#primroses come pretty close too but i'm not sure

[echantedtoon]

Dragon's Treasure Ch10 Tamer Of Dragons (ft. Regidrago)

(WARNING: The pokemon does have a few scratches, reader also gets a sprained ankle but again nothing too serious.)

Well...That little reunion between the both of you was awkward, but pleasant!

And you weren't really sure what would be in store for you all later after your work shift but you soon found out just a few hours later. The rest of the day had went by fairly well. You just did some duties behind the counter, cleaned off a few tables, brought out some food- All mundane things while keeping an eye on the time and not soon long after the sky was started to get into the late evening and your shift was over, but Raihan didn't show back up during that entire time. You hung up your apron, bid your boss good bye as he began close up procedures, and then walked out the door- Or you would've before everyone still left in the store looked up all of a sudden when the door slammed back open in a hurry, the bell above the door ringing like crazy from the sudden hit the door gave as everyone looked over and you blinked in surprise at what you saw. Standing there in the doorway, was Raihan. The gym leader was standing there in the doorway heaving and panting like he just ran a hundred mile marathon, a handful of pretty wildflowers clutched in one free hand as he gazed around the small cafe. His eyes locked onto yours in an instant and he immediately held up his free hand in a wave.

"H-Hey, Y/n!," he called with a nervous smile, free hand coming to rub the back of his neck. "I- Um...S-Sorry if I'm late."

You blinked for a moment before shaking your head. "Uh. No. You're right on time. In fact you're a little early." You motioned to the clock. "I just got off work actually."

"Really? Phew. I-I mean! AH!! I-I knew that! T-Totally wasn't worried I messed up the timing. Haha!" He tried not to go red faced when you giggled at his reaction. "See? T-Told ya I had everything under control! Nothing's too much of a challenge for the great Raihan!" 

You rose a brow amused. "I knew you could do it. So what's with the plants there?" You nodded towards the flowers he still held. "Taking up gardening as a hobby now?"

He blinked glancing between his hand for a moment before shoving the hand holding the flowers out to you. "Um!" You blinked and leaned back as he practically shoved the small flowers in your face. "T-These are for you! I-I just saw them outside the gate and it reminded me a bit of you."

You slowly blinked at the cheerfully colorful flowers before slowly reaching up to take from Raihan. Raihan...got you flowers? You stared a bit more before smiling and lifting them higher to smell the sweet scent. "These are..beautiful." You looked back at him. "Thank you. What flowers are they?"

He smiled somewhat bashfully before shrugging. "Oh, y'know. Just some wild primroses. They reminded me of you so I just picked them real quick." You let out a small 'Oh' smiling at the primroses you held. That was nice of him. "They symbolize positivity and courage." You blinked back at him and his softened smile. "That's why the-...They remind me so much of you. Y-You're a very kind an-and brace person, Y/n. In fact you c-can say that's what made me fall for you in the first place."

Your face lit up brighter than a christmas tree at the bold statement before you coughed and looked away. "Yeah? W-Well thanks anyways. I guess this was a good move on your part."

He seemed to light up more. "Well of course! Any lovely date deserves some lovely flowers. Though I can't say it compares to the way you look."

He leaned back just before you could swing the flowers at his face. "F-Flattery will get you no where! Besides, I thought you were going to take me out for dinner like you promised."

Oh shoot! He almost forgot about that part! With a smile he casually gestured back to the door with a bow. "Well then my lady, will you give me the honor of escorting such a lovely maiden to the diner?~", he asked holding out his arm for you to take.

You rolled your eyes but accepted his invitation, hanging your arm around his much to his happiness. "Such a gentlemen. Guess I'll have to accept as long as you're not a dragon in disguise waiting to carry me off to your tower."

He chuckled using his other hand to push the door back open for you. "Lucky for you I'm not that kind of dragon."

"Really?," you asked amused following him out. "Then what kind of dragon are you, Mr. Raihan?"

"I happen to be the kind of dragon who defends the princess," he proclaimed proudly placing a hand to his chest and head held high. "Who wouldn't be intimidated by me?~"

"Oh so I'm a princess now?"

"Better. You're yourself. That means you have a heart of gold, and as you know, us dragons llooovve gold." You blinked looking as he smiled at you. "And what am I to do but appreciate the dragon's treasure.~"

You stared at him silently, face lit up more than the sun-

"ACK!?" He spat out and shook his head when all of a sudden he was harmlessly wacked by some flowers.

"I-I-I said flattery won't get you anywhere!!"

"AHAHAHAHA!! It must do something! You're really cute when you're blushing-"

"STOP IT!!"

For a second date it certainly didn't feel too much like one. After all it was just a quick dinner at that small curry corner in the train station again. You were really enjoying the curry the chef could cook and Raihan finally coaxed you into trying that desert he recommended before. The pecha berry short cake with the combee honey glaze and cheri soda float he mentioned when he first saw you in Hammerlocke two months ago. You wanted to refuse but he insisted and you'd be lying if you said you weren't curious about what it tasted like, but you were sure glad you took him up on his offer. Pecha berries tasted very similar too peaches albeit a bit more sour and combee honey added too it just made it sweeter. It tasted sweeter than the normal honey you tasted back in your world. And Cheri berries were just regular cherries, or at least to you they were since they tasted the same as drinking cherry soda. You might wanna ask Chef Steven for his famous desert recipe later if he was nice enough to lend it to you. The conversation you two had was surprisingly casual as well. He mostly asked about you trips around Galar and what had happened in the time since he last saw you which surprised you greatly. You couldn't remember anyone else taking time out bothering to ask you how you day was or if you were doing well.

"-and so then I finally found the guy who ordered the food in the supermarket," you said with a groan remembering your time as an unofficial errand boy for Hulbury, "You'd think he'd be more specific with his directions! But no. The free food was almost not worth the entire thing!"

Raihan could only listen with a grimace. "Really? That had to be so confusing. I mean I don't think Lee would even be that bad with directions."

"I know right! That's what I was thinking." You sighed. "I don't know what was more humiliating. Being an unpaid delivery guy or apologizing to Oleana and Rose."

"You did what you had to do in that moment or what you thought best," Raihan comforted with a look, "I don't blame you for that. I mean we both didn't know they'd-"...he silently trailed off. You both already well knew what he was referring too.

"Yeah." You shook your head sighing once again. "But that was a long time ago now. Things are in the past and I'm just looking forward to the future...And speaking of which." Your head looked up towards the sky just outside the train station. It had gotten dark, but not completely night time. Must've just been sunset. "I better get home. Silver's probably wondering where I am by now." Turning back to him Raihan blinked when your hand reached around into your pocket and brought out your wallet.

"Whoa! Hey!" He frowned a bit and caught your attention back onto him. Without a word he gestured to said wallet in your hands. "What are you doing?"

You paused obviously confused. "Um...Paying my half of the dinner? I'm not just going to let you pay for everything y'know. That'd be messed up of me to expect you to pay for everything even if you did invite me out."   You...weren't going to let him spend a whole lot on you? he ended up staring at you longer than he meant too because you asked him. "What? Is there something on my face?"

"N-No. It's just that..no girl's b-been that considerate before to me. I-I didn't think you could get anymore perfect," he mumbled out without thinking and it made you blink before your own face was shot pink........!? He blinked. "I-I mean-! HHHAAAAA!!" He gave an awkward smile. "My bad. Autocorrect."

"You said that out loud," you pointed out changing the subject, "B-But I still can't let you pay for me especially on the second date! That's nuts!"

"Hey. I promised I'd take you out to dinner and I meant it. My idea, my treat." You didn't look very convinced other than your still red face frowning at him, so he sighed and held up his hands. "Ok. How about this? You let me pay this time and then next time we go out it'll be your treat. Say about. Mmm. I dunno-" He rolled a hand looking hopeful at you with a smile. "Maybe hypothetically next Wednesday night. Maybe hypothetically we go to the movies right around the corner and maybe just hypothetically have a good time."

You gave a dry chuckled before you looked at him in disbelief. "Is this your way of asking me out for a third time?"

"Psh. What?" He waved a hand leaning back in his chair. "No. I would never. I was only giving out a hypothetical scenario where we can have more fun. Buuutt-" He gave a sly grin your way. "I certainly would've be apposed to something like that if it were to happen."

You rolled your eyes. "Fine. You know what time I get off."

How did you let yourself get talked into these things? Oh well. At least you'd get the chance to pay him back. After having him pay and setting off out of the train station he looked at you hands in his pockets before nodding off towards the way off back towards your home. 

"So..can I walk you home?"

To which you shook your head no. "Thanks but I'll be alright. I remember my way back so don't worry. Besides, it's late and I wouldn't want to keep you."

"Oh. ..Well can I walk you out of Hammerlocke then?"

You gave a small amused sigh at him but nodded making him smile. "Sure. Why not have a big, strong dragon escort little old me through his territory?"

"That's me!," he boldly stated puffing out his chest and giving a smug smile, "No one who dare challenge the mighty tamer of dragons!"

That got a pleased reaction out of you in the form of giggles, before you started walking and to no one's surprise, he followed right next to you smiling proudly at himself for getting you to laugh. The sun had set a little lower and had already started to replace the light with darkness and stars. When you both came to the exit of Hammerlocke you both stopped and you looked up to him with a smile.

"Thanks for dinner! It was more enjoyable than I thought it would be," you thanks with a bright smile and small pink to your cheeks.

He causually waved you off. "Hey. No problem! I can't wait to hang out next week! You'll love the new movie coming out! They say you can see Melony in the background if you look hard enough."

You nodded back to him. "I'm looking forward to it. Just don't forget I'm the one paying. Or else-"

"Hey. Don't come at me. I can take a hint. Besides I think your bite's worse than your bark, Sassy."

"Oh don't worry. I don't bite." With a sly smile you reached up and he blinked when the end of your finger booped his nose. "Much.~" He froze staring cross-eyed at your hand before back at your turning form. "I'll see you later, Dragon Boy. Thanks again for the food!"

And you then left, walking away from the stunned gym leader who had stared after your form disappearing into the dark like a gengar's shadow. Ever so slowly his hand reached up to lightly graze his nose. Immediately his face lit up a bright pink and his heartbeat picked up yet again that day. Oh the things you made him feel-

Next's week date was the same after when he showed up to your after work and after your closing shift the two of you headed off for Hammerlocke's small theater. Honestly you didn't even know Hammerlocke had one since it was so small. The movie was nice. Just your standard cheesy and predictable romantic comedy soap opera, but it was still nice. Especially considering this was your very first time going to a movie theater since you were really young, that bit of knowledge surprised Raihan but you were glad when he didn't pry you more on it. And you did get to repay him for dinner by buying the tickets and food. They weren't all too expensive anyhow so it wasn't any big deal. It was really nice just being able to sit down and spend time with someone so domestically that didn't involve someone nagging you or with any ulterior motives...Well unless you count Raihan asking you out for a fourth time after that, but despite what your first impressions of him were, you found yourself relaxing around him more and more. Maybe it was because you had gotten used to him and his personality? Maybe it was the way he looked so nervous and flustered whenever he asked you out again or apologized if he thought he overstepped? Or maybe it was because his antics made you laugh more than you ever had in a long, long time?...Or maybe it was the butterflies in your stomach or the way your face always seemed to be a rainbow of pink and reds these days but you found yourself more than once staring at him for a few seconds too long, or staring at the doors of the cafe waiting to see his familiar face. Maybe it was because you finally had a friend you could see on a regular bases or maybe-...Just maybe. It was something more? Time passed and things began to change. The cool air hit as the leaves started to change color and pokemon started collecting nuts and berries to be stored away for hibernation or winter food supplies. Fruit started falling from your fruit trees and you had fun watching all the wild pokemon coming around collecting them. And you didn't see Raihan everyday. After all he was still a gym leader and legal guardian of three children with responsibilities, on top of that he was a famous man as the top gym leader. He had appearances to make. So it's not everyday you'd see him as he'd often be doing paperwork, managing his gym, traveling off to make appearances around Galar or exhibition matches, or just spending time with his trainers. He's mentioned them a few times when he'd stop by to buy food for them. You think he mentioned one of his current trips was to watch one of Camilla's soccer games in Wyndon. And that was fine by you. It'd be ludacris to expect him to come see you all the time. Besides you had plenty of things to keep you busy. The old cottage needed a bunch of cleaning and a few repairs which you were working on. There was a leak in the roof that needed to be patched up, the front door hinges creaked too loud causing your ears pain, and the hot water would randomly turn off at the worst times. It was a work in progress but things were slowly getting in order. There was way more upsides to this place than downsides anyways. You could just let your pokemon run around freely and there was a free food supply! It was his most recent trip away however was when Raihan noticed something strange, he had just flown back in the night before from Wyndon again. Something had been up with the new Chairwoman and she had wanted to ask him about some questions concerning Mr. Rose's old goings on with the powerplant, unfortunately he couldn't exactly answer a whole lot of her questions since he barely knew himself what was happening behind closed doors. Oh! And there was also that other thing mentioned to him beforehand-

He had blinked staring at the Chairwoman sitting behind her desk giving him a very serious look. "I'm sorry...You want to what again?"

"We want to release some pokemon into the reserve just behind Hammerlocke," Chairwoman Dahlia spoke to him not hesitating to get straight to the point, "Recently Sonia's come into possession of some ancient reanimated fossilized pokemon thanks to a trainer, three of which are partially dragon types. She had the idea of seeing how well they fair in the wild hoping to study some of their behaviors. I for one think it would be a great idea and trust she'll do a great job."

His brow rose higher and he gave her a deadpanned look over. "I mean-...Yeah that certainly sounds like something up Sonia's alley, but then why did you ask me to come all the way here for?''

"I'd like you to help Sonia's oversee this project."

"Wha- ME?!" He pointed at himself surprised she'd even suggest such a thing. "But why?"

"Simple. You've handled dragon types for years, if anyone could help her if anything goes wrong it'd be you."

"W-Wha- ...W-With all due respect-"

"With ALL due respect, Mr. Raihan," she cut him off with an icy tone that would put ice to shame with how cold it seemed to be and it seemed to certainly freeze him over and she wasn't even looking at him! Just shuffling some papers like all they were discussing was the weather. "There is no one else I would trust with her. Not now and certainly not after that stunt made by the brothers. I've been watching very closely to my gym circuit and the people who run them. You have a very special connection with those pokemon I haven't seen anyone else have." He didn't say too much after that and she took his silence as compliance. "The procedures have already been taken. Sonia should meet up with you when you get back. Until then I suggest you keep doing what you've been doing, Mr. Raihan. You methods are more affective than you think."

But he was glad the meeting with her was quick either way. Meant he could just get back to you-...To HAMMERLOCKE faster. He was sure everyone was missing him already, and he could use a nice break from traveling, maybe he could convince you to come watch him train the triplets! That'd be fun! Or maybe you'd even battle himself! That'd be even better! Training with you sounded like a wonderful bonding experience. Might help you become closer with each other's pokemon too. He fell asleep that night and woke up bright and early with a smile on his face. He couldn't wait to see you again and that surprised look on your face when he surprised you with his presence. Y/n probably didn't even know he was back yet! So he left for the cafe at a time he knew you'd be there, stopping for a small group of six tourist that wanted his picture, before continuing on to the cafe and walking in. The ringing of the bell going off and smiling expecting to see you standing there-...But frowned when he noticed you weren't at your place behind the counter. Instead he was met with the old store owner who smiled back noticing the gym leader's presence.

"Well if it isn't the Dragon of Hammerlocke himself," he man greeted leaning against the counter, "Built up an appetite while you were away?"

"Uh.." Raihan looked around again before shaking his head and looking back at the owner, "No not really." His hands slunk back into his pockets in his slight disappointment at not seeing you. Was it your day off? "I just stopped by to see Y/n. Is she here?"

To his surprise the cafe owner frowned and shook his head back. "No. I haven't seen her all morning. I don't know where she is."

A glass shattering sound went off in Raihan's mind as he froze and his body became rigid. His mouth pressed into a tight, thin line. "...What was that?"

"Yeah," the owner said scratching his head in a confused manner, "Haven't seen her all morning, which is strange because usually she's here by now. I would've tried to call her but I don't have her number."

Y/n doesn't have a phone. So even if he did try to call her nothing would've came from it. But...Why weren't you here?! You were always here whenever he showed up! And it wasn't like Y/n to just leave someone stranded like this without good reason or giving them a heads up. That wasn't like her. That wasn't like Y/n at all! But then...Where WAS Y/n!? Obviously she wasn't at work! But where was she if not where she was supposed to be?! Home was the most obvious answer but why didn't she tell anyone she wasn't feeling well beforehand. But was she sick?! Or hurt!? A spark of panic went through his systems at the thought of Y/n hurt in anyway! The flashbacks of just your limb self hanging in Leon's arms and being skidded off to the hospital was still strongly there in his mind and he could feel his heartrate pick up. A hummed feeling of panic set in. His world blurred and noises slurred and stopped about. If he didn't lean on the door he might faint-

B O O M!!

An earthquake hit. Or what sounded like an earthquake?? A large sound similar to that of far away exploding dynamite was heard overhead and caused both men to jump. Raihan yelped as he tripped to half a knee in shock and his face turned wide eyed up towards the ceiling, everything around him lightly shaking. The cafe owner also looking up clinging to the counter as the light shaking stopped and everything went still.

"What on Arceus's green earth was that!?," the older man shouted in fright after a few tense moments of silence.

"I-..I-I don't know." Ever so slowly he stood up legs feeling slightly like jello.

What WAS that!? There was no dynamax battles scheduled for today. Sebastian would've told him last night if there was, and there was little chance Sebastian would forget something like that! The last time he's ever felt anything like that was-....Was...Raihan's face paled, eyes blowing fully wide in horrific realization. The last time something like THIS happened was when those brothers broke into his gym and provoked that legendary pokemon into appearing! 

SLAM!!!

The door slammed open, smacking into the wall and reverberating the glass panels in it from the forced, threatening to break it into a million shards. Bells ringing in his ears. Panic set in the gym leader now as he looked around the sky. Many more heads. Many more people were also panicked looking up towards the sky as with a roar of thunder and fire, a bright white line shot across it within the not so far away distance. It-..It looked like a flamethrower combined with a comet before it fizzled out into nothing but a thing trail of smoke within seconds preceded by a similar booming noise from before. Ocean eye pupils shrank at the identification of a hyper beam. A very LARGE hyper beam from a very large pokemon. Coming from the direction of the nature reserve. Coming from the direction of HER-

"Y/n!"

Feet slapped against payment which soon after turned into grass as he ran. The billions of plant blades brushing against his legs as they blurred past him. Leaves and trees and plants meant nothing to him as he rain past. Heart pounding in his chest, his arms receiving scratches from slapping branches back and forth, left and right to get through them. To Y/n. Rocks sinking deeper and deeper into his stomach the longer it took. Until with one last brush past a bush, he broke through the tree line into a small circular clearing and nearly fell to his knees from the heat. Thin trails of dark smoke trailed upwards from the even blacker earth, a thick comet trail leading from right in front of him permanently stung into the ground burnt by star fire leading to a massacre of trees and was once a night looking piece of the clearing. And who's fault was this was at the very other end of the blackened trail. 

Between the whisps of thin smoke and sparks of leftover embers, there the giant stood. As red and circular as the sun above and as dangerous as the fire it shot from the spherical monster that dared to cause such a mess. And all he could was stare back at this monster. Blue eyes meeting several other blue eyes, seven in total, as they made eye contact. The red thing regarded him with the stare one would give if he was just a small wurmple passing through, big enough to be acknowledged but not big enough to be given anything more than a sideways glance and nothing more. A noise like a deep sound of muffled static popped out from the thing, it's unusual floating limbs giving rotations around it's body a few times like a stretch given out by arms. The rotating objects circling it's body like a planet were possibly the strangest thing on the thing. Like..Someone had taken the blackened skull of an ancient dragon of long ago and separated them before plastering them to rotate around this red sun's orb as limbs. Did it even matter what it was? The thing didn't pay him another glance, choosing to slowly rotate around on it's stubby legs behind it towards movement, and that's when he saw it. Some kind of large scratch on his backside. Was it in some kind of fight? That might explain why it was rampaging earlier. He looked back again up to the thing as it began slowly walking back towards something and that something gave off the slightest movement caught the man's attention away from whatever that pokemon was and back towards something laying there. Something that made the muscles in his body freeze and the blood in his circulation turn to ice. 

Unmoving on the ground was a lumped curled up mass that was once a walking talking human. Sprawled on their side and their arms thrown out to encase another smaller blue mass that gave off a groan of it's own. Unmoving, blackened by dirt and soot, and eyes closed as if asleep despite the dangers of what was going on.

"Y/N!!"

A scream echoed out. Panicked. Feared. Desperate. Despite it's urgent warning towards the mass, it failed to wake up. Despite the thing that was heading right towards HER!! It made more of that weird static beeping noise continuing to rotate it's limbs every few seconds-

"STOP!! STOP IT!! LEAVE HER ALONE!!" 

The thing didn't stop. Didn't listen. Too invested in it's plans. Whatever they were involving her. Deep breathing. Heavy footsteps. Feeling of helplessness. Nothing he can do- The wet blades of the grass beneath his feet gave a squeaking sound similar to that of a tire on the road as the man came to a skidding stop in front of the monster. The orb still paid not a lot of attention towards the man who dared to stop it in his tracks. A shriek of muffled static was it's only warning to him and the skull limbs held out looking as if the maws of a dragon would bite him down whole- Until a loud roar was made back to counter it. Much, MUCH more louder and echoing throughout the skies and over the tree line. Laced, and dripping with such fury that it rivaled the thunder of storms and promised nothing but malice in it's wake. And the red orbed monster stopped in it's tracks a spike of anger washing over itself.

And there he stood in silence. 

A stand off between two dragons in different forms. One silence and more beast than man and the other man with twice the ferocity of any beast in that moment. A look of wild fury in his eyes that matched the scowl he wore. The stance as tense as the burning of fire. His lungs and throat burnt from the strain of that inhuman roar that rocked the heavens that no sane human would call a scream, but he didn't care. Baring his own fangs back at the orb.

"YOUR FIGHT IS NOT WITH HER!!," reverberated from his core, belly upping into a full blown threat from how he stated it. "WHAT!? YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED WITH SOMEONE YOUR SIZE!?" His arms spread out inviting this thing to swing at him. "C'MON!!" His other arm slammed against his chest with each jab at the thing. "COME ON!! I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU!!! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?" With each word his arm placed another hit to his chest and his fury rose. "AM I NOT GOOD ENOUGH!? OR DO YOU PREFER EASIER PREY!? C'MON!! LET'S SEE YOU ONE UP ME!! COME ON!!"

And then something did happen. A fast black blur that sent a blast of air rushing past him, shaking the poor jacket that clung to his body, but the furious man didn't flinch. Didn't even look at the black appendage that was suddenly on him, a single tooth of that limb pressed firmly into his cheek. A warning to not move any further-

"I. Am Not. Scared of you." Each word spoken deeply and firmly with every punctuation with angry hisses. "You. Don't belong here. Leave. NOW."

Again there was silence between the two of them and it was as if time itself was frozen for just them. To let him bare his angry eyes into the seemingly cold unblinking ones as the pokemon stared at him more....Until ever so slowly the pointed tooth in his cheek was pulled away from him and the pokemon stepped back, but he kept the short distance between them by following it not backing down. 

"Get out of here. And don't come back."

It was quiet now, serene even as quiet settled in and not a pin drop could be heard. Peaceful loving, quiet-

"OW!! RAIHAN, WHAT THE HECK!?"

That was until frantic footsteps approached the body laid out on the ground and he attempted to gently pick up Y/n's upper body. Only to yelp and drop her in fright at the sudden sit up she did and annoyed scowl on her face when she fell back down. ...and he blinked hands held up as you gave him a small glare rubbing your head. 

"What'd you go and do that for?"

.....He blinked again. "I-I-I-I...Y-You were- I was just trying to-.." His arms flopped to his sides as he stared at you blankly. "YOU'RE NOT UNCONCIOUS!?"

"No! I wasn't unconcious!!," you counted back with a small hiss from all the mini bruises and scrapes on your body. Thank good you ducked when you did. Silver at this point had stood back up with a sigh and shake of his own. "I was playing dead when that giant pokemon was chased down here by a bunch of magnetons!"

"MAGNETONS!?"

"Ow!" You suddenly flinched and your hand went from rubbing your head to clutching your left leg when pain shot up it from your foot.

"W-WHAT!? WHAT HAPPENED!? WHAT'D I DO!?"

"It wasn't you! My ankle hurts!," you hissed through clenched teeth as the throbbing pain in your ankle was now made present now that your brain wasn't distracted by fear anymore. "CRAP!! I probably busted it when that thing came barreling through here!"

"Your ankle!?" He practically screeched brows shooting up and face snapping to the leg you clutch while tenderly moving to lay on your back. "W-What happened?!"

"I literally just told yo- HEY!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Ignoring your protests, Raihan quickly grabbed hold of you, one hand under your hand and the other under your legs before you felt gravity give way as he lifted you up. With a squeal your hands darted up to clutch as his jacket and your face burnt red as you found yourself picked up bridal style by him. "H-HEY!! PUT ME DOWN RIGHT NOW!!"

"I'm taking you to Nurse Joy!," he stated firmly.

"NOT LIKE THIS YOU'RE NOT!! I'LL WALK!!"

"...With your ankle?"

"I'LL BLOODY CRAWL IF I HAVE TOO NOW PUT ME DOWN!!"

"...Mmmm. Nope. This way will be faster." He deadpanned before he began stepping setting at a brisk pace with your already heated face.

"YOU'RE A DEAD MAN WALKING RAIHAN!!"

"I'm aware, but first I want to be sure you're not a hurt girl in pain."

#pokemon shield #pokemon swsh #pokemon sword #pokemon sword and shield #Dragon's Treasure #reader x raihan #pokemon raihan x reader #raihan x reader #pokemon raihan

[shadowqueen402]

Hey there! Could you do a Fic where Madame Prim wins? And Aria (as well as everyone close to her) becomes "Perfect"

Ooh! This should be interesting! P.S, hope you don't mind if I add a…special guest.

"Let me go!" Aria cried as the guards started to drag her to the bus. Roy and Esme both screamed at the guards to release them as they also were escorted to the bus. But the guards wouldn't listen. They instead took the Montgomerys inside the bus with a bunch of rather scared teenagers.

"Primrose, you order them to release us at once!" Roy demanded, glaring at the woman. But Primrose, or Madame Prim as she called herself, just smirked at Roy.

"Trust me, Roy," Madame Prim said with her nose stuck in the air. "I'm doing you all a favor. You'll thank me for this. Pretty soon, you and your little family will be perfect." She turned to the bus driver and nodded at him. "Take us to Prim, Proper, and Perfection!"

Without a word, the bus driver started the engine and began the long drive to the dastardly school. All Aria could do was stay close to her mother and father. Would anyone be able to save them from this monstrous woman?

After what felt like an eternity, a guard walked up to the Montgomerys and knocked them out.

When Aria awoke, she found herself strapped to a chair. She also sported a PPP girls' uniform which did not suit her tastes. Next to her, her parents were also strapped inside a chair. The door opened and Madame Prim came inside, followed by a few staff members.

"Ah, you're finally awake." Madame Prim had an expectant look on her face that was laced with snootiness. "Here is how we turn anyone who is a member of this school into absolutely perfect beings. Perfection is a necessity in life, after all."

"Primrose, you must stop this madness!" Esme cried. "Let us go at once!"

"That's Madame Prim to you!" Madame Prim harshly spoke to Esme. "After we're finished, I have the perfect job for you here! Don't worry, my darling Roy will get one too." She nodded to the staff members. "Start it up. We need them perfect as soon as possible."

The staff members approached the Montgomerys. And soon, the brainwashing process began. Screams were heard in the entire room.

When the Montgomerys awoke, they now…behaved differently. Madame Prim approached them. "Are you three ready to be a perfect family?" She asked in a sneering voice.

"We absolutely are, Madame Prim," Roy said with a smile. "And may I say that you look remarkable today? How I wish I would have noticed this sooner." He took Madame Prim's hand and planted a kiss on it, causing a proud smile to form on the headmaster's lips.

"Forgive me for not noticing your excellent work sooner," Esme said. "I will do what I must make sure that everyone, including my daughter, will stay perfect. I do hope we can make up for all the time we lost?"

"Of course, Esme," Madame Prim beamed. "Your daughter will be taking three of the best classes here. They are best suited for her tastes. Soon, she'll make other girls look up to her as a role model. Roy will be the newest Guidance Counselor here. As for you, you'll work as a teacher to a new class that I've come up with: Flawlessness."

"I am ready to learn all there is to be perfect, Madame Prim," Aria looked up at her, posture straight with no hint of slouching. "I hope to be the most perfect student ever."

"Marvelous!" Madame Prim turned around. "Follow me! I will show Roy to his office, Esme to her classroom, and Aria will be staying on the upper floor, the most elegant floor there is." The Montgomerys followed, smiles etched on their faces. Madame Prim smirked evilly as she finally obtained the two things she wanted: Roy Montgomery and turning Aria perfect.

Somewhere in the back of the Montgomerys' minds, the real Montgomerys were screaming for help.

Outside the school, a certain figure with a red striped jester hat floated in the air. He had recognized Aria, the human girl he saved. As soon as he witnessed what she and the two people that he guessed was her parents went through, that same feeling of wanting to help Aria came back.

But this time, it was stronger than ever. And another emotion was in his chest that he was familiar with: rage.

However, this rage was not like the one he felt when NiGHTS betrayed him. No, this was worse. It was the rage that a protective person feels upon seeing someone hurt their loved ones. The type of rage that threatens to expose itself in an explosive matter.

The figure was honestly surprised at how calm he managed to stay. Fortunately, two guards were outside and they mentioned the name of the woman that did this to Aria and her family: Madame Prim.

"So that's her name? Madame Prim?" The figure said to himself as his lips curled in a disgusted frown. "Humans are such perplexing creatures… They go to such unnecessary lengths for the sake of perfection, even hurting themselves and others… Especially if the others don't crave perfection…"

He closed his eyes and smirked in an evil way that he usually did when he was about to give his enemies what they deserve. His unbridled rage was slowly taking over. But he no longer cared. "I'm sure Master Wizeman would love to hear about this Madame Prim," He said. "Soon, that pitiful, perfect-obsessed, Visitor will wish that she was perfect after she deals with me and my master…"

His plan was being laid out. Now, the next step would be on figuring out how to save Aria and her parents. He had a feeling that it would be a challenge, but he was not one to give up. With loads of determination in his icy blue eyes, the figure made his way back to Nightmare to report to his creator.

Madame Prim smirked, like a spoiled teenager who had gotten the most expensive present for Christmas or her birthday. Roy was proudly introducing himself as the Guidance Councilor of the school. Esme announced that she would also be teaching. A bunch of teenaged girls immediately started to admire Aria, calling her 'The Goddess of Perfection'.

"Class in now in session!" Madame Prim barked. As she watched the students head to their classrooms, the woman believed that this would last forever.

Oh, how wrong she was…

#balan wonderworld #fanfic #ocs #reala #crossover #nights sega

[theradicalace]

yknow, i have to wonder, what type of flower ARE the golden flowers in undertale? they look like buttercups, but the fact that “golden flower tea” exists means they cant be, or at least, they can’t ONLY be buttercups, because buttercups are toxic. i wonder if they might be a few different types of flowers together, and monsters just call them golden flowers as a catchall?

#ace rambles #undertale #their centers are too bright and the petals too wide for them to be sunflowers #the petals don't overlap enough to be ranunculus or begonias #they don't have NEARLY enough petals to be dahlias #they kinda look like hibiscus flowers but i don't think anywhere in the underground meets the growing requirement for hibiscus #the only yellow flowers i can think of that match the look and growing conditions of the golden flowers while ALSO being edible #are coreopsis and maybe yellow pansies #primroses come pretty close too but i'm not sure #hey botanists give me your input #i mean the obvious answer is that they're not a surface flower at all and they're unique to the underground #but i don't like that answer #cause the underground clearly HAS surface flowers since there ARE (or at least WERE) buttercups there for chara to get at #so saying the golden flowers are just ''some unique underground flower'' feels like a copout #it wouldn't be impossible considering that the underground does have its own unique flowers in the form of the echo flowers #but i don't like that as an answer for the golden flowers #it feels too easy

[katnissmellarkkk]

Summary: At the Seventy-Fourth Reaping for The Hunger Games, volunteering is outlawed, thanks to a tribute four years prior. Because of this, when Katniss’ sister Prim’s name is chosen from the bowl, there’s nothing she can do but hope that Peeta Mellark, past victor and now Prim’s mentor, can somehow bring her sister home alive. (Obviously heavy on Everlark.) 

AN: Hi! I don’t really have a big author’s note or anything--at least, I don’t think I do? We’ll see how long this trails on--but this is one of the fics I’ve been working on for a while. It’s multi-chaptered so there’s gonna be a lot more coming in the future, but this first chapter is honestly a little similar to the original book, with some (significant) deviations here and there, but after this first chapter, this story becomes extremely different from canon. I gotta thank, obviously, @rosegardeninwinter​ for a). making me my pretty lil banner and for b). reading the million, unpolished, unedited screenshots of my drafts that I’m sure ya’ll got tired of really quick. And also for encouraging me to write this in the first place. And also, I gotta thank everyone who liked and reblogged the lil story edit I posted months ago for this concept. It really encouraged me to write this concept out. (I’m talking about this edit right here if you forgot or never saw x). Okay, anyways, I’m talking too much but thank you! Also link to this story on AO3 [x].

Chapter One :

I stare out into the sky, introspective, as I wait for familiar footsteps to approach. The footfalls of my hunting partner, my friend even, Gale, still remain absent, despite our longstanding agreement to hunt on Reaping Day, no matter how hot it is, or how scarce the game, or how worried we may be deep inside.

Of course, how could a couple kids from the Seam not worry about Reaping Day? At least a slight bit, deep down?

Reaping Day. The day that decides the almost absolute fate of a lucky—as our assigned escort, straight from the Capitol itself, so proudly proclaims—boy and girl.

We're District Twelve. The smallest and one of the poorest districts in the country of Panem. There's an almost guarantee that whoever gets their name picked from the reaping bowl, even the strongest eighteen-year-old boy in the district, will have an almost sure fate of death. Likely before the number of tributes drops below twenty.

Tributes from our district almost never fare well inside the arena.

Almost never.

We have had a few winners in history, two of which are still around, but a few out of seventy-three games isn't inspiring much hope in anyone today.

The wind breezes against my arms, prickling the hair at the back of my neck, and I'm struck by the memory of being out here, in the forbidden territory of the woods, outside our district limits, when I was just a kid. When my dad was the one hunting and I was just along for the ride. Just along because I wanted to be with him. When I used to blindly trust him and my mother, when I thought he'd live forever, when I was too young to truly grasp the concept of the Hunger Games. When I was too young to truly grasp the concept of the world in which we live.

When I was eleven my every illusion was shattered violently. Almost as violently as the death in which my father must have endured, underground in those mines, as they exploded.

I remember hearing the alarm at school, blaring so cacophonously over the speakers that it shook the schoolrooms themselves. I remember blindly grappling through the scurrying bodies of my classmates, until I found my way to my little sister, Primrose. Her room was completely empty, but she still remained, sitting behind her desk with small folded hands, waiting for my arrival with excessive patience.

I'd always coached her on what we'd do, if there ever should be a mine accident. I made sure she knew the drill, just as I knew it. Like the back of my hand. Like a prayer or a lullaby. I could recite it in my sleep. Because my father had just as sternly instilled it into me.

I wove my way through the chaos of bodies and white-hot panic, towing Prim only inches behind me by the hand, as the kids from town lingered in the hallways, their classic, bright blue eyes large and their voices all quivering, and as the kids from the Seam dutifully made their way to the nearest exits, hoping and praying and begging silently that it wasn't their parent who had been hurt. Hoping the accident hadn't taken what was typically the sole provider in most households, here in the poorest section, in the most impoverished district.

Prim and I must have not hoped hard enough, because we learned almost immediately upon finding our mother, who was now immobilized with grief, her characteristic gentle smile eviscerated and in it's place, a blank stare, void of any life at all, that our every fear from hearing that alarm were coming true.

My mom was supposed to get a job. She was supposed to find a way to provide for us, to take care of her two daughters, who were grieving her husband just as much as she was.

But instead she lay in bed day after day. On the good mornings, maybe if Prim begged and pleaded, she'd move to a chair, in front of the fireplace and stare at the flames with the same vacant expression that had replaced the loving, kind woman who'd raised us.

The money from the government, the minuscule amount of money given to keep us afloat until our mother found work, ran out. The meat our father had hunted, the plants he'd saved, ran out. The food we had the small luxury of sometimes buying—or more times than not, trading for—quickly ran out.

And our mother still did absolutely nothing.

I take a deep breath now and try to force myself to forgive her. Forgive her for not being strong enough to keep going, forgive her for not caring enough about her own children to keep them alive in the face of her grief, forgive her for being so in love that losing my father had almost killed her too.

I know it's what my father would want. And I know it's something I can't let myself do. Because if I let her off the hook, it's like saying it's okay that she almost let Prim wither away to nothing. Forget me. I will never forgive her for almost taking my little sister away from me.

Our mother did absolutely nothing until Prim's ribs were prominent, until my stomach was nearly hallow, until our cheekbones were so blatantly obvious you could count them from down the road.

And all my fears, all my resolve, to keep the three of us together as a family, went out the window. There was nothing left to do, but wait for me and Prim to be taken to the Community Home, with the other orphans or kids from unsafe families. Kids who still remained too thin, who's eyes told stories no ear wanted to hear, who still wore bruises upon their skin like freckles from the sun, who looked nearly worse than the corpses I encountered every winter, while walking from the Seam to town. Those corpses were the unlucky ones who'd actually starved to death, who had sat down to merely rest, because they had no substance to carry them any further, and somehow never got back up.

On that day, at eleven years old, living in the Community Home sounded no worse than living with the immobilized shell that had once been my mother. My resolve to hold out until my birthday, until I could get the tesserae that would feed my family for an entire year, was shattered by the harsh raindrops pelting me from the grey, unforgiving sky.

I vaguely heard the baker's wife, the mean-spirited woman, with her deeply embittered, hostile blue eyes that somehow seemed black, scream at me, calling me names, shooing me from her property.

I'd simply wanted to rummage her trashcan, so desperate for any small morsel to take back to Prim, any motivation to take even another step forward, when I felt her rough and calloused hands shove me away.

I toppled over, my legs already weak and shaky from lack of nutrition and substance. My depleted form laid on the ground, my eyes bleary from exhaustion and the shivering wind and rain.

The witch went back inside the bakery as I scarcely conjured up the will to sit upright. I was beyond done. The fighting to even gain a fraction of my mother's awareness, to get something, anything, to feed myself and my starving sister, to even stand up, became overwhelming and I felt the last bit of my resolve crumble from deep inside.

Let them come and take me and Prim to the Community Home. I don't care any longer. Let them come.

Out of the corner of my eye, a boy exited out the same backdoor the witch had gone through. He was carrying a bag of trash in his hands and my famished mind focused on that first, focused on what could be inside the contents of that bag, on what a baker could potentially be throwing away, before I realized the boy was in my year at school. I knew him, or at least, I knew his face. But he stuck with the other blonde-haired, fair-skinned town kids and I didn't even remember his name in that moment.

In hindsight, that's absolutely hysterical now.

But he evaporated as soon as he'd appeared and I closed my eyes and let the rain drown me, hoping perhaps I could be swallowed up within the downpour itself. Hoping that perhaps I'd never have to face the reality that I was out of options and I had nothing of subsidence to take home.

But then I heard a clatter and a clang and the sound of a scream. It was her, the witch. She was screaming and calling someone names my own mother had never even uttered in my lifetime.

I mentally prepared myself for her to come back outside, to drive me away with a stick or a knife. Or possibly even a hot, scorching prong.

But it wasn't the witch. It was the boy, the one from my year. The one I thought went back inside after taking out the trash, that I believed didn't even notice me before.

He was carrying bread. Two loaves, in fact. The crusts were black and burned and the welt across his face told me, without a doubt, that he was the target of the witch's insults. That he was the victim of whatever clanging noise I heard.

And though I was the one starving to death, I didn't envy him having her for a mother.

I remember vividly, the most crystal clear image I have of this day, the boy checking and making sure the witch's attention had been claimed elsewhere. And then, without even glancing in my direction, he tossed one loaf of bread to my feet. Seconds later, the other followed.

He didn't hesitate to head back inside after that, and I've spent more time in these last four years than I'd more than likely care to admit, wondering what possessed him to commit such an act of kindness. No one was kind for free, I'd learned by that point.

And yet, as I shook myself forcefully out of my stupor, and carried the loaves back to my house at the edge of the Seam, I had no explanation for his simple act. I had no basis to explain why he would help me, when no one else ever had.

The next day, I saw him at school. I passed by him in the hallway, and saw his eye had now blackened, his cheek welted, but somehow he still managed a joyous smile. He didn't notice me then. He was surrounded by his friends. Like always, he was surrounded by a constant crowd.

He is, after all, one of the most charming and sweet people Panem's ever known.

Later that day, when I was about to walk home with Prim, who was excitedly chattering about the leftover bread awaiting us on the kitchen table, the bread I'd brought home the night prior that had filled our stomachs for the first time in months, I caught the boy looking in our direction. My grey Seam eyes met his baby blues for a microsecond, before he looked away. I snapped my gaze downwards too, embarrassed, when I caught sight of a dandelion.

It was that moment that a bell went off in my head. That I saw how I could survive, how Prim could survive. How, through the things my dad had taught me, I could keep me and my sister alive.

After that day, I could never stop associating the boy with the bread, the one who gave me hope, with the dandelion that reminded me I wasn't doomed.

I never stopped associating him with his simple act of kindness, even when he became famous for some much less appreciable acts.

And I never stopped kicking myself for failing to thank him, for saving my life and my family's life, before he was whisked away, to a land far from Twelve, called the Capitol. When he later returned, now a part of a much more elite social class, thanking him for his kindness became even less of a possibility.

A girl from the Seam had no business seeking out a boy from Victor's Village. Even if I did have the guts.

Though he isn't exactly in good company here in Twelve, seeing as the only other person who holds the same title is a drunken, middle-aged man who can barely form a coherent sentence most days and lives like a hermit by his own volition.

My thoughts are interrupted by the quiet—almost as quiet as mine, but not quite—steps of Gale.

"You're late," I state without turning around, pulling the cheese from my pocket. "You're lucky Prim's cheese held up under the sun."

But Gale pulls something even more impressive from behind his back. "This will probably go nice with it," he says and I almost gasp.

Fresh bread is so rare in our district, generally reserved for the Peacekeepers and perhaps a merchant who is having a good day. Here in the Seam, fresh bread from the bakery is as common as new school shoes.

Gale updates me on his day as we split the bread and cheese and have our own version of a small feast. He'd gotten to the woods early, while I had been still at home, and shot a squirrel to which he traded for the bread.

"The baker really went for that?" I ask in disbelief. The baker was a subdued, large man, who resembled all three of his sons quietly strongly, and was one of my dad's best customers. Sometimes I think he still trades with me and Gale out of respect to my dad's memory, but a simple squirrel for a loaf of fresh bread isn't common.

"I think he was feeling generous this morning," Gale suggests a little snidely, his bitterness leaking through. "Besides. It's not like the Mellark's need the money they ask for bread. They could easily skim off their precious son and he'd probably never notice."

Gale has a special affinity for hating anyone and anything associated even minimally with the Capitol. He was lost his father in the same mine explosion I lost mine in. But whereas I don't let myself get too worked up over the inequities between the town and the Seam, and especially between us all and the victors, Gale takes a special pride in fuming over the things he cannot change.

I don't mind listening usually, since neither of us can speak our minds in public or even within our own homes, out of fear small ears will pick up on our words and repeat them elsewhere. But today, I just don't have the energy to be a sounding board.

Instead I take a segue towards a slightly different topic, but one, without a doubt, weighing on both our minds. "Prim has been having nightmares of the reaping," I murmur solemnly. "She's convinced they're going to call her name."

Gale shook his head, his demeanor becoming more subdued now. "Least Prim's name is only in there once, Catnip. Rory had to take tesserae this year."

I nod silently at that admission, knowing what it must have cost him to even allow his little brother to take additional risks of being called. Knowing it meant his family of five must be even more hungry than he leads on.

We don't say much more after that, only lingering in the woods long enough to catch some additional game from what I've already collected, and hurry back to town to trade.

As we walk back to the Seam, having divided up our goods evenly, Gale murmurs suddenly, "I might be able to stomach the idea of Rory's name being in that bowl six times if we were still allowed to volunteer."

I bypass his words the best I can. I don't want to think about what Gale must be going through, making himself sick with worry, not for himself but for a sibling in which he considers himself responsible for. And, as it happens once in a lucky moon, I feel grateful that my tesserae is still sufficient for a family of three, and I don't have to worry about Prim the same way. Her one entry pales in comparison to the thousands that are piled in that bowl.

Still, the silence between us as we walk is deafening and I can't take it any longer as we come closer to my house. "At least then, you'd get to see the Capitol," I say lightly, as a means to brighten his mood, even just a little.

At that, Gale rewards me with a humorless smirk. "Generous of the president, isn't it? To allow us district people to experience the great Capitol firsthand while they slaughter our family."

And it's true. Just a few years ago, it was allowed to volunteer as tribute in the place of whoever's name got chosen, as long as you were the same gender and between twelve and eighteen on Reaping Day.

But four years ago, when a twelve-year-old boy volunteered for his seventeen-year-old brother, an outrage sparked across the entire country. People are never happy, in any district, to see a twelve-year-old be chosen for the games. They're the youngest, the smallest, the most innocent, and never in history had a single one made it past the Final Fifteen in the games.

So when one volunteered, the country wasn't pleased in the slightest. However, like always, the anger was contained by Peacekeepers in a matter of weeks, and promises came pouring out from the Capitol that a change would be made after the games that year to ensure never again would this situation occur.

And it never again could. Because three days after the Seventieth Hunger Games, President Snow announced that all volunteering, from that point forward, was officially banned.

This new law is even more ironic when you realize that the twelve-year-old volunteer from that year became the youngest victor in the entire history of the games.

Still, I suppose the president was feeling generous that day, and he threw in a bonus treat for us in the districts. Now when someone is chosen from the reaping bowl, though their fate is sealed definitively when their name is uttered, they get to choose one family member to take on the train ride to the Capitol with them, to get a special viewing of the games with the mentors and the sponsors and the past victors, to get to experience the wonder that is the mysterious Candy Capitol firsthand.

However, when all is said and done, twenty-three family members must ride the train home alone to their districts, with their loved one in a casket beside them. The thought chills me to the bone and I shiver as me and Gale wish each other good luck. We probably won't see each other again until it's time for the customary dinner we all try to put on with our neighbors to celebrate, even minimally, that we've survived another year unchosen.

Prim is already wearing my first reaping outfit when I enter the house, though it is a bit large on her. She's slimmer than even I was at Twelve, despite her having months on me when I attended my first reaping.

I get ready quickly, if only because I want to spend time with her before we have to go. I protect Prim in every way I can but I'm powerless against the reaping.

Still, she's only entered once and that's as safe as anyone can get from being chosen. It's almost unheard in the Seam to be that safe from the games.

But my sister never did appear like she fit in here anyway. Her golden blonde hair and sky blue eyes resemble the merchants, not the Seam, and her and our mother stick out like sore thumbs next to our neighbors.

Our mom is restless now, busying herself with preparing the food for our small feast tonight and braiding Prim's hair and then mine.

I still haven't fully forgiven her for leaving us when we needed her most, but I also can't imagine how difficult it must be to have to send both your children off to be potentially chosen for an absolute death. And I let her hug me as I guide Prim out the door.

Attendance is mandatory for all in the district, but the ones viable for being chosen and those just watching don't typically enter together.

I guide Prim by hand into town, the walk feeling longer than it did with Gale. Perhaps it's the trembling twelve-year-old I'm towing, or perhaps I'm more afraid than I'm even admitting to myself.

After all, unlike my sister, I have twenty slips with my name splayed across this year. It's not as a bad as someone like Gale, who has forty-four chances of being called. But it's not as safe as the kids from town, who likely only have to worry about a handful of slips with their names.

Its not that they're rich by any standard, but they get by better than those in the Seam. Even if they're hungry, they're not at risk of starving, and no one is going to sign up for tesserae unless there is no alternative.

A year ago, my mother let it slip once over dinner, just out of the blue really, that my father had always sworn no child of his would be in need of tesserae.

I shake my head, as if to physically rid myself of the reminder. I don't want to dwell on what my father would feel if he were here. I don't want to be reminded how different things would be if he hadn't died.

I help Prim sign in and then drop her off, as gently as I can, with the other girls her age. At the last minute, she pulls on my hand, yanking me back to her with surprising force.

"Prim, I have to go stand with the sixteens," I say as she leans up and kisses my cheek.

"I just wanted to say I love you," she whispers softly, her big blue eyes so terrified, and then she steps back into the crowd of twelves surrounding her.

I sigh softly and give her what I hope is a reassuring smile. She truly is the best of our parents. Kind, smart, level-headed. She's funny and resourceful too, even if she can't take hunting animals herself.

She is the only person I'm certain that I love. And just about the only thing that keeps me going most days.

As I make my way to the sixteens, straightening my mother's dress on my hips, I check the clock. Only five minutes before we start. Before our lovely Capitol escort, Effie Trinket, reads off two names in her distinctive, afflicted accent. Before two kids know they're never coming home again.

This place isn't much. But it is all we've ever known, and no one wishes to leave it.

As more people crowd in, I begin to pick up an excited buzz in the girls surrounding me. Already knowing what I'll see, I crane my neck just the same, to peer up at the stage ahead.

Sure enough, I see exactly what I knew I would.

There's four chairs set up on the stage. One for Effie Trinket, because no one from the Capitol could ever bear to stand for more than three minutes at a time and she must have a seat to relax in before she calls out the names and sends two of us—a lucky boy and girl, as she says it—to the slaughter.

One of the other chairs is occupied by Mayor Undersee. A man who looks like he's been beaten down by life too many times as it is and would rather be anywhere but here. His daughter is my age. She sits with me at lunch, since Gale is two grades ahead of me and we rarely see each other at school. We make polite small talk but other than that, I barely know anything about her, and by association, her father.

However, it's neither of them that's stirring up the buzz within the crowd—admittedly, more so with the female portion of the crowd—and it's definitely not Haymitch Abernathy, who's stumbling on stage right at this moment. He managed to win the Fiftieth Hunger Games and I still can't imagine how. He's a paunchy man my mother's age and he's never sober, on the rare time he's even seen in public. Today is no exception, as he flops onto a chair gruffly, and murmurs something unintelligible with his eyes closed.

No, the murmuring, the now batting eyes and coy smiles, the soft vibrato still traveling within the crowd, are all because of the last guest of honor, walking upon the stage right behind his old mentor.

Peeta Mellark.

Winner of the Seventieth Hunger Games. Youngest ever. District Twelve's first and last volunteer. The twelve-year-old that changed the rules for the entire country.

The youngest mass murderer in history of Panem.

And now one of it's most beloved celebrities.

Peeta is smart—brilliantly smart—and he's always been charismatic. Even at twelve, he had the Capitol audience, as well as every single soul watching on television at home, eating out of the palm of his hand.

It doesn't hurt that at sixteen, he's become quite a looker. His blonde curls, his blue eyes, those long lashes and bubblegum pink lips. His fair, perfect skin that has not a blemish in sight. His toned, muscular body and devastatingly genuine smile that no one can help but fall in love with.

He's also the boy who saved my life. The one who committed the simple act of kindness, knowing it would cost him, to help me.

I never thanked him. And now I never can, as I'm sure he has zero memory of me. After everything else that's happened to him since, after the last four years of living as a Capitol darling, as one of the country's most cherished victors, he'd never remember the starving eleven-year-old he threw some burned bread to in a rainstorm.

But I remember him. I don't know if it's what he did for me that day or what he did for his brother only a matter of weeks later, but something about Peeta Mellark crawled under my skin four years ago and ever since, I've never been able to completely shake the feeling I get inside upon seeing him.

I break my gaze away, refusing to stare at the boy, who I will always accredit as the one who saved my life. I venomously refuse to gawk at him, like every other girl in the district.

He rarely comes out of his house when he's home here in Twelve, and I know the overzealous amount of attention he receives just by going to his parents' bakery has to be at least a part of the reason. Unlike Haymitch, who has lost his clout and his appeal with age and with deterioration, Peeta has only gained more and more notoriety as the years pass by.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in Twelve, outside of a few outliers like Gale perhaps, who'd say a negative word about Peeta Mellark.

Of course, rumors about his random and long stretches spent in the Capitol itself are always floating around, no matter what time of year it is, but they don't affect his public persona or anyone's opinion of him. He is, after all, the most valuable figure Twelve has and perhaps the only thing we can take any pride in.

Effie Trinket steps up to the microphone just as I turn my head away from the stage. "Welcome!" She greets, so vivaciously, so brightly, I can't imagine it even resonates in her head that she's just moments away from announcing two of our impending funerals. "Welcome, everyone! To the reaping for the Seventy-Fourth Annual Hunger Games!"

I can't even bear to listen as she prattles on, with too much confidence and dignity for someone dressed in every neon color known to man, speaking in such a peculiar accent, with a thickly painted face that is so blatantly visible to the every eye here today, even in the back row. Doesn't she realize how ridiculous she is to us? Doesn't she realize how wrong it is to preach about the morals and disciplines of the Capitol, in such a prideful voice, when they're the ones about to murder us for entertainment, and in repentance for a long over war that only a few elders can still remember?

As I advert my eyes, my gaze travels once again to the back of the stage, and I'm more than a little surprised to see Peeta Mellark with a similar expression as mine. He, too, is shifting his eyes elsewhere, away from his own escort, looking sick to his stomach.

Of course, it still can't be easy for him, even with his own games four years in the past. He was a literal child when he volunteered and it's fact that he didn't understand what he was getting himself into when he took his brother's place that fateful day. His innocence was stolen as soon as the countdown ended and talk still circulates, even in the Hob, that he wakes up screaming most nights, calling out the names of fallen tributes. Though those words are not given much weight in the Seam, as we all know, people get bored in this tiny district and bored people begin to spew lies whenever encouraged.

Effie continues, in a long overdone mantra, one I could recite in my sleep, the same one she spews every year, that two kids from every district must be chosen to battle to the death in a new and invigorating—one of her favorite words—arena, in order to pay for the blood shed during the rebellion and war, in order to ensure we'll never again even think to rebel.

It would almost be easier to swallow, this whole charade, if the people sent from the strange land of the Capitol would just be honest and blunt with us. If they'd just admit that they see us as lesser than, as animals or beasts of some sort, as less than human beings. It'd be easier if the Capitol spokespeople would just outright say, "we'll take your children, we'll starve your district, we'll ruin your homes, we'll broadcast the deaths of those you love most, all to keep you too powerless to fight. In order to make sure you never are able to stand strong, we have to kick your legs out from under you first."

Instead of being honest though, Effie Trinket is reiterating the Treaty Of Treason, in a tone so serious that it takes all the self-control possible to stop several boys standing in the fourteens from bursting out laughing. Her accent and a serious tone do not mesh well together.

Once she's done though, my heart automatically skips a beat. Because, after four years of standing in this square, I know exactly what's coming. "Ladies first!" Effie announces and I feel a bead of sweat glide down my forehead, both from anxiety and from the overload of heat. Reapings always take place in the start of the hottest month of the year.

Standing in my mother's well-crafted dress, one of the most luxurious pieces of clothing we own, only makes my perspiration worsen, as the dress was clearly made to keep the wearer as warm as possible.

Our district escort makes her way over the bowl containing the names of every girl eligible to be picked in the entire district and I feel myself take in a breath involuntarily.

There's twenty chances she's going to call out my name. Twenty chances I'll be sent to an almost imminent death. Twenty chances Prim will grow into her teen years, and later adulthood, without a sister.

The gut-churning fear I'd repressed all morning, in that moment, overtakes my entire being, curling up like a ball in the pit of my stomach, as I do my best to listen on baited breath, somehow expecting to hear my own name spoken through the raucous microphone for all to hear.

Don't be me, I whisper inside my head, more fearful than I'd ever admit out loud. Don't be me. Please, don't be me.

And, as it turns out, it's not me.

Instead it's the name I never in a million years thought I'd hear. The name I believed to be so safe I didn't even allow myself to worry about her.

"Primrose Everdeen!"

#everlark #everlark fic #thg #the hunger games #thg fic #everlark fanfic #fanfic #fanfiction #my writing #everlark fanfiction #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #writing #fic #fics #au #aus

[primroseprime2019]

Darkness Rising- Part Two

"Of all the Energon deposits we have located while you were away, Lord Megatron, this one, by far, is the most significant," Starscream boasted to Megatron.

"The drones have been mining without pause during your absence," Echo said, "and have massed quite the stockpile."

"You there! Fetch me a sample," Starscream said. "Starscream, now that I have returned, I shall issue the commands," Megatron said firmly.

"Of course Lord Megatron," Starscream said quickly, "then as your humble servants, shall we ready the space bridge to bring forth the Decepticon army you surely have gathered during your three years in space?"

"My army will come," Megatron said, "my time away has yielded a more... intriguing means of materializing them." He pulled out a bright purple shard, "the solidified form of the matter the Ancient Texts refer to as the Blood of Unicron."

"Unicron the Destroyer?" Echo said, surprised. "But it is said that his blood is the anti-spark," Starscream said.

"Plucked from Cosmic Shores. Gaze upon Dark energon," Megatron said.

"Legend tells that it holds the power to... revive the dead," Echo said with a frown. "We require a cadaver to be certain," Megatron said and he turned to Starscream and Echo, "are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?"

"Eheh, that won't be necessary, my liege," Starscream said quickly while Echo shook her helm. "If I may, Lord Megatron," Starscream said. He gestured to the body of Cliffjumper as Decepticon drones brought it over on an electronic stretcher.

"Consider it a welcome home present," Starscream said.

◊◊◊◊

"And since you know of our existence, I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours," Optimus said.

"Got it. We see any strange vehicles, call 9-1-1," Jack said, "can we go now?" "It's not that simple Jack," Paige said quietly.

"Are you insane?" Miko hissed at Jack, "I'm living a dream here in Botswana! And I will not allow you or anyone else to shatter it."

"It is best that you four remain under our watch," Optimus said, much to Miko's excitement and Jack's dismay, "until we can learn more of our enemies' intentions."

"Optimus, with all due respect, the human children are in as much danger here as anywhere," Ratchet said.

"Children?" Jack repeated, offended as Miko, Raf and Paige gave Ratchet offended looks.

"They have no protective shell," Ratchet went on, "if they go underfoot, they will go... squish." He stomped his pede forward to prove a point and the action made Jack and Raf flinch back. Paige chuckled softly.

"Then for the time being, Ratchet, we must watch where we step," Optimus said. Ratchet looked at Paige, "and what is so funny?"

"You wouldn't step on us," Paige said, pointing at the medic, "you're too grouchy to do so." "Excuse me!?" Ratchet exclaimed, making Miko and Raf laugh at the look on the medic's faceplates.

Their laughter was cut short by a loud beeping noise. "What's that?" Jack asked.

"Proximity sensor," Bumblebee said. "Proximity sensor," Raf said, "someone's up top."

Ratchet went to see who it was. "It's Agent Fowler," he said as he saw the helicopter on the roof. Paige looked to Optimus confused, "I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys."

"Special Agent Fowler is our designated liaison to the outside world," Optimus said, "as he tends to visit when there are... issues. It may be best if you do not meet with him at this time."

Raf and Miko ran to a hiding spot with Jack and Paige following. The elevator opened as Agent Fowler stormed out of it, looking rather peeved. "7 wrecks, 34 fender-benders, a 3-hour traffic jam! And a particular note: numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle of unknown make and a custom black and yellow muscle car!"

Arcee and Bumblebee looked at each other. Paige peeked around the corner before she quickly pulled back, nearly bumping into Jack.

"So anything you'd like to get off your tin chest, Prime?" Agent Fowler demanded. "We have the situation under control, Agent Fowler." Optimus said calmly.

"They're back, aren't they?" Fowler asked. "If you are referring to the Decepticons, we doubt they ever left," Primrose said, "your planet is much too valuable."

"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon," Fowler said. "Hear me, Agent Fowler," Optimus said sternly, "we are your best- possibly, your only- defense against the Decepticon threat."

"Says you," Fowler huffed. "Hey squishy!" Bulkhead snapped, "did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force." The Wrecker grabbed a tool and with that, he crushed it, "and how much to use."

"Bulkhead, I needed that!" Ratchet said angrily. "Enough," Optimus said firmly before he looked back at Agent Fowler, "military involvement will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, Agent Fowler. I, however, cannot."

"Then do us both a favor, Prime, and handle this under the radar or I will," Agent Fowler said as he walked back into the elevator and it closed behind him. "Pretty big bearings for a human," Bulkhead huffed.

"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead," Firestorm said, "as he should be."

◊◊◊◊

"Let us see if the power born from darkness can ignite the spark," Megatron said before he slammed the dark energon shard into Cliffjumper's chestplates.

The red Autobot started to shake as his body started to glow bright purple. When he opened his optics, they weren't sky blue anymore. They were a light amethyst purple and the undead Autobot let out a strangled growl.

He struggled to get free of the metallic straps that were holding him down. The Vehicons nearby aimed their blasters at the undead Autobot when he broke free of his bonds and ran at one of the nearby troops.

He tackled one and started to beat it without mercy.

"Master! That's your plan? Bring Autobots back from the dead to attack us!?" Starscream gasped. "That is no longer an Autobot," Megatron said, "just a mindless beast. It's only instinct is to destroy anything in its path."

The undead Cliffjumper roared and charged at Megatron. Starscream ran to get out of the way as Echo stayed put.

Megatron unsheathed his sword and in mere seconds, he sliced the undead Autobot in half. The Autobot staggered forward before it fell into two pieces and into the mine below.

"There, Starscream, lies the indestructible seed for my army. The ultimate weapon," Megatron said. The upper half of Cliffjumper was clinging to the edge before Megatron kicked it away, sending it falling down onto a lower platform. "Once I learn to control it," he said.

Echo stared down at the platform below with fear and disdain while Starscream smirked.

◊◊◊◊

At the Autobot base, the monitors started to go off. "Blasted earth tech!" Ratchet snapped at the air, "Cliffjumper's life signal popped back online!"

"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko asked. "How is that possible?" Firestorm asked, shocked.

"It isn't. Another bug; the system's full of them," Ratchet said. "If there's any chance that Cliff's alive," Arcee said, looking to Optimus hopefully.

"Ratchet, prepare sickbay," Optimus said, "we may need it." "Hey!" Miko called out, and the Prime looked back at her.

"What can we do?" She asked eagerly. "Remain with Ratchet," the Prime said.

"Aw," Miko groaned in disappointment, as did Ratchet. The ground bridge opened. "Autobots, roll out," Optimus said as he and the others transformed into their vehicle forms and drove through the bridge. "Be careful," Paige said to herself as she leaned on the railing.

"What just happened?" Jack asked, shocked. "I transported them to the designated coordinates via the ground bridge," Ratchet said.

"What's a ground bridge?" Raf asked, earning a heavy, irritated sigh from the medic.

"A scaled down version of space bridge technology," Ratchet said. "You're stuck here," Jack said, "on Earth."

"With the likes of you, yes," Ratchet said, "but I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet."

"Whoa. Does it work for humans?" Raf asked. "Naturally," Ratchet said, rather proudly.

"You mean I could just shoot on over there and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko asked the medic. "Within moments," Ratchet said, "in fact, allow me to send you there immediately. All four of you."

"Watch it Ratchet," Miko said sassily. "Sorry we don't fit your standards to the point where we're not like you," Paige said as she looked away. Ratchet frowned, "I never said that."

"You don't need to say it. Your tone shows it," Paige said bitterly. Ignoring the pang of hurt in his spark, Ratchet sighed deeply and he turned back to the monitors.

◊◊◊◊

The ground bridge opened in the Decepticon mine. The Autobots walked out of it. "Energon mine," Bulkhead observed.

"Judging by its scale," Firestorm said, "the Decepticons have been tunneling here for some time." The Autobots hid behind some rocks. The drones continued to mine the energon, not knowing that the Autobots were there.

"Let's find Cliffjumper," Optimus said and the Autobots approached the Decepticon drones. As soon as they did, the drones saw them and started to fire. A drone came towards them with a drill but Bulkhead smashed it.

Arcee and Primrose shot at the drones.

◊◊◊◊

"What is this anyway?" Miko asked as she went to touch a piece of machinery. "Broken. Don't touch," Ratchet said. Miko reached to touch another piece until Ratchet said, "don't touch that either."

"Is there anything we can touch?" Jack asked. Ratchet looked at him before a sound came from the screen. Ratchet looked to see alerts coming up on the screen. "How come you guys are using human computers?" Raf asked.

"It certainly isn't by choice," Ratchet huffed, "it was handed down from previous tenants when we inherited this former missile silo. I make modifications as I see fit." He let out an irritated sigh when more alerts popped up on the screen.

"I think I can fix that," Raf said as he went to pick up his backpack. "Really?" Ratchet scoffed, "you know this is complex technology, don't you? I mean it isn't a child's toy."

"Now try," Raf said once he finished typing into the system. Ratchet looked at the screen as the alerts disappeared in a flash. He looked back at Raf, surprised.

◊◊◊◊

At the Decepticon mine, the Autobots had fought a few more drones before they all transformed into their vehicle forms and drove through the mine. "Maximum overdrive," Optimus advised. The other Autobots sped up at their leader's advice and once they got to their next destination, they transformed into their bipedal forms and hid behind some crates.

Bulkhead whistled in admiration, "quite the operation." Unfortunately, the drones heard him and started to fire at the Autobots.

"You just had to whistle!" Firestorm said to Bulkhead as he fired back at the drones.

◊◊◊◊

"Blood of Unicron, how might I fathom of the depths of your mystery? Become worthy of wielding your astonishing power?" Megatron said to himself as he stood in front of a glass tank that had the dark energon inside.

"Lord Megatron, the Autobots have been detected in the mines," Starscream said as he appeared on a small screen. "Optimus?" Megatron said.

"Indeed," the Seeker nodded. "I need more time to prepare an appropriate reception for my old friend. Ready the ship for departure," Megatron said.

"But the energon I've mined- the Autobots will seize it!" Starscream exclaimed. "Then blow the mines," Megatron snapped.

◊◊◊◊

The Autobots shot at the drones. Something caught Arcee's optic and she looked closer. She saw Cliff's body. "It's Cliff! I have a visual," she said.

"We'll cover you," Primrose said, "go!" Arcee vaulted herself over the boxes she had been using for cover and transformed, racing up a ramp and launching herself high into the ring supports of the lift. She grabbed a beam and landed the ring attached to it. She ran around the ring and launched herself off a different beam, grabbing a thinner ring and swinging herself on top of it. She jumped off that ring onto the lower lip of the platform Cliffjumper was on. She pulled herself over the edge of the platform to him.

Acree gasped at Cliff's half-bodied form leaking energon. She shielded herself from incoming blasts from two drones on a higher platform. The section of platform Cliffjumper was on started to fall. "Cliff!" She yelled. She jumped to his falling body and caught his servo. She pulled him partly up, struggling from the bad leverage, his weight, and the fact that the Cons were still shooting at her.

Optimus and Primrose fired on them and took them out. Arcee shielded her face from some falling rocks. She then looked down at Cliffjumper. "Let's get you home partner." She said but to her shock, when Cliff looked up at her, he started growling at her. Arcee recoiled and he struggled against her, ending up tearing her grip from his servo. She continued reaching for him as he fell down the shaft.

"No!" Primrose shouted. Optimus looked to Arcee who let out a breath of defeat. A laugh got their attention. It was Starscream.

"Prime!" He snapped, "I'd stick around but I'm squeamish." With that, the Seeker dropped an explosive charge at the bottom of the mine before he leapt off the platform, transformed into his aerial form and took off.

"The joint's gonna blow!" Bulkhead shouted. "Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered.

Arcee jumped down from the platform as she and the others transformed into their vehicle forms and sped down the mine just as the bomb went off and it exploded, igniting the energon around it and sending a fireball many hundreds of feet in the air over the mine shaft. The explosion was gaining on the Autobots fast.

"Ratchet, bridge us back! Use the arrival coordinates now!" Optimus ordered. The ground bridge opened in front of them. Each Autobot drove into the bridge and into the base. Optimus drove into the base just before the bridge closed, the Prim transforming into his bipedal form and he stopped himself from skidding into the others.

"Whoa," Jack, Miko, Raf and Paige gasped in astonishment. "Cutting it a bit close," Ratchet said, "how about Cliffjumper?"

The Autobots looked away. Miko ran over to the railing, "what was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I come with next time!?"

"Miko!" Paige hissed. Arcee gave a low growl, "look." "H-hey," Jack said quickly, nervously as he placed his hand on Miko's shoulder, "Miko, let's go see what the Bots hide in their sock drawers."

"Seriously?" Miko asked, raising an eyebrow as she and the boy walked away from the railing.

"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus asked. Arcee wrapped her arms around herself as she looked away.

"Not Cliff," she said, "at least... not anymore. He was mutated- butchered. S-something from those Con experiments during War." Her optics nearly rolled to the back of her helm and she fell back, leaning on a nearby crate for support.

"Are you okay?" Bumblebee asked, worriedly as he came over to her. "I'm fine, just... dizzy," Arcee said.

"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko said. "Robots with emotions," Raf said. "Robots... who can die," Paige said.

Arcee sat on the crate as Ratchet scanned her. The scan turned red before the medic saw something. "What is this?" He asked as he saw purple substance on Arcee's servo.

"Don't know," Arcee said wearily, "Cliff was covered in it. Leaking it." Ratchet lightly scraped the substance off of Arcee's servo, "go take a decontamination bath. Now."

Firestorm helped Arcee up and the two went over to the decontamination showers.

"Optimus, I hate to interrupt but... no bars," Jack said, holding his phone.

"A security precaution," Optimus said, "the silo walls isolate all radio waves."

"Well if I don't call my mom, like now, I'm pretty sure the cops are going to be out looking for me," Jack said. "Have you broken a law?" Optimus asked.

"It's curfew Optimus," Paige said with a small smile, "it's after 10:00 P.M. and my parents will be worried."

"I better get home too," Raf sighed, "or I'll be grounded for a year." "Earth customs," Optimus said, "I hadn't considered. But the issue of your safety remains." He looked to Bulkhead, "Bulkhead, accompany Miko home."

"Awesome! My host parents will freak!" Miko said excitedly. "And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form," Optimus said.

"Curbside duty," Bulkhead chuckled, "got it." This earned a groan of disappointment from Miko.

"Bumblebee, you'll watch over Raf," Optimus said. Bumblebee looked to Raf who smiled at him.

Optimus turned to Ratchet, "Ratchet-" "Busy," the medic said, his back to the others. Arcee walked out of the decontamination shower.

"Arcee, you'll accompany Jack," Optimus said. Jack tensed up a little.

Arcee sighed, "still dizzy." Paige giggled, earning a smile from Arcee.

"You're fine, says your physician," Ratchet said. Arcee let out a heavy sigh. Optimus looked to Paige, "Paige, I will accompany you home."

Paige looked up at Optimus and gave a small nod. She fiddled with diamond-shaped necklace that had a red ruby inside of it. The Prime transformed into his vehicle form and she walked over to him. When she climbed into the passenger side of his vehicle form, she closed the door and he drove out of the base and into the streets of Jasper, Nevada.

◊◊◊◊

"Arcee, I'm really sorry for your loss," Jack started tentatively.

"What could you possibly know about loss?" Arcee asked coldly.

"What? You think you're the only one with problems?" Jack retorted, which caused Arcee to transform and to glare at Jack very hard.

"I'm not sure girl trouble counts," Arcee shot back dangerously.

"I'm pretty sure my girl troubles started the night I met you!" Jack scoffed before they saw another car roll up onto the driveway.

"'Cons!" Arcee gasped as she activated her blasters.

"No! Mum!" Jack corrected as he ran out to stall her for as long as he could. Arcee blinked before she transformed back into her vehicle form.

"Jack?" June Darby said as she climbed out of the car.

"Mum! Don't freak! I can explain!" Jack promised his mother.

"Can you?" June asked before approaching the motorcycle, "Jackson Darby, we talked about this." "I know. And-."

"You don't know!" June cut her son off, "I worry about you enough when you're not here. Now I have to worry about you driving a motorcycle?"

"I'm 16! I can't be driving a ten-speed forever!" Jack retorted. "How did you afford this?" June demanded.

"It's used," Jack said, "it's abused, really. Needs a ton of repairs, but the point is I may have been a kid when I bought this, but I'm not anymore. You always tell me to make responsible choices. Well I chose her. And I'll be responsible! I promise."

"Her?" June asked with a slight smile, "I didn't think you'd be bringing girls home just yet." "I'd like to think she brought me," Jack said with a sheepish smile.

"Well I'm glad you finally have a reason to wear your helmet every single time you ride," June said with a soft sigh, "you will take me for a spin every once in a while?"

"We'll see," Jack said as he and his mom went into the house, "she's kinda temperamental."

◊◊◊◊

"Optimus," Paige said as she walked over to the Peterbilt, "you up?"

"I am awake," the Prime said, "is something wrong?" "No," Paige said, "I just can't sleep." She climbed into the Prime's vehicle form and leaned back against the seat.

"My parents are sleep," she said. "I see," Optimus hummed. The silence returned for a few moments.

"I'm sorry about Cliffjumper," Paige said, gripping the hems of her sweater sleeves, "I know- I feel like he and Arcee were partners- they were more than that. And to have that taken away from her... she's hurting." "Paige," Optimus said softly and he was alerted by the soft cries and whimpers.

She was crying. Paige was crying. Guilt and worry filled Optimus' spark. "You're all going through this war... all this pain," Paige whimpered, "I'm sorry I can't do anything. I'm sorry I'm so useless... I'm sorry I'm a nobody-"

"Stop that," Optimus said firmly, "you are not useless. You are not nothing. You are more than that. You are something more. You are strong just like the other children. I know it."

Paige looked at Optimus' steering wheel and she felt the Prime's seatbelt tighten a little in the form of a hug. Paige smiled weakly and she slowly fell asleep to the Prime's warmth.

◊◊◊◊

At the Darby residence, Arcee was revving her engine loudly. Jack opened the door, "shh! Are you crazy? You'll wake my mom!"

"Grab your helmet. It's go time," Arcee said. Jack groaned, "it's Saturday."

"You can watch cartoons back at base with Bumblebee and Primrose," Arcee said.

"Cartoons? I'm sixteen," Jack said with a tired frown. "And Paige is older than you," Arcee said, "leave a note for your mom. She worries."

"You think I don't know that?" Jack asked as he went back inside.

◊◊◊◊

Megatron was still standing before the Dark Energon, studying it, when Starscream entered the room. "I don't think you need worry about further Autobot interference, Master. Not with Optimus gone." Starscream reported arrogantly.

"And what evidence do you possess of this fact?" Megatron challenged.

"I destroyed the mine. As you instructed." Starscream reminded Megatron, who turned and didn't look convinced.

"Optimus is not so easily destroyed." The Decepticon leader stated. "We have millennia worth of battles behind us to prove it." He turned back to studying the Dark Energon.

"Maybe you should take a break, My Lord." Starscream advised. "I worry that too much contact with the Dark Energon might allow its properties to... adversely affect you."

"Or perhaps, Starscream, I have not permitted myself contact enough!" Megatron said before he ripped a shard from the large cluster of Dark Energon and held it up.

"Wait! Lord Megatron, no! Not your spark chamber! You do not know what it will do!" Starscream protested as he realized what his master was planning to do with the shard.

Megatron took no heed of Starscream's warning and stabbed himself directly in the spark chamber. He hunched over in pain, then straitened as a type of seizure overtook him. He screamed as his energon was transformed into Dark Energon and his eyes turned purple.

◊◊◊◊

Ratchet was analyzing the components of the purple substance he had scraped off of Arcee when it began having an ill effect on the femme. It confounded him. Not in all his years as a medic had he seen anything like this. He couldn't even recognize what it was.

"Hmm...the base elements of this...goo are like nothing I've ever encountered." He said to himself as he went over the data his computers had managed to provide. "It must be extremely concentrated to have affected Arcee so rapidly. Unfortunately, complete results are slow-coming without the use of proper diagnostic tools. Thank you very much, Bulkhead." Ratchet rambled as he removed the slide from the hard-drive.

As he did, he unknowingly spilt some of the substance onto the diagnostic tool that Bulkhead broke when Agent Fowler was there. It seeped its way into the very wiring of the machinery and glowed a bright purple for a brief moment before moaning and groaning and standing on its newly acquired legs. But Ratchet didn't notice. With its only instinct to destroy everything in its path, the revived machinery approached the nearest object to destroy.

#fanfiction #transformers prime #my ocs #self insert #the girl among the gods

[mementofloreo-archived]

@tomestobetold || kiss prompts || a lipstick kiss- Primrose/Alfyn[cut for length- nsfw implications in some bits]

"I like that color on you," he says as soon as he sees her that day, "I know you usually go for darker or richer shades of red, but..."

He offers a smile. "Well, softer pink really suits your features too. You look really cute."

As are all the compliments he gives her, it's said without ulterior motive. Simple, fond honesty to make someone he cares about feel good.

And Primrose does seem to be feeling better lately. It's relieving, despite knowing the grief and cracks in her will never fully heal, and she will always have slumps on occasion.

Even so, there's less of a weight on her now. In the way she bears herself, in the way she interacts with others, in the way she's looking after herself better. And it makes Alfyn feel glad to have stayed so long, made Noblecourt his 'home base' when he does still occasionally venture out to travel. He doesn't know if Primrose reads or thinks much of the letters he sends regularly as updates when he's away, and she doesn't always come to meet him when he returns.

...But inevitably, she always seems to either insist on him sharing her bed the first night he's back, or crawling into curl up against him in his own if he gets back late and decides not to bother her. And then he wakes in the morning having turned over to hold her in his sleep. And something about that feels very right and very warm in a way he can't put into words.

He's still not sure if there's a good word for whatever it is he and Primrose have now. It's...intimate, in more ways than one, and very physical too(...boy is it physical. whew.), and even though they don't talk about it to anyone he sees the knowing glances from some, the smiles hidden behind hands.

And he's told her, of course, that he loves her. Many times, starting well before she ever asked him to sleep in her bed, give her someone to hold to ease her nerves and bad dreams. And it hasn't always had any romance connected to it- he tells all his friends he loves them. He's of the staunch opinion that life is so short and too unpredictable not to drown the people you care about in reminders about their importance while you can. Whether you do it with words or actions.

But Primrose is no fool, and Alfyn isn't a good liar. She knew about his little crush almost as soon as it was blooming. She often found ways to tease him and rile him up over it while they were still traveling with the others, and even for a long time after he stayed in Noblecourt to offer her some familiar company while she started to try and process the grief and trauma she'd been ignoring for so long.

At first she even kept that teasing and smirking when taking him to bed, running hands and openmouthed kisses all from his face to his neck, chest, abdomen, hips...taking her sweet, sweet time working back up over his thighs- ahem.

Details aside, she continued that light taunting about his feelings even for a short while after their unlabeled and murky dynamic added sex to its list of 'things regular old friends don't do'.

But she's...stopping. Gradually those lighthearted pokes at his soft feelings for her are getting less and less frequent, and they never seem to accompany the nights they share a bed. In place are rare, soft little moments where she idly touches him, giving him a gaze that is foggy and fuzzy and swirling with confused thought, but also a little warm fondness.

As best he can tell, she just seems to have grown more attached to him. So perhaps she just doesn't want to trivialize his caring for her anymore. He can't make any guesses as to whether the feelings run any deeper than that. (Though, a part of him will always hope, hope beyond hope that she might see the same light in him that he does in her)

One way or another things have gradually changed between them, and though he still isn't sure what those changes mean, Alfyn thinks they're at least a good sign.

....She's giving him a look. One of the many he can never seem to read.

"...Did I...say somethin' weird?" he asks, and the weird look turns to a soft smile.

"Cute just isn't something I've heard used to describe me since I was a small child," Primrose replies.

"Well that's a shame," Alfyn replies without thinking, "Because ya are, y'know? Pretty, beautiful, breathtaking...those are all true too, sure, but..."

He shrugs. "You got a cute side, too. Not that you show it all that often, but trust me, you can be real adorable when the mood strikes you. Anyway, I was just talkin' about your makeup this time but-"

She's seized his collar. He looks down at her, bemused.

"You know, any other girl would be getting butterflies when a handsome boy like you says such sweet things. You need to be careful."

He furrows his brow. "I mean, it isn't as if I talk to anyone else like this, though?"

A pause.

"Alfyn, lean down just a bit closer for me."

Thoughtless, always trusting her completely, too easily, he stoops a bit. And she tiptoes to finish closing the gap, kissing him.

Usually when she kisses him it's...there's no sense of chastity to any of it. It's like a chant of want, want, want want, I want you, over and over. But this kiss is...

It's firm. But tender, warm, fond...it's the kind of kiss you give someone you love, he thinks, and that's a more significant feeling to him than anything else that has ever happened between him and Primrose.

She kisses him, and kisses him, and kisses him again, and again, and...it's only when she's had her fill, draws away, traces his jaw with her fingers, that Alfyn comes to the realization that he pulled her in by the hips and has been returning those kisses. Ordinarily he's just kind of...along for the ride, letting her have her way with things, coasting along with her momentum.

...She loves him, he realizes. How much is unclear, but she loves him. He's precious to her. He doesn't say anything about it, doesn't bring it up, but he tucks the realization away, a small sprout, to grow and grow in his heart.

"Now you've done it," He says without thinking, "I'm sure I've got that lipstick all over my face now."

The soft, bright laugh he's met with is unexpected, but makes him feel weightless. It's the happiest sound he's ever heard out of her, teh most genuine smile he's ever seen on her face.

She'll always have scars from old wounds, but Alfyn thinks, not for the first time, that Primrose really is going to be okay. That she'll be able to live her life, and it may not always be happy but it will be fulfilling, and not lonely. (not if he can help it.)

#「ᴡᴇ ғᴇʟʟ sɪᴄᴋ ғᴏʀ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ⸝ ᴍᴀʏ ᴡᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ғɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴜʀᴇ」[Alfyn🎔Primrose;tomestobetold] #「ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ❟ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ᴀʀᴇ║ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴡᴇ ꜰᴀʟʟ ᴀᴩᴀʀᴛ」 [Alfyn]

[the-kipsabian]

50 with pixi/dan (idk what the ship name is but i'm down for indulging you)

(thank you for encouraging my trash habits ily)50. “ah, you’re up. how’d you sleep?”

Thequiet tapping was slowly drifting her off from her sweet slumber.

     The pair of gray eyesslowly fluttered open, looking up towards a ceiling she didn’t recognize at thefirst glance. Primrose didn’t have slightly blue tinted colors, did it…?

    Slowly lifting her headup, the blue haired girl let out a little groan of pain as her hand reached torub her neck as she sat somewhat straight on the beanbag chair, blinking acouple of times to adjust her vision and to get rid of the tired blur from hereyes. She most definitely wasn’t back at Primrose, the room wasn’t the onewhere she roomed together with Kat. Sure it was close to being as messy as thegirls dorm room was, maybe the room was even messier than theirs, but it most definitelywasn’t the familiar room decorated all over with blankets, plushies and fairy lights.

    No, this one wasinstead filled with what seemed to be collections of video games, clothesscattered just about everywhere where you could find floor space, not tomention the messy desks filled with a mixture of school work and various differentart supplies.

     And it smelled like boys.

     On a chair in frontof one of the two desks was sitting a young man, tall for his age, both feetthrown on the second chair he had pulled by the desk, headphones covering hisears, the pair of brown eyes tightly focused on the notebook sitting in hislap, while his right hand gently tapped its fingernails against the top of thedesk.

     The very same soundthat had woken her up.

    Sitting on the floor,Pixi was slightly afraid to move. Not because she was waking up in a weirdplace without a memory of falling asleep in the floor of Dan and Arin’s room,but because she didn’t want to disturb the obvious creative moment that was inprogress in front of her. She knew what it was like to be interrupted in themiddle of creating something, and she didn’t want to be the jerk who wouldinitiate the interruption.

    Besides, there wassomething almost magical watching the unaware Dan sitting on his seat, so deepin thought that he didn’t seem to notice anything that was going on around him.How his eyes focused on the page in front of him, the way his left hand hoveredthe pen in his hand above it, getting ready to jolt down any kind of song ideasthat would enter into his head at any given moment…

    And all of a sudden hiseyes turned away from the page, landing on the little blue haired girl caughtred handed staring at him as she sat there on the floor, still partially occupyingthe beanbag chair she had apparently fallen asleep on in the first place.

    Dan obviously gatheredhimself much faster than what she did, quickly dropping the notebook and thepen on the table before ripping the headphones from his head, letting them followthe other equipment he had in his hand just seconds ago, before he whipped backinto her direction, jolting Pixi back from her quick moment of embarrassment ofgetting caught staring at him.

    “Ah, you’re up. How didyou sleep?”

    She couldn’t help butto smile at him, the matching expression she was getting back from him beingbright enough to light up the entire room. Or maybe it was the sun outside,shining brighter today than it had been in the past few days, but Pixi wantedto live in the hope that it was the boy with the messy hair greeting herinstead. Since when Dan smiled, he smiled with his entire being – it wasn’t justa facial expression to him, everything in his softened and brightened the verymoment he hit that the point of understanding he was around of other people. Hesmiled, he laughed, his eyes sparkled, his features softened…

    Everything about himwas friendly, it was loving, it was caring. Even this early, as a first thingin the morning, when any regular person would have been grumpy to be awake.

    Pixi glanced at thebeanbag chair she was sitting on, hearing a soft chuckle escaping from Dan. “Sorryabout letting you sleep there, I tried to move you to bed but you weresurprisingly persistent on sleeping on the floor after you passed out lastnight.”

    Last night… What wasshe doing here last night anyways?

    The pair of gray eyesglanced up towards Dan who nodded his head towards the other end of his desk,which proved to be a surprisingly clean part of the otherwise very messydecorating of the room.

    “I lifted your laptopon the desk and plugged it in so you wouldn’t lose anything on whatever youwere working on last night.”

    Pixi nodded her head,making a mental note on another nice feature that he had, being so overlyconsidered of other people at times like this. She slowly pushed herself upfrom the floor, letting out a groan as she stretched her arms a little, almostimmediately getting back a somewhat concerned look from Dan.

    “You okay?”

    “My back hurts alittle, but it’s okay, I’m fine.”

    She had barely gottenthe full sentence out of her mouth as the boy, at least a whole foot tallerthan her, pushed up from his seat, and with ease swept the small girl into hisarms. Sure he didn’t really have width as much as he had height to compare, butthankfully Pixi was a very small girl in size, making her very easy to justpick up and carry around to pretty much anyone who was bigger than her, which wasn’ta difficult take whatsoever considering her tiny 5’1 frame that she happened tohave.

    A soft blush crept it’sway on her cheek, the short blue hair not being even nearly long enough topossibly cover the expression on her face that went from smiling to awkward ina matter a seconds as she registered what was happening around her. Dan justlaughed it off as he crossed the dorm room in a few long steps before hereached the bed, turning around on his heels and sitting down on it, the girlstill in his arms.

    “I was thinking aboutbreakfast but you really look like you need an actual, proper rest first,” hechuckled, not stopping to listen to any complaints that he knew he was going toget from her. Dan leaned closer, pressing a quick kiss in her hair before hepulled Pixi closer against his chest, plopping down on his back on the bed.

    She reached one hand onher face, brushing the coils of her blue hair away from whatever part of hereyes they could cover, sending a little playful glare into Dan’s direction. Thepair of brown eyes looking back at her blinked at her a couple of times beforehe chuckled again. He was way too cheerful, but at the same time she just couldn’tget mad at him about it. It was all just too adorable.

    “We can sleep in today.You’ll thank me later.”

    “I hope so,” Piximumbled, snuggling her head against his chest. “You let me sleep on the floorafter all.”

    “It wasn’t the floor.You were all curled up in the beanbag chair. You should have seen it, you wereadorable.”

    “Liar,” she yawned,hearing the laugh coming from him, and as Dan continued to talk on she slowlydrifted back to sleep.

#mads writes #asagao!mads #i dont have a name for this ship yet mmmm #it'll get one at some point im sure cause im not gonna let this go i love this too much cause im trash #anyways heres a thing cause writing angst just didnt work out tonight #its unedited and stuff cause its 3am and im trash so woo #just take it #i'll look through it tomorrow #thank you for sending this ily avery <3 #if you read it please hit like so i know #and like always please reblog cause sharing is caring #..and its your chance to expose my absolute trash habits cause i have no shame lol #purpleperidots #thank you for asking! <3 #fictionbang