#Chapter 1: The Introduction

[tricks-n-illusions]

(dichloro approaches lune slowly, though still keeping outside the circle.) you seem really protective of this kid.. what makes you care about him so much? especially since you seem so hostile to everyone else.

"I don't care about the kid okay..." He said quite bluntly. "I just..." Silas seemed suddenly lost for words, his ears drooped further as he searched for an explanation. "It's just..."

"When Lune says something... he's just being honest with me. Sure it might really hurt in the moment... but at least I know he's not judging me without a good fuckin' reason." "But everyone else? Everyone else always assumes the worst of me. What else am I supposed to do...? I already proved that they should, there ain't no going back now. " He sighed before turning away. "I- ...Look it doesn't matter alright? Right now I have other shit I should be doing."

"I'm tired of it and his life matters more right now... that kids familiar can only do so much. If he was a human... he would have healed by now. But... that's my fault too. Just like everything around this fuckin' place." He huffed, he didn't have time to linger on this any longer. "I gotta go." As it did a moment ago Silas' illusion began to appear, this time with an intention. His familiar features were quick to shift into something more basic and feral.

And just as it appeared the illusion flashed a grin.

"Do me a favour alright~? Don't touch Lune."

-> Seems Silas has wandered off to somewhere unknown... -> "Chapter 1: The Introduction" has ended.

[emberglowfox]

Steelheart Redux is my first big original project, and I've put a ton of effort into it over the past year. It would mean the world to me if anyone felt like checking it out.

TUMBLR VIEW - @steelheart-redux

COMICFURY VIEW

[tricks-n-illusions]

Silas's usual attitude seemed to melt away as soon as Noelle handed him the item. He looked confused to be receiving a random gift. Why would anyone gift him something? He was unsure but he accepted it nonetheless. "But..." "What do you mean North...?" He attempted to ask but quickly sighed in defeat. "Nevermind." Lost for words he instead examined the item, giving it one good lookover before he carefully placed it into his bag.

-> Silas has received Houndoominite from Noelle! It has been added to his Inventory and will now be displayed on his profile. -> The relationships page has been updated! + Silas's relationship with Noelle has been updated.

(Response to this)

Noelle gets a bit confused after Silas sniffs her. She’s not teary anymore and her mood suddenly changes.

“Hey, cut it out, weirdo." she yells at him with anger. "I know who ya are. I swear to Rotie you’re here in her database.”

Noelle checks the Rotie Database on her phone. It seems Silas is still labeled as Zorua. It was now changed to Zoroark.

“Heh, she never lies.” Noelle chuckles. “But for unknown reasons, my description of you went missin’ because she was somehow corrupted. I’ll tell Rimi to fix this.”

Noelle checks more of a Database and wonders.

“Hmm, that’s weird. It seems North and Wisteria’s profiles aren’t here. And the user with the name "Ivy" appears. Still, very corrupted.” Noelle sighs. “Oh, yea, it seems the name “Linda” is still in here, tho they might never have met one yet.”

“Anyway, I give ya a Houndoominite. Why? I have too many already, because I have subscribed to the service and they give this damn stone bi-monthly to any Pokémon who can Mega Evolve. Also, never forget me.”

Noelle gives this to Silas and leaves with a little chuckle. “Hehe, what a weirdo.”

[ @tricks-n-illusions ]

[ikurko]

YOUR WONDERFUL

CREATION

Will now be

discarded.

[yayita-art]

“A SECOND CHANCE”

{A Sonic fanfic AU}

((Read down👇))

INTRODUCTION

We all know the story of Shadow the Hedgehog, and the strong bond he had with a young and very kind girl named Maria Robotnik, who had a strange sickness called S.D.I.N.

This is the story of a little girl named Lily, who has a huge connection and past with Maria and Her and Shadow encounter ways in the abandoned space station ARK.

This will lead to Shadow look for answers and having to learn to see Lily not as the reflection of the one he lost But to see beyond that.

And Lily to find out about why some strange entities are after her, what connection they have with her strange powers and find a new family and friends, after loosing everything she hold dear.

What will it be? a little gift from the stars sended by Maria for Shadow, or just a cruel joke of fate to lead him to another shadow of one of the persons he most loves, knowing that she will never come back?

And will Lily find her true purpose and the origin of the strange abilities she has and find a place to belong and to call home?

Only destiny and the future will tell, but this definitely will lead them both to bond and find second chances that they thought that they would never have had in the present.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 >>…

((Indeed, im writing a fanfic of shadow, Maria and my oc Lily, let hope i don’t abandoned it hehe))

[myers-meadow]

Sascha (oc) introduction

Name: Sascha Stanimirova

Pronouns: he/him

Sexuality: bisexual

Job: assassin, and has a successful OnlyFans & social media presence on the side. This man keeps busy.

Likes: the colour black, sex, gloomy weather, orgasms, pasta, showing a lil tummy, the woman he's obsessed with (she can do NO wrong in his eyes), red wine, porn, teddy bears, inflicting pain on others, knife play, city trips, being a slut, Wassily Kandinsky.

Dislikes: when his girl (its not his girl) has a new bf, grocery shopping by himself, short vibrator battery life, long flights, summer, politics, high fashion, cocaine, loud dogs, being touched or hugged, fruit flavoured sparkly water.

Backstory: An assassin first and foremost. Sascha's main targets are political ones, or rich ones. He is good, he is quiet and he enjoys what he does. He loves manipulating his appearance and personality to fit in with ease in any environment. Outside of his job, he hates pretending, so he is very unapologetically himself, whether that is crude, rash, or polite and friendly, he doesn't care.

His parents come from very different backgrounds; his mother is a visual artist (collage, painting, occassional art installations), and she met his father through travelling and seeking a model. His father was an assassin as well, Sascha learned from him. Thanks to his mother's education, he mixes well in higher society. She also instilled a passion for art in him.

His OnlyFans career started as a dare, and he has the audacity to do absolutely anything - so he did it. It caught on quick; he used his friend groups to promote himself, and moved to other social media platforms as a means of promotion later on. There's little this man won't do, and he is absolutely not anonymous online. Everyone attributes his weird lifestyle and high income to his porn career, so it provided him with a perfect alibi for his eccentricities.

Warning: His story features heavy themes of co-dependency, rape/non-con, coercion, blackmail, toxic relationships, honestly this man is a walking content warning tbh.

I'm very open to questions and comments regarding him! Pls be nice, this is my first time posting any writing, esp original work, in what may as well be years. It's a vulnerable thing, esp him/this story. Feels good to be back! And I haven't forgotten Mischa, don't worry hahaha :)).

Bonus moodboard summarising a few vibes and inspirations:

[the middle one is a shot from a movie, rest is Trent Reznor, Peter Steele & young Johnny Depp] [first moodboard credits; some I made into pngs myself, bleedingthroughteeth, s4dpngs, free-png, violetbudd]

[howi99]

Son of the blue lion chapter 1

Ash: *waking up in the infirmary* ... What... What happened?

???: You lost consciousness in the cafeteria. One of your friends brought you here. Tall blond with blue eyes... A real catch you got there.

Ash: *looking at the direction of the voice* Sun? I mean, he is cute and all but i would never-

???: Oh no, i meant the other one.

Ash: *blushing* W-wait, J-J-Jaune brought me here!? I-in his arms!?

???: Oh? Seems someone has the hot for him, hm?

Ash: *hiding her face with her pillow* I'm sure he recognized me now...

???: *slowly opening the curtains* You know him, as dense as his father. *Sigh* Really, he was soo worried about you, he didn't even realize who you were even with his father's dagger dangling at your side.

Ash: *now looking at the woman* ... How did you know it was his father's? And why do you seem to know me?

???: Hm? Oh i was a good friend of him at the academy. And i know of you since i'm a good friend of Yuri too.

Ash: O-oh! I see!

Flayn: *smiling* My name is Flayn, but you probably know of me by the name Cethleann. It's nice to meet you, Em- i mean Ash.

Ash: *slowly nodding* Nice to meet you too... Aren't you a bit young to be acquainted with Dimitri and Yuri?

Flayn: Aw~ thank you! I'm in fact older than them.

Ash: ... You look my... *Shake her head* nevermind, Yuri didn't look 40 either.

Flayn: *looking at some papers* In any case, you should get back to class. You only missed half of the first period.

Ash: I see. *Get out of the bed* ... Did you... See anything wrong with my health?

Flayn: *shaking her head* Don't worry, Yuri told me everything. I didn't write anything.

Ash: *nodding* Good. *Leave*

Flayn: *sigh* She reminds me a lot of her. Poor kid...

[cheaploafs]

stopping myself from sleeping like time to go write on my desktop instead of my phone that will surely help

[thestoriesthatweweave]

"It's three seasons old, at least," said Phillip, in a pained voice. "What sort of provincial backwater did you buy it in?" "The Little Dover Dress Shop." Visander bit out each word, fuming that he knew the answer. "It still has an empire waist," said Phillip, a kind of agony on his face. "You know, here we have fashion, we don't just go about wearing robes for ten thousand years." "I care nothing for your human fashions, worm," spat Visander.

Dark Heir by CS Pacat is a comedy. Or, in other words: if book 3 is not a married-life sit-com between Phillip and Visander I riot.

(In other, other words: there are so many fantastic romantic dynamics in this book, but the one couple I have imprinted on like a baby duckling is the queer murder-machine with tunnel vision stuck in the body of a Victorian ingénue and his husband Who Really Does Not Want To Be Here and can endure his wife being "a dead man from a defunct world" but draws the line at him not dressing for dinner.)

[moongazeonastarfillednight]

Just want to share this here because that narrator is fire (and also because my adhd brain could never undertake Worst Journey and maybe I should stop blaming ADHD for the fact that I can't read anymore...)

Audiobook!

[skultrashfics]

The Concerto of the Faceless: Introduction & Chapter 1 (3.2k)

Introduction for The Concerto of The Faceless:

⋆.˚Reader Name: Honey Bellamy (Bellamy; French in origin meaning ‘Good Friend’)

⋆.˚Gender: Female (Cis/Or not, you can interpret it differently if you like, it won’t really matter except for any upcoming NSFW, which will be tagged)

⋆.˚Age: 426, born 1599 the same year the Globe Theatre was built (I didn’t know at the time of first writing, but this was also the year, Apricity Delight, Skulduggery’s youngest sister was born too!)

⋆.˚Nationality: British (Honey is mixed race but I don’t draw attention to it, so no readers feel ostracised) 

⋆.˚Personality & Backstory: She is a gentle and loving person by nature, though this is not how she was raised. Her parents are avid worshippers of The Faceless Ones. A longstanding family tradition, holding high positions in the church as a Priest and Priestess. 

When Honey's magic first manifested through her voice, it was seen as a divine blessing from the Faceless (I shall explain why in more detail in later chapters). The Church entrusted her parents with further power and status to pursue more knowledge of Honey’s gift. 

Their goal was for her to become a Dark Mage. To become increasingly powerful until she could reach out to The Faceless to offer herself as a vessel for them to return…

AU Storyline: So, as I said, I have taken some creative liberties in terms of retconning the lore to make it fit my own story. 

- ♡The Dead Men♡ are still with us. Though tensions are high. Erskine Ravel, when the time came was unable to actually kill Ghastly and as a result Anton also survived the ordeal. One brief moment of hesitation was all it took for Ghastly to gain the upper-hand. From there, negotiating was more palpable. Erskine's plans were thwarted but he was less complicit once he realised just how much his success could have cost him. It was too late for him to turn back, but he still had the chance to move forward in the right direction. His current status: he has been imprisoned for his crimes. The whereabouts are unknown to most.

- ♡Nefarian Serpine♡ is the Serpine from the Leibniz Universe. Currently, our protagonists are still facing the threat of Mevolent invading their world after his own was overrun and destroyed by the Draugr (So the narrative of this story takes place at the start of Seasons of War, apologies if some of my knowledge of the lore is dusty af). Nefarian has been living in this dimension for about a year now, somehow he has managed to accumulate some wealth and ascertain power now that the Church of the Faceless is a more established institution. He figured out how to use them to his advantage, given that this world is unfamiliar with the fact that he betrayed Mevolent in the Leibniz dimension. This Church of the Faceless, Serafina Dey and her siblings will do what they can to support Nefarian in his endeavours to bring Mevolent into this domain. Finances, men, information etc.

- ♡Baron Vengeous♡, instead of being killed by the Grotesquery, he survived the gunshot from Skulduggery and was incarcerated again. Despite how dangerous he had proven himself to be, such power could be useful and the Irish Sanctuary are willing to Barter his freedom in exchange for his power should the need arise. He is biding his time until then. His contacts within the Church of the Faceless make sure he is kept comfortable while imprisoned. 

Chapter 1

It was a mild afternoon, the summer sun's rays poured down from the sky crafting a halo of shadows around Corrival Academy. A light breeze drifted through the air, twisting and coiling around the shaded concaves of the dramatically gothic building. Valkyrie shuddered as they passed out of one particularly warming beam of light into an alcove of what felt like a condensed chill, neatly packaged just to torment her bare arms. She gripped her hands over her muscles and groaned, 

"I should have known better. Never trust the Irish sunlight, it is so much colder than it looks". 

Valkyrie wore her usual, black jeans and black t-shirt, but without a jumper or jacket the cold bit through and sent a chill down her hardened spine. 

Pleasant tilted his skull at her, she could tell he was far too amused by her inability to predict the weather and wear the right clothes. It was the angle in which he tilted, that sharp 45 degree angle which implied, if he had eyes, that he was looking down at her, despite her height not being far off his own.  "Stop giving me that look-", she pouted.

"What look? I have no face in which to give you a look", he retorted in that annoyingly provoking voice. 

Valkyrie scoffed and shook her head, "You know exactly what look, let's just- find Fletcher so we can get out of here... Being on school grounds is unsettling me".

They walked through the orchard that led to the back classrooms where Fletcher often taught, noting how the student body had diminished over the weekend. There were still some individuals milling about who resided at the boarding house adjoining the main building. Some lay back on the grass in patches of sun, some huddled together over textbooks cramming for some kind of exam, a small group of rough looking girls were wrestling under the low hanging vines of a willow tree. 

Valkyrie found herself smirking at them, part of her wished that she had been able to learn such skills in this safer, more controlled environment, with friends her own age. Despite that longing, she was glad that all she had been through, all the pain and sweat and blood and tears, had ultimately led to the environment in which these young girls could flourish. 

She would almost feel proud of Ravel for the community in Roarhaven he had created, if not for the initial reasoning behind it. She hated how something so good had been created out of such malicious intent. Though it was ironic that now, the beautiful new houses lining these streets housed both sorcerers and mortals alike. The refugees that had passed through from Dimension X were slowly adjusting to life here in Roarhaven. But it had not been an easy process, there was still so much distrust, even toward the sorcerers who aided them. But that was to be expected after the horrors they had faced during their enslavement.

As they passed by, the girls halted in their antics. One of them in the middle of a fierce chokehold, had her friend rapidly tapping at her arm, "Rowena...let...go..", she huffed, barely able to breathe. Rowena stared, transfixed as Valkyrie Cain and Skulduggery Pleasant walked past her. She had completely forgotten she was in the middle of a suffocating hold until the struggling girl stomped harshly on her foot. 

"OW!", Rowena released her hold and glowered at her friend, "That. Hurt", she snapped, lifting her foot and cradling it as though it were mangled while the other girl stood upright clutching at her throat and spluttering.

"You could have killed me!".

"No... but you could have passed out. And that's way more embarrassing".

Valkyrie awkwardly cleared her throat, redirecting their attention away from the brewing school yard squabble, "Have any of you girls seen Flet-Uh... I mean, Professor Renn?", she tried to hold back a shudder at using such formal language. She didn't quite mask it.

Immediately Rowena's face lit up, Valkyrie didn't like that. Of all the teacher's to have a crush on, Fletcher Renn was definitely not one of them. 

"Oh sure, he's usually in the Pre-Schoolers' room around this time... Not that I know for any reason in particular- it's just that- uhh".

The breathless friend stepped in, gracious enough to save her friend from humiliating herself in front of two legendary sorcerers any further, "He likes to nap there when Miss Bellamy sings to the preschoolers". 

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow, "I don't quite follow...". 

Rowena stood up taller, after releasing her foot and letting it fall back to the ground, "Oh- Miss Bellamy, she takes care of the younger kids, especially those that are struggling with their magic. She has the most beautiful voice... Professor Renn goes in there all the time. She has a couple of little teleporters in her classes". One of the girls made a small "awwh"sound and the others rolled their eyes at her. One of the other girls spoke up, she had a strong Scottish accent, "Her classroom is just over there, behind the pavilion, you cannae miss it".

Valkyrie nodded, "Right... thanks for your help girls, and- keep up the good work", she said with a grin as Skulduggery began to lead the way to the music room. She pretended to miss their delighted expressions and hushed whispers as she turned away and followed him.

On their approach through a long corridor, a soft hauntingly sweet melody hung in the air. It made every step seem heavier, every breath laboured, Valkyrie could feel a yawn brewing deep from within her chest and she blinked drearily at Skulduggery, "Can you hear that?... Wha-what is that?". 

Skulduggery had maintained his usual pace and let out a deep sigh of annoyance at Valkyrie's sudden drowsiness, "It seems", he began to explain. He loved explaining when it made him sound smarter than usual, "That Miss Bellamy's magic is affecting you, Detective Cain".

Valkyrie blinked quickly and stood upright glancing around as though trying to make sense of it, "Woah... that is weird...Just the sound of her voice is making me feel so sleepy..", she rubbed at her eyes trying to push through the sensation. It lingered, but not so much that she would collapse there and then, no matter how appealing the idea was. 

"How come you're not being affected?", she asked Skulduggery while fighting back a yawn, "Is it because of your whole skeleton shtick?".

Skulduggery hesitated for a moment, "My... shtick?".

Valkyrie shrugged, "Yeah".

Skulduggery's tone was indignant, "Perhaps it is simply that my mind is not as easily influenced as yours. It may have nothing to do with me being a skeleton. It could be down to my alarmingly intellectual way of thinking".

"Are you sure that's the reason?".

"No".

Valkyrie grinned, albeit a sleepy halfhearted grin.

As they approached the door to the music room, Skulduggery turned the handle and opened it wide. The gentle tinkling of a piano interlaced with the voice of Miss Bellamy, resounding around the room. It took all Valkyrie had to keep her eyes open and not give in to the urge to curl up on the floor and take a nap. She could see a few small children, curled up in blankets, surrounded by plush pillows, taking little naps of their own. 

The room had three very large windows that went from the floor halfway up to the tall ceiling. They were draped in sheer beige curtains that dulled the sun trying to break through, the breeze from the courtyard pushed and pulled at the fabric through a partly open window. Despite that, the room was warm and cosy... There was a pastel rainbow painted on the wall with fluffy cotton clouds stuck to the bottom where some other children lay sleeping. A chest of toys sat propped against a wall, unable to close with the amount of plushies spilling out over the top.

Miss Bellamy herself, was younger than Valkyrie had pictured from the sound of her voice. The way she sang, it sounded.. refined. Was that the word for it? She wasn't sure, she was too tired to care. Valkyrie imagined that at one point in history, Miss Bellamy would be described as an 'accomplished woman'. At least, that is what she assumed, from what little she knew of that time thanks to the stories Militsa had told her and what she had garnered from forced exposure to films such as 'Pride and Prejudice'. 

The young teacher glanced toward the now open door and the silhouettes standing side by side, a small smile curled her lips as she closed her eyes. The song mellowed out into a hum and she played the last few notes of her lullaby. With a soft and happy sigh, she opened her eyes again. Skulduggery and Valkyrie watched as she took a small gold necklace off of the piano and secured it around her neck. There was a small black gem fastened to the chain that seemed strangely familiar to Valkyrie...

Before she had much time to mull it over, Miss Bellamy stood, a bright smile creased the corners of her eyes as she walked to meet them. "I can only assume...", her speaking voice was bubbly and giddy, a far contrast to the featherlight lullaby she had just sang, "that you are here for my... older stowaway", she said trying to suppress a giggle. 

Though her voice was full of energy, it remained relatively quiet, so as not to disturb the sleeping children scattered around the floor. She stepped closer to Valkyrie and gasped, "You truly are as beautiful as he said... a pleasure to meet you Miss Cain, my name is Honey Bellamy". 

"He?". Valkyrie asked, rolling her shoulders to force away the sleepy feeling that hung around her brain like a thick fog, "You mean Fletcher?.. We were told we might find him here".

Honey nodded, "Indeed, Fletcher". She wore an amused smile as she moved toward a pile of blankets and lifted one, revealing Fletcher curled up like a cat with a goofy lopsided smile on his face. He grumbled and tried to reach for the blanket again in his half asleep daze, his hands clawing at the air trying to chase the warmth stolen from him.

Honey merely smiled and knelt down beside him, "I hate to interrupt, dear... but I think you might be needed. Valkyrie and Skulduggery are here".  Immediately, Fletcher sat up, his face flushing a bit as he awkwardly rubbed at the back of his head to try and wake himself up, "Val?...", he glanced over at the two detectives and groaned before being shushed by Honey. Her eyes darting over to her dozing students in cautious silence.

Fletcher gave her an apologetic wince before standing up and stretching, "Hey Val... Skulduggery... what are you guys doing here?", he yawned halfway through his sentence and Honey stood up beside him.

Valkyrie raised an eyebrow and folded her arms, "Well, we need you to take us somewhere. But if you are otherwise preoccupied...".

"No, no- not at all...", he chuckled and shook his head, "It's cool, I can... manage...", he kept yawning mid sentence and Honey smirked, 

"Is it urgent?", she asked Valkyrie and Skulduggery, "If not, you may want to wait a while for the spell to wear off... Fletcher may be a little, wobbly still".

Skulduggery poked Fletcher as though to test his stability, earning him a glare from the half asleep man in response, "Your magic...", his voice was directed at Miss Bellamy, though his skull was still looking toward Fletcher, "You control it using your voice". 

It was more of a statement than a question but Honey nodded anyway, "Yes… It can influence emotions mostly, but it can be used as a tool of persuasion if necessary. Though I would rather not use it that way... Being aware that you are being influenced weakens the spell. Hence why Fletcher is awake and the children are completely asleep...". She placed a hand on Fletcher's back and rubbed soothing circles, "Sorry, I would have gone easier on you if I knew you had a job this afternoon". 

Valkyrie watched the sleeping children as they rested, they seemed so at peace, so quiet. She figured their parents must love having someone like her take care of them. Though it was a little scary how easily she could subdue them. A power like that, in the wrong hands or with the wrong intention could be quite dangerous...

Honey saw the look in Valkyrie's eyes, "They are alright...", she said carefully, "The children. Most of these young ones struggle to sleep normally, nightmares, out of control magic, too much trauma for bodies so small". There was a sadness in her voice that made Valkyrie's chest ache, she tried not to think about the trauma her own little sister had been through when she was that age... it made sense that someone like her could be needed in circumstances like that.

Honey led them to a desk that sat at the edge of the room furthest from the piano and sat Fletcher down, "Hang on... Let me get you some tea, you will be right as rain". 

Fletcher grinned bashfully, "Thanks...".

As Honey poured a cup of water from the little kitchenette to the side of the desk, she summoned elemental flames from her palm to heat it before putting in a herbal tea bag and letting it steep.

"Give it a couple of minutes", she instructed Fletcher before handing him the mug. 

"Elemental magic? I thought you were an adept?", Valkyrie questioned. 

Honey leaned back against the desk, "My magic is strongest in my voice, especially when I sing... but I'm not limited to it. I can use some elemental magic too". 

Skulduggery regarded her for a moment, and nodded, "I see...".

Fletcher took a sip of the tea and let out a relaxed sigh, "I'm a bit concerned that you both found my hideaway so easily. I can't have everyone knowing where to find me when I want to disappear for a while... so keep it to yourselves, yeah?", he winked.

Valkyrie scoffed. "They already know, all we did was ask some girls in the courtyard where you were".

Fletcher paused, and frowned into his tea, "Damn, they are onto me". Honey laughed softly and shook her head, "Well you are here quite often... it makes me worried that you don't get enough sleep during the night...". He simply shrugged and sipped at his tea again and Honey sighed, clearly she had been pressing him for answers for a while and he was yet to open up to her about it. 

Halfway through his tea, Fletcher looked up at Valkyrie who was now munching on a biscuit that Honey had offered her, "So- where exactly am I taking you?".

Valkyrie finished her biscuit before speaking,"Right- well, we need to check in on an old ... acquaintance... but we need to get past the magical wards of his home undetected. As far as we know, there aren't any above a particular skylight, but it would only be accessible to a teleporter. There are still wards surrounding it, so it needs to be insanely accurate. Hence, you. It is quite likely he didn't anticipate us figuring out that he has connections to a teleporter, otherwise we would never have discovered the one gap in the defences". 

Fletcher tilted his head intrigued, "Okay... and who's house is this exactly?", he grinned, swirling the remainder of the tea in his mug before taking a nice long gulp.

"Nefarian Serpine", Skulduggery interjected. 

Fletcher almost spat out his tea. 

Honey froze at the sound of Nefarian's name, she straightened up from where she rested against the desk and folded her arms across her chest defensively. Fletcher, still trying to recover from choking on his tea, glanced over to her before looking back at Skulduggery, "Okay... uhh, shall we- talk about this elsewhere?", he wheezed, thumping his chest as he tried to choke quietly.

Skulduggery, never fond of putting tact into use, directed his eyeless sockets over to Miss Bellamy, "Are you familiar with Serpine?", he asked her bluntly. 

Valkyrie wiped some biscuit crumbs from her face with the back of her hand before speaking, "If you are- it could actually be helpful to us... he has become a bit difficult to keep an eye on and he is not someone we want to lose track of".

Honey's fingers tightened around her arm, Fletcher reached out to place a hand on hers, to steady her. She smiled sadly at him, "Thank you, I'm alright...",  She looked back to Skulduggery and shook her head, "I don't know Nefarian... I have never met him. But I don't plan to. All I know is that he has started talking with members of The Faceless Church in this dimension. That some of them are desperate to provide him with support in whatever endeavours he may be up to. I made a promise to myself that I would not go back to that life... I would not go back to being a worshipper of The Faceless. I don't plan on breaking that vow". 

Valkyrie had to steel her surprise upon hearing that someone like Honey Bellamy, was once a worshipper of The Faceless Ones. It didn't suit her in the least. She was too...sunny. She would look out of  place standing in one of the pews that lined the dark cathedral. The image was practically laughable. 

Skulduggery gestured to the necklace around Miss Bellamy's neck, "Yet, you wear a Katahedral Crystal... the very same used as the power source for the Sceptre of the Ancients. That is particularly jarring considering you have not yet been reduced to dust when it touched your skin".

Honey's hand instinctively reached for the necklace and she looked away from the trio, "There is a protective barrier around the crystal, I can assure you it is quite safe. It keeps my magic in control when I speak to people...".

Valkyrie paused, registering Honey's words, "So... you can't control your magic completely? Wait- how did you even get a Kata-...Katahe- Cathedral... whatever its called, crystal?".

Honey twirled the gem around in her fingers, sliding it across the chain, "Some fragments were gathered, the first time the sceptre of the ancients was destroyed. They were used as gifts, given only to high ranking Priests and Priestesses in the Church. China Sorrows and Uther Peccant helped me to channel its power to nullify my own before I started my teaching position. They worked together to make the necklace, to ensure my safety as well as my students'. I only take it off when I need to increase the power of my magic".

Fletcher spoke up then, a little defensively on Honey's behalf, "It's complicated, her parents are...- but Honey is a great teacher! You know Peccant wouldn't let her stay if he wasn't sure".

Skulduggery grumbled at that, "This is true, the main holds distrust in high regard".

Honey smiled fondly at his words, "He does... but he has been a wonderful mentor this past year, I only just started teaching independently a couple of months ago. But I am so content here".

A bittersweet silence lingered before Fletcher clapped his hands together, earning another warning glance from Honey as she checked on the tiny sleeping sorcerers. "Okay", Fletcher said, "I am feeling much more awake now", he stood up with ease. "So, if you wanna show me a picture of this estate or something, I will get you as close as I can to that blind spot".

Hi Tori here! I really hope you have enjoyed reading this first chapter into my new story! I will hopefully upload a new chapter every week. I plan to actually be consistent >< Don't worry, Nefarian will be coming soon...

Next: Chap 2

[tricks-n-illusions]

[Reaction to this post] - [Lady Ombre belongs to @ask-noonescity]

Alts have been added for smaller text.

Silas pulled his hand away in response, he wasn't expecting rebellion towards his threats, especially one he said with such confidence. The sudden physical contact made him cringe, despite his face being hidden his body language made it obvious he felt discomfort at being touched. He didn't like that, not one bit, her lack of fear was unnerving and the sinister grin she gave made his skin crawl. It felt like the power and advantage he had over her was suddenly pulled out from underneath him. He didn't have control over the situation anymore and that terrified him.

As she leered back everything in his body was screaming at him to run, yet just as before when faced with something much scarier than himself he froze like a deer in headlights. He didn't know how to react, he didn't know what to do and he was so confused by the situation he didn't even realize the unexpected stinging pain that was quickly starting to dig into his fur. It was only when he felt his mask finally beginning to slip that his panic and self-preservation finally kicked in.

"Please stop-!" Silas yelped out in fear, his claws were franticly clawing at the vines but he did little damage to them. It was like all his efforts to escape meant nothing to her, he felt so helpless and scared. Of course, he would die this way, a victim to his own stupidity. His breathing quickly spiralled out of control as he felt the vines begin to tighten, he didn't like this. It all felt so sickeningly familiar to him, the pressure around his neck, the way he gasped for air and panicked, it was all much too close to something from his past. This had happened before? Hadn't it? This was something he was acquainted with, something he knew well. She always did this to him, just another punishment on the long list.

And for some reason, everything in his mind couldn't stop him from melting back into those moments. She was here again, wasn't she? Back from the grave to torment him? Despite everything he knew, every logical thought denying her existence in the present he couldn't shake the thought. In one last ditch effort to ease his anxiety, he opened his eyes... But that only gave him a passing glance of a face he knew well.

Lady Ombre was truly gone, her words falling on deaf ears as she lectured the fox. All that replaced her was the terrifying memory of a ghost here to hurt him once more.

Silas franticly kicked and squirmed in the air, his tiny paws were desperately attempting to tear at the magical energy around his neck. Seance merely looked on in annoyance.

"What are you good for if not? You really don't know how to do anything, do you?" Seance scoffed, her magic was slowly tightening around the fox's neck more. Her grip easily constricted his airway. "I asked you to kill... one person." She held a singular claw up as the tiny Giratina spirit drifted around her, "But you couldn't even do that little fox, could you?" "Why do I even ask you to do things, what are you worried they're going to hurt you?" She laughed as Silas struggled. "You should be more scared of me than some stranger, did you not learn what happens when you don't listen? Was the tail not enough? Do you need another reminder?" "What's next, Hm..." The ghost hummed, pacing around the fox in thought. "How about an ear, or maybe." She suddenly grinned as her eyes darted back to him. "An eye? Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you? Every time you'd open your little eyes and realize you can't quite see the whole picture, you'll remember me and think about how much you should have listened... How does that sound, hm? Or I could finally just kill you?" Silas frantically shook his head in reply, the air he was able to breathe in was getting more scarce by the second. "You're right. That'd be too merciful, someone as horrible as you doesn't deserve mercy." With the last bits of air he could get the fox gave a broken plead. 

"Ugh, Seriously?" She groaned.

Silas hit the ground with a loud thud, the sudden allowance of air instantly threw him into a coughing fit. Seance however just stared down in irritation, her ears twitching with every sharp cough. "Are you fucking done now?"She asked in irritation, she obviously felt no remorse for her actions. "Stop the dramatic coughing fit, you're not getting any sympathy from me. You want sympathy then why don't you crawl your way back to your human, hm?" "I'm sure she's stupid enough to reward your misbehaviour with pets and kisses. You always did like being a little pampered pet, didn't you? Having a soft bed and food in your bowl~" She mocked. "Disgusting really, you pets are all the same." Silas only continued to cough before he made a weak effort to stand.

He only looked down in shame, despite her scolding, tears quickly began to fill his eyes. But there was no sadness, no emotion to go along with them all he felt was a disconnect from his surroundings as he drifted back into reality. [ . . . ] It seemed Lady had let go of him long ago, but he was too stuck in his head to have noticed. He only sat there in silence as his hand cautiously wandered to the place where the vines were. The presence of pressure still lingered even if the vines were no longer there. He seemed confused, unsure why Lady Ombre didn't simply kill him when she had the chance.

Just as she left the fox made a frantic scramble for his mask. Tears were beginning to well up in his eyes, all he could mutter out was faint repetitive apologies as he shakily took the kitsune mask in hand.

Once he felt it in his hands a faint calmness washed over him... He took a long moment to stare at it in silence. His claw was gently scratching at the smooth surface of the mask, a feeble attempt to help ground himself in the present day. He still seemed extremely shaken up from the interaction with her. His hands were unintentionally trembling, and he couldn't stop his tears from worsening as moments passed. He was so tired of this, he was so tired of showing weakness and letting strangers have power over him. He was getting so tired of people treating him badly, pushing him around, finding new ways to get under his skin and bring him to the pathetic tears he struggled to hide. "Everything is fine..." He muttered before he finally flipped the mask, completely set on using it to conceal any leftover tears.

"Why do I always do such stupid things…"

-> Oh? What's this? Seems Silas will remember this interaction. Lady Ombre has been added to the relationships page. -> Silas has been... slightly injured and will have minor scratches going forward.

[seaside-godzilla]

"SKREEEEEEEEONK!"

[askbeannuts]

[Oh god, it's them, look how janky they look now that I haven't drawn them in... *checks calendar* 3 months? At least in Karola's case?? Maybe?? Look at her bobble-head-]

Previous

[diamondsandtoads]

wrote for 5 hours today :))))) FINALLY FINISHED MY ROUGH DRAFT OF CHAPTER 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tvcore-productions]

Box full of shards(WIP title)

Premise: Gengar takes care of a clefairy egg, that's all

This isnt the full fic but if this interest you, I'm probably gonna update more consistently on wattpad,ao3, and storyforge

The Weight of a Soul

Coldness shuttered the forest, a love for the dead ancestors but not the Pokemon that evolved by them.

The moon's glow silhouetted the rocky top of the mountain. A widened path down the mountain for a large Pokemon, that can smoothen the road and plant seeds that sprout along the way up to their den.

 The Aggron, not noticing the moon's reflection of the sun like a mirror cast down its cold light in front of their cave. The moon had begun peering inside the sleepy Aggron, with a shadow walking by the moon’s peering light in the darkness.

An eerie glow that shapes up into threads of seafoam, a house picture of a cabin of integrity. If it was a simple picture, it was surreal to remember. The Aggron was aloof in memories, a sight of staring at wood after following a rocky trail. 

Threads of their dream became a snack, for one ghost, and one more uncaring for others to sleep around the area. Gengar was out of the shadows. Stretching for their morning after midnight, with the moon peering away after Gengar took a slow, and patient time with eating Aggrons dream.

When the dreams were absorbed, the unnoticeable flutter of the Aggrons lidded their gaze up. They were unable to notice the shooting star approaching at comet speed. It was just their uninvited guest, 'whose weight on the world is the one wanting the dead as their companion to have more company,' Mother said.

“...Did you give me nightmares so you could eat more.”

The Gengar looked back, tilting their head with their smile, and gave a casual shrug.

The moon shines down on their translucent fur, outlining their curvy, rounded bodies. Gengars weren't known for their gender difference. But the off-putting contrast of soft, sharp eyes looking comfortable after a well-fed meal had tied Aggron's stomach.

The Gengar's flaming fur of their shadow silhouette, phasing out of the mountain. They gleamed through the forest before the sun rose for others' dreams. Grinning a haunting face of gleam for eating their 'Morning breakfast dew'.

Renergized to leave a soul-sleeping sound. But even the ghost-type would chuckle over their dismay as they left their den. The Gengars’s eyes contorted back to how it was to an uncaring and prankster gleam like their smile.

The trail, dirt smoothed, and footsteps from a dragon made of steel smooth down the path and hold the forest neatly. A bigger Aggron repetitively watches the dance of the pond market, sitting by the cliff.

A Clefairy egg by the mountain's south side, no Clefables live on this particular mountain. Well if you were someone who hiked and didn't take any visual clues. It is not like there be any for the Gengar to notice, for there is only a pink and brown contrast by the gray spikes.

Was there a Ditto sleeping, no dreams sensed, so whose soul isn't sleeping so small? It was but an egg, in the dusted smell of rain. What poured down on this side of the mountain? Is there a cave that had its overflowing flood like a volcano, of silent death of the dead? 

There was a lot of water here. The Gengar couldn't care after the thought of climate politics came. Their nice nice-tasting nightmares other Pokemon would guess.

Through its shell, a flame sparks inside. It falters from being small. Around it was much rubble. 

But Gengar’s hand grazes over the head of the egg. An egg can't cry, an egg is only a cradle for the baby inside. 

Gengar’s fades away, trying to take a closer look into the soul realm.

The soul felt themselves under a palm of shadows.

The Gengar feels trivialized, with the soul not flickering like a Worrid Litwick.

In the Gengar’s palm, the flame balanced a little more. The sun was damping the sky in tangerine, the color of oranges that June would harvest. With the sun, staining the sky with red herbal tea, the Gengar was left… lost in thought, smiling in their eyes.

And then the afternoon sang, in the leaves whistles and underground rivers hit the sides of rocks.

The stronghold taiga trees of rough bark and pinecones, the orange sky seemed to drain its color on the leaves, shadows dance, and bush flicker. Tree scratches and Pokemon-marked dens and shrubs. It was down by the side of the southern side of the ghost mountain, less Pokemon, more empty.

Quagsire had 3 injuries dusted across her body; One crossed the side of her eye like a miss, a bruised arm bandaged around her right shoulder, and a bruise around her outer right leg.

"Hey! You'd already had your breakfast." 

She shouted, being annoyed and a bit brash to the sonder pansage. Something cold burdened the wind heavily, on the edge of the mountain and tree’s small meadow.

“It's Ariados from the webbed embroideries bushes! Have some respect for your market neighbors or whatever you call the market beside you.”

The little Pansage stared at her. Looking around for any Ariados she spoke of. No apprentice or hungry seller in sight. Feeling ready for another bite of redberry delight, that’d taste better stolen.

Till a sudden glance at red eyes locking eyes at the bush, glazing passed the pansage.

The pansage froze and dropped the raspberry. Hitting for a sprint behind the Quagsire.

“Hey!”

The Qougsire yelped, picking up the shaking Pansage to lecture. Abruptly sighing and leaves hand in hand.

Gengar picked up the fresh leaves inside the stem, the nice trees surrounded the bushes, healthily meshing with the other bushes that caress something fruitful.

Far from the trail of an old dry well, there are willow trees with disorganized missiles punctured and falling beneath the tree’s roots. The willow trees are in a circle around the taiga, the only reason the place would be called Willow Peak, at least until you see the willow trees growing at the side of the mountain.

Maractus, rolled their shoulders taking a breath of the earthy air, winding up and down their shoulders like the wind hitting the rocks. They look over their left shoulder, blazed and dry with scorch marks of black outlining a fiery detail from the brown wound.. 

“Oh hey Gengar” 

Gengar plucks the pins that got embedded in the trees. Gengar carried quite a handful.

“Bye Gengar.”

Gengar looked back with a welcomed smile, seeing Maractus back, and waved back with a small bye.

Fraxure rolled down the willow trees' bigger roots clawing out of the ground. taking the leaves from the Fraxure pokemon head.

“Oh, thanks shadow mon.”

Gengar smiles, seeping into the shadow of the willow tree branches.

Back to their home in a splintered in their gaze, the egg resting on the ‘good’ pillow side. No risks to see if resting the egg on top of the puffy pillow will off-balance the egg with a splash.

Nesting on the rock wasn't soft enough. Cleaning off or taking the leaves that seemed crunchy and dry from autumn sleeves, sliding the leaves off the edge of the hidey hole. Gengar was glad that the willow tree’s enrichment might only dry in winter.

With specks of sand, it itches to rock to bed in. At least it was pocket sand rather than a sandstorm. Lines cross the cave walls that specks of sand coated on the floor and leaves.

They let their shoulders rest, eyes anticipating something they wouldn't hold.

Gengar held the Clefairy egg up to them. Stargazing at the egg.

The sun finally grazed its light where it could see the market stalls, hanging embroidery and stained glass coloring the floors, and the rock of the second biggest dragon-type living there.

Near the front of the cobblestone paths, market stalls smell raspberry and citrus-dried oranges hanging in some windows and stalls.

Aggron whimpered, down in the forest. 

"Aggron could I have the splinter on your-"

"As long as you don't eat my dreams anymore." 

Their rose gold charm bracelet sparkled with a spinal and tera, pink and all-seeing shaked. Or made noise like any other bracelet would.

"What did you ask," Another Aggron appeared from the quiet rustling of their dexterity to the area.

"A Simple Request"

“Ok ok, but curiosity didn't kill an Aggron with one life.” They’d asked again, leaning themselves down to the Gengar’s height. 

“What is it that you want a splinter,” 

A Yamask peered out of the tall grass and beside the two Aggrons bored.

“I say Gengar’s been nesting with the omen of surprise.” Yamask chuckled, much to the dismay of the Aggron Avilara.

“...” The Gengar was waiting patiently with a following gaze, “I apologize for the assumption of this errand, I am Avilara, let’s not have this be a bad impression.”

Avilara has yet to get acquainted with the full-moon troublemaker, quietly keeping to themselves. 

The Gengar still smiled, “It’s good luck to have the blood of a big Pokemon for a nest, energy from the blood can make an egg strong. And this is just the right typing from a dragon type.”

The message hauntingly goes by the wind, un-phasing the mother, but terrifyingly confusing their son. The Yamask laughed, wiping a small tear, “Sure, a dragon-type that hoards rock.”

With a wooden splinter with Aggron blood, the eggs' health has never made the Gengar any more hopeful than they confidently were for a strong egg.

Gengar placed the thorn by the egg, their nesting complete and back home at their dens hidden ‘attic’.

The Gengar nestled back into their cave's shadow, along with a flare of soul from their newfound kin. Maybe they heard giggling in their ears, with their ears flicking up staring amiss the egg. With stars-struck eyes.

The far up of the cave had a hole the Gengar floated right up to. Sitting up the crevasses. A drop like that would break any egg, but out of claw reach if they don’t know where to look

The Gengar eyes splintered, the pittering flame of the egg.

Gengar rested on their eggs. Their claw runs a circle on the top of the pink and brown eggshell cradling the little soul.

 'It Boy' by Bbnomula plays on a small recorder, by the empty candle with a sweet smell of dead rose on the light pink wax.

{1700}

Knitting Railways{wip title} and Technically Chapter 2 after I mashed both one-shots turned filler chapter, into one fic. Deleted the part in the middle with aggron and the swanne in migration, but hey kept all the tropes

Also CHAPTER 2 @@@@ Button