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aspiringhorrorauthor · 2 years

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GX Month- You And Me

The Crystal Protector, keeper of the Light of Healing, has ventured to a different dimension in hopes of meeting his counter part, the Prince with the power of the Gentle Darkness. When people seek to keep them apart, however, he finds his own way creating a meeting.

For being in the Dark World, this place is really quite bright, Marmoru thought to himself, walking along the pathways leading away from the castle and towards the farmed lands. When the Guardian had explained to him that they needed to travel to the Dark World to find his counterpart, he’d expected something more dreary. True, it wasn’t as bright as the Light World, and the moat made of lava surrounding the castle was a truly inspired touch, but so far it was, dare he say it, pleasant. Beyond the King’s reluctance to have them as guests, that is.

“I still cannot believe the Guardian managed to convince him I was a knight,” Marmoru mentioned to Ruby Carbuncle, currently sat astride his shoulder as they travelled. She mewled back a response. “True, but anyone could dress the part. I hardly look like a knight, do I?” Ruby gave a non-commital reply.

He’d somehow managed to give the Guardian the slip for the morning, borrowing back his sword from the armoury that the King had insisted he shouldn’t be allowed to carry while he was a guest, all under the guise of wanting to explore the surrounding lands. It wasn’t a complete lie, truly, he was always interested to explore new places, but there might have been an ulterior motive.

They’d been here for days now, and still he hadn’t met him. His counterpart, the person with the Power of Gentle Darkness. It was an exhilarating and terrifying thought, to be so close to him, so close to finally meeting him, and yet as travelling visitors he and the Guardian had been kept away from any of the royals thus far. But that was about to change.

The farmed lands gave away to wild forest, gnarled roots strangling the undergrowth while lucious trees gave wonderful shade. The leaves were so much livelier than the sun-bleached leaves of Light World, they felt wonderful to roll through his fingers. He’d happened to overhear some of the servants mentioning how the Prince would occasionally sneak away with a friend to the forest, to spend precious time away from his duties, and when he heard the same servants trying to explain away his absence to senior staff this morning, he knew where he’d find him. The sound of laughter from deeper in the forest confirmed his suspicions. He turned to Ruby.

“Well? Are you ready to meet him?” He asked. Ruby mewled in agreement. He took a deep breath and walked towards the noise.

Stood below a tree, covering their mouth with one hand and the other reaching up into the tree, was one of the young servants he’d seen around the castle, speaking to someone up in the tree. “Come on, Haou, you said you could get the apples easily!”

“I’m nearly there, Yubel,” Haou replied, the leaves in the tree shaking as he moved among them. “Just a little. Bit. Further…”

“You know, if you fall, that will be difficult to explain to your father,” Marmoru pointed out and was replied by a loud yelp of surprise coming from the tree and Yubel leaping back from it as if it was suddenly on fire. “What are you doing up there?”

“I told you it was a dangerous idea, Haou,” Yubel’s tone had changed quickly, trying to usher him down from the tree. Haou’s face poked out from among the leaves, but he didn’t look like he was considering climbing down.

“I saw some ripe apples on the higher branches the other day, and Yubel said I wouldn’t be able to get them. I told them I could, and I will,” the branches shook again, and even from down here Marmoru could see there was no way he was going to get high enough to grab the ripe apples. Not without help.

“Why don’t you let my friend Ruby here help you out?” Marmoru offered, grabbing hold of the branch Haou was stood on, forming a bridge for Ruby to climb along. “She’s quite nimble, just show her the apples you want.” A quiet grumble came down from the trees. “You’re allowed to rely on friends for help, you know,” Marmoru reminded him as Ruby came up to the young prince’s heels. She gently cuffed at them until Haou picked her up, and held her closer to the apples, where she climbed out of his hands and made short work knocking down a few of the ripest, easily caught by Yubel and Marmoru below. Haou caught her again, handing her back down to Marmoru before slowly climbing back down.

“I could’ve gotten them, I really could have,” Haou insisted, pouting slightly. Yubel handed him one of their apples, both of them taking a bite as Marmoru held up his to Ruby for her to eat. “You’re a knight, right? Has my father sent you to find me and bring me back?”

The regret in Haou’s voice made Marmoru’s heart sink. “Of course not. I am just visiting, I do not run errands for the king. I was simply passing by on my walk and wanted to see who was having so much fun.”

Yubel still seemed apprehensive, but Haou seemed to accept his answer. “Okay, you can stay if you want, but you cannot tell my father where you found us.”

“Oh? Are you breaking a rule, then?”

Haou’s face scrunched up. “We wouldn’t have to if his rules made sense.”

“The king is a little overprotective, since the queen died,” Yubel explained, placing a hand on Haou as if expecting a reaction from him, but he gave none.

“I don’t think we’ve had the pleasure of introducing ourselves properly, Prince Haou,” Marmoru quickly changed the subject. “I am Marmoru, of the Light World. And this is Ruby Carbuncle, a Crystal Beast.” Marmoru held his hand out to shake it, only realising after it was already held out that it was covered in apple juice from Ruby’s messy eating. Haou didn’t seem to mind.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sir Marmoru of Light World. I am Prince Haou of Dark World, and this is my friend, Yubel,” Haou introduced the two of them, pausing over the word ‘friend’ as if trying to consider if it was the right word to use. He too held out his hand, also covered by apple juice and shook Marmoru’s hand, the juice making their hands stick to each other with a gammy, tacky feeling, but there was something more beyond that. A feeling like this wasn’t the first, or last, time they’d ever held hands like this, the ghost of handshakes past and yet to come dancing around it. The look of confusion on Haou’s face said that he felt it too.

“Have we met before?” Haou asked, taking his hand back. “There is something about your face that seems familiar.”

Marmoru could feel it too, the weight of a thousand lifetimes lived and yet to come shared between their eyes, and yet, he had his instructions. Do not tell the boy yet, the time will come. You’ll know when it will be, The Guardian’s voice echoed in his mind.

“I’m not sure, I daresay I share the feeling,” Marmoru stated, pulling back his hand towards his chest. There was a warmth there that felt like it had been missing his whole life, returned to its place by Haou. Ruby mewled her own greeting, which Marmoru quickly translated. Haou seemed to be kept in place a moment longer, mesmerised by the feeling in his own hand and the strange ‘knight’ before him, but when Yubel called his name, he seemed to snap out of it.

“Are you any good at climbing trees, Marmoru?” Haou asked, pointing deeper into the forest. “There’s a nice one over there Yubel and I often climb.”

“I haven’t very much experience, but I would happily give it a try,” Marmoru agreed, giving Haou a smile. He was a few years older than Haou, and his height and maturity gave that away, but for one day, for a new friend, it could easily be forgotten.

“Wonderful! It’s a marvelous place to sit and talk, and you simply have to tell us all about the Light World,” Haou insisted, his eyes sparkling with excitement and wonder, and Marmoru couldn’t help but feel energised by it too. Whatever happened with the Gentle Darkness, there was no doubt Haou would bring joy to any around him, Marmoru could see that now.

#gxmonth2022 #haou #supreme king #marmoru #yu gi oh gx

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reirubi · 3 years

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young king

#ygo gx #haou judai #supreme king haou #haou #my art #he really does look young here i know but #to be fair he was young #when all this stuff went down #so i think it works???#still angry boi tho

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xamaxenta · 3 years

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Haou would most likely get arrested before his demise

#does he fight his way out or is he outnumbered #probably the entire realm wants to see when he gets executed #tw death mention #tw death penalty #i think due to inexperience haou originally died young #which is why judais body is the perfect reincarnated soul and host for him to coexist and grow with

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itsashowtime · 6 years

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Haou: “Remove that mask, fool!”

Shugo: “...”

#YGO GX #Haou Judai #Jougo #Johan Andersen #Shugo Johan #Crystal Protector #Yugioh GX #Just getting this ship sailing . . .#InfiniteShipping #Im the captain of veil and infinite. .. .#oH YEAH #my friend named haou before season 3 'jougo'#so im just gonna use. that tag for him when I draw young haou??

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hyotenhyakkaso · 3 years

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My muses on what they're doing with their lives:

Zuko: Yes.

Toshiro: Also yes.

Ichigo: Burgrito.

Haou: Death and destruction.

Twilight: woof......?

Roy: ...... -shrug- I got Abraham Lincoln for... Some reason

Judai: Eternal existential crisis.

#~God I want to dream again take me where Ive never been I want to go there this time i'm not scared (Zuko)~#~I risk everything if it's for you a whisper into the night telling me its not my time and don't give up (Toshiro)~#~They think i'm crazy but they dont know the feeling they're all around me circling like vultures they wanna break me (Ichigo)~#~I'll play God today ante up and play that God a poker game walk away with all our little God's spare change (Haou)~#~You are so young and you are so free but you're aimless and I cant help but see that you dont know what you really need (Twilight)~#~In a slumber where no one can wake me from the scent of her skin still haunts my lungs where the moon never leaves her eyes (Roy)~#~You took it with you when you left these scars are just a trace now it wanders lost and wounded this heart that I misplaced (Judai)~

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kyndaris · 2 years

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Let’s Talk About Books, Baby!

From the ashes of obscurity, books have seen a resurgence. My mother always wondered why I would ever want to be employed at a bookstore when the printed word seemed to be going the way of the dodo. But what was once considered a dying medium has seen new life bestowed upon it through the valiant efforts of BookTubers and even Booktok.

Yes, you read that right. Booktok! Forget about all the dancing teenagers trying to create the next new floss dance move. There are people on TikTok that actually provide book recommendations. Or riff on certain tropes. Heck, there’s even relatable WriterToks!

Yet, this all comes with a caveat. Most of the books that are seeing a huge boost from influencers are Young Adult fiction. There’s also some very questionable romance stories that are also seeing an endless amount of attention being showered on them. Not once, in all the time that I’ve watched compilations of BookTok videos, have there been any videos on series that are lesser-known.

Instead, Sarah J Maas dominates with her wing kink Fae universe. Leigh Bardugo has also reached peak prominence with many on the site, but some of that may be due to the Shadow and Bone adaption on Netflix (and after reading the books, I definitely prefer the Six of Crows duology). Then, of course, there are a litany of romance stories with half-naked men on the covers.

Unfortunately, Fifty Shades of Grey was not an anomaly.

Rather, smut is in. Scratch that. Smut has never left. Whether that be fanfiction on Wattpad (apparently people just love Mafia alternate universes or being kidnapped by boybands. Where have I seen this trope before? Ah yes, the manga Haou Airen by Mayu Shinjo. Actually, just any work from Mayu Shinjo in general. It’s as if the collective gutter mind has picked up on her works and started to remodel it somehow into what now populates sites such as Archive of Our Own and other places where fanfiction exists.

And when it comes to Sarah J Maas and the disaster that was A Court of Silver Flames (I really agree with many BookTubers that have negatively reviewed this work such as withcindy), it seems authors can also get away with having about nearly three fourths of an 800-page book just be about having angry sex in every corner of a fantasy realm.

But that is NOT why I decided to write this post.

While I believe I could pump out decent videos and become a regular of the Booktok community, I just want to shine some light on a burgeoning series in the fantasy section that deserves more love than it’s been getting. And that is the Rook and the Rose trilogy. From its gorgeous cover to the excellent world-building to the lovable characters!

Somehow, it’s still so niche that my local Dymocks didn’t even stock it! I had to go online just to get it in hand. Honestly, that’s on me and I probably should have just gone to Kinokuniya or Abbey’s with its hefty science fiction and fantasy section.

Written by Marie Brennan and Alyc Helms under the name M.A. Carrick, the Rook and the Rose series tells the story of Ren, a con artist, who has come to the city of Nadezra to trick her way into a noble house and secure a fortune for both herself and her fellow ex-street urchin: Tess. The way the authors craft the world and the lore behind it is immaculate, the focus on the characters and the slow plotting also make it a delicious read that had me become incredibly invested into its world.

Nadezra, though the setting for the story that is being meticulously plotted out, feels like a character in its own right. The history of the city is rich with promise and the Venetian-esque vibe that emanates from it (along with the masquerade masks that adorn the covers) makes the place feel alive even though it’s only something crafted from words and I’ve merely just pictured the actual buildings in my mind.

But although Ren is front and centre, there’s also Vargo, everyone’s favourite criminal mastermind with a heart of gold, and Grey Serrado, a stiff Captain of the Guard that has a huge chip on his shoulder. While there are plenty of other characters to wrap one’s head around, these three are the heart, soul and mind of the series as it currently is and I cannot wait to see what happens in the third and final book of the series that should be releasing sometime in early 2023.

Honestly, it’s a shame that this series hasn’t received the attention it deserves. For anyone that has fallen in love with the Locke Lamora series or who likes tropes of found family and dashing rogues trying to fight against a corrupt aristocracy, the Rook and the Rose series has it all.

Heck, even if you want to have a creature mascot, there is one in Alsius! Someone, draw a spider with socks on each of its legs! Please! If Doomslug from the Cytonic series can have merch, then so can an aristocrat trapped in the body of a spider!

And the way he bemoaned his lack of gloves had to be one of the funniest sentences I’d read in a long time.

Then of course there’s the things that BookTok could be capitalising on. Like the tarot card readings and the drawing of numinatria (which is basically geometric shapes)!

Oh, can’t forget the FASHION!

Alyc Helms might not be Tess in real life but she’s definitely an eye for describing clothing and I wish I had that talent when it comes to describing what my characters are wearing. Given my current ineptitude (I can’t even tell the difference between a cross stitch and other forms of embroidery), it’s a wonder how I manage to clothe my various fictional characters at all. One of these days I ought to sit down and just research the different types of doublets, jerkins, cuirass and other such attire.

The world is also ripe for an adaption, as was requested in an interview with the authors with Kia Carrington-Russel, an Australian author.

It is a shame that many influencers have yet to read or signal boost this criminally underrated series. How is it that books such as House of Sky and Breath have become so popular that they now feature in the local Big W and not a fantastic fantasy series that tells such a bewitching tale in a fully realised world?

I can’t say for sure if I have any reach when it comes to my blog posts, but I hope that someone out there will draw a spider with gloves/ socks and it suddenly becomes viral. Because that is what the Rook and the Rose deserves!

That or a streaming deal. Just think of how beautiful the world would look with just the right vision behind it? Certainly, we’ve seen Bridgerton bring back Regency and Shadow and Bone dabble with an actually intriguing young adult fantasy series. Now let’s see that Netflix budget (or Amazon/ Binge/ Stan/ whatever other big streaming services there are) try to put it on a burgeoning IP that has so much promise! And don’t cancel it until the second season!

#books #booktok #rook and the rose #the mask of mirrors #the liar's knot #m.a. carrick

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werekxnglives · 2 years

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Relationships: Dupree

Based on the verse with @safeindarkness: Dupree x Haou

Dupree has always been able to tell whenever Haou is in control of Judai’s body, not only because of yeah Haou has golden eyes, carries himself in a regal manner, and is at times more like a cat, her intuition also plays a big part in it. While everyone else fears Haou, Dupree doesn’t as if she knows he’d never hurt her.

She’s made him bentos and tea, giving him little reminders to be careful when he goes out; things she does for Judai, Yubel, and Johan.

Why right? Why be kind to someone whom Judai and Johan are obviously a bit worried and nervous of?

Well in her past life, Dupree was a princess who was to marry Haou but alas she passed away when she was on her way home to see him, coming from Egypt. Reborn as this now half-witch/half werewolf, Dupree gained what she didn’t have in the last life: power to protect herself and her beloved.

And Dupree also just is the kind of young lady who is kind to those whom she feels will not harm her. Haou could have easily stabbed her in their first meeting, but he didn’t. She also never feared him whenever he came forth during Judai’s time with her family, even when he would try to pass off as Judai; it kinda perplexed him. She’s earned his respect by standing up to him and getting him to at least think before he commits a brutal act.

Does Dupree make love to Haou? Answer: She will.

Haou is to her, part of Judai just as much as Yubel is thus she will give him the same affections; because he is part of their pack. She wants Haou to feel included and loved which understandably makes everyone else a little concerned. She has had to explain to Judai that if Yubel wanted that kind of a relationship with her, then she’d give it a try.

#thank you for coming to my tedtalk #the teen witch

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higuchimon · 3 years

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[fanfic] Attempt To Stop

One single card. That would be all that it took. He regarded it carefully; it wasn't an invulnerable card, but it would lock Haou down to the point that other cards could be used to defeat him. It would all depend on what he drew - and if he drew it in time. Like any duel against Haou, it would risk the life of whoever tried it.

If I don't, then there's not going to be anything that can stop him. Haou needed to be stopped. He'd arrived in that world a scant handful of cycles of the comet earlier, and in that span of time, he'd established himself as a powerful warlord. He'd crushed the will of Brron's army and bent it to his own. Inhabitants of towns fled away from his approach and some of the more powerful warlords were considering pledging their loyalty to him - or so the rumors said.

"He's coming," a quiet voice spoke, and he looked up. "Are you going to fight or flee?"

"Fight." The one known as Marauding Captain to humans declared. "What about you?"

Slowly she shook her head. "I need to protect those who I can. If the others don't have someone to watch their back, then they're going to die."

He knew she was right. The warrior who defended others was no less of a warrior than the one who strode out onto the battlefield. He crossed over to embrace her gently. "Then I'll see you again - either afterwards or in the afterlife."

"If there is such a place for those who fall against him," she replied quietly, leaning her head against him, wings enfolding around him. "Be careful. Strike wisely, Tenoch."

He nodded slightly, enjoying the scent of her hair before she stepped aside. "Travel well, my old friend."

She turned, spread her wings, and leaped into the air, soaring quickly out of sight. He might have time enough to distract Haou's army, but he couldn't be certain. All he could do was try his very best.

Thud. Thud. Thud. The walls shattered under the assault of Haou's army, and the first few of his soldiers strode inside. Tenoch stood in the center of town, arms crossed over his chest, his duel disk on his wrist, eyes flicking from one warrior to another. He knew that Haou didn't always duel, so he would have to find a way to challenge him before one of the others struck at him.

He needn't have worried. Five strong monsters - these must have been the Death Duelists that he'd heard tell of - strode forward, each of them regarding him as if he weren't much more than a bug to be stepped on. He didn't know them personally but he'd seen their cards before over the years. Guardian Baou gave him a dismissive glance, turning back to look at something behind him. Chaos Sorcerer also turned back, and both of them bowed low and humbly.

"Haou-sama," Chaos Sorcerer declared, his voice clear and loud. "There is only one person left here. He does appear to be a warrior. But I can send a scout to find the others."

"Do so."

Tenoch shivered at the sound of that voice. Chills ratcheted through him and he rallied himself as he stepped forward one careful step at a time. "I might be the only person here, but you will not destroy what's been left behind. I will defeat you, Haou, and there's no one who can prevent this."

There was a single moment of absolute silence, then Guardian Baou snickered. "I could kill you in a moment," he declared. "What makes you think that you're worthy of standing against Haou-sama?"

"Because I have a card that's capable of halting Haou in his tracks," Tenoch assured them. "And I'm going to do it. I am Tenoch, defender of this town, and the one who is going to defeat Haou!"

Chaos Sorcerer and Skull Bishop both started to move forward, but stopped at a single gesture from Haou as he moved past them. "Let him make the attempt," Haou told them. "If he is capable then he will survive. If he is not -"

He didn't need to finish it. Tenoch knew what hadn't been said - that if he wasn't capable, then he would fall. He would be as dead as so many others.

Haou lifted his visor and cold golden eyes stared at him. His face was that of a young man, perhaps not yet twenty, but his demeanor that of someone who had killed often and ruthlessly. Tenoch knew about that from all the tales that floated around in regard to him.. That had done nothing to prepare him for seeing this in person.

Regardless, he started to shuffle his deck. He could only hope that his deck would answer his call and bring this reign of evil to an end.

Haou had to admit he was more than a little curious as to what this person thought he could do to stop him. He'd not at all be the first person that thought they could accomplish the task. He'd faced so many others, and every time they failed. He wasn't arrogant enough to think that he could never be defeated but he didn't think that this person was the one who could do it. But he would allow them the chance to try.

They shuffled and he allowed his opponent to take the first turn. This warrior - Marauding Captain - would need all the help that he could get. Haou watched as the other set a single card face-down and then summoned Spirit Reaper to defend himself. It wasn’t a very powerful monster and Haou had any number of servants capable of dispatching it swiftly.

He regarded his own cards for a moment. The first breath of his strategy suggested itself. He wasn’t going to use Adjused Gold right now, though the effect could be useful. But he already had Dark Fusion in his hand and he refused to rush matters.

“I activate Dark Fusion from my hand, fusing Elemental Hero Sparkman and Elemental hero Clayman to Fusion Summon Evil Hero Lightning Golem!” The plan was simple; he would use Lightning Golem’s effect to destroy Spirit Reaper and then inflict twenty-four hundred points of damage. Not enough for a one-turn kill but it would certainly set the other back quite a bit.

If he summoned Adjused Gold, then he’d be able to finish the duel right then and there but he hadn’t forgotten that his opponent had that face down card. Best not to risk too much, even against such a weak opponent.

He began to raise one hand to point to Spirit Reaper, but his opponent shook his head right away.

“Not going to let you do that. I activate Anti-Fusion Device! It destroys one Fusion monster on the field – and you’re the only one who has any Fusion monsters!”

A sphere appeared on the field, glowing faintly. Energy swept out from it and wrapped around Lightning Golem, causing it to shimmer briefly before exploding into a spray of sparks and light.

His opponent smirked. “Not even your Fusion monsters can stand up to Anti-Fusion Device. Is there anything else that you can do?”

Haou wasn’t fond of being taunted. He would finish this duel as quickly as possible for that alone. For a moment he was tempted to use Adjused Gold’s effect, but he held back regardless. He wanted to see what else his opponent could manage.

“That’s not the only card I have that can destroy your Fusions,” the opponent warned him. “You’re going to be defeated – and you’re going to die.”

Guardian Baou snorted. “If that’s all you think you can do, then you’re wrong. Haou-sama will win this duel.”

Haou silenced his servant with a flick of one hand. He had two other monsters that he could summon, but he refused to do so right now. He held no fear that this opponent could defeat him before he had the chance to turn it all around.

“I end my turn.” He declared, and watched to see what happened next. Tenoch drew his card for the turn, then nodded to himself.

“I won’t let you Fusion Summon, but I can. I Fusion Summon Nightmare-Riding Ghost!”

From the whirl of Fusion there stepped a horse of cold blue flames, wrapped in bandages, and with a creature garbed in a violet robe on its back, wielding a scythe.

“Nightmare-Riding Ghost receives the effects of both Spirit Reaper and Nightmare Horse,” Tenoch announced. “Not only can it attack directly, but when it does, you will discard a card randomly.

"But it only has eight hundred attack," Skull Bishop pointed out. "That's less than the effect of a pebble against our Haou-sama."

Tenoch sneered. "I'm not done yet. First I equip Amethyst to Nightmare-Riding Ghost - that increases the attack by three hundred points."

A warm violet glow enhanced the monster. Tenoch hadn't finished, though. He had two more cards in his hand. "I also equip Daemon's Axe to Nightmare-Riding Ghost, increasing the attack by a thousand!" Fierce, proud eyes gleamed sharply. "And lastly, I summon Immortal Ruler!"

Demon King of the Underworld, Ha Death himself knelt before Haou on a regular basis. This Immortal Ruler seemed to be kin to him. Haou made a mental note to speak to his servant about this once he returned to the castle. It was a powerful creature, that was for certain, but there seemed to be no awareness in its eyes. Whatever else this was, it didn't have the spirit of the monster in it.

"Now! Nightmare-Riding Ghost! Attack Haou directly! Immortal Ruler, you as well!"

Nightmare-Riding Ghost surged forward, slicing both ax and scythe. Perhaps if he hadn't worn his armor, it might have hurt a great deal more than it did. Immortal Ruler raised gray hands and blasted a twisted pool of energy from them, coursing all over Haou. When the attacks ended, Tenoch smirked.

"You only have a hundred life points, and my Nightmare-Riding Ghost can attack you directly no matter what you do. You're going to die on your next turn." He nodded smugly, arms crossed, pleased with himself. "Now, discard a card!"

Haou did so casually, a single flick of a particular card into his graveyard. Tenoch could not possibly have looked prouder of himself. I end my turn."

"Don't make promises that you can't keep," Skilled White Magician warned him. Haou focused on his duel; his servants knew better than to interfere beyond baseless words.

As he'd suspected, he had virtually everything in his hand ready to bring about his victory. It was time to end this – on his own terms and no others.

"Because of you, I now have Evil Hero Sinister Necrom in my graveyard," Haou said as he drew his card for the turn. "By Sinister Necrom's effect, I summon Evil Hero Malicious Edge to the field." Before him the monster appeared, laughing softly, long nails gleaming in the sapphire light of the comet. "Now, I discard Evil Hero Adjused Gold, and by doing so I add Dark Fusion from my deck to my hand."

With every word that he spoke, he could see fear mounting in his opponent's features. As well it should be. Then the other shook his head.

"But you don't have anything to Fuse with it. It's useless!"

"Nothing is useless in my deck," Haou countered calmly. "But you're also very wrong. First, I activate Dark Fusion, fusing Evil Hero Malicious Edge and Evil Hero Hell Brat - summoning Evil Hero Malicious Bane!"

Malicious Edge and Hell Brat wrapped around one another, and what emerged from the deep pool of shadows greatly resembled a much stronger Malicious Edge. This one, however, had sharp-edged wings, equally long and sharp claws mounted on the back of his hands, and a long scaled tail. As he appeared, Malicious Bane let out a fierce, earth-shaking roar, before bowing low to Haou.

He'd never summoned Malicious Bane before. It wasn't one that he found a use for often. But now was different. He’d never seen so much awareness in a monster’s eyes – not since Neos.

But he didn’t dwell on this. A duel needed to be finished. "By Malicious Bane's effect, all monsters on your side of the field whose attack is outstripped by Malicious Bane are now destroyed, and Malicious Bane gains two hundred more attack points for each one destroyed in this fashion!"

Malicious Bane roared even louder, long scaled tail lashing, and reached out with sharp clawed hands that closed around both opposing monsters, shattering them into nothingness. Another roar marked the increase in attack strength, and the opponent stepped back, fear rising even higher and deeper. Haou smiled a tiny pleased smile.

"That isn't all. I summon Evil Hero Hell Gainer." This was why he'd not used Hell Gainer for fodder for Malicious Bane. He wanted that strength of that monster at his side. "Now, Malicious Bane, Hell Gainer, finish this fool."

His opponent - Haou didn't even remember their name - didn't even have time to properly scream before it was all over. Haou almost regretted that. Those who strove so hard should at least be given the chance to regret their decisions when they fell. He’d fought very well and he’d done enough damage that under other circumstances, Haou might have worried over his chances of victory. But it hadn’t been enough. Something like that would never be enough.

As the opponent faded away, Haou turned towards his waiting Death Duelists. "Find the ones that lived here. You know what to do."

All five of them bowed respectfully before him and dispersed to hunt down those who'd fled. Haou tucked his deck back into the holder, letting his armored fingers rest on it briefly before beginning to search the area himself for any sign of the Gem Beast deck. He didn't think that he would find anything here, but he searched, as he always did.

If you wanted something done right, you needed to do it yourself. Along with those servants that he would always trust the most – those who lived in his deck.

The End

Notes: Okay, I am so behind on my GX month fics but I am striving to get finished by the end of September. I do wish we had seen Malicious Bane in GX, but I don’t think it existed then.

#fanfic #higuchimon writes #ygo gx #gxmonth2021 #yuuki juudai #haou #death duelists #maurading captain

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odaclan · 3 years

Photo

Last year Fuji TV announced an Okehazama movie, meant to celebrate Ichikawa Ebizou’s “graduation” and taking the Danjuurou name from his father, with Ebizou as Nobunaga in the lead role. Clearly COVID ruined the plans, as Ebizou postponed his succession and there was no further news for a while.

Recently, Fuji broke the news saying green light is finally on and the movie is scheduled to release on 26th of March.

The full title is Okehazama ~Oda Nobunaga Haou no Tanjou~ 桶狭間～織田信長覇王の誕生～(Okehazama ~The Birth of the Supreme Ruler Oda Nobunaga~)

Pardon for not including the actors’ names, but they are listed here; https://www.fujitv.co.jp/okehazama/caststaff.html

Some interesting mentions:

They had cast actors not only to play a child Nobunaga, but also a teenager Nobunaga, with Ebizou only doing the mature/adult Nobunaga. I often see in NHK dramas that the same actor plays Nobunaga throughout the whole series, from his younger days all the way to Honnouji, so this is a nice touch.

The actress in the role of Kichou (young Nouhime) is Ichikawa Botan the 4th, Ebizou’s own daughter.

Hotta Doukuu is a rather mysterious individual, but he is often seen in novels or dramas as one of Saitou Dousan’s vassals, and he was integral in arranging the meeting between Dousan and Nobunaga. However, Shinchoukouki recorded that Hotta Doukuu's residence is in Tsushima, Owari. The footnote in the translation adds that the Hotta family were priests of the local shrine. Therefore, it seems that Hotta might have actually been an Oda-affiliated personage instead.

Takenaka Naoto, who plays Hotta, was “famous” for playing Hideyoshi in multiple Taiga dramas.

Hattori Koheita and Mouri Shinsuke were Nobunaga’s horse guards (some said Shinsuke was a page) who were credited to have killed Yoshimoto in Okehazama.

Senshuu Suetada was the son of a former Atsuta shrine priest. His father entered service as a samurai to Nobuhide, and Suetada then served Nobunaga. He was known to have participated in Okehazama, and died there, but little else is known about him. Perhaps he is featured because his death will be very poignant in this story...

Official movie website: https://www.fujitv.co.jp/okehazama/

#movie #okehazama #okehazama oda nobunaga haou no tanjou #ichikawa ebizo 11 #Ichikawa Ebizō XI

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silvormoon · 3 years

Text

Anathema

Yubel likes flowers. The flowers do not necessarily like Yubel.

They were attracting some looks.

Juudai had been exploring the monster worlds for the past three weeks or so, partly out of a desire to see that things were settling down to some kind of normalcy now that the threat of the Haou was over, and partly just because they were interesting and he hadn’t really had a chance to enjoy them before. He’d spent a day or two visiting Misaawa and Taniya, explored a city full of robots, gotten acquainted with some dragons, gone fishing on the high seas, and had nearly been eaten by some sort of giant snake in a jungle. All in all, he considered that it had been a good trip. For the last two days, he and Yubel had been wandering over the foothills of some forested mountains, during which time they’d seen some spectacular views but had not encountered another sentient species. Juudai was glad to be back in something resembling civilization.

The village was populated primarily with plant-based creatures, ranging from the ones that were little more than flowers with eyes on up to elfin creatures with leaves and branches growing from their hair. All of them were giving Juudai and Yubel strange looks. No, that wasn’t quite right, he realized - it was Yubel that most of their interest was fixed on.

Well, whatever their deal was, they would just have to cope. Juudai was tired and hungry and in need of a bath. Yubel had kept them both alive in the wilderness by their knowledge of what plants were wholesome, which inedible, and which were downright dangerous. Juudai had a vague recollection that in their human existence, they had worked in the castle garden, and still retained a knowledge of, and fondness for, plants of all kinds. That was all very well, and had kept him from starving, but now he wanted a proper meal.

The first thing to do, however, would be to get hold of some of the local currency.

“Hey,” he said, to a friendly-looking acorn. “Do you know where we could...” But the acorn had already cast a terrified look at Yubel and scuttled away.

“Huh,” said Juudai. “I didn’t think you were that scary.”

“I wasn’t trying to be.” Yubel sounded a little hurt, and Juudai didn’t blame them. It seemed to him that a person like Yubel ought to be able to be themselves in a world of monsters.

“You’ll have to forgive him.” The voice came from one of the more humanoid monsters, a young man with green hair and pointed ears. “This is an isolated town. We mostly see plant-types here. We know about humans from those of us who have partners in the human world, but we rarely see Fiend-types here. In truth, we discourage them.” He gave Yubel a disapproving look. “They tend to bring trouble.”

“Well, Yubel isn’t going to cause any trouble,” said Juudai. “So anyway, is there anywhere I could earn some money around here?”

“There’s a job broker at the center of town,” said the elf, “but I doubt...”

But Juudai had already started towards the town center. After a bit of poking around, he did indeed find a building where a man sat at a window with a cork board behind him, stuck all over with slips of paper. A few people were hanging around, investigating the offerings. They gave Juudai and Yubel dirty looks when they approached, but Juudai ignored them. He sauntered up to the desk and grinned his friendliest grin.

“Hi,” he said. “We’re looking for a job.”

“We don’t give jobs to that one’s kind,” said the broker.

Juudai frowned. “But we...”

“It’s all right,” said Yubel. “I can go away.”

Juudai opened his mouth to protest, but Yubel’s voice in his mind said, You need a place to rest and something to eat. My job is to protect you. If the best way to do that is for me to duck out of sight for a little while, then that is how it must be.

But these people are being stupid.

Then let them be stupid. Take their job, take their money, and enjoy knowing that I will be reaping the benefits along with you in spite of all they’ve done.

And that was Yubel all over: putting his interests above their own, but with an edge built in. He supposed they were probably right.

“Fine,” he said. “Leave town. I’ll catch up to you later.”

Yubel nodded and left. Juudai turned back to the man at the counter.

“Now have you got a job for me?” he asked testily.

The man scowled. “You’re just going to meet back up with that fiend later.”

“Then give me a dangerous job - one you wouldn’t want to give to someone you liked,” Juudai suggested.

“Hmm...” the man pressed his lips together thoughtfully. “Well, there is one...”

He fished around among the slips of paper until he found the one he wanted, and pushed it across the desk to Juudai.

“Here,” he said.

Juudai read the paper. Someone apparently wanted him to bring them the juice of some kind of flower.

“The heck is an anathema flower?” he asked.

“Highly poisonous,” said the broker. “Even to touch it with your bare skin can kill you, but if it’s treated the right way, it can be made into a medicine that treats a lot of the infections us Plant-types are susceptible to. Just one blossom is worth a thousand times its weight in gold.”

Juudai thought a thousand times the weight of a flower probably still wasn’t very much gold, but he said, “Sure, no problem.”

“Fool,” said the broker. “You’ll kill yourself even trying to get near it.”

“I’ll manage,” said Juudai. “See you later.”

He wandered back out of town and found Yubel loitering under a tree.

“Well, I got a job,” he said. “Should be right up your alley.”

“Oh? Do tell,” Yubel said.

“I’m supposed to find something called an anathema flower,” he explained.

“Ever hear of it?”

Yubel considered. “Low-growing vine. Prefers low light and high moisture. Commonly found growing around the base of the common or alpine nectarpine tree. Its sap is toxic and can cause chemical burns just by touching it. Inhaling its pollen can cause respiratory damage if too much is ingested at once.”

“Wow, they sound pretty nasty,” said Juudai.

“Which is probably why someone is willing to pay for someone else to do it,” said Yubel. They smiled. “Fortunately I have had dealings with it before. Come. Let us find some plants.”

They set off into the forest. Juudai wondered if they would go straight to the place where this anathema flower grew, but that didn’t seem to be Yubel’s goal. They rooted around by the edge of a streamlet until at last they found a cluster of plants with soft stems and thick, rounded leaves.

“This is what we want,” they said, ripping up a handful of the stuff and passing it to Juudai. “Rub the juice of this into your eyes and nose, then eat some of it. It will sting and taste unpleasant, but after about fifteen minutes, it will take effect and the anathema plant won’t be able to harm you for the next day or so.”

Juudai unhesitatingly did as he was told. After all, Yubel was doing it too, now, so it couldn’t be that bad. The stuff did indeed taste unpleasantly sour, and made his eyes itch and burn so much he began to wonder if the anathema flower might have been preferable, but after the plant had been allowed a few minutes to do its work, Yubel permitted him to soak his handkerchief in the stream and press it over his face to cool the itch. He took a long drink to get the foul taste out of his mouth.

“Geez, what was that stuff?”

“It is called pennyleaf,” they said. “It is an antidote to many of the common plant-based poisons.”

“So why don’t they know that?” Juudai asked, getting up from where he’d been kneeling by the creek.

Yubel shrugged. “Probably because it tastes so foul that many assume it must be poisonous itself. Come. Let us find an anathema plant.”

They began to walk. Yubel checked to make sure they knew what direction they were going, and then struck out for a stand of pine trees in the distance. They looked like any other pine trees to Juudai, but Yubel assured him that they could tell by the way the branches were arranged that these were nectarpines and nothing else, and Juudai wasn’t going to argue. As they drew nearer, he began to smell a distinctly sweet aroma on the air, and asked about it.

“No, those aren’t the anathema flowers,” they said. “Those are the pines you’re smelling. They get their name from the sweet smell and taste of their sap. That is another reason why so few people know the connection between pennyleaf and anathema flower poison. If everyone knew how to get past the trees’ defenders, all the nectarpines would soon be cut and boiled for their sugar, and then there would be no more.”

Juudai nodded. “You sure know a lot of things.”

“I have had a lot of time to learn them. And I like plants.” Yubel paused and pointed. “Look, you can see them now.”

And so he could in a thick carpet around the base of the trees, Juudai could see a layer of glossy green leaves. Speckled against the green were a number of flowers, their petals white but dappled with purple and red. They were rather pretty, and if he hadn’t already been warned they were poisonous, he might have thought that this lovely, sweet-smelling grove was a fine place to lie down for a nap. As it was, he took a few steps closer and then paused.

“It’s all right,” said Yubel. “The antidote has had time to work.”

“Yeah, but what if I get the sap on my clothes?” Juudai asked. “Your antidote will wear off by tomorrow and I’ll still have poison on me.”

“A good thought,” said Yubel. All right, allow me.”

They took to the air, drifting carefully beneath the overhanging boughs of the trees until the nearest blossoms were within reach. Yubel picked a handful - half a dozen or so in all - and passed them to Juudai. He took them gingerly, but they didn’t seem inclined to do him any harm. The stems had an oddly prickly, sticky feel, as if they were trying to cling to his skin like velcro.

“Ick,” he said, and wrapped them up carefully in a few dry leaves. “Thanks, Yubel.”

“You are most welcome,” they assured him.

Within a few minutes, they were back in town. The broker looked surprised to see them.

“I thought I said...” he began.

Juudai placed the flowers on the desk like a gambler laying down a winning hand.

“Here’s your flowers,” he said.

The broker’s eyes bugged. “How on earth...? Never mind, I’m not sure I want to know.”

“Good, because I wasn’t going to tell you,” said Juudai.

“Well, a deal is a deal,” said the broker, as he began filling a cloth bag with coins. “And I won’t say I’m not glad to have these. We have sick people in this town who could do with the medicine these will make, so thank you for that.”

“Thank Yubel,” said Juudai. “They were the one who did all the real work. I wouldn’t have been able to lay hands on these in a million years without their help.”

“Huh,” said the broker. He looked at Yubel, who smirked. “Well, I suppose I might have been a little bit hasty, at that.”

“I think you were,” said Yubel. “But I will be gracious and accept your apology.”

“Hm, well,” said the broker. His greenish skin went even more green. “I do apologize, then. I can see I was being closed-minded.”

Juudai got the feeling that Yubel was thinking, “Yes, you were,” but had decided not to say so.

“Glad that’s settled,” he said aloud. “So, where can a couple of hungry flower-gatherers find lunch in this place?”

A short while later, he and Yubel were sitting at the town’s common room, enjoying a meal of dumpling soup. The broker had come with them and exchanged a few words with the innkeeper on the subject of an ailing mother, the uses of flowers, and the benefits of being nice to the people who fetched them. After that, the innkeeper couldn’t have been more pleasant, and had given them the best room in the building without charge. Word seemed to be getting around, because the looks Juudai and Yubel were getting now were curious but no longer hostile. Juudai got the feeling that a lot of people were going to feel they owed him and Yubel favors after this. He smiled as he slurped his soup. It was nice to be appreciated.

“They seem to like me now,” Yubel observed, with some amusement.

“They should,” said Juudai. “After all, you’re the best.”

“I don’t really care what anyone but you thinks of me,” they said, but they seemed to be pleased anyway.

“Well, it’s nice to have friends,” said Juudai. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll come back here again one day, when they need more flowers.”

Yubel looked around thoughtfully. A small girl wearing a dress made of flower petals waved shyly at them.

“Perhaps we should,” they said. “After all, I always did like flowers.”

#soulshipping week #soulshipping #yugioh gx #yubel #yuuki juudai

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tabuart · 3 years

Text

Since I Found you

Be forewarned that this fanfiction is written in a spur of the moment by someone who normally doesn’t write nor post their work. An Anikishipping au story with inspiration from the anime/manga Happy Sugar Life.

The Lonely One

It wasn’t what Wroughtweiler found that surprised Haou, the Supreme King. It was what he heard that made him stand in disbelief.

“Hello, nice to meet you!” Greeted the young boy in front of him, with a Hane Kuriboh floating next to him. He was short in stature, with thick, wild light blue hair and large grey eyes gazing behind his small glasses. His garments were slightly frayed and covered with bit of dirt yet he stood out from the villagers he had captured just moments ago.

Haou, along with his army, were about to return to the castle when he saw Wroughtweiler dart into the forest. Thinking some prisoner or duelist had managed to escape, he went to follow the robotic canine. When he finally caught up to it Haou saw Wroughtweiler not attacking his prey but being gently petted by the child.

In response to his greeting Haou fixed a cold stare from behind his mask.

“You dare speak to me so casually? Do you not know who I am?”

The boy frowned and looked at him questionably. “No, have we met?” Haou was taken aback at the boy’s ignorance. Even a child younger than him who had never seen the Supreme King before would instantly know the armored duelist’s identity on sight.

“Are you from the village just outside this forest? Haou asked. The boy glanced down in uncertainty. He then closed his eyes in thought, strangely appearing as though he was trying to remember. Hane Kuriboh fluttered closer to the child, staring at him expectantly. “I…I’m not sure,” he finally answered. Haou was now frustrated at the boy’s responses and utter disrespect. Seeing as his questions were getting him nowhere, he decided to summon Inferno Wing to finish him off. The child was no duelist in his eyes and his sacrifice wouldn’t be much contribution but it would still bring Haou closer to finishing his ultimate card, Super Fusion.

Just as Haou reached for his duel disk to summon his monster, the boy unexpectedly pulled out a card from his pocket and thrust it as close as he could to his face. At a glance Haou saw it was a magic card, Power Bond. “Here! This is for you!” the boy cheerfully exclaimed. Haou paused in confusion before placing his focus back on the child. “This card serves no purpose for me” Haou coldly responded, not caring for the boy’s reasons and still refusing to believe he was a duelist.

“But it might help fill the card in your soul,” the boy explained. “The card in my soul?” Haou asked, now wondering what boy was going on about.

“Your card, it’s blank but it’s not damaged or torn,” he elaborated. “You’re working hard to fill it, maker it stronger so you can be a strong duelist.” Behind his mask Haou’s golden eyes widen with each word the child spoke. The boy’s face brightens into a hopeful expression. “I hope I can help you finish it, so you’ll become a duelist that will never ever lose a duel.” Suddenly Haou dropped to his knees, numbed by the child’s supportive words.

How was this plausible? They had only just met yet somehow the boy sensed his ultimate goal. As he dwelled on the boy’s inexplicable kindness, a strange feeling began to swell inside his chest. Placing a hand over his heart he tried to understand what this feeling was. It was far from anger, yet he couldn’t say if this pleasing sensation was considered happiness. But looking at the child again Haou no longer saw him as an insignificant peasant.

Before he could think any further Haou heard footsteps approaching from behind. Almost without thought he stood up, placed a hand next to the child’s head and released a small burst of energy from his hand, knocking him out cold. After he caught and gathered the child in his arms, he turned around and saw two of his Death duelists, Skilled Dark and Skilled White Magician approaching.

“Is everything alright, Haou-sama?” Skilled White Magician asked. They then noticed the small boy in Haou’s arms. “I see you caught one of the unfortunate humans. I shall gladly take him ba-“

“No,” Haou sternly responded, cutting Skilled Dark Magician off. “I’ll take the child back with me.” He proceeded to walk back to his army, passing the two shocked magicians with Wroughtweiler and Hane Kuriboh following behind.

It should be fine. As Supreme King he will create Super Fusion and rule this world, ridding it of every evil. Sparing one child shouldn’t make a difference.

#yugioh gx #fanfiction #Haou #Judai yuki #Sho Marufuji #anikishipping #jaden yuki #syrus truesdale

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aspiringhorrorauthor · 2 years

Text

GX Month- Runaway

So few people seem to consider the actual weight of putting the fate of twelve whole dimensions on the shoulders of two young boys. Sometimes, pressure doesn't make a diamond, it just makes a crack.

For @gxmonth

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/41403294/chapters/104727294

Warnings: I don't think there's any warnings except maybe strict parenting, exhaustion/over working and running away. Are those warnings? I'm sure someone out there would appreciate them.

A blinding light faded away to normality, as the familiar stonework of the Dark World castle appeared below Marmoru’s feet. A heavy exhaustion clouded his mind, and he tried in vain to shake it loose. He needed to rest, not to go hopping dimensions at the whim of a King he didn’t even kneel to.

He'd been rushed off his feet, trying to keep the world safe from the darkness of nihilism, and now more powers of evil were trying to rise up and hurt innocent people. He’d travelled across five dimensions in the past week, sometimes having to dart back and forth between them, and he was tired. All he had wanted was a quiet night to rest, and yet he couldn’t even get that. As soon as his head had hit the pillow, he’d been informed that the King of Dark World had requested him. Urgently.

“He had better hope that his kingdom is about to succumb to darkness, anything less and I am leaving him with less than kind words,” Marmoru had warned the Guardian. She’d had her own choice words at that.

The light faded and he lowered his hand, watching as the only other figure in the room came into focus. There could be no mistaking them.

“Yubel,” Marmoru greeted with a bow. They bowed back. He’d yet to adjust to their new physique, the punishment and privilege bestowed upon them by the King, to protect Haou as they had once failed to do for all eternity. The wings seemed like they’d be a benefit. The claws, however…

“You look awful, Marmoru, have we dragged you away from important business?” Yubel asked. Not that it mattered to them, Marmoru thought sourly, trying to shake away the though as soon as it appeared. Yubel never thought any business of his was more important than their own, but then again, maybe The Guardian felt the same way, and he’d never spotted it from where he stood.

“Only from a well deserved sleep,” Marmoru assured them. “What does the King require of me so urgently?”

“He doesn’t,” Yubel answered, crossing their arms across their chest. “I called for you, but he needs your help. I… need your help,” Yubel bit their lip, their voice becoming very quiet. “Haou has gone missing, and I hoped you might be willing to lend a hand.”

Marmoru’s blood ran cold. “How long has he been gone?” He asked.

“Three days. We have scoured the castle and the neighbouring lands. He would not leave without me, not without telling me where he was going,” Yubel explained, their voice wavering with worry and fear. Marmoru stepped closer to them, going to offer reassurance that they quickly shook off. “His father was adamant that no-one outside of this castle and his army should know, in order to protect him from anyone that might try to harm him. If the King was to find out I called for you, in his name no less…”

“He will not find out,” Marmoru assured them, biting his own cheek to stay his tongue. Oh the things he could say about the King… “I will help you search. Would you mind if I request some help of my own? It will speed up searching, and time may be of the essence.”

“Please do,” Yubel nodded. Marmoru walked back to the dias, reaching out one hand that quickly coated in the cold light he was so used to, the dias below resonating with it. He closed his eyes, picturing the one he wanted so dearly.

“Cobalt Eagle, answer me!” Marmoru called out. There was a brief pause, as the light swirled and undulated in his hand, with only the sound of his breathing and Yubel’s nervous scratching breaking the silence, until he could hear the familiar flap of wings coming from afar, a smile stretching across his face. The flapping grew quickly nearer and nearer, until he could feel the breeze each flap brought across his face, and the talons gripped his arms, coming to a rest as the light faded once more.

“Well! You don’t come to visit in months and this is how you greet us?” Cobalt asked, ruffling his feathers up. “I had half a mind not to answer, you know.”

“Forgive me, Cobalt, I had wanted to come find you all first thing in the morning, but my sleep was interrupted by more urgent matters,” Marmoru apologised. “I must search for Haou, but no-one can search better than you. No-one flies farther or faster or sees more clearly than you.”

“Be careful, say any more and my head wont get through the door,” Cobalt warned. “The Prince has gone missing?”

“For three days,” Yubel repeated. “We must find him.”

“But no-one is to know he is missing. We cannot allow anyone who might hurt him to know he is alone,” Marmoru insisted. Cobalt nodded, but the firm set to his beak, so subtle that Yubel could not have seen it, seemed to suggest otherwise.

“Understood. I shall return to Light World and let the others know. I’m sure Sapphire will search too. You might want to go find Rainbow and ask that xi helps the search too.”

“Can’t you talk to xir telepathically like you usually do?” Yubel asked, their tone slightly desperate. Marmoru shook his head.

“Not so easily across dimensions. And it would be rude to ask a favour of Rainbow like that,” Marmoru insisted. In truth, Rainbow would not care in the slightest if he did, but Cobalt’s tone told him that it wasn’t a suggestion, and that for whatever reason, Yubel was not to know why. “I shall visit Rainbow now.”

“Please hurry,” Yubel begged, rubbing their fingers along the back of their knuckles in worry. “If Haou is in trouble…”

“We will find him, I promise,” Marmoru assured them as Cobalt took to wing and disappeared once more into the light. Marmoru closed his eyes, picturing the familiar mountain he had traipsed so many times, feeling the rocks beneath his feet changing from expertly cut stone to the harshly ground stone of Rainbow’s home, knowing already what he would see when his eyes opened again.

Golden rocks stretched as far as the eye could see, covered in what vegetation managed to cling to this mountain. A couple of monsters nearby startled at his sudde appearance, scrambling to get away as he walked onwards, a narrow path leading him towards the Dragon’s cave. He’d walked it so many times it barely even concerned him anymore.

Rainbow’s cave was not big. It fit the dragon snugly, just as xi liked it, but when the dragon was inside there was very little room for anyone else to hide, and when he finally reached the mouth of it, he sagged with relief.

“I thought I might find you here,” Marmoru called out. Haou sat up from where he’d been leaning on Rainbow, a look of fear on his face. A ripple ran through Rainbow’s body as xi reconfigured themselves, holding Haou in closer, as if to protect him.

“Marmoru, I-“ Haou started, then froze with a cringe. “Did my father send you?”

“No, as if he would ever trust me with something so valuable,” Marmoru assured him, before turning to Rainbow. “Yubel is scared for the missing Prince and requested I help search for him, and allowed me permission to ask the Crystal Beasts to lend aid too. Would you be willing to search?”

“But I’m here,” Haou started, but Rainbow had cottoned on faster than he had, another ripple running up xir scales as xi prepared to fly.

Of course, Marmoru. I shall travel to Dark World now. I assume you’ll continue to search Light World, in case the inhabitants here have seen him, Rainbow agreed, before taking off into the sky, a crack forming before them that they flew into, disappearing from sight.

“There. Everyone is searching in the wrong place now, only we know where you are,” Marmoru explained, walking over to Haou and sitting beside him. Haou scooched away as subtley as he could manage. “I know Rainbow can talk people to death, but being missing for three days because of xir is a little excessive.”

“It, it wasn’t Rainbow’s fault, xi only wanted to keep me safe,” Haou insisted, avoiding Marmoru’s eyes. He’d grown a lot in the four years since they’d met, and yet right now he looked as small as he had done all those years ago.

“I know,” Marmoru answered softly. “And I’m so glad xi did. But, why ever did xi need to keep you safe?”

Haou sniffed slightly and rubbed his face with the back of his hand. “I’ve been practicing with my powers, as suggested by the Guardian, and Yubel, and my father, but…” Haou hesitated. “But it’s not really going all that well. I managed to strand myself in Light World, and Rainbow found me.”

“Managing to travel between dimensions is no small feat, you should be proud of that,” Marmoru insisted, but Haou only turned his head away further. “I have managed to strand myself as well, especially when I got tired, but Rainbow has always managed to return me home. Did xi not offer to do so for you too?”

“Xi did,” Haou quickly insisted, as if the suggestion that xi hadn’t was an insult to the dragon’s name, but Haou quickly grew quiet again. “But I didn’t want to.”

He’d feared as much. Marmoru suppressed the urge to reach out and hold his friend, instead holding out his hand for the Prince to take. He did not. “You can tell me anything, Haou. I promise I will not tell another living soul.”

Haou hesitated, his shoulders shaking slightly as he rubbed at his face. “I just can’t do it, Marmoru. You make it look so easy, using your powers, but it’s not easy for me. I was so tired from my last practice that I over-slept, and father got so angry that I had not attended to my duties. How am I meant to be King one day if I cannot even be a Prince now?” Haou bemoaned. “How am I meant to save the world if I cannot even use my powers?”

“You don’t need to worry about that now,” Marmoru tried to reassure him, reaching out but stopping as Haou flinched. “Leave the world to me. Mastery of your powers can only come with time, there is no use in rushing them. And as for your duties, well, if the King feels that strongly against you having some rest then I shall simply have to have a word with him.”

“Please don’t,” Haou whispered. “He barely tolerates you visiting me now, if you were to press him further…”

Marmoru bit his tongue, biting back his remark. The King seemed to blame him for his son having a destiny beyond the throne, and Marmoru in turn disliked his often unfair treatment of those around him. Surely there were kinder ways to find a protector for the young Prince than to let his friend believe they had to agree to a horrific transformation or be killed… although he doubted Yubel would refuse even without the threat.

“Very well. Have you been resting well while you have been here?” Marmoru asked. Haou nodded. “Then I suggest you can hide among my family anytime you need a rest. If I ask them to not tell anyone but me where you are, they will not. Well, that’s not true,” Marmoru laughed. “They gossip like old wives among themselves, but they will not tell anyone who would send you back. I promise.”

Haou nodded softly to himself. “I like your promises, you always keep them,” he replied softly. Marmoru couldn’t help but smile, pushing his hand back towards the Prince. This time, the Prince took it. “It must be nice for you, not having any responsibilities beyond being the Emissary of Light.”

Marmoru made a face, and quickly tried to hide it. That was hardly true; he had to protect his family, to control and summon the Rainbow Dragon as was required, and the Lords and Ladies of this realm had their own demands of him, but this was hardly the time to bring it up. Nor to bring up how little he’d slept over the last week.

“As for your powers,” Marmoru changed the subject, “Don’t think I’ve always been as good with them as I am now. I am four years your elder, that is four more years of practice than you. You will learn a lot in that time, and you will look back to now and laugh at how difficult you once found them. I certainly do.”

“I don’t believe that,” Haou chuckled softly, “Even when we first met, you seemed so confident, I don’t feel like I will ever be like that…”

“You have another year before you get to that point, and I had a lot of help from my family,” Marmoru assured him. They sat in silence for a moment longer, before Haou leant back against Marmoru, who pulled him into a hug. A thought brewed in Marmoru’s mind, one that he half-wished he could keep to himself, knowing it would only bring more work and less sleep, but he couldn’t sit back and do nothing. “You may not wish for me to speak to the King regarding letting you have a rest, but maybe I could convince him to allow me to give you some lessons on utilising your powers. We may not share many in common, but no-one else shares any at all. Would that be alright?”

Haou shrugged, before slowly nodding. “I suppose.”

The adrenaline of finding out his friend was missing was wearing off now, and sat in the cave that was practically his second home was making Marmoru feel incredibly sleepy. He tried again to shake the exhaustion from his mind. “Are you about ready to go home now, Haou?” He asked, wishing the prince would agree, but instead he shook his head. Marmoru tried to stifle a sigh; there may not be a chance for much sleep at all tonight. “Very well. We shall sit a while longer. There is no rush.”

#gxmonth2022 #yugioh gx #marmoru #supreme king haou

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