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no-error · 5 years ago

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Fantasy Klance Ficrec

Finally new list for fic recs. Hope ya all enjoy these awesome fics. :)

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Of Wolves and Wisps

Lance knows not to seek with his mind in the woods. The fae have a habit of twisting the desires sought by those who chase after the wisps. But when given no other choice, Lance makes the decision to alter his path. To change his fate.

He should have known, really, how things would turn out.

Never call out to wolves. One may just answer.

Words: 145,585 AO3

The Criminal Witch and His Knight of a Husband

Series

Under the rule of an unjust king, witches not employed by the crown had become illegal in the kingdom of Altea. Not wanting to work for a filthy murderer of a man, Lance spitefully refused to get his certification at the normal age of sixteen. But that was over half a decade ago. Altea is now ruled by the beautiful and reasonable Queen Allura, and Lance finds himself happily married to her head knight, despite his fugitive status.

Lance struggles with helping hot headed, prone to danger Keith stay alive, while simultaneously keeping his ability to cast spells a secret. He can't have him figuring anything out. After all, the last thing he wants is for his own husband to arrest him.

Words: 80,309 AO3

Star Cursed

A Dragon familiar is the last thing Lance expects to summon when he graduates lowest in the class at the Magerium. All he wants to do is summon a toad or a cat and get to work, but summoning a High Magic creature like a Dragon is something no one has done in hundreds of years. The Dragon, named Keith (why, WHY is he named Keith), is trained to be a familiar for the most powerful of mages.

Unluckily for him, Lance is assigned the task of lesser potions master. Lance has to navigate a precarious balance of grumpy-Dragon-with-nothing-to-do on top of his workload of boring tasks. That’s when he isn’t enduring the ridicule of the other students, who believe him to be “Star Cursed.” To make matters worse, discontent in the Magerium is brewing and it might mean danger for all High Magic creatures, which currently includes one Dragon named Keith

Words: 152,239 AO3

fit the crown to my head

“What’s the fun in a masquerade if you don’t flirt outrageously with the prettiest person in the room?” the young man says flippantly, and then winks at Keith. Keith huffs a laugh, amused.

“You keep saying things like that, but you haven’t seen my face,” he says, gesturing to his mask. “I could have warts under here. I could have spots, or scars.”

“You’d be lovely even with all of those,” the young man says, and he suddenly sounds serious. It takes Keith by surprise, makes his heart twist along with his stomach. “Your eyes,” he continues, tilting his head. “I’ve never seen eyes like yours before.”

Words: 75,705 AO3

Magic Bound & Unbound

Set in a world where familiars and witches are paired to perform magic together, Lance is an aspiring witch who is desperate to find his bondmate. He's dreamed of the day when he would be able to perform bonded magic, but hides a dark secret that could ruin everything. Keith is a familiar who's seen a little too much of the world. He's been paired with witches multiple times and each one has forced and broken a bond on him, so now he swears off ever letting himself be paired again.

When they meet, though, Lance triggers something in Keith and it scares the hell out of him. A part of him desperately wants to be paired, but he's not sure he can take rejection one more time.

Words: 56,345 AO3

Regarding Park Benches and Demon Bites

Lance forces his eyes open, all the way this time. It takes them a second to adjust, and when they do, his stomach plummets to the center of the earth. The man is in a black shirt, the sleeves rolled up on his forearms to reveal the runes inked across his pale skin. There’s a sword strapped across his back, a big one.

“You’re a Shadowhunter,” Lance blurts. Lance’s mother had warned him about getting mixed up with these bloodthirsty maniacs, and here he is, half conscious next to the very people he’d worked so hard to avoid the last two years. He’s fucked. Royally screwed. He isn’t sure what kind of punishment is handed out to warlocks for public intoxication but his mind races through options like indefinite imprisonment, dismemberment, death?

Words: 8,999 AO3

you build your tower (but call me home)

In the land of Arus, the youngest Nalquodian prince—Prince Leandro—is hidden away in a little castle that overlooks the kingdom; a countermeasure to protect him from the Galran assassins that have sworn to take his life.

And in the tallest tower of the castle, behind a grimy rose window and under a dusty sheet, is an enchanting gargoyle that the prince finds himself compelled to visit every day.

Almost as if by a spell...

Words: 63,041 AO3

Wild Magic

The Vastaya are an ancient and proud race, born of magic and man, and they are dying. The spread of humans makes the magic of their homelands run thin. What is left is preyed upon and corrupted by the rising galra influence.

After losing their home, what remains of the Marmora tribe scatters, fighting the spread of corruption where they can. For the last few centuries, this is the only life Keith has known. And with Shiro’s disappearance, he’s more alone than ever. But he keeps going, even if it means losing himself. For the fight. For his people. For their future. For his homelands. For magic.

The last thing he expected to find is another feathered vastaya, one with wings that shine like the sky and move like waves when he dances. He never asked for company, never wanted it. But as Keith finds himself growing fond of Lance’s flippant attitude and determined blue eyes, he thinks that maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t want to fight alone anymore.

Words: 151,776 AO3

A Touch of Magic

"Keith—" He feels his heart lurch as Keith squats down next to him. One hand on his wolf's head, scratching behind his ear. His eyes, however, remain fixed on Lance, and he had really hoped that the whole dry-mouth-lump-in-the-throat-heart-skipping-a-beat thing would've stopped happening when he turned, but here he is. Vampiric and still the flustered mess he was when he was human. "Buddy, I can't breathe—"

"You don't have to breathe," He says, that ghost of a smile still fixed and the whisper of amusement in his voice.

It sends chills down his spine.

Lance huffs as much as he can when there's a large wolf crushing his chest. "That doesn't mean it's not uncomfortable."

"You'll survive." He pats his wolf one last time before pushing to his feet. "Better luck next time, Lance."

"I'll get you one day, Keithy boy." He calls out as Keith walks away, disappearing from his vision and continuing down the path. "Just you wait."

Words: 19,953 AO3

For Fox Sake

Foxtail series

Photography has always been an passion of Keith's. Being able to capture that perfect moment - grant it immortality and unleash it to the world so that the people may decide what stories they tell - is what he lives for.

So when given the opportunity to expand his horizons, Keith finds himself on a month long excursion in the middle of nowhere, with only his camera and his own thoughts to keep him company.

And this forest - this mountainous landscape seemingly untouched by human hands - holds more than just a vast array of scenic landscapes and wondrous wildlife worthy of being captured in film.

It holds a secret. One Keith hadn't anticipated discovering, much less believing. And though they say "take only pictures, leave only footprints", Keith worries that when he finally has to return to his mundane world, he'll be leaving more than just tracks on the ground.

But his heart has always belonged to the woods, and he knows the fox will guard it well.

Words: 80,888 AO3

Ghost on the Shore

After moving into an desolated house in a swamp, Keith finds that the area's not as abandoned as he anticipated. He soon meets Lance, a mysterious boy that apparently lives out in the marsh, and who seems to possess magical powers to a certain degree.

Words: 37,055 AO3

It Never Rains on Saturday

Rain or Shine Series

In the magical kingdom of Altea lies an ominous tower filled with monsters. Every day, adventurers battle through the tower’s levels in a never-ending quest to slay the Demon King who lives at the very top.

Lance, a talented archer, is one such adventurer. However, Lance doesn’t want to kill the Demon King.

Lance wants to marry him.

Words: 22,726 AO3

Nameless

Lance McClain was not pale. He enjoyed the sun as much as any other, and though he was often run down or fatigued, this was due to his steadily amounting college work, not his need to sleep upside down. He was everything a vampire wasn't. Oh, except for his constant cravings for blood, and the name in cursive permanently scrawled over his wrist.

Since the name had appeared on Lance's thirteenth birthday, he'd been desperately waiting for the day he'd finally meet his soulmate. And it finally comes, the first day of his second year of college, delivering a boy that causes everything Lance had fantasized to come crashing down around him. Not only is his mate a human, but he's the kind of human that despises vampires. A hunter named Keith.

But matters of the heart aren't the only thing standing in Lance's way, for a much greater enemy is on the horizon, posing a threat not only to Lance and his family, but to Keith, too. The nameless are coming for them, and soon.

Words: 102,409 AO3

Were-woof

Living off the grid is one thing. Keith had been doing it his whole life. However, now that the mountain he has lived on his whole live is slowly being developed thanks to a ski resort it's getting harder and harder for Keith to keep to himself. Especially when he happens to catch the eye of a rather cute looking townie.

Words: 133,954 AO3

An Eternal Flame

“Do you have a deathwish?” The phoenix answers him with a question this time, apparently intent on dodging the question about its name. Maybe it’s for the best, Lance’s mama always warned him that he tended to get attached to things once he’d named them. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath.

He isn’t going to get attached this time.

Making sure that he’s still holding the phoenix’s attention, he reaches down and pushes his cloak aside, then lifts his shirt. There, bright red and ugly against his hip, are three long slashes. They aren’t scars, they aren’t healed in the slightest, they’re still red and open wounds. They don’t hurt, not in the physical sense, but Lance can’t help the repulsion he feels whenever he looks at them.

“Not a deathwish, a death sentence.”

Words: 63,692 AO3

#klance #lance vld #keith vld #laith #fanfic #fanfic rec #my list

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captain-azoren · 5 years ago

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The Spirit Forged: The Swamp Witch - A Legend of Korra Fic

Series: The Legend of Korra/Avatar the Last Airbender

Summary: Raiga searches the Foggy Swamp for the mysterious Swamp Witch who can teach him how to connect his spirit to the great banyan grove tree. Instead, he runs into a certain Blind Bandit, who gives him more trouble than he bargained for.

What I have here you could call a pilot chapter; a little taste of what you can expect from my current Legend of Korra fanfic, The Spirit Forged. Here is the beginning of my fanfic on FFN and AO3.

I’m not posting this sample chapter on FF.Net or AO3 just yet, as this event doesn’t take place until the middle of the story, and I haven’t gotten there yet. This scene is just something I really wanted to write for a while, and I had a lot of fun doing it.

Read it and let me know what you think of my OC Raiga (sidenote; Raiga is not a furry, he has a human shaped face. You can see some drawings I did of him if you look up the tags).

Raiga darted from one tree branch to another, making the leaves rustle with every leap. The swamp’s foliage was thick and damp, but it did little to deter him. Raiga was part human, part cat-spirit; he was made for the jungle. His goal; to find the swamp witch, who could help him make a spiritual connection to the great banyan grove tree at the center of the swamp.

There was one problem though; he had no idea where the witch was or what she even looked like. The waterbenders of the Foggy Swamp tribe had told him she had been living in the area for years, but that she was violent and aggressive. They learned to steer clear of the witch, but that did not help Raiga much. He probably should have stuck around to ask more questions. Luckily, he had a pretty good nose. All he had to do was keep moving until he picked up the right scent, and that was just what happened.

Raiga landed on the sturdy branch of a mango-peach tree and gave the air a good sniff. Amongst the fragrance of the fruit was the smell of cooked meat, along with some vegetables and roots that stood out from the rest of the other dank odors of the swamp. He followed the scent a while longer through the grove until he spotted a clearing in the forest. The ground looked a little damp, but mostly solid, and in the center was a campfire, with a pot of stew cooking over it. It smelled like possum-chicken, and it made Raiga’s mouth water.

The beast-man dropped from the tree and landed softly on the dirt. Raiga slowly made his way over to the boiling pot. The fire beneath it smoldered, and though it gave him some pause, he told himself it was only a little flame. It would not hurt him so long as he was careful.

Raiga reached out for the ladle hanging from the spit when he sensed something come at him from outside the tree line. The beast-man jumped back with a snarl, backflipping and twisting as a rock flew past where he had been standing.

“Hey! Hands off my lunch!” Came a scratchy old voice. Out from between the trees stepped a tiny old woman, with bare feet and a large white bun, wearing green and a grumpy frown. “Even I have better manners than that.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t leave your food out in the open! That’s just asking it to get stolen,” Raiga retorted. He squinted at the old woman and noticed her milky white eyes. She was blind. An old, blind earthbending lady with a bad attitude. “Wait a sec, aren’t you Toph Beifong?”

“Well duh,” Toph replied. She furrowed her brow as she examined Raiga. There was something very different about him. “Is that a… tail?” Toph asked incredulously. “Are you even human, kid?”

“Yeah, I’m human. Well, kind of,” Raiga answered. “I got possessed by a spirit or something, and now I’m like a crazy tiger-man.”

“Uhg, alright, I don’t need your life’s story, Cat-Boy,” Toph said as she approached the pot of stew. “And here I thought I’d seen everything.” She earthbent a clay bowl from the ground into her hand and ladled some stew into it before taking a sip. “What are you doing all the way out here? I doubt you were looking to steal an old lady’s home cooked meal.”

“I’m looking for the swamp witch,” Raiga answered earnestly. “The Foggy Swamp Tribe told me she could help me connect to the big tree. You notice her around here?”

“The Swamp Witch?” Toph whispered, pausing in deep thought. She turned away to look at the huge banyan grove tree in the distance. A wide grin spread across her wrinkly cheeks, unseen to Raiga. “Oh, I’ve met the Swamp Witch lots of times.”

“Great, just point me in the right direction!” Raiga said, but Toph wagged her finger at him.

“Nuh uh, I don’t give her hideout to just anyone,” Toph said and took another sip of stew. “First you’ve got to prove yourself, especially after trying to take my food.”

“Would you just let that go?” Raiga asked with a low growl, his tufted tail flicking impatiently. “Fine, what do I have to do?”

“Tag me.” Toph stated.

“Tag?” He asked with a quirked brow.

“Yeah, you know, like the kid’s game,” Toph went on to explain with a sly smirk. “If you can touch me, then I’ll tell you where the witch is. I’ll even let you have some of this stew.” She swirled her bowl around for emphasis. Raiga scratched the sideburns around his jaw.

“Hm, alright,” Raiga said with a confident grin. “If that’s all I got to do, then this won’t take long.” Raiga stretched his arms and popped his knuckles before crouching low, getting ready to pounce. “Here… we…- “

It was over in mere seconds. Raiga darted at Toph in a flash of tawny-gold fur, and just as quickly the old bender stomped her foot, popping up a pillar of hard, packed earth in front of her. Raiga collided with the dirt with a loud thud. He was stuck there a moment, then pushed himself off with a grumble of disgust as he wiped bits of mud from his face and his chest. Toph let out a hearty chuckle.

“That’s not gonna work, but I like your spirit.” The earthbender said. Raiga bared his fangs in frustration. He dashed to the side of the pillar to try and get around, but Toph raised her arms, palms turned up, taking her signature stance as she raised a wall of earth in front of him. Raiga moved around to the other side, but again he was blocked. Toph easily pivoted and followed him without even spilling her soup.

“That’s it!” Raiga snarled as he crouched down. He jumped at the wall and vaulted over it, sending himself into the air above Toph. For a moment, the old earthbender seemed concerned, until she heard the beast-man let out a roar. Toph pulled her arms in and bent the earth walls closer, surrounding her and her campfire tightly.

Just as Raiga came falling down, the walls bent inward until they formed a little dome with a hole in the top where the smoke from the fire could rise through. Raiga landed on the dome and frowned as he came towards the hole, squinting through the smoke.

“You can’t just hide in there forever.” Raiga said as he approached the hole in the roof. He was about to jump through it when stone bars formed within it, blocking his path.

“Oh yes I can.” Toph shot back from within and slurped her soup. She formed a stone stool beneath her and took a seat.

“Oh no you can’t!” Raiga shouted as he grabbed a hold of the stone bars. With a grunt, he ripped the bars away and tossed them aside. He was about to enter the dome again when suddenly the earth he stood on straightened up and flung him away. Raiga shouted with surprise as he flipped through the air, but he landed on his feet in a lunge. The beast-man huffed as he looked back up at Toph, sitting with her soup. She looked mildly amused, but also curious.

“Hmph, guess you won’t be as easy to beat as I thought,” Toph said as she rubbed her shoulder. “I’m still the greatest earthbender of all time though. You’re pretty fast and strong, but you’ll have to do a lot better than that.”

“You think that’s all I’ve got?” Raiga asked as he flexed his clawed fingers. “I haven’t even started!” He roared as he charged at Toph. All he had to do was tag her, but now his adrenaline was surging. Toph slid her foot over the ground and the earth beneath Raiga shifted. He stumbled for a moment, but his balance was impeccable and he righted himself and continued his advance.

Toph stamped her foot and another wall formed in front of Raiga, but his reflexes were quicker this time as he swerved around it and sprinted for the earthbender. Toph frowned as she raised her hand and bent a taller, wider wall of earth in Raiga’s path, one that he could not easily dodge around, but he did not bother. Raiga thrust his fist at the wall and burst right through it in a shower of dirt. He was almost on her now. Toph knew she needed to act fast.

Taking a page from her old friend Katara’s playbook, the earthbender decided to redirect the energy rather than try and use brute force to stop it. As Raiga closed in, Toph created an earth ramp underneath him, raising him up above her. He was running too fast to slow down, and found himself falling off the edge.

The next thing Raiga saw was a dirt pillar rise up from the ground and strike him in the stomach, sending him flying back into the jungle with a loud shout of pain and frustration. He hit a tree branch, then fell several feet before getting tangled up in a mess of vines, hanging upside down as mango-peaches fell around him.

Toph let out a sigh as she lowered her hands, leveling out the earth around her before sitting back down and stirring her pot of soup. “Well, you got closer than most,” She said with some disappointment. “But after so many years and so many challengers, no one’s landed a hand or even a hit on me. Guess no one’s ever gonna be stronger than me except the Avatar. How sad.”

Raiga fumed as he hung from the vines. He thrashed about, cutting the offending plants with his claws and freeing himself. The beast-man landed on his feet, making Toph’s head snap in his direction. “Like I’m just gonna give up after one scuffle,” He said as he wiped his chin with his arm. “I’ll tag you, and you won’t even see me coming!” With that said, Raiga leapt back into the foliage and out of sight. Toph just snorted.

“I’m blind, you idiot.”

“It’s a figure of speech!” Raiga shouted from the trees before darting off. He was a little bruised, but not too hurt. He could have gone on fighting for much longer, but it was obvious he was going about tagging Toph the wrong way. Raiga needed to go full predator for this task, but evading Toph’s detection would prove a challenge. He was adept at blending into the grass and leaves, but what good was camouflage against one who saw without eyes?

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Raiga kept low to the ground, holding completely still as he peered through the thick brush at Toph. The blind earthbender was in a horse stance and waving her arms in circular motions. Around her, a stream of mud swirled in an intricate formation. She manipulated it like a waterbender, letting it flow seamlessly without interruption.

The beast-man had been watching Toph do this for several minutes now, inching closer and closer until he was right at the edge of the clearing, waiting for the right moment. Toph seemed to be completely engrossed in her form as she began to twist the mud into an elaborate dance. That was his chance.

“Gotcha!” Raiga yelled as he pounced at Toph. He was as fast as a bolt, but Toph had already reacted. The earthbender, without so much as a flinch, redirected the mud at her attacker, slamming it into him and redirecting all him momentum into the ground which shook the earth. Raiga lay splayed out, groaning and caked in warm mud.

“I knew you were there the whole time, you dummy.” Toph said as she continued her form.

“How?” Raiga said as he sat up and rubbed the back of his shaggy head. “Not even a rabaroo could have heard me.”

“It doesn’t matter how quiet you are or how well you’re hidden, Cat-Boy. As long as you’re touching earth, I’ll know you’re there,” Toph quirked an eyebrow. “And now that you’re all covered in it, I’ve got an even better look at you.” She smirked and gave a chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Raiga asked as he stood up cautiously.

“Oh nothing, just admiring that nice, lean body of yours,” Toph cackled. “Hey, if you can tag me before the end of the week, I’ll throw in a kiss too, but if you give up you’ve got to kiss me.”

“Uhg, no thanks granny,” Raiga said with a grimace and a blush before he leapt back into the trees. “I’m not giving up yet!” He jumped through the canopy, looking for a stream he could wash himself in. Toph gave a sigh and went back to her form.

“Tch, boys these days have no taste. I had suitors by the dozen when I was his age…”

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Raiga plucked a mango-peach from a tree branch by the stream and sat down on it, leaning against the trunk. He extended the claw on his right index finger and peeled the skin off before digging his teeth into the juicy fruit. The cat-boy furrowed his brow, contemplating how he was going to lay a hand on Toph.

“Her defense is too good, I can’t just charge in,” Raiga said as he chewed. “She can see me coming from anywhere… as long as I’m touching earth… hmmm…” He stopped a moment to look at the mango-peach in his hands, the pit in the center of the fruit’s flesh. Raiga then glanced at the tree he was sitting in. “But I’m not touching the earth now…”

Finally, an idea came to him. It was not much, but it was enough to go off on. Raiga gobbled up the rest of the mango-peach, pocketing the pit before leaping down to the stream bank. Searching through the sand, the cat-boy found a large pebble. It was time he stopped fighting like an animal and started thinking like a human.

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Toph yawned as she stretched out on a stone bench she had formed and began picking the dirt from her toes. It had been a while since that pesky cat lad had bothered her. She wondered if he had given up already. If he had, it was a shame. She was having a ball messing with him, and he was in great shape to boot. Being a hermit could be quite boring.

Just as Toph was beginning to think the fun was over, she felt a vibration in the earth. The earthbender cocked her head to the side and concentrated on her hearing. There was a rustling in the tree branches. She sent out a subtle seismic wave, focusing in the direction of the sound. The wave made contact with the tree and its roots, its shape becoming clearer to her.

Up on the low hanging branch crouched Raiga, holding an object in each hand. One appeared flat and ovular. The other, however, lit up bright when she sensed it. It was a large pebble, smooth and rounded over time by flowing water. Just holding the stone made Raiga appear to her almost as clear as if he were on solid ground. Toph raised an eyebrow.

“I can still sense you,” Toph said as she stood up and crossed her arms. “You’re connected to the tree, and the tree is connected to the earth. Plus, I can see that rock you’re holding.”

“Oh yeah, can you see this?” Raiga asked before he pitched the stone at Toph. She raised her hand and caught it in her palm like it was nothing.

“Yeah, I can, frisky kitty,” Toph said as she crushed the stone into dust. “I can sense earth wherever it is.”

“Okay, how ‘bout this then?” Raiga tossed the other object, and it disappeared from Toph’s senses. She immediately bent a dirt wall in front of herself. Raiga was not aiming for her though. The mango-peach pit he had taken struck the ground just to the left of Toph, making a hole in the soft soil. Raiga watched as the earthbender flinched, just barely, but it was there.

“Pff, you missed.” Toph groused.

“That was on purpose!” Raiga retorted. “You couldn’t sense that, or else you wouldn’t have tried to shield yourself.”

“And so what?” Toph asked with a shrug. “I may not be able to sense what’s in the air, but I can still tell when you’re tossing it. Besides, you don’t get points for throwing little seeds at me. You only win if you actually touch me.”

“So, it means that even you’ve got your blind spots,” Raiga shot back with a grin. “And I bet there’s one more…” He jumped from the branch to the thick trunk of the tree, sinking his claws into the bark before climbing upwards.

Toph sensed him as he went higher and higher, swinging from one branch to the next. She frowned as the cat lad gradually faded from her seismic sense. The earthbender sent out a pulse with her chi towards the tree to get a better look.

Raiga was reaching the top of the canopy, but his figure was blurry. The vibrations he was making with every hop on each branch grew weaker the further they had to travel down the trunk and then through the earth. Not only that, but with all the different branches swaying at once, it became difficult to pinpoint where exactly he was.

Eventually, the vibrations stopped. Toph could not sense Raiga anywhere. With a mutter, she began to walk back over to her pot of stew for another helping. A light breeze began to blow over the jungle. She reached for the ladle when-

“SPLURSHT!”

“GAH!”

Out of nowhere something heavy hit the ground behind Toph, nearly giving the old master a heart attack. She caught her breath as her adrenaline spiked, and she took a moment to calm herself down. Upon closer inspection, Toph realized that the object was in fact an overripe mango-peach, now an orange stain on the ground. Toph growled and stomped her foot, shaking the forest around her as she tried to get a better look into the canopy.

“Alright, I’m getting tired of this cat-boy!” The earthbender yelled, her scratchy voice echoing through the trees, but there was no answer. The branches of the mango-trees were swaying in the light breeze, their leaves rustling, but Toph could not sense her adversary. There was a rustling in the canopy, but the trees were so tall that her seismic sense could not reach.

“SPLURSHT!” Another fruit splattered the ground a few feet from Toph. She took a horse stance and readied herself. “SPLURSHT!” Another one fell behind her. The fruit kept dropping around Toph. She could not tell from where, only that they came from above.

More than just fruit began to drop now. Old, dead branches shattered against the jungle floor. Vines fell into loose coils and swayed over the ground. Toph bent a flat plane of earth up and held it above herself. There were so many objects hitting the ground at once now, like rain, and it was beginning to overwhelm her.

Toph had to concentrate if she wanted to sense Raiga. She cleared her mind, tuning out all the random noise and confusion, focusing on the trees. A tree trunk shook as something heavy bounced off from it. It was Raiga, visible to Toph only for a split second. There he was again, on a different tree. Toph could sense him now.

Raiga was jumping back and forth across the perimeter of the clearing, shaking down the mango-peaches with each landing, cutting vines with his claws and tearing off branches to throw down from mid-air. He was trying to confuse Toph’s senses, overload them. A smart strategy, but Toph was too experienced to fall for that.

The earthbender waited and listened, looking for a pattern, and she found it. Toph slammed her fist into her dirt shield, shooting a stone out above her at where Raiga was jumping to. The beast-man growled as the shot whistled by him, just barely missing his head. He had to finish this before Toph could zone in on him, and he one last trick.

Raiga hit a thick tree trunk and latched on with his claws, letting Toph see him. She shot another stone in his direction, and he jumped away just before it struck the tree, wedging into the wood. Toph paid attention to the trajectory of his jump, a necessary skill she had developed. He was going to land on the tree to her right. She timed the speed, readied another stone, and launched it where Raiga would land…

It missed. The stone struck the tree, but Raiga was not there. For a brief moment, Toph was stunned. Raiga had disappeared once more from her senses, but she knew he had to be somewhere. She heard a rustling above, a whoosh of air. Toph steadied her defenses and listened, and then she sensed it.

A thick vine was dragging over the ground. It was hanging from a branch much higher up. Toph could not properly sense it, but she knew something was swinging from it. Her seismic sense did not allow her to tell what was attached. Vines made a poor medium for vibrations, especially loose ones. All she could see was the tail end of the vine, but she knew it had to be Raiga.

Indeed, the beast-man had grabbed a loose vine when he had leapt from the tree, and his momentum was carrying him far and fast. Raiga swung in on Toph at an angle, low enough that he could get under her defenses and reach her. Toph followed the trail of the vine as it whipped around her in a circle. If not for that, he would have been totally invisible, but this was his last shot and he had to take it.

Toph sensed the end of the vine. It was far from her, yet seemed to be picking up speed. She only had seconds to anticipate what was happening. The earthbender could not tell much of it, but she finally noticed the angle of vine’s swing, just before she heard another whoosh of air.

Raiga extended his claws to tag the huge bun atop of Toph’s head. This was it; the moment of truth. It was time for this crochety old hag to taste some humble pie. He was about to win, he was so close…

Until Raiga felt a solid chunk of dirt mash into his ribs. The cat-boy grunted as he was knocked into the air once more. He let go of the vine as he went tumbling over the ground, his momentum sending him skidding. Raiga finally stopped at the edge of the clearing as he rolled onto his back, covered in swamp-filth.

Toph let of a long whistle as she lowered her hand and flattened the ground around her. “You’re smarter than you look kid. You nearly had me, but I am the greatest earthbender there ever was or ever will be.”

“Then it’s a good thing… I’m not… an earthbender…” Raiga said between pants as he slowly raised his arm. Clasped in his claws, he held aloft a green crescent. Toph furrowed her brow as she took notice of it, then her milky white eyes went wide with shock. She touched the top of her head, and in that instant her white bun fell loose. Raiga had snatched her hairband right off her head.

“Wha?! You hairy rascal!” Toph shouted furiously. “Give that back!”

“Not until you tell me where the swamp witch is!” Raiga shouted back as he got to his feet. “I won, so cough it up!”

“That doesn’t count as tagging me!” Toph barked as she stomped her foot and bent a slab of earth at Raiga from below him. He backflipped out of the way, waving the hairband teasingly.

“It so totally does!” Raiga sneered with a toothy grin. “But if you don’t want to tell me, I’ll just keep this as a trophy and find the swamp witch on my own. I’ll have proof that I beat the big bad Toph Beifong.”

Toph glared and glowered at the beast-man as he taunted her, but slowly her frown turned upward into a smile, and she burst out in laughter. Raiga was taken back as he watched the earthbender keel over, holding her stomach as she chortled and hooted.

“Ohoh, oh, ahah, sorry kid I just… HAH! I haven’t felt a rush like that in years!” The old woman exclaimed as she began to come down from her adrenaline high. “Finally, someone who uses their head. That vine trick would have impressed Sokka… Ahh, I feel sixty-years younger. Alright Cat-Boy, I’ll tell ya where to find the swamp witch, if only to pay you back for the fun.”

“You will?” Raiga’s ears perked and his tail swished as he dashed up to Toph eagerly. She nodded her head and tied her long hair back into a bun.

“Just gimme my headband back,” Toph asked, and Raiga obliged. She fastened it back on her head and cleared her throat. “Alright, the swamp witch lives… “

“Raiga, there you are!” Came a voice. Raiga looked over to see Korra emerging from the foliage, pushing the vines and leaves out of her face with her staff. Ginger was following behind, wearing the traditional garb of the Foggy Swamp Tribe, and behind her was Varrick recording everything with his mover camera. “You can’t just run off like that, you know how easy it is to get lost in here?”

“Right on time Twinkle-Toes.” Toph said with a smirk.

“Toph! It’s good to see you,” Korra said with a smile. “You’re just the person we were looking for.”

“Huh? I thought we were looking for the swamp witch?” Raiga said as he scratched his head. “Whatever, Toph says she can tell us where she is.”

Toph gave a snort as she tried to keep herself from laughing. Korra growled in frustration as a vein popped from her forehead.

“Raiga, Toph IS the swamp witch!” Korra shouted.

“Wait, she is!?” Raiga asked, bewildered. Toph let out another hearty laugh and wiped a tear from her eye. Raiga bared his fangs as he bristled in anger. “Why didn’t you just say so, you dirty old lady!?”

“And miss out on all that fun? No way,” The earthbender replied. “Why didn’t you just say you knew the Avatar? That would have saved you a lot of trouble.”

“Oh come on, like you would have believed that!” Raiga growled as he crossed his arms and twitched his ears.

“Yes! Yes, I would have!” Toph shouted with indignation. “I’m a truth seer! I know when people are lying!”

The two of them continued to yell and argue as Korra buried her face into her palm. It was going to be a long day.

@wingsfreedom

#Spirit forged #the spirit forged #Korra #Toph #Toph Beifong #Raiga #Avatar #Avatar The Last Airbender #the legend of korra #legend of korra #lok #tlok #atla #fanfic #fanfiction

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gatotsu · 6 years ago

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Tagged by @shadesalvarez thanks muchly!

nickname : Kris, Cress, and lately I’ve taken to Nina

zodiac sign: Scorpio Scorpio, the Moon Moon of the Zodiac world. Which is why I’m an “unfixable grumpy pants” according to my coworker.

height: 5′6″

Hogwarts house: Slytherin

last thing I googled: “easy vegetarian winter meals” because i hate food again

song stuck in my head: "Slurs” by Petrie, “Doom Days” by Bastille, “Double Knot” by Stray Kids, and “Capsize” by FRENSHIP and Emily Warren. Check out my Spotify for oddly named playlists.

following: 176

followers: 603 I’m guessing 90% are porn bots and people who’ve abandoned Tumblr. To my 15 regular followers, cheers.

amount of sleep I get: 7-8 during the week and 9 on the weekends because I always take a 12-2pm nap because I get bored. Long gone are my hypomanic 5 hour a night weeks. Everything is better when asleep.

lucky number(s): I don’t think I have a lucky number, but I like 2 and 12.

dream job: writer + mental health counselor or something related to food safety/systems.

wearing: yoga pants and a tank top despite it being like 60 degrees. This is my standard home uniform.

favorite songs: “Running Up That Hill” by Placebo, “John the Revelator” by Depeche Mode, “Love Is Not Over” by BTS, “Silvia” and “In Search Of” by Miike Snow, “Try Again” by Keane, “J’ai Demande A La Lune” by Indochine, “Twins” by Gem Club, “Star” and “You Know” by Jay Park -- I could go on for hours. Music is my second favorite thing in the entire world, tied with sleep (the first is my cat).

instruments: one day I will stop being a coward and take piano lessons like I’ve always wanted to.

random fact: I really love sea shanties. Assassin’s Creed Black Flag was a total gift because it combined assassinating people with naval warfare with motherfucking SEA SHANTIES. Also, despite the fact that I hate watching things, Master and Commander is one of my all time favorite films.

aesthetics: I have two modes which are forest/swamp witch or quirky professional. I buy most of my clothes from ModCloth. I’m the person who shows up to job interviews with a blouse that’s covered in bees (it’s all about being memorable, right?). Every moment not spent at work is lived in yoga pants or leggings.

tagging @capitalnineteen @strikercorbie @seriouslydidijustdothat @comolamar @hauntednamjoon @themushroomblues should any of you care to.

#cress post

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askswamphat · 6 years ago

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Head-Canons

-Swamp Hat has been unaware that there are other eldritch beings out there (and of different varieties too) since he is firmly convinced that he is the only one residing in these parts.

-He often has to tailor his own clothes. Having a tail does make it impossible to find pants. And making holes for his tail often ruins the fabric. So very early on he learned how to tailor his own clothes or make adjustments to existing garments to work for him. So his pants are often tweaked in a way that they come together in the back by a clasp or a buckle.

-It also goes for some of his other garment choices too. Such as his shawl, that he uses for not only show, but added protection. The shawl is made from 100% alligator hide. To claim the swamps as his own (when he was a young eldritch), he had to go against the biggest, baddest alligator that inhabited the swamp. After an intense fight and struggle, Swamp Hat was victorious. And although he wouldn’t usually skin an alligator for hide, he did so as a statement of his victory, and to appear that much more intimidating.

-The same goes for the teeth he has fashioned into a choker. The larger teeth are from that same gator; the smaller one are some of his tinier, baby teeth that feel out when he was just a baby eldritch. The choker and its teeth are considered a good luck charm to him (as is so with Louisiana folk who believe in voodoo).

-Swamp Hat is not only a witch doctor (where he specializes in using a lot of the elements around him to create tonics, brews and the such that cure all sorts of ailments). But he is also a practitioner of dark voodoo. He does business in both the good and dark aspects of witch doctor and voodoo priest.

-The Feathers on his hat, that he fashioned onto Mardi Gras beads, are from some of the first voodoo dolls he sold to customers.

-The bird skull is made from a Whooping Crane. He whittled the beak to be shorter and sharper. And is considered another charm.

-The satchel is one he found lying around his swamp one day. His swamps often get polluted with not only garbage but with useful items. Tourists are notorious for being spooked when they see not only himself, but the other wildlife living in the swamps. So things are often dropped, but mostly, people litter and pollute the swamps. The satchel he found; he brought it home and cleaned it up. And despite its original clasp being broken off, he created one using a Fleur-di-lis pendant. Same with the Mardi Gras beads. He finds SO MANY Mardi Gras things, that he just ended up incorporating some beads with his hat.

-He is often seen carrying around a bottle of a brewed tonic. What this particular tonic actually do, is a mystery to this day.

-7 foot tall gator eldritch. Lanky, but don’t let that fool you. Is incredibly strong and fast. His tail alone has enough power that it could crush you. And can quickly sweep any off their feet. Claws and teeth are also very dangerous. And if he really wants to be done with you, he can death roll you either on land, or in water. Either way, don’t anger him.

-Does not have nipples, eyebrows, eyelids or belly button. He has bright yellow, glowing eyes that glow especially at night. He does have nictitating membranes, aka, translucent eyelids. These move horizontally over his eyes, and their only purpose are to moisten his eyes and keep dust and debris out. Otherwise he doesn’t need to blink.

-He also doesn’t necessarily need to eat to live either, like most eldritch beings. But he does indulge in a diet of what he can find around the swamp and what others bring him or provide him with. He likes a lot of bitter and sweet flavors.

-Enjoys all kinds of music, but enjoys Jazz and Creole Zydeco music the most. Doesn’t do it often, but does sing to himself. He has a deep, raspy, voice.

(Example of singing voice can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZxF4i-ZWdA

His speaking voice is slightly deeper and raspier than his singing)

-His attitude and disposition can be very guarded and come across as being grumpy or aggressive. But is a gentleman deep down. If you’re lucky to break down walls, he will forever be a loyal protector. But if you get on his bad side, or provoke him, you better watch yourself!

-He “supposes” he tolerates Ms. Erin aka The Mun.

-Has spines on his back like a gator, but you often don’t see them due to his clothing.

-Louisiana parents often tell their children the tale of the Gator Man. Whom is always watching with glowing eyes. And if their kids are bad, then the Gator Man will come in the middle of the night and not only steal their souls but snatch them up-never to be seen again. Not just children fear the “Gator Man” Since most have heard tales of the same Gator Man helping people with their voodoo/witch doctor needs. Louisiana residents never truly know what this ‘Gator Man’ will do. So most live in hesitation and fear.

-Is not really actively seeking a mate or anything of the sort. But may allow something to happen if he truly starts to care for someone.

-Really doesn’t understand things like ‘memes’ and the sort. So comments as such will often leave him annoyed and confused. And he doesn’t like being confused!

-Can actually unhinge his jaw a bit and make his mouth open much wider if need be. Much like an actual gator can. And he also hisses like a gator when he is angry, confused or annoyed.

-Pretty much can be found swimming in the swamp or sunning on land, but has made a home/shelter for himself. He was able to burrow a cave into the surrounding bank. It serves its purpose and is habitable. It comes in handy if the temperature ever drops in a way that he has to hibernate.

-Yes, like a gator, he does get the urge to hibernate when it gets colder. He is cold blooded so colder climates slow him down greatly. He can still function and work, he just gets a bit more sluggish when the climate is colder.

-Even though he is from Cajun country, his dialect and accent are not cajun. He does know certain phrases and terms in Cajun French, that he will throw out there. But you have to get on his good side first before he uses those. Otherwise he doesn’t have much of a dialect or accent. Just that raspy, deep voice.

#ooc #headcanons #this is always a work in progress #always looking to make more as he interacts with folks #but for now these are some of the basics #aka get to know man boi

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gothvegas · 7 years ago

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i've grown weirdly fascinated with the macabre since i started regularly checking your blog (cuz i don't have a tumblr anymore) but i'm not complaining tbh. i'm also super intrigued with you & your bf's & kramer's vampire cannibal ocs; do you think you could do like a basic run-down of the characters & their roles in the story? if that's not too much work lmao

No problem! So that setting is HUUUGE so bare with me for a sec this is gonna be a long postThe Cannibal Vampire stuff is set in a fictional Louisiana town called Oak's Bottom (Named after oaks bottom in oregon where me & Kramer both are from, mostly cus it just sounds cool and spoopy)Theres 2 different groups of characters in that setting, The vampires/supernatural guys, and the lovingly named Oaks Bottom Loser's Club which are just a gaggle of dumb 20 year old & these two groups cross paths a LOT (which ill get into)So the main characters of the vampires are Harley, whos the oldest of them, hes about a hundred or so? I dont have an exact age for him but hes sort of like, the dad of the vampire group and hes just like, a sort of hedonistic and aloof genderbending vampire who cooks and eats people lmao. His boyfriend is Baxter, who belongs to My boyfriend Ripley. Baxter is a human (who becomes a vampire later on) whos a lawyer who gets roped into finding victims for the vampires after he makes a deal with Harley (who had trapped and was going to eat HIM but he slithered his way out of it, and they eventually grew fond of each other) Baxter tricked Lars's character Louis, whos just a sweet southern baptist boy into helping him get victims for the vampires.The other vampires are my man Izzy, who Harley turned into a vampire in the 50s. Before he was a vampire he was a serial axemurderer who specifically killed cops. He's just kind of a grumpy quiet guy & he does a lot of drugs lol. Then theres Julia who was a cocktail waitress before she got turned into a vampire in the 60s. Her deal is that she was MARRIED to a cop, who was a horrible bastard & ended up killing her and dumping her body, but Izzy & harley found her shortly after and Izzy recognized her from the bar & decided to turn her and bring her back cus she didnt deserve what she got.Then theres Speedo;s OC Rob whos a vampire but we havent really figured out what EXACTLY hes doin yet in this.The last vampire is Hooch who's a little babyboy whos only been a vampire for a few years & he's really wild and gets into trouble for revelling in the night and bein a lil freak. He's a good boy though even though he eats people lmao. He's dating Johnny who's a werewolf that is a compulsive hoarder and extremely grumpy and agressive & doesnt like people for the most part. Johnny's burden is Billy the Vampire, whos a nearly feral vampire guy who just like lives in a ramshackle trailer n his yard and runs around in the woods and acts like a creature. Billy stabbed Baxter once.from there we get into the LOSERS CLUB, which is Johnny's little brother Trevor (whos also a werewolf), Inez the goth witch, Theo the Ghost Boy Ron Irons the Jock passing Nerd, Wierdo Freddy & Earl whos the coolguy. They basically go around in Inez's RV and solve mysteries and do dumb stuff.where the plot gets wild is Theo's little sister Papillion is actually the reincarnation of Harley's mother, who was a good witch who was burned at the stake for witchcraft after being betrayed by her coven of "good" witches (who are actually bad) Before she was killed, she was taken in by Ludmilla (whos harley's swamp dwelling Trans Auntie) and they raised Harley together up until Harley's mother was killed, & then Ludmilla raised Harley by herself in the Bayou. & basically Harley is a special vampire who was created via witchcraft & is locally known as the Rougarou because on Mardis Gras he turns into a monster and kills and eats people in revenge for the killing of his mother. ITS REALLY LIKE, LONG AND COMPLEX AND THERES A WHOOOOLE LOT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE and even more characters but like, it would take so so sos o long to explain the entire thing.

#long post #cannibal vampire murder party #Anonymous

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witchykincare · 4 years ago

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Self care kit for a coyote who lives in a swamp!

Kyle the Coyote vintage plush ($19 US)🐾

Adapt weatherproof vinyl sticker ($3)🐾

Grumpy coyote acrylic pin ($11)🐾

Jade serenade soap bar. Scented with fern moss, English ivy, neroli, jasmine, and vanilla. Topped with sea salt.($7.50) 🐾

Swamp Witch white currant and Spanish moss scented candle ($12 for 8oz tin, $15 for 12oz jar)🐾

Get Out Of My Swamp bath bomb with calendula petals, satsuma and vanilla scented ($8. Bath bomb appearance has changed since product was originally created, the last photo in the listing reflects the product you'll be getting)🐾

#kin things #self care kit #otherkin #coyotekin #coyote kin #canine kin #coyote therian #canine therian

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valeriebielbooks · 8 years ago

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13 Witchy Books for a Magical Month

They say you write what you want to read, and I’m no exception. I love some goodold-fashioned (and newly imagined) witchy magic at any time of year but particularly as we enjoy the days leading up to Halloween. No matter your age, here are some fabulous witchy tales to enjoy this month. (I didn’t include the Harry Potter series because it’s a given that these books should lead any list in the witching/wizarding world.)

Picture Books

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler

The witch and her cat are happily flying through the sky on a broomstick when the wind picks up and blows away the witch's hat, then her bow, and then her wand! Luckily, three helpful animals find the missing items, and all they want in return is a ride on the broom. But is there room on the broom for so many friends? Copy And when disaster strikes, will they be able to save the witch from a hungry dragon?

To purchase: PAPERBACK HARDCOVER

Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini and Howard Fine

Gritch the Witch is grouchy, grumpy, and very hungry. The only thing that could make her happy is something extra special for lunch, and that is: Piggie Pie! Gritch zooms off on her broomstick to find eight plump piggies -- where else? -- on Old MacDonald's Farm. Cleverly disguised pigs impersonate ducks, chickens, a cow, and Old MacDonald himself, as this uproarious, quick-paced story builds to an ironically surprising conclusion. Wacky, hip, and illustrated with bold, bright paintings, "Piggie Pie" adds a new twist to an old fairy-tale scene.

To purchase: PAPERBACK HARDCOVER

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman and S.D. Schindler

Once there was a witch who longed for pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, the pumpkin she had grown from a seed became so big she simply couldn't get it off the vine. Although "she pulled and she tugged and she pulled...that pumpkin just sat." Along came a ghost. "I am bigger than you and stronger, too," said he. "Let me try." Well, the witch wanted that whole pumpkin for herself. But she needed help -- Halloween was just hours away... With the rhythm and repetition that children love, Erica Silverman tells a rollicking story about a witch who, through her encounter with a ghost and other spooky creatures, discovers both the value of cooperating and the joy of sharing. S.D. Schindler brings this captivating crew to life in spirited paintings that are as warm as they are funny.

To purchase: PAPERBACK HARDCOVER

Middle Grade

The Little Witch by Anna Elizabeth Bennett

In print for the first time in thirty years is Anna Elizabeth’s Bennett classic tale of a little witch who dreams of becoming normal girl.

To purchase: PAPERBACK eBOOK

The Witches by Roald Dahl

This is not a fairy tale. This is about real witches. Grandmamma loves to tell about witches. Real witches are the most dangerous of all living creatures on earth. There's nothing they hate so much as children, and they work all kinds of terrifying spells to get rid of them. Her grandson listens closely to Grandmamma's stories—but nothing can prepare him for the day he comes face-to-face with The Grand High Witch herself!

To Purchase: PAPERBACK HARDCOVER eBOOK

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

Mildred Hubble is starting her first year at Miss Cackle’s Academy for Witches — and making a mess of it! She can’t ride her broomstick without crashing, she’s always getting her spells mixed up, and worst of all, the teacher’s pet, Ethel, has just become her sworn enemy.

To Purchase: PAPERBACK HARDCOVER eBOOK

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place. Just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit’s friendship with Hannah Tupper, believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined and ultimately forces Kit to choose between her heart and her duty.

To Purchase: PAPERBACK HARDCOVER eBOOK

Young Adult

Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she is a witch. Her non-gifted mother has been supportive, consulting Sophie’s estranged father—a warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it’s her dad who exiles her to “Hex Hall”, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fairies, and shape-shifters. By the end of her first day, Sophie has three new enemies, a futile crush on a warlock, a tagalong ghost, and a vampire roommate. Worse, Sophie soon learns that an unknown predator has been attacking students. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries converges, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

To Purchase: HARDCOVER eBOOK

Beautiful Creatures series by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever. Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them. In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

To Purchase: PAPERBACK eBOOK

Sweep series by Cate Tiernan

Morgan Rowlands never thought she was anything other than a typical sixteen-year-old girl. But when she meets Cal, a captivatingly handsome coven leader, she makes a discovery that turns her whole world upside down: she is a witch, descended from an ancient and powerful line. And so is Cal. Their connection is immediate and unbreakable; Cal teases out Morgan's power, her love, her magick. But Morgan discovers too soon that her powers are strong, almost too powerful to control. And she begins to suspect that Cal may be keeping secrets from her . . . secrets that could destroy them both.

To Purchase: PAPERBACK eBOOK

Adult Fiction

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

For more than two hundred years, the Owens women have been blamed for everything that has gone wrong in their Massachusetts town. Gillian and Sally have endured that fate as well: as children, the sisters were forever outsiders, taunted, talked about, pointed at. Their elderly aunts almost seemed to encourage the whispers of witchery, with their musty house and their exotic concoctions and their crowd of black cats. But all Gillian and Sally wanted was to escape. One will do so by marrying, the other by running away. But the bonds they share will bring them back—almost as if by magic...

To Purchase: PAPERBACK eBOOK

The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness

In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting tale of magic and suspense. The story continues in book two, Shadow of Night, and concludes with The Book of Life.

To Purchase Book One "A Discovery of Witches": PAPERBACK eBOOK

Cousins O’Dwyer Series by Nora Roberts (Dark Witch, Shadow Spell, Blood Magick)

From Book 1: With indifferent parents, Iona Sheehan grew up craving devotion and acceptance. From her maternal grandmother, she learned where to find both: a land of lush forests, dazzling lakes, and centuries-old legends. Ireland. County Mayo, to be exact. Where her ancestors’ blood and magic have flowed through generations—and where her destiny awaits.

Iona arrives in Ireland with nothing but her Nan’s directions, an unfailingly optimistic attitude, and an innate talent with horses. Not far from the luxurious castle where she is spending a week, she finds her cousins, Branna and Connor O’Dwyer. And since family is family, they invite her into their home and their lives.

When Iona lands a job at the local stables, she meets the owner, Boyle McGrath. Cowboy, pirate, wild tribal horseman, he’s three of her biggest fantasy weaknesses all in one big, bold package.

Iona realizes that here she can make a home for herself—and live her life as she wants, even if that means falling head over heels for Boyle. But nothing is as it seems. An ancient evil has wound its way around Iona’s family tree and must be defeated. Family and friends will fight with each other and for each other to keep the promise of hope—and love—alive…

To Purchase Book One "Dark Witch": PAPERBACK eBOOK

To Purchase Book Two "Shadow Spell": PAPERBACK eBOOK

To Purchase Book Three "Blood Magick": PAPERBACK eBOOK

What are your favorite witchy reads?? Please share!

Happy Reading, Valerie

#witch #witchcraft #witches #magick #magic #magical #witchy #witch books #witchy reading #witch reader #witchtober #halloween reads

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grimalkinsquill · 5 years ago

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🖊

Kissios is my feral fire swamp witch. She’s slowly being flushed out in the background of my life, but the basic gist of it is that she’s the daughter of a hag, was abandoned, wandered her way into a village, lightly hexed a boy into a nosebleed because he was rude at which point she gets adopted by the village’s healer. She learns the power of names, gets named Kissios, and learns healing and spell craft. When Kissios turns 20, her adopted mom gets killed trying to stop a wildfire and the boy she hexed all those years ago is the only one who even considered Kissios as a potential option to save the village (in the village’s defense, she’s a grumpy, stubborn, and uncooperative as hell on a good day. They figured she’d fucking bounce once her mom died because her mom’s presence “temporarily tamed” her. They’re meant to be idiots). He goes finds her and she tells him she’ll save the village IF...he chants her name the whole time (not telling him that this will essentially serve as a power up). What happens next is basically a music video for Spectrum by Florence & the Machines: she sings, he chants in the background, and she essentially eats the wildfire (something her mother couldn’t do both because nobody was chanting as backup and because Kissios had a literal hole in her soul placed there by her biological mother for pretty and petty evil reasons). She leaves town and nobody says her name in the village ever, thinking it will summon her. Four years after that, a holy knight type shows up, because he’s been poked this way by his god, and the village is like oh thank fuck you’re here for her and when he asks what they mean nobody will explain because they think saying anything will summon her. The hexed/chanting boy (now a man at this point) gives him two journals: one of the healer woman who raised Kissios and his own. Between the two of these, the Knight gets the picture and goes into the deeper swamp nearby. He finds Kissios more or less gremlin squatting with a collection of tiny lizards and they get into a short scrap with no clear victor. He says that she needs a change of scenery and she’s like “what does it matter? I’m burned out and useless” and through a series of sniping at each other, pep talks, and some pretty hefty promises, he talks her into coming with him. At some point, he names the lizard-like fire creature she summons Vincent and she tells him that he’ll have to live with the consequences of naming part of her soul (the consequence mainly is her having a crush on him, but she’ll gladly make it seem spookier and scarier for The Aesthetic).

#kissios

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styxjuice · 8 years ago

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Resbang 2016: Metamorphosis

It’s finally here! I'd like to say thanks to @khaleesimaka, @jcrycolr3wradcse, and @piercelovewonton for their help with beta work, encouragement, and lovely art. This fic wouldn't be here without you! (Be sure to check out piercelovewonton's art for this fic here!)

I hope you all enjoy! (The first chapter can be read here; the entire work can be found on ff.net or ao3.)

Rating: PG-13, T Warnings: Semi-graphic violence, Temporary major character death, past emotional abuse, apocalyptic situations, insanity, anxiety Pairings: Free/Eruka, minor (could be read as platonic) Soul/Maka. Summary: Anime-verse. The world's rotten. Meisters and weapons run wild, killing any witch they please without mercy, and Death oppresses all who doesn't share his views. Tired of cowering in silence, Eruka takes a stand to rewrite the fabric of time itself, hoping to change her destiny. With two reluctant stowaways and Free traveling with her, Eruka ventures into the past to rip apart bonds, contorting the future in ways she never could have predicted... Or desired.

Wet moss squelches beneath her boots when Eruka pulls her knees to her chest. She reaches her right hand to her left shoulder, but recoils and curses under her breath when she feels that the wound’s still bleeding. One overzealous knife meister owes her another patch for her sleeve.

The swamp’s chorus of frogs sounds loud in her ears, echoing from the trees and filling the mist that seems to swallow her. It’s almost calming enough to soothe her rage for a moment, and she rocks herself slightly to their melody.

Erase the memory of today’s failure. Erase the memory of yesterday’s failure. Erase all failures. Erase everything.

She catches her train of thought before it gets away from her. Nothing good can come from that way of thinking, she scolds herself, and she slaps her cheeks once to ground her in the present.

“Why do you do that?”

She jumps at Free’s voice, and the swamp’s song falters for a moment after drowning out his footsteps. Taking a breath, she collects herself, smoothing out her dress.

“I just do,” she mutters, not turning to look at him. “It’s not your problem.”

He sighs and sits next to her, sending some of the frogs ducking under the water in fear. Before she can yell at him for it, he plants one of his large hands on her head, rubbing her orange hat back and forth.

“You’ve been a very grumpy frog lately, Eruka,” he says in that simple voice of his; the one that makes her want to hit him upside the head with one of her bombs in the hopes that his brains fall back into place.

Her small hands clasp onto his palm and attempt to wrench it off of her. “Free! You’ll ruin my hair!” she squeaks, glaring at the smirk she sees forming on his face.

“Not until you tell me what’s bugging you,” he replies, and it’s just further evidence of how he’s become too comfortable with her lately, much too touchy and smiley for Eruka’s liking. His smirk falls when she smacks his hand away.

“I’m frustrated,” she snaps, turning away from Free again. “Aren’t you?”

Free shrugs. “Eh. Not really,” he says. “We run from meisters all the time. They hit us, you run, I try and kill them. That’s how it works.”

Eruka peers up at him while straightening out the brim of her hat. “But aren’t you tired of it being like that? Don’t you wish it could be different?”

Free scratches at his stubble for a minute, glancing up at the foggy sky. “Uh… I dunno. Never thought about it,” he admits absentmindedly.

Eruka growls a little to herself. “Well, I do. A Lot,” she grumbles. Standing to her feet, she straightens out her hat one last time before dusting moss off of her dress. “Nevermind. Let’s just get back,” she says, starting off towards Medusa’s fortress.

“Right behind you,” she hears Free call, but she doesn’t turn around to look.

Sometimes Eruka thinks she can feel Medusa watching her through the walls of her former home. Every empty hallway seems like a dark alley filled with places for snakes to hide, ready to leap out at her and squirm down her throat, like Medusa had said she had done to that little girl. Every night before she sleeps, she makes sure to put charms all around her bed and every entrance to the room to ward off whatever specter or spell that the snake witch might have left behind.

Even so, Eruka very rarely sleeps more than three hours a night.

She shivers as she walks through the halls, even with Free behind her.

“I hate living here,” she whispers, even though they’re alone.

Behind them, five voices suddenly remind Eruka that that’s the third time she’s complained about the place this week.

She jumps a little at first, but Eruka quickly relaxes when she glances behind herself at the small mouse-like witches. “Oh. Hello, Mizune,” she says.

They return the greeting in unison before they ask if she was successful in bringing back food.

Eruka deflates a little. “No, sorry,” she says quietly. “There was a meister and his weapon in the area. They found us before we could get anything.”

They see, the Mizune say with the tiniest slump of their shoulders. That’s alright; they should have enough food to last another week.

“That’s what you said last time,” Eruka murmurs.

“I still don’t see how you can understand them,” Free adds, earning himself a sideways glance from Eruka.

Well it’s true, the sisters reply, ignoring Free. The food just has to be rationed out differently. They should be fine, and Free’s immortal anyway. They pause, and then ask quietly if Eruka’s okay; she looks tense.

She realizes then that her hands are clenched at her sides, her dress bunched up in her fists, her knuckles white. Quickly she releases her hold, clearing her throat. “Sorry,” she says swiftly. All of their eyes lay on her as she takes a step back. “I’ll be in the lab, if anyone needs me.”

As she walks off, she hears the Mizune whisper to each other that she’d never go in there before, that it always reminded her too much of Medusa, so what changed? It must be something major.

“Eruka!” Free shouts, running a stride or two to catch up with her. His hand settles on her shoulder, stopping her. “Eruka, something’s wrong.” It’s a statement, not a question. She tries to shrug his hand off, but he doesn’t move, either because he’s stubborn or he’s too dense to take a hint.

“I’m fine,” she says.

“You’re not.”

Her fists tighten again. “I’m fine,” she says again between clenched teeth.

Free’s grip tightens. “Eruka…”

Something within her snaps, a frayed rope unraveling before breaking under the weight of its load.

“I’m tired, okay?!” she finally bursts out, glaring at the stark white linoleum beneath her boots. “I’m tired of getting attacked. I’m tired of living in a world where being a witch means I have to constantly fear for my life. I’m tired of being powerless to change anything,” she tells him. Her confessions spill out as if a dam inside her head’s been broken. “I just want it all gone. I want to start over.”

Free is silent for a minute. “You can’t though,” he says when he finally speaks. “You can’t just get rid of everything.”

She turns around, looking Free directly in his normal eye. Though he towers over her, all muscle and brawn, she doesn’t feel small in this moment.

“But what if I could?” she murmurs. Free’s eyebrows raise. “What if there was some way to make things better? To erase everything that…” She stops, about to say everything that scares me, but she corrects herself before she speaks. “… Everything that’s wrong with the world.”

Free remains silent, so she continues. “Maybe there’s something that can do that in the lab, or at least a manuscript or written spell. If I can get my hands on a weapon that she engineered, I can use it to finish off the DWMA! No more problems for us or any witches, Free!” Excitement begins to fill her now that she imagines the possibilities, and a smile begins to spread on her lips. “We won’t have to be afraid anymore, we won’t have to hide anymore, and we can be proud to have magic! All I have to do is find something that can destroy our enemies and problems, and with enough power I’m sure I can!”

Free seems unaffected by her unusual beam, and the longer they stand there, the more Eruka realizes that his emotionless gaze is more of a glare, and the more her face falls.

“So… What do you think?” she finally asks, unable to stand the tense silence any longer. He glances away from her for a moment.

“I think you sound like Medusa,” he tells her, his voice low. Eruka immediately stiffens. It takes but a moment for her to stand there in shock before her emotions contort themselves into rage. She grabs his shirt and twists the fabric in her fist – even though she can only reach as high as his mid-chest – and gives him a fierce scowl. There are few things that anger her as much as being put on the same tier as the witch she most despises.

“Never,” she growls, “compare me to her.”

Free doesn’t waver, and his stoic expression begins to intimidate her, but her harsh gaze remains poignant. She merely releases her hold, backs away, and turns on her heel to head into the lab. “Leave me alone and don’t follow me,” she calls over her shoulder. But when she opens the door to the dark lab and the scent of sterilization and dust floods the air, the feeling that Medusa’s watching her comes creeping back, and she wishes for a moment that she wasn’t alone.

Eruka’s frustration climbs the longer she searches for anything of value. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to how Medusa stored her manuscripts, and many of them seem to be stolen from Mabaa’s archives.

She’s busy leaning over a table, deciphering an aged tome when she hears a loud thud, followed by an immediate cry of pain, causing her to freeze. Looking up from her work cautiously, she sees Free wander into the lab with a dazed look, rubbing his forehead. She assumes that he’s run into the doorframe again.

“I know you told me not to follow you,” he says, not meeting her eye. Eruka finds this slightly odd as he seemed unable to stop staring her down earlier. “But I made tea and wanted to know if it tasted good. I was going to ask the Mizune, but I still can’t understand them, so…” he trails off while offering her the small cup he holds. Something about his story doesn’t add up, but she ignores it as she takes the drink from him and sips it. With her jumpy nerves, Eruka never was one to refuse a calming drink.

Immediately she spits the vile liquid from her mouth, wetting the document and table in front of her. As she gags, Free blanches. His stunned look lasts only a moment, however, and he appears to be desperately trying to keep himself together before he bursts out laughing. Eruka jumps a little at the sudden noise.

“That bad, huh?” he guffaws, delight in his voice. “Sorry, but that was priceless! And it went all over your work!” he points out with a grin.

Eruka wipes her lip with her sleeve, trying to act like she isn’t scared at the slightest unexpected sound or movement. “It’s fine,” she says, coughing once, shoving the ruined tome into the trash bin at the end of the table. “The paper was old, so I was trying to figure out what it said, but I’m pretty sure it was just a basic spell for curing wounds.” She turns to Free, one eyebrow raised. “This wasn’t all a prank, was it?”

He shakes his head quickly, his laughter dying down to chuckles. “No; I actually did want you to try my tea. Thought you might like it. Guess I need to try again,” he chortles. With a long sigh, he finally seems to calm himself down while Eruka pushes past him to grab a rolled-up piece of paper from a nearby shelf. “So, having any luck?”

She narrows her eyes at the page, gripping the sides until they wrinkle beneath her grasp. “Shopping list,” she grumbles.

“What was that?” Free asks. She shakes her head as she wads up the paper in her hands.

“Nothing. And no, I’m not having any luck. Everything in here is stolen, illegible, or research notes on black blood and Crona,” she murmurs, pulling another book off the shelf anyway. “Medusa had no superweapon, and she didn’t have any need for one. Crona was her superweapon. And when they failed, Asura took their place.” She closes the book; it’s a useless nursing text. “I was never going to find anything in here. I shouldn’t have got my hopes up.”

Free walks over to stand next to her, looking over the shelves. “Well… You may still find something,” he says, possibly trying to sound eager, but it’s not working. “The stuff you want could just be out of your reach.”

Eruka lets the textbook drop to the ground and crosses her arms over her chest. “Free, stop,” she mumbles.

“Like this one… Or not,” he mutters to himself, apparently ignoring her. “Or this… No, that’s not useful either.”

“Please, Free.”

“This looks cool! But it’s about soul study…”

“Free!”

He glances down at her, a confused look on his face. “What? I’m trying to help you. What about this? It’s a protection spell.”

“Free, stop it!” Eruka shouts, grabbing his arm. “Just give up! There’s nothing in here!”

Free grabs three scrolls with one hand despite her protests. “I’m sure there’s something!” he yells back, yanking his arm away from her to pull open the scrolls before dropping them to the floor in succession. “Time spell! What about a time spell? Or this one that enchants objects! Or this one that makes you float!”

“Why are you trying so hard?!” screeches Eruka. She isn’t prepared for when Free rounds on her, fangs bared, the last scroll dropping to the floor with a loud clang .

“Because I want you to stop being so upset all the time!”

Eruka freezes up, scared by his tone. She tries to hold her ground, even though every one of her reflexes is telling her to transform, run away, hide. “S-so this is all about me being unpleasant?!” she shoots back, failing to keep the nervous stutter from her voice.

Free snarls at her. “That’s NOT what this is about AT ALL!”

She can’t help it anymore. Her body disappears in a puff of smoke, leaving behind a small green frog that instantly hops into the pile of scrolls to hide.

Shivering, Eruka cowers even as she hears him curse through his teeth. “Eruka? I didn’t mean to do that. Can you come on out?”

She’s not sure if she should move. One part of her says she can trust Free, the other part argues that he just yelled at her.

“Eruka, come on,” he says, kneeling down next to the pile. She knows he won’t try to pull her out by force, but she can’t help but back up a little when she can barely see Free moving closer. “Look, I meant what I said; I really didn’t mean to scare you. If I could go back and undo it, I could.”

Her small eyes widen.

Free coughs at the puff of smoke Eruka produces when she transforms back. “Say that again,” she says softly, staring at him, ideas churning in her head. Like overseeing a chessboard, plans and solutions and outcomes expand across her mind.

“Uh…” Free stares at her, confused again. “If I could go back and undo it, I…”

“That’s it,” Eruka says, already sifting through the scrolls. “If you could go back,” she repeats, mostly to herself. When she finds the paper she had been looking for, a rare feeling of hope ignites in her chest. “We can go back, Free,” she breathes. She hasn’t felt this exhilarated since before meeting Medusa.

Free raises the eyebrow above his brown eye. “And stop me from yelling at you?” he wonders. Eruka’s too excited to do so much as roll her eyes at his thick-headed understanding.

“Not quite,” she says, her heart rate growing faster the longer she stares at the time travel spell in her hands. “I’m thinking a little bigger.”

#resbang 2016 #resbang #freeruka #eruka frog #free #soul eater

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criticalufobserver-blog · 7 years ago

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“Shrek” Fanmix Liner Notes

Dreamworks’ “Shrek” is a comedic, romantic, and postmodern masterpiece, winner of the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Because of the film’s satirical tone showcasing classic fairy tales in a realistic light, I aimed to picked songs for the fanmix that ranged from light-hearted to emotionally complex. All ten songs were chosen to recreate the overarching narrative of Shrek’s physical and emotional travels depicted in the movie.

Similarly, I designed my cover-art to be as self-aware as the movie. Shrek encapsulated internet meme culture many years before memes became mainstream, so what better way to pay homage than with a meme?

1) “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars

The movie opens with Shrek enjoying what I understood to be a typical morning in his swamp. We see him lounging casually at home, enjoying what I would consider a predictable, lazy day. Bruno Mars sings, “Today I don’t feel like doing anything. I just wanna lay in my bed. “Within the next few scenes, and occasionally throughout the movie, Shrek mentions “my swamp,” in such a manner that is analogous to the lyrics, “Cause in my castle I’m the freakin’ man.” Every day is a lazy day for Shrek because he doesn’t attempt to please anyone but himself.

2) “We’re Going To Be Friends” by The White Stripes

The following day, Shrek meets Donkey for the first time, when Donkey runs into Shrek’s swamp for shelter. Even though Shrek is openly hostile towards him, Donkey is still optimistic about the future of his relationship with Shrek. “We’re Going To Be Friends” is an accurate representation of Donkey’s perspective for this scene. The White Stripes sing, “Here we are, no one else. We walked to school all by ourselves. There’s dirt on our uniforms from chasing all the ants and worms.” The songs lyrics focus on child-like friendship, which fits Donkey’s happy-go-lucky demeanor. This song also foreshadows how Shrek and Donkey will become best friends by the end of the movie.

3) “You’re the One That I Want” by the cast of “Grease”

In the ‘kingdom’ of Duloc, Lord Farquaad learns from the Magic Mirror that in order to be crowned a king and have a ‘kingdom’, he must marry a princess. Upon learning this, a game-show-esq scene begins where Farquaad must choose his future princess bride from a lame, ‘dating profile’ of three different princesses. “You’re the One That I Want” is meant to represent the satirical and absurd nature of this scene, and how quickly Farquaad decides a woman he has never met, in a far away land he has never been to, is the perfect candidate to be his wife.

4) “Downtown” by Petula Clark

In order to regain autonomy over his swamp, Shrek travels to Duloc to air his grievances with Farquaad. Upon arrival, Shrek is greeted by an empty and visibly sterile city, devoid of any charm or life. “Downtown” was chosen to be ironic. The lyrics of “Downtown” describe a wonderful place where you can find contentment by just getting lost in the rigmarole of everyday life. Duloc is clearly not that place. In the canon of fairy tales, kingdoms are meant to be shining beacons of civilization. Duloc is the antithesis of Clark’s song, a city representing the gloomy side of urban living.

5) “Truckin” by the Grateful Dead

After winning Farquaad’s tournament, Shrek and Donkey depart to rescue Princess Fiona. The Grateful Dead’s “Truckin” is a playful song chosen to capture Donkey’s cheerful perspective regarding their ‘epic quest’(cheerful, at least until they reach the volcano where Fiona waits to be rescued). The Grateful Dead sing, “Keep truckin’, like the do-dah man.” Although it isn’t exactly clear in the song who the do-dah man is, this childish gibberish is exactly the kind of thing Donkey would sing about.

6) “Dragula” by Rob Zombie

Upon entering Fiona’s castle, Shrek and Donkey are attacked by the fierce dragon that guards the tower. “Dragula” features and an intense techno-synth beat with lyrics describing a hunt, but with gothic overtones. It is a large, action packed scene that demands a large, action packed song. In the chorus, Rob Zombie sings, “Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches” which when paired with the harsh melody of the song, is fitting for this scene.

7) “Smile” by Uncle Kracker

Soon after Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey encounter Robin Hood and his Merry Men, Shrek and Fiona start to feel an attraction for each other. Uncle Kracker sings, “You make me smile like the sun. Fall out of bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head, spin like a record crazy on a Sunday night.” We see the two share ‘romantic moments’ eating spider web cotton candy and making balloon animals out of frogs and snakes. The touching montage is a parody of ‘disney romance,’ such as the spaghetti scene from “Lady and the Tramp.” “Smile” is the perfect song because this is when grumpy, irritable Shrek has something to smile about.

8) “Hurt” by Johnny Cash

The night before the group reaches Duloc, Shrek overhears Fiona venting to Donkey about her ogre curse. Shrek mistakes her harsh words for criticism of his own appearance and personality. Dejected, Shrek leaves Fiona with Farquaad. It is here we see Shrek at his lowest. Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” was recorded 3 months before his death. The lyrics “I focus on the pain, the only thing that’s real,” and “everyone I know, goes away in the end” describes how I envision Shrek feels. Before he met Fiona, he didn’t believe he was deserving of love. I couldn’t imagine the pain of meeting your soulmate only to find out she thinks you are disgusting.

9) “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift

Back at the swamp, Shrek learns from Donkey that the feelings he has for Fiona might be mutual. Shrek and Donkey fly to Duloc by dragon and Shrek enters the church at the last second to stop Fiona from kissing Farquaad. “You Belong With Me” describes what it feels like to be the right match for someone, but because of circumstances you aren’t together. Taylor Swift sings, “If you can see I’m the one who understands you. Been here all along so why can’t you see, you belong with me.” Shrek, a big green ogre who lives in the swamp, although a bit rough around the edges, knows he understands Fiona and will treat her much better than Farquaad.

10) “Just Like Heaven” by the Cure

Shrek tells Fiona he loves her and breaks her curse with true love’s first kiss. “Just Like Heaven” is Shrek’s victory song and describes what I envision ‘happily ever after’ would sound like. The Cure sings, “You, strange as angels, dancing in the deepest oceans, twisting in the water. You’re just like a dream.”

#shrek #fanmix #shrek is love #shrek is life

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