#zhask is dead

[humanthatlikestuff]

When you actually finish a WIP from 4 months ago.

"He's there... inside my mind."

"Dear Yve.. deny it no longer."

"You played a part on this."

"Oh, you were so passionate, so fixed into chasing me and ending my reign."

"When we finally had time for our final showdown..."

"Oh, how strong your blows and attacks! It is so thrilling!"

"Then you cornered me."

"Then striked me in a fast rythym."

"Again, and again, and again.."

"You still weren't satisfied."

"You stabbed me.. over and over.."

.....

"Let me remind you.."

.....

"That you killed me."

.....

"And what I saw was mesmerizing.."

"Your eyes."

"Full of hatred, remorse, and desperation.."

"Sadism."

.....

"And now, your source of adrenaline.. your obsession.. your sense of purpose, gone."

"And with those hundreds and thousands of worlds that we both destroyed along the way."

.....

"Wouldn't it drive you mad?"

.....

"Your mask is breaking Yve.."

"I can see it."

.....

"I'll be the chaos to your perfect equilibrium."

"One way or another."

Hello @goldemas1244 i finished it.

Yey

[a-regular-ol-pill]

Zhask/Yi anon here.

"Anything is edible if you're brave enough."

I headcanon that Zhask can cook but puts questionable ingredients on his food (much like xiangling from genshin and soma from food wars), and still ends up tasting good.

Natan is the taste-tester because for research purposes (he researches him because some stuff outside the eruditio barrier from his timeline resembles some domorey/spawn debris)

Luo Yi eats his food (encouraged by Natan) and is mesmerized by it. But when she sees the secret ingredient, she throws up. Although Natan says that it IS edible, its just the appearance looks mucky.

(I wonder how reader would react to his cooking)

JANDIEJDIEN

ZHASK IS VERY MUCH LIKE XIANGLING AND SOMA BUT HE IS ALSO LIKE SOLOMON FROM OBEY ME, ONLY HE ACTUALLY COOKS OKAY FOOD INSTEAD OF SOLOMON'S POISON.

Also also, Natan definitely has dead tastebuds because he has eaten ingredients from alien planets. And Luo Yi is lucky she got the second batch and is experienced with eating food from other planets. (off screen)

Reader would be indifferent and would stare at Zhask in a 'What is this' kind of way.

[unitatotato]

New Arcade Mode CHESS-TD!!

Anyone else been playing this mode? I really enjoy this kind of game, although I generally sucks at them. It is easy yet hard. It is strategy planning yet based on luck. I really appreciate that Moonton sometimes makes funny and relaxing extra mode.

I have been playing it all day and I can’t say I got any pro tips or any if you do this and you will win method. Because I still haven’t figured out all the combination yet myself. But I am starting to see a routine as what I need to do in order to get in the top 3 spot. 

In this mode you got Faction and Role. I find faction more important than role, like I would want to collect all of a faction’s heroes and maybe not all of the heroes for a role, unless you got a specific reason to acquire the given buff by the Role. 

I briefly listed as what kind of buff the faction and role gives. You will need to collect 1 or up too all heroes of the faction/role in order to unlock the buff (you can just mark over the symbol in-game to check the details). The heart-marks next to them are more of my to-go strategy or even some specific hero I really like to use, for example Zhask is a broken one in this mode. 

Once you start you will get to buy 2 heroes and start 1 Round. After every round depending if you win/lose you will get gold rewards. With the gold you can buy more heroes or unlock more slots (up to 9) to place more heroes on the chess board. You can play as many Round as needed for the 2nd to last one to “die”. 

Basically while you build your strong powerful burst Chess Pieces, you will also need to remember they need to be durable to fight the enemies chess board when they raid. It is not wise to only have squishy long range heroes but some times a durable Tank or Fighter is needed or a 3-star with speed boosted Assassin will also be nice. 

When placing out the heroes it is good if you check their hit range (area of the radius). So you don’t place too close a dead wall and you ended up wasting the double side of hitting both path. This is also the most decisive reason if you will win a game or not. Sometimes when I just place them out randomly without thinking I will lose very badly and ugly. If you quickly adjust after each round you might still be able to save the match. 

Personally I like to start with Mortal Faction, if the shop gives those heroes (Ruby/Layla/Guison) as an early option. Each round it will gives extra golds and it really helps building up your team fast, it is worth it. I will manage to open up at least 2 slot more or if lucky you might have gotten a 3-star hero by spamming the refresh button. In the game I posted it is a Mortal Faction strategy I used, I even kept Guison as a 3-stars. Otherwise I normally will sell them and use other more powerful choices. The fact that I take advantage of the broken Zhask I always ends up collecting the Celestial Faction too. Otherwise I like to have at least 2 from the Abyss Faction (Helcurt specific). The reason why Zhask is broken is his summoned pet just works as another chess piece on the board permanently. It will take a few hits for it to be summoned but once it is there it stays. They are never summoned close to each other unless the board is filled, which makes it great for covering an empty spot to fill with extra firearms.

Even if you just place out 2, 1-star Zhask, they will deal quite a good amount of damage + the extra stun. When it comes to stun and CC, The Royal and Cyborg faction makes a great play + adding Ruby it is almost permanently stun. But the hardest thing is if you focus on collecting a specific faction or role heroes you might lose the game still. I was really focused on getting 2 factions once and it started good and it fought well, until it went too long and I lack 3-stars heroes on the board so I couldn’t keep up at the end. So make sure if they give you a hero many times make sure you re-think and start building a 3-star hero with it instead.

There are 5 purple/pink framed heroes, Irithiel, Hayabusa, Minotaur, Odette and Terizla. I have used all of them except Mino. Odette can save the game if you are in crisis, her skills will Melt the raid easily, just make sure you put some CC heroes next to her to help her keep them within the radius. As for Irithiel and Haya they blast the enemies away if you have collected their faction for them. I am probably not as much impress with Terizla since it is hard for them to time the skills used, sometimes missed or sometimes only a minion in there.

Another combination I liked is Celestial Faction + Marksman Role. The Speed buff added for all of them are like bazooka. I have also seen pure Mage Role and maybe some Tank can easily clear all the Raid with 100% hp bar. Or Fighter + Tank role, due to them having AOE buff + harder to kill during Raid they can wreck havoc in another way while staying safe. 

Now having more heroes on the board or if you have more 3-stars heroes doesn’t make it an easy win. They got like no relation although it does ease with clearing wave or raiding enemies. It is all about how you use the board and how you place out your pieces. Do they connect? Are the faction and role a good combination? Do they enhance each other or just useless. So if you are having a lose streak like I did, try to experiment.

Tl;dr Start with Mortal Faction for gold. Make sure you always get Zhask. Adding 1 or 2 CC heroes on the boards will help slow down the raid. Example Ruby + Angela or Martis + Thamuz or Johnson + Kaja etc... any combination of your choices. 

Make sure you never refresh the shop the first round, you start with 2 golds and it will cost you 2 golds to refresh, which mean you get no hero on your board until round 2.

[humanthatlikestuff]

I AM IN PAIN.

ABSOLUTE PAIN.

"Zhask? I've been calling you for the past half-hour, what are you-"

Natan opens the door to Zhask's room. It's unlocked. Unusual for his standards.

He calls out for Zhask again but there's something wrong in the air.

He sees Zhask on the bed, curled up into a ball, and he approaches him.

He isn't breathing. And Little Spawn is nowhere to be found.

Natan panics. Is Zhask alright? What's happened? Where-

His eyes lay to rest on the dress Zhask is clutching on.

Beetles, when they rest, prefer to cling onto branches, leaves, basically anything they can cling on too. Basically, they lock themselves there. Clinging on for dear life.

Clinging on for dear life.

The dress is fragrant, a memory of what once was. And Zhask's clinging on to it for dear life.

And it seems as if that's more literal than the expression makes it out to be.

In a corner of the room, Natan spots a glimmer. It's Domorey, the Nightmaric Spawn, the spirit trapped in the staff. Peculiarly, the crystals pulsate and writhe as if they're alive.

As if there's something else in there.

Natan hesitates before he picks it up.

There IS something else in there.

The greatest nightmare of all.

Loss.

---

Thought about this scenario. Quiet way to die.

Oh god.

Why did you need to hurt me.

So Zhask's dead (or in a very heavy sleep) and Natan finds his body.

It seems he was also aware on what happened to her.

OH GOD WHYYYYYY

[goldemas1244]

Zhask is a loser (affectionate)

You are so correct bee (mutual affection)

My poor scrunkly scrimblo, my littol baby bean, my schmol scrungly wungly. My absolutely pathetic mage main, one-shot-dead coconut beetle. My bi-coded polyamorous insect noodle.

Loser is the no. 1 word to describe him, he's not even in the meta. Of course that means you get surprise plays!

He is just idiot. Stupid. Pootis. And them's the facts!

[goldemas1244]

AH SHIT NATAN BECOMES NEW SPAWN MASTER??

GIVE ME MORE.

AUGH

Oh GOD THIS IS HURTING MEE IN A GOOD WAY.

Now Natan has new powahs to oof the abyss. (But what will Lunox and Belerick think tho— AND YVE)

I'm glad you liked it. In the meantime, have this short list!

Lunox and Belerick are very concerned for him. This is basically the living embodiment of chaos and you, a mere human, are WIELDING it like it's a breakfast fork.

But when they see how powerful it is, they also have a determination to keep it in Natan's hands. They'll find a way to deal with it after they defeat the Abyss. IF they defeat the Abyss.

They're determined NOT to let it fall into the Abyss. It's a horrifying power that needs constant guardianship.

Belerick sort of empathizes with it. It radiates a melancholic energy within all that chaos and he's discovered that wrapping it up in lotus flowers soothes energy fluctuations on it rapidly and effectively.

Lunox is very careful with it as its energy fluctuations are very random. She also takes care of it when Natan needs a break.

NOW YVE

Oh no.

She is not liking this at all.

Zhask is dead by his own will and that frustrates her slightly because it's not her who's killed him off. But also HE'S STILL SORT OF ALIVE?? IN HIS STAFF??

She's burst in to the Eruditio and confronted Natan about it. But when he tells her that it may be one of their only hopes to win against the Abyss, she begrudgingly agrees to let him keep it.

Natan's sitting at his study desk, reading reports and planning their next course of action. The Abyss has been strong but with their recent acquiry of the Domorey-Zhask staff in his hands, they're pushed back quite a bit. Still, this was no time to celebrate.

On his lap is a Little Spawn, but it looks a lot more like Zhask. It's sleeping, maybe snoring a bit.

Natan smiles. He strokes the sensitive horns of Little Spawn. It immediately jumps into a defensive position, but once it notices Natan it relaxes again.

"Come little one. I'll give you a treat."

Its eyes light up, despite how sad they look. Natan rises from his chair and it bounds off, looking at Natan expectantly.

Natan moves over to a jar of treats Lunox and Belerick have prepared for it. He opens the jar and pulls out a star-shaped cookie. He puts it on the floor, much to the excitement of the Little Spawn.

Just then, they notice something... feels off.

The door slams open. And in its place is a very furious Astrowarden.

"YOU."

The Little Spawn panics and shivers, squeaking and hiding behind Natan's legs. Natan turns towards the figure.

"You're Yve, aren't you?"

"Zhask is supposed to be DEAD. Then WHAT IS THIS?"

She points to the Little Spawn, who popped its little head out to pull back the cookie Natan gave it. She makes a move to manipulate reality and grab it but Natan covers it with a defiant stamp of his foot.

"And what do you have against him?"

"I am the protector of the equilibrium. Zhask has been in my way for light years. I don't want YOU to be in my way either."

Natan glares at her. "I assume you claim him to still desecrate your 'perfect' equilibrium, despite his death. If that is the case, then look at him."

The Little Spawn is shivering in fear. It definitely remembers Yve.

"And look at us." Natan points to the map he was working on.

"I do not care for your mere trifles. You are nothing in my view."

"If the Abyss has his hands on him, there may not even BE an equilibrium."

"Then give him to me now. I will make sure that there isn't even a chance for him to fall into the wrong hands."

The Little Spawn nips Natan on the leg. It's afraid. Terrified. Pleading with him to protect it.

Natan covers it. "No."

Yve approaches him, fury in her voice. "Give. It. To. Me."

"He and Domorey are connected together. If one dies, the other will wreak havoc. You couldn't even contain Zhask in life, so what makes you think you could contain a fusion of him AND Domorey in death?"

Before Yve could make a move, Natan continues.

"When and if we win this war, or when and if we lose, either way we'll let you do whatever you want with him. Just not now."

He crouches down to further protect Little Spawn.

"And now, we need him more than ever. If we win the war, you'll be able to deal with him in peace. If we lose, you'll have to deal with the Abyss. And they're not as merciful as us."

Yve stares at the two. She begrudgingly admits defeat after considerable thinking.

But before she flickers out the door, she leaves behind one final message: "Do not regret your words and actions, when they come to bite you in the back."

When she leaves, Natan turns back to Little Spawn. Its cookie is only a third eaten. It's looking up at him with fearful eyes.

Natan holds it in his arms.

"I never promised her anything, but to you I'll promise.. I'll never let her have you."

"Even if it means killing everyone in this universe... and then myself."

[goldemas1244]

People: Are you okay?

Me: I'm fine!

Me (internally): The fact that, in some part of Moonton's Mobile Legends Adventure canon, Zhask actually dies in the Land of Dawn (via his Halloween skin) is an interesting concept. However, the implication that apparently SOMEONE cares for him (or hates him) enough to BURY his corpse and CARVE a makeshift TOMBSTONE for him makes me curious as to WHO the Hell it would actually be.

We can see that the tombstone is probably carved from a sword-like thing. It's simplistic: only a Z and not the rest of Zhask's name. Either they want Zhask to be forgotten entirely and the initial be a criminal's only memorabilia, or the need for a name is unnecessary. Reason: manipulatable variable.

But the sword-ish marking choice is awkwardly specific. Only a few individuals wield swords in this game and barely anybody would bother to bury Zhask after all's said and done. I don't think anybody would have much of a vendetta against him. The only people I know who might have a connection to Zhask would be Alucard (demon slayer), Tigreal (literal good guy protag), and... Argus (encountered one of Zhask's drones during his angelhood and didn't kill it, craves power like a madman).

Now it would make sense for Alucard and/or Tigreal to be the ones to do this. He IS threatening the safety of the Land of Dawn (the entire planet in general actually) and it makes sense for him to be a target. To put him in a grave (and somewhat respectfully at that) would be essentially part of their code. Perhaps to honour a fallen adversary. Shared history? Overall respect? Formality?

This begs a question because these guys don't bury the dead. We've seen them defeat countless enemies, some singular, some not. In some part of Akashic, Helcurt dies and they never buried him, possibly due to time constraints. So maybe if they had the time to honour such an important fallen fiend, they would possibly bury them?

That would explain how Zhask comes back every Halloween to kill off some people. That ceaseless vendetta against humans and the leftover magic strength. It would make sense for this vendetta to be fueled by his death circumstances.

So the main theory would be that yes, the main hero gang killed him and honoured him.

... yeah that's probably it.

Or it was Argus. The fallen angel craves power so bad. Didn't he merge with the other guy for his demon skin? It could've been Argus. I have no idea why Argus would bury Zhask but given his heavenly roots and sportsmanship (which probably does exist mind you) he probably would've buried a worthy adversary.

OR if Zhask spends time with the Abyss (never specified but implied per Bone Flamen skin in Bang Bang), he would've been buried as a fallen comrade. The tombstone bearing a friendly respect.

So the three theories are:

Tigreal and the gang killed him because he was a threat and buried him because of a code of honour.

Argus killed him for power reasons and marked a grave to honour a worthy adversary.

Zhask was in some part with the Abyss and his death in some way (probably related to theory one) prompted the other members to etch one out for him. OR they knew he would be revived to cause chaos on Earth.

Theory one and two make the most sense. Theory three is a bit of a stretch but it IS possible.

But I wanna look at his method of death as well.

His Halloween skin shows chains binding him in addition to a pumpkins theme and a brand new outfit. Now the pumpkin theme is understandable sonce it's Halloween and all but I'd like to draw attention to his suit. Mainly: it's split off at the middle. Now this COULD be a stylistic choice but I beg to differ.

This splitoff gives him two pieces of clothing, namely his top and codpiece (right word I hope?). But it seems as if the middle part shows off some form of FLESH which is entirely different from his exoskeletal body. Which leads me to believe that Zhask died from a serious wound to the abdomen since an insect's exoskeleton protects its mushy insides similar to how armour protects a body.

The chains of course could resemble past transgressions or an unchallenged vendetta (take a shot every time I say vendetta). Like Jacob Marley. Vengeance is a common theme, but also MOTIVATION. We can see that he is somewhat BOUND to the Earth. Which MEANS in death even he is still motivated to either get back home, or conquer the Land of Dawn. But why he chooses only to appear on All Hallows' Eve is beyond me. Death anniversary?

Mans likes his outfit so maybe yes, death anniversary.

But why only kill people? Well if you can't spread chaos by domination in 24 hours, at the very least you SHOULD leave a goddamn lasting impact. And UNTIL someone exorcises the body (there's a grave if you recall) he'll still be out there. No magic weapon can kill him. Just exorcise the bloody fuck out of this powerful spirit. Ask Demon Slayer Alucard to do it for you. Fuckin' nightmare to play against if your ult's not charged I fuckin' say-

Then again that begs the question of where he goes when he really dies. Is it nature that he sticks? Is death on Kastiya like that? Does he go to Earth hell or Kastiya hell or heaven? Possibly heaven since planet domination seems to be a best interest of them (like a Valhalla sort of thing)? What happens to his troops? He's the king, does he have an heir? Is the heir vengeful? Could it be that Zhask sticks around to see his heir finally conquering the Land of Dawn and bringing his corpse back to Kastiya?

So many questions, so many variables, so many answers.

[goldemas1244]

Notes for one of my AUs

Zhask has been kidnapped by his ex. This is a different story. He is kept in a very cold cell (more like a hole tbh).

He waits everyday for Argus to come rescue him but Argus never comes. There's so much hope and the food he's given keeps him alive. Though his waist is bound to his chains, he tries to escape but fails because he has no power (stolen while he was kidnapped).

Zhask has been waiting for Argus for a while now. He has a manipulative ex-best friend who tells him Argus doesn't love him, he's abandoned him, that he'll (ex- bestie) always be there for him, etc.

"He's not coming for you, Zhask." "...Argus, I know he's wrong, I know you're coming for me."

"I don't know what to tell you Zhask, but he's probably given up by now." "Shut up yo-" "If you use that tone with me again Zhask, I'll cut off your rations." "..." "Anyways, I'll be here if you need me." (Zhask shuts up for the rest of the week.)

"Argus... where are you?"

"I'm sorry Zhask, but if he's coming for you then he would've been here by now." "No! You-You're wrong! He's just... probably having some trouble... is all...." "Well I don't know how to say this, but I don't think that's likely." "..." "I'm always here if you need me Zhask." (Zhask starts having second thoughts.)

(Zhask starts getting desperate. His anxious thoughts, once repressed by his magic, are overwhelming him. He's crying. Begging, screaming into the darkness in hopes that Argus is in some shadowy corner, just waiting to come and free him...)

"ARGUS WHERE ARE YOU?" "ARGUS PLEASE!" "I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" "I'M SCARED!" "ARGUS WHERE ARE YOU!"

(A few days of crying and begging pass. Zhask now starts to believe the words of his old friend. Almost everyday he curls up the best he can with his chains and refuses to take his rations save the occasions when survival kicks in.)

(A few more days and Zhask's ex can see scratches on him. His face, his arms, even his neck. Still he manipulates Zhask with the same old lies. With the difference being Zhask's belief in them.)

Zhask eventually breaks, and, a few days after being defeated, is moved into a different room than the cold damp hole he was trapped in.

He is treated with the utmost kindness by his ex and goes to sleep on a cushiony surface instead of on his knees and cold hard stone.

Zhask's ex keeps his distance but they gradually grow closer day by day. And day by day they talk and Zhask, once a predator, is now prey.

Zhask accepts his invite for a drink one day, for old times' sake. They walk into a drinking room. The shelf is scattered with bottles of collections from all over the galaxy.

His ex (let's just call him that) pours him a shot of rose geranium wine (or the Kastiyan equivalent of it) and gives it to him. He pours himself a different kind of wine because he's extra like that.

So they cheers and they drink, reminiscing the past and how much time they used to spend with each other.

But Zhask suddenly feels bad.

He doubles over, falls on the floor, dry heaves, coughs up blood, all that angsty jazz.

It turns out he has been POISONED by a potent poison that a Kastiyan cannot antivenomize.

Zhask is spasming and is slowly dying. His ex pours another shot for himself whilst singing an old Kastiyan lullaby Zhask used to love. As he ends he walks out the door.

With one last look at Zhask, he smiles, turns off the lights and closes the door, leaving Zhask to die alone (ouch) in the dark.

It takes a while too. After the initial reaction his entire being is paralysed and he can only writhe in pain, blood, sweat, and tears as he feels his entire body slowly shut down over the course of three hours.

All his regrets, all his memories, everything comes back to him but the only thing his mind manages to stick on to is Argus. He replays the memories over and over in his head, from his laughs to his groans to his well-toned muscles.

Within five hours his last breath is exhaled and it's official: he's dead. Alone with only his memories of the one he loved the most guiding him through the process.

Fast forward a few days later and Argus finally comes. He came late because the portal was very hard to make and hindered by Zhask's ex's power.

Zhask's ex is no longer there, having taken Domorey and claiming control over Kastiya.

Argus wanders around the abandoned place until he sees the room Zhask was kept in (not the cell, mind you). He finds traces of Zhask and follows a trail into the drinking room.

He finds Zhask on the floor, a lifeless husk.

He was too late.

He falls to his knees and denies it. He denies it all.

But he was too late.

(His shaky hands reach for the corpse of the only other person he would ever love in his life. He touches the cold and roughened endoskeleton, completely devoid of the warmth it once emitted. Tears fall from his mask as he lifts and cradles the body, rocking himself.)

(Apologies stream out from his mouth. His grip tightens. He's forgetting to breathe.)

Argus brings Zhask to the room he was kept in and lays him down on the bed. He cleans Zhask up a little bit with his feathers and lays down next to him.

He pulls up the covers and holds Zhask, reliving the nightly talks they used to have. Only there was no response from Zhask. No hug, nor kiss, nor innuendo. Only silence in the dark bedroom.

Pulling Zhask closer to him in their final embrace, Argus gives him one last kiss on the cheek before willing his heartstrings to finally snap.

Tragic isn't it? Death of pining? But as the beginning, there's a continuation on this. Zhask's ex will not be visited by justice though a certain cyclops will murder him in his sleep. Prior to that however, and right after this, Argus will awaken with...

"Zhask?"

In a hedge maze reminiscent of the ones they used to love going through in the Land of Dawn, Argus awakens to find Zhask sitting crisscross-applesauce infront of him. Words will be exchanged.

Overall this story WILL have a happy ending. Their bodies WILL be found at rest and be put to funeral. They WILL spend eternity together forever. Because they did not take that "Until death do you part" oath. Because they will never part.

Also Rafaela's gonna be the first one to know about this. Because y'know she's an angel. Her brother's death is gonna shake her a lot. She leads the search for the bodies too. DEVOTED.

[a-regular-ol-pill]

Zhask/Yi anon

Imagine:

Plague Doctor Kaja and Maidservant assistant Rafaela. Where Kaja is a travelling doctor and Rafaela is his assisstant when treating the plague (and other diseases). But during their travels, they gather enough evidence that Argus is still alive somewhere when he is supposedly dead. Kaja helps Rafaela find her brother, as a favor for everything she did for him.

More context: Kaja took Rafaela in out of pity because he saw her wandering alone in the streets, he fed her and gave her clothes. She offered to be his assistant as her gratitude, which he reluctantly agrees. Then one day, Rafaela's divine powers began manifesting, which Kaja was shocked to hear because that was all a myth (though more into healing and supporting.) The plague can be a disease or a physical manifestation so they fought (like some ghostbusters/zombie apocalypse survivors.) And Kaja has an unknown disease that only Rafaela can help inhibit. Because of her undying support, he will accompany her until they find her lost brother. (Relationship can be platonic to romantic. Strangers to lovers trope)

LAWD RHIS AU IS SO AMAZING IWNSIEJDJDN 🙇🙇🙇🙇

I'VE BEEN FED

[goldemas1244]

That singular "Yes" got me how dare you (joking) (imagining you saying it with the most chaotic grin).

Okay your tags man. On one hand, I'd love to see him pull off a Gabriel Agreste and carry her to a burial place he finds most suitable. The Sacred Nightmaric Spawn (trademark) and all that. But I also love the sakura ending. The implications, the symbolism. I'm adding that to the list of unfinished projects, I already have screenshots.

And the fact that they in a part represents how short life is, oh man Zhask would not be buried under a sakura tree. One suggestion of a flower to be buried under for Zhask would be geranium (happiness, friendship, good health) (oh the irony, he'd love that sort of dark joke; even darker because he's 6-7 feet under) (it's also a fan favourite of beetles). Here's a short list of other ones. I'd link more websites but my hands are frozen over-

Where'd he take her body to anyways? Mars? Kastiya is gone my dude- (oh the acceptance route, oh the CLINGY ROUTE!)

Okay now for the main text, what kind of dispute does he have with the Abyss? Besides of course the It's-Mine-I'm-Not-Going-To-Share dispute. He must've been a valuable ally with his swarm and battle tactics (not to mention what mental manipulation he can inflict).

The fact that Luo Yi died to save Yu Zhong's life... what does YZ think of it? Worse yet how does Zhask FEEL about it? Him just swarming over a legion of doom and gloom and doing substantial damage to push them off, that sounds real badass and actually also kind of sad.

I really hope he either demolishes the entire Abyss or dies fighting. A warrior's death is an honourable one. Really hope he and Little Spawn'll be buried with Luo Yi. Just thinking of a long-distance relationship in graveyard terms is also kind of funny. Sometimes people will walk by and hear the humming of an old wives' tune. And they can hear the same thing over on by the cherry blossoms. It's like those old couple-separation legends.

I hope he tears Dyrroth to shreds. I'm gonna draw that. I hope he eats his corpse raw the way Luo Yi's death and all the regrets and unspoken words eat at him every single day and night. Bathe him in red, as red as Luo Yi's pure white threads stained. And kill Alice too while he's at it.

Speaking of Alice how would the confrontation go? Would she mentally torment him (because she's a succubus after all)? Would she drain him of his blood (or blood-like substance)? Would Zhask be too weak to face off against her especially after the confrontation with Dyrroth? Would he wear her wings as trophy (symbolic of his vengeance)? Or would he finally join Luo Yi? What would happen to Little Spawn and Domorey now that the only person powerful enough to manipulate them is dead?

Either way it'd probably be a great service to the good guys. Wouldn't it? AND Zhask gets to get his just desserts against the Abyss.

Imagine Luo Yi falling and hearing the most gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, guttural scream and then a flurry of Zhask's skills flying towards the enemy, mowing them down like weeds in a park. And when all's said and done all that she can hear is footsteps running towards her and then stopping. Kneeling. Numbly feeling something or someone pick her up and use their mental manipulation powers to force her brain to kickstart her heart. But it fails. She's lost too much blood. And just when she feels the hand wrap around her head and pull her close she freakin' dies man.

Her last memory and it's of Zhask's forevermore cold, hard, desperate touch.

Dude tell me who killed Luo Yi I haven't used my unnerving artstyle in ages

This is where Yu Zhong waged war on Cadia to dominate them, but the corruption of the abyss halted the war and they're currently in an alliance to fight the abyssal demons.

Zhask doesn't take part of the human conflict but he has a dispute against the abyss so he does occasionally "join" them when fighting them.

Luo Yi was a fallen hero in battle, she saved Yu Zhong from barrages of attacks from the powerful abyssal monsters lead by Dyrotth.

Zhask slaughtered every single demon that hurt her (and most of Dyrroth's army.)

And he saw her. When he held her, she took her final breath.

Yes.

[a-regular-ol-pill]

going off anon because i would k1ll to read a fic with Zhask/Dyrroth! Bless you

"I love you, I do."

Mobile Legends; Bang Bang

Pairing; You, Zhask | You, Dyrroth

SFW

Requested? Yes.

Small note for requester; I had a hard time fitting them in the MLBB Universe, because their stories don't connect them (from what I found)... so, I'm sorry if you wanted them both in one story.. I also kind of got carried away in both Dyrroth and Zhask's part, it's pretty much angst with comfort soooo, I'm sorry again..

Want to request? Click here.

Word Count; N/A

Second Person Perspective.

Pronouns used for reader; 'They', 'Them', etc...

Prompt;

"I only love you until the universe forces us apart. Even if you don't believe that, even if I don't believe that, our love is infinite."

Dyrroth -

It was unfair. Life was unfair since they took the Princess' brother, the light and joy of the whole empire. You didn't meet him, of course. But you sure did hear a lot about how adorable of a baby he was. And how tragic the kidnapping was for everyone. You were pretty sure he was about your age, but why would you think about that when he's gone? You have no idea.

Maybe because it was the mental image of him older? Or maybe because you're just lonely in your own house. Either way, you think about the lost prince a lot. You even heard rumors that he's been coming to the forest, near the empire ever since the war ended.

That's why you found yourself dozing off in the forest a lot, instead of doing your job that you already forgot about in the first week. It was just something about the prince that made you think about him a lot. Would he have showered you with gifts as a friend? Would he have hugged you tightly as a sibling? Would he have kissed you a lot as a lover?

Well, in this faithful day, you're about to find out.

It was just a normal day of you roaming the forest. Almost normal, if you hadn't run into someone while you were sneezing. Of course you had to run into someone, why wouldn't you do that? You're you, after all.

"I'm so sorry!" You exclaim out of instinct, rubbing your head and reaching down to help the person below you, up. Due to your closed eyes, you couldn't see, but it was probably for the best. It was his voice that made you stop dead in your tracks, hand still holding the person's. Or, more accurately, Dyrroth. "I'm... sorry as well."

You weren't sure about the hesitation in his voice. You couldn't think, a future ruler of the Abyss was talking to you, the missing prince that you have been thinking about since forever! "Are you blind or something? Can't you open your eyes?" Dyrroth asked you, annoyance being heard in his voice while his hand tried to shake away from yours.

Only then did you pull away and turn your head to the side. Hand shaking from your anxiety. You thought he was gonna kill you right then and there— until you felt the soft touch of hands covering yours. "I'm not gonna hurt you. I just wanted to breathe from... well, if you know, you know where." His voice was weak, like he was truly opening up to you— a stranger he barely know of.

"Breathe? How am I gonna trust you?" You asked, slowly turning your head and; Hopefully meeting his face. It was silent, until he finally reminded you that; "You have no choice." You wanted to slap yourself for being so dumb, of course you had no choice! Sighing, you peaked from your left eye and looked at the demon infront of you.

He looked miserable, his eyes were puffy and his... outfit was messy. "You look horrible.. did you fight someone?" You asked, slowly reaching down to brush the excess dirt off his belt. He watched you intently. After his fight with Alice and him, he was desperate for some form of comfort from what you're doing. "You could say that." He answered after awhile.

You pursed your lips before pulling him to a nearby rock, sitting him down to ease the probably tension in his legs. Then, you asked; "Do you.. wanna talk about it, or something?" The look on his face says that he does, but he didn't answer.

He found it hard to believe that a stranger would be worried for him. He threatened you too! You should have been running away, and yet..

"If you hate it there. Why don't you come back? Why would you let those demons hold you captive when you know they need you alive to rule the Abyss?"

Your question made him stunned. The Abyss was his home, and he'll never hate it! The only thing was that he was scared. He was getting enraged, you were gonna be killed if you stay there with him. Before he could even think of saying it himself, the emotional part of him said it himself. "Shut it... don't say things like that."

You flinched slightly at the tone of his voice. But you didn't let up, and instead moved your hand to brush the dirty hair away from his face. His eyes glowed softly upon feeling your touch. "How about you say it? I'll listen until you let the feelings off your system." You offered, smiling cheekily at his silence. 'Hopefully he comes to his senses right after.'

"Say it? I only kill unworthy demons if I get emotional." He stated, brows furrowed while he subconsciously reached up to pull your hand off his hair. You simply laughed. Following up with a half-hearted joke. "Whoever took care of you is a bad influence."

Well... that joke probably set him off. Because you were pushed off the rock, and you found him gripping his horns. "Alice is not a bad influence! She helped me live! She took care of me with Thamuz!"

Alice and Thamuz..

You didn't hesitate, and went up to him. Hugging him tightly and not letting go, even when he continued to struggle from your hug. He didn't know what to do, you were in so close proximity that he should feel threatened. But he felt comforted instead! 'Thamuz wasn't wrong about violence, this was a form of violence. Right?!'

Dyrroth repeated every lesson from Thamuz in his head. He wanted so badly to push you off, but he also wanted to pull you closer. In the end, he gave in to his feelings and hugged you back. Sniffling from how emotionally conflicted he felt.

Ever since that day, he didn't stop visiting the forest to see you. He didn't stop learning the ways that he should've been learning, and he eventually... well, it's up to you to decide if he breaks free from Alice's influence or not.

Zhask -

The swarm... it was something you refused to go along with. Yet, Zhask continued the plan to devour every single ounce in the universe. You feared that your lover wasn't yours anymore. But you know he wasn't yours to begin with. You only trusted his words on his confession to you.

He had always been good with words. Swooning you with creative compliments, showing affection that no one had probably never thought of, treating you better than anyone.. was all of that to make you fill the role of his royal lover? A royalty who's purpose is to stand next to the king proudly, and help them in everything?

Because it certainly doesn't seem like that. He never lets you get in the way of his decisions, he's always ordering you around and never letting you tell him what's rational and not. He made you seem defenseless since, and you were more than frustrated after he had fought with another one of the planet's warriors and won without counter.

You desperately wanted to help, to pull yourself away from Zhask's grip as he attacks, and sends the swarm towards the person. But who were you to break free from your lover's grip? If you could even call him that..

As Zhask defeated, yet another attempt of someone assassinating him, you slowly started to break down. Tears falling down your cheeks and sniffles escaping your torn body. You hoped Zhask would ignore you like usual, but this time, he went ahead and looked at you. Adrenaline instantly disappearing upon seeing you crying.

'Why are you crying? Don't you feel how powerful we are? Don't you feel the bliss in having people attack you, but fail?'

For the first time, Zhask wasn't sure about why you're crying. Usually, he only had to reassure you that everything was gonna be okay, and kiss your tears away. But he.. couldn't do those things to comfort you. How can he comfort you? His precious lover?

He was too lost in thought to notice you were looking straight at him, hand clenching his staff as an odd thought came to mind. "Why.. Zhask?" You spoke, breaking Zhask away from his thoughts to comfort you. For the first time in awhile, he noticed how hurt your eyes look. The natural glow from them was fading, and you were trembling..

"Why.. what? We're gonna destroy everything! Can't you feel the satisfaction from that? Why are you even crying?!" The way he raised his voice made you flinch, as the continuous distruction from the swarm flowed through your ears. "Do you see how you ruined millions of species lives because of the swarm?!"

"Who cares about the species! We're still alive, aren't we?!" God, how you hated it when he treats others like they're trash. You couldn't believe him, so you were crying even more. Although this time.. the staff you and him were holding floated away, and instead— You were being held by Zhask instead.

The silence that followed, suffocated Zhask's thoughts about destroying every universe. He wanted to hear something from you.. something to made him feel powerful again when he's not destroying planets. But alas, only your occasional sniffles could be heard.

"My star.."

In any day that you couldn't hear the swarm, you would smile in joy. You would, if you just couldn't hear anything anymore. Even his voice. "Please come home, stop the swarm for a bit, or just leave them." You choked out, in between sobs. Earning Zhask the voice he wanted to hear, but not the tone and words he desired to hear.

Your hands tightened, and you sobbed into his chest. He was conflicted on whether or not he should stop to comfort you. If he does, the swarm will be left alone, and enemies may be able to kill them, furthermore, your planet will be destroyed from how exposed all of you were. "Please, Zhask." You pleaded, unaware that he was thinking about a way to spend time with you— Without letting anyone of his people die.

"Shh.. my star. Let me think, okay? I'm not gonna let this opportunity go for you, for us." He whispered to you, his claws running down the scales on your back— You felt the need to hug him tighter, but you were afraid to crack his body in half. So you held back, and subconsciously watched the staff float around you two. Your peripheral vision could see the swarm, but you kept your focus on the staff.

The feelings both of you developed was so complicated. It makes you dizzy, like you are right now. Tears was still flowing freely, and Zhask hasn't given you an answer yet. Was he just gonna tire you out so you can sleep? If so, it was definitely working, you crying was earning him a favor.

"We're gonna have a nice and long talk, okay, my star?"

"I don't want to talk.. Zhask."

"I know, my star, but you're confused as to why, correct? If we discuss it together, maybe we could understand each other.."

You let out a small cry in disapproval. But eventually, he whispered the words that made you hope he has a chance of redemption.. "Your love can't overcome my desires of destroying everything, but our love together may prove otherwise.."

"I don't want you to say our love may prove otherwise, I want to know if you truly love me!" You shouted, ears ringing after the swarm made a shout, a shout that you only hear if Zhask orders them to kill.. Did Zhask just try to kill you? What were you to him, really?!

"I'm so sorry, I'm sorry my star. I shouldn't have gotten so.. oh no.." Zhask panicked, nuzzling his covered mouth to your tear stained face. Another way to try and comfort you, but it didn't work. You were so scared, his creation was barely pushing its claws againts your scales, and you cried. Zhask couldn't see it, and pulled you closer, making you stop feeling the sharp claws againts you.

"My star, please don't cry, lets talk together, we're lovers. You're my lover. And I love you, I love you.."

Hopefully, his words are true, just like he said.. He loves you.

I hope you enjoyed reading this, as much as I enjoyed writing it! Take care of yourself! <3

[goldemas1244]

Happy Birthday

- A MLBB fanfic (Ship: Zhask X Yve) -

Based on (but not entirely accurately) a prompt posted on Instagram by writing.prompt.s:

Sidenote: @sentinelpri you are my favourite fic writer (despite my inactivity with your works for a while now) and I respect you. You have become the basis of one part of my writing style. So here, if I may, I'd like to request that you read and review this fic. I know you don't know who these guys are but I hope the writing's good enough that it covers that aspect even minutely. Thank you!

---.---.---.---.---

Her lithe fingers grazed the edge of the forlorn portal as she gazed out into outer space. It didn't belong to her, yet she recognised its signature, begging her to pass through. But for whatever reason, she could only guess.

Perhaps Zhask had decided to finally give up the chase and end it all. That would be morally convenient for her. One small step for peace, one giant leap for the reparation of the equilibrium.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a melancholic undertone stifling itself through the vacuum of space and time. Unlike the smooth and polished portals her archnemesis frequently built, this one had a sort of rag to it. Perhaps it wasn't his? Oh no, it definitely was his, there was no denying the signature circadian hum-buzz.

Her gut twinged with all the experience of a hunter, telling her that she should come prepared. Prepared for what, she couldn't say, so she went with an ambush. After all, Zhask was as well-maintained in his conquests as he was in his retreats, was he not?

Checking herself to make sure she was at least presentable enough for the capture of the King of the Swarm, Yve stepped through the portal as it closed behind her.

The empty void of space was cold, colder than the freezing tundra she came from. Yet it was a familiar cold, a cold she embraced with pleasure, for it was her one true home aside from Mithlora.

Attentively, she studied her surroundings. She was in quite a faraway galaxy from Bima Sakti, with floating geological masses of history astray all around her. As the faraway stars littered her vision with light, she noticed familiar inscriptions in the masses, and recognised that these were the ruins of Kastiya.

Kastiya. She remembered how and why that planet was destroyed. Zhask had been a large-scale criminal then, but the explosion of his planet's core had brought him to an all-time dead-or-alive status. Sometimes she regretted coming up with the idea.

One other thing she took note of was that, to her surprise, she was alone. No stray nightmaric spawn come to devour her, no Kastiyan King to give her cranial damage via Domorey, no colour, no life. Everything was a drab, burnt out sight save for the starry skyline.

Attuning her other senses, she studied the pitiless wrecks until at last she sensed a vibration in the space-time continuum. Melancholic in tone, it had a desperation to it. Quite unlike Zhask but still....

Ever alert, the Astrowarden inched closer to the source of the vibration. It wasn't long before she came upon a sight most... intimate?

There was Zhask, sans staff and consecutively Domorey, sitting on a chunk of space rock, stroking one of his little swarm-children lovingly. His eyes seemed glazed in thought. His voice could be heard, albeit in the faintest of tones, softly whispering out what she could only assume to be a Kastiyan folk song of some sort. It rhymed and it had a melody to it, which, much to her chagrin, she fell in love with.

The King of the Swarm. The Planes Dominator. The Ruthless Invader. Alone.

Yve knew it wasn't a smart decision but she drew closer towards the hulking mass of blue and red as if magnetised by a seventh sense. Now out in the very open, she was vulnerable, but aside from what she had heard and seen prior, Zhask didn't even acknowledge her. Her shoulders relaxed. If this was a trigger for a space-beartrap, it was at least a beginner's machination.

She was only but a few feet away from her archenemy when he ended his reverie, tilting his head upwards to look at her. Unwavering in his eye contact, he patted a soft patch of dried grassland beside him, a sort of motioning for Yve to come and sit. Unfamiliar with this custom of friendship, she hesitated, but penultimately cast her resistance aside and sat next to him.

His breathing was shallowed and, as Yve, ever perceiving, took a closer look at him, she could tell that he'd been here a while. At this point, his affection towards his little spawn had ceased, leaving it bewildered and looking back up at its master in expectation of more. In exchange, he cupped the little thing in his hands and brought it closer to his thorax in an embrace.

"So, Yve?" he began, tilting his head to the side as if to warrant curiosity. "What brings a Mithlorian like you here to Kastiya? Or, well, what remains of it."

Yve was taken aback by the question. Small talk? This was very unlike the enemy she had grown to hate with all her heart. Still, she wasn't in want of generous courtesy and replied in a monotonous tone, "I saw your unclosed portal."

Zhask chuckled, a slight baritone fondness in its echolocation. "Correction: 'your' unclosed portal." Then, after a moment's silence, "It was meant for you, Yve."

"But why exactly did you waste your 'precious' energy on such an unnecessary thing?" Yve questioned, unwavering. "You know you could've just told me to meet you up here and I would fly off to catch you and turn you in. How did you even create a portal under our ever watchful gaze?"

"Well for starters," Zhask began, raising up a finger, "I didn't want to burden you with using up yours. And second of all, every portal a Kastiyan has ever made contains a riskier sub-portal space they can use instead. This one is untraceable, even by the most skilful of hunters. It's how I managed to escape you on Utapau that time."

Yve gently smiled under her mask, remembering how she had absolutely demolished that bastard that time. And she would've killed him too had it not been for a random laser bolt distracting her. Damned battle droids. He'd escaped without the slightest effort, and she had sulked through three galaxies because of it.

Silence passed between the two and for a moment it seemed as if the equilibrium of the universe was in peace.

Eventually, Zhask broke the silence.

"It's my birthday today."

Yve's eyes widened underneath her mask. Zhask's birthday was something she had never considered in all their years of chasing and escaping.

"I'd invited all my friends and family," he continued, hand outstretched as he gestured towards the rubble that lay before them. "But they... haven't arrived as of yet." His head lowered as if in a sort of defeat. "I'll still be waiting though. Sure, they haven't shown up in years now but I'll wait."

The little spawn he was holding began to chirrup as if it could sense the pain in its master's heart. Yve could too; it tremored like an earthquake in her ears. For once in her life she felt sorry for Zhask.

She looked towards the unsightly masses of matter and rock attempting to picture how Kastiya once looked, how things were before it all. She understood once that Zhask was a criminal to be destroyed for the sake of the equilibrium, but now, ever so suddenly, she had a sense that perhaps it didn't have to be that way. An equilibrium could be fixed, she logically reckoned, and with the power of such a being as Zhask on its reparation it would make things much smoother.

But his aura was unfavourable for such commentary so she turned to ask him how things were before the conquests, in hopes that he could spill a thing or two to satiate her innate curiosity and, perhaps also, to cheer himself up.

"Before?" Zhask perked up a little at the mere mention of the word. "Well, before, we were prosperous. We had technology unmatched by any being, power unimaginable by mere mortals, intellect and strength that would put a god to shame."

Yve took note of how his eyes lit up.

"But we were animals as well. Of course, we ARE insects, and you've seen how their natural world is. Indeed, some of our tribes were peaceful and lived with kindred spirits. But mine own was a dominator's kind, with souls as hardened as rocks. It was the natural order. Especially during the mating season."

Zhask let loose a chuckle, and for a moment Yve felt butterflies fluttering in her cheeks.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't as hard as the rest of my kind." Zhask's eyes dropped to his spawn, beginning to stroke it again as if it was an idle animation of his. "I was softer, much more... caring, dependant even, towards my environment. I never much fit in. I could only count one or two friends I'd ever had. Nobody really wanted anything to do with a soft Beetle."

Yve shifted her focus some; this was getting into personal territory.

"I had different hobbies and interests compared to the other members of my tribe. This ensured that I had a bit more of a strict upbringing compared to the others. In a while, all I was was gone, and the monster you see before you now was born."

Yve remained silent, listening to this recollection with the utmost patience. Nevermore had she been as patient as this. It was almost cathartic.

"I... never really wanted to hurt anybody. But I had to maintain an image somehow. Kindness was never our forte. But strength was and so I did what my parents before me, and so theirs before, did."

"You conquered planets," Yve piped in at last. Her inquiry sparked a withered sigh from her companion and a pang of guilt surged through her veins.

"Yes, I did. As the Earth's practice of hunting for sport 'til extinction, so did we with planets. We took on their survivors as slaves. My upbringing ensured I was a selfish, cruel, and uncaring sadist.... If younger me had seen it with my own two eyes, he would've shuddered in fear and disgust at what he'd become."

He stared at the chittering spawn in his hands and brought it up to his face, nuzzling it with affection. Yve didn't want to believe it, but perhaps it was true that this insect could tear up. Moreso proven as he hitched.

She didn't know what else to do. Her mind had gone blank and all thoughts of violence had faded as the dying of a star. What was she to say? To do?

"And now I have to do it," Zhask stammered, tightening his grip on the now silent chitterer. "I have to do it. What's been done to the others has now been done to mine. I have to ensure...." He dared not finish his sentence.

He feared he'd say the wrong things and get himself offed.

Luckily, Yve had begun to understand. "You have to ensure your people survive," she continued. "You're the king, and per your growth, it was the only proper way you knew how. And you can't think of any other way."

She inched closer to him. Her ears were bursting with the rapid rhythms of his heartbeat, her senses filled with an equilibrium she herself had never even experienced prior. Then she took the little spawn in her hands and softly stroked it as Zhask did.

To feel the coldness of his little pet pulled from him yet the warmth emanating from his adversary pulling him in was familiar. But not this way. It made him feel colder than he already was and he shifted in his seat.

But the little thing chirruped with a new kind of fondness Zhask hadn't heard from any one of them in a long while. Turning his head to look at it, his eyes met with those of Yve.

And for the first time in a long, long time, he began to cry.

Yve shook to her very core. She'd never had to comfort someone, especially since part of their grief was her own causing. But she had to do something, so she did what anybody did best.

She held him the best she could. One arm slung over his shoulder, the other still holding the spawn close between them. It was an awkward hug, but it was one of her very few and she knew Zhask shared that sentiment as well.

Upheavals of inexistent air escaped his lungs with every whimpering breath he took. His head lowered to rest on one of Yve's shoulders. His hands gripped her arms tightly, begging her never to let go of him, never to leave.

Yve felt his claws dig into her flesh but she didn't mind. For a moment they shared their pain, even if she'd never told him any of hers. But she knew he felt it too, and he did.

It wasn't after a long while that they released their hold on each other. Zhask pulled his knees up to his thorax whilst Yve knelt on hers. She put a hand on his shoulder, still cradling the little chitterer.

"Zhask," she began, eyes steady on him, voice as crystal as ever. "I'm sorry for what's happened to you. But that doesn't mean you're entirely forgiven for what you've done. You understand that don't you?"

Zhask lowered his head.

"But that doesn't mean you're broken forever, for I'll fix a deal with you." Yve took her hand off his shoulder and reached into one of her pockets, a resolve quickly forming in her mind. "You'll still have to fix the equilibrium you've damaged... and if you do then I promise, in the name of the Mithlorians, we'll help you in turn."

Zhask couldn't believe his ears. Was he... pardoned? In a sense it seemed he was.

He lifted his head in disbelief. Just what Yve wanted.

As such, she pulled out a small purple crystal from her pocket. "This is a Mithlorian heirloom," she stated. "A gift one should forever cherish. It is made of one of the innermost crystals of our realm. It is a sign of an unbreakable alliance, loyalty to the furthest extent. To receive it, is to receive our protection, in return of yourself."

She motioned for Zhask to hold out his hand, which he shakily did. "Today, on the day of your birth, you are reborn. Forevermore, you are now no longer the King of the Swarm, nor will you be the Planes Dominator."

And she placed the precious gemstone in his hand. "From now on, if you accept," she continued shakily, "you shall be Zhask, the embodiment of endurance, Herald of Redemption. You shall bring balance to the equilibrium once more and prevent it from ever falling to the wrong hands."

Yve began to stand and Zhask himself to kneel.

"If you would accept, Zhask."

The critter in her arm now jumped down onto the rock, an excited glimmer in its optic as Yve placed both her hands on his.

"To be... a Mithlorian."

Zhask could only choke out a strangled mewl. To receive such an honour, such a fresh start, it seemed all too good to be true.

And yet, a realisation popped into his head.

"Are you... proposing to me?"

"It is an uncommon Mithlorian tradition to betroth ourselves to our foes worthy of change, but a tradition nonetheless," Yve explained. "Two generations back, and many more farther, I have seen examples and they're still with us, guardians of the cosmos. Never have they brought upon failure, and always they have brought balance. Thus I may ask you, Zhask, on this well-fated day, to be one with me. To be one with us."

Zhask's eyes lit up unlike ever before. "Yve," he started, "ever since you first determined to hunt me down, ever since you first dared to attack me, I knew that one day I'd be caught. And on that day I swore that when such a day happened, I should confess no matter the peril."

He gripped Yve's hands tighter as he continued, slowly coming to his feet. "And today you have ensnared me. Thus, as Zhask, King of the Kastiyans, or what's left of them, I accept your proposal, and I hope that this pact we seal transcends farther than the reaches of the universe."

"Then arise, my champion, my honour, my king, for we both, in essence, were of the same wish at one point. Arise, and be one with mine, and with the equilibrium, in permanance."

And he arose to his full height. His chest puffed out with pride, he was a figurehead of confidence. His eyes once soaked with tears now beamed with love and adoration.

Repositioning his hands so their fingers were now interlocked, he began to pull his bride-to-be closer into an embrace.

And the crystal she had given him began to emanate a shimmer of light.

They both took notice of this and watched as it gleamed a bright and serene blue, seeping into both their very veins, straight to their hearts. And all at once, they both had been altered.

Where once was a mask now revealed a beauteous face, bright twilight eyes accentuated by violet lips. And where once was a beast of blue and red now stood a figura of blue and white, formed of the constellation of Cancer. In shock and awe, they both pulled apart from each other, eyes transfixed on what changes, mostly on Zhask, were produced.

And they both fell deeper in love with one another, as if their rivalry had never existed.

"Yve..."

"Zhask..."

Lest we forget about the little bug on the ground, indeed I do have to mention that it had stayed silent the entire time, its one optic too excited to process what had occured. Too in awe, it just sat there, watching the scene unfold as you and I.

Zhask held out his hand to Yve. As she held it, he knelt and kissed it with a tenderness he had never exhibited before. It was a fresh start, a new life, a partner for the first time in his life.

"This was the best birthday I'd ever had," he quipped, amused. "The best gift as well." He stood and held her in his arms; she chuckled and rested her head on his thorax.

All of a sudden, the little spawn chirped out a rhythmic beat and they pulled their eyes away from each other.

Before them came a rift in space-time. And from this rift, came a blinding flash of bright white light.

"Zhask," said Yve with a large smile on her face, "I think it's time we meet your in-laws."

And as the portal beckoned, so too did they follow, with the little spawn trailing behind.

-FIN-

[a-regular-ol-pill]

Honorable mention of somehow dealing with Grim reader’s hands: Moskov, Yve and Zhask

Moskov’s slightly dead but he still shivers at grim readers hands

The Galaxy is much colder and yve and zhask has definitely been in a planet or world the same coldness as grim reader’s hands

THEM!!! YES! THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES YOU COULD DATE 'CAUSE THEY TOLERATE EVERY FLAW YOU MIGHT HAVE. /hj

[goldemas1244]

(This took me 30 minutes to read the emotions were too much)

OH HE'S GONE DOWN WITH THE SHIP. HE'S GONE DOWN WITH THE SHIP PEOPLE HE'S GONE DOWN WITH THE SHIP. YESSIR THAT LAST THREAD OF SANITY IS NOW KAPUT. I HOPE HE KILLS OFF WHOEVER DID THIS.

Even after all this time he still hasn't told her directly that he loves her (insert emoji gif crying to the sky breaking into a million pieces). Well yes indirectly but directly? Oh man that's... this is so tragic wait-

Dude the tonal change, from berating Luo Yi for this problem to berating HIMSELF over it. HE LET THIS HAPPEN. HE CAN'T TAKE IT. BUT HE KNOWS AND FEELS THAT THE BLAME IS ALL ON HIM. HE COULDN'T SAVE HER. THE SURVIVOR'S GUILT.

And the pauses. It's like he was waiting for the barest chance to respond. The dots where her speech brackets would've filled in are now just... dots. A one-sided conversation. And he's just really trying not to cry because he knows that if he does he won't stop and that'd leave him vulnerable in more than one way. Those long pauses where he's yearning to say he loves her but he can't bear to say it instead he covers them up in his split sentences-

And the way he got softer by the end.... Final resting place.. Cadia Riverlands maybe? Last I checked she'd always longed to stay there. Maybe home? Where the heart is? Man that wasn't even a heartshot that killed her it was a gut shot a liver shot I don't-

Rest Well would've been a short thing he says to her before bedtime... that little token of love-

Dude that must've hurt. Tell me, how long did she have until she died? Did she see Zhask coming for her? Did she die before he managed to come? Before he even noticed? Did she die in his arms, unable to speak or see but still hearing the last of his parting words? Did Zhask search for her only to see her lying lifeless? Was his divide-and-conquer strategy used against him? Did she make it past his insults? Did she make it to his final promise?

Dude his eyes though they're just staring blankly into the distance. Desperation. Regret. Unacceptance. He's gone off, kill mode established. Man's lost so much already he doesn't even cry anymore he just... stares. Onwards pinpointing the exact location of his targets. Or maybe he is crying and I'm just confusing it with his mega-eyeliner. And how he's just holding her head and feeling her hair for one of the last times.

That panting, his heavy breathing, just... he's coping with the pain man I feel him so bad. Holding a dead person feels SO different from holding a living one. And the fact that he calls her GEOMANCER. He's just trying not to upcycle all the good memories he's had with her because it's already hurting him enough it's how he COPES by REPRESSING. He can't even bear to look at her much less say her NAME. YES HE'S DENSE AF.

Little Spawn I'm so sorry my sweet baby boy it shouldn't have come to this. DUDE IT'S CRYING. THE LITTLE TOUCH. THE BLUR AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTWORK THAT LOOKS LIKE A LINE OF TEARS FROM OUR POV.

The implication that HE is taking her away to HER resting place could also be interpreted as "ya boi's gonna do some serious kys and take you to heaven himself". The insanity of living without the person you loved the most, who you never got to tell you loved them, who you never got to taste apple pie with, just GAH-

I'm not crying I already did that last night imagining the short AMV..-

"Damn you, woman...!"

"What curse have you bestowed upon me!"

....

"You are a frail, weak, pathetic, and an organic being!"

....

"But those weaknesses, I have come to embrace..."

....

"I should have killed you before."

"It wouldn't have hurt.. or mattered as much."

.........

"It hurts."

"Because, I realized it far too late."

...........

"I hate that I care..."

"I hate that you matter to me..."

"I hate how I was so dense!"

....

"Now, I'm here.."

"With you, and Little Spawn.."

...

"You only lived once.."

"...Geomancer."

...

"Rest well."

...

"Atleast you won't see what I'm about to do.."

"Vengeance will be swift."

"And I will take you away..."

...

"To your final resting place."

@goldemas1244 hehehehehehhehehehhehehhe LUO YI DIESSS AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH (i have drawn this particular scene 4 times.) I give angst.

[goldemas1244]

For context:

There was a Biology project where the group had to plant corn kernels and record their growth. Unfortunately they were to be discarded upon collection.

I didn't like this so I decided to plant a corn kernel of my own. I expected one and wanted to name it Kuhas (after the dead planet Zhask conquered where he got the shiny red armour [and also because it sounded like 'Corn']) but my Biology teacher wanted the kernel to have a friend so now I had two kernels.

And because they were simpatico (and one was small while the other was larger) I named them Zhask and Argus.

Now obviously there was a bit of a rainstorm and I FORGOT I PUT THEM OUTSIDE so when I remembered I ZOOMED to their help just in time.

Zhask and Argus are now safely in class. Here's hoping they haven't died yet.

[humanthatlikestuff]

"Zhask? I've been calling you for the past half-hour, what are you-"

Natan opens the door to Zhask's room. It's unlocked. Unusual for his standards.

He calls out for Zhask again but there's something wrong in the air.

He sees Zhask on the bed, curled up into a ball, and he approaches him.

He isn't breathing. And Little Spawn is nowhere to be found.

Natan panics. Is Zhask alright? What's happened? Where-

His eyes lay to rest on the dress Zhask is clutching on.

Beetles, when they rest, prefer to cling onto branches, leaves, basically anything they can cling on too. Basically, they lock themselves there. Clinging on for dear life.

Clinging on for dear life.

The dress is fragrant, a memory of what once was. And Zhask's clinging on to it for dear life.

And it seems as if that's more literal than the expression makes it out to be.

In a corner of the room, Natan spots a glimmer. It's Domorey, the Nightmaric Spawn, the spirit trapped in the staff. Peculiarly, the crystals pulsate and writhe as if they're alive.

As if there's something else in there.

Natan hesitates before he picks it up.

There IS something else in there.

The greatest nightmare of all.

Loss.

---

Thought about this scenario. Quiet way to die.

Oh god.

Why did you need to hurt me.

So Zhask's dead (or in a very heavy sleep) and Natan finds his body.

It seems he was also aware on what happened to her.

OH GOD WHYYYYYY