#yes they’re her master but its something way more personal for her

[physalian]

Wicked (part 1) was a solid adaptation

Saw Wicked last night. Only seen the musical once and for a movie longer than both halves of the original combined, the extra added minutes aren’t wasted. I can't exactly praise a movie for storytelling when its legwork was done near beat-for-beat already in the musical, and in the original book, but if you haven't or won't see anything except this film: Yes, it has a very good story.

But I want to talk about what I think is the best example of a “maybe they weren’t so terrible after all” villain redemption retcon, of which Elphaba is kind of the poster child of this whole trend. Why she works, and why something like Cruella did not. Not specific to this version at all.

Quick synopsis: Wicked is an alternate telling of the events before The Wizard of Oz, the backstory of the Good Witch Glinda and the Wicked Witch of The West. It is not the story of how good triumphed over evil, how Elphaba devolved or perhaps was always mean and nasty and underdog Glinda saved the day.

Instead, it’s a deeply political (and whoo boy is it relevant today) smear campaign against the disenfranchised and the minority population of Oz—the talking animals. Elphaba is the underdog, an up-and-coming bright-eyed sorceress taken under the wing of her magic school’s legendary professor, with hopes to one day meet the Great Wizard of Oz. There she meets mean-girl Galinda and for about half a classic mean-girl storyline, the two are enemies. Galinda makes amends, the two become friends, and they go together to Oz to meet the Wizard…

Who is an even worse man behind the curtain than in the ‘39 movie, a charlatan and a fraud, who, when Elphaba refuses to let him abuse her magic to scapegoat the talking animal community, launches said smear campaign, turning Elphaba into a pariah. Galinda (now Glinda) stays behind as the events of Wizard of Oz play out, using her socio-political savviness to help Elphaba where she can. Oh, and the melting? Well, the Wizard isn’t the only master of illusions.

—

The ingredients are all there for a ridiculously base “girl boss” plot about this OP Mary Sue who just will not get taken seriously by the ugh “men” around her (and this is absolutely a feminist storyline screaming high notes from the rooftops) until she shows them all they’re idiots and fools and she’s amazing. The bullying classmates, Glinda’s narcissism, Elphaba’s unprecedented raw power with magic.

Except it has the one thing so many recent “girl boss” movies don’t: You like Elphaba and she’s not perfect, and, you like Glinda (eventually). She’s not arrogant and flawless. She’s introverted and can come off as rude and unfriendly but she just lacks foundational relationships to help her socialize, and in the face of the shallow dipshits at her school, she has every reason to be rude and unfriendly.

Glinda, too, is naïve, but not cruel, save for one moment where she immediately owns up to it once she realizes how badly she screwed up, risking the thing she cares about most—her reputation and popularity and likability—to help a girl who selflessly gave her the other thing she cares about most: The chance to also become a sorceress.

But most importantly: Elphaba is a victim, not the architect of so much of this story. Mary Sues do everything right without any effort, they don’t struggle, they don’t overcome any fears or prejudice or limitations. Elphaba isn’t the one loudly and proudly demanding an audience with the Wizard. She isn’t going around praising herself and her abilities. She has a lot of power, but never learned how to use it, and she doesn’t luck into her story, she’s explicitly, strategically manipulated into her role.

She'd be more of a Mary Sue if the Wizard's offer was genuine and he was actually a good person, then she really would have lucked her way into fortune by virtue of being inexplicably adept at magic. But she's not, and he's not.

The story manages to build her up without dragging everyone else down. Nor does she "turn evil" because the Wizard doesn't respect her for being green, or a woman, he doesn't give a shit, he just wants what she can do for him. She "turns evil" because they have deeply different philosophies and he's standing in her way and she has no other choice but to flee and become a fugitive. She chooses this, the Wizard doesn't kick her out.

But even before that, Elphaba does become popular, her shallow classmates do start to like her (disproving any notion about how the world will hate her no matter what she does, so fuck ‘em), Glinda does actually have a heart and she is smart, just in a very different school of thought from Elphaba. The influence of the Wizard is just so strong that of course they’re going to believe his lies.

It’s not a story about how “this villain was actually the victim of a Tragic Backstory and you should feel bad for them because it’s even sadder than the hero’s” it’s “this villain was actually the victim of a smear campaign, and the heroes are still heroes, but here’s the other side of who they were fighting”.

But it also works because of the story that it is. Ignoring the actual Oz books (and there are many of them): Precedent already exists in the ‘39 movie—the Wizard is already revealed to be a charlatan. Wicked doesn’t rip up the old script, tell you you’re wrong, and then plop in a whole new story that fucks the continuity. Nor does it ask you to change your mind about a villain who doesn’t really deserve redemption in the first place, like, say, one who skins puppies to wear their fur. Instead, it digs into the fissures that were already there and pulls up the rocks to reveal what’s underneath.

And, Elphaba knows she’s going to be seen as a villain, but she’s not happily engaging in “villainy”. She’s doing what she thinks is right, something the audience should agree with, and is choosing to become a pariah to get her way. She never becomes a “villain”, just the antagonist to the hero’s journey, and I don’t remember the ’39 movie perfectly, but “this little rat from another world dropped a house on my sister and is on her way to kill me, too” would make one justifiably upset.

But overall, it’s just a story with layers and nuance that’s sorely missing in its contemporaries, and, like I said, deeply political without strawmanning either side (wellllllllll...). And, it respects the source material.

I also don’t remember the first Maleficent that well, but I think that also did a good job? Back when the live-action remakes weren’t all hot garbage.

So. Yeah. You want to write a powerful female character very explicitly being a feminist icon (and the consequences that come with it)? Elphaba is the perfect example.

[sealer-of-wenkamui]

Currently working on my moonflower piece that’s taking forever and I’m a little surprised I’ve never seen anything even close to it before, I mean I see art of Limbo being cut in two but never showing Danzou… I always feel like people forget it’s her that deals the finishing blow, and it’s not just her doing it on her master’s behalf, but rather a deeply personal thing to her, something she was willing to use moonflower for…

[shunin-gumis]

As Master Joe Wishes - Track 03

Seasonal Team Event - L4mps

Thank you Jelly for handling this chapter!

~~~(flashback)

Nagi: *looks around* Who said that?

Toi: It sounded like it came from over there…?

??: Please turn your attention downwards! I am right here~!

Ryui: The fuck?

Yodaka: A teddy bear? Or an autonomous—

Netaro: Eggactly!

Joe: It is I, “Baldovino Joe Senba!” Brunhild, the late madam’s, one and only remaining family!

Joe: As a sign of our friendship, please, call me “Joe”~!

Toi: S-S-SHE’S ADORABLE~~~~♪ Here girl, here girl♪ I want to hug the fluffy Ms. Bear~~~♪

Joe: I suppose I shall allow it?

Nagi: A-Amazing, it moves and speaks just like a noble lady— Toi, I wanna hug her too.

Ryui: Unlike a certain florist, it can speak properly. It even knows how to introduce itself.

Yodaka: …I see, so this is what it’s about.

Daniel: Hm? Did you figure something out?

Yodaka: Yes. Take a good look at the gemstones on her eyes, nose, earrings, and that heart on her chest.

Netaro: Wonderful observation skills, Yoda~! Very perceptive!

Netaro: Her right eye is a top-tier cabochon red diamond cut by a craftsman employed by the royal family, of which there exists only a few dozen in the whole entire world.

Samejima: And what’s more, it has a market price of 2 billion yen!

Joe: Indeed~!

Toi: Ehhhhh~!?

Netaro: And her nose is an alexandrite, the third rarest gem in the world! This precious gemstone was passed around through many of the world’s powerful and influential figures before eventually making its way into Brunhild’s hands~!

Joe: Every single gem costs an arm and a leg~!

Netaro: In other words, Joe is a teddy bear with a net worth of a billion yen, jam packed with the latest AI technology♪

Nagi: …No matter how many of me there are, I still wouldn’t be able to afford it…

Ryui: (He put the bear down with a super pale face…)

Toi: Joe-sama is amazing. But if you’re so valuable, won’t bad people always be after you…?

Samejima: There’s no problem in that regard. Very soon, Joe-san will be sent over to Germany under the supervision of the police. From that point onwards, she’ll become a national treasure and will be much harder to steal.

Samejima: However, while she’s still in JPN, the JPN police will be the ones in charge of her safety and escorting her… When this was first decided, the German police force started treating us as incompetent idiots.

Samejima: For things to proceed smoothly while she’s still under our jurisdiction, they were very nitpicky and obsessed over even the slightest details. All of this was an incredible pain and has started to get on our nerves, but we have no choice but to put aside our personal feelings.

Samejima: However, if we manage to round up all of “Anonymous” in one go, all while guarding Joe-san, we might be able to stand our ground against the German police.

Netaro: That’s right, that’s right! Kick their asses~!

Joe: Send them crying back to their mothers, desuwa~!*

Ryui: …Just putting this out there, but ain’t this a personal grudge?

Samejima: Yeah, you’re right on the mark.

Ryui: The hell you agreeing so casually for?

Nagi: Um, but uh well we’re… “ward mayors”...?

Samejima: Astute observation. We appreciate your cooperation.

Nagi: I guess we’re helping out now…

Daniel: I have a lot I wanna say, but wouldn’t this all be solved if you just shoved it in some bank’s safety box until D-day? Then you wouldn’t need us.

Joe: What on Earth are you saying! Even AI deserves basic rights~! I’ll have you know, our way of life is very similar to that of humans~!

Toi: Locking them up is too much!

Daniel: Sorry. It was just a thought.

Yodaka: More importantly, does the enemy know that the “secret treasure” they’re after is actually a teddy bear? From our conversation earlier, it sounded like they know very few details regarding the actual treasure itself.

Netaro: They probably don’t know?

Yodaka: In that case, wouldn’t it be fine to go along pretending that Joe-san isn’t the treasure they’re seeking?

Samejima: You’re exactly right. However, that’s exactly why we can't just provisionally leave Joe-san. It’d be bad if we were found out because of that.

Samejima: To be honest, I could just be with her at all times. However, this is a lot easier said than done.

Samejima: For a fatigued, middle-aged man like myself to be alert 24/7 while holding such a cute teddy bear would be, on the contrary, quite suspicious.

Netaro: Aesthetically not pleasing. Report for indecent behavior.

Ryui: Yeah, only a dumbass would fall for that. You’d need an angel like Toi to safekeep it…

Samejima: Exactly. In order to blend-in, we’d need a child like Toi-san, or Ryui-san, someone who could “𝓔mbrace it without” looking out of place—

Ryui: Haa!? Wanna try saying that again, you fucker!?

Toi: Ani-sama would definitely look good holding a teddy bear……! I see it…… I totally see it…… Ani-sama is totally the cool type, but he could totally pull off cuteness!

Samejima: Where “𝓔xposure to danger would be OK” and—

Nagi: Danger is okay…?

Netaro: I gave the okay on behalf of everyone. ‘Cause it’s more fun that way!

Samejima: A person we could “𝓔asily count on”... We needed an individual that met the 3E’s. That’s why I had Yowa-kun introduce you all to me.

Ryui: Listen here you fucker, all you've been doing is spouting random fucking bullshit since we got here! Don’t get cocky just ‘cause you’re the fucking police!?

Ryui: (Except for Toi) No one here looks normal carrying a fucking bear around, I don't remember agreeing to dangerous shit like fucking with a god damn criminal organization, and we sure as hell aren’t close enough for you to ask for shitty favors like—

Toi: Samejima-san! I… I’ll do my best!

Ryui: Wha- Toi…!

Toi: Ani-sama, please… Joe-sama and Samejima-san are both in a pinch, we can’t just turn a blind eye to this.

Toi: I don’t want to hand over Brunhild-san's precious Joe-sama over to the bad guys… I want to help!

Toi: The world’s coolest Ani-sama would definitely protect both me and Joe-sama… right?

Ryui: Got it. I’ll give my all to ensure your safety.

Toi: Yay! Ani-sama, I love you!!

Nagi: Can you protect me as well…

Yodaka: My, my… I guess it can’t be helped. If the terms have already been agreed upon, then perhaps, this is what fate has in store for us.

Daniel: What good samaritans. In that case, see ya.

Joe: Thank you all for your cooperation~! After the burly gentleman over there departs, shall we open a bottle of wine and have a toast?

Daniel: …Wine?

Joe: The late madam had a liking for vintage wine. We have many globally rare wines held downstairs in the cellar.

Daniel: I’ll do it. Ensuring her safety, or escorting, or whatever. Regardless of who they are, it’s only right to help out those in need.

Samejima: Great. With this, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Once again, I appreciate your cooperation. Thanks.

Joe: I shall be in everyone’s care!

Note:

Joe generally speaks very elegant and formally. However, she suddenly says something very crude for her character and tries to wrap it up with an elegant ending. Unfortunately, it is hard to find an English equivalent so a decision was made to use "desuwa~."

[simlit]

Chosen of the Sun | | dawn // forty

| @amuhav

next / previous / beginning

TAYUIN: So your visions, they’re still blocked? KYRIE: Yes, unfortunately. Though, I suppose I should be grateful for some internal peace and quiet. TAYUIN: It’s never happened before? KYRIE: The obstruction? No, it’s never happened before. TAYUIN: You’ve… always had visions? KYRIE: Since I was a child. They were fairly innocuous back then. Little more than intrusive thoughts. Often about things that didn’t matter much. Certainly nothing dire. TAYUIN: And you have no control over them? KYRIE: Not entirely. They usually come when they like, and I make of them what I can. But sometimes they can be prompted. Touching something and concentrating hard enough can jolt it into submission. When I was younger, I wish they’d just go way. Now that they’re gone, I feel… oddly incomplete. TAYUIN: They’re a part of you, no matter how much you might wish otherwise… or if they cause more trouble than they’re worth. KYRIE: I shouldn’t complain. Likely my situation is only temporary. You’ve struggled your whole life with your seasonal connections. I imagine that’s far more distressing. TAYUIN: I’m used it. Doesn’t make it any less uncomfortable. But I’ve never known different so… KYRIE: And if it were up to you, which would you choose? Spring or winter? TAYUIN: Winter… of course. KYRIE: Of course. TAYUIN: I just mean… Well, maybe it suits me more… I don’t know. KYRIE: Does it? I’ve never met another Eladrin. TAYUIN: Winter faeries can be quiet, reserved. Though, no less strong or intimidating than Summer Eladrin. They make up the Frostguard. I would have joined them if… If I could. They’re elite soldiers. Intelligent, powerful strategists. People admire them. They respect them. KYRIE: Then, you dislike your spring attachments? TAYUIN: No, I mean… Spring Eladrin have powerful magics all their own. Masters of tricks and illusions. They should be feared, but their charismatic personalities draw people in. Just part of the manipulation. It's a survival tactic, and I understand the importance of it all too well. But then, I’ve suffered at its hands just as much. Not to say winter faeries are perfect. Far from it… They can be cold. Negligent. Sometimes... remorseless. KYRIE: Your mother, the Queen is…? TAYUIN: Winter. Maybe our only similarity, and still, I’m a fraction of a half. TAYUIN: What about you? Your mother? Your real one. KYRIE: I can’t know her. It’s explicitly forbidden. Even if I wanted to, I expect neither of my birth parents would come forward. It wouldn’t exactly be smiled upon in our society. TAYUIN: Were you never curious? KYRIE: It’s just not worth being curious about. TAYUIN: I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pushed. It’s not my culture. KYRIE: Don’t worry about it. I’m sure we’ve both got a fair bit of judgement. Your world seems strange to me, too. KYRIE: I think winter does suit you more. The real you. Though, the spring in you isn’t all bad, either. Of course, if you were to lose either connection, perhaps you’d become something neither of us recognize. So, I’m glad you’re both. TAYUIN: Glad? KYRIE: They’re called silver linings, Tay. You should try them. TAYUIN: I know what—! KYRIE: Shh, little winter faerie. Your spring is showing.

[raisengen]

Something I remember being struck by during Near Light’s first run is that the root of many of the knights’ disquiet is that none of them can answer the question of what it truly means to be a knight.

The Candle Knight, Viviana. A flawless competition knight who funnels her winnings to charities abroad. She fights, and she does good, but the two are entirely fungible. Any high-paid job could produce the funds, and her do-gooding is as simple as signing a cheque. There’s no external resistance, no struggle in the moment. Knighthood isn’t Effective Altruism, there has to be a personal battle.

Nightmare Knight Tola. He thinks he knows. Prove yourself on the battlefield, fight great opponents head-on and emerge victorious. Only, he has no cause to fight for. No khagan, no quest. He’s just seeking violence for its own sake. Knighthood isn’t just fighting, there has to be a higher cause.

I’ll also mention the Silverlances as our “historical” knights. Disciplined, proud, devastatingly effective, yes. But soldiers, moved by the political will of their masters, not their own convictions. The ideal of chivalric knighthood is not embodied by the actual knights of yore.

The Blood Knight, Dikaiopolis. He has a higher cause, and his struggles have directly paid off in real terms. But it’s only so much, and achieved through compromise or working the system. Is this the limit? Can he achieve no more? Is realpolitik and achievable ambition the way of knighthood?

Our headline act, The Radiant Knight, Margaret Nearl. Throughout Near Light, what struck me was how vague her plan was. She was to become a beacon, to lead by example, but… how? Is knighthood a state of being, or of doing? Can you set out with the goal of being an ideal knight, or is the pinnacle of knighthood only attained in pursuit of some other goal? Will she amount to anything at all?

(I admit, after seeing footballers in the UK do a better job of opposing the government than the actual opposition does, and the particular parallels of the Gary Lineker case, I have more patience for Nearl’s idea.)

Perhaps Pinus Sylvestris are the closest, though they’re too busy to notice. They fight to carve out their survival, and do all they can to support the other Infected. An all-consuming, noble and personal struggle. And yet… the cynic in me wonders, are they only able to do this because they have no choice? Was The Blood Knight once like them? The strong may choose their methods, while the weak must take whichever path they can. Is knighthood only able to exist against such stark and uncaring odds?

All these questions, and yet no clear answer. Perhaps it is for each of us to decide what knighthood should mean.

Finally, let’s not forget our Blemishine. She very openly says she has no idea what knighthood is (though it’s definitely not corporate sponsorship). She just fought for the sake of her family, in the way she thought was right. And she held no illusions of glory, bowing out as she realised the life of a “knight” was not for her. Yet, or perhaps therefore, I can’t help but feel she might find her own form of knighthood anyway.

[linksthoughtbrambles]

A Man on its Back

Part 17 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - best to read in order, also on ao3). Warning for strong language, violence, and suggestion of character death. Trigger warning for intense fire. Disclaimer: The content of this chapter is fiction only, and is not intended to contain advice or instructions for surviving hazardous conditions involving fire.

Oh no, her eyes- I must look awful. Even more awful? Pretty sure I’ve looked like rot melting on toast since the first ReDead.

“Kh.”

Spin-no no no no, Link. No spinning. Not allowed.

You are not yet fully oxygenated, master.

I figured.

Her hands-

No, no no no you don’t have to do that- you don’t have topain- quiet, Link, I’m fine I’m fine, no really, let’s move even though I love your hands relief they feel like relief- looking everyone else over, too, okay, but we’re fine enough, painnot great, which is kind of the point, let’s move, even though Varniro’s even more burnt than I am, still have to get out of here- we can sweep the rest of the north for survivors though realistically probably none, there’s no one is there, they all at least tried to leave- huh? What’s that hard look for?

I just- don’t feel up topain whatever that is. Did I do something wrong again? I thought she was relieved to see me.

Bite it back bite it backpain, more important things than your stupid heart right now, your stupid chest tightening up-

Breathe, master.

Yeah, trying, I’m trying, I really am-

“Link.”

Voice good. Face bad- oh? Holding my hand?

.

Pain. Back. Don’t- don’t think. Hot.

She waspain about to say something.  Why didn’t she? Just some side-eye for the others?

Oh. I get a little smile. An eyeless one though.

There’s another hotlook. It’s not paintears.  But-

“Khh- hhhh- khh- hh.”

Terial?

“Sit, man- yeah.  Rest it.”

“Khhh- hh.  Ahhm.  Yeah.”

“Sir Terial?”

“Sorry P- prihhncesskhh.  Was- t-hhhrying not tohoo.”

S$%^. S$%^, I shouldn’t’ve taken him in with us. “Water.”

“Indeehkhd. Link, come regardless- the well.”

“We- already-“ hot

“Something else.  Kh. Khh.”

Hot hotter BLAZING now we’re in the through-street holy s$%& we made itpain even worse. The lynel. More heat, more flame and spreading SPREADING- “Z- Princess, we- have to move, and fast.”

“In- indeed.”

It’s howling, absolutely howling, and I’m shakinghot already, physical limits, hotlimitspain

“Khhh- hhahh. Phh.”

I only have one body and it’s limited no matter how much I want it not to bepain and it needs a hotbreak- dehydrated, way too hot- burnt, wonder how bad it looks from the hotback and how much worse it’ll hurt when I peel what’s left of these clothes off and how infected it’s going to get and I’m so glad she didn’tpain go there with us.

Maybe the heat will’ve bought me some time?

Master-

“We found Huiru down here. See?”

Down there? See what?

Oh?pain “Mushrooms?”

“Heh- hehe khhhh kh hh- hhhkhhkhh-“

“Z-? Zelda?!” I’ve got you I’ve got you

“Khhhhhh- gh-“

Lookhot around Link

“HH. Hhhh. Hhh.”

eyes peeled, everyone else’s are too at least except Terial, he’s just trying to painbreathe normal and Huiru’s inching this way not sure what he thinks he can do to help with a hotcoughing fit but ”We have to finish up and leave.”

“Agreed, but- Link- not the mushrooms. What they’re lighting. Mpkeh.”

That’s somepain look exchanged with Huiru, what’d he see down there?

Hard to see.

Water… duh. It’s a well.

“KhhHHHH- HHH- khhhHHHHhh.”

We really have to get Terial out of hothere- oh- oh!

“Yes. You see? It’s a stream-“

“They’re connected.”

“Yes.”

Duh, Link, ultra duh, if there’s a stream it’s flowing both to and from somewhere

“HHhhh-khhh. Mgheh.”

not that the somewhere has to be somewhere a person could pass through, it could just bepain a dead end air-wise and the water flows just totally against stone but the people living here probably had at least some idea where it led to. “They went down.”

”HhhHHHHhhhhkhhhkhhkhh-hhh- khhh.”

Terial, man, breathe.

“Quite khh- likely. Huiru- relayed having seen some dead.”

“I also felt wind.”

That tracks. Alright then, it’d be cooler and a lot safer down there then, right? “Are we going down?”

MASTER

“What?” Zelda blinkies sorry did I not get it-?!

Under no circumstances should you venture below!

“Why not?” Oh good she’s lookingpain-

What you think of as air has layers. The fire is producing large amounts of suffocating gas, master. This gas is heavier than the air you breathe. It may build up and kill you below.

Oh no.

“Khh-hh.”

Oh no, but Fi, all those people-

Your Sheikah companion found bodies below.

We don’t know how they died, though-

Plunging into a death trap behind them is futile, regardless of how they perished. They are lost already, Master. If some were fortunate, there was sufficient fresh airflow from elsewhere to sustain them- or they were able to exit quickly. Moving in that direction is not worth the risk—it will not change the outcome.

What if monsters followed them? If the air’s alright, the monsters couldpain breathe too.

“Listen.”

“Zelda?”

“For sounds from the well.”

…That’s a pointhotter. Fighting down there anywhere nearby? Screaming? We’d hotterhear it echoing. “Yeah. Yeah, I don’t hear any, but still, I...” Look at her looking at you, Link, she knows you want to go anyway, how could I not want- WOAH!!

“HOLy!” “Whhfft?” “Sir!” “Princess!”

EXPLODING HOUSES

“Indeed, we go!! Northwhahh- west! Now!!”

DEFINITELY NOW YES but not down apparently

“Northwest?! What of those who went below, Princess?!”

Zelda agrees with Fi and I- am really, really supposed to follow her orders

“T-hhoo follow directly would be most- khh- unwise, Huiru.”

Goddess- Goddess forgive me-

“But we can’t-!”

And oh no you DON'T! “Obey the Princess! Isn’t that supposed to be your thing?!” If I have to, you do too and oooh- temper lost, lost, Link, and he looks PISSED but everyone’s moving- moving away

...Speed. Speed, speed, we go as fast as we can.

“KHHHHhhh-hhh!”

We- can still sweep for anyone still alive

“Come on man, come on-“

and then we f^*#ing RUN, Link

“KhhhHHHHh- co- cohhming.“

by all that’s good and holy in this world fire does not have any mercy in it to show oh and look at that, embers above you high up it’s going to light the treeline, just a question of how long “SPEED!”

“Yes SIR!” “YES SIR!”

Her hand- holding me back?

“Kh- hh.”

She wants me here with her. Streets narrow anyway. Daile can take front.

“Khh-hh- SHOUT FOR SURVIVORS!”

“YES PRINCESS!”

“TO US!”

She’s right

“TO US!”

monsters’ll hear us

“TO US!”

too buthot we can’t stop to hotcheck houses

“TO UUUS!”

“Hhh- hh-“

there’spain no time, they have to come to us

“SURVIVORS-”

and RUN if they’re hereWH-?!

“TO US QUICKLY!” “Holy HYLIA!” “Goddess have mercy!”

Another explosion, south, doesn’t seem that far just keep running

“S- survivors- here, HERE!”

HOTit's not about you, Link. It's about Zelda-

“MOVE, TERIAL!”

-and Terial

“I AM!”

It is also about you, master. Oxygenation level 94%.

That doesn't seem so badpain.

It is quite low for you.

At least I'm not spinning.

“ANYONE?”

And it's about them, too- anyone left has more chance than they did when the lynel could hear them

“ANYONE-”

toohot or us

“TO US!” “Khh- kh-hh.”

at least a better chance

“AH!”

“Margil?!”

of not being murderedpain

“I’m fine, go!”

but dying in a wildfire? That chance just went up even moreSH!!!

“TO US!” “What the hell’s blowing up?”

“Don’t KNOW!” We- couldn’t leave that lynel there

“ANYONE!”

but we’d’ve beenhotHOT safer if we’d snuck away

“RR-GH!”

Moblin, knew THAT would happen “TAKE IT OUT-” ARROW to an eye already

“HAH!” “AAAAHH!”

and there’s about five swords heading for its throat

“KhHHHHhhh hhhh khhh.”

wow we surprised the s$%& out of it, it’s the painvolume, it’s loud, the wind and fire howling it’s down already only a red did the others run did the smart ones run whenhot we did or even before or are thereANOTHER BOOM

“Hhh- hh!” “Hell hell hell-“

a whole lot of them waiting for us

“Hell hell HELL.”

in the treeline like we thought there’d be?

That scenario is quite likely, master.

Glad we agree. Not glad what we agree ABOUT, but at least we’re ready.

“T-TO US!”

hottoohot

“T- To- US!”

hotterHOTTER

“MO-oah- khh-hh… Move NORTH!”

Yes next street away away definitely, the “Khh-“ smoke damn. Damn the smoke, the cloth’s helping less it’s like- like acid-

“To- UHHHS!” “KhhHHHHHH-hh.”

“NORTH! WE’RE MOVING NORTH!”

Cohl’s got a pair of lungs on him

“FOLLOW! FOLLOW!” “Khh-hh-hah. Khhh”

Cool down please please less smoke Terial and Zelda need-

“GRKH- RR!”

ANOTHERpainMOBLIN

“Hmph- huh!”

Daile, man- good duck and ANOTHERBOOM MY GODDESS I FELT THAT ONE SEAR THE AIR “ZELDA?!”

“Khhhahlrighthh-hh!”

Daile’s sword’s through it already Reida just slicing it on her way past and she just keeps going wow

“Khh- hh.” “HH- KH.”

Varniro, Genenko and Cohl, too it’s down Zelda-? Good, I’ll just LEAPpain and SWIPE for good measure, that would be its neck it’s not getting up not getting up, deadhot or soon will be just keep checking keep checking “Khh.”

“Khhhhkh.”

I think Margil’s

“KhKHHH-kh.”

Started to have a hard time “YOU OKAY?”

“ALRIGHT SIR!”

Alright is relativesweat relative

“Khh-HHHHHHH-KH-“

TERIAL “WooOAH!”

“Sokhhrry, sohrry, Sir, go, justKHH- just-“

“NO WAY NO SLOWING NO STOPPING”check! clearbehindpain “YOU’RE WITH US COME ON! COME ON!” Gesturing isn’t enough “KH-hh-“ his arm then Link, pull him pull him with you “PRINCESS-“

“COHKHNTINUE NORTH!”

No more northwest, no morehot, if there’s anyone there we’ll miss them- ! “LIFF KHCAN YOU STILL HOLD THAT SHIELD?”

“YEHHS SIR!”

Is he sure he didn’t try it yet oh there he goes-

“AH! Fff-“

“WOAH WOAH” it must be so hot “LET IT KHH GO!”

“I’VE GOHHT IT!”

Wow “BANG IT THEN!” please don’t sear your painskin off

Check behind!

“Khhh-hh. Hhh. Haaah.”

Clear ”kh“ clear

“KhHHH-HH-hhh hhhkhh.”

Liff’s getting burntpain isn’t he?

All we can “Kh-hh“ do, make noise

“HH- kh.”

maybe if there’s anyone they’ll follow it but at thishot point I don’t think there is, not at all

“Kh-hh.” “Kh- khh.”

they’re either gonepain or deadTHATWASCLOSERSOHOT sohot somethingwrong seemswrong

“Mmm-hh-hhhehhh-hh.”

Beraya?

“Khhhhhh-hh-gh-hem.”

And Margil

Margil’s wavering but “khh- hh-“ it’s the smoke

Beraya, though, her facepain, I can’t tell

“Khah- khhh.”

if she’s sweating or crying I’m so sorry Beraya, I’m so sorry, your family

“Khh-“ “Kh-khh-khh-kh-khhh.”

And with that racket Liff’s making painnow we have more reach but the monsters will absolutely

“Khh-hh-hhh! Khhhh-hh.”

one hundred percent know we’retoohot coming. Toward the trees. “Khh-kh.” Which are close now. “READY!”

Link.

“KHhh.”

As if they weren’tpain ready alreadyBLAST!

“S-sir!”

“KEEP RUNNING!” Aree’s scared she’s scared I can’t say I blame her you can’t fight a fire there’s nothing to kill and not a soul- not a single soul joined us here. No one. And we didn't follow below, didn't send-

Master, to do so-

Would be stupid, YES, I get it, doesn't mean it won't eat me alive paininside for the rest of my life and Goddess forgive me, I don’t have time to mourn it now, not now, save your air for running, LinkCoOOHL-

“GH!”

Fire chuchu- no, DEAD fire chuchu, wide berth

“KHH.”

give it a WIDE berth wide and YANK Terial, his head’s not great is it he’s woozy not good not good AH! HOTBLAST back there HOT no more ENOUGH HEAT

“KhHHHhh-!”

as if we needed morehot fireISEEIT. The tops of the trees. “Princess?”

“I-hh- ahm ready.”

She is. Bow out.

“KhhhhhHHHHHH- hhhhHHhhhh.”

But those two do NOT need to drop back like that-

“Huiru, Reida, ahKHHs stealth and speed are your advantages, I direct you to f-KHh- flank the front. Cihhrcle around any monsters we approach and strike quickly.”

That’s some look they’re giving-

“We are sworn to protect the royal family.”

“We all are! Obey the Princess!” I had to say it AGAIN?!

“We would leave our Princess vulnerable!”

Is Reida HISSING at me? “MargilKHH-, Beraya, flank the Princess!”

“Yehs-“ “Khhess, sir!”

“That IS an improvement.”

Wh-?!

There she goes, rushingpain to Daile’s left, but she practically spat that at me. What the hell is her problem? An improvement? Over what? Huiru, too, to the front right like he should now. “…Terial, man, I’m gonnahhkh let your arm go but you STAY WITH US, got it?”

“YKhHHHHhh- Yehs- sir.” “Khh-hh-khhhh.”

Cooler it is getting cooler north better “Stay with the Princess.”

He’s nodding but look at Aree so she knows, she knows she has to drag him along if he stops. “Aree, you too. Genenko, bring up the rear.”

“Yes, sir.” “Khhhhhhh. Hhh.”

Sorry, man. “Khh-kh.” I know I’m being kind of a jerk, but your bad arm means the front isn’t the greatest spot for you.

“Khh-hh-hh-hh.”

To the front with me instead. Right in the damn middle. Spearhead.

It’s getting dark-er…

No. No, there’s less fire, but the sky’s lighter? I think I see it through tiny gaps in the leaves… smoke messing up the view. So BE READY, Link. That treeline? It’spain right on top of you.

You know what?

If there was anyone alive here, they know we’re here by now. “ENOUGH, LIFF!”

“Yehs SIR!”

He sounds pleased about that.

The air got a little better

“Khh.” “Hh.”

but there’s stillpain no one moving to join us. No one-

No one moving.

Don’t look too hard, Link.

That’s a body, isn’t it? Crumpled right in front of the trees. “Varniro.” Point, just- he sees.

“Kh- Oh.”

And he’s speeding up speeding, sliding, checking. Checking.

Hand up, slow, just a moment Link, wait for it.

“Khh-hh-hh-hhhhHhhh.”

He’s shaking his head.

“KhhhHHhhh- hh.”

Dead.

We go – come on!

Hylia, please – please, let those people have made it out. Thepain well system.

“KH-HH-hh-HH-KhHHh.”

Where does it let out?

“KH-hh. Terial?”

Where does the water come from?

“OhhhHH-kay KH- P- rincehhss.”

It’s got to be Salari Hill or Lindor’s Brow, right, or both?

“KHHHHhhhh.”

The plain’s so flat, anywhere the water goes has to be further off

“Khh-khh-hh.” “KHH-hh.”

into the distance or it painjust stays beneath- or- the canyon? But the canyon’s dry.

“HhhHH. Uch.”

The kids.

“Kh-HHY- yeahHh.”

Just waiting on the plain to the east.

Don’t, Link. There’s nothing you can do yet, and they, unlike you, currently have horses and that’s another body, Link, you checkpain this time

“Kh- hh, another…”

more in your path-

Dead. Very.

Unclench your muscles, Link, your empathy can stuff itself into yourpain nightmares instead.

Did I hear Cohl pause, too-?

“Kh-hh- better- better here.”

 I did. And getting back up, another bodypain rubbing ignoreit

“A- KHHhhH- little, Princess.”

Must be must be monsters near, quick look-

“Khh-hh.”

Everyone’s still there. Keep moving.

Grip.

Front.

Search.

No shield, kind of idioticpain in this position, thanks for breaking it ridiculous yellow bokoblin I could’ve used-

“KRRGGH!”

“MOBLIN TEN O’CLOCK!” NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT veer and you know what Link you might as well SWITCH HANDS and slide and let this bastard have it in the gut UNDERITSGUARD THROUGH kick upPAINPAINSTUPID THROW IT BACK couldbedeadalready butcouldn’tseecolor flip upPAIN, back and no need Beraya’s sword in its throat already-

“RR-“ “KKROOGHH!” “KWEYKEWEE-R-“ “GHAKKHR!” “RRRRHHGR.”

Wewereright they’rewaiting foranyonerunning

“KGR-“ “HAAAAH!”

That was Liff

“Kh- there, fire!”

and that’saBLACKMOBLIN

“Khhh- kh- khhhh-hh-” “KRFHHGHHH!” “Kh- there!”

WITHONEARROWINITSEYEALREADY ITSREELING swing your sword like a club, Link

“Mmm- Gah!” “Support, Aree!”

 you might get lucky and SLICE

“I have it, Princess!”

WOW cleavedhalfwaythroughribcage stillstanding?!

“We-ekhll- done- there!”

Stronger-? DODGE!missedmeniceclubbutSTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKE

“I- I’ll hit Cohl!”

my sword’s nicer and it’s STILL NOT DOWN tough tough skin I hear the clangingothers clangingoccupied and this one’s recoup-NO!CATCHITLINKCATCHTHESPEAR HOLYS$!^

“Princess!!” “Ah-Khh!”

OFFCOURSE I KNOCKED ITOFFCOURSE

“Fire!”

DOWNPAIN!! leavestwigs SHARPsplintersPAIN BaARK”Ah-hh-“

“L- hink!”

Hervoicesoundsoff Idon’tlikeitpain butatleastshedoesn’thaveaspearinherchest but THROWSPEAR themoblinwill

“KHHH!khh-“

does

“hhhhhh”

more arrows, good, finishitoffpain

It’sdead wherewho-?Cohl!

“Khh-hhkhh-“ “P-rincess-“

HelpCohlSPRINT

“I- am well- khh-“

strugglingGOGOGO hisownsword athisthroat

“-enough, Margil.”

“Gr-Rgh!” STRONGanotherblackboko rare theseuesdtoberare baaaackPUNCHYOURFACE yes MORE STOMPchest down DOWNSWORDTHROUGH THROUGHAGAIN

Dead

One came up behind Huiru but he has it, Cohl’s sword back, good, quieter, dead Moblins or dead us?

“AaaAAH!”

Varniro!agonized FIRE firechuchu BIGone NODON’TKILLITYET”HOLD! HOLD!!!!” F&@# REIDA ARE YOU SOME KIND OF F&@#INGMORON?! SAVEHIMSAVEHIMLINK REACHHIM HE’SBURNING INCAPACITATEDCONFUSED “VARNIRO NOW!” HISARMPULLPULL “NOOOW!”

“SIR-”

DOWN!!!!

“SIR!” “NO!” “LIH-NK!”

PAIN!! OHSWEETHYLIABURNING

“Princess, stay back!”

THEBOOTSTHELEGS VARNIRO TOO BOTHROLLING GOOD OUTfine butpain

“Oh- Ohkhhh- khh-“

dealdeal painfine he’sgettinguptoo hearhim painpanting?

“Mmm- hmm-“

That’s a bit of a whimper toopain and flames more hotsohotflames as if we needed thatpain and I see more lights in the dark they’re lighting the brush the leaves and the fire behind us it’ll catch up-!

There are more of themhot, aren’t there, up there, unlit “ARCHERS!” point yespain they get it shoot them before they land and lightpain MOVELINK chuchu rain FOUL and WHERE DID SHE GO- “REIDA- FF!“ technically she did what she was told butFIRE! MOVE!- keepmoving “EVERYONE NORTH!”…but holypain HELL slashing it like crazy with Varniro still there for it to blow up in his face, and those big ones blastpain FAR, that’s just stupid, stupid stupid

…Stupid.

Ohhh.

Oh, Link

Oh f^$#

F^$#pain

No, Link. YOU are stupidpain.

Painpain playitcoolwhereisReida? There- “HEY!” …She’s looking. “BE MORE CAREFUL!”

…Just a bitpain. Just a bit stupid, Link, but you’re a little smarterpain than you were a few days ago.

Play it cool, play it cool and painwatch them WATCH THEM while we keep running don’t let them get behind you not behind, Zelda’s dark look right before the well, hotsticky the well system connected, is that where Huiru had disappeared to? Then he just happenshot to painpop up right where they were? Cracklingcracklingaboveus was she trying to tell me he waspain following them? Staying hidden- MORE “BOKO, MOBLIN!”

“QUEKWEYEEE!” “KRRRGH-GHR-GHR.”

Good, GOOD you quite-possibly-yiga-asshole, glad you’re on the left to get monster-smacked, keep you busy whilethecanopysmolders, Daile’s going to help her though, of course he is, and embers and-!

“QWEAHEHRE!”

BOKO NO FALLING DOWN BACKF$&%INGHURTSGODDESSHURTS “RrrrrRR!” GETOFFME KICKKICKOFF“Ah!” YES! Cohl-

“HAH!”

good stabbing but Huiru’s RIGHT BEHIND HIM FLIP UPPAIN LINK nevermind how muchpain it hurts

“P-rincess?”

just make sure Huiru sees you looking

“Yes, Aree!”

and try not to give away you werepain wondering

“M-my bowstring!”

whether he was going to stab the boko or Cohl

“I know- kh-“

that’s right Huiru back off return to position, keep moving

“The heat!”

Hot hotother monsters?

“Tahkhe care! Use it only when necekhh-ssary!”

Dead already arrows in them, Reida back in position am I overreacting, being paranoid?

“KhhhHHHHHhhh- hh- hh- hh hoh.”

Move move move back to running.

Zelda didn’t dopain what Huiru wanted. Didn’t go down the well, Then she sent them embersaway from her, sent them as far to the front as they could get.

“Khh-hh. Kh.”

They botched just about everything they could on the plain. Messing with the Princess’ line of firehotEMBERpain, the other archers, too. They practically herded those bokos toward Zelda.

“KhhhHHHhhh. Khhhh.”

They didn’t help us prepare for the fire.

“Fff- s ss-“

Varniro- he’s hurting. That was a pain-hiss.

Was Reida trying to keep us inpain the smoke longer? Pretty s$(^^y plan if so. She was in it too.

And that- arrow earlier- nearly hit me, would’ve if I hadn’t noticed and it could’ve hit Zelda, too. Thought it was that boko but what if it was Huiru? He could’ve picked upembers a monster’s bow.

If it IS them… then this must be what Yiga do. They wait

“Khh-“

hiding in plain sight

“Khh-hh.”

until a chance to strikeEMBERpain unseen. Carok guy neverhot intended for us to see him fire. I turned because I figured it out… just in time. Vayden thought he’d get away with killing me ‘by accident’ in the melee.

Fi???

I detect nothing, master, but that means little.

No repression fields.

None I know of.

But you couldn’t tell with not-Erl, either.

Precisely. I recommend extreme caution.

Extreme. Strong wordembers.

Keep eyeing them, Link. Eyeing…

S$%#pain, I don’t really know Varniro, Terial, Aree, Liff, or Cohl, either. At least I’d seen them before, but Vayden- it’s not like I hadn’t known him, too, at least a little...

Their actions thus far appear unsuspicious. Why have you excluded your associate Daile from this list? He, too, is not well-known to you.

He- no wayembersEMBERpain. Not with how we fought together. If he wanted me dead, he had many chances, and he instead helped every single time. He kicked ASS. And he had Jeralt’s full confidence.

Then I suggest you apply this reasoning to the others.

Embers we need to hurry I don’t know what Jeralt thinks of them.

“KhhhHHHHHHhhhh-hh.”

I advise taking the first possible opportunity to find out.

Goddess knows when hotthat’ll be and if I’m too paranoid I’ll be a horrendous commander- I should’ve takenpain the time to grill Purah on these two. Did she know them well? Were they new? Did they volunteer to go or were they assigned?

You don’t… REALLY know for sure. But it’s off. WAY off.

Carok Bridge.

Not at all far from the lab.

Coincidence?

Embers thicker, behind- orange-

They’re still both at the periphery. Right where she told them to be.

Another way to see it, though, is that they’re flanking us.

That line of monsters wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. We’re making good time. So is the fire. But we’repain ahead. The heat’s making plenty of wind, but eastward earlier, right? The prevailing wind?

“CHHH- CHHF.”

What- what was that-

“D- ah-fffff- did you hear?”

“Yeah, Varniro.” Daile? I see him running, but it’s still too dark and there’s too many hottrees, can’t see his face. To see if he also thought ‘lynel.’

I didn’t want Zelda anywhere NEARembers a lynel.

And if that’s what it was, it has most definitely heard usFIREFIRE!!!!! “RUUUUUUN!!” IN A COLUMN IT’SACOLUMN COMINGTHISWAY “GOGOGOGOGOGOOO!”

“Rightward RIGHTWARD!”

“Princess!!!” “N-OO!” “AHH!” “FF-KHH-FFrrR!”

DODGEDLink but my Goddess the wall of fire behind you, and the ‘no’ what was the no for?! SEPARATED! “BERAYA, AREE! GENENKO!”

“HERE!” “HEERE!” “WE’LL CIRCLE!!”

It’s how they turned they turned the others still with us “FAST EVERYONE MOVE, MOVE- ANOTHER!”

“Ah-hh- ahh- fff-“

It’s west it’s west no southwest the angle the way the FIREBALL’sGOING ZELDA? STILL WITHUS STILL FIREBALLPASSED- MYGODDESS “TERIAL!!”

“KHH- ca-n’t- GO HHHHkhhh-“

NO ZELDA DON’T STOP DON’T HELP-

GOOD GOOD GOOD MAN MARGIL BUT

ANOTHER ONE AND MARGIL YANKINGHIM TOOSLOW NO NO ZELDA NO ONE NO ONE FLANKING DROP BACK DROP BACK, LINK, OHS$#^ “COHL! VARNIRO! TO US!”

“YES SIRRR!”

“L- Link-“

Oh s$%^ did I give the game away

“Hhh-hh-“

I didn’t call Huiru-

“hhh-hh- kh-h-“

play it play it Link “HUIRU, ON POINT!”

Not Liff not Daile want them to see his back see it, Reida, where is she? Look- Margil he has Terial they’re coming they’re coming slow though slow “COME OOONN!”

NO! “ANOTHER, ANOTHER!” She’s slowing, Link!! Help her, help, bicep- why is she?!

“Khh- HH- Hhhh!”

She’s not getting full AIR THEFIREBALL right behind us, missed usDAMMIT MARGIL TERIAL- “CIRCLE!!!”

“YES SIR!!”

Not good not good dividing dividing usEMBERS

“Hh- Ff- f- ff-“

and Varniro he’s slowing down he’s so next, it’s the burns, he’s painhurting, running, friction- “COME ON MAN STAY WITH US!”

“J- UST GO!”

My Goddess withEMBERSpain Zelda slowing too and it must hurt, the embers, her too, she's not crying out, but air, air, her and Terial can’t get enough

“Hh-tsss- sss- rr-”

Hylia SERIOUSLY?! You make your champion super strong but with fragile painlungs?! Are you fricking KIDDING me?! WHO DO I COMPLAIN TO ABOUT THIS?!

IF THE ANSWER IS THAT S$&^^Y GLOWER-PRIESTESS AND HER COPPER-INFUSED POOL TORTUREembersPAIN I WILL BE SO PISSED OFF BECAUSE I COUD EASILY IMAGINE MAYBE COPPERY STUFF BURNING IN THAT FIRE AND SCREWING HER UP I DON’T KNOW IS THAT A THING??!!

And why is Liff turning left, why? Daile- Daile, too- are they thinking to engage?!  “LIFF! DAILE! DON’T ENGAGE!”

“Ah-“ “Yes, sir!”

Good- goodpain- Huiru- turned more that way too-

And they’re still veering that wasn’t what they were thinking “HARD NORTH!”

“It’skhhh- Reida.“

Justpain loud enough for me to hear I’m not wrong, she’s thinking the same thing just nod, nod, Link-

“I can seehhh her- pulling west.”

They’re following her. Because they don’t knowembers not to trust her and they can’t TELLpain exactly which way is north can they and it’s RESHAPING OUR FORMATION “VEER RIGHT!”

YES, now theyFIREBALL!!!!! CLOSERCLOSER RUN RUN RUN RUN ZELDA FASTERHOTHOTTTTTT

“AHHhhHH! KH- HHH- hh!”

TOOCLOSE “You’re alright, you’re alright, I have you!” HAIR singed, Link, her hair- just- a little- and WE’RE OUT OF THE TREES lighter sky lighter sky hope but we lost Varniro didn’t we? He was slowing slowing he’spain behind it somewhere dammit dammit dammit dammit where the hell is the fire coming from?

Oh my Goddess-

They’vecutthemoff DaileandLiff they’renotontheplain muststillbeintrees it’sjustusandCohlandtheSheikah pain becausewewerefaster andthewaytheyturned tacticalerrorLink youcould’veyankedherback behindthenextone’spath butnononono youcouldn’t- the FIRE incredibledangerfromthefireitself cuttingusoff playitcoolplayitcool canstillseethem stillseethem bladeright straight out everythingintotheblade theydon’tknow theydon’tknowwhatIcando do they? Andthey’renotlooking

“Sir?!”

COHL“SH-”NOW! HE ALMOST GAVE IT AWAY BUT HUIRU’S painBLOWN FORWARD AND HE KNOWS WE KNOW HE KNOWS LET GO OF ZELDA SO SHE CAN-

“Kh- hhh- hh! Hh- ah!”

“AaAAAHH! FF-“

Knee shot

“G- GGr!”

wait, did she mean to do th-

Cohl veering way off! I think I scared him sorry man I’ll explain later but REIDA’STURN doitagainpain doitagain makesureit’shertoo everythingintothesw- FIREBALL!!! DON’T YELL JUST PULL JUST GRAB HER FORWARD FORWARD OTHERWISEWE’RETRAPPED FIRE ANDWHATISTHAT HE’STHROWING GLINTINGGLINTING DODGE!

“AHH!”

Daggermissedmeasshole oh no I yankedherhardpain issheokay?

“PRINCESS!”

GuessCohlsaw, almostthere do I do this do I kill Huiru- redSMOKE!!

“LINK!”

PUSHHER, BACKFLIP, REIDA JUST LIKE VAYDEN JUST LIKE HIM YIGA THEY’RE YIGA HERSWORD’SSTUCKINTHEDIRT WHEREIJUSTWAS ZELDA’SPRONE DOITLINK GODDESSDON’THESITATE CAN I DO THIS CAN I

FIREBALL “ZELDA!!!”

“HH- hh!”

SCRAMBLING I HAVE HER “GO GO GO GO GO!”

 “NOOO- AAAHH! HHH- EEHHHH!” “AAAAAAAAHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Don’t listen don’t LISTEN don’t feel bad for them what's this face you're making, Link? They’re here to kill you both

“Khh-HH!  KHH.”

they deserve itpain and MORE FIRE- “ZELDA!”

“Ye- hs!”

Whereisit mustbeanotherlynel wasintrees? I have to engage it FLAMEsohot neartoonear she made it I have to killit it’ll drive us to the canyon

West- I go west! Let her go and SPRINT!

“NO, Link! We- khh- stay together!”

“I have to kill it!”

“WE shall kh- khill it!”

“You’re not well!”

“Dead- is worse!”

“EXACTLY!”

“We are mohre lhikely to KH-hh- prevail together!”

Goddess I hope that’s true because I see it coming out of painthe trees way far off its range must be incredible the fire!

It doesn’t look right what what what whatpain what white but not right doesn’t look right where’s its mane FIREBALL “BOTH RIGHT!”

“YES!”

We can’t split it’ll split us up if weHOT let it but she’s not as fast as usual I have to slow down again, don’t leave her- or- or- “To my right!”

“I- Uhhkh-nderstand!”

We slow we slow a little, it aims, we both speed, keep it easier, a little easier, but how smart are these things, will it catch on, and what’s that is something on its back?

Its-

“Link- Link, it’s- it’s-“

That eyebrow crease

I can hear it in her voice

What the hell, it’s a skeleton isn’t it, like the stalnox, the white is bone, it’s alreadypain dead how do you kill a Lynel that’s dead already?

Oh my- is it the same ONE?

Why is it-

Why would it be back?!

This creature is unknown to me, master.

FIREBALL“Move!”

“Ye- hs!”

It’s fine, it’s fine, we’re well past it, the way we were moving, but we’re getting paincloser on purpose and “I have no idea how to kill it! Fi, do I go for its head?!”

Severing it would be a prudent start, but the Princess is not-

“Link?”

“Yes!”

“There’skhhh- a man- on its back!”

"A man?"

.

Master—run!

---

Part 18 coming soon (I hope).

Follow this link to return to the chapter list.

Follow this link for my masterlist.

[yowyowyaoi]

Scenes or Comic Panels I Would Draw If I Could Draw BC Some Of My Chatpost Ideas I See Better As Pictures Not Words, Part Two.

-Deidara having had way too much coffee or soda and is sitting with Sasori, explaining one of his favorite tv shows or something and just info-dumping like crazy. And the other Akatsuki members pass by throughout the day and they all wonder how the hell Sasori is just calmly sitting there, giving Deidara his full attention while the blonde just rants for literal hours. Finally Dei wears himself down and falls asleep and Konan goes in to check on Sasori and she’s shocked to see it’s not Sasori at all but one of his puppet body-doubles. Dei in his caffeinated frenzy just didn’t notice.

-Shikadai, Boruto and Mitsuki using a metal detector in the Nara woods, something sets it off so they start digging. Finds Hidan (his Jashin necklace is what set the detector off). Shikadai doesn’t know what to do with a talking head but Mitsuki mentions that his Parent makes bodies in his lab all the time. So they cart Hidan off to Orochimaru. Hilarity (or horrible, horrible chaos) ensues.

-Pakkun finds the Akatsuki hideout. Is preparing to inform Konoha of its whereabouts but recognizes something strangely familiar about the scent of the tall man in the orange mask. Waits a while, spies through the window at night and Mask-Man takes off the mask and. Holy shit. It’s the guy Pakkun’s master Kakashi has been mourning all these years. Leaves, goes to the rest of the ninken. The group all together waits until Obito is alone, ambushes him, and drags him back to Kakashi. They receive many treats and many pats that night. Pakkun is ring-bearer at their wedding.

-Deidara and Itachi start sleeping together in the winter. Not having sex but literally just sharing a bed. Because Kisame is cold-blooded and doesn’t provide the sickly Itachi adequate warmth, and Sasori being a puppet doesn’t get into bed with Deidara a lot as-is because he has no need for sleep, and when he does, his body doesn’t provide warmth either. Kisame and Sasori act like they’re fine with it but secretly kiiiiiinda jealous. Eventually Hidan wants in on the situation too because he feels left out of the “sleepovers” and Kakuzu sits up half the night counting money or reading the Bingo Book anyway. But Kakuzu … is MORE than happy to get Hidan out of his hair (and off of his expensive sheets).

-Deidara pregnant, asleep, and Sasori sitting just fixated on his belly. He gently puts his hand on the belly and the baby gives a little kick. Sasori makes a game out of asking the baby yes or no questions, with a kick being a Yes. Eventually Deidara stirs half-awake and asks “Will your Daddy shut up and let me sleep?!” and then he gives Sasori a kick off the bed with his own legs, mumbles “Good, hm” and goes back to bed.

-Sasori looking up to the sky and asking God to give him something beautiful from heaven. Out of nowhere Deidara explodes up out of the ground, cursing and dirty, into Sasori’s arms. Sasori looks at Deidara, then at the ground and is like “Thank you, Devil-san.”

-Kisame having a talk with Obito, formally asking his permission to marry Itachi. Obito asking how he managed to see through the Tobi persona, Kisame telling him that any idiot could see that “Tobi” was too far-fetched a personality to be believed. The others all say something similar to having figured out that Tobi was an Uchiha, except for Deidara who nearly faints. “I slept with an Uchiha?!” and Hidan is like, “Fuck the Uchiha part; are you telling me you slept with TOBI?!”

-Nagato noticing how much time Konan spends with Kisame and starts to think that maybe she’s attracted to muscles. So he secretly tries to work out but ends up spraining a few ribs and ends up in bed. Konan asks him what he was trying to do, Nagato confesses and Konan laughs. She tells Nagato that she goes out with Kisame so much because the shark is intimidating and being with him prevents men from hitting on her. Next scene is Nagato accompanying Konan to the grocery store, with every single one of his Pein bodies in tow, forming a terrifying wall around the couple, who are holding hands.

-((I think I’ve said this in a post before but)) All of the boys in the Akatsuki wanting to take a shirtless picture together, to show off their “muscles”. They ask Konan to take the picture but she’s offended they didn’t ask her to be in it. they say sure, thinking she’ll be in her bra but nope, she takes off everything and lets the twins out while she flexes. the final picture is Konan flexing in the center, Deidara, Hidan and Itachi fainted on the floor, Tobi has a red trickle coming from his nose area under his mask, Kisame and Zetsu are both alarmingly red, Kakuzu is seen outside fighting some white-haired pervert peeking in through the hideout windows, Sasori is studying Konan’s body with an interest that’s somehow more frightening than the others’, and Nagato is rushing up with a blanket up cover her.

-Kakashi walking down the aisle to Gai in a beautiful wedding dress, being escorted by Naruto and Sasuke on each arm, with all of the ninken holding different parts of his veil-train. Sakura is at the top of the aisle holding Gai’s wheelchair, monitoring his IV bags. He’s not fully healed from his war injuries yet but he insisted on doing this as soon as he could speak again. Lee and Ten-Ten are Gai’s “best men”.

-Hidan gets accidentally blown to bits by one of Deidara’s bombs. Loses everything but his head. Kakuzu tells Sasori that since it was HIS partner who caused this, he should be the one to make Hidan a new body. Sasori agrees. But after awhile Kakuzu comes to him and tells him to delay his progress by a few weeks. Turns out taking care of just Hidan’s head is a LOT easier (and stress-free) than keeping up with Hidan as a whole body.

[fuckyouozai]

now the LAST thing i want to say. is the idea that jet or hama are portrayed as like, “as bad as” or more deserving of punishment or more irredeemably evil than iroh, who as we know is a war criminal, because they fought back against the fire nation. i am not sure that’s the case!

a lot of ppl misremember the jet episode as jet planning to wipe out a fire nation town. twas not a fire nation town! it was an earth kingdom village full of earth kingdom people that was occupied by fire nation soldiers. there ain’t nothing wrong with killing fire nation soldiers LOL but katara & the gang were protecting the earth kingdom people when they prevented jet from blowing up that dam. so jet being “evil” is not based upon him wanting to kill fire nation folks first of all

second of all, even before he gets brainwashed by the dai li it is repeatedly made explicit that jet is a kid who is Unwell. he is obsessed and losing connections with his friends and wants to be a freedom fighter but keeps getting tunnel vision. much like how azula is shown to be a tragedy at the end of the series just by the way the narrative treats her, we see jet as a lost, angry boy who has trouble controlling himself and retaining connections. jet gets depth! he is not an irredeemable villain! he’s the antagonist in one episode but then the rest of his arc is about him being a victim

hama is a little more difficult to deal with for a couple reasons. the first and foremost being that her appearance is the obligatory nickelodeon halloween episode, so it’s all about portraying something spooky. the second is because the violence and trauma she endured is like. fucking unlike ANYTHING we see in the rest of the series, barring perhaps gyatso’s skeleton surrounded by fire nation soldiers in the southern air temple. it’s barbaric! it’s horrifying! she was captured and chained up like a DOG!

sokka, toph, and aang rescuing the “innocent villagers” and putting a stop to her imprisoning fire nation randos is what they have to do because they’re the protags. they’re the good guys in a kid’s show. but the show does not place those fire nation people at the center of what makes hama villainous; instead the focus is entirely on katara, and how hama is passing on the fear and trauma of her own experience to her, and she has to stand up and master it (possibly the only remaining waterbending technique that belongs solely to the southern water tribe!) because that has always been her role. she’s the last waterbender of the southern water tribe! she has inherited this trauma! like, on the page yes aang and sokka and toph have to rescue the villagers. BUT WATCH THE EP! THE VILLAGERS ARE QUICKLY FORGOTTEN! THE LAST LINGERING SHOT IS ON KATARA CRYING WHILE THE BOYS COMFORT HER! the NARRATIVE does not villainize hama primarily for what she did to the fire nation people; it villainizes her primarily for traumatizing katara. ITS A 22 MINUTE KIDS SHOW! there was no way they could turn to the audience and say “oh and by the way fuck those fire nation ppl they don’t matter,” but what they could do was make sure that what lingers about how wrong hama was, is the damage she did to katara, not to the fire nation villagers

all that to say; YEAH, the show could’ve gone a little fucking harder on iroh! i would’ve loved at least someone in ba sing se to talk about how horrible or traumatic the siege was so we could get some perspective on that. but the show does repeatedly emphasize that iroh NEEDS zuko; that iroh is REDEEMED by zuko, not the other way around. the inclusion of him as part of the fire nation family ( “the sins of our family”) rather than a straight up good guy is deliberate. and personally! i don’t think jet or hama run contrary to that handling

[sith-shenanigans]

An Exchange of Burdens (Pt. 1)

A Fallen London ficlet, in which Amias makes an arrangement. Heart’s Desire spoilers below the cut.

Divider may be found here.

It’s evening in false-summer, the gaslights burning low outside, on the day you first die.

It’s difficult not to be nervous. You considered having a drink, but the thought made you nauseous. The settee in your apartment feels too soft, too springy, to the point that it’s awkward to sit on the edge. Your fingers tap out a rhythm on one of the armrests—a half-remembered beat from an opera that seared through your mind even as you conducted it. It comes to you in moments of tension, now, when you’re about to fling yourself into the unknown. Even the echo has a sort of power, rattling around in your brain.

You’ve gotten on, since you got here, with the more inhuman of London’s denizens. Devils are fascinating, charming; even the one across from you, in her utterly un-charming way. They wear humanity like clothing—as impeccable as their suits and gowns, but still just a cover, and you don’t carry on conversations with somebody’s fashionable non-Polythremic hat. They delight in things humans wouldn’t, often in ways that humans would hate to have turned on them. Animosity is sometimes a game, as much as affection.

Rubbery Men are difficult to understand, even now, but you’ve tried valiantly to cross the gulfs of language and mindset to make connections. Clay Men are at once very simple and very complex; they sometimes strike you as the overlap between person and action, infused with purpose from the moment of birth. Or, if not, left Unfinished in the dark.

The less said about the Masters—whatever they are, under those robes—and whatever you think about them, the better. You know they’re trapped here. You know that they can get drunk on music, and that they’re captivatingly ungainly when they dance. You suspect they have more than a human number of limbs.

That aria, its soaring immolation, is the closest you have been to being something else. You find yourself remembering it in moments where you’re small or afraid.

Virginia’s animosity is no game at all, except in the ways that it is; poison-sweet, or just poisonous. She’s been knocked out for now, but the Marvellous doesn’t stop. If she kills you for good, she makes two more enemies: Pages and the Manager, incensed that they’ll be unable to go on with the next rounds. She knows she can’t afford that. You know some part of her is tempted, just to prove that you aren’t so clever after all.

But you—you’re not really worth what a Master will do when it’s denied. You know that, too. It’s exhilarating. The song thrums in your skull. This unnecessary risk; this total certainty.

You smile. “Pleasure to see you again,” you say. Soft, calm, in control. You are not on the verge of vibrating out of your skin. “I’d offer you a snifter of brandy”—muscaria, of course—“but I’d hate for you to think I was putting off the moment.” You would love to put off the moment. You could hang in nauseating freefall forever. You’re also a bit concerned she would force you to drink it, which would be a perfectly decent way to die if it didn’t smell precisely and entirely vile. Go to the place you’ve been avoiding, yes, but you’d rather not go there humiliated and reeking like a field of fermented, poisonous mushrooms.

On the table between you is an array of implements, set out on black cloth. They glint or gleam as appropriate; the vial of poison has been guaranteed non-permanently-fatal. It’s laced with something that should make pain easy to forget. All the blades have been sharpened to fine edges—no rusty, blunted gutter-blades for you, after all the time you’ve spent trying to get away from them. You probably take a few too many shortcuts through back alleys in Spite, but that’s no reason to disrespect your own efforts.

Perhaps Virginia would have preferred something more painful. She smiles too, half-lidding her vicious hot-brass eyes, and folds the cloth back over the tableau. “Thank you, my dear,” she says, “but I shan’t be needing those.” She stands, stepping around the table in nearly the same dangerous motion, and you have half a breath to contemplate what she’s about to do before she’s on you.

At your feet, a tigress drowses. A criminal, caught consorting with Fingerkings. With every favor you scraped together during the Coilheart Games, you managed to convince the Court of the Wakeful Eye to let you carry out her sentence—which you already have, when you forced in the poison that slows her breath. Now you fist your fingers into her fur as Virginia’s press into your throat. Your pulse is a glass drum. In a moment, you fancy, it will turn to light.

Her grip tightens. Instinctively, you try to draw in a breath. You can’t. Something—some survival instinct—is screaming. Virginia is still smiling.

You can’t help but struggle. But she holds you down and sends you off.

[Previous / Next]

[sobashahzadi]

ive also started watching horizons i think im on like episode 5.....? i forgot but im so normal everytime amethio is on screen LOL also its so nice to have a pokemon anime where the protagonist isnt dumb as shit and questions the people around them

IKRRR im on like 30 something rn and personally I’m loving it, I feel like it’s what journeys tried to do but way better cuz they have a conceivable goal instead of I want to be a pokemon master, I want to catch every pokemon and whatnot which is great but i like how the plot in horizons is more story orientated, they have a whole reason for what they’re doing and it’s so cool

Also the explorers are so cool? AMETHIO OMDS don’t get me started that guy is so cool I can’t and I love how he’s actually a good trainer and like proper capable

We love to see villains who can live up to their names

Also I’m not sure if you’ve gotten that far but the found family troupe is so cute and personally executed so well

I love how the anime has focus on both the kids and the adults like yes they exist and have lives outside of whatever they did in the other anime

Also the fact that they addressed school? Like children go to school!!! I feel like they did that w journeys and Goh a bit but I like how they did it in horizons a lot more not gonna spoil but they manage to fix all plot holes to do w her education later on

Anyways sorry for ranting but I haven’t talked to anyone about horizons since I started watching

[skoulsons]

Baylan and Shin’s parting

The scene that has upset (me) or confused (also me) most people. A chunk of people, who I respectfully disagree with, have said that Baylan is “abandoning” Shin. While I agree she definitely feels abandoned, I do not believe that is or ever would be Baylan’s intention. I just don’t think it works.

There’s an obvious amount of care (love, you could say) in their relationship. They’re not your typical competitive Sith master / apprentice relationship or Jedi master / padawan where feelings like that were repressed. They’re not mercenaries who were put together for a job or purely for the selfish gain of power. Shin has been under his wing as his padawan, borderline his child, for a long time.

He’s very protective of her as we see most notably in episode 4 when he ‘kills’ Ahsoka because she threw Shin into a rock. That sort of protection that drives you to kill someone (I don’t believe his original intention was to kill her—it was that that set him off) doesn’t come from a lack of love or lack of a relationship.

Their first scene on Peridea is another to consider. They’re comfortable, open, and vulnerable. Shin’s tone when she says “I know no such stories (shoutout to the person who made that post about Baylan telling Shin stories about the Jedi when she was younger. i still think about you)” is a sarcastic tone, almost teasing. They both comfortably smile and are way more relaxed being around just each other. Shin asks him questions without fear and Baylan answers without hesitation.

So, no, I don’t believe he’s abandoning her.

Now, nothing is known for sure. What exactly does he hear? What exactly does he see? What vision does he have?

Hopefully we get that answer, but my (and maybe most of you) bigger concern is why part from Shin for a wasteland and some power (yes yes we know he wants the ‘beginning’ but that’s still kinda VAGUE)?

Again, don’t know the truth, just throwing out ideas. i cant wait to be wrong on every front and be completely humbled tuesday night lolol

For one, he’s sensed and understood her questions and doubts and is actually considering them. He’s recognizing “OK, she doesn’t see all that I do”. He isn’t saying “Nope, I’m forcing you to join me in this”. He’d be a jackass if he did that. Since he seems pretty sold on staying on Peridea for… whatever it is he believes is there, he’s letting her go so she can, in turn, find her footing and take her place in the coming empire. Yes, he doesn’t know if that’s even what she wants, but Shin hasn’t exactly told him what she would want. All she’s mentioned (I think) was about leaving Peridea since Thrawn is desperate to leave as well.

Either way, he’s considering her and letting her go her own way instead of forcing her into a future with him that she obviously isn’t interested in.

Two, Baylan actually knows a lot more than he’s letting on and sees something that is… dangerous. Something he doesn’t want Shin exposed to. Something he knows is dangerous and he’s trying to keep her from (so she doesn’t suffer the same fate as his last padawan—if it’s true, of course). This one seems more selfish than some other thoughts. It can even fit other fandoms—he’ll go into it guns blazing for himself despite its dangers, but not her.

Three, which is just a bit of a vaguer, rephrased Two, he can’t / doesn’t want to lose another padawan if he can help it.

“Oh, then why’d she even follow him to Peridea? Why’d Baylan even let her come if he was going to abandon her anyway?”

He’s her master. Of course she’s going to follow him. It’s the guy she’s known longer than anyone else in her life. Her master, her father figure. Why wouldn’t she follow him? Why wouldn’t she stick it out for him? And, again, don’t believe at all that it’s abandonment or even something that was planned. It seemed very spur of the moment—like an off screen decision being made in Baylan’s head. Parting from her wasn’t something on his bucket list he was waiting to check off.

Fourth, the “ambition” that Baylan said was driving Shin is her willingness (not the word im looking for please read my mind) to embrace the dark side compared to himself. If he truly wants to bring an end to the Jedi v Empire back-and-forth, he’ll stay more Gray. So, he parts from her to give her that freedom. It’s the thing that drives them apart.

There’s even more ways to try and understand why, im sure. These are just word vomits and nothing to be taken as truth.

While I don’t at all believe Baylan’s intention was to abandon her, leave her for dead, etc, I definitely agree that Shin does feel abandoned.

Was the decision easy for Baylan? Highly doubt it. I don’t think he would watch her go, take a deep breath in, and roll his shoulders if it was easy. I don’t think he’d look around after Ahsoka stole his howler and debate going back for her if it was an easy decision. I don’t think he’d wait on the hill to keep watch and protect from a distance if he didn’t care.

I think one thing is for sure. Baylan thinks he’s doing what’s best when it’s really not. Shin looked like a kicked dog when Ahsoka offered to help—and whether that’s because she was reminded of 30 minutes prior on the hill beside him, or 15 years prior when Baylan stood above her and offered his help that started them on their journey (yari put this thought in my noggin), it hurts all the same.

I just hope the finale clears something up

[evelili]

Okay I’ve been reading more of your magnum opus fic (one chapter. help they keep destroying me emotionally) and I have highlighted a solid THIRTY SEVEN lines from the fic so far so I thought I should write a like. halfway(?) through comment for you so they don’t get too long! I’m really enjoying your characterization of everyone and the pacing is fantastic. The focus on the trials of the main six is amazing and really allows you to build all of their characters individually then together. Like for applejacks chapter it was focused on her but then now with this flashback in pinkie pie’s chapter it gives a lot of context for her and rainbow’s relationship and how they’ve grown which I love!!

-

I’m pretty sure this textbook is older than me. A quick peek at the publication page under the cover confirmed her theory. It’s even older than Shining!

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Okay this was the first line I ever highlighted and it’s just because I was so… idk i really love how you show this dynamic between twilight and her family and how they all rely on each other. I’m very curious about twilights nightmare prophecy dream and if we’ll ever see Shining Armor or Cadence again and maybe how they’ll react to the events of the story!

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“Hope I didn’t bother you much.”

Shoot shoot shoot, say something, Sparkle! You’re being weird again! “No, you weren’t bothering me.” Yes! Good! “No one really talks to me, so I guess it was kind of nice.” No!

-

This scene was SUPER funny I really like how you’re able to write these quick, witty exchanges that feel like the characters from the show with a more mature feel to it

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Twilight hated being pitied. Being such a pitiful person.

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I really like this line here. You’ve mastered this style of like… having twilight think something then INSTANTLY switching what it means cause with the first sentence I’d imagine it was her disliking others and how they act when they pity her but the second sentence IMMEDIATELY recontextualizes it into her hating HERSELF. It’s brilliant

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It felt like Sunset—strong and steady and warm.

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I really love how you wrote Sunset and Twilight during the first act their friendship feels so easy and so difficult as well just because twilight doesn’t know how to deal with someone new that she hasn’t perfectly learned how to avoid from knowing them since grade school, like she doesn’t know her and it makes all of their interactions feel like they’re trying SO HARD to learn who the other is and it just feels like such a genuinely high school experience I love how you write this

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The ice was back, though not as blatant as before. It hid between Celestia’s words, biting at her consonants and the breaths she took between.

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This description took my breath away. You really have this way with words of describing characteristics and mannerisms in ways that manages to completely blindside me and it just makes reading your story so exhilarating. I never know what’s coming and I adore it for that!

I’m gonna cut this one off here cause it’s already fairly long and I am NOT sending a 5000 word ask on tumblr so I’ll probably send more later but holy shit I need to mention this. The way you end all the chapters of the story by focusing on how twilights outlook on science and magic and friendship is shifting slowly with every experience is amazing and it makes me feel so happy and excited everytime I get to the end of the chapter!!

Also you mentioned a 30k epilogue in my last ask and uh. oh my god. I’m very excited for that!! AND ANOTHER THING. Your art is absolutely STUNNING. I love reading a chapter and then looking at the art. The art for the applejack chapter is so amazing, the composition just blows me away and I love how you choose to do this black and white, almost sort of painting-esque look to all of them. AND I JUST SAW THE ONE FOR FLUTTERSHYS OH MY GOD. Twilights head coming out of its mouth… fluttershy with the stake… AND THE PINKIE PIE ONE? (Sorry I downloaded the fic so none of the images carried over so you’re getting my live “WHAT THE FUCKKKKK” reaction to all of these) THE BALLOONS??? COVERING TWILIGHT?? BECAUSE SHES ASHAMED AND HIDING HER PAIN BEHIND A SMILE? AND DOESNT WANT ANYONE TO FIND OUT?? AND PINKIE PIE WITH A SINGLE BALLOON WITHOUT A SMILE AND HER EYES HIDDEN AUGHHHHHH

Love this!!!

hi yes hello i think ive finally collected myself enough to figure out how to respond to this!! first of all: thank u so much again for ur indepth thoughts!!! like holy shit it rlly makes me so happy to get comments like this u will not believe ldksfjlksdfkff

focusing specifically on the ice line w celestia u highlighted, that's actually one of the ones im most proud of in the entire fic! it was rlly fun to work w some alliteration nd i think the flow/rhythm of it turned out rlly nice, and im glad that you liked it too :D

honestly, to me writing is pretty much the same as drawing, just instead of like colours and shit u gotta think of the shapes of letters and sounds of words and the rhythm of sentences blending together yknow? and if i had any advice to give, instead of "colour picking" like in art, i like to "word pick" or "concept pick" instead, basically take a phrase or idea from a previous sentence / para and reuse it in another context (like another part of the canvas almost). it's a bit of an abstract way to think but it works for my brain so maybe it can work for u too, or anyone else reading this xd

and im so glad u like the art!! i didn't realize that downloading the epub from fimfic removes the art, which i guess means anyone who read c12 + the epilogue in epub rather than on the site missed out on some key stuff dkfjsdlfjdkf not to mention all the chapter cards, oopsie. maybe ill update the authors note or smth if i remember too (she said, like a liar who definitely wont)

actually, i went with the bw style bc a) colour theory sucks but also b) it works well for printing physical copies lol. ik some other ponyfics have done physical runs, so maybe if i ever get time ill learn how to put all that together (and that way ppl definitely dont miss out on the art xd)

i guess to end it off, the point u made abt shining, it was rlly important to me to show his nd twilight's dynamic as smth supportive! im an older sibling (not by much tho), so i tried to write from the perspective of what an imaginary older brother might be like for me. since i imagine shining a lot older than twi (if she's ~17, i imagine he's mid-twenties), maybe he's a bit of an uncle-like figure / trusted adult too, rather than just an older brother. but im not rlly sure! have a doodle regardless, and i hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

[patrocles]

What are your thoughts on the Martells and Starks and a potential North/dornish alliance ? I must admit I'm biased as those two are my favorites houses, yes there are no "good guys" but that who we would should be rooting for imo. For me they both represent the struggle of indigenous people and a satisfying end for both of them should be their freedom. They're far from being friends but as a reader it's so frustrating to see because they have no actual reasons to not work together, quite the opposite. A lot of their goals align, and they have for a while and it's even more obvious with the Stark/Lannister war. And I must admit I love Preston Jacobs dornish master plan videos. I might not agree with all of it but I love the depth and importance it gives dorne and the Martells, one that should've been Central in the series imo. I can't help but think of an alternative version where Robb survives and somewhat ends up alone in Dorne. A Robb x Arianne relationship/alliance would've been amazing to see, they would learn so much from each other.

And ofc he/him lesbian older sister Robb otherwise it's not fun skskskskks

A stark/martell alliance is literally my AU of AUs. like will it plausibly ever happen in the story, no but it's something I've always wanted!

i think one of the big failings of GRRM is not significantly establishing the North/First Men as essentially an indigenous culture, because... they are! They're meant to be wholly different than the rest of the country and that's how they're codified in the text both in how their culture differs from the rest of Westeros and how they're perceived. But no, the most that we get is Fur and York Accents.

I think also it matters to the Starks in how they individually relate to their culture; you have Catelyn as the outsider, they way in which the kids all take after her, except for Arya. I think for Sansa as well, the one who embraces her mother's culture the most, who would essentially "pass" as Southron yet still feel so othered and pushed back to her Northern heritage-- I think there would be so much to explore by really fleshing First Men culture as more than just ideals about honor and justice.

The opportunity to draw from Central Asian influences was RIGHT THERE george. THE EASTERN SLAVS ARE RIGHT THERE GEORGE. 

Not to mention, the Red Wedding should really be regarded as genocide, not just war crimes. I mean, EYE personally view it as a such, as the point of it was to break the power of the North, wipe out its next generation and humiliate them beyond repair. Not to mention the desecration of Robb Stark was meant to mock the entire identity of the North, not just a specific family

And then you think of the history the Dornish conquests, which blows an entire hole in the "Targaryen Imperialism is Good Actually".

But yeah, I really wish the Dornish have more cultural details besides just hair and skin colors and how they’re just saurrrr excotique and sexy~ (I want regional accents and languages George, I want region-specific clothing, food, music, all of it!!) But I think the Dornish and Northern code of ethics compliment each other well despite how fundamentally different they still are! I would love to see how these two groups would interact. Actually, put Dacey and Obara together in a locked room and lets see what happens

It is interesting to think about how the Starks and Martells suffer very personal losses at the hands of the Lannisters and never being able to have vindication for it. My dream AU is an Alliance of “You Hate the Lannisters, We Also Hate the Lannisters, Lets Have a Pact of Mutually Hating the Lannisters Together”. And then Oberyn rescues Sansa before she can marry Tyrion, just SOMETHING. 

Robb ending up in Dorne would also be insane because it would be the third time a Stark was there-- Rickon, son of Cregan who died. Jon who was born, and now (girl) Robb who lives. Things would probably get just a wee bit messy with the Young Griff alliance BUT ARIANNE HAS TWO HANDS. And also Robb and Sansa can reunite there and that could be rly sweet too. 

god im sorry this went so off topic but STARK/MARTELL ALLIANCE, I LIKE IT!! 

[thedurvin]

Hey do you know if you get to stay in your house? I've been worried about you since you mentioned the ambiguity there, also sorry you're going through that, that whole deal really sucks

I’ve been meaning to update y’all on the situation but new twists keep dropping! Short answer, yes, we’re both staying in the house and she’ll keep paying the bills for the moment, and hopefully we’ve got that arrangement locked in til June, when hopefully I’ll have the income to keep the house while they go someplace else. I’m in no danger of being homeless.

Longer answer…uh it’s a lot to try and summarize, but basically turns out she’s a lesbian and I’m exploring the aro-ace lifestyle so we’re not great romantic partners but we’re definitely still best friends that own a house together, each with our own rooms, with her and her girlfriend in the big master bedroom with its own bathroom so they can have some privacy. I’m working on getting a job to try and keep the house after they move out (we got our mortgage locked in right before Covid so it’s actually lower than most rents). Her girlfriend (for brevity’s sake let’s call her Lou) hates this arrangement since she’s living here too now and would really like us to just sell the house, split the proceeds, and go our separate ways, but….we don’t wanna. Once they’re out this summer there’s a decent chance I’ll need to rent a room out or something which I am NOT looking forward to.

And that’s nowhere near all the variables! Lou has a husband of her own that has taken the split much more like you’d think a married couple would (ie poorly) with his family (who live next door to the house they built) calling Chelsea a groomer for seducing Lou into gayness, we’ve all got different mental health challenges that this is making worse, Lou keeps wanting to either move back to her rural hometown or to Arizona for some reason, all our friends are really just her friends that I come along with and I have no idea how to get my own, I have no idea what I want to do for a living as long as it’s not public libraries (the thing I got a degree in), concerns over whether Chelsea and I are healthy best pals or unhealthy co-enablers, and plenty more.

Thanks for the concern, mysterious stranger! I don’t do a lot of personal vent posts on here because I mean [gestures vaguely at the internet and the kinds of comments people leave sometimes] but I guess if I’m gonna be Para-Social Pals with all y’all I gotta let it out sometime.

[itsdelicate]

sorry this is late but hiiii!!

YES exactly omg like when i wanted to get into f+tm it took me forever to choose smth to listen to first so i just asked a friend what to listen to. yea ur absolutely right. she did she did and then acted like it isnt one of the most addictive songs on her discography??? when i first heard the bridge i thought she said he looks so pretty like a devil and that did me in but the actual lyric is everything too lmao YES hey taylor just make the longest album all a bunch of 10 mins song thanks babe lol

omg thatd be so fun!! they came to my country and we totally missed it and my mom was so sad ab it like she was all "why didnt you tell me they were coming" lmaodsjk and i wouldve loved to go as well. aww its ur "i thought they were boo-ing me" sorta moment (thats the first thing that came to me lmao). YES which is why im trying to get into other artists cause soon im going to have listened the hell out of all the discographies of my fav artists djskmdlm

HAHAH yea good thing taylor is a master of putting depressing lyrics together w dancey beats akmddsnm i love slow sad songs cause of my mom i think cause she played those slow whitney houston and celine dion songs on repeat when i was younger lol

yea dont fall for the peer pressure to watch them its a lot and not so amazing anyways lol. i mean yea but some of the plot is bit iffy for me like the cultural roots of the whole avatar people and that dash of white saviour stuff in the first movie so its like eh.

OHH okok glad u had fun!! well i went to my grandmas in the weekend and went out w my cousins yesterday which was loads of fun!! def wanna do that again soon. wbu? did anything kinda fun or even pretty lame or really just anything lol

omg im actually a bit in the middle for me! lol like i do like it but its not smth i listen to as much as most of her other songs. it is!! im def never doing a whole ranking lmaokdwk OOH yesyes i love lwymmd since the mv like i thought it was the most iconic thing ever when i watched it and i wasnt even a fan at the time. ooh def closure!! i could not listen to it at first then after a long while i went back to it and tried to listen to it like the first time and LOVED IT!!! now shes everything to me and i will defend her w my life <3

how's ur day been? any little things in it that made u happy?

xxx ur secret santa

ahhh my reply’s late too that’s alright!! i’ve been working on assignments, very upsetting that it’s back to reality now 🥲

oooh that’s a great way to get into music! honestly only one of my friend’s is a big music lover so i never get recs from anyone except her ahsjd omg same i thought that was the lyric as well! no literally like give me a 10 min version of the great war,,,,

oh nooo it would’ve been so fun!! are you a big concert person? shdkf it was Exactly like that i thought they were laughing cause i was bad at singing or something 💀 i always end up switching from whichever album i’ve been playing non-stop! i just saw & juliet the musical last week so for now it’s the soundtrack instead of midnights hehe

sad bops are so good 😌 oooh very fair! what was your very first album you got on your own?

noted 😭 oh oof tbh idk what the avatar movies are about at all except that they’re blue msjfkf

aw that’s lovely!! i saw the life of pi play and & juliet last week and then also went to the zoo which was for my assignment (i study animal welfare) but also a nice day out 🥰

i want to like it more it’s such a fun song but idk why i just shdjf lover is my lowest ranked album although some of its individual songs are my fav! it’ll take the whole of 2023 to do an entire ranking tbh 😭 i think taylor can make a whole album faster than i’d be able to rank all her songs lmao omg yess and the mv whew, ooh yeah!! a lot of people didn’t like the “clanging pots and pans” LOL but it’s great!!

my day’s been good! i tried out a new recipe today and it was really successful so i’m pleased 😌 wbu!!

[redamity]

Unknown Princess, how you slumber, in a world of lies and dreams. Your perfectly crafted world that falls apart behind the scenes. Like a family shattering.

Guy on the right is my humble interpretation of the father for this fic. They have no first name btw, they’re just “Uchino” for this fic.

Tonight, Musume slept. Soundly. Softly. Early.

It’s been a few days now, and she’s still only got the white dress she came to the door with. Not that Cube had any more clothes than her, though, though Musume at least had other clothes back at home. It’s not like he can easily get them, anyway. The way back won’t be so easily accessible. Possibly for years.

If you asked them last week, Uchino probably would’ve joked about how they wouldn’t even think of their past exploits coming back to haunt them, literally. Why them? Why now? There had to have been better options. Well, they can’t turn them away at this point. Those two are only children, and even if it makes Uchino upset, sending the two to death sounds even worse.

“Ah.. it’s pretty hot here, isn’t it?” Cube mused, fanning himself as he strolls over to the exhausted Uchino. “It’s a very good thing that the young mistress can keep cool, though I fear she might need something more than her bed clothes.”

Why was he up so late? Nevermind. It makes perfect sense. Though Uchino wasn’t too happy about it. Last thing they need is some kid keeping them up at night. “Uh-huh. If you say so. Don’t you have something else for the two of you? Neither of you seem to wear comfortable-looking clothes.” Uchino asked, taking a sip of a cup of water.

“Yes, of course, however, coming to this world was a last-minute decision. The mistress herself didn’t know it.” Cube explained, sitting himself in a chair. “Worry less about me, Master, but Lady Musume mustn’t freeze this winter. Or at the very least, she can’t only wear her uniform.”

It was a bit late to correct him, so Uchino doesn’t. “Yeah yeah, whatever the tiny demon tells me.” They murmured to themselves, with a heavy sigh. “I’ll see what I can do, but keep in mind, I’m a busy person. Besides, shouldn’t it be your job, oh so smart and persistent butler?”

Why would he go outside? That seems like a big risk. Maybe if he had something like a big hat or the like. “… So the cover story is that we’re twins.” He asked, changing course. “I’m not sure how believable that sounds. Really, any story would’ve been better. I’m not sure why you even insist on me being a family member.”

Hasn’t it been two days already? Why is he asking now? Uchino decides they’re done with their water for now. “What else are you two gonna be? I told you, I’m not in need of a butler. If you’re so worried about her, you can go to school with her. For now, go to bed. You still have school tomorrow.”

Uchino got up and left, presumably to their own room, leaving Cube to sit alone at the table. It was a good time to contemplate on the plan again. He hasn’t even told Uchino what had fully happened, has he? Maybe he should, but not right now. There will come a day where he will need to, he knows that much.

Roughly two hours before Musume woke up, Uchino had awoken. If they went to get started now, they might finish before tomorrow! A rarity when you have little free time! And if they wake up now, that’s probably going to be 3 hours of sleep! Just enough.

Unfortunately, right before making it to the door, Uchino tripped on the dog sleeping on their floor, causing them to fall on the ground. “Kh! That hurt, that hurt…” They wince, as they force themselves up. Wait, when did they get a dog?

Just as Uchino tripped and fell, the dog let out a yipe, as if in shock. Quickly, it poofed into thin air, and in its place was not any dog, but Cube (who looked startled.) “Apologies, I’ll try not to get in the way next time.” He managed to say, though his voice was less calm than usual.

“You never told me you were some dog beast…” Uchino comments. Now they’re even more suspicious of the whole thing.

“It’s not something I expected to come up, Master.” Cube said, with a light shrug, though that was a bit difficult given the fact he was still hurt from essentially being tripped over.

“I told you. It’s ‘Father’.” Uchino corrected.

The air got increasingly awkward, both parties just looking at each other. Not to say it wasn’t already awkward before. Perhaps the only way it could get worse is if Musume woke up right now.

“… …” Cube said nothing, holding his stare.

“… …” Uchino said nothing, in disbelief. “… I’m… going to buy stuff at the Craft Store.” They said, pointing at the door.

“… … Have a safe trip, Father.” Cube recited.

So, at the very least, Cube was also a dog. That would’ve been convenient to know, Uchino thinks, as they walked downtown. Though, it isn't as if that would change anything. It doesn’t sit right with them to have essentially a person on a leash. Not for a child like Cube, anyway.

Was Musume also a dog? Is she a cat? They can’t dwell on that too long…

A few hours later, Musume checked the pin in her mirror. All set, perfectly adjusted. Though, as she stumbled to get to the door, she caught a glimpse of her father, seemingly at work, making something.

“Hey, Dad, what’s that? What’s there?” She asked, not even at the door.

Uchino paused. They expected to be done with it already, but they’ve only just now almost finished Musume’s. “I’m making you and your brother more clothes to wear. He’s outside, by the way.” They respond, resuming. The bright colors seemed tacky, but the designs were crafted with love.

“Okay… Well, I’m going now!” Musume waved, heading outside, swinging the door open, and met up with her brother. Why was he ready before her? She didn’t sleep that much, did she?!

She didn’t oversleep at all. The truth was, Cube never went back to sleep. Kind of hard to sleep when your body aches. He didn’t tell her that though. The less she knows, the better.

As the two of them walked to school, Musume thought about everything again. Her head is still so foggy. And she can hardly think right. Today, in fact, it was raining, and it felt as if she’s never felt water in her life.

Well, it was a light drizzle. Just the faintest of water hitting the top of her head. And yet, it still made her feel… What's the word, hydrated? Like a newborn baby experiencing everything for the first time. She could even see the faintest hint of a rainbow, catching her eye.

Unfortunately, school itself was not too interesting. Actually, today they had Physical Education. Something that neither of the siblings really had a good grasp of. For example, their warm up jog had the two of them end up taking a whole extra minute to complete, unlike the red haired kid who ran so fast, it felt like they left fire in their wake.

“That kid’s so cool… Do you think he’ll tell me how he ran so fast?” Musume asked Emily as they took a break. “It looked like the wind propelled him, and he looked like he wasn’t even tired…”

Emily looked with confusion. “He? Oh, you just mean Kobayakawa-San. She looks kind of boyish, but she’s known here for being the best runner of the entire elementary school, even for being a girl.” She told her, with a laugh. “Ahh, but she’s quite hard to get along with. She’s kind of… quirky.”

Soon after, it was time for Lunch, and while Emily and the others left to eat, Musume took the time to look throughout the building. It’s apparently pretty lenient on what kids are allowed to do during free periods. Huh.

Musume looked at the lineup of clubs along the walls. Bright advertisements for all sorts of things. Rhythmic Gymnastics, Computer, Drama… Her eyes lit up at all of the options, though they all had “Middle School” on it.

“What a let down..” She whined. “I wanted to join the drama club!”

For the brief period that was a valuable break (usually used to eat food), using it just to learn there’s nothing for her was a bit of a let down. As she turned to head back to class before it started, the red haired girl from PE came running, with an “‘Ello, Uchino-San!”

Startled, Musume stepped back, almost hitting the wall embarrassingly. “H-hello, good mor- afternoon.” She replied, waving. “What’s your.. name? Wait! You’re.. you’re the girl.. aren’t you Kobayakawa-San?” She stared at the girl for a moment.

“Yup! Kobayakawa Michiru!” She introduced, pointing at herself, and then at the posters. “You’re looking at the older kids’ clubs? They decided to let them hang the posters here since last year! Have you looked into our clubs yet? Any favorites?”

Musume looked at her hands, not knowing what to answer with. “Our… clubs… I didn’t..” She mumbled. “No, I don’t have a favorite. I don’t think I’ll join one.”

Michiru looked up, seeming thoughtful. “Hm~m. Well, there’s only four. Choir, Math, Newspaper, and Track/Field. You should try the Track and Field club!” She decides.

Track and Field?

“I’m not really athletic..” Musume says, sheepishly. “Or at least, I can’t run a lot like I think that club would want me to.”

“If you’re not athletic now, we’ll just help you!” Michiru assures, with a thumbs up. “Well, actually, we kind of need more members or we might get shut down. I’m not sure he wants to do another year, so it’d be nice to have someone cool with me this time!”

Musume didn’t really want to do track, but she also didn’t want to let Michiru down. “Who’s… ah…so you… hm… if it’s that serious… maybe I should..”

Worried, Michiru tried to change the mood. “Wait, it’s not that serious! If the club shuts down, I can always play ball out of school! Don’t feel pressured, join whatever sounds the most fun, okay, Musume? You’d be missing out if you don’t do anything at all!”

She’s using her first name? Already?

Whatever that was, Michiru ran away, and Musume had the whole next class period to think about it.

Well, a club would be two hours, around the same time as her job. So… it should be fine, right? A fun club… but, there were also three others.

She continued to walk throughout the building, blissfully unaware of the bell ringing, and consequently, not being present.

…

The openness of the school, how expansive and lively it was. The accessibility gained from a period of freedom. The chatter of people amongst themselves about the monotonous, the meaningless, at least for Cube.

It was only the second day, and the observations made were… interesting to say the least. No, he needs to stop treating school like some sort of job, or some sort of study, or whatever. It’s school. It’s education. If he was a human, then he would’ve been here already.

Well, he’s not human. Whatever he’s being taught here, he has a grasp of it already. Even if he was human and meant to be here, it’d be more beneficial for him to be working rather than the young princess.

No, she’s not a princess yet, she’s just a little girl, but even still, it shouldn’t have to be Musume working. How anxious he was about her, even if they’re in the same building. For that he is grateful for, but she’s out of sight for now…

Why is she not here yet? It’s class time, and they share the same class. She has to be here. Musume’s late. What if someone took her?! In school? How low. Where is she?! Even as he looks at the ring, it’s staring completely at nothing, the ceiling perhaps. Is she moving? Is she knocked out?! Is she dead?!?

He couldn’t help but continuously look at the all-seeing ring, unable to continuously worry about Musume. After all, that’s basically the only reason he’s here. He’s weird and incredibly inhuman, and the uniform is actively driving him mad.

He could hardly focus on school, his worries regarding young Musume were boiling over. He needed to know she was safe, even as his eyes were fixated on the small jewel that he knew was with Musume.

But Cube couldn’t help but think; There’s somebody here. Someone not meant to BE here, and they’re watching him. Who’s there? What’s going on?!

Looking behind, Cube sees no eyes. Then on his right, no eyes. Left, no eyes. Is he paranoid? Insane? No, is it?!

This paranoia is driving him mad.

“Leave me alone!” Cube suddenly called out, slamming his head against the desk with his own hands. The shock from the impact made him dizzy, but for a moment, he was clear minded.

No, he still has to worry! He can’t let his guard down, what if there’s someone from the other world, heavens forbid, an assassin? No, they wouldn’t send an assassin so soon. If they would’ve wanted her gone, they would have done so yesterday. Besides, they shouldn’t even have access to this world!

Who’s watching him! No, who’s stalking them! All these fears boiled up, driving the young boy mad, fiercely clenching handfuls of hair, trying not to make an outburst.

Too bad it kind of made him look like a weirdo to everyone else.

…

How long has it been?! Musume snapped out of her stare. “Ah! Class?! Did it ring? Everyone- ah!”

Musume scrambled to her own classroom, profusely apologizing as she got to the class. “Ah! Sorry, sorry sorry sorry!”

Ms. Miyoshi looked a bit upset with her, but only through her gaze. She continued teaching as planned.

However, more importantly, Cube’s eyes lit up when seeing Musume. She’s safe, he can stop worrying. It’s all fine… for now, anyway. Perhaps next time this happens, he may have to stick to her. He can’t afford to have Musume go missing. Not even if there’s no threat.

Soon enough, it was the end of class, and all of the kids began to leave, save for the two siblings.

“Uchino-Kun, do you have a preferred Club?” Ms. Miyoshi asked, putting a paper on his desk. “You can choose to go without, however it’s recommended-“

Cube quickly pushed it back to her. “No, I’ll be fine without a club this year.” He responds. “I thank you for the offer, but I cannot join a club due to circumstances beyond my control. I hope you under-“

He paused, noticing Ms. Miyoshi’s face was that of bewilderment. “Yes? Am I… am I saying something offensive?” He asked, worried.

“No, It's quite the opposite.” Ms. Miyoshi explained, taking the paper back. “For a young boy, you talk in such a polite way…” She sighs, clearly wondering what was going on. Between his minor outburst earlier, and now, this kid seemed abnormal. “No matter. I’ll hand this to your sister.”

She walked over to Musume, who was still thinking about the poster, though as she saw the teacher walk up to her, she tried to appear focused, or at least not ditzy.

“Uchino-San, have you decided which club you’ll pick?”

Ms. Miyoshi hovered over Musume’s desk, handing her the paper that she gave to Cube earlier. “You can choose to go without, however it’s recommended that you choose at least one.”

Musume put her hand on the paper, but then recalled Michiru’s offhand comment. Could it really be shut down? With a sigh, she decided her fate. “I’d like to join track and field, teacher.” She finalizes.

“Oh, Track and Field. I’m sure Kobayakawa-San will be enthusiastic. She’s been part of that club since she started here.” Ms. Miyoshi mused, as Michiru scrambled over to Musume’s desk excitedly.

“Musume! You decided to join! We’re going to have a ton of fun, alright? I promise that!” Michiru exclaims, practically dragging Musume from her desk to the open field where they had Physical Education earlier.

Ms. Miyoshi turned to Cube, as well. “Uchino-Kun, what about you? You already told me you wouldn’t be joining any particular Club, so you should be getting up now”

He did?!

“Ah, yes, that is what I said” He stammered for a moment, then he tried to calm himself. “… thank you for informing me, I’ll be on my way. Have a wonderful afternoon, Ms. Miyoshi.”

Two hours without Lady Musume… he could do that. He knows where she is, this time at least. If somethings wrong, he’ll still be around to go save her. After all, he can see everything through the ring.

Still, he can’t be too sure. If something did happen, he’d never forgive himself.

…..

At the field were some other kids, Yamada-San, Takahashi-Kun, and so on. The names of the kids Musume didn’t really know, but it seemed Michiru knew them well. “Al-RIGHT!” She cheers. “For this year, I want every one of us to have waaay better health! We’ll walk out as better versions of ourselves!”

All the kids seemed to take it well, beginning to run laps, but Musume simply stared in fear and disbelief. Was she going to? Probably. She had to.

Her little jelly legs wobbled across the field, as she stumbled like a fool. A fool! Even as Michiru was shouting “Don’t give up yet, Musume!”, it was really hard to continue.

Sweaty, sweaty, SWEATY…

She kept at it, tripping, stumbling, and even thinking of crying. Michiru’s encouragement did not help, but Musume couldn't stop. She wouldn’t stop. She signed up for the club, after all. And Michiru thought she was neat, so she has to be neat!

5:00 pm hit, and Michiru called for attention again. “O-K! Today, we’re finished! We had a good run today. Well, see everyone on Friday!” She says, as everyone starts to disperse.

Musume, too, decided it was time to go, but firstly, she went to Michiru to talk. “Kobayakawa-San?” She tapped, wanting her attention. “Why are you so casual during the meeting?”

Taking a sip from her bottle of water, Michiru laughed at Musume’s question. “Ah, are we not supposed to be happy when working out? A good mood is a good session! That’s rule number 5 of Phys. Ed, Musume!” She answers. “The most important rule of all!”

“Haha…” Musume giggled under her breath. “If that’s what you say. Okay, I’ll see you Friday, Kobayakawa-San.” She gives a wave, starting to walk home, but stopping. She reached her hand around to grasp something, but nothing was there.

“Ah… Kobayakawa-San, can you walk me home?” She asked, motioning for Michiru to come over. “You don’t have to, I just want… ah….” She mumbled.

Michiru takes her hand with a smile. “I don’t mind at all! Hm.. I wonder if— ah, nah! I think he’ll be fine. I don’t have to baby him even after all this time!”

Musume wondered who she was even talking about. A friend, maybe? “Kobayakawa-San, who are you babying?” She asked, as they began to walk.

“Ahh, don’t worry about it! Just someone I know, that’s all. He’s probably fine on his own, we’re not 5 anymore.” Michiru reassured, with a laugh. “If he needed my help, I would’ve got him already!”

Across the bridge, the two girls giggled and chattered about the going on of their lives, or at least Michiru did. Musume awkwardly gave a “Is that so?” here and a “Really?” there.

“Well, actually.” Michiru paused her current story about last summer. “Come to think of it… you just moved here, you and that other kid, Square or something or other… he looks so foreign! What’s with his hair? He looks way too stuffy!”

.. stuffy? What does that even mean?

Musume kept walking, keeping her mouth shut. She didn’t really like being questioned about things like that, she didn’t have a good answer. That’s just the way it is. That’s her brother. He looks normal.

“I think we’re almost there. My home’s just beyond these bunch of trees. I’ll see you tomorrow, Kobayakawa-San.” Musume waves, as the two part ways. She was grateful that the conversation could end early. Otherwise she might be asked more stuff like that.

As Musume arrived at her home, there were two wrapped presents on the table, along with a notecard. Actually, Cube was also there, drinking something (which turned out to be some Tea made prior to Musume’s arrival.) “Welcome home, how was your club meeting?” He asked, setting down his cup.

“It was fine.. Hey, What’s the stuff on the table for?” Musume asked, picking up the notecard to read aloud. “… ‘Musume, Son, The clothes… in the presents… are yours.’… Ah, so this means new clothing!” She puts down the note, and instantly gets to unwrapping.

“Wait, don’t be so—! and there she goes… You’re so eager, Musume...” Cube sighed, opening the other present. Of course, as promised, was clothing. Matching plain pajamas, another set of uniforms, and more uniquely, two quite different sets of clothing.

Musume was excited to see hers, green with bows! It was so cute! She held it against herself for comparison, spun around, and laughed. “This is so…! Bright. Actually, it’s really bright. I love how cute it is!”

“… …” Cube’s enthusiasm was not nearly as much as Musume’s, upon seeing his own clothes. But, it was fine. He’ll fix it on his own time. “Interesting design philosophy.” He notes with a forced smile. “Well, this seems comfortable. I’ll have to try it tomorrow, though. What do you want for dinner?”

“I could go for chicken soup!” Musume chirped happily.