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marydragneell · 6 years

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Ember 2 (final)

The Crackling Embers

By: @cutegirlmayra (Thanks for the commission! Here’s something sweet! 😉 )

Ember was rotated backwards on a steel stretcher, strapped with leather, she laughed and figured she could tear easily through them.

Except… she couldn’t move.

The electric steel receptor would zap her even on slightest movement, but that didn’t stop her from wiggling her tail when the door slid open and she saw Shadow.

“Shad-! AHHHHEEEEEOOOO…ouch.” The electricity immediately turned on, shocking her into a stillness again as her tail flopped down over her.

“Hello.” She smiled sweetly to him. “You gonna bust me outta here?”

“…We need you for something.” Shadow stopped in front of her, folding his arms.

“Ohh~ A mission?”

“For G.U.N.”

“Pass.”

She frowned.

“…For Sonic… and his friends.” He glared a warning, showing his need for her to reconsider.

“Ehmm… we’re buddies, but… favors?” she was only stalling now, playing around.

She hadn’t seen Shadow in a while, so she was hoping-

“…For me?” he looked agitated.

“Sure, anything for family!”

He nodded to a camera and she was rotated back into a straight position as he untied the straps.

“This is serious… Sonic team requested backup.”

“Little Hedgehog got his foot struck in a drain?” she teased, smirking.

“… Eggman has taken over 20 percent of the world… And Sonic couldn’t stop him.”

He seemed to grimace at that fact before helping her down.

“Thanks.” She took his hands and hopped off the steel, “One sec.” she lifted a sharp claw…

She shred through the steel with a few quick and precise swipes.

Sparks flickered everywhere and she cockily placed her claws up to her mouth, blowing on them.

“Alright, continue.” She grinned, looking over her shoulder to him.

“But I warn you… I will never work for G.U.N…”

“Hmph, then work for me.”

He looked annoyed, and she wagged her tail.

“There’s never a ‘good side’ to you, is there?”

She followed him through the sliding door of G.U.N’s base, looking around and pretending to be amazed at the technology, but mostly there for Shadow.

“As family, it’s almost like my job to try and find that good side to ya, bro.”

“…Bro?” he seemed confused, turning around. “You were created as my prototype, a companion to me and have restored more memories of Maria than I can count. I owe you that much… but no. We are not ‘family’.” He glared, holding a hand up to her as she went to take it, but winced back when he said such a cruel thing.

She puckered her lips and side-commented over her shoulder, “Grumpy quills…”

They continued to walk and she didn’t take his hand, seeing as he was only gesturing, but she didn’t quite understand the socialisms…

She was still living alone… sometimes running into Sonic and his friends, but not much.

“Who’s Eggman?” she asked, walking into an elevator with him.

Shadow turned around and clicked a button, which fascinated her when it turned bright from the touch.

“He’s Gerald’s evil grandson.”

Her finger went to spike into the next buttons, hoping to see them light up, but her shock at hearing that made her miss and stab the side through instead. “WHAT?!”

Shadow saw the fizzing of the area as she struggled to try and pull her finger out, sighing in disappointment at her childish ways and rubbing the bridge between his eyes with his fingers…

They arrived at an upper level, and Ember looked very confused, finally seeming to take some things seriously.

Her eyebrows furrowed and she followed Shadow out of the elevator, “You mean… Gerald had other family we didn’t know about?” She made a face, showing some sorrow. “Shouldn’t we try and reform him? I mean,… he’s kin!” she ran after him, but Shadow pivoted and continued his cruel stare at her.

“Reform Eggman?” He scoffed, “He’s bent on taking over the world. He’ll robotize every living thing till there’s nothing left to conquer. Then he’ll build a ridiculous theme park!” he swiped a hand out, making Ember step back and look down in greater sadness. “He’s insane… and once again, we have no kin… we’re experiments. Remember your place.” He went to continue walking, but a voice from above suddenly spoke out, making him look around.

“My, my… you’re so cruel to her, Shadow… I’m glad I’m used to it.”

“Show yourself, Rouge!” he almost demanded, making her pout as she was sitting on a beam in the shadows.

Her wings flexed out, making a sound that spooked Ember as she dove down and landed quite gracefully.

“Remember me?” she batted her eyes and then winked to Ember, who swiped a claw at her and growled.

Her ears drew back, not liking this bat girl…

As Rouge flew up again and circled Shadow, she grew even more tense, shaking as she raced to grab Shadow’s back quill. It was instinctive, she just didn’t like other people around Shadow… especially those she didn’t know really well.

She poked her head over Shadow’s shoulder and stuck her tongue slightly out at Rouge.

Rouge smiled back to her before landing by the control panel, revealing monitors as she typed in certain things.

“Eggman has conquered a continent, but he’s not done there. According to Tails, he’s spreading out. We’ve let sleeping eggs lie for too long… it’s about time we stop underestimating Eggman’s potentials.” Rouge turned to them again after typing, “My guess is you’re taking the rocket?”

“Yes.” Shadow turned and grabbed the back of Ember’s red cloak, pulling her back to follow him.

“Whhaa-a-a!” she was startled, tip-toeing back before pouting and turning around. “Yeah, yeah… I’m coming, I’m coming…”

“G.U.N only protect certain areas… we’ll have to infiltrate his base and take him down at the core of his invasion…” Shadow grabbed a large rocket, then gripped her hand.

This made her look down and smile, thinking he was going to help her into the rocket.

But… his grip was really… really strong.

“You should brace yourself…” he mentioned.

“Wait,… What do you meeeeeeAAAANNNNNN!!!” she was shot into the air as he held her hand while the rocket shot up and arched through the skies, a direct route to the continent.

Her gums flapped everywhere, making a silly expression as they finally began to move swiftly through the open skies towards their destination.

“This is gonna take time to get used too!” she screamed through the disturbance in the air, but Shadow kept his eyes fixated on the direction of the rocket.

She frowned again, arching her eyebrows back. “Shadow…”

Her purpose… if he didn’t need her, what was it? She hated the fact that she was just a companion. A prototype… the second favorite…

She looked down at the ground, gripping her arm and starting to feel some pain from dangling behind him.

She looked back at him.

No pain? Or was he masking it under that cold exterior?

She wanted to believe there was kindness in him… and she was sure there was! But…

Will he ever show it to her?

She squinted her eyes shut, biting her jaw down. ‘We’re family! Yet… he says we’re not!’

Once again, she went to inquire, “Shadow!”

His eyes shifted frighteningly fast down to look at her, but his head never moved.

She gulped, “Uh… shouldn’t we be serving Eggman? If he’s Gerald’s grandson…”

“What part of ‘evil’ and ‘taking over the world’ did you not understand?” he scolded.

She looked away.

Suddenly, Shadow’s face shifted, and he looked back at the rocket…

“Hhhmm…” he seemed to disagree with his tone and spoke out again. “I understand that Gerald means a lot to you… perhaps how Maria meant to me…”

She looked back up at him, hearing his voice turn a little more empathic.

“…But Eggman’s not like Gerald. He’s eccentric. Maniacal. There is some good in him but only when the odds are against his favor… then he helps us to defeat a foe that challenges himself.” He glared forward. “He’s selfish and has no care for nature. Life or not, he’ll stomp on anything just to seize power over it…”

“…Sounds unforgivable.” Her mind raced to the children…

“….Ember.” he looked down to her, less angry now.

“Yes?” innocently, she looked up.

“…Stay close. I…” he looked away, being vunerable for a moment. “…I don’t want to lose you.” He stared off into the smoky distance yonder… there, in the grey and brownish hue of cloud cover, or was it smoke..? There came a few robots with jetpacks on, holding guns as their arms, and a large—oversized and ugly—megabot that’s eyes glowed red through it all.

“…Get ready.” He took on a serious look, pulling out a gun.

Ember, seeing the amount of foes waiting for them in the skies, narrowed her brow and swiped her cloak away, revealing her black emerald imbedded in her chest.

“Bring it on!” she cried out.

He protected the rocket as long as he could, but then released his hold and pulled Ember towards him as it exploded from being fired at.

He didn’t even glance at her, just kept shooting, but she used her Chaos attacks to knock out the littler robots flying after them.

“We’re heavily out maneuvered!” she cried out, looking around and noticing they were dodging a lot of their hits. Her chaos moves weren’t necessarily fast enough to get the targets right away, and Shadow’s gun was running out of ammo.

Click, click, click!

Shadow glanced down at his gun.

“Shoot.”

He threw the gun and a robot’s jet spiraled out of control.

“Ember!”

“Right!”

She exposed the spot on her chest and he gripped the outer, slightly protruding part of the emerald.

She closed her eyes.

“CHAOS CONTROL!”

They were teleported before a huge beam of light from the giant robot was able to melt them out of their immortally…

They were flashed back into existence as Ember fell into his arms, exhausted from the dark, prototype power that dwelt within her.

She breathed heavily as Shadow removed his hand and hoisted her up. “Are you alright?” he looped her hand over his shoulders, another hand to help lift her waist up.

“I just… need a moment to breath.” She admitted, but they heard a strange noise…

“What was that?”

Water noises and engines were heard in the distance…

Then, quickly, Metal Sonic and Chaos swerved around the corner of some ruined buildings. A red light flashed and Shadow looked up.

“Darn!” he threw her up into a bridal style hold, and raced on his skate shoes away while the two of them chased them down.

“Find Eggman!” Shadow shouted.

“What!? I won’t leave you!” she gripped his chest fur…

He glared down, “You want to be of use to me?”

Did… Did he know?

“Then stay alive! And get your job done!”

“B-…But what about-!”

What about you?

He threw her into another alley way, flinging her quickly through the air as she flailed a moment and landed in a garbage disposal.

The two raced by her, focusing on Shadow and not noticing the difference.

She shifted around a moment, before coming up with a banana peel on her head, looking upset.

“…Hmph!” she gripped it and threw it down.

“Yuck! Now,…”

She turned around with a glare, bearing her fangs.

“WHERE’S EGGMAN!?”

Pacing around his base, Eggman looked at the blips on his monitors. “Where’d he go…” he gripped his floating chair… “I’ve only conquered this continent… no big deal! Why send him of all things!?” Eggman shoved the chair away as it swiveled in the air and spun rapidly away.

It regained a neutral hover as Orbot and Cubot continued to cower away from it.

“M-may I suggest… we also call in our own backup?” Orbot lifted a finger up, and then placed his hands together. “There are some lovely mercenaries who would be happy to dispose of-“

Eggman’s rage got the better of him. He soared his fist up into the air, and it came crashing down with a terrifying power against the control board.

It dented the area and he lifted his hand, now quivering from the pain and rubbed his other thumb inside the palm of the hurt hand. “Grr… I’d rather deal with this pest myself…”

“Gosh, that looked painful!” Cubot chirped.

“To what? His hand or his ego..?” Orbot muttered, but the two scattered in fear as a wrench was thrown at them.

“You’ll see… I’ll destroy Shadow, and then next-!” he stomped towards them, making a big scene before something rattled above them.

“…What the-?”

Ember smacked a air vent’s entrance down as it slammed against Eggman’s raised head.

“OFFPH!” he fell backwards as she dropped down, landing on his stomach. “IIIEEEE!!!” he arched forward, hovering his arms up as he stared at the unfamiliar face, but Ember didn’t seem to notice him.

She flicked her tail and hit him down, not feeling anything really and looked around.

“Huh? I thought I heard an evil monologue?”

“T-the… The Boss!” Orbot shivered, his hands quaking up by his mouthpiece.

“Boss..? OH!” she looked under herself. “It was so round! I thought it was just a rug or something!” she jumped up and down.

“OFFPH! OFFPH! OOOOO!” Eggman was like a squishy trampoline, every time she jumped up, she stomped both feet down, smiling giddily.

Finally, she jumped off on the third hop and he gripped his stomach, turning away with tears starting up from under his glasses… only on the far edges could you see a trace of them bundled up by his eyes corners.

“That hurt… you little…” he whimpered out while she dusted herself off.

“You know, those air vents really need some dusting.” She then struck an animalistic pose, showing off her claws as she scraped them against each other in long swipes.

Sparks flew off of them and Cubot ‘ooh’d and ‘aw’d as she did so.

She smirked, “So… you’re robotnik’s grandson? You look a little like him, I’ll give you-“ her smile faded, seeing him rise up and shake his head, then turn around to loom over her.

Her perfect memory triggered and before her wasn’t Eggman anymore… it was Gerald.

“And how do you know my grandfather..?”

Her eyes shook, unable to break out of the vivid memory.

She stepped back.

He looked too much like her former master… how could she ever battle him now?

“Who are you?”

He cocked an eyebrow up.

“I… I’m Ember…” she felt her whole body wanting to obey, falling slowly to her knees, catching herself before she did so.

‘Why… Why am I acting this way? My fidelity… is it this strong?’ she twitched violently every few seconds, unable to figure herself out for a moment.

“Ember..? Ah!” His glasses shone a moment across before he put a finger up to his chin.

“Ember Wolf? The immortal prototype. Yes… I remember reading something about that…”

She suddenly looked up, amazed he knew about her.

But how..?

“I… I thought all records were-?”

“Born as one of the first experiments. First to live, however. You’re embedded with a cursed Emerald, one my great Grandfather found and tried to erase from history… It produces a dark energy from time to time… corrupted and unpure, it’s said to completely envelop you in utter chaos…” He looked up, nodding to himself. “Yesss… I think I understand now. It described you as a companion to Shadow. Someone designed to protect, unless Shadow. You’re primary purpose was to-“

He paused, looking down at her and smiling.

“Say… you would be a fine asset to my cause!”

“What cause?” she glared, almost growling out the words as she bent her head down, trying to will her body out of submission. “To rule and ruin the known world!?”

“…What has the known world done for you?”

Her shook and she felt something sink within her heart.

“Join me… Ember~” he spread his arms out, “You’re… family…”

“My what!?”

Now she was able to push herself off the ground, stepping back as Eggman moved forward, snickering…

“Hohoho… Yes, indeed. Ember. For burning passion and everlasting flames that never burn out of loyal love! This is what your name means… I could teach you about yourself… the many things you possess… the many things you can do…”

He lifted his pointer finger up, winking beneath the glasses before moving closer to her.

Shadows of their silhouettes loomed behind Cubot and Orbot as the two watched the scene. Scarily enough, as Eggman grew closer, his shadow turned more diabolical, and Ember’s began to decrease in size…

“We could make this world anew… the way dear old Grandfather Gerald hoped it would be…”

“S-…Stop talking. You don’t even know him!” she struck her foot hard to the metal floor, a vibration came off of it that stopped Eggman’s eager approach. Her tail swished behind her, readying for a counter…

“Oh? Do I?” he leaned back, his smile growing and curving up across his face. “No sick. No afflictions of any kind. A world without sorrow and hunger… an immortal realm of perfection.” He spread his arms out, stating his grandfather’s ideals as though it were poetry.

“You… weren’t you designed to sustain these ideals?” he raised an pronounced eyebrow up, looking back to her. “I mean… you were designed to protect Shadow, and all other experiments. To keep them doing their jobs… After all…” He put his hands behind his back, leaning forward with an all-knowing look and losing his smile. “Shadow was the cure. You were to deliver the package safe and sound…”

“I…” she gulped, unsure if that really was the meaning behind her life. “I’m a delivery girl?”

“Hmm?” He blinked his eyes, surprised by that. He then leaned his head back and let out a mighty laughter, making her flustered and embarrassed as she growled.

“What’s so funny!?”

“Hoho! I meant that figuratively, my dear. This… wonderland that I’m proposing… it’s what you and the doctor always wanted. Even Maria would have been satisfied…” he outstretched a hand to her. “Join me… it’ll be fun.”

She stared at the hand… remembering how Shadow’s hand outstretched to her but she chose not to take it.

She looked away.

“Come… now… be a good little guard dog.” He smirked wider now, his eyebrows coming down slightly as Cubot and Orbot rushed over to her.

“It is rather fun.” Orbot admitted.

“Well, when you stay on his good side.” Cubot countered.

“Ember…”

She froze.

“What would dear old Grandpappy want..?”

Her shoulders fell slightly…

“My Ember…”

She looked up, eyes filled with purpose and determination.

Shadow races through the barren streets, looking to see Chaos and Metal Sonic have disappeared. “Where is she..?” he mutters to himself, whispering it as a quiet plea it seemed to find her. His head shifted back and forth, “She couldn’t have gone far…” worry seemed almost apparent in his voice as though he wasn’t trying to hide it.

“HYAH!”

“What!?”

He spun around, getting taken down by an unknown enemy.

He tossed and fought through the fog…

Gripping their hands, he held the enemy in a lock in front of him. “Show yourself, you coward!” he spoke through gritted teeth.

As the fog cleared, Ember breathed heavily, matching his power…

His eyes widened, “What..? Ember..?”

“WHOHOHOHO!” Eggman’s eggmobile floated down from the smoke above. “HOHOH-ACK! HOFF, HOGH, HAR!” he coughed from the smog and lifted a foot up, standing in his carrier to hack out the dust that entered his lungs, among other unwanted chemicals…

He wiped his mouth and then sneered down to Shadow. “At least one of you is proving useful! Behold! My great grandfather’s experiments do still remember their purposes!!! To serve me!”

“Ember…” he glared at her, but his eyes looked torn between fighting her or not. “What’s going on? What did he bribe you with?”

“No bribe, simply loyalties.” Eggman took out a handkerchief, blowing into it. “Poor little dear…” he faked sobbing, “All she ever wanted to serve her delightful creators. And now that she has one again, she’s putting everything else aside to serve her dear family~”

“Ember, no!” At the word ‘family’, Shadow’s eyes widened in horror. “He’s lying to you!”

“I’m more of a father than you are a brother. After all, tossing her to the side? Tsk, tsk, tsk.” He shook his head, waving his finger as a scold. “You should know better. Well, Ember knows her place now. Best to serve real family than those who refuse to be so!”

“Ember… you’re better than this!” he pushed back against her power, but she stepped forward and challenged it.

“…I…” he looked a little shaken up, something she wasn’t used to seeing. “I don’t want to hurt you…”

“Heeeeh… too late for that. Ember! Dispose of him! He’s not upholding the measure of his creation!” Eggman rose up again, swiping out his hand in a dictator fashion.

“Roger.” Ember cried out and swung Shadow over herself, causing him to crash down.

“Erk!” he sweated profusely against the new outcome… he rolled into a ball to avoid most of the damage, hitting her away by rushing into her gut in a spin-dash, then uncurling away. “Ember, what is this madness?! Your purpose is to be my companion!”

She turned around, smiling. “No…” She swiped a Chaos attack back at him, but he dodged the air slash…

Still looking torn, his eyes shook as he narrowed his stare at her, unable to bear a glare…

“I was designed to keep you in check. Just in case you failed your purpose and went on the unbeaten path.” She rose her head up.

“And looks like you did…”

“Destroy him!”

“Is this about G.U.N?!”

He dodged another attack as she raced up to swipe her deadly claws at him.

Jumping from building to building, the two began a chase, which Eggman followed willingly, enjoying the spectacle.

“Ember! Don’t do this..!” he cried back, “Chaos Spears!” he swiped his arm and yellow spears of energy mass were created, hovering for a second in the air, remaining still until shooting forth after her.

She raced between them, jumping from left to right, before crossing her arms and then slashing them out to cut the beam in half.

His eyes twitched again, her power was much like his.

Since he was startled and in the air, Ember used this chance to leap up, slamming him down.

“WHOHOHOHO!” Eggman stuck up his nose and showed his mouth creating an ‘o’ as he laughed. “Splendid! She’s proving more useful then you ever were, Shadow!”

As they crashed through old, half-burnt buildings, they finally hit a floor that wasn’t just loose debris, but sturdy enough that it could catch their fall.

She held him down by his neck as he looked up to her, reaching for his power limiters…

“Ember…” He wearily spoke out, straining against her hold. “You leave me no choice… I… I didn’t want to lose you… but …” he began slipping one off, “I can’t lose the world… Maria… I promised to give the world she loved a chance… she… she loved it so much…” he was about to get it off before a dainty and gentle hand was placed over his own.

“What?” he looked up, amazed.

Ember smiled lovingly down to him.

“No need…” she stated.

“Brother.”

“Ember..?”

His eyes shook in awe, but she slowly leaned up and off of him.

“I know how to stop Eggman. I gained his trust long enough to at least secure that.”

She winked, flicking her tail.

“Honestly, did you really think I’d get so butt hurt over one little toss?”

She rotated her shoulder, feeling it a bit hurt from the fall and then extended her hand to him, leaning down.

“Let’s defeat him… Together, Shadow.”

He stared for some time, leaning up and then smiling down as he closed his eyes and put his limiters back on.

“I should have known… a double-agent.”

He then looked up with a much kinder expression.

“See? I know my purpose.”

He lifts his hand.

“And what’s that?”

His smile is contagious, and she smiles bigger as well.

“Taking care of my little brother.”

“…Excuse me?”

He looks unamused by that phrase.

“Alright, alright.” She giggles, “Being your helping hand…”

He smiles again, taking her hand with as he’s hoisted up from his spot.

“Then let’s take him down… Sister.”

She squees in delight, crunching her body up tightly and lifting a leg up, glad he finally said it!

“It’s about time!” she exclaimed.

As they came out, they both targeted Eggman’s eggmoblie, holding one another’s hand and remaining close in their leap skyward.

“H-huh!?!?!?” He rears back, moving out of their way. “What’s this!?”

She looks over to see him smiling again, ‘I’m so glad…’ she thinks to herself.

‘He seemed so shaken up when he thought he had to stop me… I’m glad I know my true purpose.’

She then turned back to Eggman, a look of fierce conviction on her face.

‘…To never break his heart…’

After a huge explosion and Shadow and Ember taking down some of Eggman’s forces… Eggman flies home on a half-broken Eggmobile, smoky from hits and his head all crisped up from their Chaos attacks.

He falls onto the floor and starts bashing his huge fists into it. “It’s not fair! It’s not fair! Everything was looking up so well…” Eggman sprayed chibi-tears, whining about his mishap of trusting Ember.

“Sir… if I may…” Orbot hovers over, typing some things into the monitor as Eggman throws his tantrum, kicking and crying, before looking over to the screen.

“Hmm?”

Cubot wipes his tear with a handerchief, “Here, blow.” He instructs lovingly as Eggman turns back, broken down and defeated, and blows his nose into it.

“Yuck! This blows!” Cubot didn’t like the snot on his hand and ended up making a pun as the handerchief stuck to him. He waved his robotic hand frantically around in disgust, “Ahh..ahhh!!!” flying around in despaired distraught before Orbot showed the mercenary group he mentioned beforehand.

“There. Now these are some of our finest allies! You should hire them.” Orbot scanned the screen closer in on the face of their leader…

“Oddly enough, he’s never known defeat. Sound promising, boss?” Orbot turned to look back at him as the screen kept closing in on the main leader…

Eggman sees them,…

Then the leader.

He smirks with a shine in his glasses…

“They’re perfect. Hehehe…hohoho…WHAHAHAHA!”

End.

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gillytweed · 6 years

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Hanged Men and Angels - A Critical Role oneshot

Whoop whoop, finished another one. This time around it’s an AU about how Molly met Yasha. I see so many fics making Molly the one who’s suffering so I decided to switch it up a bit. Feel free to see it as shipping, but personally I see them having a close sibling vibe.

It was interesting what one came across when you traveled everywhere. Small town, large city, tiny settlement that couldn’t even be called a hamlet, they all had secrets. Some were boring, like the typical “Miller cheated with the Farmer’s daughter,” others were unsurprising like “Young Nobleman dead after being far too involved with the local crime,” and then there was this town. A small close knit town a ways down south. Seemed normal enough, a few odd characters here and there on the road, but really who was he to judge. However, the closer they moved towards the town, the more uneasy he grew.

“Molly, when we get in take Bosin and get a replacement wheel for the cart.” Desmond strode by, barking out orders to everyone he passed. Molly simply exchanged glances with Bosin and nodded. It wasn’t an unreasonable order, if delivered a little sharply. One of the carts back wheels had been damaged when they’d road over some particularly rough terrain, and at best it looked like it would survive a few more miles before properly breaking, thus getting a replacement before the inevitable would be wise.

Once they’d set up camp, the large carnival tent looming tall, he and Bosin made their way further into town. The unease grew, feeling like a tightness in his chest and a slight shake in his limbs. He hid it behind his usual swagger and grin, but he couldn’t help how his eyes darted everywhere, the need to be cautious pressing on his mind.

He stayed near Bosin, asking around the small market square until they, with some difficulty and wary looks, managed to find the only wainwright in town. The man lived almost on the very edge of the settlement, only a road away from farmland and the local lumber mill, but as he and Bosin continued with their task the tightness in his chest grew, almost becoming a tugging that pushed him forward.

They came to the wainwrights workshop, a large building that almost resembled a barn with a bold hanging sign that declared the shops name and services. A ways past it, a bridge arched over a twisting river, the road curving around a gnarled old oak tree, before stopping at the doors to the lumber mill.

The sight of the building made him pause, making Bosin swerve with a huff to avoid running into him. The half-Orc looked at him for a moment, debating whether he should ask, but instead turned with a sigh, pushing into the shop and leaving the Tiefling alone.

Leaning against the short fence that ringed the workshops front yard, he took out his cards and began to shuffle. The urge to keep his hands busy was overwhelming as he looked at the lumber mill. He shuffled the cards several ways, eyes never leaving the lumber mill. It was like any other mill, a large wheel turned by the roaring waters of the river, tall sturdy supports, nothing remarkable whatsoever, but it intrigued him.

“Molly,” Bosin’s voice jolted him from his thoughts, two cards slipping from his fingers and fluttering to the ground. “Got the wheel, lets go.” Bosin didn’t wait as he hefted the new wheel over his shoulder and began walking. Molly bent and scooped up his cards, pausing for a moment to check what they were.

The Angel and the Hanged-man.

Molly couldn’t sit still as the Carnival began. His leg bounced as he read fortunes, his smile a little more forced than usual whenever the Angel or the Hanged-man was drawn. Even Orna commented on his odd behaviour, which he waved off like everyone else’s inquiries.

The tightness in his chest hadn’t eased, instead it had grown worse. It was like a tugging on his lungs, hooking on his ribs as it tried to pull him with great urgency. He had a hunch about where it wanted him to go, and as soon as the last of the evening’s patrons were through the entrance, he was off.

This late at night, the town square was essentially empty, just two of the local guard on patrol and a few alley cats skulking in the shadows. It was rather simple slipping past, staying just out of the lights reach as he skirted the edges of buildings and darted between patches of darkness. The rest of the streets were similarly quiet, a guard or two, maybe a night creature, but nothing more. No candles flickered in cottage windows, and the hanging lamps at each street corner were weak and guttering. If he didn’t know better, he’d think that the local folk had fled, leaving their homes empty and abandoned.

Despite the easy travel, the way to the wainwrights felt far longer than it had that morning. Maybe it was because of his sense of urgency, or the slow closing of his throat, but the time seemed to stretch on forever as the moon slowly ascended in the sky, casting silver shadows across the ground.

When he did finally reach the workshop, equally silent like the rest of the town, the tightness eased and for the first time that night he managed to take a deep, shaky, breath. The tugging continued, more gently now, almost like a guiding hand resting on the small of his back, directing him further down the road, over the bridge, and up to the doors of the lumber mill.

A flickering light shone from beneath the door. Odd, considering the rest of the town was eerily dark. Pressing close to the door, he tried to hear if anyone was inside. It was quiet, the only sounds being the rustling of the wind in the trees.

Then a piercing scream of pain had him jerking back.

Hands on his scimitars handles, he slunk around the side searching for a window, and attempted to peek inside when he found one. The glass was far too dirty to properly see through, coated in dirt and sawdust, but shadows moved across the space, intangible and imposing. Swallowing, he scrubbed away the dirt in one small corner, allowing for a slightly clearer view.

Inside there was the expected equipment, the smudged outline of the large table saws and lumber piled on the far wall. In the middle of the room were two figures, one kneeling and restrained by chains that stretched their arms out and away from their body, the other one tall and muscled as they circled the other predatorily. He couldn’t discern the sex of either, the glass still too filthy to see much detail.

He flinched when the standing figures hand darted out, grabbing something on the kneeling ones back and yanking, drawing another agonizing scream. He felt the tugging in his chest again, like claws digging deep into his flesh were pulling him back towards the entrance. He wasn’t even aware of what he was doing until he’d pulled open the mill doors and drawn his blades.

Now properly able to see the situation, his breath caught in his throat.

A young woman knelt in chains, crimson blood pooling around her knees. It dripped down her arms from where her wrists were bound by manacles, the metal having worn into the skin. Her head hung against her chest, dark hair falling to cover her face. A man stood behind her, hands bloody and eyes wide in shock.

Molly stepped into the mill slowly, shoulders hunched as he held his swords ready at his sides. His thoughts raced and a foreign anger crawling up his throat. There was no conceivable reason he could think of that would justify this.

Finally coming to stand in front of the woman, he could see the resemblance between the two. Sharp features, pale skin, and dark hair, although now he could see the black faded into white in the long hair of the woman. He felt the skin of his face and chest burn with rage

“Is this your daughter?” The man was far too old to be her brother and the physical similarities were undeniable. The man swallowed visibly, his eyes never leaving the tiefling and his glinting blades.

“Is this what you do to your family?” Molly stepped forward, raising his swords to a more threatening stance. He didn’t remember his birth family, but the very thought of someone hurting anyone at the Carnival, his new family, made his blood boil. To hurt someone you were supposed to love and cherish was unthinkable to him.

The man turned quickly, lunging for one of the axes hanging on the wall. Molly, lifted his swords to defend, but darted forward, nearly slipping on the slick floor, when the man swung towards the chained woman.

He managed to swipe the axe away with one of his swords just before it hit the woman’s back, and with another swing the handle was sliced through. The metal head fell with a thud as a spray of fresh blood splattered on the floor. The man tumbled back, falling and slumping against the wall as blood bubbled and dripped from his mouth.

Molly didn’t move, blades at the ready until the man stopped twitching, body going limp. Lowering his swords, he looked down, surprised to see two different coloured eyes looking up at him, one green and the other a soft lavender, both clouded with pain. Suddenly the adrenaline seemed to drain out of him, now replaced with worry and concern.

Licking his lips nervously, he sheathed his blades and knelt down so they were eye level. Closer now, she seemed younger, more a girl than a fully grown woman. Bringing his hand up to brush hair away from her eyes, he felt pity squeeze his heart when she flinched away from his touch.

“Hello,” He spoke softly, like he would when Toya came to him after a bad dream. “My name’s Molly.” The girl remained silent as he looked at the chains binding her wrists, the skin torn and bleeding from the harsh metal. “Let’s get you out of these, hm?”

More silence as he glanced around quickly for the keys before drawing a lockpick from one of his coats many pockets. It took a few moments of careful maneuvering but the lock came undone easily enough with a soft click before the cuff fell open.

The girl let out a pained breath, wet sounding like she was close to tears, as he carefully removed the cuff and helped her tuck her arm tight against her body. He was surprised she wasn’t in tears already, considering the blood and obvious agony.

The other cuff came off with the same amount of ease and the girl practically collapses against him once she was free. His arms circled her torso instinctively, but he was quick to lift them from her back when she let out a pitiful whimper of pain. His breath caught at the mess of bloody feathers that came away on his hand, everything clicking into place.

She was an Aasimar.

“Oh you poor thing,” He murmured softly as he adjusted his hold on her to offer more support. One of his hands found her hair, fingers running through it in slow gentle strokes. She slumped against him, her body growing limp as she gave in to her obvious exhaustion. When he pulled away, tilting her head just a little to see her face, she looked barely conscious, eyes glassy and half lidded.

“I’m going to get you out of here, alright?” She gave an almost imperceptible nod in response as she struggled to remain in the waking world. “Can you tell me your name?”

She blinked up at him, then managed to breath out “Yasha” before her eyes fluttered closed. Her breathing evened as she fell into unconsciousness, and Molly heaved a deep sigh as he tugged her on to his back, realizing how tall she was as her feet brushed the ground. He wasn’t a particularly strong man, but he was determined not to leave the poor girl. Groaning with effort, he stood, bouncing a little until she settled more comfortably, then without looking back at the gruesome interior of the mill, slipped out the door.

Returning to the Carnival took a long while, needing to take time to rest as well as waiting for the perfect moments to dart past any wandering guards, but he managed. He could still hear the show going when he made it back to camp, the sound of objects being crushed and broken telling him it was nearing its end.

Being as gentle as he could, Molly hoisted Yasha into the bed of the main cart and up onto the cot Gustav generally slept on, laying her on her stomach so she wasn’t pressing on her wounds. He pulled out the Carnival’s healer’s kit from under the cot, tossing the lid open and grimacing at the lack of supplies within. There were a few bandages and a pot of salve, but that was it.

Looking Yasha over, he winced at the mess that was her back. Bloody and broken clumps of feathers, torn skin, and what looked like the small shafts of growing feathers littered her shoulder blades. Her head rested on a lumpy pillow, her face turned towards him. Even in sleep her face was creased with pain, eyes flickering restlessly under their lids.

Sitting for a moment, he gathered himself. First, he needed to get rid of the blood, then he could worry about tending the wounds.

Grabbing a bowl of water and cloth, he set about wiping away the bloody mess. For the first bit, the cloth would catch on the broken feather shafts, making Yasha whimper in pain and him feel a stab of guilt. He quickly realised that following the direction of the feathers caused the least pain, and clumps of blood and feathers soon came away, falling to the floor in limp piles.

He was half way done when Gustav hopped up into the cart, the man paused at the bloody sight before him. “Do I want to ask?” He simply sounded tired when he spoke, resigned more than anything.

“Probably not,” Molly shrugged as he got back to work, making more feather clumps fall. Gustav sighed, grinding his palms into his eyes before dragging his hands down his face.

“I’ll go get Orna.”

Molly sat with his back resting against Yasha’s cot, listening to the soothing rhythm of her breathing as he shuffled his cards idly. She’d fallen in and out of consciousness over the last couple days, but she looked better than the night he’d found her. While still pale, her skin was cleaned of blood, and the broken feathers had been removed.

The feathers that had managed to survive where small and soft, downy and newly grown. That, along with the scars that littered her skin, told him that what he’d stumbled upon hadn’t been the first time. The thought made his skin crawl with anger, and for a moment he wished he’d left the man alive, simply so he could go make his death far more agonizing.

A small groan had him turning, a small smile quirking his lips when he saw Yasha’s eyes open. Her gaze was unfocused for a few moments, but sharpened when she let out a small cough, the jolt shifting her back.

“How do you feel?” Molly asked, keeping his voice soft and movements relaxed.

“Awful,” The answer was blunt, her voice a croaking groan. “Like someone ripped my back open.”

“Well, you’re not wrong,” Molly shifted onto his knees so he could get a better look at Yasha’s back. He and Orna had decided against bandages, not wanting to accidentally damage the remaining feathers, so instead they’d soaked cloths in water mixed with the last of the salve and laid them over the wounds. “But I think you’ll live.”

That drew a soft huffing laugh from her, then a groan as her back shifted. He sighed empathetically as he adjusted the cloths. It would take a long while for her to heal, the only issue being with whom.

“Do you have anyone in town that could help you?” She stiffened at his question, her lavender eye gazed at him critically. He could practically see her mind turning as she tried to find the meaning behind his question.

“It was a public mill.” She replied, promptly turning her head away from him, but it was all he needed to know. If the mill was public then anyone could use it, meaning the entire town probably had known what had been happening yet had done nothing. He was suddenly very glad they were leaving soon.

This girl had no one, much like him when he’d woken weak and ill on the side of the road, memory gone other than the whisper of his name. The Carnival had shown him kindness, so he was determined to pass the kindness on.

“Well then, I guess-” He was interrupted by the appearance of Orna hopping into the cart, her face stony.

“Guards are coming from the town. Do we need to hide her?” Yasha turned back to look at them both, gaze wary, and slightly fearful if he had to guess. Molly watched her for a moment, chewing his lip. The guards would be looking for her, and if they were caught the entire Carnival would be in deep shit.

“Ah fuck it,” He huffed a sigh and properly stood, stepping over to the large chest where they stored the performance tents canvas. “In here.” Orna considered him for a moment, eyes narrowing suspiciously, then nodded.

He began shifting the canvas to create a sort of nest for Yasha to lay in while Orna helped her sit up and don a large shirt that had been graciously donated by Bosin. Together they helped the tall girl stand and shuffle over to the chest, easing her down as gently as they could. Yasha held in her pain well, only letting out soft grunts and gasps. She groaned tiredly once she’d been settled in the canvas, curled with her knees tucked up against her chest. It was a tight space, but it would have to do.

“I’m going to cover you as best I can. Don’t move until we tell you, even if we open the lid got it?” Molly waited for her to nod, then began covering her in layer upon layer of fabric until it looked just as it had before. Finally, he stuffed his coin purse in one of the chests corners near her feet, closing the lid just as a guard clambered up into the cart. His weight made it shake, armour clanking as they swayed side to side.

“Oi, what’s in there?” His voice drew another guard over, the man peering in over the carts edge. “Open it up.”

Molly tried not to let his nervousness show. Glancing back at Orna, he saw her perched on the bed, space miraculously clear of the medical supplies they’d been using. Silently sending a thankful prayer to the heavens, he began stuttering out an excuse, trying to remember all he’d ever learned about redirection and trickery.

“Well, I- you see gentlemen, I hardly think you need to-”

“Oh we need to, we’re investigating a murder, and nothing is to be overlooked.” The guards gaze hardened, eyes glinting.

Molly fumbled with words for a moment, then he heaved a sigh, making it sound like he’d been caught red handed. He turned with slow shuffling steps and lifted the chests lid fully to reveal the mass of canvas. “We use this to store the tent, but I-” He reached down and grabbed the coin purse, hand gently brushing Yasha’s foot.

He hefted the bag, the coins clinking within. He smiled sheepishly and the guard rolled his eyes with a huff, interest now lost. He did a cursory scan of cart, eyeing the two Carnies before turning on his heel and hopping down. Once they were gone, both he and Orna let out relieved sighs.

In case he needed to repeat the act, he returned the coin purse to the chest, resting his fingers on Yasha’s ankle gently. “Stay in here until I come back, we’ll handle this.” He felt the touch of fingers on his wrist, gentle, like she was trying to convey a million things in the brief moment of contact before he drew his hand away.

They’d been delayed in leaving for a few hours, but once they were on the road and several miles from the town, Molly lifted the chests lid and shifted the canvas aside. He couldn’t help but smile when Yasha’s face was revealed, relaxed and soft in restful sleep. Once again, she reminded him of Toya, someone who needed care and protection. Until she was healed at least.

He’d saw and felt her muscles as he’d tended to her. There was little doubt that she was strong and capable, simply weak from her injuries. A little time and she’d be back on her feet, able to do who knows what. The signs of her strength meant it was no doubt impressive, and he was sure she’d fit right in if she decided to stay.

‘Maybe she’d want to join the Carnival as a strong woman?’ He thought to himself idly, setting the chests lid off to the side before settling on the bed. He wasn’t foolish enough to try and move her on his own, so it was best that he left her to sleep.

His fingers brushed through newly grown feathers carefully, applying salve to the last of the healing scars. He felt Yasha shiver under his touch, hunching a little bit away, then straightening to allow him to continue. He shuffled a little bit closer on the bedroll, his crossed legs almost pressed against her back. Flickering candle light filled their tent, allowing him to find the places without salve rather easily.

After a good month on the road, Yasha had healed well. The wounds had closed, leaving raised ridges of knotted scar tissue, but her feathers had grown back to create a soft dark covering on her shoulders. Some places were a bit patchy where the scars were a bit too thick, but overall they were barely noticeable with how densely the rest of the feathers had grown in.

Once he was done, he patted her shoulder gently then moved to put away the healing supplies. As he did so, Yasha slipped her shirt back on, then her cloak. He’d discovered she was much the opposite of him. Quiet and prefered to cover her oddities where as he was loud and proud about his own. It was an interesting dynamic, but one that worked well, or at least he thought so.

“Shall we go get dinner?” He asked as he stretched, making his back pop deliciously. Yasha nodded, heaving a deep sigh as she stood, then pulled him to his feet. They’d started sharing a tent a week or so after they’d left her hometown, a good arrangement considering it seemed like Yasha was the only one besides Toya who could handle Molly’s presence for such a long period of time.

They slipped out of the tent after putting out the candle, and joined everyone else around the evening fire. A spiced stew was bubbling over the flames, the strong smell making his stomach grumble in want. Without a word they sat down on any spots available, squishing onto the two logs that Bosin and Yasha had dragged over earlier in the evening.

Molly smiled as Toya skipped over to Yasha, who smiled kindly as Toya began chattering softly then clapped happily when Yasha allowed her to braid her hair. He’d been right when he thought that she’d fit right in. Toya had taken to her almost immediately, and the rest quickly followed, even Desmond had seemed to like her, or at least tolerated her better than he did Molly.

Taking out his deck of cards, he began shuffling, letting the action soothe him as he reveled in the feeling of being surrounded by his family. A strange family, but family nonetheless. He felt relaxed and protected with no need to worry knowing that they all had his back. They took care of their own after all.

#my writing #Critical Role #critical role yasha #critical role mollymauk

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