grimfalcon746

[grimfalcon746]

"You. You need to run. They will be coming." I commented under the video, hopefully my warning would not arrive too late.

Three days went by, with no response, I figured I was either too late, or they just ran like I told them. Then I got the notification they had responded. Fearing the worst I opened YouTube and checked the response.

"They came. I conquered." Was the only response.

"They will send more. They will never stop." I warned.

"Who are they going to send? There's no one left." The response came within minutes this time.

"....No one?" I asked.

"Frankly this game was harder than that fight. At least the soldiers in this game never run or surrender." The reply came.

Breathing a sigh of relief for them I got up from my computer. Do not really know what I was worried about, they did a no hit speedrun of my simulation after all. As I entered my kitchen to get some water I heard what I thought was knocking at the front door.

As I rounded the corner towards the front door, the door and frame exploded into splinters. Bright lights blinded me as men dressed in all black stormed in, bearing rifles. Before I could even process what was happening, one of them slammed the butt of their rifle into the side of my head. The last bits of consciousness faded from me as everything went black.

You are the lead programmer for the hardest and most realistic Military Simulation used by actual Militaries to train their Soldiers. And you just found a No Hit speedrun of the whole sim on youtube.

[grimfalcon746]

"Well, who were your parents?" I asked.

"Melissa and Dave Shontile" The girl responded, drawing her sword.

"Ah yes the Shontile's." I recall.

"You expect me to believe you remember the names my parents?" The girl snarled.

"Not their first names, no. I never knew their first name. To answer your question, yes." I replied.

"My Parents were not warriors!" The teenager shot. "They were-"

"A real estate agent and an electrical engineer. Right?" I cut in.

For a moment, the girl stopped, in a stunned disbelief that I knew that. After she regained her composure, she spoke. "You, you knew their professions? And you remember them?" She asked.

"Yes and yes." I replied calmly. "Did you ever consider your parents were not just simple workers?"

"I would have known if they were soldiers!" She snapped back.

"You were but a child then. Maybe ten? Your father used his real estate business as a cover to help the resistance fighters, directing them to abandoned properties, helping the resistance purchase properties under shadow companies as safe houses. Your mother put her engineering degree to work making explosives and detonators for the resistance. And, yes, they both fought like hell when they needed too." I explained.

"The resistance are scum! They kill indiscriminately! They-" The girl scowls

"Think collateral damage is an inevitable byproduct." I finished. "Your parents were no different. So yes, I had to kill them. I tried to reason with them, and the whole resistance, to be honest. We are, after all, on the same side. The government must be toppled. However when your parents slaughtered a 30 man regiment of some of my best, I had little choice." I informed her.

"I would have known if they were resistance fighters!" She shot.

"You think your parents would drag their ten year old daughter into a war? They were callous and careless, not monsters." I replied.

"My parents were good people," She shot.

"Yes." I cut in. "And they died fighting for the cause they believed so heavily in. So yes, they were indeed honourable warriors."

"Stop your lies! I will kill you!" She shouts, charging at me sword drawn.

Swinging without any form or function, pure rage. I was able to easily able to sidestep the attack. Grabbing her wrist, I pulled her past me and off balance. Grabbing the hilt of the sword as she tumbled, I pulled the blade from her hands easily. Falling off balance, she tumbled to the ground, rolling past me.

"In a world full of bullets and bombs, It is honestly nice to see someone embrace the blade." I calmly state. "No stray bullets or shrapnel to cause collateral damage. Direct and silent."

Looking at me defeated, she flinched when I raised the sword, expecting I was about to end her life. It bounced off the pavement harmlessly beside her. It seemed to take a few seconds for the reality to set in for her. As I turned to leave, a single word called after me.

"Why?" She asked.

"You may be honourable, but a warrior you are not. I will not kill you." I call back, walking away.

"I will not fight you, child. You are not an honorable warrior." "You slaughtered my parents. Were they warriors?"

[grimfalcon746]

this is a terrible time to be alive *remembers the latter half of the 14th century* this is a not so good time to be alive

[grimfalcon746]

So what I do when naming things is either a) use a fantasy name generator (which is lazy but gets the job done when im writing short stories/one offs with little mental energy.) or b) i will just type randomly, then modify it into name(s). For instance:

alsdkjflasjlkdasjf - random typing, i find i usually start off pretty similar so i remove the first few letters

dkjflasjlkdasjf - great now we split it up more reasonably

dkjf/lasjlk/dasjf - now we have 3 name bases, we can use for 3 different characters or a beginning middle last name, or 3 separate names we can pick one on. Now we need to fill out the names (need to have vowels, round out letters to make them pronouncable etc)

Dokaf - first name we of course capitalize the first letter, add an o between the D and k and an A after the k. It felt more natural to remove the j than to try and add another vowel/letter to round it out so thats what i did

Lasjalk - this one was a bit easier thanks to good placement of the a. Just added another a after the J and capitalized the L

Dasjuf - oof two with a in the second letter, not always that easy but sometimes it is. Once again capitalize the letter and added a u after the j.

This works well for me, only takes a few seconds once you get used to it and makes your names more unique than a name generator.

coming up with Alien names can be a pretty interesting experience.

I always come up with a name like "Tk'sla" and think: "Actually wait, that sounds like a keyboard smash". So then i try to take a normal word and add a few letters. only to think. "no, that feels too blatant."

..and then i try to mangle it, but then i think "Wait, does that mean something else in a different language"?

If anyone has any tips they'd be willing to share, i'm all ears.

[grimfalcon746]

Humans are weird

Just had a thought about how weird humans are. So figure if an being wanted to visit earth but heard all of the "humans are space orcs" stories from his friends. But they still want to visit so they go buy a book on the human species and read how humans have different skin/languages/wear things called clothes (note the hypothetical species does not usually wear clothes.) so formulates an idea.

Cut to the alien visiting earth, wearing clothes that do not cover their fur or scales and their obviously non human eyes. Walking through cities feigning a foreign language. Getting a few odd stares but most people just ignore them and keep walking. Not because they don't notice the difference, everyone just assumes they are a furry.

Cut to the alien back on his ship, proudly telling his friends and colleagues how he managed to fool all the earthlings and no one even noticed.

[grimfalcon746]

Not gonna lie, feeling a little called out

[grimfalcon746]

What if the author is dead?

Well grab a ouija board or learn necromancy, they deserve to know you loved their story!

[grimfalcon746]

"How do you write such realistic dialogue-" I TALK TO MYSELF. I TALK TO MYSELF AND I PRETEND I AM THE ONE SAYING THE LINE. LIKE SANITY IS SLOWLY SLIPPING FROM BETWEEN MY FINGERS WITH EVERY MEASLY WORD THEY TYPE OUT. THAT IS HOW.

[grimfalcon746]

My whole body was practically shaking. Since I was a child, I had dreamed of riding a dragon. Soaring through the air as the magnificent beast carried through the clouds and over mountains. When I had turned up in the kings court, flyer in hand, I was astounded to see no one else had turned up. The quest was not that hard or dangerous, escorting a merchant cart from the nearby village. It seemed peculiar that no one else had turned up to get such an easy chance at a dragon ride, however, I had quickly written it off as most mercenaries wanted actual gold for quests, not memories and stories.

The actual quest had gone on without incident, unusual that no bandits tried to attack a merchant cart with only a single guard, but weird things do happen. The merchant had seemed uneasy around me, and even the few groups we had passed on the way had avoided eye contact and kept a good gap. I did not think I was so menacing looking, but was happy to get through this unimpeded.

After escorting the merchant cart to the court, the kings men directed the merchant to their stall and ushered me back to the King. After checking with his men that the quest had been successfully completed, the King instructed me to follow him. Now I stand before the magnificent beast, mesmerized by the colourful scales. I was tuned out to the words the king was speaking as the dragons tail had encircled me and her wings had flared out.

"I now pronounce you man and wife." The king wrapped up, snapping me out of my trance rather quickly.

"I'm Sorry?" I asked.

"You have completed the quest, and as such the dragon bride is yours." The king proclaimed, marking the deal complete.

One of his men had pulled the flyer up and marked it with a sigal, signifying it's completion. It was then my eyes had found the single letter I had missed in my haste. The reward was not for a Dragon Ride, but for a Dragon Bride.

"There seems to be a mistake." I start.

"There will be no alterations to the deal." The king cut me off. "Mercenaries always want the deal sweetened when the quest is completed. You knew the terms and agreed to them, no additional rewards will be considered."

"It's not that." I try to explain, before his men drew their swords and squared off to me.

A brief moment of panic had entered my body, before my new bride slammed her tail into the ground hard enough to send tremors through the earth and snarled.

"You will NOT threaten my husband." The dragon seethed, causing the kings men to retreat a few steps.

"You. You speak common?" I asked in disbelief.

"We dragons are not beasts." She replied. "Sure, due to our size and ferocity we are often misunderstood, however we are every bit as intelligent as humans. Odd that you took the quest without knowing this."

"That's the thing." I say, finally having a chance to explain. "I thought I was doing a quest for a dragon RIDE not a dragon BRIDE."

"Oh don't worry, you'll get to ride alright." The dragon insinuated.

"I. Uh. This is kind of alot to take in." I replied. "But I suppose I should start with your name."

"My name is Garshu. You and I are now betrothed, your problems are my problems, and I know exactly how to deal with problems." She replied, giving the kings men the side-eye.

"Well I suppose there is nothing I can do about it now." I sigh. "I am Falcon, glad to be your husband. Don't suppose it would be unreasonable to ask for that ride I thought I was suppose to get?"

Bending her wing down to offer a ramp to her back, Garshu nodded. As I climbed on and got settled, she set herself for takeoff when one of the kings men approached again.

"Beast, if you threaten the king again-" The guard suddenly fell silent, as Garshu leaned in inches away from the guard.

"Then what?" Garshu snarled. "If you intend to invoke a fight, just give the word."

The guard sheepishly shook his head as he slowly backed away. I almost started laughing, until the force of the take off slammed me into Garshu's scales. The air left my body with force and for a few seconds I was briefly away of how dangerous this bride was.

"You okay up there?" Garshu asked. After a few moments of no answer, she followed up "Falcon?"

"Winded." I managed to squeak out.

Slowly the air returned to my lungs, as Garshu hovered so I could recompose myself. The beauty of the sight hit me all at once. For the first time in my life, the first time in my entire lineages ancestry, I was able to view the entire kingdom in one sight. From the kings castle to the outskirts. From the great ocean to the towering mountains. The ruins no one dared to approach and the central trade city. The forest whose leaves swept with the winds, and the sun setting across it all.

"Ready?" Garshu asked, dragging me back to the moment.

"Ready." I smiled, firmly grabbing one of the notches in the horns running down her spine, as she took off.

You misread the reward for the quest. You received a Dragon Bride, not a Dragon Ride, from the king.

[grimfalcon746]

Should I bother praying? The gods abandoned me a long time ago. Here I lay, my lover had poisoned me. Left me to die as our army was breaking down the gate. The throne was my birthright. It wasmine.

She had come to me nearly a decade ago. No army, no nobility, no birth rights of any kind. But a fire. I saw that fire in her eyes that could burn a hole right into your soul. Her charisma had brought countless to my cause. She had helped me every step of the way. So why, as we were about to win the throne, did she do this.

My consciousness was fading, memories flashed. My life but a movie for the final moments of my life. Not one that could be watched, it flashed through too quick. I caught bits and pieces though. First steps. First horse ride. First kiss. Then the movie stopped. Or slowed. Something wanted me to see something. A conversation I had once forgot. My father on his deathbed, just before I was forced to flee the kingdom.

"Father. What do I do?" I asked, tears pouring down my cheek. Such a shame for a child so young to lose both his parents in such a brutal way.

"For now. Flee. Get far away from here. When you are ready, return with an army. Retake our kingdom and your birthright. But to do so you must live. So flee."

"I can run, but I can't fight. I don't know how, the gods, they abandoned us this day. Without the blessings of the five.." I had trailed off.

Blessings of the five. I do not recall every hearing that phrase again. The five gods that watched over our world. Their blessings helped would be kings topple thrones, helped good kings halt armies that outnumbered them 10 to 1. We were a good royal family, why had they abandoned us this day?

"Yes my child. I do not understand why, but the five have abandoned us, but know this. Gods are not the only ones with sway over this world." My father had said.

How had I forgotten that sentence. When he spoke it, it had felt like he had burned it into my soul. I swore I would find whatever beings would help me, and I thought I had. My beloved. I was about to fade, when that sentence rang out again in my head. Pounding like a war drum. The universe wants something from me.

So I prayed. Like I had learned all those years ago, before the five abandoned me. Only this time, with a difference.

'This goes out to anyone, or anything that can hear me. I need help, I need to live. My purpose is not done. Tell me what you want in exchange, but let. Me. Live.

Warmth crept back into my body. Subtle at first, but enough to stave off the void. I felt a presence with me at this moment. Not physically, but none the less, it was there.

"Why." A voice spoke into my head, not one I recognized.

"I need to justify wanting to live?" I asked.

"You did not say you want to live. You said you need to live." The voice said. "Everyone wants to live. Why do you need to live."

"I was so close. Literally knocking on the door. If my lover hadn't betrayed me." I explained.

"So. Conquest. You need to live to retake the throne?" The voice pressed. I could sense it knew the answer, but wanted me to say it.

"No. I mean yes, I want to retake the throne. That is not why I need to live." I replied.

"Tell me then." The voice demanded.

"Revenge." The life burst back into my body with that word. I still could not move, but the fire was back. The blood ran hot in my veins, like liquid fire. With the life, the emotions returned in all their glory. An anger burning hotter than the sun. I would have my revenge.

"Against who?" The voice spoke again.

"Darla." She had been my lover, but left me to die. I would see she suffered for that.

Movement returned. I stood up. The voice, the presence, still there. It gave me strength. I felt I could break the gate down without a siege weapon.

"Who are you. What do you want in return?" I asked. I assumed this was a bargain they were laying.

"I am the oldest of gods. Forgotten by the mortals. I thought my time was up. Gods powers fade when no one worships them. eventually they die. But you prayed out to anyone, you restored my life. I am the Lich God." The voice introduced.

"And what do you want?" I asked again. Whatever the price I would pay it. I got to live. To get revenge. That was worth the price.

"I want you to kill Darla." The voice demanded.

"What does such an old god want with a mortal?" I asked.

"That is my business, but know this. You have been imbued with all the powers of a lich deity. A persons whose body is reanimated can not move on to the other plane. After you kill her, raise her. Let her spend eternity rotting somewhere in this world. Get my revenge for me, and the powers and new life are yours to keep. Fail and I remove them and watch you collapse where you stand." The Lich God demanded.

I smiled. We were in business.

You sacrificed everything to get this far, and at the last moment you were betrayed by the one you thought most dear. You lay dying one the snow, praying to any god, demon, or anything that would listen. You receive an answer.

[grimfalcon746]

"No need to ask forgiveness fair maiden, please tell me what is bothering you." I request.

"It's the royal guards. They demand protection money sir, and when my parents could not pay, they burnt their shop down. My... both my parents perished in that fire. Now they come for me, demanding I pay the protection money." The little girl explains.

"I see. More corrupt guards terrorizing the locals. A tale as old as time. What be your name, I prefer to know the name of the ones I serve." I say.

"Trilla, Sir." Trilla replies, as banging at the door start. Behind it the angry shouts of large men with small minds.

"You know we are going to get in there you little brat! open the door now or be sorry." The grunts say.

Their words draw my gaze, as I stare towards the door holding back the future corpses. The banging and shouting get louder as I square off towards the door, waiting for them to breach it. Trilla backs away. 'Is she retreating from me? Or from the men banging at her door?' I wonder. Either way, this will be settled shortly.

With the last few thumps, the wood can be heard splintering. With the final kick, the door flies open, barely contained by its hinges. Two men clad in plate armor and brandishing swords barge in.

"Who the hell are you!" The first man demands, sweat dripping down his brow.

"My name is of no concern," I reply. "I will, however, be serving as your executioner today."

"This is a royal matter demon. Be gone or feel the wrath of the kings army!" The second one barks.

"I have toppled kingdoms on a whim. Your army does not frighten me. Cowards like you always rely on fear, knowing you would be unable to keep the masses in line without it. I offer you one chance for a merciful death. Take those blades and cut your throats. Else I will be forced to end you." I threaten.

Without warning the first man charges, brandishing is sword wildly. Swinging at me with all his might, I reach out and catch him by the wrist. He recoils in pain, as the force of his blow was redirected into his own arm. He opens his mouth to speak, before staring at his arm in disbelief. From the small amount of skin i touched, spreads grey death. As it encompasses his fingers they go numb and limp.

"What. What is this!" He demands from me.

"Cell death." I reply coldly. "It will spread to the rest of your body shortly, give it a moment."

"I demand you stop this. By the Kings order!" He spits.

The grey death passes his elbow, his forearm goes limp. Brandishing the sword with his left hand, he attempts to look menacing.

"I have no interest in your King or his orders. I gave you a chance for a more merciful death and you chose violence. This is the result of that decision." I explain.

The second man starts to back away slowly, being still and quiet up to this point. He stops dead as my gaze meets his. Unsure what to do, he stands there, staring at me like a deer in the headlights. His comrade eventually falls to the ground, the grey death spreading to his heart and brain. This gets the second man speaking.

"You just committed murder in the presence of the Kings guard!" He declares. "I demand you come with me and turn yourself over to the king for justice!"

He stands there stoically for a minute, until his former comrade clambers to his feet. A smile finds its way onto the face of the second guard, believing his comrade was alright after all. Before he can process that thought, however, the corpse swings his sword.

Blocking the blow, the guard was knocked back through the doorway. Bringing his sword up, he speaks again.

"What has gotten into you. I am your ally!" He says.

"Not anymore. That man is part of my undead army now." I explain.

As the corpse swings again, the guard side steps the blow. Deciding that his former partner is now only a threat, he swings his own sword, severing both the hands of the corpse. The second swing of his sword cuts the corpse's head in half, sending it sprawling to the ground.

Before the guard can admire his victory, I charge in, grabbing him by his face. The force of my attack causing him to drop his sword, I hoist him off the ground. My opponent thrashes and screams in vain, as the grey death has already started spreading from my touch. In no time at all, the guard goes limp, and I drop the second corpse. As the grey death takes hold, he rises once more, standing beside his partner, both apart of my undead army now.

"I wish I could do that." Trilla speaks from the doorway.

Without blinking I take a sword from one of the former guards. Imbuing it with my essence, I hand the blade to her.

"Now you can. Trilla." I explain. "That sword will turn anyone it touches into zombie army controlled by you. But be warned, If you act with malice, or corruption, another might summon me to defeat you. Keep your wrath fair and just, and you may rule for a long and natural life."

With that I return to the depths I was summoned from. My two minions collapse, as they can only remain for as long as I am on the surface. Trilla stares at her new blade in disbelief for a few minutes before the reality of what I have bestowed upon her dawns on her. Taking her blade and heading back into town, she decides the royal guards are going to need a change of allegiances.

You are an ancient lich, feared throughout the lands for your grey and fair vengeance. One day, you are summoned, but not by a corrupt king or angry mercenary, instead by an unnaturally thin girl dressed in servants rags, who says “f…forgive me for disturbing you…I had nowhere else to go”

[grimfalcon746]

Over the last few year, I have built some of the best mage prisons that exist. It started simply enough, the local police department asked me for help arresting a mage. After that they realized they had no conceivable way to contain them. After helping with that I came highly recommended to other police departments for the same purposes. From there I honed my craft, making mage prisons that none could escape from.

So here we are, giving the final tour to the warden of what I may, ever so humbly, call my masterpiece. Salt laced iron walls, enchanted to absorb the magic of any spell cast at it. The whole prison is suspended in a temporal stasis (no idea if that makes sense, don't question it.) And in every cell, there are mage crystals. These things absorb magical energy (the energy that spell casters use against the walls gets stored here.) If those crystals get over 100% charge they will explode, killing any occupant inside the cell.

"what are those crystals for?" the warden asked as I showed him the final cell.

Turning my attention to the crystal, I started to explain the concept to him, before the unmistakable sound of the iron door clanking shut was heard behind me.

"What is this?" I ask, annoyed.

"Unfortunately it has been determined that you are too much of a threat to be left to roam free. You, therefore, will spend the rest of your life in this cell. Enjoy it." The warden explained, his guards joining him.

"You idiots ever hear the term self fulfilling prophecy?" I ask.

"Big words from a man who will die in that cell." A guard retorts.

Well, nothing to do now, i guess. I summon a doppelganger and start practicing my magic skills against it.

"How is that possible!" The warden demands.

"Although I have no obligation to explain. The cells only absorb spells that are fired at the walls, ceiling or floor. General magic is fine." I explain. "Of course, if you have a problem with it, you are welcome to come in and do something about it."

As the warden moved, one of the guards stopped him. "That is exactly what he wants. Once that door opens, he will over power us and escape."

"Wow. One of you have brains. That is more than I would have guessed." I mock.

Nothing to worry about, I think to myself, as I go back to practice. You see, I have planned for this exact scenario. Unbeknownst to my former allies, all my prisons take magical energy to function. I need to routinely top them up to keep them functional. This one will run for a couple of years without any intervention. However I do not think I will be here that long.

For the next couple of weeks, I continue to practice, rest and try to keep myself sane. Right around the the time I expected, a knock comes at my door. It is the warden.

"A very dangerous mage escaped one of your prisons." He explains.

"Wow. That sucks." I reply. "If only you knew a mage that specialized in capturing and containing mages."

"Cut the shit." He shoots back. "We both know why I am here. If we let you out, will you help?"

"Wow. That was a quick flip." I retort. "Did you even try thoughts and prayers?"

"My patience wears thin. Smart ass." The warden demands.

"Fine. I'll help." I agree, before hearing the unmistakable sound of the lock releasing.

After pointing me in the right direction, I once again head towards an area with a rogue mage going crazy, destroying and killing everyone and everything in his path. Throwing up a quick barrier as some fireballs come charging my way, the mage settles down and squares off against me.

"You broke out of a prison I designed." I state.

"Yea. What of it?" The mage asks, seemingly getting ready for a fight.

"Want to jailbreak the others?" I ask.

You are a powerful mage whose job it is to build prisons for powerful mages that are impossible to escape. Today upon completing your masterpiece they lock you up in it.

[grimfalcon746]

"You can't do this" I scream, searching frantically for the exit.

"He makes the cutest sounds!" My new owners coo. "All pent up with energy too!"

Unable to find the slightest sign of any exit, I relegate myself my new life after a few days. Finally relenting, knowing I have to eat, I go to my feeding room to find out what gruel they plan to give me.

"Steak?" I'm surprised at the quality of food. Steak and lobster tail, for lunch? Clearly they are just trying to get me to settle down, it will get worse later on, I assume.

Later that day a notification pops up on my phone.

"What I have internet on their ship?" Turns out they are beaming Earth's internet from one of the satellites in orbit to their ship. The speed is faster than fiber optic on Earth. I have no idea how they have pulled this off, but it's a nice touch.

After a few weeks, I am baffled that I ever resisted this. I eat like a king, have all the internet I could want. My new owners even pay for all movie streaming services, so i can keep up with all of earth's movies. I get an entire section of the ship to run around in that is three times as big as my house on earth. To top it off, I get all kinds of head pats and cuddles.

As I start to get bored, my captors install a home gym and a gaming computer hooked into Earth's internet, made with alien technology that makes my computer look like an ancient Nokia phone. This is the life of luxury. Also, through immersion I have started to pick up their language. That is where the problem lies.

"They are sentient creatures, with friends and family on their planets!" They daughter cries. "You must release them. It's cruel to keep them locked up here!"

Oh no! Their daughter is some sort of human rights advocate. I can not let her ruin this for me! The problem, while I have learned enough language to understand what they are saying, I am not sure I can speak it well enough to communicate.

"Nonsense." Her father replies. "He's having the time of his life here!"

"You can't know that!" The daughter bellows. "Please release him back to his planet. It's the right thing to do!"

"Your mother and I will think about it!" The father relents.

Oh no! They are actually considering sending me back? What to do.

Eventually I came up with a plan. I just hope it works. I write a long letter to my owners, telling them how much I love everything they do for me and how much I want to remain with them. I thought about making it short, as I have to write it in English, however I reasoned that they would have an easier time deciphering a longer letter. I hope I am right.

Giving my letter to my owner, I receive plenty of head pats as my owners take my letter. Unsure what it says they call their daughter in.

"Our pet human wrote us a letter, however we can't read his language." The father says.

"Give it to me." The daughter says. "I have been studying one of their most used languages"

'She is actually learning my language?' I think to myself. 'at least I hope it's English she has been studying.

She studies the letter for a long while, before pulling a face. "Did you guys forge this letter?" She accuses her parents

"No they didn't forge it!" I defend them

"You can't ACTUALLY want to remain a pet!" She exclaims.

"Of course I do. I love it here." I shout back. A little surprised she understood me speaking English.

With a look of disbelief, she shakes her head, before tuning back to her parents. "He says he wants to stay our pet."

"We told you so!" Her father said.

"Fine." She relents. "I will stop advocating for your release."

While being abducted to be an alien family’s pet was disconcerting at first, you’ve found it more luxurious than anything on Earth. However, now the family’s daughter is raising ethical concerns over your captivity, much to your chagrin.

[grimfalcon746]

italics - museum guide - non italics - king

***

Welcome to the museum of King Grim Foolcan!

Foolcan? It's Grim Falcon! I get you're a high school drop out but you should have learned to read in elementary school.

He ruled ages ago, in land far away from here.

Far away from here? It's a day and a half march from here, and you have cars! How is that far away lands!

Three years after he took rule, he attacked his neighboring land in a war of oppression. Overthrowing the enemy king he subjugated the entire kingdom for the duration of his rule.

War of oppression? The brute stole 80% of his workers wages in 'taxes'. His citizens starved! I defeated his army, shared my wealth with his people so they didn't starve. Oh and by the way, I didn't subjugate them for the duration of my rule. I established a functioning leadership from their own citizens and turned power back over to them after 2 years! But sure, go off about the apparent war of oppression.

His rule ended in 1495AD. He died in a horse riding accident. much to the delight of his subjects and neighboring rulers!

Actually I was poisoned. Wasted away in my bed while neighboring rulers and local brewers tried everything they could to save me. They managed to find an antidote to the poison but it was to late, the damage to my heart was too severe. But horse riding accident. that's close enough. Oh and one more thing idiot, my rule did not end three years BEFORE I was born.

Although many people believe he did not actually die, but continues to rule from the shadows to this very day.

How do you figure out how to tie your shoes in the morning.

Well that is going to be the end of the tour. We will now be exiting through the gift shop. Be sure to browse, we have gifts ideas for anyone.

Someone please buy a lighter and burn this place to the ground for me. Please.

You are the ghost of a long deceased king, cursed to haunt the museum where your body resides. Which is especially annoying for you since the museum guides get all the facts about your reign completely wrong.

[grimfalcon746]

Dear Applicant

"Hmm. Seems a little impersonal. Perhaps if they had bothered to learn my name before rejecting me, they would know how to address me now. Oh well." I mutter to myself.

Here at the Magical Engineering University, we only accept the best and brightest for our program. Of which you are not.

"Well that's direct to say the least. If not down right rude." I muse, as a bit of blood spatter slaps my cheek. Wiping it away I continue.

We would highlight the gaps in your experience and background, except there is none of the aforementioned to consider.

"Well that just seemed unnecessary." I shrug.

Please note. We do not consider 'self taught' Magical Engineers, as they are little more than a waste of time. Actually scratch that. Wasting our time would be more efficient than teaching them.

"Now they are just being down right nasty. A simple 'sorry you're not what we are looking for would be far more practical." I say, irritation creeping into my voice. The screams of the university staff starting to drown out my own monologue.

In closing, please do not bother applying again, we have quite enough toilet paper. Perhaps you should consider purchasing 101 magic tricks for kids. Could be more your speed.

"Well that is just insulting to both me, and children who enjoy those kits." I say, exasperated.

As my magical arachnid creature comes to a halt, sitting at the far end of the Engineering grounds, smack in the middle of the bunker. I look around at the after math. Countless Magically Engineered machines litter the grounds, corpses of their operators littered close by. Those who got away fled the grounds, knowing the bunker would do little to slow my progress. The sight is grim, even for me. However a lesson not learned in blood is soon forgotten. I do not believe they will ever forget this lesson. With my point being made I steer my arachnid away, considering what the do with the rest of my morning.

You’re re-reading the letter from the Magical engineering University. It’s surprisingly rude, highlighting your lack of experience and relevant background, well your machine is halfway through the courtyard, and they’ve not managed to halt its progress yet.

[grimfalcon746]

"So tell me something." I say to the principal as I take the gloves. "You ever hear the term self fulfilling prophecy?"

The horror I had felt when he gave me the gloves had fueled anger. I could have killed everyone in the school a year ago, however I chose the path of peace. My bully never knew of my ability, as I always kept it under control. But then he took a step to far.

He was a psychopath. Multiple complaints to the school and even the police had done nothing. He was sure to kill someone someday and no one seemed to care. He had decided to mess with my family, after not getting a reaction from me for the last year - the time my powers had surfaced. He had locked my sister in a construction van, and poured concrete over it. The concrete had hardened by the time he told me where she was, and her air was running out. I had been left with little choice. The look on his face was priceless as with one hit I shattered the concrete encasing the van.

That was how we got here, in the principals office. It had become one of the duties of school administrators when the powered started to surface. Get them under control while they were still children, as they would be much more difficult to control as adults. The horror I had felt was in two parts. First the power dampening gloves. Imagine someone told you that you were too tall, so they were going to saw your legs off. That is, essentially, what was happening here. They expected me to allow them to take what made me special, all because they felt it was too dangerous.

The second part of my horror, was a decision I made almost a year ago. If they ever tried to give me any kind of inhibitor, it would be an open declaration of war. They were going to have to kill me to get these gloves on my hands, which would ultimately defeat the purpose.

"Put them on." The principal barked, apparently use to at least some level of resistance.

I swung before I had even thought about it. There had to be cleaner ways to to it, but I would be lying if I said it was not satisfying. The mess it created though. The principal had basically exploded into mist when I hit him. Blood and bodily fluids coated everything in his office, and I do mean everything.

My bully had only been able to look on in horror, as he was coated in blood. You know that reaction when you step in dog feces with bare feet? Well imagine that feeling times a thousand. That is what my bully was going through at this moment, and I was enjoying every second of it. Does that make me a bad person? I do not care.

Realizing I was in a fighting mood, finally, he bolted for the door. I could have obliterated him too, but that would not get quite the same satisfaction. He was a psychopath who had made my life miserable for year, and it was time he knows what that feels like. My fist connected with his knee, obliterating his left leg. Not like there was any way to create more of a mess of this office. I side stepped his falling body, before he had a chance to react to his missing limb, I swung again. This time obliterating his right arm. He was right handed. Was.

He looked up at me as he collapsed, probably convinced I was going to kill him. No, I was actually hoping the paramedics would arrive and save him. Make him go through the rest of his life realizing he had crossed a line. I left the office, knowing exactly where I was going. The look on the office staffs face as I walked out of the office, it must have been quite a sight.

Room 303. An old friend was in that room. He had been given an inhibitor collar 3 years ago and had withdrawn from everyone he knew when he had been forced to put it on. Originally I had given him space, figuring he was working through some pretty strong emotions. I wish I had not, It was about a year before I realized he had needed his support network to be there. It was too late by the time I tried to rebuild that bridge. Time for me to right my wrong. We may never be friends again, but that does not mean I can't help him.

The steel door fractured as I hit it. Shrapnel from the door went soaring across the classroom. A few moments passed before the teacher had realized what happened. Trying and failing to look formidable, the teacher had issued an order, backing away from me.

"You. You're powered!. You need an inhibitor." It had not sounded too confident.

Controlling my strength, I punched his desk, sending it sliding through the classroom and into the wall. The wall buckled under the force, the desk continued through it, falling three stories to the ground below. The teacher had gone pale, and seemed to have lost their voice.

"Get out!" I barked, more harsh than I had intended.

I had meant the door behind me. The teacher, however, had decided that would be too dangerous, and so he followed the desk out the wall. It was foolish really, that was a three story drop onto concrete, and with the remains of the desk down there it would be difficult to get a good landing to roll through it. Oh well, not much can be done about it now.

Steven had just looked on in awe as I approached him. I do not know if he was frozen in fear, or did not try to move as he trusted me. Either way, I grabbed his collar on each side of his neck, pulling it apart with ease. After throwing the remains of the collar to the ground I headed for the door, as the sounds of sirens could be heard approaching the school.

'Time for phase two' I thought to myself, as I headed out of the school. As I had anticipated, the police were arriving. It was cute that they cared now. For the last two years I have filed no less than 30 complaints about the bully and gotten nowhere, now that I pushed back, its a problem.

The police car came in, stopping a few feet in front of me. The officer stepped out, clearly not sure if I was who he was looking for. I decided to answer that question for him. The vehicle buckled under the force of my punch, sending it sailing back into the cruisers behind it. The officer had been struck by the vehicle, knocking him back and over the next cruiser. The rest of the officers had scattered to avoid the wreckage before regrouping.

Clearly not caring about negotiations, the officers raised their weapons to open fire. Punching the ground, i took cover behind a large piece of asphalt that had popped up under the destructive force of my blow. Rounds buried themselves in the asphalt and pinged around me as I took cover. To be fair I had not thought this far ahead, and was now trying to improvise how to get out of this.

The blast had caught even me by surprise. Cruisers and officers were sent flying, at the source of it stood Steven. His face was beat red, and his nostrils flared as he took stock of the wreckage. Another Blast came from his mouth sending a shock-wave that once again sent vehicles and officers tumbling.

"A little help?" I heard behind me.

Turning around I saw what was probably the most diabolical inhibitor I had ever seen. A full steel hood complete with inhibitor technology. That mans face had been locked away only allowing his eyes to peer out through thin slots. Even knowing how inhibitors were becoming so popular, I had a hard time believing those handing them out would be so cruel.

I grabbed each side of the helmet, ripping it apart, sending pieces scattering. Behind the helmet was the scruffy face of a man who had clearly not had the ability to shave in years. It seemed to take a minute for him to adjust to no longer having the helmet on, but the sirens coming from the other side of the street seemed to shake him out of it.

Four more cruisers were barreling towards us, as I looked around for something I could send at them. Our new friend, however, was already taking action. He casually waved his hand, and the officers vehicles disintegrated. The officers in them were sent skipping off the road at 100 km/h as the vehicles disappeared from underneath them.

Steven sent out another blast before the officers had even stopped skipping off the road. The force knocked them back, as they started skipping off the road going the other way. Rough day for them. As I turned my attention back towards the first wave of officers that had shown up, I heard the shots.

It took me a minute to realize I had been shot. I didn't even feel it. In fact I was about to charge the officer shooting as my body collapsed. There was a commotion around me now, not that I could make much of it out. Steven had sent multiple blasts out as he made his way to me. Our new telekinetic friend waved his hand a couple times. It was impossible for me to know the extent of what they had done with those actions.

My mind started to fade as everything got foggy. I could hear the two of them talking, but could only make out short phrases. Something about "Help him." From Steven. Then the only full sentence my brain could pick up.

"The shots hit his heart. There is nothing I can do."

Nothing he could do. Nothing. It took a few seconds for the gravity of that to hit me. I saw drops falling from Steven's face. In my state I could not quite put it together. Was he crying? Blood spilled out of my mouth as I coughed. I could hear blast after blast coming from Steven but my mind could not focus. My vision was starting to blur, as our new ally got up.

The last images I could make out was him waving his arms around with conviction. I did not know what he was doing, but I could only imagine the officers were not liking it. As my eyes closed, my hearing temporarily focused. Screaming. Pleading. Someone was begging. Then my hearing started to fade as well, and I was left with my own final thoughts.

I was going to die, here, on this road. Nothing anyone could do could change that. In the end, was an eerie sort of peace. While my life was over, before I had died, I had gotten revenge on my bully, reconnected with an old friend, and, most importantly, taken two dogs off the leash. Two powered, who had experienced inhibitors and would die before they went back. Two powered who were vastly stronger than I was. Two powered, who now wanted blood.

My death would be a rally flag. Given what I saw before my time, our new friend could probably remove inhibitors with ease. The powered had been getting fed up for years. My death will start the revolution. My death would give them reason to rise. My death.

My. Death. The fear had finally hit me. What was I afraid of though? The unknown? My life ending? Those I left behind? I could not place it. All I knew was fear had crept its way into my mind in my final moments. It was annoying, really. I would have preferred to go out on the eerie serenity I had felt a minute ago. Not that It could be helped I guess.

My mind faded, was I still aware when I finally went, or had it faded before I took my last breath. Either way my life ended. My consciousness faded as the war started. I was fine with that. Good-bye my good friend Steven, sorry I was not the friend I should have been. Sorry I was not there when you needed me. Sorry for many things. Sorry.

The world has taken precautions against super-powered beings, handing out inhibitors if deemed too ‘destructive.’ You sat in the principal’s office with horror etched on your face as a pair of inhibitor gloves were handed to you. The smug grin of your life long bully telling you everything.