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justanotherpersonsuniverse · 4 years ago

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Paladin Rose (An Other Magic AU Substory written by CartoonAddict564 from the comment section)

Part 1 (Faerie Arc)

(This is a hodgepodge of all of the story comments for the Paladin Rose Substory from the There’s More Magic Out There fic, the commenter gave me permission to post it on tumblr, but please do check the original comments out, there’s a lot of funny shit I left out)

Mr. Lavaillant: Rose, sit down. We have something very important to tell you. Mrs. Lavaillant: You know how we've been patrolling the city with our Detect Magic abilities to find evil monsters? We found one... and you know her. Rose: *pales* Mrs. Lavaillant: It's your classmate Sabrina. We've determined she's actually a fey spirit, brought by evil Sidhe--fairy lords--to replace the real Sabrina. Rose: *slightly relieved that they still don't know about Juleka* Oh! Uh, that sounds bad. Why don't you let me deal with her? *wondering if maybe they can hide her for a few days until her parents move on* Mr. Lavaillant: No, dear. You see, if it were just a matter of catching and killing this changeling, we're sure you could handle it. But this is a much more difficult job. Mrs. Lavaillant: It's not enough to kill the fake Sabrina. We need to rescue the real one. To do that, we'll have to force them to take the false Sabrina back. Rose: Uh... what do you mean? Mr. Lavaillant: Fey are incapable of taking a gift without giving something of equal value in exchange. That's why they leave one of their own behind when they abduct humans; they literally can't take a child without giving up a child of their own in order to make the trade equal. But it works both ways. If we compel them to accept our 'gift' of the changeling Sabrina, the fey will be forced to return the real one to us. Mrs. Lavaillant: There's a fey hill a few miles outside of town. We'll bring the false Sabrina there, summon the Sidhe lords, and fight them with our holy powers until they yield and agree to retake the changeling. Then they will be compelled to recover the human Sabrina from wherever she is and bring her here. Rose: And, um, how are you going to get Sabrina to the hill? Mr. Lavaillant: We talked with Roger Raincomprix--who was so excited that he might be getting his real, genuine daughter back that he almost cried on the phone--and he's going to help us. We gave him a special herb which he'll mix into her food; any fey that eats it will fall asleep for at least twelve hours. We'll just pick her up, meet with a few of our paladin friends, and then all head out to the fey hill. Mrs. Lavaillant: Just think, dear, in only a few hours that evil monster who stole the real Sabrina from us will be banished to the fey world, never again to threaten decent people like us! *beat* Anyways, that's where your father and I are going tonight. We'll see you in the morning. *The Lavaillant parents leave; 30 seconds pass* Rose: (Already putting on her armor and sword, and also calling Juleka on the phone): HEY JULES GET THE GANG TOGETHER WE HAVE TO STOP MY CRAZY PARENTS

---

Juleka: ...so that's what's happening. Luka did a scrying spell and found that Sabrina's already missing from her home, so we need to get to the fairy hill first and stop the paladins. We can meet up with Rose at this rest stop and-- Alya: Um. Do we actually know Rose will help us? Juleka: Of course. She helped us sabotage all those other things her parents did. Alya: Yeah, she helped us with some pranks. That doesn't mean she'll help us fight her parents. I mean, if Chloe wolfs-out and tries to bite them, do you really think Rose will just let it happen? Alix: Alya has a point. Rose was raised her whole life to think Sabrina and the rest of us are evil. She might have been willing to rebel when the stakes were low, but actually fighting for 'evil' in front of her parents and everyone? Publicly betraying them? I don't know if she'll do that. For all we know this whole thing is a set up from her parents. Maybe they got her to lure us out of town, away from anyone they don't want watching a paladin vs monster fight, and get us to a place where they have lots of backup from their crazy zealot friends to help them kill us? Chloe: Or worse. What if Rose was a plant from the beginning? They figured out there was magic around because of all the Miraculous stuff and Hawkmoth, so they send in their daughter, have her act nice so we tell her all about us, and then use that knowledge to kill us? Juleka: But... she said she'd help us. She promised! I mean, she swore she loved me even though I'm a vampire, and... Juleka, thinking to herself: What if I was just a little side fling for her? What if I was just her opportunity to be a rebel, or what if she really was a plant from the beginning? Now that the chips are down, what if she fight for what she really believes, which is that I'm a monster and so are my friends? Juleka: ...well, either way, we have to rescue Sabrina. So let's go and hope Rose is loyal to us. Juleka, thinking to herself: And if she's not, maybe I'll just let the paladins cut off my head

——

Then commotion came to a halt as the bushes rustled. The changeling girl looked up with fear as she saw a familiar green.

The figure quietly exited out of the woods. Her hair was longer, untamed, but despite the roots and dirt curling around her skin, and the dark green coat fluttering around her shoulders. She still had a feeling of humanness.

Sabrina met her own face.

The fey adopted child looked at Sabrina, then her eyes moved to an ecstatic Roger, then the Lavillants, and the finally she sees the Mystery gang.

However she says nothing, only continuing to slowly move forward. The grass followed after her trail, and the large group saw eyes from the forest, staring curiously at them.

“Come and take the true fey child home and bring me back my daughter!” Roger commanded, but was met with silence. Only the quiet brushing of wind against the tall grass, the city bumbling quietly so far away,

Sabrina held her breath- and after what felt like years.. the Human girl spoke-

“Wow, this is really fucked” She said evenly, she gave a Sabrina a soft pat on the back.

They all blinked with surprise at her bluntness as she looked to the rest of them

“I’ve lived with the fey for more than fifteen years, I give not even two shits about the human world or my human family.” She said “I am more fae than human, and there is no benefit for me nor this Sabrina that is worth trading.”

Roger and the lavillant’s jaws dropped- and a look of disbelief, shock, and elation slowly grew on Sabrina’s face. The stolen child smiled softly at her, teeth too sharp, eyes too bright, and hair too red. Their species didn’t match but they knew who was human and who was not.

The Once Huma Sabrina slowly walked backwards into the woods, giving a small curt bow “You all owe me for stealing my time” She says, a mischievous smile curling on her lips as wild magic rushed by them, a chill going down each of their spines. She gave Roger a quiet look before shrugging his heart broken expression off. “Bye fuckers” she said-

-And then disapeared into the darkness.

For a moment, complete and utter silence filled the hillside.

Then Chloe leaned in very close to the others and begin to whisper. "Listen up," she hissed. "I've seen most of these assholes at my father's political rallies--these guys are from half the prominent families in Paris--and I know how they think. They--"

"How can you tell?" hissed Alya. "They're all wearing armor!"

"The heraldry," Chloe growled. She gestured at the paladins, whose armor was emblazoned with various crests and sigils. "I've seen those pictures on the rings, the lapel pins, the shitty handkerchiefs in their pockets. No reason the knights would have them if they weren't the same people. Now shut up and let me talk." She took a breath. "One possibility is they realize how much of an idiot they've been and they slink off home. But that almost never happens."

"So what's the other possibility?" whispered Juleka.

"They blame whoever's nearby and isn't them for screwing things up. Then they double down and attack us, so they can try again once they get rid of 'the problem.'" Chloe's face was tight. "And if they do that, we have to be ready."

Then Roger seemed to shake himself. He looked around wildly before his eyes settled on the mystery gang. "There!" he yelled. "They messed this up! We would have been able to get my daughter back if not for them!"

"Get them!" roared Mr. Lavaillant. "For God and the Light!"

"And restrain her!" Mrs. Lavaillant swept her sword at the still-woozy changeling Sabrina. The redhead squeaked and tried to take a step, but the magic herb was still in her system and she couldn't do much more than shuffle a few paces before staggering to a halt. Mrs. Lavaillant went on: "We have to keep her here, and we have to keep her alive! We'll kill the other monsters, summon the Sidhe again, and this time we forcethem--with cold steel, if necessary--to take the changeling and leave the real Sabrina here!"

Roger looked pained. "But if my daughter doesn't want to come home--"

"Of course she wants to come home," said Mrs. Lavaillant in the stern, unyielding voice of a fanatic who would rather die than consider the possibility of being wrong. "In her heart, that's the only things she wants. You can't trust what she's saying now, because the fey confused her. But I assure you, it's nothing we can't handle."

"We have, after all, done this before," added Mr. Lavaillant as two other paladins dragged the unsteady Sabrina down with chains and staked her to ground previously cleared of all grass and shrubs in order to stop her from drawing on her powers to escape. "Your daughter won't be the first human we rescue from the fey. Nor the first one whom the fey brainwashed into wanting to stay among them."

"But you don't have to worry," said Mrs. Lavaillant, her tone now something that would have been compassionate if it hadn't had the bright, sharp edge of bloodlust to it. "We will see that your daughter has the best of care. Therapy for as many months as she needs it, and if necessary, something more extreme. We do have facilities just for that purpose."

Roger's face had somehow gone even paler. "You mean that room in the Catacombs you showed me. The one with the manacles."

"Yes, that one, if necessary," said Mr. Lavaillant in an almost gentle tone. "I won't lie to you; your daughter may require strenuous, ah, correction. The fey are masters at ensnaring humans; no doubt they have spent her life teaching her unholy powers, cultivating her cruelty and teaching her to apply it towards humans and animals who aren't strong enough to resist her, doing all they could to ensure she would never want to return to the Light and the human world. As a result it may take several months to break through this cold shell the fey formed around your daughter's soul and make her understand once more that the human world is the right and proper place for her--and within that world, the sturdy home built by her loving father. It may take techniques which others, who do not know the whole story, would find brutal. But rest assured. She will come back to you, in both body and soul, in the end."

Mrs. Lavaillant took a step towards the mystery gang, as did several of the paladins. Rose, Juleka noted, was still being restrained by one of the larger knights, from back when she'd tried to stop the ritual and been overwhelmed. That meant Rose was on the monsters' side, didn't it? The paladins wouldn't have restrained her if she had chosen her family and had just been trying to lure them here? Unless, of course, this was just a trap, unless Rose was their ace in the hole who would only betray Juleka at the last minute, because of course she would, Juleka was just a blood drinking vampire living in the shadows and it wasn't like anyone as amazing and lovely as Rose could *really* love her, was it?

Juleka tried to push those thoughts aside as the paladins advanced. "So what do we do?" she asked, knowing the answer.

Chloe had already shifted, as had Alya. Luka had already brought up his hands to cast the most powerful hexes he knew; as Juleka watched, Alix did the same. "We fight," the pink-haired girl growled. "And we save our friend."

——

(And of course...)

Juleka let out a roar of pure rage as she jumped on top of Mrs. Lavaillant, throwing her off of Chloe. The silver crucifix went tumbling away as Mrs. Lavaillant fell to the side and Chloe's shriek of agony, along with the sizzle of burning flesh and fur, ended. The werewolf roared, and Juleka turned to her--

Only for Rose's mom to grab her and roll over, so that she was on top and Juleka was being pressed into the ground. Juleka drew on her vampire strength as she fought back, but the armored knight still managed to hold her down--though Juleka could hear her labored breath and sense the pounding of her blood, and knew that Mrs. Lavaillant wasn't nearly as much stronger than her as the knight wanted to let on. But it didn't matter; as long as she was armored than Juleka couldn't really do much to her.

Ok, she thought. Then I deal with the armor.

Juleka abruptly swung her arms out, no longer pushing away at the knight, and Mrs. Lavaillant almost fell on top of her before taking advantage and slamming a fist into her ribcage. Juleka heard something break but tried to ignore it as she forced her hands to the side of Mrs. Lavaillant's helmet, then pulled with all her might. The older woman understood just a second too late and tried to block, but Juleka had already heaved, and--drawing on all her vampire strength--managed to rip the helmet clean off the armor, leaving herself staring at Mrs. Lavaillant's exposed face, head, and neck.

The older woman's face twisted into an expression of rage. "Scum," she hissed. "It's not enough for you to stalk the night and drink the blood of innocents, is it? Now you interfere to trap a human child with the fey--and for no reason!"

"The human Sabrina is happy where she is!" gasped Juleka. "And you were trying to abduct and banish my friend back to some world she's never known! She doesn't deserve that!"

"She's a monster!"

Juleka shook her head, trying and failing to shove Mrs. Lavaillant off her. "No, she's not! She's a good person! She helps people when they have trouble in school, and when I was sick she let me copy her notes, and I know sometimes she goes to people's gardens and helps them to bloom better, and--"

Mrs. Lavaillant reached behind her back and pulled a short, sharp dagger from a concealed compartment of her armor.

"She is a monster whose only purpose here is to ensnare and corrupt humans!" She thrust forwards, but Juleka just barely managed to grab her hand and stop it. Then, seeing an opportunity, she reached up with her other hand and snaked it around Mrs. Lavaillant's head before pulling inwards. The older woman yelled but couldn't stop her head and neck from being shoved down, right in range of Juleka's fangs--just as the tip of her dagger touched Juleka's chest, directly over her heart.

For a second the two froze, each having the other at her mercy, neither able to act.

And then they heard footsteps and both twisted their heads just enough to see...

..Rose.

She had gotten away, Juleka realized. She had escaped from the big paladin, and now she was here, wearing shining armor and holding a holy sword. But she wasn't moving. "Juleka," she whispered as her gaze swept between then. "Mom. Please... please don't..."

"Help me, dear!" Mrs. Lavaillant yelled. "Help me slay the vampire and save the real Sabrina!"

"Rose," whispered Juleka, in a voice that was almost begging. "Rose, please. Help me."

The young paladin looked between the two, almost shaking.

"Please, Rose, you said you love me," said Juleka in too fast of a voice. "And I--I know sometimes I'm creepy, and I'm a monster, and I'm not anywhere near as pretty or smart or anything as you, but I don't want to die. I don't deserve to die here. Please don't let her kill me."

"Rose!" yelled Mrs. Lavaillant. "Don't listen to her! She's a vampire, you know hurting people is what they do! It's her nature! It doesn't matter if she says she's good, or even if she truly believes it! Sooner or later, she won't be able to deny her nature and she'll kill people!" Her voice dropped. "We showed you pictures, Rose. Pictures of whole families, whole villages drained dry by vampires. You can stop the next tragedy, but you have to be strong! Do what you know is right!"

"Rose!" cried out Juleka, straining at Mrs. Lavaillant. "Rose please! Please!"

Slowly, as if in a trance, Rose raised her sword up and...

...she dropped it. She fell to her knees and began to sob.“I-I can’t.. I cant help you both.. I can’t.. I don’t know what to do..” She sputtered through her words “Mom I love Juleka more than anything.. I’ve loved her longer than I’ve known her she was a vampire.. b-but I cant kill anyone I can’t do this..”

Juleka was silent, still frozen as she watched the love of her life cry— but Ms Lavillant still didn’t move, and neither did she.They didn’t know what to do.So Juleka moved first. She let her head rest on the ground, leaving her body exposed as she left her perfect spot near Ms Lavillant’s exposed throat. She looked past her, staring up at the stars. Who knew this would be the perfect place to see such beauty. Juleka had never seen so many before. She drowned herself in the sounds of Rose’s sobs as Ms Lavillant didn’t move a muscle, in fact, maybe she got closer. “Then I’ll make the choice for you Rose..” She murmured, looking back to Ms Lavillant’s face “Kill me then. The monsters still win either way- metaphorically I guess.”

Looking to the side, Alya was clutching Sabrina in her arms as they mounted on top of Chloe’s wolf turned body, Alix was screaming obscenities at everything while Luka kept them away, still she laid, underneath the woman’s body, far far away.

“Come on..” She hissed through her teeth, staring up at Ms Lavillant as she felt the end of the woman’s blade meet the but centimeters away from her skin. She couldn’t hear Rose’s sobs anymore from the pounding in her ears “..I know you won’t.”

Distantly, softly, she heard the paladin speak.

"I know what you're trying to do," Mrs. Lavaillant said, and now there was an edge to her voice. It was almost, but not quite, fear. "You know you can't beat me. Your scheme to corrupt my daughter failed. Now you're trying to corrupt me. You think if you act innocent, helpless, that I'll spare you. That I'll let you go free to kill again."

Juleka said nothing.

"I've hunted hundreds of you monsters," went on Lavaillant, and now Juleka knew what it was she was hearing in the old fanatic's voice. It was uncertainty. Perhaps even doubt. "I've seen what you do to humans. I've seen how you treat us. As your prey, your food, your slaves! I know that none of you are innocent!"

She was scared, Juleka realized. Scared that she might have made mistakes. Scared to think, for the first time, that maybe some of the monsters she'd murdered hadn't deserved it. After all, she'd raised her daughter to be a zealot for the cause, and once upon a time--before meeting Juleka, before learning that half her classmates were technically inhuman--Rose had truly believed that monsters were nothing more than a bunch of creatures who spent their time planning to eat, enslave, or torment humans. Juleka knew this because Rose had confessed it to her, assuring her all the while that if Juleka hated her because of the things she'd used to believe, she would understand.

(Of course, Juleka knew Rose wasn't responsible for being indoctrinated. And even beyond that, she would never hate Rose. She could never hate Rose. She would sooner die than hate Rose...)

But while Rose had believed those things, she had changed. She'd come to see that those anti-monster views were themselves wrong and evil. And Rose was no dummy; Juleka was acutely aware that Rose was smarter than her in so many ways, and surely her own mother knew how bright the girl was. So if Rose--who had seen all the evidence presented by the paladins, who had been raised since birth to know that monsters were evil, who had cheered on her mother and father as they went on hunts to track down all manner of 'evil' monsters--now rejected those views, maybe that was because those views were wrong.

Maybe some monsters didn't deserve to be killed.

And maybe Mr. and Mrs. Lavaillant had killed some of those monsters who didn't deserve to be killed.

"You're wrong," whispered Juleka. "Some of us are innocent. And I think you know that, Mrs. Lavailllant."

The woman froze as the words hit home, and for a second Juleka allowed herself to hope that it was over. That the woman would stop.

But then Mrs. Lavaillant hissed, in a voice almost frantic with the struggle to push away doubt, "No. You did something to Rose, you bewitched her, you ensnared her. It doesn't matter! I have a holy duty to put an end to your evil!" The point of her dagger began to push at Juleka's battered body. "Even if you corrupted my daughter, I will cure her, and--"

"No," said Juleka. "I didn't corrupt her. I would rather die."

"Anyone can say that," growled Mrs. Lavaillant. Now the dagger was piercing Juleka's body; it would slide into her heart in a second or two. "But you're a monster. You might say you rather die than corrupt her, but--"

"What is it," Juleka asked, "That you think I'm doing?"

Mrs. Lavaillant met her gaze, and Juleka could tell the exact moment she understood.

Juleka and Mrs. Lavaillant had both begged Rose to take their side in good conscience. Rose had refused, saying she would never kill either of them, not under any circumstances. That was her decision, and Juleka would accept it. But what if she didn't? If Juleka hammed it up, screaming in pain and yelling that Rose would help her if she truly loved her, maybe Rose would change her mind. Maybe she could pressure Rose into attacking or killing her mother just to keep Juleka alive. It would break Rose in body and spirit, it would leave the girl a battered wreck who would never again know happiness, but if Juleka were willing to do that--to corrupt Rose to save her own life--she could certainly try.

But she wouldn't. Because she loved Rose, and if the price of keeping Rose sane and whole was dying, Juleka would pay it.

And Mrs. Lavaillant knew that, Juleka could tell. Rose's mother knew, in that moment, that Juleka cared for her daughter more than she herself did. Because after all, if Mrs. Lavaillant were the one on the ground and Juleka were about to kill her? Mrs. Lavaillant would say anything she could think of to force her daughter to kill Juleka. To sacrifice her daughter's sanity to keep herself alive. No, not quite. To keep her crusade alive.

Something seemed to break behind Mrs. Lavaillant's eyes, and Juleka knew that the woman would never be able to think of herself without drowning in self-loathing and hate.

But that wouldn't save her, so Juleka again leaned back and waited for the crazy woman on top of her to act. The knife wriggled deeper, towards her heart, and--

"HOLD PERSON!"

Mrs. Lavaillant's body suddenly went perfectly still as a strange light, so holy it felt like it was burning at Juleka's eyes, enveloped it.

Juleka froze, unbelieving. That voice had sounded like Rose, but it couldn't be. Luka had been keeping track as they got to the hill and saw Rose trying to resist the other paladins. Rose had used up all of her magic. And even if Rose had truly kept one spell in reserve, why wait until now? Why not cast it when Juleka had first asked for help?

Slowly, gingerly, she carefully lifted the immobilized paladin off of her, wincing as the blade withdrew from her chest. Then she turned, and gasped.

Rose had, indeed, cast the spell. She was down on the ground, with one hand extended, still glowing with bright holy magic. But that hand... it was pinned to the ground, Juleka saw, by Rose's dagger. Which she was holding with her other hand.

And then she couldn't help but think back to that lecture Jalil had given the mystery gang on holy magic, the one Alix had insisted he give back when they'd first learned Rose's secret, and when the ever-wary Chloe had insisted they learn how to fight paladins just in case.

"Paladins are so zealous," Jalil said as he leaned back in his chair, "That they'll even sacrifice their own flesh and blood if needed to defeat their targets. In fact, some very devout paladins have what's called a 'Spirit Cast' ability. Sort of a 'cast from hit points' mechanic for real life. By injuring themselves, they can draw from their own life force to cast a spell they wouldn't otherwise have the magic to cast. Of course, then they die sooner, but hey, if that means killing Count Chocula or whoever they're fighting this week, they don't mind." He shut the book. "Crazy, huh?"

"Rose, no," whispered Juleka as the girl stiffened and then gave a hacking cough which sprayed drops of blood on the grass. But then Rose seemed to steel herself, withdrew her dagger from her hand, and then walked to them. She helped Juleka up. "Rose..." Juleka whispered. "You shouldn't--"

"It's done," said Rose in a tiny voice.

"But how much of your life...?"

Rose shrugged and then spoke in a voice which attempted to sound disinterested but failed to hide her horror. "Hard to tell, but... I'm young, it's not a very big spell... not too much. Maybe."

Maybe wasn't good enough, and Juleka was already thinking of how she would threaten Jalil into telling her how they could reverse the effects. Maybe there was some kind of spirit transfusion? Juleka had eternal life, if there was some way to give some to Rose... well, besides the obvious and unacceptable method of turning her...

Then she heard Rose looking at her mother. "I love you," she whispered. "I'm so sorry. But I... I'm not coming home, Mom. And if you attack my friends again, if you attack anyone else who doesn't deserve it, I'll help them." She touched her free hand to the horrible wound in her other hand. "The exact same way I did this time. With Spirit Cast. So if you love me... leave us alone."

And that was that. She moved to Juleka's side, and the two began heading away into the darkness.

——

The others were gone, but that didn't surprise or upset Juleka. By all appearances she had looked trapped, and if anyone had stayed to save her, that person could have gotten killed too. They'd all agreed going in not to risk the whole party for one of them--that none of them would want the guilt of knowing the others had gotten killed in a doomed rescue attempt--and Juleka was glad they'd agreed.

But that didn't mean they hadn't left something for her. Juleka soon noticed the paper charm pinned to a tree, and the note on it. "Attach to door," she read. "I think there's a cabin about half a mile that way. Come on, Rose."

Rose followed, silently, and Juleka draped an arm over the girl. Her broken rib and other wounds still hurt--that stupid spell Mr. Lavaillant had cast which prevented her vampire regeneration still hadn't worn off, apparently--but she could walk, and that was all that mattered. More than he could say, anyways; last she'd seen of him, Chloe had snapped his lower leg in her jaws.

They reached the cabin. Juleka slapped Alix's portal charm on the door, then smashed it open, and they walked right through to Alix's house. "We're here," said Juleka, removing the charm and shutting the door behind them. "Rose, you--"

And then Rose burst into wailing tears as she fell into Juleka's arms.

Juleka froze for a moment. But then she gently sat down with Rose and held her while she cried.

When Juleka came back to herself, she wasn't sure how much time had passed.

She was still lying on the couch in the Kubdel family's comfortable, homey living room, and Rose Lavaillant was still next to her, embracing Juleka so tightly that not even Nora Cesaire could have pried them apart. Of course, Juleka was hugging Rose just as tightly herself. After the night they'd had, Juleka decided, they deserved hugs.

Someone had draped a warm, thick blanket over them and tucked pillows under their heads. Juleka sniffed the pillows and blanket, and her eyes widened slightly as she detected a hint of Chloe's perfume. So the werewolf was the one who had seen them and bustled over to tuck them in, she thought. That was somehow fitting.

From the kitchen came the familiar smell of molokhia, that Egyptian stew Alix and Jalil were always eating which was said to have been the favored food of the Pharaohs and which Jalil claimed boosted his 'vast magical prowess to even greater heights.' The smell was hours old; whoever had fixed dinner had already eaten and left without disturbing the girls.

But there were two large bowls of the stew on the coffee table next to the couch, and affixed to the rim of each bowl was a little paper charm which Juleka knew would magically keep the meals hot and fresh for as long as needed until the girls woke. Besides the bowls were a few pages written in Alya's neat script, presumably any important information the girls had missed while they were unconscious. And surrounding the couch and table were Luka's wards, of such complexity and power it must have taken him over an hour to craft them, but which would keep the two safe from almost any conceivable hostile force which might want to smash in and hurt them.

The vampire let the faintest of smiles touch her lips. It was good to have friends.

"Juleka?" she heard. She looked down to see Rose lifting her head a little. "You're still here." She sounded relieved. Like she'd really been worried Juleka would have abandoned her after seeing the true monstrosity of her parents.

"I'll always be here," said Juleka, and now it was her that was starting to cry. "For as long as you want me."

"Oh, Juleka!" Rose squeezed her. "I am so, so sorry..."

Juleka shook her head. "No," she whispered. "Rose, you have nothing to be sorry for. You're not responsible for what your parents did."

Rose shook her head sadly. "I thought... when I heard what they were going to do to Sabrina, that was the first thing I thought. That when I told you, then you'd know how evil my whole family was, and you'd hate us..."

"I could never hate you," insisted Juleka, the words rough with emotion. "Rose, you went against your family to save Sabrina... and me, when your mother knocked me down. Even though I don't deserve it. I--"

"Don't say that!" said Rose, and Juleka jolted, because she hadn't thought the exhausted girl had so much strength and force in her. "Don't ever say that! Juleka, you are beautiful and precious and perfect, and you deserve anything I can give you!" She squeezed the goth tighter. "And you're not creepy or dumb or those other things you said during the fight either. You're wonderful, Juleka."

Juleka couldn't explain why, but the words were warmer and more soothing than the thick blanket on top of them. "I... thank you, Rose."

Rose wriggled a bit so that she could lift her head and meet Juleka's eyes. "But I wasn't just apologizing for my parents," she said. "I was kind of a jerk when I first told you about me, I know..."

Juleka strained futilely against the thick vines and cursed whatever demonic thought had convinced her to bring Rose to the distant corner of the Bois de Vincennes park just to confess her love. Everything had gone perfectly--the picnicking, the swimming, the birdwatching--but right when Juleka had been about to say the magic words, the forest sprite had popped up and began ranting about being disturbed. And now they were both being strung up by vines while the sprite talked about eating them.

"I'll start with the tall one," the sprite giggled as she hauled a thick cooking pot out of the ground. "And then the blond one for dessert! Hee! Trespassers make the best meal!"

"Rose, shut your eyes," whispered Juleka. If she used her vampire strength she might be able to break free and--

But then she heard Rose say, in a bright, powerful voice that radiated even more confidence than usual, "No, Juleka. I can do this."

And then, to her astonishment, she heard Rose yell "Smite evil!"

And the sprite...

Was smited.

A bright light burst from nowhere, hot enough to burn at Juleka, and the sprite went tumbling away. Then Rose was ripping free of the vines and taking some kind of sigil out of her pocket. "Summon sword!" she called, and a gigantic sword that vibrated with holy energy appeared in her hand. "Bind spirit!" Magical chains of light appeared around the sprite's limbs. "You will never harm another innocent human, fiend!"

"No!" the sprite pleaded as she thrashed. "Please, holy paladin, I didn't know!"

Rose kept approaching the sprite, sword point aimed squarely at her nose. A sharp, thick root suddenly sprang up towards Rose, tip sharp and glistening with what had to be poison, but Rose easily chopped it off with a single sweep of her sword. "Please!" the sprite yelled. "Mercy, o paladin!"

Juleka was gaping as Rose reached the monster and seemed to hesitate. "I will not kill you," she said at last. "I... I don't like killing."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" the sprite yelled.

"But I will banish you back to your realm. No more will you lie in wait to eat humans." Rose sketched some kind of sigil in the ground with her holy sword, then chanted something in Latin. That bizarre, hot light flashed again, and then the spirit was gone, teleported back to the fairy world.

The vines surrounding Juleka unraveled and the vampire dropped to the ground. "Rose," she managed. "What are..."

But she trailed off, because the blond had turned and was smiling brightly. "Juleka! You're okay! Yay!" And then she was flinging aside her sword to hug the goth.

Normally, Rose felt warm to Juleka. But now everything felt cold.

Distantly she heard Rose telling her everything: that the Lavaillants were a family of paladins tracing all the way back to Ancient Rome, that she'd been trained since birth to fight evil monsters, that she wasn't supposed to tell anyone but she was happy Juleka had found out because she hated keeping secrets from her best friend, and so on. And at the end she'd said something which had chilled Juleka to the core.

"Don't worry about this ever happening again," she had said sweetly. "I'll protect you. I'll smite any monsters that get anywhere near our class."

"You didn't know any better," Juleka insisted. "You thought all monsters were evil. Your parents filled your head with that garbage. Even then, you made a point of never killing anything! And as soon as you learned otherwise you changed your mind."

"But--"

"No buts!" insisted Juleka. "Rose. I judged you worse than you judged me. I was terrified you'd learn the truth and that you'd hate me, want to kill me for being an unholy monster." She sighed. "I was a real idiot when you learned about me."

—

"Stupid fucking sentimonster!" Juleka shouted in rage. "Go away already!"

But the sentimonster, a sort of zombie-bear like thing half again as tall as Juleka, didn't go away. And Ladybug and Chat Noir were off fighting an Akuma; they probably didn't even know about the sentimonster that had gotten split off and stuck in the school. Which meant that it was up to an already-exasperated Juleka to keep it away from her classmates.

"Help!" Alya pleaded as she limped away; the monster had twisted her ankle. "Help, it--"

Juleka saw the bear rear up and slash Alya, claws raking bloody lines across the journalist's back, and something in the vampire snapped.

She rocketed forwards, using all her vampire strength and speed to slam into the bear and drive it back despite its massive size. Then she began pounding and biting at it, aware her eyes were red and her fangs were showing but not caring about anything besides shutting down yet another of that idiot Hawkmoth's attempts to traumatize the city into surrender. "Die!" yelled Juleka as she punched the sentimonster so hard one of its arms flew off. It staggered backwards into a classroom window, head bonking on the glass. "Die already!"

And then it did. Juleka dealt it a massive hit that knocked off its head, and it crumbled. Juleka was left standing there, red eyes flashing, fangs out...

And she slowly realized that Rose was on the other side of the glass window. Rose, who had been so happy recently because now she had someone to talk to about her weird paladin training, all the hours of sword practice, and armor-polishing, and chanting rituals. Rose, who hadn't seemed to notice the twinges of fear Juleka suffered every time she thought Rose might learn of her monstrous nature. Sweet Rose, whom Juleka wanted only to love her even if their natures made it impossible.

Rose, who was now gaping at her.

"No," whispered Juleka. "No, no, no..."

A wave of ladybugs swept over them. The damage the Sentimonster created was gone. But Rose was still staring, and Juleka was still vampiric.

The goth turned and fled even as Rose called out behind her.

"It wasn't your fault," whispered Rose. "I'd said I fought monsters. It was my fault you were scared."

"Then you being scared of me, of vampires, wasn't yours," said Juleka. "It was your parents. And, okay, maybe me looking a little... feral... when you saw me that time."

Rose giggled at that, and Juleka somehow felt herself laughing too. Despite everything, they were alive, they were together, and they were in love. That was worth some joy.

"I guess we must have looked pretty silly when we met after that sentimonster," Rose said at last. "In the street."

Juleka nodded. She'd fled from school that day and taken roads at random, not knowing where to go or if Rose would be there. Unknown to her, Rose had been doing the same, horrified not at having revealed her identity to a vampire, but of having given Juleka reason to fear her. They'd run into each other, almost literally, on the bank of the Seine. And Juleka had prepared to flee again--until Rose had dropped down and begged forgiveness for the horrible things she'd said about hunting monsters. "I know you're not evil, Juleka," she had said. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. Please don't hate me."

And Juleka had made herself approach. "Hate?" she'd whispered. "I couldn't hate you. Even if you stabbed me I couldn't hate you. I thought you'd be scared of me now."

"I can't," Rose had said. "I know you too well. Whatever my parents say. You... you're not evil."

And so they'd talked, for a long time, slowly opening up... but Juleka hadn't been able to hide that cold little nugget of fear. That this was a paladin trap, or worse, pity, a few scraps of affection for a monster that didn't really merit them but was just so pathetic, so wretched, that Rose couldn't help but engage in a little emotional charity. Rose, Juleka now knew, had felt similarly towards Juleka's love for her, wondering how it was the vampire could love the paladin who had grown up hating all magical creatures. They'd been terrified, each hoping that the other loved her despite their inherent natures, and each fearing it wouldn't be the case.

In the weeks that followed they'd cautiously extended their alliance, slowly growing more comfortable with each other. Juleka had already told the mystery gang of Rose's secret hobby; when she told them that she was friends with Rose again, they'd reacted with varying degrees of astonishment, ranging from Luka's mild warning to let him know if she needed help or support, to Chloe swearing that she'd be ready to wolf out and eat Rose's face off if Rose did anything wrong. Rose had even helped Juleka foil a couple of her parents' plans to hurt magical creatures who didn't deserve it. And then there was that final call, Rose's tear-laden voice explaining what was about to happen to Sabrina, swearing she hadn't known, preemptively apologizing in case they didn't believe her, and begging for help in saving their friend...

"I love you," said Rose, interrupting Juleka's reverie. "You're smart, and sensitive, and pretty, and an amazing friend... I mean, you fought an army of paladins to save Sabrina and me. And more than that you trusted me." Juleka could feel the tears pooling in Rose's eyes and spilling down onto her shirt. "Once I knew what my parents were doing I wasn't sure if you'd ever trust me again. Most people wouldn't. They'd have abandoned me just in case I was on their side, to be safe. But you knew my heart... and you risked your life to save me. So don't call yourself monstrous or stupid or anything like that again, Juleka! You're not any of those things!"

Juleka was taken aback, and to her own surprise she found that she was starting to believe Rose. Maybe her mistakes, her fears... maybe if Rose thought they were insignificant, if they weren't really her, then maybe they truly didn't matter. "Okay," she said at last. "But on one condition."

"What?"

"You don't blame yourself for your mistakes either," said Juleka. "Rose, you abandoned your family, the people who raised you, to save my life. You sacrificed everything you ever had for me. You literally cut out some of your own life force to save me, a person you'd been taught your whole life was only fit to be destroyed... and you did it out of love." She gently stroked a few strands of hair off of Rose's cheek. "And that's on top of how you're kind to everyone, you cheer everyone up, you work so hard on everything you put your mind to... and you're the most beautiful girl in the world. So don't you ever, ever think I could hate you. There's too much good in you, Rose." She cuddled her girlfriend closer. "Deal?"

"Deal," said Rose.

The two fell silent again. Eventually, Juleka knew, they'd have to get up and figure out their next steps. Rose would need to live somewhere, and Juleka probably wouldn't be able to go home until the paladins were known to no longer be a threat--she couldn't risk them storming the boat and attacking her mother. They'd also have to figure out what to do with poor Sabrina, the changeling one--the one they knew and cared about--who surely couldn't go home to her father now.

But for the moment, that didn't matter.

It was enough to just savor each other's love.

#paladin rose au #they said when they finished I could spot the story to tumblr #so I’m splitting this up into bits #you can read the entire story here with the paladin rose tag #I fucking love this story I’m so honored/grateful/happy that it came from my au it means so much #so yeah #now you guys can read it too it’s pretty fuckin dope

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snippychicke · 4 years ago

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Headcanons for Reeve & his Assistant

Stolen from @selfloving-shipper Dedicated to @unbiddenrhythm

A: Activity (What is an activity they enjoy doing together)

I think just spending time together while working, even if its on different projects, is something they enjoy. Whether it's work related, or after their together and Reeve is working on a pet project and Rea is occupied with her own hobby (reading?) They just enjoy being close together.

B: Bashful (What is something one of them finds embarrassing about themselves but the other finds adorable)

Reeve: He is rather self conscious about how much he cares for Cait, seeing him less as a toy or robot, and more like a child. He'll catch himself fussing when the cat wanders off to do heroics, or when he comes back injured. Rea thinks it's absolutely adorable amd also quickly accepts Cait as a person rather than a machine.

Rea tends to lose herself when reading, and will start reacting aloud (ie squealing happily, or cussing out characters during plot twist). Reeve realizes the more vocal it is, the better the book (and not to bother her if possible).

He thinks it's the cutest thing he has ever seen a person do.

C: Calm (How do they calm each other down)

Soft touches and meaningful looks tened to help Reeve regain his self control when he gets upset over something. Just gentle reminders that he isn't alone.

Rea, however, when she is truly upset, needs a little bit more persuasion. She has a very even temperament, but once she is fully and truly riled, Reeve sometimes has to physically hold her back and talk her down before it's safe to let her go.

D: Danger (How do they react when they find out the other one is in danger)

When Rea finds out Reeve has somehow placed himself in danger, she is bound and determined to move heaven and hell to assure he is safe. She knows she probably cannot rescue him herself, so she often enlists whomever is best for the job. (Which has meant making some rather unsavory deals, but she doesn't care as long as Reeve is safe.)

When Rea herself is in danger, Reeve doesn't even have to ask before Cait is on his way. There is a lot of anxiety involved, and Reeve is pulling any strings he can to save her. Eventually virtually all of Gaia comes to her rescue.

Gaia help the idiots who thinks its smart to go after these two.

E: Encourage (How to the Encourage each other)

They are both talented at encouraging one another. It's actually a main part of their relationship is supporting one another. Encouraging words, reminding each other of how talented and important they are, and all they have done in the past. This power couple knows exactly what words to use to embolden the other.

F: Flirt (How do they flirt?)

These two initially awkwardly flirt, neither really practiced with it. Even after they've established a relationship, most of it is unintentional flirting-- long looks, bantering back and forth-- but as they get more comfortable in a relationship, it becomes more hands on-- Reeve will skim his hand along Rea's back or arms, and Rea will tug at his tie with a playful look.

G: Greeting (What was their first meeting like?)

[Back when Rea waitress and Reeve had just started]

"Are you new?" Reeve asked the red-haired barista as she worked on his order. It was late at night, wll after main hours. But the Directors were pushing for the upgrades for the Mako reactors to be done before the end of the week, meaning long hours for everyone involved.

She shot a shy smile, "Y-yeah, just started last week. It's my first time running the place by myself."

"I'm sure you'll be okay, there usually isn't a big rush during the night shift."

She handed the drink to him, "I hope you're right. My name is Rea, by the way."

"Reeve Tuesti."

H: Hungry (does one of them cook?)

Despite what Rea and others think, Reeve can cook. He's just usually too busy to do more than a quick simple meal. After spending the night for the first time, Rea discovers this when she wakes to a full breakfast in bed. Healthy, but with a few hearty Kalm staples. She immediately falls in love with his cooking.

Rea knows some basics of cooking, but usually picks up quick meals from the vending machines on her way to or from work.

Also: Cait has tried to cook. And has burnt water. He is banned from the kitchen. Avalanche learnt this the hard way.

I: Imagine( what do they imagine their future together?)

Reeve tries not to get carried away with imaging the future. After all, their life has been insane as it is. He just hopes that no matter what happens in the future, Rea will always be by his side.

Rea figures there might not be any white picket fence kind of future after everything, but does dream about fussing over a few kids, (Denzel perhaps being one) as well as helping to manage the future of the WRO.

She also imagines Cait being an amazing, if not slightly ornery, older brother. (She knows Mog will be happy to cuddle any kids.)

J: Jealousy (Do they get jealous easy?)

Maybe at first, but after a while both are confident in the other. Besides, all of Gaia knows the power couple and knows how devoted the two are to each other.

Reno may still flirt with Rea, but it's mostly out of habit and to see if he can get a rise. Reeve tends to roll his eyes, though Cait will often act on his suppressed impulses and tell the former Turk off (with an accent so thick it's hard to understand).

Rea might be a bit...cold with Shalua Rui at first when the woman starts working closely with Reeve and the WRO. Reeve is perplexed and Cait has to point out the obvious.

There was teasing involved, but Reeve showed how devoted he was to her. Multiple times. A few in his office. And in a utility closet.

K: Kissing (what kind of kisses do they share?)

Many of their kisses are short and sweet pecks through the day. Just quick sweet tokens of affection.

But Rea is rather good at slow, sensual kisses, starting on Reeve's neck when she thinks it's time for a break. Maybe nipping and teasing his ear lobe while trying to drag him away from his desk. Reeve might grumble half heartedly, but he soon concedes and lets her drag him off to bed.

L: Love (When did they first realize they were in love?)

Rea knew she was crushing on Reeve for quite a time, but seeing him stand against President Shinra made her realize. Not fully because of his bravery, but the fear that gripped her heart. Because she knew exactly how Shinra dealt with traitors and instigators. And that fear and devotion just sealed her feelings.

Reeve was a bit more subtle. There was no moment of epiphany or realization, just gradual increase in affection and mindlessly thinking 'Gaia, this woman is amazing' after the events of the Sector 1 bombing.

Of course, it is a long, long, time before they admit their love to one another.

M: Memories (What's their favorite memories of each other?)

Rea favorite memory is the night she first met Denzel and Ruvie. Watching Reeve work on the old train set with the little boy, patient but aome of the child like excitment shining through while she and Ruvie watched fondly. (It was when she was sure Reeve would be a wonderful father some day)

Reeve's favorite memory is the first time he woke to Rea in his bed. Just being able to lay there and appreciate the woman beside him. The firat taste of domestic life that left him wanting more.

N: Nickname (what names do they call each other?)

Reeve calls Rea tender names like sweetheart and darling when they are alone, or in an informal setting.

Rea doesn't do the pet names very often, but at times will drop a 'honey' or 'dear' when at home and asking for a favor.

O: Object (What objects remind them of the other.)

Rea, of course, can't see a cat, especially a plush one, without thinking of Reeve. She may have bought a small plush black cat with Cait's markings to leave on his desk as a present once. (It ends up on her own desk next to her pressed flower.)

Reeve cannot see a red hairdd person without thinking of her. To the point there has been a time he sees red long hair and assumes it's Rea and will start talking without confirming it. (Reno gets a kick out of it)

P: Phone (how often do the communicate)

Oh boy. If these two aren't working in the same building, and for some reason are apart for more than a few hours, you bet they are calling each other or at least messaging each other frequently. And by frequently, I mean at least one text per hour, if not more.

Most is work related updates. Others are questions, sometimes just /i miss you/.

Q: Quiver (what flusters them)

Rea has Reeve wrapped around her finger, and he goes weak when she bites her lip and gives him a 'come hither' look tacked on with a 'sir'. Or when she tugs his tie to lead him somewhere.

All Reeve has to do is stand tall and either adjust his cuff links or tie with a serious expressionon on his face and she's already biting her lip. A finger beneath her chin and she's a melted pile of goo.

R: Routine (Do they have a routine?)

Everything. These two are so in-sync with each other that almost everything runs like clockwork. They are two people pushing for efficiency, so used to working with one another it's when they are apart things start to crumble

S: Selfies (which one takes more selfies?)

Cait, and then Denzel, pushes for selfies with the pair. But out of the two of them, Rea is the one more likely to snap a pic of them together. Usually after a few drinks.

T: Touchy (PDA? Cuddle?)

PDA is generally off the table except maybe for a light touch or a quick kiss, or at least at work, which is 75% of their life.

But in an informal setting, like around friends or home, they love being near each other. Cuddle time on the couch, Rea holding Reeve while he cooks supper. Long soaks in the tub together? Just cuddles in bed? Yep.

U: Unaccustomed (How hard is it to get use to each other?)

At first, its having someone just in their life outside of work. Their home is less….silent. The morning routine of getting ready for work and figuring who gets the shower first is a little rocky at first before it becomes second nature to take turns, and whoever doesn't shower is making a quick breakfast (which Reeve often volunteers because Rea's breakfast is cereal and coffee, maybe a microwave breakfast burrito if she feels ambitious.)

V: Vanish (what would they do if the other just vanished)

They would both be moving heaven and hell, over turning the entire planet to find the other, calling in every favor they could. Which is a lot.

X: Xray (What happens if the other is sick/injured)

Both of them are mother hens when someone they care for is sick or injured, especially each other. Yet on the flip side, they are also very stubborn patients that refuse to admit they are sick or injured.

They will only call in if they're dead. But the slightest sniffle from the other and they're insisting on bed rest and chocobo noodle soup. It balances itself out, luckily.

Y: Yes (who would propose to the other?)

Oh boy. So while both of them would love to get married, they also allow it to become a back-burner issue as they work on WRO and everything else. They figured they're married in every way except legally, so it doesn't matter much to them. They would be happy signing a document and being done with it but everyone else is not having it.

Yuffie gets the crazy idea first, and enlists Denzel, Ruvie, Domino, Cait, and somehow even Vincent. Then all of Avalanche, and then the Turks and Rufus.

The pair thinks they're being called to Kalm for some official business. Instead, they are faced with a surprise wedding. (That somehow goes off without a hitch.)

Z: Zzz (How do they fall asleep?)

As stated before, these two are cuddle bugs. More often than not, they are curled around each other, whether it be spooning or one laying on the other's chest, arms wrapped around the other. (Which is perfect for early morning kisses before the second alarm goes off, set for that purpose expressly.)

More than once, however, their bed is invaded by a certain cat-doll who doesn't need to sleep, but likes relaxing with his two favorite humans. And is happy to just stretch out on both of them like a real cat would.

#reeve tuesti #final fantasy 7 remake #reeve's assistant #cait sith #ff7 #ff7r #reeve x assistant #reeve tuesti's assistant #reeve/reeve's assistant #reeve tuesti x assistant

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mobius-prime · 5 years ago

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156. Sonic the Hedgehog #89

Thicker Than Water

Writer: Karl Bollers Pencils: FRY Colors: Frank Gagliardo

We have another misleading cover page today! Not as bad as the last issue's, but seriously, what's up with this lately? It's not just limited to this series or this era, necessarily - I distinctly remember a cover from the Archie Sonic X spinoff where Sonic was randomly tied up on top of an office-standard water cooler when nothing even remotely of the sort happened within the actual issue - but I don't know, it just bugs me a bit when it does happen. In this story, Sonic is not "besieged," nor does Sally yell accusations at him while holding a purse for no reason as depicted above - instead, as Dr. Quack wheels the injured King Max away for surgery, Sally simply tearfully asks Sonic how this happened.

Elias decides that he should be the one to talk to his sister, and as he races off after her, we hop over to Robotropolis, where Eggman has finally returned home from the Station Square fiasco only to find his science lab trashed. Of course, he immediately suspects that Sonic is behind this, and sets about reviewing security footage to determine exactly what happened while he was away. Meanwhile, back in Knothole, Geoffrey oversees the return of the Sword of Acorns to the royal reliquary while Rosie reassures Sonic that the way the battle went wasn’t his fault.

Oh, hey Mina! Still relegated to a bit part, I see. Elias finds Sally looking incredibly downcast and lost, sitting by herself on a dock next to a nearby pond, and sits next to her. She says that lately, she's felt like everything around her has been spiraling out of control, referring not just to Eggman, but the return of her own father as well.

I agree with Elias - it's obvious that King Max's decision to name Elias as his successor was fueled by his bitterness over Sally refusing his orders to join his cult and marry her arranged partner, not by an actual assessment of who was more fit to lead. Sally, upon hearing that Sonic was the one to rescue Elias, realizes she was wrong to put blame on him for leaving her father behind, and instead is overcome by a rush of gratitude to him for saving her brother. Sonic, however, is having a rougher time of things. His parents try to reassure him that he did the right thing, but he's more distracted by thoughts of his uncle, still unable to get it out of his mind how Chuck and Muttski regained their minds for a brief moment thanks to the Sword of Acorns. And he's not the only one thinking about the sword - Eggman, upon checking his security logs and learning what the sword did, orders his robots to find the weapon at once, wanting to have control over such a powerful artifact. Sonic's mother cooks her son some chili dogs to try to cheer him up, but all it does is make him lose himself in his thoughts about Uncle Chuck once again. Meanwhile, Mina, passing by and smelling the food, is reminded once again of her lost family, and makes a decision that she needs to stop moping and do something about her feelings soon. That night, Sonic makes a decision of his own, sneaking out of his house under the cover of dark and heading for the reliquary.

Oh, no, Sonic, don't make another stupid decision…

A royal guard calls urgently for Sally and Elias where they still sit by the pond, informing them the surgeries on their parents have been completed. They rush to the med-lab apprehensively, and find the king lying in his bed, tired but alive and well, holding onto the hand of a sleeping Alicia in the bed next to him. She's pulled through, and as they watch she begins to awaken.

And as the whole family is finally happily reunited, with tearful joy, Sonic races out of Knothole with the stolen sword in hand, unaware that a shadowy figure watches him from behind a tree…

A Matter of Self Interest

Writer: Ken Penders Pencils: Steven Butler Colors: Frank Gagliardo

Knuckles has decided to lead his group across the waters to Albion by boat this time, instead of channeling his inner Jesus. Whilst they row towards the island city, Rob updates Bunnie, Antoine and Amy on his and Knuckles' adventures here last time, ending with him questioning why Knuckles didn't decide to stay in Albion with the rest of his fellows. It's revealed then that Gala-Na, the echidna who welcomed the group in the past, has been watching their approach on a screen along with several council members, including our old pal Yanar. They have a discussion amongst themselves that reveals that Rob has been the liaison between their city and the rest of the world for some time now, and that they are currently keeping an unspecified stranger in their midst which makes them wary, a stranger who resembles Antoine greatly…

Knuckles and the others finally reach Albion's shore, and as Knuckles ties up the boat and leads the others toward the city, Rob and Antoine carry on a conversation about how the last time Rob fought the High Sheriff, he lost him in the chaos and doesn’t know if he's still alive, something which naturally leaves Antoine feeling less than reassured. A familiar sight greets Knuckles as he approaches the city - once again, Gala-Na has arrived to welcome him in. (She's also mistakenly colored red for several of these next issues, even though she was originally purple.)

Gala-Na leads everyone to their quarters for the night, intending to let everyone have a good night's sleep before they begin to investigate the High Sheriff and the disappearance of the Floating Island. However, Knuckles is still very perturbed by the events of the past few days and sits on his balcony, unable to sleep. Yanar, watching him from the monitors in the council's chambers (seriously, what is it with echidna councils and spying on people through hidden cameras all over the place?), decides to go and visit him to explain what's really going on. He reveals that Albion knew what had happened to the Floating Island as soon as it occurred, leaving Knuckles outraged that they didn't offer their help before now despite the event happening not even 24 hours ago. You literally got to them faster than they could get to you, Knuckles, what more do you want? Yanar deflects Knuckles' blame and instead brings him to a lab nearby, where Knuckles is shocked to see…

Excellent timing, High Sheriff! Knuckles prepares to face off against Antoine's father, but suddenly a massive explosion rocks the complex, shaking awake his other four companions in a panic off in their respective rooms. Oh boy…

#nala reads archie sonic preboot #archie sonic #archie sonic preboot #sonic the hedgehog #sth 89 #writer: karl bollers #writer: ken penders #pencils: james fry #pencils: steven butler #colors: frank gagliardo

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jira-chii · 5 years ago

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World 1 story summary

A friend needed a summary of story mode ASAP so I quickly wrote this up in about a week.

Very obvious spoiler warning.

Some notes:

This is by no means a perfect recount of World 1. In fact, it is not even based on my actual experience (I watched this playlist by Shinchan, and viewed each video in its entirety exactly once).

This version of World 1 is fully voiced and uses the Shoumetsu Toshi 2 tutorial, which I did not experience when I first played story mode back in 2015. However, I imagine this is the version most players would now be familiar with. (Honestly though, from what I remember, apart from the beginning the changes are very minor, so you’re not missing much).

I do still want to replay main story for myself, take screenshots, and rewrite this post eventually. In particular, I want to go into more detail about the gameplay mechanics that contribute to the story (like literally having to move back a few chapters to progress at one stage of the story).

As this is a summary focused on giving an overview of the story only, I have most certainly missed out on many nuances in the character dialogue. These are not necessary to understand the story, however they add a lot more depth to character personalities and motives. This will be something else I will pay more attention to when I replay the game. But not now.

I have not recounted each chapter exactly as it plays out in the game, because 1) I was writing this in a rush, and 2) there is a lot of repetition. I have tried to keep everything thematically consistent, although this means I may have shifted the order of some of the information you find out. Therefore, if you are using this as a guide for your first playthrough, do not read my chapter summaries until you have actually finished the entirety of said chapter (which are the sections on the map which have the character 話 at the end of them), or else there may be experience-ruining spoilers.

Alright, enjoy.

Shoumetsu Toshi's opening literally throws you right into the action. In fact, you are informed, it's the final battle to save the world! Yuki tells you to collect spheres while she uses tamashii to fight against ????. It is in this moment of intense tension that you are given a tutorial on how to play the game.

Just as you are getting the hang of things, ???? reveals a new power. A panicked Yuki exclaims it feels similar to when the city “disappeared”.

Suddenly, as ???? is about to attack, the game freezes and the screen glitches. We pan out to a shot of the city in time to see a silent explosion.

The narration explains this “second Shoumetsu” brought about a new world and the start of a new story. It all began with the “first Shoumetsu” that happened in that city, which we will now turn to.

Three years after the initial Shoumetsu, inside a mysterious organisation, hooded figures panic as they search for an intruder..on a scooter?

Takuya is a courier with a request to save a girl and get her out of the facility. The girl's name is Yuki and she is able to summon these beings called tamashii. Takuya doesn't stress the details though, and just follows her instructions to keep driving and collect spheres. After all, his mission will end once he delivers her to his client and they won't have to see each other ever again.

Takuya brings Yuki to a research facility, where they meet up with a scientist. Scientist researched “parallel worlds” with Yuki's father. And it seems like he's not done with Takuya just yet.

Scientist explains that three years ago, a city disappeared (“Shoumetsu” means disappearance/extinction/annihilation). They now call that area “Lost”, and he wants Takuya to take Yuki there. Takuya accepts the job after making sure the reward is worth it.

After the opening sequence, we find out the hooded figures from the organisation are after the two of them to get Yuki back.

PART 1: Searching for Nakama

Chapter 1

Takuya communicates with Scientist through a mobile phone while he drives his scooter. First he wants to know why Yuki wants to go to the place where a city disappeared, the Shoumetsu Toshi, Lost.

Scientist said Yuki's father, who should have disappeared in the incident three years ago, sent a message to Yuki saying he is waiting at Lost.

During battle Takuya asks Yuki about the tamashii. They are the “wills” of people who disappeared in Lost. There are even little girls, who probably aren't even aware they have turned into tamashii. But some tamashii are also able to realise their unfulfilled dreams in this form, as was the case with a singer we fight.

Yuki can summon tamashii in battle if she is able to visualise their “wills” or “feelings”. For that, she needs to know a little bit of their background information, so Takuya takes her to an information broker he knows, called Headhunter.

Headhunter has a list of all the people who disappeared in the Shoumetsu. He is a businessman who works only when money is involved. According to his introductory bio, he also likes anmitsu and geisha.

Chapter 2

After the visit, scientist calls again, with another request. He wants Takuya to retrieve some stolen data, on Yuki's father's research. The culprits are the mysterious organisation that Takuya rescued Yuki from.

Takuya happens to have a friend called Geek who is great at finding information. But when he tries to call him, Geek doesn't pick up.

Yuki and Takuya's relationship is still tense, with neither completely trusting the other yet. Yuki comments that all of Takuya's acquaintances are weird people. Takuya refuses to talk to her about anything unrelated to the job. So when he asks Yuki to explain her dad's research she is unwilling to say anything. Until Takuya makes her realise he is putting his own life on the line to help her, so the least she could do is let him know why.

Yuki's father was researching how to make tamashii stronger. But that's strange, because tamashii didn't exist until after Lost, so how could her father be researching them before the Shoumetsu happened? Yuki won't tell him anymore though, because he won't open up about himself either.

The two finally arrive at Geek's place. Geek managed to get the data but he is very scared. He doesn't want to be involved anymore. He doesn't want anything to do with Yuki, the girl involved in Lost. He agrees to give them the data if they leave asap.

The men from the organisation find out their computers were hacked, but they definitely won't make another mistake. They won't hand over the “evolution” data.

Well, guess what our next mission is.

Chapter 3

Scientist had planted a spy in the organisation who is currently stealing the evolution data. Takuya and Yuki are to meet up with them to retrieve it.

Yuki is still feeling hurt over what Geek said, but she says she's used to it. A lot of people said hurtful things to her out of fear in the three years after the Shoumetsu. Takuya knows it's also impossible to like everyone you meet, so he reassured her it's OK.

There are a lot of grass enemies in the area so the best element to put in our team is fire. Like the guy in the suit Yuki first summoned. Yuki clarifies his name is Akira, but won't go further into their relationship.

Takuya changes topics and asks about the mysterious organisation. They did experiments on Yuki to get her power. Takuya knows they are a dangerous group to mess with, because he used to be involved with them, before he became a courier. That’s why he knows they don't let off traitors easily. So we should probably be wary of Scientist, who was gutsy enough to plant a spy in there. What kind of man is Scientist, and is he really trustworthy?

Yuki admits even she sometimes can't tell what Scientist is thinking, but he is the last living person carrying on her father's will. They have no choice but to rely on him.

Takuya gives her a piece of advice, which is to be true to yourself. What an uncharacteristically useful thing to say. Well actually he didn't come up with it himself, he read it in a book.

Yuki wonders what Takuya was doing before he became a courier. He was in a detective group, but he doesn't want to tell her why he quit. She asks if he still keeps in contact with his friends from back then. Takuya gives an unconvincing answer of “sometimes”.

Takuya and Yuki arrive, but there is nobody around to greet them. Then they find a corpse. It looks like the organisation is onto them. But they have the data now. The spy hid it inside their mouth so the enemy wouldn't find out. But how important is this mission to need everyone to go to such lengths?

Takuya tells Yuki to go outside and take some deep breaths to calm down while he sends the data to Scientist.

The hooded guys from the organisation realise Takuya and Yuki must have gotten the data. Their next strategy is use their network, the detective group.

Chapter 4

Takuya is furious at Scientist. Clearly he knew what was up, so why would he keep quiet and subject a young girl to a scene like that? Scientist explains it was because he didn't want to risk Takuya pulling out of the job after knowing the dangers. Takuya makes it clear he is definitely going to see the job through to the end, so he doesn't want to see Yuki hurt anymore.

Poor Yuki is still in shock. Takuya diverts the topic to another acquaintance of his they are going to get help from. Researcher is his childhood friend and an expert at gathering data. She was also his colleague in the detective group. The truth is, he never wanted to contact her again, but Yuki taught him that relying on people once in a while is not such a bad thing. He hasn't talked to her in a while because “it's complicated”, but he assures her Researcher is trustworthy.

Why did Takuya leave the detective agency even with someone as trustworthy as Researcher in it? Takuya still won't tell the details, but he claims he was put in charge of a big case, was told by his higher ups to pull out, got made to take responsibility for it and was consequently kicked out of the group. It sounds bad, but in a big organisation it isn't strange for one person’s happiness to be sacrificed for the group collective. But Yuki probably won't understand until she's older.

Researcher greets the two of them at the pub, and says she has good news and bad news. The bad news is that she has reported them to the higher ups in the agency. They want Takuya to hand over Yuki. But the good news is, if he does so, they will consider everything he's done water under the bridge, and let him back into the group.

So the detective group was affiliated with the mysterious organisation after all. Takuya is furious at Researcher's betrayal, tells her to forget everything and never appear in front of him again.

As the two make their escape, Takuya apologises to Yuki. He truly thought Researcher was able to be trusted. Yuki doesn't mind though. She asks if they dated. A woman's intuition is a scary thing. Just once, Takuya says.

It's a shame how things turned out, but Yuki doesn't think it was wrong for Takuya to have tried to trust her.

Suddenly they get a message..from Researcher: “Head in the two o'clock direction.” But can this message be trusted? Yuki says yes and that's good enough reason for Takuya to do so too.

On the way they see a very strong tamashii called Hazuki, who emanates an intense feeling of regret, that never disappeared even when she became a tamashii.

Researcher immediately apologises when we meet up. Takuya knows she didn't mean it, but it’s hard to trust her now that she’s put them in danger. Researcher admits that just now, she quit the group, and won’t leak any more information to the organisation. She is completely on our side now. But...why?

“It's because I like you” she simply states with a smile.

The organisation lost their source of information from their detective group network. But, they did locate the man who hacked their computers and stole their data…

Chapter 5

Geek is in danger! Takuya and Yuki race to his rescue. But when they get there, there's someone else's corpse at the entrance. Did Geek do that?

No, a little boy of all people came and killed the henchman from the organisation. Who is he? Scientists seems to know. He warns Yuki that what lies ahead is a reality she may find hard to accept. But Yuki will move on regardless, because she has to.

Takuya is grateful to Yuki for tagging along to save Geek. While it's true Geek said some hurtful things to her, she knows he is an important person to Takuya.

Takuya and Yuki resolve to make a move against the organisation. After all, the hunter is stronger than the hunted.

Chapter 6

Takuya had a reaction when Geek mentioned the mysterious boy. Actually, the big case he worked on as a detective was an investigation on a boy who used strange powers to kill people.

Headhunter managed to get some info on him. There is a rumour he is also heading for Lost.

We also find out the organisation planted a bug on Geek, so he knows everything. It looks like a fight with the boy will be inevitable.

The confrontation with the boy comes with an unwelcome shock for Yuki. He is her younger brother, Souma. Souma figures out she is with Takuya because she is not “perfect” like him and so needs Takuya to collect spheres.

Souma doesn't want Yuki meeting their dad in Lost. What is his goal? Souma says he is “making the world right”, and he will kill everyone who gets in his way, even his own sister.

Are we going to make Yuki fight her own brother? Yes. She pleads for Takuya to not give up, and bring her to Lost no matter what.

After the fight, Souma concedes he can't beat us in his “current body”, but he won't let us off so easily next time. He is no longer the Souma Yuki knows, and will only get stronger and stronger.

He also tells Yuki not to be fooled by Takuya, who still hasn’t revealed much about himself to Yuki.

Finally, before he leaves, Souma tells Yuki she can't change the past. Their dad is gone, and there's nothing they can do about it.

Takuya demands answers from Scientist. Why is he making Yuki do this? Scientist replies: “there is no other choice.” On top of saving the world, there is another consequence for Yuki that she isn't even aware of yet. Yuki is actually deeply connected to Lost, so if it expands it will suck her life energy. That is, if nothing is done about Lost, Yuki will die.

PART TWO: Evolution

Chapter 7

We now know the enemy tamashii are being summoned by Yuki's brother, Souma. Defeating him is a necessary sacrifice to ensure Yuki gets to Lost. The enemies are strong, but Takuya advises we don't panic, and proceed to get stronger at our own pace.

Yuki and Takuya try to figure out what happened to Souma, but the truth is Yuki doesn't know much of what happened after the Shoumetsu. Takuya is actually in the same boat. He recalls that on the day he was close by, possibly observing someone. But he can't remember who he was observing, and why. How strange that neither Takuya nor Yuki remember the events of that day.

Now that Takuya is aware of the stakes, he asks Yuki once more to explain the purpose of their journey. Why was her father researching tamashii?

The truth is something hard to believe. Yuki's dad got his data from the future. Which means even if he should have disappeared, even if he shouldn't be alive right now, there's a possibility he is. Everything will become clear only once we meet him. So for now we can only trust his message, that he is waiting for Yuki at Lost.

It seems like Souma also wants to meet his dad, so why can't the siblings talk it out? Yuki feels Souma is different now, she isn't even sure he is her brother anymore. Though he looks exactly the same as her brother, he behaves differently. It's like he doesn't even see Yuki the same way as before anymore.

Takuya has his suspicions someone else is pulling the strings. Souma doesn't act like a kid his age should.

Yuki talks about how her brother used to be. He gets lonely easily. He used to drag a blanket around the house, and Yuki and her dad would laugh and say he was like an anime character. On that topic, Takuya mentions he never really got into anime, but he would read his older sister's manga. Yuki giggles. Shoujo manga seems somehow fitting for Takuya.

Yuki now turns to her concern for Souma. When tamashii get hurt, their summoners also take damage. To think that Souma may be getting hurt because of them is unpleasant. But we can only move on. There is no time to worry about the enemy.

Meanwhile, Souma himself is also powering up, as indicated by the more evolved tamashii standing in Takuya and Yuki’s way. But it's still not enough. They are still being defeated one after the other. It's almost driving him mad. Suddenly a mysterious man appears and tell him he's done enough. Enough to show he's useless. Souma asks for another chance from the man, Taiyou. Taiyou says he is free to try harder. But depending on the result he may “fix” Souma. For example, maybe he'd be more useful if he was made immune to fear of pain, and able to summon tamashii continuously until the very limits of his mental ability?

Chapter 8

Takuya wonders what will happen if they get to Lost, but don't find Yuki's dad. Yuki assures him she is fairly sure of where he would be: on “the other side” of Lost.

Lost looks like a hole, but that hole is actually connected to another world, a “parallel world”.

Do you know about Schrodinger's cat? If you put a cat in a box and close the lid, you won't know if it is dead or alive until you open the lid. The cat is technically alive and dead at the same time.

In a similar way, Lost leads to a parallel world that shows a different “possibility” of this world. Poor Takuya still doesn't quite get it, but in a nutshell, the enemies are coming from another world.

Yuki apologises for involving Takuya in such a dangerous job. But Takuya says he has no regrets. The job is pretty interesting, and he doesn't mind being with Yuki either. So instead of apologising and saying “sorry”, he wants her to say “thank you”.

At the organisation, Souma is being pushed to his limit. Even the hooded henchmen are getting concerned. The boy is too young, and can't handle the power.

Meanwhile Geek gets a visit from a woman. Her name is Tsuki and she is Taiyou's partner. Tsuki knows Geek is the hacker and she wants information on Takuya.

Yuki is feeling conflicted about Souma. Is it really alright to move forward knowing you will be harming your own brother? But she has no choice. She can only pray that he gives up eventually.

Yuki thinks the next time they meet she will try to talk to him normally. Souma also went through Lost, so he must have had to endure many horrible things, just like Yuki did.

There are many evolved tamashii in our way. It's happening abnormally quickly. With the defeat of the next enemy we cut back to Souma at the organisation. He's started to go crazy, continuously repeating the phrase “I won't forgive you”.

Chapter 9

From threatening Geek, Tsuki learns Takuya is not related to Yuki in any way, which is hard to believe. Geek says Takuya has always been like that, a kind person at heart, even to complete strangers.

Tsuki figures he isn't lying. But she does get one piece of useful information: Takuya and Yuki can't fight unless they're together. Before she leaves, Tsuki calmly requests that Geek stop hacking the organisation, or else she will kill him. But of course he won't give up that easily.

Geek contacts Takuya and Yuki to tell them about Tsuki. He also informs them Souma is in a bad condition and his mental state can't take the pain anymore.

Yuki needs to prepare for the worst. She doesn't want to fight Souma, but if she doesn't the world might disappear. This is news to Takuya. Yuki explains Lost connects two worlds, but the two worlds cannot support each other's existence. One will suck out the possibilities of the other, and destroy it, turning everyone into tamashii. Yuki's dad hopefully has a solution to avoid this catastrophe, but truthfully Yuki isn't sure what can be done.

Headhunter investigated Souma. The boy should be dead. He even has a corpse, albeit a missing one. He hasn't investigated why it went missing yet, because that's out of scope of his request. Researcher pays him to continue the research.

So, Souma should be dead, but somebody has forcefully resurrected him. Yuki doesn't want to believe it, but Takuya tells her she must make a choice now, because to not decide anything is the worst thing that can happen.

Yuki asks what Takuya will do, to which he replies he will follow his contract to the end, like he has always done.

As we fight the next evolved tamashii enemy, Yuki is concerned Souma must be in a lot of pain. He probably doesn't want this either.

We cut to Tsuki and Taiyou, who are having a strange conversation. Tsuki says she's always been jealous of big breasts, but now she finally has them she's realised how much they make her shoulders hurt. Taiyou berates her for not choosing a body similar to her parallel self.

They then talk about what to do with the “corpse”.

Souma is not just in a lot of pain. He's snapped mentally, muttering things as if in a trance: “play with me… I'm lonely… don't come… quick, let's play…” He probably can’t do much more in that state, but Taiyou thinks it a waste to just throw his body away. Furthermore, the “Apocalypse calendar” is also looking forward to him.

Yuki makes a decision. She will fight and move forward, no matter how painful it gets. She tells Takuya that no matter what happens, he can't give up on her, because she needs him.

Yuki tells Takuya her mother died soon after her and Souma were born. Her father worked hard to raise them and do his research at the same time, but Yuki hated it. She hated not having her mother there and often cried a lot about it, causing her father a lot of grief. That's why she wants to save him, but to do that means hurting Souma...

Chapter 10

Yuki needs a small break after defeating Souma. She asks Takuya to lend her his back (so she can cry). Takuya asks her what she wants to do once everything is over. The thought had never even crossed her mind. Takuya says they should find her a new house in a new city, so she can start a new life. Yuki can go to school, and make friends her own age. Such an ordinary life should be everyone's right. Yuki agrees, that it would be nice to have such a life.

Yuki continues thinking about the ideal future Takuya outlined for her. Will she be able to make friends her own age? Will Takuya visit? Takuya also joins in the fantasising. He will visit her occasionally, but he's still got a job so he can't look after her all the time. Yuki gets a little annoyed he's treating her like a child. Takuya says he'll definitely make that future, that dream come true. We fight a Judo girl, who fulfilled her dream to get stronger as a tamashii. Takuya says he and Yuki will fulfil their dreams too, not as tamashii, but as humans.

Yuki is a little conflicted, but Takuya tells her the most important thing to success is to believe, even if that is a lie. He convinces Yuki to believe in this little dream they have created. When Takuya comes to visit, maybe she'll make him breakfast. Takuya doesn't think Yuki looks capable of making anything complex. He tells her he'll settle for anything as long as there's coffee. Yuki berates him. If it's breakfast in the morning, it's got to be rice.

In this chapter, Takuya and Yuki also noticed something strange about the tamashii. Even though they defeated Souma, the enemies keep getting stronger.

Actually, Souma is being forced to summon them. He is in a lot of pain but Tsuki tells him to be a good boy and endure it. He's the only one who can summon tamashii for them, so they need him to keep working.

Meanwhile, Researcher finds out from Headhunter that Yuki and Scientist are hiding something very important from Takuya (Headhunter doesn't tell Takuya directly because he knows Researcher will pay good money to know anything concerning Takuya's wellbeing).

Researcher calls Takuya at the end of the chapter and pleads for him to stop the job: If Takuya continues the journey to Lost, his life will be in danger.

Chapter 11

Many people who investigated Lost have died, and the small amount of survivors suffered damage to their memory and mentality. There is a type of energy wave emanating from Lost that has negative effects on people. Yuki probably knew this, but she didn't tell Takuya.

Takuya asks Yuki how meeting her dad will help stop Lost. According to her father’s research, Yuki’s power is an important key to closing Lost. When Yuki summons tamashii with her power, she is essentially opening a gate to the other world. By the same logic, she should be able to ‘close’ that gate that is Lost.

Our next enemy is not evolved, so the enemy must be getting weaker. Takuya and Yuki are also getting closer to Lost.

Takuya talks about his philosophy around contracts again. He has pride in fulfilling his contract. The higher the hurdle the better. Takuya acknowledges he has a dangerous job, but to fail even once means loss of credibility, and no more jobs. So he will definitely fulfil his contract with Yuki, no matter what obstacles lie in the way.

Takuya's pride is a troublesome thing, but it's what keeps him going. He remarks it might be good to settle down after all this, but Yuki asks if he's scared he won't even make it back. Takuya reminds her they decided they wouldn't regret anything. To falter even a little bit means death.

On Tsuki and Taiyou's side we get confirmation that they are tamashii from the other side, who have successfully taken over bodies from this side. Also there are 30 seconds left on the ‘Clock of the End’, but Lost is spreading too slowly. The Noah plan won't succeed like this.

Souma is also now able to summon even stronger tamashii, even though he should have hit his limit long ago. Taiyou seems to know more.

Souma's ramblings are now about the sister he loves. Tsuki thinks it's kind of gross a corpse is talking about his sister.

Chapter 12

Scientist is concerned Takuya will not help them anymore now that he knows about the dangerous waves, but Yuki knows he is stronger than that, and will go on. Even knowing there is a good chance he will lose his memories, and possibly his life.

It seems Yuki is now conflicted between having Takuya continue to help or, or having him give up and preserve his life. She asks him if he has any regrets. Takuya says instead of thinking about the painful near future, it is much better to think of the happy future when everything is over, even if that future is a lie.

The next enemy is Akira, the SP who guarded Yuki and Souma's dad. Which means Souma is still summoning the tamashii.

Yuki is in shock, she can't even give advice normally anymore, instead delegating that task to Takuya to advise us on what we should focus on next for our team building.

Researcher relays the news to Headhunter that Takuya won't stop, because he's found out from Scientist that Yuki will die if he does. Headhunter doesn't understand how one can stake their life on just a contract, but that's Takuya for you.

Souma's condition has gotten to the point even Tsuki is becoming concerned about him. But Taiyou doesn't care if his body breaks or his sanity is destroyed. As long as they can get power out of him. Tsuki conceded he is correct, too correct. But she still secretly lets him go before he evolves.

Yuki is horrified when she sees Souma. He's gone crazy. He's no longer her brother. And she has to defeat him.

After the battle Yuki tearfully apologises. “I'm sorry I couldn't save you. But I have things I have to do. I can't stop here, I have to go ahead.”

Now Takuya and Yuki have reached the vicinity of Lost. No matter what happens, Taiyou will ensure the Noah plan goes ahead. Taiyou thinks the waves around Lost will be enough to get rid of the two of them, but just in case, he tells Tsuki it is her turn next.

PART 3: Towards Lost

Chapter 13

Tsuki has no choice. It's her turn next. She wonders how there could be people idiotic enough to sacrifice themselves just to reach Lost. What a stupid story this is becoming…

Takuya and Yuki are feeling the impact of the waves. Both already have splitting headaches, and the enemies are getting stronger.

Tsuki makes her appearance. She tells them to stop but ofc they don't. They're the exact type of idiots she was talking about earlier. We beat her once, then she escapes to get stronger. She tells Taiyou the waves might not be enough to stop them. Taiyou says they have to do everything they can to stop them, which is bad news for Tsuki. Tsuki doesn't say anything. She’s scared of what will happen to her.

Yuki feels like the scenery around her is familiar, and it's too clear to be Deja Vu. She can even see what is going to happen from here on, as if she was seeing another memory. Something like this had already been happening to her, it was why she always had a bad feeling right before an enemy was about to appear.

These are actually the memories of her parallel world version flowing into her. Takuya asks what will happen next. In a desolate tone, Yuki says the two of them will be defeated by a powerful enemy. It’s Tsuki.

Scientist's tamashii research lab was invaded by some men from the organisation. He managed to chase them away, but not before they destroyed some of his equipment. He clearly identified them as from “the other side”. Geek tells him to not give up. They'll give the organisation some dummy data and find an alternate route to keep supporting Takuya and Yuki.

Tsuki is amazed Takuya and Yuki are still going to challenge her, even though Yuki's memories say they will die by her hands. The two confidently tell her things will go differently, because this is a different world and they are not like their parallel world selves.

Against all odds, they do defeat Tsuki, sending her into a bit of a panic. She doesn't want to keep going, she doesn't want more power, she doesn't want to become like Souma…

Chapter 14

Taiyou thinks it odd that Takuya and Yuki are still able to maintain their sanity after so long. As Takuya and Yuki get closer, their pain increases.

Scientist finally explains the nature of these waves. They are the memories of their parallel world versions. But if Takuya and Yuki can handle it, they will absorb the wills from the parallel world and grow even stronger. It's incredibly dangerous, but in the end it's a battle of wills, and Scientist is willing to bet on that miracle.

Yuki becomes concerned about the possibility of losing her memories. What if she forgets her purpose for journeying with Takuya in the first place? How will she be able to keep moving forward?

Takuya is also in a bad situation. His head hurts and his mouth is dry. But somehow, he still has this feeling that despite all that, they will still win. Even if their current selves forget everything, they only have to trust in their past selves, who have been able to endure everything up to now, to get them to this point.

Yuki makes a revelation about the tamashii in our party. Even though we should only have capacity for five in our party there's always one more, the helper tamashii. We know now, it's another version of us, helping each other from different parallel worlds. So even if Takuya and Yuki lose their memories, they won't lose their strong will.

Tsuki comes back. Yuki can sense conflict within her. Tsuki is afraid of fighting us, but she doesn't say anything. Taiyou steps in and says even if she loses her self, as long as she has power left she will stop the two of them. Tsuki gets pushed to her limits under Taiyou's command, and evolves into something that isn't even human anymore.

Chapter 15

After taking down Tsuki, it’s Taiyou’s turn in the ring. The strange but powerful man is able to induce a headache purely through his aura. We win anyway. Taiyou retreats to get more power.

Geek has finally found a way for communication to reach us inside Lost. But Takuya and Yuki no longer remember him, nor Headhunter, nor Researcher, nor Scientist.

But all of them assure the two they have a team of allies ready to support them, and offer various pieces of advice. Who are these people and why are they helping us? Can we even believe them? But Takuya says he is willing to take a gamble on them, and Yuki agrees, that trust is truly a wonderful thing.

Yuki admits that sometimes, she would suddenly forget her reason for continuing to move forward, and become very worried. But then she sees that Takuya is there, right in front of her, and she trusts him completely. Likewise, Takuya says when he feels Yuki’s chest against his back, he remembers he has to keep moving forward. This elicits a less than friendly reaction from Yuki.

We have the final fight against Tsuki, and another fight against Taiyou.

Also random trivia we learn: the quote “we still have bullets left”, which we often hear Akira say, is from a movie that Yuki likes.

Chapter 16

Yuki becomes concerned about her own wellbeing. If they continue to fight like this, will she become a tamashii like the one we just defeated? Will she become like crazy, like Souma and Tsuki and now Taiyou?

Researcher and Scientist echo similar worries. Yuki will be in danger if she keeps fighting, and may suffer intense mental damage. But they cannot stop them, they have to keep going forward. Scientist also says he feels the two are different from their parallel world counterparts, who perished halfway.

Taiyou wants more power. He claims the calculations from the Apocalypse calendar shouldn’t be wrong. He shouldn’t lose anymore.

We can see the waves impacting on Takuya and Yuki’s memories a little bit more now. Yuki becomes concerned again. Should we really keep going? What if it’s the wrong choice? But, like Takuya said, the worst thing to do is to make no decision at all. She had just forgotten it.

When Yuki realises, she apologises. But Takuya tells her not to say sorry, but thank you. Yuki wonders why that phrase sounds so nostalgic. Takuya wonders if somebody important to her said that to her once. He has forgotten that person was himself.

Even Taiyou is being affected. He doesn’t quite remember who Takuya and Yuki are, but he knows he will destroy anyone in his way.

Once we defeat Taiyou, he begins to mutter what sounds like gibberish: the communication ship should not reach the bulb…?

Taiyou makes his escape once again. Then Researcher calls. Though neither Takuya nor Yuki remember her, she tells them how to make sure they don't lose their goal. She tells them to remember their image of the happy future, grasp onto it and never let it go. Scientist later explains to her that if the two of them are able to hold onto just one memory, even if they lose all their other memories, they will keep their sanity. This is the only way they will be able to maintain their purpose.

Taiyou evolves. The hooded henchmen of the organisation talk amongst themselves. If Yuki touches the core, Lost will close. But the organisation hasn’t lost yet. Taiyou is growing ever more powerful, to the point he breaks his body. As he reaches his final evolution, the men say it is time for Plan B.

Chapter 17

Yuki and Takuya are now inside Lost. The mysterious organisation know that if Yuki manages to touch the core of Lost, a contradiction in the calculations of the Apocalypse calendar will cause Lost to close. They are unsure if Taiyou can even stop them now, so they are initiating Plan B, which is to make Takuya and Yuki disappear, along with the rest of this world. Then according to the “Third War” (which seems to be what the Noah plan is), the world will become a place humans can no longer live on. They will then have to abandon this world, and find another timeline to inhabit. This is probably harder than it sounds, but everything will be fine. Because they have “God” on their side.

Inside Lost, Takuya and Yuki can see many parallel worlds. Takuya cannot stop driving, otherwise they could fall in the gaps between the worlds. But after a while, the scenery has not changed, and it feels like they are stuck driving in circles. Yuki’s father is also nowhere in sight. Here, the signals of Geek’s communication device cannot reach them, so their allies can only pray for their safety and success.

Taiyou continues growing stronger. He trembles with power as he absorbs the memories of all the lost souls. He utters “everything will go according to the Apocalypse calendar”.

Taiyou approaches and Yuki can feel her sanity slipping away. She asks Takuya to forgive her, if she uses up too much power in battle, and ends up forgetting him.

We fight Taiyou, we beat Taiyou. Then he evolves into a...fetus?

We defeat the monstrous baby, but at a dear cost: Yuki has lost her memories.

Chapter 18

Poor Yuki has lost her memories of Takuya, of Lost, of her journey. She says: “I don’t know who you are, but I know we have to go. That’s what’s important to us.”

As Takuya continues driving, Yuki hears a voice, telling her that she has done enough. She has worked hard, gone through so much pain, but it’s alright to forget everything and rest now. It’s her dad.

Yuki’s dad apologises for not being a good father, always being too busy to care for her. He doesn’t want Yuki to feel pain anymore. He invites her to stop moving forward, and rest her weary body in this warm and happy place. Just the word “happy” triggers Yuki into wanting to accept the tempting offer, but Takuya stops her. Taiyou is still not defeated, they can’t afford to rest just yet, there is still unfinished business left to do. It’s the less comfortable choice, but it’s the one Yuki has to make. She can’t rest like her dad just yet.

Taiyou is still alive gdi. Men in hoods explain he has totally abandoned his body, to become a corrupt being. The man (if he can still be called one), cannot be stopped now. The world will be destroyed.

They also explain that getting power from Yuki’s father, who has become one with the core, is their Plan B. The core contains the wills of everything. With that much power, the organisation will destroy this world. They have confidence that Yuki will not be able to touch the core in time, because she has to get past the will of her own father first.

Yuki is definitely tired. Her dad’s voice becomes more powerful. If you are tired, you should rest. Besides, there is no proof that what you are doing is even the right thing. Good and evil do not exist in this world; they are just concepts we created, they all boil down to electrical impulses in the brain. Instead of doing noble things, we should each just chase after our own happiness, and maintain the balance of the world.

Yuki cries hearing her dad talk of happiness, but she doesn’t know why. But Takuya does. He urges her to remember, the reason they move forward, is to grab their own happiness. A peaceful life in a different town, and delicious coffee in the morning! Yuki tells him it shouldn’t be coffee, it should be rice. And with that she’s back, just in time for the final fight against Taiyou.

After beating Taiyou, Yuki's memories come back. She has to touch the core to get rid of Lost, but getting that close means she might not be able to escape in time, and will disappear along with the rest of Lost. But she will do it. Her father is holding the core so it's power doesn't escape, but this means he has been trapped like that for a long time. Yuki wants to release him, and tell him it's OK for him to rest. So she asks Takuya once more, to please take her to the core, and then run.

Yuki's dad tells her to stop, but she won't. When we see him he takes on the appearance of a grotesque wall of objects. In order to stop Lost spreading, he absorbed everything around him to the point of losing his mind and body. Yuki gently tells her dad, she's different from the old Yuki. She now understands many things: the bonds between people, what a strong will is, and what a happy dream looks like. With those things, she is able to do anything. She can keep moving forward forever. And to move forward, is what it means to live. Yuki is grateful for learning those things, and she is grateful to her dad, for giving her life, and for being her dad to the end.

Yuki's dad is defeated, revealing the core. But Takuya keeps driving. He's not letting Yuki off just yet. He will fulfil his contract, and bring her right up to the core, staying with her until the end.

If both of them get that close, there's a good chance neither will survive. Yuki becomes very sad, and lets out a bit of an emotional confession. It's because of Takuya that she was able to come this far. Before she met him, she was always alone. Her first impression of him was a very rude and unreasonable man, dragging her around without any explanation, doing anything he wants without a care for others. He rode a weird scooter and also stunk slightly of sweat.

Takuya realises what tsundere Yuki is saying and says he's glad to have met her too. His last words before the credits are: “Even if you touch the core, I'll keep moving on. So grab onto me tight, I'll save you. And after everything is over, we'll get out of here.”

After the credits, we hear some thoughts from Yuki's dad. In his hazy consciousness he saw his daughter. Lost will disappear in time and the world will be saved. He has no more power to continue watching this ‘story', but he is glad he got to see Yuki in the end. Thank you, Yuki.

PART 4

Chapter 19

One year after Lost disappeared, Yuki has locked herself in her room, depressed. She doesn't want to see anyone and doesn't want to go outside. The reason is that she feels responsible for another catastrophe that occurred after Lost disappeared and the world was supposed to be saved: the town turned into stone, and the area into an uninhabitable wasteland. And it's slowly spreading.

Meanwhile, a woman approaches Takuya, claiming to have been searching for him. It's Lisa, an executive of the detective agency Takuya used to work for.

Lisa claims she has cut ties with the agency, and now needs Takuya to head north, in order to protect Yuki. Takuya now has to drag an unwilling Yuki to go on another journey with him.

Our enemy are still tamashii. Yuki still remembers how to fight them, even though she wanted so much to forget all about them.

Yuki talks about how people around them have moved on with their lives. Apparently Headhunter started a new business, healing the hearts of those who were harmed by Lost. He does this by altering people's memories to remove their trauma. Yuki might be thinking of doing the same.

They meet up with Lisa. She praises Takuya for his speed, though that was something she taught him. Lisa explains that in the north is a place called Lost Zero. According to a mysterious note called the Isoya Report, there is a group who are planning to destroy the world with their Plan B. The start of that destruction is Lost Zero. So she wants the two of them to go there and stop it.

Yuki never said she would help Takuya, she didn’t want to go on another journey, and she doesn't want to fight anymore. She wanted to save the world before, but then look what happened. So why is Takuya so willing to believe what Lisa is saying, with no basis at all?

Takuya tries to explain that it's fine if it turns out to be a lie and nothing happens, but what if it's not? Yuki accuses him of actually wishing for the end of the world. He just wants to believe there is something else he can do to save the world. She thinks he wants to erase his sins, and that's why he hopes the note will be true, so he can redeem himself.

Takuya claims it's not about saving the world. He just wants to protect the people close to him, even those that didn’t ask to be saved. It could just be his ego, but he wants to do it. If he doesn’t he will surely regret it.

However Yuki does not think like that. She doesn't want to save anyone anymore, because she doesn't want to let down those expectations. She doesn't believe in the note, and she doesn't want to go on this journey. But Lisa asked her to trust in her, for just six days. So once those six days are up, she will go to Headhunter, and ask him to erase her memories. She just wants to forget it all.

Lisa also meets up with another new character in this new chapter. Kouta used to be a talented rookie in the detective agency, and now works as a courier. He feels competitive around Takuya, who is basically his senpai.

He thinks this new job involving Takuya will be troublesome. But Lisa assures him it's completely safe. Unless he gets caught by the enemy, of course. Then he's dead. But worry about that when the time comes. For now she just needs him to get some information on Ginga and Souya. Or was it Touma?

The goal of the mysterious organisation is to erase this world, because they think it “should” disappear. That was supposed to be its fate, it's pre-written history. But Takuya changed that ‘history' by preventing its destruction. So now they are trying to fix it to the way it was supposed to be. They are aware Takuya and Yuki are on the move again, but this time they are sure “Ginga” will defeat them.

Ginga is the new enemy character. He is a mysterious old man who came from a parallel world after hearing about Taiyou's defeat. Ginga says the fact part of the city turned to stone is proof that this world should not even exist at all, and so he will destroy it himself. There is no time. He will not allow Takuya and Yuki to get to Lost Zero. He will not let them break the “fourth wall”.

Yuki knows when she lays eyes on Ginga that he is too powerful to fight against. Ginga affirms this. Takuya and Yuki will not win against him, this is the end of the story.

The screen turns black. When Takuya regains consciousness he and Yuki are back inside Lost. Ahead is a very bad ‘fate’ for the two of them. How will they go ahead? Yuki says she needs “our” power…

Chapter 20

Takuya has to stop the erasure of the world. He needs to go to Lost Zero. He needs to save Yuki.

Suddenly Kouta yells his name. Takuya is surprised, the two haven't been in touch since he left the detective agency. But Kouta acts like they've been together for ages.

Takuya's got no time to worry about the strange things Kouta is saying though, he's got a world to save. So he leaves him behind and drives off.

But curiously, even Yuki seems to know Kouta, and calls Takuya weird for forgetting they met with him only yesterday. So today is not the second day of their journey, but the third day? Takuya begins to realise he has lost a whole day's worth of memories.

Kouta catches up to Takuya. Takuya is still suspicious of him. Why is he tagging along? Kouta says he doesn't want to be with him either, but it was an order from Lisa. He's the only one who can help Takuya right now, in fact Takuya requested his help only the day before!

Takuya calls Scientist, hoping for an explanation for what is happening. But Scientist apologises, says he cannot help him, and also asks Takuya to not contact him again.

Takuya tries to contact Geek but gets a very strange outburst from him. Geek can't help, but on top of that, claims he hates Takuya for always taking advantage of him whenever it suits him.

A call to researcher also results in rejection. “I'm sorry I can't help you, and I can't tell you why either. We're walking different paths. This is our fate.”

Takuya is sad he got rejected by all his friends. Yuki wonders if it's his personality. Takuya should be more honest. Takuya wonders if Yuki will also walk a different path to him. Unfortunately Yuki can't guarantee anything, especially with how strange Takuya is acting right now. She isn't sure if it's still alright for her to be with him. But, the fact is she cannot fight without Takuya, so she can only rely on him.

Yuki was also pretty nonchalant about moving ahead without the help of our allies. Takuya is confused Yuki wants to go ahead at all, considering how she was so against this journey on day one. Yuki says she already told Takuya her reason, but it looks like he forgot. She's doing it for her “precious person”. She wants to meet him and apologise.

Takuya eventually agrees to accept Kouta’s help. He is able to tell us the enemies up ahead are all water element, so we should build a grass element team. Takuya is puzzled Kouta knows what enemies lie ahead. Kouta is puzzled Takuya doesn't know, because he was the one gave Kouta this information in the first place.

Kouta later also gets some information on Ginga, and Souma, who is summoning the enemy tamashii. Ginga can control the waves that Lost emitted, meaning he can remove people's memories. Takuya figures the source of his memory loss must be Ginga, and maybe he took away the memories of all their allies too.

The enemies begin to overwhelm the two of them. There’s even Akira, confirming Souma is still the one doing the summoning. Yuki is almost at her limit, but suddenly Kouta comes through with a new route and allows them to escape to regroup with Lisa.

Lisa doesn't reject Takuya like the others, so he explains the problem to her. She admires that he didn’t give up even though all his friends betrayed him, but did they really? The route that they escaped through just now was actually discovered by Geek, Scientist gave advice on tamashii, and Researcher scouted out the path ahead. The truth is, Ginga has intercepted their communication lines, meaning it would be dangerous if he discovered the allies that were working for Takuya. How did they know this? Well, Takuya told them. Unfortunately Lisa can’t really explain what happened to him, but she assures us she will always be our ally.

Chapter 21

This chapter opens where chapter 19 left off. Ginga states Takuya and Yuki cannot win against him, and this is the end of their story. He then orders them to close their eyes. But then out of nowhere, Takuya has an epiphany. He gets it now, and he tells Ginga things won’t go according to his plan. Ginga is stunned because he hasn’t even told them his name yet. Even more, Takuya knows Ginga has the power to erase memories. Ginga escapes.

Yuki has a lot of questions, but it’s complicated, time is scarce, and Takuya asks her to just trust him. Yuki says she will only be around for five more days, confirming we are on day two.

Takuya asks if Yuki is really fine with running away: turning a blind eye to the world’s destruction and not doing the things only she could have done.

Takuya and Yuki meet up with Lisa, who appears to have been expecting them. So she has noticed Takuya’s “will” can “transcend” time. Lisa asks Takuya if he would believe, that she met Takuya from the future?

Lisa looks depressed for a moment as she thinks to herself. This is a fate she cannot escape from, so there is no point being depressed. Lisa offers to get Kouta to assist the two of them, but Takuya knew that already.

Takuya asks Kouta for his help without even a greeting. There is no time to lose, he tells them about what will happen tomorrow, the memory loss, and the enemies they will face. Kouta is understandably confused, but it’s alright if he doesn’t believe it, he just has to remember.

Finally, Takuya sincerely thanks him, which feels kind of weird for Kouta.

Yuki comments that it is rare to see Takuya trusting somebody so easily. Takuya tells her Kouta is reliable, and the only person who can help them. So even if the time comes when she is no longer able to trust Takuya, she can trust Kouta.

Yuki notices there are a lot of water enemies, and wonder if this is a plan by the enemy to prevent her using Akira, meaning they know about her connection with Akira? Takuya says it’s likely her brother is still fighting for the enemy, so she should prepare for the worst.

In a strangely random but excited outburst, Takuya calls the final evolution of Gambler Yuri the “Gamblest”.

Scientist calls because he has noticed there are a lot of enemy tamashii. He only knows Yuki and Souma who can do this. Takuya asks him to find out more, but also to stop contacting him. In fact, if he does try to contact him again, Scientist should reject him.

Researcher calls after hearing Kouta is helping Takuya, and offers her help too. But he doesn’t want it. Instead he wants her to “put on an act”, and pretend she is not helping him.

Yuki asks why Takuya is rejecting the help of their friends. He explains the “strategy” he will use to make it them seem like they are not helping him, in order to protect them from getting their memories wiped by Ginga. He tells her not to reveal the strategy to anyone, to pretend she doesn’t know anything. Yuki asks if she can blame it on his personality. Takuya says he will be sad, but if he just thinks of it like she is acting, he will be ok with it.

Scientist implied Souma could still be fighting for the enemy after being forcefully resurrected, which makes bad memories resurface in Yuki’s head. But if this is the Souma we already defeated, maybe things can still work out if we talk it over. Maybe he could even fight alongside us.

Souma is being forced by the organisation to continue summoning. A grunt from the organisation explains to Ginga there was a lot of resistance from him, especially when he heard his sister was involved. They are now torturing him by tying him up and ripping his fingernails off one by one. But this can only go on for so long.

At the end of the day, Takuya and Yuki regroup with Kouta. Takuya informs him that the Takuya of day three knows nothing, so he asks that Kouta support Yuki. Kouta still has no idea what he’s talking about, but Takuya says everything will become clear by tomorrow. So if everything Takuya is saying is the truth, where will his will fly next? The fourth day?

Chapter 22

Takuya’s will did not go to the fourth day as planned. It is actually day five, and Yuki is struggling against him to get off the bike. She doesn’t know why enemies are attacking them, she doesn’t know why she has to fight against them, and she doesn’t know who Takuya is.

Yuki is very distressed. She claims she never wanted anything to do with tamashii, she just wanted to live her life peacefully. Takuya tries to make her remember about Lost, about how the world turned to stone. But she doesn’t remember, and even calls Takuya horrible for accusing her of being responsible for turning the city to stone.

Takuya then gets a succession of calls from his former ‘allies’. Scientist claims Lost is just an urban legend, and Researcher calls him the worst for kidnapping a girl with no basis.

Did Ginga’s plan succeed? Takuya has to defeat Ginga to get everyone’s memories back. But it’s hard when your partner is calling you a liar and wants desperately to escape… Not even talking about Yuki’s dad will bring her to her senses.

Was everything just a dream? Did the city really disappear? Are we just believing in some made-up world we saw in a game?

I understand it’s hard to believe, but everything will be ok. Let’s calm down, good, and now take a deep breath. Let it all out, forget everything, breathe... It’s just a game. So stop touching the screen...Just stop...Stop it...Stop.

Takuya begins to doubt himself. Are his memories fake? Is this really just a game? Is he actually the one going crazy?

But then he steels himself. No, there is no way this is all a lie. He is going to move forward no matter what, to Lost Zero. In fact, even if everything is a lie, that’s still fine.

Then, Geek calls. And, he didn’t lose his memory! It looks like for some reason Ginga didn’t think he was Takuya’s ally. Lisa and Kouta are ok as well, and have gone ahead to the north. Takuya is going to catch-up to them now, and he’s bringing Yuki with him whether she likes it or not.

Takuya tells Yuki the one summoning tamashii is definitely her brother Souma. This puts even more distress on the poor girl because 1, how does this man know about Souma? And 2, why does she have to fight her own brother? Takuya also now seems like an even more horrible person in her eyes.

At the mysterious organisation, we get confirmation that Ginga has managed to wipe out everyone’s memories of Lost. He has also wiped all of Souma’s memories. The boy is no longer human, but just a tool to summon tamashii. Ginga claims he feels remorseful, but he had no other choice. He hopes in the next timeline there will be no more sacrifices like Souma.

Yuki has flashbacks of Souma before everything happened. He was always so understanding, but also lonely. When Yuki got depressed thinking about their mother, he told her they had to survive and live on. When their father was working late again, he said he would be ok, because Yuki was with him. Another flashback shows him being worried when Yuki came home late, because being by himself was lonely. How could Yuki fight him? Why would Takuya make her do this? It doesn’t make sense to her at all.

We defeat Souma, but Ginga claims their fate will not change. Yuki wants to escape from her painful reality, so he will let her forget everything. Then he orders Yuki to close her eyes, so he can take her memories…

Chapter 23

We return to the day before, day four. Takuya tells Lisa what will happen on day five, meaning today is the day everyone will lose their memories. But Takuya won’t give up. Lisa tells her the fifth day he saw may have a different meaning…

The plan is now to lock away Yuki’s memories before Ginga can get to her, i.e. make her temporarily forget them. Because you can’t remove memories if they aren’t there, right? Lisa paid Headhunter a large sum of money to get him to help them.

Yuki is understandably concerned at this prospect. Because she doesn’t want to forget about Takuya. Knowing she will soon lose her memories also makes her remember other ones about their journey thus far.

Yuki’s first impressions of Takuya were not good. This man came out of nowhere, and forcibly dragged her around with no explanation. He seemed weird, and cold. But she knows now that was because he was bad at expressing his real feelings.

She remembered that when she first met Geek, he hated her, and Takuya had to comfort her.

Yuki is worried that when she forgets everything, she will be unable to face painful things. Kouta knows she is especially worried about forgetting Takuya, because she likes him (she denies this, of course). But he assures her that Takuya will definitely get her memories back, and she will definitely remember Takuya again.

Yuki saves her most heartfelt memories for last. She remembers it was Takuya who taught her not to say sorry, but thank you. She thanks him for journeying with her. Though she knows it will be hard from now on, though she knows there is a good chance she will have to confront Souma again, after everything is over she wants to say thank you to him. So until then, even if she loses all her memories, she will not say sorry.

As the two journey to Headhunter’s, Ginga is going around memory-wiping everyone. He manages to track down Scientist and Researcher. Researcher leaves him with a beautiful quote summing up her belief in Takuya: “Even if my memory disappears, my will will remain.” But Ginga responds with “the hands of the clock will not turn backwards”.

When he gets to Geek though, he becomes confused. According to his sources, one of Takuya’s allies should be around here. Somebody with powerful engineering skills and networking knowledge. Somebody with great ability, intelligence and judgement. But it looks like he is not there. He even tells Geek to get out of his way as he continues searching. Geek is incredibly offended, but it seems he was saved?

Lisa wants to speak to Yuki in private before they get to Headhunter’s. First, she laments that Yuki’s beautiful hair is getting all messed up as she rides around with Takuya. Next she tells her that she knows without a doubt, that this story will have a happy ending. All the bad guys will go away, and Yuki will live happily ever after, so there is nothing for her to worry about. But don't tell the others. A story won’t be interesting anymore if you know the ending.

The chapter ends with Yuki getting her memories wiped by Headhunter. Yuki says she is prepared, and she vows to get her memories back, no matter how much pain waits ahead. Lisa chimes in that it’s because Takuya is there with her. Takuya asks Lisa if he is footing the bill for this one.

Chapter 24

It is now the sixth day, and Takuya is trying to restore Yuki’s memories. Headhunter had said there should be no issues getting it back, it will just take some time. Takuya keeps checking in on her, to make sure she is ok. Yuki seems tired and confused, and doesn’t say much.

Though Takuya is comforting her, he himself is plagued with worries. What if Ginga was able to destroy the locked up memories too? He recalls how much pain Yuki was in just now after taking down Souma. She had said she would rather die than be exposed to such a painful feeling.

On the way Takuya keeps urging her to remember, she said so herself that she would. But Yuki right now doesn’t want to remember at all. It’s just too painful.

Lisa and Kouta are currently chasing after Ginga. Takuya catches up to Kouta and relays the bad news about Yuki. They don’t have much of a choice but to continue north in hopes of catching Ginga. Takuya thanks Kouta for just being there. The man is probably the only person there keeping him sane at the moment. Kouta claims he’s not doing it for Takuya’s sake, but he does get annoyed seeing him so depressed.

Yuki is having an inner battle with her mind. She lost her loved ones one by one. She never did anything wrong, just wanted to live peacefully, so why does she have to remember all these painful things? Souma surfaces in her mind. Didn’t she decide to kill him and move forward? Where did all that determination go? But Yuki claims she never decided on anything.

Scientist appears in her thoughts. Everything is a battle of will. If Yuki can make the decision, everything will go well. But why does it have to be her?

Geek pops up now. Yuki right now is not the Yuki he knows. The Yuki he knows is strong, and always moves forward. Instead of inspiring her, this makes Yuki even more desolate. She couldn’t live up to everyone’s expectations. She isn’t the person everyone thinks she is.

A flurry of characters appear, overwhelming her thoughts. Takuya, Kouta and Lisa are all urging her to remember. Didn’t she decide on that? Didn’t she decide to remember Takuya, and keep going forward?

Yuki cries out in pain. She wanted to forget so badly, she could finally run away from everything, so why is everyone forcing her to remember?

Suddenly she hears her dad’s voice. It was hard, it was painful, but she doesn’t have to do it anymore. Yuki agrees. She’s done her best, and it’s alright to give up now.

But then another Yuki stops her. A stronger Yuki, who doesn’t want to give up. She wants to keep going. She wants to save the world. She wants to keep journeying together with Takuya.

Yuki begins to unearth the deeper reason to her motives. She said to herself that she came with Takuya on this new journey in order to erase her sin of turning the city to stone. But that was not her real reason. Takuya was the one who accepted her. She was so happy being with him. That’s why she journeyed with him, defeated tamashii, and even took down her own brother.

On cue Souma’s image surfaces. He accuses her of using the excuse of saving the world, to be with Takuya. She wanted to be together with Takuya so much, and that was why she killed her very own brother. Yuki tries to deny it, it’s not true. But the other Yuki does not lie. It is true. When she talks to Takuya her heart skips a beat. Yuki has fallen in love with Takuya.

Yuki comes to terms with herself, accepting all her memories and her true self. She admits that she wasn’t journeying with Takuya for the sake of the world, nor for other people. She was doing it for herself. But is that really so bad? Takuya thinks it’s fine. Nobody will hate her for it. Not even her brother.

Now Ginga is coming, but Yuki knows just her and Takuya’s power alone cannot defeat him. The two of them do not have the power to continue the story alone. But she wants to live. She will accept the part of her that shouldn’t be forgiven. And she will continue to fight, to win and grasp her happy future.

We defeat Ginga, and he has figured out, that no matter how strong he gets, we will always be stronger. Takuya's memories are still intact because the fourth wall has opened, and a very powerful will, the Observer, is helping Takuya, because the Observer wants to see the continuation of the “story”, and saving Takuya is the only way to do so. Obsever’s will is so powerful it can even bend time, meaning Takuya and Yuki have all the time in the world to get stronger. There is no way Ginga can win…against “us”.

The screen turns black, and Ginga speaks as if addressing the player, the Observer, directly. We can't pretend to be an outsider to the game anymore. Our fingers continue to touch the black screen which we see our own faces reflected in. Ginga orders us to stop being involved in this world. Stop touching them, stop touching the screen. But we do not stop. We keep tapping.

The black screen reverts to the main screen. The main menu screen and BGM then start to glitch. We see flashes of Lost, of Yuki’s face, of a desolate wasteland. Then back to black.

We then hear Yuki’s voice. “Hey, why do you pretend not to know anything? I’m here in so much pain. I need you. Please, I’m praying from the bottom of my heart. Please, won’t you help us?”

PART 5：Goodbye

Chapter 25

The chapter opens with a flashback of Tsuki saying of course she is scared. But Taiyou told her their bodies are just a facade. Even if they lose the body, their minds will remain in this world. To see the mission through to the end is their “freedom”.

Yuki regains unconsciousness and sees an unfamiliar scenery. The landscape all around her is a desert. She realises while fighting Ginga, her power must have gone haywire again, and caused this.

Yuki becomes disheartened once more. Fighting Ginga was inevitable, but did it even do anything? He could still be alive. So what’s the point in fighting? Takuya says right now we have no choice but to believe in Lisa’s note and head to Lost Zero. But should we even be going? Should the note be trusted? Should Yuki keep fighting? What will happen if the same destructive phenomenon happens again? Takuya wants to keep going, but will it be possible to continue onwards without hurting anyone else?

As we take on more tamashii, Yuki thinks about how they are the reflections of dreams that were never fulfilled, and futures that never happened. And we are using those wills to destroy the world. She wonders if it is right to rely on the strength of the tamashii. It could be dangerous. Suddenly she hears a voice in her head. She tells it to go away, but it won’t.

Kouta is glad to see Takuya alive and well, and vice versa. He explains Yuki’s power only impacted a small area so the desert is not that big. Everyone else is also alright. But it is concerning to think that the world could be destroyed by Yuki’s hand before the actual end of the world. Kouta then asks Takuya if he will really sacrifice Yuki to move on for the sake of believing a note that has no basis, because Kouta can’t bring himself to. Instead, he chooses to search for Ginga.

Lisa anticipated that nobody would believe her, and she does not have the right to force them to. What Takuya should do from now on is something he has to decide for himself. Will he go on to Lost Zero, or give up? Incidentally, the enemy after this is Satoru.

Takuya decides to goes on, so Yuki continues to fight.

Yuki asks for a quick break. She knows they don't have a lot of time to get to Lost Zero, but she is feeling very tired, and has a bit of a headache.

Also, the disturbing voice in her head is getting stronger. It becomes even more disturbing when Yuki starts talking about a communication ship that won’t reach.

The next day the two meet with Lisa. Lisa realises that Yuki is having trouble controlling her power, and that there may be somebody trying to gain control of her mind. Somebody who might be trying to get their hands on the note.

It is a frightening thing to not have control over your own body. If Yuki’s consciousness is being controlled, how can she believe these feelings of wanting to save the world, of wanting to trust Takuya, are true? Takuya tells her to believe in him. They’ve been together so long, Takuya knows this is the real Yuki. When Yuki feels concerned, she should just rely on Takuya. He echoes a memory from long ago when he felt having Yuki rely on him was annoying. But since then he’s found that being relied on once in a while doesn’t feel so bad after all. We also get a flashback about believing in the future, even if it’s a lie.

But Yuki is still concerned. She doesn’t even know if she is truly herself anymore. How long will Takuya be able to trust her?

Behind the scenes, Taiyou is encouraging Yuki to believe in herself. A human without doubts can become anything. That is their freedom.

Ginga feels Taiyou beginning to move. The end of the world is in motion. Ginga will also fight, as will Souma, who is not much more than an empty shell at this point. Souma only says two things in this scene: “Taiyou” and “Uchuu”.

Yuki feels the power of Ginga’s waves. Her will wavers among her panic and she starts saying more phrases from someone else’s memory, Taiyou’s memory. Takuya is getting scared. They stop for a break and contact Kouta.

Takuya apologises for his outburst at Kouta before. He is willing to accept his help now. Kouta’s got a plan. Ginga is probably with Souma right now, so while Takuya and Yuki distract Ginga, Kouta can save Souma.

The plan gives them some hope and Yuki is able to focus better. She has to do her best, for Kouta’s sake too.

Scientist reviews the information he has. Yuki’s power turning everything into a desert, Taiyou’s mental resurrection, the increasing number of “replicants”...with a sinking feeling he realises it is everything Lisa predicted. Meaning everything is now up to Takuya and Yuki.

Chapter 26

Now that Scientist has realised the note’s predictions were correct, he is willing to believe in it with no scientific basis. Lisa confirms that the note predicts the future, and she got it from a precious person. Scientist will offer his help to get Lisa to Lost Zero, but both know her chances are not good.

Unfortunately, Scientist is probably Lisa’s only other ally. Researcher doesn’t believe in the note. She doesn’t want Takuya to go to such a dangerous place like Lost Zero, and she doesn’t want to see Yuki suffer more as she fights. Researcher can tell that Yuki is worried about her powers going berserk again. She tells her that worrying is a good thing, because it is proof you are alive. But she really doesn’t think anything good will come of Yuki and Takuya chasing after a baseless note.

However she also knows she cannot stop them. She sends them Kouta’s location. He was successful in rescuing Souma, but he is currently being chased by Ginga, so he went into hiding. It is likely we will have to fight the old man again.

Kouta has a pretty bad headache. Ginga is powerful, and there are many enemies after them. Kouta tells Souma his sister is coming, and he won’t let the bad guys use him anymore. He promises Souma will be happy. But actually he is powerless against the enemy, and if Takuya and Yuki don’t arrive soon, they will be in trouble. Unexpectedly, Souma tries to tell him it will be ok, and even calls him “big brother”. It works to cheer him up.

Yuki is still worried about losing control of her powers. She apologises for putting everyone in danger. Takuya, of course, tells her to stop saying sorry. Yuki thinks that her consciousness won’t wander if she is able to hold onto her memories of Takuya. So she thanks him, for being with her the whole time.

Taiyou’s words are getting so strong they escape the bounds of proper formatting. Yuki begs him to leave him alone. Her pain gets worse. Takuya offers to stop for a break, but they’re running out of time!

Geek and Researcher come to Takuya and Yuki’s rescue. They will stall the enemy, and find a path with less tamashii. Before they head off, though, Researcher and Yuki have a quick talk, but Yuki won’t tell Takuya what it was about. She does assure him though that she will now be able to maintain control over her mind.

Researcher actually gave Yuki some pills. The medicine will allow her to suppress her powers. However they come with side effects. While they will protect Yuki mentally, they will break her body down physically. Researcher gave her five pills, but told her not to eat them all, or she will die. Yuki is able to move forward thinking Ginga is the final enemy, and everything will be over once he is defeated.

Ginga starts to say some pretty cryptic things as he prepares for battle. He notes Taiyou intends to see everything to the end. Everything will go according to Uchuu’s will. Taiyou is now a figure closer to Uchuu than he is. Taiyou is now a higher being than Ginga. Ginga will destroy Takuya and Yuki, if that is what Uchuu wishes. Ginga will use all his power to stop them.

We fight Ginga, who accuses Yuki of standing up to him just to satisfy her ego. There is no proof that the note is real. Even then she will sacrifice her body in order to fight him. Takuya is shocked to hear Yuki is sacrificing herself and demands to know what is happening after the fight.

Ginga is still alive, by the way. He is furious. At Yuki for standing in his way. At us Observers for continuing to watch. And at Taiyou too, who is also only observing. Taiyou knows Ginga cannot beat them alone. But if Ginga and Taiyou combine powers, they can win. That was supposed to be the plan from the start. Taiyou’s power is that strong. He will surpass the fourth wall, he will surpass the bulb.

The game glitches as Ginga’s body descends into corruption.

Chapter 27

Taiyou and Ginga’s voices combine to symbolise their powers fusing. They become stronger and stronger. Their power is overflowing. Takuya and Yuki can only run.

They go to Lisa for advice, who urges them to not touch Ginga, and go to Lost Zero instead. But Takuya is conflicted. So many people are against him following the note, and he doesn’t want to put Yuki in any more danger. And if they can just defeat Ginga, won’t everything will be finally over? Lisa knows she cannot force him to believe in the note. But regardless of what he chooses, she will go to Lost Zero.

Takuya has made his decision, but has he really? Yuki wants to know that he is fighting Ginga instead of going after Lisa because he really wants to, and not just because he is concerned about Yuki and the medicine. Takuya demands to know everything about the medicine. He knows there must be side effects, because otherwise Scientist would have passed it to them earlier. He is mad that Yuki ingested the pills knowing those side effects. He also says that after winning against Ginga, they should head for Lost Zero, if it is still possible to do so.

Takuya calls Researcher to yell at her for not understanding Yuki’s feelings and making her sacrifice herself. Researcher retorts that the one who doesn’t understand Yuki is Takuya. Yuki is no longer a child. She feels responsible for causing the desert, and the thought of it happening again has been tormenting her the whole time. To continue on in that situation would be impossible. So Researcher asks Takuya once again, to forget about the note, and believe everything will be over once they defeat Ginga.

Unfortunately this is juxtaposed with a flashback between Lisa and Kouta. Lisa tells him defeating Ginga won’t end everything, because another Shoumetsu will occur at Lost Zero. Sadly, Kouta still doesn’t believe the note, and is dismayed that Lisa continues to hurt herself. But Lisa will still go to Lost Zero, because she made a promise.

Kouta wants to stop Lisa so badly, but he is stuck being surrounded by enemies. He can’t do anything with his power. Souma tells him not to cry.

Everything will be over once Ginga is defeated. This is the only thing we have left to do. And we have the support of everyone to do it. According to Geek’s information, Ginga is very powerful, but that power is unstable, and follows a wave-like pattern. We have to attack him when he is at his weakest for a chance at victory.

Among the enemies on our way to Ginga, there is Akira, who seems confused and then sad when he realises he couldn't protect Yuki. She wonders if defeating Ginga will free tamashii like him of their pain too.

Ginga needs more power. Suddenly he hears a voice, that he can only hear because his consciousness and Taiyou's are now one. It's Uchuu.

After hearing Uchuu, Ginga becomes stronger. But if we hurry and get to him before his power reaches its peak we can still win.

Yuki is still wavering about Lisa and Lost Zero. But Takuya tells her she has the right to live her life the way she wants to, and weave her own future: the peaceful future that she and Takuya dreamt up together. To do that we need to defeat Ginga.

As Yuki's will continues to waver, Lisa approaches Lost Zero. And Uchuu finds her. Lisa claims she isn’t scared though, because she believes in Takuya. But that man is currently distracted fighting Ginga.

Kouta realises Scientist let Lisa go to Lost Zero. He is furious, accusing him of treating Lisa like a test subject. Unable to bear knowing Lisa is in danger, Kouta resolves to go to Lost Zero to stop her.

Lost Zero seems to be getting stronger. Lisa suspects it is reacting to Ginga's power. Lisa realises she is probably not going to survive after completing her mission. She wonders what Takuya would do in her situation. Bear the danger and get closer, or run? Obviously though, she can't run, or else Lost Zero's power will overflow and Ginga will become unstoppable. So she will use what little power she has to do what she can. Because she doesn't want to regret anything. Lisa will sacrifice her life for the hope of a better future. Finally, she asks for Takuya to believe in her.

The power flowing into Ginga suddenly stops, giving Takuya and Yuki a chance to beat him.

We hear some of Lisa's final thoughts, as a message to Takuya. “Takuya I will go to Lost Zero. To truly save the world, I need your power. I wonder if it will be ok to leave the future to you.

Hey Takuya, to tell the truth, it's actually just a little bit scary. I always seem strong, but even I want to be held by someone sometimes. Someone who will stroke my head, and tell me not to be afraid. But I guess I have no choice but to live this life. Ahh, Takuya, I actually really would have liked to have a boyfriend like you.”

Kouta arrives just in time to see Lost Zero disappear. He was too late. Lisa is gone. And he won't forgive whoever made her do this.

Chapter 28

We see a confused jumble of flashbacks and glitchy words: Yuki wondering if it is really alright to ignore the note; Lisa sacrificing her life to make a small but significant difference toward hope; Kouta vowing to never forgive those who did this to Lisa.

We then get some sort of meta philosophical pondering as, over a montage of real photos, Yuki asks if we think tomorrow will always come like a normal day. It is something we always take for granted, but the truth is, such normality can disappear in the blink of an eye. Just like what happened the day of the Shoumetsu.

The Shoumetsu Toshi logo appears, but Yuki’s silhouette disappears from it.

Scientist told Takuya Lost Zero is storing a huge amount of energy, so despite defeating Ginga, despite believing everything would be over now, Takuya and Yuki must now head over there.

Yuki is in a lot of pain though. It's so bad even collecting spheres will hurt her, something that has never happened before.

They take a break and Yuki takes her second last pill. Takuya wants Yuki to give him her last pill, but she won't. This last pill represents her life. So she wants to hold onto it with her own hands. She wants to be the one to determine her own fate.

We hear Yuki's silent thoughts to Takuya. “Hey Takuya, don't worry. If I have to take the last pill, I'll take it in secret. Because I know, that if you find out I am going to die, you will be very sad. You won't be able to smile anymore. You probably think I'm a troublesome woman right now. And you would be right.”

Yuki no longer feels concerned over taking the medicine. Because she knows once she takes it, she will disappear.

Kouta is still furious over Lisa, but his rage is beginning to manifest itself in a strange way. He continues to repeat the words “unforgivable”. And then we see an image of Taiyou overlaid over his.

Kouta is filled with so much anger with no one to direct it to. So he goes around to everyone: Scientist, Researcher and Geek, accusing them of abandoning Lisa to die. They must have planned to sacrifice her from the beginning. Pushed all the responsibility onto her and just watched from a safe place.

A conversation between henchmen of the organisation confirms that Taiyou has taken over Kouta's body as the new “vessel”. The intention was to steal the “replicant's” body but that was difficult so he took over the body of the one closest to him. As the images of Kouta and Taiyou alternate, the hooded men explain that “that person” cannot even think right now. He has no idea what he is doing. Engulfed by hatred, he will continuously desire power, and be lost until Uchuu erases him. Why does he go so far for that power? It is even destroying his consciousness. What a poor fellow.

Taiyou and Kouta's voices merge in a similar way to how Taiyou took over Ginga. Kouta begins to repeat Taiyou's phrase. But it seems different. The communication ship is turning in the starry sky. The stars are twinkling.

Yuki gets a bad feeling when she feels a strong power emanating from the place where Lisa disappeared. It feels like malice.

Takuya and Yuki get an urgent call from Geek. Kouta is acting strange. Scientist calls Yuki to tell her there is only one way to save him, but it involves sacrificing somebody else: Souma.

Taiyou is controlling Kouta from within Souma. If we force Taiyou’s will back into Souma's body, taking down Souma should kill both of them. However, it is risky: if we fail to kill him he would gain access to Souma's summoning abilities and become even more powerful.

Yuki remembers in the past, Souma used to complain about their dad’s job. It was painful not being able to see him while he was at work, but it was a very important job only he could do. There was no other choice, just like now. Yuki resolves to kill her brother, because to defeat Taiyou, someone must be sacrificed, and between Kouta and Souma it is clear who should be the one to survive. Because no matter how much Yuki loves Souma, the fact is that he should have died that day.

Researcher will use a special technique to knock out Kouta. The moment he loses consciousness, Taiyou will be forced into Souma, and that will be our only chance to beat him. According to Takuya, once Researcher uses her special technique on Kouta, his stomach will hurt so much he will be unable to stand for days.

Yuki and Takuya cross the bridge leading to Lost Zero, the beginning of the end of the world. There is no more land, only sea. They spot Souma.

Yuki needs Takuya to give her the courage to stand up to her brother. She trembles as she asks him to not look back. Look forward, so she can too. Neither can afford to falter for even a second.

Souma has likely noticed something is up with “big brother” Kouta. He is scared and lonely and cries for his sister to save him.

Taiyou and Souma's wills begin to merge. As Taiyou craves more power, Souma calls out to Yuki for help. It's lonely, it hurts. Why isn't Yuki saving him? Why can't he be happy? He doesn't want Taiyou inside him. It feels bad, it feels good. He wants to disappear, he wants to die. He wants more power. More and more and more….

As Taiyou's consciousness rampages within Souma, he begins to multiply.

We fight the Souma replicants, and after taking down each one we get a snippet of their thoughts. “Will you smile and like me?”; “If only I just worked harder, and harder”; “Even though I tried so hard, even though I endured more than anyone else”; “Please, look at me. Pay attention to me. Like me”; “Don't come over here.”

And with each version of her brother that falls, Yuki has a reply: “I'm sorry, I must defeat you”; “I know it must be painful, but it's alright, I'll lay you to rest”; “you can hate me, it's ok”; “I'll end it, I'll end your battle with my own hands.”

And her final message: “Goodbye Souma, and thank you. Thank you for being born, for being my brother, thank you so, so much.”

When all the replicant battles are over, Yuki cries. Did it really have to end this way? Was there really no other way? She misses him, she wants to see him again so badly.

A flashback shows Souma agreeing to endure the pain of not being able to see their dad, because he believes that one day, when everything is over and their dad doesn't have to work as hard anymore, the three of them can live happily, together.

Instead of heading straight for Kouta, Takuya drives around a little longer. He tells Yuki if she wants to cry, she can. He'll even lend her his back. Yuki calls him awful for being nice now.

Kouta makes sure to apologise when he does regain consciousness. Takuya says it wasn't his fault. But they can no longer fight because there is only one medicine pill left and Yuki will die if she takes it. What should he do?

Kouta berates him for being uncharacteristically sad. Use your head Takuya, you have a special power! Jump to the past, and do what Lisa wanted you to do!

Chapter 29

Takuya and Yuki must go back to the past now, to the gap in their memories right after Yuki turns everything into a desert. They are relying on the ‘God' on their side to help them do so. We, as their ‘God’, have been with them and watched them grow since the start of the journey. We will take them back to the past where they need to go. Because this is not just Takuya and Yuki's story, it's ours too.

The screen glitches as we attempt the time travel process. It's not quite strong enough yet. Yuki and Takuya's prayers have to reach us, and then we need to transmit those through our own thoughts (just keep tapping).

It works, but time is scarce. They've got to beat Ginga first, but if they've done it once, they can do it again. Ginga curses us after the battle, telling “Observer” he will be back.

Lisa is alive and well here, but she knows what Takuya and Yuki are trying to do, and that they can't do it. What has been decided already cannot be changed. The two of them are only watching the past. She tells them the time they should have returned to is not now, but one year ago, when they escaped Lost, and got the note.

The Isoya Report collates the research of Yuki's father and records the disappearance of the world. Takuya and Yuki must go back and escape Lost again, to get the note, pass it onto Lisa, and set everything in motion.

Lisa gives one final warning: don't think of changing anything. Any action their current selves make in the past is a contradiction in the timeline of this world. If the two of them think of doing anything other than passing on the note (such as saving somebody who was meant to perish), this world might disappear due to taking on more contradictions than it can handle.

Takuya and Yuki don't actually remember how they escaped Lost at the end of their journey one year ago, but that is exactly why they can now travel back to that period. After another prayer session, they time jump to the moment right after Yuki's dad is defeated. Now they need to find him.

Takuya drives towards the place the two of them fought him. Yuki hears her dad's voice, as well as someone else's.

It's Tsuki, meaning we didn't complete defeat her. She sounds lost without Taiyou to guide her. And in a lot of pain. Everything went wrong. It shouldn't be this way, she doesn't want this kind of fate.

After beating Tsuki, we see the note. Yuki has a final conversation with her dad, apologising for not being able to save him. Her father thanks her, saying he was glad to see her in the end. But now she must escape, because Lost is disappearing and he cannot maintain this form for long. Before she leaves Yuki assures him she is no longer the same Yuki from the past.

A flashback illustrates this point. Yuki's mother took her to the amusement park, but she didn’t want to go home, so she pretended to sleep for longer. Current Yuki wonders what the purpose of her journey is. Who does she journey for? What does she gain after all this pain? Lisa told her the past couldn't be changed, but is that true? Is it really not possible to save her dad and Souma, and live together happily again? Because if that is not possible, where is she going to return to once everything is over?

Takuya knows in the present, Yuki’s body is reaching its limit, but he won’t let her eat the last pill. If Yuki has to sacrifice her future, this whole journey would be pointless.

Lisa’s philosophy was that there are no “right” choices, we can only try to make them right after the choice is made. Takuya wonders how to make the “right” choice. Will everything really be good as long as he hands Lisa the note? What choice will they make after everything is over?

Takuya and Yuki now need to find Lisa and hand her the note. They also have to tell the unsuspecting Lisa all about the painful truth and her fate. We realise now that Lisa actually knew everything. She knew she was going to die, but she went ahead and sacrificed herself anyway, because Takuya was the one who gave her the note, and she trusted him.

On their way to get out of Lost, Takuya and Yuki have to fight Taiyou again. Taiyou agrees that there is no right choice, only choices we make right. And that is why he seeks power.

Souma still haunts Yuki’s mentally. He asks her why does she keep moving forward? Where is she going? Will she become happy like that? Is what she is doing truly happiness? Even though Souma himself wanted happiness so badly.

Yuki admits she doesn’t know if this is the right choice. She has lost many things, but right now there are other things she does not want to lose. That is her reason for moving forward. She wants to keep journeying, with Takuya. She wants that happy future. She apologises for being selfish, but for the very first time in her life, she has a dream she absolutely does not want to let go of. She pleads forgiveness for her selfishness, which has been the cause of her progress up to now.

After beating Taiyou, we hear Takuya’s thoughts. He also does not know what is right, only that he wants to protect the small life behind him.

If Takuya had never passed the note onto Lisa, she wouldn’t have been involved in Lost Zero, meaning she probably wouldn’t have died. Should we really give the note to her then? But while not giving the note to Lisa could save her, it could also result in a heap of other changes. Takuya and Yuki would never have set off on this second journey, they would never have stopped Ginga, and Lost Zero may have erased the world. Lisa would probably have chosen to save the world too.

As Lost is disappearing, Yuki’s dad who has lost his conscious thought, approaches for a fight. Yuki is very unwilling to fight her father, again. Then Akira’s tamashii reaches her, saying he can hear her father asking her to kill him. Akira also tells Yuki that it is okay to be selfish. The person most important to her should be herself, and she has every right to a happy future. This time, Akira will protect her.

Yuki thanks Akira and resolves to not waver anymore. No matter the sacrifice, she will move on, for the sake of her own happiness.

We beat her dad but his will is still alive. If we do not bring him down for good, he will be consumed by Lost, and become like Taiyou. So poor Yuki has to fight him again. It does not help that his last words are: “It hurts. Why Yuki? I don’t want to die.” Yuki tells her dad she will work hard and make sure his will does not go to waste. Somehow her and Takuya have ended up carrying the wills and expectations of many people. But that is why they have to believe in themselves and move on.

Yuki asks Takuya to promise to be with her until the end. Takuya confirms he will definitely fulfil his contract, and make her happy. It was here that Takuya also secretly made a decision, about who was most important to him, and who he wanted to protect the most. Takuya thinks cryptically to himself. He will be the one to make the hard decision. He will be the one to end this journey.

The two meet up with Lisa and she is understandably skeptical. But Takuya and Yuki don't have much time left so they can only relay what they know. Lisa does ask a difficult question though: why her? If she accepts the note, even if she doesn’t believe it, she will never stop thinking about it day and night. Why would Takuya wish something so tragic onto her? She ultimately takes the note though.

The next time in history we jump to is back to right after Yuki’s powers turn a part of the city into desert. Lisa had indeed been thinking about the note the whole time, and now that she’s seen its prediction about the desert was true, she will probably go through with what she has to do. Takuya apologises but she brushes it off. She does tell him though, that to save the world, one needs to be determined enough to sacrifice even the person most important to them. Takuya vows to save the world, earning praise from Lisa that he’s reliable. She also tells him that she really wanted a boyfriend like him.

Takuya and Yuki leave to return to their original time period, knowing that they will not be able to return. So they can only believe that the choice they make here is right.

Thank you, Lisa, and goodbye.

Chapter 30

Scientist recaps what is happening in the present. Lisa is approaching Lost Zero with the intention of sacrificing herself. She will disappear, and use her power as a tamashii to suppress Lost Zero erasing the world. But she can only do so for a few hours.

Additionally, Yuki’s body is also at her limit. It is turning to stone, like the city. There is one pill left but it will kill her if she takes it.

Scientist relays his final request to Takuya: Go to Lost Zero and stop the erasure of the world, no matter what. Takuya accepts the job.

Time is running out, for the world, and for Yuki. Takuya wonders cryptically to himself when will be the last time he will say goodbye to Yuki forever. He remembers that, after so long avoiding people after leaving the detective agency, it was only after meeting Yuki that he learnt to connect with people again. That’s why he had forgotten just how painful it is to say goodbye.

Yuki notices Takuya is losing focus. The reason for this was actually hinted at in the previous chapter. Lisa sacrificed herself in order to open a path to the source of everything: Lost World. To end everything, what Takuya really needs to do is not stop Lost Zero, but go to the parallel world, Lost World. There, a being called Uchuu is controlling everything. He has to defeat her, or there will be no way to stop Shoumetsu from reoccurring. However, to do so requires Takuya to make a very difficult decision.

As the two approach Lost Zero, Takuya asks Yuki if she is still ok to fight. Yuki confirms that when she is with Takuya, she feels like she can do anything. This draws a conflicted reaction from him.

Takuya asks Yuki if she still remembers her dream to live peacefully after everything is over. Of course, Yuki never forgot. Takuya tells her to chase that future, he wants her to be happy. But to Yuki, that alone is not enough for her to be happy: she wants Takuya’s happiness too. Won’t he stop taking on dangerous contracts after this, and settle down like her?

Takuya admits it would be easier if he did do so. Incidentally, the enemy we fight when he says this is Luna, the ultimate symbol of not being honest to yourself.

Takuya thinks to himself, that he can never see Yuki’s face directly, because she is always behind him. Is she sad? Is she thinking about something? Has she noticed the truth already? That Takuya cannot bring Yuki with him on his next journey.

Only one person is able to go to Lost World, where Uchuu is waiting. Takuya isn’t afraid of going. It’s almost shocking how unafraid he feels. But he does feel that the thought of leaving this world, and never being able to see everyone again, is very painful.

Takuya has in fact already said his farewells to the others. But not Yuki. He claims he doesn’t want to put her in danger anymore, but it was he who didn’t understand. Yuki has clearly noticed something is up, and Takuya is only pretending not to notice.

Yuki tries to convince Takuya to stay. She reiterates how much of a good thing it is to have him there with her. If Takuya never came for her, she would still be alone. But Takuya argues she isn’t alone anymore. She has lots of friends now, who will support her. But that’s all because of Takuya, Yuki counters. In stark contrast to how she thought at the very beginning of this story mode, Yuki says she now believes that good people gather around Takuya.

Takuya tells Yuki the happiest meeting for him, was meeting her. But Yuki picks up on the past tense. Why did he say “happiest”? Why did he say it in a way that sounded like things were ending?

She pushes him. “Hey Takuya, you won’t go, right? We’ll be together forever?” Takuya avoids lying by saying he will fight with her until the end. But Yuki sees through it. And then what? What will you do? Takuya avoids answering by telling her to focus on what’s in front.

Takuya never said goodbye to Yuki properly, because he didn’t know how to say it. But that’s a lie. He ran from telling her the truth, because he couldn’t bear to see her sad.

When Takuya said goodbye to Headhunter, he gave him one key piece of advice: If you are going to disappear, don’t say anything. Don't make promises you know you can't keep. That would be the most horrible thing to do to anyone. But then he also getsTakuya to promise to return all the money he owes him eventually. Because that’s separate business.

Back at the organisation, two members discuss how Lost Zero has stopped spreading. But this is fine. They just have to open the next Lost. Uchuu has enough power to make it happen.

As if on cue, we hear the voice of Uchuu, saying she is bored. One of the men then disappear. The other, realising what has happened, starts to beg for his life. But Uchuu eliminates him too.

Uchuu waits in Lost World. She tells us to hurry up, unless... (cue fucking jump scare) “are you scared?”

Uchuu loves Takuya, does Takuya like Uchuu?

Yuki asks if Takuya is crying. She’s always behind him, so she can never see his face. That’s why she hates his back.

Takuya resolves to tell her the truth. Yuki is devastated, begging it to be a lie. When she finds out it isn’t, she predictably asks to go with him. When he tells her she can’t she gets even sadder. What is she supposed to do? It’s not as if she could forget about him. Yuki’s happy future, that the two of them came up with, was one of the few things keeping her going. And in that dream, Takuya was right there by her side, smiling next to her. Yuki asks a whole bunch of “why” questions: Why are you going by yourself? Why can’t you be with me? Why aren’t you saying anything?

Takuya finally speaks. He tries to explain to Yuki that in life, people have to say goodbye. And then they have to move on. It’s something she will understand when she’s older. But Yuki right now doesn’t understand. There is no way there will ever be a replacement for her memories of this journey, and of Takuya. Takuya thanks her, and says he won’t forget what she said.

The final boss battle of World 1 is Lost Zero, with Lisa trapped in it. Its defeat signals the end of our gameplay, the end of Takuya’s contract, and the end of his partnership with Yuki.

Takuya must now say his final goodbyes to Yuki. He tells her not to be sad. As she grows older, she will make many more memories. Her journey with Takuya will eventually become one small memory in a huge mountain. Once in a while, Yuki might remember, and she will be sad for a moment, but that’s alright, because that is what it means to face the future, and move on.

Takuya’s speech does nothing to lift Yuki’s spirits. She is still sad. She still doesn’t understand. She still clings on to hope. She asks: “Hey Takuya, it’s not the end, right? We’ll meet again, right?”

Headhunter’s final piece of advice flashes into Takuya’s mind: don’t make promises you can't keep.

Takuya tells Yuki they will definitely meet again, bringing a smile back to her face. Yuki says she will believe it, forever.

Takuya: “Thank you, Yuki.”

Yuki: “Thank you, Takuya. For coming with me on this journey, for fighting with me, for giving me a dream...Thank you so much.”

But when Takuya leaves, she drops the smile.

The credits roll, and we see the Shoumetsu Toshi logo again. This time, we know the meaning behind Yuki’s silhouette disappearing.

The epilogue plays in between the credits. Researcher and Scientist note that Yuki is still feeling empty, but she will be ok. When they were her age, they also made many memories, but they only occasionally remember those days now. It will surely be the same for Yuki. That is what Takuya hopes for the most.

We also find out Headhunter is paying Yuki’s living fees. He can do this because it’s going to Takuya’s bill, who will pay him back ‘eventually’.

Geek is incredibly depressed Takuya is gone, because Takuya was his one and only friend in this world. But when Kouta offers his friendship, Geek rejects him. Poor Kouta.

Appropriately, the final person we see is Yuki. After some time, she took another look at the note, the Isoya Report. In addition to her father’s actual research, there was information Takuya noted for Lisa. And on the last page, was a short letter from Takuya to Yuki.

Dear Yuki, I’m sorry I couldn’t live in the world peacefully with you. I’m sorry I couldn’t fulfil our promise. But there are things I need to do, to make sure you and everyone else can live peacefully.

The truth is I am a little excited about going to a parallel world. What if in that world, the secrets of the Ancient Civilisation have all been uncovered? I would definitely find a way to bring that back. Sorry, but this will be my last contract. Look forward to when I get in contact with you guys about it.

Thank you, Yuki.

Yuki: “You’re such an idiot.”

World 1 story mode finishes with a preview of Lost World. We see someone who appears to be Yuki with red hair, talking to ???? from the tutorial.

#shoumetsu toshi #analysis #spoilers #long post #main story #world 1 #very important post #afterlost

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jin0uga · 6 years ago

Text

Dance the night away

More whiterose because I need more of this otp.

Whiterose, Married!AU, inspired by that video of a sweet dad who danced with his daughter on-stage. Second part of my A Rose in Bloom series.

Tonight was the night. Ruby dithered behind the curtains, anxiously watching her daughter get ready. It was Dia's first recital and her little girl was a bundle of nerves, constantly nibbling on her nails and jumping as stage hands flitted back and forth. Dia nervously smoothed the ruffles of her adorable, pink tutu and looked at her mother.

"I don't wanna dance," Dia pleaded, paling as the mutter of the crowd drifted backstage. In contrast to her daughter's pallor and skittish behaviour the other girls buzzed in excitement and floated towards the curtains, alternating between peeking out of it and grinning at each other like overly excited rabbits.

Ruby gave her a reassuring smile before her attention was stolen by Zwei wriggling in her grasp. He whined, pawing at her shirt. She sighed and gently pecked the top of his head, briefly putting a stop to his struggles. Ruby hadn't wanted to take him along, but Weiss insisted he would be terribly lonely them. It was complete rubbish since Ruby knew the maids and servants always entertained Zwei more than was strictly necessary, but her wife's pleading eyes were too powerful a weapon to resist.

Dia tugged at her shirt – Ruby couldn't help think it was like another puppy clamouring for her attention – and mumbled something incoherent.

"You're going to be great out there. Remember how you showed the entire dance to Grandpa Tai?" Ruby stroked her daughter's head, smoothing the cowlick that sprung up despite the thorough gelling Weiss put it through an hour earlier. "We even watched the recording afterwards, you danced so beautifully!"

Her daughter hesitated. She met Ruby's gaze after seconds of quiet contemplation, eyes blazing with renewed determination. "Did Mommy come to watch me dance?" For the first time that night, she looked in the direction of the stage. Ruby beamed. "Your Mommy's here, along with Aunt Yang and Blake. Even Winter– I mean, Auntie Win, is here to watch you steal the spotlight."

Dia drew in a deep breath, and looked at her Mom. "Are you gonna be here once I finish?"

"Of course." Ruby wound her hand around hers, squeezing gently. "I'll be here no matter what."

The instructor's assistant finally appeared backstage, calling for the girls to assemble. Ruby looked on in amusement as the group of tiny girls rushed past her feet to get into formation. Dia stared after them with a hint of apprehension, but covered it up with a expression Ruby recognized. The Schnee's stoic mask was definitely hereditary.

Ruby bent forward and kissed her daughter's forehead. "Okay, my little diamond. Go out there and knock em' dead."

"Both of you, shut up. It's starting!" Weiss hit the record button as soon as she saw the first ponytail enter the stage, swishing like a tiny feather duster. Yang chortled. Blake rolled her eyes at her friend's overzealousness. Winter patted her sister's arm, laughter dancing in the normally stormy eyes.

"This is an important milestone in Dia's life." Weiss refuted their amused stares with sharp words, glowering at their lack of seriousness. It was only obvious she'd be excited her baby's first recital! She clicked her teeth. "Yang, make yourself useful and start recording."

"What? Don't you already have it covered?" Even as she said this, Yang lazily took out her scroll, doing as she was told. It was easier to go with the flow than fight against the current that was Weiss Schnee-Rose.

"One angle isn't enough to capture this moment. Besides, you have a better view of the stage from your seat." Weiss sighed in frustration when Yang nudged Blake, the two of exchange insipid grins. "I wish you three would take this seriously. I refuse to lose this memory to scroll failure or bad lighting." Her wife and father-in-law would be beside themselves if she didn't have at least three videos and a dozen pictures by the end of it.

"Weiss. If that's what you wanted you'd better… I don't know, watch it with your own eyes before whipping out your scroll?" Yang said, arching her eyebrows and jerking her chin in the direction of the stage. The girls were lined in a row, soaking in the applause and shouts raining down as the crowd peppered them with 'Good luck's' and 'break a leg!'

Winter pried the scroll from Weiss' hands, ignoring the outraged gasp. "Miss Xiao Long has a point. Enjoy the show, Weiss. I'll aid you in recording so you can watch without obsessing over angles, and how terrible the stage lighting is."

Weiss squinted. "Now that you mentioned it..."

"Just concentrate on your daughter, Weiss." Blake chided as the music started.

As the group of girls danced on stage, Weiss found herself smiling at Dia's expertly executed movements. Her daughter had obviously inherited Ruby's grace, each sweep of her leg and arms sinuous and smooth, liquid given physical form. Weiss also noted that although the girls wore identical pink outfits, Dia looked the loveliest out of all of them. A blooming rose among a field of tulips.

The tinkling music rose to a pitch. The girls circled the stage, taking turns to execute small jumps, twisting in the air like curling ribbons. Dia was the last in line. To Weiss's horror, her daughter lost her footing just as she was poised to leap. There was a crack of wood as knees met the stage floor, and the atmosphere in the recital hall plummeted into the negatives as the crowd looked on in stunned silence. Weiss took in Dia's hunched shoulders, ready to elbow people out of the way to rescue her daughter. It was Winter's vice grip, rough hands experienced in keeping order and stability even during the most tumultuous of times, that kept her pinned to her seat.

"Winter," Weiss had to fight to keep her voice steady. "Let me go."

"You know what would happen if you rushed up there." Winter watched her niece quake in embarrassment. The rest of the girls fluttered nervously in place, not daring to draw attention to themselves, leaving the poor girl stranded by herself. "It will do her no favours if you made a scene." Winter said, regretfully.

Weiss scowled. "I don't–"

Ruby barrelled onto the stage and pulled her daughter to her feet. In her other arm, Zwei swept his gaze over the crowd, tongue lolling out as he yipped in a obnoxiously adorable way only dogs could.

Dia snapped back to attention. Weiss watched their daughter regain the determined set to her jaw after taking in Ruby's patient smile. The tension in her shoulders dissolved and Weiss' heart leaped as her daughter took several steps back, before running forward. Dia did a perfect twirl in mid-air, and landed soundlessly on her feet.

From her seat, Weiss saw Ruby beam at Dia before she disappeared behind the curtains. The rest of the performers were spurred back into action when Dia returned to her spot. Everyone's movements were considerably stilted compared to before, but they continued admirably until the song's final note. The curtain fell accompanied by a smattering of applause. Murmurs rose as the audience got up from their seats, but Weiss remained rooted to hers, an unreadable expression plastered across her face.

Yang turned and said to Blake, "Wow, I'm glad we got that on video."

The parking lot was a flurry of activity, parents spilling from the recital hall after collecting their daughters. Friends and family stood near vehicles, chatting amicably about the performance as their children giggled and chased each other around the lot in a hasty game of tag.

Yang broke into brilliant grin when she spotted her sister and niece tottering towards them. "Here come the two scamps!"

"An admirable performance little diamond." Winter's expression was unusually soft as she bent down to face Dia. "How do you feel about it?"

"It stinked when I fell." Blake covered up a snort. They were spat in a distasteful, familiar tone that reminded her of Weiss in their University days, a time where the Schnee was critical of everything and did not hesitate to point it out. "But then Mom helped me out and made everything better." The tiny ball of sunshine beamed, melting the hearts of every adult in the vicinity. Winter chuckled and patted her cheek.

"It was a good performance overall, then?" Yang followed up, ruffling Dia's hair. The action made the girl more excited than embarrassed, a trait she'd definitely picked up from Ruby.

"Yep!"

"Be careful next time," Weiss chided, waiting till Winter stepped away to wrap her in a hug. Her daughter hugged back, though she sighed dramatically at the reminder. "Yes, Mommy, I promise."

Ruby watched Zwei run circles around them before gesturing at Yang to pick him up. She clapped her hands. "Okay, who's up for some victory ice cream?" Yang and Dia yelled their agreement in unison while Blake lazily waved the red flag she'd brought along.

Winter inclined her head towards her car, a speck of white in a sea of grey. "Come along, everyone. Dia will take the front seat which means you'd have to sit in the back with Blake, Yang."

"Um, aren't we going together?" Ruby interjected, sounding terribly confused, "I mean, Dia and I came in Weiss' car after all."

Dia nodded, fringe flopping up and down. "Yeah!"

Weiss rested a gentle hand on her daughter's head. "I know, darling. But like I told your Aunts earlier, I've decided to take your Mom for… cookies, first." Ruby blushed, the warmth in her cheeks reaching high enough to stain the tips of her ears. Weiss was staring at her in an awfully familiar way. It brought to mind the memory of their wedding night, icy blue eyes ablaze with predatory hunger and slivers of unblemished skin peeking from black, racy lingerie…

Dia made a face. "Mommy, why's Auntie Yang giggling like that?"

"Don't mind her, she was dropped on her head as a child." Yang pursed her lips, shooting an annoyed scowl in Weiss' direction. Blake snickered and patted the blonde's arms. "You walked into that one."

"Har har."

"Come along, Dia. We'll leave your mothers to their own celebration." Winter told her, extending a gloved hand. "They will be joining us later, yes?"

"Y-Yeah." Winter smirked at Ruby and lead her niece away. Blake and Yang followed after them, but not before Yang gave her sister an overly exaggerated wink.

Weiss trailed her hand down Ruby's shoulder, enjoying the way her wife shuddered at the touch. The small whimper Ruby made sent a thrill of excitement through her.

"Back to the car, Ruby." Weiss silently cycled through their favourite isolated dating spots. Oh, the possibilities were endless. "I think it's time we tested if my car seats are as sturdy as advertised."

#white rose #rwby #MAH OTP #ruby rose #weiss schnee #rwby fanfiction #OOF #whiterose #A rose in bloom

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thebrokengodofmischief · 6 years ago

Text

We’re All Leaving

The moment he felt death close around him, Loki felt this peace. He knew deep down in his heart he would never reach Valhalla; his life stained by his many mistakes and misdeeds. Yet if he could chose a path for himself -- to live in the golden halls for all eternity or remain weightless in this never ending silence. He would chose the latter.

It wasn’t dark, nor light. It was just peace. He was happy, for this gentle calm was more than he knew he deserved.

Yet suddenly it was bright and everything around him was harsh. A loud scream from an all to familiar voice was waking him from this slumber and he felt fear along with grief, anger and anxiousness. The familiar taste of revenge filled him and he could feel his sight returning to him.

Everything was grey, like he was witnessing everything on an old reel of film. Thor in front of him, panting and gasping for breath as he stood in a ship surrounded by an odd band of people.

“Who the hell are you guys..?” The Thunderer panted out. Loki was only grateful the healing spell he had placed on his brother when he tackled him to the ground was working. It kept him alive long enough while help came.

They tended to him and as Loki leaned against the wall watching him from a far he began to understand what he was. Why he was still here and why no one else seemed to notice him standing there.

He was a ghost, his astral form stuck between worlds. Not truly gone but unable to remain in the physical world anymore. It struck his heart and his whole body tense with the thought of it. Perhaps this was his curse, a curse for his wickedness. The bill coming due and the Fates deciding he would never get that peace. Loki was a fool to thing he would be worthy of anything akin to it, even for that brief moment. His soul was tethered to Thor’s and he knew his brother would never let him go.

For as much as he tried to speak, his screams fell on deaf ears. For as much as he tried to grab at his brother, shake him and tell him he was still here his hands would pass through the thunderer and Thor would continue on his talk about the infinity stones.

---

Crossing his arms, Loki sat next to Thor in the pod. “I wish you could hear me brother.. Please.. Just--” He bowed his head and turned away. Guilt flooded him.

Why couldn’t Thor let him go? He wasn’t deserving of this grief, of this unbreakable bond his brother held over him.

“So dead brother huh? Yeah, that could be annoying.” The raccoon spoke, though Loki had smiled at Thor’s calling of ‘rabbit’ to the creature.

“Well, he’s been dead before. Now this time, I think it really might be true.”

“And you said your sister and your dad…”

“Both dead.”

“But still got a mom, though?”

“Killed by a Dark Elf.”

“A best friend?”

“Stabbed through the heart.”

“You sure you’re up to this particular mono mission?

“Absolutely! The rage and vengeance, anger, loss, regret, they’re all tremendous motivators. They really clear the mind, so I’m good to go.”

“Yeah, but this Thanos we’re talking about, he’s the toughest there is.”

“Well, he’s never fought me.”

“Yeah, he has.

“He’s never fought me twice. I’m getting a new hammer, don’t forget.”

“Well, it better be some hammer.” Rocket seemed to be loosing this argument but Thor began to turn serious, his optimism failing for a moment and Loki could see it; it made him ache somethign fierce.

“You know, I’m fifteen hundred years old. I’ve killed twice as many enemies as that, and every one of them would’ve rather killed me, but none succeeded. I’m only alive because fate wants me alive. Thanos is just the latest in a long line of bastards, and he will be the latest to feel my vengeance. Fate wills it so.” A few tears fell from Thor’s eyes before he could catch them.

“Mm-hmm. And what if you’re wrong?”

“Well, if I’m wrong, then what more could I lose?”

---

“All Fathers, give me strength.”

“Do you understand, boy? You’re about to take the full force of a star. It’ll kill you!” Eitri pressed.

“Only if I die.”

“Yes, that’s what killing you means.”

“Thor! Stop!” Loki tried to smack his brother, tried to make him see him. This was suicide and he wouldn’t let his brother die! He couldn’t, not after all he had done to keep him safe. “This is madness! Please! Listen to me! Hear me, I’m here! You don’t have to do this! Please!” His voice hoarse from screaming as Thor gripped the leavers and opened Nidavellir.

Screaming with the last of his might Loki pressed himself between Thor and the stars raw heat and power. Any ounce of magic within his veins shielding Thor from the vast majority of the blast but it wasn’t enough. As Thor lost strength, so did he and he felt darkness close around him once more.

The endless silence pulling him back.

---

A loud snap woke him once more and he found himself laying in the ground. A canopy of trees above him as he tried to remember his last moment with his brother. Nidavellir.. Storm Breaker.. The star..

Pushing himself onto his feet he saw colour once again, everything bright and beautiful as it came into focus. Yet it didn’t last.

Stepping close he looked out on the field to see half of the warriors fading into dust.

He felt winded, eyes unable to look away as he heard people scream and cry over those who were just.. Gone. There was nothing to bury, nothing to say goodbye to.

Thanos had won.

This was his fault. Part of him wanted to argue, but how could he? The moment he had let go from the broken bifrost bridge his road was leading him to this. If he hadn’t let go, if he hadn’t seen the tesseract on his way down to Sanctuary, maybe it would not have ignited the titan so to fulfill his mission of balance.

“Loki..” A soft voice reached his ears yet it was as if it was spoken across worlds. Slowly turning he saw Thor standing there, covered in the dirt, grime and blood of battle. Storm Breaker at his side. Tears fill his eyes, seeing his brother standing there; at the end of all things. Skin blue, in his true Jotun form. Darker blue and purple bruises around his neck and dried blood trailed off from his mouth and nose. Thor rushed to him, trying to embrace his brother but his arms fell through the trickster and Loki stumbled back; thrown out of his shock.

“You.. You can see me?” His voice like an echo now that it could be heard, distant and sad.

Thor nodded. Still in disbelief and trying to understand.

“I’m not here Thor.. Not really. It’s like.. I’m stuck.” Loki swallowed, bowing his head and looking down in shame. “I feel tied to you, when you wake so do I. Yet when you’re gone I find myself in this empty space. Quiet and calm. It’s hard to explain.. I’ve been trying to call to you, to make you see me since you woke on that rescue ship but..” I wasn’t strong enough. “Nidavellir, trying to shield you, I must have taken in some of her energy and now..”

I’m still not here nor there. But you can see me.

“We lost.. Didn’t we..” Loki finally looked up to his brother.

“Yes..” Thor’s voice cracked, fingers shaking. “It was my fault.”

“No..” Loki tried to placate him, concentrating his magic so his touch would be more grounded just like his manifestation was becoming; his fingers wrapping around the nape of Thor’s neck and the thunderer shivered. “This all comes back to me.. What I’ve done.. Because I let go..” Pausing he pulled his brother close, able to embrace him now and grant him some peace. “I’m here still.. Some part of me is still here and the fight isn’t over! This is just a passing thing, a shadow that we must bring to the light. We could spend the rest of eternity blaming one another or ourselves but it would only keep us in the dark.”

---

Days turned into weeks, weeks to months and months to years. Loki stayed by Thor’s side. A manifestation of energy as he did what he could to help what remained of the Avengers so they might take back what Thanos had stolen from them.

All the while Loki could feel himself getting weaker and weaker. The universe didn’t want him here anymore, his soul was meant to pass and he was supposed to end. That he was still standing here was an affront to nature and the true order of things. Loki wanted to tell his brother, to make him let him go but the happiness in Thor’s smile kept him from doing so. He had gotten his brother back in some form and it made it harder for him to pull away.

Standing just outside on the balcony, looking out at the stars of Wakanda he heard the Avengers converse behind him. Tomorrow they would begin their years worth of preparing and planing.

“This plan.. It might alter things, change the past and then into the future..” Loki stated, knowing Thor had come out to his side without him even looking beside him. “But for the course of my life, I don’t think my ending will change..” Sighing he finally looked over to his brother who looked like he had just been slapped.

Thor only pressed his lips together in a thin line, “Don’t say that.. We’re going to save everyone, even you! Trust me brother this will work.”

“I’m tired Thor, I feel pieces of me slipping away; memories and sensations but as much as I try to reach for them I get tugged back. By you. My life was supposed to end! I was supposed to--” Loki began to growl, turning to his brother and wondering how he could keep looking at him for all these years when he still looked like he had just died. “But you just can’t let me go!”

With that he pulled himself back into the empty; finding a way to control it so he could have his own space and a small measure of peace. Guilt flooding him at the look on Thor’s face when he disappeared.

---

The morning of, the sun began to rise as it always did. Loki stood in Thor’s room, watching the golden rays catch his brothers face and he let out a small sigh. Sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Thor..” His voice was quiet but it was enough to rouse the thunder god. Sitting up he looked at his brother. “I need you to listen.. Because what I am about to say will be hard to hear.”

Thor nodded, seeming to know what was coming after Loki’s outburst last night; thinking it was an apology that he didn’t deserve but he wasn’t expecting the next words that Loki spoke.

“I can’t stay.. Not like this, you should let me go. It’s not right to hold on like this brother..” Loki tried to be gentle. After all Thor had lost, this one small glimmer of his brother meant so much to him. Loki finally understood and it was when he was saying goodbye.

“Why are you leaving..?” Thor asked, voice weak, trying not to cry at Loki’s request.

“It's like I'm reading a book.. And it's a book I deeply love. But I'm reading it slowly now. So the words are really far apart and the spaces between the words are almost infinite. I can still feel you.. And the words of our story.. But it's in this endless space between the words that I'm finding myself now. It's a place that's not of the physical world. It's where everything else is that I didn't even know existed..

“I love you so much.. But this is where I am now, and this is who I am now.” He pauses, looking away as the words catch in his throat. “And I need you to let me go. As much as I want to, I can’t live in your book anymore..”

“Where are you going?” Thor’s voice cracked and Loki could tell he would never be ready for this goodbye.

“It would be hard to explain, but if you ever get there, come find me. Nothing would ever pull us apart.”

“I love you too brother.. Please.. Promise you’ll be waiting for me.” Thor began to cry and Loki could feel himself beginning to fade. Looking down at his hands he saw how he was disintegrating into flecks of golden light. A warmth filling him like he had never known.

“I promise..”

Then he was gone. Not to Valhalla, not to the empty but to a new world all his own.

#drabble #long post #infinity war #nidavellir made him truly manifest but it is Thor's soul and will that was keeping Loki as a ghost...#do not reblog please!#we're all leaving

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sxshi-trxsh · 7 years ago

Text

Don’t Let Me Go

Pairing(s): Poe Dameron/Reader (Also Platonic/Sibling Kylo Ren/Reader)

Warning(s): Angst, Violence, Adult Situation, Descriptions of Depression, Fighting, One Swear Word

Inspire by this song - x

Word Count: 3.7k

Part i | Part i [Alt. Ending]

“Y/N, my dearest sister.”

You finished fighting off a small group of Stormtroopers when the voice seeped into your mind almost like honey. Snapping your head to look around for the owner you ran closer to the battlefield, shutting your lightsaber down. Explosions rang out around you, rubble and dirt being thrown everywhere, digging into your flesh as they cut close to your running form. The ground had been one hell of a firefight but the skies were just as bad as First Order TIE Fighters and Resistance X-Wings battled it out, the ones that had been take out crashing into the fight below.

“Tell me, which one should I kill first; your beloved pilot or the Stormtrooper you tainted with your ideals of the Light.”

Panic pushed you to make it to the epicenter of the fight knowing that's where you would find Finn. You looked at the sky, hoping that Poe would keep himself safe as there was no way to identify which X-Wing was his from this far.

A few Stormtroopers took note of your arrival and started to shoot their blasters at you, which you blocked just in time with your lightsaber.

“It’s Kylo Ren’s sister, that’s her lightsaber.” One of the Stormtroopers cried out as you blocked their attacks, taking one down as their deflected attack hit them. You had a double-bladed lightsaber made with a golden yellow crystal, standing out from the more recognize green and blue that most Jedi held. At the mention of your brother’s “name,” you advanced your attacks. It was more than likely he had ordered them to capture you, it was his voice after all that was trickling inside of your mind. He was here, somewhere.

Sweeping your weapon in front of you, you managed to take out one of the Stormtroopers. The others shot their blasters still, though as one of their deflected shots took another down you realized their blasters were set to ‘stun’, not ‘kill’.

“Tell your precious leader that the Jedi live,” Deflecting one last attack that hit into another one as they fell to the ground you whipped your head around. Your eyes stopped when you saw Finn pinned down by another Stormtrooper, his only defense being your grandfather's lightsaber. Your feet moved before you could think and you found yourself throwing the Stormtrooper off of Finn with the Force back into a boulder.

“Tick, Tock.”

“Y/N?” Finn shot to his feet, looking you over as if to check for injuries and you held a hand up to stop his worrying.

“Tick, Tock.”

“I’m fine, I need to get you somewhere safe.” Looking around you saw a ship landing, one all too familiar and you moved around Finn, making sure he was behind you. “Go find one of the ships, get out of here.” You told him, your words rushed. “Tell General Organa that Kylo Ren is here, tell them to pull back the fighters.” Finn’s hands found your shoulders, holding you still. “Tell Poe I’m sorry.”

“Tick, Tock.”

“What about you?” He demanded and you shook your head, starting up your lightsaber again, it’s heat radiating against you.

“Time’s up.”

“Don’t worry about me.” You offered him a bittersweet smile. “Take care of them.” Patting his shoulder you heard the hiss of ship doors opening. “Go.” You pushed him and he hesitantly retreated back with the rest of the Resistance and you turned, catching the figure of your brother just yards ahead of you.

“How does it feel to betray your family? How does it feel to betray your blood?” You demanded, gritting your teeth as his lightsaber flickered on. It was so angry, so full of hate. Hate that was twisting inside of him. He gave you no answer which only created some anger inside of you. “Answer me, Ben!” You yelled, swinging your lightsaber between your fingers, your eyes taking note of the soldiers surrounding you. They were careful to keep their distance, the fight you were going to have to participate in clearly only going to be with your brother.

“Ben is dead. He was weak and I destroyed him.” The disdain was not hidden by the helmet he wore and you clenched your hand around the staff part of your saber. “I am Kylo Ren, Force warrior of Snoke, The Supreme Leader.”

“You are a scared boy with a helmet!” You yelled back, the anger festering. All of the anger you held for him all those years coming to a head. “A boy who lives in a shadow!” That seemed to be his tipping point as he advanced, aiming a blow for your shoulder, which you blocked, throwing him off of you.

“And you are a traitor!” He screamed, his lightsaber hitting into yours, crackling as he forced you against a piece of rubble that once was a wall. His saber was so close to your face you could feel your skin starting to prickle with pain. “You could rule the galaxy with me, this power could all be yours.” He was no longer screaming. “You just have to come to the Dark side.” The lower half of his saber dug into your shoulder and you let out a cry of pain. “Join me.”

“Never.” You spat, used all the Force you could manage to throw him back along with the backing of the heel of your boot that you planted squarely in his abdomen. As he sputtered, stumbling back you spun with your lightsaber, slicing across his arm. Letting out a yelp of pain retaliated with a shot to your side which made you fall to your knees.

“You are weak.” He spat and you glared up at him, a hand pressed into your side as your lightsaber rested in your other hand. The fighting from above had ceased and you only prayed that Poe had gotten out safely. “Even when your life is in danger you think of him, the pilot.” You could feel him reach into your mind with his Force and you pushed back, shoving him out.

“Stay out of my head.” You spat through your teeth, aiming a blow to his side, which he blocked. Using your injuries to his advantage he shoved you to your back, his foot crunching down on your wrist, a sick pop following a yell of profanities to exit your lips. The pain made your hand unclench, your lightsaber hitting the ground, switching off.

“Take her to the Interrogation Room,” Kylo commanded and you felt your arms seized, most likely by the Stormtroopers that had surrounded you before. You struggled against their grip but you knew you were drained, mentally and physically. You had been fighting for hours, and using the Force as you did was draining on your body, you were lucky you had stayed strong this long. Holding his hand to your head you felt your consciousness being pulled from you as he pulled his hand away.

You awoke with a jolt, your eyes scanning the ceiling of what seemed to be a Medical Bay. Your body ached and your wrist cried out in pain when you tried to pull yourself up. The last thing you had remembered was being knocked out by your brother after a short altercation.

Where were you? Had you been rescued by the Resistance?

“Do not get your hopes up so high.” A voice spoke from the shadows and you narrowed your eyes. Your brother’s form slinked into the light, the helmet still upon his head and you tsked.

“Take that helmet off, stop hiding.” You spat, glaring at him as he only slightly cocked his head to the side. He reached up, the front of the helmet unlatching. You prepared yourself mentally, you hadn’t seen your brother since he had defected and left you in the ashes of a burning building to die. Now you only had this helmet that haunted you every waking moment and even in your nightmares. His hands pulled the helmet away and you felt taken aback.

He resembled many things from your parents and you could even see some resemblance to him in you. You two shared your thick, black hair, your full lips; there was no denying that this monster was your brother. This was Ben.

Maybe it was foolish to hope that Ben Solo had died, that he wasn’t the one under the mask doing these terrible things. That he wasn’t the one causing all this death and destruction. That this was just some masked villain that had stolen his name to strike hurt into you and your families hearts.

“No one here is hiding.” His voice was still deep outside of the mask, it’s gravelyness reminding you of your father. “And if someone were hiding it would not be me.” He words were accusing and you avoiding his stare. He was right, you had avoided fighting him all these years, you avoided it as much as possible. You didn’t want to have to face someone you used to know, someone you looked up to, someone who was your brother.

“I wasn’t hiding, you just couldn’t catch up.” You threw back, covering the spiraling thoughts that filled your mind with sarcasm that easily slipped passed through your lips.

“I can feel your inner turmoil, your pain, your grief.” He moved towards you suddenly and you looked up at him. “The years of pain that you have endured at the hands of the Resistance. I can sense how hopeless it all feels, how pathetic your life has become.” His hands cupped your face and you steeled yourself. He was digging at your doubts, your fears and you knew it. But it didn’t make it hurt any less. “I can take that all away if you join me. If you give up this Resistance dream and join me, where you belong. We will control the galaxy, we will fill the void left by our grandfather. We will be his legacy.” You could feel tears prick up in your eyes as you looked into his eyes.

“You cannot see how far you have fallen. You cannot see how lost you are.” His eyes widened at your words and he pulled his hand from your face, almost like he had been shocked with having contact with you. “There is light in you Ben.” You could see it just beneath the cracks of his facade.

“Stop it.” He warned but you persisted, digging deeper.

“You are struggling with who you are and who you think you should be.” You kept speaking even though you could tell each word was putting him on edge.

“I said stop it!” He demanded.

“You have doubts if this is the right thing. If this was really grandfather’s legacy.” The words barely left your mouth when you felt a tight constriction on your neck, the Dark energy pouring off of him. You gasped for air and you could feel your tears spill to your cheeks, your head beginning to pound. Your fingers scratched at your throat even though you knew it wasn’t physically him choking you. “Ben,” Your voice was almost pleading but you knew once you saw the spots bleeding into your vision that he would kill you like this. Just as you felt yourself slipping away, your airways were opened, the restriction around your throat, gone.

You coughed, your breathing labored. Your heart beat was in your ears and your chest rose and fell rapidly until it evened out to a somewhat even rhythm.

“I thought you would be different, that you would understand what happened, what is happening. But it seems the Light has already tainted you.” He spoke, backing away from you. “There is only one place for Resistance traitors,” He paused as he placed his helmet back on, it latching into place, “the cells.”

Days had turned into weeks, weeks into months. You were an official prisoner of war that the First Order was waiting for the right time to use tactically. If you hadn’t been Ben’s sister, if your mother hadn’t of been the General leading it all; you’would have been dead.

How many others hadn’t been as lucky as you? How many had suffered their days down here?

You wondered about Poe, you wondered if he thought you were dead if he had mourned not knowing that it would only get worse. You were the First Order’s trump card, you were their end game if push came to shove. They believed the Resistance would do anything to have their beloved Y/N Solo back. And you were afraid they were right.

You were afraid that Poe would do something rash, that your mother’s best judgment would fly out the window when she saw you; beaten, bruised and broken. These months of torture took a toll on you, they gave you enough food to keep you alive but never enough to satisfy. And after that night in the Medical Bay, you hadn’t seen Ben. Maybe he had his hand forced into this, maybe it was his idea. You didn’t know anymore.

Your mind had been broken down with nightmares of your dead loved ones, your will crushed with the amount of time you had spent in the same four walls. Explosions from outside the walls no longer excited you or filled you with hope, they made you wish that they’d hit your sector. Made you wish that you’d die in the fire, that the First Order would not have any hold over your loved ones.

But part of you wanted to see your mother and father again, part of you wanted to see Poe. To tell him it was okay, that he could move on, that he could forget you. You wanted to tell them goodbye, you wanted them to know that you were at peace with what you had done in your life. That you were ready to go, you were ready to rest.

Your public execution had been announced later that very day, the announcement reaching every corner of the galaxy. They had dressed you in black robes, ones similar to Ben’s, your hair pulled from your face to show the damage they had done to your face. There was no effort to hide the cuts, bruises and dried blood that your skin was littered with.

People in the crowd cheered, each one only knowing you as a Resistance traitor who deserved the penalty you were getting. They didn’t know that it was the only way your brother would let you go without you have to turn to the Darkness. Hell, you weren’t even sure they knew you were of his blood; he was the mighty Kylo Ren to them, not Ben Solo. Not your brother.

Soon it was the day you were to die. They had kept you in the black robes as almost an insult to the white ones you wore more often than not as a Jedi. It was to make a mockery out of the Light. And the saddest part of that was that it did not bother you. In the days leading up until this one, you had found yourself contemplating what it would be to live on the Dark side. To be free of your commitment to the Light.

You had noticed how much this had changed you. It is said that a Jedi never breaks, never loses their will, but you knew you lost yours long ago. You had noticed the orange hue seeping into your eyes, the thoughts that you would once dare not to think. You were beginning to turn and you couldn’t find the will to stop it.

Because it was foolish.

The air was chilly as you walked to the podium, the crowd before you quivering in anticipation. You wondered if this had always been the way it was to be, you dying at the hands of your brother. You had escaped death once at his hands, maybe this was a sign that you shouldn’t have fought so much. Maybe this was a shine that you should have joined him when you had the chance.

“It is not too late.” Kylo’s voice spoke beside you and you stared at him. The people in the crowd looked on expectantly, a Resistance soldier that defected to the First Order, that must have almost been better than you dead. “You can rule at my side, we can carry our grandfather’s legacy.” His hand outstretched towards you and you looked at it. “You can have all the power they stripped from you. In that power, you can have victory.”

Your hand twitched by your side and you saw the glint in his eye, he had noticed that you were hesitating. That you were not in the Light anymore.

“Ben,” As you went to spoke you heard a barrage of gunfire, ships flying overhead the podium where you stood. Officers and people alike ran from the stage and the crowd, Stormtroopers firing at the ships but to no avail getting shot down as one landed squarely on the podium. Resistance officers poured from the ship, engaging in the fight. You and Ben stood amongst the chaos and you raised your hand. The fighting would end if you chose the Dark, it would save lives.

“Y/N!” A voice screamed your name and you flattered, your hand retracting back to your side as your head snapped to look behind you. “Don’t do this!” Your eyes met soft, warm brown ones, ones you had dreamed of seeing again, ones you had wished you’d never have to see go cold.

Poe

You could feel your feet move towards him but there was something that stopped you. Conflict tore at you and you knew why.

Ben

Your eyes flickered back to your brother who still stood with his hand outreached. You had the ability to be with your brother again, to spend time making up for lost years. If you left you’d be a Jedi again, you would be set into a place that there would be no escaping from. And the next time you would see your brother you would have to kill him.

Looking back to Poe, who also had his hand outreached you felt a lump grow in your throat. He was all your heart had been since you had met him, he was your world. You’d give your life for him to be safe but you knew if chose the Dark, you’d never be apart of his world again. And the next time you saw the love of your life he’d have to kill you.

“It is time to choose,” Ben spoke up and you could feel him willing you to come with him, to not abandon him. To not leave him alone in the Dark. “Be by my side and rule or be by his and die.” It sounded like a threat but you knew it was a promise. It was a promise that he wouldn’t give you this chance the next time you met. That there would be no take backs. “Be apart of our rightful legacy.”

You couldn’t.

Could you?

“I’m sorry.”

Tears spilled over your cheeks and you stepped back from your brother, then another step and then another until Poe had ahold of your forearm and you had his as he hauled you into the Resistance cruiser. Stormtroopers fire seemed to cease as the ship flew away, your fighters stopping as well. As the shuttle doors shut you could see the hate in Ben’s eyes, you could see the pure anger and hate he had for you.

“You’ll regret this.”

Getting back to the Resistance base had been a series of stopping and switching shuttles so the First Order couldn’t track the ships. It also had been a lot of silence between you and Poe. He had seen you hesitate, he had seen the moment you almost aligned with the Dark side. And you could tell he was worried, it practically radiating off of him.

When you landed you knew your mother would be outside, waiting. She would sense what had happened, she didn’t use the Force but she knew how it worked, how it felt. You were hesitant to leave the ship, the only driving force to get your to leave was the hand Poe had on your lower back and the promise of a hot shower and food.

You mother stood at the bottom of the ramp to get off the shuttle and as soon as your feet were on the ground you felt her arms wrap around you. The feeling made you feel like a kid again, a scared kid. You gripped her just as tight as though if she were going to disappear the moment you let go.

“Don’t you ever, ever do that to us again.” She scolded lightly and you couldn’t help but nod. Eventually, she pulled away from your reluctant arms and she looked over to where Poe had been waiting. “Take her to the Medical wing and then to her quarters, she needs to rest.” He simply nodded with small ‘yes General’ before leading you into the building and out of the hanger.

The medics had been quick about you check over, suggesting you get some rest. You had nodded to all their instructions their words not sticking. You could not ignore the stirring inside of you that had been happening since you had left the First Order base. You had set it to being just nerves but you had no reason to be nervous now. You were safe, you were with Poe. You were home.

But how long until home was torn from us?

Sitting up on the edge of the bed you carefully pulled Poe’s arm from around your waist, careful not to wake him up. Nightmares had invaded your sleep again and you could feel panic rising in your chest. Walking to the bathroom carefully you closed the door behind you, turning on the cold water. You took some water in your hands, pressing it into your hot skin. Standing up straight you ran your hand over your face, catching a look at yourself in the mirror.

One of your eyes was was a light orange. In confusion, you blinked and the eye was back to normal. What was that?

You are hallucinating just go back to bed.

You calmed yourself, taking a deep breath before moving back into bed with Poe, his arms wrapping right back around you. This is where you were meant to be. This was where you needed to be.

“This isn’t over.”

#star wars imagines #star wars imagine #star wars scenario #star wars x you #star wars x reader #star wars fanfiction #star wars fanfic #star wars angst #star wars preferences #poe dameron imagine #poe dameron imagines #poe dameron x reader #poe dameron x you #poe dameron fanfiction #poe dameron angst #poe dameron fluff #mine #writing

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imgilmoregirl · 7 years ago

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AO3 Link - FF.Net Link

Notes: This fic must be the definition of "I know you guys hate me for the slow updates". I'm so sorry it took me so long. I had a block, then things happened and it took me ages to finish this chapter, but I already have the rest of the fic sorted out, I know what I'm going to do which hopefully will make things easier for future updates to come faster. I did not abandon it in any way.

Chapter Twenty

There was always a commotion whenever visitors came to the dark castle, but usually it was a good one. Gideon and Rose had just appeared in the great hall to greet their brother and sister-in-law when they heard the screams and in a slit second their father had disappeared. They exchanged a quick glance before rushing outside the castle with Neal and Emma on their heels, unsure of what exactly could be happening.

None of them were really expecting anything by now s they had just returned home after a very unfortunate episode, but apparently life couldn’t give them a damn break. Gideon had spent hours considering different ways of telling his father about Roderick – because now that his mother knew, he couldn’t hide the facts for long anymore – however the time once more, didn’t seem to be the right one, but then it might never be.

Outside the castle, Rumplestitskin was kneeling on the floor, supporting Mrs. Potts’ body in one of his arms as she tried to stand up again. Neal immediately offered his hand to help and together, father and son pulled her back on her feet, although she still didn’t look very secure in her shaking legs. Mrs. Potts looked like she had seen a ghost, her face had gone pale and she desperately clutched at her apron, making it clear, how nervous she was.

"Papa, what is happening?" Neal asked the question everybody was obviously anticipating.

The imp looked up at him, the haunted expression in his face making Gideon’s heart skip a bit and suddenly, even before the answer left his father’s lips, he knew exactly what had happened, because there was only one person for who Rumplestiltskin would be this scared. The only person not present there, gathered with them by the castle’s gates.

"Someone took Belle," the Dark One mumbled.

Rose’s nails dig on the skin of his hand, he felt her shiver by his side. So, they were right this whole time, someone was really plotting to ruin their family.

"What?” Neal blinked. “Why?"

"Because somebody is apparently trying to test my patience but, oh, whoever did this will end this day dead."

The murderous look that overtook Rumplestiltskin’s face, replacing his fear and concern, was definitely something to worry about. They all knew him well enough to be aware of the things he would do for his loved ones and for Belle – his wife, his heart – he would kill and die. Gideon was about to start a phrase, tell him to be rational like his mother would, but he was already grabbing Emma’s arm, starting to drag her away, however the princess planted her feet on the ground, narrowing her eyebrows at him and refusing to leave.

"You're coming with me," the Dark One insisted.

"Where?"

"Wherever this freaking woman has taken my wife!"

"Wait, you can't go away like this," Neal interfered, standing between their father and his wife. "Let's take a seat a think about it."

It only served to irritate Rumple even more, but what he didn’t understand was that they were all preoccupied too, however starting a blind search only guided by anger, wasn’t going to help with anything. Gideon was pretty aware that his father’s love for his mother prevented him from thinking clearly right now and he imagined that if it was Roderick who was missing, he would act like a crazy man too, but it wasn’t so everything he could do was try to help.

"Are you mad, Baelfire?" Rumplestiltskin inquired.

"Please,” Gideon said, “it is the rational thing to do, we need to take Mrs. Potts inside first."

He knew his father was about to protest, but he didn’t quite have the time to, as Emma pulled away from him and passed an arm around Mrs. Potts shoulders, helping her inside as Neal and Rose followed them, leaving a very angry imp to snort and take his son’s lead back to their castle. This kidnapping still sounded very unclear to Gideon and, as they brought the maid to the dining hall and he summoned a glass of water for her, Gideon tried to look back to the whole last year in an attempt to understand who, would have any reasons to take his mother.

"Here, drink this," he said, offering the water to Mrs. Potts.

"Thank you."

She sat down on his mother’s reading chase and with the corner of his eyes, Gideon noticed Mr. Dove taking Chip and Colette upstairs, probably already knowing something bad was happening. His father came closer, impatiently glancing at the maid.

"Tell me more about the woman who took my wife," the imp demanded.

Mrs. Potts nodded, licking her own white lips before starting to speak.

"She was a bit taller than Lady Belle, she was older, was wearing black and had chestnut hair. She was powerful."

Rumplestiltsking sucked a breath, being the stillest he had been since this whole mess began. Even though he didn’t know what could be passing through his father’s mind, Gideon knew that it couldn’t be good.

"It can't be," the imp whispered.

"Papa?" Rose called him, nervously playing with the golden rings in her fingers.

Ignoring her, he turned back to Emma.

"You. Contact Henry now, I want answers about Wonderland and he better have them!"

"Wonderland?" Gideon inquired. "Papa, what do you mean?"

He swallowed hard, his eyes unable to focusing in any of them.

"I think Regina's mother got Belle."

Then, with a flourish of his hand, Rumplestiltskin vanished from the dining hall, leaving them to wonder if he was right or not.

Belle didn’t know how many time she spent locked in that cage with Ella before the guards appeared, but it certainly wasn’t a nice time. Her back was hurt, she couldn’t possibly find a comfortable position to seat and her bump seemed to have suddenly grown in weight, making everything more difficult. She was tired enough to have slept had she been able to take the cold and hard ground as a mattress, but unfortunately, she wasn’t, so Belle just kept staring at the stone walls, hearing Ella’s bitter murmurs about how they were going to die in there.

She couldn’t allow herself to think like that. Belle had plans. Gods, just that morning she and Rumple were talking about books and cribs, how could it all seem so distant now? She was supposed to be at home, helping him to find a way to get rid of the dagger, talking to her children, helping settle a guest room for Neal and Emma… Not here.

When the guards came, she didn’t know what exactly to expect, but she felt afraid when they broke into her prison and rudely took her out, however although Belle fought against them, she didn’t scream for help, because she knew nobody would come in her rescue, she was alone, left to save herself. They dragged her through long, infinity hallways until they reached what seemed to be a small dining hall, with a large – not as large as the one in the dark castle – wooden table in which a whole afternoon tea set was served, the woman who took her there, sat by the head of the table with a delighted smile in her red lips.

"Sit," Cora commanded.

The guards untightened the grip in Belle’s arms, pushing her against the table as if to give some emphasis to the lady’s words and she sighed, stressed, pulling a chair for herself and sliding onto it.

"I wasn't expecting any special treatment given the fact you kidnapped me,” Belle started with all the petulance she had, “but I guess tea is not that bad."

"You really think you should be using this tone with me? Do you have any idea of who am I?"

"Cora, Regina and Zelena's mother," she completed. "I've heard a lot about you."

"So, you know what I'm capable of."

Although she didn’t do it, Belle really felt like rolling her eyes at her. A long time ago, even before Gideon was born, Rumplestiltskin had told her a lot of stories about his past in an attempt to strengthen their relationship and one of those stories included Cora. He believed her to be dead by know – or at least that much he hoped as he resented that woman very, very much – but here she was as alive as one can be.

"Sure, but I'm curious," Belle said, looking straight at Cora. "Is this about the thing you had with Rumplestiltskin years ago or you're really just helping your friend to get what she wants?"

"I never do anything out of the goodness in my heart," Cora laughed, sipping her tea. There was an empty cup in front of Belle and a teapot nearby, an invitation for a drink, but she would rather die thirsty than to give Cora the chance of poisoning her with it. "I have an interest too, of course, but it has nothing to do with my past with Rumplestiltskin."

"So why me? And why Ella?"

Pulling her teacup down Cora took a moment to analyse Belle’s curious expression. She had too heard a lot about her, well, actually, Cora had done a lot of research when it come about the Dark Lady. The Queen of Hearts never thought somebody would be able to have the same effect she did in Rumplestiltskin, but she found out Belle had an even bigger one. What he had with her was a lot more than the physical attraction he had felt for Cora, their relationship wasn’t based in stolen nights, but in a deep kind of love she would never understand.

Someday, back to a distant past, Cora had believed herself in love with the imp, but after months of observation, she concluded that even if what she felt for him could one day evolve to love, it would never be reciprocal. At least, not that way. It would never be True Love. But she didn’t really care about it, she would have her happy ending once Gothel casted her curse – the same one Regina had once the chance of casting but was never able to.

"You two have a kind of fire we can't find often," Cora said. "Your daughter has it too, but it is just a tiny flame, it is not like yours. She is kind of a coward like her father."

Belle’s eyebrows narrowed.

"How do you know Rose?"

"She came to me a few months ago,” she shrugged. “I was hoping Maleficent would eat her and the boy alive, but I believe they never made it to her place."

A surprised gasp left Belle. Rose could trust her for some things, like talking about her relationship with Roland, but apparently, she still secrets of her own. Belle had no idea why her daughter would seek for someone like Cora, but she betted she had met her as a commoner in the village, not as her father’s evil old girlfriend or her boyfriend’s evil grandmother.

"How long have you been plotting this?"

"Oh, long, really long. Who do you think encouraged Agathe to get to Rumple?" Cora winked. "I must say I was hoping to kill you on my own, but as everything failed, I think Gothel's plan is the best option."

These words made a new lump appear on Belle’s throat. She been separated from her husband for so many time because of that woman?

"You helped Agathe?"

"I tried, she is too dumb to not do things right."

"I must have known…" Belle trailed off. "But why would you do all of this?"

"Because we need power and getting the Dark One's dagger is the only way I'll get it right now."

She didn’t know who “we” were, if Cora and Gothel or somebody else, but it didn’t sound good in any possible way. Belle couldn’t allow them to get anywhere near her husband’s dagger, because it wasn’t just the power who would belong to Cora and her evil friends if they got their hand’s in it, but his freedom too.

"And you thought what? That Rumple would be willing to trade the dagger for me?"

"No, I expected to weaken him," Cora said, tracing the border of her teacup. "First you, then the children and once everyone he loved was gone, he would be begging to be killed."

"This is a really stupid plan," Belle scorned.

And it really was. Of course, she couldn’t know the reasons why they were planning all this or what was their purpose, but even so, there were better ways of capturing the Dark One without harming is family. Unless you were trying to make him suffer.

"Oh, I bet you would have come up with something smarter," the Queen of Hearts rolled her eyes.

"Probably, yes," Belle shrugged, laying a protective hand on her stomach. "You have no idea what I'm capable of when it comes to my family, Cora. And if I were you, I wouldn't try to find out."

Cora’s dark eyes narrowed as they fell to her middle-section.

"Gothel will like to know about the babe. She was in need of a pure soul for her own plans."

Her jaw fell open and she stumbled up, walking as far from Cora as she could before the guards came to her side, gripping her arms painfully tight again, making her hiss and her eyes get full of tears, but she held her chin up anyway, defying that vile woman.

"Don't you dare thinking about taking my babe."

"I'll do whatever I want and whenever I wish," Cora stated, then turned to the guards, commanding. "Take her away."

"No, Cora," Belle yelled. "I swear to all of the gods that if you touch my baby I'll kill you! I will!"

Her screams echoed in the hallways until she was thrown back inside the cell.

Rose had lead them to Neal’s old chambers, the same ones in which they stayed whenever they came to visit and Emma immediately reached for the chest they had brought with clothes taking the dresses from the top of it and picking the hand mirror from inside of it. She still wasn’t sure if calling Henry back was the best option, but if she didn’t do it, Emma was afraid she would end the day as a snail, because she had never seen Rumplestiltskin so angry before.

Only a bit of magic was needed for her son to appear in the mirror, wearing a big red shawl around his shoulders, apparently sat against a tree. He looked really tired, which broke her heart a bit.

"Henry!"

"Mom," he looked up with a small smile. "It is nice to see you, but I'm afraid I can't talk for long."

"No, listen,” she begged. “Your grandfather might have a clue about Ella!"

It wasn’t exactly a clue and she knew it very well, but it could be as Gideon had quickly explained for them, his clever brain working as fast as waterfall, while the rest of them were merely trying to process the whole situation.

"What?" Henry asked, surely not convinced of that.

"Henry you need to come back home," Neal interfered, taking the mirror from Emma’s hand so he was in sight. "That might be the only way you have to find your wife."

"But he is not sure if this clue will take me to Ella, right?"

"Nothing is sure now, Henry," Emma answered. "But Lucy misses you."

It made him reconsider everything. His eyes became sad and all she could see was the little boy he once was and not the man in the other side of the mirror. He wanted to go back home but he feared if he did he would never see the love of his life again.

"I miss her too,” Henry admitted. “Every single day."

"Then come back," Neal insisted.

There was a moment of hesitation, but then, maybe his weariness or his eagerness to meet his daughter again, made Henry nod and they could see that he was picking his things up from the ground with a determination that not even his most faithful letters contained.

"I'll be there in two days."

"We are at the dark castle waiting for you," Emma guaranteed.

With a last smile, Henry disappeared, being replaced by their reflex.

#rumbelle #rumbelle fic #mine #writing #gidrick #rumplestiltskin #belle french #gideon gold #baelfire #neal cassidy #roseland #ao3 #fanfic #oh look i'm back

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sae-you-sae-me · 7 years ago

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Hey guys! I had this crazy idea I can't get out of my head: RFA+V & Saeran in some disney scenario lmao. But! They're the 'princess' and MC is the 'prince' :D Just a random example to illustrate my point: Jumin is a rich and bored prince and only his tigress Elly is bringing him joy, but then this sneaky plebeian girl rolls up singing 'I can show you the world' lol

This is a really creative prompt! Hope you like these~

Zen:

(Cinderella)

Zen thought he was just a lowly boy in a household with his brother and mother

His mother wasn’t the kindest of people

She made him clean a lot and she rarely let him leave the house

She never praised him for his actions, and always put him down for his looks

It grew to the climax when you, royalty, invites him to a ball

His mother locked him up in his room and refused to let him out, attending the party herself

Then one day, a fairy–er–godmother named Seven visited him and freed him from his room

Using magic, Seven dressed him in the finest suit and placed two glass roses in his suit pocket and sent him on his way

His beauty caught your eye, but there was something else about this man that intrigued you

You asked him to dance, and afterwards you both retreated into the nearby garden

You saw his kind heart and knew there was something about him

But then the clock struck midnight, and he rushed away from you in a fluster

A glass rose had fallen, miraculously intact on the stairs

You determined to find this kind heart someway or another

Meanwhile, Zen returned to his life unsatisfied with everything, but managing nonetheless

When he finds out you’re searching for someone with a glass rose, he’s ecstatic

With the help of Seven, he manages to bypass his mother’s schemes and show you the matching rose

You two live happily ever after in a castle

Yoosung:

(Sleeping Beauty)

A prince with brown hair born to a kingdom and his name was Yoosung

His three fairy caretakers gave him gifts at his birth

Zen gave him beauty, which changed his hair to a bright blond

Jumin gave him wealth and wellbeing

Before the last gift could be given, an evil witch named Rika Morgana intruded and put a curse on him

So, as the last gift, the fairy V bestowed on Yoosung a blessing that made him go into a deep slumber instead of death

The king and queen still worried for their son, so they sent him with the three fairies to grow up away from troubles

Years later, Yoosung had a tendency to wander away from the small cottage

It was on one of these outings he met you, a princess from another land

He feels like he’s met you before, and instantly falls you *Cue Once Upon A Dream playing*

When he returns to the cottage and the fairies find out, they instantly separate you two to his chagrin

In his fit of anger, he runs away from the cottage and stumbles upon a castle

Morgana tricks him into pricking his finger and Yoosung falls into a deep sleep

But Morgana also pulled you in, luring you into the castle and becoming a dragon

She tried to kill you off but you persevered and slayed the dragon, suddenly motivated by saving Yoosung from his sleep

You rescue him by giving him true love’s kiss

You two return to the castle, reunite with Yoosung’s parents, and live happily ever after

Jaehee:

(Frozen)

Jaehee was in charge of a kingdom after your parents died

But she had these special powers that she was unsure of and didn’t know what to do with

So she did her best to suppress her power and hide…even from you

But finally the day came where she was coronated, and you two would finally bond…you hoped

You met a man there…he seemed amazing

He was a prince and you two just seemed to click, and his name was Jumin

But Jaehee disagreed when you said you wanted to marry him

The argument caused her powers to slip out and the whole kingdom fell in fear

So she fled, and you couldn’t catch up though you tried

On your way to find her, you met a tall, really handsome man who somehow joined you on your search

This man, Zen, seemed to give you advice about marrying a man you just met and how it was ridiculous and how men were beasts

He also had this quirky reindeer named Sveven

On the way, you also met this happy little ball of snow named Yoosung

With their help, you found Jaehee’s castle of ice and approached her

Things didn’t go well and you got shot in the heart with ice

Zen hurried you out of there to the magical trolls while Jaehee continued to detiorate in her fear

When he hears about the act of true love, he takes you home to Jumin

Only, Jumin betrays you for the sake of a kingdom and takes over for awhile

Finally, Jaehee embraces her power and before she can be annihilated by Jumin, you intervene

This act of love melts your heart of ice

You and Jaehee bond again and everyone lives happily ever after

Jumin:

(Aladdin)

He was a prince who was locked up in an extravagant castle

His father wanted him to marry, but Jumin wasn’t thrilled with the idea

One night, he kissed his tiger Elizabeth the Third before sliding over the wall in disguise to see the city

Not knowing much of commoner ways, he soon got lost, but thankfully a peasant girl intervened and helped him through

He had never felt a connection with anyone before you and he found the night flew by

Unfortunately, you were caught by his palace guards thanks to his father’s evil advisor Sarah Choi

Meanwhile, Sarah convinced his father, by nefarious means, to betroth Jumin to herself

You escaped prison, in the meantime, and followed a Sarah in disguise to find a genie lamp

You entered a cave with your monkey Saeran and passed a few obstacles

You befriended a magic carpet named Yoosung and found the genie lamp

The genie named Seven offered you three wishes, so you started your transformation to be worthy of Prince Jumin

With Seven’s help, you appear as a princess and go to Jumin

Your first meeting is rough, but you take him on a magic carpet ride and somewhere along the way he founds out you’re the peasant girl from the market place

Unfortunately, so does Sarah Choi

She plans your downfall but ultimately fails

You and Jumin end up together after all, despite your varying classes, and live happily ever after

Seven:

(Tangled)

Saeyoung was a prince with magical red hair

As a result, he couldn’t cut it or the hair would turn normal

Because of this, he was kidnapped by a cruel woman and locked in a tower while she claimed to be his mother

He was never allowed to leave and didn’t have any friends but his chameleon Vanderwood

Still he had this longing to see the stars near the castle

One day, while his evil mother was out on “errands”, he made up his mind to finally leave the castle

But his plans were thwarted when a thief broke into his house while on the run from the castle guards and their dedicated royal horse Saeran

“What brought you here? Fate? Destiny?”

“Your brother A horse.”

He makes an agreement with you that he would return your stolen crown if you took him to see the stars

You agree, though you try to get rid of him somehow

He has a bunch of mood swings, feeling happy at his freedom but also guilty for leaving

Unfortunately, you drag him into your own problems as you try to run away from your old partners in crime

Finally, you make it to the city where you reunite with your enemy…Saeran…who happens to be protective of Saeyoung

Still, since it’s his birthday you two get along and spend a day in the city

During this time, you realize you had fallen for him and you want to quit your old life

Your magical boat ride underneath the stars goes awry when Saeyoung’s mother intervenes

You get wounded, you cut his hair, but in the end everything ends up okay

You get free from your life, Saeyoung ends up with his happy family, and you live happily ever after

Saeran:

(Hercules)

You never really fit in anywhere because you had magical powers that made you super strong

After seeing you struggle, your parents revealed that you were actually the daughter of a god

But Hades intervened and drained you of your divinity, but your powers still remained

With this information, you went to training with the best of the best…Zen

With his help, you got even stronger and better

On your very first mission, you came across a damoiseua in distress

Only…the boy could handle himself

You found out the boy’s name was Saeran, and you were completely infatuated with him despite Zen’s warnings

Hades finds out Saeran met you and suddenly traps him into another agreement

Saeran is forced to lure you into a trap where Hades can get rid of you forever

But he finds himself falling in love with you on the way

When you and Hades face off, Saeran sacrifices himself, getting himself sent to the underworld

Desperate to get him back, you venture there and pull out his soul from the pool

In the process, you showed you were truly the daughter of a god and regained your divinity

With your newfound power, you sent Hades back into the underworld and are reunited with your divine parents

But…you wanted to stay with Saeran

So you gave up your immortality to stay with Saeran and live the rest of your lives happily

Winnie the Pooh

V is Winnie the Pooh

MC is Christopher Robin

Jumin is piglet

Seven is Tigger

Yoosung is Roo

Jaehee is Eeyore

Saeran is Rabbit

They all live happily…no drama happens…everyone has a happy ending

Check out our other headcanons~ Masterlist

#Anonymous #mystic messenger #mystic messenger zen #hyun ryu #yoosung kim #jaehee kang #jumin han #saeyoung choi #luciel choi #saeran choi #mystic messenger v #jihyun kim #mystic messenger scenarios #mystic messenger headcanons #mystic messenger imagines

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umaspirateship · 7 years ago

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Stupid Feelings Brought on by New Desks (And Old Crushes)

A Harry/Uma/Gil fic. Read it on Ao3 here or read it below! If you want a Uma/Harry perspective sequel let me know.

Gil sat at his new desk.

He’d never had a desk before, but the smooth wood reminded him of the way the ship’s walls felt when he reached out to steady himself during a storm.

On the desk, there was a lamp.

Back home, after his dad had kicked him out again or Uma had decided she couldn’t deal with his stupidity anymore, he liked to sleep near the docks. The Isle was pitch-black at night, but from the edge of the water, he could see Auradon glowing in the distance.

Sometimes, Ben would set a piece of paper in front of him and tell him, “Come back to class when you’re ready. We miss you.”

Gil hadn’t said a word since the limo had arrived in Auradon. He was pretty sure Ben did not miss him the way he missed Harry and Uma.

The paper, supposedly, was homework.

On the Isle, Gil hadn’t gone to school. He’d skipped classes so he could train. So he could finally become worthy of his father’s love. He never was, and even when he’d found the pirate crew he was never as threatening as Harry or as powerful as Uma. Long story short, he couldn’t read, but he recognized five words well enough.

The desk had five words carved into its skin. When he ran his fingers over it, he felt more at ease and he could finally breathe. “We Ride With the Tide.”

Gil had always thought it was a silly motto, given that their ship had been wrecked after that whole trident fiasco, but it reminded him of when he used to be helpful. Of the smile on Uma’s face when he’d glued her necklace back together, piece by piece, after everyone else had lost hope.

Sometimes, the desk would be dotted with tears.

Uma had always called him weak. He hadn’t known why, back then. But now he knew.

Gil sat at his desk. Sometimes he’d sit there for hours. He never said anything, just watched the trees outside the window sway in the wind. He couldn’t see the ocean from here.

When he was in the limo, the driver informed him that he was “glad to be done driving you lot” and that “miss Evie has finally finished clearing off that dratted list.” Gil glanced back and could still see Harry in the harbor, growling and chasing after the limo. Alone. Uma was still missing, lost somewhere in the ocean.

Nobody ever visited him, when he sat at his desk. Only Ben, with his sad eyes and his lips perpetually turned into a confused frown, bothered to talk to him. At first, he’d tried to fit in. He went to Tourney games and attended Goodness 101 classes and watched school plays. Maybe, if he was good enough, they’d believe him when he said that Harry was good too.

Still, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.

He had a phone in his pocket. It only had two numbers. Ben’s, of course, and Queen Belle’s, who’d been sympathetic to his childhood being raised as Gaston’s son.

There was no cell connection on the Isle. No way he could call Harry.

He didn’t go to class anymore, obviously. Nobody was going to expel him, and they were all too nice to physically drag him out of his room. He couldn’t stay there forever, they reasoned. They were wrong.

In his head, Gil reasoned that he could wait an eternity for Uma. He would wait. She and Harry were worth it.

It was November, and Gil sat at his desk with a puzzle that he’d stolen from the lounge. It had one thousand pieces and was a painting of a pretty sunset setting over the Auradon horizon. Putting it together made him feel at peace. Or at piece. He enjoyed the pun.

It was November, and the leaves rattled at the window. A bird, or something about the same size and weight as a bird, hit his window with a loud thump. He looked up from the desk, expecting to see the same view he had seen for the past four months, only more dark and gray, as Auradon seemed to get in the autumn months. Instead, he saw a dark figure holding a stuffed animal. His stuffed animal, Dearie. It was, as the name suggested, a stuffed deer. Gil quickly realized that it had been the object thrown at the window, and he stood up in exasperation.

Now that he was standing, he had a full view of the lawn. He realized that he’d left Dearie on the Isle. He realized that the tall, handsome, grinning figure was Harry. Harry, looking as mad and lovely as Gil remembered. He glanced back at his door, wondering if he should head down. When he glanced back, Harry was gone.

It figured that Gil would have no luck. It was an illusion, obviously, Gil figured after he was unable to find any sign that the dashing pirate was, in fact, in Auradon, and not on the shipwrecked Revenge waiting for, well, revenge.

Gil sat back down at his desk and turned back to his puzzle. He felt the weight of the phone in his pocket. If it was Harry, Ben would have texted him about it. He sighed and turned on the phone. At least this way he would know. The phone immediately lit up with thirteen missed calls, all from an unknown number. But no messages from Ben. It was probably Evie or Carlos or Jay, or even Mal, trying to make him feel at home. Just as he went to put the phone away, it started to ring. Gil jumped.

He’d never heard a phone ring before. After receiving this one from Ben, he’d immediately turned it off. And, given the lack of cell reception on the Isle, he hadn’t had one there either.

He decided to answer the call but didn’t say anything. Just held the phone against his ear and listened.

It was Uma.

“Gil!” she shouted, more concerned than angry, “You better come out of your dorm room and downstairs right now or I am going to confiscate your hat collection!”

He’d had to leave his hats on the Isle, but Uma hadn’t been there for that. He chuckled softly to himself. Obviously, it wasn’t softly enough.

“I can hear you laughing! They won’t let me upstairs because we’re armed and dangerous, which is, frankly, ridiculous. There’s this one girl carrying a bag full of ten swords in the lobby right now.”

Lonnie. He laughed a little harder, unable to stop himself.

“Gil, sweetie,” hummed a new voice. Harry. “Come downstairs. We’ve got Dearie, and we’ve brought your hats. Plus, King Ben is hosting a feast to commemorate Uma’s “turn to good.””

He could hear Uma laughing at that. “They’re just glad that when I used my magic to break down the Isle I only used it to rescue the kids on our crew. Evie did a pretty good job with her list, but she left out the pirates because we kidnapped Ben. A little hypocritical, but whatever. We’re free, and I heard the feast has your favorite food.”

Most people thought his favorite food was eggs since he ate them so much. Really, he saw eggs more like the pushups he did while Uma and Harry were in class. He didn’t particularly like them, but he had to eat them to make his father happy.

“Yeah, Gil,” added Harry, “You heard that right. I can smell the meat cooking from here.”

Drat it. Ham. His weakness.

Gil hung up the phone and ran out of the room. At first, he tried to convince himself he was only excited at the prospect of delicious food, but who was he kidding. Harry and Uma were waiting for him in the lobby.

He reached the top of the stairs and immediately realized they weren’t the only ones. Ben, and King Adam and Queen Bell, and Lonnie, and Mal, Jay, Carlos, and Evie, and Doug, and Chad, and Audrey, and seemingly every other member of the student body had crowded into the lobby to catch a glimpse of the commotion.

Uma and Harry growled at the crowd when they saw Gil freeze at the top of the stairs. They dropped the suitcases they were carrying and rushed towards him, shoving princes and princesses out of the way, breaking a few nails and causing general chaos. It was just like home.

Gil stood at the top of the stairs and awkwardly tried to descend them, his legs shaking nervously. When he saw Harry and Uma heading towards him, he was so surprised by how real and how beautiful they were that he tripped.

Right into their arms.

“Gil,” Uma whispered, “I’ve been looking for you.”

Harry sighed happily, dropping his hook onto the ground so he could hold Gil tighter. “The Isle was terrible without you.”

Gil looked at their eyes. Their expressions seemed new, like Auradon magically allowed them to love him for the first time, but they still had elements of the past. Of the childhood they had shared. Of the kidnapping and the celebrations and the defeat, and the songs and moments of silence they’d shared watching the Isle fall asleep. It felt right.

Gil opened his mouth and spoke for the first time since he’d left the Isle, shouting “Harry!” over the growling of the wind until his voice grew hoarse.

“I missed you so much,” Gil said, ignoring the whispers coming from the students crowding at the base of the stairs.

“We know,” Harry and Uma replied, their eyes shining brighter than any stupid desk lamp.

And Gil smiled.

#uhookme #text version of my ao3 fic #descendants 2 #harry hook #uma #gil #auradon

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konnl · 5 years ago

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Edward Willett expands the Worldshaper universe with his new novel, Master of The World

For September’s guest author we have Edward Willett, who is a writer and performer from Regina, Saskatchewan. He has authored more than 50 books of various types. He is well known for writing in the science fiction and fantasy genres. Some of his work has been published by DAW Books in New York, such as the novels Lost in Translationand 2009 Aurora Award-winning novel Marseguro. He has also been published with Bundoran Press. Let’s welcome him to the blog.

Hi Edward Willett, thank you for joining us. Can you introduce yourself to the readers?

Hi, readers! As the introduction says, I’m a multiply published author—I’ve actually lost count of exactly how many books I’ve had published. They run the gamut from non-fiction (local history, science books, biographies, and computer books) to my first love, science fiction and fantasy. There’s even one book of poetry! I’ve written for children, young adults, and adults.

I started my career as a newspaper reporter at the weekly Weyburn (Saskatchewan) Review. (Weyburn was the town where I grew up.) At the ripe old age of 24r, I became news editor there. Then, in my late 20s, I became communications officer for the then-fledgling Saskatchewan Science Centre, which is what brought me from Weyburn to Regina, where I’ve lived ever since. After five years at the science centre, I quit my job and became a fulltime freelance writer, which I’ve now been for 26 years.

In addition to writing (and some editing), I’ve done quite a bit of acting and singing, both professionally and just for fun. I’m married to a telecommunications engineer and have one daughter, who is currently enrolled at the University of Toronto. Oh, and we have a black Siberian cat, Shadowpaw—can’t forget him, since I used his name on my own little publishing company, Shadowpaw Press.

Tell us about your latest release, Master of The World.

Master of the World is the second book in the Worldshapers series, published by DAW Books, which began with Worldshaper last year. In Worldshaper, the main character, Shawna Keys, has a pleasant, low-key life: she’s just opened a pottery studio in a small city in Montana, she has a great boyfriend, she has a wonderful best friend. But then everything changes in an instant. Black-clad gunmen storm the coffee shop where she’s having lunch with her friend. Her friend is killed. She’s about to be killed. She refuses to believe it’s happening…and just like that, it isn’t. It hasn’t. The gunmen are gone. The coffeeshop is undamaged…but her friend, Aesha, isn’t there, and no one remembers that she ever existed.

A mysterious stranger, Karl Yatsar, shows up and explains to Shawna that her world, which she thought was the only world, is in fact a Shaped world—and that she Shaped it exactly the way she wanted it when she was thrust into it ten years before. Not only that, it’s only one of a plentitude of Shaped worlds in a vast extra-dimensional Labyrinth. And now, she’s about to lose control of it. The Adversary, the leader of the gunmen, who touched her forehead before threatening to kill her, has stolen her knowledge of the world and is already turning it against her. They have to flee her world entirely…not just to save her life, but because Karl believes she is a powerful enough Shaper—even though, much to his shock and bewilderment, she didn’t remember being one—to travel through all the worlds of the Labyrinth, gathering the knowledge of each, and taking it to the mysterious Ygrair, the one who gave all the Shapers, who originally came from the First World—our world—their own worlds to Shape. Ygrair has been wounded and weakened, and needs someone to bring her the knowledge of as many worlds as possible so that she can save the Labyrinth and all its myriad worlds from the depredations of The Adversary, who wants to enslave and then destroy them all.

In Worldshaper, Shawna and Karl embark on a hazardous cross-country journey, trying to stay one step ahead of The Adversary, to find the only place where a Portal can be opened into the next world, where Shawna can begin the quest she’s been saddled with

In Master of the World, Shawna finds herself in that next world over, but without her guide and mentor—Karl was left behind. In her first two hours, she’s rescued from a disintegrating island by an improbable flying machine she recognizes from Jules Verne’s Robur the Conqueror, then seized from it by raiders flying tiny personal helicopters, and finally taken to a submarine that bears a strong resemblance to Captain Nemo’s Nautilus. Oh, and accused of being both a spy and a witch.

Shawna expects—hopes!—Karl Yatsar will eventually follow her into this new steampunk realm, but exactly where and when he’ll show up, she hasn’t a clue.

In the meantime, she has to navigate a world where two factions fanatically devoted to their respective leaders are locked in perpetual combat, figure out who the Shaper of the world is, find him or her, and obtain the secret knowledge of this world’s Shaping. Then she has to somehow reconnect with Karl Yatsar, and escape to the next Shaped world in the Labyrinth…through a Portal she has no idea how to open.

Master of The World is part of the Worldshaper storyline, how many novels do you estimate to have in the series?

The series is open-ended: the concept allows me to tell any kind of story in any kind of world. Potentially, it could have any number of novels (although I know how it ends, there’s no rush getting there). I’m currently writing Book 3, which takes place in a world with werewolves and vampires!

You’ve done a lot of writing, as mentioned on your website, over 50 books. When and what did you first start writing about?

I’ve always been drawn to science fiction and fantasy. I have two older brothers, both of whom read it, so the books were around the house. My very first complete short story, written when I was eleven, was called “Kastra Glazz: Hypership Test Pilot.” My mother typed it up for me and I showed it to my Grade 7 English teacher, Tony Tunbridge, who did me the honor of taking it seriously and providing some actual criticism—criticism which, rather than prompting me to give up, instead prompted me to try to make the next thing I wrote better. (I dedicated my recent stand-alone science-fiction novel The Cityborn to Tony by way of thanking him.) I went on to write three science fiction and fantasy novels in high school, so my course was set early on.

Edward, you are a performer too. Care to elaborate more about this aspect of your life?

I’ve always sung—my father was a choral director—and I got the acting bug at age 11 when I played Petruchio in a one-act adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew. I carried on acting and singing, whenever I got the chance. In Weyburn, while I was at the newspaper, I was a founding member of Crocus 80 Theatre, a new community-theatre group, and had leading roles in many plays, and also directed twice. When I moved to Regina, I immediately gravitated to Regina Lyric Light Opera (now Regina Lyric Musical Theatre), a community theatre group that did musicals (it was in a production of The Music Man that I first met my future wife.) I did a lot of shows with Lyric, Regina Little Theatre, and Regina Summer Stage.

When I went full-time freelance, in addition to writing, for three years I performed with a professional opera company, Prairie Opera, which did six-week tours of Saskatchewan schools, typically two shows a day. That made a nice addition to my fledgling freelance income. A few years later I was hired by Regina’s professional theatre company, Globe Theatre, for a production of On Golden Pond (I played the boyfriend from California). As a result of that, I became a member of Canadian Actors’ Equity. I’ve continued to perform every chance I get, both professionally and (more often) just for fun. I’ve been in dozens of plays, musicals, and operas. I’ve also sung with many choirs, including the Canadian Chamber Choir, an auditioned group made up of singers from across the country.

I’ve combined my writing and performing sides a few times in shows I’ve written and directed. Two I’ve done for Regina Lyric Musical Theatre had fantastical elements. In 2013 I wrote and directed As Time Goes By: A Love Story with Music and Ghosts, which did indeed have ghosts in it, and this past year I wrote and directed The Music Shoppe, which might not sound fantastical, but in fact took place in a mystical music store with an ageless proprietor and a mysterious mechanical pianist with magical abilities. Both were hits with audiences.

What was your most challenging novel to write to date?

Worldshaper was challenging because it’s designed to set up an open-ended series. My editor at DAW Books, Hugo Award-winner Sheila E. Gilbert, and I spent a lot of time trying to make sure that everything that was needed to enable the series to work going forward was built into the first book. It was also a bit challenging to write because it’s an interesting mix of first-person (the main character, Shawna Keys) and third-person (her guide and mentor, Karl Yatsar, and her enemy, The Adversary) viewpoints.

Now that Master of the World is released, do you have other novels in the works?

In addition to Book 3 of the Worldshapers series, I’ve got a middle-grade fantasy, Fire Boy, in circulation to publishers; I’m finishing the editing of a young adult science fiction novel, Star Song, which I’ll be bringing out myself through Shadowpaw Press; and I’ll be writing another young-adult story, a dark fantasy called Changers (involving shapeshifters) for ChiZine Publications. I have some other books I want to bring out through Shadowpaw in the not-too-distant future, novels I’ve never found a home for that I think deserve a chance to see the light of day, but I have to fit those in around other work so they won’t be for a while yet.

And I have ideas for many more…

Is your writing and performance inspiration intertwined or are these parts of your life entirely separate?

It’s all one thing. I find there’s a great overlap between being and actor and director and being an author. Actors pretend to be other people; writers do the same. Directors move actors around on stage and guide them in their interactions with each other in order to best tell the story being presented. So do writers. I’ve always felt, when I’m acting, even though I’m bringing some other author’s characters to life, that I’m using many of the same mental muscles as I do when I’m trying to make my own characters live and breathe on the page.

Also, in Worldshapers, I’m able to make lots of musical -theatre jokes, so there’s that.

Any final thoughts you’d like to share with the readers and aspiring writers?

I urge both readers and aspiring writers to check out my podcast, The Worldshapers. It features hour-long conversations with some of the biggest names in science fiction and fantasy writing, with a focus on their creative process, from the generation of ideas to the planning process, the writing process, and the editing process. I also ask them about their philosophy of writing: why they do it, why they think anyone does it, and what impact they hope it has on readers. The interviews are all fascinating and offer great insights into the writing process. You can find it www.theworldshapers.com.

I particularly like the episode where E.C. Blake (the pseudonym under which I wrote a fantasy trilogy called The Masks of Aygrima) interviews me…

Thank you Edward Willett for joining us!

You can find Edward through the following links below.

Website: edwardwillett.com

Amazon: amazon.com/Edward-Willett/e/B001IR1LL6/

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/22635.Edward_Willett

#Author #Fantasy #Guest #Sci-Fi #YA

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mackenziethehuntress · 8 years ago

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Game of Thrones Preferences/Imagines: How You Meet

Tyrion Lannister:

You met Tyrion when he accidentally stumbled into you, in a drunken stupor. He had spilled his chalice of wine down your dress and threw up on your shoes. He quickly wiped the filth from his mouth and looked up into your (e/c) eyes. “My lady, where do I begin to apologize?” He asked. You didn’t answer right away. You just stared down at the little lord in amazement. How could such a handsome man be such a drunken little lecher? “You could start by buying me a new dress and uhm, new shoes.” You replied. He smiled widely. “A Lannister always pays his debts.”

Jon Snow:

You first met Jon Snow at an affair the Starks were having for the King and Queen. He sat at table with a bunch of lowborn boys and their prey for the evening. Your father allowed you quite a bit of wine tonight, as he had his fair share, so you were feeling a little rambunctious. You walked up to the table and took a seat across from the Bastard of Winterfell. “So why aren’t you at the table with the rest of the highborn boys?” You asked, genuinely curious. Jon looked at you for a moment, unsure of what to say. “Lady Catelyn believes it would have been an insult to flaunt a bastard in front of the King and his Queen.” It hadn’t actually occured to you that you were speaking to Jon Snow, you had thought he was just another highborn lad. “I see,” you paused, “and why aren’t you entertaining a lady like the rest of your peers?” You had raised an eyebrow in the direction of the other boys at the table who were each occupied with their own girl.

“With any luck, I’ll be a sworn brother of the Night’s Watch soon. I can’t be distracted by girls.” He stated matter-of-factly. “S'that right?” You asked with a smirk. “Well, I’ll be seeing you around Jon Snow.” With that said, you stood from your seat and walked away; not daring to look back and check if the bastard was watching.

Jagen H'ghar:

Jagen had come to your rescue when he heard your screams in the distance. A group of foul men had spotted you alone in an alleyway and tried to take advantage of the situation. As soon as the men attacking you had spotted Jagen, they quickly dropped your legs and ran off in fear. You rushed to your feet and pulled your dress down, covering the cuts and the blood beginning to drip from them. “A woman is hurt.” He wasn’t asking but you found yourself saying ‘yes’ in response. A few moments passed and then you realized he was waiting for permission to approach you. You looked into his eyes and nodded. He took his steps carefully, being sure to avoid frightening you further. Jagen held out his hand once he had closed the distance between the two of you. “A man would ask a woman to follow him.” His way of speaking was odd, but you followed him anyway. Jagen guided you through the streets of Braavos before he finally stopped at the steps of the House of Black and White. He opened the door and stood aside for you to enter first. When you didn’t budge, he raised his eyebrow with curiosity.

“When people go in there, they don’t come back out.” You pointed out. Jagen chuckled lightly. “A man is not going to kill a woman, only help.” You chose to believe your rescuer, and moved past him into the building. He followed suit and motioned for you to sit on a nearby bench. He disappeared momentarily before returning with a crate full of bottles and pieces of cloth. He raised your dress slightly, exposing the abrasions adorning your legs. “A woman will feel discomfort.” Jagen warned before blotting a cloth soaked in antiseptic on the cuts. You drew in a sharp breath as the solution stung your skin. Jagen muttered an apology in his odd wordage. Once he was finished cleaning the blood and dirt from your legs, he wrapped a cloth bandage around them; securing it with a pin.

The man at your feet looked up at you. “A woman has been taken care of.” He said. You looked down into your lap before meeting his gaze. “I would ask your name so I can properly thank you.” Jagen stood and then offered his hand to. “A man is no one.” He replied flatly. “Well, no one.” You teased. “Thank you for taking care of my injuries.” Jagen smiled softly before leading you to the door and letting you back into the city.

Robb Stark:

You met Robb when your father and his had settled on an arranged marriage. Princess Marcella was much too young to be betrothed to Robb and Sansa had already been promised to Prince Joffrey. So , there you were, a daughter of a Northern lord being married off to the eldest Stark son to strengthen the alliance between your families. It’s not that Robb was undesirable, in fact you thought of him as especially handsome. Even being the future Lady of Winterfell excited you, but still. You wanted to marry for love, not power. Little did you know, he wanted the same. There you stood, presented in front of the court like some prize. It felt incredibly degrading to you. Robb must have noticed your discomfort because he dispatched from his lord father’s side and asked you to join him outside. The cold air felt amazing on your face, you thought you were going to melt underneath all of the candles that lined the main hall’s ceiling. Robb spoke first. “Is something the matter, my lady?” He asked coolly. You sighed, not wanting to confess your disdain for the arrangement. “Nothing, my lord. I just wish I had the chance to marry for love.” You were surprised to hear the Stark boy laugh. “Aye. You and me both.” He replied.

“Truly?” You asked, surprised. He shot you a toothy grin, sending an unexpected chill up your spine. You finally understood why they call him the young wolf, his canine teeth popped over the skin of his bottom lip as he smiled. “I could ask my father to reconsider the arrangement.” He offered. “I’d forever be in your debt, Robb Stark.” You replied.

Jaime Lannister:

The first time you met the Kingslayer was at a jousting tourney. It was Prince Joffrey’s nameday and Jaime Lannister was to face The Knight of Flowers, Loras Tyrell. The tourney was just about to begin as Ser Loras road into sight on his beautiful white mare. He stopped just short of you and handed a white rose to the girl sitting beside you. She was awestruck, naturally. Loras Tyrell was wanted by nearly every girl in the Seven Kingdoms and nearly every boy wanted to be him. Shortly after, Ser Jaime rode in on his destrier. His golden hair blew in the breeze as he rode near your spot in the stands. Just as Loras did before him, Jaime stopped in front of the girl who had the white rose. The Kingslayer plucked the flower from her hand, inhaled it’s fragrance, and then gave it to you. Half of the crowd gasped at Ser Jaime’s actions, the other half laughed. Jaime winked at you before riding off to his end of the field. The girl beside you attempted to snatch her flower from you. She was unsuccessful, you simply pulled your hand back and smirked at her; waving your pointer finger back and worth in an ‘I don’t think so’ manner. She rolled her eyes and fixated her attention on the men who were about to joust. As did you, secretly hoping the Kingslayer would win. Your hopes were crushed when The Knight of Flowers unseated Ser Jaime. He had fallen into the dirt and muddied up his once shining gold armor. The girl to your left laughed and gave you a look of mockery. You had half a mind to push her over the railing and into the mud herself, but you decided against it. That was until she grabbed the white rose Jaime had stolen from her and ripped each petal from it until it was nothing but a stem. You laughed in amusement before you shoved her backwards and she fell from the stands into the muck below. You looked over to Jaime Lannister, who was smiling from ear to ear at your actions. Oh how he loved when women fought because of him.

Theon Greyjoy: The day you met Theon Greyjoy was one to remember for years to come. You had unintentionally walked in on him as he was about to dress. He just stood there, watching you as naked as his nameday. “My apologies!” You shouted as you quickly closed the door to his room. You swore he was posing there, just for you.

You heard him speak from the other side of the door. “Most people knock.” It took him a minute or two to open the door. “Robb told me you were out hunting with Lord Stark.” You told him as he signaled for you to enter his room. “I’m the new handmaiden.” Theon looked you up and down before pointing to the clothes in your hands. “I take it those are mine then?” He questioned. You handed over his freshly washed clothes and returned the smile he was giving you. He was a lot less intimidating fully clothed. “I must go now.” You said. “I need to take Lady Sansa her laundry.” Theon bid you farewell by opening the door to his room once more. “The next time you want to see me naked, just ask. You don’t have to barge in while I’m changing.” He was only half serious. “Why thank you Theon Greyjoy, I shall remember that.” You quipped before shutting the door behind you.

You hadn’t even closed the door completely before you heard the laugh of none other than Robb Stark. He was leaning up against a stone wall, watching you as you left Theon’s room. “You set me up, didn’t you my lord?” You asked. He laughed louder and harder now that you understood what he had done. “Come on, (Y/N). Don’t tell me you didn’t like what you saw in that room.” He had tears in his Tully blue eyes from laughing so much. “Maybe a little.” You responded, winking at Robb as you walked past.

Ramsey Bolton: You were wandering around in the woods near the Dreadfort, collecting berries and flowers. It was a gloomy day in that part of Westeros. It had only stopped raining a few short minutes before you left your house to explore. You were humming a tune and tossing wild berries into your mouth when an arrow went buzzing pass your head and lodged itself in a tree.

Without pause, you looked up and scoured about for the source of the arrow that just about removed your head from your shoulders. A man only a head taller than you stood in the distance, wet hair stuck to his face. He’d been out here for awhile. Finally, you found enough courage to call out to him. “Have I done something wrong, my lord?” You asked, not knowing if he actually was a lord or not. You didn’t want to risk offending a man who could easily kill you if he wished. “Why are you out here in the cold, my lady?” He replied as he closed the distance between you. When he drew near you recognized him as Ramsey Bolton, the newly legitimized bastard of Roose Bolton. You knew exactly what this monster was capable of, you had just watched him flay your best friend last week for refusing to lay with him. You’d never had the privilege of meeting him until now. “Just picking some wildflowers, my lord.” You forced a smile. “They’re simply breathtaking.” Ramsey smiled at you, but it wasn’t a good smile. You knew he was thinking of twisted things he could do to you. You were lucky he hadn’t brought his hounds with him. Surely, he would have sicked them on you and hunted you down; hunting people was his favorite. “You must be a wildflower then.” He said softly. You were surprised to find yourself blushing, but you couldn’t help but enjoy his compliment. Although he had charmed you into a reaction, you didn’t dare give him the satisfaction. You gracefully bowed your head and let your (h/c) locks cover the crimson tint on your cheeks. Your breath hitched when Ramsey clutched your chin in between his thumb and forefinger, his grip hurt but once he heard your sudden intake of breath he relaxed. He didn’t want to hurt you. “Don’t hide your face, my lady. I enjoy it when I make women blush.” His voice was stern, it should’ve frightened you. “My apologies, my lord.” You looked into his icy blue eyes for the first time ever. You saw a life’s worth of pain in them, but there was something else there. You just couldn’t put your finger on it.

Ramsey dropped his hand from your chin and pulled a pale, purple wildflower from your hand. “May I?” He asked, awaiting your approval. Once you had given it to him, he tucked the flower behind your ear and offered his arm to you. “Come, my lady. Let me escort you back to the Dreadfort for dinner.” You sighed internally. “Yes, Lord Ramsey.” You spoke, fearing what was to come.

Joffrey Baratheon:

“You can’t deny the prince, my love.“ Your mother spoke softly in your ear as she escorted you to the Red Keep. “He will have you as his wife is he commands it.” A single tear slid down your cheek and rested on your jaw momentarily before you wiped it away. You didn’t want to marry the prince, he was cruel and unforgiving. Joffrey Baratheon had thrown a temper tantrum on the Kings Road a few months ago regarding his betrothal to Sansa Stark. He didn’t want her he wanted you, a noble girl from Casterly Rock who was supposed to marry a Dornishman’s son. Your mother would never pass an opportunity to sneak into Cersei Lannister’s good graces. Little did she know, she’d never accept any wife Joffrey chose as it would threaten her claim to the throne. After Robert Baratheon’s untimely demise and the execution of Eddard Stark, there was no reason for Joffrey to marry Sansa. You were being called to King’s Landing to meet with the soon to be King and the rest of them. Your heart sunk when you entered the throne room and saw golden hair sitting on the Iron Throne. This was it. Your mother had dressed you in a low cut, Lannister red dress. It perfectly extenuated your breasts and your tiny waist. You couldn’t believe your own mother was whoring you out to a sadist. You started trembling when you got closer to Prince Joffrey. “Now, now dear. We mustn’t embarrass ourselves in front of our future family.” She whispered forcefully in your ear, her grip on your arm tightening more with each word that left her aged lips.

When you reached the end of the line and were directly in front of the what was left of the royal family, you curtsied and smiled graciously. It was a good act while it lasted. A man from the crowd yelled at you. “Whore!” He shouted. Joffrey grew with rage, his pale face turning a flaming red. “Guards! Grab that blasphemous fool and bring him here. I need to teach him a lesson on how he should speak to my betrothed.” You stood there, frozen. Unable to control your body or your emotions, you looked onward in fear. The Kingsguard brought the man before you and made him kneel. “Now apologize to my lady!” He barked from the throne. “I’m sorry, my lady. Please forgive me for I am a fool!” He pleaded in front of you. You looked up to Joffrey who was watching with an evil smile plastered on his face. You returned your gaze to the man who was currently begging at your feet. “You are forgiven, sir.” You choked, trying to hold back tears. Joffrey laughed loudly. “Guards show everyone in this room what fate they can expect if they speak out against my lady. Cut out his tongue!” The would be king ordered. Not a second passed before the guards carried out Prince Joffrey’s sentence. You watched as they cut out the mans tongue and threw it at your feet. As tears finally fell from your cheeks, you whispered. Nobody heard what you said, but the Prince noticed your lips parting as if you were speaking. “What did you say, my lady?” He questioned, sounding concerned. “I can’t marry you!” You shouted before breaking free of your mother’s grip. “I can’t marry you!”

So there it is! The first preference is done. I hope you all enjoy. I am aware that some are much longer than others, the intent was for all of them to be the length of Tyrion’s but alas I got carried away… I’d also be lying if I said that Jaime’s wasn’t my favorite.

#game of thrones #game of thrones imagine #game of thrones preferences #game of thrones fanfiction #asoiaf #A Song of Ice and Fire #preferences #imagines #tyrion lannister #jon snow #jagen hghar #robb stark #jaime lannister #ramsay bolton #ramsey snow #joffrey baratheon

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emeraldthoughtsblog · 8 years ago

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Code Geass: A Tale of Two Demons. CH6: The Knights of Black, White, and Red.

Chapter six of A Tale of Two Demons. The battle of Shinjuku Ghetto commences, Kallen gets involved in the battle, and Euphy calls the ceasefire.

[First Chapter] [Previous Chapter] [Next Chapter]

As the dust settles in the partially collapsed building, the pilot of the purple and red knightmare activates their sensor. “What’s this?” Villetta asks as she detects motion from the rubble. She turns on her open communications and hears the person coughing.

Lelouch, coughing from the dust, looks up and sees the Purist knightmare. ‘I’ll be needing a knightmare.’ Lelouch mentally says as he formulates a plan to capture the knightmare. He coughs a few more times, then prepares to see his plan out. “Oh, thank goodness, rescue.” Lelouch says, sounding pleased to see the knightmare.

“A hostage?” Villetta says to herself. “Who are you, boy?” Villetta asks.

“My name is Allen Spacer, my father’s a duke.” Lelouch replies. “I was recently captured by terrorists.” He adds.

“Nobility.” Villetta says to herself, curious that no one has reported him missing.

“My ID card is in my right, jacket pocket. After you confirm who I am, I’ll request your protection.” Lelouch says.

Villetta then powers down her knightmare and removes the activation key. After powering down, she opens the rear hatch of the Sutherland and exits the mech. Once she reaches the ground she draws her pistol, and aims at Lelouch. “Keep your hands in the air, I’ll take out your ID.” She says.

Lelouch raises his hands above his head, and looks Villetta in the eyes, activating his geass. “Now then, hand your knightmare over to me.” He orders Villetta.

Villetta flips her pistol around, offering it to Lelouch. “Understood. The code number is XG21G2D4.” She says, tossing the key to Lelouch.

“Got it.” Lelouch says, catching the key.

When Villetta come to, she finds herself in a partially collapsed building, her knightmare and pistol stolen, and no memory of what happened. “What the?” She says, looking around, trying to make sense of her surroundings.

In the lower levels of the Britannian embassy, Lloyd and Cecile are showing Suzaku their latest creation. “Congratulations, the only knightmare of its kind awaits you!” Lloyd says, excitedly. “Once you take the controls of this big beauty, everything will change. You and your world.” He says, indicating the knightmare covered by a dark veil.

“Whether you want it to, or not.” Cecile says.

“Now, let’s commence with the simulations, so we can get you out there as soon as possible.” Lloyd says, excited to finally test Lancelot.

Back in the ghetto, Lelouch is getting as far from the building as he can. “Now to see who’s phone this is.” Lelouch says, hiding the knightmare and looking through the phone. “Kallen.” He says, shocked to see Kallen’s name in the contacts. ‘Must be her brother’s phone.’ Lelouch thinks. He then calls Kallen’s phone.

“Naoto, where did you…” Kallen starts as she answers the phone.

“How much experience do you have piloting a knightmare?” Lelouch asks, in a serious tone to mask his voice.

“Who is this, and how did you get ahold of this phone?” Kallen asks, sternly.

“Just answer the question.” Lelouch says. “How much experience do you have piloting a knightmare?” He repeats.

“My brother taught me, so I have enough experience. Why do you want to know?” Kallen replies.

“Your brother and his friends are in danger. Get ahold of a knightmare, a Glasgow will suffice, and get to Shinjuku as quickly as possible.” Lelouch orders. He then hangs up the phone. He then sees an abandoned chess board with the pieces scattered about. “Let’s see how easy they make this.” He says, opening the rear hatch and descending to the ground to gather up the chess pieces.

In the Stadtfeld Manor, Kallen looks at her phone in anger. “If you did anything to Naoto…” She says. “If he’s in danger, then I have to help him. I can’t believe I’m doing this.” She says, preparing to leave for the Japanese base that her brother is stationed at.

Once she arrives at the base, she is stopped by some of the guards on duty. “Kallen.” One of the soldiers says, as he sees Kallen approach. “Naoto isn’t here at the moment.” He adds.

“That’s not why I’m here.” Kallen says, panting a little.

“If you’re here to train, then Naoto must be present.” The soldier says.

“Damn it, Naoto’s in trouble!” Kallen shouts. “If I don’t get a knightmare, Naoto and the others will die.” She adds.

“Let her through.” A female soldier says, overhearing the conversation and getting involved.

“At once, Chiba.” The soldier says, letting Kallen pass.

“What kind of trouble is Naoto in?” Chiba asks Kallen, as she approaches her.

“I wasn’t told. Just that I had to get a knightmare and head to Shinjuku quickly.” Kallen replies. She then sees Chiba looking at her, puzzled.

“I guess you were told to aid him, right Kallen?” Chiba asks.

“I was.” Kallen replies. “Now please, I have to help my brother.” She says, running off towards the hangar. Once she enters the hangar, she grabs Naoto’s Glasgow activation key and heads towards his red knightmare. Once she powers up the knightmare, Kallen hears the communications happening in Shinjuku. “Those damned Britannians.” She says to herself. She then rushes out of the base and heads for Shinjuku. “Don’t worry Naoto, I’m coming.” She says as she leave the base.

In the ghetto, Lelouch has re-entered his knightmare and has set the chess pieces about. He then looks at the Britannian formation. “They need to keep a lid on this information, so that it doesn’t ruin their relations with the Japanese.” Lelouch says, seeing the display before him. “However, this should be most of the Britannians stationed here in Japan. And if that’s the case, this should be a walk in the park.” He adds. ‘I need to get here, if I want to win.’ Lelouch thinks, as he formulates a plan to reach the Britannian command center.

Seeing the battles happening in the distance, Lelouch is brought back to reality. “I’ll watch from the sidelines and see how they fair against the Britannians. When Kallen gets here, who knows what will happen.” Lelouch says, moving the knightmare, keeping to the shadows. Once he reaches a train bridge, he contacts Kallen. “Q1, what’s your ETA?” He says over the radio.

“Q1?” Kallen asks. “I should be arriving at Shinjuku soon.” She replies.

At the Britannian encirclement of the ghetto, General Bartley, a bald, rotund man, is giving orders to the soldiers in the front lines. “The Prime Minister has sent a force to aid us in clearing the ghetto, but take no chances. I doubt that they would kill their own, so destroy Shinjuku Ghetto. Leave no one alive, and nothing standing.” He says over the communications.

Yes, my lord.” The soldiers reply. As the soldiers and the Purists press the attack on the ghetto, Naoto’s group starts to open fire on the Britannians. “General, sir, we’re encountering minor resistance. They have knightmares, a new Glasgow, by the look of things.” One of the soldiers responds.

“You have your orders.” Bartley says, rubbing his head. “Clovis should be in this position, not me.” Bartley says to himself.

“Clovis lost his life to one of these terrorists, General. It is in our best interest to do what Clovis would want us to do.” One of Clovis’s guards says.

In the front lines, Naoto’s group is evacuating the ghetto, but a group of Sutherlands approaches. “If it isn’t the Japanese military. We have our orders men, fire.” Jeremiah says, taking aim. The others in his squad take aim and start firing at the Burai.

“Fall back, we can’t risk the lives of the people we’re saving.” Naoto orders. He and the others retreat, firing at the Britannians.

Nearby, Kallen hears the sounds of gunshots, and approaches. Once she gets close enough to see the event taking place, she fires her slash harkens at the ground and propels the Glasgow upwards. She fires them again, once they have retracted, taking out two of the Sutherlands. “You bastards, these are innocent people you’re firing at!” Kallen shouts.

“Kallen, what are you doing here?” Naoto asks over the radio communications.

“I’m here to save you.” Kallen replies. She then sees the Britannians charge at her and the others. They split up, and Kallen see that two of the Sutherlands are chasing her. ‘Crap, what do I do.’ She mentally says to herself.

“Impressive.” Lelouch says, as he prepares to contact Kallen. “The west entrance. Use the tracks to move to the west entrance.” He says over the radio.

“The west entrance. I’ll be vulnerable to their attacks if I do that.” Kallen replies.

“You’ve trusted me so far. So, if you want to win, you have to keep trusting me.” Lelouch replies.

“To win.” Kallen says, shocked. She then maneuvers the Glasgow towards the tracks and jumps up onto the bridge. Following the tracks, she looks behind her and sees the Sutherlands on her tail. “Okay, what am I supposed to do now?” She asks.

In the lead Sutherland, behind Kallen, Jeremiah feels assured of his victory against the knightmare. “You pathetic terrorist, if you simply run away, this hunt hasn’t much to offer in the way of sport.” He says to himself. All of the pilots on the tracks see a train approaching them.

“Since you still trust me, you’re gonna win.” Lelouch says over the radio. “Jump onto the train.” He orders.

“Gotcha!” Kallen replies. She then jumps onto the train and leaves the Britannians behind, as Jeremiah stops the train with his knightmare.

“You think you can get through that way, hmm.” Jeremiah says, stopping the train. “If that’s your plan then. You, go after the Glasgow.” He says, ordering the other Purist to pursue. As the other knightmare jumps to the train, he is immediately shot down by a set of slash harkens. “What the.” Jeremiah says, shocked. He then looks towards where the harkens were fired from and sees a Purist Sutherland. “Shot by friendly fire. What’s your name and unit. We’re after the red Glasgow.” He says. He then gets shot at by the knightmare, destroying the Sutherlands left arm. “Oh my god, a terrorist!” He says, shocked. He then backs up, trying to get out of the line of sight of the enemy Sutherland, but the right foot of his knightmare gets destroyed. “You son of a…” He says, pulling out his machine gun and prepares to take aim at the opposing Sutherland. He then see the red Glasgow approaching him, causing him to panic and activate his ejection seat.

“You saved me. But how did you get ahold of a Sutherland?” Kallen says, as she watches the abandoned Sutherland collapse to the ground, and the ejection seat slowly descend in the distance. She turns to face the building the knightmare that saved her was, and sees that it’s vanished. “Where did he go.” She says, seeing the vacant building.

“Kallen, what the hell was that radio message earlier.” Ohgi says as he and several others from other resistance groups, within the ghetto, arrive.

“What, he contacted you too.” Kallen asks as she see ohgi arrive.

“Us too.” Naoto says as he and his knightmare unit arrive on the tracks. “Kallen, I didn’t want you to get involved in this. This isn’t your fight.” He says. Suddenly Naoto’s radio starts to receive a transmission.

“Are you in charge?” Lelouch says over the radio.

“Yes, I am.” Naoto replies.

“I present to you the cargo in that train over there.” Lelouch says. “There tools for your victory. If you want to use them to win, then follow my orders.” He adds.

Everyone present opens the doors of the train cars and see the contents within, Sutherland knightmare frames. “All this, but how?” Kallen says, surprised at all of the Sutherlands given to them.

“Q1.” Lelouch says over the radio.

“Yes.” Kallen replies, snapping back into reality.

“Stay where you are. Your unit’s going to run decoy, you got that.” Lelouch says, giving Kallen her next order.

“Understood.” Kallen replies.

“Your energy filler should be at optimal levels, but charge it and I’ll contact you in ten minutes with your next instructions.” Lelouch says. He then turns off the radio, and sighs. “I need the termination of this to succeed. Afterall, I’m betting my life on this game.” He says, tossing the black king piece in that air.

In the lower levels of the Britannian embassy, The special corps is preparing to launch the Lancelot. As the preparations are underway, Suzaku is changing into the pilot’s uniform. “Did you read the manual?” Cecile asks Suzaku over a radio communication.

“Pretty much.” Suzaku replies, zipping up the front of the uniform.

“Well done. You scored top of the class in the simulator.” Cecile says, pleased with the results.

“Hey, look. Don’t let my father know I’m doing this. He would rather have me in the Japanese military, than the Britannian military.” Suzaku says, leaving the changing room.

“I understand. All information will be kept secured. Don’t you worry, Suzaku.” Cecile replies.

“Thank you, Cecile.” Suzaku replies.

“Just a heads up. The new unit is not equipped with an ejection mechanism, so don’t do anything reckless.” Cecile informs him.

“Okay, I understand, Miss Cecile.” Suzaku says, getting close to the knightmare. He sees the knightmare’s cloth cover fall down to the floor, revealing the white and gold knightmare. “That’s it?” Suzaku asks, amazed at the sight of Lancelot.

“Yes. The advanced weapon developed by us in the Advanced Special Envoy Engineering Corps. Lancelot, the world’s first seventh generation knightmare frame.” Cecile replies.

“Well, if you’re ready, Suzaku, shall we proceed with the initial start up.” Lloyd says over the communication. Suzaku approaches the knightmare and ride the cable up to the hatch, while Cecile and the other engineers are commencing start up for Lancelot. With everything finally prepared, the way to the outside of the embassy opens up. The charging cables disengage, and the land rollers drop to the ground.

“Lancelot, activate ME Boost.” Suzaku says, preparing for the order to launch.

“Lancelot, launch.” Cecile says over the radio. Suzaku then launches Lancelot at full speed out of the lower levels.

“Running full throttle right out of the gate!” Lloyd says, laughing.

“Cooler than the manual. With this, I can change the world.” Suzaku says, as he exits the embassy and heads for Shinjuku.

Back at the tracks, most of the rebels have gotten into the Sutherlands, while a few are hesitant to trust the voice over the radio. “Hey, are you sure about this?” Tamaki asks, after inspecting one of the Sutherlands. “They’ve all had their IFF’s removed. What if this is a trap?”

“Tamaki, the other side has total advantage in this war, they don’t need to set any traps.” Naoto says from within his Burai.

“Alright people, let’s move. Get to your assigned points.” Ohgi says from within his new Sutherland.

“P1, can you move?” Lelouch asks over the radio. “It operates basically the same as what you’re used to.” He adds.

“If this is who I think it is, could you at least tell us your name?” Ohgi says over the communications.

“I can’t do that. What if these signals are being intercepted.” Lelouch replies. “Anyway, if Q1 is on schedule, enemy Sutherlands, probably two of them, will reach you in twenty-three seconds. Shoot them through the wall.” He says, giving them their next order.

“He’s out of his mind!” Tamaki shouts.

“Everyone, double check your weapons.” Naoto orders.

“What, are you serious?” Tamaki shouts.

“Enemy spotted at point F31.” One of the officers on the G1 relays to Bartley.

“Tell Lazlo’s squad go straight in. Have Yugen and Valerie strike from the rear.” Bartley orders.

“3. 2. 1. Fire!” Naoto counts, then gives the command. All of the active knightmares shoot through the wall, destroying the knightmares passing by.

“Sir Yugen and Sir Valerie, both lost.” The officer reports to the general.

“An ambush.” Bartley says, stressing out trying to make his next move.

Lelouch chuckles as he holds up a black knight piece. ‘An ID signal can be a double edged sword. Besides, if the terrorists follow the orders I issue, then my task at hand is sure to be completed.’ Lelouch mentally says, reveling in his small victory. “P1, P4, P7, move one hundred meters to the right and fire your slash harkens at three o’clock.

“You heard him! Do as the man says.” Ohgi says, excited by the thought that they can stand up against Britannia.

“Damn, what else does he want us to do?” Tamaki says, getting back into his Burai.

“P5, ready?” Lelouch asks.

“Quit calling me that!” Tamaki says closing the hatch of his knightmare.

“The enemy is moving towards G28.” Another of the Britannian officers on the G1 says to the General.

“Send in Lazlo’s squad! I mean Glavey’s squad!” Bartley says, sweat forming on his brow from the stress he is being put under.

“Sir Glavey has ejected.” The officer reports as Galvey is taken out by Kallen.

“Change our codes, they’re intercepting our transmissions.” Barley orders.

“We already have, sir. Four times.” A third officer responds.

“Do it again!” Bartley orders.

“Good afternoon.” Lloyd says as he opens a channel to the G1.

“What is it? We’re in the middle of an operation!” Bartley shouts.

“I’d say it’s time to deploy our special weapon.” Lloyd replies. “He should be with you shortly.”

“Who gave you permission to send in reinforcements?” Bartley asks Lloyd.

“You would have, but when it came to that, it would have been too late for you.” Lloyd replies.

“R2, fire anchor.” Lelouch orders. The knightmare he orders, fires their slash harken and takes out a Britannian helicopter. “B7, us UN ordinance.” He orders another knightmare, which then proceeds to destroy a Britannian tank. “N group, you’ll continue your advance.” He orders, placing a rook, and a bishop on the armrest, and holding up the knight as he gives the orders. The group he orders press the attack and destroys the Britannian knightmare that were retreating.

“We just lost Lazlo’s squad.” The first officer informs Bartley.

“I don’t want to do this, but send in Quincy’s squad.” Bartley says, getting desperate.

“General, that’ll break the encirclement.” The second officer says.

“Now then, the enemy has five options. Their move.” Lelouch says, waiting for the Britannians to make their next move.

“Reinforce the breach with some of the units guarding the G1. All we know for certain is that enemy forces are here.” Bartley says, reaching new levels of stress.

Jeremiah, returning to the G1, sees lots of units moving away from the command center. “Who ordered them to break formation?” He asks himself.

“Well, that’s a more stupid move that I expected.” Lelouch says, watching the screen as Britannian forces surround where his forces are. Looking at the queen he has in his hand, he prepares to contact Kallen. “You, Q1, do you have an area map?” He asks.

“N1 has more knowledge of the area that I do, but there are no current landmarks.” Kallen replies.

“It’ll do. N1 do you copy?” Lelouch says.

“I copy.” Naoto replies.

“Alright, send in Bert’s and the others too.” Bartley orders, seeing that victory is close at hand. “Concentrate our forces there, surround them. The enemy’s main force is that center dot.” Bartley orders.

“Mission number three now. Is everything prepared?” Lelouch says, as his forces get into position.

“Finish everyone of them off.” Bartley orders. The forces gathered advance to where the dot is, but run into nothing but the rest of the force. “What! Where’s the enemy?” Bartley says, panicked as he watches the dot disappear.

“With this, I call check.” Lelouch says, placing the king down. His forces are traveling underneath the Britannians, and Naoto turns around and fires his slash harkens at the roof of the underpass, causing the ground to collapse. Upon seeing the losses pop on on the screen, Lelouch bursts out laughing. “My plan worked, didn’t it.” He says, laughing. “I can do it, I can. I can defeat Britannia!”

“Sir, we have an unidentified knightmare approaching the G1” One of the officers relays to Bartley.

“That should be Lancelot, right on schedule.” Lloyd says.

“You knew that this would happen?” Bartley asks.

“Of course not. I just figured that a man of your expertise would need the aid of someone else. After all, you did just lose most of your units.” Lloyd replies. “Lancelot will be under our control, General.” Lloyd says, closing the communication.

As Suzaku approaches the G1, Lloyd gives Suzaku his next task. “Well, Suzaku, it looks like you’re Bartley’s only hope at winning this battle. Do your best to keep Lancelot in one piece, after all this is a field test.” Lloyd says.

“Right.” Suzaku replies. He then goes at speed and approaches one of Lelouch’s units.

“Huh, what is that?” Tamaki says as he catches a glimpse of the Lancelot. “It doesn’t look like a Sutherland.” He continues. Before he can react, the white knightmare destroys Tamaki’s Burai, forcing him to eject.

“Another push and the checkpoint will fall.” Lelouch says, observing the forces left on the field.

“This is B group reporting enemy presence.” One of the B group soldiers reports.

‘Reinforcements? Real battle is different, isn’t it.’ Lelouch mentally says after hearing the report. “Status.” He demands, wanting to know what he’s dealing with.

“Everyone ejected, but they took out four units in nothing flat.” The soldier replies.

“Enemy numbers?” Lelouch asks, curiously.

“Just one. I think it’s a new model, never seen anything like it.” The soldier replies, before yelling in being forced to eject.

“What’s happening out there?” Lelouch demands.

Suzaku then activates his knightmare’s wrist shields, as he sees the enemy prepare to fire at him.

“What, it reflects bullets.” Lelouch says, as he hears what’s happening. ‘Useless, so called terrorists. With all the resources they have, they’re being beaten by one unit. Maybe I should investigate.’ Lelouch mentally says, becoming disappointed by the terrorists actions against the knightmare.

Suzaku keeps pressing the attack, downing several more Sutherlands. “Yes, I can do this. With Lancelot, I can stop all of this at once.” Suzaku says, pleased at the victories he has had.

“N4, N5, hold there. When the rear units arrive, surround that thing.” Lelouch orders the approaching knightmares. They then open fire at the white knightmare, which blocks the shots and quickly takes them out. “N units, what is it?” Lelouch demands, needing further information on his enemy. “What happened? Something I didn’t foresee.” He says, panicking that his victory could crumble away.

“Thank god they sent that knightmare when they did. We might make it out of here without losing everything.” Bartley says, calming down.

“P1, report!” Lelouch says, trying to contact Ohgi, who was just forced to flee from the white knightmare. “The enemy, could it really only one unit.” Lelouch says to himself, dreading the realization.

In the lower levels of the embassy, the Special Corps is receiving the data from the Lancelot’s performance test. “These readings are even higher than predicted.” Cecile says, amazed at the results they’re gathering.

“That’s because our pilot is taking his job very seriously.” Lloyd replies.

Back in the ghetto, Suzaku is downing the Sutherlands left and right. “If I can stop all of the knightmares, then this battle is over. No matter what it takes, I’ve got to ensure Euphy’s safety. For Lelouch and Nunnally.” He says. He then detects a knightmare signature in one of the ruined office buildings. Suzaku then launches a slash harken and proceeds to investigate.

Lelouch sees the harken embed itself into the ceiling on the level his is hiding on, quickly followed by the white knightmare that’s been ruining his plan. Lelouch then blocks the knightmare’s kick. “You mean this this is what’s ruining my plan.” Lelouch says, finally seeing his foe.

“Are you the one in command?” Suzaku asks, as he starts to push the Sutherland backwards.

“Nothing more than a pilot. How dare he.” Lelouch says. The floor beneath them gives way, Suzaku jumps away while Lelouch falls through two floors. “No choice, I’ve got to get out of here.” Lelouch says once he lands a few floors down. ‘Then again, I’m not the ordinary pilot.’ He mentally says, figuring if he could stand a chance against the knightmare. He then looks up and sees the knightmare perform a spin kick. As the kick connects, Lelouch is sent back a few meters, but gets back to his feet. As he gets back to his feet, he sees the red Glasgow engage the white knightmare.

“Hey, I’m returning the favor.” Kallen says. As she is about to fire her slash harkens, the white knightmare starts to crush the hands of the Glasgow, forcing Kallen to eject instead. As Kallen ejects, Suzaku looks for the Sutherland, but sees that it’s disappeared.

‘I must remember that. The most vital element in battle is the human one.’ Lelouch mentally says as he flees from the office building. He then hears an alarm, and sees that the white knightmare is right behind him. ‘No, I don’t stand a chance, he’s too fast.’ Lelouch thinks, as he figures out his odds against the knightmare. He then turns around and starts firing at the knightmares general direction. “That damn monster is unstoppable!” Lelouch says, after spending the entire clip on the knightmare.

“That bastard! He’s tearing things up for no reason.” Suzaku says, as he avoids the debris falling down above him. He then hears an alarm go off. Looking up, he sees a woman falling from a high height. He stops his pursuit and leaps to catch the woman.

Lelouch, having seen the event take place, is confused by the pilot’s actions. ‘In the midst of battle, he rescues someone. I’ll concede you the tactical victory here.’ Lelouch mentally says, pulling the ejection levers.

“Huh, he rescued someone?” Lloyd says, after hearing about the event that took place.

“Yes, so it would seem.” One of the researchers says.

“It’s very strange of him.” Lloyd says.

“Suzaku, are you tired? We’ll call it quits for today.” Cecile says over the radio.

“No, I’m fine. Please let me keep going.” Suzaku says, after placing the woman down, who then runs away in terror.

“Be careful with his operational time.” Lloyd says to Cecile.

At the G1, a Britannian foot soldier approaches the mobile command center. “Stop there.” The guard says, raising his firearm, halting the approaching soldier. “Your ID. This is only allowed for high ranking soldiers only.” The guard says.

“At last, the checkpoint. And barely guarded per my plan.” Lelouch says removing the helmet and activating his geass.

“Your plan?” The guard asks.

“That’s right. Now I’d like you to let me pass.” Lelouch orders.

“Yes, sir.” The guard says, lowering his weapon. Lelouch then places the helmet back on and enters the G1

Kallen runs from her ejection pod, and makes her way towards an abandoned factory. As she runs past, Ohgi runs out. “Kallen!” He shouts. Kallen then turns around and sees Ohgi, indicating for her to head into the building.

“It’s all your fault. This is what happens when you oppose the Britannians.” One of the civilians says.

“What! Why you gutless coward.” Tamaki says, getting angry at the civilian.

“How many people were killed because of this?” A woman cries, sobbing.

“Shut up! Do you know how many of us were killed or captured? Do you?” Tamaki shouts, seething with anger. “Quit crying!”

“Ohgi, who was that voice we heard?” Kallen asks Ohgi.

“Yeah, I’d like to know too.” Naoto says, approaching Kallen and Ohgi.

“Damned if I know. He’s some guy in a mask, but he doesn’t answer when I call, so maybe he bought it.” Ohgi replies. Kallen then gasps as the sound of engines can be heard. The door to the factory then explodes, and within the dust a Britannian tank enters the building, followed by infantry.

“So this is where you vermin scurried off to.” One of the soldiers says. “Prepare to fire.” He orders.

“Naoto!” Kallen cries, as the Britannian soldiers take aim.

“Don’t worry, Kallen, I’m here.” Naoto says, bringing Kallen close to him.

“Attention all forces, cease fire at once.” A feminine voice says over the communications. All the soldiers present lower their weapons in confusion. “I, Euphemia li Britannia, Third Princess of Britannia and acting ambassador to Japan, hereby command you. All forces are to cease fire at once. You will also cease any destruction of any buildings and property. All casualties, whether Britannian or Japanese, will be treated equally and without prejudice. In the name of Euphemia li Britannia, you are hereby ordered, cease fire at once. I shall allow no further fighting.” Euphy says.

On the G1, Lelouch is shocked to learn that Euphy, his younger half-sister, is in Japan. He turns off the open communications so that he can speak with Euphy. “So, Cornelia isn’t that far behind now, is she?” Lelouch asks.

“Are you the one who killed my brother, Clovis?” Euphy asks.

“I might be, I might not be. It all depends on the context of the situation.” Lelouch replies. He then goes to turn off the monitor.

“Wait!” Euphy says. Lelouch stops and looks up at the screen. “Why did you make me declare that ceasefire?” She asks.

“Although Cornelia would not have dealt with a terrorist, you just saved countless innocent lives right now.” Lelouch replies. “We will meet again, Euphemia.” Lelouch says, ending the call. He then makes his escape from the G1 and heads for the spot he left his suit.

At the factory, the Britannians have backed off and are letting the Japanese leave the ghetto. “Why the hell are we letting them go?” Jeremiah asks the command center. “What about… All forces return to the G1! Our suspect is among our ranks.” He says, remembering why they attacked Shinjuku. The Japanese see the Britannians quickly depart and head for the mobile command center.

“That was close. Way too close.” Naoto says, holding Kallen close to him.

“So, this is what you’ve been doing all this time?” Kallen, now wearing Ohgi’s brown jacket, asks her brother.

“I never expected this to happen. I did want you to join us, but I thought better of it.” Naoto says. “I’d rather see you in school than on the battlefield.” He adds.

Lelouch, now back in his street clothes and carrying his slightly damaged suitcase, is standing on top of one of the destroyed buildings, watching as the Japanese and the Britannians leave the ghetto. He then sees the white knightmare leaving with the Britannians. “I will find out who you are. And when that time comes, I will personally destroy you.” Lelouch says. He then proceeds to leave the ghetto and heads for home.

#Code Geass #Code Geass: A Tale of Two Demons #Fan Fiction #Alternate Universe #Lelouch of the Rebellion #Lelouch vi Britannia #Lelouch Lamperouge #Villetta Nu #Suzaku Kururugi #Lloyd Asplund #Cecile Croomy #Kallen Kozuki #Naoto Kozuki #Kaname Ohgi #Shinichiro Tamaki #Nagisa Chiba #Jeremiah Gottwald #Bartley Asprius #Euphemia li Britannia

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