#The Corpse Princess and the King of Vengeance

[doomed-prophetess]

[vocaloidderivativeotd]

Today's Vocaloid derivative of the day is:

Hatsune Miku from Corpse Princess and the King of Vengeance by Suzunosuke!

[dangermousie]

The fact that dramas not only have a whole category of "came to fuck them over, stayed to fuck them" romance but there are enough of them to have subcategories like:

The person I love is supposed to end the world, let's hope it goes out with a bang. Ours.

See Till the End of the Moon, Legend of Fuyao, Ever Night, Shine or Go Crazy, Kingdom of the Wind

They are a literal devil but everyone has their issues, don't they?

See Doom at Your Service, TTEOTM, The Legends, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Chong Zi, Journey of Flower, Scarlet Heart Ryeo, Legend of Zu, Ice Fantasy

Yeah, they killed (or hurt) my family but I can make a new one with them and that's a fair trade

See Empress Ki, Moon in the Day, The Wolf, Captivating the King, Goodbye My Princess, Siege in Fog, Royal Nirvana, The King's Woman, A Love to Kill, Whisper, Hotel King, Prosecutor Princess, Gaksital, Secret, Cruel City, Queen Love and War, Giant, Bloody Heart

I want vengeance on their family - by being an in law from hell!

See Beyond the Clouds, Queen of the Game, Love Song for Illusion, The Princess' Man, Innocent Man, Green Rose, Spring Waltz

He's the villain with corpse decor but it's good he's got hobbies, I guess

See My Villain Husband, Different Princess, Is Xianzun Whitewashed Today, The Romance of Tiger and Rose, upcoming Yong Ye Xing He and Offering Fish to Master, Legend of Condor Heroes (secondary OTP), Love for Immortality, Word of Honor

I came to rob them of their goods but robbing them of their heart is way better

See Robber, My Journey to You, That Winter the Wind Blows, Baker King, Call It Love

They killed ME before, but eh, let bygones be bygones

A lot of the ones above (Xianzun, Tiger/Rose, Different Princess) qualify but also Love and Redemption...(ETA Bulgasal as reminded by @crookedfandomquill)

A lot of them fit more than one category, too...

God, we are so blessed! :P

[faustus-pheles]

I already had these ideas for about a year and a half but I was finally able to draw it/write them down. Also, I tried my best to draw in the project sekai art style. The face was the best I could do (T-T)…I’ll probably do the school uniform later.

If you want to know general ideas or maybe more info, you can read below, though, it’s kind of long(^^;) This unit will definitely be set before the 3rd anniversary.

This unit is known as Rozen Notturno, a classical and gothic band that focuses on one pair of musicians and one pair of singers/dancers. Together they create highly polished music. Pairs are changed depending on the song and while there are main singers, that doesn’t mean the musicians don’t sing. Because they’re more invested into music playing, they become back-up singers. Their dances are a mix of ballroom dancing and ballet. Each band member has an instrument(s) associated with them. Miyuki (piano, harpsichord, organ, etc.), Suzu (Violin), Aiko (Electric guitar, accordion), and Rei (Cello). Miyuki/Suzu tend to be in one pair and Aiko/Rei tend to be the other. Their lyrics are very symbolically/metaphorically driven and story based( they tend to be horror or fairy tale inspired). When they do add lyrics based on themselves, it’s usually hidden between the characters they created. Miyuki is the composer, Rei is the lyricist, Suzu is the storyteller, and Aiko is the stylist.

In terms of how their music sounds like, it’ll be something akin to Ali Project, Valkyrie (enstars), and Hollow Mellow. On the more extreme side, Rozen Notturno can lean more into gothic visual kei bands or Youseki Teikoku. Even jazz is a possibility.

Some of the vocaloid songs I was thinking that they could potentially cover could be limited, but that could also be because I haven’t search enough. Either way some of the songs include:

Kikuo (ex. Histrionic, Rolling Rolling Tumbling Along, Dance of the Corspes, KikuoHana in general

Kanon69 (Darkestory, Royal Scandal series)

Nem (ex. Angelfish, Virgin Suicides, Scissorhands)

Machigerita (ex. Coffin of Sweet Death, Dream Meltic Halloween, Moonlight and Black)

Hitoshizuku & Yana (ex. The Corpse Princess and the King of Vengeance, Prisoner of Love and Desire, 13th Apocalypse, Alluring Secret ~Black Vow~)

Some general songs (ex. Honeymoon Un Deux Trois, Cantarella, Cendrillion/Adolescent)

Their sekai would be the Ballroom Sekai. A place full of extravagant paintings/decor and musical instruments. It’s very Rococo inspired. It has enough space for Rozen Notturno to practice and for “guests” to peek in. The guests are porcelain dolls that are about 2.5 ft. The sekai is created by the dream of both Miyuki and Suzu, the dream to once again play together in front of a live audience (in an orchestra).

Miku and the rest of the vocaloids would be ball-joint dolls. Specifically with Miku, she’s an always smiling and always kind (albeit slight eccentric) doll that’s constantly en pointe. She has no instrument associated with her as she’s only a singer/3rd dancer. The rest of of the vocaloids change instruments based on the song.

The main story will most likely be about Miyuki meeting Suzu again after many years and failing multiple times to get her to play with him. He’ll meet Aiko and Aiko wanting to help him, will probably recruit Rei, who has no friends. The general idea of creating a “band” will actually be Aiko’s idea as in having more people to perform together should be much easier than having only one. With they finally recruit Suzu (with the help of the vocaloids as well), they decide to try to perform on a small stage. Though until the very end, Suzu is unable to, as her fears are triggered. What they decided to do thanks to Miyuki’s plan is to use Suzu’s persona, Engel, to perform instead, and to wait until Suzu is able to perform as herself, as everyone wants to continue playing together as a “band” . The main story arch will be mostly focused on helping Suzu gain the courage to play as herself with everyone. Smaller arcs will include on how they want to run their band/how they should perform, Rei’s inability to open up even for the most simplest of things (trust issues/vulnerability issues), and Aiko’s fear of being abandoned by her friends (abandonment issues). Miyuki’s the only one who’s actually ok(^^;). Though, arcs will most likely focus in his creative endeavors (same as Rei).

Some character interactions:

Miyuki will have interactions with Toya (mostly), Akito, Kanade, Ichika, and Tsukasa.

Suzu will have interactions with Mafuyu and Mizuki (She’ll have the least because of her social anxiety)

Aiko will have interactions with basically everyone but mostly Mizuki, An, and Tsukasa.

Rei will have interactions with only the Kamiyama students and he won’t have any favorites.

That’s all I have but I might add more later when I get more ideas.

[summeryewberry]

Queer Book List

I've just updated my complete list of LGBT+ novels ever read (as far as I can remember). Not including short story collections, comics, non-fiction, or things I've completely forgotten.

I'm not including books where a main character's sexuality was only implied (it's got to be clear on the page), and this list contains queer main and secondary characters only, not background characters that play little part in the story.

I don't read a lot of Young Adult, so assume these are all adult-oriented unless otherwise stated.

I'm not judging nor rating nor recommending any of these; it's purely a list of books I've finished.

True Colors #1: Conventionally Yours, by Annabeth Albert gay male main characters, romance, happy ending

The Geek Who Saved Christmas, by Annabeth Albert gay male main characters, romance, happy ending

Perfect Harmony #2: Love Me Tenor, by Annabeth Albert gay male main character, gay male side characters, romance, happy ending

Knit, Purl, a Baby and a Girl, by Hettie Bell bisexual female main character, lesbian main character, romance, happy ending

Master of One, by Dani Bennett and Jaida Jones gay male main characters, trans woman side character, high fantasy, unfinished series

Cesare Aldo #1: City of Vengeance, by D. V. Bishop Cesare Aldo #2: The Darkest Sin, by D. V. Bishop gay male main character, gay male side characters, mystery, historical, unfinished series

The Crow: The Lazarus Heart, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main character, trans woman main character, horror, unhappy ending - it's The Crow

Exquisite Corpse, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main characters, horror, unhappy ending

Lost Souls, by Poppy Z. Brite gay male main characters, horror, I don't remember the ending

The Black Magician #2: The Novice, by Trudi Canavan The Black Magician #3: The High Lord, by Trudi Canavan gay male side characters, high fantasy, happy ending for the gay characters

The Hours, by Michael Cunningham lesbian main characters, bisexual female main characters, general fiction, I don't remember the ending

Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand, by Samuel R. Delany gay male main characters, science fiction, unfinished series

The High King's Golden Tongue, by Megan Derr gay male main characters, romance, high fantasy, happy ending

Nightrunner Books #1: Luck in the Shadows, by Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner Books #2: Stalking Darkness, by Lynn Flewelling Nightrunner Books #3: Traitor's Moon, by Lynn Flewelling gay male main characters, high fantasy, everyone is alive and well as of book 3, I haven't read the rest of the series

Reforged, by Seth Haddon gay male main characters, high fantasy, happy ending

The Well of Loneliness, by Radclyffe Hall lesbian main character, historical classic, unhappy ending

Princesses #1: The Stepsister Scheme, by Jim C. Hines Princesses #2: The Mermaid's Madness, by Jim C. Hines Princesses #3: Red Hood's Revenge, by Jim C. Hines lesbian main character, fantasy, fairy tale, everyone is alive and well as of book 3, I haven't read book 4 yet

Blood & Smoke #1 - Blood Books #1: Blood Price, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #2 - Blood Books #2: Blood Trail, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #3 - Blood Books #3: Blood Lines, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #4 - Blood Books #4: Blood Pact, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #5 - Blood Books #5: Blood Debt, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #6 - Smoke Series #1: Smoke and Shadows, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #7 - Smoke Series #2: Smoke and Mirrors, by Tanya Huff Blood & Smoke #8 - Smoke Series #3: Smoke and Ashes, by Tanya Huff bisexual male main character, gay male side character (main in the Smoke Books), low fantasy, humour, mostly happy ending

Torin Kerr #1: Confederation #1: Valor's Choice, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #2: Confederation #2: The Better Part of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #3: Confederation #3: The Heart of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #4: Confederation #4: Valor's Trial, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #5: Confederation #5: The Truth of Valor, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #6: Peacekeeper #1: An Ancient Peace, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #7: Peacekeeper #2: A Peace Divided, by Tanya Huff Torin Kerr #8: Peacekeeper #3: The Privilege of Peace, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, military space opera, humour, some queer characters survive, others do not - it's set during a war

Gale Girls #1: The Enchantment Emporium, by Tanya Huff Gale Girls #2: The Wild Ways, by Tanya Huff Gale Girls #3: The Future Falls, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, low fantasy, humour, happy ending

Keeper's Chronicles #1: Summon the Keeper, by Tanya Huff Keeper's Chronicles #2: The Second Summoning, by Tanya Huff Keeper's Chronicles #3: Long Hot Summoning, by Tanya Huff lesbian background character in books 1 & 2 becomes main in book 3, low fantasy, humour, happy ending

Quarters #1: Sing The Four Quarters, by Tanya Huff Quarters #2: Fifth Quarter, by Tanya Huff Quarters #3: No Quarter, by Tanya Huff Quarters #4: The Quartered Sea, by Tanya Huff bisexual main characters, bisexual side characters, high fantasy, humour, happy endings

The Fire's Stone, by Tanya Huff gay male main character, bisexual male main character, asexual female main character, poly relationship, high fantasy, happy ending

The Silvered, by Tanya Huff I don't remember, but considering it's Tanya Huff, probably everyone's bisexual, high fantasy, happy ending

Into the Broken Lands, by Tanya Huff gay male main character, bisexual side characters, high fantasy, horror elements, mostly happy ending

The House in the Cerulean Sea, by T. J. Klune gay male main characters, fairy tale, fantasy, happy ending

Angels in America, by Tony Kushner (play) gay male main characters, play, drama, happy ending

The Last Herald-Mage #1: Magic's Pawn, by Mercedes Lackey The Last Herald-Mage #2: Magic's Promise, by Mercedes Lackey The Last Herald-Mage #3: Magic's Price, by Mercedes Lackey gay male main characters, high fantasy, unhappy ending?

Bergman Brothers #5: Everything For You, by Chloe Liese gay male main characters, sports romance, happy ending

Ash, by Malinda Lo lesbian main character, fairy tale, young adult, I don't remember the ending

So This is Ever After, by F.T. Lukens gay male main characters, young adult, romance, high fantasy, happy ending

Winter's Orbit, by Everina Maxwell gay male main characters, science fiction, unfinished series

Lindsay Gordon Crime Series #6: Hostage to Murder, by V. L. McDermid (Val McDermid) lesbian main character, mystery, happy ending, I haven't read the rest of the series

Trick of the Dark, by Val McDermid lesbian main characters, lesbian side characters, mystery, I don't remember the ending

Iron Council, by China Miéville gay male side character, dystopian fantasy, I don't remember the ending

Hero, by Perry Moore gay male main characters, superheroes, young adult, happy ending

A Land Fit for Heroes #1: The Steel Remains, Richard K. Morgan gay male main character, lesbian main character, high fantasy, I don't remember the ending and I haven't read the sequel

Love & Luck #5: Two Men and a Baby, by Isla Olsen gay male main characters, gale male side characters, romance, happy ending

Captive Prince Series #1: Captive Prince, by C. S. Pacat Captive Prince Series #2: Prince's Gambit, by C. S. Pacat Captive Prince Series #3: Kings Rising, by C. S. Pacat bisexual male main character, gay male main character, bisexual side characters, high fantasy/romance, happy ending

The Monkey's Mask, by Dorothy Porter lesbian main character, bisexual female side character, poetry, mystery, complicated but satisfying ending

Wild Surmise, by Dorothy Porter bisexual female main character, poetry, general fiction, I don't remember the ending

She Drives Me Crazy, by Kelly Quindlen lesbian main characters, lesbian side characters, romance, young adult, happy ending

Cry to Heaven, by Anne Rice bisexual male main character, historical, revenge story, happy ending

The Wolf Gift, by Anne Rice gay male side character, low fantasy, happy ending

The Love Study #2: The Hate Project, by Kris Ripper gay male main characters, gay male side character, genderqueer side character, romance, happy ending

Carry On Series #1: Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell Carry On Series #2: Wayward Son, by Rainbow Rowell bisexual male main character, gay male main character, low fantasy, young adult, everyone is alive and well as of book 2, I haven't read book 3 yet

Get Over It!, by Phillip Scott gay male main characters, mystery, humour, I don't remember the ending

Christopher Marlowe Spy Thriller #1: The Queen's Gold, by Steven Veerapen gay male main character, mystery, spy thriller, historical, unfinished series

Fingersmith, by Sarah Waters lesbian main characters, historical, heist story, happy ending

Tipping the Velvet, by Sarah Waters lesbian main characters, historical, happy ending

Running With Lions, by Julian Winters gay male main characters, gay male side characters, young adult, sports romance, happy ending

The Stone Gods, by Jeanette Winterson lesbian main characters, gay male main characters, ostensibly general fiction but actually more like speculative fiction, implied happy ending

Orlando, by Virginia Woolf bisexual genderqueer main character, historical, I don't remember the ending

[alexagirlie]

The Latest Plague - Epilogue

Chapter one: The Break

Chapter two: The Traitor

Chapter three: The Hunt

Chapter four: The Reward

Chapter 5: The Morning After

Chapter 6: The Conclusion

Fandom: The Last Kingdom Pairing: (Main) Finan/Osferth/Sihtric, (Secondary) Finan/Sihtric/Uhtred, (Side/Implied) Finan/Osferth/Sihtric/Uhtred, Finan/Uhtred, Uhtred/Sihtric

Rating: E

Warnings/Tags (for whole story, not just this chapter): Vampires AU. Minor Character Death. Hunting. Death Threats. Blood Drinking. Blood Kink. Betrayal. Punishment. Oral Sex. Anal Sex. Dom/Sub Undertones. Threesomes.

Summary: For the first time since being turned by his brother all those years ago, Uhtred released the animal which lived under his skin, and with advice from his most trusted, allowed those under his command to do the same. Finan's words being the deciding factor.

"If they believe us to be monsters, then let us be monsters." Finan was tired of being shamed for what he chose to become, and instead embraced it wholeheartedly.

The vampires moved north across Northumbria like a plague, taking first Bebbanburg, Uhtred's ancestral seat. 

For the first time since being turned by his brother all those years ago, Uhtred released the animal which lived under his skin, and with advice from his most trusted, allowed those under his command to do the same. Finan's words being the deciding factor.

"If they believe us to be monsters, then let us be monsters." Finan was tired of being shamed for what he chose to become, and instead embraced it wholeheartedly.

The slaughter of Uhtred's uncle and the few loyal to him was particularly creative and once his new lands were secure Uhtred summoned all those that had been loyal to him back in Wessex. They turned all who wished it, growing their army larger and larger. Saxon, Dane, it did not matter.

Once they had the numbers Uhtred turned his gaze south. Time had not cooled the rage Uhtred held in his heart for the King of Wessex and now that they had a home to shelter those they cared about it was time for him to enact his vengeance upon the man who had cast him aside.

They took Eoforwic first, Uhtred finally taking revenge on King Guthred for selling him to slavers years ago. The four of them hunted the weasel King together and shared in his blood.

Finan kept the memory of Sihtric riding Uhtred to completion beside Guthreds cold corpse very close to his heart and pulled it up on the rare occasions he only had his own hand for company.

After Eoforwic was firmly under Uhtred's control they moved through Mercia next, killing any who fought back. 

The Lady Aethelflaed, who so looked up to Uhtred, who had saved her life many times when he was still in service to her father, chose to bend the knee without a fight and for that decision her household was spared. 

The same could not be said for her lord husband. Aethelred chose to fight back and the battle that ensued was particularly gruesome, the rumours of his treatment of his wife incentive for many to want him dead, Uhtred including, as the Lord had a soft spot for the saxon princess.

Finally the vampires turned their gaze upon Wesses itself. By this time their numbers had swelled so much that the fighting men of Wessex stood no chance, but Alfred was stubborn and believed that God would protect him from the coming carnage. 

It did not.

[vocaloid-song-of-the-day]

Corpse Princess and the King of Vengeance by Hitoshizuku × Yama△ feat. Kagamine Rin and Kagamine Len

[teal-writes]

STORY DIRECTORY

Hey there! I’m making a pinned post for the sake of easy access/advertising my works. You can find summaries & links here, notes about future projects, and everything will be sorted by fandom.

STRANGE MAGIC

IN PROGRESS

I Find You All Around Me - Follow-up series to Beyond Words. Rating: Explicit - swearing, sex

Everything is Fine! - The Good Place AU. Bog, a generally terrible person, dies and finds himself accidentally placed in heaven. With the help of Dawn, he attempts to fake-it-till-he-makes-it. Chaos ensues. Rating: Teen - swearing

Untitled MirrorMask AU. Marianne, a young, troubled artist, takes an Alice-in-Wonderland-like journey through her own drawings after a terrible accident sends her spiraling. NOT POSTED.

COMPLETED

Beyond Words - The Shape of Water story with Strange Magic characters. Marianne, a disillusioned janitor working at a top-secret government facility, finds a monstrous specimen and frees him from captivity. Rating: Explicit - swearing, heavy themes, sex, violence

Sapsorrow - Fairy tale AU based on the Donkeyskin/Allerleirauh/Cap O’ Rushes archetype. To escape a forced marriage, Princess Marianne flees the fairy kingdom in disguise and winds up in the Dark Forest. She becomes a scullery maid, though that doesn’t stop her from battling the fearsome Bog King--in more ways than one. Rating: General Audiences

Remains of the Day - Corpse Bride AU. While practicing his vows for an arranged marriage, Bog accidentally proposes to a dead woman haunting the woods. Rating: General Audiences

Imp and His Humans - Human AU, oneshot. Bog’s cat decides to play matchmaker. Rating: General Audiences

Running with the Wolves - Wolfwalkers AU, oneshot. Marianne frees a wolf from his cage in hopes that he’ll return the favor. Rating: General Audiences

MEGAMIND

COMPLETED

You’re MY Wife??? - Post canon/canon-compliant oneshot. Inspired by that video of the guy waking up from anesthesia who doesn’t remember that he’s married, then proceeds to flirt with his own wife. Sweet fluffy nonsense. :> Rating: General Audiences

IN PROGRESS

The Science is...Inadvisable - Megamind creates a Reset Button and accidentally sends himself & Roxanne across time and space--to his home planet days before it is destroyed. Rating: Teen - swearing, heavy themes, major character death

Bluebride - Fairy tale/gothic romance based on Bluebeard. Roxanne finds herself married to a strange, villainous man--one with closely-kept secrets and a reputation for disappearing wives. She is the seventh bride he’s taken, but one way or another, she intends to be the last. Rating: Teen - heavy themes. Rating may potentially increase.

Red Sun at Morn / Pirates be Warned - Ambassador Roxanne Ritchi is taken captive by the notorious Captain Megamind, who frankly, she finds underwhelming. Though very much at odds with one another, the sea is an unforgiving place--they may be each other’s only hope of survival...and vengeance. Rating: Teen - swearing and implied intent of sexual assault.

To Tear Down Olympus - While chasing down stolen tech, Megamind stumbles across an underground facility for creating super-humans. He also stumbles across two young test subjects who were left behind. It's up to him, his henchfish, his rival, and his kidnapee/crush to find out what the hell's going on and keep two traumatized super-kids safe. Chaos ensues. Rating: Teen - heavy topics, child abuse/experimentation/indoctrination

Untitled Teenagers AU. 17-year-old Roxanne is home alone when she discovers an alien boy taking shelter in her parents’ shed. NOT POSTED.

CENTAURWORLD

COMPLETED

Now Shattered, Once Whole - Instead of killing him, instead of asking to see him whole again, The Woman banishes the General and the Nowhere King to a void where they continue their struggle forever, contained. Because surely, they’re too far gone to ever change. Right...? Rating: Teen - Extremely heavy themes, including self-harm, violence, and allusions to suicide.

DRAGON BALL

IN PROGRESS

Untitled “Atlantis: The Lost Empire” AU - Bulma Briefs inherits a journal that holds the secret to finding the lost city of Atlantis. After a whirlwind adventure at sea and underground, her expedition does indeed find the city...still populated. Danger and uncertainty abound, and its up to Bulma and the surly Atlantian prince to stop the city from truly being lost. NOT POSTED

ORIGINAL WORKS

Untitled, lesbian Beauty and the Beast retelling. Calla is a humble and hardworking country woman who cares for her two young children alone. When they stumble into a cursed garden guarded by a terrible beast, they too become trapped by its magic. It’s up to their mother to find a way to break the impossible spell and free them all, but can she free herself from her own curse? NOT POSTED

[avengershumanresources]

blood 7 - Strange/Stark!Reader

Relationship: Dr. Strange/Princess!Stark!Reader

Rating: M

Warnings: Adult Themes, eventual smut, adult language, implied sexual violence, general violence

Synopsis: Reader is the daughter of the legendary King Anthony Stark, Uniter of Lands, The Iron Defender, and leader of the realm. When the king disappears during battle, hope is lost and he is presumed dead.

When the late king’s uncle, Obadiah, takes the throne until your brother Peter is of age, he quickly arranges a marriage for you with a wicked king in a neighboring kingdom.

With the realms politics in question, and rumors of an upcoming siege to overthrow Peter’s rule before it starts, you quickly learn who is loyal to the crown and who is not.

part 6 - part 8 (coming April 13th)

Masterlist

Chapter Playlist

CHAPTER WARNING: Yee-har, thar be smut afoot in this here chapter. 18+

7- a king

Anthony Stark hadn’t expected all of this to come of his death. He foresaw of some of it.  

Of Obadiah’s imminent betrayal and Brock’s general ambition, but when Wanda had approached him with her vision all those years ago, he couldn’t have understood what it all meant. 

Now, however, he realized the violence that was soon to arrive at his kingdom’s doorstep. It was an uneasy feeling; the responsibility bestowed upon him to put men’s lives at risk. To make widows and orphans because of inter family squabbles. 

But Tony knew that Obadiah and Brock both presented far larger threats in the long term. 

A king who is hungry for power will never stop to consider the least fortunate in his rule. 

It was a mantra Tony had created for himself after his father had let entire villages fall to win back some petty golden toy during the War of the Giants. In the end, the lives lost had been worthless and the giants returned to their mountains with more spoils than they’d started. 

It had made him sick. 

That was the moment Tony decided to be a better man. A better king. He took pride in his unselfish rule and lack of war among those who shared the boundary with his kingdom. By a miracle he’d gotten Brock into line, but Obadiah had gotten a taste of power from his position in the Giant’s War and wanted more.

Rumors turned to plots, and all at once Tony knew his family and legacy was in danger. He had a troubled relationship with the Wakandans after one of his own barons killed their king in a quest for vengeance after the Giant’s War. Steve had volunteered as ambassador with the shadowy James Barnes (who’d long had a positive relationship with T’Challa) and they’d managed to broker a deal benefiting both nations. 

And Asgard. 

That was a whole other bag of complications. 

Odin had long been distrustful of Tony’s first wife, the late Queen Alexandra due to her Vanir lineage. The Asgardians had fought for centuries trying to eradicate what they’d seen as a dangerous race of uncontrollable magic users. 

Odin had been a step in the right direction, after replacing his late father, but the prejudices still remained and Tony’s marriage to one of the few remaining Vanir royals had soured what little relations they’d had. 

Still, in the end, they’d protected you when he so desperately needed help the Asgardians could only provide. To that, he’d offered her hand to the princes, and Odin took the offer into consideration, only backing off when an agreement was made between the two boys and yourself that affections lay elsewhere.

Which brought him to his latest challenge. Your engagement to the monster king, Brock Rumlow. 

The popular story was that he’d had his late wife killed when she hadn’t produced a male heir. Every female baby prior had been fed to the dogs and at last, when her fifth pregnancy had yielded yet another female, she fell mysteriously ill and died a few nights later. Some say a villager found the baby’s water logged corpse shortly after. 

From a strategic perspective, it made sense. You hadn’t been called upon by any serious suitors, often running around the kingdom with a begrudging Stephen on your coattails, and you were still young enough to bare a child or two. 

Brock needed a means of securing trust in the kingdom, and marrying one of its beloved daughters was the way to do it. Not to mention, Obadiah got his army, Peter would be overthrown when he attempted to take his birthright, and both men would share in the mutual benefits of being involved in one of the strongest economies in history. 

It was a clear cut plan for control of the kingdom, and it would have been more than enough for Tony to take action.

Except for one small caveat.

You. 

You’d been born of the same Vanir blood as your mother and even as a days old infant, you had shown the Master Sorceress at the time an insurmountable measure of power. 

It was an old and finicky magic, the woman had warned before your mother’s body had even cooled in bed. You would need trining, but there was no one left to provide. 

The Asgardians had been thorough in destroying the ancient texts and any remaining Vanir had long fallen into hiding, often using enchanted amulets and trinkets to conceal their seidr from those with wicked intentions. 

Your mother had been a victim of such vicious greed. She’d been open with her abilities, sharing a close bond with Orin’s own wife and his young son, Loki. The pair had conspired to learn all the forbidden secrets of the Vanir, and she’d begun to accumulate quite the library of resources from old temples and Asgardian burial tombs. 

Frigga helped her translate and in turn, the relationship with the royal families had warmed considerably until a few days before your birth. 

Things had fallen apart so quickly. The Northern Kree empire had infiltrated the castle after hearing rumors of the queen’s power. Someone had once written that a single drop of Vanir blood was worth thousands in gold pieces. A bandit had gotten through the gates while she labored, he had ambushed her in the birthing chambers and despite putting up an admirable fight- died with a dagger stabbed through her heart. 

The beast had tried to cut it free in front of the midwives. 

The Master Sorceress had only stepped from the room a moment to freshen up her herbal remedies. By the time anyone had made it to her side, she had died, and you’d been cut free of her with that same knife. 

“Your majesty?” Wanda inquired, approaching where he sat by the fire of the rebellion campsite.

“Yes?” He blinked up, returning to the present at hand. The men who were preparing for battle around him. The women sharpening weapons and sewing leather.  

The people he had asked to rise up for the betterment of the kingdom. The people who were prepared to die by his side for a secure future. 

“Master Strange is to meet at my cottage in the hour,” she explained. 

“And what would you advise Master Sorceress?” he asked, an amused expression on his face. “Shall we let him in on our secret?” 

“With less than seven days to the wedding, it might be wise,” she reasoned sardonically. “Natalia has her own mission in securing the support from within. Master Strange is working with Peter and Loki on securing the vulnerable.” 

“Do you think he told him?” Tony looked down at the fire pensively. 

“Who?” 

“Loki,” he clarified. “He and Master Mordo were among the few who knew. They had to have mentioned something to him. He’s- well- I’m not entirely sure what he is to her now, but he’s certainly one of the closest lines of protection to her.”

“Assuming the rune hasn’t already faded, I would think he either told him or Stephen found out for himself, my liege,” Wanda sat down on the log next to time, her gaze following his into the flames. “Her power is what Amora desires. It needs to be concealed until the princess is in safe hands.”

“Then he knows,” Tony decided, nodding to himself. “Amora would have done something stupid if the seidr had broken through completely. Someone is keeping it under control.”

“I’ll find out,” Wanda promised. “Would you like to speak to him?”

Tony made a disgruntled noise at the thought of approaching the sorcerer. House Strange had long served under the Stark banner, proudly riding at the front of the line when called upon for battle. When they sent their oldest to train at Kamar-Taj, Tony had been surprised.

The boy had a knack for strategy and was sharp as a needle point. Tony could have seen the young man easily rise in leadership in the house, ruling his own militiamen and managing the family affairs. 

But apparently he had no interest in it, and in an unorthodox fashion, the assets had been passed to their eldest daughter. 

Granted, in the end, none of that mattered- as the entire family estate had been stricken by a particularly nasty plague. The sole survivor was Stephen, who’d been away at Kamar-Taj when he’d gotten the news. 

He’d rushed home, and in the process gotten sick himself, but with the help of his fellow sorcerers, recovered with the only remnants of the illness remaining in his hands. He often told others it had been a riding accident. Only a select few knew the truth and devastation of his loss. 

Tony had met with the young man on his sickbed, assuring him the assets would remain in the family. That the castle would maintain the property while he fulfilled his obligations to Kamar-Taj. After all, there was no greater calling than to a life of service and compassion. It was the least Tony could do. 

Well, until you had scared off every Master to cross the castle threshold and he’d gotten desperate and asked the boy for a favor.

He should have known better. You were close in age. Equally as ambitious and cunning. For years you’d been sneaking through passages and around the villages at night, often with Natalia at your side. 

Stephen just made it easier, and helped Tony rest a little easier knowing the man would give his life for you, if need be. 

Tony wasn’t dumb. He’d seen it the first night the you had met. 

The sneaking smiles, the conspiratorial whispers in the corners of the ballroom, and when Peter’s cat turned into a lion almost identical to the Stark sigil, Tony knew that one day he might allow that young man to break the oaths he’d made for a single exception. 

“Your highness?” Wanda pried gently for a clearer answer. 

“Yes, I’ll speak to him,” he pinched the bridge of his nose. About a great many things.

(—)

“I somehow don’t believe you just found out about this,” you stated, sitting cross legged on one of the strewn about cushions, a teapot floating delicately from the palm of your hand. 

“I’ve learned a number of thing recently,” he replied dryly. “Like Mordo is alive, and Brock wants to kill Obadiah once you’re wed.”

You lost your focus and the cup shattered on the ground. 

“He what?” you gaped at Stephen while he repaired the ceramic cup with a wave of his hand. 

“It ties into the whole secret magic thing, but it really isn’t an ideal situation,” he explained, setting the cup aside and dropping to the cushion across from you. 

“I guess it’s good I’ve pestered you for your books over the years,” you mused, flexing your fingers in the air in front of you.

“It isn’t the same,” he sighed, watching while you lifted a few other stray objects and paused them between the two of you. “Seidr is... there isn’t documentation. The books were destroyed. Kamar-Taj had a few tomes but the Vanir language is nearly impossible to translate at this point.”

“What about Loki? Or Frigga?” you asked, moving both your hands at once and dropping a feather into his lap with a grin. 

“Believe it or not, I’ve been focused on other issues,” he muttered dryly. “We’re going to have to seal this before you leave.”

“But you said it’s what preventing Amora from taking over my head,” you reminded him pointedly, summoning a small flame from an incantation you’d studied the day before. Extinguishing it between your palms, you looked up at him for a better excuse. 

“But it is also the reason Brock is forcing you into a marriage and so she can control you, and in turn, your power better than you can,” he explained tersely. “She can’t know you’ve gotten partial control over it. Let her underestimate you, but until you can learn to conceal the energy yourself, you can’t risk exposure.”

“So am I being sealed or not?” you asked impatiently, floating a candle from you to him. He took it with an amused half-smile, extinguishing the light with a quick puff of air. “Can you do a... half seal? Hide the energy, keep some of the good parts?”

“Gods, I don’t know,” he groaned, shaking his head while he seat the canclde aside. “This is entirely new territory that I was not trained for.”

“That must mean you’re a terrible Sorcerer Supreme. What fool put you in charge?” you teased, reaching forward and tapping the top of his nose playfully. 

“It’s not my fault you’re a freakish anomaly that’s supposed to be extinct,” he mumbled, pulling a frown while you laughed. “Give me your wrist.”

“Fine, but when this over I demand you help me train properly,” you stated and though he  continued grumbling under his breath about being too old for your games, he agreed. “And Loki helps too.”

“Not part of the deal,” Stephen scowled. 

“Fine, I’ll marry him then,” you smirked back at him. “You still haven’t asked, so I guess when my wedding tragically falls through, I’ll have to find respite with him.”

He pulled you forward, a glint in his eyes that sent a shiver through your entire body. 

“I’m not going to chase after a betrothed woman, it’s bad taste,” he hummed, fingers crawling up your wrist and intertwining with your fingers. “I have a reputation to uphold, even if you feel comfortable hiding away with strange men in dark places.”

“Is that supposed to be a joke?” you whispered, sitting up on your knees and tilting your head.

“Do you not think I’m funny?” he murmured, reaching with his free head and tilting back your chin. A smile played on the corners of your mouth, both of you sizing the other up and daring the other to make the first move. 

“I can think of many things you are,” you lifted his hand and pressed a tender kiss to his palm. “But funny?”

“You laugh at all of my clever wit, don’t try to deceive me princess, I know the truth,” Stephen sharply pulled your hand forward, forcing you to fall into his chest. He held your lower back, gazing down at you adoringly. “You’re trying to hide it, but I see it in your eyes.”

“Do you know what I see in your eyes?” your voice cracked ever so slightly, your hand cradling his cheek, your thumb lightly tracing the sharp features. 

“What do you see?” 

“Strength,” you murmured, transfixed by his opalescent gaze. All at once, it was like you were seeing him for the first time. You could feel the energy radiating off of him, seeing the waves of magic as they ripples through his body. “Devotion to... Stephen you’re beautiful.”

“Or so the stars whisper to the earth below,” his voice was soft, gentle, while his hand guided itself up your arm to your cheek. “But, what the stars do not see is their own radiance, their own ethereal light shimmering across the velvet heavens above. The stars do not know how the Earth worships the very flicker of their existence, tells stories of their magnificence and beauty. The do not know how the Earth finds its meaning in what little time it steals away to them in the night.”

It all happened very quickly after that. 

You peeled at his robes, he worked at your corset, a frenzy of hands and mouths tasting one another in a way neither had ever imagined. 

Discarding the corset, he worked his hands up your blouse, fingers lightly teasing the tip of your nipple until you let out a satisfied moan. Robes loose, you pushed him back against a nearby pile of cushions, climbing between his legs and peppering hungry kisses up and down his neck until he growled, clawing at your hips. 

“If you’re-,” he tired protesting while you pulled away more clothing, pressing his leg between yours and letting out a whimper of pleasure when he shifted in just the right way. 

That seemed to set something off in him. 

He was over you, flipping you to the ground and pulling what little clothing remained between you, your naked bodies now flush. Stephen moved down to your breast, drawing a nipple between his teeth and watching you squirm under him at the incredible sensation. 

“Please,” you mewed, an absolute wreck under him. 

He took his time, moving to the other nipple and repeating his actions until you were begging for any kind of release. 

“Needy are we?” he murmured in your ear, his voice low and so controlled, you couldn’t understand how he could stand it. Goosebumps erupted over your body, and he just smirked, continuing his exploration.  

Teasing a finger at your entrance, he looked to you for final approval before easing the digit into you. 

“Gods,” he hissed, moving the finger at an agonizingly slow speed. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes upon.”

He caught you in a kiss, speeding up his hand below, his thumb searching for the sensitive nub of nerves. When he grazed over the tender area, you nearly shot out of yourself, the sensation feeling downright sinful. 

Pulling his finger out, you let out another whimper, this one of protest at the emptiness inside of you. 

“Are you certain-?” he asked again, eyes scanning your face for any sign of hesitation or doubt. 

“I’ve never been more certain of anything,” you replied honestly. It wasn’t an exaggeration. You’d been a make up to this point, untouched and with no interest in engaging in such outrageous behavior.

Yet with him, you wished you could give more. Your body. Your soul. Your love. What did it matter anymore? He was yours, sitting before you and showing you through his loving car assess and sensations you’d never known before this moment. 

He eased himself in, giving you time to adjust to his length, the member much larger than his single finger. But Gods, did he feel incredible. 

You’d never thought so much emotion and pleasure could occur in a single moment. For this tiny hidden corner of the universe, you felt like your souls had collided and merged. 

It was a far cry from how Nat had told you it was. 

This was- you anticipated each of his movements, raising your hips to meet his as he crashed inside of you. Your brain couldn’t form coherent thoughts and when he started to coax something feral from within your core, you let him lead you through it. 

Pumping in time with strokes to your clit, you clenched your walls around him, pulling a hissed curse from the sorcerer. 

A few more pumps and a final circle around the sensitive area and you felt your orgasm crash over you. 

At first, you thought you’d done something wrong. Did you break something? How did this feel so incredible and overwhelming all at once? 

While you rode out your bliss, you felt his hips tighten, finishing with a final grunt.

You both stated at one another, eyes wide, trying to catch your breath. 

“Have you-,” you started but paused. “Like that before-?” 

It was no secret Stephen wasn’t exactly a virgin. He had his vows but they were against attachment, not sex, and sometimes, as he put it, the spirit needed to be revitalized. 

You’d called him a creep and moved on, but Gods did you understand now. 

“I don’t know what happened,” he blinked, looking thoroughly bewildered. “That’s... I’ve never- my gods, you’re incredible.”

He pulled out, dropping to the ground next to you with a huff. 

“I have a potion,” he muttered, pointing to the table above them. “Prevents pregnancy.”

“And here I thought you were devoted to me,” you poked him in the rib and he just laughed. 

“I am,” he insisted. “However, I’m not devoted enough to end up in the gallows for deflowering a princess who is betrothed to a ruthless king. My apologies, my grace.”

“Hm, I’m sure I can find someone willing to make that sacrifice for me,” you hummed. 

“And a fool he will be,” he leaned up on his elbow. “I still win the day. He would be hanged and I still get my princess.”

“Your princess?” 

“Has it been any other way?” he asked, quirking a brow. “Truly, if I’m mistaken, tell me. I don’t want to sound too over ambitious.”

You considered it briefly. Had it? 

No, you knew from the moment you spied those eyes at the ball welcoming him to the castle that he was your future. You just hadn’t realized what that meant at the time. 

There was no world, no life, where you could live without him by your side. 

The thought sobered you quickly, your upcoming nuptials springing to mind, the spell locking you in your private world, now lifted. 

“Would you have asked my father?” you asked. 

“In another life, we would have been married by now,” he answered earnestly. “I’m a fool for having hesitated and nearly missed my chance at an eternity by your side.” 

“And Brock?” you asked, the name leaving a sour taste in your mouth. Stephen’s expression darkened at mention of the man. 

“I’ll kill him before he touches you,” he vowed. “I will not yield your heart to such a monster, and I will stop this. I cannot risk you leaving my side. Not again, my love.”

You leaned forward and kissed him, soft, intimate, and gentle. Stephen wasn’t a fighter. 

Certainly he could fight, but you knew him well enough to know that violence was a last option after all other options had been tried. And here he was preparing to declare a one man war on your betrothed. 

Truly, the heavens were smiling upon you in this life.

(—)

Later that evening, when Stephen had returned you safely to your quarters, he met with Wanda at her cottage at the edge of the woods to discuss the next steps in the plan. 

When she caught sight of him, her expression shifted from confused to elated to-

“What is it?” he asked, knowing she’d gotten a read of what he’d been up to previously. 

“Do well to conceal your thoughts,” she warned, leading him inside. 

“Conceal what-?” he asked after her, stopping in his tracks when he saw Anthony sitting at her table, sipping at a large horn of water. 

Tony stood up, giving the man a once over, brows raised as he took him in. 

“You couldn’t wait until the wedding night?” he grumbled, dropping back down in his chair with a long sigh. 

(—)

8- a secret

TAG LIST (message to be added!):

@ayamenimthiriel​ @ladynothing

@im-a-bi-disaster-help @idkwhatthisislol

[agentrouka-blog]

What do you think about stannis arc to be ended?

I think it will be fun! 

He’s obviously doomed. Kinslaying, blood magic, obsession with prophecy and affronting all gods beside R’hllor… 

I’m quite sure he will pull a full-on Agamemnon. The shoe fits. Kinslaying, prophecy-spouting mistress (anti-Cassandra = Melisandre), on the war path… He and his ever more radicalized red-god-followers will probably end up sacrificing Shireen to compensate for a setback, in a mirror to Iphigenia. 

My hope: In some completely unexpected way, Selyse will be the one to kill him over it. Just a complete inward collapse of his House. 

"I never asked for this crown. Gold is cold and heavy on the head, but so long as I am the king, I have a duty . . . If I must sacrifice one child to the flames to save a million from the dark . . . Sacrifice . . . is never easy, Davos. Or it is no true sacrifice. Tell him, my lady."

Melisandre said, "Azor Ahai tempered Lightbringer with the heart's blood of his own beloved wife. If a man with a thousand cows gives one to god, that is nothing. But a man who offers the only cow he owns . . ." 

(ASOS, Davos VI)

What does Stannis have only one of? Children. 

Why would Selyse do it? Because she loves her daughter. 

"Eastwatch is not safe." The queen put a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "This is the king's true heir. Shireen will one day sit the Iron Throne and rule the Seven Kingdoms. She must be kept from harm, and Eastwatch is where the attack will come. This Nightfort is the place my husband has chosen for our seat, and there we shall abide. We—oh!"

An enormous shadow emerged from behind the shell of the Lord Commander's Tower. Princess Shireen gave a shriek, and three of the queen's knights gasped in harmony. Another swore. "Seven save us," he said, quite forgetting his new red god in his shock. (ADWD, Jon IX)

Also, it would be beautifully ironic:

"Lord Snow, as Lady Val is a stranger to our ways, please send her to me, that I might instruct her in the duties of a noble lady toward her lord husband."

That will go splendidly, I know. Jon wondered if the queen would be so eager to see Val married to one of her own knights if she knew Val's feelings about Princess Shireen. (ADWD, Jon XIII)

Also, we are unsubtly pushed not to expect it:

"—and children, yes. Very sad." The queen pulled her daughter closer to her and kissed her cheek. The cheek unmarred by greyscale, Jon did not fail to note. "We are sorry for the little ones, of course, but we must be sensible. We have no food for them, and they are too young to help the king my husband in his wars. Better that they be reborn into the light."

That was just a softer way of saying let them die. (ADWD, Jon XIII)

A misdirection to make us believe she doesn’t truly love her daughter, and is unfazed by murdering children. Nope. Touch Shireen and she will forget the red god. 

Sort of a mirror to Dany. Magic, Rhaego dies, Dany kills Drogo. Fire. The khalasar scatters. Kingsblood wakes a stone dragon.

"Your brother's blood," Melisandre said. "A king's blood. Only a king's blood can wake the stone dragon."

Stannis ground his teeth. "I'll hear no more of this. The dragons are done. The Targaryens tried to bring them back half a dozen times. And made fools of themselves, or corpses. Patchface is the only fool we need on this godsforsaken rock. You have the leeches. Do your work." (ASOS, Davos IV)

Stannis shed a lot of kingsblood with those magic leeches: Balon’s, Joffrey’s, Robb’s. Plus Renly.

Dany: Viserys (Renly), Rhaego (Shireen), Drogo (Selyse), Mirri (Melisandre) -> woke three stone dragons. Stone being a bastard name like Snow. Jon’s heart having turned to stone. Possibly this connects to Sansa (Alayne Stone), as well, but it gives us a general timeline.

The clouds hid most of the Ice Dragon, all but the bright blue eye that marked due north. The sky is full of smugglers' stars. They were old friends, those stars; Davos hoped that meant good luck.

But when he lowered his gaze from the sky to the castle ramparts, he was not so certain. The wings of the stone dragons cast great black shadows in the light from the nightfire. (ASOS, Davos VI)

The nightfire will cast stone dragon shadows, in the North, where a hidden (ice) dragon has a blue eye. The enormous shadow that made Shireen shriek had come from behind the shell of the Lord Commander’s Tower. 

Ominous.

If it is not Selyse, very importantly, I do not want it to be Brienne. She is intimately connected to Catelyn and Arya’s arc of justice v. vengeance, and like Arya’s competing list of names (kill list v. alias based on loved ones), Brienne has competing oaths, competing swords.

It made sense enough for Brienne. “I will kill him,” the tall homely girl declared. “With my lord’s own sword, I will kill him. I swear it. I swear it. I swear it.” (ACOK, Catelyn IV)

She wants to devote herself to vengeance, but Cat gives her a different purpose.

Brienne closed her thick callused fingers around the hilt of her sword. The sword that had been his. "I swore a vow. Three times I swore. You heard me." (...)

“My son may be a king, but I am no queen . . . only a mother who would keep her children safe, however she could.” “I am not made to be a mother. I need to fight.” “Then fight . . . but for the living, not the dead.” (…)

“And I think, when the time comes, you will not try and hold me back. Promise me that. That you will not hold me back from Stannis.” Catelyn could still hear Stannis saying that Robb’s turn too would come in time. It was like a cold breath on the back of her neck. “When the time comes, I will not hold you back.” The tall girl knelt awkwardly, unsheathed Renly’s longsword, and laid it at her feet. “Then I am yours, my lady. Your liege man, or . . . whatever you would have me be. I will shield your back and keep your counsel and give my life for yours, if need be. I swear it by the old gods and the new.”

(ACOK, Catelyn V)

Brienne is set on a path to preserve life, not take it, with Jaime.

Brienne pushed open the door and stepped inside the cell. “You called, my lady?” “Give me your sword.” Catelyn held out her hand. (ACOK, Catelyn VII)

Oathbreaking is a theme...

Up again. “Yield, or I’ll drown you!” “And break your oath?” he snarled. “Like me?” She let him go, and he went down with a splash. (…)

Brienne dove for her sword beneath the waters of the brook, but the Mummers were on her before she could lay hands on it. (ASOS, Jaime III)

She loses the bad sword of vengeance. But she will gain another one:

"A sword so fine must bear a name. It would please me if you would call this one Oathkeeper. One more thing. The blade comes with a price."  (…)

"I have made kings and unmade them. Sansa Stark is my last chance for honor." Jaime smiled thinly. "Besides, kingslayers should band together. Are you ever going to go?"

Her big hand wrapped tight around Oathkeeper. "I will. And I will find the girl and keep her safe. For her lady mother's sake. And for yours." She bowed stiffly, whirled, and went.  (ASOS, Jaime IX)

Kingslayers should band together. But she is not truly one, nor should she be. Her fight is for the living.

Lady Catelyn's fingers dug deep into her throat, and the words came rattling out, choked and broken, a stream as cold as ice. The northman said, "She says that you must choose. Take the sword and slay the Kingslayer, or be hanged for a betrayer. The sword or the noose, she says. Choose, she says. Choose."  (AFFC, Brienne VIII)

Brienne fights for the living. There is one vow she needs to break: to become a kingslayer for vengeance. 

There is every chance I am wrong, but this is my optimal scenario. 

[laceymorganwrites]

The Story of the sad chapter 15

Word Count: 2,367

Pairing: Ban x reader

Warnings: cursing

Summary: The Rescue Mission continues

Taglist; @lysawayne​

“Okay, lovely reunions aside, we gotta go save the princess now” you hated to be the one who destroyed this precious moment, but someone had to do it.

It wouldn´t be good if you stayed here any longer than you needed to.

“You should´ve said that at the beginning, dear” Merlin smirked and forced Elizabeth´s location out of Vivian.

As soon as she uttered the words, Merlin teleported you in front of the king´s room, something was holding her back though, it was the perfect cube, a demonic barrier.

Not that that was a problem for Merlin, who immediately canceled the magic, making you able to enter the room.

Elizabeth headed straight for Meliodas to hug him, it was bittersweet. She didn´t remember him yet and still her feelings were prevalent.

You wondered if you would ever be able to harbor such a strong love for another person and if they would for you.

Before you could sink into your thoughts any more, Dreyfus entered the room and had all of you on guard.

However instead of fighting you, he broke down on the floor in shame, admitting to the crime of killing his own brother, the very reason you had to flee in the first place. Before you wasn´t a holy knight, he was merely a broken man eaten alive by his guilt now.

He also informed you that Hendrickson´s plan was to bring forth another holy war.

After hearing that his son was alive, he obliged and obediently walked himself into the dungeon to await his trial.

Merlin took a look at the king´s health and stated that he needed to be treated immediately, however this would only be possible in Camelot where she had all of her supplies.

“I´m coming with you!” you said.

Merlin only raised an eyebrow but then chuckled.

“I suppose you would, after all it´s where your weapon lies… however it got there, I cannot remember” she smirked.

She teleported you, Arthur and the king to Camelot´s castle where she treated him.

“Arthur, show (Y/N) where her sword is” she smiled mischievously.

“You mean the one you told me to guard?” he asked and you cocked an eyebrow, why would he have to guard your sword? It´s not like it would wither and nobody was able to steal it.

He showed you around the castle and then stepped through a secret hallway leading into a big room plastered with all kinds of weapons and armor of the goddess clan.

It felt like a twisted version of home.

“What the hell...where did she get all of this? Well, I suppose if anyone would be able to, it´d be Merlin. But still...” you looked around the room in wonder, subconsciously remembering your old days as a soldier, as the head of the holy army.

It was sick but it filled you with pride, you were good at it, very much so and even better at strategy.

But still, there had to be a reason why you remembered so much of your past recently.

“Merlin said you could take anything you want, she also told me to tell you to view this room as your personal closet” he awkwardly smiled at you.

You had to chuckle, that was so typical of her.

“Well, thanks a bunch for all of this, but I have to go back now” you said as you went back to say goodbye to Merlin, sword in hand.

“If you ever need anything else, just give me a call” Merlin smiled at you before she teleported you back to the capital.

You landed right amidst the action, it seemed.

“Holy shit, what the fuck is going on?” you asked, looking around you saw only ruins of the castle, two holy knights wincing in pain and your friends, boyfriend and another holy knight.

“Hell if I know, whatever it is we have to make it stop” Diane said.

“Babe!” Ban came up to you and hugged you tight, kissing your cheek.

“I missed you...” he nuzzled your neck.

Warmth spread through your body as you let yourself fall into his touch for an instance, this, whatever this was, whether it was true or not, it felt right.

Yes, Gowther did spread some doubt in your mind about the reason you got into this relationship, but you wouldn´t let that hinder you.

You were always better at fighting when you had something to protect, even if that something was immortal and handsome.

“(Y/N)! You got your sword back!” Elaine exclaimed, clapping her hands and cheering for you.

“Finally joined the party, eh?” Meliodas joined you, teasing you.

But before any more casual conversation could be held, Jericho transformed into the same monster that Meliodas, Ban and King fought a while ago.

Apparently it was a malfunction on holy knights who have been given demon blood.

The thought that Hendrickson did that still made you sick to your stomach.

He suddenly appeared in front of you, clad in a demonic aura as the new generation of holy knights all transformed into beasts.

“Okay so, how the fuck do we go about this? Mel, you told me that those beasts could only be defeated once you killed the person inside, right? There has to be another way!” you called out to him.

There was too much chaos to get a clear head or overview, everything happened too quickly.

Meliodas and Gilthunder tried to take on Hendrickson, however he ordered Vivian to take Margaret and Elizabeth as hostages, making the men startle for a second.

A second he used to slice them down.

Elizabeth did something very brave and stupid at that moment, she offered to go with Hendrickson in return for Meliodas´ and Gilthunder´s life.

She always thought about others before herself, which made her so strong.

“Mel, I know what you´re thinking, but we need to think this through. We need a rescue Elizabeth team and one that deals with those fuckers” you pointed at the beasts that were once holy knights.

All he gave you was a pained expression.

“I´ll heal your wounds, give me a sec” you knelt down at his side and applied your magic.

“Okay, we need to contain those monsters before we know what to do with them that doesn´t kill the person inside. I can´t afford them to wreak any more havoc. Somebody needs to get the citizens into a safe space. So that´ll be two teams. And then the last one is the rescue team. King, Diane, Gil and Howzer, you go defeat the beasts. Gowther, Hawk and Elaine, get the people to safety. Ban, Mel and I will rescue the princess.” you knew it wasn´t your place but someone had to put order and clear instructions into the heads of the scared, otherwise nothing could be done.

Nothing could be achieved by being frozen in fear.

Meliodas nodded, getting back up on his feet.

You ran into the direction where Hendrickson´s magic was coming from, apparently Dreyfus fought him as of right now.

Dreyfus was on your side, but even if you arrived in time to save the princess you doubted that the four of you could take Hendrickson on.

You might have been able to if you had had the opportunity to train with your sword longer, it should come to you easily, but maybe ten years was just too long. Not to mention Meliodas was exhausted, even though you healed his wounds.

And while Ban couldn´t take any longterm damage from Hendrickson, you doubted he could deliver any to him.

It was hopeless. And yet you couldn´t just stand around and continued moving forward.

When you arrived you saw only the remains of Dreyfus´ armor and a bleeding Elizabeth.

You hoped Ban and Meliodas would be able to distract Hendrickson long enough for you to heal her and get her to safety.

Without thinking you flew past him, grabbed Elizabeth and healed her in the process of leaving her in the care of Elaine and Hawk who alongside Diane and the others came into your direction to help.

You told Elaine and Hawk to get to safety before you joined the fight again.

“Mel, if we´re lucky he won´t be able to take the demonic magic any longer, so let´s hit him with everything we got. Make it count” you husked, a determined look in your eyes as you swung your sword as the first attack against Hendrickson.

Ban watched in awe as your blade stroke his skin, making him wince in pain. It´s been while since he´s seen you go all out on someone and damn were you a sight to behold.

So graceful, so elegant, so utterly beautiful. He had to watch out not to get distracted too much by you.

“Yes babe! Get him!” he cheered for you and the others followed your example, fiercefully attacking Hendrickson.

As the battle commenced it was revealed that Hendrickson hid a red demon corpse in a hidden cave which he claimed to be the source of it all.

It enraged you beyond belief, how he said that without any remorse, without any tone change in his voice, he even sounded proud of it, of himself.

“You disgust me...” you balled your fists, shaking as tears streamed down your face.

“How the fuck could you make them drink that?! Aren´t you ashamed of yourself, you piece of shit? I´m gonna fucking obliterate you and you bet your ass I´m gonna make it hurt” you lashed out at him, your wings subconsciously raised you higher as you started an attack from above, slashing at his shoulder with all force.

“Ashamed? Why should I? Just look at all the success I´ve had with this… I´m invincible” he sardonically smirked.

“If only Mael didn´t steal my place as one of the four archangels and I had his sword, I would´ve killed you back when we first found out about you, but now this´ll have to do!” you kicked him in the guts and held him down, about to give him the final stab when he grabbed onto your wings and broke them.

You saw red as the pain emitted into your body like hot lava, almost making it burst. Your wings hung loosely down your back and you couldn´t move them, they were now a mere burden to you.

“You fucking bastard!” Ban rushed to your side and got you out of harm´s way, only refusing to hit Hendrickson when Meliodas actively held him back.

“Ban.” Elaine stated coldly, there was so much anger inside of her small body she couldn´t contain it, she would have her revenge.

“Let´s end this. Once and for all, we did it once, we can do it again. It´s time for vengeance, for the forest, for (Y/N), for all the misery this thing caused” she grit her teeth, collecting all of her magic in the palm of her hands and pointing it at Hendrickson, making him fall down the hole that was created when the demon was revealed.

“Fucking hell, this hurts like a bitch...” you twisted your arms behind your back to reach your wings to heal them, but it seemed like you had exhausted your healing magic for the day.

“Don´t force yourself, (Y/N). We´re gonna take him down, no matter what” Meliodas told you, carrying you to the side of the battlefield with a dark look in his eyes.

“Diane, you stay back with (Y/N). Watch that nothing happens” Meliodas ordered as the rest went down the hole into the cave.

“We´ll be right back, darling...” Ban held your face in his hands, caressing your cheek.  “Just stay put, okay? Diane, make sure she´s not into too much pain. Please watch out for her for me” he pleaded with a worried look on his face before he kissed your forehead one last time and joined the others.

“You can count on me!” Diane nodded determined and sat down beside you.

“Poor (Y/N)...is there anything I can do to help?” she hated being tall, especially in moments like this she felt useless. A dear friend was hurting and she couldn´t do anything but sit by and watch.

“No...I´ll have to wait until my magic is restored, I think with enough stretching I can heal myself. But it hurts like a bitch...” you forced a smile.

“Maybe we can talk to distract you from the pain? Hey, let´s talk about Ban! That´s sure to brighten up your mood” she smiled at you.

“Yeah, it sure is...” you returned the smile.

“I don´t know what I did to deserve him, but I feel like if I question it too much all the happiness will just go away and I don´t want that. But if I don´t question it then I´ll never be sure...” you rested your chin on your legs.

“Sure of what?” Diane tilted her head.

“Whether I truly love him...whether I´d be able to recognize the feeling even if it hit me in the face or if I´m even capable of such a wonderful thing...” you shared your thoughts with her, watching her frown.

“Well, with your past it´s only natural that you´d feel this way. I can´t tell you how to feel but I can tell you the things I noticed that changed about you when you and Ban got together. You´re happier, it shows, you´re so free and light all the time, it´s contagious, it´s like your smile and happiness washes over to the rest of us. And you´re much more relaxed too, it´s like a burden has been lifted off you. I like seeing you happy like this, I never liked it when you were so depressed over things long past and unchangeable… and (Y/N)? I can see the same changes in him too. He´s so soft and gentle around you, I´m envious of what you have, it´s just so beautiful” she played with her fingers.

“You think so? I didn´t notice any of that...” you felt silly, how could you not even recognize your own happiness let alone the one of others anymore? It was pathetic.

“It´s because you´re always in your head” Diane giggled.

[vocaloidderivativeotd]

Today's Vocaloid derivative of the day is:

Kagamine Rin from Corpse Princess and the King of Vengeance by Suzunosuke!

[violethowler]

Death and Separation: Emerging Trends in Pop Culture Franchises

Warning: The following essay contains ending and character death  spoilers for Voltron: Legendary Defender,  How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, Game of Thrones, and everything released under the Disney umbrella since January 2017. That includes Marvel, Star Wars, and vanilla Disney movies, both animated and live action. 

I’ve noticed a pattern in the last couple of years of media consumption. 

Since 2017, there has been a string of major releases by major companies or networks that featured story decisions that proved controversial with audiences. Now, such things on their own aren’t really a big deal because for the most part there’s always going to be some fans who aren’t satisfied with how a story turned out, regardless of their reasons. 

But what I’m noticing is that there is a pattern to which elements fans are criticizing and why. 

As I became aware of this trend I started looking back at media released in the last few years and noticing that many of these stories were featuring the same plot elements, whether they worked for the story or not: 

One common point I noticed is how many of these franchises have taken morally complicated characters that were popular with audiences, and permanently killed them off in ways which a lot of people have found narratively unsatisfying: 

In Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, Ben Solo manages to achieve his redemption and turn back to the light after all prior supplementary material showed how Snoke preyed on his feelings of abandonment to groom him into joining the dark side. After being redeemed, his contribution to the story’s climax is being thrown into a pit, where he stays until after Palpatineis defeated, and upon climbing out finds the girl he loves dead. Ben then uses the force to heal Rey and restore her to life, only to immediately kick the bucket himself, after which point the narrative ceases to acknowledge him in any way. 

Loki and his brother Thor reconcile at the end of 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, only for the film’s post credits scene to herald their encounter with Loki’s former “employer” Thanos. The next time audiences see Loki in the opening minutes of Avengers: Infinity War, he’s strangled to death on-screen by Thanos following a failed assassination attempt before the film’s title card has even appeared. Despite theories that he had faked his death and would return in Avengers: Endgame, the only versions of Loki to appear in the finale of the Infinity Saga are past versions from alternate timelines, with only the characters dusted during Infinity War being brought back to life. 

Gamora escapes from her abusive father figure Thanos in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie and spends subsequent films building a life for herself outside of Thanos’ toxic influence, with the sequel focusing on her repairing her relationship with her sister Nebula. After being captured by Thanos and forced to bring him to the Soul Stone, Thanos flings her off a cliff to her death when he learns that obtaining the Soul Stone will require him to sacrifice someone he loves, and awakens in a pool of water with the stone in his hand. Despite theories she would be brought back to life in Avengers: Endgame, but like Loki, the only versions of Gamora to appear were from alternate timelines that lacked the dead version’s character development.

Black Widow’s defining character trait across the Infinity Saga has been her desire to eliminate “the red in her ledger” to atone for the things she did when the Red Room had raised her to be an assassin. In Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow sacrifices herself to obtain the Soul Stone in the past to give her close friend Clint Barton a second chance to come back from the brutal path of vengeance the death of his family had set him on, in the same way that he had given her a second chance to build a better life for herself when they first met. 

In Voltron: Legendary Defender’s third season, Prince Lotor is introduced as a morally ambiguous figure with unclear motives. When forced on the run by his tyrannical father, he forms an alliance with the Paladins of Voltron and eventually develops a romance with Princess Allura. In the sixth season, Lotor is accused of mass murder of the survivors of Allura’s destroyed planet and their alliance falls apart. Lotor insists that his intentions for peace are genuine, but his efforts to explain himself fall on deaf ears, and after a battle, is left for dead in the Quintessence Field. The second episode of the final seasons fills in the details of his abusive childhood while showing that despite what he’d suffered, he was genuine in his desire for peace. Seasons 6 through 8 are sprinkled with hints that Lotor was innocent of the crimes he was accused of, but despite Season 8 Episode 6 Genesis depicting him being still alive after four years in the Quintessence Field, the audience is treated to an image of his melted corpse four episodes later, while his abusive mother searches alternate realities for a better version of him.

The first seven seasons of Game of Thrones depict Daenerys Targaryen as someone from an abusive family who was nevertheless determined to rise above her turbulent upbringing and make the world a better place. Over the course of the eighth and final season, her new allies disrespect her, her lover repeatedly betrays her trust, and her advisers not only question her mental stability but immediately attempt to undermine her campaign as soon as a male heir to the throne from her bloodline is presented to them. When her trusted confidant is murdered in the penultimate episode, she snaps and burns large swaths of the capitol to the ground with dragon fire. In the series finale, her remaining advisers convince her lover to kill her for the good of the realm, and her destructive rage is presented as who she always was.  

In the narrative of these characters’ stories, some of these fit with the themes of that character’s story arc. Black Widow sacrificing herself makes sense because of the symmetry with what we know of her backstory. Clint Barton gave her a second chance and guided her back from the dark path she was on when they first met, and in Avengers: Endgame, she returns the favor. Her death, while upsetting to many fans for different reasons, fits within the context of her personal narrative arc from across the last decade of Marvel movies. 

While Daenerys turning into a Mad Queen like her father would still be disappointing to fans hoping to see her disprove the “madness is in the blood” ideas about her family, it wouldn’t have come entirely out of nowhere. The hints that she had the potential to go down that path were there, even if many hoped it would only remain potential. One of the biggest issues is how Season 8 portrayed her descent into madness. Her cruelty towards King’s Landing is treated not as the rage of someone who has been pushed too far, but that this is who she always was. 

Meanwhile Ben Solo’s death came suddenly and abruptly after repeated narrative fakeouts that he came back from. The previous films, novels, and comics had built him up as a victim of abuse and set up audiences to anticipate him breaking free of the Dark Side and finding a happy ending, likely while working to atone for his actions as Kylo Ren. But despite his actor having been promised that Ben Solo’s story would not end the same way that Darth Vader’s did, that was exactly what happened: with the redeemed villain dying to save a person they loved. 

The context may differ, but there is a visible pattern of major genre franchises in the last year taking this type of complicated character and either killing them off when they’re finally in a good place mentally and emotionally, or in the case of Lotor and Daenerys, striping away their happiness to force them into the role of a one-dimensional tyrant and then killing them off. Lotor’s case is even more egregious because there were unanswered questions and inconsistencies surrounding his alleged crimes that after his death were never explained.  

While I doubt the creators of any of these titles set out to intentionally hurt people who identified with these characters, their narrative choices still send very damaging messages. 

These character’s backstories involve them either intentionally or unintentionally set up to fail by the people around them. Where most characters begin with a blank slate, theirs was already written in with expectations, pressure, violence, condemnation, control, manipulation, and/or outright subjugation. Fans young and old find them relatable because of similar rough pasts or trauma, often because or in spite of their grey moral compasses. This type of character resonates with audiences because they represent what it means to be human -  to struggle, to make mistakes, and to have the ability to atone for them in the end. 

Except in recent stories they don’t ever get that chance. Seeing Ben Solo and Lotor and Daenerys and Loki denied a chance at a happy ending tells people who identify with them that they will never find happiness. That their struggle toward the light is doomed to fail and will only end in death. 

And that isn’t the only divisive trend that’s been observed in recent years. Since 2018, there have been sequels and series finales where the characters whose bond was the core of the story go their separate ways either after the conflict has been resolved or as the means to resolve the conflict: 

In the series finale of Star Wars: Rebels, audience viewpoint character Ezra Bridger forces Grand Admiral Thrawn’s Star Destroyer fleet into hyperspace to protect the capital city of his planet Lothal from orbital bombardment. This separates him from his Found Family, and due to their commitments to the rebellion it isn’t until several years later that they set out to find him and bring him home. 

During the course of Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-it Ralph 2, Vanellope von Schweetz becomes enamored with the virtual world of the internet, having grown tired of the routine of her life in the arcade in the five years since the original movie. Ralph’s desire for life to stay the same and his insecurities over losing his best friend drive the plot of the movie, and the conflict is resolved when Ralph learns to let go of his insecurities and respect Vanellope’s wishes. Ralph returns to the arcade while Vanellope remains on the internet, though they stay in touch via video chat.

The series finale of Voltron: Legendary Defender depicts the surviving paladins going their separate ways after the war ends, only meeting up once a year for a memorial dinner to honor Allura’s sacrifice. Lance is depicted with the markings of Allura’s people branded on his face, grieving her as he spends his days working on his family’s farm. Keith returns to the stars to restructure the Blade of Marmora into a peacetime organization. Hunk becomes a galactic chef, while Pidge returns to Earth to build robots at the Garrison. A year after the series, Shiro retires from the job he loves and marries one of the men on the bridge crew for the Atlas. 

In order to protect the dragons of Berk from Grimmel the dragon hunter, Hiccup must send Toothless away so that the Night Fury can lead the Berkian dragons to the safety of the Hidden World. Year later Hiccan and Astrid take their children to the entrance of the Hidden World where they reunite with their dragon friends and their children. 

In order to defeat Thanos and his army, Iron Man uses the Infinity Stones to snap Thanos’ legions out of existence at the cost of his own life. Following Tony’s funeral, Captain America returns the Stones to their original timeline before settling down in an alternate timeline to live a peaceful life with Peggy Carter in the 1940s. After reaching old age, Steve returns to his original timeline and passes the mantle of Captain America on to Sam Wilson along with the repaired shield. Thor abdicates the throne of New Asgard to Valkyrie before setting off to the stars with the Guardians of the Galaxy. Hawkeye returns to the quiet farm life with his wife and children, and the remaining heroes all go their separate ways. 

After the death of Daenerys in the series finale of Game of Thrones, the Westerosi nobility decided to form an elected monarchy, choosing Bran Stark as the next king of the Seven Kingdoms. Sansa returns to Winterfell, where she becomes Queen of the North, while Jon Snow is “exiled” beyond the wall, and Arya sets sail to explore lands west of Westeros. 

In Toy Story 4, Woody is feeling pushed to the side as Bonny plays with him less than she does the other toys. After getting lost on a road trip, Woody is reunited with his lost love, Bo Peep, who has been living alone scavenging from humans rather than being played with by a single child. After rescuing Bonnie’s new toy Forky, Woody and Bo race to get everyone back to the RV before Bonny’s family leaves. Before boarding the RV, Woody ultimately decides to stay with Bo, and he parts ways with the rest of Andy’s toys as the film ends. 

After the previous film was about Maleficent becoming a surrogate mother figure to Aurora, the sequel, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, is about Maleficent learning to let her daughter grow up and leave the nest. After Queen Ingrid’s crusade against the fairies is thwarted, Maleficent gives her blessing for Aurora’s marriage to Phillip and lets her adopted daughter go. Maleficent returns to the Moors with the promise that she will return when Aurora and Phillip have a child of their own. 

In the course of uncovering and making amends for their bigoted grandfather’s actions against the Northuldra people, Elsa and Anna learn that the rumored fifth spirit that bridges the mortal and the supernatural is actually them and their bond. After breaking the curse on the Enchanted Forest, Elsa abdicated her throne and remains in the forest to continue exploring the full extent of her powers while Anna takes the throne. Thanks to the magic of the other elemental spirits, the sisters remain in constant contact, with Elsa returning to Arendelle for regular visits. 

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker establishes that Ben Solo and Rey are a dyad in the Force - literal soulmates. At the end of the movie, Rey sacrifices her life to destroy Palpatine, and after climbing up from the pit he was tossed into, Ben uses the Force to heal Rey’s wounds and bring her back to life, at which point he immediately dies. After a victory celebration with the Resistance, Rey travels to Tatooine and is last seen burying Luke and Leia’s lightsabers in the sands outside the farm where Luke grew up. 

As with the trend of killing off morally complicated characters, some of these examples work within the context of the film. 

Motherhood was an important element of Maleficent’s arc across the two live action films, and learning to let her daughter leave the nest is a classic lesson in a parental figure’s character arc. 

Hiccup and Toothless parting ways fits with the How To Train Your Dragon series’ focus on protecting the dragons and the animal conservation message that comes with that. 

Ezra being separated from his found family at the end of Rebels was a way to maintain Luke Skywalker’s status as the only Jedi working for the rebellion in the original movies without permanently killing Ezra off, and the show’s writers left the door open for a potential sequel focused on Sabine following his trail to bring him home. 

Other examples, however, do not align with the themes of their respective franchises. 

Game of Thrones spent several seasons focusing on the surviving Stark children as they find their way back to each other. Sending them all in different directions at the end feels disappointing and pointless after they had finally been reunited in the previous season. 

The Paladins of Voltron finding their own careers after the war that take them to different parts of the galaxy but still making the effort to consistently stay in contact makes sense in theory, but with the death of Allura it comes across as if her passing broke the team apart. 

While the original Avengers going their separate ways to let a new generation of heroes step into the limelight seems like an organic conclusion to the Infinity Saga, Captain America’s ending in particular feels like a regression. His character arc across his previous solo films has been about moving forward, and Endgame concludes with him literally going backward. 

It’s been common for fan complaints over these story elements to be directed mainly at the people directly responsible for making each project - the showrunners, the movie directors, the script writers…… But I couldn’t help but notice just how many of these examples for both trends fell under the Disney umbrella.

And then I remembered that Infinity War, Endgame, and The Rise of Skywalker all had reshoots done at some point in the production process. 

It really makes me wonder how much of these disliked story decisions were really the individual directors’ and showrunners’ decisions and how much were mandated by someone higher up the ladder. And I can’t help but notice the demographics of the people in charge of these companies and the people affected by them. 

The demographics of fans that enjoy morally complicated characters and want them to have a happy ending, that enjoy stories where the the characters who bonded over the course of the story stay together after their mutual goal is achieved, are from what I’ve observed predominantly made up of women, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, nonwhite people, and people with mental illnesses. 

And most of the people in charge of these story decisions are cis, straight, neurotypipcal, able-bodied white men. The CEO of Disney... The showrunners of Game of Thrones….. Voltron’s a little more complicated because while Dreamworks made the show they didn’t own the franchise, but the Voltron IP owner is a straight white male.  

These stories are controlled by straight white men, and the audiences that have the biggest negative reactions to these story decisions are women, LGBTQ+ people, and POC. 

Companies may talk about having more diversity on camera and behind the camera, but the people at the top of the corporate hierarchy - the ones with the money and therefore the ultimate control over what gets released to the public - are for the most part the same demographic as they've always been.

And all of these show finales and movies have been released within the last four years, as fandom spaces and American public discourse in general have become increasingly polarized into a black and white mentality with no room for nuance. Where someone can only be either a perfect ally or an offensive oppressor. This trend in killing off morally complicated characters in ways that don’t always work for their character arc has also coincided with the rise of fandom’s pearl clutching over moral purity and whether a villain or anti villain “deserves” a redemption arc. 

Your first instinct will probably be to dismiss what I’m suggesting, insisting that these are just shows and movies and that they don’t matter. That it’s Not That DeepTM. But more often than not the media we consume is a reflection of the world around us. And we are seeing a pattern that as fandom becomes increasingly obsessed with purity and enforces a “one strike and you’re a monster” mentality, the major franchises of pop culture are producing stories where people who aren’t clear-cut Pure Good Heroes or Pure Evil Villains die. 

Also, dismissing people’s thoughts about the social messages of a movie or show, insisting that we’re wrong for saying that something doesn’t fit with the story so far, is part of the problem. Having critics and other fans praising the stories we feel hurt by and dismissing our criticisms as, for example, whiny shippers mad that our favorite pairings didn’t happen, has a very stifling, damaging effect. It tells us over and over again that this is the way that stories are supposed to be, and that there is something weird, broken, wrong with us for not being satisfied with stories that break up the Found Family or kill off your morally messed up fave regardless of whether it actually makes sense for the story. 

It leaves us isolated and alienated from wider fandom discussions because we’re told it again and again until we internalize it that we’re in the wrong. That people just don’t want to make the kinds of stories we want to see. That we’re paranoid for suspecting that there is a pattern when we see this happen over and over. But it’s clear from the way that some creators have acted - going from excitedly promoting their work to complete silence after the initial disappointment over the finale - that there are creators who want to tell those kinds of stories, but they are being silenced. They are being forced to change the stories they wanted to tell because someone in charge didn’t like that kind of story, and because of their NDAs are forced to either keep silent, or lie and take credit for decisions that weren’t theirs. 

It’s easy to dismiss these story decisions as a coincidence. To believe that all of these creators made similar decisions on their own. That they just fucked up a beautiful story on their own with no intervention from someone higher up the corporate ladder. It’s a comforting option. It makes us feel like our criticisms have an impact. Because the alternative? That creators can and have been forced to change their stories because the person at the top doesn’t think that it’ll sell well if it doesn’t cater to the demographic they consider most important? That’s terrifying. 

[blightarts]

Blades of Order & Chaos

Chapter Title: Prologue

Word Count: 4362

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Pixelberry. This is my version for the upcoming sequel of Blades of Light & Shadow. I am not claiming this to be the canon story of the book. This is only written to increase the hype for the actual sequel.

MC/Pairing: Kite (Blue Elf Male MC) / Kite x Nia

Taglist: @princessstellaris @mechaspirit @brightningstar @cal-north @mahariel-theirin @lxdy-starfury @tyrils-star @imturaxamara @kelseaaa

It’s a silent night in the capital city of Whitetower. Each member of the group is settled in their bedrooms. Some are asleep while the others are restless. Kite just woke up with a gasp, panting and sweating after witnessing visions in his sleep. Nia shoots awake next to him with an immediate concern.

Nia: Kite? What’s wrong?

Kite looks around, catching his breath. He looks at his beloved, worried.

Kite: Nothing… just a bad dream…

Nia caresses his cheek and gives him a reassuring peck on the lips.

Nia: That’s right, just a bad dream. Now, come on. Let’s get some rest.

She smiles at him and Kite smiles back with a subtle uncertainty in his eyes. The two lie back down on bed, with Kite spooning Nia, before drifting back to sleep. Kite can’t help but recall the visions he saw; that strange hooded figure, the ruined burning city… and of course, the creature above him, huge and terrible…

Meanwhile, something similar happens to the rest of the group.

In Kade’s room, he’s laid down on his bed, unable to sleep. He begins recollecting a memory from when he was still an infant. He recalls being in a forest with the sound of people panting and another child crying being heard nearby. He then heard people talking frantically around him.

Voice 1: How did we not notice his presence for two thousand years?!

Voice 2: I do not know, but what confuses me is why he had to keep himself preserved instead of slaying his own nephew.

Voice 3: Well, it matters no longer. We must find a safe place and remain there long enough for Estel’s son to grow and become the hero this Realm needs.

Voice 1: Riverbend should be nearby. Let us seek refuge there.

The two voices continue to pant whilst running to their destination. This is all that Kade can remember, but the fact that the two voices mentioned Riverbend, mean that two of them could be his own parents and the other being Kite’s. He ruffles his hair, trying to know more.

Kade: Ugh… what does this all mean?!

In Mal’s room, he is sitting by the balcony, playing with a coin and gazing at the stars. He looks at his coin, giving him vivid flashbacks of the day before his retirement from the Thieves Guild. He recalls being inside an ancient dungeon buried in the Zaradun Wastelands. He then remembers his fellow thieves yelling in despair whilst trying to escape the dungeon as it was crumbling.

Thief 1: That… thing is alive!

Thief 2: How is that even possible?! This dungeon has to be at least… thousands of years old!

As the group approached the exit, the stone floor below them started shaking before it broke apart, causing most of the members to fall to their deaths. Mal, however, managed to leap out of danger in time, but as he was about to head out, a voice called for his help.

Fledgling Thief: Mister Volari!

Mal turned to see the fledgling hanging by the edge of the collapsed floor. He ran back to grab the young boy.

Mal: Hang on, kit! I got yo—

But before Mal could reach the fledgling, the floor crumbled once more, causing the young thief to fall to his death, much to Mal’s horror. As the ground in front of him started to crack, the former thief immediately ran out of the dungeon as it buries itself deeper beneath the sand. After returning to the Guild in Whitetower, Mal retired, overwhelmed by his Survivor’s Guilt, and began his life as an adventurer instead.

In the present day, he grits his teeth and clenches his fist, gripping the coin given to him by the fledgling he failed to save.

In Tyril’s room, the elf is asleep on his bed, dreaming peacefully, but that peace won’t last long. He begins experiencing a vision of the past, not his own past, but the history of House Starfury. Tyril finds himself in the middle of a battlefield.

Tyril: This place…

He attempts to familiarize his surroundings, seeing corpses of elves around him, with almost half of them having pale skin and blood on their lips. Tyril then recognized them as the cursed elven race, the Vhampyrs, prompting him to realize where he is.

Tyril: This is the Battle of Cragheart, where Lady Farin defeated the Beast of Blood…

He sprints across the battlefield, looking for his ancestor, Farin Starfury. Eventually, he does so and finds her, with the Blade of Sol in hand, standing face-to-face with the Beast itself, a large gargoyle-like creature with long black hair and crimson eyes. But what happened next shocked both Tyril and Farin as the Beast just spoke.

Beast of Blood: F-Fa-Fariiiiin…

Farin is caught off-guard for a second but quickly regains focus.

Farin: Do not distract me, you monster!

A fiery aura surrounds the elf as immense magical power surges through her, ready to strike. But the Beast continues to communicate with her.

Beast of Blood: V-Vla… dussss….

Once again, Farin lowers her guard as she sees the Beast’s eyes switching colors, from red to blue and vice versa. Soon, she begins to notice the features present in the Beast’s face as she recognizes its true identity.

Farin: B… Brother…?

Tyril widens his eyes at this revelation. He tries to reach out to Farin but was pulled back by an invisible force, causing him to jolt from his sleep with a gasp. He pants, processing what he just saw, before staring out the window in confusion.

Tyril: Lady Farin had a… brother…?

The elf attempts to shake off this thought out of his head before returning to his slumber.

In Imtura’s room, she is fast asleep but her troubled expressions mean that she might not having such a pleasant dream. Like Tyril, she’s having a vision, but instead of the past, it shows an event in the future. The orc finds herself back home, in Flotilla, but she doesn’t have full control over her own body. It’s almost as if she’s seeing the perspective of her future self. She then notices, in horror, Flotilla falling apart in flames, with other of her kind panicking.

Orc Guard 1: Get the children to safety! I’ll join you once we secure the royal family.

Orc Guard 2: Wait, is that…? The princess!

Orc Guard 1: Princess Imtura! Retreat to the Wra–

Imtura’s future self grits her teeth and turns to the guards.

Imtura (Future): Prioritize the citizens! Let me secure my own mother!

The orc guards reluctantly nod and follow the princess’s orders. As Imtura’s future self gets closer to the throne room, the present time Imtura’s vision start to get blurry, as if the dream is about to end.

Imtura (Present): Wait… no… bring me back… I need to know if my mother is alive! BRING ME BACK!!

But her cries do not matter as she wakes up in shock followed by deep breaths escaping her mouth. Imtura looks at her trembling hands, wondering if what she saw was real or if her mother was even safe should the events become true. She then repeatedly and gently smacks her hands against her cheeks.

Imtura: Come on, Imtura! It’s just a dream. Everyone is alright back home.

With a calming sigh, the orc lies back down and falls asleep a few minutes later.

And lastly, in the prisons of Whitetower, Aerin is seated at the corner of his cell, contemplating instead of sleeping. However, instead of thoughts about regret for his actions or vengeance upon those who imprisoned him, memories fill his mind, memories that date back to his childhood.

When Aerin was around six years old, he was seated on a bench in the castle’s flower garden. Beside him was his older brother, Baldur, who was nine years old at the time. Baldur was holding a stick and raised it up high, pretending to be a hero, before turning to Aerin.

Baldur (Past): One day, Aerin, we shall trek beyond the borders of Morella, and make peace with the surrounding kingdoms. With your wits and my strength, we will become kings that will lead our people to the right path!

Aerin smiled shyly but looked down.

Aerin (Past): I am uncertain, brother. You are the eldest, the heir to the throne. Technically, only you can become king while I just stand beside you as your advisor.

Baldur grinned as he ruffled Aerin’s hair.

Baldur (Past): Nonsense! I shall make it so that we both become kings.

Aerin looked up at his brother with wonder.

Aerin (Past): Really?

Baldur nodded.

Baldur (Past): I cannot do this alone. We’re brothers. We have to stick together.

As the memory fades, Aerin places a palm on his head, riddled.

Aerin: …Have I always had memory…?

The night goes on and our heroes are lost in thought after what they had just experienced.

A new day begins, brighter than the last, and the group gathers at the main hall of the castle, preparing to say their goodbyes and go back to their normal lives, but after what they’ve experienced the previous night, it’s too soon to depart just yet. On the way to the main hall, Kite and Nia are walking down the stairs, hand in hand. Kite tries his best to hide his worried expression from Nia, but the priestess is too occupied with a slight headache. She gently places a hand on her head as her vision starts to blur. Kite notices this.

Kite: You okay, Nia? You look like you’re starting to get lightheaded.

Nia meets Kite’s concerned eyes but a vision flashes before hers. In this vision, she is seeing through the perspective of someone from long ago. Nia finds herself in some sort of tunnel and in front of her is a dark figure with swords hovering around them as they approach her. The priestess sees herself raising her hands against this mysterious figure ready to blast them with the power of the Light. However, the figure was too elusive as they quickly evaded the blast before plunging one of their swords onto Nia, prompting the vision to cease and the priestess to gasp and fall onto Kite’s arms. The elf’s expression turned from concern to fear.

Kite: Woah, woah… what happened…? Are you okay?

Nia takes a moment to breathe while Kite helps her stand.

Nia: I don’t know… I… think I just saw… a glimpse of the past…

Kite: What do you mean? From when?

Nia shakes her head and shrugs in uncertainty. Kite just nods and kisses her forehead, not wanting to put much pressure into her after what she just went through. After regaining composure, the priestess sighs and looks at her beloved with a reassuring smile.

Nia: I’ll be okay. The bad things are all over now.

Kite hesitantly smiles back at her, thoughts of last night’s dream not being able to escape his mind.

Kite: …Yeah, they are.

Suddenly, they hear someone at the bottom of the stairs.

Mal: Hey, are you two just gonna get married and spend the rest of your lives on that step? We ain’t got all day.

Kite and Nia turn to see their friends waving at them. Kade and Imtura are snickering because of Mal’s joke while Tyril shakes his head in disappointment. Threep and Loola flutter towards Kite and Nia with grins on their faces.

Threep: Come. There’s much to do.

The couple nods at the two nespers before descending the stairs to meet up with the rest of the group. As all of them head towards the main hall, Kite notices troubled faces on his friends, realizing that they must’ve seen something similar to what he saw last night. Knowing that they might be hesitant in sharing, he decides to share his experience.

Kite: Guys, I have something to say…

Kite halts behind his friends as they all turn towards him.

Tyril: Is something the matter, Kite?

Kite grits his teeth but reluctantly speaks up.

Kite: I don’t think we’re done yet… There’s still more about the Shadow Realm we do not know.

Everyone tilts their head on confusion.

Kade: What do you mean?

Imtura: Yeah, we kicked the Dreadlord and his goons’ asses while we were there.

Kite shakes his head.

Kite: It’s not just them… There’s something else in that damned place…

He clutches himself, shivering while the thought of Whitetower in ruins fills his mind. Nia steps up to hold and comfort him.

Nia: Kite, is this about that bad dream you had last night?

Kite looks at her and nods in terror.

Mal: What exactly did you see?

Kite gulps, trying not to hurl.

Kite: I was warned about a great danger coming from the Shadow Realm… After wielding the Blade of Light in there, I seemed to have attracted the attention of a far more threatening foe… the Empire of Ash, if I recall.

Threep and Loola’s eyes start to widen in dread.

Loola: D-Did you just say…?

Threep: The Empire of Ash…?

The group notices the nespers shivering in fear, as if they know more than what the others think.

Kade: Wait, what is the Empire of Ash?

Threep gulps and tries to speak but is too horrified. Loola steps up and speaks up instead.

Loola: The Empire of Ash is an ancient enemy that preceded the Shadow Court. Some stories say that they had fought against the first generation of the Elven Empire, but others say that they are the Elven Empire itself before being usurped by their foes who fought for righteousness. Whichever you look at it, they are far worse and more dangerous than the Shadow Court, nay, even the Dreadlord himself.

Threep coughs and finally talks.

Threep: And if Kite is saying that they are coming once again, then this Realm is in great danger.

Tyril: How come I’ve just heard of them now? Their history should’ve been written in the elven archives.

Loola shakes her head.

Loola: All records about the Empire had been erased during the war against the Shadow Court. All of them, gone.

Mal: And since you and Threep are the only ones from that era, only you two knew about it?

The two nespers nod.

Imtura: What else do you know about the Empire?

Threep: I heard that the Empire was led by the one called “Fateseeker”, an individual with unimaginable power, able to lay waste on a civilization within minutes.

Shivers travel down on the group’s spines upon hearing what Threep said.

Kade: How did the Empire fall?

Loola: Rumors say that a single elf who wielded the power of both Light and Shadows was able to push back their forces and eventually, banish them in the Shadow Realm.

Threep: The elves of our time believed that the Dreadlord and the Shadow Court were merely just pawns of the Empire.

After this huge revelation, everyone in the group is taken aback and tries to process what they’ve just heard. Gritting his teeth, Kite stands up straight and walks past the group.

Nia: Kite? Where are you going?

Kite: The prisons. I’m paying him a visit.

The group realizes who Kite is referring to and goes after him.

Mal: You sure, kit? We still don’t know if you’re dream is just… well, a dream.

Kite: I’m certain. He’s spent twenty years of his life in the Shadows, so he must know something about the Empire.

Soon, the group arrives in Whitetower’s lockup, standing in front of Aerin’s cell. He scoffs at them.

Aerin: Have you come here to mock me before you all return to your normal lives? That’s petty, even for me.

Kite: We’ve come here to ask you a few things.

Aerin raises his head with a smirk.

Aerin: Oh? What more can you ask from me? The Dreadlord and the Shadow Court are gone. You have nothing else to interrogate out of me.

Kite: What do you know about the Empire of Ash?

The prince raises an eyebrow.

Aerin: Ah, I see. I thought the Dreadlord was just exaggerating when he said that he serves a far greater power than his own.

He stands up and walks up to the bars of his cell.

Aerin: Alright then, Kite. I shall entertain you.

He then smirks before continuing.

Aerin: While planning for the Shadow Court’s return, the Dreadlord has mentioned about the Empire a couple times. He said how he needed a vessel who is prominent in Light Magic in order to act as the beacon, signaling the Empire.

The prince turns to Nia, who backs away while Kite steps between them. Aerin chuckles and continues.

Aerin: Even with the Dreadlord’s demise, he still was able to fulfill his goal… all because of your foolishness.

Insulted, Kite attempts to charge at Aerin but his friends hold him back. The former prince just laughs before sitting at the corner of his cell.

Aerin: That is all I can offer you, Kite. If you want to know more, you could pay the dwarves of Zaradun a visit, that is if you can find one at all, since they’ve been missing prior to the rise of the Shadow Court.

Kite grits his teeth before breaking out of his friends’ hold and taking his leave. The rest of the group follow him.

Kade: Kite, where are you going?

Kite: The Zaradun Wastelands.

Nia grabs Kite’s arm and stops him in his tracks.

Nia: Kite, why are you so intent on stopping the Empire?

Kite breaks into tears.

Kite: Because it’s my fault why we have to deal with them in the first place!

The group falls silent as the elf continues.

Kite: I brought the Light upon the Shadow Realm. The Empire is returning because of me. I have to make up for my mistake.

Kite clenches his fists as they tremble.

Imtura: Why is it that there’s something else you’re not telling us?

Kite gulps.

Tyril: Kite, tell us. Please.

Kite sighs and gives in to his friends’ pleas.

Kite: I… saw something else after being warned of the Empire…

Threep: What was it?

Kite looks around Whitetower then at his friends.

Kite: Whitetower… in ruins… burning… while a dragon looms over it…

There was a long silence as the group stares at Kite in horror.

Mal: What did you just say…?

Mal, knowing that his sister lives in the capital, grabs Kite’s collar.

Nia: Mal, what are you doing?!

Mal: What about my sister, Kite? Is she still alive in this dream of yours?

Kite doesn’t answer, uncertain of the fate of Whitetower’s inhabitants, further angering Mal.

Mal: ANSWER ME, KIT!

Tyril grabs Mal’s arm and gives him a concerned look. The rogue comes back to his senses before letting go of Kite.

Mal: I’m sorry, Kite. I don’t know what came over me… it’s just… I’ve already lost enough… I don’t wanna lose anyone else.

Kite shakes his head.

Kite: It’s okay. I understand your frustration. I think… we just need to clear our heads and plan out what we should do next.

As the rest of the group nods at what Kite said, Imtura is at the back, trying to connect the destruction of Whitetower in Kite’s dream and the destruction of Flotilla in her dream.

Nia: Imtura?

The orc is snapped back into reality as she looks at the group staring at her.

Imtura: I’m sorry, it’s just… I’m concerned for my family as well.

The group nods at what she said before Kade steps up with a suggestion.

Kade: Okay, come on. Group hug. We need to keep our spirits up in the fight ahead.

Kite smiles at his brother before placing his arm over his shoulder. The elf looks at the rest of the group.

Kite: Kade’s right. We’re all in this together.

Nia joins and places her arm around Kite. Tyril joins right after.

Nia: No matter the threat, we can handle it.

Tyril: We have done it once; we can do it again.

The four of them smile at Mal and Imtura, waiting for them to join. The rogue and orc roll their eyes before reluctantly joining the hug.

Mal: You all are hopeless optimists.

Imtura: But the same can be said for the both of us.

As the group laughs at the comment, Threep and Loola land on Kite and Nia’s shoulders, respectively.

Threep: We are all still millennia away from defeating the Empire…

Loola: But that shouldn’t stop us from saving the realm.

Kite looks at the determination present in his friends’ faces.

Kite: Let’s get this done!

Everyone: YEAH!

Suddenly, the moment was cut short by an explosion heard from a distance.

Mal: What was that?

The group turns around the corner to see smoke coming from the castle. They rush back towards it, curious and worried as to who or what caused the explosion. Upon reaching the throne room, the group spots King Arlan, surrounded by his guards, standing face-to-face against a dark figure. Nia’s heart sinks as the mysterious figure looks exactly the same as the one she saw in her vision. She begins to collapse but Kite catches her in his arms.

Kite: Nia, are you okay?

While the group helps Nia on her feet, King Arlan speaks with the dark figure.

King Arlan: Who are you?! And what business do you have against my kingdom?!

The figure unsheathes their sword and conjures five copies of it before having the swords hover around them. Tyril immediately recognizes the unique magic used by the figure.

Tyril: Impossible. How is he alive after all these years?

Mal: You know him, elf boy?

Tyril grits his teeth and unsheathes his own sword.

Tyril: He is a former member of the Shadow Court… Sir Laundsellyn, the Deserter!

The figure turns towards Tyril and grins.

Sir Laundsellyn: “Deserter”, eh? I am grateful that elven history gave me quite a title.

While Imtura and Mal join Tyril and unsheathe their weapons, Kite hands Nia to Kade.

Kite: Take care of her.

Kade: Don’t worry. Kick Laundsellyn’s ass.

The elf grins at his brother before joining the others.

Imtura: What’s this guy’s deal?

Tyril: Prior to the purification ritual two thousand years ago, all of the members of the Shadow Court were cornered and eventually banished to the Shadow Realm… All, but one.

Mal: Sir Laundry boy?

Tyril nods.

Tyril: He was tasked with hunting down the Priestess of Light and succeeded but was never heard from again when he was supposed to join the other members of the Court during the final battle of the war.

Imtura: Oh, so he’s not a “deserter”. He’s a coward!

Sir Laundsellyn scoffs.

Sir Laundsellyn: Spare me your insults. I’d known from the beginning that the Court will fail. So, I fled, avoiding my banishment. I was thinking far ahead than any of them, even the Dreadlord himself.

He starts walking towards the King.

Sir Laundsellyn: My purpose now is to serve a far greater power… the Empire of Ash…

Anger rises among the group upon hearing the mention of the Empire.

Imtura: Anything we should know about this guy, Tyril?

Tyrils shakes his head.

Tyril: No, the elven archives did not mention a lot about Laundsellyn, except only for being part of the Court and his betrayal.

Kite: I guess we’re on our own here.

Tyril: We need a distraction.

Kite smirks as he puts a hand on his waist, but Mal grips the elf’s shoulder.

Mal: Don’t. You. Dare.

(Author’s Note: Kite’s not much of a Seductive Skill combatant . 😅)

Kite chuckles.

Kite: Don’t worry. I’m not that type of fighter.

He then holds out his hand, materializing the Blade of Light in his grasp.

Kite: I’ll take him on easily.

Mal, Tyril and Imtura grin.

Mal: Oh, right. I forgot we have that now.

Tyril: An agent of the Shadows like him won’t stand a chance against your Blade.

Imtura: Go get ‘em!

Kite nods as he dashes towards Laundsellyn who turns to him.

Sir Laundsellyn: Oho? What do we have here?

Kite channels the power of the Light present within the Blade before swinging it at the former member of the Shadow Court.

Kite: This is your end!

However…

CLANG!

…Sir Laundsellyn stops the Blade with only his finger, leaving everyone in utter shock and silence.

Tyril: …T-That’s… not possible…

Kade: How?! He’s a soldier of the Shadow Court!

Laundellyn smirks and pinches the tip of the Blade.

Sir Laundsellyn: Ah, I’ve been wondering where my Blade has been all this time.

He then kicks Kite on his gut, causing him to loose grip on the Blade as he is propelled across the throne room.

Imtura: Kite!

Mal rushes to Kite’s aid while Tyril and Imtura ready themselves.

Mal: Kit, are you okay?

Kite coughs and glares at Laundsellyn.

Kite: Your Blade? What are you talking about?

Laundsellyn chuckles as he holds the Blade properly with its hilt.

Sir Laundsellyn: The Blade of Light has always been an heirloom to my House. Being a descendant of the one who wielded the power of the Light and Shadows, I cannot be harmed by the Blade.

Suddenly, something comes to Threep’s mind, as if he’s starting to remember a lost memory.

Threep: I remember now… You’re the prodigal son… of the House I once served!

Laundsellyn spots Threep behind Kite and squints his eyes.

Sir Laundsellyn: Tch! I thought I made sure you’d forgotten everything about my House, Pompedorfin.

Threep hisses at him.

Threep: Mind your tongue, traitor! You were the reason why House Nightbloom became extinct!

Upon hearing the mention of his own House, Kite’s eyes widen.

Kite: Threep, what do you mean?

Loola: Threep once told me about an heir to House Nightbloom, who is slothful, despite being skilled in almost everything. He stole their heirloom and left without a trace in pursuit of his own selfish goals.

Laundellyn sighs.

Sir Laundsellyn: Ah, yes, the nostalgia of those days...

He scoffs as the power of the Shadows surge through him.

Sir Laundsellyn: Well, if you must know… My real name… is Lucius Nightbloom.

----- END OF CHAPTER -----

[agentstarkbarnes]

Three days. That's how long she has been running. From Johnsonville.

Princess Julia Katina-Rose Johnson was the only heir of the Johnson family. The crown princess of Johnsonville. The glorious child of King Grant and Queen Daisy. The highly respected and beloved royalty of her vast, diverse country. "Our savior" the people called her affectionately. Her parents ruled the land in all fairness, and Princess Julia was no different from them. She understood the people, and was idolized by many. "The perfect queen" as the court said.

The king and queen had chosen her to be the queen.Even though she didn't have a husband. She had suitors lined up, for all good reasons. She was the most beautiful princess, according to messengers, spies and the princes who came to ask her hand in marriage. She didn't like them, it was that simple. Some of them got drawn back when they found out she talked for herself, some did not like the attitude she displayed. Arrogant, they called her. But anyone could see it as intelligence. That was her. She was the smartest person in any room. Speaks up for herself, confident and brave. Her parents never once told her off. They let her be herself. And here she is, the fiercest, smartest and the prettiest face in the land, and the chosen queen. They were yet to break the happy news to the people.

With all good news lined up, what went wrong? Why was the beloved princess on the run? Good question. Princess Julia was adored by everyone, therefore she had a lot of enemies within the court. The ministers whom she outsmarted, the corrupt chancellors she exposed. The list grew. As she did noble deeds to the people, she gathered the hate of those who weren't happy with the deeds done. The princess knew she had haters, but never once expected it to be from her family. Christian. The king's brother. Her uncle. Uncle Chin, she affectionately called. He was two faced. He pretended to be noble to the subjects and loyal to the family. In the darkness of the night, he turned his back on them. Contract killers, that's what they are called. He had smuggled them into the castle, led them into the king and the queen's room. A passage only the royal family knew. Christian used the trust to backstab his brother Grant and the queen Daisy. They were killed that night. The princess heard the sounds. She rushed to her parents' room. Saw her uncle grinning over her parents' corpse. The killers gathering near Christian, also grinning.

"Why?" was the only thing she could whisper, her eyes boring deep into his. "Vengeance. Your father took the throne from me. I wanted it back. After all these years of waiting, I wouldn't let it be given to you, a brittle princess" Christian spoke. Venom laced his words. "The savior. The perfect queen. Many endearing terms. You won the hearts of the people. I didn't. What could I do other than this, to get what's rightfully mine?" he smiled coldly. "The throne was never yours" Julia said in a brave tone, showing that she is not intimidated by him.

"Finish her" Christian said. The killers approached her. Julia was smarter. She kicked some of the killers' kneecaps. This gave her time to run. So she did.

Day 1. She ran to the village. Seeking help or shelter from the people she helped. The people gave her food. Bread, fruits, biscuits, water. Whatever was left of them. Christian ordered the men to search the kingdom for Julia. Wanted her dead at sight. So the search began. Julia had a temporary hideout in a paddy field. When the search was over, she learnt. She learnt that the people who defended her were killed. That's when they stopped. Stopped helping her. Pretended they didn't hear her. She was a ghost. She took the message and moved on.

Day 2. The forest. That was the only place left. Christian crowned himself. The people of Johnsonville accepted him as their king. They knew they were wrong. They knew they should have protected the princess. After everything she has done for them. But they couldn't. They accepted the tyrant. Anyone who spoke against him were whipped. In front of everyone. And that was just his first day as king. No one said anything.

Day 3. Julia had almost crossed the boundaries of Johnsonville. She looked back one more time. She looked at her parents' summer house in fire. Christian did it. Erasing the memories of the previous king and queen. The people who made the golden time of Johnsonville happen. In ruins. The place she had called home. The place she was willing to serve. She couldn't call it home anymore. She had nobody there. Everyone turned blind to her. Her uncle, the royalty, the people who had once sworn to protect her, the people she had sworn to protect.

And here she is. Barefoot. Her foot aching with the burden of running for days. She knew she had to return to Johnsonville. It was her home after all. She wasn't the one to give up. She is a fighter. And she will fight. Fight for once what her home was.

Food had run out yesterday. She picked some fruits by the bushes. Mint leaves. Elderberry. Ate whatever she could gather. Sleep was a luxury now. She knew that her uncle wouldn't let her live. Moving as far as she can was the only choice.

It's been hours. She began her journey this afternoon. It was evening. She was on the outskirts of Rogersburg. A peaceful kingdom, she thought. Just like Johnsonville was. She winced at the was. Anyway, she didn't have time nor the energy to think more about it. She would only worry herself. She decided to move on. Go wherever her legs take her.

She moved a little more. That's it. 3 days of running has finally got to her. She laid by a tree and closed her eyes. Praying Christian wouldn't send men to Rogersburg to find her. Her thoughts slowly faded as she slowly started to sleep.

She woke up from her sleep. Looked around. She was not in a forest anymore. Soft velvet blankets placed upon her. She was surprised. Surprised that her feet weren't hurting. She looked down at her feet. They were healed. Medicines were placed on the nightstand. Did she end up in Johnsonville again? No. The sunset looked different. Did I sleep for almost a day? She wondered. She grabbed the brass vase by the nightstand and looked at the door. She decided to stay armed until she knows what's going on.

The doors opened. She quietly saw the person. Muscular figure. Blond hair. Blue eyes. A kind body language. Any person would immediately trust him. Not Julia. Even though she wanted to trust him. He sat on the edge of the bed. "Why am I here?" she asked as she put the vase down. That's when she realized that her voice had gone raspy. Looks like he did too. He reached for water and helped her drink.

"I found you in the forest. I recognised you immediately. The smartest, bravest and the prettiest princess in all land" he said, his cheeks tinting pink. "Anyway, I wouldn't let someone on the forest like that. I brought you back here and asked the maids to take care of you." Julia smiled lightly. "Where are my manners?" he scolded himself. "I'm Prince Steven Rogers of Rogersburg. Call me Steve" he extended his hand. A permanent smile stayed on his face. A sincere smile. "I know.Princess Julia Johnson of Johnsonville" she returned the smile.

"I've heard about you." Steve said. Even though he knew her. But neither of them said a thing. He handed her a plate of food. Biscuits, tea, sandwiches. She ate them slowly. "I know. You said that moments ago" she said softly, savoring the food she got. He rubbed the back of his neck, hiding his blush. She smiled. It's been days since she smiled naturally. "I know about you too. Steven Grant Rogers. Crown prince of Rogersburg. Chivalrous, meek, smart. Not afraid to help anyone. Not a perfect soldier but a good man" she said. They exchanged smiles. An instant connection, a spark. Both could feel it.

"Why didn't you come ask my hand in marriage? We are neighboring countries. Just curious" she asked, pouring her tea into a cup. Stir stir stir. She dropped a sugar cube. The sugar dissolved as she stirred. She looked at him for an answer. He then slowly opened his mouth. "I did not want to marry you without you knowing me. I mean.." he tapped his fingers on his knees. Tap tap. Tap tap tap. She noticed the pattern he tapped. His nervousness. "I've seen kings and queens in a loveless marriage. I wanted to know you and love you, before marrying you. I wanted to meet you but you were always fighting, holding court or serving your country. I didn't want to bother your noble work" he looked at his feet. "We've met" Julia echoed in the room. He nodded. He remembers too. It was a fine spring day. The gathering of the Johnsons and the Rogers. Blossoms on every tree. Steve and Julia talked all day. About nothing and everything. At the end of the day, both liked how the other person thinks and acts. Their character. Their sense of service. It was a spark. But neither talked about it. Steve left for his palace, so did Julia. Until now.

Clink. Julia placed the cup on the table and looked at him. "So.." she began to talk. Steve didn't let her. His lips crashed on hers. She accepted it. He wasn't urgent or desperate. He was slow, loving. She pulled him closer. He kissed her just right. He withdrew slowly and looked at her. His eyes were soft. Nervous, almost. She nodded her head. Wanted him to know it was okay. He helped her sit right against the wall. Propped pillows around her. He looked at her. It was her turn. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lovingly. Steve took her cheek in his palm and held her gently. They kissed. They kissed as if they had all the time in the world.

Withdrawing, they cuddled. It was comforting. Breaking the silence surrounding the cuddle, Steve softly talked. "We know what happened to Johnsonville". Julia nodded slowly, letting tears fall from her face for the first time since it happened. They rolled down her cheeks. Steve immediately brought his hand and wiped them. "We are going against them. An assassination as father calls it. Our family loved yours very much. My parents had an enormous respect for them. We shall never hurt anyone from the family." he said. She nodded again. "I promise you. Innocents will be spared. Christian will be the only casualty. Christian and his men." he kissed her cheek. She smiled at him. She knew Johnsonville was secure. Their castle was more secure. "I can help" she muttered, holding his arms around her. "Okay, if you want to" he smiled.

It's been seven months. Three months since she came to Rogersburg. Prince Steve and Princess Julia had developed a romance. A romance that should've happened way earlier. But who cares? They are together now. That's the way. Soulmates always find a way to each other. The Rogers family kept her a secret. The assassination was planned over these months. Just one night away. And Johnsonville should return back to the old self. The prosperous, happy and lush country. The place which she once called home. She will get to call it again. She knew she will. Steve promised her. The Rogers promised her. She knew about their loyalty. They always helped countries get back to happiness. Plus, they were like a family to her now. The bond has been created. A bond so strong, she felt like one of them.

This is the night. The night where she finally gets her country back. The assassins were sent. Julia helped them. King Rogers was vigilant all night. Steve and Julia laid on the velvet couch. None of them were sleepy. It was 2 in the morning and neither of them slept. Steve read books to her while they cuddled under a blanket. Julia read to him too. They talked. They kept awake all night. Steve said he'll marry her after this. If she agreed to it. Julia said yes. They celebrated this happy moment within themselves. Steve made a makeshift ring from the vine from the plant beside him. She laughed as she let him put the vine/ring on her finger. They kissed for a while. They kissed because it was official. They made their love public and official. They kissed because they were willing to get into anything. Together. They would face anything with each other. They had love. They were in love. They loved each other. The news came in. Christian was dead.

Julia walked back to Johnsonville again. Her home. She was glad to call it her home again. She was crowned. All the corrupt officials were gotten rid of. It was only a matter of months to get this job done. She had the help of Rogersburg. Together, they brought back Johnsonville to it's old form. The people apologized for their behavior. Julia knew they meant the apology. She was the bigger person, she always is. So, she forgave them. They were grateful for her. She was their savior after all. She restored their summer home. The one which Christian burnt. She turned it into a park. A memorial for Grant and Daisy. After almost a year, Steve and Julia got married. She was now Julia Katina-Rose Rogers. They ruled Johnsonville and Rogersburg. People saw them as the next Grant and Daisy. They were happy under them. Guess what? Maybe happily ever after exists after all.

[laannie0803]

El príncipe Baelon Targaryen, apodado Baelon el Valeroso, fue el cuarto hijo del rey Jaehaerys I Targaryen y su hermana esposa, la reina Alysanne Targaryen. Fue jinete del dragón Vhagar, que no había sido montado desde la muerte de Visenya Targaryen.

Al crecer, el príncipe Baelon y su hermano mayor Aemon se hicieron inseparables. Cuando Aemon recibió su primera espada de madera, Baelon era muy joven para acompañarlo en los entrenamientos; sin embargo, el príncipe se fabricó su propia espada con un palo y corrió al patio de armas para golpear a su hermano. Cuando Baelon fue lo suficientemente mayor, los hermanos entrenaban todas las mañanas; sus combates eran tan fieros que atraían a espectadores que animaban a uno u otro príncipe. A diferencia de su hermano, Baelon no tenía miedo de los dragones, llegando incluso a golpear el morro de Balerion la primera vez que entró en Pozo Dragón; Ser Sam el Amargo de la Guardia Real declaró que el príncipe "o está loco o es bien valeroso", acuñando el apodo de Baelon el Valeroso. El príncipe se convirtió en hermano mayor cuando en 60 d.C., la reina Alysanne dio luz a una niña llamada Alyssa; la princesa seguía a Baelon a todas partes, como éste hiciera con su hermano Aemon. Para 68 d.C., los reyes hablaban de casar a Baelon y Alyssa, quienes eran tan unidos como lo fueran sus padres a su edad.

En el 75 d.C., Baelon desposó a su hermana Alyssa. El príncipe no dejó de sonreír después de su matrimonio, pasando con su esposa tanto como les era posible, tanto volando en Vhagar y Meleys, como en sus aposentos. Dos años después, Alyssa dio a luz al primer hijo de la pareja, el príncipe Viserys. Otro hijo, el príncipe Daemon, nació en 81 d.C..

En el 84 d.C., su esposa Alyssa volvió a dar a luz a un niño, Aegon y ella le prometió a Baelon que en cuanto se recuperara volverían a tener otros bebes para formar un ejercito. 

Sin embargo, la princesa Alyssa no se recuperó por completo del difícil parto y murió ese mismo año; el príncipe Aegon murió medio año después, poco antes de su primer día del nombre. Devastado por las muertes, el príncipe Baelon se refugió en sus hijos Viserys y Daemon, y nunca dejó de honrar la memoria de esposa.

Dos años después de la muerte de Alyssa, su hermana Viserra, catorce años menor, burló una noche a los guardias y se coló en la cámara de Baelon, se desnudó y lo aguardó, bebiéndose todo el vino de la estancia. Cuando apareció el príncipe, la encontró borracha y desnuda en su lecho y la expulsó. Viserra murió en 87 d.C. mientras cabalgaba borracha en su última noche de soltería antes de partir al Norte para desposar a Lord Theomore Manderly; Baelon pensó que podría haber evitado el destino de su hermana si hubiera hablado con ella.

En 92 d.C., su hermano Aemon partió con Caraxes a Tarth para acabar con los piratas myrienses que asolaban la isla. Sin embargo, murió cuando un explorador myriense le ensartó una saeta de ballesta en la garganta. El príncipe Baelon, enloquecido de dolor e ira, cayó sobre Tarth a lomos de Vhagar con aullidos de venganza y quemando todos los navíos myrienses. Cuando aterrizó, se unió a la matanza empuñando su espada, Hermana Oscura.

Tras la muerte de Aemon, Baelon fue nombrado heredero al Trono de Hierro y Príncipe de Rocadragón por el rey, relegando así a su sobrina Rhaenys, hija de Aemon.

En 99 d.C. y tras la desastrosa actuación de Ser Ryam Redwyne, Baelon fue nombrado Mano del Rey, sirviendo admirablemente.

En el 101 d.C. y mientras cazaba en el bosque Real, Baelon sintió una punzada en el costado. El dolor aumentó cuando regresó a la Fortaleza Roja, y el vientre se le inflamó y endureció, con un dolor tan fuerte que lo dejó encamado. El Gran Maestre Runciter, recién llegado de la Ciudadela tras la muerte de Allar por una embolia, logró bajar un poco la fiebre del príncipe y lo alivió, en parte gracias a la leche de amapola, pero su estado continuó agravándose. Tras cinco días, el príncipe Baelon murió en su cámara de la Torre de la Mano, con su padre sentado a su lado. Tras abrir el cadáver, el Runciter consideró que la causa de la muerte fue una ruptura visceral.

Ese año el Viejo Rey convocó un Gran Consejo en Harrenhal para acordar de nuevo la sucesión. Fue elegido heredero el hijo de Baelon, el príncipe Viserys Targaryen.

Debo de admitir que es un personaje que me agrada. Era valiente, servicial y efectivo a la hora de tomar decisiones. Es una pena que perdiera a su esposa a la que tanto amo y luego a su hermano favorito, dos muertes importantes en 8 años.

Prince Baelon Targaryen, nicknamed Baelon the Valiant, was the fourth son of King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his sister wife, Queen Alysanne Targaryen. He was a dragon rider Vhagar, who had not been ridden since Visenya Targaryen's death.

Growing up, Prince Baelon and his older brother Aemon became inseparable. When Aemon received his first wooden sword, Baelon was too young to accompany him in training; however, the prince made his own sword from a stick and ran to the parade ground to strike his brother. When Baelon was old enough, the brothers trained every morning; their battles were so fierce that they attracted spectators who cheered on one prince or another. Unlike his brother, Baelon was not afraid of dragons, even hitting Balerion's nose the first time he entered Dragonwell; Being Sam the Bitter of the Royal Guard declared that the prince "is either mad or very valiant", coining the nickname of Baelon the Valiant. The prince became an older brother when, in A.D. 60, Queen Alysanne gave birth to a girl named Alyssa; the princess followed Baelon everywhere, as Baelon did with his brother Aemon. By AD 68, the kings spoke of marrying Baelon and Alyssa, who were as close-knit as their parents were at their age.

In AD 75, Baelon married his sister Alyssa. The prince did not stop smiling after his marriage, spending as much time as possible with his wife, both flying in Vhagar and Meleys, and in their rooms. Two years later, Alyssa gave birth to the couple's first child, Prince Viserys. Another son, Prince Daemon, was born in AD 81. In AD 84, his wife Alyssa gave birth to a boy again, Aegon, and she promised Baelon that as soon as she recovered they would have other babies again to form an army.

However, Princess Alyssa did not fully recover from the difficult delivery and died the same year; Prince Aegon died half a year later, shortly before his first name day. Devastated by the deaths, Prince Baelon took refuge in his sons Viserys and Daemon, and never failed to honor the memory of his wife.

Two years after Alyssa's death, her sister Viserra, fourteen years her junior, mocked the guards one night and slipped into Baelon's chamber, undressed and waited for him, drinking all the wine in the room. When the prince appeared, he found her drunk and naked in his bed and expelled her. Viserra died in A.D. 87. while riding drunk on her last single night before heading north to marry Lord Theomore Manderly; Baelon thought that he could have avoided his sister's fate if he had spoken to her.

In 92 A.D., his brother Aemon set out with Caraxes to Tarth to finish off the Myrian pirates who ravaged the island. However, he died when a Myriense scout impaled a crossbow bolt in his throat. Prince Baelon, crazed with pain and anger, fell upon Tarth on Vhagar's back with howls of vengeance and burning all Myrians ships. When he landed, he joined the kill by wielding his sword, Dark Sister.

After Aemon's death, Baelon was named heir to the Iron Throne and Prince of Dragonstone by the king, thus relegating his niece Rhaenys, daughter of Aemon.

In 99 A.D. and after the disastrous performance of Ser Ryam Redwyne, Baelon was appointed Hand of the King, serving admirably.

In A.D. 101 and while hunting in the Royal forest, Baelon felt a stab in his side. The pain increased when he returned to the Red Keep, and his belly swelled and hardened, with pain so strong that it left him bedridden. The Grand Master Runciter, newly arrived from the Citadel after Allar's death from an embolism, managed to lower the prince's fever a little and relieved him, in part thanks to poppy milk, but his condition continued to worsen. After five days, Prince Baelon died in his chamber of the Tower of the Hand, with his father sitting next to him. After opening the corpse, the Runciter considered that the cause of death was a visceral rupture.

That year the Old King convened a Grand Council at Harrenhal to agree again on the succession. Baelon's son Prince Viserys Targaryen was elected heir.

I must admit that he is a character that I like. He was brave, helpful, and effective in making decisions. It's a shame he lost his wife whom he loved so much and then his favorite brother, two major deaths in 8 years.