#I just hope no one on here gets attacked in light of the Samara situation

[stuckinapril]

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[darkpoisonouslove]

“Revenge of the Trix” Thoughts

Diving into this second special and I have to say that I am actually quite excited to see how this will go. It was fun comparing the first special to season 1 even though I kinda expected to be angered. But good news! I wasn’t. Not so much at least and I really hope that pattern will continue.

- I am not quite sure but I think they changed the timeline a little bit. Though, if it means I get the festival of the rose or that battle with the witches in Magix, I am down! I doubt it but I will hold on to my hopes until they get dashed!

- I am still puzzled by Faragonda’s remark about the “powerful forces here at work”. What does that mean? Who is she talking about? She can’t be wary of Daphne so what the hell is happening? Was she concerned at the possibility of Bloom having Dragon Fire? I really hope they will explain some of this. But I like that they added the fact that Daphne was the princess of Domino. It wasn’t in the original of this scene and I am glad they changed that.

- Okay, without the bike rescue and the way the dialogue in that scene is reworked, the Riven and Darcy stuff is way more disturbing than it used to be! She straight up spelled him without any connection being made outside of that and it just looks way too creepy. Not to mention that it does a disservice to Riven’s character as well because if Darcy never rescued him, he has no other reason to be meeting her other than “I don’t care about my friends, just about being great”.

- Spring break? Wow! We really sped through that school year.

- Was that montage from Gardenia in the original? I don’t quite remember that but it is cute as hell! And to end it with Mike and Vanessa hugging while happily watching their daughter? I will go sob now if you’ll excuse me. Beautiful.

- Wait, she’s dreaming of the night Mike saved her from the fire (instead of, you know, the fire in the flower shop)? And by the looks of it, in this she doesn’t know that she’s adopted like she did in 4kids season 1... I am actually in trepidation over this next scene.

- Well, that scene went better than I thought it would. But she really didn’t know about being adopted. I am just glad that she didn’t get mad they hadn’t told her the truth. It would have broken my heart. And they are her parents anyway.

- Omg, Bloom is asking all the right questions! I cannot believe it! I am absolutely ecstatic that they changed that part because now it is really making sense (I had given up on ever saying that in regards to Winx Club again so I vote my decision to watch the specials “fucking spectacular”). She connected the dots about getting her powers from her birth parents! I have been so salty about her not asking that in season 1 but they fixed it! Imma go happy sob again.

- Faragonda is showing her stuff now? Of her own volition? Nice! I just don’t think the “Daphne lived in a lake” thing makes sense. Didn’t her soul go there after her body was destroyed by the curse of Sirenix? That is different! And considering Faragonda’s past with the Company of Light, that is not all that she knows about Daphne so she’s kinda lying.

- Now that she saw the crown, does that mean that they don’t get to waste time going to Domino even though her powers were inside her all along? I really, really hope so! And the way Daphne presented the crown to her could be taken as symbolism about Daphne passing it down to her now that Bloom is the only living heir to the throne of Domino. That was a cool detail and a great change imo (especially if they aren’t gonna go to Domino).

- Well, Lucy’s PoV was kinda made more... understandable, I guess? Like, the wording was better... right before the very end of that argument between her and Mirta. That was somehow meaner than what happened in s1. But I actually like the change to the scene with Mirta casting her spell to spy on the Trix. I think it makes more sense than the way it was done in s1.

- How does she know there is an archive in Cloud Tower when she has never been there? I think this scene suffers from the changes. And it is also really convenient that she decided to break into CT just in time for the Trix to trick her. I think those scenes were backwards in s1 and it was after the Trix saw her in CT that they came up with their plan which was better because it didn’t look so staged. Also, “What are friends for?” Yeah, right, Sky. Friends. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuure. And you weren’t totally on a date.

- That scene with the Specialists was pretty intense considering its length. Since when is Brandon being the cautious one? While Timmy is like “Sure I’ll help you commit major offense against school rules, no probs”? I could take Brandon’s behavior as a best friend’s worry and Timmy’s as a friend’s desire to help out but it still seems a bit out of place. I am just glad that Sky is taking care of the tactics instead of just throwing himself at it.

- And there is no defense system or anything here. I can’t tell if that’s good or bad. It was kinda random when it popped up in s1 (never to be seen again, mind you) but it seems a bit illogical for the school to not have some kind of protection (especially if it has powerful spells inside). Idk.

- I am stunned by Sky’s absolute dumbassery that is bordering on being an asshole (and even tipping right into it). What does it matter if she’s a witch? She is still the same Bloom she was before she learned it, wtf, dude? (Not to mention that this pisses me off greatly because it implies that all witches are pure evil.) I just can’t understand why Bloom didn’t wonder how she has a fairy form then. She can turn into a fairy and that is pretty solid proof that she isn’t a witch. Why didn’t she question it?

- Awww! I love how worried Winx are for Bloom! And I think they’re skipping classes (and risking to get in big trouble with Griselda) to go look for her. True friendship!

- What is she doing sleeping in the bushes? And why doesn’t she just try to fly there? You know, get some proof for herself that she’s a fairy since she has the wings and all?

- Why is Stormy just setting random patches of grass on fire? I agree with Darcy, it can be dangerous if she sets the whole forest on fire.

- “Why would we be so cruel? For giggles.” XDDD

- They changed Mirta’s powers to transforming emotions into energies? That is kinda cool but isn’t that what all magic does?

- The Dragon just swept the Trix away? Is that what happened? It looked like it just fucked off into the sky without doing shit but I digress. But aww at the way Tecna scooped up Bloom so carefully! It was adorable!

- If I were Bloom, I would leave Sky a very angry message and he’d have to give a real good apology for me to take him back. The moment she appeared to be something he didn’t expect, he pulled away from her. That is not someone you want to be in a relationship with. I just wish Bloom would figure out that she can do better. If he shallow like that, you don’t need him, hon. (But hey, don’t blame Kiko! And that wasn’t bad advice! If you want to talk to someone, you should fucking call them! That was good advice.)

- Oh, no! No, no, no, no! Please, not the Day of the Royals! I beg of you! Though, it will have to happen because that is what makes Bloom go back to Gardenia where the Trix corner her. But what will happen with the Diaspro story? Bloom knows that Sky is Sky. Though, he still didn’t tell her he was engaged so I guess there can be drama over that. Ugh, why?

- “That’s a relief”? Fuck you, Sky! So her not being a witch is what makes or breaks this relationship - actually, pardon me, THIS FRIENDSHIP according to his own definition - and not, you know? Her goddamn personality maybe? Damn, what a fucker. Seriously, he is so much worse than in s1. Bloom should really stop wasting time on his sorry ass and go snatch Diaspro for herself instead. Why does he have a picture of Diaspro btw? He does not really care for her... like, at all. Not that he cares for anyone, apparently.

- Oh, so now he loves Bloom? Also, great going, Timmy! Yeah, just suggest breaking off a royal engagement. Without even asking what the political situation is. That is not the best idea. I mean, there was the possibility that Eraklyon needed that marriage. Which, of course, they don’t but still. It ain’t that simple. (God, I hate giving Sky an excuse but this really is a complicated situation. Though, he could have just told Bloom about the arranged marriage instead of lying to her.)

- She could have just waited instead of going for the option of getting them all in trouble. It was only one day. But at least Winx tried to talk her out of it instead of being right there with her in the impulsiveness. And yet, they still decided to support her like friends do. That is cute!

- “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” Ya think? And yes, being around Erendor and Samara is definitely not a great experience.

- Ooh, she saw Sky directly with Diaspro! Damn, that changes things. And I hate to admit it but it makes more sense because at least now she has a solid reason to jump to conclusions.

- Oh, no! She thinks it is the Trix again. Honestly, I just wish she would have seen Sky for the lying piece of shit that he is! It would have saved so much trouble. I feel bad for Diaspro, though. She just got attacked without having done anything to deserve it. Shocking, I know. But none of this was her fault.

- Sky really did that with Riven? I thought he would be more mature than Riven but nope. He is really campaigning for asshole of Red Fountain. I know Riven started this but Sky has previous offenses against both Bloom and Diaspro so he takes the cake.

- Codatorta was very quick into action. It was kinda impressive. I see that the conflict between Griffin and Faragonda is non-existent here. “I see it’s not just my students who can behave badly”? This coming from Griffin? That has the exact opposite tone of her line in the original. It’s kinda like “Well, we’re in this together because obviously neither my, nor your students know what the hell they are doing.” Though, it can still be taken as a subtle dig as in “You thought you had the high ground when you sent me back the Trix but look at what your fairy has done!”. That actually sounds more like it, though her tone of voice was still a bit too soft for a confrontation.

- Hey, no nightmare monster? But does that mean that the Trix don’t get expelled from CT?

- Aww, I wish she wouldn’t just leave her friends behind! And that montage of memories. (But what the heck is Tecna doing at that fountain? Get down from there, Tecna! I thought you were the reasonable one!)

- How do the Trix know Bloom is from Gardenia? It sounds like they are the bestest of friends with her instead of mortal enemies.

- Awwwwww! Mike and Vanessa keep being so supportive! I love it!

- I actually think I like how they reworked this scene! Icy dropped them in the portal thingy (whatever the hell it was) to force Bloom to transform and lower her guard at the same time and I think it made some more sense than the original did.

- “Our ancestral witches”? That sounded kinda weird. I was just about to say in my conclusion for this special that they dropped the Daphne storyline halfway through this but I see they haven’t. I am pleasantly surprised! And Bloom actually learns that she is her sister (which for some reason was missing from the 4kids dub) as well as all the stuff about Domino. Well, all in very vague terms but still.

- I actually prefer the original way they plucked the fire out of her. It was more jarring while here the animation was just a tad bit too smooth for what it needed to accomplish.

- Oh, and here her fairy form just vanished after they took the flame? I love that! It was the one thing that instantly told me that she still had her powers in s1 because she still had her winx for a while after they took it from her. But here it disappeared the moment the Trix took off with her power. I am curious to see if it is actually gone. Though, I can understand how believing she doesn’t have it anymore can get in the way of her transforming because magic comes from emotions.

This was actually better than I thought it would be and I went in with some expectations because of the first special! I am so pleasantly surprised! The plot carried well throughout this one as well and I supported about 95% of the changes they made from the original storyline which is a lot more than I expected! There was a thing or two that didn’t make much sense, but overall, this was pretty logical! My nitpick would be with the title of this special because the Trix weren’t all that central to it and there was no revenge whatsoever here. I would call it more of a hunt, really. So that would’ve been better if it had been something else having to do with Bloom since she remained at the front and center the whole time... And that didn’t annoy me at all. Wow! I kinda wish they will rework all the seasons into specials now if they can make me like Bloom (though, I admittedly had my moments of that in s1 as well. It is just that the later on we go, the more I can’t stand her). Now I am hyped about the next one and I really hope I won’t be disappointed because it will be such a shame after the good work in this one. (Oh, and the rest of Winx didn’t have much role in this one but I was actually so absorbed in the Bloom storyline that I didn’t notice until this very moment. Man, these specials are really working a miracle here!)

[drops-of-moonlights]

WINX REDUX AU SUMMARIZED: Season 5 (The Rage of the Merfolk Prince)

Or, in which I give the basics of what I’ve changed about the story for the AU. It was originally way more descriptive but if I kept it in that style I would have finished in 2039 and I ain’t got time for that. Let’s cover Season 5 at last!

WINX REDUX AU SUMMARIZED: SEASON 5 (The Rage of the Merfolk Prince)

It’s been a few weeks since the adventure in Nevere and Zeisterna, and the Winx come back from Earth after having helped out with the preparations to fully join the Council of Magix.

Roxy and Selina come with them, both now soon to start classes in Alfea and Cloud Tower respectively. They all are tired, just having helped with an oil spill near Gardenia that took them by surprise.

Selina bids farewell after getting directions, and after finishing up Roxy’s remaining paperwork (most of everything else she filled out on Earth with Klaus and the Black Circle’s help), they also say goodbye - classes don’t start for another week, and the Winx have stuff to do.

A few hours later, on the Order of Mana’s Roccaluce base, Tecna, Musa and Flora are granted the title of Guardian Magi - now recognized as heroes of their realms thanks to their deeds, and able to directly interfere in any situation that proves dire.

After the ceremony and a lot of congratulations (as well as the girls meeting Tecna and Flora’s parents for the first time), Aisha is called by Tressa, who tells her that Tritannus has somehow escaped.

After a short panicked scream and her attempts to immediately go to Andros stopped by the rest, Aisha elaborates on who Tritannus is. (You can learn more about him here! for the rest of his fam, go here)

So far it seems Tritannus escaped with the help of a group of magi, but his actual whereabouts are unknown.

On Mareia, near the Highpeak Prison for Troublesome Merfolk, a merman is escaping, alongside three witches - Tritannus, aided by the Trix. The Trix had been relocated to that prison for the time being, and thanks to Earth’s recently-opened Ocean Gate, some of that spilt oil entered Mareia.

Tritannus, using his knowledge of toxins and the like and aided by the Trix, manages to poison the guards even with the magic limiter placed on him, regaining his trident (and the Trix their weapons), making a run for it.

The magic limiter is undone on Tritannus forcefully, making his aura and magic overflow, his eyes gaining the magic high light.

After forming an alliance with the Trix, he explains them his plan of revenge, and with how useful the oil proved, they decide to go to Earth and get more.

The Winx go back to Earth for three days right before classes start, wanting to actually spend time relaxing with Bloom’s parents, the guys tagging along to properly explore the city as the last time they visited it was to fight the White Circle.

Tritannus and the Trix make it to the Earth Gate, but are stopped by Lemmy and Phylla, the Selkies of Earth and Andros. After a short fight, the Selkies lose, and Tritannus takes the chance and steals one of the pearls in each of their necklaces - holding the power to freely traverse between the gates. Linking them to himself and the Trix, they make their trip at last.

While exploring the city, Sky pulls Nex aside and shows him a jewel necklace - the Heart of Arturia. He’s planning to give it to Riven as the official signifier that they’re dating, as they haven’t announced it to the general public yet and Samara’s pressuring him about it.

Sky is unsure about using the Heart for it as it can have the meaning of engagement and he doesn’t want to scare Riven off, and Brandon’s advice to give it to him as soon as possible has made him more nervous. Nex suggests to give it to him when an opportunity presents itself, and that he’ll know when to give Riven the pendant.

The day goes by without any major incidents until sunset, when a surge of oil seems to spout out of the ocean, coating the beach and mutated fish suddenly attacking.

Everyone transforms and starts fighting the monsters, the guys stay behind to protect the beach while the Winx advance into the sea trying to search for the source.

After a few minutes they find Tritannus and the Trix, and with Aisha recognizing her cousin the fight goes underwater. The girls struggle to fight well in Believix (so do the Trix), eventually both teams retreating to regroup and think about how they will progress. During the fight back at the beach, Sky loses the pendant after being forced out of his armor, falling into the seas. This sends Sky into a minor panic, due to the superstitions surrounding the Heart. Riven can pick up something’s wrong with him but doesn’t bring it up, knowing full well how his boyfriend works and that he needs to calm down first.

After helping to clean up the next morning, Bloom meets with Mitzi to give an actual goodbye, keeping a promise made with her after having disappeared for 3 years. Macy is also there, holding a small weak-looking flower in a pot. She reveals to Bloom that she seems to be developing magic, and somehow managed to make this flower sprout. She has called it a Lilo, as it was made using lily seeds.

After a short talk, both sisters leave to the park, a flower rally happening that day as an incentive for more people to go green after yesterday’s shenanigans.

From the shadows, the Trix can sense incredibly magic budding in that flower thanks to Macy’s inexperience, and conclude that if it blooms, it will release plenty of magic for them to absorb, which will hopefully fix their issues underwater.

After a few hours (since Mitzi had to run some errands and Macy wanted to tag along), the Trix take the chance to strike while the girls are distracted, attempting to steal the Lilo. They don’t foresee Mitzi immediately round kicking them all at once, grabbing Macy and going as fast as she can on her motorcycle, telling her sister to call Bloom for help.

They manage to elude the Trix for a bit and take refuge in the mall, hoping the increased amount of people will make them drop their pursuit. However, Mitzi only knows of them thanks to Bloom’s stories, and her expectations prove to be false when Icy casually covers the place in frost.

Macy tries to fire weak spells to try and delay them using the plants in the area, but her magic is still untrained and they’re quickly burnt by Stormy. However, the plants retaliate and immediately ensnare Darcy and Icy, Macy looking surprised.

The spell was Flora’s, who arrives with everyone else to protect the sisters. The Winx go confront the Trix directly, while the guys escort Mitzi and Macy out in the confusion. After a short battle, the Trix go after the Lilo again, the Winx following suit.

During the escape, they briefly go past the park, and Macy decides to simply plant the Lilo around the rest of the plants and then enchant them, hoping that will be enough to mask its signature and make the Trix take too long to find it. Seeing the logic behind that, the guys agree, and with help from Helia and Nabu the whole park is enchanted.

The Trix arrive at the park and are confused at all the magic in the area, and decide to simply go after Macy again and force her to talk, though she’s visibly less harsh than she would have been with Mitzi. She’s defended by the Specialists and the Winx again, but Icy finds an opening and grabs her, lifting her to the air. She starts to threaten her but Flora intervenes, managing to bring Macy back to the ground and starts to fight Icy one-on-one.

It’s an intense fight, as Flora’s very aggressive physical fighting style is starting to cut away at Icy’s defenses, and right when she’s about to strike the final blow, she is struck on the back by Stormy. She starts to fall but picks herself up, and realizes a sudden magic rush is starting to burst from the garden.

The Lilo blooms, left unattended during the fight and the extra magic from it feeding it, releasing a torrent of energy. The Trix move as fast as possible and manage to absorb the magic, sadly realizing that it was less than what they thought they would get. They try to retaliate against the Winx, but Flora and Macy manage to make a convergence spell, a torrent of petals, leaves and branches suddenly pelting them and hitting them, driving them away back with Tritannus - they got what they wanted.

Macy is sad about what happened but Flora commends her work, impressed at how someone as young as her made a flower as interesting as the Lilo. She suggests to train under Eldora if she has the chance, now that Selina’s at Cloud Tower she could use the help from time to time. Macy accepts, and after taking a while to relax among the flowers, everyone leaves for home, Mitzi and Bloom moving their hangout to tomorrow after the shenanigans of today.

The next day goes without incidents, and after bidding goodbye to her parents, Bloom and the rest go back to Magix, to start their 4th year of class properly. The guys outside of Helia and Nabu start their 6th and last year at Red Fountain, while Nabu signs up for the 2-year program at Alfea.

Bloom and Dia reunite after three months of not getting to see each other, and decide to catch up on lost time. Flora is approached by Krystal, recognizing her childhood friend, leaving Flora confused. She reveals she was Rosa, the girl that used to play with her and Helia on the woods, and also sit down to catch up.

Afterwards, the group goes to talk with Faragonda, explaining the situation with Tritannus and the Trix and how their mainly-underwater actions make it harder for the girls to confront. Faragonda doesn’t try to dissuade them from attempting this as Aisha having personal links to the case is not something she can dismiss, so she tells them they might need to obtain Sirenix to properly deal with Tritannus.

A few moments later, the Winx asks Daphne about Sirenix, and how they can get it bothering her about her own journey. The Princess is reluctant on letting them try it as its trial can be hard to deal with, but eventually relents and tells them what she did - one must get 3 pearls from the various seas of the system, and then bring them to one of the Springs of Sirenix to obtain the form.

However, they need to kickstart the quest properly, and for that they must find the Grimoire of Source Forms, that houses the riddles used to begin the quests for the elemental transformations. Daphne does mention that simply befriending a Guardian Selkie would be viable as well, as that’s what she did with Politea, but the Winx go with the book as that would be faster. A copy of it is guarded in the Magic Archive, and so the Winx begin their search.

They decide to call the guys to help with the search given the archive is massive, and Helia also reunites with Krystal. On their way to the archive, Sky talks with Flora about the pendant and his worries, and Flora advices to simply focus on finding the the Heart first, and then see what he does with it.

Nex and Krystal end up in a conversation after a while, and seem to hit it off nicely.

On the swamp of Melmamora, the Trix and Tritannus ponder what to do regarding the Trix’s inability to properly fight underwater - even going back to Enchantix is giving them trouble. Tritannus then remembers about Sirenix, and believing the Winx will try to get it as well, the Trix go to Alfea, expecting to get indirect answers from them.

On the Archive, everyone starts to help with the search of the Grimoire, and after a few hours, they manage to find it thanks to Concorda’s help. It’s at that point that the Trix strike, making a mess of the place and start to fight for the book. Krystal helps as support, her powers over healing proving helpful in short bursts and her small control over plants helping Flora from time to time.

However, while on the highest points of the Archive, a bad move and an attack by Stormy damage Sky’s wings, making him fall to the ground. The armor has a safe fall spell embedded that helps Sky to not die from the fall, but he still hits the ground hard.

Tecna, who currently has the Grimoire, takes advantage of the show to cast a duplication spell, keeping the original hidden. She throws the copy to the ground while rushing over with everyone else to Sky, and the Trix, believing it to be the real book, grab it and leave.

Krystal and Helia manage to undo most of the surface damage together, but when Sky wakes up, he seems to have lost his memories. This is bad for many reasons.

A few days pass, and not even the Winx’s and Faragonda’s Onyrix powers are enough to help him remember more than his name and role as prince - something inside him is keeping the memories blocked for some reason, and until they discover what it is they can’t do much. Flora, Brandon and Nex have an idea of what it could be, and both boys volunteer (alongside Riven and Dia) to help him recover his memories more gradually by recalling their relationships to each. The Winx are still worried about their friend (Bloom and Stella mainly), but Dia reassures them they’ll find a way to help him, and that they still need to start the Sirenix quest.

The girls then go back to their dorm and try to open the Grimoire, but to their surprise they can’t. After a few more attempts, the book itself seems to talk - saying that it needs a key to be opened before they attempt the quest. It says to look for it in the “lush place blessed by Aethernae”, before going silent again.

On the seas of Andros, Tritannus and the Trix manage to open their version of the book - and obtain the same results, though mentioning a place guarded by Voidoleire rather than Aethernae - Tecna’s copy of the book was good enough, and worked the same way. They realize that Sirenix would also grant them access to the Infinite Ocean, and that would be immensely helpful to their plans.

After a quick search by Tecna, they determine that the most likely place the Grimoire meant was the Shrine of Aethernae in Graynor. With Stella’s staff, they quickly teleport there, and find themselves face to face with a Pixie. Introducing themselves as Natalira, they then guides them to the altar, where they assign them a challenge - they must find the Creature of the Rainbow Mantle, and convince it to come to the altar without using magic or potions to enchant it.

The Winx then split in teams of 2, and after some contraptions and challenges (as well as some bonding moments), they reunite as they see a fight between a manticore and a griffin.

The fight starts to escalate to the point the girls start to feel in danger, and as such transform and look from a distance. The griffin manages to do very heavy damage and ends up kicking the manticore to a cliff, the beast hanging on a branch for dear life. The Winx realize it’s about to break, and with a convergence spell they manage to bring it back to safety. Stella and Aisha take care of its injuries, Tecna and Bloom try to calm it down, and Flora and Musa get it some food and water to replenish itself.

The manticore nuzzles them all, and then suddenly shifts color - its grey fur and mane suddenly turning rainbow. It was the Creature of the Rainbow Mantle all along.

The Winx then manage to bring it back to the shrine, and congratulating their kindness, Natalira gives them the key to the Grimoire - a key decorated with different-colored gems. 

The Winx thank them, and as they open the book (as they brought it along with them), it asks one final question: are they completely, truly sure they want to start a Quest? Using the book method only gives a time limit of a full lunar cycle, and if they fail to finish in time they won’t be able to try the quest again in 3 years. The Winx agree wholeheartedly, knowing that Aisha’s family and the oceans of the system are in danger and this will be their best chance.

At this, the book flips to the page holding the first Sirenix riddle, and the Winx feel a sudden rush of magic - they have obtained Harmonix, as their minds, hearts and souls were perfectly aligned (“in full harmony”, so to speak) in their decision.

On Daumme, in an island near Oppositus, another Pixie gives the Trix and Tritannus the same Key. With the Trix and Tritannus also agreeing to the quest, thought out of a desire to be powerful, they are given Harmonix as well.

The first riddle speaks of Shimmering Shells and of subtle songs, both Aisha and Tritannus recognizing that as a place near Andros and Mareia.

The Winx then decide to do each riddle in different groups of three, so one team can advance the quest while the rest do research on Sirenix itself, as well as trying to help Sky recover his memories.

Stella, Aisha and Bloom go to Andros, and with Roy’s help, they arrive at the Shimmering Shells. However, once they do dive down there, they realize Tritannus and the Trix have already been there - and have taken the Pearl of Ingenuity for themselves. They have corrupted the Shells making them hostile, so the three Princesses try their Harmonix powers on them, healing them. As thanks, the Shells provide the next riddle. On the way, they meet Lemmy and Phylla.

During the trip back, Tritannus has paid a visit back home, and has managed to poison his father as well as Nereus, putting them out of commission and into the dungeons - Ligea and Tressa having escaped. He proclaims himself King of Mareia, and guards the palace with his mutant fish to delay a rescue.

They also run into Illiris and Sonna, stealing a pearl from each gaining access to the seas of Solenei and Daumme.

It’s then that he reveals his true plan to the Trix - the only way he can actually ensure a long reign is if he’s powerful enough for the other realms to try and not bother, and that’s only obtainable in Infimare. At the promise of further strength, the Trix keep their alliance, but do discuss in private that they’ve been through this song and dance before and having an escape route ready should be top priority.

The next riddle told by the shells spoke of the Azure Valley and of a gorgeous shield, Stella remembering that’s right in front of the coasts of Astrael, Solaria’s capital.

Stella, Flora and Aisha go to Solaria, while the rest stay back to try and help with Sky’s memory during a short trip to Roccalucce. Sky seems to be making slow progress, but something seems to still be plugging his memory. Nex and Brandon talk about what they could do about the pendant, and if they should tell the girls.

The other three reach the Valley (meeting Illiris, Solaria and Quarzis’s Selkie), but run into Tritannus and the Trix. After a short fight, he mutates a passerby jellyfish, and after realizing the place they’re in is gonna cave, he leaves the fight to the mutant.

The girls try and heal the thing but it’s too fast for them, and after Flora gets hit by its tentacles (slowly getting poisoned), Stella starts to panic. However, she notices a rusty shield on the floor, and after a second of hesitation she dives in to grab it, and bashes into the jellyfish with enough force to knock it down to the floor. She then uses the shield as a canalizer for her magic, firing a beam of light removing all the corruption.

As the jellyfish leaves and Aisha heals Flora, the Pearl of Self-Confidence manifests in front of Stella, a small seashell-like box appearing as well to store it - the Winx have their first pearl.

The next riddle speaks of a ruby reef and of a sweet memory, Musa immediately knowing it means Melodeus. She elaborates that the Reef is a popular tourist destination near a city called Famire, and it was her mom’s favorite place.

Musa, Stella and Tecna leave for Melodeus, while the rest start to do more research on Sirenix and on Tritannus with Daphne’s help. The name of Politea keeps popping up on searches, and Daphne feels a twinge building up.

on Famire, after a few minutes of searching, they find a massive harp made of coral, as well as Tritannus and the Trix. They fight again, but after a miss from Tritannus the Winx manage to defeat them, sending them back running. They meet Sonna during the fight as well.

Musa plays the harp, the memory of her mother fresh in her mind guiding her, aided by the other two thinking of how Musa might be feeling and trying to match her rhythm. After they finish, the Pearl of Empathy appears - only one pearl left for the Winx.

The next riddle mentions a sunken castle and a shining beacon, Tecna thinking of the legends of the Databridge Castle on Zenith.

Bloom, Aisha and Musa arrive with Roy, and meet Lithia, who acts as the Guardian of the Castle’s ruins as they’ve had issues with scavengers before. Roy wants to come with, having heard of how the building has remained in perfect condition after all these years and thinking this is his best chance - revealing to the girls as well that he’s a Sorcerer, transforming into Energix to go with them.

As they make their way, they’re ambushed by mutant fish sent by Tritannus, delaying them, the merman and the witches getting ahead.

The team has trouble coordinating and cooperating, one of the fish poisoning Aisha and Tecna making them argue. By the time they’re done and reach the castle, they find Tritannus and the Trix have already claimed the Pearl of Cooperation, having solved a challenge fairly easily.

Both teams are 2 for 2 now, and this worries the Winx, fearing they’ll get access to Infimare not knowing what their true goals are.

The next riddle speaks of the sea of flowers and of approach, Flora recalling the ancient Ocean of Blossoms near Lynphea and Dolona.

Flora, Tecna and Musa leave for Lynphea, as the three princesses are busy helping Daphne on Domino - a grand ball will be held to honor her achievements once more on Nevere and Zeisterna. Brandon and Nex finally tell the Winx about the pendant and how that might be linked to Sky’s repressed memories, and the Winx promise to help look for it if they have the chance - it’s probably still on Gardenia’s seas.

As they say this, Phylla and Lemmy find the pendant, and decide to keep it as a trinket for now - they now the Winx fought there a few days ago and they might be related.

On Lynphea, the girls find themselves in a sea covered in giant flowers - Flora explaining it was a result of the massive spell used during the Primaverian War. Diving deep, the girls face a massive flower, and also meet Desiryee, the Selkie of the area. She explains the flower is what will guide them to the pearl.

When they try to approach it they’re intercepted by Tritannus and the Trix. During the fight, Icy is ensnared by the plant, revealing its nature as carnivorous. The Winx try to take advantage of the distraction and search for the pearl, but are surprised at seeing Darcy, Stormy and Tritannus working together to save the witch.

They manage to sever some of its leaves, freeing Icy and obtaining the Pearl of Bonds. At this, the villains have all 3 pearls necessary, and decide to leave to look for a Source of Sirenix.

The Winx are in a panic, as they only have a week left to complete the Quest and they’re still missing the last pearl, while Tritannus and the Trix might already have Sirenix.

The book then gives them the last riddle, talking about a yellow reef, of bravery, and of a long-lost place. Thanks to Daphne, the Winx discover this means a reef on the northern coast of Domino, with Bloom, Stella and Aisha going, hoping to be back before the ceremony starts in a few hours.

Tritannus has found a Source of Sirenix near Salett, and as they go towards it Icy decides to stay back and dip for Domino for a bit - she has something to do in the country and the pearl’s magic should work even if she’s far away. The rest agree though Tritannus is confused as to why, and as Icy leaves, the other two explain to him that she has family on Domino and is still close to her little sister somehow.

The Winx arrive at the Yellow Reef and after meeting both Serena and Nissa, they find themselves as the prey of a massive shark. After a few rounds of eluding it and taking advantage of the place, the Winx realize the shark has the final pearl on its fin.

Bloom, not thinking once more, dives into the shark trying to approach it, and after three close calls she manages to get on its back, taking the Pearl of Courage.

The three princesses then come back, happy that they managed to obtain them all, and as they’re leaving they meet with Phylla. She shows them the pendant she found on Earth, and matching the description of the Heart of Arturia, the girls take it with them.

On Domino, the ceremony goes without much issue, and after showing the pendant to Sky (him then getting a severe headache), Nabu manages to finally “unplug” his memories, remembering everything.

At this, he takes the pendant and, with Daphne’s permission, takes a stand. He announces formally his relationship with Riven, and in front of everyone, gives him the pendant. Riven is just a tad confused, but is happy the relationship has been properly formalized, and kiss a bit on stage.

On a different part of the country, a young girl is walking around in the snow, taking a turn on an alleyway, at the edge of town. She meets a tall woman, and after a short hug, they catch up on how everything’s going for them - it’s Sapphire, meeting with Icy.

They try to catch up with what’s been happening (their parents are slowly rebuilding their business empire back to nobility, are trying to suck up to Bloom and Daphne as much as possible), and Sapphire questions her about what she will do if everything goes south. Icy tells her that she already has an escape plan ready and is surprised Sapphire is not trying to stop her.

Sapphire answers she has long since given up on that and as long as Icy doesn’t do something that directly affects her negatively she’ll be fine with whatever happens. After another hug, they both leave, and Icy starts to consider what will she and the Trix do if Tritannus fails.

Meeting up with the rest again (and sharing her concerns with her friends), they all reach the edges of the country of Salett in Antocea, where a Source of Sirenix resides. The source accepts their pearls, and a portal to Infimare opens.

The Winx, meanwhile, are told by Daphne that there’s a Source of Sirenix on Lake Roccaluce. The girls express confusion at this since it’s a freshwater lake, but Daphne tells them that Magix has been heavily terraformed the past few centuries and the lake is what’s left of an ancient sea, and that’s why the Source is still there.

The girls arrive and the source accepts their pearls, and a portal of Infimare opens.

A projection appears for both teams of a larger Selkie - Omnia, as she calls herself. She takes the pearls and dissolves them, dispersing their dust over their finders and sending them through the portal.

They can all feel the power of the oceans flowing through them, their forms changing and their magic adapting to a sudden pressure - they had all obtained Sirenix.

As they finally arrive, the Winx meet Omnia in person, who warns them that Tritannus and the Trix have also obtained the form, so they must be careful. The Winx explore a bit of the place and go back, wondering still what Tritannus’s goals are.

The Trix and Tritannus also arrive on Infimare, and at this Tritannus elaborates on what he meant by power - the Throne of the Oceans is a very magically-charged place, and if he can absorb the energy into his trident, he can keep the other realms at bay while he rules Mareia. He elaborates that to access the power they need to destabilize the three Pillars of the Ocean first, however, so they get on that.

A few days pass, and the Winx decide to spend a weekend on Earth with Roxy and Selina, as summer is close to ending and they want a nice sunny day on the beach. Even if Selina and Tecna might be turning into lobsters.

However, the beach is suddenly filled with jellyfish. This is not the most common of occurrences in Gardenia, but the jellyfish suddenly mutate and start attacking everyone. Everyone transforms to fight it.

The fight goes more or less fine for most of it but the jellyfish unmutated are still an issue, so Aisha and Flora end up dedicating most of their time to sending them back into water. Tecna, Musa and Stella focus on fighting the monsters while Bloom, Selina and Roxy try to protect the beachgoers and their families.

It’s during one of these attacks that Roxy defends her dad (who was also helping everyone), getting stung harshly on her side. She manages to recover fairly quickly from the hit, however - the act was enough to earn her Enchantix, and with her extra power she manages to mass un-mutate the jellyfish.

The Winx seem to suspect this was an attack from Tritannus, but Roxy informs them that’s not the case - from her readings gotten from the animals with her magic, the mutation seemed to just magically happen. This worries Flora, as the potential of Wild Magic suddenly running amok on Earth is a worrisome thing. The three Gardenians are confused at this, and Flora elaborates - it’s ambient magic gone haywire for some reason.

The girls are concerned but Roxy reassures them that she’ll get the Black Circle look into it further, and after an extra day to relax they get back to Alfea and back to chasing Tritannus.

On Infimare, the prince and the Trix have managed to find their first pillar - the Pillar of Light. With a convergence spell, they manage to slowly destabilize the pillar.

A sudden burst of energy seems to happen on Solaria, the Lantern of the Sun and the Mirror of the Moon alight and emitting strong waves. Radius and Alessandro go into the chambers housing the objects and try to figure out what’s wrong, but Radius is hit square-on by the energy and falls unconscious.

Chimera, now back on Solaria, reaches her dad and stepdad and manages to cast a barrier on the room, trying her hardest to contain it. She manages to hold it long enough, but she ends up detransforming from fatigue.

On Magix, the Staff of Stars also seems to be reacting to this unbalance, but Stella manages to calm it down enough simply by encasing it in a bubble of light. The Winx rush out to Faragonda’s office to consult her about this, and run into Griselda on the way who was fetching them.

Faragonda then explains that the Pillar of Light on Infimare has been attacked, which is directly linked to the three royal treasures of Solaria driving them haywire. The Staff was not as affected since it’s now linked to Stella herself rather than the pillar, but she does inform the Winx that it might be Tritannus’s work. 

Stella, overcome with worry, teleports to Solaria, while the rest of the Winx go to Infimare to search for Tritannus.

On the desert country, she runs into her mom, as well as into Alessandro and Chimera. She initially questions Chimera’s presence but brushes it off and asks about her dad - Alessandro then tells her he’s very badly hurt by the waves of magic the Lantern and Mirror gave out, thought it can be healed with time. Stella herself then looks for him and tries a few of her healing spells, which seem to alleviate the situation.

The Winx managed to track down Tritannus right as he finished destabilizing the power, taking the seal with him. He claims that the seal is what he needs for his plans for the Throne of the Ocean, giving half-truths to throw off the girls as he leaves with the Trix. The girls do try to give chase but give up, prioritizing making the pillar stable again.

On her way out, she bumps into Chimera, and while she’s still not comfortable with the Beta fairy around, she does accept the girl’s request to talk. She apologizes about everything she did when allied with Valtor, and while she doesn’t expect forgiveness or like Stella still, she does want to be on at least cohabitating terms.

Stella tells her to try her best to control the items until she can get back, especially since she will inherit the Mirror when the marriage becomes formal. Chimera agrees and while they’re still on not good terms, they have achieved an understanding.

While Stella leaves, Chimera realizes finally confronting Stella and talking about the past was enough to grant her Glamourix.

Transforming into Sirenix, Stella reaches the girls, and realizing there might still be a link between her Staff and the Pillar, they all focus a convergence spell on the top of the staff, then using it as a direct path to the Pillar, Stella unlocking her Sirenix special spell: Light of the Abyss. This manages to stabilize it again, the Lantern and Mirror calming down.

Back on Solaria, Radius seems to have woken up and while still dizzy, Stella, Luna and Chimera’s spells (aided by Alessandro’s potions) managed to heal most of the damage. Stella is grateful and joyous, but realizes that Tritannus’s goals might start to affect the rest of the realms properly.

Faragonda seems to have realized this as well, as she has gone to the Order of Mana’s site in Lake Roccaluce, demanding a full assembly of the realms to deal with Tritannus now that his goal has moved past Mareia and Infimare. The Order tries to counter that he’s still not enough of a threat despite his goals with the Pillars, but Faragonda simply answers with the fact that similar inaction is what let Valtor do all the things he did 2 years ago. At this, the Order is forced to properly call a reunion.

After a few days (in which the girls get a tentative map of Infimare from Daphne, made when she made the quest herself, and spent training their Sirenix powers a bit more), an assembly involving all realms is called on Lake Roccaluce, all the royals attending alongside their parents. Tecna, Flora and Musa stay behind to keep training alongside Diaspro (who now has obtained a magic sword in an attempt to be better at physical fighting) and Codatorta. who makes them fight a dragon.

On the lake, all the royals are present, with the three headmasters alongside the current head of the Order of Mana officiating the meeting. Most of the non-Antocean realms oppose the idea of an Alliance as it has not concerned their zones yet, but a handful seem to favor the idea especially after hearing Ligea and Tressa’s story, while also bringing up the fact only Andros and Dolona were willing to help them during the Valtor Crisis.

Domino, Solaria, Serenia and most Antocean realms are in agreement with the alliance, most other realms will go with majority vote, but Eraklyon, Melodeus, Zenith and Quarzis oppose the idea, prioritizing their own realm’s safety over the rest. Bloom notices that Zenith’s leader seems uneasy, but can’t pinpoint why quite well.

The meeting ends in no decisions being made, so the Order schedules another meeting in a few more days in case Tritannus’s next moves influence the leaders. Bloom is sad that absolutely nothing was achieved, and the rest inform her that that’s just how politics are.

On the meantime, Tritannus and the Trix have located the Pillar of Balance, and start to destabilize it as well. This makes the Giant Diapason on Melody react, emitting a deafening sound and driving the Singing Whales berserk right as they reach their usual visit to the surface, suddenly disappearing to Infimare. 

Everyone leaves for the Ocean planet while Musa dips to go check on her dad (who was at a place where the whales attacked), runs into Galatea on the way out.

They talk for a bit and Musa asks how the royal meeting went. Galatea sighs and confesses that she was too scared to talk all session, despite wanting to refute her father’s choice of isolating the country for protection as the alliance would be the best outcome. She feels useless thanks to her own insecurities, but Musa reassures her that she can do it next time she talks with her parents about the situation.

They arrive and realize the devastation that has been caused, as they attacked a harbor town and their sounds have destroyed many buildings. Both girls start to help in any way they can (with Musa reuniting with her dad finding him unharmed), but after a bit the Whales seem to return, starting to wreck more havoc. 

Both fairies transform and manage to handle most of the damage, but the whales are relentless and the tides turn mid-battle literally. Galatea seems ready to give up, too enveloped in her fears, but Musa manages to push her spirits up again and, thanks to Musa unlocking the Song of the Siren, they manage to calm down the whales enough, with Galatea pushing her powers and managing to achieve Glamourix at last. With this, Musa finally leaves for Infimare, Galatea going back to helping those in the shore.

On Infimare, Tritannus has already left after claiming the second seal, the Winx starting to stabilize the Pillar. Musa arrives just in time, giving the final push for it and restoring it completely.

A few days pass, the girls and Daphne researching more about Infimare and the royal shitshow going down in the background. Around this time, Nex and Krystal start dating. Melodeus has been convinced and Sky and Dia have been making good advancements with Eraklyon and Quarzis, but Zenith remains stubborn.

Around this time, the Winx pinpoint the location of the Pillar of Weather, and alongside Daphne joining them just in case, they delve into Infimare to try and destroy the pillar. Daphne feels something when they arrive, as she hasn’t touched the place since coming back from the mirror, but ignores it for the moment and helps the Winx destroy the seal of the pillar, destabilizing it.

As it destabilizes, the Lightning Rod of Databridge on Zenith Primari Museum reacts in a more subtle way than the other two, slowly forming a massive thunderstorm over the capital city.

The Winx plus Daphne manage to stabilize the Pillar again, but as they do they feel a sudden rush of magic all around them.

The Throne of the Ocean has been activated by the last pillar’s reaction, and taking the chance, Tritannus absorbs as much energy as he can into his Trident, his own magic feeling the rush. He lets the Trix also channel said magic into an object, but rather than use their weapons the Trix instead link three stones to the Throne.

With newfound power, he then leaves with the Trix back to Mareia, and having heard that the other realms are planning an alliance, decides to prepare for an eventual siege.

When he arrives at the palace, he realizes most of the population has fled and that both Nereus and Neptune have somehow been rescued, but he pays no mind to it and announces that while he knows he has followers, if they do not plan to fight alongside him when the time comes to prioritize their own safety and evacuate.

He then, alongside the Trix, cast a massive barrier spell over the capital.

The Winx realize after that what they just did allowed the Throne to be activated and gave Tritannus exactly what he wanted. Everyone is incredibly bummed about this but keep going, the meetings for the Alliance still going.

Flora, Tecna and Musa request to be present at the next meeting using their status as Guardian Fairies to participate. Most of the realms have agreed to a full attack on Tritannus now that he has taken over Mareia (a recovering Neptune wishing to attack him himself), but Zenith remains stubborn despite Cryos looking particularly uncomfortable. Tecna then pushes harder for him to realize how dangerous Tritannus could be, when news from Zenith’s capital arrive talking of a massive thunderstorm wrecking the place, several injured already.

Both Cryos and the Winx then plead for a halt of the meeting, the troubles at the large country more pressing.

As they arrive, they see the thunderstorm is covering most of the area, even extending to the neighbouring cities, many places on fire. The Winx call the Order of Mana for help since they cannot deal with this alone, and Cryos looks even more frail than before. Tecna realizes most of the forces are focused on the hills, and she wonders if there’s something worse going down there than anyone else.

Cryos then informs her that’s where the 5 leaders of Datacorp reside, probably in their bunkers avoiding the storm. Tecna finds herself getting angry, but the rest are confused.

Tecna then reveals that Zenith, or at least the center of Zenith, is run by the Datacorp Council rather than by any actual government, the 5 richest CEOs of the land who dictate the lives of the place. She has heard tales of the true state of Primari, but didn’t know it was that bad.

Cryos then cracks and reveals he’s simply a puppet for them, acting as an informant for them and nothing else. He claims that the only reason they oppose the alliance is because Tritannus’s actions have made the demand for Zenithian products higher, and they hoped to strike a deal to increase their profit.

Everyone is visibly disgusted by this, but Tecna has become livid. The whole system is in peril,and they only think of their own gain. She then starts to walk towards their hiding place, but comes back to her senses and prioritizes the storm.

The Order of Mana’s paladins arrive en masse and with Tecna’s directions they start to help and deal with the chaos, while Tecna transforms and rises to the sky.

Everyone else is asking her what the fuck is she doing, but she tells them to not worry, she has a plan for all this. She does asks for backup, and the Winx alongside a couple more paladins rise with her.

Tecna starts to channel her magic around the origin of the storm, charging a large spell around her. She tells everyone to evacuate the area directly below the eye of the storm as she keeps charging, the Winx ensuring everyone’s safety.

She manages to unlock her Sirenix spell Perfect Tempest, and uses it to disrupt and undo most of the thunderstorm in the area, succeeding but getting drained in the process. The Winx manage to catch her and with the help of Water- and Electric-Source paladins they manage to destroy the rest of the storm completely, as well as clean up more of the rubble in the process.

It’s the next day when Tecna then makes an announcement (after talking it out with the Winx as well as consulting the high-ranking Paladin that commanded the support yesterday), and decries every single failing the Datacorp Council has done over the last years in their insatiable greed. The Council itself tries to stop her (having planned to make their own announcement before her), but Tecna uses her position as Guardian Fairy to call for a complete reform of Zenithian government, the Datacorp Council having lost all of their power.

Tecna then assigns Cryos as her assistant and current overseer of the country (as she still needs to deal with Tritannus personally), but promises the people that she will be there every step of the way. With this, Zenith is formally in the alliance, and the final attack on Tritannus can start.

The first wave of the war goes somewhat smoothly, Tritannus’s first line of defense being mutated creatures. Flora manages to unlock her Sirenix Spell Seafloor Blossom during this, managing to restore most of the flora and part of the fauna corrupted.

Tritannus is still strong thanks to the Throne’s energy, however, and his second wave is harder to deal with. A surprise attack thanks to Solarian and Melodian forces manage to push them back, however, and the massive barrier over the capital has been breached.

The next line of defense are Tritannus’s followers, who give a good fight but are ultimately beaten in numbers and are held captive. Nereus starts to lead the campaign from this point onward, having recovered well enough and wanting to confront his brother.

The forces have arrived to the Palace’s entrance, and the last wave of defense attacks, a mix of follower merfolk and mutated sharks. During this battle the Winx plus Nereus, Tressa and Neptune manage to enter the palace proper, and have the final battle with Tritannus.

Nereus keeps asking why has he done all of this, why has he hurt him and his family so much, and Tritannus is slightly regretful. However, Neptune’s decries of his failures and admitting his hatred for his son brings his anger back to full front and starts to attack in full, the energy in his trident starting to overflow and himself gaining the aura on his eyes.

The battle goes on for quite long but Tritannus manages to score a deep hit on Nereus trying to go for Neptune, knocking him down and, taking advantage of the shock, manages to impale Neptune, killing him. He then takes the chance to escape back to Infimare with the commotion. Aisha unlocks the Tide of Infinity and manages to heal Nereus with her Sirenix Spell, but Neptune is a lost cause.

Everyone follows him and the Trix into Infimare without the grieving Nereus or Tressa, and the fight resumes in full, both teams going all out. The Winx realize that the trident is his link with the Throne’s energy, and after a decent distraction they manage to destroy it thanks to Bloom unlocking the Burn of the Depths, melting it.

The stored energy is released violently, however, and flows into Tritannus, driving him mad with power. The aura on his eyes grows bigger and shinier, his own scales glowing a bright green, markings on his arms and tail forming. He continues to attack in full not caring if he gets hurt, damaging his own body in the process.

The Trix take advantage of this and bail, swimming deeper into Infimare to avoid the Winx.

After a long battle, a convergence spell manages to capture and subdue Tritannus, knocking him out and winning the war after an incredibly long three months.

A few more days pass before he wakes up, and a court case is determined on the Order of Mana’s headquarters in Mareia - he will continue his previous sentence of 55 years (with an added 20 thanks to the murder of Neptune) not on Mareia, but on Omega. Tritannus himself is oddly calm during the whole trial.

As he is carried away, Nereus and Tressa confront him, and he genuinely apologizes for what he made them go through, as well as Ligea. He does not regret taking out Neptune’s life, however, and if the price to pay is to be sentenced to Omega, then so be it.

A few more days pass after Tritannus’s case and Neptune’s funeral, and most things are starting to go back to normal. The Winx still have schoolwork to deal with (though thankfully it has been a lesser load this time), the Alliance is establishing itself more formally, and Zenith has a long road ahead of change and confusion.

Tecna has to go to Zenith every two weeks to oversee all the changes (since she called for the reform, she has to take part of it), and starts to consider the fact that she might actually have to act as Zenith’s leader in the future. Bloom has not heard of Selina for a while now, and is slightly worried, but reassures herself that she might be busy with starting school and is then focused on her own royal duties now that Diaspro wants to make their relationship fully official. Stella has started to entertain the idea of trying to actively get along with Chimera, but finds it difficult to go through. Flora gets a call from Miele very excitedly, announcing that she got admitted in the Linphea College of Magic at last and that she will start classes in two months. Aisha has frequently been visiting her family, wondering what will happen now that they’ve lost two people in such a short time. Ligea seems to still be grieving, but is still overseeing the restoration of Mareia’s capital. Tressa has seem to delve more into her sword fighting while Nereus keeps on the preparations to assume his role as king earlier than intended. They’re all hurting, but Aisha’s sure they will be able to heal soon.

On Infimare, as the Trix find a place to hide, they discuss the recent events and what they’ve managed to learn from stray selkie conversations, unaware that someone is listening, reacting to the name Daphne...

[underdressedgoth]

This is older art that I finally finished (it was first made in September before Goretober and I finally finish it like 2 months later)

I’m choosing now to properly introduce these kids (and a new one too) as the “Multiple Dimentional Craze” fanchildren. (this is going to be a very long post)

Sapphire

Parents: Morty and Riley *oc* Full Name: Sapphire ‘June’ Smith Nicknames: Saphie Birthday: November 17 Age: 16 Species: Human Blood Type: A+ Height: 5′7ft Sexuality: Lesbian Personality: Rude, Courageous, Rebellious, Loyal, Hot-headed, Impatient, Intelligent, Arrogant, Protective, Honest (very brutally honest), prideful, strong, confident, leader-like Powers: N/A Family: Morty *Father*, Rylie *Mother* [Out of the picture], Rick *Great-Grandfather*, Beth *Grandmother*, Jerry *Grandfather* and Summer *Aunt* Friends: Monster, Pinecone, Pineneedle, Mars, Mercury, Bruno, Leah and Josie Dating: Mayflower Likes: Her girlfriend, stir fry, the color magenta, warm foods, science related subjects, math related subjects, cats, sweet and salty foods Dislikes: Emiko, Evelyn, Takei, Victor, London, Samara, Morty, Samantha, P.J, Lee- you know what she hates like ⅞ of my fanchildren we could be here all day if I had to list everyone she doesn’t like, rain, wet items, spicy foods, sour foods, chunky things- okay so she really doesn’t like a lot of things either (you get the point) Other Things: -Her hair is naturally blue, Morty was concerned that she was Rick’s kid (considering the reason why they had split up), but nope. Morty’s her Dad. -Her parents are separated (Her mother cheated on Morty with multiple people) -She doesn’t like most people (it’s considered an accomplishment if someone managed to get on her good list. Which is -by the way- very small) -She pretty much hates Morty, a lot. She has a lot of resentment towards him, mainly because she hasn’t seen her mother since she was 5. (While Morty wants to tell her that he had tried to get her mother to see her, her mother is pretty much a dead-beat parent who doesn’t give a flying fuck that her daughter exists. He knows Sapphire probably won’t believe him) -While they may be friends, Sapphire likes to pick on and bully Mars. But just because she likes to bully him, doesn’t mean she won’t beat up a person who makes fun of him (it’s like a sibling-love thing. Everyone who has a sibling here should know what I mean) -She looks up to Rick, much to her family’s (including Rick’s) dismay, she always wanted to go adventuring with him but he always declines (thus making her frustrated) -Sometimes will steal things from her Great-Grandfather without him knowing until she’s already gone with it (one of the normal things she usually steals is the portal gun -While most of her friends have powers, she’s not jealous, in fact that only makes her more confident in herself since she knows how strong she really is (thus making her even more scary knowing that she’s just as strong as her powerful friends) -She has a soft spot for her friends and girlfriend -There are very few people on her bad list that she respects (one for example being Takei) -She’s pretty well known around her school as a girl who never knows when to step down, the amount of fights she was in prove said statement She has known Pinecone and Pineneedle since they were babies, Mayflower and Monster since 5, Mars since 6, Bruno and Mercury since 7

Monster

Parents: Wirt and The Beast Full Name: Monster ‘Edelwood’ Oak Nicknames: Monty Birthday: January 31 Age: 15 Species: Demon/Human Blood Type: [Redacted] Height: 5′8ft Sexuality: Heterosexual Personality: Calm, Collected, Optimistic, Peaceful, Caring, Protective, Observant, Quiet, Diplomatic, Introverted, Fair-Minded Powers: +Plant Talk- Can talk to plants and understand what they’re saying +Nature control- Able to control any plant around her or even make pants appear out of nowhere +Shadow Camouflage- Using her shadow form, she can blend into any surface she so chooses as long as she doesn’t use it while in sunlight +Night vision- While using her real eyes, she can see clearly in the dark. It only works with her real eyes though, while in her human disguise she can’t see in the dark +Shape-shift- Whether it be in her human disguise or natural form, she can also turn into any animal she can think of +Enhanced smell- Can smell twice as good as a blood-hound. Helps when smelling for blood or souls +Angel’s Voice- Like with the beast, she can sing to draw prey towards her along with drain any bravery or hope from them +Underwater breathing- Can breathe underwater (she didn’t know she could until the age of 6 when Mars went out too far and nearly drowned. Wirt nearly had a heart-attack that day but was grateful she could do that) Family: Wirt *Father*, Beast *Father*, Sara *Step-mother*, Max *little half-brother*, Lantern *little half-sister*, Greg *Uncle* Friends: Sapphire, Mayflower, Pinecone, Pineneedle, Bruno, Mars, Mercury, Armory, Echomain Crush: Mars Likes: Tea, Poety, Nature, Music, Rivers, Exploring, Her Family and Friends, Old Things, Books, Walking through the woods, Singing, cold weather, English subjects, Art, Musicals Dislikes: Very hot weather, her friends/family getting injured, cheese (no one knows why, she just doesn’t like it), bright lights Other Things: -She’s carnivorous, won’t eat any plants unless she has to (a funny way to put it is that she’s like a reverse vegan) - Her favorite poet is Sara Teasdale - She got her love for poetry from Wirt, ever since she was a baby, Wirt would read poetry to her. Beast also would sometimes recite Shakespeare to her when she was a child while she visited him - She can easily retell Hamlet from memory word-for-word (she’s read and heard Shakespeare so many times that she can do that with any of his stories) - She’s in her school’s chorus (Known to be a very beautiful singer) - Her favorite type of music is Opera (no surprise there) - Once a week (sometimes two) every other month, she and Wirt would go visit the beast. Sara does know about this as she was there when the deal was first offered - She has never actually spent a halloween in the real world - Monster was born out of a giant flower - Sometimes out of habit from her demonic heritage, Monster will eat either a bird or small animal (Mayflower and Mars are the only ones who seem to freak out when that happens) - Has been playing Piano, cello, Clarinet and bass since she was little (she loves playing instruments) - Sometimes if she’s deep in thought, she’ll start talking in Shakespearean - Is an outcast at her school because people find her very weird with her personality and hobby with plants (Since she likes to whisper to them a lot). - - - - While Wirt may have reacted differently to a situation like hers, she doesn’t seem to be bothered by it at all. Nor does she acknowledge the insults other students will sometimes say about her. Sapphire on the other hand, has been in many fights because she refuses to let anyone bully her friend - Monster loves her half-siblings to death, she’ll do anything for them. Her brother Max sadly doesn’t like her since she gets most of Wirt’s attention - Her brother doesn’t know she’s not fully human, her sister on the other hand found out through her own ways (she’s very young so she’s fine with it, in fact she thinks Monster is cool and lucky to have powers as she wishes she had them too) -She’s mainly nocturnal, but since she can’t really sleep during the day often either, her body luckily managed to readjust itself so she doesn’t need to sleep often. - She doesn’t really express much inner emotions, so it’s not obvious that she has a crush on Mars (only people who know are Sapphire and Mayflower) - Has known Pinecone and Pineneedle since they were babies, Mayflower since she was 4, Bruno and Mercury since 5, Mars since 6 and Sapphire since 4 - She’s considered a theater kid (the theater kids are probably the only ones out of her school who actually like her) - Funny thing, she can walk on water (another thing to add, it took Wirt forever to let her into the water, he was just that terrified if she drowned.) -She can’t see well in bright lighting, her eyes don’t adjust well to it -She sees Sara like an actual mother to her -Seems to bleed Oil,Gold and Blood

Mayflower

Parents: Connie and Spinel Full Name: Mayflower ‘Spinel’ Maheswaran-Universe Nick names: May, Curly, Petal Birthday: February 28 Age: 14 Species: Gem/Human Blood Type: [Redacted] Height: 5′3ft Sexuality: Bisexual Personality: Self-conscious, Joyful, Caring, Nurturing, Optimistic, Friendly, sometimes nervous, self-less, strong Powers: + Rejuvinator- can easily pull out her own rejuvinator from her gem (it can also double as a weapon to fight against other creatures, electrocuting and cutting any enemy she swings it at) +Stretchy Limbs- Like her mother Spinel, she can stretch any part of her body (as long as she doesn’t over do it, she’s fine) + Fusion- like her father Steven who is also half-gem, she can fuse with any gem or human Family: Spinel *Mother*, Connie *Mother*, Steven *Step-Father*, Nicholas *Older Half-Brother*, Stephen *Little Half-Brother*, Greg *Little Half-Brother*, Greg *Step-Grandfather*, Pink Diamond/Rose Quartz *Step-Grandmother*, Priyanka *Grandmother*, Doug *Grandfather* Friends: Pinecone, Pineneedle, Mercury, Bruno, Mars, Monster Dating: Sapphire Likes: Dancing, Singing, Traveling the Multiverse, Animals, any romantic comedy or novels, painting, Homeworld, space travel, space itself, anything funny, gardening Dislikes: Her looks, Monster attempting to eat a small creature, abandon buildings, taking pictures of herself (she gets flustered from them), horror movies, silence, being alone, blood, anyone getting hurt Other Things: -She isn’t really one who is confident with her looks, she isn’t exactly thin (she’s kinda chubby) and it does bother her sometimes (Sapphire still loves her to death and will kill anyone who makes fun of her girlfriend without hesitation or remorse. Sapphire would do anything for and I mean anything) -She and Sapphire have been dating for about 2 years now (for the one who has confessed their love to the other, they both were just flustered stuttering messes as Sapphire sucks with emotions besides anger and Mayflower is not one who has confidence) - Her older brother doesn’t like her, she tries her best, just like Monster with her own brother, to get her brother to not hate her (he’s just edgy) - She has her own gem, a spinel like her mother Spinel’s (spinel didn’t give up her form, it turns out from what I heard, Rose didn’t have to give up her form for Steven. So I am just using that idea for here too) - Since Steven, Spinel and Connie are in a polygamous relationship, Steven likes to help Mayflower understand her own powers since he can relate of course) - I can definitely assure that the Diamonds like to smother her and her brothers with love since they are Spinel’s and Steven’s kids (same can go with Pearl) - Doesn’t seem like it to others, but Mayflower is really strong, she can lift a lot since she likes to work out sometimes

Pinecone

Parents: Bill and Dipper Full Name: Pinecone ‘Pyramid’ Cipher-Pines Nick names: Pinie, PC, Creepy, Gremlin #1, Cone Birthday: May 23 Age: 13 Species: Demon/Human Blood Type: [Redacted] Height: 5ft Sexuality: Heterosexual Personality: Creepy, Hyper, Observant, Extroverted, Goofy, Creative, observant, curious, courageous, adventurous, chaotic good, crafty Powers: +Shapeshift- Can shape-shift into anything from her demon form to any small objects +Portals- Can manifest a portal to the multiverse +Enhanced smell- can smell better than humans +Telekinesis- Move things with her mind +Floating- Can float Family: Bill *Father*, Dipper *”Mother”*, Pineneedle *Twin brother*, Gravity *Little brother*, Falls *Little sister*, Mabel *Aunt*, Pacifica *Aunt*, Aqua Marie *Cousin*, Manuel *Cousin*, Tala Poly *Aunt*, Lillusion *Aunt* Friends: Sapphire, Mayflower, Monster, Bruno, Mars, Mercury, Gabriel, Flint Crush: Max Likes: Forests, Dark areas, Halloween, Bugs, Camping, Fire, Bones, Traveling through dimensions and universes, anything sugar, Tad Strange, scissors, disturbing things, Birch trees Dislikes: Being Normal, having to sit still, London (surprisingly), snobby people, having to pretend to be human, pineapples, fancy things (finds them boring) Other Things: -Is older than Pineneedle by 6 minutes - Tad Strange is her’s and Pineneedle’s teacher (secretly since Bill hates Tad) - While she likes Monster’s little brother, most people will say she has a very “strange” way of showing her affection towards her (that being a very creepy way, what I mean is that she’ll say the creepiest things to him since she for some reason “finds his face adorable when it looks scared”) (she won’t hurt him, just freak him out. Added note, he doesn’t like her at all. Her love for him is very one-sided. But she is determined to win him over one day) - She and Pineneedle were not planned, they kinda just happened by accident (their parents still love both of them none-the-less) - Knows about other fanchildren in other universes, enjoys talking to them

Pineneedle

Parents: Bill and Dipper Full Name: Pineneedle ‘Illuminati’ Cipher-Pines Nick names: PN, Gremlin #2, Pointer, Needle Birthday: May 23 Age: 13 Species: Demon/Human Blood Type: [Redacted] Height: 5ft Sexuality: Aromantic/bisexual Personality: Creepy, Hyper, Observant, Extroverted, Goofy, Creative, chaotic, courageous, adventurous, Chaotic good, disobedient Powers: +Shapeshift- Can shape-shift into anything from her demon form to any small objects +Portals- Can manifest a portal to the multiverse +Enhanced smell- can smell better than humans +Telekinesis- Move things with her mind +Floating- Can float Family: Bill *Father*, Dipper *”Mother”*, Pinecone *Twin sister*, Gravity *Little brother*, Falls *Little sister*, Mabel *Aunt*, Pacifica *Aunt*, Aqua Marie *Cousin*, Manuel *Cousin*, Tala Poly *Aunt*, Lillusion *Aunt* Friends: Sapphire, Mayflower, Monster, Bruno, Mars, Mercury, Gabriel, Flint Crush: N/A Likes: Anything creepy, slim, spiders, snakes, mice, being crazy, scaring others, Tad Strange Dislikes: Having to be “normal”, not using his powers, rules, girly things Other Things: -Almost like he’s Pinecone’s other half, sharing similar personalities and abilities - He’s the younger twin - Where ever one twin is, the other follows (Pinecone and Pineneedle are rarely apart) - The more troublesome of the two (and that is saying something) - While Pinecone likes Max, Needle just likes to scare him - He can be very spiteful - Thinks love is gross (doesn’t understand it) - likes to skateboard with Mercury - He and Pinecone have known everyone since they were babies (they’re the little siblings of the group)

Mars

Parents: Dib and Zim Full Name: Mars ‘Irken’ Membrane Nick names: Nerd, Markie, Dork (<--- Two are from Sapphire) Birthday: July 15 Age: 16 Species: Alien/Human Blood Type: [Redacted] Height: 5′8ft Sexuality: Heterosexual Personality: Introverted, Anxious, Intelligent, Quiet, Friendly, Nerdy, Dorky Powers: +Breath in space- Yeah, that’s the only thing I think he can do Family: Zim *Parent*, Dib *Father*, Zoey *Little Sister* Gaz *Aunt*, Tak *Aunt*, Dr.Membrane *Grandfather* Friends: Sapphire, Mayflower, Monster, Mercury, Bruno, Pinecone, Pineneedle Crush: Monster Likes: School (because he likes learning), technology, building things, studying, science and math related subjects Dislikes: Sapphire’s rage, moving quickly, the dark (he’s scared of it), oranges (hates the smell), Gym (he’s not that strong) Other Things: -Often gets picked on by Sapphire (though they do have their moments where they get along) (he’s not scared of her, just annoyed) - While Dib may be a proud space scientist, Mars prefers not to be acknowledged as his son for some odd reason - He doesn’t enjoy fighting other creatures, he can handle it, just doesn’t like it like the others do - He has motion sickness, move way too quickly and he’ll get nauseous - Sapphire is the reason for why he’s scared of the dark - He wears make-up to hide the green parts of his skin (the only time he doesn’t is in Gravity falls) - He has only been to space once, didn’t have fun at all (1/10 wouldn’t recommend) - Monster gave him his beanie for his birthday a few years ago, he loves it - He’s your typical shy nerd

Mercury

Parents: Star and Jackie Full Name: Mercury ‘Lynn‘ Butterfly Nick names: Flutter, Wings, Meri, Sparkles Birthday: August 2 Age: 15 Species: Mewman/Human Blood Type: [Redacted] Height: 5′6ft Sexuality: Pansexual Personality: Out-going, extroverted, bashful, prideful, forceful, somewhat thoughtless at times, crafty, wild Powers: +Butterfly- Butterfly form from Mewberty +Magic wand- since it’s connected to her powers they have similar spells (I am not going to list them because that’ll take too long) Family: Star *Mother*, Jackie *Mother*, Moon *Grandmother*, River *Grandfather* Friends: Sapphire, Mayflower, Monster, Mars, Bruno, Pinecone, Pineneedle, Samantha, Anne, Evelyn, Gabriel, Black Taffy- she’s pretty much the opposite of Sapphire when it comes to people, she has a lot of friends Crush: Samantha Likes: Glitter (a lot), Shiny things, roller-blading, magic, Mewni, crazy things, summer, bright collars, dancing, sugar, hot coco, socializing, parties Dislikes: Unicorns (from her experience with them, you’d hate them too), Fairies (again, from her experience with them, you wouldn’t blame her), gnomes, garden gnomes (don’t ask), bland foods, snakes, magical high commission, her ex boyfriend (oh how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree) Other Things: -Just going to ignore what happened in the finale because I personally thought it sucked and was a terrible way to end a series. Mercury is the heir to the Butterfly throne. - While she is a girl who can easily make friends, she is one who also tends to loose some due to her nature, she doesn’t understand boundaries and tends to drive people away occasionally - She knows a lot of Royal people and will 100% try to befriend any princes or princesses while she can - She loves to talk, a lot, she is very rarely quiet and it tends to drive Sapphire crazy and threaten to duck-tape her mouth shut - Sometimes the others think she depends on her want a little too much, because she uses it all the time even when she doesn’t need too at all - Despite being a very confident girl, when it comes to interacting with her crush (Samantha), she’s a stuttering flustered mess - Please don’t give her sugar

Bruno

Parents: Tom and Marco Full Name: Bruno ‘Julius‘ Lucitor-Diaz Nick names: Bunny, Demon-boy, Lucitor, Horns (<--- Most of these are from Sapphire) Birthday: March 30 Age: 16 Species: Demon/Mewman/Human Blood Type: [Redacted] Height: 5′8ft Sexuality: Heterosexual Personality: Calm, Brave, Determined, Good-hearted, Responsible, Dare-devil, Leader-like, Assertive (when needed), Confident Powers: +Fire- able to produce fire from hands and have it spread to anywhere on his body Family: Tom *Father*, Marco *Father*, Juliet *little sister*, Mariposa *Aunt*, Rafael *Grandfather*, Angie *Grandmother*, Wrathmelior *Grandmother* and Dave *Grandfather* Friends: Sapphire, Mayflower, Pinecone, Pineneedle, Monster, Mars, Mercury, Black Taffy, Josie, Jack Jr, Crush: N/A Likes: Biking, fire, Tacos, Nachos, Magical creatures, adventure, Ice-skating Dislikes: Math, school, fancy parties, dressing up, London, Mercury on sugar Other Things: -He’s sorta bad at judging things -Often butts heads with Sapphire due to both of their desires to lead the friend group - He has a third eye hidden under his hair -Has three moles in a row from largest to smallest under his right eye - Has his own pair of Dimensional scissors - Lives in the Underworld as the prince and heir to the throne - Is the only one besides Pinecone, Pineneedle and Monster, who is able to handle Mercury - Has known Mercury since the day of her birth, Pinecone and Pineneedle since they were babies, Sapphire since 7, Monster since 6 - He doesn’t really like most demons or hybrids, most of the time they’re too crazy for him to deal with (he already has to deal with 3 crazy people almost everyday. He’s good) - He’s pretty good at flattering people, he’s calls it his “secret weapon” - He likes to consider Sapphire as his rival (Sapphire feels the same way towards him) I’ll admit I got lazy with some parts because writing this was taking too long after loosing a good chunk of progress and having to redo some profiles because of it. This would have been posted sooner if it weren’t for that.

[shiningamongdarkness]

Chapter 23. We are friends

Shining among Darkness

By WingzemonX

Chapter 23 We are friends

Despite Matilda's success in calming Samara, the rest of the night in Eola was fraught with a thick air of confusion. Samara's room, as well as the hall outside it, had been totally unusable. They still did not know how that area could be re-enabled or if that was possible. And most importantly: how much would it cost? The first thing will be to fix the cast lights. Then, remove the rusty and fallen door, and also the stretcher that was in a similar state. At the same time, it was necessary to clean all the water, and possibly that would be the only thing they could do for that night. Tomorrow they would have to determine what to do with those walls, floors, and ceilings. Meanwhile, the hall would be closed until further notice.

Samara obviously had to be moved to another room. No nurse or doctor had any desire to approach her. Everyone already knew or sensed that she had been responsible for it, and some attacks on several staff members who tried to approach her room while she was still tied. Matilda had to take care of accompanying her for the rest of the night.

The first thing they did was go to a treatment area for a doctor to check the wound on Matilda's hand. Matilda suggested to Samara to wait outside; she didn't want her to see the cut, and that image could disturb her or cause some kind of guilt that got out of control.

"I don't want to be alone," Samara had almost implored her, and Dr. Honey had no choice but to let her accompany her.

Samara sat in a chair, a little away from the table where a female doctor treated Matilda. The doctor frequently looked sideways at Samara apprehensively; she had also asked to keep the door open... in case she had to shout, perhaps. Despite everything, Matilda did not have much to recriminate her. After all, she was the bravest of that place in agreeing to treat her, even if she was accompanied by the source of so much chaos.

The procedure perhaps determined that there should be a couple of nurses, maybe even security guards, outside the door waiting. After all, Samara was still considered a "dangerous patient." But there was no one outside the room. In fact, everything felt quite silent and alone.

In a single day, she had been shot (although she had managed to get the bullets away from her); a huge dog, apparently imaginary, had bitten her ankle; and the invisible hand almost suffocated her from who knows how far. Now her patient had opened a wound in the palm of her hand in an act reflecting fear.

It was too much, too much for one day... and it wasn't over yet.

While the doctor cleaned her cut and sewed it, Samara watched silently from her chair. Her eyes were flushed from everything she had cried, and a pair of dark bags decorated them below. She looked even paler than the day before.

"It hurts?" The little girl asked suddenly, in a weak, almost sleepy voice.

"No, nothing," Matilda replied, smiling, though that was not entirely true. "I hardly feel anything anymore."

Samara ducked her gaze a little.

"It was her," she whispered suddenly, but it was hard to tell if she was saying it to Matilda or herself. "I didn't... I didn't want to do it... she did it..."

"Take it easy, Samara," the psychiatrist whispered softly and slowly. "I'll be fine; I heal fast. In a few days, it won't even show."

The doctor who was healing her was not entirely sure of it but said nothing.

"It was like my mother," Samara murmured again in the same way. "Again, I hurt someone I love..."

Small traces of melancholy peeked through the girl's eyes, but immediately she carved them to hide it.

Once her hand was cured, Matilda accompanied Samara to the showers so she could wash her hair and body, and change clothes. She waited for her outside to finish, and in that period, she had the self-reflection of taking her cell phone; however, it did not turn on. Those minutes it was underwater had obviously not been beneficial; it was still wet and still dirty. She had seen in a video on the internet that it could be useful to put it in a bag of rice, but she wasn't sure how useful that would really be. She had a second phone, the "emergency" phone, which had a number that only the Foundation dialed; however, she had left it in her bag in the reception module.

Already with a clean robe, neat hair and body, Samara was ready to go to her new room. They had to move her to a different area, to a place with less security, a request that Matilda had made since practically her first day there, and that only until then it could be satisfied, despite the not so pleasant circumstances in which it occurred. It was, apparently, nicer than the previous one. In addition to the stretcher, which was somewhat more extensive, it had an armchair for visitors, and even a window that overlooked the garden, although with its respective bars in it.

"This room is a little nicer than the previous one, don't you think?" Matilda smiled playfully as she laid the girl on the bed. "Try to rest a little, okay?"

"I can't sleep," Samara pointed out urgently, sitting on the stretcher but not lying down. "If I do... she will come for me again."

Matilda took a deep breath, sat in a chair beside the stretcher, and grabbed her gently by her hand.

"No sleep doesn't do anything good for your health, Samara."

The girl looked away, uncertainly. Her reaction was more than expected, due to the dreadful experience she had just been through. And applying a sedative was not recommended at all for exactly the same.

"Tell me one thing," Matilda muttered, again jovial. "Do you always have these nightmares whenever you sleep?"

Samara turned to her slowly, looking at her with her eyes flushed and tired.

"No, not always."

"The last few days, you could sleep peacefully and without nightmares, right? What do you think it was due to?"

Samara squeezed her brow slightly and closed her eyes a little, in a thoughtful gesture almost exaggerated.

"I don't know..." Her thin fingers tightened a little more on the psychiatrist's hand. "I think everything has been better since you arrived. But when I thought you had abandoned me too..."

"I didn't abandon you, and I won't do that, little girl," Matilda hurried to clarify sharply. "If that's what you need, I'll stay here with you until you fall asleep. And I'll spend the night in the waiting room, and so if something happens in the middle of the night they can let me know, and I'll help you as I did a moment ago. So you will be calmer?"

Samara again thought for a few seconds, but then nodded affirmatively. Slowly, she put her head on the soft pillow, although a little rough cover.

"Thank you."

"Don't worry, that's why I'm here," Matilda commented with a wide smile.

The black-haired girl closed her eyes.

"Could you talk with my mother?" Samara whispered suddenly, her voice still quite awake.

Matilda was a little startled, but tried to calm down and clear her mind of any conscious thought about that conversation that the little girl could perceive. The secret, Eleven had taught her, was to concentrate on a specific idea in the background; an image, a landscape, a song, even a joke. Samara's ability in that sense was somewhat small, and she was not able, as far as she had seen, to always activate it consciously. So, it was improbable that she could perceive anything at that right moment. But it was still better not to take risks because the last thing she needed was to be disturbed at that moment when she learned the direction that conversation had taken. Sooner or later, Matilda would have to talk to her, but it wouldn't be that night.

"Yes, I did," she replied as naturally as possible, considering that she was trying to speak at the same time, her inner voice recounted the introduction of Moby-Dick.

"What did she say?"

"We'd better talk about it later, okay?" Matilda then ran her other hand through her hair, gently removing it from the little girl's face. "Now, just sleep."

Samara nodded.

"Is she okay?"

Okay? Again a difficult question to answer, and in which she could not even think directly at those moments.

"They're helping her, just as I help you."

It wasn't quite a lie; what she least liked was lying to her patients. They were helping her, but she doubted how much such help would give favorable results.

She kept holding her hand the entire time she was there until the girl finally fell asleep. Matilda hoped she had a pleasant dream for a change.

— — — —

Who was possibly afraid of not having pleasant dreams that night, was Cody. As he had mentioned in the Portland hospital, he tried to avoid situations that would stress him in such a way that could cause negative thoughts, and mainly nightmares. But all that day had been quite stressful. It was not perhaps the most stressful of his life, but enough to have him uncomfortable.

He and Cole had gone to the dining room for hospital employees, which was totally alone, while Matilda took care of Samara. Throughout that time, the teacher had been quiet and thoughtful. Topics to think about were maybe too many in those moments. However, the one that most occupied his head was undoubtedly that hallway, that room, and the state in which these were. And, perhaps less shocking but equally significant, what the girl had said.

"No, it's real, the monster is real... It's me… I am the monster... I am the monster..."

A slight chill ran down his back every time he remembered it. He was not even fully aware of why his body reacted in this way. It was as if it were some involuntary physiological or psychological reaction... Or, maybe, it was again the Shine, warning him about the imminent danger that he was not yet able to digest at all.

In what had he gotten into...?

He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't feel when Cole was returning back to the table he was sitting on. When he noticed from the corner of his eye how the cop sat in another chair, he gave a small nervous startle. Cole had two small glasses of coffee in his hands and placed one of them in front of him on the table.

"A coffee, professor?" He asked with an eloquent smile. Cody looked at the glass for a moment, and then downplayed it.

"I think I drank too much coffee today."

"Then it will be better a beer, maybe," the policeman said wryly. He took a sip of his own glass of coffee, and his face almost immediately drew a grimace of weariness. "Psychiatric coffee. I'm not surprised that people go crazy."

Cole put the glass back on the table, pulling it a little away from him. Cody looked at him sideways, somewhat curious about his attitude so… relaxed. He had practically seen and known the same thing he did about that case, even a little less. And yet he showed no concern.

"You seem quite calm," said Cody bluntly. Cole shrugged.

"Shouldn't I be?"

"I don't know..." Cody leaned a little toward him, resting his arms on the table. "What happened in that hallway... wasn't something 'normal,' right?"

Cole looked at him and outlined a half-smile.

"For people like us, 'normal' is relative, even if it sounds trite."

"Yes, yes, I know. But I don't mean that. What happened there..."

The dining room doors opened at that moment, alerting the two men, but especially Cody. Both relaxed a few seconds to see that who approached them was Matilda, already with her bandaged hand. The fatigue was more than evident in her steps and in her crouched gaze. Both stood up almost immediately and came forward a little to meet her

"How is she?" Asked Cody, taking the initiative.

"Better, as far as possible," Matilda replied hesitantly. She walked between them, dropped into one of the chairs, and left her broken phone on the table. She ran her right hand over her face, carving it, especially in the area of ​​the forehead and temples. At the same time, she let the other hand hang free and lazily. "She already fell asleep, but I don't know how long that lasted. I heard that the other doctors and nurses argue about getting her out of here and sending her back home."

"Would that be a good or bad thing?" Asked Cole, crossing his arms.

"I'm not sure right now. Who has the last word is Dr. Scott, but it seems that he disappeared before all this began, and nobody knows where he went."

"She should leave," Cody suggested. "There is nothing they can do for her here."

Matilda sighed heavily. She leaned toward the table, resting her arms on it and pointed her gaze forward, at the windows reinforced with bars in front that led to the parking lot. That was an area only for hospital staff, and to which patients had no access, at least not regularly. But at that time nobody cared about the presence of the three visitors. Well, two outsiders and she who at least had a permit and a special badge (which she now remembered had left in her bag, like her second emergency phone) to be able to move around those parts.

"Maybe not," Matilda muttered after a while. "But her father seems to be better if he keeps her as far away as possible. And her mother urged me yesterday to kill her for her."

"What?" Cody exclaimed, surprised and alarmed. Yes, with the whole Lily Sullivan affair, she hadn't had time to tell him about that.

Cole walked to the table and surrounded her, standing in front of the psychiatrist, just to block her range of vision. He rested his hands on the flat surface and leaned a little toward her as if he were going to interrogate a suspect in the mere style of police films or series. Matilda looked at him from below, without any impression.

"Well, I think it's time for you to tell us more about this girl, don't you think?" Said the detective in a much more friendly tone than his position indicated. "Eleven told me some things. But I think only you know the most critical data. We are here to help you, so you must share with us everything we need. Don't you believe it, professor?"

Cole turned to Cody for support. He nodded and moved a little to the side of the table.

"I think so," he replied. "I only have some notions for what you told me the other day, but now I really have an interest in knowing the whole story."

Matilda sighed again, tired. She extended her hand to take the cup of coffee that Cody had rejected and took a long drink of it. On his first day in that dining room, and with that coffee machine in the corner, she had wanted to spit her first drink as soon as it touched her mouth. However, with the time she got used to it more, but still let out a rancid groan once she took her drink.

"Okay, I'll give you the details I can share."

Cody and Cole took a seat in front of her, and Matilda began to tell them, without going into much detail, a summary of Samara and her case.

She started at the beginning, telling them about Evelyn, Samara's biological mother, and all the little she could find out about Samara's birth. Then went on to talk about the Morgan's, how they ended up adopting Samara, and the strange events that happened around the girl before the incident of the horses, which was the flame that shot everything else. That was followed by what had happened to Anna Morgan and took advantage of that mention to speak about how fruitless their conversation from the day before was. She gave a review of the tests that Scott and his team had applied to the girl before her arrival, and subsequently, everything she had seen in their different sessions. Again, all this without delving into medical aspects or more personal conversations he had with Samara. Similarly, by their faces, Matilda sensed that everything had become clear.

"And the last thing is what happened today," Matilda concluded when she reached the end, "you heard Dr. Johnson's story and... well, you saw the rest yourself."

Matilda leaned against her chair, relaxed, or at least as relaxed as that little chair allowed her to be. All that remembrance had only added some new sand grains to her already physical weariness.

Suddenly, Cole stood up without saying anything. He walked away a couple of steps and stood straight, turning his back with his hands on his waist in a pose that seemed almost overactive. Cody and Matilda looked at him expectantly.

"Well," he said seriously, perhaps the greatest seriousness he had carried with him since they met him, "now I understand much better why Eleven wanted me to see this case."

"What?" Matilda exclaimed, perplexed, and then she modestly released a slight sarcastic giggle. "And why? I already told you that Samara has never shown any quality of seeing ghosts or anything like that."

"Anything like that, that's the key," said the detective, turning back to them. He looked at both as if he were the school teacher, and they were his students whom he was about to instruct. He took a deep breath and began to speak in a soft and clear tone. "Listen, this is always difficult to explain, even to those already a little familiar with the subject, or who think they are. But this world you see is not the only one that exists. On one side of us, down, up, upside down, there are many others. Hundreds, maybe thousands. Ghosts, or what people know as such, are energies that slide from this world to another, and to another. And when they cross back for ours, people like me can see them, hear them... and even more. That is my ability and others." His expression became even more grim and hard than before. "But, there are other types of energies and beings that are not native to this world, but cross from other darker, more distant and more dangerous places. They enter ours, and when that happens... horrible and unimaginable things happen. People call them in many ways, but perhaps the most usual is... demons."

Matilda and Cody looked confused at the detective, although each person's real feeling was very different.

"Demons?" Murmured Cody.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Matilda said almost immediately, something more assertive.

Cole raised his right hand, pointing imaginary in the direction of Samara.

"There's something in this girl, something unusual, unnatural... and evil. Something demonic, which feeds on her unique Shine, or even worse: uses it to its advantage. I've seen it before, and Eleven too." His bright and deep eyes fixed directly on Matilda. "Your patient, doctor, is the victim of an entity that is not of this world."

Matilda remained silent, looking at him with such great disbelief that she touched on the personal grievance

"You are kidding, right?" She suddenly snapped dry and apprehensive.

"Matilda, come on..." Cody intervened, trying to soften things, but did not have the expected success.

"Come on you, Cody," the psychiatrist said, almost offended. "Demons? Ghosts are one thing, and I accept that there are indeed many who shine that believe in it. But demons? This is stupid."

"Stupid? Really?" They listened to how Cole expressed, perhaps obviously not as offended and annoying as she was, but a little bit of it accompanied him. Up to that point, he had behaved quite casually and calmly, but Matilda's aversive posture might begin to tire him. "Is that your scientific guess, doctor? Tell me, you affirm that you have already treated many children with the Shining before, or not? And you say you have never seen any who can see ghosts. Have you seen anyone who could do what this girl does?"

Matilda crossed her arms, staring at the detective as if they were some accuser faced him without fear.

"No, but it's not the first time I've seen some Shining showing a skill that I hadn't seen before. Samara is unusual; I accept it. But we already have a theory of how her skills work..."

"Matilda," Cody interrupted suddenly. "No, we don't have it."

The brunette turned to see her friend, confused by such words.

"This... this is not like what we thought," Cody tried to explain, although he felt a little nervous when he spoke. "Did you see those walls? They looked like they were from an abandoned building for decades. How that happened?"

"Obviously it was derived from that new skill that Scott and his other assistants cataloged as Projected Thermography. She must have shaped a scene of her nightmare around her."

"That is quite different from creating an image on paper, x-rays, or even in a person's mind. This was a jump too big."

Matilda shrugged.

"Her mood must have provoked it. We have seen many times as when some kids get upset, they completely lose control. You know about that better than anyone."

Cody sighed, also as a small sign of the fatigue he had accumulated. He leaned against his chair and removed his glasses, leaving them on the table. He carved his eyes with his fingers, and then the entire right side of his face.

"And the water?" He pointed out abruptly as if it had been a thought that suddenly came to him. "Where did the water that drained from the walls and covers the floor come from?"

"The toilet, maybe..."

"It was not toilet water," Cody cried suddenly, raising his voice more, "that was puddled and dirty water, as if it came from a stream or... an abandoned well, or I don't know. She couldn't have imagined that and appeared out of nowhere."

"You could do it."

"Yes, but it would cease to exist as soon as I stopped thinking about it. In this case, the walls stayed like that and the water too, although she was no longer even present. And you didn't feel the air around us? Didn't you also feel that overwhelming feeling of heaviness and... death?"

Cody was more than upset: he was afraid. From all the shining ones she knew, Matilda never thought that he would be the one to react that way, considering his story that she knew so well.

Matilda stood abruptly from the table. She took a couple of steps away, holding her head with both hands and closing her eyes for a second.

"And what do you think then, Cody?" Matilda questioned, turning back to her friend. "Do you think she is really possessed by a demon?"

Cody hesitated at the time of reply, quite uncertain.

"I don't know... but I don't feel prepared to say with certainty that it isn't."

Matilda snorted, totally incredulous of what she heard.

"This is the last straw," she stammered slowly as if it were a small curse. He then turned fully to Cole. "Is this why Eleven sent you? Because she thinks Samara is possessed by a demon? Is that the 'another kind of experience' that I needed? Perfect, where do I sign up for the demonology diploma?"

Cole drew a half-smile for her comment, although the rest of his face, especially his eyes, did not seem to indicate that it was because he looked it funny.

"Calm down, I think we're getting a little hot," Cody muttered, standing too; from his position, he was practically between them. "Matilda, I know that all this is difficult and strange, but you don't have to take it out on Cole."

"Oh, now he's 'Cole'?" the doctor answered with an ironic tone.

"He is one of us. Eleven sent him, remember?"

Matilda snorted again as if she wanted to imply that she didn't care. Cole, on the other hand, was really physically tired of the whole trip and hustle, and that entire situation only made it worse. But he did his best to remain as serene as possible, knowing that, in reality, that had not been the worst reaction he had seen in someone after touching that complicated subject.

"Cody is right, we have to calm down," said the detective, somewhat more eloquent. Matilda just thought about how they call themselves as Cole and Cody as if they had been known for a lifetime. "We are friends, or at least on my part we are. Maybe we start with the left foot, and I'm sorry if my way of being can be something… conflicting. I am, in fact..."

"Quite introverted and unsure of himself," Matilda declared sharply, untangling him. She stared at him so intently with those blue eyes that they seemed strong enough to pierce his face. "You grew up being a lonely child, maybe from separated parents, and with average grades. You felt more secure being the class clown, or acting like someone you were not. Over time, you have developed that extroverted and seemingly always lively personality, more like a defense instrument. If you are the one in control of the room, everyone will be so focused on being angry with you that they won't worry about seeing more inside. That has undoubtedly brought you problems in your personal and professional life. But for that reason, you take refuge in your work as much as possible; both, in the police force and the Foundation. You like the idea of ​​helping people and being the hero. It gives you a purpose and justification for your actions and makes you feel special. You tell yourself that you do it selflessly, but, in fact, it is your way of obtaining instant personal satisfaction." She crossed her arms over her torso, not taking her eyes off him. "But I am not a detective, nor a demon hunter. I am Just a simple psychiatrist. What would I know?"

The air in that dining room became much denser and colder than it already was. The smile and good humor had vanished entirely from Cole's face, being replaced by a cold, hard, and even somewhat terrifying look. Cody, still in the middle, looked at each one, not knowing what to say or do.

"And you theorize it by the little we talked today?" The policeman asked, skeptical, to which Matilda responded with a mocking chuckle.

"By the little? You hadn't shut up since we met. You are like an open book."

"Stop!" Cody almost shouted, pushing himself to intervene. He really put himself in the middle of both of them, facing Matilda directly. "What is your problem?"

Matilda was startled, confused by her questioning.

"Mine?"

"Yes, yours," the professor replied harshly. "The only thing Cole has done since we met him is trying to help us, and you have spent all this time attacking him. Why does he bother you so much if you don't even know him?"

"If I had to guess," Cole intervened behind him. He had his hands on his waist, and looked at Matilda over Cody's shoulder, "I'd say she feels threatened."

Again Matilda almost jumped at the sound of it.

"Threatened? Me?"

"Yes, you." Cole moved toward her, stopping him at a short distance, although Cody was still working as a dividing wall between them. Even so, their eyes were crossed, and they were undoubtedly aggrieved. "It seems to me that Eleven told you that she would send someone with 'another kind of experience' to help you, which is the same as saying that she needed in the case someone who knew something you didn't. And that perhaps hurt your pride a little. That's why you are taking it against me even though I only come to help." He crossed his arms, mimicking a little the same posture she had taken a few moments ago. "But I'm not a psychiatrist; I'm just a simple demon hunter detective."

"That's true?" Asked Cody, totally disbelieving that crazy claim. However, the psychiatrist only saw him sidelong for a few moments and then turned away without saying anything... as if she felt ashamed. "Oh, Matilda, come on. That isn't worthy of you."

"Well, apparently it is," she replied quickly, and totally defensively. "And I don't care what Eleven says: Samara is my patient, and what she least needs now is a complete stranger to come and fill her head with the idea that she is possessed by a demon."

"Listen, doctor ..." Cole tried to speak again, but Matilda did not allow it.

"No, you listen to me. Trying to explain what is not understood by attributing it to spirits and demons is precisely the way of thinking that led several like us in the past to be persecuted and treated as monsters."

"Monsters like Carrie White?" Cole snapped without a glance, and those only four words made everything inside Matilda crumble.

Again a deep and cold silence formed, and to say that the air had become dense was to fall short.

"Hey, wait... don't overdo it..." Cody tried to intervene, standing in front of Cole, but he seemed so determined to touch that button that he completely ignored him.

"Yes, that was something more that everyone told me when I asked about the great Matilda Honey and her biggest failure within the Foundation." He continued in a rather sharp tone of defiance. Matilda just looked at him in silence, stoic. "Is that what this is about? Do you protect this girl because she reminds you of Carrie White? To avoid believing in ghosts, it seems like one is seeking you right now, doctor..."

If he had anything else to say, he could no longer do it because, at that moment, his body was drastically pushed back, until he was thrown several meters against one of the dining room tables, which was knocked down by his weight creating a loud rumble. For his part, the detective ended up sitting on the floor, stunned and surely hit. Cody jumped back from the impression. He looked at Cole lying on the ground, and then looked at Matilda, with some fear in his actions. Matilda looked so earnestly at the police officer that her eyes almost seemed to release sparks of fire.

Had she pushed him with her telekinesis? That was more than sure. Had she done it on purpose, or had it been a mere reflex act? That was in doubt.

"Matilda… what are you doing?" Cody muttered, still unable to leave his astonishment.

The brunette seemed to react, even a little, to hear his voice. She turned to see him for a moment, without changing the expression on her face. Later, without saying anything, she turned to the table, picked up her broken phone, and hurried toward the dining-room's door. Cody thought about telling her something, but all his thoughts led him to the conclusion that it was better to let her go, at least for now. Matilda opened the double swing doors at the same time with some violence, and they closed themselves behind her.

When Matilda had already left, Cole began to try to get up, staggering a little in the attempt and falling back down like a drunk man in his worst state.

"You went too far," Cody exclaimed as a complaint. He approached him then, offering a hand to help him stand up. "That is not a theme you can be playing with, especially with Matilda. Why did you do that?"

Cole looked distractedly at the hand that extended him, and as he could, took it and helped himself to stand up. Already standing, his balance felt a little more stable.

"Things were not going well," he explained. "I thought that putting all our cards on the table at once would be the best way to end this as quickly as possible."

"And how did it work out for you?"

Cole looked up silently at the doors Matilda had left.

"We'll see."

END OF CHAPTER 23

[spacebearwithagun]

What ifs...

So I was just thinking about what if Kaiden and Ashley had both survived Virmire and how my Shepard (Ny'cole) would have reacted to subsequent situations. - she would have been relieved to have Ashley back, because even of their relationship isn’t the closest, she’s a damn good soldier and Shepard has lost enough soldiers. - Kaiden and Shepard would have still hooked up… it was bound to happen… and they would have still done the whole week in Seoul and Christmas and her birthday. Ashley would be happy for them even though she liked Kaiden, but she’s over it. -but then Shepard dies and Kaiden’ s devastated and Ashley is his friend. - and what starts off as friendship becomes something more and before they know it, they are the power couple. Kaiden improves his combat skills and Ashley learns to be more political… they climb the ranks but they talk as much as they can, since they are often assigned to different things, and when they can they spend as much time together as possible. - then there’s rumors, and whispers and Kaiden’s not sure what to think but Ashley insists on hard evidence, she gets in touch with Liara and finds her to be strangely evasive. Kaiden is assigned to Horizon, colonists are going missing. - then suddenly, she’s there, alive, angry red scars across her face. It’s shepard… or at least it looks like Shepard, how can it be she’s working for Cerebus. She would never do that. There’s a rush of feelings because he loved her so much and it hurt so much when she died… but she didn’t die… she’s here and there’s guilt because it’s been two years, he’s moved on but she’s still looking at him the same way as that last night on the Normandy. And he says some things that come out harsh and he can see her withdraw, see her eyes shutter close and the only way he knows he’s truly hurt her is by the way she clings to Garrus’s hand. -first chance he gets, he calls Ashley and she listens to him as he has a break down. And once he’s got his self together he listens while Ashley let’s her emotions go… because she respected Shepard, how could she work for Cerebus… it must be a mistake, it must not be Shepard. And by the end Kaiden is smiling, though he’s still in a bit a pain, because he loves Ashley and they really are good together. They agree that someone should send Shepard, or this shepard look alike at any rate, a letter. And Kaiden thinks it should be him but Ashley thinks it should be her and in the end they agree that both of them should send letters. - and Shepard is in pain. She’s a mess. It has been hard enough coming to terms with being alive again, working with Cerebus, who she hates with nearly every fiber of her being, but to have the man she loved look at her like she is some sort of monster… well it causes her to break. She’s able to keep it together long enough to get to her cabin but once there she collapses. She’s angry at first, at so much, she breaks a couple of things, then she’s grieving, sobs wrenching from her as she lays curled on the floor. Which is how Garrus finds her and she let’s him pick her up and hold her together until she can manage on her own. - and the thing is, Garrus doesn’t see her in a romantic light. He just sees his friend, his mentor hurting and wishes to help. She needs him and frankly, he needs her. - and Shepard pulls herself together and pushes on, because that is what she does, it is what she has always done and no one can tell how much she is hurting except for Garrus, because he’s coming to know her that well, and maybe Miranda because she’s perceptive like that. - she’s not on a good place when the letters come, first Ashley’s then Kaiden’s. She cries a lot and Garrus let’s her sob on his shoulder till she falls asleep. (She’s almost cute when she’s asleep and not angry at something or someone). She doesn’t write back, not yet. - and Jack and Grunt join the crew. In jack Shepard finds someone more damaged than her who needs to be cared about and in grunt she sees Ah Jah, albeit a more krogany version, and she can’t help but care. And caring helps her forget the turmoil inside. -then Samara and Thane join and she finds more people who understand, more people to care about. - then she meets with Liara, she’s grown a lot in the last two years. And though she’s a bit angry about the resurrection thing, she forgives her, because she’s trying to understand and she knows if one of her friends died and she had any scrap of hope of bringing them back, she would. And she knows that Liara has always felt deeper about her than mere friendship. - so after the shadow broker business and when Liara is onboard for a visit… Shepard let’s things go too far. She knows it is wrong… but it has been so long since she has been held like that… so long since she has felt loved like that, and afterwards, laying in bed with Liara’s arms around her, she apologizes… And it’s messy, and Liara is hurt. And when she is gone Shepard finally sits down and writes a letter. She sends the same one to Ashley and Kaiden. Reading it over, she thinks it sounds robotic, but she sends it anyway… She decides she can’t keep living in the past, that she can’t expect others to do so as well. She calls Liara, she apologizes again, she asks her if maybe, after all this stuff with the omega relay is over, maybe they can start over. Liara tells her maybe. - they continue the mission, Tali joins, they find Legion… in a matter of weeks Shepard finds herself in the middle of a disjointed, dysfunctional family, and for the first time in ages she feels like herself. - Hackett asks for her to do a mission, and she makes a difficult decision… but she doesn’t have time to dwell on it or the impending consequences because they are through the relay and they are doing the impossible. - and when they come back, she does the right thing… because that is who she has become. And they throw her into a sort of house arrest, except it’s a little apartment at alliance headquarters in New York, and she hates it, and they cut her off from everything that was keeping her together… And she falls apart. - And Kaiden and Ashley hear about what she has done, and where she is , and they both try to see her, but their requests get denied. When Anderson asks if Shepard is willing to talk to them she says no. She doesn’t want them to see her in this state, broken up and diminished. The nightmares and the panic attacks, they never cease. It’s bad enough Anderson sees her like this, but there is never any judgement from him, just fatherly concern. - then the reapers come, just like she knew they would, like she’s been telling them and suddenly they need her again. Kaiden and Ashley are standing outside of the council room when they see her again, being escorted to Anderson by James. It’s a shock. Her long hair has been cut so it just reaches below her ears, her eyes are harder, her jaw tighter. She glances as the pair but her gaze seems to go right through them. Kaiden greets her and she doesn’t even acknowledge him. Ashley takes his hand and gives it a squeeze. They don’t catch Shepard’s flinch when Ashley tells James that they use to know her. - she doesn’t have time to dwell because soon it becomes about surviving. She doesn’t have time to think about much until Anderson is pushing her on board the Normandy while he stays behind. She gets bruises from where Ashley has to hold her back from jumping out to rejoin him. Panic wells up inside her as her lifeline for the last 6 months disappears from sight. -but they are calling her commander, so she shoves it down and takes orders from Hackett, she gets James to settle down and she straps on some armor. And when they touch down on mars and Kaiden volunteers to go with… She tells him no, and takes Ashley instead and she turns away when he kisses Ashley goodbye. When it turns out Cerebus is behind the mess on Mars things get tense. Ashley starts asking questions and when Shepard says she can’t answer them she thinks she is lying. Shepard isn’t lying and she’s getting fed up with people not trusting her. - then Liara’s there and Shepard has never been more happy to see someone in her life. And Liara is happy to see her too, because despite how things ended between them last time, she really did want to start over and she still has hope that Shepard will come to love her someday. - and it’s more fighting and more survival and Ashley sees Shepard’s reaction to the illusive man and hears their exchange and she finally begins to believe in Shepard again, but then it’s not surviving so well for Ashley. And Shepard can’t look Kaiden in the eye when they bring her unconscious body to the medbay. And she has to leave quickly so somebody doesn’t see her lose it. - later when Liara finds her she has to smear med gel over Shepard’s bloody knuckles, and Shepard doesn’t even notice because she zones out until they reach the citadel. But when she becomes aware again she’s glad to find Liara there, leaning up against her shoulder, holding her hand. - once at the citadel Shepard sees that Ashley is put into proper care. Then she’s back in commander mode. She’s got to see the council. Kaiden tries to go with her and she tells him no. He needs to stay with Ashley and she can’t quite deal with him yet. - then they are off to pavlaven, and Garrus is there, and seeing him again feels like coming home, she’s come to rely on him for so much. And garrus, he sees her and he realizes all at once that she’s so much more than a friend, that she means everything to him. And he tries to hide it because Liara is looking at her with those eyes and he knows that she still loves Shepard. He’s not hiding it well though because Liara sees and her heart drops, because she doesn’t want to hurt a friend. And Shepard, she doesn’t see either of them. She just sees the mission. - and Ashley gets better and the council makes Kaiden and her spectres. Shepard hears about it and sends them each a note of congratulations, but she doesn’t go and visit Ashley and she stays away from Kaiden as well. - they gain the krogan but lose a friend and both Garrus and Liara comfort her together. It is the agreement they had come to after pavlaven. Be there for Shepard when she needs it and if she chooses to love one of them so be it. They won’t make her choose and they won’t compete. - then Cerebus tries to take the citadel and another friend is lost. But Kaiden and Ashley choose to trust Shepard about Udina. Even if Kaiden is a bit upset about Shepard shooting him in the end. In the aftermath they ask to serve on the Normandy, but Shepard says no. -ashley gets angry, she thinks Shepard is holding a grudge and she confronts her about it. “Are you seriously going to hold a grudge against us because we got together after we thought you had died, it was two years shepard.” - and Shepard wants to laugh but she keeps it together. “Is that what you think of me, that I am that petty? No, I don’t hold that against you, for the record. You guys are obviously good for each other. No, I’m not having you on board because even after everything I sacrificed you still think me capable of willingly working with Cerebus, even after all you’ve witnessed and all you know about me you still chose to believe that I would work for those bastards. After what they did to Sarah. I don’t need people who can’t trust me, people who were supposedly close enough to know me, on my team.” - Kaiden is angry now too. “ what the hell were we suppose to think, and since when do you prefer blind trust over honest doubt .” - Shepard blinks at him. “ You have to admit that it would have been easier on you conscience if I turned out to be some sort of clone or mind controlled husk, but guess what, for better or worse it was me, actually me.” - Ashley again “there’s no way we could have known that.” - Shepard sighs. “You would have known if you were my friend. I would have been fine if you didn’t love me anymore, Kaiden, but when you stopped being my friend… I couldn’t take that.” -Kaiden nods “you’re right… there’s too much between us. Ashley and I could do more good somewhere else.” -and there is that whole thing with the clone and when Kaiden comes face to face with the thing he can’t believe he ever thought the real Shepard was ever fake. The difference is startling. He wants to apologize but the time doesn’t seem right and at any rate she’s got Garrus …or liara… or maybe both he can’t really tell. - and Shepard doesn’t really know either, all she knows is that she’s come to care for them both deeply and she’s pretty sure she can’t live without either one. - so the night of the party arrives (Kaiden and Ashley are surprised to find they are invited and wrex teases Ashley about wanting to shoot him back on Virmire and Kaiden finds himself a bit taken back by the intensity of Jack on a good day. Both see Shepard treat grunt like a favored son and have to laugh because he’s a good foot taller than her.) Drinks are had and one thing leads to another. - and Shepard wakes to find herself wedged between Liara and Garrus and there’s a bit of panic but at the same time a feeling that this is right… this is perfect. So after an awkward breakfast she pulls them aside and has a conversation. It goes better than expected and ends with Shepard waking up between them once again but this time with a pretty good recollection of what took place. And despite all the chaos and impending doom the three of them find happiness. - so it’s their love that gives Shepard the strength to get up and do what she must inside the catalyst. And when a decision needs to be made, she chooses the one that will bring her back to them.