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sydtaxerror · 7 months

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Day 1 - Obsession

In a basement, in an office building, in a dying world, a spider-girl puts on a puppet show for an unknown audience. She tells a tale of an average Sapling, facing a Faunaless future. What will he sacrifice to make it back to the forest? Maybe the weirdest thing I've ever written.

Oriko scuttled rapidly around the basement of an abandoned office building, grinning from ear to ear. Eight spidery legs powered her from one spot to the next, human arms snatching up necessary supplies while her human legs swung back and forth like a child on a jungle gym. From the puppet corner she pulled two friends. The first had golden eyes and a gentle smile. The second had a blank expression and sad, dark eyes, it smelled like iron. From the wig corner she grabbed one green, one white, one black in a simple salary-man’s hairstyle, and a couple leaves for the third act. From the snack corner she grabbed one of the mystery-drinks she’d acquired from various vending machines. Most likely it would be much less mysterious to someone who could read Kanji. The only Kana on it announced proudly that it “contained minerals.” She nodded sagely. “Don’t we all.” She didn’t bother grabbing a snack.

Fully supplied, she fought the urge to make a race car noise as she dug her legs into the ground, slightly scoring the cement as she drifted into place in front of her stream setup. It was a simple cardboard stage held together with silk and dreams, atop a commandeered steel office desk. She pressed the red “go live” button almost instantly, making the cardboard wobble threateningly. She thrust her head through the crimson curtain, she felt a little like a Kaiju as she took up nearly the entire stage. “Hello, Hello, Hello, it's Oriko!” she grinned, briefly revealing her wriggling fangs before covering her mouth and blushing.

“I’d love to chat but I’m super, super late so we need to get right into the story.” She pulled her head through again and reached back for the puppets, attaching one to each humanoid wrist. Last week GuyRyS404 asked: ‘What happened to the saplings after Council disappeared. It's hard to imagine them lasting a month.’” She crossed her arms in an X, “Bzzt! You’re wrong.” She smiled, careful not to reveal her inhuman fangs again.

“They lasted exactly two. And a half. Today’s story is about obsession, and the least unhinged sapling” She released strings of silk from her wrists that let the puppets slowly drift down to the stage. She tapped buttons with her feet to dim the basement and shine a spotlight on the stage. The camera zoomed in, showing only the puppets. A green light flowed from her wrists into the unmoving dolls, who shuddered to life as it reached them.

***

“I miss Fauna.”

The sapling sighed. It had been two months since Fauna, or any Vtuber for that matter, had done her last livestream. For the first month there’d at least been archives and clips. The sapling, formerly known in chat as “TheFinalSap(for real)” or FS for short, had even enjoyed being able to catch up on some streams he’d missed. But after the Universal Graduation Act, any depiction of Vtubers at all was banned off Youtube. Clippers had tricked the algorithm for a bit with blurs, mosaics and mirrors but one by one, like the Vtubers before them, they’d disappeared. The world governments still seemed unwilling to admit they had fulfilled their own prophecy. With council in exile, and the grim reapers MIA, everything from physics to the basic life-cycle of animals had begun to break down. There was a video going around on social media of several police officers fighting an undying grizzly bear in Times Square. They’d lost.

It was obvious to everyone they were living in the pre-apocalypse, which was fine, people his age had been born in the pre-apocalypse, but at least before there’d been cute girls doing cute things and livestreaming it to pass the time. Now all he had was concert DVDs and a dozen or so streams he’d happened to download before the ban hit. Desperate for new-to-him content, he was clicking through underground sapling discords when he found it.

It was a simple image at first glance. A plain white gazebo stood in a forest clearing, inside it was a table, with two places set for tea. It reminded FS of Fauna’s 3d debut, but it was clearly not virtual. A message was written across it. “Your spot has been saved. Come find me when you’re ready. You already know the way.” A simple green heart was the only signature.

The poster was asking if anyone had gotten something similar, afraid he was being scammed. What a high effort troll FS thought. But something about the image compelled him to save it to his desktop. It had just barely finished downloading when the image vanished. A moderator showed up to chew the guy out. “You know its real idiot. But The Calling is private, so shut your yap. What if there’s some Geoguessr savant on cross referencing those trees or some shit? Idiots.” FS’ eyes went wide and he immediately opened the image and started doing reverse image searches on everything in frame.

A week later, having slept a grand total of twelve hours, he’d narrowed it down to a single forest. Only an hour away. It felt wrong, somehow sacrilegious, but he told himself this was probably what they wanted. It was probably some kind of sapling ARG and when he got there, they’d all laugh and trade black market Fauna merch or something. Even then he knew what it really was. He was trespassing. Nonetheless, he loaded up his car, and made the short drive to the forest from the picture. He was surprised to find two other cars abandoned at the entrance, doors open, keys in the ignition. One still had the engine running. He turned off his own car and pocketed the keys. With a guilty expression, he reached beneath a seat and pull out an old hatchet from his scout days and attached it to his belt. He followed a trail into the forest, he didn’t know for how long. Finally, he emerged into a clearing. Ahead was a wall of briar, his head swam looking at it, the vines and thorns seeming to shift of their own volition. After staring for awhile, FS noticed there were gaps, person-sized gaps. A man stood in front of one and FS approached him.

“Its for me.”

“What?”

“The gap, its for me. No. It is me.” He walked closer to the gap, FS gasped. It really did fit him perfectly. His bald head, his broad shoulders and sausage-like fingers. It fit him perfectly.

The man turned to look at FS, eyes narrowing “But not yet. Not until I deal with you. I told that idiot it would be trouble.” FS knew who the sapling was immediately, but before he could react man’s hand was around his neck, lifting him in the air. FS had never seen a discord moderator lift anything, let alone a man, and so was doubly horrified. Only Mother Nature herself could have gifted such power. “Are you one of them?” the moderator asked. “A Hunter? You carry the woodcutter’s symbol.” He pointed to the hatchet. His grip grew tighter. FS shook his head as best he could. “Sapling.” He gasped out. “Always…a…sapling.”

“A sapling brought an axe to her forest? Uninvited?” The moderator’s face softened, and he laughed. “Well, It's not impossible one of us wandered that far afield. At this point, maybe even expected. Tell you what…” He grabbed FS’ wallet and let him drop. He pulled out the license and tossed back the wallet. “I’ll bring this to Her, and she can decide. Assuming she doesn’t know already.”

FS’ hand drifted to the hatchet, “You can’t do that, what if I lose my spot.”

“You should’ve thought of that before you…” he never felt the axe. Half his body was numb. Somehow he remained upright. “I’m sorry” FS said, “I just…” he pressed his foot to the man’s back and pulled the axe loose. “I miss Fauna.” He hefted it for another swing but before he could, the moderator staggered forward a single step, into his gap in the briar saying only, “We all do.”

FS briefly gawked in horror, then took off running. Maybe if he could find his gap, he could get through and explain. But after criss-crossing the clearing three times he realized he was misshapen for all of them. He found one that was close and swung at the briar to make it fit him. But it was unflinching. The vines may as well have been made of steel. Realizing he was the more malleable of the two, he began to carve himself. But after a single cut the forest lashed out at him. Vines pulled him to the ground, and he thought they would choke the life from him until suddenly they relaxed, and he heard a familiar, soft voice in his ear. “Is this really my final Sapling? Who promised to remain if all others’ left? To get all my videos to a million views even if every view had to be his?” Her words cut through him far more painfully than the hatchet had. “Yes, its him. But there are no videos and I’m so, so lost.”

“Oh you poor thing.” She gently caressed his cheek, then drew back. When she spoke again, it was in the opposite ear, and her voice held the freezing chill of Winter. “That's all it took?” She pulls him up, turns him around, and slaps him. It echoed through the clearing, and miles beyond. “To break your unbreakable spirit?” Another slap. Birds flee the forest, startled. “To hurt your fellow saplings?” Slap. Slap. His cheeks become numb, but each strike feels purifying. “To. Harm. My. Forest.” Every word is punctuated with a slap. He stops keeping track. When she finally stops, he is delirious with pain, but knows this is Her mercy. She forces him back to his knees. Then whispers in his ear, “You will wait sapling. Like you promised. Until all your brothers and sisters are called. Until madness takes you, leaves you, and takes you again. Then you will wait more. Until you are called.” She reaches for his cheek again and he almost flinches, but fights it back. She notices and smiles, patting him on the cheek softly, her voice warms again, like the sun breaking through an overcast sky. “And then you’ll come home.” He blacks out.

When he awakes again its in his own yard. He walks into his house and begins to wait. He watches as one by own the fan discords, chatrooms, and forums empty. They’re never deleted, but one by one names go offline. He waits while the world crumbles. While civilization falls, maybe for the last time. He waits until he must weep. He weeps until his tears dry up, then he waits again. He waits until madness takes him, leaves him, and takes him again. He waits what feels like years. Its only a single week.

A wood grain pattern covers his skin, advancing from where the briar bit into him to hold him down. He scratches it and it peels away like bark. He cuts himself shaving and thick sap flows out instead of blood. He knows he's turning, and so he walks outside. He falls to the ground feeling a strange kinship to the grass around him. He nearly begs for the Calling, but as he feels the sun against his new skin, he feels only acceptance. If this is where the Keeper wants his roots, so far from her and his siblings, this is where they will be. But the transformation never comes. He opens his eyes and finds himself in the clearing, standing before a perfectly shaped gap.

He enters it, and when the briar does not take him, he realizes he has one last trial. He will not be gently carried to the other side as his siblings were. He must walk this path himself. So he does. The path slowly shrinks. The thorns dig into his skin, which is torn from him, piece by piece. Then his muscles, his organs, his bones, his brain. Everything that makes him human comes away bramble by bramble. Until only the sapling remains. He exits the tunnel, and his roots swim through the nourishing earth, carrying him to the pagoda. Fauna smiles at his approach. “Welcome home Sapling.” He digs his roots deep into the ground, then sways in the autumn breeze. Home.

Author's note: And we hit the ground running. Slightly late again, but as long as I don't sleep I count it. Maybe the most unhinged thing I've ever written. The framing device is probably going to seem really weird to some people but to paraphrase Bennett Foddy, "Sometimes creating is like working with quick dry cement." This overarching narrative is gonna make this even tougher, and probable more alienating to people. but it makes sense to me somehow.

#hololive #holoen #ceres fauna #HOLOctober #goretober #I too must wait for madness to take me leave me and take me again

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guqin-and-flute · 3 years

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[You know how there’s a set of fics I promised to work on first? Apparently that was a lie! 😘 This is just epilogue, Post-Reconciliation fluff with teenage Jingyi--he’s probably 15-16 CW: Moderate descriptions of dead bodies and injuries in reference to a game they’re playing]

[3zun Raise Jingyi AU] [Main Fic][Ao3 Link]

“Are you you cold?”

“Oh yeah, very.”

“Are you animated?”

“No.”

“Do I know you?”

“Nope.”

“Hmm.” Yellow-Father flipped the page of the book he was examining, eyes still on his work. “Are there obvious wounds?”

“Yup, my organs are all chewed up, throat torn out, and...let’s say my nose is gone.” Jingyi thumped his chin into his hands, sticking his legs straight out under the low table in the middle of Yellow-Father’s office, idly waggling his feet.

Next to him at the table, Gray-Father looked like he was falling asleep, his cheek all smushed against his propped up fist, eyes mostly closed, but he still grunted, “Shape of the teeth marks?”

Jingyi squinted into space and wrinkled his nose, considering. “Oblong?”

Yellow-Father twitched a half smirk without looking up from what he was signing. “Oblong teeth?”

“No, oblong...jaw shape or whatever,” Jingyi waved his hand dismissively, wiping away his previous words before drawing a long, thin U-shape in the air with his index finger.

Gray-Father cracked one eye open to take in the sketch, then closed it again. “Not a fierce corpse, then.”

With an air of exaggerated mystery, Jingyi shrugged, then sprawled backward on the floor so he took up the rest of the walkway in front of the door. “Whoooo’s to say? Is that your guess?”

“Boy, I said it wasn’t a fierce corpse, why would that be my guess?”

“Well, you’re trying to fish for unauthorized information, Chifeng-zun, you gotta play by the rules,” Jingyi shot back sternly, jabbing a serious and admonishing finger in his direction.

Though his eyes were closed, it was very clear that Gray-Father rolled them.

Yellow-Father heaved a sigh and drummed his fingers idly on his desk, gaze roving over the piles of paper as he sucked on his teeth in thought--though, Jingyi had to admit, probably not just about their game. Yellow-Father seemed to operate on several levels at once at all times. “Are there deep puncture marks?”

“Uhhh...sort of?”

Finally, Yellow-Father looked up to shoot him an amused glance over his desk edge. “’Sort of?’ That’s hardly fair or specific.” Rising, he gathered a stack of scrolls and came around his desk, stepping easily over Jingyi’s supine form before rapping smartly on the door with his knuckles.

“Like...teeth marks are technically puncture marks.”

After a moment, the door slid open and a harried looking Jin courier took the pile without a word and disappeared down the hall. Yellow-Father closed the door and turned back. “Yes, I suppose. I’m asking specifically about fangs.”

Lolling his head over, Jingyi watched as he stepped back over him without even looking, robe hem brushing over his belly. He barely fought the sudden urge to grab his ankles as he might have when he was younger. He managed not to--but it was definitely a close thing. “It’s not a snake.”

“What?” Gray-Father demanded, sounding offended.

Jingyi lolled his head back to see his eyes open, glaring at him in mock reproach. “You’ll tell him it’s not a snake but you can’t confirm it’s not a fierce corpse without threatening to take away my guess? How is that playing by the rules?”

“Aha,” Jingyi raised his finger straight into the air again as he proclaimed, “But it is.” Then, he pointed back down at himself. “Because I make the rules.”

Gray-Father gave a derisive huff through his nose, but smiled. “Yeah, that was cute when you were 5. Not so much anymore.”

“Um, whatever, I’m adorable. Dieeee, are you done yet? I’m bored. When is Blue-die done with his meeting? I wanna gooo.”

“Patience, Jingyi, I need to clean up. And he’s coming.” Yellow-Father rustled about on his desk, neatly packing everything away into drawers and piles that Jingyi thought were a little excessive--like, why did it need to be that clean? “Where did we find you, again?”

With an exaggerated scoff, Jingyi shook his head slowly, feeling the hard floor beginning to dig into the knob at the back of his skull. He’d have to sit up soon. “Wooow, you find a dead body and you don’t even care enough to remember your surroundings. This must be just any other day to you.”

“In the woods, he said,” Gray-Father betrayed him easily, so Jingyi raised his head to shoot him a glare, but his eyes were closed again. Wriggling closer, he punched the side of his rock of a thigh, earning him a chuckle and Gray-Father leaning down to flip the ends of his fanned out hair over his face.

“Woods, thin, oblong jaws, deep tooth marks, throat torn out, organs and nose gone--or at least chewed on,” Yellow-Father ticked off precisely down an imaginary list as he turned from shelving to continue puttering around. “I’m guessing; wolves.”

Heaving himself upright, Jingyi crashed his hands together just as the gold, white, and blue painted door slid open once again and he bellowed. “GUAAAUAUAUANG!”

Framed in the doorway, Blue-Father stopped short and blinked at the sudden noise but smiled in amusement. “’Guaaaung?’” When Jingyi thrust out his hands demandingly, he stepped in and obligingly gave him custody of one of his arms. “Hello.”

“Almost done, Er-ge,” floated Yellow-Father’s voice from the closet.

“Clearly, it’s a gong noise.” Jingyi used his arm to haul himself to his feet--Blue-Father didn’t even sway. “They won; I was murdered by wolves.”

At this pronouncement, his blue father cocked his head down at him, smile turning quizzical as Jingyi dusted off the seat of his robes. “...Ah?”

Gray-Father blew out a breath and shook himself awake, unfolding slowly from the table. “We were playing Dead Body while we waited for you and A-Yao to be done,” he explained, then gave a hugely expansive stretch, scrunching his face up. “I was thinking it was wolves, but I was waiting for the usual twist.”

Yellow-Father emerged from the closet with a smug smile and murmured, “Mmm, of course you were,” to which Gray-Father leaned over the desk and swatted at his butt--he easily dodged.

“The twist was that there was no twist, this time,” Jingyi said sagely, hands on his hips. “Are we good to go? Finally?”

“I...yes.” Blue-Father still had on that ‘I still don’t know what’s going on here’ smile as Yellow-Father closed the shutters against the streaming sun and joined them. “How does one play Dead Body, exactly?” he asked curiously as he leaned down to let Yellow-Father kiss his cheek hello just before they made their way out into the hall.

Pretending to hold back barf was something Jingyi did less because he cared about them kissing and more because it was his job as annoying teenage son to do things like that. In any case, he was rewarded by Gray-Father wrapping him in a casual headlock, then ignoring him when he flailed to escape as Yellow-Father locked up his office. “You mean you’ve never played Dead Body with him?”

“Mm, not that I recall--and I feel like I would remember something like that.”

From his chaotic and squished vantage point, he saw Yellow-Father look down at him--all captured and partially strangled and sputtering under Gray-Father’s arm. He rolled his eyes, and fondly scolded, “Let him breathe, Da-ge.”

Easily, Gray-Father complied. Wonderful, blessed air flooded back into Jingyi’s lungs--which he immediately used for retaliation by leaping onto Gray-Father’s back like a monster spider and wrapping him in a headlock of his own. Yellow-Father winced and hissed, “Mind Baxia, Fufu, for gods’ sake--”

“Dead Body isn’t a Lan game,” Jingyi panted dismissively, tightening his grip and bracing himself when Gray-Father planted his feet to take stock of the situation.

His other 2 fathers continued to walk on, out of range of Such Antics. It was a good thing, too, because in a whirl of walls and ceiling, Gray-Father managed to very neatly flip him over his shoulder onto the ground. With a smack, all the breath stuck in his lungs for a few agonizing moments while his horrible, rotten Gray-Father grinned down at him and laughed, “You little ass. What did you think was going to happen?”

“Vengeance,” Jingyi wheezed back several seconds later when he could breathe again again. The ring in his ears hadn’t completely left, yet.

“--and then you have to diagnose what killed him. It was very popular back when he was around 7 years old,” Yellow-Father was explaining to Blue-Father ahead of them, ignoring the intense drama of betrayal and revenge happening just up the hall. “Though, what on earth makes it not a ‘Lan game’ is beyond me.”

Staggering to his feet with the grudgingly accepted hand of his gray father, Jingyi caught up to them 2 of them. “Right, like shu-gong would want me lying around shouting about my limbs being torn off. He doesn’t even like me yelling about normal things; I would get so many lines.” He flopped down onto his yellow Father’s shoulders and leaned as they walked, even though he was just a little taller, now (and oooh, didn’t Yellow-Father hate it).

Automatically, his father reached up and pet his head, even as he said, “You’re crushing me, Fufu.”

Transferring over to Blue-Father, he hung from his shoulders when he patiently slowed to allow him to do so. “You find a body,” Jingyi intoned, dramatically. “It’s Lianfang-zun.” He spread his other hand wide as if painting the scene. “He’s folded up like a letter in the halls of Koi Tower! Cause of death?”

“A ridiculous son,” Gray-Father chuckled from behind them, and Jingyi twisted to kick up a foot and stuck out his tongue.

“Wrong.”

“Usually, there was a lot more posing, as a child,” Yellow-Father informed Blue-Father in a heavy tone over Jingyi’s head. “And props. It was a whole ordeal. I’m forever grateful it’s now entirely theoretical.”

“Ahh, I see,” Blue-Father shook his head and put a steadying arm around his shoulder as Jingyi hopped along on one foot, waggling his other one behind him as bait for Gray-Father to take amused, cursory swipes at. “Is there a reason I never got to play Dead Body?”

With exaggerated patience, Jingyi put both feet on the ground and reached up to pat his blue father’s cheek, smiling sympathetically. “Die, whenever I wanted to play war, you always asked if there was a peaceful solution--and I just wanted to stab people.”

All 3 fathers burst out laughing as they rounded the corner of the hallway, the sun shining warmly over their sides from the garden windows. “Oh, so you decided that I just didn’t have the stomach for it, is that it?” Blue-Father asked with a grin.

Jingyi heaved himself off, spinning around to walk backward in front of all of them. “I mean, sort of? I think maybe I figured it would make you too sad to imagine me dead?”

At this, Gray-Father’s eyebrows shot up with a sharp, incredulous laugh and Yellow-Father reared his head back in offended bafflement, demanding, “Oh, and for some reason we wouldn’t be sad to imagine you dead?!”

Shrugging aggressively, Jingyi held up his hands in defense. “I dunno! He seemed like he would handle it worse! I was 7, what do you want from me? It doesn’t have to make sense, I was an idiot!”

“Oh, you were not an idiot,” Blue-Father protested, tilting his head and crinkling him a smile. “You were wonderful.”

“You were 7,” Yellow-Father agreed with Jingyi’s first statement, darkly. Apparently, he was still highly offended, because he muttered, “’Handle it worse’...” under his breath before saying, “You’re about to run into a vase, Jingyi, turn around.”

Instead of obeying, Jingyi just veered away from the obstacle and continued to shrug at him when he sighed and looked to his blue father for help. Before it could come, Gray-Father nudged Blue-Father with his shoulder, teasing, “Congratulations on being the only one to actually care about our son, apparently.”

“Holy hell, fine, if it’s going to be A Thing, we’ll all play and mourn my death together. Happy?” As he rolled his eyes, Jingyi nearly ran into the wall as the last corridor before the outside door ended, but Yellow-Father caught his sleeve and steered him right with feigned annoyance in his pursed lips.

Blue-Father laughed, the light sparking off his spikey guan when he shook his head fondly. “Alright, I’ll play if you turn around. What do we find?”

Obediently, Jingyi spun back around and waited to fall into step with them, pondering the details of his gruesome demise. Beside him, Yellow-Father rolled his eyes to the ceiling with one dimple showing and Gray-Father shook his head with a grin. Then, Jingyi snapped his fingers and spread his hands theatrically just as they all rounded the corner of the hallway. “Alright, so, I’m face down in a river and I’m covered in boils--”

#3zun raise jingyi au #3zun raise jingyi au content #I swear I am also working on the other things I promised #But this just jumped straight into my head and started writing itself so #3zun #my stuff #my fic #Oh yeah you know what's gonna happen ;) I'm gonna post this and find 10 things I hate about it ;) and wish I had proofread better.#RIP Future me but I'm different [presses post]

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secret-engima · 4 years

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NotEveryDayisAGoodDay: maybe a scene where Ita is being Daded into a better mental/emotional health? And what do the rumors have to say about Yoru being the Bijuu's dad? And about Ita, He's obvs an OldSoul, just with no memory of his lives before. My brain suggested that he's Somnus. Ardyn wonders into town and is oh shit baby bro. There's Angst and Feels before he leaves again. And Yoru knows that something about Ita called to him but couldn't put his finger on it before Uncle showed up.

I will never say no to the deserved dadding of Itachi but first let me just say that Itachi as Somnus But No Memories is BRILLIANT and let’s pretend that’s a thing now. Ardyn blows into town ever few years and always dotes on Itachi shamelessly.

-It’s not long after Yoru realized that the Uchiha had forgotten themselves and Sarutobi was being Even More Of An Idiot because really, there are no wars (Yoru makes sure of that) so why send a FOUR YEAR OLD onto a combat mission? Seriously? He put laws in place against those via Hashirama (that Danzo discreetly hid and Sarutobi is turning a blind eye too for the moment).

-Yoru sweeps in and claims Itachi as a Retainer in a heartbeat after hearing about this, just- shows up in the Uchiha compound in his Formal Getup with his Retinue flanking him and is like “I am here for my newest Retainer” and like- what are the Uchiha gonna do? Say NO??? Yoru is still highly esteemed in many circles even if Sarutobi and Danzo are being Idiots about him and on one hand no one in the Uchiha wants to tick off Yoru and on the other PRESTIGE. Yoru has claimed no Retainer since finding his Aburame and that was generations ago. So Fugaku stiffly summons Itachi and Mikoto stoically packs her son’s bags despite her pregnant belly and tries not to show her heartbreak at giving away her eldest to the unpredictable and ancient forest spirit that has long watched over their village. Mikoto pets Itachi’s hair and whispers to him to be good while Fugaku stiffly orders his son to make the Uchiha proud.

-Yoru watches them give up their child without fighting, without crying, without even hugging, and feels rage bubble under his skin that he will not show.

-Itachi is four and small and traumatized when Yoru takes him back to the shrine. Ignis fusses and Gladio moves the boy’s things into the room he’ll be living in now and Prompto entertains Itachi with his butterflies and for a while everything is fine.

-A few days later the shock factor wears off and it is no longer fine.

-Yoru unhesitatingly picks Itachi up during his silent sobbing fit, having woken up after sensing Itachi’s chakra fluctuate with homesickness-nightmares-sadness-loneliness, curling the boy against his shoulder and walking back and forth through the gardens until the stunned Itachi drifts back to sleep.

-Having a child in the shrine is a welcome return in some ways. Yoru’s and Tsuki’s children are all grown and moved out at this point, some to other parts of the village, some to places beyond in the ninja world. They all take turns making Itachi feel at home, comforting his nightmares, and when he confesses what happened on the mission (killing a man and still dreaming of the blood on the kunai), how it made him feel and how he HATES it, Yoru tells Itachi that while he will learn to fight, he will never be forced to fight anyone. He will never have to be a ninja, never have to go to war unless he chooses to. Yoru will make sure of that.

-Itachi clings to Yoru after that, becomes his little shadow even more than Tsuki’s or Ignis’s. Tsuki teaches him healing, Yoru gives him (adopts him with) magic so he can always feel at home with them.

-Six months in and a little boy named Shisui bumbles in, saying he’s here to check on his cousin. Yoru smiles when Itachi shyly emerges from behind Yoru’s yukata to say hi and is bedazzled by Shisui’s smile. The two are attached at the hip after that unless Gladio deigns playfight with Shisui (which he always does) because Shisui LIKES Gladio and thinks he’s cool.

-About a year later Gladio finally gets impatient with the Uchiha, bangs on the door to Fugaku’s house at like- six in the morning and when Mikoto opens it stiffly (what else will Yoru take from them what else can he but her newborn child please nO) and Gladio gruffly says “Just because you don’t have to feed him anymore doesn’t mean you aren’t still his mother. Make time in your day to visit.”

-And for a moment Mikoto is so furious her Uchiha mask slips and she snaps that Yoru was the one who TOOK HER SON AWAY from her, how was she supposed to know they would permit visits? Gladio just flashes a bit of fang and retorts that she didn’t even protest the removal and didn’t even hug her son goodbye, how were they supposed to know she was BOTHERED by it?

-Mikoto is more than a little insulted but also baffled.

-Mikoto and Fugaku visit regularly after that, albeit with supervision after Fugaku forgets himself and goes on a “You Must Live Up To Being An Uchiha” rant that nearly reduces Itachi to tears later.

-Fugaku is sorry about that after Ignis calmly sits the two down and serenely informs them about all the ways that kind of mentality and behavior can Mess Up A Child.

-They are very understanding and don’t interrupt.

-It has nothing to do with the knives Ignis is expertly sharpening despite his blindness he is sure.

-So anyway yes. Much cuddles and positive reinforcement for Itachi since he was 4, plus LC magic and training in being a medic and he absolutely grows up to be the next Tsunade of his generation (despite being a boy). :D

-To answer your other questions!

-The rumors all insist that Yoru is TOTALLY the dad of the biju, it’s just HOW that varies wildly. Some have him as forming them out of the elements in an expression of his power, others have him being wooed by a demon who shapeshifted into a lovely woman and their affair gave birth to them. There’s a particularly wild one that says YORU is the one who shapeshifter into a woman and seduced a demon and they call Yoru father out of respect even though they should technically call him mother (Prompto just about dies from crying laughter when he hears that one, Gladio is on the floor and Ignis is smirking. Yoru is a Die™). There’s a story among the few who remember the Legend of the Sage of Six Paths (albeit in pieces) that makes him out to be a helper of the Sage and that when the Sage battled the TenTails he was unable to defeat the beast until he sought out and earned the favor of Yoru and his trickster Uncle, who gave the Sage gifts of healing and illusion to finally trick the beast into being defeated and split into the biju.

-There is one particularly fae-like and gentle tale that says that when Yoru was but a young, rash, child spirit himself, his only company were nine toys of different creatures. First a little stuffed kitsune who traveled with him everywhere, then a wooden octo-cow that he set as the guard for his bedside, then on down each biju until he made a little tanuki playmate out of sand and glass. The story then goes that as he grew, he kept the toys and loved them, giving them names and speaking with them as real friends and that in time, when he had reached adulthood, his years and years of love made them magic. But he had since forgotten about them once reaching adulthood, and so the toys became bitter and lonely and took on the forms of living chakra beasts to search for their “father” and that their tails are numbered in order of which one Yoru had first (thus the stuffed fox gained nine tails while the little tanuki of sand and glass only gained one).

-Yoru finds this version oddly charming if sad and Shukaku has more than once loudly grumbled at being compared to a TOY.

-Ardyn’s fav is the one where Yoru is the shapeshifter. Because of course it is. XD

#SE asks #spideypoolalways asks #Not Everyday is a Good Day (Live Anyway) verse #Secret Engima Rambles

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dameschnee123 · 4 years

Text

What your favourite RWBY character says about you

RWBY

Ruby: You’re an optimistic kind of person

Weiss: You don’t get along with your parents

Blake: You like cats

Yang: You make bad jokes

JNPR (ALPN)

Jaune: You hate it when people call him useless

Nora: You’re very hyper, but also unexpectedly smart

Phyrra: You're Canadian

Oscar: You like the cute version of Ozpin

Ren: You have a hard time talking about your emotions

CFVY

Coco: You always look your best and spend way too much time in front of the mirror

Fox: You love witty and sarcastic characters

Velvet: You're a tad shy, a lot of a tad

Yatsuhashi: You look terrifying but wouldn’t hurt a fly

SSSN

Sun: You're not the most perceptive but you try your best to be a good friend

Scarlet: You want people to admit when they mess up

Sage: You don’t like getting involved in drama

Neptune: You always stick with your homies

STRQ

Summer: You wish she was your mom

Tai: You make bad puns but people laugh because of your delivery

Raven: You like the trash version of Qrow

Qrow: You're slightly edgy but you have good taste

Ozpin’s Group

Ozpin: You keep a lot of things close to your chest

Glynda: You have zero tolerance for bullshit

Leo: You're not very brave and you have a fascination for heroes turned villains

Theodore: You like to encourage people

Rumpole: You like gold

Port: You love telling stories

Oobleck: You should not be allowed to drink caffeine, at all

Menagerie

Ghira: You're either the dad friend or an actual dad, either way you love your kids

Kali: You either like wholesome moms or, I’ve seen the art, you need some Jesus

Sienna: You either like the idea of a jaded revolutionary or there’s some weird hentai on there

Banesaw: You want more White Fang

Atlas

Ironwood: You have listened to Hero on a loop since it came out and still aren’t tired of it

Jacques: You don’t exist

Winter: You're right

Willow: You're going through a lot right now but still trying your best

Whitely: You try to act cold and tough but really, you’re depressed

Nicholas: You like taking crumbs from canon and using them to create complex headcanons. You also have a lot of Feelings about the Schnees

Penny: You like wholesome characters

Pietro: You appreciate a parent who’d do anything for his child

Maria: You like sassy, badass old ladies

Cordovin: You like annoying old ladies

Ace Ops

Clover: Your luck ran out at the end of Volume 7

Marrow: You think he’s cute

Elm: You like hammers but even more so than the Nora fans

Vine: You like the discount Ren

Harriet: You like bitches

Happy Huntresses

Robyn: You want to overthrow the government

Fiona: You think she’s the cutest thing since Penny Polendina

Joana: You always support your friends

May: You're thrilled for the trans rep

Villains

Salem: You want an ancient evil goddess to step on you

Cinder: You’re in it for the smut

Watts: You’re a nerd

Hazel: You are very protective of your family

Tyrian: You laughed when Clover died

Emerald: You’re sad

Mercury: You're edgy, and sad

Roman: You stole a piece of candy and thought it made you a gangster

Neo: You think short girls are cute

Adam: You didn’t like Volume 6

Everything I just said was a joke, please don’t get offended

@joannathetreebutch

#rwby #funny #what your favourite rwby chatacter says about you #team rwby #team jnpr #team cfvy #team sssn #Ozpin

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jedi-bitch · 3 years

Text

Unrest (Maul/Reader)- Chapter 1

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Reader Insert

AO3 Link: (Unrest Chapter 1)

Rating: Explicit

Pairing(s): Darth Maul/Reader (Maybe Savage/Reader?)

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Tags: Reader-Insert; Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence; Nightsisters (Star Wars); Light Angst; Reader is a Nightsister; Other Additional Tags to Be Added

Summary: Nightsister!Reader is one of few to survive after Dathomir is attacked. Now, reader will work with the presumed dead Sith Lord to get what she wants.

No (y/n). Explicit for future chapters. More tags will be added.

A/N: So, originally I was just going to make a soft maul/reader one shot but here we are also listen, i made some of the nightsister stuff up, but I tried to follow the lore for the most part lmao

---

The cauldron you worked in was filled with the water of life, simmering pleasantly and filling the small tent with a calm steam. You dropped lavender buds and dried sage leaves into the pot, stirring the waters with a languid motion of your hand.

A pinch of bone ash, witch hazel, and ground shells dissolved, and changed the color of the steam, when added. It shifted from white to a gentle, but vibrant, green. It was such a natural color that reminded you of lush green forests, full of life.

The final addition was flower petals of various shapes and colors, which all wilted, giving their life as they touched the water. It was your favorite smell.

“Here, sister,” You spoke calmly, stretching out your hand to the pale woman sitting on a pelt-covered seat, “Let me see.”

She lifted her hand to rest in yours comfortably, and you examined her forearm. You carefully unwrapped the blood-stained fabric, revealing a deep wound. You hummed quietly, wiping the dirt and blood away with a clean, warm clothe.

“Rest, now,” You reassured, “You’ll feel no pain.”

With a bowl carved from a large animal bone, you collected some water, holding your sister’s arm over the cauldron. You poured the water over her wound, and it turned red with blood. You collected more water and continued to wash the wound out. As the blood dripped into the cauldron below, it evaporated into nothing.

Slowly, the flesh began to reconnect, sinew and tissue knitting itself back together. You spoke an ancient prayer, the foreign language coming to you easily as you focused. You poured your energy and deep love of your sisters into the life-giving water that cleansed her.

Once the wound was nothing but a thin scar, you dried her arm with a clean cloth, before dressing it in calendula-treated wrappings, “You live to fight another day, Ilyana.” You held her hand for another moment, before gently placing it in her own lap.

She smiled softly, “Thank you, my dear sister.” She stood, before grabbing your shoulders and pressing her forehead to yours for a moment of tenderness.

The drying herbs hanging from string, strewn around your fragrant tent swayed as Ilyana left.

Not moments later, Mother Talzin ducked through the entrance. The bones and trinkets you had hung clattered together. An omen, perhaps.

“Mother,” You bowed your head slightly, rearranging the items on your table, “How can I help you?”

Mother Talzin always seemed to know something no one else did. Nothing ever surprised her. “My sweetest child,” She pressed a thin, cold hand against your cheek, “There’s something I must ask of you. Something you need to remember.”

Your heart swelled at the thought of being a part of some larger plan, “I will do anything you ask of me, mother.” You looked up dutifully, yet your brows still furrowed, and something deep in the back of your head felt wary.

“You will be called upon soon,” Her hand dropped from your face, resting it over one of the animal skulls on the table, “To undertake a very important task.”

“Of course,” You nodded your head, eager to please, “What is it that I must do?”

Talzin was quiet for a minute, looking around your small tent. You chose not to live in the stone buildings of the fortress, instead wanting to feel the magicks of the soil against your feet. Not only were you a potent healer, but a fierce warrior, as well. Talzin had done well with you, and you could tell she was proud of her work.

As the silence began to sow doubt deep within you, there was suddenly a commotion outside. You and Talzin rushed out to see what it was.

“Sisters!” Yansu was running through the fortress gates, nearly tripping over herself, “We are being attacked! We-,” A single blaster shot brought her to her knees, as all the sisters ran to her aid.

You looked to Mother Talzin, trying to figure out what was happening. Her face told you that she was not expecting this either. You took this as your time to run to your sister’s side. You drew your weapons.

“Slip into the shadows, sisters,” Ventress instructed, pulling up her hood, “We must fight.”

You all look at each other for only a moment, before you began running into the dark forest, trying to get around the approaching enemy.

It was all droids, you noticed, your heart beating in your ears, and there were so many of them.

At first, they didn’t notice any of you slipping past them, until the first strike. Your sisters began viciously slashing at anything that approached them. You dug your feet into the soil, drawing from the magick within your planet, blocking laser blasts and other dangers.

The first sister to fall was Ilyana. She took down quite a few droids though, before falling. Your heart pulled at you to run to her side as she died, but you were surrounded.

Simple battle droids were no match for you and most of your sisters, using a combination of magick and blades. Up in the trees, two of them used arrows made of light, raining down on the droids, out of sight.

But slowly, one by one, your sisters fell, until it was just you and Ventress.

Ventress grabs you from behind, pulling you away and back into the shadows, “Sister if we stay, we will die. We must leave here.” She spoke with such urgency, desperate to save what was left, realizing the battle was lost.

“I must return to Mother Talzin,” You looked deep into her eyes, and you felt your heart drop, “Go, Asajj. Save yourself so that you may avenge our fallen sisters.”

Not another word was shared between the two of you, just meaningful glances, before parting ways.

You ran as fast and as quietly as you could, taking advantage of the deep red shade of your planet. Unsure of exactly where you were going, you let your feet carry you in the direction that felt right.

“Child, you must go now,” Mother Talzin spoke urgently as you ran to her. She was in your tent, which now just smelled like old swamp water, “You must lie in wait, for someone once thought dead. Return here, only once the enemy is gone.”

You didn’t dare speak right now, as she swirled dark things in the cauldron. You started collecting some of your more important belongings.

“You must wait for an agent of darkness and chaos that will bring Dooku to his knees. Once he arrives, I will return to you.”

She continued mixing the now black water, and you stared down into it, “Yes, Mother.”

“Now go, child. Run.”

---

You spent the first four days in a cold, dark cave, wrapped in black robes. You kept no fire, and you didn’t eat. Not until you were sure the enemy had left.

After a day’s journey back to the fortress, you were sure you were alone, only the shells of dead droids left behind.

The fortress was in ruins. Stone had crumbled under blaster fire and abuse.

All that was left of your tent was your cauldron, and a few animal bones. Even the pelts you had hoped to wrap yourself in had been burned to soot.

Collecting all you could, you found a small alcove, where a tower had fallen, creating a nice camp area. It was the most stable structure with a roof and would have to do. So, you set up your things and started a fire to cook the small womprats you had hunted on your long trip.

Your mother had instructed you to wait, and so you did. All alone.

Alone with the visions of your sisters’ deaths and the biting chill that whipped around you in the evening.

How weak you felt, unable to protect your sisters, who now lay dead in the dark forests surrounding you. It was pitiful, you decided every night, as you returned to the sparse camp you had built yourself.

Unwilling to disobey your revered Mother, you scouted and hunted at night, as your ancestors had before you. Each night, you would seek out the body of one of your sisters, to prepare them for their burial. You burned an offering to the Winged Goddess of any herbs you could find for each body as you worked. Then, you ground bones and buried the dust in the dirt for the Fanged God.

Unfortunately, most of the living things around you had been destroyed, even the grass and plants. It terrified you deeply to think of what could have done this.

You tried to keep track of the days that went by. Eventually you started thinking your thoughts aloud, just to remember what a person’s voice sounded like. You think it might have been two months that you waited alone.

Until one day, a ship landed in the distance. You put your fire out with a swish of your hand, dousing the smoldering ash to try and hide the smoke.

You pulled your hair back, frustrated at how wild it had grown, before pulling your hood and face cover up.

Deciding you needed to see who was on this ship for yourself, you started into the forest of thick trees with large fruits hanging down, hiding yourself behind the trunks as you walked on. As you got closer and closer, you could feel a dark energy pulling you forward.

It felt feral and terrified. A chill ran through you, and you swallowed nervously, but continued on, until you stood at the edge of the forest, watching.

It was a pale brown Zabrak that deboarded the ship, alone. But you knew he wasn’t the one filling you with an undefined dread.

You stared in silence as he looked around. He seemed annoyed and desperate.

Peering around the tree a bit more, you couldn’t help but notice how large he was. When you thought about it, you did remember hearing some of your sisters talking about a ritual performed on a man. A man named Savage, no less.

You were staring at him when his eyes met yours. He scowled, “Who are you? Show yourself.”

Sheathing your weapons, you pulled your hood down, and then your face covering. It felt weird hearing another person’s voice. The movement of his lips and face was almost entrancing.

You raised your hands cautiously, making slow and calm movements, “Who sent you?” You looked around, scanning your surroundings.

His eyes grew dark with frustration, and he started walking towards you.

Before he got far, a pale hand placed itself firmly on the large man’s shoulder, stopping him in his tracks, “Savage, you’ve returned. Where is your brother?”

Your heart instantly warmed when you heard her voice, knowing that the comfort of your mother had returned after such loneliness. Your ragged breathing instantly smoothed.

“He’s…,” Savage took a breath, “He’s still on the ship. He is broken, Talzin.”

“Hm,” She grinned, turning to walk onto the ship, “Well, we must fix him then.”

You felt so much fear coming from inside the ship. You didn’t know what was happening, but when Talzin returned, she looked at you, “Come, sister, I will need your help.”

Talzin started walking back towards the ruined fortress, and you watched her, your legs unmoving. Savage was looking at the ship.

A green orb gently floated out of the ship, followed by red hands, reaching for it.

Then, the rest of the creature followed. You couldn’t help but stare in a confusing mix of emotions.

A red and black Zabrak stood taller than even Savage. His face was gaunt and sallow, with deep-set, blood shot eyes. The horns around his head were overgrown and brittle, much like his nails reaching out. He would have been skinny, if not for the large apparatus that was attached to his waist. Scrap metal formed a shaky thorax, with legs that stabbed into the dirt beneath them.

You gulped, watching him as he passed by. When he stopped, turning his deep, fiery gaze upon you, your heart nearly stopped.

He scowled, looking down at you with a wildness unlike any you had ever seen.

“Come, brother.” Savage spoke, pulling the man’s attention from you, before his eyes caught the glowing orb once again, catching up to it.

You watched as the two brothers walked on, and you blinked a few times before following after them.

---

Mother Talzin had laid the man flat on a solid rock, tapping his forehead with the magick that dwelled beneath her fingertips, until his eyes closed.

She calls your name sternly, “Hold your hands here.” Grasping your hands, Talzin guides you to hold either side of the man’s head, “You need to use your healing touch, my child.”

Nodding, you prepare yourself. You dig your bare heels into the dirt, drawing power from the planet’s core and the waters of life that flowed beneath the surface.

Talzin started chanting, and the air around you moved. All of a sudden, you couldn’t breathe. When you tried to move your hands, your muscles tensed and froze where they were.

Flashes of pain and hatred flooded your head. You felt like you were on fire, and that you were no longer attached to your own body. It was as if you had been cut in half, and were in so much pain, but couldn’t will yourself to die.

The hatred and anger bubbling below your skin was unbearable, and you felt like you needed to run, but your legs wouldn’t budge.

In a second, the rage was replaced with loneliness. It felt vaguely familiar, but worse than you could ever imagine. Then, there was nothing but fear left to feel. You felt yourself shaking and your heart beat so fast you thought your chest would burst.

Then you were back in your own body, staring down at a terrifying man, your hands trembling. You had broken into a cold sweat that dripped down the back of your neck, making you shudder.

Looking up towards Savage, the man no longer had a haphazardly built lower half, but two well-formed cybernetic legs made of sleek, black metal.

When you lowered your gaze back down to the man’s face, his eyes were open, staring up at you with a newfound anger in his eyes.

Your hands were still on the sides of his head, and you frowned. The only words that came to mind were a whispered, “Darth Maul?”

Mother Talzin pulled you away by the shoulders, “Yes, child. You are now his.” She pulled you into a hug. As far as you knew, you were her only remaining daughter, “You will serve him as you have served me. Loyally and obediently. This is your task, child.”

And with that, Talzin faded into a green mist, evaporating in your arms.

Behind you, you heard thick metal land on the ground.

#Star wars reader insert #star wars #darth maul/reader #darth maul #my writing #reader insert

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lostinaseaoffictionalbliss · 4 years

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A/N: Here is a snippet from my first book The Dragon Tamers: The End of Peace which is available on Amazon. And a snippet from my second book The Dragon Tamers: The Last Tamer which I’m currently working on.

This is from the first book

One

Jersavian & Its Dragons

The continent of Jersavian consisted of the North which was known only as The Land of Dragons and the South; The Bad Lands, Selkia, Darmantha, Chandaloria, and Dravasta.

Little is known about The Land of Dragons as few have the courage to travel there. Most fear that in doing so they will incur the wrath of the very beasts that call it home. For that reason alone all that is known is that it seems to be a vast and luscious land.

The Bad Lands gained their name because little can grow and live there. The ground was made mostly of sand with rocks scattered about. There were only two trees in all the area and they were near a pond; Survival Pond it was named in later years. The sun beat upon the ground and any living creature in such a way it was almost unbearable. Most animals avoided the place as little shelter from the sun and her merciless rays. Nor could they find a warm place in the dark of night, for once the sun set the terrain became almost frigid save for the sand that still held heat. Yet, a few humans braved the temperature to call it home.

Selkia falls between the large river known as Dawn River-east of the Bad Lands-and the high ranges of Glacier Point. The river was so named because with the rising of the sun and dawn's first light it glittered and gleamed; a kaleidoscope of colors coming from its crystal clear water. As for the tall mountain ranges, with only one pass (The Selkian Pass), owe their name to the snow and ice that coats their large points; points that seem to reach the sky.

Because of the river and the small unnamed forest that lies in Selkia the land is lush and teeming with life. Many birds such as the hawk, mockingbird, yellow finch, and different breeds of owl call the land home. As do a few species of deer and rabbit. Near the mountains goats would roam and climb. The light elves, called such because of their magical abilities and love of all forms of light, that call the land their home are a prosperous people. They take only what they need from the land and always give back in some form. Whether this be by planting seeds or raising animals they found a way to keep balance. They were a tall and lithe race with dark almost black skin, black hair, and either brown or dark green eyes, and had power over woodland creatures.

Darmantha lies East of Glacier Point and is full of life and wonder. It lays claim to the large lake Blarion that is filled with many species of fish; trout, catfish, bluegill, bass, and muskellunge; and the vast forest Endless Night. The trees that grew there were tall; their bark a redish hue; their large branches coming together to form a thick canopy in which little to know light and snow can come through thus giving it its name. Deer ran plenty beneath the trees as did rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, raccoons, foxes, and a few bears. Birds called the large trees their home and could often be heard singing at all hours.

The Dark Elves, named for their love of darkness and the forest in which they lived, called this wonderful kingdom their home. They had always loved the darkness and could see far with their glowing eyes despite the lack of sun and moonlight that shone there. These elves had a slender build, tan skin, were of varying heights- mostly tall-with black or brown hair, dark eyes, and the ability to grow and talk to plants.

Chandaloria lies East of the Bad Lands and directly South of Selkia. The entire realm is engulfed in the Twinkling forest. The name given for the lights that can always be seen among the tops of the trees. During the day they are barely noticeable as the bright light of the sun shines down. With the setting of the sun and the rising of the moon the lights shine bright enough to be seen a mile off. While any who visit the forest might believe the light is a magical creation they would be wrong. It in fact comes from the billions of fireflies that call the forest their home.

The Twinkling Forest also provides shelter to the woodland fairies; given their name as they loved the woods and all things that grew there. They were small, not much bigger than young teens, with large butterfly like wings, wide childlike eyes, and skin that had a pinkish glow. It is because of them that other races of Jersavian believe the lights of the forest come from magic. It is true they have magic and can do many things, but that is one thing not of their doing.

Southeast of Darmantha in a small corner of Jersavian lay the kingdom of Dravasta. Its borders marked by the Tuka River that lay across the land and the ocean. It is a small place with few trees and even fewer living things save the goblins. The foul creatures had destroyed the land all that it had to give. They cared little for other living things save what they could provide. They left the ground a dark muddy mess. The very air foul to any that breath it except them. To those that used magic and were sensitive to the earths cries (such as elves and fairies) they could sense illness in that land. An illness that didn't effect the pale green skinned, tall, hulking goblins with their beady eyes and long saber like fangs.

Long ago before the First War, before elves, humans, fairies, and goblins ruled Jersavian it was ruled solely by dragons. Tis true the beasts live in The Land of Dragons-where no man or woman has went-some, however enjoyed the land to the South.

Two species of dragon-Wyvern and Phoenix-enjoyed the hot sandy desert in the Bad Lands. The warmth felt goof upon their scaly bodies; soaking up the heat of the sun and the sand. IT was also a great place for them to nest. Eggs could be buried in the sand or placed in rocky areas that littered the desert. Despite few creatures being able to withstand the heat the dragons had snakes to feast upon or could fly to Dawn River; there they could catch fish or other animals that came to drink; or they could go west to the sea.

The mountains just East of Selkia called to the Ampithere. It could easily hide its egg amongst the rocks or in a cave. The temperature at the base wasn't that cold and it housed many goats. This gave the dragons plenty of prey for itself and its hatchling,

There was one other breed of dragon, the Ice Dragon. It liked to make Darmantha its home. That kingdom while not unbearable cold was the coldest in all of Jersavian. The forest teeming with wildlife provided plenty of food, There were also plenty of places to hide an egg; keeping it perfectly safe.

Few dragon came down from The Land of Dragons, but the ones that did ruled Jersavian. No animal could contend with the beasts and none would dare try. That is until people came.

This is from the second book

Prologue

The night was cool with the first signs of winter. Frost clung to the grass, bushes, and low-hanging branches like a child clings to the mother after a terrifying nightmare. The air was crisp and if someone were to take a deep breath it would slightly burn the lungs as cool air is apt to do. A soft snow drifted from the sky that was illuminated brightly by the moon. The moon hung high in the sky; bright, full, beautiful, and full of power. A few stars dotted the sky around her twinkling; the others blocked by grey snow clouds.

In the midst of the forest that lay near Selkia there was a lone cottage. Herbs, strings of garlic, and other such oddities hung from the porch rafters. A bright green cloth hung upon the front door. It depicted a golden dragon perched upon a cliff with bright blue light coming from its mouth. It was a dragon of legend. Something they had only heard about and never actually seen. Many wondered if it truly existed.

The cottage was shrouded in darkness save for a lone light shinning through a window to the right of the door. The candle's flame flickered to and fro as if a breeze had blown. Yet, the night was still save for the falling snow and the occasional nocturnal animal scurrying about the forest floor in search of food.

Old Sage-though truly he didn't look old and was only named thus because of his wisdom-sat as his table shrouded in smoke, from burning incense, and shadow. It had been two years since he helped Josalin, Nimir, Jaimeson, and Rochelle become one with their dragons. Since then he had been keeping a close eye on them and the dragonlings they had hatched. He watched to see how the humans would change now their blood was mingled with that of a dragon. He watched to see what type of bond would form between them and the dragonlings; that of friendship, master and owner, pet and owner.

It was very curious seeing how they grew together. While dragons took quite some time to grow the humans were left tending to them like a parent would a child to keep them fed and safe. Once they were big enough to hunt on their own the bond seemed to shift. It became more like friendship or kinship. They talked to one another, played with one another, and continued to grow closer together.

Old Sage gazed into the light purple crystal ball sitting on the table. It was held up by a large black steel stand. Its legs were in the shape of a dragon's foot and the three dark points that held the ball in place were in the shape of flames.

The smoke swirled in the ball, forming many different shapes. Dragons could be seen; a few trees that could be Selkia, Darmantha, or Chandaloria. Once the ball even showed the beach near the Bad Lands. Sounds also came from inside the ball; birds chirping, kid goats bleating, the ocean waves crashing upon the bank. The crystal ball was capable of showing a person many things; past, present, and things that were yet to come or may not come at all; the future was fickle and ever changing after all. It constantly picked up many things at all times. Only one versed in using it could make it focus and show something specific. However even with the skill and knowledge to use it the crystal could easily show the person using it something other than what they desired to see.

Old Sage had been using the crystal to keep watch over the Dragon Tamers. Most of them lived in other kingdoms and once King Anais had learned Josalin hatched a dragon he had banished her from Selkia. Her young love Aramatis had of course followed her. It had pained Old Sage to watch the spirited young girl and trouble-making boy leave. Because he had watched the two of them grow up and cared for them a great deal he tended to peek in on their lives more than the others.

However tonight he wanted to look into the future instead of the present.

He sprinkled a pinkish looking liquid upon the crystal. Lifting his arms above his head he began chanting in the beautiful, melodic, sometimes enchanting voice of his people; the Light Elves.

Spirits guide me

Show me what I seek

Let me glimpse the future

To know the Fate

Of one who I hold dear

Let me look upon her face

Show me what becomes of her

The smoke inside the crystal swirled once more. A chilling voice like four people talking over one another came from inside. “The future you wish to see, yes. The future we shall allow you to see. But beware Old Sage for what you may not be what you desire. We guide you, but the future is fickle, the future is ever changing. Even we can not know exactly what this one will see. Nor is it set in stone. Things can change.” A small hissing laugh emitted from the crystal before it finally began to clear.

#dragons #the dragon tamers #elves #magic #witchcraft #fairies #fantasy #snippet #my book #self promotion #blood magic #new world #my world #Adventure

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brideofcthulhu10 · 4 years

Note

Not a story request but just an opinion question for you :) Do you think the guys made a good ‘big brother’ figure to Star? And in which order would you place best to least in terms of treating her?

See that’s a tricky one. I went ahead and answered this one early just because with these other prompts I intend to make them pretty lengthy. Usually I go in order of who asked first, but I don’t want to starve you guys of content for two days in a row.

Honestly I think Star’s relationship with the boys probably started off amazing. We have to remember that Star didn’t know about Max, so that means he wasn’t responsible for her turning. I think at some point they met Star along the Santa Carla night life and she clicked rather well with them. Some people theorize that David had some form of feelings for her (even Keifer Sutherland played around with the idea) but David’s behavior towards her doesn’t seem to support that. I don’t think he hated her, but it seems now by this point he’s utterly indifferent to her. I like to think that maybe Star really was a hippy.

During her walk around with Michael he comments that her name must be due to her parents being ex-hippies. This is entirely speculation, but I like to think that Star WAS a hippy. A flowy, peace and love flower child in maybe the late 70s who got swept up into the vampire world by sheer accident. She’s unwilling to kill, so I’m guessing like Michael, David tricked Star with the fancy bottle of blood. Its a huge reason why she warns Michael (”You don’t have to, Michael. It’s blood.”). That’s also why I think David was sending all those illusions. Well one, just to fuck with Michael the Clueless Wonder. But also I’m sure he knew Star would attempt to dissuade him. Another thing I like to do is take into account the Lost Boys Prequel which, while never made, had a fully written script diving into the origins of the boys that Joel Schumacher and Eric Red had wrote (so technically it is canon, just unreleased canon which breaks my heart). A small spoiler warning in that regards, but in it David loses his love interest in a tragic incident. Afterwards I think he became extremely possessive over his friends, and when Star most likely wanted to leave that’s when they decided to turn Laddie, sort of a gift to her so she’d stay.

I think that boys did really care for her at one point, otherwise they wouldn’t try to turn her in the first place. David to me doesn’t seem like the type of vampire to “build his brood into a massive vampire army”! That’s a huge fucking hassle if you’ll pardon my French. So I dunno as far as big brother goes, but he definitely had enough of an attachment to allow her in. Enough that she rides on David’s motorcycle, in fact, he encourages it. In the book it’s mentioned Paul was one of the only ones who interacted with her on a night to night basis. After all, he’s Paul. He’s goofy, fun loving, an open book. I think one of the biggest reasons the boys started distancing themselves from her is when she rejected their lifestyle, in a way taking it as she was rejecting them. Honestly, she kind of was.

It was insinuating that by becoming a vampire you were turning into these horrid monsters that she refused to be a part of.

But to them, being turned is a gift! Sure a few lives were lost, but considering how long ago they were supposed to have been turned, they had most likely dealt with that moral challenge long ago. But, despite that, Paul would certainly be the type to forget about all that drama and just vibe with his cute little hippy sister. I still picture him jumping over to her when the get back from a hunt, talking about his night, Dwayne and Marko probably took it the most personal when she chose her humanity over them.

I don’t see Dwayne trusting people easily as it is, and I’m sure he was still apprehensive when Star joined their quartet. But like him, she was very mellow and down to Earth, it was easy to feel at peace. Sure he was a wild man like the other boys, but we can see that Dwayne likes to hover in the background. More of an observer than the one torching the building. He clearly has a gentle side, he obviously took care of Laddie more than once. Even during those little background scenes Laddie is wedged up against Dwayne eating Chinese food, choosing to ride with him, climbing up the fountain to be with Paul and him. I’m sure a few of you noticed, but Dawyne actually sends Laddie over to Star when they’re chanting Michael’s name. I don’t think he wanted him around them when they got wild.

Marko was probably friendly from the start but he’s a hard one to read. That sweet face hides a lot of darkness. I think he was pretty friendly to start off with. Doting, big smiles, goofing off. But once Star resisted the change, he distanced himself. That’s most likely why they didn’t kill her, there were some feelings remaining and rather than kill her they just wanted to find any way they could to keep her with them. You don’t want to be a vampire? Well, you’ll get eternal youth! You just gotta kill one person, then we’ll handle the rest! Don’t leave, we got a little boy so you won’t be alone. Girls like kids right?? But even still she resisted, and they grew impatient. Why won’t you join us, Star? Do you hate us?

Michael was supposed to be it. I bet you they upped the pressure for Star to turn, maybe even gave her an ultimatum or used her care for Laddie as leverage. But Max intervenes, tells them they can’t kill Michael as planned. So fine, they’ll change Michael! Star likes the guy anyway, all they have to do is make him one of them, then she’ll have no choice but to join them!

So if I were to rate it, I’d say the first to be brotherly towards Star was Paul. Even the novel suggested he was the closest to her. Poking her cheek whenever she’s pouting, even offer a hug when he sees whatever is happening is really weighing heavy on her. He doesn’t understand how she could not want to be a vampire like the rest of them, it probably really hurts him. She’s like his baby sister, doesn’t she want to stay with him? The thoughts are just too gloomy, so he’ll bury it all in an abundance of humor. Talking about his emotions is just too touchy feely for him, he’d rather just give her a noogy and run off elsewhere.

Next, Dwayne. Sure he’s quiet, but I don’t doubt they’d have common ground with things like chakras, burning sage, she’ll tell him about reading the stars and what that means for the night. I think Star would try to read his palms, maybe Dwayne would find jewelry on a corpse or maybe some fancy rock while out and just toss it her way. Coming home just drenched in blood, seeing Star still moping on her bed and he’ll toss a chunk of quartz her way attached to a leather cord.

“I found it hanging in that old man’s truck. He uh... doesn’t have much use for it. I don’t want it.”

Next would be David. Honestly he’s indifferent by this point, if she wants to be an indecisive waif that’s on her, not him. But, she’s not about to just leave them. She said yes when they asked her to join, it didn’t matter the context! You don’t just make promises you don’t intend to keep. So whether she likes it or not, she’s stuck with them. I think on a rare occasion he’ll show genuine kindness but he’ll just brush it off as a calculated move.

Last is Marko. I don’t think he really interacts with Star at all anymore. Before he’d joke around with her, maybe use his chopsticks as fangs when he notices she’s a bit more mopey than usual. I think while friendly, Marko doesn’t REALLY connect with someone for a long time. Before they were turned Marko knew the boys, I wouldn’t be surprised if they grew up together (again if I’m going by Schumacher’s prequel script here) so that’s why he’s that attached to the guys. Marko was probably starting to really warm up to Star, welcoming her to the pack, and then.. she wasn’t feeding. In fact, she was resisting it! Couldn’t she see why this was such an incredible opportunity? Of all the mortals they could’ve changed, they chose her! It’s insulting! So now the most Marko will do is give her a side glance, maybe a smile but it’s always a very unnerving smile, like just underneath he wishes he could stake her himself and save the hunters the trouble. But, so long as she makes Paul happy he’ll just keep himself distanced.

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bssaz97 · 4 years

Text

@iceberg-week

Alternate RWBY Volume 6 Chapter 1

“Reunion” Day -May 28, 2020

*Mistral Central Station*

Sun: “Thanks for coming to pick me up man, gotta tell you I have a lot to tell you, Scarlet and Sage about these past few months. You won’t believe what’s been going on!”

Neptune: “I can imagine, although I still can’t believe you helped in the arrest of an entire White Fang faction.”

Sun: “Yeah I am pretty great, but that was mostly all Blake.”

Neptune: “WOW! You’re humble too now! Guess a lot has happened since you leeeeee....” *trails off as his eyes focus off elsewhere*

About five gates away from them, Neptune saw the familiar group of huntsmen and huntresses from before the Fall of Beacon. Although the one person he had his eyes on was the the only person with white hair that he knows of.....Weiss Schnee. The last time Neptune had seen her was when she told him that they could no longer be together as she had to return home to Atlas with her Father. He caught on quickly that the decision was entirely her Dad’s and not Weiss’ own, but she denied his claim and said some.... hurtful things that caused him to leave that final day they saw each other at Beacon. How much Neptune regretted his past action for allowing himself to be so easily sent away.

Neptune impulsively started to walk towards her but quickly stops himself. At this time he started to realize that he had no plan of action, he had no idea what he wanted to say to her. That was a lie, he knew fully well what he wanted to say to her but he found himself unsure about his standing with her now. Did she still want to see him? Had she truly meant when she said to him that she wanted nothing to do with a “womanizing, self loving, gold digging flirt.” Those were her words not his own, but they those weren’t the one’s that caused him to walk away that day. The words she said hurt far too deep.

“You actually think I dated you because I liked you. No... I used you. I only dated you because seemed easy enough to buy the fact that any pretty girl wouldn’t pass up the chance to date a pretty boy like you. I only did so because I wanted to know what I could gain from you. Turns out you weren’t even worth my time....”

Those words have been stuck on his head since they first came out of her mouth. They cut deep and hurt his pride but most of all it broke his heart. Neptune remembered that he wanted to forget all about her and her snobby face, but he never did. Even though they had been together for only a short time, Weiss was unlike any other girl he had ever met. It wasn’t just because of her looks or her money or even grades... although those were great too. No, most of all it was the small things he noticed were different about her from other girls. Her dedication to her team was admirable, her willingness to learn about new things despite claiming they were trivial and her laugh was like that of an little child who has been hiding for a long time.

As months went by he had realized just how much Neptune had missed Weiss. He wanted nothing more than to buy a ticket to Atlas and march right up to Weiss’ family mansion to confess his feelings for her and how much he wanted her in his life again. But of course with Atlas closing itself off from the rest of the world that was all but impossible. Many of his previous exes had attempted to rekindle old flames but he knew that what he had with Weiss couldn’t be replaced, even if he didn’t show it. It was actually why he had attempted to flirt with that Faunus girl, to try to make it seem like he was the same dashing intellectual he was back then, as embarrassing it was to find out about her orientation not long afterwards. Not his finest five minutes of his life. In reality he knew it was wrong to try and cover up his broken spirit but he wanted to talk about that later when they were back at Shade Academy. That is until he saw Weiss again....

Sun: *gripping his shoulder* “Nep, I know that face. You should try to go talk with her.”

Neptune: “I..... actually you know what, I forgot something at the gate I should go get it!”

Sun: “Hold up!” *tugs at Neptune’s back collar*

Neptune: “Sun! Don’t do that! It ruins the collar!”

Sun: “Why are trying chicken out?” *lets go of his partner*

Neptune: “Chicken? Actually you know what, food! I should get us food!” *attempts again to run away*

Sun: “Stop trying nerd.” *grabs Neptune’s tie now*

Neptune: “Gah! Sun! Choking!”

Sun: “You gonna wuss out again?”

Neptune: “Ok I give! I give!”

Sun: “Cool.” *lets go*

Neptune: “‘Gasp!’ You really need to watch how hard you pull.”

Sun: “It’s been awhile and it’s been pretty tense. Now why don’t you wanna go talk to Weiss?”

Neptune: “I don’t know. I’m just... worried. What if she’s moved on already? What if she really doesn’t want to see me anymore? What if she’s already with someone else?!”

Sun: “Like who? Jaune?”

Neptune: “Is he?”

Sun: “As far as I know no. Although I’ll admit, he has gotten pretty jacked since Beacon.”

Neptune: “How much so?”

Sun: *points to where Jaune was standing*

Neptune: *follows Sun’s finger* “Oh Gods he’s hot now!”

Sun: “Eh, he may have gotten a bit more muscle but I don’t think he’s using that to catch any eyes. Not that he knows how to use it mind you.”

Neptune: “Sun! Don’t you see! He’s blonde, tall and jacked, he’s as close to real life Fabio as you can get!”

Sun: *deadpans*

Neptune: “Listen you don’t count your eyes are on Blake not Weiss.”

Sun: “Dude would you stop trying to talk yourself out of this. She’s right over there! In front of you, seize the moment!”

Neptune: “I...I can’t. I’m... I’m brave like you are.”

Sun: “Dude! Being brave ain’t got nothing to do with it! It’s about showing her the real you!” *pokes his finger at Neptune’s heart*

Neptune: “...But what if-?”

Sun: “Look, look, look! Enough of the what ifs. Ask yourself, do you like her still?”

Neptune: “Yes. But-!”

Sun: “Do you wanna see her?”

Neptune: “Yes.”

Sun: “You wanna make things right?!”

Neptune: “Yes!”

Sun: “Then go get her! Because the trains almost here.”

Neptune: “What?” *turns to see that the train was fast approaching the train station in the distance*

Neptune: “Gods damnit Sun!” *starts running*

Sun: “Good luck Buddy!”

//////////////////////////////

Ruby: “Look everyone! The train’s almost here!”

Weiss: “Well we should be off then.” *getting up from her seat*

Neptune: “Weiss!”

Weiss frozed on the spot as she clearly heard a voice she hadn’t in a long time. She looks to towards the sound of the voice and sees a fast approaching Neptune. Brothers, why did she not anticipate the chance that Neptune was going to be here! She should have prepared for this, she wasn’t ready to face him yet. Not after what occurred during their last time seeing each other went.

Weiss: “We should hurry! The train will be here soon!”

Ruby: “Don’t you wanna say hi to Neptune?”

Weiss: “I...”

Neptune: “Weiss!” *he stopped right next to the group*

Weiss: *looked at him for a moment and looked down quickly*

Neptune: “Weiss listen I-.”

Weiss: “Everyone. Could you please go wait at the gate, I’ll be there as soon as I can. There’s something Neptune and I need to discuss.”

Ruby: *looks between the two of them then smiles* “Ohhh read you loud and clear bestie. Come on gang, lets go wait in line.”

With that most of the group minus Weiss and Neptune have made their ways towards the growing line of people entering the train. With short time they have before the train departs, they would only have a short talk before the train would depart.

Weiss: “Neptune I-.”

Neptune: “Hold on Weiss. Before you say anything there’s something I’ve been holding onto for a long time and I just need to say it now.... is that ok?”

Weiss: ..... *nods*

Neptune: “Ok.... I missed have missed you so much! I don’t think words can truly express how much these last few months have been filled with nothing but thoughts about you and how much you mean to me. I know people say that I’m a flirt, a skirt chaser and I’ll admit I hadn’t been the most forthcoming boyfriend back at Beacon. You deserved so much better than that and more, and I let my pride, my need to be noticed get in the way of figuring that out. There’s so many things I would do differently if I had the chance to and I want to still take that chance. But most of all, my feelings for you haven’t lessened in fact they’ve grown and I will do anything to prove that to you. So if you would please-!”

Weiss: “Why do still want to waste your time on me.”

Neptune: “...what?”

Weiss: *trembling* “After everything I said to you... after everything I called you... basically telling you in your face that you were nothing... and you still want me.” *she started to sniffing and her face becoming lightly red, but not in anger but from sadness*

Neptune: “Weiss...?”

Weiss: “Your wrong Neptune! ‘Sniff!’ It’s me who doesn’t deserve you! I-I only said those things to you because... I didn’t want to waste your time on a girl who you could never be with, *tremble* a girl that’s too broken to even fight for something that she wants. ‘Sniff’ I didn’t want to burden you with a girlfriend that you might never see again so I let you go. My Father would have never let us be together and not just you but everyone! He told me that it was either you all or the company, that I couldn’t have both.... and I listened to him.”

Neptune was stunned, he figured things were bad with her father from what how little she mentioned them but he didn’t know it was this bad.

Weiss: “I-I should go the train will be leaving soon. I hope we can still be friends. But that might be too kind of you.” *begins walking away before feeling being stopped by her shoulder*

Weiss: *She frozed again when he pulled her into a hug*

Neptune: “You are not a waste of time. You have been such a blessing in my life, in everyone else’s. I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you to make a choice like that and I’m sorry that you had to make it.”

Weiss: “How could you forgive me so easily? I gave you up for something I ended up losing anyway.”

Neptune: “You didn’t lose me Weiss, even if you stabbed me with Myrtenaster I wouldn’t have let that stopped me.”

The two separated and looked into each other’s eyes. Neptune lifted up his tie with one of his hands and started wiping away any of Weiss’ remaining tears. This of course caused her to laugh as she found the act extremely silly but sweet. Brothers how he missed her laugh.

Neptune: “You ok?”

Weiss: “Yes, I think I’m good now. Thank you.”

Neptune: “Anytime Snow Angel.”

Weiss: “Oh gods I forgot how much I hated that name back then.” *she giggled and face palmed*

Neptune: “Sorry is that Jaune’s thing?”

Weiss: “How did-?”

Neptune: “I heard from Sun awhile ago he used to call you that when he tried to ask you out. Is it weird?”

Weiss: “No it’s fine. It’s nostalgic actually.”

Neptune: “Geeat, because I was really trying to figure out a better nickname but man is that one hard to beat.”

*TWOOT! TWOOT!*

Weiss: *looks over to see the others have already entered the train* “Apparently that will have to wait awhile. I must be getting going.”

Neptune: “Yeah you should go now before it leaves!” *he urges*

Weiss goes to leaves but stops, she turns around then jumps to wrap her arms around Neptune’s neck and gives him a chaste kiss on the lips then let’s go to start running towards the train.

Weiss: “Goodbye Neptune, I hope to see you in Vacuo next time we meet!” *she yells from the train door while waving*

Neptune: “Yeah... Yeah! I’ll bring you flowers and we can get ice cream!” *he waved back*

They watched each other from a pane of glass as the train departed from the station. Soon enough they were separated once again but in better circumstances then last time.

Sun: *walking up* “...Ice cream? In Vacuo?”

Neptune: “.....Aw gods damnit!”

- Fin -

A bit late to the party but I hope you all enjoy! This is not intended to trash the episode this story is based on by any means, just trying to explore what if you know. Iceberg is valid! Also don’t hate me if i made Weiss seem unlikeable at the start. We all know Jaqcues would tell her to do something like this.

#rwby #weiss x neptune #neptune x weiss #rwby neptune #iceberg ship week #iceberg week #iceberg #rwby iceberg #weiss schnee #neptune vasilias

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mrneighbourlove · 4 years

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Evil’s Bane: Ch 5. Belief Scattered

It must have felt like a good hour of walking through the fog together. No sound echoing in the cave or even their foot steps. As they kept traveling, Leere wanted to get to know Black more. “I never knew you were an undead all this time. How’d you get so good at hiding that fact?”

"Well, I'm not alive and I'm not dead, so I suppose you'd call me undead. Technically, I'm trapped in the moment of dying." Black explained to Leere, trying to recall what Bonegrinder told him. "Almost like being stuck in limbo, but I'm on earth still. It is said that I will not cease to be until I resolve my unfinished business. Yet, unlike other Wraiths, so I've been told, I'm not mindless."

“So what, you’re a Hellspawn?”

"No, I'm not a demon, just... a trapped soul, I suppose." Black shrugged once. "I'm not exactly sure how to explain it. Necromancy doesn't effect me, so I might not be completely undead, just... odd."

"Black is no Hellspawn, tiny princess, just a unique individual." Bonegrinder told Leere. "Years and years ago, this old snake found Black wandering in a swamp near Yenaldooshi in Omisha. He was able to help him regain part of his memories."

"I recalled that I was traveling back home from Al-Daida with my family and someone had double crossed me."

Leere gave Black a look. There was a weird tilt of her head, as if she was trying something out, and after a moment, she smiled with a simple hum to herself.

"If you have a better explanation, I'm all ears." Black's glowing lavender eyes curved in good humor from behind his head wrap, his body hidden beneath several layers of flowy clothes.

"There have been very few Wraiths that Bonegrinder has seen in this lifetime." The Anagari then admitted. "Even this snake has not all the answers on some issues, but an idea."

“Your soul and body certainly have unique characteristics. Much different then most undead I’ve encountered. And you certainly have control of your own body.”

"That much is true, though I am still trying to figure out what my unfinished business is." Black admitted to the Shadow Sage. "I thought it was to get revenge for my family. Yet, I didn't cease to be after I found their killer."

“You fulfilled your duty in avenging your family, but your destiny lies elsewhere.” Leere pondered a little more about his situation. Spirits, physical or otherwise, usually had a purpose for lingering on the mortal plane after death. “Perhaps you must bring unity to someone else?”

Suddenly as if they were stepping out of a portal, the fog disappeared. They knew they had been walking at a slow incline down, so the sight before the party of travellers was unexpected. An open area with sky was set upon their eyes. Only this time it was not as much a pretty sight. The sky was dreary with clouds hiding any blue. Replacing grasslands was an eerie forest landscape, with many dead trees amongst puke green pine trees. Finally, there was more earth then grass.

"This is what he recalls from the last time he was in this land." Bonegrinder's features contorted into disgusted frown. "Decay."

“I don’t sense anything too off, but be on guard.” Leere sensed life wasn’t dead, but had simply stopped in time was the best choice of wording. As they kept walking, they eventually found a path to walk along. “Civilization ahead?”

"Yes, there should be... unless that has changed as well." Bonegrinder did not sound too enthused about the prospect of seeing more residents of the land of Malus. "This snake still says its not too late to turn back."

Leere looked up to see a couple fairies fly overhead. They looked more insect like, but paid no attention to the group. “Bonegrinder, you promised me a day. You going to use it complaining?”

"He will use it to wipe his scaled ass, complain as much as he likes, and remind you repeatedly that this is a bad idea." The Anagari's tail twitched. "We should not even be here."

"That means he's irritated." Black murmured to Leere.

Leere observed her surroundings with a sigh. Suddenly, they heard talking from nearby. With a hand single, she issued Black and Bonegrinder to be quiet so they’d investigate. Near a lake, there were two men, gutting fish they caught.

"Fuck." Bonegrinder grumbled under his breath when Leere caught sight of the 'local natives'.

“Kenshi. How much longer must we wait?”

“We’ll be gone soon Lang. The whereabouts of my daughter are unknown, but I’m certain this lake is where the anomalies originate from.”

Leere watched the two men; both had darker hair like her. After much consideration, she decided to slowly approach them.

Before Leere could get too far, Bonegrinder's tail whipped out, grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back. "What. Are. You. Doing?!"

“Engaging the locals. We have to form communication or we’ll get nowhere.” Leere gritted her teeth at him in hushed whispers. She didn’t like to be man handled like a child.

"We do not know if they're friendlies or hostiles." Black reminded Leere. "It's best to observe firstly."

"Listen to the assassin, tiny princess, he knows better than you do."

From over ahead, a fairy looked down at them. The little insect seemed to scowl at them. Slowly, it flew over to the two men. They stopped their conversation, and listened to the fairy. Suddenly they tensed, looking over to the hiding spot of the group. They both jolted upwards, grabbing sheathed swords. “Kenshi! Go back to the village! Another monster has somehow broken through the barrier, this time in day light!”

"... I'm assuming that means you, Bonegrinder." Black mused dryly with a tiny smirk. "Cause I do not sense any other monsters around here."

"Fuck Prama and Dhakk sideways..." Bonegrinder cursed under his breath. "... go catch them."

"As you wish."

"But don't kill them yet, we need information."

Leere decided to try and run out toward them. “Stop! I’m a Mortuus! I’m friendly!”

The man Leere identified by observation as Lang took a stance, drawing his sword. This revelation only made him more on guard. “You are not from either village.”

Black earned his nickname for being able to blend into the shadows initially, however, he was quite adept at hiding in any environment. In order to keep Kenshi from escaping, the Wraith simply pinned the Mortuus against a rotting tree, both hands trapped behind the back. "I have the second one, Bonegrinder." "Good. We require information." The Anagari slithered out from his spot, eying Lang. "Drop that sword before this snake removes your hand for threatening the tiny princess."

Lang was memorized by the gigantic beast slivering down from the tree line. “The gods really are abandoning us...” Tightening his grip on his blade when he saw Kenshi be pinned, the man planted his feet. “You must be from the capital. I won’t let you take me without a fight.”

Leere glanced over to Black, standing between both Lang and Bonegrinder. “Will you two stand down?! My name is Leere Dragmire. I am a Sage of Hyrule investigating a dark source of evil coming from Malus. I know that there are innocents trapped here. I’m a friend that wishes to help you. If my companion releases your friend, will you lower your guard?”

Lang, looked to Kenshi. He only slightly lowered his stance. “Release my friend.”

"Put down your sword first." Bonegrinder was incredibly stubborn. "Raising a blade at a lady is no small thing."

"Bonegrinder, I believe Leere can handle herself. After all, that sword is very... rusty." Black used basic logic. "And unkept."

"... very well. Though harm her, and this Anagari will remove your head from your shoulders." Black released Kenshi, almost chucking when the Mortuus scrambled away from him.

Kenshi stood by Lang’s side, the latter paying closer attention to Bonegrinder as he sheathed his sword. “You said you came from the outside? It should be impossible for a monster of your size to enter. The barrier of Destroyah disintegrates monsters and demons bigger than a house cat from entering. Not the mention the guardian Mata keeps an eye out for the demonic.”

"Bonegrinder is neither demonic or a monster..." Black stated, earning a blank glance from the two Mortuus. "Let me rephrase that, Bonegrinder is neither demonic nor a monster of these regions. He hails from Omisha, not of Hellspawn origins."

"Pitiful, magical barriers and ancient Colossi are nothing more than pests." Bonegrinder stated bitterly. "Destroyer's works are sloppy."

“Omisha... the land of the cowards who bask in the sun. That’d explain your appearance. Still, we should have been protected from your kind entering too.”

Leere felt tensions start to rise. “What matters is that none of us wish to bring you harm. I merely wish to learn. Can you bring us to your village?”

Both men looked to each other, then spoke in a language, or perhaps code Leere didn’t understand.

Suddenly, Bonegrinder had Lang up off the ground by his neck, his tail wrapped dangerously tight around the Mortuus' throat. He brought the man closer to his face, fangs exposed and snarling. The Anagari was pissed. To keep Kenshi in place, he wrapped the man in his coils. "You dare call us Echidnans cowards when your kind tried to drown the world in Hellspawn? Tortured the innocent? Slaughtered villages full of children?" Bonegrinder's jaw was unhinged, highly tempted to rip out the man's throat. Black warned Leere that there was a reason why the Anagari detested Malus. This country was the responsible for the demise of his home. "It makes this snake wonder if you were worth saving after you killed so many of us alongside Dhakk for choosing to follow Prama."

“BONEGRINDER!!!” On instinct, a large shadowy hand gripped Bonegrinder by the hair, pulling him away from Lang as another shadow hand caught the man from falling. “Do not escalate tensions! I did not bring you here to frighten innocents! Stop acting like a monster!” Both the men were afraid, both by Bonegrinder and by Leere’s magic. “She’s a sorcerer.”

“Just like the elder and Bi-Hanzo.”

Leere glared Bonegrinder down as her shadows calmed down. Slowly, she turned back to the pair. “I overheard you had a missing daughter. I’m a mother myself. Perhaps I can assist you.”

Kenshi nodded. “Yes... Lang. Go to the village and warn them to not attack the Echidnan on sight. I’ll stay with the group and walk with them as a sign of trust...”

Lang, not wanting to be anywhere near Bonegrinder, agreed. “Gladly.”

"He is a monster, Leere," Bonegrinder was angry with the princess for using her magic on him. He leaned down and growled, "It matters not to him the lives of those who could be responsible for the death of his family. Prama agreed to this folly because he wishes for some good to come to this God-forsaken land." The snake warned her, "You are innocent of the crimes of Malus, Leere. The others are not. Friend or foe is not debatable here."

Black was not one for expressing emotion with his stoic face, but even he grimaced at Bonegrinder's icy words. It was rather clear the hate that the Anagari had for this country. Yet, as the shaman slithered off a distance from the princess to cool his head, the Wraith approached Leere. "I apologize." Black said to the Shadow Sage, "I should have warned you of his ire. It is nothing against you, Leere. There are certain horrors that he does not wish to recall and old wounds that have never healed. Perhaps I should go forward with you and have Bonegrinder wait here. I understand your mission, but he... is having a difficult time."

“If he feels he needs to distance himself, then fine.” Leere gestured for Black to follow her as Kenshi lead the way. “All enemies or all allies view is a narrow one though.”

"How would you feel if you had to traverse into the country responsible for the death of your family?" The Wraith asked Leere, curious of her answer. "From what I remember of my human days, I think I would be afraid... and angry."

The shadow sage was sad that her friend couldn’t keep his emotions in check, worried she comprised her relationship with the village before even meeting them. When they arrived at the village, it was a small town, but held a decent enough community. A town hall, a saloon, multiple houses and a church were present buildings seen. Many Mortuus gathered around, astonished by news of outsiders. With so many red eyes on her, Leere could see how tired many of them were. “Hello. I am Leere. Mortuus of Hyrule.”

She was greeted with silence in return. Some of them went back to their daily routines immediately, but kept an eye on her. One man approached, narrowing his gaze at her. “Lang tells me you travel with an Echidnan. Where is it?”

As Black followed Leere to the village, he kept a keen lookout. His master was not too far, he could still sense the Anagari. Though, something felt... a touch off here. The residents looked like sleep had eluded them for ages. "Bonegrinder felt it was best to hold back, lest he..." Black thought of the appropriate word. "Scare the masses." He then inquired. "Why do you ask?"

“As this villages remaining experienced protector, I demand all parties are accounted for.” The man had an air about him that the others didn’t, that he could back up his demands. “The masses live in constant fear of unknown dangers. If he was here, he wouldn’t be unknown.”

Leere held a hand back to him. “He’ll be here shortly. What is your name, if I might ask?”

“I am Bi-Hanzo. Member of the Order of Balance.”

"Balance?" That caught Black's interest. "As in Kaksa? Mother Goddess?"

It was Bi-Hanzo’s first moment to be intrigued. “Yes. The very same. Though I am a dying breed. Both Destroyah and Proxamus, the names we give for Life and Destruction gods, had a hand in Malus’ creation. Our magic of necromancy was fuelled to please Proxamus. Yet both gods haven’t graced us in thousands of years. In time, the factions of Mortuus fell to darkness, blind in dedication to either. Few know of balance and try to keep these communities alive. There is no escape from Malus. Only survival.”

That was a monumental amount of information Leere absorbed. “Well, that’s good. Because I think the Destroyer is on the rise in Malus, and many of you are in grave peril.”

It seemed his master was correct about one issue; the people of Malus had lost hope. He had heard the tales of creation and destruction from his time when he was alive. Then, he learned more as a Wraith underneath Bonegrinder's tutelage. Yet, he was unsure of who was friend or foe. Perhaps a small test was needed... "We are here to seek answers." Black informed Bi-Hanzo. "For the prophecy."

“Prophecy? Those are many, and have many interpretations. Come, I will take you to the elder.”

Before Leere could follow Bi-Hanzo, Black placed his hand on the Shadow Sage's shoulder, silently asking her not to move just yet. "And how do we know this isn't a ploy?"

“I don’t. But I do this thing called taking a leap of faith? Can you jump yourself Black?”

"Jump, run, hide, take your pick. Though you must understand our caution." Black told the man, "The stories we have heard are most unsettling."

“They are most likely true. However, is every fallen leaf red?”

"Only if it's soaked up blood from the ground."

Black’s view on judging people by one cover was unsettling to the woman, discouraging even. It was when Bi-Hanzo added his thoughts to Leere and Black’s exchange of metaphors. “Ah. You can only see violence. That, is why your vision is flawed.”

Leere liked the man’s thinking, nodding along. Some villagers followed the group to a church near a graveyard looking down on the village. Knocking on the door, Bi-Hanzo waited. Finally, he opened the door to the church and gestured the pair to go inside. Leere did so without fear. Inside were very old bleachers, scratched wooden pillars, and a cross hanging on the wall. At the alter, a woman was sitting down reading a book wrapped in leather.

Bi-Hanzo respectfully bowed to the elder. “Lady Jackalen. There is a Mortuus, an undead, and an Echidnan here. Somehow, they penetrated the protective barriers to our small realm.”

"A Wraith, thank you, not an undead. There's a difference. I think." Black insisted as he looked around the church. It was better kept than the whole village. It also made him feel slightly uneasy. Was it because he was trapped between death and life?

Leere walked forward, bowing her head. When she approached the woman, she noticed how white her eyes were. “I am Leere Dragmire. Shadow Sage of Hyrule. I don’t want to alarm you, but I believe your people are in grave danger.”

“A sage? My... how young you look.” The elder cackled lightly to herself. “And you are correct. My people are indeed in danger. Or countless generations, we’ve been kept safe. Despite how much they might have changed, Destroyah and Proxamus gave us a way to protect our pocket realms from the outside world. Only now, within the last decade, those who isolated themselves from the outside world have been going silent. Communities we once shared a psychic communication with snuffed out. We didn’t know what caused this. Until two weeks ago. Devilish abominations coming out in the night to kill and steal away those who live here. Despite all my magics, I can’t find the source of where they reside.”

"Hellspawns." Black stated at the elder's words. "They're good at hiding and lurking around in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike. Difficult to track too if they're being aided by another source of magic. I'm surprised they haven't overrun the village yet." He glanced at the few people in the church. "Perhaps they're looking for someone."

“I’ve fought against several unidentified creatures, killed a few, but there’s always more, and there’s always someone taken.” Bi-Hanzo gripped the sides of his coat uncomfortably.

Leere pried for more information. She needed to know what specific danger lied in the shadows of this country. “Do you know if any evil spirits or gods have risen in Malus?”

The elder shook their head. “We do not. No gods have answered our prayers. And we know little of outside this realm of protection. It is our bubble. Our way of life.”

"... what prophecy do you know of?" Black decided to skip past the doom and gloom and search for answers. "My master requires answers."

“Which one? There are many Wraith. Mostly about their chosen god raising hell upon the earth. Some hope a saviour will liberate Malus from torment. Some think they will be servants while all their enemies will become slaves. Even here, some make sacrifices and offerings to their chosen lord in hopes of having their wishes granted.”

"The prophecy my master has long believed is of a young woman of fire, born of a mother of death, would be the host of Kaksa, the Mother Goddess." Black decided there was no harm in elaborating. There were various versions of the prophecy, but all resulted in the same ending. "Dhakk and Prama would have a choice to make. Either they would fight each other, or fight against Chaos."

“Chaos? Ahhhh.”

Leere looked to Black, unsure by the elder’s reaction. “What about Chaos?”

“Hehehe. Oh... oh! This is rich. I remember you now.” The elder’s white eyes were glossed over on Leere. “You were the one who’s parents fled. There are many in Malus who worship Destroyah or Proxamus. Few worship and know of Balance. But very little dared to be of the Cult of the Devil. The Devil came from Chaos you know. Evil was born of Chaos. That evil has a special connection in Malus. Those who served Proxamus were wise to kill those who worshiped the Devil.”

Leere’s comfort levels went from a 10 to a 1 real fast. “I know very little about my birth parents.”

“But you hold the markings, don’t you? I can sense it. Feel it. Hmmm. You’re marked for sacrifice.” Lady Jackalen walked away towards a book shelf, trying to find a specific text.

Black sensed Leere's abrupt uneasiness. The mentioned of Chaos certainly caught the old woman's attention. There were several names for this horrible god of discord, though he knew just a few; Teufel and Tzitzimime. Leere, she almost looked... slightly panicked. Like she was not expecting the elder to recall her or her despicable parents.

“Yes. Here we are.” The elder returned, placing a book down with a face as the cover. Flipping the page, she showed an illustration of the exact tattoo Leere had on her back. “This is it, isn’t it? Ah, no need for words. Your expression tells me enough. You are slated for sacrifice.” Leere looked much paler than usual. “I was. Past tense.”

“Heh heh heh. Present tense, I’m afraid. I can... I can feel the gate on you has been altered. But you are still a viable gateway if there were those who wished to use you.”

“For what?”

“A summoning of great and vile torment to be resurrected.” Flipping the pages, she went through many horrifying sketches of alien looking monstrosities. “Chaos has many spawns of its own. But it’s also a being, by nature, that is fractured. The body, a heart, mind, soul. Chaos is many. The Devil would like it all back. And you, just like one in every generation of Mortuus, carry a seed of resurrection in you. Congratulations on such a terrible fate.”

Bonegrinder had once told Black some time ago that he wished to save the 'tiny princess' from her fate. He really did not know what the Anagari spoke of then, but now, he understood. The assassin recalled the times that Leere was angry with the giant snake for keeping the details of her past from her. She wanted to know and now she did. Yet, Black could not help but feel sorry for her... and for Bonegrinder. The Anagari tried so hard to keep this knowledge from Leere.

Leere looked away when she saw the creature that oozed from her spine when Bonegrinder removes a sigil so long ago. “How did you deal with these children before?”

“We killed them before they could pose a threat to the world. Proxamus would have understood. Destroyah would agree. And it’s what Balance would have desired. And no, before you ask, I don’t think it wise to order your execution. That said, I don’t know why you’ve come here. There is no escape from Malus.”

“What if I can help you? Everyone who is here find a way out?”

“Dear child. That is gullible thinking. Naive. Even if you save us, there are still other villages. I doubt you can find them all.”

"How dare you think you have the power to speak for Kaksa." Bonegrinder was as sneaky as always, having found his way to the church, following Leere's scent. He managed to slip inside through the back, and was now on his usual lounging spot; the ceiling. He had coiled his massive body around the chandeliers, dust falling from above. It was clear the snake was in a foul mood even more so now. "The Mother Goddess abhors the murder of innocent children, even those who had no say in what happened to them. No, this is your failure. Failing to protect them."

"... and this is my master." Black stated with a stoic face. "Bonegrinder."

Lady Jackalen didn’t look surprised. Bi-Hanzo fists glowed a blue aura, but he kept his ground. The elder looked up, frowning lightly. “A swift end is preferable to torture they’d have gone through. It has been a long, long time since I’ve seen one of your kind. Still arrogant. Still boastful of living in better lands. After all, the Mother is part of the reason we remain trapped here. Besides, the children after death could be resurrected. They just needed their minds, not their souls.”

Leere was a little disgusted by that statement. “How old are you? How many souls have you taken?”

“Old enough. Blood magic is a gateway to soul manipulation. As I know you know.” The elder walked over to a seat, taking a moment to sit down. “Although, there’s something about you too, Echidnan. Something faint.”

"And your kind are nothing but slaughterers of the innocent." Bonegrinder hissed through gritted fangs. "Mother of the Monsters erected the barrier because your people decided to play with Chaos' little pets. We Echidnans will not apologize for protecting ourselves and our homeland." The Anagari scoffed as the Elder tried to analyze him. "You know nothing of this old snake, old woman."

"Bonegrinder is ancient like you, lady." Black had no filter.

“Ha. You think yourself a light to our darkness? Yourself righteous? You know that we desired help, yet you turned us away. All lands did. Or they enslaved us. Such was the design of those who fell to true darkness in Malus.”

"Why would Echidnans want to help the kind responsible for the rampaging of their homes? Friend or foe, the Mortuus are two faced." Bonegrinder snorted. "You are going senile, old woman, if you think we would do such a thing." He slid down the wall of the church, settling beside of Leere and Black. "Do you understand now why this snake did not want to bring you here, tiny princess? There is nothing for you here."

“Bi-Hanzo, what do you think? Do you wish freedom from Malus?”

The man was surprised Leere had the fortitude to address him so quickly. “I’d wish it more than anything.”

Leere turned her attention away from the elder and Bonegrinder. “Then I don’t know how long it will take, but I can take you and your people away from this all.”

“I don’t know if I can trust your friend. Unless...”

“Unless what?”

“Unless you stay the night. Protect my village.”

This could be a way of discovering the evil that plagued her dream. Nodding, Leere held an arm out to shake. “I accept.”

Before Bonegrinder, Black, or Lady Jackalen could disagree, Bi-Hanzo shook her hand. “A woman of her word? I look forward to it.”

"You don't have to like my master, but I would highly advise trusting him." Black told Bi-Hanzo and Lady Jackalen. "He knows more than you think he does."

"Let the people believe what they wish, Black, it is of no consequence to this snake." Bonegrinder dismissed the thought from the assassin's viewpoint. "You know what they think of him and you know what he thinks of them."

"What about the prophecy, Bonegrinder?"

"If they do not wish to speak of their prophecy, it matters not. We know what we need to know."

“Come, I will take you to the saloon. You can rest there until nightfall.”

In the darkness of Malus’ infamous great city, deep within a castle wall, creatures scuttled about in the shadows. A mechanical bug crawled along the walls, reaching a man and hissing into his ear. The man paused, patiently listening. Entering a private chamber, his voice echoed in a loud whisper. The man himself was nearly a silhouette of a man, a terrible tall blackness covered in robes and with crimson eyes. “Your brother has slithered his way into Malus it seems.”

"I was wondering when Prama would make the mistake of following that vessel into this realm." Dhakk was as studious as always, surrounded by books. He was looking for a way to rid himself of this earthly host and return to the heavens beside of his beloved Kaksa. Even after all this time, he still longed to be by her side, even if she did prefer his brother. She would never give Prama a second thought after he wiped his brother's existence from history.

Even in candle light, the shadow man was still pure blackness as he walked closer. He more of a shape, he had two horns that helped with a frightful appearance. “The Shadow Sage has also finally come to Malus.”

"Ah... now that is an interesting revelation." Dhakk actually looked up from his book, those glowing turquoise eyes seemingly amused. "The vessel was chosen as the Shadow Sage. Maybe the spirits took pity on her plight."

“There are many of us who wish to use her. Our master wants to make you a deal, Destroyah.” The whisper was like a lullaby to the gods ears.

"I usually do not deal with messengers." Dhakk returned his gaze to his books. "If your master wants a deal, then he can ask me in person."

A pause, for a moment, and the air turned to a chill. “I am asking you.” The candle lights went out, with only the glow of each others eyes in the room giving away the terror both could give. “You deal with an avatar of my will. It’s taxing to make one. You have my respect Dhakk that I let you communicate with one. I know you can be respectful yourself.”

"... a fragment, that you are. But part of Chaos nonetheless." Dhakk still did not look too interested. "What business do you want with me? If you are looking for a way to get to Kaksa, then you're out of luck. I'm sure you heard about her little fit when she tossed my brother and I from the heavens."

“She helped Hylia sever me from my power as well. A power I’m well on my way from achieving once more.” The shadow wisped around the room, holding Dhakk’s shoulders lightly. “What if I helped you gain revenge on your brother in exchange for helping me in return?” His whisper was alluring to listen to. “You keep the snake, and I get what I want from the woman.”

"Tempting. Dare I ask how you plan to achieve this?" Dhakk wanted more details. "Bound to his host or not, my brother Prama is still a very powerful being. How do you plan to enact this 'revenge'? I care not of the woman."

“The woman holds a powerful piece of my essence locked within her. If you complete a ritual to bring this being out of her, you will summon forth a demon to surpass Demise. Alone, it would rip apart the physical fabric of your brother. With you, there’d be no struggle from your brother to be had. From there, he is a soul, and a soul can be scattered, trapped, or lost to time and space. And I know something else that would entice you.”

"As I said before, tempting, but what could be better than gloating as Prama is ripped into a thousand pieces?"

“Hurting those he cares about.” The red eyes glew as the whisper grew insidious. “How he hurt you in taking away your love from you. You can take away the friendships he has. You can make him a failure before you rip him to pieces. Make his friends suffer; make him powerless to stop it.”

"That sounds like a glorious bit of destruction that is making me twitch in anticipation." Dhakk chucked with a sinister grin. "I don't suppose you had a few of these friends in mind?"

“The woman Leere needs to suffer for the ritual to be completed. I know Bonegrinder cares for her the most. Do anything you desire to her, so long as she feels every pain. There is also a subordinate of his known as Black in Malus with them. A Wraith, but he can be made to experience pain. I will lead them to the capital, from there your followers and mine will separate them. With enough time, the woman will unleash the Demon, and I will give it strength to kill your brother, but not before he wallows in the agonizing torment of having lost his friends.”

"Hrm... suffering can be physical or mental. Perhaps a mixture of both would work." Dhakk then was surprised to learn of a Wraith. He always thought of Black as an undead puppet. This was certainly interesting news. "Prama's demise will lead Kaksa right back into my arms. Though, I must say, I am rather curious as to why you'd want to help me. After all, Prama and I helped Kaksa lock you away all those years ago. Do you just want to claim this world as your own? Something that is yours, perhaps?"

“I want the bodies of the mortals that Hylia loved to pile up. That’ll be a start. And I live in the moment. I’m adaptable Dhakk.” The shadow danced around to face the god directly. “We have a deal?”

"Very well. We have a deal." Dhakk agreed with the avatar of Chaos. "So... when do I start?"

Teufel’s shadow man shook his hand, his eyes flickering in and out. The Devil had made his contract. “Now.”

________________________________________________________________

Previous Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/625816676434313216/evils-bane-ch-4-dangerous-uncharted-territory

Next Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/626094342071828480/evils-bane-ch-6-yield-to-damnation

#Love to hear comments.#Crossover #Leere #Leere Dragmire #Bonegrinder #Teufel #Dhakk #Black the Wraith #Malus #Mortuus #ridersoftheapocalypse

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carnistcervine · 4 years

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AU Thoughts

So, in my AU where Raava adopts Zuko, I mentioned that there is still an Avatar, just not Raava’s Avatar. So I started thinking up some ideas for what the Avatar would be like if Raava and Vaatu were swapped.

I’m not 100% on these ideas, I might tweak them or use them for their own AU and come up with something else for Raava Adopts Zuko, but this is what I got.

If anyone likes these ideas or the concept, feel free to use them. :D

~~~

*There is an old myth concerning the origin of the Avatar, it varies from nation to nation, and even some nations have multiple variants depending on where the tale is told. But the basic rundown is this: Thousands of years ago, in an era before bending, when the greater spirits still roamed the lands and mighty beasts guarded the tribes of man, a human was banished from his home, forced to roam the wilds alone. Tales vary on why he was banished and whether he deserved it, some stories claiming that he was a dirty thief who got finally got caught, others say he was falsely accused of murder, there's even one tale of the man as an almost robin hood style figure who stole food from the rich to help the poor. The man survives in the wilds for a while, seemingly bent by the spirits to turn against his fellow man. He eventually goes on, traveling the world, encountering the eternal spirits. The tales are split on whether the spirits were lovers(cast in an eternal dance) or foes(cast in an eternal struggle), but all tales agree that there were two, a pale one who embodied the light and order of the world, and a dark one who embodied the darkness and chaos. The man attacked the spirits, reasons vary on why, some say he was tricked by the dark one, some say he simply misinterpreted their dance to be a struggle, some say he was just trying to protect someone else. Either way, the spirits are separated and one is wounded. Stories once again diverge on whether it was the pale one or the dark one who was injured, but the result is the same. The balance of the world is egregiously damaged by his actions, and as penance he is forced to absorb the dark spirit and suffer it for ten thousand years. For each mistake he makes, another hundred years are added to his sentence. He spends the rest of his life trying to atone for his mistakes, dying on the battlefield when he's old and grey. Being that his sentence is not yet up, he reincarnates into his next life, and the cycle of the Avatar begins.

*Most dismiss these stories as, well, stories. But they remain the only record of any kind of origin for the mysterious being known as the Avatar.

*As for the Avatar themself, they tend to do whatever the hell they feel like doing. Despite being possessed by a dark spirit, they rarely do anything that could be considered genuinely malicious. The Avatar's presence is often marked before a great disaster or tragedy. Leading some to call them an omen.

*There have been stories of Avatars who gave warnings that were ignored. Then stood by and watched the chaos unfold, smiling and mockingly saying: “I told you so.”

*Being as powerful as they are, there are measures in place to immediately locate the newest Avatar as soon as the previous one perishes.

*One consequence of finding out when the Avatar is so young is that new Avatars are often either snuffed in their cribs or abandoned as small children by parents unable to deal with the dark spirit haunting them.

*Should the Avatar be allowed to live and grow, they will eventually seek aid in learning to control their abilities. Whether they seek the aid in disguise or openly depends mostly on society's view of the Avatar at that time.

*Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom parents are the most likely to snuff out a baby Avatar. In the Fire Nation, having the Avatar for a child is said to mean that Agni himself is angry with you or your family and is punishing you. In the Earth Kingdom it is usually said to mean that a tragedy will soon befall one. Usually the means of avoiding said tragedy is by ridding yourself of the dark spirit and passing it along the elemental chain. In the Water Tribes, the arrival of the Avatar is said to be a sign of change. While it's not uncommon for the Avatar to be killed in it's crib, the usual tradition in the southern tribe is that the head chief raises the Avatar, and in the north, the head healer is set to raise the child. As for the Air Nomads, since it is in their teachings that all life is sacred, and children aren't raised by their parents anyway, Air Nomad Avatars are pretty much never killed young. Instead the Avatar is sent to be cared for and taught by the strongest and most spiritual master. Rather than try and snuff them out, Air Nomads try as much they can to be a guiding force. Leading the Avatar down a good path and hopefully curbing any vicious tendencies.

*While not the first, Yang Chen is quite notable for the peaceful era that her long rein achieved. As for how she achieved such a peace, well, let's just say there's a reason no one dares invoke her name.

*People became much more open and accepting of the Avatar after Yang Chen, however. When Kuruk's time came, he was treated very well by those around him. Times were peaceful, and Kuruk himself was mostly pretty laid back. Well, except for his competitive streak. He'd challenge anyone and everyone to bending competition, or harmless duels. He was also quite the ladies man, only eventually settling down with a woman from his tribe. When she died, he became cold and withdrawn, wandering the world alone and eventually vanishing. His fate unknown.

*Well, he obviously died, as a new Avatar was born, but his body was never found.

*With Kuruk MIA, there was a bit of a power vacuum. Criminals took full advantage of this and terrible gangs roved the lands, killing and pillaging as they pleased.

*At least until Kyoshi showed up.

*Kyoshi was legendary for her ruthlessness. She slaughtered her enemies without so much as a second of hesitation. Some sources say she bathed in their blood and wore their entrails as fashion. While exact details of Kyoshi's apparent brutality are hotly debated among historians, one thing remains clear. Her enemies died quickly, and the world feared her. She was the longest lived Avatar, and the world remained at peace for her reign.

*With the Avatar having a mostly positive reputation, the Fire Sages opted to let the newest Avatar, Roku enjoy his early years as a normal person. And to their surprise, he was very normal. He didn't have any apparent violent impulses, wasn't withdrawn(even if he did seem a little shy), and overall was very happy and healthy. Like in canon, he grew quite close to Prince Sozin and they enjoyed a good friendship. Roku's status as Avatar was very publicly announced at his and Sozin's birthday. While Sozin was happy to have such a being as his friend, Roku had mixed feelings on harboring a dark spirit within him. He saw how the people around him reacted, they feared him. So he tried his best to show restraint. He'd prove to the world that the Avatar isn't one meant to be feared. His training went mostly smoothly, with only the spiritual training having some... unfortunate mishaps. Eventually he fell in love with a woman that didn't fear him, they got married and at the wedding Sozin told Roku vaguely about his plans of world domination. Roku, uh, didn't approve. But didn't want to make a show, because it was his wedding. So he simply growled at Sozin that he didn't want to hear about it. Then, he found a colony in the Earth Kingdom. He and Fang nearly trashed it in a fit of rage, but he decided to show restraint and told the people to fuck off back to the Fire Nation. Terrified of the Avatar, they did. Roku went to go confront Sozin, they got into an argument, Sozin attacked Roku and a royally pissed off Roku leveled the palace, only barely spared Sozin. In full avatar state, with red glowing eyes and smoky darkness billowing around him, Roku roared at Sozin that if he so much as breathed at the Earth Kingdom wrong he'd string him up by his entrails. Terrified of Roku's threat, Sozin abandoned his ambitions. He and Roku didn't speak again until many years later, when Roku's home erupted. Sozin didn't abandon Roku, but Roku being old and having inhaled too much poisonous gas died not too long after the incident. Sozin stayed by Roku on his deathbed. Roku had grown to regret his harsh treatment of Sozin, feeling he may have judged his old friend wrongly. His last words to him were an apology. Then he passed on, the Avatar Spirit moving to the Air Nomads once again.

*Sozin misinterpreted Roku's apology and subsequent death as the spirits being on his side and thusly went back to trying to achieve his ambitions.

*With Roku's last breath, Aang is born into the Air Nomads. He's left under Monk Gyatso's care. For the most part, Gyatso finds that Aang is a very gentle soul. He enjoys having fun and playing around. They decide not to tell him his true identity until he's older. Aang gets along quite well with his peers and gains many friends very quickly. Despite Gyatso's protests that Aang must be properly nurtured to sooth the dark spirit within him, the Elders decide to reveal the boy's true identity at twelve. Aang, doesn't take it well. The thought of a dark spirit living within him is well, scary. To make matters worse, his friends abandon him, utterly terrified of him. Gyatso tries to help Aang, treating him the same and remaining his last support. Then, because Gyatso insists on letting Aang be a kid, the elders try and separate them. Heartbroken, Aang runs away.

*Sozin still attacks the Air Temples, but not in an attempt to kill them all or rid the Avatar. No, Sozin thinks that the Avatar could be used for his war, so the soldiers are ordered to steal away as many children as possible, while killing anyone and everyone that stands in their way. Aang is frozen, so obviously all of the captured youths are just airbenders. Sozin doesn't have them killed though. No, he has use for them in his war machine...

*The search for the Avatar continues for a fair few decades before they figure that the being may have simply served his sentence and vanished from the world.

*When Katara and Sokka find Aang in the ice, let's just say they have more than a few reasons to be suspicious of him.

*As for Aang, he opts to keep his true nature under wraps for as long as he can.

*Not like anyone is actually looking for him anyway. :p

#ATLA #Avatar #Avatar AU #EternalMomofLight #I might make this it's own thing #Because it's a pretty interesting premise on it's own I think

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paechwrites · 5 years

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more oneshots for @caruleanfox 's au, enjoy!! ʕ•ﻌ•ʔ

Carding her fingers through bleach hair, mussing up the strands but quickly fixing the small mess, Rose threw down a smile at her son, met with a disapproving look to alert Rose for her to stop messing with his hair. She merely responded with a teasing smirk, giving his hair one more tousle before permanently leaving it fixed. Jasper swiped a quick hand over his white hair, just to make sure, before bunching up Rose's skirt in his small hand.

Suddenly, Kanaya came rushing towards her wife and son, rubbing her palms against her skirt then making a quick check that her leather jacket was on properly.

"Oh, I hope we aren't too late," Kanaya fussed, kneeling down momentarily to reaffirm Jasper's bowtie. "We can't afford to be, really, at least not this time."

Rose perked up an eyebrow, untangling her son's grip and taking Jasper's warm hand into hers. "Not to point fingers, but it's mainly you that has time consuming sessions with your makeup."

Kanaya stood tall, brows furrowing questionably. "Whatever are you implying, Rose?"

"You look great, Kan," Rose snickered, tapping her shoulder lightly. "Let's get going, before Karkat starts ranting about how we're an hour late to meeting our dear, new nephew."

Kanaya chuckled heartily, pulling at the edge of the contents of her shirt that hung low below her jacket. "He really does delve quite into his ranting, doesn't he?"

Rose slid a hand over her forearm, making the jadeblood follow her as they began trekking past the threshold of their house.

The hem of Jasper's pants dragged along the fresh grass, staining slightly green as he tightened his grip on his mother's hand, rambling on with questions.

"Are uncle Dave and Karkat getting rid of Maydae now?"

"No, they're not, Jasper." Rose answered simply.

"Then why did they have another one?"

"Because your uncles saw fit to have another child."

"To keep Maydae busy?"

"That's one assumption, I suppose, like a kitten."

"What if May doesn't like them?"

"Then they have to deal."

Jasper piped down after awhile, presumably sated with his questions, until his voice dropped light and airy, almost a little too hard for his parents to hear.

"Is May dying?"

Rose emitted an amused noise, as Kanaya suddenly patted his back.

"She's not dying, Jasper, don't worry," Kanaya assured, her hand perched on his stark white halo of hair. "Your uncles simply just thought it'd be nice to have another little troublemaker frolicking on Earth C, and it's splendid news for you as well, you have a new cousin!"

Jasper crinkled his button nose, tongue poking out between his nubby fangs that weren't pointed enough just yet to slice through meat. "Another Maydae?!"

Rose and Kanaya let out boisterous laughter, his hair getting affectionately ruffled up by Kanaya.

"The more, the merrier, as humans say it." Kanaya chimed, earning the hybrid to shake his head.

"They're both gonna eat all of our flowers in the garden!" Jasper yelled, locking the heels of his shoes into the ground, halting back Rose in the process. He disconnected their hands, beginning to sprint away and back to the house.

"We have to save them, mama!"

"Jasper!" Rose and Kanaya yapped in unison, quickly catching up with their son.

A knock rang throughout the cozy house, an excited three year old looking star gazed at the door and toddling over as quick as she can. She stood on the ends of her toes, reaching with effort for the knob and fumbling a few times, a frustrated scrunch of her face forming on her features. It wasn't until Dave appeared and managed to open the door, that the anticipated guests were at the doorstep and heaving just a tad, Jasper firmly locked in Kanaya's hold.

"Did you guys just do a jog-a-thon before coming over?" Dave mused out loud. Rose huffed lightly, entering the house with her wife still having Jasper tightly in her arms until Dave closed the door.

Rose kneeled down to Maydae's height, a warm smile painting her face. "And how has my wonderful niece been doing with a new addition to the menage?"

Dave shrugged, patting Maydae's head as he passed by. "She's been all up in his face the moment since me and Karkat brought him from the ecto labs."

"Drake is VERY tiny." Maydae piped up, hands folded behind her back. "And also quiet!"

Rose let out a litany of 'oh's, Kanaya flickering her gaze towards Dave in concern.

"I think he's just like that though, he does make a few grunts here and there." Dave stated, relieving Kanaya as she gave a content smile.

"It's just, ah, a bit of surprise and ridiculously concerning to hear Drake isn't as vocal as Maydae," Kanaya pursed her lips. "I mean, he is Karkat's son."

Dave sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth, playfully murmuring, "ouch, sis."

"Where is uncle Karkat?" Jasper squeaked out, Dave directing him down the hall past the ripped up toys and abandoned plate of chicken nugget crumbs.

"He has your new lil cousin with him too." Dave said with a smile, interest piquing in Jasper. Out of the blue, Maydae grabbed his hand and dragged him along, taking him aback as he tried to keep up with his hyper cousin.

Barging into the room, greatly startling Karkat who was curled on the bed with a bundle close to his chest, Jasper and Maydae collided into the mattress' side, the youngest of the two haphazardly trying to climb onto the bed with her claws scraping the blankets.

"Dad! Dad! Jasper is here!" Maydae chanted. "Show Drake!"

Karkat shifted his weight unto his palm, pressing it into the mattress as he glimpsed behind himself to see two bleach haired heads poking above the mattress' height. Karkat groaned, sitting up languidly.

"Shhh," he whispered, pressing a finger to his lips. "Drake's sleeping."

Maydae and Jasper stared blankly at him for a moment, both nodding rapidly. Karkat looked beside him, carefully slipping an arm on the underside of a bright red grub, his claws gently caressing his head and much more rough troll skin as he settled him on his lap.

Stretching his body, Karkat hefted Maydae up on to the bed, then reached for Jasper and placed him on the opposite side of Maydae. Both children crowded around him, gazing thoroughly at the new grub who let out tiny sniffles and wriggles.

Jasper stared with surprise bubbling in his chest. He didn't seem anything like Maydae! He wasn't causing no form of havoc, running around and breaking vases, or eating random things he found interesting - Drake simply just laid there and rarely made a noise, the majority of them being soft sounding.

Jasper furrowed his eyebrows, vividly recalling when his oldest cousin was a grub herself; the amount of times she tried chewing on his story books when Rose and Kanaya offered to babysit would be too hard to count on his fingers, including the time when she stole the last freshly baked cookies from the table!

Truthfully, Jasper did care for Maydae, they were family after all and raised closely - but she definitely rather drained his energy to no end, even her friend that she seemed to be so infatuated with got on his nerves, not adding the fact Maydae would follow him like a lost puppy whenever their parents had a get-together.

Drake seemed much calmer, Jasper noted, leaning in more. Karkat formed a tiny grin on his face, nudging Jasper to receive his attention.

"Do you wanna hold him?" Karkat offered, the eldest hybrid jumping in surprise and looking as if he was a young buck caught in the headlights. Jasper shrugged, falling onto his knees as his claws scratched his skin.

"It's very easy, and he isn't heavy at all, here look," Karkat shifted Jasper's arms into a cradling position, cautiously picking back up Drake and slipping him into Jasper's arms.

Jasper turned stiff, not baring much knowledge of what exactly to do with a grub or if he was even holding him properly, but Karkat seemed to approve so he tread on. Once Drake gave a small wriggler, Jasper whipped his head up at Karkat for guidance or advice on what perhaps that could mean, or if Drake should be handed back.

"He does that a lot, don't worry." Karkat reassured, letting slide his daughter's claws digging into his sleeve as she watched them.

Jasper nodded sagely, turning his head back down at his little cousin.

Suddenly, Drake's eyes began fluttering open, burgundy orbs coming into focus and being greeted with Jasper. His mouth thinned into a straight line, averting his eyes back up at Karkat.

Maydae crawled onto Karkat's lap, plopping down there and leaning in close to Jasper and Drake.

Maydae emitted a wondrous sound at the sight of her brother's eyes, while Jasper shifted a little in his spot and slowly and carefully began hovering him towards her.

"May, you take him."

Before the grub could be slipped into Maydae's outstretched arms, Karkat hastily took Drake.

"Ah-ah, not right now," Karkat said, making Maydae pout in reply. "Have you even washed your hands yet?"

Maydae sighed, starting to crawl out of her father's lap and bounding off the bathroom.

As soon as the hybrid left, in came Rose, walking with light steps so as to not disrupt Drake. Rose walked over to Jasper's side, perching a hand on his shoulder as she took a good glance at Drake.

"Kanaya is off chatting with Dave, by the way," Rose uttered, already answering the question that was lurking in the mutant's head. "I couldn't wait any longer to greet my nephew."

She ran a soothing finger down the frame of Drake's chubby face, suddenly pulling her attention away as Jasper tugged at her shirt.

"I held him, mama." he said, quite proudly, making Rose giggle and reel her hand back from his shoulder to place it on his horn.

"Oh, did you?" Rose responded softly, a vigorous nod coming from Jasper. Silence fell upon them, the occasional small chat from Rose and Karkat puncturing the quietness, Jasper's curious sight meandering on the small bundle until he perked up.

"Mama, can I have a brother too like May?"

"Absolutely not."

#gift fic #the interactions in this were v fun to write #writing #praying no obvious mistakes in this lol

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rhnuzlocke · 5 years

Photo

Chapter Four: Child of the Moon

The car rumbled softly into a space behind the Petalburg Gym, and Senri climbed out of the driver’s side. Ren paused for a moment to marvel at the solar parking lot and scuff her new boot against its textured glass surface. They were still stiff, and she was not looking forward to how sore her feet would be by the end of the day, but she liked the look and weight of them.

Kenta emerged from his ball, and Tāraki bounced excitedly beside the Ursaring as they walked around to the front. The hulking pokemon yawned, then murmured some doubtless sage advice from his own journey with her father. Tāraki listed with unusually rapt attention, eyes glued to Kenta’s grizzled muzzle. She was going to miss him.

Ren wondered if everyone was in yet and how long this would take. Barry was already at the front desk settling in, and Lei walked out of the changing rooms with their Persian.

“It feels like you just got here, and you’re already on your way!” they complained, but they were smiling. “Are we finally gonna battle when you come back for the badge?”

“Depends how much you train,” Ren shot back with a grin.

Lei laughed. “She’s your daughter alright!”

“That she is.” Senri ruffled her hair. She almost threw him but shoved back the impulse and brushed him off instead. “I’ll go get your things.”

He went back, and a few of the other trainers offered her congratulations and goodbyes. Kenta nudged her when Barry left for the bathroom.

“I’ll be careful,” she told him.

“You are careful,” he said with a chuff.

There was a lot she wanted to say to him, but for a long moment nothing came to the surface. Then something old surged up from the depths, a memory she thought she had forgotten. “I—I’m sorry it took so long.”

“We evolve in our own time, little cub. I don’t hold you to the things you said when you were cave-bound. I’m just glad to see you smiling again—feel the warmth pour out of you like a campfire. I’m grateful for every day you live and every step I see you take. Doesn’t matter the direction.”

Ren dropped to her knees and slung her arms around his neck, burying her face in his soft, thick fur. He put an arm around her, and she was safe again.

“Watashi wa Kenta-sensei ni hibi to gyōseki karite iru subete.”

“I have no regrets,” he returned and hugged her tighter.

“Kenta talks even less than Otōsan but he always knows what to say. I was lucky to have so many parents.”

They have certainly been a formative—and positive—influence.

At last, she dried her eyes and let go of him. “I’ll see you soon.”

“Good. Ready to say goodbye to the others?”

Ren smiled. “Yeah.”

Tāraki climbed back up her shoulder, and she scratched under his chin as they went back to see the rest of her father’s team. The old Tauros nearly knocked her off her feet as she came in only to be snatched to safety by the Ambipom. The Blissey and Kangaskhan nearly smothered her between them. Even the Vigoroth gave her a fond pat with his claws, only to sulk away when the others poked fun at him. The rest of the crew didn’t know her as well, and she couldn’t understand them, but they wished her well just the same.

Then it was time to leave, and she returned to the lobby with her father.

“Senri, Mr. Scott is here to see you,” Barry called as they entered. A middle-aged man and green-haired teen were waiting with him by the front desk.

“Good morning, Charles! Wally, how are you?” Senri greeted them.

“Very well, thank you, sir,” the boy answered. He was almost eerily pale and didn’t look terribly well but held himself with a certain kind of poise. It made him seem taller than he actually was. He was small—only as tall as Ren—and slighter with delicate features to match.

“Oh! Introductions! This is my daughter, Ren.”

Mr. Scott shook her hand. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, young lady.”

“I should have introduced you two a while ago,” said Senri while Ren shook Wally’s hand. “I wasn’t thinking. Ah, maybe it’s just as well. When’s the big move? Soon, no?”

“In a week, sir.”

“Excellent. So, what can I help you with today?”

“I got my trainer license.”

“Wonderful, let’s see it!” Senri beamed. Wally fished it out of his shoulder bag and handed it over. “Look at that photo! I’m jealous. My first made me look like a convict,” Senri chuckled as he returned it. “Well then, let’s go in and meet the greenhorns. I’m sure you’ll find someone suitable.”

“Actually, sir,” Wally stopped him, “I was hoping for a loan. I want to catch my first—my service pokemon.”

“Oh?” Senri said as his mind worked. Then something flickered over his face, and he tried not to grin. Ren knew that look. “Very Good! Now let me see, who can I give you…” He pretended to think it over for a moment, and Ren figured what he was up to before he opened his mouth again. “Actually, Ren, would you mind helping Wally with this?”

“Sure.”

That was surprisingly quick.

“I knew he had to have a good reason. He was more excited than I was for me to set out.”

“Great! Ren has already caught three pokemon so you’re in good hands, Wally. I’ll see you two later.”

Senri ushered Mr. Scott further inside, throwing Ren a wink over his shoulder. Once they were gone, Wally shifted and wrang the shoulder strap of his bag between his hands.

“Thank you for helping me. I hope this isn’t getting in the way of anything.”

“It’s no problem,” she reassured him as they walked out. “I don’t have a schedule to keep.” He accepted that, and she gestured towards Route 102 since it was closest. They walked in silence for a bit, and he pulled his cardigan sleeves down over his hands.

“So, why do you want to catch a wild to have as your service pokemon, if it’s okay to ask? Are they expensive here?”

He wrung his bag strap again before answering. “Um, the truth is I don’t want a service pokemon—well I do. I’m going to live with my aunt and uncle, and my cousin is a breeder, so I could have gotten one from her—and I still might—but I want to be a trainer. I always have. But, um, I’ve never really been healthy, and my parents wouldn’t let me try.”

“So we’re actually out here to get you a battler?”

“Yeah,” he responded meekly and twisted his bag strap even more.

“Hey, don’t worry. I won’t Rattata you out or anything. But why not just take one of Otōsan’s trainees or your cousin’s pokemon and battle them?”

He reached up and held the carved wood pendant hanging around his neck and rubbed at it with his thumb. “My parents have a point. I don’t know if I can be a real trainer, so I set myself a test of sorts. If I can get a wild pokemon to respect me, show enough potential that they decide they want to be my partner, then maybe I can do it.”

Ren nodded, and Wally looked taken aback by her acceptance. “It makes sense to me. I mean, it does feel like you're being a little hard on yourself, but you’ve clearly given this a lot of thought. And I don’t think it’s strange. I didn’t really ‘catch’ any of the pokemon on my team. I asked them—except for Panahi, who asked me.”

“Oh wow! Really?”

“I think it’s more common in some regions. After all, we didn’t always have pokeballs.”

“I guess that’s true.”

Ren pulled a ball of her belt and held it out to him. He accepted it reverently and cradled it in his hand for a minute. She bumped her eyebrows at him, and a look of determination settled over his features. He threw the ball, Akahana popped out in a flash of red, and he caught it again.

“Oh, what a cool Poochyena! I haven’t seen one like her before.”

“She’s a Striped variant. Akahana, this is Wally. We are going to help him get his first pokemon.” Akahana scrutinized him for a moment and nodded. “She knows Growl, Tackle, and Thunder Fang.”

“Whoa! Really?”

“Yep! And Thunder Fang is great because—

“It has a chance of causing paralysis!”

“Exactly. And Aka here is good at it.” Ren gave him an appraising look. He must have practiced to toss and catch a pokeball that naturally. She remembered doing the same with a rubber band ball when she was young. “You sure know your stuff.”

“I sorta have a library on pokemon training at home. And I watched every battle video I could get my hands on since I couldn’t…” He trailed off.

“That’s great! Whatever pokemon you catch will be super lucky.” He smiled, and Ren grinned back. “What species did you have in mind?”

“I would really like a Ralts.” Ren pulled out her nav and looked them up since it wasn’t a species she had bumped across out with Kai. When she saw the first image, her eyes flickered to Wally’s hair . The resemblance was too close to be a coincidence. She shook her head and turned her attention back to the data. “Hmm, DexNav says they’re elusive. We could be out here a while.”

“I’m sorry,” Wally apologized again, visibly wilting.

“Hey, don’t worry about it. This is super important. Besides, it’ll be fun.”

Wally’s lips parted slightly in surprise, then a wobbly but radiant smile took over his face, and his pale blue eyes shimmered. “Thank you.”

“He shattered my heart with that smile.”

That’s very sentimental of you.

“Something you have yet to learn about me is that I am extremely and unbearably sentimental.”

And was that the only reason you helped him?

“No. I was angry at his parents. Otōsan’s encouragement was a lot sometimes, but he never told me that I couldn’t do something. And Okāsan has been there to support me at every tournament and performance for my entire life. It wasn’t fair. So I was determined to give him at least a little of what he was owed.”

Wally and Ren wandered around for hours. Ren consulted the Littleroot Labs data on her nav, Akahana used her nose, Tāraki climbed every tree, Iki peered around from the safety of Ren’s head, and Panahi scanned from above with her keen eyes.

They slowly spread out to cover more ground, though not so far as to lose track of each other. But Ren had Akahana stay with Wally just in case.

Ren was looking through some bushes when she heard coughing so severe that she went running to find Wally, but by the time she was in sight again, he had an inhaler over his nose and had quieted. He put it casually back in his bag, barely looking at what he was doing.

So it was his lungs—probably asthma or some kind of birth defect. That seemed like a particularly frightening ailment to Ren—to at any moment be unable to breathe, suffocate on nothing. It couldn't have been easy for him to grow up knowing each breath could be his last. But then again, maybe that made things simple. It would be a terrible waste not to do what he wanted, so here he was, risking himself on a dream, letting passion drive him.

Ren turned around without making herself known and kept searching.

At long last, Wally gave a shout. “I found one!”

Ren tried not to run, so as not to scare it off only to gasp when she caught sight of it. The pokemon was indeed a Ralts, but with glittering feathers and a bright blue helmet instead of green.

“Nanda, is that a shiny?”

“Yeah,” he confirmed weakly, clearly still trying to process it himself.

“Ralts!” Akahana called out to it before anyone could gather themselves, “this human is a trainer without a pokemon. If he can demonstrate his ability in battle to your satisfaction, would you be interested in becoming his starter?”

The Ralts cocked its head and looked carefully up at Wally through its fringe, first with one eye and then the other. It chirped to Akahana in an odd ringing tone and she shook her head. Then it nodded, and Akahana settled lower to the ground, coiling herself and ready to spring.

“Oh!” Wally gasped. He took a deep breath and a look of determination spread over his face. “Akahana, use Thunder Fang!”

Akahana surged forward, bright tendrils of electricity trailing from her bared white fangs. The Ralts startled at the unexpected move, and its feathers ruffled as it lashed out instinctively with Confusion. The pulsing purple waves bounced harmlessly off of Akahana, and she sunk her teeth into its arm. The Ralts shuddered with the jolt of electricity but held steady. Pink, ringed sound waves erupted from its mouth and struck Akahana off. A close quarters fairy move was a lot for her, but she rolled right back to her feet.

“Hang in there, Akahana,” Wally cried. The Ralts fired off another Disarming Voice, but Akahana leapt to the side. The Ralts twitched stiffly, unable to course correct before the attack was spent. “It’s paralyzed! Get around back and Tackle!”

Ren nodded approvingly as Akahana dove under another attack, sprinted past, and whirled around. Her skull connected powerfully with the Ralts’s back and it fell forward in a heap. It tried to get up but wavered from the paralysis. Akahana pressed a paw between its shoulders and growled. It held stubbornly for a moment before letting its head loll, admitting defeat. Ren heard Wally gasp softly.

Akahana released it and walked back to Ren’s side. The Ralts righted itself and looked directly up at Wally, who started. They were both quiet for a minute and Wally’s lips moved, which meant it was probably using telepathy to speak to him. Finally, Wally pulled out a pokeball and kneeled down, offering it to the Ralts. It pushed the button and flowed inside. Wally clutched the ball tightly for a moment, and then it flashed green.

“YES!” he yelled, jumping up with the pokeball held aloft. “I can’t believe it!”

“Great job!” Ren congratulated him. “You really kept your cool. That’s a tough thing for most beginners.”

Wally was too elated to process her compliments and swept down on Akahana. “Thank you, Akahana!” he said, hugging her tightly. “You were so awesome! Thank you so much!”

Akahana was stiffened in shock at the display of affection, but remained still until he started coughing and had to let her go to use his inhaler.

“Thank you, Ren,” he said, a bit calmer and quieter so as not to upset his lungs again. “This means so, so much to me. I don’t think I could have done that without you here.”

“I’m happy to help, but don’t give me too much credit. That was a pretty even match, and you won it on your own.” He glanced away and she placed a hand on his shoulder to pull him back. “I want you to remember that.”

“Okay, but I still want to pay you back some day.”

She smiled wide enough to split her face. “Deal. Hey, why don’t we trade numbers? I’ll probably be going through Verdanturf in a few weeks. Maybe we can meet up?”

“Yeah, that sounds great!”

They swapped navs and filled in their contact information. Wally was still radiating joy like a Sunny Day and took the Ralts’s ball in his hands again to let his new pokemon back out. The Ralts looked up at him and smiled too.

“Let’s go to the Pokemon Center. We can heal these guys up and get your trainer card updated. Any idea what you’re going to call them?”

“Faris.”

“It was a lot of fun to go back and show Otōsan that catch. You should have seen his face. He couldn’t believe it!”

I did see it, and it was rather amusing.

“Oh, right. Well, I’m glad I hung around. And I think it was good for Akahana.”

You’ve accomplished a lot to be proud of. And needed me for so little of it.

“I—When you put it in that context, it makes it very hard to deny.”

One doesn’t live as long as I without learning a little trickery.

#ORAS #nuzlocke #storylocke #Wally #Senri #Mr. Scott #Ren #Taraki #Akahana #Iki #Panahi #Kenta #lgbtq #chapter

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phantomphangphucker · 5 years

Text

Phantom’s A Menace - PhannieMay - Day 17 Seance

Summary: Don’t try to communicate with ghosts, kids. You don’t know who’s on the other line.

Warning: discussions of Dan’s actions, mild attempted murder

“Dude, how’d you even get this?”

“Snuck it from one of my parents' bags”

“Dude, you are in so much shit”

“Oh, who cares? How could any parent keep a freaking crystal ball that can actually communicate with the dead, and expect their kid not to fiddle with it”, both Tucker and Danny nod at her. She had a damn good point and Danny doesn’t really care that his parents claimed doing this was dangerous; especially for a Fenton.

Danny shrugs, “and you’d think, with the amount they go off about ghosts, they’d want me interested in this stuff”. Both his friends nod as they set up the weird green ball in the centre of the basement floor. Surrounded by old books and various charms, all things the Fenton family had been using for ghost communication, divination and psychic wonders for generations.

Of course, Danny’s going to play the part of the medium, with his family heritage and all. Plus, even though Sam loved all things spooky, she didn’t appear to have any gifts. Which were kind of needed here. Danny’s ghost sight was his, able to make green light glow around the edges of his blue irises, easily seeing any ghosts around.

Danny shakes his head as he lights the Sage, slightly annoyed that they’re out of lavender but there’s no way he’d get another chance to fuck around with the Zone Crystal. While Sam lights purple and green swirled candles, she did always get a kick out of her second favourite colour representing spirit, and green was her third favourite colour.

Sitting around the crystal ball, Danny goes to touch it, all three jerking a bit at green energy zapping out to meet his fingers, “damn dude! If you showed that at school literally, no one would think this was all hack job shit anymore”.

Danny just rolls his eyes, sure the heckling and jeering was annoying but he didn’t exactly care. Placing his hand on the crystal and rubbing them around slightly, because of his Fenton genes he didn’t really have to bother with words; any ghosts would simply be drawn by his spiritual essence. Apparently, the smell and feel of it was extremely alluring to ghosts.

Sam and Tucker had seen their friend form a link with ghosts before, heck, he did it somewhat often. Able to let them talk through him but still very much the one in control. The reason this was different, a full seance with his parents' most powerful creation, was the goal of flat-out possession; instead of just linking. The ghost would be in control and they’d actually be able to see what the ghost looked like, Its form layering transparent over their friend's body. Hence why they needed all the herbs on the ground and circle of candles, a ghost barrier, should this ghost attempt to take their friend for a joyride.

The two of them really don’t care about the lack of lavender, sure there are evil ghosts and powerful ones but from what they’ve seen, getting those ones was hard as hell; so getting one now would be one serious case of major bad luck.

—In the Ghost Zone—

A large black and white ghost creaks against his chains. White flaming hair lighting up the chamber far brighter than his glow alone could. The name “Phantom” could be read, scrawled in ghost speak, above the sealed closed door to his keep. Sealed and chained away here centuries ago for bringing Hell on Earth and the near obliteration of all life and death. Having earned him the nicknames, All Death, Ender, and The Consumption. Sure, there were probably more, but what did he care what mortals called him. Some revered him as a force of nature itself, a personification or god of death. Most just feared him as a ghost with too much power, banding together to contain him and his destruction. Seals rendering him unable to access his power and chains to bind him to his keep.

But today was a different day, he can tell. Smirking and laughing as he watches soft purple energy vapour, the kind that reeks of a human spirit, coils in under the massive black oak doors. He can tell, as he watches the succulent smelling vapour float through the air, whoever this is tied to, they are young but almost startlingly strong in spirit.

Laughing ominously, fangs fully bared as the vapour coils around the chains, his cuffs and eventually him. Phantom won’t deny feeling impressed, as the chains groan under the force this vapour carries. Strength is one of few things he actually respects and, as his bindings shatter, freedom is a gift he’ll respect some too.

Though firmly not impressed as the vapour does coil around him now, yanking at him to go with it. Someone having the audacity to call on him or pull him to them, was both impressively gutsy and infuriatingly stuck up. But without his power, he could not deny the pull, and he’s more than a little interested to see what human shattered his binds.

His form turning to cruel white and black smoke as the purple spirit vapour pulls him along, out into the human world; his favourite playground of death.

—In the Fenton basement—

Sam and Tucker officially think they might have fucked up, and that bad luck was definitely real, as they see red glowing eyes layer over their friends, rimmed with glowing green, blue ones. Red eyes almost always signifies that the ghost had killed someone or multiple someone’s.

Watching as the black and white swirling smoke starts to take a more solid form around their friend, who’s definitely frowning now; bad sign for sure.

Everyone just sits for a bit, as the two take in the hunched over, but clearly massive and muscular, caped ghosts. Blue-green skin, pointed ears, flaming hair and sharp claws; the two elect to scoot outside of the barrier as it smiles sharp fangs at them, reeking of malice. Danny himself, sees him standing in front of him inside his spirit realm. A place inside himself, only accessible through practice...or a stunt like this. Both him and the ghost nothing more than their spiritual or ghostly essences here. The ghost cackles, “well, I’ve always been inevitable. But this! Well, this is simply luck. I’d say thanks for freeing me and the vessel, but I don’t work like that”. Danny knows for sure he fucked up, as the ghost lunges at him; over taking control of his body. As his name rattles in Danny’s head as soon as their two essences make contact, Phantom.

Phantom stands himself and the boy’s body up, chuckling as his eyes catch the sight of the sage, “forgot the lavender, huh? Now that’s just dumb”. Cackling as the two humans grab at charms and flick their eyes to the barrier they’ve built. He knows full well that’s not going to work on him, having a vessel means he can simply channel his powers through the boy.

Smirking wide as he pulls back his head before releasing his ghostly wail; obliterating the barrier and shattering the charms. But collapsing to the ground as something is wrong, while white energy zaps across him and the boy’s body, before compacting and solidifying into a white ring causing a massive explosion of pure energy.

Sam and Tucker throw their hands over their eyes at the assault of insanely bright white light. Tucker muttering, “oh man, we are so fucked”.

Sam’s the first to notice their unconscious friend, running up him and realising they really really fucked up. Tucker walks up beside her and pokes Danny before talking, “what the hell?”. Both them kneel down at his sides as he groans in an echoy voice. Helping him sit up, “Danny, dude, I, uh, think you should look at yourself. Just what the hell man?”.

Danny doesn’t like the slight quivering in his friends' voice, but he gets why as he takes the guy’s advice. Taking in the black jumpsuit and white belt, yanking his hands in front of his face to see white gloves and more muscular arms. He looks like the ghost, like Phantom, but not quite right. Patting at his hair to find it’s still hair, not flames, “well, what the fuck?”.

Both his friends just nod at him, but flinch as he jerks, hearing a voice in his head, “fuck is right child. But I can work with this”.

Ignoring his friend's worried glances and closing his eyes, he pokes around his spiritual self. Promptly sensing and sort of seeing a strange white chain connected from his spiritual self to Phantoms, very pissed off looking, self; connected together from the centre of their chests. Focusing on his spiritual self to make things more in focus, as Phantom growls at him.

Glaring at the ghost, “what did you do to me?”. Phantom rolls his eyes, “it would seem my seal had something of a failsafe. So I’m not going anywhere and neither are you”. Danny doesn’t even have a chance to fight back as Phantom lunges at him for control again. But this time Danny can feel his eyes lighting up and doing something new, zapping the high hell out of Phantoms essence.

Snapping his eyes open as Tucker pokes at him, “dude, you ok? At all? And this is the strangest way to have a growth spurt”. Looking over his hands again, before looking back to his friend, “maybe? My essence is chained to Phantoms. I think we’re like fused or something”. Sam looks a bit impressed actually, “while that’s kind of cool, I think he’s evil or something. Pretty sure he was intending to kill us”. Tucker nods and points at the obliterated herbs, “scary strong. Is that even supposed to be possible?”.

Danny looks around and hell no it shouldn’t be. Jerking a bit as he hears growling in his head, before a very cocky sounding Phantom informs him, “won’t work on me, human. What're some flowers going to do in the face of All Death”. Frowning some, “yeah I don’t like the sounds of that”. Which just confuses the hell out of his friends.

Rubbing his neck, “pretty sure this guy’s more than just bad news. I think he just called himself “All Death”. Whatever that means”. Sam raises her eyebrow, “first, nice fangs. Second, can you hear him in your head or something? Makes sense but otherwise, that comment makes no sense”. Danny nods as he rubs his tongue over his teeth, not as long as Phantoms but still. All the while ignoring the slightly insulted growling in his head. And he also ignores the cruel laughing as he starts flailing his hands around and floating.

Sam and Tucker grab at his hands, both gaping. Tucker chuckles awkwardly, “dude, fused might be the right word. Fucking ghost powers or some shit”. Before both yelp and let go of him after getting zapped by green energy. “Shit sorry, I don’t think I’m the one who did that though”. Both them glare at him but feel a little worried at the flash of red glow in his eyes, officially worried this ghost can randomly control their friend.

But all of them yelp as a ring of light suddenly appears and Danny falls on his ass, human again.

Danny looks over his hands, utterly confused because he can tell Phantom is very much still here.

Meanwhile, Phantom grumbles and throws his hands up. Knowing damn well he’s trapped in this boy, bound to him. He wouldn’t care that much if he could easily control the boy. But it would seem that his seal, the core chain, and the boy’s natural ghost gift; were enough to trump Phantoms raw power. Not completely of course, but now he’d have to settle for coaxing the boy into becoming like him just so he could play. And of course, if this damn human got destroyed while they were bound, he’d be destroyed too.

Danny goes to grab at some of the older books his parents have. They’ve documented lots of ghosts and ghost lore, so maybe Phantom’s in one. His friends quickly catching on and joining him, muttering at them, “I’m still fucked up just so you know, and I’ve got a gut feeling I’m gonna be staying so”.

Both of them nod awkwardly, before Tucker starts aggressively jabbing at the notebook he’s holding, shoving it at Danny, “dude, more than fucked up. Way more”.

Taking the book and seeing the shadowy side profile drawing of a flaming haired face baring it’s fangs, sticking out a forked tongue and holding up a curled clawed hand. Muttering to himself, “that’s Phantom alright”, reading the page title as “The Consumption”. Shaking his head, “and that’s just ominous”.

Reading the page:

Picture above: The One Who Consumes

The Consumption was a great plague of death, suffering and destruction; happening in the Time Before. Known to be brought about by a creature assumed to be a ghost but whom possessed powers beyond anything else. Capable of destroying any and all anti-ghost devices, fail-safes, or shields; with Its voice alone. Considered something forged of Hell’s fire and ice, burning and freezing everything as It raged against both the living and dead. Most of both species were annihilated, largely destroyed directly by The One Who Consumes explicitly. Multiple accounts of It ripping people to shreds or parading around corpses attests to that.

The Consumption was brought to an end through mysterious means, all that is known is that It was sealed away by a Bound(1), who gave up their existences to do so.

For The One Who Consumes: see The Book Of Null.

Danny breathes out, “oh shit”, as Tucker nods and Sam takes the book. Danny winces as barely visible mental scenes get shoved at him alongside muffled cackling. He can barely make out what’s going on in scenes but it’s more than enough and clearly from Phantoms point of view. Gagging a bit and shaking himself off, before grabbing the books referenced for Bound and more on The One Who Consumes.

Sam shivers a bit after reading the passage, this thing was inside her friend and It apparently couldn’t get out. Sure, that’s probably better for the world or whatever, since Danny’s clearly the one in control here: but still. Hearing Danny groan as he walks back to them, one dark grey book under his arm and reading from a read one. “Alright so I am definitely fucked up”, they both look to the page as Danny tosses it down and taps on the page, reading Bounds. Danny groans again, “a ghost and human bound together through various means. Which means me. The light chain thing is listed as a Core Chain. Notice the whole impossible to break without mutual destruction tag? Yeah, fuck me”.

“Well, the powers are neat. And from the sounds of it they’re strong as hell. Learn to use that shit man”, Danny gapes at Tucker. Tapping on his own head, “Tuck, I have a mass murdering monster inside my head. And I’m pretty sure he can exert control over me if he really tries, at least with my body the way it was before”. Tucker waves him off, “then treat him like a poorly trained dog, a murdering psycho evil dog”. Danny can’t help but laugh at that, especially at the, definitely insulted sounding, muffled growling, “well, he does growl a lot, though he is harder to hear now that I’m normal again”.

“Insolent child”. Danny rolls his eyes muttering as he flips through The Book Of Null, “what are gonna do? Waste me? What happens to you then?”.

“You don’t get it, do ya. I’m still here, I still exist. That means the world still has to deal with me, and so do you”. Danny scrunches his eyebrows up, a bit worried at that. Clearly, this prick likes being an ominous bastard.

Tucker jabs him, “I’d say, you tell him, but I have half a conversation here”. Sam shakes her head, “pretty sure insulting a powerful monster is a dumb idea”. Danny knows she’s got a point, especially as he reads Phantoms entry. Even if it’s under a different, and more wordy, name, it’s clearly him. It’s also clear that Phantom enjoys hearing or reading about himself, and others reactions to him, as his muffled laughter bounces around the back of Danny’s head.

The One Who Consumes

Also know as Ender and The Consumption

A creature with the trappings of a ghost, may or may not actually be a ghost. Capable of destabilising any ghost and functionally immune to all things anti-ghost. Its abilities are largely unknown but, due to Its tendency to show off, many have been documented. It is known to possess all the regular ghost abilities with extreme skill, absolute form manipulation, fire, ice and ectoplasm manipulation, and Its highly destructive Wail. It is classified as an immortal due to Its overwhelming nature.

Its personality is known to be callous, sadistic and manipulative. Fully capable of pretending to be human or friendly, but It's not able to keep this farce up for long. Mostly out of getting annoyed or wanting to show off. It’s highly egotistical and often downright petty.

It is currently sealed away in an unknown location and it is unknown if It even still exists. Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to communicate with, locate, free, help, be in the same place as, or try to fight; this creature. Unless it should become free again.

Danny, coughing a bit, “well, um, we did all of that”. Sam and Tucker shake their heads, “this is one hell of an accidental fuck up”. Danny just nods as his eyes flicker green slightly, spotting the ghost that just randomly showed up. Groaning, “ugh”, and pointing his thumb at the ghost, “what now?”. Hearing chuckling in his head, “don’t you know? My aura’s quite enticing to ghosts of an...unpleasant persuasion”.

Noticing the red eyes and groaning, turning to his friends, “there’s an unfriendly and this asshole just told me he basically attracts them”. Tucker shakes his head, “wow, this keeps getting more fucked”. Danny can’t help but agree as he yanks his friends out of the ghost's path and can feel his ghost poking at him or something.

Clueing in pretty quickly as the ring thing appears again, yelping a little, while Tucker borderline shouts at him, “just roll with it and, I don’t know, kick ghost ass!”. Obviously, they can see his confusion as he starts floating again, Sam sticks her arms out at him, “ghost powers you idiot”.

Sam winces a bit at the red flash in Danny’s eyes, obviously, the monster guy has more influence or whatever when Danny’s like this. But Danny’s a determined bastard so she’s sure he’ll be fine. Watching as Danny pretty well gets decked by something invisible, though officially not invisible now. Then hearing Danny hiss a little before blasting It in the face with an ectoray, eyes more red than green.

While Danny appreciates not getting his ass kicked, he doesn’t appreciate practically be forced to stab someone, even a ghost someone. “Clawless, how weak. Still rather amusing, don’t worry, you learn to love it”.

Danny grits out, “not gonna happen”, as he kicks the ghost away from him. Not really sure how the heck to use these powers or whatever. Which he’s getting mocked for, “oh I’ll meddle again, plenty actually. While you go about stumbling through your pathetic human childhood”.

Jerking as Phantom moves his arm, yanking the ghost back over with green ectoplasm rope or something. Grabbing the ghosts face and dragging it across the ground, somehow blocking the other ghosts ability to become intangible. Danny yanks his hand off the ghost only for Phantom to blast It with his other hand, talking though Danny’s mouth, “I suppose I could let you live for amusing me, but I don’t work like that”.

Danny can feel Phantoms annoyance at the ghost disappearing inside one of his parents capture cubes, letting Phantom land his, their?, feet on the ground as he tries to figure out how to change back before Phantom does something fucked up.

Tucker is just flat out excited, “Danny dude! That was awesome!”. But promptly gets the crap scared out of him as Danny snaps his head, but not his body, around, “actually, that was me”. Before the light ring comes out of nowhere, changing Danny back.

Danny yells a little bit before spinning his head back around, “okay, that was fucked”. Sam and Tucker just nod as they help him stand back up, “okay, so obviously we’re all gonna have to watch for evil asshole randomly overtaking you. But uh, ghost fighting man”.

Danny glances at Tucker, “yeah, no shit. But since this piece of shit is just going to draw more like that here then yeah, I guess ghost fighting”. Snickering a bit hollowly, “god this is like the cliche superhero with a dark side, fucking hell”.

Tucker jabs him, “more like dark half, dude. But hey, it’s three against one so you’ll be good”.

“A pack of humans, yeah those two will sure be useful” Danny opts to just ignore him, but it seems like he’s not really going to shut up, “I'm quite the guy, you’ll find. They’ll be mine too. They’ll follow you and you, well, corruption always gets its way. It’s all a matter of time”.

Danny tries to mentally glare at him, but just gets cackling in return.

End.

#danny phantom #phandom #phanniemay #phanniemay19 #seance #dan phantom #danny fenton #sam manson #tucker foley #accident rewrite #danny gets his ghost pwoers by being fused with phantom #fenton and phantom are seperate people #mild attempted murder #phantomphangphucker #have a fic suck my dick

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itsblissfuloblivion · 5 years

Text

Kindle - Chapter 18

A/N: We can’t really believe this is the last chapter!!!! It’s filled with fluff and love and hinny cuteness. We hope you enjoy it & thank you for reading along and sharing your wonderful comments!!! Love Love Love from @fightfortherightsofhouseelves & @gryffindormischief

Also available on FF & Ao3!

Harry never regarded a day spent at the Burrow, in the bosom of the Weasley family, as anything even remotely close to dangerous. Today, however, he found himself seconds short of being trampled upon, run down, and asphyxiated between the kilometers of lace and silk used to decorate the wide wedding tent slash ballroom. Hence why he can currently be spotted casually hiding behind a particular copse at the far end of the orchard, silently praying he will make it throughout the day alive.

It’s also where Ron finds him, harassed and out of his wits.

“I reckon if Mum hunts me down one more time to smarten up my suit and tie, I’ll scream bloody murder and then kill myself. Hermione would understand, she would,” Ron complains as he takes a seat next to Harry on the warm ground, knowing full well that he’ll be risking both his life and Harry’s as soon as Molly Weasley discovers soil stains on their wedding suits.

Harry snorts, eyeing his best mate amusedly, “I’m actually afraid of your Mum, you know. It’s only now I realise how naive I was to fear your Dad and brothers when we told them about the baby.”

“Oh, yeah, definitely. And don’t let her fool you, mate, but Ginny’s really Mum, only thirty years younger,” Ron elbows Harry and they both laugh easily, their shoulders visibly relaxing.

A pause and then Harry speaks, his lips stretching into a candid smile, “Hey, Ron?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m really happy for you, mate. You two - I mean, you’re perfect for each other,” he adds and Ron’s blue eyes turn moist as his cheeks color pink.

“Don’t-” Ron clears his throat, “don’t tell my sister, but that pretty much applies to you two as well,” he smiles sheepishly.

“Thank you,” Harry mumbles as he tries to swallow the newly formed lump in his throat.

They sit still, enjoying a silence that speaks of mutual contentment and a lifetime of friendship shared between them. To Harry, it seems amazing, fantastic even that he gets to be part of his best mate’s wedding day. His wedding day! When did they grow up so fast? When did all the years pass since that first day of school they shook hands for the first time, two scrawny, scared, lonely kids on a train leading them to great adventures. What would those two kids say if they knew that, sixteen years down the line, they’d go to each other’s weddings and cry with joy at the news of children coming.

“Oi! Happy tree friends over there,” George wheezes as he runs towards them. “Mum and the bride are looking for you. The ceremony’s about to start,” he adds, checking his watch, then smirks. “I’d be careful if I were you, Ronniekins. Your dashing bride looks like she’s about to have someone’s head.”

Gulping, Ron hurriedly pats his groom tuxedo in hopes of dusting off any traces of mud and grass, and gallops away, as fast as his black leather shoes can take him.

“I wouldn’t grin in your place, Harry, mate. Ginny’s also sent word to find you and take you back to her dead or alive,” George jokes, laughing at Harry’s desperate expression. “Frankly, I reckon she’s really about to lose it with everybody doting on her. Poor Angelina, she’s in for the same mad ride once we tell them we’re expecting,” he shakes his head and slightly shudders at the prospect.

Dumbfounded, Harry opens his mouth only to close it again. Inhales, exhales, and tries again, “Excuse me? You two-? You’re-?”

George’s face lights up, blue eyes sparkling brighter than Harry had ever seen them, pure bliss radiating from every inch of his being. “Yes, bloody hell yes!” He grins wide and Harry jumps in to hug and congratulate him with enthusiasm. “But don’t tell Ron yet, alright? I - erm, we don’t want to steal his thunder. I mean, he’s always got what Bill, Charlie, Percy, and then Fred and I didn’t need or want anymore. It’s his day,” George slowly says, embarrassed, his hand flying to the back of his head and eyes averting Harry’s green ones.

Harry claps him on the shoulder proudly as they shuffle their feet in tandem towards the wedding crowd, one future father and another.

On the other side of the orchard, Harry spots a dash of red hair and a mess of black. Lily and James Potter, dressed smartly in summer dress with hues of gold and a navy blue suit, sit close to each other, her head resting against one of his broad shoulders.

“What are you two love birds doing?” Harry sneaks up behind his parents, pretending to be grossed out by the fluffy scene unfolding before him.

“You look spiffing, son,” James nods in approval. “Hair like a hurricane is a family gene I’m afraid, but alas, you do have your charm,” he grins, winking at the younger version of him.

Snorting, Harry presses a kiss to his mum’s cheek and squeezes his dad’s shoulder before half-sitting in one of the delicate chairs in front of them. “Sorry we couldn’t pick you three up from the airport.”

Lily rubs some mostly imaginary smudge from Harry’s chin and smiles. “We’re your parents. And we can definitely handle ordering an Uber.”

“Dad can’t.”

“Siri hates me.”

Rolling her eyes, Lily pats James’ knee and sighs, “Yes dear.”

James’ retort is already on his lips when he follows Harry’s eyeline. “We fly halfway around the world and he can’t even pay attention to our scintillating conversation.”

Jolting, Harry turns to find his mother looking at him fondly. “He’s in love and his girlfriend is glowing and beautiful.”

A flush rises on Harry’s cheek as James muses, “Perhaps more than girlfriend?”

“Smooth, Dad.”

“It’s not a no, Lil.”

Harry growls and Lily pats his arm where it rests across the gilt chair back. “Don’t pressure him, James. Just because he has the opportunity to make his mum’s dreams come true while she’s on the same continent - ”

“You know - ”

Before Harry can finish his half-formed threat, Sirius drops into the seat next to him and grins. “Are we talking about my godson having eye-sex with the girl he could barely talk to like a human being not even a year ago?”

Head dropping to his forearm, Harry doesn’t bother interjecting as his family laughs at his expense.

His mum’s fingers brush through his hair, her smile warm, and despite the teasing, Harry realizes just how much he’s missed them. Which is lucky for the three menaces, because it puts Harry in a giving, patient mood, even when Sirius continues, “Remember when he kissed her and then ran away to do something academic and nerdy?”

“Biology really is magical,” James nods, “How else did he father a child with such a woman?”

Lily rolls her eyes and jabs at James’ middle. “You should talk - I seem to remember a very awkward hair-ruffling, mildly blackmail-ish first date invitation.”

Sirius nods sagely, “He didn’t speak for at least two weeks after that.”

“Harry’s an adult,” James accuses, a smile tickling the corners of his lips.

“Mature, Dad.”

“My son is charming and handsome. He probably won her over with his lovely smile.”

“Actually, I had her at professor.”

George comes to a halt at Harry’s side, overly large bouquet of flowers covering him from hip to nose before he peers around, “A little bird told me something about a hat, Indiana Jones, and a whip.”

Flushing, Harry rises and steps out past George into the aisle. “No comment.”

Across the yard, Ginny’s secreted herself off to fume where no innocent bystanders can be caught in the crossfire of her hormonally charged anger.

“You look like you’re ready to stab someone,” Bill approaches his sister, youngest daughter cradled in his arms in a weak attempt at putting her to sleep.

“Sure feel like it,” Ginny snorts, flipping her thick sheath of red hair over a freckled shoulder. “You’d think people’d understand I’m eight months pregnant, not disabled,” she add as she blows a considerable amount of air through her nostrils, eyes flaring so she rather resembles a dragon. To Bill, at least.

“Anyway,” Ginny plows on, fussing about her chair until she finds a comfortable enough position for her poor back and heavy tummy, “Have you seen Teddy?”

Bill round blue eyes morph into slits, “Wooing my eldest daughter, I suppose,” he responds with ill disguised nonchalance.

“Wouldn’t dare imagine how you’ll take it when they actually start dating,” Ginny giggles as her brother’s eyes widen, as if only then he’d acknowledged the possibility.

“Don’t.”

“Mr. Protective Father, aren’t we?” she raises an eyebrow, freckles gathering in a cluster right above it.

Bill sighs and takes a sit on the chair next to Ginny’s, transferring baby Dominique from one arm to the other, and squeezes his sister’s hand, “I truly wish that you’re carrying a little girl in there so I can even things up with Harry for knocking up my sister and stealing my daughter through that little godson of his.”

“You say knocked up once more,” Ginny pulls her hand away incensed, “I swear I’ll sit on you. And that’s a real threat seeing that I weigh about a billion kilos right now.” Her frown only brings a grin to her brother’s face, and she could never quite resist that mischievous, charming smirk Bill adorned when he felt comfortable or pleased, his ponytail hanging low over his back and fanged earring dangling in the shy summer breeze.

“Hullo, love,” Harry appears out of nowhere and plants a kiss on her cheek. “Hermione’s summoned you to the gallows. I mean, she’s called you up to her room for a last bride and bridesmaid rehearsal,” he grins, hands out an arm for Ginny to lean on as she rises.

“It’s ridiculous,” she sneers, breathing heavily as Harry lifts her, “I’m like a ticking clock about to explode and she has the audacity to call me a bridesmaid.”

“Maybe don’t explode just now,” Harry chuckles as they walk towards the Burrow, “I reckon Hermione wouldn’t appreciate it very much.” Ginny rolls her eyes, yet gives in to laughter seconds later. It’s easy being happy next to him, she thinks.

Knock-knock, Ginny raps her knuckles on the wooden surface of the door to her childhood room. It’s where Hermione set headquarters for her bridal transformation, in Ron’s words, and it was not a lie. Always a beautiful woman, Hermione was breathtaking in white satin, rich curls flowing loosely down her back.

“Might be the pregnancy hormones speaking, but I’m feeling attracted to you right now,” Ginny appraises her friend as she shuts the door firmly and drops herself on the old single bed, lifting her feet up on a freshly fluffed pillow.

“I’m afraid you took too long to make a move,” Hermione snorts as she tries to smooth down a rogue curl, hovering so close in front of the mirror she goes a bit cross eyed.

“Yeah, afraid so. Plus you’d probably have to fight Harry for me.”

“Oh, no, I’d never win. Heard he has a trusty whip he uses to impose discipline,” the bride smirks, switching her gaze to observe her friend through the mirror.

“Harry got drunk and confessed, didn’t he?” Ginny drawls, bored.

Hermione lifts an ebony eyebrow, “Trust me, I’m the victim here. Absolutely did not sign up to hear that.” She gingerly holds one heeled shoe and inserts her right foot with great care, long brown bushy hair shielding her face from view. “Although I must admit, role playing does sound rather...tolerable.”

Palm pressed to her mouth, Ginny giggles, “The word you’re looking for is kinky. And yes, do it. Just never tell me it’s my brother you’re doing it with. Can’t possibly stomach that.”

“Will the two of you ever grow up?” Hermione asks, hair pushed back from her face with one arm as she holds a second shoe in place with the other.

“Nope. I expect we’ll have children and lie that they arrived with the stork.”

Hermione rolls her eyes, “I’m marrying into this family.”

“Your decision, not mine,” Ginny winks and tosses a peanut into her mouth with high accuracy, a trick learned and polished over holidays spent with her brothers.

“Impressive. Where’d you get’em from?”

“Nicked them on my way here.”

Chuckling, Hermione lifts the heavy material of her wedding gown, her high heels tap-tapping on the creaking floor as she walks to sit next to Ginny. “So how are you feeling?”

“I’m aware I said it before, but like a whale waiting to be put out of her misery,” Ginny pouts, palms running light circles over her rounded stomach. “I may never voluntarily choose to have children again.”

“I gather it was a choice?” Hermione’s deep brown eyes meet Ginny’s, mischief glinting bright.

“Eh, it’s not like we did much to prevent it, to be fair,” she admits with a grin. “Nevermind that,” Ginny tries to lift herself up on her elbows, “How are you? It’s your wedding day!”

The two women smile so wide their cheeks hurt, features alight with happiness and giddiness. If Ginny didn’t feel like thrice her size and Hermione had not spend the last five hours getting ready, they’d be sure to jump up and down in sheer excitement. Still, given the circumstances, they settle for squealing at earnumbing frequencies.

The ceremony is beautiful up to the tiniest detail, and has a peaceful effect on everyone present. Madams Granger and Weasley seniors weep in tandem with a hormonal Ginny, Lily squeezes James’ hand, and Ron feels like bursting with joy. From the audience, Bill, Charlie, and George give him a thumbs up and three mad grins. Percy, on the other hand, sits poised on the edge of his chair, the image of British properness, while Arthur subtly wipes a tear from underneath his horn-rimmed glasses. In the middle of it all, Hermione gasps as though she can barely believe everything that’s happening, hand trembling as Ron slides the gold band on her finger.

The newly weds’ kiss hovers dangerously close to indecent, Ron lifting his wife off her feet in a toe-curling snog that has Sirius wolf whistling and Snuffles barking.

Barely two weeks later, it’s well past the ‘witching hour’ and Harry’s taken over the couch - his office surrendered in favor of a baby nursery - typing away at his latest revision of the post-dig paper, when Ginny shuffles out into the living room. “Harry?”

She looks so young, hair in a tangle around her freckled face, soft cotton nightgown dwarfing her even at such a late stage of pregnancy, that Harry can’t help but imagine a little girl of their own. Ginny’s fiery locks, his almond shaped eyes, her freckles, his knobby knees -

Ginny’s wince puts an end to his daydreaming. “I think. I think it’s time,” she grips the doorway, “Unrelated - we need to change the sheets.”

Nearly tossing his laptop across the room in frightened haste, Harry’s at Ginny’s side in two beats, palm finding the small of her back like it’s magnetized. “I’ll - we’re good. I’ll call Mum, they’re closest for Ted. Just. You’re packed, yeah?”

“Yes, yes. You nagged me about seven billion times. Today.”

“Well aren’t you glad I did?” Harry shoots back, blinking exaggeratedly.

Before Ginny can answer, she doubles over, breaths coming in short pants. “Stuff it. Go call your Mum.”

“Sir, yes, Sir.”

“Don’t sass me while your child is trying to violently expel itself from my body,” Ginny grunts, pinching his arm as he fumbles for his mobile.

It’s a quick, excited call that gets Lily and co. on the way before Harry’s dialing the hospital and tugging on street clothes.

Ginny’s movements are slow, hampered by the periodic spasms at her back, as she drags her soiled nightie overhead and pulls on a cottony grey dress that stretches comfortably over her belly. After a few failed attempts, she leans against the door to their closet and moans, “Harry, I can’t see the floor.”

Quick as he can, Harry trots over and brushes his thumb along her jaw. “Which ones, love?”

Sighing, Ginny nuzzles against his shoulder and murmurs, “My granny clogs?”

Not even a quarter of an hour later, Lily, James, and Sirius are gathered around the dining table while Harry lectures them as he reads down the checklist scrawled over two full pages of a yellow pad and Ginny strokes her belly, resting against the front door.

“You know, there’s this thing called texting, son. Plus we raised you alright.”

“And we are bloody doctors, Harry,” Lily adds, “Now go, or Ginny’s going to murder you before I see my first grandchild.”

Harry’d really like to point out that his mother did in fact work in a lab all her professional life, but considers it twice before opening his mouth to blurt out his usual sass for fear that either Lily or Ginny might eat him alive.

The trip to hospital is a blur, the odd hour at least eliminating some traffic as they trundle through the rain streaked streets. In between contractions, Ginny fiddles with the radio and does her best to smile teasingly. “You know, you’re handling this quite well.”

“I’m an adult, I can handle stress.”

Ginny glances at him sidelong. “Sure.”

And Harry does remain beautifully cool, calm, and collected as Ginny’s wheeled into the maternity ward, as he fills out the check-in paperwork, and even while she’s changing into her gown and getting tucked safely into the scratchy hospital blankets.

It’s not until her doctor comes in, snapping rubber gloves at her wrists, and explaining the steps of this first check up that Harry begins to leave the comforting haze that carried him through the last hour and realization sets in.

By this time tomorrow, Harry’ll be a dad. Again. And really, he’d have thought having Teddy, and nine months of lead in time would’ve made this a less terrifying thought. But as the time is counted in hours rather than months, weeks, or days, he can barely keep his hands steady enough to ring Ron.

He lets it ring once, then dials back again - Ron’s had his mobile set on ‘Do Not Disturb’ for most of the last month - and before Hermione manages more than a sleepy ‘hello,’ he’s blurting, “The baby’s coming, how soon can you get down here, I’m freaking out.”

Hermione’s laugh is quiet as she murmurs and shakes Ron awake. “Harry, take a deep breath, we’ll be right down.”

It absolutely does not help that Harry’s last glimpse of Ginny is of her moaning and promising to inflict as much pain onto him when the baby is finally out as she’s currently suffering, as, according to her, it’s entirely his fault.

Before Harry falls into the pits of despair, James Potter arrives to sneak a comforting arm around his son and helps him into a nearby chair, while a sleepy Teddy drops his head to one of Harry’s knees.

“There, there, my darling boy. The ER guy and your Mum will take care of Ginny until the Weasley cavalry rides in,” James pats Harry’s messy locks, kisses him on the top of his head.

“You mean Sirius made his entrance?” Harry grunts, forehead pressed closed to where Teddy’s is resting, his body twisted in a position worthy of a Cirque to Soleil contortionist.

“He’s really so good at what he does I can turn a blind eye to his dramatics.”

Harry lifts his head enough to catch a hurricane of red hair crashing by. The poor nurse trying to keep people outside of Ginny’s already crammed ward has no chance when faced with Molly Weasley, nerves wired to the tips of her overworked fingers.

By the grace of some lucky star, or rather by the force of the combined prayers of medical staff having to do their job with one Molly Weasley and one Sirius Black barking orders and shooting questions to and fro, Ginny’s not in labor too long, things moving quickly as they can. Even so, the rush of nurses and doctors dressed in pale scrubs flying in and out of her room doesn’t do much to quell Harry’s nerves.

At some point, Ron pressed a styrofoam cup of tea into Harry’s hand, long since gone tepid and untouched. Still, it gives him something to fiddle with. A lifetime passes before Sirius exits the room, wiping at his sweaty brow, and disappears to god knows where. But Harry has no energy to rise and chase after him, or rather ask why they needed an emergency specialist, or a million other questions. He can only sit there, straddling the metal chair, his palms pressing into his forehead until the tips of his fingers turn white.

He’s about to storm his way into the room when a nurse emerges, wrapped in a bright yellow apron and beckons Harry inside. Looking around, he catches a glimpse of bushy brown hair resting on Ron’s shoulder as his own mother and father seem to have dozed off to sleep next to them. Harry feels too tired to smile, but the family scene does bring some sort of comfort and familiarity to the newness he’s confronted with. He exhales loudly and steps in.

The crowd has dissipated somewhat and Ginny seems to be at a resting point, hair matted and face utterly wrecked. But she seems alright, all things considered.

“Hey, Gin.”

Her mouth twists in a tired smile, “Don’t Gin me. Your little basketball sized spawn is slamming its way out of my body. I deserve a ‘Hello goddess of the universe.’”

“At least you’ve still got your sense of humor,” Harry murmurs, ruffling his hair as Molly avoids eye contact and studiously examines a two month old copy of Reader’s Digest.

Ginny rolls her eyes and gestures him closer, not relaxing until he claims the chair next to her, barely perching on the stiff plastic seat. “I thought I didn’t want you in here, but,” she clears her throat and shares a brief glance with Molly, “Someone very wise helped me realize I needed my partner to finish this out.”

Molly’s lips tick up in a grin and Ginny continues, “You’re still not allowed down there but - ”

Before Ginny can continue her conditions, her entire body tenses as another contraction rolls through her body. And after that, it’s a blur of measured breathing and nearly cracked knuckles, until suddenly a little cry pierces the early morning light and Harry’s holding his squalling little son.

The whole world seems to shrink down to the three of them, that little room, and Harry’s whole world in the space of his arms. Or almost his whole world. At nearly the same moment his brain catches up, Ginny’s does too. “Where’s Teddy?”

“I’ll get him?”

Teddy’s hesitant when he reaches the doorway, eyes wide as he bites at his lip. “I can really come in?”

Ginny’s brow furrows, unused to seeing Teddy so restrained. Until she finds his gaze focused on the little baby boy, tucked against her chest. “You ready to meet your brother?”

His smile grows and he totters over to the bed, Harry at his heels. When he can’t manage climbing past the bed rail, Harry lifts him onto the edge of the mattress and Teddy reaches out a hesitant hand towards the pink bundle.

The baby’s chest rises and falls steadily beneath his tightly wrapped blanket and finally, after nine months, Harry’s life’s work is together and right before his eyes.

“Can we call him Victor?” Teddy asks innocently, his eyes wide with unrepressed wonder.

A laugh tumbles out from deep within Ginny’s chest and she leans in to kiss Teddy dearly on the cheek, her smile unrelenting. “I was thinking something more to the effect of...well, James. For tradition,” she adds, immediately searching for any signs of possible refuse from Harry. But there are only tears in his eyes, and Ginny just knows it’s the right decision - three generations of James Potters with their wild, messy, dark hair (and most probably bad eyesight). “And,” Ginny prepares herself to say out loud what she’d been thinking since realising that Harry had, in fact, two dads, one of them who held her hand through most of the night, calming her when she was in terrible pain and terribly frightened, “Maybe also Sirius?”

It’s likely too much for Harry, as he closes his eyes and keeps quiet for a minute, his breathing coming in and out unevenly. “Why?” He finally asks.

“They’re inseparable, the two of them, like peas in a pod. Only seems natural,” Ginny shrugs like its no big deal.

Before Harry can shout his happiness to the world, there’s a knock at the door and Molly’s face appears round the corner, leaving Harry wondering when exactly she managed to slip past.

“You have an adoring public waiting, dears. Everyone’s promised to keep it short.”

And then it’s like the circus has set up in the maternity ward of Mungo’s Hospital, too many people, too many grabbing hands, and entirely too much laughter. Somehow, the Weasley brothers all manage to gather themselves into an intimidating huddle, looming at the foot of Ginny’s bed as she settles back against the pillows, eyes drooping with tiredness, and Harry’s never felt so analyzed and judged in his life - not even when he defended his dissertation, and that’s saying something. “‘M sorry love, if they’re going to beat you up I can’t defend you much,” she tells him between two yawns.

Harry presses a kiss to her forehead and laughs. “At least I’m already in hospital.”

Growling under her breath, Ginny readjusts in the bed - wincing a bit - and scowls. “It was a joke. No one’s beating anyone up. God, it’s not 1950,” her voice drops as she eyes each of her brothers in turn, “Which is why Victoire’s birthday is just a bit too close to her mummy and daddy’s wedding day.”

Bill scoffs but he claps Harry on the back, as Charlie and Ron cackle, while Percy clears his throat uncomfortably and unnecessarily readjusts his eyeglasses. “We like you well enough, and Gin’s got you well in hand.”

“She’s got all of us well in hand,” Harry laughs, earning a playful scowl from Ginny, even as she dozes off against her newly fluffed pillows.

Like the mother hen that she is, Molly shoos the Weasley masses from room, only lingering long enough to press a kiss to Ginny’s head and nearly squeeze the life out of Harry. Lily rounds the bed next, finally standing out again now that she’s the only redhead in the room. With a smile, she cups Harry’s cheek. “I’m so happy for you, my sweet, darling boy.”

James hovers at her shoulder, furiously blinking away tears as his lips tilt in a grin. “You have a lovely little family.”

“I’ll expect 24-7 babysitting availability once you come to your senses and move back,” Ginny says with a laugh, her eyes barely open.

“You won’t have to twist his arm,” Sirius puts in, brushing a careful finger over James Sirius’ sleep flushed cheek, “Ol’ Jamesy is a sucker for all things baby. You’ll have to pry him out of your flat.”

Lily snorts. “You’re one to talk - Harry was almost as spoilt as ickle Diddykins that first Christmas.”

“I am extravagant with my love.”

Rolling her eyes, Lily squeezes Ginny’s hand and sighs. “We’ll come back and visit. Tomorrow - well today. Late. I know you’ll be more than tired.”

“Wait,” James pauses in his stride and turns back to the family of four cuddled up on the feeble hospital bed, “What’s this little tike’s name? If it’s been decided, of course.”

Sharing a look, Harry nods for Ginny to speak.

“He’s named after some famous double act,” Ginny dares a sheepish grin, “James Sirius.”

Ginny might’ve hit the two men with an iron chair over their heads and would’ve probably gotten more of a reaction. It takes whole minutes before they can speak again, their voices trembling and knees shaking as Lily half-carries them towards the exit, arms wrung through each of their own.

Harry climbs out of bed to walk them to the front door, accepting more teary hugs, sloppy kisses, and congratulations, before they disappear into the miraculously quiet hallway.

Back inside the small ward, Teddy’s dead to the world where he rests against James’ shoulder as Ginny shifts a bit restlessly. “You could go home and sleep in a bed - Teddy too.”

“Are you kidding me? First, all parties involved were more than happy for a sleep over at Mum and Dad’s posh hotel suite, and second there is no way I’m leaving this building while the two of you are here, alone.”

“Such a dad,” Ginny murmurs, eyelashes brushing her freckled cheeks as she drifts off, “Now stop trying to pretend that chair is comfortable and get up here with me.”

Kicking off his shoes, Harry makes to follow her instructions, even as he asks, “You sure? That nurse was a bit scary.”

“Poor baby.”

“You’ll have to protect me if Nurse Moody shows up.”

Ginny hums, already half asleep, “Of course, my love. Now come snuggle your tired wife.”

Harry’s heart stutters at the slip, his eyes shooting open wide to catch Ginny’s expression. But it seems it was indeed just a tired slip of the tongue. One that has him awake long after Ginny drifts off.

“Thank you,” he whispers into her ginger hair and presses his temple to it. His last conscious thought is of love, of his son carrying the names of two of the most important people in his life, two people who had shaped and defined him, of how much this woman, this incredible, beautiful woman means to him, of how easily she seems to understand him.

The next forty eight hours are full to the brim with last minute preparations at the flat - Hermione is an over prepared lifesaver - lessons in parenting from nurses, doctors, and nosy family, and for Harry, a few slight (and luckily private) freak outs that he’s got two kids and really wants to propose to his girlfriend.

Ron pulls his and Hermione’s little SUV up to the porte-cochère just as Harry and Teddy wheel out Ginny and James Sirius.

Luckily, the ride home isn’t too long but Ginny’s still ready for a nap by the time they arrive. It’s a team effort to get Ginny tucked in bed, James and Teddy fed, and all three of them to sleep. Still, Harry’s never been more content.

He’s sipping lemonade at the counter while Hermione does the last of their lunch dishes when Ron sidles up. “So, dad, how’s it feel to be ancient?”

“You’re the old married couple.”

Hermione smirks, setting the last plate to dry. “I’ve a feeling we won’t hold that distinction for long.”

They wander into the living room and Harry sighs, slumping back against the cushions. “My life has never been in the right order. Not that I’m complaining.”

Ron claims the seat on his left and Hermione the right, her head tucking against his shoulder. “Is there a ‘right order’?”

“Look at my wife, the philosopher.”

“She’s a woman of many talents.”

“You’re a couple of tossers.”

Chuckling, Ron takes another swig of his lemonade and throws his arm around Harry’s shoulders. “What? I’m serious.”

They share a laugh, muffling the noise against the palms of their hands, until Harry calms. “Tell me not to go wake my newborn son because I want to play with him. Or hold him. Or both, I can’t really decide.”

Hermione pats his arm. “Don’t.”

“Yeah, Gin-Gin will kill you if you screw the kid up.”

Harry shows a pretty sizeable amount of restraint - his own view of the subject - and manages to wait a whole hour before he tiptoes into the bedroom just to stare after Ron and Hermione return to the comfort of their own home. Glancing at his watch, he turns towards Teddy’s door and finds him sitting half atop his covers and thumbing through a picture book. “Hey, Ted.”

“Hi, wanna read - ”

A sad little wail of a cry sounds from the master bedroom and Teddy perks up, “Is James awake?”

“Sounds like it,” Harry rubs at the back of his head, “We’ll have to pause the - ”

“Let’s go, he’s crying.”

Teddy grabs Harry’s hand and tugs him into the hall, books forgotten in the wake of ‘big brother duties.’

In a few quick strides, they’ve reached the little bassinet and little James is giving his lungs a good work out. Smiling softly, Teddy brushes his fingers along James’ bootied toes. “S’alright. Harry’s here. He knows just what to do.”

The bed creaks behind them as Ginny slowly raises herself into a sitting position. “He is pretty great,” Ginny agrees, “Which is why he’s probably guessed James needs some mummy time.”

Gently, Harry lifts James from the cradle and passes him over to Ginny before he ushers Teddy from the room to choose a storybook.

It’s a bigger choice than Harry guessed, Victoire has told him the first book a baby reads is very important so they flip through half of Teddy’s collection before settling on Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump.

They’ve given Ginny enough time so that James has been fed and burped, her clothes have been righted, and the baby boy is cooing softly against her chest. “We’re ready for some entertainment. Hospital was pretty boring.”

With care, Harry and Teddy climb up onto the bed - Harry claiming the innermost seat as he fans the book open before them. “A long time ago, in a land far away, there was a kingdom ruled by a foolish King who decided that he should be the only one to have magical powers.”

Ginny and Teddy snuggle close on either side while James blinks tiredly. “He formed an army, which he called the Brigade of Witch-Hunters, and armed them with black hounds. At the same time, he wanted an Instructor in Magic, so he made calls for a wizard or witch from one of the nearby villages to teach him.”

“A little dark for a first storybook,” Ginny teases while Teddy reaches to flip the page.

Harry presses a kiss to her forehead. “It’s got a nice ending.”

Not long after the story comes to a close, Harry’s mobile vibrates in his pocket. With a quick fumble, Harry manages to pull it free and swipe the call on before James Sirius wakes. “‘Lo?”

“Uncle Harry?”

“Hello, Victoire,” Harry says with a smile that only widens as Teddy perks up, “I know we’re tight, but I have a feeling you’re not looking for me.”

There’s a pause like she nearly drops Bill’s phone and then presses it back to her ear. Harry glances down at his wide-eyed godson. “Teddy’s right here.”

Reaching up with grabbing hands, Teddy accepts the mobile and trots out with an affectionate glance toward James where he sleeps in Ginny’s arms.

As Teddy disappears out into the living room, Harry chuckles softly before he twists and cups Ginny’s chin, pressing a kiss to her lips. “You’re - beautiful.”

She hums, deepening the kiss just barely. “So’re you, my love.”

James shifts a little restlessly in Ginny’s arms, snuffling in his sleep while Harry brushes a finger over his cheek. “I love you, Gin. You - this life we have together is better than anything I could’ve dreamt up for Teddy and I.”

“Better than just a doughnut?”

Laughter bubbles in Harry’s chest as he kisses Ginny once more. “I - you know how we talked briefly in New York?”

Brow quirking, Ginny turns a bit more to face Harry. “We talked more than a few times in New York, dear.”

“About - about adding another Potter to the world.”

“Seems we did that fairly well,” Ginny teases, darting a glance towards their sleeping son.

“I mean, making you one. About being officially.”

In all seriousness, Ginny asks, “Harry. Will you marry me?”

Jolting, Harry scowls down at Ginny. “No fair, I started first.”

“But I finished first - you always like that.”

“God, innuendo in front of our slumbering son?”

“What’s the answer, Potter?”

Harry drops his forehead against Ginny’s and feels his eyes filling even as his smile widens. “Yeah I’ll be Mr. Ginny Weasley-Potter-Whatever.”

“I like the hyphens,” Ginny laughs, her own tears forming, “Damn, I can’t wait until these excess hormones wear off. You do realize you proposed to a hosepipe, yeah?”

“A beautiful, amazing, cheeky, brilliant hosepipe.”

“What a bloke you are.”

“You’re the one who proposed - this is your choice.”

Settling James in Harry’s arms, Ginny presses herself close and sighs quietly. “It’s a good one.”

A cry pierces the air just as Harry’s miraculous coffee-fueled epiphany gets into full swing, sentence half finished as the ending dangles and then floats from his brain.

There’s probably only three people in the world he wouldn’t shout at for interrupting that flow and it’s the youngest of the three that beckons from the nursery. Teddy falls in at Harry’s side, his eagerness to be the world’s greatest elder brother only grown in the months since James came into their lives, and they find the little squalling bundle of Potter wriggling unhappily in his cot. “Alright, James?”

His tears pause for a moment as Harry and Teddy appear overhead, before the wailing renews in earnest. “Guess someone’s got a little gift in their nappy.”

Teddy presses his fists to his hips, power posing like a little superhero, and nods at Harry. “I’ll get the wipes.”

They go about the process of tidying James up, letting him swallow down a bottle of milk, then wander into the kitchen, standing side by side, staring aimlessly into the void of their mostly empty fridge, and then pantry. Harry bounces James on his chest as he slobbers over the collar of Harry’s t-shirt and Teddy sighs, chest rising and falling dramatically before he glances up at Harry and shakes his head. “Nothin’ to eat.”

“Unless you want some,” Harry shuffles a carton of baking soda aside and lifts a can from the back of the shelves, “Dehydrated milk?”

Teddy wrinkles his nose. “Ron’s?”

“You read my mind, mate.”

Harry and Teddy bundle themselves against the Autumn chill, tugging on wellies and winding scarves around their necks while James giggles happily while his chubby fingers jab at the dangling bits of his baby gym. Once they’re properly festooned, godfather and godson take care to ensure the littlest Potter is appropriately protected against the elements and admittedly overpack his nappy bag.

Luckily, the weather holds as they walk the few blocks toward Ron’s, the overhead bell soon tolling their entrance to the crowded shop.

Teddy tilts his head in the direction of the counter and bake case and Harry nods his approval, handing a few pound notes over before he carries James towards a free table in the back, his legs wriggling in the Ergo carrier. The line moves fairly quickly as gangly little Dennis rings up the line of hungry customers until Teddy’s next.

He places their regular order with a polite smile for Dennis and trots over to their table. “Dennis said t’ wait here and they’ll bring it.”

“We don’t need all that - ”

“Well too bad sir, this is a full service bakery and I expect a tip.”

“Gin-Gin!”

“Hello. Teddy Bear. I got some apple slices to go with this doughnut for breakfast.”

“You’re the one peddling fluffy strawberry clouds by the dozen,” Harry sticks out his tongue and starts freeing space for Ginny to take a seat next to him.

She laughs, “Only until my wandering brother and his wife return from their ‘second honeymoon.’”

Smiling, Harry sips at the tea Ginny’s set on the table and drags a third chair closer with his foot. “Take a load off, Madame Manager.”

Accepting the proffered seat, Ginny claims an apple slice for herself and ruffles Teddy’s hair. “And by the way, isn’t a second honeymoon usually more than six months in?”

“Hey, if Hermione’s willing to go on holiday, I’m not going to stand in her way.”

Dennis wanders by, bussing tables and offering refills as necessary, and slips Ginny a shortbread biscuit, which she accepts with a grateful smile before turning to Harry. “I thought her brain might leak out after the eighth month of negotiations.”

“She’s got a one track mind the minute anyone mentions institutional inequality.”

After a moment, Teddy wanders over to the little shelves tucked in the back corner and settles in on ‘his’ beanbag chair. Ginny sends him a wink and settles back in her chair, toying with the ring sparkling on her left hand. “Aye. And a few early morning shifts is a small price to pay.”

“Plus we do owe all - this,” Harry gestures a bit vaguely to their odd little family, “- to them.”

Leaning forward, Ginny kisses the sugary remnants of Harry’s doughnut from his lips, “And cinnamon crème.”

Much to Molly’s chagrin, Ginny Weasley doesn’t dress in white on the day of her wedding to Harry Potter (“I’ve already got a son, Mother!”), neither does she assemble a big party for the occasion. Instead, she chooses a dress to match the late autumn hues and combs her long ginger hair loosely against her back. Eyeshadow, lipstick, and a set of golden earrings she received as a wedding gift from her Bill and Fleur are her simple adornments.

Giving herself one last look in the mirror, Ginny smiles, confident as ever and clicks her heels on the wooden floor of her childhood room. At the door, there’s Arthur waiting for her. He kisses her cheek warmly, his fatigued hand brushing her tresses in light strokes, before extending an arm. Father and daughter together, they slowly descend down the circular staircase of the old Weasley family home.

“We’re so proud of you, love,” Arthur murmures as he holds his daughter’s hand.

It’s the whirlwind of emotions that deems Ginny speechless, and she simply clings on tighter to her dad as they walk towards the small wedding tent swaying gently in the November wind.

Family and friends are all waiting for her inside. Yet their faces are all a blur, she’s only got eyes for the man waiting for her at the other end, his hair the usual mess and his smile radiating love. Beside him, Ron claps his shoulder and greets his sister with a short nod.

Ginny squeezes her father’s arm and steadies herself as he kisses her cheek. Vaguely she realizes there are two women crying their eyes out behind her, Lily and Molly unable to contain themselves.

Another short inspection on her right side and Ginny is pleased to notice her little James Sirius securely snuggled between the two men whose names he bears. Taking a deep breath, she knows she can go on with the ceremony.

“I can never come to terms with how beautiful you are,” Harry whispers as she takes her place next to him.

“Don’t you make me cry in front of all those people, you handsome, brilliant man,” Ginny replies, her cheeks coloring ever so slightly.

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Harry grins and takes her hand, his thumb brushing over the engagement ring he placed there months earlier. It’s been a full year, a beautiful year. Best of his life, if he’s honest, at a tie with the one before. He’s established a permanent exhibition, his article on the dig is still published and quoted, his son was born, and to top it all off he’s about to marry the woman of his dreams, the one who’s made him happiest he’s ever been.

They say yes in a deafening wave of applause and cheers, grinning as they officially become Mr. and Mrs. Potter. Hand in hand, they walk down the aisle and accept all hugs, kisses, and congratulations, their hearts bursting with joy and beating in sync. Three steps ahead of them, a convoy made of Teddy, Victoire and Snuffles open the way, flowers spread around from their baskets. Behind, Ron and Hermione follow suit arm in arm.

“Not gonna lie, Harry, you kind of strong-armed me into doing the same,” George winks as they pass by, immediately wincing as a pregnant Angelina pokes him in the ribs.

Bill, Charlie, and Percy all hug their sister and cheerfully offer their congratulations to Harry. He takes a step backwards, offering Ginny enough space to celebrate with her family as he spots his own trio of mischief.

“Congrats, daddy,” Sirius smirks, cradling baby James in his arms.

Harry grimaces, “That sounds...gross, coming from you. And a little like you’re hitting on me, which I hope you’re not, giving that it’s my wedding day and you’re my godfather.”

Sirius rolls his eyes, then ruffles his godson’s unruly hair. “You’re alright, kid. No one’s mad enough to try and pry you away from that red haired temptress of yours.”

Before he can shoot his own comeback, Harry hears Lily’s giggle and feels her plump lips on stubbled cheek, as his father plants a kiss on his other one.

“Well done, son,” James booms. “Look at you - a proud father and godfather, an established archaeologist freshly married to a promising psychologist.” His smile extends to his hazel eyes, sparkling from behind his specs.

“She is rather brilliant,” Lily pipes in, squeezing Harry’s cheek. “And I’m not only referring to her formidable wit. I’ve read the study report on her work at the early education institution and it’s superb. I’m so proud of you two, my love.”

Harry lets himself be swallowed by the three sided hug before he can extract his own son from Sirius’ arms and find his beautiful wife.

Later, much later, when they’re giddy on pure bliss and champagne, snuggled close in their bed while their sons are fast asleep, Harry and Ginny feel like the luckiest people alive. And, in that moment, they truly are. They allow themselves to drift to sleep with their hands connected, ready to support and love each other in the days and years to come, for the rest of their lives together.

All in all, it could be honestly said that life throws a lot of unexpected things Harry Potter’s way, but his luck has been pretty good so far.

#itsblissfuloblivion writes #kindle chapter 18 #kindle #itsblissfuloblivion #fightfortherightsofhouseelves #gryffindormischief #hinny au fic #hinny fic #harry x ginny fic #harry x ginny #read-a-hinny-fic #jily #romione #ron x hermione

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kitsunelokiversali · 5 years

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Magic in Words

Like I said before, I’m not going to post all the prompts from my 365 day challenge on my blog. So we’re starting off on my prompt fill for Day 144! This one is somewhat of a continuation from a reoccurring character, so you can find all of my prompt fills using her here for now. At some point I’m actually going to organize all the shorts in her world so it’s more readable. If you happen to like her, hit me up and let me know!

Day 144 of 365 Writing Prompts:

Mystical Creatures: Angels or other mystical creatures – use them as inspiration.

Original character and world

The dragon shifted with a huff, its scales hissing as they slid across the boulder and a lazy curl of smoke rising from its nostril. Light from the luminous runes eerily glinted off the large mass, the scales appearing coal-black in the dim cave. No other signs of life persisted in the shadows, and no other runes called for attention. All that was left was an empty cavern filled with the same purplish runes as the stairway and a dark, seething mass atop a lone boulder. Stalactites and stalagmites met in a mockery of prison bars between Sage and the beast, but she had no doubt they would do nothing to stop it. This… was not what she was expecting.

Panting from exhaustion, Sage collapsed back to the bottom step of the spiral staircase. There was nothing she could use. Simply glowing runes she couldn’t read and a monster that would surely eat her the second it woke up. This was why Sage didn’t do things. Halwyn trusted her, for once, to save his life and here she was about to get herself and subsequently Halwyn killed. Monta Pathon was right, life was a piece of shiznapple when she looked at it.

Lacking both energy and hope, Sage waited at the bottom of the stairs. For the end, she supposed. Figures the pretty Sage would be the one to win. Regular, just-graduated-high-school Sage flopped back against the stairs, ignoring the ledges digging into her back. Such minor discomforts were an old hand at this point. Pouting at the creepy dragon Sage muttered, “Can’t you wake up and eat me already? I don’t want to starve to death.”

“I’m afraid I don’t care for human flesh.”

In all fairness, newer, braver Sage was not expecting a dragon to talk. She had every right to screech like a little girl. She was a girl. Not short enough to still be called little, but she wasn’t tall either. So there. Every right to scream. Plus the dragon was awake for who knows how long.

“Calm yourself child,” Sage could hear a rattle in the air, suspiciously similar to a laugh. Did dragons laugh? Did anyone not laugh at Sage? It had gone past insulting and straight into expected at this stage. In a way, that was worse. “What brings you to my humble abode?” A flash of white glittered in the dim glow of the cavern before disappearing back into the shadows.

Sage forced herself to sit back up and eyed the dragon. For all the eeriness it bore, she wasn’t getting murder vibes off of it. It helped that the voice Sage heard wasn’t the growling boom she expected dragons to have, but rather a deep husky woman’s voice. If she didn’t see the familiar shape from storybooks before her, Sage would have thought she was talking to an older woman, 40’s or 50’s at the most. Considering how many people Sage spoke to in her life, she thought she was a pretty good judge of that too. The girl had few skills in life, and that was one of them. Leave it to this journey to mess that up for her too.

Somewhat cross, Sage waved her hand in a pointless gesture then followed it up with, “Oh, nothing really. Just seeking death I suppose.”

“Oh? How interesting.”

She didn’t see how that was interesting, but maybe dragons hidden away in ancient caves had weird standards. “What brings you here? I guess.”

The dragon flashed long fangs at her again and shifted, its body lifting from the boulder as a giant head neared the natural bars formed between them. White eyes glinted as they settled on Sage, and the girl did everything she could to remain still. Seeing the long horns and spikes reaching from its crown to its neck was not helping Sage’s fear levels. “You could say I’m waiting.” Oh right. She had asked a question. Sage nodded and waved the dragon on. “I so rarely get such special visitors. What truly brings you to this place, child?”

“Special? Me?” Sage scoffed. She hadn’t wanted to say that about herself, but the mockery from all these weird supernatural beings was getting annoying. There was the weird memory ghost, perfect talented Sage, and now a dragon. It would be much appreciated if they could all stop forcing her to explain how truly uninteresting she was. Moving on, mostly to save her damaged ego, Sage added, “I thought I could find something here. Or, well, my companion did.”

The dragon hummed low, the sound vibrating even in Sage’s chest, before asking, “Companion?”

“Yeah,” apparently she was having this conversation now, “this… Actually, I’m not sure how to explain how I ended up here. I barely know.” Sage laughed breathlessly, looking back on everything that led her to talking to a dragon of all things. Once upon a time she just chatted with little old ladies no one spoke to anymore, just to make their day. Even now she still wished for once upon a time again. Pursing her lips, Sage started up again. If nothing else, Sage could talk. “This guy I’m traveling with is… hurt. I mean, not really hurt. His memories were locked away or something like that, and we’ve been going to all these places,” she waved her hand at the runes lining the walls, “to break the lock. I don’t know what happened really. He just suddenly couldn’t keep going. He got sick, and he’s been bedridden—or,” Sage gasped as she realized, “he was bedridden for days before I left. I don’t know if…” It was too scary to say.

“He’s still alive?” The words would sting if the dragon hadn’t said them so kindly. Tears pushed at Sage’s eyes again, boiling under her skin, but she pushed them back down. Halwyn would make fun of her if he ever found out she cried over a little illness.

Sniffling, Sage jerked her shoulders in a shrug, “Maybe. He might have been delirious, but he said this place had the answer. Something that could help him. I guess not.”

Silence filled the air between them. Although Sage’s pants had calmed to small breaths, she still couldn’t hear anything else. Across from her, the dragon stood still, its body a vacuum of darkness and silence in the quiet cave. They waited, eyes on one another, until the dragon broke the spell. “I would not speak so soon, were I you, child. Perhaps the answer it is you seek lies much closer to home than you realize?”

The girl smiled bitterly, all of her regular sarcasm dying acrid deaths on her tongue before she could speak it. “I don’t think I have time for that. It would take longer than Halwyn has—”

“I speak not of a location. Rather, I believe you have all the power you need already.”

Again, Sage was told this. Again, some being pretending at wisdom lied to her face. Sage grit her teeth, bit out, “What power?” The dragon tilted its head, but watched patiently as Sage’s long simmer finally came to a boil. “I don’t have power! I have nothing. No skills, no magic, no use. All of this started because some jerk thought I was some old mage that I’m not! Every single one of you! All of you just assume on your own that I can use magic and you’re only ever disappointed! All I have are words! Nothing else! Just… words.” She deflated.

“Did you not know, child? Magic is simply words.”

Shooting to her feet, Sage shot back, “I know! I know you can’t use magic without words! That’s all I’ve ever been told! Over and over again. Just because I can talk to anyone doesn’t mean I’m special! I’m just plain old boring useless Sage.” Her breathing quickened and she had to stop to swallow the lump rising in her throat. It probably wasn’t wise to yell at the dragon. Enough was enough though, and Sage was tired of being lost and confused and swallowing her tongue as more powerful people ruined her life all for her translation quirk. “I can’t cast magic. I can’t even read. I can’t save anyone. I’m just… getting in the way. Worthless in all this. I can’t even help Halwyn when he needs it. Just for once I wanted to,” She splayed her hands out, trying to find the words, “I wanted to be more than me.”

Newer, braver Sage furiously rubbed at the moisture dripping from her eyes. It was just sweat, she chanted to herself. She wasn’t crying, because crying wouldn’t help at all. Here she was, all by herself for once, with someone relying on her, and she broke down in tears as a dragon looked on. Sage was supposed to be the spunky dork who always had something to say. She wasn’t supposed to say those things; the doubts and fears always lodged deep in her chest. Those were words that were meant to never be spoken, and she went and said them.

“You poor child.” Warm breath brushed across Sage’s face, and she realized with a start just how cold she was. Aching fingers curled as she looked back at the dragon. “Words are so much more than magic.” Even as Sage frowned, the dragon gently admonished her, “No, do not frown child. Perhaps you do not realize the weight you have born already? I suppose no one would speak it, for they believe you already bear the words you need.”

Sage groaned and threw her arms up in the air, “What words? Why do you all keep going on about this? Just tell me! Let’s just assume I’m not smart enough to figure it out!”

“Do your words not save? You speak to me in my tongue, and my heart is filled with a joy you cannot know. How many more have you saved thus?”

The girl blinked. Reeled back. Asked, “Talking to you?”

“Do words not connect us? Does language not bar us from one another. Yet you overcome it so easily. Your companion, the people you have undoubtedly met along your journey. How many spoke to you just for the chance to speak?”

As the girl stuttered, the dragon waited. Just as patiently as it allowed the girl to vent, the dragon allowed her her confusion. “How is that saving anyone? I’m just talking.”

“Surely you know what it is to be alone now? For the words to die quiet deaths in your heart. We all feel that. What is ‘just talking’ to you is a powerful connection to others. To feel that they will be heard, that they are not alone is more than just anyone can do. By ‘just talking’ you overcome the barriers language has formed to separate us.” White eyes settled on Sage once more, and the girl realized the flash of fangs was the dragon’s version of a smile.

Still confused, Sage sat back down. In a way, she hadn’t expected anyone to actually explain the obsession with her ability. Everyone, and everything, else had insisted on being cryptic about it. Last she checked, dragons were cryptic in stories too. As the dragon settled back around its rock to wait, she thought on the people she had idly struck conversations with. Many of them lit up as soon as she spoke, barreling forward in some mundane conversation. Their eyes shone and more often than not, they grinned at her all the while. Somehow those faces had been overwritten with the death threats and glares she had been receiving. Were those smiles really so important? Did those silly conversations mean so much? A part of Sage was sad she would never know.

#writing challenge #writblr #365 writing challenge #365 day challenge #Sage King #Ajwain #Reoccurring character/world #original character #original world

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