#like a little fiery armoured shield

[synesthete-sylke]

quick goofy doodle page because tangolin (pangolin tango: he may be a flare but he is a pangolin in my Heart) is in my head and he Will Not Leave-

fic that inspired this stupid little thing (please go read it, it's actually really good)

also it is In My Brain now that zed and sometimes impulse go out of their way to spook tango and make him go all roly-poly; like, he's also a bit small so they can grab him and carry him around, but the hermits sometimes make him roll up and just bowl him.

#sylke's art #tangotek #tangotek fanart #jimmy solidarity #solidarity fanart #team rancher #rancher duo #solidaritek #hermitcraft #hermitcraft fanart #double life #double life fanart #trafficblr #life series fanart #also people should be able to wear tango on their back pfff #like a little fiery armoured shield #god knows jimmy needs something like that to protect him #also my mom thought jimmy was dead when i showed this to her??? #no mom he just looks like that #he's a pathetic wet cat and we love that for him okay

[prince-rowan-of-the-forest]

Saw you had writing prompts up and thought I’d send in something that brain conjured up in the early hours of dawn

“What if I want them to kill me? What if I want them to try? What if I want to see them realize that as much as I and others have tried. They…We can’t?’

d’know if this was what you meant by prompts but enjoy a depressed God?

More Than Human

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At his very core, Janus was human.

One might say he was more than human, being a God, but being more than something doesn’t take away from that something, it just adds onto it.

----

| Ao3 | Next Part |

Warnings: implied/referenced suicide attempts, touch starvation, depression (with a somewhat positive ending)

Pairings: platonic roceit, though could be perceived as romantic if you so wished.

Word count: 1601

Notes: If I had a nickel for every time I wrote a fic with Mortal!Roman and a god!side I'd have two - (gets killed)

I really needed this lmao so tysm for the prompt! I've been really struggling with writing inspiration recently so this was really great!

It's been so long since I posted something new - it feels so good lmao. I left it fairly open ended so I could write more if anyone wanted it <3 just send an ask!! I'm always down for prompts :)

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Janus was, first and foremost, a God

To be precise, he was the God of deception, trickery. In some communities he was the Guardian of all Evil, in others he was a representation of temptation, sin, all that was wrong with the world. 

At his very core, Janus was human.

One might say he was more than human, being a God, but being more than something doesn’t take away from that something, it just adds onto it.

Janus was still human, deep down, he always would be, no matter how many layers were added - immortality, reality bending powers, worshippers, temples - he couldn’t bury the human parts. Though he tried, he wasn’t indifferent. No matter what he did the harsh words still stung when they tore at him, the hatred many felt towards him sat heavy in his chest, loneliness clawed at him like a starving animal - and he was their prey. As it had been for years. 

He had been naive, a thousand years ago, to become a God. But they’d needed someone to shoulder the burden of the world's evils. They needed someone to shield them from the terrors, they needed someone who could face the lies and treachery and not be torn down by them. He had been foolish then, just a boy who was different, a boy who wanted to help. 

There was no way out, either. Janus had tried his best, he’d begged the universe, he’d searched. He’d tried to cut himself off from the world but that had only made the lonely, empty feeling in his chest worse, he’d tried to end it all, when he had no options left, but that hadn’t worked either. 

You couldn’t kill a God, after all. He wasn’t the only one who tried. 

—-

“You’re not going to defend yourself?” Said the knight, dressed in shining silver armour, a red cloak fastened at the shoulder flowing behind him, a confident expression turning to confusion. The challenger stood before him in his temple, shining sword drawn and pointed at Janus’ chest where he sat on his uncomfortable, stone throne. 

“No,” He answered simply.

“You’ll just… let me kill you?” He said, faltering, the only movement was his fiery red hair in the wind. 

Janus leaned on his elbow and didn’t say anything. The knight lowered his sword just a little. 

“Armies will try - if I fail,” The knight said, widening his arms in a gesture, “More people will come, try to kill you, why just allow it?”

“Maybe I want them to kill me,” Janus said softly, not quite looking at the knight, “What if I want you, them, everyone to try? What if I want to see them realise that as much as I and others have tried. They…We can’t?’”

The knight stared at the God before him, eyes widening as he realised, “You… whyever would you want to die?” 

Once again, Janus said nothing. The knight sheathed his sword and Janus sighed softly. He supposed today wouldn’t be the day. 

With the soft clanking of the knight’s heavy armour, he stepped forward, slowly approaching Janus’ throne as though he was prepared to be attacked. Even if he never went to draw his sword again, Janus could see the fear growing in his eyes with every step as he got closer. Janus didn’t move. 

“Why do you want to die, Janus: God of Deceit, guardian of Evil,” the Knight asked, now standing over him. How interesting, Janus thought, that a mortal would have the courage to do such a thing. Many Gods would have felt that something of the sort was an act of disrespect, possibly even choosing to smite down the mortal who dared to do such a thing, Janus found he didn’t have the energy to care. Instead he just smiled softly - at least this made his life just a little more interesting, even if it did nothing to lessen the emptiness in his chest. 

He sighed, he’s certain the knight would listen if he turned him away, but Janus had yearned for someone to talk to for hundreds of years. This knight would leave soon anyway and Janus would never see him again, what did it matter.

“Tell me your name,” Janus said, the Knight tilted his head and frowned, “Tell me your name, first, and I’ll answer your question.”

After a long, thoughtful pause, the knight sighed, “My name is Roman - Sir Roman Greenheart.”

“A lovely name,” Janus said softly, Roman smiled tentatively, “Now- your question… Why do I want to die? The answer is that living is painful.”

“Oh…” Roman said softly, “I would have thought a God would have an easy life.”

“Easy and painless are not the same,” Janus says softly, “People try to kill me on a monthly basis, Roman, and that’s barely scratching the surface.”

The pair were silent for a moment, before Roman gestured to the floor by Janus’ feet, “May I sit down?” He asked.

“You may,” Janus said. With permission, Roman folded to sit cross legged by Janus’ feet. He wondered silently why Roman’s attitude had changed so abruptly - minutes ago he’d been prepared to attempt to kill him. He wouldn’t ask though, instead simply ignoring him, resting his elbow on the uncomfortable arm of the throne and resting his chin atop his fist. 

Minutes spent in silence later, Roman must have shifted, because Janus felt his shoulder brush against his leg, sending a jolt of warmth through him, strong enough to make his gasp. He hoped Roman wouldn’t notice, but as the knight turned to look at him, he knew he wasn’t so lucky. 

“What was that?” Roman asked, frowning up at him - though the look seemed to be one of concern, Janus couldn’t be certain. 

“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” Janus said, making a point to look forward instead of down at Roman. Unfortunately that left him unprepared for Roman laying his hand atop Janus’ knee. His whole leg jolted as he flinched away in surprise at the way the touch burned. 

“What are you doing to me,” Janus hissed, trying to sound menacing though he was fairly certain his fear and confusion were showing through his facade. 

Roman simply frowned, “How… How long has it been since someone touched you?”

For a moment, Janus couldn’t think of an answer because when he thought about it, Janus couldn’t remember the last time he’d been touched by another person outside of combat. His silence seemed to be enough of an answer for Roman. 

“I didn’t know Gods could be touch starved,” Roman said softly. Janus’ frown deepened. 

“Will you stop being vague and let me in on whatever odd breakthrough you’re having?” He asked, voice tired but still a little snappish, Roman jumped.

“Oh- um…” he sighed, “I believe you might be touch starved.”

“...Meaning?” Janus asked, frowning down at the knight with a raised eyebrow.

“You’ve gone too long without touch,” Roman said, sighing, “So you aren’t used to it - people need touch to be happy.”

“I am not a person.” Janus pointed out, frowning, he wasn’t even sure why Roman was even still here - now he was telling him he had this strange sickness of some kind? Who did he think he was?

“You don’t have to be a human to be a person,” Roman pointed out, voice irritatingly soft.

Janus narrowed his eyes, “Why are you still here?”

“Why haven’t you told me to leave?” Roman challenged, Janus blinked. People didn’t usually stand up to him - well, not after trying and failing to kill him, anyway. They usually ran in fear after that - that’s how it always went.

Roman held his gaze for a long, quiet moment, before Janus sighed.

“I don’t know,” he said. Eventually, Roman’s expression became one of pity, maybe concern. 

“You…” Roman trailed off, fidgeting with the hem of his sleeve, “Do you have anyone to talk to? Other Gods?”

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” Janus said, tone growing icy. Roman frowned, but seemed to understand as he stood up.

“Well - I must get back to my village duties,” He said with a small smile, confusing Janus greatly - though he tried not to show it. Why on earth was he smiling?

“Good,” Janus said sharply, “Leave me be with your prying questions and annoying presence.”

Chuckling, the knight turned away, though the glint in his eyes certainly worried Janus - if only a little, though he tried immediately to get the sight out of his mind, “I will return here in a week's time - for no reason - perhaps I’ll bring some cookies.”

Janus frowned as he watched him leave. Was this mortal trying to tempt him, a God, to return to his own temple, with the promise of cookies? He said nothing as Roman walked away and continued to sit there once the knight was out of sight over the crest of the hill. Janus thought he shouldn’t come back next week - as the mortal was clearly inviting him to - but he wanted to. He really wanted to and Janus wasn’t one to deny himself what he wants despite having not wanted much other than death for the last few hundred years.

Despite that, and despite his harshness towards Sir Roman, he still wanted to see the strange mortal again.

So for the first time he actually kept track of the passing days and a week later he returned to that temple. For the first time he appeared before a knight without hoping that it would be the last time he did so. 

----

Tags: @full-of-roman-angst-trash @your-local-random-dino @cutebisexualmess @glacierruler @roseianxiety @bella-bugatti-frogetti-baguetti (if anyone wants to be added, let me know!)

#sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #janus sanders #ts janus #roceit #(platonic or romantic its your choice lol) #roman sanders #ts roman #fanfic #fanfiction #rowans writings

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Memorabilia & First Kiss - Fingolfin x Anairë

Dear anon, here goes your story! :D

I am afraid that it might have turned out a little sadder than I've anticipated! Tomorrow, I'll be gone the whole day, so I'll post it now. I hope that's okay by you!

Lots of love!

Words: 1 020

Characters: Anairë x Fingolfin

Warnings: Sadness, canon-compliant deaths referenced, Fëanor mentioned, Russingon if you want to read it like that, marital estrangement

Ñolofinwë had never thought of himself as a vain creature, and thus the idea that people might find his collection of memorabilia odd had never even crossed his mind.

While most of the other revenants from that Eru-forsaken world in which he’d been cruelly slain seemed desperate to leave the past behind, he could not help but dwell on all the things he’d lost and still missed.

Soon, it had become common knowledge that the former High King of the Ñoldor collected mementoes—broken weapons, torn banners, and a lot of dented metal—to stare at them sadly.

Unbeknownst to him, other people did worry about his ever-growing hoard of absurd and grotesque trinkets, and when he disappeared into his secret vault once again, his oldest son finally decided to speak up.

“Mother,” Findekáno whispered, clasping Anairë’s slender hands in his own pleadingly. “You must stop him! This isn’t healthy…”

With a long, low sigh, she squeezed the strong fingers that had shed so much blood in the name of a lost cause; she too remembered the pudgy flesh she had, once upon a time, cradled lovingly through many a mingling, and her heart broke at the recollection of what was never to be again.

“Oh son,” she whispered. “You cannot fathom how heavily the past weighs on your father—on us.”

“Do you think that I have not loved and lost people? Even as I kneel at your feet like a child, my soul is burdened with the absence of those I’ve held most dear. Do not presume to know my suffering!”

When her face fell, he instantly kissed her hands devotedly. “Forgive me—I—”

“I understand,” Anairë said soothingly. “I shall seek out your father in his halls of miserable memory. We both know that I lack the fiery determination of the one who might have easily convinced him to set fire to his precious trove, but I shall do my best for you.”

“If he will not desist,” Fingon muttered. “At least convince him to accept symbols of fonder, happier memories to be added to his assortment of knickknacks.”

Reaching into his pocket, he extricated a golden ribbon, knotted around a slender ring into which was woven a gleaming, red stone.

“Fëanáro made that ring,” Anairë gasped. “He fashioned it when Nerdanel—when—back…”

“He made it for his firstborn son,” Findekáno nodded slowly. “I entrust to you, my parents, my guiding stars, the childhood we’ve lost. I’ve spoken to my siblings and to all our returned kin—not one has denied me, and I shall soon be in possession of objects that are more precious than the armour we wore and the banners we carried.”

“So be it,” Anairë smiled, full of pride and yet also deeply humbled by the stubborn, reckless wisdom and determination of her son. “I’ll go to your father right away.”

Before she did so, though, she slipped back into the room she’d occupied during her long abiding as the mere ghost of a wife who was not even granted the quiet dignity of a rightfully grieving widow.

Just like Findekáno, she had kept certain things. Beneath the anger, the resentment, and the burning hatred, there had been stubborn memories, deeper and more precious, that she’d shielded and guarded ferociously, defending them from herself and the devastating violence of her own helpless wrath.

Maybe, she considered, it was now time to return them to the one she had always loved more than hated—a fact for which she’d oft reprimanded and punished herself severely throughout the ages.

“Your children are worried,” she called as she entered her husband’s vault on silent soles; after all this time apart, she no longer knew how to properly address him, and every word that came to mind—his name, his title, husband—burned on her tongue like acid. “Your heir sends me in lieu of that half-brother who might never return.”

Whirling around agonisingly slowly, Ñolofinwë raised his mournful, dull gaze to her radiant face with all the humble penitence of a dolorous supplicant kneeling at the feet of a divine statue.

“He sends you the insignia of his heart rather than of his house,” she went on, laying down her son’s offerings before Ñolofinwë. “And I’d like to add my own most cherished keepsakes to the pile.”

Steeling herself, she opened her other hand and produced a dried flower and a piece of torn fabric.

“I don’t know if you remember, Ñolofinwë, son of Finwë and Indis, and if you don’t, I am here to remind you…These are from—”

“When we danced in the light of the Mingling—you were so beautiful…” he finished her sentence in a quiet but unhesitant voice. “I do remember—I’ve replayed that memory in my heart whenever the dread and doom grew too overpowering.”

“These are from the exact moment I knew that I loved you and that I’d marry you,” Anairë corrected gently. “You swung me around so enthusiastically that my beautiful dress got tangled in an errant branch and ripped. Eru, you were so apologetic…”

“And then we kissed until we were both out of breath with laughter and—”

“Shamefaced horniness?” Anairë cackled. She had missed his sparkling humour as much as his tendency to baulk at salacious subjects, and her shattered heart started to mend. “I remember that as well. Don’t you dare blush now—we’ve conceived and raised the fruits of that sacred desire together. Do you recall?”

“I remember tearing them from you,” Ñolofinwë replied tonelessly. “I recollect their deaths, far from you, far from me…”

“But they were not,” she opined carefully, falling to her knees and cupping his cheek with a love she had deemed dead and destroyed. “Look upon these mementoes, husband, and understand that—from our first kiss to their last breath—not one moment of our story has been forgotten or lost. We’ve all held on to those memories in our own way. Cast away broken crowns and hearts! Feast your eyes and soul on the love that was—and that shall be again, I hope!”

@fellowshipofthefics here's a sweet one, for once

Welcome aboard for a new fic! I love to have you...and today, we'll have a canon ship <3

Lots of love and well-wishes!

-> Masterlist

#og post #Dark Romance Prompts #Sweet and Spicy Bingo #Sweet #Fanfiction #writing #IDNMT writes #jrrt #Tolkien fanfiction #Memorabilia #First Kiss #Fingolfin x Anairë #canon ship for once #Fingolfin #Anairë #Fingon #slight sadness #lots of regrets

[melanie-ohara]

Do You Want Me On Your Mind? - Chapter 2

Whumpuary2024, Day 22 - (Alt) Prompt: Forced to Watch

There's no recognition in those eyes now, and the love there is no longer for Nocturne

Or, Nocturne made me cry and now it's your problem

AO3 Here

She was coming back.

Word had come in from Rivington, and Viconia had ordered everyone in the cloister armed and armoured. Since Nocturne had taken over as quartermaster, that made it her responsibility to get them ready to kill her only friend. Her own armour felt heavier than usual as she buckled on the leathers and secured the chainmail and plates. She touched the symbol of Shar emblazoned across her chest, and waited. Whatever mission Shadowheart had been sent on, everybody believed it was suicide and the fact that only Shadowheart had been seen made it sound like everyone else was dead. 

The order came from Viconia, and Nocturne watched the other clerics file out past her. Instead of following them, she shut the heavy wooden doors and listened. Shadowheart might have turned away from Shar, but she didn't believe killing her was the will of the goddess - this was Viconia's vendetta. Viconia, who had helped Nocturne transition. Viconia, who she had trusted and looked up to all her life. Viconia, who had used the mirror to drain more of Shadowheart's memories than ever. When she had left, there wasn't a trace of recognition in her eyes as Nocturne handed her a mace and shield and wished her luck. She couldn't stand against her, especially not if it meant never saying goodbye.

The fighting sounded brutal, and Nocturne couldn't bear to even take a peek through the keyhole at the violence. For Shadowheart to make it all the way back just to die here was too cruel to contemplate, but it wasn't long before the House of Grief fell quiet. The silence lasted a long time, and Nocturne found herself incapable of stepping out of the room. She had no idea who had won, but Shadowheart's party numbered no more than four. If she stayed where she was, she might still be alive. 

Eventually, she heard footsteps approaching and hurried back a little way from the door. Her heart was in her throat as it creaked open, revealing a bloodied and battered elf Nocturne had never seen before, dressed in the unmistakable elaborate finery of a bard. Behind them were two tieflings, one tall and fiery and the other smaller and missing his tail, and bringing up the rear, resplendent in shining silvery white armour, was Shadowheart. Nocturne felt her face break into a relieved grin that not even the hand crossbow one of the tieflings had leveled at her heart could dampen it.

"Shadowheart!" she called out. "It's Nocturne. I wasn't sure I'd ever see you again." 

There was no spark of recognition in her pretty green eyes this time around. Viconia had gone too deep. Maybe, if they had enough time together, she could help her unlock the memories again, but now that Shadowheart had slaughtered the entire cloister there was no way she could stay, and no way Nocturne could leave with her. She loved her, but she was an apostate now. Shar was her life, she couldn't turn away.

"Is there going to be a problem here?" the elf asked, fingers lightly brushing the hilt of a rapier as they looked pointedly at Nocturne's cleric armour. 

Nocturne raised her hands. "We don't have to be enemies," she said. "Shadowheart, we were friends once." 

"That's… good enough for me," Shadowheart said. She looked different with her hair bleached. Softer. Younger. It suited her. 

The elf lifted their hand away from the rapier and instead reached out to twine their fingers with Shadowheart's, and when she let them Nocturne's heart sank into her boots. She had never even considered that, without her memories, Shadowheart might have found someone else, but of course it had always been a possibility. 

"It's okay," the elf whispered in her ear. "We'll be okay."

Shadowheart swallowed and nodded, and Nocturne felt a little part of herself die. She could see the trust between them already, the exact trust that she had delighted in herself. It was beautiful, she had to admit, to see that loving smile cross Shadowheart's stressed and downturned lips, but seeing it directed at someone else was like a knife of ice shoved into her throat. She couldn't speak. Hot tears pricked at her eyes but she blinked them away before anyone saw, and forced herself to recover her voice to answer Shadowheart's next question. 

"Can you tell me about me?" she asked, hopefully. "There's so much I don't remember."

It was more painful than any of the tortures she had endured in the name of Shar, but she did her best to hide it as she talked. Nibbles the mouse, and the way Shadowheart had stood up for her when she changed her name. Scars she bore, and their secret hideaway in the storeroom wall that Nocturne had so dilligently protected, hoping against her hope that her love would return to her. And here she was, arm in happy arm with some stranger, completely unaware of the agony it caused her old friend. 

"We grew up together," Shadowheart said, when she was finished. "I wish I could remember you Nocturne, I really do."

"Maybe you could come with us?" the elf offered. They had let go of Shadowheart's hand, and there was a look in their eye that told Nocturne they at least suspected there was more to their shared past that she was saying. Of course, someone in love with Shadowheart would know how much it could hurt. 

"No," Nocturne said, a little more firmly than she had intended. She wasn't sure what the elf was suggesting, but she couldn't stand to be around them. "No, I'll stay here tonight but in the morning I'll have to move on. Maybe there's another cloister out there for me."

"You don't need Shar," Shadowheart said firmly, and Nocturne had to bite back a bitter, sarcastic laugh. After the hurt she had just endured, she needed the Lady of Loss more than ever.

"You don't," she said. "Some of us aren't as brave. Now go. Go and find your parents."

Shadowheart opened her mouth to say something and then thought better of it, overtaken with the need to rescue her mother and father. Nocturne closed the door behind them and then pressed her forehead against it to cry. 

It wasn't just that Shadowheart had fallen in love with someone else - if anything, she was some kind of glad that she had found a safe harbour from Viconia's cruel erasure of her memory. Try as she might, she couldn't even resent the elf that enjoyed the boundless charity of Shadowheart's affections. What truly cut her to the quick was, as she supposed was fitting, the loss she felt. All those stolen moments in their hideaway - the times they could be together freely and without the judgement of the world - belonged only to her now. She had felt Shadowheart's hair in her hands as she worked to cut it into the bold new style her friend had told her about. They wouldn't ever again pore over a stolen book of erotica together and giggle at the awful descriptions. Everything they could have had was stolen away, and Shadowheart wouldn't remember any of it. 

For a horrible moment, Nocturne considered going to the mirror herself, and offering up all the memories she had of her. She felt the loss too keenly, it wasn't something she could bear. Shar might even reward her for surrendering memories of a heretic. She knew she wouldn't do it, though: accepting absence would stop the pain, but then there would be nobody who could remember Nocturne and Shadowheart. She couldn't deprive the world of what they had been, even if that only existed in her own fragile memories now. She would shoulder the burden and take it with her, wherever Shar chose to guide her steps next. And as a tribute to Shadowheart's bravery in defying Shar, she would never, ever forget her.

#fanfic #writing #baldur's gate 3 #shadowheart #baldur's gate tav #bg3 nocturne #whumpuary2024 #alt prompt

[animasola86]

Snippet of Chapter 6 of my story Diary of a Snake Lover (9.5k words):

“Look,” Sebastian whispered and raised our joined hands to point at something on the other side of the lake, moving slowly between the tree trunks. A herd of deer followed a large stag, who halted as he saw us, turning his antlers up as if to show us just how majestic he was.

“Such regal creatures, stags,” I mused.

They moved on slowly, all calm and collected among the eerie sounds of the night, and vanished into the darkness.

Once they were out of sight, the moment of peace quickly left as well. The noises grew louder again and as I turned to the left, I could hear eerie whispers in the air, voices that seemed to overlap and a strange hum vibrating through the night. I started walking towards the sensation and pulled Sebastian after me. We walked on the edge of the lake, then passed a tree whose roots crawled deep into the dark water, and behind it, I saw it.

“The birdbath!”

It was a small clearing, surrounded by rocks and sure enough something that looked like the mouth of a cave, albeit blocked by a weird stone formation. And in the middle of the clearing, with hundreds of tiny glowing fireflies dancing about, stood a little birdbath – bearing an eerie resemblance to the pensieves I had seen before. I walked closer and let go of Sebastian's hand in the process, my fingers gliding over the edge of the stone basin. Vines grew in weird circles around its base.

As I turned around, I noticed the same pattern of overlapping circles on the stone surface that blocked the cave. I looked back at the birdbath, noticing how Sebastian had found a decrepit looking table with stacks of equally old books strewn about it, already flipping through one of the better looking ones. Leave it to him to find a book in the middle of the Forbidden Forest.

I focused on the basin in front of me and whispered: “Intra muros.”

And then several things happened at once. Behind me I heard stone move against stone and as I turned to look at how the cave's mouth literally opened, I saw something else move out of the corner of my eye. The noise of the opening entrance drowned out all other sounds, so when I suddenly saw two armoured goblins step out from behind nearby trees, with their axes raised and a look of malice in their beady black eyes, I could barely step back, as I fumbled for my wand.

“Sebastian!” My shrill shriek was almost instantly answered by a thundering blast from my right, as Sebastian leapt forwards and shouted Confringo at one of the goblins. The fiery explosion hit him straight in the chest, but he merely staggered. He raised his axe higher and yelled “Attack!” and a third goblin launched forwards.

As the goblins started running towards us, I stumbled backwards and immediately fell over a protruding root, landing hard on my back. One of the goblins noticed my dilemma and just as he jumped at me, his axe ready to slice my head in two, I heard an angry Depulso from the side and the goblin flew to the other side and landed hard against a nearby rock.

Sebastian leaned down to me and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet almost forcefully. That was when I noticed his face. He was beyond angry, he was fuming, his eyes almost as black as the goblin's, eyebrows pulled together tightly, his lips a thin line, jaw so clenched I could see the muscle move beneath his skin. He was almost frightening to look at.

Before I could contemplate his furious look, he turned back to the goblins and started attacking them again, pelting them with fast spells and casts, pushing them back against the edge of the lake. It took me a moment to regain my posture, then I raised my wand against them as well. They fought back vigorously, their armour shielding them against our magic as it seemed. I used Levioso on one of them and he angrily struggled mid-air. Sebastian shouted Diffindo and a series of blades rushed from the tip of his wand, slicing the goblin most literally in several pieces. I gasped and averted my eyes as he – or rather what was left of him – fell into the lake with a series of loud splashes.

“No!” the other goblin howled and launched forwards, growing to twice his size as he did that, and even though I could barely put up a shield to block him, I still somehow managed to cast Stupefy as I stumbled backwards. The goblin grew rigid and staggered to the side, holding his head, as a blueish explosion hit him in the arm, blowing him backwards against a tree, the echo of Sebastian's “Bombarda!”, followed by the breaking of bones and tree bark howling eerily over the suddenly very quiet lake.

I then remembered to breathe again and held my hand to my chest to calm my racing heart. I looked around for more attackers, but couldn't see anyone, though I noticed Sebastian walking back towards where he had thrown the third goblin against a rock. I followed him slowly. When the boy knelt down in front of the lifeless form of the goblin, I suddenly realized that he wasn't as lifeless as I had thought.

Sebastian grabbed him by the neck and a raspy breath escaped the goblin. “Why were you here?” the boy's dark voice hissed into the night.

The goblin gave a shuddering laugh that quickly turned into a cough. “Ranrok...” he began, his voice as harsh as the look he gave us. “Ranrok knew... you...” He raised a limp hand to point at me as I stopped behind Sebastian. “You would lead us... to whatever it is... you're hiding...”

My heart stopped. Ranrok? He sent his Loyalists after me? But why was he so interested? Before I could ask myself any more questions that I had no answers for, I saw Sebastian raise his wand while still holding the goblin's neck. Just as his fingers unfurled from his skin and the goblin sank to the ground again, he said, his voice a notch above a whisper: “Depulso.” And the head of the goblin snapped against the rock, the breaking of his neck a loud crack in the silence of the forest.

I hid my gasp behind my hand, my heart pounding inside my chest. Before Sebastian got to his feet and turned to me, I moved away from him, towards the entrance of the cave, pretending to find the dark abyss beyond very interesting, while my heart tried to comprehend what had just happened. The goblins were trying to kill us. Instead Sebastian had killed them. We were defending ourselves, right? We had to. He had to. They were spies from Ranrok and Ranrok was the big bad in this story.

This wasn't fighting a troll gone rogue on a village or shattering ancient stone statues, though. This was something completely different. These were goblins, living, breathing beings, just like us. And now they were dead...

“No risk those Loyalists will report back to Ranrok now,” I heard Sebastian say behind me.

I was still breathing hard as he stepped into my line of sight.

“Are you alright?” he asked quietly and when I looked up at him, his face was normal again, calm almost. He frowned at me, the lines on his forehead adding to the softness of his look.

I nodded – even though I also wasn't. And he seemed to notice.

“You realize they were here to kill you, right?” he said and tilted his head, his voice a little condescending, a dark shadow crossing his features once more. “They were sent here, by Ranrok, their leader, to find out what you were hiding and kill you in return, or maybe worse, take you to their camp and torture you for answers.”

I blinked at that.

“And we had to defend ourselves. Those are the times we live in now. These goblins will stop at nothing, and neither will Rookwood's lot, I'm sure. And both of them are after you, remember? And if you want to survive any of their attacks, you have to learn to fight back, no matter the cost! You're just a child to them, so you better start acting like you're not.”

I felt like crying after hearing his words, so harsh, so brutally honest. Maybe he was right, but in that very moment I didn't want to hear it. Especially not from him. I swallowed and pressed my lips together as they started to tremble. Lowering my gaze, I focused on my breathing.

In and out, in and out, while my heart was convulsing inside me.

“I'm... sorry,” I then heard his voice again, much softer. He had turned away and had both hands running through his hair, shaking his head as he stared up into the night. “I... I spoke out of line, I shouldn't have been so harsh. I didn't mean to –” He inhaled sharply and dropped his hands with a loud sigh. “I was just so... angry. These goblins –”

He took a step towards me and I flinched when he suddenly grabbed my shoulders. Staring up at him I saw the conflict on his face. “I don't want to lose you too,” he whispered barely audible, his eyes staring into mine. I blinked again, the first tears streaming down my cheeks. He gave a deeply troubled sigh and shook his head, strands of his even-messier-than-usual hair falling into his forehead. “I am so sorry,” he breathed and raised a hand to wipe at my tears.

I inhaled deeply, then just followed an instinct as I snaked my arms around his waist, grabbed the back of his robes and pressed my face against his chest. He hugged me back hesitantly, before he fully committed and almost crushed me against him as he pulled his arms around my shoulders. My heart and breath calmed eventually and I felt him relax against me as well. His words would stay with me for quite a while, especially the I don't want to lose you too-comment. But now was not the time to dwell on what had been said.

“We... we should... go into that cave now... don't you think?” I breathed against him.

He loosened his grip on me and leaned back slowly, his dark eyes wandering over my face, searching for... something. And so I gave him something. A tiny smile was all I could muster at the moment, but it seemed enough to get him moving again. He smiled back, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

“Let's see where Jackdaw has led us, shall we?” I said with a little more strength and stepped away from him, only to extend my hand again.

He looked at it, then nodded and gently closed his fingers around mine. “We shall.”

Notes:

He really goes from cold-blooded killer to sad puppy in 0.5 seconds, doesn't he? And that's why we love him so much!

Also, while replaying certain scenes for reference I noticed just how cold-blooded our MC is here - and I completely changed that for my dear Genevieve, because she is too pure and innocent (for now) for murdering goblins just yet. She will toughen up eventually, don't worry.

But I wanted to show her change in a more realistic fashion.

Read more below:

#and change she will #fanfic #fanfiction #hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy fandom #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow #genevieve belette #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian sallow fanfic #sebastian sallow headcanons #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow fic #my screenshots

[herrage]

[ SHIELD ]:     in order to protect them from physical harm caused by a third party, the sender shoves the receiver against the wall and shields them with their body. Little tin can man tries to protect blonde doctor at all costs. Stark!

EARTH WAS WAR TORN, THAT WAS NOT A NEGOTIABLE FACT. Between human-formed conflicts and those involved with the ongoing Omnic crisis, it was hard not to be caught up in some form of combat. Of course, Angela tended to gravitate to the very epicentre of it—here in Cairo, there was not a short supply of refugees who needed medical attention, let alone the lack of supplies with it. The recall from Overwatch had been sent out some time ago, but Angela had instead dug her heels in and remained.

She refused to contribute to another corrupted organization. She knew how she could help others—and that was here on the ground, among the mess of it all, not in the rafters of diplomacy.

The swift response suit was still in her possession, thankfully. It allowed her to reach those corners that traditional medical crew could not—she soared above the terror and the chaos like an angel incarnate (much to her now chagrin). As fast and as adept that she could be, Angela was not immune to flying projectiles: a short explosion near her flank told her that she would shortly be careening to the ground—but she felt herself thrown by another less fiery force instead. Her body hit the wall of a nearby collapsed building, a pained grunt pushed out of her lips. The breath had been properly knocked out of her but it was not her main focus: that brilliant red and gold suit of armour that Stark wore shielded her instead.

"Stark—" she gritted, pushing herself back up against the wall. "What are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be in New York?"

Her questions cut short at the widening of her eyes. A split second and she has thrown them to the ground, another explosion ringing out where they just stood. Shrapnel landed everywhere around them, into war-dirtied blonde hair and against the tin man.

"Fuck," Angela hissed, feeling a familiar burn of shrapnel buried in her shoulder.

#answered: angela ziegler #godblooded: alana stark. #tw blood

[prof-peach]

Has peach ever done a tag team fight? Like you know those trainer pokemon pairs like aura guardians or fighting specialists or even some psychics who like to fight along side their pokemon for training

I think that would be a blast to watch, two humans and two pokemon, trainer and partner just BRAWLING, human hands to human hands and pokemon to pokemon, supporting each other as it goes

Sounds like a blast for athletic types

With Val, yes. Thats how they act all the time, those two are pretty fluid together, other pokemon try with peach but don't hold a candle to that little fiery monster. If Peach has to front up something huge, something humanly impossible to fight, thats where Val comes in. She doesn't waste her time on trainer fights, but if her human needs it, she'll become a shadow, her light weight means she can bounce off and get hight for attacks from peach, psychic skills are a buffer, a barrier applied to peach's body, like armour. If the armour is struck, the attacker gets a fiery blast sent right back at it with the same force as the attack. Val is the reason peach isn't 6ft under, You think you can hit her with water? evaporated, first thing peach helped her train for. Long range? Shields. Short range, you gotta contend with peach, AND intense heat, they're both not shy when it comes to throwing hands with anything. Tactically they usually have a plan, they've handled just about everything together, no size too big or small, no tactical advantage too great. It's certainly something to see, and rare at that. The pair don't do that unless something truly horrible is happening, and people or pokemon are in danger. Not even Grey can deal with them together, they have been together for so long they have a weird connection, like a neural link, peach chalks it up to the psychic heritage Val has, but others are convinced they're just cut of the same cloth. Val's an interesting one, fought off evolution despite multiple direct contact situations with fire stones of various potency, fears nothing, the dragons on the island dread her, the others respect her, Peach's right hand, her shadow. Honestly i'm excited to expand on the pair, the Hisuian adventures will highlight this a lot, the way they are together is like one nasty creature that splits into two, with one fully functioning hive mind at times. This skillset is possible with many, peach isn't the only one to do this, but it's her strongest skillsets, something they train at most nights in secret behind the house.

#ive been very quiet about val #shes got a lot more to her than expected #but you know #unassuming vulpix #people dont think much of her #especially because she sits a lot of stuff out #and is very quiet #pokemon #prof.peach

[fallenrepublick]

It’s the whole Savage anon again - genuinely shook that you liked my little Drabble so much 🥺 I haven’t written a fic in years but now I’m tempted to run with this idea 👀 this might be a long one but I’m so in the zone pls bare with me -🦜

After your encounter with Savage, there is a slight, but noticeable shift. When you wind up in the line of enemy fire, he is still your shield, but his anger at you for getting yourself into such situations has changed. His frustration is still evident, but his voice is now laced with what you could swear is almost fear. He’ll carry you limping from battle and the frown that usually scars his features is ever so slightly upturned at the brow - to any outsider, the Zabrak still looked incredibly angry, but you knew differently, and even more so did Maul.

The Sith wasn’t stupid, and even if he was sceptical of his brothers feelings towards you, any suspicions he had were all but confirmed when he caught your scent lingering on Savage one night, his abilities as a Zabrak allowing him to practically feel the pheromones in the air. Not only that, but his bond with his brother and his powerful connection to the force allowed him to feel that for once, the constant, aching tension held in Savage’s body and the relentless, crashing waves of pain and anger that seemed to endlessly flood his mind, had been calmed. Whilst Maul wanted his brother to remain focused on the task at hand, he’s hesitant to intervene - namely because of his curiosity, but partially because of fear, which is something he’d never admit, not even to himself. He’d seen the fury in Savage’s eyes defending you from harm, and the Zabrak was smart enough to realise that he should not do anything that could potentially put him on the receiving end of that rage. Not if he wanted his brothers loyalty to remain intact.

Your encounters with Savage continue, of course - he was enough to almost make you swear off of sex with any other kind of sentients. At first, his treatment of you could be mistaken as aggressive if not for the soft touches you shared in the afterglow, but overtime you noticed his focus shift. He still set a punishing pace - although any pace with him was punishing, considering his sheer size - but he’s always looking at you, he’s always listening to you. When he hits something just right, and your moans peak in the way he craves, the Zabrak works to hear that precious sound again. It gets to the point that, whilst still rough, no movement of his is out of place. Every thrust of his hips, or touch of his hands, makes you shake with pleasure. He doesn’t seem to even chase his own release, he’s so focused on just hearing you moan for him, making you feel good. Making you happy. Savage knows he’s not the strongest when it comes to words, especially standing alongside someone as charismatic as Maul. He can’t sit and tell you how he feels, because he knows what he is.

A monster.

He is a monster and he knows he will never be anything but. He can never change the way his eyes now burn an angry red, or the way his horns now grow into long, fearsome daggers. He can never change how hard his body has become, or the fact that touching anything with softness is something he must now consciously work to do, his automatic responses always so rough and aggressive. He can’t change how he towers so highly over you, making you feel smaller than you ever thought possible. He can’t be soft for you, he tells himself - but he can do this. He can, for even just a brief moment in time, give you pleasure like never before. See you glow beneath him, see you look at him with such softness in your eyes. Such adoration. The Zabrak told himself that it was enough, ignoring the biting feeling in his chest whenever you left his grasp.

Whilst we know that Maul, with his connection to the force as well as his brotherly bond with Savage, could sense all of the above, you on the other hand were not so gifted. From your perspective, what you were to Savage was at best a casual fling, and at worst, just a release. That’s what you told yourself as you lay alone in your quarters each night, trying to ignore just how much you longed for his body beside yours. You told yourself it was enough, enough just to feel him pressed against you, to have him even give a kriff about your pleasure at all. It took every bit of your strength to reject that that could be a sign of affection towards you - it hurt, maker it hurt, but you wanted to spare yourself the pain of pining for someone you know could never feel the same way. Savage saw himself as a monster, but you didn’t. You couldn’t. In the first moments that you met, when he dragged you onboard by the arm, when his fiery gaze burned into you with unwavering hatred, in those moments he was a monster. It was only over time that you learned of the man trapped inside the Zabrak. The man who raised his little brother on his own, protecting him from the harsh Dathomirian landscape. The man who searched tirelessly for his lost brother, his last chance of purpose in the universe, to serve loyally by his side without question or complaint. The man who broke free of the new bonds that confined him, only to now traverse the galaxy as someone he no longer recognised, with pain and anger in his heart that he never thought possible.

All you wanted was to relieve him of that suffering, to make him feel normal, even if only for a moment. Even if he would never feel the same way you did, you wanted to give him that. When you lay shaking beneath him, looking up at him with big adoring eyes, you wanted him to see himself as you did. Not a monster, but someone worthy of affection. Of softness. Of love.

It comes to a head after a run in with a crime syndicate Maul and Savage had failed to persuade to surrender to the newly formed Black Sun. Whilst Maul was away carrying out his usual devious business, you and Savage were ambushed. In the ensuing fight, you’d been slashed with a vibroblade across your ribs. The wound wasn’t life threatening, but kriff did it hurt. Cauterised immediately, it didn’t bleed - if it had, Savage would’ve caught the scent in the air and come to your aid, but he was preoccupied with his own share of adversaries. After what felt like hours, the two of you were victorious. As you marched back to the ship, you could feel anger radiating in waves off of the Zabrak, so overwhelming that it caused you to almost forget the burning pain in the wound on your side. Savage was mad, mad that you’d once again been put in harms way. He had to fix it. Had to make you feel good. And likewise, you looked to calm the rage you could feel building within him.

As soon as you boarded the ship, you were on eachother, stripping away armour and layers of clothing to press your bodies together as closely as you could. The kisses Savage pressed against your lips were bruising, and his grip on the scruff of your neck kept you glued to him as he slammed the door to your quarters open and shut, pinning you on the bed beneath his growling body. Had to make you feel good. Had to make you want to stay. Had to make you happy. Had to show you he wasn’t -

The Zabraks frenzied thoughts were interrupted when you cried out in pain as his clawed hand roughly gripped your ribcage in an attempt to pull you closer to him. Savage froze, immediately recoiling in horror. You tried to raise your hand to calm him, but the pain throbbing at your side left you crippled, whimpering a little as you attempted to sit up. Savage could now see the painful flesh wound, and felt pangs of guilt wrack his chest. He’d failed at making you feel good, and what was worse was that his own rage had prevented him from even sensing your pain to begin with. From your perspective things were equally as grim - you’d just let Savage take you to bed only to suddenly become a whimpering mess beneath him, something of no use.

The two of you paused, in a stalemate, and for once it was Savage who broke the silence.

“Little one.” He growled lowly, towering over you whilst perched on his knees. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

You froze up, struggling to organise the many thoughts rushing through your mind. You’d wanted to make him feel good. You wanted to make him feel something that wasn’t pain for once. How could you say that without telling him how you felt, without risking the pain of his rejection?

“I - I wanted... I’m - I just...” you stumbled, shrinking beneath his glowing gaze. “I wanted to make, you, I wanted to -“ you stuttered as you felt warmth in your cheeks, and rushed to conceal your face as you realised you’d let a tear fall from your eyes. Kriff. You’d failed at the one thing you believed gave you purpose in his eyes, and now you were in his bed crying pathetically like a youngling. Humiliation flooded your system. You strained as you turned to face away from him, stopped only by the gentle touch of his hand on your shoulder.

Savage hurt. His chest ached. It felt like his hearts were about to fall out of pace as tears sprung free from your eyes and you turned away from him, hiding from him. You looked so small, so weak. So human. The Zabrak paused, thinking over the words you had let fall from your lips. You’d wanted to make him feel good, so badly that you had ignored the pain rippling through your body at the chance of doing so. His guilt was replaced with worry, but with that increasingly familiar warmth in his chest, the warmth that always seemed to flow whenever you were in his arms. Something clicked in the Zabraks head in that moment, and gently, but without hesitation, he reached his massive hand over to grip your shoulder, turning you back to him.

Your eyes were wide and glassy as Savage reached up to gently wipe away the tears that had spilled across your cheeks, moving some of your hair from your face as he did so. It reminded him of the many times he’d wiped the tears of a crying Feral as he soothed the scrapes he’d acquired playing on Dathomir, how he’d always managed to put a smile back on his little brothers face. The memory brought with it a warmth that he had almost forgotten, a feeling how focused on you.

“M’ sorry...” you mumbled, surprised by the soft gesture but soothed by it nonetheless.

“Don’t be sorry,” Savage’s deep voice echoed in response, his face softening as you leaned against his palm, comforted by the warmth of his skin against your cheek. You reached up and gently grasped his wrist, anchoring his arm against you and continuing to melt into his touch, not wanting him to move. Savage didn’t want to move either - he’d stay in this moment for a lifetime if he could, but he could now feel the pain radiating from your wound rippling through the force, and so hesitantly he pulled away from you.

“I’ll be back,” he murmured, rising from the bed and making his way out of the room. He reappeared a few moments later with the all too familiar med kit under his arm. He lowered himself onto the bed beside you as gently as his massive frame would allow. Wordlessly, he reached for your frame, slowly moving away the sheets you’d used to cover yourself until your bare skin, as well as your wound, were visible. You felt exposed, but not unsafe. Your face flushed as you realised you were both fully nude, something that caused the corner of your mouth to curl upwards. The Zabrak had literally been inside you and you were blushing at just being naked before him - the thought made you smile. Savage raised a brow at this, confused but happy to see your mood shift.

“Nothing, it’s nothing,” you half murmured, half chuckled in response, but his gaze only deepened, unsatisfied with your answer although your smile had caught on, his lips now curling upwards as well.

“It’s just...”

“Just what?”

“We’re naked,” you spat out the words a little in your effort to prevent yourself from giggling. You felt ridiculous, and covered you eyes a little with the back of your hand as you heard a rumbling sound from Savage’s chest in response. You didn’t hear it often, in fact you’d barely heard it at all, but you loved his laugh.

“Yes. We are,” he murmured in response, smiling as he began to tend to your wound. You winced slightly as he applied bacta spray, but relaxed as his palm came up to once again cradle your face, his hand bigger than your head. You held it there, soothed by its warmth, and Savage resigned himself to dressing your wound with just one hand. With the wound clean and disinfected, the Zabrak bandaged it accordingly, shifting your frame to sit you upright as he wrapped strips of bandage around your small ribcage. Your eyes scoured his body as he did so, your gaze moving over the many scars that littered his tattooed skin, searching for fresh cuts.

“Do you have any wounds?” You murmured, your eyes not moving from him. You felt him huff slightly in amusement in.

“No,” he started, tying up the bandages to keep them secured around your frame. “I’m too quick,”

You huffed in turn to his mock arrogance, smirking slightly as his hands finally pulled away from you, settling on his lap. Silence filled the room once again, and you shuffled awkwardly, still aware that you were fully exposed beneath his gaze.

“Thank you,” your murmured, meeting his gaze. His eyes were soft as he reached up and held his palm to your face once again.

“When you are injured, you tell me.” He responded, his words commanding and firm. You nodded in response, face flushing from embarrassment.

“I’m sorry,” you replied, and the Zabrak frowned.

“Don’t be.” He murmured firmly, and you knew better than to argue. He paused for a moment, before continuing.

“I don’t want you to get hurt,” he murmured in what was as close to a whisper as his deep voice could achieve. You leaned further into his touch. “It’s not serious, I’m -“

“No.” He interrupted harshly. When he spoke to you like his in the first days of your meeting, you would be offended, but you now knew that he meant well when he took such a commanding tone. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” he repeated, his words taking on new meaning, meaning that you found hard to place. Even though you couldn’t decipher exactly what he meant, you felt what he felt in your chest. Be it through the force, or some other power, you felt connected to him in that moment.

“I don’t want you to get hurt either,” you replied softly, holding his gaze. He understood, as did you.

You weren’t his toy. He cared for you as you cared for him. He was no monster in your eyes, he could feel it now.

Savage held your gaze for just a moment more, the memory of this moment burning into his mind, before slowly closing the gap between you and pressing his tattooed lips against your own. He’d kissed you before, countless times in the heat of your passion, but this felt better. It felt right. After what simultaneously felt like a lifetime and a mere blink, your lips parted, his forehead resting against your own for a moment before he moved away, silent for a second before he spoke.

“Can I stay here with you?” He spoke softly, almost timidly.

“Would you like to?” You replied, and the Zabrak nodded in response. Shifting to make room for his huge frame, you sighed in contentment as Savage settled in beside you. Usually you rested your head against his chest and he laid an arm loosely over you, but this time you lay facing eachother, your body pulled against him, your head pressed to his chest. His huge arms coiled around you, enveloping you in their warmth as you both sighed in unison. The Zabraks legs curled around your own, holding as much of you against him as possible, as though he was afraid that if he didn’t, you would disappear. Your body relaxed as you felt him press a soft kiss against your head. You weren’t going anywhere.

Savage purred the whole night.

_____

(Epilogue?? Fuck it I already came this far)

The ship was dark as Maul finally returned, the blast doors closing behind him, leaving him in total silence. The crimson Zabrak sniffed the air slightly. You were both here, and alive. And, surprisingly to Maul, not engaged in some intimate moment for him to interrupt. He could always sense the pheromones in the air any time Savage took you to his quarters, but they were suspiciously absent.

Maul cocked a brow, but he had other matters to attend to - namely getting you off of this god forsaken rock. His metal legs weighed heavily on the hull as he made his way to the cockpit, moving past your quarters as he did so. The door was ajar, and he chanced a peek inside, seeing that the room was empty. Frowning, he continued to make his way to the pilot seat, only to pause suddenly at Savage’s door. As silently as he could, the Zabrak pressed his ear against the cold metal, hearing a deep rumbling noise echoing from within.

Was that... purring?

Maul reached out through the force, feeling for his brother - he was asleep, and he could sense you in his quarters. Quietly, he reached over to the door lock. Just a peek, he thought. Wooshing slightly, the door slid open. Mauls glowing eyes adjusted immediately to the dark of the room as he gazed inside. You were lying alongside his brother, curled within his arms as his purrs echoed through the room. Maul felt his lip curl upwards into a grimace, and reached to shut the door, only pausing when he noticed the two glowing dots within the darkness, focused on him.

Savage held Mauls gaze, his aura threatening. It wasn’t often, if ever, that the golden Zabrak challenged his brother, but this was an exception. Maul could feel his brothers message echoing loud and clear through the force.

‘Don’t come any closer,’ it said, in a commanding tone that Maul could hardly tolerate. Holding his brothers gaze for a moment more, the crimson Zabrak growled as the door slid shut. He continued towards the cockpit, his steps now heavy as he no longer cared about the possibility of disrupting your rest.

His brother having a release, a toy to play with, that was one thing. But what his lust had grown into was something that Maul felt threatened by. His brother was distracted from their mission. His vision was clouded. His allegiance to him was in danger.

This could not stand.

Yup. This is it. The only fic that matters anymore I shall die never to be seen again farewell, my friends

[robobirdie]

Two more part one bonus stories

While doing some reworking to the story I came up with these two fun little side stories. The first is a flushed out account of an event mentioned in the chapter The Merchants Tale. It is titled Maze of Chaos. The other is the knights encounters during their turn partaking in the trials for the tribunal.

Also for those interested I have also starting uploading my story here https://archiveofourown.org/works/34894561 .

Maze of Chaos While I had it the part didn't fit in the main story so I set it aside instead just mentioning it and now flushing it out in the main story but kept it as a side story. Its a fun little adventure of the knights and ninja trying to work together during a training session against the beasts and constructs of the wastes.

“Why are we having to join in this training?” Ava wondered as she and Robin held a shield and training swords standing back to back feeling anxious in a maze of stone walls far too tall to see over even when standing on someone else’s shoulders which Jay had tried to do at the start. The maze had been decorated and filled with natural elements like rocks, boulders, dead trees, some live trees and shrubs like Brightwood Cypress and Chokeweed along with debris like sticks, fungi including glowing and large ones like Swamp Beacon Pods and Fiery Glowstalks, and vines all of which they were allowed to use to try and protect themselves or hide behind. The knights and ninja had been dumped into the arena along with a bunch of creatures and constructs for a training session. To make it worse some of the panels on the arenas dome had been opened to let in a fog that was outside making visibility low in some spots and making it a little chilly and damp in the arena. They had all been paired up into groups of two or three and separated throughout the maze. Those that put them there had led them in blindfolded than left them randomly throughout the ring so they had no clue where they were. They had been given a map of the layout of the maze but the map had no indications of which way was what on the map added with the fact none of them had any way of knowing where they had been placed or where the exit to the maze was the map was of little help. Their objective was to try and work together without being able to see each other or their enemies. Tafari was testing them on their skills and ability to work as a team. They could communicate through their communicators’ things like warnings and directional aids but were not supposed to interact with anyone not placed in their grouping physically. They had to use stealth, their skills and senses to try and make it out of the maze which was proving more difficult than they expected. The arena was giving off a signal jamming all technological means of navigation leaving even Zane unable to navigate their way around the place.

“Because apparently even in this Ash Strider vehicle we won’t be safe,” Robin expressed as they looked around hoping something wasn’t nearby.

“What I’d like to know is why was I stuck with the kids?” Kai wondered sticking close to a wall to peak around a corner to see if anything was coming at them Ava and Robin sticking close to him.

“Great it’s too foggy to see anything,” Kai noted and on a hunch he threw a fireball into the fog to see if it would reveal any shadows. The kids didn’t think what he did was a good idea but Kai did it anyway. The fire let him make out the silhouette of something large in the fog before it rushed out at them, a Kwaliit.

“One of those beetle armoured lizards and it looks mad, run!” Kai exclaimed and the three took off running as the creature chased after them. Not too far away Clay and Lloyd who had been paired up and just managed to dodge the sights of some hyenoids who had been programmed to patrol an area were making their way through the maze. They came to sit with their backs against a wall by a corner.

“Fear-bricant, it seems unaware of us,” Clay noted taking a peak around the corner to see the creature with its back to them investigating some oil drums that had been placed in the area it was standing and Lloyd stated, “that’s not good. My weapon has no effect on it and they are extremely difficult to sneak around.”

“Not to mention very fierce in battle. Maybe there is some other way around it?” Clay wondered not wanting to get into a fight with this creature as he and Lloyd looked over their map.

“Not unless we want to turn back and take some alternate routes,” Lloyd noted. While they tried to figure out what they were going to do not far away Aaron was trying to lead Jay through the maze. He was upset he was not allowed to use his shield to see above the walls but wasn’t going to let it interfere with the task. It had been going well so far however Jay had slowly been getting more anxious as they travelled through the maze getting more talkative and jumpy as time went on. Jays jumpy and babbling nature was getting on Aarons nerves as he was trying to get the task done correctly and the more anxious Jay became the less effective and co-operative he was becoming. Aaron was also not a fan of Jays skittish behaviour and loud babbly nature.

“Dude I thought ninja were supposed to be masters of stealth how’d you ever become a ninja?” Aaron wondered as they tried to hide against a wall but some dirt dropping off the wall onto his shoulder had made Jay jump yet again and loudly state, “what was that?!”

“How is saying things like ‘sneaky’ and ‘sneak-itty sneak’ while sneaking stealthy?” Jay objected being loud and Aaron quietly countered peaking around the corner to note a Parrot-Cruncher munching on a bush that had been placed in the maze for it on the path ahead of them, “come on its fun besides I’m being super duper quiet about it; You man are being awfully loud and freaking out over the littlest least scary things.”

“Freaking out! I’m not freaking out, I’m being cautious. The things they trapped us in here with have deadly venoms, carry nasty diseases and can slice us in half in seconds. I think I have the right to be worried. What about you, how can you not be even a tiny bit scared of what we might run into? Is there something wrong with your brain or are you under some sort of curse? It’s like you have no fear! How is that possible?!” The Parrot Cruncher was quick to pick up Jays babbling and turned to look in their direction. It wasted no time in rushing over to confront them. Because he had been quite and observant Aaron noted the creature coming. Thinking quickly before it rounded the corner Aaron hopped onto his shield and hovered a few feet above the ground so he was out of the creatures way yet not high enough to disobey the rules of the training.  

“Since this one’s your fault it’s all on you bro,” he stated as he got on his shield and Jay expressed, “wait what are you doing?!” When the creature rounded the corner it instantly saw Jay and began to chase him. Jay tried to deter the creatures charge as it chased him by shocking it but it was too fast and agile and dodged his attack instead causing his lightening to hit and shock Aaron who fell off his shield to land winded and stunned on the ground. He lay there dazed for a few minutes before getting back up while the creature continued to chase Jay who didn’t want to get in a direct fight with the creature scared of getting poisoned through the maze. Once up Aaron tried stealthily to find his partner who he could hear screaming and yelling at the creature as it chased him through the maze. While he searched Nya noted nearby where she was with Macy and Lance, “sounds like Jays gotten into trouble.” They had stopped by a cross roads trying to determine where they should go next.

“I thought ninja were supposed to be stealthy,” Lance noted as they could hear Jays faint panicking in the maze and Nya stated un-amused, “he can be stealthy; he’s just also high sprung with anxiety issues. Not a good combo in certain situations.”

“So how do we get out of here?” Lance asked keeping an eye on the fog that filled the path ahead of them on the four way intersection they had found themselves lost at while Nya and Macy looked over the map.

“Well I think if we take the road on the right it might take us in the right path,” Nya hypothesized and Macy added turning the map, “or is it the one on the left? Why’d they have to make this so confusing?”

“It would have been nice for them to at least let us have a compass,” Nya noted. While the two tried to get their bearings Lance noted something coming from the passage ahead of them through the dense misty fog headed towards them.

“Uh ladies I think we’re about to have some company,” Lance called. The girls looked up just in time to join Lance in dodging a stampede of four Kaguars as they ran through the maze away from what sounded like fighting in the fog.

“Who do you think set them off?” Macy wondered as the three got up. Seconds later Ava and Robin came running out of the fog followed shortly by Kai who tripped and fell before quickly getting up to follow the kids. The three looked roughed up, startled, Kai and Ava were missing their swords and Robins sword was broken in half.

“Should have guessed you’d get into trouble brother,” Nya expressed un-amused as the three came up to their group.

“Yha now’s not the time for chatting,” Kai blurted as the three stopped to catch their breaths and Macy asked, “what happened to you three and where’s your weapons?”

“Mine and Kais are stuck in the surprisingly thick hide of a Kwaliit which chased us into the Kaguars who then chased us into…” Ava began and Robin finished looking back at the fog terrified, “… that!” They turned to look to see a Mire-lion with the other half of Robins sword stuck in its left shoulder rush out of the fog behind them. It paused for a moment to assess their group before slowly stalking towards them.

“Oh come on why don’t you follow those tusked cow things the Kaguars? Aren’t they your prey?!” Kai moaned tired of being chased. Thinking quickly Nya grabbed a stick that lay on the ground and demanded to Kai to light it on fire.

“Why? You want it to have some ambiance while it eats us!” Lance argued before Macy noted, “those things can see heat, fire might confuse it.” Kai lit the stick on fire and quickly threw it at the creature where it bounced off its hide and landed on the ground next to it. The creature watched it land where the moist air quickly caused the fire to die and the creature to lose interest.

“You should have thrown it down one of the other halls so we could use the fog as a disguise not at it,” Nya argued and Kai defended himself, “excuse me but it’s a little hard to think when things have been chasing you trying to kill you for the past ten to twenty minutes!” The Mire-lion looked back at them seeming to laugh at them for a second before charging after them splitting them back up. Nya, Macy and Lance rushed off down the left passage while Kai, Ava and Robin headed up the right passage followed by the Mire-lion. Towards the opposite end of the maze to them Cole, Axl and Zane were sticking close to the walls trying to navigate their way out without getting seen.

“So he can talk to these other metal creatures through his mind?” Axl wondered intrigued. He along with the other knights had become quite impressed at some of Zanes skills and how human like he was while they had been working together. He was much more complex and special than the Squirebots they were used to.

“Yha, you’d be amazed at what he can do,” Cole noted before Zane stated, “I can only communicate with them if they let me. Those here have been commanded not to co-operate with me so will not commune. I can however still pick up their signatures and I can sense a few are nearby.” The three were stopped by a three way crossroads hugging close to the wall to stay hidden.

“When you say nearby how close are we talking?” Cole wondered.

“Around this corner, I think it is a Venom-fang fabricant. Odd I can only sense one,” Zane noted and Axl wondered, “why is that odd?”

"Venom-fangs are pack animals, true they will go on their own at times but during these training sessions they usually stick close to others of their kind even the fabricant versions share this trait. It gives them an advantage in both offense and defence and they know this. Despite several having been let into the ring this one is alone. It does not seem right,” Zane stated and Cole offered, “maybe it just wanted some time on its own. If any of its pack members are like Jay or Kai I could understand why it would want some time to itself.”

“True I could see that,” Zane stated in agreement before expressing getting anxious, “it is making its way towards us, we should act quickly.”

“Alright, it’s just one of them and three of us I think we can take it. We don’t need to hurt it just scare it. There is three of us and one of it that should be enough to scare it,” Cole planned and they agreed. The three wasted no time in rushing around the corner ready for a fight; Zane even threw one of his shurikans at the wall hoping to scare the fabricant. After their initial charge they paused confused. Zane was confused most of all. There was nothing in the passage in front of them.

“But I could sense it here?! What is with this place? It’s messing with my head!” Zane stated frustrated at how these wastes were messing with him and Cole offered, “maybe they have some sort of invisibility or camouflaging abilities?”

“No they are not built or programmed for such abilities…” Zane began frustrated before Axl drew their attention to the passage behind them, “Uh guys I think they tricked us.” Two Venom-fang fabricants and three regular Venom-fangs were stalking towards them from behind some debris in the passage behind them.

“I see them but I cannot sense them! Wait now I can sense them… they tricked me!” Zane expressed surprised as the creatures prepared for an attack. The lead fabricant lunged at Zane knocking him over and pinned him down attempting to bite him but Zane shoved his shurikan in the creatures mouth to keep it from biting as these creatures venoms could affect him. Cole and Axl went to aid him but were set upon by the others forcing them into combat. While they worked to fight themselves free Clay and Lloyd continued trying to find their way out nearby having decided not to risk attack from the Fear-bricant and headed the opposite way. As they made their way through the maze they bumped into Aaron who still hadn’t found Jay who he could no longer hear yelling making him wonder what had happened and confused on where to go and what to do. He was guessing he might as well continue the session on his own.

“Well it’s good to see others aren’t running around like headless chickens. You haven’t seen Mr. Jabber-mouth have you?” Aaron stated and Lloyd inquired annoyed, “what happened?”

“He kept talking and angered a Parrot cruncher who chased him. I tried to follow but he shocked me instead of the creature and just kept running,” Aaron explained and Lloyd stated, “yep sounds like Jay.”

“He has some serious anxiety issues,” Clay noted before they were surprised by Jay running past them yelling at them to run as he passed. They were confused until they looked to see what Jay was running from and it sent them running after him.

“What’d you do to tick off the Fear-bricant!” Lloyd exclaimed as they tried to keep ahead of the Fear-bricant as it charged after them angered.

“Despite their robotics they’re apparently not as easily shocked by electricity as robots, I think it’s because of the organic parts,” Jay fretted as they ran around a corner to try and get away from the creature. The Fear-bricant attempted to follow but was not as agile and smashed into the wall falling over and knocking down part of the wall with it. Despite the creatures fumble they continued to run not wanting to let the creature have a chance to catch up with them. They continued to run until Jay ran into Kai as Kai, Ava and Robin ran towards them trying to escape the hyenoids and a Scimitar Sphere who stopped some distance from them wondering if they should attack their groups or not.          

“I see you guys haven’t been having a good time,” Aaron noted as Clay helped Kai to his feet while Lloyd helped Jay to his feet.

“So much running! “ Robin gasped and Kai muttered, “just one thing after the other! Hit them with fire and it just angers them more and when you stick your weapons in them your weapons get stuck in their skin leaving you without a means of defence. Trust me you don’t want to try hand to hand combat with a lot of these things even those droids. They like to bite!”

“You know what also likes to bite?” Aaron questioned nervously looking in the direction they had come from.

“What?” Jay asked and Aaron proclaimed pointing at what he was looking at, “that! Run!” The Fear-bricant was still following them determined to catch up to them. They wasted no time in rushing away from it. The hyenoids and sphere stepped aside letting them pass not caring to attack and let the Fear-bricant by as it rushed after them. In their hurry to get away they ran into Zane, Cole and Axl who had just managed to escape the Venom-fangs having been roughed up by the creatures. All three had been bitten and were starting to hallucinate from the venom; even Zane was affected by the venom. They all collapsed into a pile when Aaron, Kai, Lloyd, Clay, Robin and Ava ran into Cole, Axl and Zane who were just walking around sore and confused without their weapons.

“Who let chickens into the ring?” Cole wondered after they were run into and Zane pondered, “Chickens no they are skeevers.”

“What are you guys seeing? They’re goblins,” Axl expressed as they all slowly and stiffly got up.

“What are you guys talking about?” Jay babbled and Cole responded surprised, “that’s so weird this chicken sounds just like Jay!”

“Are you calling me a chicken!” Jay became defensive.

“I don’t think he is. Look at their eyes and the glowing bites on them. They’ve been bit by Venom-fangs,” Clay noted drawing attention to the yellowish green glow to their wide rarely blinking eyes and the various bite marks on their bodies. The three were clearly out of it hallucinating and not fully aware of their surroundings.

“This isn’t good,” Lloyd noted and Aaron stated, “don’t worry bro I’m pretty sure they have anti-venom shots waiting for us when this is over.”

“I have no doubt of that; it’s just we can’t leave them alone in this state though they’ll just wander into trouble getting more hurt,” Lloyd stated as Jay tried to get his attention panicking. The Fear-bricant was still stalking towards them.

“No wait you’re right there is a chicken, a really big one and it looks mad!” Axl expressed getting anxious drawing every ones attention to the Fear-bricant. All but Zane took off to escape the construct. Zane just stood confused muttering, “why is everyone running? It is just a pigeon?”

“No Zane my metal skin bro that’s a Fear-bricant not a pigeon!” Aaron stated rushing back on his hover shield to grab Zane and put him on the shield with him so they could catch up with the others. As they ran from the Fear-bricant they ended up trapped by the Fear-bricant in a dead end.

“Looks like we’ll have to fight this thing after all,” Clay proclaimed as the creature trapped them. Lloyd and Kai blasted the creature with their powers in an attempt to scare it off but the fire had no effect on it and it seemed to absorb Lloyds powers sending waves of green energy over its hide as it seemed pleased with the energy boost. It then thrust its head up from below at them. All but Axl, Cole and Zane dodged the attack. The three were caught off guard and sent up and over the wall out of the ring. When they landed on the other side Tafari came over the PA to state, “you three failed.” As the Fear-bricant began attacking the others Aaron took a couple shots at it from on his hover shield. His bolts stuck in its skin while bouncing off its metal parts making the others have to dodge his shots as well. The Fear-bricant seemed to not have much of a care for his attacks as it turned around to snap Aaron entirely up in its jaws before throwing him out of the ring. He landed near the other three who were being seen to by arena staff on his back dazed and winded proclaiming ‘wipe out’ as he landed before his shield bounced off him winding him. After Aaron got flung out Jay tried shocking the fabricant again drawing its attention to Jay. It wasted no time in clamping its jaws on Jay putting his top half in its mouth to pick him up and start shaking him. Terrified he was going to get eaten Jay in a hurry shocked the creature hitting it in its metal lower jaw with as much power as he could muster. Upon getting shocked the creature flung Jay out of the ring tossing him near the others already outside. The creature seemed a little stunned from the shocking giving those still in the ring a chance to escape. They quickly snuck around it and ran away from the creature. They continued to run until they ran into Nya, Macy and Lance who were running from the Kwaliit which stopped when it saw it was now greatly outnumbered. It hung back for a few seconds before rushing back the way it had come struggling to turn its large rigid armoured form around in the narrow passage.

“Finally we can stop running,” Lance expressed trying to catch his breath as they all got back up only for Lloyd to proclaim, “no we can’t!” The Fear-bricant was still following them forcing them to take off or risk getting attacked. They were all getting tired from running allowing the creature to catch up with them. Knowing they couldn’t keep running they stopped to face the construct.

“Maybe we can try driving it away,” Clay proclaimed as they turned to face the Fear-bricant. Nya, Kai and Lloyd hit the construct in its face with their powers. The fire and water created steam and when combined with Lloyds energy powers gave the creature a surprise causing it to forcefully jerk its head to one side where it impacted into the wall smashing through it creating an opening to the outside of the ring in the wall. Ava and Robin wasted no time in rushing out of the ring through the hole followed by Lance who was too scared of the creature to try and fight it. Tafari wasted no time in proclaiming the three had failed since they had not followed the rules to find their way out of the maze.  

“I don’t care, as long as I’m alive!” Lance proclaimed while the others continued to battle the Fear-bricant. Kai attempted to use Spinjitsu to startle the creature and while it was confused at first it soon wasted no time in swinging its head sideways at Kai hitting him and flinging him into the wall knocking him out where Tafari then proclaimed, “fire ninja is out.” The creature continued after the others no longer interested in Kai now that he was out.

“Well one good thing it doesn’t look like it wants to hurt us just make us loose,” Lloyd noted as it left Kai, a now very easy target for it, alone and came at them. Clay went to swipe at its snout with his sword but the creature dodged him to then grab his weapon in its jaws. It ripped the sword from Clays hands and threw it behind itself. As it went to try and bite Macy she swung her mace to smack its head away while Clay rushed around it to retrieve his sword. In retaliation it grabbed Macys mace with its mouth and since she didn’t let go pulled her off the ground with it before she could react. It then swung her into Lloyd letting go of her and her mace as it did it sending the two flying some feet away knocking both out leading Tafari to proclaim both were out. This left Nya and Clay as the only ones left in the challenge. From behind Clay climbed onto the creatures back as Nya fought it keeping its attention. Clay managed to make it onto the creatures shoulders before it reacted to his presence and it began trying to grab him with its jaws turning in a circle as it snapped at him. In its attempts to catch Clay as it turned its tail whipped around smacking Nya into the wall winding her and leaving her sitting on the ground stunned where Tafari proclaimed she was out. Clay tried to cling on as much as he could but he lost his sword as the creature moved around before fully losing his grip and sent flying as the fabricant shoved itself into the wall to dislodge him breaking the wall and sending both Clay and debris flying out of the ring. He landed stunned and winded on the ground as Tafari declared, “and you’re out. That’s everyone.”

With the session over now that everyone was out the Fear-bricant wandered off having no interest in anyone as the arena staff came to tend to the knights and ninja.

“Well you all could clearly use more practice against the many creatures and the Scimitar Constructs of the wastes but I can tell you one thing. You work quite well together. You have no problems with co-operating. Teamwork is defiantly not a problem for you guys just the wastes inhabitants,” Hassiri proclaimed coming into the ring to check on them. The arena staff had dragged and placed all the knights and ninja together so others could dismantle the maze and take the combatants back to the holding pens. Before being taken back to the pens the hyenoids made a point to stop by them and laugh at their failure. They were all ruffed up and sore while Kai, Lloyd and Macy were still unconscious. Cole and Axl were given anti-venom shots and being kept an eye on while still hallucinating. None of them were paying attention to Zane so Robin and Ava came to keep an eye on him while he was under the venoms effects till Nya and Jay could help repair damages he had received from the scuffle and the venom wore off.

“Don’t take this beating too hard outlanders. Not many pass this test and by far your attempt has been the best we’ve seen in a long time. I think with a little more practise and some more experience with the denizens of the wastes I think you’ll stand a chance out there well maybe not against Ashers or the Stag but most denizens of the wastes I think so,” Hassiri proclaimed.

Trials of a Knight Takes place prior to the chapter Melodic Mine. This is some of what the knights went through for their trials for the tribunal.

“Anyone else have some seriously wacked out and far unpleasant dreams last night?” Aaron inquired as the knights roamed around outside the city looking for ingredients for Mystaras part of the trial.

“You had them too?” Axl noted and Macy stated, “yha according to Chodala that sometimes happens after Sheoths trial so we shouldn’t be too worried about it despite how unnerving it could be.”

“That whip-orella has nothing on this Sheoth when it comes to striking fear,” Aaron commented and Clay stated, “hopefully the next trials aren’t so unnerving.” While they were not receiving as much hatred from the towns people as the ninja the knights had noted they were not well liked either and some of them worried this hatred could cause trouble for them on their mission. Feeling he could trust him Clay had talked to Hassiri about it. Hassiri had both offered and strongly warned against a set of trials they could perform to improve the towns relation to them. After some deliberating they had all agreed to partaking in the trials. They had not expected much from it and thought it would be easy; after facing their fears and so called inner madness in Sheoths trial the day before they had a feeling they might have gotten themselves into something more complicated than what they had been ready for. The knights had gotten quite roughed up, disturbed and shaken by Sheoths trial facing a strange twisted version of themselves that wielded their own fears, doubts and worries against them. It could even morph itself into forms of others who would have an impact on their mental states or morph their form into corrupted versions of themselves to mess with their minds and it could affect their environment to terrorize them. It had attacked Clays fears of failing as a knight, his fear of snakes and it revealed to him a fear he hadn’t realised was there of succumbing to darkness and bringing harm to others. It plagued Macy with her fears of being seen as nothing but a princess and brought to the surface her fears of the damage these monsters could do to her home and family. Nearly fearless Aaron was forced to face his fears of nothing as in having nothing to do and the related fear of the unknown. It had also surfaced a fear he hadn’t realised he had that he could end up going crazy losing his mind possibly by succumbing to the effects of this realm or his fearless actions causing him to catch some curse from these lands making him dangerous to others which could also lead him to be turned into a monster. Axls fears to hunger and fear of being eaten by a monster which he had received from their fight with the stone colossus were joined by a fear of not being strong enough to protect and save others especially his friends. Along with his fear of not being recognized or popular, being seen as a nobody, Lance found this thing showed him a fear he didn’t realise he had of failing at being a team mate and letting the others fall to harm. The ordeal had shaken all of them up even largely fearless Aaron had been terribly shaken by the trial; as a testimony to how shaken it had made him after getting out of the room incredibly pale Aaron did as he usually did when super scared and passed out. Even though the first trial had shaken them leaving them with quite a few nicks and bruises and leaving some of them notably Lance questioning if they should continue they were going to continue not willing to give up and feeling this could prove their intent to aid the people of this realm. The knights were on the second trial. They had already collected a few items and were looking for a cave to find some of the bone spiders. They were following a dirt road through a semi open woodland that a local farmer had told them lead to a mine. They were hoping to find some of these spiders in the mine. While they had dressed like civilians to try and avoid unwanted attention and appear friendlier to the locals while they wandered they had brought along their shields and weapons not wanting to be left unarmed in this strange place. Even though they were not partaking in the trial Robin and Ava came along for support and brought along Merlok on Robins mini-trex for aid. They also didn’t wish to leave him alone in the town. They had seen how the townspeople had some strange fears towards technology and how badly they treated Zane, a being made of technology, so didn’t want to risk anyone finding Merlok worried what they might do to him. The Mini-trex was also proving useful for carrying the items they collected.

“You know I’m pretty sure I’ve seen the stuff we need for this potion for purchase in town so why do we have to wander around out here?” Lance expressed displeased with the smell and coolness of the air. While there was a warm breeze to the air it was still chilly and while overcast the clouds were light and not too dense preventing it from getting too dark. Some of the glowing fungi native to the region that grew here and there also helped light things up. There luckily didn’t seem to be much wind keeping the ash from blowing and no ash was falling from the sky.

“The rules say we have to collect them ourselves and we are going to follow the rules not cut corners. I will have to agree though that it seems odd you have to wander out into dangerous territory when things are available in the safety of town,” Clay noted.

“That is a bit odd,” Macy agreed and Aaron speculated, “maybe it’s to get you out and see the landscape?”

“Maybe, at least we don’t have to collect the venom from those Venom-fang creatures,” Axl said and Macy added, “thank goodness Hassiri has a friend that can get us that stuff. I’d hate to have to milk one of those things for its venom.” As they approached where the mine was they noted one folk, an ungulate folk with what they guessed was a painted on marking of a skull on his face and in worn leather armour, leaning with their arms crossed against a crude lamppost that sat at the intersection of the road and the path that led off it to the mine through a wooded area. They guessed he was a guard even though he looked a little unpleasant to be a part of any law enforcement. He looked more like a ruffian than an officer.

“Where do you fetchers think you’re going?” the folk inquired as they approached.

“We were just going to take a look into the mine to see if we can find some bone spiders,” Clay stated and Macy added noting that might seem a strange request, “it’s for a task we’re working on.”

“Oh really, well the mine is not seeing visitors at this time,” the folk stated and Clay offered, “we won’t take long. If we could just speak with someone in charge maybe we could come to some sort of arrangement?”

“hmm… I guess I could see if the supervisor has time to chat. Wait here while I go talk to him,” the folk stated a hint of a growl to his last few words. He then turned round and headed down the path to the mine. They obeyed and stood waiting for the folk to return.

“Anyone else getting a strange feeling that something’s not right?” Axl wondered after a few minutes of waiting.

“Kind of; my minds felt weirdly foggy the past hour though so it’s a little hard to tell if something is wrong or if I’m just feeling things. I think the fogginess is from a real bad sleep last night,” Aaron noted and Lance added, “don’t know but after this I’m taking a shower with that special soap. I think this ash is starting to give me a rash, I’ve been feeling itchy all day.”

“There does seem to be a strange and unpleasant energy here. I would have to pin it as a dark magic yet I do not see anything that could be giving off the energy unless it is something in the mine itself,” Merlok stated from the Mini-trex.

“Why would miners be using dark magic?” Robin wondered and Clay suggested feeling uneasy though unsure why, “maybe we shouldn’t wait for that folk to return. Maybe we should scout out this mine instead and see what is going on.” The others were in agreement. All were getting an uneasy feeling. They hid themselves in the woods and shortly after the folk returned with several others who were all well armed looking ready for a fight.

“I left those fetchers here; look around they couldn’t have gotten far,” the folk declared as they began to look around.

“Yha I don’t think they’re going to invite us in for a little chat,” Aaron quietly commented before they headed off. They snuck through the woods following the road but making sure they couldn’t be easily seen. When they reached the mine they remained hidden to observe the situation and quickly got the feeling these weren’t the miners they could see working here. The folk were all dressed with crude and worn leather and steel armours. There were a few folks in commoners gear who had strange bracers on their wrists which were working the mine and moving supplies. If these commoners paused in their work they were whipped at by the armoured folks. They guessed those were the actual miners.  

“Looks like some bandits have overtaken the mine,” Axl stated as they looked at the scene.

“What should we do?” Macy wondered and Lance offered, “we could move on and let the town guard know of the situation.”

“Or we could deal with them ourselves,” Clay offered looking over what they had to work with. There were a few buildings most of which were likely the lodgings for the workers, a possible storage structure and a few old stone watchtowers around the edges to the clearing for the mine. Everyone appeared to be outside and only a few were on the watchtowers. Most were making sure the workers were working. The amount of these bandits looked awfully small to have taken over the mine.

“Really we have no armour and we’re supposed to be collected strange plants,” Lance countered and Macy noted, “these are just thugs not monsters it shouldn’t take much to take them out. Besides we still have our weapons and shields.”

“That’s good enough for me. Also they didn’t say we couldn’t get into a fight if we have to,” Aaron agreed and Clay added, “besides it would be going against the knights code for us to do nothing.” After a moment’s thought they all came to an agreement and prepped for an attack.

“Hey you thugs why don’t you work the mines yourself,” Clay called out as he, Macy, Axl, Aaron and Lance came out of hiding to confront the bandits. Upon hearing those words the bandits stopped what they were doing and turned to look at them. The bandits wasted no time in attacking them while the workers hung back and cowered. Just as they suspected the bandits were no match for them and they quickly took them out. They didn’t need any Nexo Powers or special moves to take them out. It seemed too easy a fight. Once the bandits were beaten Aaron, Axl and Lance tied up the bandits so law enforcers could come and take them away while Clay, Macy, Ava and Robin used some keys they found to remove the bracers from the people.

“They shouldn’t be bothering you anymore,” Clay declared and Macy added as they freed people, “you should maybe think of getting some guards for this place.”

“We did have guards,” one of the folk declared and Lance pointed out coming over to the others, “they must have been some pretty terrible guards if bandits got the better of them.”

“You have to get out of here while you still can,” one of the miners fretted as the knights congregated together near the miners. For a reason they could not understand the miners still seemed terrified despite the bandits being taken care of and getting freed.

“We’ll be on our way soon we’ll clear out any bandits still in the mine then we just have to get some spiders for a task we’re working on then we’ll be on our way,” Macy explained while Ava noted looking over the mining camp, “for a mine there is an awfully large number of bones here.” They hadn’t really taken note of it before but there did seem to be a great deal of bones lying about and tucked away next to buildings or partially hidden by barrels, crates, baskets and sacks.

“That is odd,” Clay stated and Lance offered, “maybe this mine has a tomb hidden inside and they had to move the bones out here for some dashing movie inspiring archaeologist to study.”

“I wish it was that, I’d even wish for a cursed tomb but it’s worse than that,” the one miner moaned and Aaron wondered, “what would be worse for miners than finding a cursed tomb?” As the knights talked the bones began to move!

“What’s going on?!” Robin worried as they noted the bones moving as they came together to form skeletons and a few of the Shambles creatures. The knights stood on guard prepping for an attack as the skeletons took shape.

“I don’t know but this stinks of necromancy and I don’t like it,” Clay declared before a voice declared, “well, well, well what do we have here. You’re not the false dragons but my friends in the Ashers would love to see you taken out too.” Looking to where the voice came from they saw an un-dead looking cat folk coming out of the mine dressed in black with a sickly rot brown green iridescent to it robes. By the looks they were guessing this was a necromancer.

“I see those worthless mercenaries I hired were no match for you. Let’s then see how you do against my armies of the un-dead,” the necromancer proclaimed sending its minions after them as it summoned zombie like beings of both human, serpentine and bestial origins. The knights were quick to take up the defensive while Ava, Robin and Merlok on the Mini-trex took the miners into the storage building for safety. While the skeletons were easy to take out collapsing with only a few hits they became a nuisance as the necromancer kept rising them making the task of destroying the Zombie like beings and shambles tougher than it should have been. To aid them in battle they tried to call up a Nexo Power but no matter how hard Ava and Merlok tried they couldn’t get the powers to work.

“What’s going on… it’s like something’s blocking the signal,” Ava noted trying to work out the problem on her tablet while Robin helped keep back the un-dead with some of the miners using tools like shovels, pickaxes and hammers to beat them back.

“Keep trying to work it out and we’ll keep going the best we can with what we’ve got,” Macy stated as they fought the un-dead. With their Nexo Powers not working they decided to try out the Spinjitsu they had been learning from the ninja. This was going to be their first try of the skill in actual combat. Clay and Macy had no problem successfully performing the move and found it very useful to clear away some of the crowd of un-dead around them. While he performed it successfully Aaron got a bit dizzy using Spinjitsu but it worked quite well for him and he didn’t mind the mild dizziness. Axl ended up taking a piece out of one of the watchtowers when he accidently hit it while performing the move but it worked out as the broken pieces landed atop a few of the zombie beings taking them out. Lance lost a bit of control when he performed Spinjitsu and smacked into two of the skeletons knocking both them and himself into some crates obliterating the skeletons. While they fought the un-dead back Ava and Merlok continued trying to figure out what was blocking the Nexo powers.

“Let me try something,” Clay stated using his magic powers to blast away some of the un-dead. He was able to use the powers with no problems further confusing everyone.

“How come the powers work out there and not in here?” Ava wondered from their place in the storage shack and one of the miners proposed, “maybe it’s this stuff.” The folk pulled out a shard of a strange metallic stone material from one of the crates the bandits had been making them move.

“What is that stuff?” Robin wondered and another miner replied, “Cursed stone. It’s why the necromancer came here. We knew the stuff was here but had no care for it. We’re here for the Blood-iron and obsidian not that stuff. The necromancer and its friends the Ashers want that stuff.”

“Why do they want this cursed stone?” Merlok inquired and Robin remembered, “Isn’t that the stuff that blocks the ninja’s powers?”

“It can also block good magics like our Nexo powers and enhance dark magics like necromancy. That’s why the Nexo downloads aren’t working. We need to get away from that stuff,” Ava noted. Now with the problem figured out they knew what to do. Robin and Ava worked on getting Merlok some distance from the shed away from this cursed stone while the others continued to fight.

“So we got a magician here let’s see then how you do with this,” the necromancer declared after seeing Clay use magic. It muttered an incantation summoning a strange and large, nearly nine foot tall, harpy like being. It had an un-dead appearance with the skull of a raven for a head icy violet glowing orbs in its eye sockets, sickly looking grey skin covering most of its body, its fingers and lower foot of its birdlike hind legs were bony and ragged black feathers coating its neck and sparse patches on the rest of its body. It wore a black hooded tattered robe decorated with shiny metal bits and bobs, the skulls of small animals and its own feathers. It had large rough ragged feathered crow wings coming out of its back and wielded a hand scythe. They had seen this creature in the guide book; a Noctern Crow a monster from the void. The creature roared at them before launching an attack the necromancer giving off a dark laugh as the creature with little effort bested the Knights. It swiped its scythe and hit Macy and Lance knocking them into some barrels, it picked up Clay and tossed him into the wall of one of the watchtowers where he bounced off it and landed on the ground below winded before Axl landed on him getting the same treatment by the creature. Aaron thought he could out move the creature on his hover shield but the creature was quick to outthink him and tackled him off his shield smashing both through one of the lodges’ roofs to crash into the lodges floor. As the creature got off Aaron and prepared to take off Aaron noted while winded and a bit dazed the Noctern Crow paused for a few seconds seeming to be stumped by a large floor mirror in the room. It tilted its head as it looked at its reflection. It looked to be confused by this reflection. It gave the reflection a few pecks and once seeing it couldn’t get to this other Noctern Crow it appeared to get mad at its reflection. It yelled at the mirror and launched an attack at it smashing the reflective surface into pieces. Once the mirror was destroyed it got back up and flew to perch on the peak of the lodges’ roof giving off a deep gruff unnerving laugh like cawing in display.

“We’re defiantly going to need a Nexo Power for this thing,” Clay declared as they all got up to continue the fight. Now with the Noctern Crow at its side the necromancer didn’t seem to care much about its other un-dead minions and didn’t re raise many of them when the knights took them out.

“We’re working on it,” Ava stated as she, Merlok and Robin took shelter by the one lodge while the others continued the fight.

“Uh, uh, uh let’s not have the little ones help out shall we,” the Necromancer proclaimed sending some of the skeletons and zombies at Ava, Robin and Merlok forcing them to defend themselves with whatever they could find. Clay wasted no time in coming over to aid them so Ava and Merlok could focus on getting them a power while the others continued to fight the Noctern Crow. Now that they were away from the Cursed stone they were able to get a Nexo Power. With their power they were able to take out the remaining skeletons, shambles and zombies with little effort. It did give them a boost in combating the Noctern Crow but the creature was much tougher and it seemed to understand their intent and was making it very difficult for them to hit it. It was keeping to the air swooping down at them for its attacks. Not even Aaron could hit it as it brought out a ward anytime he tried to shoot it blocking all his attacks.

“Can this thing sit still!” Macy growled as the Noctern Crow thwarted their attacks yet again. While they were occupied on the Noctern Crow the necromancer collected as many crates of the cursed stone it could onto a cart which it summoned two zombie Kaguars to pull. Clay was quick to take note of the necromancers’ attempts to escape and rushed over to stop it. The necromancer pulled out a staff and entered combat with Clay using its weapon and a variety of spells.

“It would sure be cool to have elemental powers, I’m betting it would make this so much easier,” Lance complained and Macy stated, “it would be cool but we don’t. We have to work with what we’ve got.”

“I got an idea keep it busy,” Aaron declared noting Clay fighting the necromancer. He rushed back into the lodge coming back out shortly with a large broken piece of a mirror. Getting on his hover shield he positioned himself between the Noctern Crow and the necromancer.

“Hey big birdy look what I got, the mystery shiny that steals your looks,” Aaron called out to the creature. It looked back at him and hesitated looking at the mirror piece as Aaron fidgeted with it hoping to catch the creatures reflection in a way it could see it. When the creature roared at him he knew he had caught its attention and didn’t hesitate to rush over to the necromancer the creature giving chase.

“Clay look out,” Macy called alerting Clay to the approaching Noctern Crow. He dove out of the way as Aaron rushed past tossing the piece of mirror at the necromancer who caught it and looked at it confused to mutter, “what is this for?” Before it could react the Noctern Crow ploughed rate into it knocking both into and smashing through the cart. The impact knocked the necromancer unconscious while the Noctern Crow lay dazed atop it. Before it could get up Aaron hit the Noctern Crow with a few bolts from his crossbow banishing it back to wherever it had been summoned from. With the miners aid they tied up the necromancer with the mercenaries and contacted the guard to come get them as soon as possible. They hung around till the guards arrived to take the criminals away seeing to that the mine was safe and free of necromancers and mercenaries and that the ones they had captured were unable to escape. The miners were thankful for their help. Once the guards arrived they collected the spiders and headed on their way to complete the trial.

For the final part of the trial the knights had to make a potion to destroy un-dead beings. They spent the afternoon doing this even though Lance was not happy with having to make it himself. He wanted to have a shower to get rid of the smell of ash they had picked up from wandering outside. Axl, Clay and Macy made the potion well and so did Aaron even though he had been tempted to mess around with it to make one that would cause the Shambles they were testing them on to explode when he hit it. Lances was okay but it only killed half the Shambles knocking its top part off and leaving the legs and hips to walk around aimlessly. Even though he had failed at the potion Lance still managed to pass with the rest of them. After the trial it was explained to them that the potion part was not that important. The important part had been the adventuring where you were to aid those that needed it. This fact had both surprised and confused them. Had the confrontation they faced been set up? It had felt too real to be fake. How would they know they would encounter those needing aid? When they voiced their confusions to the ones overseeing the trials they were simply told that the universe works in mysterious ways and little else.

After they had completed Mystaras trial the knights met the ninja in the scholars’ center’s main room for dinner. The ninja had been in training with Tafari all day and gotten roughed up from their training. They were all sitting around the large table in the center of the room. It was just them there with the people who lived and worked there spending time elsewhere in the city. Nya and Macy were sitting across from each other at the one end of the table where they were going over which moves were best to take out a winged enemy. Jay sat next to Nya with Kai next to him and Lance who was in a robe and his hair in a towel as he had just got out of the shower sat across from them. Kai was inquiring to Lance if the special soap Hassiri had told them about to get rid of some of the effects and the smell of the ash actually worked. He was planning on using it later and wanted to know if it was worth using it. Lance believed it worked. At the one end of the table Merlok on the Mini-trex was parked where the Robo-bill Mzark took great interest in inspecting him with his organic counterpart Ghidorah. Clay sat next to Lance with Lloyd across from him next to Kai. Zane sat across from Aaron who was helping him perfect the disguised persona the ninja had come up with for Zane to use with his commoners clothes and cloaking ability to help hide him from the highly judging people of the town. Robin sat next to Zane wedged between him and Lloyd eager to observe and learn more about him which was making Zane who was trying to ignore Robin who was making him uncomfortable. Ava sat between Clay and Aaron and though she was equally curious in Zane as Robin she was being more reserved in her curiosity so she didn’t make Zane uncomfortable. Cole sat next to Zane at the end of the table with Axl across from him. The two were having an arm wrestling competition trying to see who was stronger. To keep them focussed and efficient Lloyd was keeping the ninja on a schedule which their mentor Wu had them on. This included chores including who made dinner. It was Cole and Jays night to make dinner. Clay was impressed that the ninja kept to a schedule and even though they had a tendency to goof off quite a bit could take their responsibilities seriously. What the two made looked pretty decent even though it was made from materials found in these cursed wastes including meat from Kaguars and a strange breed of poultry farmed in the wastes, some of the strange fungi and some of the weird fruits and veg farmed in the area. The two had not been to keen on working with the stuff but it was all they could find in this place.

“If anyone gets sick its Coles fault,” Jay had been quick to blurt out when they put things out making them all a little hesitant to try things.

“Hey I was trying to do my best,” Cole defended himself and Macy stated, “I’m pretty sure it will be fine.”

“Though if it can make even Zane sick then you know it’s bad,” Kai debated to which Cole defended, “like some of your cooking? I’ve been trying to get better besides half the blame should go to Jay. He was afraid to touch half the stuff in the kitchen.”

“They had a cabinet filled with live bugs, bugs! Not for decoration or study either but for eating! Not to mention who wants something grown in the ashy soil of a cursed volcano?” Jay exclaimed and Aaron noted, “well I guess they have adventurist tastes here.”

“We’ll be fine,” Clay stated trying to stop the bickering. Most of them started eating though Jay was a little hesitant throwing a few scraps on the floor for the Tree-bill Ghidorah who was hanging with his pal Mzark under the table looking for scraps to see if anything happened to the creature before starting when the creature appeared to be fine. While they were eating they continued talking with each other.

“What were you guys doing all day? We didn’t see you for any of the training,” Lloyd who sat across from Clay wondered.

“Oh, Hassiri wanted us to help him with something… hey this Astara lady what is she supposed to be exactly?” Clay inquired. The knights were hesitant to let the ninja know of the trials wary of what they might do with these trials. Given some of their attitudes they were sure it might not be a wise idea for the ninja to partake in the trials. The ninja were not the most level headed people and even though the knights knew they weren’t entirely level headed either with their powers the ninja were more dangerous if something went wrong. They had no doubts the ninja would do good with Mystaras trial but it would probably be Sheoth and Astara who was also known as Whetu trials that would be the problem. They had a feeling Jay would snap from Sheoths trial, the same trial might enrage Kai and Nya along with having a bad effect on Lloyd and Cole and they had a fear the Stag might take Astaras trial which involved spending a night alone in the woods to capture Zane causing problems for their quest. Since they had the trial for this Whetu the next day and Lloyds mother was an archaeologist so likely knew something about the mythology surrounding this being who was known through each of the realms as the same kind of entity despite having slightly different names Clay wanted to know more about this entity thinking it could help them better understand what to expect. They had already been surprised by Sheoths and Mystaras trials so he wanted to be better prepared for this one.

“Not much other than she is said to be a powerful spirit. She has associations with the sky and is said to be a guardian spirit of sorts. My mother could tell you more,” Lloyd stated sounding a bit preoccupied looking at an empty plate setting he had next to him that Clay guessed was meant for his mother but she was not there.

“Where is she?” Clay inquired and Lloyd replied, “she’s not joining us. She wanted to stay at the library here looking up more on this Forbidden City and the realms mythology.”

“Is something wrong?” Clay wondered noting Lloyd appeared to be and sounded upset. After a moment’s pause Lloyd responded, “I don’t like it when she goes off on her own here. It’s clear the people don’t really like us. So far no one’s tried to directly hurt us; I think a fear of our powers is keeping us safe but my mother…”

“You’re worried about her aren’t you,” Macy noted and Lloyd regaled, “there’s nothing to stop someone from hurting her when we’re not around. It’s hard to trust the people here with the way they react to us.”

“Why don’t you tell her about your worries maybe suggest she doesn’t go anywhere without someone to protect her; if it can’t be one of you guys I’m pretty sure Hassiri would be willing to offer his aid. We could even help you out if you want,” Clay suggested and Lloyd noted, “but she’s my mother; it would be wrong for me to tell her what to do.”

“It would be for her safety though,” Macy noted and Lloyd admitted, “I know but still it would feel wrong to do so.”

“One of us could talk to her for you if you want,” Nya offered and Clay opted, “if you want I could talk to her for you.”

“You could do that for me, that’d be great…” Lloyd began before they noted Robin whose talking was starting to get louder as he got more passionate in his questioning of Zane.

“Can you eat whatever you want and it doesn’t hurt you or do something’s mess with your systems? Does that Scimitar oil work? What does it do for you? Does it taste the way it smells? Does it work better than normal oil for you? How do you use oils and keep your clothes from getting stained?” Robin was questioning Zane who was getting more and more uncomfortable with the kids questioning and trying to figure out some way to politely tell him he didn’t wish to answer the kids questions at that time.

“Do you think you could also have a word with Robin; he’s been making Zane uncomfortable. Zane already has enough problems from the people here and from this Stag being he doesn’t need more things making him feel worse,” Lloyd proposed and Clay agreed, “yha I’ll have a word with him. He’s just very fascinated by your friend.”

“That reminds me Hassiri has us doing some… survival practise; tomorrow night in the woods outside town. We’ll be gone all night. Do you think you could take care of Robin and Ava and keep Merlok safe till we’re back. We’re not getting the same hatred as you but the towns people don’t like us much either so we can’t trust them. Luckily it doesn’t appear anyone’s discovered Merlok yet but it’s only a matter of time before they do and we don’t know what they’ll do,” Macy inquired.

“Sure we can do that,” Lloyd agreed and Kai wondered, “do you think Hassiri will make us do the same survival practise as you cause if he does I’m pretty sure Jay will go into a panic attack.”

“Possibly, you’ll just have to see,” Clay responded him and Macy looking warily at each other.  

The knights had set out early in the day for Astaras trial choosing to stay not too far from each other in the woods north of town not far from a sizable lake. Even though some of them were not too pleased with the rules, largely Lance, Clay made sure everyone was following the rules before they left. They couldn’t bring any technology not even their shields nor could they bring any weapons. They couldn’t even wear their armour as it went against the defenceless state they were supposed to be in so had to go in civilian clothes. They had chosen the areas they were going to try and make for before leaving deciding they should stick close to each other in case something happened out there. They had their sites set up by sundown and were enjoying their evening. Clay had chosen a site in the woods that was closely packed with trees to give him some defence, Aaron had chosen a spot by what looked to have once been a scimitar folk outpost but was now a small ruin by the lake, Macy had chosen a location not far from the lake by the ruins of an old farmstead that had become overgrown, Axl had chosen a site at the base of a cliff while Lance who was entirely against this rugged activity chose a high spot under some cedars and redwoods where there was not too much undergrowth hoping it would keep him clean and keep the bugs away.

“Okay knights with the sun now set this will be our last communication for the night. Only if it is a dire emergency can we contact each other,” Clay expressed to the others through the communicators they had brought with them in case they ran into trouble.

“Loud and clear,” Macy stated and Aaron agreed, “Gotcha Clay man.”

“Alright,” Axl confirmed and Lance added, “I guess.” With their last confirmation Clay put another log on his campfire before going to check on some early alert traps he had set up in the brush around his site using some string with a few cans and bones. He had the traps strung between some of the trees around his site. For a reason he couldn’t understand ever since entering the woods he got an unnerving feeling that something dark was in these woods but he couldn’t pinpoint what it was. The feeling had gotten even worse as the sunlight had disappeared and he almost felt like he was being watched putting him on edge. Even though they had to be unarmed Clay felt wrong to be defenceless and the unnerving feelings just strengthened this feeling so he had set up early warnings and had put aside a few sticks he could use in place of an actual weapon. Seeing his warning traps were secure he headed back to his site and picked up a stick to practice some fighting moves to try and relax. As he practiced he thought he heard one of his traps go off. He wasted no time heading over to inspect it. There appeared to be nothing there and the trap hadn’t been triggered or broken. There was some footprints coming up to then heading back into the woods in the dirt by the traps but they were clearly animal and not humanoid. He didn’t know enough about the inhabitants of these woods so decided to look up the footprints in the guide book they had been given which he had brought along to see what creature likely made them. By the size of the prints it looked to be a rather large beast. As he turned to head to his tent where the book was located a faint noise somewhere in the woods caught his attention. It sounded like talking. Curious he slowly snuck through the brush following the sound. As he approached the voices he crouched down behind a bush to see a small group of Ashers prepping some weapons for an attack.

“Why are we bothering to do this?” one of them complained.

“Because these foolish knights put themselves in the prime opportunity for us to catch them; none of those false dragons nearby, all alone with no weapons or shields this will be easy. We catch them not only will that be one less threat for us but one of the sorcerers can corrupt them so they will serve us and lead the false dragons straight to us. Then nothing will stand in our way,” another of the Ashers declared worrying Clay. They were in danger! He wanted to succeed in these trials. Like the others he wanted to prove to the people they were there to help them. He also secretly wanted to see if these entities the trial was for would accept them as protectors for their realm. If they were in danger however the trials would not be worth it especially if it caused problems for their mission or caused one of them to get hurt or worse. He prepared to head back to his site to warn the others before seeing a creature rush out of the woods at the Ashers. Curious to what the creature was doing he hesitated on leaving to watch. Clay recognised the creature as a Kaiju a strange clawed member of the hoofed mammal family. It stopped its charge a short distance from the Ashers its head low and swaying back and forth to show off its horns to the Ashers. It was clearly mad at their presence.

“You think you scare us? We’ll turn you into a barbequed Kaiju before you could even reach us,” one of the Ashers boasted before one of its pals was hit by something that froze it solid crumbling it to a frosted pile of Ash. Turning to see what was attacking them the Ashers looked to see a group of Scimitar Samurai come out of the brush to confront them. The samurai spoke something in what Clay guessed was the Scimitar tongue before stating, “you scum know you are not supposed to be here. These woods belong to our master.”

“Ah the spawn of that daemon deer; we got here first! These pathetic knights and those lowly false dragons are ours and there’s nothing you can do about it,” one of the Ashers proclaimed and one of the Samurai growled, “we will just have to see about that.” The two groups then started an attack on each other just as Clay felt something grab his ankle and half carried half drag him back through the woods towards his site.

“Whoever you are I will not go quietly!” Clay proclaimed trying to break free before looking at what had caught him only to be surprised to find the Kaiju which he had not noticed head off into the woods once the Samurai had showed up. It was holding onto his one foot with its mouth as it dragged him back to his site. Once back it dropped him by his campfire.

“Well I guess I could thank you for getting me back here but I must be on my way. We are in danger out here and I must warn the others,” Clay declared getting up and trying to contact someone through the communicators. He couldn’t reach anyone, there was nothing but static.

“This isn’t good. The Stags minions must be blocking signals. I’ll have to reach the others on foot then hopefully before any of them get attacked,” he proclaimed lighting a lantern he had and putting out his fire with some dirt. He went to rush off into the woods to get the others but felt something grab the back of his shirt and pull him back making him stumble in the opposite direction. Turning to see what had pulled him confused he saw the Kaiju blocking his way.

“Excuse me but I must be on my way,” he told the creature trying to get around the creature which kept blocking him every time he tried to get around it confusing him. Why was it blocking his way? Was this some sort of game for it or was it doing this for a purpose? If it was on purpose than why? Was it trying to keep him in his site? If so why?

“Look if this is some sort of game I don’t have time for this. I need to reach my friends before one of us gets hurt or worse now please stand aside to let me pass,” he told the creature trying to get past it but it refused to let him pass. Thinking quickly he went to use his magic to temporarily stun the creature with a bright flash of light but he was stumped when he failed in using the power.

“What? Why didn’t that work?” he wondered before the creature knocked him over onto his back. The creatures’ actions stunned and confused him but what it did next was even more confusing. It plopped itself down on top of him pinning him down and preventing him from being able to move. He struggled to get out from under the creature. It was heavy and refused to get off him.

“Okay is this some sort of joke? If so it’s not funny? I don’t have time to play I need to warn the others of the dangers out here,” he commented during his struggles before noting something around the creatures neck. It was hidden by the thick neck fur. He was able to move enough to reach out and get a hold of the object around the creatures neck to look at what it was. It looked like a collar with some sort of rock or mineral pieces studding it. The material looked like Cursed Stone. Why was the creature wearing a collar studded with a material that could block elemental powers and good magic’s? There was no way that was normal. That stood to reason then that this was no normal creature.

“The Cursed stone around your neck blocks magic; who put this on you? Is this some sort of trap!? Who are you working for?” Clay thought aloud as the creature pawed his hand off the collar and pinned him down so he could barely move.

“This isn’t funny! Whoever your working for I won’t let them take me without a fight now let me up!” Clay demanded struggling to get out from under the creature which refused to let him up…

“Take this and that, you won’t get the best of me,” Macy proclaimed practicing some fighting skills on a tree with a stick. After setting up her site she was taking some time for practise before bed. So far everything seemed quite. Since setting up her site she had been getting feelings like she was being watched putting her on edge. She had heard what sounded like something moving through the woods nearby a few times but since she couldn’t see anything and nothing had tried attacking her she guessed it along with the feelings she was getting were possibly from wild animals. She had placed her site somewhat hidden inside the ruins of what looked to have been a farmhouse long ago but was now just a collection of crumbling walls hoping it could help hide her presence in the area. After a bit of practise she began to head back to check on her campfire. It was getting low. She put a few sticks on the fire and adjusted it to keep it going. As she worked with the fire she noticed something next to the one crumbling wall nearby partially hidden by foliage. It was something shiny and highly reflective like metal. Though it could just be an old stove or heater she wanted to make sure it wasn’t something living like a Scimitar Construct. She didn’t recall seeing something there earlier further making her believe it wasn’t just some random item. The only reason she had suddenly noticed it was the light from her fire was reflecting off it. Taking the stick she had been practising with she slowly approached the object and gave it a good whack.

“What is this?” she wondered as she hit it. It was solid not hollow and didn’t move. When she hit it whatever it was made a noise and began to rise. Startled she fell back and watched as a Slothdillo reared up onto two legs its back to her before it turned around to face her its arms spread to the side showing off its large scythe like clawed forearms in display.

“Oh I’m sorry I didn’t realise you were a creature. I saw something that looked like metal… like your claws? That’s not normal is it?” Macy mentioned getting up and noting the creatures claws looked to be made of some sort of polished bronzed metal. It roared at her before getting back down on all fours to just look at her. With it on all fours she could see not just the claws but the back armour and the armoured pads on the hands also appeared to be made of metal. She was confused. Why did a wild animal have metal built into its body? Despite her surprise the creature seemed rather relaxed and unfazed by her actions. It looked her over then at her site before it lumbered off towards her fire stopping to look it over.

“Well you don’t seem too bothered by my hit… are you going to hang with me for a while?” she wondered as the creature plopped down by her fire. It lay in a loaf like position like a cat and closed its eyes while keeping its head up. It seemed relaxed enjoying the fires warmth and smell.

“Hmm… you seem oddly tame for a wild animal,” Macy noted as she approached the fire keeping an eye on the creature. She came to stand across from it at the fire. The creature was unbothered by her prescence and eerily relaxed.

“Metal built into your body, very tame… you’re not a wild animal are you?” Macy thought aloud looking over the creature, “maybe your from some sort of wildlife rescue… something looks oddly familiar about that metal though.” She slowly approached the Slothdillo so she didn’t startle it to get a better look at the metal. Along with its polished bronzish color there were distinctive decorative markings on the plates and claw bases. They looked awfully familiar. On a hunch she retrieved the guide book they had been given which she had brought with her. She checked a few of the pages to confirm her thoughts.

“You’re not just some animal… you’re a minion to the Stag!” she gasped the creature opening one eye to peak at her. She dropped the book and picked up the stick she had been playing with to hold it offensivly at the creature.

“Why are you here? You’re a minion to the Stag what are you doing here what do you want from me?” she questioned the creature but it simply closed its eyes and ignored her.

“Not talking eh. Hmm… we’re not droids so what would the Stag want from us? Or is it just me your after? One of you hacked the Fortrex shortly after we got here; what had you been looking for? Were you looking for information? If so then what were you looking for? What if you found out that I am the heir to the kingdom of Knightonia… does that daemon that leads you want me as a puppet? A pawn to claim my fathers kingdom? If that’s the case than let me tell you now I won’t let that happen. I won’t go easily. You’re probably waiting for me to fall asleep so you can take me unaware and drag me to your master well I won’t let that happen! You watch, I’ll stay up all night if I have to so you can’t win and if more of your pals show up I’ll teach them not too mess with a Nexo Knight!” Macy thought aloud challenging the creature who was unbothered by her words continuing to relax by the fire, “I should let the others know of this. Maybe we shouldn’t be alone tonight.” She attempted to contact the others through her communicator but for some reason she couldn’t reach anyone. There was nothing but static putting her on edge.

“I can’t reach anyone… is this the doing of your pals. There’s more of them here aren’t there? You’re not the only one here are you. There’s probably more of your pals hiding around here. They can probably hear me can’t they” she noted before proclaiming aloud, “you hear that you metal monsters I know you’re there and I ain’t going to let you take me without a fight so if you’re going to do something do it now I dare you!” She paused and listened for a few minutes expecting something to come out of the woods at her but to her surprise and worry nothing came. She looked around but couldn’t see or hear anything. It was all quite and calm.

“I’m not going to let my guard down as for you,” she stated looking at the Slothdillo who was completely relaxed and unfazed not caring to listen to her, “I’ve got my eyes on you.”…

“This place looks so rad. I wonder what cool things are in here?” Aaron wondered pushing open the door to the Scymer ruin he was camping by to explore inside it carrying a lantern to help him see in its dim interior. Despite looking abandoned the place was relatively clean and up kept though there were some notable damages. There were some sounds which sounded like machinery working deeper in the ruins and steam passing through pipes on the walls. It sounded like the place was still active despite the ruin appearing abandoned.

“Odd seems like this place is still active but it doesn’t look like anyone is here,” he noted looking around. The door entered into a foyer with a hall that led in and down through the structure. Not much was in the foyer. A few cracks in the ceiling let in some light and debris from outside with some fungi growing on these debris piles. Following the hall Aaron was surprised to note this place was bigger than it appeared outside. The hall had a gradual incline downwards as it curved down to a large room beneath it. Just as he took a step into the rooms entrance Aaron heard a click noise. He started to look around confused at what had made the noise before something slammed into him from behind bowling him towards the center of the room. Confused and a bit stunned he looked back at where he had been standing to see three large metal blades swing down from the ceiling through where he had been standing before pulling back up to rest against the wall above the entrance. In the entrance way there were a few stone tiles on the ground that were sliding back up into place having sunk a few centimetres into the floor and were edged with a bronze metal. Pressure plates, he must have stepped on them without realising they were there.

“Whoa I nearly got sliced up like a loaf of bread! What saved me?” he noted. He could feel whatever had hit him was still sitting on his back. Looking on his back he could see a Skeever with glowing green eyes, a decorative polished bronze like metal plate on its forehead and polished bronze metal claws. It was crouched on his back looking at him. Despite having a bold aggressive reputation the creature was actually rather calm and seemed quite chill as it just looked at him.

“Hello, I guess I’m to thank you for saving me from being sliced up,” he commented to the creature as it hopped off him and he got up, “guess I should be more careful here huh. Seems this place is not as abandoned as it appears.” The Skeever walked over to his lantern which he had dropped to pick it up while he looked around at the room around him. It brought the item back to him.

“Why thank you my little scavenging bro. Are you some ones escaped pet or something? A release from some high tech wildlife rescue or something? It’s not usually normal to see creatures wearing metal… I wonder what this place was and who’s still using it? An owner of yours perhaps?” Aaron wondered looking around while the skeever came to sit beside him. There were tables with random items around the room along with some shelves holding some books, some chests and trunks and some barrels and crates of Scimitar make. At the opposite end of the room from the entrance was another hall which looked to head deeper but it was closed off by some metal barred gates. He went over and investigated the gates trying to push them open but they didn’t budge. He looked around to see if there was a switch, lever or other device to operate the doors but there was nothing on either side of the gate. The gate itself didn’t budge an inch when he pushed on it making him feel it might be immovable possibly permanently sealing off the pass but he couldn’t say for sure.

“Hmm… I wonder where that goes?” he wondered looking through the bars trying to get a glimpse of what was down the hall. It was dark and he couldn’t see too far down the hall. For a few seconds he thought he could see possible figures moving in the dark unnerving him. He hoped it was just the light playing tricks on him but he could not be entirely sure. He took a few steps back from the gate nervously muttering, “maybe it’s a good thing the gate can’t be opened. Don’t want whatever’s down there to make its way out here. That could lead down to this Blackreach place. The place sounds cool but I’d rather explore it when I have my shield and bow. A lot of things said to be down there I don’t think I’d fare too well with if I got into trouble with one and had to combat them with bare hands.” The skeever just listened and followed him around as he looked around the room. He put his lantern on one of the tables and checked out some of the items on it. There was one of the Scimitar desk lamps sitting on the table which he tried to get working but it wouldn’t turn on. Other than the table he stood at he could see not much else in the room. Mainly the table, a metal chair which was tipped over not far from the desk, a few worn and ragged Scimitar rugs, some barrels and crates of Scimitar make and some books and other scholarly items on the table. Other than the books there was not much else of note in the room. Curious he inspected the books. They were all written in this Scimitars tongue so he had no clue what any of them said. Oddly for an abandoned place the books and scrolls showed no signs of decay, the room was also surprisingly clean and up kept. As he looked the books over he noted their paper didn’t seem to be true paper. There was a strange sheen to it and it had slight hints of a metallic smell.

“This is so weird. It looks like paper; it moves like paper, it doesn’t rip though and it smells a bit like metal… is this paper or metal? Maybe some weird paper metal hybrid perhaps or is it something else. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he noted fiddling with one of the books, “I wonder what these things say? I bet my cyber bro Zane could read it.” As he inspected the items on the table he noted a strange one with a metal frame holding a slightly blue tinted glass like material in it. There were holders for ones hands on the sides and what he guessed was the top a strange decorative piece with a circular lens like piece on the top.

“Hmm, I wonder what this is?” he pondered looking it over. He was suddenly surprised as the lens looking piece emitted a light as it seemed to scan his eyes and face for a few seconds surprising him. He tossed it onto the table and jumped back in surprise the device landing on a book. After a minute to recompose himself and his eyes recovered from the devices light he noted in the glass piece words written in a language he could understand. The skeever hopped onto the table and watched as he slowly picked it up and moved it over a few of the books. Anytime he placed the glass over the foreign writing words he could understand appeared on the glass.

“What is this thing? It’s like some sort of translator device… this is so wicked,” he noted checking out the books around him. One caught his attention. It was called “On the Ancestor Scrolls”. He opened it up and checked it out. It was a thesis on theses artefacts’ they had heard of. A lot of it he didn’t fully understand as it got pretty deep and metaphysical much of which just confused him but one thing caught his attention. Several prophecies said to have come from these items were included in the book along with studies into what they could mean. Two of these so called prophecies caught his attention. He read them aloud as he looked over them trying to understand what they could mean. One read: When serpents rise and make the realm quake; When realms of souls fall to slayers of oni and stone giants wake and walk to end the nights; When dragons and knights of masters fail scions of Ash and chaos shall awake; As walls of realms begin to crumble allowing realms to mix and mingle; Realms must turn to knight of powers and dragons of whirlwinds for escape; But all must fall for darkness to awake and the dawns of light to re-awake. The other read: His defeat was merely a delay; after the oni would fall the dragons would fail. When their wings are clipped and they have fallen to shadow the border between realms shall weaken and fall and darkness shall come. Realms once light and familiar shall be covered in shadows, shadows that are in plain view yet hidden consuming the world in darkness. There is only one this darkness fears; one of its own. But to gain this darkness and for the realms to be saved knights must fall to ash and shadow and dragons must enter the tower of first light and fall to its darkness in order for realms to see the light.

He was not sure what these prophecies meant or if there was any truth to them but he didn’t like the sounds of them. Their words sent shivers up his spine and he had a nagging feeling that they and the ninja were somehow involved in these and possibly not in a good way. Despite listing them the book gave very little into the meaning of the prophecies and whoever wrote this book had no clue what they could mean. The skeever didn’t seem to care about the book or what it said just sitting there staring at him as he looked it over.

“I don’t like the sounds of these…” he began to speak before hearing something on the other side of the gate. He looked but couldn’t see anything. He started to get a very unnerving and uneasy feeling that something dark was nearby and watching him. He looked around hesitant to move but couldn’t see anything.

“Do you think places like this could be haunted?” Aaron wondered getting anxious, the skeever looked around with him appearing to be nervous as well. There were a few more noises which sounded like someone was moving around somewhere down in the dark of the gated hall drawing him back to it. He got close to it and positioned his lantern to try and light up as much of the hall as he could. There didn’t seem to be much in the hall. From what he could see it was pretty empty with just a few worn and tattered rugs and tapestries placed in it. At one point he thought he could see the shadowy moving figures again and possibly a faint glow somewhere deep in the tunnels darkness but he wasn’t sure. Were his eyes just playing tricks on him or was there something down there. If so what? He had a feeling he probably didn’t want to find out. He was starting to get the feeling he wasn’t alone in this place and it put him on edge.

“You know it’s getting late and I think I’ve seen enough of this place I should probably retire for the night; grab a snack, light the fire and chill in my tent you know,” Aaron mumbled. He picked up the strange device and the book with the prophecy thinking the others should see it and that Merlok might better understand the texts and could offer some insight for them. He cautiously made his way out of the room making sure to not step on the pressure plates again. He kept taking glimpses back behind him as he left worried something might be following him. As he left the skeever followed him sticking close to him as he made his way back to his site looking to be equally nervous. He didn’t mind the skeever tagging along. From the feelings he was getting and the fact this place might not be entirely abandoned he didn’t want to be alone so felt comforted by the creatures presence…

Ever since getting his site set up Axl had noted something seemed odd. He had thought he had heard something roaming about in the woods but could never find what it was. He sat by his fire playing his lute trying to copy some of the songs he had heard being played in Balmora to pass the time. He was finding it hard to relax getting the uneasy feeling he was being watched and feeling pretty sure something was nearby. Over the past few minutes he had picked up on something odd. Whenever he stopped playing his lute something in the bushes would make a noise. It was quite and not aggressive but strange. It sounded like a bear but there were hints of raccoon to it. Trying to figure out where the noise was coming from to possibly see what was making it he got up and continuing to play searched around the brush near his site. He would pause every few seconds to listen for the sound. He soon pinned it down to some bushes at the edge of the site he had chosen. He paused playing while looking into the bush to see if he could see what had been making the noise. Whatever it was made the noise again and he could see something was in the bush but couldn’t get a clear view of it. He went to move some of the bushes branches to get a better look at this creature. The moment his hand touched the bush he was surprised by something large that jumped from the bush to knock him over and pin him down. It was a large bear like creature, the Bearcoon. It looked him in the eyes growling for a second before relaxing and backing off him letting him get up. The creature sat back across from him just watching him. Axl was unsure what to do. The creature was looking at him like it was expecting something. Thinking it over he picked up his lute and played it a bit. The creature made a move like it was pleased and mimicked clapping of its forepaws.

“You like music huh… sorry if I startled you. I didn’t expect an animal would hang this close to camp,” Axl stated to the creature before noting something strange to the creature. Its claws and part of its lower jaw were made of a polished bronze like metal. Everything else though seemed normal confusing him.

“You have metal built into you. That’s strange, are you one of these half metal creatures, what were they called fabricants right. But then that would mean you’re probably in league with this Stag entity. Why are you here? Are you out on duty for your master or just wandering around?” Axl wondered. The creature just looked at him seeming to be upset that he had stopped playing his instrument. It made some noises to voice its displeasure and to keep it from attacking he continued to play while talking to it. If this thing was one of the Stags minions it didn’t fit the descriptions they had heard of for these entities that they would attack anyone on site and seeked to tear them apart no matter what. It also didn’t have the appearance of one under the influence of the Stag which they had seen before in the ring in Balmora.

“Like music huh… you know you don’t seem too bad,” Axl noted observing the creature, “from what the people say they make you sound like monsters. You seem just like a normal animal even though you have metal built into you.” A noise off in the distance caught their attentions and startled them. It was not the nicest of sounds sounding like something unpleasant possibly unnatural screaming or calling in the distance.

“What do you think that was?” Axl wondered startled as spooked the Bearcoon got up and came to sit against him looking nervously into the woods in the direction of the sound.

“Hmm for a minion to a monster you’re not very monstrous you just seem like a normal animal… a very timid normal animal,” he noted…

“A night without technology how primitive! Why do we have to do this in such a primitive way? Honestly what’s to do out here without technology; get bit by bugs? Good thing I brought this along,” Lance noted pulling out his phone which he had snuck out with himself and fiddling with it to take a few selfies, “dang it no signal out here. How do people live like this?” Seeing he couldn’t access any social media he decided to play a game on his phone. He sat on a log by the campfire he had made to play with his phone. As he played every now and then he heard strange noises coming from the brush around him. Sounded like something moving around in the bushes near him.

“Whatever you are I’ll let you know I’m a Richman and you don’t mess with a Richman,” he called out to whatever was making the noise starting to get unnerved by it but trying to hide his nerves in his voice. With his words whatever was making the noise went quiet. He looked around but couldn’t see anything so went back to playing on his phone. After a short time he got the odd sensation of something watching him putting him on edge. He looked up to where he felt the glare was coming from to be startled by seeing a strange creature, a Parrot-cruncher, sitting rate next to him looking directly at him. He fell off the log he had been sitting on in surprise but the creature was un-phased. It just continued to stare strait at him with its parrot like face giving off a noise that sounded like it was amused.

“Whoa when did you get there? What are you? Wait your one of those parrot reptile creatures aren’t you. What are you doing here?” he fumbled getting up and cleaning himself off the creature just watching him.

“Wow your oddly friendly for a wild animal… mind if I take a few selfies. The others won’t believe this,” he questioned before taking a few selfies with the creature which seemed oddly chill with what he was doing. After he was done he looked at the photos he had took and became aware of something strange. He looked from the images he took to the creature to confirm what he was seeing. The creature had a bronze colored metal plate forming a sort of armoured breast plate built into its chest and the horns and spikes of its head were made from a similar metal.

“Weird why would a wild animal have metal built into it? Maybe you’re not so wild after all…” he noted looking at the images of the creature before his phone was suddenly knocked from his hand by the creatures one paw.

“Hey what was that for?” he wondered going to pick up his phone. Before he could reach it however the creature put itself over the phone and lay atop it.

“Is this some sort of game for you cause I’m not interested in playing now give me my phone back,” he expressed attempting to put his hand under the creature to move it or at least be able to pull his phone out from under it. As his hand touched the creature he felt a strange tingling in it that moved up his arm a bit before his hand and two thirds of his arm went numb and limp.

“What the… oh wait you have some sort of venom don’t you? Where’s that book?” Lance commented nervous and worried about what had happened to his arm taking a few steps back from the creature. Using his non paralyzed arm he pulled the guide book they had been given out of his pack and sat on the log to set it on his lap so he could look through it. He knew these things were poisonous he just wasn’t sure how bad an effect it was. It would not be good for him to be poisoned by a strange creature out here.

“Has the venom on its pelt… touching it will cause paralysis and numbing to contact area… only lasts a few hours thank goodness. It would be rather hard to do knight stuff if I can’t move my one arm,” Lance noted looking at his paralyzed arm before looking back to the creature, “guess I can’t touch you. Maybe if I ask nicely would you let me have my phone back? I’ll let you watch while I’m playing.” The creature didn’t seem to be listening to anything he was saying. It just looked at him seeming to be amused.

“Guess you’re not going to give it back are you? Would I even be able to get it back? Would the venom on you get on the phone? Maybe I could use my blanket to pick it up oh but then I might not be able to use my blanket and its rather chilly out here, probably going to get colder too,” Lance babbled, “if I can’t use my phone what am I to do… read this book like some sort of scholar?” The creature just lay watching him. He sat in silence for a while wondering what to do.

“This is so boring… so do you have a name? You look like a girl, can I say that, and with those almost golden pieces it makes you look very pretty,” he stated to the creature disliking the silence and unable to do much especially since he couldn’t move his one arm. The creature looked pleased by his comment.

“Can I call you Polly you know cause you look like a parrot,” he stated and the creature didn’t seem bothered by his comment. He continued to talk to the creature which seemed to be enjoying his company…  

Throughout the night the knights strange visitors continued to hang with them. The Kaiju refused to get up and let Clay up despite his struggling. He continued to try and break free getting nowhere but tired from the ordeal. He was not sure when but eventually his tired struggling led him to fall asleep with the creature still on him. Macy refused to go to sleep with the Slothdillo in her site worried its allies, minions to the Stag, where probably somewhere nearby. She sat at her fire staring it down intending to stay up and on guard all night no matter how tired she got. Without knowing it she eventually fell asleep still sitting up by her fire. The Skeever had followed Aaron back to his site and continued to hang with him. He had a strong suspicion with its metal adornments it was likely an ally to the Stag but for a reason he could not fully understand Aaron felt the creature was just there to hang with him and offered no threats. Why it was with him he couldn’t quite figure out but he was pleased to have its company.  Aaron couldn’t exactly pinpoint why but he a bad feeling he wasn’t entirely alone and it was not just from the creepy state of the ruins he got the feeling. It came from the entire woodland around his site. He had a feeling whatever was out there might be out to get him and not in a good way. The Skeever brought him some comfort and made him feel a bit safer. He hung out and played with the creature till he went to bed where the creature followed to curl up like a cat next to him in his tent. Worried something might try and take it from him Aaron held the book and strange device close to himself as he slept. He had a strong and unnerving feeling something was in the ruins near his site and it might want the item and book back but he didn’t want to give it back. He wanted the others to see what he had found from so he kept them close and hopefully safe. The Bearcoon continued to hang with Axl and sat with him at his campfire. He continued to entertain it with some music and found that the creature really enjoyed roasted marshmallows. The two were made nervous a few times through the night as they could hear strange sounds emanating from the woods around them. They didn’t like the options of what could be making the sounds, either droids in service to the Stag or Ashers though given the Bearcoons metal additions linking it as an ally to the Stag he had a feeling it was more likely the Ashers they were hearing. When he went to bed the Bearcoon followed and slept outside the entrance. Lance continued chatting with the creature for some time before deciding to retire for the night. By the time he went to bed he was starting to get some feeling back in his arm and could move it a bit more. The creature remained in his site laying on his phone the whole time to sleep by the dying fire.

In the morning when they awoke they each had a token for Astara in their one hand and their critter pals were gone. Clay was shocked and confused to find himself having been crudely tucked in bed in his tent. He was confused and worried how he had gotten there; he was pretty sure the creature had been the one to tuck him in. He searched his site but found no evidence that anything other than the creature had been there during the night. No footprints and his traps had not been set off. Not liking the possibilities and worried something might have done something to him he quickly packed up his site wanting to get out of there and have Merlok check him over to make sure he hadn’t gotten corrupted by anything. Macy was also shocked and surprised to find herself in bed in her tent. She was worried about what had occurred while she slept but found no evidence anything other than this creature had been in her site. She packed up and left as quickly as she could not wanting to hang around the place for much longer. Aaron was a little upset his creature pal was gone but didn’t let it get to him too much. To his surprise he still had the book and device clutched close to himself in the morning. Curious he tried to enter the Scymer ruin again but found the door was now oddly locked. Axl was also a little upset to find the creature gone but didn’t let it get to him either. When Lance got up the venoms effects had worn off and he quickly went to retrieve his phone. He was surprised to find it had been put back in his pack and was clean. He was confused how it got there and how it had gotten cleaned but he was pleased to still have his photos. They all packed up and headed back as soon as they could.

“Once we get back I think we should all be checked over by Merlok first thing,” Clay declared as they gathered with each other and Macy agreed, “Sounds like a good idea. Something strange was going on last night and I don’t like the possibilities.”

“What about these things Aaron found they seem very creepy,” Axl wondered and Clay stated, “I’m not sure. We’ll let Merlok know about them and see what he thinks. Other than that there is not much else we can do about them.”

“What about the ninja, should we tell them about it?” Aaron wondered and Macy suggested, “I don’t think it would be wise to mention any of it to them…”

“Yha especially that Jay, he gets overly paranoid by the simplest things,” Lance noted and Clay declared, “Even though these so called prophecies could involve them I think you’re right. It might not be a good idea to let them know of this. I don’t think they would take it too well. They’re stressed enough as is and I don’t think any of them would take to well to these.”

“Yha some of them didn’t take to well to that one the people in town mentioned,” Aaron noted and Clay agreed, “indeed; I think I’m with them on this though. If that prophecy holds even a bit of truth to it then it doesn’t bode well for this place and possibly us as well.”

“Yha and these ones don’t sound like they mean well for us either,” Aaron agreed looking at the book he had found feeling unnerved.

To find previous and later chapters look here: https://robobirdie.tumblr.com/archive

You can also find a copy of the story written here https://archiveofourown.org/works/34894561/chapters/86888878 and here https://www.wattpad.com/1087355671-ninjago-the-oni-scrolls-foreword-important-info You can also find images pertaining to the story here: https://www.deviantart.com/nerdy-hyena/gallery/72478681/story-project

#ninjago #ninjago zane #ninjago cole #ninjago nya #ninjago jay #ninjago lloyd #ninjago kai #nexo knights #Elder Scrolls

[imnotwolverine]

When In Dreams

Angsty Elf!Geralt x OFC one-shot

Summary: As an ancient war awakens, so does a love that knows no bounds. [Lord of the Rings AU with elf!Geralt x human OFC]

Author’s note: A sweet congratulations is in order for dear @mrsaugustwalker​ on her 5k followers. Hereby a one shot based on your prompt-lists! I hope you may enjoy it my dear -- as well as the many other fics you’ll hopefully receive! 

Word count: 3.511

Warnings: NSFW - lots of angst and trauma with a smudge of fluff and smut - mentions of death, physical and emotional trauma, violence, blindness, prostitution and mentions of torture

--

I dreamt of home last night. I could smell the damp grass, feel the hug of threadbare cloth and hear the storm that roared in the distance. And I could see; I could see those heavy clouds as they gathered like wads of grey moss over the once crystal clear skies. I could see them threatening with fire, the white electric serpents of the gods already slithering over deep grey. But it wasn’t the serpents’ fiery, splitting tongues that worried me as much, as did the eastern horizon where the sun still kissed the grass and the loud beat of war drums echoed over the rumble of the storm.

War was coming.

It wasn’t the first time these lands would be wrecked by violence and pain. In fact it was as common as drawing breath in Northern Rohan, and I knew no different life ever since my mother gathered me in her arms. We lost father before I could memorise him, and then some years later, with the pestilence and the failing of crops, my mother was next to pay the inevitable prize that any herb-gatherer would eventually pay; with the point of a finger and the burning of a stack of wood she was gone and I was suddenly cast-out and alone, my life as I once knew it now but a faint memory.

I left, only to start my new life a few miles east of the village, where I found this abandoned cot near the Great Dwimordene Forest where demons danced and flesh eating faeries feasted. I never dared enter the dark grove, but my long-kept fear for the great ghost stories didn’t hold footing either. I never saw them, those faeries and demons, the months turning years without a single sighting. But I did see him. Accidentally at first, his face torn between anguish and surprise as I just watched him from the tall grass, his yellow eyes sparkling like golden treasure in the shadows. 

I had never seen the like of a man like him before, but even long after he disappeared - just as quickly as he had appeared - I thought of those honeyed eyes and his pale long hair. Was he one of the forest demons? If so, why didn’t he come to claim me? Roast me on a spit and dance around the flames? Long days, weeks and months passed and as the memory of his eyes faded, the eastern horizon became restless, the storm that now brewed in the sky forming a battlecry for the courageous warriors who fought there, their wives and children left behind. 

Returning home after the gathering of whatever meagre supplies I could find between burned crops and crevices - roots and herbs mostly, I felt the first tears spilling from the heavens, cold and bitter like the saltwater that would soon billow down motherly cheeks. I hastened my pace on the beat of the drum and thunder, my eyes reverting back to the east, where the last of the sun was now swallowed whole, spitting out only darkness and death, death that rode a pale horse. 

Literally though. It looked like someone was speeding towards me. A rider.

I still wear the marks of that moment, in mind, body and soul, my now unseeing eyes remembering the pained expression of the rider’s face, an empty cry bursting from his lips. The white manes of his majestic mount danced in the fierce wind as the horse tried to free himself from the desperate clutch of his struggling rider. But alas, it was hardly a battle in the end, for the horse was too spooked and the rider too pained. With a thud his body fell down on the wet grass and the horse eloped, fleeing from the scene.

In that moment I realised the cause of his pain. A crude arrow stuck from the rider’s back, straight through the layers of leather and heavy cloak that now lay motionless in the waving sea of green. Was he dead? My eyes searched for his attacker, but all I saw was windy waving grass and sharp solid rock; the bare bones of Rohan, my home. And his grave now too, probably. With a hurried pace I forgot about my return home, my hair now dancing around my weary eyes as I ate the distance between myself and the man, my fingertips uncovering braided long brown hair and peculiar armour; swirling and elegant, which for a moment made me wonder if he was one of the famed Rohirrim horse lords.  

There was no time for wonder though, for Rohan’s earth was restless. A deep growl thundered out over the storm and in an instant I forgot how to breath as death came again. This time not riding a pale horse, but a beast that I hadn’t seen the like of before. Horse-sized, houndlike and deadly, his daggersharp teeth rattled in the chase they were laying on the lifeless man..and me. Me. Me. Me-me-me…I froze in place and let slow seconds eat away, until finally I gathered my senses, my only option now being the one that presented itself by the dagger I found beneath the man’s cloak.

Silvery sharp, it gleamed in the low light of the mighty storm, a storm that roared in my blood now too. I felt sick in my empty stomach, for I knew not how to defend myself, my shaking hand betraying my inaptness. The beast and his rider saw it too, the rider letting out a orcish cackle of horrific amusement. My heart dropped even lower as our eyes met, his redbrown beads shimmering like blood diamonds on black marred skin. He was hideous. And unfortunately for me, graceful too. With a simple hop he got off his great beast, his split tongue flaking hungrily over his barely existent lips.

He spoke then, but I didn’t know what that snake-like tongue spoke of, though I could guess it was most likely vile..and something to do with his crotch, which he grasped for illustratory purpose. Again I realised that I couldn’t move, my feet seemingly swallowed by the grass that danced and danced - almost as if taunting me for my own inability to move. For a moment I wished I was dead already, my heart thudding nervously in my ears as the orc strode closer, his blistered black hands dragging out a cruel dagger, jagged edges still glistening with blood.

The war was here.

‘Please.’ I begged pitifully, but all the orc did was cackle louder, his horrid tongue once again flaking over his lips with a hunger. And again he spoke, and again I didn’t understand, my own lip now shaking from more than just the icy rain, the heaven water rolling down my cheeks mingling with bitter tears.

After all these years of misery, this is how I’d die. Alone, abandoned and scared. If only I was as brave as the shield maidens. If only I knew how to.. The orc reached out and I surprised not only him, but also myself when I lunged forward, my dagger finding the soft tissue of his belly. He cried out, his once amused lips now curling down in disapproval as his own dagger was raised. Our eyes met and by some odd twist of destiny, he hesitated, offering me yet another opportunity to grasp for what little honour I could find in shoving him off, down onto the ground.

This time I was less lucky though, his free hand taking me down with him, our bodies now rolling for life and death in the restless green sea. Somewhere in the tumble he too had lost his dagger, his freed up hand instead opting to rip out my dagger from his black oozing wound. What happened next was worse than the death I anticipated. Worse than life up to that point had ever been. His beady eyes burned into me as he choked me in a deadly grip and took from me what I would never regain.

He gauged out my eyes.

From here on the world literally became black, my eyes no longer crying for they were not there at all. And as faith would have it, he paid for it as I cried bloody tears, the Valar striking him down with all their might. At least, I think that happened as I heard his sullen cries. Perhaps it had been the faery demons instead. Either way, I wished they would be remorseful and offer me the only thing I now wanted; a swift and painless death.

—

Gasping I sat up, my empty eyes blinking even though there was nothing to see. A warm hand on my naked back soothed me back into welcoming arms, the death I had once pleaded for seeming so silly now.

‘Sssh melleth-nîn.’ Geralt’s deep oak voice pulled me back to the land of the living. The land of the elves. My new home. ‘I’ve got you.’

I wished he had. And that he could keep me. But with my awakening, I too realised that I was to start yet another day of misery. Of whispers that betrayed that our slow-simmering relationship was frowned upon. The war had felt like a beautiful start of something new, but reality learned that the elves, despite the great tales of Beren and Luthien, were little fond of relationships between men and kin.

I sighed and turned in his arm, trying to imagine how his golden eyes were now looking at me with a silent warmth. How his lips curled slightly. In fact, I knew they curled up, my fingertips almost unwittingly tracing them. ‘Good morning,’ He rumbled gently.

‘I guess.’ I said, betraying my melancholy, his cheek instantly rubbing into my touch, like a dog would to console his owner.

‘I see more of those guesses each day and it pains me.’ His hand found my cheek and brushed away a tear that strayed there.

‘I’m sorry.’ My lip trembled as the pain of being unwanted tightened around my heart, ‘I just…’

‘Ssh, my sweet. I will not abandon you. You must know that. You keep my heart,’ His large hand placed over my heart. ‘and anything else is unimportant. I know the cause of your sorrow, and though Lórien has been my home, it is no longer. You are.’

‘What are you..?’

‘Come away with me. Let us find ourselves a home where we are both welcome. Both can live and laugh and love.’ He pressed a kiss to my forehead, then my nose..and then my empty eyelids - a thing I both hated for it emphasised how imperfect I was, but also loved, for he loved me all the same.

Our love was literally blind. From the moment he carried me out of the rain and into his forest, to the first time he and I confessed that there was more than friendship between us. And though it pained me to take him from his beloved Lórien, it was clear that the life we wished for, wouldn’t be lived out here between the Mallorn trees. 

—

Our new home would be, quite fittingly, the Last Homely House, as was decided upon after he sent out requests far and wide. The good lord Elrond was welcoming to our indefinite stay and so, with the simmering war still pestering the lands, we started our arduous travel through long dark nights, our days spent in inns or trees.  

I could feel the ache of his heart, like it were my own, whenever he laid his hand upon bark, only to feel that these trees were silent. The world of men we travelled through was crude and harsh and even with his hair braided back and ears cloaked, people knew he was a foreign thing, his tree-like height and strength making them gasp and whisper when we set foot in small towns. 

But Geralt, my dear, didn’t relent. His warrior heart kept a steady beat as our feet again moved on, to yet another town, another waylay until the sun would come and travels were too dangerous. The long nights and days made us weary and cold, but our love held fierce as the fires on the mountain pass. We slept and wept and loved as one, and as our journey was soon to bring us to Rivendell, we felt that at long last the world would be kind to us. That our lives would find peace. 

We were fools to think such a thing, for we never set foot beyond the mountains, our treacherous journey ending in yet more pain as our destinies unwound. 

--

‘Geralt?’ I reached out for his warmth, but the cave was deserted, the meagre fire we had stoked gone cold. Outside the winter howled, silencing any other signals I could possibly pick up. I tried to ease my mind as I wrapped my cloak around my shivering frame. It's alright, don’t worry. He’s alright. He’s alright. I repeated the mantra as I listened and waited. Perhaps he had gone out. Elves were little sensitive to the wear and tear of extreme weather, so perhaps he had just left to retrieve more wood for the fire. Perhaps he had to relieve himself. Perhaps he...

‘NOOOOOooo.’ A cry echoed through the valley, soon followed by more voices. In tongues I knew too well now. Orcs. Quite instinctively I ducked away, hands following the rough rock as I tried with utmost terror to hear what was afoot. The voices were getting nearer and, where last meeting an orc I had frozen, now I ran, abandoning the cave for the bitter snowy wind that cut through my hair. 

And as I did, I let my hands follow the solid rock on my right, as my feet pushed forward. I trusted myself not to fail this time. Not now. Not again. This time I wouldn’t get myself in trou..

‘NOOOOOOOOOO.’ The heart crushing cry returned, now even more pained and broken. And his. It was his. I knew it was his. I felt my knees crack beneath the sudden weight on my shoulders, my heart giving way to the strength as our bond was stretched further and further. 

I sank down into the icy embrace of the mountains and realised that faith again, had decided I was to be alone. But not dead. I was never found by the orcs that took him from me and for days I then walked, my feet burning blisters and my skin bitten with ice. But none of it hurt as much as the loss of him, for whenever I heard the wind, I heard him too, his desperate cry calling out for me. Begging me to find him. 

But how, I did not know, for my blind eyes lead me more astray with every step. 

--

For a time all was forgotten. Our life together, those months of blessing, had become but dreams. The war wagered on and the lands remained restless as my journey continued, though I never made it to the last place I hoped to call home. Instead I drifted, my feet carrying me slowly over the licking waves of grass. And instead of a sweet life, again I was met with crudeness and pain, my ageing body the ship that broke through every storm. I ended my long drift in an inn, and where my heart still dreamed, my limbs were weary and in exchange for a bed I was accepting of the faith of lonely female flesh. 

They used me, they did. And each time a grunt with hairy thighs ground himself into me with pathetic whimpers and moans, I’d remember him instead. Smooth and gentle, great power wrapped in silk and whispers, his sing-song tongue telling me of the moon, the stars and the trees. How they all came to be, and would remain until his immortal days were long stretched and his soul weary. In his one hundred years he had already spoke broken and hushed, but whenever he was in between my thighs, his touch came alive and his brooding thoughts spilled from eager fingertips. Even now, years later, I could feel my skin burn with lust and love on the places where others now held on. 

All I could think of was him. 

--

‘Wench.’ A brusk rap on the door awoke me from a restless sleep. I wasn’t sure whether it was day or night anymore, my life seeming one never-ending loop of misery. 

‘Open.’ I croaked, my hands closing the coarse material of the robe that kept whatever little dignity I still had left. 

The door opened and the voice of the keeper sounded oddly kind to the customer he had managed to reel into his whoring house. The war had meant long lines of problematic and abusive customers, but apparently this wasn’t one of them. At least, not yet. And perhaps I kept my hopes too high and was this customer only loved, for he had paid handsomely to do whatever. 

The door closed again and, hearing the enthused whistle of the keeper, I knew that my guest was probably here, despite it still being so very quiet. 

I was slightly taken aback when he touched me, a rough thumb brushing over my hollowed cheek, moving over a scar I had received from one of my less loving clients. 

‘G’day.’ I quickly lowered my face and gestured at the bed, hoping he would be a quick and simple shag. But he wasn’t. Instead I finally heard him, heard his breath, a quiet hiccup barely managing to hide the sorrow that spilled from his hand that now returned to my face, brushing away the hair I had placed there to hide the wrinkles that had started to take away my youth. 

With every passing second I felt more restless, the touch of this man far more abrasive than I wished it to be. ‘You have received the rates from the keeper?’ 

A short silence followed and then suddenly he was there, around me, long arms entangling me in an embrace that pushed all air and sorrow out of my bones. ‘Melleth..’ He cried and instantly I remembered these arms, this smell, the tickle of long hair and the oak of his voice.

Geralt. 

My fingers braced him, finding he too had changed. He had become sinewy thin and as his lips crushed into mine, I felt that his cheeks too had lost their innocence. Scars riddled over his once unblemished skin and as I felt his silent tears on my fingertips I knew that a tree of a man like him wouldn’t cry so simply. He had suffered as much, if not more. 

What followed was the physicalisation of a dream I had long kept to keep myself going. The dream that one day he’d find me and love me again. The dream that had him unwrap me from these rough wools, so I could feel his fingertips caress my flesh. 

His rough fingers felt like home and as he carefully placed me on the bed I wished for the moment to not end, our lips locking in luxurious long kisses and soft hums and moans. I tried to forget about what I must look like to him, for it was now not only my blind eyes that made me imperfect. I had grown old, the chance of ever conceiving a child probably as slim as that he would love me like he once did. 

And yet, here he was, worshipping the remains of our love until the flame was rekindled and the bond that had grown so thin and weary, once more felt as strong as it had once been. 

We were one again. 

I felt it as he stretched me around him, I felt it as he rocked me to my first true release in years. I felt it as he too joined me in the epiphany of love, my womb welcoming his gift with lust, longing and sweetness. Salty tears streamed down our cheeks as we slowly rediscovered the planes of our flesh; his once beautiful skin now marred and haunted with the many years he had been captured in dungeons of evil. 

For a moment I wished I could look at him, could look into those treasure golden eyes and see him truly. See the pain and the pleasure that probably kindled behind the tears he cried. But never again I would, and so I just touched his cheek and laid him to rest on my breast, the release of finding each other being enough for now, the restless pub downstairs making the only sound above the soft hush of our exhausted pants. 

That night we dreamed together; of the short life we could share before my old bones would become to brittle and break. We dreamed of meadows and kisses of the grass beneath our unmarred skin. We dreamed of our first time, gentle hands drifting over the ocean of shivering gooseflesh, anticipation licking at our hearts. For it was then decided, that our love was stronger. And again he whispered: ‘Come away with me.’ 

--

End

--

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#henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill smut #henry cavill angst #geralt of rivia au #lord of the rings au #lotr fanfiction #geralt fanfiction #geralt of rivia fanfiction #when in dreams #angst #smut #fluff #gimme all the feels #mrs august walker's great writing challenge

[havetheavengersdoneanythingwrong]

Prelude -- Safety

The cowardly Master keeps moving, step by step. The Master beside him, striding forth with their kouhai in tow, find themselves in the hot seat.

Struggling forwards, their next challenger remains a familiar face -- a fading, fated encounter.

The burning fires grow hotter still.

Within the city, navigation grew tougher still -- no longer could one even use the remains of the city outskirts to determine north from south. What the broken building's didn't cover, the endless flames did.

So far, the only hope lay in Kagekiyo -- about the only one here who had any sort of bearings here. Perhaps the flames didn't affect them, or perhaps they were simply more attentive than the normal human. Despite Olga Marie's grumblings, the Avenger still took the lead, seemingly slipping through broken-down alley and fiery roads at random.

"We're getting nowhere... How do we know that they don't think we're --" "--Don't start tempting fate now, Olga. I get that having an Avenger as one of our only allies isn't exactly reassuring, but doubting them this much is going to make things worse."

'Thank God for Ritsuka,' I mumbled to myself, barely overhearing them speaking to Olga. The soft grin, relaxed muscles, and laidback posture they kept did wonders for the nerves of their coworkers -- something someone like Olga likely needed badly at the moment.

Suddenly, a slight cloud of ash shot up to my face -- and quickly brushing it off my face, I found myself hearing the sound of two objects clashing --

--Steel and wood. Before even registering what had just occurred before me, a clash had begun, and just as easily been cut short.

As the dust settled, my eyes first moved to one of Kagekiyo's katana, then the seemingly normal wooden staff that caught it. Held by an arm covered in a blue cloak, partially covering their face with the hood --

Just in front of Kagekiyo stood a blue-clad, pale man, his face adorned by a casual smirk.

"...You're no Genji," the Avenger muttered, taking a step backwards and sheathing their blades in unison.

"'Genji?' Can't say it rings a bell, but... Say. You all look normal, for a change. Put down your weapons -- I'd rather not start another fight."

The blue-clad Caster stepped towards us, only now flicking off the hood that obscured his face. Greeted by a face seemingly all-too-familiar to Olga Marie, the Director let out a sigh as though she'd been holding it back for days.

"Finally, some sanity! You're C--"

"--Keep it down."

Almost instantly deflating the poor Director's excitement, as she tried to snap herself back into serious mode, the Caster raised a finger to their cheek, tapping it gently.

"Listen, I'll cut to the chase. You've probably noticed all the Servants you've fought aren't really Servants. A bit more aptly, they're replicas."

To this, Kagekiyo nodded silently, the grip on her katana's hilt tightening slightly, as the Caster continued.

"There's reason for that. Every Servant that was defeated here got turned into... whatever those were. I'm lucky I survived, but there's nothing left here."

As the Caster glanced away for a time, trying to think of what to say next, a footstep to my left alerted me of Ritsuka piping up.

"What caused this to happen?"

As my gaze turned to the other Master, I found their laidback grin faded -- their form slightly more tense.

"That's simple," the blue Caster responded, "Saber. She's turned all of them into whatever those are. And... this war won't stop until you do her in."

...

A straight answer -- but judging by the furrowed brow Ritsuka now wore, and the widened eyes of the Director beside them, this hardly spelled anything good.

"...The only Saber of the Fuyuki Grail War was..."

...Ritsuka hardly needed to finish their sentence. Olga wouldn't dare to, either -- even without the knowledge the others seemed to have, I could understand the odds were stacked against us. Even if we had an Avenger, two Casters, and Mash on our side -- their worried expressions gave good reason not to be confident in success.

Trying to dismiss the feeling of something taking hold of my neck, I reckoned it my time to speak up.

"How do we do that?"

Even despite the mildly incredulous gazes flung my way, I held my ground on the question. To this, the blue Caster took it upon himself to survey the Servants we had -- Mash included -- his eyes moving along each one of us as though gauging our odds of success on the spot.

"...The lady with the shield. What is your name?"

"M-Mash Kyrielight, sir."

At being called by the Caster, Mash stepped forward, moving her shield slightly to lean against it properly.

"...Your weapon is a shield, isn't it? It's possible your defensive Noble Phantasm could block Saber's attacks enough for everyone else to attack properly."

The blue Caster's eyes remained dead on Mash, waiting for a response -- only met with the lady turning her gaze to the floor.

"...You don't have one?"

"I... don't know, sir."

...The blue Caster thought for a moment, directing his gaze momentarily towards the other two Servants -- first to Kagekiyo, whose gaze hadn't moved from him at all, then to the younger Caster, who'd until now let the adults keep talking.

Then, the Caster snapped two fingers together, and turned around.

"That's entirely fixable, Mash. Come with me, all of you -- I have an idea."

--

The western flames hid a small cave beyond them, accessible through a heavily-worn path through a broken building. Avoiding chunks of steel and concrete that had fallen haphazardly to the ground, the blue Caster only stopped at the entrance to the cave -- waiting a moment for Olga Marie to catch up before continuing.

"This cave has the secret to Mash's Noble Phantasm, probably. I'm going to need Mash, and the two Masters, to enter. Nobody else."

Before the Avenger could open their mouth to speak, the blue Caster raised their finger to their mouth -- mouthing something that Kagekiyo appeared to have understood. The young Caster, though, seemed perfectly content to sit back for the time being, as did Olga Marie.

...Though, the blue Caster's eyes darted between me and Olga Marie for a moment -- before settling on me, smiling slightly.

"Doesn't look like we're going to need any runes for you. Just get in there -- I swear it'll work."

With quite possibly the least convincing pep talk of all time, Ritsuka, Mash, and myself were pushed into a horribly dark cave.

--

...Nothing could be seen. Only a few odd torches lit the way in the cave, spaced just a little bit too far apart. The brief flickers of light would often give way to a nigh-endless darkness, all-encompassing.

'...It's almost nostalgic.'

Even so, I could make some sense of where my teammates were -- Ritsuka to my left, controlling their breathing. Their bracelet rattled against their wrist faintly, beads shaking just enough to strike each other. To my right, Mash. The clinking of her armour gave her right away, even if that armour was barely armour to begin with. The heavy shield, almost scraping against the ground at times, hardly helped. And behind me, a skeleton. The rattle of its bones gave it right away --

...Wait.

"Ritsuka! Behind us!"

Narrowly ducking just in time for what was likely a blade to sweep over me instead of through me, Mash wasted no time at all jumping behind me, striking the fragile beast with a bash of her shield. Yet, the second that one fell, the all-too-familiar sound of rattling bones grew, like a Greek chorus that grew to encompass us entirely. In a moment, I found myself backpedalling until I hit a wall -- Ritsuka following suit, tapping a spot on the ground before us with his foot to give Mash an indicator of where to go in this darkness.

There had to have been around nine, perhaps more. Trying to parse the sounds of one skeleton from another was almost impossible -- only mildly feasible when one's walking made a separate noise from another. However many there was, each approached Mash in groups of three -- as if to surround her, and get to us.

"--Mash! You can handle this, right?!"

"I'll be fine, Senpai!"

Even saying that, I could faintly hear her movement -- going backwards, desperately attempting to cover three skeletons at once, before raising her shield and swiping each skull off with one slash of the 'less blunt' portion of her shield.

'I suppose a skeleton would fall apart to anything faintly blade-shaped.'

Even so, they would only keep on coming -- wave, after wave -- arrows slung over us, blades narrowly blocked by the shield Mash carried. Even without the ability to see properly in this darkness, I could've sworn I'd heard six, maybe seven of them, wailing away at Mash's shield.

And yet, nothing was happening. Mash just kept waiting, then slicing down as many as she could, before waiting once more. This rush of enemies just wasn't enough -- clearly, something picked up on by the blue Caster, who now found himself before them, as Mash cleared the final skeletons from the area.

"...You did well. But considering that wasn't enough to make you get serious, it looks like I'll have to instead."

The rattling of Ritsuka's bracelet grew a little louder, and the gasp of one of us could be heard to the right. Yet, the blue Caster said little, stepping back to prepare his staff.

"I believe her Noble Phantasm will trigger if she needs it, and she will find the name then. But she has to need it first."

"H-Hold on! I would've needed extra help for those skeletons!"

Though Mash stepped forward in protest, the Caster laughed a bit -- lighting a flame to illuminate all four of us in the cave.

"You handled them just fine. You'd need it to even survive -- that's when you will find it. If you can't withstand my Noble Phantasm, you have little hope of even attempting to resist Saber's."

Even as Ritsuka opened their mouth to talk, the gaze of the Caster spoke all that had to be said -- leaving the Master only able to grit their teeth.

"...Mash. Prepare for combat!"

"Yes, Senpai!"

In a moment, the Caster made quick work of attacking first. A series of fireballs, seemingly directed towards Mash.

'Thank the gods... Nothing towards me, yet.'

Such a shot was easy enough for Mash to block. Each ball struck her shield, and dispersed just as quickly -- only one or two fireballs getting through.

Yet, those few fireballs still made their mark -- as the Shielder winced from the sudden burning feeling spreading through her arm, as a fireball struck true.

"Good defence -- but not perfect."

The Caster appeared to be relaxed enough, even now, to give mid-battle critique -- even as Mash closed the distance in only a few steps, seemingly already intent on bashing the Caster with as much force as she could put behind that massive block of steel.

But all it took was a single well-placed dodge to have Mash fall face-first into the ground -- rolling onto her back just in time to eat a fireball directly to her arm.

"Mash?! Damnit..."

Ritsuka stepped forward, already tempted to use his Command Seals -- only backing down once more as Mash stood back up. Placing her burnt arm behind her back to try and protect it from further arm, she'd again position her shield in front of her -- and watch.

"...I'm not getting anywhere fast."

The Caster furrowed his brow, thinking aloud, seemingly realizing the futility of trying to whittle down Mash. However -- there was something more he could do.

"My magecraft is a cage of flames."

'...He's doing it.'

The Caster oriented his staff horizontally, his casual grin fading away.

"A flaming, yet verdant giant."

Mash began to step back.

"Retribution. A shrine that purifies the evil of human affairs."

Her foot, then, landed directly onto a flame that had just now sprouted -- growing powerful, impossible, in mere moments, as if to engulf her.

"The one who destroys--"

The Caster slammed the bottom of his staff upon the ground.

"Wicker Man!"

--Before the Shielder could even escape, before her rose a being that only barely fit the cave it was in. A massive 'cage' shaped like a man -- the flames beneath it serving to execute whichever poor soul became locked in its walls.

Yet, as the flames tore its legs ever so slowly, its concern remained purely on the Shielder -- the Caster grinning slightly, as the hand of the Wicker Man lowered itself upon Mash.

"Mash?! --Caster, stop this! She's going to-"

"--If she fails this test, she would just as soon die by Saber's hand! If she doesn't learn now, she won't ever get the chance!"

--Just as the Master beside me took a step forward, then another, as if intent on attacking this Caster themselves --

--My eyes fell to the Shielder, her eyes wide as saucers, quaking, yet holding up that shield of hers.

Whispering something perhaps similar to a faint wish to be safe.

As she closed her eyes, forced to place faith into the steel that lay in front of her --

--in a moment, the flame beneath her was blown away, and the hand of the Wicker Man collided with an icy-blue barrier.

#fgo #mastersona #gudasona #ritsuka time #l o r e #cadenceloreposting #that's right my bad writing's returning mfers

[botwstoriesandsuch]

Linktober Day 1 - Monster/Beast

2391 Words

Warning for a mention of blood

Huzzah! I did it, Linktober is here and I actually wrote something of decent quality! Please enjoy Urbosa being a badass...

- - - - - 

“I heard your screams the other night, when you tried to consume my people.”

A shrill cry pierced the air. The night a bruising purple, the moon bleeding blue.

She stepped closer, and the screech of the desert grew louder, the echoes fading into wisping sandy grains. “Quite difficult, wasn’t it? Trying to burrow through Gerudo walls?”

The moon slipped beneath a midnight cloud, the horizon fading to foggy haze. Despite this, her head piece glistened gold, embers that glowed amidst her fiery hair. The glint of jewels adorned on her ears, shield, and scabbard was only rivaled by her flickering emerald eyes. She gazed at the desert, daring it to tremble once more. 

“Resilience is etched in the history of my people, to even the first of our endeavouring ancestors. Their walls, their craft, their blades, their legends— all of unyielding strength.” 

Another step forward, a hand resting on her hip; the Chief’s face was calm, yet determined. She looked around, but nothing moved. All was still as stone. 

“Perhaps time has made you forget, little worm.” She raised her voice this time, trying to get a reaction from the void.

“I will be happy to give you new peace of mind, when I pry your skull upon my steel.”

The world shook, another scream was let loose somewhere beneath her. The warrior pivoted her step, the metal sound of her blade unsheathed rang through the air. A confident note to a familiar song…

There you are.

The good thing about the desert is that it’s easy to spot things out of place. Amidst the towering ruins of forgotten sandstone monuments, one would assume that a moving pile of sand was out of the ordinary. 

It slithered by the corner of her gaze, disappearing just as she fully turned around— but it was enough, she had it. 

It was a mass of sand creeping, the sound of each grain slowly falling like water, settling back down to even earth as the warrior felt the shudders from underneath the ruins. The faint clicking of a blind wretch was all the confirmation she needed. This was the same beast.

“It is tradition to prepare for your demise, before each battle. A will, a tomb, a final wish…” She strutted carefully towards where she last saw the sand shift. “Such is the way of each warrior before me. I can only trust you’ve made your own plans.” The wind suddenly sighed deeply, and the shadowed clouds parted for the silver of the night.

“But if you have forgotten, you need not worry…”

Urbosa raised an arm to the sky, moonlight revealing her newfound smirk.

“For I will carve your grave.”

Snap.

BOOM!

A crack of thunder, a flash of green. The hair on her neck rose as lightning struck. The spot of sand Urbosa had targeted suddenly exploded upwards in a wave of earth. 

It screamed in pain, escaping towards the sky. As stray thunder struck in the ruins around her, the moonlight was suddenly obstructed by a monstrous silhouette, the shadow painted her and the sands grey.

The Molduga arched back towards the earth.

It thrashed and wailed as it dived, the momentum of its sudden plunge through the air made a thunderous noise of its own. The beast connected to the earth with a loud thud, before it attempted to burrow back under the ruins.

Oh no you don’t!

Urbosa ran forth to strike a blow, the winds behind her are her black skirt fluttering over the shivering ground. She could already feel the sweat trickling against her metal armour. Good, she thought, perhaps this night will be more of an interesting challenge after all. 

Even in the haze of night, she could determine her proximity to the beast from smell alone. The stench was ripe of muck, sulfur, and blood. Urbosa let loose her momentum and jammed her blade into its underbelly, another howl escaping the beast.

Quickly dodging its swiping tail, she jumped back and wiped her brow. The Molduga burrowed with newfound speed, escaping to the darkness below. A trail of oozing blood across the land was the only evidence of its existence, before the beast was completely swallowed by the sand.

The warrior scoffed. “What’s wrong? No chomping today?” Urbosa crowed, “As cowardly as your tactics are, I’d expect you would at least try to nip me!” She turned in place, eyeing the East Barrens for some sign of her foe. 

It was weak, that was for sure. Two nights ago, it had rammed its mighty and witless face against the walls of Gerudo Town— presumably in order to get inside. But the stone did not budge, and a fleet of warriors led by Urbosa were able to send the monster fleeing towards these ruins. 

An itch in the back of her skull told her there was more to the story...after all, Molduga don't seek people unprompted. They’re an ambushing species, preferring to wait for prey to walk over it before striking. Why it was agitated enough to seek out a populated town...Urbosa didn’t know. But at the end of the day, her mission would be the same— the beast won’t live to see the setting stars.

She had come equipped with her trusty Daybreaker and scimitar, her heels swapped for sandboots that better moved across the sinking earth. Not that it was incredibly necessary. All it took was a direct blow of lightning, and the thing would be nothing more than a tale for the tavern. But Urbosa knew better than to underestimate her enemy. 

The Gerudo Chief crept through the night, keeping her footsteps quiet and unassuming. The pillars of the East Barren towered with consuming shadows. The chiseled peaks that separated her and the distant Gerudo Valley stabbed the blackening sky with bronze. 

Feeling a charge stirr in her soul, Urbosa called out again. She had to find it before it found her first. 

“Won’t you grace me with your soothing song again? I promise to give you a thunderous applause!” 

The clouds billowed against the moon, shadows from looming structures flickered in and out. The ground quivered in response.

And in the distance, the desert exploded. 

A mass of sand swam towards her with violent speed. A ruined column in its path collapsed in a mess of sandstone and broken brick, falling pathetically in the sand. A sickening whine could be heard all around her, resonating from the earth, but undoubtedly sourced from the approaching foe. 

Now that’s more like it…

Urbosa stepped to the side, moving away from where she had last taunted the beast. It may be able to detect the vibrations of her voice and running, but her careful footsteps, with aid from the sandboots, would be nothing more than a whisper to the Molduga. 

She summoned the electric charge that stirred within her, she could already feel the air crackle and tense. As the mass of sand beckoned closer, she snapped her fingers once more, this time directing it towards a broader area in front of her. 

Thunder cracked like a whip, lightning striking around her. However this time, the energy was dispersed, focusing on three areas— far left, far right, and far center. The disturbed sand in their respective locations erupted as a result, before crashing back down nearly as quick as her own snap. 

The desert mound hesitated, slowing cautiously. 

Urbosa laughed to herself. Where will you go, little worm? Where do you think I am…

The Moldaga’s hulking figure didn’t hesitate for longer than a minute. It regained it’s moment, quickly veering to the side. It seems to have made its choice, assuming Urbosa was near where the far left lightning had struck. 

Urbosa readied her free hand, while adjusting her grip of her sword in the other. The Molduga approached her trap, sinking deep into the sand, and freeing the view to the horizon. 

And for a moment, Urbosa could see a forgotten sunset, on the faintest edge of the desert’s endless expanse. It winked faintly against the canvas of stars. The gentle slopes, carved with the delicate brush of the cool night breeze— for a moment you could forget the lurking dangers of this world. 

Then, the sunset erupted with fury.

The Molduga rose like fire, opening its jaws wide for an unseen prey. The last silver of the sun was stolen away by the beast’s enormous frame, and the sky bruised purple once more.

As it hung, suspended in mid air, the world was silent except for cascading grains of sand, and the Molduga’s shrill and deafening scream.

Snap. 

The sky flashed green, to white, and back.

The air charged, ready to crack into a boom. 

But thunder never shook the earth.

The Molduga’s cry was muffled by the resonating rumble in its throat. 

Urbosa sprinted forth, a grin stretched wide across her face.

She had struck true. 

The Molduga collapsed onto the ground, another explosion of sand filled the surrounding air. Its mouth crackled with static, its body twitched and convulsed. The smell of blood and sulfur was now a thousand times worse, it was as if someone had burned a whole graveyard. The sensation nearly made her eyes tear, but Urbosa did not stop to weep.

There would be no pity for the lightning eater. 

Urbosa let out a cry, before stabbing her sword straight through the Molduga’s lower jaw, pinning it to the sand. Its wail and horrific breath swept directly in her face, but the warrior did not flinch.

“I hope you enjoyed the view up there,” Urbosa walked towards its beady, useless eyes, leaning in, “It’ll be the last good thing you’ll see.” 

Urbosa studied the creature's face. It’s eyes glowed an eerie blue, luminescent in the night. Peering back towards the Molduga’s mouth, Urbosa frowned in confusion. 

Blue…?

Well that’s new. She furrowed her brow. As far as she could remember, the beasts of sand were amber, or brown in color, or at the very least some sort of hue that resembled the sand. They definitely weren’t of a stark lapis or cerulean, unless this was some sort of icy...snowy variant?

Urbosa shook the thought out of her head. Such a thing was impossible, Moldugas thrived on the depths of the desert sand, and such a feat could never be replicated in the tundras of Gerudo Highlands. Still, the beast’s mouth and eyes glowed mysteriously...new questions brewing in the Gerudo Chief’s mind.

But now was not the time, any moment, this monster would regain its strength and attack. 

Urbosa suddenly turned towards the beast’s upper back, noticing a different hum in the air. A thing and long stick protruded from one of its fins, and she climbed up to investigate. 

Using it’s tiny head as a stool, Urbosa lifted herself up and walked upon its back. The stick she had heard humming was growing faintly louder as she approached. Grasping both hands and it’s end, she pulled with great strength.

A glowing blue spear head emerged from the fin, flickering hot like fire. It’s hue was the same of that of the Molduga’s eyes and inner mouth. Could this be why this creature glowed…?

She balanced the spear in each hand. She wasn’t much of a spearman, preferring the balance of shield and blade. But her Scimitar was busy pinning it’s mouth to the ground, so it would have to do. 

Urbosa walked back over the Moldugas back, before positioning herself above the beast’s head. It was time. She let out a breath of adrenaline, and she could swear the thing had sighed in response. 

“I am no monster,” Urbosa steadied her grip, grazing the blue tip of the strange spear just above it’s skull. 

“I promise this will be swift.”

- - - - - 

“Ahem! Lady Urbosa...”

The Hylian advisor spoke again, cutting through the chief’s thoughts.

“When you say you used this strange spear, how certain are you of its effect? Did it truly slice through this new monster like...how did you say it...butter?”

Urbosa sighed, she’d been in this political meeting for what felt like a century. At this point, the Yiga were better company. 

“New in nature and color, but I assure you, the Molduga is as equally dead as all other beasts I have faced. The threat is gone.”

The Hylian clicked her tongue. “Yes, I understand the blunt of it, but I need the details specifically, if I am to reveal this information from Her Majesty, the Queen.”

The mention of her childhood friend renewed her interest in the conversation. “You have thrown the Queen of Hyrule’s title around quite lazily this evening, so perhaps we should cut to the point and not have you return to her empty handed? Hmm?” Urbosa raised an eyebrow with a smile.

The woman stammered for a moment, readjusting the bun of her brown hair. The throne room was probably scorching to this stuffy Hylian. In different circumstances, Urbosa might have felt pity.

“Very well,” the Hylian finally responded. “But I just need you to be absolutely sure that the glow was of Sheikah origin.” She gestured for probably the fifteenth time that night at the set of Ancient weapons on the table.

The weapons flickered blue, hot as fire, and as lightweight as air— were they not relics, Urbosa would have liked to keep the one that was shaped like a giant axe.

“Yes, I am positive.” Urbosa said sternly.

“It is my, and Her Majesty’s, belief that you do not endure a fight, but a trial. A trial planned by an ancient civilization.” the advisor spoke carefully, acknowledging that her words caused confusion for some of the Gerudo guards standing by the door. “Similar events have happened in other sections of Hyrule, beasts and signs that direct at certain individuals.”

The Gerudo Chief rubbed her chin thoughtfully, before shaking her head. “I’m afraid I don’t fully understand…”

The Hylian advisor pulled out a scroll, Urbosa could recognize the cursive handwriting of her royal friend. The other guards murmured at the royal wax seal on its surface.

The advisor spoke again. Her voice was barely a whisper, but it consumed the people’s attention nonetheless.

“Chief Urbosa, a new prophecy has been revealed, and I think you would find its contents quite interesting.”

#please rb i am but a humble content creator #linktober #linktober 2020 #botw #breath of the wild #legend of zelda botw #loz botw #urbosa #molduga #molduking #botw fanfiction #tw blood

[changingourdestiny]

Season of the Hunt Finale: A True Hunter

Summary:

It’s finally over. The Celebrant is defeated. Spider no longer has a hold on Crow. The only left question is now what?

Previous Part: Here

Spider let out a small growl as he heard the laughter of the four Guardians outside the lair. He muttered a curse in Eliksni as he sat back in his chair.

“You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

Spider’s attention snapped to his left as Marcia decloaked, leaning against a pile of crates that were stacked against the wall. The guards went to raise their spears, but Spider raised a hand, stopping them. “What do you want, Marcia?” Spider growled, “I’m not in the mood for your ‘antics’.”

“I’ll say.” Marcia chuckled, “I just snuck in to see the end result of Paralight’s one-on-one with the Celebrant. Y’know, you always talk about how Drifter and I can’t seem to keep our mouths shut…and yet it was your big mouth that got your ‘little bird’ taken away. “Anything in the lair.” Honestly, how did you think that would end?”

Spider narrowed his eyes at Marcia as she stood up straight, “But if you want me to be honest here…I came here to give you a titbit of advice.”

“And that is…?”

Marcia’s expression turned serious, “Don’t underestimate Rae. She ain’t the same Guardian that walked in here two years ago.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well first off, she seems to be taking my advice. She’s started making her own rules and is starting to find things out for herself instead of taking the Vanguard’s word for granted. She’s beginning to think for herself. Secondly, and honestly more seriously, she’s got a new trick now.”

“Yes, yes, I’m aware of Stasis.” Spider replied dismissively.

“Not Stasis.”

Spider seemed intrigued as Marcia continued, “She calls it Darknebula. And from what I can tell, it works in the opposite way to Starlight.”

“Explain.”

“Starlight is triggered by the desire to protect and preserve life. Darknebula works in the opposite way: it’s triggered by the desire to kill and destroy it.” Marcia explained, “Basically, if someone was to, oh I don’t know…maybe anger her to the point of her wanting to completely annihilate them – whether she realises it or not – she becomes a feral killing machine that doesn’t stop until the source of that desire is dead. This is a warning, Spider. If she’s done following the Vanguard’s rules and you push her too far, it’s game over for you. I’ve seen that form first-hand when she was up against Eramis. Now the kell of Salvation is an ice sculpture on Europa.”

Spider just hmphed in response, “If she kills me, she loses her best ally on the Shore.”

Marcia laughed, “Oho, really? I look forward to seeing you try to tell that to a feral, acting-on-instinct Rae who has lost all sense of logic and reasoning. Hell, I’ll be impressed if you get more than a word out!” Marcia began to walk out, “Like I said, just a lil’ bit of advice for ya. Take it if ya want. See ya!”

Spider grumbled as he leaned back in his chair, watching the rogue leave.

“I hate that Hunter…”

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s been a few weeks since the High Celebrants defeat. Spider had sent an engineer to remove the explosives from Glint’s shell, officially ending his hold on Crow and his Ghost. However, there were still remaining Wrathborns lurking in the Shore and the Dreaming City, so Crow had remained in the lair to aid Paralight in wiping them out. The last of them had finally been wiped out and the cryptoliths had begun to decay without the Celebrant maintaining them. The hunt had finally come to a close.

Crow leaned on his workbench, deep in thought, but was pulled out by his vision suddenly going dark as two hands covered his eyes from behind.

“Guess who!”

“Rae?” Crow guessed with a smirk, “No, wait. It’s Marcia!”

“I don’t smell that bad!”

“Ha! I know it’s you, Blaze.”

Blaze removed her hands from Crow’s eyes and plopped her head on his shoulder, “Yup!” Crow poked Blaze’s forehead, “Bang.”

“Gah! Crow has killed the Celebrant! Curse you, Guardiaaaaans!” Blaze dramatically sunk to the floor while Crow laughed at her performance before motioning to her armour, “New look?”

Blaze’s usual blue and gold armour had been swapped for red and gold armour, a bit similar to her very first set. Her cloak, gloves and skirt looked like fiery feathers with her boots matching the upper half of her armour. “Yeah. I’d been sticking with blue and gold for a while now.” Blaze replied, “Figured I should switch it up a little.”

“It suits you.” Crow smiled. “Thanks.” Blaze grinned, a small blush appearing on her face, as the two leaned against the table with a sigh. “I suppose this is it.” Crow said with a sense of finality, “Time to say goodbye to the Reef. To the only home I've ever known.”

“Yeah…” Blaze sighed, “It’s weird. It’s been three months, but it feels like only a few days ago we met on the moon. Now it’s over.” The two stood in comfortable silence for a moment before Blaze spoke up again, “So what are you going to do now?”

“I’ve given it some thought.” Crow replied, “Osiris actually came by earlier and we talked for a while about my plans for the future. I told him I'd considered exploring somewhere remote, like Venus, but he suggested a different course."

“What’s that?”

Crow held his head up high, “I’m coming to the Tower.”

Blaze’s eyes widened as she stood up straight, “F-for real?”

Crow nodded with a smile, “People may judge the man I was, but I refuse to cower in the shadow of his legacy. I'm a Guardian. I need to act like one. I also talked to Rae about it. She suggested joining a Fireteam and…I’ve decided to join Paralight.”

Blaze’s eyes lit up at this before lunging at Crow, wrapping her arms around him as she let out a squeal of delight. Crow stumbled back a bit before steadying himself, letting out a chuckle as he returned the hug. “That’s great! You won’t regret it, I promise!”

“I know I won’t. I’m still a bit anxious about showing my face in the Tower, but I think I’ll be okay with you and the others.” Crow cupped Blaze’s cheek and gave her a brief kiss before touching his forehead to hers, “I love you.”

“I love you too, Crow.”

 The two pulled away upon hearing footsteps approach the workshop. A moment later, Rae and Adam entered wearing new armour of their own. Rae had cut her hair, so it looked similar to her Kinderguardian hairstyle. She now wore pink, purple and blue robes with the Stasis symbol on the skirt and metal, layered shoulder pads. She also wore a black and white bond that had a spade projection. Adam wore armour that was several shades of white and blue with a white furry collar. “Looks like you’re not the only one with a new look.” Crow noted as the two Guardians entered. “Yeah.” Rae laughed, rubbing the back of her neck, “I figured since I’m the Stasis Vanguard now, I should look like it.”

Crow turned to Adam, “And you?”

“Everyone was getting new looks, and I didn’t want to feel left out.” Adam shrugged. “Suuuure. It TOTALLY isn’t to impress a certain Awoken in the Dreaming City or anything.” Blaze chuckled. “Hardy har.” Adam rolled his eyes. Rae laughed at the two’s banter before turning to Crow, “So, you ready to go?”

“Almost. Osiris wanted to meet me before I arrive.” Crow replied, “Said he had something to give me.”

Rae nodded in understanding, “We’ll meet you in the Tower courtyard then. See you starside, Guardian.”

“See you starside.”

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What do you think Osiris wanted to give Crow?”

Rae stood in the courtyard with her Fireteam and the rest of the Vanguard. “If I had to make a guess…” Ikora gave a small smirk, “A lengthy lecture on the importance of being a Guardian.”

“That tracks!” Rae giggled. “Ikora had to get it from somewhere!” Cayde added, earning a laugh from Blaze. Ikora glared at Cayde and Blaze, who ducked behind Adam for protection from any potential incoming nova bombs.

“Oh helvete nej! I am not being your meat shield!” Adam walked away from the cowering Hunters.

“H-hey! What happened to Titans protecting others?” Cayde stammered.

“Not from angry Ikoras! I doubt even Shaxx would stand in the way of Ikora when she’s angry.”

“VERY TRUE!!” Shaxx yelled from the other side of the courtyard.

As the group continued their banter, Blaze noticed a figure emerge from the hangar entrance walking towards them. There was Crow, now wearing a short black and white cloak with a white crow displayed on it. Under it, his usual black scale-like armour was now white along with matching boots and now wore grey trousers. “How do I look?” Crow asked as he approached Blaze. “Like a true Hunter.” She smiled. Zavala stepped forward, “Welcome to the Tower, Guardian.”

“Thank you. I won’t let you down.” Crow nodded.

“Well before we do anything…” Cayde began, a serious tone to his voice, “There’s one important thing we need to do.”

“True, true.” Blaze agreed. “W-what? What’s wrong?” Crow asked, glancing between the two Hunters with concern.

“…INITIATION!!!” Cayde and Blaze yelled in unison as they both grabbed the arms of a very confused Crow and began leading him towards Tower’s Spicy Ramen. “We better go make sure they don’t cause trouble.” Rae chuckled. “I feel like that’s always a given when it comes to those two.” Ikora replied as she began walking back to her post.

 The rest of the evening was spent at Spicy Ramen, celebrating Crow joining the ranks of the Guardians. Crow still thought the noodles looked like worms but eventually gave in after some peer pressure from Blaze and Cayde and ended up enjoying it. They shared stories of their own embarrassing Kinderguardian moments, from Cayde falling off a cliff moments after his first revival to Paralight getting caught in a Benny Hills-style case with two minotaurs and a flock of harpies on Venus after running out of ammo while their Ghosts continued their scan. They also told stories of their greatest victories such as Adam’s infamous swordfight with Crota after Rae and Blaze were downed. Blaze and Crow joined in by telling them about how they both fended off Savathûn’s forces while trying to restore Hawkmoon. Slowly, Crow felt the anxiety of arriving at the Tower wash away. He knew there would still be Guardians who would hate him for his past self’s mistakes, despite what the Vanguard would say to them. He knew of the possible dangers awaiting him with the Darkness looming throughout the system. He knew of the certain chaos running with this trio of misfits would bring. But right now, he didn’t care. In that moment, he was surrounded by friends – his friends – laughing and sharing stories together. They knew of what his old self did, he could see it in their eyes, yet they still accepted him for who he was now. He knew who he was. And he knew who he would always be.

A Hunter.

A Guardian.

 Crow.

 End of Season of the Hunt.

#Changing our Destiny #rae drakyx #adam bergfalk #blaze kiria #fireteam paralight #The Spider #destiny spider #marcia wyverk #the crow #destiny crow #Zavala #destiny zavala #ikora rey #destiny ikora #cayde-6 #destiny cayde #lord shaxx #destiny shaxx #destiny 2

[dhwty-writes]

Zutara Week Day 3 - Fuse

Whew, day 3! This is so much fun though I am not entirely happy how this part turned out. Still, I hope you enjoy it! If you havent already be sure to read day 1 and day 2 first, to know what’s happening.

Have fun!

Read on AO3

Fuse

It was the dead of night and the explosion shattered the silence. The Fire Lord was on his feet in a heartbeat. 'Katara!' he thought and lunged for his swords. He pushed his door open, startling the dozing guard awake. "What is happening?" he demanded furiously and shook the shocked woman by the shoulders who was doing her best to blink the sleep out of her eyes.

Another explosion ripped through the nightly silence and the Fire Lord dropped his grip on the armour and raced up to the deck. He was vaguely aware of the guards that crowded into the corridor and tried to form a protective circle around their liege. But he didn't care. He didn't care at all about his own safety because his mind only screamed 'Katara, Katara, Katara!' and so he pushed them out of the way.

"I'm fine!" he bellowed. "Find out what is happening out there!" He finally pushed onto the deck, the humid night air welcoming him. He stumbled to the railing and his breath caught in his throat.

The town was illuminated by the silvery light of the full moon, the serenity interrupted by fire that bloomed in the dark, erupting in flickering blossoms on the town square. And every now and then they hissed, recoiling from the layers of ice thick as Ba Sing Se's walls. "Fuck," he cursed loudly, his thoughts racing. He slung his swords over his back and looked back to see his guards stumbling clumsily onto the deck. "I'll be fine," he assured and vaulted over the rail.

"Your majesty!" he heard them call but he ignored them. He knew he was being unfair; he knew that they only wanted to protect him but Katara was fighting and Katara was in danger. And he had just won her freedom with the trial yesterday, he would not - could not - allow her to be hurt.

He ran through the narrow alleys of the town that had become so familiar to him in the past weeks, past dying fires and minor scuffles between benders and non-benders alike. All of that didn't matter.

The square was a ruin. The hospital Katara had fortified and protected so adamantly was ablaze and so was the governor's house and Zuko knew that come morning there would not be a single wall standing save for crumbling ashes. Where once had been a well and cobblestones, there was now a slippery icy floor with melted splotches all around.

And amidst the destruction was Katara. Katara, beautiful, furious, terrifying Katara. Suddenly he knew again why he had been afraid to cross her on the battlefield.

Katara had always been a force to be reckoned with. A child prodigy, a master waterbender by the age of fourteen, a bloodbender. She had taken down Azula during Sozin's Comet after all. Even when he first met her, even when she barely managed a water whip, she had been magnificent. He had made the mistake to underestimate her quite a few times. He had learned his lesson quickly. Apparently, two dozen firebenders hadn't.

When Zuko remembered all the battles they had fought, it was not hard to pick the most brilliant one. He might have been tempted to say their first fight after she had found a master, or the one after his betrayal in Ba Sing Se, or even her fight against Azula. Yet, they all paled in comparison to the time they had set out to avenge her mother. He had thought nothing would ever compare to the day she stopped the rain. He had been so very wrong.

Katara stood amidst the smoking ruins of the town square and her chest was heaving heavily from the exhaustion of bending what looked like half the river at once dousing the flames, protecting three rebels that huddled behind her, attacking the guards. Zuko didn't even know where to look first and yet she moved with grace and elegance through her forms as if it was nothing. He could just stare in awe.

Of course, she was bound to slip. Not even the Avatar could hold this up for long and he could bend four elements, not just one. So, of course she missed one.

And Zuko didn't even hesitate.

Because suddenly he wasn't on some backwater island, suddenly he was in the palace again with Sozin's Comet parting the sky and there was lightning rushing towards Katara so he had to jump. He always had to jump.

This time he was fast enough. His feet planted on the ground he redirected the lightning and it exploded in the sky. He grunted and Katara yelled and then there was the next wave of attacks raining down on them. "I got you," he promised as he deflected the fire.

"Thanks," she panted. "I thought you'd never show."

'Always', he told himself and drew his twin blades to cut through a curtain of fire. 'I'll always show.'

He had no idea where all the attackers came from if he was quite honest. He knew the regulations on the household guard of a governor, put in place to prevent exactly this. He knew that a town of that size wasn't entitled to any kind of militia. And yet the firebenders crowding into the square were nearing on thirty. So, where the hell did Yozin get them from?

"I don't understand, Shao," Katara yelled, freezing one of the benders to a wall, "I thought you were on our side."

"I'm sorry," the man sobbed and it sounded genuine. "But the governor pays more." Zuko knocked him out with the pummel of a sword and grunted in disgust.

"These are your rebels?" he sneered

Katara ducked under a fiery blast, slithering on an ice trail and bending up an ice cube with a move that looked suspiciously like one of Toph's. "Some. Dirty bastard baited them with money."

"Where's the rest?" He drove one of the guards back with a quick succession of blasts then stepped back to have her water whip them into some rubble.

"Fighting somewhere else," she said and moved closer to cover his back. "These ones are ours."

He grinned and nodded. "Like old times?"

The sound escaping her throat almost sounded like a laugh. "Sparky, that doesn't even come close. Just hope you can keep up with me."

Now he was laughing, too. "Don't you know the Fire Lord's the best firebender in the world, sugar queen? And this one just happens to be the best swordsman, too."

She laughed and it almost sounded genuine. "Don't let Sokka hear you."

Relief washed over him. If she could joke their chances weren't all that bad. "Won't tell him if you don't. Let's go."

"Let's go," she agreed and cast a quick look back to the rebels she had protected so fiercely. "Get out of here. This'll get ugly." Then she nodded and together they advanced.

It was ridiculously easy to fall into step with her. They had fought each other innumerable times. But that didn't even compare to the times they had fought together.

All members of Team Avatar were almost inhumanly in sync with each other, he had learned that first hand more than enough. And once he had joined them it had been ridiculously easy to fit into the glaring gap that had been in their midst. He had expected it to be easiest with Aang, the Avatar did use firebending as well, after all.

However, it had been easiest with Katara. Katara, the waterbender, the element of fluidity and change, adapt and overcome. Her and Aang were simply a sight to behold while no combination could surpass the instinctive trust between her and Sokka and seeing Toph and Katara together had managed to convince him his last hour had rung.

But Katara and him? That was just something else. Perhaps it was that their elements were opposite. Perhaps it was that they had fought each other so many times. Perhaps it was something else entirely. The only thing he knew was that nothing in this world could surpass the feeling of euphoria he felt whenever he and Katara fought together.

In all honesty, the guards never stood a chance. And he might've even felt pity for them if he hadn't been so furious. But honestly who on earth attacked a waterbender on a full moon? Who on earth attacked the waterbending teacher of the Avatar at all? Who on earth attacked her with the Avatar's firebending teacher by her side? That was foolishness bordering on insanity.

She took out two attackers with a water whip and he followed suit with a fiery one. She bent the scalding steam towards four of them who screamed in pain. Blinded as they were, they went down quickly beneath Zuko's swords.

"Katara, watch out!" he shouted and grabbed for her arm to yank her behind a crumbling wall, trapping her between his arms. The searing heat that licked against his body made him quiver and think of another fight where he had felt the fire far too hotly. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, only glad to shield Katara.

Once the burst of flames died down, he pulled away a little. "You need a break," he stated as he took in the exhaustion that was plain in her face.

"We need to keep fighting-"

"Even you can't keep this up for ever. And you are running out of water."

"The air is humid-"

He growled and curled around her once more as another firestorm raced towards them, spinning to deflect it. "Stop arguing," he hissed, "and run. I'll meet you back at the harbour in half an hour."

"Zuko-"

"Go, Katara!" He pushed her away and she stumbled a little. "I'll be fine."

Another burst of flame, another spin. The horror was plain on Katara's face and it almost broke his heart.

"Don't hurt them. They're not bad people," she pleaded. Then she turned and ran.

Fighting alone felt wrong. There was no other way to describe it but suddenly his movements felt stiff and wooden as he stumbled through the forms. Not only once he waited for another person to complete the attack without anyone being there.

This led to him coming dangerously close to some vicious burns he would rather avoid while he tried to slowly draw the firebenders to the harbour where an angry waterbender would be waiting for them. 'Agni, please let them be that stupid,' he prayed while he considered his chances.

They were bad.

He had figured that out the moment that he had told Katara to run but he hadn't known how bad they would be.

He only figured that out when he found himself backed into a dead end with five firebenders blocking the exit.

'Fuck,' he thought. "Fuck," he said. Slowly he raised his hands. "Stop attacking. I am your Fire Lord."

One of the guards barked a laugh. "Not likely, your majesty. You should've thought about this before sticking your royal nose where it doesn't belong."

He winced. 'Not bad people, huh?' Slowly he dropped into a defensive stance. "Bring it on, then," he gritted, "and let it not be said that the Fire Lord went down without a fight."

The traitors raised their hands, ready to attack and Zuko braced himself, waiting for the blow and-

Nothing happened.

Well, that was not entirely true. Something happened only that it was not the blazing inferno he had expected. Instead the earth shook with a mighty tremor that swept the guards and Zuko of their feet before they went flying one by one.

"Great spirits, your jerkiness." A tall slender figure stepped into the opening. "Do you have to be that dramatic?"

Zuko blinked in surprise. "Toph?" he asked unbelieving.

"In the flesh. Get up, Sparky, you're looking ridiculous."

"What on earth are you doing here?" he asked as he got to his knees.

"Katara sent me. Sugarqueen's got her pants all in a twist because she thought you were doing something stupid." She frowned. "Not that she was wrong."

"I mean what are you doing here? On this island specifically?"

"Aang sent Sokka and Suki. He was very concerned once he heard that Katara got involved in some kind of revolution or something."

"They're here, too?"

"Down by the harbour," she answered as she started walking. "Suki took control of your guards and is beating some sense into the fighters. Sokka is beating some sense into Katara. Anyways, nice work with the town square. That'll take a lot of money to rebuild."

He winced. He'd tried not to think of that particular problem. "That still doesn't explain why you're here."

She flashed him a bright grin. "Come on, Sparky. There's no way I'm missing all the fun. I'm pretty pissed at Katara that she hasn't asked me to come along in the first place."

Zuko 'hm'ed, silently thanking the spirits for that. There wouldn't have been much of a town left once he'd arrived if that had been the case.

An explosion a few streets over caught his attention.

"There they are!" Toph exclaimed excitedly and started running towards it. "Hurry up, Zuko, or they'll be done until we get there!"

Zuko sighed in defeat and started running after her. He almost wanted to chide her as she led him into another dead end before she blasted her way straight through the wall.

"Oh, this feels great!" she said, pointedly ignoring the flabbergasted stares of Zuko's and Yozin's guards alike. Only Katara, Sokka and Suki seemed not shocked at all.

He sighed again.

"What are you waiting for?" Suki yelled. "No slackening on my watch!"

And then the fighting started up again, with bursts of flames and razor-sharp ice daggers and flying boulders and Sokka yelling.

"No quite how I imagined this reunion to go," Zuko grit out once they had formed a tight circle to better defend themselves.

Suki rolled her eyes. "Nice to see you, too."

Sokka just laughed. "Be honest, Zuko. You always knew this is exactly how this reunion would go."

He was still thinking of a clever reply when Katara suddenly shouted: "Take cover!" He had barely enough time to get out of the street before she and Toph shot up on a earth column and she bent a thundering wave from the ocean. Mixing it with the dust Toph bent up the two of them flooded the street with mud. Katara breathed out and it froze solid in place.

Zuko stared in awe for his knees gave out under him. "Great spirits," he murmured. Yeah. That was why he didn't want the two of them fighting together.

Sokka slid down the wall beside him. "Yeah," he agreed. "I'll never get used to it."

Zuko nodded but when he looked up his best friend’s eyes were set on Suki. He frowned in confusion.

Toph suddenly appeared in his field of vision. "We should get back to the harbour."

There was nothing he could say against that so he just nodded and got up, trailing behind the others with Katara by his side.

He didn't know when he had felt this awful the last time. Every bone in his body hurt and he was pretty sure if he stumbled once more, he would just not get up again even though he could feel the call of the rising sun.

Still he managed to stumble to the harbour and stopped before his ship. The docks were mercifully deserted. "Do you think it's over?" he asked.

"No," Katara grit out and he could tell she had just as much trouble keeping it together as he did. "Yozin still didn't show. I'm sure he'll come soon, once he knows my power has faded. And he won't come alone, now that he knows that we've got back-up."

It turned out that she was right. The first rays of sunshine crept over the horizon and Toph announced: "They're here."

"Fire Lord Zuko," Yozin boomed as he stepped into the place, his two sons by his side. "I hereby renounce my allegiance to the throne."

Suki rolled her eyes. "Oh, here we go."

"This island and this town are as of now independent entities of the Fire Nation. You and your warriors are no longer welcome here and-"

"-we demand that you leave immediately, yadda yadda yadda," Sokka said with a groan. "Yeah, we know the drill. Just get on with it."

"Yeah!" Toph yelled. "Do you mean to fight us or bore us to death?"

Zuko crossed his arms. "I will accept your surrender any time."

"We will not surrender!" one of his sons yelled. "We-"

"For fuck's sake!" Katara yelled. "Just get it over with."

Fire bloomed. Toph raised a wall of stone. Katara pulled water from the sea and slashed at their enemies.

"Toph, do your thing," Zuko said before he vaulted over the wall. He could feel the earth rumbling.

"I'm not sure if I can keep this up any longer," she panted and sank to her knees.

Zuko set his eyes on the sky. "You don't have to," he answered. "Everyone, stay back."

The moon set.

Katara fell to the floor with a strangled cry.

The sun rose.

Zuko stepped in, the first sunrays of the day tingling on his skin.

He breathed.

The next burst of flames raced towards them.

In.

Fire flared in his veins.

And out.

He parted the sea of fire with one mighty blow.

"Enough!"

And just like that the blows stopped.

Perhaps the attackers were just too startled to continue.

Perhaps the attackers had finally realised who they were fighting against.

Perhaps the attackers were just as tired as Katara and he were.

Probably they realised that Toph had trapped Yozin and his two sons in stone columns.

The reason for it was irrelevant, the only thing of importance was his order: "This fight stops now." And so, it did.

"Go home." And so, they did.

Zuko turned back to the others. "Nice work," Toph commented. Katara leaned heavily on Suki.

"And there's Aang." Sokka pointed to the sky where the distinct shape of Appa drew nearer.

Zuko stepped in to share Katara's weight with Suki. It seemed like the right thing to do. With an arm around his shoulders they watched together as the fires died down and the soldiers went home. They watched together the dawning of a new day.

"That reminds me-" she started with a frail voice.

Zuko hummed. "Yeah." He smiled. "You should get some rest."

#zutara #zutaraweek #zutara week #zutara week 2020 #day 3: fuse #zuko #katara #toph beifong #sokka #suki #the whole gaang #almost anyways #the missing piece will make an appearance in the next chapter #my writing

[chrideart]

WIP Wednesday

[Image Description: Two illustrations of the same green-skinned female half-orc character in 3/4 pose from the front, one in underwear and one in casual clothing. She has large ram-like horns, and fiery red long hair combed back, and a tuft of matching hair at the end of a thick tail. Her yellow eyes are looking to the left.]

✨ Hehey followers old and new, it’s Wednesday! ✨

... and gosh darn November is tough, huh. I’ve been up to my ears with procrastination projects and client work, but there hasn’t been much that I can show. But...

I’ve continued work with Meen’Alith the Half-orc Barbarian - and she’s been adopted into a D&D campaign! Above you can see her in her scandalously practical underwear and casuals. This hunk of a lady will head out into battle once I finish her gear:

[Image Description: Screenshot of Clip Studio Paint workspace with three drawings in a line art style on the canvas. The work in progress image shows the barbarian character from the front in partial armour; one shoulder pauldron, fur-lined leather greaves on her legs, and leather vambraces and gloves. On her shoulders she wears the fur of an unknown animal. In the middle of the canvas, there’s a battle axe. Double-edged and tall, with a spike on the butt of the weapon. On the right, there’s a back view of the character in her underwear, with a superimposed faint axe on her back for scale.]

As a side note, I am 100% in love with CSP for inking work.

In a more professional vein, I’m working on some vector character art for the Finnish Game Jam 2021 event. This party of adventurers are almost ready to venture out on the perilous path of game jamming!

[Image Description: Illustration of three fantasy animal characters in a vector art style on a dark green background. A title in yellow says “#FGJ21″. The first character is a smiling fox bard hoisting a microphone, dressed in a princely shirt with poofy sleeves and sharp collar. A guitar hangs on their shoulder. The middle character  is a teal squirrel in an oversized sweater. He’s throwing a die in the air, and gripping a notebook under his arm. The third character is a curly-bearded bear, with a feather in his little cap. He’s holding a paintbrush loaded with purple paint as a sword, and for a shield he’s using an over-sized wooden palette.]

During November I’ve been, it seems, focused on creatures. This here is a goblin ranger called Grux. Grux will - hopefully - get some clothing soon.

[Image Description: Three pencil sketches on a white background of a goblin creature, one full body and two portraits. In the full body image the goblin is smiling, seen at a 3/4 angle.The creature has large ears and feet, and is only wearing boxers. In the first portrait the goblin is snarling, eyebrows furrowed, teeth exposed, pupils narrowed as on a cat. In the other his experssion is more fearful, eyes blown wide and ears pointed up.]

And then there’s a design of my Gloomhaven RPG character, Rose Saline the Quatryl Tinkerer!

[Image Description: A pencil sketch at two different scales - one full body and one half-body - of a creature known as a Quatryl in the Gloomhaven universe, set on a parchment texture background. The creature is wearing two sets of goggles, and in the middle of her chest rests a cog. She is holding a potion bottle in her left hand, and on her back there’s a harpoon gun shooting nets.]

And then I tried out something fun, a jewelry box mimic, combining a simple 3D render and digital painting:

[Image Description: Two images, digital painting and 3D rendering. The first one depicts a drawn-out cylindrical jewelry box made out of hard plastic. From the lid, a tooth hangs down on a short brass chain. Second image. The same jewelry box is open, revealing a set of uneven jagged teeth. A drool-dripping human tongue extends from the box.]

Finally, I’m thinking of doing a series of explorations into combo creatures as well. This friend is an ancient frog-koala-bear cryptid:

[Image Description: A digital drawing of a friendly-looking large quadruped creature on a white background. It has the general shape of a frog, but the paws and nose of a koala bear. On its back moss and mushrooms grow, and among the moss, a tiny yellow frog can be seen.]

✨Winter Holiday Commissions opening soon!✨

I’m thinking of opening up commissions soon - if you want to snag a spot before I announce, let me know!

Take care of yourselves my lovelies and let’s hope I have something finished to show you soon :3 (besides, D4 Day is coming up soon!)

PS - I’m testing out writing image descriptions in this one. Let me know what you think, and if you want me to do this regularly.

#work in progress wednesday #work in progress #sketching #continued love for clip studio paint #image description #artists on tumblr #WIP Wednesday #sketches #character art #mimic #tw: teeth #dungeons & dragons #creature design

[sionnachoir]

FT Request: Chapter 516 from the POV of Wendy/Wendy's heartbeat

(i rewrote this like 4 times fhjgfbdj i hope u like it tho! i kinda followed the anime more. also cliffhanger ig? It got p long n i was lime yall r gonna end up catching some z’s if i go on anymore)

Warnings: Mentions of violence, blood

Words:  1,870

“Give me my life back!” The redhead called out angrily. “I don’t want this wretched body!” Erza used her sword to stop herself from flying back any further, her eyes full of determination as she gazed at her mother. 

“Then I’ll free you from your misery!” Her voice was strong and steady, Wendy had always admired how strong she was. “Wendy!” Wendy nodded, already knowing what needed to be done without having to hear it. “Right! All physical abilities up! Deus Eques!” The now pink haired dragon slayer called up, energy forming around her as she cast the enchant. 

Erza prepared to attack, Irene grinned smugly. “Clever. Separation enchant. Deus Zero!” Wendy frowned. “I cancel your Deus Zero with my own Deus Zero!” Irenes eyes widened. “She can cast such high-level enchanter spells?” Worry briefly slipping into her before she shook it off, grinning as Erza readied her sword. 

“This is the end.” The younger redhead called out, preparing to strike down her mother. She made contact, her sword hitting her in the head. Instead of falling down like she had expected she again spoke in an almost casual tone. “I finally see it, Erza.” She grinned. “I finally understand the truth behind enchanter magic.” Without giving either the time to respond she continued. “Was it because you were a baby?” She questioned to herself.

“Was it because you were family that it failed? Or because enchanting a personality onto a human is impossible to begin with? The answer is no.” Blood dripped from her face slowly, the dark red substance a contrast to her pale skin. “Now i see that compatibility was the key all along.” Ezra felt fear fill her, eyes widening. 

“But now, standing before me, is one who is both a dragon slayer and an enchanter, with a young body that’s also safe from the dragon transformation.” A wicked grin took over her features, fists clenching.  Wendy’s eye’s widened before she felt pulses run through her body. Fear began to fill her mind, was this woman really going to take her from her body?

Wendy’s mind went blank before another thought could even begin to cross. Erza spun around, looking at her with horror and worry. “You don’t mean-” She cut herself off, noticing a dark energy beginning to cover the young dragon slayers body. “Ahh, how long I’ve waited for this.” Erza’s eyes widened, she still sounded like Wendy. “Her magic will be weaker but that’s fine.” Erza felt sick, she couldn’t hurt her.

“Wendy!” She called out, her voice filled with desperation. “A new body. A new life. Irene is reborn.” She grinned, it looked out of place on Wendy’s sweet features. “With this new body of mine.” Erza shook her head. “No, this can’t be.”  Irene began to list off the injury's Wendy’s body had sustained. “Look at this body, how adorable.” Erza looked at her in anger before a choking noise caught her attention, she looked over to Irene’s old body, watching as it collapsed. 

Wendy chucked. “That’s nothing but a pile of flesh now.” Erza spun around. “Where is Wendy?” She questioned, wondering what had happened to her. Irene’s reply felt as though someone had poured ice into her veins. “She’s nowhere anymore. Or... You could say she is me.” Erza clenched her teeth. “Enough of this! Get out of Wendy right now!” She demanded, anger fuelling her as she charged towards Irene.

Wendy laughed, the cruel sound sounded foreign coming from the young woman. “You dimwitted child.” Her voice was mocking. “This isn’t a form of possession!” She raised her leg before swinging it around to kick Erza in the stomach once she had gotten close enough. 

“I have become this girl, literary! Sorry, but mom made herself young again without you. Her voice was teasing and it angered Erza more, Erza flew back from the impact of the kick. “You’re despicable!” She spat out, eyes widening as Irene aimed another attack. 

All Erza could see was blue. “Hmm, my magic power hasn’t decreased as much as i thought. I guess this girl had that much potential to begin with.” Irene spoke to herself before addressing Erza. “Now, then. Playtime’s over.”

“It wouldn’t be right for this cute little girl to be a mother. So, as you can see, my new life cant begin..” She trailed off, preparing another attack to launch on her kin. Unleashing her power. “Until I’ve erased your existence!” Erza flew back with the force, her body hurting. Irene smirked to herself. “Sky dragon slayer magic.. Is this how it works?” She livitated into the air, hitting Erza with another attack.

She let out a pained groan. “Wendy! Push her out!” She shouted, hoping to get through to the young girl. Irene shook her head. “It’s no use. Her “Self” Is dead. As of today, I am Wendy. Wendy Belserion!” Erza wanted to cry, she couldn’t bare the thought of never seeing the little dragon slayer again.  

Erza shook her head. “I wont..” She launched herself up, rocketing towards Wendy. “Let you take Wendy!” She was determined to bring her back, she wouldn’t leave her behind. Erza refused to.

She appeared a sword, ready to hit her target before her voice stopped her train of thought. “You really think you can cut this body?” Irene questioned, already knowing she couldn’t. Erza paused, a memory flashing before her eyes.

“Parting with a loved one always brings pain..” Erza’s voice was soothing as she rubbed Wendy’s back. “But your friends will sooth it.” Wendy turned to her, tears filling her eyes. “Come with us. To fairy Tail!” Erza offered, a kind, gentle smile gracing her features.

She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t bring herself to hurt Wendy, so many memories flashed through her head. All the times they had spent together, the battles they had had. They all came rushing through her mind. 

“This time, I’ll protect you.” The ghost of the words Wendy had muttered in the bath house flew past her, her hands shook as she held her blade. Irene struck her against the face, Erza let go of her sword. Her voice coming out in a choked, pained gasp.

“Your so soft.” The words sounded bitter. “Armour enchant, explode!” Erza cried out in pain. “Only minor wounds?” Erza’s voice was confused, Wendy was strong and so was Irene, It should’ve done more damage. Irene’s eyes widened in horror as she watched her old body begin to stand. “All attributes and resistances up... Deus Corona.” Wendy stood to her feet, struggling. “Since were both enchanters I thought I could do the same trick too. It took a little while.. but its me! its Wendy Mrs Erza!. Erza and Irene’s eyes were trained on her. 

Wendy let out a breath, hand coming up to cup her breast. “This chest... is so hefty...” She trailed off. “This is not possible!” Irene shouted, anger etched onto her face. “This little girl performed a full personality enchantment?” She couldn’t believe what was happening in front of her.

Wendy grinned, the blood caking her forehead cracking. “Your magic power is incredible. Choosing to enter my body was a big mistake.” She began casting a spell, a fiery ball appearing between her hands which she launched at her body, telling Erza to duck. Irene tried to fight back using Wendy’s magic but was failing. “Separation enchant!” Wendy called out, she was getting her body back.

“You intend to drag me out of this body?” Irene called out, fear filling her voice. “Yes, your magic power is stronger, remember.” Wendy felt victorious watching Irene get dragged out of her body. “Just.. Who are you?” Irene called out, terrified at how this young girl could be so powerful. 

“I’m taking my body back!” I’d love to have your large chest but I've lived my entire life in that small body!” Wendy spoke, her voice strong. “Curse you!” Irene shrieked, beginning to damage her own body. Erza’s eye’s widened in  shock. “Let’s see you take it back now! it took so long to get this body! I wont give it back! I refuse.” Her voice was almost hysterical as she screeched. 

Wendy frowned. “The scars on that body are symbols of the life I’ve lived. They're medals of honour i gained while fighting for fairy tail!.” She meant every word, every scar that covered that body was proof of what she had been through. Proof of how far she would go for the people she loved, she wasn't letting that get away. “I don’t care how much more scarred it gets! That body carries all the memories of the people it holds dear!.” 

Erza had to shield herself from the force of their magic, she called out Wendy’s name. She felt moved by the young womans words, she could see how much she had grown in such a short time. She held nothing but adoration for her. She was incredible, she was strong. 

“Damn you!” Irene called as she and Wendy were returned to the right bodies. Wendy stumbled, calling out Erza’s name before falling to her feet. Erza panicked. “Wendy, are you back?” She was desperate for an answer. “Yes.. Can I.. Leave the rest.. To You?” Erza smiled and nodded, of course she could. “I’ll put an end to this.” 

“You wretched little girls.” A dark look filled the woman's face, Erza ignored her. “I’ll finish this quickly, Wendy.” Now she didn’t have to hold back, she would get revenge for her friend. “Quickly you say? Don’t make me laugh.” She sent out a blast, Erza dodging it quickly. “You’re dealing with 400 years of magic power!” Irene called out, sending off some red bubbles as Erza swiftly dodged them. Wendy watched anxiously, all she could do right now was lie there and watch as they fought.

The bubbles seemed to shoot out, trying to hit her yet she expertly dodged each one that chased her. “For 400 long years I’ve protected you. Yet you turned out completely useless when you were born! And now your denying me my happiness?”  Rage filled Irene as she continued her attacks.

Erza ignored her words. “I understand the misery you’ve been through. But.. i cannot afford to loose!” She wouldn’t loose, for Wendy. Irene cursed her out. “What could you possibly know of my misery?” She was borderline hysterical. “After you abandoned me in that village a cult kidnapped me. For years they treated me as their proper.” Although Wendy had already know her heart still broke with Erza’s words. 

“Sure its not much compared to your 400 years. But.. I became who I am now because of who I was then.” Her voice was steady and strong as she dove into the air, readying her sword. “I even met people I hold dear! And I overcame other painful events because my friends were there for me!” Wendy’s eyes teared up, she was incredible. 

She landed the attack on Irene. “I despise your entire existence!” The older woman called out, anger fuelling her. I never should’ve had you! Die! Die! Die! Disappear forever!” Irene began to transform, scales covering her body as she clashed with Erza.

#sorry if this isn't what ya wanted #wendy marvell #fairy tail #one shot #short #imagine #fairy tail imagine #wendy marvell imagine #Anonymous #also srry for any mistakes ya boi aint slept in 3 days lmaoo