ask0608

[comfortmie]

Those are lollipops!

[loudn0isesart]

Sorry not Rhino taking me 8 billion hours anyway

MY SON AND HIS DAD and HIS homie tweaking over it

(I have like an 8 thousand word lore doc about this stupid franchise I cant)

[evilhorse]

MASK toy ad (circa December 1985)

[trulyumai]

rhinos and men

—request: could you do a story where geta and his family are watching the games and his son see the rhino and gets all excited. Thank you for your time and stories.

pairing : emperor Geta / empress! reader

—warnings: talk of violence, fighting. y’all’s son is a little cutie patootie fr

“—come on little one, don’t let go okay?” esocorting your son to the stands, his little hand gripped against yours.

He was ever so distracted, with big eyes glancing at the people around him, trying to get view of the pit below.

You hated bringing him to a place so early… not even his sixth name day has occurred. But your husband allowed it—demanded of it.

“He’ll need to grow up fast.” He had whispered to you, nearly everyone was asleep, as it was a late hour, rain prodded at the walls of the keep and thunder boomed. After a particularly rough session with you the man was caressing your face gently, discussing his future plans of war, how it would be good to open the coliseum again for the people.

You remembered feeling so tired— but such a statement brought out fear upon you, waking you up instantly. He was just a child. Your son. You didn’t want for him to endure the horrors of the world. The horrors of Geta.

But now you’re here, coaxing the child to your husband who stands upon your arrival.

With open arms, his child came running to him. Geta tried not to smile; to keep the facade of a benevolent leader, but such a sight was so… lovely.

“Hello little man, excited for the show?” Brushing his son’s matching hair back, he lifted his gaze to his wife. Already you sat beside them, lightly fanning at your reddened cheeks.

Sometimes he forgot you weren’t yet to such weather conditions just yet.

“Mhm mhm! Momma said there would be big— big animals!” Gesturing with wide little hands. geta hummed in agreement, leaning forward his cheek touched his sons.

“See there? Those beasts are dutiful in the field. They show no mercy upon the fool who chooses to be their foe.”

“Rhino!”

Geta laughed. “Yes, a rhino.”

Caracalla, ever the prodding man, interrupted such a sweet sight. “Brother, shouldn’t the woman being tending to the child? Not the fearless emperor.”

Meeting said man’s gaze, you scoffed. “How would you know, Caracalla. Sending your wife away and all?”

Caracalla snarled in response, his teeth crooked and yellow. Not removing your heavy gaze, you waited for the man’s chipped response.

“How dare you even—”

“Enough!” The emperor interrupted. Setting the child down, the little boy made his way to you, gesturing towards your lap for comfort.

Geta squinted at Caracalla, until the crowds roars distracted him so.

It was time to act, wasn’t it?

Turning towards the citizens, Geta let out a deep cry. His hands lifted, signaling for the guards to start the game.

With a call of a horn, the show began.

“Momma, look!”

“Careful honey, don’t lean too far.”

The only response was a pouting look, one that made your heart clench in regret. “Just be careful— I worry for you little star.” Pinching at his face, the boy let out a giggle. Geta wanted to pay attention to the mayhem. He really, really did.

Afterall, he went through so much trouble putting together for the act. Finding the resources for such an opportunity was getting harder and harder, the war made too big of an impact on supplies and men. But his people needed a distraction, especially in times like this.

But to see you there coddling and mulling over your little one—who looked like an exact copy of Geta himself, made him soft. Too soft to watch a man be stabbed repeatedly upon the ground floor and left to rot.

He was so glad you agreed to be a mother. Maybe he could convince you a second time tonight.

“Son,” the emperor called out, instantly gaining the boys attention.

“How about we visit the bayside after this?”

A confused look graced the child’s features and you had to lean in closer to geta to whisper gently. “He doesn’t know that word, darling. Say big blue water.”

Geta’s hands moved nervously beside the arm rest. Embarrassed to say such low leveled words. “Ahm, you know the.. big..blue water.”

Your son squeezed your hand in delight, already nodding his head up and down at such a statement. “Can we now— please?”

“Not until the shows over, my love,” setting him back down in your lap you smiled at Geta, amused by the child’s complete wonderment.

The man’s arm came into contact with your shoulder, pulling you into his side snuggly while the fight resumed on with loud cries and clashes. “You haven’t even seen the rhinos yet, son.”

A blank look appeared on the boy. “Oh yeah.”

The two of you sat side by side, geta touching you ever so often with calloused fingers. Your son not being able to sit still, wobbling in your lap carelessly as his balance flayed with every cry he let out for an animal that entered his vision.

“Did you see his horn? And the feet!” Being escorted out, Geta kept a hand around your waist as your son perched into your lap, his hands pinching and prodding as your cheeks.

Not being able to respond, you nodded laughing with a closed lip smile.

“Careful with your mother, boy, she’s delicate.”

The boys fingers stopped there pushing and a yawn escaped his lips. “Big water now?” A tired voice asked.

“Big water.” You agreed, lightly rocking him, your son soon found sleep, allowing a nap to take hold.

“I wish I could fall asleep like that.” With a guiding hand, Geta helped you upon the chariot, lifting you easily upon the wooden and steel frame.

“You do sleep like that, darling. Especially after dealing with your brother.”

A chuckle escaped the emperor as his body leaned back, both arms gracing the back of the seat. “He is inssufersble sometimes, isn’t he.”

Humming, your eyes suddenly felt tired. The heat was encapsulating your being and having your son splayed out onto your lap didn’t help.

Seeing you from the corner of his eyes, Geta noted the droopy lids and tucked down chin.

Usually he would forbid such a show of weakness in public. Say how reckless it is and cuss you out.

But something was differ today; he couldn’t quite place it.

“sleep, wife. I will awake you when we’ve arrived.” The promise escaped his lips before he could even think to push it back.

With a tired nod, you agreed. A slumber fell upon you before you could open your eyes once more.

Geta only scooted closer, pressing his shoulder to your slumped head with careful brushes.

The emperor couldn’t help but lean down, pressing a loving kiss to your forehead as your son’s snores reverberated through the small space.

Today was good to you.

Minus Caracalla’s presence, of course.

[markrosewater]

Maro’s Teaser for Outlaws of Thunder Junction

Before previews for Outlaws of Thunder Junction officially begin, I thought it would be fun to do another of my Duelist-style teasers where I give tiny hints of things to come. Note that I’m only giving you partial information. 

First up, here are some things you can expect: 

• A new batch of five related creature types

• A card capable of returning three different card types from the graveyard to the battlefield

• A mechanic players have been asking us to do for many years gets made as the setting was the perfect place to finally do it

• Dual lands with a land subtype that has never been on dual lands before

• A new modal mechanic that introduces something different to think about

• A card that can swap/exchange control of up to three different card types

• A new creature token that has an ability no creature token has ever had before

• A typal card for Skeletons and Zombies

• Creature tokens in the set: (some might have abilities) 1/1 white Sheep, 1/1 blue Bird, 1/1 black Vampire Rogue, 1/1 red Mercenary, 2/1 green Varmint, 2/2 white Ox, 2/2 white Spirit, 2/2 blue and black Zombie, 3/1 red Dinosaur, 3/3 white Angel, 3/3 green Elk, 4/4 red Scorpion Dragon, X/X green Elemental, */* Blue Ox

• Some of the planes with legendary Villains in this set: Dominaria, Eldraine, Fiora, Innistrad, Ixalan, Kaladesh, Kaldheim, Kamigawa, New Capenna, and Ravnica

Next, here are some rules text that will be showing up on cards: 

• “Then repeat this process X more times.”

• “if it wasn’t cast or no mana was spent to cast it.”

• “Plotting cards from your hand costs {2} less.”

• “You can’t cast this spell during your first, second, or third turns of the game.”

• “That card gains flashback {0}”

• “Target creature becomes a white Rabbit with a base power and toughness 0/1.”

• “When you win that flip, copy that spell.”

• “If a triggered ability of a legendary creature you control triggers, that ability triggers an additional time.”

• “you get that many additional upkeep steps after this phase.”

• “Oxen you control have double strike.”

Here are some creature type lines from the set:

• Creature – Armadillo

• Creature – Shark Rogue

• Creature – Plant Bard

• Creature – Coyote

• Creature – Homarid Mercenary

• Creature – Rhino Brawler

• Creature – Ox Angel

• Creature – Porcupine Mount

• Legendary Creature – Kor Advisor

• Legendary Creature – Giant Scout

Finally, here are some names in the set:

• Claim Jumper

• Form a Posse

• Gold Rush

• Great Train Heist

• High Noon

• Quick Draw

• Reach for the Sky

• Resilient Roadrunner

• Shoot the Sheriff

• This Town Ain’t Big Enough

Tune-in to our official YouTube and Twitch channels on 3/26 to see Oko and the gang in action with new card reveals. In preparation, catch-up on Outlaws of Thunder Junction’s story (https://magic.wizards.com/en/story) to bring yourself into the world.

[lumiidragon]

The Nine Realms dragons redesigns~

So I wanted to just play around with some ideas for redesigns for Feathers, Plowhorn, and Wu & Wei. Mostly, I wanted to doodle.

I re-designed feathers to actually have more feathers instead of just a few on her head and tail. She's partially based off of a nightjar bird and I wanted her to be a bit more bird-looking over reptile-looking.

Plowhorn kept her rhino-like look, but I added more armor plating instead of the beetle shell. I also wanted to add more crystals along her body to carry out this design choice smoother.

Wu & Wei's designed were changed to represent that of moray eels, specifically a wink to Floatsam and Jetsam from The Little Mermaid. I wanted them to really carry out that aquatic-look and I think the idea of a dragon being eel-like makes for a more interesting design choice with its irony, haha~

I didn't add Thunder on here because I already have a re-design of him and I just didn't have time for Webmaster.

[bizbat]

I Know a Place ~ 1

~ Spiderverse x Fem!Spider!Reader

~ Reader is shorter than Miles, Pav, and Hobie, but appearance is otherwise not mentioned

~ Possible love interest include: Miles Morales, Hobie Brown, Gwen Stacy, Pavitr Prabhakar, Earth 42 Miles, and Margo Kess.

~ Reader is a newer spider, who, after losing a fight against an anomaly that found its way into her universe, is consoled by her friends.

~ Wc: 1.9k

~ You can find more of my works here

~ Contents include: Fluff, Romance, Mostly platonic as of now, Slight angst, Comfort, Horror, Mentions of blood, Intimate non sexual touch, Slight Yearning.

Somewhere, in New York . . .

A group of teenagers clad in brightly colored spandex suits, sit in a booth at a small cafe. The cafe itself is a cozy, little hole-in-the-wall, known only to those lucky enough to live nearby. The teenagers rest their tired bodies, allowing their muscles to melt into the soft leather seats, as they're embraced by the warm aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, and cocoa.

The calming scents swirled in the air, providing the teenagers a much needed sense of comfort and relief. They chatted amongst themselves, some excited from the battle they had just won, some wearily listening and occasionally providing their own input. All engaging in the conversation one way or another. All except for one.

One of the teenagers sat silently staring into her drink. Her mind, like her peers, was still on the fight the had just walked away from, though unlike them, she wasn't exactly satisfied with the outcome. She tried to focus her gaze on the hot beverage clasped between her hands, and not on the dirt and blood splattered on her gloved fingers.

Everytime she closed her eyes she could still see it.

Horror starts here -

Previously . . .

He was an anomaly, a horrifying variant of the criminal Rhino. He was a massive man with stocky , tree trunk-like stubs for legs. He had huge, muscular arms, his fingers were thick nubs, a solid plate of keratin from his first knuckle to the tip of his fingers. Despite his giant stature, his bodybuilder physique, and his inhuman limbs which were covered in tough, dark grey skin, the characteristic that most caught the teenager's attention was his face. Two massive tusks sprouted from his skull, piercing his flesh, and causing dark blood to leak over his head, face and shoulders.

He was clearly in pain, screaming as he flung any and everything he could lift over his head. Cars, fire hydrants, chunks of sidewalk. Nothing was safe from him in his rampage. He spared no mercy as he threw objects towards innocent civilians. Thankfully, by the time Y/n had gotten there, most of the bystanders had already fled the scene, and the few that remained were quickly moved to safety. The teenager turned her attention back to the rhino-man as soon as the last citizen was safe and secure.

"You really do live up to the n-"

Y/n could barely get a word out before she was flung into the side of a building. She slowly rose to her elbows, her head spinning as broken glass clattered onto the ground around her. She felt something warm and wet run down on cool on her face beneath her mask. She hobbled to her feet the minute the loud, incessant pounding in her head stopped, another quip already on her lips, only to be interrupted once again by a whack to the face. She felt like she'd been hit with a wrecking ball as she flew through the air.

Horror ends here -

She crashed into the pavement, her head smacking the ground that cracked around her, before slowly rolling to a halt. She tried to push herself back up, with what felt like boneless arms. Her arms weakly trembled before collapsing beneath her weight. Fear rushed through her veins as the sound of thunderous footsteps approached her weakened body.

Y/n squeezed her eyes shut, her fists clenched and her breathing quickened as she braced herself, preparing her body to take more abuse. She felt dread embalm her entirely, her sweat cold on her skin, as the Rhino rose his arms above his head.

But before the Rhino could bring his clubbed fists down upon Y/n's crumpled body, the loud riff of an electric guitar rang through the air.

Her eyes remained closed, as bright yellows, purples, and blues flashed across the sky in blinding geometric shapes. Y/n's stiff body ironically relaxed at the sound of fighting and music, her body and mind fully exhausted. She only began to open her eyes when she heard a familiar voice softly calling her name, gently coaxing her to rise to her feet.

Currently . . .

Y/n sat near the window, strictly gazing into the mug between her hands. She had been so focused on her own moping she hadn't noticed the conversation around her had begun to lull.

"Y/n, you alright there, bruv?"

Her head snapped up, her attention suddenly placed on the british man seated across from her.

"Huh!?" Y/n's gaze drifted to the other teenagers sitting with her, unintentionally now the center of their attention. "What do you mean? I'm fine. I'm okay."

The teenagers around her exchanged glances before turning back to her. "Y'know, it's okay if you aren't okay, though," Gwen, the blonde sitting beside her replied, her voice had been the one to pull Y/n from her pained stupor. Gwen gently placed her cup of hot cocoa onto the table in front of her, before lightly stroking Y/n's forearm with her thumb.

"I know, I'm okay. Really. . . I am." Y/n dropped her gaze back to the hot, sweet smelling beverage in her hands. The cafe the teenagers took refuge in had some of the best food and drinks any of the spider's had ever had. It was a family business, run by an older couple and tended to by their granddaughter. It had been a place of comfort for Y/n since she had come across it while chasing a pickpocket down an alley.

Unconvinced, the rest of the teens sat quietly. "Is it about the fight cause if it is you got nothing to worry about" said miles, a chocolatey ring on his top lip. "When I was 'bout a month into being Spider-man, I had to fight Scorpion." Miles shook his head. "Lost so bad, it was on the news. My mom heard about it."

"Really?" Hobie questioned, taking a bite of his pastry, "That bad, huh", he followed earning a glare from Miles.

"Oh please, that's nothing! When I first became Spider-Woman, I got absolutely wrecked by Doc Oc! I got publically laughed at for two weeks!" Countered Gwen, her hands moving as she spoke. "I couldn't go out without hearing someone laugh about it."

Hobie chuckled, causing Gwen to toss a large marshmallow in his direction, "And what of you, Pav?"

"First of all, what about you, Hobie? You've never lost a fight?" Said Pavitr, flustered at the sudden attention. "Oi we'll get there when we get there, yeah? Your turn."

Pavitr sat back in the booth, his hand raised to his chin as he thought of his most embarrassing loss. "One time I . . . got . . . a got a bloody nose through my mask?"

"Yeah, but did you lose?" Asked Miles.

". . .no. But it was on TV!" Pavitr raised both hands in defence after earning a playful groan from the whole table, "Of course not", and "No surprise there" flying from his friend's mouths. "I'm sure mine will happen sooner or later!" Pav turned to face Hobie once again. "Okay, okay, your turn, Hobie. Tell us your most embarrassing story." Hobie sniffed, leaning back and putting his arms behind his head. "What's there to talk about, mate? I never lose."

"Right." It was the first thing Y/n had said with a smile on her face. Hobie glanced over at her, a soft smile replacing the frown she wore earlier. Hobie straightened in his seat, "Well-I mean- I-This one time right," Y/n laughed at his sudden disposition, "I was just off holiday, y'know, so of course I'm gonna be a bit rusty, a little out of it, y'know," the table began to giggle at his frantic excuses.

"But yeah, I'd just come off holiday, I start to swing around, warm up, got my blood flowing again, out of nowhere, this-this airship comes flying my way, absolutely massive, comes outta nowhere," "Oh it came at you, did it?" Pavitr asked between laughs. "Yeah," Hobie claimed, a faux irritation coating his words "It came at me, Pav man, you even listening? So it comes at me," he continued.

"I'm looking down, hundreds of adoring fans below, all lookin' back up at me, my senses kick in, little too late, yeah, but they do," Miles wheezes at Hobie's erratic retelling, his fist lightly pounding the table, as gwen writhes in her seat with her head thrown back. Y/n and Pavitr exchange glances with tears in their eyes whenever Hobie stumbles over his words or repeats himself.

"I look up at just the right time for the universe to take it out on me, i guess, and then WHAM! I smack into the aircraft, face first, all my fans still watching me as I plumet to certain death, just laughing, like I don't protect them everyday from the cold, greedy hands of a power-abusing, capitalistic, autocratic, and bigoted nightmare!"

By now every teen at the table is in hysterics, laughing so loud the table shakes with all their food and drink. Hobie and Miles have taken the slapping each others arms, as they cackle at Hobie, as Gwen has visible tears pouring down her face.

After being yelled at for being to loud and calming down, the group sits in a pleasant silence. Y/n sighed, yeah, today could've gone better for her, but in the end, she was thankful she had the kind of friends willing to embarass themselves to make her feel better. "Thank you, guys," Y/n mumbled out, a happy yet somber expression on her face, as they began to meander out of the cafe. "For tonight, and for . . . earlier."

"Aye, no problem, Y/n," Miles said, slipping an arm over her shoulder and looking into her eyes, a warm grin spread across his dimpled cheeks. "Any time." Pavitr gently stroked her knuckles with his thumb as he held her hand. The teens took off in the direction of Y/n's home, joking all the way. They saw her safely to her door.

Noticing the time, Gwen turned to Y/n and wrapped her arms tightly around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, I gotta get going," she saldy muttered as she squeezed Y/n. She pulled slightly from their embrace. "But I'll see you tomorrow?" Gwen stared into her face for confirmation, a playful smirk rising to her face as her cheeks heated up. "Bye Gwen, I'll see you tomorrow." Y/n felt her own cheeks grow warm, a little dismayed when Gwen fully pulled her arms from her.

Pavitr swallowed her form in his own muscular arms from behind, resting his cheek on her head. "I have to leave too," He groaned. Y/n giggled as he complained, a playfully sad look on his face. "I'll see you tomorrow too, Pav." Y/n laughed again as Hobie had to physically pull Pavitr away from her, before squeezing her shoulder himself and winking as he stepped through the portal.

Miles was the last to leave, he always was. He wanted to make sure Y/n was okay, having been no stranger to messing up himself. "You good?" Y/n sighed again, but this time it was filled with much less sorrow. She looked up at Miles and felt a warm smile rise to her lips. "I'm good Miles . . . Thank you. Really." Miles shrugged his shoulders as he beamed at Y/n before hugging her goodbye like the others. He lingered, just a bit, before letting his arms slip from her shoulders.

Miles stepped towards the portal, turning to grin at Y/n for the last time that night.

[szynkaaa]

Black Myth: Wukong Journal Entries Part 2

Part 1 talks about what happened to the monkeys from Mount Huaguo after SWK died

Part 2 will be about the bosses you fight in chapter 6 to get the Golden Suozi armor parts, I will be linking back to the fandom wiki for the full journal entries and some videos. I highly recommend reading the articles in full because it also talks about what kind of person Sun Wukong is/was.

Sun Wukong's armor were scattered around Mt. Huaguo and turned into creatures after he died.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in JTTW, a lot of things are drawn up from my own conclusion.

Long text so everything is under cut!

Gold Armored Rhino

SWK has a heart of gold, lungs of silver, head of copper and iron body from being in the Furnace for 40 days

Can still feep pain when injured though

was fed iron pellet and moletn copper by mountain deities and keepers when he was buried under Five-Element Mountain for 500 years

his monkeys didn't visit him :(

also headband curse so tight his head would resmeble a gourd ouch

Golden Armored Rhino mirrors the Great Sage's indomitable spirit, never yielding to defeat

"[...] Even if its horn was shattered, it never lost the resolve to charge into battle, standing resolute and read to fight anew.

In the game, you have to shatter his horn with heavy attacks in order to be able to do a lot of damage, but the horn grows back after few seconds, so it's rise and repeat. Also the location of the armor is littered with dead soldier bodies. After the fight ZBJ says that the bosses were killing the soldiers because the soldiers were trying to get the armor pieces. Dialogue starts at 4:22

Cloudtreading Deer

Sommersault Cloud made Wukong's body invulnerable and movement agile, but his lack of patience would lead to trouble

this whole paragraph: "Immortals often say that Sun Wukong was at his most mischievous and ruthless when he was the Monkey King. Yet, during that time, aside from his battles with the Celestial Court, he rarely harmed other beings. It was only after he became a disciple, following his master and gaining direction, that he developed many thunderous methods. Stealing, robbing, kidnapping, killing, arson, and destroying mountains and caves—all became second nature to him."

Cloudtreading Deer is transformed from his Lotus Silk Cloudtreaders (the things protecting his legs)

represents both sides of his nature: free-spirited and agile nature and his inherent ferocity

Cloudtreading Deer battle has two phases, the first one where it casts stupid tornados and also moves around very fast and through the sky. I fucking hated that phase LMFAO. Second phase was easier, but also spooky the boss turns into some blood deer and it's giving me massive bloodborne vibes. Transformation starts at 8:10 in the video. Basically, phase 1 is the free spirited and agile nature of wukong, and phase 2 is his ruthleness and ferocity

Feng-Tail General

Learned human manners and speech during his travels and when he studied Dao at Mt. Lingtai

"When he left in a huff at Yingchou Stream, the Old Loong King reasoned with him, and he returned to admit his mistakes. He abandoned arbitrary actions and always heeded sound advice." -> Before they met the White Dragon horse at the Yingchou stream, Tripitaka and SWK were ambushed by bandits, and SWK killed them all, to which Tripitaka was not happy about. They fought, SWK left. He then chats with the Old Loong King of the stream, who also told SWK that there was a White Dragon and his master might be in danger, so SWK goes back to Tripitaka. Also in his absence that's when Guanyin gave Tripitaka the headband to be put onto SWK

"He forged brotherly bonds with yaoguais, engaged in jest with immortals, and exchanged banter with Bodhisattvas. His amiable nature endeared him to all, who were ever willing to offer their assistance. He had a sense of decorum and propriety." -> not much for me to add there, he becomes sworn brothers with few yaoguai, like the Bull King or Erlang Shen

"He had the ability to summon wind and rain and could seek out loongs. He could transform into guais for scouting or borrow vessels when needed. In times of trouble, he sought the aid of higher beings, seldom relying on brute force."

-> truth lol, like the amount of times he had to get help from other deities to beat up an enemy and save his master

"This Feng-Tail General, with multiple eyes on his head, had a keen understanding of both himself and his enemies. He was adept at leaping and dodging, avoiding powerful foes whenever possible, and displayed a touch of the monkey's cleverness. It's no wonder that the crown on the monkey's head grasped his nimble thoughts so well."

This is the only boss you didn't have to fight, I saw it more as a stamina / health test to test your built lol. Basically what you have to do in the game is jump onto it's head and hold onto the antenna while the grasshopper is jumping three times, and then pull the antennas out while not getting burned. And yeah in the map he is just leaping and jumping around. Honestly not even sure if you can try to fight it, I didn't bother to find out.

Emeral-Armed Mantis

"Tang Monk often advocated for kindness, while Sun Wukong was known for his punishment of evil."

"At Kui-Mu Wolf's abode, upon learning of the princess's suffering and her reluctance to leave due to her feelings for the yaoguai and children bore for him, Sun Wukong ordered Bajie to throw the yaoguai's children from the height, reducing them to two lumps of flesh." -> Referencing the arc in ch. 38-31 in JTTW, the Yellow Robe Demon, also known as Kuimulang (will abbreviate as KML). KML is one of the 28 constellations, and he had a lover. in JTTW she was reincarnated as a princess, gets kidnapped by KML, married for 13 years and they have two kids. It's those two kids where SWK orders ZBJ to throw them off.

"At Old Yang's house, after learning of the unfilial deeds of the old couple's son and seeing how they indulged him for the sake of incense offerings, he proceeded to behead the son despite Old Yang's pleas." -> Ch. 52 in JTTW, screenshot taken from here

"Sun Wukong's nature was to show no mercy to villains and evildoers; he delighted in eradicating evils and yaoguais. The numerous blood debts on the journey to the West, though each had its reasons, were mostly attributed to the monkey.

The world knew of the other three pieces of armor, but they were unaware that the mantis was actually transformed from the Great Sage's gauntlet. It seems the gauntlet inherited the Great Sage's ruthlessness, for it played tricks on Zhu Bajie with the same cunning."

The last bit refers to when ZBJ was trying to catch the mantis but it jumped into his mouth down his throat into his stomach instead and the DO had to go inside his mouth to fight the mantis.

The first half of the battle is super easy imo but then after you cut down certain % of his HP, the mantis gets a lot more aggressive. While the mantis was inside ZBJ stomach, it is cutting on its wall, hence ZBJ is doubling over in pain. So I guess this refers to how ruthless SWK can be

[kaynanarie]

JourneyTober! Day 26 - Pillar

(Tiny spoiler warning for Black Myth Wukong)

            Since arriving at Mount Huaguo, the journey had continued at breakneck speed. Jen’s head was still reeling from the countless demons that confronted them on arrival. And all the changes their defeats had made of Monkey.

            First, a gilded rhino with a glowing horn adorned him in golden armor, extravagant and regal in its craft. Next, a flying deer of ice and poisoned blood left a pair of silk boots, the first shoes Jen had ever seen Monkey wear. Then a giant grasshopper that shook the earth with every bounce yielded a crown with two long, arching feathers perched its top. Last was a tiny mantis in a fight Jen did not witness but Bajie complained loudly about while it raged in his stomach. The bug’s defeat added a pair of ornate bracers, completing the armor in all its splendor.

            There was an authority to the ensemble, a power that Monkey effortlessly carried, like he was always meant to wear it. He looked every bit as royal and intimidating as the king he was sent to find. Jen couldn’t deny the enhanced appeal it gave his already handsome features but there was an apprehension to seeing him become so different so suddenly.

            While Bajie cheered and grinned proudly at every victory, Jen found herself more and more unsettled. A creeping dread grew in her chest with every piece added, with every part of Monkey slightly changed. It was like she was watching him slip away bit by bit until he wouldn’t be recognizable anymore. She still congratulated him when he looked her way, masking the anxiety behind a forced smile. If Monkey’s confused frown was anything to go by, he wasn’t buying her act.

            The trio had followed the path to the waterfall, a weaving labyrinth of open caverns and rocky alcoves at its base. There, glittering in the sunlight, was a towering pillar of iron and ornate gold, nearly as tall as the mountain itself.

            “Ah, here it is!” Bajie laughed, glancing up where the top pierced the sky above. “I knew it. Wukong is tightfisted, even Guanyin agrees so. He kept it here so it could be passed down to another one of his kind.”

            As if sensing Monkey’s approach, the pillar rumbled and slowly started to change, shrinking itself narrower and shorter until it was the size of an average fighting staff. Even in its smaller form, the pillar still radiated a power and weight that made Jen keep her distance.

            Bajie nodded, encouraging Monkey forward. “Now it’s time for you to try it, kid.”

            Slow and hesitant, his hand hovered the staff, carved words glowing under his careful touch. Gripping the iron firmly, he took a deep breath and pulled.

            The pillar resisted at first, refusing to budge in Monkey’s grasp. Around them, the very mountain began to thunder and quake. The ground shook underfoot, stones tumbled down from the rocky ledges, leaves and fruit rained down from trembling trees. Bajie struggled to stay upright while Jen dove for cover, tucked behind a fallen log as the power struggle continued.

            Finally, in a flash of golden sparks, the staff broke free. Monkey spun his newly acquired weapon, feeling the weight and balance in his confident hands. A final tremble rocked the cave and collapsed the far wall, revealing a hidden path deeper into the mountain.

            “Once you have this, there’s no turning back,” Bajie spoke with a mix of pride and resolve. “Now…you look exactly like Wukong.”

            The words sent a cold chill through Jen’s body. Properly armed and garbed with Sun Wukong’s fineries, there was no denying her monkey companion as the Destined One. For a moment, she did not recognize him, though, lost in the visage of the legendary Monkey King.

            Bajie’s praises continued, oblivious to Jen’s inner turmoil. “You’re all set, kid. You look like a fierce warrior!” The boar demon led the way through the collapsed wall, climbing his way up the pile of rubble. “Come with me! Let’s find out what that old monkey is up to.”

            As Bajie disappeared ahead, Monkey glanced around, noticing Jen’s figure still hidden behind the log. Before he could approach, she had scrambled to her feet, beelining in Bajie’s direction.

            “Are you okay?” Monkey asked, taking in her rushed stride and nervous behavior with concern.

            She only nodded, avoiding his probing stare. “I’m fine.” As she tried to hurry past him, a hand caught her arm, the grip careful but still firm in its halting intent.

            “Jen?” Monkey’s voice was questioning, chastising, and pleading all in one. The quiet desperation in it compelled Jen to reveal her worries if only to put him at ease.

            “It…looks good,” she said quietly, getting to see the armor up close. The gold designs were carefully crafted down to the tiniest detail; true artwork fit for a king. “You look very…different.”

            The meaning in her words seem to startle Monkey, his body still as realization set in. He sighed after a moment, a hand cradling her jaw and gentling tipping her face up towards his. The same dark eyes she’d come to love stared down at her, holding the same warmth and kindness in their depths.

            “It’s still me,” he assured her, thumb caressing her cheek. “That’s not going to change.”

            “Do you promise?” Jen whispered, gaze misting and throat suddenly choked with every fear she had swallowed. He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers with a soothing hum. The tender touch was enough to overflow her closed eyes, gentle fingers brushing the falling tears away.

            “I promise; I will never leave you.”

            A shaky breath passed Jen’s lips as she leaned into him, the anxiety draining away to weary relief. Monkey pulled her in a hug, warm and comforting despite the bulky armor. Underneath it all, he was still her Monkey; her companion, her friend. The one she traveled with and the one she fell in love with. Now, she could only hope he would keep his word and stay that way till the end.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------(Got a bit behind so I had to do two in one day. Tiny spoiler for Black Myth Wukong, gonna have more of those for the last few. Thanks for reading! Should have the next one up soon.)

[quitealotofsodapop]

Wukong, sitting on Nez Ha's shoulders as he screams in General Li Jing's face: YOU DAMN WELL BETTER FIND A DIFFERENT SOLUTION FOR THIS SHIT, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, AND ACT LIKE THE GENERLA YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AND NOT THE FUCKING COWARD YOU'RE ACTING LIKE NOW BECAUSE IF I HAVE TO FIGHT THAT STUPID RHINO PIECE IF SHIT IN SINGLE COMBAT IM COMING AFTER YOUR ASS!

General Ji Ling: Don't you dare call me a coward! Especially when you are the cowardly one in this situation to deny an honorable duel!

Wukong, even louder and more pissed off: IN WHAT WAY IS A HEAVILY PREGNANT PERSON NOT WANTING TO RISK THEIR GODDAMN BABY BY FIGHTING A GIANT RHINO DEMON A COWARDLY THING TO DO!? GET YOUR ASS OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING YOU SON OF A *INSERT BAD WORD*, BEFOFE I SHOW YOU HOW 'COWARDLY' THIS EXPECTANT MOTHER REALLY IS!!!

Needless to say, General Li Jing gets his shit together, and there's a new joke amongst the barracks

referencing this post.

I just love the imagery of Nezha holding Sun Wukong like that since, in Wukong's mind, Nezha's still a kid and it's reasonable that he's freaking out after getting his weapons taken away - he's a cub after all, no reason to yell at him for getting scared.

In the "open" Jttw Stone Egged au; Mac's just standing next to his mate with a proud shit-eating grin. Like "Heck yeah! My mate is so fierce and wise! Y'all can't measure up to him in a fist fight." He loves it when his mate goes off on celestials. <3

Mac eventually just sneaks in via the shadow under the cave door and kills the Rhino King in his sleep. Lao Tzu was disappointed/upset, Mac didn't care - hows it feel to have the fate of someone you care about in the hands of another, jerk?

It becomes a joke amongst the celestials that General Li Jing was shown up by a pair of mated monkeys (one pregnant) while unarmed. He glares at any soldier that dares make a comment about it.

Celestial Soldier: "So... arm wrestling competition. The General or the King?" Thunder Spirit: "The King definently. You saw how close he was to crapping himself when he got the pagoda taken away. Even in his current state, I bet Sun Wukong could fold him like origami." Fire Dragon: "Absolutely. Whilst me and my fellow dragons were captured by the Ring, the monkey was willing to confront the Rhino demon head on in battle whilst General Li coward." Macaque, on the ground miles below: *smiling and tail swishing proudly for his King*

Mac doesn't even bother rubbing it in that he succeeded where the armies of heaven failed. He's too happy that Wukong finally give the general a piece of his mind.

[little-cereal-draws]

I think Nimona can control electricity (to some extent)

Three times lightning/thunder cracks as she talks during the movie. It doesn't seem to be raining before or after these events and there's no more lighting except for on these important lines. The first time it happens is when she tells Ballister he's been unconscious for fifteen years, the second is when she yells "Don't call me a monster!" after he remembers the rhino, and the third is during the dance montage when she jump-scares him at the door as the Director. The third time we can clearly see outside and it's not raining. But what if that's just a really crazy coincidence that lightning strikes every time she, and only she, wants to emphasize something or push a joke? That doesn't mean she has electricity powers.

Well, before the climax, during the fight she has with Ballister over the scroll, she changes the color of the TV. The static on the TV is blue but as the conversation gets more intense, it changes to pink. At first it's just little flashes but once he's like "You know what you are" it gets bigger. As she gets angrier, her form gets bigger but also the static on the TV turns pink. Once he pulls his sword out, the whole screen is pink. As soon as Todd flashes the floodlight into the tower, she changes back to her normal human form and the TV goes back to blue.

I don't know if she's able to control it consciously or if it's more of a reaction to her emotions, but I think it's a bit of both. Idk how far she can take this (like could she control Bal's arm?) or if this power is somehow related to her shapeshifting that she just doesn't use as often, but does it really matter? She's Nimona and it's just smth she can do

[comfortmie]

Rhino and a mild snow

[loudn0isesart]

MY SON!!!!

Updated reference for my son!!! I was kinda trying to imitate the kung fu panda character concept art BUT HDHDHDHF it's more in my style I think lol. Anyway look at my son!!!!

[kimberlyannharts]

LAST TIME ON POWER RANGERS: Ranger Slayer got herself captured by Dark Specter's forces while saving Drakkon's ass. BUT Drakkon makes up for it by saving HER ass from Dark Specter's corruption. BUT, he died in the process. So that means Slayer now has to save everyone's ass. Again. Seriously, this is like the third event where Slayer has to save everyone.

it's Power Rangers Unlimited: The Morphin Masters!

= so Drakkon and Slayer training together is canon, okay cool, book over, I got what I need

= But moving on from that these panels specifically make me crazyyyyy because what do you mean Tommy and Kim together means "happy ending"? What do you mean referring to Kim as Tommy's guardian angel? What do you MEAN redrawing Drakkon's death scene as more intimate than it was in 116????????

= MY STUPID EX-HUSBAND DIED ON ME SO I HAVE TO GO ON THIS STUPID QUEST

= So something cool about these energy beasts - they're all tied to ranger powers! A yellow bear, a red lion and ape, a gold praying mantis, a white rhino, and an orange scorpion. Sure, the latter wasn't TECHNICALLY a ranger power, just a zord, but there's a point to the "the PR universe did have Kyurangers at some point" theorists

= I just like this panel because it's silly. she's got the zoomies

= Slayer continuing to win the idgaf war against literal deities

= and then they founded an animation studio that gave us the Minions. so unfortunately they gotta go

= but in seriousness, I guess this is how we're going to rationalize how the MMs were portrayed in Beyond the Grid versus how they were portrayed in Power Rangers Universe - the BtG guys were a couple specific higher-power ones. It's fine, I guess. I'm still not a fan of the idea of an entire civilization just calling themselves Morphin Masters, though. Just make.....THESE GUYS the Morphin Masters. Why are they ALL the Morphin Masters??????? Now we have to establish a SUB-SECTION of the Morphin Masters!!!!!!!!!

= Slayer holding Drakkon and his death in high regard like this.......god. god.

= oh hi Blue really cool to see you again hope you don't die in the next few pages

= oh well never mind. Guess we're never going to find out why they came back to life, which was their reason for going into the Grid in the first place, huh

= I do like how we're going back to referring to Blue with they/them pronouns. I guess in hindsight we really were just misgendering them for years. awesome

= I'm glad we're fully acknowledging all the shit Slayer has gone through but I will admit my immediate reaction to the "it was fire" line was "she would not fucking say that". Maybe as a teen, sure. But NOW?

Pink: follow me to the orifice

Slayer: .....the ORIFICE?

= oh hey guys, how have you been since you got retconned into existence and therefore have accomplished nothing in the main series

= I know this is supposed to be a whole thing of "ohhhh these guys think they're free but they're still being controlled yada yada" but at the same time as someone who hated the Emissary retcon and wishes that we could have gotten more from the characters as they were before........them being angry over losing what they had is very very good and I wish it wasn't done through "evil corruption magic." It was good with corrupted Slayer because they dedicated an entire issue to it and FREED HER at the end, allowing more time and space for development; here it's just a quick fight scene and in the case of Blue, followed up with death. And slight spoilers here, even if they don't die here, the way the Emissaries have been dropping like flies doesn't give me much hope for their survival if they show up in the main series

= I wonder if this is a reference to how in an early draft for the Ranger Slayer one-shot, the Bow of Darkness was going to be broken in half by Zombie Rita and Slayer would have used it as dual swords. Either way it's fucking cool

= also while the inclusion of Dino Thunder as one of Pink's forms is a simple mistake, it takes me back to those old DT AU fics where Kim became DT Pink. They're canon now guys, no takebacks!

= So turns out the "Illumination" are just a bunch of senile grandpas. Yeah, that's.............the big revelation for where the Morphin Masters have been. ok

= Now let me just say for this story, the Morphin Masters being useless is a fine decision, for the same reason why the Morphin Masters were useless in Dino/Cosmic Fury - you can't have these overpowered god figures show up and fix everything with a wave of their hand. This applies to every story ever - the god-like figure is captured, or dead, or simply doesn't care enough to interfere. It's a very basic and logical choice for a narrative in order for our actual grounded protagonists to be the heroes.

HOWEVER. It's another instance of Boom hyping up these kinds of storylines as groundbreaking revelations of PR's mythos for years just for the actual reveal to be kind of a letdown. Phantom Ranger's identity. Dark Specter being a major villain. The Squadron Rangers. And now the Morphin Masters' current status. All hyped-up concepts that either get rushed or end up secondary to other concepts, and in the end, don't feel like they matter. It's getting to be a bit tiresome, and I'm saying that as someone who doesn't hold PR lore high on her list of reasons I enjoy the franchise in the first place. And it doesn't help here that, as I've said before, it just feels more like a way to stretch out this event to fill its year-long timeframe. By the end of this book, nothing was accomplished except two more Emissaries are dead (not that they did anything before this) and I guess Green and Black will eventually join the fight, so what was the point of it all. Slayer never really believed the Morphin Masters would help them anyway, so it's not like she changed by the end either - Pink was the only one who really developed as a character, and, well......

= Pink quick eat an imaginary Snickers you're not you when you're hungry

= this is the third person Slayer has killed in two books. she's so good at her job

= also you may have noticed that we've killed two Emissaries and they're not turning to stone nor having a giant spider boi burst out of their bodies. It's soooooooooooo cool how that entire story arc meant nothing in the long run

= ugh yes queen swear off religion just like that

= also at this point Drakkon has wielded the power of a Morphin Master and Slayer was offered the position of one. What I'm getting at here is Tomberly are indeed divine figures

[thetempleofthemasaigoddess]

Hunted by a sunless city that never sleeps (part 4)

Dracule Mihawk x werewolf!reader. NSFW!!!

This fic is part of the Beast in Black series.

This is part four of five. This fic is dedicated to @alphaash99. Kuraigana Island is Mihawk's home in the manga/anime.

Shanks being in a relationship with his crew's doctor is an allusion to this headcanon list and then to this fic, even though they take place in a different continuity.

*****

It is a thunder that awakes Mihawk, the loudest since the fury of the elements has been unleashed on Kuraigana Island, sign of a lightning that must have struck the ground just outside the castle; he opens his eyes, already alert even though he is instinctively aware he is not in danger, and after a moment he sighs, since not even the world's strongest swordsman can control the weather even though that persistent storm is seriously starting to annoy him.

He turns on his side in the dark room, reaching out to take your warm body in his arms and keep you close until he falls asleep... and a moment later he stops dead.

Because once more, the other half of the bed is empty and you are not there, and for Mihawk that fact is not simply a little disappointing (he has grown to like falling asleep with you close, like a child with his favourite teddy bear; it is vaguely embarrassing, but after all there are no witnesses to his little guilty pleasure) or disconcerting (where could you have gone, in the middle of the night? Maybe to relive yourself? Or to take a snack from the kitchen, since you skipped dinner?)... That night, of all the nights, it is terrifying.

Mihawk curses under his breath - a much rarer occurrance than a full moon; how could he be so stupid? He had perceived you were scared for what was about to happen, and that he needed to keep an eye on you, until dawn if needed, but the vigorous sex you had dragged him in (Gods, intimacy was always good and intense between the two of you, but that had been the best fuck of his life, no doubt about it) had put him to sleep without him even realizing, giving you the chance to slip away.

Where are you? Is it already too late? Mihawk's fear is only partially assuaged when, resting his hand on the other half of the mattress, he perceives a trace of your body warmth, which means you must have just left. He quickly stands, grabbing his lounging robe off the back of a chair, and quickly puts it on as he strides out of the room.

"(name)!" he calls out as he crosses the empty corridor "(name), where are you?! Dammit, woman... answer me!"

In the end he finds you, as you try and scuttle along towards the least used wing of the castle; he grabs you by the wrist, resisting when you desperately try to free yourself. You are also wearing a night gown, and when he sees you shiver your lover knows it is not because of the cold.

"Let me go."

"(name), you're going to be fine, let me help you..."

"You can't help me!" you cry, frustrated "No one can; and yes, I'm going to be fine, as long as you leave me alone and I can find a room with a door sturdy enough to withstand the charge of an angry rhino. You... you don't understand; you are in danger, you need to get as far away as you can..."

"I know." he interrupts you, relaxing his grip on your wrist just enough so he's not hurting you, still making sure you cannot escape "I know everything, (name)."

You blink. "What...?"

"I know you are a werewolf. And that you are going to change tonight."

That is the precise moment the storm surrounding the castle and the whole island finally subsides; the rain stops falling, and the cold gale that had already uprooted more than one tree eases in a gentle breeze. You notice nothing of it, though, and not just because your eyes are focused on Mihawk and not on the view out of the window; a bomb could explode in the corridor, and you would ignore it all the same.

For a whole minute you are physically unable to talk, mouth hanging open and your legs that for a moment threaten to collapse under you; you know you are awake, but the statement you have just heard is so unexpected, so utterly absurd, you would easily believe you are dreaming, because... because...

"How." you say in the end, without even making it sound like a question.

"I have a friend who is a werewolf; he told me for your kind shifting into wolf form is usually deliberate, unless one is very young and has yet to learn to control it, or in case of a strong emotion... or during the plenilune, when the influence of the moon is too strong to resist. When you told me you necessarily had to be on your island on full moon nights, without exception, I realized it had to be because that is the only place where you can transform in complete safety. Also, there was your flask."

"My... flask?" you repeat numbly, a moment before realizing "Oh..."

"I... must admit, I was curious to know why you always kept it with you, and kept drinking from it in secret; I feared it was a medicine, and you hadn't told me you were sick in order not to make me worry. So, about one year ago, I waited for you to be busy with training and took it from your bag; I recognized the smell of monkshood, and my friend told me werewolves drink it in order to control the transformation in the days before the full moon, when it is already harder for some of them to keep it at bay."

Mihawk looks expectantly at you, but you are still unsure how to react; there is no one in the whole world you are closer to, except your mother, and you know he is an honourable man who sincerely cares about you, but knowing that he, a foreigner, a human, is aware of your secret is nonetheless terrifying, something you have been taught to avoid at all cost ever since you were a baby.

Also, for the first time since you first met, you are angry - and hurt. The truth is, you don't even need the concoction the island's herbalist prepares for you, since you have never had troubles controlling your shifting (except obviously during the full moon, when you simply can't help it) but you drink it nonetheless when you meet your lover, at his home or elsewhere, just to be sure. And now, you find you, it was because of that very abundance of caution that Mihawk discovered what you are...

"You shouldn't have gone through my things, even if out of worry for my health." you point out, your arms folded on your chest "I wouldn't have expected that of you."

"You're right." he admits; Mihawk looks sincerely remorseful "I was wrong to do it, whatever the reason. I am sorry, (name)."

You wonder whether you are the first person to hear him apologize since he was still child; you sigh, appreciating his repentance even though it can't make him magically forget what he knows... and has known for a year already.

Why didn't you tell me?, you would like to ask, and maybe you will, once you have the time.

"If you know what is happening, you will understand it is not safe for you to be near me." you softly point out, intimately aware of how fast your time is running out; you are shivering, feeling the wolf raising her head inside you "I'm serious, Mihawk; I... I cannot control it. I hoped getting drunk would help, make her ill enough to render her harmless, but I woke up and I was fine."

Your lover takes a step towards you. "I am not afraid of you."

"But you should be. Normally we are not dangerous, but if we are alone when we shift... there is something in the solitude that upsets the wolf and makes controlling their instincts much harder."

Another step. He is now close enough your wolf can smell him, and her reaction, that you can feel burning inside you, separate from your rational mind but somehow linked to it, is somehow blurred... familiarity and fear meshed together, as if she couldn't help feeling a pull towards him, and at the same time her instincts told her to attack. Part of you would wish nothing more than to embrace him, and share with him that part of your life you have been taught to keep secret whatever the cost; the other feels the irresistible instinct to run as far from your lover as you can, to keep him safe... and sparing yourself the need to witness his reaction.

"Mihawk, please..." you murmur; you have never liked begging (unless you are doing it in an -ehm- intimate setting) but this is what you are doing now, you are imploring him, ready to throw yourself at his feet to make him reason "You don't understand. I know how powerful you are, but... have you ever fought a werewolf?"

"Never."

"And you never should. This is the first time in my life I shift away from my island, away from my people; there is nothing more dangerous than a lone wolf, because they can't feel the calming presence of their pack and den. I can't guarantee I won't lose control, and if I do, I could hurt you."

Mihawk nods, as if accepting your explaination, but your relief lasts only for a moment before he steps even closer, and takes both of your hands in his to kiss them. "You know what I feel for you." he murmurs "I understand why you kept this matter secret from me, but I want to be part of your life, even of the scariest, hardest aspects of it. Don't hide for me, please, because from you I never have."

Your skin has started itching, a tell-tale sign of the wolf's fur about to spur and cover it, but you barely notice, only aware of the tears filling your eyes, and of the hands holding yours.

"If I hurt you I will never forgive myself."

"I have been wounded before. I will heal."

"Not if the wolf bites your head off; and if I wound your arm, I could make it impossible for you to use a sword properly, and we both know that would be a fate worse than death. Also..."

You bit your lip, because telling him you were in love with him was easy, not last because you had come to suspect he felt the same, but this confession is immensely harder, because you have no idea how he could react. "Also, I don't want you to fear me." you admit in the end, your voice barely raising above a whisper "I know how brave and strong you are, but... what if you decide I'm not worth it? What if you decide you better stay away, and save yourself the trouble? What if you simply can't look at me the way you did before?"

"(name)..."

Mihawk sighs; he doesn't tell you, but hearing you express your fears has made him even more determined to witness your shifting, to prove that nothing in the world, not even a God descended from the heavens to order him, could ever make him fear you, or make him look at you differently. "I have known the truth for more than a year." he gently points out "Have you ever had the impression I was treating you differently, or that I cared you less than before?"

"... no. Never. But..."

"But nothing, (name). I am not afraid of you; and whatever danger you might pose, I can face it. Now, where were you going?"

You tell him that, when you had awoken suddenly and felt the moon's call, you had decided to lock yourself up in a room at the top of one of the castle's tower, whose heavy doors (whose key you would have by then already tossed out of a window) would hopefully stop the wolf from escaping, keeping her prisoner until dawn.

"And how did you intend to leave the room without the key, once you had shifted back to your human form?"

"I... hadn't decided. I thought I could call until you heard me, and then I would find a way to explain it."

Mihawk smirks, clearly amused by your half-cooked plan. "Well, you have no more need to lie or pretend; I'm here, and I won't let you face the shifting alone."

He is so determined, so uncompromisingly sure of his convinction, you easily see it would be impossible to change his mind, even if you had time to plead your case - which you don't.

"Then you have to do something for me." you tell him, still holding his hand in yours "Let's go back to take Yoru, and my derringer."

"No, (name)."

"Yes, Mihawk. Please, we need to hurry, I have very little time left; don't make this even harder than it already is."

You sound desperate and you know it, but fortunately it works, and your lover accompanies you back to the master bedroom, where you both retrieve your favourite weapon.

"You should start spending every plenilune here." Mihawk mentions, which flabbergasts you.

"Why on earth should I do something like that? I just told you how dangerous it is, what...?"

Your question is answered even before you can fully utter it, when Mihawk glances meaningfully at the unmade bed next to you, and then smirks. "If that is the effect the shifting has on you, I'll be disappointed a full moon doesn't happen every night." he points out, perfectly serious; he balances Yoru against his shoulder, and brushes the fingers of his free hand against your lips "Is this a side effect of your wolf side getting the better of you?"

You smirk, flattered despite the fear and guilt. "Most people do mate during the plenilune, or have sex with their human partners soon after shifting back; it is said the full moon has an aphrodisiac effect, and wolves know no shame about their bodies or desires."

"Hmm, all the better for me then..."

Your conversation has to be cut short, given you can feel the need to shift more and more urgent with any passing moment; you retrieve your derringer from its holster, and follow Mihawk out of the bedroom. Two minutes later, you have both reached the room you had chosen, completely devoid of furniture and other things you could destroy while in wolf form, since they are not exactly indoor animals; you doubt your lover would have the time to slip outside and lock you in, but you make sure he has the key, and then offer him the butt of your gun, to wield together with Yoru.

"I have no silver bullets at hand, and I know you have no particular experience with guns, but if I were to attack you, aim for my heart. I'm serious, Mihawk." you add, seeing your lover is once more ready to argue "I cannot guarantee I'll be able to control myself since I'm alone, and away from my island for the first time. If I were to shift back, and realize I have killed you, I... I don't know what I would do. Please."

Your lover, while clearly unhappy, does take the gun from your hand. "Is your mother a werewolf as well?" he asks, curious.

"She is. Shifting is passed through blood, and since most people on my island intermarry, there is actually more than a fifty percent chance of any child being born a werewolf, and even more if both parents have the wolf-blood themselves. Everyone in my maternal family has it, so I would probably also pass it to my children, if I were to... well..."

He doesn't need to ask you to finish the sentence, since you told him about your inability to have children, and the dramatic reason behind it, on your first night together. He was clearly sympathetic, but he never told you whether that disappointed him, whether he ever thought about having children with you; and you never had the courage to ask.

"Anyway, I think I'm ready." you are quick to add; what is the point of lingering on what could never be? You ask Mihawk to keep his distance from you once you have begun shifting, and then you take his face in your hands, kissing him deeply "I love you." you murmur; you have been aware of that for a long time, much longer than you have been able to tell him, but suddenly it is as if your heart were overflowing with affection and desire, now that you feel so in danger of losing him "Please, if you do care about me, look after yourself."

"I am not afraid of you, (name)."

"That is exactly what worries me..."

You sigh, aware you have done everything you could to protect him, but unable to feel any consolation about the fact. Silence has fallen in the room; the whole island appears to stand still around you, a calm after the storm heavy with anticipation; alone at the centre of the room, you sigh, aware you have neither the strength nor a reason to linger anymore, and disrobe, leaving your gown in a corner of the floor. Mihawk follows your every movement, both anxious and fascinated; he has never seen anything as enchanting as your naked body bathed by the pale moonlight, and he will tell you, he promises himself, as soon as he can.

You smile at him, still worried but intimately grateful for his presence in a moment no wolf should ever face alone, and then your gaze is irresistibly drawn to the large ogive window in front of you... and to the shining full moon by now fully risen in the blue-black sky. It is a breath-taking scene, still now that you are an adult who has shifted hundreds of times; the pale light falls on you, and you smile, closing your eyes to better savour its caress on your naked skin...

And then it happens, as fierce and brutal as a bullet in your stomach and at the same time unspeakably pleasurable, as if something hidden inside you had been finally set free after a lifetime of captivity. As a young girl you have heard an older cousin mention the moon's call feels not unlike a powerful orgasm, and at the time you were way too young to understand that comparison, but now you know she was right... and how lucky you are, to be able to experience both regularly in your life.

Still with your eyes closed, you feel the transformation begin, the wolf inside you taking over your human rationality; soft fur, the same colour as your hair, covers your body, while a familiar but still peculiar sensation just above your buttocks reveals you have just grown a tail - long, fluffy, useful to balance you as you run or move over uneven ground, communicate with your pack-mates, and keep you warm in winter. Knowing your legs will not support you for much longer, you get down on your knees, arching your back as you feel your bones change shape to adapt to a quadruped walk. Wolves have twenty-four ribs, just like humans, but the shape of their skeleton is completely different, and the most painful part of the shifting is feeling the bones of your face elongate in a muzzle: your jaw becomes wider, your regular but innocuous teeth grow into fangs... and your ears move higher on your head, taking a triangular shape.

As usual, what makes you realize you are by now more wolf than woman are your senses. Your eyes can no longer see colours, the world having taken a blue-yellow hue that makes it hard, sometimes, to recognize shapes and objects; your sense of smell, on the other hand, is much more powerful, allowing you to perceive the presence of a rabbit at thirty paces from you, or the rain in the air after a storm... or the delicious chocolate cake the cook has prepared in the afternoon to celebrate a birthday on the next day. In wolf form you can't eat or drink what your human self can and even enjoys, while you appreciate raw meat... especially from a prey you have fallen yourself.

In less than two minutes, the shift is complete; you open your jaws, tasting the smell of dust on your tongue, and then throw your head back, vocalizing a long, triumphant howl that spreads in the night all around you, a serenade to the moon in thanks for the gifts she has conceded you once more. As the piercing note resonates in the night, you lift your ears, waiting for the wolves nearby to answer your call, so that you can find each other and reunite the pack.

But no one answers. You howl again, and a third time, still with no results, which immediately puts you on edge. Where is everyone? It is already unusual no one is in the room with you, since most families and groups of friends tend to gather together to spend the plenilune together, and your den (that is, the fortress where you were born, the largest building on your island, where your family has resided for centuries) is always full of wolves, members of your pack or friends who came to celebrate the moon's gift together.

Not this time; this time, you realize as you stand on your four legs, stretch your muscles and look all around you, you are all alone - which is the worst situation possible for a wolf to be in, despite the comforting presence of the moon that you can see through an opening (the wolf doesn't have the concept of window, just like she doesn't know what a ship is, or a gun, or anything man-made in nature) in the stone wall above you. Where is everyone? Did no one came? Or did the pack decide to meet somewhere else, and no one told you? Where is your mother?, you wonder as anxiety starts mounting inside you; where has she gone? She would never leave you alone. On every single plenilune of your life, ever since you were a tiny wolfnik barely out of her womb, she has always been close to you, her familiar and beloved face has been the first you saw after opening your glowing yellow eyes; even now that you are an adult, the future alpha of the great pack, and don't need guidance or protection anymore, you are still used to have her next to you. You need to have her next to you, or at the very least, you need to know she is safe, that no accident has occurred her and no larger animal has made her their prey.

Something very strange is happening, something new that you cannot comprehend, and that makes you nervous, your fur standing on end while a low growl escapes your jaws. Where are you? This is not your den, nor any place you have ever seen on the sea-surrounded land your pack inhabits; it is a large but stone-enclosed place, completely empty and smelling of old, as if no one had inhabited it for many moons. The dust in the air makes your nose itch; you can see no exit and the three openings, out of one of which you have seen the moon, are too high for you to jump to them. How did you come to this place? Who brought you, and only you, here? Have you been kidnapped? Perhaps someone wants to hurt you? If so, they will soon discover they have bitten more than they can chew...

You are, of course, perfectly safe, and simply victim of what your people calls the loner's (or traveller's; you are unfortunately suffering from both of them at the same time) confusion. The plenilune ritual is not simply a physiological obligation, a need you can't fight and might as well satisfy in the comfort of your own home, but also a spiritual experience, an occasion to honour your origins and seek communion with nature and your own kin; it is a time for celebration, for strengthening the bonds of family and friendship, and to leave behind the rationality and rules of human life, the need for order and law and prudishness, to simply feel, and enjoy, and be. Also, wolves are a territorial, social species, more at ease in their own home than in the vast world outside, and surrounded by the people they love and trust than on their own; which is also why most of your people prefer experiencing the shift at home, beyond the natural need for safety and secrecy, and and surrounded by family and friends.

This has never been truer for anyone than for you, who have spent every single plenilune of your life in your fortress, the place were you were born and have always lived, with your mother by your side and your loved ones surrounding you; those elements are as inextricably part of the ritual as the shifting itself, so much you couldn't imagine it without them... which in turn means that finding yourself in wolf form, alone and in a place you don't know, is completely unexpected, as well as scary. In theory, you should be able to make sense of that state of affairs; even in wolf form you are not a mindless creature, unable to reason and remember your life as a bipedal being, and you had hoped that, once shifted, you would remember that the storm had forbidden you from returning home in time for the ritual, and that you were in your lover's home, away from yours but safe and taken care of.

You don't. Perhaps because it is your first time, or simply because the anxiety and fear of the last hours made it easier for the wolf's instincts to take over, thinking rationally and interpreting the new, unexpected situation around you has never been so hard, and after a minute of confusion, the wolf decides she doesn't like not knowing where she is, and what has happened to the rest of her pack - at all.

A moment later, she realizes she is not alone.

[nailsofvecna]

The thundering charge of the giant rhino is, without doubt, one of nature's most terrifying sights. Being too tough for ordinary humans to hunt, the only check on their population numbers tends to be gargantuan monsters such as dragons and sphinxes. Hence, regions populated by giant rhinoceros tend to be monster-filled badlands, inhospitable to human settlement, and few people ever have the opportunity to encounter these incredible animals.