makutas-chronicle

[makutas-chronicle]

There exist another dimension called The Empty World. It's very much like ours, in fact it seems to have been identical up until a few weeks ago, but it always seems that way. If you go there today, it was identical in late february, and if you go there this october, it'll have been identical until september.

It's empty, as you might guess. There's no humans, and no animals bigger than a cockroach. The sky is grey, and it slowly rains ash. It's colder than our world by a bit, enough to require a jacket even in summer. The streets are empty, the cars parked neatly in their garages or in lots, but they're all empty and abandoned, their doors locked like they expect their owners to return any minute now.

The newspapers left on stands don't mention any oncoming disaster. We have no idea what the TV or internet would have said: the power is out. The power is very, very out. Not just the grid, but batteries are drained. The cars won't start, the emergency lights are out, and anything with solar panels seems to be getting less energy than you'd expect, even with the perpetually overcast sky.

It's a very silent world, like the calm after a snowstorm. Sounds don't seem to echo as much as they should, nor does sound seem to travel as far. The radio spectrum is empty except for static, there's no one transmitting on any frequency.

There's fewer fires than you'd expect. Even places you'd expect to soon catch fire without human intervention are still standing, undamaged. Campfires can be lit but with difficulty: something is keeping them from burning as they should. Even if you pour kerosene on a campfire it'll barely grow, it's like something sucked the energy out of everything.

All the locked buildings are still locked. Alarms don't sound if you break in (understandable, given the power situation), and of course no one comes to investigate. So The Empty World is your oyster: you can break in wherever you want (provided you can physically do it: some doors are pretty hard to pry open even with tools), take whatever you want, and bring it back here.

Everything resets when you leave. You always enter The Empty World like it's your first time there, like this just happened and you're late to the party... but the party keeps getting rescheduled. You can even take something multiple times if you want.

When you enter The Empty World you get there at the same relative position as you are on this world. If you're in New York, you show up in the empty New York. If you're in Topeka, you show up in empty Topeka. So you have to travel around this world to get to where you want, and you can't just appear in the middle of a bank vault... unless you break into the vault from this world. (So it's great if you work at a bank and want to steal from your employer without repercussions, but not so useful otherwise).

You don't just have to take things, you know. You can take computers and files and books and diaries. You will have to deal with recharging laptops and breaking through any security when you get back, but it's doable.

So, imagine you've just gotten access to The Empty World. What are you going to do with it? What will you take, and where will you go?

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A field surgeon in a fantasy world has performed life saving surgery on many an orc war band before, unwittingly becoming blood brothers with most of his patients. In his darkest days, his extended family comes to offer their hands.

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this is cute but also i like to think the pope has to preface every single statement with "this isn't dogma but" like he has to break character for a sec and clarify that he's not speaking ex cathedra

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Pairings: Adora/Catra (Catradora). Fandom: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018).

Rating: T. Chapters: 3/3 (Complete). Words: 27k.

Summary: After months of space travel, the Best Friend Squad misses home and just wants to go back to Etheria, but they’re too close to their goal for any of them to agree to turn back now. When they left home, they just intended to continue their mission of helping magic spread across the universe, but they soon discovered a final destination none of them knew existed: the possible location of Adora’s homeworld. All Catra can do is support her as best as she can through their hardest mission since the end of the war. (Or, the First Ones left compasses everywhere you look, if you know how to read them)

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Pairings: Adora/Catra (Catradora). Fandom: She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (2018). Series: Children of the Crystal - Light Hope’s Kids AU 14/14 (Complete). Bonus Fics: 1 (15/14).

Rating: T. Chapters: 1/1 (One shot). Words: 2.4k.

Summary: The war is over, and Catra and Adora would really like to enjoy it, but almost dying has left them drained enough to force them to relax. For once, it’s not so bad. (Or, the day after the Heart)

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Love how tumblr has its own folk stories. Yeah the God of Arepo we’ve all heard the story and we all still cry about it. Yeah that one about the woman locked up for centuries finally getting free. That one about the witch who would marry anyone who could get her house key from her cat and it’s revealed she IS the cat after the narrator befriends the cat.

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You were once the demon king. “Defeated” by the hero, you went into hiding to pursue a simpler life. Today the “hero” has appeared, threatening you family to pay tribute, not realizing who you actually are. Today you show them what happens when you have something worth fighting to protect.

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Aaand the final chapter is out! Thanks to everyone who closely followed the story as it went! Your comments were so fun to read <3

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One of the funniest things about Helryx to me is that she's the first Toa, and the only Toa made without the Toa Code.

Think about that for a second, because the Great Beings didn't realize the Toa were sapient until they'd made a ton of them. Which means Helryx did something so heinous and ruthless while they THOUGHT SHE WAS A SIMPLE ROBOT that the Great Beings went, "holy shit, can't argue with results, but damn these things need some rules."

Fast-forward fifty years and they walk in on twenty Toa hanging around a water cooler trading gossip, laughing about it, the only change to their code being a copy of the Geneva Conventions, and have the sudden and terrible realization that Warcrimes Bot knew EXACTLY what she was doing.

#Bionicle #Helryx #No wonder thr Great Beings immediately went 'GET THESE THINGS AWAY FROM US!'

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THE MENDER

"You've returned! But how can this be? They said there were no survivors after the attack on New Kar. Come in, of course! Come and sit by the fire. You look terrible."

"Thanks, I...I guess I just got lucky."

"That's an understatement. We've heard reports that the islands offshore were nearly wiped clean by the battle. I can't imagine what happened to the city itself."

"It was bad--worst thing I've seen--although the forces of Lord Kalmah put up a good fight, even in his absence. I was in the central fortress when the armies of the...the--"

"--They are called the Brotherhood, I think. The Turaga says that the Great Spirit has turned his back on the Lords of Order, and so now the Brotherhood will carry out his will."

"I believe it. I mean, they came up every street--those shrieking creatures with their staffs. They must serve the...Brotherhood...as well. The soldiers stood no chance, really. Some of them even surrendered, but it didn't matter to those things."

"Best not think about it--the important thing is that you're safe! How did you get out of the city? You must tell me; what an adventure, I'm sure."

"It was! Well, to start with, I was...um...I was looking out from the walltops, and there was a huge noise and smoke in the city. The ground shook, and I ran down the steps. I think the fortress must have been struck by some power, and it collapsed all at once, and I thought I was dead. And then...and then..."

"...and then what?"

"Well, then things are a bit murky. I was alone, I think. It was night by that time. I remember stars. I was hurt badly--my arm and my side, but...but I'm not hurt now."

"Oh, are you sure you were hurt? You look good as new to me."

"I thought I was...It's the strangest thing. I must've been delirious, my mind was wandering or something, but...Say, do you remember some of the legends of New Kar?"

"Which ones? There are so many. You've sat by the Amaja more times than I have."

"I mean the ones about the Founding, back at the very start. It used to be Old Kar, right? And it was named for the being who lived there in the Before Time: Kar, the Mender."

"Oh, I do remember that one--it's a dark tale, my friend. Did you know that 'Kar' is just a shortening of...ahem...His name? The Turaga hereabouts won't even say it. I think it's a bit silly. Sometimes you stub your foot and just have to shout 'to Karzahni with it!', I say."

"Yes...yes, I know."

"But anyways, what were you saying?"

"I was saying...maybe you'll think it's silly then, after all..."

"No, no! Don't say that! I'm just glad you've come back--we were all so worried. Tell me your tale."

"Alright then, as I was lying there injured...or maybe not injured... looking at the stars, there was someone else there with me."

"So you weren't alone then? Was it another survivor?"

"Not quite...So, in the old legends, you know they say that Kar the Mender lost his way amongst the islands one day and never returned to his duty, right? But sometimes, when there is an earthquake, or a battle--something where people are hurt--they say he arrives, and ...helps them. You remember that part too?"

"Can't say I've heard that bit of the story. Maybe you're mixing it up with the one about the, uh, Wandering Toa--the Air-Toa, you know?"

"No, it's not that one, I'm sure. There were some veterans of the first War of Order who would tell stories sometimes. One of them had been left for dead on a battlefield of the Barraki, but as he was trying to crawl through the muck, he saw a figure in the distance. He said it was a giant--a titan with eyes like globes, stooping over the corpses, picking up bodies."

"And did this titan help him out?"

"No, I guess not. He survived the battle, but maybe it was just an old soldier's tale..."

"Well, tell me the rest: What did you see?"

"That's what I've been trying to say. There was...it was...He was there, in the ruins of the city."

"A giant, like the soldier said?"

"Oh, bigger than a building. I sat up and he was right there, stooping over me. I thought his eyes were great stars at first, looking down on me. He picked me up like I was nothing, and set me on my feet. He plugged my arm back into its socket, and snapped my ribs back in place, though I screamed--"

"--I thought you weren't injured."

"I...wait...no I was injured. I was! It was...I can't describe it."

"Hm."

"After that, he just stared at me for a while. I couldn't...I couldn't move at all, under those eyes."

"It was just you and this being?"

"Yes, just us."

"And then he let you go?"

"Well...I suppose so."

"You walked out of the city, right? And came back here, to safety."

"I don't think...I don't know."

"You must have! How else?"

"Yes, I...walked..."

"Well anyways, I'm so glad. We missed you, and the Turaga will be overjoyed to have another set of hands to help with the work."

"Where--"

"--The Brotherhood is making some new rules, you see, and we have to make sure the village is up to code."

"I'm...glad to help, but why--"

"--What a day you've had! But it's all behind you now. Would you like to rest?"

"I'm tired, yes. I'm tired and it...hurts."

"Oh dear, I didn't realize the time. There's no time to rest actually. The Turaga wants everyone to assemble at the--"

"Why are you doing this."

"Why...I don't understand. What do you mean?"

"Tell me why you are doing this. It hurts."

"It doesn't hurt anymore--you said so yourself."

"I do hurt. It isn't...it wasn't done right. He didn't do it...right."

"Don't say that. It was done right. And anyways, who are you to question it? The Turaga says--"

"I hurt. My arm and my side. Please stop. Let me go."

"You are just a little Matoran. You should not speak out of turn."

"My arm still isn't right, and I can't breathe well. You need to--"

"--I need to do nothing."

"Your eyes...they are too bright. They burn my eyes. I want to look away."

"How ungrateful. Why should I do anything for you...any of you. You're all wretches. I do my best work, and no thanks at all."

"Let me go. I am the last survivor of New Kar. I must tell them what happened. Surely--"

"New Kar? What a fantasy. There is no such thing. You Matoran make up such wonderful futures for yourselves in your small heads."

"No...such thing? Ah...it hurts."

"Stop that. It doesn't hurt. It's fine."

"It...doesn't hurt. I have to go--"

"No, you are here now. You always have been. You have nowhere to go but here."

"Your eyes...they burn me."

"Oh my, are your eyes bothering you?"

"Yes, yes, they are."

"Ah, how terrible. But you are fortunate: mending eyes is a specialty of mine."

"Please, what can be done?"

"You are broken, little Matoran. What a shame. The whole world is broken. Every fiber and sinew of it, every wasted rock and stone, every cursed breath of wind, ah...I can barely stand it."

"Please."

"Every dead star-rise and every pointless shift of the gray tide..."

"Oh, please."

"Broken from the start, useless from the start. By the Great Beings, it should all be put to rest--"

"--Please, I am broken."

"Oh, of course you are. But don't worry--not for long. Now, stand still, and let's try this again..."

Please

I am broken

"--and try not to scream so much this time. It distracts me."

Please

I am broken

Mend me

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Luz had a project she’d been working on for… well basically her whole life.

#The Owl House #Luz Noceda #King Clawthorne #Fanfic #My fanfic

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She snorted a laugh. It still entertained her and she was more comfortable now showing that it did.

“What?” Adora’s eyes narrowed at Catra. There was always something that Catra judged her about.

“Nothing! Nothing. Really, it’s just been a while that’s all. It’s fine. You’re good… It’s cute.”

Adora’s shoulders slumped and she whined another, “Whaaaat?”

“Nothing!” And then she rolled her eyes at the ones that were pleading to have her explain. “Okay fine. It’s just…, every time Adora?”

“What? It’s just my battle cry!”

Catra snickered again, “Not that. The whole,” and she drove her arm into the air as if she was holding Adora’s materialized sword. “Why?” She shrugged though another laugh. “Does it need to be up there? Couldn’t you just, y'know… hold it out here?” She motioned in front of herself. “Or here.” A little to the side. “Or just like, anywhere else?”

She-Ra became Adora again. “What, so like,” she slumped her shoulders again, one hand on her hip, and the other she rolled lazily to the side. With a weak and somewhat bored mutter, she said, “For the honor of Grayskull or whatever,” through a heavy sigh as she transformed, “Like that?”

This had Catra cackling. “Yes! That is so much better. Just do that every time! Be like, ”‘UGH! GrAySKulL or WHATEVER’ and then POOF, sad She-Ra.“ She pointed and laughed harder at Adora doing her best to suppress a smile. She knew well that Adora liked her joke.

"Well, I like raising my arm up. Okay? Makes me feel powerful.”

Catra hummed a chuckle, “I thought I did that.”

When She-Ra cupped Catra’s face, she hummed back, “Mm, you do,” she rubbed those soft cheeks, “Of course you do.” And she leaned down to kiss her-

But just before their lips brushed against each other, “Did we just forget about the Crimson Waste idiots trying to steal from Erlandia?”

“ARGH! WE FORGOT ABOUT THE IDIOTS!”

#She-Ra #Adora #Catra #Catradora

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The Collector never really stopped referring to mortals as spiders, he just swapped the "ew" for "aww."

It took King far too long to really understand what that meant.

How much more time he had just didn't feel normal yet.

#The Owl House #King Clawthorne #Luz Noceda #My work #My fanfic

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Grief is a powerful anchor.

Angella knows it well.

Catra stops running at last.

#She-Ra #Catra #Angella #Catradora #GBC #My work #My Fanfic

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Angella, furious: "Glimmah! Who is this!? Why were you in the Whispering Woods to begin wi-

Catra: -Looks up at her, shivering like a wet chihuahua and clutching the last thing she has of the love of her life-

Angella: "...Glimmer, darling, we're getting your sister some blankets."

Glimmer, fully prepared for a fight: "She was stabbed, I couldn't just leave- my what?"

#She-Ra #Angella #Glimmer #Catra #It's my fic and I can include Momgella if I want! #my work notes #GBC #Angella: Oh she just like me fo real fo real

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Adora has always trusted easily.

She has to, things break so easily in her hands.

The Heart cuts out the middleman.

#She-Ra #Adora #Lonnie #Catradora #GBC #My fanfic #My work

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Most who lose their way in the Whispering Woods fight to escape.

Catra fought to sink further.

A name always brought her back.

#She-Ra #Catra #Glimmer #Lonnie #Catradora #My work #My fanfic #GBC