#at last the truth of nightmare’s castle is revealed

[skumhuu]

✨👑 Throne 👑✨ pages 11-12

Beginning

< • >

#sku art #throne comic #unsympathetic killer #unsympathetic nightmare #dreammare #soft bad end #tasty bad end #Dubcon touching #fear #horror #at last the truth of nightmare’s castle is revealed #it was never a castle in the first place #but instead #the trees of the twins old forest full of ambient magic bending to Nightmare’s whims #he never found an old au and took it over #he never built anything #the world bends to his demands #Dream is understandably horrified #there is death in the walls #so much negativity that it’s snuffed out his magic #Nightmare is very pleased with this outcome 👀😏

[elena-mayfair]

Through the Dreaming

Paring: Morpheus x f!reader, Sandman x f!reader Warnings: swearing Summary: You are a sorceress and exorcist dreaming nightmares every night And the end of every and each of them you end up in the Dreaming and you see him. One night he decides to reveal himself changing your life in the process forever. This night he decided to show you his world. Word count: 2,4K Note: Gifs are not mine, credit to the authors.

Part one: Lost in the dream Part two: Back in the dream

***

You stood in front of the sky reaching gates, holding Morpheus's hand unable to move. You were staring at the gates of horn and ivory before you. " He carved them himself many eons go." you thought to yourself.

"The dreams that pass through the gates of ivory are lies, the other gate admits the truth," he said calmly answering the question you did not ask, "No one guards the horn gate anymore."

He gently pulled you toward the horn gate and you followed, enchanted, mesmerized. Once through the gate, you saw the castle. The turrets, the spiles, the arches, you could see its magnitude and magnificence that now was decaying in ruin.

"What happened here?" you whispered.

"All of this got destroyed by my absence," he replied, "all of it I will rebuild again. Come, let us journey deeper" he led you towards the castle.

You wanted to say something. You were typically jabbering nonstop, especially in stressful situations. And even now rational part of your mind was telling you that this is, or at least supposed to be a stressful situation. But it wasn't. You held his hand securely, afraid that if you let go all of it would disappear. You were scouting everything around you, and you could see with your dreaming eyes the beautiful kingdom, full of life and magic, where all of the dreams could come true. Now, it was a dying nightmare.

"Breath," he spoke and suddenly you realized that you were holding your breath.

"Where are we?" you asked. This was the only thing you could say even though your mind was crumbling under the amount of questions.

He stopped in front of the castle gate, or at least what was left of it, and looked at you. He did not reply at once. He looked at you with his depthless, starry eyes like he was pondering about you. Like he was searching for answers to some unspoken question somewhere in you. It somehow brought you a bit of comfort. After all, you were a surprise to him, a novelty, the same way as he was to you. You smiled at him with your most honest smile. Perhaps you were dreaming, perhaps all of this was just an imagination, but you wanted it to last.

"I'm sorry," you said "I don't mean to, it's just..." you struggled with finding correct words, "I must be dreaming..."

"You are," he stated "We are in the Dreaming. In my Realm." he let go of your hand and opened the castle gates "Follow me."

You did not hesitate this time. You followed him to the glorious chamber carved in stone with spiral stairs at the end, going up high above the floor, leading up to the place where there used to be the throne. Behind the throne, there was a wall of glass, now letting in a small amount of subtle light. You could see with your imagination this place filled with flickering light, breathtaking like the halls of the great kings from the stories you read as a child. You could see Morpheus sitting on his throne, overseeing his Kingdom. Suddenly you felt so small, so mortal in the place of pure beauty. Everything around was destroyed yet somehow still beautiful. You were standing in the monument of pure craftsmanship and care. You looked at him a few steps in front of you, he was looking at the surrounding architecture and you could see clearly how sorrowful he was, everything about him was sorrowful, his slow movements, the way he tilted his head, the way he picked a shard of glass from the marble floor and healed it in his hand like it was a piece of long forgotten treasure.

But there was something else sipping from his eyes, anger.

"It must have been a beautiful place once," you said quietly.

"It was."

"Why did you leave?" you asked and immediately regretted it upon seeing his face. He slowly straighten himself and closed the distance between you two.

"I didn't, " you saw a brief hesitation in his eyes, "I was captured and imprisoned. For over the century."

"I'm sorry," without hesitation you placed a hand on his arm, "I didn't mean to."

"I know," he said slowly looking onto your hand and back into your eyes.

"Who did this to you?"

"Another magic user. The man called Roderick Burgess."

"This old sack of shit!" you got angry to his noticeable surprise "Holy Fuck! Back in the day, he was a rival of Alister Crawley. There were rumors that he held in prison the Devil himself! It was you?!"

He did not reply. The one thing he did was look at you like you were some kind of oddity to him. He seemed to be reading you, your words, your movements, your reactions, even your thoughts themselves.

"Forgive my language Morpheus," you apologized "it seems not fitting to these magnificent halls. " you took a pause "Should I call you Lord?"

"There is no need for that."

"Not very chatty are you?" you joked nervously "Why did you bring me here? Wherever here is."

"Roderick Burgess took something from me. I need it back and you will help me," he explained.

"What did he take?"

"My pouch, my helm, and my ruby" he listed.

"Why do you need them? You are Lord of Dreams supposedly"

"These are my tools, containing much of my power."

"So without them, you are powerless?" you pushed for another answer encouraged slightly. Your natural curiosity was almost uncontrollable.

"You are asking too many questions," he noted calmly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. It's just..." you stopped mid-sentence and looked at him daringly "Come on! You're not exactly surprised?! You can't be!" you said way too loud and your voice echoed through the empty hall "For months now I see you every night! Every fucking night! I tried to reach you every single time and I couldn't! And suddenly I can! Suddenly you see me then you appear in my fucking bedroom and now we are here! In your Realm in your Castle" you put emphasis on the two words "and you saying that I'm going to help you. Of course, I have fucking questions!!"

Your burst of emotions was met by Morpheus's calm domineer and depthless eyes. He did not move, did not say anything, just looked at you like he somehow expected that.

"Why me?" you've asked.

"You are a sorceress and an exorcist. I would appreciate the help of the sorceress," he replied.

"There is plenty of exorcists and magic users around the world," you shrugged.

"But non of them ever entered my realm on their own. Repeatedly." there was an intrigue in his deep voice.

"I do not know how I did that," you exhaled "I really don't. I still don't know what is this place exactly." you looked around.

"I've told you," he took two steps towards you and closed a distance between you two again, "You seem not to listen. We are in the Dreaming, my realm. When the Waking World leaves you wanting and weary sleep brings you here. To me," his starry eyes were looking right into your soul again. He was standing so close to you that you could feel his breath on your skin, see the whole galaxy in his eyes, stars shining the light through his hair, and smell the air of endless green fields surrounded by sky-reaching mountains. "The Dreaming is as much a part of me as I am of it. You too are connected to this place," he continued "Apparently in a way that I have not seen before."

"That does not explain much doesn't it?" you breathed out and smiled slightly. "Alright! God himself needs my help, who am I to refuse right?" you smiled widely.

"I am no God." he correct.

"Semantics!" you brushed off "A pouch is full of sand, helm, and ruby. Easy enough. Do you have any leads?" you moved away from him and started walking around the hall.

"Yes."

"Can you share them with me or you'll be vague about it" you asked playfully.

"I have retrieved my sand already. My helm was traded off to the demon whose name I do not know"

"Oh now I see why you want an exorcist" you noted "interrogation, torture, Sunday morning in my line of work! Give me a few days, weeks maybe and I will get you a name of the demon who has your helm" you assured him.

"Good."

The silence fell between you two. The wind was howling through collapsing castle sounding like the cries of the dying, wounded creature, begging for help. You've already imagined what this land could look like in its full glory. Refusing an aid was not an option, you wanted to see it rebuild, you wanted to see it with your own eyes. You kneeled down and picked from the floor a shard of what must have been a stained glass once. You placed it on your hand and felt every fiber, every molecule of it touching your senses, invading your mind with images of its former glory. You closed your eyes and you could see where it used to be, on the glass wall behind Morpheus's throne. It was a part of a tryptic made out of three images, blue, gold, and green. This one was right in the center, a part of an image made out of every shade of white, gold, and amber glass, it used to let warm inviting light into Morpheus's throne room, bringing a smile to his face, shining on to his book while he was sitting in his throne reading. It was a memory of the days that have long been gone. You felt the glass vibrating in your hand. Your eyes snapped open and you saw it swirling above your opened palm, dancing, trying to break free from your hold and flee to the place where it belongs to. Like it wanted to show you the things that you saw in your mind.

"How did you do that?" Morpheus stood in front of you.

"I don't know," you breathed out and he knew that there was no lie in your words. "I do not know how I did any of this."

"Let go of it." he placed his hand between yours and the swirling shard of glass and clasped it slowly over it "I know what you have seen. Everything here is a part of me," he added upon seeing your questioning look.

"I..." you started but his free hand closing over yours stopped you. "I would assume that my magic does not work in your realm." you finished quietly.

"It should not."

"Then how?"

"You are an oddity Y/N," he said gently "A mortal who can enter my Realm. A mortal who can do magic where it should not be possible. After eons of existence, I thought that I'd seen it all. Yet, here you are...a mystery."

"I'm sorry?" you smiled apologetically.

"Don't," his eyes commanded followed matching the tone of his voice "You must take a leave now," he added.

"What? No!" you refused "Whatever I did to upset you I did mean to!"

"You did not upset me," he squeezed your hand gently "The day is almost at noon in the Waking World. You cannot stay here."

"I will come back tomorrow," it came out faster than you indeed.

"No."

"Why?"

"This place was not meant for mortals."

"Yet you invited me here," you gave him a wide smile.

"I did. You would find your way here on your own anyways," he explained "You are persistent," he added, his lips twitched slightly presenting a small resemblance of a smile "I will come to you. In the Waking World."

"When?" your persistence was a surprise to you, after all, you were standing in front of god-like being.

"Soon," he assured, "But for now you need to wake up and go about your days."

You wanted to say that you don't want to, you wanted to argue with him, you wanted to stay here and ask all the questions that were piling up in your head. But you knew he was right, you couldn't just stay here in the Dreaming, stay asleep. After all, bills won't pay themselves.

"Tomorrow and every day after you will sleep calmly. You will not come here again," he continued "That nightmare won't trouble you anymore" he looked deeply into your eyes, and somehow you knew that he was talking about this nightmare, the one that you dreamt of right before you came here. "You relived that memory too many times. It is time to let go."

"How did you know?' came out almost breathlessly.

"I move through your dreams each and every night. I am always beside you. I know what you dream about. I can see which dreams are not just dreams, which are memories" there was care and sadness in his voice like somehow he experienced your nightmares with you like he felt your fears and your despair the same way as you did "I am sorry about your father Y/N."

Your name sounded so unreal on his lips. His voice cuddled it with endless darkness and depths making it sound like it was coming from the center of the universe itself. You felt overwhelmed, overwhelmed with everything that was happening around you as well as the emotions that were breaking you inside into a million pieces. A single tear slipped from the corner of your eye and before you even thought of wiping it off Morpheus reached out and swift it with a feather-like touch. He held it for o moment on the back of his finger, examining it, like he was feeling all the feelings that you felt like he could see all the sorrow, all the pain, all the despair that you felt the same way as you could see through the shard of glass. A single tear hung on the bottom of his feathery lashes for a moment just to slip and fall onto his alabaster skin. The universe itself wept with you.

"Morpheus..." you started quietly.

He looked at you, took two steps away, and released your hands. He reached out into the pocket of his black long coat and took out a leather pouch. He reached into the pouch and took out the hand full of sand. He didn't have to say anything, no words could describe what you saw in his eyes.

"I will see you soon," he said and to your disbelief, Morpheus smiled with a beautiful genuine smile, "But for now, this dream is over" not breaking the eye contact he blew the sand off his hand sending you back to the Waking World.

The dream was over.

Part four: In the Waking World

~~**~~

Authors note: Here we are, end of part 3. I started writing this story on an impulse, completely mesmerized after watching The Sandman. But now, I'll be honest, I really care about it, and for the first time in a very long time a feel a need to continue writing. This is a good feeling :) I'll admit, I struggled with this part. I wanted to establish plot points for the next chapters, establish relations between our two main characters, and describe the beauty of this world as best as I could. At the same time, I didn't want to make it fluffy, and I did not want to move too fast. I do hope I achieved what I wanted but that is for you to judge Dear Reader :) I am happy with how it turned out. It brought me joy and I do hope that it will bring you joy as well. As always, Dear Reader, thank you for reading :)

#morpheus x reader #sandman x reader #the sandman x reader #the sandman #Morpheus imagines #the sandman imagine #Morpheus x you #Morpheus fanfiction #Morpheus fic

[thecandywrites]

Monster March 2023 Day 22- Part 3

Judgement Day

Could I have written another 20k? Yes. Do I have the time right now? No. I am literally a month behind on all of this. So for now, this is the end of it. But hopefully it will hint at what would be the ending anyway. So this is, sadly, where I must leave this story for now.

Thanks to @borealwrites for their Monster March 2023 prompt list.

Part Three

Judgment. 

You finished it and read it over, double checking everything before you handed it to Sam to read over. 

“I need your signature and initials that what is recorded is the whole truth, as collected. And that nothing was added or taken away as per any bias for myself or yourself.” You urged him before you handed him your pen before he seemed to add more details and more things. As he noticed that you did notate that he didn’t tell you outright as well as his unwillingness to name guilty parties but his willingness to point out and pardon the innocent, except in the case of the Castle Gate Guards. 

“Anything else?” You asked him as he seemed to be taking a moment to recall something. 

“Yes, there was one other thing, that I feel is missing, but it’s escaping me.” He admitted. 

“Well, if you can’t think of it now, simply take a note that from a lack of sleep, you are simply too exhausted to recall what it is at the moment. Because I know I sure am.” You admitted.

“Oh, I didn’t even think about that. Yes, you look tired Jaiah. Your bags have bags under your eyes.” He murmured quietly which got you to snicker a laugh. 

“Thanks. Oh just wait until I actually wash what makeup remains from my face, it should be the stuff of nightmares.” You smiled appreciatively as he pulled up a chair from the side of the hall and sat down next to you as you rested your chin in your hand as you watched him go over it a second time, adding more and more details with everything. 

“Sir, when you have finished though. You should retire to your rooms to get some sleep. I can take it from here.” You softly encouraged him. 

“No, you asked for my help with this. I will see it to it’s finish. I don’t believe in not following through till it’s done and over.” Samillio shook his head no with a gentle smile even though he looked even more tired and haggard as you did. 

“I’m sorry.” You whispered. 

“For what?” He asked. 

“Last night was your first night as a Duke, you should have spent it with your friends. Not being taken on investigation for this. Talk about being thrown into the deep end of the pool to see if you’d sink or swim.” You murmured as more and more prisoners were being brought in and placed in a grid like way in the room. With the guiltiest parties in the front, with their other guilty parties in their various departments, behind them. 

“Not too different from any other job I’ve had.” Sam shrugged. 

“But this is a job that you don’t have to do if you don’t want to. All King Ruviem asked of you, was to carry his train down the path for his Enthronement Ceremony. That’s it. Being an Attendant, let alone, the Duchy and this investigation as thrusted onto you- mostly by me. And this is very much one of the uglier sides of the Monarchy. And…I do not want this experience to leave you the worse for wear. You’re…a gentle and kind hearted person. And I do not want you to feel responsible for whatever fates the King and Queen will decide for these people. That you- somehow had a hand in their undoing. When in reality, all you did was reveal their actions towards you and the others. Everything else is out of your hands so to speak.” You murmured. 

“But yet, all of it is in yours. You still hold all the power here. You could use it right now to get whatever you wanted, you could be taking bribes from everyone here to keep them out of this room. You could be lording that power over everyone. And you could be using it for incredible personal gain right now. But you’re not. In fact, not once did you use this power for your personal gain, if anything, you’ve had to wield it at great personal cost.” 

“But it was for the greater good. Because I know that anything I say or do, reflects upon The Crown and the Monarchy. So I have to keep myself and my actions and my words above reproach. And the last thing I want is to cause more problems or issues for the King or Queen. My job is to fix problems and clean up messes. Not make any of my own for anyone to clean up and fix.” You reasoned. 

“Will you feel guilty should their Majesties- put them all to death?” Samillio asked you.  

“No. That fate is for them and them only to decide. And while I currently have the power to serve as judge, jury and executioner. It is not my place to do so. I have conducted this investigation as asked. And followed the trails to the sources and brought it all here.” 

“Likewise. If you will stay and see it to the end. So will I. I thought, after yesterday, that all of Ruviem’s problems would be over. Now all I feel is sorrow, that while one set was finished. A new, and much bigger and much more complicated set just opened up for him. And I…I do not envy him. But I want to help my friend any way I can. The same way you do with The Queen.” Samillio offered. 

“Well, all we can do is offer to do our best. And our best is always good enough. And to expect anything more is unreasonable.” You offered.

“Agreed. Although, your best is as close to perfection as I’ve ever witnessed.” He praised. 

“Only because I’ve been at it for so long.” You huffed an exhausted laugh before everyone was brought in. Which meant that The King and Queen would be arriving shortly. 

“Hurry up and write and sign and initial, their Majesties will be here momentarily.” You urged him in a hushed murmur before he wrote one more thing down and signed and initial before you took it back and didn’t even bother to look at the last thing he wrote and signed and initialed as well- just as their Majesties arrived in court. Queen Ambrosia wearing a dress you recognized all too well. You called it- her battle dress, as were the Dowager King and Queen and especially Ruviem.  

“Your Majesties. As promised. The guilty parties associated with the sabotage of The Enthronement Ceremony have been collected and they stand here before you. However, the degree of guilt varies from individual to individual. They have been detained, their families put under house arrest, awaiting your judgment.” You announced as you curtsied and simply gave Queen Ambrosia her signet ring back along with the list of names, their “crimes” and “guilt” already written down along with the timeline you were able to put together before you passed King Ruviem’s signet ring to him before you handed back the Dowager King and Queen’s signet rings back to them as well before you stood aside. 

“I see you’ve made them all stand apart to keep them from collaborating.” King Ruviem noted proudly. 

“Of course. I wish for each person to render their own account and for their own account to be judged on an individual basis. Because I do not wish for those with less guilt to suffer the more severe consequences of the more egregious acts of sabotage, treachery and treason.” You announced as you were pretty sure half of those who stood accused nearly pissed themselves to hear that they were standing trial under such an accusation. 

“Please Your Majesties…!” A few of them began to plead. 

“You will not speak until you are spoken to by their Majesties!” You barked loud enough, your voice nearly boomed like thunder in the hall as nearly all of them cowered in fear. 

“As I’m sure all of you are finding out, Her Majesty, The Queen- has taken great pains to hide the most devastating hunter of a lioness and given her the glamor of a sweet lamb.” King Ruviem praised. 

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” You thanked Ruviem. 

“Although, it was suggested that she was only allowed to roar, and little else.” Samillio offered. 

“Who?!” Queen Amber demanded as she put down the papers to look up at the audience room while the others looked around in alarm, knowing they had said no such thing.  

“The Castle Gate Keepers.” Samillio answered before Amber could only smile and shake her head. 

“Mother? Do you recall what you told me about Gate Keepers?” Amber asked her mother sweetly. 

“That if a Castle Gate Keeper has no respect for the Castle, that they are no better than an enemy at your own gate, ready to choke out the castle at any moment. And are no better than the snakes- trying to hide among the blades of the grass, trying to hide in the shadows and ready to strike without provocation.” The King answered for his wife as he glared down at them. 

“And that a Guard who can’t tell the difference between a friend or foe is just as bad as one who takes a bribe to let in spies.” The Queen added. 

“Agreed.” Queen Ambrosia and King Ruviem nodded in agreement as she was showing the pages to him so that they could see them together before they finished with them. 

“You know I really had hoped I would not spend my first day as Queen Regent letting heads roll, but it seems I have no choice.” Amber sighed rather disappointedly. 

“Please, the fault is mine.” A Commander of the Castle Gate said before he took a knee after managing to chew and then spit his way out of his own gag while he bowed his head, even when his wings and hands were bound behind him. 

“True there is fault with you. But the real fault comes from the General of the Castle Gate and Guard. You were the one who gave the others to not let, and I quote- ‘other world trash’, into this kingdom, even at invitation. Tell me, did you think the other guests who can travel from this world to the others- as trash? Do you think I, let alone my husband and King, are trash because we can do the same?” Queen Amber demanded of him. 

“No, I misspoke.” He tried to say. 

“But yet your actions show that you meant every word. I do not need to hear anything else you have to say. I’ve made my decision. Because of your prejudice, which inhibited your better judgment, The Crown can no longer trust you. Or your judgment as a whole. You are hereby demoted. You are stripped of your authority and power. And because of your actions, they directly sabotaged my King’s ascension to his throne. You are hereby found guilty of treason. You will be executed tomorrow morning at Dawn. Your entire family is to be questioned and if also found guilty of such prejudices, will be join you on the executioner’s block if their hatred runs as deep as yours. And if it does not, then they can simply rot in the dungeons. And if they harbor any at all, even in the smallest degrees, then they are to be exiled and banished from this realm. But if they are found innocent, then they are welcome to stay. However your ownership of your house will be revoked either way. And your widow shall only get the severance pay the recruits get.” Queen Ambrosia dictated. 

“For the Captains and Commanders who were simply blindly following your orders, they shall follow you there too. For even they should have seen that your path would lead you to this end. And shame on them for not standing up to you and your corruption and prejudice sooner.” Queen Amber added. 

“Except for the one who at least had the decency to own up to your sins. He is simply relieved of his office and will be demoted to the station of recruit. He is the only one who can have the chance to redeem himself.” King Consort intervened before the others tried to follow the Commander’s lead to do the same. 

“No, now, you’re just trying to lesson your own punishments. Fine, if you will not face the chopping block, you can rot in the dungeons instead.” King Ruviem decided. 

“Guards, take these fiends to the dungeon.” Amber ordered before they were all taken away. 

Thankfully those were the worst of the offenders as Queen Ambrosia and the others were simply trying their best to work with the time allotted to them. 

Except- for one. The King’s Attendant’s Master Tailor. Who had been working with The General, and the Master of the Feast. Who apparently, had been all working together to make it so that, with one look, Queen Ambrosia would have dismissed the chosen Attendants, for their attire, because they were sure the Queen’s own vanity would have forbade her from having her picture with less than picture perfect attendants at her side. And to make it even worse, had already worked with the previous groomsman, who had their own perfectly tailored uniforms ready to wear to replace the King’s chosen Attendants so that they could get the privilege of walking the King down instead of who he had picked instead. 

Both of them were also given the same punishments as the General and all the groomsmen had their titles, their wealth and property and even their magic and wings stripped from them for taking part of this act of sabotage and treacherous treasonry and instead everything they had were awarded to the King’s Duke’s as they were quickly becoming known as. 

And with that, the throne room was empty except for their Majesties and yourselves. 

“Very well done Your Grace Jaeline. As always, your work is always exceptional and the standard for any Lady in Waiting anywhere and everywhere in any world. So of course, the request at the end of the report will be granted.” Queen Ambrosia smiled as you curtsied low to accept such praise. 

“Request? What request?” You asked. 

“Oh you poor sleep deprived thing, this one.” She invited as she showed you that last line Samillio had written that you forgot to read. 

It was permission to attend the new Countess Lavine’s wedding that night and to take a week’s vacation in the outer world- with Samillio of all people- and- without chaperone along with permission to court you both in the outerworld and back here in the fae one. 

Your mouth hung open as your poor sleep deprived brain tried to wrap itself around that request. But you had told him you wanted to go. And you did say you needed a vacation. But to court him? Well, that was…actually the more you thought about it, you liked that idea quite a bit. 

“Oh, uh, yes. Thank you.” You thanked her. 

“Have fun. I’ll miss you, but after this mission, you deserve a break and vacation. Enjoy yourself Darling and do give them my best. And pick any gift you wish to- from the Royal Treasury to gift them and of course, have…oh to hell with it, have this as funds for the trip.” She said as she quickly wrote a check for you to take to the treasury. 

“Your Majesty…” You gasped when you looked at it.

“Don’t you dare- not cash it out. I want you to have fun. Go wild. Feral- if you can manage it.” She encouraged you teasingly as you couldn’t help but laugh at the insinuation. 

“Surely, you don’t mean…” You began to say. 

“Jaiah, you’re my best friend in the world, well, besides Ruvi. You’ve earned this. I know the others are more than capable of taking care of things while you’re gone.” She said as she reached up and held your cheeks before hugging you. 

“Now, go get cleaned up and get some sleep. You’ll need it.” She urged you as she made sure you had the check in both of your hands as Samillio was handed a similar check from Ruvi before you walked practically numbly from the throne room to the Royal Treasury. 

“I do promise and swear to you that you’re not dreaming.” Sam teased wish a bump of his shoulder into yours as you nearly fell over before he reached out to catch you as his own wings practically wrapped around you to keep you from falling to the ground. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bump you that hard.” He quickly apologized as he tried to get you to stand on your own feet as you were suddenly nearly overwhelmed by the walls of iridescent and pearlized feathered wings that quickly enveloped you both, in almost a cocoon as you were impressed with how quickly he had reacted. And the fact that he was holding you up with the same gentle reverence he had done all night. 

“It’s ok. I’m just…exhausted. I’m usually not this unsteady on my feet.” You admitted, as it was your turn to be bashful and sheepish as you found your feet before his wings pulled back and you didn’t know why, but you wanted them around you again. 

“Here, we’re both tired, we’ll get each other to where we need to be.” He offered his arm as you took it and hugged it appreciatively as you showed him how to get to the Treasury. Which was in the very center of the castle before you both laid your checks down on the counter. 

“So the rumors were true? There was a plot of treasonous sabotage?” The Minister of the Treasury noted as he looked at your check first before he signed off on it and then did the same with Samillio’s as well. 

“Yes. The guilty parties have already been found and dealt with accordingly.” You answered. 

“Good. Well, considering you’re both still in last night’s attire. Means you’ve been up all night investigating. How about you get some sleep and come back and get these funds once you’ve fully rested. I’ll get everything together.” He reassured you before he gave you a special token instead. 

“Yes, thank you.” You nodded before you took it and put it in your special coin purse. 

“Off to bed!” You tiredly cheered as you took Samillio’s arm once more so he could lead you to your own room so you could sleep. 

You opened the room and quickly shut the curtains to keep the light out but keep the cool breeze flowing about the room as you tiredly got everything on your dress- off. 

“Thank you for your help today Sam. You can get back to your own room now.” You offered as he awkwardly simply stood by the door. 

“You’re welcome.” He nodded before he left the room and went down to the one he had been staying in as he was already shedding his jacket and vest so that he was nothing more than a shirt and trousers.

You washed your face and managed to peel your dress off and took all the pins out of your hair and put the crown into the place your usual diadem usually sat in before you practically collapsed face first onto the bed. 

You don’t know how long you slept for, but by the time you awoke, you felt like you had actually been in battle, for the way your whole body hurt. 

“Ow.” You groaned as you rolled over to your back and stretched out while your wings were happy to simply lay flat behind you. 

But the fluttering of wings brought your attention to your balcony before you pulled yourself from your bed to see a stray feather float down before you caught it and looked around. 

“Sam?” You called out before he came out to his own balcony that was on the other side of the King and Queen’s suite of rooms. 

“Did you forget something?” You asked as you held up the feather before he ducked his head. 

“Sorry, I was trying to be patient.” He offered. 

“Well, come on, I don’t want to be yelling at you across the courtyard to talk to you.” You urged him before he was quick to fly back to your balcony. 

“What time is it?” You asked as you looked around at the outside, to see that it was dusk! You slept the whole day away!

“Oh shit! We gotta go, don’t we?” You realized. 

“No, it’s fine, Queen Ambrosia put a pin in time for us. So you could sleep all you needed to or wanted to and you’d get a chance to pack what you wanted and needed to. We could leave in a week, and we’d still be on time.” Samillio offered. 

“Oh, that was very kind of her.” You smiled. 

“How long have you been up?” You asked. 

“Not very long. Just enough to get up and get dressed…” He shrugged. 

“And?” You asked because he looked already ready to leave already. 

“Packed.” He finished. 

“Uh huh. Ok, give me a few minutes to get packed. It’s a wedding and a week. So a nice dress for the wedding and traveling clothes should do it for the other things right?” You guessed before you invited him into your room as you went to your closet and began to go through your wardrobe. 

“Well, you won’t need like, seven outfits per day. Remember, we have to get whatever we pack through the portal ourselves.” He recalled. 

“Right. Good thing I have this then.” You offered as you pulled out a special pack and packed what you usually always did when you had gone with Amber to the colonies before you began to pack up other essentials, like toiletries, cosmetics and a few pieces of jewelry to wear to the wedding before you shut the door and got dressed in other traveling clothes inside your own closet before you- re-emerged, looking no different than any other traveler. 

“Who are you and where did Duchess Jaeline go?” He teased. 

“Ha, ha.” You sarcastically retorted before you grabbed a few more items about your room before you shut the apartment up. 

“So, come on, out with it, how long have you liked me?” You asked him as you walked him down to his rooms. 

“Since you first stepped into Suchi with Amber. But I had already promised to fly, you stayed back to dance. And then by the time I came back, you were gone. And Ruvi was too love drunk to talk about anyone but Amber after that. But then again, after that, you became like a guard dog to her. And I could never manage to get close enough after that.” He admitted. 

“I’m sorry.” You apologized with a wince. 

“You were in Lady in Waiting mode. You tore down everyone who attempted to approach you, thinking they were really after Amber. So I simply had to wait and bide my time until you saw it through and finished that task.” 

“So you’ve waited. The last three years?” You asked him in shock. 

“Honestly, through this whole ordeal, worth it. You don’t have to accept my attempts to court you though. I just…I didn’t want to take my shot too soon, or too late.” He admitted. 

“Well, then bravo for waiting for the right time. Because you succeeded. You did catch me at just the right time.” You smiled. 

“So, let’s take this week and see how it goes. Just Sam and Jaiah.” You shrugged with an easy smile.

“I was hoping for that.” Sam smiled happily as he easily wrapped his arm around your shoulders after taking this things and locking up his own room to join you on your walk out of the palace while you were happy to loop your arm around his waist. Quite liking this actually. 

“Do your parents ever tell you stories of how the time used to pass so differently back on Earth? How a decade in fae time was equal to a hundred years in human time?” You asked him. 

“My dad still does. But since the convergence, that phenomenon has lessoned greatly. And for me personally, the time jump is non existent. At least the last week I’ve spent here in the fae world doesn’t mean I’ve missed the last 70 days on the other side.” He admitted as your steps immediately synced up. 

“My grandparents still remember that before the convergence, a hundred years in fae time was equal to a thousand years to the humans. And how a single year was like ten years to them. So yes, a week here would have equaled nearly two months on the other side, at least to the old ways. Now, I’m grateful that a week- is just a week, unless someone as powerful as the Queen has the power to put a pin in it for us.” You smiled happily. 

“Got your token? He asked you as he pulled his from his pocket. 

“Yes. Were you afraid if you went there without me, they’d take it and give you what the check was written for?” You gently teased. 

“No. I didn’t go, because I surely would have gotten so turned around, I wouldn’t know which way was up and you’d be spending another week just trying to find where I had gotten lost in this maze of a castle.” He admitted which got you to snicker a laugh as you comfortably took his arm again, now, more out of habit than anything. 

“Oh it’s not…” You began to try to defend it before you continued to dissolve into snickering laughter which soon infected him with the same laughter. 

“It is! The castle is, very much a maze to those who haven’t grown up in it. Much like those moura colonies.” You recalled.

“Well, for most likely the same reasons.” He nodded in agreement. 

“Probably.” You nodded in agreement before you came to Treasury before you both slid the tokens over to one of the men at the counter. 

“Ah yes! We have been most eager for you to come and claim your treasures.” They delightfully smiled as they came and got them- two more packs, looking very similar to the one you were already wearing, but this time embossed with your initials. 

“The gifts are in the first pocket, and everything else is in the main compartment.” He said as he gave the two bags over to you. 

“Thank you.” You thanked him as you put it across your body like it was a special purse as Samillio did the same. 

“And don’t forget these.” He said before he handed you two very special necklaces. 

“What are they?” You asked as you looked at the special pendants. 

“Well their Majesties thought that since- for your efforts- a week would not be enough time for you. These necklaces will let you enjoy your time on the other side as slowly or as quickly as you wish it to go. And these pendants will take you back into this realm at any time you wish to be pinned back to.” He offered. 

“Perfect.” You beamed happily before you put it on before it activated with your own life force. 

“Honestly, I’d hate to leave Her Majesties’ side for much more than a day.” You readily admitted. “Was there anything else?” You asked. 

“No, just the packs and the pendants. And the debt to you is paid from Their Majesties.” He answered. 

“Thank you so much.” You offered before you walked to the portal that you and Amber always used, where it seems, she and the others were waiting for you with one final meal before you would go. 

“Quick, eat one last meal with friends and family before you go.” Amber and Ruviem urged you before you set your packs aside to sit down at the family style table to really get a chance to eat real fae food before you would have to go back to the other side.

“So where did you pin time on the other side?” You asked. 

“Oh, actually I pinned it back to only a minute after they left when they came through the portal outside the castle. And the pendant will allow you to portal right back here, so you won’t have to worry about getting to and from the castle.” Ambrosia offered. 

“I wish you guys could come too.” You offered. 

“You won’t be gone that long. Barely an hour if you really want the pin to only have you be gone that long.” Amber waived off.

“Really? You can make it so we can spend a week in only an hour?” You asked. 

“Honey, I’m the Queen. I can make it so that you could spend a lifetime- without aging of course- in that hour. You asked for a week. And if a week is all you want to take, then it can be a week. If you want any time longer or shorter, have it. You just spent a whole night- forgoing sleep to root out conspirators and with one glance knew there was a plot and did everything you could to discretely deal with it and the guilty parties. You could take a day or even a week for each one if you wanted to.” Amber shrugged. 

“If I took a week for each one, I’d be gone for like- years.” You retorted with a snort. 

“Well I mean, if you really wanted to take a sabbatical that long, then so be it. I could manage that long- in old fae time.” Amber winked at you. 

“Ha!” You barked a laugh. 

“Sam and I were talking about old fae time on our way here. How a week in fae time used to be over two months in human time.” You offered. 

“It could still be that way, if you wanted it to be.” Amber shrugged again. 

“What?” You asked. 

“The pendants are capable of giving you a factor of a hundred instead of just a factor of ten like it used to in the old times. So you could spend a week in fae time, and it could be 70 years on the other side.” Ruviem offered. 

“Oh gosh, be gone for a week, and come back looking practically ancient.” You laughed. 

“Nope, the moment you put on the pendant, it locked you into the way you are right now. And the moment you go through that portal, when you set the pin for the return time, you’ll come back to that time, no matter what, no matter what settings you decide to use on the pendant.” Amber informed you. 

“Seriously?” You asked as you picked it up and looked at it before you noticed the symbols and the way you could adjust the face of the pendant to the various settings. 

“Like the poem goes, ‘to see your world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wildflower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour’.” Amber quoted as you tried not to cry at the reference. 

“Thank you, very much for this Amber. I wish you and Ruviem could have such a thing.” You fawned as you looked at it before you hugged your friend.  

“Who said we haven’t?” Ruviem asked which earned some jeers and oohs from the others at the table. 

“You’re welcome Jaiah. You deserve it, take as much time as time as you want, well, as much as that necklace will give you anyway.” She giggled as she hugged you back. 

“I promise not to stay so long that I forget everything and have to come back to be retrained in everything.” You vowed. 

“Jaiah, you practically wrote the book of protocols and procedures, I sincerely doubt you could take a whole millenia in the other world and come back and pick right back up and not miss a single thing.” Philimena reminded you with a teasing smile. 

“You know, you two make quite the team.” Ruviem noted to you and his friend Sam.  

“Yeah we do.” You and Sam answered at the same time. 

“Jinx!” You both pointed at each other before everyone laughed before you were practically stuffed with food. 

“Ok, time for goodbyes, we’ll be back soon.” You reassured her and the others as you hugged your fellow Ladies before you took Sam’s hand and walked to the gate like portal. 

“Ready?” You asked him as you squeezed his hand a little harder. 

“Ready.” He confirmed before you pressed the button on the back of the necklace and the portal opened up before you both walked through and it closed again- leaving the two of you to have the vacation of a lifetime. 

#Monster March #Monster March 2023 #Monster March 2023 Day 22- Fae #Monster March Day 22 Part 3

[themurphyzone]

PatB: ‘Til the Last Petal Falls Ch 11

AN: Ok after a lighthearted romp in the snow fanfiction rules dictate that I must follow it up with something super angsty so MWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAH

AO3 Link

Ch 11: The Nightmare

It had been several weeks since their first venture in the snow together. They’d expanded into several other winter-based activities since then, building all sorts of snow creatures, trying to make snow angels, ice skating…

Well, the Beast tried to forget his own clumsy attempt at ice skating. Pinky was a natural, sliding along the ice and pulling off jumps and other tricks with ease. After his first (and last) attempt to join Pinky in the middle of the frozen pond, he found he was more content to watch Pinky from the shore than risk the humiliation of constantly slipping like an infant who was learning to walk. 

They’d spent the entire afternoon trying to make a snow castle outside. Though the final creation was nothing more than a giant pile of shapeless snow, Pinky’s imagination had truly made it seem like it was a magnificent castle in a winter fairy kingdom. 

Now the sun had set, and the pair had just finished a dinner of sausages and cheese souffle. Their dessert plates were long cleared away by the serving staff, though neither of them were in a hurry to move, courtesy of their full stomachs. 

“Flavio really outdid himself this time!” Pinky said. He put a hand over his mouth and let out a tiny belch of satisfaction.  

“You say that after every meal,” the Beast replied. He tried to recline in his seat, but it was difficult to find a good position when his horns kept bumping into the wood. 

But he couldn’t disagree. There was no such thing as a bad dish when it was cooked by Flavio. 

Pinky leaned forward, his eyes flickering with interest.  

“I’ve told you a lot about me,” Pinky admitted. “But I don’t really know much about you.” 

While it was a true statement, Pinky’s spontaneous nature had once again caught the Beast off guard. 

The Beast’s claws dug into the table, wood shavings falling to the floor. 

You don’t need to know. It’s for the best, the Beast thought bitterly. 

“Drop the subject at once, Pinky. There’s nothing important you need to know,” the Beast growled. 

Don’t reveal anything personal unless it’s absolutely necessary. No matter how small, information in the wrong hands could be catastrophic. 

That fact had been hammered down as a hard truth, time and time again. Though it served as a caution when running an entire kingdom, it was just as applicable to the curse. 

Telling Pinky he had to fall in love with a monster would scare him off for good, and it was a risk the Beast refused to take when he was living on borrowed time. 

And he most certainly couldn’t tell Pinky about his former identity. Pinky would laugh at him. Imagine that, a genius losing his intelligence until he finally became an instinct-driven creature fueled by nothing more than rage and fear. Being smart was one of the few things he’d been good at, the cornerstone of his identity in a life so far removed from this current reality. 

Pinky frowned. “It doesn’t have to be anything big! You can just start with your favorite color, or-” 

“Forget it!” the Beast snarled. “You don’t think I know your agenda? You’re just warming up with the unimportant things before you start asking the questions you actually want answers to!”   

He'd seen this trick before. Too many times, he'd witnessed the nobility sidle up to someone, make small talk in the garden or parlor, pretend to be interested, then strike the moment an opportunity arose. 

Pinky folded his arms, his eyes blazing. “I don’t have a gender-a! I just wanna know more about you!” 

“There’s nothing worth knowing about me!” the Beast growled. 

“Well, maybe if you weren’t so closed off all the time, you’d-” 

This conversation was over. With a snarl of frustration to shut Pinky’s retorts down, he leapt down to the floor and stalked out of the dining room. He ignored the bewildered looks from the servants, some of whom were likely eavesdropping into the argument when they were supposed to be working. 

He slammed the door to the West Wing, and the entire room shuddered at the force.  

A wrinkled petal broke off the rose, joining its dead brethren on the table.  

And all the progress he thought he’d made was gone. 

o-o-o-o-o 

He awoke to a starless, moonless night above him. Strange. The West Wing didn’t have an open roof. He'd stormed off to sleep alone after…after he'd yelled at Pinky. 

For just trying to get to know him. 

He shouldn't have yelled or accused him of any tricks. It was entirely unwarranted, he knew. 

The questions would start out trivial, if somewhat annoying, but there were some answers he could give without giving away anything too personal. 

But then Pinky might start asking for the Beast's entire life story, where he was born, his parents, and the Beast had not prepared counters against those questions.

He couldn't give any of those details without first revealing that he was a prince. 

A dignified prince transformed into a feral monster. 

How was he supposed to confess that to Pinky? 

Oh by the way, I'm actually a cursed prince who dragged all his innocent servants into a punishment they never deserved and the only way to break the enchantment is for you to fall in love with me before the rose loses all its petals. 

Yeah, he was sure that would go over well. 

But even though he couldn't exactly say that to Pinky, he realized that he couldn't exactly blame Pinky for being curious about him. After all, he'd been curious about Pinky too. 

He suppressed the part of him that insisted Pinky should apologize first for being nosy. 

It wasn't easy to swallow what little remained of his pride, but maybe he at least owed Pinky an explanation. 

And…an apology. 

He tried to stand up as he mentally prepared himself for that conversation, only to tumble to the ground. That was…strange. He’d been doing better as a bipedal lately, occasionally switching to a more quadrupedal stance if he needed to move faster because Pinky often ran circles around him. 

He pushed himself up again, only for the palms of his hands to slam down on crumbled stone scattered on the savaged, threadbare carpet. 

What happened? He couldn’t stand at all?

And where was all this stone coming from? 

Pebbles and dust rained down just ahead of him, and he gasped at the enormous hole in the ceiling, which only grew bigger with every passing second. Cracks splintered the stone walls, a terrible rumbling sound filling his ears. Outside, the entire balcony broke off and fell into the deep abyss below. And the floor around it was starting to follow.  

The entire West Wing was about to crumble! 

He was halfway out the door when he suddenly remembered the rose. He couldn’t afford to let it be destroyed! 

With a clumsy attempt at a turn, he rushed towards the table where the rose and the mirror laid. Half the room was buried in rubble now. He could only save one object, not both. 

In the end, it wasn’t a tough choice to make. The rose was his priority. Quickly lifting the glass dome, he snatched up the rose and held it to his chest as he hurried out of the West Wing on three limbs. He heard the cracking of glass behind him as a stone crushed the mirror several seconds after he took the rose. 

The West Wing doors slammed shut behind him, nearly clipping his tail as he fled into the hallway. The cracking and rumbling of falling stone filled the air, until there was one final, mighty crash. 

And all was silent.  

He sighed in relief, though he didn’t dare go back to the West Wing when the entire room was lost. 

Now he just had to find a new hiding place for the ro-  

A crushed petal slipped from his fist, lifelessly falling to the ground. 

“No,” the Beast whispered, staring at the blood-red petal in horror. His hand trembled, half of another crushed petal joining the first. “NO!” 

He recoiled as sharp thorns pricked his hand, yet the physical pain was incomparable to the agony of seeing the dead and withered rose before him as he opened his hand. 

In his hasty escape, he had grabbed the enchanted rose by the bloom rather than the stem. The rose had lost its mysterious glow, and was nothing more than a crushed flower in a monster’s grasp. And once again, a single act of carelessness had cost him everything.   

Now there was truly no hope of escape. No way to regain his crown, his throne, or his kingdom. 

The curse was permanent. 

He was forever condemned to live as a beast, and his servants were…oh god, his servants….

Where were they? The castle had fallen deathly silent. Where were the protests of the Warners as Scratchy attempted to assign them chores? Or the sight of Mindy venturing somewhere she shouldn’t, followed closely by Buttons? The smells of delicious food from Flavio, or the rustling of fabric from Marita? 

The rose forgotten, he hurried down the hallway, his heart racing as his paws slammed against the stone floors. 

The numerous gargoyles were nothing more than rubble, beaks and wings and horns crumbling to dust and ash. Though the Beast was above silly superstition, even he couldn't help but feel exposed and unprotected at the loss of the castle guardians. Even the mightiest and largest of the guardians, a gargoyle aptly and affectionately named Goliath, was nothing more than a pile of broken, lifeless rocks. 

Among the remains of the gargoyles was a large pile of gray and white feathers, covered with dust. The Beast stared down at the pile, hesitantly brushing the feathers aside to reveal three pieces of splintered wood. 

The broken beaks…the lifeless winglike appendages…

These were…

Heart pounding, the Beast turned away from the mess and hurried down the hallway, desperate for any sign of life. 

He’d never been close to the Goodfeathers, for they were just a trio of unlucky pigeons who happened to be roosting on the castle when the curse was cast and weren’t officially his servants like the others were. 

But he didn’t wish this fate on them, nor anybody else. 

Tapestries fell from the walls, paintings cracked in half. Noble, armored knights rusted and decayed, their weapons dulled from time and disuse. 

The destruction kept pace with him. It didn’t matter which way he turned or how hard he tried to outrun it. The roof continued to cave in, holes appearing along the floor wherever he placed his paws. 

In the parlor, two broken footstools laid side by side. One was keeled over completely, numerous tassels strewn around the legs. A Christmas ornament and a porcelain doll had fallen next to them. Their dresses were torn and ripped, the halo missing from the ornament while the doll’s delicate skin was chipped off. The doll was missing an eye, but her remaining one bored through the Beast like a dagger. 

Rita was silenced. Runt was far too still. Buttons could no longer protect Mindy’s fragile body from harm. 

A cold wind blew through what remained of the fireplace, extinguishing the tiny flame that tried to burn in vain. 

The Beast quickly fled, though he couldn’t banish that blank, accusatory glare from his mind.

The destruction of the castle was more severe in this area. Entire walls had been stripped away, the very foundation falling into the abyss below. Several chipped buckets and brooms with their bristles half-missing tried to flee, but were swept in the wave of devastation and plunged into darkness, never to be seen again. 

The Beast was too far away to save them, yet their screams echoed in his ears, the same way they’d done five years ago on the night the curse was cast. 

He couldn't cry. Crying signaled weakness. It had been one of the first lessons ever drilled into his head, from a life that no longer belonged to him. 

His vision blurred, legs shaking as he rushed through the castle in desperation for someone to save. And even then, his thoughts were all disappearing. All of them replaced by a basic, primal need for self-preservation. 

Telling him to save himself, and leave everyone behind. 

But he couldn't give into that urge. 

Not when the castle desperately needed him to lead. 

He tried not to think about how the only thing he'd led them to was complete ruination. 

Priceless artifacts shattered. Precious metals rusted over. Nothing was safe. From the mightiest organ to the tiniest teaspoon, from the noblest knight to the youngest apprentice, and the fanciest wardrobe to the simplest needle, all would fall victim to the curse in the end. 

And next to the library entrance laid a rusted candelabra, a golden sheen now faded to dull brown. And next to the candelabra was a small mantle clock with half its clock face missing, the pendulum broken. One of the arms hung at a crooked angle. 

But the one in the worst shape was the floral patterned teacup, laying in tiny, shattered fragments on the floor. 

All three were still together, even in their terrible fate. He couldn't envision them being separated at all. 

Yakko, Wakko, and Dot, the ones who'd kept their hopes alive for all this time, were dead. 

Numbly, he stared down at the lifeless bodies before him. 

Lives shortened and wasted…because of him. 

Who led the most worthless, meaningless life out of them all. 

"Beast?" 

And there stood Pinky, alive and miraculously unharmed. The Beast nearly moved towards him, relieved to see that someone had escaped the castle’s collapse. 

Only to stop, for there was a fearful expression on Pinky’s face. His hands were close to his body, his ears pulled back. 

Frozen in place like a deer, but ready to bolt at a moment’s notice. 

Horrified, the Beast stepped back. He’d scared Pinky again. But there was no recovery from this. 

Pinky had every right to be scared of a mindless beast who destroyed everything he ever touched. If he was smart, he’d flee for his own safety and never look back. 

“Please wake up,” a shaky voice whispered. “You’re having a bad dream, Beast.” 

But Pinky took a step forward, then another. He moved slowly, hands stretched out towards the Beast. 

He didn’t understand. Not even a warning growl was enough to deter Pinky. 

Stay away, the Beast wanted to say. But words failed him, and he could only make pitiful noises in a poor attempt at language. He couldn’t even warn Pinky to run before he was swept away in all the destruction. 

Then a pair of arms wrapped around his torso, and he gasped and froze at the sudden touch. 

A body pressed against him. Soft and warm, a gentle presence to counter his turmoil. 

A hand reached up, brushing against his cheek with a featherlight touch. 

Was this real? Or a dream born out of desperation? 

Reality had never been this kind to him. Neither had his dreams. But the gentle pressure, the whispers of reassurance, this peaceful feeling as fingers threaded through his fur…maybe his subconscious was finally taking pity on him. 

Maybe he was finally having a good dream to hold onto. 

"Oh good, it's finally working," a female voice said in relief. 

"Definitely, definitely working," another voice yipped. 

There were more? 

But…everyone was gone. The only ones left were himself and Pinky. 

Right? 

"Alright, looks like Pinky's got it. Back to the cupboard, you two. And remember that I call dibs on the top shelf!" 

"You had the top shelf for the past three nights, Yakko! It's my turn!" 

Yakko and Dot were alive? But where was… 

"You guys never let me have the top shelf…" 

Wakko! 

But…he saw their inanimate remains, cold and lifeless on the floor. 

Yet he heard their voices so clearly. Could it be possible that the horrible vision he had wasn’t real after all? 

He didn’t know, but a soothing voice, one that was clearer and louder than the others and his own doubts and fears, broke through the fog his mind was trapped in. 

“Everyone’s here, I promise. Just open your eyes, Beast.”

Promises were made to be broken. He should know that better than anyone, with his constant failures to break the curse on his own terms and never succeeding. 

But he’d heard this very voice make a promise to heal him instead of leaving him at the mercy of the elements. Pinky hadn’t lied then, making good on his word. 

So…he believed Pinky now. 

The Beast opened his eyes, raising his head to get a better look at his surroundings. The castle wasn’t crumbling to rubble, the stone foundation still intact and whole. While dust and cobwebs weren’t ideal, it was still far better than the alternative. 

The servants kept their distance, but they seemed relieved. 

Pinky's hand slipped off the Beast's cheek, the gentle touch lingering behind. The sensation was strange. He was still trying to get used to Pinky's touch, even after several weeks of cohabitation. 

It was difficult for him to fathom why Pinky would willingly do so. His parents, nor anyone else of similar standing, would express themselves so casually. 

And the servants who freely gave their affection away were currently denied the pleasure of each other's warmth. 

So what right did he have to this embrace? Why was he the only one who could actually feel physical touch when he never desired nor deserved these feel-good sensations in the first place? 

The servants were still watching him. The Beast stepped away from Pinky with a growl of trepidation. He wasn’t in the mood to be scrutinized right now. 

“So how are you doing? We were getting a bit worried,” Squit piped up, his tone way too cheerful for the current atmosphere. 

“Worried?” Pesto scoffed, thrusting his wooden beak into Squit’s as he furiously flapped his featherlike appendages. “Are you saying I was worried about the jerk who woke me up just as I was gettin’ all cozy with this pretty lark on the palace of Versailles?” 

“Well, I-” Squit’s protest was cut off by a furious bark from Buttons, who was somehow glaring (how he could glare without a face was unknown), at Pesto while herding Mindy away to a nearby room. With a wooden leg, Buttons made the universal I’ve-got-my-eye-on-you gesture and disappeared around the corner. 

“Goodnight, everybody!” Yakko said, blowing a kiss. “And I mean it this time. Bonne nuit, buenas noches, guten abend-” 

“Much as I love the impromptu language lesson, you might wanna stake your claim to the top shelf before Wakko and Dot steal it from you,” Rita interrupted. 

Yakko’s smug grin vanished as he realized that his siblings had snuck off without him in an attempt to finally steal the top shelf for themselves. He quickly waved goodbye to Pinky, who returned the gesture and laughed when Yakko left a cloud of dust behind as he dashed off towards the kitchen. 

One by one, the other servants returned to their sleeping areas now that the crisis was over, leaving him and Pinky alone in the hallway. 

The Beast wished the servants had stuck around longer. Their familiar banter and camaraderie was occasionally a welcome reprieve to fill in the silence, before his thoughts became too much for him to bear. 

He stared down at his clawed hands, embarrassment washing over him as he realized that he was still hunched over in a primal stance. 

Pinky was watching. 

The Beast looked away. If he couldn’t repress these feral instincts, then he could forget about breaking the curse. No sane person would ever select a partner like that. 

“...I’m sorry,” the Beast rasped, his voice hoarse from disuse. 

“It’s okay,” Pinky said, giving him a tiny, reassuring smile. But the Beast could see the worry in his eyes. “I know it must’ve been a really scary dream. Poit. Um…you wanna talk about it, or-” 

The Beast stubbornly remained silent. Revealing the contents of his nightmare would force him to admit the origin of the curse. 

That everything had fallen apart because he'd carelessly crushed the rose and-

The rose! 

The Beast suddenly found it hard to breathe. He'd felt the sting of thorns in his hand, saw the soft, crimson petals fluttering to the floor. 

Yet it stood to reason that if the castle was still intact and his servants were very much alive, then maybe there was a chance that he'd never destroyed the rose after all? 

Only one way to be sure though. 

"I…I have to go back to the West Wing at once," the Beast said, trying to keep his voice steady and failing miserably. He turned around, only making it halfway down the hall before looking over his shoulder at Pinky, who simply watched him with a worried expression. 

“By yourself?” Pinky asked softly. 

Well, yes. He was used to it by now. 

There was a line between himself and the servants that could not be crossed. The class divide and their physical differences were far too great. 

But ever since Pinky’s arrival, he started to wonder if the strict hierarchy that royalty and nobility enforced was truly right. 

In hindsight, the caste system had left him lonelier than he cared to admit. 

Maybe I don’t have to be though. 

“It won’t take long,” the Beast said. “You can wait for me by Hugo. I…I don’t want to sleep in the West Wing tonight.” 

Pinky’s ears and tail perked at the invitation, his sky-blue eyes lighting up once again. 

How such a simple thing could make Pinky happy, he wasn’t sure. But he would gladly take the happiness over tears. He never knew what to do when Pinky cried. 

Pinky caught up to the Beast, his hand stretched out towards him. The Beast hesitated, but at Pinky’s encouraging smile, he slowly enveloped Pinky’s hand with his own. Then Pinky hauled him to his feet with that unusual strength of his. 

The Beast nearly toppled onto Pinky, not expecting the swift movement, but he quickly regained his footing. 

Despite the Beast’s need to check on the rose, he didn’t feel a sense of urgency in doing so now that he was holding Pinky’s hand. 

He’d experienced Pinky’s touch so often in these past few weeks, and it never failed to astound the Beast that their proximity never bothered him, who had all right to be afraid. 

Pinky hummed a simple tune as they walked down the corridor hand-in-hand. The Beast felt every bounce to Pinky’s step, every motion of Pinky’s fingers within his paw. How Pinky could possibly trust him to not break his fingers was beyond him, but somehow endearing as well. 

Maybe Pinky deserved to get some of his questions answered. Not the inquiries into the Beast’s past, but some of the more impersonal ones that didn’t require any emotional investment. 

“...if you must know, my favorite color is purple,” the Beast said. Then he regretted it, wishing he could’ve had a better segue into talking about colors instead of blurting it out randomly. Still though, he wasn’t lying. Purple was a refined and elegant color in addition to the emblem of royalty. “What about you?” 

“Mine’s yellow,” Pinky smiled. He accepted the topic without protest, much to the Beast’s relief. 

Wait, really? 

The Beast stared at him in surprise. “I thought you would say pink.” 

“Narf! Well, I really love pink and the other colors too! But sunshine yellow is the happiest of them all!” Pinky exclaimed, his tail wagging from under his nightgown. 

There was logic in Pinky favoring a bright color, given his cheerful nature. 

“I should’ve called you Yellowy from the start,” the Beast huffed. Then he cringed internally, not realizing how terrible his poor attempt at a joke was until it slipped out. 

To his surprise, Pinky laughed. It was loud and happy and bright, and the Beast could only stare in wonder at Pinky as the laughter made every inch of his body shake in pure joy. 

I did that, the Beast’s thoughts soaring alongside his hopes for the curse to be lifted. I actually made somebody laugh.

He’d never done that before, and he drew satisfaction in such a simple accomplishment. Making Pinky laugh wasn’t a world-changing feat, but it felt much more important than any laws he could ever sign.   

They reached the gargoyle-filled hall that led straight into the West Wing far sooner than the Beast would’ve liked, and Pinky ceased his laughter as they approached Hugo the gargoyle. A red ribbon fluttered from his horn, a tiny spider crawling around on his piggish snout. 

The oppressive dread returned, forcefully reminding him of the rose’s existence. He needed Pinky’s love, not his laughter, to break the curse. It wasn’t enough. 

It was a callous notion, especially after Pinky had kindly coaxed him out of the nightmare.  

He just had to keep asking for more.  

“Here we are,” Pinky whispered. “You’re going in?”  

The Beast nodded. It was strangely difficult for him to release Pinky’s hand.

He almost asked Pinky to come inside the West Wing with him, just so he wouldn’t be alone in this task. 

Almost.  

It wasn’t that he completely distrusted Pinky. 

But there were too many secrets hidden within the West Wing, and the Beast didn’t want Pinky to see them right now. No, he just wasn’t ready yet. 

Time was not on his side. 

But…he couldn’t. He just couldn’t. 

The West Wing doors were wide open. He must’ve left them that way when he was in the stranglehold of his nightmare. 

He debated closing them in case Pinky got the bright idea of peeking in, but he dismissed that thought instantly. Pinky wouldn’t break his promise not to go into the West Wing without express permission again. He wasn’t the lying type. 

In the end, the Beast left the door halfway open. The rose wasn’t visible from the entrance, but he would rather give himself some privacy while assuring Pinky that he would come out again. 

With that matter settled, he carefully stepped over the debris that littered the West Wing. He passed the slashed portrait, the ripped curtains, broken ceramics and splintered wood he’d destroyed in fits of rage. 

He’d spent some time trying to clean up the mess, but he hadn’t even scratched the surface of the damages. Perhaps he could task a select group of servants to help speed up the process, but this felt like something he had to do for himself. 

As derelict as the West Wing was, the roof hadn’t caved in, the balcony was attached, and the walls were sturdy. 

But it wasn’t until he saw the enchanted rose intact that he was truly relieved. Under the glass dome, the mysterious glow hadn’t diminished. Dead petals were still scattered on the table, but there were many more still attached to the stem. The stem’s tip had started to droop, a reminder that while hope was not lost yet, he didn’t have an unlimited amount of time either. 

But the rose was safe and protected. 

Now that he had physical proof that he hadn’t destroyed the rose after all, he picked up the mirror next. He usually placed a paw over the surface when he picked up the mirror, just so he wouldn’t have to confront his reflection. 

This time was different though. 

He couldn’t hide away forever…no matter how much he wanted to. 

So he looked at his image, realizing that if Pinky didn’t flinch away at his horns and fangs, maybe he could be brave enough to do the same. 

“Show me my servants.” 

He averted his gaze as the mirror flashed green, then cleared to show an image of Dot triumphantly standing on the top shelf of the cupboard, while a grumpy Yakko leaned against the wall, upset that his spot had been stolen. Then the image panned over to Flavio pouring a kettle full of hot water into a teapot. Then Wakko waddled into the frame, leading a group of teacups, saucers, and tiny spoons onto a cart. 

The image changed to Marita dictating a letter to her sweetheart with the help of a quill and inkwell. 

Hello Nurse wrapped bandages around the tip of a broom handle, while Scratchinsniff stuffed cotton and feathers into what remained of his cushion. 

The Goodfeathers roosted on Laverne. Buttons trying to get Mindy settled for bed while Rita sleepily told off Runt for riling her up to play. 

Everyone was alive and safe. That terrible burden was lifted off his shoulders.  

“Pinky. Show me Pinky,” the Beast whispered.

When the mirror showed Pinky out in the hallway, still waiting for him to come back, he knew where he wanted to be. 

He put the mirror down and left the West Wing, closing the door behind him. Upon the Beast’s approach, Pinky leapt with joy and greeted him with a smile and a shout that could light up the darkest night. 

And it was nice. 

End AN: 

This chapter was super angsty. There was gonna be a part at the end with Pinky and the Beast drinking tea in the library, but I didn’t like how that portion turned out so it was cut (the tea Flavio and Wakko were putting together was sent to them as a comfort measure). 

In the Broadway musical and 2017 movie, the servants become fully inanimate and die when the last petal falls. I personally never liked this plot point because it makes Beast releasing Belle a bit iffy for me. So I’m only using it for a dream scenario. 

There is one thing that sadly didn’t make it into the chapter, and that was the Beast using his cloak to cover a sleeping Pinky as a thank you. Maybe in a future installment I’ll be able to squeeze it in there. 

The Yellowy joke is...kinda bad. But I had fun with it lol. 

#pinky and the brain #beauty and the beast au #patb fanfiction

[anra-thejourneyman]

THE BATTLE OF DRYFE SANDS

(Dec.6th, 1593)

Loiter lost on a ghostly night in the valleys out by Lockerbie and you’d better be prepared for a horror show. You might just meet a gang of characters with their cheeks hanging loose into their necks. Gashed ghosts by Gotterby! Bleeding. Boooooo. Nightmare on Elm Street meets The Godfather meets Sleepy Hollow.

Forget the St Valentine’s Day massacre or Custer’s last stand. These blokes have been chibbed. They’ve been slashed. They’ve had the “Lockerbie lick”, something as fearsome as anything perpetrated by the Glasgow underworld.

429 years ago today they fought one of the biggest and goriest clan battles in Scottish history. It was worse than anything the Mafia could concoct, and at least 700 men perished.

It’s a shame that we were never taught such gripping history at school in Lockerbie. We could tell you anything about the Battle of Hastings, the Magna Carta or the Spanish armada, but the cubic root of hee haw about a battle on our own doorsteps: the Battle of Dryfe Sands.

The battle was the culmination of a long, petty, insidious, remorseless feud between two sets of narcissistic toffs, the Maxwells, and the Johnstones (whose motto, Nunquam Non Paratus, was ironically adopted by Lockerbie Academy).

The big prize was the wardenship of the West March. ...... in the halcyon years of cattle rustling in the debatable lands. Don Johnstono or Don Maxwello? What was it to be.

Basically, this was tribalism, blood feud and a cycle of perpetual violence based on family connection and a hunger for power.

The English were no strangers to fomenting such disputes, as it suited them to divide and rule. Nothing new there.

Unless you’re one for nurturing haemorrhoids scrutinising ancient parchments (to filter authenticity from myth and stuff plagiarised, copied and pasted or lifted by pseudo-historians down the years) revealing the truth is always an unenviable ordeal. Sometimes you’re between a rock and a hard place. It makes a better story to gild the odd lily, but if in doubt leave it out. Or not! Everybody likes a yarn.

Believe this if you want. The theft of a horse from Sanquhar caused the battle. A minor Johnstone, Willie frae Wamphray, stole it from a Crichton, and the Crichtons were locked in a protection racket with the Maxwells.

Johnstone was lynched by the arch enemy, or not as the case may be.

There had been nine west warden Maxwells in the previous 100 years. One Johnstone.

The Mafia were to have “made men”. The landowners in the reiving lands had “man rent”. Basically the same as Al Capone’s goons walking into a shop to collect protection money.

The Maxwells “made” Kirkpatrick of Closeburn, Douglas of Drumlanrig, Crichton of Sanquhar, Stuart of Castlemilk, Stuart of Garlies, the Murrays, Lord Annandale, Grierson of Lag, Gordon of Lochmaben, and umpteen other vassals.

The Johnstones could rely on the Scotts, the Elliots, the Armstrongs and the Grahams.

There were many atrocities. The Maxwells burned Johnstone’s castle at Lochwood in 1585.

In retaliation the Johnstones slew a party of Maxwells at Lochmaben. Some Maxwells escaped to Lochmaben church but the Johnstones burned it down and everybody in it.

Back to the battle: it’s said 2000 Maxwell acolytes rode out to slaughter 400 Johnstone men, who ambushed them by the Dryfe Water. The Johnstones fought like they were out of a Braveheart movie.

The Maxwells were hacked to death. There’s a legend that Lord Maxwell put his hand up to surrender but the nephew of the hanged horse thief cut it off. It was your archetypal bloodbath. Wrong Turn, the Chainsaw Massacres. Apocalypse Now.

And the Lockerbie lick. Folklore tells us the Johnstone horsemen slashed the faces of the Maxwells with downward slashes of their swords.

#social history #history #dumfries and galloway #lockerbie

[imaginefan]

Mobile Masterlist (N - Z) Part 7

Once Upon A Time

Jennifer Morrison

Dead

Long Life Mystery

Spells

Teammates And Lovers

Rise Of The Guardians

Jack Frost

Promise Made

Riverdale

Kevin Keller

Reveal

S.W.A.T

Deacon Kay

Daughter In Danger

Jim Street

Daughter In Danger

Ignoring The Problem

Soft Morning

Secret Circle

Adam Conant

You Choose Someone Else

Grant

Spontaneous

Jake Armstrong

Hiding *Part 1* *Part 2*

I Knew You Liked Me

Love And Life

Your Love Is Different

Supernatural

Castiel

Missed Signals *Part 1* *Part 2*

Dean Winchester

1 Year Left *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Drunk Secrets

Missing Family Member

Nightmare

These Moments

Sam Winchester

Eyes Here

Fight For Me

Missing Family Member

Pain And All *Part 1* *Part 2*

That Girl You Like

Teen Wolf

Derek Hale

Why Have I Never Heard Of Him? *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4*

Isaac Lahey

Friends

Lydia Martin

I’m Wrong

Scott McCall

Lone Wolf *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Stiles Stilinski

Cliff Diving

Fiery Brother *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Loved To Late

Theo Raeken

Like A Brother *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5*

Putty

The Flash

Cisco Ramon

Shirt On

PDA In The Lab *Part 1* *Part 2*

Hartley Rathaway

Always Here

The Society

Campbell Eliot

I’m Fine (Prompt)

The Tomorrow People

Astrid Finch

Helping Hand

Cara Coburn

Wait!

Jedikiah Price

A Tomorrow Person *Part 1* *Part 2*

Big Reveal

Jonathan Young

A Smile To Light The World

All That Cute Stuff

Cast Away

Complicated

Dependent Friend

Friend Of A Friend

Friends Or More

Foster Friends

Hesitance In A Hero

History And Future

Just Let It Go

No Need To Thank Me

No Need To Think *Part 1* *Part 2*

No Restraint *Part 1* *Part 2*

Pushing Him Away

Shared Jacket

Shirts

Stop

Truth Of It All *Part 1* *Part 2*

Well Hello

We Were Once

Witches Love

Worth The Risk *Part 1* *Part 2*

You Choose Someone Else

You’ll Want Someone Else

Luca Jameson

Truth Is Out

Wrong Twin

No Pairing

Things

Stephen Jameson

Cast Away *Part 1*

Defend Yourself

He’s Not Here For You

I’m The Best

Little Argument 

Out Of The Loop *Part 1*

That Thing *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

The Founder

Mask In The Heat

Russell Kwon

All That Cute Stuff

Already Someone Else’s

Cast Away

That Thing *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

You’re Cute

The Vampire Diaries/The Originals

Alaric Saltzman

Old Faces

Damon Salvatore

I Thought It Was Him *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* 

Stood Up *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

That Girl

Whatever Right *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5* *Part 6* *Part 7* *Part 8*

Elijah Mikaelson

Encouragement

Let Me In

Nobody Else But You

Pants (Prompt)

Pickpocket *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

The Things We Don’t Tell

Recklessness

Freya Mikaelson

Best Of The Bunch *Part 1* *Part 2*

Jeremy Gilbert 

Complicated

Rescued You *Part 1*  *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5* *Part 6*

Save Yourself

Saviour In The Witch *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5* *Part 6* *Part 7*

Kai Parker

Liking To Power *Part 1* *Part 2*

Klaus Mikaelson

800 Years *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Blood Bath

Day With Dad

Feelings In The Way *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Help For The Hunted

Kids Know All

Second Wolf

Shaken

Snarky Comments *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Werewolf Gene *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Witch To Be Scared Of

Worst Enemies

Kol Mikaelson

All Good Things *Part 1* *Part 2*

Awkward Friends

Bickering *Part 1* *Part 2*

Dependent Friend

Entertaining

Let’s Not Talk About It

Rescued You *Part 1*  *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5* *Part 6*

Saviour In The Witch *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5* *Part 6* 

*Part 7*

Save Her

Snarky Comments *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Lorenzo St. John

How About Dinner *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

We Were Once

Whatever Right *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3* *Part 4* *Part 5* *Part 6* *Part 7* *Part 8*

Lucien Castle

Holding Back *Part 1* *Part 2*

Liking To Power *Part 1* *Part 2*

Mikaelson Family

Studying Till Sleep

Rebekah Mikaelson

First And Last Love

New Information *Part 1* *Part 2*

Stephan Salvatore

I Know How You Feel *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

Unseen Love

Tyler Lockwood

Something I Haven’t Told You *Part 1* *Part 2*

Questions Questions *Part 1* *Part 2* *Part 3*

The Walking Dead

The Survivors

An Offer (Prompt)

Requests and general question!

Next Part --->

#masterlist

[softboywriting]

Meet The Parents | Billy Russo

Summary: You introduce Billy to your parents and it doesn’t go as well as you hope. [Billy Russo x F!Reader] [Assistant!Reader Trope] [Alternate Timeline - Castle family not mentioned/never happened] [Fluff] [Problematic Parents/Divorced] [Parents Fighting] [Language] [Flirting] [Flashback/Nightmare]

 Word Count: 3.8k 

 A/N: This is a follow up to my first fic Little Moments but can be read separately as a stand alone story. I may be doing several in a series with these two.

---

The office is quiet, and has been for the whole day. Billy has been out at a client meeting since you got in. Anvil is becoming quite popular in the private military market, having taken on three new contracts in the last two weeks. You're proud of Billy, he works hard to win over his clients and offer top of the line service. As the primary contact for all contracts and placements, you've gotten busy too. More business means more expenses, and more employees to keep track of. You don't mind, it keeps you active and engaged. There is nothing more you hate than just sitting around staring at the wall or watching cat videos for the billionth time.

"Hey sweetheart."

You glance up from your work and see Billy closing the office door behind him. He's dressed up, black and grey patterned silk shirt, expensive black suit, the tailored jacket over his arm. He looks positively delicious if you do say so. Those shirts are the best thing you ever convinced him to wear.

"Hey yourself. How'd the meeting go?"

"Shitty." He sneers and tosses his jacket on his office chair. He begins unbuttoning the sleeves of his shirt to roll them up to his elbows. "The guy brought his daughter."

"Okay? What does she have to do with anything?"

Billy raises his eyebrows in an 'are you shitting me' expression. "His daughter is a model. Not naturally talented mind you, paid for by her daddy. Clearly he thought havin' her there would sway me into acceptin' the number he offered for the contract you wrote up. Like he's doing me a favor."

You stand and walk around the desk, eyes going up and down his chest. "You didn't do anything did you?"

"What kinda man do you think I am?" Billy walks you back against your desk, pinning you in with his hands on the top behind you. He drops his head to yours and stares at you with those dark endless eyes. "You think I'd fuck around?"

"I know you won't, you're too gone for me." You run your hands up his back and he arches against you. "Did she try?"

"She tried. Even sat on my lap."

"In front of her dad?"

"Mmmhmm." Billy drops his face to your neck and mouths at your skin. "I don't mind a little show and tell but even I got boundaries. Parental peepshows are off limits."

You laugh softly and he brings one hand against your lower back up to pull you against him. "Take it easy. You know the rules. No relationship stuff while I'm on the clock."

He groans, pulling his head back to look at you. "I need to touch you though. I don't want her lingering on me."

"I know." You step out of his hold and he lets his hand drag across your back as you escape his grasp. "Just another hour okay? I've gotta wrap a few things up."

Billy pulls his tie loose and unbuttons the top of his shirt. "Why did I ever make these rules?" He sinks down in his chair and spreads his legs, lolling his head against the back. He really is such a tempting little tease. How could you resist a man like that? Truth be told it's hard.

You take a seat behind your desk and focus your eyes on the invoices on screen. "You made them because you want Anvil to remain professional and not a playground."

"Bullshit."

"Your bullshit."

Billy bites his lip and gives you that look. The one that says he isn't to be messed with, that he's gonna get what he wants no matter what. And oh it's so tempting to get up and go sit on his lap in that chair. It's always been a fantasy of yours. One you haven't gotten to full fill due to his rules. He's really only cockblocking himself.

"C'mere."

"No, Billy."

"C'mon, be bad. Break my rules."

"No! You're such a jerk!" You laugh and he chuckles playfully. "We have dinner with my parents after this anyway. I'm not breaking your rules and getting all messy before we go see my parents. You hear? Parents."

"Always such a good girl."

"You like it."

"Damn right I do." He pushes up out of his chair and crosses the office to cradle your head and press a chaste kiss to your temple. "I'm gonna go home and get ready. Anything you want me to lay out for you? I think you've got a few things at the apartment."  

"The blue dress. I picked it up from the cleaners last week with a few suits. It should be in your closet."

"The one I bought you a while back for the client dinner?"

"Yeah."

"Isn't that a little revealing for a parents dinner?"

You raise your eyebrows and he narrows his eyes.

"You're a monster." He presses his lips to your ear. "If you keep teasing me I'll have to put you in your place."

"I guess I'm a glutton for punishment."

"Oh sweetheart, you have no idea what you're askin' for." Billy kisses your cheek and steps away. "Playin' with fire will get you burned."

You smile innocently. "See you later."

"You're terrible." He goes to the door and stops, looking back once more. "But I love you."

"Love you too Billy."

"Ugh," he groans, slapping a hand over his chest. "Say it again."

"Love you?" You giggle and he acts even more dramatic, pretending to swoon against the door. "What are you doing?"

"Being you."

"Wh- you son of a bitch! Get out!" You throw your squishy stress ball at him and he cackles as he runs from the office. What a child.

_____________________

"Oh, this is your boyfriend?" Your mother asks in actual surprise. As if you weren't meant to have a man that looks like Billy Russo. Truth be told you had never dated anyone half as attractive, not to you anyways. "He's so...well dressed."

Billy takes your mom's hand and kisses it politely. "We're all well dressed here ma'am. You look lovely too."

"Thank you." She flushes and giggles.

Billy gives a warm smile and tugs you closer. His hand on your back is radiating heat, its comforting. He knows you're tense. This dinner will be a strain on your nerves and he had been warned how difficult your parents can be.

"Your father should be here soon. I told him not to be late." Mom says huffily, eyeing the doors to the restaurant. You've met up with her outside and you're currently waiting for your dad to arrive. Your parents have been split for ten years and it's been hard, but not as hard as it would have been if they had divorced when you were still a young child. Well, you like to think that anyways. They waited, held on to their shit until you were graduated and old enough to understand that some people don't remain in love.

Billy leans in and presses his lips to your ear. "Are your parents going to fight? This place is very nice, I don't want to cause a scene."

"It'll be fine. They can hold it together for a few hours. I hope. Just don't mention their personal lives. It's a sore spot for mom. Dad isn't single anymore."

"Gotcha."

"Sorry I'm late." You turn and see your dad walking towards you. "Some asshole parked his Rolls Royce just on the line and I hardly squeezed into the only spot open beside it."

Mom scoffs and rolls her eyes. She bites her tongue but you know what she would say. Some comments about his truck being too damn big and a gas guzzler.

Dad puts his hand out for Billy. "You must be the lucky guy!"

Billy takes it and smiles a beautiful, toothy, shit eating grin. "Billy Russo, the asshole who parked his Rolls Royce a bit close to the line."

The way Dad's face turns pale and then red with embarrassment makes the whole evening worthwhile up until then. "That's yours?"

"One hundred percent. Bought and paid for."

"That's a beautiful piece of machinery. Expensive."

Billy leans his head on yours. "I only go for the best."

"Well you know I-"

"Oh shut up already, let's go inside." Mom says and grabs your dad's arm. "Always babbling on about shit when we've got things to do."

"Y'know what-" the conversation fades as your parents head into the restaurant. You're glad. It is bound to be petty anyways. Always was with them. Bickering children they should be called.

"Relax." Billy says in your ear, hand traveling up and down your side. "I can win over your parents for one night."

"You could charm anyone into anything and I've seen as much. You're a silver tongued sn-"

Billy catches your jaw in a light hold and presses a kiss to your lips. Your hand slides up into his hair and he grins into the kiss. "Easy now. We've not even gotten seated yet."

"Your fault."

"Usually is."

____________________

You stare at yourself in the reflection of the bathroom mirror. Dinner wasn't going so great and you had barely made it through an appetizer and drinks.

Your parents couldn't stop arguing, Billy was trying his best to charm them but apparently they're uncharmable, and you were left to play referee for your parents against each other or them against you and Billy.

It is a whole mess and you want to just leave, just walk out say fuck everything and go to Billy's apartment and go to bed. You haven't even had a chance to tease Billy like you were planning, hell, you've barely gotten a word in that wasn't defending him or fielding your parents insults they continuously hurdled over the table at one another.

The door rattles on your left and you clear your throat. "Occupied!" You shout and it stops.

It's a single use bathroom, not a multi-stall type set up. So the person outside would just have to wait until you were done having your crisis. Maybe not so fair to them but you'll be damned if you won't let yourself have a moment.

The handle turns and you back into the sink as the door opens. To your surprise it is Billy, not some worker with a key. "What the-"

"Your parents are insufferable. How the hell did you grow up with them? I mean I was in a group home and a few of the adults weren't great but holy shit they weren't my parents."

"I'm sorry."

Billy closes the door and shakes his head, taking your hands in his. "Don't be sorry for their actions. Never apologize for anyone but yourself."

"I knew this would happen. I just thought that maybe...I don't know...maybe they'd be different. Maybe they'd be proud of me, of you, so they would get along for two fucking hours."

"Sweetheart, you're nearly thirty, you're still seeking your parents approval?"

You laugh joylessly and bite the inside of your cheek. "You don't understand. You can't understand."

Billy brings your forehead to his lips and he rubs your back. He's always so affectionate with you, careful to hold and to love you like a man who never received it himself so he wants to make sure those he loves receives it tenfold.

"I understand seeking approval, but there is nothing you need approval for. You're an adult with a good job, a place to stay, an outstanding boyfriend with his own company. I'd say you're doin' alright honey."

You let out an actual little laugh, and he does too, bumping his nose against yours. "You're so full of yourself."

"You like that?" He bumps again, eyes on yours. "I said it to get you to giggle."

"You know it's a little true."

His lips meet yours in a warm tender kiss. "Confidence is sexy."

"It is."

"I could tell your parents there's a work emergency." He slides his hands over your ass and pulls you flush against him. "A real pain in the ass employee is causin' trouble."

You smile into his lips and he smiles back. "Oh yeah?"

"Mmhmm."

He chuckles softly and cradles your head to his chest. "You can't choose how your family acts. Remember that. It's up to you to decide how you act, and if you want to deal with them."

"I know."

"Do you?" He runs a hand over your hair, tangling his fingers in the strands briefly.. "I know it's different for you, I can distance myself easier since I didn't grow up with proper parents. Maybe I'm cold, or indifferent but-"

"Stop." You dig your fingers into his side and he falls quiet. "Don't compare your childhood to mine. It's not fair. I don't want you to begin resenting me because-"

Billy gives you a look that is all warning and it silences you instantly. "I would never resent you for having parents and growing up like a normal kid should. I ended up in a shit situation and that is no one's fault but my own mother's. She is the only person I will ever resent." He softens, leaning in and kissing your nose. "Do you wanna ditch or go try to make something of this dinner?"

You swallow harshly and look at the door. Ditching would be easy, but the repercussions would be insufferable. Your mom would never stop calling about it, your dad would hold it over your head forever. It would be more of a disaster to leave than it would be to stay. No matter how valid the reason.

"We'll stay. I can try and redirect the conversation."

"That's my girl." He pats your cheek. "Proud of you."

"T-thanks."

Billy takes your hand and interlocks your fingers with his. "I'll take care of it. I can get them to shut up."

"If you can get a word in."

"I have my ways. Don't worry."

You cut him a look as you exit the bathroom and head for the table. "What are you-"

"Don't worry." He presses against your ear and guides you down to sit at the table.

Your parents are still bickering.

"Hey!" Billy says firmly with his hands on the table, not a yell, but enough to get his point across and the attention of your parents but not many others.

"Yes?" Mom asks surprisingly quietly.

Billy smiles and it's all venom, beautiful venom. You know this look, these eyes, that deadly grin. He isn't fucking around and the way he can express that so physically subtly astounds you. "The arguing is going to stop. The petty comments are going to stop. We're going to sit here and have conversations like adults, or you can leave and your daughter and I will have a nice dinner."

"Wh-" Dad starts but doesn't get any further.

"I am not goin' to repeat myself." Billy stands up straight and raises his eyebrows, daring your parents to say another word. The tension is thick, you can hardly breathe. Never did you think you'd have to witness Billy being like this with your parents of all people.

You grab a roll from the basket at the center of the table and pick at it. "How's work been, Dad?"

Dad clears his throat. "Good, busy. People always need an electrician for something. I did a school the other day, new classroom."

Billy sits beside you and lays his hand on your leg, thumb stroking your skin gently. He leans in and whispers "I told you don't worry." He turns his attention back to your parents. "So you're an electrician? Contractor?"

"Yeah, I work for Mundun Electric. Union job, pays well."

"And you?" Billy looks to your mom.

"I'm a medical receptionist. Clarke Center Hospital."

Billy smiles. "That's incredible. You're both hardworking people it seems, I see where she gets her work ethic. She's incredible, the best I've hired for Anvil."

You chew your lip and look down, flushed. "You're just being nice."

"I'm serious." He holds your hand up and kisses your knuckles. "I admire your dedication and the hard work you've put into making Anvil a success. Without you, I don't know where I'd be. Probably buried in paperwork."

"So you work for Billy? That's how you met?" Mom asks and you nod.

Dad raises his eyebrows.

"Dad, don't start."

Billy cuts a glare at your dad. "Don't start what?"

"Nothing." Dad says nonchalantly, eyes going to somewhere else in the room. "I just think inter-workplace relationships are never a good idea."

You squeeze Billy's hand and he just smiles oh so sweetly. "Dad, it's fine. Billy and I are both professionals. If things don't work out we'll make it work for the sake of the company."

"He'll fire you and you'll be looking for a job yet again." Mom pipes up, rolling her eyes. "See, things like this are why you can't hold a career."

"Mom!"

"Alright." Billy says firmly. "We're done here. Ma'am, sir, with all due respect you can both go fuck yourselves."

"Excuse me!?" Dad bellows and your mom looks flustered at the use of language. "You have no right-!"

"Actually I do." Billy stands and guides you to stand with him. "I'm going to love and care about your daughter the way she should be. You two are self absorbed monsters who should have never had a child, let alone forced the one you had to live through a loveless marriage. The fact that you cannot manage to sit here and have dinner with her and myself, which mind you has left quite a first impression, is sad and disappointing."

You grab his hand and you're shaking. You don't even know what to say. It's like Billy is telling them everything you've wanted to for your whole life.

"C'mon sweetheart." He puts his arm around you and guides you out of the restaurant. You know there are people staring but it's fine. It's over now.

"I'm s-"

"Uh uh." Billy puts his finger to your lips. "No apologies. Here." He shrugs his suit jacket off and puts it around your shoulders.

"Thanks."

"You wanna get out of here before your parents come out. Go get some burgers or something?"

You can't help the little smile that tugs at the corner of your mouth. "Pete's Diner?"

"Anywhere you like." He takes your hand and walks you toward the parking area. "Fuck this fancy bullshit anyway. I never understood the food they serve."

"Me neither. A hamburger and fries with a big ole pickle is good enough for me."

Billy opens the passenger door for you. "You're a girl after my heart y'know that?"

"I think I already have it."

He leans in and kisses your forehead. "That's for damn sure."

_____________________

Midnight you wake up crying. A nightmare, a reoccurring one as it would be. Though it is more of a twisted memory than a nightmare in actuality.

You are always around seven or eight years old, it's nighttime, you've been in bed for an hour and still not asleep. Downstairs your parents are awake, their disembodied voices float through the old floors. Their voices grow louder, shouting, screaming at each other. A glass shatters and you crawl under the bed. Footsteps come closer in the hall, heavy and slow.

The dream shifts. You're not a child but an adult. Under the bed is smaller now, the footsteps grow louder. The door opens and you scream when your foot is grabbed and you wake up crying.

"What's wrong?" Billy asks, sitting up in bed abruptly and turning on the light, hand instinctively going for the nightstand where you know a weapon is stored.

You had stayed the night, both of you decided it was best to stay together while you decompress from your tragic meet the parents dinner. Didn't matter in the end though. The nightmare still came.

"Just a bad dream. I'm going to get some water." You push back the blankets and plant your feet on the cold floor. It's a nice shock to the system, reminding you this is reality.

Billy's arm snakes around your waist. "Care to share with the class?"

"It's nothing. Just a nonsense dream about old crap."

"Your parents?"

"Yeah. Um, just a dream." You yawn and pat his hand on top of your stomach. "I need water."

"Grab me a bottle?"

"Sure."

You end up in the kitchen, looking out at the New York skyline. His place is so beautiful. It's luxurious, and you can't get used to it. You lean on the island and sip a bottle of cold water from the fridge. You don't think you belong here.

Then the dream comes creeping back in. Rationally you know that dream is never going to become a reality. Not with Billy around.

"Hey."

You look back to see Billy walking in with his sleep pants low on his hips. He scrubs a hand over his face before meeting you at the island.

"Sorry, I just got caught up in the view."

"It s'okay." His arms wrap around you and he presses his face to your neck. "I love you." He whispers softly into your skin.

"Are you alright?"

"Mmm."

You thread a hand into his hair and scratch at his scalp. It elicits a hum that's nearly a purr against your back. "Do you ever feel like you don't deserve this? Like everyday you can't comprehend that you're loved."

"I didn't think I could fall in love before I met you, yeah. I'm familiar."

"Oh."

"Wasn't expecting that?" He chuckles, flexing his fingers against your tummy.

You shake your head and he kisses along your jaw. "Billy, stop," you giggle as his short beard tickles your skin.

"No way." He starts walking you back away from the island counter and toward the bedroom. "I've got a disease and if I don't kiss you all the time I'll definitely succumb to it."

The two of you tumble onto the bed and he straddles your hips, mouthing at your neck and chest relentlessly.

"It's three in the morning. We need to go back to sleep."

Billy hums and settles on top of you, nose in your hair. "Sleep is for the weak."

"Then I'm weak." You trail a hand up his back, fingers flitting over his shoulder blade. His skin is so soft, so warm. "Thank you by the way."

"For what?"

"Being here when I had a nightmare."

"Of course." Billy pets your hair, stroking it down against the pillow. "I've suffered my share of them alone. I'm glad you were here so you weren't."

"Me too."

"Go to sleep." He kisses your cheek and rolls off to the side. His arm curls around you and pulls you close. "Love you."

"Love you too."

_____________________

*****Note: none of my works should be posted anywhere outside of my linked accounts. I do not give permission to repost with or without credit to my accounts. Please notify me of any reposted works.*****

Header image by delicate-venus

Thank you so much for reading, please reblog to support content creators. -A

#billy russo #the punisher series #the punisher #the punisher netflix #billy russo x reader #ben barnes characters #the punisher fic #billy russo fic #billy russo fanfic

[relaxxattack]

hi! I'm the anon that asked about sending in the fic. apologies if this is the wrong place to send it, I wasn't sure what was most appropriate. feel free to ignore it btw. apologies for plot holes and mischaracterisation I wrote this while very tired.

When he’s not trying to solve the mystery of kidnapped children or plotting ways to kill a man, Ran likes to walk the halls of the castle.

In the End everything is so similar, the cities, the bridges, the ground, the sky – it all goes on forever, repeating itself over and over again, never anything new.

In the Overworld however, no two cities he’s been to have ever been the same. They bustle under one sky with their own clouds each day and their own constellations each night. They have been built by different minds for different purposes and different people and he loves to study it.

So when he wanders the halls he take notes in his journal of the art and the architecture. Of the style and the purpose and the history.

He’s definitely not hoping to bump into someone. He would never do that.

One night when he’s unable to sleep he decides to go for another walk. At this point he’s sure he’s seen everything so it’s more to clear his head than anything else.

Unlike the other times he’s been out at night, the castle is not silent. There’s a low hum emanating from somewhere, quiet enough that he reckons he’s the only one that can hear it.

He walks towards it and the sound grows louder and more distinguishable.

It’s music.

They don’t have music in the End, not really. However, it had been one of the few things in the Overworld he never had to learn to understand. The second he heard it he got it. He felt it in his bones, the way that the rhythm would drum through his heart and tell him a story. A story just for him. The way that the melody would make him understand things he could never put into words, even if only for a moment.

He follows the sound, or rather it lures him to it. Through a corridor and up a set of stairs. Open a door, shut the door, up another flight, along another corridor. He thinks he’s running now, sprinting to find where the music is coming from, but he stops dead when he sees the source.

It’s him.

At the end of the hallway, facing away from him, Jackie sits in front of a piano.

Ran doesn’t think he’s ever been to this part of the palace before. The ceilings are lower, the walls bare, the windows foggy. Nobody has been here in a long time; he wouldn’t be surprised if Jackie was the only one that knew about it.

He stands stock still at the door to the hallway, not wanting to move, not wanting to shut the door for fear it might disturb him, for fear it might make him stop.

He’s never heard this song before, which is odd because he likes to think he can recognise most Overworld music by now. The same songs are played at all the gatherings he goes to, through all the streets he walks. He had never considered that there would be more.

This one sounds sad, not sad like crying but sad like stillness. It feels like trailing your hand through a river as it flows by, or when you learn as a child that you can’t sleep on clouds, or when you wake up from a nightmare calling for someone only to realise you are alone.

It feels like everything he’s never been able to put into words all at once, it feels like it’s for him but not just for him, like a hand reaching out and saying I feel like that too.

He’s so caught up in all the feelings that he can only think one thing, and that is that he doesn’t want Jackie to stop.

Ran should know by now that when it comes to Jackie, he never gets what he wants.

The last note Jackie plays sounds less like a conclusion and more like a promise. I will be back tomorrow. I still have stories to tell you.

Ran wonders that if he returns at the right time he might be able to listen to him again.

And then kill him when he’s distracted, a voice in his head adds on.

Sure, that too.

Jackie hasn’t moved since he stopped playing but Ran knows that won’t last for long and decides to slip out the door while he’s still unnoticed.

“Whoever’s waiting outside the door better stop and hope to God I’m feeling merciful tonight,” a voice commands. It is not one he recognises. It’s definitely Jackie, but it’s low and tired. It hurts Ran and he doesn’t know why.

Ran’s only halfway out the door and he figures his best bet at staying alive is to reveal himself. He’s done his research. He knows that unlike him, Jackie doesn’t have assassination attempts, only assassinations. A long list of names with him as the last face they saw.

There are worse ways to go, he thinks.

He turns around to go back through the door again.

“Ran?” Jackie says, confused. “What’re you doing here?”

What is he doing here? If the Council knew of this, Ran in a dark room with his target, alone in a hidden in a part of the castle where no one goes, not trying to kill him but instead afraid of him, instead just watching him, instead wishing that he would turn around and continue to play - well - he’d be dead probably.

Definitely.

Oh, he’s so dead.

For once in his life Ran has lost all ability to lie, or tell the truth, or say anything remotely useful.

That’s been happening a lot recently.

“I- um, I was just- I was uh-”

Jackie looks less confused now, instead just annoyed.

“You were what?” he asks.

“I was listening.”

His face seems to fall, like a realisation that drains all irritation from it. His harsh brow fades away and his eyes soften. Here in the moonlight Ran think Jackie looks the youngest he’s ever seen him.

“Did you like it?” His voice is different but in a good way this time, it’s sweet, almost naïve and it strikes Ran once again how strange it is that this kid has enough red in his ledger to anger herds of bulls.

It doesn’t occur to Ran that it’s strange that he does too.

“I did,” Ran replies, and he doesn’t mean to. He really didn’t mean to say that. Why did he say that? Why did-

Jackie smiles and all trains of thought stop. “Good.”

Jackie gets up from the stool and walks down the corridor towards him. Closer and closer. Ran’s heart is getting faster and he has to remind himself that Jackie doesn’t know. He’s not going to kill him.

It doesn’t help.

When Jackie reaches him he stops for a second and seems unsure what to do. Eventually he pats Ran’s shoulder and meets his eye. “G’night, Ran.”

He walks past him and through the door, not expecting a reply, not expecting anything at all.

When Ran falls asleep that night he tries not to think about a life in the future. About a life far away from here. With grassy fields and trees and lakes. With blue skies and a house in the middle of nowhere. Far from everything he’s ever known. Untouchable. Undisturbed. Answering to no one.

He tries not to think about sitting in that house – it’s more a cottage really – simply furnished with the windows wide open, resting in an armchair and listening to music played by a boy with blue in his eyes and red in his ledger. With blonde hair and a laugh that sounds like if seagulls could sing. The most beautiful music he’s ever heard.

He tries really, really hard.

i'm going to cry this is so so lovely holy shit. this is my new favorite thing in the whole world now. i am going to treasure this forever.

it feels so weird to see ran and jackie written by someone else, but, like, you've taken them and made them better... they feel so alive here. they really come off the page.

my writing normally feels grounded and dry, which is intentional, but i absolutely love how yours feels glittery and flowy (like a stream). oh my god.

thank you so much for sharing this!! if you ever want to like put it on ao3, please do!!!

#(if you need help posting anonymously i know how to do that and can help you) #you could make it ''inspired by'' so theres a little link to this fic at the end of knifetrick :D #wow wow wow. im holding this close to my heart #fave #save #knifetrick #for me writing #writing #poetry

[ordinaryschmuck]

What I Thought About "Echoes of the Past" from The Owl House

Salutations, random people on the internet who most certainly won’t read this. I am an Ordinary Schmuck. I write stories and reviews and draw comics and cartoons.

What probably gets debated the most in the fandom is the legitimacy behind King being the King of Demons. Some believe that there's truth to his statement, while others, like me, like to think that he was just some stray Eda picked up off the streets. Either option seemed likely, especially since Season One never gave an answer that leaned one way or the other.

Then here comes the writers finally answering the question of who King is in episode THREE of Season Two! Because, again, they don't waste time on giving fans exactly what they want.

Fans wanted answers behind King, we got 'em, and analyzing what those answers mean requires going deep into spoilers. So if you haven't checked the episode out yet, I highly recommend that you do. Trust me, it's worth seeing.

Now let's review, shall we?

WHAT I LIKED

Luz Experimenting with Spells: Hey, look! More proof that Luz isn't an idiot like some people flanderize her to be!

But, seriously though, this is a perfect little thread to introduce into the story. Luz collecting knowledge from Lilith's old books and past work she and Eda made adds to Luz's intelligence while also providing a believable explanation for how she gets new spells. It's also nice to see that she has this little notebook (or spellbook) to help see what works and what doesn't. It's a level of experimentation that proves her dedication to becoming a witch while also exemplifying how she isn't stupid. Occasionally reckless, sure, but you can't say that the person who figured out an invisibility spell through showing her work is also an idiot.

Francios with a Knife: How did Francois get a knife? I don't know. But the fact that a random knife plopped out behind him with little to no explanation is funny, and I will not hear otherwise.

I don't make the rules. I just abide by them.

Luz’s Invisibility Spell: I breezed past this, but I honestly love this invisibility spell. More specifically, I love that there's a limiter. It can turn you, objects, and people you're in contact with invisible, but only as long as you can hold your breath. It helps make the spell something the characters can't always rely on, which is appreciated. Because if it works as long as they concentrate, what's stopping them from sneaking into Belos' castle and assassinating him in his sleep? It's a smart way of explaining why they can't always rely on something, despite how insanely useful it is.

Luz: Let's gush about Luz some more, shall we!

"Echoes of the Past" is another episode that has Luz on top form. She is constantly supportive of King, even if Lilith has a point in the dangers of indulging his fantasy as a powerful tyrant. Doing so would cause more harm than good, especially when King finds out Luz doesn't believe him, but her going along with it was all done with the best of intentions. Luz doesn't want to hurt her friend, and even if she did in the long run, she still makes up for it by helping King learn more about his past.

And, as another reminder, Luz isn't stupid. She's the first to say they should leave when it's clear how dangerous the castle is and is quick to figure out there should be more at the top. Luz is a loyal and caring friend who's also guarded and intuitive when the situation calls for it. This episode understood that, so here's hoping other fans will too.

Lilith: Yeah, she's still growing on me.

I feel like this episode shows a better idea of Lilith's place in the group more than the past two. She's a person who's obsessed with knowledge and learning but considers herself above the jovial nature of King, Luz, and definitely Eda. Therefore, she acts as the perfect catalyst for what jumpstarts this week's adventure. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that she almost instantly dismisses King's claims due to considering herself more knowledgeable than everyone else. Still, I like how she's willing to believe King once she finally sees evidence that seemingly proves he really was the King of Demons, to the point of referring to him as "her lord." Hooty does the same thing, but it comes across as him fearing for his own life and choosing to be friends with someone who could maybe kill him in an instant. For Lilith, her newfound respect comes from the desire to learn more, and it's that desire that makes Lilith an enjoyable character to me. It's adorable to see, and it has some comedic flavor in moments like when she dismisses everyone else and their emotional revelations to take pictures of the carvings around her. I'm sure she'll cause some controversy like other characters with rushed reformations, but for me, I'm more than ok with her addition to the main cast.

More of Lilith’s and Hooty’s Friendship: HOW DOES THIS WORK!?

ON PAPER, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A BAD IDEA, BUT IT F**KING WORKS!

HOW?!

WHAT BLACK MAGIC DID THESE WRITERS USE TO MAKE A RELATIONSHIP SO UNEXPECTED COME ACROSS AS SO ENDEARING AND ADORABLE?!

And where can I get some for my stories...just asking.

But seriously: HOW?!

Hooty Making Himself Portable: Ah, yes. The classic bit where a character does something horrifically grotesque off-screen, and we have nothing but character reactions and sound effects to imagine what happened between shot A and shot B. It's an oldie, but given how hard I was laughing (mostly because of Luz's gagging), it's still a goodie.

Eda’s Portable Bathtub Boat Thing: I mean...I was expecting Eda would use something to catch up with the others, but...that thing...well...I mean, I'm still laughing just by thinking about it. That should tell you how well executed this joke was.

John Luke: ...I'm gonna go ahead and add him to the list because HOLY S**T was this guy disturbing! From his design to his movements to even the sounds he makes when moving, everything about John Luke screams as something that will stay in kids' nightmares for a while. Now, this might seem like a complaint, but to be honest, I'm more than alright with how creepy John Luke is. I highly doubt adult viewers will consider John Luke scary, but I guarantee he'll terrify some of the youngins that this series is aimed for. And that's fine. It's good to creep kids out a little bit with something somewhat scary, as it might introduce them to more good horror stories later in life.

Plus, the reveal that John Luke was only a guard for King is pretty solid narratively speaking. You can see how John never really meant to hurt King aside from one accident when Eda escaped with him. If you want to read into it, I guess it might be questionable to tell kids that something that looks dangerous is secretly nice, but that's really nitpicky, in my opinion. John Luke was a fantastic threat that is designed and animated well, with a solidly executed twist. Some might hate what he presents, most will fear him, but we can all agree on one thing: His theme is awesome (can I get the track for that, please)!

King’s Backstory: Finally, at long last, we know who King is, thus putting an end to a year-long debate. And I fully mean it when I say that the writers gave the best possible answer. Because in a way, everyone was right. Yes, King was just an animal that Eda decided to adopt, like the nature-loving hippie she is inside (She's got the hair for it). However, while he may not be the King of Demons himself, he is still the son of someone who deserves that title. So while he isn't the King, there's a chance he might be the Prince. Once again, there's no direct answer, but given how the writers came up with something that pleases everyone while still providing more questions for debate, it acts as a brilliant move, in my opinion. So whatever answer we get next, I'm sure it will be just as perfect.

Baby King:

My heart was not prepared for that level of cuteness!

King’s Breakdown: NOR WAS IT READY FOR THIS LEVEL OF SADNESS!

But in all seriousness, a HUGE round of applause to Alex Hirsch for his performance in this episode. He expertly captured the raw emotions of shock, anger, betrayal, and sadness that King must have felt when finding out that everything he believed he was is a lie. It's one of those moments where I don't hear a person voicing lines in a booth (or wherever the hell VAs are voicing characters nowadays), but instead hear a living person being emotionally torn apart. It was heartbreaking seeing King so vulnerable as he's so guarded with his emotions. Seeing him like this adds so much more layers to a character that many would mistake him as a cute, comedic animal sidekick. But just like with Luz, there's more to him than people will tell you.

“I don’t even know what’s real or fake anymore!”: I'm just pointing out this line because I believe it's what convinces Luz to help King learn more about who he is. Hell, not knowing what's real or fake is the main reason why Luz got sent away in the first place, so I feel like she can relate to King when he's in a similar predicament.

Hooty and Lilith vs John Luke: This was just a cool scene with some epic moments of dodging John Luke's attacks and some funny ones, like how Hooty said the word "pain." It's a ten out of ten that I would rewind to watch again.

King’s Other Horn: I'd question the logistics of how a horn that got broken off when he was a baby still manages to fit perfectly in the present...but it is neat symbolism of King accepting his past and letting it be a part of him, so who cares?

(The fact that the colors of the broken-off piece don't match the rest of the horn is nice attention to detail as well.)

WHAT I DISLIKED

It's a Little Too Predictable: I pretty much figured almost every little twist the episode offers. But, I'm willing to say that's because I'm in my twenties, and I've seen enough stories similar to this one, so I'm more likely to know what will happen. The little monsters watching this will see it for the first time, so they'll most likely get more surprised than me...And that was my only complaint about the episode...which is more of a personal problem than an actual issue...I guess that means it's perfect.

IN CONCLUSION

"Echoes of the Past" is an easy A+ in my book. It gives lore and backstory that furtherly develops the characters that episodes like this should. It also tells a tragic story about King that still sprinkles in a few good jokes every now and again to lighten up the mood. Sure, there are some nitpicks I could mention (how did King remember his own birth?). But when the good stuff is done so well, what's the point of dwelling on small, insignificant issues? This is still a phenomenal episode that flew past all expectations I had for it, and it continues the winning steak this season is having so far.

(But that's still three home runs in a row. Meaning that a stinker is coming. Ooiee, is it coming!)

#the owl house #the owl house season 2 #king of demons #luz noceda #lilith clawthorne #toh hooty #the owl house reviews #what i thought about

[aseioh]

Of Stars and Moonlit walks pt.3/?

Chapter 3: Evening with a view ( TRIGGER WARNING: PLEASE NOTE THIS CHAPTER DEALS WITH SUICIDE OF A FAMILY MEMBER. )

Days blur into weeks as life continues to buzz around the Castle. With harvest season fast approaching, Alcina and her daughters has been busy. Thankfully, most of their ‘wine making’ operation is contained in the basement. Donna has never ventured below the castle, and even though she offered to help with their ‘harvest’ Alcina declined good naturedly. After all, the process of creating “Sanguis Virginis” was a family secret -even though all the Lords knew what was inside the wine- still she appreciated the offer.  

Donna herself has been busy with helping Heisenberg in his factory, between this and her own work as Mother Miranda’s chief interrogator for prisoners, she was often left haggard at the end of the day. But beneath the tired feeling, Donna was proud of her work.  

After all she was needed, she wasn’t disposable.      

Donna remembers the first time she entered Heisenberg’s Factory and found it stifling. The metal doors that never seems to open and the constant smell of oil that permeates the air made her want to regurgitate her breakfast.  

‘Heisenberg himself carries the same smell, along with the smoke of his preferred cigar.’ Donna muses as she makes her way to the hidden lift at the side of the front warehouse. The lift itself was a new addition, after Heisenberg noticed Donna’s reaction to the metal doors he graciously installed the one way lift for her.

“A direct access to our workspace! We need to be efficient and what better way than an ‘in and out way’. No need to walk around the factory floor.”  Heisenberg boasted as he revealed it to Donna at the end of their first week working together.

Donna has never been more grateful with her ‘brother’.  

The two of them shared a passion of building things, a trait Mother Miranda noticed early on and took advantage of. Donna with her dolls and Heisenberg with his technical proficiency, the two would always discuss their newest projects after every meeting.  

When Mother Miranda said that she needed to expand her control, and increase their territory Heisenberg volunteered to make her a ‘mechanical army’, and with Donna’s help with in the early stages the plan was going along nicely.

Today had been a rather slow day for the two of them, after the field test of ‘Soldat’ prototype Heisenberg offered a break on their work. Of course, with nothing new on their plate discussions quickly turned to Donna’s stay at the Castle as well as its colorful inhabitants.

“So how’s the stay at the gilded castle?” Heisenberg inquired, as he lazily smoked his cigar, the red dot at the tip reminds Donna of the Soldats central weak point, something they need to remedy if they want the mechanical man to have a chance.

Donna sipping her tea frowns at the question. “Quite fine actually. I wished you would stop teasing Alcina, Karl. One day she’ll get so angry at you that you’ll end up as confetti on the floor”

“ohh, are we having a party Mistress” Angie pipes up from her stool.

“Now, now you know I’m only joking. and Alcina’s too strung up, it’s funny to piss her off. Besides I’m genuinely curious, are they treating you well? No headaches or nightmares? I know you get stress in new environments”  

“I’m fine Karl, Alcina and the girls are lovely. Even Angie is having fun” at that the Doll nods enthusiastically. “As for the headache, its manageable, the herbal tea helps”

“and the last one?”

“Like I said, manageable.” She said with finality

“Right, you know I care about you Donna. If anything happens, you’re more than welcome to stay here. You’re friends are getting antsy sometimes but all is well here. I’m sure they’ll be happy when they know that their Mistress is in the same room as them”  

“Thank you”

“Right enough about that.” Heisenberg extinguishes his cigar and stands up animatedly, walking to the side table with blueprints laying on top, he motions for Donna to follow him.

“So I have this new idea… what do you think if we attach a huge propeller at the head of one of the soldat”

The afternoon at Heisenberg’s factory just became interesting again.

----

In her dreams she wasn’t fast enough.  

It was always the same scenario, her and Mother standing near the viewing docks of the waterfall. The sound was deafening but she can distinctly hear Mother talking and saying that she will always be there for her and urging Donna to run back inside the house.  

Donna turns intending to follow her Mother’s order. She hears a soft “goodbye love” and when she looks back Mother is gone.  

Gone. Gone.

Gone…  

She makes her way at the edge of the viewing dock and looks down…  

---

It was Bela's turn to patrol the corridors of the castle, with the harvest of maidens it isn't uncommon to see one or two of their 'prey’ to try to escape. As she makes her rounds near the guest wing she hears a scream.

 ‘Donna!?’  

Bela hears Donna scream and rushes to the woman's room, thinking that someone had managed to escape and made their way to Donna's room or even worse. Bursting through and seeing there are only embers near the fireplace, Bela was about to light a candle when she was stopped.

"STOP!” Donna and Angie both shouted, the duality of their voices unnerved Bela. Donna was hunched over the bed, her hands shielding her whole face.

“Are you alright Donna?” Bela doesn’t sense anyone is in the room, and she felt her shoulders sag, she didn’t even realized that she was holding her breathe. Getting a better bearing of the room, she understands why Donna stopped her.  ‘Ah, she's not wearing her veil’ quickly turning around the other direction she makes her way to the fireplace and stokes it back to life.

Donna still feeling the effects of the nightmare answers in short burst.  

Bela doesn't know how to react on these situation, usually when one of them does experience nightmares they would just usually walk around the castle to decompress and shake the feeling off. On worst occasion when it was really bad they would knock on their Mother's door to seek comfort.

‘How do you comfort a woman?’  

An idea forms in Bela's mind “Would you like to have a short walk? That usually calms me down when I suffer nightmares” Donna considers the invitation, sensing that Bela will not leave her easily she agrees beside she doesn’t really want to be alone right now. She wouldn't want to worry Alcina if she finds out she had this outburst.

“Yes, I would like that” Adjusting her veil she stands up and makes her way to Bela. “Angie will you stay here. Alcina probably heard that scream, will you tell her that I'm with Bela if she comes by?”

"Yes mistress” Angie agrees and settles by the wingback chair near the fireplace . Donna approaches Bela, touching her shoulder. Sensing that it’s alright to turn around, Bela faces the woman, based on the tensed shoulders and wringing hands in front of her, she makes a bold move and gently takes one of the hands.

"Come, I know the perfect place where we can go.”

‘She has warm hands.’  Donna though looking down on their joined hands. She wonders when the last time someone held her hand this way.  

She comes up empty.  

A quick detour to the kitchen for some tea and Bela leads them to the Castle Garden.

Thankfully, it was a warm night.  

By this point Donna has managed to settle some of the earlier tension she's been feeling. She even managed to smile a little, although her companion cannot see it.  

“I will always be surprised at how big this Castle is. Tell me are you also the one that tended to these plants?” Donna motions to the assorted flowers encircling the garden.  

“Unfortunately not, we have the gardener take care of this area. I'm afraid I cannot tend to them when it becomes too cold.”  

“I see.”

Silence follows, as they made their way to the center of the garden where a small gazebo was located.

“Are you feeling well now?” Bela asked after some time, hoping that the open air and the calm night has settled Donna’s nerve.

“Yes, thank you. You were right the short walk really helped.”

Bela can tell with Donna’s posture that she was still not a 100 percent alright, so she decides to distract the woman with questions. “How did you become one of the Four Lords?” at the question Donna’s head snapped up.

‘Shit!’ Bela blanched further, if that was even possible for her. ‘what the hell kind of a question is that? Mothers’ going to kill me’  

Donna studies the woman in front of her. She weights her options on whether to tell Bela the truth or not.

‘You weren’t fast enough’ the intrusive thought taunts her on.  

“First, do I have your word that what I’m about to tell you here will not leave and that you will not divulge my secret to your sisters?” Donna asked seriously as her voice takes on a lower timbre  

“Yes”  

“My Father was the village doctor and we have always lived at the Beneviento mansion. One day my Mother met an accident when we were out near the waterfall. I say an accident because that was what Father said, Mother slipped while I was turning to go back to the house”

“And the truth?”

“She jumped. I don’t know why and until now I have never learned her reasons, but one moment she was there and next she was just gone.”

‘Gone’ she hated that word and the absence it implies.

“My Father never recovered from the heartbreak, then one day he met an accident and I was left alone. Alone in the truest sense possible. The only one I have left was Angie” Donna pauses trying to catch her herself and willing her mind to not spiral down further.

“There were the house servants and the gardener a nice old man who taught me how to care for my plants, but other than them I was a ghost. Just counting my days, existing without living. Then one day Mother Miranda showed up.” At that, Donna smiled recalling the time that the woman suddenly appeared on the anniversary of her mother’s death.

An Angel with black wing. Or was it the Devil?

“She offered me salvation from my loneliness; she gave me the gift to influence others. The moment I’ve received her power, I gave a little of myself to Angie and I was never alone ever since.” Donna lets her story end. Looking at the young woman in front of her, she was surprised to find tears streaming down Bela’s face.

“I’m sorry, I know it was an upsetting tale-“ Donna starts only to be interrupted by Bela standing up and embracing her.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” Bela whispers as she rest her cheeks on Donna’s head “But I hope that you will never feel alone again, Mother’s here, Cassandra and Daniela are here-“

“And you’re here as well” Donna finishes Bela’s sentence

Chuckling “Yes, not to mention, Heisenberg and Moreau. Donna, I swear as long as I’m here you will never feel alone” Bela declares as she tightens her embrace

Donna sinks further into Bela’s embrace and for once, she felt it.

She felt peace.  

The two stayed in the same position for some time, With only the moon and stars as their witness.

#resident evil village #donna beneviento #bela dimitrescu #Donna x Bela pairing #Beladonna #Of Stars and Moonlit walks #karl heisenberg #alcina dimitrescu

[dalekofchaos]

If Vader raised Luke and Obi-Wan trained Leia

Let’s say sometime after Mustafar. Darth Vader in his meditation in his castle, Vader felt a presence he hasn’t felt since.....Padme. Since he felt his unborn child through the force. His child is alive. Sidious lied. The Jedi took his son from him. They will all pay. So here is what would happen if Vader sensed, found and raised Luke. 

Darth Vader would’ve killed Owen and Beru instantly and burned the Lars homestead

Obi-Wan would rush to face Vader. Vader would overpower Obi-Wan, mortally wound him and throw him into the burning homestead and use the force to crush the roof onto an unconscious Obi-Wan 

Darth Vader would hold a baby Luke in his hands and  for some reason Luke is not afraid, but drawn to this dark figure. 

Vader would simply say “Luke. Son...”

Vader takes Luke to his castle on Mustafar

Obi-Wan would crawl out of the remains of the Lars Homestead. Injured, but alive. Obi-Wan failed. He contacted Yoda and told him Vader found and took Luke. Yoda will simply tell him “There is another.” All he can do is call Bail for transport to Alderaan. He failed Luke, but he will not fail Leia. 

Bail and Breha would teach Leia about politics and Obi-Wan would train Leia to become a Jedi

Luke would spend his entire childhood to adulthood in the depths of Fortress Vader. Training and submerging himself in the dark side of the force. 

Vader would indoctrinate his son into hating the Jedi. Hating The Emperor and instructing his son that only together could they destroy The Emperor and the last of the Jedi.

By the events of Rogue One/A New Hope. Luke’s training would be complete. “You were weak when I found you. Now your hatred has become your strength. At last the dark side is your ally. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth Zhoun. Rise, my son.”  Source 1. Source 2

Luke would be Vader’s assassin. Carrying out assassinations in the name of the Empire. Killing the last of the Jedi. Enemies of The Empire. His identity is unknown to the Emperor and Rebellion, but his reputation would strike fear in the Rebel Alliance. He is simply known as “Vader’s Shadow.”

Palpatine feels a disturbance in the force, but for some reason, he cannot detect Luke. All he can sense is “a shadow”

Luke fully embraced the dark side and is consumed by it. When Master Shaak Ti tries to turn him away from his path, before killing her(What is this her 5th death????) Luke will say “My father’s fate is my own.”

Vader’s final test for his son would be to pit him against his old Padawan. Luke kills Maul with ease as he decapitates him. Luke uses Ahsoka’s need to save her friends against her and when she attempts to save them, Luke cuts Ahsoka down. 

Thrawn would request the aid of Vader, in his stead, Vader once again sends his son. Luke would kill Ezra and save Thrawn. “Lord Vader has need of you, Grand Admiral. Set up the TIE Defenders program in the Unknown Regions and return with a fleet of them.” Thrawn would call off the fleet and let Lord Zhoun deal with the Rebels. Luke would then slaughter the Rebels on Lothal

Sometime after securing Thrawn’s victory on Lothal, as a gift. Thrawn has given Vader and Luke their own personal TIE Defenders. 

Vader and Zhoun would slaughter Cal and Cere. The Holocron is theirs. 

The existence of Darth Zhoun would only be known to Vader, Admiral Piett and General Veers.(you’ll see why)

Leia had a decade of training. On Alderaan and on Dagobah. Yoda and Obi-Wan together completed Leia’s training. Leia is now a fully fledged Jedi Knight and is ready to lead the Rebellion and confront her father and brother.  art source

Yoda and Obi-Wan would tell Leia the truth. Darth Vader is her father and his secret assassin is her brother, Luke. Due to a decade of training, Leia would prove strong and wise enough to learn the truth of her family.

Also Leia would ask about her mother. “Tell me, what was my mother like, my real mother.” “Your mother was Padme Amidala, a senator, queen and a kind and beautiful..” “Strong, was your mother. Believed in peace and diplomacy did she.” “And my father? Was he always Vader?” “Your mother loved your father. Anakin Skywalker was a good man. But he was consumed to stop the people he loved from dying. His mother was killed by the Tusken Raiders on Tatooine and the Emperor seized the opportunity to turn your father to the dark side. One day, your father was plagued by nightmares of Padme dying in childbirth, The Emperor promised him the power to save your mother, but in doing so Anakin became twisted by the dark side and became Darth Vader.” 

Leia believes her family could be turned. Obi-Wan would object. He's more machine now than man. Twisted and evil.” When insisting that Luke could be saved. Obi-Wan would be remorseful. “I failed my duty to save Luke, I should have followed Vader and staged a rescue, but you needed to be trained, you were our only hope.” 

Leia would be contacted by Bail requesting aid on Scarif. Yoda gives his blessing for Leia to go. Saying Ready to reveal herself to the galaxy, she is. Obi-Wan would join her as he must confront Vader one last time.

Leia and Obi-Wan get there just in time and they save the Rogue One Crew. Jyn personally gives Leia the plans. Obi-Wan tells her. “What is it?” All Leia can tell her master is “Hope.”

Leia would transmit the plans to the Tantive IV where her father would be there to receive the plans.

Vader and Luke board the ship to slaughter the rebels. Before they can get the Death Star plans back. They are confronted by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Leia. 

Darth Vader and Obi-Wan would duel similar to how they did in ANH aboard the ship. Leia and Obi-Wan are in desperate need to escape

Leia is able to defensively take down her brother, Obi-Wan momentarily stuns Vader and they escape with the plans.

As The Tantive IV is boarded, Leia and Obi-Wan are able to evade detection and hide in the escape pods with C-3PO and R2-D2

In place of Leia captured by the Empire, it is Bail Organa. Bail gives the plans to his daughter and pleads with Leia to leave with Master Kenobi. 

Leia and the droids wander Tatooine for a long walk. All Leia can think is “so much sand. so much fucking sand.”

Leia would store the plans in R2. Just in case something happens.

Leia is guided by Obi-Wan. “We must find passage to save Bail.”

Leia and Obi-Wan finds Mos Eisley Cantina and there they meet Han and Chewie. Leia asks for passage to Alderaan for herself and her droids no questions asked. “Is it a fast ship?” “Fast ship? You’ve never heard of The Millennium Falcon? It's the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs! I've outrun Imperial starships, not the local bulk-cruisers, mind you.” All Leia can do is roll her eyes and takes Han’s word for it. Leia tells her “Once we get to Alderaan, my father Senator Organa will pay you handsomely. Say 15,000 credits?” Han just smiles that cocky Solo smile and says “you got yourself a deal princess”

Once Leia sees the Falcon. “You fly in that thing? You’re braver than I thought.” Han retorts “She'll make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, Princess. I've made a lot of special modifications myself.”

Leia and Han bicker like an old married couple and Chewie just decided “that’s it I ship it” Obi-Wan would see the writing on the walls. “Oh, this is like watching me and Satine” 

Bail watches the destruction of Alderaan

Leia would convince Han to help her free her father. Han is hesitant, but Leia will insist “my father will be very grateful, I’m sure we can triple the rewar-” Han would say so quickly “DONE!”

Han and Leia are pretty much battle couple goals while taking down Stormtroopers and Imperial Officers in the detention center.

Leia saves her father and embraces him in a hug.

Vader and Obi-Wan duels and Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to save Leia and Bail

Bail is forever in Han’s debt. He saved his life and his daughter’s life. He will pay Han anything. Being indebted to a Hutt is no way to live a life. He pays Han what he’s owed, but asks if he can join the Rebellion after clearing the debt as the Rebellion is in dire need of good pilots. Chewie is all for it, but Han is having none of it, but looks at Leia and says “I’m not saying yes, Senator, but...maybe.” Bail sees that he’s looking at Leia and says “I see” and knows he fancies his daughter.

Leia would fly in her personal Jedi X-wing Starfighter(Just imagine a mix between Anakin’s Jedi Starfighter and an X-Wing) during the Battle Of Yavin IV Leia’s hypothetical ship would look like this(source) but realistically it would be colored blue and white

Han would make the save and Leia would destroy the Death Star(btw Han now will not shut up that he saved Leia, ya know in a way, princess I helped destroyed the Death Star. I saved you from Vader and gave you the confidence you needed to destroy the Death Star. Sometimes I amaze even myself. Leia rolls her eyes and smiles...and blushes. Bail notices this and is happy his daughter is in love but knows she will never admit it) 

Leia would be knocked out and captured by a Wampa. Leia defeats it.

Han would save Leia. “Don’t worry, your worship I’ll save you.” Leia now wishes for death, he would not stop bringing up saving her during the Death Star, but now she owes him twice. Is the force punishing her?

Darth Vader and Darth Zhoun are on the hunt for the Jedi Princess. 

Bail requests Leia and Han to bring Master Yoda back into the fight. 

When Han and Leia escape. Bail stays behind. Darth Vader kills him and Leia feels the loss of Bail and breaks down. 

Instead of bickering and bantering, Han comforts Leia. Leia embraces Han in a hug and a kiss. Leia lets him in.

Leia and Han make it to Dagobah. Leia is very patient with her old master, but Han thinks he should be bigger. “This is Yoda?” Leia confirms and Chewie says so as well an goes “and how would you know that???” “I fought in the Clone Wars, Han” “Well, what do you want, a medal???”

Chewie would embrace Yoda in a hug. Yoda would warmly greet his old friend. “Chewbacca, missed you I did.”

Leia and Han asks Yoda to return to aid the Rebel Alliance. He doesn't have to fight but advise the leaders as what they must do. Yoda is willing, but first he must complete Leia’s training. With this, Leia tells Han to go and pay off Jabba’s debt. and kisses Han goodbye. Han says “When you’re done, meet me on Bespin, I’m going to see an old friend.”

Meanwhile aboard the Executer, Vader and Luke set in motion the plan to destroy The Emperor. Everyone aboard The Executer, especially Admiral Piett and General Veers are loyal to Vader and his son. The Emperor lies in his throne in the safety of the Imperial city, while Lord Vader is a man of action who fights on the front lines with his soldiers. They will stand by Lord Vader and his son, soon more will follow. 

Vader’s call with The Emperor happens as same, but Palpatine says “We have a new enemy. There is a great disturbance in the force. The Rebel Princess who destroyed the Death Star.” “She is just a girl, Obi-Wan and her father can no longer help her. “I have a feeling she is the daughter of Anakin Skywalker.” “How is this possible?” “Search your feelings Lord Vader, you know it to be true.” “If she can be turned, she can be a powerful ally.” “Yes...can it be done Lord Vader? “She will join us or die.”

Vader internally is pissed, but also pleased. Vader tells his son. “A Twin Sister, you have a twin sister. If she can be turned, we will destroy The Emperor and rule the galaxy as a family.” “What if my sister doesn’t join us?” “Then she will die. 

Leia’s training is complete. Yoda dubs Leia the rank of Jedi Master. Leia senses Han is in danger. Yoda tells her to go. “Be here, I shall be. May the force be with you, Master Leia.”

Despite paying off his debt to Jabba, Vader still intends to test Han Solo into carbonite freezing him. And Jabba would be overjoyed to have Han as a decoration. 

Vader orders Luke to bring his sister in the fold or kill her. “As you wish, father.”

Leia is too late. She sees Han frozen in carbonite. 

Leia feels the presence of her brother. They duel and they evenly matched. One wrong move and the fight is over. Luke cuts Leia’s hand off and asks his sister to join him and his father. Leia defiantly refuses. “Vader killed my master and my true father, I’LL NEVER JOIN YOU!” “The Jedi betrayed our father. turned our mother against him and had us separated, luckily he found me and rescued me. With our combined strength, we can destroy the Emperor and bring order to the galaxy as a family.” Leia refuses and falls..

Thanks to Yoda guiding Lando and Chewie, they find her just in time.

Despite not having Leia, Vader and Luke has everything they need to pull a coup on The Emperor

Vader has his son. Admiral Piett. Grand Admiral Thrawn. The Death Squadron. Death Troopers. A legion of TIE Defenders and more and more are drawn to Vader. Vader and Zhoun make their attack on Coruscant. 

Darth Vader and Darth Zhoun face Palpatine. The Throne room is lit up with force lightning and crimson blades. The battle is powerful and raw, but ultimately Luke and Vader overpower The Emperor. There is nowhere where Palpatine can escape to. Not Exegol or anywhere. Vader decapitates his old master. 

Vader broadcasts to the galaxy. “The Emperor is dead. I am now your Emperor. Those who serve me and my son, you will achieve greatness as we bring order to the galaxy. Those who stay loyal to The Emperor, die.” There would be a small civil war, but eventually all those who stayed loyal to Palpatine would be rounded up and killed.

Leia rescues Han. Leia does not resort to allowing herself to be captured. Nor does Leia need to be forced to wear that slave outfit. Leia gives Jabba one chance to free Han. Jabba refuses and since a Jedi would be impossible to be enslaved, he plans to feed Leia to his pet Rancor. That would be Jabba’s undoing. Leia would use animal bond/beast control on the Rancor and successfully tames the beast. After Leia convinces the Rancor to help her, Leia unleashes the beast on Jabba and his men Source

Leia unfreezes Han, rescues Chewie, Lando and the droids. 

In addition to rescuing Han, Leia also rescues Oola and all the slaves in Jabba’s palace.

Leia and Han would fight Boba Fett. With Boba Fett at their mercy, Leia decides to save him. Leia thinking “he could be so much more.” Han makes the decision to save him.  Han and Boba Fett finally bury their rivalry and leave it in the past and shake hands. Boba would declare that Han’s bounty will no longer exists and he won’t chased by him and exits the story. This would work because it would show that Han has grown from the rogue who would shot a man dead without question in ANH to someone who is willing to find an alternate solution to his problems. It’d also give some layers to Boba Fett of being a man of honor.

Yoda dies, but tells her that she is the only hope in saving her brother and stopping Vader. 

With Vader as Emperor, he has no intentions with building a second Death Star. Instead he intends to wipe out the Rebellion from the face of the galaxy. 

Luke feels a pull to the light. After a life of darkness and evil, Luke feels remorse. He sees what his father as Emperor is doing is wrong and if he feels these feelings, it’s all over. 

The Rebellion plans to make one last ditch effort to end the Empire once and for all. A Coup. The battle on the ground would now take place in the Imperial City and the area surrounding the Imperial Palace. The dogfights between X-Wings and TIE Fighters would take place in the skies above instead of in space. The confrontation between Leia,  Luke and Vader and would take place in the Imperial Palace in The Emperor's Throne Room.

Leia would contact Luke in order to get close to the palace.

Leia feels the conflict within her brother. Luke is trying to keep her out. Eventually Leia gets in and pleads with her brother to help him destroy Vader. But Luke takes her before Vader

Vader taunts Leia that the Rebellion will die today, but they can all be saved if she gives in to the dark side and joins her family

Vader forces Luke and Leia to fight to the death. Only one can serve him. Leia refuses to join him, but Vader and Luke are not giving her a choice. 

Leia and Luke’s duel is a mix between Anakin/Obi-Wan and Vader/Luke in terms of how the fight would go. In the end. Neither Luke nor Leia can kill the other. They both deactivate their lightsabers and embrace in a hug. For the first time in a long time, Luke’s yellow eyes turn blue. This ignites the wrath of their father. 

Vader force chokes both his children with full intentions of killing them. The only thing that can save them? Leia remembers on what Obi-Wan spoke about her mother. “Our mother was Padme Amidala.” Vader is stunned and enraged by the mere mention of her name. All Vader can say is “Do. Not. Say. Her. Name.” 

Vader ignites his lightsaber preparing to kill. While Luke and Leia are ready to defend themselves. Luke lands a strike that is similar to Ahsoka’s where Vader’s face is visibly seen

With Vader down. Leia continues to speak about her mother. “She was kind and beautiful. You were deceived and betrayed by The Emperor. He turned you from the most compassionate Jedi Knight to ever live into a dark lord. You do not have to be this way. You are free. You and Luke are free. Padme loved you. Obi-Wan loved you. You are Anakin Skywalker, our father. Call off the fleet and let us bring peace to the galaxy as a family.”

Anakin concedes to his children. 

The war is over. The Empire has ended. Vader agrees to whatever punishment the Rebellion has for him. 

Leia is in charge of Luke. Leia helps Luke on his path of atonement. 

Vader is sentenced for execution. His final request. “Let me see my children one last time.” Leia and Luke are saddened, but Anakin assures his children he has made peace with his fate. His final request from his children is to take his mask off. “ Just for once, let me look on you with my own eyes.”

#Star Wars #Darth Vader #Jedi Leia #Sith!Luke #Luke Skywalker #Leia Organa #Dark!Luke #Obi Wan Kenobi #Yoda #Han Solo #Hanleia #Emperor Sheev Palpatine

[p-artsypants]

P-Artsypants Fic Masterpost!

This information is always available on my blog. 

Find most, if not more, of these fics on:

Fanfiction.net | Archive of Our Own | Wattpad

(~AU’s, *Finished, ❤️Author’s Favorites)

Kingdom Hearts

~❤️Rage Awakened AO3 | FF.net- Ten years ago, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus lost their fellow apprentice, Sora, in Deep Jungle. Now, they are to return with two new students, Riku and Kairi, to lock the heart of the world. All the while, something watches from the trees. Feral!Sora AU

My Kingdom for a Heart AO3 | FF.Net - The curse of being one of the Princesses of heart, is that there’s always someone out to get you. As Xemnas looked failure in the face, he reached out in a last ditch effort and destroyed Kairi’s heart. Now her friends must travel the worlds again. Sora, to find a way to recover Kairi’s heart, and Riku, to make amends to those he has wronged. All the while, the darkness grows. [Unfinished, on permanent hiatus]

Miraculous Ladybug

One Shots

*❤️Amalgam- When an young man is rejected for being ‘incompatible’ he turns into the akuma ‘Amalgam’ able to fuse two people together. And later Adrien and Marinette would debate if it was lucky or unlucky that they got hit. (Also Available in Russian)

*Sing We All Noel- After receiving the worst Christmas present ever from his father, Chat Noir finds himself out on the streets with nowhere to go on Christmas Eve. Thankfully, Ladybug finds him and brings him home.

*Speechless- In a world where everyone has a soulmark, the first words their soulmate will say to them, Marinette is born without one. But Adrien Agreste has two. Curious, considering he’s mute.

*❤️Tunnels of Love- The night started out with an accidental kiss from Adrien Agreste, and ended with her bleeding in the Catacombs of Paris. Ladybug, the wielder of the miraculous of good luck. Yeah right. (Some blood)

*The Reveal That Wasn’t- First Parts My ending to kittybug’s Tumblr Prompt

*What A Mess We’re In- Ladybug has a lot on her mind, and when Chat Noir bugs her enough, she tells him she’s going to confess to her Crush, Adrien Agreste. Chat’s reaction is not what she’s expecting.

*Oblivi-oh no! - A retelling of Oblivio, except Ladybug is the only one to lose her memory. How will Chat deal?

*Bad Day (3 chapters) - Marinette was Ladybug! This was Adrien’s luckiest day ever! Except it wasn’t, because all his good luck was used up in one go. Turns out this might be the worst day of his life.

*One Win, So Many Losses- Marinette was forced to break up with Adrien. It had been a low blow from Gabriel, to be sure. But she was Ladybug. She’d find a solution…right? An alternate ending to Chat Blanc, where Adrien doesn’t Cataclysm the akuma.

*❤️Five Minutes- Gabriel has had enough of all these girls fighting over Adrien. He decides it’s high time Adrien picks one, and arranges the perfect opportunity for him to do so. Each candidate has five minutes to present why they’d be a good girlfriend. Marinette decides to take this opportunity to shoot her shot.

~*Panache- Every eligible maiden was invited to the Prince’s ball. That included Marinette, scullery maid in her own household. But her stepsisters destroyed her dress, and she can’t go to the ball in rags. Or can she? (Cinderella!AU)

*Perfect, No Matter What-In which Gabriel sets the bar even lower for himself, a reveal happens because of pain medication, and the new guardian actually goes to Chloé for advice.

*Crushed- Stuck under a collapsed building together, Chat Noir and Marinette have a heart to heart.

*Lovelace- Convinced that he's unlovable, Adrien is quickly thrown for a loop when Marinette confesses her love for him out of the blue. An akumatization and reveal later, he changes his mind about being unlovable.

Long Fics

*❤️Longest Night- (FF.net | Ao3) - The day started out sucky to begin with. Her crush ousted to the class and Adrien. Lila taking pride in exacting her revenge. But by the time patrol was over, a young man was dead, and Ladybug’s identity was at risk. Lila was the least of her concerns. Good thing Adrien was taking it all like a champ. (Rated M for scenes of torture)

*❤️Nine Lives- (FF.net) When Adrien Agreste is scheduled to go to a Military School in Germany, Chat Noir must make a critical decision. Does he give up his Miraculous? Or does he give up his life as Adrien? I’ll save you the trouble of guessing, he gives up being Adrien.

*Tender Words- When Marinette finally gets the guts to confess her feelings for Adrien, some things go so wrong, and other things go so right.

*Integrity- Overwhelmed with her responsibilities, guilt, and drama, Marinette has an emotional breakdown in front of everyone, and even hands over her earrings in a moment of weakness. Only for a few seconds, but the damage was done. Adrien’s pretty quick on the uptake like that.

~Much Obliged- Everyone deals with grief differently. Some take to drinking, others devote themselves to charity. Adrien Agreste? Well, he became a cowboy. Marinette Dupain-Cheng is a witch, one of very few in the world. She knows what it’s like to be doubted, and assumed delusional. Maybe that’s why they got along so well. Or maybe it’s just because they both like big hats. AU where everything is the same, except instead of superheroes, Adrien is a Cowboy and Marinette is a witch. (Unfinished) (Based on a AU by @bugaboo-n-bananoir)

*I’ll Handle This- “I’ll solve all your problems,” Plagg had said. “You just have to agree to it.” A fixed relationship with his father, Lila to stop bothering him, and Ladybug to fall in love with him? Who wouldn’t agree to that? Except Plagg was the God of Destruction and Chaos and had a more…hands-on approach. Adrien just wants his body back. (Body swap fic)

The Ghost of Smokey Joe- Adrien Agreste was acting bizarre. Stilted body language, plastic smile, and he seemed to have forgotten how close they were. Before she can get the truth out of him, Marinette finds herself as the sole heir to the Gabriel brand and the mansion, following the murder-suicide of both Adrien and Gabriel Agreste. The mystery continues as Tikki explains that Adrien was Chat Noir...but if Adrien is six feet under, why is Chat Noir still running around?

How To Train Your Dragon

One Shots

The Vikings Have Their Tea (FF.Net | AO3)

Arranged Marriage- Takes place at the beginning of HTTYD

❤️Breathe- Survival of the fittest

~Childhood Friends- At the Sandbox

❤️Easy Fix- In which Hiccup has a bad day

~Fashion Designer- Astrid needs a fill in

❤️Frozen- In Which Astrid takes a Dip and things get frisky (Rated M)

❤️Headache- In Which Hiccup hits his head….really hard

❤️Heir- In Which Hiccup is Picked (Longer version by FateCharms)

Illness- In Which Stoick is a dad

~Illusionist- Trick gone wrong

~In the Walls- In which there’s a poop ghost

~Knocking On The Wrong Door (2) - A chance encounter

❤️Messages- Astrid is Frustrated with Hiccup’s obliviousness

~To Mirkwood- Hiccup is not a dwarf

~Monster Falls- Hiccup and Astrid take a dip

❤️Mute- In which there’s a quiet stranger

~Music Video (ImgHS)- He didn’t expect it

❤️Operation: Lovebirds- In Which the gang makes a plan, and Hiccup gets Drunk

~Over- Too many nightmares

~Partners in Crime- A normal day at work

~Pirate- Astrid is the greatest treasure

~Prince- He doesn’t want to be a broken King

❤️Sorting Things Out- In Which Astrid gets her ducks in a row

~The Dragon and The Dame- Beauty and the Beast Au

The Pit- In Which Hiccup is rescued

Hide and Seek- Part 1

Lost and Found- Part 2

Long fics:

*❤️Infernal Responsibility- Being the son of the chief takes brains, courage, and a lot of patience. But at his father’s the request for marriage, Hiccup decides he has had enough. When he seeks out a life of ease, he runs into more than what he bargained for.

*❤️Roses and Lilies- “Astrid, you and I both know you’re much tougher than I am. You’re more brave, and a better fighter…but just for a little while…could we pretend that I’m the one protecting you?” “Oh gods yes!” (Also Available in Spanish!)

*~What the Water Gave Me- The sea is a wild and dangerous thing, something that cannot be foretold or predicted. Hiccup discovered this many years ago, in human naiveté. Yet, what was meant as a sacrifice became a new life, one like no one could comprehend. He now finds himself once more in the unknowing hands of those that sentenced him to death. He only prays things will be different this time. Merman!AU

*Parasite- Soulsnatcher Dragons are rare but deadly. But, As Hiccup finds out, it’s the eggs you have to watch out for.

*~320 State Street- Gobber’s Goods. A Hardware Store that was rumored to have everything you needed. She thought she only needed a job. Turns out, she needed a lot more than that. (A Modern AU no one asked for)

*~❤️The North Tower- When Finn Hofferson died, Astrid inherited his castle in Wales…and a whole lot more. Something sinister lurks in the North Tower.

*~❤️Boy Toy- AO3 - At the age of 21, Princess Astrid lawfully has to pick a husband. But when the perfect groom is nowhere to be found, she requests the toymaker to create one for her. It’s safe to say that everyone in the kingdom is a little concerned. (Pinocchio!AU I guess?)

No, You Go First- AO3 - The Chief of Berk was a headstrong viking, stubborn and full of pride, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep his village safe. But for a moment, he puts that aside, and listens to his son. In which Hiccup convinces his dad not to make him go through Dragon Training, and the subsequent changes that follow.

*In Due Time- AO3 - As another illness sweeps through Berk, Gothi needs another ingredient for her medicine…one that doesn’t exist anymore. Fortunately, she kept that old spell book around for such an occasion. Big Hiccup is sent to five years into the past, and his younger self sent to take his place in the future. But it’s only a few days, what could go wrong?

Trollhunters: Tales from Arcadia

❤️Arcadia or Bust- In Which Arcadia welcomes back it’s underground citizens.

Teen Titans

Oneshots:

~Big Brother- Don’t turn out the light (Horror)

Dear Jason- Bruce Writes a letter

Just Drawing- Bruce thinks about Robin

The Prisoner- Starfire is Guilty

Of Mustard and Three Foot Purple Tongues- A collection of Oneshots and Drabbles

Long Fics (*Finished):

*~❤️Carol of the Bells- High in the dark Bell Tower of Notre Dame, there lives a mysterious bell ringer. Legend tells of the angel who fell from the sky, and the curse she bares. There are few who know her true identity though; her master, the priest, and the acrobat that performs on the streets below. Based loosely on ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ RobxStar and slight BBxRae

*No Escape- Three years ago, Starfire escaped an Alien race called the Gordanians, to arrive on Earth. They’re back, and ready to put Starfire back where she belongs, behind reinforced Titanium bars. Robin’s not about to let her go…if only he hadn’t got captured first. How does it feel to be the alien, Robin?

*Now you Know My Pain- When the new Villain, Gender Bender, comes to down, the Titans find themselves in an odd situation. They’ve been turned into the opposite gender against their will! Now in order to change back, they must learn to understand the gender they’ve turned into. Rated T for obvious reasons. A great read if you’ve ever wondered why girls or guys do [blank].

*Paint it Black- Robin disappeared three months ago. Now, Jump City’s crime rate is mysteriously being taken care of by a normal, albeit strange, teenage boy who goes by the name Black. As the Titans befriend this lunatic, they begin to see a relation between him and their missing leader. Will they be able to find Robin, or will Black turn them all insane as himself? Actually, contains NO OC.

*Saving Grace- “When I’m done with you, you won’t be able to walk upright or speak coherent sentences and all you’ll see is my mask and my voice repeating in your head…Weak. Richard Grayson, I am not tough, I am everything that you fear.” Happy Ending! Smudge of RobStar. NO Slash!

Other Fandoms

Final Fantasy XV

❤️Requiem for Pitioss-“O King. The god’s have heard your cries. Know that we weep with you. The Oracle’s calling has not yet been fulfilled. But…Lunafreya as you know her cannot return the way she was.” Noctis looked up, hopeful. “But she can return!” Canon divergence from Chapter 9. Happy ending. Some spoilers.

Final Fantasy X

I Do…I Guess? - “I would…like to ask you something.” “Shoot.” “Well…if it’s not too much…I’d like to ask you…to marry me.” Knowing what’s to come during her pilgrimage, Yuna asks Tidus to marry her, strictly for convenience and having an official next of kin, of course. Starts after Luca and how this decision would affect the rest of the story.

Beauty and the Beast

*❤️Behold the Beast- A Oneshot alternate ending to the Animated Film

Cinderella

*❤️Midnight- “When the clock strikes twelve, the spell will be broken,” the fairy godmother had warned. A retelling of the story, when Cinderella doesn’t escape the ball in time. Oneshot

*So This is Love- What if Jaq and Gus hadn’t made it in time to help Cinderella? A new twist on the ending of the classic Fairytale, and what lies beyond the story. She still gets her happy ending and her Prince, and her step family gets their just deserts.

Sleeping Beauty

*❤️A Love Song Back To Me- Maleficent saw the loophole that stared her in the face. Prince Phillip would break the curse in time, for sure. After all, he was betrothed to Aurora. So in an effort for her evil plan to stay in action, Maleficent takes care of the young prince herself. Phillip never imagined having to live off the land like the birds above. Alternate twist on the classic Disney tale.

Escaflowne

Down Feathers- Hitomi’s depressed. She’s been away from Van too long, he comes back to visit her…but what if something went wrong with the transfer? (Not finished. Never will be finished. Mwahaha) Circa 2012

*Angel’s Wounds- Fanelia’s been victorious in their most recent battle with Basrum. Unfortunately, someone is wounded and just seeks solace in his love that lives so far away. Post Anime.

Momma Look Sharp- With the war between Fanelia and Basrum finally coming to a close, the kingdom is celebrating. The young king, however, is suffering from an experience unlike any he had before. Van finally seeks solace in his wife.

#fanfiction #miraculous ladybug #ml #kingdom hearts #Final Fantasy X #final fantasy xv #sleeping beauty #cinderella #beauty and the beast #Escaflowne #httyd #how to train your dragon #trollhunters #Teen Titans

[pemfrost]

Post war Dimitri and Felix centric drabble, can be Dimilix if you squint.

Felix walks by Dimitri's office one evening, as has become a habit since the end of the war. If the door is open, he glances in to assess Dimitri's state, to make sure he isn't overworking himself. If the door is closed, he pauses briefly to listen.

More than once, Felix has found Dimitri asleep, slumped over on a stack of paperwork. On those occasions, he fetches Dedue or, if Dedue was in Duscur, he finds Sylvain. They are better equipped to help Dimitri without it devolving into an argument. 

If Dimitri knows of Felix's nightly vigil, he says nothing.

Dedue and Sylvain alternate their travels, ensuring one of them is by Dimitri's side at the castle. Felix puts off returning to Fraldarius territory all together, managing his lands via letter correspondence and his trusted second. He needs to show face soon, though. He makes plans. He makes the slowly, not wanting to leave the capitol in case Dimitri would need him.

But, beyond the few nights of sleeping at his desk, Dimitri has seemed fine. He has taken to his new responsibilities as King well, even if he still hasn't completely shaken off the war. None of them have, but it doesnt ease Felix' worry. Dedue assures him often that Dimitri is well, as does Sylvain. They've each transitioned into their roles as advisors, aiding Dimitri as they can. 

So, Felix prepares to leave Dimitri in their capable hands. Felix isn't skilled at negotiating, isn't even particularly skilled at writing laws. As the weeks turn into months, it becomes more clear that he is not useful to Dimitri by his side. He would be better served putting down the small rebellions in the old Empire lands than sitting in a council meeting.

Felix postpones his departure one more time when Sylvain is called away a few days before Dedue is scheduled to return. It is the first time Dimitri had been without either of his most skilled advisors since the end of the war, and Felix feels inadequate to fill the void they leave. 

Three days drags on, feeling like three weeks. Felix does what he can, but he doesn't have the patience of Dedue or the charisma of Sylvain, yet Dimitri thanks him for his help. Felix doesn't feel like he deserves the praise, especially after loudly telling off a group of nobles obnoxiously demanding Dimitri's attention. 

He makes plans to leave the same day Dedue is set to return. The night before he is finally scheduled to leave, Felix makes one last round of the castle, ending with his nightly check on Dimitri. 

The candles are still lit, which isn't abnormal even at the late hour. The office door is open halfway, and he glances in as usual. It's more habit at this point, he no longer expects Dimitri to slip, especially after working so closely with him over the last few days.

So, it catches him off guard to find Dimitri leaning over his desk with his elbows spearing a particularly thick stack of papers. His face is burried in his hands, and his shoulders are sagged. 

Felix is rooted to the spot. Normally, this would be when he would bolt away to find Dedue or Sylvain, or anyone else who was far more qualified to deal with a Dimitri /situation/. Of course, his worst fears came to fruition when he is utterly alone. 

As Felix debates how to approach him, to alert him of his presence without startling him, Dimitri looks up. He slides his hands down his pale face and his eye finds Felix. 

He looks absolutely lost as he blinks his red rimmed eye.

A million possibilities run through Felix's mind. Was there something in Ingrid's report which triggered this reaction? Or had one of the nobels managed to corner him with another outlandish demand? Did he fall asleep and have a nightmare? 

"Dimitri?" Felix takes a cautious step into the office and pulls the door closed behind him.

Dimitri groans dramatically and leans back in his chair, staring up at the ornate carvings on the ceiling. He rubs the palms of his hands over his eyes, the motion pulling at the blue silk eye patch to reveal some of his scar over his missing eye. 

"I can't do this." His voice is tired with a thick undertone of frustration. 

Felix swallows the rush of failure that washes over him, he would deal with it later. It only took a few days of being Dimitri's only close advisor for him to slip. How could he hope to fix it? His nails dig into his palm as he tries to keep his temper from boiling over. 

He opens his mouth to tell Dimitri he can do it, that it is fine to feel overwhelmed, to be mindful that he doesn't slip back to who he was during the war. "D-" 

But, Dimitri cuts him off before he can say any of it. "I'm pretty sure this counts as an act of aggression, possibly a declaration of war."

Felix's eyebrows shoot up and he rushes to the papers Dimitri is gesturing to. Why was this the first he was hearing of it? 

Dimitri's forehead falls to the table, obscuring half of the papers from Felix's scrutinizing gaze. Still, Felix could see enough of the documents to become confused by Dimitri's words. They were budget tables, records of taxes and costs of various rebuild projects. Was someone stealing? Skimming gold?

"What has happened?" Felix opts to be direct in the face of his upset King. 

Dimitri turns his head to look at Felix without lifting it from the table. With a strained voice, he says, "Math."

"Math?" He quirks an eyebrow. 

"Yes!" Dimitri suddenly sits up and angrily gestures at the ledgers. "Numbers. Math. It's- it's- dastardly."

"Math is… dastardly?" Felix was unsure if he should be relieved this seemed to all be over numbers, or if he should be annoyed at Dimitri's dramatics.

"Yes." Dimitri nods and sighs. When he straightens up with a sheepish smile, Felix decides he isn't annoyed. "My apologies if…"

Felix stares at the wall as Dimitri's sentence trails off. The conversation is dangerously close to turning towards a topic of a personal nature, something Felix has ben bluntly avoiding. "There is no reason for you to trouble yourself with such things as this. As King you have people who's job it is to do such… dastardly work." His lips tug up despite the tension still in his shoulders. 

"I… am aware, Felix. However, I find knowing such things, and… double checking these reports helps me to understand the workings of the Kingdom." He gestures at the stack in front of him, "It has…. been some time since I audited the ledgers. And Sylvain usually helps."

Of course Sylvain helps. It serves as another reminder of how useless Felix has been. It also reminds him of how much has changed since they were students. 

"Thank you for checking on me. I appreciate your nightly check-ins." Dimitri now smiled brightly with no trace of his earlier frustration. "I am truly sorry for not being… for giving you such pause about my abilities. I did not realize I was keeping you from your duties, had I known sooner I would have-"

"Don't be ridiculous," Felix crosses his arms. He does not wish to discuss it, for any raw truths to come out, especially the ones he wasn't ready to admit to himself. "Put those away and go to bed."

Dimitri looks back down to his desk, surprised to see the paperwork still waiting for him. "I do want to proven I can do it myself. My father-"

"You're not your father." It feels good to throw those words back at Dimitri. They all need the reminder. It is a new world, and they are not their parents. 

"Fair enough," Dimitri nods with a soft smile. Neither moves for a long moment. Eventually Dimitri straightens and tilts his head, "Are you going to watch me until I go to bed?"

Despite himself, Felix sighs softly and says, "I can help."

Dimitri looks surprised by the offer. "I could not ask you-"

"You're not asking, I'm offering. Stop being… you! You don't need to do everything yourself to be successful."

"I- thank you, Felix."

The next morning Dedue returns and Felix departs. He is eager to finish his duties at home so he can return, but his desire is no longer out of fear for Dimitri. He can only hope there are no more late nights pouring over dry numbers. 

----

Inspired by my near breakdown last night while I stared at excel spreadsheets

I never write present tense so decide to give it a try

#dimitri alexandre blaiddyd #felix hugo fraldarius #fire emblem three houses #pem writes #fe3h #it started as crack then found feelings and a kinda plot #dimilix #kinda

[srose-foxfire]

Damirae Week 2021 - Day 5

“The Enchanted Rose” Day 5: Nightmares

Crimson red was all Raven could see. She turned and turned hoping to see anything that wasn’t covered in red.How could this had happened? She had felt so happy just moments ago she had been dancing the night away with Damian feeling so at peace and alive. He twirled her around that huge ballroom floor, he spun her so many times but not once did Raven ever get dizzy. She kept her gaze on Damian, for he was her center.

Once her feet were beginning to feel sore, Damian like the gentleman he was, escorted her back to her bedroom. After bidding her a goodnight Damian turned to leave but then stopped him as Raven lifted herself on his tiptoes to give him a small peck on his cheeks. Raven caught a small blush coat his cheeks as he bowed and then left her in her room. The last thing she saw was his tail wagging. She closed her door and went off to bed, falling deep into a sleep with a huge grin on her face.

Or that was she imagined her night to end like. Instead she was here, in her father’s lands, who she sworn she would never return to. This was the life she was born into and one she never wanted to accept as hers. Raven hugged herself tightly, wanting to escape whatever hell she had just entered. She looked down at her bare feet as a strange shadow started creeping itself towards her, turning her into the demon she feared she would become. Frightened, Raven cried out and held her head tightly in her hands.

“You have to stop letting these fears hold you down.”

Raven open her eyes and gaze towards who had spoken to. There in front of her stood a woman, wrapped in a white hooded cloak. She had her face hidden by the hood, all Raven could make out was her light pink lips and the ends of her black hair just barely peeking out from her shoulders.

“Who are you?” Raven asked.

The woman only smiled beneath her hood, “someone who wants to see you happy. Raven, you don’t need to fear him anymore…” then her smiled slowly turn into a frown, “but you are in danger.”

“Danger? Tell me-”

“I’m running out of time, listen to me carefully. Your friends will need you, when that time comes, call for our Great Mother and she will bestow upon you her blessing.”

Then a gust a wind started to pick up around Raven, her vision started to blur as the woman in front of her started to disappear. “Wait! Is this the Wayne’s, are they in danger because of me? Who are you?!”

“Raven, you hold a light so strong, a light of healing. You will light the darkness surrounding those now dear to you.”

With that Raven woke from her sleep, she clutched her chest as her whole body shivered. Raven scanned her room; nothing was out the norm, through her large bedroom window a full moon shined brilliantly casting away any shadows in her room. Next to her bed was the wooden perch, Sombra slept on. It had only been a dream, she thought to herself. She laid there, fully wide awake, reflecting what her dream could had meant and who could that womanbeen? She seems to know Raven well, but the young girl could never recollect, where she might have ever seen her.

Needing some time to calm herself, Raven stepped out of her bedroom put on her night gown and a silk cover up. She went downstairs to the castle’s kitchen and make herself a cup of tea. She assumed it was a little midnight as the full moon looked to have travel half the night sky. Though now the castle was always illuminated by candlelight. Raven arrived and busy herself to start the fire going underneath the stove top and placed a filled kettle over the flame. Once the water started to boil, she grabbed a tea pot, poured some loose dried lemon grass and hot water. As she waited while her tea seeped, Raven went on a hunt to find a teacup. As she hunted for a cup, Raven hadn’t noticed she wasn’t alone in the kitchen.

“What are you doing up?”

Startled Raven jumped and bumped her head under a cupboard. She hissed at the sudden pain and turn her face to snare at Damian as he stood by the doorway with his arms crossed. “Oh, it rude to sneak up on people!” She turned around and continue to look for the damn cup. “I couldn’t sleep… what are you doing up?”

“I’m always up at this hour.”

“Doing what?”

“Reminiscing” Damian came up from behind her and opened up a cabinet, just to her right; revealing three small shelves filled with assorted and expensive china teacups. “and looking over… somethingthat was left to me.”

“Oh…” Raven said nonchalantly as she grabbed one blue cup and then gestured toward him, “would you like me to pour you a cup?”

Damian gave her a small shrug, she walked around him and poured him some tea. She placed it the kitchen’s island counter, taking a seat and sipping her tea. She felt the drink warm and sooth her soul, making her forget the nightmare she had that had cause her to be awoken. Damian went ahead and sat across from her. He took the china cup and held it by the tips of his claws, careful not to break it. After taking a sip, he sighed, “you’re not going to ask what it is?”

Damian actually looked smug, like he wanted to rub whatever he had in her face. Raven placed her cup down as gently as she could, clasping her hand together, “I cannot believe you perceive me as some nosy girl-”

“You wandered the castle when I told you not to, you wentoutsidedespite me telling you not to go out-”

“You orderedme,” Raven pointed a finger at him, “I don’t do good being ordered around.”

“Touché… something seems to be bothering you. I want you to know you can speak to me.”

Should she tell him? Raven hadn’t had time to reflect on her dream, everything was coming back to her in vague pieces. Danger. That was what she had dreamt, she had felt she was in trouble and somehow her dream made the illusion of someone warning her to keep her eyes open. “I had this dream… well a nightmare of my old home.” That was the half-truth.

Damian clasped his hand together and leaned in closer, “you never once spoke about your home, or where you were headed when you… came to the castle. Did something happen to your homeland?”

“I was exiled.”

~~~~

Damian sat there as Raven told him her story.

“I am the daughter of a demon who governs lands cast in shadows and bloody rivers. Lord Trigon, who stands above all demons and dark magic wielders in all the realms. I was to be his successor, but I wasn’t what he hoped for. The part of me that doesn’t wished to harm others, cause destruction or how my father put it ‘kindhearted’, impeded me to ever fall to my demon side. My father believed my mother’s good nature was the caused for this. He had no use for me, proclaimed one of my lesser but more demon-like siblings would take his reign. So, without as much a goodbye he made me leave his lands. Good riddance, I never once turned back, the minute I stepped out of his forsaken lands, I felt free and alive.”

“Where were you planning to head off to?”

“My mother’s homeland. I never got to meet her; my father killed her when I was very young so I have no memory of her. I found an old journal she kept and there she described her home to be filled with light, a place where anyone could be accepted no matter who they are. My only problem is, she never once wrote the name of her home, so I was traveling blindly. I ask any village I passed through… and after receiving directions from this old woman… I ended up here.”

Damian felt a sharp pain in his chest as he continued to listen to her tale. Raven was heading towards a place she could be accepted and loved. She was heading where she could find a place to call home. Her home. Damian fought tears wanting to escape, he turned his head and looked away as he could feel his heart want to shatter, realizing he could never bring any good. He was a cursed beast, and the curse was designed to darken any light around him.

Here he had this brilliant and kind woman, who could had turned against him at any moment. Instead she brought him warmth and happiness he never believed he needed. What did he do in return? Take away her freedom, rob her of making her own choices. Why did he believe he could give her all the luxuries left in his castle to make her want to stay?

Damian needed to do something right for her, he needed to amend his wrongs and let her know she could maybe find peace here, with him.Just then an idea popped in his head. Damian allowed a small smile to grace his lips.

“Come. I would like to show you something.”

Damian extended his arm out for Raven to take. She timidly reaches for his paw, once she held him, very effortlessly he lifted her and guided the girl outside the kitchen. Keeping silent, Damian lead Raven through corridors, until they reach an open door near the entrance to one of his private and personal chambers. The opening lead to a spiral of stair wells that lead to a tower, Damian would spend much of time. Once the reach the top, it led into a grand torn down room. It was dusty, the walls were covered in spiderwebs, and in the far side of the space was an opening to a balcony.

They walked silently into the room and Damian nodded to Raven, signaling he was allowing her to inspect the room. “This was my own private study; I would come here to train or be away from my family.” He continues to watch her wonder around the large room and stopped as she gazes towards up a shredded portrait, one he destroyed of himself. “It’s the one place in the castle my siblings aren’t allowed to come. Excuse me for the mess, I find solace here since the curse was place. I wanted to show you this.”

Damian points towards a small round table near the exit to the balcony. There in the center of the table, a centerpiece was covered by a thin gray rag. Damian pulled it away, revealing a green rose, though it color was unusually dark. Raven gasp as she noticed the rose was covered by a glass covering and floated above the table’s surface, keeping perfectly still. Though instead of keeping upright, its rosebud was tilted to the side, almost as if it was wilting.

“It’s floating?” She asked.

“There was a rose garden my father had planted, a token for my mother it was his way he proposed to her. Green for her eyes. When she passed away, I took over the care for the roses, my way of keeping her memory alive and one of my closest treasures. When the witch cast the curse and she transformed me, she said she would take everything I held dear would be gone. My mother’s rose garden was burned to the ground, all the beautiful, fully bloomed rosebuds were destroyed. All but one.” Damian gestured towards the single last rose from his garden.

“It’s enchanted?” Raven continue to ponder as she viewed the mysterious flower from all angles.

“That is what I believe as well, it once shined and sparkled. Over the years it’s light simply started to dim, which is why it looks dead. Perhaps it’s was the witch’s way of saying that this curse will never be lifted, but I personally wish to see that some good could come out this.”

“I happen to imagine you view the world differently, correct? Trust me, coming from a line of demons give you that insight… may I?” Raven gestured towards the rose and Damian simply gave her a soft nod. He watched as she carefully removed the glass covering and placed it next to the rose. Raven slowly kept her placed her hands over it, not daring to touch it. She continues to move her hands all around almost as if she could really touch it and then the most marvelous thing happen.

Light. The green rose suddenly emitted a bright glow and burst with life again. The wilting rosebud soon rose itself upright, blooming and slowly spinning in Raven’s hands.  Small specks to what appeared to be the rose’s pollen, erupted resulting it looking like the rose was emitting green sparkles.

Damian took a few steps back as he watched his room be filled with this mysterious light and gazed upon the girl holding it. She has a light to share, Damian thought as the rose continued to shine and spun. Damian frowned and lowered his gaze as he knew what he had to do, even if he didn’t want it to happen.

Raven gasped softly and smiled, “Damian, do you see this? It’s beautiful, how do you think this happened-”

“Go.” Damian said rather harshly as he came between Raven and the rose, moving her hands away and covering the enchanted rose once again.

Raven turned to face him with her brows knitted together, she was about to speak when Damian interrupted her, “You are no longer my prisoner, you can go and find your mother’s land.”

“But I-”

Damian then turned his back towards her, his whole form was able to shield the rose’s glow, dimming the room back to the darkness he had become use to. He didn’t want to hear what she had to say, he fears if he did than he would never let her leave. Very hard he held back the tears and kept his voice stern, not letting himself brake before her. “Didn’t you hear me? I said go!” No, I want you to stay. “Go!” Please stay with me. “I don’t want you here! Get out of my sight!

Damian slightly glanced from the side; Raven was still there awestruck by the sudden change of his behavior no doubt. He growled, then turned his whole body, looming over the poor girl. Damian then let out a great and terrifying roared as the castle tremble beneath him. “GET OUT!” He slashed at an old chair next to him, making Raven back away towards a wall.

“Damian, what’s happening?” Raven said in a mere frightened whisper, her voice wanting to crack.

“Get out, I say! You have no business here; I don’t want you in my castle anymore!”

“Please stop.” Raven painfully begged, which only aggravated Damian even more.

Damian snarled, he could feel his eyes swell up with tears wanting to cascade, with a painful heart he cried out another terrifying roar, “GET OUT!”

With that Raven ran towards the door, her steps fading as she sprinted the stairs. In the distance he could hear her pet raven, Sombra squawked, the main castle’s doors opening and banging at their sudden opening. Damian walked to the tower’s balcony seeing Raven wrapped in an old worn out cloak, with Sombra flying at her side, fleeing from his castle never looking back and disappearing in the forest. Not being able to contain the pain in his chest, Damian slump down and let all the sorrows lodged in his heart out.

“Damian.”The young cursed prince looked up and saw his older brother Dick floating towards him. “What happened? Why did she leave? What did you do?”

“I let her go,” Damian said meekly as he stared down to the ground.  

Flabbergasted, Dick raised his hands towards his younger brother.“Why?”

Taking one final look at the illuminated green enchanted rose, Damian gave a wearily stare towards his half-brother, who knew more about love than him. “Because I love her.”

#damirae week 2021 #day 5 #nightmares #damirae #damirae week #damiraefic #Damian Wayne #raven roth #raven and damian #damian and raven #Beauty and the Beast AU

[lunaverseimagine]

Worth Dying For

Request: Can someone PLEASE make a Fred Weasley imagine where he died defending you at the last battle because he was the only one that knew you were pregnant with George’s baby? @writerinnight

Pairing: George x Reader, platonic!Fred x Reader

Warnings: Major character death, angst, I’ve never written angst like this before and I apologise in advance for any pain caused 👀

Word count: 1.4k

Tags: @flyingserpxnt @pcseidcnsvoid @cherrycolakxsses @justanotherblondeday @schlongbottom @wand3ringr0s3 @hemmoporro Join a taglist through the link in my bio <3

Fic:

You had so many mixed emotions when you looked at the test. Your hand flew to your mouth and tears filled your eyes. Butterflies went crazy in your stomach. You were going to bring a baby into the world. But not the sort of world you’d pictured when you imagined this moment. You allowed yourself a couple of minutes to absorb the information before taking some deep breaths and wiping the tears from your eyes. As you opened the bathroom door you collided with a firm chest.

“Blimey y/n/n, sorry, I-“ but Fred fell silent as his gaze drifted to the stick in your hand. Your eyes widened and you hid it behind your back, but it was too late. “Y/n... is that what I think it is?”

You debated lying, but there was no point, you wouldn’t be able to hide the truth from him now. Checking the hallway to make sure you were alone, you forced yourself to say the words.

“I’m pregnant.” You looked down at the floor, digging your toes into the carpet, anxiously awaiting his response. Surely Fred would be disappointed that you were pregnant now, that you were bringing a baby into this. But Fred’s arms wrapped around you and he lifted you off the ground.

“Merlin’s beard y/n/n, that’s brilliant! Georgie’s gonna be so happy-“

“I’m not telling George.” Fred put you down and looked at you with furrowed brows, hands still holding onto your arms as though he didn’t want to let go completely. “Not yet. Tomorrow is just so... huge. I don’t want him distracted or… or worrying about me.”

Seeing the resolve in your eyes, Fred knew there was no changing your mind, so he enveloped you in another hug and mumbled in your ear, “I’ll look out for you, you have my word. But If it’s going to be a secret you might want to stop waving that stick around.” You slapped him lightly, but hid the test in your pocket nonetheless.

-

You and George stood side by side, the rest of your families not far away, a united team. It was the calm before the storm, and the castle was completely silent. You couldn’t believe that this used to be your school, your home. Soon to be a battleground, inevitably covered in bloodshed. A shiver ran down your spine before you pushed those thoughts to the back of your mind. Now, more than ever before in your life, you needed to focus. You observed the grey skies, the cold bite to the air, as you listened, waiting for any sign of movement.

Something brushed against your fingers and you jumped, your hold on your wand tightening, before realising it was George. “Sorry love.” he whispered as he clasped your hand in his own and squeezed it reassuringly. You squeezed back, leaning in to him so that the side of your body was flush with his. George, your George, your boyfriend of 6 years and the soon-to-be father of your baby. You sent a silent prayer to whoever was listening, asking that you, George, and bump would survive. 

“I love you Georgie.” Your voice was barely a whisper, but in the silence he heard you perfectly.

“I love you too y/n.” You could see the fear in his eyes, watched as he bounced his leg and looked nervously around. You pressed a delicate kiss to his cheek, lips lingering on the stubbly skin.

Suddenly the shields surrounding the castle began to break, and the scene turned to utter chaos. You and George stood back to back, casting spells at death eaters, constantly scanning your surroundings in case anyone needed backup. Fred had joined you so you were now standing in a triangle, fighting enemies on all sides.

The battle was a blur, flashes of red and green all around, shouts and screams filling your ears. Pushing down thoughts of the baby, thoughts of George, and of everyone else you wanted to protect, you focused instead on what you could see, on what you could do. That is, until the moment time seemed to slow down. The moment when three death eaters apparated in front of you. You knew there was no way you’d win against all of them, but dammit you would not go down without a fight. As you lifted your wand to disarm the death eater closest to you, all three of them raised their wands, pointing them directly at you. You heard the words forming on their lips, seeming to take an eternity, words that haunted your worst nightmare. Words you had hoped never to hear in your lifetime.

“Avada-”

You watched a mess of ginger hair in front of you. 

“NO!” Your mouth formed the word, feeling disconnected from the rest of you.

You watched his arms spread wide to shield you

“Expelliarmus!” You cast, disarming one of the three evil people threatening the life of those you held dearest.

You watched as he disarmed another one, doing his best to protect you just like he promised.

“Kedavra.”

You watched as he crumpled to the floor in front of you, revealing the last death eater stood before him, the one responsible for taking his life.

You cast the curse back at him, not that you needed to because your scream had attracted attention, and curses were firing at him from all sides.

You fell to your knees next to Fred, letting out a scream that came from the depths of your lungs, your soul. You felt George beside you, turning to see him stare blankly at the lifeless face of his twin, of his other half. George was looking but not seeing, not registering, until suddenly he did, and he grabbed Fred’s hand.

“No no no no, Freddie, wake up, wake up, it’s me, it’s George.” His voice was breaking, and you cradled his head, brought it to rest in your chest as you held him, tears streaming down your face. “It’s George, you know, like Forge? Gred? I can’t be Forge or Gred on my own, I can’t do it, you have to wake up, you have to.” You clutched George tightly but his hands still held Fred’s cold one, refusing to let it go, refusing to believe that he could be gone. “You have to. You have to.”

The battle raged on around you but you couldn’t bring yourself to care, George had to know. He had to know why this happened. 

“I-” the words caught in your throat, it was so painful, your heart was aching, but George needed to know. “I know why he did it.” George lifted his head, glazed, bloodshot eyes meeting yours.

“What?”

“He- he jumped in front of me because otherwise- otherwise it would’ve been me-” at this thought your chest constricted and you had to fight to breathe, “and he didn’t want that because I’m pregnant. I’m pregnant Georgie, and he knew.” The last bit came out as a mere whisper, but George was hanging on to every word, trying to make sense of it all.

“You’re- you’re pregnant?” You merely nodded. George finally found the courage to let go of his twin’s hand, holding on to you for support because there was no way he could do this on his own, he needed you, his lifeline. He buried his face in your chest in an attempt to ground himself, and you clutched onto him, not daring to let go. The two of you rocked back and forth, unable to process the severity of the situation.

His family, his parents started to realise what had happened and were coming towards you, but you couldn’t bear to see the looks on their faces, so you pressed your face on top of George’s head, kissing him because he’s still alive and Fred isn’t and it’s not fair and your baby’s dad is alive and his uncle isn’t. 

You stayed there for hours, long after the battle ended. You’d won, but at what cost? You didn’t know if you’d ever be able to breathe without feeling the pain in your chest, the weight filling you, reminding you of what Fred had done. What he’d done for you. You couldn’t even imagine the pain George was in, losing half of himself. You didn’t know what the future would look like or how things could ever be ok again. So you did what you could. You held on to George.

End

**

Edit: There is now a part 2 and I promise it’s happier than this 👀

**

So... sorry 🥺 If you did enjoy this (or if your heart was broken) please let me know - reblogs and comments do a lot to motivate my writing, and my posts aren’t showing up in tags atm so reblogs are the only way to spread them 💖💖

Also feel free to check out my other stuff (mostly fluff I promise) and my writing challenge. Thank you for reading 💕

#fred weasley #george weasley #fred weasley angst #george weasley x reader #fred weasley imagine #george weasley imagine #george weasley angst #fred weasley oneshot #george weasley oneshot #fred weasley x reader #george weasley x you #fred weasley x you #george weasley reader insert #fred weasley reader insert #harry potter fanfic #hp fanfic #fred weasley fanfiction #george weasley fanfiction #harry potter angst #battle of hogwarts #tw death #death #tw battle

[lidoshka]

I follow you on Deviant Art and I discovered my favorite Voltron fanfictions thanks to your fanarts. How did you find them? I loved, among the others, "Where the light doesn’t reach", "Eternal Night", Discordiansamba's ones and "Desideratum": do you have more suggestions? We could do an exchange of fanfiction reviews if you want. I like long, well-written stories with Keith as a main character, space worldbuilding and deep emotions. With the Galra Keith trope also.

 You started reading Voltron fics because of me? Really?! That’s really cool!

ヾ|*ﾟ∀ﾟ*|ﾉ

Ahh! Yeah, I totally agree, we need more fanfic recs… in the last few months I’ve been doing art for other fandoms, so I haven’t checked new fics, but I do have some I like here so I’ll start!

Now, I don’t think any of these fics is longer than Eternal Night, but they are still cool, I also added some info of what I remember from each fic:

cobbled glass by ShirosRedKnight (SweetFanfics) One of the first things Keith learns about himself is that he is different. AU where Keith was always part of the Blades of Marmora and the Paladin's of Voltron come looking for the Red Paladin.

[Keith is galra but looks human] [can’t remember any pairing]

It's A New Start Series by Darkscales In which Keith, raised Galra and forcibly drafted into Zarkon's army, escapes from the Empire and proceeds to steal (then subsequently become adopted by) the Red Lion.

[Keith is very galra] [can’t remember any pairing]

 your sharp and glorious thorn by arahir

To end the war they inherited, Keith marries the King he lead an army against

[Sheith] [mostly Keith POV] [Keith being galra but still human-looking]

 Collision Course by winterysomnium Keith gets adopted by the Galra empire rebellion, basically.

[Keith being galra but still human-looking]

 Secret of the Blood by exclamation AU version of season 2. When Keith and Shiro were thrown from the wormhole, they crashed by the Blade of Marmora headquarters and were captured. When the Blade reveal the secret of Keith's heritage, Keith must decide if he can trust these people... and if he can trust himself.

[Keith angst] [can’t remember any pairing] [Keith is galra but looks human]

 The Blade of Memory by exclamation (ß same author as previous one!) Kan has no memory of his life before he was found injured and adrift by the Blade of Marmora. When he comes across a slave that seems to be the same species as him, he decides to rescue him. But saving Matt broke a number of the Blade's rules and helping Matt further would mean going against Kolivan's orders.

[Keith angst…ish] [can’t remember any pairing] [Keith is galra but looks human]

 hound by story_monger (is there any rec list that doesn’t include this one?? XD) Keith has a lot of practice being alone; you might almost say he's good at it. When he finds himself seriously injured and stranded on an unknown planet, he knows he's not alone there

[Keith angst] [can’t remember any pairing] [Keith POV] [beign galra is not part of plot]

 baby, you're a dark star by Thesis When the Lions are separated from the castle, hurled out of the wormhole into distant corners of space, Pidge still finds Allura within an hour. Then Shiro, alone, injured, delirious, asking if they've found Keith yet. They force him into the healing pods and get back to searching. They find Lance, they find Hunk. But they don't find Keith for sixteen months. And now that they have, Shiro is starting to think - maybe he didn't want to be found.

[Sheith] [Keith is galra but looks human]

 Insomnia by GriffinRose They reunite after the Wormhole Incident all in one piece. Mostly. But some scars can't be seen. Keith can't sleep, no matter how hard he tries.

[mostly Keith POV] [being galra is not part of plot…or was it?]

 nothing can breathe in space by idrilka The truth is: what Keith wants or doesn’t want won’t bring Shiro back. The truth is: nothing can breathe in space. (Or: the story of how Keith and Shiro come together, come apart, and come together again.)

[Sheith] [Keith angst] [being galra is not part of plot…or was it?]

 The Heat Was Hot and the Ground Was Dry by justheretobreakthings A glimpse into Keith's year living in a shack in the desert.

[Keith POV] [Keith angst…ish] [has a Spotify list on the last chapter] [can’t remember any pairing]

 Small Heart, Made of Steel by inkfishie The fight with Zarkon, the battle with the Galra fleet, the crash; It came back in small measures. Keith finds himself stranded and alone.

[mostly Keith POV] [Keith angst] [survival stuff] [being galra is not part of plot]

 For Everything a Reason by flyingisland

In Keith's life, the only true absolute was that everyone would always leave in the end.

[Sheith] [very Keith angst] [Keith POV]

 these old bones by achievingelysium

He’s always been fascinated with dinosaurs. Keith isn’t entirely sure why—maybe it’s because their footprints are still here, even after so long. Maybe he’s hearing the echoes of history calling for him. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because he sees himself in those old bones. A Keith character study told in three parts.

[Keith angst…ish] [can’t remember any pairing] [being galra is not part of plot..or was it???]

 The Long Way Back by fio As a gladiator, and now Champion, Shiro has given up hope of ever returning to Earth. But when his captors deliver his 'prize'—an omega, a descendant of both Galran and Altean blood used by the Galra to breed with the strongest aliens they capture—he's offered a chance to escape. There's just one catch: Shiro has to get him pregnant to do it. [Sheith] [it’s 40k words] [smut but I can’t remember in which chapter] [Keith is very galra]

 The Faeries' Midwife by zjofierose the line between dream and nightmare, between asleep and awake, has always been a hazy one for Keith. Voltron makes it all that much worse.

[short] [Keith angst] [can’t remember any pairing]

 Sands and Stars by Neyasochi Keith’s no stranger to shit going sideways, but mistakenly assaulting and robbing a crown prince is definitely the peak misfortune of his considerable criminal career. Suddenly in the custody of the royal guard and slated for a swift and unceremonious execution, he figures his short life is over. Imminently. But then Prince Takashi offers him an alternative.

Part 1 of the Bond and Blade Series

[Sheith] [slow, slow burn] [mostly Keith POV] [Keith is galra but looks human] [It’s medieval!au-ish babe!]

 familiar voices and careful hands by bobtheacorn Keith hesitates, then lifts a hand to pat Hunk's arm. It's awkward returning the comforting gesture, but it seems to help Hunk calm down so Keith is glad that he does it. He keeps reaping the rewards of reaching out to the people he cares about, even if small things are the only ones he can manage right now, and he can't help feeling grateful.

[can’t remember any pairing] [team bonding] [keith angst…ish]

 i never meant (i only wanted) by ADyingFlower It's a lot farther to Arizona from Washington D.C. than he thought it would be. The sun beats down on his scalp and dark clothes as he travels the roads of national highways, occasionally trying to hitchhike when he could. Not often, though. His soles burn into his feet, but he doesn’t dare stop.

[Keith POV] [Keith angst] [being galra is not part of plot…or was it???]

+

Well, that’s my fav ones about Keith... I didn’t add any WIPS nor any of Discordiansambas’ cause you know those ones already, but just like you I also like long stories with lots of worldbuilding, angsty stories... I love stories where they explore what being a galra hybrid means to Keith!

#fanfic recs #voltron legendary defender #Keith Kogane #just a smidge more alien