#in this far far away kingdom their kings never age but they can of course die. their last king disappeared without leaving a trace behind

[making-my-wey-down-town]

November prompt list challenge 2022, Day 10 - Fantasy

Here your Brave Knight Sun ⚔️ ☀️ and your Charming Prince Moon 👑 🌙 💞💗💖💘

I had so much fun (and a lot of daydreaming) while making this one asdfghasdfgh

Bruh they are just 🤌✨ (yes I’m falling for my own creations, leave me alone kkk)

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Platonic Yandere Queen Step Sister

She wasn’t always a queen 

Like every queen before she was a princess

But before she was a princess she was a count from a low-class duchy

Her mother had found your father

Old, ill, and enticed by the countess willing to entertain him

The countess herself wasn’t awful

She was civil, for the most part the only problem with her was her daughter

“And this is your new sister—Harley! Say hello!”

“Hmph just because your Dad’s the King doesn’t mean I have to like you!”

“Harley!”

Harley was a menace

Snooty and rude

Every time she spoke to you it was like liquid acid spraying specifically at you

She was typically spoiled but she never mistreated the servants 

She was decent to your father 

But to you, it was like she hated your guts from the very beginning

“I’m glad I spilled all that cranberry juice on you! The little outfit you were wearing before matched your ugliness a bit too well.”

“That was a gift from my late mother!”

“Hm figures.”

Of course in turn you hate her too

And you don’t bother hiding it from your father when he weakly asks you to hang out with her

“Did you hear what she said to me? I honestly couldn’t care less if that horse she spooked stomped her flat.”

“(Y/n)! Hold your tongue, she’s your new sister.”

“She might be your daughter but that thing is not my sister.”

He doesn’t seem convinced as he continues putting you together with her in hopes it will strengthen your bond

It does not

And it will never be as your father succumbs to his illness

Naturally, you prepare to take on the throne despite your young age

But alas nothing goes the way it should since she’s been forced into your life

“As the former partner of the King, I gladly will take up the role until our child is ready.”

It’s infuriating as the advisor reads a part in his newly written will about this

How he ordained that his second wife have you in her care and the kingdom in her control

And of course decency dwindles as she becomes drunk on the social power

Fueling her gremlin of a daughter

“Mother’s forbidden you from leaving your room. So I figured I’d give you some of my company! You're welcome.”

“Go jump out the window.”

“How dare–MOM!”

It just gets worse and worse

You do think for a moment things will get better as The substitute Queen keels over her wine at a banquet

Thanking the heavens for whoever poisoned her, you’re prepared to take the throne

“I am so sorry (Y/n) but the council has ruled that for your safety as the kingdom’s only true heir, it’d be dangerous to let you take the throne. So we’ll give the role of Queen to Harley.”

It takes you everything not to stab the brat as she puffs her chest and flips her hair

“Won’t you congratulate me on my coronation!”

It’s agony that ripples under your skin as you have no choice but to flee the castle grounds to escape her stabbing presence and that only works for a day at most

With her mother no longer ruling she isn’t forced to take etiquette lessons away from you

Now she can demand your attendance for any minor meeting

“I don’t think we should mobilize our militia on that border. It’s far too much of an overreaction.”

“What about the villages that have been burned there? The people who need medical attention?”

“Hush (Y/n) I didn’t say you could talk in this meeting.”

It's all so frustrating feeling trapped

But you’re not the only one 

Harley is incredibly frustrated because of what keeps her trapped

And that’s her inability to say anything that she truly means

Especially with manners of the heart

Underneath layers of cruel insults, stifling rules, and personal jabs 

Is a step-sister who adores your very being but is stuck with her thorny exterior

She is forced to stick her nose up and sneer at you when you look her direction

When she’ll say “You look like death with the new family brooch. You might do better to just leave it off.”

What she means “I think you look even more gorgeous than usual with the family brooch, don’t ever take it off.”

If she wasn’t as backward demented as she was it probably wouldn’t be so hard to try being nice

To switch her compliments to insults for just a day to give you a kind compliment

But she hates actually making it so that

Naturally, this is why she killed her mother

She’d gotten in the way of her free time with you 

On top of looking down on you which she absolutely hates the most

Granted she’s certain you hate her with how much time she spends attempting to bring you down expressing her affection the only way she can

Sometimes she’s tempted to put it in writing 

just explain her condition so that she can jump into your arms as you connect the dots

But every time she’d written something out, she couldn’t help but confess how obsessed she was with you 

How happy she was that her whole job now was protecting you

She wasn’t exactly fond of the kingdom other than it being an inheritance for you

She hopes you’ll forgive her as she’ll  prioritize you and your safety above all else

No one but your father’s trusted advisor may see past her biting personality

Convinced with the council that it’s best to have her temporarily rule

If only until they get to the bottom of both the King and the Queen’s deaths

Should any council member question her or her motives 

she’d be quick to shut that down

She can’t have these old nobles get in the way of her dominion over you

“I hope you enjoy the joys of being accused of fraud. It’ll be nice to look back on your time when on the council when you’re rotting in jail.”

She has no mercy for anyone but you

[a-small-writer-in-a-big-world]

Rescue pt. 1: knight!price x princess!reader

Warnings: talk of pregnancy, medieval standard for women, attempted kidnapping

The king was worse than you imagined, but perhaps you were being dramatic.

He had done nothing but spoke of himself, the money he had and everything else about him. You don't don't think you'd ever met a man who was more full of himself than the king and yet no one seemed to find an issue with that.

You had barely spoken to him, not that he gave you a chance, and he didn't seem to notice. You instead just spent most of you time smiling and nodding, not even wasting your energy to open your mouth.

You had also noticed that he seemed to eye the maids who walked past, paying them more attention than you, his future wife.

Was this supposed to be the rest of your life? Were you supposed to be an accessory that was decorated and put on display, being spoken at but never spoken to while your husband chased after other women?

Did your mother hate you? Why would she do this to you?

"For security." She had told you. "We need a strong ally and you are far too past the age to be unmarried, our people adore you but they talk."

It was naïve but you wished you were born in a time where you could marry for love instead. This security felt like a prison, this marriage would be your chains. You were already alone but you'd be more isolated than ever once he stole you away to his kingdom.

It took everything in you to keep yourself composed.

"I hope you're as excited as I am." The king finally addressed you later than night at dinner and you smiled instinctively.

"Of course, your majesty." Your words were like poison and left a bad taste in your mouth.

"My family and our kingdoms will grow. Soon we won't have to worry about any war."

His family.

You were paralyzed by that notion, disgusted by thinking about the man in front of you touching you or laying with you. You were sure that he'd forget about you if you were pregnant with his child or that would be the only time he'd pay attention to you. You'd be thrown to the side once you gave him an heir, you were sure of it.

Fear gripped your throat, your entire being and it became too much.

You had pushed these feelings away for months, you had ignored them and tried to convince yourself that you could do it for the sake of your kingdom and your people but you couldn't. You were terrified.

After dinner, you were supposed to make your way to your bedchamber, but once you were out of sight, you ran towards the garden.

You somehow slipped past the guards and ran to the river, but you didn't stop. Instead you ran into the forest and let the setting sun guide you far from the castle in hopes that maybe if you couldn't see it your problems would disappear as well.

You stopped when you realized there nowhere you could go. You could run to the nearest village and someone may recognize you or you'd be caught eventually by the knights. Any neighboring kingdom was too far and you'd die in the wilderness before you got close.

You were trapped.

"Are you lost, my lady?" A voice called out to you and you jumped.

A group of men stepped onto the path you were on. They looked as if they had been on the road for a while and judging by their destitute clothes they might not have a place to go to.

However, what sympathy you had for them quickly disappeared when you noticed the strange look in their eyes. You took a couple steps back, but noticed a couple other men appeared behind you.

"No." You said firmly, lying through your teeth. "I was on my way to the village."

One of the men scoffed and raised an eyebrow, not believing you. He seemed to have special interest in your dress and jewelry you were wearing, no doubt knowing exactly who you were.

"We could show you the way." He offered but you shook your head, slowly finding yourself being cornered by the men.

"I can find my own way, thank you." You swallowed hard.

"You'd be much safer with us, your highness."

You stepped away from them as quick as possible and grabbed a stick, brandishing it front of you to keep them away. You face burned when they laughed and you're not sure what it would do to help you but it was the only thing you could think of.

You could bargained them with money but they'd get more out of you if they held you for ransom.

One of the men lunged at you and you swung the stick, smacking him in the middle of the face, causing him to cry out. You hit another before one grabbed your from behind and forced your to drop the stick. You struggled and screamed before you felt something sharp poke underneath your jaw.

"You'll come complacent or dead." The man threatened as he made a show of the dagger.

Your heart nearly jumped out of your chest and you began to panic. You thought this would be it before you heard approaching hooves.

An arrow flew threw the air and hit another man square in the back before another sunk deep into a man's arm. Price rode in on his horse and drew his sword before he jumped off, engaging with the men.

He was much quicker than them and far more skilled. Iron clashed with each other and the men let out cries when Price cut them with his blade, going completely untouched.

You used the commotion to stamp your foot on the man and elbow him in the gut. You managed to push away from him, not before getting cut with his blade on your arm, before you ran away from him.

Price grabbed you and pulled you behind him. He stood in front of you protectively and kept his bloody sword brandished to deter the bandits from moving any closer to you.

"Stay behind me." He told you lowly. "I'll keep you safe."

You blame the reason why your chest was set aflame on the adrenaline coursing through your veins.

Some of the bandits were dead, lying in a pool of their own blood, while others held onto their bleeding wounds. Their leader glared at Price but he didn't falter.

"Bastard knight." The leader spat.

"You wouldn't want to lose more of your men would you, eh?" He stood tall and kept a fierce, but confident look in his eyes. "I'm more than willing to let you if that's what you want however."

The bandit thought for just a moment they all ran away into the forest.

Your arm stung and you placed your hand over the wound while you watched them run. Warm blood stained your hand but you were more focus on Price in front of you, unable to take your eyes off the back of his head.

The warmth in your chest only grew as he turned to you, his eyes sharp but laced with concern.

a/n: i think i know who fell first or at least who i want to fall first

Tags. @deadbranch @makayla-666 @glitterypirateduck @dumbbitchgalore @m0chac0ffee @dragonbe-writing @sleepyoriana @twismare

[litchifaerie]

Guilty as Sin [Aemond Targaryen]

pairing: aemond targaryen x niece!reader (unspecified dad)

warnings: fluff, very little angst, not Daemon's daughter but she has silver hair, ooc!aemond (?), "i burn for you" typa confession. niece!reader strikes again.

word count: 3.3k

After the incident of Driftmark, it was a known fact that the family of the dragon has now broken into two factions, namely: The Hightower Greens and The Targaryen Blacks. Young Prince Lucerys had somehow managed to blind his uncle, Prince Aemond, in an act of what rumours say to be “self defence”. The family damaged beyond repair went on to live separately, no longer finding joy in maintaining the facade of a “happy joint family” to appease their king. Now years later, the question of inheritance of Driftmark is raised. Lord Corlys Velaryon is feared to be nearing his death and thus Vaemond Velaryon has raised a petition for himself to be declared the heir instead of its true heir, Lucerys Velaryon.

When the Blacks made their home in Dragonstone it took them quite a while to settle in with its rough seas and jagged cliffs. In a few months everyone seemed to settle in well. Everyone except for Rhaenyra’s eldest child, her only daughter, you. Back at King’s Landing you loved the court. You loved meeting the ambassadors of kingdoms you had read about in books with Aemond. You loved sneaking around the castle at midnight with Aemond. Your bare feet hurriedly rushing over the cold of the stone floors in search of some leftover lemon cakes in the kitchens. You loved sewing with Helaena and learning the names of her friendly little creatures. You and Aemond were perhaps the only companions she had growing up.

Yes, yes, you missed Aemond even more so. And now six years later, here you are, sitting in the carriage with your mother and step-father awaiting to reach the Red Keep soon. You’re busy gazing out the windows, looking at how much King’s Landing has changed. I wonder if that jeweller still has a shop in the city market. Lost in your thoughts you jump a little when you hear your mother speak. “Do keep an eye on your brothers there. Daemon and I have some matters to attend with the King the moment we reach. I do not want those two to pick a fight with your uncles.” Rhaenyra speaks calmly.

You nod with a polite “Of course mother”. And with a moment of hesitation, you ask “Is it alright if I invite Helaena for an afternoon tea, perhaps even a play date for her twins and little Viserys and Aegon? Please allow it mother! It has been ages since I last saw her! I wish to see my baby cousins and catch up with my dear aunt…” Rhaenyra can never say no to your pleading eyes. She only chuckles “yes my dear you may”.

It wasn’t a long while before the carriage came to a stop. A knight comes to open the door for you. “No one to greet us hmm” murmurs Daemon. His ability to remain stoic sometimes makes him seem invisible even in close proximity. He steps out first, helping you and your mother down next. Jace and Luce come rushing begging to go to the training grounds. “Boys”, you call out, “Mother and Father have some matter to attend to. Now if we may, lets see how the knights here train at King’s Landing.” With that you just turn around and they follow you like ducklings, ever the obedient little brothers.

You make your way to the training yard, looking around and seeing specks of your past. It all seemed like a far away dream now. How happily the boys played fight together, with you dabbling in some swordplay at times. Distant shouts of cheers catch your attention and you look their way. “Seems like there’s a fight going on” Jace remarks. And Luce replies energetically “Lets go see how the knights fare then” and drags you both towards the crowd.

A clash of swords and flurry of movements of men later you are able to catch a glimpse of long silver hair. A Targaryen. Long hair and a fine swordsman? Can’t be Aegon. That leaves the 2 others. And as you get closer you recognise his silhouette. It took you a little time but you can spot him anywhere still. It’s not your eyes that tell you of his identity but your heart. Its him. Yes, it is. Its Aemond.

“Well done my prince. In no time will you be participating in Tourneys.” Says the knight, who if your memory serves right must be Ser Criston Cole. “I don’t give a shit about tourneys” Aemond replies trying to gather himself after that tiring display of amazing swordsmanship. And then he spots you. At first Aemond believed it to be untrue. His mind had played many such games with him through the period of your absence. The Gods were cruel to not only rob him of his eye but also his dearest friend the same night. Maybe he stared at you a moment too long because that was enough for Jace to step in front of you and shield you from his uncle's view. At that Aemond seems to snap back to reality. “Nephews, come to train? Shall we see who has turned into a better swordsman these past 6 years.” He clearly is still looking to pick fights. You put your hand on Jace’s shoulder “Do not engage he just wants to rile you up”.

The crowd whispers amongst itself. Do you see that? The sons of the Queen and Princess do not get along. Are the whispers true then- You think you need to squash these whisperings now by a show of goodwill. You walk towards Aemond in the “dainty” manner a proper Lady should approach a Lord. “Uncle” you come to a halt just a bit away from Aemond, a few inches closer than it is deemed appropriate. “How have you been? I see the years have been kind to you. The tales of your growing talent of sparring has reached Dragonstone. And I am happy to say those words do no justice to your skill. You’re much better than what they lead us to believe.” Flattery. Heaps of it. So what if it’s a little backhanded. I need to patch things up even if it’s a little. “Dear niece” Aemond raises your hand to place a kiss on your knuckles “Ever the beauty. That must mean the tales of Lords and Knights fighting over a chance to court you must be true then?” and all you can do is chuckle. Oh so he will play this game then. “You flatter me too much my prince. I was wondering if you and Princess Helaena would have your afternoon tea with me. I’ve missed you incredibly. And I just can’t wait to meet little Jaehaera and Jaehaerys”

Ser Cole places his hand on the prince’s arm, “Perhaps some other day Princess. Prince Aemond has some mat-”. “Yes I will” Aemond butts in before Cole can finish. “Very well then” you fold your hands together. “I shall take my leave now. The journey here was rather long and tiring”. You look behind you to see the astonished faces of your brothers. You know what thy must be thinking. What the fuck is going on in her head? “Come Jace. Come Luce. Let us go freshen up. Mother is waiting for us” You wait for your brothers to take one of your arms each. And you leave just like that. Maintaining eye contact with Aemond for as long as it was societally acceptable of you to look his way without it spurring rumours.

Are her hips swaying? Is what Aemond notices as he watches you leave. With a smirk on his face his last thought is: You’re home now zaldrītsos.

You walk with your brothers to your room, both of them still silent, a little surprised at your actions that’s all. You’re at your door when you turn around “Brothers if you may. Please go to your respective rooms and tell your servants how you’ll like your rooms arranged. The long jouney has taken a toll on me and I wish to be alone.” They know that tone. They know what you say is less of a suggestion and is most definitely a command. And they know better than to cross you when you’re tired. Being short tempered is something you have learned from Daemon while growing up. He truly was your father in every way imaginable except biologically.

Once in the comforts of your room you let a deep beath out. And there it is on your bed. You hoped it would be. The letter with the blue wax seal on it. A sapphire blue.

“Welcome back dear niece.

 The crown jewel has finally returned to the court.

 See you in the evening.”

                              ~ A. T.

It’s evening now and in another part of the Keep, Aemond seems to overhear a very important conversation on his way to his sister. One about the matter of your betrothal. “Those Hightower cunts” Daemon seethes openly. Mother? Aemond hides behind a pillar in the seemingly deserted corridor while he heard his uncle openly badmouth his “kin” without any care of who might hear. The doors to the chamber were left ajar. “When you suggested y/n be betrothed to Aegon and Jace to Helaena. She refused the very moment it was suggested. Appalled that such a proposal can even be made. And now when we are here to have the king’s blessing to betroth Jace to y/n, the so called Hand has already made a suggestion for a match between that one eyed boy knight and our daughter!” Rhaenyra is just silent. Daemon seethes in his anger. But all Aemond focuses on is that he could have your hand if his mother finds a way. And also, a little angry that Jacaerys Velaryon, rather Strong, might covet what’s his.

Fuelled by what he refuses to call jealousy, the prince makes his way through the Keep. With only one destination in mind, he storms through the corridors paying no mind to the strange looks he receives. And its as if he is 10 again, knocking at the doors of his beloved friend. But now he is a man of 19, and she is more than his friend. She is his destiny and he will have her.

You’re busy taking your heavy necklace off, opting to wear long delicate crystal earring instead which matches the long flowy gown you changed into for the tea when you notice the knocks. Thinking its your ladies-in-waiting you yell out a “Come in.” Setting the necklace on top of the dresser, you’re surprised to find Aemond’s reflection staring at you through the mirror. “My prince” you turn to face him, still sitting at your vanity, “Aren’t you here a little early for the tea?”

“Hmm…” Aemond just hums in reply and sits on the settee nearby, “I’ve come to know of an interesting proposition regarding you my niece”. That was enough to have your attention, “And what that might be Aemond?” you cock an eyebrow at him. “You’re going to be betrothed by the time your stay here ends”. You’re a little stunned but you expected this coming. Your mother has given you the liberty to choose who you might marry but you won’t do so at the expense of her political foothold. Marriage cannot always be for love and you will follow your duty like the honorable Princess of the realm you are if that is what’s required of you. “Yes, I’m aware” you tell him plainly. “I think they have Jacaerys in mind.”

“And you have no issue regarding it” Aemond asks, finding himself to be a little unnerved at your calm demeanour. “No issue whatsoever?” And you can’t help but sigh “It is what is expected of me uncle. Targaryens are known to marry their siblings. Look at yours. I always knew that there might be a possibility of me marrying Jacaerys. I am my mother’s firstborn. Her heir. But I am not a son. She only seeks to squash any problem that might raise for when I ascend the throne by marrying me to her firstborn son.”

“He’s not worthy of you. None of those plain-featured boys. You’re more valyrian than they are with your silver hair.” Aemond speaks out. “If I were you, I would watch my tongue Aemond. Don’t want you to lose your other eye due to your idiocy.” You say casually while combing through your hair.

Aemond was a little sick of your nonchalant attitude. How can you agree to this match? Why do you seem so fine? Why are you willing to go through with this? All he can do is sit in silence, his eye refusing to watch your figure, his ego stopping him from expressing what he wants. But you know what he wants, and you want him to say it out loud.

You get up from the vanity, your silver hair in loose waves, the setting sun casting an ethereal glow around you. You look like the very picture of an angel to Aemond with a halo behind you. And suddenly all he can see is you, all he can breathe is you. You’re close, too close to him, his knees are touching your leg as you stand in front of him. The door to your room is only closed shut and not locked. One can just simply walk in and catch you.

Your fingers ghost over his cheek, trailing up to his eyepatch. “Does it hurt now?” he hears you say. There is no pity on your face, just curiosity. And your touch is so delicate, so soothing. “Not as much. Sometimes when I have worked myself too hard a sharp sensation shoots up but then subsides in a while”. And now its your turn to hum. Bringing your other hand to his other cheek you gently cup his face. And Aemond’s lone eye meets yours.

His eye seems so vacant. But if I look hard enough, I can catch a glimpse of the young boy who chased me through the gardens. “Can I see it. Your eye?” you rub your thumb against his cheek. Affection. Aemond bring his hand up to reach for yours, the one on the side of the maimed eye. “It is ugly. It might frighten a lady.” He hesitates. She will take one look at me in my hideous glory and never look my way again.

“Not to me. Especially when its you.” That sentence holds a lot more meaning and truth than what one might think and you only hope Aemond understands. And Aemond does what you ask of him. He gently removes his eyepatch waiting for you to let out a gasp. He wants to close his eyes for your inevitable disgusted expression but he cannot look away from you. He looks at every muscle you move on your face but he doesn’t see a grimace, instead could it be, is it awe?

A soft smile graces your face, wildly different from what he anticipated it to be. “The sapphire compliments your features nicely. I hope the gem isn’t uncomfortable?” He is dumbstruck for a minute. “No, it doesn’t, I always wanted to thank you in person for this gift.” When his eye healed, Aemond was surprised to find the city’s most famous jeweller with a chest full of his best gems waiting for him in his mother’s parlour. A reparation I suppose, the queen had said, the Velaryon girl wrote this letter saying how “sorry" she was for her brother’s action and expresses her regret for not being able to defend you against her brother. He wanted you to be there with him when he woke the next day, he remembered your crying face when the master said Aemond’s maimed eye can’t be repaired. It’s worth it y/n. I lost an eye but gained the biggest dragon that there is.

You resume rubbing your thumb gently over his scar and that’s what brings him back. “No man, no matter how noble he is, deserves you”. “Then who does my prince? Pray tell”, you say. You know his answer. Just say it Aemond. I beg you. “I have a duty to the crown Aemond”, dropping your hands from his face, you walk away from him. “And I will do it, even if I don’t wish to.”

Aemond was furious “How can you be so blind? Do you not see my pain?”. Your back was turned to him and you closed your eyes in frustration. You turn to look at him, with angry tears in your eyes, “I am tired of waiting for you!” you yell, “These past years have been agonising. It hurt not to be around you. But those letters kept me going. Our secret exchanges were what I kept looking forward to every week.” Aemond’s chest is just heaving. “And just when I thought that there’s a sliver of chance you feel the same-”

“I do.” Aemond interrupts you. He reaches forward to hold you but you back away. “Then why Aemond” there’s a slight tremble in your voice. “Thousands of lords and knights came to have my hand. And I rejected every single of them, hoping that you will present yourself in front of my parents and ask for me. You claim to have affection for me but I don’t see it.” You cut him off before he has a chance to explain.

“I’ll show my love for you” is all the silver haired prince says before tugging you to him harshly and planting his lips on yours. Its wild, full of passion and fury. The kiss seems to ignite something in you. Both your inner dragons coming to life and breathing out fire. He’s burning you with the force of the emotions the kiss conveys.

Although you feel breathless you still craved more of him. Your hand went at the base of his neck, tangling at his roots. You drag him even close if that’s possible. Aemond’s one hand is around your throat, controlling your movement, dominating you completely. His other strongly grips your waist keeping you in place. Your lips move together in perfect synchronisation although there seems to be a bite here and there.

The Targaryens are only gods because of their dragons. Right now, right here, were two young lord and lady lost in each other and were in dire need of air yet unwilling to be apart, fearing what comes next. You’re the first to break the kiss. The evidence of your passion is seen on Aemond’s swollen red wet lips and messy hair and you can only imagine yours to look the same.

Aemond leans his head against yours, your foreheads touching. His eyes are closed in pleasure and a rare smile graces his leeps but all you can do is admire him through your eyelashes. “Make me your wife” you call out softly. “Ask my mother for my hand. I do not wish to marry Jacaerys…he is too much of a brother. It is you I want. I’ll fight for you if needed be” Aemond opens his eyes at that. “Silly girl”, he says, “The Queen has asked the King for our match to be made.” Your brows furrow in confusion, “My mother agrees?” Aemond brings a hand to caress your face, “I think she does. Daemon on the other…” Even you become anxious at that statement. “My uncle is a challenge I welcome” he continues, “Nothing can keep me away from you. I’ve waited years for this, I can’t let go of you now.”

You can’t help but smile. You loved Aemond but marrying him meant going against what your mother had taught you. Knowing the distaste Daemon held for the members of green party, and thinking of your brothers’ action against Aemond made you feel immensely guilty. But you waited all these years, you were the exceptional daughter all this while, ever obedient, ever graceful. Never a hair out of place. Always the perfect princess. And if Aemond is the treason you commit against your family, then you will happily be guilty as sin.

[alex-the-nonsensologist]

Wish Rewrite

Thought I’d try my hand at rewriting Wish for fun. In my version, Asha is Magnifico's daughter. This gives them a more compelling relationship, a more plausible reason for Asha to find out his secrets, and officially makes Asha a royal princess to boot. Additionally, Magnifico is a sympathetic tragic villain, and Amaya has passed away. While I would love to see a fully evil version of Magnifico that’s better written, along with an evil Amaya (I LOVE @hah-studios‘s version here), my version of the story features a twist that heavily depends on his relationship with Asha.

Of course, this version would be 2D animated (or at the VERY LEAST have more ambitious and stylized CG that perfectly mimics 2D), and have songs written by people with actual musical theater backgrounds. 

I am not a writer, so I apologize for the disjointed and clunky ideas. 

Opening Storybook

“Once upon a time, in a world of magic, on an island in the Mediterranean Sea, there was a little kingdom called Rosas. The harvests were never quite plentiful, the town was barren and gray, and the work was long and hard. The people of Rosas knew life could be better, and spent many days wishing it were so.

“A young man, who called himself Magnifico, spent years studying magic to become a master sorcerer, in order to better the lives of those around him. He believed magic was the solution to make one’s deepest desire come true. The King of Rosas was impressed by Magnifico’s skills, as was the king's daughter Amaya. Magnifico and Amaya fell fast in love and soon wed, becoming the new king and queen of Rosas. Together, they brought joy and prosperity to the kingdom. It was a celebrated occasion when the queen announced she was with child.

“Unfortunately, the queen fell ill and died shortly after giving birth to the princess. The king was saddened by the loss of his wife, but he vowed to raise his daughter to become a worthy queen like her mother, and to better himself as a sorcerer so that such tragedy would never befall anyone ever again.”

Young Asha and Magnifico

Every Disney heroine this era has had an intro flashback of them as a child, so it only seems fitting Asha should get her own as well. We cut from the storybook to a scene of Magnifico, with a visible gray streak in his mostly brown hair, showing young Asha the stars before tucking her into bed.

She asks if anyone wishes on the stars anymore. Magnifico explains that people stopped doing that because the stars never answered. Perhaps the stars could be magic, but no one has ever been able to study them because they're so far away. Perhaps one day. 

🎶 At All Costs is reframed as Asha's lullaby. 

Transition

Asha finally falls asleep and Magnifico kisses her on the forehead. Camera pans up to the night sky before fading to black. For a short moment, there is complete darkness, then some very faint sparks of light. Someone is calling Asha's name, but their voice sounds very far away, before it’s suddenly clear and Asha wakes up; it is morning. We are now in the present and Asha is 17. This establishes that she's always had the same odd dream of a dark void with faint sparks for as long as she can remember. 

Present Day Asha

Asha is studious and hardworking, but is frustrated that her father does not trust her with more important duties. Magnifico is training her in magic to succeed him, or at least he promised he would, but he seems hesitant to teach her more advanced magic than the basics. Asha has memorized every law textbook assigned to her, as well as a handful of magic textbooks she snuck from her father’s study. 

Today Asha is going down to give a tour to new visitors, and she takes this very seriously. Dialogue implies Magnifico was hesitant to let her do this, but eventually gave in, hinting at how overprotective he is. Even more than wanting to prove her worth as a future ruler, Asha wants to connect to the people, and secretly wants a friend her own age. 

Dahlia and Simon

In this version, Dahlia is older, and renamed to something like Yuki or Bianca to more subtly reference Snow White instead of Doc. Simon is also older and serves as Asha’s bodyguard, and references the Huntsman from Snow White instead of Sleepy. (Two new character designs would be created to reference Doc and Sleepy, and the seven teens are relegated to one-off townsfolk.) “Dahlia” and Simon are the only people Asha is close with, since her father is reluctant to let her leave the castle except on supervised royal duties. “Dahlia” serves as an auntie figure, and Simon is very understanding of Asha’s frustrations of being cooped up in the castle and occasionally lets her sneak off (but he always emphasizes safety and resourcefulness). She can confide in them when she feels she’s being ignored by her father. 

🎶 Welcome to Rosas

The song would be cheery at first glance, but on closer inspection, it’s apparent Rosas has seen better days. There’s some cracks in the buildings, and the murals and statues have lost some of their shine. The townsfolk and Asha explain it’s just a bunch of minor hiccups, and they’re working on it. 

The visitors ask if there are rules for wishes being granted. Asha and the townsfolk explain the basic rules (which include no wishing for death or harm, no making people fall in love, and no wishing for the dead to be brought back to life; as a shout-out to Aladdin). Also, Magnifico does not grant them right away, but needs time to make sure the work is done just right. After all, magic is a science as well as an art. 

When the visitors ask the townsfolk about wishes that have previously been granted, they're told about relatively simple things, like being given a new food cart or a pet cat. This foreshadows what Magnifico does with their wishes. When the townsfolk are asked if they had ever wished for something more significant, they stumble for an answer. They say they're just content with what they have, but they seem unsure. Some of the townsfolk appear lethargic, and some even slightly fumble during their dance routine, but manage to make the big finale. They ask the visitors if they’ve been convinced to live in Rosas and are given a noncommittal answer, “Too soon to say. We'll just stay the night and see how it goes.” Asha brings the new visitors to her father. (Sabino’s character design can be re-used here as one of the visitors, as he’s no longer Asha’s grandfather in this version.) 

Side note, I would love it if some of the townsfolk were given a few notable quirks to stand out. The artbook for this movie was lovely, but in the final film, all the townsfolk sort of blend together into genericness. The only one I can recall from the movie with clarity is the girl who wished to fly and meets “Peter Pan” in the end. Even Ecanto’s “We Don't Talk About Bruno” had memorable townsfolk and most only had a single line of dialogue or less. The seven teens would of course feature in this song number. 

Present Day King Magnifico

Magnifico's hair is completely gray and white now, and he’s got wrinkles under his eyes. He seems burnt out from his job, but puts on a professional face for his subjects and visitors. Asha is the only one Magnifico shows any tenderness. But for the most part, Asha feels her father has been distant for a long time. 

Magnifico thanks Asha for bringing the visitors and tries to dismiss her, but she argues she should start sitting in on the wish-granting sessions so that she can properly learn to take over from her father. This is an argument they have gone over many times before, and her father finally relents today. 

The inciting incident

They begin the consultation, starting with Sabino. Magnifico specifies that the wisher must meditate and reach deep within themselves, and recall their desire with every fiber of their being, which manifests as a wish orb. In this version, while a wish orb contains the many memories of the wish in question, handing it over does not automatically erase the memory of it from the wisher.

When Asha and Sabino’s backs are turned, Magnifico does something to the wish. This hints that Magnifico steals wishes and plants false memories, so that the wisher is unaware that they were granted a false wish. In many cases, Magnifico grants a much simpler wish than what the wisher desired (This is hinted at earlier in “Welcome to Rosas”.). Magnifico finishes collecting wish orbs and tells everyone to come back later tonight for them to be granted. Asha wants to stay and help her father more, but he quickly dismisses her.

Later that night, when Magnifico grants a false wish for Sabino, and Asha is suspicious because she knows it is not what he actually wished for. (Sabino’s wish could still be the same one from the movie, perhaps refined to something like, “I wish to leave a lasting legacy that will inspire the next generation, and that I won’t be forgotten.” And when Magnifico grants the wish, it has been reduced to “Your wish to write a memorable song.” or something along those lines. Side note, in the movie I was totally expecting Asha to tell her grandfather that he already inspires her everyday, so his wish had in fact already been granted, so I was quite disappointed when that did not happen.)

Magnifico deflects and dodges the question, and tries to gaslight Asha into thinking she misheard or misinterpreted Sabino’s wish, and that this is why she’s not ready and should wait a while before she’s taught more magic, and basically shoos her away for the night. Asha is too frustrated at her father to dwell on the discrepancy she caught, and storms off.

🎶 This Wish

This song is reframed to be a more straightforward “I Want” song. In this version, Asha wishes to be taken seriously and supported by her father. She feels quite alone and wants someone to believe in her. “Please stop seeing me as a helpless child. …I wish someone would notice my potential.” Star descends. 

Star

Would of course, follow the scrapped shapeshifter design from the artbook. I refer to Star as male here, but I am also open to the idea of them being designed as a genderless character. I also think it would be fun if Star could rapidly switch between art styles when he’s excited (2D classic, CG, 2D sketchbook, 2D Picasso, CG mimicking stop-motion / paper puppets, etc). Maybe he can also occasionally transform into his chibi form from the movie when sneaking around.

Star is very weird, almost like an alien. He seems to have general knowledge of various things on Earth, but can never seem to get them exactly right. For example, he never transforms into a normal animal. There’s always a fantastic element; instead of turning into a normal rabbit, he turns into a jackalope. In addition to having a personality inspired by Peter Pan and Genie, he is also a less chaotic version of The Collector from The Owl House and Discord from My Little Pony. 

Star would also be incredibly powerful. Instead of only making animals and plants sing, he can also change their size, color, species in the blink of an eye (and maybe even change their art styles). He can spontaneously conjure random outfits from all time periods (including the future) for the animals to wear. He can also change the shape of the landscape; at one point, Asha could suddenly find herself in the middle of an elaborate maze that Star conjures to tease her.

🎶 “Star’s Song”

A new song inspired by Genie’s “Friend Like Me” and Maui’s “You’re Welcome”. Replaces “I'm A Star”, which I didn’t really like. (It had far too many words to poorly explain weird worldbuilding, and I wasn’t a fan of the rhythm. Though to be fair, I dunno if the worldbuilding in my version is all that strong either, lol.)

Star basically shows off all kinds of weird things he can do with various transformations and conjurings. He elaborates he comes from “someplace beyond the edge of the world” and that he’s often found Earth fascinating, but never found any reason to descend until he heard Asha. There’s something special about Asha he can’t quite put his finger on. This foreshadows the reveal. 

Valentino

Quick detour, I don’t hate Valentino. I think there is great story and humor potential, especially in regards to his deep voice provided by Alan Tudyk. Unfortunately, in my version, I felt Asha’s sidekick needed to be someone who could quickly keep up with her. At first I thought about changing him into a bird, but then I thought it would be funnier if he was a pet goldfish and Star granted him the ability to fly and breathe out of water. Fish Valentino is happy to not be cooped up in a pool, but is fond of Asha and content to stay with her instead of flying off. For the most part, he offers moral support and perhaps helps Asha make friends with the other animals, but otherwise I don’t really have many ideas for what to do with him.

The Middle Part

Admittedly, I couldn't come up with a definitive idea for this part. Basically, there needs to be a reason for Magnifico to be occupied and unaware of Star’s presence; a reason why Asha does not immediately tell him about Star. One silly idea I had is Asha immediately tries to tell him, but we turn around and find Star’s conjurings and alterations gone and everything is back to normal. Magnifico brushes this off as Asha having a weird dream and tries to tuck her into bed. Star reappears later and explains he wants to run around and have fun first before being “studied” by Magnifico. Other ideas include:

Asha thinks Star is the answer to Rosas’s and her problems. Star agrees to grant various wishes, and let Asha take the credit, in hopes that her father will notice her and finally take her seriously and teach her real magic. Star thinks this will be a great opportunity to see more of Rosas and have fun, and Asha is frustrated enough with her father being dismissive of her to agree to this.

Alternatively, Star will teach her magic. Problem is, Star’s magic is wild and unlike anything Asha has studied in her father’s books. Star is incredibly powerful and Asha has to constantly ask him to tone it down. She runs around trying to fix the chaotic results of the wishes he grants, and this attracts the attention of her father.

Alternatively, with Star’s help, Asha grants small wishes, and fixes things around town. For the most part, everyone is grateful, except for one grumpy older citizen (maybe an older version of Gabo) who remembers “the good ol’ days” and thinks Rosas needs more competent rulers than Magnifico and Asha. An argument breaks out and attracts the attention of Magnifico. Alternatively, again, this could also be replaced with someone who instead wants a selfish wish like a mountains of riches, or to be king and replace Magnifico, and Asha refuses to grant it, leading to the argument. 

🎶 “Not What I Expected”

Montage of Star and Asha granting people’s wishes. Includes lots of hijinks of Star overdoing things and Asha getting Star to undo them (For example, someone asks for a new cottage, and Star conjures a giant mansion with mismatching colors and architectural details, and upside-down rooms.). “Dahlia” and Simon help them to ease tension with the townsfolk, especially after Star reveals himself to be a non-human magical being. The seven teens can also appear here again in one-off gags. Along the way, Star and Asha experience the joy of community and begin falling in love with each other. Star slowly learns about being human and cares about the townsfolk as much as Asha does, and Asha is given the freedom to take charge and be responsible but is also surprised to find just how good it feels to finally connect with the townsfolk after being cooped up in the castle for so many years. Star and Asha both find each other fascinating and full of energy, and are glad for each other's support. 

Perhaps there’s a dance with the townsfolk. When earlier during “Welcome to Rosas”, the townsfolk were lethargic and clumsy, here they are more spirited and coordinated. Star is incredibly happy and shines bright, and his light “melts” away Magnifico’s false memory spells. The townsfolk finally wake up and are confused as they recall their true wishes and do not understand why Magnifico lied to them. Asha and Star go to confront Magnifico. 

Confronting Magnifico

Star senses something in Magnifico’s study. They find a secret room that holds the records of every wish Magnifico has ever stolen. Asha is in disbelief, but can’t ignore the fact that her father has been distant and negligent of the town for a long time. And maybe this would explain why Magnifico doesn’t teach her magic or let her do anything, because he had no intention of giving the throne to her. They find some documents about using wishes as life force, and conclude that maybe Magnifico was using everyone’s wishes to become immortal. Magnifico walks in on them.

🎶 “Everything I Do”

Replaces "This Is The Thanks I Get?!" and "Knowing What I Know Now" This new song is not quite a villain song. It’s a duet between Magnifico and Asha, of them arguing back and forth. Asha argues to her father that he’s lost sight of his responsibilities and that he only cares about staying in power; Magnifico argues that Asha is naive and could never understand that everything he does is for her benefit, and she argues back how could she when he never tells her anything. 

The reveal

Magnifico had an impossible wish: to bring Asha back from the dead. Baby Asha in fact died almost immediately after birth. Magnifico could not bear losing both his wife and his daughter, and desperately wished for Asha to live again. However, no magic can bring the dead back to life. Instead, what ended up happening is a new baby was created from Magnifico’s wish orb. In his anguish, his desire was so strong it brought a new person into being. (Side note; this does in fact mean that the original baby is still dead, so Magnifico had to secretly bury a dead baby to hide the fact that Asha is an artificial human taking her place. Perhaps a bit too morbid of an implication for a modern Disney movie, but my mind likes to go to weird places.)

At first Magnifico was happy. It was a miracle come true. But over time, the magic would run out and Asha would begin to fade. Magnifico used his own magic and tried to wish again to fuel Asha's form, but it took a toll on his health and age. This explains why his hair turned white so quickly. So eventually he began using his subjects' wishes. The more heartfelt and significant the wish is, the more powerful it is, which is why Magnifico ends up replacing the townsfolk’s wishes with simpler things and false memories that didn’t require much magic. 

As Asha grew older and became a more complex human, more wishes were needed to fuel her. This is why Magnifico refuses to teach her magic, because he is afraid that she would accidentally use up the magic that makes up her being instead of the magic that a regular sorcerer would draw from the environment around them.

Magnifico grew more desperate to draw in new citizens to get more wishes, while also exhausting more wishes from the townsfolk already living in Rosas, leading them to become lethargic. Keeping track of so many wishes and false memories to cover his tracks took a toll on Magnifico’s mental state. Also a growing bitterness that he has to live with this burden that no else could ever know, and perhaps resenting the people of Rosas for getting to live worry-free.

This is why Star answered Asha's call: she is a living wish who made a wish of her own. 

Asha's death

Magnifico and Star fight. Asha gets caught in the crossfire trying to stop it. It’s a heart-wrenching moment as glowing cracks form all over Asha’a body. She looks to her father with absolute terror in her eyes as cracks spread across her face. Her legs snap. Magnifico runs to his daughter a second too late and just fails to catch her body as she disintegrates into stardust.

Star stares in disbelief as Magnifico screams in agony: “YOU COULD HAVE LET ME SAVE HER!” He looks like he’s about to attack Star in revenge, but quickly gives up and falls to his knees.

“...Nothing matters anymore.”

There is no need for an evil book as a lazy plot device. Years of paranoia and bitterness have reached a breaking point with Asha’s death, and now Magnifico’s magic is corrupted green by his anguished heart. He transforms into a monstrous dragon-like creature (in homage to Maleficent). This creature is blind with rage, and in a great roar it bursts from the castle, causing it to collapse. The creature summons storm clouds that cover the sky and fierce green lightning that strikes the town, destroying buildings and terrorizing the townsfolk. Monster Magnifico also spreads a green fog that drains everyone’s energy. As the good king he brought joy and hope, but now as a monster he brings only despair. (Inspired by Madoka Magica, when magical girls turn into witches.)

Star attempts to stop Monster Magnifico while also shielding the townsfolk from harm. Rubble from the buildings collapse and bring the camera to black.

Beyond the Edge of the Universe

A short moment of complete darkness and silence. 

Slowly, faint sparks shine in the darkness. Asha’s voice weakly asks, “Where am I? ... Who am I?”

The faint sparks grow into a kaleidoscope of colors. Asha has been reduced to a single spark. Her consciousness floats in the chaotic void beyond time and space, where Star comes from. She quickly feels overwhelmed in this sea of color and sound. It’s a great big cacophony of voices all jumbled together, like musical instruments all playing off-key all at once.

A blue light in the distance grows brighter and closer before it reveals itself to be the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio (Disney's first wish-granter). She welcomes Asha’s consciousness. “Hello, little one.” She explains this is a space between worlds, where the emotions of humanity reach far across time and space.

“Listen carefully…” The Blue Fairy helps Asha’s consciousness tune into the voices of the void to hear the words clearly. These voices will be familiar to the audience. 

Asha’s consciousness hears the hopeful, longing voices of Snow White, Ariel, Hercules, Rapunzel, and Moana. (This can include snippets from their “I Want” songs.)

She hears the wicked laughter and the dark, selfish wishes of Maleficent, Ursula, Jafar, Scar, and Facilier. (This can include snippets from various villain songs.)

She hears the sad voices of Cinderella, Belle, Quasimodo, Tiana, and Mirabel at their lowest points. ("There's nothing left to believe in. Nothing." and other such lines.)

(Yes, this basically establishes a Disney multiverse. As I’m writing this, I think visually this could resemble the Ahtohallan scene in Frozen 2, but in space instead of in ice.)

(February EDIT: I randomly thought it was also be a neat idea if all magic in the universe originates from this realm. Pieces of magic fall into the different worlds and adapt to make their own unique rules depending on the world. For example, Cinderella's fairy godmother could come from here, as well as the drop of sunlight that grows into Rapunzel's flower. A drop of magic could fallen into a certain world, becoming a trident and transforming the local sea life into merfolk, who would then go on to build Atlantica. Little sparks seeping to random worlds could also explain certain things in otherwise non-magical worlds, such as why toys and video games come to life.)

Not many humans come here after death, but Asha is a special case, as she is literally made up of hopes and dreams. She is spontaneous life (The Blue Fairy of course has experience in this department.). Asha’s consciousness finds herself moved by all the voices of the dreamers and wishers throughout the universe, and thinks she wouldn’t mind going to sleep forever in this void. She just feels so tired. She almost fades away until she hears Star's voice, her father's voice, and the people of Rosas whose wishes made up her very being. She remembers being human. The spark of Asha’s consciousness shines and she returns to her human form. The Blue Fairy asks her, “What will you do now, little one?”

Asha hears the anguished cries of the people of Rosas in trouble, and she decides she must return to help them. The Blue Fairy smiles, and tells her, “Before you go, there’s someone who’d like to meet you.” 

She gestures behind her to reveal Queen Amaya and the baby Asha. Asha is stunned to see them, but is overcome with emotion, and Amaya embraces her.

“I am so proud of you, Asha. I wish I could have stayed and been your mother. Please, take care of your father for me.” Amaya gives her a kiss on the forehead, and the baby Asha gives her a happy giggle. The Blue Fairy tells Asha to close her eyes and think of home.”

Return to Rosas

Asha is reborn in a great big burst of light in the sky and gains a new dress made of starlight. Monster Magnifico has not noticed her and is still rampaging the kingdom. Asha sees Star has been defending the citizens, but is exhausted, and Magnifico finally manages to strike him down. Finished with Rosas, Monster Magnifico turns to the coast, intent on continuing his destruction to the mainland. 

Asha descends to help Star get up. He is surprised to see her, but her appearance reinvigorates him, and explains the situation to her. They turn to the frightened people of Rosas and promise them that they will fix this. They take hold of each other’s hand and fly to confront Monster Magnifico. 

🎶 Combined This Wish and At All Costs Reprise

Monster Magnifico does not recognize Asha, and tries to strike her, but she and Star conjure a magical shield. They dodge lightning and repel Magnifico’s fire breath. Asha begins singing, determined to reach out to her father. There is a moment where it appears Magnifico has gained the upper hand.

“Dahlia” and Simon are inspired and lead the townsfolk into the song. Asha and Star, combined with the hope of the people of Rosas, shine brighter than ever before, dissipating the fog and melting away Magnifico's monstrous form. The storm clouds are cleared away in a shower of sparks. Asha grabs her father’s unconscious body and holds him tight in her arms as she slowly descends to the ground and sings her lullaby. Magnifico is very disheveled (maybe even a little bit of fanservice with his top torn off), but is otherwise alright. He soon comes to. 

"...Amaya? ... ASHA!" Magnifico is in disbelief, but overjoyed to see his daughter alive and well. He embraces her and bursts into tears. “I thought I lost you! I thought you were gone!”

"I was. I disappeared beyond the edge of the universe. But I came back!"

Rebuilding Rosas

They turn to the townsfolk. Asha gives a speech about how not every wish should be granted, but that does not mean they’re not worth pursuing. It just requires careful consideration, and being open to finding a something new. (Someone with better writing skills please step in to write this speech without making it too sappy.)

Magnifico is greatly ashamed of the harm he has caused and steps down as king. Asha understands if the townsfolk do not want to see them anymore, but promises to do what she can to help them rebuild, and to help them pursue their dreams in an ethical manner. Star concurs. The townsfolk, having been touched by her earnestness and genuine emotions from when she helped grant their smaller wishes, embrace her with open arms and express that they would love if she remains their ruler. They are hesitant to forgive Magnifico, but think it's for the best that he be allowed to stay with his daughter. 

Cut to some time later, and there is scaffolding all throughout town and the castle. Star and Asha have been using their magic to help with the rebuilding, with mixed results. Progress has been slow, but the people are hopeful. Asha and Star hold daily consultations with the people who were granted false wishes. Some are easy to grant, while others Asha advises that they can pursue on their own. (The girl who wished to fly meeting "Peter Pan" can be re-used here. I honestly thought that was a clever bit. While she could easily fly with magic, I like that the movie implies she'll find more meaning in learning to build a flying machine.)

Asha visits the original baby Asha’s grave. She renames herself. Perhaps to something like Stella? “I loved being Asha, but now I think it’s time I return your name back to you. Thanks for the loan.” She conjures some flowers for her and Amaya's grave, and goes to join the celebration.

🎶 “Finale Party Song”

Asha/Stella, Star, the townsfolk, and even Magnifico join in on the grand finale. Asha/Stella and Star kiss, and Hidden Mickey fireworks light up the sky.

End Credits

While the end credits were cute, I would revise them to include characters from the missing movies (the package films, The Rescuers, Black Cauldron, Meet the Robinsons, etc.). I would also change some of the character selections (For example, I'd have the three kittens represent The Aristocats, instead of just Marie by herself. It always annoys me to no end when they market Marie by herself. I'd also swap out Yokai/Professor Callahan with Baymax. What an odd decision to have Yokai of all characters represent BH6.). And also have some of the characters be animated instead of just still images. (I liked for Cinderella's credit they had a trail of sparkles surround her, but it would have been even better to actually see her transform from her ripped dress to the ballgown.)

Closing notes

There are a lot of things in my version that could use some more polishing, like the build-up to Magnifico's reveal about Asha. There should be at least one scene that foreshadows that the times when Magnifico tucks Asha into bed is when he magically absorbs the wishes into her to fuel her.

In addition to the whole wish theme, I thought it would be neat to also include themes of legacy, to tie in to Disney's 100 Anniversary. Disney Animation has come a long way, but is still capable of making big missteps. With many of the old talent gone, it's understandable that passing the torch to the next generation would make anyone nervous, but despite it all, I do have faith that Disney Animation can make a comeback. They've been through low points before; we just have to wait and see.

[deathknightrea]

I've seen a few people complaining about Anduin's new look and how he looks too "old" now, also they dont understand why he's acting so distant from his friends, so I figured I'd break it down from my perspective and a tiny bit of my own character analysis as a long time player since Lich King and have read a lot of the books. Also I'm a huge fan of Anduin as a character, so I'm sorry if it might be a bit biased.

He was 18 years old in the book Before The Strom which takes place right before Battle for Azeroth, (he probably turned 19 around the beginning of BFA) so by the end of BFA he would've been between 20 and 21 since the war was fought over 2 years. He was fighting that war while still struggling with the death of his father as well as running the Alliance and his own Kingdom. He even said he had never given himself a proper time to grieve his father's passing. If you read Before The Storm, you know all the heartbreak and disappointment he suffered in that book. Including everything that happened with Calia Menethil. (I know not a lot of people view the books as canon, but I do believe the legit Warcraft published books to be part of the Lore.)

In Shadowlands, which was stated to be over the course of 2 years as well. Anduin would've been 22 or 23 when it ended. Let's not forget that while imprisoned by the Jailer, everyone was tortured mentally and physically. Anduin obviously had the worst of it, constantly being controlled by the Jailer and the Mourn Blade and forced to do horrible things that made him feel extremely guilty and question his own heart. Let's be honest, if Arthas had been able to break free from the Jailers' influence and not fallen so far, he would be struggling just as bad as/or worse than Anduin.

We were told 5 years had passed between Shadowlands and Dragonflight so that puts Anduin around 27 or 28 years old in War Within. The biggest clue to how much Anduin has been struggling, is his sword. The first thing I noticed is that the yellow glow that for us symbolized his role as a Priest was gone. He even told Thrall there was no Light left in him. It seems he's to a point where he is giving up and still can't accept what he was forced to do in Shadowlands.

I think they did a good job on aging him in the new cinematic. He isn't the hope filled, peace seeking, bright-eyed, boy King we all knew. Now he's the war-torn, mentality struggling, man who needs help coming to peace with himself. The trauma of constant war and loss have finally caught up with him. We also don't know where he's been or what he's been up to since he left. However, just looking at the scars and cuts on his face, he's clearly been through something rough while he was away. You can feel the pain in his voice and see it in his eyes. They really did a fantastic job putting that cinematic together.

I feel like, as an Alliance players and due to the connection our characters have had from quest lines and side Quests over the years with Anduin, through Pandaria to Shadowlands, we will be doing a lot of Quests with Anduin to help him regain his connection to the Light and bring back our Priest--but that's just a my Alliance fan heart wishing.

If you actually read all this....WOW! 😂 Thanks for reading my rambling.

[atla-recluse]

Throne-Stealing Where?

It's always hilarious to me when I see/hear someone calling Azula anything along the lines of "power-hungry despot".

Hungry for power? More like hungry for family/relationship harmony and rules. If anything, she gives power away to others! She helped Zuko get back the throne and (conditional) fatherly appreciation that he so desired, with her only request being that he side with her and their nation (that's not asking for very much, from her POV, mind you)! She gave Mai a higher position than even her noble parents had and a chance to become a Fire Royal Consort through marriage to her long-time crush, Azula's brother, Prince Zuko! She (albeit after first forcefully taking her away from her preferred surroundings) gave Ty Lee another, more exciting way (based on how much fun we see Ty Lee having) to feel different/special and like "her own person"! She never used more force than was necessary when fighting her adversaries and only went "too far" when the situation seemed to call for it due to the risk to her person if she did nothing! (Which may have been a soul-destroying choice for everyone that was there [except Zuko]. Even Azula is implied to have felt like a monster for killing Aang, during that conversation they had on Ember Island!) A 14 year old felt forced to kill, people! That affects the one doing it, too! Why does next to no one ever ask what Aang was even planning on doing once in the avatar state while they were in the catacombs? Especially from the POV if one of his enemies? Play hopscotch and do super gymnastics? Doubt it!

Now, please correct me if I'm wrong but, wouldn't a despot be preoccupied with looking for ways to change the surrounding cultures that they come into contact with? Instead, after she leaves Ba Sing Se, for example, she keeps it exactly as she found it; with the only change being the new Earth Kingdom-originated ruler she places in charge. The people of the EK didn't have anything change for them for better or worse, as far as I can recall. Yes, we do see her trying to break through the wall of Ba Sing Se with that more advanced technology and she is imperialistic (which is something wrong in itself and which can be very brutal). But that's not automatically the same as being a dictator or snatching up bits of power from others in any way she can. And in the end she conquered it by instead using the true, least offensive (in multiple ways) means possible.

As for that period just before the final agni kai we see in show, where she was going to be crowned? She was granted that title by the current Fire Lord aka her father, after her back-on-the-clock brother defected (so willingly left).

u·surp

/yo͞oˈsərp/

verb

take (a position of power or importance) illegally or by force. "Richard usurped the throne"

Based on that dictionary definition, how can she be usurping Zuko's position if, again, the FL himself is giving it to her and if Zuko gave it up? She's literally getting it "legally" (the FL is the law) and without using any force!

Now of course there's a rabbit hole argument that some may try and use by saying that because Ozai himself took his brother's throne without Iroh's consent (was it without his consent? Iroh seems to never be in a rush to be FL), that Azula getting the throne is therefore usurpation. Ummm, I hate to nip that point in the bud so soon but, Zuko is Ozai's son, not Iroh's. That means that (assuming the child of the by-birth king/queen is the only one that should gain the throne next if the king/queen is unable or unwilling) based on that logic, neither teenager should be allowed to sit on the throne.

Kinda hard to usurp a title from someone who "legally" shouldn't have it either, right? Oh Iroh, if only you'd just done your damn job.

All that being said, literally all this girl was doing is finding ways to handle her job and fulfill the tasks of it that she's been given at such an inappropriate age, while amassing the least amount of damage possible. And along the way she tried to extend a hand to her family and friends too, almost as a sort of "sorry for the inconveniences/thank you for your cooperation and loyalty". (She may have even learned some things about herself and others along the way—or could have, if she had been allowed just one more minute of screen time and the writing choice of change that the other Fire Nation kids got.)

Yet somehow many people come away from this show with the idea that she's trying to purposely take control of or harm as many people as possible in every way possible without any care at all for others' wants. I know at least two characters that that partly or fully applies to, and neither of them are Azula.

[robiin-draws]

Have a fantasy AU!

It’s got a lot of stories from a lot of hermits. Grian and Pearl are the ones I have most figured out There’s the Celestial Kingdom, the Fairy Kingdom, the Hybrid Union, and the Ordinary Empire

Celestial Kingdom: Led by King Solis and Queen Midnight, this kingdom is based around celestial bodies. Everyone living there has wings, whether moth or bird. The current heir is Pearl Celestial.

Fairy Kingdom: Led by Queen Lizzie and King Joel, the Fairy Kingdom consists of fairies, allays, vexes, and other mythical creature hybrids. King Joel is actually a human, which is rare, and many are angry about it.

Hybrid Union: These people are led by a council of five, and are all hybrids. Any hybrid is accepted into the union.

Ordinary Empire: Normal humans are the only people that live in this empire. All leaders are elected.

Pearl: She's a luna moth hybrid, and is Princess of the Celestial empire, the only heir. The one who was supposed to take the throne, her brother Grian, went missing a year ago. She’s now forced by her parents to be perfect, and hates it. Whenever she can, she visits the Underground Acceptance Club, where everyone is welcome. She has a lot of friends there, Gem, Tango, Etho, Scott, and many others. All she needs to do is make sure her parents don’t find out. 5"11, 22 years old

Grian: He's a sun conure hybrid (it's a type of parakeet). Pressured to be the next ruler of his kingdom, Grian wasn’t very happy. His only friend was a royal advisor named Mumbo, who had an interest in machinery. He met a commoner in the Fairy Kingdom while on a diplomacy mission named Scar, and ended up becoming friends. They often communicated via letter. Mumbo noticed Grian was stressed out with the pressure, so suggested they go meet Scar and possibly run away, all three of them, considering Scar wasn’t happy with his home life either. So they did, settling undercover in the Hybrid Union, and they were marked missing from their home regions. 5"9, 24 years old (Scar is 6 months older and Mumbo is six months older than Scar)

Mumbo: He's a cecropia moth hybrid. Mumbo was trained from a young age to be an advisor and counselor for the prince and princess of the Celestial Kingdom. He had a particular interest in machinery, and wasn't too happy with the fact he would have to deal with royals. All the officials he'd met so far had been snobby. That changed when he met the two he was supposed to advise. Though he was a year older than Prince Grian, they became fast friends. He liked Pearl too, of course, but Grian was a better friend for him. He still didn't like being in the palace though, he liked fancy things, but this was too fancy. Now that Mumbo is with Scar and Grian, away from their kingdoms, he feels a lot better. Mumbo is 6"11 (Tall as heck, basically)

Scar: He's an elf/vex hybrid. He grew up as a commoner in the Fairy Kingdom, and baked cookies for a living. No one really bought those cookies, so his parents would always get mad and tell him to 'find a better job' and such. But he liked making cookies, so that's what he did. He'd never liked his parents much, they were kind of mean, but not exactly horrible people. It was pure chance that he ran into Prince Grian and his advisor Mumbo from the Celestial Kingdom, but he insists it was fate. After the initial meeting, they continued to talk via letters. One day, Mumbo proposed the idea to all run off together, and Scar gladly accepted. All three of them ended up in the Hybrid Union, and have a farming job. He's 25 years old, but only turned 25 recently, and is 6"5

Tango: He's a blaze hybrid. Tango was brought up in the Hybrid Union, taught in school to not trust humans. His parents, however, taught him everyone should be accepted. Generally, Tango had a very good home life and still does. He had only a few friends, Zed the sheep hybrid and Jimmy the canary hybrid being his closest ones. When he was seventeen, he discovered his parents had started an underground club for everyone, hybrids and humans. Here, he met Skizz, an angel from the Celestial Kingdom, and Impulse, a human. Now that he's 23, he works as a mechanic for a system of mail that the Hybrid Union wants to use, accompanied by Etho. He's 6"1.

Joel: He's human, but has antennae. No one knows why. He gets super protective when someone mentions the fact that he's a human and is king of the Fairy Kingdom, or that Lizzie made a bad choice. For his own pride, but also Lizzie's. They met at a diplomacy meeting, Joel being the son of a noble at said meeting, and Lizzie being a princess. They fell in love pretty quick, and ended up getting married. Lots of people think Joel is bad or stupid for marrying a fairy, as it's generally looked down upon to marry someone not of your kind. He's 29, Lizzie's the same age, and he's 5"10

Xisuma: He's not classified as a fantastical creature, or a celestial creature, or just a normal hybrid, because he's a voidwalker. Those are so rare that they are practically non-existent, but he and his brother are both one. His brother preferred a loner life, but Xisuma didn't want that. He joined the Ordinary Empire with a mask that had a purple visor, hoping it would hide the fact that he wasn't human and had purple eyes. When he got kicked out eventually because he was discovered, he went to the Hybrid Union. Somehow, he ended up in the council, but he doesn't really know how he got there. He acts like a dad, is 42, and is 6"8.

Other notes: Gem (deer centaur) is a botanist for the Fairy Kingdom, Etho (arctic fox) is an architect and a mechanic, Wels (bright wave moth) is a knight in the ranks of the Celestial Kingdom, Stress is a healer in the Ordinary Empire, Impulse comes from a family of commoners and is an inventor, Zed is a scientist, Skizz is an actor, Scott (elf) is an artist, Jimmy is just Jimmy and works where he can lol

As for some of the ships, we've got Mumscarian, Ranchers, and Gempearl :D

May add more?

[dailydemonspotlight]

Leanan Sídhe - Day 74

Race: Femme

Arcana: Lovers

Alignment: Neutral-Chaos

July 18th, 2024

Before doing this series, I never really realized how many demons originate from Ireland. Whether it be Cait-Sith, Dullahan, or even Fionn Mac Cumhaill, a lot of Irish fairy tales influence this series, though I suppose it only makes sense, given that Irish fairy tales also influence almost all fantasy to this day. Concepts of fairies, stories of great battles and legendary heroes, even things as simple as a name- all of them can be passed around, and many of them seem to come from the mystical medieval age of Irish tradition. Today's Demon of the Day is no different, of course- the powerful seductress, Leanan Sidhe, the Fairy Sweetheart.

The concept of a seducer who woos men's hearts is not unheard of, even in this series- a famous pair of demons to come to mind are, of course, Succubus and Incubus- but the Leanan Sidhe are portrayed in a far softer light than those who would suck the life out of their lovers. Instead, a lot of the time, these fairies are marred with tragedy- their love, once met, would lead to an inevitable death, though still one filled with passion.

From what I can tell, the Leanan Sidhe does not originate from one specific myth, and is instead a fairy referenced as common knowledge in most texts. Originating from the lands of Gael, and found referenced along the Manx as well, this fairy is a relatively well-known figure in spite of concrete primary sources due to most of her stories being passed down by word of mouth. The first concrete reference to the Leanan Sidhe, however, comes in the form of a book by Jane Wilde called 'Ancient Legends, Mystic Charms and Superstitions of Ireland,' which goes over the role of the figure in detail and what she can do. To quote,

The Leanan-Sidhe, or the spirit of life, was supposed to be the inspirer of the poet and singer, as the Ban-Sidhe was the spirit of death, the foreteller of doom. The Leanan-Sidhe sometimes took the form of a woman, who gave men valour and strength in the battle by her songs.

The story also goes into detail about a myth pertaining to the Leanan-Sidhe, talking about a tale in which a king went away from his home for years, only to come back and see it fallen into a home of debauchery. Devastated, he called upon a poetess, whom, unbeknownst to him, was a Leanan Sidhe, and she inspired the man to strike back and get his kingdom back. From this, as well as many other later, additive sources, the Leanan Sidhe was a gorgeous woman who seduced young men and women and gave them inspiration in exchange for a quick path to an early grave. They don't appear to be outright evil, rather wishing to inspire those they come across, in spite of their swift bringing of death. Alas.

In SMT, the demon is portrayed as... well, a beautiful woman. Not much else they can do there. I'm unsure as to the significance of the tongs in her hands, as they may be knitting needles, perhaps signifying creativity and inspiration, but for the most part, she's depicted very well. I don't have much else to say, unfortunately, but overall, I really do enjoy this demon and the small, yet satisfying story behind it!

[tech-two]

Alright so since pining is a thing now here’s my AU for it lol

Where Techno and Kristin are siblings. Both prince and princess to a kingdom of ice and snow. Techno is the eldest sibling, the heir to the kingdom.

So, there’s a ball one day and Techno meets a man. A real pretty guy, apparently a soldier who shot up the ranks despite his age. So, the wine flows and Techno learns the man’s name is Philza. They stand and talk for ages, making Techno laugh so hard his cheeks hurt.

He’s never quite felt like this about anyone but eventually Phil has to go. Says he’ll come back but politeness and all of that jazz.

It’s when he’s talking to Kristin Techno sees her face. She’s beaming as he talks to her.

Techno could go back and ask for a dance. See how things go and perhaps take the blonde man who made him laugh to bed but he knows something. But he knows two things

1. Kristin is the youngest of the two

2. He always gets more attention than her

It’s been like that for as long as he can remember. As the heir, of course people wanted to talk to him. Far less people cared about the younger Princess. He even remembers both of them being much younger and Kristin crying in her room after few people talked to her at her own birthday party in favor of talking to him.

Does he really want to take this away from her too? The rare moment when someone specifically approached her to talk

Technoblade couldn’t do that to her. So, he puts his feelings aside and lets them have the evening together.

They talk and dance and laugh and Techno sees them sneak off to Kristin’s room

Soon they are married and have a kid. All while Techno falls even more in love with Phil while he simply sees Techno as one of his best friends.

King Technoblade is known for never marrying. His heir, Tommy, is the son of Princess Kristin.

They say when he died he left behind a letter of explanation that only Tommy read because he didn’t want to break his parent’s hearts

[melxhunter]

A WARRIOR’S VOYAGE

"With the sins of the sun and the sadness in the sky, you shall wonder why the universe never loved you back."

— In a world overrun by the corrupt and mad, driven by lust, greed, egoism, desire and obsessionalism, having a sweet and innocent nature always ends with death. Being honorable and having a strong moral compass is viewed as something ethereal one can only dream of.

That being said, her chances were slim. But she wasn't going to let that stop her.

It was winning or dying.

And Fiyona Mormont was not ready to die.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MORE…

HOUSE MORMONT of Bear Island is a vassal House which holds fealty to House Stark of Winterfell, to the Warden of the North. They had always been a small House – it was no secret. But somehow, that alone just made them even prouder.

It didn't matter how many overlooked the island's inhabitants and failed to see the whole picture. For even if most didn't fully realize it, House Mormont was fearsome enemies but also excellent allies. Even if they indeed are a very small house.

Their ancestral home of Bear Island is an island far to the northwest of Winterfell, its location and densely forested areas with a large bear population the main reasons to why it's the home to mostly woodsmen, crofters and fisherfolk. Despite that, Bear Island was one of the places within the Seven Kingdoms known for their skilled warriors. Known for how impeccable they were at sword fighting.

Not only that, but Bear Island was also one of the few subcultures within Westeros with an tradition of female fighters. You see, over the age of time, there had always been dangers of imminent attack from ironborn raiding ships while the men were out at sea which eventually led to the women of Bear Island being expected to defend their homes from attacks. Sometimes it even was attacks from wildings who avoided the wall completely by using boats to cross the bay from the Frozen Shore.

Thus people who hail from Bear Island are mostly strong, hardy, loyal and deep down compassionate and kindhearted. When they know what needs to be done, they don't hesitate to take action.

Fiyona Mormont was no exception. The young she-bear was taught to be a warrior from an early age, and she had always known the true horrors of the world, known about the monsters hiding in the shadows since the early stages of her youth.

Fiyona was no stranger to death either, for she had watched the life leave disappear from the animals which she hunted, even watched the life slip away from her father's eyes. It was horrible, but she knew it was a part of the harsh world she lived in.

Nothing could ever change it. It was the way it was, the way it always had been and always would remain.

What Fiyona was a stranger to, however, was love. Not the kind of love you receive from your mother, a sibling or a dear friend. No, Fiyona was a stranger to the kind of ethereal love which exists between two souls. Between two hearts which ignites in such a heated flame whenever they're near one another.

Not even in her life as Mia Nordin had she ever experienced it... not that she remembered that life...yet.

As the Seven Kingdoms seemed to hold its breath while preparing itself for yet another war, completely amid the world where greed and power reign supreme, Fiyona's life collides with a another's...under arranged circumstances.

Thus began the story of Fiyona Mormont and Robb Stark. Two young humans who would change the course of the game itself.

The future Warden of the North and the former heiress of Bear Island.

The Young Wolf and the She-Wolf.

The King and Queen in the North.

As brave as the dusk & as fierce as the storm.

Fiyona Mormont's tale is filled with broken pieces, terrible choices, betrayals and ugly truths. In spite of those parts indeed being heavy and literally true, they are nevertheless misleading. For the tale is also filled with happiness, heroism, love, humanity, kindness and peace in her soul.

It's an entangled tale in which a black bear is forced to run with the wolves only discover she was one of them all along.

A tale of the wild wolves and the black bear.

Interested to read more? Then check out the story A Warrior’s Voyage on my wattpad profile melxhunter!!

[i-did-not-mean-to]

Week 3 - Fields

New week, new story.

This time a Beauty and the Beast-adjacent AU...

Enjoy!

Prompt: Fields

Pairing: /

Words: 1 750

Warnings: A curse, slight injury, sadness, despair

Findekáno groaned.

If it wasn’t for the subtle signs telling him that his father had indeed passed through here, he would have turned around long ago.

He’d braved fields of fire and clouds of stinging, winged beasts to come this far, and now he was staring at a seemingly endless tangle of thorny bushes—his valiant heart sank as he gripped his sword harder, ready to cut his way through without consideration for his garb or skin.

So close to the destination he’d sought and pursued with dogged determination, he was unwilling to relent.

Already, he could almost feel his father’s presence, and, thus heartened, he began his last, long labour before the much-awaited reunion that would crown his heroic journey.

Ñolofinwë, ever-careful patriarch, had set out to treat with a remote ally ten days ago and failed to come home in a timely manner.

His line had only inherited the throne by questionable happenings—namely, the disappearance of the legitimate King and his own heirs—and it was ever vital to recruit and court potential sympathisers to help them maintain the fragile peace.

Many and more had since started whispering that, if Ñolofinwë hadn’t been betrayed by these potential supporters, he’d surely been waylaid by the weird phantoms haunting the lesser-travelled roads in these parts.

As the oldest of his siblings and the de facto protector of his House, Findekáno had seen no other option than to strike out on his own in hopes of locating and retrieving his father. After all, the realm and the family needed him.

Of course, he’d not naïvely ignored the danger of perishing in the wilderness, but he’d deemed himself more expandable than Ñolofinwë, and—if there was but a minute chance of restoring the acting King to his throne—he had to take the risk, no matter what might become of him.

In the same cold, calculating way had the young prince determined that—no matter how much his heart yearned for a companion on this treacherous mission—he could not accept that any of his friends or kinsman join him.

If the worst were to happen, their people needed heirs to bear the crowns and responsibilities of their lost or aged fathers, and Findekáno couldn’t possibly weaken the volatile Kingdom in his attempts to restore the tottering balance before all could crumble to dust.

By virtue of his birth and nature, he felt that he owed both his father and that suspiciously absent King of yore this much.

“I need you to stay here,” he’d thus pleaded with his younger brother who, as much as he tried to deny it, was the next in line to inherit the throne. “You need to rule in our absence and pursue a suitable match for our sister. Until I return—if I make it back at all—you’re in charge. Can you do this for me?”

Headstrong but profoundly dutiful, Turukáno had nodded reluctantly.

Thus reassured, Findekáno had slipped out of the castle before his cousin Findaráto could set in motion one of his sneaky, reckless plans and follow him unseen.

No, this was his challenge to overcome, the brave heir to a perpetually threatened throne thought as he started hacking down thorns and dried, gnarled wood with renewed fervour.

Nelyafinwë swatted a broad, clawed paw at the insistently bobbing knife that was presently slashing through the air and his neatly piled-up papers with urgency.

“Nobody can make it here,” he tried to assuage the animated weapon which promptly somersaulted and buried itself deep within the scored wood of the desk with terrible emphasis.

“I’ll take care of him,” Nelyafinwë promised and turned away to take refuge in the narrow window frame. Here, he was sure, none of his cursed siblings could suddenly pop up in front of him with desperate pleas and frustrated demands to which he never found a satisfactory answer.

Forsooth, for all his confident words, he knew not how to deal with the unexpected, unwelcome guest presently screaming at the damp walls of the disused, deserted dungeon deep within the bowels of the crumbling castle.

His eyes—still bright and beautiful as polished silver—swept over the field of thorns, apprehension roiling in his gut at the sight of the trail of wilful, unrelenting ire some foolish stranger was hewing into the protective labyrinth.

The sun was already going down as well, and he felt unwelcome sensations and desires flood back into his stunted consciousness with burning intensity.

Nelyafinwë moaned softly—as much as his brothers loathed having been imprisoned in household items—he was intimately convinced that his fate was more torturous by far.

Doomed to pay the price for their late father’s folly, they’d been struck by a peculiar, almost whimsical curse, which would bind them to the ruins of their previous life until they found forgiveness.

How laughably simple and yet unachievable a concept for the likes of them!

From the corner of the room, the soft squeaking of the intricately adorned scales that had once been his younger brother brought him back to the painful reality of his surroundings.

He’d never expected that thoughts such as “I need to oil Moryo” or “Káno has broken a string again” would ever cross his mind, but here they were.

Ever Tyelko’s shadow and his right-wing-tool, Curufinwë was now tapping impatiently against the firstborn’s knuckles. On account of him having been turned into a hammer, this was not a painless interaction.

“He won’t make it through,” Nelyafinwë repeated even as he watched that path of righteous anger eat through the brambles unstoppably. “Whoever this fool may be—he’ll soon turn around.”

The only good thing about being imprisoned in a decrepit fortress with his slowly decaying siblings had been the unadulterated peace and quiet, only ever disrupted by the occasional sign of fraternal disagreement or necessary repairs.

Hitherto, Nelyafinwë had—naïvely as he now admitted—believed that the terrible malediction kept them hidden from sight by obscuring the very existence of their abode from even the most inquisitive of minds.

After all, what punishment sought to be undone?

The arrival of the weary traveller, wild-eyed and ragged with fatigue, had taught him better.

Ñolofinwë had thought himself saved, but that short moment of weightless relief was at once destroyed by the gruesome sight awaiting him on the other side of the heavy, forbidding door on which he’d knocked so fervently in his hour of need.

In his folly, he’d ignored the subtle warning signs that would have told a more perspicacious traveller that he’d entered hostile, dangerous territory and needed to flee.

Even now, in the intimacy of his own chambers—faded with wear and torn by his earliest fits of helpless frustration—Nelyafinwë remembered the expression of pure horror on the drawn, pale face of the valiant wanderer.

The sun had hung, high and merciless, in the sky, and the hour of deliverance had been so far that its mere existence was of no consequence in that one fateful moment.

Clapping his dirty, bloodied fingers over his mouth, Ñolofinwë had stared at the towering monstrosity covered in thick, reddish fur and baring its sharp, glistening fangs at him.

A part of Nelyafinwë now wanted to turn around to face the fractured mirror, standing in the corner of the spacious, gloomy room.

In a rare moment of pity, Curufin had once hurled himself bodily into the glass to deliver his brother from the terrible sight. Of course, there’d been little risk that the solid hammer would come to any real harm, but Nelyafinwë had winced nevertheless when he saw his little brother fall onto the floor with a terrible, resounding thud.

It had been a grand and much-appreciated gesture, even if all Curufin had achieved was to create a kaleidoscope of horror with which Nelyafinwë had grown increasingly obsessed over the months.

Upon his birth, he’d been named for his beauty—a thought that made him snort mirthlessly now that bony horns grew from his shaggy head and long, razor-sharp claws protruded from massive, shapeless paws at the end of long, densely muscled arms.

Yes, he’d been enviably tall and lithe, boasting a luscious copper mane and a charming smile—it was thus no surprise that whatever power of just retribution, having cursed them so, would also have perverted his most cherished gift into his bitterest castigation.

A harp intoned a mournful song and, at once, a gleaming pair of scissors started clacking threateningly.

“Cut it out,” Nelyafinwë moaned. “All of you! You’re no help at all.” It was just like Makalaurë to revel in the drama of the situation, much to the evident, sharp-edged annoyance of the twins who were too down-to-earth to let anyone indulge in self-pity.

Nelyafinwë rubbed his forehead in quiet despair—every day, he impatiently awaited nightfall to take comfort in these fleeting hours of freedom.

Indeed, as soon as the blazing bright sun had retired, his old form was returned to him to walk in the silver moonlight despondently.

That, Nelyafinwë now understood, was also part of his penance. He was given tiny flecks of solace to keep him from giving up and fading into nothingness—he was allowed to see and feel himself once more to pointedly remind him of the crimes he’d perpetrated and the guilt he bore.

He was both—the fearsome, disgusting beast with the aching heart and the deceivingly beautiful youth sneaking out under the cover of darkness.

He was just as frozen as his brothers were, and yet, they played pretend every day.

Now, that there was movement and novelty, though, not one of them thought of salvation and the end of the curse.

Instead, they readied themselves for battle—after an eternity of pleading, hoping, and fulminating in vain, they’d finally understood that nothing good or pure could ever find them here for they didn’t deserve it.

The sword-swinging madman had advanced so much in the meantime that Nelyafinwë could make out his high cheekbones and the muted glint of golden ribbons in his dark, braided hair.

Again, his eyes swept to the horizon in instinctive annoyance—for all the time he spent waiting and hoping for the night, he’d have welcomed to face an armed opponent in his ferocious, formidable, frightening form, but it was not to be.

“You stay put,” he barked, resisting the impulse to equip his brothers as weapons. “I’ll fend him off.”

Even as he rushed down, he knew they’d follow.

@fellowshipofthefics

-> Masterlist

[v3nusxsky]

Always running | h&c

*Authors note~ Fem reader will be addressed as Isa or Isadora and her hiden name Nora as she is based off my OC Isadora.*

Trigger warning~ panic attacks past trauma

Prompt~ Y/n has a panic or anxiety attack you can choose, due to her past trauma and Larissa is there to help her through it.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

One foot in front of the other. Just keep going. A little further to the safety. Running. It's all you ever did. You'd been running since you were old enough to walk. But now finally at the age of 25 you were running far away. Never to return. Just keep running. Keep breathing. Just a little further. Crossing borders as you fled from everything you knew. It is exhausting but you can't give up. You need to be free. Running far enough to leave your demons in the past, your skeletons in the closest. Leaving behind all the responsibilities, the repercussions of other's actions and most importantly leaving behind reputation. Running to the unknown. Desperately seeking a safe haven. Would you ever get to settle down? What would life be if you weren't always running from everything in your past? Just keep going. Keep running. That's all you could do right?

You'd crossed so many borders that you honestly had no clue where you are. You'd been running for hours now. Exhaustion clouding your judgements, you decided to stop and rest for a while. Risky but needed. And stopping in the town you later knew was Jericho was the best thing to ever happen to you. But when you've always ran settling down is hard. The urge to keep running is strong. The fear of staying still and breathing is even more terrifying than it ever has been. All because of her.

Running alone. Easy. All you worry about is yourself. Keeping yourself safe, hidden and protected. But now, since Jericho, since meeting her and securing your first ever job beyond your title, running was absolutely terrifying. Fight or flight. You definitely would choose flight. But you can't now. You have responsibilities to the students at Nevermore Academy. For the first time you felt you belonged somewhere. And well your crush on the principle of the school? That definitely made you want to stay. But every day you stayed was a day closer to being found. You'd made your best efforts to blend in. Even using a fake name. You can't help the chuckle that escapes you at the thought of calling yourself "Nora Edwards" the quite lonely librarian. Oh no you were so much more. Daughter to the most powerful witch that reigned over the most prosperous kingdom. The only heir. Princess Isadora or Storybrook. Daughter of king consort Daniel and Queen Regina. Princess of the dark kingdom. Second in the rank of powers. Unlike your mother you hate your powers being used to injure or kill. No you refuse to be like her. The route of all evil always starts within. With greed and a thirst for more. Not something you want. So you ran. And you'll keep running from that side of you. As long as it takes. You may be a princess but ruling the dark kingdom isn't what you want. No, you quite like your life as a librarian.

Your friendship with Larissa blossomed on its own. For you it was an instant connection. Your magic calling to you that she was the one. You felt more powerful when you were with her. Like you could take on the world as long as she was with you. She was absolutely stunningly gorgeous and has a heart of gold, so when you feel for her oh you fell hard and fast. Of course it was kept private. Only you knew your feelings. It is too risky to tell her. Magic is triggered by emotion. The stronger the emotion the stronger the magic. There isn't much you can't do. It terrifies you that one day you could lose your control and accidentally forge a magical bond to the shapeshifter leaving her with no choice but to be bonded to you for life. Just like your mother had to Daniel. No you can't. So you hide. Running from your feelings. Running from your own mind. It's only a matter of time until you break you know that. But for now? Just keep running.

That is all what built up to this moment. Classes at Nevermore had ended a few hours ago, you elected to stay in the library. Being around the books always had the calming effect on you. Maybe it's because of all the time you spent with Princess Belle when she was held captive in the castle?  She was the one who taught you to read. To believe In love. To believe in the good. Belle became more of a mother figure to you than the Queen herself. That's why you helped her escape the hell. Briefly you wondered where she was now. Did she find the man she mentioned? Did she go back to her kingdom? Was she Queen Belle now? You'd never know tho, all communication with Belle stopped the day you ran. It was just too risky. Brushing your thoughts off you continued to potter around the library replacing the books on the empty shelves. That's when you felt it. The ping through you magic. The ping that filled your stomach with dread. She was reaching out. Occasionally Regina would ping your magic through the bond she had forged when you were not old enough to understand the danger of it. Bonded to your mother for life? At three of course that sounded lovely. The pings getting stronger as you attempted to block her out. Get her out of your head. Run away. Panic rose through your body the stronger the pings became. Normally she'd give in by now. No this felt different.

Through the bond a message was sent. You couldn't block this out. Her rage broke through any defences you attempted to put up. Her message is simple. "I will find you Isadora Saige of Storybrook. She all but snarled the last bit. "You can't run forever princess!" That's all it took to send your mind into a flurry of frenzied thoughts. You had to leave. Run. Go away. You can't go back there. Yet your body refused. It's all because of her. The heart wants what the heart wants. No matter how much the brain tries to convince the heart it knows best, the heart will win. So here you stood in the library immobilised but the panic.

The thick mahogany door to the library opened louder than normal, causing you to hurry into the corner of the room like a scared child. They had found you. All that running was worthless. You wouldn't survive going back. And knowing the bond your mother already knew of your feelings for the headmistress. Larissa wasn't safe. You knew your mother. Playing dirty was something she excelled at. She isn't above hurting or killing people to achieve what she desires. You knew that all to well. You still sat curled into the corner limbs shaking like a leaf in a storm. You waited on bated breath for the dark knight's to grab you. Breathing erratically. But it never came.

"Oh Nora, what's happened? You're okay it's just me." The concern evident in her voice. The voice of an angel. Immediately feeling safer knowing she was here. But the guy feeling that your mother was coming still keeping you in the throes of your attack. These attacks have been occurring since you were a child. You knew what you needed. But never felt safe enough to seek it. Through short ragged breaths you managed to grit out "I'm n-ot N-Nra"

Of course you are honey. You're gonna be okay. May I touch you?" She questioned triggering the outburst of emotion you were afraid of. Immediately running on adrenaline you drew yourself to full height taking off the glamour spell you used to slightly tweak your appearance hiding your true identity.

"The lost princess? You're her?" She breathed out seemingly taken back by your new appearance. Shorter now, glasses perched on your nose, dark almost raven coloured waves just passing your chest. There was no going back now. Still running on adrenaline the truth exploded in front of you. Larissa still crouched down, baffled by what was unfolding in front of her.

"Lost?" You chuckled. You most certainly weren't lost how it was intended. "I fled my mothers kingdom. Just kept running. Never sure what or where I was going. Not ever settling in one place too long. Avoiding people to reduce the risk of being caught. Till I met you. My magic calls to you. I'm drawn to you. My love for you is strong. So strong in fact my magic attempts to create a bond with you but I can't allow it. I love you too much for that. Larissa trust me when I say I run for a reason. Please don't tell anyone." You trailed off realising what you were asking and your admission of love for the women. Your magic igniting inside you.

"You? Love me? Your the princess? This is you? Magic bond? Wh-what?" She managed to whisper out weakly. Your hands still shaking you came to crouch in front of the woman. Your panic attack still raging on, but the women you loved comes first. No matter what. You could sense her confusion over this.

"Princess Isadora Saige of storybrook Larissa. Daughter to king Daniel and Queen Regina of the dark kingdom. Second most powerful witch in all the realms." You sighed you hated this. God you wish you were someone else. Anyone else really. "Larissa I've been drawn to you since day one. I love you so much it's physically painful to stay away from you. But I have to protect you. From her. I'd take all the pain just to ensure your safety. You have to understand that what I'm asking of you is for the best darling. You must not tell anyone I'm the princess. Just Normie Nora okay?" You watched her reaction carefully looking for any signs of her not doing as you had asked. "Nor-Isa- um why are you running?" The curiosity radiated from her aura at the question. So you carefully explained the cliff note's version. The only reaction you were given was shocked gasps at the more ruthless parts.

By the time you'd finished explaining, just how your magic works, tears streaming down your face the panic was flooding your body once more. Your magic was unique you could do multiple things, like bonding and feeling the other's emotions, wielding the elements such as fire and hell you even possessed the ability to influence the thoughts of others. Hands shaking as you pulled yourself into the corner rocking slightly. A feeble attempt to calm yourself. "I-Isa-I what do I do? Breathe darling I need to know what to do." She whimpered out. Love radiating from her aura only adding to your panicked state.

"L-L-Ri-ss-a, I if you help" you took a short gasp of air the oxygen slowly leaving your lungs, "you will be bonded for life... to me." You warned.

"Darling, your love isn't unrequited, I just didn't think Normie Nora would want Shapeshifter me. Now hush and let me help. You need to breathe can you do that?"

"I - hold me?" You whimpered out the lack of air was dizzying now. Making the panic worse.

Swiftly, strong arms pulled you into her lap, hands tracing mindlessly over your spine hoping you'd copy her breathing pattern in an attempt to regulate your own. Tears trailing down your cheeks, you felt it happening. The emotional outburst caused your magic to reach out, bonding you to Larissa. She gasped out at the sudden unfamiliar feeling of your emotions surrounding her. She could feel the panic you were feeling like you were feeling her emotions. The love Larissa was pouring into the bond slowly calming your distressed state. A whimper escaping you as your mother pushed against your bond. A sharp pain running over your heart had you realising a silent scream. The older women terrified at what was happening.

"Isa! Isa what is it?" She frantically rushed out.

"M-mo-th-r " you gasped through the waves of the squeezing pain. You hated that she could do this. Magic really does suck sometimes. You attempted to push calming vibes into the bond as the waves eased off. This was a punishment from the queen. You'd bonded to someone other than her, this made her furious. You knew that. But you'd be damned if you were to say you wanted nothing more than Larissa. Your body laid limp in her arms, exhausted as you waited out the pain. Your mother couldn't keep it up forever. After all it exhausted her using this much magic over such a distance.

"Rissa?" You whimpered scared of her reaction to all this new information. "I I'm sorry I didn't tell you... I was scared. I've always ran. You make me want to stay. I didn't want to hurt you. I'm sorry I'm so sorry your fated to me now" you sobbed in her arms.

"Hey hey princess, I am happy to be fated to you dear, and you don't need to run no more because we will be here for eachother. Queen Regina won't hurt you here." She promised with so much confidence it was hard not to believe her.

"What if she tries you don't know what she's capable of Rissa" the fear was still laced in your voice.

"Isa you are loved by so many in Nevermore we have a school of witches, seers, vampires, wear wolves, sirens, gargones and more who would happily defend "miss Nora" she reassured me. "Isa?"

"Mmm? "

"It's a pretty name for a pretty lady."

"Isa for you Nora for everyone else yeah?"

"Okay my darling Isa"

With that your body subconsciously snuggled closer before giving into the exhaustion you felt.

Larissa held you there until you came round just protecting and processing the whole event. Who would've knew her fated love with be a secret princess? She looked down as you slept her index finger tracing your features of your face watching as a content sigh escaped and you snuggled impossibly closer. Yes this maybe a fucked up way to find out. But you had eachother now. And she promised herself there and then that you her darling Isa wouldn't ever have to run again.

Word count ~ 2512

[666writingcafe]

With Me

Warning: a character decides to end their own life in Act V.

A Play Written By Christopher Peugeot

۞۞۞

CAST

Lucifer: The Prince

MC: The Attendant

Belphegor: The King of the Land of Sloth

Beel: The King of the Land of Gluttony

Leviathan: The King of the Land of Envy

Satan: The Fairy of the Wood

Simeon: The Narrator

CREW

Barbatos: Head Crew Member

Mammon: Set Designer

Leviathan: Costume Designer

Asmo: Hair and Makeup

Solomon: Composer

۞۞۞

INTRODUCTION

Narrator: Once upon a time, long, long ago, in a small and remote land, there lived a prince. This prince was a man who could be quite sadistic at times, but for the most part he was a caring man. He had many servants, but his favorite by far was his personal attendant.

Narrator: The prince's personal attendant had a terrible secret: they were cursed. From a young age, they watched everyone they ever cared about die in increasingly tragic ways. The only way that the curse could be broken is if they find their true love.

Narrator: One day, the prince received a letter from his betrothed, explaining that the time has come for them to finally wed. Not wanting to delay the ceremony any longer than necessary, the prince quickly packs his things and orders his personal attendant to accompany him on the journey to his betrothed's kingdom.

Narrator: In order to get there, however, they had to venture through various lands ruled by ruthless kings.

ACT I

The King of the Land of Sloth tries to force the prince and his attendant into an eternal slumber.

ACT II

The King of the Land of Gluttony tries to eat the prince and his attendant.

ACT III

The King of the Land of Envy nearly executes the prince and his attendant due to becoming jealous of their bond.

ACT IV

Narrator: At long last, the pair reach the kingdom of the prince's betrothed. Instead of being relieved, however, the personal attendant feels their stomach sink.

Narrator: Over the course of their journey, the attendant realizes that the prince might just be their true love, making it possible for their curse to finally be broken. However, the attendant knows that the union of the prince and his betrothed would bring political stability to the two kingdoms, so they decide to keep this revelation to themselves.

Narrator: What the attendant doesn't know is that the prince is having second thoughts about the wedding.

NIGHTTIME, PRINCE'S TEMPORARY CHAMBERS

Prince: I feel as though all these years, I've been living a lie, refusing to acknowledge the truth. To think that my true love has been right beside me all along...I don't know if I can go through with this.

Prince: *sighs* But I have to. I can't hope to marry them and live out our days together. It would be a selfish dereliction of duty, and I cannot abandon my people for their sake. *sighs again*

ATTENDANT WALKS UP TO THE DOOR, INTENDING TO CHECK ON THE PRINCE.

Prince: Just the thought of taking their hand and gazing into their eyes makes my heart pound with anticipation. I never knew I could feel this way. I never knew I had such passion inside me.

ATTENDANT RUNS AWAY, TEARS POOLING IN THEIR EYES.

ACT V

Narrator: Believing that the prince is completely smitten with his betrothed, the attendant rushes out of the castle. They don't know where they're going, but they know that they have to get away before they risk ruining the prince's happiness.

Narrator: The attendant ends up lost deep within a forest and catches the attention of the fairy of the wood.

Fairy: What is the matter?

Attendant: *cries silently*

Fairy: *places a hand on the attendant's shoulder* There's no keeping secrets from the fairy of the wood. I know what's in your heart. You've in love with a prince, aren't you?

Attendant: *sniffles and wipes their eyes* Yes. He is due to wed soon.

Fairy: I see. You know that only royalty is fit to marry a prince, yet you can't stop yourself from loving him.

Attendant: What do I do?

Fairy: *pulls out a dagger* Take this. Use it to kill his betrothed. That will grant you status and prestige...enough to marry your prince, I'd say. *pauses* But know that this is no ordinary dagger. Once you take it from me, you must use it to kill someone.

Narrator: The attendant takes the dagger and leaves the fairy of the wood behind. Instead of returning to the castle, they end up in a secluded meadow.

Attendant: I still remember the day I first met you, almost like it was yesterday. The way you fixed your eyes on me, that noble yet sincere gaze...

Attendant: The moment I beheld it, I was transfixed. And that was it. There was no going back. I fell for you completely, body and soul. I knew that if we were to become friends--and only friends--I'd be able to stay by your side forever. So I buried my feelings for you deep inside. Forever. At least, that's what I thought.

THE PRINCE WALKS INTO THE MEADOW AND QUICKLY HIDES BEHIND A TREE.

Attendant: *takes a deep breath* Is there any way that I might take their place? That you might feel for me what you've felt for them? I beg you, open your heart to me instead, to me and me alone.

THE PRINCE OPENS HIS MOUTH TO TELL THEM YES, BUT NO WORDS ARE ABLE TO COME OUT.

Attendant: Who am I kidding? You could never love someone like me. *plunges the dagger into their chest*

Prince: NO! *runs over to the attendant and catches them before they hit the ground* MC...! My dear MC!

Prince: *notices the dagger* Oh no...this is the cursed blade said to belong to the fairy of the wood. The curse required you to take a life, but you couldn't bring yourself to kill someone else, could you?

Attendant: *whispers* You love them. *dies*

Prince: No, my darling, I love you. *notices that the attendant is dead* I wish you could have killed my betrothed, but instead you've...

Prince: *nearly chokes on his tears* You've left me in a world without you. Is that really what you wanted? To condemn me to suffer through life without you?

Prince: *starts shouting* I loathe my royal blood, and I loathe a world without you in it! A curse on all of it, everything!

CONCLUSION

Narrator: Never did the two imagine that such a destiny awaited them at the end of their long, long journey. The prince's true love was dead, leaving him to suffer through life alone. Overcome with sorrow at having lost the person he loved, the prince became consumed by hatred, cursing the world and those in it. Transforming into a demon, he dedicated himself to bringing sadness and misfortune to people everywhere for all eternity.

[cjbolan]

A Very Simple Way to Fix The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea...

Have Melody be sent away to a boarding school as far from the sea as possible. Seriously that would make the movie soooo much better. It would hammer home the whole “generational trauma” trend this sequel was going for, but without ripping off the plot of the first movie. It would show how Ariel inherited her father’s overprotective tendencies, but shows it in a completely different way. Also this would be much more practical for Ariel and Eric. They’re ruling a seafaring kingdom, so walling off their entire kingdom away from this sea is ridiculous, and would make trade and fishing incredibly difficult for everyone in the kingdom. Furthermore, being sent away to boarding school would back up everything Melody says later on...

Melody: “Everybody thinks I’m...weird.” 

If she’s at boarding school, we can actually see how she interacts with lots of other people, including kids her age. Sorry Melody but a few mean kids at your birthday party isn’t “everybody”. The more we see her with other kids, the more we can actually SEE how she’s “weird”. Show, don’t tell, folks. Also it’d be a great Character Establishing Moment to show how she always felt drawn to the sea, despite being far away from it most of the time.  The plot could kick off for when she’s allowed to return home once a year for her birthday (or something like that). And of course her parents would still send Sebastian to watch over her while she’s away.

Melody: “I wish I could tell my mom how I feel. But she'd never understand.        I can talk to crabs, but not to her.”

Minus that one fight, Melody had absolutely no issue talking to her mom. I get not telling her everything. But for someone who can’t talk to her, she tells her an awful lot about how she’s feeling. That line would make a LOT more sense, if Melody was away at boarding school and didn’t see her parents much. That way she has good reason to feel disconnected and unable to talk to them. Hence the resentment she later bears towards them would be much more justified. They not only forbade her from the one thing she loves (the sea), but sent her far away from it and away from them.

Melody: “You knew how much I loved the sea! Why did you hide the truth from me?”

Again, this line has more weight if she was actually sent away from home. Where she’d be kept away from not just the sea, but from anyone who knew her and could easily tell her the truth. Carlotta and Grimsby were at that celebration at sea with her as a baby all those years ago. Carlotta and Grimsby are very aware that merpeople exist, either one of them could accidentally let the truth slip to Melody. Unless King Triton memory wiped them or something.

If you couldn’t tell, I have this love-hate relationship with The Little Mermaid 2. I loved its starting premise: Ariel and Eric have a daughter who learns more about her mixed-species heritage. I just hate the way it turned into a low-budget carbon copy of the first movie. Maybe that’s one reason I love Emily Windsnap so much. Because Emily Windsnap does everything I wish The Little Mermaid 2 did.

[aridis]

Some personal Lurien's HC, hope you might be inspired by them ^^

• I still gotta decide how I want their powers to work, but I thought about giving them a special kind of foresight: basically while they can get glimpses of future they can also focus their power to control different areas as far as they've been there at least once.

Of course this power backfires: they get headaches and emigraines numerous times and have a rather low balance. Hence they usually needs support to walk and tries to sit as much as possible.

They also speak rather slowly (because of the damn migraines-)

They're the youngest dreamer, with Herrah being the oldest. As if being the shortest one wasn't enough.

(Their specific age? I dunno.)

Not a specific bug, I'm relying on the "you never see this character face on screen" plot.

Used to be on good terms (maybe...even friends?) with the Soul Master once, but eventually argued and stopped talking

Cue the reason they argued: Lurien decided to believe in the Pale King's plan to seal away the Infection and become a dreamer; Soul Master tried to convince them that the plan was bound to fail (true) and his would succeed (untrue). But Lurien didn't budge and remained loyal to the Pale King.

And for those who say Lurien is a simp- sure they could also be a simp, but consider-

Lurien really believed him, not only because of blind faith. If a god older than the kingdom itself told you he knows how to stop another god's act of wrath wouldn't you believe him? At least you would be desperate to believe him. Because if a god can't defeat another then who else could?

Now, if you told them about the vessels and the Abyss, well....they wouldn't like it at all. And I mean at all.

The bugs they were closest to were their butler, Monomon and Hegemol.

I like to include Hegemol because they both were the guardians of the city back in its prime. So I like to think they were close :D

Plus I think Hegemol was somehow involved with the Watcher's knights and wanted them to be highly trained to protect Lurien :)