#anyway so guys have you heard that umm this magic keeps me alive but it's making me crazy and I have to save you but who's going to save me

[judicent]

He's a sad, sad man and he's my icon on discord

[ga-yuu]

~Kurama~Dramatic END~

Warning!!! Sexual content below because.....Yes! You guessed it right! Kurama just needs a reason to touch her,

Chapter 26

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*

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--------Part 1--------

A few days after Kurama's declaration to learn how to be romantic....

Kurama: "So this hot springs, huh?"

Yoshino(blushing): "Kurama! Your wings! Cover your wings!"

Kurama: "It's alright, no one's here."

Kurama, stretching his wings comfortably in the warm water, says back to me.

(I never thought I'd end up in hot springs with Kurama.)

I hid my body with a body towel in the murky white water.

Then I started thinking about what happened earlier today.

------FLASHBACK-----

Yoichi: "Huh? You wanna be romantic?"

Kurama: "Yeah. What exactly do you do when you fall in love?"

Kurama asks a sudden question as soon as he enters Yoichi-san's room.

Yoichi: "Hmm...it depends on each individual."

(That's right.)

Kurama: "Give me a proper answer or die."

Yoichi: "Scary~"

Yoshino: "Kurama! Don't threaten people..."

Yoichi: "Hehe...It's really unbelievable to see Kurama asking for others' opinions. I don't know what kind of sorcery is this. But don't worry, I'll give you some tips and tricks."

(You're so reliable!)

Kurama: "Then spit it out."

Yoshino: "Kurama!"

Yoichi: "Relax Yoshino. I'm used to it."

Waving his hand in a relaxed expression, Yoichi-san continued to speak.

Yoichi: "How about a short trip? You had a hard time on the battlefield, right? A short trip will help you guys stretch your wings and relax. Start from there."

Kurama: "Is that how all relationships start?"

Hehe....Kurama's cold stare is incredibly cute. Even Yoichi-san is giggling.

Kurama: "I don't see how being in a different place is going to change anything."

Yoichi: "You are a very unemotional person, Kurama. You see, when you fall in love, you'll feel the world around you changing. You'll start feeling different and sometimes end up doing things you don’t usually do."

Yoshino: "....I think I understand what you mean."

Kurama: "You do?"

Yoichi-san nods in agreement as Kurama watched us cluelessly.

Yoichi: "You'll get to know each other better if you go to a hot spring. I know a nice hot spring that you can go to on a day trip. I hope that will help."

------FLASHBACK ENDS------

Kurama: "But I don't see what's the point of bathing in hot springs. If all you want to do is soak in water, then we can do it in an ordinary river too, right?"

Yoshino: "Wow! Your feathers are falling off..."

He stood up and flapped his wings, sending a huge splash from his black wings.

(Speaking of bathing in a river, when I met Kurama again in Kamakura....he was bathing in a river.)

The memories of that time are vivid in my mind.

------FLASHBACK------

Kurama: “—-What an ‘unpleasant surprise. Who gave you the permission to be in my sight?”

-----FLASHBACK ENDS-----

(I thought you were going to kill me that time....)

Same as that time, I looked away from Kurama's admiringly well-formed body as much as possible....

Kurama: "Why are you spacing out?"

Yoshino: "....!?"

He grabs me by the arm and pulls me up, exposing my body under the sunlight.

Yoshino(blushing): "....What are you doing?"

Kurama: "I don't want to go on like this. You have to teach me how to enjoy the hot springs."

Kurama said, paying no attention to my embarrassment.

(Come on now....!)

(It's no use trying to teach Kurama about the concept of ‘shame’. If this happens...)

Yoshino(blushing): "Soak your shoulders for now."

Kurama: "Like this."

Holding me in his arms, Kurama dips into the hot water...

(Good. Now my body is hidden.)

Yoshino(blushing): "Now keep counting slowly till 100."

Kurama: "That's too much."

Yoshino(blushing): "You have to soak slowly to get warm to the core."

Kurama: "All right."

Surprisingly straightforward in his reply, Kurama hugged me from behind.

(!!!!)

Yoshino(blushing): "W-What is this position?"

Kurama: "You didn't specify how to sit while taking a dip."

I tried to resist, but he held me tightly and his hot breath hit the nape of my neck, making me lose my strength.

Yoshino(blushing): "....Don't talk."

Kurama(evil smile): "Don't you want me to count?"

------Part 2-------

Yoshino(blushing): "....Don't talk."

Kurama(evil smile): "Don't you want me to count?"

Kurama’s voice contained a horrifying and dangerous sweetness.

Kurama: “1..2..3....”

(Ah..)

One of Kurama’s free hands slides over my skin under the hot water.

Yoshino(blushing): "...What...are you...?”

Kurama: “What’s wrong?”

Yoshino(blushing): “Mmm..mm....”

(His hands are going in all directions...not good...)

I felt a sweet numbness at the touch of his hand crawling across my breasts.

Kurama: “I’ll continue. 4..5..6....”

Yoshino(blushing): “Haa....ahh....wai..ahh...”

My skin was softened by the hot water and his fingers played with my pink nipples casually.

Kurama: “7..8..9...”

(No....more....)

Yoshino(blushing): “D-Don’t...do...in...outside like...ahhh....”

Kurama: “10.”

Yoshino(blushing): “Ahh...”

Suddenly a finger moves down between my legs out of nowhere and my body jumped.

Yoshino(blushing): “Nnn....ah....”

Kurama: “I see. The warmed body responds better. Plus...you don’t have anything to cover. So I can touch you as much as I like.”

Yoshino(blushing): “This...is not...have you enjoy the hot springs....”

(I’m pretty sure he knows what he’s doing....)

Kurama: “Keep enduring it, till I reach 100.”

Our tightly pressed bodies and his lips on my neck make me go crazy.

Yoshino(blushing): “Mm...hot....”

Kurama: “Do want me to stop? Tell me if you want to get out of water.”

Yoshino(blushing): “Ahh...too bright....”

Kurama: “You’re so selfish.”

(I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THAT ESPECIALLY FROM KURAMA!!!!!)

Kurama: “Yoshino, it’s annoying. You count from where I stopped.”

(Sure! I’ll count quickly and get out of this humiliation...)

Yoshino(blushing): “11-12-13-14-15-ahhh.....”

Kurama(evil smile): “Count properly, or you’ll have to start from the beginning.”

I trembled as I felt his hot tongue over my earlobe.

Yoshino(blushing): “Because....Kurama gets in the...way....Mmm....”

Kurama(evil smile): “I’m just enjoying the hot spring...or more accurately, I’m enjoying soaking in the hot springs with you.”

(...This is terrible....can’t count...like this...)

Kurama: “Keep counting.”

Yoshino(blushing): “Mmm...14...”

I reflexively obeyed his orders which were given in a low voice.

Kurama lifted one end of his lips when he saw that....

.................

(I’m totally flushed....)

Kurama: “I had a nice bath for the first time in a long time. I completely understood the benefits of hot springs.”

As we walk through the flowery field near the hot springs, I glared at Kurama with my red cheeks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Oh yeah...

2. I couldn’t enjoy it..(+4/+4)

3. Good for you...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yoshino(blushing): “Too bad, I couldn’t enjoy it....”

Kurama: “Stop complaining. I treated you well enough. You were so exhausted, that I had to carry you all the way to my room. Be grateful.”

Yoshino(blushing): “Yeah. And WHO made me tired?”

Kurama: “It was me.”

It was so refreshing to hear someone saying that without taking any offense.

(At the end of the day, I couldn’t fight back because of his straightforwardness.)

Kurama: “I heard that the cold weather makes humans sick. Let’s go back now.”

When Kurama takes my hand....

Yoshino: “Hm?’

Kurama: “....?”

(I wonder if that person crouching in front of the bushes is a visitor of the hot springs too.)

(But he looks familiar...)

Kurama: “....! That’s!”

Ibuki: “Hm?”

Yoshino: “Ibuki!”

(No way!?)

When he turned to look at me, all at once blood drained from my face and I backed away.

Kurama: “-----Why are you still alive? Well, who cares? Let’s continue from where we left off, Ibuki.”

Kurama looked at Ibuki with an icy cold look.

Ibuki: “Shut up, Kurama. You’ll wake the kitten.”

(Hm, kitten?)

Kurama: “...........”

Kurama obediently kept quiet and looked at Ibuki’s hands with a disinterested face.

A white fluffy kitten was sleeping comfortably in there.

Yoshino: “Umm......?”

Kurama: “Don’t ask, Yoshino. It reminded me of one of this man’s incomprehensible tastes. He-----has a strange obsession with cats.”

Ibuki: “What’s so hard to understand? They’re the cutest thing in the world.”

Despite his complaint, his palm was moving back and forth across the kitten’s back lovingly.

(That was unexpected!!)

Kurama: “Still, die.”

--------Part 3-------

Kurama: “Still, die.”

Yoshino: “Wait! Not here....”

I felt the wind around us start to blow unnaturally and hurriedly grabbed Kurama’s arm, which reluctantly stopped moving.

Ibuki: “You have a woman with you now, Kurama. Learn to settle things through talking than using violence as a solution for everything.”

Kurama: “All right. Would like to have a blood bath or be completely mutilated?”

(This is not how you do it!)

Yoshino: “I think you need to calm down....Ibuki doesn’t seem to be in a mood to fight, right?”

Ibuki: “You’re right. After that war, I lost a lot of my magic power. Thank you, Kurama.”

Kurama: “You deserved it anyway. And  you, Yoshino, why are you talking to a man who tried to slaughter you?”

(You’re right, but....)

Yoshino: “I’m curious about Ibuki too....”

Kurama: “Ha?”

Ibuki: “....Ohh.”

Then Kurama glares at Ibuki.

(Oh, I know now!)

Yoshino: “I think it’s because he’s similar to Kurama.”

Kurama: “I and him are SAME!>”

Ibuki: “How are we similar?”

(Hmmmm.....)

Yoshino: “------I think it’s the aesthetics of it, even though it looks like  it’s driven by crazy logic.”

......It was just after I was captured by Ibuki and subjected to Yasuchika-san’s manipulation spell.

-------FLASHBACK------

Ibuki: “You must be in a lot of pain, but you’re strong. I like you. I can’t wait to see your face when you cry.”

Yoshino: “I….will never despair in your presence.”

Ibuki: “What?”

Yoshino: “I will prove to you the strength of humans that I believe in.”

Ibuki: “……………… Interesting. Then let’s play that game. Show me what you’re really made of.”

------FLASHBACK END-----

(Yes, when I saw Ibuki’s eyes at that moment...for some reason I felt like it resembled Kurama.)

Yoshino: “I still can’t forgive you for what you made me do. But I also think that somehow I accepted his way of life because he and Kurama came into contact with each other’s values on the very edge like that.”

(So maybe that’s why I couldn’t really hate Ibuki.)

Kurama: “..........”

Ibuki, who had been listening with his mouth agape, muttered quietly.

Ibuki: “----You’re a woman with good instincts. No wonder you won Kurama’s heart.”

(Eh?)

Yoshino: “What?”

Ibuki: “Nothing.”

Then a soft smile came across Ibuki’s lips.

Ibuki: “I shouldn’t have given you to Kurama. I should have noticed you earlier on and have played with you instead.”

(Ibuki....?)

His voice was calm and clear, with a hint of emotion.

When I was standing there confused-----

Kurama: “It’s unpleasant to see you imagine an impossible future.”

(Wow)

As if to break Ibuki’s gaze, Kurama hides me behind his back.

Ibuki: “I’m possessive too, just like you.”

Kurama: “I’ll pull out that tongue of yours if you say one more time that we’re similar.”

Ibuki: “Oh dear, why do you want to deny the similarities between us, Kurama? I’ve had so much fun raising you, don’t you know?”

Kurama: “More of the same nonsense.”

Ibuki: “I’m serious. I wouldn’t have carried around cute little boy like you for all those years.”

Ibuki giggled as he reminisced about the old days.

Ibuki: “Seeing you again at the battle that night, reminded me of our first meeting.”

(I’m sure Ibuki is a distorted person....)

(But I think he really likes Kurama.)

Kurama: “The words you speak are toxic. I will not ask you to mean it now. But your power, which I have longed to surpass, has not faded with the passing of time.”

Ibuki: “......!”

(Kurama...)

It was the first time I had ever heard Kurama say anything close to praise for Ibuki.

Ibuki: “Heh, jealous?”

-----Part 4-----

Ibuki: “Heh, jealous?”

Kurama: “Stop joking. I’m going to take the strength I’ve developed under you and go further.”

Ibuki: “-----See. You're being cute again.”

(Kurama was so disgusted by Ibuki’s habit of playing with others and the stupidity of those around him that he had to say goodbye.)

(But if he hadn’t recognized Ibuki’s strength, I think he would have given up on him much sooner.)

It was probably inevitable that their paths had diverged, but I couldn’t help thinking of a future if they hadn’t parted ways.

Ibuki: “You’re getting stronger, my son.”

Kurama(glares cutely): “Who’s your son? I’ll kill you.”

Yoshino: “No bloodshed here!!!!”

In response to Kurama’s death threat, the kitten in Ibuki’s hands woke up.

Ibuki: “Yosh Yosh. Don’t be scared.”

Kitten: “Mew.”

Ibuki: “....Oww.”

The kitten clawed Ibuki’s finger, jumps off his hand, and runs away.

Kurama: “Such an interesting little animal.”

(Is Ibuki mad.....?)

Ibuki was silent for a moment, but then-----

Ibuki: “He has a good temperament. A cat with a bright future.”

Ibuki, muttering with a straight face, looks at the kitten’s regretfully and stands up.

Ibuki: “See you, Kurama. And you too, Yoshino.....I’ll play with you sometime when I feel like it.”

Yoshino: “Eh?”

Ibuki turned and walked away, not caring that I shouted in surprise.

Kurama: “Yoshino. We’re going to go to the hot springs one more time to get rid of Ibuki out of our minds.”

Yoshino: “One more time!?”

Kurama pulled me by my waist and urged me to walk.

Kurama: “What the hell was that man even doing here?”

.....................

After part ways with Yoshino and Kurama, Ibuki went outside the inn only to see------

Ibuki: “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

Yasuchika: “I want to kill you for making me wait for this long.”

Akihito: “Unforgivable, right? I wish I could have been in the hot springs.”

Ibuki: “Brats.”

Akihito looks at Ibuki, who shrugs and joins.

Akihito: “So? Did you get the point of having Yasuchika find out where Kurama and Yoshino are?”

Ibuki: “.......... It made me realize the value of what I’ve lost. Life is bittersweet.”

Yasuchika: “Wow! When Ibuki talks like a human, it makes me want to puke!”

Akihito: “Look, I have goosebumps too.”

Ibuki: “Are you just here to tease me?”

Akihito: “Actually, it’s rare to see you like this, Ibuki. It’s refreshing.”

Giggling, Akihito started walking.

Akihito: “It’s a miracle to see you having a change of heart for the first time in 1200 years. The fact that there are miracles in this world is a joy for people like us.”

Both Yasuchika and Ibuki walked along with him through the trees.

------While also hoping for a miracle like that to happen deep in their hearts.

...................

That night.....

Yoshino: “I really enjoyed our trip!!”

Kurama: “Yeah. But, there were few interruptions along the way though.”

When we returned, we huddled together in the warmth of the cushions in Kurama’s room.

Yoshino: “I was also surprised to see Ibuki. But I’m glad nothing bad happened.”

(Ibuki’s magic is yet to return and the Imperial Court is unlikely to make any major moves...so we can enjoy our peace for the time being.)

The Shogunate and The Rebels are still on a temporary truce and also keeping an eye on the Imperial Court.

Yoshino: “When the Court’s plans are revealed and resolved then....the Shogunate and the Rebels will fight again, right?”

Kurama: “The feud between Yoritomo and Yoshitsune is deep. It is not easy for a human to forget his hatred. When the time comes to fight again----you’ll be sad, right?”

Yoshino: “Mm.”

When I imagined it, my heart hurts like it’s being torn apart.

Yoshino: “I’m sure I’ll suffer a great deal.....but I’ll never leave Kurama.”

(Because I didn’t choose to live with Kurama half-heartedly.)

Kurama: “I see.”

-------Part 5------

Kurama: “I see. Your suffering is yours and yours alone. No matter what I do, I will never be able to take that away from you.”

Kurama murmured with a deep voice.

Kurama: “But I promise, as a man who loves you, I will give you peace of mind until you stop crying.”

(Kurama.....)

Again and again, I am overwhelmed and swallowed up by the magnitude of his feelings.

Yoshino: “Mm....thank you.”

(Kurama always keeps his promise.)

(I know that....so I’m not scared anymore.)

Kurama: “You have beautiful eyes. I remember being irresistibly drawn to those eyes even before you and I got together.”

(Ah.....)

Kurama gently pushes me down and his face comes closer.

Kurama: “It’s that look that shines so strangely in the dark of night.”

Those words bring back memories.....

-------FLASHBACK------

Kurama: “—-What do you even know about me? I gave you the right to speak and now you’re getting on my head.”

Yoshino: “…..I certainly don’t know anything about Kurama. But still, the weak observe the strong.”

Kurama: “……………..”

Yoshino: “At least it’s faster for me to get to know Kurama…. than for Kurama, who has no interest in humans, to get to know me.”

Kurama: “—–Those eyes.”

Yoshino: “hmm?”

Kurama: “I don’t like your eyes. I hate the way how it’s shining so strangely in the dark night.”

------FLASHBACK ENDS-------

(It was the night when Ibuki kidnapped me and gave me to Kurama.)

Yoshino: “I know a lot more about Kurama now than I did back then.”

Kurama(blushing): “It’s still not enough. After wanting all of you, I’m still want more and more....I’d rather force myself to conquer all of you than hiding you from the rest of the world.”

(.....Mm.)

Kurama(blushing): “And the brilliance of your eyes.”

His red eyes approach with an insatiable heat.

Along with that, Kurama’s palm covers my eyes.

Yoshino: “Mmm.....”

In the darkness, I feel my lips being robbed.

A sweet sigh leaks from my mouth and his tongue invites itself in.

Yoshino: “Haa....ahh...Ku...ra...maa....”

(Mm...no more...)

I was even more sensitive now that my eyes are covered and I was easily overwhelmed by Kurama.

When my head was in a haze, he removes his hand.....

(.....Beautiful.)

I see Kurama looking down at me defenselessly.

Kurama: “Yoshino.”

His deep voice calls my name and softly bites my neck.

Yoshino: “Nnn....Ku...rama...”

Kurama: “Why are you keeping your voice down....? I like the way you resist, but you don’t have to fight greed, do you?”

Yoshino: “Nm...because...”

(Because it’s so embarrassing that I’m the only one drowning so much.)

Kurama: “I’m the only one who has the privilege to hear your sweet voice.....leave yourself to pleasure and accept my heart with your body.”

I can’t resist anymore. Everywhere he touches, just melts.

Yoshino: “Ahh....Ku...ra..ma....Mm...too....”

I put my arms around his neck and beg for him.

Kurama: “Finally gave up resisting?”

Yoshino(blushing): “How can I not...when you’re being so romantic...”

Kurama: “....Cheeky woman.”

(We will deepen our love as often as we can. In our own way...and fast.)

Kurama whispered to me and held me down, forcing his body in mine more roughly than usual....

On that night, I received the love of a lone demon who never belonged to anyone.....

fin.

Main Story Masterlist

[eddisfargo]

CoMC Chapter 108

CHAPTER 108

The Judge

24 minutes

Whoa! The reckoning is at hand for Locusta! 

First, we get Noirtier glaring bloody murder at the murderess and then at her so-far inactive husband. Villefort promises he’ll do it--just one more day. Locusta and her son (do we even know her actual name, btw?) are playing a disgustingly adorable little fetch game with kisses, but they’re both horrible people so whatever. 

Villefort pulls an all-nighter on the Benedetto case. He takes a little nap and wakes up. 

So he wakes up like TODAY’S THE DAY. Wifey dearest is all “I sent you some hot chocolate honey, because you’re so sweet ;) <3 <3”  and he’s all “this is probably poisoned.” But then he chugs it anyway because que sera sera at this point. Turns out it was not poisoned. 

Then she’s all “OK I’m ready to come with you to your big trial baby!! I wanna see it! Should I bring our son??” and he’s all “no look we need to talk.” He tries to get Edward out of the room--Edward’s innocently destroying the things his mother is reading--and Edward’s like “umm but mommy didn’t say, so I don’t gotta.” So Villefort YELLS at him and he goes “OK OK I’M GOING GEEZ” 

Now, I don’t usually use direct quotes because that’s tricky with an audiobook, and even when I happen upon them while I relisten at 2x speed to write these sometimes, I tend not to use them because I don’t want to set a precedent, hahaha. But this one has stuck in my mind since this morning when I heard it (like 12 hours ago), and would have even if he hadn’t repeated it 2 or 3 times. He asks his wife, “Where do you keep the poison you generally use?” Which is just so BRUTALLY casual. And she’s like “w-w-w-whaaaat??” And he’s like “you know, the poison you killed my entire family with. That poison.” 

So it’s out there. He recaps everyone she’s poisoned so far, she doesn’t deny it. She asks if she’s speaking to her husband or to the judge, and he’s like “TO THE JUDGE” (hence chapter title). 

So he gives her a choice. Find the poison she “generally uses,” and dead herself up before he gets home from court today. If not, she’ll swing on the scaffold. . He’d rather the poison so as not to bring dishonor on his house. Because obviously if yet another person gets poisoned in this household where 4 people have already died, everyone will just be like “tralala that’s fine.” 

And she’s actually expecting him to let her live!! After killing his beloved, innocent daughter and several other people! Just like she was expecting to somehow get away with this ridiculously unsubtle crime. It’s a shame she won’t live long enough to find two brain cells to rub together. 

(Probably got that idea from that post someone did with a table of people’s brain cell count vs perceived brain cell count in this book. Will definitely share that when I finish. I want to say I saw it on @edettethegreat‘s? But I try to avoid your blog until I’m done, haha. Especially since I went to one of your friends’ blogs and saw something about MC’s big reveal to Morrel before I actually got there. I didn’t read it! Just saw that there was a scene where he revealed his identity, which I pretty much knew there had to be. Luckily stopped before I saw more). 

So, got to admit I’m a little disappointed in Villefort’s actions here. Team Avenger was promised a REALLY HORRIBLE reckoning, the likes of which would MAKE YOUR HAIR CURL or something (he definitely never said that, but it was implied to be just appalling). And it turns out it’s… suicide or face legal punishment for your crimes? I mean yeah, that’s pretty much the default options, barring “get away with it.” 

Aaaanyway, prediction time I guess. What will be Locusta Villainfort’s choice? If her husband finds her alive when he returns home, she swings. Clearly poison’s the better choice, right? Uh-oh, he left a loophole. If he doesn’t find her home at all, she probably thinks she can survive this. She’s probably wrong, but w/ever. Ooooh, maybe she’ll go to THE GUY WHO GAVE HER THE POISON. That’d be interesting!! And what would he say? “Whaaaat? I gave you MEDICINE for your FAINTING SPELLS! I was NEVER expecting you to POISON people with it!”? 

Also, further predictions: Valentine’s got to wake up soon, right? Cuz like. She can’t just live with no heartbeat or breath or food in that vault for long, I presume. Pretty sure Juliet woke up like, the next day. I’m guessing she doesn’t… decompose, since she’s NOT DEAD, I’m still pretty solid on that. And I know the potion is basically handwavy magic-style science, so who knows what its properties are, but here’s what’s bothering me. It’s pretty assured that Morrel is supposed to be miserable for another solid month (to the hour) after his suicide attempt, which obviously means no Valentine. She presumably is going to walk in right as he starts to shoot himself or whatever the heck. I’m… not currently able to make the timing work out. Does he revive her (has he already) and then just… hide her for a month, for some reason? Is she off in Hayding? (get it? Hiding with Haydee? Did that work? Probably not. They are legit pronounced the same though, according to my audiobook)

Guess we’ll see! 

[thdorkmagnet]

Light of the Sun and Stars Chapter 17: Monster Rebellion

Hey guys! Took the day off yesterday for Thanksgiving but I’m today I bring you the big climax of Season 1! One more chapter before we move on to Season 2! Enjoy guys! 

Summary: His whole life Marco Diaz has been raised by monsters, living under the cruel rule of their leader, Toffee. But one day Marco escapes into Mewni where he meets a magical princess and Mewman like himself, who begins teaching him all about her world. Together they will learn about life, love, and the lights within each of them, as they change their world forever.

Chapter Synopsis: Star, Marco, Jackie, and Janna team up to try and take down Toffee once and for all! But first they need to convince the rest of the monsters to rebel against their cruel leader. But Toffee won’t go down without a fight. 

Check out my other stuff on Fanfiction! 

Disclaimer: Star vs and all its characters are owned by Daron Nefcy and Disney. All rights go to them.

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Toffee was in his room, just sitting quietly in the dark, scheming, when he was notified of the intruder in the castle. Bearicorn was the one to tell him, slamming the door open without a second thought, his usual fear for his safety overlooked in this particular incident, as he yelled loudly into the impenetrable darkness, “Master Toffee, Buff Frog is in the castle! We think he's here for Marco!”

Toffee just smiled, his claws absentmindedly fiddling with his glowing green ring, as he muttered darkly, “Predictable as ever.”

“Master Toffee?” Bearicorn questioned, fairly sure he had heard his leader whisper something under his breath, but had been unable to hear what he had said.

“Tell the others to find and capture him alive, I want him to pay for what he's done,” the suit wearing lizard commanded, suddenly stepping out of the shadows and into Bearicorn's sight. The bear monster nodded and went to leave, but stopped as Toffee added one final instruction to fulfill. “And have Lobster Claws bring Marco here for safety precautions. I will join you all once Buff Frog is subdued.”

“Umm, well, Lobster Claws was the first one to see Buff Frog so he left his post to try and chase after him,” Bearicorn hesitantly admitted.

There was a short pause, Toffee's face unreadable, before he spoke in a low, dangerous tone, “You mean to tell me you all left him unguarded.”

“Yes but, Buff Frog is on the other side of the castle, so Marco should be safe for now,” Bearicorn supplied timidly, trying not to look his master directly in the eye as his stony gaze rested on him and him alone, the monster sweating profusely.

“You said Lobster Claws saw him first?”

“Yes, Master Toffee. He said Buff Frog punched him in the face and then ran away like the coward he is,” Bearicorn growled angrily.

“So,” Toffee said thoughtfully. “You're telling me Buff Frog just suddenly gave himself away, ruining his element of surprise, only to run off and abandon Marco without a second thought.”

“Yeah, that's right,” Bearicorn said, sounding skeptical as he pondered the amphibian's strange behavior, as well. “Guess Buff Frog isn't as smart as we thought after all.”

“Indeed,” Toffee said cryptically, though he seemed to still be lost in thought. Finally, his confusion seemed to vanish behind his impassive mask, as he said in a businesslike tone, “Still, that doesn't make him any less dangerous. Go and join the others in their search. I'll keep an eye on Marco, myself.”

Before the bear could even say another word, Toffee was already gone, heading down the hallway with fast, confident strides, Bearicorn heading off the opposite way to catch up with the others and help apprehend the treacherous frog. But as the lizard continued forward, his mind became more and more troubled, his normally unreadable face beginning to show all of the emotions and uncertainties he tried so desperately to bury, too deep in thought to even bother hiding them at the moment. Something wasn't adding up in Toffee's mind, something about all of this felt wrong. He had already been anticipating Buff Frog's inevitable return, knowing that wherever Marco was the frog wasn't far behind, but his behavior not only confused Toffee, but alarmed him on several different levels. Though Buff Frog had made mistakes in the past, this felt like more than that, this wasn't a simple misstep or a slip up, this had felt intentional. He had allowed himself to be seen and had chosen to leave Marco behind even though it would have been far simpler to have just taken him right then and there, though for what reason Toffee didn't know. The lizard's gaze narrowed as he whispered in a cruel, savage hiss, “What are you playing at, Buff Frog?”

…

The monsters were frantic, as they searched the castle in a maddened haste. Somehow, Buff Frog had managed to slip away from Lobster Claws and now the rest of the monsters were forced to resort to the grueling task of searching every inch of the large, dark castle, so far with no luck in locating the tricky traitor. There were so many nooks and crannies it seemed almost impossible and as the search went on the monsters became more and more frustrated, Buff Frog seeming to have just disappeared from the castle without a trace.

And as Beard Deer continued on with the pointless search, he felt his anger only growing with with every failed attempt, unable to believe that stupid monster had actually had the guts to return to the castle. He would find him and when he did he was going to give that monster the pounding of his life for all the trouble he had caused.

Beard Deer sighed angrily, as he slammed shut yet another door that led to an empty room, the deer monster feeling no closer to finding the traitor than the last several rooms he had searched. What number was he at now? He had long since lost count. Why does this stinkin' castle have to be so big?! he thought in annoyance.

“Hey muscles!”

Beard Deer froze, dumbfounded by the familiar, cocky voice he had just heard, feeling a familiar anger flaring inside him. No, that's not possible, he thought, trying to keep himself from losing his cool, convinced he was going crazy, somehow hearing the voice of that annoying Impure even there in his own home. He turned to leave, but to his surprise, she was there, the smug Impure casually leaned against a far wall, giving him a provoking grin too real to be a hallucination. Beard Deer felt his teeth grind together at the mere sight of her, his hands clenching into tight fists. “Miss me?” Janna taunted, still grinning widely, causing any restraint he had to break as he roared in anger.

“I'm gonna destroy you!” he yelled, as he ran at the girl in a blind rage.

“Now your talking,” she said with a smirk, pushing herself off the wall and dodging the monster's attack, Beard Deer pounding a fist hard into the wall, ignoring the stinging in his wrist as he turned to see the girl running away down the hall, yelling over her shoulder, “But if you wanna destroy me you're gonna have to catch me first.”

This only infuriated Beard Deer more as he chased after her, his roars echoing off the stone castle walls. “When I get my hands on you I'm gonna break every bone in your body, you little brat!”

…

In another part of the castle, Lobster Claws, Potato Baby, and one of the other monsters Big Chicken were hard at work retracting the crustaceans steps in hopes of finding where Buff Frog had disappeared too. “I'm telling you I saw him go around this corner,” Lobster Claws demonstrated to his speech-inclined friends, waving his claw at the corner in question, before walking to the other side of it, the other monster right behind him. “And then he was just gone!”

Potato Baby mumbled something to him, which seemed to anger Lobster Claws as he glared at him. “No I didn't get distracted! He just vanished okay!”

Big Chicken then clucked something at him, Lobster Claws immediately responded loudly, “Yes, I'm sure!” He threw both claws into the air in exasperation, while the two other monsters shared a disbelieving look. “Ah, who cares what you think, anyways?” Lobster Claws added, turning away from the two. “Nobody but me can even understand you. Just help me look for him already.”

Suddenly, there was a loud whistle behind them, all of them turning on their heels to see a white-haired girl with a green streak waving at them, confidently, with no fear or anxiety on her face. All of them were shocked to say the least, staring at the teen wide-eyed, unsure how a Mewman stranger had managed to sneak into their castle, unnoticed. Or had found the secretly hidden castle in the first place. “Hey how did you get in here?” Lobster Claws growled, pointing a suspicious claw at her.

The girl didn't respond, instead she just turned and ran off, disappearing behind a corner, all three monsters chasing after her, trying not to lose sight of the unwanted intruder. But as they rounded the corner they saw that the girl was no longer on foot, but now riding on a skateboard, sailing expertly down the castle halls and quickly gaining speed. She turned and looked back at the monsters for just a second, as if provoking them to follow, and she was greeted by pounding footsteps behind her, as the monsters gave chase. Lobster Claws yelled after the fast-moving teen, already starting to pant, “Hey you, stop!” But Jackie wasn't shaken by the threatening tone in the monster's voice as she just focused on navigating the dark castle halls.

…

Meanwhile, in yet another part of the castle, the rest of the monsters were in hot pursuit of an intruder, trying to get ahead of her as she shot spell after spell behind her while she ran. “Cupcake Blast!” Star screamed, as she sent flaming cupcakes at the monsters, all of them being forced to duck underneath them before continuing their chase, somehow even the incredibly tall Spikeballs managing to avoid getting hit. “Is it just me or are these spells getting weaker every time?” the large monster stated to the others.

“She's getting tired,” one of the other monsters explained to the rest. “She's just shooting off spells randomly without even bothering to aim.” He smiled confidently, knowing the girl was becoming desperate. “We've got her now.”

“Got them now,” Star muttered tiredly to herself, panting wildly, looking behind her to see the dozen or so monsters still close behind. It hadn't been easy to get this many of them to follow her in the first place, having to go out of her way to find each of them and then taunt the monsters into the chase, each time more riskier than the last, the more monsters she had the greater chance of her getting caught, but if what Marco had told her was right then this should be most of them, Star trusting Jackie and Janna could handle rounding up the rest. She had to, her body quickly running out of steam from all the running, but if things went the way they planned then it would all be worth it in the end... hopefully.

“Strawberry Shake Quake!” Star screamed, making sure to aim her spell away from the monsters so she wouldn't hit any of them, but close enough to force them to slow down a bit, trying to buy herself a little more time. The monsters ducked and weaved around the strawberry-coated spell, the fruity projectiles coating the wall behind them rather than the monsters themselves, as they continued their pursuit.

Finally, Star ran into the meeting hall, where Toffee assigned the monsters most of their missions, essentially the heart of the castle. Several doors led into the single room, each providing entrance to the different wings of the castle. It was also the largest room in the mansion, matching Star's own great hall in terms of magnitude. And refinement for that matter, towering pillars and columns built around the room's base, a large, fancy table which the monster's used for meetings in the room's center, the whole area decorated with the same medieval tapestries as the rest of the old castle, giving the room an elegant look that was quite pleasing to the eye.

Not that Star noticed any of this as she ran in, more concerned about the monsters that were not that far behind. Just as she entered the luxurious room, another set of doors slammed open and Star saw Jackie skating in looking relaxed and at ease as she glided across the cobblestone floor, her three pursuers entering a moment later, panting like crazy from the exhausting trek though their own castle. “Hold... up... you... just a... minute,” Lobster Claws gasped out weakly, the two monsters beside him looking equally as exhausted, as they tried to catch their breath.

But Jackie ignored the monster's threat, as she merely skated over to her friend, cheerfully calling out to the blond royal, “Hey Star!”

“Hey Jackie!” Star returned, panting slightly, a hand over her pounding heart, finding herself wishing she had taken the time to learn to skateboard, as her lungs cried out in pain. Jackie came to an expert stop next to her, stepping off her prized board and kicking it up so she could catch it mid-air. She removed her helmet, tucking it under her arm, before shaking her hair out, letting it settle back in its usual position. “So what'd I miss?” the skater asked.

“Lobster Claws what the heck is going on here?!” the girls heard one of the monsters yell, turning to see the bear monster glaring at his crustacean friend and the rest of his tired team.

“Yeah how did the princess and her friend get in the castle?!” one of the other monsters shouted, the others agreeing via growl.

“How should we know, we didn't have anything to do with it?!” Lobster Claws cried defensively.

“Well zzzomebody let them in here?” Boo Fly pointed out.

Jackie and Star rolled their eyes at the monsters arguing, all of them seeming to have forgotten the girls were even there. “So think that's all of them?” Jackie asked, turning her attention to Star instead.

“I hope so,” Star replied.

“Something is starting to worry me though,” Jackie said, sounding concerned.

“What's that?”

“Where's Janna?”

As if on cue, there was a muffled yell from the other side of the final pair of doors, everyone freezing and staring at the closed entryway in shock. “I'm gonna kill you!” came the familiar scream of the monster's current second-in-command, all of the other monsters muttering confusedly, “Boss?”

Then, the doors to the room busted open, Beard Deer sliding in on his back, all of the gathered monsters quickly running over to help the monster up, yelling this time, “Boss!”

Janna smugly entered the room, walking slowly but surely past the monsters, before joining her two friends, who were both giving her annoyed scowls.

“Subtle,” Jackie said, raising an eyebrow at her creepy friend.

“We gave you one job, Janna. Just one,” Star hissed, raising a single finger up to demonstrate her point.

“What? I brought him here, didn't I?” Janna said, with a shrug.

“Yes, but we're trying not to hurt any of them, remember?” Star countered.

“Hey, he attacked me, all I did was defend myself,” Janna said, sliding her hands into her pockets, their attempt at scolding obviously not reaching her stubborn mind. The two girls sighed, knowing it was impossible to reach through their friend's thick skull, Star pinching the bridge of her nose in exasperation. “Fine whatever,” the princess breathed, deciding to let it go. “Can we just move on to the next phase of the plan, please?”

Meanwhile, Bearicorn tried to offer Beard Deer a hand up, asking with concern, “You okay, boss?” But he was thwarted as the infuriated monster slapped his paw away, making the bear cry out in pain.

“I'm fine, you idiots,” Beard Deer growled, losing any and all patients for the monster's needless fussing. “Just grab those kids!” He pointed to Star and the others, who heard the monster's yell and were instantly on guard, all of them facing down the large group of monsters as they slowly stalked closer, the three retreating farther and farther back into the room.

“Um, maybe this wasn't our best idea,” Jackie anxiously pointed out, making sure to stay behind Star, who already had her wand drawn and ready, the whole thing glowing with magic energy. Star tried to ignore her own doubt, as she said in the calmest voice she could manage, “Look, we're not looking for a fight.”

“Well that's too bad, princess,” Beard Deer said, from the front of the pack. “Cause you're not leaving here without one.” He pounded a fist into his claw, the other monsters laughing cruelly.

“Stop!” Every monster froze, as they all recognized the source of the voice, all of them taken by surprise as Marco stepped out from behind one of the pillars, giving them all a long, hard stare.

“Marco!” all the monsters screamed. “What are you doing here?” Lobster Claws asked with concern, thinking that Toffee was going to take care of the hooded boy during all of this. “Your supposed to be in your room.”

“I couldn't just stay in there when all of this was going on, so I decided to come and help my friends,” Marco responded, something about his voice sounding different, it sounded more confident and self-assured, throwing all of the monsters for a loop.

But this was only increased, as Marco marched over to the group he was talking about, now standing among, not the monsters, but the Mewman princess and her meddling friends. “Marco, get away from them!” Beard Deer cried in a scolding tone.

“No,” Marco replied defiantly. “I won't. I'm not abandoning my friends.”

“Your friends!” Bearicorn screamed. “But their Mewmans.”

“So am I,” Marco said, putting a hand to his chest. “Does that mean you're going to beat me up, too?” All of the monsters looked uncomfortable at the statement, while Beard Deer continued to glare at Star.

“This is all your fault!” Beard Deer said, pointing an accusing finger at the girl. “Your weird magic is making Marco turn on us. Now change him back or else!”

“Yeah!” the rest of the monsters cheered, but none of the Mewmans backed down even an inch.

“I'm not controlling Marco, Toffee lied to you,” Star said, all of her years of princess training shining through at that moment, her voice projecting clearly around the room, sounding regal and composed.

“And why should we believe you?” one of the monsters yelled, all of the other monsters muttering in agreement.

“Because I'm telling the truth,” she responded, tossing her wand to the ground in front of her to demonstrate her trustworthiness, before shooting Marco a loving smile, taking his hand in hers. “I would never use my magic on Marco like that.” The monsters weren't sure how to react to that, looking amongst themselves with puzzled expressions.

“You guys didn't honestly believe that we were using magic to control Marco, did you?” Jackie asked, seeing their reluctance.

The monsters went silent, trying not to show their sheepishness. Though none of them wanted to admit it, the whole thing had seemed a little far-fetched even to them and deep down they all kinda knew Toffee was misleading them, but they had chosen to push their doubts aside and instead blindly trust the word of Toffee over their own common sense, the lie far less painful to accept than the horrible truth. “Yeah well, this-this has to be some kind of trick,” Beard Deer said weakly, feeling uncomfortable by the look Star and Marco were sharing.  

“The only one who has been tricking you has been Master Toffee,” Marco said firmly, he and Star turning their attention back to the monsters. “He's been manipulating and using you all to help him get what he wants.”

He looked between each of the familiar faces in front of him, surprised by all the shameful looks they were giving him, forcing Marco to realize something. “But you all know that already, don't you?” The disappointment in his voice was clear, all of the monsters feeling their stomachs churn with guilt for upsetting the boy.

There was a small pause before Spikeballs pitched in, “There's nothing we can do. He's our leader, we have to obey him.”

Marco looked hurt by the statement as he muttered, “So you all willingly followed his orders even knowing what you were doing was wrong?”  

None of the monsters dared to meet his eye. “You're just too young to understand yet, Marco,” Beard Deer said regretfully, his voice the same hurt tone it had been in the forest.

“I understand that you are all killing innocent Mewmans, like me!” Marco yelled back, all of the monster flinching at that.

“We had no choice, Marco,” Bearicorn countered. “The Mewmans had to pay for what they did to us. They stole our land. Starved us, forced us to live in poverty.” He glared at Star as he said this. “They treated us all like garbage. And then Toffee came and he helped us to show them who the real monsters were.” All of the monsters, muttered angrily in agreement, Star hanging her head in shame, not sure what to say, never realizing how horrible her own people had been to the monsters. Marco, on the other hand, wasn't done speaking.  

“But you're all better than that,” he said, his voice desperate and pleading. “I know you are. Toffee's convinced you all that the only answer is revenge, but it isn't. Even if things were bad that didn't mean you had to resort to violence. All Toffee's done is make things worse for everyone, monsters and Mewmans.” Marco paused for a second, taking in the monsters as they all shifted uncomfortably on their feet, the boy feeling hope that his words were actually getting through to them.

“But it doesn't have to be that way,” He continued, risking taking a few steps closer to the monsters and farther away from his friends' side. “We can make this right, all of us, we can turn on Toffee and fix everything.”

“Well isn't that a touching thought.” Marco felt the familiar pangs of dread overtake him, as he turned to see Toffee striding into the room, as confident as ever, barely even noticing the room go dead silent as he entered, as he just continued forward with one of his notoriously vacant expressions. “Monsters and Mewmans working together for a common cause, how profound.” He did a quick scan of the faces of the crowd around him, the monsters with fear and the princess and her friends with hatred and resolve. But suddenly, Toffee stopped, his gaze lingering on Marco, who stood frozen in the middle of the two groups, the look on his face somehow a combination of both sides, as he seemed to be deciding on whether or not he was angry or afraid to see the monster leader there.

Star, seeing Toffee's gaze halt on Marco, felt a lump of fear form in her throat, rushing over to the boy and pulling him back to her side, making sure to grab her wand off the floor as she did, Marco's eyes never once leaving Toffee.

“So you're still trying to sway them to your side, Marco. How foolish,” Toffee said in a condescending tone, moving so he was now standing between the monsters and the Mewmans. “Haven't you learned yet, they won't betray me... they know better than that.” Behind him the monster's all shuddered, unknowingly showing off the power Toffee still obviously had over them.

Though Marco felt extremely uncomfortable with Toffee's unblinking stare focused on him and him alone, he didn't back down, Star's presence next to him giving him courage. He shot the businesslike monster a narrowed glare, pausing for a moment before saying in a hard tone, “Why or else you'll kill them like you did my parents?!”

Toffee seemed visibly unsettled at that, hearing the baffled chatter behind him, his eyes narrowing on the boy, Marco's doing the same, as if they were both waiting for the other to make their next move.

“Master Toffee, what is he talking about?” Lobster Claws suddenly spoke up from behind Toffee, interrupting the intense moment, the lizard turning around to see the suspicious stares of the other monsters.

But true to form, Toffee kept his cool, calmly addressing his fellow monsters, “Pay no attention to this boy's delusions-”

“It's not a delusion!” Marco interrupted the lizard, before directing his attention to the rest of the monsters. “Toffee told me himself, he killed them because they wanted peace and he's been using me ever since to make you do his bidding.”

“Marco,” Toffee began in a warning tone.

“And he said that once he got what he wanted he would kill me just like he did them,” Marco finished, ignoring the lizard's scolding.

The monsters all gasped in shock, before boldly giving the lizard a narrowed glare. “Is this true?” Beard Deer asked, suspiciously.

“Of course not,” Toffee instantly replied, with a small scoff in his tone, as if the idea was utterly ridiculous, his face remaining as emotionless as ever, hiding his crimes beneath his poker face. “He is obviously still under the princess's control, nothing he says should be taken seriously,” But the monsters seemed divided, looking amongst each other with uncertainty, none of them sure who to believe, so Toffee added, “You know I have nothing against the boy. I only want what's best for all of you.”

“You liar!” Star shouted.

“Stay out of this, princess,” Toffee hissed at the girl. “This doesn't concern you.”

“No, I won't!” Star said, defiantly. “And I think for once you should let the monsters decide who's side they're on, instead of forcing them to follow you.”

“As compared to you,” Toffee countered. “Don't forget you are by far the most guilty person in this room.”

Star paused for a second, before speaking instead to the rest of the monsters in a far softer tone. “Look I know what my people did to you in the past was wrong and I'm so sorry that you had to suffer for my people's selfishness, but please, don't give Toffee the satisfaction of winning just because of a few people's mistakes.”

“Mistakes?” Toffee scoffed, crossing his arms. “I'd hardly call what they did to us a mistake.”

“No, but what you did wasn't a mistake, either,” Marco pointed out, uncharacteristic anger in his tone.

“I know I may not deserve it,” Star continued, giving the monsters a remorseful look. “But if you all give me a second chance, I promise that I will do whatever I can to make things right.”

“We both will,” Marco added, the two sharing a smile, as he gently squeezed her hand.

Toffee's face switched for a moment to a glare, but due to the fact that he was facing away from the monsters none of them saw it. “I believe this charade has gone on long enough,” he said in a barely restrained tone, struggling to keep his monotone voice in check. He turned to the other monsters, commanding, “Kill the princess and reclaim Marco.”

Star and the others immediately went on the defense, Star pulling Marco in closer to her and  raising her wand as a form of protection, and Jackie and Janna who had been waiting quietly for the results of the argument, jumped bravely in front of the two, courageously placing themselves between their friends and the dreaded enemy that threatened to overtake them at any second, using themselves as human shields for the two. “Wait!” Marco shouted, grabbing onto Star's wrist, preventing her from using the wand properly, the blond giving him a confused stare. “Marco, what is it?” Star asked.

“Just look,” Marco responded, pointing over to the monsters. And from the other side of the room, the unspeakable was happening, as for once in the entire time since Toffee's reign began the monsters hesitated, unsure what to do. “What are you waiting for?” Toffee said in a slightly raised tone. “Get Marco away from that girl before she can do any more damage.”

But the monster's were torn, trying to decide which of their two emotions was stronger: their fear of Toffee or their love for Marco, all of them looking between the venomous glare of their leader and the pleading look of the boy they considered to be their child. “Please... don't do this,” Marco said with one final beg, his voice pure agony. “It's not too late, you don't have to be this, you don't have to be what they all think you are.”

“You know what will happen, should you all fail to follow my orders,” Toffee said, menacingly.

Finally, one of the monster's walked forward, breaking away from the huddled group, Beard Deer, moving quickly past the lizard leader and now approaching the Mewmans with resolve in his every step. Star went to push Marco behind her, but to her surprise, Marco pulled away, slipping past Jackie and Janna and now standing directly in front of the monster.

“Marco!” Star screamed, Jackie and Janna looking equally as horrified. “Get out of there!”

But Marco didn't listen, just continuing to stare at the monster's unreadable face, trying to silently commune his pleading thoughts to the stubborn monster. The whole room seemed to hold it's breath, as they awaited the monster's reaction, Star, Jackie, and Janna ready to jump in if need be, all of them prepared to do whatever it took to protect the boy from the monster's possible wrath, Star struggling to keep herself from rushing over to Marco's rescue right then and there, as the seconds continued to stretch on and on. Finally, after what felt like an eternity later, Beard Deer sighed in annoyance, saying in a semi-frustrated tone, “Okay, fine, Marco. You win.”

“Really?” the boy said, his eyes shining with joy.

“Really?” Beard Deer responded, the monster ruffling the boy's hair, just like he had done a million times before, showing affection toward the Mewman the only way he knew how. Star and the others relaxed, the girls sighing in relief that Marco wasn't in danger.

Toffee, however, was livid, hissing at the monster, “What do you think you're doing?” Not even bothering to hide the venom in his voice, as his eyes narrowed with a killer intent.

Beard Deer looked hesitant, but as he looked down and saw Marco's encouraging smile, he turned back to the monster with a hard stare, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. “What I should have done all along,” the monster responded, coldly. “Marco's right. It's time we stood up to you.”

Marco smiled, before throwing his arms around the monster in a hug, thankful he had actually managed to sway one of the monsters to his side. From the other side of the room, the rest of the monsters were touched by the display, until another monster risked walking over to the other side joining up with Marco and his friends, then another, and another. Toffee just watched in growing resentment as his minion's abandoned him, one by one, Lobster Claws, then Potato Baby, Boo Fly, Spikeballs, until every monster now stood beside Marco, forming a protective circle around the boy, leaving Toffee alone.

“I don't believe this. You're not honestly going to side with this boy over me, are you?” Toffee asked, giving his ex-minions a glare. “After all the good I've done for you over the years.”

“Like using us all to do your bidding!” Beard Deer countered angrily, the others shouting in agreement.

“Yeah, you tricked us into going to war with the Mewmans,” Lobster Claws added. “A whole bunch of us have died just so you could get more power!”

“Not to mention all the innocent Mewmans that got killed, too,” Marco pitched in, helpfully.

This continued on for a while, the monster shouting and muttering their opinions, as Star, Jackie, and Janna silently joined in on the rest of the group, Star eagerly taking hold of the boy's hand again, giving him another proud smile. Toffee, however, just waited patiently for the monsters to calm down.

And after a while, the angry chatter did lower down to a dull roar, giving the monster leader the opportunity to speak once again. Toffee straightened his suit before addressing his monsters in a terrifyingly calm voice, “I admit my methods can be a bit, drastic. But do not forget who made you who you are. If it wasn't for me, you would all still be living in the dirt. And do you remember who threw you there in the first place?” His tone became slightly harsher as he spoke. “It was the Mewmans. Don't think they've changed. They will never change. They will always try to control and use you all. None of them deserve to live in this world I have created. If there is any hope for us to survive then we need to eradicate every last one of them before they can destroy us all.”

“Then you did kill Marco's parents,” Beard Deer growled, between clenched teeth. Toffee didn't respond, but his hesitation was proof enough, the other monsters all roaring in anger at the lizard, upset that he would kill the only two Mewman's (other then Marco) who they had considered to be good, Toffee's serpent eyes darting between them all, silently.

“It's over, Toffee,” Star spoke up, taking a step away from the monster crowd, Marco, his hand still intertwine with hers, did the same. There was a finality to her tone, her hatred toward the monster making her send him a hate-filled glare. “You've lost.”

For a few seconds, Toffee said nothing, just staring at the princess with the same creepy, monotone expression as always, until he said softly, “No. Not yet, princess.”

Before Star could even think about what he meant by that, Toffee snapped his fingers, every light in the castle simultaneously going out at once, a fail safe he had set up in just such an emergency. Star instinctively flinched as the world around her went pitch black, her hand losing some of its grip on Marco's. And in that second of hesitation, Star felt Marco being ripped from her grasp, as something quick and steady whooshed past her, dragging Marco along with it. “Marco!” Star screamed in terror, her heart pounding away in her chest, as she began turning in a dizzying circle, unsure which direction to go.

“Star!” Marco screamed back, his voice sounding distant, Star unable to tell how far away he was and having no doubt that with every second that past, he and his kidnapper gained even more distance from her.

Star was becoming panicked as she felt around blindly in the dark, her breathing becoming sporadic, as she tried desperately to locate the boy. “No! Marco! Marco, where are you?!” she screamed into the darkness, her voice wrenched with panic-stricken sobs, her concern growing as she could no longer hear a reply from the boy.

Suddenly, something grabbed hold of her hand, making Star jump in surprise. “This way!” the person called, Star recognizing the voice's source.

“Janna?” Star muttered in confusion.

“C'mon,” the half-monster girl insisted, pulling roughly on Star's hand as she dragged her along. The two came upon Jackie, who was also stumbling around blindly, Janna grabbing her unexpectedly by the wrist, as well, before leading her two friends through the encompassing dark.

“What, Janna, how?” Jackie asked with surprise, as she struggled to keep up with her friend.

“Night vision, remember?” Janna replied smugly over her shoulder. But as she turned back in the direction the boy and the lizard had gone, her smile dropped, listening to the muffled scream in the distance with a frown. Good. She could still hear the boy's panicked screams... for now at least. But Toffee was still far in the lead, moving quickly and speedily, and with his knowledge of the castle's layout Janna was at a severe disadvantage. She needed to hurry and catch up with them, before it was too late.

“Lead the way then, Jan,” Star said encouragingly, as she put all of her faith in her half-monster friend and her incredible vision, while Star's own were struggling to adjust to the darkness around her. Janna felt her heart expanding at the trust Star so obviously had in her and she silently vowed not to let her or Marco down.

“Right,” Janna responded, confidently.  

The rest of the monsters, it seemed, were recovering as well from their initial shock, rushing quickly after the lizard with battle cries, all of them out for blood it seemed, the few monsters who lacked night vision, following the sound of their comrade's screams. Soon, every single monster was in hot pursuit of Toffee, Janna and the others in the lead, as they all stormed deeper into the dark castle.

…

The air in the hidden passageway was cold and stale. The flaming torches that guarded the forgotten staircase reveling the two intruders in their dimly lit glow, casting sinister shadows on the wall beside them, the sound of echoing footsteps breaking the eery silence around the pair as they traveled deeper into the castle's underground. Toffee walked forward with steady, confident strides, his gaze and focus on the path before him, ignoring the struggling Mewman boy he was forcefully dragging behind him.

Toffee couldn't believe how badly things had gone! Thanks to Marco and that foolish princess all his careful planning had fallen apart, the once powerful, feared leader now forced to retreat with his tail between his legs, as his own monsters hunted him down like a common criminal. But this wasn't the end for him, not by a long shot. He would make them regret the day that had dared to defy him. And he would start by disposing of the annoying brat, of course, Toffee going to enjoy making them all squirm as he destroyed their one spark of peace, forever.

“Let me go!” Marco screamed, interrupting the monster's sinister thoughts, trying to pry his way loose from the lizard's grip, but it was too strong for him, the boy's arm beginning to hurt from how tightly Toffee was squeezing. “Must you be so loud,” the lizard mumbled, not even bothering to turn around. But the boy didn't give up, as he dug his heels into the ground hoping to slow the lizard even a little and buy Star and the others some time. This only proved to be useless, however, as the lizard just continued forward, causing the boy to stumble and almost fall. He looked behind him, screaming, “Star! Star, help!”

But there was no signs of anyone else in the dark passage, Marco having to try and fend off Toffee alone. He looked around for anything that could be of use, his eyes landing on one of the flaming torches hanging on the walls, waiting for his chance to grab one, knowing he would only get one shot. As soon as he was in close reach of it, he snatched it off the wall, preparing to fling it at the monster to force him to release his grip.

What the boy failed to account for, however, was that Toffee had sensed the boy's movement out of the corner of his eye, his tail flinging out and snapping against Marco's hand, making the boy cry out in pain and drop the burning torch. “Did you really think that would work, Marco?” Toffee hissed, as he forcefully pulled the boy in front of him, making sure to keep him away from the rest of the torches on their path, as the two descended the last set of steps.

“You'll never get away with this, Toffee!” Marco screamed, defiantly, still grunting as he tried to pull his way free from the lizard. “Star and the others are right behind us. They're gonna stop you.”

“Oh, I highly doubt that,” Toffee replied, sounding not the least bit concerned. “By the time they catch up, you and I will be long gone.”

Suddenly, as if on cue, a voice could be heard in the distance. “Marco!” came Star's desperate, muted plea to the boy as it echoed around the narrow hallway. Marco turned to see lights in the distance, the group of monsters now holding flaming torches running at them full force, with Star in the lead. “Guys, over here!” Marco screamed to them.

Toffee glared daggers at the group, before shoving his struggling captive into the next room, a large bunker-like structure, Marco falling hard to his knees. As Toffee stepped into the room, as well, he hit a switch next to him and a layer of crystal-like glass lowered from the door frame, quickly sealing the exit closed, the lizard ripping out the device a second later to prevent it from being used again. Marco, seeing his only chance of escape about to be lost, jumped to his feet and tried to reach the door in time, but he was too late as the glass finally slid into place with a loud clunk. “No!” he cried in panic.

Ironically, Star and the others reached the now-blocked entrance at the exact same time, the blond putting a hand against the glass, and Marco doing the same, only a thin layer of crystal preventing the two from touching. For a moment, the two looked into each others frightened eyes, Star's muffled voice calling out to him, “Marco!”

“Star!” Marco screamed back.

“Hang on, I'm gonna get you out!” she replied.

“Okay. I know you wi- AHH!” Marco was taken by surprise, as Toffee grabbed the boy by his hood and pulled him uncomfortably away from the glass door.

“Marco!” Star screamed in terror.

“Let go!” Marco cried, trying and failing to pull his hood out of the lizard's claws, Toffee just watching in amusement at the boy's pitiful attempts of escape. Finally, Toffee pulled back on the hood as hard as he could, choking Marco and causing him to lose his footing. The boy had no way to stop himself as he fell backwards, causing him to bang his head on the hard, stone floor, screaming in pain.

Star, seeing Marco hurt, panicked, banging her fists hard against the glass, ignoring the throbbing pain that resulted each time her clenched hands made contact with the surprisingly strong crystal. Several of the monsters joined her, as they all tried to shatter the glass, yelling to the boy the whole time. “Marcooooo! Marco, no! Marcoooo!”

The crystal never gave, however, Star quickly realizing how futile the act was and instantly jumped to “plan b” for breaking the stubborn glass. “Everyone stand back!” Star screamed in warning, holding her wand out in front of her, just inches from the glass.

Jackie seeing this, quickly grabbed Janna's arm, pulling her back away from the door, saying to the monsters, “Do what she says?!” The monsters, realizing what the girl was about to do, all scrambled backwards, trying to give the girl a wide berth. Star began unleashing a flurry of spells on the dreaded crystal, the sound of explosions ringing through the enclosed space and the monsters having to cover their eyes from the bright flashing lights, smoke, dust, and debris flying everywhere, coating the startled monsters and the two girls, who tried feebly to shield their faces from the viscous onslaught.  

Marco, clutching his aching head, heard the tell-tale sounds of explosions ringing through his ears, looking up enough to see Star blasting away at the glass that blocked her path, and felt a surge of hope. But that hope was shattered, however, as somehow through Star's bombardment the glass held, every spell not even fracturing the tough crystal, the whole thing only glowing with some kind of energy, as if it was somehow absorbing every hit taken. Marco's eyes widened in terror as he realized that Star and the others wouldn't reach him in time.

Toffee just stood over him with a gloating look, saying in an almost taunting tone, “See that Marco, your dear princess can't reach you. Oh whatever will you do, now?”

Marco said nothing, just staring at the glass, petrified, his head still pounding slightly. What could he do now? Toffee had caught him and without an escape route, he didn't stand a chance of getting away on his own. Marco gulped, swallowing back the lump that was forming in his throat. He was trapped.

“I told you before, didn't I, Marco?” Toffee continued, the hooded boy finally drawing his attention away from his would-be rescuers and onto the monster, who was giving him a killer look that sent shivers down his spine. Marco tried to back away from the chilling monster, the lizard's face covered by shadows, making his narrowed eyes somehow glow a sickly green, as he slowly stalked closer, with a murderous purpose. “No one can save you from what I have planned.”

Then, out of nowhere, a sword fell between the two, sticking into the ground just inches from where Toffee's foot was. The two looked up to see Buff Frog dropping in from the ceiling, another sword in hand, swinging down at the dreaded lizard. Toffee managed to dodge the attack at the last minute, but was unsuccessful in stopping the sword from cutting off his right arm. As the severed appendage fell to the floor, it disintegrated into dust until there was nothing left of it.

Toffee stared daggers at the frog monster, clutching at the stump that was left of his arm with his good claw, as his opponent landed gracefully between Marco and Toffee, the Mewman boy looking up at his monster father in shock and relief. “Stay away from my son!” Buff Frog growled angrily at Toffee, holding his sword threateningly in front of him.

“Dad!” Marco screamed, his voice chocked with emotion.

“Buff Frog,” Toffee greeted coldly, his eyes narrowing to slits as his limb began to regrow itself. “I had a feeling I would see you again. Though I must say I am surprised to see you here of all places.”

“I could say same for you,” Buff Frog spat back. “You were not supposed to know about hidden tunnels.”

“Well, what can I say, I guess I'm full of many surprises,” Toffee said, intensely.

Buff Frog broke off his stare for a moment, as he yelled over his shoulder to his son, “Marco, run!”

Toffee began to chuckle, as his arm finally finished regrowing, clenching it into a tight fist. “Run?” he scoffed, giving the monster a toothy grin. “Run where? There's nowhere for him to go.” Toffee's tone dropped to a terrifying whisper. “Or you for that matter.”

Buff Frog charged the lizard, swinging a sword right at his head, but Toffee saw it coming, fluidly ducking under the blade at the last second, before sending a claw into Buff Frog's shoulder, trying to force him to release his hold on the sword. The frog screamed as pain shot up his arm, but kept a firm grip on his weapon, trying once again to swipe at the hated monster, but Toffee took a step back avoiding the sharp blade.

“Buff Frog, here!” Marco screamed, throwing the other sword to the monster, Buff Frog catching it expertly, shooting his son a loving smile. “Thank you, my boy.”

He turned back to the lizard with a grim scowl. “Now I will make you pay for all bad you have done,” he said in a hard tone.

“You can try,” Toffee responded, smugly. Buff Frog brought both swords down on the lizard, Toffee catching them with his bare claws. “But once I dispose of you, I'm going after your precious son.”

“No you will not!” Buff Frog spat in a strained tone.

“Really, still as blind as ever, Buff Frog,” Toffee chuckled, as his tail slowly wrapped around the frog's leg. Buff Frog was thrown off balance, as his leg was yanked out from underneath him, Toffee reaching out and slamming him hard into the ground.

“Buff Frog!” Marco screamed in worry, about to run over to check on his dad, but Buff Frog held up an arm, as he painfully rose to his feet.

“No Marco, stay back!” the amphibian yelled, panting heavily. “I will deal with this.” Toffee just smiled as he waited for his opponents next move.

...

Star refused to let up her assault, ignoring the crushing doubt she felt in her chest, as she shot spell after spell at the stubborn see-through wall, trying everything she could to break through the impenetrable barrier. Jackie and the others struggled to stay upright, as blasts of hot air flowed endlessly around them, but even they could see just how useless the princess' attacks were through the blinding dust cloud that had settled in the hall after every failed strike. Jackie risked walking closer to the girl, fighting back the powerful energy that flowed around her, using her arm to shield her eyes from the flying debris, as she called out to her friend, “Star! Star stop! It's not working!”

“Yeah, it's no use Star, it's not gonna break!” Janna added via shout.

“No!” Star screamed back, sounding desperate and tired. “It's going to work! I just need more power!”

Somehow, through all the smoke and dust, Jackie was able to spot Buff Frog fighting off the lizard and she felt hope in her chest. “Star! Star I think Buff Frog's in there!” The monsters all shared a look with one another at that news. “He's protecting Marco! Star, did you hear me?”

Star did hear her and she had, in fact, seen that for herself. But she knew it couldn't last. Buff Frog couldn't beat Toffee, she wasn't sure anyone could. Eventually, Buff Frog would tire and then Toffee would be free to go after Marco once again. So she had to get in there and save him, before that happened. She took a deep breath, gathering as much wavering energy as she could, as she screamed at the top of her lungs, “Cotton Candy Devastation Blast!”  

…

The sound of the explosion rang through the bunker, as the fight between Toffee and Buff Frog continued, the frog doing everything he could to gain an upper hand on his cruel opponent. Buff Frog leapt over the monster, landing behind him and thrusting his blade right at the lizard's unguarded back. Toffee's tail reacted at just the right moment, managing to block the stab at the last second, but getting itself cut off in the process. The lizard pivoted on his heels, smashing a fist into his opponent, causing Buff Frog to stumble back.

Buff Frog tried to regain control of the fight as he sent several well timed slashes the monster's way, but Toffee just kept coming, weaving around the attacks and ignoring the ones that landed, knowing they would just repair themselves in a few seconds anyway. Meanwhile, Buff Frog was taking far more damage the longer the fight went on, Toffee's sharp claws managing to catch him at odd places, as more and more scratches appeared on his body. And to make matters worse, Buff Frog was quickly running out of room as he tried to ward his fearless opponent off. If something didn't change soon, Buff Frog might end up backing himself into a corner where he would be at the monster's mercy.

In a last ditch effort, Buff Frog tried, once again, to thrust his blade at the lizard, but he was thwarted as Toffee blocked the desperate blow, knocking the sword out of the frog's hand and sending it tumbling behind them.

Buff Frog ignored the almost unbearable pain that was surging in his arm, a claw mark running all the way up the throbbing appendage, trying to remain focused on finishing off the monster. He gritted his teeth, raising his good arm, preparing to make another stab at the monster with his last remaining sword, but Toffee moved first, his claws digging deep into the frog's muscular chest. Buff Frog was finally pushed back, colliding with the wall behind him painfully, before falling to the floor, unmoving.

Marco seeing his dad defeated, felt tears rising up in his eyes, his mouth gaping open. He had to do something. That was all he could think, as his body began to move on its own, slowly inching closer to the two. He didn't know what yet, but he couldn't just sit there and watch as Toffee killed the only family he had left. He had to find someway to help him. He just had to.

Suddenly, there was a bright flash in Marco's eyes, the boy freezing, caught completely off guard, as he rubbed at his eyes, blindly. Once Marco's vision cleared, the boy spotted the source of the uncomfortable light: Toffee's ring. For a few seconds, Marco was caught in its hypnotizing glow, staring wide eyed at the embedded gem that seemed to be shimmering with some kind of magical energy. And that was when it hit him, the answer to all his problems, the truth so simple and plain that Marco couldn't believe he hadn't realized it before. Marco crept forward slowly, keeping a close eye on Toffee, picking the discarded sword off the floor.

…

Finally, it seemed Star had spent the last of her energy, as she collapsed to the ground, exhausted, watching in despair as Toffee stood over the now defeated Buff Frog. She panted as she tried to raise up her wand shakily for another attack. “R-Rain...b-bow B-Blast,” she managed to gasp out, a small puddle of multicolored goop pouring out of her wand and staining the ground bellow it.

“No,” Star cried in despair, clutching her head in her hands. “It's no use! I can't break it!”

Jackie walked over and put a hand on her friend's shoulder, looking sad. Behind them the monsters looked down, feeling equally disheartened, knowing that the super-powered princess had been their last hope to saving Marco. Janna, however, was staring out the glass with pain-filled eyes. “It's my fault, Jackie!” Star continued, her voice wrenched with sobs, as tears spilled from her eyes. “It's all my fault! Marco's going to die because of me, all because I couldn't keep my promise!”

Jackie opened her mouth, to say something comforting, but she was cut off as Janna spoke up from behind her. “Uhh, guys. You might want to look at this.”

Star and the others followed her gaze into the bunker, all of their mouths dropping open in disbelief at the sight of Marco slowly sneaking up on Toffee, a sword in his hand.

“Marco, no don't,” Star muttered in terror.  

…

“Well that was utterly pathetic,” Toffee said to his defeated opponent, who was trying to force himself to stand, grunting, his scar covered body aching as he tried to gain enough strength to continue fighting. “Did you really think you could win? How stupid of you.” Buff Frog just sent hate-filled daggers at the lizard, as he chuckled cruelly. “Goodbye Buff Frog and don't worry I'll take good care of Marco for you.”

Suddenly, Toffee saw something moving out of the corner of his eye, his tail whipping out and wrapping around the hooded boy's hands, preventing him from swinging the sword any farther, Marco coming dangerously close to running him through.

“What's this?” Toffee asked amused, watching as they boy tried to pull his grip free. “Trying to stab me in the back? Not very heroic of you, Marco.” He flung the boy to the floor beside him. “Not to mention intelligent.”

Toffee reached down to pick the boy up by his hood, planning on killing him right there in front of Buff Frog just to make him suffer. But Toffee was caught off guard as the boy suddenly jolted up,  swinging the sword toward the lizard with a large slash, the lizard not even having time to dodge out of the way.

The room went dead quiet as Marco's sword made contact with Toffee's outstretched hand. It was a clean cut all the way through, the two watching in silence as the lizard limb clattered to the floor, all of it disintegrating save for his middle finger, the green ring still glowing around it. For a few seconds, Toffee was frozen in shock, looking at his most prized and well-guarded object laying half-haphazardly on the floor. He couldn't believe he had made such an obvious mistake. He had been so distracted at the prospect of beating his opponent that he had allowed himself to expose his left hand and therefore the ring, permitting it to be severed by Marco of all people. Even Buff Frog was in disbelief, staring open-mouthed at Marco, a look of determination the likes of which Buff Frog had never seen shining in his boy's eyes.

Marco, however, wasn't in shock, as he quickly swiped the finger off the floor and tossed it in Buff Frog's direction, yelling, “Buff Frog take the ring, without it Toffee can't regenerate.” The boy directed his attention back to the blank-faced lizard as he rose to his feet. “Isn't that right, Master Toffee?”

The lizard turned to him with a blood-curdling glare, not even bothering to hide his fury from his normally melancholy face, but he spoke in the same controlled tone as always. “So someone finally figured it out,” he said, taking a step closer, Marco holding the sword weakly out in front of him in defense. “Tell me, Marco. How did you know?”

Though Marco was shaking, he answered in the strongest tone he could, saying, “Easy, Master Toffee. I've never seen you with that ring off, so it's obviously very important to you, but normally you treat it just like any other ring. So I thought it was kinda weird that the whole time you were fighting Buff Frog, you were keeping it hidden, only using your right hand to fight, even though I know you're left handed. That's when I realized that that ring must somehow give you the power to regenerate, because how else could you recover from so many hits without using magic.”  

The room went silent again as Toffee just glared at the boy, Marco feeling his heart pounding away in his chest. Finally, the lizard laughed, a short, disturbing chuckle that somehow frightened Marco more than his most evil of death glares. Suddenly, Toffee's claw shot out, Marco caught off guard, as he tried to block the attack with his sword, but was easily overpowered by the experienced Toffee, as his claw wrapped around the boy's throat. Marco chocked in the lizard's grasp, dropping the sword as he tried to pry the lizard's claws away from his neck. “I always knew that eventually someone would discover the truth of my 'miraculous' healing abilities. I just never would have guessed that it would be you,” Toffee said, his voice a cruel hiss, slowly tightening his grip on the boy's windpipes, Marco coughing in response.

The boy was becoming frantic as he fearfully tried to take short spurts of breath but was unable to, the edges of his vision going black as he slowly suffocated. Buff Frog seeing his son in distress, felt a deep primal fear overcome him, somehow finding the strength to stand, reaching a hand out to them uselessly, as he furiously shouted at the monster, a low growl rising from his throat, “No, Toffee let him go!”

“Gladly,” Toffee replied calmly, somehow at ease despite the intense, life-threatening situation that was unfolding around him. “All you have to do is return to me what's mine. And then I will give you what's yours.” The lizards voice was just dripping with superiority, clearing enjoying making the both of them suffer.

“No,” Marco gasped out, his voice a raspy wheeze. “Don't do it, Buff Frog. He'll just kill me anyways.”

“Quiet,” Toffee hissed, his eyes narrowing, as he squeezed tighter, causing Buff Frog to flinch, Marco squirming more in his grip, as he struggled to take in a breath. “That's better. Now then, do we have a deal, Buff Frog?”

Buff Frog tried not to show the overwhelming terror he felt as he watched his only son being strangled in his arch rival's grip, keeping a blank stare on his face. “How do I know you will release him once I give you finger?” he asked, suspiciously.

“Well, I have to let go now, don't I?” Toffee replied, spitefully. “After all, thanks to your son I only have one good hand.” The lizard held up the stump that was once his left hand, shooting a glare at Marco, who's eyes were beginning to glaze over, as he slowly lost consciousness.

Buff Frog said nothing, just looking at his son with unsuppressed sadness, knowing he couldn't allow this to go on any longer, unable to watch as the color continued to drain from Marco's normally vibrant eyes, unable to hear him gasp anymore for the breath that Toffee was stealing from his oxygen-deprived lungs, the pain and hurt it was causing the monster almost too much for him to take. He had to give the lizard what he wanted, even if that meant the end for him. It didn't matter, the only thing that mattered was saving Marco.

Marco tried to shout something to Buff Frog, warning him not to trust the deceitful lizard, but he was unable to produce anything even remotely close to sounding like speech, the end product sounding more like a garbled squeak than words. It was getting harder and harder for him to keep his eyes open, the world fading into black, the boy's brain becoming fuzzy and dim, Marco struggling to form thought, as his oxygen-deprived mind screamed out for more air. If something didn't change soon, Marco was going to lose consciousness.

Toffee felt a giddy joy as he felt the boy's resistance continue to weaken, his heartbeat slowing as the last of his strength died out from beneath Toffee's fingertips. This was it, the lizard thought to himself, as he watched Buff Frog coming closer. The moment he had been waiting for over fourteen years. At last he could dispose of both his hated right-hand monster and the last of the Diaz's in one fell swoop and all right in front of the monsters and the princess. Toffee held back a smile. How utterly satisfying.

…

Star seeing the boy being slowly strangled by Toffee, felt a panic seize her again, wanting to reach out and help him, but was powerless to do so. “Marco, no! Marco!” Her voice was a broken whimper, as he eyes flooded with tears anew, not sure if she could bear watching Toffee kill the most important person in her life.

The girl began to weep on the floor, feeling hopeless, as she clutched her wand tightly to her chest. “Please?” she begged to the magical object. “Please, help me.” She sobbed once, trying to clear her tight throat enough to speak, squeezing her eyes shut, as tears continued to pour out of them. “Give me the strength to save him... just this once.”

And in that instant, Star's cheek marks turned bright white, her wand doing the same. Star felt a strength begin to fuel her, a deep, powerful energy unlike anything she had ever experienced slowly rising up inside her, making he whole body feel hot. Her thoughts ceased, everything vanishing around her, until all that she could feel or know was the magic that was burning like fire though her blood stream.

Jackie, Janna, and the monsters were confused as the air around them seemed to be electrified somehow, all of them feeling some kind of wave of energy flowing off of the princess, as she was lit up by the glow of her wand. Jackie removed her hand from the princess' shoulder, her and the others taking slow, cautious steps back. Star's eyes opened, both of them glowing pure white like her wand, a shockwave sent out by the action, knocking the monsters and girls to the ground, the glass barrier in front of her vibrating but refusing to break.

Without even realizing what she was doing, Star held the wand out at the barrier, a beam of pure light streaming from her wand and hitting the glass full-force. There was a loud cracking sound, as the glass finally shattered, Buff Frog and Toffee turning in the direction of the ear-splitting noise. With the glass now gone, Star easily stepped through, shooting off another beam, this one directed at Toffee. Buff Frog ducked to avoid the hit and Toffee was forced to let go of Marco in order to keep himself from being zapped by the powerful beam. The hooded boy collapsed to the ground, coughing and hacking as he tried to regain enough oxygen to breath normally again. He looked up at his rescuer through his dimming vision, his heart skipping a beat. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was the sight of Star standing proudly and assuredly in the doorway, her body shimmering with unparallelled beauty and power.

Behind the princess, the glass barrier began sealing back, the damage reversing itself as the crystal-like substance became twice as powerful as before. Janna, seeing this, quickly grabbed the still-recovering Jackie by the hand, before pulling her through the closing gap at the last second. For a few seconds, the two just watched as Star fired another a light infused lasso at the monster, wrapping around the monster's waist and flinging him toward the nearest wall, trying to separate him from Marco as much as possible. Toffee skidded to a stop, managing to keep himself from slamming into the stone wall. But Star was far from done, as the magical princess took off like a flash, her still supercharged body making her practically glide across the floor, as she came straight for the hated monster, Toffee dodging out of the way at the last second, the spell Star released from her wand, destroying the wall behind him, the last of Star's overpowered state wearing off as her cheek marks and eyes returned to their normal form.

Janna, seeing this, turned to her skater friend, saying, “You grab Marco. I'll help Star.”

“Right,” Jackie said with a curt nod, before the two took off together, only separating to help with their equivalent tasks, Janna running over to help Star and Jackie using her skateboard to get to the boy faster. Buff Frog was already there at the boy's side, holding his hand and he turned to the girl with a fearful look. “I do not feel pulse.”

Once Jackie reached the two, she quickly knelt down to examine the boy. He didn't look too hurt, but the skater could see red marks on his neck from where Toffee had been squeezing. She zipped open his hoodie, putting an ear to his chest as she tried to listen for a heartbeat or breathing. For a few tense seconds, there was nothing, Jackie concerned that she had reached him too late, but then she felt the boy's chest rise and fall, as he returned to his steady intake of breath and she sighed in relief. “He's still breathing,” she said to the monster assuredly and Buff Frog also released the breath he had been holding in.

“Thank corn,” he muttered.

From the other side of the room, Janna, now full monster form caught up with the two combatants, throwing a loose punch at the monster, but unlike the rest of the monsters, Toffee was far more experienced in a fight, moving out of the way, and grabbing onto her wrist, throwing her forward and right into Star, causing the two to collide.

But the two recovered quickly, jumping up, before going after the monster again, this time moving as one. Toffee was able to stop them somehow, even with the single hand, using his tail as his biggest advantage, wrapping it around Star's wrist to force her to fire at nothing, while blocking another punch from the half-monster girl.

Star, her hands still trapped, re-aimed her wand, firing a spell at the monster's head, Toffee ducking underneath it, before using his tail to fling her out of the way, the girl skidding across the hard ground. Janna, seeing the lizard momentarily distracted, swept Toffee's legs out from underneath him, but the lizard caught himself before hitting the floor. He was up in half a second, Janna having no time to even counter, as the lizard's sharp claw connected with her shoulder, the girl crying out in pain, before the lizard used his own force to throw her back, the girl stumbling but managing to keep her footing.

Star fired a series of crystal heart daggers at her fearsome opponent, Toffee managing to dodge around all of them, his movements almost too fluid and quick for the inexperienced princess to keep up with, as he slithered around the battlefield. Though her spell did manage to keep him distracted long enough for Janna to catch up to him. She threw another punch toward the lizard, this one managing to connect, as the lizard was sent flying back, where he once again crashed hard into the wall, cracking the area where he hit. He growled in frustration and perhaps pain but he was far from down, as Star shouted, “Supersonic Leech Bombs!” the lizard pushing himself off the wall as he dodged the attack, a series of explosions going off behind him, but none managing to hit him, as he merely dusted off his suit, giving the two girls a superior look.

Star groaned in frustration, unsure how her and Janna together still weren't enough to beat the injured monster. Even without his regeneration powers he was still practically unbeatable.

In truth though, it was taking Toffee everything he had to hold the two girls at bay. Toffee couldn't recall the last time he had had to actually give his all in a fight, clearly growing too use to the power of regeneration the ring granted him. And this wasn't a fight with a pair of ordinary Mewman. No, this was him versus the wand-wielding Princess of Mewni and a cursed Impure, who's strength objectively rivaled that of the monsters. It was time he tipped the odds back into his favor. After all, he did have more than a few tricks still up his sleeve.

He smiled another one of his false smiles, as he said to Star, “What's the matter, little princess? You seem upset about something.” His voice just dripped with sarcasm, making Star burn with hatred. “Don't tell me you're still mad about Marco?”

Star eyes drifted over to where Buff Frog and Jackie were, Marco still laying unconscious in their arms and she felt her anger burn anew. She couldn't lose. Not to Toffee. Not after everything he had put her poor Marco through. She would beat him even if it was the last thing she would ever do. She glared daggers at the lizard, clenching her wand even tighter, as she screamed at the top of her lungs, “I'm gonna make you pay for hurting him, Toffee!” She held her wand right at the suit-wearing lizard. “Mega Narwhal Blast!”

Jackie was keeping a watchful eye on the fight as it continued, concerned as Star seemed to grow angrier and angrier as the fight went on, the skater fearful for her friend, hoping that she was able to keep her head through this troubling ordeal. “They need help,” Jackie observed and Buff Frog nodded in agreement.

“Dah. But I too weak to fight and must guard Marco. Who else can help us?” the frog monster asked, seriously. Jackie's eyes slowly drifted over to the sealed crystal barrier, the other monsters watching the events unfold from the other side. Though it seemed getting through the barrier itself was impossible, on further inspection Jackie could see small cracks and holes in the foundation around it from where Star had senselessly blasted at the area.

Jackie rose to her feet, saying to the monster, “I have an idea. But I'm gonna need your help.”

“You have it, friend of Marco,” Buff Frog replied, rising as well, holding Marco gently in his beefed up arms.

“Great, then let's go,” Jackie responded, heading off toward the sealed barrier, Buff Frog right on her heels. “Oh and just Jackie is fine,” she added, shooting the amphibian a smile from over her shoulder.

Meanwhile, from Star and Janna's end, the two refused to let up their assault, working as one to try and take the lizard down, Star throwing spell after spell his way, forcing him to go on the defensive, while the half-monster girl had ample time to go on the offense, hitting him at off times with a super powered punch or kick. But the lizard was far from just standing there and taking it, managing to slash and claw at the creepy girl (almost always with success) every time she went in for an attack and with the girl's arm injured from Toffee's first attack, she couldn't go into her bat form to dodge, unable to fly with a hurt wing.

But that didn't hold Janna back, as she went in for another strike after Star had tried to unsuccessfully freeze the lizard in place, running at the lizard with a raised fist. Toffee was able to keep the punch from connecting, blocking the fist with an opened palm, ignoring the pain that surged from stopping what felt like a brick wall. He tightened his grip on her, as he used her momentum against her, yanking her easily forward before releasing her clenched fist and instead wrapping his thick talons around the back of her neck, slamming her into the ground beneath him. “Janna!” Star screamed, seeing her friend in trouble. The girl struggled as she tried to fight the lizard off of her but Toffee had her properly pinned. Toffee soaked in the look of fear on the girl's face, before pulling the Impure up and then throwing her toward the princess.

Janna landed next to Star, with a hurt grunt, the princess screaming in fear, “Janna! Janna are you okay?!”

“Typical Butterfly,” Toffee said in a condescending tone, adjusting the cuff on his hurt arm. “Hiding behind her wand while her subjects throw themselves in harm's way.”

Star gritted her teeth at the lizard, keeping her wand aimed and ready. “Coming from the monster who hid behind the power of some ring and used Marco as a hostage,” she hissed back.

“I suppose you're right,” the businesslike monster responded, his face blank. But it switched to a toothy grin as he added, “I guess you and I are exactly the same.”

Star felt red hot anger burning in her chest at the look the monster was giving her, as she screamed, “I am nothing like you!”

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Toffee threw a knife that he had kept concealed in his sleeve at the girl, Star barely having time to react as she blasted it out of the sky, but by the time she had, the lizard had closed the distance between them, slashing at the girl's arm, forcing her to drop her wand. Star cried out in pain, clutching the throbbing limb tightly, Toffee, kneeing the girl hard in the chest, before slamming her into the wall, pinning her there with his one good arm. Toffee smirked, as he suspended her wand in the air by his tail, before flinging it carelessly away, Star cringing as the object clattered to the floor. “You were right princess, we are nothing alike,” he said, his face just inches from hers, the girl struggling as she tried to break free. His tail picked up the discarded knife pressing the blade against her throat. “I would have seen that attack coming.”

…

There was a loud clunk as Jackie wedged her skateboard into the crack in the wall, pushing down on it for a second to make sure it was in properly. “There,” she said, satisfied it was in right. She turned to Buff Frog explaining to the frog monster, “If we pull on this we can loosen the wall enough to create an opening for the others to get through.”

“Good plan,” Buff Frog complimented, laying Marco down, before going over to help the girl. The two braced themselves, gathering their strength, as the frog awaited Jackie's command to go. “You on the other side,” she called to the others. “Try pushing against the wall as hard as you can when I say go.”

“Right!” came the muffled reply from the other side. “Ready...” she said, squeezing her board as tightly as she could, hoping that it didn't break before they brought the wall down. “Go!” She cried, the two pulling back against the board as hard as they could, straining from the overwhelming effort. There was a loud bang as the monster must have all hit the wall at the same time.

“Pull!” Jackie screamed again, louder than before, but the board refused to give an inch.

“PULL!” she repeated, this time feeling a small give from the board, seeing small chucks of rock and stone crumbling to the floor.

“We're doing it, guys! We're doing it!” she said, trying to encourage the others to give their all. “Just a little bit more!”

…

“Stay where you are, Impure,” Toffee warned Janna, who was giving him a death glare. “Or I will kill your princess.” He flicked the knife slightly, a small cut appearing on Star's neck. “Now be a good little monster and go bring me my finger.”

Star just continued to glare daggers at the suit-wearing lizard, quickly looking down at her arm to examine the damage, a thick cut running all the way across it, useless for stopping the monster from what he was about to do. “This isn't over, Toffee. I will beat you,” she said, viciously, trying to stay strong.

“Oh I highly doubt that,” Toffee responded. “You couldn't beat me even with your wand's strength. So how do you propose on beating me now.”

Before Star could respond, there was a loud crash behind the two, Toffee turning to see the wall around the crystal barrier collapsing, Jackie and Buff Frog covering their faces from the dust and debris that fell around them. “No!” Toffee hissed, infuriated with the others constant meddling.

Star, taking advantage of the distraction, finally managed to get her feet into a good position, as she pushed the lizard away with all her might, forcing him back while freeing herself from the trapped position against he wall. She didn't hesitate as she ducked under his slashing knife, sliding across the floor, before kicking at the back of his leg, the lizard stumbling but catching himself before he could fall. He rose to his feet, turning on his heels to stab at the girl and Star rolled out of the way.

Suddenly, Janna rejoined the fight, tackling Toffee with a yell, as she finally managed to bring the lizard to the ground, making him drop his knife. Toffee lashed out, Janna having to jump off of the lizard to avoid getting cut. Toffee rose to see Star running for her wand and he rushed at her, Janna screaming the princess a warning, “Star, head's up!”

Star was about to turn, when something grabbed onto her thick blond hair, pulling her back with all their might, pain shooting through her scalp causing her to scream. Star managed to turn last minute, landing on her knees, feeling them both instantly bruise and pain shooting up her hurt arm from catching herself, but ignored the pain as she jumped out of the way, as Toffee smashed a foot into the ground, right where Star had been.

Toffee looked over to see the monsters were fast on their way, screaming a loud battle cry, Buff Frog leading the assault, the amphibian trusting Jackie and a few of the other monsters to stay with and protect Marco. The calculating monster quickly realized that now was the time to go, pulling out his pair of dimensional scissors. Star saw this and immediately threw herself at the monster, slamming into him with all her might. The lizard faltered, Star grabbing the scissors out of his loosened grip, before immediately pulling away to avoid getting hit again.

After that, it was Janna's turn to interfere, a look of anger on her face as she punched him with every ounce of her strength she had, holding nothing back on the hated lizard. Toffee's body crumpled under the force of the attack as he was sent crashing into the wall, creating a giant crater in its side.

Toffee rose painfully to his feet, positive that that last attack had broken several bones, growling in unsuppressed fury, watching as the monsters caught up with the two girls, quickly surrounding the two. He considered his options all of them becoming quickly limited, as he knew he now had both the two powerful girls and the monsters to deal with. And with his body in the condition it was, he doubted he could continue fighting, having long since reached his limit. It was time to cut his loses. As much as he wanted to reclaim his finger, it was unlikely that now would be the best time to do so.

“Well, princess,” Toffee said, raising his claws in surrender, drawing everyone's weary eyes onto him. “I know when to give in. It seems you've managed to best me.” Everyone shared looks with one another, none of them really believing him.

“For real?” Star said, suspiciously.

“Of course. I'm not an idiot I know when I've been beaten.”

“Then, I guess, step closer,” Star said, still slightly unsure how to deal with this situation now.

“Slowly,” Janna said.

Toffee began taking slow, cautious steps closer, keeping his hands raised, limping slightly on his hurt foot. Once he was close enough, Bearicorn and Potato Baby restrained him. “So what happens now,” he asked, keeping his focus on Star.

“Now you pay for everything you've done,” Star spat back, giving him a narrowed glare.

“For all the lives you've taken!” Buff Frog growled.

“For all the lies you've told!” Lobster Claws added.

“And for hurting Marco in more ways than I care to count!” Star said, her body shaking with anger.

“Of course,” Toffee said submissively, lowering his head in defeat. But Janna' impeccable vision saw that behind his back he was slowly drawing something from his pocket, a small glowing sphere, one that Janna immediately recognized.

“Look out! He's got a magic bomb!” she cried in warning.

“Perceptive,” the lizard whispered.  

“What?!” Star asked, but there was no time for a response from her creepy friend as the lizard dropped the object to the floor, the thing clicking before it began flashing different colors, indicating it had become active.

Everyone gasped. “Move!” Buff Frog commanded in panic, everyone scrambling to get out of the bomb's destruction range, Bearicorn and Potato Baby releasing their hold on Toffee in the process, the lizard smiling before slithering away as quickly as he could with his limp, the others too distracted to go after him. He reached a far wall, pressing one of the loose stones, a secret passage opening up for him. He took one last look back at the doomed idiots before escaping into the underground catacombs.

Star couldn't help but beat herself up for not seeing the bomb as she ran with the others. Not that there was much point now, in a matter of seconds it would detonate and the whole area would be reduced to a pile of ash, she only hoped they could get clear of it in time. If only she still had her wand, then she could make a shield around everyone to protect them from the blast. Now all she had was...

Star looked down, staring at the pair of dimensional scissors still in her hands, an idea forming in her head. She immediately skidded to a stop, running back over to the bomb, much to the confusion and panic of Janna, who tried to shout the girl a warning. “Star!”

This, of course, caused the monsters to all turn, before gasping in surprise and fear for the girl who had clearly just lost her mind, Buff Frog actually trying to run over to the girl in an attempt to stop her. Star ignored the concerned screams around her as she reached the glowing bomb, which was switching between colors obsessively meaning it was probably close to going off. She picked it up, quickly cut open a portal, before tossing the bomb through. She didn't wait to listen for the explosion from the other side of the vortex, as she was already closing it back.

The whole room seemed to breath a sigh of relief knowing that the danger had passed, as the panic-induced moment ended. But Star didn't take a second to rest, as she looked over to the passage Toffee had escaped through, before saying to Buff Frog, “Come on. Toffee's getting away. If we go after him now then we might be able to stop him before he makes it out of the castle.”

With that she started after the monster, but Buff Frog put a hand on her shoulder, stopping her in place. She turned back to give him a raised eyebrow, but was surprised to see the seriousness on his face, the creepy look in his eyes sending chills down her spine. “No, princess,” he said in a eerily calm voice. “We give chase. You and friends watch over Marco, he needs you more now.” Buff Frog looked over to where his son lay, Jackie and now Janna still staying close by his side.

Star followed his gaze and felt her stomach clench at the sight of her friend hurt, but she said, “Jackie and Janna can watch him. I want to come,” she insisted. “I want to make Toffee pay for hurting him like that.”

Buff Frog shook his head firmly. “No. People do not need to see another Mewman killing monster in violence, whatever reason may be. You should stay here.”

Star looked down, nodding, knowing Buff Frog was right. The amphibian, seeing the girl's sadness, patted her on the head as he added, “Believe me is for the best.” His tone became extremely harsh as he said, “You do not need to see what is about to happen.”

Star's eyes widened in surprise, looking up to question the amphibian, but he had already switched his attention to the other monsters, saying. “All monsters follow me! We going to take down Toffee!” They all yelled in agreement, rallying behind their fellow monster as they all ran quickly and efficiently into the tunnels, Star just watching them go in silent concern.

…

The going was slow and quiet as Toffee limped down the dark, damp tunnels under his castle, having to use the dust-covered walls as support as he continued on the memorized path. His body was aching with pain and his mind was seething with rage, all of which was directed toward Marco, that loathsome princess, and his treacherous lackeys. How could they reduce him to this? How hideous the idea of the most feared monster in all of Mewni to be forced to run from his own castle, a broken mess of his former self.

But this wasn't the end, oh no it was far from it. He would get his revenge. Once he regained some of his strength, he would gather a new army of monsters, a far more loyal and powerful group, and then he would return to destroy every single one of his old lackeys, if any of them managed to survive the parting gift he had left them with. And once Buff Frog and his pitiful little rebellion was crushed and he had reclaimed his finger from them he would set his sights on the Butterfly Kingdom.

Toffee smiled wickedly. Next time, things would be different. Next time he would hold nothing back on the villainous Mewmans. They would all going to regret the day they had ever set foot on his land. And not just them... no, he would punish anyone who dared to defy his vision. No one would be safe from his fury, no one would be spared from his wrath. He was going to burn Mewni to the ground.

The lizard froze, sensing a presence in the dark tunnels around him. He looked around and sure enough, he saw Buff Frog stalking closer, his eyes holding a sinister purpose behind them. Toffee showed no fear, glaring back at his long-time rival defiantly. For a moment, the two just stared at each other intensely, the air growing thick with blood lust, Toffee recognizing the killer intent behind the frog monster's eyes. “So, you actually managed to survive my final trick,” Toffee observed needlessly. “And now what? You've come to finish me off, to kick me while I'm down.” Buff Frog said nothing, his silence more telling than any response he could have given. Toffee scoffed. “Are you really going to kill me in this state, when I'm too weak to fight back. Not very heroic of you, Buff Frog. And here it thought you wanted to be a good role model for Marco.”

“Never speak his name again,” Buff Frog hissed in resentment, his yell echoing around the catacombs, making it sound more menacing. “I not pretend to be hero. I am what you made me into, what you made all of us into...” Toffee held back his fear as the rest of the monster's began appearing around them, surrounding Toffee with equally grim faces.

“Why do you look so surprised, Toffee?” Buff Frog asked with wrathful indignation, opening his arms wide. “This is what you wanted us to do, right? To kill without second thought.”

Toffee just glared daggers, becoming more and more agitated as he looked around for some sort of escape route that didn't exist. “I suppose you just never thought we would be capable of turning on you,” Buff Frog continued, his eyes narrowing with every syllable. “How stupid of you.”

“You are all making a huge mistake, siding with the Mewmans,” Toffee said savagely. “They will eventually turn on you all, just like they always do. And when that day comes, you will see that I was right all along.”

��Perhaps, but you will not live to see that day,” Buff Frog stated, brutally. The frog began stepping closer to the lizard, the others monsters doing the same and Toffee became frantic, his calm outer shell shattering, as he began shouting in a maddened state, “You fools can't defeat me. This isn't how this is supposed to happen. Only I decide how this all ends.”

Buff Frog stopped, now standing directly in front of the feared lizard. “This is end,” he whispered.

The only sounds that followed were the echoing screams of what was once the most feared monster leader in all of Mewni's history, his blood-curdling shrieks seeming to vibrate through every inch of the ancient castle, finally bringing Toffee's fearful and terrifying reign to a close.

[sunlightpike]

Caleb’s backstory conversation transcription (under the cut because of length)

Fjord: Alright, can we maybe circle back to the— Jester: Caleb. Caleb: Um…
 Jester: We can tell you’re really, you know… scared. And that’s okay! To be scared. We just don’t know why. Fjord: Yeah, maybe if you share with us your apprehensions, it’ll ease it a bit? [Caleb inhales, goes to say something, stops. Beau puts a hand on his shoulder] Beau: You got this, man. Caleb: Your name is Veth? Nott: It was. Caleb: My name was Bren Aldric Ermendrud. Was. Jester: Wh— Caleb: And um— Nott: That’s why you looked at me. That day. [Caleb nods] Caleb: I um— [Caleb puts a hand on Beau’s shoulder. Beau puts a hand on his.] Jester: Did you— did you die too? Nott: Twinsies? Caleb: I have been using you all. Jester: How?
 Caleb: Um. I— I am from Rexxentrum. I attended the Soltryce Academy. And um… I was plucked by one of the Cerberus Assembly with a few others and um— was being trained to do the kinds of things that I fear may have been done to— Jester: Yeza? 
Caleb: Y—Yeah. And uh— A lot of big plans for me that didn’t pan out. And I went a little crazy. And I— I ran away. I ran away. I’ve been on the run for a long time. And I was tired of s—starving. And I met… [looks to Nott] I met you. And was a little less hungry for a while. And I have just been afraid for a long time, and two of the people in that town over there are on the Cerberus Assembly.
 Nott: Do you know them? Caleb: I know who they are. Jester: Would they know who you are? Caleb: I— I don’t think so. But I have walked past their portrait at school many times. Beau: Ew. Jester: Well they’re high up then, huh? 
Caleb: One of them is the head of the Cerberus Assembly. Jester: Holy shit Fjord: The head of the whole thing?
 Beau: Mr. Fancypants? 
Jester: Wait isn’t that where you want to go, Fjord? Fjord: I— I mean I did. That’s the center of magical teaching in the empire. As I understood it. Jester: But it’s— it’s really bad, or something? Caleb: There’s— there’s good teachers, it’s— its’ everything they describe it to be. But after going there for several months, one of the assembly who also would teach on occasion started interviewing me. Calling me in and asking me a lot of questions. And uh— he— he sort of put me in advanced class. Me and a few others. I— I don’t want you all to be seen with me because if you are seen with me by one of them… they will use you to get to me. Nott: Well, I mean, I don’t want them to see me either because they’ll kill me and everyone I’m with, so—anyone in town— so I— I think we’ll be hiding for some time. Caleb: You— you met the man who trained me. His name is Trent Ikithon. Jester: That’s why you always make that face. I’m sorry Caleb. Caleb: I’m not a very good person Jester: Well. I don’t think our actions define who we are all the time. Good people do bad things sometimes. Even bad people do good things. I think you’re a good person. Beau: Yeah and for the record Nott, I don’t think it’s us that’s been rubbing off on you, I think it’s you that’s been rubbing off on us. Fjord: Also I don’t think a very bad person would care about us. Jester: I don’t think a very bad person would care that he was very bad. Beau: Do you care about us? You’ve told us several times how you’ve been using us Jester: Are you secretly in love with me? Caleb: I am worried— about your husband. I know the things that they can do. [Caleb unwraps the bandages off of one of his arms. It is covered in faint scars from cuts, all up the arm] Caleb: He— he used to put crystals in. He— he experimented on— on us. On the three of us. Nott: What— what would they do? What? Crystals? Caleb: He was trying to strengthen us. Beau: The dunamus? 
Caleb: No. No, the first time I have ever seen that word was in your libraries. Just… haphazardly scrolled into a book. No explanation. No, I— we— everything was for empire. We were being trained to serve our empire. Above all else. He— he was a little mad himself. That is an… he was mad. Beau: I’m curious as to how much was for the empire, and how much the empire was a veil for his own personal exploits. Caleb: He— he believed that the unwashed masses relied on their base instincts and the highest calling was to rise above the muck and control the cattle for the good of all. Jester: That sounds like a bad person Caleb: But we were— are at war. And many of us felt that way. Feel that way. Nott: Do you still feel that way. [Caleb shakes his head] Caleb: But I don’t believe in anything, now. Fjord: This Trent, does he know these two that we saw? 
Caleb: Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. And I— I don’t want one more thing on my head to have you guys… it’s probably too late anyway. Fjord: How powerful are these two? Our normal tricks, would the fall short?Caleb: The Cerberus Assembly are the most powerful mages in the empire. Over two centuries ago, a number of mages went to war in the streets of Rexxentrum. And it was bloody and awful and eventually they came to a truce. And banded together. And proposed to the king at the time that they serve as an advising body alongside the throne. Jester: Would they see if we were disguised? Or would they have to look for us? Do you know what I mean?
 Caleb: I don’t know for sure but there is a reason why I did not use anything like that back there. Fjord: So we need to give them a very wide berth. But at the same time we need to figure out where— Nott: Why would they— would they have taken my husband? He was not a magic person, he was just a chemist. Caleb: I don’t know. It is something to do with this— the thing. Jester: It says it. Caleb: Yeah. But I don’t know why him. Jester: It says his instincts are solid. Nott: What instincts? 
Jester: Yeza, I’m assuming. [reading] “While I find this alchemist obnoxious in his simplicity—“ I’m sorry, I don’t believe that. Nott: I don’t either Jester: “— the academy’s eye for talent proves itself again.” Caleb: Was he gifted? In his work Nott: He was very brilliant in his work, but I— I mean, I never saw him do any magic— magic-y things. Fjord: Did he experiment? 
Jester: it says they want him to produce a number of batches of this— of that liquid. The one that we stole. Caleb: That is what is written about there. It talks about— It’s… listen I don’t pretend to know what we’re talking about, but it does not seem like anything that I ever studied. Nott: He was good at what he did, he could turn— he could refine anything. Jester: They wouldn’t kill him then. They need him. They need him to make batches over the next 12-16 months. Fjord: I’m sure he’s alive. But if he was good at breaking things down, taking them apart, experimenting on things, this thing that we have falls directly into that. 
Caleb: It says they are looking for a way to achieve their ends without the object. I— I hope he is alive, I truly do. They will make his life very painful though. Beau: Trent Ikithon was… looking at Yasha. He was side-eyeing Yasha. Fjord: What do you mean? Jester: Well she’s really hot. Beau: I feel like I’ve heard these words before. When we were in that bar. He… looks for prodigies, people with innate talent. I don’t think it matters. Nott: If they took my husband, where would they have taken him? Where— their headquarters are in Rexxentrum? At a school? At a— Caleb:  The city of Rexxentrum. Nott: The whole city is their headquarters? Caleb: They are based there Beau: And the Cerberus Assembly actually has a pretty heavy hold on Rexxentrum. Caleb: And the— the empire. They are… close to as powerful. Arguably more powerful than the king. Jester: I wonder if umm— Maybe we can break them out before he gets there. Maybe… he— it only just happened. Nott: Can they— do they have magical means of transport? Caleb: We watched De’leth appear 200 feet in front of us. Nott: So they could already be there. Caleb: Maybe. Beau: I’d be one to lay money on it. Nott: When— when— when did you get your new name? Caleb: I… used a lot of names. Caleb is just what I told you. Fjord: What do you prefer? Caleb: I don’t know. Caleb. Let’s stick with Caleb for now. Nott: Well… shit. It seems like if we are going to chase down my husband, you’re going to have to go into danger. Too much danger. Caleb: I honestly don’t know if we can… if we are up to this. Unless they are on route, on land, maybe… but… that’s all the might of the empire. Jester: Are we going to have to scout out, and listen in on people’s conversations? Fjord: We should just ask. We should ask to see if anyone saw a carriage, anything, leaving town with Yeza. Jester: Maybe if we go with our— our insurance company scheme, we can say that we believe there’s been fraud and he’s not really dead or something. Beau: Nott? Nott: Yes? Beau: Sorry, you were gonna say something. Nott: No, I just had more questions. Beau: I was gonna ask you a question. Nott: Go ahead. Beau: I don’t think you know the answer though. Your son mentioned that a mean lady with pointy ears keeps coming by. Nott: Is that one of these people that you— that we saw? Did— they had pointy ears, they’re elves, right? Caleb: They’re both elves. Nott: Did one of them look mean? Beau: Well. If he’s talking about Vess DeRogna Nott: Is that someone who would’ve— Do you know her to be someone who would be… someone who could harness chemicals and— Caleb: Vess DeRogna, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, no, Vess DeRogna is the archmage of antiquities. She is half a recluse. She taught at the school— not me, or years above me. Fjord: What does that mean, antiquities? Nott: Would she be interested in the things that Yeza was— Caleb: She’s a historian. She knows— she has uncovered… mysteries of the past, they would say at school. She’s a history buff, and awful as well, probably. Beau: She’s awful. Nott: But could she be the one who was visiting my home?
Beau: It sounds like they’ve been here watching your husband for quite some time. Which means… checking in on your son. Caleb: De’leth is domestic protection. He is the head of the military. So if they are both here I would imagine that he is here overseeing all of the red brands we saw and she is probably here trying to figure out what’s in that bag. Nott: And then… do we have, I— because I just don’t know how this all connects. Do we know why the Cricks also attacked? Did they sense a disturbance in their juice or whatever that stuff is? The dunamus? Jester: do you think maybe they’re attacking because we have the thingy? 
Nott: But we’ve had the thingy for a long time, it doesn’t explain why they would attack here, now. Caleb: They could be combing the empire for it. Fjord: It might not be the only one. Beau: It feels like… it is a piece of dunamus, right? [Caleb rolls an intelligence check and remembers that it mentioned more than one beacon. They read over the letters a bit more, reading about the effects of the beacon that they had. Jester suggests doing some things with the dodecahedron, but the rest of the group insists it’s too dangerous to do here. Marisha asks some questions about the people they saw in Zadash fighting the assassin. They talk about the dodecahedron a bit more and theorize about it, talking about when Caleb saw the word for the first time.] Beau: What were you looking for when you found it? What were you trying to find?
 Caleb: I was studying history and— I need to become more powerful. If I want to… do anything. 
Beau: You still haven’t answered my previous question of how you were using us, and what that means to you. Jester: Oh yeah Caleb: Prote— look at me. I am a stringbean, I am weak as it comes. I am weak. [pokes Beau’s arm] Look at that. [points to Yasha] Look at her. 
Jester: Look at me Beau: Her guns are bigger than mine Caleb: You have no guns. That was an exaggeration that day. You are just fast and quick and talented. Beau: Okay, okay, okay, was that a compliment? Fjord: I think so Beau: Okay Nott: I feel like there’s a difference between using someone and relying on someone. Beau: That’s what I was gonna say. Do you think that Fjord was using us. Do you think that Nott’s been using us? You know, and we’re also here. Volunteering our help. Jester: Yeah. It’s only using us if you don’t like us. Do you like us, though?
Caleb: yeah Nott: you do? Caleb: I uh— [Jester waves her hands around] Caleb: ohh, Jester. I am glad you see good in me. Beau: Caleb you were right when you said earlier that it’s too late now. That we’re involved. But I don’t think we see it in the same way that you do. It’s too late now because, whether you like it or not, we all care about you and are invested in, you know, like your happiness I guess. So… Caleb: Okay Beau: Don’t run. You can say you don’t believe in anything, and that’s fine… Believe in us just a little bit? [Caleb nods] Caleb: I will consider it heavily. Beau: I’m— I’m sorry for not hearing you, yesterday. Honestly, you saying that you don’t believe in anything kind of… put everything into perspective about that conversation. I heard that you were doubting me and us and our friendship. Caleb: I don’t doubt any of you at all. [Calls to Caduceus] You too. Caduceus: Yeah, I’ll have some if someone’s making something. That’s good.

[yasminsqueendom]

Antique the Vamp Geek Pt1 Ep12

CW: The usual (stress, anxiety,anger)

A/N: Another good old Q and A

W/C: 1994

So hey, I feel like I’ve gotten away from my original purpose here. Y’all have been extremely supportive in the messages that you have sent me regarding the content of my last few episodes, but I really want to hear from y’all. 

I have had the opportunity to let you guys send me recorded questions. And I have to say, I really love hearing your voices. Y’all sound so cute to me. But, anyway, I have your questions, and I will answer them as I always have.  

Here’s the first one from @errbody.mad3: Hey, Tique! I have to say, I love listening to your show. I think that everything you do and say is amazing. There have been times that I wanted to give up, but you have kept me going with your sass, and strength. How do you do it? But, also, how are you? Just in general.

Hey, love. With beautiful people like you in the world, things can’t be so bad, right? Thank you, kindly, for listening to my crazy ass. And thank you for existing. You don’t know what it means to me to know that with everything that been happening, people like you keep pulling through and sticking it out with me.

Umm, I’m alive I guess. There is definitely a lot more going on than I have the ability to say here. Just know that I am surviving. There are some legal things that I have to deal with between me and my family (my parents in particular). I can't speak to my younger siblings at all. All communications have pretty much ceased. Outside of that, I don't have much to say. 

Oh yeah, and my parents have begun a campaign to get my show off the air. So there's that.

Ok, next question from @tko.winna876: I remember you said way back in the first show that not everybody becomes a vampire when they come in contact with the virus. Can you elaborate on that?

So…..when I was turned I did A LOT of research about what this was. There wasn't a whole lot of info at the time, but one thing was clear: everyone didn't turn. After some thought, I suppose it makes sense. If everyone turned at first contact there would be no more uninfected humans. But, I became curious about people who didn't turn. Apparently, the virus can still hide inside of an “uninfected” person for a period of time. The immune system can fight it. However, if that person becomes ill, and their immune system is compromised, the virus could become active. On average, out of 100 samples, this “reactivation” happened less than once. Similarly, with pregnant women, the chances of their babies becoming vamps were even smaller than reactivation. 

Oddly enough, white people are slightly more susceptible to the virus. But people of color still tend to contract it at higher rates. 

And then there is the population of people that just die. It is a slow and painful death. You end up bleeding out of various orifices and severely dehydrating. 

Then, obviously, there is the population that turns. Your kidneys are basically failing and you can't make new platelets, so you need to consume blood. What manner of sorcery manages to get it out of your guts and into your bloodstream is beyond my understanding. 

Most of the people who turn end up dying anyway. 

The ones that survive can live really long lives. But we aren't exactly immortal. Due to our bodies being repeatedly rejuvenated by consuming blood, we age a lot slower. Quality of blood also affects this. Drinking from alcoholics, or people with certain chronic illnesses can have negative effects on us. We may even experience a high from a drug addict depending on how recently they have used. 

The younger the blood, the better. But I am morally opposed to drinking from anyone younger than me. Just putting that out there.

So, yeah. That's what I know so far. You are always welcome to peruse the website for more info if you like. And there are several forums where older, more experienced vamps will discuss and give advice and survival tips.

Alright, I have a question from @subwaykid312: Will you ever have a guest on your show? Like actually there having a conversation with you?

Ummm, it’s an idea I have been playing with for a while now. I do want to have people come in and visit. Safety is a priority for me though, so I’m always sceptical of people wanting to meet me. Also, I would never want someone to come in if they don’t feel comfortable discussing things on the air. My ultimate goal would be to have an experienced vamp come on the show to talk about their experiences and share resources. And,, I would want to hear their thoughts on government involvement the treatment of our kind. I know that a few more experienced vamps follow my show, and I certainly want to extend an invitation to anyone who would want to participate. 

Here is another question from @lei.lei716: Hey Tique! It’s been awhile since you talked about sex and vampirism. Do you have any other advice about safe ways that we can be intimate with our partners?

Actually, yes. It’s something that has been weighing on my mind for some time. I really enjoyed a lot of the feedback I got on the practicing safe sex. Particularly, when you are infected with a contagious virus that may alter your partner’s life permanently, or kill them painfully.

I think that you should be patient. I definitely will get more in depth with safe sex, intimacy, and all that in another show. Also, just hygiene and upkeep in general seem like a good idea to discuss. Vampirism isn’t all that magical shit you see in movies. Your body still does weird things. 

Okay, one more question from @esthea.312: I remember you talked about getting punched in the face back in Ep 4. I got into a fight with another vamp, and they punched me in the face. And...um… one of my fangs fell out. I’m more than a little concerned with this. I know uninfected adults don’t grow another set of teeth. Do we get new teeth, since we got fangs?

So, this is a really good question. Yes, our teeth did grow and strengthen when we were turned. But we did not grow another set of teeth. If that were the case, then our old teeth would have been sitting on our pillows, and the tooth fairy would have left us a bag of blood as a gift. So, sadly, you will not grow another fang. However, there are some dentists that are progressive enough that they will be happy to create a new one for you. Hell, you could be like Beyonce with “diamond fangs” in your mouth. But, it will cost you a pretty penny. If you can afford it, go awf. Otherwise, try to only take photos from your cute side. 

Which actually reminds me of another situation. I’ve heard that there are some vamps that have their fangs replaced by flatter teeth. It makes them feel safer, and it’s easier to assimilate. Honestly, I have considered getting the surgery done since I don’t bite for sustenance. Then, I realized that people are always uncomfortable with my appearance. Being a big black girl with super short hair, people always feel the need to stare or offer their opinions about my health. So, there is that. At least now, they back away from me rather than trying to get closer.

Ok, one last question from @drea.ds.saint12: Do you have/know of any vamps that have dental issues? Our immune systems are stronger than the uninfected because sanguinilis kicks our systems into overdrive so that it doesn’t have to share us with other illnesses. Our teeth (and bones in general) strengthen a lot when we turn, but I have seen some vamps with rotting teeth. How is that possible?

Well, upkeep is still important. We are still susceptible to bacterial infections and such that can eat away at us. Fungi, and things like that, can still settle in us. The biggest difference between us and the uninfected are that we heal quickly. So, we can still contract infections, but our bodies fight them off faster. 

I know that wasn’t the best explanation, but think of it this way: If we develop an infection, the bacteria/fungus can live on us or in us, but the moment it starts to hinder our ability to function, sanguinilis kicks in and beats it’s ass. That means that, yes, our teeth can rot and we can get rashes and such, but they end up being minor inconveniences. 

Other viruses aren’t tolerated at all. It wants us to survive for a long as possible, and when that isn’t possible, it makes us infect others. It’s vain, but it isn’t stingy. It loves to share.

Alright! So that’s it for the Q and A session, but I did have other updates for y’all as far as our local government is concerned. 

Apparently, there is a vote in the works. The city council is trying to decide if underage vamps should be allowed to attend schools. Now, shortly after the discovery that vampirism was real, there was a push to test everyone who worked/attended schools where the students were under the age of 18. Fortunately, the vast majority (and I mean like 99.99%) of students under the age of 18, and their teachers came up as negative for sanguinilis. In fact, the largest population of infected people came up in the laborers that clean and cook in schools (at less than 3% infected). 

So, at the very worst case scenario, 97% of people who work in educational spaces that taught children under the age of 18 were uninfected. Keep in mind that “infected” in this case means that they were carrying the virus, but weren’t necessarily a vampire. That percentage was less than 1%. And those few cases were all night janitors who never actually came into contact with students. 

But, that was all it took to get parents up in arms. And understandably so, considering the alternative possibility that someone might end up taking a bite out of your child while they learn the alphabet. 

The “vamp ban” as it was termed tried to encompass college campuses as well. But, there is way too much money that goes into have college students around. And private institutions fought against letting the government make that decision for them. All the lobbying and city hall shout fests are what led to things like the testing they are doing on campus here. 

The vote will take place next Tuesday. So, however you feel about vamps existing, get into the ears of your representatives, and let them know exactly how you feel. 

Other updates: I got my results back from the nurse’s office. My results were exactly what you would expect. They came with a strong recommendation that this school may not be the best one for me. But, so far, they can’t legally expel me. It doesn’t matter anyway. I already made the moves I needed to make to ensure that I won’t have to still be there come next fall semester. 

So, fuck this school.

Lastly, I keep getting all these random threats, and all I can say to y’all is this: the more lives I save by speaking about our issues, the better I feel. And you can shove an entire bag of dicks right down your throat. I literally don’t care what you have to say about anything I do.

Ok, so that is it for today. 

I love you all endlessly. Please stay moisturized and hydrated. 

Look out for one another,

Love Tique.

[starswornoaths]

Ever a Seneschal, Ne’er a Princess (1/4)

Serella used to be a princess. It used to bother her when she wasn’t anymore. She’s fine now, really- she’s fine.

Or:

Hi I’m having feelings from this year’s event story so have some Tragic Backstory(tm) that I wrote for my own soul.

Serella’s first Little Ladies Day had been nothing short of magical in her eyes.

A girl of just seven summers then, she was enchanted by the way the flowers seemed to bloom brighter than any other time of year, at the perpetually fluttering flower petals and the sweetness and laughter filling the air. The Mih Khetto Amphitheatre was alive today in a way she had never seen it before. She could only gawk in awe of the festivities around her.

It was fortunate that her Da was holding her little hand in his, as she would have otherwise distractedly wandered. His large hand fully encased hers, warm and rough with callouses as he gently guided her through the stalls and people. His pace was easy to match, slow but smooth— a rarity with his bad leg. She could hear the rhythmic thmp of his cane hitting the earth as they walked. She had no idea why they were there— or why Uthen and Ma had split off the moment they made it to the Amphitheatre.

“What’s the festival for, Da?” Serella finally asked when they stopped beneath the shade of a cherry blossom tree.

“This,” her Da said with a grand sweep of his arm. “Is all for Little Ladies Day, Ella.” He smiled at her in that fatherly way that made her feel so warm and happy as he explained, “it’s a day for celebrating springtime, and lets little ladies like yourself,” when he lightly tapped the tip of her nose with a finger, she giggled in delight. “Celebrate their maidenhood by being princesses for the day.” He gestured to the various celebration staff, all in crisp clean suits. “The seneschals attend to the princesses for the day.”

“I’m not a maiden!” Serella insisted, her cheeks puffed out. “Or a princess! I’m your First Mate!”

“That you are, little acorn.” Her Da agreed, his laughter rumbling like thunder. “But a First Mate can also be a princess.” He was slow to lean down to kiss the top of her head, but she beamed like the sun for it all the same. “And you are most certainly a princess.”

“I guess that’s okay, then.” Serella conceded, even as she continued to grin. “So what do we do?”

“Whatever you wish, princess!” Her Da answered with a bow. “I shall be your seneschal for the day.”

“You can’t be a seneschal, Da!” She said with a giggle. “You’re the Captain!”

“That does put us in a pickle!” He laughed. “Then I’ll just have to be Captain Seneschal, just for you, Princess Ella,” he said.

“Okay, Captain!” Serella said, bouncing on the balls on her feet.

They mingled with the crowd, and when her Da was handed a lovely pale pink lily corsage, he gallantly fixed it to Serella’s hair. The day was filled with laughter, the scent of spring all around them, and fingers sticky from the fruit and seasonal treats they partook in. The day had not been long enough, but it was perfect. Serella had never felt like a princess before.

“I can’t promise we’ll come every year,” her Da said quietly, somberly as they waited for Uthen and her Ma to meet with them to make the trip home. “We...we might not make it out that often.”

Because of his leg, in part, she knew— that their village was a few hours cart ride from Gridania proper also made it worse. She nodded in understanding.

“That’s okay!” Serella promised him, this time being the one to reach for his hand. “Today was so cool!” She grinned up at him. “Thank you, Captain Da!”

When he smiled at her, she only hoped he knew that today was enough. If she never got to go to another Little Ladies Day with him, that today was more than enough.

***

**

*

Serella’s second Little Ladies Day was nothing short of a disaster in Uthengentle’s eyes.

With their parents parted from this star for not even a year and the two of them living with the clan of outcast Duskwight that took them in, the two of them were, more or less, allowed to do as they pleased, once their chores were done for the day. As the festivities drew near, Uthengentle promised himself that he would finish up the next day’s chores and duties ahead of time— for the both of them— and take her himself. He wasn’t their Da by a long shot, but he could still be her seneschal.

He’d done as much planning as he could; they didn’t have much in the way of gil, but the clan was in need of supplies, and were sending the kids into town for it anyway. They would still be able to get what they needed from the Ivory and Ebony stalls, make a decent day of the event, and be back before sundown, so long as he was careful about it.

And...and he wanted Ellie to have a good time! She needed it...she’d needed it since their parents...weren’t there anymore. The scars on her face and neck had healed over...but she had been so drawn into herself and quiet for so long it was as if the beast that gave them to her had clawed out her voice. All he wanted was to make her smile. She hadn’t in so long…

So Uthengentle couldn’t help but feel a little like her eyes widening in surprise as he took her hand and steered her away from the path leading to the stalls and guiding them down toward the Amphitheatre a personal victory.

“Uthen?” Serella asked quietly, tugging at his hand to stop.

When he turned back to her again, her eyes asked him, where are we going? He’d gotten better at reading what she didn’t ask in recent months. He was just sorry he had to at all.

“Do you know what today is, Ellie?” He asked her. She shook her head, but reluctantly fell back into step beside him when he started walking again. “It’s Little Ladies Day!”

“But,” she began, though frowned. “We have work to do…”

“We’ll still do it!” Uthengentle promised her. “We’re just doing this first!”

“Why?” She whispered, and when he looked at her again, her head was downcast. He couldn’t see her expression for the way her hair fell in front of her face.

“Because you’re a princess!” He exclaimed. “And I’m your seneschal!”

She looked up at him in surprise, blinking owlishly but he only pressed on, feeling excitement swell in him as they drew near enough to breathe in the sweet scent of flowers in bloom. The wind carried the low din of the festivities, and all that planning leading up to that moment was more than worth it for the way her eyes lit up at the sight of it all.

They took off running and laughing the last stretch of the mossy cobblestone path leading into the Amphitheatre. The attendees and the event runners all seemed happy, with couples and kids keeping to their familiar groups as they took in the festivities. As they eased into walking around, Uthengentle scanned the stalls for what he was looking for.

“I think,” he said almost to himself. Serella looked at him. “The flower stall is over here…”

Sure enough, this year the attendant behind the stall booth was handing out small little flower bracelets. His grin broadened, and he led her over. Encouraged by his gentle prodding, Serella shuffled close to the stall and once it was her turn, looked up at the stall attendant.

“Umm...one bracelet, please?” She asked.

Uthengentle’s first inclination that this day...might not go as intended was the way that the attendant flinched at Serella’s face but tried to cover it with a smile as he handed her a bracelet. Uthengentle hoped she didn’t notice, but the way she immediately looked down as she fidgeted with the bracelet told him that she had.

“Hold on, Ellie!” He said with probably too much enthusiasm as he held out his hand for her. She peered up at him through a part in her fallen hair. “I’m your seneschal! I should put it on for you!”

With reluctance, she handed it over, and he made a show of kneeling and putting the bracelet on her.

“Thanks, Uthen.” She whispered.

“There we go!” He said as he watched her lightly touch the bracelet. “You look so pretty, Princess Ellie!”

She flushed and smiled faintly but said nothing. It was clear to Uthengentle that she was still nervous and uncomfortable. He guided her over to the benches and coaxed her into taking a seat.

“Here, you take a breather, I’ll go get us some fruit!” Uthengentle said brightly. “How’s watermelon sound? Good?”

She nodded, and he ran off back to the stalls in search of the foodstuff. They were close enough that he could keep an eye on her, and he knew she wouldn’t leave without him anyway. The line for the fruit stand wasn’t too long, but there were a few couples, and one of them was taking a while to decide on their selection. Resisting the urge to fidget, Uthengentle looked back over to the benches. His stomach promptly dropped.

There were other girls around Serella’s age had congregated around her— and one of them reached over and ripped her bracelet off.

Fruit be damned, Uthengentle decided as he sprinted back. The cruel laughter of the girls was the first thing he heard.

“You must have stolen it,” was the first thing he heard the girl who ripped the bracelet say. The braided flowers lie on the ground by the bench, their stems snapped. The girl ground it under her heel. “Ugly girls like you don’t get to be princesses. Didn’t you know that? Have you seen your face?”

Uthengentle sprinted faster as the girls closed in on her. Anger the likes of which he hadn’t felt since their parents died burned in his veins.

“Hey!” He shouted, using his momentum to shove the offending girl away with his shoulder.

She stumbled to the ground, and before Uthengentle could really start screaming at her, she began to cry and point at him.

“He hit me!” She screamed.

Uthengentle’s blood ran cold; he was old enough to understand what it would look like, a little Elezen girl in the heart of Gridania pointing at a little Ala Mhigan kid and crying foul. He knew whose side the grown ups would take. Didn’t matter what he or Ellie said. Might as well fight for his principles and his sister both, if he was going to be the bad guy anyway.

“And you hurt my sister!” Uthengentle doubled down, screaming louder than her. The other girls crowded around their little trouble maker friend in fear, but he only squared his shoulders and tried to remember what Ma taught him about throwing punches properly. “Go ahead and cry to the grown ups! I’ll fight ‘em same as you—!”

A sharp tug on the back of his shirt snapped him out of his anger. He looked over his shoulder to see Serella looking up at him with wide, glassy eyes. Fat tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks as she tried not to sob.

“Uthen,” she hiccuped. “Let’s go.”

“But Ellie—” he hesitated when he heard murmurs from the adults to find the girl’s parents.

“C’mon,” Serella insisted, ignoring her tears even as she stood and pulled him back toward the path they came. “We shouldn’t be here.”

When they ran this time, there was no smiling or laughter. There was only Uthengentle looking over their shoulder to see whether anyone was following them or not. There was only Serella’s sniffles and hiccups.

Thankfully, no one followed them.

The stall merchants in the Ivory and Ebony stalls were familiar enough with the children that they were kind and handed over what goods they were sent for without batting an eye at Serella’s puffy, red eyes.

“I’m sorry they were jerks, Ellie.” Uthen said quietly once they were deep in the Shroud, their little packs laden with their required goods. “Is there something else you wanted to do? I’m still your seneschal—”

“I’m not a princess anymore.” Serella whispered with a shake of her head.

Uthengentle’s already churning stomach twisted even harder at that. “Ellie,” he tried to argue. “You don’t honestly believe them, do you?” He frowned deeply. “You’re not ugly, and—”

“I know.” Serella said in a way that told him she didn’t believe him. “It’s okay. Let’s just go.”

She never said ‘home’ anymore.

***

**

*

Serella’s third Little Ladies’ Day, and all the others ever since, have been nothing short of fulfilling in her eyes.

She did not return to the event until adulthood— not until she reunited with Uthengentle, in fact. On a whim, when her mood was good and the winds were fair she chanced attending the festival in Ul’Dah. Somehow, she wasn’t surprised by the familiar scent of cherry blossoms sweetly blowing on the breeze, even here in the center of the Jewel of the Desert.

Uthengentle seemed to be over the moon— and had insisted he go off and find something for her. While that perplexed her, she let him wander off as she meandered toward one of the event seneschals responsible for the event. Before she had even opened her mouth to ask where she might get a corsage, he peered up at her with a grin.

“Why, an adventurer!” He greeted her with a friendly wave of his hand. “Hello there! Here to volunteer as a seneschal for the Little Ladies of the day?” With a flourish he gestured toward a festive food item. “We’re offering these to volunteers for free!”

It didn’t hurt, being presumed to come to him as a volunteer. A correction did not come to sit on her tongue and push against her teeth. Instead, a quiet ah of realization settled calmly in her heart. This was not a rejection, but an acknowledgement of what was true: her days of ever being a princess, even for a day, her silly little flights of fancy and never-could-be, had been put behind her before now. For now, she was not a little lady, not a maiden. She was an adventurer. That’s all she was now. And that’s...that’s what she was. It didn’t matter what she wanted and what she didn’t; she simply understood what she was and what she wasn’t.

With a smile, Serella answered, “you know? That sounds like a plan. Where do you need me?”

By the time Uthengentle found her, she was already a gallant seneschal, helping little ladies with flower pins and dances and offering help and merriment where it was needed. She turned to see him holding a flower pin and blinking owlishly at her.

“Ellie?” He asked, approaching. The little lady she had been escorting waved her farewell and trotted off to find her parents, her own little flower pin tied in her hair. “What are you doing?”

“Volunteering!” She said brightly. “I’m a seneschal now, just like you were!”

Uthengentle flinched, and that struck her as odd. Wasn’t he happy she had found something to like about the holiday again? That she understood what she was and what she wasn’t?

“Not a princess?” He chanced, and that too she found strange.

“Please, Uthen,” she dismissed with a laugh. “I haven’t been one in years— I’m too old for that, silly.”

Her brother looked utterly stricken, and a thought occurred to her that perhaps he just wanted to be a seneschal again? Well, no time like the present, she figured.

“You know, they’re accepting volunteers still.” Serella mentioned. “But I think they already got the best one when they got me, so maybe you can volunteer for second place?”

Sibling competitiveness demanded that he answer her challenge— and he did splendidly, handily out performing her as a seneschal. She couldn’t have been happier; every little lady, no matter how old, had been made to feel like a princess thanks to Uthengentle and herself. And that was enough. 

And that was enough.

[hamiltontrashaccount]

It’s Okay (Thomas Jefferson x Reader)

SO sorry that i took so long with this request <3, enjoyyyyyy

Request: Could you write a fic where Jefferson is helping the reader who has depression through a really hard day? 😊

Pairing: Thomas Jefferson x Reader

Word Count: 1392

Warning: this does deal with depression, well, depression as it is with me since this is how i feel all the time but yeah, lots of moments of insecurity and also, i do put a lot of insults in here, a curse word (yes just one lol), umm if there is anything else you guys see lmk please, i dont want to accientally trigger smth with somebody thanks <3

Nothing particularly bad happened that day, or even that week. But you still woke up that day, feeling the worst you had felt in a while.

The first thing you did when you woke up was go to the bathroom. But on the way to the bathroom was your big, full length mirror, and you made the huge mistake of looking at it. You only had your panties on, since you and your boyfriend, Thomas, had had a fun night last night.

The moment your eyes fell onto your body, you felt immediate disgust. Your gaze started at your face.

Your nose is too crooked. Your mouth falls too low on one side, and your top lip isn’t as big as your bottom lip. Your eyes are an ugly shade of muddy brown. Your hair is too short and it makes you look way too old. Your neck is too long

Your eyes moved lower, onto the top half of your body.

Your left boob is lopsided. Your right boob is too big and it sags too much. Your nipples are ugly. Your stomach is too pudgy. You need to work out. You’re just way too fat in general.

Your eyes fell lower.

Your thighs are too fat. Your calves are too thick. Your feet are too big.

So many bad thoughts ran through your head. Tears started welling up in your eyes, as your mind fell into even darker places.

You talk too much. Thomas can’t stand listening to you ramble on about your boring days. He hates your laugh. He spends all day at work because he can’t stand to be with such a worthless person.

That word kept echoing in your head. Worthless. Worthless. It was accurate to describe you, you thought.

You continued your journey to the bathroom, but much more slowly now. You got ready, taking twice as long as you usually took. Your bad thoughts were invading your mind, and you could hardly concentrate on your morning routine.

If you can’t even take care of yourself, what makes you think you can go out and take care of the people you love? You’re just being useless.

It was another word to echo in your head. Useless. Useless.

More words echoed in your head, until you were sure that you were the worst human alive.

Tears started to spill down your face. You silently cried in the bathroom, before wiping the tears away and walked out.

Thomas was already up, getting into his suit for work.

“Hey honey, I was thinking I could come during my lunch break and we could have a little date. Madison told me the coffee shop across the street from where you work is- Y/N, are you okay?”

He looked up from tying his tie to see you holding your arms close to your chest, your cheeks still stained from the tears you missed.

“I’m fine, Thomas.” You waved him off as he tried to walk to you. He stopped in his tracks, and just stared at you.

“Are you sure? You don’t look like your feeling well.”

“I’m fine, honey. You’re gonna be late for work.” You walked up to him and finished his tie for him. You gave him a kiss on his nose and walked past him, acting as if you were going to grab your own clothes. Thomas said nothing as he walked out of the room.

You laid down in your bed, curling into a ball. Today wasn’t going to be a good day. You knew that much.

I should just sleep. If I sleep, I won’t bother anyone.

You closed your eyes and once you started to drift off to sleep, you heard the front door open.

“Y/N! Are you still here?”

It was Thomas. You got up from the bed, and walked out. Thomas was carrying two bags of grocery.

“Why are you here, Tommy?”

“I took the day off.” He explained as he emptied out the contents of the bags onto the kitchen counter.

In one bag were different ingredients to make a big breakfast. In the other bag were different comfort foods, yours and Thomas’ favorites.

“I couldn’t leave my favorite girl all by herself.”

You shook your head. As you opened your mouth to argue with Thomas, and tell him he should go back to work, he grabbed your face.

“Y/N, I know you. I wasn’t going to leave you alone when you’re not feeling happy.”

“Thomas, I don’t want you to miss another day of work for me.”

He shrugged. “It’s fine. There was a meeting today anyway, and who wants to hear Hamilton go off on one of his tangents. Don’t worry, I’m not missing anything.” He gives you a kiss on your forehead, and turns away to start making breakfast.

“So maybe we could finally finish that episode of Criminal Minds that we started ages ago and never finished. Now we’re almost two seasons behind. I can’t believe we just let our favorite show slip through our fingers,” He said this, wiggling his fingers, as if mimicking something falling through them.

You knew his words were harmless; they were playful. But when your depression hit you this hard, you twisted everything to be an insult to you.

He was right. How could you let something you love so dearly just leave you? It's no wonder everyone leaves you.

Thomas noticed your face drop farther than it was before. “No, babe. Aw fuck.” He dropped what he was doing and stood in front of you. “I- You- I… Do you want your eggs scrambled or fried?”

You sniffed. “An omelet?”

He smiled big and said, “Of course! Do you want any vegetables in it? Onions, tomatoes?” As you shook your head, he got an idea. “Cheese! Cheese would be great! You want cheese?” You gave a weak smile and told him yes.

He got right to work, and began to ramble on and on about unimportant things. You didn’t realize it, but it was the surefire way of getting you out of your depression. Thomas had spent the past couple years perfecting this technique. He was happy to see that through all his nervous rambling, and the therapy you went to every week, you were getting better. But bad days still came. And since you wouldn’t be able to see your therapist until way later into the week, his nervous rambling was the best he could give. And very slowly, it seemed to work.

Even though you still felt horrible, his words were helping. They were slowly drawing you out of your sadness, until there was a tiny little light shining through.

Something Thomas said had you giggling. He paused in his cooking. He was beyond delighted you were feeling better, but he was afraid if he turned around and acknowledged you, you’d get embarrassed. He didn’t want to risk it, so he continued cooking and kept rambling on and on.

It didn’t take much longer to cook breakfast. Once it was done, Thomas set the plate down in front of you and got you a glass of orange juice. He quickly got his own plate and sat down in front of you. The both of you sat in silence for a while before Thomas swallowed whatever was in his mouth and spoke.

“Do you wanna talk about it?”

You didn’t answer at first. You didn’t know how to explain it. But considering Thomas skipped work today to keep you company, you owed him an explanation.

“I just… Woke up this morning, feeling bad. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

“Y/N...”

“I know, I shouldn’t feel like this. But sometimes, I just can’t help it.”

“No, you shouldn’t feel like this,” he said softly. “But you do. And it’s okay. You don’t need to make yourself feel worse, honey. You’re still getting better.”

You smiled at him.

“Maybe you should try to visit with your therapist today?” he suggested.

“No, I think I can hold off until the end of the week.”

Thomas didn’t say anything, just reached over to grab your hand.

The two of you ate in silence. Your mood didn’t magically lift by just spending time with him, but knowing there was someone there you could rely on was good enough.

[phandomsecretvalentines]

Outside Perspective

Length: 3k

Summary: Dan and Phil move into a new flat which has something they didn’t exactly bargain for, a ghost.

***

When I was a kid, I told my parents that I wanted to do something phenomenal. I wanted to start something that would have history teachers fifty years down the line saying “This is all thanks to one very dedicated person.” People would clap and applaud when ever they saw me, I would be the real life super man who saved the world from despair. Instead, I became an poor college student and then, subsequently, a ghost.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind being dead, it has its perks. I just wish that I had more time alive in the world to experience everything. I am tethered to my college flat which, after several years of doing nothing but looking at the same boring furniture that I used to own, gets pretty boring.

One day as I was just aimlessly floating around the flat, occasionally popping into a neighbors flat, just to see how they are and making sure they aren’t dead unlike me, I heard footsteps approaching my home. I quickly zoomed over to the door, making sure to keep myself out of sight. I watched as the door creaked open. My old landlord stepped inside, followed by two guys who looked about my age.

“This is the available flat. It is two bedroom, one bathroom. Will that be okay with you?” my landlord asked. I smiled, finally people were returning to my house. I could be like their new best friend who also can’t leave the house.

“This looks great! How much is rent?” one of the boys said, the other peering anxiously around the house. I ducked out of view as he looked up in the corner by the door. I was going to wait and see if I could surprise my new flatmates.

“It will be £700 a month. Is that manageable? What do you two do for a living?” the landlord asked them. I could see them nervously laughing among themselves.

“Yeah we can pay that. We are both online film creators. Don’t worry, we can pay it. Thank you so much for showing us the flat.” they said, looking around one last time. “When can we move in?”

“As soon as you sign the papers downstairs. Now, follow me.” and with that they were gone. I lingered by the door frame, watching them walk down the hall. I followed them to the edge of the building, unable to follow them out into the busy streets of London. I sighed. How I wish I wasn’t a ghost.

Days passed and there was no sign of the duo that came into the flat earlier. I aimlessly floated around the walls, playing tag with the dust bunnies or I Spy with the birds outside that I could never go and meet. Eventually, I decided to just close my eyes and fall asleep (if ghosts can even ‘sleep’. It’s a strange process. Basically, when a ghost sleeps, they just close their eyes and their subconscious for a bit. Sometimes, if your not wary, you can sleep for months or even years.) and wait for them to come back.

When I open my eyes again, I am underneath a bed. Next to me is a green trowel and an over sized pack of playing cards. I fly out, keeping to the corners as I look around. This is new furniture. Where did mine go? Did they just throw it out? I wondered as I flew around the new apartment which currently seemed to be empty.

There were two bedroom. The one I woke up in was colorful and lively. It had a bright green and blue duvet and was surrounded with bright plushies, pillows and pictures. The second bedroom was dark and comical. It had a solid black and grey duvet with a piano along one wall accompanied by a …. butt chair? I just shrugged it off and kept exploring. Who ever these people were, they had a lot of electronics. Computers, monitors, cameras, gaming consoles, like what? I wish I lived this life. (Actually I just wish I was alive but anyway….)

I flew back into the colorful room and settled on the bed, liking the sudden colors. It was finally something different from my old plain apartment. I was just glad to see they kept my bed. I died on that bed, you know how important it is to keep the very thing that killed you? Honestly, it’s not very important but that was one comfy bed.

Eventually, I heard the door open. One person came bounding up the stairs, chattering away as they walked into the kitchen. I floated out and watched as they talked on their phone. I looked at the strange design. It was so much different than my phone. And a lot longer. I just followed him around as he walked around the house, talking on his phone before he bid the other person goodbye and walked into his room. I followed him and watched him pull out a very nicely decorated laptop. Some of the sticker made me laugh. It was a cool collage.

Suddenly, I heard footsteps in the distance. They sounded like they were coming down the hall from the bedroom. I watched as this guys bright blue eyes (like shockingly bright, like wow hold on there buddy) darted up off of the screen to look at someone who I just entered the room.

“Hey Dan, what did you get at the shop?” the boy on the bed said to the guy who just entered the room, Dan I assume, as the guy on the bed sat up and fixed his fringe.

“Just something for dinner. I was making sure you were still here. I’m sorry about earlier I was stressed and I wasn’t thinking and-” Dan said as he rambled slightly about a conversation they must have had earlier (probably as I ‘slept’) before the guy on the bed interrupted him.

“It’s okay. I know you were stressed, things can get pretty stressful. What are we having for dinner?” he said as he reassured Dan. He stood up, walking over to the curly haired boy.

“Depends, do you want Italian or Mexican? I got stuff for tacos and spaghetti. What do you want?” Dan asked. He was very tall with curly brown hair that seemed to have a mind of its own. Whenever he talked to the guy in the colorful, and comfy looking, pajamas, his face seemed to light up.

“Tacos sounds fun. I want to see how much I can fit in the taco before it falls apart.” the colorful guy said, grinning with and impish look in his eyes. Dan just looked at him and sighed, smiling all the while as he pretended to be exasperated with his partner.

“PHillll….” he says, over exaggerating and exasperated sigh as the colorful guy, Phil I assume, just laughs and walks down the hallway, playfully punching Dan in the shoulder as he walks off, probably towards the kitchen. Dan stands alone in the room for a few extra seconds, grinning like an idiot and reaching up to put his hand where Phil punched him.

“Are we going to eat tacos or air? C’mon!” Phil says from down the hall. Dan quickly jumps around and bounds down the hall, a goofy smile still plastered on his face. I just can’t stop myself from smiling when I watch these two. I follow them into the kitchen, for once in my life feeling alive again. I am smiling and laughing and even though they don’t know that I live here, they are still the best people I’ve met thus far.

In the kitchen though, that was another problem. By the time I flew into the room, I could already hear the sweet, new sound of sizzling ground beef on the stove. I watched as one of them, Phil, was cutting up vegetables to put on their tacos such as onions, tomatoes, and peppers as the other one, Dan, kept randomly stretching his leg back and kicking Phil in the back of the leg, causing both of them to almost fall numerous times.

“Stop kicking me Howell, or else!” Phil said, playfully glaring at Dan who only smiled wider as he continued to annoy Phil.

“Or else what, Lester?” Dan said, turning around and winking suggestively, causing the both of them to burst out laughing.

“Or else…umm” Phil retorted, trying to think of a good come back. “Or else… I’ll else your mum!” Phil said, laughing as the sentence made no sense, and continued cooking. Dan looked at him, displaying a very expressive puzzled face.

“What? You couldn’t have thought of ANYTHING better? I hope these tacos are better than your comebacks.” Dan snorted, poking the hamburger in the pan a bit, watching it slowly break up and turn less pink and more brain grey.

“You want to add any spices to it?” Phil asked, looking at the, currently, unseasoned piece of meat.

“Sure, what do we have?” Dan asked, shuffling through their spices. I just watched. It’s like a real life version of one of the cooking shows the old lady three doors and one floor down always watches. Except I guess here there’s a lot more banter and less old people complaining about a dry pudding.

“I don’t know, what goes well with tacos?” Phil asked, pulling out his phone and googling what goes well with tacos. I just laughed and went to go see what Dan was doing.

“How about some chili powder? Or pepper? Is salt a seasoning?” Dan asked, looking back at Phil and grinning, hold three bottles of spices. Phil just laughed and walked over to him, grabbing the spices and sprinkling them on top of the meat. I listened to it sizzle and cook as they both continued to prepare dinner.

Finally, tacos were finished. I had tried to grab a plate too but whenever I opened the cabinet they always seemed to close it and say ‘oh the draft’. No, I want tacos too. Anyway, they sat down on the couch and Dan went to grab the remote, but it was on the other side of the couch.

“Pass me the remote?” Dan asked, looking at Phil with a face half full of tacos.

“What’s the magic word?” Phil asked, grabbing the remote and shaking it just out of Dan’s grasp.

“Now or I can’t turn on ‘The Crown’ or ‘Sherlock.” Dan said, hand outstretched and waiting for the remote, a sly smile on his face as he knows he won the minor argument.

“Fine.” Phil grumbled as he handed Dan the remote and he turned on Netflix. They sat in near quite, making the occasional comments about the show or laughing at the characters, as they ate their tacos. I intently watched the show. It was about a rather tall British guy and a rather small soldier who solve murders. Is this the quality television these days? I must have been dead longer than I remember. When I was alive, I like a simple show about plane crashes and a mystical island.

Several hours later and Netflix was still droning on in the background, but both boys were fast asleep. Their empty plates of tacos and bowls of ice cream (the second season of their show was hard on everyone) lay scattered on the ground. I pressed the remote and turned off the television, saving the two a little bit of money on the electrical bill.

Dan was curled against the couch corner, his legs hanging off the side of the couch as a thick, warm blanket is lazily draped across his chest. I glance at the clock quickly. The time on the clock reads 3:26 am. I sigh as I look back at the two. Phil has curled himself against Dan’s side, his head pressed into Dan’s arm as they both sleep silently on the couch. I float around for another several hours before returning to their flat. I see that Dan is gone from the couch, his blankets now draped over Phil to keep him warm in the flat. I see Dan gathering his things to go outside. I quickly slip one of my possessions in his pocket. I can go anywhere as long as I am attached to the apartment. Sure, this is slightly risky but I need to keep watch over the new owners of my house. I don’t want anymore ghosts to come from this house.

While Dan is in the bathroom I slip one of my books that was never removed from my flat when I died into his backpack. Now, as long as I stay with the book, I can leave the flat. I float in the darkness as Dan comes out of the bathroom, jeans and a jacket on. I grab onto the book as he grabs his backpack. He slings it (and me) over his shoulder as he walks down the stairs, careful not to wake Phil up.

Once outside, Dan just walks. He walks in no particular direction, yet he always ends up at the same spot. It’s a dock that overlooks the Thames river. He always comes back to it, just briefly, before he sets off again.

We travel across winding paths, great expanses of parks, all the while we are cloaked in the early morning mist. The dew on the ground and the cold air (at least I assume it’s cold) makes me feel like I’m just taking a walk with a friend and not hitchhiking on his backpack.

Finally, it’s around 6 am and he walks to the dock a final time. He sets his bag down and just stares at the river below. I watch him as he stares, the black waters churning beneath his feet, and I know what he’s thinking. The thoughts running through his mind are the very same thoughts that I had so many years ago.

I lay alone in my bed as Dan stands here alone now. A bottle of pills, Ibuprofen I think, was in my hand and my phone was in my other, 999 on the keypad. Now, the river is below Dan, his phone lay in his backpack, equidistant from him and the river. I was one step from death, one step from either saving or ending my life. Now Dan is in the same position, and I hope he chooses the opposite of me.

Dan looks up at the grey sky, clouds rolling in. It would rain soon, that much I knew. He looked back at the river, salty tears flowing from his face and down into the waters, getting lost in the river. I reached out to him, my cold astral hands grasping his wrist. He stepped back slightly at the strange touch. I couldn’t let him make the same mistake I did.

Dan turned back to face the river, the thoughts swirling in his mind like the churning waves of the river. The words that are said and spoken to us, the words which cut deeper than our own blades ever could. The words that drove me to the bottle of pills and Dan to the edge of the dock.

I open his phone and ring Phil, just hoping that the sound of Phil’s voice, even on the phone in a backpack, will help him. I know the pain. He was so happy last night, but that doesn’t mean that the wounds just fade away. But, even with my limited time with them as a ghost, I know that Phil makes him happy and he makes Phil happy. After all, a suicide kills two people.

I listen to the phone ring, and I know that Dan hears the phone ring too, because even through the roar of the river, he would still recognize that ringtone.

“Dan? Why are you calling me? Where are you? Are you okay?” a groggy Phil says, his sleep filled voice coming through muffled since the phone was still in the bag. I watched as Dan froze his progress into the river, turning around once he heard Phil’s voice. “Dan? Dan I’m coming to get you. Where are you?” Phil asks, waiting for Dan to reply. Dan just stands there and stares at the bag, not moving. I nudge the bag forwards and unzip it, probably freaking him out but this is for a good cause.

He looks around cautiously for an explanation as to why his bag moved and unzipped itself. Nevertheless, he grabbed his phone and answered Phil.

“I’m just at the store, I’ll be home soon. Sorry for scaring you.” Dan said, walking further away from the edge of the dock. I knew he was lying, and I feel like Phil knows he’s lying too, but he’s coming home and that’s all that is important currently.

“No, it’s okay. I just worry. I don’t want to lose you, you know?” Phil says, his voice still slightly cautious. Dan picks up his bag and starts to walk home.

“I know, I would never want to leave you alone. I’m sorry.” Dan says, picking up the pace. I hold onto my book and follow him all the way home.

Once inside the flat, Dan is met with a large hug and many sayings of ‘Don’t leave me’ by Phil. I just relax as much as a ghost can relax. I watch as the duo sits down together, sharing breakfast and coveting cereal. They laugh and smile and everything is suddenly healed. I just smile at them, a ping of sadness creeping into my heart. I wish that I had a support system when I was in need. All I had was a bottle of pills, and the emptier it got, the weaker I got. I decided to do some homework in the flat really quick. Finally, after just a few suspicious moments of me moving a paper and them seeing it, I tacked a completed list on the fridge.

‘Reasons to Stay Alive’

Every time Dan walks past, he smiles because he thinks Phil wrote it just for him.

Every time Phil walks past, he smiles because he thinks that Dan made it to show he’s getting better (he is).

Every time I float past it, I smile because I know that I will stay the only ghost and they will stay as one.

(For @heartsponge ! I hope you enjoy this gift! Happy Valentines Day!)

[brotheryanny]

【TRANSLATION】URASHIMASAKATASEN DRAMA CD

This is a translation of the Drama CD that came with the limited edition of SHOW MUST GO ON!! by Fourpe/UraShimaSakataSen

This took a long time because of the RPG terms, how long the audio track was and fastpacedspeakingwhydotheytalksofast but I’m finally done! Thank you for waiting! As usual, please message me any corrections you find!

U: The era of great adventures. It dates back 100 years.

Sa: At the sound of thunder, monsters appear, preying on those lost on their journeys from the continent

Shi: However, at the time there was a warrior going by the name of a hero. He slayed many monsters.

Sen: And so the hero said “I will defeat the Demon King who disturbs this land, and bring back the Demon King’s treasure, with heroes I have yet to find.”

U: 100 years later to this day, countless heroes roam the lands. This is the record of our great adventure. Hero, Urata.

Sa: Battle Master, Sakata.

Shi: Sorceror, Shima.

Sen: Fortune teller, Senra. The four of us join as a party, and go on this great adventure to find the Demon King’s treasure.

U: Even though this is our first go..

-

Sen: Welcome, to the Adventure Tavern! Number three coming through for the lovely lady!

Sa: Eeh.. The order is a Dragon’s Grilled Chicken and a Slime Soup, is that right! Shima!

Shi: SAKATA-KUN! THERE ARE SO MANY ORDERS THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! THE KITCHEN IS ALREADY WORKING AT A FULL TEN!

U: Uhhh… Ummmm…

Sen: For the young gentleman, order number four coming through!

Sa: Oi, Urata! You’re a hero so stop wasting time! Get over here and help out in the kitchen!

Shi: (in English) HELP! HELP! COME ON!

U: NO WAY NO WAY! HOLD UP! YOU GUYS! (in English) STOP!

Sen: What’s wrong Uratan?

U: Weren’t we going to go on an adventure to defeat the Demon King and get his treasure?!

Sa: Aah, that’s right..

U: Then why.. WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?!

Sen: Uuh.. Calling tavern orders.

Sa: Customer service.

Shi: Washing up.

U: ISN’T THAT WRONG?! WE BECAME HEROES IN ORDER TO DEFEAT THE DEMON KING! NOT TO WORK PART TIME AT A TAVERN!

Shi: How did we end up working here in the first place?

Sa: Well.. If I remember correctly, before our adventure as we were arranging equipment, we enthusiastically went ‘It’s time for our pre-adventure meal!’

Sen: We had bought too many items but didn’t realise so then we walked into this tavern

Shi: That’s right! We ate too much to find that we didn’t have enough money, and that’s why now I have to wash up dishes every day.

U: If you work here every day then you’ll be stranded here for eternity!

SSS: NO WAY!

U: Did you forget about our adventure?! Were you guys just gonna happily work part time instead?!!

SSS: Ahaha ha hahah a

U: Well, I guess thanks to you guys saving up money we can get new equipment which would be nice.. Anyway, let’s finally get on with the adventure!

SSS: YEAH!

USSS: Our adventure has started once again.

-

Sen: We’ll get to the first first village if we go through this forest. It looks like things might jump out at us but since it’s a shortcut, let’s hang in there.

U: As expected of the fortune teller Senra, up till now your fortune-told paths should’ve been fine.

Shi: Well, if a demon comes out a dungeon I’m having none of that.

Sa: We’ve bought our new equipment though! Anything can come at us! A demon!

(growling)

U: ..you spoke too soon.. (TN: i think that’s what he said?)

Sa: Everyone get back! Leave it to me, battle master! WAIT! OW OW OW OW! WHAT WHAT WHAT?!

Shi: YOUR ASS! IT’S BEEN COMPLETELY BITTEN!

Sa: EH?! SERIOUSLY?! MY ASS??!! OW OW OW OW OW OW! AT THIS RATE THE DEMON IS GONNA SPLIT MY ASS INTO TWO!!

U: Your ass already had a crack in it.

Shi: And furthermore that’s not a demon.

Sen: I’ve got it. There, off you go!

(barking)

Sa: WHAT?! IT WAS A DOG? I THOUGHT IT WAS A DEMON!

Shi: wwww The battle master got chewed up by a dog..

Sa: No no no, the fault lies in the idiot sorcerer Shima who didn’t even do anything!

Shi: I was so close up, I would’ve burnt your ass to ashes with my magic.

Sen: Oh, we’ve reached the forest exit.

U: So this is the first village..

USSS: The heroes have reached the first village.

-

Shi: Umm.. It doesn’t look like there’s anyone here..

Sa: I only checked one house, but there was no one inside.

Sen: How strange.. This village is the first place heroes visit..

U: And I thought we could be able to find the whereabouts of the Demon King.. Wait, you guys! Come look at this for a second!

Sa: Ooh! This hero has beautiful nails.

Shi: Even though they have the hold a sword to fight with.. Interesting interesting.

U: NOT MY FINGERS! Over there! This, this.

Sen: There’s a large body of water on the ground isn’t there.. It’s almost as if something has scratched holes into the ground..

Sa: Oh! Now that you mention it, I noticed a lot of slash marks on the walls of the houses..

U: Senra, would it be possible to tell us what’s happened here with your fortune telling?

Sen: You only have to ask.

(Ethereal music)

Sen: Let shooting stars illuminate this blood. Gander at all beings. Let me see your everything!

Sa: Amazing! This is a fortune teller’s astrology!

Sen: Ok! I get it now.

U: So? What did you find out about this village?

Sen: Uhh, today’s lucky item is a bomb~

Sa: (slap) We didn’t want today’s fortune!

Sen: Even if you ask me to tell fortunes, I’m still level 5..

U: fu fu fu So.. What’s wrong Shima?

Shi: Do you hear anything? Sounds like footsteps.

U: Footsteps? (rustling) That! That’s a skeleton warrior!

Sen: A demon in a bone frame with a sword.

Shi: Could it be that.. It’s the one that destroyed this village? And the big-

U: No, I don’t think so. That warrior.. Wait, where’s Sakata?

Shi: He ran towards the skeleton warrior! Since when?!

Sa: Don’t move any further! Boney guy! Just now I showed everyone my seriously uncool side, so now I’ll show you my battle master special move! (punch)

U: Sakata stop! That guy isn’t a demon!

Sa: EH?! (punch) ouch ouch..

U: Are you alright, Sakata?

Sa: Ah, it hurts.. I got my ass beaten again.. It got broken in half again..

Sen: You’re quite alright. It was already cracked in two.

U: This skeleton warrior isn’t a real demon. I think that’s what he’s saying.

Sa: You can understand demons? As expected of a hero!

Shi: It sure doesn’t look like a saintly warrior, does it?

Sen: So it’s true identity is?

U: It’s a resident of this village.

Sa: Eh? So.. Everyone’s dead?

U: Ah, no.. A demon’s probably just cast a curse. How do I put it.. The Demon King has taken control of this village.

Sen: I get it! So that’s why there’s no one here.

U: So the Demon King’s minion is.. a basilisk.

Sa: Ba.. Baji?

Sen: Hmm.. A basilisk, huh? I’ve heard that they’re snake demons.

U: It looks like that’s what cast this spell on this village.

Shi: If it’s a snake demon then.. From here I can see a cave where it might be.

Sa: That’s right. What should we do, Hero?

U: If we defeat the Demon King’s minion, then we’ll be one step closer to finding the location of him. Let’s check out the cave!

SSS: Yeah!

USSS: The heroes scout the cave!

-

(drip drip drip)

Sen: Hmmm.. Searching for this demon is kinda boring..

Sa: It was a good idea to check this cave but.. It’s pitch black in here.. I can’t see a thing!

Shi: This is where you can leave it to my magic..

U: As expected of our sorcerer!

(blam)

Shi: (ethereal music) Come forth, my dazzling light. Fire spell! There! (zap)

Sa: Wahh!! Shima you’re amazing! You made the dark cave completely light up!

Shi: Right? This light will also light up our futures.

Sa: Wahhh!! I don’t really get it but Shima you’re so romantic!

U: To hell with that! Aren’t those just matchsticks?!!! A magician’s magic fire is WAY cooler!

Shi: Ha ha ha ha! It’s because I’m still level 5. I can’t make a flame any bigger than this!

U: Don’t be so proud of yourself!

Sen: Well, well.. Let’s leave it. Matches are just as useful as fire magic right now.

(footsteps)

Sen: When we’re exploring with such a big light, it sure feels a lot safer inside a cave, doesn’t it?

U: But, there are so many partings in the path, it’s like a melon. (TN: The skin of a cantaloupe?) Don’t forget to keep an eye out.

Sa: It’s okay! All the way I’ve been dropping Spark Fruits on our path.

Sen: Your phrases are as bad as ever.. Is it the same fruit that bursts when you bite into it? Isn’t that kinda dangerous?

Sa: It was so cheap, not even 300 gold, even an idiot would go for them.

Sen: Is that shade of yellow edible?

(growl)

Sa: Hey Shima! I know the fruit sounds delicious but your stomach doesn’t have to make such a big noise!

Shi: Eh? But it didn’t..

Sa: Eh? Then, Senra?

Sen: No no no, surely it was Urata?

(a louder growl!)

U: Be quiet! This sound isn’t coming from a stomach.. It’s the roar of a demon!

Shi: D-Doesn’t it sound like a really dangerous demon?

U: I’m not sure, but how can heroes turn their back away from this? Full attack!

(fighting sounds)

(thud)

(fanfare)

U: There! Do you see that? That’s a hero’s sword for you!

Shi: Amazing! In one blow, we levelled up!

Sa: O-Oi.. Look, you guys.. This demon looks like a wolf, but half its body is a humans’!

Shi: This is.. A Silver Fenrir, isn’t it? (rumbling) E-E-Eh? Footsteps again?

Sa: Oi oi oi OI OI OI! IT SERIOUSLY SOUNDS LIKE IT’S COMING THIS WAY! WHY IS IT STILL ALIVE?!

Sen: Uhh Uratan? Is it me or are a pack of Fenrir are coming our way..

U: P-Probably.. They must be very hungry.. And they’ve sniffed out smell of the fruits, which means they’ve found us!

(howl)

USSS: GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

U: EVERYONE! RUN AWAY!

Sa: JUST NOW DIDN’T YOU SAY A HERO CAN NEVER TURN THEIR BACK?!

U: THERE ARE TOO MANY IT’S IMPOSSIBLE!!

Shi: WAIT UP WAIT UP! I GOT (my leg?) STUCK JUST NOW!

Sen: RATHER THAN GETTING STUCK, DOESN’T IT LOOK MORE LIKE A TRAP?!

U: IT’S NOT IMPORTANT! FOR NOW JUST JUMP AND KEEP ON GOING!!

USSS: WAAAAAAaaaaa-

-

USSS: -wwaaAAAAAAAAAA!

(wind whistling)

Sa: HUH? Even though just now we went ‘hyuu’, could it be that we didn’t actually fall?!

Shi: Because of the sound, it feels like that could be true doesn’t it!

Sen: There’s no sign of magnetisation is there..

Sa: THEN! LET’S PLAY CHARADES!

Sen: Pafu pafu!

Shi: Yeeeyy!

U: HOLD UP OOI! THIS ISN’T THE TIME TO BE MESSING AROUND!

Sa: THEN! PLEASE INDULGE IN THIS GAME OF CHARADES WITH ME! GO!

Shi: UHH, SOMEONE SKYDIVING?? OR NOT!

Sen: A HUG? IS IT A HUG? A COUPLE EMBRACING EACH OTHER! OR NOT!

Sa: THESE MOVEMENTS! LOOK AT THESE MOVEMENTS CAREFULLY!

U: AH! WHAT WHAT?! A GUY DOING MARTIAL ARTS?! AM I CLOSE? AH I GOT IT! A WRESTLER? WRONG? NOT WRONG?! SOMETHING SIMILAR? AH I’VE ALMOST GOT IT I’VE ALMOST GOT IT! YOU’RE HUGGING SOMETHING! YOU’RE FALLING! YOU’RE RUNNING! FALLING! RUNNING AGAIN! FALLING AGAIN! AH! I GOT IT! YOU’RE A FIRE FIGHTER SAVING A CHILD!

Sa: YOU’RE ALL WRONG! I WAS A RUGBY PLAYER!

USS: AHH, THAT’S WHAT IT WAS?

U:  (slap) HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO GET THAT? MORE IMPORTANTLY I CAN SEE THE GROUND!

USSS: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (feat. Urata going GOWEEHHHHHAAAAA)

-

(thud)

U: Ow.. Is everyone ok?

Sa: Yeah.. Somehow.. My ass is saved..

Shi: It doesn’t look like the Fenrir are coming for us any more.. Ow.. Hm? Where’s Senra?

Sen: Aaaa..

U: Ahh, I’m sorry! We landed on you!

Sa: We landed safetly, but at the expense of squishing Senra!

Shi: SENRRAAA!!

U: WE SELFISHLY KILLED SENRA! Oi, are you ok, Senra?

Sen: (in a foreign accent) O~kay

U: ..Excuse me?

Sen: (still in foreign accent) I’m O~ka~y. Totally fi~ne.

Sa: Ah. What’s this, isn’t it kinda bad?

Shi: Did he hit his head and turn into some weird guy?

Sa: (imitating accent) A~re you Oka~y? Senra?

Shi: Eh? Sakata? (also imitating accent) Ar~e you Okay?

U: (clearing throat) Senra? What’s up with you?

Sen: No need to worry. I’m just borrowing this guy’s body for a bit.

U: Could it be that this guy… Isn’t Senra?

Sen: Good job hero. My congratulations. (ding ding) I am the Lord of this cave. A Basilisk. (shing)

U: A BASILISK? THE LORD OF THIS CAVE?!

Sen: That’s right. In order to get my message across, I took over this man’s body!

Sa: Why Senra’s body?!

Sen: This man is a fortune teller, and..

Shi: And..?

Sen: He was the closest one.

Sa: Ah.. Is that so..

U: So? What do you want from us?

Sen: If you don’t all leave this cave quickly, you’ll all be killed! That’s all.

Shi: All be killed?!

Sa: Ah. How elaborate.

(ding)

U: Ah! Did his consciousness come back?

Sen: (Without accent) Nn! I just saw something that probably isn’t important..

Sa: Not important?!

U: Basilisks certainly give off a mighty foe image..

Sa: ..So? What did you see Senra?

Sen: Ufufu.. It’s not good to be jealous.. What I saw just now.. IT WAS A TOTALLY UNIMPORTANT EROTIC DREAM!

USS: …

(all sigh)

Sen: So? What’s wrong guys?

U: Is it okay if I hit you several times?

Sen: (clang) ..Why?

(rumbling)

Shi: Uwah!

Sa: What, what?!

U: This is bad.. This is just as it said!

Sen: We’ll all be killed, huh?

Shi: So you did hear us. Ah, AH! IT’S HERE!

(growling)

U: This is.. The Basilisk!

Sen: I haven’t even read about such a big demon in books!

Sa: Oi, Oi! How are we supposed to defeat such a big enemy?!

Shi: For now, let’s evacuate the cave!

Sen: Got it! Wait, Uratan?!

Sa: What’s wrong?!! Let’s go!

U: Listen up, would it be okay to run away right now?

Shi: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! GET OVER HERE!

U: Aren’t we a Hero party? We can’t possibly run away from this!

Sa: How can you say that when we could all die?! It’s an RPG, so our lives are important!

U: If we run away now, if we stop fighting the Demon King’s minion, the Demon King will still be at large for all of eternity! Think of people of that village, the Demon King would destroy everything just like he did with them, and you want to run away! Would that be okay?!

Sen: Ufufu.. That’s right.. A Hero party would never run away.

Shi: Well, we wouldn’t gain anything from running..

Sa: It can’t be helped.. I’ll fight with you a little!

U: You guys!

Sa: But, how are we going to take down such a large enemy?

U: Heheh.. Listen closely.. When I levelled up just now, I gained a new ability.. Which is.. To boost everyone’s power for one minute! (ding) Activate ability! Everyone, attack the basilisk with all you have!

SSS: Yeah!

Sen: Fortune told! It’s weakness is.. A strong blow and heat!

Sa: A strong blow? In that case, I ‘ve got this! Damn big-ass snake! Guwaahhh!! Amazing.. It withstood it!

Shi: Fires from Hell.. I ask for your assistance.. Burn this foe to a crisp! Fire spell!

U: Did we get it?!

Sen: No, we missed by a little..

Sa: This guy.. I can’t believe it dodged!

Shi: As expected from a snake.. Tch.. A minute of power up is great but.. I’m at my limit..

U: This is bad.. We fought at full strength too much, now everyone’s completely drained! What do we do?!

Sen: Sorry, aside from telling fortunes, my skills are pretty useless..

U: Don’t say that.. Ah, that’s it! Our lucky item!

Sen: Hm? Today’s lucky item was.. a bomb? Ah! I get it!

Sa: Eh? What what?

Sen: The stuff you were dropping so we wouldn’t get lost.. They were Spark Fruits, weren’t they!

Shi: They’re so explosive only gods can eat them.. We can use them as bombs!

Sa: This guy’s weakness.. A strong blow and heat, wasn’t it?

U: If we dropped them so they would connect like dominoes being knocked down.. They’d explode in one go, it ought to finish him!

(growl)

Sa: Uwah! It’s coming this way!

U: It’ll be make or break, but we have no choice! Shima!

Shi: Okay! Stay clear of it everyone!

Sa: I’ve thrown down all the Spark Fruits!

(growling and explosions)

U: It looks like we can defeat it!

Sen: Wait a second Sakata, take a look at the Spark Fruits.. You’ve placed them all the way to the entrance from here..

Sa: Yeah, so?

Sen: So basically.. Our escape route is also.. going to be completely blown up as well?

USS: Ah..

U: WE HAVE TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE CAVE BEFORE IT ALL BLOWS UP!!

USSS: FUAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

USSS: (coughing and vomiting(?))

Sa: Somehow we did it?

Shi: That’s.. The last time I want to see a cave…

Sen: (cough) That snake.. didn’t survive this explosion, right?

U: We.. (cough) We did (cough) it..

USSS: The heroes defeated the snake.

U: And thus, the first village returned to how it was.

-

Sen: Welcome, to the first village’s tavern! Number three coming right up for the lovely spirit lady!

Sa: Eeh.. The order is a Dragon’s Fried Chicken and a Slime Mixed Juice, is that right! Shima!

Shi: SAKATA-KUN! THE KITCHEN CAN’T HANDLE THIS RIGHT NOW! URATA, HURRY AND COME BACK HERE!

U: On my way now!

-

U: After defeating the Basilisk, we returned to the village..

Sen: From dusk to dawn, to celebrate our adventure, we had a great feast..

Shi: And so, when the feat ended, we realised..

Sa: When the bombs blew up, everything in our bags were turned to ash..

-

Sen: To the lovely witch, order number four coming through!

Sa: I’m very sorry! I wasn’t thinking straight!

(smash)

Shi: LOOKKEEYHEREEEURATAAAA!! AREN’T YOU TOO BAD AT WASHING UP DISHES???!!??

U: AHHH, FOR THE LAST TIME, I WANT TO GO ON A GREAT ADVENTURE!

-

U: The era of great adventures. We went on an adventure in order to defeat the Demon King and bring back his treasure. Hero, Urata.

Sa: Battle Master, Sakata.

Shi: Sorceror, Shima.

Sen: Fortune teller, Senra.

U: The record of our great adventure has a long way to go!

USSS: UraShimaSakataSen Drama CD! UraShimaSakataSen Quest! The end!

[love-2-write]

Take me back to when you were here, when you hurt my heart but I knew where you were. (Emily and Alison)(Alison and everyone)

               "Alison!" Emily screamed as she watched her blonde haired friend turn the corner and disappear into the night. Her breathing was heavy and her heart was breaking as she chased after the girl she once called her friend, tears began to fill her dim eyes as she turned the corner and saw...nothing. Alison was gone, not a trace of her insight. All that was left of her was the lasting scent of her perfume, it smelled of strawberries and lemonade and summer time with Alison giggling and running through the park. Emily couldn't breath as she let her legs got weak and crumbled beneath her, falling to the pavement she could feel her legs scratch against it and the blood draining down her skin, but this thought wasn't one Emily cared about, all she could feel was her heart ripping from her chest at the thought of Alison being gone...forever.

Days past and nobody heard from the beautiful blonde, nobody saw her prize winning smile or golden locks, nobody heard her laugh that was so stunning that it would stay in your head hours after she let it slip from her soft pink lips. Nobody, not one soul saw Alison after that night...and nobody would ever see her again.

It had been a week since Alison had gone missing, and Emily couldn't seem to forget that night, when she told Alison she hated her, when she pushed her away and said she didn't want to be her friend. Emily felt awful, like maybe if she hadn't said that, maybe if she had let Alison kiss her and maybe if she held that girl with all her might...she would still be here. However nothing could bring her back, and nothing could change what Emily said or did that night after the end of summer party.

______________________The party.

"Hanna, pick your jaw up off the floor and stop staring at Sean" Alison rolled her big ocean eyes as she pushed Hanna's arm.

"Oh sorry Alison" Hanna tucked her tail between her legs "He's just so dreamy"

"So talk to him, but first go to the bathroom and do that thing I taught you, cause boys like him don't like parade floats as girlfriends."

"What does that mean?" Spencer questioned Alison

"Nothing Spencey, don't worry. I'm only looking out for Hanna's best interests"  Alison smiled that smile everyone knew, it meant she was being sneaky and lying and causing trouble, but nobody was going to ruin the night by stopping her. Hanna made her way to find the bathroom, as the rest of the girls made their way to the dance floor.

_________________________Present day.

"Em" Hanna slowly walked into the room, "Can I crash here?"

"Umm, sure" Emily shook her head as she realized were she was and what was happening.

"I'm so bummed out, Sean's dating that bitch Jenna" Hanna face planted into Emily's bed and then turned over to speak again "I guess Ali was right..why would a guy like him ever want hefty Hanna."

"Hey!" Emily yelled at Hanna "You are beautiful, and smart, and the sweetest girl I know...every guy in this stupid place would be lucky to get you Han. Ali wasn't right, she was just trying to hurt you, you can't let her win."

Hanna smiled, "Thanks Em, I love you"

"I love you too Hanna banana" Emily giggled as she pulled her friend close.

______________­The party.

"Oh my god!!" Aria squealed, "Don't do that!"

"Oh come on" Noel laughed "It's fun Aria, what's the harm in a little joke?"

"He bugging you?" Alison asked as she made her way to Aria

"Only a little" Aria laughed slightly

"Have a little fun with me Ari....take my hand and I'll show you the world on my magic carpet."

"Oh and what's that stand for?" Alison huffed "Your bed were you take all of Rosewoods finest ladies for a trip around the world? or should a say a trip in-between your legs?"

"Got me again Alison" Noel smiled "but hey the offer still stands, find me when you need a little wind in your hair"

"Gross" Aria giggled as she watched Noel walk away

" Oh don't be a prude" Alison smirked "Haven't you ever wanted to see what's it's like to ride his.."

"Oh my god Alison!!!" Aria screamed  "Stop please"

"Oh come on sweetie, I'm only trying to help you" Alison took Aria's hand "Loosen up a little"

__________________________Present day.

Aria smiled as her new friend began to push her dress up, she could feel his soft hands against her inner thighs, and her mind went blank. She hated this life, sleeping with any guy who offered, in any place they wanted. This time a bar bathroom with some guy she didn't even knows name. God why was she like this? Ever since Alison left Aria had made it her mission to be as fun as Noel told her to be. All because she wanted love, she wanted to be happy and Alison was always happy and loved by all and so Aria took Alison's advice and ran with it. She was loose, she was fun, but somehow it wasn't working. it only made her want to cry, with every new guy she met she wanted to die a little more. She wasn't finding love and she wasn't happy yet stopping wasn't something she knew how to do.  Her eyes glazed over as the encounter went on, she could hear him panting and she could feel him sweating and this all was making her just want to push him away and leave...maybe that's why Alison left, maybe being the fun girl she always was wasn't actually fun for her anymore. Maybe she couldn't stop it, but maybe the thought of one more guy was painful for her to think of.

_________________________The party.

"Spencey" Alison muttered as she arrived onto the dance floor "Dance with me"

"Of course my princess" Spencer laughed as she extended her arm, Alison taking her hand with a smile.

"Alison's no princess" Noel smirked as he walked over to the girls "You gotta be innocent to be a princess"

"Your right" Alison put her head up high "I'm the queen"

"Ahh and who's the king then?" Noel asked

"Hmm let me think" Alison giggled "I think Spencer will do"

"I think only boys can be king" Noel said as he began to walk away.

"Ali I really should be going, this is my last weekend to work on my homework before school starts." Spencer pleaded, as if she was asking to leave instead of telling.

"Spence. You can't leave, it's the last summer party" Alison rolled her ocean eyes. "Besides who takes classes during the summer anyways?"

"I do Ali, so I can get into a good college. It's really important to me"

"Well it shouldn't be, I mean who says you will be alive by then anyways. Wasting your time thinking of the future is silly cause you don't know if it's even going to happen." Alison told Spencer, "Now stop ruining the party and have fun."

"Wow Alison, isn't that kind of dark?" Spencer asked "Dying before I'm 18?"

"You'd leave a beautiful  corpse" Alison smiled

"That's gruesome" Spencer shook her head and looked down

"No!" Alison got Spencer's attention "It's immortality my darling."  

____________________________Present day.

Spencer stared at the homework that sat in front of her, her eyes looking at the words but her brain not letting them in, she couldn't seem to concentrate on anything lately and she knew why. It was Alison, what she said at the party about dying young, Spencer knew she was right. Why waste what short time you have here doing this? I mean look at Ali, she's gone at 16 and what did she do? nothing.

"It's immortality my darlings" Spencer smiled as she looked outside. She could feel Alison around her, as if she was still there but she wasn't. She could hear her voice in her head telling her to live life while she still has one, don't end up dying without a single fun story to tell. Spencer jumped up, but slowly she sat back down, her fingers lacing around the pencil that sat on her desk. Maybe Alison was right, maybe Spencer needed to be fun and live her life instead of stay on the safe path but Spencer didn't know how...

______________________________The (After) party.

"Emmy" Alison giggled as she ran through the street, Emily walking behind her.

"Yes Ali?" Emily smiled as she watched her friend spin in circles until she fell.

"I fells" Alison laughed, her hands raised up as Emily took them and helped her to her feet. Alison's feet shook as she tumbled onto Emily.

"Em & Em" Alison whispered "I love you...the mostest"

"Really?" Emily giggled as she wrapped her arm around her clearly drunk friend. "Let's go home Ali"  

"No!!" Alison screamed, pulling away

"Why?" Emily asked

"Because I need to" Alison muttered, slowly stumbling over to Emily and then...BAM their lips were smashed together as Alison kissed Emily until Emily pushed her away.

"Stop!" Emily cried as she pushed Alison, "Don't do that, you can't"

"Why?" Alison pouted

"Because Ali, I love you!" Emily cried, tears streaming down her cheeks "I can't keep letting you lead me on and then hurt me, my heart can't take this...I can't do it anymore."

"Emmy" Alison smiled "We are just friends, can't we be just friends?"

"Friends don't do this!!" Emily yelled, her heart racing and her vision blurred from tears

"Yes they can Emily" Alison smiled

"Well then I don't want to be your friend, I can't deal with any of it. The way you talk to me and the others, the way you treat us. You don't deserve our friendship Ali...I hate this, I hate you!" Emily cried out, tears filling her eyes as she spoke.

"Fine..." Alison whispered "So I'll go then, and you can be happy without me"

"Ali" Emily muttered as she wiped her eyes, only to see her friend was running off into the distance "Alison!"  

[garden-ghoul]

return of the blog, part.... uhhhh

“that’s right, I can’t even reliably count to three. or maybe I can and it’s four I can’t reliably count to?”

That aside, something horrible is about to happen.

THE SIEGE OF GONDOR

Gandalf wakes up Pippin at “the second hour,” which is either 2am or like 9am, depending on where they’re counting from. Pippin stares at his bread butter & milk breakfast miserably and says, “Why did you bring me here?” 

“You know quite well,” said Gandalf. “To keep you out of mischief; and if you do not like being here, you can remember that you brought it on yourself.”

Dude. He’s a teen and he was cursed. Give him a break.

He has to go see Denethor, who treats him rather rudely and then says he’ll be the lord’s esquire for today. Does he know any songs? Well, um, not many that are fitting here... Pippin does not want to sing comic songs or lewd songs to the Steward of Gondor. I just can’t get over this teen thing, he is like a college freshman who got out for the summer after a socially productive semester and now he works for the president. It’s fucking ridiculous. Well, he goes and gets some fancy livery so he’ll look regal enough for Denethor, and it only makes him gloomier. I love all the descriptions of Merry and Pippin being gloomy about being treated like ornaments.

Near sunset he’s finally released from his service (both boring and arduous, though I’ll wager he’s been doing a lot of good eavesdropping) and goes to hang out with Beregond and bemoan the fact that Faramir isn’t here. Oh! How convenient! There’s Faramir’s company right there (what’s left of it), being attacked by Nazgul! LUCKILY Gandalf, who vanished a while ago, seems to have foreseen this; he chases them away with light magic. Pippin runs to the gates to see Faramir coming home, and immediately gets a crush on him. He’s so noble! So tired! Yet so approachable!

Denethor does not really think so. He finds the smallest crack in Faramir’s demeanor as he’s making his report, and verbally eviscerates him in front of the guests. Y’know, for letting the Ring go into Mordor, and also for being alive even though Denethor is the one who told Boromir to go questing. Denethor and Gandalf yell at each other for a while, it’s rather frightening. As Pippin and Gandalf are leaving (Faramir has gone off to get some sleep, thank goodness!) Gandalf says he is filled with foreboding that Sam and Frodo are going via Cirith Ungol. How would YOU have gone, Gandalf? Through the front door? Secret tunnel?

The next morning everyone is gloomy again. They WERE excited about Faramir coming back--the text sort of implies that everyone in the city is a little in love with him--

But now Faramir was gone again. ‘They give him no rest,’ some murmured. ‘The Lord drives his son too hard, and now he must do the duty of two, for himself and for the one that will not return.’ And ever men looked northward, asking: ‘Where are the Riders of Rohan?’

Restless, restless, restless. Electric air. That Good Stuff. Faramir has been sent to Osgiliath to strengthen the garrison:

‘Then farewell!’ said Faramir. ‘But if I should return, think better of me!’

‘That depends on the manner of your return,’ said Denethor.

Ouch. Why do I get the feeling that Denethor will only think better of him if he returns in a coffin? As Faramir leaves, Gandalf tells him that his father loves him. Umm okay but how does that mitigate his awful treatment of Faramir. Doesn’t that make it worse? Right now I’m thinking about how Faramir is probably going to have to fight the Witch King since he’s leading the attack on Osgiliath, and thinking about how Eowyn is the one who kills him, and just being really excited for them to meet. Weary guy who hates to fight but must; frustrated enby who is chomping at the bit to murder some dudes. Honestly doesn’t that describe ALL the best Tolkien ships. Sometimes he does ladies right and it’s so #aesthetic. Wait I think the aesthetic I’m describing is just classic Jewish gender roles. Gentle studious men and women alight with the fire of direct action. I’m gay for both of these genders.

Anyway the next day the Black Host or whatever comes through the wall of the Pelennor Fields, despite the fact that Faramir is still doing his best to hold the rearguard off in Osgiliath. Including, yep, the Witch King. Actually they never refer to him as the Witch King in these books and I’m not sure where I heard it, but it’s an amazing title. Anyway mounted sorties start going out into Pelennor, with Gandalf at Prince Whoever of Amroth at their head. Denethor at least doesn’t let them overextend themselves; he calls them in very promptly so they won’t get trapped or too tired. I get the impression that for quick strikes they have the advantage because all of Sauron’s people are on foot. Oh, except a full third of them died anyway, because Sauron’s forces MASSIVELY outnumber them. Faramir has come back dead or wounded, and EVERYONE is crying. They bring him back to Denethor, who goes up into his tower and people see a strange flashing light and he comes down even more dead-looking than his dead son. I am beginning to suspect that the reason the text has alluded so many times to how far-sighted and well-informed Denethor is, is that he has a palantir. And this is some kind of secret, maybe?

The very last companies who can make it come back in through the gates, and they report that there is no way the Rohirrim can possibly make it in to help them now. The enemy is throwing fire over the walls. They’re throwing severed heads over the walls. Nazgul are circling. Denethor is weeping by Faramir’s body. Gandalf and the prince of Amroth have taken command of the city. There’s an aside here with Gondorians whispering about how elvish the people of Dol Amroth are--the people of Nimrodel. I’m glad there’s at least one version of the story where they found each other again and settled down, even if “the coast” probably wasn’t the land Nimrodel dreamed of that had never heard of war.

Hey, let’s check in on Denethor! Oh, uh, the palantir broke his will and he’s planning to set himself on fire in his despair. That’s cool I guess. Pippin goes to fetch Gandalf, as if he couldn’t possibly have anything more important to do than save one rude old man’s life. Or no, Pippin suspects he is going to kill Faramir as well. He passes Beregond and tells him to stop anything awful from happening.

OMG SORRY I FORGOT EVERYTHING I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PAYING ATTENTION TO BECAUSE WE HAVE FINALLY CONFIRMED THAT THE BATTERING RAM GROND IS INDEED NAMED FOR MORGOTH’S HAMMER. I CAN STOP READING NOW THIS IS ALL I WANTED TO KNOW.

No no jk I will keep reading. I’m extremely pleased though. I have “Grond! Grond! Grond!” echoing in my head nonstop some days. Um anyway the Witch King is there, casting an evil spell to help Grond along, and on the third go it BURSTS the gates open!

‘You cannot enter here,’ said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. ‘Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!’

The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set.

Fuck yes.

Somewhere in the city, a cock crows, because having half of Gondor on fire in no way disrupted this chicken’s daily routine. Dawn. And with it, the horns of Rohan.

THE RIDE OF THE ROHIRRIM

The beginning of this chapter has a lot of fun sense description, since Merry is lying awake in complete darkness listening to the distant sounds of the Enemy’s hosts. Smelling the horses. All that. He thinks about how weird it is that everyone is just ignoring him because they know he’s not supposed to be here; Dernhelm seems to have some kind of “understanding” with Elfhelm, the marshal of their company. Sorry. Elfhelm? Elf? Helm? Is that a guy’s actual name? Elfhelm trips over Merry in the dark, and Merry asks What Is Up. As it turns out what is up is Woses, and what will soon be up is all the Rohirrim. I was gonna explain what Woses are but I think it’s way funnier if I don’t.

A Wose has come to offer help to Theoden, since he hates orcs as much as the next guy. Woses, he says, have “long ears and long eyes,” which isn’t especially relevant as far as I can tell but it’s delightful. The leader of the Woses, Ghan-buri-Ghan, knows a secret road! All he wants as a reward is... for the Rohirrim to stop hunting his people like beasts. What the fuck. I can’t believe Ghan-buri-Ghan actually prefers the Rohirrim to orcs. They go through the forest, and it takes all day, but the next morning before dawn they are ready to go do murders. Merry is upset again because he’s actually zero good at fighting and is just going to get himself and others killed.

The king sat upon Snowmane, motionless, gazing upon the agony of Minas Tirith, as if stricken suddenly by anguish, or by dread. He seemed to shrink down, cowed by age. Merry himself felt as if a great weight of horror and doubt had settled on him. His heart beat slowly. Time seemed poised in uncertainty. They were too late! Too late was worse than never! Perhaps Théoden would quail, bow his old head, turn, slink away to hide in the hills.

Then suddenly Merry felt it at last, beyond doubt: a change. Wind was in his face! Light was glimmering. Far, far away, in the South the clouds could be dimly seen as remote grey shapes, rolling up, drifting: morning lay beyond them.

Nice nice nice nice nice that’s some top notch metaphor. Tolkien is sooo good at environmental metaphors and foreshadowing. IDK there’s just something about the way the whole world seems to get in on the narrative, it’s really good. Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered; a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Theoden grabs a horn from someone and blows on it so hard it EXPLODES. AND THEY’RE OFF!! Join us next time for

THE BATTLE OF THE PELENNOR FIELDS

[afterspark-podcast]

G1 Episode 4: Transcript

Episode Show Notes

[This can also be found on AO3!]

Stinger

S: Any time that we do these recordings my sense of humor is like a 12 year old child's.

O: [Laughter]

[Intro Music Plays]

O: Hello and welcome to the Afterspark Podcast, an episode-by-episode recap of the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon! I'm Owls!

S: And I'm Specs!

O: Today we're going to be talking about episode number 4: Transport to Oblivion. Let's talk about giant robots today, shall we?

S: Yeah.

O: So last time- if you'll remember, uh, we finished the pilot for the original Transformers cartoon which involved them leaving Cybertron, falling asleep on Earth for 4 million years, waking up and Decepticon-Autobot shenanigans.

S: Yeah.

O: Welp, all that stuff, forget everything you just learned, because almost none of that matters now. Ah, you know how the Autobots were leaving at the end of the pilot? They were going to go back to Cybertron?

S: And revitalize it?  Yeah, that didn't happen.

O: It's not going to happen. They're just going to be chilling on Earth for the time being. So, you know, we open up back at the Ark: Cliffjumper is seeing things. And by things, we mean Decepticons.

S: Yep, and this is why you don't look into the sun kids. Meanwhile, Ironhide's kind of topless again. I mean honestly his paint job kind of looks like he's wearing a halter top so, that doesn't really help. [Laughter]

O: It- it keeps fluctuating but we're pretty sure he's supposed to be red on top but he keeps popping up grey, periodically, so eh?

S: Yeah.

O: Anyway, Cliffjumper, uh, shoots an unfriendly rock, which falls down and nearly takes out Optimus and Ironhide, and then Ironhide--- so, so you know, Cliffjumper’s like, “Ahh-- I thought it was a Decepticon,” And Ironhide’s like, “The Decepticons are gone for good.” He says last words-ingly.

S: Says Ironhide last words-ingly.

O: Thankfully, Optimus seems to have learned his lesson from the Pilot and is, you know, kind of like, “Umm, not so sure.”

S: He's- lets- basically like let's be cautious about this.

O: Right, you know the smart thing.

S: Yeah. And meanwhile Megatron preens about fooling the Autobots.

O: And fooling them good.

S: Um--hmm, and I think we see, like, this really fantastic underwater city that the Decepticons have built in the meantime.

O: So, I think it's, it's like the remains of their ship.

S: Well, it's built around the remains of their ship.

O: Or something.  Anyway, they've done a lot of work and, as I previously stated, uh, in the last episode Soundwave was able, clearly, to bring the ship down without completely destroying it cuz they're using it as their base.

S: Yeah, and, honestly, the Decepticons just seem like they're a hell of a lot more handy at building things than the Autobots.

O: Ehhh--Except Wheeljack, Maybe?  Ehhh--

S: Yeah.

O: Back on Cybertron we see Shockwave again, who's chilling as his gun.

S: He's shooting randomly at something? It kind of looks like he’s shooting at the ground and then he transforms, and part of him just sort of nopes out screen right. When he transforms into robot mode and it's like, is it a monocle- is it a monocle for his gun? And then he just kind of drags himself into the other room and there's a really great tired walk, which is relevant to an upcoming point.

O: [Laughs] So, apparently for the past, oh, four million years Shockwave has been trying to call Megatron.

S: Yep. Talk about needy.

O: And, you know, so he tries again only this time Megatron's, you know, actually awake. So Megs is like, “Holy fuck, you're still alive.” [Laughter]

S: And, and it-it's like home phones you.

O: [Laughter] Uh, Megs has many titles, uh, we find out during this conversation- one of which is, future ruler of the universe. Self-proclaimed, clearly.

S: And Shockwave is basically dying of starvation, this is the relevant point.

O: I guess most of Cybertron is, I think is what you said?

S: Yeah, the implication or maybe it's just a very wide-ranging headcanon is that sometime after the Autobot and Decepticon leadership left Cybertron that basically Cybertron itself, or whoever was in charge of it- so Shockwave, I guess, started shutting everyone down in order to conserve energy because the planet’s not orbiting a sun or anything. It's just flying through space with no power source, so...

O: Regardless, uh, we find out that the Decepticons are almost done with their shiny new space Bridge. uh, basically so they can shuffle back and forth from Earth to Cybertron.

S: Yep.

O: Uh, we get the return of Soundwave creeping on humans. This time with 90% more rock and roll.

S: And then the magical race changing man because someone got their color notes mixed up. He goes from, uh, black in the first scene, to white in the second, and then it's back to black. Everyone, like, all of the blue collar workers in here, all have the same sort of outfit that Spike and Sparkplug wear. So, they must be fashion trendsetters or something.

O: [Laughter]

S: I mean, I know it's just a really simple design. Going logically, as far as the animation goes.

O: Right, right, but yeah.  So basically Soundwave has infiltrated a solar energy plant, uh, and transforms out of, uh, his boombox mode and releases Laserbeak, um, which today is Operation: Destruction. He's used that one before right? He's just reusing them now, he's just reusing them!

S: He is, he is and then blasting through a window shutter? Enter the Decepticons, the rest of the Decepticons. Cuz, I mean, this obviously isn't a door because it has a freaking lip.

O: Yeah, it's really strange I was looking at it and it looked kind of like a garage door but it wasn't because there, it wasn't flush to the ground. It was very strange.

S: Um-hmm, um-hmm.

O: Also, it begs the question- if they were just going to blast in anyway, what did Soundwave going in as a boombox really do?

S: Social engineering, I don't know--we've got that post.

O: The only thing I can think of, is maybe he'd been there for a while and was spying on them buu-- I just don't know like, he--oh who knows.  Anyway, moving on. We cut to Spike in Jazz.

S: They're in traffic and Spike’s not using a seatbelt.

O: Actually! We looked this up. Seat belt laws didn't start becoming commonplace in the US until the 80s or the early 90’s, depending on the state so when this was made that was actually probably pretty normal and, I don't know about you but when I was a kid I remember all the, ”Wear a seat-belt,” stuff, and I know some of it is still out there but I feel like there's less of it maybe?

S: Um--hmm, cuz it's pretty normalized now, and also going from- apparently something that I heard about the new Mystery Skulls thing- is they might have just decided they didn't want to, you know, animate seatbelts.

O: I'm-- okay, that's a fair statement.

S: It's a possibility, but it's probably, it's more likely, you know that it wasn't you know--

O: Culturally, a thing.

S: Yeah.  Um--hmm.

O: So anyway, Jazz is trying to destroy a child's eardrum, apparently, with the power of really loud music and Spike in the front seat.

S: Yep, and remember he's 14. I still, I still can't believe that he's actually 14.

O: It's okay, Officer, my car is driving me!

S: Um--hmm, um-hmm. Oh, and he kind of nearly throws Spike through the windshield when, basically he has to slow down really, really fast. Like, there's three inches between him and the car in front of him.

O: Yeah, Jazz is a very exact driver. Basically they hit a traffic jam, uh, and something is clearly causing chaos within the city and then Jazz does a totally illegal u-turn and zooms back to the Ark.  Uh, so, apparently the city’s losing power due to Decepticon shenanigans at the solar plant.

S: You think they'd, you know, build their own so-- you know solar plant somewhere in the ocean, where no one would know. And I mean oh, God, these guys are so handy and apparently they can't do that.

O: Well, it's just like, why would you want to tell the Autobots you're still alive? [Laughter] This- this is the part I'm confused about.

S: Obviously this is to facilitate robot flirting AKA punching.

O: Obviously. Um, so, you know once they figure this out, Prime’s like, “Oh, fuck. Megatron's still alive.”

S: And he sounds oddly breathless about it too, so going back to the robot flirting.

O: Robot flirting yeah. And we get another toy roll call, this time with more Gears bullying the Bee. Alternatively, Gears is just kind of a dick.

S: Yeah, yeah.

O: Ah, Soundwave is gathering dat Energon with his patented cubes again.

S: Yep, and the Autobots burst through a skylight.

O: Why is that even there?

S: Obviously for natural light, and I mean Ratchets leading the charge? Like okay...

O: Oh, sure put your medic out front, oh, it's fine.

S: He likes kicking people.

O: [Laughter]

S: Obviously, he's had to take out his aggression on, you know, the glass first.

O: [Laughter] Okay, so you're telling me someone pissed off Ratchet, shoved him to the front of the line and said, “Get them,” to--about the Decepticons.

S: Hey, I wouldn't--

O: I'd watch that.

S: I wouldn't expect anything less from the Autobots, some of them do weird stuff.

O:They do. So, uh, we get into the fight proper and Cliffjumper, the maniac- if you remember, tries to take on Megatron by himself. Aah, Cliffjumper, literally, only comes up to Megatron's waist.

S: It looks, hmm, bad.

O: Anyway!

S: The placement...

O: Cliffjumper punches Megatron in the nads.

S: [Laughter]

O: Oh, sure now we get a new sound effect *CLANG*! Megatron's Nads are that badass apparently, they don't get the bonk sound effect.

S: [Laughter] Bonk! [Specs precedes to completely lose it]

O: I think you mean clank.

S: Clang! [still losing it] Okay, I am calm.

O: [Laughter] Okay, so, ah, Cliffjumper gets his ass handed to him via Megatron. So we get more Cybertronian flirting with Megatron and Optimus Prime. Basically they're punching each other again.

S: And then the Seekers escape with Energon and so, they’re basically just holding the energon to their tummies and they transform and it goes away.

O: [Laughter] It goes in their tummies. Anyway, Megatron gets a competent handler today, hello Soundwave.

S: Yep, yep. [Laughter] And Ironhide takes a hit for Prime.

O: “I used to be a war hero, then I took a fusion cannon to the chest!” Back at base, Ratchet is repairing him.

S: Ratchets’ patented tender loving care as he shuts off Ironhide’s voice box with, you know, a button?

O: Apparently that exists and good man.

S: It's like a button in his torso or something? And he's just like,”Don’t you sass me!”

O: [Laughter] Nobody sasses Ratchet, they'll regret it.

S: Umm-hm.  And then Bumblebee is sent out to scout out the Decepticons’ plans.

O: And he takes Spike, like Spike comes up to him and says, “Hey, can I come with you?” And Bumblebee’s like, “Sure, why not?” And I'm like, why? WHY? Leave the squishy at home!

S: And they, like, he just sort of goes off roading.

O: Randomly!

S: In exactly the right place to find the Decepticons.

O: Okay. Can we pause for a moment and ask ourselves, why is the Autobots Recon guy BRIGHT YELLOW!?!

S: Well, I guess Mirage, Mr. Invisible, is indisposed at the moment, and Jazz could have also done it considering he's the head of Special Ops, at least in this universe.

O: But no we send the bright yellow, freaking Volkswagen bug.  Anyway, so they go into, they call it a river bed but it--

S: It's, no, that's not a riverbed, that's either a giant canyon or a weird-ass giant culvert, not a riverbed.

O: Yeah it doesn't look like a river bed. Decepticons are testing their Spacebridge to Cybertron. Uh, the test fails- S: -and then Starscream mouths off again!

O: Must be Tuesday. So apparently, uh, the test failed. Uh, but having a driver for the space Bridge vehicle will fix everything.

S:Why? I mean do you need some sort of consciousness to direct the Spacebridge?

O: I think their implication was someone would be driving the space vehicle but I really don't feel like, they are later, you know, which is weird.

S: They're just- Considering what happens with Megatron, he's not driving shit.

O: [Laughter] No. But Bumblebee and Spike are like, “Oh shit, that's Decepticons,” and they attempt to escape, badly. Uh, falling into the canyon with the Decepticons.

S: So the thing is, um, they- they get up close to the edge of the culvert and they look down and are like, “Oh shit, no, we got to leave,” and then Bumblebee just, freaking stands up and tries to transform and then they like--

O: And then they slide down.

S: And the thing is, he tries to transform in direct view the Decepticons and it's just like- what the hell?

O: Yeah, you couldn't go like 10 ft back from the edge where they, maybe, wouldn't have seen you or something?.

S: Yeah, and they just-- he slides down the edge of this freaking culvert.

O: I know it's like, floomph!  De- deposited right in the Decepticons laps basically.

S: Yeah, right at Megatron's feet and then, they're volun-told they're going to be Spacebridge volunteers. I still like volun-told.

O: I do too.

S: Shockwave informs Megatron it'll take 3000 Astro seconds until they can use the Spacebridge again.

O: What the fuck is an astro second?

S: I don't know, I mean, I think I tried doing math to figure out how many, like, minutes 3000 seconds was.

O: I want to say like, okay assuming it's a second, it's like 50 minutes or something?

S: Something like that which seems like it's a really long time--

O: And why would you count in seconds?

S: I don't know, they're dumb robots. I love them but they're dumb.

O: Anyway, so like they get shoved into the--the, uh, Spacebridge vehicle and somehow they escape, by Bumblebee transforming in the vehicle and they kind of bust out and I don't even, uh--why--urgh, it's just. Madness, is what it is. It's Madness.

S: Yeah.

O: They're running away and then Bee turns into a car and somehow Spike is keeping with Bee who is in car mode.

S: And I know a human can outrun a horse over a short distance but, not a car not something that can go like 60 miles per hour after 4 seconds, geez.

O: Operation: Capture, as Soundwave sends out Ravage to chase after these two idiots. Hello, Ravage, my beautiful son.

S: And then Spike trips.

O: Shocker.  Ah, Bee attempts an escape

S: The environment animation in the sequence is surprisingly good. Frankly, I want to know how much mon--moolah they spent on that.

O: [Laughter]  Or why. The why is the biggest question to me.

S: Yeah, seeing as it's a weird decision to animate this background because I don't think they do it again?

O: I don't think they do it very often if they do it later, so. Bumblebee hides in a cave, this fails because he climbs out and pops out right in front of Starscream and Megatron and then they hold him down and Megatron uses his brain sucking chest tentacle to alter Bumblebees’ memories. You heard me.

S: This might be some sort of, like, weird future reference to the Robo Smasher, but probably not, probably not.

O: I'm just saying, there was a tentacle involved.

S: Yep, and this is a grand scheme by the Decepticons to lure the Autobots into a trap.

O: This works.

S: At some point Sparkplug declares that Spike is not going to Robo Summer Camp AKA Cybertron. Never mind that his life is already basically robot summer camp, sooo...

O: All robots all the time.

S: Pretty much!

O: So, Prime is, somewhat apprehensive about going into a random cave but Bumblebee is apparently, “Never wrong, Prime,” according to Ironhide. Uh, and then lo and behold the Decepticons attack.

S: And wreak havoc upon this delicate cave ecosystem.

O: Okay, there's a lot to unpack in this scene, so let's go down some of the greatest hits. [clears throat]  1) Jazz is apparently excellent at baseball, as he home runs a laser blast back at Starscream with a stalagmite we- 2) we regret to inform you the new Ratchet toy comes with a handy bird capture net, which he captures Laserbeak with.

S: What does he even with it the rest of the time?

O: Captures patients?

S: I guess. [3)] And then bonk! The return of Bonk.

O: [Laughter] And 4) Megatron summons a buzzsaw from his hand, which he then shoots at Optimus Prime, naturally the only thing this does is it frees Prime from a tiny rock that was holding him captive and, last but not least [5)], Shockwave calls Megatron at an inopportune time to tell him his space bridge is ready.

S: Actually we could probably use this amount of time to calculate the amount of-- how long freaking astro seconds are.

O: Well, no, we can't because like, presumably we-we weren't with them the entire time--

S: Ohh...dammit, yeah.  Dammit. [sigh]

O: Uh, Megatron orders a retreat and Starscream says, “Starscream Retreat? Never!” Lying to himself and to the audience. In order to trap the Autobots in the cave Starscream assists Megatron in getting his rocks off to block the entrance. You heard me.

S: [Snickers] And the Autobots regroup and blast out of the cave except the rocks go in towards the cave- towards them instead of out. [sigh]  They had to save money somewhere.

O: After that like, amazing, uh, uh, environment animation. They're like, “Okay, just screw the rocks, man.”

S: And then Ratchet notices Bumblebees’ memories have been tampered with because part of Bumblebees chest armor is askew, or something. Soo, uh--

O: Ohhh, bad touch.

S: Yeah and I don't know he sort of shoots the stupid little laser beam--

O: He's like, “Oh yeah, there seems to be some tampering going on here.” Thanks Ratch.

S: And like fixes it and Bumblebee remembers the correct location of the Spacebridge.

O: Um,  so back at the Spacebridge, uh, now Shockwaves talking about minutes instead of Astro seconds, who explained Earth time to him?.

S: Maybe Thundercracker did? I don't know. Maybe one of the cassettes, maybe Ravage got on the horn?

O: [Laughter] Ravage is just like, “Listen, counting them in seconds is dumb.” Anyway, Spike is shoved back into the Spacebridge vehicle and they strap him in this time.

S: Aah, yes someone finally invented a freaking safety harness in this silly show and it's the Decepticons.

O: [Laughter]

S: The Autobots arrived and another fight breaks out.

O: This is the third freaking fight in a 20-minute cartoon.

S: Yep.

O: So, then, Ironhide almost shoots Spike, and Optimus actually does, but not before weirdly adjusting the barrel of his gun.

S: Like all camera lens. You know like one of those fancy macro lenses or something?

O: Yeah, like the ones that you twist and they go in or out.

S: Yeah because it's like he twisted and it--

O: And the front of the gun kind of does that--very strange.

S: Umm-hmm.

O: Anyway, Optimus Prime shoots the straps off Spike, allowing him to escape, being caught by Bee. Megatron enters the Spacebridge in an attempt to salvage the Energon shipment and gets caught up in the whirlwind created by the Spacebridge.

S: Merry go Megatron! That's honestly the first damn thing I thought of when we-- when we got to this bit.

O: Basically he's been picked up by the vortex and is getting like you know--

S: Whirled around--

O: In a circle and goes through the space Bridge.

S: Yep.

O: And he disappears. So um, Starscream proclaims himself the leader of the Decepticons.

S: And is followed by his exact duplicate.

O: The return of Mini-Me!

S: Twice the Starscream, double the Screech.

O: Truly Megatron's worst nightmare--nightmare has finally been realized.

S: Oh, and so apparently there's a thing where there's the Unicron singularity where like, Unicron, Primus, and the Thirteen Primes or whatever are a all, like, a universal constant. The death of Unicron causes like, all of these dumb animation errors and that's why they're there.

O: No! No!

S: I think it's so dumb-- apparently that's something that is, it's- it came from some sort of official source but take it as you will, I ignore it because I think it's silly.

O: Yep, oh, that's too silly even for me.  And I like most of the shit these idiots get up to. So, uh, Starscream orders of retreat. Now about what he said earlier, about never retreating.

S: Yep.  Oh hypocrisy Starscream-

O: You can't lead ant-oids!  

S: -It knows no bounds.

O: Clearly. So the Autobots celebrating defeating Megatron, for good. Mercifully, Optimus isn't so sure this time, so somebody learned something--

S: And--

O: Megatron's fine! He's just chilling on Cybertron. He'll get his revenge.

S: Like, Shockwave sounded happy when you showed up and yeah, as Megatron swears his revenge his eyes glow menacingly red.

O: Of course they do, because he's a Decepticon. All right, join us next time for the Transformers episode 5: Roll For It. In which case, we will get to see, uh, Ravage kidnapping a boy in a wheelchair and the introduction of Jet Judo.

S: Yep, it's a fan favorite in many many fanfics years later.

O: Also Soundwave reading a, like, teenagers mind. It's weird.

S: Yeah.

O: So, Spec's, what are our fanfics for the day?

S: Okay first up we have “Undercover” by Tirya King. It's in the G1 cartoon continuity, rated T, and it's General, so there aren't any pairings. Characters: Bumblebee and the G1 cast. In summary, “Sometimes it's not always the quiet ones. Sometimes it's the lovable cute one. Sometimes the least likely can be the most dangerous.” And our theme for this recommendation is Bumblebee being sneaky because--

O: He was attempting to be sneaky in the episode, he kind of failed, but he was attempting it.

S: Yeah, yeah. And so this one is a one shot because I figured I should keep track of whether it's One-Shots, complete, or an in-progress thing that's probably not going to be completed.

O: Ohh, that's a good idea.

S: So, yeah, our next one is “Insomnia” by KoiLungfish, based on the G1 cartoon continuity, it's rated T for teens, it's Gen so again no pairings, and our character for this one is Shockwave. “Shockwaves isolation on Cybertron is driving him insane.” This one's kind of a little, little darker, but ah, so our theme or character for this one is Shockwave and it's a One-Shot.

S: And then our next one is “Worlds Away” by WaywardInsecticon. It's part of the G1 cartoon continuity comic, K+, Gen, no pairings. So the characters? Well it focuses on the Decepticons and there's a few OCS, original characters. So, in summary, “Cybertron, the symbol of the Decepticon cause, is on a collision course with a star. There's a heavy con bias due to the characters involved just as a warning.” So this one, it's been a--quite a long time since I read this one but it's one that I enjoyed and it's part of a series's, actually but you can read it on its own. And part of the reason I included this one was Spacebridge shenanigans, with a “?.” But, it's basically about saving Cybertron which seems relevant to basically what's going on on Cybertron right now. And starving.

O: Fair enough.

S: But it's also complete, and it's one of Wayward’s older works so it’s- I think it's good? But your mileage may vary. And that just about wraps it up for us today. Remember to check out our Tumblr at Afterspark-podcast[.]Tumblr[.]com for any additional information show notes, or links we may have mentioned. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter @Aftersparkpod, all one word, and SoundCloud and YouTube at Afterspark Podcast. Till next time.

O: This is been Afterspark Podcast.

S:Toodles!

[jeemeetspanda]

Chapter 1: Transmigration Begins

The tranquility of death felt like gentle feathers that lulled me to a never-ending sleep. -is what I would like to say. But what is this?

When I opened my eyes under an unknown tempting force, I was greeted with a bright light that extended far beyond my vision could reach. The experience was unbelievably unnerving and I found myself looking for something I myself didn't know.

Is this perhaps, the afterlife?

"Ah, you're finally awake!" A giddy voice chirped out of nowhere. Considering my confusion, I was shocked and turned towards the direction of the voice.

The figure that stood in front of me was… myself. I stared in bewilderment. Is this what they call a doppelganger? She looked exactly like me, with the exception of her clothes which was that of middle ages in the western country. I recognize this fashion since I've worn similar clothes during a cover photoshoot at New York.

I went blank for a moment, reminiscing the old times when I was alive. I caught myself staring and immediately repositioned myself to reality. "What do you want with me?"

"You're really interesting!" The doppelganger raised her voice in shock. "Don't people usually ask 'Who are you?' or 'Where am I?' in this situation?" She even placed a finger under her chin and tilted her head to the side to show her point.

"That is true, but I don't suppose you're gonna answer me even if I ask. I'm supposed to be dead, yet I'm here talking to my doppelganger dressed in suspicious clothing."

She stared intently at the wariness growing on my face and she immediately responded, "I'm not an enemy, you don't have to be so hostile…"

Why does it feel as if I'm bullying her? I sighed in defeat. "Then can you explain what's going on?"

Time seemed to pass by for a very long time but she didn't reply. I couldn't help but feel nervous. "Is it something you can't say?"

"That's not it," she hesitated. "You see I'm from a world that is completely different from yours."

"How different?"

"We have magic and monsters."

I paled. They have what?

"I know this will be hard to take in but I want you to believe in me." her face changed and she turned to me apologetically as if she's done something to warrant her to make that expression. "I kind of dabbled in dark magic."

"Dark magic?"

The doppelganger seemed to have not heard my words as she lowered her head and bit her lip. "In my world, it's kind of a taboo to try and practice dark magic because of it's dangerous properties. I was naïve and used it for my selfish gains, so now I'm being punished."

Hearing her words, I was as calm as usual but an unknown emotion glazed back at my deep-blue pupils. That didn't really answer any of the questions swimming in my mind but only added to the long list. "So you fucked up, what does that have to do with me?"

The tender, blushing young girl raised her head again. At this moment, the sunlight with invisible origins was overflowing onto her fair cheeks.

"I want you to help me!"

What?

"I don't want to."

It was as if her resolve came crushing down like a burnt-down mansion. It was amusing but I was the type of person who use people, not the other way round.

"I-in return, I'll help you. I'll grant anything you wish."

Oh? Now, that's what we call a fair trade. However… "What can you do for me? Can you revive me if I so wish?"

"Yes!"

I didn't expect such a positive answer but she didn't look like the type to lie. I paused in silence, pondering over the thought. "If you have that much power to revive even the dead, why not help yourself?"

My eyes never left the form of the young girl in front of me so I would know the slightest bit of changes in her expression. It was awkward since it feels like I'm looking at my reflection in the mirror. Although this reflection sure has her emotions like an open book.

"For now, I can't say anything about that but please believe me!" she sounded so desperate. "Only you could help me!"

My eyes widened in shock when she suddenly appeared in front of me, clasping both of my hands. I stared at her determined and delicate features, taking my time to process what I'm about to get myself into. "I'll help you but I need assurance. Dying twice isn't really that fun."

"Of course! I'll equip you with the appropriate skills. Alright, how about keeping your job as an idol? That way you wouldn't have to work twice as much!"

"Before that, tell me exactly what you want me to do."

"About that," she fumbled with her hands. "You just have to grow up healthily, and find a man who loves you- preferably a prince, have kids and-"

"Hold it young lady." I stopped her before her demand could get any worse. "How would that help you exactly?"

The doppelganger grabbed my hands tightly. Somehow, the warmth from her palms gingerly reminded me that she just sincerely wants me to live well. But for what reason? "It will help me. It will help me a lot so please…just live well."

=====

"-oing to die!"

I was awoken by a loud sound followed by hushed noises. It was dark and cold, and the feeling of dread that crept up to my cheeks sent a chill down my spine. What is this situation that it could even make me feel this afraid?

"Are you awake?" A childish voice sounded out. I squinted my eyes, trying to adjust my vision on the looming darkness. It was faint, but I know I wasn't alone in such a place. Other than the voice that asked of my condition, there were indistinct sobs of children.

"What's happening?" I asked, preparing for the worst.

"We've been kidnapped. Those damned fools don’t know what they're doing! If my Father hears about this, they're dead!" The voice which I could now clearly hear sounded that of a young boy.

I remained silent trying to mentally analyze the situation. But before that…

That little bitch! Live well my ass! How is it that the moment I open my eyes, I'm already a foot away from my funeral?! My inner thoughts came crashing down and I almost yelled a string of curses if it wasn't for my god-level self-control.

"Could you tell me exactly what happened?"

Whatever, I just have to solve it on my own.

I sat there, just realizing that my arms were bound behind my back. Nevertheless, I listened to the child's story. So apparently, every kid here was taken at random times. I also learned that from these children, the kid who talked to me first was the second son of a noble. His name is Livius. He was kidnapped when he was sneaking into the town while secretly following his older brother.

A troublemaker at such a young age, I feel bad for his parents. Well, I can't really judge him since seeing as how I'm here with him, I must've done something to be taken too. Judging from my expensive clothes, I should belong to a well-respected family as well.

There were about 11 children including Livius and I squeezed in the cart where we were forced to stay. For some reason, I became a child. Although in this situation, I could say that my soul was transferred to that of a child. Unfortunately, I had no memories at all to when I took control of the body. I could however didn't have a hard time speaking the language. That's something I should be thankful for at least.

"How many bad guys are there?" I asked, coming up a more appropriate term for 'thugs' that a young child could understand.

"I was blindfolded so I didn't see much but guessing from the talking voices, there should be more than five of them." He replied, showing me his hand.

Five men huh, this will be difficult; not to mention using a child's body. "There's no choice, we need to observe and find an opportunity to escape."

The children whom we've managed to calm down all nodded their heads in unison. As if responding to our resolute disposition, the carriage stopped to a halt. We all braced ourselves instinctively. Even Livius who was usually loud and making a fuss, was quiet. I internally smiled, he knows when not to act rash. He's a smart young boy.

"Get up and follow me. Try anything funny and I'll kill all of you!"

We were ushered one by one into another carriage. My gaze swept past the carriage that we're being transported into and slowly scanned the surrounding area. Sadly, it was too dark to see anything plus the fact that either way, I wouldn't have any idea since it wasn't even half a day that I transmigrated into this body.

"Found anything useful?" Livius whispered beside me. I shook my head 'no'. "You?"

"I heard them talking," I couldn't clearly see his face but he sounded proud of this feat. I couldn't help but praise him. "I have a good hearing, anyways- it seems like we'll be sold off as slaves. However…" His tone suddenly grew weary.

"What is it?"

"Your clothes,"

"What about it?"

"They found out that you're from a noble family… I didn't hear anything more after that but it seems like…" It was obvious that he is having a hard time explaining the rest thinking I'd become terrified. "b-but don't worry! I'll protect you. If it comes to worse, I will also reveal my identity."

His idea was so stupidly heroic and adorable that I couldn’t help but let out a muffled laugh. He became flustered at my unexpected reaction.

"Sorry, it was just too cute… but thank you. I appreciate it." Such a young child would risk his life for me: a stranger, how could I not get touched?

“That’s right I didn’t ask for your name.”

“Eh?” I made a stupid noise as he suddenly looked at me with probing eyes.

“Umm,” to be honest I had no idea. I was thrown into this world with barely any information to who or where I am. “Rizu.” I answered either way. Technically, I wasn’t lying so. He looked satisfied enough so I left it at that.

Our destination ended up being displayed on a text screen in front of my very eyes. Yes, a text screen. It was similar to those from video games I’ve played when I was still on Earth.

[Bandit’s Temporary Lair]

I unconsciously read it out loud. Livius and another young girl who were closer to me, gave me confused looks, but I merely shrugged and smiled.

The bandit’s lair was unimpressive and I found myself cringing at the dilapidated shack we’ll be held in. I was expecting at least a normal, livable building if they were as to kidnap young children. What if we get sick? Right, as if they care about something trivial like that. They only care about how much money we’ll actually go for and hearing Livius earlier, I sound like I’d go for a lot.

“Now get inside!” A man with a long beard and an unkempt face opened the entrance to what seems to be a prison and herded us inside like cattle. “No screaming, no crying or else-“ he threatened and I saw most of the kids tremble in fear.

“It seems like we’ll be kept here for a while,” Livius began as he sat beside me. “They’re waiting for this ‘boss’.” His face showed puzzlement.

He was probably confused about the slang term the thugs have used. He was raised as a noble so I understand why.

“Livi, I’ll come up of a plan so could you take this time to listen to their conversations? Any info is fine even if you don’t understand it.”

“L-Livi?!” The young boy made surprised noises and gave me a look of embarrassment.

Was I too bold? He is just a young child so I didn’t know he’d react so strongly about a petty nickname. “Yeah, Livius is such a mouthful. So? Could you do it?”

“Ah yes,” he bolted up and sat further away from the rest of us.

I didn’t expect him to do that but part of me was thankful he did so. At least he wouldn’t see how weird I’ll be in a moment. I had a lot of assumptions as to how this world works and if what my doppelganger had said was true, then I might be in a world totally opposite of where I come from. She said that monsters and magic is present here. If that’s the case then I might be blessed with one. She did say I could keep my job as an idol.

But how do I know that? I thought about how the text screen worked earlier and assumed I can summon at least a status screen. That is, if this is really a game-like world.

“Status screen.” I stated and sure enough, a conspicuous screen popped out.

{Name: Lizzy Sapphirus Aphelion}

{Title: Idol Transmigrator (+10 All Stats)}

{Job: Idol}

{Status: Anxious, Confused}

{HP: 100/100}

{MP: 150/150}

{SP: 50/50}

{LEVEL: 1}

The first thing that caught my eye is a portrait of myself and the uncanny similar features of it and my original appearance. As if that isn't suspicious enough, on the right side is information about myself. Lizzy Sapphirus Aphelion. So I'm called Lizzy. I don’t know if it's a coincidence, but it sounded awfully similar to my stage name on Earth which was Rizu.

As promised, I still have my job as an idol and a title that left me with more questions so I chose to ignore it for now. If it says stats, that means I have attributes, and if I have attributes, I will definitely have skills- well, that's how RPG games work anyways.

"Attributes."

{BASIC ATTRIBUTES:}

Strength: 23

Constitution: 20

Dexterity: 25

Intelligence: 33

Wisdom: 35

Charisma: 25

Luck: 13

{ADVANCED ATTRIBUTES:}

Voice Mastery: 11

Dance Mastery: 11

Expression Mastery: 11

These stats… look tremendously weak that it's baffling. How could I even escape with this shitty stats. That doppelganger sure knows how to tug at my murder strings.

=Chapter End=