#he would either die. or become king of it all. beyond just pirates. of everything. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jessilynallendilla · 5 years

Text

To get through the quarantine here’s a super long list of Hobbit/LOTR/Silm fics

Let me know if links aren’t working and feel free to add more

(check the original post as I update the list)

Please read the tags before reading some have sensitive content/are unfinished

Kili/Tauriel Centric

Stolen Heir

Who is Kili's father? He doesn't know. Thorin doesn't know. Dis knows. She's not telling. What happens when he finds out that she left and didn't tell him she was carrying his son? Alternative Ending to BOFA. Family drama!

Paths in Starlight

Kili has never set foot in the magical land he was born in, but the search for a fallen star leads him beyond the Wall and into world of Arda. The star he finds is not what he'd thought she'd be, and Kili is pulled into an adventure that takes him over hill and through the air, joins a crew of Sky Pirates to help them aid their King, and finds out the truth about his family.

Take a Bow

Tauriel has been a prisoner in Erebor since returning a gravely-wounded Kili after the battle. Now finally she is permitted to stand before the Dwarven court and tell her truth; to save her life, to show why she wants to stay.

King Under the Mountain

Or the one where Kili survives the Battle of Fives armies but has to learn to live without his brother and uncle and to accept the throne.

All Those Who Wander

Kíli goes on a simple diplomatic trip to all the elf kingdoms. Of course, because Kíli’s involved, it quickly becomes anything but simple.

Dare You to Move

Each year since their victorious alliance, the respective Kings and Councilmen of Erebor, Dale, and The Woodland Realm gathered together in one of their great cities for the duration of five days. During this time they would spend the daylight hours debating and discussing the maintenance of their alliance, and then by night the people gathered together to celebrate. In the midst of the complex political negotiations, Prince Fili learns what it means to be a great King from the one person who just might be his Queen, while Kíli and Tauriel struggle to keep their illicit relationship hidden from those who would keep them apart.

Think of all the Places We Could Go

Kili woke, panting, to have his mother fuss over him and his brother sit and sharpen his swords on the chair adjacent to his bed. “Are we dead?” were the first words out of his mouth, prompting his brother to laugh and his mother to look at him strangely.

Silver Starlight, Burning Bright

Once upon a time, there was a hidden kingdom in the woods. There are not many stories of this hidden kingdom, as they were a secret and private people. There is one story, however, about a prisoner and jailer.

Erebor Restored

The Lonely Mountain is reclaimed. Thorin, Fíli, and Kíli recover from their wounds while Dáin makes himself at home.

Land of What Might Have Been

Five years after the Battle of the Five Armies, Fili sits on the throne as he struggles to help his family and his people. Kili is lost without his love, the elf maid Tauriel who was injured before the battle and disappeared. What becomes of a dwarf who has lost the love of his life?

Flowers Among the Fallen Leaves

Bilbo Baggins returned home in mourning after the Battle of the Five Armies. All of Middle-Earth knew that Thorin and his nephews had fallen in the battle. It seemed that all that was left to him was a quiet, lonely existence in his empty smial. Then fate in the form of a pregnant Silvan Elf came knocking at his door one night. Bilbo Baggins, it seemed, had never been meant for the quiet life.

A Frank Conversation (Is Easier Said)

He always loved making Tauriel laugh. For all the time Kili spent trying to understand the woman before him, he had come to cherish the moments of simplicity. There was nothing complicated about a laugh. Smiles were trickier, but laughter—that required no translation.

Waiting

Kili hasn't kissed her yet, and Tauriel doesn't know why.

Love is Never Wrong (Together We’ll Make it Right)

With a little help from a nosey wizard, things might just work out for a prince of Erebor and a Captain of the Mirkwood guard.

Beneath the Stars

After the Battle of Five Armies and the Slaying of Smaug, King Thranduil held a feast in honor—grudging honor, but honor nonetheless—for the King Under the Mountain. Tauriel had mixed feelings about this feast because it meant that Kili would be in attendance. There was a part of Tauriel that wondered if the connection they had formed was indeed some dream.

The Lesson of the Moth

The battle is over. Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain, is dead. His nephews still live, even if the life of one hangs in the balance. Tauriel too has survived, although what that means for her, she is not altogether sure. Choices are made, and promises are kept, though not without hardship. Sometimes the best course is to forge your own path, even if it takes you far from all you know.

Together Forever

Alternate ending to BOTFA. Kili and Tauriel are able to slay Bolg, but the battle leaves her badly injured. Further complication arise when King Thranduil blames the two for the death of his son and Kili is willing to lay down his own life to ensure her survival.

The Line of Durin

How do you build a new life when you're supposed to be dead? Three new royal tombs in Erebor, but two are empty. Kili, Fili, Bofur and Tauriel are on the move. Now what?

Starlight and Firemoon-Part 1

They walked in starlight, under a firemoon.

The Five Wives of Kili Durinson

The bride thought he understood. The groom thought he did too. Cultural misunderstandings abound. Now what?

So Comes Snow After Fire

In the weeks since the battle, Kili has kept his meetings with Tauriel secret. Yet when a fierce snowstorm looms, he would rather dare Thorin's displeasure than leave the exiled elf unsheltered on the mountainside. Once Tauriel enters Erebor, of course, it is only a matter of time before her feelings for the dwarven prince are discovered. And despite Kili's hope that there is a place in his life for all those he loves, he may soon have to decide whether his loyalties lie with his kindred or an elf.

Innikh Dê

In the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies, is there anyplace that will shelter an exhausted prince of Durin and an exiled Woodland Elf? Perhaps Lord Elrond's magical city of Imladris will offer Kili and Tauriel a haven as they prepare to have their first child. Or does the promise Kili made to his mother to return to her take precedence? In either case, Kili and Tauriel know the path won't be easy, but neither of them expected that so many Elves, Dwarves, Orcs, and Wargs, much less a wizard and a hobbit, would be on that path with them!

The Heir Apparent

Tauriel saves Kili's life during the Battle of the Five Armies and alters the course of history, forever.

Elf-Friends

After the Battle of Five Armies, Fíli is stuck running Erebor while his brother and uncle recover. However, things are somewhat mixed up with the arrival of Tauriel, banished from Mirkwood and carrying a secret. If Thorin can forgive Bilbo, though, surely he can be convinced to accept an elf?

In the Moonlight

Tauriel and Erebor

The Poison in Your Veins

She is guardian to a besieged and rotting dynasty, duty-bound and well served by her predator's instincts. He is one of Durin's Folk, hunters of renown until calamity destroyed much of the bloodline and cast the survivors from their home. Their descendents roam the land, carrying on the fight as best they can while hiding the secret that once made their kind so formidable.

A Promise Kept

He made a promise, and she returned it. But in trying to save Kíli's life, she caused his death. Or so Tauriel thinks until she returns to Erebor to throw herself on the mercy of her unborn child's only kin and discovers that sometimes love outlasts death. But can it remain unchanged by the harsh realities of life?

Spring After Winter and Sun on the Leaves

After their wedding, Tauriel and Kíli will share their most exciting adventure yet: raising a child. But blissfully happy as they are, becoming the parents of the world’s first dwelf isn’t easy. No one is certain a half-blood child is even possible, but prejudiced dwarves don’t want to let Kíli live to find out. As even darker forces take an interest in Kíli’s unusual heir, others are put danger, including Fíli and his bride, Sif. All Kíli and Tauriel want is to start a family, but they may end up having to save Erebor, too.

Marriage of Choice

Kili had always been the spare prince. Always been the Golden Heir's shadow and companion. He knew his purpose and place. After retaking Erebor, he's surprised and just how much his life changed because of it. Tauriel believed she would be captain of The Greenwood's guard for the rest of her life, expected to die in battle for her king. But she's been banished and everything has changed. Elves don't like change.

Bilbo/Thorin Centric

Finding Purchase

“What are you doing in here?” Thorin gestured around the audience-chamber as he approached, his half-smile obvious even at a distance. “I mean, my throne is yours if you want it, ghivashelê, you know that, but in the middle of the night?”

The Seven Gifts

Thorin had his crown off. This wasn’t an uncommon sight to Bilbo. Even though Fili had crafted his uncle a new crown, the weight of it still made him wary. Bilbo was not as used to seeing the dwarf’s hair gathered together in a braid that spilled over his shoulder. Or the spectacles perched on his regal nose. He would deny the ache of his heart in that moment.

Sansûkh

The battle was over, and Thorin Oakenshield awoke, naked and shivering, in the Halls of his Ancestors. The novelty of being dead fades quickly, and watching over his companions soon fills him with grief and guilt. Oddly, a faint flicker of hope arises in the form of his youngest kinsman, a Dwarf of Durin's line with bright red hair.

Battle of the Mind and the Heart

Thorin, Kili and Fili, and the others survived TBOTFA but Bilbo does not know this thinking Thorin died in his arms ...and now as the dwarves make the trek back to the shire to show their burglar that they are okay, the other hobbits of the shire have to deal with a rapidly mentally deteriorating Bilbo and the dwarves will not like what they bear witness to when they get there

Marriage of Necessity

In a desperate attempt to make sure someone he trusts rules over Erebor, Thorin marries Bilbo on what will probably be his deathbed, as well as that of his heirs. When all three Durins survive, Thorin's marriage to Bilbo comes under scrutiny. Not everyone is happy with it.

Reclaiming Erebor…Again

Bilbo is sailing to the Undying Lands but wary of letting go of the guilt that has been with him for many decade. His most sincerest wish is to go back and change what was done. Before reaching the lands of peace and healing, he dies aboard the ship and finds that his wish is being granted but not because he is the one to wish it. He finds that not only is he going to be sent back to his younger body, but so is the entire Company of Thorin Oakenshield. Time is a fickle thing and not all the members have their memories returned to them at the same time. The journey on becomes interesting as the dwarves slowly remember and fight for themselves and their kin, yet for some reason they are not the only ones to remember.

Hiding Myself

Bella Baggins is a perfectly normal, respectable Hobbit living alone in Hobbiton. That is, until Gandalf the Gray arrives at her house looking for someone to share in an adventure. When thirteen dwarves show up at her doorstep, she stupidly agrees to go with them to reclaim their homeland. Thorin Oakenshield, the moody and brooding Dwarven king, has managed to capture the unwanted affections of the Company's burglar. But one thing nobody knows is that their burglar is hiding a secret from them all that may destroy everything or change the way dwarves think for a very long time.

To Love a King

"“I never assumed that I could – that he could -,” Bilbo tried feebly. Dain leaned in close enough for Bilbo to feel his hot breath over his face. “He could never have cared for you. Was he not clear enough when he threatened to cast you to your death?” Bilbo pinched his face up in pain and clenched his hands into fists. Dain smiled triumphantly.

Buried Coals

After the Reclaiming of Erebor, life was supposed to settle down. Things were supposed to be simpler once there weren't people trying to kill them and things trying to eat them and so on and so forth. Things didn't get any simpler, but after the whole Tauriel incident, and after Dain got the snot beat out of him, things seemed to settle a bit. Billa should have known it wouldn't last.

At Last

Thorin Oakenshield has spent twenty long years alone with his broken heart, he has spent twenty long years learning to live with what he has done and what he caused, and he has spent twenty long years thinking that Bilbo hated him. But miscommunications can cause the worst heartaches of all, he finds, as Bilbo has spent twenty long years thinking that he’s dead.

Alive

Bilbo fled Erebor before his friends could be buried, before he had to see Thorin encased in stone. He returns to the Shire and settles into a life of unsociability and some amount of loneliness, but finds comfort in the figures of the children of Hobbiton. After twenty years, however, his luck is gone, and Bilbo has to flee the Shire with Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, and with four very young Hobbits, there is only one place he can turn to.

This is a Love I Cannot Undo (Eyes Open, I Burn in Hell)

In which Kili, Fili, and Thorin survive the Battle of the Five Armies and have to deal with the fallout.

Fiercer Than Fire

The Quest of Erebor as it might have been. Billa Baggins is not your average burglar- or, perhaps, a burglar at all. That remains to be seen. Thorin resents this little female's habit of gaining a foothold wherever she lands. Even in his heart.

A Flower Among Gems

The Fell Winter destroyed Billanna (also known as Billa) Baggin's small hobbit family, as her parents were murdered and she kidnapped by orcs. However, she is saved by a familiar group of dwarves which, after deliberation (and Thorin's younger sister giving him grief) Billa joins the family of Durin. As the years pass, relationships are brought into light, and with quests thrown in, it seems a quiet life is a little hard to find for a hobbit among dwarves.

Think Before You Speak

The three fools of Durin's Line try to court their Ones. Things get crazy, hectic, emotional, and brains continuously shut off at the worst times.

Words Unanswered

The most terrible thing you can do to a writer, Bilbo is sure, is answer words with silence.

Together Once More

Thinking himself banished, Bilbo leaves Erebor before he and Thorin can reconcile. Meanwhile, the entire company thinks that Bilbo died in bofta. 20 years later, Bilbo, now the guardian of Frodo Baggins, is asked by Gandalf to travel to rivendell to discuss a growing evil that is encompassing Middle Earth. However, the two hobbits mysteriously vanish, and never make it to rivendell as they were supposed to. And somehow, to make matters even more confusing, Gandalf comes to the realization that Bilbo Baggin's has the One Ring.

Hurricanes in Hertford, Hereford, and Hampshire

Bilbo was banished. That's it, the end. She wants nothing more to do with dwarves. Now all she needs to do is get back home, but there may be some complications along the way.

Eastern Homecomings

After an unprecedented Goblin attack on the Shire, Bilbo finds himself whisked back to Erebor with his son he never wanted Thorin to know about.

A Most Sensible Idea

Bilbo Baggins isn't sure about this. Not one bit. Frodo is definitely too young to enter into an arranged marriage with a dwarven king called Thorin Oakenshield. It's a good thing that Bilbo is there to chaperone him through their courtship. After all, there's no chance that a fussy hobbit bachelor would ever catch the eye of a king.

You Got Me

The Company shows their affection for Bilbo in accordance with dwarvish tradition. Bilbo... has no idea why everyone keeps giving him gifts.

The Most Precious of Treasures

Bilbo is thought to have died during the Battle of the Five Armies, but in reality she has returned home to Shire, believing that she is forever banished from her friends sides and that they are far better off believing that she is indeed dead. However, her plans to remain dead to them are complicated by the most precious treasure a certain Dwarf King left her with and by a few friends who simply refuse to believe that she had truly gone from Middle-Earth. Bilbo believed that her journey was done, she had gone there and had come back, her story was finished, she had no idea that she had just walk headlong into another.

A Second Chance

The Valar send Bilbo back in time, to the day where Gandalf asks him to join in an adventure. After living a lifetime of regret and suffering, he vows to change things for the better. For Thorin. For Frodo. But will he succeed?

Retelling the Hobbit

This is a comic adaptation/retelling of the Hobbit! It's framed as a bedtime story that Bilbo is telling a younger Frodo.

A Passion for Mushrooms

There are many trials for a hobbit attempting to make a life among dwarves. A hobbit wants a garden. A hobbit wants to eat regular meals. A hobbit wants friends, good books, and comfortable chairs. Bilbo does his best to carve out a little hobbit life for himself in the mountain. If only there were not one final obstacle. For a hobbit heart wants love, and among dwarves that is a sticky subject.

Something Blue

Thorin marries Bilbo after the Battle of Five Armies, a marriage of convenience, not love. Slowly, they must come to make the best of it, Bilbo resolves. After all, he's a Hobbit. They make the best of things.

Azhâr

Following the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies where Thorin must fight with his own guilt and mind over his choices and what they mean and meant, where he must decide whether or not to rule, and how to live with himself after dying. Focusing on many different characters and relationships, as well as building on the lore of Erebor and Middle Earth. A story about coming home.

An Expected Journey

For years Bilbo has written about his adventures and told stories about his dealings with dwarves and dragons. To most it seemed like fanciful nonsense but to Bilbo it was all very real. A weight followed him home from his travels, one called regret. Now in his final moments Bilbo has a choice to make – go quietly into death’s embrace or go back again and face all the fear and pain for the chance to make things right?

Lay Down Your Sweet and Weary Head

Thorin dies. Thorin wakes up. He is understandably confused by this, especially since he appears to be in the Erebor he knew as a young dwarf, about to be attacked by a dragon.

Call You Home

In which the Company are entirely too nosy about matters that are supposed to be a secret, and Bilbo learns that being concerned about propriety is overrated when you could be making friends instead.

Courting Habits of the Line of Durin

Hobbits didn’t have such things as courting rituals – they were uncomplicated folk. They announced their affections with flowers or a cooked meal, a shared pipe or simply a kiss – and then there were meetings with both families and a date set for the wedding. Dwarves, as he kept discovering, were a completely different kettle of fish.

The Road Delivered Us Home

In the years since Bilbo left Erebor, he has lost his respectability, gained a nephew, and gotten on with life at Bag End. He'd left aside adventure for the comforts and peace of his little Hobbit hole, and for the love of a child who needed him. Though perhaps, adventures can yet find him.

Intertwine

“To let someone else braid you is an intimacy. Brothers often do it for one another, or parents in our youth, or lovers when we are of age. I have none of these.” Thorin pulled a silver bead from the pouch and rolled it between his fingers, and his gaze on Bilbo held weight

Fix That Which Was Broken

When Mahal himself offers to send Thorin back to the start of the quest to save the line of Durin, he is determined to make amends for all of the mistakes he made the first time around. When Bilbo wakes up in Bag End eighty years in the past, all he knows is that he has somehow been given the chance to see his beloved dwarves again and he'll be damned if he doesn't take it.

Tears of the Sun

Based on a prompt where Frodo is Thorin and Bilbo's son and no one knows.

Reading in Autumn Sunlight

Summer was over. The lingering warmth from those long, languorous days were steadily replaced with opaline skies and bracing winds which brought with them the threat of the first frosts of winter to Erebor.

Portrait

Three years to the day following the beginning of the Quest for Erebor, Bilbo was asked to pose for an official portrait.

The World Spins Madly On

The end of the journey to retake Erebor is harrowing. As Bilbo Baggins surveys the wreckage of what was once a group of the best friends he ever had, he wonders if it was all worth it. And then he wakes up. And wakes up. And wakes up.

How Shall This Day End?

Thorin Oakenshield dies. And then returns to himself in Erebor, staring down at a gold-covered floor. He doesn't quite understand what is happening at first, but soon realizes he has been granted an incredible chance (and a terrible burden): to relive the battle again until he finally gets things right.

Though the Stars Walk Backward

Bilbo wakes, always in Erebor, with dark shadows to one side and the first light of a terrible dawn to the other.

Many Paths

Bilbo wakes up in Dale. With the memory of a battle won but lives lost, he finds an army of Men and Elves readying to attack Erebor. Bilbo tries to save his dwarves. Again and again.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Bilbo Baggins led a rather peaceful life, thank you very much, until an old acquaintance decided to turn it upside down, and he found himself agreeing to take a job that’s… let’s say not exactly up his alley, and might eventually cost him a little more than his treasured cozy lifestyle. Who would have thought tutoring a slightly menacing monarch’s more than slightly overbearing nephew could prove to be such an adventure?

Courtship Works Best When Both Parties Are Aware of It

The halls of Erebor flourished under the reign of Thorin Oakenshield. His coronation was a welcoming ceremony to celebrate the final wave of refugees returning to the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo, the hobbit under the mountain, is concerned with the amount of time the weary King under the Mountain is spending with a simple hobbit. Thorin is worried Bilbo is spurning his courtship. Suddenly all the dwarves are concerned for Bilbo's happiness in Erebor. These two idiots need to learn to communicate.

Run! Glorfindel Saw Us!

Bilbo Baggins was raised by elves in Rivendell. Thorin is not impressed. At all

The Rampart

When Thorin realized what Bilbo had done, realized that the hobbit had traded his Arkenstone, he saw fire. And Bilbo, being so incredibly small, was easy enough to throw from the Rampart. The company leaves Erebor, seemingly forever. 10 years after Thorin 'killed' Bilbo, he breaks from his dragon sickness, sick at what he's done. He runs to the Shire, hell-bent on paying his respects to his burglar, ashamed at killing him over a stone. But what will Thorin find in Hobbiton?

An Unexpected Addition

All of the dwarves survive the Battle of the Five Armies, but Bilbo must return to the Shire to sort out his old life and make way for a new one in Erebor. Over one year later, Bilbo comes back to the Lonely Mountain with a recently orphaned Frodo. King Thorin isn't quite sure what to make of this new, tiny addition to his Company.

Heartbeat of the Mountain

Bilbo adjusts to caring for a nephew and realizes that the Shire holds no future for him anymore. It is time to return to the mountain. With Frodo in tow, he sets off to find out if Thorin regrets his decisions and to discover if the mountain can handle not one, not two, but three troublemakers.

The Took’s Arrangement

Shortly after Bilbo Baggins comes of age, he is swept up into a life he never expected. Upon the promise made between his grandfather and the dwarrow of Ered Luin, he sets off to marry the crown prince of Erebor, Thorin. Arranged marriages are not ideal, but he is a Baggins, and Bagginses keep promises, while his adventurous Took blood sends him running down the road to Erebor.

Beware the Nice Ones

Five years after becoming Consort Under the Mountain, Bilbo is struggling to prove his worth to Thorin's most xenophobic subjects and foreign kinsmen. However, when visiting nobles mistake Bilbo and Frodo for common servants, Thorin is not pleased and Bilbo has had enough. Political intrigue, cultural misunderstandings, and a trial of honor ensue...

The Greatest Treasure in Erebor

It takes roughly two months of being taken on a different walking tour of The Splendors of Erebor every single day for Bilbo to work out that Thorin and Company are trying to convince him not to leave.

Our Lives to Make

Bilbo must venture the long road back to the Shire to see his newborn nephew, leaving Thorin to rule over Erebor. But when word reaches him mid-travel that Frodo has been orphaned, he knows he cannot go back to the Lonely Mountain alone. What will Thorin say when Bilbo returns with his nephew in tow, when he’s lost his own kin so recently?

An Unexpected Son

Bilbo left Erebor with a treasure more precious then gold or rings. What happens when the dwarves discover Frodo? Will Thorin bend enough to admit he was wrong to force Bilbo to leave?

lay down your sweet and weary head

Thorin dies. Thorin wakes up. He is understandably confused by this, especially since he appears to be in the Erebor he knew as a young dwarf, about to be attacked by a dragon. A time-travel fic with Thorin as the one living his life twice

The Shire's Sacrifice

When the Shire cannot honour its Treaty with Erebor, the dwarves enforce a contractual clause: one Hobbit must be sent to Erebor to marry the King as a sign of good faith. But with neither party at all willing and plans afoot to undermine the King, maybe an unwilling Bilbo Baggins is exactly what Erebor needs…

Gimli/Legolas Centric

Comes Around Again

Gimli closes his eyes, an old Dwarf on the brink of death in the home he had built with his husband in the Undying Lands, and opens them again as a young Dwarf in his childhood home in Ered Luin. He's returned to the tumultuous week before The Company set out to recruit their Burglar from his cosy hobbit hole. Gimli, once again a impetuous teen in the eyes of his family, must get into that Company--the lives of his loved ones, and the very fate of Middle Earth--depends on it.

Heart of the Mountain

For three hundred years they've been under attack. It's become background noise now but Gimli can't help but wonder why. Why in Mahal's name are the elves still attacking them after all this time? Surely they have something better to do?

Hearts Will As Hearts Must

The Dwarves are returning to Erebor reclaimed, and the elves uphold their promise to safeguard the caravans as they pass through Mirkwood. One particular Dwarf has wit and spark enough to match Legolas Greenleaf - perhaps even outmatch him. It's hate at first sight.

Cultural Differences: If Thou Kiss Not Me

Legolas and Gimli fall for each other, hard. But culture shock causes some problems when Gimli realizes that Dwarves and Elves don’t share certain customs.

Forged in Frame

A very contrived take on the Professor!Gimli and Influencer!Legolas AU, in which they’re still somewhat reluctantly trying to save the planet because Aragorn asked them to.

Secrets of the Lonely Mountain

Legolas is sent to Erebor after the War of the Ring, where he's given the chance to meet up with Gimli again.

we raise our cups

Legolas determined he would have to cut through the Woods of Oromë. If all went well, it should be a straight shot to what Celebrimbor had labelled as the Mansions of Aulë. Perhaps, were he a wiser elf, he would first seek the guidance of Mandos – because after all, he was still alive, and Gimli was still dead. But Legolas was, at the end of all things, not a very wise elf. He was simply an elf with a fiddle and a bow, who was deeply in love. And he had to hope that would be enough.

Terroir

"Terroir - the characteristic taste and flavor imparted to a wine by the environment in which it is produced." It's almost the tourist season in the wine country, and Greenwood Cellars is gearing up for its busiest time of year. The new Blue Mountain Public House threatens to disrupt decades of tradition - this is wine country, after all. Aragorn is running for County Sheriff on a platform of community policing - but he's running against his boss. Eowyn feels trapped in the family business, and thinks the handsome young motorcycle cop is her ticket out. And Gandalf is selling his fireworks, like he always has, even though there's no way they should be legal. The story of a town, and the people who want to make it better, and what happens in one tourist season.

Building

A city, a marriage, a world. Legolas and Gimli return to Minas Tirith with their people to help Aragorn rebuild his city, and learn how to be together in a new world of peace.

The Wild Hunt

Vampire Legolas vs. Slayer Gimli

What Song Can Fell the Mountain

Valinor has been their home for a century and a half when, scant days after his four-hundred-and-twelfth birthday, Gimli says, "I will soon die. What are we going to do about it?"

Lest We Burden Our Weary Hearts

If one must call them ‘missed chances’, then do so warmly, for even in the distance of space and years there is no shortage of affection here. Each other’s dearest companion, indeed.

Homespun

Modern Lasgalen bears some little resemblances to canon Mirkwood. Gimli encounters one of them in the bathtub one morning.

Going Viral

When a dangerous new virus spreads rapidly through Middle-earth, Gondor goes quickly into lockdown. Legolas and Gimli weather the pandemic together as best they can.

Rebuild Your Seawall (Brick by Brick)

For weeks and months, Legolas has felt a pull - and dares not name it, does not heed its stormy-sky warnings, does not track the ebb and flow on the shoreline of his life. Here’s the thing about the tide, though: it rises whether one wills it or not.

M&M and E&E2

A Gold Star in his Crown

The Silmarils have been stolen. So has Elrond, on the very same night, and the only trace left of those who took them is a note in Maglor's handwriting. Years later, after Elros has gone after his brother and never returned, Gil-Galad goes to reclaim his young kinsmen from their second captivity in Faerie.

The Ransom of the House of Fëanor

Maglor goes to war for a final time, the eternal darkness looms, and Elrond bargains with the Valar for the ransom of the House of Fëanor. In which fathers give up everything for their sons, and their sons offer everything in return; title, name, and fëa. Or, the one where Maglor believes he is destined for eternal darkness, and Elrond politely says otherwise.

To Safety

Elrond and Elros, after yet another horrible day of being hostages for their mother's Silmaril, awaken in an unfamiliar forest where the sunlight doesn't seem quite right, and somehow run right back into the arms of their captors. Maitimo and Makalaurë have no idea who these children are, but it seems like they're supposed to raise them. It's more difficult than it sounds, because somehow they don't speak Quenya. In other words, the twins time travel to Valinor in the Years of the Trees and proceed to be parented against their will.

Low Water

Elrond is gifted with foresight. Elrond has seen how this chapter ends.

New Strings

Maglor is rescued, now to fit him into life in Imladris.

And Love Repaid

It was never about owing.

Protector

It began with the Second Age. Or actually, it did not begin at all. It simply did not end. Against all odds, Maedhros and Maglor survive. For Elrond, that is a beginning of sorts.

Lessons Learned

It all begins with Maglor wanting to give the young Peredhels he and his brother captured a some sense of normalcy in their lives. He gave them over to Erestor so that they might learn simple things, how to read and write. He hardly expected to find his own relationship with the twins to develop, and Maedhros expected it even less...

Unwell

It's not that they're not happy that Maglor's been brought back to the Undying Lands. It's just that they're a little concerned about the fact that he's been taken into the house of someone he once kidnapped, and that no one's seen Maglor since.

Russandol

The attack on Sirion

After Sirion

After the Third Kinslaying, two pairs of brothers struggle to repair their broken families.

Songbird

Caught up in his grief over his twin brother’s death, Elrond hears rumours of his foster-father’s whereabouts. With only Erestor as his companion, the half-elf leaves Lindon to find Maglor. But at the end of their journey they must all face the question of what to do when the elf who was never meant to return to elven settlement is actually found.

Barriers

On the way back to Amon Ereb, Maedhros and Maglor carried not a jewel, but two small boys instead.

Always There

A young Elladan and Elrohir return from playing by the sea with a strange tale that sends their father on a mad chase.

Sons of Eärendil

Elros, King of Numenor, reminisces to his absent brother. Talking through memories of the terrors of their childhood and the things that drove them apart as adults.

As Little Might Be Thought

From the Sacking of Sirion to Amon Ereb; from princes to captives to sons. The story of the unlikely bond between Elrond and Elros and Maglor and Maedhros.

Pieces of Stars

When the Oath brings disaster to Sirion, Maglor attempts to fix what he can, but a temporary arrangement becomes much more permanent than anyone had foreseen. Elrond and Elros grow up, grow together, and grow apart at the end of a world slowly decaying into myth and legend.

The Lines on My Face, the Lines on My Hands

Nearly eighty years after Celebrían left Middle Earth to seek healing, the people of Imladris have yet to quite move on. But when a simple task of 'make sure the road is clear' ends in the Elladan and Elrohir bringing home a seriously injured and sorely missed elf, the entire household is forced to re-examine just what they are to each other, and to themselves.

The Starlit Sky

Elrond's account of his boyhood with the Fëanorians

Jailbird

There is singing from the southeast tower of the citadel. There is always singing from the southeast tower of the citadel. For over three thousand years someone has lived in that tower and sung, and today Faramir wants to know why.

I Beg a Deep and Dreamless Sleep

An alternate version of my fic "Give the Children Closure" Maedhros is unsurprised by Elrond coming to let him out of the Halls, though he knows he won't actually be leaving. This is a kinder hallucination than most. Again I will stress that everything is going to be okay, he just has to be sad first.

Lords of Amon Ereb

Maedhros and Maglor have stolen the Silmarils and disappeared. Beleriand is sinking. Finarfin, Gil-Galad, and all the people moving east pay a visit to Amon Ereb, assuming that the Sons of Fëanor returned there. Instead, they find Elrond and Elros.

With Eyes of Nightingales

Finarfin wants to know what happened to Elrond and Elros. Against their better judgement, Círdan and Gil-Galad go with him. What they find is a terrifying forest, a fortress that defies geometry, and a pair of twins with bright eyes.

Nightmare Sequence

A series of dreams and nightmares that everyone sincerely hopes are not prophetic, mostly taking place in the early days of Elrond and Elros's time as hostages. (aka things that were too messed up or too out of character that I really wanted to write)

plus ça change

Elrond has had many homes and many families, in the Ages of Middle-Earth. He has lost them all. Or, a character study, from toddler in Sirion to Lord of Rivendell.

Softly Sing the Children

Elrond and Elros are unsettling children. All the children in their family are.

Childhood Memories

Sometimes the waves of war wash strange things to the shore. Perhaps Maglor senses what it means for him when he finds Elwing's twin sons Elrond and Elros abandoned in the forest. He does not take them with him to Ossiriand as his prisoners of war, but rather takes on the role of a foster father for them. Little by little, the little Half-elves learn that he means them no harm, and gradually they begin to love him as their father.

And Family Means No One Gets Left Behind

Earendil returns home to find it burned to the ground and his sons missing, presumed captured by the Feanorians. He does the logical thing. He goes after them. He's not entirely expecting what he finds when he gets there.

MISC

Tears Like Rain

The first in the epic Mellon Chronicles. Mirkwood has suffered tragic losses in the Last Great Alliance, including her King. With the very survival of the kingdom at stake, Thranduil finds himself at deadly odds with his older brother Doriflen. When young Legolas becomes a pawn in his abusive uncle’s ruthless power games, the lies, deception and betrayal risk destroying more than just the young prince’s life.

Golden Light

They have loved each other for so long that when Finwë grieves, Ingwë grieves with him, but he also tries his best to comfort him.

No Other Choice

“Your word means nothing,” she spits at him, baring her teeth, nearly shaking with anger as sudden as a cataclysm. The sea roars behind her, cold droplets spraying up and flecking her bare legs. “I do not barter with murderers.” The Fëanorians descend upon the Havens of Sirion to retrieve the Silmaril. Elwing makes an impossible choice.

All Our Old Follies, Come 'Round Again

Celebrimbor sees Elrond again after a long separation. It isn't a good thing, at first. But then Celebrían meets Elrond for the first time under... unexpected circumstances.

The Siege of Khazad-dum

Rescued from Sauron by Celebrían, Celebrimbor and Elrond fled with her to the great dwarf-kingdom and stronghold where Durin is king. Celebrimbor, badly injured in body and spirit, is impatient. Galadriel and Durin oppose the might of Sauron to the utmost. And in Lindon, Gil-galad is unwilling to wait. This is a direct sequel to All Our Old Follies, Come 'Round Again

Songs of the Heart

It's not that Earendil isn't glad that the kinslayers are in custody. It's just that he's not entirely happy that the place they're currently in custody at is his ship.

Letters to a Daughter

After arriving in Valinor, Elrond writes down his thoughts and experiences in letters addressed to his now mortal daughter.

Songs of Shadows, Songs of Blood

There are shadows in the forests of Beleriand. Some of them have teeth.

More than the Stars Above

Elrond had lived without his parents for this long. He could certainly continue to do so if they proved to be indifferent. That didn't stop his hand from shaking when he reached out to knock on the door.

Watcher in the Woods

"The creature has been with us for many weeks, and Balan caved to its wish to learn. He has been teaching it our language, our politics, our culture. Our very way of life. Wherever we go, it is there. Watching. Always watching." Something does not bode well with this golden stranger in our camp, and yet, there is nothing to be done about it. I can only watch, and pray that what I fear does not come to pass. And it will.

Suitable Foster

"“Children?” Felagund sounded uncharacteristically distressed." Bëor strongly discourages his friend from adopting.

Beor and the Faerie King

The humans have their own story of how they met the Faërie King, what they gained and one they lost. The story of Finrod and Balan later named Bëor, as told by an old woman in a mountain cabin.

Little Boy Lost and Crying

I feel like the house of finwe just found a confused, crying, and lost little boy in the woods one day and decided to keep him and call him gil-galad and thats why his parentage is so confusing because everyone claimed he was theirs

Scion of Kings

Gil-galad struggles to write a letter to the man he thinks (hopes) might be his father. Or, in which we are all Gil-galad, failing to start an email.

Foundlings

The untold story of what happened to Dior's sons during and after the sack of Menegroth.

Twin Troubles

When Celegorm ends up in the Halls, he finds himself reluctantly playing guardian to a pair of lost twins.

Forget Me Not

It’s a marriage of convenience, a way to forever strengthen the bond between the Dwarves of Erebor and the people of Dale. Or so Sigrid tells herself.

Too Much Truth

Legolas accompanies Tilda to Erebor to visit her sister. It is his father’s wish that he does so. Legolas does not understand the new world he finds there.

Work for Idle Hands

King Bard carries so many worries, especially now his council want his eldest daughter Sigrid betrothed in a way to best benefit Dale. Sigrid carries her own worries and is determined to cut back her Da’s. There’s a trade agreement between Erebor and Dale; Sigrid and Fili begin using it.

My Lady Dis

On her way to Erebor following the deaths of her family, Princess Dís receives some unexpected news from King Thranduil, and an offer to make Mirkwood her home. King Thranduil can't abide Dwarves, but the more time he spends with Erebor's last princess, the more he begins questioning his long held convictions.

We Were Legends: Book I - Champion's Dawn

In the First Age of the world, House of Elmo supports the King and Queen of Doriath in ruling their Kingdom. Princes of Doriath hold on to it as well - they found themselves in different roles to support their Kingdom, but beside their duty, they still hold deep loyalty and love towards each other despite grudges from the past and poorly made decisions. Will their loyalty linger through all the Ages to come?

The Burned Prince

After the sacking of Doriath, the lands once girdled by Melian were abandoned. Faerbraichon, Lord of House Brethil, went east in search of a new land for his Sindar Elves, a land far removed from the grief caused by the Silmaril Thingol had coveted. With him came his family - those who were left - and those for whom he was Lord.

Extraordinary

The first time he saw her, when he climbed out of her toilet and into her father’s home, he barely even registered her presence – he was too preoccupied with his mission and his brother’s injury, so he wrote her off simply as a perfectly ordinary human girl. But then he started observing her – and Mahal, she was the most extraordinary creature he had ever laid eyes upon.

A Favorable Arrangement

Fili and Sigrid agree to an arranged marriage, and quickly learn that mountains and lakes ally more quickly than people.

Episodes from Middle Earth

Collection of one-shots

Fear and Family (Or, the One Where Kíli Is the Sensible One)

After the Battle of Five Armies, Bilbo isn't sure of his welcome in the mountain, and thus returns to the Shire as soon as he can. Somewhat to his surprise, Ori goes with him -- but it turns out Ori has his own reasons for leaving Erebor behind. Well, Bilbo's quite used to being the talk of the Shire.

Solace

The tale of Thranduil and his wife from the beginning of their journey to the downfall of their tragedy.

Seduction to Destruction

Before the awakening of the elves there was the rise of the Valaraukar. As the Valar attempt to keep and contain their Maiar from succumbing to Melkor’s might, they fail to realize that it only takes one to destroy their efforts from within. The fall of Almaren will be detailed with Mairon and his relationships with others as the central plot points. Eventual Angbang because that was why I started writing this thing in the first place.

Bury My Sins Down By the Sea

Wandering along the seashore singing an unceasing lament for what his people had become and what they had done was supposed to be the last line for Maglor, son of Fëanor. When he accidentally trespasses on Avarin territory, they take him briefly hostage in order to ensure that he will lead no war parties to them. Among their people, thrust headfirst into a culture completely alien to him, Maglor learns quickly exactly how different they are. Despite all their differences, he still finds kinship with Denethor of the Laiquendi, and the comfort of a connection helps him open his heart again at long last.

Adopted of the Khîtikweni

Maglor has been avoiding others since he flung the Silmaril into the sea. Some, he finds, are more stubborn than he is.

Mortal Cold

Elladan, Elrohir, Legolas, and Aragorn are in the mountains during a terrible cold autumn storm and the sons of Elrond reluctantly stay with some of the Avari after Legolas' insistence and the severity of the storm.

Secret Hope

Nerdanel is, she suspects, among the last to receive word - the ships are coming home. The Elves are returning at last. She knows she will likely be disappointed. But she can't help but hope.

Vegetarian

Whenever anyone asks Erestor how he ended up in Rivendell, he defers to Glorfindel.

My Father’s Eyes

They are terrible and cruel; warm and loving. I see my father trough his ever-changing eyes, and they tell me his truths if I read them wisely. But sometimes I fear i will never get to know everything there is to know about them. They are like the grey sky before it rains, like the universe itself or the forest when it rains. They speak to me if I listen closely. And I do listen.

The Prisoner of Dol Guldur

Thranduil makes a terrible discovery after the fall of Dol Guldur

The Web of Darkness

An experiment of the Witch-King backfires, big time, and the Elves of Mirkwood find an unexpected ally.

Hungry Eye, Ancient Soul

"In this Fifth Age of Middle Earth, there are many stories about the romantic past of the earlier ages. Ancient stories of love and adventure, and those who inhabited these lands alongside us mortals. The terrifying reality of these stories is often ignored, and I will bring them to light, remaining anonymous lest these beings find me for revealing the truth." It is the Fifth Age of Middle Earth, and the Elves have fallen into legend; legend twisted into tales of deceit, Fae magic, disappearances, and betrayal.

The Unseen Fate

Namo once said, "There long shall ye abide and yearn for your bodies, and find little pity..." so basically, he said that the House of Feanor will abide in the Halls of Mandos and remain dispossessed for ever. However, it would seem that Eru has another fate in mind. A story where the House of Miriel has found their place in the world. They meet new friends along the way and grievances are forgiven. Finally, a happy ending for the House of Miriel.

Consequences

"She is her father's daughter. He was never really a father at all." Elwing and Eärendil remember their children.

The Wanderer (Maglor's story)

The silmarillion as told from Maglor's perspective. Some implied Russingon and a whole bunch of vala/elf relationships.

A Meeting In Valinor

After the War of the Ring, Sauron returns as a prisoner to Valinor and, much to the incredulity of his self-appointed guard Eönwë, encounters a hobbit.

Casting Out The Serpent

Balan-who-will-be-Bëor comes to some conclusions about his new friend after said new friend demonstrates a terrifying knowledge of venomous snakes. In conclusion, Finarfin was a reptile hoarder and also elves might be poisonous.

The Fourth Hall

Where do the orcs go when they die?

green are the leaves (i leave in mirkwood)

"A choice sits upon his head, pressing down past his elven bones and into his very fae. He must choose either to turn back to the stifling safety of the King's Halls, or venture on into a world that will not offer favours nor protection to an Elf as young and inexperienced as he." OR: Legolas learns what it means to chase freedom, choose, sacrifice and find family even in the darkest of hours.

A Feast of Ashes

Now High King of the Noldor in Middle Earth, Fingolfin decides to host a feast to reunite the free people of Beleriand, the Noldor, and his own family. What he did not expect is to be reunited with dead relatives, spies from Angband, dark secrets from Cuivienen, and a fair share of angst

An Unexpected Exchange

Bilbo always knew there was something off about his nephew. He didn't fit in amongst the hobbits. And when a stranger shows up on his doorstep claiming that the boy is not his nephew at all, things get a bit... complicated.

Should A Star Fall, The Sky Won't Go Black

The stars are sacred to all of the eldar, but for some, they may have a little bit more meaning. Or: Elurín has a nightmare that leaves him lost and confused, and Maedhros helps guide him back onto his path with the help of the night sky.

Two Stars in Time

While undergoing a hunting test, Elurín and Eluréd have a strange setback and wake up under the Two Trees. Lost in a land of old, there is only one person whom they can think of to search for: Adar Maedhros.

In Elin Gelebrin

After the Second Kinslaying, Maedhros searches for two young children and succeeds in finding them. Here are some small moments of their time together.

An Untold Tale

Injured, afraid, and freezing in the forests of Doriath, Elurín manages to tap into an inheritance from Melian he never realised was there. In his desperation, he uses it, and he and his brother vanish from history. Three thousand years later, a patrol of Imladris finds two strange boys in the woods.

What if Elrond Had Pushed Isildur into the Fires of Mt. Doom? Theory

The One Ring and it’s survival by the hands of Isildur gave rise to Sauron and the War of the Ring in the Lord of the Rings, but what if Elrond had pushed Isildur into the fires of Mount Doom, bringing an end to the One Ring altogether?

#fic rec #the hobbit #lotr #bagginshield #gigolas #kiliel #the silmarillion #long post

3K notes · View notes

softrozene · 4 years

Text

Monster Trio Helping Reader from a Nightmare

Completely self-indulgent and rushed since I just woke up from a nightmare. I now have a cup of lavender and chamomile tea so let's hope I fall asleep into bliss. I wrote this off pure adrenaline and exhaustion. I can feel the crash of everything now lmao Uhh I hope this helps someone else besides me! Have fun reading!

Luffy, Sanji, Zoro x Reader (Gender Neutral/Non-Binary)

Warnings: fluff, mentions of vague nightmares, relationships can be taken as platonic or romantic tbh- I wrote this in like ten minutes so grammar issues are there, and it may be incoherent but I will die with pride

Words: 685

Monkey D. Luffy-

So, you wake up from a nightmare-

Chances of Luffy actually being up to comfort you are very- extremely- low

You would either have to go to him for comfort or by some miracle he had his own nightmare about the food being gone and he went to go check on it

Either way, if you wake him up or he finds you in a completely terrified state- he understands

His goofy personality will still be there but depending on your level of fear he may tone it down for you

He will reassure you that you are safe- You are the ship surrounded by people who love you and they would do anything to protect you

After these words and making sure you feel safe, he will offer to stay the night with you because after all-

He is your captain and the future King of the Pirates!

There is no one better than him to protect you, especially from nightmares

He believes in this fully so somehow you have to, or you will at least go back to sleep feeling better after talking to the goofball

If nightmares become a reoccurring thing, he gets Chopper involved since he does not know what else to do

May offer to quite literally fight your nightmares for you

Vinsmoke Sanji-

Either Sanji seeks you out depending on if he is awake (I believe it is said to be sleeping from midnight to five in the morning) and can hear your whimpers from the scary things plaguing your unconscious mind

Or you go to wake him up to ask for any kind of tea that will calm you down and let you get back to sleep peacefully

Either way, he will be glad to hear you out if you want to talk

If not, he will make you something soothing and wait with you until you get sleepy again

He reassures you that it is completely normal to have nightmares- You are human after all and not even he and the others can fend off their own

Bottom line- You are not alone and he makes sure to stress that

He will not push you to speak or force his presence with you in order to make sure you feel safe

He lets you decide what you need while just letting you know he is there for you

If nightmares become a reoccurring thing he will also speak to Chopper but the two of them come up with a plan around either talking or medicine with herbal teas in hopes it will stop on their own

Roronoa Zoro-

Zoro seeking you out first are actually rather high

Since his sleeping schedule is somehow beyond fucked- He sleeps from 4-7 (I believe that is stated not sure)

But either way, if your unconscious mind genuinely thought you were in danger, Zoro somehow would feel that and be on alert

He wakes you up with no remorse and asks if you are okay

He allows you to gather your thoughts but after seeing that fear-stricken face on you he offers you two choices- Go back to sleep and he will watch over you or go drink with him then do the first option

Zoro is the more stubborn one for sure (after Luffy) since he won’t leave a crewmate in a distressed state of mind after witnessing the effect it had on you

He will not share any personal stories, but he does heavily hint that he gets nightmares too

There is no cure, but he knows that damn good company may help with the fear the nightmares bring

If your nightmares become a regular thing, he will advise you to speak to someone, but he also understands if you refuse

If watching over you while you sleep makes you feel better you bet he will make it his duty to do that until the nightmares stop which leads to-

You become napping buddies and no one wants to find out what happens if they wake you up since Zoro gains a sixth sense for that

#my writing #one piece x reader #monkey d. luffy #roronoa zoro #vinsmoke sanji #luffy x reader #roronoa zoro x reader #sanji x reader #fanfiction #headcanons #one piece fanfiction #one piece headcanons #gender neutral reader #nonbinary reader

226 notes · View notes

pirate-queen-trafalgar-law · 5 years

Text

And all the people say

Written for @in-memoriam-one-piece. Five lives Ace changed forever and the one person who changed his.

1. Rogue

She had hoped for a girl. A little girl with her father’s wide smile and his eyes, had dreamt about it while sitting by the window and watching the marines interrogate one women after the other. Looking at him, at this little boy with her eyes and her freckles and her cheeks and her lips and her chin… She couldn’t say she felt bad about him being a boy. He was still beautiful. He was still perfect. This little boy with her face whom she had carried for so long. Her little boy who would never know her. The little boy she would never know. And wasn’t that the worst part of it all? The thing that destroyed her beyond repair. She would never know him. Not really.

Because, see, Portgas D. Rogue was no fool. She knew she was about to die, had known it for all this time, had known since she decided to risk it all for the sake of her baby. Since she bent the rules of reality, did something beyond the realm possibility so her impossible child could life. And here she was hanging on to the last shreds of life just so she could say goodbye.

His face was still red, still dripping with her blood. She hadn’t let Garp take him away to get him washed. She knew she wouldn’t have enough time for him to come back and just for this few seconds she wanted her boy all to herself. Nothing else mattered right now. Nothing except those prexious seconds with her precious boy.

God, before her pregnancy Rogue had never thought much about kids. Sure she thought they were cute but they were also loud and she hadn’t thought they’d be worth the headache. But now her she was witnessing the first seconds of her son’s life. He was crying and it was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. And he himself was so beautiful, so very beautiful.

And while she was lying there, cradling her baby closer, she could feel nothing but gratefulness. She was grateful that she got to witness this- the first seconds of his life. And while she knew she would miss all the other firsts of his life: His first steps, his first words, his first time on a ship, she could not be more grateful for what she got. For those precious seconds. Even when she craved so much more. Craved so many other things that she would miss. She’d never see him have a family, never watch him grow old, get everything he wanted from this life and more. But she was still grateful because while she would lose so much, she still got his first seconds of life and that was everything.

The life Rogue knew was no more. It was over and while she wished she could start this new life with her son, she knew their paths were meant to be separate. Her life was over while his was just beginning. Rogue thought it fitting: her last seconds of life were the first of his. She couldn’t protect him anymore but she was glad that at the very least she had managed to give him this first taste of life.

And she didn’t know if Garp would keep his promise. If he would keep their- her- son safe but in this moment there was nothing she wanted more than him- her son- have his whole life ahead of him: Not even her own life. Because she knew this was not the end. No, this was his beginning.

With the last shred of energy that she had in her body she managed to sit up and slowly press her lips to his ear.

“We will meet again, I promise, Ace”

Portgas D. Rogue died with a smile on her face and holding on to the thought of meeting her son again in the afterlife. Portgas D. Rogue didn’t know that this day would come sooner than she had anticipated, so much sooner.

____________________

2. Garp

Monkey D. Garp was a marine. He was a proud man who would do about anything for the marines. But Garp was also a man of honor though few would believe it. And so he honored his promise to that- no good son of a- to that man. A part of him contemplated forsaking his promise and taking the child straight to headquarters. But looking at this little tiny baby that fit in just one of his hands, Garp couldn’t- it was just a baby. He had done no crimes, no wrong. He just… existed and not even that was his fault. How could he- how could anyone- blame this little thing for existing? No, Garp decided, he would at the very least hide the little boy until he was old enough to take care of himself and that was it.

But that was not it.

When Garp first started in the marines his supervisor told him point black that while he was a strong fighter, he lacked cunningness, basic intelligence and he wasn’t able to lie to save his life. It was funny how he remembered that while he stood before the fleet admiral and the three admirals- the four strongest, most important people in the marines- explaining to them that Baterilla had been nothing but a false lead. No, Roger did not have a child, the Cipher Pol had been wrong. He almost could’ve laughed at their relieved expressions. These people were his friends and family people he had fought along side for years now and he had just lied straight to their faces.

Looking at the little boy now, stepping closer to him on wobbling little- adorable, cute- legs he couldn’t say he regretted it. Garp had made many decisions in his life and all of them had been made in the name of justice. But just this once Garp found himself bending to someone else, to this little boy that wasn’t even his own.

And suddenly there was a new dream. Where he once thought the day he would finally be rid of Roger’s little brat couldn’t come soon enough another thought had emerged. The picture of a beaming young man in a marine uniform standing along side his grandfather.

And suddenly the little brat was not Roger’s son anymore. He was a boy who would soon fight next to Garp and make the marines proud.

Garp wondered when Rogers brat had stopped being Rogers brat and become his brat instead.

And Ace had been just that to the very end- his little brat. Even when he declared his intention to set sail shadow and become a pirate, to outgrow his father’s. Even when he had turned down the offer to become a Shichibukai, instead joining up with the Whitebeards. Even when he ended up sitting next to Garp on that execution platform that was meant to be where Ace’s life would end.

Garp had never felt as relieved as he did in the moment Ace was finally free of his shackles and he had never known despair quiet as deep as in the moment Ace fell to his knees with a glowing red fist in his chest.

____________________

3. Dadan

Dadan was a coward. She had always known that but it wasn’t like she cared. That was how life worked. You either go and save yourself or, -well, you get yourself killed. She was never too good with words either.

So objectively she was the last person who should be allowed to raise a child. She was selfish and violent and a lousy no good criminal- for crying out loud. So no, Garp-san, I cannot raise this fucking-.

And yet here she was with a baby on her back. A baby that wasn’t just any fucking baby either, no, it was the son of the pirate king. Because of course it was. And worst of all that good for nothing pirate king was dead so she couldn’t even get child support from him. Because obviously that was how Dadan’s life worked. Sometimes Dadan wondered why she hadn’t gone straight to the marines telling them all about this child. There was no way they would hunt her down when she gave them such top secret information. She quickly dismissed the thought as illogical. What kind of marine soldier would believe her anyway?

Her dismissal of the idea had nothing to do with how cute and tiny little Ace looked when he looked up at her with his big eyes. Even as a baby he was never really smiling. What he was doing couldn’t be called anything but a smirk. And she wouldn’t admit it even on her death bed, it was cuter than everything else she had ever seen in her life.

And years later the same smirk was still on that little shits lips. At this point he was uncontrollable, practically an animal, not that she had ever expected anything else from him. He was reckless and selfish and brooding- and brave and smart and confident- and if one of her men had pulled half the shit he did she would’ve murdered them long ago. He was a danger to all of them and especially to her. God, she really hated that little boy. She really should hate him. But she really didn’t.

Just now watching him stand his ground against Bluejam,- the most notorious pirate on the island and refusing to run away. God, -she could’ve smacked him. So for the first time in her entire life Dadan decided she was not going to run away, instead she was going to fight alongside the little brat with fire surrounding them. Of course it had nothing to do with her caring for him, not at all. But Garp would murder her if something happened to him. It had nothing to do with the fact that she could not imagine never seeing his smirking little face again. Before she started fighting she looked at Ace and told him:

“One day you going to get yourself killed, Ace”

Years later when she learned that he had eaten the fire fruit she couldn’t help but laugh (and feel a twinge of pride for her -little all grown up- brat making a mess of things and leaving his mark on that big world). It would’ve been very convenient the night of the fire, she thought, but of course he would only get it now. Because imagine him making her life a little easier. She decided to smack him for it when she saw him next, that good for nothing brat. Little did she know that she would never get the chance to.

She was holding the newspaper and couldn’t comprehend what she was seeing. Dadan didn’t know pain could feel like this. All the wounds she had gotten in the fire, fighting Bluejam were nothing compared to what that picture of his dead body blasted on the front page was doing to her. In that moment all she could think was that no mother should live to see her son dying before she did.

____________________

4. Sabo

Sabo didn’t know what to think of the boy if he was being honest. In the two days since he had teamed up with him they had been attacked by three different people living in the gray terminal. In the two weeks Sabo had lived on his own before he had met the boy he had been attacked… by absolutely nobody.

The boy just didn’t seem to know when enough was enough. Trouble seemed to follow him wherever he went and if Sabo was being honest he wasn’t sure why he was still meeting up with him. Sure at the beginning it had seemed like a good idea. Sabo was just a kid surrounded by dangerous criminals, criminals he couldn’t beat on his own. And then there was this other kid his age who was in the same situation. Teaming up was just the most logical thing to do.

Turned out the kid was even more dangerous than eighty percent of the other people living in the gray terminal. Sabo couldn’t decide if he was lucky the boy was his ally or not. Well, at least he got by. And even though the boy was never smiling or really loving or anything Sabo had wished for while living at ho- no, that place was not his home, would never be his home- that place. He still felt so refreshed.

Sabo was used to lying, was used to pretending to be someone he wasn’t to get by so he wouldn’t be scorned for who he really was. He hadn’t been ready for someone like Ace. Someone who was so unabashedly himself, with no excuses, no fear. It didn’t matter who you were or what you did, Ace would stand up for himself, always. Even if it wasn’t necessary. And somehow Sabo found himself envying this, envying him.

All this time that Sabo had spent in that gigantic dump had been passed with his head kept down, with him not trying to bring any attention to himself. If he was being honest it wasn’t much different than living in high town. He was still just pretending. He was still not free.

But Ace was.

Ace did things without thinking them trough. He was brave and strong and nobody messed with him- not if they knew what was good for them. And weirdly enough, Sabo found himself looking up to him. Sure Ace was little on the slow side but that was what Sabo was there for. What he could contribute in their little team. And Sabo wished he could be like Ace. Just as free and wild and brave and strong.

Ace always got them into trouble but Sabo found himself not caring anymore. So what if he did? They always made it out anyway. Ace would get them out of it because somehow Ace had become something larger than life itself to Sabo.

He was the first person Sabo had really talked to since he had ran away. Ace had been his first friend, his first ally, his first glimpse at real freedom. And more important, Ace had been the first person to accept him for who he really was without judging him or forcing him to feel ashamed for being different.

It was a different kind of freedom, a freedom Sabo had never known.

One day, just like that- Sabo couldn’t really tell when exactly it happened- they were a notorious team. Known all over the gray terminal. Ace was the brawn and Sabo was the brain. And Sabo wasn’t scared about something bad happening anymore because with Ace by his side they were safe. Nothing could ever hurt Ace. Nothing could beat him, nothing could stop him, no, he would always come back. And with Sabo by his side, Sabo who could be reasonable from time to time, nothing could stop them. Grinning up to him with the latest treasure they had stolen in his hand Sabo knew they were unstoppable together.

And finally Sabo learned to set his wild side free. He learned how to be reckless, how to be strong and brave and a little crazy. It was something that followed him through life, be it in the gray terminal or many years later in the revolutionary army. Hell, he was best known for being a reckless idiot if you asked his colleagues. He wouldn’t change it for the world, though. Because what was a bigger freedom than just being unabashedly himself?

But by a horrible twist of faith instead of setting the boy that had finally freed him, free, he had somehow forgotten him instead. Had forgotten, that damn unforgettable boy who had changed his life. Forgotten his brother, his first friend and, in some ways, his savior. So while Ace had been in shackles, Sabo had been off in the world. Only finding the missing puzzle piece when it was already too late. Not being able to help Ace like he had helped Sabo, once upon a time.

____________________

5. Whitebeard

One would expect after having so many children, the thrill of a new one would eventually die down. But it didn’t. Especially not with his newest son on his hands. Though he wasn’t his son- yet. But Whitebeard knew it was only a matter of time until that would change.

His newest son was all fire and not just because of his devil fruit. Everything about him was fire. His spirit, his way of talking, his way of living, of fighting, just everything about him. But there was something more behind that.

Whitebeard had spent many years out on the sea so he considered himself as someone who had seen everything the ocean had to offer. And he just knew there was something more about the boy. There was an underlying sadness and insecurity -a darkness- that he desperately tried to hide. And Whitebeard had to give it to him: for the most part he was successful. But just not with him.

Maybe that was exactly why he had wanted him to be a part of his family, Whitebeard always had a weakness for outsiders, for the ones who were just a little bit broken. He brought them all together, turning them into one big- at times dysfunctional- family. A family that was always honest with each other, knew everything about each other and stayed together despite anything. And Whitebeard wanted that for Ace. Wanted him to safely share his secrets with all of them one day. But Whitebeard also knew that he could not push the boy since that would scare him off instead.

So he decided to let the brat be. At least for the time being. Let him do as he wanted, let him fight and let him get to know his new family on his own terms.

And surprisingly it worked. Soon enough Ace was not only a part of their crew but also a part of their family. Whitebeard couldn’t say that he was particularly surprised about that turn of events. He had wanted him as one of his sons from the very beginning after all.

So the day Ace finally searched him out to tell him what had been torturing all this time came. Whitebeard couldn’t describe how happy that made him. Because Ace was finally accepting his place on their side. As one of them. What had him worried though was the look on his sons face when he told Whitebeard about his heritage.

And if Whitebeard was honest even though a lot of things about Ace had not surprised the Yonko in the slightest, he had to admit that one did. The only thing that was more surprising to him was how Ace expected him to kick him out of the crew just for who his father was.

Roger had been his rival, but Ace was still his nakama, a part of his chosen family, his son and Whitebeard took care of his own.

The relief on his sons face made him smile but that smile was soon dying on his lips with Aces next request.

“You cannot tell anyone, oyjai. They’ll hate me”

It hurt Whitebeard to see that his son still doubted how much his family loved him. Doubted them enough to ask for something like that.

“We’re family. Family doesn’t keep secrets from one another” he had told him firmly. But watching the desperate look on his sons face was his undoing. Edward Newgate loved his family more than anything else in the world and he hated the idea of keeping anything from them but he found himself complying to Aces demands and kept quiet about the connection between his newest son and the late pirate king. Whitebeard had no secrets from his family but in this one case he found himself respecting Ace’s wish. He didn’t like it but he was doing it for Ace.

In the end all the hiding had done nothing. The marines had still found out and now there was no longer any secrets to keep. But there was also no Ace anymore.

____________________

+1 Luffy

Luffy was seven years old and the biggest crybaby Ace had ever met. Not that he had met many children if he was honest. The only child beside himself he knew was Sabo. And Sabo was the farthest thing from a crybaby. Even when he and Sabo had been seven they had never cried as much as Luffy did. Moreover Luffy was dumb. Ace had met a lot of idiotic people but Luffy surly took the cake. And also his powers were stupid.

Luffy was seven years old and he looked at Ace like he was the sun. And Ace had never loved anyone more than he loved his little brother.

For as long as Ace lived, it had been him against the world. Him proving that he was not his father. But that had changed when Luffy came into his life. Now his life wasn’t about proofing anything. Now Luffy was his life. Luffy who gave him about twenty heart attacks a day and answered his yelling with an simple “oops”.

Ace knew he was a burden to everyone in his life. Everyone but one. For Luffy he was anything but a burden because Luffy needed him. Luffy needed his big brother to take care of him because he was stupid and reckless and naïve. Luffy needed Ace to fish him out of the water when he had fallen in. Needed him at night when he couldn’t sleep and wanted to talk the whole night away. Luffy needed him to comfort him when he felt all alone. Luff needed him to chase the loneliness away.

When Ace looked at Luffy and he knew without a doubt that his little brother was not only in awe of him but also loved him deeply. He saw it when he brought Luffy his favorite kind of meat to eat, saw it when he defeated another one of the large forest animals and he saw it when he stopped shitty gramps from hitting his little brother.

The only love that was ever deeper than Luffy’s love for him was the love Ace had for his little brother.

The day Ace set sail had been the worst and simultaneously best day of his life. On one side he could finally show the world what he was made of. Proving to them (and himself) that he was not just a monster with dirty blood in him.

At the same time the thought of his little brother all alone scared him more than anything else ever could. Ace worried about Luffy falling into the water, getting eaten and every other horror scenario he could think of in his overprotective big brother mode. It wasn’t like it was far-fetched. All of those things had happened. More than once. But there was more, he wasn’t just worried about his little brother. The thought of being without him hurt. But Ace knew it’ll be alright, one day out at sea when he had made a name for himself they would met again and then he’d get to be the big brother again.

The worry about his little brother never quiet left him though. Luffy was always on his mind. When he began to form his own crew, when he greeted red hair and even when he finally settled down with the Whitebeard pirates. So when Ace finally saw his brothers first wanted poster, he had been the happiest man in the world. His little brother was out there making a name for himself already- he was safe and fine- and no Marco he was not crying what are you even talking about.

But most of all it made Ace proud. He had taken care of Luffy and somewhat raised him. And now he was proud of the man his brother had become and he could not wait to meet him again.

So when he heard that his brother was on his way to Alabasta he could not help himself. He had to seek him out.

Ace was happy to see that Luffy had not changed at all. He may have been a little taller and perhaps a little stronger but he was still his dumb little brother. His little brother who trusted Ace to protect, to keep him save. To keep his new crew save. And Ace did just that. If shitty gramps who was a vice admiral and one of the strongest men Ace had ever met couldn’t get him, Ace would make sure that some lowly captain wouldn’t touch his little brother either.

Ace met Luffy’s crew and although he had to leave way too soon he was glad to know he left Luffy in safe hands. And this time he could even make sure his brother had an easier time finding him when he was in trouble (which would be in no time knowing Luffy). Sailing away from the little lamb ship his brother was on made Ace heart clinch but he knew they would be able to see each other again soon and really talk. But first he had to prove that nobody messed with his family and got away with it. First he had to take care of Teach and make sure Thatchs’ death was avenged.

And like Ace predicted he and his little brother saw each other again.

Even though he wished they hadn’t. Ace was a failure who couldn’t even take revenge for his fallen comrade and now he had gone and forced his little cry baby brother to came to save his worthless life. Forced him to come to these terrible places filled with terrible people who were out for his blood. Made Luffy risk his own life for him. And Luffy did risk his life, fought his way through all those marines, beating all the odds, surpassing every expectation. And to everyone’s surprise Luffy managed. He managed to free Ace of his handcuffs and now Ace could go and protect Luffy again just like he always had, just like he should. All was good in the world again.

Except it wasn’t.

There was a war going on around them and blood was being spilled right and left. Ace was angry about those lost lives, lost because of him. But looking at his little brother Ace knew that despite being no good he was loved and wanted. Not only by Luffy but by his whole crew and the rest of his family. And looking at Luffy who still looked at him like Ace was the best thing he had ever known, Ace knew everything was going to be alright.

But it wasn’t.

Because he was stupid and reckless and couldn’t keep a clear head and all he could see was the red first coming down on his brother and his body just reacted. He didn’t feel the impact, didn’t feel the heat when the fist went through his chest. He felt nothing but a deep feeling of gratitude and peace in the knowledge that he had managed to stop the blow before it could reach Luffy.

Because even though Luffy had looked at him like he was the sun the truth was it was Luffy who was the sun. If there was no Luffy, there was no light, there were no smiles and no happiness to be found in this world.

Looking up at his little brother’s face he couldn’t stop himself from smiling. His entire life he had fought the whole world, never backed down from a fight but none of that mattered now. Ace would easily let the world win as long as his brother was safe. And despite the look of complete disbelief and terror on his brother’s face, Ace knew was Luffy was going to be fine.

And in the end nothing else mattered to Ace.

___________________

Thank you for reading! A little late but I hope you like it. If you find any mistakes please let me now. Special thanks to @monkey-d-ace

#in memoriam: ace #portgas d. ace #portgas d ace #one piece #portgas d rouge #monkey d. garp #dadan #one piece dadan #one piece sabo #sabo the revolutionary #whitebeard one piece #whitebeard pirates #edward newgate #monkey d luffy #monkey d. luffy #portgas d. ace deserved better

110 notes · View notes

whirlybirdwhat · 4 years

Note

Oh I wonder how Katsuki would react to them! If it was an op au he would probably have Zoro's role (wants to be the best and doesn't care about what people think) but I don't know if he would like Zoro if he met him (and I really don't know what he would think of Luffy)

OKAY SO REALLY TINY ANSWER TO YOUR ACTUAL ASK AND THEN UNDER MY CUT MY FEELINGS ABOUT THAT KASUKI AND ZORO OPINION BECAUSE BOY. DID I FIND OUT I HAD EMOTIONS!

So! Kastuki be enraged. here are people who give no fucks about heroes, if bakugo’s better than him, have a drive he can’t match and the ability to cause bigger explosions than he could ever hope (Three Thousand worlds, red hawk, fire bird star... i can go on.) They aren’t bound by science like he is. And they don’t care about heroes, or the government, things that validate Bakugo.

So he’d be enraged. and then maybe ave a lil bit of respect? Because they are, sorry, stronger than bakugo in an objective sense and would wipe the floor with him. Especially since Bakugo wouldn’t have haki. And More, they wouldn’t care about what bakugo thought of them and would just do their thing. I think bakugo would want to be them. And He’d be 100% baffled by luffy who would just think his explosions were cool then show him his red hawk attack lmao.

NOW. Onto my very strong opinions underneath the cut.

gonna be honest i havent watch bnha since i watched one piece, so its been awhile, but i also feel that Bakugo and Zoro are just. very different characters. especially due to the extremely different themes both medias have. Zoro has a goal, an unbeatable, impossible goal that he will sacrifice anything but his friends to get - and in the beginning, when we first meet luffy, he would have sacrificed him if he got in his way. Zoro, however, supports others - he believes, no, knows that luffy will be the next pirate king. He’s the first mate and steps up when the captain can’t (water 7) and knows what need to be done and what he won’t sacrifice (which quite frankly is only his crew mr “chopping my legs off to win a battle is a good idea” fucking dumbass ily).

Bakugo, to my understanding as i stopped watching when Bakugo got captured, is literally. Not that. He has a goal yes, but its a goal shared by several other characters - deku, and i believe todoroki wants to be the number one, etc - and we also don’t know why beyond he wants to be the best. Its a baseless goal, as of right now, one that can only be given meaning through fan speculation. Which is in comparison to Zoro, whose goal to be the best is through a promise to a dead sister-figure and for his need not to be weak and to be strong enough for his captain - his crew - not himself, like Bakugo presumably. Additionally, Bakugo has literally stepped on others in a malicious way to get to the top, and while Zoro has done so, it is simply because he doesn’t care; he’s better than them in skill, and in the one piece world its a dog eat dog world. Zoro is staying true to the values he as a swordsman has. Bakugo wants to be a hero. Bakugo has less compassion for citizens than Zoro has, a world class criminal. Who has destroyed several towns and taken down several kings, tyrants, and government officials.

Too my last point, Bakugo... isn’t really a leader. Zoro isn’t either but Zoro steps up and people listen. Bakugo steps up and yells, and people listen. Its different.

And Bakugo does cares about what people think - he wouldn’t yell, proclaim he’s the best, be as competitive as he is, bully children, or anything if didn’t. He wouldn’t want to be the best with seemingly no motivation if he didn’t care what people thought.

Zoro has quite literally said that it doesn’t matter if he’s a pirate or a marine, or what people think of him - as long as his name rings across the land as the best swordsman, fufilling his promise to Kuina, he has achieved his dream. (Chapter 5 -6 I believe.)

This difference is of course to the themes of both manga. To my Understanding, BNHA is all about being a hero - what does it take to become a hero, what makes a hero, do not give up without trying, help others before yourself, theres a solution to every problem, etc. I looked most of these up because the only one I could think up off the top of my head is what makes a hero/ is it ability or your actions because how bnha handled it esp with its opening line pissed me off but!! thats a story for another time!

One Piece’s themes disregard heroes. One piece’s themes are first and foremost - dreams, the romantic view of the world, sticking to your ideals, being selfish, and freedom. I could go on for hours about it. In fact, I have.

The One Piece world is a lawless place. the government is corrupt, slavery exists, and its heroes are either pirates who saved you only because you were their friend (strawhats, despite not wanting to be called heroes) or marine heroes who are chained to the concept of a ruthless justice and have to let family members die for it (garp). Everything is weird, but only one character in the entire history of one piece has been alienated for being weird - Katakuri, for his mouth, which is fucking absurd considering his brother literally has an oven on his head and his mother is a soul sucking cannibal who wears a polka dot dress. In one piece your ‘quirks’ aren’t celebrated - its just normal. Fun even. Especially on. the Grand Line where the rule is anything can happen, from rubber boys fighting God or islands made out of food.

The world of BNHA is the exact opposite. While they have “quirks” which can be anything, its not something anybody can obtain, unlike one piece, where only Conquerors Haki is an unobtainable skill unless you are born with it. BNHA is a world buried deep in laws, heroes, and villains - black and white for the most part to my understanding. It is a world where if you are villain, you are pretty much expected to be evil or out for blood, and if you are a hero, you are generally expected to help people, even if you might be doing it for money or fame. Unlike one piece where each and every character has a dfiferent moral compass. BNHA is also a realistic world in terms of quirks - you won’t be finding islands of candy or the like, and it is pretty much contained in one setting, which shifts characters characterizations a lot.

How does this affect Bakugo and Zoro?

Well. In a world where dreams and selfishness are valued, you would think Bakugo would flourish. I think he would falter, because of what you pointed out - his willingness to be the best. In BNHA, theres a structure for how you become the best, through school and a career, an official ranking. There’s nothing like that in One Piece, as bounties have been shown to be absolutely fucking worthless, and literally all the top bounties are just puns. fucking puns. I love it.

If Bakugo went around as he does in BNHA, in one piece, a world where he doesn’t have people protecting him from his actions or not hurting him because he’s a kid, bakugo would honestly probably die. Bakugo’s drive to be the best and his normality as typically being the best in BNHA would not translate over well.

In One Piece rookies get knocked the fuck out unless you have plot armor which honestly doesn’t always protect you. See the Baratie. Saboady. Fucking Marine Ford. Wano. Big Mom. Fucking FOXY. You can surrvive by staying lucky - Buggy, but it isn’t often.

What would Bakugo even be the best of? The Marines where he has to listen to the Five Elders? He’d be a less hateful Akainu (because no one can be as bad as Akainu)

In a world without structure, Bakugo would fucking die.

In comparison, in a BNHA au, Zoro has drive and would probably just be like an accidental villain like I have in my au.

In the End, Zoro is a pirate, and Bakugo is a hero in training. Bakugo relies on organizations to help him reach the top while Zoro actively destroys them. Bakugo wants to lead but can’t (as of right now) and Zoro can lead but loves his captain, so won’t. Zoro’s goals are seated in concrete ideals, concrete promises that he has to keep. Idek why Bakugo wants to be a hero beyond being the best.

BNHA could not work in a one piece right down to the fucking morals. Pirates Vs Heroes. The pirates could maybe be the heroes, but could the heroes ever set out to purposefully take down others, obtain land, and be free from responsibility?

Thats just a portion of my thoughts on it. BNHA characters are just... so incompatible with any world that isn’t theirs because their lives revolve around fitting the algorithm of UA and the Hero Career. OP, in its focus on selfishness and disregarding the rules of any place and bringing chaos anywhere, can pretty much go anywhere without being odd because even in their own world they ruin every thing.

Okay. Im done now. Sorry anon you opened a can of worms i didn’t think i had thoughts on!! guess i do!!

#Anonymous #FUCK DID NOT KNOW I HAD THOSE EMOTIONS #op #one piece #bnha #whirlywhat #whirlywrites #zoro #whirlyrambles #roronoa zoro #disc horse>#bakugou katsuki #bakugou #op meta #mha #my hero academia #boko no hero academia

38 notes · View notes

scoutception · 5 years

Text

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon review: a debatable niche

Fire Emblem, also known as “that series that only got localized because of Super Smash Bros. Melee”, is a series I enjoy greatly, despite becoming one of Nintendo’s most controversial franchises in recent years. For all its rough patches and longstanding flaws, I’m always eager to start another run when it comes to most of what I’ve played, something that ties into this specific review more than I’d even like to admit. This is Shadow Dragon for the DS, the remake of the very first Fire Emblem on the NES.

Story:

The story of Shadow Dragon takes place on the continent of Archanea, inhabited by humans and a species known as Manaketes, dragons who have sealed their power within magical objects known as dragonstones and have assumed the forms of humans to avoid succumbing to the insanity that their power would cause, which most of their race had fallen to. Abused and persecuted by humanity, many of these Manaketes would form the Dolhr empire, led by Medeus, the only member of the Earth Dragons who chose to become a Manakete, and the titular Shadow Dragon, though only in nickname. Conquering all of Archanea and subjecting humanity to their wrath, a rebellion eventually led to the death of Medeus at the hands of Anri of Altea, wielding the blade Falchion, forged from the fang of Naga, queen of the Divine Dragons. Half a century later, however, Medeus is revived by a sorcerer named Gharnef, soon reestablishing his empire, and gaining the aid of the kingdoms of Grust and Macedon. The king of Altea and inheritor of Falchion, Cornelius, is slain after Altea’s neighbor kingdom, Gra, joins Dolhr and launches a surprise attack on Altea. While they successfully take the kingdom and steal Falchion, prince Marth escapes with a small contingent of knights to the island kingdom of Talys. After 2 years in hiding, preparing for the day he shall join in the fight against Dolhr, Marth reemerges when pirates raid the kingdom, and afterwards, joined only by his small band of knights and a few allies from Talys, including its princess, Caeda, Marth journeys to the last kingdom able to oppose Medeus, Aurelis, led by prince Hardin, determined to reclaim Altea and Falchion and avenge his father.

That’s about as far as Shadow Dragon’s story goes, unfortunately. While it’s not lacking in dialogue, it plays its premise very straight. There’s very few, if any, twists along the way, with the journey mostly just being the reclamation of Archanea’s conquered lands, though there are a few detours when Gharnef gets involved. At the least, however, it’s still fairly entertaining to go through, mostly thanks to the localization giving the script a very old fashioned Elizabethan flair. While some dislike it, it adds a lot of charm to what would otherwise be a very unmemorable story, in my opinion.

As for the characters, unfortunately, they suffer quite a bit more. The large majority of the playable cast, though admittedly at a downright massive 59 characters, are simply brushed aside, with most only having their recruitment scenes to display any characterization, with about 10 of them not even having that much, leaving them to only serve as units to command. That’s not to say that aren’t some gems to be found, though. Marth especially makes a good impression with the amount of focus he’s given as the main character, being a likeable mix of almost overly idealistic and trusting given his situation, yet still reasonable enough to know when he must steel himself, along with some subtle character development along the way. Even beyond Marth, though, there are quite a few memorable characters to be found, such as Caeda, Marth’s love interest, who, while genuinely very kind and good intentioned, is also very clever and manipulative, and has some of the best scenes in the game, such as convincing an extremely stubborn enemy general to join their cause by flipping his entire idea of what serving his country truly entails, and recruiting a completely random knight she had never even met before through, among other things, thinly veiled flirtation. Other notable characters include Minerva, the princess of Macedon who, despite knowing it would bring her into conflict with her brother, king Michalis, chooses her ideals over her family and rebels to join Marth, Linde, the wielder of the legendary Aura tome out to avenge her father’s death at the hands of Gharnef, Tiki, a Divine Dragon who is the daughter of Naga herself, Merric, a friend of Marth’s who uses the powerful Excalibur tome, and the trio of sister pegasus knights, Palla, Catria, and Est, who are the most frequently appearing playable characters in the franchise. Unfortunately, these only make up a small portion of an otherwise very unmemorable cast.

Gameplay:

Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon, and, well, all the other games in the series, is a turn based strategy role playing game, taking control of Marth and his army of assorted misfits on tile based maps. Turns are separated into player phase and enemy phase, during which the respective side gets to choose all the actions their units will take, without any factors like, say, turn order. The player is limited to bringing 12-16 of their units per chapter past the initial few chapters, while enemy numbers often exceed that, though the vast majority of the regular enemies you fight, even for cannon fodder, are rather underpowered in this game. Every unit can carry up to 5 items, which can be anything from weapons they use to attack, to consumables to restore their HP. However, all items, including weapons, have limited uses, and while gold is pretty plentiful, many items are not easy to find copies of, or are unique, period, which can add a fair bit of stress. To engage in combat, a unit must be placed on a tile directly next to an enemy if they’re a melee unit, or 1 space away, if they’re an archer, while mages are able to attack directly in front of one space away from enemies. In combat, each unit takes at least one rounds attacking each other, assuming both units are within each other’s ranges. There’s also a weapons triangle which affects accuracy and damage; swords beat axes, lances beat swords, axes beat lances. There are 8 stats that are used in combat: HP, which determines how much health a unit has, strength, which determines the power of physical attacks, magic, which determines the strength of magic attacks, skill, which determines the accuracy of attacks, speed, which, if high enough compared to an enemy, allows a unit to take two rounds attacking instead of just one, luck, which influences many things, but primarily the possibility evading attacks and of critical hits, which do triple the damage of normal attacks, defense, which lowers damage from physical attacks, and resistance, which lowers damage from magic attacks. There is one other stat, movement, which determines how far a unit can move on the map. All of these stats except for movement can be raised by leveling up by gaining 100 experience points, which are gotten mostly from defeating enemies, but can be gotten in smaller amounts from simply attacking an enemy or healing another unit. Most units can initially level up to 20, but at level 10, they gain the ability to promote into stronger classes using master seals, giving them fixed stat increases, additional movement, and the ability to level up even more. A select few classes, such as thieves, Manaketes, and Marth’s personal class, the lord, cannot promote, but to compensate, their levels cap at 30 instead of 20.

The objective in every chapter is to seize the castle/throne being guarded by the chapter boss using Marth, defeating the enemies along the way. While some units are given to the player automatically, many others must be recruited from the enemy side by talking to them with specific units, generally Marth or Caeda, or by visiting villages with Marth, which can also give items, but are at risk at being destroyed by bandits or thieves. It’s an interesting system that very much helps the feeling that this is a ragtag little army only held together by Marth. Unfortunately, Marth’s importance comes at a cost: if he is defeated at any point during the game, it’s an automatic game over. While he is a very capable unit, this can encourage only sending him out in special situations, while letting the normal units handle most of everything, but this isn’t the perfect solution either. Not only is Marth likely to end up underleveled if he doesn’t fight enough, but if a regular unit has their HP reach 0, they die, permanently, taking all the experience and items they were carrying. While an interesting idea, it doesn’t work out very well. The amount of experience points available to your units is finite, outside of the extremely risky arena, which allows your units to fight somewhat absurd enemies for gold, at the risk of dying if they lose, as if they were against any normal enemy. Since the viability gap between units is quite sizeable, something I shall go into more detail on in a moment, losing a unit you’ve trained a good amount is an extreme inconvenience, especially if they were holding rare items. Additionally, though it’s downplayed in this game for reasons I’ve said earlier, every unit is their own character, in some form. They have names, their own designs, and individual endings in the epilogue, and that alone is enough to encourage caring about them, if in varying amounts. With all these factors combined, many players, including myself, choose to just reset the game if a unit dies and start the chapter over. While that in of itself isn’t really a valid complaint, considering the developers weren’t intending that, considering some of the cheap tricks that get pulled, like enemy reinforcements showing up where your units started in a chapter, it can get grating, especially with how long some of the maps can go on.

The unit and class balance, unfortunately, is not very good. There is a very prominent viability gap when it comes to the individual units. There are three main points that usually determine a unit’s viability: their base stats, the stats they automatically come with upon recruitment, growth rates, hidden percentages that determine the likelihood of each stat being raised on a level up, and availability, how early in the game they are recruited. A character can have fantastic growth rates and a low starting level, but come so late in the game and with such awful bases that it’s not worth bothering with. Conversely, someone can come in fairly early in the game, prepromoted and with good base stats, but have such low growth rates that the chance of them actually improving at all is near zero. This holds true for every Fire Emblem game, to varying extents, but it’s especially notable here because almost invariably, the first couple of units you get of each class, or in some cases, just the first, are the best to use by far. Past chapter 12, and this is a 25 chapter game, the amount of units you get that are actually worth using over the units you got earlier could be counted on one hand, and even before that it’s giving you several units that are near pointless if you put even a bit of effort into the people of the same class you got a few chapters before. I think, though, that this was intentional on the part of the developers. The intention seems to have been for players to not get attached to their units at all, and simply accept any death they take, thus most units only function as replacements for what they thought would be inevitable losses. However, this is partially what caused the vastly underdeveloped cast, and thankfully future games would drop this mentality. Even past how underpowered the replacements are, many early units are just plain too powerful. Caeda in particular is an absolute monster thanks to her personal weapon, the wing spear, which grants damage bonuses against knights and cavaliers, which many of the enemy units are comprised of, but other special mentions go to Hardin, a very early and powerful cavalier who is flat out better than Jagen, the early game crutch character, despite not even being promoted, Barst, an early fighter who joins with two other fighters, but is strong enough and has good enough growth rates to render them pointless, and Julian, a thief who has very strong growth rates, to the point of easily becoming very hard hitting and tanky, despite the questionable class choice.

Some of the earlier intended replacements, however, can at least work out, since growth rates in Shadow Dragon are overall pretty awful. It’s entirely possible for several of your units to just refuse to gain important stats, and eventually cross a threshold where they’re beyond catching up, and the earlier replacements do have growth rates built that they should be able to level up their important points decently, but many of the post chapter 11 units have awful growths and bases, and even then, the class distribution throughout is awful. Of the “normal” classes that promote, there’s 12 in all: cavaliers, mounted knights that tend to be very nicely balanced overall, archers, who have to attack from a distance, but are useful for chipping and get damage bonuses against flying enemies, knights, who specialize in attack and especially defense in exchange for speed and moment, making them useful for baiting enemies out, pegasus knights, who lack attack but make up for it with speed, skill, and resistance, plus they can move over terrain freely, mercenaries, who are also very solidly balanced sword fighters, rangers, who are much like archers, but typically with higher attack, myrmidons, who, like pegasus knights, sacrifice attack for speed, though they focus more on evasion, fighters, axe users with low defense and skill, but much HP and attack, pirates, who sacrifice skill even harder in exchange for walking over water tiles freely, mages, who are very squishy physically but very much make up for it with attack, dark mages, who are more defensive based, and clerics, who cannot attack until promotion, but are able to heal units with staves. Some of the non typical classes are thieves, who are, in theory, supposed to stay away from combat, and instead go after the various treasure chests found in various maps, ballisticians, who have extremely low move and stats in exchange for having absolutely massive range, and manaketes, who have horrid stats normally, but use dragonstones to attack, which confer large stat bonuses, though they are very limited.

Just to begin with, the classes are rather unbalanced. Pegasus knights and cavaliers have way too much movement, being able to cross large portions of the map in one turn, while mages can destroy 90% of the units encountered due to resistance being extremely low on most enemies, and most playable units, for that matter. Several of them have 0 res, and 0% growth in it, to the point Marth has one of the highest growths, at 1%. Additionally, as I said, the distribution of the classes is extremely unbalanced, to the point there are 10 cavaliers, most of which you get very quickly, while there’s only 4 fighters and one singular pirate to be found, which is pretty bad considering those are the only axe users in the game other than promoted mercenaries, and the only dark mage is already promoted when, or if, you get him. However, the game does introduce the reclass system, where you can change any character in a normal class to a different one, depending on which of two class pools they’re in. It’s a good idea, in theory, however, the growth rates also change depending on class, so you could accidentally put them into a class they can barely grow in.

Many of these flaws are carried over from the original NES version, but the remake changes surprisingly little overall, and sticking true to the original wasn’t the best of moves. It did add several classes that didn’t exist in the original, along with items, dialogue, and the like, but the lack of significant additions, like support conversations to develop the characters, or alternative chapter goals, like defense chapters, make Shadow Dragon feel downright barren compared to almost any other game in the series. This does, however, debatably give Shadow Dragon a niche: it’s very easy to pick up and play. There’s not many complexities you need to worry about. You could even see it as a good introduction to the series. However, that’s not really a view I hold. More than anything, it’s just a bland experience, albeit a bland experience I’ve gone through several times, mostly just because of how easy it is to go through. On the subject of additions to the remake, however, there is one rather notable addition: gaiden chapters, which are short, easy bonus chapters that come after certain chapters if you fulfill certain requirements, and contain helpful items and new units. All good in theory, but unfortunately, all but one of them share the same requirement, and it’s an absolute doozy: have 15 or less units alive by the end of the preceding chapters. Not only is that the most counter intuitive requirement possible, but the sheer amount of characters you have to get killed, many of them useful, make them nowhere near worth bothering with, especially as many of the new units are not worth using, both in characterization and gameplay, with two exceptions: Athena, the first available, who is a very good myrmidon, and moreover is downright hilarious, and possibly the most notable character in the game just for sheer absurdity, with an extremely thick accent, a bad grasp on idioms and phrases, and the audacity to call Marth “a stupid manchild” right to his face, and Nagi, whose gaiden chapter can only be accessed by losing both Tiki and Falchion, the main methods for defeating Medeus. Not only is she a good unit by herself, she’s also quite interesting, despite her very limited, as she’s heavily hinted to be the reincarnation of Naga herself. Overall, though, the gaiden chapters are a very poorly thought out addition.

Graphics:

Shadow Dragon is not a great looking game, unfortunately, largely due to the artstyle used, being a rather weird combination of anime styled, yet realistic. It does lend to some rather good looking illustrations throughout the game, and some of the character designs do fit it, especially Gharnef, who looks downright horrific.

Unfortunately, overall the artstyle just does not work, and many character portraits are rather off putting, not helped by some being poorly drawn to begin with.

The map and battle graphics are also odd. They seem to be in prerendered style, and while they do animated decently, and while I honestly don’t mind them, they still aren’t very appealing.

Music:

The music, unfortunately, is not a high point either. It’s not that the soundtrack is outright bad; there’s many decent tracks throughout, but few of them are actually memorable. The map themes are generally the most enjoyable, though, and thankfully they swap out as you get farther in the game, and Shadow Dragon has what may be my favorite version of the Fire Emblem theme.

Conclusion:

Overall, I honestly cannot solidly say if this is recommended or not recommended. There are certainly much more enjoyable games in the series, such as New Mystery of the Emblem, Awakening, Blazing Sword, Sacred Stones, and Path of Radiance, but even with me thinking it’s bland, it’s not a bad time. The dialogue is fun to go through, there’s plenty of room for experimentation, it’s very easy to pick up and play, there’s 5 different harder difficulties if you want more of a challenge, and it can be quite a bit of fun if you’re in the right mood. However, you’re not missing much if you choose not to go through it. With that, I’ve said more than enough about this game. Till next time.

-Scout

#fire emblem #game review #long post #fire emblem shadow dragon

5 notes · View notes

seeroftodayandtomorrow · 7 years

Text

The Prince and the Moon God

Chapter 12

Read on AO3

Waking up is hard. His eyelids feel glued together, and his throat is so parched that ever speaking again seems impossible. Most of all, though, it's the feeling that this is wrong—that he shouldn't be waking up at all.

Despite everything, there's no mistaking he isn't dead. He vaguely remembers being pulled out of the water, and the amulet being taken from him, and despair wells up inside him. Everything has been in vain. He has failed.

But Kurt had been there. Hadn't he? He had been glowing...Or Blaine had imagined everything. Far more likely that his father's soldiers had found him, that they know a shortcut to the Isle and had been waiting for him. But then...why is he still alive?

Groaning, he finally gives in and opens his eyes. As soon as he does, someone holds his head up and a cup of water to his lips; he drinks thirstily, but the water is taken away far too soon.

Only then he starts to notice his surroundings. He is still at the shore of the lake, lying in the black sand with his head pillowed on something warm and firm. It's still night: the moon shines brightly, brighter than before, and is reflected in the perfectly still waters of the lake.

And beside him, kneeling on the sand, a cup of water in his hand, is Kurt.

Blaine tries to sit up, and lies back down with a groan as the world starts to spin. But when it stops, Kurt is still there, smiling at him. He is still glowing faintly, but he looks tired. Sad, and hopeful at the same time.

“I wish you had talked to me,” he says quietly.

Blaine had wished he could so many times. But how could he? And how did any of this happen? He still has no idea why he is alive, or why Kurt is here.

Slowly, he lifts his hands. He isn't bleeding anymore, and only faint red marks show on his wrists.

“How...?” he begins, but Kurt shakes his head. He shifts, and this is when Blaine notices that his head is resting on Kurt's legs.

“Can I tell you a story?” Kurt asks, and Blaine nods because he can't do anything else. Before Kurt starts talking, however, he lets Blaine have another few swallows of water and then covers him with a blanket. Thankful, Blaine pulls it up to his chin, not only for the warmth, but for the comfort and familiarity it offers.

“Once upon a time,” Kurt says softly, “a thousand years ago, there was a good king. He was gentle and cared for his people, but it may be he did not always make the best decisions, and he did not have an easy time, as his children were quarreling about the succession, and the queen of the neighboring country was openly preparing to invade. The good king's people were afraid, and they began to talk of finding a stronger ruler. So the king sent the son who was nearest to his heart to the Moon God, to pray for help, for some sort of stability that would leave him free to worry about the other things threatening the kingdom. The Moon God, as you know, loves change, but he decided to make an exception for the sake of the young prince, who had touched his heart. He came to love him after a fashion, although of course he knew the prince was not the one destined to be with him.

So the Moon God took a stone from his Island, and he fashioned an amulet from it that would bring peace and stability to the kingdom as long as it was in possession of the royal family. Such was his love for the young prince that he granted that boon, even though it could cost him dearly, for he had to pour a lot of his power into the amulet and would grow weaker with every year it was kept.

To make sure the amulet worked only for the king's family, a single drop of blood was required.

But the prince's siblings, eager to eliminate their competition for the throne, pretended to have misunderstood, and they cut his throat and let his life blood flow into the amulet.

The Moon God saw now, too late, that the royal family could not be trusted, and he tried to take the amulet away again. But a promise given by a God is binding, and in his anger, the Moon God decreed that every one hundred years, a child of the royal family must be sacrificed to keep the spell active.”

Blaine gasps, clutches the blanket that is covering him. Kurt knew...Kurt knew more than him, who had studied everything he could about the subject. Kurt seems also to have healed his wounds, and he is still glowing. It is....it is simply to much too fathom for his mind that still starts to spin whenever he tries to think too much.

Still...what is he doing here, listening to stories? Even to a story like this?

“Kurt,” he says, voice hoarse and weak, “Kurt, I have to -”

What, he doesn't really know. He has failed, hasn't he? The amulet is gone, and he isn't dead.

Kurt shakes his head. “There's nothing you have to do, nothing you can do. I have found you, and I have found the amulet and returned it to its proper place. All will be well.”

“Kurt...” Blaine sits up, the world's still spinning, but he manages to ignore it. “Kurt, please, I need that amulet, you have to -”

Again, Kurt shakes his head, and Blaine finds he can't speak, can't object anymore as Kurt pushes him down so his head is again resting on his thighs, covers him with the blanket once more, and continues speaking.

“You see,” he says, “the sacrifice—that was done in anger, and bad judgement. It was meant as security, to make sure the amulet would be returned in due time without draining too much of the Moon God's powers. For surely, no family would sacrifice one of their own.

As you know, the Moon God was mistaken. But he still had hope. When the kingdom was in peace once more, when the succession was in place and the neighboring queen defeated, the Moon God waited for them to come and return the amulet, as they had promised. He waited a long time, but at last, he had to admit they had broken their promise, and that now, the amulet was not used anymore to bring help in a dire situation, but to make sure the power stayed in that one family.”

Blaine swallows. It is clear that this story is much more than just a story, but he still doesn't understand why he has to listen to it now, when he has just lost everything he has worked for. He has to...he doesn't know. Kurt said there was nothing he could do, but there must be something...he must find the amulet. Or...something. Anything but lie here and listen to a story.

But Kurt's hand rests heavy on his chest, and as he continues speaking, Blaine finds he can't do anything but listen.

“By the time the Moon God had come to that realization, he was greatly weakened. A lot of his power had gone into the amulet, along with his belief that he had not been betrayed. He tried to find the amulet, to take it away, but he had but a fraction of his former powers, and he failed. And when he tried to return to the heavens after his search, he found he was unable to. He had become too weak, too human, to take his place among the Gods. He was stuck on earth, to live life like a mortal, until he would either be able to acquire the amulet and regain his powers, or—and that seemed much more probable, to be weakened so much he would die.”

Blaine feels like he's about to fall asleep, lulled by the gentle voice of his captain, but something keeps him awake. This is important, he feels—he knows—even though he still doesn't understand.

“A few companions,” Kurt continues, “joined the lost God in his exile. Willingly, they joined their lives with his, to be his friends and his comfort on his travels, and, should the time come, to die with him.”

Kurt smiles his little, ironic smile. “The Moon God acquired a ship, and together they sailed the oceans in search of the amulet, or their deaths.”

Blaine gasps and sits up. He remembers the phrase - “acquired a ship”, the strange phrase that had made him fantasize about Kurt being a pirate. And suddenly, he understands—the strange happenings on the ship after nightfall, his dreams, why the amulet had glowed, possibly his own, strange attraction to Kurt.

Awkwardly, he goes down to his knees. But how do you talk to a God? Even a lost one? The words of praise and devotion the priests use do not sound right to him, not after they shared breakfast and kissed.

“Captain,” he ends up saying, and winces because it sounds so absurd. It's how he has always addressed Kurt, but then, this isn't Kurt, is it? It's the Moon God, the deity his people have always revered beyond any other, even though it turns out they betrayed him. He sighs and bows his head.

Until an impatient voice commands him to stand up. “Or rather, sit down again. You're still weak, and you can stop all this...God nonsense. Didn't you hear me say I was little more than a human?”

Kurt's voice becomes gentle again, and sad. “Why did you try to kill me?”

“I didn't!” The accusation does little to give him the confidence he'd need to rise in Kurt's presence, so he stumbles back onto his knees, looking up at Kurt with eyes that he knows are wide and frightened. “I tried to kill myself!”

Inexplicably, Kurt laughs. He shakes his head and pulls Blaine down, so that he's half sitting, half lying, his head cradled against Kurt's chest. “I gathered that much, yes. It took almost all of my strength to heal your wounds, even though I'm stronger here on the Island. The point is, had you succeeded, I'm almost certain you'd have taken me with you. I'm so weak, and to fuel the amulet for another hundred years...”

“I didn't know, I swear,” Blaine whispers. He is dizzy at the thought of killing Kurt, a God, his sweet, gentle captain. “No one knew.”

“There is a warning, Blaine. Directly on the amulet. Mãne starvat, it says. The Moon dies. It's short, I know, but it should not be that hard to interpret.”

“It's....Kurt. This language isn't spoken anymore. There are no records of it. It's been dead for centuries.”

“Oh.” Blaine turns to Kurt, who looks sheepish and apologetic. It makes it hard for him to believe that this is really a God. “Sometimes it's hard to...stay on top of things, when for you, few things ever change. Human lives are so different.”

Blaine sits up again, what he has to say too urgent to be spoken lying down. “Kurt...I wouldn't have. If I'd known, I'd never -”

Kurt shrugs. “Be that as it may. I...gather you are the unfortunate prince whose turn it was to be sacrificed. But why have you come here all alone? The last time I remember, there were priests, prayers spoken to keep me from interfering...things like that.”

“I ran away,” Blaine says, and briefly explains to Kurt what he had wanted to do, and why. “That's why I need the amulet,” he closes. “Things can't go on like they were. Especially if...if you...”

Kurt chuckles, strokes one hand over Blaine's cheek. “I certainly agree with you there. And in a way, you were successful. You did save me. And the amulet is back where it belongs. Look.”

He indicates the large stone. The indentation that was there isn't anymore. The amulet is in it, its rim glowing slightly, just enough for Blaine to see. It looks like it's become part of the stone.

“There it will stay,” Kurt says. “It can't be taken out again, not without my permission. Which I certainly will not give.”

Blaine stares as the amulet slowly stops glowing. Then he sighs, and leans back into Kurt.

He hasn't failed. He hasn't died, but he hasn't failed.

#fic:: the prince and the moon god #klaine fanfiction

1 note · View note

genogenocrazycatman · 5 years

Text

Stillwater - Chapter 15

Stillwater [Archive of Our Own, FanFiction.Net, Mibba]

Characters: Original Female Character, Monkey D. Luffy, Rorona Zoro, Vinsmoke Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Tony Tony Chopper, Nefeltari Vivi

"We build as only children know to build

We made a way where there's a will

No slowing down or standing still

Innocent and reckless

"How did we get so old and never notice

How did we gain the world and lose the moment

Rise and fall, the tide surrounds us

And drowns us all"

-Hands Like Houses

***

“Sit,” I said, shooing Sanji’s hands away as he tried to help me with the dishes. “I got this.”

Dinner had been a bit different. There was tension in the room, just enough to make it uncomfortable, but not so much that it impacted the way we behaved. The only major difference was Usopp, who sat as far away from me as possible, trying to hide behind Zoro. Zoro wasn’t talking much, but he wasn’t very talkative at dinner to begin with. He bickered with Sanji and swatted Luffy’s ever grabby hands away.

Afterwards, Sanji cleared the table, and I got to work on the dishes. However, no one left. Nami had brought out her map and begun working, while Vivi watched on curiously. Ever yonce in a while, Nami would stop to explain something to Vivi or to yell at Chopper, Usopp and Luffy, who were playing cards at the opposite end of the table. Even Zoro lingered, putting his feet on and the table and leaning bak in his chair. He looked like he was going to fall asleep at any second. Only his snide comments towards Sanji assured me that he was still awake.

“Mira, can I ask you a few more questions,” Sanji asked, starting to dry the plates that already set on the rack next to the sink and putting them in the cupboard.

I shrugged. What the hell did I care? The craziest part was out already. “Yeah, go ahead.”

I wasn’t going to tell them everything. Somethings were just too complicated or still very sore subjects for me. I wasn’t concerned though, because I didn’t have to. Luffy had already made that clear. If I wasn’t comfortable telling them something that’s all I had to say.

“Where are you from?” he started simply. “I know you’ve said the New World, but what exactly is it?”

“Oh. Well the New World is what they call the second half of the Grand Line. It’s a lot more dangerous than the first half. Only the strongest crews make it to the New World. Even fewer last. The Pirate King is the only person to every fully explore it. A lot of the islands and stuff haven’t been mapped. It’s like the first half used to be a long time ago.”

I didn’t notice that the others had decided to listen as well.”

“My home island isn’t very far beyond the Red Line, but it’s nearly impossible to navigate to. The people, who get there are either very smart or very lucky. It’s called Ogygia, and it’s not far beyond the Red Line.”

“Hey Mimi?” Luffy chimed.

“Yes?”

“If you’re not a vampire? What are you?” he asked.

“Well that changes, depending on whether or not I’m in the middle of an existential crisis or not,” I half joked. What am I? Why are we here? Should we be here? were all questions that I had wrangled with for centuries. Everyone wonders about those things at some point. What is the meaning of life? Is there even meaning? But unlike everyone else, I had hundreds of years to debate it and to mull it over. I would come to an answer only to have something shift and go through the process all over again.

Currently, I was of the mindset that it didn’t matter. Whether or not that would last had yet to be seen, but for now it was irrelevant. Didn’t matter whether or not we should exist, because we did. Didn’t matter what we were put on the Earth for, because we had freewill and were going to do what we wanted regardless.

That of course was nowhere near the answer that Luffy was looking for.

“My father is an immortal with the power to control the seas, earthquakes, storms, soil and horses. In ancient times, he and the others were revered as spirits and gods by mortals.”

There was silence, painfully awkward silence. “Yep. Back to square one.”

“G- G- Gods?!” Usopp screamed.

I sighed. “Immortals,” I said, thinking that maybe that would be the easier pill to swallow. It didn’t matter, because they were going to be stuck on the god part.

“You’re a god?”

“No!” I protested quickly. “Fuck. Listen, I don’t think I’m a god. Even if I did hold the belief that my father was a god that would make me a demigod at most. What I’m saying is that mortals didn’t understand what they were, so they applied the title of god to them. They worshiped them, because of their power. Some people worship kings as gods, but that doesn’t make them gods.”

“Do gods poop?” Luffy asked.

“THAT IS NOT IMPORTANT!” Nami yelled, bringing her fist down onto Luffy’s head.

“Your father is revered like that correct, though as a demon instead of a god?” Vivi asked.

“Yes. My father was revered as a god too. Many of his actions were attributed to a “Sea Devil.” The people didn’t know it was him. The other immortals did. They ultimately ousted him, at which point “The Sea Devil” became his title.”

“Title? So not his name?” Nami asked.

“Names are important to immortals. If you know the real name of an immortal, it gives you a connection. You can pray to them, which they can hear, if they choose. If it’s a spirit, you can summon them. Names are weird, and it’s a whole lot to explain, when it’s probably never going to come up. Hell half of you don’t even believe me.”

I turned back to the dishes.

“Mira, what’s your father’s name?” Nami asked. “You said he’s out to get you-”

“I’m out to get him,” I corrected, still scrubbing.

“Yeah. That’s going so well.”

I turned and narrowed my eyes at Zoro.

“Listen Mo-”

I put a hand on Sanji’s chest, holding him back, before he could tear into Zoro.

“We should know what we’re up against if he comes around,” Vivi said gently.

Oh Vivi. The girl was a saint. She was shocked sure, probably scared, but she was trying her hardest to keep calm and to keep from upsetting me.

“If he comes around. You won’t be up against anything, because I will not let him so much as look in any of your directions.” ‘I’m not letting anyone else die, because of me.’ “But if it helps you feel…” I searched for a word, but none fit. It wasn’t going to put them at ease or anything. It was going to wind them up. “Whatever it is that you think you’re going to feel.

“His name is Poseidon.”

***

Notes: Onto some chapter commentary. Yeah... Here's the thing. We're going Greek with a lot of the mythos, but it's not going to be strict. No one is going to be perfectly matched up to the real mythology. The exploits of the Olympians and everything, those stories started a long time ago. So whether it's myth or real (for story) purposes, the tale has been distorted over time. Remember Mira said a lot of the things that they've heard are based in reality. Doesn't mean that that is exactly what happened. So some characters might have the same basic origin, but edited to apply to this world (*cough* Cal *cough*). This doesn't mean that every god we hear about in the One Piece world is real. They may be. We don't know. For this, Mira and the Strawhats aren't even positive that all of the Greek Gods that they've heard about are real.Also while all the Greek stuff is important, and it will be a major theme throughout this story. It's not going to be the main focus of everything. The goal is still to get to Raftel and find the one piece. Now some figures may try to stand in the way of that, but getting to Raftel and Luffy becoming the king of the pirates and everyone achieving their dreams is still at the core. No one is gonna say fuck the one piece I want to be kick Poseidon's ass and be a god.So yeah... It'll make more sense as we move through.

***

Previous | Next

***

Master List | Mobile Version

#teroin writes #stillwater #one piece #fanfiction

0 notes

heyymonkey2 · 7 years

Text

First Night Back in Fuuga Ch 36: What I Saw in the Distance

AO3 Link to Chapter 36

Summary: Truths, new and old, come into focus

Yona zips between tree trunks, her cloak flowing out behind her. Though her breathing is heavy, her smile gives away the game--

--Hak follows after the giggles with powerful strides from tree to tree. He could catch up in an instant, but he prefers to… he stops and watches her bound ahead, then with a wry smile he slips off to the right.

Yona slows as her laughing grows. She can’t help it -- she looks back over her shoulder to see him…

But there’s only the forest.

Puzzled, she turns forward again--

“Ah!” She’s been tackled.

Hak gracefully lands them on his back, she safely atop him. He holds her tightly as he goes on--

“Isn’t it my line to make a joke, then run away? And what did you just say about my breakfast?”

Yona is laughing into his chest as she tries to get words out, “Pff... you never run away… you just stand there and I hit you.”

Hak nods concession there.

“I wasn’t joking about breakfast.”

The shock on Hak’s face…

“It’s not your fault!” Yona amends, “It’s the pregnancy. Your child may have good taste…”

Hak takes that on the chin, then, “Oh? And so it’s also good to run through the woods like a wild animal for the pregnancy?”

A corner of Yona’s mouth curls up, “You weren’t complaining about me being a wild animal last night.”

Hak lets out a breath as he smiles, “You drive me mad,” shaking his head, “I love you. I love everything about you.”

“I like giving you a hard time. You always end up right there.”

Tracing his fingers over her lower back as he stares into her great amethyst eyes, “Trust me, I’m always there.”

Yona’s blushes ever-so-slightly -- those lovestruck blue eyes still affect her right back -- then she glances up toward the palace high above them, just beyond a clearing, “I’m really going to need you today. At my side.”

Hak watches her curiously, “You’ve got it. ...are you worried?”

“A little. I haven’t talked to Lili.”

Hak begins pulling them up, “Then let’s get you back.”

Yona rises, her hand in his, and she looks up at him bittersweetly.

Back. Where last night ends and today begins. The moment their new journey must start -- to infuse everything good and right that last night represented into their reign here from the palace. She and Hak agreed to reach for coronation, to ask the generals today to officially give them their support. Even though Yona is not like her father or Soo-Won. The generals will have to have faith in the royal blood that flows through her veins and that ruling this kingdom is her fate. That she and Hak will find balance.

Believe in us. Yona is deep in thought when she feels Hak stop.

Up ahead she sees it -- half a dozen Sky Tribe soldiers where they shouldn’t be. A messenger being sent off.

Yona can feel how tense Hak is, “Don’t you dare,” she begs, “You’re not armed, Hak!”

“Don’t move. I’ll handle this -- be right back.”

Yona reaches to grab him, but he’s already long gone.

All six warriors turn. Hak has the messenger pinned not far away.

The resulting fear on the warriors’ faces says everything. Something has been seen that should not have been. And one way or another, there will be blood now.

They reluctantly draw their swords.

The vision of Yona’s reaction…

“Yona!” Soo-Won bolts upright, sweating, shivers of terror down his spine.

He glances to the side in the dark room, his home since the war with Kai.

And there he is, his companion -- Ik-Soo… sleeping like a baby... who drools.

Soo-Won stares at this roommate, I have these nightmares every night and he sleeps through them all? As always, he’s either impressive or an idiot.

Ik-Soo wakes from Soo-Won’s prodding, “...eh? What is it?”

“I saw it again. It was… more intense this time,” Soo-Won rubs a temple, “We’re not advancing fast enough. I’m ready to begin for the day.”

Ik-Soo sits up, “It feels strange starting a lesson in patience at this hour.”

Soo-Won sighs, “I’ll never understand how people can spend so much time sleeping.”

“Not everyone has nightmares.”

Ik-Soo has Soo-Won outside filling water buckets at a well and bringing them back to the village for the elderly keeper of the bathhouse, Mitsuko.

Soo-Won eventually asks Ik-Soo to sit and watch as opposed to walking with him -- the dark has been doing nothing to help Ik-Soo’s coordination.

It’s tedious work for Soo-Won. He’s a strong man, it’s no physical bother. However, he’s used to the highest and best use of his abilities and this is just not it. Eventually he finds it easier to pass the time by letting his mind wander.

It took a while in this place before he was able to allow this. He had been afraid. For the longest time, his mind would only wander to dark places. To take a closer look at what hurt so badly inside. How wrong he’d been. How terrible he was. But one can’t live like that. And Soo-Won has been in a place where the people have no intention of letting him die. Or leave.

Once he accepted that, his mind started wandering somewhere more constructive and very natural to him -- manipulation. How could he, in this situation, achieve something meaningful? That’s when the nightmares started. And that’s when he knew -- if there was any truth in the prophecy about Yona, then this was the message sent that he could choose to or not to act on. His part to play. His meaning.

And that is where his mind always wanders in a free moment now. How to reach Yona. He is going to save Yona and Hak. From a danger within the palace he knows far too well.

“Oh!” Soo-Won nearly tramples Mitsuko as he delivers the final bucket of water.

“My apologies, Mitsuko-san,” Soo-Won quickly sets down the container as he helps her regain her balance, “I’m not myself today."

“It’s alright, my dear,” the white-haired, pock-faced grandma offers, “I like this you today. Your face just now was like the water you’ve been fetching me -- still and clear.”

Soo-Won wonders about that.

“...if you were thinking about one of our beautiful young maidens to marry, let Grandmother help you,” she winks.

Soo-Won smiles as he innocently scratches the back of his head.

“Thank you for your hard work this morning,” Ik-Soo moves to Soo-Won's side to save him, “Join me for a walk?”

Ik-Soo and Soo-Won sit at the familiar pool of water in the forest.

“I need to speak with her,” Soo-Won gets right to it.

“That is not up to you or me," Ik-Soo glances up toward the sky.

“Then allow me to try… and the ‘fate’ you believe so firmly in will still do what it chooses.”

Ik-Soo glances in Soo-Won’s direction, “I can’t let you leave yet.”

“The dragons,” Soo-Won suggests, “Let them take a message to her for me.”

Ik-Soo nods, realizing it's time he let Zeno and Kija return to Yona’s side, “Alright. A message -- though it must be her choice what to do with it.”

Ik-Soo can feel Soo-Won absorb that opportunity -- his relief and hope. And Ik-Soo himself accepts: it’s time to begin to tell this young man the truth that was always kept from him.

“Your father, too, suffered from his choices. In politics and war.”

Affronted, Soo-Won corrects, “He was a proud warrior who did what had to be done for this country.”

“That sentence won't bring you closer to the truth," Ik-Soo laments, "Your father suffered, but he did heal, Soo-Won.”

Soo-Won’s mind is rejecting the words -- what does this man mean?! -- and yet, a calm washes over his heart that gives him a peace that has tears in his eyes.

“You’re often thinking about her, I can see it. You know Yona is special. You may have been too young to know it, but her mother also had the same gift in changing hearts.”

Again, Soo-Won cannot mentally process the words, and yet his heart accepts them with ease. As though they were a pure truth that couldn’t be denied, clicking into place.

“After what happened with Xing. The slaughter. Many things came to pass. All of which are known today as a different story. I don’t know which to tell you first.”

A crushing realization falls on Soo-Won. All of which are known today as a different story? No... no... it can't be possible. If that's true, then... “The dragons. I need to reach Yona. Immediately.”

“Trust the gods. There are forces protecting her.”

Soo-Won, trying to keep calm, but still processing, “If my father ‘healed,’ as you say, then why did King Il murder him?”

Ik-Soo looks out over the still, clear water, “He didn’t.”

Lili stands on one of the palace’s many bridges, her chin cupped in a hand. She’s been watching something in the distance. The look on her face both troubled and warmed.

In a courtyard next to a fountain, Jae-Ha plays his erhu -- beautiful, calming music filling the stone, flower-lined expanse.

He hears her coming and can’t help but joke as she arrives, “I’ve never liked being pursued. It takes away all the fun.”

Lili’s cheeks go pink, “Don’t get the wrong idea because I keep coming to you looking for Yona. I only like older men.”

Jae-Ha stops playing and considers, then turns to look at her, “I am older.”

“No, I mean like way older. Like General Geun-Tae,” Lili saves.

Jae-Ha chuckles, “That’s your type? Then I’m safe. That man may be my complete opposite.”

As Jae-Ha turns back to his instrument, Lili sits on the ledge of the fountain, micro-cringing at how awkward she’s being.

“...how old are you, by the way?”

“Not your type,” Jae-Ha explains, “Although, it seems you go younger if it’s women…”

Lili frowns, “You shouldn’t tease me about that when you’re in love with her, too,” and somehow that stings them both a little.

“I’m sorry,” Lili is cringing again, unsure of what to do with her hands, her loud mouth, anything right now.

“It’s OK, Dear,” Jae-Ha admits, “It’s true.”

“...when I first met you, you seemed like a player. Always flirting with women and wandering off. What I’m trying to say is… I’m impressed that you love her. Because I can tell you really do.”

“She wasn’t the first.”

Lili’s head snaps around -- she faces him in shock, “Who?!”

Jae-Ha laughs at this girl’s intense interest, “A pirate.”

Lili’s eyes become wide orbs of wonder and Jae-Ha realizes he just had the opposite effect he was going for.

“A pirate? ...tell me, do you have a type then? Was she like Yona, too?”

Jae-Ha considers, “It would appear I’m taken with strong women.”

“How dare you raise your swords at him!”

Yona marches out of the woods toward the men. She just caught a glimpse of something beyond them in the distance -- and if she's put her hope in the right place, then what happens next will mark the beginning of change at this palace.

#akatsuki no yona #fanfic #hak x yona #first night back in fuuga #yona of the dawn

8 notes · View notes

mymind--themess · 7 years

Text

Terms of Entrapment -- Chapter One

Ever since the odd dream, my mind began to become a meld of the past, present, and future as I sighed and began to start the day off with some painting. Art was my escape from my own thoughts usually -- my mind always focused on the work I was doing. Still, as I got out my easel and began to paint, I questioned and mentally scanned everything I knew to be true at this point in my second life.

The First Truth: Death is inevitable.

We all share a similar end to our destinies, whether male or female, human or not human at all. No matter the color of our skin, no matter the status of wealth, no matter the place we live in, we all share a common end; Death. That time when we take our last breath or last bow, and exit the stage that is life. For humans this can mean when their heart stops and body shuts down due to something or another. For “others”, it could be a stake with holy water through a heart, being burned alive until one is nothing but a pile of ashes, or a silver bullet embedded into a chest. Some meet their destiny rather quickly, others can take eons.

Some expect and accept this fate with open arms, some attempt to run away because they just aren’t ready - they will not accept the end of their lives. Death can be quick and mercifully painless, or slow and excruciatingly painful. One can even die many times and come back, but there will come a time when they won't come back. Inevitably, at some point, we all are no more.

It’s the journey we take to that point that makes us unique; Our experiences, our emotions, our individual personality we shape throughout our days. The memories we can leave behind - the legend we can leave behind. From one chapter of our lives to another, we have the power over our decisions - our keys essentially - affecting the road we go down until we reach the dead end. It took me so long to learn that. It took me dying twice and being reborn into another body to realize that I had the power over myself, not the one I was coerced into giving my soul to.

The Second Truth: I was undeniably different.

I always knew that in some way or another, before my memories came back to me, I was just different. I never felt like I belonged anywhere in the heart of New York City, where I was born to parents I didn’t have the fortune of meeting and raised by an old woman of Italian origin who found me at her doorstep during the stormiest night of April 1996 named Maressa. She was like a grandmother to me and I called her such in Italian, “Nonna”. Maressa would constantly dote on me with what little money she had because, well, I was all she had; Her husband had passed a year before I was found, and she was childless due to an infertile womb.

In truth, I think Maressa too knew that I was different. Not only was I exceptionally smart and incredulously mature all of my life, I also didn’t enjoy the bright sunny days where children laughed and begged their parents to take them to the park. I preferred to stay indoors (unless with Maressa running errands) doing the oddest of things.

For example, watching old Dracula movies and critiquing them. Nonna would get either a kick out of the comments I would make here and there, or be astounded I was able to assess a character - specifically Dracula - so well.

“In most of these films, Dracula is so...hideous.” I would comment with pure distaste.

Nonna would glance over to me, raising a grey eyebrow at me as we sat together in the dark living room, the only light being the television in front of us as I laid my feet in her lap while we watched the movies I picked. “Well, he is a monster. Monsters are usually hideous, no?”

I tilted my head toward her, my wavy, chestnut locks cascading down my shoulders as my green eyes looked to her while I gestured to the screen. “Monsters come in all forms, not just ugly. You’ve always told me that even the most beautiful of people can have a dark soul. I’d like to think Dracula is one of those scenarios.”

Maressa would laugh softly from across the small, brown couch, her face wrinkled as she smiled and replied. “I guess you’re right. But remember, Dracula is said to have been able to hypnotize women to join his harem of brides and fall madly in love with him.”

I shook my head. “Still. He couldn’t have been that hideous. No way.”

There was also reading books that were far beyond the normal lexile of an eight year old; College lexile levels actually. Not to mention, the pieces of literature I preferred above all else were of a somewhat morbid taste and I adored the horror genre, including stories and tales of Dracula. Maressa would take me to the library every week, and I would stock up as many as I could to read until the next time I was able to go back and check out more.

I also loved the night time and was a natural night owl. Everyday, I would look forward to sunset knowing the billions of stars and the moon were going to begin their nightly dance about the sky for me to watch as they have done for millennium. In New York City, it was a bit hard to really see all the stars due to their luminous glow being dulled by the city lights. The sight of the night sky was a comforting one and allowed me to tune out the bustling city below me as I would lay in bed at night, even the smallest shimmer of the stars seeming to lull me asleep with their silent lullaby.

These habits didn’t stop, as if they were propositioned into my soul even as I grew and changed. Sure, I had a few acquaintances more, developed a passion for art, and I desired to be a bit more social (which wasn’t hard for me at all), but that was it. I still was honor roll, a quick learner, and obsessed with the supernatural and Dracula. I always did wonder why I was this way and I had come to find out on the eve of my seventeenth birthday, 2013.

Sweat; I could feel it dripping down my skin as I panted in my bed while my insides felt as if I had been dipped in ice so hot, it burned. I tried so hard to scream out for Nonna; to scream out at all. But, I couldn’t, my throat dry as my chest heaved. I gripped the sheets and made silent screams as I thrashed desperately, my back arching and then dropping back onto the bed before I gripped and pulled at my hair. Memories, flashing before my eyes rapidly as past memories came back all at once. My past parents, my seventeenth birthday, meeting him, falling for him, the murder, becoming his third bride, becoming a vampire for him.

Vlad the Impaler, The Truest Knight of The Order of The Dragon, Creator of the Supernatural Curses, The Undead King: Dracula.

My old name rang through my head as clear as the bells of Notre Dame and so did his voice as I felt an intense, iron-lock grip on my soul.

“...Aleera,”

“Aleera,”

“ALEERA.”

I couldn’t hold back my scream of horror as saw the last memory I held of that life; my demise. It was as if I was reliving that life all over again as I continued to scream into the night. Nonna came running as fast as she could. She slammed open the door and shook me until I was fully aware she was there and the excruciating pain ceased. I panted, eyes wide with fear as I looked at her almond eyes that were wide in worry.

“Alessa,” Nonna whispered, “...are you alright?”

To tell her ‘yes’ was what I wanted most...but I couldn’t bring myself to and decided to cry into her soft green robe. Lying to her was one thing I could never bring myself to do. This woman, who was the only parental figure I had ever known for seventeen years, was now one of three...and I felt so out of place and alarmed. Where were my fellow vampire brides, Verona and Marishka? Where was Dracula? Had he even died? Did their souls become reincarnated, and if so, did they remember too? Or for some reason…

…was it just me?

The Third Truth: Times have changed, and so have I.

From that moment on, I viewed the world in a different way. Everything was new to me as if I hadn’t been on this Earth for the seventeen years I was before remembering who (and what) I once was. I suppose you could say I had a greater appreciation for everything; sewers being underground, technology, health care, women’s rights, religious rights, homosexual rights, civil rights. So much had changed in the years between when I had died that second time in 1867 - to now. Not to mention, I was on a whole other continent, in the middle of one of the world’s most notorious cities, New York City, as a lower middle-class orphan.

My past upbringing was completely different. I was born and nestled in a mansion near Sibiu, the capital of the Grand Principality of Transylvania in 1713, to wealthy noblemen. Mind you, this was back when women were seen as inferior to men, when health care wasn’t even heard of, when pirates still existed, when executions were a daily lunch affair, and when war raged upon the Transylvanian land.

I suppose I was lucky in comparison to many once upon a time. I always had what I needed, I was able to learn more than most females, and I went to the most wonderful parties. But, then again, I wasn’t all that lucky…free choice was a myth, and opportunity so very limited. Especially where I was concerned.

As I aged through this new life, opportunity and decision-making was a breath of fresh air I hadn’t ever appreciated until my soul had that hellish refresher. I took a greater appreciation in picking even the simplest of things, like what shoes to wear. I didn’t have to be in a rush to grow up, life was free game; I could be a normal teenager of today.

My junior and senior years came and went with more artistic achievements, memories, and high honor roll. I went to prom, I made some friends, even had a high school sweetheart. Even so, thoughts of my past (vampire sisters, ex-husband, and all) often plagued me when all was quiet at night.

I could no longer look at the night sky and let it lull me to sleep, it had become my greatest fear because it made me think back on so long ago. I dreaded thinking of the past, because the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to give my past self a swift ass-kicking. I let myself be so mistreated, so neglected by that selfish, deviant egomaniac! I did the unspeakable; I paid a price too high. It was for my freedom, but my new-found freedom didn’t last very long. Shame and guilt weigh heavily on me even to this day. It seemed like the only option back then - really it did - and I was so angry, I didn’t even think twice.

So in 2014, when I walked across the stage in my cap and gown as Maressa dabbed away her happy tears, it made me realize that today marked anew. I was older er...well, I wasn’t forever seventeen, I was smarter, and the past would stay in the past forever. It was time I had put the ideas of memories from centuries ago far behind me and looked to my new-found adulthood.

Given my grades and artistic abilities, it didn’t take long for opportunity to present itself in the form of a letter. Due to my portfolio and near perfect fluency in French, I was presented with a chance so prestigious, so rare, I practically went for its throat the minute I had read the what the letter spoke of: An all expense paid first year, along with a travel visa and dorm, to the National School of Fine Arts in Paris, France. It was such an unexpected honor, I could hardly contain the shriek in the lobby of my apartment building.

My jade green eyes widened as I read the letter in my trembling hands over and over again. I read it at least a thousand times in my head, smiling brightly as my heart skipped a beat. An art school? In Paris, France? All fees paid for the first year? I jumped and let out a shriek of excitement - which the lobby man of the complex, Eric, quickly snapped his fingers at me and put his index finger to his lips as he looked at me.

“Sorry,” I smirked lightly as I apologized, waiving the letter like it was a super bowl trophy. “I’m out of here!” I quickly closed the small, metallic mailbox door and locked it, momentarily fumbling with the key due to the trembles of excitement coursing through me, like a junkie who had just been told their supplier was on their way. I just had to tell Nonna the good news.

I turned quickly on my heel toward Eric with the biggest grin. He simply raised an eyebrow at my sudden childlike joy, and rightfully so. Never had I been so giddy and loud, even when I was elated. My natural disposition is tranquil, and every action of mine somewhat calculated.

“Must be some important letter to get you jumping up and down like a five year old,” Eric mumbled as he glanced between his computer and myself while I quickly walked to one of the elevators.

I pressed the ascend button, calling the elevator back down from whatever floor it had been on previously to carry me right back up to my floor. “You have no idea.” I replied, moving on the ball of my right foot, causing the corresponding leg to bounce softly and reveal my lack of patience.

What felt like forever wasn’t even a few seconds however, and as soon as the elevator let out a ‘ding’ and the doors opened, I eagerly stepped inside and pressed the button for the eighth floor. I watched the light pass from number to number, counting along impatiently in a mumble. “...5,...6,...7,...8!”

The doors soon opened, and I quickly bolted down the hall to apartment 22H. I opened the door and immediately smelled the warm, delicious scent of her special, homemade tomato sauce and heard the deep, rich voice of Dean Martin drifting from another room. I knew she was still in the kitchen cooking and quickly ran in, gripping the sides of the doorframe from living room to kitchen, “Nonna, guess what?!”

Maressa turned to look at me after nearly jumping out of her skin, her aged face set in a surprised look from her place over the stove as she placed the wooden spoon out of the pot of sauce. “Alessandra! What is it?! You scared me half to death! Is something wrong?!”

I quickly shook my head, replying. “No, no, no!” I started walking into the kitchen fully as I held out the letter. “Look!”

Nonna looked at me with a raised eyebrow, taking the letter and reading it. I watched with pride as her eyes widened in astonishment before she looked at me with a prideful look of her own. She hugged me tightly and I hugged back as she began to babble happily. “I can’t believe it!”

I grinned and laughed as she pulled away from the hug, gripping my forearms with both hands as she gave me a serious look. ”You have to go, do you hear me? This is too big of an opportunity, maronna mia!” Maressa gushed as she placed two hands over her heart. “To think that my little Alessa is going to Paris to be an artist! Oh, sit down! I’m gonna call Cheryl and brag! Have some cannoli cake!” She quickly instructed, gesturing to the fridge as she went over to her old wall phone.

I knew then just how proud she was of me; Maressa usually kept that cannoli cake for when company would drop in; she was forever one to play hostess. So, I went over to the fridge and pulled it open by its handle, smiling as I reached for the cake.

Maressa had bragged for the whole two months before I left, helping me pack and constantly reminding me to write often and call when I could. She was old fashioned and hated email and apps, so I agreed to her terms. I worried she would be lonely while I was gone, but she assured me that she had her friends, such as Cheryl, and was even thinking of getting a cat. When the day finally came, I hugged Maressa goodbye tightly in the airport. It was bittersweet, and emotional for both she and I as she tried to hide her tears and I desperately suppressed mine. I had second thoughts of leaving right then and there, but I suppose she noticed, because she pulled away and nudged me toward the boarding gate. We shared a smile and another quick goodbye before I turned on my heel with a wave and a deep breath.

It hadn’t ever hurt me so much to leave someone I loved behind. My past parents were far from the best of parents, and the reality was they wanted me gone as much as I wanted to be gone. The only reason they put up such a fight was because of who I chose to go to. Dracula, although rich, powerful, and handsome, was a man with a reputation. Everyone knew what he was, or at least suspected due to heavy rumor. The sad part is, they weren’t even worried for me, they were worried for the reputation the family name would get if I were to willingly go to him. So to leave someone who did nothing but care and love me selflessly, who was willing to raise me to be whoever and whatever I wanted to be in this world, and who supported me endlessly when she didn’t have to, hurt. I looked at a picture of Maressa and I from the minute I sat on the plane until the minute the plane made touchdown in Paris.

The Fourth Truth: I wasn’t crazy.

Paris, France was everything I had hoped it to be; Breathtaking, even when the sky was full of dark clouds, insinuating rain or even that a thunderstorm was soon to come. Yet, I was blissfully happy to be here, feeling at peace as the feeling of being homesick the entire flight had notedly subsided. After collecting my two suitcases, two duffle bags, and exchanging currency, I decided it would be smart to buy an umbrella from the small souvenir shop.

I soon walked out of the airport, waiting patiently for a cab as I looked around the streets so foreign to me. Even with the dreariest backdrop of dark clouds, I couldn’t help but feel enamored by the bustling people and the sight of the Eiffel Tower nearby. But soon, a jagged flare of lightning in the distance and a low rumble of thunder reached my sight and sound. I quickly opened the bright, red umbrella I had purchased, not surprised when seconds later, raindrops could be seen staining the pavement below my feet.

I sighed and turned on the screen of my phone to check on the time. “Okay, it’s 14:40. That cab should have been here ten minutes ago.” I mumbled to myself.

I placed my phone back into my coat pocket and glanced up to the sky as the rain began to come down harder. I was beginning to feel extremely grateful Nonna made me buy waterproof duffle bags and suitcases because if not for them, the majority of my belongings would be drenched, and my electronic belongings would’ve been totalled. I couldn’t even get mad at the cab for being late, now noticing just how bad traffic was around the airport and even in the parking lot. For all I knew, the cab was already here and just trying desperately to get through the traffic.

I stood there a few seconds more before getting the nagging feeling that I was being stared at; The type of sensation that makes one tense up and hold their breath for a second. I waited for it to ebb away for a minute or two, but it was too intense.

Someone was definitely watching me.

Pulling out my phone again, but not turning on the screen, I pretended to be admiring myself and fixing my hair while slowly moving my phone from side to side, viewing behind me. First, I checked behind me to my right, and got nothing but people going about their own business. I then turned my phone slowly to the left while shaking my head softly to act as if I was still fixing my hair.

Nothing.

“Huh.” I could've sworn someone was staring at me. I still felt eyes gazing holes into my body, but there was nobody that I could see.

I shook my head with a sigh and placed my phone away, making the assumption that I was only paranoid due to being so far from home. It made the most sense that being on my own for the first time would cause me to feel this way, and from what I could see, nobody was staring at me at -

It was when I looked ahead of me, about twenty feet, on the concrete, man made island of pavement, that my stomach would do a sudden drop. Dark eyes locked with mine; with orbs that, instinctually, I knew to be the darkest shade of crimson in the light. But, there was no light, only dark clouds, and so the orbs looked black. Tanned skin, nearly bronze, complimented by hair that fell to his broad shoulders in inky, midnight black waves. His handsome face suddenly looked quite smug, and a smirk graced his face, adorned by a very light mustache and a goatee.

I realized who it was as soon as our eyes connected, even as he looked slightly different; The eyes gave it away and one name stood alone in my mind.

Dracula.

My eyes widened as I stood, frozen by the man before me. I didn’t know what to feel exactly, because in all reality, I was feeling a lot of different things: Anger, sadness, nervousness, bitterness - they all swarmed inside of my stomach like moths. I’d say butterflies, but this wasn’t a happy situation, and getting butterflies in my stomach was an expression for things of a more uplifting nature. It felt as if I was having a staring contest with my impending doom.

SCREECH! BEEP!

The trance was broken as I my head snapped leftward to the source of the loud noise, the taxi. It had finally managed to make its way through the very busy crowd and soon stopped in front of me. As the window rolled down, the driver spoke to me. “Ms. Rossi, oui?”

I nodded quickly, picking up my things before looking over the car hood back to where Dracula previously had stood. He was no longer there; Having disappeared into thin air seemingly. I didn’t care though... The fact that I had seen him had spooked me enough. I quickly placed my things into the trunk of the taxi and then opened a taxi door for myself, plopping unceremoniously into the seat and slamming the door shut.

Walking around aimlessly, I smiled to the clear, starry sky above me. It had been three weeks since I had landed in Paris, France. Three weeks of wandering around aimlessly when I wasn’t in school, taking in every inch of the French capital that I could, and I couldn’t get enough. I had fallen madly in love with the City of Love and everything it had to offer me. My favorite place to stroll, especially in the evening, was the Champs-Élysées, which is where I currently was. The whole path was lit by street lamps adorning both sides, the street was filled with cars, and the sidewalks were full of people. Perhaps it was how much it reminded me of the streets of New York that captured my heart, perhaps not. I didn’t care either way. It was a Friday night, so I decided to stay out even later than usual, the clock on my phone now reading 01:45 Saturday morning.

I had to admit, I was still shaken up by the sight of Dracula at the airport. I still wasn’t even sure if what I had seen was really him or just my mind spooking me now that I was on my own in a foreign country. Either way, I had put that incident to the deepest parts of the back of my mind.

I stopped suddenly, my feet planting in place as I felt a shift in the air. Something was nearby, and I felt a tugging in my mind to follow wherever the strong pull was coming from. It was as if I was in a trance really. I let my vivid green eyes glance around until they landed on a black Peugeot 308 II parked in front of a small burlesque club with a red lit sign, “Le Salon Fantastique”.

There. Whatever this pull was, it was there across the street inside of that burlesque club.

It was as if I was in a trance once I had located where the pull was coming from. My body immediately made for the club, walking across the street without so much as looking both ways, weaving in between the cars. Thank God the traffic was backed up and the stoplight was red this particular moment, or I would’ve been hit by a car.

I passed the vehicle, slowly approaching the doors of what already looked to be a very seedy burlesque club, and stopped right before the doors suddenly. The pull wasn’t in there at all, but it was close and moving closer and closer to me. The feeling was getting stronger and stronger, and I didn’t dare turn around. What if it was Dracula? What if what I saw was actually him? What if-

“I told you she’d find us the way I found you.” A smooth, slightly deep, French-accented female voice spoke from behind me, sending chills up my spine as my eyes widened.

Slowly, I turned around to face away from the club only to face two women, achingly beautiful. They didn’t look like themselves, not in the aspects of physical traits, and neither did I. Still, it was them no doubt.

“Them” being my fellow vampire brides, Verona and Marishka.

Verona’s reincarnation had been the one to speak, her voice still deep with a cold and smug tone, and now a French accent. She also was still the tallest of the three, with a slim, model-like physique, and an ovular face with a sharp chin. Her eyes were no longer an icy blue, but a sharp grey, and she was no longer as tan. Her hair was now a shocking platinum blonde instead of black. Still, she was beautiful with full lips painted a deep mauve color and an onyx colored business suit, matching high heels placed upon her delicate feet as she stood posed with one leg out and one hand in her pocket.

Marishka’s reincarnation was slightly shorter, still I was the shortest of the three. Still looking like something out of a bikini photoshoot, she was no longer a golden blonde, now sporting shoulder length, shaggy, strawberry blonde hair. Her eyes weren’t the amber hue I used to know, now the very definition of doe eyes. I guess you could say she was the embodiment of the girl next door who was home on break from her sorority. She had the biggest grin on her face as she jumped a bit off the ground at the sight of me, her skin tight mint dress sliding to her upper thighs as she did so, revealing more of her tan, long legs. I couldn’t help but feel slightly envious, she was stunning.

“Verona, Marishka...wow,” was the only thing I could think of to say.

I was speechless. They were here, alive, reincarnated, and I wasn’t alone. Part of me was ecstatic to see them, and the other part of me was slowly realizing that the airport incident was looking more and more like I hadn't briefly lost my sanity.

Verona’s reincarnation replied as Marishka’s come forward and hugged me tightly. “Well, Vylette and Mona now, but yes. What’s your new name?”

I found myself replying from within Mona’s moderately sized bosom, being hugged so tight by her while she stood on her tiptoes in heels that looked to be at least ten inches. My voice was muffled as I hugged back. “Alessandra.”

Mona quickly pulled back from the hug, hands upon my shoulders as she spoke in a Danish accent. “Your name is to die for, doll. Just look at you! Your hair’s such a beautiful shade of brown and your eyes? I’ve never seen a shade of jade like them, you’re so lucky!”

As she continued to babble and oogle over my newfound looks profoundly, Vylette took out her car keys and unlocked the vehicle with a click. “Mona, calm down before your tongue falls off.”

Mona quieted with a grin, smirking as she poked fun at herself. “God me and my big fucking mouth. My bad, Alessandra.”

I smiled and shrugged at her before glancing to Vylette as she cleared her throat and gestured to the open car door. “Hop in. We have a lot to catch up on, now don’t we?”

Snapping out of my thoughts, my eyes wandered back down to the paint palette I had in my hands. I had been painting for the past three hours; I hadn’t even noticed the time had gone by. I often got lost in my artwork, but it rewarded me often. In the past three years, I had made quite an amount of money off of my creations and to say the least, I enjoyed it.

Currently, I was working on a piece inspired by a vision I had a few days ago. The scene was a forest of some sorts with lush, green grass, yellow daffodils, and tall trees. It was dusk, the sky filled with various shades of indigo and lavender clouds moving over the fading of sunset’s more warmer colors of orange and pink. The moon was full and bright, and the stars were starting to make their way onto the giant, colorful meld of hues. It stuck in my mind so vividly, I could paint the scene even when my mind was in another place entirely. It wasn’t the first one either.

I’ve been having many visions of beautiful places over the past month now, one per week. Then, once they were painted within the week, a new scene would fill my mind. Thus, I now have five beautiful nature paintings, and I don’t intend on selling them.It had been three years since I had reunited with Verona and Marishka’s reincarnations, and in those three years, not much had happened. I moved with the girls into their beautiful apartment (which was in a pretty expensive district of Paris, the 16th district) almost immediately, and had graduated from my art school last year. I had also learned many things about the two of them and just what they had been up to these past years.

Vylette Borcroix, Verona’s reincarnation, was born an only child to a pretty rich family in Lyon, France. She was used to having the finest things from birth, and the taste for the finer things has carried on into her adulthood. Literally, expensive statues and paintings are all throughout the apartment. Still, part of me can’t help but feel it’s because she was actually born with her memories of the past.

When her father disappeared in a plane failure over the Pacific Ocean, Vylette inherited his brewery business, about a year before my arrival in Paris. Now at the age of 24, she’s made the business even more successful, and has turned herself into a workaholic in the process.

Mona Bacher, Marishka’s reincarnation, was born in Odense, Denmark to an abusive father and a mother who ran off when she was five, which also was when Mona got her past memories back. Mona definitely has had the hardest life out of the three of us, having been sold by her father at sixteen to the Human Trafficking Ring. She ended up in Amsterdam, working in the redlight district until Vylette had come across her on a business trip six months, to the date, before I had met them. Vylette had bought Mona under the only deal she could strike up; Mona lives with Vylette and is no longer a prostitute. But, she had to dance at a burlesque club, in Paris, one of the men owned for three years; It was the same club I had been drawn to.

Now, at the age of 22, Mona is the best dancer that seedy, small burlesque club has. While the boss and customers are all too grabby, the pay is pretty well, she admits. Still, there are things she doesn’t admit to, like being an alcoholic. I don’t blame her though, I’d be too if I went through all of that.

The three of us are just like we used to be; Inevitably close. We have our share of arguments, but they don’t last all that long, and we always make up after. The only difference now is one, we’re no longer vampires, and two, there’s no Dracula in the mix. Of course, Mona and Vylette tend to bring Dracula up more often than I’d like them to now that he’s gone - their feelings for him haven’t changed like mine have. They often miss him and conversate about where he could be, and what life would be like in this era by his side. It’s almost gross how much they fantasize about him, and I find myself steering clear of the conversation every time he pops up.

“Alessa.” Vylette’s voice suddenly appeared as she opened the door to my home studio, her cellphone in her right hand as her Jerome Dreyfuss billy bag hung from her right inner elbow.

I looked up from one of the paint palettes I had been mixing various paints upon, my appearance disheveled with paint on my fingers, oversized smock, and even a drop of paint on my socks. “Hey, Vy. What’s up?”

“Dinner is what’s up. We’re thinking L'Orient d'Or, what's your thought?”

I placed the palette down onto my art desk, then stood up and stretched my back. “Chinese sounds nice, I guess. What time are we going?”

Vylette ignored her phone as it vibrated to answer me. “I would say about 20:00, perhaps 20:30. I have to run and sign off on some finalizations for my company’s Asian expedition. It’d expand the selection, and appease and attract customers of an Asian background with a more traditional alcoholic preference.”

“That’s great, Vy. I’m sure that will bring in a wave of new customers.” I encouraged lightly as I began to tidy up my workspace.

Looking down at her phone with rapidly moving fingers upon its screen, Vylette replied. “It definitely will; I’m too good of a business woman for it not to.”

I didn’t even get time to reply as her phone began to ring. Vylette rolled her eyes at the caller ID, before answering the phone. “Juste un moment, Jackson.” She greeted quickly.

Vylette then looked to me as she muted her side of the line with the tap of a button, clearly annoyed as she spoke with exasperation. “Mon dieu, it is every three seconds with this man. Be ready for dinner by 20:00, and text Mona to let her know, okay?”

I nodded as she quickly pressed the button again to unmute herself as she walked down the hall, then I looked back to my painting. Just a few finishing touches, and it would be ready to be framed and hung next to the other four pieces.

After getting my studio cleaned up, I decided to sit before I went to take a shower, dinner still being two and a half hours away. Remembering it was time to call Mona, I picked the phone up about to dial her, only to have a strange number call my phone. I answered it after a moment’s hesitation, only to be greeted by a familiar voice. “Alessa, it’s Mona!” Mona spoke, her voice clearly nervous.

I raised an eyebrow at her tone and stood up, “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m not sure, I think I’m going crazy!” She hissed quietly, obviously petrified, into the phone.

Now confused, and a bit scared for Mona’s safety, I tried remaining calm and getting answers. “What’s going on?”

Mona didn’t answer for a second, her labored breathing being all I heard aside from the background noise of a busy street. “Mona, you need to answer me.”

“Listen, I need you to pick me up as soon as you can! I didn’t take my car earlier and I’m being followed. My phone dropped into a sewer grate, I have no cash on hand except the change I used to call you so I can’t call a cab, and I don’t see a bus stop anywhere close.” Mona finally spoke back, hushedly.

My stomach dropped, and I glanced over to my set of keys, both the car and the motorbike keys seeming to glow underneath the lamp from their place on my dresser. I moved quickly, standing to grab them and shove them into my pocket as I looked for one of my jackets hastily. “Where are you? I’ll be there in less than ten.” I asked quickly, finding my navy blue peacoat.

“Not too far, I’m in the parking lot attached to that mall on Rue des Belles Feuilles; It was the only place with a payphone.” She replied, then groaned. “It’s raining out of nowhere! The one time it rains in August and it picks right now, which means I can’t go outside unless I want my dye job to drip into my eyes and blind me. You’re really gonna have to hurry up!”

Rue des Belles Feuilles wasn’t too far from the apartment, maybe a block, and usually full of cars on either side of the street, which meant I’d either be taking the motorbike, or running. The fact that she had ran into a parking garage made it even worse, and I couldn’t help but wish that a year ago, she would’ve given the self-defense classes a chance like I had. Fumbling with a few dressers, and hastily looking through them, I was lucky to find my switch blade I had bought myself awhile back. I didn’t feel comfortable without one, and I couldn’t take my old one on the plane. “I’ll be there soon. Don’t move, and stay where people can see you until I get there! In fact, stay on the phone with me.” I instructed as I shoved the pocket knife into my coat pocket

“Alessa, it’s a payphone, it’ll eventu-!” The line cut.

I grimaced and let out a sharp curse.

I had to hurry up.

#vampire #romance #vampyre #writing #chapter #amateur writing #entrapment #supernatural #reincarnation #paranormal

0 notes