#that lady also bragged about how her daughter is technically still able to be on her insurance til 26

[itsmesheep]

uh oh sisters i'm actively self-sabotaging

[tsukihimeyfan]

Sorting the main cast of AtLA into Hogwarts Houses

I know I’m late to the party because I’ve seen many different people tackle this before, but I feel like it is my civic duty as both a Potterhead and an AtLA stan to put in my two cents, since every single time I’ve seen it talked about people either misinterpret what each House values in their members or pick a House by taking into account only one aspect of their personalities. I want to make it clear that these are my own opinions, which I’m basing on the definitions we’ve gotten of the main traits of each House over the years and the “core values” of each AtLA character, and that I’m in no way am I trying to insult anyone who thinks differently. That being said, here goes nothing!

Let’s start with the easy ones. Namely, the Fire Siblings:

1) Azula is 100%, undoubtedly, definitely, incontrovertibly Slytherin. Just doing a quick rundown of the qualities Salazar Slytherin prized in his handpicked students, as stated by the Sorting Hat, Albus Dumbledore and Pottermore: Cunning? Check. Resourcefulness? Check. A disregard for rules? Check. Using any means to achieve her ends? Check. Shrewdness? Check. Ambition? Check. Self-preservation? Check. Pride? Check. An argument could even be made that, as a member of the Fire Nation Royal Family, Azula also kind of meets the “blood purity” criteria. I’m sure most of us agree on this. Even if she does exhibit a lot of loyalty to her father as well as courage and intelligence, there is just no contest. Azula is one of the most Slytherin characters I’ve ever seen outside of the Harry Potter universe.

2) In the same way, Zuko is irrefutably a Hufflepuff. Hear me out! I know that he’s very brave and daring, but when we think of Zuko, what is his most essential trait, what do people tell us again

and again

about Zuko’s character?

He’s a hard worker. And what’s the House of the hard-working?

"You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true, And unafraid of toil.”

You guessed it. Hufflepuff. Of course, that’s not the only trait valued by this House that he exhibits. Who is more loyal in the series than the child who got half his face burned off and still did his best to earn the love and respect of the one responsible? Who never faltered in his loyalty even when he was sent away on an impossible mission? Who spouted angry words most of the time yet was willing to let his ticket home go temporarily in favor of ensuring the safety of his Uncle and his crew? That’s right, our boy Zuko. That very loyalty to his father is what unfortunately bound him for the longest time, until he was forced to face what a monster he was and let go of it in favor of more important things, namely his own morals and his loyalty to his Uncle.

He also has an incredibly strong sense of justice, as proven by the above statements, as well as this moment:

and he can be incredibly patient when he needs to be, as seen during The Blue Spirit and the Southern Raiders episodes.

Hufflepuffs are also said to be fair (which he clearly is), dedicated (need I say more?), honest (which Mr. shouts-his-feelings-at-the-top-of-his-lungs and can’t-lie-without-being-obvious-or-glancing-away-and-has-been-found-out-every-time-he-tried of course is) and modest (this one he starts without but by the time he joins the Gaang there isn’t anyone more modest or humble)

As “an idealist with a pure heart and unquestionable honor” , Zuko is the Hufflepuffiest Hufflepuff to ever Hufflepuff and I will die on this hill

3) Another easy one is our girl Suki, whom I’d say is a Gryffindor through and through, even if she is very loyal to her friends.

The rest of the Gaang under the cut.

The other members of Team Avatar are a bit trickier because they all exhibit a pretty even mix of traits from more than one House, but still if we just concentrate on their defining characteristics we can get to an answer. 

4) I’d argue that Sokka belongs in Ravenclaw, even though he is of course quite brave and extremely loyal to his loved ones, not only because he’s a strategist and an inventor, but also because, as best stated by Master Piandao:

Ravenclaws most value wit, learning, intelligence, creativity and wisdom (this last one is a bit iffy but I’m sure he’ll get there when he’s older), as well as priding themselves on being original in their ideas and methods. That’s Sokka to a T.

5) Katara gave me a hard time. She’s unbelievably loyal to her friends and family, she’s compassionate, patient, fair, hard working and dedicated, with a REALLY strong sense of justice, so a case can be made for Hufflepuff easily. However she can also be quite cunning when she wants to (most obviously during The Waterbending Scroll, City of Walls and Secrets, The Painted Lady, and The Runaway), she has a lot of ambition (if you count every variation of “I will make the world a better place by force if I have to”), she disregards the rules when it suits her (again The Waterbending Scroll as well as The Runaway) and she can be proud at times, so we could argue she’s a Slytherin. She’s also undoubtedly very intelligent and even quite wise for her age. It took me a while to decide but then I pondered; at her very core, what are the statements that define her? What words just scream “that’s it, that’s Katara”? They are, of course, these two phrases:

The first sounded incredibly Gryffindor to me, and the second is half Gryffindor half Hufflepuff, so it had to be between those two. As such, I decided to look into Gryffindor first. Katara is, of course, astoundingly courageous, but what else? I had to actually look up definitions for the Gryffindor traits besides courage because they all just kinda meant “brave” to me initially 😅, but what I found was:

*Nerve: “one's steadiness and courage in a demanding situation”. Yep. Who’s the most level-headed, steady and reliable person whenever the Gaang is in any kind of pinch? That’s right. Katara

*Daring: “adventurous or audaciously bold“. Yep. I’d say she ties with Toph for boldest in the Gaang

*Determination: “firmness of purpose”. Yep, absolutely. See the above image from the Painted Lady. ‘Nuff said.

*Chivalry: can mean 2 things, one is “sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms”. All of that is true of her (her “arms” being her waterbending), but I found it interesting that to be chivalrous can also mean “gracious and honorable toward an enemy, especially a defeated one, and toward the weak or poor”. I’d argue that this fits her even more. Once again, just take a look at The Painted Lady episode. 

*Courage and bravery: they can mean the same thing, namely “the ability to do something that frightens you” and of course that fits Katara, but the word courage in particular has another meaning, which is “strength in the face of pain or grief”...

I’d say she’s pretty good at that. I think that settles it, Katara is a Gryffindor.

Turns out that when it came to the water tribe siblings Bato was right all along

6) For Toph I was split between Gryffindor (thinking of her brash, bold nature) and Slytherin for a while, but after looking into Katara and researching all those definitions I think I have to give it to Slytherin. Of course, Toph doesn’t seem to be very ambitious unless you count “being recognized as the greatest earthbender in the world”, but she is quite cunning. She knows exactly how to use her “poor helpless blind girl” persona to get what she wants, as seen both on The Blind Bandit and The Runaway. She’s also an extremely good actress, being able to play the “reserved and obedient little girl” to her parents for years, and being easily able to pick it back up when it suits her. 

She’s also stubborn, proud, and 100% willing to use any means, regardless of laws or rules, to get what she wants. 

As for self preservation? Remember that her response when asked to teach Aang, which was crucial to save the world but would’ve compromised her secret, was this:

Slytherins can also “hesitate before acting, so as to weigh all possible outcomes before deciding exactly what should be done “ and my first instinct was to say that it didn’t fit Toph at all, but what is Toph if not a person who “waits and listens before striking”? Slytherins tend to favor Neutral Jing it seems. 

Almost forgot that as a daughter of the Beifong family she’s sort of nobility and she technically also meets the “blood purity” criteria.

7) Finally, we get to my boy Aang. He was really difficult. He’s loyal, patient, fair, kind, modest (usually) and just but I can’t really call him a hard worker most of the time.  

He’s brave, adventurous, determined and chivalrous but he does tend to get discouraged during demanding or stressful situations (his friends always make it better though)

He’s creative, very wise for his age, and quite smart (except when he’s playing around with Sokka in which case they share one brain cell 😂)

He can even be cunning when he needs to be. If he ever went to Hogwarts, he’d definitely be a Hat Staller like Harry. I heard someone say once that they considered Aang a Gryffindor because he liked to show off a lot, but that’s not really a Gryffindor trait (think of Neville Longbottom, Remus Lupin, Harry Potter and Minerva McGonagall. I think any one of them would sooner Stupefy themselves than go show off their skills in front of a crowd for no reason other than to brag).

Once again, we must pin down what it is that defines him, what his core is. After much thought, I decided it’s this: 

It’s his compassion, which he learned from his people, and his desire to value and protect all life. It’s his loyalty to the ideologies of the Air Nomads of which he is the last remaining bastion. It’s his strong moral code, his sense of right and wrong, his wish to make friends and to believe the best of everyone. That’s his center. That is what makes him Avatar Aang. In light of that, I think we can consider Aang, first and foremost, a Hufflepuff.

In the end, Team Avatar is made up of one Ravenclaw, one Slytherin, one Gryffindor (two after Suki joins), and two Hufflepuffs

Ironic, that the House least valued in the Harry Potter universe is the one that houses arguably the most pivotal characters of Avatar the Last Airbender: Zuko and Aang. Fitting, that even in this they parallel each other.

This is already long enough so I don’t think I’ll do Mai, Ty Lee, or Iroh. Maybe some other time.

[thenickelportrust]

Could you tell us who the current superheroes are and what their powers and general reputation is? Just to keep track of them. (And maybe the same for villains if that's not too much!)

You know I think I might add a codex in later in the game to help the MC keep track of this very info. But for now- I’ll give you a couple of the major players (both current and past, since sometimes even memories of people have an effect on the present)!

I didn’t give away any real spoilers since technically the MC knows most of this and the player will  learn it all rather easily and pretty quickly, but still under the cut for those who wish to keep it a secret for now!

Heroes:

Atlas (passed) - Atlas was perhaps the most powerful hero to have ever existed. Some thought they were a deity, fallen from the heavens here to reshape the world as they desired. Most of those people were, admittedly, fanatics. In truth, Atlas never did… much. And what they did do cast a shadow of doubt on whether or not they could really be considered a hero at all. But calling someone that strong a villain was a terrifying prospect all on its own. Not that anyone has to worry now, they died several years ago, and now their legacy is left to nothing more than whispers of a dead deity, an apocalypse that never came.

Their powers were… hard to pin down. They could… change things. Change them to whatever they desired, give the nonliving life or turn the breathing to stone and metal- they could make solids into liquids and vice versa seemingly without changing any other aspect of their nature. Or they could change the substances entirely- turn silver to gold, wood to metal, gas to air, dust to grain- whatever they desired.

Nymph - Nymph was one of the two who were thought to take up Atlas’ title of most powerful hero. She was beloved by most people as a fair heroine who always seemed to be there whenever anyone was in trouble. All in all, she was very well liked before she just… stopped. She didn’t stop heroing entirely, mind you, but it seemed as if Nymph started dropping off the face of the earth time and time again. Now she’s most famous for her rivalry with the minor villain Bugbite. This has soured her reputation considerably, to the point where most people don’t speak about her fondly, and usually the kindest remarks is that she’s ‘a hero from a past time, far past her prime’.

Her powers include control of all living, organic matter. However the more complex the life-form the harder it is to control, so she mostly sticks to plants. (However her most famous exploit was controlling a massive attack by a now-deceased villain who attempted to turn a deadly bacteria into a bioweapon that would’ve wiped out Nickelport if she hadn’t contained it.)

Elapine - Elapine is more often referred to as a hero of East Bay than he is a hero of Nickelport. He is extremely popular in the East Bay community, and has almost become something of a hero mascot for them. However, outside of the East Bay his popularity fades a bit, though he is still loved, there’s more tension to his praise considering he very rarely moves out of helping just the East Bay area, and some say it’s selfish for a hero to choose who to help and who to ignore. However, most everyone agrees that due to his influence, the East Bay is no longer Nickelport’s most deadly area, which has opened up a lot of trade and tourist opportunities and generally helped Nickelport’s economy greatly. He is also famous for being the one hero to work closely with Atlas, a reputation which has both bolstered as well as tainted his reputation, due to Atlas’… controversial nature.

Elapine rarely uses his power, actually, since it’s more… immediately lethal and he’s known for non-lethal tactics. However, his power is a poisonous touch, and in turn a resistance to most toxins himself.

Lady Luck* - Lady Luck’s reputation is… a bit in the air right now. She was a well-loved hero back in the day, but she retired quite a while ago and had begun to fade from the memory of most Nickelport citizens. However, she’s returned from retirement just recently, and now most people are hopefully holding their breath to see if the hero they loved so much is back once more.

Lady Luck’s power is tricky one… It’s exactly as her title implies- a control over luck. However what that means changes from context to context- and she can’t control how it’ll come into play… but most people realize when they’ve been affected by her powers.

Sentry - Sentry is just starting to make a name for themself. They’ve been around for a while as a quieter hero presence but have recently come under both scrutiny and praise for their radical ideas for change. Sentry is the leading face in an attempted to create a more organized system of heroics. They’ve been public in their wish to forge the way for a kind of heroes’ union, and have been working closely- or trying to work closely- with Nickelport’s government to make that happen. There are… mixed opinions about whether or not this could be Nickelport’s saving grace, or if it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

Sentry’s power is a bit like your basic forcefield. They create temporary solid figures, seemingly from nothing, that vary in breadth and width and can be used for a multitude of purposes- including the classic shielding, but also a platform in mid air or even as a weapon.

Lullaby - Lullaby, also known as Madeleine Briggs, is famous first and foremost for the fact that, despite still possessing a heroic alias, she has never hidden her identity- nor does she wear a mask. According to Madeleine, it’s an act of owning up to what she does as a hero- of taking responsibility for her actions. While the reaction is somewhat mixed, it’s definitely more positively leaning, and has earned Lullaby a solid reputation as one of Nickelport’s most famous heroes- even though she hardly ever speaks to the press, and most of her statements are curt, single-sentences or silent nods. Lullaby has also recently garnered a bit more fame for openly expressing an interest in aiding Sentry’s hero organization process. Which, from what little can be gathered from her silent nature, is because she believes that a systems of checks and balances could do a lot of good for the heroes, and the people they’re supposed to protect.

Lullaby’s powers are, as you might have gathered from her name, to put people to sleep. However, it’s not quite her voice that does it, but rather a mist that she can breathe out on command. A kind of knock-out gas that she can control. 

Stillwater (passed) - Stillwater was the second of the two heroes who was thought to take on Atlas’ reign. He was greatly beloved by all and often pointed to as the example of a what all heroes should strive to be. He was public and unafraid to speak with the people, even seen taking casual strolls around town or chatting with people on the street when the recognized his outfit and called out to him to talk about… well… anything! The weather, his favorite TV shows- Stillwater was most well known for bragging with great gusto about his daughter and how proud he was of her, even to villains waiting to be taken away by the police after he’d apprehended them. He always kept a tight lock on his identity, though, as he explained that he refused to put his family in the kind of harm’s way that would come to be should anyone evil had ever found out who he was. Other than that, he got about as open and public as a man with a secret identity could’ve been- even working publicly with the NPRC. That was, until he was killed in the Lotown Mining Incident, when a cave collapsed in and Stillwater rushed in to save the people inside- he managed to save most of the miners, but was ultimately trapped underneath the rubble and killed with several others.

Stillwater’s power was essentially to learn. In short, he could copy most other powers he came into contact with, albeit in a much lesser form. In his time as a hero he was able to learn flight, some enhanced strength, the ability to heat up and cool down his body temperature, enhanced durability, communication with animals, and a couple others.

Red Light - Red Light is a new hero on the scene. He hasn’t done much yet, despite this, has already garnered a rather wide and passionate following. He is well-loved by those who know him and is often referred to as ‘The Next Stillwater’ for his open, charming personality. Though he’s still new on the scene so it’s hard to say where he’ll go from here.

Red Light’s power appears to be paralysis. Though it’s hard to tell since he hasn’t been in many fights. but that seems to be the leading theory on what he can do.

Villains;

Sweet Sound - Sweet Sound is infamous and terrifying as a phantasmic figure with a multitude of rumors surrounding her. She’s become something of the boogeyman of Nickelport, with no one really knowing what’s due to her influence, and what isn’t- where she’s going to strike next, or if she’s ever going to strike at all.

Nobody knows her powers.

Likewise - Likewise is… god. What can I say about Likewise? Likewise is Nickelport’s Most Wanted- the most powerful villain alive whose track record extends all the way from minor robbery to killing a hero (or two, or three). There’s no rhythm or rhyme to what Likewise does or why Likewise does it. Only one thing is for sure- everyone, and I mean everyone, knows who they are.

And almost everybody wishes they didn’t.

Likewise’s powers have two layers to them. The first is mimicry- they can mimic any singular power of a person nearby them. The second aspect is nullification- they can nullify the powers of anyone in range. What’s important, and kind of tricky, here is that while they can mimic only one power, they can nullify… almost all powers in range. (Granted, in order to nullify or mimic, they first have to get close, but once a power is nullified, it will stay that way for quite a while, ditto with mimicry.)

Domino* (retired) - Domino was a rather infamous villain most well known for his rivalry with Lady Luck, mostly due to the similarities in their powers. However he retired about five years ago, and hasn’t been seen on the villainous scene since then. However with Lady Luck’s return to heroism there’s been some speculative whispers about whether or not this will goad him out of retirement as well.

Domino’s powers were very similar to Lady Luck’s. However, instead of simply changing luck, he has the power to change the result of any specific event. The new result is randomized, and though others will remember the previous result any of its effects will be neutralized- as if it only existed in memory.

Oppenheimer - Oppenheimer is a relatively young villain who has made a bit of an explosive entrance into the villainous world. (Pun wholly intended) Like most villains she’s not exactly well-liked. Most people fear her for the fact that her attacks seem to come without warning, and almost always target upper-class areas that should be better protected- yet she never seems to be noticed or caught until after her attack is finished.

Oppenheimer hasn’t been in enough fights to really understand what her powers are. But they most likely have something to do with explosions.

Valkyrie and Harbinger you all already know. So I’ll spare you from a rewrite of what you know, but they’re also on the well-known-villains list.

Groups/Others:

The Honeybees - They Honeybees… hmm… ok, I think I actually do gotta call some spoilers here. You’ll… meet them soon.

:D

Mambo’s Gang - Mambo’s gang is something of a hospital system for villains exclusively. They’re located somewhere on the Rusty End, but even if someone knows, they don’t dare go after Mambo or anyone who works for him out of fear for the backlash from the entire villainous community- not even the worst of the worst would dare lay a finger on someone under Mambo’s protection, either out of fear for their own health the next time they need severe medical help, or out of fear for the influence Mambo has in the villainous community.

Generally, those who actively know about Mambo’s Gang and aren’t villains dislike it, but not even heroes can deny that the neutral, no-fight territory that Mambo’s created is useful, if for no other reason than they don’t have to worry about protecting people within that area.

Ever since the disbanding of the NPRC, there’s been more tension surrounding Mambo’s hospital services. Heroes are left using the public hospitals, which while mostly works, the safety and secrecy of Mambo’s services are very tempting… But he doesn’t seem willing to extend his services any time soon.

The Nickelport Powers Research Cooperation (disbanded) - The NPRC (as they were called) was a lot of things. On one hand it was what Mambo’s Gang was for villains but for heroes- a hospital and medical facility. On the other hand, it was a research and development company- running tests with (voluntary) cooperation from heroes like Stillwater and Alchemist. It published papers on the nature of powers and discovered how they were passed down from generation to generation- and from person to person. They also had begun a series of technological developments meant either to aid heroes with their work against villains or simply to make everyday life easier and safer when the next great battle of the century could go down next door.

They were shut down quite a while ago, quietly and without explanation.

Some speculate that it had to do with the loss of Stillwater, who the NPRC often referred to as their greatest asset for his power’s flexible nature. Others think that the reason was… something else.

Alchemist (retired) - The Alchemist was… well… She was known, she was liked- perhaps even loved- and then she… stopped. She was a hero, and was perhaps going to be the most powerful hero before Atlas. She was, also, very very popular. With an almost meteoric rise to fame that fizzled out as fast as it began. She just… announced that she was retiring. She did some work with the NPRC afterwards but… never really came back to the spotlight after that. 

Her powers were to change the substance of things. She could make solids into liquid, liquids into solids, gases into liquids, and all other variations, and bend them to her will. She could even turn one kind of substance into another with ease. 

It was rumored that she was related to Atlas, considering the similarities in their powers.

After her retirement it became known that her real name is Ulla Parker, via a Rust article on Atlas while they were still active.

Igneous - Igneous is most widely known as a villain… yet it’s clear that he doesn’t think of himself as such. Often proclaiming himself a ‘protector of the innocent’ and ‘One of Nickelport’s saviors’. Still, between the mass destruction and cross-fire casualties that he causes he’s not… exactly well liked. As either a hero or a villain.

Igneous has the power to melt any part of his body into lava. This also comes with a minor regenerative/defensive aspect, as cuts or injuries that are melted will often return better than they were before, and any weapon that passes through a melted part of him does no actual physical damage so long as it didn’t touch his actual skin but the lava instead.

*A fun side fact: In the early, early, early version of Model Citizens, Lady Luck and Domino were the same person with the same personality and powers. In fact… they were a bit of a Raf and Lucy 1.0- the original choices for who you could be married to. (Only just the pronouns and appearences changed, they were still the same person back then, unlike Raf and Lucy now, who are entirely separate personalities and characters.)

[duckybeth99]

School Days (Past!Fic)

[nurturingflame]

Week in Review - 56

Writer milestone unlocked!! @illusion-na and @lydjachan have now been rping this adventure for two years!!! Braintwin level-up acheived!!!

Aww, Rats! 11-15

“I wouldn’t push them too much,” Phoenix warned.  Despite the Rat King’s promise, she had little doubt he would hurt someone given a valid reason.  Trying to escape was probably a valid reason.  And this girl was just that--a girl.  She couldn’t be but 15 or 16 years old.  “What’s your name?” she asked gently...at least she hope it was gently and not terrified.

“Irma, Irma Langinstein.” The teen knelt down, mostly to reduce her center of gravity so the cage would stop swinging so much. Her stomach was already upset, she didn’t need to add motion sickness to the equation. “Why does he want us?” She asked the woman. She had a clear view of her from her prison. “Who does this kind of thing anyway? Mad scientists in the sewers with giant rats. It’s crazy!!”

Phoenix chuckled, here was a plucky youngster.  “It is crazy, Irma,” she agreed.  She looked around her, as if something new would appear.  When nothing did, she pulled on her wrists, but her bonds held strong.  “He wants to turn us all into rat people,” she said.  “I would imagine that those of us who don’t change will be...terminated.”  She sighed, realizing how hokey that sounded, even to her old ears.  “How did you end up down here?  Before anyone else?  You don’t really leave crackers in the alley for rats, do you?”  If she did, no wonder that The Rat King nabbed her first.

“Rat people? Seriously?” She looked for some sign the lady was pranking her but saw that she was being completely serious. “I mean, humans and rats share a good percentage of genetic make-up, so I guess it could be plausible. If I wasn’t about to be a test subject it might be interesting to look at that research.” Irma shook her head, banishing her rambling thoughts.

“No. Well… not since I was a little kid anyway.” She responded to the woman’s questioning. “I was just walking with my friends down an alley. Well technically my friend April. Casey Jones just happened to be there, before they ditched me. Again.” She recounted with a pout. Then she plucked out a possible relative piece of info from the incident. “I was talking about how I liked rats better than cats though. April was snuggling up to a mangy stray. I was less than enthused about it.”

Taking a deep breath, in an attempt to calm herself, Phoenix said, “A mangy stray?”  April...Casey Jones...she felt that a jigsaw puzzle had been laid before her and she could identify how any of the pieces came together.  She knew that she looked afraid, You have to stay calm, this is just a kid.  But they ditched her right before she was taken.  “They left you right before you were grabbed?” she said slowly.  Please let the girl be exaggerating.  

“Yeah.” Irma said with a raised eyebrow wondering why it was so important. “They took off on his bike and as soon as they turned the corner this huge rat grabbed my ankle and dragged me down in the sewers. Took a while to get here but, tada.” She flung her hands out. “Here I am.”

“Next time I decide to try and spare April that brute’s company, I’m going to the library instead.”

Phoenix looked down the tunnel where The Rat King had rode, her mouth turning down to a frown.  Why didn’t the rat take April and Casey, if it grabbed Irma right after they left.  It was obvious where the two teens were headed.  She felt the color drain from her face.  Splinter might not come to save her, he had no real reason to.  But April could convince the Turtles to come and save her friend, and then Splinter would be compelled to come and help his sons.  There was no way that they could take on so many rats and win.  Even though they were small--

Just then, another huge rat, followed by six more, came in carrying people in their mouths.  They were each deposited into cages, just as Irma had been. So much for small enemies, Phoenix thought.  The Rat King had a bunch of large ones!

She closed her eyes tight again, hoping that when she opened them, all of this would be gone.

The Rat King stood atop the highrise, his eyes scanning the many sights that his rats presented to him.  Sometimes it was easy, he could catch one and hold onto it, the rat becoming an extension of himself.  Other times, he had to concentrate a little more, as if trying to get a fuzzy radio station into focus.   Aristotle saw the many huge rats ransacking the city, grabbing screaming citizens and then whisking them underground.  A guard rat at his lair saw the cages filling up, the woman to the side with her eyes closed tight in fear.  A familiar sight, one that he had searched for regularly for months, caught his attention, and he turned down the many tunnels of minds, to settle on only one mind.

The rat now named Ladybug.

Splinter meditated, trying to repair the mental blocks the Rag King had torn down while inside his mind. He was also trying to ignore the guilt and worry that was threatening to overwhelm him. The looks on the children's faces as then went to battle against the Rat King did not help.

Even more damning had been the absolute fear in Gwyn’s face. He hadn’t seen the girl since and assumed that she had went to join her mother in their room. Neither had yet to be seen in the common area.

Then his mind was filled with visions, his inner eye tinted red. Gwyn’s face came into view but he didn’t recognize her surroundings except to see that she was in a tunnel. She was not in the lair. And panic swelled within him. “Noo!!” He screamed, clutching his head. “Leave her alone!”

Ladybug squeaked, and at The Rat King’s command, licked Gwyn’s ear.  “Yes,” he said softly.  “Go into the tunnels, child.  There are so many twists and turns, it is hard to know where to go.”

At that, the little hooded rat jumped off of her shoulder and began to dash down a side tunnel.  She turned, looking back at the human girl, as if waiting.

Splinter growled, frozen with inaction. The pain in head was excruciating. He tried to force the Rat King from his mind, but as he did he lost the vision of Gwyn and that scared him even more.

What could he do? If the child was near he might be able to sniff her out on his own. But if she had traveled too far he would have no chance of finding her.

His hands balled into fists and he did the one thing he was loathe to do. He opened his mind and asked. “What do you want,” his teeth clenched as he talked out loud to the empty dojo. “My King.”

The Rat King laughed, even while his eyes still saw Gwyn, turning down the tunnel toward his lair.  “You know what I want,” he answered.  He would not let his beloved brother off so easy, he would make him say it--make him want to do his bidding.

Ladybug ran at a full trot, Gwyn chasing behind.  As the rat looked back, The Rat King, and Splinter through him, could see the girl’s long golden hair flare out behind her as she ran, calling “Ladybug, stop!”

The rat did at she was told, just at the edge of Gwyn’s vision.   She ran back to her new owner, scrambling at her leg.  Gwyn bent down, her hair blocking the view of anything except what seemed like red-tinged gold curtain, and then put her on her shoulder.  “Where are you running off to?”

Then, in front of them, a giant rat, with a bony  muzzle, fangs, not teeth, bulging out of its mouth, emerged from the shadows.

Gwyn screamed.

Splinter screamed along with the girl, the echos of his angry cry bouncing off of the empty walls of the lair. “Do not hurt her!!” He reached through the bond he had with the Rat King. Trying in some way to influence the beasts as the mad scientist did, only to be thrown back into his own body forcefully.

“You know what I want,” The Rat King’s voice echoed.

Splinter knew, but he also knew more than the man had wanted him to see. As much as the Rat King had bragged about his control over the rats, it also made his mind open to a will that choose to look for it’s secrets. He still didn’t know where Gwyn was, but he knew where she was being taken.

Another round of huge rats entered the large chamber, and everyone already there watched in horror as they were now being deposited several to a cage.  Anyone who tried to escape was viciously thrown back into the swinging trap, several people had already been knocked unconsciousness in their attempts to get away.

“Gwyn!” Phoenix recognized one of the humans being carried, and began to pull at her bonds again, her wrists beginning to become bloodied.  What was he doing with her, her specifically?  

He was making sure that Splinter would come.  Unlike her, she realized, Gwyn wasn’t bait.  Gwyn was a poker chip.

She’d seen how the rat mutant had fawned, if that is what one could call it with him, over the girl.  Despite having four sons, he was obviously a girl person, the way he treated April and Gwyn were volumes different than the four turtles.  It wasn’t that he was easier on them, but more like softer.  Granted, neither girl was his daughter to do with as he pleased, but Phoenix had gotten the impression more than once that if they had been, he would still have treated them in a different manner.  He seemed to hold a very warm spot for Gwyn, whether because of her gender, her age, or her mother, Phoenix hadn’t yet figured out.

But the girl was here now, being thrown in a cage with three other people, and there was nothing she could about it other than call her name.  “Gwyn!”