I’ve already come at you with this? Ha, ha, ha, hey!

Hunk: Man, these guys are good.

Allura: It can’t be.

Coran: What is it?

Allura: We’ve been asleep for ten thousand years.

[Transition to a flashback, ten thousand years ago.]

Alfor: Zarkon.

Zarkon: Your fleet has been destroyed, Alfor. I will be there shortly to claim Voltron.

Allura: Father, we must form Voltron and fight before it’s too late!

Alfor: It’s already too late. We must send the lions away. We can’t risk them falling into Zarkon’s hands.

Allura: We can’t give up hope!

Alfor: I’m sorry, daughter. If all goes well, I will see you again soon.

Allura: Father…

Alfor: I love you.

[Transition back to the present.]

Allura: Planet Altea and all of the planets in our solar system have been destroyed. Coran, Father is gone. Our entire civilization… Zarkon.

Shiro: Zarkon?

Allura: He was the king of the Galra. A vile creature and enemy to all free people.

Shiro: I remember now… I was his prisoner.

Allura: He’s still alive? Impossible!

Shiro: I can’t explain it, but it’s true. He’s searching for a super-weapon called Voltron.

Allura: He’s searching for it because he knows it’s the only thing that can defeat him, and that’s exactly why we must find it before he does.

[Cut to an unspecified location full of floating purple crystals.]

Haggar: Ah…

[Cut to an unspecified location on Zarkon’s command ship.]

Haggar: The Blue Lion has returned, and now I feel a resurgence of Altean energy.

Zarkon: Alfor’s daughter lives? How?

Haggar: I know not, but it is time to reclaim what is rightfully ours.

Zarkon: Yes. I shall wipe that foul race from the universe forever and take back Voltron. Contact my commanders.

[Cut to a Galra cruiser in deep space.]

Male voice: Emperor Zarkon requests an audience.

Zarkon: Commander Sendak, the Princess of Altea is alive and hiding in your sector. We believe she alone holds the whereabouts of the remaining lions. Your battle fleet is the closest to her location. Retrieve her and the lions. With them all, the Galra Empire will be unstoppable.

Sendak: I fight for the empire. I conquer in the name of Galra. No foe has ever stood in my way and none ever will. Vrepit Sa! Set a course for Arus.

[Cut to the Castle of Lions.]

Coran: Princess, you must eat. It’s been ten thousand years.

Allura: I’m not hungry.

Lance: Man, ten thousand years? That's like one thousand plus ten.

Keith: That’s times ten.

Lance: Whatever, dropout.

Hunk: I haven’t eaten since breakfast and I’m starving.

Pidge: Yeah, but you’ve thrown up, like, five times.

Shiro: I can’t believe your civilization created such advanced technology ten thousand years ago. It must have been an incredible place.

Coran: Yes, it was… but now it is gone and we’re the last Alteans alive.

Allura: Looks like we’re not the last, after all.

Coran: A Galra battleship has set its tracker to us!

Allura: How did they find us?

Lance: I’m not sure, but I bet it’s Keith’s fault.

Keith: Say whatever you’ve gotta say to make yourself feel better. After getting us stuck on the other side of a wormhole!

Lance: I’ll stick you in a wormhole!

Shiro: Stow it, cadets! This is no time to place blame, it’s time to work as a team. How long before they arrive?

Coran: At their speed? Oh, well, uh, carry the two… I’d say probably a couple of days.

Allura: Good. Let them come. By the time they get here, you five will have reformed Voltron, and together, we will destroy Zarkon’s empire.

Hunk: Sorry. Food goo.

Shiro: Princess, there are five of these lions. How are we going to find the rest?

[Transition to the bridge of the Castle of Lions.]

Coran: King Alfor connected the lions to Allura’s life force. She alone is the key to the lions’ whereabouts.

All: Whoa.

Pidge: These are coordinates. The Black Lion looks like it’s in the same location as the Blue Lion.

Coran: Look at your primitive synapses firing away in their little brain cage!

Allura: Very observant. That’s because the Black Lion is in the castle.

Coran: To keep the Black Lion out of Zarkon’s hands, King Alfor locked it in the castle. It can only be freed if the other four lions are present.

Allura: As you have found, the lions choose their pilots. It is a mystical bond and cannot be forced. The quintessence of the pilot is mirrored in his lion. Together, they form something greater than science can explain. The Black Lion is the decisive head of Voltron. It will take a pilot who is a born leader and in control at all times, someone whose men will follow without hesitation. That is why, Shiro, you will pilot the Black Lion. The Green Lion has an inquisitive personality and needs a pilot of intellect and daring. Pidge, you will pilot the Green Lion. The Blue Lion--

Lance: Whoa, hold up, let me guess. Takes the most handsome slash best pilot of the bunch?

Allura: The Yellow Lion is caring and kind. Its pilot is one who puts the needs of others above his own. His heart must be mighty. As the leg of Voltron, you will lift the team up and hold them together. The Red Lion is temperamental and the most difficult to master. It’s faster and more agile than the others, but also more unstable. Its pilot needs to be someone who relies more on instincts than skill alone. Keith, you will fly the Red Lion.

Lance: What? This guy?

Allura: Unfortunately, I cannot locate the Red Lion’s coordinates yet. There must be something wrong with the castle. After ten thousand years, it might need some work.

Coran: Don’t worry, we’ll find it soon. They don’t call me “The Coranic” for nothing. It’s because it sounds like “mechanic.” So… Coranic, mechanic. It’s not--it doesn’t sound… exactly like it. It’s similar.

Allura: Once all the lions are united, you will form Voltron, the most powerful warrior ever known, the Defender of the Universe.

Lance: Awesome.

Pidge: Oh…

Hunk: Wait. Okay, we’re going to be in there and flying lions. Got that part. How do lions turn into legs? Also, is this going to be a long trip? Because I have to pee. Do you people pee?

Shiro: We don’t have much time. Pidge and I will go after the Green Lion. Lance, you take Hunk and get the yellow one. Keith, you stay here. If you locate that Red Lion, go get it.

Allura: In the meantime, I’ll get this castle’s defenses ready. They’ll be sorely needed.

Coran: I’ll ready a pod and load the coordinates so that you can reach the Green Lion.

[Transition to the launch of the lion and the pod.]

Coran: We can only keep the wormholes that lead to the other lions open for two of your Earth hours, so you’ll have to be quick about your work. The good news is that according to my readings, both planets are relatively peaceful. So, if you do get stuck, they could be relaxing places to live out the rest of your lives. Enjoy the trip!

Lance: Wait! What? No!

Hunk: I did not receive the memo on this.

[Scene change to a lush green planet where Shiro and Pidge land.]

Pidge: Look! It’s just a… whatever that thing is. I… uh, I think he wants us to get in his canoe.

Shiro: Then, I guess we should go.

Pidge: Huh.

Shiro: I’ve been locked up by aliens for a year. This is nothing.

Pidge: I wonder if Hunk and Lance are having as good a time as us.

[Cut to a sandy planet, where Hunk and Lance are not having as good a time.]

Hunk: Oh, no! No, no, no! Oh! Oh, no! I thought Coran said these planets were peaceful!

Lance: Maybe “peaceful” means something else in Altean!

Hunk: According to the coordinates, we’re right on top of the Yellow Lion. It’s below there, where they’re mining for the ore. They don’t even know the lion is there. Or maybe they just got here and they’re digging for the lion? What do you think, Lance?

Lance: Who cares? Just go get it! I’m dropping you down there.

Hunk: Me? Down there? No. No, no, no.

Lance: Yes, I’ll cover you.

Hunk, You know, what if the Yellow Lion doesn’t work? W-What if--what if I can’t get in the mine? What if I start crying? It’s too late. I’m already crying!

Lance: Sorry, no time for questions.

Hunk: Oh, yeah, sure, just drop me off in an alien planet. That’s cool, man. It’s only occupied by mean purple aliens that want to kill me, but whatever. Just ignore them and go connect with a big, yellow, mechanical cat. Easy-peasy. Yeah. That all makes a ton of sense to me. Cool.

Hunk: Okay, I’m in a giant hole. Now what, Hunk? Huh? Whoa. Pretty. How am I gonna get through that? Hmm? Hmm...

[Cut to Blue Lion on the surface, then Hunk drilling through the rock, and back to Blue as Lance fights the Galra fighters.]

Lance: Oh, no! Hunk!

[Scene change to Shiro and Pidge on the river with the alien.]

Pidge: I know the princess said this is supposed to be my lion, but what if she’s wrong? I mean, she’s probably not wrong. She’s a princess, but I’m not a pilot, even though I’ve always wanted to be a pilot. I mean, I read all the fighter manuals, but never got to fly the simulator, but, hey, I can’t be all that worse than Lance. He crashed all the time, but what if I get in there and it doesn’t respond? What if I get in there and it’s too big and my feet don’t touch the pedals? What if there aren’t even pedals?

Shiro: You’re rambling. Listen, our commander on the Kerberos mission is the smartest man I ever met and he always said, “If you get too worried about what could go wrong, you might miss a chance to do something great.”

Shiro: Go. Be great.

Pidge: Woo-hoo-hoo!

[Cut to Blue Lion on the sandy planet.]

Lance: Hunk, come on! Please, buddy! Oh, no, no, no, no, no! Going down! We’re going down! Oh, no.

Hunk: You okay, Lance?

Lance: Hunk! I thought you were dead! You jumped in front of all those shots to save my life!

Hunk: Well, actually, I was trying to get out of the way. Thankfully, what this thing lacks in speed, it more than makes up for in armor. Man, can it take a beating! Ooh. We’ve got incoming!

Allura: Paladins, please hurry back. I can’t hold the wormhole much longer.

Lance: Let’s get out of here!

Hunk: Ugh, not this again.

Lance: Quit screwing around, Hunk! The wormhole is closing!

[Cut to the bridge of the Castle of Lions.]

Allura: You made it.

Lance: Yeah, just barely. That was a nightmare. I almost puked out there. I felt like Hunk!

Hunk: Think how I felt. I am Hunk.

Pidge: Yeah, we had a tough time, too.

Shiro: Did we find the Red Lion yet?

Coran: Allura just located it. There’s a bit of good news and bad news. The good news is the Red Lion is nearby. The bad news is it’s on-board the Galra ship now orbiting Arus. But wait, good news again. We’re Arus!

Shiro: They’re here already?

Coran: Yes. Guess my calculations were a bit off. Finger counting is--it’s more of an art than a science. Hmm?

Sendak: Princess Allura, this is Commander Sendak of the Galra Empire. I come on behalf of Emperor Zarkon, Lord of the Known Universe. I am here to confiscate the lions. Turn them over to me, or I will destroy your planet.

Shiro: Alright, let’s not panic.

Hunk: Not panic? The scary purple alien thing is driving his battleship toward us. We only have four lions.

Pidge: Technically, only three working lions.

Hunk: That’s right, thank you, Pidge. Three working lions a-and a castle that’s, like, ten thousand years old.

Coran: Actually, it’s ten thousand and six hundred years old. You see, it was built by my grandfather--

Hunk: Thanks, Coran. Thank you for that. See? Now is the perfect time to panic!

Allura: Wait! This castle has a particle barrier we can activate.

Lance: Girl, you’ve already activated my par--

Shiro: Lance!

Coran: The particle barrier won’t hold Sendak’s ion cannon forever. The Galra technology must have advanced since we fought them last.

Hunk: Panic now?

Shiro: No, we’ve just got to figure out our plan of action, and figure it out quickly.

Lance: I say we pop through a wormhole and live to fight another day.

Hunk: I second that, yes. I mean, we tried to find all the lions, right? We gave it the ol’ college try. Couldn’t do it. We only have three. We can’t form Voltron. I mean, I guess we could form a snake. Or a worm! To go through that hole, Lance, that you were talking about.

Lance: Then, it’s settled. Allura, you ride with me. One of you take the old guy.

Pidge: We can’t just abandon Arus. The Galra will keep destroying planets and capturing prisoners until we stop them.

Hunk: Okay. If we run, then maybe Sendak will follow us and leave this planet alone, like when we left Earth. We form the snake-worm thingamagjig and we--[hisses] out of here.

Keith: Sendak could destroy the planet, then come after us anyway. Staying is our only option.

Lance: Here's an option: shut your quiznak.

Keith: I don’t think you’re using that word correctly.

Lance: What do you know, Mullet?

Keith: We’re staying.

Lance: Leaving!

Pidge: Staying!

Hunk: Snake!

Shiro: Guys, stop! Princess Allura, these are your lions. You’ve dealt with the Galra Empire before. You know what we’re facing better than any of us. What do you think is the best course of action?

Allura: I… I don’t know.

Coran: Perhaps your father can help.

Allura: My father?

[Transition to the computer room that hosts Alfor’s AI.]

Allura: Coran, what is this?

Coran: King Alfor knew that there was a chance he might never see you again. So his memories, his very being, were stored in this computer for you.

Allura: Father! Father, it is so good to see you.

Alfor: Allura, my only child, how I’ve missed your face.

Allura: I’m so frightened. A Galra ship is set to attack, and I don’t know what to do. Please, Father, I need your help.

Alfor: I would do anything to take this burden from you.

Allura: I don’t know if we should run to preserve what we have or stay and risk everything. I want to fight, but the paladins of old are gone. I know what you would do.

Alfor: I scattered the Lions of Voltron to keep them out of Zarkon’s hands. You urged me to keep them and fight, but, for the greater good of protecting the universe, I chose to hide them.

Allura: I think I understand.

Alfor: No, daughter, you were right. I made a terrible mistake, one that cost the universe countless lives. Forming Voltron is the only way to stop Zarkon. You must be willing to sacrifice everything to assemble the lions and correct my error.

[Scene change to Allura entering the bridge once more, looking determined in her flight suit.]

Allura: You five paladins were brought here for a reason. The Voltron Lions are meant to be piloted by you and you alone. We must fight, and keep fighting until we defeat Zarkon. It is our destiny. Voltron is the universe’s only hope. We are the universe’s only hope.

Shiro: We’re with you, Princess.

[Cut to the armory of the castle.]

Allura: Your suits of armor.

Lance: Cool!

Shiro: Outstanding.

Keith: Nice.

Pidge: Oh, neat!

Hunk: Hmm…

Coran: Princess, are you sure about this? They aren’t exactly the best and brightest the universe has to offer.

Allura: No, but they’re all we’ve got.

Shiro: Boys, it’s time to suit up!

Allura: The bayard is the traditional weapon of the Paladins of Voltron. It takes a distinct shape for each paladin.

Lance: Whoo! Aw, you got a cute little bayard.

Pidge: Yeah, it is pretty cute.

Allura: Shiro, I’m afraid your bayard was lost with its paladin.

Shiro: I guess I’ll just have to make do.

[Cut to the bridge.]

Allura: You’ll need to retrieve the Red Lion from Sendak’s ship.

Keith: That’s a pretty big ship. How are we gonna know where the Red Lion is?

Pidge: Well, it’s not a matter of “we.” It’s a matter of “you.”

Hunk: Pidge is right. Once we get you in, you’ll be able to feel its presence and, like, track it down.

Lance: Yeah. You know how you felt that crazy energy while we were in the desert?

Keith: Yeah. You made fun of me for that.

Lance: And I’m proud of that, but turns out it’s exactly like that mumbo-jumbo.

Allura: Keith, the Red Lion is extremely temperamental. You’ll have to earn its respect.

Shiro: Alright. Here’s our plan of attack. The Galra Empire knows about the Blue and Yellow Lion, but they don’t know we have the Green Lion, too.

[Cut to outer space.]

Shiro: Hunk, Lance, you’ll act as a decoy by pretending to give yourselves up.

Lance: Attention, Galra ship. Do not fire. We’re surrendering our lions. Hope this works.

Shiro: While Sendak is distracted, Keith, Pidge, and I will sneak onto the ship in the Green Lion. Keith and I will find the Red Lion while Pidge guards our exit. Hunk, Lance, find some way to take down that ion cannon.

Lance: Pidge, what’s your ETA?

Pidge: We’re in.

Sendak: Activate tractor beam.

Hunk: What’s that thing?

Lance: I think that’s our signal to get out of here!

Sendak: They lied to us. Launch fighters!

Lance: Hunk, you dismantle the ion cannon while I take these jerks on a space ride.

Hunk: Ten-four!

[Cut to inside the Galra ship.]

Shiro: I’ve been here before. After I was taken by the Galra cruiser off Kerberos, they brought us here.

Pidge: So, that means your other crewmembers, they might be held captive here. We… We’ve gotta rescue them.

Shiro: Pidge, we don’t have time. We have to get the Red Lion and get back to Arus.

Pidge: But we can’t just leave prisoners here!

Shiro: Look, no one understands that more than me, but in war, we have to make hard choices. Now, let’s get moving.

Pidge: No! Commander Holt is my father. He and my brother were the ones on the Kerberos mission with you.

Shiro: Commander Holt is your father?

Pidge: Yes. I’ve been searching everywhere for him and my brother and I’m not going to give up looking when I’m this close. I won’t!

Shiro: I’m coming with you.

Keith: What?

Shiro: I remember where the prisoners are held. Keith, you go find the Red Lion.

Keith: By myself?

Shiro: Minor change of plans. You’ll be fine. Just remember, patience yields focus, so--run!

Keith: Great. Now which way?

[Cut to Yellow Lion flying outside the Galra ship.]

Hunk: What the quiznak? What is that? A forcefield?

[Cut to the castle on Arus.]

Allura: Particle barrier up!

Coran: Is that what’s supposed to happen? Oh, the barrier crystals are out of alignment.

Allura: We have to fix it immediately. Without the particle barrier, we’ll be defenseless.

Coran: We’re both too big. What can we do?

Allura: The mice!

Coran: How do they know how to do this?

Allura: I can hear them talking to me. I think our minds are connected. It must be from sharing the sleep pod for ten thousand years. Thank you, friends. Coran, what are you doing?

Coran: I’m trying to get them to make me a sandwich.

[Cut to Keith on the Galra ship.]

Keith: You’ve gotta be kidding me! Patience yields focus. Gotcha.

[Cut to Pidge and Shiro on the Galra ship.]

Shiro: That thing saw us. We should get out of here.

Pidge: Wait, I think this might come in handy. Now I’ll just reset the controls… and it’s working for us! I’m gonna call you Rover. Follow me! Open up.

Shiro: Excellent, Pidge.

Pidge: Dad?

Shiro: Don’t be afraid. We’re here to help you escape.

Prisoner: It’s you… It’s you, the Champion. If anyone can get us out of here, he can.

Shiro: Wh… what did you call me?

Pidge: We don’t have much time. Let’s get to the escape pods.

Shiro: Let’s go. Come on!

[Cut to Lance in Blue Lion.]

Lance: Whoa-ho-ho! Yeah, buddy! This is way more fun without Hunk’s barfing!

[Cut to Keith in a hangar where Red is floating inside a shield.]

Keith: Bingo. Let’s get out of here. Open up. It’s me. Keith. Your buddy. It’s me! Keith, your--I am your paladin! I’m bonding with you! Hey! Come on! We’re connected! You’re not getting this lion! Good kitty. Let’s roll.

[Cut to Shiro and Pidge by an escape pod with the prisoners.]

Pidge: Hurry!

Drone: Halt!

Pidge, distorted: Shiro, what’s wrong?

Prisoner: Thank you, Shiro.

Shiro: Wait! How do you…?

Pidge: Shiro, that was amazing! Where did you learn to fight with that?

Shiro: No idea.

[Cut to Yellow Lion.]

Hunk: Come on, just break, you stupid thing! Score one for Hunk! You guys made it!

Pidge: Kitty Rose has left the stage!

Lance: Let’s get the heck out of here!

Hunk: I hope I stopped that cannon. I could barely make a dent in it.

Haxus: They stole the Red Lion!

Sendak: After them! Either we get those lions or we blow this whole planet to cosmic dust! Fire the ion cannon.

Haxus: Sir, the ion cannon has been damaged.

Sendak: Then send the drones to fix it!

[Cut to the Black Lion’s hangar in the Castle of Lions, then to the bridge.]

Allura: Oh…

Coran: Oh, quiznak!

Allura: Sendak is entering the Arusian atmosphere. We need Voltron now!

[Cut to the bridge of Sendak’s ship.]

Haxus: The ion cannon is back online!

Sendak: Fire!

[Cut to Hunk inside Yellow Lion.]

Hunk: Man, those Galra guys repair things fast.

Coran: The barrier gets weaker with every blast. Once that shield goes down, the castle will be defenseless.

Allura: I can give you cover with the castle defenses for a while, but you have to form Voltron now or we’ll all be destroyed!

Hunk: Jeez, no pressure.

Shiro: Listen up, Team Voltron! The only way to succeed is to give it all you’ve got! This looks bad, but we can do this! Are you with me?

Hunk: I’m nodding. Is everyone else nodding?

Keith, Lance, Pidge: Yes.

Shiro: Let’s do this!

Lance: Uh, how?

Keith: Good question. Does anyone have any ideas of how to form Voltron?

Hunk: I don’t see a “combine into giant robot” button anywhere on my dashboard.

Pidge: This is insane! Can’t they just ceasefire for one minute so we can figure this out? Is that too much to ask?

Keith: We’ve gotta do something!

Hunk: Combine!

Keith: Hey!

Hunk: Okay, that didn’t work.

Allura: Quickly, Paladins! Our energy levels are getting low!

Shiro: Maybe if we fly in formation, we’ll just combine. Take off on my cue. One, two, three, Voltron!

Keith: Here we go!

Lance: Come on, come on!

Shiro: Nothing’s happening.

Lance: Hey, wait, wait, wait. I feel something!

Hunk: I do, too. I feel it. It’s like we’re all being pulled in the same direction!

Shiro: Uh, guys, I think I know why. Look up.

Lance: What the cheese?

Pidge: Sendak’s ship is sucking us in like a black hole!

[Cut to Sendak on the bridge of his ship.]

Sendak: Send a report to Emperor Zarkon: “The day is ours.”

[Cut to the castle, then to Shiro in Black.]

Shiro: Oh, no!

Hunk: I don’t care what you say, Shiro. I’m panicking now!

Pidge: It can’t end here!

Lance: This is it!

Keith: It’s been an honor flying with you boys.

Hunk: Oh, no!

Shiro: No! We can do this. We have to believe in ourselves. We can’t give up. We are the universe’s only hope. Everyone is relying on us. We can’t fail! We won’t fail! If we work together, we’ll win together!

All: Yeah!

[Cut to Sendak on his bridge.]

Sendak: Voltron!

[Cut to Voltron outside the Galra ship.]

Keith: I can’t believe it!

Pidge: We formed Voltron!

Hunk: I’m a leg!

Lance: How are we doing this?

Shiro: I don’t know, but let’s get that cannon!

[Scene change to outside the Castle of Lions at sunset, after their victory.]

Allura: Good work, Paladins!

Lance: Thanks, pretty lady.

Shiro: We did it.

Keith: Heck yeah, we did.

Shiro: How did we do it?

Hunk: I was just, like, screaming the whole time. Maybe that did it.

Shiro: We’re not gonna stop searching until we find your brother and father. Wherever they are, I know they’d be proud of you.

Allura: We won the battle, but the war has only just begun. I’m afraid Zarkon will not stop until he gets these lions.

Coran: Good thing you paladins know what you’re doing, because you’re going to have to form Voltron again and again.

Hunk: Totally. Wait, what?

Lance: We barely survived forming Voltron this one time.

Coran: And you only had to fight one ship. Wait until you have to fight a whole fleet of them! It’s not going to be easy being the Defenders of the Universe.

Shiro: Defenders of the Universe, huh? That’s got a nice ring to it.

End.

[mojavejourneys]

Katamari Apocalypse - At the Castle

The Fallout/Katamari crossover shenanigans continue with this instalment!

Read on the AO3 here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23497513

Summary: The Minutemen have just retaken their old base, the Castle. He tries to tell General Matsu, Colonel Maxie and Ronnie Shaw about how things were being cleaned up so fast, but they were skeptical. Now he has to prove it.

No additional warnings needed.

After finally retaking the Castle, the Minutemen had their old base back. While the new members were working on rebuilding the structure, Preston and Ronnie were having a talk about various arrangements that had been made prior.

“Alright, so...” Preston held up the small rainbow-patterned studded ball, nodding to Ronnie. “This... this is what we need to keep hold of. Haven't had chance to tell anyone else, but this is our key to bringing back hope, and rebuilding the Commonwealth.”

Ronnie seemed skeptical but she took hold of the strange ball and looked it over, noticing the lion design at the end of each stud. “What have you gotten yourself into this time, Preston? I just... I don't want another Quincy situation.”

“This is different. But when I've gone over everything we need to do with the General and the Colonel, then I'll tell you what this is for. Meet us on the northernmost bastion when I call for everyone.” Preston took the ball back and headed out of the room, going to one of the rooms that had been repurposed into an office.

Two men had been waiting inside. One was dressed in slightly battered road leathers and was fully human, while the other was dressed in repurposed raider leathers and had scales covering one side of his body, a long Deathclaw-like tail and a pair of large scaled wings. Preston nodded to them both. “General Matsu. Colonel Maxie. Glad you stuck around.”

The hybrid man moved to lean on the desk, returning the nod. “Course we did. I mean, we did take back the Castle, and we got a decent number of settlements all built back up. In record time as well. We dunno how you did it, 'cause I'm sure it weren't just Matsu's leadership doing it.”

Matsu chuckled then, shaking his head. “I did what I had to. Because we left Sunshine Tidings just three weeks ago with a handful of people, then we came back last week and it was... so much cleaner! Sure, some of the buildings were unfinished but there was no debris anywhere! I did say for people to clean up but they wouldn't be able to move all those big bits of rubble even if they all teamed up...”

“I was just about to get to that.” Preston spoke up, pulling the rainbow-coloured studded ball from his pocket and holding it up. “This is... probably the only proof I have of what's really been cleaning up the Commonwealth. I was given this in Concord by the King of All Cosmos.” Maxie and Matsu were now both looking at Preston like he'd grown a second head, though Maxie eventually shrugged. “I know this all sounds really crazy but just hear me out. The King said that he was working with his son and his niblings to clean up Earth. Something about finding his fans or something, I forget exactly what, but as we were leaving Concord to head up to Sanctuary, I caught sight of a strange magical ball, a lot like the one I have in my hand, that was picking up rubble and debris like it was nothing!”

Matsu blinked. “Are you serious, Preston? This sounds like what someone would see on a chem trip...”

“And I'm very familiar with chem trips.” Maxie added.

Preston sighed. “Look. I know this sounds crazy. But I know what I saw out there.”

After a few moments, Matsu took a breath. “Well... why are we even fretting about the hows and whys? It's clean, right?” He looked over at Maxie, then at Preston. “We shouldn't worry too much.”

“Well, yeah. Who cares how it's cleaned up when it is being cleaned up? It means that I've been able to focus on the people side of things.” Preston nodded to Matsu then. “And also it's part of the deal that I struck with the King. I promised that I'd keep up the people side.” His attention then turned back to the ball in his hand. “Speaking of, I need to tell the King about our recent progress, especially now that the Minutemen have their main base back.”

Matsu tilted his head. “I'm still not sure on any of this. If the King of All Cosmos is real, what's he like?”

Preston chuckled. “He's alright. Just don't mess his tights up. He doesn't like that very much.”

As the trio headed out to the courtyard area of the Castle, Preston called to Ronnie to join them on the north bastion because he was about to show them all something. When they were all at the top, Preston took out the strange ball and threw it down at his feet.

In moments the sky above was filled with rainbow lights. Maxie, Matsu and Ronnie looked on in awe until they all had to cover their eyes as it became too bright. Preston removed his hat.

As the lights faded away, the King of All Cosmos was stood before them, arms folded as he looked down at the group. “Ah, Preston. We see you've been busy. Working hard, We presume?” Maxie and Matsu looked between one another, noting that the King's voice had a distinctive record-scratching sound to it. Then they were drawn to his attire, noticing how form-fitting it was.

Preston bowed his head before replacing his hat. “You can say that, Your Highness. The Minutemen have reclaimed their old base and we've made good progress on the people side. You're actually here at it right now. This is the Castle.” The King nodded in response, then prompted him to continue. “Well, I'd like to introduce you to several of my most trusted individuals.”

“We were wondering who the new faces were.” The King waved a hand lightly. “Go on then. Tell Us who they are.” Preston nodded and introduced Ronnie first, then Matsu, then Maxie. “We see. If you trust them, then We will trust them too.” Then his attention was diverted when he saw where the General and the Colonel were staring. “And what exactly do you think you're staring at?”

Maxie had to stifle a laugh. “Um... I can't help but notice that you're, um... y'know, pretty well-endowed. I wouldn't mind a taste of that, Your Highness.” At that point Preston stared at Maxie with wide eyes.

The King was unimpressed. Dark eyes glared daggers. “And what exactly makes you think that you're worthy of getting into Our tights?” Maxie blinked as he felt one large royal finger bop him on the head. “... Normally... anyone who dared to say that to Us would be crushed into stardust. But We will refrain. One, Preston trusts you. And two, We will admit that you were very brave to open with such a line.”

“I-I mean...” Maxie faltered briefly, suddenly feeling his whole body start to shake. Taking a few deep breaths, he managed to right himself enough to speak. The King's presence was far more imposing than he'd initially thought. “Fuck. Sorry. I, um... well, I-I mean your attire don't exactly leave a lot to the imagination. 'Specially, y'know, the tights.”

Matsu stepped forward then, trying to remain collected. “What my other half means, Your Highness...” He looked up at the King even as his arm wrapped around Maxie's waist. “...is that your attire is very regal, yet so form-fitting that it's hard to take your eyes away from certain areas.”

“Is that so? We see.” The King's expression revealed nothing as he turned back to Preston. “... When were you going to tell Us that they were of that sort?”

Preston shrugged. “I... honestly didn't even know they were gonna go there. Took me by surprise too, Your Highness!” He looked apologetic.

“... We should have seen it coming.” Had the King deadpanned for a moment? Nothing about his expression or his intonation revealed anything. Even Matsu couldn't tell, and he was usually good at reading people. “After all, before all this happened... We were surrounded by fans. So many of them! And some of them were... well, let Us just say, rather forward. Not unlike these two here.” A vague gesture towards Maxie and Matsu then, though Matsu insisted that he'd only been thinking it and wouldn't have said it as explicitly as Maxie had. “Oh, We could tell that you would have said if you could.”

All this time, Ronnie had been very quiet and had simply listened while being rather awestruck. Now though, she'd found the courage to speak up. “If I may speak...?” The King nodded to her in response. “I will have to apologise on behalf of the Minutemen for this. But... I have to say that the General was not wrong about your attire.” A brief pause. “Not that it's a bad thing, of course!”

Maxie raised his hand to speak. “Your Highness?” The King nodded to him and gestured for him to speak. “I ain't gonna say anything bad. But Preston told us about this deal that he struck with you, and I wanted to ask for more details.” Ronnie gave Maxie a look, then stared at Preston. Neither had told her about this deal.

“You haven't told them yet?” The King's voice had a clear note of disappointment as he looked down at Preston. “And here We thought that everyone would be on the same page, yes?” Although it wasn't explicitly said, the King was hinting for an explanation.

Preston let out a soft sigh. “My apologies, Your Highness. I did try to tell them about the deal, but everyone was skeptical because they didn't believe that you were real, so I had to prove that first. Now, everyone knows that you are indeed real.” Everyone else nodded in agreement.

“Very well, We understand.” The King then snapped his fingers once. “Now! We will tell everyone here of the deal that We struck with Preston here. Our agreement was that he would take care of the people side of this mess while We worked on the physical cleanup of Earth with Our son and his niblings.” There was a bit of chatter amongst Ronnie, Maxie and Matsu while they wondered how it was possible. Preston simply nodded to them. “You won't need to worry about how We're doing it, that's for Us to know. However... We do expect that you'll continue your work as We're doing with Ours. We don't want any slacking if We're to restore Earth to how it was before, yes?”

Matsu frowned a little at that. “If I may, Your Highness?”

“Go on. We'll listen.” The King nodded to him lightly.

“This may sound a little unbelievable, but I know what this place was like before the war. And I did not like it. I was subjected to things that I absolutely despised, and I wouldn't want to rebuild back to... whatever the fuck that was, pardon my language.” Now he looked more thoughtful. “If anything, I think everyone should take this opportunity to rebuild society to be a better, brighter society, where people can be what they want and with who they want. Don't you think so, Your Highness?”

“Ah, but are We going to be given the recognition We deserve for this? Our fans were so supportive of Us before all of this...”

“Better, I think.” Matsu tried not to get too irritated at the thought of trying to appeal to the King's ego. “Look, if anything, I'd say you'd have an even bigger and even better fanbase if you helped to rebuild society to something far better than what it was before.”

Maxie raised his hand to speak. “I'm with Matsu on this. I got some background of what things were like before the war. Don't remember much of it, but it was real shitty. If we can build up society to be even better than what it was before, I reckon that you'd have the most supportive fans around. So... how 'bout it, Your Highness?”

The appeal seemed to have worked. The King stroked his chin in thought. “Ah, We see where you're coming from. This could indeed work. In that case, We'd expect the two of you to be working with Preston to ensure full cooperation of the people side of things, yes?”

Maxie gave a nod. “Course we will. We wouldn't be part of the Minutemen otherwise! You can bet that when you're next here, you'll see a big improvement. Right?” He looked to the others as they all nodded in agreement.

“We would hope so! We will be holding you to that. All of you, so don't disappoint Us!” At that point the King took a small step back. “However, We need to get back to Our part. There's still much to be done, not just Our bit, but yours too! Preston, you know how to call Us when you next need to speak with Us, so We will leave that to you. We'll return later to see the progress!”

As the King took the Royal Rainbow back up to the Cosmos, bathing the entirety of the Castle in sparkling rainbow lights for a few moments, Preston turned to face his fellow Minutemen.

“Looks like we still have work to do.”

Matsu nodded in agreement. “At least most of our focus can be on the people side, setting up shelters and uniting people.”

“You should get on with that then,” Ronnie said to the group with a nod, “since I'll stay here with the folks we've got here and continue work on rebuilding the Castle.”

Preston tipped his hat to Ronnie. “We'll do that then.” He turned back to Maxie and Matsu, nodding to them. “Right, well, our next job is up at Sunshine Tidings. The folks up there said they were having a mole rat problem.”

“Let's go then.” Maxie nodded, waving to Ronnie before going to grab his bag and his gun, heading out of the Castle with Matsu and Preston.

[deliverydefresas]

masters of the scene

I know it’s been like, a century, but better late than never amirite? Happy birthday to this fic and thank you to everyone who’s still reading it. I love you all. 

I re-read it twice but honestly this probs has as many mistakes as if I hadn’t lmao. In case you don’t remember / have missed a part:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 + 6.5 | 7 | 8 | (this one will be considered 9.3 since there’s two more parts to be posted)

♥

AU: Matteo Balsano is a famous singer who has been crushing on this one girl he saw every day behind a window many years ago, back when he first started recording his debut album and inspired his first big hit, Princesa. Luna Valente, professional Olympic skater turned actress is at a local (and very popular) talk show to promote her breakout movie. This is where it all starts.

♥

When someone mentioned the words bachelorette party, Luna pictured women enjoying themselves, lots of bottles of alcohol, games that are fun after five drinks, and maybe a stripper or two. She, definitely, didn’t imagine herself in a corner, scared of facing the bride’s tantrum. No joke here, she’d seen Yam’s cousin crossing herself before she informed her they’d gotten the tablecloths they’d ordered for the wedding, a silent prayer to keep the already stressed bride calm. But, of course, the universe hated them and decided whoever oversaw the cloths, to pick the ‘wrong’ shade of red.

“I specifically asked for cadmium red, not this cheap ass lipstick red! Are you so fucking blind you can’t distinguish from two different colors? How can you be this incompetent?” She saw most of the people flinch at Yam’s tone; Luna felt for them, she too wanted to be anywhere else. “They are different colors! If you can’t tell one from the other why would you even offer them in your catalogue?!” As Yam continued to yell, Luna saw her friend’s mom apologizing for her daughter’s outburst, offering everyone another round of drinks, before dragging the blonde to another room to continue her call.  Jim sighed tiredly – poor girl had had to endure her best friend’s moods far longer than anyone in the room- slipping her margarita to Nina’s hand – not before emptying it all in a gulp-, as she hurriedly left to follow the screams.

“If I ever become this level of bridezilla, please slap my face with the tablecloth.” Luna told Nina, sipping on her mojito, silently laughing when they heard Yam cursing someone once more.

“Only if you return the favor.” Her best friend proposed, offering her glass of water to her, her duty as DD kept her alcohol free for the evening.

She happily clicked her glass with hers, sealing the deal. After both had sipped on them, Luna spoke again, “time really flew by. I still remember the day Yam came to lunch waving her hand on our faces because Ramiro had proposed, and now…” she sighed.

“She’s only days away from spending the rest of her life with the guy she loves...”

Luna snorted. “Or having a heart attack because another insignificant detail got messed up, whichever happens first.” Nina laughs with her for a moment, sipping the last of her drink before changing the subject.

“How’s the roller coming along?” her friend asks, as if she hadn’t spent most of the last three months inside the building with her.  

“Slow. Tiring. Hopefully great, though.”

“Still going over paperwork?”

She sighed, “yeah. Who knew buying a building and reconstructing it to open a skating rink was so laborious?”

Nina offered her a reassuring smile, extending her hand to squeeze hers in support. “You’re doing more than great, L. Soon your dreams will be a reality and all this work will be worth it.”

“I know, I know. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck, though.” Her best friend laughed.

“Don’t pretend you’re not the one who insisted on reviewing everything and every little step, Luna. You could have easily left it to your trusty lawyer and architect, but you didn’t and here you are now.”

Luna huffed out, “excuse me for wanting to make sure everything is perfect.” She knew Nina was only kidding, so she tried to make it sound like a joke; even if she only half-meant it. You couldn’t half-ass a business, you just couldn’t; not unless your goal with it was to end up broke and deep in debt.

“And it will be. It might take time, but it will.” Nina said reassuringly, not an ounce of hesitance in her voice.

“Thank you, N.” She sipped her mojito once more, “now, will you tell me what’s bothering you? You’ve been playing with your necklace since we got here, and I doubt it’s because of Yam getting on your nerves.” Then again, Luna at least had alcohol to sooth the yelling and bear the ridiculous games, Nina’s soberness surely was playing against her.

“I’ve got something to tell you and I’m not sure how you’re going to react, and  I don’t want you to get mad at me, so…”

“So you’re choosing not to tell me?” she frowned. She hated when people did that; after all, if they gave her a head up beforehand, she’d save herself the unpleasures of being surprised.

“No, no. I just- well I just wasn’t sure how to tell you. It’s kinda… it’s to do with a certain someone.”   Oh.

Oh.

While Luna didn’t choose to avoid having Matteo as a topic of conversation, she purposefully didn’t bring him up, so, neither did Nina. Until now, apparently.

The fiasco at his apartment had been left unspoken after her plans with the Roller started to pan out. Partly because she didn’t have enough free time to do dwell on it, and partly because she still cringed whenever she reminded herself of what had happened with him. She’d still kept up with him through Delfi’s offhanded comments on their ‘lessons’, and – embarrassingly enough- through a couple magazines there and there. Not that she believed anything they’d written about him; she highly doubted he’d brought three lions to exhibit at a party in his apartment.

Point was, even if she didn’t particularly have the lady balls to talk to him again and call a truce, she still cared enough to make sure he was somewhat okay.

“Matteo isn’t Voldemort, Nina, you can say his name out loud and nothing will happen.” Nina gave her a sheepish smile.

“I know, but since we haven’t talked about him in a while I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a problem.”

“Well, it isn’t, so you can say whatever you have to.” Luna urged her, sipping her drink once more, her curiosity getting the best of her.

“So, you know how I said I’d asked Eric to be my date for the wedding?”

“Yeah, but then you said his grandma broke her hip, or something, and he cancelled on you.” She frowned, “did you ask Matteo to be your date?” Luna didn’t try to hide her surprise. Had her best friend reached out to him? Became close friends and didn’t tell her?

“No! No, no, no! I would never do that to you! I asked Gastón. You know, his best friend? We’ve talked from time to time and since I didn’t want to stay glued to Yam’s cousin more than necessary, I asked him if he could come. He said yes.”

Now she was confused. “Okay… is Matteo coming? Or why were you worried I’d react badly?”

“You’re not mad?” Nina asked timidly, as if she’d explode on her for this.

“No! Why would I? Matteo and I’s disaster is that – ours-, you can be friends with his best friend and invite him wherever, N. To get mad at you for having friends would be ridiculous; just like you thinking I’d get mad at you for this.”  

“Better safe than sorry, no?” Luna shook her head, letting out a small chuckle. Nina spoke again, “and the answer is no.” At her confused expression, she clarified, “he’s not coming. At least, I don’t think he is, neither Yam or Ramiro are in his circle, and you know Yam would tell you if she had invited him.”

“Yeah. I guess so.” Their conversation was cut as Yam, her mom, and Jim entered the room once again. The bride significantly happier, and her companions a lot more relieved.

The moment Yam’s words left her lips, she was glad she was on her third mojito.

“Who’s up for a round of ‘Pin The Macho on the Man’?!”

♥

               Welcome to a whole new JaJazmin! I’m your host, the beautiful, incredible, gorgeous, amazing… Jazmín Carbajal-Gorjesi! Thank you, yes, thanks, I know all of you love me but let’s save some love for our guest tonight, alright?  She’s beauty, she’s grace, she could break your face in roller skating! Please welcome Olympic Medalist, and the star of your favorite sports movie, SHATTERED WINGS, the one, the only, the best of the bestest: SOL BENSON!-  

-          Thank you! What a lovely welcome, Jazmín, thank you for having me again.

-           

You’re very wel-… I mean, it’s an honor to have you back. But tell me, please, how’s retired life treating you?

                                It’s been pretty calm, really, which I think is what retirement is all about (*chuckles*), and like I’ve said, I never meant to leave the skating rink permanently, I’m just not competing anymore. I’ve achieved everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m happy with how everything ended.

                  The days following your statement must have been crazy, weren’t they?

Yeah, a little. I never talked about my plans, or early retirement, so it’s partly my fault for dropping this on my fans so suddenly, whom I apologize to for hurting them with the news. They’ve been there for me in every step of the way, and I hope they continue with me for what’s to come.

               We’ll talk about that in a minute, but I have to ask - and I hope you don’t mind-, your name wasn’t the only one that resounded when the news hit.

Mmhmm.

               Correct me if I’m wrong but many people… concluded your decision wasn’t at all about you reaching your dreams and being done with competing. They assumed your rumored boyfriend – Matteo Balsano, for those who don’t know-, had asked you to quit for one reason or another.

Crazy, isn’t it? I worked, sweated and bled on my dreams for over a decade… you’d think that hard work would get more recognition without a rumored fling butting in.

               I’m sorry.

Don’t be. I want to make it clear though, that Matteo and I were never anything but friends. He’s a great guy, one of the best I’ve ever met, but we were nothing except platonic.

               There you have it folks: Soltteo were a no. What a shame for every of us who were rooting for you two…

(*chuckles*) Sorry to disappoint. But hey, at least a lucky girl can still get his heart.

               Think you can hook them up with him?

Uh…

(*laughs*) I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Moving on, though, what’s next for Sol Benson? Got any plans yet?

Well-

 ♥

“What are you watching?” His best friend flopped down on the bed next to him, grimacing as soon as he saw what was on the screen of his TV. “Again? This is what, the millionth time?”

“The re-run was on.” Matteo shrugged it off, dismissing its importance.  

“And you decided to watch it just because? You gotta stop this masochism, dude. It’s been three months, if you miss her so much-”

“It’s not like that, and you know it.” He didn’t miss her exactly.  After all, he didn’t have the chance to get to know her enough to do so. It was more of him occasionally wishing he had the guts to pick up his phone and apologize again until things weren’t… weird between them. Luna running away from him had left him with a permanent needle pinching his heart, and he was sure it wouldn’t leave until they resolved their… issue.

“Do you know that, though? ‘Cause honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had her words memorized by now.” Matteo turned the TV off, just as Luna initiated a round of quick questions with Jazmín, shaking his head at his best friend, whom had taken the liberty to spread out on his bed.

“Sorry to disappoint.” He huffed.

Gastón let out a sigh, as if he was tired of his denial. Which, in all fairness, so was he. “Are you in one of your weird moods? These short answers are kind of annoying, I want to talk to my best friend and feel like he’s actually here.”

“I’m sorry, my mind is just all over the place.” He offered him a smile, hoping Gastón could hear the sincerity in his voice. Matteo wasn’t giving him an attitude on purpose, he knew he was worried about him.  “And before you even ask, no, this isn’t about Luna. Delfi called me; my label wants to hear the songs I have so far. I guess I’m just nervous.”

“Why? I’ve heard some of them there and there, it’s sounding great, dude. I would even dare to say it’s your best so far. If anything, they should be nervous, they won’t know what hit them.”  

“Thanks, bro. But you know it’s different this time. A lot more… personal.” Out of all his albums, this one had to be the rawest. He wasn’t holding anything out this time, he wasn’t telling half-truths or hypothetic scenarios; whatever he was feeling, he wrote. He poured every single emotion into them. And it left him exposed, his heart naked to anyone who were listening.

He wasn’t playing it safe, dismissing the formula that had gave him a name in the industry. Now, his true self was on the spotlight, and he’d be lying if he didn’t admit it scared him.

“I’m telling you, they’d be crazy to reject them. I’ll pay for them to get checked by a doctor if they as little as insinuate it’s not the best thing they’ve heard in all their careers.” He had to laugh at this.

“Now I know it’s your bias talking.”

“Hey, I might be your best friend, but I’m not deaf, and I happen to have an excellent ear and taste for music.”

“Says the ABBA fan.”

Gastón gasped dramatically, sitting up quickly as he took his right hand to his heart. “How dare you! They’re amazing, and happen to have great, iconic songs! Here I am, bolstering you, like the great friend I am, and you dare to insult me and the greatest Swedish band of all time. Shame. On. You.”

Matteo threw him an amused look in return. “Well, consider me thankful. Anyways, did you want to tell me something?”

“What do you mean?”

Matteo arched his brows, as if it weren’t obvious. “You mean to tell me you just came into my room to ask me what I was watching on TV?”

“Uh, yeah?” When he gave him an ‘I don’t believe you for a second’ look, Gastón shrugged sheepishly. “Okay so I might have some news.” Matteo motioned for him to continue, “you know Ramiro Ponce and Yam Sánchez, right?”

“Yes.”

“Well they’re getting married this weekend, and Nina invited me as her plus one. Her supposed date cancelled on her and since the groomsman that’s supposed to walk the isle with her freaks her out, she asked me to cover for him, so he doesn’t attach to her after the ceremony.”

“Dating her now, are you?” He couldn’t help but to tease him, even if he knew they were merely platonic. “So, you’re going out this weekend, cool. I can manage to be alone one evening, you know.”  

“It’s not like that and you know it.” Gastón threw his words back at him. “I’m telling you this in case you want me to rely a message on a certain someone, or something.”

Why was he friends with him again? “Sure. Can you tell the happy couple I say, ‘congratulations on getting contractually bound to each other’ for me?”

Gastón looked surprised at first, but as soon as he finished hearing his answer, he put on a blank face. “Sure. Well, if you want me to rely anything else to anyone else, you know where to find me.”

“Mhmm.” After that, Gastón left his room, huffing what sounded like ‘stubborn idiot’, which he was sure were his words.

Mindlessly, Matteo turned his TV on again, switching from cable to scroll on Netflix as soon as he noticed JaJazmín had ended. He was about to put play on a random movie when his phone rang. The name displayed on the screen took him off guard.

“Hello?”

“What do you think of being my date to a wedding this Saturday?”

[taylorsmiththeauthor]

An Empath, A Psychic, & A Human; first chapter

I’ve decided to take some advice from the tumblr writing community and build my empire, so to speak. So here is my first post about writing, despite the fact that I’ve been on this website for over a year lol. Feel free to check out my wattpad, @Real_Taylor_Smith. I’ve also just put up instagram where I’ll be posting news, extra content, and excerpts as well as here! It’s @real.tay.smith and soon I’ll have a website up. A little heads up, this story has a fair amount of foul language, so be warned. Until then, happy reading!

HUMAN

The air in the truck was tense.

No one had really been sure of what we were supposed to fight. The best that had been offered to us were a few blurry pictures of a massive scaly beast with wings, and audio of a terrible scream that seemed to come from the beast. The world quickly claimed that a dragon had somehow come to be – and we were supposed to fight it.

I glanced around me at the faces. They were all of my friends who had signed up to be in reserves, which was part-time military. We all had our reasons; money, benefits, looking good on applications, or whatever. We wanted to serve from the comfort of our homeland, not fight dragons in downtown Toronto, the biggest city in Canada and seventh most populated in the continent.

I took out a picture I always kept in my pocket near my heart; a photo of my girlfriend. It was one of my favourite photos of her, because it captured her almost completely. She was standing on top of a crazy old Mayan ruin, overlooking an ancient plaza, the jungle, and a large river. She grinned at the camera, hands on her hips, smile lines crinkled around her blue eyes, blonde hair escaping from her bun pinned back with a hairpin made by locals. She looked incredibly happy and in awe of the place she was standing on. That had been taken about two years ago on her last March break trip of high school when she went to Belize with the school. I liked to carry the photo in my uniform, remember that she was waiting for me back home.

“Alright pansies, listen up!”

The sharp command from our sergeant had me scrambling to put the photo away as he stood up and handed out new pictures.

“Now I can’t say that I’ve ever fought dragons before, nor have I been taught the protocol, so I don’t really know what to do. But that’s fine because there is one thing I do know – it is our duty to keep this place safe. Toronto has yet to be fully evacuated and the beast is not contained. We still have no idea where the hell it came from or what the hell it is, but we gotta stop it.”

A photo came around to me and I looked at it, my heart plunging into my feet. The thing gripped the top of the CN Tower, green leathery wings spread wide, head open in a snarl, mouth full of jagged teeth. The thing looked huge, at least the size of a T-Rex. I passed the picture.

“Because we have no idea where this fucker is going to go, we’ve set up a perimeter along the Harbour Front, Bloor St, Bathurst, and Don Valley. We’ve got about fifty platoons stationed around to stop wherever this thing decides to go. We’ll be down on King, by the Princess of Wales Theatre. We’ll be there soon so start your praying, because we’ve got a one in fifty chance of being stuck with this beast.”

I looked over to my left and met eyes with one of my oldest friends, Donovan. He, another friend of ours, and myself all joined together. The other friend, Kaiah, was exceedingly lucky as her family had all gone to another city for a funeral. So, Donovan and I were about to face a dragon.

“What’re the odds it has a video-game weak spot?” Donovan asked quietly, “Like, a soft spot on its belly?”

I shrugged, “With your luck, no.”

“Don’t speak of my bad luck, because then we will have to face the damn thing.”

“Knock on wood I guess.”

“Everything near is us metal, so we’re all fucked then.”

We laughed quietly, the impending doom still very much a real threat. We talked for a little bit but soon fell silent and felt the seconds tick past. Far too soon, the sergeant stood up.

“File out in formation!”

We followed, hopping out of the truck and getting into two straight lines, facing east where the monster would be. To my left was the theatre, and I vaguely remembered going to see a play with Hazel. The Curious Incident of the Dog in The Nighttime, I think. Now, all the signs read Hamilton, which I knew Hazel had been dying to see. She said I would like it, but she felt bad because she had already promised Mackenzie she would take her because she was already a huge fan. I smiled, grateful for the memory.

However, I was violently ripped back to reality when I heard a screech. The videos didn’t capture it. Nothing could.

It was as if a T-Rex and a lion roared while someone scraped their nails against a chalkboard and it shook us to our core. I didn’t pray nor did I believe in a god, but I found myself asking that it wouldn’t be us, please let it not be us.

“And just what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

My back straightened automatically and I opened my mouth to make an explanation, but it wasn’t me the sergeant was talking to – two weird civilians had wandered into the area.

One of them was Hazel.

She wore a long white dress with bronze breastplates, shoulder pads, arm guards, and gladiator boots. Her dress was styled like an Ancient Greek chiton,  and the blonde hair piled up on her head sported a style from the same period. From her back sprouted a massive pair of dove wings, the feathers an opal-esque shade, shining dozens of colours, the edges of the wings covered in bronze. At her hip was a woven belt on which hung several drawstring pouches and a dagger.

The person beside her was dressed just as weirdly, but very differently. Their entire outfit was made of brown leather and bronze plates, and it kind of looked like a rogue from D&D. Like, 90% of the pants were extremely tall leather boots with straps and holsters for knives and other things. The top was a green tunic that went just above their elbows and brushed the top of the boots, under which seemed to be brown hide. They had a brown cloak on top with a hood, a green cloth pulled up over their nose, the same pine green as their eyes. They had a mask on their face seemed to be made of moss, covering the area around their eyes. Little flowers sprouted from it as well as small branches with blossoms out the top, making it look like they had antlers. From what little I could see of them, I could tell they had dark brown skin and a very thick afro. I had no clue whether it was a guy or a girl.

“We’re ordering you to evacuate the area,” Hazel said calmly, arms crossed and hip out to the side. That meant she didn’t want any fooling around.

“Except for you, there aren’t any civilians downtown.”

“As far as we’re concerned, you are civilians.”

“Hey, Crybaby, aren’t they militia?” The other asked.

Hazel looked at them and then at the platoon before turning back to her partner, “No, this is the reserve force, it’s part-time military. Civilians, technically.”

“Oh shit, right. Is that thing you were worried about…?”

“Yes.” Hazel spoke curtly and it seemed like she glanced at me, but it was so fast I couldn’t tell.

“We are official military,” the sergeant said angrily, “and you’re civilians! You need to leave immediately, or I will remove you by force, which I do not wish to do.”

“Just try it,” the partner scoffed, but Hazel shot them a look and they rolled their eyes, maintaining quiet.

“I apologize, but you are unfit to deal with this problem,” Hazel said cooly, “We are, however, very well-versed in dealing with wyverns.”

“And just what the fuck is a wyvern?” The sergeant spat.

“What you’re planning to fight,” the partner said, “and my pal here knows that it’s going to be coming this way, so you better get a fucking move on.”

“How in the hell do you know this?” The sergeant asked, seeming to be unsure.

“Classified.” They spoke in unison.

“So please just leave it to us and get your soldiers out of here,” Hazel said, seeming to be losing her patience.

“I can’t do that!” The sergeant was losing his too, “You’re just a couple of wackos who’ll get yourselves killed and land me in a world of trouble.”

“Quite the opposite, I assure you.” Hazel glared at the sergeant and her partner narrowed their eyes, which made him apprehensive.

“Who the fuck are these people?” Donovan asked beside me.

“You serious?” I said, turning to him, “That’s Hazel, I can’t tell who the other is though because of the mask.”

“What?” Donovan asked, looking at them, “How do you know it’s Hazel? She’s wearing a mask too. And what’s with the wings?”

I opened my mouth when another screech ripped through the air.

“You have three minutes before the wyvern gets here,” Hazel warned, danger in her tone, “So either you let us do our jobs or you die and make it a lot harder for us. But one thing is for sure, we will do what we need to do to take this thing down.”

The sergeant shifted, “Well just because you wear weird clothes and know what this is doesn’t mean that you can defeat it.”

“Look, man,” the partner spoke, “we can’t do anymore than is allowed for the situation so how about this – let me fight your best fighter. Whomever wins can kill the beast, old honour style.”

“That’s ridiculous,” the sergeant scoffed.

“Well, your attitude calls for it.”

“Appy,” Hazel warned, “be careful.”

“But you’ll ref, right?” The partner asked, “Fae rules and all?”

Hazel sighed, “Yes, I’ll ref.”

“Great. So good sir, get your best fighter.”

The sergeant scowled but turned to us, “Jackson! Front and centre!”

We all watched as Tyler Jackson, a big muscular prick of a guy, stepped forward with a grin. He was proud and self-centred, and by far the best fighter we had. He had yet to be beaten in hand-to-hand, even from the sergeant. The small person didn’t stand a chance.

“What’re the rules?” Tyler asked, “And do I get a prize?”

“If you lose, you live. If you win, you die with honour. Pick a blade.” The small person didn’t seem to give a shit that Tyler was twice their size.

Tyler grinned and pulled a knife from his pocket. He was deadly with it, and everyone had at least one scar from it.

“Let no blood be spilled,” Hazel said as she and the sergeant stepped back to give the pair space, “Appy, I’m serious.”

“You’re no fun,” the partner complained.

“Where’s your blade?” Tyler teased.

The partner, evidently called Appy for some reason, reached for a bronze armband on their upper arm and pulled it off, glowing as it extended into a massive broadsword. Appy grinned like a maniac and Tyler looked scared shitless.

“Appy,” Hazel warned.

Appy sighed and the sword shrank down to a dagger, “Just wanted to scare the guy,” they complained.

“Make it quick, let no blood be spilled, and may the winner have the honour of defeating the Wyvern. It hath been spoken, thus let it be.” Hazel raised her arms as she spoke, saying it like a chant. A heavy weight settled in, as if the words themselves really carried a spell.

As soon as Hazel finished speaking, Appy lunged for Tyler, but he saw it and dodged. Yet Appy was too fast. They caught him by the middle and flipped him over, causing the blade to fly from his hand. He made an oof as he hit the ground, the wind knocked from him. Appy sat on his chest and pinned his arms with one hand, the other holding a knife to his throat.

“One...two...three. And that’s match. We shall fight the wyvern,” Hazel announced, glancing at the street beyond them, “and just in time. You need to take your soldiers and leave, get as far away from here as possible. But if you see the wyvern, freeze – they like a moving target.”

“What the hell is that?” The sergeant barked, “There had to be some trick!”

“No, trick, I assure you,” Appy said as they got off of Tyler, turning their back to him, “I just guess that military training doesn’t match up to a Knight’s.”

Tyler was enraged, and it was obvious. He had never lost a fight, especially not to someone so weird and small. He snatched his blade from the ground and thrust up on his knees, aiming for Appy’s side.

Appy sidestepped easily and sliced their blade across Tyler’s arm, causing him to cry out in pain and drop his blade.

“That’s one angry dude,” Appy said as they slid their dagger, now an armband, back into place.

“I said no bloodshed,” Hazel huffed as she knelt down next to Tyler and pulled out a roll of gauze.

“The fight was over!” Appy argued, “Besides, he was wanting to give me a scar, everyone in this damn platoon has one from him. Thought I would return the favour.”

“God, you’re like a dumbass Batman villain,” Hazel complained to Tyler as she bandaged his wound, “With less honour than the Joker, you piece of shit.”

“How did you know I was thinking that?” Tyler asked, scared, “You psychic?”

“Term is telepathic,” Hazel said matter-of-factly, “I’m psychic, Appy’s an empath. Now that that’s cleared up, leave.”

The sergeant bristled at the last word as he had watched everything unfold.

“Just because you won one fight-”

“I’m sorry,” Appy snarled, suddenly rounding on the sergeant, pulling their blade out and holding it dangerously close to his face, “Do you not understand basic combat rules, let alone fae? I won, so you leave. You can’t break a deal, or the fae will fuck you up, if I don’t get to you first. Feel fear.”

At this, the sergeant scrambled back, visibly shaken and sweating.

“Appy!” Hazel scolded harshly, “Fear won’t help this, only make him worse. Besides, it’s too late now.”

“Too late?” Someone asked.

“Yeah,” Appy said coolly, “blame these two assholes.” Their head jutted towards the sergeant and Tyler, “If they had only let us do their jobs then y’all’ight’ve lived.”

“No one is going to die,” Hazel assured, taking the sergeant by the arm and picking Tyler up, leading them to where the rest of us were standing. She pushed Tyler off on someone and sharply told the sergeant; “Stay behind this line.” Then she produced a piece of blue chalk from her belt and drew a curved line in front of all of us, chanting quitely all the time. Once she finished, she bent down and kissed it, making the line glow a faint blue. A shimmering wall formed in front of us, Hazel standing on the other side. Then she turned to us, “Don’t move, don’t make a noise, only breathe if you need to. Disobeying any of these will get you and everyone else killed.”

“Crybaby, E.T.A.?” Appy called, a longsword suddenly in their hand as a shriek cut through the air.

“Five. Four. Three. Two. One.”

As soon as Hazel finished saying ‘one’, she pulled something from her pocket, watched by the wyvern as it rounded the corner.

“Oh, we are so fucked.”

[kee-writestrashh]

Guns for Hire

Ramsay Bolton x Reader

Ao3

Summary:  You are the wife to the Heir of the Red Kings, Ramsay Bolton. living the undercover life of a mob wife has its perks, and you love your husband. But you find out something that seems to unfold a series of unwanted events...

Chapter 4: Friday Night Brawls

You adjusted your green and red elf skirt, placed your little hat on, and gave yourself one last look in the mirror. You frowned thinking of all the clothes and outfits you would probably never be able to wear again when summer rolled around.

You loved dressing up for holidays. Ramsay wasn't a fan, but money was money. This costume was a bit more modest as you wore tights under the skirt because it was cold as shit. Thankfully the snow had been put on hold.

You walked into the living room. Ramsay was sprawled out on the couch watching TV and biting at his nails.

"Alright, baby. I gotta go." You said stopping at the end of the couch.

"Take the Nova." Ramsay said, sitting up as you walked in. He held out the keys.

You narrowed your eyes, "why?"

"Because I said. Be a good girl. Don't argue."

You took the keys and leaned down to kiss your husband. He pulled you down into his lap and kissed you hungrily. You melted into him as he kissed across your jaw and worried what was surely a large and very prominent hickey on your neck. He often liked to mark you before you went to work. You were his and he wasn't about to let anyone forget that.

He finally let go of you. You smiled, giving him one last quick kiss. He slapped your ass when you turned around to leave.

"I'll see you later?" You asked, opening the front door and glancing back at your husband.

He simply nodded.

×××

You walked through the backdoor, hanging up your keys and then hanging up your purse in a locker, exchanging it for your waist apron.

"Oly! I'm here!" You called, glancing around. The bar didn't open officially for another thirty minutes tonight, so it was just you and Olyvar until the new girls showed up.

"Up front! Finishing the decorations!" Olyvar's voice called.

You walked into the cavernous, empty bar. Olyvar too was dressed as an elf, in his green tunic and red tights. He was standing on the counter hanging the last of the Christmas lights.

"Be a dear and plug them in?" Your coworker asked.

You followed the trail of lights to the outlet and plugged them in.

Olyvar jumped down from the counter, jingling as he did so from his bells on his slippers and hat, admiring his handiwork.

"Not too shabby." You said, looking around the festive place. "So, what company?"

"Lion Gate." Olyvar said, walking behind the counter, grabbing two glasses and pouring out two shots.

You felt a panic surge through you. Lion Gate was owned by Tywin Lannister, head of the Rampant Lions. The Rampant Lions and the Red Kings had been at war in the city and surrounding areas for a long time. While Ramsay was heir to the Red Kings, he had formed his own little gang, the Bastard's Boys that he kept busy with the most. If the Lannister's showed up, it was sure to be trouble. What were they playing at? They didn't hold any ground or footing on this side of town.

"What were you thinking? They can't come here. If Ramsay finds out..." You began as Olyvar downed his shot.

"We are one of the best places in the city of a Friday night. And, money is money."

Olyvar pushed the second glass to you, but you shook your head. "I can't."

Olyvar scrunched his brow before realization spread over his face and he practically squealed like a teenage girl.

"Oh. My. God! How exciting! When did you find out? What was Ramsay like? Tell me everything!" He said, smiling broadly.

Olyvar was one of your oldest friends. He had started working at the bar when you did, both putting yourselves through school. But when the bar owner died he had split the place between you both. Olyvar did work from time to time for Ramsay, selling things on the side. He was like a brother to you, and it didn't hurt that he was into men. You assumed this to be the only reason Ramsay never said anything about you talking to him, or being friendly with him.

You took a seat and smiled, "well, I found out yesterday afternoon after Ramsay left. I've been feeling like shit for like two months now. Cramps. Headaches. Constant upset stomach. And then remembered I hadn't had my period in months. So on the way here I picked up a test and it said yes. I was actually kind if afraid of how Rams would react. We had never talked about it before. So, anyway, I told him last night and he demanded we go get some tests. You know him. Well, I took four. They all said yes. I guess he's excited. But, hard to tell. He doesn't really express excitement. Then he made me an appointment this morning and the doctor said I was about eight or nine weeks. Heard the heartbeat and I wanted to cry. It was so amazing. I have an appointment on the third to get an ultrasound done." You gushed, glad to have someone to tell.

"Little baby Bolton. This city is not ready for that." Olyvar said with a laugh.

You laughed. He was not wrong. There was a knock on the front door. You glanced at the clock. 4:45. You got up from your stool and walked to the front door, letting Damon and Ben in. You gave them both smiles, which they didn't really return.

Ramsay probably religiously threatened them to not look at you. He was a very scary person when angry, or bored. Whichever.

"We're streaming the fight tonight. Sure we'll be fine with only four of us and the two in the kitchen?" Olyvar asked turning on the various TV screens.

"Yeah. I think. Sorry, I forgot all about the fight. But we've had bigger events with fewer. Maybe could have done with a couple extra hands in the kitchen though. See if you can get anyone else to come in to kitchen duty?" You said, as two girls walked in.

Roslin was a quiet college student, who was looking to make a bit of extra money. She wasn't overly pretty with her dull eyes and mousy Brown hair, but she wasn't ugly either. But you weren't sure bartending would be something she was cut out for. She was timid and you were afraid of men taking advantage of her innocence as far as the bar scene went. But you had hired her anyways. Remembering how you were when you had first come here. And now look at you. Wife to the heir of a multi million dollar organized crime family.

You had no worries with the other girl, Tyene. She was loud, wild, and more than capable of handling herself. She had been working here for a couple weeks now, and the men loved her. Her dark skin, hair, and eyes made her stand out. Made then men pay extra attention, and money. She was born to hustle and get what she wanted. If she proved her worth, loyalty, and cunning you may talk Ramsay into getting her in with the girls.

"Hey hey!" Tyene cried, putting her reindeer antler headband on.

"Glad to see we all dressed up." You said, grinning broadly, looking the two girls over as Tyene snapped on a big, red blinking nose.

Roslin flushed and gave a timid twirl in her Mrs. Claus dress.

"Alright, so it's us four tonight on the floor. Kitchen will be a bit understaffed, as it's only Mac and Dag, tonight unless we can get a couple more in. So only finger foods and appetizers tonight. Big party coming in, plus the fight. I'm assuming you advertised we were playing it?" You said, glancing at Olyvar, who gave a nod. You left him in charge of the Facebook page and other advertising outlets.

"Great. So, we will be crowded and busy. Anything you make you keep, other than prices of the drinks and food. Remember ladies, they can look, but they cannot touch you. We may not be a strip club, but we follow those same rules. Anyone gives you any problems just raise your fist in the air and Ben or Damon here will come to your aid." You motioned to the two burly men. "Don't let no man give you any shit. Feel free to drink, just remember to pay for it, and stay with it enough to do your jobs. By the time the night is over, you ladies will be very happy." You continued, clapping your hands and glancing at the clock. The two cooks walked into the bar and giving you thumbs up before disappearing into the kitchen to let you know they were there.

As assumed, the bar filled quickly and the volume steadily increased with the flow of liquor, smoke, and smells of greasy buffalo wings, fries, and mountains of nachos.

When the Lion Gate group arrived you didn't recognize anyone that could possibly cause trouble. They seemed to just be regular employees, not gang members. But, you could be wrong. You weren't as good as Ramsay when it came to picking rival gang members out of a crowd. They were a very loud and rowdy group. Both your girls were pocketing bills like crazy, and Olyvar spent his time behind the counter mixing drinks and flirting with a couple guys.

The smoke, smells, and sounds were starting to get to you. Your stomach turned over and you suddenly felt nauseous. A headache was starting to form. You caught Olyvar's attention and mimed taking a 'time out'. He gave you a thumbs up as you disappeared to the safety of the back room.

You sighed, taking a deep breath. You pulled your phone from your apron pocket. It was almost ten. Only another hour.

You sat at a small table, resting your head on it for awhile, trying to compose yourself and fighting the urge to throw up when the police scanner in the corner sounded.

"All available units to seventy fifth and Trident. Multiple gunshot wounds. Back up requested immediately."

'No mans land.' you thought to yourself with a frown. What was Ramsay up to? Nobody every held that stretch very long.

After awhile you got a hold of yourself, stood up, and pulled a water bottle from the employee fridge, and chugged half of it before getting back to work.

"(Y/n)!" Olyvar called. You glanced over at him, who nodded to the corner to Roslin.

She was being harassed by a couple of men. Tyene was across the room cutting up with a group, and Damon and Ben were busy keeping a fight from breaking out. You frowned, clenching your jaw and stomping over to the corner.

Roslin's eyes were wide in pleading when you appeared at her side. One of the men grabbed her ass.

"Excuse me, sir. But you are not allowed to touch my girls. Release her and keep your hands to yourself or you will be asked to leave." You said, pulling Roslin away, and shielding her.

The man laughed, grabbing your hip. "Oh come on baby, it's just a bit of fun. Get into the holiday spirit. I could make it worth your while." He slammed a stack of bills on the table with a drunken laugh.

You stepped back, but his grip tightened. You narrowed your eyes at the man, "get out of my bar."

He laughed, releasing his grip and slapping your ass. You brought your hand up to slap him, but he caught your wrist.

"Or what, doll? You'll call the police?"

A hand landed on the man's shoulder and you looked to see Ramsay flanked by five men. He gripped the man's shoulder until the man squirmed in pain, fury painted all over his face.

"Unfortunately for you, we don't call the police around here." Ramsay growled as two of the men pulled the man from his seat and drug him towards the back exit.

Ramsay looked you up and down, "how many times did he touch you, baby girl?"

"Three." You said, watching the fire burn in his eyes. He gave a nod, gave you a fleeting kiss, and stalked towards the exit.

"(Y/n), I'm so sorry." Roslin squeaked.

You gave a glance at the other man. He was oddly calm, for his buddy being dragged away as he simply sat there, scrolling through his phone, pocketing the stack of cash. This made your pulse quicken. You hurried to the bar counter and then ran towards the exit.

You stepped into the alley to find Ramsay bouncing the man's head off the brick wall next door.

You averted your eyes and pursed your lips, trying to ignore the sick, crunching sound. "Rams, we have a problem. He's a Rampant. As was his buddy."

Ramsay stopped in his action, dropping the man, who fell in a heap. Ramsay grabbed the man's arm and ripped his sleeve back. On the man's forearm was a tattoo of a rampant lion in red.

Ramsay pulled a knife from his pocket. One of Ramsay's men stuffed a rag into the Lion man's mouth as Ramsay hacked at the tattoo until the skin came away. You watched in horror as Ramsay clutched the piece of skin.

"Make it clean, boys." Ramsay said, looking at the group of men. They all left quickly, pulling guns.

"Don't you make a mess in my bar!" You hissed at your husband. "The cops are already being nosy!"

Ramsay gave you a long look. "Not a drop." He said, walking past you and holding the door open.

You glanced at the severely injured man laying on the pavement. "What about him? You can't just leave him."

"Baby girl, don't worry yourself about anything. It will all be taken care of. They started it, coming to my kingdom. Now, get back in there and get back to work. The lions won't be back." Your husband said, rather impatiently.

You just gave a nod and went back inside. You hurried back to the counter, pulling Olyvar to you so you could whisper in his ear. "Volume up, lights down. Now." You hissed.

Olyvar did as you instructed. Nobody seemed to notice. They were all too absorbed in the fight and drowning in beer. You glanced around and gasped as a hand grabbed you. Instinct brought your hand up, but Ramsay's chuckle stopped you. You relaxed.

"Come on." He said, pulling you along.

You furrowed your brows, but followed him to the table the other man still sat at. Ramsay took the empty seat across from him, pulling you into his lap, as his group of men formed a tight circle around the table. He leaned forward, his wicked smirk in place.

"I believe you owe my wife an apology." He said casually to the man.

The man scoffed, "I didn't touch her, speak to her, or even look at her."

Ramsay tutted and rolled his eyes, "I said that you owe my wife an apology. I will not tell you again."

"Listen punk, I don't know who you think..." the man started, puffing up, but his words were lost as Ramsay slammed the crudely flayed tattooed skin on the table.

"Our blades are sharp." Ramsay breathed with so much malice the temperature seemed to drop.

Your stomach churned at the piece of flesh on the table. You frowned, closing your eyes, and saying a small prayer.

What happened next was a blur. You saw Ramsay pull his knife, but everything that followed wouldn't come into focus as you were on your knees, vomiting in the toilet of the bar bathroom.

"(Y/n)? Are you okay?" Came Tyene's voice.

You leaned back, heaving a shaky sigh. "Yeah, dear. I'm just... I'm pregnant. Apparently the little one didn't like what I ate last."

Which was true. Nachos had been a very bad idea. However, you weren't sure if seeing a man murdered in front of you or the morning sickness had made you wretch.

"Okay, well, your husband, I think, is waiting on you. Says you should go home and rest. I was confused at first. But now it all makes sense. Congratulations! You know, even if it's not the ideal position to be told." She said with a small laugh at the end.

Well, now you were confused. Didn't complete chaos just unleash in the bar?

You pushed yourself up, sighed, flushed the toilet, and stepped out of the stall. Tyene peered at you curiously as you washed your hands, vigorously.

"What's it like out there?" You asked, drying your hands.

"Normal? A few men were escorted out, but other than that, everyone seems to be having a hell of a time."

You sighed again. This time relieved.

Tyene held the door open for you and you stepped back on to the floor. Sure enough, it was like nothing had ever happened. Ramsay pushed his empty shot glass back to Olyvar and rose from his stool when he saw you.

He looked you over, and held out his hand.

"You sure you'll be alright without me?" You asked Olyvar.

He nodded and gave you a smile, "of course. You just worry about you. We've got this."

You nodded and let Ramsay lead you to the back room. He said nothing as he untied your apron, grabbed your purse, and the keys hanging up.

"Come on baby girl. Let's get home."

You turned to Ramsay, who was as calm as could be, lighting a cigarette.

"What the fuck just happened?" You cried, throwing your hands up.

"Business. Seat belt, baby doll." He replied simply, exhaling smoke.

"Business? I just watched you kill a man in the middle of a crowded bar and no one freaked the fuck out. Explain." You said, demanding the last part.

Ramsay gave a harsh laugh, "If no one hears, no one sees."

"What the fuck were you thinking? The cops..."

"Will know nothing." He cut across you.

"How many men did you kill?"

"Just the cunt in the alley and at the table."

"What about the others?"

"We saw them out and sent them running along with messages to deliver."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't worry, baby girl. Everything will be okay. You just worry about my child inside you."

You frowned. This city was about to become very unsafe. For everyone. Including the unborn child inside of you.

Fear and dread welled inside you as you burst into tears.

Ramsay raised his brows in surprise and gave you a quick look.

"This is not right! Everything is such a mess!" You sobbed, snatching your hat off and clutching it in your hand to cry into.

"Whoa there, little momma. Calm down. Everything is fine. It will be fine. I have eyes everywhere." Ramsay said, softly.

It wasn't a very reassuring voice. That wasn't him. He wasn't one to comfort.

You simply gave a sniff and nodded.

Neither of you said anything for the remainder of the trip home.

Ramsay opened your door and helped you out. He placed a kiss to your temple as he led you inside and straight to the bedroom.

You simply stood there as he undressed you, kissing each bit of skin he exposed.

"What do you want?" He asked, kissing along your collar bone.

"Something to make me forget the things I saw tonight."

"Oh come on now baby girl. It wasn't that bad." Ramsay chortled, grabbing your hips.

You rested your cheek on his chest and sighed, "Rams, I watched you smash a man's head into a brick wall and then cut his skin off. I watched you stab a man point blank across a table while I sat in your lap. You could have hurt somebody innocent. What part of that wasn't so bad?"

Ramsay placed his finger under your chin and brought your face up to look at him.

"First things first, baby girl. Nobody at a bar is innocent. Second, both of those men disrespected you. Therefore disrespecting me. I will not have that. At all."

You looked away from him. Maybe he was right. Or at least had a point. You looked back up at him and opened your mouth to say something when your breath caught. The cramps were bad enough. But the increasing nausea was getting really fucking annoying.

Ramsay raked his eyes over your face and frowned, pulling you to the bed. He undressed and slid into the bed next to you, pulling you close and running his hand through your hair until you finally fell into a deep sleep.

[khrsecretvalentine]

Secret Valentine's Gift for Tyllambo!

Happy Valentine’s Day, @tyllambo! I hope you’ll enjoy the gift and won’t mind too terribly that it’s not a written story - I was just really in a music mix mood and I hope you’ll enjoy listening and reading the little snippets as much as I enjoyed doing this up for you!

Canzone D'Amore - Love-themed Vongola Guardian minimixes

Tsuna

maps, yeahyeahyeahs - wait they don’t love you like i love you

You never meant to fall for Tsuna. It was stupid after all. He always seemed to have plenty of other options, better options. And everyone knew he liked someone else. But you couldn’t stop the butterflies, no matter how badly you wanted to rip their wings off. You just wished he could see how much you cared about him, how happy you could make him.

twilight galaxy, metric - i’ve seen all the demons that you’ve got, if you’re not alright, now come on baby, i’ll pick you up and take you where you want

It will take years before you get through to Tsuna that you are the right person for him but he will come around. He’s frightened though - while he cares about you, there’s just so much. He doesn’t deserve you. He’s just Dame Tsuna and his life is so crazy. Why should someone like you get yourself into the mess his life is? You’ll need to show him and tell him that you want to be there, that you’ve seen all the no-good sides to him and love him nonetheless.

happy, nevershoutnever - i wanna try to be the person you want, the person you need, it’s hard to conceive, that somebody like you could be with, someone like me

It might take a couple times but Tsuna will accept that, by some grace of god, you really do love him. He can’t believe it and the funny thing is that neither can you. You can’t believe someone like Tsuna wants you and he can’t believe he’s so lucky to end up with you. You both strive to become better for the other, wanting to make each other happy, lifting each other up and accepting each others faults.

Gokudera

all hail the heartbreaker, the spill canvas - so tonight i’ll sit and pick apart your pictures, and overanalyze your words, but the ruth is that i’ve never fallen so hard

Love terrifies Gokudera. It scares him, to possibly open up to anyone that much, to risk rejection and hurt. He’ll find any reason it won’t work, will over-analyze and overthink anything to come up with some reason to not have those feelings towards you. You obviously don’t have the same feelings; you only seem like you do and you’re just jerking him around, right? He’s being stupid about this all anyway….anything he can tell himself to pretend he isn’t falling for you.

some of us, starsailor - we all have our faults, mine come in waves that you turn to rust…my wandering soul found solace at last, i wanted to know how long it would last…, the heart that i stole, i’m never giving back

It will take a while for Gokudera to run out of ways to talk himself out of falling in love with you and even then, he’s going to need time before he’ll feel comfortable admitting it to you and making a move. Once he does though, you become a sort of safe zone, a landmark for him, a safe harbour. You accept him, make him better and he’ll cling to you with the loyalty he shows few people, the love he rarely shares with anyone but his most precious of friends.

i would do anything for love, meatloaf - and maybe i’m crazy, oh it’s crazy and it’s true, i know you can save me, no one else can save me now but you

You can’t help but love Gokudera, even when he infuriates you. How could you not - you know that not only will he always love you but that he would do anything in the world for you.

Yamamoto

home, edward sharpe and the magnetic zeroes - man oh man you’re my best friend, i scream it to the nothingness, there ain’t nothing that i need

Yamamoto is slow to fall in love and is likely to love someone who is already a big part of his life and someone he’s already close to. He wants a best friend before a lover but is happy to turn one into the other. Even when he does develop feelings for you, one of his best friends, he’s slow about confessing it. He has all the time in the world to tell you. Besides, he doesn’t really need to; anyone can see it in how happy he is with you, how he always seems to find you during the day, how you attract him like a magnet, become his safe place. It’s only fair though - you’re equally head over heels for him.

so this is love, disney - so this is love, so this is what makes life divine, i’m all aglow

A love with Yamamoto will feel almost storybook at times. Fights are rare and far between and most of the time, you can’t help feeling like you lucked out. He will make you feel loved and you can’t help floating on cloud nine, feeling like all your dreams have come true.

peter returns, james newton howard - instrumental

This is what a love with Yamamoto would sound like, this is how it would sound. It’s uplifting but calms you, sustains you, makes you feel safe and just relieved. Yamamoto will love hard, will make the world happier for those he loves even if he has to sacrifice to do so. He’ll always be there, so don’t worry about a thing - it’s all going to be alright.

Ryohei

i wanna be your boyfriend, the ramones - do you love me babe, what can i say, because i wanna be your boyfriend

Ryohei’s blunt. He doesn’t beat around the bush. He might not know right away but once he does realize he has feelings towards you, he’s going to make those feelings known. He might be loud and slightly outrageous as he makes them known but don’t let the spectacle fool you - everything he says is genuine and he really does care.

call me irresponsible, frank sinatra - do my foolish alibis bore you, well i’m not too clever, i just adore you

Ryohei loves you and he does trust you. He just won’t always tell you things. He hates even the thought of worrying you or letting you down. If he thinks the truth might hurt or bother you, he will dodge the truth or lie to you. He does it only because he loves you, though that won’t make it any better.

marriage, the descendents - i want to be your friend, i want to be with you, i want you to marry me, now you know what i think of you

Ryohei is quick to make up his mind. He loves you and once the two of you are old enough and set enough in life, he will be quick to let you know that he plans on spending every day of his life with you. If you refuse, he will spend years asking you, once a day, every day, until you give in - he’s bound and determined that the two of you are going to be together forever. But is that really such a bad thing?

Hibari

snow dance, john williams- instrumental

Love with Hibari is thrilling, a rollercoaster of emotions. Sometimes it’s heaven - knowing he has let you into his life when he lets so few in is something you take pride in and time spent with him is relaxing. You feel content and happy and you couldn’t imagine wanting anything else but him and the quietness of a life with him. Sometimes its hell. Because what life is there with him? He blocks you out, won’t let you all the way inside. Sometimes you doubt his care for you, sometimes you know he doesn’t love you, not the way you love him. It’s infuriating and violent and yet so amazing and you just can’t bring yourself to stop him.

two out of three ain’t bad, meatloaf - i can’t tell you that i’m something i’m not, no matter how i try, i’ll never be able to give you something, something that i just haven’t got

In the end though, there’s only a plain and simple truth. While Hibari might let someone into his life and while he might care about them, he’ll never be able to love them. Not fully. Not the way they deserve to be loved. He simply can’t let himself go that much, can’t put that much into one person. In the end, there’s only one love he’ll ever have, one lady in his life - Lady Liberty and all she represents.

i can’t make you love me, bon iver - here in the dark/in these final hours/i will lay down my heart/and i will feel the power/but you won’t

In the end, there’s only that. He will care for you but he will not love you. You love him but loving him hurts. There is only one solution but can you bring yourself to do it? Yes…after tonight. Just one last night with him, that’s all you crave, all you need and then you’ll leave…pretty words but in the end love will always win over pretty words, even this dysfunctional, painful love.

Lambo

sugar sugar, the archies - i just can’t believe the loveliness of loving you, i just can’t believe it’s true

Lambo is so open in his affections, so childish and sweet and loud about how crazy he is about you. He’ll brag about you to everyone who will listen, will compliment you, will make you feel like the most attractive, most brilliant, most amazing person in the world. He’ll love you passionately and fully and intensely.

someone new, hozier- I fall in love just a little, oh a little bit every day with someone new

There’s only one problem with that - he loves everyone that way. Lambo has a lot of love and he will spread it around. He tends to fall in and out of love on a whim. Even though you stick around, unlike most of his other loves, he’s not going to commit fully to you - he can’t help himself from falling in love quickly and he doesn’t see it as loving you any less.

still into you, paramore - it’s not a walk in the park, to love each other, but when our fingers interlock, can’t deny, can’t deny you’re worth it, ‘cause after all this time i’m still into you

It drives you crazy every time he strays but at the same time, you don’t stop going back to him. You pick up and text him. You always let him back in whenever you fight and say it’s done, always soothe his tears from hurting you - he can’t help crying about it, he hurts thinking he hurt you. Even with all his quirks and his childishness and his playboy heart, you can’t help but admit that you love Lambo just as much as you know he loves you.

Mukuro

lion, rebecca st. james - this is not a dream that i’m living, this is just a world of your own, you took me from all that i knew, shown me how it feels to hope

Mukuro lives not in the real world nor entirely in his own world. He’s a traveler, a stray along the roads of the universe and as such he has a tendency to pick up other strays. You had issues you were fighting, a life you weren’t happy with and didn’t want. In your mind, Mukuro rescued you, picked up up and gave you a new life - a life with him and all his other strays. You weren’t sure what to make of him - slightly scared of him but half falling in love with him too.

i’m not calling you a liar, florence + the machine - and i love you so much i’m going to let you kill me…, there but for the grace of god go i, and when you kiss me i am happy enough to die

Mukuro inspires blind love and devotion in those who follow him and you were no exception. You fell for him, love drunk on every honeyed word from his lips, every touch, every slight hint of affection from him. You loved him so much that you’d do anything for him, loved him enough to not need the same in return - you would live and die for him and you didn’t need anymore than his small tokens of care and love in return.

i will follow you into the dark, amanda palmer - if there’s no one beside you, when your soul embarks, then i’ll follow you into the dark

In the end, even after he manipulates you, even after he lets you get hurt, the truth is that Mukuro does love you, at least the best he can. He will use you but he will protect you. He will hurt you but he will give you moments of pleasure that nobody else ever could. And when you finally give him everything you can, when you’re finally done, finally leaving him, he’ll hold your hand until your last breath and he’ll use everything he can to make sure you’re never in the dark on your way to the next life, hopefully a better one than he gave you - you deserve that much, if nothing else, his love.

Chrome

pretty down to your bones, the hush sound - you are pretty down to your bones, you are ivory and wire and pearls, i will kiss and kiss and kiss your skin, beg for you to let me in, but oh sometimes it hurts

Chrome is afraid. Even as she struggles to be better, to be braver, to be stronger, she’s always a bit afraid. People have let her down and her fear keeps her from letting just anyone close to her. While you feel an infatuation for her, you know you’ll have to work to get to know her. You keep telling yourself it doesn’t bother you. You celebrate each victory, every step closer you get. You struggle and fight to show how you care and most of the time you know it’s worth it but there are moments when she shuts you out, when her fear sends it all two steps backs, that you can’t help but be frustrated, can’t help but wonder if she’s worth it.

somebody loved, the weepies- we danced together alone, cold turned our breath into clouds, we never said what we were dreaming of, but you turned me into somebody loved

You keep at it though, slow and steady. She does love you, she’s just being blind to it. She doesn’t want to know her feelings, doesn’t want to admit them yet. She’s not sure if she’s ready to be in loved but she knows that she doesn’t want you to leave. You make her feel loved. But is she ready to love you? That’s the big question.

cartoons and forever plans, maria taylor - and did you know i’m not as fragile as i thought, and did you know my love will never die, our love will never die

In the end, it’s all worth it. It’s worth waiting and it’s worth the hurt and the tears and all the triumphs along the way. It’s worth the time and the waiting because in the end, she’s stronger and happier and she’s finally comfortable. And that first time you hear her say those three words, you can’t help but feel your heart skip a beat - Chrome loves you and now that she was sure, she wasn’t about to change her mind. Not now, not for the rest of your lives.

From @ciaossu-imagines to @tyllambo Happy Valentine’s Day to both of you 💖

[petri808]

A Spacey Christmas Story

Merry Christmas @kogehl  Secret santa gift.  I saw that you like Voltron and gave this a shot; It’s my first crossover story, don’t know too much about Voltron but I think I did okay with the characters thanks to help from my husband who watches it.  I hope you like it  :)

Voltron/Fairytail Cross FanFic. 5K+ words 

The Castleship had been cruising at a brisk pace while the Paladins of Voltron performed maintenance and other duties to keep their lions in tip top shape.  After dinner, Pidge is tinkering with some of the instruments in her room when a blinking light on one of the sensors goes off.  ‘What’s this?’ she looks closely and discovers a new interdimensional rift registering about 40 dobash ahead at their current speed.  She immediately contacts Princess Allura on the bridge.

“Yes Pidge, is everything alright?”

“Princess, my sensors are picking up an anomaly approximately 40 dobash away, some sort of opening in space.”

“Should we change our course?”

“Well I’m getting lifeform readings through that hole very similar to Earth, it may be a new part of the galaxy we have just never encountered or possibly an opening to an alternate reality.  I suggest checking it out.”

“Alright, thank you Pidge.”  “Paging all Paladins, please report to the bridge.”

Shiro calls in to Allura, “Is there a problem Princess?”

“No, Pidge has found a possible new galaxy for us to investigate.”

“We’ll be right up.”

~~~

Once everyone has assembled, Pidge uses the ships computer to pull up the anomaly on the monitors.  It appears like a large black hole of some sort, but unlike a real one, this one doesn’t seem to be pulling anything towards it, it simply is an opening or tear in their galaxy.

“According to my sensors this rift is quite stable for the time being and should stay open for at least a Phoeb.  They are also picking up signs of life on the other side very much like you’d find on Earth or Altea.”

Keith crosses his arms, “Earth?  Are you sure this is not some wild goose chase?  We don’t wanna get stuck if that thing closes behind us.”

“I trust my instruments, and they are telling me it’s stable.”

Allura, ‘Altea?!’  “There could be new uncharted worlds and if we can get to them before the Galra Empire, it would be to our benefit.”

Coran, “I agree with the Princess.  If Pidge says it’s stable, then we should investigate further.  Besides, if there could be another plant like Altea in there, I’m curious to see if there is an alternate version of our home world that still exists.”

“I don’t know…” Shiro crosses his arms.  “The last rift…  We need to err on the side of caution.”

“Will you lighten up!” Lance throws his arms around Keith and Shiro’s shoulders, “There could be some untapped hot, I mean nice ladies in there!”

“Well aside from the ladies,” Pidge rolls her eyes at Lance, “I’d love to see if there is another version of Earth in there.”

“And delicious new foods to try!” Hunk licks his lips.  “Come on, we should go.”

Shiro shakes his head but everyone else nods in agreement with Hunk, “Coran,” Allura turns to her advisor, “set a course for that rift.”

As they exit the hole, Coran is the first to notice the galaxy they have entered strangely resembles the Milkyway.  “I told you guys,” Pidge smirks, “alternate reality.” He points to a bluish-green colored planet on the screen, “Coran head for that one, it shows the highest amount of life signs.”

“You mean the one that resembles Earth?”

“Exactly.”

It takes the ship another half a Quintant to reach their destination.  Allura points at the monitor, “Let’s anchor, midway between this planets moon and the atmosphere Coran.  You and Shiro will stay aboard and try to map it out while the rest of us will take the lions to investigate on the surface.”  

Keith, “Why is Shiro staying behind and not me, he’s the Paladin for the black lion.”

But Shiro places his hand on the young man’s shoulder, “I think it would be good for you to maintain a relationship with the lion.”  Turning to Allura, “Princess, you and the other Paladins should be careful, you don’t know what to expect down there.”

“We will, Shiro, and if anything happens we will stay in contact.”

~~~

Each of the Paladins take off with Keith behind the controls of the black lion.  Pidge surveys for a good starting point and locates a fairly, decent-sized town bordering a forest where they could land, sending the coordinates to the other Paladins.  “The terrain of this world is just like Earth, maybe the inhabitants will be similar too?”

“I’d be happy if the food was similar,” Hunk drools a little, “I’ve missed a good burger from back home…”

“Well, if they look like earthlings, there’s gotta be some pretty ladies around too!”

“Lance, could you get your mind out of the gutter!  I swear one of these days your perverse way of thinking is gonna get you in trouble.”

“You’re just jealous Keith, because I’m more popular than you are.”

“Uh-huh…” Hunk quips, “Maybe in that dream world you wake up from each morning!”  Laughter from Pidge and Keith.

“Sure, laugh it up guys…” Lance grouses  

“Alright everyone, focus please, we are coming up on the area Pidge has chosen for us.”  

As the five lions break through the clouds they see a town reminiscent of Earth’s European cities like England or Venice with many tightly spaced buildings, waterways and bridges connecting to a large lake, even a grand cathedral near it’s center.  At the edge of town there is another towering edifice of stone and wood.  “Could that be where the rulers of this town lives?”

“I don’t know Hunk, but it should be the first place we check out.”

Allura, “I agree with Keith.  If there is someone in charge, we need to make contact with them…”

~~~

Meanwhile at Fairytail…

“Hey Gramps!” Natsu comes running through the front doors, “There’s something weird in the sky!”

Makarov sets down his beer, “What are you talking about boy?”

Lucy runs in behind her boyfriend, “Master come and look!  It’s like flying tigers or something!”

Grumbling, “Have you two been using hallucinogenic spells?” as he climbs off the bar top and walks to the door with other curious members following to see what all the fuss is about.  “I haven’t heard of…”  His eyes pop out, and mouth hangs open the moment he sees the strange machines for himself.  

Gray crosses his arms, “Looks like they are landing near the forest.”

Snapping out of his shock, “Then what are you still doing here!” Makarov shouts, “Team Natsu, get over there and find out what those things are!”

Erza, “Well you heard the Master, let’s go!  And Gray your shirt!”

“Damn!” he looks around him, “Not again!”

~~~

The Fairytail mages approach the five colorful seated lions cautiously.  “Could they be like the machine Daphne created?”  Lucy whispers to Erza.  “But I don’t sense any magic coming from them.”

“I sense a strange force from that blue one, but it’s odd…”

Natsu lights a hand on fire, “I’d rather act first and ask questions later!  Drago…”  But Lucy covers his mouth.

“Eh!  Are you crazy!  We don’t know what those things are capable of!”

“Tch,” he pouts, “You’re no fun.”

Sigh, “It’s a chore keeping you in line sometimes.”    

Gray, “Lucy’s right pyro, we should get a better read on these things before we react.”

“Just be ready…” Erza requips into her Black Wing Armor as she approaches the blue lion.  The others take up stances behind her, Lucy requipping into her Leo Star Dress, Gray makes his ice canon, and Natsu just stands beside his girlfriend with his arms crossed.  “If anyone is in there, I suggest you come out now!” the sword mage shouts.  “If you don’t, we will take that as a threat and attack!”

~~~

Hunk, “Do those four people really think they can take us on?”

Pidge, “They have no idea who we are.”

Allura, “I sense they are not an enemy.”

Keith, “Agreed, or they would have simply attacked; they are giving us an opportunity to show we are not a threat to them.”

Lance, “I second the motion to go say hi to them… I’d like to meet that blonde down there…”

Keith, “Lance!”

“What!  Look at her, tell me you’re not attracted to her?!  I mean look at those…”

Keith, “Don’t finish that sentence Lance!”

Allura sighs, “Everyone, just open up your lion’s mouth and remove your helmets so they can see you…  But let me do the talking.”

Sounds of gears in motion cause the mages to step back but they quickly realize the noises are being caused by the opening mouths of the lions.  The first to reveal herself is a female in the blue lion fronting Erza, followed by humanoid beings in the other lions.  They remove their helmets but stay seated as the Princess stands to address the winged woman in front of her.  “Please do not be alarmed, we are not here to fight or cause any trouble.”  Her lion instinctively lowers its head to allow the Princess to step down.  Allura takes a diplomatic poise, “We came across your planet and decided to investigate.”

“Investigate what?”  Erza responds, “Where are you from?”

“To put it simply, space.” Allura gestures above.  “But possibly, a different dimension from your galaxy.”  She motions to the other Paladins, “Please come down and introduce yourselves.”

Erza looks at her friends, “You guys stand down too,” requipping back to her normal attire along with Lucy, and Gray dematerializes his canon.  Walking up to the woman who seems in charge of these machines she extends her hand, “What is your name?”

Allura shakes it, “I am Princess Allura and these are the Paladins of Voltron.”

“Volton?” Lucy tips her head, “What’s that?”

Allura, “Voltron is a defender of the world we come from, and we are its pilots.”

Each of the Paladins introduce themselves and shake the hands of the four mages while Erza and Allura continue in a conversation.  All is going smoothly until its Lances turn to shake Lucy’s hand and kisses it instead.  “So, what’s your name beautiful?”

“Um…” Lucy pulls her hand back

Natsu pushes Lance away growling, “Get away from my girlfriend!”  

“Sorry man,” he throws his hands up in defense, “I was just being friendly…”

“Like hell you were!” Natsu lights his hand in flames, “Too fucking friendly!”

Lucy and Gray grab Natsu and pull him back as Keith yanks Lance away.  “Idiot,” he pushes his friend towards the red lion, “I told you your mouth was gonna get you in trouble!”

Allura rushes over to Lucy and Natsu, “I’m so sorry about that, Lance thinks himself a lady’s man, but I promise he won’t bother you again.”

“See that he doesn’t.” Natsu crosses his arms, “Or I will burn his ass!”

Erza, “Princess Allura, we should take you all to meet our master, he is expecting us to check in.”

Allura, “I think that would be a good idea.  Is he the ruler of this place?”

Gray laughs, “Nah, he’s just in charge of the Fairytail guild.”

“But he likes to think he’s a ruler.” Natsu adds.  

Allura’s shoulder slump, “Oh, well I guess that would be a start.”

Erza and Allura walk ahead, the Paladins in the middle, with the mages following behind.  Keith keeps Lance right next to him and as far away from the couple he ticked off as possible.  The last thing they want to do is cause an unnecessary problem.  

~~~

“Welcome to Fairytail.” Erza gestures at the sign above the gate.  “Home of the strongest wizards in Fiore.”

“Earthland…” Natsu interjects, “strongest mages on Earthland.”

Keith, “So Fiore is the name of this kingdom, correct?”

“Yes,” Lucy answers him, “Crocus is its capital city.”  

Pidge, “And we landed in Magnolia.”  Lucy nods, “How far away is Crocus from here?”

Lucy taps her chin, “Maybe an hour by train.”

Makarov walks out to greet the arrivals, “Erza, I see you’ve brought visitors, were they the ones in the flying machines?”

“Yes master, this is Princess Allura.” Gesturing to the woman in a pink jumpsuit.  “And they are with her.”  

“They come from space!” Natsu blurts out, “Isn’t that cool!”

“Space huh,” Makarov rubs his chin, “that is quite interesting.”

“Master Makarov,” Allura shakes his hand, “Erza has told us a little about your planet on our walk here, it is very similar to their…” she gestures to her fellow Paladins, “…home planet of Earth.  We are starting to believe that this world is, what we call, an alternate universe to ours.”

“Like another dimension?” he asks

“Yes,” she smiles, “are you familiar with those?”

“You could say that…  Please,” he gestures towards the entrance, “let’s go inside and we can talk further.  You can meet more of our members as well.”

Allura smiles, “That would be wonderful.”

The Paladins are led to a table where members of the Fairytail guild gather around for Makarov to introduce them and Mirajane brings over drinks and snacks.  Most of the members happen to be in town with the Christmas holiday coming up in a week so the Paladins get to meet a good majority of them.  They spend the afternoon and early evening trading information about each other’s worlds, both sides getting along well.  Hunk is even more excited when his wish of a cheeseburger and milkshake for dinner comes true.  

Allura, “The biggest difference between the Earth of our world and your Earthland is technology.  Here it seems magic and energy plays a bigger role than on Earth.”

Makarov, “There is a power called Ethernano, and it is like the life force of this planet.  Mages like you see here learn to tap into those energies to create many different forms of magic, but it is also used to create other things as simple as a source of light, or fuel to make a vehicle move.” He takes a swig from his mug, “I sense a type of magic in you as well that I have never encountered before.”

Allura, “Well, you see we Alteans can harness what we call quintessence; I guess you could say it is akin to your Ethernano and channel it into magical uses.  I sensed a kind of energy source in use here and now I understand what it was that I was feeling.”

“It could be possible that because you are able to absorb something similar, your body is doing so right now with the Ethernano; just like the mages of this planet.”  Makarov rubs his chin, “Maybe with time and training, you could even learn a form of our magic.”

“Oh, maybe if I had the time, but we are limited.  You see the rift that allowed us to venture into your galaxy will only stay open for a short period.”

“How long is a short time?”

“1 Phoeb.”      

Makarov tips his head in confusion so Pidge interjects, “I believe you’d call it a month, that’s what we called it back on Earth.”

“Ah, okay, now I understand.” Makarov nods.  “So, are you able to sense anything, using your abilities?”

“I think, I am picking up some of the forms of magic being used here…  I could take a guess.”

“Please, give it a shot.”

Allura looks around the room and tries to pick up on the energies around her, “Well I know that the two men that found us use an elemental type of magic…  but I sense there are others in this room…” She points at Gajeel and Laxus, “their magic centers around natural elements.”  Makarov grins and nods his head.  “…and two more…   but females…” she points at Juvia and then Wendy.  Again, Makarov nods.  “Their magic is easiest to pick up on.  I also sense that there is one in this room that is of a different race than human…” she points to Natsu.  “He is not truly human.”

“Wow!” Natsu utters excitedly, “How’d you figure it out?”

“Our fire dragon slayer here,” Makarov pats him on the shoulder, “used to be human about 500 years ago, but died and was reborn as a demon.”        

Hunk, “Demon?!”

Pidge, “Dragon Slayer?!”

Makarov laughs, “Yes, Dragons are magical creatures that once existed on this planet.  They were wiped out long, long ago, but some like this man and a few others are still able to harness their magic.”

Keith, “That is pretty cool.” He slaps Lance, “See he probably could’a burnt you to a crisp if Lucy didn’t stop him and I’d have to take the red lion back.”

Natsu smirks, “Yeah, I would have…”  Lucy rolls her eyes and Lance just crosses his arms and looks away.

“Anyways,” Makarov cuts in, “You are all welcome to stay, we have guest rooms and the Christmas holiday is in a week where we…”

The Earthlings all respond at the same time, “Christmas!?”

Pidge straightens out in her seat, “Did you say Christmas?”

And Hunk stands up, “That’s a holiday we celebrate on Earth too!  Oh, man, I am so glad we came here!  I really miss Christmas time on Earth.”

Allura, “Excuse me but, what is Christmas?  I don’t believe any of you have told me about this thing.”

Hunk grows even more excited, “We used to decorate a tree with lights and ornaments and swap presents with each other and eats lots and lots of food!  It’s an awesome holiday!”

Keith, “But we have no gifts to give…”

Pidge, “Well we might have stuff on the ship…”  They all look at each other, the gears turning in their heads.

Makarov smiles and waves his hand, “Gifts are not necessary, you are our guests, just enjoy your time here.”  

The Earthlings beg Allura, “Can we stay!?”

Allura laughs at their child-like enthusiasms, “I do not see why not.”  Hunk and Pidge start dancing.  “Master Makarov, do you think we could meet the rulers of this kingdom before we leave?”

“You’re in luck,” he smiles, “Queen Hisui is a friend of ours and will be attending the Christmas gala we host each year.  There will be many other mages from around Fiore also in attendance…”

~~~

By the second day, most of the Paladins have drifted toward certain members of the guild.  Despite the difference in technology, Pidge is fascinated with Levy and Lucy’s knowledge of literature and language skills.  Hunk spends much of his spare time with Mira and Elfman, sharing recipes and even cooking in the kitchen and of course eating along the way.  Keith gravitates to Gray and Jellal with their cooler demeanors and when Shiro joins them at the guild, he and Jellal discuss some of the battles they have been in.  Allura and Coran spend much of their time with Makarov learning what they can about the magic of this planet.  But as for Lance, he struggles to fit in, that is, until Bisca and Alzack bring their daughter Asuka and somehow the girl takes a liking to the stranger.   The family’s skill with firearms and the little girls aim at such a young age is astonishing to him.  

For the rest of the week, the Paladins spend time between the guild and their ship gathering as much information about Earthland as possible.  They are taken on tours of Magnolia, and to Hargeon to both sightsee and help with supplies needed for the gala which both sides eagerly anticipate.  All the holiday décor springing up around the towns are a welcomed treat for the Earthlings and even the light dusting of snow a thrill.    

~~~

Christmas morning finds Natsu and Lucy cuddled in bed at his cottage.  The Eve had been a drunken pre-show to the Holiday gala and the spirit mage drank a little too much to walk home on her own.  It used to get on his nerves when his girl would get tipsy but her increased, ‘affectionate’ side changed his outlook.  Their lack of clothing and disheveled hair would attest to the end of night activities…

Natsu had a special gift for Lucy this year that took him several missions of saving to pay for, but she was worth it.  If it wasn’t for her, his life had been ended by his brother Zeref but by somehow fixing his book she had saved him, and in a way, saved them all.  He leaves the sleeping blonde to retrieve the one thing he could think of that would convey everything he felt about her.

“Lucy…” he tickles her wrinkling nose.  “Baby…” kissing it.  “Time to get up…”

“Mmm…” she whines, “Don’t wanna….”

Natsu pulls Lucy into a sitting position and cradles her to keep her upright, “I have a gift for you.”

She yawns, “You don’t usually give…” her eyes focus on something in his fingers, widening once she realizes what it is.  “Natsu, that’s a…”

~~~

By lunchtime, the guild hall is buzzing with activity.  Everyone has a job to do, setting up, hanging decorations, stocking the bar, preparing the food.  Even the Paladins lend a hand with Hunk in the kitchen, Lance at the bar, Pidge on decorations, Keith and Shiro with set up.  Allura had gone back to the ship to check on Coran.  Come 4pm, the guild was ready and most of the members had gone home to change into party attire, this was after all a black-tie type of affair.

~~~

At another slayers home, Levy had just finished getting into her dress when she finds Gajeel fighting with his tie.  “I have something to tell you…” starting off as she fixes and smooths out his suit and tie.  “…I know we said we’d wait to give our gifts at the party, but I didn’t wanna wait.”

“Why is that babe?” he leans down and kisses her forehead.  “Is it something naughty?” a smirk appears on the iron dragon.

“No…” she blushes, “but something that being naughty…” her hand falling over her stomach, “…created…”

“Pipsqueak?!” he picks her up and spins her excitedly.  “Gehe.  Really??”

~~~

The Holiday gala is in full swing by the time the Paladins arrive.  Everyone is dressed to impress with suits and gowns of many different colors and styles.  Allura has foregone her jumpsuit for a more royal attire while the males and Coran are dressed appropriately in suits.  Pidge, with dresses not really being her thing decided to wear a suit as well despite the offers from Lucy and Levy to help her get ready.

Garlands and boughs hang along the walls while strings of soft white lights dangle from the ceilings.  A beautiful 12 foot pine tree stands in a corner near the stage with many colorful wrapped party favors strewn below it, take away gifts for each guest.  A mistletoe hangs just inside the entrance, trapping a few guests to follow its tradition.  Gray with the help of Juvia created a grand wintery scene of non-melting ice and snow on the stage, filled with snowmen and reindeer, snowflakes and icicles, even a santa with elves. The buffet table offers many delicious sweet and savory delights while the bar is stocked with beers and other liquors to cater to anyone’s pallet.        

While the members of Voltron disburse into the throngs of partygoers, Makarov leads Allura and Coran to Fiore’s ruler, currently catching up with her friends Natsu and Lucy.  The young couple take their leave as soon as their master walks up.

“Queen Hisui, this is Princess Allura and her advisor Coran; the ones I had told you about.”

“It is very nice to meet you, Queen Hisui.” Allura bows politely.  

“Likewise, Princess Allura.” Hisui returns the bow.  “Makarov has told me how you come from another dimension through space…”

On the other side of the hall, Lucy and Natsu have settled with their friends where some of the Paladins have joined them.  The buzz over the couple’s engagement as well as the expectant couple Levy and Gageel, are the current topic.  The girls chatter excitedly, with Mira broaching the topics of wedding plans and baby showers while everyone chimes in with ideas.  So, the guys turn to their own conversations, more manly ones, as Elfman put it, revolving around battles fought and won, or who was the strongest mage in the room.  

Dinner is a buffet style and Natsu returns to the table with a couple of plates piled high.  

“Wow,” Keith remarks, “I never thought I’d meet someone that could rival Hunk.”

Natsu pats his stomach and grins, “No one here can beat me.”

“Yeah, we still don’t know where pyro puts it all, cause he never gains weight.” Gray jests.  “Maybe a challenge is in order.”

“I’m up for that.” Hunk gets up and comes back with a couple plates of food.  “This is gonna be fun!”

“And I’m all fired up!”

The girls roll their eyes at the masculine show, and quickly settle on another table to avoid the mess that’s bound to happen.  Meanwhile Keith and Gray have started up a bet on the food eating competition that has grown a small crowd…

Lance saunters over to the bar where a couple of new female arrivals are getting drinks and a girl dressed like a cat catches his attention.  “Such a cute kitty…  If I scratch under your chin, will you purr for me?”

“Nyaa.  I could claw your eyes out instead.” The girl flashes a set of sharp looking nails.  “Stupid pick up lines, don’t work on me…ow.”  She and her friend walk away.  

Lance hangs his head and exhales, ‘these mage girls of Fiore are a tough lot!’

“Girls on this planet like strong, confident men…”

The red Paladin looks up as a man with orange hair walks towards him, “Lucy said you like the ladies, but seem to be having trouble with that.” He extends his hand, “Loke, Fairytail’s resident playboy at your service.”

“Lance…” he shakes Loke’s hand.  “I haven’t seen you at the guild this week.”

“I’m still a member of Fairytail, but now I’m one of Lucy’s Celestial Spirits.” Pointing at himself, “Still voted in the top 10 of most eligible bachelor mages in Fiore too.” Smirking, “Come on…” he throws his arm around Lances shoulder, “Let’s go find some pretty ladies to talk to…”

Back at the royal table…

Hisui, “After what you’ve told me about Voltron, I’d have to say that Fairytail is like the defenders of our world and it’s something you both have something in common.”

Allura, “We’ve come to a similar conclusion based on what we’ve learned over this week.  These mage’s and the things they have accomplished are quite astonishing.”  

Coran, “And the comradery they feel for each other is simply brilliant!”

Makarov smiles, “Family is the real power behind Fairytail.  Many of these kids were orphans, abandoned, sometimes shunned or even abused, until they came here.  They may fight like siblings but when needed they’ll fight for each other.  The worse thing an enemy can do is hurt one of their friends…” he chuckles, “then all hell breaks loose.”

Hisui laughs too and nods having seen her fair share of what Makarov is talking about.  “That’s why this kingdom loves them.  We can always count on Fairytail because they never give up.”

“I understand…” Allura smiles and looks over to her fellow Paladins laughing and having a great time with the guests.  “Even Voltron couldn’t exist if these young men and women couldn’t be a true team…”  Screaming and laughter catch their attention and they turn to the competition table.  “I’m really glad we decided to stay…”

Natsu shoves another drumstick in his mouth as Hunk buries his head on the table, “You win…” he groans, “I can’t eat anymore…” the slayer just grins and pats his stomach again.

Ooh’s and Aww’s, a few slamming fists or droning sounds, and money being tossed around them.  Without the currency of this world, Keith had bet with Gray and lost, now having to pay up he forks over his clothes and will have to make due with just underwear for two hours.  He was a little embarrassed, but the single women were sure happy with the handsome stranger…

~~~

By 1 in the morning, the party is winding down and guests are starting to leave.  Shiro brings the transport ship to pick up the Paladins but it is a sad moment for all.  

Queen Hisui, “If you are ever able to come back to our galaxy, I shall show you my castle in Crocus.”

“I would love that.” Allura bows, “Farewell Queen Hisui.”

Hisui bows, “Until we meet again, Princess Allura.”

There are tears in everyone’s eyes as the final goodbyes are made.  Lot’s of hugs and handshakes, good lucks, take cares, even congratulations again for the couples, and the hopes of seeing each other again.

“I got you this book,” Levy hands it to Pidge, “It’s a history of our world going back to the time of the dragons.”

“Wow!” Pidge cradles it to her chest, “Thank you so much!”

Elman walks up to Hunk carrying a box, “Mira made these to take with you.” Shifting the box to the Paladin.  “She said it’s frozen burgers you can just reheat.”  

Hunk’s eyes begin to water, “Really!!  Your sister is totally awesome!!”

Leo shakes Lances hand, “Remember strong and confident, that’s what ladies like.”

“I’ll try to remember that, thanks I had a lot of fun tonight.”  

Asuka walks up to him next, “Bye mister sharp shooter man.” She smiles

“Awe…” he bends down and hugs the little girl, “Thanks!  Take care of your mom and dad now, make me proud.”

“Okay!” the little girl beams.

Gray and Keith shake hands, “Good luck with that empire and I hope you figure out where you come from.”

“Yeah,” Keith smiles, “But you guys made me realize, maybe it’s not so important where we come from, but the family we choose to have now.”  

Natsu punches the paladins shoulder, “Now that’s the best way of putting it!” and pulls Lucy to him.  “Couldn’t agree with ya more!” She just smiles at her grinning fiancé and kisses his cheek.  

Allura, “Master Makarov, thank you so much for all of Fairytail’s hospitality.  It was a wonderful treat for the Earthlings to celebrate a holiday so dear to their hearts.  It’s also encouraging to know this planet has such a great protector watching over them.

Makarov, “It was our pleasure to host you Princess.  I hope we will get to meet again someday.  Take care of yourselves out there and good luck with Galra.”

Fairytail watches the transport take off, their world now a little bit bigger than they had imagined and as for Voltron, they too took away a refreshing outlook on success; the importance of friendship and family…

Mele Kalikimaka & Hauoli Makahiki Hou 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Hawaii

[wolfsharkart]

Digimon~ Digital Odyssey: Lawless Star Act 1 ch: 1

Mirrored from AO3

DIGITAL ODYSSEY: LAWLESS STAR - ACT ONE // CHAPTER ONE: CRITICAL ERROR

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

Back during the genesis of the Digital world there was no more than a vast and empty expanse. There was no life save for a dormant entity known only as ‘god’

The world was lifeless and void, a primordial untouched wasteland...

However one day life finally came in the form of a great and powerful golden dragon: Huanglongmon. Tasked with filling up the barren wastelands with life the golden dragon created four other beasts to rule and watch over the land, after them then came the Archangels to guide other digimon and also protect ‘god’ and his subjects from any form of threat.

This order ran fine for years… but with the digital world constantly expanding at will a mysterious place soon came into existence. A dark and forbidden domain called the Dark area. No one dared venture there due to a rumor of a powerful and evil digimon lurking in it’s depths. It was described as only being a place of evil and ruthless survival. A cruel place to be evaded at all costs as only lost and exiled souls belonged there.

Deeming the Dark area a threat one of the highest ranked Archangels, Lucemon decided to go into this forbidden land and destroy the beast. He believed that if the emperor of this land was slain then the darkness that plagued the digital world would vanish with him.

Little did anyone know that the emperor of the Dark area would be the one to spread the seeds of chaos and discord.

The rest became history, Lucemon became the greatest traitor the digital world has ever known. With his treachery many lives were lost and the archangels were forced to greatly reduce their numbers by banishing their own brethren that fought alongside Lucemon.

Because of him Huanglongmon was never seen again...

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

100 digi years (1 human earth year) after Lucemon’s betrayal and the fall of Huanglongmon.

Liamon had never imagined that in her existence up to that point she would serve the three Archangels themselves. It was an honor to be given such a chance to live among them in the holy kingdom but upon seeing the damage after Lucemon's betrayal she realized why digimon like her were needed. Liamon in particular had been chosen to fill up the role of guardian to the holy city’s gates.

She had been beyond shocked when she had been casually hunting in her territory and saw a  golden Ophan digimon descend from the heavens and tell her that she had been chosen.

She never considered that the holy ring on her back right leg amounted anything. Especially not that it meant she was one day going to evolve into an angel digimon and serve the one and only digital ‘god’.

Her an angel? The very thought would have crossed her mind as being absurd.

Had she been told this by someone else she would have laughed and called them crazy but given she was called up by Rasielmon Liamon couldn’t deny that. Before she knew it she followed the angel digimon through a portal and found herself in the heart of the holy digimon capital, the great holy city.

Only digimon with holy rings lived in it’s heart but on occasion some other digimon could be seen going about their business if they seeked help or served some angel.

This place was nothing like her old jungle home. Instead of greens there was golds, whites, and blues, the entire place felt a bit ‘tame’ for her but she figured she would get used to her new home after a while. Everything seemed orderly in the city, from pristine parks and roads to crystal clear waters flowing from elaborate fountains.

From there on out she was given her new post and duty, she was to become an angel and then a guardian under the watchful wings of Rasielmon.

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

300 DIGI YEARS LATER (3 human earth years)~ HOLY KINGDOM CAPITAL

Liamon had grown and adapted to her new home and purpose, the once wild lioness was now used to living in a city along with other digimon. Unlike most of her kind she had to give up her old solitary life.

There was no place for that here and with Rasielmon as her teacher she was taught how to tolerate being social and accept other digimon. She had to go by strict rules now too considering that many digimon that roamed about in the city might have looked like prey to her before given she was a predatory species. Now she wasn’t allowed to hunt for the thrill, she was only to hunt to survive and only outside the city limits… and only when server grown meat wasn’t available.

Which was never.

It was something she had to learn to get used to given she had no other choice. Most of her meat intake came from responsibly maintained meat farms which she either found tasted just off or ‘alright’ she figured this meat issue would die off once she evolved which she felt would be soon. Maybe a month or two-or three from now.

She felt like she was getting close given her current maturity as a digimon. She was technically a young adult at the moment so naturally evolving into her ultimate stage was due to happen at any moment now given that she also trained constantly.

She wondered if she would finally evolve into an angel and shed away her beast form. The very idea that she would one day walk on two legs and have wings made her fairly curious.

She wondered what the world looked like from above once she could fly, could she still run as fast? Would her teeth still be sharp? There was so many questions yet all she could do was sit back and wait patiently… something Rasielmon had been teaching her how to do since day one.

Apparently she had a ‘patience’ issue given that she was a mon of action rather than words or staying still. Even as a tamed beast out of the jungle she still sometimes felt the urge to just get out there and physical.

Whenever the occasional trouble popped up she would always try to be the first to the scene. Her long and well muscled body always brought her fast to any location even if it took some jumping along with a few stunts to get through some shortcuts.

She was quite used to some digimon calling her crazy by now as well. Liamon was an active and untamed spirit even if she was a lion who had been taken out of her jungle. Many of the other holy digimon found it hard to believe that she would one day sprout wings and take to the sky along with the rest of the angels.

To be honest she couldn’t wait for that day, surely Rasielmon would be thrilled to see her friend and student finally among them and taking her place in the order of things.

But for now her divine duty was to deliver some messages around the holy city, unpaid community service was very common given the good nature of everyone… that and Rasielmon gave her this task as a form to practice her patience and responsibility.

As she passed through one of the districts she spotted two Parrotmon casually preening their feathers while repairing a small imperfection in one of the roads… poor chaps were likely stuck with the same duties she had right now.

Oh how she just wanted to evolve and leave these boring tasks behind and fly around instead.

Scoffing as her fur puffed up a bit the lioness digimon walked down her usual path before her attention drifted at the sight of a familiar white and purple feline.

Grinning mischievously she puffed the fur around her paws with static as she snuck up behind the smaller bipedal feline. Once she was directly behind her she unleashed the built up static with a loud crackle- effectively scaring the poor Gatomon as she yowled and jumped some four feet into the air.

“Liamon! How many times do I got to tell you stop doing that.”

“I’m sorry friend, it’s just a bit funny that you always fall for my trick and I’m quite bored with my messenger duty- the usual.” Liamon chuckled before sitting down and going through the satchel strapped on her chest.

“Besides that issue I got something for you-” She muttered as she took out a bag of pristine and perfectly red apples, if she knew any better Gatomon was likely planning on baking something since she was well known for her hobby of making some amazing sweets.

“Ah! there they are, I needed those apples to make my apple pies. They took their sweet time getting here I thought I wouldn’t be able to make them in time.” Gatomon smiled as she took the bag and flung it over her back.

“So what are you doing today? You don’t seem to be doing anything for Ophanimon right now.” Liamon asked Gatomon as her tail tip twitched slightly.

“No, I still need to report back but for now I was just dropping off some stuff for her and checking up on some digimon in the hospital. You know how she’s always worried about the wellbeing of everyone here and such.” Gatomon replied as she continued on her way with Liamon following close behind.

It’s not like she had anything else to do given they were heading in the same direction.

“Hey- out of curiosity have you asked Rasielmon who used to be in your spot?” Gatomon brought up all of a sudden as she continued on her way.

Liamon simply raised a brow at the question… Used to be in her spot?

“What do you mean?”

“Yeah, we are here to take over empty spots remember? I’m going to fill up the role that used to be held by the digimon that became the lustful one. Don’t tell me you've never been curious of who used to have your duty?” The white feline looked at her friend a bit amused that Liamon never dug into this before.

“Oh… No not really. I guess I never asked since it sounds like a sensitive topic and I know to keep my snout out of things that aren’t my business- but now that you mention it maybe I’ll ask. IF Rasielmon is willing to talk about it that is.” Liamon reasoned as she nodded slightly and started to go into thought.

She hardly noticed how they arrived at their location as she thought about the digimon that used to be in her spot. Perhaps it had been the Envious one, he was said to have been an angel beast before-

“Liamon we are here.” Gatomon snapped her out of her thoughts as the Lioness blinked and quickly regained her usual awareness.

The main hall was as active as ever, Gatomon was here to report back to Ophanimon of her tasks being complete.

The female Archangel seemed to be busy with a group of Digimon as Gatomon approached her. She smiled a bit as she told something to Gatomon and then looked at Liamon who was dropping off some scrolls.

"Liamon could you come here for a moment." The ophan digimon asked as Liamon walked forwards and looked up to her. Even if she was said to be notably kind and motherly to everyone she couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated in her presence.

"Yes Ophanimon?"

"I need you to get something for me from Rasielmon. I need a map, she’ll know what I’m talking about once you tell her."

"Ah... sure-sure I'll get that for you right this instant my lady." Liamon bowed before taking her leave and bolting off down the main street.

Finally a more exciting task.

Running as fast as she could she grinned slightly as she heard the occasional yelp from some digimon as she ran past them. It didn’t take her long to make it to her destination as she panted and caught her breath.

This building was practically her second home.

"Lady Rasielmon are you here?" Liamon asked as she entered Rasielmon’s domain.

"Ophanimon said you had something for her. A map"

"Ah, glad to see you Liamon, I've seen your work and training from the kernel. I’ll get that map for you." A kind and wise voice answered from the back as Liamon made her way towards her technical boss.

Rasielmon rarely left her domain unless she was utterly needed, she was a bit of an odd one. If Liamon had to label her it would definitely be ‘kind and wise hermit’

Watching the data keeper go through a shelf full of scrolls Liamon couldn’t help but ask what Gatomon had asked her before.

“Oh yeah… Gatomon told me something that has me curious. You said that most of us were brought here to study under the archangels to fill up the empty spaces left by Lucemon and his allies when they were banished. Can I ask who was the one who used to hold the position I’ve been chosen to now fill?” Liamon asked Rasielmon as she watched her pause for a moment… had she said something wrong? She started to worry for a moment but quickly felt relieved as Rasielmon noted her concern and smiled back at the lioness.

“A curious question indeed, I suppose there’s nothing to hide from you so I’ll give you your answer. The old gatekeeper to the city was BlastAngemon, a noble and prideful angel who Lucemon filled his mind with false claims of grandeur. He eventually grew so power hungry he was willing to consume everyone in his path for their data, as you can guess he became the Gluttonous one and was exiled along with the others.” She said with a hint of sadness in her voice, that whole event was nothing but negativity even when it was talked about.

Liamon silently processed the information, so her guess had been incorrect. She was replacing the Gluttonous one. She honestly had no idea what she shared in common with that one, if she remembered correctly the digimon chosen for the divine tasks all had a certain quality about them.

“Wait- so if I’m replacing him what do we have in common? An endless stomach? An unrivaled taste for meat? My preference for the color purple?” Liamon asked curiously as Rasielmon started to laugh heartily.

“No, none of those Liamon. It’s determination and an untamed heart what sets a gatekeeper apart from the others. You stand for what you believe in and even if you were taken from the jungle your heart is untamed- but that’s not a bad thing. If anything it makes you be more attuned to the world around you...“ She corrected the lioness while handing her over the map she was to deliver.

“But I do suppose a preference for meat is also something you had in common. I didn’t know Blastangemon much though, he mostly kept to himself and wandered off whenever he could. You are much more social.” The Opan added in as she flew back into her study.

Exiting Rasielmon’s dwellings Liamon casually walked back to where she last saw Ophanimon and Gatomon. She had the map to deliver to them now and once that was over she would be free of her daily tasks and could finally sunbathe over a rock or eat some meat-

“RAAAAWWWRRRR!”

Liamon evaded the claws of a rabid Devidramon by a hair length as she quickly rolled out of it’s way.

The lionesse’s eyes became intense as she roared out to her attacker. It didn’t take her long to realize what was going on. Another invasion was taking place, those damn dark and demonic digimon couldn’t hold back their cravings for holy data and discord for long.

Watching the Devidramon begin to do a U turn Liamon charged at it. Her golden fur crackled with sparks.

“Thunder of king!”

The resounding screech of the Devidramon was all that could be heard as it got fried out of the sky on contact. Her battle prowess was something to be marveled at as she pinned the demonic dragon the moment it fell.

Quickly finishing it off with a bite to the throat the Devidramon thrashed under her grip before it finally fell limp and lifeless.

Panting from the exertion and adrenaline Liamon glanced around. She could hear the screams of the inhabitants as she spotted multiple Devidramon swarming around the square and flying in through a hole in the barrier.

lovely… this was starting to become a monthly occurrence.

Starting to worry for her friend Liamon dashed through the streets as fast as she could. She knew Gatomon wasn’t as good as a fighter as she was and could get into some form of trouble.

Once she reached the main hall she gasped at the sight of some four Devidramon wrecking everything in their path. Multiple digimon screamed and called out for help as the demon dragons tried to get to them.

“G-Gatomon!” She called out in dread as she found her friend unconscious under the claws of a Devidramon. The demonic dragon drooled as it seemed to be preparing to savor it’s newest victim.

“Oh no you won’t!” The lioness roared out with rage as she slammed headfirst into the Devidramon which caused it to yelp in both pain and surprise.

Knocking the demonic dragon away from Gatomon she didn’t give it a chance to recover as she jumped right onto it’s face. It yowled out in agony as she started to maul it, effectively blinding two of it’s eyes before she was tossed off by one of it’s claws.

She hissed in defiance as she got back up on her shaky legs, she held back her rage as best as she could. The condition her friend was in was driving her livid, these demonic fools really thought they could get away by hurting her friend like this?!

Feeling an electric current begin to build up within her she was about to launch another attack before she stopped.

Right above her Ophanimon had appeared along with Seraphimon and Cherubimon, their attacks constantly shooting down Devidramon like flies in one hit.

Sighing in relief she relaxed as she collapsed from both anxiety and concern. It appeared that the battle would be over soon and her friend would get the medical attention she needed....

An hour later at the city gathering hall.

“B-but Ophanimon we can’t just let them get away with having hurt Gatomon and the others they did nothing wrong! Those savages could have killed her!” Liamon pleaded to the angel woman as her green eyes were full of frustration and concern for her friend. Gatomon might no longer be with them had she not rushed in there in time to stop the Devidramon from ripping her throat out.

“Liamon this is our final decision! The Dark area is too dangerous we can’t risk anyone else's lives in there.” Seraphimon said sternly as Liamon flinched a bit at his harshness. She could feel tears welling up at the corners of her eyes as she held back her emotions. She didn’t want to show weakness here, not in front of everyone.

Scoffing as she held back the urge to shiver in anger Liamon was the first to bolt out of the meeting area when she got the chance. She made sure to run as fast as she could to make sure no one could see her frustrated tears run down the sides of her golden muzzle.

Why did no one want to act? This was becoming a common occurrence yet they preferred to stay under a shield instead of take the fight to their attackers.

She came to a dead stop once she reached the hospital. Keeping her head low she found the room where her friend was. She was awake but pretty injured given her condition. Liamon tried to hide her anger towards the Devidramon as best as she could.

“Oh there you are, I heard you were the one that saved me from becoming Devidramon food. Thank you so much friend.” The small white cat chuckled as Liamon frowned slightly.

“Is something wrong Liamon?”

Liamon hissed lowly as she shook her head a bit.

“Those Devidramon, they shouldn’t have been here. There was so many of them they managed to break through the barrier it isn't right. There’s too many of them we should have sent digimon down there to cull them.” She said bluntly and full of hatred. She still felt personally stung with how the Archangels had denied her suggestion. In her mind it was the only way, they couldn’t just sit back behind a barrier and let them get the chance to break through it.

The dark area bred nothing but miscreants.

Gatomon frowned at her as she shook her head.

“I know but that place is too dangerous, besides finding the Devidramon nest where those came from would be like finding hay in a needlestack. The only mon who could probably find it would be some expert tracker or- Liamon where are you going?” Gatomon called out to her friend as she watched her turn around and head out the nearest door.

She prayed that Liamon wasn’t about to do something stupid.

Despite her friend's weak calls she dared to not stop and look back, she knew Gatomon would stop her if she did. She needed to end these attacks… or at least get a message across to those damn demons even if she had to tear up a few. If no one else was going to do it then she was the digimon up for the job, she was a guardian after all and she wanted to protect those she cared about. Gatomon was practically a sister to her and she would not tolerate seeing her in danger again or worse.

Breaking into the fastest sprint that she could she ran down the main road. Her decision was made even if she would have to rebel against her orders.

She only dared to stop once the holy city was far out of her view. She knew she couldn’t go back right away and would have to complete the task she had given herself if she wanted to justify her defiance… surely Rasielmon was watching her right now and silently witnessing events unfold to record anything of interest… or maybe not? Liamon had no idea but she couldn’t help but look up to the sky for a moment.

“Rasielmon if you are watching me could you tell the others not to worry? I’ll do fine I won’t take long. I just have to do this, had I not stepped in Gatomon would be gone. I can’t let these petty attacks keep happening if I can help it. Like you said I’m a guardian and right now I feel like I have to protect her along with everyone else… please understand.” She said as she then looked down at her paws like a scolded cub.

Taking a deep breath she gathered her determination and set off to the nearest portal.

She continued on her way through the sea of flowers bordering the holy kingdom which eventually turned to forests as she looked around for an entrance to the dark area. She knew a few doorways existed hidden in plain sight. The remaining angel digimon had created them for emergency exits or entries if they were ever needed. Demons could rarely come through them unless they were particularly strong, aided by a greater demon digimon, or overwhelmed the firewall that guarded them.

Looking around the roots of some giant trees she eventually found what she was looking for. An ancient stone arch with ancient digicode.

“Door to darkness I command you to open.” Liamon called out as she touched the stone arch with her paw. The symbols on her holy ring began to glow as the stone arch became a golden one and a doorway into darkness opened before her eyes. She couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated at the dark energy seeming to come from it. This was the first time she had ever glanced into an entryway to the dark area.

Hesitating for a moment she swallowed her paranoia as she pushed her paw through the entryway. Nothing seemed to happen so deciding it was now or never she walked right through cautiously. Her body floated through what appeared to be a vast dark tunnel, a red light shone at the end which grew closer as she charged forwards.

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

Golden paws landed on the other side with a soft thud, she had finally made it through however she noticed how her holy ring appeared to give off a faint glow. She figured it was the light within her remaining bright despite being in a world of darkness.

Taking in her surroundings the fur along her spine raised a bit… all right it did look intimidating but she wouldn’t dare confess to it. She appeared to be in a vast dark forest, the barks of the trees distorted in ways that the sunlight made it seem like they had faces on them. Everything appeared alien especially the sky, a fade of red and purple as the world appeared to be illuminated by a red sun. She wondered what nighttime looked like here given that this entire world was a prison for evil digimon, outcasts, or digimon who had no other place to go.

She could hear the distant screeching of Devidramon along with other demon digimon as she remained low and silent. She dared not to start a fight unless she needed to, she figured that she should save her strength and eradicate the Devidramon nest responsible for the attack. She could imagine it already… her rushing into the nest and frying them with her lightning like a living bug zapper. She would surely return a hero or at least get away with not listening to orders. She was sure that Rasielmon would let her go with a bit of a scolding given she wasn’t doing this out of pride.

She wasn’t sure how long it had been on where the hell she was going but the scent of the surviving Devidramon had brought her to a rather dense part of the forest. At this point her surroundings all looked the same and the damn place looked like a maze. Sighing in annoyance she felt her whiskers twitch a bit as she tried to better locate herself.

She swore to god if she had to keep walking in this damn forest she would-

Then she saw it, a faint light shining through some of the trees. Was this where the Devidramon came from? She sure hoped it was since this forest was giving her the creeps.

Following the light she eventually found herself standing on the edge of a cliff, her eyes scanning what appeared to be a large and elaborate gothic castle in the middle of nowhere. Now this was something she hadn’t been expecting but she could see some Devidramon hanging out near the towers so the bastards had definitely come from there.

Her logic told her that some big shot demon digimon likely lived there, if she was unlucky enough it was a demon king, if she was really unlucky it would be one of the sinful seven. Either way she decided that she would beat them and make this slaughter a lesson for them to not send their lackeys to try and eat her friends and colleagues.

Brushing aside any fear she courageously started to descend down the cliff. Her feet steady as her claws dug into the earth to stabilize herself. Her life in the jungle as a lone huntress had given her many skills and sneaking around happened to be one of them. She reasoned that this would be similar but instead of hunting down her next meal she would be hunting down demons.

Once reaching the bottom of the cliff she crouched low as she hoped that the overgrowth around the castle would hide her. The only eyes that could spot her were the Devidramon but they seemed too busy bickering over petty things as she managed to reach the main door and quickly rushed in. Grinning at her sneakiness her tail twitched with amusement as her green eyes adjusted to the dim candlelight lit innards of the castle.

Carefully walking through the dim lit hallways the smell of wax and burned wicks filled her nose as she noted that the entire place was lit with nothing more but elaborate candles… not even scented ones at that. The occupant seemed to be fond of red velvet as well. Surely a mon of taste and power lived here if they could have all of this in the cruelest and most unpredictable place in the digital world.

taste and power lived here if they could have all of this in the cruelest and most unpredictable place in the digital world.

Rolling her eyes at the overly fancy tastes of the owner she finally reached the main hall. It was dim lit just like everything else but she could smell the scent of an unknown digimon and it was still fresh… something wasn’t right about it though, it smelled dead yet alive.

“Oh an uninvited guest how amusing, I still welcome you to my castle madame. You must come from far seeing that you have a shiny ring on your back leg, you don’t see that here often.” A calm swave voice echoed through the room as Liamon’s fur stood on end. Her green eyes went wide as she froze up at the sight of a dark figure sitting atop a large and elaborate jeweled throne casually.

She had never seen such a digimon or ever heard of anything like him. He had four beast like legs and two metallic maws sitting above the front ones. Above that was the torso of a humanoid digimon wearing an elaborate mask, his blonde hair silky and well kept as his sharp fangs poked out in an amused grin.

“Are you the one who sent the Devidramon to attack us!” Liamon demanded as she dared not to show any fear or concern towards this mystery digimon. Her boldness only seemed to catch his attention as he laughed lightly.

“Ah a feisty one, I don’t get to see that often given that most digimon who know who I am keep their distance and quickly leave. But yes I did send my local Devidramon to have a little bit of fun with the company upstairs.” He said casually as he relaxed further in his throne and sipped wine from a golden jeweled goblet.

Liamon’s brow furrowed as she felt confident now that she had found the digimon responsible for the attack. Her anger took over her as she growled and her tail stood stiff in a show of aggression. However instead of preparing for a fight the mystery digimon only laughed louder.

“Oh now this is entertainment, I thank you for this since it’s rare for anyone to even dare growl at me. So tell me are you stupid, brave, or both.” He asked as he smiled as if talking to a friend, Liamon found this extremely offending as the fur along the back of her neck crackled with sparks.

“Neither! I am here to make you pay! One of your Devidramon severely hurt my friend and I won’t stand for it!” Liamon scowled as she raised her voice to a accusing yell. Her green eyes were filled with rage as the large digimon shook his head.

“Tsk Tsk Tsk, silly furball clearly you don't know I'm a king. Oh who am I kidding of course a fur rug like yourself could be so inept!" He chuckled before gesturing to himself.

“I am the great Grandracmon the king of the Dark area not even the seven great demon lords dare to threaten me. But because of that I find you humorous, you are nothing but a small insect to me, I can crush you with a single paw and hang your golden fur over my fireplace… but I think I would much rather play with you. It’s been so long since I had any fun.” Grandracomon sneered as Liamon narrowed her eyes. She had never heard of such a digimon but she figured he was bluffing. The great demon lords, the sinful seven keeping out of his way yeah right.

She was tired of his attitude and hadn’t come here to play his stupid games.

"Thunder of King!" Liamon called out as she felt a strong electric current run through her body and quickly shoot out of her like a lightning bolt. Such a powerful attack had stunned all her foes up to that point but she dared not to flinch as it left a sad excuse of a scorch mark which quickly vanished from Grandracmon’s chest.

“That tickles~” The vampiric king laughed as he brushed himself off as if cleaning off dust. Despite her efforts he stayed on his throne, the two metallic maws on his waist clattering their teeth as if to mock her along with him.

Roaring out in defiance she charged at the colossal demon. Her claws scraping against the marble floor as she ran as fast as she could. She thought about Gatomon and all her other colleagues, she couldn’t fail them… and there was no way this freak would make her look like a fool, she was getting offended from his laughter.

Jumping up to aim for Grandracmon’s throat her eyes narrowed as she went in for the kill… surely her most notorious and deadly move should be enough to get the job done. Either she would walk away from this a hero or at least die trying for her honor.

"Critical Strike!" She called out as her fangs hit their mark, she dug her fangs into the undead king’s throat as she felt his vile blood fill her maw. She felt the urge to gag at just how foul it tasted but she was left with no choice as she sent a deadly shock into Grandracmon through her fangs in an attempt to stop his heart. She had never once seen a digimon survive her Critical Strike attack-

“What a silly kitten you are~” Grandracmon laughed as Liamon felt fear for the first time. Something she thought impossible as she dared not to let go. Why wasn’t he dead yet! How was she going to stop him if her strongest attack-

Her jaws on his throat remained closed like a vice as she felt his hand wrap around her body and violently ‘rip’ her away from his throat. She almost threw up as she spit out the putrid blood and flesh which was left in her mouth. How the hell did that not kill him?!

Liamon looked over to his throat which was starting to regenerate his lost flesh, it was there that Liamon noticed her mistake. This digimon was far beyond what she was capable of fighting, he was an entirely different thing as he threw her down onto the ground and opened his palm over her.

"Crystal Revolution!" He called out as Liamon screamed in pain, she felt thousands of crystals cut her flesh like blades. Her body weakened as she smelled the iron scent of her own blood fill her nostrils and she collapsed under her own weight.

Shaking violently as she tried to stand up she found herself screeching in agony as she realized that her back legs were sinking into some sort of dark substance.

Glaring at Grandracmon Liamon snarled as she watched him chuckle and placed a finger under her chin to raise her head to his eye level.

“What a foolish kitten you are, you didn’t stand a chance against me yet you foolishly engaged me in battle. It is as if you seek death, your bravery is stupid but impressive… It’s given me some entertainment so consider yourself lucky. I will spare your life but at a small price, the data of holy rings is truly a delicacy down here. I’m sure yours must be filled with determination and bravery it will do me just fine.” Grandracmon smiled wickedly at her as Liamon felt her confidence leave her.

No-no this couldn’t-

He started to remove his mask as she struggled helplessly.

"...Eye of the Gorgon"

Staring into the eyes of the dark digimon Liamon felt the urge to scream but she couldn't move, not even breathe... 'is this what death feels like?' she thought as she started to lose all her senses and felt like the very light of her being was slowly torn from her body.

CRACK!

AJust like that the holy ring around her right back leg would shatter into broken data. Her shock and horror would be short lived as her maw gaped in a silent scream before everything went dark.

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

Meanwhile in the kernel Rasielmon peered into one of the floating mirror like projections as she overlooked the situation with Liamon.

Frowning as she saw the golden feline fall into darkness her brow furrowed… while she had fallen unconscious within the darkness death did not come to her… no it was what many holy digimon would consider far worse. The angelic feline woman quickly looked away from the sight as golden fur started to morph into a dark purple, Liamon’s body turning more lean as her light was replaced by darkness.

Her subject didn’t deserve such a fate but there was nothing that could be done. Perhaps she should have listened to Seraphimon and left her alone in her jungle where she could have lived a normal life. It was truly ironic how the future gate keeper didn't even get the chance to fulfill her job. The space would be empty yet again but not out of gluttony, Liamon had wanted vengeance for her friend and her want for justice had ended her.

She could only look with great sadness as another mirror shard next to Liamon’s started to glow a bit. This had been the future the holy beast had once had before her. Liamon would have become the next gate keeper, a new angel digimon. Her face protected by a lion like mask, her wings as white as clouds, a golden muffler around her neck. A truly proud and graceful guardian.

Closing her eyes Rasielmon sighed as she watched the mirror shard begin to crumble as it now showed one of the rare few glimpses of a possible future… Rasielmon couldn’t help but look at it in shock.

It showed the red skies of the dark area and a dark figure dodging the attacks of an unknown assailant. Her hair was long and a mix between gold and silver, her lavender eyes determined, sharp, and sadistic. While Rasielmon couldn’t hear anything the female digimon clearly laughed as she seemed to be having fun fighting some other digimon that couldn’t be seen.

As the vision faded Rasielmon now had a new face- Liamon had once been destined to become Arielmon, the protector of wild beasts and nature. But now with her fate uncertain all she saw was a new crueler digimon in her place, one that reveled in the hunt and lived a lawless lonesome existence.

TO BE CONTINUED....

[breezy-cheezy]

Alright, HERE we go! Awhile ago I had an idea for a MP100/Voltron crossover, and after mentioning it to @x-i-l-verify​ and loooots of brainstorming later, we have...*gestures vaguely* this. These are more or less screenshot redraws just to kind of get across who is who. :) More info, reasonings and musings under the cut, because well...it got long...

Teru’s Role: Shiro (Black Paladin)

A year ago, Teruki Hanazawa (around his early twenties in this universe) was chosen for an exploration mission to Kerberos. 

Teru was always at the top of his class at the Galaxy Garrison and took the job proudly. He believed he was something special, and it was only right he would be selected for such a prestigious mission. 

Then he and his small team got kidnapped by an alien race: an empire called Claw. 

He was forced into slavery, forced to fight, to kill, just to survive. 

Somewhere along the way, Teru lost his arm. Some time and excruciating experiments later, he had a new one. It made killing easier. 

He hates it.

After being forced to endure and commit horrors unimaginable for so long, Teruki Hanazawa realized (you’re horrible, no one is coming to save you, no one cares about you) that he was rather insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. Being treated like dirt for a year would do that to a guy.

By the time he managed to escape and make it back to Earth, Teru saw himself as nothing more than a commoner. 

When the time came for him to lead Voltron, Teru could think of no one less qualified or deserving to pilot the Black Lion than himself. But someone had to do it...

Tome’s Role: Pidge (Green Paladin)

Tome always believed there was something more out there in the stars. She knew there were aliens out there, and she wanted to find them for herself. 

Tome believed joining the Galaxy Garrison would be just the way to do it. 

There she could train to reach for the stars, not to mention she was able to find suspicious extraterrestrial hints along the way. 

She’s pretty tech savvy in this AU because she had the proper drive, resources and training (not as good as Pidge, but still pretty much the group techie).

Further out in the desert, there’s a particular cave covered in strange lion markings that she took interest in...luckily there was a shack nearby where she could frequently visit and organize her findings. 

Through a bizarre series of events, Tome finally made it to space.

By the time Tome finally discovered real aliens, she couldn’t be happier.

 She just never would have expected how big a role she would have in a massive intergalactic alien war, fighting as the Green Paladin of Voltron.

Shou’s Role: Keith (Red Paladin)

This one’s the most iffy but here we go

Shou is the son of the big boss of Claw in canon, ergo he’s the Emperor's son in this AU. He has no idea about it though.

Shou’s mother, one of Emporor Touicirou’s consorts, began to fear for her unborn son’s life and fled the Claw empire (with the help of this AU’s equivalent of the Blade of Mamora, probably the 7th division crew?? They did defect in canon so...). Shou was born on a far away planet called Earth, and his mother used alien technology to safely disguise them both.

His mother passed away when he was very young. Shou can’t remember what she looks like. All he has left of her is a little knife with a strange symbol on it (subject to change).

Years later, Shou’s adoptive parents enroll him in the Galaxy Garrison, hoping the strict schooling will discipline their mischievous, troublesome child.  

Shou is absolutely bored at the Garrison. He is an extremely gifted pilot though.

He sees Tome sneaking around the school sometimes and figures she’s up to no good. He wants in.

Shou and Tome end up searching for aliens together; Shou more because it’s fun and not really having any particular interest in aliens, Tome not knowing that an alien already befriended her (it’s not like he knows either).

Serizawa’s Role: Hunk (Yellow Paladin)

Seri’s still plagued with severe social anxiety, but there are no psychic powers in this AU so he never felt the need to isolate himself to protect others.

Serizawa is a chef in the Garrison cafeteria. This way he has minimal social interaction while still being a positive contributor to society.

This doesn’t stop Reigen from singling him out. 

Reigen believes Serizawa makes the best takoyaki around, and kinda takes the guy under his wing after that.

Serizawa suddenly finds himself with a friend to eat lunch with. He’s kind of freaked out by this and thinks it’s a one time fluke, but Reigen keeps coming back and keeps talking to him. Seri quickly warms up to this strange but friendly man.

In order to help Serizawa more with his social anxiety, Reigen has him come sit in on some of his classes once in awhile. Seri ends up as a sort of unofficial Teacher’s Assistant.

Seri’s always terrified the students will hate him and he always brings snacks for the class.

He really has nothing to worry about though. The kids love Serizawa.

Reigen’s Role: Lance (Blue Paladin)

Reigen is a teacher at the Galaxy Garrison, so I guess he’s actually “Shishou” this time around lol.

He teaches history or English or something, since I do see the Garrison as more of a university/school of sorts (Hunk did mention a “principal” in the show), and Reigen wouldn’t be able to handle being a drill sergeant (the guy wouldn’t have the heart to yell at kids all day).

As mentioned before, Reigen noticed Serizawa struggling with anxiety, and one day took it upon himself to kinda help and mentor him.

One day on the way out from working, Reigen and Serizawa catch two students sneaking out of the building past curfew. 

They follow Tome and Shou out to their little alien research base, and Reigen confronts them.

Right as Reigen is about to reprimand the kids, a meteor crashes to Earth. Shou and Tome run off to investigate, stealing a hoverbike in the process. As the closest authority figures, Reigen and Serizawa follow and end up as chaperones of sorts for these reckless kids.

Reigen is the true Space Dad in this AU (sorry Teru :P).

Things proceed pretty much as canon Voltron episode 1 from there: they find Teru in the landing site (Tome: “An alien?!” Shou: “Nah, isn’t he that jerk that was always at the top of our class...?” Reigen: “He’s still a kid, and we’re getting him out of here, let’s GO.”), rescue him and regroup back at Tome’s conspiracy shack, the accidental discovery of Blue Lion, Reigen waltzing in and accidentally ending up as her paladin, the crazy flight and wormhole to the castleship (*points to my first picture at the top lol*), the discovery of the “last Alteans in the universe” in cryopods...which leads to...

Mob’s Role: Allura (can pilot all lions, Yellow is his favorite)

Mob is a Prince and was next in line for the throne. Now that he and Ritsu are apparently the last Alteans alive, he’s not sure what to make of it.

He was always insecure and even scared of his impending kingship, or leading in general. He has been trained thoroughly for the role as he grew up, so he’s a more capable and levelheaded guide than canon Mob would be.

He still speaks quite softly, but there is always an earnest strength in his tone that makes others stop and listen instead of talking over him.

Mob is weaker than most Alteans (due to some chronic illness like his anemia from canon) but that doesn’t mean he still can’t fight or throw a person across the room. He’s still very strong by human standards.

He still would prefer to use words instead of physically fighting in any conflict.

Mob is in his early twenties in Earth years, about Teru’s age of mental maturity (sorry he still looks so young in the picture...). They end up bonding over their insecurities in leadership.

Mob also bonds with Serizawa in having natural affinities for Yellow Lion.

The space mice may or may not be small alien cats instead in this AU, not sure.

Mob stumbles out of the Cryopod, dazed and confused. He quickly takes on his role as a guide for the Paladins, and does his absolute best to help them learn to pilot their lions and form Voltron.

Ristu’s Role: Coran (can pilot all lions, doesn’t really have a preference)

Ritsu is Mob’s half brother in this AU. We took some artistic liberties in this, having this make Ritsu as more of a servant/bodyguard to the royal family than as an actual heir (hello, inferiority complex from canon...).

Mob always treated Ritsu like family nonetheless. Ritsu does care about Mob a great deal and guards him with his life.

He’s more around Shou’s and Tome’s age in mental maturity.

Ritsu is...intense for an Altean. He kinda scares everyone a little bit (except for Mob, who’s lived with him as long as he can remember, and Teru, who’s already Seen It All and can’t really be phased by much anymore;;;;; )

Very jumpy. Even more than canon since I imagine being a bodyguard leaves you more on edge than not.

Came out of the Pod fighting like Coran did, and probably took longer to calm down. 

He is also the “drill sergeant” in their Voltron training exercises (wiping the floor with everyone and being Mr. Drill Sargent Nasty: "No, Brother, I'm not going too hard on them! Claw isn't going to defeat itself! SHOU GET YOUR ASS BACK IN HERE I SEE YOU TRYING TO SNEAK OUT, DROP AND GIVE ME THIRTY." -thank you for that Xi <3)

Mob brings the juice pouches and guides the quieter, trust building exercises like the maze and mental lions. He is also there to make sure Ritsu doesn’t run the Paladins and himself into the ground.

Mob and Ritsu balance each other rather well in guiding the paladins, actually.

Shou at some point gets it in his head that Ritsu is just a stick in the mud and needs to be befriended. Ritsu’s not too pleased by this, but then eventually does mellow out by some miracle.

In fact, he does grow rather fond of this odd band of humans, and starts thinking that maybe, maybe, his brother really is right in thinking they might be capable of saving the universe...

....well that’s super long for a set-up post, but hey, might as well put the ideas down where I can :’) More to come...probably....

[textales]

“Fight for Your Right.”

“Who the fuck are you?” asked the leader of some band we hired to play that night.

Good lord, how could anyone have the audacity to be so disrespectful and rude?  He had to have known this was the office where the check would come from as he was being escorted by the guy who hired them.  

I stood there with my mouth gaping open, stunned like a deer in the headlights, then just like that he and his entourage moved on before I could scare up an answer. 

My work-study job was more fun than most.  While others were stocking shelves at the bookstore or washing dishes at the food service, I worked for ASUM Programming, the entertainment arm of “The Associated Students of the University of Montana.”  A New Yorker named Erik curated concerts. A grad student picked the lectures.  And there were three red-headed sisters – triplets no less – from a windswept town near some Indian reservation. One ran the performing arts program, one picked the movies, and one was the benevolent boss of all of us. 

Working for the student government was an honor and a responsibility that I took very seriously, and figured it would pay off when I had to get a real job after graduation.  Thirty years later I can say I was right – if not for me, at least for many of my co-workers who went on to become big deals.  One girl got a gig at some software company in Seattle and was so successful she retired in her 30s.  Our student body president became a senator.  And that New Yorker responsible for bringing concerts to our college made a fortune when he sold the newspaper he founded to a big media conglomerate. 

I did the advertising – a position that completely went to my head.  Looking back, I was a pain-in-the-ass prima donna, but my intentions were righteous (or at least I thought so).  Although we were in the sticks, I was insistent that our image be every bit as cool as those of giant schools like UCLA or Harvard.  It was my personal mission to showcase how we were so much better than our redneck peers at MSU in Bozeman who offered washed-up has-beens filling dates between county fairs.  As our community’s un-elected curators of cool, we presented performers on the cutting edge.  Oh sure, occasionally we had a show a little past its prime, but we knew how to position it as the best thing to happen since the advent of electricity, and we’d sell out the biggest venues on campus every time.  

I made ridiculous demands of our graphic artists and printers, maxed out every budget and milked my media partners for every last free commercial. I shamelessly coerced radio stations into selling us commercials for pennies on the dollar. I hired the most expensive television production house in the state and ground them down until they agreed to the pittance I was willing to pay.  On broadcast TV, The Cosby Show was the number one hit in prime time (years before any controversy) and I demanded our commercials on the local NBC affiliate play “first in set” when the most people were watching. At $75 bucks a pop, I got our money’s worth and then some.   I was making my mark, dammit, hell bent on proving this was no hokey small town operation!   

The office was situated in the student union building known as University Center. The glass walls were covered with posters from past performers – everyone from Alabama to Van Halen had been through that town. I was proud of the bands we presented during my tenure there, including 38 Special, Cheap Trick and Corey Hart.  On that cold winter day, a red and shiny silver poster hung on the front door to promote the music group who had just blessed our office with their presence.   

After cooling-off for a minute I conjured a response to that obnoxious “up and comer” who wanted to know my purpose in the overall scheme of things.  Given the chance, I would have shot back with something snarky like “I’m the reason you sold out your show here in the middle of nowhere, you stupid fuck.”  But by that point the ungrateful bastard and his band were halfway across the snow-covered campus.

“I like Dick’s.”

Once a year, our team would make a trek to Portland to go shopping.  We were looking for “the next big thing” and we’d find it at the convention of the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) where aspiring music artists, comedians and speakers would present themselves for hire by colleges in the region looking for entertainment options for their respective campus constituencies.  The convention was held at the Jantzen Beach Red Lion, a big fancy hotel on the waterfront. Artists would do short performances for the crowd, then interested buyers would have an opportunity to meet with them and their agents at a conference room where deals were cut on the spot. At the conclusion of each three-day trip we’d come home with a pretty good idea of what the next year’s entertainment line-up would be. 

I was fascinated with Portland – it was a “real city” (at least compared to Missoula) and traveling at the expense of someone else was cool shit for this 21-year-old college kid who at that point could count on one hand the number of times I’d stayed in a hotel or eaten at a restaurant with cloth napkins. 

My first taste of fine dining happened on a NACA trip at a restaurant named the Couch Street Fish House.  Knowing it would cost a fortune I was reluctant, but caved to peer-pressure as I was reminded such opportunities for fancy were nonexistent where we came from.  Trying not to look like a total hick from the sticks I gawked at fish tanks in the lobby where you could pick a lobster or sea critter they’d kill and cook right then - ain’t never seen that before!  Dinner was presented in a coordinated reveal as servers lifted silver domes covering the entrees of all patrons at the table, in unison, at the direction of the lead waiter. There were so many different forks and knives I had to ask which to use for what, and I recall being given a hot towel at some point, along with grapefruit sorbet which was to, according to the sharp-looking waiter in a bow tie, “cleanse the palate between courses.”  Hardly an adventurous eater, I had a simple Sirloin Steak (AKA high-grade hamburger), but rest of the crowd went crazy with escargot, scallops and crab.

Split among us, my portion of the bill was $106.  To put things into perspective, I made $290 a month before taxes, so this was absurdly high for this poor college kid, consuming over half of my take-home for the month.  But I don’t regret it, and to this day that dinner over thirty years ago remains one of the fanciest of my life. 

We went night-clubbing on Front Street at The Satyricon.  This place was buzzing with sketch-looking guys with mohawks, tight leather pants, chain necklaces and tattoos.  And there were women in fishnet stockings looking all slutty with black lipstick and winged eyeliner. A few emo kids and some nerds rounded out the crowd, which contained more diversity than anywhere I’d ever been back home. Oh sure, I’d set foot in The Top Hat and AmVets in Missoula, but never a gritty place like this. I recall a wall of black and white TVs showing nothing but snowy static…a wall of TVs just for decoration?  This is nuts.  It was literally on the edge of railroad tracks, complete with an angry punk rock band, a bouncer with bad teeth and bulging biceps, a coat check hosted by a girl who looked remarkably homeless, and there was a ridiculously high cover charge.   The door person asking if my male co-worker and I were a couple.  Before I could answer, Kevin blurted “yes,” knowing we’d get a discount.  Still deep in the closet, I was mortified at the consequences of having my cover blown.

As college kids are known to do, we drank a lot of beer on those trips. In eco-conscious Oregon, with progressive recycling laws decades ahead of the rest of the country, empty bottles and cans could be redeemed for a refund of five cents each.  On the way out of town, we’d stop at Fred Meyer to return the cases of empties.  We were so proud of ourselves, having consumed so much beer over the weekend that the refund money was enough for beef jerky and bottled water for the nine hour drive back to Missoula.  

In Spokane we stopped for burgers and fries at a drive-in.  Without realizing how dumb it would sound, I proudly blurted “I like Dick’s,” as I stood there in acid-washed jeans and a pink polo shirt.

“He is so gay” the New Yorker exclaimed to the red-headed triplets.  And here I thought I had them all fooled.  

“Fight for Your Right”

Erik must have seen something promising when he hired the group of white rappers at the NACA conference that year.  Yes, we wanted to be “cutting edge” and all, but white rappers?  In Montana?!  I didn’t see it…but what did I know? I was a fan of the fluffy pop I played on the radio, like Exposé, Bananarama and Madonna, which Erik considered the musical equivalent of cotton candy.  

As it turned out, he proved to be a programming genius.  When he signed The Beastie Boys months prior in Portland they were nothing more than an unknown opening act for Run-D.M.C., dismissed by industry pros as three obnoxious white kids from New York trying to sound black. Then they blew up…and it was like ASUM Programming hit the jackpot.   The album “Licensed to Ill” was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on February 2, 1987 – just five days after their appearance in Missoula.  This was an unofficial launch of the “License to Ill” tour, which started three weeks later.

Those Beastie Boys were obnoxious alright. And they were pissed, because just before coming to Missoula they were offered a show in Toronto and tried to cancel ours. Erik held their feet to the fire and threatened to file a lawsuit if they bailed on us, so they conceded and came to Montana in the dead of winter to do a gig for pennies of what they might have otherwise made in a bigger city. 

They were nice to Erik at first, but told him once the show was on they’d have to portray the image of the obnoxious rebels their managers were so carefully crafting.  They delivered on their promise to their management and then some. No wonder the lead guy was such a dick to me at the office. 

We suspected they might be rowdy and cause a ruckus early on. Their contract required multiple cases of beer and bottles of whisky, and they wanted their dressing room stocked with a “rainbow assortment” of condoms.  Such demands are not uncommon, and often ridiculous demands are written into the contracts just to make sure someone is actually paying attention to the small print. I’m not sure if we provided the condoms, but we definitely didn’t supply the beer and whiskey since University policy wouldn’t allow.  So they brought their own, and sprayed two cases of warm Budweiser on the crowd as part of their performance. They encouraged the crowd to rip-up the seating in the first few rows of the venue, and they trashed their dressing room, which I suspect got charged-back to the promoter.  

I recall not wanting to see the show….it was rap, after all, and I liked “the musical equivalent of cotton candy.”  But I was curious about what made this group so popular, so I found my way to the University Theatre for the last few minutes of their show that snowy January eve.

I don’t remember much, other than the crowd went absolutely wild and most were certainly fighting for their right to party.  I also recall fighting for my way to the bathroom, where dozens of drunk fellow college kids were using every available piece of porcelain all at once, including the urinal, toilet, sink, floor drain, and even the garbage can.  It was filthy, but efficient.

The Missouri Lounge is located a few blocks from my home in Berkeley, California. I discovered this place after moving into the neighborhood over a dozen years ago.  Sometimes referred to as “unassuming” or “low key,” truth is it’s a total dive.  The bar and apartments above it were built in 1961 by a serviceman who retired to the area after doing his time in the Navy on The USS Missouri.  I just learned the music video for Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” was filmed aboard that battleship.  Now I love even more this bar named after the boat.  

On the walls you’ll find pictures from the early days. Not unlike the black & white pictures I’ve seen of my grandmother playing pool at Reed’s Tavern in Great Falls, these framed photos are evidence of innocent local fun…people wearing paper hats and shooting confetti at a New Year’s party when 1962 rolled in… people not interested in going to the big celebrations across the bay in San Francisco…people looking for something comfortable and close to home.

The bar has seen many generations of customers and countless changes of ownership and décor. My first visit was in 2003, just a couple months after the then new owner had repainted in pretty pastels and neutral tones.  Concert posters from famous folk like Janice Joplin, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones adorned the walls.  And they had a brand new 48” flat screen TV hanging smack dab above the middle of the bar, presumably intended to lure sports fans hoping to see their favorite games in a venue more convenient than those in downtown Oakland or Berkeley.

After a few months the newly remodeled bar wasn’t doing so well, so a consultant was hired to “spruce things up” by “dumbing it down.”   As she told me a dozen years ago, the bar was essentially “too nice” for the neighborhood, so she decided to make it look more like a pool room in someone’s basement. Down came the framed posters from historic concerts at the Fillmore and Cow Palace.  Peach and pastels were covered over with battleship gray and brown paint.  A tired old couch was moved in, and so was an old Zenith console TV that for years doubled as the DJ stand.  The flat screen TV was moved into the corner, and they’d start showing classic horror movies with a Pulp Fiction feel.   Whatever magic she did seemed to work, and the place became a goldmine that it is today.  

Regulars at happy hour include Tim the glazier, Ian who works for the county, and Hans who owns a construction company.  Later at night, once the pool table is covered and moved to the corner, a totally different crowd of college kids and younger neighborhood professionals come in to drink and dance.   There’s a professional sound system and a proper DJ Booth, and the back patio which started out with a portable BBQ from someone’s back yard now features a commercial kitchen with permanent built-in stainless-steel sinks and a granite countertop.   But still, honestly, the place is a total dive, with picnic tables and chain link, where a shot and a beer are cheap, and the bathroom walls are covered in graffiti (even if that graffiti was put there on purpose in the first place). 

“I Played That Song When It Was New.”

One of the Disk Jockeys at the Missouri Lounge is a guy named Pat, who is around my age and plays lots of songs from the 80s. Whether it’s Thompson Twins, Prince or YES, he’s often spinning something that I can say I put on the air when I was a Top 40 DJ in Missoula. 

One random Friday night I noticed Pat wearing a hat from some bar in Whitefish, a small town in Montana, which spawned a conversation about my college days. I learned Pat’s wife is from Missoula, and my world continued to grow smaller as he cued-up “(You Gotta) Fight for your Right (to Party).”  

But as much as I was enjoying the conversation, I had to excuse myself (discount dive-bar beer like Olympia has a way of working its way through quite quickly) and headed toward the bathroom where I stood in line as polite millennial men took their turns one-at-a-time in a bathroom that has both a urinal and a toilet.  “Why can’t these kids be efficient like at that Beastie Boys concert where they were using the sink, the toilet, the floor drain and a garbage can?” I wondered without saying a word out loud. Okay, I understand not peeing in the sink or the floor drain or the garbage can, but they can use the urinal and the regular toilet and cut the time in line in half. “Hurry the fuck up. I gotta pee, besides, I have to get back to my conversation with Pat.”

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity in line, I returned to the DJ Booth where Pat told me the wife’s father founded “The Independent,” a newspaper in Missoula, and his business partner was a guy named Erik. 

Yes, THAT Erik, the same guy from New York who brought the Beastie Boys to Montana for their first concert out west. 

It’s a small world when the Missouri and Montana collide with the Beastie Boys.

[violaswimmer]

Well, Shit. (A Voltron Fanfiction Chapter 9)

Hey guys! Here’s chapter 9! 10 is on the way I swear! Also there is some Spanish in this chapter, I’m pretty limited when it comes to Spanish so I’m sorry if I made some mistakes! (Special thanks to @ we-are-broken-from-the-inside who helped correct some of my mistakes! You’re the true MVP!) I did put translations in so don’t worry if you only speak English! Enjoy! 

Want to read from the beginning? Here you go!

http://violaswimmer.tumblr.com/post/156859812181/well-shit-a-voltron-fanficiton

CHAPTER 10:

http://violaswimmer.tumblr.com/post/157841715481/well-shit-a-voltron-fanficition-chapter-10

Lance and the team get back into their routine but things don’t go well for the paladin in blue when in a routine sweep he runs into Prince Lotor’s fleet. 

Chapter 9: Well, Crap.

Eventually they did leave the planet of Kann, Lance thankful and disappointed. They had stayed the night in the palace because everyone got drunk on whatever they were drinking. It had no effect on the human paladins but Allura and Coran got pretty hammered as well. So they couldn’t just leave them all passed out in the middle of the grand palace so the paladins took turns to be on watch while the rest slept until the early morning.

Allura and Coran woke with headaches and grumpy attitudes but otherwise seemed coherent. So they said goodbye to the Noo and Goo and continued on to save the universe. They continued to help those who had their distress beacons on. That’s when it happened.

Again things went to crap a lot quicker than Lance had anticipated and he barely had time to react. Lance was doing a routine sweep of an area of space, like they normally do. Usually they split into three groups, two in each group and someone back on the ship. However both Hunk and Pidge needed to help with some maintenance on the Castle, leaving Lance, Keith and Shiro to split and do the sweep. Keith and Shiro discussed how to split up, the only way was to have two go in one direction and one to go alone in the other.

Lance offered to go by himself.

“Lance that could be really dangerous.” Shiro said, “Not that I doubt you but I’m not sure…” Shiro trailed off before being interrupted.

“Well if you’re so worried, I’ll take quadrant 41, it’s not nearly as dangerous so I’ll be fine. Plus that way you guys can handle everything in 42, since Galra seem to be everywhere. If you need back up you can let me know.” Lance said.

He couldn’t see Shiro or Keith since they were talking through the comms but he heard Shiro sigh.

“Alright. Keep in contact at all times.” Shiro said sternly.

“Yes, sir!” Lance said, even saluting although he knew Shiro he couldn’t see it.

So the lions split up, Keith going with Shiro and Lance going by himself in the other direction. He should have known it wouldn’t have been that easy.

For the most part the sweep was going well, aside from an asteroid that tried to knock Blue on her ass. Things were going smoothly and he was nearly done with it when an entire Galra fleet wormholed right in front of him. Lance recognized that ship anywhere. Lotor.

Lance moved fast, practically yelling into the comms.

“Prince Lotor is in Quadrant 41! I repeat Prince Lotor is in quadrant 41!” Lance shouted, dodging debris and flying as fast as he could but where would he go?

He couldn’t go back to the Castle, he wasn’t going to lead Lotor right to Allura which he knew that’s what he wanted. Maybe he could wait for the rest of the team to come to him. They could form Voltron, fend him off while Allura and the Castle got ready to wormhole.

He then realized that no one was replying, all he heard was static. Great. Really fucking great. Lance breathed, all he had to do what lead him away or lose him. Lance could do that. Right?

So Lance continued to run, like he was desperate to get back to the Castle and the fleet followed quickly behind.

 Shiro and Keith had made it through their sweep and were heading back to the Castle when they heard something strange. The comms had made a loud shrieking noise and went completely dead. The sound almost blew out Shiro’s eardrum.

“Keith? Can you hear me?” Shiro asked insistently. After a moment of trying to get the connection back Keith answered.

“Yeah, but what the hell was that sound?” Keith asked sounding irritated and concerned.

“I-I don’t know.” Shiro had a thought, “Lance, LANCE! Come in!” Shiro insisted.

Nothing. Just static.

“Shit!” Keith said, trying his own comms, “Lance, buddy are you there?” Keith asked really worrying now. Nothing.

“Allura, can you hear me?” Shiro asked.

“Yes! What’s happening?” Allura asked, hearing the worry in Shiro’s voice.

“We can’t get in contact with Lance! He- the comms just cut out for a moment and when they came back we couldn’t- couldn’t hear him!” Shiro said, panic rising with each word. He wasn’t about to lose Lance after all of this, not a chance.

“Hold on, Hunk and Pidge are on their way to the lions, I’ll look for his signal and give you the coordinates.” Allura said, stoic.

There was a slight pause while Allura worked and Shiro grew more anxious with each silent beat.

“I-I found him but…” Allura sounded like she was choking, her voice very tight, “He’s surrounded by Galra forces. He’s surrounded by Lotor’s forces. They appeared out of nowhere! How did they find him?!” Allura questioned, her own panic rising in her voice.

“Allura! It’s alright, we’re all going to get him. Send me the coordinates we need to move fast.” Shiro said.

“Lance is here.” The coordinates appearing on the screen in front of Shiro, “But he’s moving quickly away from us, far away. He’s headed…” She gasped, “He’s headed right into an asteroid field. Lance is in grave danger, you must get to him before he enters it!” She insisted.

“Understood.” Shiro said as Pidge and Hunk emerged from the Castle the four of them moving quickly to save their friend.

 Lance saw the asteroid field and he knew two things. One, that this was about to get really complicated. Two that Lotor didn’t have a chance of getting through this field. Lance didn’t have much of a chance either, but he didn’t have a choice. He was going to protect everyone for as long as he could. So he entered the field without a second thought.

He and Blue were flying together but it was getting easier to distinguish who was who. He felt himself inside her (not in the creepy way get your minds out of the gutter) and they were one but distinct from one another. Lance had a thought. It was something that was probably dangerous, Coran had come to talk to him about his bond, the dangers of it several days before.

“There are somethings you need to know my boy. Flying Blue through your bond is a very powerful and wonderful thing. However it is also very dangerous. Paladin and Lion become one, intermingling essences, quintessence and even their soul. It can be wonderful, flying is easier, you become better at forming Voltron but it is extremely dangerous melding minds like that. So don’t ever, ever go deeper than necessary or else there may be consequences.” Coran said.

And look what Lance was doing, going deeper. Sorry Coran, he thought to himself and the kind Altean. But otherwise there was nothing else he could do, he was not going to get captured again because that fucked him up enough the first time. He wasn’t going back to the Castle because Lotor would not get his hands on Allura as long as Lance was alive. So Lance sunk deeper and deeper into his bond until he was barely there and Blue’s body truly became his, not just her eyes, everything.

He thought the feeling would be different, more mechanical since in reality Blue was a robotic magic lion. But instead he felt the way she moved like muscles, she was completely alive and Lance realized now that this had only gotten stranger. However he ignored everything and focused on where he was flying. The fleet was following him quickly. But no one attacked him, he was sure that Lotor simply wanted to follow him so that the real battle can start when they got to the Castle. On some level Lotor must had known that Lance was leading him away and not to, but for whatever reason he followed Lance anyway.

So Lance flew right into the asteroid field, he had done this before but this field was made up of the blue crystals that had a tendency to explode. Yeah those ones. And they were closely packed together. The Blue lion was observant, knowing one false move would send not only the Galra fleet but the lion up in flames with it. So she flew quickly but carefully between the beautiful but dangerous crystals turning slightly to see if the fleet dared to follow. They did. Lance looked back, they were crazy but maybe this could work. He knew he didn’t have any other option, so he prayed to god that he’d somehow make it out alive. He moved in further, luring them in until they were closer to the field. Then he shot up, turning around and shooting the large crystal closest to Lotor’s fleet. The explosion was spectacular.

 They flew as fast as they could, however each second was agony. Shiro saw the dot that was supposed to be Lance move its way into the asteroid field. Shiro sucked in a harsh breath and practically screamed when the dot disappeared completely. This could not be happening, there was no way.

“Lance!” Shiro cried.

“What?! What happened?!” Hunk asked, desperate.

“We just lost Lance’s signal, we need to hurry!” Shiro said voice cracking.

So they moved even quicker if that was possible and as they drew closer they saw the huge fleet. The ship so familiar and not in a good way and the asteroid field behind them, the blue and green crystals some in mid explosion. Lance flew into that. Lance was in that explosion. Lance.

Shiro’s rage blinded him for one second but that was all it took, wings sprouted from the back of his lion and he was destroying everything in sight literally cutting a path to Lance. Lotor’s ship moved out of the way, already taking damage from the explosions of the crystals, moving to flee. But at the moment Shiro nor the rest of the team cared, they cut and destroyed everything to get to Lance.  

Shiro looked everywhere for something, anything that even remotely looked like the Blue lion.

“There!” Keith shouted, drawing Shiro’s attention.

Floating above the asteroid field was the Blue Lion, unmoving and black on one side but mostly intact or at least he hoped.

“Lance!” Hunk shouted.

The Red lion raced forward, being the quickest among them with Yellow following close behind. Between the two of them they were able to bring the Blue lion back. Shiro kept his attention on the Galra fleet, the explosions had done a number on them. But they weren’t here for the fight, ships and weapons too damaged. So he watched as they formed a wormhole and escaped leaving Voltron behind.

They contacted Allura, telling her their coordinates and the Castle wormholed there quickly. The Red and Yellow lions escorting Blue inside.

As soon as they landed everyone ran out of their lions, like they had when Lance was first back from capture, the events being all too similar. Why was it always Lance? Hadn’t he had enough? But they ran as fast as their feet could carry them but the mouth of the Blue lion would not open at first.

“Blue!” Hunk shouted, “I know you’re hurt but we need to get to Lance! Please! Blue?” Hunk called.

Blue eyes glowed slightly, just barely and the mouth fell open before the eyes stopped glowing completely. Without the ramp they were focused to climb Blue in order to get inside. The inside of Blue was relatively unharmed, however sparks of electricity crackled and when they got to Lance they sighed a breath of relief for he too appeared unharmed but unconscious. Allura arrived inside with Coran following behind.

She pulled off Lance’s helmet. Revealing blood that painted the back of Lance’s helmet a vibrant shade of red.

“That’s a lot of blood.” Pidge stated in shock.

Allura looked pale, “It looks like a lot but thankfully it actually not all that much. However I’m more worried about his brain.” She took Lance’s face in both hands, “Lance! Lance can you hear me? I need you to open your eyes!” Allura commanded. As she called to him, Coran pressed a rag to the back of his head, stopping the bleeding.

Nothing happened at first but slowly Lance blinked, Allura held his face because he seemed to have no energy to hold up his own head. She was about to breathe a sigh of relief until she saw his eyes. They were glowing blue, an extremely vibrant shade of blue that she could see vividly through the crack of his eyelids.  

“Coran.” Allura said, slightly panicked.

Coran stepped forward and swallowed hard at the sight.

“Oh no.” He whispered, taking Lance’s head with his own hands Allura stepping aside to let him.

“What’s happening?” Shiro demanded.

There was a long silence until Lance said something.

“Espera, estoy confundido. ¿Dónde estoy?” Lance said groggily, his voice did not sound like his.

“What?” Keith asked, he knew that was Spanish but he didn’t know how to speak it.

“He’s confused, he doesn’t know where he is.” Hunk stated, of course he knows Spanish, Keith thought.

Hunk stepped forward, patting Lance’s shoulder.

“ Hola, socio. Estás en el espacio, ¿Sabes quién eres?” Hunk said.

“What are you saying?” Shiro asked.

Hunk turned slightly, “I’m telling him that he’s in space, I’m asking if he know who he is.” Hunk stated.

Lance looked at Hunk and then away, shaking his head despite his injury as if he couldn’t feel the pain. Coran moved his hands from his face to support the back of Lance’s neck so Lance’s head flopped to the side.

“ No, estoy muy confundido. Estoy aqui y allá, ¿Qué está sucediendo?” Lance asked, voice very very soft.

Hunk looked a little shocked before he told the rest what Lance had said.

“He says he’s too confused. He says he’s here and there and asks what’s happening but I don’t know what that means.” Hunk said panic rising in his voice.

Coran shock his head, “Lance has gone too deep into his bond. He doesn’t know who he is because he went too deep.” Coran stated, “I tried to warn him-“

“What do you mean too deep?” Shiro asked.

“When you pilot your lions your bonds become, well there are levels. So bonding in order to see out of the eyes of a lion is rather simple in terms of how much of the lion you can use. I told Lance to never, under any circumstances to delve deeper into the bond to say, use Blue’s entire body as his own. Lance’s mind and Blue would become so entangled in one another that it is possible to get lost. It’s why his eyes look the way they do because Blue is in his body too. Here and there, he in his body and there in Blue’s body.” Coran stated.

“Wait, you’re saying that Lance and the Blue lion are literally both in Lance’s body right now and in this body?” Pidge questioned, pointing at the Blue lion they were standing in, growing pale.

“Not all of Blue just part of her in Lance’s body anyway.” Coran stated, “Right now they’re too close to distinguish who is who. But we can try to help Lance realize who he is. If we talk to him he might become aware of himself. Memories, things shared, things unique to Lance. We might be able to pull him out of it.” Coran said but his face was grim.

Hunk nodded, determined and began to speak Spanish to Lance.

“¿Recuerdas cuando nos conocimos? Yo era muy timido y tu demasiado extrovertido. Pero nos hicimos amigos enseguida porque me dijiste que debo temerle a todo. Soliamos robar comida de los cuarteles cuando tenía hambre. Solia decirte que no pelearas con otros chicos, pero igual lo hacias. ¿Lo recuerdas, Lance? Ahora defendemos el universo de chicos malos. Aún te metes en problemas aún cuando te digo que no. Lance, necesito que vuelvas conmigo, amigo.”

Do you remember when we first met? I was very shy and you were very outgoing. But we became friends right away because you told me that I shouldn't be afraid of everything. We stole food from the barracks when I got hungry. I told you not to pick a fight with the other kids but you did anyway. Do you remember Lance? Now we defend the universe from bad guys. You still get into trouble even when I tell you not to. Lance I need you to come back to me, buddy.

The rest of the team had no idea what Hunk was saying, none of them fluent in Spanish. But the words seemed to affect Lance, slowly his eyes were growing dull, the glow dissipating until by the end of the speech Lance looked normal again. He blinked still confused.

“Hunk?” Lance asked.

Hunk grabbed Lance in a hug that was crushing his lungs.

“LANCE!” Hunk shouted.

“Lance!” Everyone else shouted, laughing with relief.

Allura pushed her way passed Hunk and Coran examining Lance, seeing if he was concussed.

“Do you feel ill? Confused? What’s your name and who are you?” She asked, inspecting Lance’s eyes carefully.

He answered dutifully.

“No, yes, my name is Lance and I am the blue paladin of Voltron.” Lance said.

She nodded, staring a bit more before letting him go.

“I think you are concussed but only slightly. Half an hour in the healing pod and you should be as good as new!” The Princess said with a smile.

“Alright but while we have you here, what happened?” Shiro asked seriously, taking a knee in front of Lance so he could look at him carefully, watching his eyes.

“I-I was sweeping the quadrant and it was going well…” Lance took a moment to think, “And suddenly Lotor’s fleet came out of nowhere. They just wormholed right in front of me… I knew I couldn’t go to the Castle. He wanted Allura and wasn’t going to lead him right to her. So I ran. I tried to call for help but the… the comms were off. Nothing but static. So I lead them away…” He paused again, shaking his head trying to concentrate at the task but his head was so fuzzy, “The asteroid field was my only chance, so I went in but I had to go deeper in my bond with Blue. I know Coran warned me. I knew seeing through her eyes wasn’t enough. So I went just above the point where I disappeared completely, coming together right at the edge. We… we went into the field and the fleet followed me or us I don’t know. So I drew them in and flew up at the last second to aim at one of the crystals that was closest to the fleet. But the crystals were so close to one another and they all blew up and I… I was too close.” Lance admitted, “But for some reason, I hit my head and I… I slipped. I dipped too deep into Blue and I got lost. I couldn’t tell what was me and what was her. I was here in my body and in her eyes. I was everywhere and nowhere it was… really confusing. But I heard Hunk talking to me and I just followed his voice and I kind of came back to myself.” Lance said finally.

Shiro blinked, he wasn’t sure understood everything Lance had said but he was sure going to try.

“I want to know…” Allura began, “How Lotor found us.” Allura wondered.

Lance was shaking his head.

“No they didn’t find us they found me.” Lance said.

“What?” Allura said shocked when she realized he was right, “But how?” She asked.

There was silence before Lance spoke.

“The quintessence.” Lance said his eyes widening with realization. “Like how Zarkon could sense the black lion through their bond and quintessence. It must be…” Lance trailed off.

“That… yes that’s quite possible.” Allura admitted.

Lance looked at the ground, looking tired and ashamed. Shiro put a hand on his knee, grabbing his attention.

“Hey, don’t worry about it for now.” Shiro said.

“No. We have to. If we don’t do anything then he’ll just keep coming and eventually he’ll be close enough to the Castle to get Allura and I am not letting that happen.” Lance said seriously.

Allura was a little shocked, not shocked about how Lance wouldn’t let anything happen to her but how sincere he was. She had not realized how much Lance had grown to care for her.

“Lance, I appreciate you trying to protect me but Shiro is-“ But she was cut off.

“NO! You do not understand what he is capable of, you think you know but you don’t!” Lance shouted, tears escaping his eyes, “I will NOT allow any of you to be captured or even interact with that guy! He’s sick and cruel and none of you need to experience that.” Lance said, softer now.

Honestly he wasn’t sure they were ready to know what exactly happened. He hadn’t remotely told them the details of his time of Lotor’s ship. They should know and it wasn’t that Lance wasn’t ready to confess, he wasn’t sure he wanted them to know. What would it do to them? Were they ready? But they needed to know to understand.

“He put needles in every patch of skin he could find, deep. Sometimes he would electrocute me, for hours. It was painful. But the quintessence was worse. It burned like fire in my body I would be in agony for hours, seizing and barely being able to breathe like being suspended in the moment before you die. He would enjoy my reactions. Somethings he did it for answers, which I never gave him although that made him more excited. But sometimes he came and did things to just get a reaction. Stab me to see me in pain, talk to me to confuse me, try to convince me to betray you, promising to end the pain. I never said anything but I admit I was tempted… but it wasn’t the pain that made me want to talk. The hallucinations. He knew I was having them. I’d see him first, sometimes he turned into other people like Shiro, or my mom or really anyone I knew. They’d tell me I was better off dead. They told me to give up. It’s hard to fight against your own mind when it’s trying to make you give up… I must have said something when I was delirious, so sometimes he could play the role of my hallucination and I would talk to him. I thought he was my mind but it was so hard to tell what was real and what was fake. Mostly I begged him to let me die, to let me go.” Lance said, he looked at the ground at that last bit, shame clear on his face.

“He didn’t and I don’t think he ever intended to let me die. He’s twisted and under no circumstances will any of you experience that, especially you Allura. What happened to me, I’m glad it happened to me and not to any of you. I wouldn’t wish that upon my worst enemy. So no, we will deal with this now even if that means I leave temporarily.” Lance said finally.

Everyone was still processing what he said but then they realized.

“No you are not leaving, we will find another way Lance.” Shiro assured him.

Lance shook his head.

“Unless there’s a way to remove or… change the quintessence so he can’t track me, this is our only option for now.” Lance said with a smile to Shiro.

There was more silence but then Allura spoke.

“There might be a way.” She admitted quietly, but her face said she didn’t like the idea.

“Really?” Lance said, surprised.

“Yes but it’s extremely dangerous.” Allura said.

“Wait, Princess, you can’t be referring…” Coran began with look on her face he had his answer, “Quiznack that’s… NO we can’t it is simply too dangerous!” Coran said outraged.

“Whatever it is let’s do it.” Lance said.

“You haven’t even-“ Allura began.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m a part of this team and I don’t want to leave but you guys are important. Just tell me what I need to do.” Lance said.

There was an anxious silence while everyone looked from Lance to Allura.

She set her shoulders and took a breath.

“Well first you’ll need to die.” She said seriously.

[fairylaughing]

Klance Fluff Week 3: Alien Ballroom Style

If someone wants to draw this trash I'm so in. The only warning is maybe some swearing but like nothing crazy?

Of course the paladins had attended balls, galas, parades, and formal dinners in their honour before. But the Iovcerneans were apparently extremely into balls, and, while their paladin armour generally sufficed as formal wear for these occasions, both Coran and Allura had insisted that it would simply not do here. Coran had taken measurements and the two Alteans had hit up the market on Iovcerne. Allura and Shiro had taken Pidge aside and told her that the Iovcerneans, although extremely open to same-sex couples, were still far behind in their gender role assignments so it would be best if she were to play a male role since they might not be open to a girl piloting Green Lion and Voltron was seeking an alliance which could get them much needed supplies and perhaps some upgrades to the castle’s artillery.

Pidge heaved a sigh of relief, “No problem.”

“You are not upset?” asked Allura.

“Nope,” Pidge said, “I saw the dresses the Iovercernean women were wearing at the greeting, I don’t know how they moved in all that.”

Shiro chuckled, “That’s that then.”

Allura shrugged, considering what she was going to have to wear, “It can’t be that bad… they looked so beautiful, and those were just their day dresses.”

* * *

“We need the corsets to fit into these jackets,” said Coran, “Now, I know it’s uncomfortable, but it’s a fact of fashion.”

Shiro looked from Keith, Keith looked to Coran, and they both nodded; they had weathered Galra prisons and numerous battles, how bad could a simple ball be?

Coran had already dressed the others while Shiro and Keith were finishing their training session, but now that they were done and showered he was helping them into the obscenely elaborate Iovercene garments. These consisted of tightly fit off-white pants which hugged every inch of the ass to display everything there, but were covered in the front by the beautiful jacket which swept downwards in wing-shapes to either side into a lovely stiff seat which pulled away from the ass to show the wares beneath, but then joined together into a sort of tail, trailing downwards. It honestly looked like Earth Romantic or Regency men’s fashion taken to an extreme, highlighting the curves of a man’s body in a way which would be vulgar if the women’s fashion was not just as much so. The jacket held ridiculously tight at the waist, a corset-like belt tightening at a mens waist level, but then folded outwards at the top, like a flower, highlighting broad shoulders, with delicately tapered shoulder pads, like petals, flowing over the tops of the arms. The elbows of the jacket were close but not uncomfortable, to allow for movement while dancing, but the cuffs were an elaborate display of buttons and embroidery, much like the lapels spreading down the chest in upside down triangles, covered in thick embroidery and bejewelled into rich designs. Gloves topped off the affair, but were optional so that they could be removed while dancing to be able to touch a partner’s hand.

“Wow,” Shiro exclaimed as Coran helped him into the jacket, “This is quite fancy.”

Coran nodded, “The Ioverceneans have always been fond of elaborate fashion.”

Shiro, rather than Coran, helped Keith into the corset, pulling the ties on the back tight so that both his lower and upper body were cinched in as tightly as they could be. Keith gasped as Shiro tugged him in tighter, “They want us to dance in this?”

“I’m afraid so,” Coran said, “I know it’s a lot, but they have been very willing so far so making a formal appearance is necessary. Trust me, even 10,000 years ago, no one has ever actually enjoyed getting dressed for an Iovercene ball.”

Fortunately the hair was not so much messed with as it was in Earth fashions of that era, and a ponytail held with some pretty ribbon was the norm, but loose, short, hair was also acceptable. No wigs were required, thank the gods, although if it were an outdoor affair they would have needed hats.

* * *

Once they were dressed Shiro, Coran, and Keith joined the other paladins at entrance staircase to the ballroom. Their view was blocked by bodies but once they were allowed onto the top of the staircase, more like a stage really, they were blinded by glittering lights and the crowd. Only the Iovercene royal King and Queen, dressed in obscenely complicated costume, and the others of their team were visible since they were in the same light.

Pidge and Hunk paid mind to the King and Queen, but Shiro was instantly enraptured by Allura in a stunning blue and purple Iovercene gown. It hugged her waist in a corseted V-shape, trailing away into a mountain of skirts, and the top draped over her shoulders so elegantly he could barely tear his eyes away to greet the King and Queen properly. They knew Allura was a princess, of course, but even Keith saw how Shiro watched her, poised and powerful, and he, although straight as a circle, could appreciate the effort she had gone through to look this way.

But Keith was also distracted by someone else: Lance.

Lance had clearly gone through as much as he and Shiro had, and then some, to look the way he did, every inch as respectable, as polished, as beautiful, as the Iovercene king. He wore it well. Lance was a fucking prince.

Lance wore the tight white pants, an off-blue, hugging his legs as tightly as leggings, with stirrups descending into shiny dark blue, nearly black, shoes with silver buckles whose heels lifted his shins so that his calves were displayed beautifully under the sheer white fabric. The pants were at the top covered by the silver-blue jacket, a stunning display of craftsmanship, with a shinning front that swept back, curving so that the inside, a rich blue velveteen, showed along the lapels and the bottom of the jacket, the skirt, gusseted so that it stood stiffly behind him in a tail, stopped about 8 inches behind Lance’s ass, and then trailed down into fabric ribbons like a literal tail.

Keith’s mouth went dry.

Lance’s wrists were accentuated with a similar pattern as the inside of the jacket, something like a floral or fleur de lis, but smaller and more delicate. The shoulder pads went outwards and then curled up just behind his shoulders, blue and glistening wings; every inch of everything was either blue or silver.

Keith forgot his words. Lance was fucking gorgeous. Was he wearing makeup? Keith could swear his eyes were bluer than he’d ever seen them and that his skin was glowing, rich and warm, beneath the lights, sparkling, even. Lance offered him a glistening grin.

Suddenly Keith’s pants were tighter than they were before, if that was even possible.

The King and Queen introduced them as the paladins of Voltron and they descended the staircase as they were required, but it was all a blur to him as Shiro grasped Allura by the arm, Keith grasped Lance, hardly aware of his feet on the steps, and Hunk and Pidge followed.

They reached the dance floor and faced each other. From the music and the announcements Keith knew that they were required to dance. With each other. Shiro led Allura, Hunk led Pidge, and Lance was leading Keith. Leading him.

That was surely preferable to Keith having to lead, but still, he was unsure of his steps as Lance guided him through it. Fortunately it was a slow song, not romantic but formal, a sort of warm-up, during which Lance watched the others and whispered.

“Come forward… good.”

And “Now put your hand on my waist.”

“Okay, I’m going to spin you now…” and Keith was spun, his brain swimming as he was thrown through the glittering room, and then held tightly in Lance’s arms, “I’ve got you.”

Keith believed him. Lance had him held, securely, in his arms as they waltzed through the steps. How had Lance learned how to do this? Was Coran feeding him the moves through some sort of secret com-link? There was no way Lance knew this.

At last, when Keith was sure he was about to faint, from a combination of spins and Lance, the dance ended. They bowed to each other. Allura attempted a curtsey and barely kept from falling over with her fucking hair. Was there a birdcage in that?

“Whew,” Lance sighed, “I know dancing isn’t your thing but you followed alright there.”

“Followed?” asked Keith.

“Well, you sure as hell weren’t leading.”

Keith was starting to get mad, but he knew he couldn’t dance, “When did you learn how to dance alien ballroom style?”

“Honestly,” Lance said, “This is almost exactly like Earth ballroom. I mean, I knew Hunk had lessons, and Shiro probably learned at some point, so we were all kinda doing it Earth style, but I think the Ioverceneans appreciated it so that’s cool?”

From the general applause and cheers Keith supposed so. But damn, that was way harder than he had ever thought. And way more physical. And way… hotter?

When did Lance get so damn sexy?

“Hey, wanna try some actual Alien Ballroom?” Lance asked, with a wink, as the next song started up.

Well, if Shiro and Allura were already starting the next dance together, surely it wouldn’t look too odd if the other paladins did another dance together?

Keith couldn’t have said no if he wanted to.

[youllneverknowmysecretidentity]

Chapter 3- a memoir

Hell, fuckin hell. My childhood I spent hoping for adventure, hoping for a journey, or my mark on the world. This, is just shit. Why did I have to ask for this again? Don’t get me wrong Mullen is enjoyable, hot, and gentle. I just don’t particularly enjoy being a target, after last night I realized that if he was chased out of his home by a god of darkness, how long would it be until they sensed he set his sights on a weak mortal? Hence my excessive internal cursing. Waking up today was the hardest it’s been in a year or so, on days I didn’t want to be existent I just sat and stared at the wall until my mom yelled at me, now I can’t even seem to find the motivation then. My mother’s footsteps echoed through the halls and into my room. “Hannah! Are you still asleep??” I looked over to her with apathy, “yeah, I just have a skull splitting migraine.” I wasn’t lying, the amount of information spinning in my head about Mullen was killing me emotionally. “I’m sorry Hannah, I don’t think you should miss school though, take some aspirin with you and don’t go to practice later.” She walked out and began her day. I got dressed as well as I could and made my way downstairs to already see coffee and breakfast, dad must have left a little later. Eating was hard, drinking was even harder. The feeling of apathy was washing through my veins and into my spirit. When I finally finished my morning routine and was ready to go, I dreaded seeing people I knew, blasting music might help. “You look exhausted dove, are you alright?” I jumped and looked over to see Mullen, he wasn’t wearing his trademark hide trench coat or his feather necklace, I then realized that I completely missed them laying in my back seat as I was packing my car. “Did you sleep in my car?” He blushed and shrugged, “I was afraid someone would notice me if I slept on the roof and I wanted to bid you a good school day before I went hunting.” “Hunting?” He nodded, “yes, although I’m a god I cannot go without food, the beast part of me prefers wild kill, plus, I picked up a foreign presence in the woods here in town, I need to check it out.” I nodded, so he’s becoming a guardian of the town too, that actually pretty cool. “Well good luck on your hunting then, don’t get killed.” He chuckled, “I should be bidding you good luck, you’re uneasy. People are stressing you out.” I widened my eyes and stared at the parking lot entrance, I sped into a parking space and aggressively put my car into park. “I’m not just stressed about that!” He looked taken back but lowered his head for me to continue so I did. “Everything has been so stressful recently, people abandoning me for some dumb ass rumor, a coach who barely goes to me for advice anymore, my teammates who barely speak to me, and now a god who’s attached his soul to me and I feel exposed again, like an open wound! I never wanted romance again and now the scar is fresher and I’m tense!” He curved his eyebrows in concern, and then lowered them in frustration, “I know people have been cruel, i cannot kill them, that would put me on Qions radar, but I can assure you that I’m here to protect you, I care for you and my soul is yours. I promise not to hurt you.” I lowered my head, “I’m not worried about you hurting me, I’m worried about me hurting you, I shouldn’t lash out on people but I’m always so angry.” He put a hand on my shoulder and I relaxed. “Dove, I vow to calm you.” I looked at him with watery eyes, then to the clock. “Don’t worry you still have 20 minutes, let me tell you a funny story.” He then proceeded to hand me a small amulet with a tiny wooden lion on the end, the size of a dime. He put it around my neck and smiled. “Well the story starts about 1,000 years ago....” The headache went away after lunch, my TA block was quieter this time. I stared out the library window, it had started raining about an hour ago, I toyed with the lion around my fingertips. So distracted by it I never sensed someone behind me, “hey you doing okay?” I looked over to see Grady, I smiled and motioned for him to sit down. “I guess, just a little stressed after everything.” He nodded,” people are dicks, no one likes when you speak your mind and maryville trusts a rumor more than the person itself.” “I guess so, can I tell you something? And you promise not to tell anyone?” He nodded and smiled, “even if you were hiding a dead body in your car I would still not talk.” I smiled, “I met someone.” “Woah, do I know him?” “That’s the hard part, it’s a really long story....” “HES A WHAT?!?!” I shushed Lauren as people headed to their cars began to stare, “he’s gotta be lying Hannah there’s no way he’s some ‘protection god’ he’s gotta be some pedo or something of the sort.” “She’s got a point Hannah, your story was good and all but there’s something he’s hiding.” I nodded feeling defeated but I knew this reaction would come, “fine, let me show you then.” “How?” I looked at Lauren and smiled, “Friday after school, clear your schedules and come hike with me on a trail not too far from here, he likes to reside in those parts.” Lauren squinted at me and smiled, “you’ve gone crazy, but you’re still the chaotic Hannah we remember. I’m in.” Grady spun his head and looked at her, “what if she’s planning on leading us to that killer?” “Cmon, Hannah doesn’t have an evil bone in her body, plus I trust her.” I smiled and hugged them both, “you’ll both be in for the shock of your life!” Grady groaned and muttered something about being in his grave. I didn’t listen and instead chose to drive home and get ready for Friday. Wednesday- “So what does he look like?” Lauren slid into a chair beside me at the lunch table. I rolled my eyes and thought for a moment. “Well, he’s got blue green eyes that are just beautiful, he’s not short but he’s not tall, very muscular build, brownish blonde hair, a nice beard, he’s got a deep British accent.” She smiled, “He a bad boy?” “Nah, he’s a gentle soul but I definitely feel like he’d get his hands dirty if it was necessary.” Grady stared us down before piping in,”getting his hands dirty like killing us in the woods?” “Oh please give it a break, he’s not gonna kill us.” “He does transform into a lion though.” Lauren and Grady looked at me before I smiled and continued,”big lion with shiny black fur, he’s the size of a grizzly bear and almost has the build of one while still keeping a lion shape, and the most beautiful eagle wings you could lay your eyes upon, it’s truly a sight to behold.” Lauren smiled, “yep, definitely gone crazy.” Friday- The day of was hectic, Lauren constantly reminded me of the hiking trip and Grady was too busy making a mental list of any weapon he needed to bring, I told him his best weapon was going to be a smile. The final bell rung and our group rushed out the door and into our respective cars, shooting a quick text to my mom letting her know I was going to the trail, I sped through the parking lot, a lion with Golden heavenly wings on my mind. We finally arrived to the trail and started to make our way to the trail head, “stop.” Grady said suddenly, “you’re sure that this is safe and we’re not going into some formulated death trap?” I smirked, “if I wanted to kill you so badly, I would have done it already.” Lauren laughed and continued walking into the trail Grady following closely behind. We stayed on the trail for a good mile or so. I began to get nervous that I would not see him, I had told him the night before that I wanted him to see my friends and that he could trust them. I hope he’s not hiding. “So does he disguise himself as a tree?” I looked back at Grady and raised an eyebrow, “no, he just hasn’t shown himself yet. MULLEN!!! MULLEN!!!” “Mullen is an odd name.” Lauren pinched him, “it’s Irish Gaelic for warrior.” She retorted. I stopped when I smelled it, the coppery flowery smell of him, over time he gained more musk but he was still unmistakable. It was getting stronger, I looked back at the distracted couple and stared for a few seconds at their banter, the air shifted and I felt a presence behind me. “Do couples always have to banter like that?” I chuckled, “we do too Mullen.” Lauren stopped mid sentence and whipped around to see Mullen, her jaw dropped and she stared very obviously at him. Grady studied his frame and wardrobe, “you were right about the crazy coat.” Lauren snapped out of her trance and pinched him again. “It’s nice to meet you Grady and Lauren, Hannah has spoken endlessly about you.” Lauren stepped up to Mullen and shook his hand and offered and kind smile, “I’m glad to finally meet you, you don’t look like a murderer at all.” She said pointedly at Grady. Grady rolled his eyes and weakly shook Mullen’s hand. “You must have questions and concerns?” “Do you change into some beast?” Grady said suddenly, Mullen winced at the word beast. He had never enjoyed other people calling him and beast although he called himself one often. “Yes I do, would you like to see?” Grady nodded hesitating slightly, Mullen smirked and turned around before erupting into a cloud of smoke and golden glitters, his eagle feather necklace floating up before popping into a cloud of feathers that took shape into two wings before flapping powerful gusts of air that knocked us off our feet, plowing away the smoke. A lion approached, his eyes still the same but his body changed. Grady exhaled and stood. “Jesus you were right Hannah.” The lion tilted his head and then turned to me and offered his mane for affection, I gladly gave him what he craved before grabbing my friends hands and letting them touch the mane. “We have so many questions, please change back and explain everything.” Lauren said almost in a begging tone. Mullen shifted quickly back into his man form and adjusted the feather on his neck and motioning us to sit on some logs and rocks. He guided me to sit on the same rock as him leaned against a tree and wrapped his arm around me protectively. “Well first, I’m a protection god. In the land of old there were 4 different classes of gods: the elites which ruled and shaped the land with their mighty powers, the mages which much like the elites kept a ruler ship on the land but on much more specific subjects, the protectors which is where I fall we fought all forms of monsters, killers, and evil, we were highly respected but often were left out due to our common lack of powers; and finally the halflings these were caused by the elites abusing their powers on humans and taking part in.....humanly pleasures. They were powerful enough to take down an elite as they had the will and emotion of a human but the strength and power of a god. Many halflings took down their parents, but in the social system they still were considered lesser than, later on however the world changed and more cultures were created, our godly kingdom expanded and we soon found more gods out there. A war broke out 5,000 years ago and 80% of the gods were killed. We only had four elites left. Huron, the god of weather, Iransha, the goddess of light, arayma, the goddess of the sea, and Qion, the god of darkness and the dead. Most mages were dead but the few who remained were the mages of war, wisdom, the arts, and fauna. Us protection gods soon became quite popular for protection of the mages as only 20 remained, Huron soon forbade gods to mate with humans as halflings caused the Great War that killed so many brothers and sisters. But soon, Qion grew bitter over Hurons rule, Huron was a wise ruler but was still boisterous and arrogant. He hid away monsters and let humans fight amongst themselves and even forget the gods existence, the mages no longer did their work and protection gods became greedy of temples and treasures. Qion was bitter, he knew protection gods were powerful enough to take down an elite. We protectors did not know that however. He began to kill us off slowly then gained speed after accidentally killing a mage. Once most of us were dead and the rest in hiding. He killed the mages, then the two elite goddesses, he battled Huron for 100 years until.....” Mullen choked on his words slightly. “I froze them in stone......I didn’t know I possessed the power to do it, but, I blasted them with something I honestly cannot remember. They froze and stayed in stone. Qions plans for the world were to turn the underworld into its own god system with monsters ruling the people and to return people to what he believed was the rightful state, slavery.” He lowered his head, I felt his arm go tense over my shoulder, “they unfroze recently and I had to flee, three mages are still alive. They helped trap Huron in a cage in the underworld, Qion will be looking for me. His monsters will find me eventually. I attached my soul to Hannah’s. Now my only purpose is to care for Hannah in any way she sees fit.” He looked up at us, he had tears in his eyes. Lauren covered her mouth slightly trying to hold back tears. “You’re going to protect her to the bitter end aren’t you?” He nodded and began to rub his thumb reassuringly into my shoulder. “So, can humans kill a god?” Grady said. Mullen chuckled, “I’ve seen it before, takes a special type of metal, and weapon with holy runes. You can’t put the runes on their without a ceremony though” Grady nodded, “you know the ceremony?” “Yes I do, but you’re not going to be able to kill Qion, or the mages, maybe a monster or two but I know if you two start fighting Hannah will want to join and I cannot allow that.” I sagged slightly, feeling defeated that he would not allow any adventure. He must have noticed my sadness and piped up. “I can however offer you three something better than fighting.” We leaned in to hear his answer, “flight.” I smiled, this would be the first time I rode him while he was a lion, Lauren got up excitedly and Grady followed hesitating. “So were gonna let you fly us around?” Mullen nodded before shifting into his beast form, he lowered himself for me and let the trio of us hop on. He began to trot and pick up speed until we were air born. I could hear Grady screaming in the back and Lauren whooping. The ride was exhilarating, looking down we saw the fiery colors of Tennessee autumn lining the forests and roads converging like river veins or roots in a plant. The sky was a blue with pink hue and the clouds smelled of crisp air and water. He flew higher until we collided with clouds and felt the cool comfort of heavens mattresses. The ride was short, the smell of rotting flesh invaded my sinuses and tainted the crisp smells. I looked over and gasped, flying beside us, was a dead bird. A raven, with rotting meat adorning its pale and dried bones, red eyes glowing, piercing into my soul. Mullen noticed it and growled while leaning us away from the raven. The raven stuttered and shook before turning and following us, “zombie bird is following us!” Grady yelled. Mullen picked up speed and roared, the raven shook and spurred away seeming scared by the deafening roar of Mullen. We landed shortly after and Mullen shifted into man, frustrated he paced the forest floor before stopping and looking at us. “You all need to go home now, it was stupid of me to expose you like that. That was a scout, Lauren and Grady, go home. I promise no danger to you if you leave as soon as possible. Try not to go into any forests for a while and if anything happens please call Hannah. Hannah, I am taking you home and keeping watch on you.” He stared me down with authority before we all headed to our vehicles. The ride home was tense, looking over to Mullen every few minutes, I could sense his anger. His jaw tensions obvious underneath his beard. My hands began to quiver slightly. He must have noticed as the wheel of the car shifted from my shaking. He put his hand slowly over the wheel to steady my hands. “Hannah, let me drive.” I shook my head and continued on the road, already a few minutes from home. “I’m concerned.” I looked at him and breathed a sigh. “I know you are.” I pulled into my drive way and went inside without sparing him another glance. My mom was sat where she usually was just writing away in her notebook. I said a quick hello and made up a story about hiking with Lauren and Grady and then made my way to my room to distract myself with homework.

[laurenlemonsmith-blog]

Don’t look or you’ll die

    A reporter for the local newspaper walked into the interrogation room. She sat across from the night officer, who was handcuffed to the desk. She placed her tape recorder on the table in between the two of them. She pushed the button on the recorder, “This is Susan Mcarthy with the Tribune reporting. Sitting across from me today is officer Paul Jacobs, who has requested this interview. Susan nodded at Paul.

    “Look, I’ll only tell this story once. You don’t have to believe me, you can call me crazy. But that doesn’t change the facts. The facts are, the following story is true. I pray to God that it wasn’t.”

    It was a normal night, I was out on patrol. Doing the normal route, just driving through the neighborhood. After hours of no calls from dispatch, I decided to take a small nap in the car. It’s a small town, not much happened, sometimes us boys would take a catnap in the squad car, no biggie. The next thing I knew, I was woken up by, “Attention all. We have been getting reports of a mysterious shadow blurring through the woods.” I looked at the clock, and saw it was near sunrise, and the end of my shift. I briefly thought about not answering until, “We’ve had 30 calls. Is someone in the area?” Sitting straight up I call back,

    “Dispatch this is unit 135. I’m in the area and I’ll check it out. What have the reports been saying about the shadow?” I started driving through to the park.

    “They’ve all been pretty irregular. They see movement, and they go look out the window and see a shadow. Sometimes it’s shaped like a bird and sometimes it’s shaped like a lizard. I wouldn’t even be bothering you if it weren’t for how many people saw it.”   

    “So these people were spooked by an animal?” I was incredulous. We aren’t animal control, what are we supposed to do? Tell a lizard to keep his claws in the air?

    “Well, more than likely. They did all say they saw claws or talons and big yellow eyes up much too high from the talons to be a neighborhood animal.”

    “More than likely? Is there some chance this isn’t an animal and is just some dude with a toy plane dressing it up like a monster?”

    “That’s also possible. Look, no one has gotten a clear look at the thing. Just go check it out.”

    “So, I’m supposed to, what check for birds and cats traveling in a pack? Or is it a mountain lion? Shoot down a plane?”

    “I don’t know. But everyone is freaked out because of all the dog attacks recently. The neighborhood is freaked and it might make them feel better if a cop goes and checks it out.” Dispatch sounds just as annoyed as I was. I decided to give them a break.

    “Alright. I’ll look into it.” I turned onto the dirt road up to the woods, parked, grabbed my flashlight, and stepped out of the car. I turned the flashlight on and started heading down the path. About twenty minutes into the woods, I stepped into a clearing. The sun was just starting to peak and there was a bit of light illuminating the clearing. I heard a noise to the left: sort of a deep growl. It sounded almost like a giant man clearing his throat in a burly way. RRR There was a deep rumble, like thunder, that shook the ground at the same time. Now the next thing I’m about to tell you, you aren’t going to believe.

    I turned to my left, and out came a man. A normal man running in fear from something. He ran up to me, grabbed me by the shirt, and said “a cop! Thank God. Please help me. I’m being chased by a monster.” Eyebrows raised I asked;

    “Like a bear?”

    “No! Bigger and it flies.” I had no reason to believe him, but something in his eyes made me think he believed what he saw. I tried to calm him.

    “Listen to me. Sir, everything is going to be okay. All we have to do is go back the way I came to my squad car. Then I can get you out of this. Can you follow me?” He nodded and we turned around to head back into the woods. Before we could take one step, a huge shadow flew over the clearing. It was the shape of a bird but the size of the whole clearing. And before you start thinking I just misjudged what it was, I can assure you, I’m not prone to delusions. This shadow landed in the middle of the clearing.

    The man started crying and pointing, “that’s it. That’s the monster that’s following me. My sister told me about it but I didn’t believe her.” I looked out into the clearing and there was a giant lizard with wings, perched in the clearing. Now, I know what you’re thinking, wow this guy is a crack pot. He thinks he really saw a dragon. I know what I saw. A dragon, exactly like the mythology, landed in that clearing. It made eye contact with me and somehow, grinned at me.

    The man and I turned tail and ran for it. While we were running, the man told me why he even sought the beast in the first place. “My sister said she saw it with a couple of friends. And then all her friends ended up dead: mauled by an animal. But the police couldn’t figure out what kind of animal and called it dogs. She knew. She said whatever it was she saw, was killing her friends and it was going to kill her next. Last night, she was mauled to death. The police called it a dog attack but it was that thing! I’m sure of it now.”

    “Other than you, do you know of anyone else who saw it?”

    “Well, there had been rumors of my neighbors seeing it. But same thing, they all were mauled by dogs.” I said nothing after that. We just kept running. We got a few feet from my squad car and I unlocked the doors. I ran over and jumped into the driver’s side. The man was running towards the passenger side when the beast’s claws came out of the sky and landed on him. I had to hear his blood curdling screams as his head was ripped from his body. I had no time to save him, I had to drive away.

    I started driving and called dispatch. “Dispatch this is unit 135 calling in. We have to declare the woods off limits. There is something in them I can’t explain. Just let everyone know that anyone caught in the woods will be killed. The police will not be patrolling them but if people value their lives they shouldn’t go in them.”

    “Unit 135, this is dispatch calling for conformation. You said, make sure no one goes out into the woods but don’t set up a patrol?”

    “Yes. I can explain everything once I’m back at the precinct.” Once I got back, I told them what I’m telling you. They didn’t believe me of course but since I first left the woods, I keep seeing the same shadow, the same yellow eyes in the trees, the same claw marks and claw prints outside my door. I’m going to die and that thing is going to kill me. Very soon. In fact, I can see the eyes of the thing behind you right now. If you value your life you won’t turn around. I suggest you close your eyes and keep them closed until”

    The tape recorder stops. “What happened?” The editor of the newspaper, Edgar Johnson asked. “Why’d you stop it? What happened to my reporter?” Sheriff Smith picked up the recorder. She didn’t say anything at first, just paced back and forth through the editor’s office. Taking a deep breath, she sat down across from the editor and maintained eye contact with him.

    “She’s dead. Something killed her.” The sheriff looked down, “I’m sorry. We heard a few loud noises, and we ran into the room. My officer and your reporter, mauled to death. By an animal.”

    “Don’t tell me dogs. I won’t believe it.” The sheriff took a deep breath.

    “No, not dogs. Listen to me, publish the story. Publish it as true with this quote from me.” The editor took a note book out of his top drawer, grabbed a pencil and nodded at the sheriff. “It’s real. By the time this story is published, that thing will have killed me, but I saw it, and it’s real. Stay out of the woods and move out of town if you can. The longer you stay here, the sooner you’ll die.” The editor set down his pen, and looked with concern at the sheriff.

    “You saw this thing? Can you tell me a little more about it?” At a glare from the sheriff, “off the record of course, sheriff.”

    “Well, Susan went in and we thought she was going to get Paul to admit that he killed the random guy he met in the woods and made it look like an animal attack. She had been in there for a while when those of us outside heard screaming. Not only that, we heard the table being thrown into the wall. So we rushed in. What we saw, will haunt me for my few days left on Earth. Jacobs was still handcuffed to the table. Well, not exactly. His hands were still handcuffed, the rest of him, was all over the room. In the corner was Susan. She was crying as a beast with a long spiky tail and wings that filled the room stalked towards her. The beast didn’t even flinch as we opened the door, he just lunged at her. When the animal moved away, Susan wasn’t there anymore but some of her shirt was caught in the beast’s teeth. That weird grin the animal gave me, as if he was telling me, ‘I’ll see you later’. Gives me the chills even hours after I saw it. I couldn’t move at all, the beast looked at me, gave me a sort of wink and was gone. I can’t explain it, but it basically teleported. That’s all I’ll say.” Sheriff Smith picked up her coat and pulled it on. “Now, I’m going to leave before it shows up and you see it too. Publish the story.”

The sheriff walked out of the office and Edgar spun his chair to look out the window. He stood up and glanced down, watching Sheriff Smith walk to her car. As she opened the door, a beast, exactly like she had described, stalked up behind her. She turned at the noise, and didn’t flinch or try to run. All she did, was close her eyes and accept her fate. Edgar gasped, turned to his desk, and hit his PA button. “Stacey, I have a story that needs to be published in tomorrow’s paper. I know it’s last minute, but push the front page for tomorrow to next week. I’ll have the final draft in an hour.”

“On it Edgar.” Edgar hung up his PA and sat down at his computer. Before he started writing this story, he called his lawyer.

“Hey, is my will up and up on the legal front?” He decided it was time to get his affairs in order.