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taeyohonic · 3 years

Text

stolen dances | chap. 10

summary: sometimes supporting the person you love is the hardest challenge you’ll ever face.

pairing: jeon jungkook x fem!reader

rating: m

warning: alcohol consumption (drunk people / hungover people), swear words

additional tags: f2l, ceo!jungkook, bestfriend!jungkook, shrink!yoongi, my best friend’s wedding meets 27 dresses (if the boss/secretary couple had happened), angst-y

words: 2100

links: prev. | next [masterlist]

note: lower case letters intended

chapter summary: jimin is team jungkook... whatever that means

“fuck”, jungkook hisses in your ears as the sizzling pan burns his hand. even years after their final performance, seokjin still inhabits the second nature of being the leader. he moves swiftly around the table to check on jungkook, who stays in his position. his breath is hot on your neck as you try to kill yoongi with your stare. with caution you touch jungkook’s burned hand, but the singer won’t let your fingers rest on his before he withdraws himself from you. jimin looks at the scene in front of him with distaste while the oldest coos at jungkook.

“let me be, hyung.”

“you’re hurt, kookie. we have to ice it”, seokjin insists and you pry your eyes away from your therapist to turn around, only to find jungkook watching you intensely.

“_____ knows where the ice is.” yeah, every single one of his friends knows where the freezer is. it’s essential for margarita wednesday. but you don’t dare to voice that – not when even the loudmouthed taehyung is keeping quiet.

“come on, kook”, you say softly and stand up, the delicious chicken completely forgotten.

there is the faint sound of yoongi’s apology in your ears as you move closer to the kitchen, jungkook like a cloak following behind you.

“how bad is the pain?”, you ask and collect an icepack, looking more at the granite worktop in jungkook’s spotless kitchen than your best friend.

“____, look at me”, he orders roughly. instead of taking the ice from you, he waits.

after a second too long, you face him. his eyes are hot on your skin and you feel yourself shrink inch by inch.

“you sang for him?”

“i… no – i just helped him out”, you explain. “yoongi needed the track for his audition and … he really tried other options – you, you know how terrible my voice is. but the label demanded the tape – we didn’t have time.”

you don’t know why an apology is nestled on your lips; there is nothing to be sorry for. jungkook disagrees.

“you sang for him”, he repeats, not in question, but as an accusation.

“what’s the big deal?”, you whisper and press the icepack onto his hand. for a split-second you think he’ll push you back and throw the cooling aid across the room. but your best friend does the complete opposite, taking a step closer to you. you feel his chest heaving as the space between the two of you grows smaller and smaller.

there are a lot of reasons why you love jungkook. one of them is that you are oh so attracted to him.

your heart kindly reminds you of that fact by beating heavily against your ribcage. you can smell his skin and see the tiniest scar his brother gave him when he was a toddler. this is not good.

“you won’t even sing karaoke with me, but you’ll sing for him?”, he asks and grips your hand to push it onto his burn. he hisses in pain but does not stop the pressure.

“you’re all famous singers, jungkook… i.. i don’t wanne embarrass myself in front of you”, you answer. he only huffs.

“____, you puked on me.”

“the rollercoaster was too fast – even jimin said that.”

“you had diarrhea during our last road trip.”

“nobody noticed that.” his eyes widen in disbelieve at your claim.

“i massaged your stomach the whole night to get the cramps to stop. everybody noticed, ____.”

“i don’t know what you want to achieve with this, jungkook”, you whine and try not to notice how delicious his collarbone looks under the kitchen lights.

“___”, he starts, “you can’t embarrass yourself in front of me.”

your eyes are still set on his collarbone and he breathes, clearly annoyed.

“there is no shame in this friendship, ___”, jungkook states with finality in his voice. you do not dare to meet his eyes, after the word ‘friendship’ burns itself onto your mind.

“music is half of who i am”, he continues, “i’d love to share it with my best friend.”

“okay”

your answer is met with a soft smile you do not see.

“okay”, he repeats and gives your hand a reassuring squeeze.

he steps away from you a moment later and now, his skin out of reach, you look at his face. his eyes are kind on you.

“let’s see if they left some chicken”, you say and before jungkook can respond, you’ve left the kitchen and your beating heart behind.

“where is all the chicken?”, you exclaim as you join the boys again. jimin’s faint blush is overshadowed by taehyung’s snicker.

“we were only gone for a second, hyungs!”, jungkook adds and helps you by adjusting your chair after you take your seat across from a full-mouthed yoongi.

“there is enough pasta for you to not go hungry”, seokjin answers and passes on the sauce to your best friend, who coats his spaghetti with the citrusy sauce, muttering to himself.

“so, you’ll help with the remix?”, taehyung asks yoongi, clearly done with your complaints.

yoongi looks at jungkook instead of taehyung as he replies.

“yeah, joon and i have been drabbling for a few days.” they have?

“maybe you can bring your demo next week to movie night?”, taehyung questions next.

“next movie night?”, yonngi repeats with furrowed eyebrows matching jungkook’s expression.

“or you can bring it by the office to my meeting with namjoon?”, seokjin offers. sorry, what?

“joon called you already?”, you ask. you distinctly remember the business card you’ve given your favorite barista at the restaurant. but you never imagined him to act this fast. even yoongi seems surprised.

“i like his voice”, seokjin nods at you and continues to eat his last chicken piece.

“but not as much as mine, right?”, jimin whines only to get slapped by the youngest.

your friends are really, really spoiled, you think with a smile and nudge yoongi’s foot under the table.

you hate how heavy your eyes feel while you blink at jungkook.

“you sure you don’t want to have a sleepover?”, he whispers as he helps you into your jacket. scratch that, your arms are heavier than your eyelids. your whine reminds him more of a kitten than a human and he smiles at you.

“nooo, i just… i-i wanne have my special pillow. and my socks.”

“okay, okay, okay – honey – don’t need any tears in this hallway”, seokjin hushes before hugging you. “drink lots of water, understood?”, he asks and lets you go. you nod silently and smile at him. even that is a task.

jungkook looks at the both of you and can’t help his chuckles at your big eyes in front of seokjin’s wide shoulders. it’s just… too cute.

“thanks for the invite.” yoongi pulls the host back to reality and jungkook nods at him with a fake smile.

“sure”, he says. now that you are half-away in dreamland, he doesn’t have to pretend to like your friend. he just wants him out of his house and your life. it physically pains jungkook to let you go together. how special can your at-home-pillow really be?

even in your state you notice how jimin sidesteps yoongi’s hand and how fast taehyung opens the door to lead your therapist out in the hallway. jimin pushes seokjin aside to say goodbye to you, huffing into your hairline as you squeeze him half-heartedly back. his behavior towards yoongi makes you dislike him more than you care to admit.

your friend bows to the boys before moving to the hallway. there is just taehyung between you and the exit now. jimin passes you off to the troublemaker, but not without some clouded thunder in his eyes. embraced by taehyung, you whisper: “what’s up with jimin?”

the former singer knows that eyes and ears are on you – they always are when you’re with them – so he presses his lips close to your ear before answering.

“he’s always been team jungkook.”

it takes you six hours of sleep, two coffees and one aspirin before his words reach your brain the next morning.

you to troublemaker: what’s team jungkook?

your message to taehyung goes unanswered. it makes you mad and you do not like being ignored. after crafting the whole day with your kids in pottery class, you make your way out of the school. you try to repress memories of the awkward lunch with jisoo, not ready to face the reality that she made jungkook uncomfortable, and the alcohol still makes your steps more sluggish than graceful.

jungkook’s mercedes in front of the building comes as a surprise.

“surprise!”, he exclaims and opens the car door for you.

“what are you doing here?”, you ask, too drained to be more forthcoming. the former idol smiles behind his sunglasses.

“surprising my very chipper, sunshine-y best friend.” jungkook sounds so excited that you can feel your lips – and mood – lifting by the second.

“and what’s the surprise?” other than your very busy ceo taking the afternoon off to give you a ride instead of letting you take the crowded train home.

“i wanted to take you to the park!” he points to the basket hidden in his car and your cheeks flush while looking at his long, long finger.

“come ooon”, jungkook tries to shush you into the seat, not ready for some of the pedestrians to notice the famous man. maybe he shouldn’t flash his gucci sunglasses.

“okay, okay, kookie, okay”, you relent and squeeze his shoulder before getting into the mercedes.

it only takes him seconds and then he’s in the driver’s seat, smiling happily at you.

“how was pottery?”, he asks and speeds out into the traffic. you’ve sent him some of your students’ creations from today during lunch, trying to escape jisoo’s eyes – they’d been so proud. you haven’t shown him yours.

“my mug looks so ugly”, you mutter, only to hear a huff from jungkook.

“no way – your designs are unique… never ugly.”

at the next red light, you flash him a picture of your grotesque creation. he is silent until the lights change to green. eyes on the road, jungkook tries to soothe you.

“practice makes perfect, ___.” you only snort.

“yeah well… i think we’ll focus more on learning tomorrow. minimal creativity. maximal brains.”

there is a comfortable silence in the car – but not for long.

“how was your day?”, you ask and turn your upper body to the driver so you’re more focused on his hands gripping the steering wheel.

jungkook sighs before responding. “the board doesn’t like our promotion strategy for europe. so, we’ll have to revise the concept. sales are good – the finance department had a boner for their whole thirty minutes presentation, calculating how much money we’ll make this quarter.”

he takes a turn and you can already see the green from the park.

“had lunch with jin and went for a mini workout after that.”

jungkook parks the car in one swift motion and you have to suppress the moan at his controlled handling of the wheel. he doesn’t even look bothered by the vehicles waiting for him to maneuver into the tight space. after he turns off the engine, your best friend faces you fully.

“and i googled a bit”, he admits. it’s a random fact, making you conscious of its deeper meaning.

“during your lunch with jin?”, you ask. “or while doing squats?”

“during the finance presentation – it was so boring, ____”, he groans and falls forward onto your shoulder.

“and what did you google?”, you ask and press his earlobe between your fingertips. you can still feel the numerous holes from his idol days. it’s a shame he doesn’t wear earrings anymore.

“you know…”, jungkook starts softly, “i wondered – at the restaurant, with namjoon.” his forehead is still resting on you, so he easily notices your stiffened body.

“i would have kind of believed it if you met him first. you drink way too much coffee. he’s a barista.” jungkook’s explanation is hushed against your skin.

“but you met yoongi first, _____.”

“yeah”, you admit quietly.

“min yoongi’s practice has a website, ____.”

“yeah”

“min yoongi is a licensed therapist, ____.”

there is a beat of silence as he waits for you to decide how open you want to be with your best friend… and yourself.

“he is my licensed therapist, jungkook.”

_____

sorry for the late update. hope you are all healthy! love, dana

p.s. this had a whole lot of “uhhh she went to therapy” vibe. therapy is cool, i only survived because i went to see a therapist. jungkook thinks so too; don’t let the last scene fool you. so… we’ll have the park “outing” next and after that… all goes down the drain. I promise.

taglist: @livewittykid @thequeen-kat @kagami-s-void @goldenclosethobi @youwannabelostandnotbefound @jinsalpaca @bishuthot @laabellaavitaa21 @baekstans @jalexad @jinsearthh @kseokwu

#btswriterscollective #bangtanuniversity #jungkook x reader #jungkook x you #jungkook scenarios #jungkook fanfic #jungkook fluff #jungkook angst #ceo!jungkook #idol!jungkook #bts x reader #bts x you #bts angst #jeon jungkook

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chronicbatfictioner · 3 years

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Exchanges and Compromises - Chapter 17

Jason was having the time of his life.

Dick was sure of it. He might grump and sulk a lot more than before, but Dick was sure that he was having fun. Sure, guarding Damian might be a little more than tasking, after a while - especially since Damian was so certain that he could face Bane alone if it comes down to it, conveniently ignoring the fact that: a. he's ten and practically one-tenth of Bane's size; b. the Waynes most likely would detest having to clear intestines off the marble floor if Damian were to be let near a katana and/or Bane, and c. Alfred definitely would detest cleaning intestines or parts of Damian off the floor or walls.

And d. Bruce Wayne seemed to actually enjoy having Damian around and has no qualm in talking to Damian as if he was twice his age. Bruce's age, that is. Not Damian's. Dick suspected that Bruce has spent a lot of time talking to 60-year-olds.

But there were numerous forms of excitement that were offered by the Wayne Manor. First and foremost were the cars. Dick has never learned to drive - being a Talon kind of impeded the learning process of 'common human things'. Jason, however, was an excellent driver. He had mentioned something about being a getaway driver in warzones, and Dick couldn't be sure if he was telling the truth or joking. Either way, he rather enjoyed it whenever he and Jason had to take Damian somewhere in town.

Except for today, as somebody seemed to have tampered with the car.

It wouldn't brake, and they were cruising really, really fast.

Hence Dick's belief that Jason was having fun. He did not look perturbed at the slightest as he controlled the car, swerving crazily over the backroads, making sharp u-turns instead of going into the city roads and went back where they came from. Within a mile from the Drake House's gate, Jason finally managed to cut down the speed to the point where the car's engines died and it rolled to a stop. On the Drake House's gate.

"Seriously, people," Tim remarked dryly as they walked in - leaving the car at the gate and settling their respective adrenaline back down. "I've heard of visiting the neighbors, but must you be like, dying and/or damaging people's property before you come here to say hi?"

"The car was tampered with," Damian reported. "Must be the brute. And I shall replace your gate, Drake."

"I think I'm down to like, eight lives. No-- seven." Dick admitted, "my heart's still beating a hundred miles per minute. Good thing, though, at least that way I know I'm quite alive."

"Dick, you're a bird. Not a cat." Tim deadpanned. His eyes never leaving Jason, who had lit up a cigarette as he walked through the house. "Since when do you smoke?"

"Since I was eleven," Jason replied. "And since I walked into a house that has laser triggers that were set up by a lunatic. Smoke worked to reveal them all."

"I'm... partially scowling because smoking kills. But I suppose laser triggers would kill faster..." Tim replied.

"The lasers are used to trigger booby traps just about Damian's height. If he were to be a common kid and run around the house, he'd be decapitated within the first few days." Jason continued bitterly. "What the fuck is wrong with that giant lump of steroids, anyway? He was ready to kill a child!"

"The nutshell version is that the child would prevent his usurping the Waynes' wealth." Tim pointed out. "The long version is that I don't think he's really the child of Dr Wayne, the Waynes know of it, and they're literally being held hostage in their own home. Also, you people are being watched, too, by drones. I've asked Harper to kill those drones for entering my property."

Tim then explained Bruce's visit and the USB. "Oracle has contacted him and told him we... the Birds, that is - are investigating the evidence."

"How long until we can punch the asshole out of the house for good?" Jason demanded, accepting a bottle of water Tim handed him. Slowly and gently. Making sure his fingers brushed Tim's. And Dick had to swallow a grin.

"That, unfortunately, would be up to the GCPD. Did you guys saw the news? Vicky Vale's article on Damian?" Tim... preened a little, waving his hair as he walked away from Jason. Dick's lips itched, he wondered if Barbara or the other girls -- if Selina or Dinah have noticed this. The two were definitely flirting.

"I have seen it. It had good pictures of my mother and grandfather, and quite... adequate descriptions of both of them." Damian replied. "Evidently father has made a comment to the writer about me looking like him when he was my age."

"Well, you kind of do look like him, except for the green eyes." Dick pointed out. Bruce's eyes were blue - like both his parents. But from the photos of little Brucie around the house, Dick could see a little of Martha Wayne in Damian's still-round face. "When did Bruce make the comment?"

"Oh, Vale called him." Tim snickered. "She still has his personal number, and she commented something about hearing a - quote: 'constipated buffalo sounds in the background' - unquote. She was also wondering if Bruce was in a bullfighting ring somewhere."

"Seriously?" Dick laughed.

"Seriously. Even Barbara couldn't stop laughing hearing that." Tim assured him. Jason rolled his eyes but looking amused, anyway.

"Sooo... a possible off-road accident for the apparent heir is in the books?" Jason suggested.

"I won't put it past Bane. Damian...?" Tim started. But Damian already nodded in acknowledgment.

"I shan't eat anything that is not presented by Todd or Grayson, nor will I frolic the manor on my own. This shall be more to bear witness to your insinuation of my 'child-like' behavior than to take care of me, Drake, as I am quite capable of sustaining my own life." Damian scoffed.

Tim paused visibly for a good two seconds, before nodding, "of course. Furthermore, I can assure you that Alfred is safe, mainly because as a butler, his focal interest would be the actual Waynes. That's in his training - unless an offspring is publicly announced, they are not to be cared for by the Butler. In Wayne Manor, the proverbial child would solely be Bruce - for obvious reasons, and Damian, whom Bruce has publicly acknowledged." Tim explained.

"He was in MI6," Jason remarked. "Alfred, that is. Not Bane. It would be safe to say he's loyal. He told me of the booby traps and that Bane has a daily dose of injection of the steroid-like substance. But I-- we shall prepare you emergency rations - just in case, anyway."

"You guys can always drop by here. And don't think that Damian would be Bane's only target." Tim reminded. "If I was him, I'd take out the big guns - that is you two - first; and then Bruce, because he'll want to be protective of his son; and then Dr and Mrs Wayne last."

"Then I'm afraid you are forgetting one of the members of the household that is most dangerous, Master Tim," a voice spoke; Jason pulled out his gun, Damian automatically hid behind him while pulling out a small dagger.

Dick wanted to lunge right toward the source of the voice until he realized that it was Alfred Pennyworth, both hands raised up to show that he was unarmed.

"How...?" Jason growled, "I didn't hear the front door open."

"Apologies, gentlemen. I should have informed you that there is an underground passageway between the two houses that were once used frequently, but now has all been forgotten." Alfred explained. "You were right that I was in MI6, Jason; as you were right that my focus will and forever shall remain the true Wayne blood, Master Tim. Not ones who claimed as such and refused to provide irrefutable evidence."

"Does Bane know of this passageway?" Tim asked.

"It is located in the staff's wing, and as he is not permitted to be there, I sincerely doubt it," Alfred replied. "I have my own... booby traps and surveillance that should tell me if anyone has been there." he smiled. "I am aware that both of you have prowled the entire house at one point or the other in the past few weeks." he nodded toward Jason and Dick. "You were stealthy, indeed."

"But not stealthy enough?" Dick quipped. "I gotta go back to training... Anyway, why are you here?"

"I saw your vehicle's mishap and its stop here. If anything, Bane is not... stealthy enough." Alfred pulled out a small memory card. "To get to the garage, one must pass the servants' hall. And the garage is my province."

Tim accepted the memory card, plugged it into his cellphone; and then projected its content to a wall. "Huh... this should be enough evidence of tampering..." Tim commented. The memory card showed a clear date stamp - that morning, a few hours before Bane and the Waynes left the house. It also showed Bane himself, jacking the car that was now resting with a dented bumper at Tim's gate, while holding a plier.

"Anyone watching our car now?" Dick commented. "Won't be cool to have it suddenly fixed, will it?"

"Harper should be. Plus, y'all are on my property. If he trespasses, I'll have his ass arrested." Tim huffed. "So... if anyone has ideas--" Jason and Damian's eyes lit up; Tim glared at them and continued "--that do not include sharp and/or exploding objects of how to remove Bane from the Manor..."

"I'm fresh out," Jason replied mournfully. "No sharp objects, no exploding objects... what do you expect me to do? Poison him?"

"But Todd, did my mother not teach you the arts of food as medicine?" Damian piped up.

The sudden silence as all eyes landed on Alfred was quite ominous.

"I will not conduct a crime, young masters," Alfred remarked dryly.

"Oh nooo... not a crime," Jason grinned mischievously. "It's just... you know that Damian was born in the Middle East, yeah?"

"I may have quite a culinary skill, but I fear that my Middle Eastern cuisine knowledge is rather limited," Alfred said demurely.

"Well, mine isn't." Jason grinned. "Besides, what else should one do to celebrate one's entrance into such a distinguished family; but hold a family dinner?"

"You're going to poison him." Dick groaned.

"Not to death!" Jason protested. Dick gave him an unimpressed glare. "Just... to the point where he would realize that he and I have opposing objectives."

"Do let me know of the ingredients you require, Jason." Alfred intoned. "Or perhaps you prefer to shop on your own? I shall fetch a new, un-tampered-with vehicle."

"Oh, please do, Alfred. I doubt we can make a single trip. But they will be fun." Jason replied, grinning.

Dick knew that the sense of foreboding was not in him only. Tim looked like he was contemplating moving away to Alaska.

"For the records, I don't know anything about cooking," Dick said defensively.

"I'm... truly and fully reconsidering my life choices," Tim admitted.

"Oh, don't worry, Drake. Todd was trained by the best," Damian grinned mischievously. "I pity the fools who think him as a brute. I pity the brute who think that small equals weak."

#Batless!AU #JayTim #Dick Grayson #Tim Drake #Jason Todd #Damian Wayne #Alfred Pennyworth #stray!tim #RedGhost!Jason #Talon!Dick

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mrneighbourlove · 4 years

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Into the Dark and Unknown: Ch 3. Test of Will

Leere yawned as she rested against Bonegrinder. Morning came too early for her. “You awake?”

"No." Bonegrinder shifted his coils and buried further into the pile of blankets and pillows. "Go back to sleep."

“Hmmm. I need a shower. You know anywhere nearby with a water supply?”

"Showers do not exist in Omisha, you have the river." Bonegrinder kept his tail curled around her ankle. "And other creatures inhabit Omisha besides this old snake's kind. You are not going by yourself."

“Then come with me and get out of the pillows.”

"Nooo..." Bonegrinder grumbled. "It's warm, you are warm, he does not want to move."

Leere frowned, until a cheeky thought filled her. Taking off her clothing, she threw each piece of article on him until she was naked. “Well, I’m off. Your warm body is leaving you.”

"Nooo..." Bonegrinder simply plucked her up and plopped her on his coils again. "Stay. This old snake is tired and wants to sleep more." He cared not that her bra was hanging from one of his horns or that she had purposely hit him in the face with her thong.

Malik groaned as he saw Leere play around with Bonegrinder, turning away when she started to disrobe. “Princess... stop. Put something on and I’ll take you myself if the brat won’t.”

"Bonegrinder is not a brat, he is too old to be a brat." The Anagari objected with a loud grumble before rising from his pile of pillows. He stretched and yawned. Maybe while she bathed, he could refocus his magic and transfer into a source of energy so he would not feel so tired. "Fine, fine. He will accompany the princess."

“I will accompany too. Least you both waist time.”

Leere quickly covered herself with a towel, embarrassed Lord Killjoy here would be joining them. Perhaps he needed a bath as well. “I’m sure we’re faster than you, my lord.”

Malik frowned at her obvious sarcasm in his title. “Let’s just get a move on.”

Leading the princess and lord to the river, the Anagari motioned for the two to wait a moment. He chanted in Echidnan and a glowing circle expanded from his hands. He placed the circle in the water, and it covered a sizable portion of the river. He then slithered into the cool water and floated on the surface. "Do not swim outside the ring," Bonegrinder informed Leere and Malik. "He cannot guarantee your safety if you do."

Malik looked away as Leere threw her towel away and dove in. He simply stood guard and on watch. “Enjoy your bath.”

"Oooh, Bonegrinder thinks the big boy is too shy." The Anagari took this as a chance to tease Malik. "What do you think, tiny princess?"

“I think he enjoys stank he’s accumulated.” Leere smirked as she ran water through her hair.

“I had a shower yesterday. And I don’t need the Anagari falling for me.”

"Hmm, well, he does have a nice ass, but his personality is very disengaging." Bonegrinder told the princess as he curled himself into the shape of a tube float for her to hang on to his coils if she wished. "Tiny princess here has all the three 'b's. Beauty, boobs, and butt."

“Ha! Thank you.” Leere did so, kicking freely in the water. “Seriously. Why are you a stick in the mud?”

“I’m surprised you’re so care free. Especially around him.”

"Tiny princess is carefree around Bonegrinder because she knows that he will not eat her nor harm her." Bonegrinder stated the truth. "Tiny princess stumbled into his home as a child. She knows that while he is dangerous and ancient, he holds true to his word. He said he will not harm her, thus he means it."

“You have an attraction for monsters, don’t you Princess.”

“Good and bad.”

“From my point of view and the stories you share. Terrible...” He gave a long stare at Bonegrinder. “And tolerable.”

"Tolerable," Bonegrinder snorted in amusement. "He will take that as a compliment."

“I find your claws around the royalty disturbing at most, questionable at least.”

"It is for a good reason, he promises." Bonegrinder decided to attempt to explain. "If you or the pretty prince had found out about us Echidnans before, you or pretty prince would have assumed the worst. Monsters older than the land itself usually have a bad reputation. Humans have a bad reputation with us." The Anagari flicked his tail as if waving a finger to emphasize his point. "Since he took the opportunity to have an advantage over pretty prince, then it allowed time for him to learn our ways, to see how we view humans, and that Mother is interested in only peace. Else, he feared that pretty prince would have done something rash... like send his undead commander after innocents."

Malik had to admit, he could see that situation easily develop. “I wonder how much darkness in Ralnor came from his father, and how much from you.”

Leere frowned at that accusation. “Ralnor is a good man. Darkness isn’t inherently evil.”

“Is that what you tell yourself to feel justified?”

"Ah, that is where you are wrong," Bonegrinder told Malik. "He gave none of his darkness to the prince. Darkness was already there. He could sense within the pretty prince's mind the ever-raging bloodlust. Yet, this old snake knows how to contain that very well. So, he set prince pretty's sights elsewhere, gave him a task to focus upon. Besides," He smacked his lips. "Anyone who is unlucky enough to piss off the pretty prince means Bonegrinder gets an extra snack for the day." The Anagari carefully pulled Leere a little closer to the center of the circle by her ankle. "Besides, darkness is viewed as evil and corrupt, yet there are many who find solace in it. Just because there is an absence of light does not mean the dark is used for solely malicious purposes."

“I suppose that’s true. Ralnor enjoys his tortures and his games. He enjoys his little evils.”

“Excuse me?” Bonegrinder could feel Leere’s anger fester in her core. “Ralnor has done more good. He’s like me. He channels his darkness for better purposes.”

“Perhaps you’re right. You both possess disturbing qualities.”

Leere stopped kicking in the water, her gaze growing bitter and cold. “What nerve do you have to say that to me.”

“You certainly enjoyed trying to drag me to hell as a child. Or torturing those you deem worthy of wrath.”

“You were a bad man who killed my guardians right in front of me. Threw me into an asylum where I was raped. If Ralnor has any evil, perhaps he learned it from you. I remember how you’d beat my siblings in what you called ‘training’. Perhaps our disturbing qualities come from being forced to confront the evils around us. You’re a blunt killer Klinge.”

“Shame you can’t control this killer anymore like a puppet, witch.”

"Good Kaksa, have mercy..." Bonegrinder muttered to himself as the two hurled insults at one another. "You two are behaving like newly hatched spiderlings. Personally, this old snake does not care if you two do not like each other, but for the sake of impressing Mother, and earning her trust you two need to be cordial to each other in her presence." He then added, "Bonegrinder does not care if you argue in front of him, but it must not happen in front of Mother. Do you two understand?"

“Clear enough.” Malik turned his back on them, looking out at the country side.

Leere looked down, holding Bonegrinder’s coils tighter. “Understood.”

“I doubt that I’ll be in danger returning to the hut. You can enjoy the rest of your bath in peace.” Malik trotted off back towards the residence.

Once Malik was out of sight, Bonegrinder turned to Leere.

"He is harsh, and you have a silver tongue." The Anagari stated. "Are you going to be all right, tiny princess?"

“... I don’t know. He’s right in some ways. I’m attracted to monsters, and they’re attracted to me. I hope members of my family isn’t as insidious as he claims. Am I near a ledge of falling into evil?”

"..." Bonegrinder was not sure if he should be the one to tell Leere that there was a reason that Mother had a magical border protecting the mountain pass between Malus and Omisha. While humans were seen as the bad guys from a monster's point of view, the Mortuus were that of nightmares. Reanimating the dead was... tasteless, abominable, and a manipulation. How many times did peace try to be achieved and the Mortuus would dig up the corpses of their loved ones to use as a puppet? It was not just the necromancy which caused Mother to have a sour note against them, but... the use of... demons. Ancient demons of evil. "Darkness finds comfort in darkness, tiny princess."

“I suppose that’s why I love the Dragmires so.” She rested her head against his coals. “May you wash my back?”

"Never think darkness is bad, tiny princess, just remember that sometimes, evil things use the darkness to their advantage." Bonegrinder chuckled at her request. "If you wish it."

“I insist. You have... a good touch.”

"Very well." Bonegrinder circled his long body to where she could still hold onto his coils while he washed her back. He materialized a rag out of thin air, dropping from a portal. The Anagari was disturbingly good at the hardest magic of all; portals. He gently washed Leere's back, making sure to be careful around the scarred areas. "Have you ever thought about this old snake removing that tattoo for good for you, tiny princess?"

“Of it’s magic? Or the ink?”

"Both." Bonegrinder admitted. "It would not be easy to remove the magic, but the ink, perhaps so. Yet, he can still do both if you wish it."

“Oddly enough, I like the ink. Don’t you think it’s rather mysterious?”

"Bonegrinder is not fond of needles, tiny princess, so he looks at it, and thinks 'ouch'."

“Well, you have your pattern in your scales, do you not? Or think about White’s booty sac. It’s art of the body.”

"Patterns he was born with, tiny princess, not obtained by prick-prick-prick." Bonegrinder's finger tapped three times against her back to prove his point. "While tattoos are beautiful, he can do without one." He reached up under his eyes. "These were painful enough. He does not require more."

Leere lightly winced. “I can imagine so. Can’t exactly use those to woo.”

"If one wished to be a shaman, one had to get these." Bonegrinder recalled the day he received the tattoos and his scales actually flexed from the memory in defense. "These allow us to have clearer visions. Bonegrinder thinks that is a load of horseshit, but he had no say."

“What’s the point of a painful magical tattoo you don’t fully understand if you can’t use it to get laid.”

"Well, he supposes it makes him look prettier." Bonegrinder jested in good humor with a flip of hair. "If anything, he supposes that is adequate."

“See. That’s the spirit.” Leere swam out towards the shore. “You think Blue and White are a little too horny for me?”

"Hrm, trick question, tiny princess." Bonegrinder slithered onto the bank and squeezed the water out of his long hair. "Monsters and humans both enjoy sex, but monsters have higher sex drives. Humans, while they may not have as high sex drives as Echidnans, still can go for a bit. Well..." He snickered. "The females can."

“What. No drive left in you?” Leere bent over to pick her towel up, starting to dry her hair.

"Plenty of drive, tiny princess, but he has to be in the mood for it." Bonegrinder chuckled, knowing she was trying to tempt him. "Besides, we need to be ready for Mother's inquiries."

Leere quickly dried herself off, tying the towel around her breasts. “Well now that your best friend is looking her best, I say I’m ready.”

"Heh, the inquiries are not until the morning, tiny princess," Bonegrinder patted her head. "But he appreciates your enthusiasm. Come, he knows you are hungry. He will take you to get food."

Malik wrote in a small journal, detailing events of his journey in Omisha. He wondered how worried his wife and Zarazu were. No doubt they had their own fantasies about the country. No doubt Zarazu would be temperamental he didn’t tell her of his departure.

Bonegrinder had gathered lunch for Leere and Malik. It was a basket full of various, edible fruits and freshly killed rabbit meat. He managed to convince the Tlanuhwans to give him some bread and cheese for his guests after trading a few dead rabbits. Once he cooked the meat, he went to wake Leere from her after bath nap. The tiny princess sure did snore loud when she was in a deep slumber.

“I’m... Im up. I’m up.”

The Anagari kept poking her with his tail until she finally moved.

"Come, your breakfast will get cold."

Leere yawned, thankfully fresh from her morning bath. “What you make for us all?”

"He has already hunted. You have bread, cheese, fruit, and meat."

Both Malik and Leere took their seats, starting to eat. Each glance at one another was filled with awkward tension.

Swallowing her food, Leere tried small talk. “You happy having kids?”

“I am.”

“You like... being alive?”

He looked up at his food, stunned she’d even say that. “... Yes.”

"Bonegrinder is surprised that the bossy metal wife is not pregnant yet." The Anagari had an amused grin on his face. "As much as that one jumps on her. He can smell it."

“She nearly died delivering my daughter.”

Leere clenched her fork more tightly from the sheer cold wrath in his voice. It obviously upset him.

"A risk all women take to bring their child into this world." Bonegrinder made sure to place some of the wild fruit on Leere's plate as well as Malik's. Before he thought, he even blurted out. "Even his own wife---his own tribe, the women sometimes had difficulty delivering eggs. Still, he believed you wished for a large family. Do you to wish to try for more?"

“How about you speak to me about your own wife first?” Malik glared at Bonegrinder, knowing full well he wouldn’t.

"No use to speak of her, she is dead." Bonegrinder pulled the meat from over the fire so it would not burn. "She was not like this old snake. She could be killed. He cannot."

“I had a dead wife before Asakonigei. Her name was Cipher. You don’t honour the ones you loved?”

"Then you know it hurts to recall." Bonegrinder was not going to speak much more of it than this. "Each tribe has their ways of remembering loved ones or honoring them. This Anagari prefers to forget."

“I speak from experience. I too, at a time, tried to forget. It was cowardly.”

"Think what you wish." Bonegrinder cut the meat and offered equal portions to Leere and Malik.

“Leere... don’t you think Malus be left forgotten?”

“What makes you suddenly say that?” Leere glanced up from her food to stare at Malik.

“I’ve talked to some locals. They fear the place.”

"Who talked to you?" Bonegrinder was interested who had the balls to speak to Malik. "Let him guess..." He thought for a moment and then sniffed. "Kiume."

“Big spider? Yes.”

"Blue's and White's father." Bonegrinder gave a short explanation to Leere. "Kiume is a prominent leader in the Iktomi and Jisdvna Tribes."

“Oh! It’d be nice to meet his acquaintance. Assuming he wouldn’t want me to be betrothed to his daughters.”

"No, tiny princess, Kiume will not try to marry you off to Blue or White." Bonegrinder assured her with a laugh. "He will, however, probably suggest the best mushrooms for you to smoke."

Leere has to wave her hand at that. “No drugs. Please. My doctor says I should avoid them if I don’t want to slip into bad habits again.”

Malik was slightly impressed the Wild princess had limits. “Wise.”

"... then Bonegrinder will tell him to suggest the best aphrodisiacs." The Anagari had no filter. "For you and that pretty moo-moo girl."

“Sunshine what?” Leere looked up to him, confused.

"Your sunshine." Bonegrinder simply stated. His visions of the future sometimes came out with no reasoning. "Pretty, blonde sunshine." Then, while Malik and Leere were eating, he decided it was time to consume his own meal. He had caught a wild boar and knew that the two were uneasy about eating boar meat thanks to Ganondorf's influence. He consumed the whole boar in one gulp.

Malik rose an eyebrow. “You’re lucky I prefer a horse as a mount...”

"He eats horses too, but prefers boar." Bonegrinder licked the blood off his wide jaws. "More salty."

“That’s disgusting.” Malik frowned heavily, pushing his plate away and putting his helmet on. Leere didn’t have a counter to it. She’d seen acquaintances devoured alive in a similar manner.

"One must eat to live, and one cannot be too picky." Bonegrinder then nearly drooled. "But a prized hunt is a cow. Fatty, delicious, scrumptious cows..."

“Perhaps we should go and meet your mother before you talk of eating humans.”

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, you'd be all gristle." Bonegrinder jested as he waited for Leere and Malik to finish their breakfast before taking the leftovers back into the hut for later. "Are you two ready? Keep in mind, the questions might be insensitive, crude, or downright crass. Mother does not know any 'human' boundaries. Yet, she will know if you are lying."

“You’re rather forward too.” Leere patted his coil. “How bad can it be?”

"Mother is... well... Bonegrinder is forward, but he has learned some human boundaries." The Anagari tried to think of an example. "He would not ask you to repeat about..." He cleared his throat. "Past negative experiences at the hands of others... Mother has no such filter."

Malik nodded with understandment. “Very well. We’ll brace ourselves. Take us to her. We came to learn and establish a good relationship.”

"Please try to remember she is not being 'rude' on purpose. She simply does not know of human customs." Bonegrinder led the pair back to the temple. He had a touch of apprehension in his chest. What would Mother ask? How would she react? If Mother was anything, it was unpredictable. "Do you recall the rules from before?"

“Yes. Do not speak out of term. Be honest.”

"And bow." Bonegrinder could not emphasize that enough. "No arrogance."

“And bow.” Malik repeated.

Once inside the temple, Bonegrinder heard the overwhelming echo of whispers. Mother was never alone. Her most precious ones, her dangerous treasures, always surrounded her, ready and willing to serve. There was Mother, lounging on her throne, her huge body only accommodated by a section of it. The Anagari bowed and kept his gaze downward to the ground.

"Once more before me, Modoc... Leere... and Malik." Mother opened her arms with her palms upturned, in an inquiring motion. "Are you ready to answer my questions?"

Leere and Malik bowed once more, each answering the Queen of Monsters.

“I am.”

"I don't suppose there is a volunteer to go first?" Mother asked with a sly smile. "Know that some questions are simply for my curiosity and others concern my home and my children."

Leere raised her hand. “May I?”

Bonegrinder was actually surprised. He expected Leere to wish to go last. Still, he said nothing.

"Bold, little princess, yet, here is my first question." Mother asked point blank. "Are you wishing to seek an alliance with Mortuus?"

“No... I want to simply see others like me with my own eyes.”

"You do know that the Mortuus mingle with demons and bring hellish creatures forth for the sake of torment." Mother told the princess in a tone of warning. "Bonegrinder assures me you are doing no such black arts. This is your first and only warning. Here in Omisha, we will not tolerate such arts associating with the fiends of hell. Do you understand?"

“I understand.”

"We will tolerate your art of necromancy for now. However, do not disturb our dead." Mother instructed Leere. "The dead have passed over and do not need their rest disturbed." Then she asked her next inquiry. "Leere, from your memories, your early life was less than pleasant and even as you grew, there were hardships to overcome. I saw firsthand how horrid humans can be from your worst memory. Tell me, if those fiends can do that to you... then why do humans deserve an alliance with Omisha?"

“Because if you read my memories, you already know there are kind, tolerant, and passionate humans in this world. Humans worth protecting from the darkest of evils. Be it mankind, monster kind, or the truly demonic.”

"So... you still have faith in humankind, despite what happened to you?" Mother seemed intrigued. "All your pain, your suffering, your torment... is it worth a belief that humans still have some goodness?"

“Yes. Other humans gave me hope. And despite all the pain and hurt this world has given me, I will endure it all to protect the good and innocent.”

"Hrm... I guessed wrong on your answer. I am surprised yet curious to know how humans can cling so desperately to hope when there seems like there is none." Mother then rose from her throne, the multiple legs tapping against the stone ground. "One last question, Leere, and you are not going to like it."

“Then ask away.”

"The man standing beside of you is responsible for slaughtering your guardians..." Mother stole a glance at Malik. "Do you not think him worthy of my trust? You certainly don't trust him."

Malik started at Leere, certain of her answer. She stared long and hard back at him.

“I don’t like him. He’s a ruthless man. Always has been in my eyes. But I trust him with the protection of Hyrule’s interests. And I put my faith in Hyrule as a beacon of hope.”

Mother actually laughed, not of mocking, but of delight. "Oh, you humans are so confusing and yet so determined at the same time." Mother was satisfied with Leere's answer. "Very well, little princess. I accept your truthful answers. Yet, we still have to question the man who was once undead." She approached Malik, halting right in front of the man. "Firstly, I need clarification. Merely a matter of miscommunication. Kiume informed me that you do not like being called the Lorleidian queen's watchdog yet pretty blonde prince told me that was your title. Why?"

“Because a dog is less then a man. The prince views himself as a successor to his father, Ganon. He views those that are not his family as beneath him. I’ve come with terms that the boy most likely does not see me as family himself. But as Ganondorf once did when he too was blinded by his power, this prince is blind as sees me as a less then him. A tool. An attack dog. I am man. I have risen from the ashes of undeath. I refused to be mocked with a lesser title than a man.” He looked up at Mother, but still kept his knelt position. “The prince, for all his intelligence, lacks proper wisdom.”

"Ah... it is an insult." Mother understood now. "The pretty prince is very haughty, yet he is clever as well. One reason I did not eat him when Bonegrinder brought him to me was because of his silk tongue. He has a way with persuasion." She then decided to switch subjects. "Malik, your memories showed years worth of rage, sorrow, and despair. Yet, this started to change when you met the Lorleidian queen, who with her magic, managed to rid you of undead flesh to turn living once more." She bent down to look the Gerudo in the face. "The very man responsible for the loss of her home, the near genocide of her people, who had a part in killing the queen before her, and last but not least, thought her unworthy of the eldest prince so proceeded to ridicule her and beat her. Yet..." She paused. "The queen views you as a friend despite your callous actions toward her, and despite the losses she suffered. If I were in her place, I would have you strung up like a deer carcass, letting your insides spill to the outside, and watch you die slowly due to your crimes." The Mother then asked. "I wish to know... how did you persuade her not to kill you? Why does she not hate you for what you did? Even more..." She scoffed. "Why does your wife not hate you?"

Behind Malik’s helmet was doubt, his mind trying to find an answer. Finally, he gave it. “I truly don’t fully understand why myself. I’m a good commander, a good friend, a good husband, a good father, but I am not a good man.”

Leere glanced to Malik, shocked to hear him admit this.

“I’ve had centuries of slaughtering others. I’ve taken so many lives, ruining many more by effect. I might be forgiven, but my actions will never be forgotten. I don’t wish them to. If someone wishes me dead for my actions, they have the right to take their shot at me. They will fail, but they have my respect. Perhaps Zarazu and Asakongei found forgiveness in their hearts, where most would not. The kindest humans are not to be underestimated. They are not weak by default. Their strength comes from the size of their hearts.”

"To forgive is human they say. Yet, in Omisha, you rarely see such offenses being forgiven." Mother rubbed her chin as Malik spoke. "The Lorleidian queen and your wife must be strong women to overlook such a severe crime to offer you friendship and love. Maybe, there is an underlying reason, yet I cannot expect you to know their minds." She then presented her final question. "And my last inquiry for you, Malik, is not an easy one. Perhaps more so difficult than Leere's."

“Speak your thoughts.”

"You were married once before, to a..." Mother refreshed her memory. "Cipher. Yes. An Iron Knuckle. Strong and kind woman, and an excellent warrior. Soon-to-be mother." She clasped her claws together while gazing at Malik. "You swore to protect her. You failed. You swore to protect the Lorleidian queen. She was poisoned, yet lived at a cost." She then asked. "What makes you so sure that you can protect your kingdom when you could not even protect them?"

Malik practically snapped his neck up to her, finding it very hard to stay still. “My wife died in battle. While her death left a scar in my soul, I have come to terms with the honour in her death. That Zelda died, while I continued on. The snake who poisoned my friend I threw his frozen body down from a tower. I will protect my kingdom from any threat. I will annihilate any danger that comes to Hyrule. And if I fail, then I will avenge it at any price.”

Bonegrinder could sense Malik's anger and knew Mother could as well. He shot the lord a glance, warning him to control his temper. If Mother lashed out at Malik, Bonegrinder would not be able to stop her. While he was powerful in his magic, Mother was the first, the many, the most ancient and deadly Echidnan to ever live.

"A battle led by Ganondorf, if I'm not mistaken. While pregnant too, and yet you did not even try to change her mind when you knew there was danger. Knew how Ganondorf was." Mother ignored his ire, wanting to know more, to understand more. She repeated Cipher's exact words, her magic mimicking the woman's voice. "But what about Ganondorf? He's our king, he's your cousin, he needs us."

Bonegrinder knew right then what Mother was doing. She was testing him.

“You invoke my late wife?” Malik’s voice dropped to levels so livid, Leere and Bonegrinder were unsure if he’d snap and ruin this alliance. “Cipher and I helped Ganondorf temporally stop Teufel. We were a tribe, a family! The last Gerudo of Hyrule alive after the genocide of that abomination of life. We would not abandon Ganondorf without saying our goodbyes at the very least. When the armies of the goddess incarnate came, we fought with honour.”

Bonegrinder stiffened at Malik's voice. He whispered to Leere, not wanting her to get caught in the crossfire in case Malik did indeed lose his temper. "Get behind this old snake. And pray he retains his ire."

"What was more important to you then, Malik? Your wife and unborn child? Your loyalty to Ganondorf?" Mother remarked. "Strange how loyal you are to this cousin of yours, so much that you would willingly allow your lover to step into harm's way? Fighting with honor is one thing, but... dying at the hands of your sworn enemy is another. And yet, you fell right back into Zelda's grasp when Ganondorf married her for the sake of a treaty. It makes me wonder how far you are willing to go for the incarnation of Demise... even at the expense of your now living wife?" Her eyes blinked one by one, contemplating. "What would happen if someone forced your hand? Are you still willing to give up everything for a man who saw you as a weapon? Oh, how did the Lorleidian queen put it?" She used Zarazu's voice. "You are my tool to use as I please."

“If you are so wise, dear mother, then you would have the knowledge to know that Zarazu was the first to accept me as more than a tool. Your sweet little lie of the past does not work on me.” Malik took a few breaths to calm himself. “I am Ganondorf’s servant no longer. I am Zarazu’s servant no longer. I am Lord of Hyrule. I work with the Queen and King to serve my interests. Those interests are the betterment of all Hyrule. Now, may I have a question for you?”

"Hrm... most astonishing." Mother turned her attention to Bonegrinder. "You were correct to place your faith in this one, Modoc. It seems he can control his emotions, unlike previously thought. He is not easily tricked nor fooled, yet perhaps a touch manipulated by the pretty blonde prince." The enormous Echidnan seemed... pleased. "For a man with tales of horror surrounding him, it seems you truly have changed just like Modoc said." She then glanced at Leere. "Perhaps you are right. There are some good humans and change is possible."

However, she was not expecting a question for herself. Arching an eyebrow, the Mother decided she could amuse him. After all, she had just presented a barrage of inquires. "Very well. What is your question, Malik?"

“Is an alliance between Omisha and Hyrule so hard to believe in? Would it not bring about balance in our world?”

"It is not the idea of an alliance that is hard to believe in, Malik, it's the idea of having to believe in humans." Mother admitted honestly to the lord. "You two are prime examples of change, of hope for your kind. Yet, I am not foolish enough to believe all humans can do this, or are willing to accept us." She sighed, thinking with her eyes closed for only a moment. Finally, she spoke. "I will agree to an alliance on certain conditions. However, there is one issue that must be resolved right away before I will even consider it."

“Name your price.”

"We can deal with Al-Daida's slave market ourselves, we can handle skepticism, and we can protect ourselves if need be. However, this is one condition that must remain unchanged." Mother stated clearly and firmly. "We will never lower the barrier for our mountain pass from Omisha to Malus. Do not ask it of us."

“I did not intend to ask such a thing. But consider it done.”

Leere decided to speak up. “But we can still travel there, can we not?”

"There have been a few, not just yourselves, interested in traveling to Malus." Mother used an example. "The youngest of the Dragmire children wished to travel to Malus to find the lost sister tribe to the Gerudo. Yet, my children scared him away from the mountains. Now, the princess wishes to go to find others like her." She then sounded almost a touch... regretful. "Leere, while I understand your desire to seek out others like yourself, I cannot and will not risk my children by lowering the barrier for you to pass through. If you still wish to go, you will have to find another passageway."

“I understand.” Leere felt that travel to Malus might be impossible at this point.

"However, if you still wish to know of your people I will allow you and Malik access to our library." Mother motioned for one of her precious treasures to come forward. The Echidnan was an Anagari like Bonegrinder. "This is Uktena, who records our history. He will show you to the library. While you may read the books, do not remove them from the room. We will have copies made for you to take to Hyrule for the king and queen to read as well." She then stated. "We shall discuss the terms of the alliance with King Covarog and Queen Zarazu when the time is ready. I will decree that none of my children are allowed to harm humans from Hyrule unless in terms of self-defence. Note that I will hold the king and queen responsible for the actions of their people."

“Of course. You’re free to devour any who are foolish to bring harm. I assure you, with the death of the recent traitors to the crown, all of Hyrule has had a bloom of unity amongst the tribes.” Malik gave a bow of respect.

Leere was silent, but bowed as well. A library was a poor substitute for the experience of viewing the real people.

"Ta-ta, Leere and Malik. Do say your goodbyes before you leave." Mother reminded them. "Though enjoy the library as long as you wish."

Once the three of them were inside the library, Bonegrinder nearly melted into the floor. The whole situation was weighing on his mind and he was so relieved that Mother did not consume the princess or the lord. He tried to look at the bright side of the circumstance. An alliance was going to be formed, Malik passed his test without getting killed, Leere answered honestly, he did not get smacked across the room this time... yet, he still was concerned. Leere wished for passage into Malus. Mother would not allow it.

________________________________________________________________

Previous Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/190050527306/into-the-dark-and-unknown-ch-2-sweet-mother

Next Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/190705569511/into-the-dark-and-unknown-ch-4-forbidden

#Crossover #ridersoftheapocalypse #Leere #Leere Dragmire #Klinge #Malik #Bonegrinder #Omisha #The Mother #Anagari #Little Break on this story.

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theateared · 4 years

Text

I Hope Your Days Get Better. ❜

Summary: He’s always had a soft spot for children.

“Son of a bitch…” he muttered as he tried to undo his laces in the dark. He wasn’t sure why he never switched the light on after coming home from work. It just seemed wrong-- as if the house was the thing he didn’t want to disturb as opposed to his sleeping family.

After wrestling his shoes off, he headed into the kitchen, flipping the light on only when the door to the room was shut. There was most definitely something left from dinner for him to pick at. Brielle always left him something when he was working late. After deducing that there was leftover stew in a pot, Edgar took to heating the hob and collapsing into the nearest chair, loosening his bow-tie almost immediately.

Work is amping up lately, he mused, staring at the ceiling with an unfocused look in his eyes All these extra hours are being sprung on me out of nowhere. I suppose it’s good for the bills, but…

But he missed Brielle and Augustus terribly. His wife was the kindest woman he had ever seen. Even when he’d originally met her with his typical standoffish front, she had shown him her smile and thawed the ice surrounding his heart. It wasn’t even that he was incredibly jaded… he just didn’t trust people easily. Being from Huron, it was easy to believe that everybody had his back, but he knew that wasn’t true. Nobody cared about him personally. Nobody really knew him as anything other than the talented broker down the road. He was fine with that.

His thoughts were derailed by a creak of the door. When he turned his head, he knew immediately who had come to greet him, a pair of round eyes peering at him through the crack.

“Gus?”

The door seemed to ease closed somewhat, as if he was trying to hide from him, before he gave in and stepped into the room properly. He was a dear looking child, only five* years old, one with dark hair from his mother and blue eyes from his father. Stood there in his pinstripe pyjamas, hands clasped behind his back, he looked up at him with his infamous puppy-dog eyes-- the infamous choice when trying to diffuse a situation.

Edgar’s gaze flitted momentarily to the clock. “What’re you doing up? You know it’s past midnight.”

The small boy hovered in place for a moment before bridging the distance between them, running to him with his arms outstretched, and Edgar didn’t have the heart to refuse him. I haven’t seen you all day. It feels like I haven’t seen you all month at the rate I’ve been called into the office. When he pulled him into his lap, Augustus immediately laid his head on his shoulder, burying his face into his hair before pulling back to look at him.

“Hi, daddy,” he said with a wide smile, one arm moving to reveal that he was holding something; a single white flower that Edgar presumed had been picked from the garden. “For you.”

It was nothing but a weed, the kind of thing that most people dug up immediately in order to stop them from spreading, but Edgar took it as if he’d been handed gold. “For me?”

“To go with your shirt,” his son replied with an eager nod.

That earned a smile - and when he smiled, Augustus smiled too. He never really saw him smile. He wasn’t mean at all, just scary-looking on the outside sometimes. The flower that was now tucked into his breast pocket helped alleviate that imagery a little bit.

When Edgar put him down atop the table, the boy did not fuss. He sat there swinging his legs, waiting for his father to finish filling a bowl with stew. Expectantly, he opened his mouth when Edgar took his seat once more, knowing he’d get at least one bite of something.

“So,” he started, spooning half of a potato into his son’s mouth. “What did you get up to today, hm? You didn’t get in any trouble, did you?”

Augustus grinned with his mouth full of potato, shaking his head in a way that made him look mischievous. “No! I helped mama in the garden!”

“Good lad,” Edgar said with a chuckle, reaching out to ruffle his hair.

“Yeah! I de-weedied,” he continued, voice full of triumph.

He had to bite back a laugh at that, trying to keep a mouthful of vegetables from being sprayed everywhere. No matter how mundane the task he’d done was, he always found a way to entertain him with it, to spin some colourful story about how he was a good, heroic boy. As far as Edgar was concerned, he really was. He didn’t ever want his son to lose that sense of mysticism. Perhaps he wouldn’t be as excited to de-weed the garden in a century’s time but he would be excited for other things; better things.

“Did you?” he asked, putting on his best surprised voice. “That’s a big job. I bet mama couldn’t have done it.”

“Yeah! What did you do today?”

“Lots of math.”

Augustus’ nose wrinkled. “I hope daddy’s days get better.”

The man chuckled quietly. “As soon as I get home, they get better.”

The child beamed from ear to ear, opening his mouth again, only closing it when his father put some more potato into it. It was no secret that he missed his father often. Though he was a good dad-- the best, Augustus would argue-- work often kept him busy. It saw the youngster staying up way past his bedtime in the hope that he’d catch a glimpse of him every now and then. Weekends used to be his favourite before his job started to call him in then too; they’d always fly his kite together in the pastures, the wind carrying his paper vessel higher than the clouds. Not long now, kiddo, Edgar would tell him before leaving, ruffling his hair and telling him to ‘’be a good boy for mama’’. In an effort to make his dad happy, he’d always be on his very best behaviour. He was a good kid anyway, having been raised well, but he tried harder than most.

How long is ‘’not long now’’, daddy? Are you going to come home soon?

He whined as his father shifted, hands clutching onto his shoulders.

“Le’me wash up. Then I’ll take you to bed.”

“Nooo… don’t wanna go bed…”

Edgar chuckled softly, standing up with his boy in his arms. He clung to him very much like a koala would as he washed his plate, setting it aside on the drying rack before he regained a firm grip on him, head turned towards him. Augustus was pouting.

“I’ll read you a story,” he wagered, watching as the boy attempted to turn his head further away. “C’mon. I know you love stories. What do you want me to read?” One hand let go of him to tickle his tummy gently, causing him to laugh loudly. “Shhh…” he said with a giggle of his own, listening for a disturbance upstairs. When Brielle didn’t come stumbling down with her grump-face on, he determined it safe to begin the ascent to Augustus’ bedroom. The sign on his door always made him smile. While most childrens’ donned a comical ‘Do not enter’, Augustus’ sported a charming ‘Wipe your feet!’, a small dinosaur mat placed directly in front of his bedroom door. Even with no shoes on, Edgar made a point of doing so.

Putting him down on the bed, he pointed to the bookshelf beside it. “Choose a story while I get ready for bed.”

As his father left the room, Augustus knelt on the floor and began to search for his favourite book. He skimmed over titles like, ‘The Ugly Mew-Mew’ and ‘The Little Nebby’ before finally locating the title he was after. Blunder the Kayag: The Goldfish Fair. It had been his favourite since he was a baby. Even though Augustus would attest to the fact that he had ‘grown a lot!’, he’d wholeheartedly admit that this book had a special place in his big heart. It had a lot of room for a lot of things, but his family and his favourite books occupied the most space. Naturally, the story followed the misadventures of a canine creature that was appropriately named ‘Blunder’. Augustus had always wanted a Kayag because of this book, but his mother claimed they were ‘not pets’.

When Edgar returned, he took one look at the book and raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t I read this to you just last week?”

“I like this one,” the boy replied softly, a hand curling around his toes as he stared imploringly up at his father. There was a beat of silence before he raised his hands in defeat, a quiet ‘o-kay’ released before he plucked the book from his son’s hands, filing into bed with him. The youngster squirmed until he was comfortable, small body flat against his dad’s torso as he began to read.

Though he knew the tale inside and out ( all of them in fact, there were several instalments in the series that he was equally as familiar with ), whenever it was read to him, it felt like a new story. The words flowed like a song he once recalled; lyrics springing to mind while still sounding alien and new, and soon enough he began to feel tired. Eyes were slowly drooping closed, small fingers playing with the collar of his father’s shirt absentmindedly, and as Edgar reached the end of the story, he’d already fallen asleep.

Quietly, Edgar closed the book and placed it on the nightstand, right beside his clock and his crudely-shaped dinosaur lamp. He turned off the light with a soft click, though when he went to get up, Augustus whimpered, clinging even in his sleep.

The poor thing, Edgar thought as he settled back down. My work schedule must be frying his nerves. He must think I’m going to disappear for good one day. He isn’t like Brielle - he doesn’t know I’m coming home.

A hand stroked through his son’s thick hair tenderly, brain whirring. His birthday’s coming soon… I can use the extra cash to get him something nice. Perhaps a new kite. Or some more books. And then I can dump these extra shifts. The last thing I want to do is make my family unhappy.

He fell asleep thinking about how best to decline calls once Augustus’ special day had passed.

#🞮 — if i could i'd trade my heart for a second brain. ❜ ( edgar. )#☆ — i never promised you your dream boy. ❜ ( main. )#☆ — i'm just here to destroy. ❜ ( ic. )#drabble *#/ HOH W OW #I LOVE GOING INTO EDGAR'S PAST WHOHHHHHWHEEE

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dragonwitch77 · 5 years

Text

Shadow Girl Ch2

“AAAAAAHHHHH! HELP US!”

“RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”

“THEY’RE AFTER US!”

“SOMEONE HELP US! AAAAAAHHHHH!”

The screams of his minions did little to grab his attention. His eyes were glued to the book, reading every line carefully and studying the sentences word by word. It had his full and utter concentration, and nothing would tear him away from it.

“Waaaor!”

Except maybe for the occasional checking glance.

Snatcher looked up from his book, looking down from the stump home of his many minions he had perched himself on the moment he entered the small village. Many of his minions were running around, heading in different directions with a unanimous unspoken agreement to get away from one individual. The said individual who was one not among the dead that was chasing them.

“Waor waor!” Down on the ground chasing the minions was a little girl. No older than four, she was like any typical child would be. Hyper, full of energy, curious of the world all around her, and purely innocent.

Snatcher couldn’t help but smile as the young child ran around his village chasing his minions, roaring like a monster with her little hands up in the air. He noted that her hood had fallen down again, and one of the pigtails was coming undone. He would have to fix that later if not sooner with the kid running around messing it up.

“AAAHHH! HELP! SHE’S CHASING ME!” One of the minions cried out. But Snatcher knew they weren’t in any real danger. None of the minions were. Nor were they screaming in fear. The cheeriness in their tones and attempts to hold in their laughter was a far cry from any fear that would be there if they were in real danger. But, no. It was just a typical game of Monster Chasing.

It was currently the kid’s favorite game this week. It was one of the more ‘quiet’ games that Snatcher preferred her to play other than her more adventurous role playing games. But at least she wasn’t playing with the Fire Spirits or getting stuck in a spider web. Even the Dwellers would join in once in a while for fun chasing or being chased.

“Waor! Wao-ah!” Snatcher’s eyes widened as the small girl tripped, landing face first on the ground. Before he could move to do anything, his minions were already there surrounding the small girl.

“Oh no! Newbie fell!”

“Is she alright?! Is she hurt?!”

“Poor newbie!”

“Check her for any owies!”

The minions helped the small child up, dusting any dirt that might have gotten on her when she fell and checking for any signs of injury. Satisfied that his minions were handling things, Snatcher went back to his book.

It was odd that a ghost would be caring for a child. Much more so a living one. It wasn’t something Snatcher had planned or even wanted. The child simply came into his undead life without warning. He didn’t plan to keep the kid for this long, he had thought of getting rid of her, but he just never found the heart time to do so.

Now he was stuck with a kid he didn’t want in his forest. It wasn’t so bad. His minions tended to do most of the work in keeping the girl entertained and most of them enjoyed playing with her.

“Snatcher!” Hearing his name, he once again peeked over his book down at the small girl looking up at him. Her big blue eyes stared up at him, holding up one of her ribbons. Ah. Her ribbon fell out.

He sighed, setting the book aside and picked up the small girl in his hands. There was one thing that the girl refused anyone to touch and that was her hair. Aside from Snatcher, she never let any of the minions touch it, claiming that they pulled too hard or it wasn’t pretty enough.

Mostly Snatcher had a feeling she only wanted him to do it since he had fingers. And she liked being near him for some reason. “There.” He smiled at his work, finished the ribbon into a bow at the end. “Now don’t try to mess it up.”

Once Snatcher had set her on the ground, the child turned around and blew a kiss at him. He merely rolled his eyes and went back to his book. Giggling, she turned around and started chasing the minions again. “Waor! Waor!”

“OH NO SHE’S BACK! AAAAAAH!” And with that, the game continued.

It was a peaceful day in Subcon. A typical, normal day.

“Aw~! She’s so cute~!”

Until Snatcher got an unsuspecting visit. The ghost nearly jumped in surprise, whirling around to come face to face with the last person he wanted to see today. “Moonjumper!”

“The same.” The corpse giggled. “You seem a little jumpy today Snatcher. Did I manage to catch you off guard?” Moonjumper poked the shadow’s cheek, which was slapped away rather harshly.

“Don’t. Touch me. Shouldn’t you be up in the sky keeping a lookout?”

“I was. But then I spotted my little niece playing with your minions!”

“She’s not your niece.” Snatcher said in a deadpanned tone.

“Then why do you keep her?”

“Because there was no way to get rid of her.” Snatcher growled. “I’ve told you this hundreds of times! I’m only keeping her now because she may be some use to me when she gets older.”

Moonjumper frowned. “Well that’s not very nice. If you wanted to have some servants, you could at least force some intruders to do your bidding. That is what you normally do.” Snatcher glared at him. “And what use would you have of her when she got older?”

“Probably some task that might pop up in the near future that I need her to fix.” Snatcher scoffed. “The only thing I care about is my forest. Whatever happens to her is none of my concern.”

“Got you!” The girl shouted, catching Snatcher and Moonjumper off guard. They glanced at the child, spotting her hugging one of the minions from behind.

“Oh no! You got me!” The minion playfully whined, placing a hand on top their head. “Oh woe is me! She got me! Woe is me!”

Snatcher frowned as most of the other minions shook their heads or groaned. “… Oh.” The child let the minion go from the hug, running over to a different minion and hugged them. “Got you!”

“HEY!”

“Sorry dude.” The minion shrugged, patting the child on the back.

Moonjumper chuckled lightly. “The child certainly knows which minions are her favorite.” His voice caught the attention of the minions and child.

“MOONY!” The girl squealed with delight, letting the minion go and running up to the corpse, holding her arms up.

“Why hello little star! How’s my favorite niece?” Moonjumper picked the child up, holding her to his eye level.

“She’s not your niece!”

“Everyone says otherwise!” Moonjumper stuck his tongue out at Snatcher. “Look how big you’ve gotten! I only see you at a distance but I swear you’ve gotten taller! How old are you now sweetie?”

“I’m thr—” The child started before stopping, holding her hand up with three fingers. “… FOUR!” She finally said, holding up another finger and making Moonjumper and a few minions swoon over her cuteness.

“So CUUUTE~ Now, what would my niece like from uncle Moonjumper? Dancing dolls? A puppet theater? Story time?”

“HEY! Story time is MY job mister!”

“Dolls! Dolls!” The girl chanted, making Moonjumper laugh.

“Dancing dolls it is then! And after that we can play some games and have some snacks and watch the stars and—”

“Annnnd now it’s her bedtime.” Snatcher plucked the child from Moonjumper’s hands, heading off towards his tree home.

“Nooo! Not bedtime Snatcher!” The girl whined.

“Yes. It’s certainly not the child’s bedtime. That’s not for another hour!” Moonjumper followed after the pair much to Snatcher’s dismay. “You can’t send my niece to bed just because I wanted to play with her! You’re being utterly rude! And not to mention messing with the child’s sleeping schedule.”

“She’ll be FINE. And let’s not forget how you kept her up nearly the whole night into the morning that one time.”

“IT WAS JUST ONE TIIIME!” Moonjumper whined, making the young girl giggle.

“Moony funny!”

“Moony has to go bye bye now kid. He needs to be at his post, like he should be.”

“Oh you’re no fun.” Moonjumper huffed with his hands on his hips.

“No. I’m just cautious. I don’t want intruders scampering about in my—”

“Our.”

“In MY forest. I only have room for one living being and that’s all.” The girl looked to Snatcher with confusion on her face.

“What’s scamping?”

“Scampering in when you run in quick light steps all around the place kiddo. You do that with the minions all the time.”

“I do?”

“You sure do! Like a little bunny~” Moonjumper peered over Snatcher’s shoulder, getting shoved away by the shadow.

“Post. NOW. And you. Bed.” This earned a loud groan of complaint from the two. “None of that now! What I say, goes.”

“Fine. Have it your way then.” Moonjumper huffed, turning to leave. “But you don’t need to be so pushy about it.”

Snatcher glared at the corpse a bit before he felt small tugs on his mane. “What is it kiddo?”

“Why you hate Moony?” The child asked, staring up at the ghostly shadow with her big blue eyes.

“I don’t hate him kid. I despise him.” Snatcher growled before shaking his head and sighing. “It’s… an adult business kid. I’ll tell you more about it when you get older.” The child huffed, pressing her face against his chest so deep that the lower part of her face was obscured and only her unhappy eyes were visible. This made Snatcher smirk a little. “Heh. Alright kid. How about a story before you go to bed, hm?”

The mention of a story instantly perked the young girl up. “Yeah! Story! Story! I want story!”

“Alright, settle down. Settle down.” Snatcher chuckled. “How about a story with…” He hummed, thinking up a story to tell the child. “Wiith knights. And a dragon?”

The child gasped with excitement. She loved stories with dragons in them! It was always funny when the dragon burned the knights stinky butts! “Yeah! Yeah! Dragons! Lots a dragons!”

“And some magic?”

“Yes!”

“And some daring adventure?”

“Yes Yes Yes!”

“And cute little princesses?”

“Oh don’t be silly. We don’t add princesses in our stor—WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK HERE?!”

Moonjumper frowned. “I would put a princess in a story.”

“GET. BACK. TO. YOUR. POST.” Snatcher growled through gritting teeth.

“Not until you promise to—URK!”

“POST. NOW.” Snatcher tightened his grip around Moonjumper’s neck. “Or else I’m going to break that neck of yours you little—” He stopped short, looking at the small child in his arms. “… uh, meanie. Yeah let’s just go with that.”

“No! No hurt uncle Snatcher!”

“Okay, kid, we really need to work on your sentences.” Snatcher let Moonjumper’s throat go, turning his focus back on the child. “And on that matter we really should start teaching you about the basics and learn some astronomy and—”

“Boats?”

“Noo. That would be ridiculous.”

“Oh. Well that’s a shame.” Moonjumper rubbed his neck, hoping that he wouldn’t find any marks left behind later. “Because I saw some ships that were nearing along the coast line of the forest that looked interesting enough to study.”

“Well the kid isn’t going to le—I beg your pardon?”

“There are ships coming at the coast line of the forest. BIG ones.”

A cold pit formed in Snatcher, gripping the child closer to his chest.

“Snatcher?”

“Sorry kiddo. Story time will have to wait.” Snatcher hurried to the tree, Moonjumper following behind in pace with him. “Snatcher has to go somewhere really quick and check it out.”

“But story!” The child whined as she was placed on her bed. “And dragons!”

“Kiddo, I promise when I come back, I tell you a story.” Snatcher started to pull away, but the child quickly grabbed his hand.

“No go! Snatcher need to tell story!”

“I will! When I get back kid. I just need to make sure that—” He stopped, looking at Moonjumper. The corpse only shrugged. He didn’t know how to help at the moment. “Okay, look, kid.” Snatcher sighed, turning back to the small girl. “How about when I get back, I’ll tell you an extra story? Hm? Would you like that?”

The child looked into the shadow’s eyes. She liked Snatcher’s stories. They were always funny and cool. But she really didn’t want him to go either. She didn’t like sleeping without Snatcher there. But an extra story…

Snatcher could almost chuckle at the cute look on the child’s face as she tried to decide what she wanted, though he wished she would hurry up soon. The longer she took, the more he worried about those ships getting closer.

“Snatcher.” Moonjumper was a little more impatient, clenching and unclenching his hands on his arms, ready to go at a moment’s notice.

“I’ll be there just hold on.” Snatcher shot back before looking at the child. “Well kiddo?”

The young girl really didn’t want Snatcher to go, but the idea of an extra story was very tempting. Finally with her mind made up, she let Snatcher’s hand go with a pout. “Back soon?”

“I’ll be gone and back before you know it kid.” Snatcher promised, floating out the tree. “Just stay in the tree and wait there! Smell ya later!”

“Do you really think she’ll stay there when we get back?” Moonjumper asked as the pair took to the sky.

“Of course not. Why do you think I have minions stationed around there in the first place?” Snatcher huffed, breaking through the trees to the sky above Subcon.

“I knew they were placed there for a reason.” Moonjumper mused.

“Alright, enough chitchat! Where are those ships you mentioned?”

Moonjumper pointed to where the forest met the sea, out in a distance where a pair of large ships were sailing. Snatcher summoned a telescope, looking through it and frowned deeply.

“Well? Is it a false alarm? Or are we going to have some company?”

Snatcher was quiet a moment, studying the ships carefully.

“Snatcher?”

The shadow huffed, squishing the telescope between his hands which then evaporated into nothing. “Looks like we have far away visitors coming to pay a visit.”

“Imperials? Monarchs? Pirates?”

“More along the lines of travelers sent out by a sovereign.” Snatcher crossed his arms, not liking this one bit. “They seem to look like they’re on an expedition.”

“Well that doesn’t seem so—”

“An expedition for take over.”

Moonjumper frowned, looking out at the ships that were sailing closer and closer to the forest. “… Really?”

“Well if cannons, spears, handful of armed knights, and barrels of gun powered is somehow their friendly way of saying hello, they probably haven’t heard of our customs.”

“What if the cannons are full of confetti?”

“Who in their right mind would fill a cannon with confetti?” Snatcher sighed, pinching his face. “You know what? Let’s not dwell on that and focus more on the situation here.”

Moonjumper smiled, cracking his fingers one by one. “Soo… I take left, you take right?”

A deep smirk crossed Snatcher’s face. “Only if you’re willing to lose.”

Moonjumper laughed, disappearing in a flash of dark pixels as Snatcher took off diving into the shadows.

~~***~~

She didn’t like waiting. Waiting was boring! And boring was a bad thing like timeouts and eating nasty veggies.

She didn’t like veggies. They tasted yucky! Not like the sweet stuff uncle Moony brought her when Snatcher wasn’t looking. Those were yummy! She wished that Snatcher wasn’t so mean to uncle Moony so much so that he could visit her more often and give her more yummy stuff.

She sighed, flopping over on her stomach on her bed. “It no fair Mr. Floppy Ears. Snatcher promised story. Yet he weft with no story! Oh! Left. Left. Left. Left. Snatcher says I need to pract my words better. Left left left!”

Snatcher told her that she need to work on her words since she was getting to be a big girl. But uncle Moony says she was fine speaking like that.

“He promise two stories when he come back. But when he come back Mr. Floppy Ears!” Mr. Floppy Ears was silent. “Yeah! He take looooooooooooooo—(Deep breath)—ooooooooooong time!”

She rolled over on her back, looking up at Mr. Floppy Ears and giggled seeing him upside down. “Uncle Moony says Snatcher goes on importan stuff. Snatcher goes for very looong time before come back.” She frowned. “Uncle Moony always fun when Snatcher gone. Makes you dance silly! And makes funny shows with you and Puff and Flip!” Her frown deepened. “… but uncle Moony left with Snatcher.”

She sat up, turning around and picking Mr. Floppy Ears up. “They left Mr. Floppy Ears! With no story! Snatcher say to wait, but I want story!” She huffed, looking out the tree. She smiled. “I go to story.” She slid off the bed, walking with Mr. Floppy Ears in her arms to the front of the tree. She peeked out.

Snatcher left minions behind to watch her when he left. He didn’t like it when she left the tree on her own. Something about it being bad? She didn’t know. And didn’t really care.

She smiled when she looked to the right and saw the funny fire foxes dancing around the fire. Snatcher didn’t like the fire foxes, but he kept these foxes next to the tree. Saying he needed them for a wall? But why? All they did was dance around a fire and Snatcher didn’t like it when she got close to them.

She would play with them later. She needed to find Snatcher and get her stories first. Climbing out of the tree and walking slowly down the root to the land, she started on her way to find Snatcher.

“Newbie’s out of the tree!” She froze, stopping in place as four minions popped out of nowhere and surrounded her.

“Newbie! What are you doing?”

“Boss said you needed to stay in the tree.”

“Yeah! You need to stay inside the tree till he gets back!”

“He won’t be happy if he catches you out of the tree.”

She huffed, hugging Mr. Floppy Ears closer. “He left! No story!”

The minions looked at each other. “Story?”

“Is she talking about her bedtime stories?”

“Boss does like to tell her stories.”

“He left! No story!”

“Newbie, calm down. I’m sure boss will be back soon to tell you stories.”

“No! He left! I go find him for story!” She pushed past the minions, trying to get away from them and find Snatcher, but they blocked her path.

“No newbie! Boss doesn’t want you out of the tree when he’s away!”

“He gets really mad when you don’t listen.”

“And he doesn’t want you wandering around on your own!”

“You might get hurt and get owies!”

She frowned. She did hate getting owies. They hurt. But she wanted her stories!

“Listen. How about we tell you a story?”

“What?” Three minions looked at the middle minion in shock but her eyes lit up. A story from a minion and two stories from Snatcher? That was THREE STORIES!

“YES! YESYESYESYES! Gimme story!” She hopped up and down, really wanting the story.

“Oh great. Now you made the newbie want a story from us.”

“What? There’s nothing wrong giving the newbie a story.”

“Nothing wrong?! Do you not know how the boss gets when someone other than him tells the newbie stories?!”

“The last time Moonjumper told her a story, boss was livid for WEEKS!”

“Not to mention that the boss made it very clear that he doesn’t want other people telling the newbie stories!”

“Story?”

“Sorry newbie. You’re not getting a story.”

“… no… story?” Her lip trembled. No… story? She wasn’t getting a… story? But. But she liked stories! Why wasn’t she getting a story?!

“… Ooooh no.”

“NO! Don’t cry newbie!”

“Please don’t cry!”

“Y-yeah! Don’t cry! You don’t need to cry!”

“Story…” Her eyes were getting watery. All she wanted was a story.

“OKAY! OKAY! We’ll tell you a story!”

“YEAH! We’ll tell you a GREAT story!”

“A really really great story!”

“You’ll be begging to hear it again!”

“… weally?” She rubbed her eye.

“Yes! It’ll be a story you will remember forever!”

She smiled. That sounded great! “Tell! Tell!”

“O-okay, uh, um. O-Once upon a time in a village, uh, far, FAR away—”

“—there were four bestest buddies in the whole wide world!”

“Who really liked to get into mischief a lot—”

“—because they wanted to have fun!”

“And these buddies got into a LOT of trouble—”

“—TONS of trouble!”

“Very big trouble.”

“Well. You guys did.”

Three minions turned the heads at the minion.

“… what? It’s the truth. You guys always got into trouble.”

“YOU got into trouble too!”

“Only because you dragged me along!”

“Oh Yeah? What about that time you tried to steal a pie?”

“You guys made me do it!”

“No way!”

“Nuh-uh!”

“You did it by yourself dude!”

“No I didn’t.”

“Yes you did.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Yes you did.”

“No I didn’t.”

“Yes you did.”

“No I didn’t!”

“Yes you did!”

“No I DIDN’T!”

“YES YOU DID!”

“NO I DIDN’T!” The minion jumped on the minion next to them, slapping them and tumbling around on the ground. The other two minions jumped on top of them and then proceeded to fight.

She… was confused. Did he steal the pie or not?

She wanted to know, but Snatcher always told her that she shouldn’t get close to minions that were roughhousing or she would get owies. Thinking of Snatcher reminded her of way she was out of the tree. She needed to find him and get her story!

She couldn’t go forward since she wasn’t allowed near roughhousing minions and she couldn’t go to the swampy part of the forest. She gazed towards the fiery part of the forest. Snatcher always said that she could visit there someday when she was older. She was older now! She could go in there and find Snatcher!

The only thing standing between her and the fiery forest was a fence, but that was easy! She just crawled under it and came out the other side. The minions were still fighting, so they wouldn’t be busy watching her as she made her way inside the burny, fiery, hot part of the forest all on her own.

She was such a smart kid!

~~***~~

“There it is. Subcon Forest. A real nasty work if you ask me.”

“So that’s what it looks like. I always imagined it to be creepy. But not this creepy.”

“Did you ever imagined trying to invade it?”

“Not really…” The young soldier frowned, looking at the helmet in his hands. “Why are we invading? Subcon really hasn’t given us a reason to invade them before.”

“Ba! Who knows?” His companion leaned against the side, staring out at the large forest they were heading to. “King probably wants more land or resources or something. Can’t really tell with him. His advisor might have an idea, but he probably won’t tell any of us lowly peasants.”

“Still, don’t you think it’s odd?”

“About what?”

“No one has ever come out of Subcon over hundreds of years, right?”

“So they say.”

“Are we even sure there’s anyone living in that forest?”

“Living? Pfft. Sure are.” The two soldiers turned to the third knight who was leaning his back against the railing that had joined them. “I’ve heard that there was at least one living person spotted living in that forest. People just assume everyone else is just too shy to come out of that forest to say hi.”

“I wonder why.”

“Probably because of that old legend about the crazy king and the mask.”

“Old legend? What’s that?”

“You haven’t heard of it?”

“You’ve got to be kidding. No one hasn’t heard of the old legend about this place!”

“I know of a mask and the king.”

“So, you had heard of it.”

“Probably. I do tend to hear a lot of stuff now and then and different versions of any story.”

“Then you should know about the old legend about how an old king used an evil mask to control his kingdom and how he used it for evil deeds and wicked tasks against the different nations before the rose up against him!”

“I heard he used it to separate his kingdom from the rest of the world.”

“Yeah, I heard that too. The nations had such a big army that the crazy king used his mask to push the lands far away, breaking them into islands that made new kingdoms! The mask has crazy power!”

“Get real. The mask isn’t really real. And neither was the king. Subcon’s residents are probably just too cowardly to show their faces or reach out to anyone. Guess seeing two ships ready for battle will wake them up from their illusion of a peaceful dream to the harsh reality of the world when we dock.”

“I’m pretty sure someone should have seen us by now.” The young knight glance at the second ship sailing beside them. “I mean, two big ships coming from a different land armed to the teeth just to invade. That really not the best welcoming party I know.”

“You’re right. It isn’t. I’m pretty sure Subcon’s residents wouldn’t be too happy about it either! Especially the Snatcher!”

“… who?”

“… You’re kidding.”

“No. Who is the ‘Snatcher’?”

“That’s an odd name to give someone at birth.”

“Oh for the love of! The SNATCHER! Ghostly being?! Stealer of souls?! The living shadow!”

“OH! You mean HIM!”

“Oh yeah! Yeah! I know him!”

“Yeah, heard a lot about him!”

“Yeah a really spooky guy. Don’t want to run into him on a dark night.”

“…”

“… you have no idea who I’m talking about.”

“Nnnope!”

“Sorry.”

“Who would call themselves the Snatcher? That’s ridiculous!”

“Besides, there’s no such thing as living shadows.”

“Or ghosts. Ghosts are pretty dumb.”

“Yeah, I used to be afraid of them when I was a kid but now? Not so much.”

“When you get older, you start realizing how dumb things are now that you know things better.”

“Ghosts are pretty dumb.”

“Yep. Not even the brightest. I mean, what can a ghost do? Float? Yeah, really scary.”

“I obviously don’t believe in ghosts at this point. I mean have you seen a ghost?”

“No. Have you?”

“Not in my life. Have you?”

“… Every… Single… Day.”

“Okay you’re obviously lying. There’s no way you could ever have seen a ghost every day.”

“Yeah, also, what’s up with your voice?”

“… PECK IT.”

“Wh—” The young knight started before the knight they were talking to evaporated and a large shadowy being stood over them, glaring with deep anger.

“DUMB? YOU WANT TO SEE DUMB? WELL, TOO BAD!”

The knight coward in fear, staring up at the shadowy being that was towering over them.

“YOU GET THE NOT SO NICE GHOST.”

With that, the shadow lunged at them and attacked the ship. It was an uproar in that moment as soldiers were blasted and had their souls ripped out of their bodies, not even noticing the second ship being attacked by their own enemy with red strings.

~~***~~

She was a smart girl.

Snatcher told her that often when she did something new. Like when she climbed a tree without help. Or when she played hide and seek with him and hid with all the other minions so he wouldn’t find her. Or the time she painted a picture of her, Snatcher, the minions, Dwellers, and uncle Moony!

Though, uncle Moony was gone from the picture last time she saw it.

Oh well! She could make more paint uncle Moonys later! She needed to find Snatcher and get her stories!

… but, where was he?

She looked around, turning to find the familiar shadowy being. He wasn’t anywhere nearby, and she couldn’t see very far between the trees.

Maybe he wasn’t here? But he wasn’t here, then where was he? Uncle Moony said that the forest was a big place. Maybe he was deeper in?

“Snatcher is hard to find Mr. Floppy Ears. I no see him in forest.” She hugged Mr. Floppy Ears closely. “I no give up! I want story! Find Snatcher and get story!”

She huffed, continuing on her path to find Snatcher and get her story!

“We’re going the wrong way!”

“No we are not!”

She stopped. Did she hear voices?

“Yes we are! We’re supposed to be at the tower!”

“And we’re getting there!”

“Does this looking anything like a tower?!”

“We would be getting there sooner if you would just shut up and follow me!”

“You don’t even know where we are!”

She looked around, but couldn’t see anybody. Where was the voices coming from?

“Well we’re somewhere in the forest heading towards one of the towers.”

“That’s not comforting at all!”

“Hello?” She called out, looking for the voices. “Is anybody there?” Something flew past her ear, making her jump and let out a squeak of fear.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU IDIOT?!”

“I was just defending myself!”

“AGAINST A CHILD?! REALLY?!”

“It could be a ghost disguised as a child!”

“You are such an idiot Naon!”

She hugged Mr. Floppy Ears tightly. These voices were loud. Loud like when Snatcher got angry. And when Snatcher was angry he got scary. And she didn’t like scary things. Scary things were bad. Uncle Moony always told her to hide at the tree when bad scary things appeared.

“Oh! Wait! Don’t go!”

“Maka! Don’t go down there!”

She looked up, spotting something jumping out of the trees and land in front of her. She froze up. This didn’t look like a minion or a Dweller. She whimpered, backing away from this new thing.

~~***~~

“No no no no! Don’t be scared! I’m not going to hurt you.” Maka softly spoke. “Did Naon scare you?”

“I didn’t scare anyone! That’s a ghost Maka!”

“She is not a ghost!” Maka shouted up in the tree Naon was still hiding up in. She turned back to the child, smiling softly. “Don’t listen to that big meanie. He’s just being paranoid.”

The little girl clutched her doll close to her chest, her wide big blue eyes staring up at her with fear in them. “w… what’s par… par… parnod?”

Maka’s smile widened, kneeling down so she was smaller so not to spook that child. “Paranoid means that he’s scared and jumpy. Like a big old scaredy cat.”

“HEY! I am NOT a scaredy cat!”

Maka shot a frown over her shoulder before looking back at the scared child before her. “What are you doing in this forest sweetie? Are you lost?”

The child was silent for a moment before nodding her head.

“Are you trying to find something?”

The child nodded again.

“We’re trying to find something too. And we got lost too.”

“Again! We’re not lost! Just off track!”

Maka frowned, turning to look behind her as her partner jumped down from the tree. “That’s the same difference Naon!”

“Look, we’re not going to get anywhere talking to some ghost disguised as a little kid!”

“She’s not a ghost!”

“You don’t know that!” She looked back the child, finding her backing away with fear on her face. “Oh. Oh no, don’t cry sweetie! We’re just being angry at each other.” She knelt down in front of the child, rubbing her head gently. “My name is Maka and he’s Naon.”

“Don’t tell it our names.” Naon whined.

“What’s your name?”

The child fiddled with her doll, drawing a circle in the ground. “… kiddo.”

Maka frowned. “N-no. I mean your name. What do your parents call you?”

The child blinked, tilting her head. “What’s parents?”

Her frown deepened. “… your mommy and daddy.”

“I no have mommy and daddy!”

Maka felt her heart stop a moment.

“Whoa whoa whoa. Back up! How can you not know what a mommy and daddy is? Or have any?” Naon stepped forward, making the little girl back away. “Someone has to be taking care of you! You got clothes on and you don’t look to be starving.”

Maka looked at the child carefully. Naon was right. The child did appear to be healthy. But she did question the clothes. Purple raggy clothing with a matching poncho. The only thing that wasn’t colored purple was the two pink bows in her brown hair that were kept in two tiny pigtails.

“Don’t you have any siblings? A cousin? An aunt or an uncle?”

“Uncle? I have uncle!”

“You do?” Maka asked.

“Yeah! Yeah! Uncle Moony! He fun uncle!”

“And where is uncle Moony?”

“He over…” The child glanced around, her smile slowly looking around the forest. “He over… over…”

“… Are you lost little one?”

“Obviously.”

“Shut it Naon.”

The child looked back at her. “Uncle Moony no here.”

“I see. Well, how about I help you find uncle Moony then?”

The child’s face lit up brightly. “Really?!”

“Maka! You can’t just abandon the mission!”

“You can go ahead if you want to Naon. I’m not letting this child get lost any further.” She picked the child up, carefully sitting her on her hip.

“It could be a trap!”

“Would a ghost really go as far as to disguise themselves as a human being?”

“Master won’t like this.”

“I wouldn’t like what?”

Maka and Naon jumped. They quickly turned to the voice. “Master!”

There standing before them was Master. Deep black cloak with his special mask on his face, eye boring at them with unamusement before looking at the child in Maka’s arms. “Why is there a child in your arms Maka? I don’t recall you bring one for this important mission.”

“We just found this child here sir.”

“It’s a ghost in disguise! I keep telling her but she won’t—”

“The child is not a ghost Naon. A ghost would need considerable amounts of energy to make a disguise this convincing and hold it for this long.” The Master spoke, cutting off Naon and walking up to Maka.

The young girl eyed him warily, hiding part of her face against Maka’s chest.

“Hello child. How are you?” The child let out a small squeak of fear, hiding her face more from the Master. “Shy aren’t we? Do you have a name?” The child shook her head. “Really? Now that can’t be right. You must have a name now, don’t you?”

“Master. We don’t have time for this. The longer we stand around here, more the more time we waste.”

The Master was silent, contemplating Naon words. He was right, in a sense. The more they focused on this random child, the more they were getting off track of their mission. The ship were likely being attacked by now, so it was only a matter of time getting to the tower.

“… Very well. We’ll worry about the child later.”

“But sir—”

“You may bring the child if you wish Maka. But we must focus on our task first.”

“… yes sir.”

“Good. Now I believe the tower is this way. Keep close. Especially you Naon.”

“Oh come on! I wasn’t lost!”

~~***~~

Moonjumper hummed, marveling at his handy work with glee. The boat was practically destroyed, with bits and pieces floating on the waves along with bodies of soldiers. He didn’t exactly know what he was going to do with this boat, but he figured he could take some of it apart and make it in a smaller boat for his little niece to play with.

His smile broadened. Thinking of his little niece with a pirate hat on her little head with a wooden sword in her tiny hands was a cute thought. One that needed to come to fruition.

“Whelp. I’m done on my end.” Snatcher floated over to him, a few souls in hand. “Could have gone better than I wanted to. So how’s your ship fairing?”

“Better than yours I suppose.” Moonjumper cast a quick glance at Snatcher’s ship, which was nothing else than a few scraps on fire quickly sinking to the sea. “You really have a dramatic for flair in your attacks.”

“Please. I could have done better.” Snatcher shrugged, shoving the souls in his mouth and swallowing them whole. The action made Moonjumper cringed, finding the act rather gruesome and inhumane. “Don’t give me that look. You used to do it too.” Snatcher licked his finger.

“That was before I knew what I was doing was wrong.”

“Whatever. You’re missing out on a good meal here.” Snatcher shrugged, heading off towards the forest. “Anyway, I better get back to the kid. No doubt she’s trying to escape to get her stories.”

“Or you.” Moonjumper followed after him. “She’s really attached to you you know.”

Snatcher scoffed. “Please. She only likes me because I tell her stories and put bows in her hair. Between the two of us she prefers you over me more.”

“Ouch. That must be hard to admit.”

“DON’T PUSH IT. I still don’t like you hanging around the kid. You’re a bad influence on her!”

“I’m a bad influence? Mister, you do realize that you hardly are even a better role model for her than I.”

“Like what?”

“Well for starters, who keeps taking their eyes off her often?”

“I have to patrol my forest mister! And besides, the minions keep an eye on her for me.”

“Who keeps forgetting that she’s afraid of the dark?”

“The whole forest is dark! You can’t blame me for that!”

“Who keeps on getting her into trouble with spiders?”

“For the record, you’re half of the blame there.”

“And let’s not forget that one incident with the Fire Spirits and the swa—”

“OKAY! I GET ALREADY!”

Moonjumper smirked.

“But let’s also look at the fact that you don’t tend to have the best intentions for the kid either.”

His smirk quickly fell into a frown. “What? Don’t be absurd! I have the best intentions for her health and life!”

“You keep giving her sweets for food. She’s going to get fat before she reaches the age of ten!”

Moonjumper sputtered. “She is not going to get fat! And there’s nothing wrong with giving her sweets!”

“All she ever wants to eat are sweets! And further more—” Snatcher suddenly froze, putting a hand to his chest.

Moonjumper stopped, eyeing the shadow carefully. “Snatcher?”

“… something’s wrong with my tower.” Snatcher gazed in the direction of a tall tower covered in fire and thick spiky vines. “I… I have to check it out.” He changed his course, veering away from his original intended path to his tree.

“Wh—Wait! Snatcher! What about the child?!”

“KEEP AN EYE ON HER!” Snatcher shouted over his shoulder before disappearing, leaving the corpse to hover there confused.

He could have gone after the shadow, but for years he dared not to go anywhere near his tower. Snatcher only had two things that Moonjumper knew he was very protective of. First being the forest and its inhabitants. Second being his tower. He didn’t know why Snatcher was so protective of it. No amount of poking or asking ever got him to open up about it.

And it wasn’t a good idea to go anywhere near it since last time he did, he ended up with broken bones and deep scars. Since then, he had lost any interest to go anywhere near there. But, what exactly was going on over there that would draw Snatcher’s attention? He could follow to find out.

… Ooor.

His eyes landed on the tree with a giant vine wrapped around it in the distance, smiling widely. Maybe he could take this little chance to spend some time with his niece after all.

~~***~~

Cold.

She wasn’t used to cold. Snatcher always made sure she stayed warm wrapped up in blankies and uncle Moony gave her funny looking mud water that tasted great. But Snatcher wouldn’t let her make mud water. Something about it not being mud?

She shivered, snuggling against the nice lady. What was her name again? Maka? Yes that sounded right. Maka was a nice lady. Even if she wore dark clothing and a funny mask on her face like the other two. The mask reminded her of the ghosties that were in the forest and love to funny moves and chase her in Monster Chasing. And they had pretty colors.

“Are you cold, little one?”

She looked up at the nice lady, nodding her head.

“It’ll be alright. Soon we’ll reach the tower and be out of the cold.”

She smiled, nuzzling the nice lady. She was so nice! She never met someone as nice as her. Well, uncle Moony was nice too. But he didn’t count!

“Maka. Come take a look.” The loud one called out.

She didn’t like the loud one. He was mean, and loud, and stupid. So he gets no name. Mr. Floppy Ears said so.

“What is it?” The nice lady went up to them. “… oh.”

Why was the nice lady suddenly quiet? She looked to where the nice lady was looking. Her mouth fell open in shock as she gazed up the big tower that was in front of them.

“… big.”

~~***~~

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE GOT PAST YOU?! YOU FOUR WERE IN CHARGE OF WATCHING OVER HER AND YET YOU’RE TELLING ME YOU LOST HER?!”

The four minions cringed, looking at the ground in disappointment.

Moonjumper growled, facepalming with one hand and clenching his other tightly. “One. Job. You four had. One. Simple. Job. And you botched it up! Not only were so preoccupied with fighting over some petty squabble, you also managed to lose my niece?!”

“We didn’t know she would wander off when we were fighting.”

“IT DOESN’T MATTER! My little niece is out there on her own and you four have done nothing but argue instead of searching for her! How does Snatcher deal with you IDIOTS?!” Moonjumper huffed. “… Now is not the time to be yelling at you. I need to find my little niece before she gets hurt.”

“We’ll hel—”

“NO!” Moonjumper roared, causing the four to cower in fear. “Absolutely not! You four will be nothing but trouble! You couldn’t keep an eye on her and when I come back there will be consequences to your actions!”

The minions trembled as he left to go look for the small child.

~~***~~

“This tower seems bigger on the inside. It feels like we’ve been climbing forever.” Naon said, glancing down the side of the stairs they were ascending. Kicking a small pebble, he watched as it fell. When it disappeared and he couldn’t hear it land, he chuckled nervously. “Yikes. Don’t think anyone would survive a fall like that.”

“It does feel like this place is going on forever.” Maka agreed. “This place doesn’t feel normal. Almost like we’re in a different place. Yet… not.”

“Then it must mean we are on the right track.” The Master gazed upwards. “But luck would have it, we do not have far to go now.”

“Thank goodness! I was getting tired of walking up these steps.”

“Don’t be hasty Naon. This is only minion to what we have to do now.” The Master stopped at the top of the stairs, looking about the small stone bare room. Icicles hung from the ceiling and covered the floor, jutting out like swords that were placed about with no meaning.

The Master gazed intently at the ice, feeling dark power radiating off it. Just the same as the power radiating below them deep underground.

“Ice!”

“Yes child. This whole place is covered in ice. Be careful and don’t slip.” The Master gazed over as Maka led the child up the stairs, making sure she didn’t slip or step on any ice patches. Naon was right behind them, keeping an eye on the child and the ground.

“Hurry up. The item we seek is near.” The Master turned his focus to one side of the room that was covered in thick ice. Calmly, he walked over to it, taking out a small vial and opening it. Tipping it over, drops of green liquid landed on the ice. Once the liquid touched the ice, it began to crack and melt. Satisfied, he put the small vial away, waiting for the ice to melt away.

“Made it!” The child cheered as she hopped up the last step.

“Yes you did! Good job!” Maka cheered, clapping her hands as the child did a little twirl.

The Master couldn’t help but smile a little behind his mask at the child’s antics. Such a young mind and innocent of the world around her. He always envied that of young children.

“Come. Our path is almost at an end.” The Master beckoned his group to follow, heading up the wet stairs to a trap door. It took some force for it to move before it opened, letting a full blast of cold air seep in. Stepping out into the cold, The Master gazed around, his eyes landing on the center of the room where a single pedestal stood.

It looked harmless enough, but it was the box that sat on top that The Master was after. The deep thick chains made of magic wrapped around it intrigued him to step closer and inspect it. It was there, just in reach, yet so far away out of touch.

Naon poked his head out, spying the pedestal and the box. “Whoa. So it really is here.” He said with slight awe, stepping up on the floor with Maka not far behind him with the child.

“Yes. But we must be quick now. We cannot dawdle now.”

Maka eyed the box, feeling the power coming off it. “It feels… suffocating.” She clutched a hand to her chest, pulling the child close to her leg.

The child looked between the box and everyone, confusion written on her face. “What that?”

“That, child, is a powerful artifact. The very reason we are here.” The Master stepped closer to the pedestal, yet dared not to get too close to it. “With this our troubles will be far behind us and the kingdom.”

Naon nodded his head, stepping forward next to The Master. “Well, best we get this done now. The weather certainly isn’t being nice to us.”

~~***~~

Moonjumper was panicking.

Not only was his niece gone, but he had no clue to where to look for her. The village was out of the question for searching. The minions living there would have brought her back to the tree. She couldn’t have gotten into the swamp. The Fire Spirits were still there and barrier was still up. So that only left the burning part of the forest.

Still not an ideal safe place for a child, yet Snatcher didn’t put any barrier or wall to prevent a small child from wandering inside like he did with the swamp and ruins. He would have a strong talk with him later once he found his niece.

Right now he was more worried that the young girl would burn herself or have a run in with spiders or, even worse yet, one of Vanessa’s living ice statues. He would never forgive himself if something happened to the child and he wasn’t there protecting her.

Just as he was looking in one of the tree houses, he felt a thrum of power. His flying faltered for a slight moment before he caught himself.

“What the-?!”

Surprised and shocked, he turned to where the wave of power came from. The tower. The one covered in ice. He could feel it pulsing with dark energy, even from the great distance he was at.

Someone was at the tower.

His first thought was to rush over and see what was going on, but his mind drifted to his niece and worried about her safety. He wanted to find her first, but the tower was just as important. He knew what was there. He knew it had to be guarded.

But at the same time, his worry for his niece bled in.

He had to find her, to make sure she was okay. But he didn’t know how long that would take or if he ever would find her in time before whoever was at the tower was gone.

If he went to the tower first, he could stop whatever was going up there.

But with a cost of potentially losing his niece…

~~***~~

The box pulsed with power like a beating heart, sending wave after wave of dark magic in the air. The air felt colder, fear was emanating, and all anyone could do was stare at it in mixed awe.

The Master, standing closest to the box, gingerly held out a hand, touching the wood with light taps before taking it in his grasp.

“… WOW. That was… this is…” Naon started, trying to find the words yet failing to come up with any that could speak what was on his mind. Maka could only numbly nod her head, having no power to speak or take her eyes off the box.

The one who was greatly effected however, was the small girl pressed against the stone pillar with her doll clutched tightly to her chest. No one in the room could feel the power so great such as she did. Her eyes were wide, her heart rate going up to concerning rates, and cold pit of fear was overtaking her. But that wasn’t all she felt.

She could feel something. Something bad and wrong coming from the box. Something that made her feel small, helpless, and scared.

Maka took notice of the child’s distress, slowly moving towards her as her limbs felt numb and out of place than they normally did.

“… such power.” The Master whispered, feeling the power pulsing through his very core. He never felt such power before. Never in such great volume.

“Master?” Naon quietly called out. The Master was quiet for a moment before shaking his head, turning to Naon.

“We should start heading back now. There’s no doubt that someone felt that power surge and will come check it out. We need to leave. Now.”

“Yes Master. I don’t want to be caught in the cold. It makes my joints ache.” Naon joked, though there was a noticeable lack of any real humor in his tone.

“Come now child. Let’s go.” Maka held her hand out for the child to take, but the young girl’s attention went past her and spying a figure fast approaching the tower.

“UNCLE MOONY!” She cheered, catching the three off guard.

~~***~~

“Little star?!” Moonjumper couldn’t believe it as he approached the tower. There was his niece with three dark cloaked figures with masks. One holding the box, and another in front of his niece.

That sight set off warning bells in his head and he charged forward. His magic surged, creating strings that materialized out of thin air and shot forward at the three figures.

To his disappointment, the three evaded his strings, jumping out of the way before they could land their mark. This didn’t stop him so easily. Commanding the strings, they followed after the strangers, making sure to maneuver the strangers away from his niece. He didn’t want them or his stringers accidentally hurting her.

His main objective was to get the box. The power coming from it was bad, and needed to be sealed away again.

“Hold still and let my strings grab you!” He growled as, somehow, the three cloaked figures kept getting away from his strings.

Until one grabbed at his string, giving it a mighty tug that surprised Moonjumper at how strong the pull was as he was suddenly pulled down and into the tower, landing in a heap. The fall left his dazed till a burning pain in his back snapped him out of it. With a roar of anger, he leapt up and turned to face his attacker.

Using a bit of his magic, his strings bundled together, weaving into a sword. Grabbing the handle, he swung at his attacker. To his credit, the attacker had thought that the sword was a useless weapon being made out of string, but was quickly proven wrong when they sidestepped away and the sword got nothing but the cloak, leaving a clean cut in it.

Moonjumper grinned, swinging again and again at the figure who evaded his attacks with great skill. He did not get to enjoy the feeling long as he was attacked from the side. Growling, he made another sword and began fight with the three figures in cloaks all at once.

He couldn’t risk going all out. Not with the chance of harming his little niece. His best option was to battle these figures. He knew they would tire out soon. They were still living being after all. He could keep this up forever and snot feel the strain of it.

Raising one sword up, he brought it down fast at one of the figures pinned against a pillar, smiling with glee as they could not get away and only held their arms up for protection. His glee was short lived however as when his sword made contact with the figure’s arms, it bent. Confused, he brought it up close to his face for inspection, wondering why it bent when it was supposed to slash.

He didn’t have long to inspect it however as he was suddenly clocked in the jaw. The punch was powerful enough to send him to the ground, and it was then that he realized how tired he was. But that was impossible! He shouldn’t feel weak!

He then kicked in the gut, slashed at the arms, kicked in the face, and then stabbed through the chest by the three figures, slamming against a pillar and pinned there.

“Uncle Moony!”

Moonjumper weakly cracked open his eyes, spying his little niece. “l-little star…” His voice crack, coughing as the sword in his chest was making rather difficult to speak. He wanted to scream at his niece to run, to get help or at least get away from the danger of these strangers.

Unfortunately, his niece decided to run towards him and the three cloaked figures. His heart sank as one figure turned their head towards his niece.

“Uncle Moony?! I knew it! The kid IS a ghost!”

“Naon! No! She’s not a—”

“Can it Maka!” The one known as Naon stepped between him and his niece, stopping her in her tracks and gazing up at the cloaked figure in fear. “I knew it was only a disguise! Its been fooling us this whole time!”

Horror pooled inside Moonjumper as Naon took out a dagger.

“Naon! No! Leave them be! We got what we came for! We must leave now!”

Naon seemed to falter a bit. For a moment, Moonjumper hoped that Naon would leave his young niece alone.

But in one quick motion, Naon swung his arm, hitting his niece and sending her flying to the ground. Anger bubbled in him. Glaring daggers at the Naon as the one known as Maka rushed forward and grabbed Naon.

“Naon stop! Don’t hurt her!”

“Don’t Hurt It?! Do you realize that it set a trap here?! Fooling us with that fake kid disguise?!”

“Ghosts can’t bleed!”

“What?!”

“There’s blood on your knife!” Maka pointed to the dagger. Blood dripped off the steel, landing on the cold ground.

Eyes turned to the child, slowly picking herself up, holding her bleeding cheek in one hand as tears rolled down her face.

Before anyone could move, there was a deep growl. An inhuman growl. One that shook the very core inside Moonjumper.

He knew that growl anywhere.

In a flash, the three cloaked figures were smacked aside by a shadowy appendage. The child was dragged over to him, and Snatcher glared darkly at them, hovering over the child protectively with an arm shielding her.

“NEVER TOUCH THE KID!”

Moonjumper could almost smirk. He knew he loved her.

“Sna-nat-ch-cher!” The child hiccuped and sniffled, fat big tears falling down her face.

Snatcher cast a quick glance at the girl before turning to Moonjumper with a deep scowl on his face. “Why didn’t you take her someplace safe?!” He growled, grabbing the sword and pulling it out.

Moonjumper grunted in pain, rubbing his chest. “To be fair, I didn’t get much of a chance to.”

Snatcher huffed, patting the child gently on the back as she cried against him. His eyes were trained on the three figures as they picked themselves up. “So, mind telling me what you’re all doing here. And more importantly.” His eyes landed on the box clutched in one figure’s hands. “What you plan to do with that.”

“None of your business ghost!”

“Naon! Shut up! You’re making things worse!”

Snatcher growled, sending a wave of his own power out. “Better watch your tongue boy!”

“And do please try to think before you speak. Whatever you say next will determine your fate.”

“It is none of your concern.” The one figure who held the box spoke. “Only know that we have gotten what we came for, and if you may somehow stop us, the others have already gotten the other half we need.”

“Oh, they were friends over yours?” Snatcher smirked. “They made a nice treat when I got there. Though they weren’t much of a fight as I would have liked.”

“YOU PECK!” Naon shouted, charging at them. His path was blocked as thick thorny black vines shot out from beneath.

“LANGUAGE! There’s a kid here!” Snatcher turned to the child, pulling away slightly. “Kid, stay here. Snatcher and Moonboy—” “HEY!” “Need to take care of this real quick.”

With that, the vines dropped down and the pair lunged out, claws and strings ready for round two.

The child watched as her two guardians battled with the three not so nice people. She pressed up against the pillar, making herself as small as possible. She had never seen Snatcher or uncle Moony like this before. And Snatcher was angry, which made him scary.

She hugged herself, but then realized something was missing. Looking down, she found that Mr. Floppy Ears was missing! Oh no! Looking around, she spotted him near the edge.

Moonjumper was not having an easy time. Naon was proving to be a difficult opponent, blocking his every attack with the small dagger. Snatcher wasn’t faring well either, as it turned out Maka and the third cloaked figure were skilled in the use of magic, blocking and attacking with their own power that counteracted Snatcher’s power.

Things were not looking good. Adding with the fact that Moonjumper was getting weaker and weaker, which was really getting on his nerves. Bring down his swords only to be blocked again by Naon’s dagger. Blood was being smeared on his swords, making his anger flare.

How dare they? How dare they attack his precious little niece?!

Out from the corner of his eye, Moonjumper spotted the on with the box edging away from the battle. It didn’t take a genius to know that they were trying to make a break for it, and that got under Moonjumper’s skin.

Well if he wanted to leave the battle, then he will.

Permanently.

The moment the figure tried to run, the moment he tried to make a break for it, Moonjumper had only enough power to throw a pair of strings at him. One thin for wrapping and grabbing stuff, and the other one thick for moving heavy stuff around. The thin string wrapped around the box, swiping it from his grip, while the thick string slammed in to their chest hard enough to push them over the edge.

But what was meant to be only one victim, another was also taken.

The world slowed down as Moonjumper and Snatcher watched in complete horror as the young girl, innocently picking up her Mr. Floppy Ears, was rammed into and pushed over the edge along with the figure.

Her scream was carried in the wind as she fell from the tall tower, disappearing into the mist far far down below.

“KID!”

“LITTLE STAR!”

Moonjumper was kicked in the head, knocking him down. Naon then threw an elongated knife at Snatcher, hitting him in the middle and stunning him. His magic seeped out, draining him till he could no longer move and slumped against a pillar.

Maka and Naon ran to the edge, looking down from the high height. “MASTER!”

“He’s… he’s gone.” Naon slammed his fist on the ground. “He’s gone! Peck! He’s Gone!”

“And the child.”

“Who cares about her?!”

“I do! She was just a kid Naon!”

“She’s not that important now! We lost Master! How are we supposed to complete the mission now?!”

The two argued, not noticing Moonjumper slowly making his way towards Snatcher. Bit by bit he crawled towards him, eyes focused on the knife embedded in his middle. Once he was close enough, he grabbed hold of the handle, tugging at it. With all his strength left in him, he tugged the knife out of Snatcher, throwing it over the edge.

“Look! We got to focus on the mission! It doesn’t matter that a few kids die along the way!”

“How heartless are you?! How can you just says that with a straight face?!”

“I’m being reasonable here! We need to take the box and get out of—” A dark shadow cast over them.

They both looked up to see a red eyed Snatcher glaring down at them before he grabbed each of their heads, lifting them up high before smashing their head down hard enough that the ground cracked. Both bodies went limp.

Releasing his grip on them, Snatcher turned to Moonjumper, going over and lifting him up by the collar to glare at him in the eyes. “WHAT. DID. YOU. DO?!”

“I… I-I don’t—”

“YOU SHOVED HER OVER THE EDGE! YOU PUSHED HER OVER!”

“I-I didn’t… I didn’t want—”

“Save it!” Snatcher tossed Moonjumper down. He flew out of the tower, leaving a broken Moonjumper to think about what he had just done.

~~***~~

“Pleasepleasepleasepleasepleasebealright!”

Snatcher had never once been so scared in his life up to now. His yellow eyes scanned the mist, hoping that the young girl had grabbed onto one of large icicles that could have possibly saved her from the fall.

Though that was a very slim chance.

“Pleasepleasepleaseplease!”

Eyes landed on an icicle, and Snatcher froze. Every part of him felt cold and hallow as he stared in terror at what he saw.

“… no…”

He shook his head. “NO! Kid!” Snatcher doved farther down, trying to reason that the red tinted ice wasn’t from the kid.

#ahit fanfic #ahit #shadow girl #hat kid #snatcher #moonjumper #chapter 2 #get ready for FEEEEEEEEEELS!

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subconfessions · 4 years

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Hehe update time

Soooo a lot has changed in the last however many weeks hehe not too much, but some definite changes in how I interact with one of my friends.

I’m actually domming him now. And that was something I’d never expected. Especially since when we first started talking, he was soooo resistant to any even bratty comment I’d make. Even though he pretty obviously wanted me to be able to step up and domme him. But back then there was nooo way I would’ve been able to do that. I had nooo idea what to do as a domme or how to be a domme or to even identify and enjoy that dominant energy.

But I’ve been taught so much through watching and 😅 experiencing my friends dom me and each other. And especially now that I’m being let in a little on daddy’s secrets hehe

Domming is a lot of work though. Like a lot. It takes a ton of thought, time, and energy. And I always knewww that, but I’d never done it before. And I wasn’t even really expecting to get into this dynamic, my daddy and I pretty much teased my way into it. But I’m really happy it happened hehe it’s been a lot of fun, it’s a whole different ballgame than submitting.

First of alllllll domming is always very intimidating for me. I’m always very conscious of people and their emotions and their time and what their doing, so starting a dynamic with someone with limited time who I can only really play with while he’s at work, made me nervous, I don’t want to push too hard, and take up too much of their time, and idk.

But, I realized that this is a two way street, if he didn’t want his time and schedule and things messed with, he never would’ve agreed to this in the first place. And we’ve talked enough about boundaries and limits that I have a good idea of what I can and can’t do. So that doesn’t scare me so much anymore.

The slow decent into domming my friend has been fun though. Just lots of teasing and joking and poking about it hehe and then finally a well timed “you wish I was your domme” just set everything in motion.

The first week of domming has been a lot of fun though. I liked how slow things started, he had left a task for me to be done that Monday which was the day we were going to talk about our dynamic, and that task really got us both into our more switchy mindsets, which for me was a nice transition from mostly submitting to my friend to mostly domming him.

I really like giving him edges hahaha especially after all the times I’ve suggested them and he’s just been like “hmm nahh” cause he’d rather just play and cum. But we’ve decided, edging will help keep him nice and ready for his wifey at home hehe

Then came telling Daddy about it, hehe I knew he’d be excited and boy did I get a whollleeee lot of new information and ideas. Which has helped sooo much in blending into my own dommy style.

I think my favorite has been the write for me website. I think they’ve honestly taught him a good lesson about rushing through things. I started off by giving him the 30 lines “Miss Emma is my Goddess Domme and I am her bitch” hehe the first time there wasn’t a penalty and homeboy made like 22 mistakes and only spent 4 minutes on them when I’d given him the whole day! Really rather unacceptable. But I had seen that there was an option to add more lines, and he was already talking about how he wanted to try again and get less mistakes so I was like yeah how about now then. So like a good little boy off he went to go do more lines, and very quickly I got a whiny Miss Emmmmaaaaa and man that made me giggle. Cause of course he was already making mistakes and earning plenty more lines. By the end of the night he’d written 92 before completing the task.

Which only made the next day of lines even better. After he lied and blamed me for giving him 92 lines in the group chat with daddy, hehe daddy suggested that I give him those 100 lines he claims I did. So I did. And I took the punishment off of adding extra lines with then plan of giving him an edge for each mistake after he was done. Daddy really helped walk me through how I should handle it and that was so helpful and my goodness did it work. He was all ready to joke with me about how poorly he did the task and I think I really surprised him with my response. I’ve neverrr had him in a 😞😞😞 pouty emoji phase till then hehehe

But in all, I’m pretty sure he’s learned his lesson about getting things done right and not rushing through them.

But something that makes me feel really good, is when he told me how he was grateful for the edges and whatnot because it helped him feel more in control of his day.

Along with the lines, I recently established the rules with my sub, and the ones he’s following are that he wears a rubberband on his wrist as a collar for me all day at work, his tea costs 10 edges a cup, bathroom is 3 ball snaps, lunch is 15 edges, and snacks are 5. If he wants to see tits it’s 10 edges and 5 nipple snaps and if he wants to see pussy it’s 10 edges and 5 ball snaps. I’m also having him keep track of his edges/miscounts. And recently we’ve added that I’m going to help keep him on top of his morning runs. He’s gonna send me a screenshot from his run 3 times a week.

On top of that there’s been other small tasks, and he’s tried to get me to task him more on his lunch breaks and have him drive places, but I don’t know what’s in the realm of possibilities there 😅 but I really think he’s enjoying the experience.

Im also really enjoying the experience. I never thought I’d have this much fun domming someone, although it is a ton of work and completely different to submitting. It’s fun being able to have a bit of both now, and it’s interesting bouncing from feeling dommy to subby so much in a day, and honestly kind of hot when daddy knocks me off my domme pedestal 😅

I’m just gonna have to keep coming up with more fun and creative little tasks for my new sub hehe since he’s been so generous and thoughtful with all the past tasks he’s given me.

Hehe soooo till next time 😋

And maybe there’ll be another sub to talk about then too 🙈

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mrsmarymorstan · 7 years

Text

Bed Time Stories

So I was listening to “Thud!” from the Discworld series and my heart absolutely melted at the scene where Vimes reads to Young Sam. I then sent a WhatsApp message to @cersei-the-truth-bombardier telling her as such, and then proceeded to go to a Fígrid AU which then turned into mild angst which turned into me sending Cersei figrid drabbles at 9am my time whilst she was fast asleep. I’ve tidied it up and put it on here for you all to enjoy as well.

Rune stones were more than just talismans. They were oaths, promises put down in unbreakable, everlasting stone. Once accepted they could not be returned and you had to fulfill the promise or else face the consequences. Fìli held a runestone in his pocket at all times. It said "amkubê" which meant 6:00pm, every day, landslide or gold rush. It more often than not also meant running, panicking and a few insulted noblemen. "I don't see why their nanny can't do it! What's the point in having one if you don't use them." Huffed Lord Flòki. "If he'd have just seen sense married an actual dwarf he'd not be in this mess." Added Lady Unna snidely. However Crowned Prince Fìli had already fled the room. There were more important things in life than mining rights and clan disputes. "Now come on you dirty little badgers and settle down before your father gets here!" "Too late, he's already here!" Said Eikin smugly, twisting round mid jump. His sister, Éolist, let out a war cry and hurled herself towards her father. Fìli gave out a theatrical winded noise. "Ambushed in my own Kingdom!" He cried, securing his grasp around Éolist as she pretended to fight him off. It was a game he remembered playing with his own father. Her brother went back to bouncing on the bed, this time out of excitement. The blankets were a complete mess and the general chatter suggested that bedtime was all but canceled.

"Eikin, Éolist,” warned their nanny, a raging fire burning in her eyes now “if you don't behave I will make certain that there will be no story tonight at all, or any night there after!” "No, Dara, it’s fine! Leave them to me. I'm their father, I've got this." Dara gave out an unconvinced noise but left them to it nonetheless. Despite her words she’d never actually stop Fìli from reading to them. She knew how much it all meant to them, especially to Lady Sigrid. "Come on you two," Fìli sighed, dropping Éolist onto the bed where she promptly pulled on her brother's ankles to drag him down with her "You should be nicer to Dara, she's the one who has to run everything around here." "Yeah, but you're the Crowned Prince. So really we just need to be nice to you." "No we don't! We need to be nice to Uncle Thorin because he's the King." Fìli let out a noise of dramatic hurt "Well! If you would rather have Uncle Thorin here I can go get Uncle--" "Nooo!" Chorused the twins, reaching out to grab him by the sleeve. "We're sorry! We'll be good!" "We promise! Please stay, please!" "Well alright then." Sighed Fìli, flopping down into his chair again, trying his best to hide his smile at their triumphant cheers. "So what story do you want to hear, the three little goats? The Raven and the mining stone? Snow Beard and the seven elves?" "The princess and the dwarf!" They said in unison. "Again?" he asked, raising a weary eyebrow. That story always took it out of him. So many years on, and it was still mingled with same pain and happiness. He wanted all his children to know it, the twins most of all, but it didn't make it any easier for him. "Yep! It's our favourite." grinned Éolist "Plus you can never do the voices right for the 3 goats; Uncle Kìli can though." "But we don't want him we want you!" Added Eikin quickly, ignoring his sister before she could get them into anymore trouble. "Alright fine, but you better keep quiet during it." The pair of them nodded, and crawled closer to listen. "Well, as you are both aware," he began "every dwarf knows the story of Smaug the terrible and how a band of silly dwarves, and one brave hobbit, set out to defeat him and reclaim their home." Fìli always made certain to include Bilbo in the story. Without him they would all have died a hundred times over. "Some even tell the story of Elven Siren's seduction of the innocent Dwarf Prince," "That one's rubbish though," whispered Éolist "everyone knows Auntie Tauriel's the one who got seduced." "But, the one they often miss off," Fìli continued, ignoring his daughter's very accurate statement "is the story of the young princess and the simple dwarf who fell in love with her." The kids squished closer towards him, Eikin clambering into his lap whilst Éolist snuggled deeper into his arms. They curled up close to his warmth, and their large blue eyes made Fìli's heart melt just as it had when they'd first opened them. He took a breath, and continued on with their story. "The princess was not always a princess you see. Whilst she was brave, and kind, and beautiful and all the other qualities a princess should be;” Éolist gave a snort of laughter at that but didn’t interrupt any further “the girl was in actual fact, the daughter of a bargeman. Her mother had died very young and so she had to play mother to her two siblings. But the princess did not mind, for she loved her family more than anything else. "Her family were very poor though, and as such her father had to take up some less than legal practices. One day he returned to their house with 13 dwarves and one hobbit. They gave her quite the shock when they climbed up out of the princess' toilet! "Yet still she showed them kindness, handing out warm blankets and clean clothes. She even made them tea, though some were not as grateful as they should have been. “Later that night, the dwarves snuck out the house to try and steal some weapons to get to the mountain, but were caught in the act and almost arrested! But they promised the town that if they helped the dwarves get to the mountain, then they would reward them with piles of silver and gold. "The Bargeman warned them all about what their task would involve, but the silly dwarves ignored him. "What some of them didn't know, though, was that one of the dwarves them had been injured on the journey by a poisoned wound from an orc's arrow. His leader refused to let him come with them to the mountain, but the dwarf's brother had made a promise not to leave him. They went looking for help but the only home that would take them in was that of the princess. "She set about trying to fix is wound as best she could, using every skill she knew. When the orcs came she tried her best to protect her little sister, just as the dwarf tried to protect his brother. When the elves came and saved the dwarves, the Princess got back to helping them. Slowly the dwarf's brother got better! In that moment of peace the dwarf and the princess talked about their lives and about each other. They had a lot more in common than one might think at first.

When the dragon came down from the mountain they all escaped in a boat together, the princess making sure they all had hats and scarves to keep them warm. She did not waver, even though her father was missing and she was about to lose be everything that she'd ever known. Their house, filled with all the memories of her mother, would be burnt to cinders. By the will of the Valar they'd somehow all survived. It was even the princess' own father and brother who worked together to kill the dragon, bringing an end to his terror in a way the dwarves had never managed. "Later by the shore the dwarves set out to find out if their own family had survived. The dwarf tried to return the princess' scarf however she refused it, claiming that he could return it to her later once all things were settled. "All the meanwhile though, the orcs had been planning their next attack and so as soon the princess and the dwarf were thrown together they were torn apart. There was a battle you see, as everyone tried to defend the mountain from the attacking orcs. It was not the kind of battle you hear about in legends where the good survive and the evil die, for this was a real battle and that meant blood. Elves, men and dwarves all gave their lives so as the mountain would remain a stronghold to keep people safe in the future.”

When he became a father himself, Fìli had sworn to never glorify the battle. He knew now that they were not glorious or noble, they were filled with pain and suffering. Battles were best avoided, if they could be. That way you understood why you were fighting the ones you needed to.

“The dwarf had thought himself to have died on the battlefield when he’d taken a sword to the chest, yet a voice inside him kept him fighting and when he awoke it was to the princess' melody. She'd been caring for him. Cleaning his dressings and keeping infection at bay, all the while singing a gentle tune. “Once more, the dwarf tried to return her scarf but again, she refused; it was winter, and he would still have use for it. The dwarf argued back that she would need it too, but she insisted on calling it a gift. The dwarf cherished it more than any gift he'd had before. “He healed and slowly life returned to the mountain. The men had set up a new home and the two nations began to broker a lasting peace. The dwarf and the princess wrote many letters to one another in that time, and slowly grew to know each other more deeply than they'd have ever thought possible. They shared their hopes, their worries and the nightmares that still plagued them of the horrendous sights they'd seen. If you were to read those letters you would see the deep love they bore. “However, this was apparently not so clear to them themselves. A dwarf and a man was not a relationship people had heard of before. Indeed, it was not until the subject of marriage was raised that they even realised what they were feeling. You see, for men, finding a spouse is not about discovering your One and sharing that love with the rest of the world; it was a business contract, especially true amongst royals whose marriages were often used to seal political alliances. “The dwarf understood this. Or at least he attempted to. However he could not stand the fact that she was to be married to someone she had not even met. He tried to be respectful, however his fear that she would be unhappy ate away at him morning, noon and night. “He ended up going down to the city to speak to her. He wanted to be sure that she was happy to be married in this way. She smiled and she claimed excitement over her wedding preparations but the dwarf could see that it was faking it all. “He told her this. That he could not stand by and watch the princess marry for anything other than love. “In surprised fury, she asked him who else she could marry? Who else would give her people all they needed? If she married then it would mean her siblings could avoid the same fate. Plus it wasn't as though there was someone else waiting for her! “But the dwarf realised that there was. He didn't know how to say it though. So instead he respected her wishes and left her alone.

“The day of the finally wedding ticked around. The dwarf felt powerless to stop it. There could be nothing else anyone could do. “He still went to the wedding though, for even if she did not return his feelings then he could at least remain her friend. To everyone's surprise though the wedding was stopped in mid ceremony! Not by the princess as you might think, but by her groom! He told the room that he could not marry the princess because it would not be fair on her to be married to someone who could never love her the way she deserved. He would not allow his own heart's desires to be ignored anymore. He fled the building, leaving everyone in total uproar. "The dwarf was in a fuming rage that anyone could possibly hurt his beloved in this way! He went to find her, thinking her to be in tears but instead she was laughing. "The dwarf asked her why, and she confessed that she'd considered doing the exact same thing; except her groom had got there first. "The dwarf was confused. Who could it be she was in love with? "The princess laughed and told him he really was sillier than any dwarf in the land and kissed him. It was the kind of kiss you hear about in fairy tales. A kiss of true love that makes all the world come to a stand still. “Though many would try and stop them from being together, they never let it bother them. The pair of them married, and never were they happier than when they were together. And despite what many might have said, their love made the kingdom stronger, and so they lived happily ever after, till the end of their days." There was silence for a moment. Fìli involuntarily pulled his children closer to him, feeling suddenly desperate to never let them go. "I miss Mam." came a small voice at last. "Me too my little Colt. Me too." "I wish she could tell us the story instead, Frerin said she was really good at bed time stories." "Kendra said she was much better at telling your story than you ever were." Fìli gave a small chuckle, willing himself not to cry. It wasn't fair that they did not know their mother. They were only twenty-four when she'd died. The healers had said it was her heart. Sudden attacks like that were not unexpected at her age. But sixty was no age for a dwarf.

#figrid #the hobbit #my fic #morstan writes fic

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