#writhing writing

[l-art-stuff-l]

“I wish my older brother loved My Little Pony as much as I did,” the little girl sighed.

On her grandmothers old shelf of exotics and antiques, a single finger on a monkeys paw curled inward.

[l-art-stuff-l]

It had been a joke, mostly, when you said you were getting horror movie vibes to your friends. They laughed, you laughed, but you still had a point. A little cabin, in the middle of the woods? During summer? That was practically screaming “We’re in a horror movie!”

You had wanted to go, honest, but really, if you had to deal with bugs, no AC access during the middle of summer, and spotty at best cell service? You would’ve laid prone on the ground and wait for the earth to reclaim you.

Your friends go off with promises of awesome pictures and cool looking rocks, and you stay behind, with promises to check up on their places, make sure any pets are alright and no break-ins have occurred.

Their first night there, they all get on a call with you and tell you about the car ride to the cabin, all the stupid songs and weird snacks and silly stories they shared with each other. You laugh along with them, and tell them in excruciating detail about the delicious pizza you are eating that very moment, as they whine and complain halfheartedly.

Their second night there, they complain about the bugs, and tell you about the lake that’s just a 15 minutes walk away from the cabin, how beautiful it is. You all joke about catching fish with bare hands, and a couple of your friends seem to genuinely consider it.

Their third night there, they tell you about the strange sounds at night, the tracks that don’t seem to be made by wild animals, how the woods will fall eerily silent at times. You think about your horror movie comment a few days prior, and you worry.

Their fourth night there, they tell you about these strange rectangular pits they found not far from the cabin, several feet deep and seemingly freshly dug. There are six holes, they tell you, and you think about how there are five of them there, and how you almost went with them.

Their fifth night there, they don’t call, and they don’t pick up. You don’t sleep well.

Their sixth night, only one friend calls, panicked and crying, and tells you that the holes are graves, that something, someone, killed the others. They’re the only one left. You have to help them, they beg of you. But you’re too far away, too powerless, and the call ends soon after.

You call the authorities, leave them an anonymous tip that there’s a group of people out in the woods, dead. You don’t sleep that night.

The seventh day you spend worried, for your last remaining friend, for yourself.

The seventh night you spend paranoid, because there were six graves, and you’re the only one left.

By the eighth night, there is something in your house, and even as you call the police, you know they will be too late.

You lock yourself in your bathroom and cry as the footsteps get closer to your door, as it gets smashed open, wood splintering under the blade of a bloodstained axe.

“I don’t understand,” you manage between your sobs. “I did everything right.”

The killer tilts their head at you, almost pityingly.

“You did.”

The axe swings towards your head.

getting horror movie vibes from the trip your friends were planning, you decided to simply stay home.

[whumpdaydreamerx]

That moment when Whumpee overwhelmed with the pain of their injuries, screams and yells Caretaker’s name in desperation. And all Caretaker can do to stop their agony and writhing, is gently quiet them before getting started on treatment.

The “Shh, shh, shh. I know…I know” as they take a moment to brush a hand through Whumpee’s hair or cup their cheek. Softening their features to comfort them.

[chrliekclly]

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

oct 2024 episode of octa + 4koma update

***SPOILERS for the new Episode of Octavinelle chapter (13) and this month's 4koma!*** Reminder that there is no Episode of Savanaclaw update this month.

Ayo... 😳 The girlies are fighting... asdjvaiutfvaofdilfei AZUL FINDING IT IN HIMSELF TO PUSH UP HIS GLASSES ANYWAY, AS IF THAT'S SUPPOSED TO INTIMIADATE LEONA SoMEHOW??? ???f????? ? ? ? ? ??

… Also why the FUCK is Leona’s skirt skewed like THAT… I know that’s NOT how that shirt looks in the game 😭 COVER UP WHORE

WEH... OJITAN SAVING THE DAY BY YOINKING RUGGIE BY THE SCRUFF... Makin' up for almost sanding him yourself, I see... WHAT A GOOD ONII-SAMA... (<- delusional)

This is kinda cool yet also disturbing and gross 💀 Azul seems to have a bunch of tentacles shooting out from his back (he still seems to have legs???). And then those tentacles shoot out and grab people's talents for him... LIKE THEY SHOVE THEMSELVES DOWN YOUR WINDPIPE AND RETRIEVE IT

LIKE UGH I'M MGAGGING SJUST THINKIGN ABOUT IT, THAT SHIT MSUT FEEL SO UNcFOMROTABLE ... THE TENTACLE SQUIRMING AROUND INSIDE OF YOU... YOINKING OUT A PEIC EOF YOURSELF... EWwwwwwWwwwwwwwWWwwwwWWWwww 😭

There's many panels of Azul and his tentacles causing havoc and snatching up mob students + the twins showing up and fighting his tentacles off. BUT. AFGUADVKFADUVAOGVUEGVWIYEFBIAL IT MAKES ME KINDA ILL LOOKING AT THE TENTACLES SO I;M JUST ONGNGA KEEP WHAT I SHARE TO A MINIUMUM... OTL SORRY, I FIND IT REALLY ICK

The trend of Azul making the most out-of-pocket expressions continues. Bro's LITERALLY the screaming crying throwing up meme?????? (For comparison, Riddle bled ink from a different spot; ie his head.) Although here I feel really bad for him, because it CANNOT be good to be leaking ink from your eye sockets, nose, AND mouth... Please help this boy...

NOT THIS NOT THIS, ASHENGROTTO... HE'S SO UNHINGED, WHY'S HE PULLING A YUNO GASAI FACE

HE'S FINALLY SNAPPING, GFUYS.... .. .. . . ..... .. . . .. . . . .. . .. . . I love the detail of Azul looking like he's sinking in Ursula's cauldron and her poor unfortunate souls + bottled critters for her potions are mobbing him... The encroaching despair...

Aw, the twins are worried about Azul and call out to hinm... JADE EVEN SHOWING HIS TEETH, EVEN THOUGH HE CLAIMS IT "EMBARRASSES" HIM...

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE, OCTATRIO... 🫵 YOU'RE FRIENDS... YOU CAR EABOTU EACH OTHER, DON'T DEN Y IT

Also, these!! (Because I didn't know where to cram them before.) A back shot of kid!Azul and a really REALLY blurry image of their class picture in the Atlantica museum.

Hopefully we get to see kid!Azul in full during his flashbacks :DD

... And now for complete tonal whiplash, this months' 4koma features Deuce as the main character! He's accidentally bleaches Kalim's Magic Carpet (thinking it is his lab coat). He tries various methods to restore the Magic Carpet but ultimately goes to Malleus for help.

[momolady]

Commissions Are Open!

I'll be accepting a few a month so send an email to get into the queue.

The Spiel:

Include a genre or theme if you so wish. Such as horror, romance, angst, fluff, etc.

If you want one of my universes, please include it as well. Ruby Empire, Hearthway Hollow, the Carnival, etc.

If you have a story idea, please include a few sentences of plot for me to work with. The more details the better

If you wish to include your OC please provide references so I can do them justice.

All characters must be 18+ for nsfw content.

All payments must be made in USD, & invoices will be sent upfront.

I have the right to refuse commissions

Discussion will take place via email or through discord if requested.

You will receive commissions through email unless requested otherwise.

Changes can be made, but there is a limit of 2 revisions. (I’m soft though so who knows if I’ll keep this up.)

All stories will be posted to my Patreon, Tumblr, and maybe ko-fi. OC can be changed upon request for public stories. You will always have the original story.

My stories can not be posted anywhere else.

Longer stories may receive an increase in price. (Under 10k words is usually fine. I enjoy longer works personally.)

Stories take anywhere from one to three weeks to complete once started depending on length, detail, etc. Feel free to ask for updates, previews, etc.

East Commission Form:

What is your budget (or desired word count):

Genre/Universe/Theme:

Reader Character Gender:

Reader Character Description:

Monster Character:

Monster Character Description:

Is this NSFW or SFW?

Any kinks, tropes, or specifics?

Story Outline:

Other thoughts or comments:

What You can Commission:

All monsters and creatures from media, folklore, myth, crytozoology, etc. (Within the bounds of cultural sensitivity.)

Horror stories. This can be straight horror, romance, smut, etc. Slasher, Lovecraftian, weird, etc.

Magical girl stories. Heroes as well.

Original Characters are always welcome.

Legally distinct characters are okay. I don’t write fanfic, but I’m happy to build your dream character with an existing character as reference.

If you need an idea for character or plot, I will brainstorm with you. I also will do free reign stories for a small discount.

Continuing stories from my masterlist is also accepted! I enjoy revisiting beloved characters.

Plotting help for your own stories such as outlines, character bios, etc. (This is new dunno where it’ll go.)

Moodboard can be requested upon story completion if wanted. Otherwise it will be seen on Patreon first.

Themes:

Smut of course. Other NSFW themes can be done upon approval. (No under 18 or dub-con themes.)

All romance of course. Ranging from slow burn, enemies to lovers, one bed, etc.

LGBTQIA+ themes are always welcome.

Classic tropes:forbidden love, fake dating, friends to enemies, hurt-comfort, stuck together, cafe au, etc.

Horror stories, romantic or not. The weirder the better.

Fantasy: can include anything from DnD themed, urban fantasy, future, past, other worlds, etc.

Fluff: domestic bliss, confessions, dates, proposals, etc.

Platonic stories.

Plot heavy.

PWP

[erotic-writhings]

Hm i think I enjoy like living armour

Ohh I think I like that too, now I'm not sure if this allures you to them, but imagine waking up trapped inside one.

==========Horny=stuff=Below!===========

You had gone to sleep after a long day of exploring and didn't think anything of the old armor lining the hall, it was dull and probably wouldn't even get you anything if you pawned it. As you wake up the next morning though, the first thing you feel is cold metal touching every part of you. You try to struggle but your arms are held to your sides by the armor you now wear. You scream for help but your voice only echos off of the visor just in front of your face.

You didn't notice this but as you made camp for the night, a suit of living armor had its eyes on you. Something about you, your movement, your innate energy, or maybe merely your body heat drew it to you, and it wanted more.

It slowly disassembled itself and slid onto you, careful not to wake you. As it lifted itself off the ground with you inside, you made a grunt but it was quick to hush you. Using it's feelers and tendrils to soothingly brush against your skin until you fell back into a deeper sleep.

Now as you screamed in your living prison, it did the same as before, only this time it called attention to the fact you were mostly nude inside of here, it must have had to remove your clothes to assure you fit inside. As the slimy tendrils ran over your body you couldn't help but whimper, thoughts raced in your mind about being eaten or simply left to rot in here. Tears ran down your face but the tendrils quickly wiped them away, stroking your cheek. Was it trying to be kind to you?

While you still shook in its clutches, you began to try and focus on the behavior of the creature touching you. It was carrying out slow, gentle strokes across your body. Slimy, but not entirely bad. Suddenly you moaned. The creature's tendrils hand found it's way to your crotch. You tried to speak out against it "h-hey no w-wait a minute-" but you were cut off as you moaned again. The creature using it's feelers to find all the places that made you tick. You tried to struggle against it and protest but you were reminded that this creature had you entirely surrounded in its armor. Your limbs were now it's own and it didn't seem to understand english to know that you didn't want this.

But maybe that was good, maybe you did want this. The creature could sense that your fear was subsiding and more pleasurable feelings were growing inside of you, the noises you made now didn't sound as alarmed as they had once did. The creature continued, and pleasure began to block out any other sense you had. From the outside all anyone would see is a stock still suit of armor but on the inside was your writhing and panting body, maybe if someone listened close enough they could hear your muffled moans, but that was unlikely because the living armor was going to be highly defensive of you no matter what, not that you would have the time to worry about that.

[goatsandgangsters]

gdocs offered me many helpful suggestions on my last binding christmas fic

[ultimateyapper]

anyway, here's wonderwall. | chapter two

[ chapter 1 ]

why is frostheim so cold, and why is jin's room somehow worse? even just standing outside his room, you can feel the cold seeping through the cracks. like a freezer, a blast of icy air swings out each time it opens. everything about jin was cold, from his unyielding gaze to the feel of his hands. when he uses his stigma, chills run down your spine as his cold hands meet yours. it's like the dorm was made to fit him, a king with a kingdom to match.

jin could definitely be cold but he wasn't entirely made of ice. you could see the way your friends had managed to get under his skin, even if he still called them brats. had you managed to do the same? with all the back and forth you do for him you sure hope—

"what do you want."

ah, speak of the devil. the door opens with a gust of wind that makes you involuntarily shiver. standing there, looking mildly annoyed, was his majesty himself. his hair is tossed in a way that screams he'd just woken up. you're a little jealous of how flawless he looked, even with his eyebrows cast downward. you also wonder how he'd react if you told him that, but he's probably not in the mood for small talk. he never is, but still, it might be better to make this quick.

"good morning to you too. i got the documents tohma reprinted from your last mission but they need to be resigned. do you have a minute?"

his frown deepens at that. "for tohma? no."

"oh. well... do you have a minute for me?"

he continues glaring but sighs and halfheartedly opens the door. as he dips back inside the white-ish fluff on his head lightly swishes with the movement. "are you coming in or what? i don't have all day."

"...for tohma or for me?"

"for either of you now hurry up."

when you step in jins room it looks the same as always. not much changes and you wonder what he even occupies himself with in here. the plain and bare interior is way different than the other ghouls. ren has movie posters plastered across every wall of his room, a collection that he'd been building since he was a kid.

looking in his room would give you a glimpse of his personality even if you didn't know him. jin on the other hand didn't have anything like that. he walks over to the stupidly large couch in the back to recline as usual. "grab a pen and get over here."

demanding as ever...

over on a desk you find a cup with a few different writing utensils. funnily enough, despite the set up you've never actually seen jin sitting at this desk and you almost laugh. you'd only seen it occupied once by tohma, signing a contract he said you'd have to die to know about. with how darkwick can be you don't think he was joking. you return to his side with a black pen and present the papers.

"tch. i told that three eyes to handle this shit. i swear when i catch him." tohma definitely gets a kick out of getting on his nerves. it seems to be working well, too.

you start to feel awkward watching him lazily flip through the pages. you'd be constantly on your feet once you got to jabberwock, so maybe you should rest while you can. jin doesn't look willingly to budge anytime soon. his bed could be an option but you don't know if he'd consider that rude or not. it wouldn't hurt to ask. "uhm, jin can i sit with you?" you force yourself not to take it back when he raises and eyebrow.

"you expecting me to move for you?" why does he make it sound so absurd? you feel your face heat up at his inquiry but no way are you backing down. "well i didn't want to sit on your bed..." you trail off. his eyes follow yours before focusing back on you. "i just figured it's more comfortable than standing."

"comfortable? you think i care about making you comfortable?," he scoffs. is it a crime to rest your legs? your unamusement doesn't seem to affect him. a slight smirk starts pulling on his lips. "you realize servants aren't the ones who should be giving orders don't you?"

you want to roll your eyes but part you also doesn't want to test him. his status as the presidents son is a little intimidating. maybe if you don't break eye contact he won't be able to tell you're nervous. can ghouls smell fear?

"yeah but i saved you the trip by coming up here, the least you can do is allow me to sit with you. unless... you wanted me to send tohma instead?"

his smirk falls and he takes a moment to squint at your response. you doubt jin wanted to deal with tohma's pestering right now. the fact that he wasn't up before you got here was a clear sign tohma hadn't already swung by to interrupt his lazing about. after an exasperated sigh he surprisingly lets up.

"whatever, but don't get too comfortable. you're running more errands for getting snarky with me." you're too busy with the other dorms for that but decide not to mention it. you take your victory on the couch while he continues like you're not even there. "don’t make a habit of this," he mutters, almost as an afterthought.

"yes sir," you say without thinking. that's not a weird thing to say is it? it must be all the servant and master stuff he keeps mentioning. you look away so he doesn't see you get flushed again, and relievingly he doesn't say anything further. it's a little weird for him to be this nice but maybe he's just tired. an oddly comfortable silence envelops the room as you lean back and relax.

—

the sun greets you like a warm hug when you exit the building. it's comforting after being stuck inside a cold space for so long. automatically you stretch up toward the sky until your back satisfyingly pops.

"there you are! did you finish up with everything?," a voice says over to your side. when you open your eyes, luca's heading over with a certain blondie in tow. kaito perks up upon seeing you and meets halfway with a high five.

"just to be clear, i'm not indebting myself with this volunteer thing right? i really don't need another sinostra situation," he jokes. haru indebting people to him? he can barely get ren and towa to actually help around the dorm. even peekaboo doesn't listen to him sometimes. jabberwock is run like a kindergarten compared to sinostra's pseudo mafia.

"i doubt you'll have to worry about that... you'll see when we get there. luckily i got out of there before jin started ordering me around." any longer and you would've been doing his laundry again. thankfully the king of frostheim was still tired. luca frowns at this revelation so you nudge his elbow reassuringly. "i'm just joking, honestly it was no trouble at all."

you'd perfer luca not to make a big deal out of it. he almost confronted jin on his own accord once but was stopped by that vagastorm situation. you're glad it happened, even if he got in trouble for the fight that came afterwards...

truthfully, you didn't mind doing stuff for the dorms. it was only the ghouls that treated you like dirt in exchange that irritated you. it's not like you were trying to bother anybody. your honor student title basically just made you a glorified helper for them anyway. why do the ghouls have to treat you like a burden? you didn't ask to be here anymore than they did. if only you could find the cure to this stupid curse...

alas, there's no use spiraling, you can't do anything about it yet. eventually, it'll work itself out. the puzzled gaze of your friends grounds you back into reality. you give them a smile and head down the concrete path. at least, for now, you have something to focus on.

"let's get going, haru's offering of 50% off tickets expires at noon." a few steps in, kaito fully registers your words. "wait we have to pay!!?!!?"

ah. right. forgot to mention that.

[dirty-bosmer]

WIP Wednesday

I haven't done one of these in a hot minute because I haven't been writing a whole lot, BUT I scrounged something up today. I was tagged over the past few weeks by my dear friends @skyrim-forever @thequeenofthewinter @bostoniangirl21 @throughtrialbyfire thank you all! I'm looking forward to catching up on everyone's art and writing :))

tagging forward: @elavoria @sheirukitriesfandom @ladytanithia @saltymaplesyrup @vivifriend @miraakulous-cloud-district <3

From Slither and Writhe Chapter 7 (in which we finally get to Whiterun)

“Four fingers.” Sylawen looked at her raised fist and frowned. “Not quite.” “Three! Three fingers then. Wait, no, wait. Two. There, that’s my final answer.” “You don’t get a prize for guessing the correct amount, Thrynn. Can you count them or not? The whole point of this exercise is to assess the damage and determine whether or not you can see anything.” “I can see just fine,” Thrynn grumbled, lowering the hand shielding his left eye to glare at her through its swollen, purple lids. Sylawen hesitated to call it his ‘good’ eye. It was more so his ‘least terrible’ eye. Even ‘better eye’ seemed too generous. “Vision’s always been shit from afar, that’s all.” Sylawen could feel her lips twisting into an even deeper grimace the longer she stared at Thyrnn’s unfortunate face. She’d done what she could for the eye she’d stabbed, which, given their limited resources and her still depleted magicka, was not very much at all. “Well, you can detect shifts in light, at least. That’s promising. I’ll try another healing spell when I—” “Uh-uh.” Thrynn gave his head a small shake as he slipped the dirty bandage back over his eye. “No offense, lady, but I’m not letting you touch me again.”  Sylawen grit her teeth. There was an annoying stab of guilt whittling at the inside of her ribs. How was she supposed to know that Thrynn hadn’t really meant to kill her, that when he’d tried to stick her with his knife it was for the verisimilitude and nothing else?

[moonchild-in-blue]

If thing [ibuprofen] bad [eats your stomach lining if taken in excess], why good [clears away my migraines and brings me peace]?

[l-art-stuff-l]

Thunder Storm”, Clear Sky mewed. “We don’t have to do this. Just step aside, come back to me. We can have peace. Just join me.”

Thunder Storm stared at him in disbelief, claws unhooking from Clear Sky’s fur in shock.

“Peace? We tried to make peace with you, and you fought us every step. You killed a cat and stole her kits, just to expand your borders. You threw Tall Shadow to killers, just because she disagreed with you. You want no peace! All you wish for is power”, he snarled, “control.”

“And all that was for my cats!” Clear Sky said. “My Clan! You can be part of that, Thunder Storm. I’ll be willing to forgive you for your insolence if you just come back, join me. Join your father.”

Thunder Storm recoiled, rage burning like fire in his eyes, his heart, his very being.

“Father!? My one and only father lay dead by our feet”, he snarled, “your claws are still dripping with his blood! You are no father of mine!”

Clear Sky’s eyes hardened, and his lip curled into a snarl.

“Fine”, he growled, “if you wish to stand in my way, then I’ll take care of you, just like I did Shaded Flower.”

At that, he leapt at Thunder Storm, claws scoring down his fur, piercing his flesh. Thunder Storm clawed back at Clear Sky, jaws snapping at his throat. They wrestled, rolling over and over on the bloodied ground, before jumping apart, both breathing heavily.

Thunder Storm looked into Clear Sky’s cold eyes, and knew that he would not hesitate to kill Thunder Storm, nor would he regret it. He had only one chance to stop it all, prevent any more suffering by Clear Sky’s uncaring claws.

He leapt at Clear Sky, who jumped to meet him, and as they collided there was a bright light, accompanied a great roar. A bolt of lightning had struck the oak above them, and as they grappled with each other the tree creaked, a limb falling from the great trunk. Bright Storm saw it before they did, yowling out a warning.

“Look out above!”

Thunder Storm looked up and gasped, prompting Clear Sky to look up as well. They both scrambled away from the other, unwilling to be crushed. The branch crashed between them, right where they had been hardly a moment before. The other cats gradually stopped fighting, and it was as if the very world was holding its breath for how quiet it was, almost as if it were waiting for something.

@bonefall

[whumpdaydreamerx]

Whumpee and Caretaker ambushed in their home. Caretaker tied to a chair as Whumpee is attacked. Maybe shot or stabbed before the Whumper and their men leave.

Whumpee left sprawled on the floor writhing in pain as they clutch their abdomen. Neck arching as their mouth falls open with a silent cry. Caretaker watching helplessly from their chair. Begging Whumpee to get up — try to untie them so Caretaker can tend to Whumpee.

Whumpee’s upside down vision of Caretaker blurring as they try their best to pull themself together and gather their strength.

[carnivalcarriondiscarded]

some Sharpie Sillies i scribbled to cope with the compulsory heterosexuality i was just forced to watch. it was painful

[echidna-cosmos]

beastober day 12: split/union

the end of the world pt.4; summary

[fujii-draws]

Regrets

Summary: As golden orbs of light brought an end to Dusknoir’s existence; he’s confronted with a thought. One he’d long been avoiding since the day he arrived in the world of the past, and came in contact with two young, small Pokémon. The same two he’d eventually come to grow fond of, only to betray as part of his mission. As he’s forced to finally confront it in his isolation, Dusknoir finds himself coming to an epiphany. One he’d been denying for a very, very long time.

[Word count: 2130]

–––––––––––––––––––––

‘Aimilios... Ribbons...’ The ghost type melancholically lamented to himself. ‘They… did it….’

The black, paralyzed skies had begun to shift as the morning came. Rays of light hit the ghost type’s body; although numb, even he’d felt the warmth of the sun course through him. Time was finally moving again… and all Dusknoir could do was helplessly watch as his body faded; the light bringing an end to his existence.

Dusknoir cannot describe the emotions he’s feeling. Proud…? Accomplished…? Fearful….?

Damn it all. Arceus… if only he’d realized the mistake he was making. If only he’d defied Primal Dialga and had his change of heart sooner… perhaps those two would’ve still…. The three of them could’ve been-

No.

It’s over.

He ruined it.

…Dusknoir turns his head slowly, his gaze falling on to Grovyle; the reason he decided to go against Primal Dialga’s wishes in the first place. The reason he lived; for what would perhaps be the first time in ages… Had it not been for his speech back at the icicle pillars…Dusknoir doesn’t even want to think of the calamity that would’ve ensued. He continues to stare at the slowly disappearing grass-type, almost thoughtful.

“Grovyle…”

The grass-type’s eyes meet the black specter’s pained expression.

“My M-my life… Did it shine….?”

Dusknoir wanted to hear it from Grovyle. He wouldn’t feel satisfied, or even happy hearing it from himself. The ghost’s self-hatred was deep rooted enough as it was. Especially after all of what he had done. He needed a second opinion.

“…Yes.” The lizard Pokémon smiles, softly reassuring Dusknoir in what would be his final moments. “…Extraordinarily.”

…Dusknoir, despite not believing Grovyle, chooses to do so. Offering a small smile back at his old friend. “Grovyle… Thanks to you…..”

He pauses.

“…I have no regrets.”

…Dusknoir starts to feel himself slipping away completely; his physical form fading into illuminated lights in the sky as he draws his final breath… His death is almost comforting... At least- it would’ve been, had he made peace with his unspoken feelings… towards them. Even when he’s disappearing. Even when he’s dying…

He still couldn’t tell the truth.

One regret.

He had all but one.

…And now, he’ll never see them again. Never be able to tell them how sorry he was. Never be able to tell those two how much they meant to him… what they actually meant to him.

How foolish was he…? To get attached like this…? To care so much about their futures as well as his…? ..He couldn’t even admit how much they mattered to him in his final moments… Dusknoir grunts. really is just a liar, isn’t he? And that’s all the two will remember him for. Their scornful expressions when he’d laughed at their misery during their confrontation in the future. Their looks of betrayal. Tears rolled down the eevee and riolu’s faces as they unhinged their claws and teeth at Dusknoir. To think at the time, he found their reactions simply hysterical…

——————

“YOU LIAR..!”

“W-WE TRUSTED YOU..!”

“Pray tell… who’s fault is that?” Dusknoir sneered. “Not once had I asked for your background, or your names.”

Dusknoir began to float menacingly towards Aimilios. “Last I recall, you were responsible for your own partner’s downfall.”

“I-I….”

“LEAVE HIM ALONE…!!”

——————

…Now all he feels is a sharp pain stabbing through his chest recalling that horrible memory.

If there was a heaven or hell; the latter would be awaiting him right about now.

Speaking of…

Dusknoir opens his eye, attempting to browse his uncanny surroundings. What meets the ghost-type is… emptiness?

“…What on earth..?” His eye wanders down to his body.

…He appears in what looks like a pitch-black void. Dusknoir himself would’ve blended right in with the endless abyss had it not been for the yellow outlines distinguishing the features of his silhouette-like shadow… the same exact hue of yellow lights that’d been responsible for his disappearance moments ago… it’s almost as if he’d become a ghost all over again... He’d find the circumstances slightly amusing had it not been for his current dilemma. Dusknoir stares at his golden-laced hand, before contemplating something.

‘…Perhaps..’ Dusknoir thinks to himself. ‘Perhaps… it’s better this way…’ He knows it’s selfish. He knows he’s being a coward. But… now he doesn’t have to face Ribbons and Aimilios. He doesn’t have to look at those same faces that once revered him with such adoration; now fear, in the eyes… And yet… The thought of never seeing those two again… why does the thought bring him so much unnecessary pain? They were only means to an end to begin with- so why does he even CARE?!

“…GWOOH.. GWOOOOH..!!!” The ghost-type’s head begins to throb uncontrollably; Dusknoir clutches his head; nearly identical to how he did when breaking down in the midst of Grovyle’s speech. He clutches his temple harder in a feeble attempt to satiate the pain. Why couldn’t he just stop…? He’d tried so hard to detach himself from Ribbons and Aimilios once he realized who they were... Yet like a complete and utter fool; he stayed close. So close to an eevee and riolu he was ordered to execute. Why couldn’t he just forget about those two…? It would hurt so much less. They were means to an end to begin with- so WHY?!

“B-BLAST IT..!”

He slams both of his fists on the onyx colored ground beneath him in frustration. The yellow outlines of his body begin to glow violently as he draws heavy, shallow breaths.

…Dusknoir is suddenly plagued with a memory- of those two. He… remembers the eevee and riolu smiling widely; at him no less. It was… around the time when he’d referred to them as his ‘friends’. A mere front to gain their trust. Dusknoir recounts just how overjoyed they looked… and how that happiness made something in his chest hurt for a split second. He didn’t have to give them false hope. He didn’t have to play this ruse as far as he did… and yet. There was a small, foolish part of him that genuinely enjoyed it; and an even smaller part of him that knew he’d regret it.

————————

“You mean it?!” The riolu beamed. “You’ll really help us?!”

“But of course!” Dusknoir smiled, placing a hand on his chest. “I offer you two, my full cooperation!”

Dusknoir watched as the two Pokémon whip their heads towards eachother; almost trying to confirm the other’s disbelief. They look back at him; tails wagging rapidly in unison— before Ribbons excitedly jumps onto the ghost-type. Dusknoir nearly stumbles from just how sudden it was. Despite this, he catches her with his quick reflexes.

“Thank you thank you thank you!!!” Ribbons cheered. “You have no idea how much this means to us!”

Dusknoir recollected himself; before putting a hand on each of the overjoyous Pokémon’s heads.

“I’m… glad to hear. Truly.” A lie, obviously…but even he couldn’t help but smile a little at their shared enthusiasm.

“By golly..! Huff… huff…”

All three of the Pokémon had turned their heads to the out-of-breath Bidoof. Dusknoir immediately put Ribbons and Aimilios down; a slightly embarrassed blush crossing the ghost’s face as he brushed himself off coughing, returning to his more professional, stoic-like persona.

———————————

…He didn’t have to play with their emotions. He could’ve just as easily stayed acquaintances- kept his distance- but no. He just had to enjoy spending time with them. He had to get closer to them. He had to remember their favorite foods. To enjoy laughing with them until his stomach became sore, protecting them, watching over them, loving them as if they were…

Were…

…Dusknoir can’t help but hold his hand under his eye. He… he really did care those two... As if they were his own… his own…

“….Hoh…”

His train of thought comes to a complete halt. The idea of those two? Seeing him that way? After what he had done? After the horrible things he’s said…?

“Ho..Hohohaha..! HOHOHOHA-HA-HA-HA!”

His laughter becomes more and more erratic; holding one hand under his eye as the other grips his head- his cackles echoing into the never ending void.

“HAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahaa…!“

Dusknoir’s broken laughter echoes throughout the void; until there’s nothing left but silence. Both of Dusknoir’s hands now cover his face as he crumbles to the ground. A shell of what was once the ‘Great Dusknoir’… was nothing more but the husk of a broken ghost. Too selfish and weak to do the right thing; and stand by the only two Pokémon who were willing to trust him with their lives… He wishes the endless abyss he was in would just swallow him already.

“Aimilios…Ribbons…” Dusknoir’s voice cracks; calling out for the ones he’d hurt.

…They deserved so much better than him. He didn’t deserve them. And to think in the beginning, they’d been the ones who were trying to prove themselves to be worthy of him... When it’d been the other way around this entire time. How ironic.

How absolutely ironic.

…Which reminds him-

“Ribbons…!” His head shoots up in a panic; his eye filled with worry.

She had already disappeared at this point, didn’t she..? In front of Aimilios no less..? He can’t even begin to fathom how horrible it must’ve been for both of them… at such young ages… maybe if he’d assisted them on their perilous journey to Temporal Tower…. he could’ve been there to remedy the weight of their situation… but of course instead, he used it in a pathetic attempt to beg for his life. Dumping everything onto Ribbons in a last ditch effort to save his own ghostly skin… in the small desperate hope she’d finally understand why he…

…Selfish.

So selfish.

Of course his train of thought immediately went straight back to him. He can’t think about anyone’s wellbeing except for his own. His ‘self preservation’. His ‘life’. Nevermind all of the Pokémon he was going to deny the futures of. He was at risk. So they all had to pay for it. Because of his cowardice.

This was his atonement.

He deserved this.

Dusknoir closes his eye. Maybe in his next life he’ll be a decent Pokémon. One worthy of respect. Of adoration.

Of love.

.

.

.

“Gah...”

Dusknoir groans. Why does it feel so cold all of a sudden..?

Wait.. cold?

He sees… ice… and feels… wind?

‘…What..?’

He slowly gets up; using his hands to suspend himself in the air. He looks around- only to see himself back.

Back on the mountain.

He stares at his hands for an indeterminate amount of time before they begin to tremble. His expression contorted into one of self-loathing and confusion.

“W-we’re still here…” His fingers curl into fists.

“I didn’t disappear…! Wh-Why?!”

Dusknoir shouts; almost disgusted by the fact he was revived- rather than questioning how it was even possible in the first place. No. He doesn’t- He shouldn’t be here. It must’ve been some kind of mistake… That’s it. There’s no other logical explanation for why he should be still here. Perhaps the higher being that brought him back into this world will immediately realize their error, and make swift work of him.

“We… we truly are still here…” Grovyle lamented, breathing a sigh of what would be an overwhelming rush relief. Celebi begins to flutter her wings happily around the grass-type.

“Wonderful!! I don’t know why we were fading and didn’t disappear…” She twirls, overjoyous now having gained all her strength back. “…But everyone is safe!! Oh my beloved..! Isn’t this just an amazing wonderful thing?!”

Grovyle chuckles heartedly. “It is.”

Unfortunately among the three; the ghost type was not experiencing the same joy as the grass type pokemon. Dusknoir had been drowning out half of their words of cheer and relief with thoughts of contempt. Self-depricational thoughts clouded the ghost-type’s mind as he kept searching for logical answers for his revival… Everyone else made sense. But why him of all Pokémon..?!

“Why..? Wh-Why me..?” Dusknoir whispered to himself dejectedly; mirroring his words from when his Sableye ‘betrayed’ him.

The only difference being how genuine it was.

Pr- Dialga had appeared to explain the whole situation to the trio. Once that had been done, Grovyle, and Celebi walked and flew individually near the edge of the mountain to feel the sun on their skins; their accomplishments finally having been paid off, soaking in the sun…

……Dusknoir, however; had stayed in the exact spot he’d been revived. His thoughts plagued him. This was not his victory. This was not for him to enjoy. What was he to do now..? Live his life as if nothing happened..? As if he didn’t hurt countless Pokémon..? Guilt had almost immediately begun to eat away at the ghost-type. He looks down at his hands one last time... Perhaps death would’ve been too good for a despicable Pokémon such as himself. The torment of being alive, and living with what he had done seemed like a fitting and ironic enough punishment… but that wasn’t what truly scared him.

Far from it, in fact.

Without a doubt in Dusknoir’s mind; Grovyle and Celebi would want to return back to the past… perhaps not this very instant; but at a given point. And when that time finally arrives…

Dusknoir stares at the Passage of Time facing him. Almost mocking him.

…He’d have to face them.

“…” Dusknoir clenches his fists tightly; his brow furrowing.

…The mere thought of confronting those two again- No no no no no. He- he should have disappeared. Death would’ve been a mercy. He can’t face them- not again. Looking at the same two children he tried to slaughter with his bare hands mere hours ago face-to-face..? Dusknoir’s fists tremble as his terror consumes him. What would they say..? Let alone think..? They’d run at the mere sight of him. He…

He doesn’t want to scare them.

He doesn’t want to hurt them.

He..

…Now he has something else to be afraid of.