#would it go until it hits magma or lava

[midnightmoonbeams]

Marlo's asking the real questions. Although, honestly, the answer is probably, "until it runs out of batteries."

From April 21st, 2022

[handsomethrowrug]

Monologue - A Form of Lava and Smoke

The volcano was quiet. Each faction of the Army was out completing their own tasks. Scar had opted that they lay low for a while to draw attention away from them. Let the Guard think that they had given up, and allow the different groups to recoup, recover, and ready themselves for any future plans.

What it also meant was that no one had a reason to enter the cave of the volcano. Scar could put an idea he had into practice. If it worked, then it would be a useful skill to keep close to his chest. If it did not, then it would not affect anything.

The Great Kings could take on different forms based on how they wanted their presence to be noticed. From the lessons he remembered, it was through breezes in the wind, or the twinkling of stars. He had overheard talk of Kion seeing Mufasa in the clouds, perhaps through some manipulation of cloud cover and light - without seeing it himself, it was hard to speculate the logistics of it.

But Scar was fire. Compared to wind, it was more tangible and formed; and it was far closer than any star could be. If he was able to use the flames of the volcano to create a likeness of his head, what's to say he couldn't go further than that? He could be summoned outside the volcano, and when his time ran out, his consciousness returned to the lava. But what if he used the lava to create a form? Something far smaller should last longer than the appearance he took on normally, and if he could somehow recreate his own form - even if it was ghostly - he would have the luxury of movement.

-

And so, he set to work. First, he had to learn how to properly manipulate the lava and gauge what could be reasonably controlled. He spent hours focusing on the slow, looping movement of the magma rising and falling within the depths. He had to learn just how far down he could reach until even his spirit, intangible as it was, recoiled at the intense heat.

He learned that, though the was a deep pool of lava where his spirit resided, this was not the main source. There was a second chamber much further down, which helped explain why animals could enter the cave without being overwhelmed with the heat. The larger body of magma was not one that was as active, and the threat of the volcano erupting by itself was almost non-existent. It meant that the smaller source of lava, coupled with plenty of openings, ensured that the temperature stayed somewhat bearable in the cavern. If anything, it might come as a welcome retreat in the grips of colder nights.

In time, the lava could be swayed back and forth, like he was still alive and able to flex his claws into the dusty earth. Then, he tried to raise it up and down until a small orb could be thrown just above the surface of the lava to drop right back in.

The process was frustratingly exhausting, despite how minimal the work felt when described. It took days to build up the endurance to throw that small ball higher and higher into the air.

The target was to hit the floor of the cavern. The ball needed enough air to go above ground-level, but have a consistent arc to land in one piece. While it is easy to throw a ball over your head, it is harder to consistently do so in an atmosphere with more resistance than just air.

Then, finally, Scar succeeded. The blob of lava was spat out and, with it, his will. It reacted as soon as it hit the colder stone, hissing and evaporating without leaving any sign of scorching or staining. Instead, a black clump-like shape remained. It shuddered, struggling to gain some sort of control over its rigid movements. But then, something long emerged from the back - a tail. The clump moved again, arching a back that it previously did not have so it could stretch aching limbs. Finally, the front shook, smoke swirling around to give the dead lion's mane a more familiar shape.

The form was flimsy, despite lacking a true physical presence, and his legs gave way from under him. It was irritating, but nothing to be ashamed of. This was the first attempt. Once he knew what to expect, the transition would be much smoother and less awkward to create. He would simply need to wait, rebuild the strength, and try standing again. It was exactly what he used to do when he had genuine back problems. He could manage this.

A few minutes passed, and the spirit shakily rose up on all four paws. From here, Scar noticed how his ghostly form presented his pelt as a charred black rather than an earthen brown. Given the manner his body was destroyed, it was little surprise. At least he didn't bear any obvious bite marks.

His head turned from left to right to test his balance before he made some cautious steps forward. There was less weight on his paws. He made no sound, yet there was a brief presence of a burnt paw-print that faded after a few seconds. How curious that this was the mark that could make an impact, yet Scar himself couldn't casually press his paw against a rock without exerting a considerable level of concentration to give the paw physical presence - something that would be too tiring to maintain the full time.

Once he was sure that his legs had sufficient strength to hold him upright, Scar tested pacing the width of the chamber. Then, he ran it. It was thrilling to feel some semblance of life again, even if it was only temporary sensation. But even this was proving tiring. He turned just in time to see the tip of his tail vanish as the smoke lost its form. It was a good indicator for the future to have a 'timer'. It would be expected that the more he practiced, the longer he could stretch this out - and the longer he could do that, the further from the volcano he could travel. Maybe there would be something of use to find, or someone of interest to meet... Or maybe it would be simply good to see the world outside the volcano before it became a plain of fire and devastation.

Scar chuckled as the form evaporated into the air.

Oh... This will be fun.

[metallicdragon31]

THE DOWNFALL OF THE HALF-DRAGON

So...

It's over

Isn't It?

....

It's time to end this madness, once and for all.

*It took him more than a year... It took him a lot of help... But he did it.. Fighting Fire with Water was a good idea.. but he would just ignite again and again, his fire was eternal.. the only way to win is to make sure that he doesn't have that fire anymore*

*so... Let the fight begin*

*a bright lava portal openened.. and a monster came out, a monster made out of obsidian and fire.. he looked around and snickered*

So, you're finally done playing cat and mouse?

*an Electric blue portal opened and the AstroKnight stepped out of It*

Tsk

You finally give up?

No.. i won't give up

I'm here to stop you

Good luck with that

*he launched himself up in the Sky and charged at the Knight*

*meanwhile he just stepped aside and let him fall into a portal he just made, but Magma dragged him down*

*and so they kept on hitting each other and jumping from portal to portal until both of them landed flat on their face*

OW

..

*they were currently on top of an active volcano*

... would you look at that

A volcano...

Just my luck

You were right... This is the end

The end for YOU!

*Berry was expecting a surprise attack... But..Magma jumped inside the active volcano.. then a huge rumbling sound that shook the earth, a giant obsidian dragon rose from the hot and flaming lava*

M-magma?

*The big monster roared and jumped out.. It was so big and scary, he attempts to hit Berry with his claws, but he became reaaally slower. Berry dodged with ease*

You're not the only one who has got an ace up their sleeve, y'know

Guess it's time to use it

*he opens a portal and takes a big gun like weapon, he immediately points it at the dragon and pulls the trigger*

*Magma tried to attack again but was stopped by the weapon.. a big plasma ray hit him in the chest.. no..it wasn't a normal ray... He could feel his energy being sucked out from him*

*he turned back to his normal self and quickly stepped back to try and retreat but he was feeling too weak.. breathing was becoming so hard, he tumbled on the ground and watched as all of his remaining energy was being extracted*

Wh-what are y-ou doing?

*he said with his trembling voice.. it's usually loud and fierce! What the heck happened to his voice?*

*Berry just glared down at him and took out his axe*

I'm putting an end to your disgusting existance

[THIS PART WILL BE CENSORED]

GAHHHHH

*he screamed at the top of his lungs, the pain he was going through was making him lose his mind*

*silente filled the air after some entire minutes filled with sounds of pain and agony.... Minutes that seemed hours*

*to make sure that nothing unexpected would happen, Berry shoved Magma inside a portal that leads to.. the Ocean*

*the AstroKnight huffed and breathed heavily.. he was exhausted*

.....

*that didn't seem like him anymore, he did not feel like himself anymore*

*so he finally left that awful place*

The END?

[toku-explained]

Overtime

Regulos: Regulos is still mourning his friends when he hears the sounds of devastation from the village, where a group of Magma Seijin are attacking, aiming to sell the Cosmo Beast Fighters as they have the people of L77. They are confronted by Lightning White Tiger Fist Phoros, Leaping Spirit Crane Fist Albeo, Phantom Water Snake Fist Pharood and Rapid Frozen Panther Fist Spica. 2 elites, Yurub and Lava order the rest forward, but the advantage is the Cosmo Beast Fighters even as Dias joins them. Magma Invasion Army leader Volcan beams down, noting the Fighter's strength and beats down Dias as Regulos arrives. Regulos attacks Volcan, but can't penetrate the replica Empera Seijin armour he wears, but Alude arrives and decimates the fleet with the legendary Juggernaut Charging Buffalo Strike, and holds his own against Volcan. Lava attempts to get Alude from behind, Alude blocks but is hit by Volcan's poison strike before the Magma Seijin retreat. Spica informs the trainees that Alude will live, but his cannot use Cosmo Beast Fist anymore, Dias showing interest in his Cosmo Beast. Phoros instructs continuing with training, but Regulos, in anger wants to strike first, Phoros warns the path of revenge will lead to expulsion, as it did to a once promising Cosmo Beast Fighter. Regulos flies off in a rage, and unfocused collides with a wall, falling into an unknown cavern, and is attacked by Gue-Basser until and unknown Cosmo Beast Fighter drives it off, and Regulos begins to make a request of him.

New Generation Stars: Geed reflects on his time with Zero, and manages to activate the Dimensionizer's data on Zero Beyond. He then thinks about his father, activating the data on Belial.

Geats: Beroba is forced to decide to return the Vision Drivers, but first her and Kekera go to the Goddess again with a wish each. Sara and Michinaga both found 33 ID Cores, and in overtime will have an hour to steal from others. Sara agrees with Keiwa they need to restore the DGP victims. Neon is wishing her fans would forget her, when Kyuun approaches, telling her continuing is pointless, her wish won't be granted. As the battle resumes, Neon relates this info to the others before Buffa attacks, he soon has Hakubi overpowered, Na-Go jumps to protect her and both are defeated. He hesitates on destroying the ID Cores when they protest they still have so much to do, but does so, Tycoon grabs the bag is Codes and keeps struggling. Ziin presents the Vision Drivers to Niram, but throws one to Ace until he explains about Mitsume, Ace uses it to go to the Goddess, Niram pursuing. Hareruya is trying to find out how Mitsume had Ace, as Tsumuri notes, the future people lack the capacity to bear children. Suel claims to Ace in the goddess chamber that she has no will of her own, attempting to prove it by presenting a wish of "A world without Ukiyo Ace", but she rejects it, though Suel blames this on her power waning, meaning she shall be disposed of in the Grand End, then tosses Ace to the battleground, where Beroba and Kekera are watching Tycoon and Buffa fight. Hareruya and Tsumuri discover that a player was erased from history for some crime, and a rule added against intimacy between a player and navigator, this was also right when the prize changed from the coin to an ideal world. Buffa grabs Tycoon's core, but Keiwa refuses to give up, still blaming the Goddess. Before Buffa can crush the core, Punkjack interferes, declaring overtime over. Gathering the 4 remaining Riders, Hareruya relates how Mitsume prayed after falling in love with a man from the past, and was miraculously granted a child. Her power to change the world was not based on despair, nor on sacrifice. Is the tool to blame, or those that use it? Suel commences the Grand End, and the crumbling Goddess is lowered in chains into the world, Suel informing Niram they already have a successor for the Goddess. Ace confronts them, and Niram is ordered to eliminate him. Gazer and Geats Laser Boost clash, but Geats starts losing after witnessing the goddess start to crumble, and is overpowered. As a large fragment from her face lands near him, he reaches over to it, and recalls her saying to forget her, something he could never do. By sheer will and rage, he causes a new Raise Buckle to appear, which transforms him to Geats Boos Mk-III, which atomised one of Gazer's drones.

Kingohger: Yanma and Shiokara are trying to interrogate Jeramie on where his Royal Arms came from. Jeremie appears to the still angry Deathnarok and Kamejin, plotting to use the Greater Guardians' bodies and hands over God Hopper's soul, they make a plot using Gerojim. Gira wants to look for the trio of Shugods, as he can't communicate with Sasorin, Himeno has him disguised as Sebastian. Shiokara and Yanma show Jeremie the factory that is the heart of N'Kosopa, after hearing how Yanma built it up thanks to mentoring from Gin, Jeramie allows Yanma to study the Venomix Shooter. Racles contacts Yanma demanding Jeramie, Yanma considers humiliating him, but his whole inner circle onows that is a bad idea, Shiokara then bumps into Gerojim. Yanma brings Jeramie to Racles, Jeramie asking if, as Shugoddom was the first kingdom, if Racles knows of what came before the King-Ohger legend. The others, Gira as Sebastian, arrive in Shugoddom, Gira can hear Sarorin, and Bugnarok attack. Yanma's attempt to humiliate Racles goes as wrong as it can, and Shiokara now turns out to be a disguised Gerojim. Yanma decides to shift blame to the Bugnarok, while Jeramie is angry that Yanma betrayed the trust he showed by using the Venomix Shooter for this, and winds up fighting and defeating all 5 Kings, taking back Scorpi's soul and the Ohger Calibers. His intent in sharing out the Guardian Souls was to establish a peace, but nobody understood his intentions again because he didn't say anything. As Gerojim grows, Jeramie is angry again about continuing to fight, and summons the unknown God Tarantula, which controls Guardian Pede and Guardian Cicada, which Himeno recognises, and snatches God Hopper's soul back, before piloting God Tarantula to defeat the Bugnarok, including controlling the Greater Guardians, once Gerojim is defeated he leaves, Gira hears the trio say they'll follow Jeramie, but Himeno is sure they're being controlled, as inside God Tarantula, it's shown Jeramie actually saved Gerojim, seeing a kindred spirit, who decides he thinks Jeramie should be king.

Metropolis: Some of the jailed AHK members play with the Dogengers sofubi, while Yuz-Yuz plays with I-Doll, but Shaberryman and the rest tell her to leave, possibly concerned about Rookie, and send Hatena out with her. Tanaka is absolutely furious about I-Doll, and rushes out, Akuta is still unwell, but Shiraishi follows, not quite understanding why Tanaka cares so much. Hatena seems a little more on the serious side, a contrast with Yuz-Yuz. The two pairs run into eachother, and Tanaka asks for I-Doll's return, but Yuz-Yuz wants to keep them, and so Rookie starts fighting her and the Toyin, as Hyakutoban fights Hatena. Hatena has a wide variety of weapons in his briefcase, a sword, a whip, a hammer, a polearm, a gun, and even a signal jammer to block Akuta's advice, overpowering Hyakutoban. Rookie defeats the Toyin, but Yuz-Yuz, still wanting the toys, gets serious, overpowering him, but he won't give up, fighting as Tanaka and refusing even after she beats him down, rushing her. Shaberryman interrupts to discuss the way things are going, before we return to Tanaka charging at Yuz-Yuz, when in a flash of light, Insurgent and Doll appear. Tanaka breaks down, hugging them and apologising for letting them get taken, but they forgive him. Yuz-Yuz now really doesn't get it, as all three fight/play until she gets annoyed and leaves. As the three rush to help the beaten Hyakutoban, Hatena sees the tide changing and flees by smoke bomb, Hyakutoban insists he will pursue, telling Rookie to enjoy the reunion. The trio talk together while Akuta regains contact with Shiraishi, who merely says he has failed as a hero and a police officer, and Akuta's not sure his Ohga book has any good advice for this.

[brynjarchaos]

I was asked: “Why do you gravitate towards the destructive force that volcanoes can do and sometimes feel helpless?”

No one had ever asked me that.

So I thought about it and wrote down my thoughts.

I started to teach myself about volcanoes because I was afraid.

When the earthquake hit Utah in March of 2020, I had convinced myself that the aftershocks would trigger a Yellowstone eruption. Something in me told me that fear was irrational and that I needed to educate myself.

I started with earthquakes. It began with tectonic plates, then fault lines, then “magnitude,” and then how seismographs work. Once I understood how and why earthquakes happened, I was no longer afraid. Instead, I was fascinated. How the ground beneath our feet constantly moves without us noticing very often was mind-blowing.

Next on the list was Yellowstone.

I learned that there are hundreds of earthquakes happening in the Yellowstone area every day. That fact itself was reassuring. Yellowstone is not technically overdue for an eruption, as many people claim. Ol’ Faithful? Every time it erupts, it releases gas and pressure from the caldera. So technically, in a small way, it’s erupting every day.

Do you know where volcanoes come from?

Tectonic plates.

I thought I had learned everything about tectonic plates while researching earthquakes. Nope.

Volcanoes are formed when there is a more resounding crack inside of a tectonic plate that leads directly to the upper earth’s mantle. It’s the same with smaller fault lines. Magma is pushed up through that crack, and when it doesn’t have a way out, a portion of that crack expands and turns into a pool of magma. That pool is called a caldera. Different fault lines form different types of volcanoes - Cinder Cone Volcanoes, Composite Volcanoes (Stratovolcanoes), and Shield Volcanoes. There are different kinds of eruptions too. The six eruption types are from least explosive to the most explosive; Icelandic, Hawaiian, Strombolian, Vulcanian, Pelean, and Plinian. Each of those eruptions is “rated” by what’s called the “Volcanic Explosivity Index,” or “VEI.”

I can go on and on about how volcanoes work, but that’s not the answer to your question…

What gravitates me toward volcanoes the most, I think, is how calm and beautiful they are on the surface. They look just like the regular geographical makeup of the earth that we know and love. You wouldn’t know that what you were looking at was a volcano unless someone told you so or you witnessed it’s eruption. Nature takes over. Grass and trees grow. Wildlife calls it “home.” The birds sing, and the buffalo graze. Rail falls, the wind blows, and the sun shines. All sorts of footprints are left on a volcano every day … except for the underwater volcanoes … the fish poop on those ones. They’re just a part of the Earth, right?

Until they erupt.

The magma boils and bubbles underneath. Gasses swirl. Pressure builds. The ground above rises and falls as if breathing—the earth trembles. The wildlife calling it home starts to migrate away. They sense the danger, but they don’t know why until…

Then the eruption hits. The violence depends on the type of volcano and the type of eruption. It can be soft; the lava can flow slowly, gently taking over the ground, like Kilauea and Mauna Loa. It can be catastrophic, like Vesuvius and Mt St Helens. The explosion can be powerful - the roar shaking the air, rippling through our bodies, rupturing our eardrums. The shockwave racing around the earth, taking down trees, shattering glass, and moving the water of the oceans. The ash rushing up into the sky, only to fall, hot and thick, suffocating those who breathe air, coating the ground, and burning our feet. The lava and pumice, flying through the sky, rolling down the kills, destroying everything in its path - setting fire to everything we love, crushing the dreams of what once was. Lives are taken and changed—worry and grief strike. The world feels dark.

But, only for a moment, because then…

The rain falls, washing away the ash and taming the fire. The waves calm down. The lava and pumice turn back into rock. The sun comes out. The grass and trees regrow. People and animals rebuild. The birds start to sing again. Flowers begin to grow and bloom.

Everything goes back to normal.

I am a volcano;

Full of love, kindness, patience, understanding, compassion, empathy, courage, and gratitude.

I nurture and support the life that’s around me.

I dig my toes into the dirt, standing tall while I watch over the world beneath me. My head is in the clouds while I dream big. I provide a safe place for those around me, a home.

My mind and heart are filling with emotion.

But the problem is, I don’t know how to open up. I struggle to communicate.

It’s bottled up, like a caldera.

The pressure builds.

My hands tremble. My heart races. My lungs ache. My world spins.

I can’t think. I can’t breathe. I can’t feel.

And then,

It erupts. I explode.

I scream. I cry.

Blood boiling like magma, emotions burning like lava. My words are powerful and destructive, like a shockwave. Outbursts are intense, like the waves. Pride caving in on itself.

Life around me stops.

I caused pain and suffering, even though I didn’t want to.

I grieve the person I was before the eruption.

But, only for a moment, because then…

[poorly-translated-wagyan]

Wagyan Paradise (Super Famicom, 1994) Part 5

After making his way down an avalanche-filled snowy mountain, Takuto finds himself at the foot of a volcano. Somehow, a tired trope video games seem to love is fire and ice, usually by coupling a snowy or icy mountain with a magma-filled rocky mountain. Anyway, Takuto heads in it for some reason.

After a short platforming level full of fire pillars and rocks that can catch Takuto by surprise, Takuto finds himself in a long shaft going up as the volcano erupts, causing him to jump on meatballs to escape a fiery demise. These two stages actually start to show the fangs this game has. Lives are scarce in this particular Wagyan game, and there’s still a one-hit KO in effect as Takuto is a fragile boy. Prepare to lose a lot of lives here if you aren’t careful or don’t have Rewind and Save States to use during the platforming segments, especially since the volcano rocks can be rather unpredictable and demand quick reactions. Last but certainly not least, this game actually controls rather awful. There’s this very weird delay with turning in midair, leading to a lot of unnecessarily difficult platforming due to some strange momentum quirks.

After escaping the meatball-and-lava shaft, Takuto slides down the mountain in the second of the game’s slide levels.

And at the bottom of that slide level? A poorly-dressed Namer with an unfortunate mustache. Japan’s a bit quirky that way.

When I first came across this screen, I thought Google Translate was being dumb, considering how weird it can be with these words (Like calling smoke clouds “spider”), but now I realize it’s just talking about the Namers, and how Takuto’s a brave lad or something.

The stage after the volcano slide features a beautiful forest with some very impressive parallax scrolling (Not pictured here). Trees and bushes would move in great unison, it's a spectacle for an Super Famicom game. Unfortunately, thanks to a forest fire started by a forest being at the foot of an active volcano, Takuto finds himself stuck in the middle of great flames, until Lighty finally finds him and flies him to safety. I have to wonder if Lighty was looking for Takuto all this time.

<<<Back to Part 4 Continue to Part 6>>>

[kurt-wagner-official]

Post #45: NM issues 15-17

New Mutants 15 opens with Illyana secretly casting an astral projection spell to go check on Kitty, who was supposed to call when she landed. Instead, she finds her friend kidnapped by the White Queen, who pulled herself out of her Mastermind-induced coma and is back to trying to control mutants. She taunts Kitty with the knowledge that both she and Doug have feelings for each other that they’re denying. She currently has Doug imprisoned under an illusion that he’s dancing with Kitty, and she plans to blackmail Kitty by threatening her parents. Somehow, Kitty is able to see Illyana’s astral form, and through her telepathy, so can the White Queen, who blasts her with psychic energy. Back at the mansion, the attack causes Illyana to lose control of the spell and unleash spectral demons through the mansion. Dani conjures their worst fear- Illyana in her demonic form, and they flee, allowing Illyana to regain control. She comes clean about her power, which as she expected scares the others, but they put that aside as they all agree they need to save Kitty. Because the Avenger and Fantastic Four have all disappeared, and they don’t have a car or know how to fly a plane, they take the bus, and we get some nice character moments on the ride. Dani and Sam are taking charge and trying to strategize, but they know very little about their enemies. On his way back to his seat, Sam stops to talk to Rahne, who’s terrified that Illyana is the spawn of Satan, just like her. Sam was also raised Christian, and he basically tells her that’s bullshit. Rahne’s minister is a flawed human, and it’s not his place to condemn people in the name of God. Sam says God works in mysterious ways, and to assign labels based on what humans think is His will is pointless. The only thing to do is try to do your best with what you’ve got. Sam then opens up about how much he misses his family. He promises to bring Rahne next time he goes hoke to visit. It’s a very sweet moment, but also tragic, because he sees her as a little sister and she has feelings for him. They finally arrive and break into the compound, but are confronted by the White Queen.

Amara causes an earthquake that gives Illyana a chance to teleport them all into a closet. They capture a couple guards, and Dani makes them talk by torturing them with their worst fears. She has to take a moment to compose herself, hating how she uses her powers for pain. Surprisingly, Illyana is the one to comfort her. In her inner dialogue, Illyana thinks she’s a monster, but really she’s very empathetic and loving. The team splits up to find Kitty and Doug, but they’re attacked by the Hellions, Emma Frost’s own team of young mutants. Thunderbird, who seems to have the same powers as the original, and Roulette, who manipulates probability, take out Berto and Rahne, while Catseye, who's like Rahne but a big purple cat, and Tarot, who brings tarot cards to life, attack Illyana and Dani. Sam and Amara are attacked by Empath, who manipulates emotions, and Jetstream, a flier and a cyborg. They defeat them but are taken prisoner by the White Queen’s illusions. She tries to do the same to Dani, but Illyana is immune to telepathy, and transports the two of them away.

In issue 17, we get to know the Hellions a little better, starting with Jetstream, who attacks Empath. In the last issue, Empath had Magma shooting lava that accidentally hit his teammate, and if Sam hadn't saved his enemy Jetstream would be dead. Empath takes control of his emotions until Emma comes in to break up the fight and begin a performance review of the battles. Emma and the Hellions are a twisted reflection of Xavier and the New Mutants. She teaches them, and does actually care about them, but her motives are selfish at their core. Meanwhile, the New Mutants are imprisoned with Kitty, who's still being a jerk to them. In Limbo, Dani and Illyana awaken, and Illyana realizes that her teleportation must always go through Limbo on its way to its destination. Illyana casts a healing spell, and the spell circle is silver, signifying good magic, but in the shape of a pentagram, not a star, a symbol of evil. She then teleports them back, and learns something else- she can time travel. They're in the future, where the New Mutants have been brainwashed and joined the Hellions. Before they're caught, Illyana brings them back to a week after they left, the closest she can. Emma is away, but they're caught by the Hellions, who have a plan under her nose. They all chose to join, and don't want to force the others to, so they decide to give them a chance- a one-on-one duel for the New Mutants to either win their freedom or be forced to stay. The team looks to Dani for a decision, and she accepts. The fight is Sam vs Jetstream in the Hellions' version of the Danger Room, and though Sam wins, it's interrupted by the arrival of Shaw and Emma. They have no trouble beating up the New Mutants, but Kitty sneaks off the turn on the Danger Room, creating a diversion. Berto is hurt by the machines going haywire, but Catseye helps save him. The heroes ask her to come with them, but she refuses, and Illyana teleports everyone away. Back at the mansion, they nurse their wounds, their confidence shattered. Dani has another problem- a vision of the bear that killed her parents, telling her she's next.

The Hellions are a fantastic addition to this book, both as thematic parallels for the main cast and as recurring antagonists that pose an appropriate and believable threat. Some of them are obvious direct mirrors of the New Mutants, like Catseye and Rahne. Rahne has been questioning whether she deserves to live as a human and feeling more and more drawn to her wolf form. Catseye stays in her cat form almost all the time because she believes it to be her natural form. Jetstream has very similar powers to Sam, and as we saw in their duel, a similar but less moral code of honor. Sam has been struggling with his lack of progress in controlling his powers, and Jetstream's robotic parts give him huge control over his. But those enhancements also represent Jetstream giving up his identity, and Sam needs to hold on to that, because that's what will shape him into a great leader. Some of the parallels are less obvious, like Empath, who can be interpreted as a version of Dani without the self esteem problems or love for other people. If I have one complaint about this arc, it's that there was no moment of Kitty being humbled and grateful for the New Mutants. She'll get there eventually, but it would have been nice to see just a little bit of teamwork or an apology. Other than that one nitpick, a really solid arc. It moved the plot forward and introduced a lot of new characters to the cast, as well as establishing Illyana's weird and strained relationship with her new teammates.

[goddess-evelle]

Zip Zap

Summary: The boys have done the shock challenge, and now is your turn. Luckily for you the boys allowed you to film a video and not do a stream like sapnap. However, you reacted more strongly at how the boys reacted to the shocks. When the pained was too much; the boys just want to hug you.

Warning: None. The reader gets shocked many times. The reader cries due to the pain. Just a 2/4 fluff. A splash of angst. The Devil compelled me to write this as a fluff instead of a NSFW. :(

Dream team x Non specified reader :)

"Tell me when you guys are ready, so I can start recording" Your voice comes out softly almost scared of the upcoming challenge. You look at the collar around your wrist; your other hand fiddles with it nervous as you hear the voice saying that they are ready. You open your camera on Discord, so that they can see you. A nervous giggle leaves your lips as you look at the camera. The boys confirm that they can see you.

"Just be careful when you play, and you should be fine" Dream says taking a fatherly role. Not wanting you to be hurt after feeling the pain of electrocution himself.

"I’ll be okay". You say giving a small smile to the camera. Wanting to appease him knowing he initially didn’t want you to do the challenge. You insisted wanting to know how it felt. Slightly curious about how difficult the game would be.

"Um I’ll start the recording. Are you all in the world?" You ask wanting to get the challenge over with.

"Yeah, we are here" George says voice sounding excited to see if you would be able to endure the challenge.

"Ok I’ll run the command, and start playing". A few seconds after running the command you were ready to start playing. Moving your character towards a tree breaking three pieces of it before making a quick crafting table, sticks and pickaxe. You collected enough rock to make a rock pickaxe. Looking around you spotted a good cave making your way towards it. You found some iron and coal. Quickly letting it cook you made your way further into the cave seeing some zombies and skeletons. A loud scream left your lips at the fear of being hurt, and taking damage in real life. The boys yelled telling you to go towards the enemies and try to defeat them.

"No! They are going to kill me"

"Well, it’s part of the game, go and kill them" Sapnap said trying to encourage you to approach the zombie. You did what he said killing the zombie easily a yell of victory leaving your lips. Only to be replaced with a pained one when two skeletons appeared out of nowhere to shoot arrows at you. Both of their arrows hit you only to get hurt again by a creeper. Electricity flooded your senses making your hand twitch involuntarily. A loud yell left your lips at the pain flooding your body.

"AH Fuck! That hurts so bad." You yelled as both skeletons shot at you again both arrows coming your way. The boys stayed silent as Dream tried to tell you what to do. You were able to kill the skeleton. Your hands trembled against the keyboard. The electricity from before making your body shiver at the thought of the pain. The boys asked if you were okay noticing the shivers running along your body. You gave a shaky yes as you focused on making some armor, shield, and an axe. By the time you got out of the cave it was nighttime. You had gotten hurt around 5 more times. The fact that it was nighttime made things harder as you got shocked multiple times trying to find a lava pool. Mobs seemed to follow after you like a magnet. You made the nether portal quickly, and got in taking a deep breath as your body trembled violently. The boys took note of this seeing as your breath got faster every time you took a shock. You appeared in a place full of piglins, and with your luck there was no gold close that could help you make some quick boots. The piglins started attacking you; showering you with arrows as you tried your best to escape. Your eyes glossed over at the pain of the multiple shocks and little to no time to recover from each. The fortress was close to your spawn point, so you made your way towards it. Only to find the WORST fortress ever. There were wither skeletons everywhere, magma cubes, and blazes even on the sides of the fortress. You tried to hold back your nerves as you started to climb up the fortress, and a Blaze fired at you successfully making your character catch fire. Screams of pain filled the boy’s ears at the painful shock being distributed to your wrist. Making your way inside the fortress trying to hurry as much as possible; until three wither skeletons appeared in front of you trying to kill you. After killing two of them the third came from the back hitting you. A loud yell left your lips as your character’s hearts turned black. Your head rolled back as your hand came to cradle your face; tears running down your cheeks as the shocks continued. The boys yelled at you to log out of the game, but your mind was swimming with pain to even pay attention to their words. Seeing you clearly in pain the boys trapped your character in a box as they tried to softly talk to you. Hoping they could help you calm down.

 Sobs left your lips as Sapnap and Dream opened the door to your room going in to give you a hug, and turn off the game. They tried to calm you down as George kept saying encouraging things into your headset. The night ended with the three of you watching a movie together cuddling with Sapnap as your legs laid on top of Dream’s lap. George was facetiming you guy’s as he watched the same movie on his computer. The three of them spent the night relaxing and giving you love. They apologized over and over again feeling horrible for making you go through the pain.

"Well the only way I’m forgiving you guys is if George comes over soon". You said making the boys laugh, and a promise that George would come to the U.S. soon.

[recurring-polynya]

(Inspired by your recent post on Haineko and also that fic you wrote about Hinamori getting the hogyoku) I bet Matsumoto and Hinamori could get an epic combo move, I read somewhere that if you tried to get too close to a volcanic eruption you'd get encased in volcanic ash and die inside the solid shell it'd form. Which feels somewhat thematic for them based on vibes alone.

yeah YEAH!

Rangiku and Momo are two characters I would love to see hang out more. It's clear that they already have a good relationship prior to Aizen's defection--we see them conspiring to do something for Hitsugaya on his birthday in the fireworks flashback, and Rangiku is the one who brings Aizen's letter to Momo when she's in prison, even though it's technically evidence or something.

It's actually a little weird that we know absolutely nothing about Rangiku and Gin's relationship once they left the Rukon. I kinda get the feeling that Gin blew her off completely, but maybe there was a period where they had a relationship again. I get the definite sense that they are estranged at the time of the defection. My point in this is: did Rangiku have any sense that Aizen was not what he seemed to be? I feel like out of all the people in Soul Society, Rangiku is the one who might look at Aizen and, in particular, his relationship and actions toward Gin, and say, "wow, there is definitely something about this dude that does not add up." In other words, I also don't know if she had any sense of Momo being gaslit by Aizen while it was happening. That being said, I am at the age where, a couple of times now, a friend tells me they are getting a divorce and it feels like it's coming out of nowhere, but at the same time it doesn't. It's a really complicated feeling of "I should have seen this" but also not, because hiding the broken parts of a relationship are often part of what makes it so broken. All of this is to say that I think that Rangiku would have really been there for Momo in the aftermath, partly as an exercise in dealing with her own lingering Gin-feels, and I love they idea of them working some of this out through developing some sick moves.

I do not know a lot about volcanos, but I know that they exist in one of those batshit regimes of physics where temperatures are so high that you run into all kinds of nonlinear effects dealing with the compressibility of air and ionization effects. If you wander through the rabbit warren of volcano-related horrible-things-that-will-kill-you-but-have-really-cool-names, it's all stuff like "oh, this happens when pyroclastic debris hits running water and accelerates to insane speeds" or "if the eruption column can't entrain enough air, it will collapse and rains molten material down on everything"

In other words, I think Tobiume and Haineko are two great tastes that would go even better together. Rangiku could embed Haineko into one of Momo's lava jets and use it to make a controlled lahar to throw in people's face. Momo could create a pyroclastic surge with Haineko, and sandblast the landscape, gaining the sort of +2 spiritual damage you get from hitting things with a zanpakutou. The possibilities are endless. It's not even just a case of being able to do unique things, but just taking advantages of each other's strengths. Maybe it's easy for Momo to create magma, but hard to move it around, but Rangiku can do that easily. Releasing Haineko in an area where Tobiume is going off is going to add auto-fire damage, that's a freebie.

This would take so much practice and be so much fun and Hitsugaya would be in favor of it in theory, except that he's sitting in his office with an ice pack on his head, doing all of Rangiku's paperwork because he knows she's going to be "too tired" later. That is, until Momo comes running in with the latest research journal she got Lisa to import from the Living World for her, because it turns out that with a combination of hot gas, ash and ice particles you can make volcanic lightning.

[bellarosethefangirl]

“I’ll Love You Always” (Nana Shimura x Female Sidekick Reader)

Summary: Becoming a pro hero was not in your agenda until one day when you’re faced against a murderous man assaulting a woman. After defeating him you become involved with a famous pro hero. One you end up working with.

Author Note: At the time of writing this Nana's hero name isn't known yet so in this story her hero name will be, "One for all". This was originally made for a writing contest. I did some major editing to this, so I hope you enjoy the story.

Word Count: 8k

Your role as a sidekick to the number one hero in the entire world didn't start out so soon in your career. You've been a pro hero since your late teens at the tender age of nineteen which was shortly after you graduated high school. Becoming a full time super hero wasn't in your agenda until you turned eighteen. College proved to be very hard for you and you weren't happy with the path you chose for your education. You dropped out of school to work until you figured out what path you would want for your future. One day after work you were taking out the trash when you heard someone screaming in the same alley you were taking out the trash in.

Investigating you found a woman getting mugged by a villain. You recognized him from television he is known as "Igneous" he is known for his dangerous magma quirks. He can control lava and create it from the tips of his fingers. You're not sure what his other abilities are but you know this couldn't be good. You may not be a hero but you can't let this man hurt this defenseless woman. This villain is known for touching woman inappropriately as well. He's done so to many victims and female heroes. He is widely labeled as a pervert. You grab a crowbar in the back already having a plan to save this woman. You sneak behind a nearby dumpster kneeling down while you wait for an opening. You must be extra careful because the alley is so thin. Luckily it's filled with dirt and trash so you can go undetected. You use your quirk, "Five senses" to listen to this creep carefully. 

"Don't worry we are all alone. I won't harm you. Be nice and quiet and you'll be rewarded."

"Please don't touch me! You can have my purse! You can have anything just leave me alone!" 

The woman is in tears as this man holds her by the neck lifting her off the ground while she keeps begging. The young woman is strawberry blonde with long locks of curls her outfit consists of a white short sleeve shirt, skinny jeans, and pink high heels. This man grunts in anger pushing her up against the dirty brick wall. She screams in pain from the force put on her tiny back. You look at the man waiting for him to have his guard down. It appears he must've done this before because he is very aware of his surroundings. You can easily tell with your quirk since your super human hearing can pick up on his eyeballs shifting side to side. His outfit is really weird to you since it's new. It honestly wasn't what you were expecting for a magma quirk user. He wears baggy gray cargo pants and a red top, his hands have red leather fingerless gloves while his face is covered with a weird looking blocky mask made of stone. His cheek bones have what appears to be patches of rock growing out of them. His eyes are a glowing orange adding to his already creepy appearance. Finally his hair is a spiky orange sticking up in short waves. You lift up the crowbar getting ready to strike.

"Shut up!! I'll take your purse no doubt about it but I want more from you, hottie." He licks his lips laughing.

While he is laughing you immediately put your plan in action hitting him in the back of the head as hard as you can. He grunts in pain turning around but its too late you use your other quirk to punch this man in the face. You can visibly see his face pressing in as if it were dough. You knew he wouldn't be able to handle such a blow. He is thrown into the brick wall to the right side of the alley where his body left a big indent after he fell to the ground. His nose is broken, bruised, and bloody from your quirk "air punch" an ability allowing you to throw punches kilometers away. Close range is perfect for offense and you make sure to hold back so you didn't kill the harasser. He didn't get back up. His body is left on the ground. You know he wouldn't be waking up for at least a couple hours. The woman looks at you with relief she then took notice of your uniform for the nearby convenience store.

"Sorry I didn't save you sooner I had to catch him when his guard was down. I'm glad I heard you two when I did."

"Don't apologize you saved me! Thank you, thank you!!" She said with tears of joy.

You led her into the store where you told your manager what happened. You two phoned the police immediately while the woman was given a drink to relax. She had bruising on her back while her neck was sore she didn't have any serious injuries thankfully. The police arrived shortly arresting the villain on the spot. They couldn't believe you defeated such a well known villain. You explained everything to them since you know the law very well. You made sure they knew it was all in self defense since you're not a pro hero. The next day it was all over the news that a citizen defeated him, putting him behind bars. A news reporter went as far as wanting an interview with you but you didn't want the villain knowing your identity. Too bad for you because the blonde you rescued chose to talk about you. She mentioned you live on the news thanking you. She spoke so highly of you that it didn't matter she gave away your full name. It was embarrassing dealing with people who stopped by the convenience store after the publicity you gained. Everyone kept calling you a hero and complimenting you. It was a bit much since you're not used to attention. It wouldn't be until weeks after you'd really regret your identity on the news because Igneous escaped jail with revenge in mind.

One night after a long shift you're walking home. You pass by a huge construction site walking calmly on the sidewalk. Eager to arrive home you're pace is quick but you're in for a big shock when the wooden fence next to you is blown up. You fall to the ground looking up to see splats of lava while tiny flames are left on what is left of the fence. Nearby Igneous stood in a orange prison jump suit with his hair resembling a lava lamp. He is shirtless so the orange sleeves are tied around his waist while his thick boots stomp loudly as he walks closer to you. His eyes glow with fires of vengeance. His wicked grin is eager to kill you but you also notice lust. You swallow hard wondering how you could defend yourself from such a menacing villain his quirk would allow him to kill you easily. You feel as good as dead since he has killed plenty of heroes in the past. He began laughing upon noticing your terrified gaze.

"What's wrong? I thought you were a hero? You're not going to send me behind bars again? Why not try punching my face? I promise I'll like it this time. I love playing rough."

His finger tips have drops of lava leaving them while he laughed some more. You stand back up knowing you could easily escape but this man would easily put others in danger by melting buildings or even pedestrians. You're no coward either but you must find a way of defeating him so he doesn't find you again. Another good punch could knock him out again. Your abilities are stronger than this man believes and you'll prove it. You give him a death glare letting him know he should kindly turn away.

"You know what you did was wrong. You left me no choice if I wasn't going to turn you in I know you would try killing me. Leave me alone or I'll knock you out again."

"Gahaha! Don't get cocky! After one punch you honestly think you can defeat me?! Look at you! You're a tiny girl with no experience! If you give up now I won't kill you." He licked his lips again scanning your body up and down.

His intentions with you are clear, he wasn't looking to kill you. This sick twisted man desired to torture you he knew it would be more fulfilling to him. 

"I'm not a hero but I'm also not defenseless either. I won't allow you to go around hurting others ever again. Hero or not." 

"Then give it your best shot! I'll let you give the first hit!" He shouts with his arms wide open.

You extend your arm out with a fist. You gently give a punch to the air aiming in his direction. He took notice of wind blowing around him from the force of your punch but it did nothing to him at least not yet. He begins laughing in amusement until finally he his flung in the air a moment later. He hits a nearby scissor lift. His chest unaffected as he bent the poor thing in half from both the landing and his quirk. The metal slowly melts as his 'hair' and finger tips drip more lava onto the construction equipment.

"Guess you're stronger than I expected. Don't worry I'm not an easy opponent, sweetheart." He said while wiping blood off the corner of his lip.

"I won't go easy on you. Give up now or I'll have to use more force."

He ignored your words choosing to jump toward you as he shot lava at you. You're already prepared for the attack thanks to your "five senses" quirk. You dodge the second he shot at you. He also wasn't expecting such reflexes. He doesn't know your quirks so it may give you an upper hand. You punch the air again but in a new stance. One that made your muscles flex when you punch the air again. He saw them coming so he kept dodging them as you sent waves of punches that kept hitting different areas of the construction site. You could see he was surprised you destroyed the equipment with little effort. You're definitely holding back but it didn't matter to him. He had his fingers shoot out lava in a huge burst so he can hurl himself high in the air. Perfect, he doesn't know it but your "air punch" quirk can shoot up to one kilometer. An impressive distance due to training and being in top shape. The distance will depend on your stamina if you don't have enough energy the distance will become short. So short it will become as minuscule as a couple feet long. You send another punch in the air despite him being about twelve feet in the air. He is thrown into the construction building crashing into all kinds of different equipment yet again. Bruises cover his arms and cheeks. He stood up clutching his right arm with malice written across his face. He threw clumps of lava at you in groups knowing you couldn't possibly evade.

"Magma Burst!!"

Using fifth senses again you put your enhanced eyesight and hearing to good use in order to dodge the lava puddles thrown at you. You continue throwing punches but this time with more force. The lava is thrown back thanks to sheer force. After evading you punch at the construction building causing him to fall. He propels himself back in the air as if he were a rocket. His destructive quirk causes the dirt on the ground to create craters while surrounding the area almost as if it were puddles of mud. Construction equipment is melting away while steam appears disintegrating into the air. The air you're breathing is becoming hazardous from the small flames in the area. Igneous began laughing while you used your powers to aim directly where he will be. Catching him midair he is thrown back into metal beams. While he is about to get back up you hit him with another air punch but this time it's surrounded with waves of blue. His body bumps into more beams bending them while he is shouting in agony. Once more did the trick and he was left on the ground defenseless. You take this moment to look at your surroundings the flames in the area from his quirk will create a huge fire. Igneous began laughing his sadistic eyes glow as he spoke to you in panted breathes.

"Run if you want but I'll escape again. Mark my words I will have my way with you and I will make sure you regret ever putting me in prison." 

You don't know how to respond until out of no where another voice replies for you. The both of you look over to see a hero none of you would expect at such a time. A tall woman with a strong built known as "One for all". You felt so lucky she arrived when she did because there is no way this guy could defeat the number one hero. Igneous had eyes filled with fear witnessing such a hero standing before him with a huge smile on her face.

"I see you're busy here, Igneous. Escaping prison and harming a girl are you?"

Igneous felt his throat dry with a gulp. He looks over to you figuring he will possibly get away if he were to catch you off guard and hold you as a hostage. He underestimated the both of you as the heroine kicked him in the chest after you dodged his hands. She was impressed with such reflexes. She could tell you were ready to punch him if necessary. Igneous fell to the ground once more groaning in pain. He knew his body is covered in bruises thanks to you. He looks up, not quite ready to give up yet. One for all slung you over her shoulder while she jumps a safe distance from the magma user. He felt his face red with anger for ruining his revenge.

"Damn you!! She was the one who placed me in that hell hole!! Get back here!! Get back here before I kill you both!!" He yells with a deep growl of vengeance.

One for all placed you back onto the ground she gets a better look at you recognizing you from the news. She could tell you were fighting Igneous based on your sweaty work uniform. It wasn't safe to be fighting him, not with the air filled with fire fumes. 

"Stay here and contact the officials. I'll have him brought to justice again."

Her eyes are filled with confidence. She gave a great leap toward the villain, punching him. When he hits another beam she took notice of a broken beam on the ground instantly picking it up. His quirk is dangerous so she would need a form of defense. It seems as though she isn't the only one with a form of defense. Igneous stood up laughing maniacally while his body became covered in rock growing out from his skin. It's an armor of rocks forming protection. His glowing orange eyes look over to you with sadistic joy.

"I underestimated you! Now I know I'll have to take you seriously! I won't give you another chance to hurt me! After I defeat this broad I'll have you all to myself, sexy!"

His laughter continued until he is hit with a metal beam. The pro hero wasn't happy with his inappropriate words toward you.

"If you think I'll give you that chance you're sorely mistaken."

"Show me what you got! After I'm done with her you're next!"

You made a call to nine-one-one immediately before witnessing their fight. You couldn't help staying. What if his lava quirk manages to harm her? You won't be in the way either, not when you're able to punch in such a long distance. You use your super human eye sight to look for an opening to accurately hit him if necessary. She is number one hero but it didn't mean this crook wouldn't play dirty. He kept shooting lava hoping to injure her anyway he could. He couldn't land one hit so he brings out another ability the both of you didn't know. From his hand he commands something to rise from the ground. The both of you see a mini volcano on the ground. Its at this point an eruption shot out the mini mountain allowing for him to control the lava. You and one for all are thinking of any possible solutions for defeating him. You come to an important realization.

"I can't allow him to hurt the innocent any longer! He has plenty of victims whom he has killed and tortured! If it continues it could ruin lives! Death or not his intentions with me and the blonde woman were clear. He could continue to hurt others. Possibly killing more heroes all who sacrifice so much to save the world. I won't let him! It's up to me! I'm the only one that has the power to defeat him!" You think to yourself knowing exactly what you will tell him.

 "I can't allow you to kill and torture anymore victims! Heroes stand tall as a hope to make sure the world is a better place! If you go around killing them it gives us no hope in such a big and dangerous world. We can believe in a better world where heroes exist!"

"You're naïve if you think the world will become a better place. Heroes can turn evil and crime will always exist. You're living in a dream world if you think a world filled with peace exists."

"You're wrong! They're the answer to the sick sad world you believe in! That's why heroes exist! So we can keep believing! So they can give hope for a better world!"

You decide enough is enough and make a stance with both feet planted firmly apart. You held your head up high giving two solid blows to the air directed to your heated target.

"Kilometer shot!!" You shout being sure to hit him with only half your power. Any more would be too much for him to handle.

Your punches hit him with a force sending him flying up in the sky. It was beautiful. The blue waves that surround his body were a sight to see. It was hard to believe they could inflict pain. Igneous could be heard screaming from the sky. His body ached with such pain he was ready to faint from all the intense pain. He is hundreds of feet in the sky with such power you inflicted upon him. You knew it wasn't your place to hit him but if one for all continued fighting him she would've possibly been hit with lava. Something you couldn't bare witnessing to such an accomplished hero. You look over to her thinking she will lecture you but upon her face is a great smile. She gets ready to catch Igneous who already fainted midair. His body is no longer covered in rocky armor and his quirk is no longer a threat. She leaps into the air jumping several feet high as if she would jump over a skyscraper. She caught him. Placing his limp body around her shoulders as she is landing onto the ground in a huge crash. It created a small crater around her feet. She placed him onto the ground then quickly cast her eyes on you. You didn't know it but earlier while you were talking to Igneous about heroes she was impressed. She takes pride in protecting others. She was touched by your sense of justice. She never heard someone speak about heroes in such a way. Not to a villain that is. Many would think you're wasting your time talking to Igneous but she didn't think so. She could tell you meant your words with every inch of your being. All of which she admired. 

"Your name is Y/n correct? I couldn't help being impressed by your words toward Igneous. True heroes like you and I know why we exist. Many fail to realize this sometimes and in a world filled with destructive people we need more people like you."

You are completely speechless. You a hero? If the worlds number one hero believes you have what it takes then perhaps this is your path. A path to becoming a pro hero. You look at one for all directly in the eyes as you spoke.

"I'm proud to know the number one hero thinks this. You truly are the real deal. If you think I have what it takes then I trust your word. For now lets tell the police you were the hero tonight but know that next time we meet I'll be someone dedicated to a better world."

The police arrive at the scene immediately arresting Igneous. He is sent to get his wounds treated before being sent to prison. The news was all over the recapturing of such a perilous villain. It didn't come as a surprise the number one hero "defeated" him. One for all would never forget this night.

🖤🤍❤💛

After such a faithful night you dedicate yourself to training in becoming a pro hero. You put your body in a strict diet and exercise routine to achieve your goals. You're fit sure but not in shape for the pro hero business. After months of training you made a hero costume for yourself. You decide to pick out a mask. A white mask is your final decision along with a white cape as a nod to your idol hero, One for all. Your costume is a skin tight black body suit it has no collar in fact it reveals your shoulders while your cape wraps around your neck like a scarf, the sleeves reach just below the elbow, heavy combat boots of your favorite color, around the waist is a belt with your hero name initials in a shiny golden color. You decide your hero name is "Kilometer Shot" based on your most powerful attack. You desire it to be your trademark attack as a pro hero. Today you'll start your first day as a hero. It will be a new beginning to your life. You've heard from a group of thugs in the alley by your job discussing a heist in hopes of robbing the bank in downtown tonight. You use your quirk to punch the ground, jumping from building rooftops. You hide on the rooftop nearby to investigate the area. Shortly you find the group in a truck wearing ski masks. Three leave the truck while one sat in the car. You smile already knowing your plan as you open the door to the truck cracking your knuckles. 

All three leave the building by smashing through the wall laughing. By the time they open the door to the truck its too late. You use your quirk to punch them against the wall. Two faint from such an intense hit while the third stood up using his quirk to grow four more extra arms. He begins laughing since he truly has no clue who you are. He underestimates you as a newbie. You dodge his punches as well as a dumpster he attempts hitting you with. In no time you have each thrown in the truck tied up with their own rope they kept in the back. You're glad you didn't require using your "five senses" quirk because the alarm coming from the bank is already loud enough as it is. You grab the bags filled with cash throwing them back into the building while you wait for police to arrive. You sure hope no other hero arrives because you have the entire situation taken care of. Unfortunately it isn't the case when one of the thieves woke up breaking the rope with his sheer muscles. You notice he is the only one wearing a tank top and for good reason too. He must have a quirk that allows his muscles to grow on command.

"Don't think you have the upper hand. I don't care if you’re some wannabe hero. I'll take you down in five seconds flat."

"I am a hero. Don't be so cocky." You say ready to punch the air.

You give him a threatening punch to the chest you're sure it will leave a huge mark. It definitely hurt but he is still standing. He charges after you to give you a hit but you're able to punch the ground making yourself leap in the air. His head crashes into the wall of the building next door. He falls to the ground while the wall has a noticeable hole. You give this thug another punch being sure to aim for his head. He tries dodging so you hit his leg instead.

"Damn you!!! Get back here so I can crush your skull!!"

You land on top of the truck to punch him again. 

"Air punch!" You shout while your hands glow a neon blue.

From your fist a glowing fist appears swinging at the mans cheek. He is thrown into the wall again while you use five senses to pay extra attention to your surroundings in case the other criminals in the truck awaken from the fight. The thief is quite the brute he has huge muscles with scars and tattoos covering his body. His face isn't recognizable from the ski mask but his eyes are green, they're filled with exasperation. His muscles then grow larger with several veins appearing his large hands. He lifts up the car you're standing on.

"What are you doing?! The others are still inside!!" 

"I wouldn't worry about them right now if I were you."

His twisted grin gave you the warning to move out of the way. Out of no where another hero arrives catching the truck. You gasp while the thief gave a worrisome sounding grunt. The hero is none other than One for all. She is smiling ever so brightly.

"I see I arrived in time. Will you give up or put up a fight?" She asks in her confident smooth voice.

"Don't count on it!!"

"Is that so? You do realize you're surrounded. The police are here. Do you still wish to fight?" She said while placing the truck back down.

He began looking around noticing the police truly are here. Inside the bank, out the entrance of the alley, and on the rooftops nearby.

"This is your fault!! Who are you!? I can't believe I'll be captured because of some puny hero!"

"I'm Kilometer Shot. This is your own fault. Robbing the bank is a crime and you already know it." You respond with consequential eyes.

He released a loud scream along with inappropriate curses before charging at you. Together you and One for all dodge his attack with each of you grabbing an arm then slamming him to the ground, pinning him. Various officers rush to the scene with handcuffs for every thief while other officials check the inside of the bank. Every thief is thrown inside the back of a police car. While the officers are busy at work, One for all looks over to you curiously.

"You.. I haven't seen a hero like you around. Are you the new promised hero I met a while back?" She asks with an enthusiastic grin.

You wink with a small laugh.

"A hero never reveals their identity. I can say you've made quite an impact on my life and I did promise to meet you again."

"Then I am happy to meet you Kilometer Shot. We made a great team." 

Before you could respond a news reporter along with her camera man run toward the both of you. She held out her microphone toward One for all.

"One for all! Did you put those robbers to justice? And is this woman next to you a sidekick perhaps?" 

You froze not expecting such an accusation. The number one heroine laughed into the mic.

"My partner was the one to bring those men to justice." She hooked her arm around your shoulder as she spoke.

"So you're telling me and the viewers at home she is truly your sidekick?? Miss! What is your name!"

One for all pats your back while laughing at your surprised yet elated smile. The look in her eyes told you she truly meant what she said.

"I am Kilometer Shot and I am her sidekick!" You say with confidence directly toward the camera.

"You heard them folks! The infamous hero now has a sidekick! What will this duo do together in the future?"

After the news report on live t.v. you became widely known all over newspapers, internet, and just about everyone. The number one hero having a sidekick? It had only been a week. How could it spread like wild fire so quickly? Seems as though everyone would like to know more about you. You sat in your living room watching another pro hero discussion about you. While eating your breakfast you hear the doorbell. You open the door to see a fit woman with curled dark hair her eyes are familiar but her wardrobe spoke of a gym rat. She wears gym shorts and a tank top with sneakers. All the colors of light blue and white. You don't recognize her until she greets you with your full name in a recognizable voice.

"May I come in?" She chuckled lightly.

"Yes..! Please come right in!"

This woman is none other than One for all. She looks quite different with her hair down but it didn't take long for you to know immediately. How could you not? She is your idol. You wish you cleaned your apartment some more before she arrived. Seated on the couch the both of you chat. She noticed the channel you're watching then looks over to you.

"You're probably wondering how I found your home. I asked your boss since I still remembered where your job is. He gave me the directions once I told him I'm a relative. I came here to ask you more. If you're truly okay with becoming my sidekick."

"I-I really am. Fighting crime together will be slightly better than going alone. I might be new but I am a determined hero. I know I have what it takes!"

"Wonderful. I wasn't sure if it was too much pressure for you."

"Not at all. Though I do have a few questions... if we're going to be fighting crime and you know my identity. What is your name?"

"That's right. My name is Nana Shimura. Pleased to meet you."

"Nice meeting you Nana. Now that we have that out of the way. I was wondering why you chose me? Was there any particular reason or were you already looking for a partner in crime?"

"Now that you mention it.. I wasn't looking for a partner but with you I saw your potential. When we faced Igneous you had said some words even I was surprised to hear. They really stuck with me. During my career as a pro hero no one ever spoke about heroes with such sincerity. It's always popularity and never about our true purpose. You spoke to him as if you were a hero. Your ideals mark the words of a true hero."

She left you speechless how are you to respond? The number one hero calling you a true hero. She spoke about you with such praise. Some one you look up to is now viewing you with such admiration. You felt bashful she looks to you as someone she can rely on now. You reach out to her with confident eyes letting her know you will always have her back. You two shake hands in agreement. Yes this would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

❤🤍🖤💛❤

One for all and Kilometer Shot became very widely known heroes. The both of you truly did make a good team. Many threats to the city were taken care of thanks to the both of you. As a crime stopping duo the both of you defeated many villains on the way. It became months of you two working hard that led to wide spread notoriety. You got to know about all her abilities just as she did with yours. As main targets to villain groups and enemies it became increasingly dangerous with every criminal you two fought. Not only did your reputations rise but so did your friendship. She got to know everything about you. Same could be said with you. You knew almost everything about her. What schools she went to and her personal life. It was only a matter of time until you became infatuated by her. Yes.. you grew a crush on her more so than you thought. You fell in love with Nana. She became someone whom you could always rely on. She's everything you want in a lover. Kind, compassionate, confident, heroic and full of wisdom. To you her wisdom always shine through just as her big heart. She's so selfless always thinking about others just as you do. 

You feel the few reasons she would deny your feelings is for more than simply not returning your feelings. Rather you're afraid her past would prevent such a relationship. She has shared her past with her husband and child how both passed away tragically in a fight with a villain. Her husband was killed while her child died in a fire from a house fire caused by the villain. It may have been four years ago but to this day she has a hard time talking about the subject. Why bother? As heartbreaking as her past is it doesn't mean it's not a one sided love. She will only see you as her friend and sidekick. You could never bring yourself to tell her the truth. These feelings must never be admitted to her. There is no telling how she could react but you know for a fact it could ruin your friendship. Its something you'd never risk. Your friendship with Nana is most important to you even above your own life. She truly means the world to you. You know you two would be best friends forever. 

You receive a call from Nana asking you to meet her at an abandoned building where a group of criminals have hostages locked inside. She explains the group are trying to make off with an expensive artifact worth over one million. Five men including a dangerous convict with a tsunami quirk. She was told to save the hostages but there is no way she could do it alone. You change into your costume leaving your apartment immediately before something could happen to the hostages. Luckily you know a route around the apartment complex where you know you will not be seen. You arrive to the scene with One for all waiting for you. She is relieved to see you upon greeting her. She continued to explain more of the situation.

"We aren't sure how many hostages there could be but we do know the criminal plans to flood the building if the police doesn't prevent him from escaping."

"Would you like me to distract them while you save the hostages? I could easily dodge their attacks with my speed." 

"Sounds like a plan. You know what to do."

She gave you a wink going through the back while you jump on top of the building crashing through a window to shatter it. They recognize you, aiming their harpoon weapons at you. You dodge every sharp weapon with the intention of stabbing you. 

"I'll kill you!!!" One of the buff men scream grabbing a gun.

The others in the group continuously shoot bullets at you but they each miss. Your keen eyesight and hearing from your quirk made it impossible for them to catch you. Finally the leader commands them to stop so he could hurt you instead.

"Enough!! I'll take care of her!! Grab the hostages so we can escape. NOW!!"

"Boss they're gone!!"

"What do we do?!"

"You can't be serious!! Where did they go!?" He commands you to answer with his hands ready to shoot at you. 

You're sure he might be the man who is able to control tsunami's as your partner mentioned earlier. You give him a serious expression while you get ready to activate your quirk in case he got any bright ideas. You didn't answer him causing his face to contort into an expression of rage. Two of his men are thrown across the building thanks to your partner punching them with her quirk. The rest look over to her allowing you to punch his other two men with multiple punches of your own. His lackies stand back up to aim their guns at the both of you. Dodging their bullets you aim more of your jet-like punches in their direction sending them flying into One for all so she could land another hit.

"You underestimate us! The hostages are now safe and we will be sure you're brought to justice!" You shout while throwing air punches.

"Don't think you have the upper hand. I can still kill you both!"

"Kilometer shot, be careful!" One for all shouts before jumping behind the crook to land another blow to his skull.

He took her wrist throwing her toward the moldy bricked wall of the building. Her side is scraped up along with her arm. Nothing too critical for her but it still stung. You give him a punch to the face but it did nothing to him. He began laughing while trying to grab your wrist as well. His lackeys try going after One for all but her speed and strength overwhelm them.

"I am not a newbie. Do your best!" You shout aiming a direct blow to his abdomen.

Your body is surrounded by blue waves while your fists glow a familiar neon blue. He screams in agony clutching the huge indent your fist left in his gut. His sharp teeth are exposed while he screams. Him along with the others are wearing multicolored ski masks. You rip off the mask from his face to identify him and gasp.

"You're.... it can't be..!"

"That's right! Long time no see, sweetheart. Remember me from the aquarium? Don't think I forgot about it!! I'll take my revenge today! You're both screwed and I'll start with you Kilometer shot!"

"You may have escaped prison, Tank but I won't allow you to harm others any longer."

"Don't worry I'll save you the trouble of witnessing it by taking your life!"

"Don't count on it!"

He is a shark man you and one for all put to jail months back. He vowed to get revenge on both of you. He has slaughtered the innocent for mistreatment to his kind at the aquarium. His visible scars on his blue skinned body is very intimidating. That tied with his black long sleeved shirt and pants making his body look bigger some how. He stands at seven feet tall with large muscles you're sure he can crack any skull with. While the two of you are fighting, One for all is taking care of his men. They prove to be trouble with their fire quirks. Nothing she can't handle but she is left with some burns and scratches. You decide you will strike this man until he is no longer able to fight. His quirk will prove to be troublesome you know it all too well. Your fists immediately make contact with his abdomen but it doesn't do as much damage as planned.

"Is that all!? You'll have to do better if you plan on defeating me!"

He gave you a punch to the face sending you flying across the area. You stand back up with ease being sure to summon your ability.

"Kilometer shot!!!"

Hitting his abdomen once more your punch really dealt damage this time around. He fell to his knees while you heard flames in the background getting thrown. You look over noticing two men down while your partner continued fighting each with her powerful punches. Her outfit is slightly burnt while her cape is burnt to a crisp. Your opponent in front of you began chuckling.

"You really have no idea what we are about to do. You both will die while we escape and there isn't nothing you can do about it."

"What are you talking about?" You ask with seriousness.

You hear an explosion looking over at your partner who is face down on the ground with some flames on her body. Your eyes widen but its too late for you to react. Tank made great use of his quirk by hitting you with a huge wave with his tsunami quirk. Meanwhile his henchmen use their quirks to burn down a hole in the ceiling while the place is flooded. You use your quirk maneuvering toward One for all to save her. She is floating and luckily you jump in the water placing her on your back. You heard laughter while the awful men put the entire abandoned building on fire. You look around frantically doing your best to think of a plan ignoring the two floating charcoal covered bodies. There is no way they could've survived such an explosion. You smell something foul then look over your shoulder to see a trail of gas with fire engulfing it on top of the water.

"When did they have time to spill gas? Did one of the men see some in this building??" You thought while thinking back.

You knew you must've been distracted to notice. There was too many to keep an eye on. This abandoned place could be holding anything. The water is holding different wooden crates and broken wood. At this rate it will be hard escaping and with the fumes in the air you're not sure how long you will survive. You begin using your quirk to punch the water beneath you but upon shooting yourself out the roof you held your head with one hand. One for all fell off of you prompting you to catch her arm. She slowly awakens until she realizes the situation. The roof maybe on fire but you are still standing on top with sweat across your face due to the heat. Your clothes are ripped and burnt while your cape is no longer around your shoulders. 

"Nana! Hurry we must get out of here! Grab that wooden bar holding up the roof so you can climb up! I'm not sure if I can hold onto you any longer!"

She looks to you and the situation at hand. She gave you a smile as always causing you to be relieved.

"Don't worry about me!"

"Are you crazy?? Why?!"

"My arm is broken! It won't move."

Your eyes widen frightened for her. With both hands you try pulling back but its hard you're tired and hurt not to mention the high temperature atmosphere. She always told you to smile in hard situations but how could you now? At this rate you really will drop her you can barely stand up since your body is sore and weak. 

"I'll get us out of this situation don't worry!" You shout with a worrisome tone.

"Y/n. If you don't let go you will fall in with me. The world needs more heroes if I'm gone who will take my place?"

Tears form in your eyes at the thought. It can't end this way not now. You couldn't bare to lose her she is precocious to you. You know she is brave and heroic but this isn't how her life should end. She is the best hero and the best person in your life there is no way you could let go. Brimming with emotions you speak your feelings out of fear.

"I-I can't! I can't Nana! If you die then you would leave this world with my broken heart! You deserve happiness and I wanted to see it for myself! Your deceased husband and son.. they meant the world to you but it isn't time to see them yet! Live your life for your friends.. for your fans.. for the people.. and.. and for me! I love you! Letting you go is like letting my life flash before my eyes I can't live without you. I know its pointless admitting it now but I don't care! I need you! Please Nana... don't give up!"

Your face may be in tears and Nana may be surprised by such a confession but she is happy. She is smiling with tears of joy. She always loved you too but she wasn't sure if you would return her feelings. You two have known each other for a long time this is no surprise. The two of you grew feelings for each other.

"How could I be so blind.." She says looking up at you with pain and happiness in her eyes.

She didn't have a chance to respond since someone pulled the both of you back by flying off the roof. You're both shocked noticing another pro hero its none other than Gran Torino! He used his quirk to fly off the roof top safely landing onto the ground. You held onto Nana tightly as the both of you smile in relief. He seems surprised to witness both of you hugging and crying tears of joy. The whole place is surrounded with firefighters and police officers. The criminals are all pushed behind the back of a police vehicle in handcuffs. After you two are sent to paramedics you two return to your home thanks to Gran Torino. You two couldn't be more grateful to such a good friend going through all the trouble. Later you two sat in your living room looking to each other with big smiles.

"Y/n about earlier.. I want you to know I love you too. I've always had. I was foolish to let myself be so selfish. I was only trying to save you I hope you understand.."

"Nana I understand but next time we both have to try harder. It's fine to give a smile during hard situations but we must always try to find a way to seek everyone's safety. This includes your own well being. I don't ever want to risk losing you."

"Y/n... I love you..!" She cried hugging you.

You held her knowing how hard she tried smiling the entire time. In the end she would always sacrifice herself for others. She really is a true hero. You never want to see her cry again. You want her happiness for she has suffered alone long enough. As her partner in crime you will always be there for her but this is different. True love comes with its benefits. The kind you both desire in your lives. You look up at her ignoring the burns and dirt.

"Nana I'm in love with you too." You say with sincerity only your lover could ever witness in your eyes.

You two lean in for a well deserved kiss it didn't matter how bruised or burnt the both of you are. It didn't matter if you're both heroes, women, or on earth for that matter. You two held hands with your romantic kiss connecting you two. All that matters right now is the both you sharing a moment of redamancy. True love you two will cherish always.

[certifiedskywalker]

Another Memory - Kylo Ren

forthesakeofstarwars said: If you’re still taking requests, can I send one in for Kylo Ren, in which the reader is dating him and she’s sent out on a solo mission one day? She gets injured on the field and hides it from Kylo when she returns, but he finds out anyway. He was upset at first that she didn’t tell him about it but than he takes care of her and helps her wound to heal.

AN: Guess who got too carried away? Me, this guy, I did!

Magma burns. That’s what it felt like. Searing, beyond white-hot pain that shot through your lower abdomen with each aching step. You heard once of Mustafar, the lava rivers and lakes that dotted the scorched landscape like bright death traps. Within your stomach, you imagined a crater, akin to the magma pools of that dastardly planet, spewing concentrated bolts of flame towards the rest of your internal organs.

“Commander.”

Through a grimace, you dipped your head at the two lower ranking officers that acknowledged your presence with a salute. Unbeknownst to them, you were in near-debilitating pain with your right shoulder pressed against the wall of the ship’s hallway for balance. As they passed by, you stood up right and muscled through scream of hurt in your stomach.

“As you were,” you snapped back. They walked off with a little more speed than when they came upon you. You took a small bit of pride in their fear before pressing your shoulder back against the wall. Out of all of the First Order’s officials, you were the least frightening. The towering Captain Phasma and the biting voice of General Hux made even you, a being well trained in the darker arts of the Force, shake from time to time. And that was not even considering the short-fuse temper of Kylo Ren.

At the thought of him, you felt yourself weaken. A groan slipped out past your lips and you pressed yourself impossibly closer to the wall for support. If he saw you like this you would never live it down. Another wave of searing pain rushed through your abdomen, this time mingled with a twinge of shame. Eyes squeezed shut, you gritted your teeth and forced the stinging tears behind your eyes to stay there. 

If only he had stayed. Stayed in your shared bed, tangled with you in sheets until the comm stopped blinking and whirring for his attention. How you wished he had ignored the device, the mission he was given, and stayed with his hands on you. But then your comm had started to blink, coaxing you out from under him and the messed sheets. You should have stayed instead of going to...you couldn’t even recall the name of the planet now.

Overwhelmed by the pain left behind by the blaster bolt that had charged through your gut, your brain worried itself with keeping you on your feet rather than the destination of your mission. Despite the battle scar and trip to the infirmary that danced in your near-future, you had been successful. The insurrection and rebels that had amassed against the Order had been dealt with. Though they had not gone down without a fight.

Seemingly triggered by the memory of battle, your wound screamed with a heat painful enough to pull the air from your lungs. With a gasp, your knees hit the cool, tile floor of the ship. Black spots dotted the edges of your vision as you fought to stay conscious. Focusing on deep breaths, you reached out to the Force for aid, for the power to push your body through the pain; a skill you had learned from Luke Skywalker so long ago. 

You fell back on his old lessons only when the situation was dire. Passing out in the hallway, surrounded by inferior officers was truly dire.

“Commander?”

With an aimless, wandering hand, you pushed the concerned officer to the side.

“Leave me,” you hissed, trying to maintain a steady rhythm of breaths. The Force seemed to recoil from you as a fresh and overwhelming wave of pain cut through your abdomen. Your vision began to blur. “No, no, no.”

Murmurs from the officers and troopers around you muddled in your ears. Each comment or quip sank into a thick mud, unheard by you. Harsh and growing shallow, your breathing was the one sound you could hear clearly. A haphazard, unsteady beat of air down your throat and into your chest. Desperate to stay lucid, you closed your eyes and willed your body to stay aware. Get to your feet, your mind echoed the mantra, get to your feet.

You pushed up on your knees and, shaking slight, moved to stand. With a careful step forward, you opened your eyes. Bright lights installed in the ceiling shown in a staggering display. Darkness swept over your vision, but you weren’t sure if you shut your eyes or succumbed to the agonizing heat in your stomach. Your knees impacted the hard floor once more and, in a brief moment of audible clarity, you heard the gasps of those surrounding you.

Then you heard a deeper, familiar voice; one laced with worry. “Y/N?!”

Grey walls and bright lights enveloped you when you opened your eyes. Steady and mildly annoying, a beeping vitals monitor served as a reminder that you were alive. That, and the dull aching all over your body. Most of the lingering pain was concentrated in your abdomen and your knees. You didn’t dare to look at the mess whatever medical droid made of your wound; there would be a scar, no matter the make and model of machine. 

“What happened?”

You let your head fall to the side, your gaze shifting from the unentertaining ceiling to your right. Sat beside you, masked in a shadow of his own creation, was Kylo Ren. The soulless visor of his helmet was fixed on your face. In any other position, the intensity of his hidden gaze would have set you aflame. Now, you felt only shame. 

“Tell me.”

“The mission was a success,�� you replied curtly, ignoring the truth he wanted.

“That’s not what I meant.” Coldness edged Kylo’s tone, mostly due to the modulator embedded in his helmet mouth piece. You hated how it changed his voice and, despite it’s mechanic alteration, how it was still so wonderfully familiar to you.

“The dissidents fought back,” you explained, “nothing I’m not used to.”

“You’re hurt.”

You can’t help but laugh at how plainly he makes the statement. “I hadn’t noticed.”

At your mocking tone, Kylo stands. You watch as he moves towards the entrance to your infirmary room and forces the door shut. The metal screeches against the floor until the two sliding doors meet in the metal. Kylo’s arm falls as he turns to face you once more.

A biting comment makes its way to the tip of your tongue. Just as you’re about to spit it out, Kylo moves again. He brings his hands up towards his helmet and you hear the telltale hiss of release as he lifts the metal from his head. The comment dies between you lips the moment you catch a glimpse of his skin. A breath of relief takes it place.

Without hesitation, and slight shame momentarily forgotten, you meet Kylo’s eyes. Dark, wavy strands of hair covered part of his face, nearly obscuring the med-tape covering the gnash the scavenger girl carved into his cheek. Against the uncomfortably thin sheet of your infirmary cot, your finger itched to traced the lines of his face, the curve of his jaw. The want became nearly unbearable when he moved to stand by your bedside once more.

“You should have come to me when you returned.” Without the modulator and helmet, Kylo’s deep voice was smoother. Akin to fine granules of sand running through your fingers rather than grating gravel. You felt comforted by the sound, even if he was chastising you. 

“I thought you were still out on your own mission.”

“You couldn’t sense me? My presence on the ship?”

When you shook your head in reply, Kylo frowned. Disappointment flashed in his brown eyes but did not linger; nor did the downwards turn of his lips. Quickly, Kylo collected himself and plastered on that flat expression you assumed he wore often beneath the mask. He took a step closer to your bedside, resting his heavy helmet on the end near your feet.

“I could sense you,” he said lowly, “your pain. How you were thinking of me.” Heat rose to your cheeks, spreading to every inch of your skin. The warmth further dulled the ache in your abdomen. Your attention was fully focused on him now. 

“Is that why you came to my rescue? You were a little late if you…” You trailed off as Kylo’s leather-gloved hand brushed against your cheek. A shaking breath rattled in your chest and you closed your eyes for a long moment to search after your words in the dark. 

“I’ll never be late for you again,” he murmured when you opened your eyes again. Sincerity dripped from his tone, filled the dark depths of his eyes. His hand brushed against your hairline at you stared up at him, covered fingertips dancing down along your jaw. “Never again.”

“And I’ll find you the moment I return from missions.”

Kylo nodded and you saw the slightest up tilt in the left corner of his mouth. An almost smile. The same expression he would often give you when you came to him, ready to share a bed for the night. If you were lucky, you would get a half smile, large enough to bring out the lines in his face; the evidence you had that he could be happy.

“Good,” he replied, pulling his hand away. 

You watched as he plucked the glove from his fingers, exposing the skin of his palm to you when he reached out. Picked up by the vitals monitor was the quickened pace of your heart as Kylo tugged the thin sheets tucked around you down from where they rested. Cool air kissed the skin of your nearly naked chest and then your bare abdomen. You wanted to recoil, hide from him despite knowing he had seen you far more exposed before.

His eyes held your gaze before you lost your nerve. Daringly, you glanced down at your abdomen and eyed the dark red, inflamed scar left behind by the blaster bolt. The medical droids had done well, better than the last time. There was still ample room for improvement. Displeased, you looked away, back up at Kylo.

“Another memory,” you mused bitterly, “though yours is far more handsome.”

Kylo let out an amused huff before studying your new scar. He leaned forward and let his bare fingertips traced the outer edges of the puckered mark. His touch did not hurt but the vitals monitor alerted you both to an uptick in heart rate again. In response to his fingers, your body tensed; wound itself tight like bacta-gauze around a bleeding limb. Enjoying the sight of your body reacting so precisely to his touch, you saw Kylo wore another almost smile. 

“Do you want it gone?” 

His question catches you off guard. Is he serious? When he moves his eyes from your wound to meet yours once more, you see that he is. The almost smile is dropped, his brows are relaxed, and he reads as unconcerned.

“Yes,” you say, more curious to see what he means than to actually have the scar removed. Kylo nods and moves his bare hands away from your abdomen, though just barely. Palm facing down towards your wound, Kylo’s hand hovers. A moment passses and there is nothing but the want to make a teasing comment.

Then you feel it. It, the Force, is warm as it licks at your wound. Licking is the only way you can describe the feeling though it is not wet. Only warm, comforting, and moving. You gasp and your eyes lift to study Kylo’s face. His eyes are closed, lashes fanned out against his cheeks as he focuses all his energy, the Force, on your scar. 

You feel a shift in the air as he lifts his hand. When he opens his eyes, he does not meet your gaze but peer at the scar. Or where the scar was. A few inches above your hip, fresh, unharmed and unblemished skin was shown. It was as if you had never been struck at all. The dull pain that gripped your torso was relieved like a dark cloud being brushed from the sky.

Speechless, you barely react when Kylo leans further down. His hair falls around his face as he pressed his warm lips to the spot where the scar had been. The ends of his hair tickle your skin but you’re still too enthralled to twitch at the sensation. Kylo turns his head to meet your gaze. His eyes are knowing and his mouth quirks up into the slightest of half smiles.

“Beautiful.” 

Falling from his lips, the word thrusts you back into another memory; this one not embodied or immortalized in a scar. You are back, caught in the morning before you mission, with your skin pressed against Kylo’s. Sheets are scattered around you and he is kissing your bare shoulder when he says it over and over again, punctuated by a new kiss each time.

“Beautiful.”

When he says it for a second time, you’re back in the present, in the infirmary. Kylo has straightened his posture and is reaching for his helmet now. You move, sit up in your cot and throw a hand out to his. Your fingers wrap around his wrist and gently squeeze.

The touch brings his eyes to yours. His mouth is open slightly, shallow breaths coming and going as he waits for you to say something. To say what he is thinking, wanting, too.

“Stay.”

Wordlessly, Kylo moves to meet you in the middle. Before you can react, his lips find yours and you are falling back against the cot. You are lost in him again and more than enjoying the feeling of it. When you feel his bare hand against the skin of your waist, you smile into the searing kiss. What another good memory this will make.

[cutegirlmayra]

Modern Sonamy in a life and death this may be the end scenario where Sonic is finally forced to confront his feelings for Amy that he knows have been there for years. He plans to spend their final moments telling her his love but they are saved at the last minute. Afterwards he tries to go back to the usual but realizes he doesn't want to have any regrets and not have Amy know the truth. So he tries to figure out how to to tell her but the message isn't coming across until he gives her a kiss!

Watch Pajama Blogs - Prompt Requests - Ep.1 timestamp: 47:51 to hear my thoughts on this prompt back when I was first thinking about it! (Sometimes my thoughts change, so don’t be too disappointed if my processes changes a bit over time!)

PROMPTS ARE ON SHUTDOWN, so do not submit them until you see the post about the ‘grand reopening’ announcement or see that the ‘ask box’ tells you they are open. THEY ARE NOT OPEN AT THIS TIME.

(Art found here: x Please support the original artist!)

Prompt:

The gravel scooted and crumbled away from her hand as Sonic and Amy slammed against the side of the rocky wall, trying to dodge the intense heat of the magma from within Egg-Canyon-Mountain where they were attempting to sneak in and take the Chaos Emeralds back from powering a large and terrible machine.

The Machine right now didn’t matter though, because just before they were to remove them, Tails radioed that the machine was self-destructing, and it was all a trap.

Eggman had fled knowing the Chaos Emeralds would just pulse away from each other and become shooting stars in the daylight sky, and he’d have to find them all over again once the reactor malfunctioned sufficiently enough to flood the canyons with magma.

“Sonic, it’s only rising!” Amy was momentarily kidnapped when trying to reach the machine’s first Chaos Emerald slot, where Eggman used her to force Sonic to battle him and his new incredible robot, but it was all to buy time for his fatal trap.

Laughing as he exited, he dropped Amy and made a snide comment about ‘Dying with the one you love’ being a last mercy he’ll give... to Amy that is.

Even while dangling in the clutches of Eggman’s hovering robot’s metal talons, Amy couldn’t have judged well enough the machine’s overheating and powering up processes. It was truly unexpected, but completely within Eggman’s bounds...

Squished between the rocky layer of steep, vertical terra and a sweating Sonic, Amy was sandwiched between the thought of how they were gonna survive this.

“It’s not as fast as you, though!” She looked back over to him, seeing his eyes were fixated on the molten rock slowly rising to them on the thin strip of raised pathway they had against the side of the canyon, finally having made it out of the caverns...

This didn’t look good... Sonic was hot and panting to keep his body temperature regulated. With some degree of knowledge in health and medicine from treating his wounds and injuries all these years, she could tell he was too hot to run at full speed like usual without the proper coolness to not overheat himself. Not just that... but she was added weight... he’d never be able to scale the mountain’s straight drop at top-speeds if he had to carry her too...

She was nowhere near fat but still... this wasn’t looking too good for her.

Without missing a beat, she finally closed her eyes and pushed her nose to the wall, breathing in a dusty and dirt-filled breath of self-sacrifice and spoke aloud an unforgivable sentence. “If I hadn’t insisted on coming with you... to spend more time with you... in hopes that you would fall more in love with me if I was just as into adventure as you were... then you’d be able to run up this wall and get to the top safely.”

He turned his sights back to her, a frown apparent as she was speaking negatively, and he hated that. “Since when were you doubting?” he was always trying to play it cool, and as she took a sorrowful peek back to him, she couldn’t help but gently smile in her grief at seeing his cheery and confident smile.

“We’ll get out of this.” he assured her, “I need you to hang on, though. No more talk about what should and shouldn’t have happened. Can you get up on my back from here?” He looked back at the rising lava, apparently having a plan now.

She nodded, deciding it best not to bring up the inevitable, since her Sonic could do miracles!

... At least, this time, she couldn’t let him fall to his untimely death because of her persistence... 

She spun and he caught her to help her keep balance on the strip and then she tied her arms tightly around his neck as he began to slowly climb.

However, looking down at the speedily approaching magma filling the veins of the large expanse of rock with blood-colored fury and heat, and then looking up to see not a speck of the other side or even the sky as it was just a long, never-ending stretch to half the sky... she felt her heart sinking again.

He really could go faster without her, and looking down again, she saw the strip they were moments ago being pushed up against was now being reached and submerged in the melting rock...

Liquid fire... Was this the story of when Sonic had to face Metal that first time? She remembered him telling the story of reaching for Metal him’s hand before he whacked it aside, refusing to be saved by the one and true hero: Sonic.

There was only ever going to be one Sonic The Hedgehog... but there could be others that would love him just as much... though her grip tightened at admitting it, and ducking her head down, unable to produce tears in the steam of the ripples of heat rising up the cavern.

If they didn’t die of one slip-up or not moving fast enough, they would surely succumb to heat-exhaustion or heat-stroke.

Sonic felt the slight tug on his chin as though her grip around his neck had tightened in a desperate attempt to hold on, and although already straining to climb with someone else and his body feeling like a sauna plus a volcano at his feet, he really didn’t want to believe Amy was giving up on him.

“Amy..!” he called, having an instinct of what she was thinking, “Don’t do it!”

Amy’s head jerked up, “S...Sonic...” She was amazed he had caught on so quickly to her thoughts... her emotions... “B-but,... I-!” she wanted to convince him to let her do it, to let her allow him to run up the rocky wall and save himself.

“We’re getting out of this together or not at all!” he finally blurted out, taking Amy aback as he twitched to reach another hand out for another piece of rock that could be firm enough to give him a sturdy hand-grip. “Erk... ugh... ha... ha... Do me a favor, Amy... ha... umph!” he reached back and threw her up, shocking her as she cried out his name. “And quit acting like we’re dead already!”

She hit against a leveled path that slightly crumbled under her weight, making her kick her legs to scoot quickly back against the wall as Sonic was then able to Spin-Dash to a higher level, reaching down a hand for her. “Hurry!” he called, as she looked back to gasp at the lava not taking any ‘rest-stops’ so to speak. “There might be a cave that tunnels up from here!”

That was a sensationally good idea, except for one problem... if they went back into a tunnel and it went downwards.... then the magma would pinch them in on both sides... and their wouldn’t even be left unmelted fossil remains of them...

But right now, up was good.

She spun around and got up, reaching for his hand and having him struggle to hoist her up as she got her foot on the wall just before the magma rose and splashed against where she was just sitting. “Ah!”

“Amy!!!”

“I-I’m fine.” she squinted an eye as she was grateful the splash didn’t burn her. Her feet were fine, she hadn’t been exposed to it.

He pulled her up and the two just breathed heavily in the others arms a moment.

“You... can out run it... Sonic.” Amy spoke again, only hearing a grunt of annoyance from Sonic as she did so.

“Quit... fooling around... Amy.” his hold on her had loosened so much... she knew he was growing tired. First having snuck in and destroyed some robot scouts on the way down, then Eggman’s battle, and then rushing out before the magma overwhelmed them... Then climbing up such a perilous wall with her on his back... “Do you... see any tunnels..?”

She didn’t even look, she just pulled his forehead to her own, holding it there with her own, sweat-soaked white gloves on either side of his cheeks... saying her farewells in secret. “I know I’ve never voiced it before... but... I...”

Sonic blinked his eyes, before grabbing her arms, their gloves sticking to their skins and making a light blue, see-through effect through the shiny oils on both their exposed skin. Their furs were wetted and they’d be too slippery to attempt to climb again.

This was it.

Sonic lightly moved her to the wall, showing in his face his unbelief at her distrust all of a sudden that he could save them both, but beyond the hurt expression... there was a look she hadn’t fully seen before.

He pinned her slightly as he willingly put his forehead to hers and shut his eyes, trying to keep his breathing normal. “I know.” he stated, then with a shaky voice... “And you’ve always known too.”

She was frozen in that heat-soaked moment... Sonic finally dropping his own tall walls for a brief moment as they could hear the slushing of the magma rising to where they were.

They both looked back, Amy over his shoulder and Sonic to look at the impending doom before them.

“You had to know.” He chuckled out loosely, exhausted now emotionally too, “I gotta at least leave you with some comforting closure.”

“Of that?” Amy thought that the sweetest thing, but also grossly inappropriate for the timing. “Why did you wait till now to tell me?”

“Validate you. I never said anything.” He smirked, even now, trying to keep things light.

She wanted to kiss him, but felt that that would be an even greater sentence, and she’d be framed as the worst timing for romantic advances in history.

Even worse than his...

Sonic smiled to her before something glittery flicked light into his eye and caused him to squint it a few times repeatedly. Turning to find out what the strange source was, the two’s mouths opened at the entrance of a metal bunker impeded into the wall... not seen without the glow of the rising magma.

“An elevator!” The two exclaimed, seeing a mining device next to it. Sonic quickly scooped her up and pushed her in, “Going up!” he pressed the button but she didn’t want to part with him, the Elevator could be slow or worse, the mechanism below could be melted away by now.

“Sonic!” she cried out, agreeing--somewhat--with Eggman that she’d rather die in the arms of her beloved than alone in a small elevator meant for hauling metals up to the top of the canyon. And who knew where this actual thing landed! Maybe it wasn’t the top?

Sonic gave her a thumbs up and signature wink as she could see the lava splashing against the sides of where he was, “Noo!!!” as the chute shut tight and started cranking her upwards. She flung her back to the opposite side of where the tin had shut and felt the heat and the moment consuming her. ‘Sonic... do you mean that..? Do you really... love me?’

Sonic was tearing up the ground in his wake as dust spiraled behind him and he almost flew up at supersonic speeds through the canyon. All the while, he narrowed his eyes to the straight path the elevator was meant to take, making sure it reached the top. ‘Faster... Faster... Faster...!!!’ his eyes widened as his teeth clenched, seeing the lava building up and never stopping, not even for a moment, in consuming the rock beneath it and yet, his eyes trained to fixate on the metal pole that meant the chain was still hauling Amy up. “Endure it just a little longer,... Amy...” his eyebrow furrowed before bowing as he tripped by not watching where his feet were going. “W-woah!” he noticed he had reached the top and was falling now, having pressed his foot to air which had started the tumble. He gripped frantically to the edge of the large landscape and was able to get enough wind in his heels and strength left in his fingers to stop his falling... he had made it... he’ll be okay.

But that wasn’t enough.

He heard the metal bending and cranking, as though slowing the rising, treasured container of it’s load from coming up. The metal was beginning to tilt and loosened itself from it’s bolted railing and started to dip like a bending fish hook towards the flaming sea...

“No!!” Sonic leaped up and raced to the pole, “Amy!!!” He reached out and bent to grab the wall and the bending metal, using himself like a stretched chord to keep the metal from bending further, suspended between rock and the pole as he could feel the jolting of the chains continuing to crank up, but slower than before.

‘I have to straighten the poll out... or Amy will never make it!’ he was running out of juice and energy... but strength rose in him as he thought of her... He couldn’t let her down... he couldn’t let himself live knowing she was still in harm’s way...

He was mellowly delighted that she was accompanying him on this adventure. Though he never showed it, he enjoyed her hammering swings and ricocheting off robots to stop dramatically in front of her and strike a pose, knowing she loved it when he showed off. He couldn’t naturally give slight looks and charming flares to the dudes, it would be weird, but he enjoyed the moments he could when Amy was around.

True, sometimes, he felt he couldn’t fully be himself around Amy or she’d overly fawn after him... but even then... he could see and feel how much he meant to her.

He never felt the need to be more for her, even though he knew he probably should act a bit more gentlemanly here and there, which he did, but never overdid it to avoid getting exploited by Amy’s constant yearning for more attention from him.

He was never upset when she insisted to tag along with him for a journey or perilous undertaking. He just always knew he needed to keep an ear and eye out to make sure she was safe at all times... other than that? It was just fun to have her around, constantly praising him. Though... he didn’t like her ‘pampering’ behavior when she’d rub his hand too much if he punched a tough-made robot... he still didn’t mind the doting every now and then.

Clenching his abs, he finally scrunched his body enough to bend the pole somewhat back into a straighter line, causing the chain to move quickly with each thought he had for Amy and how he was determined to saving her life.

She had saved his... after all. If she had self-sacrificed herself... he would have... never... ever... forgiven himself such a lost.

Amy was almost about to collapse at the heated panel beneath her butt and feet, fearing the lava had caught up with her, until there was a jolt and she stopped fully. “S...Son...ic...” The chute opened and a sound like a swift wind brushed through her small compartment and gave her somewhat relief,... but not as much as cool hands that gripped her firmly at her sides and pulled her out.

When she came too, Tails and Knuckles were standing over her and Cream was attending her.

She remembered a similar scene with Cream... when she had almost drowned in the water when Eggman attacked back in Chris’s world... what... where was Sonic?

“I..” she could barely get a word out, and Cream kept dabbing the cool cloth on her head and adjusting the cooling pads under her back, on her sides, and over her stomach.

“Don’t worry, Miss Amy.” Cream spoke out, cheerily but with a worried and loving look in her eyes, but showing signs that Amy was going to be alright. Her little heart pattered quickly as she stopped a moment and reached back as though forgetting something, putting a flower by her side. “Mr. Sonic said to give you this when you woke up! He said you deserved to see some life after all the dull rock you were exposed too.”

And the pitch black of the heated tin chute... he must have felt awful about that being the only other way to get them out of there alive.

She had no idea about the pole that threatened to snap and dip her into slowly into a melted death... but as she got better, Tails told her Sonic had gone after Eggman, and she gathered that Sonic hadn’t told any of them the extent at what they had gone through.

‘He’s keeping up appearances... he doesn’t want to trouble or worry them more than he already has.’ she concluded, thinking that noble and brave... somewhat.

She wanted to tell them, so badly, about everything... but silently accepted Sonic’s assumed wishes.

She also didn’t want to worry anyone... but... Oh, she wanted to tell at least one soul about the encounter!!!

Sonic had... he had really... ohhh!!! Her heart was overjoyed!

But... when she came to see him...

As per-usual, he was up atop a windy place, looking over the nature he spent his whole life preserving and protecting... admiring it’s beauty and natural power.

With a kind and neutral smile on his face, he suddenly turned to see Amy walking happily up to greet him.

Seeing his gaze, she paused a moment and halted, putting her hands together and in front of her, trying to look feminine and delicate.

“Hello, Sonic.” she greeted, blushing as her eyes closed and she giggled to herself lightly.

“Amy,” he nodded to her, a true picture of boy coolness!

She squee’d, “When are you gonna act like how you really feel at seeing my cute face?” she cupped her cheeks and turned away as if ‘trying’ to be modest about it... but then blinked her eyes when Sonic responded in a way she wasn’t expecting.

“Huh? I am acting the way I always do, Amy.” He folded his arms, looking more... puzzled... than she thought he should have.

“But- ah.... uhh...Ohhh!!!” she did her signature whine and shook her once -delicate- hands in a fury of frustration down at her sides. “That’s not how you feel at all!” She contested, but he didn’t seem to want to fight as his smile slightly fell.

Her eyes came back to his neutral ones and looked somewhat pleading to return to a place they once were... or at least... had just gotten to. “Why are you being like this..? After everything we went through on that ridge...”

He just quietly stared at her, before lowering his head and closing his eyes, shaking it softly back and forth. “I think you were misguided, Amy. The heat had gotten to us and we... said things we didn’t actually mean to express.” he then looked up at the sky, as if trying to dismissive the topic further. “Of course I care about you, Amy,... But I can’t say it’s to the extent that you’re hoping for. To where I suddenly run into your arms, or something mushy like that... heheh.” he had a bead of awkwardness like a sweat drop slide down the side of his face as his mouth squirmed it’s lines to show how uncomfortable with this he all was.

Amy felt her heart chip away just like the pebbles of the rocky wall... as though she was trying to climb the wall he had pasted up again after only just placing it down back then...

“You’re... You’re not being fair...” she wanted to call him cruel, but she knew that was a lie. She wouldn’t lie... whether to herself or to him.

But this...

This hurt so much.

“What’s wrong with liking me?” she finally had the coolness of the earth to allow tears to peek out from her eyelids, but never fully emerge. Her body quivered in the cold, but she ignored it, too angry and hurt to care. “You can’t just press restart every time you show me how you feel, Sonic The Hedgehog!”

Her outburst caused a sharp bolt of lightning to split Sonic’s core in two. His heart ripped as though torn about how to follow something that dramatic and genuine up... He’d had hoped for the social norm again... but that seemed a bit too late.

He flinched back and then relaxed, scratching behind his head, “I guess you’re right, Amy... I’m not being very fair to your feelings... but you can’t blame me for being hesitant about my choices...”

She was sniffling, and he realized she probably didn’t have it in her to say more right now. Sighing, he walked down to her and smiled tenderly, kindly opening his arms to invite her to hug him.

“Let’s just say... I don’t really have a way with words.”

“They’re enough for me...” she hiccupped through her tears now pouring out. “You’ve always been enough for me. Every part of you, every inch and every word ever spoken and act ever done has been enough... when will you get that? When will you learn that whatever you choose to do for me... for my sake... knowing how hard it is for you to express that freely and openly like you did in that moment... it’s always been enough to shake me.” she fell to her legs, bawling now as Sonic awkwardly stood there and blinked, realizing she was going to break down.

“H-hang on, just a second, Amy!” he was shaking his hands out to get her to stop crying and calm down, but her tears and wailing didn’t cease, she was already emotionally compromised and it made him feel like a bigger jerk than ever before.

“Alright, enough already... I get it, Amy...” His face quite literally seemed to deflate on itself as he lost the energy and will to keep up the persona. “You heard what you heard, and I never said I wanted to take it back... just that I can’t always do that from now on. I didn’t want to lose you... that part is, and will always be, true.”

Amy took her hands away from her eyes to see the resounding truth that was on his face. “I... I don’t want-” she hiccupped, a cute and gross reminder that she had been holding all this in for some time now since Sonic’s first departure. “to lose you... hck, either...” she sniffed.

Chuckling at her appalling sense of self-preservation or even an idea of self-image in this moment, Sonic kindly wiped her eyes with his finger and looked to her as though slowly backing the wall up and away from her, but not fully putting it down yet. “I can’t promise I won’t lead you into dangerous times, Amy... but I can say that I will never leave you behind in those moments. Not ever.”

She pouted, “You shoved me in a dark chute.”

“T-To save your life!” he gestured out to her, his arms out either side of her and extended as though to plead his case, “You were right, Amy, I couldn’t have carried us both up, it was the only way!”

She continued to give him a hard look of judgement.

“You gotta believe me, honest! You knew it was the only way!”

“...It was still scary...”

“You survived!” his words almost smacked the idea as though fanning it away, but he never dared to say ‘quit complaining’ as he could tell she was just riling him up.

She smiled, unable to help it. She enjoyed seeing emotion out of him, even expressed in ways like this. She batted his chest, secretly snuggling into it, “You’re the worst, Sonic The Hedgehog! You make me cry and smile at the same time! No one does that...” she muttered the last part out, and it was almost cute... almost.

Sonic rolled his eyes, “Come on, give me a break, Amy...” It almost sounded like he was complaining, but it was to keep up with her playful antics. “Forgive me this one time?”

“I forgive you every time.” Amy mumbled into the side of his chest.

“...Forgive me for being a dunce?”

“I forgive you for that all the time too.” she continued to play, making sure her mouth’s movements and the vibration of her words could be felt in into his chest too.

There was silence...

“Forgive me for... this?” his hands suddenly caught her up and her lips were silenced for a time that for her--seemed to last eternity.

When his kiss parted he was gone with the wind, as though unable to stick around for the aftermath.

She was frozen in disbelief before shouting out in a type of ‘hoorah!’ for her success, but also...

Sonic did know the perfect timing for a romantic advance... he just didn’t always have the words or courage to say it~<3

[boompkin]

Behold, the Nethermen!

Credits go to me, @boompkin

Time taken: 4-5 hrs.

Drawing software: Clip Studio Paint

— - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - —

This is just my own concept of how Endermen would be born and isolated into the Nether. However, this is just a mob by itself, as there is a couple things different from it compared to regular Endermen. The Nethermen can produce some magma inside of itself, allowing it to spit out lava at it’s enemies that come to harm it. Being able to produce magma, it is resistant against lava, but very weak against water like regular Endermen. When hit with water, it causes the Nethermen to freeze in place for a short time and prevent it from spitting lava, so it does have a weakness to allow you to come after it.

They love to play hide and seek until you find them, as they may teleport time-to-time for that matter. Rarely, you might even find one laying on a Hoglin for a good rest of hide and seek. Other than loving to play hide and seek, the Nethermen have a calm, playful, and distant behavior. Getting to close to it will cause it to walk away immediately within a few blocks, but not teleport away unless if it wants to play. However, you may not see them as often, there is a chance of you encountering one in accessible caves or ontop of trees in the Nether (including the rare chance of resting on a Hoglin).

It has two small nose holes, but they’re not that great at detecting enemies, it’s great for finding/stealing materials that they wish to keep more than regular Endermen can. They’re also slightly taller than Endermen, due to their head being able to float from it’s own bodily magnetic force. And finally, the particles that surround itself show symbols, and these symbols allow for it to tell stories that connect with the Nether and the End.

— - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - — - —

I hope you’ve found this interesting, and I might add more info in the future if I want to. Have a good day! ^^

[marloart]

So my players and I have had this running joke since 2019 that the campaign world has a restaurant chain called “Fantasy Taco Bell” with similar energy as Fantasy Costco from TAZ. Basically a place to let loose in between battles and such. Recently the franchise introduced a new mascot character and we all love him and so I just had to make art of him.

His name is Axel the Axolotl. Rumor has it that could be the secret ingredient in the double decker fish tacos.

Also a while back I went nuts and made a whole menu for the place so I thought I might as well share that too.

Descriptions of each menu item under the cut!

Potion of Baja Blast - “Crisp and citrus flavored, this potion packs a punch and gives off the sensation of drinking a tropical hurricane. That or feeling awesome enough of a super human to successfully consume a real storm. Improves a skill of your choice by +1, once per scene. Warning: May cause you to involuntarily black-flip from all the adrenaline it produces or might compel you to high-five everyone in your general vicinity.”

(cost: 100 cp | properties: gay sprite™, super sweet, digestible, somehow works like an adhd medication)

Potion of Mango Fiesta - “When consumed will allow the player to enchant enemies into believing they are at a party and will distract them into performing a conga line.”

(cost: 65 cp | properties: “There ain’t no party like a mango party”, super sweet, ingestible, fun, charming effect)

Fire! Hot Sauce Packet - “A Sauce so hot your eyes just water thinking about it. Ingesting this allows you the ability to cast Fire Breath: As a standard action, you can breathe flame once per round for the duration of the spell. You make a ranged touch attack with the flame (to a maximum range of 15 feet), dealing fire damage on a successful roll (casting ability +1). Fire breath ignites combustibles and damages objects in the area, and it can melt metals with low melting points (such as lead, gold, copper, silver, and bronze). The spell does not function underwater. One use per packet. ”

(cost: 50 cp | properties: spicy, so hot your mouth literally produces fire, ingestible)

Diablo Hot Sauce Packet - “If you ever wondered what level of spice a demonic entity would find a little too painful, then this is the sauce for you! Ingesting this allows you the ability to cast Fire and Brimstone: With a shout, you cause your foes to erupt in afoul, acrid-smelling burst of yellow fire. The subject ignites in a burst of sulfuric fire that deals 1d6 points of damage and causes the subject to be sickened for 5 rounds. One use per packet.”

(cost: 150 cp | properties: spicy, sulfuric, digestible, hellfire, an infernal food favorite!)

Simple Cheese Quesadilla - “A mild and simple toasted tortilla stuffed with rich and gooey cheese and jalapeño sauce. It’s instantly comforting. Grants a temporary Physical Stress box after consumption and lasts until your character has been hit.”

(cost: 25 cp | properties: digestible, restorative, comfort food, basic but in the best way)

Volcano Taco w/ Lava Sauce - “A hard red corn tortilla shell filled to the brim with spicy ingredients. Biting into this snack releases an eruption of molten goodness that you'll never go back to a regular taco again. Ingesting this allows you the ability to cast Molten Strike: You launch a ball of molten rock that detonates, showering nearby creatures with red-hot stone and flames. The explosion deals 2d6 points of fire damage to every creature within the area.

(cost: 250 cp | properties: ingestible, Evocation spell, Radial burst AoE, Magma making, caliente)

Mystery Fish Double-Decker Taco Supreme - “If hubris could be condensed into a single food item on this menu - this would be the fall of man. Not only is it one overstuffed taco filled with a mysterious fish that you think is tilapia (but can not be legally called that for reasons - but really you’re not even 100% sure if it’s even really an aquatic life form) - you get another taco surrounding the first bursting with a layer of refried beans sandwiched between. It takes the truly brave of heart to look at this menu item and declare that you will eat it. If you are successful in finishing this challenging meal you are granted the ability to cast Grease: Slick grease covers the ground in a 10-foot radius centered on a point within range and turns it into difficult terrain for the duration. When the grease appears, each creature standing in its area must succeed on an Athletics saving throw or fall prone.

(cost: 35 cp | properties: debatable categorization as an digestible, you might regret ordering this, As Seen on TV: Dungeons & Diners & Dragons & Drive-Ins & Dives, it is a mystery)

Chalupa - "If frying food is like hiring a famous wizard to put a spell on it, then the Chalupa is the ultimate hex. A hex you totally want that is. This is what you get with the Chalupa: beautiful witchcraft. Luckily for anyone who orders this menu item it doubles as a snack and weapon! If you have any leftover cheese sauce you will be able to use the Boiling Cheese Attack: A torrent of boiling cheese rains down in an area you specify. On a successful role with your casting ability, creatures in the area take scalding (fire) damage from the delicious molten cheese. Creatures that fail their initial saving throw take an additional -1 stress of physical damage in each subsequent round of the spell's duration (up to a maximum of 6 rounds - roll 1d6 to determine how many rounds it lasts). The cheese created by this spell is not itself flammable."

(cost: 30 cp | properties: digestible, delicioso, conjuration spell, scalding, worth every copper piece)

Dorito®️ Locos Taco - “Possibly one of the most iconic inventions in the history of the taco. You would be loco to think otherwise. A crunchy chip flavored taco shell really sells this dish as one of a kind. Ingesting this allows you the ability to cast Word of Chaos: Any non-chaotic creature within the area who hears the word of chaos suffers the following ill effects (which are cumulative and concurrent); Deafened: The creature is deafened for 1d4 rounds, Stunned: The creature is stunned for 1 round, Confused: The creature is confused, as by the confusion spell, for 1d10 minutes. This is a mind-affecting enchantment effect and no saving throw is allowed against these effects. The creature must be within hearing distance for the effect to take hold."

(cost: 500 cp | properties: digestible, chip flavored, chaotic, iconic, mind altering, you absolute mad man)

Nacho Fries - “Our delicious fries are seasoned with bold, Mexican spices and served with a side of warm nacho cheese sauce. In Queso you didn’t know this Fantasy Taco Bell menu item is simply the best. In fact it’s so good you won’t want to share them at all and you’ll definitely tell anyone who dares to snag a fry that that its nacho cheese. Our these puns too cheesey for you? Well you’ll certainly love this tasty snack that you’ll probably want to sing it’s praises just as much. By ingesting this item you will be gifted (cursed?) with making pun related jokes that will completely distract the enemy. Don’t worry they don’t have to be dairy based- but it will make a gouda impression. Enemies and non allies with be affected with uncontrollable laughter even if they don’t like your jokes.”

(cost: 10 cp | properties: digestible, cheesy goodness, charming effect, punny, side splitting laughter will ensue)

Choco - Taco - “A Sweet desert treat! A sugary waffle cone taco filled with cold horchata ice cream and dipped in Mexican hot chocolate sauce and topped with nuts. The wrapper has a cheeky Chocobo mascot on it. Eating it instantly boosts your mood. Grants a temporary Mental Stress box after consumption and lasts until your character has been attacked psychically.”

(cost: 15 cp | properties: digestible, super sweet, mood enhancer, mildly addictive)

Caramel Apple Empanadas - “Just a simple, innocent, delicious caramel apple pastry. Or is it? Just kidding. That’s all it is. Simple and innocent but equally delicious. It’s a traditional classic. Gives advantage on Deceive and Rapport rolls.”

(cost: 50 cp | properties: digestible, easy to eat on the go, As Sweet as Apple Pie, tricky & tasty)

[shyrose57]

So what exactly happened to Ranbob after Ran left Mizu? Warning for brief mentions of graphic material, though its kept undescriptive. 

About a day after Ran left, Ranbob woke up. He woke up on the floor, confused to all hell. Because last he checked he fell asleep in his bed. He doesnt know the fact that Dream took over his body and mind for the last month. He doesnt know what he's done. So he looks around, confused as to why there's no one around. He looks in the school, no one, he looks in the training grounds, no one, He continues to look until he decides to head home, hoping his brother or sister will be there to explain what happened and where everyone is. He's expecting to see his family in the living room, maybe playing a game or just talking. Instead he walks in to see no one there and the house is dead quiet. The quiet unnerves Ranbob, he almost considers turning around. But he pushes on and visits Lias and Memi's room, his heart stops upon seeing their bodies both in different positions. He almost throws up before running out of the room. He checks his parents room to see the same scene, then he just books it out of the house. Running aimlessly. As he runs he finds more bodies, either in the cafeteria where they died from poison or outside homes and stores where they were clearly attacked. He continues to run, trying to get away from everything and the sudden weight on his shoulders. He fails. 

He eventually finds himself in the room Dreams mask is kept in, he suddenly feels a sense of dread and finds himself flung back into the recesses of his mind, coming face to face with Dream. Dream doesnt say anything and just stares at Ranbob. The two just stare at each other for a bit with complete silence, with the exception of a dripping noise. Ranbob looks around aiming to find the source of the noise, he doesnt find it until he looks towards Dream again and spots what looks to be blood dripping from a dagger at his belt. Ranbob freaks out then and starts to rip into him, demanding to know whats happened, that Dream promised to help him. As Ranbob questions him Dream starts to smile. He then simply responds with "I did help you. I got rid of all sources of your stress. Or, should I say, you got rid of them." That makes Ranbob freeze, and as he slowly processes that Dream killed everyone wearing his skin, he gets thrown back into the real world. He eventually registers whats happened as he killed everyone. So he screams. He keeps screaming until he can't and is choking on air as he trys to keep screaming. Then he cries, the tears burning a line through his skin until he has no tears left, them he's left grasping at his unkempt hair trying to ground himself and stop his panic. He fails and eventually collapses from emotional exhaustion. 

As time passes the pain from what he did doesnt fade, and Dream taunting him about it doesnt help. Dream takes control of Ranbobs body daily, he's actually in control more often than Ranbob himself. Because Dream isn't used to being in a actual body, he doesn't eat or drink when he should. Which causes Ranbob to gradually get thinner and thinner. He's actually still supposed to be growing during this time, since enderman hybrids typically stop growing in their 20s (give or take a few years). But due to malnourishment and dehydration he just stops growing, which is why, when compared to his brother, he's so short (Ran is 6'8 currently, Ranbob is 6'2 currently. Before they met up again Ran was 6'7 and Ranbob 6'0).

When the Fishermen arrived to Mizu, Benjamin and Isaac felt that something was off, but continued on. When they met Ranbob, Dream was still in control. During the tour the odd feeling Benjamin and Isaac have just grow more and more. When Ranbob attacks them, they manage to knock him down and pin him down. When he's knocked down the sudden impact seems to knock something lose, in both his mind and a item. A part of the Dream mask gets free of its place in Ranbobs pocket and skits across the ground. While the sudden impact knocks Dream from his pedestal in Ranbobs mind and gives Ranbob himself a opening to take control. And he takes it. He takes control but isn't able to say anything before the Fishermen haul him up and locking him in a room. Because the Dream shard is away from Ranbob, he's finally able to breath and think for himself. Benjamin, Isaac, and Charles typically vist him and give him food and water. But Benjamin often stays longer and takes time to talk to him. Over the span of a week the two get closer and Ranbob is able to tell his story, Benjamin believes him, due to the evidence he's seen. It takes time but Benjamin manages to convince the rest (mostly) to let Ranbob out and to listen to him. Cletus though refuses to listen to him and demands more proof. So Ranbob, very hesitantly, takes the group to Dreams Idol Statue deep in Mizu. When they get there Ranbob almost immediately becomes distressed, as in his head he's attempting to maintain his own mind and body as Dream attempts to take his puppet back. He grabs at his head, repeatedly saying no and stop it. The group doesn't notice this at first because their busy looking around. But when a sudden scream grabs their attention Benjamin jumps into action, grabbing Ranbob, and attempting to drag him out of the room. As Ranbob gets dragged out he screams for Dream to stop. The fishermen plus Ranbob later meet and Ranbob shares (almost) his life story. Cletus still believes this is just a act, but is out numbered by the others wanting to take Ranbob back to their home to help him heal. 

Stuff I couldn't fit in:

-Ranbob has nightmares constantly about what he's done.

-Ranbob sees Dreams smile in random objects (like water, food, trees) that don't even slightly resemble it. 

-Ranbob gained 2 inches in height only after the Fishermen rescued him and gave him regular and healthy meals. 

-Ranbob thinks Ran is dead. Although deep down he wants to believe his brother is alive.

--------------Questions---------------

When Ran figured out who was doing the killings, he immediately headed out to find the last Counsel member and find Ranbob. But on his way out something screamed at him to grab the book and items that where either given to him as part of his Technoblade Idol training, or given as a gift. He decided to listen to this feeling and grabbed the items before he headed out. 

He is good with enderman as enderman tend to leave him alone so he leaves them alone. He despises spiders because they tend to get into his sleeping/safe spots and are quiet as hell so they tend to sneak up on him. Skeletons and Zombies are just a annoyance and he's typically able to easily deal with them. Stays are a pain because of the slowness arrows they have and whenever they hit him he gets slow as well as groggy. He avoids creepers cause he doesnt see the worth in killing them. 

They are aware! Grievous made a potion mix of slowness, weakness, and a tiny pinch of regeneration (to contradict the biggest negative effects of weakness) to try to help Ran sleep. When Ran first opened up to the group about his paranoia Jackie offered to sleep with him if his paranoia stops him from relaxing enough to sleep. And Watson made a gesture and keyword that Ran just has to either speak or do for Watson to follow him and stay close to him when his paranoia gets to much to handle on his own. But even though Ran told them about his paranoia, he's reluctant to accept help from the others, funnily enough, due to his paranoia.

He does eventual, him staying there actually took him by surprise cause he thought he was only going to be there for like a week, next thing he knows 4 weeks have passed and no ones found him. So he fixes up his shelter and makes it more of a actual shelter against the snow and cold. Nothing really happens, which is a welcome change to Ran because he's so used to so much going on. He does end up having to fight a polar bear because it tried stealing his recent hunt. But other than that and a tree falling down in the middle of the night and barely missing his shelter, nothing really happens. 

It was actually a main playing factor in his paranoia and trust issues. 

A chapter in his book is dedicated to the Nether, and Ran, looking to escape his pursuers in a pinch, decides on a whim to try out this "Nether" thing. When he first arrives, the heat and sudden surrounding change shocks him, cause he didnt actually read that chapter of the book. He builds into the side of a hill to avoid hoglins, he doesnt have much in there except for chests with a bunch of different stuff, brewing stands, maps, and weapons. The piglins originally think of him as just a regular traveler from the other world, but slowly start to think of him in a more positive way. As Ran often stops by to give them left over gold and other trinkets he no longer needs for nothing in return. Plus he accidentally saves a baby piglin after he heard hoglins throwing a fit and decided to take the chance to hunt, he only saw the piglin after he killed the hoglins and brought it back to the nearby Bastion. Which immediately boosted the piglins option of Ran. Ran himself was cautious of the piglins, even after Ran saved the baby piglin, he knows better than to completely relax around them. Nether life leads to him relaxing a bit more than he normally would (which he'd later regret after he leaves because the hunters get a jump on him because he was too relaxed) and learning to watch where he steps, cause more than twice Ran tripped in the Nether and got to close to lava or magma blocks for his comfort. 

They where found by the group that dared to travel into the snow and chase him. They took almost every item there before burning down his house, giving Ran nowhere to return too. And they don't visit any of his homes purposely, they did run across his burned snow home, but they didn't stay long because Ran knew/thought there was nothing left.

The Gladiator group is understanding, as they know this is probably how he was when he was living out in the wild. And its understandable for him to regress back into this protective personality when faced with the same location he developed it in. The fishermen are put off by this sudden attitude change. But with possible explanations from the Gladiators and encouragement they eventually get used to it. 

The fishermen are mad and relieved. Their relieved it didn't actually hurt Ranbob. But are mad that it happened. Cletus was very close to vaulting over the edge of the arena and knocking Ran into the water surrounding the arena. Something I wanna add even though you didn't ask, when Ranbob was pinned down he didn't feel angry, he felt broken because he just found his brother! His brother who he thought died! And now said brother is trying to kill him. His brother hated him so much, but Ranbob thought he deserved this and resigned himself to die (though Ran never made direct moves to attack him and instead used the time to yell at him). The weapon gets properly disposed of, like it was supposed to be at the start. 

----------TotI----------

I don't remember if I mentioned it before either tbh but yes its his watch that caused the Travelers to arrive.

Its suspected either the Egg or Dream XD wrote the book. Some say its the Egg because its talking about its plans in the book. Others say its Dream XD and this may be a research type book the God was writing when it first encountered the Egg. The egg only has connection to the Travelers from The Masquerade and even then its either faint or non-existent due to the Travelers extended distance from the Egg (after the murders Billiam and Butler decided to move to a new mansion as suspension was starting to catch up to them. The Egg didn't come so its hold on them faded until it disappeared.)

Not particularly well. They go through multiple plans all with some success but ultimately failing. Eventually they narrow it down to the Eggpire repeatedly getting in the way and sabotaging their things during battle and the Egg being unable to be damaged forever. So they decide to get a piece of the Egg's shell that got broken off and experiment on it. The members of the Eggpire don't really care (or, Bad does. But he act like he doesnt) that the Egg uses their lives as nothing but entertainment and continue to fight to defend the Egg. 

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

Yes! When he was first rescued and was hell bent on somehow paying them back he always farmed for them. And even before he'd have to farm in Mizu to survive.

Ran no like socializing. Especially when its with royals or rich people.

MORE FLUFF, IMA TRY TO MAKE THIS A DAILY THING BUT NO PROMISES:

-Cletus started a game of tag and eventually it grew to involve everyone, and it increased to 2 taggers. One time Ran and Jackie where it, Ran was banned from teleporting cause its cheating, so instead he threw Jackie the entire time.

-Ran has his first celebrated birthday in years! (He didn't tell The Pit group about his birthday cause he didn't want too, but Ranbob eventually spilled its date to them.)

-Ran loves to have people guess the brothers age and seeing the surprise on their face when he tell them their actual age. 

-Benjamin is very much Ranbobs father figure.

-Sleepovers happen often :)

Brothers AU:

Oh, poor Ranbob. So he and Dream are able to kind of 'see' each other? How does that work? Might've asked this before, but what's Ranbob up to, when Dream's in control?

He'd be short for an Endermen then? Did it permanently stunt his growth? How does Ran feel about that, and does anyone else notice this, considering the rarity of hybrids?

Did Ranbob have a piece of the mask with him when Dream originally took control? How did he acquire it? I can't imagine a historian-to-be would be to eager to break something considered an artifact, after all? What did he and Benjamin talk about when he was with him?

Are there any differences to the Dream Room? Seeing as this Ranbob isn't fond enough of him to maintain it, and Dream might not consider it important enough-or does he?

Actually, what did they even do down there, with everyone dead? What purpose did Dream even have for having control of Ranbob's body so often?

Cletus thought it to be an act? Similar to what Ran thought originally, huh? Anything come from that?

--------

Poor Ranbob, for the majority of these things.

Good for him on the inches though.

-------

Again, can't remember if this was asked before, but Ran figured out who did the killings? Was he going to confront his brother-or did he just think he figured it out, and had it wrong? What was the origin of the feeling? Just a gut-feeling?

Spiders are the worst, so that's understandable. Why are creepers in particular such a hassle for him?

Are potion mixtures common? What mixtures/potions do the groups use most often? And seems Grievous is the main potion-handler, why's that?

Ah, irony.

Ran really walked into a freezing cold biome and went 'where are all the people?', huh? Also, who even fights a polar bear, the mad man.

Okay, so from what I remember, not too many people traversed the Nether nowadays(or didn't know about it?? I have no idea, there's so many posts, I can't the answer), so why was it in a not-so-helpful survival guide? Where'd he even get the book? It also makes me want to ask world-buildings questions about Mizu, but we're here to traumatize the people, so I'll hold off.

Ran is now a piglin favorite, good for him, he needs some allies. Where'd he get the gold, considering his life on the run? Did he make any specific piglin friends/allies? How'd the hunters find him there? How did they access the Nether?

The gang's thoughts on his little snow home remainders?

Cletus goes from Number One Ranbob hater to president of the Ranbob protection club, we have it here, folks. Also, poor Ranbob. Poor everyone, really, they're just going through it.

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

Tip Of The Iceberg AU:

Oh, XD's getting involved? That's interesting. Does he have any of his own connections with the travelers? How do the Egg-effected feel, having been broken free of it for awhile, only to find themselves toyed with by it again? Who says XD wrote the book, and who says the Egg, and why?

So they're fighting the Eggpire? Who's on the frontlines? What're the others doing? How strong is the Egg at this point? Is it a genuine threat, and do they have to keep away from it, or is it only an issue because it has the Eggpire to defend it? Bad cares? Is he not as under it's influence as the others, or something else?

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

Brothers AU(?)

That must've been an interesting experience. How did they react to that, considering Ranbob's not-so-healthy state? Or did he only start doing it once he was more stable on his feet?

....Doesn't...doesn't he work for an Emperor tho? But yeah, understandable.

I'll take what I can get!!

That tag sounds both hilarious and terrifying. Imagine being the fishermen and having one of the gladiators picked up and launched at you like a football-and then possibly the other one charging toward you. Like, if that's not motivation to run, what is?

Aww, good for him.

Okay, yeah, that'd definitely be funny. Ran forgave Ranbob and immediately chose mischief, huh?

Fishermen Benjamin pulls a Philza Minecraft, more at eight.

Very good!

-------

Have a good week!

[arospecsyourblockdudes]

A short fic about exploring the Nether

_________

You step out of the purple haze and take in your surroundings. The scent of mushroom and wormy petrichor hits you before the blueish mist does, and you wrinkle your nose at it. Warped forest it is, then. Not a bad place to start, since the only dangers here are the Endermen. It’s an easily avoidable danger, by now you know well not to look them in the eyes.

And so, you begin your journey.

Your gold boots sink into the moist ground as you go, making a squelching noise that seems so much louder in the silence. There’s no noise here besides your footsteps and the chattering of the occasional Enderman that shows up in your path. Then the sound of you chopping a few of the blue mushroom-trees. The blue wood you can make from them is very pretty, and makes a trip to the Nether worthwhile. All you hope is that you’ll return with the logs still on you.

A whisper of a breeze makes its way through the woods, and you sigh in relief or fear. It’s a cooler breeze, which was a relief from the hot humidity in the forest. Unfortunately, the only cooler places in the Nether are soulsand valleys, which are heavily populated by the ghasts. You do decide to keep on your way, since going straight is an easy thing to do. No turns to remember when you want to get back home.

——

You were right. It was a soulsand valley up ahead. Which means trouble.

First and foremost, the soulsand. It groans and cries out to you as you walk across, which creates a sound much like a heavy wind. It’s horrifying. You’ve heard villagers tell their children that naughty kids get sent to live in the soulsand, so they better eat their vegetables right now. You aren’t so superstitious, but you sincerely hope that there’s better places to go once you fade. It clings to your boots and drags you down, so that you’re forced to take long, slow strides. You hope it ends soon.

Next, the things that live there. You hold your shield up and slice at the skeletons that fire at you. They get a few good hits, since they apparently can move how they please on the sand, but luckily there aren’t many.

No, the worst are the ghasts. Huge, terrifying birds that can spit magma at you. You see a few floating around, humming their eerie song. Their tails move from side to side, directing their flight, and their beady black eyes search the plains. One spots you, but it only takes a couple well placed hits to kill it.

The haze is stronger here, most likely due to the blue fires that burn on the sand. The smoke rises up and settles, forming a cloudy layer above you. You dig up a bit of soulsand, to grow netherwart if you find any. You hope you can, potions would be a big help in the Overworld. But you take care to wrap it carefully and keep an anxious eye on it. Everyone’s heard the stories.

——

Again, unfortunately (but isn’t everything unfortunate in this ruined place?) the valley transitions into a basalt delta. You’re slightly pleased by this, since this is a great chance to collect blackstone. You pull up your dust mask and pull down your goggles and head into the dusty place.

Everywhere you step, the basalt crumbles a bit and where it crumbles, it throws up more dust. At least the blackstone is solid, but it’s not as common as the basalt. You chip away a few blocks of it, hopping over the lava in the ground and being wary of any lava pockets within the spires.

A few wet sounds are all the warning you get before a magma cube hits you. It knocks you forward and you rush to shake the drops of magma off your arms. You turn to face it and hack at it with your sword, until the little ones melt back into lava puddles. Annoying creature, but easily dealt with thankfully.

You climb up a spire and peer into the distance, to see what’ll come next in your journey. You can’t see a thing through the dust storms. It’ll stick to your clothes and your hair, and you make a note to rinse yourself off once you get back home. You hop over more lava pools and hope the basalt holds.

——

The wastes are next, filled with nothing but clumps of glowstone and the piglins. You nod at a small group of them harvesting the gold nuggets in the ground, and they wave back to you. Good people, when you manage to remember to wear gold armor. It’s a cultural thing, you think, though you can’t understand their language.

The weirdest ones are the zombies, rotting piglins shambling on the soft rock, the blue lights of soulsand magics flitting around their eye sockets and the parts that are falling off, somehow keeping them together. They’re eerie and make low groans, and even the piglins steer clear. Same as you do with the Overworld undead. Your hand twitches by your side when one approaches you, ready to grab your ax, but you just move on. They won’t attack unless you attack, you remind yourself, although it’s hard to feel safe when they’re around. You try your best not to panic when some crowd around you. The piglins give you a look you think might be sympathy.

While you’re there, you take some glowstone, the glass-like rock crumbling to dust when you break it. It’s pretty, you think, but the pattern is a little ugly. It’s risky to get, up on your stone pillar, and you flinch when you hear a ghast’s song (you’re in a cave, there’s roofs and floors and walls, it can’t get to you, it’s fine) but it’s worth it, you think.

You continue on your way, leaving your footprints on the crumbly rocks, leaving your mark among the hoofprints of the piglins.

——

You might be lost. Maybe you took a wrong turn somewhere but you could’ve sworn you went right back on your path after you went to examine the giant fossil. It looked very cool, who could blame you for looking at it? But you’re definitely lost because you’re stuck in a crimson mushroom-tree hiding from hoglins.

There’s two on the ground below you, making snorting noises and ramming into the trunk, shaking the tree and making you feel like you might fall off. It’s a godawful situation, pretty much.

One minute, two minutes pass as you let your heart rate slow and your breathing steady before you pull out your bow and nock an arrow. You spot a group of piglins on a hill nearby, and one holds up his crossbow. Do you need help? is the unmistakable question, and you raise your own bow at them. No, but thank you.

And so, you shoot the hoglins until they finally die. After that, you decide to keep to the tops of the trees. Whatever relief the small amount of shade might’ve brought from the heat is overshadowed by your desire to not be killed.

You hurry through. There’s nothing you want here.

____

A fun trick you’ve learned is how to ride the striders. They’ll follow a small warped mushroom as long as you keep a saddle on it. You grimace a little as the lava warms your metal armor and makes it feel a bit like an oven. But it’s surprisingly a bit fun. A few small piglin children wave at you from a bastion window and you smile and wave back. You must look as strange to them as they do to you.

——

You’re officially lost but there’s two good things. You brought obsidian and some flint and steel, and you’ve now stumbled onto a fortress. It should be easy enough to pick up a few bulbs of netherwart and then make a portal to get back to the Overworld.

The strider takes you to the edge of the wastes and you pluck the mushroom off to feed it. Its needley teeth prick your fingers as it takes it, but it’s just so cute, you can’t really care.

The fortress is dark. It’s always dark in there. But all you want is the netherwart, that’s all. Blaze rods can wait until you’ve brought better things along with you. You’re not ready to fight those things of pure fire yet.

Those stupid wither skeletons though, they’re a problem. Almost too dark to even see in the halls of this place. You shoot a few from a distance and continue on your way, but one hits you from behind before you even had a chance to hear them.

The wither sickness is all on their bones and their swords, and sometimes you think the only reason it doesn’t kill you is because you wear armor. It takes a few hits to take down the two behind you, and you sit down in a decently secluded corner to wait for the strength to come back to your body.

Once that’s done, you begin your search again. It takes no small amount of time to navigate the fortress, and no small amount of close calls fighting withers or even blazes that has gone loose. It’s terrifying fighting in an enclosed space as opposed to the open. Easier that way to run away. Much harder here.

Eventually, you find your prize. A small garden of netherwart. You pluck a few bulbs and put them in your pack, then hurriedly block off the door to make your portal. Last thing you need is these terrible fortress things following you back.

——

You step out of the purple haze into an unfamiliar birch forest. You quickly make note of your current coordinates (hey, blaze rods!) and check your notes to see your home coords. You have a decent walk ahead of you, but at the very least, it’s day and the sunlight feels natural on your skin. There’s a cool breeze and the air is fresh.

You shake some basalt dust out of your hair and head back home.