#“The chosen one will appear as foretold by prophecy”

[dragonsruby]

I need to share with y'all this picture that my brother took.

We've never seen that cat before or since.

[upwards-descent]

Redemption

(Good guy TotK Ganondorf AU)

Link watched the clouds leisurely glide past the Temple of Time. It stood like some stalwart soldier over the floating island, a beacon that made him feel as safe as it did uneasy. His head had been hurting since he came to and as he skidded down the beaten path, he couldn't help but grimace.

"I'm sorry," The ghostly image of Rauru sat nearby, his chin propped up in his palm. It was weird to witness, seeing that it was now Link's own hand. Or was it? He winced as his head throbbed. "I wish I had more answers for you but so much time has flown by. I'm... Mainly passing on messages now."

"I don't even understand what that means, you're being esoteric," Link snapped back but there was no true heat in his words, only pain. His arm hurt, too, and the ping between his bicep and temple felt like his nerves were being juggled around. "Either you do know or you don't know where Zelda is, I don't really care about anything else at this point."

Rauru's melancholy sigh was the only answer he needed.

At least the Constructs were pleasant, the non-hostile ones at least. They reminded Link of the old Guardian technology, when they weren't corrupt with Malice. Sweet Hylia, he'd barely rested across five years and now here he was once more, Hyrule in peril, Zelda lost, and a piece of himself missing.

"There's someone awaiting you at the Temple." Rauru reappeared, an arm slung around a tree.

"Yes, you told me."

"No..." His voice went quiet, eyes narrowing. "Someone else. Someone... Different. Keep your guard up and your wits about you."

Link had half a mind to flip the spectre off but felt it'd be going too far. He was tired, his body ached, and the frustration he felt within himself writhed burning heat in his chest. Instead, he forged onward.

There was in fact someone waiting for him.

He was a large man with long flowing red hair, dressed in garb Link recognized as some Gerudo style. What appeared to be a sword was lain out at his knees and the Hylian understood it was a position of submission, of surrender. Regardless, he unsheathed the weighty stick slung across his back and approached with confidence.

"And who the hell are you?" Link demanded, stopping at the top of the ruined staircase. The air up here was somewhat warm at least, in the light of the sun. "I've been told to watch out which really doesn't give me... A lot..."

His grip tightened and he held his weapon in a more threatening manner. Some spark of recognition tugged a scowl at his lips.

"You look familiar. Like that... Corpse we found under the castle," Link growled. He leveled the stick at the man's head. "Who are you? Answer me before I let action speak instead."

The man looked up at him and the Hylian nearly flinched. Though Link himself rarely wore his emotions openly, simply as an aspect of his personality, he was pretty good at reading other people instead. There was a great sadness on the man's face that drew in his heavy brows and touched at his frown.

"... I am Ganondorf, leader of the Gerudo," His voice wasn't as deep as Link expected given how large he was but he spoke with some degree of command that couldn't be ignored. "I... I only ask you hear my story first. After that, it's your call whether or not to slay me. I wouldn't exactly blame you for lashing out."

"Watch yourself," Rauru stood nearby, probably unseen by the strange Gerudo man. "This man, as I know him, is the greatest threat against Hyrule in our entire history."

Link held back the urge to heave a loud sigh. He was so tired. Still holding up his weapon, he gave a casual sort of flourish to urge his words further.

"Long ago, when the gods were nearer to the ground below," Ganondorf began. He sat up straighter but the sadness never left his eyes. "I was a chosen leader of prophecy. As had been foretold in my people's history, a male Gerudo is born only once every 100 years and is expected to lead. I was... Or at least, I tried to be what my kin deserved," Link questioned if Rauru was visible as the Gerudo seemed to glance forlornly in his vague direction. "I lead with pride and a steady hand. I listened to the complaints, the concerns, and dedicated every bit of energy I had to bettering our situation. The desert can be cruel but... It's our home."

"I've never heard of a male Gerudo," Link interjected, eyes narrowing. "And trust me, I'm closer to them than you'd think."

"The Gerudo... Persist?" The first glimmer of life lit up Ganondorf's eyes. "I see. Unfortunately, it's because of me that the legend is no longer spoken, or at least I can assume," Link watched as a broad hand kneaded at his chest above his heart. "See, there's a second prophecy I have unfortunately found myself tangled in. I can sense it's one that effects you, too."

The Hylian quickly glanced over at Rauru's ghostly image and he had the gall to shrug.

"Oh," Ganondorf's eyes widened. "I can sense the power within you, but you... Do you know of the Triforce?"

"Only because Zelda has a passion for history," Link let down his guard for a moment, brows knitting in confusion. "It's a big artifact, holy light, gifted to humanity by the ancient goddesses or something like that. I've... Seen her use a power that looked incredibly similar before but..."

"These are strange times indeed," Ganondorf muttered before refocusing. "Regardless. I have to assume that she and I and probably you are the three destined champions chosen by the Triforce, and by extension the gods. It's... A whole other history for another day but all you need to know is that the branch that effects me has been corrupted. Before any of our times, when the universe was young, an ancient evil--"

"Listen, if you're pleading for your life right now," Link cut him off by adjusting his stance, holding up his weapon with confidence once more. "I don't think a whole library's worth of storytelling is gonna convince me either way. Can you give me the short version?"

"Yes, of course," Ganondorf seemed bewildered but shook it off and continued. "I've essentially been cursed. That... Corpse was in fact me but it also wasn't me. As I grew into a man and matured, a powerful evil was sewn into my very soul. I was slowly taken over, used like a puppet by the shadows, until only my subconscious was my own. My thoughts, my words, my actions; perverted by this great evil."

Link felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up when Rauru pulled an odd expression, like some great revelation was dawning on him.

"Though it was my hand that threatened Hyrule long ago, it wasn't by my will," Ganondorf frowned and huffed. "However, as I was imprisoned for millennia, the powerful magic of the Zonai--"

"Me," Rauru mumbled, as if that made anything clear. "He's... Referring to me."

"--The spell acted like a slow exorcism. That corpse is made of pure evil, mimicking my appearance," The Gerudo laid a hand over his heart in earnest. "I've been cleansed and... Now I have to make things right."

Suddenly, he shifted and Link dared to take a step forward, tightening his grip on the wooden club. Instead, Ganondorf laid his palms flat on the ground and touched his forehead to the pale stone beneath him.

"Spare me, don't, I only ask that you use me so I may pay for my sins," He begged, his voice thick with emotion. "I've watched through eyes clouded by hate, powerless, as innocent people were slain, as the world was torn asunder. Use me and let me correct these wrongs. Use me and we shall prevail to slay the true evil that's been left behind."

[a-treatise-on-velociraptors]

OK. Fuck it. More complaining about Tears of the Kingdom. Massive spoilers this time.

TL;DR: Zelda's dragon plan was bad, placing all their eggs in one basket when preparing for Link to fight Ganondorf shouldn't have worked from a Watsonian standpoint and is annoying as hell from a Doylist one, and while not necessarily undoing her development from BotW, Zelda's sacrifice here sets her up for this circumstantial sisyphean cycle of constantly giving up her own agency and personhood for Link.

The dragon plan itself--turning into an immortal being to guard the master sword until her own time--isn't the part of the plan that wouldn't have worked. It's everything else, not just from a story standpoint but from an in-universe, logistical standpoint. Thousands and thousands of years are a long fucking time, even in a fantasy world where the political and cultural landscape seems to be in a bit more stasis. Despite the fact that Hyrule literally has manifest destiny (which is a lot of, uh, thematic implication that's never really been addressed and that I'm not really gonna go into here), to anticipate that the specific set of events leading to the Sages' assistance of Link would transpire exactly the way they needed to is fucking preposterous. Yeah, you could say that it's a bit of a paradox--all of the pieces were already in place for Link and the Sages to fight ol' Ganny, and Zelda was simply retroactively setting them in motion for the future--but that's also stupid, because it would require the Light Dragon and sky islands to have always been there! And they appeared after the initial encounter with Ganondorf, which not only doesn't make sense as a time travel narrative at all, but also implies that before the Upheaval the sequence of events was still wibbly wobbly enough that shit could have gone down very, very differently! It's like the conundrum of how to indicate to future civilizations that certain areas contain radioactive waste--the this place is not a place of honor shpiel, et cetera. How do you leave the ancient all-powerful artifacts that your sages need in order to enact a plan thousands of years in the making, in places that no one will mess with over the millennia between you and them?

Conveniently drop those structures into place--ancient texts describing them and all--right before the second part of the plan goes off, I guess.

And from a narrative standpoint, I think "Thousands of years of meticulous preparation have gone into this One Fucking Super Special Uberguy of Prophecy Foretold getting to defeat the Big Bad. It is foretold that this Super Special Swordsman will be the Only One who can defeat the Big Bad, so we're all going to put our eggs in the Main Character basket in the hopes he actually will" is just. Dumb. it's just dumb. I was going to add the caveat that 'oh well previous zelda games had the reincarnation cycle' but that was a new edition with Skyward Sword. The reincarnation plotline wasn't a thing until the year of our lord 2011, the game that directly preceded Botw/Totk and was by the same director hmmmmm. Before that we had games like Wind Waker, where Link is just Some Kid who gets wrapped up in Hyrule's ancient dusty business while trying to save his sister. Or Twilight Princess, where Link is just Some Guy who gets wrapped up in Hyrule's current dusty business while trying to save the people from his town. Hell, even Ocarina of Time, where Link is the most predestined to be part of Hyrule's dusty business out of all the 3d Zeldas pre-SkSw, is immediately followed by Majora's Mask, where Link only gets wrapped up in Termina's dusty business because he's trying to find his friend. In all of those, Link feels like a generally normal guy who's blessed with strength because of his courage. Even in BotW, Link is just a guy who was Zelda's chosen knight. He nearly died for her, and when he awoke again 100 years later with no memory of who he was, he still rose to the occasion to stop the calamity he had failed to defeat.

In TotK? Link's the Kirito of Hyrule. He's the Special Guy everyone needs to swear fealty to. He's the Special Destined Chosen One. Their last line of defense will be Link.

As for Zelda's narrative sisyphean torture, it just puts a bitter taste in my mouth that after spending so much time giving herself in her entirety to protecting Hyrule, she has to turn around and do it again in a way that she believes is eternal and irreversible.

In BotW, Zelda activates her sealing magic as a personal last-ditch effort to save Link's life. She loves him (I will go to bat for Botw/TotK Zelink still) and she doesn't want to see him die for her and that's enough to finally activate her power. It's a good narrative beat, I liked it--despite my desire for Zelda to have some agency in the narrative that isn't just in direct support of Link, I'm a sucker for some good ol' "powers emerging in defense of a loved one" trope. It's good shit.

But in TotK, Zelda's only purpose is twofold: 1. To be Link's hype man. To set up the aforementioned Dumbshit Kirito Main Character Plan. To set the idiot ball rolling and hope it makes it to the right spot at the end of this cosmic plinko game. 2. To give herself--her mind, her body, her spirit, herself in her entirety--in order to repair the Master Sword and get it back to Link. "Link! Protect them all!" and "Link! You must find me!" are some of what she thinks are her final words. As far as she's come to know and expect by this point, the only purpose she serves now and forever is to pave the way for Link to do his part.

In the moment, meeting TotK where it is as far as her character goes, this development isn't necessarily bad. It's tragic, yes, but from a purely Watsonian perspective it's not the worst solution to her problem, and is the only one presented to her. But from a Doylist perspective it sucks ass. It's the wet fart of storytelling. So many of us have been begging Nintendo for years and years to give us more of Zelda as a character, give us more of her as someone with her own agency and drive within the plot (no, Sheik doesn't count, Sheik is awesome but still narratively only exists in service to Link), but TotK slid so far backward in that regard. Puts a bitter taste in my mouth. (Spirit Tracks had a better Zelda, and she spends most of that game trying to get her own corporeal form back from the BBEGs.)

[freebiblestudyhub]

How Was Mary Chosen to Carry Jesus?

The miraculous conception of Jesus, as described in the Bible, is one of the central mysteries of the Christian faith. According to Christian tradition, Mary, a young virgin, became pregnant with Jesus through divine intervention. This event is commonly referred to as the Virgin Birth or the Immaculate Conception, although these terms are sometimes misunderstood. Below, we explore the details of how Mary got pregnant with Jesus, based on Biblical accounts and Christian theology.

The Prophecy of the Virgin Birth

Old Testament Prophecy

The concept of the Virgin Birth was foretold in the Old Testament, specifically in the Book of Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah predicted the birth of the Messiah, the one who would save Israel and bring peace to the world. In Isaiah 7:14, it is written: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

The word “Immanuel” means “God with us,” indicating that this child would have a divine nature. This prophecy laid the foundation for understanding the miraculous nature of Jesus’ conception.

Expectation of the Messiah

For centuries, Jewish people awaited the arrival of the Messiah. Many believed that the coming of the Savior would be accompanied by supernatural signs. The Virgin Birth was seen as a fulfillment of God’s promise to send a redeemer, not born of human effort but through divine means.

The Annunciation: Angel Gabriel Visits Mary

Mary’s Background

Mary was a young Jewish woman, living in the town of Nazareth in Galilee. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, who was a descendant of King David. According to the customs of the time, engagements were legally binding, and though they were not yet married, Joseph and Mary were considered husband and wife in a formal sense. However, they had not yet lived together or consummated their relationship.

The Angel Gabriel’s Message

The Bible recounts that an angel named Gabriel appeared to Mary to deliver a special message from God. This event is known as the Annunciation. In the Gospel of Luke, the story is described in detail:

Luke 1:26-28

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.’”

Gabriel then told Mary that she had been chosen by God to give birth to the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Mary was confused and afraid, as she knew she was a virgin and could not understand how this could happen.

Mary’s Response

When Mary questioned how she could conceive a child since she was a virgin, Gabriel explained that this would be a miraculous event:

Luke 1:34-35

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Gabriel’s explanation makes it clear that Jesus’ conception was a supernatural act of God, made possible by the Holy Spirit. The phrase “overshadow you” indicates divine protection and presence, much like the way God’s presence overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

Divine Conception

The angel Gabriel revealed that Mary would conceive Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. This emphasizes that Jesus’ birth was not a natural event but a divine miracle. The Holy Spirit, one of the three Persons of the Trinity, played a key role in bringing about this miraculous conception. No human father was involved, which means Jesus’ birth was unique and unlike any other.

Jesus’ Divine Nature

Because Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Christians believe that Jesus is fully divine as well as fully human. This belief is foundational to understanding the nature of Jesus as both the Son of God and the Son of Man. Jesus’ divine origin set Him apart from all other human beings, giving Him the authority to save humanity from sin.

Joseph’s Role in Mary’s Pregnancy

Joseph’s Initial Reaction

Joseph, being engaged to Mary, discovered that she was pregnant before they came together as husband and wife. The Bible describes how Joseph initially reacted to this unexpected news:

Matthew 1:18-19

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.” Joseph, not yet aware of the divine nature of Mary’s pregnancy, intended to quietly divorce her to protect her from public shame, as pregnancy outside of marriage could have led to severe consequences for Mary.

The Angel’s Message to Joseph

Before Joseph could act on his decision, an angel appeared to him in a dream and explained the situation:

Matthew 1:20-21

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” Upon receiving this divine message, Joseph obeyed and took Mary as his wife. He played an important role in protecting and caring for Mary and Jesus, despite not being Jesus’ biological father.

The Virgin Birth: A Symbol of God’s Grace

A Miracle of Faith

The Virgin Birth is considered one of the greatest miracles in Christian theology. It is a sign of God’s grace and the fulfillment of His promise to bring salvation to the world. Mary’s willingness to accept God’s plan and her faith in His promise are celebrated in Christian tradition.

Luke 1:38

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May your word to me be fulfilled.’” Mary’s humble acceptance of God’s will reflects her deep faith and trust in Him, serving as an example for Christians to follow.

The Purpose of the Virgin Birth

The Virgin Birth signifies that Jesus was not just an ordinary man but was sent from God for a divine purpose. As the Son of God, Jesus came to redeem humanity from sin and reconcile people to God. His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit highlights His unique role as both fully God and fully human, capable of bridging the gap between God and man.

Conclusion

The conception of Jesus through the Virgin Mary is one of the cornerstones of Christian belief. It is a profound mystery that points to the power and grace of God. According to the Bible, Mary conceived Jesus through the Holy Spirit, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of a virgin giving birth to the Messiah. This event marked the beginning of Jesus’ mission to save humanity and remains a central aspect of Christian faith.

Mary’s faith and obedience, Joseph’s role in protecting the holy family, and the involvement of the Holy Spirit all demonstrate the miraculous nature of Jesus’ birth. The Virgin Birth is not just a historical event but a powerful symbol of God’s love and the fulfillment of His divine plan for salvation.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

SAINT OF THE DAY (September 6)

Saint Zechariah, also known as Zechariah the Prophet, was a prophet in the Hebrew Bible and the author of the Book of Zechariah in the Old Testament.

He lived during the 5th century BC. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Zechariah was the son of a priest named Jehoiada and his wife, Elizabeth.

He was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah.

According to the Bible, Zechariah was a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of King Darius of Persia.

He was chosen by God to deliver a message of hope and encouragement to the Israelites, who had recently returned from exile in Babylon.

In his prophecy, Zechariah foretold the coming of the Messiah and the redemption of Israel.

One of the most famous stories about Zechariah is the account of the angel Gabriel visiting him in the Temple to announce that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son, who would be named John.

This son would later become known as John the Baptist and is considered to be one of the greatest of the prophets.

There is not much historical information about Zechariah's life events — birth and death dates, canonization date, and feast days — as they are not recorded in the Bible.

However, the book of Zechariah is considered one of the most profound and complex books of the Old Testament.

It is still studied and revered by scholars and theologians today.

Zechariah is the last of the Old Testament prophets whose name appears in the New Testament. He is also one of the four prophets mentioned in the Gospel of Luke.

He is an important figure in both Jewish and Christian tradition. As a prophet, he delivered a message of hope and redemption to the Israelites.

Though not much is known about his historical life events, his prophecy in the book of Zechariah is still respected and revered today.

Zechariah is the patron saint of fathers, barristers, notaries, and tailors. He is also invoked against diseases of the eye.

[xasha777]

In the fragmented realms of Arthronia, where the fabric of space writhed and rippled with the currents of cosmic energies, stood the Watcher, Elyra, before the Mirror of Myriad Truths. This was no ordinary mirror but a rare artifact capable of peering into the twisted possibilities of time and space, tempered by the elusive Spherical Aberration - the very flaw that made it invaluable.

Elyra was the guardian of the Mirror, chosen for her ability to gaze into the abyss without flinching, to see the truth among the myriad lies of possibility. Her eyes, clear as the void between stars, never wavered. Her hair, dark as the nebulas that swirled in her domain, flowed with living constellations. The gears and feathers adorning her whispered of the ancient technology that bound her to her duty.

One day, as she peered into the swirling depths of the Mirror, Elyra noticed a peculiar shimmer, an aberration within the Spherical Aberration. It was a tiny sphere, pulsating gently with a light that seemed both within and beyond the spectrum. A prophecy had spoken of this moment: when the sphere appeared, the fabric of reality was at its weakest, and a bridge could be formed between worlds, between what was, what is, and what could be.

Elyra reached out, her fingers trailing the cool surface of the Mirror, circling the sphere of light. As her touch closed around it, the Mirror began to thrum, a low vibration that resonated through the very bones of the universe. With a swift motion, Elyra plucked the sphere from the Mirror's surface, and as she did, the reality around her unraveled like a tapestry in the claws of time.

She was in the In-Between, a place of eternal twilight, where the laws of physics bowed to the will of imagination, and where the Spherical Aberration was the key to unlock infinite paths. Here, Elyra could see the branching lines of reality, each a different choice, a different world born from the decisions of sentient beings. Each line was a thread in the loom of destiny, and she held the sphere, the nexus of potential, within her grasp.

The Mirror's prophecy was clear: she must choose a path that would prevent the collapse of the cosmos, a demise foretold by the convergence of all realities into one dark singularity. With the sphere's light guiding her, Elyra walked the paths, her presence a mere whisper, a shadow as she observed the lives and choices of countless beings.

She saw empires rise and fall, stars born and extinguished, love ignite and wane. She witnessed the creations of genius minds, machines that could think, feel, and dream. She saw the horrors of war and the peace that followed, always with the sphere's light growing brighter, leading her to the one moment, the critical junction, that held the balance.

And then she saw it—the pivotal event, a scientific experiment gone awry, a machine designed to harness the power of Spherical Aberration for travel between the stars. It was a noble goal, but its failure would spell the end of all. The machine, a vast engine of gears and light, resembled the adornments she wore, a mimicry of the cosmic order it sought to harness.

Elyra stepped into this reality, her form solidifying from shadow to substance. The scientists gaped in awe at her sudden appearance, but she had no time for explanations. She moved towards the machine, the sphere in her hand resonating with its core. She understood then: the machine needed the true essence of Spherical Aberration, not the imperfect renditions they had managed to create.

With a solemn nod, Elyra merged the sphere with the machine's heart. A pulse of pure light shot through the structure, and the impending disaster reversed, the surge of unrestrained energies now harmonizing with the song of the cosmos.

The machine stabilized, its purpose fulfilled not in traversing the stars, but in healing the tear in the fabric of reality it had unwittingly caused. Elyra's mission was complete, but as she turned to leave, she knew her place was no longer within the confines of the Mirror. She had become a part of the larger cosmos, a Watcher not just of possibilities but of the unfolding tapestry of life itself.

And so, Elyra, once the guardian of the Mirror, became the Warden of Realities, the bearer of the true Spherical Aberration, the anomaly that held the key to salvation and the bridge between all worlds. She walked among them, her eyes forever open, watching over the delicate balance of existence.

[siswritesyanderes]

I've always wanted Yandere Edmund, who is the King of Winter. Jadis just didn't betray him and in fact made him her successor because she didn't have much time and she was dying. And the reader appeared in Narnia like the Pevensie siblings through the wardrobe. Edmund would have fallen in love quickly enough and would like to make her his queen.

Oh, this is so good. Also cool because the story of Narnia relies on pitting pure evil against pure good, and since pure evil can't comprehend love, pure good has to win (by the machinations of "deep magic" Aslan references). But impure evil, with some comprehension of love and the power it wields over Narnia and its inhabitants, could have won that fight. A Jadis who understood what a sacrifice from Aslan would mean, or just the fact that the other Pevensies could never have fought against Edmund in a real battle, would have been significantly better-off than canon Jadis. Obviously, the idea that the Evil Cannot Comprehend Good trope places evil at a disadvantage isn't a new one, but it made me start to think about the metaphysical workings of Narnia, and I'll probably be pondering it for a while. Like, Pure Evil can't win, but can Pure Good? Is that why Aslan needed the Pevensies? Impure good will beat pure evil? Maybe both Aslan and Jadis tried to dilute their own respective attributes by involving humans, but because Jadis was pure evil, she also betrayed him, guaranteeing her own defeat. And that's just from the perspective of Aslan being pure, objective good by the rules of the universe. I'm rambling; here's the yandere stuff.

(I've seen people use gifs for their Tumblr fics, and I might start doing that, too...Man, Younger Me had such a crush on Edmund.)

A son of Adam had taken the throne, almost as the prophecy had foretold.

The White Witch's eternal winter had not ended, though the White Witch herself had. At least, she had "gone away", not exactly dead but not present in the physical way. With a son of Adam ruling Narnia in her name, she didn't have to manifest physically, any more than Aslan would under the rule of his chosen "heroes". (None of whom had stayed in Narnia. Eventually, they'd given up on trying to sway their brother. There hadn't been much of a choice.)

You knew nothing of Narnia, of course. All that you knew was that there wasn't supposed to be an icy forest at the back of this vintage wardrobe. You wandered deeper, mainly because you expected to find a wall, or at least an explanation as to how this trick was being done.

But the farther you walked from the opening of the wardrobe, the more it seemed like this was a real forest, and real snow, and a real...lamppost.

You didn't plan to stay long, so you didn't bring a coat.

It didn't feel that cold, anyway.

At first.

By the time you got to the point of both 'No, there are no walls, this is in fact a forest' and 'Yes, the snowy woods are, in fact, cold', you had trouble finding your way back to the lamppost and the wardrobe.

You didn't think it was entirely your fault, either; you had walked in pretty much a straight line, but somehow all of the trees you'd passed seemed to be elsewhere on the way back, and making sure that you passed the same trees only drove you deeper into the woods.

Eventually, you heard the faint sound of sleigh bells.

You moved in the direction of the sound and shortly crossed paths with a large, white sleigh pulled by large, white horses. You stumbled out of the way, but the vehicle merely pulled to a stop.

Riding the sleigh (or driving it, you supposed) was a lean young man who looked as though the sun's rays hadn't touched his skin in years. In stark contrast to his pallor, dark-brown locks framed his face, streaked and tipped though they were (in places) with frost. He wore extravagant furs, and under them, a tunic and sash like a fairy tale prince. He even had a white crown on his head, though it was as difficult to look at as snow in bright daylight.

It seemed that you ought to ask him for help getting back to your home, or at least tell him that you were lost, but something made you hesitate. His eyes were a pleasant shade of brown, but they seemed sharp, and wickedly intelligent, and dancing with mirth. He hadn't reacted to finding you in his path. Not with surprise or concern or anything. Just a smooth expression and that sharp, mirthful gaze.

Your shivering won out, however.

"I'm lost," you said, lamely, your breath visible in front of your face as you spoke.

The princely young man tilted his head, and for a second it seemed he might say nothing. Then a silvery voice left his mouth: "How dreadful."

You could have sworn that the forest itself quieted when he spoke. No creature moved. No tree swayed with the breeze. No snowflake dared to touch down. The wind held its breath.

"You must be freezing." The young man smiled, but it was very slight; barely a muscle moved in his face. If anything, it contributed to the general look of lofty amusement. "Come here; I can get you warm."

You hesitated. This was all so surreal. A man in a sleigh in a wardrobe. And the way he waited; he didn't move towards you, didn't ask you any questions or offer any information. He just presented his offer and waited.

You succumbed, because you were cold and couldn't find your home.

As you climbed up into the sleigh, the young man's smile grew and then softened, and he wrapped his furs around you, and pressed a silver chalice of something warm and sweet-smelling into your hands. You didn't drink it; it felt good enough just to hold.

"The trees told me that someone new had entered my woods," he intimated. There were flecks of snow in his dark eyelashes, which seemed not to bother him. "Narnia hasn't seen a daughter of Eve in many moons." He raised his hand a bit, to nudge the chalice to your lips. He wore a ring on almost every finger; they were as bright as his crown.

Before you fully processed it, you were drinking the warm beverage. It was like hot chocolate, but not quite. Hot chocolate, but a little to the left. Warmth passed down your throat, to your stomach, and then radiated out to your skin all at once.

"My wardrobe wasn't supposed to have a forest in it," you said.

His smile grew still more, now baring his rows of pearly teeth. "You should rest, now."

"No, I'm...supposed to go home," you said. Then: "Can I have some more hot chocolate?"

He poured you more.

(You weren't sure why he didn't correct you about what this drink was called. You knew that it wasn't really hot chocolate, but he didn't correct you.)

The king raised his hand, and the horses started to walk, despite the fact that they were facing the opposite direction and the king hadn't made any sound.

"I'm supposed to go back to the wardrobe," you repeated. "I don't know why all of this was here, to begin with..."

He didn't answer. He listened to your rambling.

"Where am I?" you finally asked.

"You're in Narnia. The magical realm of which I am king."

"King?" you echoed. A shift in the lighting drew your attention to your surroundings; there was less shade, because there were fewer trees. That wasn't right. You weren't supposed to be leaving the forest; the wardrobe was in the forest, and the wardrobe was your way home.

Also you were out of hot chocolate again.

"Can I have some more hot chocolate?"

"Later," the king said.

You found that, without the beverage to keep you warm, the wind seemed to bite at you harder and harder, the farther you sat from the king. You leaned as closely against his side as your modesty allowed, and he kept his furs around you, and the cold was bearable, but your nose was already starting to feel congested.

The king trailed his fingertips over the curve of your wrist. He stared at the site of contact as though fascinated. "I've not touched another human since my siblings left," he mused. Each time he spoke, it seemed as though he were making a weighty decision. As if he didn't usually speak aloud but was choosing to make an exception just this once. As if his very words were indulgences that he was offering you, the value of which could not be matched in gold. "I've not asked anyone's name for longer still. Everything and everyone in Narnia, I have the power to name myself. When I am bored, I name the snowflakes."

"Is that a castle?" you asked, sitting forward to squint at the horizon, and then recoiling back into the king's arms when the chill of winter hit you all at once.

"My castle," the king replied. "There is more hot chocolate inside."

You sighed at the thought.

For a while, the king silently moved his lips, as though framing a word that was so impossibly important that he refused to say it aloud without rehearsal. At last it left him: "Edmund. I was called Edmund, before I was called the king."

"Edmund?" you repeated. "That's a nice name. My name is-"

"Don't you listen?" The king smirked impishly. "It's been such a while since I've had to repeat myself. Everything and everyone in Narnia, I have the power to name myself. I will give you your name."

You frowned a bit, at this, but you felt viscerally that you shouldn't argue until you knew a bit more. As mild-tempered as the king seemed, you were getting the impression that he wielded a dangerous amount of power. Something about the wind going quiet when he spoke gave you a healthy wariness.

"The door to Narnia was opened to you," he continued, pensively. "This land always delivers me just what I want."

This comment made you particularly uncomfortable. As the king showed no signs that he planned to elaborate on this or the naming thing, you turned to look again in the direction of the castle.

"Oh!" you exclaimed. "That's a lot of statues."

It was a veritable forest of them. Some were humanoid with some animal features, and others were animals in their entirety. All were incredibly detailed and posed in different ways. They lined the path to the palace on both sides.

The king lifted a scepter that you hadn't noticed was propped at his other side and laid it across his lap and yours. "Do you like them?" he asked.

They were sort of eerie. Most of them were posed like they were fearful, or in pain. "They're nice," you said politely.

"I can make more. I've heard that there's meant to be a huge lion somewhere. I'd like to have a statue of him." The king's fingertips trailed over his scepter fondly.

The castle was beginning to loom above. Looking out at your surroundings again, you spotted the first sign of life since the forest: a man was out polishing one of the statues, with an air of tenderness and misery more commonly displayed at the sickbed of a loved one. When he spotted the sleigh, however, he dropped into a hasty bow, and his expression just as quickly morphed into a bright, forced-looking smile that reminded you all the more that something was terribly wrong here.

(One more glass of hot chocolate, and then you had to find a way home.)

The sleigh passed the man, and you had to do a double-take when his whole body came into view, because he wore no shirt in the freezing cold, and his lower body appeared to be that of a goat, as did the lower body of the statue he'd been polishing. You gaped at him until the cold was too unpleasant and you had to huddle against the king again.

Edmund looked as entertained as ever, by your reaction, and he gave no explanation.

The sleigh entered a tunnel underneath the castle and came to a stop.

A little man in a long, drooping hat ran up and unrolled what looked like a large wolf pelt for the king to step out onto. "Welcome home, sire," the little man said, smiling just as hugely and with just as much clear desperation (almost pained) as the half-goat creature had. "Dinner is ready, and a room has been prepared for your..." He trailed off, waiting for the king to supply him with a word to call you.

The king eyed his servant archly before saying, "My Delight, for now," he decided. "But you will not speak of her."

"Of course, sire." The little man bowed low. "Did the horses behave to your liking?"

"Yes, they may go," the king allowed, and his servant went to quickly untie the horses from the sleigh.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," two voices said in unison, and it sounded startlingly as if they were coming from the horses, but that was...

Impossible? Could anything really be considered impossible, today? Either this was a dream, or the word 'impossible' was losing meaning.

Still, you eyed the horses warily as they trotted away.

The little man stood before the king again, still with his pinned-on smile.

Edmund stared down at his servant for his second, and then twirled his scepter idly between his fingers. The little man winced as if the king had raised a sword, and Edmund let out a quiet laugh. "You may go, as well."

"Thank you, and a thousand blessings, sire." The little man half-ran in the same direction the horses had gone.

Edmund turned toward you, offering a ring-covered hand and a seemingly all-knowing grin. "Come, My Delight," he said. "I'll show you around."

...

Like I said earlier, my computer randomly restarted while I was writing this and I had to rewrite a bunch of it, so I'm sorry if there are any mistakes or if the ending is abrupt. I could have taken my time rewriting, but tbh I really had my heart set on posting this today, so I hope the quality didn't suffer too much. Hope this was okay.

[iero0]

curiosity

We sit in the red parlour, legs sprawled out before us, Dior-clad thighs grazing each other every so often. Iron Maiden is playing on Muggle vinyl—Harry insisted on a bit of a change; we are just back from watching The Nutcracker at the Royal Ballet.

In front of us on the glass and marble coffee table stands an assortment of crystals. A whisky decanter, two tumblers with diamond-shaped embellishments, each filled with a sample of the amber liquid. Between the spirits, a triangular phial glistens, filled with a potion one might mistake for milk if it wasn’t for its effulgence.

“Not me,” Harry says, his temple resting on two fingers. He sits slouched into the corner of the settee, affectionate eyes on me. He can sense my interest. Not that I was trying to hide it, but he knows me better than I know myself. And just as visceral, I know what Harry is going to say before he opens his mouth again. But I let him say it. “I’ve had enough prophecies.”

We sit centimetres apart, though I can’t help but crave his touch. I lean down to untie my Oxfords, cursing the slim fit suit I’m wearing. At last, my socketed feet are freed and perched in Harry’s lap, his hand on my ankle.

“So,” I say, eyes on the alabaster potion. “I’d have to swallow the whole thing to its very last drop. It’s your gift that the Alchemist Board so generously offered, and it’s a very rare one. I will never hear the end of it if you change your mind.”

“Mine is yours,” Harry replies automatically. His familiar fingers slip under the hem of my trousers, playing with the straps of the sock garters that—I know too well—Harry can never get enough of. “Even if I did change my mind, it’d be my fault completely. I offered it to you, now, didn’t I?”

“You have indeed.” My eyes are glued on the potion. I feel excitement bubble to the surface inside of me. Our discussion—it’s nothing but the foreplay. I’m aware that my decision has been made as soon as Harry showed the potion to me. I try to understand why, try to analyse my craving for validation because, as far as I’m concerned, my life in ten years’ time, as will be foretold by this potion, will look hardly any different from what it is now. A life waltzing in between cultural events with my husband, slot in the politely occasional Ministry function—we’ve had enough politics for a lifetime—friends, and a slice of family, but only well-measured, and music, so much music, and art galleries, and restaurants, and days in bed or on the settee in the red parlour. Me playing the pianoforte under Harry’s appreciative gazes, and Harry reading achingly beautiful literature to me in the warm timbre of his lovely voice.

“Give it me, Potter,” I say at last, arms crossed, until Harry bends to get the flask and holds it out for my taking. I uncork it, pleased to find an unusual, custom-crafted lid. Its appearance is beautiful, carefully chosen for the Chosen One, I suppose. It’s tested by the country’s best Potion Masters, several times, otherwise Harry wouldn’t ever offer me to try it.

“Draco, just . . .” A frown seizes my darling’s beautiful features, his dark eyebrows. I lean forward, my hand finding his. After a deep breath, he says, “They are an intricate thing, prophecies. Whatever you’ll see, don’t attach too much to it, alright? Can be a bit . . . haunting.”

I rearrange my long limbs, sit up, and brush through Harry’s hair. “Darling,” I say, and Harry’s eyes gleam in response. “Darling, I wouldn’t ever. After all we’ve been through, a glimpse of the future will hardly be a shock, whatever it is that I’ll see.”

He nods, blinking for a moment too long, nostrils flaring as he expels a breath. I lean in close to his face, press gentle lips to the troubled furrow between his brows, then the soft of his cheek, the velvet of his lips. Our skin connects, reluctant to let go as we part, and the uncorked phial is almost forgotten at the moment, only returns when I tighten my grip around it in an attempt to calm the pleasure our touch gives me.

“I won’t ever,” I whisper, thumb caressing stubble, eyes studying the chiselled emerald that looks back at me, “let anything define me that isn’t now. Or you,” I add after a smile, thinking that it’s the same anyway. The smile is returned, faint but there, and Harry toasts me with his glass as he sips his whisky and I chug down the potion.

A shrill-white flash.

A familiar hand closed around my wrist, tight, too tight, too much.

My own hand itches for my wand, instead my knuckles meet a cheekbone.

The sex is raw after that, possessive on either side.

Then a flash, and there’s a wizard. Could it be . . .? He looks like the head of St Mungo’s management. He smiles at me, white tie, his hair swept back in a neat hairdo, and I think what a smooth grey it is in contrast to Potter’s salt-and-pepper bird’s nest. I have him in a standing position, his hands braced against a grand mantlepiece.

A flash and there’s a funeral. Harry looks devastated. Pale, skin waxen, posture displaying every bit the despair that I know he feels. I feel nothing.

A flash and Harry is on top of me, fucking into me with abandon, and I think, finally, finally, I’m his everything again.

A flash and rude words. Make-up sex in the spa of a fancy hotel and another round in an alley, nothing but Harry’s pale arse bared for me to claim, and I recognise the area as the one close to Teddy’s university.

Then I’m alone. So alone. Every day. I look out the window because I can’t abide the sight of the wet spot on the ceiling, the traces that the former tenant has left in the parquet-mocking linoleum for me to sneer at, and I phantasise about evenings a decade ago, a life I once led, of Harry because there’s no one else-

I gulp in a breath, emerging from the magic-induced revery, and Harry’s hand is on my wrist, trying to be supportive, but I shake his confining touch off, gasping for air.

thanks to @ladderofyears for your beta and your lovely words. this is for the @drarrymicrofic​ prompt of: curiosity

[nadziejastar]

Ok…. What do you think was the deal with young Braig showing up in the Re:Coded secret ending…?? Were we supposed to have young Braig as a Seeker of Darkness maybe??Kinda makes sense if he had KH1 Riku yeah (if it wasn’t supposed to be the replica at first)? Tbh I’m so confused who the original true Organization 13 was supposed to be… especially since we got 0 explanation for why old members came back lol

Ok…. What do you think was the deal with young Braig showing up in the Re:Coded secret ending…?? Were we supposed to have young Braig as a Seeker of Darkness maybe??

That is a really good question. Honestly, I have NO idea. Braig asks Young Xehanort, "Which poor soul will it be?" This implied two things:

-The person chosen would not become a vessel by their own free will.

-Braig did not know who the vessel was.

If it was supposed to be current timeline Braig, of course he'd know it was Saix. It definitely implied that it was Braig from the past. They were there to kidnap Isa and apparently Young Xehanort was able to appear there because of the Recusant's Sigil, I guess? But no explanation was ever given for that scene. Whatever story they were building up to with that secret ending, it got changed by the time KH3 came out. It's a real shame because it seemed interesting.

Kinda makes sense if he had KH1 Riku yeah (if it wasn’t supposed to be the replica at first)?

Even when I played CoM all those years ago, I always thought the idea was that Riku Replica WAS the KH1 Riku. He was the version of Riku who accepted the darkness and who was still trying to one-up Sora. Another thing that became more confusing in KH3.

Tbh I’m so confused who the original true Organization 13 was supposed to be… especially since we got 0 explanation for why old members came back lol

I was really confused, too. Here is who I think the original True Organization XIII was going to be and why they were supposed to join:

Master Xehanort: He wanted to send the world back to the void and give it a rebirth.

2. Young Xehanort: Same as Master Xehanort.

3. Terra-Xehanort: His recompleted empty shell of a body from BBS was used as a vessel again. No free will in joining.

4. Ansem Seeker of Darkness: Same motivations as MX.

5. Xemnas: Same motivations as MX.

6. Vanitas: Same motivations as in BBS. Wants to confront Ventus.

7. Xigbar: Joined because he lusted after the Keyblade's power. Don't think he was originally planned to be Luxu.

8. Saix: Was subjected to mind control experiments as a kid. Similar to Terra, his recompleted body was an empty shell and collected and used as a vessel again. All that bullshit about how he joined of his own free will to atone was shoehorned in at the very last minute.

9. Demyx: In the Character Files, it mentions that he only joined the New Organization so he could have friends. He wanted to hang out with his old comrades again and agreed to become a vessel (wow that makes me wanna cry, poor Demyx).

10. Luxord: Joined because Xigbar promised him information on the black box. Luxord knew that the Book of Prophecies foretold the end of the world, and he was looking for hope.

11. Marluxia: Joined because he was hoping to find a way to resurrect his dead little sister. I don't buy all that amnesiac Dandelion crap. That was retconned at the last minute.

12. Larxene: Wanted to help Lauriam bring Strelitzia back to life and live in a world where she could see him smile again. Again, I don't buy any of that amnesiac Dandelion crap.

13. Dark Riku: Same motivation as in CoM. He wanted to be the real Riku.

[bonkusdonkus]

So a while ago I made a list thingy of ideas for different dynamics between a Warlock and their Patron. Honestly, the relationship between the two is such an important part of the class, it really seems like a waste not to play around with it.

Since that first post though, I’ve had more ideas, and since people seemed to like the first one, I thought I’d spew a few more. So here we go!

The Warlock’s family has been working closely with the Patron for generations upon generations, to the point where they’ve pretty much become a part of the family. The Patron has accepted their makeshift adoption, and acts as a beloved, if eccentric, aunt/uncle to the Warlock and their family. Bonus points if the Warlock refers to their Patron by a family nickname rather than their title/actual name. Which of course leads to hilarious misunderstandings, and the inevitable horrifying realization that the Warlock’s “Aunti Morg” that they’ve been talking fondly of the whole time, is in fact their Fathomless Patron, Morgilana, Devourer of Foes and Queen of the Endless Deep. (Morgilana is just an example, I’m not insinuating that this idea is locked to Fathomless patrons. Pretty much anything big and scary would be funny.)

The Hexblade Patron is an ancient sentient sword, and the bearer of a terrible curse/prophecy: Any who wield the blade will be granted the power to achieve whatever they desire most, but once they achieve that goal, they will die. Kings, heroes, tyrants, villains, all have used the blade to achieve their dreams, and then payed the ultimate price. The Patron is... Mostly resigned to all of this. It’s their lot in life, they don’t know how to change it, so they don’t try. Until one day the get a new Warlock/wielder. And they’re a child. The Patron is horrified, they are not okay with killing a kid, thank you very much! But their new Warlock is stubborn and determined to achieve their dream, and they won’t be dissuaded by the Patron, no matter what argument they use. So now the Warlock is charging headfirst into danger and inevitable death, while their Patron desperately tries to keep them alive, find a work around to the curse, and just generally is an exhausted parent.

The Celestial Patron was sent on a mission from the gods to find the Chosen One of prophecy, the one who was foretold to save the world from a great and terrible evil. They were to find them, and guide them on the path to their destiny. Which would have been all well and good, if there wasn’t a... Complication. See, when the Patron appeared to the Chosen One, they died of a sudden and tragic heart attack. (Probably because a big dang angel/kirrin/unicorn/cuoatl/other celestial appeared out of nowhere,) In a panic, the Patron desperately looks around until they find a mortal who at least vaguely matches the prophecy and basically says: “You’ll do! Congratulations, you’re the chosen one now!” Bonus points if the Warlock and Patron keep having to come up with increasingly elaborate cover stories to explain why the Warlock doesn’t quite match up with the Chosen One of the prophecy. Extra bonus points if Warlock is an entirely different race than the Chosen, making their excuses even more ridiculous.(Like, for example, if the Chosen was a gold dragonborn, and the Warlock is a kobold who is a kind of yellow that could be described as gold. If you shined em’ up a bit and squinted.)

The Warlock’s original Patron was your usual manipulative jerk Patron, the kind that swindles their Warlock into some kind of terrible devil’s deal that will only end poorly. But, they also had a terrible gambling problem. Namely, that they were really bad at it. So bad that they gambled away the Warlock’s contract to an entirely different entity. Now the Warlock has a new boss, and they have no idea what to expect from the new magement. Bonus points if the new Patron is an entirely different type of patron.(like, going from an Archfey patron, to a Celestial.)

By some kind of cosmic clerical disaster, the Warlock accidentally signed a contract with three (or more) Patrons at once. Now all of them are constantly fighting each other to be the Warlock’s “favorite.” Bonus points if they manage to put aside their differences and work together to aid their Warlock, however temporarily, when the Warlock really needs them to.

The Warlock and the Patron met as children, and quickly formed a bond of friendship. Being a child, they saw no problems befriending a otherworldly entity, and the Patron was just glad to have a friend, mortal or not. Eventually they had to part ways, but not before swearing to be best friends forever. No one believed the Warlock when they told people about their best friend, they would just say they had a big imagination. And over time the Warlock begins to believe these people, seeing their friend as the creation of a lonely child. Only, one day they meet their old friend again, and they are very much real, and very, very powerful. And also now their Patron, because as it turns out, when you swear to be best friends forever with someone who is basically made of magic, it’s got quite a bit more oomph than your average promise.

Someone very close to the Warlock (a friend, a family member, a lover, whatever,) owes the Patron a massive debt, and is either unable or unwilling to pay it. The Patron is about to punish the loved one for their transgression when the Warlock offers themselves up instead, begging to take the punishment instead. Impressed by their loyalty and and willingness to sacrifice themselves, the Patron agrees, and takes them on as their servant to pay off their loved one’s debt. Bonus points if the loved one turns out to be an A-hole, and immediately abandons the Warlock to their fate and/or takes advantage of the situation to screw over the Warlock.(Gotta have some of that aaaaaaaangst.)

The Patron has been assigned by the powers that be to be a sort of guardian angel to the Warlock. As a punishment detail. Normally, watching over some mortal wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but this Warlock is a special case. They are one of, (if not the) most danger prone being in existence, bad luck and misfortune are drawn to them like a magnet. Keeping them alive on a day to day basis takes most of the Patrons power, and pretty much all of their attention. The Patron did something to piss off some very powerful beings, and now they’re stuck babysitting some mortal who can barely get out of bed every morning without dying.(side note for this one, the Patron doesn’t have to be an angel, even though I used the term “guardian angel.” They don’t even have to be a Celestial, they can be anything. Heck, can you imagine a Fiend patron getting strong armed into protecting some poor mortal? That’d be hilarious!)

[amyx2001]

((My brain has been leeched of energy so I've run out of things to say for the moment. However I am curious. It's now your turn. Bestie tell me about your OCs. Now. I crave k n o w l e d g e .)) -Z

Ok ok I had to wake up a little to do this

I know you. And I know EXACTLY the kinds of OCs you’d LOVE to hear about.

So here goes

I think I saw you mentioning transformers prime once (forgive me if I’m wrong)-

this is Orion Pax in an AU where Megatronus continued being a peaceful revolutionary and changed the fate of lower-guild Cybertronians through non-violent actions.

However, Orion was rather horrified of the treatment of lower-caste citizens, and doubtful that convincing authority through the voice of the people would change anything at all.

So, he turned to violently removing the council. He became the Megatron of his universe.

Onto the skeletons. I know you love these guys.

Blank is another “what if things were reversed” OC: he’s like, if Ink turned to feeling jealous and vengeful of his lack of a story, all the while the multiverse was so damn big and happy. He seeks to sort of destroy it.

This is Mercy! He’s Blank’s version of Error.

He’s very kind- he picked up a huge savior complex after he suffered his own genocide story, and unlike Blank, he seeks out to help anybody else who might suffer the same fate.

This is technically a Minecraft OC redesign. He’s- his name is Ravage.

He’s made for monsterfucking sex appeal. It’s very obvious.

A female version or a friend, I think. She’s way less horny. Material gworl.

This is Lucifer, a backrooms (if you look it up you’ll figure out what it is pretty quickly) deity that assists people that accidentally find their way into the infinite space on any level.

He’s very helpful. He often appears as an angel, and takes on the face of someone you trust in order to calm you down from any paranoid high you might be facing.

For some odd reason, he always sounds like he’s from Eastern Europe. He has a mixed, indecipherable accent.

This is uh… he doesn’t have a name.

He’s literally supposed to be a random, uncontained SCP with a lot of physical strength, rage, anxiety, and a huge heart.

He’s heavily based on one of the antagonists from the horror game monstrum.

I won’t list all the human OCs I have because they’re very boring in comparison to the monster / nonhuman ones.

But this is Liam. He’s the overachieving younger brother of Paul Atreides in Dune, except unlike Paul, he’s gone so far as to becoming a devoted figurehead in the prominent church of the Bene Gesseret. Liam aspires to become the chosen one foretold to die instead of his dear brother.

He pretends to dislike Paul, but it’s only to convince him to stay the hell away from the Bene Gesseret. He’s openly putting himself as a target so he carries the prophecy and suffers its’ consequences in place of Paul.

No matter what it takes.

That’s about it for the interesting ones. Thanks for coming to the lecture

[artemis-maia]

some SMTII and SMTIV notes

救世主 Kyuuseishu

Aleph is called the true ‚Kyuuseishu‘ (Saviour of the World). That expression is used when Jesus is portrayed in the Salvator Mundi position. Kyuuseishu is also used for all the protagonists in the Diamond Realm DLC in SMTIV Final.

聖母 Seibo Hiroko is called ‚Seibo‘ (holy mother). This expression is always used in Japanese in connection to Virgin Mary.

More on the name Aleph:

The name Aleph next to being from the Hebrew alphabet also has Christian allusions as well. Namely alluding to the expression Alpha and Omega/Aleph and Tav.

Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet. The first and the last letters of the Hebrew alphabet are, respectively, א (aleph) and ת (tav). The letter Aleph means “an ox” and symbolizes a sacrificial animal offered to God. The letter Tav means “a mark“. I am the Aleph and the Tav, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Rev. 22:13).

Also the letter Aleph appears as IC in its cursive form looking similar to Jesus Christ. It‘s kinda cool since Aleph is so heavily modeled after Jesus that even his name might not just be randomly chosen.

There is also a different variant of the letter Tav ת. It looks like a cross.

Alpha and Omega is also often used in the Chi-Rho. Eli Eli lama sabachthani

(my god why have you forsaken me). Quoted by Jesus on the cross. It derives from psalm 22 supposedly written by King David. This psalm is often interpreted by Christians to have Messianic symbolism since some lines seem similar to Jesus‘ crucifixion (for example ’They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.‘ which resembles the Romans gambling for Jesus‘ clothes etc.) I have read that since Jesus quoted this psalm that means that Jesus basically claimed that psalm as his. Some spectators of the crucifixion mistakingly or mockingly thought that he is calling Elijah (who is responsible for saving innocents). Interestingly while the psalm starts dramatically it ends positively similar to the contrast between Jesus‘ crucifixion and later resurrection. Also small discourse on the relation between Jesus and David: Matthew 9 Jesus Heals Two Blind Men 27 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” 28 When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” 31 But they went away and spread his fame through all that district. Jesus is often by side characters called Son of David as well. For example two blind men he heals call him that.

Another scene in which he famously is called Son of David (along with Messiah) is on Palm Sunday when he enters Jerusalem on a donkey. The Messiah is said to be from the House of David. Jesus‘ mother Mary is related to Prince Nathan a younger son of David and Bathsheba. Nathan never ruled though which is why Jesus‘ foster earthly father Joseph of Nazareth is important. Joseph is actually related to King Solomon the oldest surviving son of David and Bathsheba, who was actually king. Joseph basically adopted Jesus into the main Davidic branch. Why the adoption? Due to the curse of Jeconiah who is an ancestor of Joseph of Nazareth. Jeconiah was cursed by God meaning that a direct descendant of Solomon couldn‘t technically become the Messiah anymore. Henceforth why this is broken with Jesus being from the side Nathan branch + his virgin birth. I personally always thought that his Davidic lineage was what actually killed Jesus. The Sanhedrin gave him to the Romans. The Romans did not care about Son of God, Messiah etc. What they cared about was that there were people around saying he the Son of the House David should be king which leads to the crown of thorns mockery and INRI inscription on his cross.

If you read up on the House David it‘s also a really hot mess. David who uses his position to sleep with Uriah‘s wife Bathsheba and sends Uriah to his death to solve this problem, Amnon who rapes his half-sister Tamar, Absalom who turns against David and rapes ten concubines of David etc.

The relation of Jesus to Bathsheba is actually emphasized along with Jesus relation to Rahab ‚the whore of Jericho‘, Tamar ‚who disguised as a prostitute to sleep with her father in law’, and Ruth ‚the Moabite thus seen as Gentile by Jews‘ to precisely not only emphasize women like Sarah (Abraham‘s wife), Rebecca (Isaac‘s wife) and Leah (Jacob‘s wife) who are seen as paragons (they all appear in Jesus genealogy anyway) and to hide stuff.

מנא, מנא, תקל, ופרסין

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin

“numbered, weighed, divided/Persia.”

“The writing on the wall”, or “the handwriting on the wall” or “Mene Mene”, is an idiom for doom and a set future.

It’s a story from the Book of Daniel (Old Testament) Chapter 5. At a banquet hosted by King Belshazzar a disembodied hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall, “Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin”.

Daniel was supposed to interprete this and it was seen as the end for the Babylonian kingdom. That same night King Belshazzar was killed and Babylon fell to the Persians and Medes.

Son of Man

Daniel 7

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

   there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

   and was presented before him.

14

And to him was given dominion

   and glory and a kingdom,

that all peoples, nations, and languages

   should serve him;

his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

   which shall not pass away,

and his kingdom one

   that shall not be destroyed.

The expression Son of Man is famously used in the book Daniel in a vision given to Daniel in which four "beasts," representing nations are judged by God. The "Ancient of Days" (God) gives dominion over the earth to "the Son of Man”.

Ancient of Days also appears in SMTIV.

Daniel as I explained in another article was chief of the Magi in Babylon (interesting to think about considering the Magi who visited Jesus) and the archangel Gabriel also appeared to him explaining the 70 weeks prophecy (which Christians believe foretold the exact timeframe in which the Messiah would appear since it fits the timeframe of Jesus)

This expression Son of Man was later used during the Second Temple era as a name for the Messiah since people understood what Jesus was referring to when he used it.

Jesus when using this term applied Daniel‘s prophecy to himself. He quoted Daniel often even supporting Daniel‘s claim that the second temple would be destroyed. It also seems like most Christians listened to Jesus’ advice regarding the temple to flee to the mountains which is why Christians abandoned Jerusalem and hid in Pella when the Temple fell.

Matthew 26:57-67

The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

64 “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

The most dramatic sequence in which Jesus uses this term is actually this scene.

The Sanhedrin has caught him and Caiaphas asks him to tell them whether he is the Messiah and Son of God. Jesus says that they are correct and once again makes a reference to Daniel. This makes Caiaphas so angry that he tears his clothes.

Acts 7:54-56

54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.“

It‘s also once referenced in the story of St. Stephen the first Christian martyr.

Another instance where it is used is in the Book of Revelation.

[parvismaxima]

Ragnarok references in Attack on Titan

Ragnarok is a series of apocalyptic events that will define the end of the world, where gods will band together to fight against the giants in a final battle that will ultimately destroy the planet, submerging it under water. According to the legend, the world will resurface, the surviving gods will meet, and the world will be repopulated by two human survivors.

The following major battles will be fought:

·       Odin vs Fenrir

·       Vidar vs Fenrir

·       Thor vs Jormungandr

·       Heimdall vs Loki

Major warriors during Ragnarok:

Odin

Odin is the chief of the Æsir and king of Asgard. He will lead the battle against giants during the Ragnarok

(Hange and Odin both sacrificed their left eye in exchange for knowledge)

Heimdall

is the guardian of the gods and the personification of order. He will blow a horn, called the Gjallarhorn if Asgard is in danger. His senses are so good that he can hear the grass grow and he can see to the end of the world. Heimdall could hear a leaf fall. He does not need any sleep at all.

Loki

The god of trickery and mistrust, Loki has a complicated relationship with the  Æsir, oftentimes assisting them or hindering them in bringing their goals to fruition. He is the personification of chaos

Tyr

He is the God of war, and the bravest of all the Gods in Norse mythology. Tyr is interested in justice and with fair treaties, which makes him a God of law as well.

The reason why Tyr is the bravest of all the Gods is because of his most written story:

He once put his hand into the jaws of the gigantic evil wolf Fenrir. He did this while the other Gods bound Fenrir to a rock. When Fenrir saw this, he became suspicious, and declared that he would only allow the gods to put it around him if one of them would stick an arm in his mouth as a pledge of good faith. At last,  when the wolf noticed that he could not get free from the chains, he became furious and ripped Tyr’s right hand

And there in that chain, the giant wolf remained in that sordid state until Ragnarok.

Freyr

the central god of peace, prosperity, sunshine and with good harvest. Freyr is in particular associated with the horse cult, and in the Hrafnkels saga, a noble Gothi once killed a man for riding a horse that he had dedicated to the god.

Thor

The champion of Asgard, Thor’s job is to protect both it and Midgard from the likes of the Jotnar, the giants of Jötunheimr.

He has two children: Modi and Magni

Vidar

is the god of vengeance. A member of the Æsir, he is the son of Odin and the giantess Gríðr. To be honest, Vidar isn’t really an important God. Virtually all of the references to him Norse mythology are concerned with his role in Ragnarok; we know little to nothing about his origin or function outside of his one particular role at the end.

Personally, I only saw two things for Connie’s role in this story — Sasha’s comedic counterpart and someone who will justice for Ragako (however that justice might look like). Given that Sasha is gone and the series has taken a serious route, there is only one role left for him to finish

Eren’s soul: Fenrir

Is the half-giant wolf of Norse mythology. The Æsir gods raised Fenrir themselves in order to keep him under their control and prevent him from wreaking havoc throughout the Nine Worlds. Fenrir however, grew at an astonishingly fast pace, and eventually the troubled gods decided to chain him up. 

Eren’s titan: Jormungandr

The biggest beast in Norse mythology, he's a sea serpent who was imprisoned into the sea by Odin and is fated to rise during Ragnarok. In literature and prayers,  he symbolizes the destructive forces of nature, with everything from hurricanes, tornadoes, vulcanism, earthquakes, etc... His greatest foe is Thor

Before Ragnarok:

In Norse mythology, gods belong to either one of two tribes: the Æsir and the Vanir. And these tribes fought a lot. They fought so much that Prose Edda had poems entirely dedicated to the War of the Gods.

On the other hand, the Giants (Jotun) came before these two tribes and lived in in Jötunheimr, one of the nine worlds of Norse cosmology. They were banished there by the Gods, who refused them entry to their world, Asgard. In the ancient Norse stories, the Giants frequently interact with the Æsir and the Vanir, but they are usually in opposition with them.

The Æsir fought by the rules of plain combat, with weapons and brute force, while the Vanir used the subtler means of magic.

Loki is the mixed-blood son of a goddess and a male Jotun. His role in Norse mythology is unique and controversial since he appears to both help the gods and hinder them. According to the story, Loki tricked the blind god of winter Hod, an action that resulted in the death of the god Baldr, the shining god beloved by everyone.

Because of this, he was punished and cast into a cliff where he was to remain bound to a rock until Ragnarok, the end of the world.

Baldr’s death is one of the many signs that will fortell Ragnarok. First, there will come a great Winter “Fimbulvetr” which will last for years. Brothers will slay brother, father will slay son, and son will slay father. It will be an age of war

Next, the wolves Skoll and Hati (Fenrir’s sons) who have hunted the sun and the moon for a very long time, will at last catch their prey.

Loki will escape his prison to join the other Giants.

the chains that has been holding back the monstrous wolf Fenrir will snap, and the beast will run free. 

Jormungandr, the mighty serpent who dwells at the bottom of the ocean and encircles the land, will rise from the depths, spilling the seas over all the earth as he makes landfall.

These convulsions will shake the ship Naglfar (“Nail Ship”) free from its moorings. This ship, which is made from the fingernails and toenails of dead men and women, will sail easily over the flooded earth. Its crew will be an army of giants, the forces of chaos and destruction. 

Fenrir, with fire blazing from his eyes and nostrils, will run across the earth, with his lower jaw on the ground and his upper jaw against the top of the sky, devouring everything in his path. Jormungand will spit his venom over all the world, poisoning land, water, and air alike.

The gods who have been warring all these time, will decide to join arms and go to battle, even though they know what the prophecies have foretold concerning the outcome of this clash.

They will meet their enemies on a battlefield called Vigrid (Old Norse Vígríðr, “Plain Where Battle Surges”

An ominous horn blast will ring out; this will be Heimdall, the divine sentry, blowing the Gjallarhorn to announce the arrival of the moment the gods have feared. He will be the first one to stop the giants

Odin will anxiously consult the head of Mimir, the wisest of all beings, for counsel. Odin will face Fenrir, and by his side will be the Einherjar, the host of his chosen dead human warriors whom has preserved in Valhalla for just this moment.

During Ragnarok:

Odin and the champions of men will fight more valiantly than anyone has ever fought before. But it will not be enough. Fenrir will swallow Odin and his men.

Then one of Odin’s sons, Vidar, burning with rage, will charge the beast to avenge his father. He will stab his sword through the wolf’s throat, killing him.

Heimdall and his archenemy Loki will do the same, putting a final end to the trickster’s treachery. Both will inflict fatal wounds on each other, but Loki refuses to die until he sees the destruction of the worlds which happened soon after. They both died next to each other

Tyr will perish fighting Fenrir. The wolf will bite his remaining hand and he will bleed out, but not before he gives the beast a mortal wound

The god Freyr and a fire giant will also be the end of each other. 

Thor and Jormungand, those age-old foes, will both finally have their chance to kill the other. Thor will succeed in felling the great snake with the blows of his hammer. But the serpent will have covered him in so much venom that he will not be able to stand for much longer; he will take nine paces before falling dead himself and adding his blood to the already-saturated soil of Vigrid

After all these, these gods will die, the giants will alight the world in flame, until a flood finally covers the world.

After Ragnarok:

Several of the Gods will survive, among them is Odin’s sons Vidar. Thor’s sons Modi and Magni will also survive, inheriting their father’s hammer Mjölnir.

While most of the Gods will die in the mutual destruction with the Giants, it is predetermined that a new world will rise up from the water, beautiful and green. Before the battle of Ragnarok, a woman and a man, Lif “life” and Liftraser “lover of life”, will find shelter from the cataclysm in a place called the “Wood of Hoddmimir” (Hoddmímis holt).

They will now come out and populate the lush land in which they will find themselves. A new sun, the daughter of the previous one, will rise in the sky. And all of this will be presided over by a new, almighty ruler.

After Ragnarok” by Emil Doepler (1905)

 The significance of Ravens in Norse mythology

Ravens are found everywhere in Prose Edda, a collection of poems detailing the legends of Old Norse. It is the holy bird circling around Odin

In Norse mythology, Huginn ( "thought") and Muninn ("memory") are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world and relay information to him, causing Odin to become very wise.

Now I know I just said that Hange is supposed to play Odin during Ragnarok, but given the bird’s role in the Norse story, and all the perspectives being dropped, I think it’s safe to say that Eren’s been hearing his enemies pretty well, as well as seeing the literal bird’s eye perspective of the entire war

Anyway, these are all the Norse references I saw during the Marley arc onwards. What do you think? How do you foresee the final battle ending?

[tipsycad147]

Morrigan – The Ancient Irish Trinity Goddess

The Morrigan, also called Mórrígan or Morrígu, is one of the most unique and complex deities of Irish mythology. She’s depicted as a strong, mysterious and vengeful figure with immense power. Here’s a closer look at the Morrigan and what she symbolizes.

Who is the Morrigan?

The Morrigan is one of the most prominent deities in Irish mythology. A goddess of war and fate, she was most commonly associated with the raven and could shapeshift at will. Unlike the ravens of the Norse god Odin, however, who were associated with wisdom, the ravens here are a symbol of war and death as the black birds were often seen flying over battlefields.

The meaning of Morrigan’s name is still the subject of some debate. The Mor in it either comes from the Indo-European word for “terror”or from the Old Irish word mór meaning “great”. The second part of the name is rígan which is largely undisputed to mean “queen”. Hence, some scholars translated the Morrigan as either the phantom queen or the great queen.

The Morrigan name reads as Mór-Ríoghain in modern Irish. That’s why it’s usually preceded by the article “the” – because it isn’t so much a name as it’s a title. The Morrigan – The Great Queen.

Morrigan and Cu Chulainn

There are many stories about Morrigan, but one of the most popular depicts her association with Cuchulainn, around the time he defended Ulster from the army led by Queen Maeve of Connaught. This is how the story goes:

The battle had been going on for months and many lives had been lost. The Morrigan stepped in, and tried to seduce Cuchulainn before a battle. However, although she was beautiful, Cuchulainn rejected her and focused on the battle.

Cuchulain in Battle (1911) by J. C. Leyendecker

In a rage at the rejection, the Morrigan began to sabotage Cuchulainn’s efforts in the battle by shape-shifting into various creatures. First, she turned herself into an eel to trip Cuchulainn, but he struck the eel, breaking its ribs. Next, the Morrigan transformed inoto a wolf to scare a herd of cattle towards him, but Cuchulainn was able to fight back blinding her in one eye in the process.

Finally, she turned herself into a heifer and led a stampeded towards Cuchulainn, but he stopped her attack with a slingshot which broke her leg. The Morrigan was furious and humiliated and vowed to take her vengeance.

Finally, after having won the battle, Cuchulainn came across an old woman milking a cow. She was blind, lame and had broken ribs, but Cuchulainn didn’t recognize her as the Morrigan. She offered him some milk to drink, and he had three sips, after each of which he blessed the woman. These blessings healed each of her wounds. Finally, she revealed herself to him and Cuchulainn was aghast that he had healed her. She warned him of his impending doom and left.

Before his final battle, Cuchulainn saw a vision of an old woman washing off the blood from his armor, a bad omen indicating doom. During this battle, Cuchulainn was mortally wounded, but he tricked his enemies into thinking he was alive by propping himself up. The opposing army retreated, believing him to be alive. Cuchulainn died standing up, and when a raven finally flew down and landed on his shoulder, his men knew that he had passed.

Although the Morrigan hated Cuchulainn and had wanted to kill him, she had favored his side. The men of Ulster won the battle but Cuchulainn was no more.

The Morrigan – War and Peace

The two attributes most often associated with this Irish deity are war and fate. As she’s often thought to be personified by the ravens flying above battlefields, Morrigan was more than just a war goddess, however – she was also believed to know and reveal the fate of the warriors on the field as well.

Depending on how many ravens there were on each particular battleground and how they behaved, Irish warriors would often try to draw conclusions about the goddess’ will. If the ravens flew in a particular direction or pattern or if they seemed to have a seemingly ominous timing, the warriors would often conclude that Morrigan either favored them to win or doomed them to lose and fall in battle.

One really has to wonder if at least one clever Irish warlord ever had the idea of releasing ravens from behind a hill at a well-chosen moment to demoralize their opposition.

In certain myths, the Morrigan also seems to be associated with land, fertility, and livestock. This emphasizes a common trope in Irish mythology of war being viewed as a means for the protection of one’s lands. The Irish were never a particularly expansive culture so, for them, war was mostly a noble and defensive act.

As a result, the Morrigan was associated as a manifestation or extension of the earth and souverenity goddess – a deity to which the people would pray to even during times of peace. This is contrasted by many other cultures where war is viewed as an act of aggression and so war deities were usually prayed to only during wartime.

The Morrigan as a Shapeshifter

Like many other deities, the Morrigan was also a shapeshifter. Her most common transformation would be as a raven or a flock of ravens but she had other forms as well. Depending on the myth, the goddess could also transform into other birds and animals, into a young maiden, an old crone, or a trio of maidens.

Shapeshifting is a common ability associated with many gods but while most have just one or more standard transformations, the Morrigan has the ability to transform into seemingly anything she likes. This “extra potent” shapeshifting is usually reserved for the main deities in their respective pantheons and Morrigan certainly qualifies.

The Morrigan as the Trinity Goddess

When we hear about Divine Trinities we usually think of Christianity. The concept is not unique to Christianity, however, and was present in old Irish folklore as well.

Three was a sacred number to the Celtic people and that’s very noticeable in some depictions of the Morrigan where she is presented as a trio of sister goddesses. The three sisters Badb, Macha, and Anand (also sometimes called Badb, Macha, and Morrigan) were the daughters of the Irish mother goddess Ernmas. The trio was often called the Morrígna i.e. the Morrigans. The name of Anand or Morrigan was also sometimes interchangeable with Nemain or Fea, depending on the particular myth.

The Morrigan’s or Morrigna’s occasional appearance as a trio of sisters doesn’t have any attached philosophical symbolism similar to Christianity’s Holy Trinity, however. Instead, the trio’s meaning is left a bit ambiguous so it’s often just associated with the Morrigan’s shapeshifting powers – if she can transform into a raven, a maiden, and an old crone, why not into a trio of maidens?

Symbolism of the Morrigan

The Morrigan is associated with the following concepts:

Goddess of war and death

Goddess of fate and prophecy

She was all-knowing and knowledgeable

Her appearance during battle indicated the side that was favored

She instilled fear in those who had crossed her

She demonstrated vindictiveness

She was powerful and strong

Morrigan vs. Morgan le Fay

Many modern researchers have made attempts to connect the Morrigan with Morgan le Fay from Arthurian legends and Wales’ Matter of Britain. In fact, most casual readers and viewers often draw the same conclusion too as the two names seem pretty similar – both are shapeshifters and prophets who foretold the future accurately, and have similar sounding names.

However, the names are not actually related. In the case of Morgan le Fay, her name is derived from the Welsh word for “sea”. Even though both the Welsh and Irish have partial Celtic origins, they come from different branches of Celtic culture and have different linguistic systems too.

It is technically possible that Morgan le Fay’s character was somewhat inspirited by the Irish Morrigan but that’d be little more than speculation.  

Wrapping Up

The Morrigan remains an intriguing figure of Irish mythology, one that still inspires awe. The many myths with which she’s involved continue to be popular and has inspired several literary works, songs and video games.

https://symbolsage.com/morrigan-goddess-origin/

[kda-chat]

Kai’Siv Hercules Inspired AU

Long Post Warning! Inspired by Disney’s Heracles, changed the Greek mythology to Egyptian mythology. Because of that, there are slight variations compared to the original story. Just know this is just a simple, general AU post and I hope you enjoy! :)

XXX

Shai, God of Fate and Destiny, foretold a prophecy: Set, God of the Desert, Storms, and Evil, will one day overthrow Anubis, God of Funerals, Mummification, and the Afterlife and take over Duat- the Realm of the Dead. With Anubis gone, this leaves Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, and Set's brother, vulnerable to overthrow. The downfall of Anubis and Osiris will destroy the Mortal Realm, crumbling Egypt to the ground. However, a mortal champion, chosen by Anubis, will rise to stop Set. No matter what, this champion will be successful.

To prevent the second half of the prophecy from coming true, Set sent ruthless sandstorms around temples that worshiped Anubis, depriving him of followers. For many years, Anubis' temples were barren and empty, loss of faith.

One day, a poor woman, on the verge of death, finds herself in the footsteps of Anubis' temple, carrying a baby. She begs the deity to save her child's life before succumbing to death. Anubis, knowing the prophecy is now set, takes in the baby, and names her Sivir. Gifting her with godlike strength, he requests aid from Ra, God of the Sun. Ra sends down his demi god champion, Azir, to help.

Azir is Sivir's ancestor [Azir was human at one point, thousands of years ago], thus why he was chosen to become her parental figure, taking on a human disguise. His role is to guide Sivir and raise her in the Mortal Realm, to learn and understand about humanity. However, Sivir grew up isolated and distrustful. The other children and parents were fearful of Sivir's inhuman strength and treated her like an outcast. Worried, Azir then took in another child named Taliyah from an exiled village that was destroyed by bandits. Thus, Sivir and Taliyah got along and became close friends. Taliyah didn't mind Sivir's strength and saw her as an older sister that protected her.

One day, Azir reveals Sivir's destiny to her, after she had been questioning her existence and role in this world. He tells her to visit the Temple of Anubis, who will then prepare her for her fight against Set.

Sivir travels to the Temple of Anubis and meets Anubis himself. He tells her about her mother, how she came to him, and now what she needs to do. Anubis sends his champions down to Earth, Nasus and Renekton, to train Sivir. Nasus will teach her how to use her mind in the face of battle, using strategy, plans, and tactics to win. Renekton will teach Sivir about bravery and perseverance, how to use her godlike strength to win. The two brothers have different views of strength and often fight about it. [Insert Sivir's workout montage and getting buff.]

Meanwhile, Set has found out about Sivir. Using spies to observe the young woman, he noticed her attraction towards women. So Set chooses Kai'sa to hopefully "slow down" Sivir's progress and kill her.

Kai'sa is a mortal girl, a victim of the Void- an empty space that is filled with gruesome monsters. Kai'sa once loved another woman [I guess this can be Cassiopeia but I'll leave it blank]. When her lover was trapped in the Void, Kai'sa rushed in to save her but was betrayed by the lover and left in the Void for many years. This made Kai'sa distrustful and cynical towards romance. The only thing that kept her sanity in the Void was her need to survive for her father, Kassadin, who thought she was dead.

Set makes a deal with Kai'sa. He will release Kai'sa from the Void, and return her to her father if she seduces Sivir and kills her. Kai'sa takes the deal.

At this point, Sivir has grown stronger and wiser under Nasus and Renekton's guidance. She has conquered different trials to test her abilities, gaining respect and honor from the people that ostracized her. She was now a hero in their eyes.

In an "accident" at the river, Sivir rescues Kai'sa and falls deeply in love. Kai'sa was unlike any other girl that Sivir fancied, her beauty was mesmerizing to gaze at. And so, for a while, Sivir took time out of her training to pursue Kai'sa [which pissed Nasus and Renekton off, who were suspicious of Kai'sa]. She slowly realized that this wasn't an "I want your body" type of love, it was an "I want you to be my life partner" type of love. During this, Kai'sa plays along to get Sivir's affections, while trying to get her killed. But each time, Sivir cunningly survives [not knowing it's Kai'sa's doing] and it starts to impress the young Void woman.

But as Kai'sa learned more about Sivir, she started seeing who Sivir really was. This strong woman was a huge softy that just wanted to be liked and accepted. Sivir admitted at being resentful of humanity for rejecting her but has grown to forgive them. She spoke fondly of Taliyah and her parental figure, Azir. Sivir was a well-rounded individual that had a big heart. Kai'sa started seeing how Sivir was the complete opposite of her former lover, and slowly fell in love. [Insert famous "I Won't Say I'm in Love" scene with Ahri, Akali, and Evelynn as the muses]

At first, Set is concerned that Kai'sa has fallen for Sivir, but then realizes that Kai'sa was now Sivir's weakness. During a confrontation where Kai'sa declares that she won't hurt Sivir anymore, even at the cost of losing her freedom from the Void and seeing her father again, Set captures her and sets a trap. He lures Sivir in to save Kai'sa, bargaining with her: If she gives up all of her strength and powers for twenty-four hours, she can have Kai'sa. Sivir makes Set promise that Kai’sa will not get hurt. He agrees to the deal [Kai'sa is gagged and unable to talk back]. Sivir accepts the deal because she cares for Kai'sa that much. Once the bargain was made, Set reveals that Kai'sa worked for him and now can go after his brother and take over Duat without fearing for Sivir.

Lost, broken, betrayed, Sivir is useless to fight against the onslaught of monsters that are now fighting in Duat. Kai'sa is equally as guilty, realizing that she was no different from her former lover. However, she still wanted to help Sivir and rushes to Nasus and Renekton, persuading them to go back to Sivir to help her. They do, returning to Sivir and reminding her that pure strength isn't just muscle but it's also the mind and the heart, bravery and intellect. In her renewed confidence, Sivir is able to take down a chimera. In the process, however, Kai'sa is brutally injured while trying to protect Sivir- breaking the promise Set said about letting Kai'sa be safe. This allows Sivir to regain her powers but at the cost of Kai'sa's life. When questioned why she tried to save Sivir, Kai'sa confesses her love for her.

Rushing to come back to Kai'sa, Sivir succeeds in stopping Set from his plans. However, when she comes back, Kai'sa has died from her injuries. Anubis offers Sivir to search for Kai'sa's soul in Duat, in an area where souls must triumph challenges before the "Weighing of the Heart" test. Anubis warns that Sivir might not return from Duat because she is still technically a mortal and can get lost in this area of Duat forever. Sivir does not hesitate to search for Kai'sa. She overcomes the challenges that the dead has to maneuver, searching for Kai'sa's soul. She finds Kai'sa alone, taunted by the betrayal of her former lover, which halts her journey to the "Weighting of the Heart" test.

Kai'sa, looks up to see Sivir has found her, but she is hesitant because the idea of a possible betrayal is taunting her. Sivir assures her that she will never let go of her hand and promises to return her to Kassadin, guiding her way back to the Mortal Realm. As they make their way back, Kai'sa is assured that she can fully trust Sivir and apologizes profusely for hurting Sivir earlier. 

They make it back, safe and sound. The balance is maintained, the prophecy fulfilled. Anubis grants Sivir to be a demi-god like Azir but that meant leaving Kai'sa behind because she is still a mortal. Kai'sa assures Sivir that she will be fine, she thinks Sivir deserves this high honor. But Sivir rejects Anubis' offer and chooses to stay with Kai'sa, reminding her that she promised to return her to her father.

In the end, Azir returns to Ra, and tells Sivir that he will greatly miss her- his daughter. Renekton and Nasus say their goodbyes, crying and moping while trying to act cool. Sivir returns to her hometown with Kai'sa, letting her meet Taliyah, before embarking to find Kassadin. Once they find Kassadin, reuniting father and daughter, the two of them live happily ever after.

XXX

I hope you enjoyed. Yes, Akali, Ahri, and Evelynn don’t have a big appearance in this one but let Kai’siv have their moment since I left them out in the other AUs. I hope you enjoyed because it was fun to imagine! Now I’ve done all three couples, Akalynn- Beauty and the Beast AU, BladeMaven - Little Mermaid AU, and now Kai’Siv. :) Special thanks to Kaya for inspiring me.

[buffyversefanfiction]

Slayer of Slayers

Warnings:I do not own, nor do I claim to own any of the copyright or characters within the Buffyverse which includes but not limited to the television shows Buffy and Angel, as well as the Darkhorse comics series’ continuation.

15+ Strong to moderate violence, Graphic to mild descriptions of gore, and torture, sexually charged scenes, sexual innuendos, mild to strong language, and practices of witchcraft.

M/M, F/F, M/F, GEN, OTHER +

PART SEVEN LINK HERE

Part Eight - Vampire Island

Theo Frey’s life had well and truly been a series of impossible events, his birth being miraculous conception between slayer and vampire, one of whom should never be able to produce any form of life, his birth then followed by being abandoned in the past and forced to grow up in the past, only to witness the death of his adoptive parents at the hands of Drusilla, which was then followed by Theo becoming a vampire slayer, falling in love with vamp Tobias, and becoming known as the slayer of slayers. And if that was not enough impossibilities within his life, he then witnessed his love Tobias’ death at the hands of old one Illyria, only to then die himself after being shot by former watcher Rupert Giles that saw him coming back to life as the world’s first vampire to have turned without a siring. Theo’s world had continued to crash around him, repeatedly, but for once his latest surprise was one he was happy about, that being declared a king of vampires following his survival after being staked, and now he was on a mission to earn that title, by finding this infamous vampire island, home to the first-ever Hellmouth, and the only place in the world that would solidify his claim as king amongst vampires, making him the most dangerous creature on the planet as the prophecies foretold and the only thing standing in his way, was his mother, Buffy the vampire slayer…

Buffy Summers had been out of the slaying game for what felt like forever but, it had only been over a year since she disappeared to the middle of nowhere, and as she returned, following the revelation of Theo, she found herself patrolling, hunting, and researching, 24/7, as she struggled to deal with her son’s hatred towards her and his many evil deeds, which she blamed herself for. The last time she saw her son she called his bluff about being ready to kill her, luckily things went Buffy’s way, and he couldn’t kill her in the end, but still to see her child so distraught, so broken, almost broke the once preppy and feisty blonde-haired vampire slayer. However, the fact he could not bring himself to kill her gave Buffy some hope that there was something still there deep within him that she could reach and after hearing news of his plans to take out Drusilla, those hopes grew, only to be dashed after learning her son had become something of a king among vampires. Buffy and Willow had been deep in the books within Willow’s San Francisco apartment for days, as they sought out to learn all they could about Theo’s prophecy as the first vampire not to be sired by another, as they learned the unnerving news that mother would either kill a son or be killed by a son, before going on to learn about a prophecy going back many centuries which detailed a self-sired vampire reigning king of an island, vampire island, and how his blood would open the world’s first Hellmouth, as they began to realize the importance of his birth, and why he was born, with Buffy beginning to fear that not only could her son not be saved but she may have to be the one to stop him. And before long Buffy and Willow hired a boat, enlisted the help of fellow vampire slayer Faith Lehane, and Illyria, and took to the sea with ancient books, maps, and spells directly linked to this mystical island of vampires, as they hoped to find the island, and to get there and destroy the Hellmouth before Theo had a chance of opening it, claiming his undead throne, and unleashing hell unto the world. “This child of yours sure knows how to cause trouble I bet you're missing the good old days when you only had to try to keep me in line.” Faith joked with Buffy as they stood to the port of the big yacht-like boat that they had rented, both slayers looking out towards the sea. “Well, I would not go as far as saying I’m nostalgic about rogue Faith and Sunnydale High, but things were much simpler back then for sure.” Buffy laughed, appreciating Faith’s humor during a difficult time for her. “Speak for yourself B, I do not want to sound all savior-like and everything, but we are going to get through to him Buffy without having to kill him.” Faith responded as she remained determined about her believes over Theo being redeemable. “If we were certain about that, I’d have got Angel on this mission instead of his super smurf sidekick and you’d have had his witch frenemy join us,” Buffy confessed to the fellow slayer, a slayer she had once become enemies with but had over time rebuilt their friendship. “I’m the slayer no matter what, and deep down you are the same…if I have to choose between the world or my son I’ll choose the world, Angel will choose his son, I guess that makes him the better parent and me the better, killer.” “It will not come down to that Buffy, I did not come on this mission to kill your kid and neither did you, we will stop him without killing him, and then you will ground his ass for at least a decade or two and we’ll go get some drinks.” Faith told Buffy, knowing Buffy was right but also knowing she did not want to admit it to her. “Being a slayer has cost me so much, forced me to sacrifice so much, and although I hate that more than anything if it comes down to it, I will continue to make those sacrifices because that is what a slayer does,” Buffy said in a defeated sigh, knowing that this quest to find the island of vampires could end with her killing her own son.

Later that very same night Theo stood at the front of a large shipment containing ship looking at the nearby island, with blood on his mouth, the blood coming from the human passengers of the boat that he and his group of vampires fed on while hiding out in the darkest places of the ship, choosing to keep the captain alive so he could sail the boat while they hid from daylight, but chaining him to the wheel so he dared not escape. Theo couldn’t believe his eyes as he stared at the island from a distance, a hauntingly beautiful island, almost completely in darkness if it was not for the night’s moon in the sky, reflecting light off the water, he could not believe that this lost island was the home to the world’s first Hellmouth nor could he believe that this island would be his kingdom, his way to a throne he never knew even existed. As the boat sailed closer towards the island, his vampire companions appeared from out of the blind spots, with glee in their eyes, knowing they had found the only true home for their kind, completely oblivious to the fact that their king was beginning to question the path he had chosen so quickly after facing off with his nemesis Drusilla. Theo had wanted many things in his life, he wanted love which he found with Lucien Knight and then later the vampire Tobias, he wanted companionship which he once had with his bewitching best friend Ruby Moon, and he wanted a family to replace the one he lost, but he had never dreamt of being a king among monsters nor did he dream of one day becoming one of those monsters but fate had dealt their cards and Theo had no choice but to either accept or deny his destiny. Losing Tobias had awakened emotions within the vampire that he thought was long gone, human emotions, grief, sadness, and loss, and somehow through reunions with old friends, meeting his biological family, and turning against his mentor Drusilla, somewhere through all that he had felt a part of his old self slipping back through, a part he had hoped he killed a long time ago and apart if he wanted to become king, he would have to kill now. Theo’s only mission in life had been to avenge his parents and with an army, and more undead soldiers to add to that army, after opening the Hellmouth and claiming his undead kingdom, he knew with certainty he would achieve that goal, for even Drusilla herself could not outrun an entire army instructed to hunt her down at all costs, and if it meant ending the world, well that was just a sacrifice the slayer of slayers was willing to make. But as his minions anchored the boat Theo was shocked to suddenly see Sineya, the first slayer, appear standing within the sandy shores of the beach, staring right at him, as if she was staring right into his soul, and perhaps she was, as Theo suddenly felt a rush of guilt hit him hard, like a ton of bricks, causing him to gasp for a moment before like she had appeared, Sineya disappeared into the night’s air within a blink of the eyes. “We’re here boss!” One of his minions announced to him. “Time to go as far as we can before looking for coverage from the sun, then when night falls again we will get you to your throne.” “Yes,” Theo replied, as he then mumbled to himself, unimpressed by the island’s restrictions. “What kind of island meant for vampires has no way of blocking out the sun anyway?”

Buffy, Faith, Willow, and Illyria were not too far behind as the sun began to rise in the sky, the two slayers, witch, and goddess, drew closer to the infamous island of vampires, an island that Illyria herself had conquered many millenniums ago, back when bloodsuckers were nothing more than pets to her, messy pets whom she’d easily put down if they pestered her. All those years ago Illyria never really sense the true power of this island, thinking of it as nothing more than a home to bloodsuckers, but now as she grew closer to the island of vampires she began to sense its power more and more, a sense of untapped potential, the same sense she got from the slayer of slayers which only served as further evidence to the goddess that Theo Frey was indeed linked to the place, just like the prophecy foretold. As she stood behind the boat’s wheel, Willow Rosenberg, standing next to her, the two women seeing the island in their sight, Illyria knew that Willow too could feel the untapped power radiating from the island of the undead. “I know we’re going to win because we always do but what’s the odds, we win without having to kill Buffy’s son?” Willow asked Illyria, fearing her answer, but knowing Illyria would be honest about their odds. “The son of the slayer has survived far longer than I expected him to when we first met however, in this fight I believe in order to win, he must die, and I’m not one for losing,” Illyria answered honestly with a rare sign of reluctance which showed a sense of empathy towards the situation, a feeling which was rather new for the blue haired goddess. Before long Buffy, Willow, Illyria, and Faith had anchored the boats and were now on the sandy shores of the island, ready to face whatever awaited them on this prophesized island for vampire kind, but before they traveled further into the island, Buffy noticed another boat heading towards the island’s direction, instantly knowing it wasn’t Theo’s, as something in her gut told her that Angel was on that boat. “So, about not telling Angel about the mission…” Faith began to say to Buffy. “You decided to go against that I guess.” Buffy interrupted her fellow slayer, infuriated by her actions but understanding them at the same time. And so, Buffy waited for Angel’s ship to anchor itself near the island before deciding to get on the boat, going under the deck where Angel and Spike were hiding out from the sunlight, having had the help of Rupert Giles to sail the boat, and Xander Harris, because well he was Spike’s roommate, and one of Buffy’s best friends. “I told you she wouldn’t be happy with us tagging along on this one,” Spike said to Angel as the two vampires sat at a table within the kitchen room on the boat as Buffy walked in, the windows completely blacked out by carboard to protect the vampires from the sunlight. “Well, it’s a good thing I don’t give a damn about what she wants.” Angel snapped at Spike while standing up to face Buffy, furious with the slayer for once again going behind his back regarding their son. “I was just trying to save you the pain if things go bad out there!” Buffy told Angel. “Theo’s about to bring about another apocalypse and if I don’t make it in time to save him then I will have to stop him.” “I will not let you hurt our son Buffy!” Angel argued with the slayer, furious to learn that she was prepared to kill her own child. “I don’t care if he does bring about the apocalypse, there’s always some apocalypse and we always defeat it, but I will not lose him again…I will not let you take him away from me again!” “Do you think I want to kill my son? No, but he’s not leaving us much choice, and once again it falls on me to choose between someone I love and the rest of the world, you have no idea what that is like so don’t you dare stand there and judge me!” Buffy shouted at the brooding vampire, as Spike sat there having no choice but to watch the two bickerings with each other awkwardly. “I have lost people too Buffy, you’re not the only one who has had to make sacrifices, but I refuse to let you go in there ready to kill

him if you need to. What happened to the girl ready to risk the world for her sister? Why does Dawn mean more to you than your own son?” Angel continued to argue with the slayer furiously. “Dawn was an innocent, she did nothing wrong and has continued to do nothing wrong, Theo was a cold-blooded killer long before he became a vampire-like his father, Dawn never chose her fate, she fought against it like we all did but Theo is willingly choosing this and if we do not stop before he opens that Hellmouth then we have to throw his ass in there,” Buffy replied, equally as furious as Angel, not liking the position she had found herself in, willing to do anything to make this not true, but ready to accept whatever fate may fall upon her son, as she once again had to choose to be a chosen one over all else. Buffy knew she had the sun to her advantage, and she could use it along with Illyria, Giles, Willow, Xander, and Faith, to get trekking through the vampire island, and get a head start on Angel and Spike, hoping however the big battle went down that she could spare Angel the pain of seeing their son’s death even if she could not spare herself the same pain, but with only a matter of hours to go, and no clue where they were going on this island, the chances of this getting messy seemed unavoidable.

Theo, of course, was one step ahead of the others, as he and his gang of vampires sought refuge from the sunlight within one of the islands’ caves, but instead of sleeping like his minions, Theo stayed up plotting, marking out what he could see of the island and patrolling the cave for any signs of them being ambushed, knowing the champions of this world would no doubt find their way here sooner or later, however, it was when the slayer of slayers went deeper into the caves that he once again saw Sineya appear in front of his eyes. Sineya, was no stranger to Theo, for the two had met before, a very long time ago, but her presence was still a shock considering the first-ever vampire slayer was killed long before his time, and many others, but as he saw her for the second time since arriving on the vampire island, he could not help but want to know the reason behind her presence. “Do you remember me?” Theo asked the primeval slayer, who nodded in agreement before he continued to ask. “Why are you here?” “The dirt beneath you is the same dirt I once stood on, do you not recognize a place you have been before? Much has changed but it still feels the same.” Sineya replied telepathically, her voice piercing Theo’s mind without the slayer so much as moving her lips. “No…the prophecies say this is vampire island, not slayer island.” Theo denied her claims almost instantly. “As long as there are vampires there are slayers…once only one slayer but now an army.” Sineya continued to telepathically speak, accessing Theo’s mind with ease. “We did not choose this path, but you did…now you must decide if you are vampire or slayer.” “I think I made that choice long before I actually became a vampire, how are you even here?” Theo responded coldly, not knowing that the primeval slayer could sense the uncertainty within his very soul. “You already are where you are looking to be but is it where you want to be?” Sineya informed him with her cryptic words, once again choosing to speak telepathically instead of out loud. “You can do what you came here to do but the question is, do you want to do it?” Suddenly, the first slayer once again vanished within the blink of the eye, but this time Theo noticed the caveman writings in front of him, within the depths of the cave, and as he began to decrypt what the pictures meant, he realized that through that very wall, was where the Hellmouth was located, he had somehow found it instinctively without even knowing, and that’s what Sineya was pointing out to him, forcing his hand to make his choice, but as ruthless, and evil, as Theo Frey could be, was he really ready to end the world just to claim an undead kingdom?