#needless to say dusty is going THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW

[theosconfessions]

if youd like to read the stephens from the beginning you can over here:)

if youd like to read the stephens continued you can over here:)

@ohsosims

dustin- im just trying to make you aware that these guys..they dont change

river- you dont think daddy changed

dustin- daddy is...yeah he did . but hes in his sixties now riv. it took many years for him to become decent. im trying to save you the heartache riv.

river- then why are you still with him if he was so bad?

dustin- weve made right what weve needed to make right,river.hes..given me reasons to trust him again. weve been together for a very very very long time. daddy is..older.he needs me. i need him.

river- what does that even mean?

dustin- meaning..he is having a lot of memory issues now. well for years but its been getting worse. i dont know how much of it is related to what he got from that piece of shit or its just getting old. i dont know . hes denying it so he doesnt scare you guys or himself but i see it. im with him all of the time now. and even though he has his shit mainly together ..and probably because of you guys... its getting more apparent as time goes on. its a lot. add the babies on top of that i just...

river- i can help with the babies

dustin- i know you would..but its not your responsibility riv.what im trying to say to you baby.thoe and i . our relatoinship is really good now finally. but thats after nearly twenty years of me being kind of..sad..and now that its good? daddys minds checking out. i just ..times so fleeting riv. not only do i not want my son to go through life being fucking sad.i dont want you to waste your time. its so fucking important baby.

river- do you feel like you wasted your time with daddy?

dustin- i think we did. and we've spoken about it. he wishes he never took me for granted.

river- he says that all of the time.

dustin- because he realizes jsut how much time we wasted fucking eachother up. i dont know. i love him. and id make the same choices to be with him. but i want different for you,riv. blake cant be making the same mistakes theo did

river- he wont

dustin- you dont know that,baby. listen youre 18. and although id love to. i cant tell you what to do anymore. just think about everything we spoke about okay? and if you choose blake..just stop moving so fast. let him prove to you hes worth your time.

river- okay.

[genshingorlsrevengeance]

(FE3H Fanfic) House Isekai Primer

Premise: After using a reality distorting magic in order to save someone's life, mercenary Byleth Eisner and his mysterious companion Sothis accidentally create a devastating side effect. They have now brought groups from other dimensions, and must guide them through the lands of Fodlan, and a world that wants them all gone.

-

Crossovers: Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Persona 3/4/5, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, Konosuba, Gakkou Gurashi

-

Content: A mixture of crack, slice of life at the Monastery with the new members, serious story events, and a mixture of Three Houses/Three Hopes story.

-

Characters included: Persona 3: Makoto Yuki, Yukari Takeba, Junpei Iori, Aigis Persona 4: Yu Narukami, Yosuke Hanamura, Chie Satonaka, Yukiko Amagi, Teddie Persona 5: Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Morgana Trails of Cold Steel: Rean Schwarzer, Elliot Craig, Alisa Reinford, Laura S. Arseid, Towa Herschel, Sara Valestein, Sharon Kreuger Konosuba: Satou Kazuma, Aqua, Darkness, Megumin Gakkou Gurashi: Megumi Sakura

A/N: This is actually round 2 of me doing a FE3H Crossover fanfic but the cast being added to the original one was 72. Needless to say that made actually making a story where the heroes didn't just curbstomp everything in their path was a bit contrived. This time, it's only going to be 25, which is FAR more manageable. For those who are just following Genshingorls, this was actually my first major fanfic project, and holds a special place in my heart. Though admittedly, I don't like how the original turned out since I HEAVILY rushed it, but this time I'll take my time, and I hope that it's an enjoyable read for everyone who'll take the time to give it a look! For my longtime followers: Kept you waiting, huh?

Extended character info below the cut!

===

Persona 3

Date transported from: September 18th, 2009

Makoto Yuki (Age: 16) - Aigis (Age:???)

Yukari Takeba (Age: 16) - Junpei Iori (Age: 16)

Originally waiting out the storm that was passing over Iwatodai dorm, Makoto, Aigis, Yukari, and Junpei find themselves transported into a strange land by even stranger circumstances. Cut off from the rest of their friends and forced to contend with both Shadows and their new environment, Makoto leads the members of S.E.E.S to protect his newfound allies at Garreg Mach.

===

Konosuba

Date transported from: No one was looking at the calendar before they left the tavern.

Satou Kazuma (Age: 17) - Aqua (Aqua)

Dustiness Ford "Darkness" Lalatina (Age: 19) - Megumin (Age: 14)

Originally the four were doing a quest that involved a magical artifact, one Kazuma was dead set on selling for a fat load of cash. Unfortunately for him, Aqua decided to mess with it, thinking it could be used until it horribly malfunctioned, shooting the four into a completely new world. Absolutely pissed but having no time to yell at Aqua and deal with whatever crap lied ahead of them, Kazuma had no choice but to ally himself with the weird emotionless mercenary and the floating green thing with him.

===

Persona 4

Date transported from: August 2012

Yu Narukami (Age: 16) - Yosuke Hanamura (Age:16) - Teddie (Age: ???)

Chie Satonaka (Age: 16) - Yukiko Amagi (Age: 16)

Originally visiting for Summer Vacation, Yu found something strange happening with the TV's in Junes, despite the fact the Midnight Channel had long disappeared. Calling who was available, Yu, Yosuke, Chie, Yukiko, and Teddie went inside to investigate, only to find themselves ending up in a completely unfamiliar land, with seemingly no way to return. Finding familiar faces in the form of younger versions of the members of S.E.E.S, Yu and friends decide to stay in order to find a way home together.

===

Gakkou Gurashi

Date transported from: July 2012

Megumi Sakura "Megu-nee" (Age: Early 20's)

After saving her last remaining three students from the infected, Megumi accepted her fate, her world going dark with a searing pain on her right arm that was only growing by the second. Instead of the end like she expected to face, she suddenly awoke again being saved by unfamiliar faces. With nowhere to go, she decides to stay with her saviors, and start teaching again to the best of her ability with the second chance she was given.

===

Persona 5

Date transported from: July 2017

Ren Amamiya (Age: 18) - Ryuji Sakamoto (Age: 18)

Ann Takamaki (Age: 17) - Morgana (A Cat)

Originally heading out on a camping trip with the rest of their friends, Ren, Ryuji, Ann, and Morgana are caught in a Palace that manifested itself, drawing them into it. To their shock, the unstable nature of the Palace had quickly collapsed, trapping them in another world. After meeting other Wild Card Persona Users, Ren can only deduce that this was meant to happen, and fights with his friends to guide them home, and bring justice to the wicked in this new land.

===

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

Date transported from: October 24th, S.1204

Rean Schwarzer (Age: 17) - Elliot Craig (Age: 16)

Alisa Reinford (Age: 17) - Laura S. Arseid (Age: 17)

Towa Herschel (Age: 18) - Sara Valestein (Age: 25) - Sharon Kreuger (Age: 23)

Moments after discovering an Ashen bipedal Machine inside the Old Schoolhouse, a blinding light envelops the members of Class VII as they tried to investigate it. Quickly finding themselves in a land not too dissimilar from their own, Rean and Sara immediately take point to find a safe haven for Class VII, finding it alongside fellow outsiders, led by a mercenary. Though the machine, their Orbal Weapons and ARCUS units are still with them, they are far from safe in this strange new world.

===

Notable Deviations from the original FE3H timeline for this Crossover:

Byleth has seen Sothis from birth and the two have become steadfast friends, all the way to present time.

Shez and Arval is also present, though the two do not meet before meeting the Three Lords.

Ashen Wolves are present, including their DLC story.

Jeralt will have a stronger presence, teaching alongside Byleth and interacting with the Garreg Mach students and Crossover characters.

Sothis will have a stronger presence, due to being seen by certain Crossover characters.

===

By the time this post goes live, I'll be working on the prologue chapter, it's SO good to be writing these characters again in this medium.

See ya soon, and thanks for reading this far!

- Chris

[hourcat]

🚬

“I don’t think this is a good idea, Pierre,” Charles murmurs, but there’s a laugh in his voice—one that melts right into Pierre’s skin where they’re pressed together, knee-to-knee and skin-to-skin. The sun is setting on their rather indulgent afternoon, and Pierre feels…good.

Better than good, really: he’d managed to charter a flight to Miami a week early, to get some pre-race relaxation built in before things snap back into place the way they always do when it comes to Formula 1, and Charles hadn’t taken much convincing to come with.

“Leo is staying with Arthur,” he’d informed Pierre diligently, “I can take a few extra days. He owes me.”

For what, Pierre hadn’t bothered to ask. It’s no matter, though: he’d boarded that plane and crushed in next to Pierre for the ten-plus hour flight all the same, an almost constant stream of muffled laughter buried in his shoulder as they debriefed about…well, the season so far, among other things. Pierre’s hand had settled a bit high on his thigh early in the flight and spent the rest of the trip in that same spot, but other than that, he’d been good.

They were good, at least until the jet landed and they’d gotten shuttled off to the hotel room Pierre had booked—separate from where Alpine usually puts them up, so it can feel like an actual vacation instead of a pre-work event. They’d barely gotten through the door to Pierre’s double-bed suite when Charles had crashed into him, hands roaming and hungry with his lips on Pierre’s like they hadn’t seen each other in months.

Needless to say, the afternoon slipped away from them, as well as a good chunk of the night. The next morning, at least, had been fairly productive: Charles and Pierre hit the hotel gym early, thanks to a friendly reminder from Ben, then went jogging on the beach to see the sights.

They’re recovering from that now. Charles, freshly showered and sun-lazy, is curled up in one of the lounge chairs on the balcony. Pierre has draped himself over the other one. It’s…not the most comfortable position, really, but he’s too tired to care, and Charles is happy where he is. He shifts so that he can hook his ankle around Pierre’s.

“I think you’re overthinking it,” Pierre answers softly. He lifts the pen to his lips and raises an eyebrow. “We’re not going to get arrested for this, Cha.”

“Says you,” Charles retorts, but he’s watching Pierre with curious eyes as he takes a hit off the weed pen. Honestly, he’s not sure why he bought it—maybe he’s too susceptible to the power of suggestion, considering how easily he’d gone with the shop owner’s suggestion. A wink and a smile is all it takes. Charles had wandered off into another store and Pierre had just…gone on an impulse.

Besides. It’s not a crime. He smirks around the mouth of the pen and takes a hit, doing his damnedest not to cough and ruin this cool, settled illusion he’s trying to pull off. This is normal. Men their age do this all the time here. He doesn’t have to be a Formula 1 driver all the time. Sometimes, being ordinary is the best cure for whatever season-long hangover the year is putting them through.

“How is it,” Charles asks, tugging lazily at Pierre’s ankle. “Are your lungs turning to dust?”

Pierre rolls his eyes. “Charles—” Oop. Too soon—some of the smoke catches him off-guard, and he coughs his way through the last of the hit as Charles grins at him wickedly, amusement dancing in his eyes. “You are such a fucker for that.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he hums, but the grin doesn’t disappear. “I was just curious—”

“Fuck off,” Pierre interrupts, but there’s not an ounce of heat to it. “Here, you try.”

Charles wrinkles his nose. “Pierre.”

“You have already inhaled my smoke, squid. Your lungs will be as dusty as mine.” He extends the pen to Charles, who eyes it warily only for a moment before taking it up and bringing it to his mouth. Along for the ride so easily. That’s his Charles.

“I am telling Fred all about this,” he warns.

“Go ahead, baby.”

“Pierre made me, I will say.”

“Uh-huh.”

“He is never going to let you hear the end of it,” Charles continues, although he shakes his head with a little smile when Pierre raises an eyebrow and takes a hit of his own. Pierre watches his features smooth out—it should be more annoying, that somehow Charles is better at this despite being just as inexperienced as Pierre, but it just makes him smile.

Charles sets the pen on the cushion beside him and reaches his hand out, grabbing Pierre’s and tangling their fingers together. “You’re a terrible influence on me, Pierre Gasly.” He runs his thumb gently over Pierre’s knuckles, drawing Pierre’s gaze.

He squeezes Charles’ hand in answer. “You love a bad boy,” the Frenchman retorts with a chuckle.

Charles sighs. “I love a bad boy,” he repeats back after a moment, grip slackening a little. Pierre looks up, then, at Charles’ face: cheeks pink in the fading light of the afternoon, mouth curled into an almost-innocent smile. “But only one.” Pierre snorts, squeezing tighter again. “And he is not so bad, really. Maybe more stupid than anything.”

“Stupid?”

“Only a little. He is…” Charles giggles and shakes his head, trailing off as he lifts a hand to Pierre’s cheek and presses against the scruff of his beard insistently.

“You know,” Pierre murmurs in reply, “you are not much better than me.” Charles, now, is the one to raise a questioning eyebrow in response. “You’re the one listening to me, squid.”

Charles breaks into a louder giggle, clutching at Pierre’s hand tight in his own once again. “Yeah,” he manages after settling down a little, “but love makes you stupid. Isn’t that the saying?”

Pierre turns his head to press a kiss to the center of Charles’ palm. “It could be.”

“So that is my excuse.” He’s watching Pierre with wide, dark eyes, the color on his cheeks darkening. “There’s no fixing you, though.”

Pierre rolls his eyes. “You’re too good to me,” he deadpans, and Charles giggles again. “Let me be stupid once more and then we’ll get room service, hm?” One hand extended, he wiggles his fingers—he did pay money for the weed pen, he might as well get one more good hit out of it before it pushes too close to the upcoming weekend.

Charles picks it up from where it’s rolled under his thigh. “Once more,” he hums, and then…brings it to his lips again and takes another hit, a longer one this time.

He watches the idea as it crosses Charles’ face and, truthfully, can’t imagine saying no: Pierre leans in as Charles does the same, grabbing his cheek gently to guide him into a kiss that passes the smoke between them.

“That was gross,” Charles whispers against Pierre’s mouth. Then, softer still: “we should do it again.”

[justsimpingforawhile]

Hello. I read your rules but I kinda hoped that you'll do a Cyran x gender neutral Merlin request? Since we got some lore drop on Cyran in media platforms like bilibili, can the plot be like somewhere in a non canon future where Cyran is just feeling broken or devasted that he still can't surpass Merlin.

And Merlin, instead of hating him like he expected, decided to just silently hug him and let Cyran release whatever emotional pain he's having.

Bonus points if it was romantic since, in a strange kind of way, it's like a one sided enemies to lovers. (Merlin never hated Cyran even when he got some memories of the Lyceum returned to them) 🤍

Hope you have a good day/afternoon/evening/night!

Goood morning/afternoon/evening/night!!! Once again, sorry for the delay in updating.

I wanted to let you know that I got a job (yeah, money!) and it has been keeping me very busy. Updates will be a bit slow, so be patient!

This was my first time writing with Cyran, I tried to get some information from the tales and from websites too.

────┈┈┈┄┄╌╌╌╌┄┄┈┈┈────

That was your first time visiting Cedartown, there was going to be a popular festival and you were excited to take some time off to enjoy the festivities. Chippy and Hammie were equally excited (maybe even more than you), and wanted to do everything and more while exploring the city. You made the most of it, arriving on the last day, where there would be a big ball. There was one person there in the crowd who caught his attention, and it definitely wasn't Yolena. He was a pale man, with black hair like his cloak, with a pattern that resembled snake skin. He was adorned in gold and precious stones, that's when you remembered he was the court magistrate, Cyran.

During the dance, the guests would switch partners, and at some point that other magician would also be with you. It didn't take long for him to have his eye on you and wait for the perfect moment to pull you into a dance. You spun slowly, following the rhythm of the dance, and then he said:

— You know, as a mage, I can feel it... Have something especial about you.

It was a little hard to tell if he was admiring or disdaining you. You had the feeling that you knew him, you knew him very well, and then a click came into your mind and then you remembered a detail: He was your classmate at the Magic Lyceum. You weren't close, you were just friendly with each other, at least in your eyes that was it, he didn't seem to like your presence very much.

— And what would that be? — You then held each other's waists and began to alternate steps.

— I can't explain it, but it's something about how you have so much talent for magic. It must be something divine, right?

— Er, no need to be so modest, you and I were in the same class and you were also very talented.

As soon as you finished speaking, Cyran tightened his grip on your waist and hand, it didn't hurt, but it was still a little uncomfortable. Luckily (or unluckily) for you, a graveborn crashed the party and as usual, you had to go out and investigate. Needless to say, that little event unfolded an intriguing and long story, which in a way shook you a little. When it was all over, you found yourself in the palace of the duchy of Whiteridge.

It was so empty now that its original owner had left, leaving behind dusty paintings and dirty furniture, it was sad to see that this place was so lifeless now that Cryonaia's spell has ended. Walking through the dark corridors, you see a half-open door that leads to the west balcony of the palace; what really surprised you was the sight of Cyran sitting on the floor, visibly dejected. Even though part of what happened was his fault, you could help but feel sorry for the state he was in.

— Stop snooping, I know you're there. — he say.

— Sorry, that wasn't my intention. — You enter the balcony, closing the door behind you.

— It's never your intention, is it?

— How come? — You walk over and sit down next to him.

— How can you be so cynical?

— Sorry, but I'm being honest, the cynic here is you.

— Yeah, I think you're right. But that doesn't change the fact that you're a sly person, always getting ahead of everyone and belittling your own value to stroke your ego.

— Where did you get the idea that I was like this?

— Don't give me that, the teachers looked up to you, everyone surrounded you and appreciated your magic while you said you weren't good enough, my goodness, you were amazing. — He moved a little closer to you. — And it hurt so much to see you have all that light, while all I had left were shadows. I felt like everyone in that damn lyceum hated me.

— I never hated you. — You rested your head on his shoulder. — I was upset that you were so cold to me when I was trying to be your friend. I never understood why you were like that, you were very talented, you knew things that I had difficulty understanding and you always remembered everything.

— That's true, you were always forgetting things. — A rare genuine smile appeared on Cyran's face.

— Cyran, why didn't you ever come talk to me about this?

— Looking at you hurt so much... I got so angry when I looked into your eyes and remembered all the comparisons I had to put up with when you were around. "They do it in seconds" or "Theirs is much better, you don't know how to do that Cyran" were just some of the things I had to put up with.

He stiffened in the position he was in when he noticed that you had turned forward just to hug him, resting your head on his chest. A somewhat too intimate contact that made Cyran's chest palpitate in confusion, his only reaction was to return the hug and pull them closer.

— I had no idea you felt this way, I'm sorry Cyran, they didn't recognize your true worth and in the end not even you could see it.

— I wish it was all water under the bridge, but... It still hurts, even if I try to ignore it. You being here makes me feel so angry, because despite everything you're still being kind to me.

— We don't need to be friends, nor be close, but at least have each other's company in times like these?

— Even after everything?

— Why not?

Cyran did not respond. Even after so many years, you managed to leave him with a whirlwind of conflicting feelings. Bringing your face closer and placing your forehead against his, he murmured something that you didn't understand, but just by the gesture you could already imagine that it was a thank you. Maybe a little more, a little less, only time would tell if he would get out of this internal conflict regarding you.

[muffinsin]

The Fly Swatter- sub Cassandra x female Reader, Mommy kink, slight humor involved, 18+ (needless to say?!)

Let’s get into it! ;)

Masterlist

Cassandra shrieked in surprise when a hand covered her bloody mouth and she was pulled in the room to her right.

She summoned her sickle when she was pushed up against the door and almost brought it down, but quickly redirected her aim and shoved her sickle in the wall instead when she saw your stupidly perfect face. "Are you demented?! I could have killed you!" she snapped. She tugged her sickle free, then turned back to you.

You were unnaturally close, your arms on either side of her head, your chest almost right up against yours. She stared down at your breasts, so close to hers.

She looked at you with wide eyes when you gripped her chin and made her look up at you. "But you didn't, did you?" you answered cheekily. She wanted to smile and strike you down at the same time.

"Because of my astonishing reflexes!" she argued. She was unused to being so close to you, and unused to being in this position, pressed against the door, almost trapped. She was not yet sure whether she enjoyed it.

"Are you going to calm down again, bug?"

She cursed herself for blushing. When she tried to playfully shove you away, you stayed in place. It flustered her slightly to be in this situation and she felt an ache in her lower parts already, growing more and more between her legs with every moment she spent pressed against the hard door.

"I brought you a gift" you announce proudly- yet the mischievous glister in your eyes has her suspicious. You planned something and she knew it. The trick was to find out what your plans contained, however.

"What is it?" she asked after a minute or so, her curiosity finally winning out towards the end. You smiled, then smirked at her. Cassandra shivered when you leaned close and brushed her hair behind her ear. Your warm breath tickled her earlobe as you talked. "A secret. Something that I will use on you to..." she was about to demand for you to finish your sentence when her own gasp cut off her thoughts. Your thigh was slotted firmly between hers, grinding against her core. "...bring you a lot of pleasure" you finished.

Cassandra moaned when you gripped her hips and pressed a kiss right under her ear to her neck. She bit her lip, curious about this gift. It must be something for the bedroom- she wondered whether you had it here.

She blushed a deeper shade of pink when she reached down and found a bulge between your legs. So it was one of those days...she bit her lip to keep from smirking.

"Very good, Cassandra" you cooed in her ear, making the woman slump and grind against your thigh. You loved how worked up you could get her in such little time. She moaned when you squeezed her hips. "But that is not your surprise. Mommy's got something by far better for you"

She shivered at the petname and glared at you; you knew exactly what it did to her. How her pussy drooled and she immediately started a battle within herself, deciding whether she could submit to you now. Her dusty pink nipples hardened under her dress and her panties sported a small, wet stain. She felt as though she was burning alive, but she was living for it.

She squeezed the strap her hand rested on, then moved on, resisting the urge to unzip your jeans and play with your accessory. She wanted to find this gift of yours first.

So instead she pushed herself closer to you, off the wall. Her thick, bloodied lips pressed against yours, making you hum. She burns with curiosity- what is this gift?

She reached out for your hands, but they were empty. She had already made sure nothing was hidden in your trousers and she doubted you hid it under your shirt. Still, her greedy hands kneaded your skin through your shirt, groping and touching whatever she could. She gasped when she felt your hand around her neck and moaned when she was pushed back against the door roughly, your body mere inches from hers, your thigh slotted between hers.

Had anybody else done as much as laid a hand on her or brushed against her, they would find themselves at the deadly end of her sickle. Had someone gripped her neck the way you have, Cassandra would have made it a point to drag their death out until they were begging for mercy.

It only made you feel more aroused to know this. The power you held over her was not something to took for granted, nor was it lost on you how special your bond with her was.

You smiled at her, a smile full of love, but also sadism, as though your lips and eyes told her she was in for a rough treat. Cassandra felt herself getting even more excited.

Her head was turned slightly and she pushed against your hand, her neck cold and smooth, her necklace an even colder surface against your hand.

Her eyes were wide, her pupils large. She looked at you and you weren't sure if she was about to beg and whimper for you or pounce and rip you apart. It was something you secretly enjoyed. Her golden eyes were beautiful, her furrowed eyebrows an indication of her neediness.

She keeps her eyes on you and turns her head slightly when you lean down and gently comb her hair behind her ear with your fingers. You hold a chocolate brown hair strand between your fingers. "You're so beautiful, Cassandra" you coo. She snorts "I know". That makes you smile, and you grin when you tighten your grip on her throat and pull her face closer.

"How about we go to your room and I'll show you my present?" you whispered, your hot breath hitting her cold earlobe. She doesn't bother with a response and immediately swarms out of your arms, eager to get to her room as quick as possible- and likely start searching for her gift.

Cassandra hardly paid any mind to you at all when you walked into the room. She had already made a rather big mess by emptying drawers and closets in search of the mysterious gift you got her. Her floor, usually rather clean due to the staff assigned to tidy her room, was now a mess of clothes, weapons, paper, pens and sex toys- sex toys which, to her disappointment, were all nothing new. She knew most of them well enough to rule out the possibility of your gift being among them.

Only when you gripped her wrist and pulled her flush against you did she meet your eyes.

"Look at this, Cassie..." you tsked. "You've made such a mess already. Can't I leave you on your own for a few minutes, sugar?" She shivered at the familiar petname.

Her golden eyes did not leave yours when you stepped away from her and continued to follow you when you moved to the empty closet. She blushed a bright pink when you bent down and picked up some of the toys that laid on the ground in front of it. Among them was a collar and leash, a dildo, a taser, rope, clothes too short and naughty to wear outside the bedroom (not that this stopped either of you), and a black leather paddle. When you mentioned for her to step closer, she did so surprisingly obediently.

"Undress, put your clothes over that chair"

She rolled her eyes. It was not the time to clean her room! Yet she did not wish to give you a reason to deny her of her gift any longer, or make her wait much longer, so she obeyed your command and returned to you.

The middle sister bit her lip when you attached the collar around her neck and smirked when you connected it to the leash. She knew this was one of your favorite accessories, and she had to admit that she enjoyed the tight sensation of the hard collar around her neck.

"Are you going to behave well enough to get your gift?" You cooed. She nodded. "Yes, mommy" she answered when you raised your eyebrow. Still, you seemed unsatisfied.

The brunette grumbled several curses under her breath, but eventually sunk to her knees. You smirk down at the submitting woman. It was such a rare sight to see her like this, and one reserved for you and only you. Her lips were parted a little and her golden eyes were fixated on you, dark pools of gold that you could easily get lost in.

Her dusty pink nipples were erect. She grumbled when you pushed the end of the leash in her mouth, but held it with her teeth nonetheless, eager to receive this present. Her thighs were parted slightly even in her kneeling position and the chain laid coldly against her chest, the beautiful, silver accessory between her perky breasts. Her hands rested on her pale thighs, but with a firm glance she moved them behind her back and crossed them, her fingers gripping her elbows. The action made her chest push out even more, her sensitive nipples nearly brushing against you.

You undid your zipper properly and pulled the strap on free. Her eyes almost seemed to sparkle.

"Will you wet it for Mommy?" the both of you knew that was no question, but rather a soft spoken command. She smirked at you, her teeth digging into the leather end of the leash in her mouth. That would not do at all.

Cassandra gasped when you ripped the leash from her mouth, then hissed and laughed when she felt your fingers gripping the back of her head tightly, tugging her hair and fisting your hand in the chocolate brown locks. You coo mockingly at her when you tug her close and drag her face against the dark strap.

"Open up"

She smirked up at you and kept her lips tightly pressed against each other. You could see the amusement in her eyes, the playful disobedience she loved so very much.

"Mhmm, very well, Cassandra"

The brunette whined and grunted unhappily when you squeezed her nose. You whipped the chain of the leash against her thigh, creating dark red marks that faded almost within the same moment already. She squirmed for you, grunting and moaning, jerking her head from side to side,

When she inevitable ran out of air and opened her mouth, gasping almost desperately for breath, you reacted quick. Letting go of her nose, you gripped the back of her head and shoved her forwards, burying the strap down her throat, so far down it made her squirm and had her beautiful, golden eyes water. She moaned and looked up at you, teary eyes as she tried not to gag around you whenever she swallowed.

"Are we going to behave now, Cassie?"

"Mhmm" she hummed, smiling with you in her mouth. She shivered when you pulled yourself out a little bit, then gasped and gripped her elbows even tighter when the strap was pushed back inside. Your hand in her hair kept her in place, making the bratty woman stay in place as you fucked her tight throat like a toy, using her like your personal slut, just as she loved it.

Drool ran from her lips to her chin and dripped to her bare breasts, where it moved down until her nipples were coated and dripping the saliva onto her thigh.

Her body trembled and jerked whenever the chain whipped against her; her thighs, waist, her breasts and nipples, her backside. You laughed when one time it whacked across her cheek. You cupped it as it turned a dark pink and red, then pressed a small kiss to it when the wound started to heal almost immediately.

Tears soon ran down her cheeks from gagging on the strap, yet she sucked and licked eagerly, coating the toy in her spit.

"You're starting to behave well. I might just give you that gift as a reward, no?"

She immediately nodded eagerly.

Cassandra gasped when you pulled out of her mouth, then grinned when you cupped her jaw. "Open up for Mommy" you tried again. This time she had no problem disobeying at all.

She opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, moaning and panting when you spit on the wet muscle. Her golden eyes pressed shut when you slapped the wet strap against her warm cheek, yet they opened again as you gave her hair a hard tug.

"Eyes on me, slut"

She moaned, "yes, Mommy"

The huntress had her beautiful eyes on you when you dipped the tip of the large strap in her mouth, smearing it against your own spit and dragging it against her tongue. "Good slut"

She eyed you hopefully. You decided to test her behavior one more time. You dropped the leash and pulled the strap away.

"Pick up your leash for Mommy"

You were not oblivious to the movement of her thighs as she rubbed them together, likely smearing her own wetness against them.

At first she moved her hands, but then thought better of it, it seemed.

You let go of her slightly curled, brown hair when she bent down. With little difficulty she picked up the leash with her teeth, holding it between them again, her wet lips against it.

"Good, very good".

When you moved to the bed, all it took was a single tug to get her to move with you, on her hands and knees, following you like a well trained slut. Her chin was still dripping spit.

It only took a tug and she rose to her feet, then gasped when you pushed her over, gripping her hair and bending her over the bed. "Stay, darling"

She pressed her thighs harder together. You allowed it for the time being and instead retrieved the rope she had so carelessly taken from the closet before.

The rope was smooth and dark red, yet strong as you tied it around her arms, keeping them in the position she held them in; her fingertips touching her elbows. You nudged her legs apart and she stayed in position. It did not leave her much space to move away even if she wanted to; she was at your mercy and it was one of the more, if not the most exciting feeling for the both of you.

She gasped when you spread her cheeks, exposing the tight asshole. She shivered and tried to turn your head, as if to see what you were doing. The position didn't allow her to do so, yet.

You picked up the dildo she had taken from the closet- a big, life looking one that would fill her properly. You rested it on her back. "Stay still, Cassie"

She did so, and so the toy stayed perfectly still on top of her slim backside.

You grabbed a butt plug then, a large one which's back part was in the shape of a heart, adorned with a black crystal. You rested it on her backside as well, then put the bottle of lube between her legs as you stepped away from her.

"Don't you worry, you awfully curious thing. Mommy will let you watch as you get toyed with" you cooed when you stepped in front of her. The leash was pressed against the stomach, cold and a little hard as she laid on it. Yet she did not at all seem to think about that.

With only little difficulty you bring the large standing mirror over and positioned it in front of her. You played with the angle a little, until the brunette was able to see her own reflection, and her backside.

"There, aren't you the prettiest slut for Mommy?" you coo, patting her warm cheek. She did not reply, but you did not require her to do so.

In fact, when you spotted the dildo gag on the far side of the bed, you quickly retrieved it. You made sure to wash it in the attached bathroom (and very much so enjoyed the impatient noises of the brunette in the other room), then eagerly pushed the long, silicone dildo inside her mouth.

"Mhmghm!" she moaned as the dark blue dildo was pushed down her throat and stayed still obediently as you fixed the gag on her, tying it behind her head. You loved the needy, vulnerable look in those golden eyes so evry much.

"Now, let's work on getting you nice and full, then Mommy will show you what present I got you"

Cassandra watched your every move through the mirror, her golden eyes trained on you. When you picked up the butt plug, she barely stopped herself from arching her back and sending the dildo down her back and on the bed.

"Press your thighs together, help Mommy get some of the lube out"

The Dimitrescu's cheeks sported a pink blush, yet she did as you said, shivering at the feeling of the bottle between her thighs.

In the mirror she watched you coat the plug in the wetness. The dildo rubbed against her throat and filled it in every moment. She moaned when she felt the tip of the cool plug press against her tight hole and arched her back slightly when it was slowly inserted in her. You repeated the action with the dildo, only that you pushed it between her wet pussy lips and right inside her tight hole, stretching it.

"Now, is my good girl ready for her surprise?"

She moaned and nodded, as when she tried to speak, she only gagged on the toys in her mouth.

For a moment she watched you walk over to the closet and frowned when you took out a large coat. Reaching into its inner pockets, you pulled out a red object that made her whimper and press her eyes shut.

"You're familiar with this, no?" you asked, barely able to hold back a wide grin. Her cheeks were bright red and warm and she was apparently stuck between growling and whimpering at you.

"Look at me, Cassandra" you demanded sharply. When the red fly swatter slapped against her waist, she jumped and looked up at you through teary eyes. "That's better, Cassie"

Through the mirror she watched as you stood behind her again. You slid your fingers along the fly swatter, then brought it down on her ass.

"Mghmm!"

Another slap followed, and another. Cassandra, despite watching you do it through the large mirror, jumped and moaned at every single one. You targeted both ass cheeks equally, turning them, slowly but in time surely, red and warm.

"We're going to see if you can get off with this, baby"

She shivered. Cassandra was very aware of the toys inside of her, and it felt as though they made the swats of your newest toy all the more extreme and intense.

The fly swatter was brought down on her round ass cheeks over and over again. You saw an outline for a few seconds after every slap, before the skin healed again. Cassandra squirmed and moaned.

Swat.

Swat.

Another one, and another.

"Mghmm!" Cassandra squirmed, her thoughts lost, her chin full of drool from the gag.

You gripped the rope to pull her closer when she slipped forwards due to all her wriggling and squirming.

"Stay with me, pet. Mommy will take care of you"

Another slap that allowed you to see the outline of the fly swatter printed on her bright red ass.

Another one,

Another,

and another one.

You laughed when you noticed the dildo slipping out of her wet hole.

"None of that, pet. Keep it inside now" you demanded, pushing the toy forcefully back inside of her. Just to make sure you also pushed on the butt plug, making the brunette in front of you moan and shiver again.

Another slap

Cassandra felt light headed. The fly swatter felt so good, so rough and humiliating at the same time.

She moaned when you grabbed her hair and arched her back.

"Are you going to cum Cassie?" you cooed. She whimpered, then moaned and nodded when you reminded her to answer with a rough slap of the flyswatter to her bright red ass.

"Well then, dirty girl" you cooed, slapping harder. You briefly considered making this your new workout;

Her across your lap and bent over the bed or a desk, perhaps even kneeling on all fours for you. Her round, perfect ass turned to mush by the humiliating toy. Your muscles ached already from bringing it down on her so many times.

Her screams were muffled by the gag when you picked up the pace of your slaps and her nails dug into her palms when she came. You pushed your knee between her legs when the dildo slipped out yet again and tsked when it hit the bed and rolled to the floor.

Cassandra whined pitifully when her weak legs were spread by your hands and the by by then warm edge of the fly swatter dragged through her pussy lips. She squirmed and jerked away, as though it was got as fire, and watched you with wide eyes and slightly shaking legs as you kneaded her warm ass.

"That was quite a nice surprise, wasn't it, Cassie?" you asked, chuckling at her pathetically sweet and ruined state.

The brunette woman's eyes lingered on you as you walked to the other side to the bed. You relished in her sweet gasp for air when you removed the gag and helped her sit up when she coughed and reopened and closed her mouth a couple of times.

"What do we say, sugar?"

She bit her lip and wet it, then smiled widely at you "Thank you, Mommy"

"Good girl-", you smirked when a breathless gasp passed her lips. She was so very cute for you, submissive and sweet. "- but don't you think we're done yet"

Her eyes seemed to sparkle and glisten with excitement.

For a moment it was as though the air was knocked from her lungs when you pushed her back down on the bed, on her back that time, but still she smiled and followed you with her eyes when you walked to the other side of the bed again. She bit her lip when you slapped the strap against her inner thigh. Her sore ass brushed against the bed when you grabbed her thighs and pulled her closer to the edge of the bed, making her stifle a whimper.

"Aww, did that hurt?" you cooed. More warmth rose to her cheeks. She whimpered when you noticed her obvious arousal. "You look so perfect" you cooed.

Cassandra eyed you when you moved on top of her, then gasped when you grabbed her jaw and forced the large strap between her wet, thick lips. You moaned, as although you could not feel it as though it were an actual cock, the visual of your girlfriend with the strap in her mouth never failed to arouse you greatly.

She hummed around the toy, moaning and grinning, until she gasped when you pulled out again, your strap dripping with spit.

"Aren't you my precious little gem?"

The petname made her growl and blush at the same time.

Only when the thick head of the strap pushed inside her soaked cunt did she quieten again, for a moment.

"This time you'll show a little more appreciation for mommy's surprise" you coo. She nodded, then quickly added "yes, Mommy" when you reached for the red fly swatter again. To save her the humiliation of whining and whimpering like a needy slut again, she bit her lip, though the second you fully pushed inside the sharp fang pierced her lip, cutting it and making her gasp.

You, of course, did not miss that, and instead cupped her jaw. You gripped her chin with your thumb and forefinger and smiled at her embarrassed facade when you pulled her close. "Does Mommy need to fill your mouth with something again, Cassie? Or will you manage to not get in trouble for a second?"

She gulped. "No, mommy, I'll behave"; Cassandra wasn't sure what tasted more foreign in her mouth, those words or the taste of her own blood oozing from her cut lip.

She fell back down on the bed when you released her, though immediately gripped her arms tighter when you started thrusting inside of her.

The Dimitrescu turned her head barely in time to see you raise your hand, then screamed breathlessly and moaned filthily when you brought the toy down- but not on her thighs, like she assumed, but between her spread legs. She hissed and her eyes watered at the unexpected, but very welcomed painful feeling.

You raised your eyebrow at her, thrusting inside of her sharply. "T-Tha-AH! Thank you!" she added obediently.

"Good girl" you praised.

You kept on thrusting inside of her, your fingers teasing her clit if you didn't bring down the fly swatter on it.

Swat,

and another,

and another hit,

and two after another that made the brunette see stars for a second or two.

You chuckled at her bright red, sore cunt. The inside would be as sore when you finished with her...

[unhingedoveractivemuse]

Title: "-you left the yarn out for sex?"

Pairing: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz

Flufftober Day 19 Yarn

Tags: Established Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz, Implied Sexual Content, Eddie Diaz Loves Evan "Buck" Buckley, Christopher Diaz Has Two Dads, Domestic Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz

===========================

Eddie finds himself regretting one of his most recent decisions.

It seemed like a good idea at the time alright? Christopher was in Texas, Buck was with his ex, and Eddie was lonely (not that it didn't take everything in him to admit it).

So, he got a companion.

A cat.

That, in and of itself, wasn't bad. He just had to make sure the litter box was cleaned, get a cat tree, get cat toys, make sure food was out, and have someone drop in to take care of it if he was on a 48.

Easy, right?

No, because there's a lot more that goes into raising a cat than he thought, but it was doable, especially when his son got back and his best friend came around more often after breaking up with Tommy.

What made the whole situation bad was another recent decision being added to the mix.

Agreeing to homemade scarves.

Look, he admits he didn't quite think it through. All he knew at the time was that his newly identified feelings were reciprocated and his son was back, spurring in the best time of his life.

It's not an exaggeration either.

He's never felt so much happiness. Buck has always been like sunshine, but now that he's Eddie's sunshine, that sunshine has permeated through every nook and cranny of his life, lighting up all the shadows and dark, dusty corners that have followed him for so long.

It doesn't even matter what they're doing. They could be on a date at a fancy restaurant or even just eating takeout at home. They could be comforting each other after a hard shift or cuddling on the couch with Eddie listening to the latest information hole Buck fell into.

Anything with Buck reminds him time and time again what love and happiness really is.

(Of course, there's the sex too. He’s always enjoyed sex, but having sex with someone who he trusts with everything and can let go around of?

It's out of this world.)

Needless to say, it's been absolute bliss.

So when his boyfriend/partner/lover (he still hasn't quite settled on one term - nothing is really enough to describe who Buck is to him) brought up attempting to make them matching winter scarves?

Eddie was all for it. He doesn't even wear scarves, but if Buck makes it, he'll wear it.

…He let the bliss get to him.

“At least Ginger had the time of her life?”

He rolls his eyes, feeling a rush of affection flow through him despite the mess he’s looking at. The cat in question is napping in the cat tree in the corner of the living room, paw twitching like it's still playing. “You just had to leave your project in the living room where she could get it.”

They are well aware that cats can get into a lot of things, but Ginger, the…ginger cat, was born with a birth defect that makes it less agile and unable to get to things that normal cats would be able to get to (which is partially why Eddie loved it at first sight). Since that was the case, they just usually make sure that they put things they don’t want her to get into out of her reach.

Until this.

“As I recall, I was distracted by a very handsome man in his good jeans,” Buck says, wrapping his arms around Eddie's middle from behind him and resting his chin on his shoulder.

“Should I be worried about this handsome man?” he asks while preening on the inside, easily falling into the flirting that’s been a new staple of their relationship.

“Well, he is the most attractive, sexiest man alive who is also a very competent firefighter and a great father. He's also-

Eddie can't take it anymore, turning his head to press a kiss on Buck's cheek. “Shut up. I don't think I can go again even if I tried. Besides, you left the yarn out for sex?”

Said yarn is everywhere, strewn around by Ginger either last night after he and Buck locked themselves in the bedroom or before they finished their morning activities. It's on the couch, on the floor, near the door, dragged into the kitchen…

He sees knots too. A lot of knots.

“It was phenomenal sex, and I didn't hear you complaining when I-”

“Christopher will be back any moment now,” he reminds his partner. While they both love the flirting, sex references, and sex not-so-references, they both agreed to keep the brunt of it from Christopher, and they agreed not to start something where Christopher could see them.

The idea of his son catching them in the middle of having sex is horrifying and not something he ever wants to become a reality.

Buck huffs but straightens out at the reminder, ”I guess we should clean this up before he walks in and trips himself on accident.”

“Yeah,” he agrees, moving to see if the yarn is salvageable. “You might have to restart your project, love. I don't think you're getting anything out of this anymore.”

His best friend pouts, picking up a strand of tangled yarn on the sofa. “I was doing so well too. It was only a little lumpy!”

Eddie loves this man so much and would wear a hundred lumpy scarves for him, but a little is an understatement. Buck sometimes can't sit still long enough to finish a row and will end up forgetting what he was doing. He also (according to Buck) somehow added, subtracted, or entirely skipped loops.

He's not going to say that, of course, but, instead of lying because he'd never lie to Buck just to make the blonde feel better, he says, “A second try just means it'll be even better.”

“I guess. Or maybe this is a sign telling me to do something else for us so I can work on my knitting skills for next year.”

Eddie thinks about it. “We could. Did you have something else in mind?”

There really is a lot of yarn, he thinks as he starts gathering up the carcass of the skein (at least that's what Buck called it). He would never have imagined so much from that thing.

Buck hums, “A blanket? There are some DIY ones. We could do it together too. If you want, of course.”

Blanket huh? That reminds him of something Adriana brought up the other day when he called her.

“I wouldn't mind, but we can also order one,” he suggests. “A photo blanket.”

Surprised, blue eyes whip around towards him, “You want to do a photo blanket with me?”

“Why not?” He moves to stand in front of Buck, both of them still holding the yarn they gathered. “I'm sure about us, Buck. A photo blanket is the least of the things I'd do with you.”

The happiness shining in Buck's eyes is worth a thousand photo blankets. “Yeah. Let's do a photo blanket.”

They end up kissing in the middle of the living room, yarn forgotten and so lost in their little bubble that they don't hear Christopher coming home.

“You two are gross,” the teen says, deadpan, interrupting them. Then, unimpressed eyes wander around, taking in the mess still around them. “Buck left the yarn out.”

“Your dad’s distracting,” Buck defends himself, a reply that deserves the light smack Eddie gives him and the nose wrinkle from Christopher.

“I did not need to know that.”

“Yes, you didn't need to know that,” Eddie says, giving Buck a look. “So, guess what? Buck won't be getting to pick the photos for the blanket we're doing.”

Buck gapes at him. “Eds!”

Christopher gives them a judging brow that Buck would say is all Eddie. “A photo blanket? Lame. But I guess it's better than having yarn around for Ginger.”

Like the sound of its name from Christopher's lips is a siren (it might be considering how much Ginger adores the teen), the cat meows as it wakes up, drawing their attention.

“Ginger, let's go pick some photos,” Christopher tells it. “Before these two pick the worse ones.”

He’s not even surprised that their son is excluding him, too, even as Buck sputters, “Chris!”

The teen rolls his eyes, amending, “Or it'll be a blanket of just me and Dad.”

That shuts Buck up even as Ginger saunters over to Christopher as they start heading to his room, carefully navigating through the yarn on the floor.

“Oh,” his partner breathes when the door to the teen's bedroom shuts. “This is so much better than the scarves.”

Eddie grins, pressing a quick kiss to Buck's lips. “And it doesn't come with yarn carnage.”

“Yeah. No yarn carnage. We should get a blanket every year instead.”

They will. They will get one that year. They will get one next year when they get engaged and married, having the only proper wedding the 118 has had despite it being a small affair. They will get it the year Christopher first leads his high school robotics club to a championship. They will get it the year surrogacy succeeds and they have their first baby. They will get it for many many years to come.

For now, though, they really have to clean up this disaster caused by a cat and yarn.

[apupp3tw0-strings]

Plush Dolls and Scaled Shopkeeps

Date: October 17th 2131

So... Needless to say I was shaken after the Dorothy fight. I... I'm still shaken now, even after all is said and done. It was... It was an experience? ... Even after telling Kris about some of what happened, I still can't shake the feeling.

After the fight, we headed back to the elevator we came from when CK finally spoke up. "SO UM… WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?"

"Hmm? What do you mean, CK?" Remie responded.

"THAT FIGHT. WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? THAT DOLL WAS LIKE, SUPER STRONG AND IT FELT LIKE SHE WAS GONNA KILL US! I... AND THE "TRUTH" SHE WAS GOING ON ABOUT, I... IT REMINDED ME OF JE-" Before CK could continue, Remie cut him off. She looked nervous talking about this.

"I really wouldn't dwell on it CK. She was just, a crazy and insane Darkner. Probably why she was locked up. You know?"

"... DO YOU WONDER IF ITS A BAD THING WE LET HER OUT THEN?" Part of me was wondering the same thing... Yet another part knew she'd only get worse if she stayed in that prison.

"Well, I, um, ultimately she's our ally now so, um, everything's fine! Right Chicago?" Remie turned to me, however I... wasn't fully there. I was staring into space. My mind buzzing with questions upon questions. I wanted to scream.

"CHICAGO? YOU GOOD?" I heard CK ask, reaching out a claw towards me before I turned around to them. My face probably looked horrified. When I opened my mouth to speak... I wasn't able to. Not without... The choice of the askers and that Soul.

I'm not sure what would have happened if they chose to say I was fine. I wasn't. I could see it. The askers could see it. Even CK and Remie could see it. As soon as they chose no, I felt the word burst out of my mouth. I didn't speak it, I screamed it. I wasn't okay. None of this was okay. This was so messed up! It still is messed up! Why is this happening!? Why me!?! What the hell did I do, I- I- ... Hang on I need a minute...

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: October 18th, 2131

Rest of yesterday was okay. We finished settling the Darkners from the attic world in. Dorothy still hadn't woken up by the time we left, so we left her with Remie. Remie said she could get started on making some new rooms in the Castle for Dorothy and the other secret bosses as soon as possible, so I'm feeling a little better on that front.

Back to... The story. After my outburst, Remie suggested we leave the basement of the Choral Chapel. "The less time spent here, the better." She said. We headed back up to the Soprano floor, the askers deciding to visit the Magician's shop again before heading to the Knave to face the Priestess. We... they? asked him about the Basement.

"What? Basement!? This Chapel doesn't have a basement unless you count the dungeon. What are you kids talking about?"

They asked about the Doll.

"D-doll!? I-i don't know anything about a doll! E-even if I did, we don't talk about d-dolls or anything of the sort around here!"

He seemed nervous. ... Or scared. They asked about Dorothy.

"N-no!! Don't you dare utter her name! I-" The Magician looked mortified before trying to shake it off "Look. If you want answers then go ask the snake in the Dusty Plains. She can give you the knowledge you seek but I know nothing, I tell you, nothing!" I severely doubted that, but the askers decided to leave and head back to the Dusty Plains. Hopefully Jeanie would give us more answers than the Magician.

After heading through one of the warp doors, it didn't take long to find way back to Jeanie's tent. The askers immediately asked about Dorothy and the snake teller pulled out a set of three cards.

"Judgment, Reversed six of wands, and The Chariot.," The snake started, laying the cards out on the table as she begun to spin the tale, "I may not have known that doll for long, but I knew her cards, her fate, the path the stars laid out for her. Or perhaps the path she forged herself…"

"Once she was nothing more than a blank doll. No face, no name, no path. She was a fool just as you are," Jeanie continued. "Yet one day, she came across a strange someone and it seemed her stars had finally aligned. She had been gifted an identity and purpose from some higher power, she said. To this day, I still don't quite understand what she meant by that. Rambling on about the Truth, or our purpose, or creating our own stars… Yet I didn't NOT understand at the same time…" ... Gyeh heh. Sounds like what Seam told us when talking about Jevil now that I'm able to think a bit more clearly about it. Gyeh heh heh...

"At some point she was let into the Upper Choir, but even they eventually grew annoyed with her ramblings. And so they cast her out. Exiled her back to these dust ridden plains." ... Sorta reminds me of Spamton's situation. Rose to stardom from nothing before falling from grace... "She grew enraged, filled with an anger and hatred for all that betrayed her. She had to be locked away before she could hurt anyone else. It shames me that I had to be the one to call the guard…" ... Did anyone think to help her? Even if she was a danger to herself and others, you didn't have to abandon her completely. Someone could have helped her. Someone SHOULD have helped her.

"Ever since, I've mulled over the cards and stars, seeking answers to what she said. Yet the skies shone dark and the cards even darker. The only thing I've come back with are more questions than when I started. It makes one wonder… How much of the universe and fate can be understood and predicated…

And how much can only be navigated by the blind?"

... I think this whole situation has left me with more questions than answers too. This ENTIRE situation. It's just questions upon questions, and I don't know if I'll ever even GET answers. Who the hell is this "mysterious someone"? What do they want with all these Darkners? Why show them this "truth"? It's clearly breaking them to the point of madness. I don't know if this person is truly trying to help them, or if they're purposely harming them. ... What are their plans? With the secret bosses. With the Dark Worlds themselves. ... With me?

... Maybe I don't want to know the answers to these questions.

When the askers then told Jeanie we defeated Dorothy, she pulled out another set of three cards and spread them out. "The six of wands, the Tower, and the Devil. So, it is true? You really defeated her? Then you three truly must be the heroes of legend after all However be warned, DOROTHY is merely the first step in your fool's journey. There is still a long way to go, and many more obstacles to face." That's exactly what I WASN'T hoping for... "And one day soon… even the most darkest evil of all. Ha ha ha…" Jeanie laughed before turning back to us. "Well, I can only wish you luck. Perhaps once you reach that point… You can come back here and I shall read your scattered destiny once more."

After that (and the askers trying to hand Jeanie the Patch Crown, which the snake refused to take), we left. The askers equipped the crown to CK, and we headed back towards the Chapel to face off against the Priestess.

. . .

I think I'm gonna need a big break before the next Dark World adventure. I don't think I'd survive if I had to do this everyday for a week like Kris did. Especially with that... Soul, controlling my every move.

... I should move that jar some place I can't see it. (It feels like that thing is... staring at me. Is that even possible?)

[deathchasing]

|| @deathmarked

Octane had always felt at home in King’s Canyon. Maybe it was the nostalgia of his first games— back then, the novelty had kept him entertained and far away from the monotonous complexities of the latest Silva family drama. Nothing had mattered outside the ring, where the scarred ecosystem of whirling gunsmoke and bloodspattered sands had kept his life in stark and invigorating contrast to whatever corporate drivel dominated the news cycle that week. Unfortunately as with all things that offered reprieve to his thirst for danger, the games weren’t a solace anymore so much as another desperate search for something greater. And although the relationship with his father— grandfather— had been somewhat restored in the past months, it came at the cost of his best friend and the trust of most of the other Legends. Turned out being a Syndicate dog wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Needless to say, being back in King’s Canyon didn’t quite feel the way it used to.

But these were problems for future Octane. Right now what mattered were the bullets whizzing past his face in the violent chaos that followed the initial hotdrop at the start of a match. Combatants scrambled for shields and guns while he sprinted past easily to get to the loot ahead before anyone else could take it, throwing open a handful of bins only to find mostly garbage. He grunted in frustration and flung open the nearest door to one of Skulltown’s dusty shacks, metal legs click-clacking as he weaved through the building’s narrow hallway, scooping up a Flatline as he went. He couldn’t say he was pleased with his team matchup, a couple of nobodies that didn’t even want to drop Skulltown, and now they were bogging down his comms with frantic callouts he couldn’t respond to without ammo even if he wanted to.

He finally gave pause when the average screaming among the wounded and dying outside reached an abnormally loud and raucous pitch. Rapid gunfire pierced the smoke followed by organic ripping and wet thuds. Exasperated, Octane pressed his earpiece closer.

“Yo, what the hell is going on out there?”

A swath of blood whipped thickly across the glass panels of the door in front of him, answering his inquiry with alarm. He barged out into the baking sun, nearly tripping over a crumpled body before he beheld a sight he hadn’t seen in a long time. Of course. Revenant.

The last eviscerated body dropped at the simulacrum’s feet. Blood dripped from twitching claws, catching the sun and gleaming brilliant red. Though his back was turned, Octane could tell he looked different. Taller, more sinister, adorned with blacker and greyer tones than he’d donned in the past, even when slathered in blood. Octane had heard whisper of something different about him, but his disappointing team matchup luck had continued for some time, robbing him of the chance to see for himself. As always, Revenant was a chilling presence to bear witness to, but the rapid increase in Octane’s heartbeat was welcome and thrilling. Finally something exciting.

“Heyyy, long time no see, loincloth!”

[cieltee22]

So for the last month or so, there has been a furrow spider (type of orb weaver) living by my front door. Came across her-- yes you can tell male from female-- one evening while she was waking her web... And by that, I mean the top of my head brushed across part of it and I backed up and gave her a 'wtf' look. Like, I use the same path everyday, how did she not know I was going to come that way?! She sassed me a little-- pretty sure she shot webs at me, or that was my own imagination, as I do not like spiders crawling on me-- but needless to say, she made herself at home.

I dubbed her Lady Web-- came out the first time as 'Lady, what you doing with your web?' but I digress. She had a neighbor of a sorts down the hall-- also in head grazing range if you weren't too careful-- whom we later named Lady Charlotte. Made since, Charlotte's Web and all. I told my roommate that Lady Web could stay, but only if she doesn't block the doorway like another furrow spider did last year-- that one was a male and he was an idiot. Was tense for a few nights here and there, but we came to an understanding, Lady Web and I.

Well, we noticed a trend with Lady Web. If it was very windy or cold, or even if it was a rainy night, she would stay tucked in a corner by the ceiling, safe from the wind. Come back out when it was chill again. She would go there most of the time in the day too, very neat. Well, last week, she tucked in real good because of a thunderstorm that came through. I didn't think anything of it when she didn't come out the following nights to say hello, only that it was odd she wasn't enjoying the good weather where it was clear skies for about 4 days straight.

Finally noticed the other night... Lady Web was gone. Lady Charlotte is still around, she's big as ever down the way. But Lady Web isn't in her nook. Her web, which she tended to painstakingly, is dusty and tattered, almost gone. She's nowhere to be seen around the doorway, not even on our Halloween wreath, where I had suspected she would go to. She's just gone.

I ain't asking for another spider to make itself at home-- not right now, not when the weather will be turning bad soon-- but even though she gave me a couple of spooks here and there, I kinda miss Lady Web. I'm hoping she just migrated and hasn't perished, even though I am aware furrow spiders only live for about 2 years. She seemed so lively, I just don't think it would be her time.

In spirit of the encroaching holiday, we'll be leaving her web up as long as we can. If she comes back, we don't want to seem like rude neighbors and give her a reason to web up the door. But if she doesn't... Well, I hope we weren't to loud when we would pass by her web, and that she had plenty of moths and mayflies and mosquitos to eat.

TLDR: I kinda miss the spider that lived near my doorway.

[justamanlookingforham]

Maybe-if you can hear me, then maybe it means I'm real....

Summary: skip button ending, the Narrator's despairing over Stanley pushing the button, he can't sand this silence anymore...but then he thinks of a solution :)

Warnings: general angst, major character death, descriptive violence and death, panic attack kinda

That should be it

My first uploaded fic! I hope I got the Narrator's voice right.

Sorry for any mistakes, I double checked but I am dyslexic so....eh

The end is never the end is never the end is never the end is[Loading]never the end is

He loaded in his avatar. He had hoped, with a foolish optimism, that perhaps if he touched Stanley, jostled him, shaked him, moved in some way, perhaps this absolute nightmare would be done with.

His hope was in vain.

He stood infront of Stanley, and if he had to be honest...looking at his protagonist face to face scared him.

Isn't that something? To fear that which you've created. But gazing at him here, and not in the distant monitor's of his omniscient office, well it allowed him to really see Stanley's eyes.

He was sure Stanley's eyes normally buzzed with life. They likely shone when he did something he knew would get on the Narrator's nerves. And they definitely rolled when the Narrator scolded him. But now they were void of emotion, and the only thing they reflected were the grains of dust depending from the ceiling. And this absolute apathy looked wrong on Stanley's face. So wrong he wanted to wipe it off. So wrong that his hands shook as he moved to grip Stanley's shoulder. The pads of the Narrators fingers grazed the rough texture of his work suit.

Nothing.

He pressed his fingers down.

Nothing.

He clasped both hands around Stanley's arms and shook him.

Nothing.

He foolishly beat a dead horse and called out Stanley's name.

Nothing.

He grinded his teeth. His voice shook and his desperate mind delusional him as he began to call louder. More desperately. He dug his fingers into Stanley's arms, hard enough to draw blood if either of them were actual people.

Still nothing.

He felt heavy. He wasn't used to that feeling. He wasn't use to having a body in the first place. He felt like he was being mangled from the inside. Needless to say he didn't much cafe for it.

"Please... Stanley......."

But Stanley's absent eyes remained. Hallow and peering through him. Not even blinking.

The feeling of his insides morphed, now heavy and cold. It clogged his throat and fogged his brain with thoughts that spiraled down into an abyss.

He was alone. And he couldn't describe this feeling to anyone, because no one was there. He was all alone. He has no Stanley to listen to him. To respond in his own non-verbal way. In fact thinking of Stanley made it worse. Much worse if he had to say. It was painful. It was painful, and- and wet, and so cold. Why was loneliness so cold. Why did he feel so hallow on the inside. Like everything meaningful was forcefully scraped out and now all that was left was a Grey shell.

He let go of Stanley to soothe himself to, but this proved to be a stupid and careless act. He had tilted Stanley's center of mass while he could do not but watch, to frozen by his new found grief to move in time.

Stanley's head met the concrete with a smack, making the Narrator wince. Naturally he bent down to check for injuries on his protagonist and he'd love to say he kept it together but that would simply be alive. It was useless to do, but he found himself silently crying anyway.

"Oh, dear boy"

He pressed his hand to Stanley's head and fluffy hair met his wrinkled hands.

"Please forgive this fool"

His voice shriveled at the word fool and with that he broke into open sobs. The sound of insecent crying was the only sound in the cold dusty room, but with Stanley gone there might as well been no sound at all.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry"

He didn't know what to do. He couldn't get rid of the blasted button. The door disappeared somehow, and he couldn't force a restart.

The only natural way for the game to restart would be to finish the ending or for Stanley to...well die.

He looked down at Stanley's pale, unmoving form. The Narrator had closed his eyes so he looked as if he were peacefully sleeping and would wake up soon.

...If Stanley dies the game would restart.

He slowly dragged his hands down, letting the one in Stanley's hair trail across the soft skin forehead, cheek, chin, and then neck.

He felt apprehensive. Surely this would work right? It had to! The game always restarted after Stanley died. It was one if the key rules to this universe. Then again he was also supposed to be able to control this world and look where he was now.

The thought made him shiver. What if he killed Stanley and the game didn't restart. He'd be alone. He'd be truly alone. Forever. His hands started shaking. They very idea made him sick to his stomach. But then again, how did he that he wasn't already destined to forever be alone with the way this path was going. What if Stanley wasn't going to wake up? It had already been... well he didn't actually know. Time was already peculiar without the stupid button. For all he knew it could have been a few minutes sense the last button push or a few millenia. Eons were cramming into his brain pounding on the inner walls of his head, and all he knew was that he couldn't stand another second .

He again looked down at Stanley's peaceful form. Slowly his grip on Stanley's neck tightened. Well it would only be a second, wouldn't it?

His thick hands pressed harder into pale skin. He hoped Stanley was gone enough to not feel this. Perhaps that thought was just to ease his conscious.

The Narrator felt vile when he heard a strangled cough beneath him so he closed his eyes. He decided to think of his times with Stanley. The fun times. When they playfully bickered with eachother.

A troubled gasp. Then tighter grip.

Soon They'd be back to those times. Stanley would forgive him. He surely would. Stanley's died in plenty of endings before. This isn't any different.

Theres shivering underneath his hands. It quickly stops and then-

[The end is never the end is never the end

is never the end is never the end is never the end is never the end is never the end

is never the end is Loading is never the end

is never the end is never the end is never the end is never the end is never the end

is never the end]

...

"This is the story of a man named Stanley"

[echantedtoon]

Love Doesn't Do Encores Ch23 To Hammerlocke Again

Whelp. After all the craziness that was yesterday..You shouldn't have been surprised when you ended up sleeping in. After you had gotten back to your hotel room last night after the rain, you had taken to doing what you said you would and changed out of your wet clothes, had yourself a quick hot shower, then quickly changed back and went to bed with the oncoming sounds of the storm still ongoing outside when you drifted off. Needless to say you slept like a log in deep slumber through the rest of the night and well into the morning. At one point you did half wake up and thought you heard music, but you almost instantly fell right back asleep still more tuckered out than a snorlax. By the time you did come too it was because Silver couldn't stand waiting around longer for food and had continously shouted at you and patted your face until you were forced to get up to him frowning and chirping at you more and more. 

Your tired f/c eyes blinked tiredly at him and you yawned before stretching the dusty blankets of the hotel falling off your body. "Ok Ok. I'm up."

The very first thing you did was trudge yourself back to the shower to wake yourself up and wash all the dust from the bed off of your body. The second thing was getting dressed and ready, making sure all of your belongings including your wet clothes from the night before were packed away, and you pulled out some of your food rations for yourself. Handing off some of the strange jerky you had obtained from before to Silver as he literally wouldn't let go of your leg as he wrapped himself around it like a little kid as he did and shout at you until you did. Honestly, he acted more like a sobble than he did what a drizzlie was supposed to act like. When you looked out of the window you had noticed that it was still raining, not as much or hard as it was yesterday or last night, but it was still thundering with the stormy clouds and rain still hit the roof with apparently no end in sight. With a sigh you quickly made the bed(the hotel might've been abandoned but it would've still been rude of you to just leave a mess), you grabbed your bag flinging it over your left shoulder(remembering that Nurse Joy had said to keep strain off your right shoulder for a couple days. And it was still decently sore from last night.), and took off with Silver at your heels. As soon as you stepped out into the hallway you were greeted with a sight you weren't expecting. All three teens just standing there chatting away in the hallway but they looked up hearing your door open.

Gloria was the first to respond when she smiled and waved. "Y/n! Good mornin'! Ye finally woke up huh?"

You sighed walking towards the trio and nodding. "Yep. Silver  here decided he wanted breakfast now."

"Silver?"

You gestured to the pokemon at your heels. "Thought it would've been better to give him a name. He seemed to like Silver Veil so it kinda stuck." You looked to Hop. "I don't suppose you're ready to battle Piers huh?"

"Aw cute name!!"

Hop looked nervous for a moment reaching up to rub his head. "Yeah about that. Sorry, Mate. But I already did battle Piers and won may I add."

.......You blinked at him. "HUH?!"

"I battled him earlier this morning," he repeated to your blank face. "We tried to wake ya, but you were asleep deader than a rock! Victor thought it'd be better to let you sleep and heal up from yesterday...Sorry about that."

"And it looks like your shoulder's better too!," Victor added pointing towards your right shoulder.

You blinked. "Oh." You looked to your still sore shoulder. "Yeah. I got it fixed last night, but it's still sore." You then looked back to Hop with a raised brow. "But you already battled him?" He nodded. "Man...I hoped he put on a good show."

He then beamed making you smile in return. "YEAH! There was this cool trick he used using his skuntank's more stinkier attacks to keep Wooloo from going near him because it smelt so bad! And he was blasting this really loud music and singing and-"

"I think she gets it, Mate."

You chuckled before nodding towards the stairway down towards the exit. "What do you say then? Back to Hammerlocke again?"

They all agreed and with Silver tailing you all, you all went down the stairs into the abandoned lobby and like the night before when you opened the door rain is what greeted all four of you. Although you were right in that it wasn't as bad as last night. Sighing, you pulled the hood of your jacket over your head and headed on out into the world. Being daylight out now it was a lot clearer to see the streets wet from the water as you all headed out and into the rain. Most of you weren't really all that prepared from the rain after all. You clutched your backpack to yourself as you lead the charge with Silver at your heels(guess being a Water-Type meant he wasn't affected by the rain at all) Hop and Gloria shared shelter with Hop holding his jacket over the both of them to the best of his ability, and Victor just used his giant pack as a makeshift umbrella. As you all briskly walked down the streets, your group passed the gym. Glancing briefly over at it, you didn't see Piers at all on stage or in the Gym's area. Perhaps he was in the back room or went home? The four of you walked and walked down the streets and took twists and turns past the abandoned ice cream shop and down the streets you remembered back towards the exit. And not once did you all see Team Yell or Piers...Or that blasted wall. Guess Piers kept his word and had them fix everything you all were almost to the exit from the city of Spikemuth when you spotted a particular pink pokemon center and decided to take a dive through it's doors and you were surprised when it opened and what the inside contained. Just like the rest of Spikemuth the place looked pretty much abandoned except the place where Nurse Joy would usually stand, which was occupied by a Team Yell grunt.

"Oh it's you again," she commented not getting up from her position of leaning off the counter. "How's the shoulder feel?"

You blinked as you stared at her until it dawned on you. "Oh it's you!" You nodded. "Yeah. It feels a lot better actually. Thanks."

"Eh. No need to thank me. Just make sure you don't strain yourself for a couple days and you'll be all good." She glanced behind you noticing the others shaking water off themselves in one way or another. "You all heading out now? In this weather?"

You nodded. "We want to get back to Hammerlocke as soon as possible."

"I see. Well then do your friends want me to look over their pokemon before ya'll skip town? Wouldn't take me very long to do so."

You nodded. "That'd be a great idea thanks-"

"Y/n." You blinked having been interrupted and turned towards your left as Victor looked between you and the woman confused. "You know her?"

"Well...It's a long story. I'll tell you guys later."

It didn't take much to convince both Hop and Gloria to allow Nurse Joy to check over their pokemon as you thought it'd be better to do it now then to make them wait days and days before getting to Hammerlocke. And she was right. It didn't take long at all, and soon you all left with some abandoned umbrellas Gloria had noticed someone had left to collect dust in a pot by the doorway. Hmm. Maybe you all should've bought umbrellas along with all your other supplies when you bought them? No matter now. You were already dreading the trip back to Hammerlocke for obvious reasons so you had better suck it up early. The small group left the town (which to Piers's credit was opened back up) and stopped in front of Spikemuth for Victor to quickly recheck his regional maps.

He pointed forward after a moment, "We need to go back straight ahead back onto Route Nine and then back onto Route Eight leading back to either Hammerlocke or Circhester-"

"Oi! You lot!," a voice called from behind you all and you all looked behind you, your eyes going wide as through the rain, already soaked, long hair sticking to his body, and taller than your old gym coach. Was none other than PIERS!! Your brow rose. Victor looked confused. Hop and Gloria both gave a wide eyed look-

"What the absolute burning rapidash crap are you doing out here without an umbrella?!," was the first thing that tumbled out of you mouth before you could even think placing one hand on your waist. "I get that punk rock is your thing and maybe doing this is a sort of rebal action, but you can seriously catch a cold from this, Hot Pink."

The children looked at you wide eyed as you DARED say something so bold to Piers (again-) and using the nickname 'Hot Pink' on him. They thought he might've yelled at you for a moment...but surprisingly the soaked man didn't even bat an eye and instead chuckled giving you a small smile and friendly sounding tone.

"Yeah? Well I saw Marnie off a bit ago and ta be fair I WAS headin' my way back inside, but I saw your group passing through and figured I'd make sure your shoulder was still good before ya skipped town," he explained a hand coming up to grab his choker again, "Y'know. It's the responsible thing to do as Gym Leader."

You paused for a moment looking at him before shaking your head with a sigh and smiled back. "Nah. It's still feeling better than yesterday. Your Nurse Joy just said to keep off it for a few days and I'll be fine. So things from here should be easier considering."

He nodded in agreement. "Yes. They should be..." He gave a chuckle. "Until Raihan sees ya again-"

He gave off a couple chuckles when you reached out and gave his shoulder a small shove. "OH BE QUIET!! W-We don't even know if he's going to be there or not when we get there!! And that doesn't mean I'm even going to interact with him! They're the ones that's battling him not me!!"

You gave him a frown as he smiled at you. "I didn't mean anythin' by it honest. And I wasn't lyin' when I said I wanted ta make sure I fixed things last night." 

You sighed and relaxed your face at his genuine tone. "I know, and don't worry about it. Besides, if he does do any more flirting I'll just turn him down again like I did last time. I just think you should get inside and dry off before you get sick."

He gave a small huff but didn't lose that small smile, holding up a single hand. "I get'cha. Will you all be alright from here?"

You nodded gesturing to your umbrella. "We will now that we have these and my shoulder's all fixed now. So it should be smooth sailing from here." You pointed behind him. "But if you really wanna help, then get back inside and get all dried up before you catch a cold."

Shaking his head hair flat against his body now he huffed. "I get it." With that he turned on his heel and waved a hand behind you with a chuckle. "Give me regards to Raihan next time ya blokes see 'em. Hehe. I'm sure I'll hear from him later anyways."

You rolled your eyes in turn and turned around. "Sure. Well we'll see." Still smiling you turned back around, and paused seeing the three teens staring at you intently. "....What?"

"HOW!?", Hop seemed trying to ask throwing his hand that wasn't holding his umbrella out and looking rapidly between you and the retreating gym leader. "When did you two- !? I m-mean-....HUH!?" 

"I think he meant to ask...WHEN DID THE TWO OF YOU TALK!?," Victor explained rather loudly.

....You blinked. "OH! That." You shook your head pointing towards the road ahead. "I'll tell you all on the way to Hammerlocke I promise. But for now let's get going. I want to get as far as I can before we're forced to camp for the night."

And you did with the rain dropping around yourselves and Silver running around hopping about in the puddles alongside the road and soaking up all the rain as it beat against your umbrellas. They all took it surprisingly well...besides Victor who scolded you for running out in the middle of the night without them and in the rain, but you didn't argue. After all you did, and you weren't going to make the same mistake again. And you were all better and any bad blood with Piers you may have had has been solved too! So there's a plus. You all walked until it was too dark and still raining. You certainly had a hard time pitching the tents with Gloria and Hop trying to balance holding umbrella's over you and Victor as you all put up the tents and especially with your still sore shoulder. Getting partically soaked in the process...and even more soaked when Silver all soaked still wearing that sweater hoodie you got him, decided it'd be a good idea to flop himself inside the tent all wet from the rain......Safe to say you both had a harder time sleeping that night then the boys. Same thing the next morning trying to gather your things and put the tent away as it still rained, tho not as bad as before. The rain persisted for the next three and a half days as you all traveled. Having trouble setting up tents and staying dry during it all, silver certainly wasn't making it any easier on the lot of you. Thankfully by the middle of the fourth day the rain hand leaked the last of it's water and the clouds began rolling away. But you made sure to keep your umbrella put away and handy just in case. You'd definitely want to keep that in case you'd need it again. Continuing to walk through the forested areas you had come to known since before getting to Spikemuth, you were fairly certain that you were nearing the end of said forest as the days continued to pass by and you were pretty sure that any day now you all would come out the other end and see the Route Nine Tunnel, and the halfway point back to Hammerlocke ......Sigh. And Raihan. But you'll deal with him once you get there.....If the ground under all yours feet hadn't shaken like an earthquake. It all happened so suddenly. One moment you four were almost out of the woods, the  next moment BOOM!! The ground shook under your feet and you all wobbled around, but it wasn't very strong. Only almost making you lose your balance. Overhead a couple bird like pokemon flew away in a real big hurry with caws of worry, Victor flung his arms about trying to stay balanced, and Hop instinctively grabbed Gloria in a protective hold gold eyes blow wide at his surroundings. But you somehow managed to remain on your feet, only Silver falling over onto his bum in the process. At the end in left the lot of you on edge and frantically looking around the forest you all were in.

"WHAT THE BLOODY RAPIDASH CRAP WAS THAT!?," Gloria cried out still clutching onto Hop wide eyed.

"I have absolutely no idea!," you answered back blinking and looking around with an uneasy feeling. "...But whatever it was it seems to be gone now." You straightened back up now giving a careful look around but didn't see anything out of the ordinary within the forested area. "...I say we keep going and get out this neck of the woods before it happens again."

"I second that!," Victor piped up.

The others quickly agreed too and without hesitation you all sped walked away from the area. Speculating what it was that happened back there. Earthquake not very likely. There would've been much more damage and panic from pokemon. Hop suggested perhaps it was a couple wild pokemon fighting or maybe someone having a battle nearby and that seemed more likely in your mind. After all how many times have you watched the Pokemon anime and the main characters just ran into someone while in the woods?? ...You lost count but def a lot of times. And you all couldn't have been the only people who ever traveled along here or caught pokemon in the wild. ...And you all DID run into someone. You all had traveled about one or two hours away from where you had first felt the earthquake or whatever it was, stopping to have a quick break and eating some food from your food rations before continuing, and then you ran into someone who was walking rather quickly in the opposite direction heading towards you all. The man seemed a bit spooked as he walked, but did catch notice of you all when Gloria gave a friendly passing wave.

"Mornin' to yas! Nice day ain't it?"

The man stopped as you approached before quickly shaking his head and pointing behind him. You were almost out of the forest at this point you reckoned. "H-Hey. N-No not really! There's some trouble on Route Nine! It's so b-bad even the Champion's come to sort it out!"

"Lee?", Hop perked up but then again you figured he'd pop up at any mention of his famous brother.

"Trouble?," you asked eyes widening at the man who nodded. Did it have something to do with the shaking earlier? "What kind of trouble?"

"T-T-There's a giant pokemon on a r-r-rampage down by the highway! .....Oh, hey! You gave Piers a good thrashing didn't you?," he asked pointing to Hop and Gloria seeming to recognize them. Huh. Did he see their battles against other gym leaders and figured you came from Spikemuth? "You should head over there to help! C'mon then!" Wait what?! "I'll show you the way?" He turned and pointed towards the place you all were heading anyways. "U-U-Up there b-by the Tunnel!! ...Heed my warning though! If you're s-s-smart you'll get out of here as fast as you can like I'm doing!" 

"Wait what are- HEY!!" You nearly got knocked into Victor, he flinched, by the man who then in a hurry pushed past you and sped up his pace back towards the way you had just came from. You shooting a dirty look after his retreating form. "HEY!! SAY EXCUSE ME NEXT TIME BUDDY!!"

"LEE'S HERE!!"

Uh oh- Your head snapped to Hop and an arm instantly flung out to stop him but you barely missed him fingertips inches away from his jacket as he, as you expected, wide eyed and smile on his face took off up the road through the woods. "HOP COME BACK!!"

"WAIT FOR ME, MATE!!"

"GLORIA!!" It was the same song and dance between Victor and his twin as she slipped past his grab at her and too both of your horrors ran off right after her best friend. Both your faces paled and a rock sank in your stomach. OH NO!! There was a giant pokemon rampaging up ahead that was so bad even LEON had to be called out to stop it and those two were heading right towards it!! Victor growled holding his hands up like claws before sighing and looking towards you. "C'mon! We gotta stop those ninnies 'fore they dig 'emselves an early grave!!"

Well scottish accent intensified. But all jokes aside you totally agreed! Those two were going to get themselves turned into pancakes!! Without hesitation both of you RAN to catch up to the others. Up through the forested pathway the both of you ran, around one corner, straight ahead for a little while, and then around another corner and straight again with the treeline breaking before you to open grasslands- BOOM!! In a flash of red and another shaking you tripped. Just like when Milo's wooloo bowled you over, you fell face first onto the shaking ground and there you laid as Victor kept wobble-running not noticing you had fallen over. At least you didn't have to worry about further harming your shoulder. A VERY LOUD cry of some kind of animal roared out in the sky, dirt stuck under your nails as fingers curled into the ground, and you felt light as the shaking rattled the poor body further. It was like back in your dream when you were falling and heard the roar of Leon's charizard. But different...You might've not gotten up even as your body instictively froze at the flashback of hieghts, if Silver had shouted as LOUDLY as his tiny lungs could into your ear. Disoriented you screamed in fright, throwing yourself away from the flashing images of the corvinight coming to take revenge...But blinked only seeing the greyish skin of Silver and then a flash of pink as he chirped loudly at you and slapped your face. A groan escaped you and you pushed yourself up and out of his reach of slapping. Head still spinning and everything still wobbling, you blinked towards the horizon.  And far far in the distance if you squinted, you could see the Tunnel (even though it was more like a bridge-) and faintly the figure of Victor still running ahead.....!? And you scrambled after him. So even after you broke the tree line you ran....and ran....and ran. Your heart began to get to the point of pounding in your ears, and your lungs were starting to REALLY ache and burn but you didn't stop in a desperate attempt to catch up to the three teenagers who ran off in front of you. Head spinning and body aching, you were rapidly approaching the tunnel and was met with both an alarming and relieving sight that both alarmed and made you relax. Silver right behind you, you quickly started to come down from the adrenaline rush from the vast amount of distance and saw that there was a couple officers putting up a road block in front of the tunnel and not letting anyone through. Anyone being Victor, his sister, and Hop. That made you all relieved as you were sure they wouldn't be allowed near any danger, what made you ALARMED though was a car that looked absolutely RUINED from a crash with ten elephants was knocked off from the highway above the tunnel and was stationed crashed halfway down the hill!! What the world happened?! Was there a car crash!? It didn't look like there was any signs of anyone that was seriously hurt thank goodness. But that didn't answer your question as you slowed down to a walk approaching breathing heavily as your body felt as stable as a bowl of jello that got thrown off a skyscraper. Victor was shaking Hop by his jacket, scowling, and very angry and you could only catch the last sentence when you finally made it over to them. 

"WHAT. WERE. YE. BLOODY. THINKIN'!?," He yelled at Hop scottish accent becoming more thick with each word he threw out at them. "Are ye tryin' ta give me a heart attack or somethin'!? Or do ya got a death wish!?"

"i'M SoRRy!!," Hop garbled out dizzy somewhere between the shaking. Between all the shaking you managed to slowly walk over and bluntly push your way between them making Victor let go of Hop as the dizzy purple haired boy stumbled back into the arms of Gloria who looked equally guilty as you took the chance to lean forward in an attempt to catch your breath. Breathing heavily and coughing as you attempted to get your heart rate to still. Behind you some where Silver flopped face first onto the ground out of exhaustion.

"What *gaaaasp* ....happ-p-p-pened!? *cough cough*", you demanded between gasps of air not even looking up.

"Y/n! This is mad....You know what I mean?," Hop asked back.

 "What..... was;....*cough cough!!* t-t-t-that*gggaaaaasssssppp* loud noise?"

 "That's what I'd like to know. That noise..It was like some massive explosion! There was this huge surge of red light and then wild pokemon just started dynamaxing around me brazon as you like!"

"One pokemon," Gloria corrected holding up a finger, "One pokemon dynamaxed. And it's on the other side of the tunnel!" She then gestured to the blocked off entrance currently occupied by at least seven officers who were laser focused on your group so close to the entrance. "They're not letting anyone through due to safety or somethin'."

"And it's a good thing they didn't!", Victor scolded, "You two are nuts you are!!"

You groaned. Tuning out the rest of their convo in order to focus on your breathing and trying to get the burning sensation out of your lungs as you stood there. Oh what you wouldn't give for a chair at this moment in time to sit down and rest your sore body for just a little while longer. You didn't notice the giant flying form of a charizard flying through the sky over head and coming down towards all of you...But Hop sure did. And Gloria and Victor as they looked up along with the police officers as whoever it was came down fast and if it wasn't for the tuning out you were doing you would have heard the landing. You only really noticed anything when Hop suddenly barreled (again-) away from  the group making you yelp and blink to where he suddenly ran off too. And quickly understood why.

"LEON!!," He cried out with a giant smile on his face waving his arms, unforunately he was stopped by the officer and portable gate baracade. Leaving him to wave an arm, call out to his brother, and lean left and right to try and get a view of his famous older brother. "OVER HERE!!"

The Champion who was just starting to walk towards the tunnel paused hearing his name being called and turned his golden eyes around. By now the other two had already joined Hop and slowly you brought up the rear groaning and stretching out your back. Of course seeing your little group, Leon instantly smiled and his direction changed from towards the barn towards you all.

"Hey everyone!," he greeted picking up his pace and stopping on the other side of the portable fencing in front of all of you. "Wow! Look at all of you! Haven't seen you all for a while. What's the lot of you doing all the way out here?"

"We're headin' ta Hammerlocke!" "We're here to help you take down that pokemon!" Hop and Gloria answered at the same time.

Leon blinked for a moment before smiling again and reaching over to delivery a small pat to Hop's head. "Ah! I see news always spreads faster than Charizard's wings. Thanks for coming but I've got a handle on this. Whatever's making that noise I'll see to it!" They both frowned at the gentle shot down for their help Leon gave them before he returned his hand to his hips. "But seeing as you're here on Route Nine on you're way to Hammerlocke, that can only mean one thing." He winked and pointed. "You all just finished defeating Piers, right?"

"Yep!,"Gloria confirmed proudly crossing her arms, "No offense but we got this in the bag, Lee! And we can totally still help ya out too!" Hop eagerly nodded in agreement making Lee chuckle again.

"I'm sure you could, but now isn't the right time for that." He pointed a finger up. "I already told you, didn't I? Keep your eye on the goal. And for you, that's winning the Gym Challenge! Unless you have still have any other gym leaders to defeat, the only gym badge left is the one you'll get from the dragon gym's leader, Raihan. Right? Raihan is the only trainer out there I consider a real rival. He's that good you know! So you both might have a hard time beating him."

"Mr. Champion!" Leon hummed and looked behind him to where a nervous looking policewoman was looking between him and the tunnel. "S-S-Shouldn't we t-take care of the rampaging pokemon first? I'm not sure how long our distraction is keeping it docile."

....He blinked and reached a hand up to rub his neck. "Ah. And there I go again. Sorry, but I suppose this is no time for me to be stopping for a chat. There's a bit of trouble here with my name on it! But don't you worry about a thing!" He sent a smile and thumbs up to the surrounding police force. "The unbeatable Champion is here to look after things and keep you all safe!" He turned back to your group and in a slightly more serious tone spoke to them. "Alright you three. It was really nice seeing you again, but unfortunately I have to go take care of some serious business here." He pointed back up the way you came towards the forest. "Now I know I'm bad with directions but there's another pathway through there that goes around the long way back to Route Eight. I want all of you to go back and use that pathway instead immediately. Just because you all fought dynamaxed pokemon before doesn't make this any less dangerous." 

"But-", Hop started but was stopped when his brother grabbed his shoulder. His face dropped when Leon shook his head.

"Sorry, Hoppy. But a big responsibility of the Champion is making sure those around him are safe, and I know Ma would want you to be safe too. So please. Trust your big bro on this one, ok?" He smiled widely. "I'm gonna be heading to Hammerlocke too anyways! So if you all hurry we can meet up there. In fact let's make a game out of it!" He pointed to your small group. "If you three can beat me to Hammerlocke I'll buy everyone a free full meal! Ok?"

"I'm sold!," you answered hearing the prospect of free food. 

"I-..." Hop gave one last look at his big brother before sighing and giving a nod. A determined look once again taking over his face. "You can count on me Lee!"

He nodded and went to say something else but before either of you had the chance to say anything else it happened again!! A giant BOOM noise and a roar that sounded like a monster came from directly behind you all. The three teens in front of you all grabbed onto the portable fence and Leon instinctively leaned himself over the smaller kids protectively turning almost horrified behind him as you tried not to fall again. Soon after the trembling stopped ...and everyone slowly looked back up with shocked or concerned faces.

"Are you alright?," Leon asked turning back to his brother and friends who nodded. He breathed a sigh of relief before nodding and leaning back up. "That's good. I want all of you to leave now and go as fast as you can to Hammerlocke. I'll meet you there ok!" Without giving any of you any time to answer he turned back around to the tunnel smirk on his face. "That came from the tunnel wouldn't you say? Seems I'm about to have a champion time!!"

And he left. Or more like ran away as he turned and ran off past you and the officers and into the tunnel entrance. You took that as your cue to gently tug on Hop's shirt and as quickly (but gently) as you you could quickly guide them around and shooed them around and too even your disgruntle back up the pathway which had come judging by the roars that echoed from behind you all, Leon must've confronted the beast. With new worry and adrenaline in your system, you snatched Silver off the group with a giant chirp and pushed them to walk faster and faster as the ground shook under your feet again. Looking over your shoulder every so often and thinking you caught a glimpse of towering pokemon but you weren't sure. You were too busy pushing them all back to the forest and urging Victor to check his regional maps for the other pathway, which thankfully he listened to you and whipped out his phone. Although clearly by the faces of the children they were distressed and worried. You were too but Leon was THE Champion of Galar. He wouldn't be defeated that easily by a random wild pokemon. By the time you had reached the forest again, aching bodies be darned, the group had shaken quite a few times and the roaring sounds of the battling pokemon could reach your ears completely. But you didn't let that distract you in your mission of pushing these guys to the other path.....Which granted DID take a bit of time to find, since two giant bushes had grown over the front of the entrance. No wonder no one noticed it at first. It looked so old and overgrown. Never the less another shaking urged you all to flee down the pathway. And from there you traveled more and more. The forest went on and on for a good while until the path lead out of the woods and into a large open area of grasslands and the occasional house again. Guess this really was the long way around. The four(five of you counting Silver too) traveled all day along Route Nine's other path until the sun had set and you all were forced to make camp and rest for the night, before waking up the next morning and following the road again. The trip was like any other you all have taken before. Taking many days and passing the occasional small town, houses, or other passerbys. Only this time it took a bit longer until you all eventually rounded back onto the main road.  Even when you all stopped at a small town to restock supplies, stay at the local inn, and even did a few odd 'poke jobs' to earn a bit of pocket money. A day or two's journey later your group ran into a fork in the road and stopped as Victor whipped out his phone to check his regional maps.

"This is where Route Eight connects to Route Nine," he explained looking at his phone's screen smiling, "So we should just keep walking straight forward onto Route Eight and by that we should reach Hammerlocke in no time."

So back on Route Eight you all made for Hammerlocke ...and it's Gym leader which you really weren't looking forward to seeing again at all. Piers's laugh at your situation replaying in your mind making you scowl. Stupid Hot Pink! You'd show him! At one point Hop took to looking at his phone again and held it out to you suddenly excited. 

 "Hey! Take a look at the news!" He held his phone out to all of you and you looked. There was a picture of Leon there arms crossed next to a GIANT pokemon that looked like one of the evolved forms of Meowth you thought. It looked like a reporter took a picture of it at some point with some professional journalism colom under the picture with a caption. "See! There's Lee! He really is the greatest, right?" He took his phone back beaming at the picture with wonder. "Lee and his charizard took down that dynamax pokemon in the blink of an eye! I knew Lee was strong but this? Really makes you appreciate how great he is eh?" He smiled widely a new excitement in his step.  "Let's go meet up with him everyone! He should be at Hammerlocke stadium!"

"And that free food bet!" Your mind disregarded any disgruntled thoughts of Piers's smooth voice laughing or even Raihan coming to mind as your stomach grumbled at the thought of any good food. 

"Well what are we waiting for?," Gloria asked pointing forward, "Let's get to Hammerlocke!!"

For days and days you all traveled. Discussing Raihan and their battle strategies for him. Turns out unlike other leaders Raihan's gym would only conclude in two battles. One would be a tag team battle with two pokemon and the last a dynamax one against his dragon type. ...While battling inside a sandstorm....Great. You REALLY weren't looking forward to this. As days past and your food rations getting lower and lower, you all FINALLY came across Hammerlocke finally. The castle town reared it's head up at you and the pathway lead up to a draw bridge being the entrance. Picking up your speed, you four all made down the path all the way to Hammerlocke. You already taste what curry Leon would be treating you too if he wasn't already there, which you doubted he would be. He was terrible with directions after all. Like any of the other times you came back to Hammerlocke there was a man who worked for the league stationed there and Hop and Gloria had to show him their gym badges in order for them to get inside. Guess that rule was still applied here, and inside you four went. It looked exactly as you all left it since the last time you left here weeks ago to travel to Spikemuth....But there was a clear difference this time. You were on edge. Eyes narrowed and looking this way and that for that fanged gym leader. If you two were gonna meet again you definitely weren't going to be caught off guard. Yep! You were NOT going to be surprised by anything- Hop gasped suddenly and you yelped. Jumping back and bringing your arms up to defend yourself from any flirts!

"Over here!" He cried pointing in front of all you and a little ways away right in front of the entrance to Mr. Rose's power plant was Leon. Hey! And Sonia too! You hadn't seen her since Circhester. "Look! There's Lee! C'mon!" And the three ran...As you blinked. Before sighing and letting your arms slump back to your sides. Get it together Y/n. You had to keep your mind about you. You trudged slowly behind as the others ran towards Leon and Sonia. "LEON!"

The Champion paused mouth open in mid conversation with Sonia....before looking behind him and like a switch going off in his mind, he instantly smiled, turned around, and opened his arms out..Unfortunately he didn't take into account the force of three about fourteen years of age kids leaping into said Champion's arms. Hop got there first of course, Leon letting a loud 'OOF!' at his contact but smiling happily, then the twins...And you watched as Leon went down to the ground under the weighed down hug of them all in one giant laughing mess. Sonia blinked in surprise but then chuckled at the sight. As did you shaking your head and slowly walking up to them. By the time you got there, Leon had sat up with his hat somehow ending up on Hop's head as he laughed at them all. 

"Well if it isn't the troublesome trio," Sonia greeted and then smiling in your direction as you walked up to her, "And Y/n! It's been so long since I last saw all of you! How were things in Spikemuth?"

You waved. "Hey Sonia!" You greeted. "Been well. And it looks like you've been doing pretty well too. Have you put together any clues with the tapestries?" 

She nodded as Leon stood up. "I think so. It's only a matter of time until I figure out why the tapestries were separated in the first place."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out!," Leon complimented. In the time you two were talking, the others had gotten up and placed the hat back on his head. "It's like fighting a pokemon. It takes a few tries but in the end you'll end up catching it!"

"Speaking of which you made the news pretty recently," you commented hands on your hips.

He chuckled back at you and smiled. "Well I couldn't have it causing anymore damage to anyone else. Luckily no one was hurt but it could've gotten wild if I hadn't taken it down."

"I'd expect nothing less from you and your charizard, Leon," Sonia commented, "You took down that dynamax pokemon in no time."

"Well I am the unbeatable champion after all? But what's going on here?" 

Sonia hummed and brought a hand to her chin, a thoughtful look on her face. "An overflowing red light...Pokemon dynamaxing without a power spot?"

''Yeah. But why?," Hop asked. Yeah. You'd like to know too. That was a weird experience.

Sonia shook her head. "I'm not sure. What's going on? That red light could suddenly appear again at any time and we'd have no way of knowing." That wasn't a good thing. If it happened again other people might be hurt. You shivered at the thought of the crashed car you remembered seeing at the Tunnel. If that meowth thing did that what if a pokemon dynamaxed in a city?!

"But being able to predict such things is part of a scientist's work. Didn't you forget, Dear?" The six of you looked over at the new comers voice and you had jumped at the prospect of Raihan..but relaxed when you saw WHO it was. Definitely not raihain. Too old and not even a boy....But what were the odds of Sonia's Grandmother coming here?! YES. Ms. Magnolia was here. Her can making a tapping sound as she walked up to your group. 

"GRAN!?" Sonia gaped mouth open in shock. "What are you doing here?" She asked as if hearing your thoughts.

"The Chairman called for me," she explained carefully. The Chairman? "He wanted to know all about the red light's relationship to the dynamax phenonemon. But I wasn't expecting you running into you all while arriving."

"Did the Chairman know anything?," Leon asked and....and you looked at him. An unexplained familiar feeling falling over you and a bad feeling sitting into your gut. ...Huh?

Ms. Magnolia shook her head. "Nothing worth my time. The Chairman's all wrapped up in fretting over the future our energy aparently."

"Is it really that big of a problem?," you asked and everyone turned to you as you rose a brow, "I mean..Everywhere we've gone there doesn't seem to really be any really bad power cuts or anything."

Leon sighed and reached a hand up to rub his neck. "I'm afraid so. It may not really look like it to you especially since you're from a whole nother region, Y/n. But.....You saw Spikemuth right?" You...Nodded. And Leon frowned further. "The entire town was almost completely shut down due to the power problem. And nearly a quarter of Wyndon City now too. The Chairman's trying to combat it by installing a lot of green energy suppliments. Solar panels. Wind turbines. Things like that...But it just seems most of the energy they've been zapping out's been going missing too." He shrugged. "It's a mystery we're trying to figure out. We think someone might've been stealing the power but we haven't detected any outside tampering or signs of electric type pokemon seeping up the energy..Besides the occasional small jolteon."

You looked at him stunned. So Piers's situation was really out of his control. You frowned a feeling of pity falling over yourself. Poor Hot Pink. He was blaming himself when all this time he couldn't have really done anything to prevent his town from falling apart. "Well what about his scientists? Haven't they figured out ways to fix it?"

"I'm afraid it's not as easy as it sounds dear," Ms. Magnolia sighed. "He's left everything to that executive lady. We just don't have enough data. That's why I wanted you to start looking into things too, Sonia. You know more than anyone about the Darkest Day after all."

"Hold on! Are you saying that the red light and the Darkest Day are connected?!"

"Hey." Leon hummed and turned to Hop who grabbed his arm. "Do you reckon there's anything we can do to help out?"

"There must be!," Gloria insisted.

Leon stared for a moment before smiling. "Thanks. I appreciate the thought. But all I could ever ask of you would be that you join me in the greatest final match ever. I'll do my part to make that happen by keeping everybody's future safe." He ruffled Hop's hair with his other hand. "So you both just keep on doing your part by winning your way through the Gym Challenge!"

"Right! 'Course! You're the unbeatable champion after all, right?!"

"Gran," Ms. Magnolia looked back to Sonia as she asked her, "There's something I wanna look into. You'll help me right?"

"Naturally," she answered back nodding, "Come. You can tell me all about it while conversing with the Chairmon." She turned to the powerplant's entrance. "Come along. We mustn't be keeping Mr. Rose waiting. Arceous knows what's going on in there?"

And with that Sonia turned and followed without another word, and you all watched their retreating forms as they walked away. ..Until Leon sighed and turned back to all of you. "Looks like we all know what we need to do. So you two clear the Gym Challenge." Hop and Gloria smiled and chuckled as the older brother ruffled there heads with a teasing smile. "So we can meet again at the Champion Cup. I've had so much fun watching your battles!" He turned to Victor and smiled. "And you!" 

Victor jump and held up his hands. "No wait! Lee not my hair-"

Too late. Leon ruffled his hair and beany as Victor groaned and Gloria giggled at him. "Hmhmhm. You're doing a great job capturing those shots on your blog! I know Hop looked so great in those pictures you took of him Battling against Opal! I'm so happy the camera I got you is working so well! I'm sure both our Mums are so happy you three are doing so well for yourselves." Victor groaned even after Leon stopped ruffling his head but didn't complain like he did with the snow in Circhester. You blinked when he finally turned to you. And your eyes bulged out of your head like those funny googily eye stickers when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stack of money!! And it was small. Only being around sixty dollars as you stared silently as he held it out to you. "Now I believe I promised you all lunch. I'm afraid I can't join you as the Chairman has called me as well, but this should be enough to tide you over."

".............Huh?,'' you asked.

"Wha- But Lee. We didn't get here before you remember?," Victor pointed out.

And you finally snapped out of it nodding and pointing to him. "Y-Y-Yeah! What he said. ...And why are you giving this to me?"

He smiled before placing the money in your hands, and you looked between him and the money into your hands as he waved your off. "Take it as a thank you for looking after my little bro and his friend on their journey." You opened your mouth but he held up a hand to stop you. "No. Please. I don't give hand outs, but I also know it's a bit rough for you out there not having any money like the others. I can't give a whole lot but I hope this helps you. Go ahead and get everyone some lunch and the rest is yours."

"You're not joining us?"

He turned to the kids and shook his head. "Sorry guys. But the Chairman calls. It's a part of the job. But I promise I'll make some time to spend with all of you soon." He gave a thumbs up. "But you all go ahead and get some food in the mean time! I can't wait to see how you all handle my own rival."

Oh right....You all were originally here to see Raihan. Joy. You all bid Leon good bye before he turned and jogged off in the direction where Sonia and her grandmother disappeared towards the power plant. You stood there for a long moment before looking down to your hands to the $60 sitting in your palm. Not believing what had just happened....but grateful for the kindness he showed you. He really was a really nice guy. 

"I know what I need to do all right!" You blinked at Hop pumping a fist into the air. "Defeat that Piers once and for all! You're off to Hammerlocke stadium yeah? Raihan's a tough nut to crack! As Lee would say! Let's do our best!!"

"....Uh Hop. We just came from Spikemuth."

Hop paused...blinking for a moment before lowering his fist. "Oh yeah. I forgot. I guess I got a bit carried away."

"Well before any of that," they turned to you as you held up your hand with the money Leon had given you, "Why don't we get something to eat first like Leon said?"

"I wouldn't be opposed to that," Victor agreed.

You nodded and smiled. "Alright. I remembered there's two places to eat around here." You leaned back up and looked around a good portion. And stopped pointing off towards the train station. "Do you guys want to eat at the small curry corner at the station or the cafe on the other side of town?"

The three voted for the cafe on the other side of town and you nodded in agreement before heading over there. Silver trailing behind. But of course you kept an eye out looking around for that fanged fiend. To your relief not seeing anyone fitting his description. Safely arriving at the cafe and going inside. It was ...nice. Quiet. And the store owner smiled greeting you all as you sat at one table. You all practically had the place to yourselves too, with there only being one or two other people in there with you. And you all ordered. Curry for everyone of course for Gloria to get more pictures of for her curry Dex. You got another Egg curry, this time being different from the others. The Dry Boiled Egg Curry, as you didn't think Silver would handle the sour, bitter, or spicy egg curries. Like a hawk, Silver's yellow eyes laser focused on your plate as soon as it was brought out to you. And soon you all got his reaction. Silver had grabbed a hold of your pants leg wide eyed and immediately began babbling off and looking expectantly between you and the egg sitting in the middle of your dish. When you didn't immediately give it too him he started whining and tugging on your pants to get it. 

"Ok ok." He watched as you carefully picked up the egg in your hands and he instantly held his tiny pink hands out towards it. Smacking his lips once it was gently lowered to him. Guessed he must've been really hungry too. "Here. Man. It seems you get hungrier every time I turn around." Silver ignored your comment in favor of shoving half the egg into his mouth and plop himself down next to you. With a sigh and roll of your eyes you turned back to the others. "So...Have you all figured out what you're going to be doing?"

"We're still working on that," Hop answered pointing his fork at you. Somehow already these three were already half way done with their food. "I figured I could stop by the stadium and see when one of us could battle Raihan. I haven't met him yet and seeing him in person could help me get a feel for what he's like in battle beyond the videos I've seen."

Gloria held up her hand. "I'm gettin' more food!! Since the Champion Match ain't gonna take place til the end of the year, we'll need more supplies for in between time!....And just in case we need ta stay extra days ta defeat the bloke. Eh?"

Victor nodded in approval. "Exactly why I'm goin' to be settin' up our camp sight right outside the entrance by the Vault. It's late in the day so someone has ta get a spot for us ta stay before dark."

You nodded. All of those sounded like a pretty good idea. Camp. Supplies. And a time scheduale for the upcoming battles. Preparing ahead was always a good idea. "That sounds like a good idea. When you're all finished eating you can go ahead and do all that. I'll finish eating and probably join all of you back at camp. Ok?''

You didn't think they could've eaten any faster and soon their plates were empty and they were getting up from the table bidding you far well for the moment. You reminded them all to meet back at the camp sight Victor would be setting up on their way out and you were left with Silver lazily sitting at your feet to finish your own food. With a sigh you enjoyed the silence of the small shop with the elevator like music playing, and the delicious smells coming from the cafe's kitchen in the back. You only really looked up when Silver tugged on your pants again and with a curious chirp pointed to your drink. With a roll of your eyes you handed him the glass of water as he took it. And drank. Forgetting he was a water type for a moment. Guess he must've needed water too. As you nearly finished eating the cafe door opened again, only being alerted to it when the small bell rang. But you didn't look up when the man in the orange bandanna walked in.

The cafe owner paused but quickly smiled and leaned his arms against the counter. "Well, well." He said amused raising a brow. "Coming in town this late in the day? Hmhm. Weren't you on a long holiday yet?"

You finished eating and sighed leaning back as the bandanna man chuckled back. Still not looking up or aware as it was none of your business. And not suspecting anything. "Well, I was. But you know me by now. I have to stop by every so while in case there's anyone here for me. Y'know that a lot of them dropped out thanks to Kabu again?"

The cafe owner chuckled again. "HA! Doesn't surprise me one bit. That old geezer's been doing that ever since he came here years ago. *sigh* But back to business. What can I do you for today? The usual?"

You took a couple seconds fishing through your pockets to pull out the leftovers from after you paid for everyone's food and rose a brow trying to figure out how much exactly you should leave for the tip before you leave. Mr. Orange Bandanna chuckled and put his hands behind his head. "Yeah. Y'know what..Can ya make that to go? Oh! And a dozen of those pokemon-safe donuts! My guys deserve to have a little treat too yknow."

"Hahaha! Ever the classic Raihan!" Your body froze. The cafe owner turned a moment. "It'll take about twenty minutes. Feel free to sit and wait while I go get everything."

"Sure! I got time."

Your body froze. Cold shooting through your veins like ice was directly injected into you. Your face paled whiter than Circhester's snow....And you slowly, ever so slightly looked behind you over your shoulder. Not enough to show your entire face but just enough to let you see clearly behind you. And your f/c eyes widened, pupils shrinking. And the money was almost dropped into your lap. .....OH NO- Standing there looking off bored thankfully away from you ....Was Raihan. The Gym leader didn't seem to notice you or even recognize your existance literally a few feet from him. You stared wide eyed and he didn't seem to feel your intense stare on him either. You nearly jumped when he yawned showing off those fangs (what HUMAN had fangs!?) and looked forward again. Removing one hand from his head he reached down into one of his jacket pockets and pulled out his phone. Oh CRAP CRAP CRAP! You snapped back forward...Big mistake. Because the suddenly movement caught the eye of two people. Silver who held up the now empty cup to you, and Raihan who hummed and turned his head curiously to you. ...Before turning back to his-....Scrunching his brows his face dawned a 'Wait a minute-' look to it before he turned his head back towards you and rose a brow. Even though you didn't know he was looking at you, you swore you could FEEL those blue eyes on you. Unlike Piers's electric bright blue eyes, Raihan's were a periwinkle baby blue. And soft like the petals of flowers, but somehow also gave the impression of a fierce storm about to rain itself upon the world. Not like Piers's at all which gave the impression of a tired hard working soul but also some hidden exciting 'electric' personality. You quickly flipped through your money trying to find something, before just settling on a five dollar bill and left it down on the table. All the while Silver had stood and like a toddler with his mother, kept chirping at you, tugging your jacket, and holding up the cup to you. Raihan's eyes blinked shifting between you...and that familiar shiny drizzlie....And his eyes lit up as something clicked in his mind. .....And he smiled. 

You flung the five dollar bill onto the table for the tip and went to stuff the money back into your pocket- "ACK!" A glass bumped into your cheek and you frowned over at Silver who innocently chirped and tried handing you the glass again. With a sigh you finally took it from his teeny pink hand. "Sil. You couldn't have waited for me to finish?" You didn't notice the guy sit down in the chair next to you. Head in one hand. "We need to leave." You looked back up and placed the cup down, in view now of the man. "Cuz I'm not gonna-".....You paused mouth slightly open making Raihan chuckle right next to you. You nearly JUMPED out of your chair bristled like a cat as you snapped over to the guy. "GAH!?" Instead you leaned away fast arms up. "WHAT THE HE-...YOU!?"

He ended up chuckling a deep rumble that sounded like a deep purr. Now any other woman, and some men, would've swooned or blushed at the sound of such a chuckle..But instead you frowned. It only reminded you of a sound a cat would rumble out before chasing a mouse. He gazed at you with half lidded eyes and waved his other hand at you. "I thought I recongized you from somewhere."

....You frowned and lowered your arms but didn't stop leaning back. "Oh joy."

Despite you not hiding your annoyance he simply chuckled again a lazed smirk pointed at you. "Y'know...I actually didn't think it was you at first." he shrugged. "Honestly didn't expect to see you at all again either. But the chances of another woman with f/c hair and f/c eyes running around with a shiny water type are pretty slim to none." His smiled widened to show his fangs. "But I'm not complaining.~"

"Bro. What the heck?," you deadpanned at him and crossed your arms, "I thought I told you, very politely might I add, last time that I wasn't interested."

He hummed and nodded. '' You did. You did. I'm not denying that fact for a bit."

....You rose a brow. "Ok. Then what do you want then?"

"That's just the thing." He sighed looking you over as you narrowed your eyes. Silver chirped in question peeking over your leg curiously to why you were angry. "...You see...I usually don't get the kind of reaction you gave me all those weeks ago. Not so fast. Not so blunt." He chuckled and rose a brow. "And definitely not with the kind of sass you delivered. I haven't been able to forget about it."

"Not my problem, Dude. Not interested."

"Oh come on. That's a little unfair since you don't know much about me. I'd like to get to know a girl like you more! Why don't I buy you dinner and we can chat?"

"I already ate thanks." You pointed to the dishes. "And I have some people waiting for me so...Polite pass."

 He smiled brightly an idea flashing from behind those eyes and you cringed. Oh no. He pointed at you. "Hey! That's right you were with that gym challenger right?" You didn't like where this was going. "That could only mean she's passing through or here to battle me right?"

"The latter," you answered truthfully.

His smile got wider. "Then how about this? If I win against her I get to take you out for dinner!"

You have a huff staring at the wild suggestion he even made. "You honestly believe I'm going to agree to THAT!? You don't know when to stop huh?"

His hand was placed on his chest. "You got me. But yes. I'm known for being pretty determined for the goals I strive." He winked at you. Oh brother. "But I promise I don't bite.~.....Much.~" 

You were already darting your eye around on edge trying to figure out a way out of this mess you had accidentally and unintentially put yourself in. UGH!! WHY COULDN'T THINGS JUST BE EASY FOR YOU FOR ONE DAY!? Your f/c eyes gazed over him and eventually locked onto his hood....then to the white straps on his jacket. A light bulb switching in your brain as an idea finally came into your head. And it made you cringe. Oh. You DIDN'T like it. Faaaaar from it....But it would certainly be a fast ticket out. You just had to suck it up and go for it!......May Arceous have mercy on your dying pride for what you were about to do.

Forcing yourself to relax, you inhaled a deep breath before exhaling your tense body relaxing. Before leaninf forward towards Raihan and smiled. Eyes half lidded. "Yeah?~ Well Dragon Boy. Maybe I ought to kidnap YOU and see how you like it.~" Raihan paused. Seeming to blink taken aback for a moment. His blue eyes looked over you at the confusion of the sudden flirty (GAG-) tone you were forcing yourself to do. But you didn't give his brain any time to process it before standing up in the blink of an eye and leaning over him. "Maybe I ought to badger your handsome face and see how cute you look.~" You cringed inwardly SO SO SO HARD and reached your hand up and over his still processing face to grab his hood. Gently pulling it over and placing it softly on his head. "And how sweet you look in his hoodie of yours.~ You know what else is a good look for ya?~"

.....Raihan relaxed, a flirty smirk printed on his fanged face as he delivered another rumbling purr-laugh. God you wanted to hide and RUN!! "No.~ Why don't you tell me?~"

You chuckled and stared at him. ".....THIS!!" 

In a flash your hands grabbed onto those white straps and YANKED!! In an instant, with a ZIP noise raihan's hood shrank in around his head and he suddenly gave a loud yelp of surprise at the suddenly hoodie attack you gave. You didn't even blink. Not waiting for him to respond, you quickly whipped around, snatched Silver into your arms with a loud chirp from him, and RAN!!

"SAY HI TO PIERS FOR ME!!"

Booking it out the store, the bell rang like a maniac above your held as you legged it panic running through your viens like when the onix was chasing you back in the Wild Area. Not even caring anymore. You went right down past the other stores, past the Vault and homes, and past through the draw bridge exit Hammerlocke had. Stopping and breathing heavily from panic you looked around wildly, you spotted them. Two tents set up a little ways out of the exit like Victor had said, and right in front of said tent was Hop and Victor talking. Without hesitating you RAN towards them. Victor was first to notice then Hop hearing the incoming footsteps and both seemed surprised as you skidded to a stop in front of them breathing heavily with Silver in your arms. .....Both boys looked at each other. Hop Shrugged. Then looked back to you.

"Um....Are you ok, Y/n?," Victor asked uncertainly. 

"Yeah. What happened to you, Mate."

With a final breath you scowled in annoyance at nothing in particular. "....Don't ask. Move over. I'd like to hide-...I mean sit in the tent for a bit."

[limpfisted]

@hlfcorpse [ I NEED YOU LIKE A CHILD NEEDS A BLANKET, A NIGHT LIGHT, A GHOST STORY BY THE FIRE, A PICTURE BOOK WITH HEROES WHO LOOK JUST LIKE ME, AN IMAGINARY FIEND. / verse: seventeen. ]

Wyll Ravengard, banished son, the Pride of The Gate, a child prodigy, a genius with a blade and with the ladies and gentlemen of the court of proper ages in the ballroom, who scored high marks in all his tests but never quite made his Father proud.... enough of the time----has only ever learned two things in his life that have mattered even an iota in this blasted desert called "the real world."

One. That everything sucks, all the time, forever. It's just really hard. Even if Wyll wasn't half-blind---the world would still look too big, and home too far away. Cooking would be hard even if he knew how to grip the knife right, considering all his studies of law and poetry and history failed to give him anything but a fine palate, fine tastes, and burnt Jerkey and Cheese. And a blade? Forget it. He can barely defend himself with a proper weapon. Not that he hasn't tried fighting everything he can get his hands on.

(A new power courses through him like an electric current in a storm, just as shocking. Such a thrill, such a delight, so scary but so perfect, sculpting Heaven's blessings from Hell's damnation, he'd be dead without Mizora, running into battles testing out his new mettle like this, but he can't stop himself, and if he can't fight at all---he'd rather be dead.)

Two. Demons don't deserve to live. They're evil scum. Monsters, that exist to torment. If Mizora calls him a stinker one more time, he'll end her AND himself with her!

And yet. That is the source of his power. Those are the only people he can share this intimate, perfect, practical secret with.

Part of him knows that to get better and stop sucking at everything, he needs to practice more. He needs to stop relying on his new powers in fights, he needs to train, even at just basic life skills, like his Father always said, two hundred percent harder than he did yesterday, always better, always moving forward, never falling behind.

But another part of him is so lonely sometimes he catches himself trying to engage in conversation with Mizora, of all NOT-people. He's always been... apart from everyone. His Father kept him too busy to make friends, and then Wyll always felt... different, when he wasn't outright impressing people, like he just had more to prove, and more he had to say, to be... cared for.

But he's never felt like... like he doesn't deserve to be looked at, until now. Until his Father---

Needless to say, when you can't look at yourself in the mirror, its hard to talk to other travelers, and far easier to talk to the many demons you stumble across in your travels. (The bastards are crawling all over the place if you know where to look, and they all find Wyll's attempts to kill them "funny" despite the fact that Wyll is a very thick and muscular seventeen, and has already taken down many bandits, in addition to the original twenty-five cultists, where he SAVED Baldur's Gate, thank you very much!)

One such demon recommended this place, outside of Baldur's Gate, far enough away that Wyll felt.... not comfortable, but more comfortable, even looking halfways in its direction. A church, in which he is told he will find everything he needs.

The outside of it is a dusty charcoal black compared to the setting sun outside as he approaches. He's dealt with--or at least, dipped his blade in the arcane, now, but it still makes him scowl to look at it. Who put this demon's nest in such a pretty spot? How can darkness suck in all the light so easily? He doesn't want to go in. (He does. He wants to know who he is, now. He wants to know what this longing to go in means.)

Inside is just as dusty, and as dark. He resists the urge to cough, instead just sniffs and wipes the back of his hand across his nose. Is that a demons scent? Or just the dust of old books? Behind the all-too normal pews, past the statues and strange trinkets, there are bookcases.

...

Is that IT?

Wyll rolls his eyes and mutters curses, shaking his head, folding his arms, every bit the sullen teenager. He's been had. How can he study diligently the way his Father always taught him to, as knowledge is just as much power as strength, as the Good Duke always said----if there is nothing substantial to study? He doesn't even spot the demon he was supposed to look fo---

Oh. That must be him. There's an aura of... slime to him, unbefitting of a priest. He looks like he does sick things to puppies. If not for the darkness, Wyll swears he could see Mizora's reflection in his dark, shiny eyelids. It's not that he's ugly, far from it. But Wyll didn't think Mizora was ugly, either, and demons.... They're known for their seduction techniques. As if Wyll did not promise to his Mother with the full extent of his iron will that he would wait until marriage! He cannot be tempted! Do not try, demon!!!!!

(From an outsider's perspective, Wyll may appear to be standing there, seething, his breath getting heavier and heavier and his face getting meaner and meaner, even more haggard and tired and malnourished than he already looks, especially for a kid so young. But in his head? Wyll believes the battle has just begun. He's just waiting for his chance to strike.)

[ellephlox]

(Un)Stealthy

Pairing: Matt Murdock x fem!reader

Summary: You have a minor injury and try hiding it from Matt. Needless to say, you’re not successful. 

Warnings: Non-graphic description of dislocation.

A/N: Small hurt/comfort fic to end the day - hope you all enjoy and, if you’d prefer, you can read this on ao3 here.

If you hadn’t been so mortified with yourself, you would never have hidden the injury. 

In retrospect, you wished you had just been upfront with Matt from the start, because it would have saved you the ensuing indignation on his part regarding your claim that you were fine — which was completely unfair, because you’d seen Matt break a bone and say that he was okay. 

The sun had just set, and Matt had just left for the evening. You put on your music playlist and began to tackle the dishes, humming along contentedly. That was probably why you didn’t hear any buzzing around you, and it was only when a small dark shape flew by your peripheral vision that you froze, soap dripping from your hands. 

It was gone. You craned your neck around, scanning the ceiling. It certainly hadn’t been part of your imagination; there had definitely been something there. Slowly you returned to the dishes, only to yelp as a massive wasp flew right by your face and bounced against the wall sluggishly. Quickly you dried your hands on your towel and then paused your music. 

The wasp had vanished again. Cursing, you stayed still, listening for its buzzing. Channeling my inner Matt tonight, I guess. 

And then you heard it, behind you. Picking up a magazine and rolling it up as your makeshift swatter, you approached the wasp, where it now bounced idly against the window. Stupid wasps; they were always terrible at this time of year and somehow managed to get into the apartment despite the fact that there were screens on the windows—

“Come on!” The magazine hit the wall a second too late, and the wasp flew away, this time rising up to the ceiling. Curse Matt’s high ceilings. You climbed on top of the counter, leaning precariously forward, and nailed the wasp right against the ceiling with a smack. 

Sorry, wasp. 

Your triumph was short lived, however. The soapy counter beneath you didn’t agree with your unsteady position, and, twisting to regain your balance, your feet came out from under you as you toppled off the counter with an undignified shriek. 

The landing was particularly ungraceful. A cat, you were not. You shifted from where you’d fallen, sprawled out on the dusty floor — seriously, I should vacuum here — and then your knee flared in protest. 

“Shit, shit, shit, shit,” you muttered, grabbing at your knee and wincing. It had slid out of place, you were sure of that much, and you didn’t even want to think about the popping sound that had accompanied it. This had happened before — the joint coming out, then instantly back into place, leaving you with an injured knee for the next week — but it had never happened around Matt. 

The thought of explaining to him an injury as stupid as this made heat rush to your face, so you gripped the edge of the counter tightly, and hauled yourself to your feet amidst a string of profanities. Letting go of the counter proved to be more difficult than you expected, and you keeled over, flinching at the red-hot pain knifing its way through your knee. 

Fantastic. How much more humbling of an injury could this be? You gritted your teeth, hobbling towards the freezer for ice. Matt spent hours each night protecting people, battling criminals, doing his reckless acrobatics across the rooftops and dodging bullets. And then there was you, taken down by the soapy water at your feet. 

Humiliating. 

That sense of embarrassment was what convinced you the best course of action was to simply not tell Matt. 

“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him,” you said out loud, as though to convince yourself. Although the whole him-not-knowing part would have take some expert strategizing, because the man was keener than a bloodhound when it came to anything concerning you. Stupid super senses. 

Well, there were at least a couple of hours until he got back, which meant you had a couple of hours to pull yourself together and act as though nothing had happened. You grabbed a frozen bag of peas, and painstakingly wobbled your way to the sofa. Unbidden tears pricked at the edges of your eyes as your knee seared in agony at the motion, and you leaned heavily on the wall as you made your way forward. Even sitting down was excruciating, and it wasn’t until you were seated with your leg propped up on the coffee table that the pain began to ebb. After an hour, you returned the bag of peas to the freezer and popped some ibuprofen. Heal, knee. Heal. 

Of course, this was the one night that Matt chose to come home early. You nearly had a heart attack when the door suddenly opened to the rooftop access.

“Matt!” you said, closing your book and putting your bookmark in. Act normal. Just don’t move. There’s no reason he’ll know so long as you don’t give him a reason to focus on your knee. “Slow night?”

“Successful night.” His energy was palpable as he strode into the room, only bothering to strip off the helmet and cowl. “How was your night?”

“Eventful. I killed a wasp.” Because who knew if he’d be able to smell the wasp guts on the ceiling that you weren’t able to clean up?

He gave you a look of mock admonition. “You know how I feel about killing.”

“If it was a bee, I would have granted him permission to live. Wasps, on the other hand, violate the natural order of peace in the world.” Was your tone too cheerful? It was hard to tell. 

Matt settled on the couch next to you. It took an enormous amount of willpower to not react as your knee burned at the motion. “What’re you reading?” he asked, wrapping his arm around you. 

Stop making my knee move stop stop stop just go take a shower Matt—

“Northanger Abbey. I’ve been on a Jane Austen kick,” you said, smiling at him. 

He leaned in, his breath warm on your neck. “Your pulse is racing.”

Was it? Probably from the adrenaline of trying to keep your face straight as your knee attempted to murder you. “Is it racing the 400 meter dash or the 100?” Because stupid humor was the best way to distract Matt. 

“Just... fast.” He listened for a moment, a look of endearment on his lips. “I missed you.” He leaned in and kissed your neck. 

Oh. You froze for the tiniest of moments — was Matt misinterpreting the cause of your racing heart? Everything about his body language suggested he was... well, in the mood. Like he was reading your racing heart as a sign that you wanted to do something intimate — which, at the moment, you were certain your knee would be very unhappy about. Nothing about Matt indicated that he was aware something was off; his demeanor was entirely relaxed. Never in your memory had he ever misjudged the reason for your racing heart, and it was disconcerting. 

“I missed you too,” you said honestly, leaning into him, because while this was unexpected, it was certainly not unwelcome. 

Until he suddenly scooped you up, bridal style, without any warning. 

“Ah!” The sound came out of your mouth before you could stop it, and Matt halted in his tracks. 

“You alright?” he asked uncertainly, his head tilted slightly. Shit, he’s listening for something wrong. 

You ignored the question and turned it back on him. “Are you bleeding?”

“What? This?” He gestured to his shoulder. “Someone else’s blood, not mine.”

“Ew.”

“I’ll shower first,” he decided, carrying you to the bedroom and setting you down on the bed. You tensed your jaw, screwing up your eyes slightly as your knee flopped in the wrong direction on the soft mattress. 

It was your undoing.

“You’re tense,” he said, slowly, and you could feel his full attention on you now. His brow was furrowed as he attempted to read your signals. “Is something wrong? Did you have a stressful day?”

“Every day is stressful, Matthew Murdock, when you’re out there running around and potentially getting hurt,” you said dryly. “Really, don’t worry about me.”

There was a pause as he listened for any skip in your heartbeat. You waited for his verdict, breathing slowly to keep your pulse down.

But the truth of your statement seemed to placate him, and he nodded once before getting into the shower. You were careful to keep up your pretense that everything was alright the entire time, aware that he was indubitably listening to you. 

When he emerged, steam behind him and only a towel tied loosely around his waist, you patted the bed next to you. “Come snuggle. I’m cold.”

“Want me to turn up the heat?”

This man is too sweet for this world. “That’s alright, you can be my personal furnace,” you told him. 

After pulling on boxers he slid into the sheets beside you, calloused hands running up and down your arms and then lower, towards your torso. It was entirely tolerable until he decided to pull you in towards him, and you cried out against your will as your knee practically split in two. 

Matt stiffened quicker than you could have expected. “Are you hurt?” he demanded, his hands gently pressing to you in search of what had made you cry out. 

“No,” you squeaked out, aware as the word left your lips that the lie would only further exacerbate Matt’s suspicions. 

Sure enough, he said nothing, but his frown deepened, and you admitted defeat as his hand suddenly crawled downward, gently brushing against your knee. He let out a long breath. 

“I’m sorry,” you said, your voice still an octave higher than usual. “I thought I could get away with it.”

“It was dislocated,” he said, his voice now a growl. “It’s popped back in, but it’s already swelling. What happened?”

“I can’t tell you. You’ll hate me.”

“What? Why would I hate you?”

“Because it’s an embarrassing injury and it only highlights how pathetic I am compared to you,” you said, painfully aware of how sullen you sounded. 

“What happened? You can tell me.”

“I fell off the counter killing the wasp,” you admitted. “’Ungainly’ would be an understatement.”

“You fell off the—?”

“I’m okay, really,” you said quickly, hearing the shift in his tone. “Really. Nothing else got hurt, only my knee.”

“And the wasp is to blame?”

“Technically the soapy water on the counter. Come on, Matt, you have to admit — it’s laughable.”

“I’m not laughing.” His fingers were still hovering over your knee as though to search for any more injuries. “And to me, it doesn’t matter. You could dislocate your knee while saving a puppy or you could dislocate your knee because you tripped over the toilet. I’d love you just the same.”

“Thanks. Now I know this injury is in the ‘tripping over the toilet’ classification of injury worthiness.”

Matt tapped your shoulder. “Enough with the self-deprecation. Can I get you anything? Water, ice?”

“I put some ice on it earlier,” you said, flopping back onto the pillow. “Thank you, though. And you’re sure that you’re not hurt from tonight? I sincerely doubt that you went an entire night unscathed.”

“I’m not hurt. You have that little faith in me?”

“Uh, who was the one who crashed through the door just last week with serious lacerations?”

“At least I didn’t hide it from you.”

“Yeah, because you were delirious and two seconds from passing out. I don’t think you had much of a choice. Now come in closer because I’ve missed you.”

He obliged you. This was where you felt safest; Matt’s arms wrapped around you, with a heavy quilt of darkness draped over the room and nothing but the city ambience outside the window. 

“You don’t have to hide anything from me,” he whispered, just as you were beginning to drift off. “You know I’d never judge you.”

“Even if I trip over a toilet?”

He considered you. “Well, that would be a bit funny. I might laugh at you while I stitch you up.”

“Honesty ill becomes you, Murdock.” You shifted to get closer to him and winced. “Ow. This knee is an absolute traitor.”

“We’ll stay in tomorrow. You need to rest it or it might dislocate again,” Matt said, slowly running his hands through your hair. “Maybe we make brownies, invite Foggy and Karen?”

You brightened. “You’ll stay in tomorrow? No rooftop parkour?”

“No rooftop parkour. Tomorrow will be ours,” he promised, and ten minutes later you fell asleep, pressed into his warm chest and, despite your knee, at peace. 

[screamingxsouls]

Beneath Sacred Vows | John Ward x Nb Demon Oc

Chapter 3: Pancakes?

WC: 1k

Skyler explores John’s house, And does a little work.

---------------

Skyler's POV:

I stood behind John as he unlocked the front door. He went inside and held the door open for me, and I smiled. Taking in our surroundings, I observed the living room , And to my left and a hallway ahead, leading to the kitchen. A slightly foul smell lingered in the air.

"I assume I'll sleep on the couch, yes?" I asked John, looking at him.

"Yes, and the bathroom is down the hall. Don't go into the room with crosses on the door," John replied coldly, while taking off his shoes.

Glancing down, I noticed that I was only wearing socks on my feet. Considering the dirt I had walked through, needless to say, they were now disgusting.

"Do you have some dark socks I can borrow?" I asked. John looked confused at first, then his expression turned blank.

"I'll get you some. Wait on the couch, and take those dirty socks off," John said, looking slightly repulsed.

Following his instructions, I removed the socks and sat on the couch. Deciding to lay down, I realized once again that the couch was too short for me to fit entirely, so I let my calves dangle off the side. I allowed myself to relax.

"Here you go... Skyler, right?" John approached the couch with a fluffy blanket and a soft-looking pillow in one hand, and a pair of black socks in the other. He asked me awkwardly.

"Yeah! Skyler Stars, at your service," I chuckled at the fact that he wasn't sure of my name.

"Oh, thanks!" I said as he threw the blanket on the couch and handed me the pillow and socks. He looked at me awkwardly as I opened the blanket and covered myself with it. John started to walk away.

"So, demons also need to sleep?" John asked, stopping in his tracks and turning around to look at me with curiosity.

"We don't need to, but we can, and it re-energizes us much faster. We can also dream, if you were wondering," I replied to John's question.

"Huh, okay then..." John's curiosity was satisfied, and he quietly walked back to his room. Feeling bored, I focused my hearing and listened to his footsteps until they stopped. After a while, it seemed like John was getting into his sleepwear, and I could hear him praying.

That's when he lost my interest. I unfocused my hearing and enjoyed the silence. I wasn't tired enough to sleep, and I wondered if John would mind if I took a look around his house... would he?

Finding nothing of interest in the living room, I headed to the kitchen. It was there that the bad smell was coming from—the sink was practically full of dishes.

As I stood there, the smell grew more pungent. I decided to say "fuck it" and do the dishes. While washing the dishes, I couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for a sink to become that full for someone living alone.

After finishing the dishes, I opened the fridge to see if there were any worthy snacks. Unfortunately, there were none—only random ingredients and vegetables. Then, an idea struck me.

I went to the nearest open store, which was somewhat far considering it was 2 a.m. I picked up some stuff, paid, and walked back.

Entering the house, I noticed that the floor was quite dusty. I went to the basement in hopes of finding a mop or a broom, and indeed, I found a broom.

Returning upstairs, I started sweeping the whole kitchen and then the living room. I collected the dirt from both rooms and placed it near the door.

Next, I moved to the hallway that led to the bathroom and John's room. I began sweeping the hallway, gathering the remains of dirt and adding them to the pile. Lastly, I swept the bathroom and added that dirt to the pile as well. With everything cleaned up, I unlocked the door and swept the pile of dirt outside.

The house was finally clean, and I felt tired enough to sleep. I lay on the couch in the same position as before, covering myself with the blanket, and drifted away into sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I sensed that John had woken up as I could hear his footsteps approaching. John looked horrified as his smile quickly disappeared from his face upon seeing me, as if he had forgotten who his house guest was.

"What in God's name do you think you're doing?" John said, a mix of horror, anger, and disgust flashing across his face in quick succession.

"I made you pancakes," I said and chuckled, placing a plate with a beautiful stack of pancakes in front of him. I added maple syrup to the table near the plate and placed a small slice of butter on top of the pancakes. John looked speechless, his jaw dropped.

"How did you... I don't have ingredients for pancakes?!" John asked, stunned in a bad way.

"I went out to get ingredients last night," I answered, confused about why he was so concerned.

"And where did the dirty dishes go?!" he continued, still in shock.

"I washed them! They smelled bad, and I couldn't sleep," I explained, and John remained speechless.

"Oh, and I swept the floors," I added. John looked dizzy and placed his hand over his forehead.

"Dude, are you okay? You look dizzy," I said, concerned. I helped John sit down at the table in front of his plate and went to get him a glass of water.

"No, you scared the shit out of me," he blurted out.

"I did nothing," I snapped back with equal energy.

"In my defense, it's not an everyday occurrence to wake up to a demon making pancakes in my kitchen," John said, his tone in between sips of water. It stung to hear how scared he had been upon seeing me.

"Just eat your pancakes," I said, walking back to my makeshift bed—a long couch with no cushions, a pillow, and a blanket.

I lay down, covered myself, took a deep breath, and could feel a little guilt radiating from him.

[fangirlandtheories]

we need steddie

(or really any st)

fic recs

from you again

pls

Jesus, I'm sorry this took so long haha. For those who don't know, I received this ask about 4 days ago. Needless to say, the process of making a fic rec isn't a quick one. I'll leave them below the cut because it's a loooooong list.

-- The One Who Walks on the Grass       By:Ragdolly

“Hi Mom! I’m going to stay at the Wheelers tonight so don’t wait up for me! Mrs Wheeler says it’s okay.” “What? But Dusty-“ She’s cut off. “Eddie came with Robin from the Video Store with movies so we’re going to watch together! Promise I won’t stay up late okay, love you, bye!” The disconnect tone hugs the corners of the quiet room, food now stopped steaming and Steve fighting to not feel as crumpled as the napkin on the table. Set in the kind of grey area before season 4 before vecna comes in in which steve kinda feels left out.

I’m beginning with this fic for a very important reason. This fic resonated with me in ways that I haven’t felt in a long time. The way that Steve feels in this fic is the way I felt in the friend group I was in when I was in highschool. It makes my heart clench because I can feel it! It’s also very focused on the relationship of Dustin and Steve which I absolutely adore. 10000000/10, one of my favorite fics ever.

Status: Complete

-- (something happens and I’m) head over heels    by: GibbousLunation

Eddie made a strangled disbelieving noise, expression flickering. “You are not apologizing to me right now, for like, feeling a normal way about stuff. I can’t believe you.” Steve pushed a shaking hand through his hair. His heart rate no longer in his ears meant he felt he could at least think a little more clearly. “Maybe it was the heat. Doesn’t always have to be something messed up, right?” Eddie gave him a placating nod. “Sure, heat exhaustion is a helluva thing.” It had been happening a lot recently. The… forgetting. Zonking out. Whatever. He was pretty sure he was just extra exhausted, it had been a few weeks since everything but it might have just been the adrenaline or something finally wearing off. Sometimes it was like he just forgot someone was speaking, or couldn’t remember for a moment what they’d been talking about. Like blinking out of a fog maybe. It does not get better, in fact, it actually continues to get worse.

This fucking fic man. This fic nails the interactions between Steve and Eddie so well, you’d almost believe that Joe Quinn improvised them. The internal dialogue for Steve is so fucking gorgeous, I love this fic so much and you should just stop reading this review and hop to reading this fic instead.

Status: WIP

--A Helping Hand    by: Anb_3005

Steve helping all his friends through their troubles while at the same time forgetting to get himself help Or All the times Steve helps his friends and the time they pick up that Steve is definitely not okay

I’m a sucker for Steve taking care of his friends while simultaneously forgetting about his own needs, and if you are too, then this is the fic for you. This fic has everything! Breakups, Skateboards, Haircuts, even MTV’s Dan Cortez.Okay maybe not Dan Cortez, but this fic is so good he’s not even needed. 

Status: Complete

-- and i know that you don’t, but if i ask you if you love me—  

by: fakecharliebrown

Once, only a few weeks before his parents decide he’s too old to be tucked into bed at night, Steve grabs his mother by the wrist and asks, “Does Father love me?” “Of course he does,” she says immediately, smoothing the blanket where it rests over his chest. Steve blinks up at her. “Then how come he never says it?” She purses her lips. “He shouldn’t have to, sweetheart. You should just know.” (It isn’t until years down the line that Steve realizes she’d somehow turned that into being his fault.) or; Steve Harrington through the years, on loving and being loved.

So I’m a goddamn sap, so anything about Steve discovering his self worth is like a hallmark movie during the holiday season for me and I love it. Steve is such a complex character that we know so little about, so I love seeing the breakdown that so many authors create. This one in particular is amazing and I highly recommend it.

Status: Complete

--Bloodletting   by: grumpyhedgehogs

After a narrow escape from the Upside Down, it's hard to find your footing. Or: Steve Harrington deals with his terrible parents, Robin Buckley refuses to leave her best friend to fend for himself, and Eddie Munson simply will not stop lending Steve his clothes for no reason Steve can see. (Or: Steve cares too hard and too deeply to not have someone else care the same way about him. Everyone knows this except, apparently, for Steve.)

The genius of this fic, beyond great writing, is how spot on the emotion is. The insecurity isn’t too in your face, but it’s always there, lingering in Steve’s mind. His self worth is always gone, but Eddie seems to know just where to find it every time. You can feel the love in this fic, not just between the characters in the way they were written, but also between the author and their readers.

Status: WIP

--destiny has brought us oh so close together  by: deadratz

The first time Eddie finds him, Steve is crying in the school bathroom after his breakup with Nancy. They're not friends, they don't plan to become friends. Somewhere along the way they become a lot more.

This fic is a collection of moments in time between the pair, but what I love is that the slowburn is fast enough to keep you invested, but slow enough to not jump the shark. Beware though, this fic is one that contains smut so be sure to cover your eyes if you can’t handle that. Very sweet moments filled with a pleasant mixture of angst and joy.

Status: WIP

--Every Breath You Take    by: Raysisting

“I can’t do this anymore, Eds,” Steve whispered, swirling the whiskey around in his cup. “It’s getting to be too much for me. I don’t know how much more I can handle.” Approaching Steve as if he were a wounded animal, Eddie gently placed his hands on the brunette’s shoulders, rubbing soft circles into them. In front of Steve sat a letter, its contents blurred out by the tears that had come from Steve’s eyes when he first opened it. “What did this one say?” Eddie asks gently. Steve sniffles, taking a sip of the whiskey before he begins to speak, “He knows where we live.” ~~~ Or, Eddie’s a famous rockstar who has a stalker. Steve’s just trying to hang on.

This fic is still in it’s early phases but I really see the potential in it to become a very booming, popular fic as more chapters are added. A very original idea that’s is incredibly well executed so far. The buildup of fear and suspense so far has been very good but still remained subtle which is very impressive, so definitely give this one a read.

Status: WIP

--Fade Into You   by:annabeeus

Steve Harrington doesn't need help. He just needs to get through this summer without completely falling apart. Unfortunately, it seems like Eddie Munson has other ideas.

(or: the one where they fall in love with each other, bit by little bit)

Don’t be fooled by the 5 chapter length, this fic is 50K+ words of pure brilliance. The attention to detail and the characterisation is nothing short of artwork. Please read this!!!! 10/10

Status: Complete

--Four Eyes   by:Baff

Eddie thinks Steve hates him. He keeps looking at him suspiciously.

 Steve wears glasses, and doesn't want Eddie to know. For normal, not emotionally charged reasons.

God I’m in love with this fic. It’s simple and sweet and sometimes that is exactly what you need. It’s a 2 chapter quick read that you won’t regret, plus the mental image of Steve in those glasses is just icing on a cake to be honest.

Status: Complete

--Freak Trumps King    by: apatheticBlues

Okay, so not only is Steve Harrington apparently not a douche, but he’s also kind of a mess? Now that Eddie is properly looking, he notices the slight bags under Steve’s eyes and how his face is drawn, as if he hasn’t been getting enough sleep. That doesn’t make sense– Eddie would think that Steve is living a cushy life, with his mansion and parents that probably pamper him like a goddamned baby. This Steve doesn’t look pampered at all; instead, Eddie can see a familiar haunted look in his eyes that screams he’s just like you. ••• ••• ••• If you looked up the definition of "fucked-up" in the dictionary, Steve Harrington's face would be plastered right next to it. After living through two Upside-Down debacles now, it makes sense. Eddie Munson doesn't know about that, but he does notice how similar he and the former King of Hawkins High really are.

There’s a growing trend of Scoops Ahoy!Steve meeting Eddie and I’m so fucking here for it!!! I love imagining that Eddie lasted for more than a season so picturing him being involved with the Scoops Troop is one of my new favorite fantasies. I also love Eddie seeing Steve and being like ‘This isn’t the guy I remember and holy shit he looks hot and unhealthy.’ so if you also like that, this is the one for you. 10/10

Status: WIP

--Ghosts   by:WeirdAn

Six years after Steve Harrington left Hawkins he has no idea who he is or what he wants to do with his life. Then he gets an invitation to Nancy and Jonathan's wedding. After that it seems that he cannot escape Hawkins, because his past apparently comes to haunt him, next thing he knows, he runs into Eddie Munson of all people.

Listen up kiddos, this is a smutty one so please be mature enough to read it. It’s artfully done with a sense of longing and the beautiful bitter sweetness that comes with growing up. It’s that humbling experience of returning to a place you once spent all your time, but you’re returning as a different person now. That’s the power of this fucking fic. It makes you feel the anxious hope of a new crush, afraid of the possibilities that arise from that but equally thrilled. This is an excellent piece of writing that deserves more recognition. 10/10

Status: WIP

--guilty as charged (but damn, it ain’t right)   by: fais_do_do

This really was not how they had wanted to announce their relationship - beaten, bloodied and fresh from a jail cell. Or, Steve and Eddie deal with the aftermath of one night in late September and no one lets them do it alone.

The 80s were a time of technological and cultural revolution, a time in which the odd one out stopped trying to fit in with the Joneses, but that didn’t make it an easy time. This fic highlights the real life struggles that many queer people faced in real towns during the 80s. I love seeing Hopper in a protective stance, but especially with the teens because I think it’s been a bit brushed over that they are still children. Imagine making the decisions they make in the show, but you’re 17. 17 year old me was an idiot, 23 year old me is an idiot. This is a gorgeous work in progress showing two young men who have no idea how to be loved by adults (except Wayne ofc) finally getting the parental care they need. I’m in love with this piece and I can’t wait to read more. 100000/10

Status: WIP

--Heart Of Glass   by: moonscarab “So, like.. sorry if this is overstepping or anything but what’s your relationship like with your family? I’ve just never heard you talk about them. I assumed you had a bad relationship with them. Family reunions out the window and all that.” Sometimes Eddie Munson could read Steve Harrington like a book. Dog ear the pages to save them for later, creasing the words a little bit but no worries. He could easily smooth the paper back out. - Or Steve invites Eddie to his family’s Christmas party

The only thing I have to say is ‘WOW.’ That’s a lie, I have a lot more to say. I genuinely thought I knew the general direction of this fic and then the most recent chapter, chapter 6 came out, and my jaw dropped. It's so good and I love the kind of spunky energy that Steve has. His parents are villainous without being out of character, a very impressive feat, and Eddie keeps his charm while remaining protective ad loving. The OCs fit the plot perfectly nd the pace is perfection. 11000000/10

Status: WIP

--Hells Bells     by: multi_fandom_help_me

Steve Harrington has begun to hear the clocks ticking, and he knows Vecna is coming for him next. But he can't worry the kids when they have a plan. Will the group stop Vecna before he gets Steve, or will Steve have to face his worst fears at the hand of this monster? OR Eddie is the only one who notices Steve is acting weird, and while they get ~close~ he learns all about one Steve Harrington.

This is the Steve Gets Vecna’d fic that everyone has to read. It’s non negotiable. The attention to detail, the emotion, the codependency. This is the fucking fic. This is the one. It’s so good. Just read it, okay, don’t make me find you. I don’t wanna spoil anything so I’ll stop now, but oh my fucking God.

Status: Complete

--home is wherever I'm with you by: genesisofrhythm

After Steve learns Max has been living alone since her mother went AWOL, he takes her in. Now he has to balance semi-adopting a child, with his budding feelings for Eddie and figure out what the hell to do with his life in the process.

Max and Steve as siblings Supremacy. This fic has a really great dynamic between all the characters. It’s sad but sweet and it brings you hope. It really captures the feelings of conflict, do you forgive but never forget? How can you trust again? The love shines through most of all, making it one of the kindest fics I’ve read. 10/10

Status: Complete

--I think my kink is when you tell me that you think I'm pretty

by: Running_Mouth12

But Steve Harrington was never pretty. At least, he was never called that in a way that curled his stomach the way that Eddie Munson called him pretty. It hurt his guts in a way that left him spinning, like after riding a rollercoaster and getting up too fast after.

If you read my shit, you know the first tag, every single time, is Insecure Steve Harrington. That boy is dripping with insecurity and I love it because it’s fun to write about. This fic nails that and then some.ALSO SPANISH SPEAKING EDDIE AND FRENCH SPEAKING STEVE. I am absolutely living.  It’s so so good, please do yourself a favor and read it.

Status: WIP

--I’ll Try Harder Next Time   by: Tinyginger

Eddie is alive, he is. He's just in a coma, and trying to wake up. Steve is hanging on by a thread and spreading himself thin. The kids are struggling. But they all have each other

Dyslexic Steve is a given for me. No matter if it’s tagged or not, Steve, in my mind, is dyslexic in every fic and episode I’ve seen. I love this so much. This really holds onto the fear of letting himself relax for just a moment, and that is something I crave to read more of. If he lets himself take too deep of a breath, everyone will hear the wheeze kinda thing. He’s not doing well, he knows it, but he won’t do anything about it. It’s stubborn and gorgeously well written. 10/10

Status: WIP

--There's Something Below Rock Bottom  by:mackwrites

Eddie Munson had knew a few things. He knew that there were certain rules to be followed, others to ignore. He knew (well, learned recently) that there was an alternate dimension under his hometown that was responsible for a lot of bad shit. He knew that a Critical Hit was oftentimes fatal. And that blow Harrington just took... Well. Eddie didn't like the odds. Or, those bats did a number on Steve, and no one is talking about it. Also, Eddie survives because I said so.

Ooh hoo hoo my H/C lovers this one is for you. It’s delicious in it’s fear, the pacing, the suspense, the whump. *chefs kiss* Seeing Steve try and fail at convincing everyone that he’s okay? Priceless. The gang worriedly making sure he’s getting taken care of in the same way he takes care of them? Worth a million. Hotel? Trivago. Just read it already, you know you wanna.

Status: WIP

--things to come   by: birthdaycandles

“Steve?” Eddie interrupts again. Steve casts a glance in his direction, but Eddie is looking past him at the television with hazy eyes. “Yeah, I’m here.” Steve jostles his foot gently and gestures for the doctor to continue talking about fluid levels. By fluid, he’s pretty sure she just means blood. The blood that Eddie was coughing up, he figures. It had to go somewhere, so they must’ve drained it the same way they drained all the leaking air from Max’s lung. Maybe. He hopes Eddie’s uncle gets this stuff better than he does. “Don’t you live in Loch Nora?” Eddie asks just as the doctor is opening her mouth to speak again. Steve builds up to a sigh, unsure how exactly to tell Eddie to shut up when it’s not even his fault that he can’t, before he realizes Eddie’s gaze is still glued to the TV.

A goddamn masterpiece, that’s what this fic is.Steve running himself ragged without even knowing it, the guilt, the slowburn. It’s magical and you need to read it right this second.

Status: Complete

--I’m grateful for everything you put me through, it’s the only reason that I’m any good to talk to

by: Muntist

Steve learns a little bit about being loved.

A simple explanation, a complex fic. The little things that make you feel loved, those are the moments that this fic is made up of, moments that Steve didn’t have. It’s heartbreaking watching him see how other people are loved, how his parents never gave him that, as he realizes that they don’t even like him, let alone love him. It’s very emotional so 10000000/10

Status: WIP

--My Four-Leaf Clover by: isbuckybarnesokay

Steve wakes up in the hospital post-Vecna takedown, and he loves everyone. In the year that follows, he might even come to realise that they love him, too.

This is a sloooooow burn filled with longing and heartbreak, miscommunications and making up. Once you’re in, you’re in for the long haul as it really hooks you within seconds. You’ll feel a bit like Robin, screaming at the two for not seeing the other’s feelings, by the end and it’s such a delightful feeling. You’ll love it, trust me on that.

Status: WIP

These last few are actually series, so there will multiple fics.

--Under The Weather   By: wayfarers0

a cold front: in which Eddie is sick as a dog and Steve offers a place for him to stay.

the cold shoulder: in which Steve catches feelings (and Eddie's cold)

These are such sweet works, highly recommended to all, but especially to my fellow sickfic lovers. You get a healthy dose of h/c affecting both Eddie and Steve, so whatever floats your boat, this fic has it.

Status: Complete

--Awareness   by: honeycornbread

A series of fics about the important people in Steve’s life taking care of him as he comes to grips with having seizures.

One of my personal favorites. If you read my work, Let It Out and Let It In was inspired by these works by this amazing author. I love the vulnerability that they bring to Steve while still keeping him in character. As a huge lover of the belief that Steve would have seizures in the aftermath of his brain trauma, this fic hits the spot.

Status: Complete

-- How Do You Call Your Loverboy? by: fangirlandtheories

A collection of standalone fics based on requests.

This one is a completely shameless self plug. I worked very hard on these fics, so I hope you guys enjoy!

Status: WIP

That is all I had bookmarked for this request haha! I know it's a lot, but to be fair, there are so many talented people writing for this fandom and I want to include as many as I can. Thanks so much for the lovely ask!!!!!

[pokeexehasstoppedworking]

A Champion Time For The Heart Ch22 To Hammerlocke Again

Whelp. After all the craziness that was yesterday..You shouldn't have been surprised when you ended up sleeping in. After you had gotten back to your hotel room last night after the rain, you had yourself a quick hot shower, then quickly changed back and went to bed with the oncoming sounds of the storm still ongoing outside when you drifted off. Needless to say you slept like a log in deep slumber through the rest of the night and well into the morning. At one point you did half wake up and thought you heard music, but you almost instantly fell right back asleep still more tuckered out than a snorlax. By the time you did come too it was because Silver couldn't stand waiting around longer for food and had continuously shouted at you and patted your face until you were forced to get up to him frowning and chirping at you more and more.

Your tired f/c eyes blinked tiredly at him and you yawned before stretching the dusty blankets of the hotel falling off your body. "Ok Ok. I'm up."

The very first thing you did was trudge yourself back to the shower to wake yourself up and wash all the dust from the bed off of your body. The second thing was getting dressed and ready, making sure all of your belongings including your were packed away, and you pulled out some of your food rations for yourself. Handing off some of the strange jerky you had obtained from before to Silver as he literally wouldn't let go of your leg as he wrapped himself around it like a little kid as he did and shout at you until you did. Honestly, he acted more like a sobble than he did what a drizzlie was supposed to act like. When you looked out of the window you had noticed that it was still raining, not as much or hard as it was yesterday or last night, but it was still thundering with the stormy clouds and rain still hit the roof with apparently no end in sight. With a sigh you quickly made the bed(the hotel might've been abandoned but it would've still been rude of you to just leave a mess), you grabbed your bag flinging it over your left shoulder, and took off with Silver at your heels. As soon as you stepped out into the hallway you were greeted with a sight you weren't expecting. All three teens just standing there chatting away in the hallway but they looked up hearing your door open.

Gloria was the first to respond when she smiled and waved. "Y/n! Good mornin'! Ye finally woke up huh?"

You sighed walking towards the trio and nodding. "Yep. Silver here decided he wanted breakfast now."

"Silver?"

You gestured to the pokemon at your heels. "Thought it would've been better to give him a name. Silver Veil reminds me of the rain and he's a water type so it kinda stuck." You looked to Hop. "I don't suppose you're ready to battle Piers huh?"

"Aw cute name!!"

Hop looked nervous for a moment reaching up to rub his head. "Yeah about that. Sorry, Mate. But we already did battle Piers and won may I add."

.......You blinked at him. "HUH?!"

"We battled him earlier this morning," he repeated to your blank face. "We tried to wake ya, but you were asleep deader than a rock! Victor thought it'd be better to let you sleep and heal up from yesterday...Sorry about that."

"You already battled him?" He nodded. "Man...I hoped he put on a good show."

He then beamed making you smile in return. "YEAH! There was this cool trick he used using his skuntank's more stinkier attacks to keep Wooloo from going near him because it smelt so bad! And he was blasting this really loud music and singing and-"

"I think she gets it, Mate."

You chuckled before nodding towards the stairway down towards the exit. "What do you say then? Back to Hammerlocke again?"

They all agreed and with Silver tailing you all, you all went down the stairs into the abandoned lobby and like the night before when you opened the door rain is what greeted all four of you. Although you were right in that it wasn't as bad as last night. Sighing, you pulled the hood of your jacket over your head and headed on out into the world. Being daylight out now it was a lot clearer to see the streets wet from the water as you all headed out and into the rain. Most of you weren't really all that prepared from the rain after all. You clutched your backpack to yourself as you lead the charge with Silver at your heels(guess being a Water-Type meant he wasn't affected by the rain at all) Hop and Gloria shared shelter with Hop holding his jacket over the both of them to the best of his ability, and Victor just used his giant pack as a makeshift umbrella. As you all briskly walked down the streets, your group passed the gym. Glancing briefly over at it, you didn't see Piers at all on stage or in the Gym's area. Perhaps he went home? The four of you walked and walked down the streets and took twists and turns past the abandoned ice cream shop and down the streets you remembered back towards the exit. And not once did you all see Team Yell or Piers...Or that blasted wall. Guess Piers kept his word and had them fix everything you all were almost to the exit from the city of Spikemuth when you spotted a particular pink pokemon center and decided to take a dive through it's doors and you were surprised when it opened and what the inside contained. Just like the rest of Spikemuth the place looked pretty much abandoned except the place where Nurse Joy would usually stand, which was occupied by a Team Yell grunt which must've been this town's Nurse Joy. It didn't take much to convince both the guys to allow Nurse Joy to check over their pokemon as you thought it'd be better to do it now then to make them wait days and days before getting to Hammerlocke. It didn't take long at all, and soon you all left with some abandoned umbrellas Gloria had noticed someone had left to collect dust in a pot by the doorway. Hmm. Maybe you all should've bought umbrellas along with all your other supplies when you bought them? No matter now. You were already dreading the trip back to Hammerlocke for obvious reasons so you had better suck it up early. The small group left the town (which to Piers's credit was opened back up) and stopped in front of Spikemuth for Victor to quickly recheck his regional maps.

He pointed forward after a moment, "We need to go back straight ahead back onto Route Nine and then back onto Route Eight leading back to either Hammerlocke or Circhester, and then just take the road back to Hammerlocke.''

"Sounds like a plan. Let's get walking before the weather gets worse."

You all walked until it was too dark and still raining. You certainly had a hard time pitching the tents with Gloria and Hop trying to balance holding umbrella's over you and Victor as you all put up the tents. Getting practically soaked in the process...and even more soaked when Silver all soaked still wearing that sweater hoodie you got him, decided it'd be a good idea to flop himself inside the tent all wet from the rain. Safe to say you both had a harder time sleeping that night then the boys. Same thing the next morning trying to gather your things and put the tent away as it still rained, tho not as bad as before. The rain persisted for the next three and a half days as you all traveled. Having trouble setting up tents and staying dry during it all, silver certainly wasn't making it any easier on the lot of you. Thankfully by the middle of the fourth day the rain hand leaked the last of it's water and the clouds began rolling away. But you made sure to keep your umbrella put away and handy just in case. You'd definitely want to keep that in case you'd need it again. Continuing to walk through the forested areas you had come to known since before getting to Spikemuth, you were fairly certain that you were nearing the end of said forest as the days continued to pass by and you were pretty sure that any day now you all would come out the other end and see the Route Nine Tunnel, and the halfway point back to Hammerlocke ......Sigh. And Raihan. But you'll deal with him once you get there.....If the ground under all yours feet hadn't shaken like an earthquake. It all happened so suddenly. One moment you four were almost out of the woods, the next moment BOOM!! The ground shook under your feet and you all wobbled around, but it wasn't very strong. Only almost making you lose your balance. Overhead a couple bird like pokemon flew away in a real big hurry with caws of worry, Victor flung his arms about trying to stay balanced, and Hop instinctively grabbed Gloria in a protective hold gold eyes blow wide at his surroundings. But you somehow managed to remain on your feet, only Silver falling over onto his bum in the process. At the end in left the lot of you on edge and frantically looking around the forest you all were in.

"WHAT THE BLOODY RAPIDASH CRAP WAS THAT!?," Gloria cried out still clutching onto Hop wide eyed.

"I have absolutely no idea!," you answered back blinking and looking around with an uneasy feeling. "...But whatever it was it seems to be gone now." You straightened back up now giving a careful look around but didn't see anything out of the ordinary within the forested area. "...I say we keep going and get out this neck of the woods before it happens again."

"I second that!," Victor piped up.

The others quickly agreed too and without hesitation you all sped walked away from the area. Speculating what it was that happened back there. Earthquake not very likely. There would've been much more damage and panic from pokemon. Hop suggested perhaps it was a couple wild pokemon fighting or maybe someone having a battle nearby and that seemed more likely in your mind. After all how many times have you watched the Pokemon anime and the main characters just ran into someone while in the woods?? ...You lost count but def a lot of times. And you all couldn't have been the only people who ever traveled along here or caught pokemon in the wild. ...And you all DID run into someone. You all had traveled about one or two hours away from where you had first felt the earthquake or whatever it was, stopping to have a quick break and eating some food from your food rations before continuing, and then you ran into someone who was walking rather quickly in the opposite direction heading towards you all. The man seemed a bit spooked as he walked, but did catch notice of you all when Gloria gave a friendly passing wave.

"Mornin' to yas! Nice day ain't it?"

The man stopped as you approached before quickly shaking his head and pointing behind him. You were almost out of the forest at this point you reckoned. "H-Hey. N-No not really! There's some trouble on Route Nine! It's so b-bad even the Champion's come to sort it out!"

"Lee?", Hop perked up but then again you figured he'd pop up at any mention of his famous brother.

"Trouble?," you asked eyes widening at the man who nodded. Did it have something to do with the shaking earlier? "What kind of trouble?"

"T-T-There's a giant pokemon on a r-r-rampage down by the highway! .....Oh, hey! You gave Piers a good thrashing didn't you?," he asked pointing to Hop and Gloria seeming to recognize them. Huh. Did he see their battles against other gym leaders and figured you came from Spikemuth? "You should head over there to help! C'mon then!" Wait what?! "I'll show you the way?" He turned and pointed towards the place you all were heading anyways. "U-U-Up there b-by the Tunnel!! ...Heed my warning though! If you're s-s-smart you'll get out of here as fast as you can like I'm doing!"

"Wait what are- HEY!!" You nearly got knocked into Victor, he flinched, by the man who then in a hurry pushed past you and sped up his pace back towards the way you had just came from. You shooting a dirty look after his retreating form. "HEY!! SAY EXCUSE ME NEXT TIME BUDDY!!"

"LEE'S HERE!!"

Uh oh- Your head snapped to Hop and an arm instantly flung out to stop him but you barely missed him fingertips inches away from his jacket as he, as you expected, wide eyed and smile on his face took off up the road through the woods. "HOP COME BACK!!"

"WAIT FOR ME, MATE!!"

"GLORIA!!" It was the same song and dance between Victor and his twin as she slipped past his grab at her and too both of your horrors ran off right after her best friend. Both your faces paled and a rock sank in your stomach. OH NO!! There was a giant pokemon rampaging up ahead that was so bad even LEON had to be called out to stop it and those two were heading right towards it!! Victor growled holding his hands up like claws before sighing and looking towards you. "C'mon! We gotta stop those ninnies 'fore they dig 'emselves an early grave!!"

Well scottish accent intensified. But all jokes aside you totally agreed! Those two were going to get themselves turned into pancakes!! Without hesitation both of you RAN to catch up to the others. Up through the forested pathway the both of you ran, around one corner, straight ahead for a little while, and then around another corner and straight again with the tree line breaking before you to open grasslands- BOOM!! In a flash of red and another shaking you tripped. Just like when Milo's wooloo bowled you over, you fell face first onto the shaking ground and there you laid as Victor kept wobble-running not noticing you had fallen over. At least you didn't have to worry about further harming your shoulder. A VERY LOUD cry of some kind of animal roared out in the sky, dirt stuck under your nails as fingers curled into the ground, and you felt light as the shaking rattled the poor body further. It was like back in your dream when you were falling and heard the roar of Leon's charizard. But different...You might've not gotten up even as your body instinctively froze at the flashback of heights, if Silver had shouted as LOUDLY as his tiny lungs could into your ear. Disoriented you screamed in fright, throwing yourself away from the flashing images of the corvinight coming to take revenge...But blinked only seeing the greyish skin of Silver and then a flash of pink as he chirped loudly at you and slapped your face. A groan escaped you and you pushed yourself up and out of his reach of slapping. Head still spinning and everything still wobbling, you blinked towards the horizon. And far far in the distance if you squinted, you could see the Tunnel (even though it was more like a bridge-) and faintly the figure of Victor still running ahead.....!? And you scrambled after him. So even after you broke the tree line you ran....and ran....and ran. Your heart began to get to the point of pounding in your ears, and your lungs were starting to REALLY ache and burn but you didn't stop in a desperate attempt to catch up to the three teenagers who ran off in front of you. Head spinning and body aching, you were rapidly approaching the tunnel and was met with both an alarming and relieving sight that both alarmed and made you relax. Silver right behind you, you quickly started to come down from the adrenaline rush from the vast amount of distance and saw that there was a couple officers putting up a road block in front of the tunnel and not letting anyone through. Anyone being Victor, his sister, and Hop. That made you all relieved as you were sure they wouldn't be allowed near any danger, what made you ALARMED though was a car that looked absolutely RUINED from a crash with ten elephants was knocked off from the highway above the tunnel and was stationed crashed halfway down the hill!! What the world happened?! Was there a car crash!? It didn't look like there was any signs of anyone that was seriously hurt thank goodness. But that didn't answer your question as you slowed down to a walk approaching breathing heavily as your body felt as stable as a bowl of jello that got thrown off a skyscraper. Victor was shaking Hop by his jacket, scowling, and very angry and you could only catch the last sentence when you finally made it over to them.

"WHAT. WERE. YE. BLOODY. THINKIN'!?," He yelled at Hop scottish accent becoming more thick with each word he threw out at them. "Are ye tryin' ta give me a heart attack or somethin'!? Or do ya got a death wish!?"

"i'M SoRRy!!," Hop garbled out dizzy somewhere between the shaking. Between all the shaking you managed to slowly walk over and bluntly push your way between them making Victor let go of Hop as the dizzy purple haired boy stumbled back into the arms of Gloria who looked equally guilty as you took the chance to lean forward in an attempt to catch your breath. Breathing heavily and coughing as you attempted to get your heart rate to still. Behind you some where Silver flopped face first onto the ground out of exhaustion.

"What *gaaaasp* ....happ-p-p-pened!? *cough cough*", you demanded between gasps of air not even looking up.

"Y/n! This is mad....You know what I mean?," Hop asked back.

"What..... was;....*cough cough!!* t-t-t-that*gggaaaaasssssppp* loud noise?"

"That's what I'd like to know. That noise..It was like some massive explosion! There was this huge surge of red light and then wild pokemon just started dynamaxing around me brazon as you like!"

"One pokemon," Gloria corrected holding up a finger, "One pokemon dynamaxed. And it's on the other side of the tunnel!" She then gestured to the blocked off entrance currently occupied by at least seven officers who were laser focused on your group so close to the entrance. "They're not letting anyone through due to safety or somethin'."

"And it's a good thing they didn't!", Victor scolded, "You two are nuts you are!!"

You groaned. Tuning out the rest of their convo in order to focus on your breathing and trying to get the burning sensation out of your lungs as you stood there. Oh what you wouldn't give for a chair at this moment in time to sit down and rest your sore body for just a little while longer. You didn't notice the giant flying form of a charizard flying through the sky over head and coming down towards all of you...But Hop sure did. And Gloria and Victor as they looked up along with the police officers as whoever it was came down fast and if it wasn't for the tuning out you were doing you would have heard the landing. You only really noticed anything when Hop suddenly barreled (again-) away from the group making you yelp and blink to where he suddenly ran off too. And quickly understood why.

"LEON!!," He cried out with a giant smile on his face waving his arms, unfortunately he was stopped by the officer and portable gate barricade. Leaving him to wave an arm, call out to his brother, and lean left and right to try and get a view of his famous older brother. "OVER HERE!!"

The Champion who was just starting to walk towards the tunnel paused hearing his name being called and turned his golden eyes around. By now the other two had already joined Hop and slowly you brought up the rear groaning and stretching out your back. Of course seeing your little group, Leon instantly smiled and his direction changed from towards the barn towards you all.

"Hey everyone!," he greeted picking up his pace and stopping on the other side of the portable fencing in front of all of you. "Wow! Look at all of you! Haven't seen you all for a while. What's the lot of you doing all the way out here?"

"We're headin' ta Hammerlocke!" "We're here to help you take down that pokemon!" Hop and Gloria answered at the same time.

Leon blinked for a moment before smiling again and reaching over to delivery a small pat to Hop's head. "Ah! I see news always spreads faster than Charizard's wings. Thanks for coming but I've got a handle on this. Whatever's making that noise I'll see to it!" They both frowned at the gentle shot down for their help Leon gave them before he returned his hand to his hips. "But seeing as you're here on Route Nine on you're way to Hammerlocke, that can only mean one thing." He winked and pointed. "You all just finished defeating Piers, right?"

"Yep!," Gloria confirmed proudly crossing her arms, "No offense but we got this in the bag, Lee! And we can totally still help ya out too!" Hop eagerly nodded in agreement making Lee chuckle again.

"I'm sure you could, but now isn't the right time for that." He pointed a finger up. "I already told you, didn't I? Keep your eye on the goal. And for you, that's winning the Gym Challenge! Unless you have still have any other gym leaders to defeat, the only gym badge left is the one you'll get from the dragon gym's leader, Raihan. Right? Raihan is the only trainer out there I consider a real rival. He's that good you know! So you both might have a hard time beating him."

"Mr. Champion!" Leon hummed and looked behind him to where a nervous looking policewoman was looking between him and the tunnel. "S-S-Shouldn't we t-take care of the rampaging pokemon first? I'm not sure how long our distraction is keeping it docile."

....He blinked and reached a hand up to rub his neck. "Ah. And there I go again. Sorry, but I suppose this is no time for me to be stopping for a chat. There's a bit of trouble here with my name on it! But don't you worry about a thing!" He sent a smile and thumbs up to the surrounding police force. "The unbeatable Champion is here to look after things and keep you all safe!" He turned back to your group and in a slightly more serious tone spoke to them. "Alright you three. It was really nice seeing you again, but unfortunately I have to go take care of some serious business here." He pointed back up the way you came towards the forest. "Now I know I'm bad with directions but there's another pathway through there that goes around the long way back to Route Eight. I want all of you to go back and use that pathway instead immediately. Just because you all fought dynamaxed pokemon before doesn't make this any less dangerous."

"But-", Hop started but was stopped when his brother grabbed his shoulder. His face dropped when Leon shook his head.

"Sorry, Hoppy. But a big responsibility of the Champion is making sure those around him are safe, and I know Ma would want you to be safe too. So please. Trust your big bro on this one, ok?" He smiled widely. "I'm gonna be heading to Hammerlocke too anyways! So if you all hurry we can meet up there. In fact let's make a game out of it!" He pointed to your small group. "If you three can beat me to Hammerlocke I'll buy everyone a free full meal! Ok?"

"I'm sold!," you answered hearing the prospect of free food.

"I-..." Hop gave one last look at his big brother before sighing and giving a nod. A determined look once again taking over his face. "You can count on me Lee!"

He nodded and went to say something else but before either of you had the chance to say anything else it happened again!! A giant BOOM noise and a roar that sounded like a monster came from directly behind you all. The three teens in front of you all grabbed onto the portable fence and Leon instinctively leaned himself over the smaller kids protectively turning almost horrified behind him as you tried not to fall again. Soon after the trembling stopped ...and everyone slowly looked back up with shocked or concerned faces.

"Are you alright?," Leon asked turning back to his brother and friends who nodded. He breathed a sigh of relief before nodding and leaning back up. "That's good. I want all of you to leave now and go as fast as you can to Hammerlocke. I'll meet you there ok!" Without giving any of you any time to answer he turned back around to the tunnel smirk on his face. "That came from the tunnel wouldn't you say? Seems I'm about to have a champion time!!"

And he left. Or more like ran away as he turned and ran off past you and the officers and into the tunnel entrance. You took that as your cue to gently tug on Hop's shirt and as quickly (but gently) as you you could quickly guide them around and shooed them around and too even your disgruntle back up the pathway which had come judging by the roars that echoed from behind you all, Leon must've confronted the beast. With new worry and adrenaline in your system, you snatched Silver off the group with a giant chirp and pushed them to walk faster and faster as the ground shook under your feet again. Looking over your shoulder every so often and thinking you caught a glimpse of towering pokemon but you weren't sure. You were too busy pushing them all back to the forest and urging Victor to check his regional maps for the other pathway, which thankfully he listened to you and whipped out his phone. Although clearly by the faces of the children they were distressed and worried. You were too but Leon was THE Champion of Galar. He wouldn't be defeated that easily by a random wild pokemon. By the time you had reached the forest again, aching bodies be darned, the group had shaken quite a few times and the roaring sounds of the battling pokemon could reach your ears completely. But you didn't let that distract you in your mission of pushing these guys to the other path.....Which granted DID take a bit of time to find, since two giant bushes had grown over the front of the entrance. No wonder no one noticed it at first. It looked so old and overgrown. Never the less another shaking urged you all to flee down the pathway. And from there you traveled more and more. The forest went on and on for a good while until the path lead out of the woods and into a large open area of grasslands and the occasional house again. Guess this really was the long way around. The four(five of you counting Silver too) traveled all day along Route Nine's other path until the sun had set and you all were forced to make camp and rest for the night, before waking up the next morning and following the road again. The trip was like any other you all have taken before. Taking many days and passing the occasional small town, houses, or other passersbys. Only this time it took a bit longer until you all eventually rounded back onto the main road. Even when you all stopped at a small town to restock supplies, stay at the local inn, and even did a few odd 'poke jobs' to earn a bit of pocket money. A day or two's journey later your group ran into a fork in the road and stopped as Victor whipped out his phone to check his regional maps.

"This is where Route Eight connects to Route Nine," he explained looking at his phone's screen smiling, "So we should just keep walking straight forward onto Route Eight and by that we should reach Hammerlocke in no time."

So back on Route Eight you all made for Hammerlocke ...and it's Gym leader which you really weren't looking forward to seeing again at all.

"Hey! Take a look at the news!" He held his phone out to all of you and you looked. There was a picture of Leon there arms crossed next to a GIANT pokemon that looked like one of the evolved forms of Meowth you thought. It looked like a reporter took a picture of it at some point with some professional journalism colom under the picture with a caption. "See! There's Lee! He really is the greatest, right?" He took his phone back beaming at the picture with wonder. "Lee and his charizard took down that dynamax pokemon in the blink of an eye! I knew Lee was strong but this? Really makes you appreciate how great he is eh?" He smiled widely a new excitement in his step. "Let's go meet up with him everyone! He should be at Hammerlocke stadium!"

"And that free food bet!" Your mind disregarded any disgruntled thoughts of Piers's smooth voice laughing or even Raihan coming to mind as your stomach grumbled at the thought of any good food.

"Well what are we waiting for?," Gloria asked pointing forward, "Let's get to Hammerlocke!!"

For days and days you all traveled. Discussing Raihan and their battle strategies for him. Turns out unlike other leaders Raihan's gym would only conclude in two battles. One would be a tag team battle with two pokemon and the last a dynamax one against his dragon type. ...While battling inside a sandstorm....Great. You REALLY weren't looking forward to this. As days past and your food rations getting lower and lower, you all FINALLY came across Hammerlocke finally. The castle town reared it's head up at you and the pathway lead up to a draw bridge being the entrance. Picking up your speed, you four all made down the path all the way to Hammerlocke. You already taste what curry Leon would be treating you too if he wasn't already there, which you doubted he would be. He was terrible with directions after all. Like any of the other times you came back to Hammerlocke there was a man who worked for the league stationed there and the three had to show him their gym badges in order for them to get inside. Guess that rule was still applied here, and inside you four went. It looked exactly as you all left it since the last time you left here weeks ago to travel to Spikemuth....But there was a clear difference this time. You were on edge. Eyes narrowed and looking this way and that for that fanged gym leader. If you two were gonna meet again you definitely weren't going to be caught off guard. Yep! You were NOT going to be surprised by anything- Hop gasped suddenly and you yelped. Jumping back and bringing your arms up to defend yourself from any flirts!

"Over here!" He cried pointing in front of all you and a little ways away right in front of the entrance to Mr. Rose's power plant was Leon. Hey! And Sonia too! You hadn't seen her since Circhester. "Look! There's Lee! C'mon!" And the three ran...As you blinked. Before sighing and letting your arms slump back to your sides. Get it together Y/n. You had to keep your mind about you. You trudged slowly behind as the others ran towards Leon and Sonia. "LEON!"

The Champion paused mouth open in mid conversation with Sonia....before looking behind him and like a switch going off in his mind, he instantly smiled, turned around, and opened his arms out. Unfortunately he didn't take into account the force of three about fourteen years of age kids leaping into said Champion's arms. Hop got there first of course, Leon letting a loud 'OOF!' at his contact but smiling happily, then the twins...And you watched as Leon went down to the ground under the weighed down hug of them all in one giant laughing mess. Sonia blinked in surprise but then chuckled at the sight. As did you shaking your head and slowly walking up to them. By the time you got there, Leon had sat up with his hat somehow ending up on Hop's head as he laughed at them all.

"Well if it isn't the troublesome trio," Sonia greeted and then smiling in your direction as you walked up to her, "And Y/n! It's been so long since I last saw all of you! How were things in Spikemuth?"

You waved. "Hey Sonia!" You greeted. "Been well. And it looks like you've been doing pretty well too. Have you put together any clues with the tapestries?"

She nodded as Leon stood up. "I think so. It's only a matter of time until I figure out why the tapestries were separated in the first place."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out!," Leon complimented. In the time you two were talking, the others had gotten up and placed the hat back on his head. "It's like fighting a pokemon. It takes a few tries but in the end you'll end up catching it!"

"Speaking of which you made the news pretty recently," you commented hands on your hips.

He chuckled back at you and smiled. "Well I couldn't have it causing anymore damage to anyone else. Luckily no one was hurt but it could've gotten wild if I hadn't taken it down."

"I'd expect nothing less from you and your charizard, Leon," Sonia commented, "You took down that dynamax pokemon in no time."

"Well I am the unbeatable champion after all. But what's going on here?"

Sonia hummed and brought a hand to her chin, a thoughtful look on her face. "An overflowing red light...Pokemon dynamaxing without a power spot?"

''Yeah. But why?," Hop asked. Yeah. You'd like to know too. That was a weird experience.

Sonia shook her head. "I'm not sure. What's going on? That red light could suddenly appear again at any time and we'd have no way of knowing." That wasn't a good thing. If it happened again other people might be hurt. You shivered at the thought of the crashed car you remembered seeing at the Tunnel. If that meowth thing did that what if a pokemon dynamaxed in a city?!

"But being able to predict such things is part of a scientist's work. Didn't you forget, Dear?" The six of you looked over at the new comers voice and you had jumped at the prospect of Raihan..but relaxed when you saw WHO it was. Definitely not Raihan. Too old and not even a boy....But what were the odds of Sonia's Grandmother coming here?! YES. Ms. Magnolia was here. Her can making a tapping sound as she walked up to your group.

"GRAN!?" Sonia gaped mouth open in shock. "What are you doing here?" She asked as if hearing your thoughts.

"The Chairman called for me," she explained carefully. The Chairman? "He wanted to know all about the red light's relationship to the dynamax phenomenon. But I wasn't expecting you running into you all while arriving."

"Did the Chairman know anything?," Leon asked and....and you looked at him. An unexplained familiar feeling falling over you and a bad feeling sitting into your gut. ...Huh?

Ms. Magnolia shook her head. "Nothing worth my time. The Chairman's all wrapped up in fretting over the future our energy apparently."

"Is it really that big of a problem?," you asked and everyone turned to you as you rose a brow, "I mean..Everywhere we've gone there doesn't seem to really be any really bad power cuts or anything."

Leon sighed and reached a hand up to rub his neck. "I'm afraid so. It may not really look like it to you especially since you're from a whole nother region, Y/n. But.....You saw Spikemuth right?" You...Nodded. And Leon frowned further. "The entire town was almost completely shut down due to the power problem. And nearly a quarter of Wyndon City now too. The Chairman's trying to combat it by installing a lot of green energy supplements. Solar panels. Wind turbines. Things like that...But it just seems most of the energy they've been zapping out's been going missing too." He shrugged. "It's a mystery we're trying to figure out. We think someone might've been stealing the power but we haven't detected any outside tampering or signs of electric type pokemon seeping up the energy..Besides the occasional small jolteon."

You looked at him stunned. So Piers's situation was really out of his control. You frowned a feeling of pity falling over yourself. Poor Hot Pink. He was blaming himself when all this time he couldn't have really done anything to prevent his town from falling apart. "Well what about his scientists? Haven't they figured out ways to fix it?"

"I'm afraid it's not as easy as it sounds dear," Ms. Magnolia sighed. "He's left everything to that executive lady. We just don't have enough data. That's why I wanted you to start looking into things too, Sonia. You know more than anyone about the Darkest Day after all."

"Hold on! Are you saying that the red light and the Darkest Day are connected?!"

"Hey." Leon hummed and turned to Hop who grabbed his arm. "Do you reckon there's anything we can do to help out?"

"There must be!," Gloria insisted.

Leon stared for a moment before smiling. "Thanks. I appreciate the thought. But all I could ever ask of you would be that you join me in the greatest final match ever. I'll do my part to make that happen by keeping everybody's future safe." He ruffled Hop's hair with his other hand. "So you both just keep on doing your part by winning your way through the Gym Challenge!"

"Right! 'Course! You're the unbeatable champion after all, right?!"

"Gran," Ms. Magnolia looked back to Sonia as she asked her, "There's something I wanna look into. You'll help me right?"

"Naturally," she answered back nodding, "Come. You can tell me all about it while conversing with the Chairmon." She turned to the powerplant's entrance. "Come along. We mustn't be keeping Mr. Rose waiting. Arceus knows what's going on in there?"

And with that Sonia turned and followed without another word, and you all watched their retreating forms as they walked away. ..Until Leon sighed and turned back to all of you. "Looks like we all know what we need to do. So you three clear the Gym Challenge." Hop and Gloria smiled and chuckled as the older brother ruffled there heads with a teasing smile. "So we can meet again at the Champion Cup. I've had so much fun watching your battles!" He turned to Victor and smiled. "And you!"

Victor jump and held up his hands. "No wait! Lee not my hair-"

Too late. Leon ruffled his hair and beany as Victor groaned and Gloria giggled at him. "Hmhmhm. You're doing a great job capturing those shots on your blog! I know Hop looked so great in those pictures you took of him Battling against Opal! I'm so happy the camera I got you is working so well! I'm sure both our Mums are so happy you three are doing so well for yourselves." Victor groaned even after Leon stopped ruffling his head but didn't complain like he did with the snow in Circhester. You blinked when he finally turned to you. And your eyes bulged out of your head like those funny googly eye stickers when he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stack of money!! And it was small. Only being around sixty dollars as you stared silently as he held it out to you. "Now I believe I promised you all lunch. I'm afraid I can't join you as the Chairman has called me as well, but this should be enough to tide you over."

".............Huh?,'' you asked.

"Wha- But Lee. We didn't get here before you remember?," Victor pointed out.

And you finally snapped out of it nodding and pointing to him. "Y-Y-Yeah! What he said. ...And why are you giving this to me?"

He smiled before placing the money in your hand using his other hand to close your fingers around it, and you looked between him and the money into your hands as he waved you off. "Take it as a thank you for looking after my little bro and his friend on their journey." You opened your mouth but he held up a hand to stop you. "No. Please. I don't give hand outs, but I also know it's a bit rough for you out there not having any money like the others. I can't give a whole lot but I hope this helps you. Go ahead and get everyone some lunch and the rest is yours."

"You're not joining us?"

He turned to the kids and shook his head. "Sorry guys. But the Chairman calls. It's a part of the job. But I promise I'll make some time to spend with all of you soon." He gave a thumbs up. "But you all go ahead and get some food in the mean time! I can't wait to see how you all handle my own rival."

Oh right....You all were originally here to see Raihan. Joy. You all bid Leon good bye before he turned and jogged off in the direction where Sonia and her grandmother disappeared towards the power plant, but not before pausing and taking another glance at you to give a giant smile to which you blinked at. You stood there for a long moment before looking down to your hands to the $60 sitting in your palm. Not believing what had just happened....but grateful for the kindness he showed you. He really was a really nice guy.

"I know what I need to do all right!" You blinked at Hop pumping a fist into the air. "Defeat that Piers once and for all! You're off to Hammerlocke stadium yeah? Raihan's a tough nut to crack! As Lee would say! Let's do our best!!"

"....Uh Hop. We just came from Spikemuth."

Hop paused...blinking for a moment before lowering his fist. "Oh yeah. I forgot. I guess I got a bit carried away."

"Well before any of that," they turned to you as you held up your hand with the money Leon had given you, "Why don't we get something to eat first like Leon said?"

"I wouldn't be opposed to that," Victor agreed.

You nodded and smiled. "Alright. I remembered there's two places to eat around here." You leaned back up and looked around a good portion. And stopped pointing off towards the train station. "Do you guys want to eat at the small curry corner at the station or the cafe on the other side of town?"

The three voted for the cafe on the other side of town and you nodded in agreement before heading over there. Silver trailing behind. But of course you kept an eye out looking around for that fanged fiend. To your relief not seeing anyone fitting his description. Safely arriving at the cafe and going inside. It was ...nice. Quiet. And the store owner smiled greeting you all as you sat at one table. You all practically had the place to yourselves too, with there only being one or two other people in there with you. And you all ordered. Curry for everyone of course for Gloria to get more pictures of for her curry Dex. You got another Egg curry, this time being different from the others. The Dry Boiled Egg Curry, as you didn't think Silver would handle the sour, bitter, or spicy egg curries. Like a hawk, Silver's yellow eyes laser focused on your plate as soon as it was brought out to you. And soon you all got his reaction. Silver had grabbed a hold of your pants leg wide eyed and immediately began babbling off and looking expectantly between you and the egg sitting in the middle of your dish. When you didn't immediately give it too him he started whining and tugging on your pants to get it.

"Ok ok." He watched as you carefully picked up the egg in your hands and he instantly held his tiny pink hands out towards it. Smacking his lips once it was gently lowered to him. Guessed he must've been really hungry too. "Here. Man. It seems you get hungrier every time I turn around." Silver ignored your comment in favor of shoving half the egg into his mouth and plop himself down next to you. With a sigh and roll of your eyes you turned back to the others. "So...Have you all figured out what you're going to be doing?"

"We're still working on that," Hop answered pointing his fork at you. Somehow already these three were already half way done with their food. "I figured I could stop by the stadium and see when one of us could battle Raihan. I haven't met him yet and seeing him in person could help me get a feel for what he's like in battle beyond the videos I've seen."

Gloria held up her hand. "I'm gettin' more food!! Since the Champion Match ain't gonna take place til the end of the year, we'll need more supplies for in between time!....And just in case we need ta stay extra days ta defeat the bloke. Eh?"

Victor nodded in approval. "Exactly why I'm goin' to be settin' up our camp sight right outside the entrance by the Vault. It's late in the day so someone has ta get a spot for us ta stay before dark."

You nodded. All of those sounded like a pretty good idea. Camp. Supplies. And a time scheduale for the upcoming battles. Preparing ahead was always a good idea. "That sounds like a good idea. When you're all finished eating you can go ahead and do all that. I'll finish eating and probably join all of you back at camp. Ok?''

You didn't think they could've eaten any faster and soon their plates were empty and they were getting up from the table bidding you far well for the moment. You reminded them all to meet back at the camp sight Victor would be setting up on their way out and you were left with Silver lazily sitting at your feet to finish your own food. With a sigh you enjoyed the silence of the small shop with the elevator like music playing, and the delicious smells coming from the cafe's kitchen in the back. You only really looked up when Silver tugged on your pants again and with a curious chirp pointed to your drink. With a roll of your eyes you handed him the glass of water as he took it. And drank. Forgetting he was a water type for a moment. Guess he must've needed water too. As you nearly finished eating the cafe door opened again, only being alerted to it when the small bell rang. But you didn't look up when the man in the orange bandanna walked in.

The cafe owner paused but quickly smiled and leaned his arms against the counter. "Well, well." He said amused raising a brow. "Coming in town this late in the day? Hmhm. Weren't you on a long holiday yet?"

You finished eating and sighed leaning back as the bandanna man chuckled back. Still not looking up or aware as it was none of your business. And not suspecting anything. "Well, I was. But you know me by now. I have to stop by every so while in case there's anyone here for me. Y'know that a lot of them dropped out thanks to Kabu again?"

The cafe owner chuckled again. "HA! Doesn't surprise me one bit. That old geezer's been doing that ever since he came here years ago. *sigh* But back to business. What can I do you for today? The usual?"

You took a couple seconds fishing through your pockets to pull out the leftovers from after you paid for everyone's food and rose a brow trying to figure out how much exactly you should leave for the tip before you leave. Mr. Orange Bandanna chuckled and put his hands behind his head. "Yeah. Y'know what..Can ya make that to go? Oh! And a dozen of those pokemon-safe donuts! My guys deserve to have a little treat too yknow."

"Hahaha! Ever the classic Raihan!" Your body froze. The cafe owner turned a moment. "It'll take about twenty minutes. Feel free to sit and wait while I go get everything."

"Sure! I got time."

Your body froze. Cold shooting through your veins like ice was directly injected into you. Your face paled whiter than Circhester's snow....And you slowly, ever so slightly looked behind you over your shoulder. Not enough to show your entire face but just enough to let you see clearly behind you. And your f/c eyes widened, pupils shrinking. And the money was almost dropped into your lap. .....OH NO- Standing there looking off bored thankfully away from you ....Was Raihan. The Gym leader didn't seem to notice you or even recognize your existence literally a few feet from him. You stared wide eyed and he didn't seem to feel your intense stare on him either. You nearly jumped when he yawned showing off those fangs (what HUMAN had fangs!?) and looked forward again. Removing one hand from his head he reached down into one of his jacket pockets and pulled out his phone. Oh CRAP CRAP CRAP! You snapped back forward...Big mistake. Because the suddenly movement caught the eye of two people. Silver who held up the now empty cup to you, and Raihan who hummed and turned his head curiously to you. ...Before turning back to his-....Scrunching his brows his face dawned a 'Wait a minute-' look to it before he turned his head back towards you and rose a brow. Even though you didn't know he was looking at you, you swore you could FEEL those blue eyes on you. Unlike Piers's electric bright blue eyes, Raihan's were a periwinkle baby blue. And soft like the petals of flowers, but somehow also gave the impression of a fierce storm about to rain itself upon the world. Not like Piers's at all which gave the impression of a tired hard working soul but also some hidden exciting 'electric' personality. You quickly flipped through your money trying to find something, before just settling on a five dollar bill and left it down on the table. All the while Silver had stood and like a toddler with his mother, kept chirping at you, tugging your jacket, and holding up the cup to you. Raihan's eyes blinked shifting between you...and that familiar shiny drizzlie....And his eyes lit up as something clicked in his mind. .....And he smiled.

You flung the five dollar bill onto the table for the tip and went to stuff the money back into your pocket- "ACK!" A glass bumped into your cheek and you frowned over at Silver who innocently chirped and tried handing you the glass again. With a sigh you finally took it from his teeny pink hand. "Sil. You couldn't have waited for me to finish?" You didn't notice the guy sit down in the chair next to you. Head in one hand. "We need to leave." You looked back up and placed the cup down, in view now of the man. "Cuz I'm not gonna-".....You paused mouth slightly open making Raihan chuckle right next to you. You nearly JUMPED out of your chair bristled like a cat as you snapped over to the guy. "GAH!?" Instead you leaned away fast arms up. "WHAT THE HE-...YOU!?"

He ended up chuckling a deep rumble that sounded like a deep purr. Now any other woman, and some men, would've swooned or blushed at the sound of such a chuckle..But instead you frowned. It only reminded you of a sound a cat would rumble out before chasing a mouse. He gazed at you with half lidded eyes and waved his other hand at you. "I thought I recognized you from somewhere."

....You frowned and lowered your arms but didn't stop leaning back. "Oh joy."

Despite you not hiding your annoyance he simply chuckled again a lazed smirk pointed at you. "Y'know...I actually didn't think it was you at first." he shrugged. "Honestly didn't expect to see you at all again either. But the chances of another woman with f/c hair and f/c eyes running around with a shiny water type are pretty slim to none." His smiled widened to show his fangs. "But I'm not complaining.~"

"Bro. What the heck?," you deadpanned at him and crossed your arms, "I thought I told you, very politely might I add, last time that I wasn't interested."

He hummed and nodded. '' You did. You did. I'm not denying that fact for a bit."

....You rose a brow. "Ok. Then what do you want then?"

"That's just the thing." He sighed looking you over as you narrowed your eyes. Silver chirped in question peeking over your leg curiously to why you were angry. "...You see...I usually don't get the kind of reaction you gave me all those weeks ago. Not so fast. Not so blunt." He chuckled and rose a brow. "And definitely not with the kind of sass you delivered. I haven't been able to forget about it."

"Not my problem, Dude. Not interested."

"Oh come on. That's a little unfair since you don't know much about me. I'd like to get to know a girl like you more! Why don't I buy you dinner and we can chat?"

"I already ate thanks." You pointed to the dishes. "And I have some people waiting for me so...Polite pass."

He smiled brightly an idea flashing from behind those eyes and you cringed. Oh no. He pointed at you. "Hey! That's right you were with that gym challenger right?" You didn't like where this was going. "That could only mean she's passing through or here to battle me right?"

"The latter," you answered truthfully.

His smile got wider. "Then how about this? If I win against her I get to take you out for dinner!"

You have a huff staring at the wild suggestion he even made. "You honestly believe I'm going to agree to THAT!? You don't know when to stop huh?"

His hand was placed on his chest. "You got me. But yes. I'm known for being pretty determined for the goals I strive." He winked at you. Oh brother. "But I promise I don't bite.~.....Much.~"

You were already darting your eye around on edge trying to figure out a way out of this mess you had accidentally and unintentially put yourself in. UGH!! WHY COULDN'T THINGS JUST BE EASY FOR YOU FOR ONE DAY!? Your f/c eyes gazed over him and eventually locked onto his hood....then to the white straps on his jacket. A light bulb switching in your brain as an idea finally came into your head. And it made you cringe. Oh. You DIDN'T like it. Faaaaar from it....But it would certainly be a fast ticket out. You just had to suck it up and go for it!......May Arceus have mercy on your dying pride for what you were about to do.

Forcing yourself to relax, you inhaled a deep breath before exhaling your tense body relaxing. Before leaning forward towards Raihan and smiled. Eyes half lidded. "Yeah?~ Well Dragon Boy. Maybe I ought to kidnap YOU and see how you like it.~" Raihan paused. Seeming to blink taken aback for a moment. His blue eyes looked over you at the confusion of the sudden flirty (GAG-) tone you were forcing yourself to do. But you didn't give his brain any time to process it before standing up in the blink of an eye and leaning over him. "Maybe I ought to badger your handsome face and see how cute you look.~" You cringed inwardly SO SO SO HARD and reached your hand up and over his still processing face to grab his hood. Gently pulling it over and placing it softly on his head. "And how sweet you look in his hoodie of yours.~ You know what else is a good look for ya?~"

.....Raihan relaxed, a flirty smirk printed on his fanged face as he delivered another rumbling purr-laugh. God you wanted to hide and RUN!! "No.~ Why don't you tell me?~"

You chuckled and stared at him. ".....THIS!!"

In a flash your hands grabbed onto those white straps and YANKED!! In an instant, with a ZIP noise raihan's hood shrank in around his head and he suddenly gave a loud yelp of surprise at the suddenly hoodie attack you gave. You didn't even blink. Not waiting for him to respond, you quickly whipped around, snatched Silver into your arms with a loud chirp from him, and RAN!!

"SAY HI TO LEON FOR ME!!"

Booking it out the store, the bell rang like a maniac above your held as you legged it panic running through your veins like when the onix was chasing you back in the Wild Area. Not even caring anymore. You went right down past the other stores, past the Vault and homes, and past through the draw bridge exit Hammerlocke had. Stopping and breathing heavily from panic you looked around wildly, you spotted them. Two tents set up a little ways out of the exit like Victor had said, and right in front of said tent was Hop and Victor talking. Without hesitating you RAN towards them. Victor was first to notice then Hop hearing the incoming footsteps and both seemed surprised as you skidded to a stop in front of them breathing heavily with Silver in your arms. .....Both boys looked at each other. Hop Shrugged. Then looked back to you.

"Um....Are you ok, Y/n?," Victor asked uncertainly.

"Yeah. What happened to you, Mate."

With a final breath you scowled in annoyance at nothing in particular. "....Don't ask. Move over. I'd like to hide-...I mean sit in the tent for a bit."